《Death: Genesis》 1. An Ordinary Life Zeke Blackwood sat in the small room, staring at the floor as he tried to come to terms with what he was about to do. Sure, it seemed like the right thing, and objectively speaking, it definitely was, but that didn¡¯t make it any less terrifying. In fact, it probably made it worse, because that knowledge made him very much ashamed that all he really wanted was to gather his things and run far, far away. But he knew he couldn¡¯t do that. He didn¡¯t dare. After all, his little brother was depending on him. With a sigh, he stood up and unbuttoned his shirt, hanging it in the small, wooden locker nearby. Next came his pants. Then his underwear. Everything ended up in a neat pile inside the locker. Before he knew it, he was slipping on the hospital gown and struggling to tie it closed in the back. However, after only a few moments of struggle, he managed to get the job done. Not long after that, a nurse appeared at the door. ¡°You ready, sweetie?¡± asked the matronly woman. She was a bit portly, but she had a kind face and a nice smile. Zeke nodded, saying, ¡°Yeah. As ready as I¡¯ll ever be, I guess. How¡¯s he doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s good,¡± the woman said, leading him to the next room. ¡°He¡¯s holding steady.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Zeke said, following her to their destination, where a hospital bed waited. He climbed onto it, stretching his long legs. It barely fit him. ¡°I wish I could talk to him before I go under.¡± The nurse frowned apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s not possible,¡± she said. ¡°I know,¡± was Zeke¡¯s response. He¡¯d already said what he needed to anyway. Anything else would just be an effort to delay the inevitable. Still, he very much wanted to talk to his little brother, Tommy, if only to assure him that everything was going to be okay. Of course, there was no guarantee that Tommy would believe him. The kid was only twelve, but that was old enough that he could see the score. He knew that this transplant was his last hope. Without it, he would die. He might not make it, even if everything went exactly according to plan. Things were that bad, and Tommy no doubt knew that. Zeke shifted on the bed, wishing for all the world that he hadn¡¯t been put in this situation. After all, he liked having both of his kidneys. And he was deathly afraid of going under the knife. The last time he had, his life had been ruined. Who was to say this time wouldn¡¯t be even worse? But Zeke had no intention of letting his little brother down, so the moment he¡¯d found out that Tommy needed a kidney, he had volunteered without even a hint of hesitation. However, just because he wholeheartedly wanted to save his brother¡¯s life, it didn¡¯t mean that he wasn¡¯t incredibly afraid of doing so. It made him feel like a coward. All his life, he¡¯d taken his role as a big brother very seriously, and despite the fact that Tommy had always been sick, Zeke had tried to teach him all the things he needed to know about being a man. God knew their father hadn¡¯t really made any efforts in that arena ¨C especially with Tommy. For the most part, he¡¯d been there, sure, but the moment the man had discovered that his youngest was defective, he¡¯d lost most of his fatherly instincts. No ¨C aside from their mother, Zeke was all Tommy had. So, every time the idea of just getting up and running away crossed his mind, Zeke had to forcefully push it aside. Zeke knew that the fear was rational. It wasn¡¯t a split-second decision, like saving someone in the heat of the moment. That would¡¯ve been better. Easier. Rather, it had been brewing for months, while Tommy had been waiting on the transplant list, while he steadily got worse and worse until their mother relented and allowed Zeke to make the sacrifice for which he¡¯d volunteered in the very beginning. Ever since then, the fear had all but enveloped him. What if he died? What if Tommy didn¡¯t make it? What if he someday needed the kidney he was giving up? A million different scenarios, each worse than the last, had flashed through his mind. For weeks, it had been like that, slowly eroding his confidence. Slowly smothering his courage. And by the time he¡¯d trudged into the hospital to make good on his offer, he felt like a weakling. A coward. A selfish and terrible person. It made him sick just to remember the doubts that had assailed him during that period of weakness. But he was here, wasn¡¯t he? That had to count for something. Even if he wasn¡¯t the courageous savior he¡¯d always imagined himself to be, he had at least shown up. Not everyone could say that. Not even their father, who should¡¯ve been the first in line. He shook his head, dispelling that line of thought. He didn¡¯t want to think about their deadbeat dad. Not now. As those thoughts flowed through his mind, the nurse set up an I.V., then started a saline drip. Over the next hour or so, various doctors, nurses, and anesthetists stopped by to assure him that everything was going to go perfectly. He nodded. He smiled. He tried to put on a brave face. But he knew they all could see through him. He knew they could tell just how terrified he was. None of them were worse than his mother, Janette, who came by about twenty minutes after the nurse started the I.V. She asked, ¡°How are you holding up? Do you need anything?¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, mom,¡± he replied, glancing at his mother. She was a small woman, thin and a bit ragged around the edges. But that was to be expected, given everything she¡¯d had to deal with in her life. If it wasn¡¯t enough that she¡¯d married a loser like Zeke¡¯s father, she¡¯d also been forced to deal with a child who¡¯d skated from one illness to another. The fact that she was still standing was a testament to how strong she really was, despite her frail appearance. ¡°How¡¯s Tommy?¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°He¡¯s good,¡± she said. ¡°Scared, I guess. But that¡¯s understandable. You know he appreciates what you¡¯re doing, right?¡± Zeke nodded. ¡°I know,¡± he said. ¡°I had a long talk with him last night. Can you believe he actually asked me not to do this? He still thinks the transplant list will come through.¡± ¡°It actually could,¡± Janette said. Zeke snorted in derision. ¡°You know that¡¯s not true,¡± he said. They¡¯d actually bumped him down a few tiers because of what they considered ¡°genetic defects¡±. As if he had any less of a right to live than anyone else. He knew the administrators were simply doing their job and giving replacement organs to the people who had the best chance of living through it, but reason didn¡¯t really stand a chance against his love for his brother. ¡°Yeah, probably,¡± she said. ¡°I just wish¡­¡± She left the statement hanging in the air. Zeke knew what she would say. He¡¯d thought the same things. They wished that Tommy had been born healthy. They wished the various treatments he¡¯d received throughout his life had worked. They wished it hadn¡¯t come to this. But wishes didn¡¯t affect reality. Magic wasn¡¯t real. If it was, Tommy wouldn¡¯t be waiting on his big brother¡¯s kidney, just for a chance at a few more years of life. ¡°Any of your friends come by?¡± she asked. Zeke shook his head. ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°I talked to a few of them yesterday. It¡¯s fine. They all wished me luck and said they were praying for me.¡± That wasn¡¯t entirely true, because the only friends Zeke really kept up with were the ones he played video games with. Most of them had no idea who he really was, much less that he was about to undergo a very dangerous surgical procedure. It hadn¡¯t always been like that, but after high school, he¡¯d lost touch with most of his old friends as they went on to college or jobs or whatever other big plans they had. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good,¡± she said, patting his arm. They talked about small things for a few more minutes until yet another nurse came by and told Janette it was time for her to go back to the waiting room. After a tearful goodbye, she assured him that everything was going to be fine, then left Zeke alone with his own thoughts. Inevitably, mostly due to his mother¡¯s mentioning of his friends, they went back to why he¡¯d put his life on hold. The simple fact of the matter was that he had no idea what to do going forward. Once, he¡¯d had everything planned out. He¡¯d been a hard worker. He had been dedicated. But after one little accident, his dreams had been shattered, and he¡¯d scarcely had the time to wrap his head around it, much less pick up the pieces of his life plan. As he lay there, waiting on them to wheel him back to the operating theater, Zeke¡¯s mind made a beeline back to the day the course his life had irrevocably changed. The car had come out of nowhere, sideswiping his truck and pushing him off the road. Later, he would be told that his truck had flipped six times, but all he remembered was a cacophony of noise, metal grinding against metal, shattering glass, and his own screams. After that, he¡¯d blacked out, and when he had finally come to, it had only taken one look at his mangled arm to know that his days as a baseball player had come to an end. It had taken six surgeries over the course of a year just to give the thing fifty percent range of motion. So, the idea of throwing a baseball ever again was ludicrous. For most people, it would¡¯ve just been a speed bump. After all, it was just a game, right? But for Zeke, it had always been more than that. Playing baseball had been his entire life. From the time he was five years old, he¡¯d practiced almost every day ¨C usually with his father playing a combination of coach, taskmaster, torturer, and drill sergeant. But one car accident, and all his hard work, all his time and effort had been flushed down the proverbial toilet. In an instant, his dreams of playing at a collegiate ¨C or even a professional ¨C level had ended. His dreams had been torn asunder. And without that, he had no idea what to do with the rest of his life. Even more than that, most of his friends had been other baseball players. They probably hadn¡¯t made a conscious decision to stop hanging out with him or anything, but most of them were like him. They lived for the game. And now that he wasn¡¯t one of them, they¡¯d moved on. Some had gotten scholarships to play in college. Others had gotten drafted into the major leagues. All except Zeke, who¡¯d been left behind to wallow in his own depression. It was disgusting, and he hated himself for the way he felt, but he couldn¡¯t help it. He wanted to move on. He¡¯d tried so hard to do just that, but it never worked. ¡°You ready, kid?¡± came a gruff voice, drawing him out of his reverie. Zeke looked up to see a bear of a man wearing hospital scrubs. Zeke nodded, ¡°I guess.¡± With that, the time had come. Zeke¡¯s stomach clenched as the burly orderly wheeled him through the hospital corridors. A dark premonition came over him as he imagined the myriad ways such a surgery could go wrong. But he blocked it out, instead trying to focus on his surroundings. The florescent lights. The antiseptic smell. The white tiles on the floor. He noticed a thousand little details he probably never would have before, all in an effort to distract himself from the fact that there was a very real chance he was seeing his last sights. In fact, the feeling of impending death became so strong that he had to constantly remind himself that he couldn¡¯t back out, that he couldn¡¯t abandon Tommy. If he did, he would never forgive himself. Eventually, they made their way to the operating room. It wasn¡¯t a big place, and it was jam-packed with hospital staff, all wearing scrubs and surgical masks. There must¡¯ve been ten people there, scurrying around as they went about their various tasks. After a few seconds, he was picked up and transferred to another bed in the center of the room. Bright lights bore down on him as another man ¨C the doctor who would be performing the surgery ¨C said something to try to calm Zeke down. It didn¡¯t work. By the time the anesthetist placed a plastic mask over his face, Zeke¡¯s heart was beating a thousand miles-per-hour. Thankfully, that all came to an abrupt end when the anesthesia started to kick in. Darkness closed in around him, and all the while, Zeke comforted himself with the fact that he had made the right decision. Unconsciousness soon overtook him, and not long after that, he died. 2. A New Life Zeke wasn¡¯t certain of when, exactly, he died. Nor did he know why. But as he floated in nothingness, he knew that he was, in fact, dead. His life was over. And there was no going back. It was a curious feeling, being dead, a consciousness floating in a sea of oblivion. He knew who he was, but he could scarcely remember any details. He was sure that he should be panicking, that he should want something to happen, to break the chains binding him to the void, but he was comfortable. Content. It felt like he¡¯d come home. For what could¡¯ve been an instant or an eternity, Zeke floated in that dark contentedness until, suddenly, a white dot appeared in his mind. He had no eyes. No body. There was nothing corporeal about him. In fact, there was nothing physical about his existence at all. But the light, it defied all logic, because it slowly drew closer and closer, growing larger all the while. Zeke ¨C or the entity that had once been him ¨C grew to resent that light. It had disrupted his contentment. It had ruined his eternity. It had dissolved the nothingness. That alone was enough to make him hate it. But what was he to do? He couldn¡¯t stop it. He could barely string two coherent thoughts together, much less act. So, he merely waited, silently seething as the light drew closer. It might¡¯ve taken seconds. It could¡¯ve been eons. Eventually, though, the light was all Zeke could see. It enveloped him, forcing an awareness he could scarcely contemplate. Then, suddenly, he was alive. No ¨C not quite alive. He remembered that he had died. But he wasn¡¯t completely dead, either. So, what had happened? In the space of an instant, he regained his awareness and physical presence. It was a jarring experience, to suddenly have a body again. Zeke looked down, flexing his hands. He had fingers. Skin. He was whole. That was enough to send him into a panic, all by itself, but as he looked around, that panic turned to existential terror. All he saw was whiteness. There was no floor. No ceiling. No earth or sky. It was just an endless, white expanse. ¡°Takes some getting used to, I know,¡± came a voice from behind him. Zeke wheeled around, only to see an incredibly short, bearded man. ¡°You look familiar,¡± Zeke muttered, searching his mind for why that would be the case. Then it hit him ¨C a memory of a television show he¡¯d watched before he¡¯d died. ¡°Why do you look like Peter Dinklage?¡± The dwarf laughed. ¡°That¡¯s kind of on you,¡± he said. ¡°Something about the way your mind interacts with this place. I could explain it to you, but you¡¯d probably fall asleep. Or your brain might explode. Either way, it¡¯s probably best if we just skip past that.¡± ¡°W-what¡¯s going on? Did I really die? I feel like I died,¡± Zeke said, his mind scrambling to latch onto something that might explain what was happening. It failed to find purchase. ¡°Hate to break it to you, but yeah,¡± the dwarf said. ¡°You¡¯re dead. I¡¯m Oberon, by the way. In case you were wondering.¡± ¡°I¡­I¡¯m¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re Ezekiel Blackwood,¡± Oberon said. ¡°You¡¯re nineteen years old. Died on an operating table while trying to save your little brother. Ouch. Bad break. If it¡¯s any consolation, your little brother ended up getting a kidney when the story went national. So, in a way, you did save the kid. He ended up living for thirty more years. So, bravo. Good job and all that.¡± ¡°Wait¡­what?¡± Zeke said, running his hand through his hair. ¡°Thirty years? I thought¡­I mean¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I always forget how linearly your kind see time,¡± said the dwarf. He waved his hand, and suddenly, a pair of overstuffed, leather chairs appeared. He climbed onto one, saying, ¡°Have a seat. This might take a few minutes. Or I guess time doesn¡¯t really exist here, but you get my drift. Sit down.¡± Zeke collapsed onto the chair, still trying to make sense of what was going on. He came up completely empty, so he just focused on the dwarf, who suddenly had a beer in his hand. He took a swig, saying, ¡°I never get tired of that. Humanity did a lot of things wrong, but they definitely knew how to brew a good beer.¡± ¡°Can you please just tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± Zeke pleaded, a tremor of panic in his voice. Oberon sighed. ¡°So impatient,¡± he said. ¡°Fine. The gist of it is that humanity¡¯s dead. Gone. The earth is now a wasteland, and everyone you¡¯ve ever known or heard about is gone. That¡¯s the bad news. The good news is that you¡¯re getting something of a second chance here.¡± ¡°Earth is gone? How?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Combination of nuclear war and environmental collapse,¡± Oberon said. ¡°They actually hung on for a lot longer than most of us expected. You¡¯re stubborn bastards. But as soon as the last one died, everyone ended up moving on from the tutorial.¡± ¡°The what? Tutorial? I don¡¯t ¨C¡± Oberon gave a dramatic sigh. ¡°Everything¡¯s got to be explained,¡± he muttered. ¡°Fine. Okay, throughout history, when a human died, they went into limbo. The In-Between. That was that scary black void you were in. Got me so far? Good. Well, once humanity kicked the bucket, everyone ended up in a version of this place. This is where the next part of your journey starts. The character creation construct.¡± ¡°Character creation? Like a video game?¡± Zeke said, not nearly as stressed out about the fact that humanity had become extinct as he thought he should be. Perhaps it was a function of the construct. ¡°For you, yes,¡± Oberon said. ¡°The Framework takes the form of something you can understand. In your case, it¡¯ll seem like a video game. For people from previous generations, a giant tome. The bottom line is that your perception of The Framework is tailor-made just for you. Convenient, right? Besides, where do you think all those people got the inspiration for those video game systems from? Yep. Us.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Not your name. Like, what are you?¡± ¡°Think of me as a combination of a middle-manager-slash-entrepreneur-slash-recruiter,¡± Oberon said with a note of pride. ¡°And I¡¯m here to make sure you don¡¯t muck this up too badly. God knows that didn¡¯t go well the last time.¡± ¡°The last time?¡± ¡°Oh, come on ¨C you don¡¯t think you¡¯re the only civilization out there, do you? This has happened with an infinite number of civilizations,¡± the dwarf explained. ¡°And between you and me, we¡¯ve gotten pretty good at it. So, let¡¯s jump right into it, shall we?¡± ¡°I¡­I guess,¡± said Zeke, though his mind was reeling with everything the dwarf had revealed. ¡°How do we start?¡± ¡°Eager! I like it,¡± Oberon exclaimed, clapping his hands together. The motion summoned what looked like a free-floating screen. ¡°So, the first step is to allocate your starting attributes. You should know that these statistics, along with your achievements, skills, and paths will affect your class choices.¡± Suddenly, a table flashed onto the screen.
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class n/a
Level 1
Race Human
Alignment Isphodel
Achievements n/a
Strength 6
Agility 7
Dexterity 10 Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Endurance 6
Vitality 4
Intelligence 5
Wisdom 3
Unassigned Attribute Points 30
Zeke scanned the screen over and over, trying to make sense of it. Certainly, it looked just like something you might find in a roleplaying game, right down to the stats. However, his rational mind told him that there was absolutely no way that could be real. In fact, he was beginning to think that this entire experience was a dream. Or a delusion. Maybe he¡¯d gone insane or something. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± said Oberon, suddenly standing behind him. ¡°It¡¯s real. More real than your old world, even.¡± ¡°But¡­but what¡¯s the point?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°You say I¡¯m dead. Okay. Fine. And now you¡¯re talking about classes and stats like I¡¯m in a video game? Come on, man. What¡¯s going on?¡± Oberon took a long, deep breath, almost like he was trying to forcibly calm himself. Then, he said, ¡°Look, kid ¨C I know this is a big shock to you. Believe me, I get it. But whether you want to believe it¡¯s real or not doesn¡¯t matter. Because it is. And when we get finished here, you¡¯re going to be thrust into the real world. So, you¡¯d better take this shit seriously. Otherwise, you¡¯re going to die again. And this time, there¡¯s no white room and friendly dwarf waiting on you, okay?¡± ¡°You think you¡¯re friendly?¡± Zeke said. Oberon ground his teeth together in frustration. ¡°All that, and that¡¯s what you focus on¡­¡± ¡°Fine, fine ¨C I get it,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I can steer into it, and if it¡¯s real, I survive. If it turns out not to be¡­then, well ¨C I don¡¯t really lose anything, I guess.¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Oberon stated. ¡°So, you said something about classes,¡± Zeke said. ¡°And a real world. What kind of world are we talking about?¡± ¡°The dangerous kind,¡± Oberon said, circling back around to his chair. He turned to face Zeke, saying, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you everything ¨C not yet ¨C but there¡¯s a war out there. You could call it a war between good and evil. You¡¯re on our side because you died trying to save someone else. That puts you firmly on the good side. But there are truly evil people on that other side. And they¡¯re going to amass a lot of power very, very quickly. Your job is to do the same so you can oppose them.¡± ¡°You want soldiers,¡± Zeke reasoned. ¡°We want heroes,¡± Oberon said. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you have to fight. Plenty won¡¯t. Once you get out into the world, you can choose whatever path you want. If that means becoming a craftsman or a merchant or a goddamned whoremonger, that¡¯s your business. But you can be more. You can be a hero.¡± Zeke stared at the dwarf, thinking about what he¡¯d just explained. Certainly, Zeke had never wanted to go to war, but what boy hadn¡¯t dreamed of being a hero? Still, he was skeptical, so he went with his gut instinct, asking, ¡°Does that actually work? The hero speech, I mean.¡± Oberon let out a loud guffaw, ¡°Ha! I knew you were smarter than you looked.¡± ¡°Seriously, man ¨C just tell me the truth,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Fine ¨C yes, we want soldiers,¡± Oberon stated. ¡°Happy? We¡¯re fighting a war across millions of clusters, and we need people. And before you ask, yes. It¡¯s worth it because if we don¡¯t fight those bastards, they¡¯ll take over everything. Nobody wants to see that.¡± ¡°So, this is kind of like a holy war or something? Angels and demons?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Something like that,¡± Oberon grumbled. ¡°They might be demons, but we aren¡¯t angels. What I said stands, though ¨C once you¡¯re in the world, you can do whatever the hell you want to do. There are no restrictions. Just a world.¡± ¡°And these stats represent my¡­attributes? How?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Aren¡¯t most of them pretty self-explanatory?¡± asked the dwarf. Still, he took the time to explain the statistics. Strength represented physical power. Dexterity was coordination. Agility was speed and quickness. Endurance was the body¡¯s durability. Vitality represented the body¡¯s ability to recover from physical wounds. After that, Zeke got a bit of a surprise when he found out that wisdom and intelligence both governed the use of and defense against magic. ¡°Wait ¨C like real magic? Shooting fireballs and stuff?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Oberon said. ¡°There are millions of different ways to do magic, but shooting fireballs is one of the popular ones. As I was saying, wisdom governs your mana regeneration as well as your defense against mental attacks. Intelligence dictates the size of your mana pool and your defense against the more physical sorts of magic. The ever-popular fireballs and such.¡± ¡°And¡­and my statistics will determine my class?¡± was Zeke¡¯s next question. ¡°When do I get that?¡± Oberon said, ¡°Level twenty-five.¡± Zeke started to say something, but Oberon forestalled him with a raised hand, continuing, ¡°Yes, there are levels. You get them just like you would in your video games. So, don¡¯t ask about that. And to answer your first question, your statistics play a large part in which class you get at twenty-five and move onto the next plane. Other considerations are your skills and proficiencies, paths, your achievements, and general style. After you allocate your statistics, you¡¯re going to choose one basic skill, then off you go to start your new life.¡± ¡°Paths?¡± Zeke asked with a raised eyebrow. Oberon let out a long-suffering sigh, saying, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t have mentioned those.¡± He looked around, and Zeke followed suit. As always, there was nothing to see, but the dwarf seemed satisfied, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t fully explain them, but paths represent higher concepts. Once you get a glimpse of one of them, you can use that to empower yourself in an appropriate way. I can¡¯t say more than that, or I¡¯ll draw The Framework¡¯s attention.¡± Zeke wanted to ask why that would be a problem, but he got the picture that Oberon was explaining more than was normal, and he was limited in what he could and couldn¡¯t tell Zeke. So, he let it drop, asking, ¡°Any advice? On the stat allocation, I mean.¡± ¡°Depends on what you want to do,¡± the dwarf said. ¡°You want to be a traditional mage? Put your points in wisdom and intelligence. A fighter? Concentrate on strength and endurance. Vitality¡¯s never a bad idea. But one piece of advice I can give you ¨C don¡¯t try to be a jack-of-all-trades. It never works. You need to pick a role and perfect it. The other way might work for a while, but eventually, you¡¯ll be spread too thin. Then, you¡¯ll just be mediocre-to-bad at everything.¡± Zeke thought about it for a minute. On the one hand, the idea of using magic was an enticing one. It was easy to imagine himself as a supreme wizard throwing waves of fire and ice at his enemies. However, it was almost as enticing to think of himself as a warrior, swinging an axe or a sword and mowing down legions of bad guys that resembled the orcs and goblins he¡¯d seen in video games and movies. ¡°You¡¯ve got to pick something, kid,¡± Oberon said after a few minutes. ¡°I know it¡¯s a big choice, but you can¡¯t just stare at that screen for forever.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it,¡± Zeke said. ¡°There¡¯re so many choices¡­¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m not really supposed to do this, but let me give you a tip,¡± Oberon said. ¡°Play to your strengths. Humans have a maximum attribute of ten without any Framework alteration. So, you did something in your old life to warrant maximum dexterity. You¡¯ve got decent agility and strength, too. Bad wisdom and intelligence, though. So, I¡¯ll go ahead and leave you with that. And no, putting all your points into intelligence doesn¡¯t actually make you smarter. It just facilitates certain types of magic.¡± Clearly, Oberon was trying to guide Zeke towards skewing his stats towards physical abilities, and his reasoning made sense ¨C enough that it actually tipped the balance in Zeke¡¯s head. ¡°Alright, here goes,¡± he said before allocating ten points in strength and five points each in dexterity, agility, endurance, and vitality. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s done. What now?¡± ¡°Now, we get to pick skills,¡± a grinning Oberon said, and with a wave of his hand, the screen changed. ¡°There are a little over forty-seven thousand skills to choose from, and that¡¯s just the ones that are categorized as beginner skills by The Framework. There are an infinite number of more powerful skills, though. Some are overt combat skills, while the vast majority are non-combat abilities. Needless to say, I recommend that we exclude artisan skills. Would you like me to narrow it down?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke said. Oberon snapped his fingers, and the number went down to nine-thousand available skills. Zeke caught sight of a few skills that seemed to focus on healing and enhancement. As powerful as those might be, he couldn''t help but think that he would need something that might do some damage. As if reading his mind, Oberon suggested, ¡°Attack abilities?¡± Again, Zeke nodded, and the available pool was narrowed again. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve already got some small mastery with blunt weapons, probably from something you did in your old life. So, I suggest that you focus on what you¡¯re already good at.¡± That made sense to Zeke, and so did his supposed ability with blunt weapons. He¡¯d taken enough swings with a baseball bat that he should have something to show for it. Come to think of it, his history as an athlete probably explained his high dexterity skill as well. ¡°Narrow it down to activated skills, then,¡± Zeke said. That took it down to a few hundred, which Zeke immediately began to peruse. There were plenty of obviously magical abilities, ranging from fireballs to poison clouds. There were even a few lightning skills. ¡°Can we narrow it down to melee types of skills?¡± he asked. Oberon complied, and from the fifty or so skills that were left, there were four that stood out to Zeke. They were as follows: [Lightning Strike] (H) ¨C Imbues a weapon with the power of lightning. Upgradeable. [Flaming Blade] (H) ¨C Creates a sword of flames. Upgradeable. [Cudgel of Superiority] (H) ¨C Imbues a blunt weapon with extreme weight, crushing your foes. Upgradeable. [Leech Strike] (H) ¨C Steals a small amount of vitality from an opponent, transferring it to the caster. Upgradeable. [Lightning Strike] and [Flaming Blade] both seemed to belong to the same family of elemental attacks, and Zeke could certainly see the draw of burning his enemies alive or electrocuting them to death. Similarly, it was easy to imagine how [Cudgel of Superiority] would help, especially when he gained a few more points in strength. But to him, there wasn¡¯t really a choice, presuming he understood the way things would work. Not only was [Leech Strike] an attack, but it was also a heal? That seemed a little overpowered. He asked Oberon, ¡°What¡¯s with this one? If you could steal someone¡¯s vitality like that, why would anyone want to do anything else?¡± Oberon answered, ¡°It¡¯s a very weak attack. Maybe a quarter as powerful as the others up there. And it can lead to some¡­ah¡­less-than-reputable classes.¡± ¡°What does that even mean?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Less-than-reputable? Why does that matter?¡± ¡°Because people are people, and if you start fiddling with people¡¯s life force, you¡¯re going to have a difficult reputation,¡± Oberon said. ¡°Is it powerful? Sure. It can be. But it takes a lot of work to get it to the point where its usefulness outweighs its demerits. And even if you put in all that work, there¡¯s a good chance of you being ostracized because of your eventual class. I can¡¯t say more about that, so don¡¯t ask.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s just bullshit,¡± Zeke mumbled. How was he supposed to decide when he didn¡¯t have all the information? Or was that the point? ¡°Just tell me this ¨C will it help keep me alive?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Oberon said. ¡°Better than almost any other skill.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s all I need to know,¡± he said, selecting the skill. He felt a slight tingle in the back of his mind, but he ignored it. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to have a tough road, kid,¡± Oberon said. ¡°But if you stick to it, you could make some waves, I think. Just remember ¨C no matter what, there¡¯s no substitute for hard work.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what my dad used to tell me,¡± Zeke said. Indeed, the man had been all about telling others to work hard. Meanwhile, he¡¯d never actually taken his own advice to heart. ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m good at, it¡¯s work.¡± ¡°Well, I hope you¡¯re right,¡± Oberon said. ¡°Because you¡¯re going to get every chance to prove it. See you in a bit.¡± Before Zeke could respond, Oberon snapped his fingers, and Zeke¡¯s world went black again. 3. A Whole New World Zeke awoke lying in the center of a small cave, though when he sat up, he could feel a healthy breeze emanating from a narrow crack in the nearby wall. His eyes opened wide as he strained to see his surroundings, but only the barest outline was visible. Still, with the scant light, even that much was something of a surprise. It was pitch black inside the cave, so he could only assume that in this new world, he had better night vision than he ever had before. Slowly, he rolled over to all fours, then pushed himself to his knees. Once, when he was younger, he and a few of his friends had found a low-voltage electric fence. And because kids are stupid, they¡¯d each taken a turn trying to grab it. When it was Zeke¡¯s turn, he¡¯d hesitantly followed in his friends¡¯ footsteps, receiving a shock to his system. Back then, it had been like every muscle in his body had contracted, all at once. But that wasn¡¯t the worst of it, especially considering that it had faded almost as soon as he¡¯d let go of the fence. Instead, the worst part was that, for a couple of hours afterwards, it had felt like every cell in his body was agitated and vibrating. A similar sensation coursed through his body as he sat in that lonely cave, trying to make sense of what had just happened. His first thought was that it wasn¡¯t real. How could it be? Not only had he cast the role of Oberon with a familiar actor, but the entire set-up seemed like the beginning of one of his video games. His rational mind told him that he was probably still asleep on some operating table, and everything was just some anesthesia-induced dream. But something inside of him said otherwise. Perhaps it was his soul. Or maybe his instincts were better equipped to make heads or tails of the situation. Or maybe he was just adept at pushing denial aside. Whatever the case, he knew in his heart of hearts that everything Oberon had said was absolutely, unavoidably true. And that scared him to death. For a few minutes, Zeke just knelt on that uneven ground, the sharp rocks digging into his knees as panic threatened to overtake him. His heartbeat quickened. His breathing became ragged and shallow. And he found himself on the verge of simply giving in to the overwhelming terror threatening to splinter his sanity. He had actually died, and a long, long time ago, too. Oberon had made it sound like it had been eons since he¡¯d died on that operating table. Even in his panicked state, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder how everyone had reacted to that. His brother. His mother. His so-called friends. Had they mourned? Surely, his family had. But he suspected that his friends¡¯ grief had only lasted as long as it took to make a post on social media. It was a sobering thought, but he¡¯d long known that his friends were really more acquaintances than anything else. They were shallow relationships of convenience, and little else. None of them would¡¯ve shed a tear for him. Zeke wasn¡¯t certain how long he knelt in the center of the cave. Hours? Minutes? A day? It could¡¯ve been an eternity, for all he knew. However, he slowly pushed through the panic-tinged melancholy to the point where he found himself taking stock of his situation. He might¡¯ve died, sure. But that didn¡¯t mean he had nothing to live for. According to Oberon, there was a whole world out there. Maybe he could even find his brother. More, he resolved to do things better than he had in his first life. Short as it was, he¡¯d accomplished very little. No friends. No partner. No impact. It was easy to blame his injury, and it had certainly derailed his plans. But it all came down to one, simple fact: he¡¯d let himself down. He wouldn¡¯t let that happen again. So, with a renewed sense of vigor and purpose, he pushed himself to his feet, thoughts of triumph and heroism in his mind as well as his stance. It made him a perfect target. A ball of sharp, burning agony erupted in his back, sending him flying across the small cave. He collided with the rocky wall, his breath exploding out of his body in a sharp exhale. He let out a breathless scream that echoed off the walls as he felt like his every bone was broken, all at once. But that was nothing compared to the pain in his back. It was unlike anything he¡¯d ever felt before, and the shock nearly sent him cascading into unconsciousness. However, a sixth sense born of a natural survival instinct told him that if he succumbed, he wouldn¡¯t survive another minute. And he knew that if that came to pass, he wouldn¡¯t be reborn into some white room talking about classes and stats. If he died again, that would be the end. So, he clung to that thin thread of instinct, hoping that it would be enough to keep his wits. It worked, and a second later, he found himself rolling to the side. The ruined mess of his back screamed at him, but he forcibly shut out the pain. It was just pain, after all. And if his life had taught him anything, it was how to push through something like that. He scrambled to his feet, simultaneously turning so he could see his attacker. And what he saw was, in a word, shocking. His night vision didn¡¯t provide the best view, but it was clear enough that he immediately knew he wasn¡¯t facing an earthly creature. The closest thing Zeke could compare the animal to was a rodent, but instead of fur, it was covered in scales. I seemed like an unholy mixture of crocodile, badger, and rat, with gleaming, bloody claws and a mouthful of what used to be Zeke¡¯s unblemished back. All in all, the thing was around three feet long, from snout to the end of its thick, crocodilian tail. And it was frighteningly quick, which Zeke discovered only a moment later, when the low-slung monster launched itself at him. However, Zeke¡¯s next discovery was even more shocking. He knew the croco-rat was fast. Probably too fast, at least by his old standards. But in a way, it seemed like it was moving in slow motion. It was as if his own perception had been sped up. Immediately, his mind went back to his stats. If his suspicions about the human baseline were true, he was already operating on a borderline superhuman level. Or perhaps peak human, like Captain America. Just as he was about to dodge away, a spark of inspiration took hold in Zeke¡¯s mind. In an instant, a sinister red cloud erupted from his clenched fists. Instinctively, he knew this was his chosen skill, [Leech Strike], which was supposed to somehow transfer vitality from his enemy to him. However, he had absolutely zero notion of how to actually use the thing. Nor did he have much time to think it through, because despite his enhanced speed and perception, the vicious croco-rat was bearing down on him. And if it got those jaws around him, no enhanced stats were likely to save him. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. So, when the creature was only a scant foot away, Zeke struck. Years of spending every waking moment hitting baseballs had given him impeccable hand-eye coordination, and that had only been enhanced by his new stat allocation. The result was that when Zeke sidestepped, simultaneously swinging his fist at the thing, he struck true, unleashing the sort of power Earth had rarely seen. Even professional fighters would¡¯ve been hard-pressed to match the force of that simple, frantic punch. What¡¯s more, the moment it connected, it felt like a piece of Zeke¡¯s soul shot out, plunging deep into the croco-rat¡¯s head, snatching at something Zeke could neither perceive nor see. But when it retracted, the red cloud around his fist flashed a deep green that radiated vitality, which then flowed up his arm only to disappear the moment it reached his torso. Not that he noticed it, of course. He was too busy watching the croco-rat sail through the air to collide with the other side of the cave wall. It let out a yelp of pain as rock and gravel, shaken loose by the impact, cascaded down the uneven wall. Zeke stared in shock, trying to understand what had just happened. For a long moment, the croco-rat lay still, but Zeke knew it wasn¡¯t dead. His instincts proved right once again as the monstrous creature slowly rose onto its stubby legs, shook itself, then fixed its gaze on Zeke. He felt it, then, like the hairs on the back of his neck were suddenly standing straight up. This thing intended to kill him. Not in the way a wild animal wants to kill its prey. No ¨C this was something more sinister. This was a creature who wanted to murder for murder¡¯s sake. And it had its sights set on Zeke. ¡°Alright, then,¡± Zeke muttered, adopting a fighting posture. It felt a little silly, because he¡¯d only ever been in a few fights in all his life, and even those had been during his adolescent years. But this was kill-or-be-killed, and he¡¯d quickly adapted his mindset for survival. Zeke had already died once today, and he had no intention of repeating the experience. The croco-rat seemed to have learned its lesson as well, and instead of mindlessly barreling at him, it was content to repeatedly dart forward, testing his defenses. Zeke dodged as best he could, but even his enhanced perception wouldn¡¯t let him escape unscathed. Soon, a multitude of scratches and bloody bites decorated his entire body, ripping his meager clothing to shreds. He¡¯d awoken wearing a thin, white tunic and matching, linen pants, but they were clearly not much use at stopping the croco-rat¡¯s sharp claws. However, Zeke had also given almost as good as he¡¯d gotten. Each time the creature drew close, his fists arced out, and more often than not, his blows connected. He¡¯d yet to repeat the power of his first strike, but each of his punches landed with a meaty thump. More than that, though, every time he made forcible contact, he stole a little of the monster¡¯s life force. Or vitality. Maybe even some of its soul. Zeke really had no idea what, precisely, he was doing. But one thing he did know was that each surge of energy that flowed up his arm had, bit by bit, eased the pain in his back. No single influx of energy was lifesaving, but it had built up to the point where he was almost certain that the wounds had mostly closed, which was miraculous in and of itself. Add the fact that the croco-rat was weakened by each subsequent strike, and Zeke felt confident that he could outlast the monster, even despite his obvious deficiencies in the realm of combat. The croco-rat seemed to understand this as well, because it soon redoubled its offensive. It seemed like it was trying to rip through Zeke with nothing but ferocity. And in its haste to dispatch the annoying young man who¡¯d invaded its territory, it started making mistakes. Zeke was there to pounce on each and every one, and soon, his fists thundered into the creature over and over, until he¡¯d finally overwhelmed its defenses. Sensing weakness, Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate. By this point, he was running on sheer survival instinct, and there was no room for doubt in his mind. So, when he saw the croco-rat struggling to rise after a particularly vicious blow sent it careening to the other side of the cave, he leapt atop it. His fists rose and fell like pistons, hammering into the creature until he felt its very skull crack. But he didn¡¯t stop there. He couldn¡¯t. So, even after the monster had clearly died, Zeke continued to pound the thing¡¯s head into a bloody, messy pulp. He might¡¯ve gone even longer, but his fury was interrupted by an influx of pure energy. It entered his body through his pores, but it soon traced a series of pathways through his body. In his mind¡¯s eye, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of a glowing stick figure, the sort a kindergartner might draw. In an instant, the energy found its way to a point just above his navel, where it accumulated into a dense ball. ¡°W-what the hell¡­¡± However, before Zeke got an answer, he heard a scuttling sound from across the cave. He looked up to see a gaping crevasse in the wall on the other side of the cave, from which emerged a trio of croco-rats. For a moment, his shoulders slumped in exhaustion, and he found himself wondering how he could possibly go on. A fight with one of the monsters had driven him to his limit. What was he supposed to do against three of them? But then again, what choice did he have? Just as he rose wearily to his feet, a screen flashed in front of Zeke¡¯s eyes. Instinctively, he knew it wouldn¡¯t be visible to anyone else. But more, the text it displayed gave him some hope. New Quest Acquired! Objective: Escape the Caracoan Nest Reward: Wilderness Survival Kit (H-Grade) Zeke had no idea what might be contained in something called a Wilderness Survival Kit, but he felt certain that it wouldn¡¯t be the sort he might¡¯ve bought at a sporting goods store back home. Nor did he have any notion of what the grading system was. If it was the entire alphabet, H-Grade might imply something of mediocre quality. However, he had a sneaking suspicion that whatever he gained so soon would be the poorest quality out there. Still, he was in no position to refuse any sort of help. And besides, it wasn¡¯t like he wanted to remain within the cave for the rest of his life. Escaping was already on the docket. Either way, the quest had given him a burst of energy as well as a sense of purpose. He felt like he¡¯d already taken the first step. This was just the next in what he hoped would be a long line. So, without further hesitation, Zeke mentally dismissed the quest screen and launched himself at the croco-rats. Or caracoa, as the quest implied. Whatever the case, the creatures were standing between him and his very survival. And, miraculously, his first punch connected. So did his second, and both stubby-legged creatures were sent careening into opposite walls. However, the reality of his lacking combat experience soon reasserted itself, and he felt the third monster latch onto his leg with what felt like enough pressure to snap his shin in two. He howled in pain, and his panicked fists rained down on the beast¡¯s head with unrivaled fury. Every blow was like a sledgehammer, and it wasn¡¯t long before the croco-rat was dislodged from his shin, taking a significant chunk of Zeke¡¯s calf with it. He almost fell, then and there. But with the adrenaline pumping through his veins, he managed to keep his mind clear enough to finish the caracoa off, leaving its brains splattered on the rocky ground. Zeke didn¡¯t get much of a reprieve, though, because in a matter of seconds, the other two croco-rats were upon him. The next few minutes were something of a blur for Zeke. He punched. He kicked. He grappled. He even bit. And each time he made contact with one of the creatures, a surge of vitality crashed against his accumulated wounds. Still, he was a mess of blood and viscera by the time he finally managed to kill the last caracoa. Zeke didn¡¯t even have time to take stock of his many, many wounds before darkness started to overtake him. Just before he collapsed, though, a very exciting message flashed before his eyes. Congratulations! You have reached level two! Continue Reading on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible (Nov. 29) November 29 has come and gone, and now, book one of Death: Genesis is now available on Kindle, Audible, and Paperback. Above are links to the listings for the book''s various versions! Remember to rate and/or review after reading. And of course, thank you all for your support. Without the encouragement you all have provided, this book could never have happened. Here''s hoping for continued success so I can keep doing what I love and providing everyone with the content they want! This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. 54. Civilization (Beginning of Book Two) Abby, Pudge, and Zeke trudged downhill, covering the final stretch to Bastion. As they grew closer, Zeke found himself increasingly impressed by the size as well as the construction. Not only were the walls nearly twenty feet high, but when he focused, he could see the faintest hint of glowing runes beneath the grey stone. ¡°Are those walls enchanted?¡± he asked when they were still a half-mile away. Abby shrugged. ¡°No idea, but probably,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s one of the oldest waystations along the road, so it¡¯s not out of the question.¡± Zeke frowned, studying walls as they drew ever closer. He was aware that Abby couldn¡¯t see the runes like he could. Whether it was an effect of his artisan¡¯s path or just a different kind of focus, he had no idea, but based on how Abby talked, he suspected that the ability wasn¡¯t a common one. Most of the time, the runes were invisible, but it only took a mental shift of his perception before the complicated combinations of glyphs and symbols became apparent. ¡°Wonder what they do,¡± he muttered to himself. Abby¡¯s keen ears heard his mumbles, and she responded, ¡°Probably enchanted for durability. Maybe some sort of counterattack. There¡¯s really no telling. I doubt the Watcher even knows.¡± ¡°Watcher?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°It¡¯s a title for the leaders of waystations and outposts,¡± she answered. ¡°A woman named Aria has been the Watcher in charge of Bastion for a couple of decades now. Level twenty-four, from what I hear.¡± ¡°What kind of skills does she have?¡± ¡°Why do you ask? You¡¯re not going to pick a fight, are you?¡± Abby asked, glancing toward him with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Just curious.¡± ¡°So long as it¡¯s just curiosity,¡± she said, shaking her head. She mumbled something about bulls and china shops before answering the question. ¡°Fire-based stuff, as far as I know. I¡¯ve never even seen her, so I can¡¯t be sure, but I heard that she can throw fireballs or something. But it doesn¡¯t matter because we¡¯re just passing through, right?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I¡¯ll behave.¡± Abby snorted a laugh, then immediately covered her face in embarrassment. ¡°Let¡¯s just pretend that didn¡¯t just happen,¡± she said. ¡°What? Your snort-laugh? I didn¡¯t hear a thing,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°And for your information, I¡¯m perfectly capable of flying under the radar.¡± ¡°Not from what I¡¯ve seen, but I¡¯m prepared to be surprised,¡± she said. Zeke was about to respond, but he stopped himself as he considered how Abby must see him. Since they¡¯d been together, he¡¯d made a habit of charging into battle without a care for how it might turn out. So, it wasn¡¯t all that surprising that she would consider him a little reckless. Certainly, he wasn¡¯t subtle. ¡°Fair enough,¡± he said. Pudge gave a loud snort, almost as if to say that he would keep Zeke in line. Or at least that¡¯s the impression he got from the cub¡¯s emotions. Zeke could only shake his head and wonder how Pudge had become his babysitter. As the trio made their way to the gate, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the construction. Growing up in the states, he¡¯d never really been exposed to castles. He had seen them in movies and on the internet, but the closest he¡¯d come to seeing an actual castle was in grade school when he¡¯d gone on a field trip to a local pre-civil war fort. That experience hadn¡¯t come close to preparing him for Bastion. Up close, the walls were even bigger than he first thought, measuring in at over twenty-feet tall and half-again as wide. When he shifted his focus, he could see the distinct glow of interlocking glyphs suffusing every single brick. In turn, those collections of symbols combined to create a much larger whole that wove through the entire wall. Without the runes, it was an impressive fortification, but with them, it was downright intimidating. The gate wasn¡¯t any less extraordinary, either. Comprised of giant, iron-grey slabs of lumber, it was bound with bands of some silvery metal that was densely packed with even more runes. They were open, with an iron portcullis withdrawn, but Zeke could tell that the gates could be closed in seconds, if necessary. There was a short line of wagons waiting to get into the waystation, and the gate was manned by a pair of warriors in matching tabards emblazoned with a red flame over their chainmail armor. Zeke didn¡¯t need to inspect them to know that they were no higher than fifteen. They looked impressive, but they didn¡¯t hold that much real power. The people waiting in line were even weaker, coming in at below level ten. While they were still out of earshot, Zeke said, ¡°They¡¯re all so weak.¡± Abby responded, ¡°Most people never get past fifteen, even if they¡¯re adventurers. These people just want to live their lives. Some are traders. Some are travelers. Craftsman. Not everybody wants to risk their lives to get stronger.¡± Zeke was about to respond, but then he stopped himself. It wasn¡¯t so different from back on Earth. Most people were content to do the bare minimum. Sure, when given a task, most people would perform to the best of their ability, so long as it wasn¡¯t overly taxing. However, very few would willingly push themselves to improve. Zeke had seen it in baseball and in school, and he suspected that people, as a whole, never really changed, regardless of getting older. So, it stood to reason that being reborn wouldn¡¯t alter anything either. Not for the majority of people, at least. They quickly found a place in the line behind a wagon loaded with sacks of grain. Some of the traders glanced at Pudge with some trepidation, but when he didn¡¯t act aggressively, they relaxed. Of course, he was still the equivalent of a toddler, and he wasn¡¯t much bigger than a dog, so they probably thought he wasn¡¯t much of a threat. If they¡¯d seen him against the drachnids, tearing into them like a particularly angry and vicious badger, they might¡¯ve reacted differently. What would people think as he got older? Pudge¡¯s mother had been close to the size of a rhino, and she¡¯d probably still had plenty of room to grow. Would Pudge get even bigger as he gained levels? Because the guards had to inspect the incoming wagons, the line progressed slowly, and it was nearly midday by the time Zeke, Abby, and Pudge reached the gate. When they finally did, one of the guards looked them over with obvious pity. ¡°Rough go of it?¡± she asked, taking in the state of Zeke¡¯s gear. He was decent, at least, but the leather armor bore dozens of rips, tears, and jagged grooves. By contrast, Abby¡¯s armor was a little better off, owing to the fact that she hadn¡¯t been in the thick of the drachnid horde, but it was far from pristine. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Something like that,¡± Abby said, taking the lead. ¡°Any issues in the area?¡± ¡°We had a few bog stalkers attacking people near the swamp,¡± the female guard said. ¡°But we hired a couple of adventurers from the Gilded Rose to take care of it. You guilded?¡± ¡°Champions of Light,¡± Abby said, pulling a pendant out of her pocket. She jerked her thumb at Zeke, adding, ¡°He¡¯s a recruit.¡± The other guard shook his head, saying, ¡°Oh. Sucks to be you. I heard the Champions of Light have some horrible initiation requirements.¡± Abby laughed. ¡°You can say that again,¡± she said. The female guard glanced behind Zeke and Abby to see that the line hadn¡¯t gotten any shorter. She nodded at Zeke, saying, ¡°Two silver for him.¡± Abby pulled a couple of coins from her pocket and handed it over. The guards waved them through, and as they passed, Zeke heard the man mutter, ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°What was that all about?¡± Zeke asked when they got out of earshot. ¡°Which part? The initiation? The bog stalkers? Or the entry fee?¡± she asked. ¡°Uh¡­all three?¡± he said, mentally pulling Pudge along. The bear had begun to lag behind, sidetracked by a host of new and interesting smells. Zeke wasn¡¯t much different, save that instead of smells, he was distracted by the sights. The town looked like a prototypical medieval town, with stone buildings, cobbled streets, and a citizenry armed with a host of melee weapons. In the distance, Zeke could hear the ring of a blacksmith¡¯s hammer cutting through the din of the crowd of pedestrians. After spending so long in the wilderness, it was a little overwhelming. ¡°Well, the bog stalkers are these natural spirits made of moss, mud, and rotting wood,¡± she said. ¡°Ambush predators. They usually stick to swamps and marshes where they can blend in. Nasty things. Really hard to kill unless you hit them just right and damage their cores. Fire works, too. The road runs close enough to Trollmoor Swamp that they sometimes attack travelers.¡± Zeke¡¯s heart went cold. ¡°I spent a few days in that swamp,¡± he said. ¡°Lucky you didn¡¯t run across one, then,¡± Abby said. ¡°No offense, but you¡¯re not really suited for fighting something like that. Of course, you could probably run away. Or knowing you, you¡¯d just muscle through it. Probably by jumping at it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t always jump!¡± ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± she asked. ¡°Because every time I¡¯ve fought with you, you¡¯ve gone leaping through the air like some kind of kangaroo.¡± He rolled his eyes at her teasing. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°Whatever. What about this initiation?¡± ¡°Think of it like a tryout,¡± Abby said, leading him through the town. Zeke didn¡¯t really know where they were going, but Abby had obviously been in Bastion before, so he¡¯d decided to follow her lead. ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s a tournament. Other times, they give you a mission. Maybe one of the guild¡¯s higher ups will just interview you. It¡¯s always different, but you can¡¯t join the guild unless you pass.¡± ¡°And the entry fee?¡± ¡°Pretty self-explanatory,¡± she said. ¡°The waystation wouldn¡¯t be able to sustain itself without charging for entry. But my guild¡¯s got a deal with all the waystations, so we don¡¯t have to pay.¡± ¡°Handy,¡± he said. ¡°It has its perks,¡± Abby said, finally stopping in front of a large, three-story structure. ¡°Finally! Civilization!¡± Zeke read the sign, which declared the building to be an inn called The Brick Pit. Abby grabbed his wrist and pulled him along, saying, ¡°This place has the best ribs I¡¯ve had since I was reborn! No more snake for us!¡± Zeke allowed himself to be dragged along, and the moment he was inside, he was assaulted by the familiar smell of barbecue. Immediately, his mouth started to water at the welcome fragrance of smoked meat. The place was packed with diners who sat at simple, wooden tables, each seeming to enjoy their carnivorous pursuits. ¡°Abby!¡± exclaimed a short, stout woman as she stepped around a counter. Wearing a stained, white apron, she was almost as wide as she was tall, with muscular arms and heavy shoulders. This was a woman who, though she obviously enjoyed a good meal, was no stranger to hard, manual labor. ¡°What¡¯d you do to yourself?¡± ¡°Ran into a horde of drachnids,¡± Abby said, almost as if she was apologizing. She shrugged. ¡°Kind of went off the rails.¡± ¡°Looks like it,¡± the woman said, shaking her head. ¡°Where¡¯s that big, Russian idiot who follows you around? I¡¯ve been working on a new sauce that I think he¡¯ll love.¡± ¡°Oh¡­uh¡­Vlad¡­he didn¡¯t¡­he didn¡¯t make it. I¡¯m sorry, Mags.¡± The woman¡¯s face went white. Then, after a few seconds, she said, ¡°How?¡± ¡°Probably best to have that conversation in private,¡± Abby said, her expression darkening. Then, she gestured to Zeke, saying, ¡°This is Zeke. He sort of saved me. And Pudge.¡± The woman looked Zeke over, and he felt like he was being picked part, strand by strand, until everything that made him who he was had been laid entirely bare. After a few seconds, Mags¡¯ focus shifted to the bear cub, who practically wilted under her attention. It took Zeke a few seconds to realize that what he¡¯d felt was the stout woman¡¯s much higher level. When he inspected her, he saw that she¡¯d reached level twenty-two. ¡°They¡¯re good people, Mags,¡± Abby said. It was another few awkward seconds before the woman nodded, saying, ¡°If you say so. Any friend of Abby¡¯s is a friend of mine. Come on.¡± Mags gestured for the trio to follow, and Zeke quickly found himself going through a massive kitchen and into an office. Once they were inside, Mags closed the door and planted herself on top of her desk. Then, Abby told the whole story. She didn¡¯t spare many details, but Zeke was thankful that she at least managed to keep his secrets. ¡°I never liked Julio,¡± Mags said. ¡°Knew there was something wrong with that boy. I wish I¡¯d done something about it when I had the chance.¡± Abby agreed, ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°What will you do?¡± Mags asked. Abby shrugged, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. The guild won¡¯t do anything without proof. And besides, Julio¡¯s dead now. Not sure what else they¡¯d do even if I could prove that he attacked me and killed Vlad.¡± Mags shook her head. ¡°This is why I left,¡± she said. ¡°Too much corruption. They were letting people run wild. So long as they were a means to an end, none of the others cared. It used to be so different.¡± Going by context clues, Mags had once been in Abby¡¯s guild. And judging by her obvious strength, she¡¯d probably been in the upper echelon of its members. Maybe one of the leaders. But as much as Zeke wanted to know more, he wasn¡¯t so socially inept that he would ask those kinds of questions when the woman had just been told about her friends¡¯ death. ¡°Can we stay here for a couple of days?¡± Abby said. ¡°We need to sell some stuff off, then we¡¯re going to Beacon.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Mags said, reaching back to open one of the desk¡¯s drawers behind her. She retrieved a pair of keys, saying, ¡°Top floor. The rooms are small, but that¡¯s all I¡¯ve got free right now.¡± Abby took the keys, then handed one to Zeke. He took it, telling Mags, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No,¡± the stout woman said. ¡°Thank you. This girl means a lot to me, and it sounds like she wouldn¡¯t be alive without you. So, you¡¯ve got my thanks. I only wish Vlad could¡¯ve been so lucky.¡± Zeke had no idea how to respond, especially when he noticed a tear rolling down Mags¡¯ plump cheek. Thankfully, the awkwardness was cut short when Abby said something about getting out of Mags¡¯ hair and yanked him out of the office. Soon, they¡¯d made their way back through the kitchen and up the stairs to the third floor, where they quickly found their rooms. ¡°It just occurred to me that you don¡¯t need to drop anything off,¡± Abby said, shaking her head. She opened her door. ¡°That¡­that storage is really going to take some getting used to. Come in. We need to figure out how to deal with all our loot. It¡¯ll be easier to unload some of it here so we don¡¯t draw so much attention in Beacon. Plus, you need money so you can get some new clothes.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t really argue with that,¡± Zeke said, looking over the room. It was a simple place, its only furniture a small bed, a nightstand, and a rustic-looking wardrobe. Abby ignored it all, tossing her pack in the corner. ¡°Alright ¨C let¡¯s do a quick inventory, then we can see where to go from there,¡± she said as Zeke shut the door behind her. And so, Zeke began removing things from his spatial storage. 55. Necessities ¡°And he was all like, ahhh!¡± Abby said, miming a person running with her two fingers. Then, she swung an imaginary club in an overhand strike. ¡°Just jumped through the air like some kind of idiot! And you know what happened?¡± ¡°He got batted out of the air,¡± said Mags, standing over them, her hands on her prodigious hips. ¡°He got batted out of the air!¡± Abby exclaimed, slapping the table with gusto. Laughing, she added, ¡°And he didn¡¯t just do it once, either! That¡¯s, like, his go-to move!¡± ¡°Never leave your feet,¡± Mags said, shaking her head in disappointment. Zeke crossed his arms, enduring the teasing. He knew it wasn¡¯t meant in a mean-spirited way, just like he knew that however he responded, he couldn¡¯t win. Still, he wanted to explain that the reason he¡¯d leapt into the air was because the monsters were so damned big. Sure, it had proven a mistake against the drachnid queen, but that was only because the monster was so much more powerful than him. Every other time, it had worked just fine. Not that he was defending the move ¨C just that he thought that his reasoning was at least moderately defensible. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t pout,¡± Abby said, reaching across the scrubbed wood table and giving him a playful slap on his upper arm. ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you. I know I wouldn¡¯t even be here without you.¡± That made things a little better. ¡°I guess it was kind of dumb to jump at the giant spider monster,¡± he allowed. Then, he held up a finger, ¡°But I stand by it.¡± Shaking her head once again, Mags muttered, ¡°Men.¡± Abby tore a bite of meat from the rib, then, still chewing, she said, ¡°Mags, these are amazing. New recipe?¡± ¡°New sauce,¡± Mags said. ¡°Some of the ingredients here are a little different from back home, but I¡¯m slowly dialing it in.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been dialing it in for five years,¡± Abby said. Mags shrugged. ¡°Great art takes time,¡± was her response. She glanced back to the kitchen, then said, ¡°Suppose I should head back there, or the place is liable to burn down. Let me know if you need anything while you¡¯re here, yeah?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Abby said. Then, Mags pointed at Zeke and said, ¡°And you. Keep your feet. And take care of this girl. I¡¯d be pretty damned pissed off if anything happened to her.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone to take care of me, Mags!¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Zeke said, almost concurrently with Abby¡¯s objection. For some reason, that prompted her to glare at him. Mags knocked on the table, then gave them both a smile before retreating back into the kitchen. That gave Zeke a chance to look around the crowded inn. It was packed full of rough-looking warriors, traders, and teamsters, though all of them seemed to relax a little the moment they walked through the doors. And for good reason, too ¨C Mags¡¯ barbecue was just about the best Zeke had ever had, which meant that it was in a different category altogether from the food he¡¯d been eating for the past couple of years. ¡°I don¡¯t, you know,¡± Abby said, pointing at him with a mostly-clean rib. ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°Need you to take care of me,¡± she elaborated. ¡°I can do that myself just fine. If anything, you¡¯re the one who needs to be looked after.¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°Probably,¡± he said. ¡°But we¡¯re partners, right? Doesn¡¯t that mean we¡¯re supposed to look after each other? Otherwise, what¡¯s the point?¡± Abby didn¡¯t respond, instead choosing to tear into another rib. Zeke understood the compulsion; he¡¯d already eaten most of a rack himself, and he still wanted more. So, for the next few minutes, the pair dedicated themselves wholly to the destruction of their meals. Meanwhile, Pudge was out back where he was steadily eating his way through a mound of discarded pig guts. Zeke wasn¡¯t sure if it was good for the bear cub, but Mags had insisted that he''d be fine. ¡°So,¡± Zeke said, leaning back and trying not to think about how full he was. ¡°What now?¡± Abby, who looked just as stuffed, wiped some sauce from her mouth, then said, ¡°We need to get you geared up. Nothing fancy. Just basic stuff. Maybe some rough furniture for the cottage so we don¡¯t have to sleep on the floor anymore. Clothes. Hygiene items. That kind of thing.¡± ¡°Can we find everything here?¡± Zeke asked. Abby grinned; there was a strand of meat stuck between her teeth. ¡°I know a guy,¡± she said. ¡°Plus, I think he can help us liquidate some of your wealth so we don¡¯t make a big scene in Beacon.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, if somebody comes in there with two-thousand beast cores and twice as many drachnid eyes, it¡¯s going to draw a lot of attention,¡± she explained. ¡°If you were a higher level, it wouldn¡¯t be that big of a deal, but being only fourteen, it would just put a target on your back.¡± ¡°Do I really need to care about that?¡± he asked, thinking about how easily he¡¯d dispatched Julio. According to Abby, the man had been fairly strong, and Zeke had taken him out without breaking a sweat. He¡¯d only gotten stronger since then. ¡°Kill a few drachnids, and you think you¡¯re invincible,¡± Abby muttered, shaking her head. ¡°Listen ¨C people are different than monsters, okay? A lot different. They¡¯re tricky. And anyone can have a ridiculously overpowered skill. Even if they¡¯re not actually stronger than you, they could still stab you in the back. Slit your throat in your sleep. Poison you. There are a million ways someone can kill you.¡± ¡°Sounds like going to Beacon might not be the best idea,¡± he said. ¡°Anywhere with enough people is going to be like that, Zeke,¡± she said. ¡°Sometimes, I forget you¡¯re only twenty years old. You¡¯ve never had to deal with real life.¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with plenty,¡± Zeke responded, his tone one of annoyance. Abby looked at him for a long moment before saying, ¡°We¡¯ve all got our scars. Fine. My point is that people suck. Royally. Not everybody, of course. Not even most. But there are enough assholes out there to spoil the bunch, if you know what I mean. So, our only option is to stay alert.¡± ¡°Keep our heads on a swivel,¡± Zeke agreed. ¡°I can do that.¡± The pair made small talk as they finished up, then left the Brick Pit to find Abby¡¯s other friend, a man named Cort. Bastion wasn¡¯t a huge town, but it was big enough that it still took a few minutes¡¯ worth of walking before they ducked down an alley and found a non-descript door labeled Cort & Sons. Abby knocked, and only a few seconds later, the door opened to reveal a diminutive, old man with bushy, white eyebrows. He barely had a fringe of hair above his ears, and his nose seemed about two sizes too big for his face. ¡°What is it?¡± he growled, scowling as he opened the door. ¡°I¡¯m a busy ¨C Abby? Is that you?¡± His face changed, going from curmudgeonly old malcontent to a kindly grandfather in the space of a breath. He threw his arms around Abby, his head only reaching her shoulder. Abby patted his back, saying, ¡°Good to see you, too, Cort.¡± The small man held Abby at arm¡¯s length, then gave a harumph before saying, ¡°You haven¡¯t been eating enough. And when¡¯s the last time you had a proper bath, eh? You smell like the backside of a troll.¡± Abby cleared her throat. ¡°Been out in the field,¡± she muttered, adding under her breath, ¡°But I bathed yesterday¡­¡± ¡°No excuse for bad hygiene, my girl!¡± he exclaimed, his voice rising an octave. He glanced at Zeke and said, ¡°And who¡¯s this one? Replace that hairy Russian, did you? Or did he finally wise up and ¨C¡± ¡°Uh¡­this is¡­Zeke,¡± Abby said. ¡°And I need to tell you something¡­¡± Seeing Abby¡¯s expression, Cort invited them into his shop, which Zeke quickly decided was the most disorganized and cluttered place he¡¯d ever seen. The walls were covered with various items; some were familiar, but just as many were a complete mystery. There were knives, swords, axes and other weaponry, and right beside them were racks of worn armor, satchels, and a host of other curios Zeke couldn¡¯t identify. There was even a glass case containing jewelry. To Zeke, it looked like nothing so much as a medieval or magical pawn shop. The only thing it was missing was used power tools and handguns. Once inside, Cort led them to a desk in the corner, where he bade them sit. Then, Abby broke the news about Vlad¡¯s death. The short, old man took the news stoically, but Zeke didn¡¯t miss the tears gathering at the corners of Cort¡¯s eyes. ¡°You made Vlad¡¯s killers pay,¡± Cort said, wiping his cheek. ¡°There¡¯s that, at least. Small comforts, I suppose.¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Abby breathed. Cort just shook his head, but Zeke could tell that he was in agreement. Not for the first time, Zeke felt like he was an intruder. He hadn¡¯t known Vlad, so he remained silent while the two shared their grief. After a few moments, Cort sniffed, then asked, ¡°Okay. So, what¡¯re you here for? You didn¡¯t come all the way to Bastion just to tell me about Vlad.¡± Abby answered, ¡°We¡¯ve got a lot of loot to get rid of. Discretely. And Zeke needs some essentials. He¡¯s¡­new.¡± Cort cut his eyes at Zeke, then said, ¡°Level fourteen, huh? Doesn¡¯t seem new.¡± ¡°I¡­uh¡­I had a rough tutorial dungeon,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Whatever doesn¡¯t kill us makes us stronger though, eh?¡± the short man said. It was clear he didn¡¯t want an answer, so Zeke just shrugged. Cort added, ¡°Fine. What¡¯ve you got for me? Mind you, just because you¡¯re Abby¡¯s friend doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to take a loss, though!¡± Abby asked, ¡°You have a container? Like, a crate or something?¡± Cort nodded, then disappeared into a back room only to return a few moments later with a sizable wooden box. ¡°Big enough?¡± he asked, clearly confused by Abby¡¯s request. It wasn¡¯t surprising, given that neither of them carried a container, what with Abby having left her satchel back in her room. ¡°That¡¯ll do,¡± Zeke said. To Abby, he asked, ¡°All of them?¡± ¡°Just the lesser cores,¡± she said. Zeke nodded, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t freak out.¡± Then, without further hesitation, he held his hand above the crate and summoned the loot from his spatial storage. In an instant, a cascade of marble-sized beast cores tumbled into the crate. They twinkled in a rainbow of colors, with a rough texture that most closely resembled jagged crystal. Soon, when the crate was almost entirely full, the stream of cores winked out. ¡°That¡¯s most of them,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Maybe eighty percent.¡± ¡°W-what¡­¡± Cort¡¯s eyes were bulging out of his skull. ¡°Oh, you won¡¯t tell anybody about any of this, right?¡± Abby said. ¡°Zeke has a skill that lets him store things.¡± ¡°But how did you get so many?!¡± Cort croaked. ¡°There must be a thousand in there!¡± ¡°Probably closer to fifteen-hundred,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I can¡¯t buy this many,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t have the liquid capital.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to buy everything right now,¡± Abby said, leaning against the edge of the desk. ¡°But we can come to an agreement, right? You get two-thousand, but you pay us in installments. Say, four of them. One installment now, three over the next year. We¡¯ll even do a discount. So long as this whole deal stays between us, of course.¡± It was what Zeke and Abby had agreed upon, and it made perfect sense. However, subterfuge didn¡¯t really sit well with Zeke. He didn¡¯t want to hide who he was or what he¡¯d accomplished. He trusted Abby, though, and if she said it was necessary, he would go along with her plans. Cort readily agreed, and the two started haggling. Zeke had no notion of what anything was worth in the new world, so he kept his mouth shut. Instead, he focused on his bond with Pudge; the bear cub had finished gorging himself and was currently lying in the sun digesting his meal. Utter contentment flowed through the bond. ¡°Deal!¡± Cort said, slapping his hand into Abby¡¯s. ¡°Four-hundred marks now and three more payments of four-hundred within the year.¡± ¡°And the items,¡± Abby said. ¡°Yes, yes ¨C of course!¡± Cort said. ¡°Let me get another crate so I can see the other cores.¡± It didn¡¯t take them long to sort the beast cores out, and soon, Cort was storming through the store and grabbing items off the walls, from the various cases, and from the back room. It took him almost twenty minutes to gather everything. Most of it was fairly mundane. Soap. The new world equivalent of toothpaste. A comb. A toothbrush. A straight razor. That sort of thing. However, Zeke also acquired a few pairs of clothes, some new boiled leather armor, and an enchanted ring that would, with a thought, clean his clothes. It was only usable twice a week, but it was far better than trying to wash his clothes by hand. Abby also insisted upon buying necessary housewares, like a few wooden bowls, some tin cups, a skillet, and a real, metal spit, as opposed to the makeshift, wooden one they¡¯d had already been forced to replace a handful of times. In addition, Cort supplied them with a pair of small cots and the bedding that went with it. ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± Abby said, holding out her hand. She curled her fingers. ¡°You know why I really came here. Give it over. The good stuff.¡± Cort complained, ¡°But I don¡¯t have much supply!¡± ¡°We could just take our cores back¡­¡± ¡°Fine!¡± the old man harrumphed. Then, from under the counter, he pulled a large, burlap sack, which he slammed onto the counter. ¡°Take it! Ruin me, why don¡¯t you?!¡± Abby leaned over and gave the bag a long, lazy sniff. ¡°Oh, God ¨C I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± she breathed. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Coffee,¡± Cort said with a wistful look. ¡°That bag cost me close to eighty gold marks, right by itself! It was intended for the Watcher! Now, I¡¯ll have nothing to sell her, and she¡¯ll go to one of my competitors! I¡¯ll be ruined!¡± Abby snorted. ¡°You¡¯re getting those beast cores for close to half-price,¡± she said. ¡°I think you¡¯ll be fine.¡± She glanced at Zeke, asking, ¡°Anything else you can think of you want?¡± Zeke had looked around the shop, and though some of the items were interesting, he hadn¡¯t seen anything he really needed. In fact, he was afraid to spend too much because he wanted to buy some real armor when he got to Bastion. Not knowing how much things cost made him hesitant to commit to any large purchases. Besides, he¡¯d made it so far without any supplies at all, so he felt good about their purchases. Except one thing. Running his hand through his hair, he said, ¡°Know where I can maybe get a haircut? It¡¯s been more than two years¡­¡± 56. The Road to Beacon Abby watched Zeke out of the corner of her eye, wondering what he was thinking. After they had finished with Cort, the two of them had arranged for a ride on a trader¡¯s cart back to Beacon. The owner ¨C a tall, lanky man named Reginald ¨C was thrilled to have a pair of adventurers with him; otherwise, he¡¯d have had to roll the dice and hope that his cart wouldn¡¯t be attacked along the way. The road to Beacon was relatively safe, especially as it drew closer to the city itself, but attacks ¨C by beasts or bandits ¨C were not uncommon. So, that was how on the next day, Abby found herself sitting beside her new partner and wondering what the future might hold. By nature, she was not a trusting person. She¡¯d been burned too many times, both in her old life and the new, to naively believe in anyone¡¯s inherent honesty. It was a cruel world populated by self-interested people who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to hurt other people to get what they wanted. Whether it was for money, power, or some misguided sense of survival, the vast majority of human beings were only concerned with how they might get ahead. Abby had been on the losing end of plenty of those exchanges, and she had long since grown to jealously guard her trust. Even Vlad hadn¡¯t really gained it until they¡¯d been traveling together for more than a year. But there was something about Zeke that made her want to make an exception. She was still guarded around him, but every single one of her instincts told her that her vigilance was unnecessary. Perhaps it was his age, and the sprinkling of innocence that came with it. Or maybe it was his staunch insistence on doing what he considered the right thing, regardless of whether or not it made sense. It might¡¯ve even been that dopey look he got when he was concentrating on something. For all his power ¨C and he was powerful, with more potential than anyone Abby had ever heard of ¨C he was like an overgrown puppy, stumbling around as he tried to maintain his footing in a world he didn¡¯t really understand. But that puppy could crush rocks with his bare hands. Abby had seen him destroy an entire horde of drachnids, and until he¡¯d been faced with the elite champion, he hadn¡¯t even been pushed to his limit. By contrast, Abby had been forced to use every trick she knew, and even working with Pudge, she had only killed a tiny fraction of that army of spider-like humanoids. If nothing else, it reaffirmed that levels weren¡¯t the only measure of a person¡¯s power. It had also been a stark reminder that she wasn¡¯t strong enough. When she¡¯d taken the job with Julio, Abby had considered herself a capable adventurer. Sure, there were plenty of people out there that were much more powerful than her, but she was confident that she could hold her own against most people. And failing that, she was confident in her ability to at least escape. Meeting Zeke had put the lie to that false assumption. If he wanted to, he could utterly destroy her. She knew that for the truth even if he didn¡¯t. Up against him, she felt powerless. Certainly, she could help. Without her contributions, they never would¡¯ve downed the drachnid queen. But she had no illusions about who¡¯d really carried the weight of that fight. And he was only going to get stronger. Maybe he¡¯d eventually bite off more than he could chew, but Zeke wasn¡¯t the type to engage in half-measures. He¡¯d proven that when she¡¯d found him slaughtering an entire society of harpies when they¡¯d first met, and he had reaffirmed it when he had insisted upon clearing out the drachnids. Part of it was because he wanted to push the limits to see if he could get better rewards ¨C a gamble that had paid off for him ¨C but most of his reasoning was tied up in his sense of morality. The drachnids had raided dozens of caravans, killing hundreds of people. For Zeke, letting that go just wasn¡¯t an option. They were a dangerous nuisance, and one he couldn¡¯t allow to continue to exist. The rewards, whether it was experience or loot, were secondary. Distantly so. Doing the right thing was his driving force. It was such an alien concept, in the old world or the new. There were people who would help others, especially in the heat of the moment. But for people to choose that route, time and time again? To put themselves at risk, even without the guarantee of a reward? That was rare. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just a cynic,¡± Abby muttered to herself. Given her past, that certainly fit. ¡°What was that?¡± asked Zeke, his fingers casually massaging the side of Pudge¡¯s neck. The bear cub curled up close to him, looking almost like a loyal puppy. If said puppy was pushing a hundred-and-fifty pounds. ¡°Nothing,¡± she answered, watching the landscape go by. They¡¯d left Bastion behind a couple of hours before, and in that time, they¡¯d passed the last vestiges of the jungle and entered a savannah. Dotting the grasslands were horned herd animals, plenty of predators, and a few tribes of goblins. There were even elephants. Most left the various carts, wagons, and caravans alone, having long since learned their lessons. But that didn¡¯t mean they were safe, which was why, even as she delved deeply into her thoughts, her eyes never stopped moving. She might not be as powerful as Zeke, but that didn¡¯t mean she was incapable of keeping a vigilant eye on her surroundings. Zeke didn¡¯t respond, instead running his hand along his close-cut scalp. He¡¯d been doing that ever since he¡¯d gotten his haircut the day before. He¡¯d kept his beard, though ¨C a good decision, if Abby thought so herself. Without it, he¡¯d look even younger than he actually was. Plus, she¡¯d always liked a man with a good beard. Not that she was interested in Zeke. No. She wasn¡¯t. He was half her age. Sure, she looked like she was in her early twenties, but that didn¡¯t change her actual age. However, despite knowing those things, there was a little piece of her that couldn¡¯t help but wonder what would be so wrong about it. He was handsome enough, with broad shoulders and an earnest cast to his features. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°So,¡± he said, breaking the silence and reminding Abby that she¡¯d been staring at him. ¡°What¡¯s Beacon like?¡± ¡°Huge,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how many people live there, but it¡¯s got to be more than a million. Maybe two or three times that many.¡± ¡°That many?¡± She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the biggest city on this island,¡± she said. ¡°Sanctuary is about half its size. There are a few other towns ¨C mostly waystations and the like ¨C throughout the island, but people mostly live in Beacon or Sanctuary.¡± ¡°Why?¡± he asked. ¡°Bastion seemed safe enough.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± she said. ¡°Bastion¡¯s fine, but that¡¯s because it¡¯s so close to Beacon.¡± Zeke¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why does that matter?¡± he asked. ¡°Oh, right ¨C you wouldn¡¯t know,¡± she said. ¡°Beacon is covered by a warding enchantment that¡¯s so powerful that it extends almost a hundred miles outside of the city. It gets weaker the further it gets, but even as far as Bastion, it¡¯s still strong enough to make it extremely uncomfortable for any monsters ¨C especially the more powerful ones. Sanctuary has a weaker version of the same enchantment, but with it being on the coast, most of it is channeled into the ocean to keep the sea monsters away.¡± ¡°Where did that come from?¡± ¡°The enchantment? We don¡¯t know,¡± she explained. ¡°It¡¯s been there for as long as anyone can remember. Even before Lady Constance took over.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve mentioned her before,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Who is she? Some kind of queen?¡± Abby shook her head. ¡°No,¡± she answered. ¡°She¡¯s kind of in charge. She¡¯s the head priestess of the Temple of the Sun Goddess, and she¡¯s one of the Chosen. But you¡¯d know all about that.¡± ¡°The what?¡± ¡°The Chosen,¡± Abby said. ¡°You know, people who¡¯ve been chosen as representatives of the Gods. Like you.¡± ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t have a clue what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Zeke said, obviously confused. ¡°Or¡­wait. Are you talking about Oberon? He¡¯s not a god. He¡¯s just a¡­kind of like a middle-manager. Or that¡¯s what he said.¡± Abby responded, ¡°That¡¯s not the story Lady Constance gave. She says that before she was reborn, she was visited by the sun goddess, Shar Maelaine, who gave her an impossible trial. When she overcame it, she got the sun goddess¡¯s blessing.¡± ¡°Sounds like my tutorial,¡± Zeke muttered. ¡°Maybe she was confused.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem confused,¡± Abby said. ¡°The entire Temple of the Sun Goddess ¨C and to a lesser extent, Beacon itself ¨C is built on it. It¡¯s one of the reasons she¡¯s practically worshipped in the city. That, and the fact that she¡¯s incredibly strong. When her husband died, she burned down an entire forest. And I¡¯m not saying she just set a forest fire and let it burn, either. It was burned to ashes in the space of a few minutes, and most of it¡¯s still burning today. That was almost fifteen years ago.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Zeke said. ¡°That¡¯s a strong skill.¡± ¡°Strong skill? That¡¯s apocalyptic, Zeke!¡± Abby exclaimed. ¡°She¡¯s basically a demi-god.¡± ¡°Guess we¡¯ll just try not to get on her bad side, then,¡± he said, shrugging. ¡°What about the rest of Beacon? Is it controlled by this Temple of the Sun?¡± For a long moment, Abby just stared at him. Normal people didn¡¯t respond to word of a demi-god with a shrug. Did he not understand just how powerful Lady Constance was? Even without her massive political might, which was enough to stomp just about anyone into submission, her personal power was off the charts. ¡°Hello? Earth to Abby?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°Sorry. Yeah, the Temple of the Sun rules Beacon, but there are a couple of other powerful factions. The Church of Purity¡¯s probably the second-most-powerful, but that¡¯s mostly because nobody wants to piss off the healers. Then there are a few guilds, like the Champions of Light, that hold significant power. But the ones you really need to look out for are the Blue Cloaks.¡± Zeke raised a questioning eyebrow. Abby went on, ¡°They¡¯re a guild called The Azure Warriors, and they think of themselves as the cream of the crop. They¡¯re not really wrong, either. They won¡¯t even take membership applications from anyone who hasn¡¯t evolved their race.¡± ¡°And let me guess, they¡¯re a bunch of dicks,¡± Zeke said. Abby nodded, saying, ¡°Most people just avoid them, which is fairly easy, considering they hardly ever come down from the fifth tier.¡± ¡°Fifth tier?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Beacon¡¯s built kind of like a wedding cake,¡± she explained. ¡°The biggest portion is the bottom layer; it¡¯s mostly shops, artisans, residences, and a few guild halls. Next up is the higher-class areas ¨C you know, the fancy stores and such. With how much money you have, you¡¯ll probably want to go there if you want to get some decent equipment. Next up is the guild tier ¨C you know, where most of the decent guilds have their halls. When you become an inner member of The Champions of Light, you¡¯ll get housing there, too.¡± ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°There are other options on the first tier,¡± she said. ¡°Anyway, after the guild tier, there¡¯s the Church of Purity. It takes up that entire area.¡± ¡°And they¡¯re healers, you said?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Abby responded. ¡°Then, there¡¯s the Azure Warriors, followed by the gardens, and then the Temple of the Sun. Seven tiers, if you don¡¯t count the outskirts ¨C and most people don¡¯t. Surrounding the city is farmland ¨C we¡¯ll start seeing fields before the end of the day, probably.¡± Zeke shook his head, saying, ¡°Sounds complicated.¡± Abby shrugged. ¡°You get used to it,¡± she said. ¡°So long as you keep your head down, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± To that, Zeke grinned. ¡°I¡¯m not really all that good at keeping my head down,¡± he said. She snorted. ¡°Of course you¡¯re not. Just don¡¯t insult anyone wearing a blue cloak. Or if they have a sunburst emblem on their tabard. So long as you avoid that, you¡¯ll be okay.¡± Zeke shrugged, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± With that, they went silent, and the day muddled on. After the sun had passed its zenith, they found themselves wading into the farms and ranches most distant from the city. So far out, the mana was wild enough to influence the growth of both plants and animals; even as the crops grew to mind-boggling sizes, so too did the livestock. Out there, it wasn¡¯t uncommon to see cattle the size of a rhinoceros, or pigs pushing a thousand pounds. However, with that growth came a much more aggressive nature, which meant that farming and ranching required stronger-than-average people. Through it all, Zeke stared at the landscape, amazed by the sights. When they were fighting in the wilderness, it had been easy to forget just how new to everything he really was. But now? It was obvious. And Abby found it endearing. Finally, just before the sun began to set, Reginald, the trader, announced that they¡¯d be stopping for the night. By rote, he took a series of posts from his cart and began placing them in a large circle around the wagon. ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Warding flags,¡± Abby said. ¡°They¡¯re pretty weak, and they won¡¯t keep anything over level ten out, but they¡¯re fine for this area.¡± After that, Abby offered to use her skill, [Makeshift Camp], to offer further protection from the wilderness, and before long, they¡¯d created a cozy camp. It wasn¡¯t as comfortable as the cottage, especially with the new amenities with which they¡¯d furnished it, but they both thought it best if they kept that ability to themselves unless absolutely necessary. Through it all, Pudge lay in the cart, watching them with lazy disinterest. Continue Reading Book Two on Kindle and Audible (Available on March 28) As I''m sure most of you already know, when a book becomes available on Kindle Unlimited, it comes with the caveat that it remain exclusive to Amazon. So, given that book two will become available next month (March 28), I''ve had to remove the appropriate chapters from Royal Road. If you would like to read or listen to an edited version of the story, you can find them on the links up above. If you''re on the fence, here''s the blurb:
On Earth, Zeke Blackwood was a star athlete who devoted his every waking minute to baseball . . . before his tragic death and the devastation of the planet. Eons later, he was resurrected in a magical realm known as the Radiant Isles. There, Zeke survived two years of unrelenting combat through sheer grit and determination. Battling trolls in a labyrinth of caverns, he gained superhuman abilities with every victory, ultimately equipping him for a war between good and evil. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Now, along with his companions¡ªa beautiful archer named Abby and Pudge, a dire bear cub who¡¯s become soul-bonded to him¡ªZeke engages in quests to help the defenseless against the monstrous creatures and near-immortal beings who prey upon them. But his latest selfless act has brought him into conflict with the Crystal Spiders, an assassins¡¯ guild that¡¯s been kidnapping people for some unknown purpose. Before Zeke can unravel that mystery, he¡¯s summoned by Silas Martel¡ªa monk of the mighty Temple of the Sun Goddess and spymaster for its head priestess and ruler of the Radiant Isles, demigod Lady Constance¡ªfor a dangerous mission. He must rescue Constance¡¯s daughter from Abraham Micayne, Lord of the Dead. The treacherous task will take Zeke, Abby, and Pudge through zombie-infested lands, with the Crystal Spiders in hot pursuit. And even though every brush with death only makes Zeke more powerful, nothing can prepare him for the macabre horrors of Micayne¡¯s dominion . . .
I hope you''ll all enjoy it! 115. Moving Forward (Beginning of Book Three) Abby sat next to Zeke, her fingers intertwined with his underneath the table as she looked from one member of their impromptu party to the next. Whatever surge of life Talia had experienced after consuming the Jotun heart had disappeared in the two days since they¡¯d fled the giants¡¯ territory, and she was back to her old, eerily motionless self. Abby couldn¡¯t help but feel a little wary of the girl, though. After all, she¡¯d seen just how powerful the young woman had become, and she had no illusions about how she¡¯d fare against something like that wave of death energy she¡¯d used. Even Zeke, with all his endurance and resistances, would have trouble standing up to that skill. Thank God she¡¯s on our side, Abby thought to herself. But was that true? Talia seemed like a good person, but how would that hold up against her new undead instincts? Would she one day lose control entirely? Would she then set her sites on her companions? It was a valid concern, but one Abby hated herself for even considering. To push it from her mind, she turned her attention to Tucker. The big, dark-skinned man seemed perfectly at ease, leaning his chair against the wall and with his feet propped on the table. His fingers were laced together across his broad chest, and he seemed almost bored. It was a far cry from the distress she had seen on his face when she and Talia had rescued him from his imprisonment within Hvitgard. Thankfully, he¡¯d left some clothes in the cottage; otherwise, he¡¯d have had to make do with some of Zeke¡¯s clothes, and given the disparity in size, that probably wouldn¡¯t have ended well. Zeke was a tall man, with broad shoulders and muscles for days, but he was built more like an athlete. By contrast, Tucker¡¯s frame seemed better suited to playing offensive line on a professional football team. If she hadn¡¯t just spent time among the Jotuns, she might¡¯ve thought of him as a giant. It was a strange thing, then, that Tucker was, from a physical standpoint, the weakest among them. Like anyone who¡¯d evolved their race, he was stronger than his frame might have suggested in the old world, but he clearly hadn¡¯t invested much into his physical stats. Unless he had a death wish, he¡¯d have allocated some of his points into endurance and vitality, but the others had clearly been ignored. Instead, he fought using his potions and grenades, which were exceedingly powerful. The only downside lay in supply; according to him, each of the grenades he had used during the battle at the Hvitgard gates had been constructed using rare and expensive ingredients. He could construct some using recipes that called for more common ingredients, but those wouldn¡¯t be nearly so potent. In either case, they took time to brew, which meant that once he was out, he was all but useless. Of course, Abby wasn¡¯t so na?ve that she believed that. The big alchemist had already proven his wiles, so underestimating him came with a definite cost. She didn¡¯t trust him one little bit. But Zeke liked him, probably because of some ridiculous affinity for other southerners, so she had little choice but to endure his presence. But that didn¡¯t mean she wouldn¡¯t keep her eye on him. Then, there was Pudge. Reliable, loyal, and big and strong enough that he should¡¯ve terrified anyone who saw him. Add access to Zeke¡¯s skills to the mix, as well as intelligence no bear should have, and he was a truly horrifying opponent. During the battle against the giants, Abby had seen the dire bear rip one of the Jotuns¡¯ arms clean off, all while the giant was trying to bury his axe in Pudge¡¯s thick hide. It had barely even drawn blood. If she hadn¡¯t seen Pudge grow from a cub into the monster he had become, she would have been more than a little leery of him. But now? She took comfort in his presence. Finally, there was Zeke himself, who¡¯d stood toe-to-toe with a level twenty-three frost giant general. Brynjar wasn¡¯t a peak elite, but he was close enough that, when facing off against someone who was a full seven levels his junior, it shouldn¡¯t have even been a fight. But once again, Zeke had defied the odds and come out on top. What¡¯s more, it would¡¯ve been over even more quickly if the Jotun hadn¡¯t had the backing of a healer. If Pudge was a monster, then Zeke was something else entirely. That knowledge should have been comforting. After all, they were her companions, and as loyal as she could have ever hoped for. She knew that Zeke would fight and die before ever betraying her trust. So, why did thinking about the gap between them tie her stomach into knots? Of course, she knew the answer, even if it wasn¡¯t one she wanted to admit. Not even to herself in the privacy of her own mind. However, she had little choice but to confront it head-on, because the moment she¡¯d admitted it to Zeke, it had become increasingly more insistent. It wasn¡¯t jealousy, per se. Envy, maybe. She wanted so badly to pull her own weight, which had become ever more unlikely as her friends grew more powerful. Next to Zeke, Talia, Tucker, or Pudge, she felt almost entirely powerless. Certainly, Abby knew she wasn¡¯t. She was an experienced adventurer, a solid scout, and a gifted archer. But none of that seemed to matter when their foes were on the scale she¡¯d seen so far. No matter how many times she shot those Jotuns, if she didn¡¯t hit them in the eye, her arrows were wholly ineffective. And while she had managed to kill a couple in that way, it was nothing compared to the devastation wrought by her companions. The worst part was that, despite being dragged along like so much dead weight, she had still managed to gain a level, courtesy of Zeke¡¯s [Mark of Companionship], which allowed them to share experience. It was entirely undeserved, and it served to further underscore just how little she brought to the table. She couldn¡¯t even level without being carried by her companions. But what other option did she have? She wouldn¡¯t leave them. Regardless of what Zeke might say, she knew that he would¡¯ve been just fine without her. Better even, considering that he¡¯d insisted she take an equal share of the loot. The man was the least materialistic person she¡¯d ever met; he hadn¡¯t even cared about the trinkets carried by their various human enemies, instead ignoring them altogether. Initially, Abby had thought he was just ignorant, and back then when she¡¯d just met him, she was completely fine with taking advantage of that lack of knowledge. However, the longer she¡¯d known him, the clearer it had become that Zeke simply didn¡¯t care about the creature comforts offered by those trinkets. Sure, he took the time to study the runes, but after that, he¡¯d left them to her. No ¨C he would¡¯ve been just fine without her. The problem was that she wouldn¡¯t be fine without him. Disregarding how much he¡¯d helped her with her progression, evolving her race, and gaining equipment, Abby had never been as attached to another person as she was to Zeke. Not even her ex-husband before he¡¯d let his bad side shine through, and certainly no one since her rebirth into the new world. That her feelings seemed to be reciprocated, at least to some degree, only made her attachment all the stronger. It was love, if such a thing even existed. As unlikely as that was, she knew her feelings for what they were. Zeke was everything she could¡¯ve ever wanted in a romantic partner. He had a good heart, was determined, and he was loyal. More than that, there was some ephemeral quality she couldn¡¯t really quantify, a connection between them that defied explanation. Was it chemistry? A bond formed between two people who¡¯d been forced by circumstances to become companions? A simple alchemy that combined physical attraction, shared morals, and, most importantly, physical closeness? Whatever the case, being with Zeke felt like she¡¯d finally found a relationship that fit into what she wanted her life to be. So, as much as she knew the group would be better off without her, Abby couldn¡¯t even bring herself to consider leaving them to it. Her only other option was to get stronger by any means necessary. And what¡¯s more, she had an idea of how to do it, which was why everyone in the group, save for Zeke, was staring at her across the table. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°This is a monumentally stupid idea,¡± Tucker said, looking at her over his booted feet. ¡°One, you¡¯re basing everything on a rumor. I don¡¯t think I need to explain to anyone here how many of those there are floating around out there. Every adventurer knows someone whose cousin found a wild skill, but if you try to trace anything back to its source, all you¡¯ll find ¨C¡± ¡°I thought you said you didn¡¯t need to explain it,¡± Abby huffed. ¡°And then you started to explain it. I know how unreliable these things are. But my source is solid.¡± ¡°And your source is?¡± Tucker asked. ¡°None of your damned business,¡± she said, but her refusal to disclose her source of information had less to do with keeping her cards close to her chest and more to do with the fact that revealing it would mean admitting to a minor betrayal. To pay her back for giving him Zeke¡¯s name, Silas Martel had given her the information on how to obtain a powerful wild skill. And if a man like Martel trusted the information, then Abby could do no less. Eventually, she would have to tell Zeke about it. She hated keeping secrets from him. But even though she was sure he wouldn¡¯t care about the disclosure of something so innocuous as a name, Abby knew it would strain the foundation of trust they¡¯d built. Initially, she had fully intended to tell him straight away, but events had conspired against her with one delay after another until, when she¡¯d finally had the chance, enough time had passed that talking about it would be at least a little awkward. Since then, she¡¯d made excuse after excuse, each steeped in reason, but rooted in her own anxiety. ¡°My mother had a wild skill,¡± Talia interjected, her voice lacking even the most basic emotion. ¡°She never said how she got it, but Master Silas, one of my teachers, said that it nearly killed her. He claimed that all wild skills are like that.¡± ¡°See?¡± said Tucker, pointing at the pale girl. ¡°And I bet Lady Constance was a lot more powerful than we are when she did it. Besides, you said you trust your source, right? Well, why didn¡¯t they go after it, if it¡¯s so powerful?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t need it,¡± Abby said. If there was one person in the world who didn¡¯t need more power, it was Lady Constance. If there were two, Silas Martel would occupy the second spot. In the right circles, the spymaster was a legendary fighter who¡¯d never lost even so much as a spar. Some said that on Earth, he¡¯d already been an accomplished martial artist, and that prowess had only deepened after his rebirth. ¡°Okay, fine. Sure,¡± Tucker said. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound ominous at all. But the challenge aside, you don¡¯t think we should get out of the mountains as quickly as possible? Those giants ¨C¡± ¡°Have their hands full with the undead,¡± Abby said. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen any sign of pursuit for the past two days.¡± ¡°That really doesn¡¯t make me feel any better,¡± Tucker muttered. ¡°Enough,¡± Zeke said, giving Abby¡¯s hand a reassuring squeeze. ¡°Abby and I are going. I know this makes it sound like a dictatorship or something, and maybe it is. But if you two want to stick with us, we¡¯re going after this wild skill.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re just supposed to obediently follow, huh?¡± Tucker asked. ¡°You can go your own way,¡± Abby said. ¡°Nobody¡¯s forcing you to stay with us.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± he stated. ¡°We want you with us, Tucker. And I think you want to stay. But this is non-negotiable. We have our own goals, and we can¡¯t afford to compromise for somebody we only met a few weeks ago. If you¡¯ve got something you need, we¡¯ll be happy to help you get it. That¡¯s fine. I think I can even share a quest with you two, so long as you¡¯ll let me use my skill. But our goal is to get stronger. This skill will help Abby with that. And when she gets stronger, we all do.¡± Tucker sighed. ¡°I never said I didn¡¯t want to go,¡± he stated. ¡°Just playing devil¡¯s advocate here.¡± ¡°That is untrue,¡± Talia stated. Tucker finally sat up, pulling his feet off the table. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s go over this one more time, just so we¡¯re all on the same page. You want to go even further north to a peak none of us has ever even heard of, climb a mountain that, according to you, is the tallest on the entire island, kill a thunderbird matriarch, whose essence you will absorb and turn into some kind of skill. Is that right?¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t specify that I have to actually kill the thunderbird,¡± she said, though she suspected that was how it would end up. The lore surrounding wild skills was vague and usually unreliable, but it all seemed to agree that they were a reward for unique feats of strength. And nothing said that more than killing an elite monster alone. ¡°But I can¡¯t get help with the actual quest. Martel was clear about that. If you all interfere with the fight, it won¡¯t award the skill.¡± Tucker shook his head. ¡°Y¡¯all are crazy,¡± he said, his voice slipping into his deep, southern accent. It seemed to come and go based on the situation. ¡°You know that, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been said a couple of times,¡± Zeke conceded, flashing a grin. ¡°Are you with us?¡± Tucker sighed. ¡°Sure, why not?¡± he answered. ¡°And you?¡± Zeke asked, looking at Talia. ¡°I go where you two go,¡± she stated, as if it was never even a question. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t. ¡°Great,¡± Tucker said. ¡°We¡¯ve all agreed to go on a suicide mission. Now, what was it you said about a quest? And what skill?¡± Zeke said, ¡°It¡¯s called [Mark of Companionship], and it lets you access some of my skills. Or at least it does with Abby. I¡¯ve looked at the rune, though, so I think how much access you get is determined by my relationship with you. So, don¡¯t expect to get much. Otherwise, it lets us share experience, even if everyone doesn¡¯t contribute to a kill. And I think it¡¯ll let me share a quest with you two.¡± ¡°And this quest? What does it do? Where did you get it? And what do we have to do to complete it?¡± Tucker asked. ¡°We got it from a goddess,¡± Abby said. ¡°Sure,¡± Tucker stated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°I¡¯ve got two or three quests from Shar Maelaine herself. I just haven¡¯t had the time to get ¨C¡± ¡°Not Shar Maelaine,¡± Zeke said. ¡°This is a different goddess. Her name is Aja. And as to the terms, it¡¯s a work in progress. We¡¯ve got one part down, but there are still three to go. I think the frost giant toes are going to end up being the easiest.¡± ¡°Wait, toes? That¡¯s gross,¡± Tucker said. ¡°What else do you have to get?¡± ¡°[Moss of Immolation], the [Soul of a Warlock], and the [Heart of a Wyrm],¡± Zeke said. ¡°And before you ask, no ¨C we don¡¯t know where to find two of those. The only one we¡¯re sure of is the wyrm, and we¡¯re a long way away from killing one of those.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re in luck,¡± Tucker said. ¡°Because I know where to find the moss. It grows near a dry lakebed on the western edge of the Red Wastes. I¡¯ve never been there, but I was lucky enough to find a man who¡¯d harvested some of it. Burned one of his hands to a crisp before he could get it into an enchanted box. Not that it mattered. He was killed a few days after I met him. Nice guy, but ¨C¡± ¡°You know where it is, though?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Could you lead us there?¡± ¡°Sure. I can handle it, too,¡± Tucker answered. ¡°One of my skills. Not sure it¡¯s going to do any good, though, because we don¡¯t have a chance of killing a wyrm and taking its heart. Even if we all reach level twenty-five, it¡¯s all but impossible. Wyrms are born in the boss tier, and by the time they reach adulthood, they¡¯re monarchs. Going after one of them is a huge mistake. I don¡¯t know what kind of a reward you think you¡¯re going to get for this quest, but it¡¯s not worth dying over.¡± ¡°And what would you say if I told you it offers a racial evolution to a new tier?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Would that be worth it?¡± Tucker¡¯s jaw dropped, and a wave of satisfaction swept through Abby¡¯s mind. After a few seconds, Tucker said, ¡°So? How do I get this quest? And when can we get started? I think I can come up with some ideas for this wyrm we need to kill.¡± Zeke grinned. ¡°Knew you¡¯d come around,¡± he said. ¡°Just accept the skill. That¡¯s all you need to do.¡± After a moment¡¯s concentration on Zeke¡¯s part, a rune flared to life on Tucker¡¯s shoulder. Almost simultaneously, a similar rune flashed on Talia¡¯s neck. Then, they faded away, leaving unmarred, unmarked skin behind. Zeke focused, narrowing his eyes for a long few seconds that quickly turned into more than a minute. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and then, with a flash of light, he sagged. ¡°What did you do? Are you okay?¡± Abby asked, gripping his shoulders. ¡°Had to alter the rune a bit,¡± he said, his voice strained. ¡°It was a little change, but I¡¯m still not quite back to a hundred-percent. It¡¯s fine, though. It¡¯s done. They should¡¯ve gotten the quest.¡± Abby turned to Tucker and asked, ¡°Did you?¡± ¡°That¡­that was¡­that was amazing,¡± the huge alchemist said. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone alter a skill rune before.¡± ¡°Stick around,¡± Abby said. ¡°And you¡¯ll see it again, I think. Did you get the quest?¡± Tucker nodded. When Abby asked Talia the same question, she confirmed that she had gotten the quest as well. ¡°Alright, then,¡± she said. ¡°I suppose we need a plan. We¡¯ll probably get sidetracked, and it definitely won¡¯t go like we expect it to, but we may as well try to make an outline, at least. So, any suggestions on how we¡¯re supposed to make this happen?¡± 116. Wisps ¡°How far is it?¡± Zeke asked, glancing back the way they¡¯d come. They had been following a game trail for a couple of miles, which meant that their companions were well beyond shouting range. If he and Abby got into trouble, they wouldn¡¯t be able to count on the others for help. Even Pudge was off exploring a cave that he¡¯d said, ¡°smelled interesting,¡± whatever that meant. The thought had been accompanied by a host of vague impressions, but Zeke was ill-equipped to make much sense of the jumbled thoughts. However, given that Pudge had continued to grow and now exceeded an Earthen grizzly bear in size, Zeke wasn¡¯t too worried about his friend. He was a little nervous about being alone with Abby, though. Zeke knew precisely how silly it was. The pair had been sleeping together for a few months now. But aside from their death defying adventures, they hadn¡¯t really been alone for quite some time. In the cottage, there was always someone close by, and like any communal living situation, privacy wasn¡¯t a realistic expectation. As miraculous as the cottage was, sound carried extremely well through its walls ¨C a fact that was exacerbated by everyone¡¯s enhanced senses. Nothing happened in that house without everyone knowing about it, which made the entire circumstance a bit suffocating, at least in terms of privacy. But out here in the woods, with no one else around for miles and miles? The couple might¡¯ve been the last two people in the Radiant Isles, and Zeke found the solitude both disconcerting and comforting. The former, because, as long as they had been companions, he and Abby hadn¡¯t really shared that many conversations that didn¡¯t directly involve their plans for the future, fighting monsters, or how to deal with the speed bumps along the way. Zeke knew Abby on a fundamental level. During the course of their partnership, her character had been laid bare, just as his had been for her. They had connected in a way that exceeded the superficial depth that had confined his previous relationships. He hesitated to even think of those brief high school flings in those terms anymore. They hadn¡¯t mattered ¨C not in the grand scope of his life. Or even in the moment, really. They had been the product of expectations, and even now, he struggled to remember much about his previous girlfriends. However, there was something to be said for superficiality. Zeke wasn¡¯t so inexperienced that he thought it was a good idea to base an entire relationship on it, but it did serve to deepen the bond. Or at the very least, it would give them something to talk about that didn¡¯t concern hopping from one crisis to the next. For now, though, Zeke was terrified that Abby would discover something she didn¡¯t like. What if they just weren¡¯t compatible? What if things didn¡¯t go well, and it drove a wedge between them? Zeke didn¡¯t want to go through this world alone. He wanted Abby right there with him, standing shoulder to shoulder as they made a place for themselves. He wanted it to last. One of Zeke¡¯s worst fears was that he would end up back in a similar situation as he¡¯d been in when he had been reborn. Not in a troll-infested cave, exactly; rather, he was terrified of spending so much time with only himself for company. Looking back, he knew he¡¯d come close to breaking, and it had taken him the better part of a year to feel even remotely normal. Even now, every stray noise, regardless of how big or small, woke him up at night. And more than once, he¡¯d had nightmares about wall crawlers wrapping their tentacles around him. Or of being butchered and eaten by remorseless trolls. He could handle those fears, though. They were rational. Natural, even. Wall crawlers were terrifying creatures, and he¡¯d found himself on the business end of the source of that fear on more than one occasion. And trolls were similar, especially considering what he¡¯d seen in that troll larder so long ago. The same could be said for a dozen other murderous monsters he¡¯d encountered in those troll caves. However, that fear of being alone wasn¡¯t something he knew how to fight. It was ephemeral and amorphous, and he had absolutely zero notion of how to combat it. The only thing that comforted him was the proximity of his companions ¨C chiefly, Abby and Pudge. It was one of the reasons he¡¯d insisted upon keeping Talia and Tucker around. Aside from the fact that they both needed help, Zeke was so afraid of being alone that he kept accumulating strays. Could he once again endure being stranded alone? Probably. He wasn¡¯t the sort to give in. However, there was every chance that he¡¯d lose his mind in the process. After all, he¡¯d been close before, and that was when he¡¯d had the overall shock of being reborn into a new world to dull the sting of losing everything and everyone he¡¯d ever known. Even then, he¡¯d spent much of his time reminiscing about his horrible father and his unique upbringing. Now, though, in a curious turn of events, he felt he had more to lose. His life in the Radiant Isles felt more real than anything he¡¯d experienced back on Earth. Those thoughts and fears occupied Zeke¡¯s mind as Abby grabbed his hand, saying, ¡°It¡¯s not far, and it¡¯s totally worth it. You¡¯ll see.¡± With that, she tugged him along as they descended the steep slope of the mountain path. Around them, evergreen trees stretched toward the sky, and various rocks and boulders obscured the forest floor. The rest of the area was covered in thick undergrowth, a result of the area¡¯s incessant rainfall. According to Tucker, when they¡¯d crested the ridgeline, they¡¯d crossed into a temperate rainforest. He had described it as not dissimilar from the Pacific northwest. To Zeke, though, who¡¯d grown up in the sub-tropical climate of lower Alabama, it felt a little like coming home. The dampness, the humidity, and the constant drizzle wasn¡¯t so different from where he¡¯d lived for most of his life. It was markedly colder, with frost and ice covering the area on most mornings, but the combination of his high endurance, evolved race, and ice resistance took the bite out of the chill air, making the trek mostly pleasant ¨C primarily because Abby had already cleared any underbrush that obscured the trail. Gradually, they made their way through the forest, and Zeke soon heard the rushing sound of water. A few minutes later, they came out of the forest to see a small waterfall with a pond at its base. ¡°It¡­it¡¯s beautiful,¡± Zeke said, taking in the picturesque scene. Falling in tiers, with heavy tree trunks spanning its narrow width, it wasn¡¯t the majestic image Zeke would¡¯ve conjured when he thought of a waterfall. However, what it lacked in majesty, it more than made up for in sheer vibrance. Its banks were enveloped in a verdant, green moss that coated the rocks in the middle of the stream as well. Trees had fallen across the stream¡¯s narrow width, and from their trunks grew tiny, blue flowers that glowed with their own light. Beneath the white, foaming surface of the rushing stream were luminescent fish tiny and moving so quickly that they looked almost like tracers. Finally, floating, red lights, each no bigger than Zeke¡¯s thumbnail, drifted in the air. Abby stepped closer, leaning into him. ¡°I thought you¡¯d like it,¡± she said. Pointing at the lights, she explained, ¡°Those are wisps. Not many people ever see them in the wild.¡± ¡°Why not? Are they that rare?¡± he asked. ¡°No, no ¨C nothing like that,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s just that they¡¯re really useful to crafters. When you kill them, they drop these tiny gems. They¡¯re not beast cores, but they¡¯re attuned to a specific element. Like these are fire wisps, so if you want to make, say, a weapon that has a fire effect or enhances fire skills, you¡¯d crush their gems down into a powder, and, well, you get the idea.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Zeke held up a hand, and one of the wisps alighted onto it. It was nothing more than a ball of light, but it still had weight. He twisted his hand around, and the tiny creature tickled its way to his palm. ¡°Not much survival instinct,¡± he said. ¡°Another reason they¡¯re popular for crafters,¡± she said. ¡°There are whole farms where specialized workers grow them. They¡¯re not as potent as wild wisps, but¡­well, they make up for it in numbers.¡± ¡°Quantity over quality,¡± Zeke said, continuing to play with the creature. Another joined the first, and then another after that. After only a second, Zeke¡¯s entire hand was enveloped in a soothing, red glow. ¡°Something like that,¡± was her response. Zeke shook his hand, and the wisps flew away. Looking behind him, Zeke found a small boulder that could accommodate them both, and he sat down. Abby joined him, her hand finding his. For a few moments, they just sat there, taking in the natural beauty of the scene before them. After spending the last few weeks rushing from one instance of mortal danger to another, it was imminently relaxing to just sit and enjoy a few moments of peace. Especially when he had Abby leaning against him, her head on his shoulder. Finally, he said, ¡°It¡¯s easy, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What?¡± she asked, her voice languid. ¡°To get lost in the killing,¡± was his response. ¡°The looting. The experience. Everything about this world seems like it¡¯s pushing us into becoming¡­something I don¡¯t want to become. Every problem seems so much easier to solve if you just attack it head-on. We tried to do the right thing with that giant. We let her go, and we were going to head our own way. But then she had to ruin it, didn¡¯t she? Why? Why couldn¡¯t she just take the freedom and run with it?¡± ¡°You know why,¡± Abby said. ¡°If someone doomed your entire race to extinction, you¡¯d want to kill that person, too. She was justified in what she did.¡± ¡°So, you still think we should have just let them keep him?¡± he asked. ¡°No,¡± was Abby¡¯s surprising response. ¡°As much as I argued against it, I think we made the right choice. You would¡¯ve never been able to live with yourself if you left him behind.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t miss her wording. She would have been fine leaving Tucker behind, but she wasn¡¯t willing to accept what it would do to him. That had to be enough, didn¡¯t it? ¡°Look,¡± Abby said. ¡°I need to tell you something, and you¡¯re not going to like it.¡± He turned, locking eyes with her. For a second, he didn¡¯t respond, but then, finally, he said, ¡°What is it?¡± She glanced down at the mossy ground, her ponytail bobbing with the motion. Her shoulders slumped, and she took a deep breath before turning back to him and saying, ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve¡­I don¡¯t know¡­I feel so powerless.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not ¨C¡± ¡°I know,¡± Abby said, her knuckles whitening as she clenched her fists in frustration. ¡°I know, okay? I know I¡¯m not powerless. There are millions of people out there that could only dream of doing what I can do.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to,¡± Abby stated. ¡°But that¡¯s because you¡¯re you. You don¡¯t even think about where you stand in the hierarchy of power. Because you know. You know that, even if someone should be stronger than you, you¡¯re going to come out on top.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how it is,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I¡¯ve been beaten plenty of times. I can¡¯t tell you how many times I had to run from trolls in the caves, and ¨C¡± ¡°But who ended up winning in the long run?¡± she asked. ¡°I did, but ¨C¡± ¡°That¡¯s my point, Zeke,¡± she said, looking him in the eye. She felt tears forming, but she wouldn¡¯t let them come. ¡°I don¡¯t have whatever it is that lets you think like that. It¡¯s never about whether or not you¡¯ll get through whatever battle you find. You worry about us, instead. And right now, I¡¯m not up to the task. Do you have any idea how useless I¡¯ve felt since fighting the giants? I could barely even hurt them, much less make any headway in that battle. Talia did more than me. So did Pudge. Even Tucker, stripped down to his underwear, made more of a difference.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get stronger,¡± Zeke said. ¡°We all will.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not enough,¡± Abby responded. This time, she couldn¡¯t keep the tears from falling down her cheek. ¡°I¡¯m so afraid¡­I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll¡­I just don¡¯t want you to suddenly realize that you don¡¯t need me anymore.¡± ¡°W-what?¡± he asked, taken aback. ¡°I would never¡­¡± ¡°You say that now,¡± Abby said. ¡°But what about in a year? Two? When you keep getting further and further ahead? When you keep having to drag me along, even when I can¡¯t even begin to pull my own weight? How much will you resent me?¡± He sighed, running his hand through his short hair. ¡°Listen,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not that guy. I¡¯ll never be that guy. That¡¯s who my dad was. It¡¯s funny. I could have forgiven him for the way he treated me. All the beatings. Even the way he hit my mom, I guess. I know I shouldn¡¯t think like that, but¡­well, he was my dad. Even now, it doesn¡¯t seem as bad as I know it was. But do you know what was really unforgivable? The way he treated Tommy. He never hit Tommy, you know? He barely even acted like he existed. And that was so much worse. To my dad, Tommy was just¡­defective. Not worth caring about. The moment Tommy got sick, dad just moved on.¡± Zeke stood, rubbing the back of his neck and taking a couple of steps away. He turned back to face Abby, continuing, ¡°For most of my life, I tried everything I could to make him happy. Even the smallest compliment was enough to push me just a step further. I told myself that if I was good enough, he¡¯d¡­he wouldn¡¯t always be so angry with me. It wasn¡¯t until I got a little older that I realized that none of us really mattered. He was always mad because he hated himself and his life. He only cared about us as far as what we could do for him. Tommy couldn¡¯t do anything for him, so he just didn¡¯t register anymore. Same thing happened to me after I got hurt.¡± ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry,¡± Abby said. ¡°Thanks,¡± was Zeke¡¯s response. ¡°But my point is that I don¡¯t want to be anything like him. Sure, I want you to be stronger. But it¡¯s not so I don¡¯t have to slow down or anything. It¡¯s because I want you to be happy. I¡¯m not going to say we¡¯ll be together forever. But I won¡¯t ever leave you behind because of something like this. That would make me like him.¡± ¡°The messed up thing is that I already knew all of that,¡± Abby said. ¡°I know you¡¯re not that kind of person. But I still can¡¯t stop thinking about.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know what else to say,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want me to do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem, isn¡¯t it? You can¡¯t do anything,¡± Abby responded. ¡°This is my issue, and I¡¯ve got to figure out how to get past. I know that¡¯s hard for you. You see a problem, and your first instinct is to smack it with your club. This isn¡¯t something you can beat into submission, though. Neither of us can. I just have to figure out how to fix it myself. Or live with it.¡± For a long moment, Zeke didn¡¯t answer. He knew she was right, but that knowledge didn¡¯t make it any easier to accept that there were some problems he just couldn¡¯t fix. Even if he could somehow make her stronger, it wouldn¡¯t be a real solution. She needed to find her own way to either gain enough power that she didn¡¯t feel useless, or a way to accept that her worth wasn¡¯t tied to how many monsters she could kill. And she needed to find it on her own. Otherwise, the progress would be meaningless. Finally, he sighed, ¡°Is this one of those situations where you just want someone to listen? I¡¯m not supposed to offer solutions, am I?¡± Abby smiled. ¡°You¡¯re pretty smart sometimes,¡± she said. ¡°Just sometimes?¡± he asked. ¡°I stand by the statement,¡± was her sarcastic reply. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve ruined our afternoon with my own feelings of inadequacy, how about we move on and have a picnic? It¡¯ll be nice not to think about that stuff for a while.¡± Zeke smiled, and in only a minute or two, he¡¯d retrieved a blanket and some food he¡¯d been saving for just such an occasion. Abby punched him in the arm, saying, ¡°You¡¯ve been holding back, haven¡¯t you? You¡¯ve had all of this in your storage since Bastion?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve actually got a lot more,¡± he said. ¡°I had Mags working overtime while we were there. She cooked so many ribs.¡± ¡°So, why have we been eating rations and monster meat all this time?¡± she asked with a raised eyebrow, helping herself to one of the racks of ribs Zeke had pulled out of his storage. It was still piping hot, like it had come out of the smoker only a few minutes ago. ¡°Mags¡¯ barbecue is a special occasion kind of meal, isn¡¯t it?¡± he said. Sweeping his hand around, he asked, ¡°And what¡¯s more special than this?¡± Abby gestured with a rib, pointing at him as she said, ¡°You¡¯ve definitely got a point. I¡¯ll forgive you. This time. But I expect the ribs to keep coming.¡± He grinned. ¡°As you wish.¡± She laughed. ¡°Is that going to be our thing, now? Princess Bride quotes?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m not complaining or anything. Just asking.¡± ¡°Seemed appropriate,¡± Zeke said, blushing a bit. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± was her response. ¡°You are definitely not wrong.¡± 117. Shadows Carlos perched in the rafters, shadows clinging to him like a second skin as he watched the exchange taking place far below him. Shafts of soft moonlight illuminated the interior of the ruined building, allowed access via a gaping hole in the roof. Carlos paid it no heed; he was too focused on the task before him. Besides, he¡¯d seen it all before. Jariq wasn¡¯t the best maintained city, and given its location in the heart of the Red Wastes, it experienced its fair share of hardships. Unlike the shining cities of Beacon and Salvation, it didn¡¯t enjoy the benefits of a protective aura; no, if the residents wanted protection, they could only rely on themselves. Or people like Carlos, who had dedicated his new life to protecting the innocent. He fancied himself something of a superhero. A protector of the night. A menace to criminals and monsters alike. He had even learned to swap between two names ¨C Carlos Alfaro, which was his Earth name, and Asesino de Sombras, which meant Shadow Assassin ¨C so that he could have a secret identity, just like all his favorite superheroes. But right now, none of that mattered, because he was wholly focused on the transaction taking place below him. The men and women gathered on the building¡¯s first floor clearly belonged to two distinct groups. On one side were the sellers and natives of Jariq. Wearing tattered clothes and with hard expressions that spoke of how difficult their lives had been, Carlos knew they were members of one of the more powerful gangs in the city. Even if he hadn¡¯t known their affiliation, the red sashes they wore at their wastes marked them as members of the Red Eyes. If he looked closer, he knew he could¡¯ve seen the stylized Eye of Horus the members would have tattooed on their cheeks. The rumors were that it would give them the ability to see through illusion skills. Carlos knew from experience how untrue those rumors were. The other group was comprised of far more affluent individuals. They didn¡¯t look foppish, but their armor was high-quality, their weapons well cared for, and their demeanor marked them as outsiders. Carlos hadn¡¯t had the chance to investigate their origins, but he suspected that they had come from either Beacon or Salvation. They certainly looked soft enough. Idly, he wondered who commanded them. Given what they were trading, it was probably an alchemist. After all, who else had any use for infant hearts? A talented and amoral alchemist could do all sorts of things with such a potent ingredient, though, and they would pay quite a fortune to obtain them. Hence, the contingent of Red Eyes who had created a steady source of income by imprisoning and forcefully impregnating women and harvesting the parts from their babies. The entire thing was abhorrent. There were no words for how disgusted Carlos was, and he hadn¡¯t even seen the operation first-hand. It had been dismantled by other members of his guild, who¡¯d been hired by The Sultanate to rid the city of its problem. Jariq was not a place of laws, but there were some lines that, when crossed, would not be tolerated. Kidnapping, imprisoning, and raping women so the Red Eyes could harvest their babies¡¯ organs was, unsurprisingly, one of those lines ¨C which was why The Sultanate had hired the Crystal Spiders to deal with the situation. And they had done so with the extreme prejudice for which they were known throughout the Radiant Isles. But the Crystal Spiders were, first and foremost, a business, and once they¡¯d satisfied the terms of the contract ¨C to dismantle the operation ¨C they had collected their bounty and moved on. To Carlos¡¯s superiors, it didn¡¯t matter that a few stragglers had escaped. The job was done. Carlos wasn¡¯t willing to accept that, so he¡¯d spent the past month tracking down the last of the Red Eyes so that he could end the organization for good. It was only a bonus that he¡¯d managed to learn about the exchange taking place below him, and he counted himself lucky that he¡¯d get to take care of some of the Red Eyes¡¯ customers as well as finish off the last of the organization responsible for so many atrocities. They weren¡¯t the only ones, either. For the past few years, ever since escaping his beginning dungeon, Carlos had seen just how far people would go for a little more power. Morals usually went out the window when the stakes were literal superpowers, especially when consequences were few and far between. Back on Earth, he¡¯d always thought that people were inherently good, that they wouldn¡¯t consistently choose to hurt others. Sure, there were plenty of bad apples, people who¡¯d chosen to flout the rules and do whatever they wanted, but they were the exceptions. Most people obeyed the rules, both the codified ones that governed any given society and the unspoken ones that everyone followed because it was the right thing to do. However, it had only taken him a few months in Jariq to discover the truth of the matter. People were only as honest as they had to be. They were only as moral as they were forced to become. They only followed the laws so long as there were real consequences for failing to do so. And in Jariq? The Sultanate didn¡¯t care much about what people did in their everyday lives. So long as there wasn¡¯t open murder, and The Sultanate¡¯s own interests weren¡¯t infringed upon, they let the population run wild. And wild, they had run. Now, the only real authority within the city were the gangs that ran their individual territories. They Red Eyes had been one of them, but as of the month before, that area had gone up for grabs. And thus, it had become a covert warzone between the rival gangs who wanted to annex it into their own territories. Only the Crystal Spiders had sat it out, content with what they had. After all, they had no interest in governing more territory. Instead, they focused their efforts in other directions. After a few more minutes, Carlos felt sure that everyone had arrived. So, he took that opportunity to make his move. Concentrating, he embraced the first skill he¡¯d ever chosen, [Shadow Spear], but he didn¡¯t release it. Instead, he used his passive skill, [Channel Mana], to overcharge it until it felt as if it was about to burst. Then, a second later, he released it, aiming at the highest level among the group below. A spear of condensed darkness erupted from the woman¡¯s shadow, spearing through her chest. At its base, it was almost a foot wide, but it was tapered to a long, thin point that easily pierced through her defenses, driving through her meager leather armor and into her back. An instant later, it erupted from her chest with an impressive fountain of gore. Carlos barely noticed it, because he was already charging up his second [Shadow Spear]. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± screamed one of the Red Eye thugs, frantically turning around and peering into the nearby shadows. Notably, he never looked up. ¡°It¡¯s ¨C¡± The second spear of shadow impaled him before he could finish his sentence. The skill took him between the legs, thrusting vertically through his body until it exploded through his skull. The thug deserved no less, kidnapping child-murderer that he was. If Carlos could have made it more painful, he would have, but there were eight more people gathered below, and it wouldn¡¯t take them long before they recovered their wits enough to scatter. Carlos couldn¡¯t allow that. With a flurry of skills, he cast one [Shadow Spear] after another, not bothering to charge them via [Channel Mana]. The raw skill was powerful enough to injure, but it would never kill such high levels. That didn¡¯t matter, though. It was all about volume, now. Quantity over quality. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Safely perched in the rafters, Carlos manipulated the darkness to harry and hamper his chosen enemies until, at last, he crossed the threshold he¡¯d been waiting for. Even as the Red Eyes and their customers began to flee, Carlos grabbed ahold of the skill he¡¯d gained at level fifteen, [Shadow Explosion]. He didn¡¯t need to summon the skill¡¯s description to remember what it did. [Shadow Explosion] (G) ¨C Harnesses the latent mana of other skills to empower an explosion of shadow blades. Increased yield based on number of skills consumed. It was the perfect pairing for his other skills. Alone, [Shadow Spear] was a potent weapon. It wasn¡¯t enough to kill on its own, but it had served him well in the early days after his rebirth. Many an orc had fallen with dozens of spears of darkness piercing its thick hide. [Channel Mana], at first glance, seemed a pretty generic skill that allowed him to effectively charge a skill with more energy. The longer he channeled, the stronger the skill became. For the [Shadow Spears], that meant they grew from wrist-thick spears to possessing a diameter approaching that of a tree trunk. But it had another benefit, as well. The more mana that had been injected into the skills, the more mana [Shadow Explosion] had to work with. He released his level fifteen skill. The results were predictable. Each of the shadow spears exploded into spinning blades of darkness, which arced around the room in an eruption of deadly shadows, blood, gore, and severed limbs. Screams of mingled panic, horror, and agony echoed through the ruined building, music to Carlos¡¯s ears. They were terrible people, one and all. He had seen their handiwork. He had heard the stories. And so, he felt no guilt about his skill ripping them limb from limb. After all, it wasn¡¯t as if it was his first time. Nor would it be his last. He watched with grim satisfaction as the gathering was reduced to so much meat and blood. When the last of them finally died after being cut in half, Carlos allowed himself to breathe. When he did, he found the familiar smell of vacated bowels and death, but he didn¡¯t flinch away. He refused. Like so many others that had come before them, these people had deserved what they¡¯d gotten. Dismissing his level twenty skill, [Umbral Phantom], Carlos felt the shadows slip away from his body. It wasn¡¯t the flashiest skill, but the concealment it offered made his life a lot easier. Besides, it fit with his aesthetic and complemented his build of shadow-themed skills and mystic path. The same could be said for his level five skill, [Umbral Steps], which allowed him to teleport through shadows. It was limited to his line of sight, but it fit well with his style. He wasn¡¯t some neanderthal who relied on martial skills. His build was all about concealment, firepower ¨C or shadow power, as it were ¨C and movement. And his status reflected that. As he activated [Umbral Steps], he slipped from one shadow to the next, and in an instant, found himself on the ground floor. Stepping amidst the ruins of his victims, Carlos opened his status:
Name Carlos Alfaro (Asesino de Sombras)
Class n/a
Level 21
Race Human (G)
Alignment Isphodel
Achievements Skilled, Thief in the Night, Assassin, One-Shot, Orcbane, Spider, Mystical, Vigilante
Mystic Path Shadows ¨C Novice (Peak)
Strength 84
Agility 174
Dexterity 150
Endurance 82
Vitality 87
Intelligence 274
Wisdom 272
Few could match his stats. Even though he hadn¡¯t focused much on physical stats, Carlos was stronger and faster than most others his level. And his skills were incredibly powerful as well as perfectly synergistic. For the role he¡¯d chosen, he was unrivaled, which was why his guild looked the other way when it came to his extracurricular activities. So long as it didn¡¯t hinder their business, they chose not to bother him. Of course, their disinterest was also predicated on him fulfilling his role as an assassin. If he ever chose to leave that life behind, he knew just how fearsome an enemy the guild could be. Carlos didn¡¯t bother looting his victims. The guild would take care of that and forward him his share. He had better things to do than muck about in all that blood and gore on the off chance that he¡¯d find something valuable. The infants¡¯ organs, he left alone as well. The guild would destroy them. He strode out of the building, flitting from one shadow to the next. [Umbral Steps] was an incredibly inefficient skill, and it used a lot of mana. However, as Carlos had been investing in intelligence since his first level, he had mana to spare. On top of that, his high wisdom was enough to guarantee a steady trickle of regeneration that would allow him to use the skill as many times as he¡¯d like. And there was something incredibly satisfying about stepping from one shadow to the next and appearing out of nowhere. It certainly helped his reputation as Asesino de Sombras, which was worthwhile enough on its own that he would always do it, so long as he could afford the mana expenditure. As he traversed the city, which was mostly constructed of mud brick, with brightly colored awnings wherever he looked, he tried not to notice the poverty and squalor. Those people had had every chance to improve their situation. If they¡¯d have utilized their skills, if they had made something resembling a plan, they could have made something of themselves. Instead, they wailed about misfortune as they struggled to adjust to a new world that required certain sacrifices upon the altar of success. He would protect the innocent to the best of his ability, but he couldn¡¯t protect people from their own laziness and bad choices. On that account, they were on their own. Finally, he reached his destination ¨C one of the guild¡¯s satellite headquarters. The entire city was dotted with such buildings, so in only a few minutes, the Crystal Spiders could respond to any crisis. Of course, few knew recognized the non-descript buildings for what they were. People were blind when they wanted to be, Carlos knew. With a last embrace of [Umbral Steps], Carlos found himself pushing through the door. Immediately, he found the satellite¡¯s overseer ¨C a plump man whose name Carlos didn¡¯t know. Posing as a butcher, the man looked the part right down to his stained, white apron. But like all overseers, he was more than what he seemed, and he could hold his own against almost anyone in the Radiant Isles. Carlos said, ¡°Need clean-up at the abandoned warehouse on Bazaar Street. The one a block west of the Red Eyes¡¯ old territory.¡± ¡°Authorization?¡± the man asked. ¡°Inspect me.¡± The man did, then he went pale. ¡°Oh,¡± he said. ¡°S-sorry. I didn¡¯t know it was you, sir.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Carlos said. ¡°No reason for you to know. Take care of it, soon, though. And burn the boxes. If I find any of their¡­contents¡­out in the open, I¡¯m going to be very upset.¡± ¡°Y-yes, sir!¡± the man intoned. Carlos half-expected him to salute. With a sigh, Carlos shook his head and said, ¡°Just get it done.¡± Then, without another word, he switched the name on his status back to Carlos Alfaro, then left the building, as anonymous as anyone else. Continue Reading Book Three on Amazon and Audible (available June 27) As I''m sure most of you already know, when a book becomes available on Kindle Unlimited, it comes with the caveat that it remain exclusive to Amazon. So, given that book three will become available next month (June 27), I''ve had to remove the appropriate chapters from Royal Road. I''ll keep the chapters up on Patreon for another week before I delete them there. If you would like to read or listen to an edited version of the story, you can find them on the links up above. If you''re on the fence, here''s the blurb:
A young warrior risks his very humanity to stop a demonic infestation and protect his newfound family in this post-apocalyptic, action-adventure fantasy. Chosen by the enigmatic deity Oberon to be a soldier in a war between good and evil, Zeke Blackwood has become one of the deadliest warriors in the Radiant Isles. With supernatural strength and otherworldly resilience, he¡¯s carved a path of destruction through the realm, defeating both horrifying monsters and skilled sorcerers and acquiring devastating powers no mere human could ever hope to control. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Determined to apply his abilities to protecting his companions, Zeke has run afoul of the Isles¡¯ elite¡ªotherworldly beings revered as demigods, who treat the population as expendable pawns in their twisted power struggles. Zeke won¡¯t have to face them alone though. Accompanied by a hulking alchemist, an undead princess, a soul-bonded dire bear named Pudge, and the beautiful archer Abby, he may just be able to beat the odds and emerge victorious. But after an encounter with a shadow assassin bound to the mysterious Crystal Spiders, Zeke and his party find themselves thrust into conflict with a dangerous warlock intent on tearing open a portal between the Radiant Isles and a dark, demon-filled dimension. Now, they must journey through a perilous desert fighting a gauntlet of vicious, bloodthirsty creatures, or risk losing the entirety of the Isles to demonic forces. And to defeat the threats arrayed against him, Zeke will have to draw upon raw, magical energies that could increase his power¡ªor kill him . . .
175. Recovery With a sharp exhale, Zeke emerged from the pool of the orange, semi-liquid substance. It had the consistency of pudding, and it had a habit of clinging to everything. However, over the last month, it had proved an invaluable healing aid. Without it, he wasn¡¯t sure that he would have ever recovered at all, much less settle into his new strength. And he had gotten stronger, as well. The foray into the demon realm had been a boon, albeit one he¡¯d barely managed to survive. He threw his arms over the edge of the pool, feeling the rough, enchanted sandstone from which the Pools of Serenity had been constructed. Though he¡¯d spent much of his recovery time studying the runes that ringed the pool, he¡¯d come away without much to show for it. Certainly, he¡¯d long since surmised that the enchantments were there to keep everything at the proper temperature and to prevent the stones from weathering, but the real magic came from the substance itself. Raphael had tried to explain it ¨C apparently, it was the product of a team of alchemists who¡¯d used some rare techniques to alter a naturally occurring spring ¨C but that explanation had flown right over Zeke¡¯s head. He might¡¯ve been a bit of a prodigy when it came to runes, but the other major crafts, save for one, felt entirely foreign to him. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± asked Abby, lounging nearby on a comfortable, leather couch. She had a book propped in one hand, but Zeke knew from experience that she was watching everything. More than once, she¡¯d accosted one of the pool¡¯s workers, thinking they might be a threat. The demon realm had done a number on all of them, and though she tried to hide it, Abby¡¯s mind was only just beginning to recover. It shouldn¡¯t have been that surprising. After all, they¡¯d been bouncing from one crisis to another for quite some time. The only time they¡¯d had a real chance to relax was when they¡¯d been in Beacon, and even that had been tinged with danger. Since then, they¡¯d fought through an army of zombies, confronted a full-fledged lich, infiltrated a frost giant city, battled thousands of enormous fire ants, and destroyed a giant bird-dinosaur amalgam. Not to mention the tribe of goat-men or the city of gnolls. Then came the demon realm, where Zeke had been forced to scramble around for weeks in search of something that would allow his friends to survive the toxic atmosphere. Once he¡¯d acquired a handful of crystals that would do just that, the entire group had set out to return to the mortal realm. But the way had been fraught with danger, and a horde of powerful demons had barred their passage. Touching on a concept that far exceeded his capabilities, Zeke had destroyed a good portion of that army, but it had left him scarred, injured, and close to death ¨C a situation that was further exacerbated when the group had finally stepped through the portal and returned, only to be attacked by an enraged former Aztec warrior. Using the last vestiges of the massive power he¡¯d only barely touched, Zeke obliterated the man. And a good portion of the city of Jariq; it had cost him, though, and without the Pools of Serenity, he suspected that he would have been forced to live the rest of his life as a cripple. Given the way things worked in the Radiant Isles, that would have likely been a short life indeed. ¡°I feel good,¡± Zeke said with a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any real damage left. I won¡¯t know for sure until I go all out, but it feels like I¡¯m back to full strength.¡± Abby sat up and set her book aside. Shaking her head, she said, ¡°Monster.¡± He pushed himself up to sit on the edge of the pool, letting his legs dangle into the mud-like substance. He was covered in the stuff, and it would take quite a bit of high-pressure water to change that. It clung to every crevice, and it dried pretty quickly. However, he didn¡¯t make any moves toward the nearby showers. Instead, he looked around. The pool dominated the room, the walls of which were covered in fanciful murals depicting various battle scenes. The style was a little too abstract for Zeke¡¯s tastes, with the figures having angular figures and simplistic poses, but he couldn¡¯t argue that it was the affect was impressive ¨C even more so because of the flickering firelight that illuminated the space. Pedestals, upon which were dancing flames, surrounded the pool, and couches, chairs, and piles of cushions lined the walls. There was only one door, though Zeke suspected that one of the walls contained a hidden entrance. In the silence, Zeke examined his status:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class n/a
Level 23
Race Cambion (G)
Alignment Unchosen
Achievements First Blood, Hasty Evolution, Above and Beyond, Genocide, Overachiever, Completionist, Beastmaster, Arachnophobia, Resistant, Lord of the Sewers, Skillsmith, Flayed, Icarus, Lazarus
Martial Path Blunt Weapons (Force) ¨C Novice (Peak), Shield ¨C Novice (high)
Artisan Path Runecraft ¨C Novice (high)
Strength 513
Agility 314
Dexterity 362
Endurance 399
Vitality 385
Intelligence 277
Wisdom 354
Resistances
Fire Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
n/a 7 5 5 5 6 15 10 5
Not for the first time, Zeke marveled at his gains. Not only had he picked up more raw stat points than he could count ¨C some via his natural gains from leveling, others from two new achievements, and still others from his evolved martial path ¨C but he¡¯d also managed to increase the percentage bonuses that counted for more and more as his stats ballooned into new tiers of power. He examined the first new achievement, which he¡¯d gained outside the shadow city in the demon realm. There, while fighting through a demon horde, he¡¯d briefly touched upon a level of power that had all but destroyed his body. And the achievement showed that. Icarus: Like Earth¡¯s mythological figure, you have flown too close to the sun and meddled with powers you have no way to understand. That you survived should be reward enough. +10 to All Stats. + 10% to All Stats. Despite the achievement¡¯s wording, the stats awarded from the achievement almost made his brush with death seem worth it. Following from that was the next achievement: Lazarus: Fate marked you for death, and yet, you survived. Whether it was skill or dumb luck, such a thing should be rewarded. +5 End, +25 Vit. Snarky wording aside, Zeke couldn¡¯t have been happier with the two achievements. Between them, he¡¯d gained hundreds of stat points. However, his gains hadn¡¯t ended there. Predictably, his martial path had progressed as well: Martial Path: Blunt Weapons (Force) ¨C Novice (Peak) ¨C At the peak, you have begun to understand that no single weapon constitutes a path. Focus on the ideal, and you shall progress. Remain mired in uninspired thinking, and you will stagnate. +45 Str, Dex. +10% Str. The text told him what he¡¯d already begun to suspect. His glimpse into the higher tiers of power had shown him just how limited his understanding really was, but rather than be dissuaded by the obvious danger, he was invigorated by the power hovering just outside of his rich. One day, he¡¯d grasp it, and when he did, nothing would be able to stop him. Further, it seemed that his martial path was destined to evolve into something else. After seeing what he had seen, that made perfect sense. A mere weapon could not even begin to represent that force he¡¯d felt, and he was eager to explore it further. Still, Zeke was a little hesitant. After all, he didn¡¯t want a repeat of what had happened in Mal¡¯Araxis, did he? Not only would it destroy the city that had nursed him back to health, but he felt confident that it would result in his death. It was only through a series of fortunate coincidences that he¡¯d managed to survive the first time. ¡°You¡¯re miles away again,¡± said Abby, sitting down beside him. She crossed her legs under her and put her hand on his shoulder. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? I¡¯m not just talking about physically, either. You went through a lot, and I¡¯m worried about what it did to you.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said. For the first few weeks, he¡¯d struggled with having to leave Tucker behind. He¡¯d gone back and forth, time and time again as he tried to think of how he could have done things differently. However, without the ability to go back in time and make different choices, it was all an exercise in futility. Zeke had made his decisions, and he had no choice but to stick with them. Even so, his mind often wandered to the enigmatic alchemist who¡¯d sacrificed himself to close the portal to the demon realm. It had been necessary, though Zeke kept wondering if he should¡¯ve been the one to make that ultimate sacrifice. Despite Tucker¡¯s assurances that he had a plan, Zeke wasn¡¯t so na?ve that he thought that the alchemist had survived. He¡¯d been in an alien world with a toxic atmosphere and surrounded by a horde of bloodthirsty demons. Even Zeke, who, because of his transformation into a half-demon Cambion, was immune to the caustic atmosphere, would have struggled to punch through the army of angry demons. Imagining that Tucker could somehow manage was shear wishful thinking. Even now, weeks later, Zeke was unsure how he felt about the alchemist. Certainly, they¡¯d bonded over their shared southern heritage as well as being the only two men in the party. There was more to it than that ¨C small moments here and there that could have eventually become a friendship. But then, Tucker was gone, and that carefully laid foundation had crumbled into dust. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about him, aren¡¯t you?¡± Abby asked. Zeke nodded. ¡°I guess I am,¡± he admitted. ¡°I can¡¯t help but wonder if there was another way. It was all happening so fast, and I¡¯m sure that we missed something. Some way for all of us to survive.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± she allowed. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter, does it? I didn¡¯t like Tucker. He was amoral and self-serving. But in the end, he saved a lot of lives. That has to count for something.¡± ¡°I know,¡± was all Zeke said. For a while, they sat there, silent and unmoving, save for Abby¡¯s finger tracing a small pattern on Zeke¡¯s shoulder. Finally, when the orange substance from the pool had dried, he pushed himself to his feet. ¡°I think we¡¯ve been sitting around for long enough. I need to do something productive.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going back to that smithy, aren¡¯t you?¡± Abby asked as Zeke strode toward the shower. He looked back at her with a grin, saying, ¡°It¡¯s interesting. What can I say?¡± She just shook her head and flicked a few chunks of the dried, mud-like substance from her fingers. Right before Zeke turned on the shower, she said, ¡°I¡¯m going to train.¡± He nodded, then, after touching a metal plate in the shower, he injected a bit of mana. Thankfully, after all his healing, it no longer felt like someone was pouring molten lead through his veins. In fact, it didn¡¯t hurt at all ¨C a testament to the healing power of the Pools of Serenity. As soon as his mana took hold, a glass door slid closed and, a moment later, a series of high-pressure jets of water activated, scouring the goop from his body. It only lasted a few seconds, but even with Zeke¡¯s high endurance, it left his skin red and stinging. Once the shower was finished, he stepped out and found his way to the small chest that contained his clothing. Before he put them on, though, he looked into a nearby mirror. His skin still bore the evidence of his injuries, and his body was crisscrossed with a multitude of thin, pale scars that looked like his skin had been cracked into a thousand pieces, then put back together again. Other than that, when he looked in the mirror, the same familiar reflection stared back at him. Although, if he looked at his eyes for long enough, he could see tiny motes of golden light streaking across his green irises. Otherwise, he didn¡¯t look any different than most humans. It was such a strange thing, acknowledging that he wasn¡¯t one of them anymore, but over the previous couple of months, he¡¯d come to terms with it. He wasn¡¯t particularly happy about it, but he also couldn¡¯t change it. So, he could only live with it and move on, which was precisely what he planned to do. Perhaps it would provide even more benefits in the future. With a sigh, he reached down into the chest and retrieved his clothing. It was high-quality stuff, provided by Raphael Taggert, their host since they¡¯d come to Jariq, but Zeke couldn¡¯t help but miss his armor. Hopefully, that lack would change soon. So, after dressing himself in a pair of black trousers, a loose white shirt, and a set of black boots, he set out for the smithy, where he hoped to find his host. The Pools of Serenity were in the heart of the Union, which, in turn, occupied the northern side of Jariq. It was one of the few territories that hadn¡¯t been either overrun by demons or entirely destroyed by Zeke¡¯s unleashed skill. The building itself resembled a temple, with the entrance to the Pools on the second level of a two-tiered ziggurat, the exterior walls of which were decorated with a variety of relief sculptures depicting scenes of cleansing and renewal. As far as Zeke could tell, they had nothing to do with the Pool¡¯s effects, but they weren¡¯t entirely without power, either. As he exited the room, Zeke quickly made his way down the hall, ignoring the identical rooms that lined the corridor. Most were empty, with open doors, but a couple were clearly occupied. Zeke strode down the hall with confidence, eventually emerging into a lobby. It was mostly empty, save for a single desk occupied by one of the Union¡¯s elites. He gave the robed woman a nod before exiting through the huge set of bronze doors. They creaked as he pushed through them, slamming shut with finality as he left the temple behind and descended the steps. It felt good to finally be healthy enough to get by on his own power. ¡°You can stop hiding,¡± he said as he reached the base. ¡°I know you¡¯re there.¡± A moment later, Talia emerged from a deep shadow, putting down the hood she¡¯d adopted since they¡¯d arrived in Jariq. It was a necessity; at a glance, the girl looked human enough, but any close inspection would yield troubling results. It was best if she remained hidden, especially given the rumors out of Beacon and the surrounding territories. ¡°Did you see me?¡± she asked, falling in beside him. He shook his head. ¡°No,¡± he stated. ¡°But I knew you were there. I can¡¯t really explain it.¡± Though it wasn¡¯t reflected in his status page, he¡¯d experienced another change within the demon realm. He could sense people, now. Zeke had no idea what it was that he was sensing, but he knew when someone came within fifty feet of him. It was subtle and easily ignored, but when he focused, it was always there. That was how he¡¯d found Talia. Otherwise, she¡¯d been all but invisible. ¡°I don¡¯t need a minder, you know,¡± he said, continuing along his way. Talia kept up with him easily, but she didn¡¯t respond. Not a big talker, Talia, but Zeke had to admit that her presence was comforting. Pushing those thoughts aside, Zeke made his way toward the Foundry. There, he hoped he would finally get his new set of armor. And failing that, he would at least see Raphael work. He wasn¡¯t sure which one he wanted more, though. 176. A New Obsession Jariq was a strange place, and it was wholly different from Talia¡¯s home city in a number of ways. Some, like its location in the center of an unforgiving desert, were obvious. The sandstone construction as well as the city¡¯s formidable walls were enough to make that clear. In addition, the city was dirtier ¨C both in terms of the city itself as well as its denizens ¨C than Beacon. In fact, it reminded her of Beacon¡¯s outskirts, the base level where people were mired in squalor and lived in tents. She¡¯d only visited a handful of times, usually at the behest of the Church of Purity, but the place had left a lasting impression. Jariq reminded her of that, not least because of its lawless nature. Of course, Talia had little to worry about. If anyone was misguided enough to attack her, she would show them just how terrible of a mistake they had made. And if she somehow failed, Zeke was right there beside her. He hadn¡¯t regained his full strength yet, but he was close enough to deal with anything Jariq could throw at them. The two walked in silence, with Zeke looking around like a tourist. By contrast, Talia watched every shadow, every nook and cranny, searching for any hints of danger. Zeke could take care of himself, but she had taken it upon herself to make sure he didn¡¯t have to. She owed him that much, at least. ¡°What do you think of Jariq?¡± Zeke asked, suddenly breaking the silence. Around them, people scattered out of their way. Even if the citizens didn¡¯t know about Zeke destroying half the city ¨C and they did ¨C they wouldn¡¯t have dared stand in the way of someone with his level. Not every high level would react to such an affront with violence, and certainly, Zeke would never even think about doing so, but for the weak, it was better not to take chances. Talia¡¯s presence was enough to deter them even further. In the months that had passed since her transformation, Talia had come to terms with the fact that she would never regain her humanity. What¡¯s more, she wasn¡¯t even sure that she would want to. As a human, she¡¯d been weak, but as a revenant, she was usually the most powerful person in any room. Zeke was stronger, but he was an aberration. He didn¡¯t count. Still, regardless of her acceptance, seeing the way people looked at her wasn¡¯t easy. Her emotions were muted, but she still felt every horrified stare. It was like being stabbed, over and over, with the citizenry¡¯s unwarranted fear. And she didn¡¯t deserve it. Hadn¡¯t she protected them? Hadn¡¯t she killed dozens of demons? She¡¯d helped close the portal to Mal¡¯araxis, too. That should have garnered at least some gratitude. But all she got was fear. Enmity. Hate. It was a galling set of circumstances, but one for which she saw no cure. She could only forge ahead, hoping that people would look past her monstrous nature to see the person beneath the pale skin and green veins. Perhaps there was a lesson in that, though she couldn¡¯t see it. After a moment, she realized that she still hadn¡¯t answered Zeke¡¯s question. She said, ¡°I am sorry. I was distracted.¡± He shrugged his broad shoulders, saying, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I get the same way sometimes.¡± ¡°To answer your question, I think it is strikingly and refreshingly disgusting,¡± she said. ¡°Those words don¡¯t seem like they fit together,¡± he said, grinning her way. When Zeke smiled at her ¨C or showed any sort of approval ¨C she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride. She didn¡¯t like him in any sort of romantic way, but she had come to admire him. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to explain what you mean.¡± ¡°In Beacon, everything is beautiful,¡± she explained. ¡°The architecture is peerless, the people seem fairly content, and everything appears to work toward a common goal. However, it is a fa?ade. An illusion. Beneath the surface lurks a cesspool. I never saw it before, but with distance comes clarity.¡± Indeed, she¡¯d thought a lot about her home, and she¡¯d come away with an understanding of just how dysfunctional the place really was. All significant resources were funneled toward the elite, even when those resources would serve a greater purpose in the hands of the weaker citizenry. Her mother was the greatest perpetrator of this injustice. She was the strongest person on the continent, and yet, she took any significant opportunity for herself, leaving only the scraps for others. When Zeke didn¡¯t respond, she said, ¡°It is not so different here. The weak can barely survive, but for the boots of the elite on their necks. Yet, no one pretends it is fair. That makes a difference, I think.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°What?¡± she asked, glancing at him in her peripheral vision. Zeke shook his head. ¡°Just didn¡¯t expect that, I guess,¡± he said. ¡°To me, it doesn¡¯t feel like it matters that much. Oppression is oppression, whether it¡¯s hiding behind a mask or not.¡± ¡°I prefer honesty,¡± she admitted. ¡°But I suppose there is the possibility that I am slightly biased.¡± Slightly might have been understating it. Over the course of the past few months, Talia had gone from being a bit overwhelmed by her mother¡¯s betrayal into pure hatred. As far as Talia was concerned, Lady Constance was a monster who needed to be put down. And one day, she hoped to be the one to do it. Something told her she might have to stand in line, though. Constance had plenty of enemies, not least of whom were her companions. If Zeke got the chance, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to end her. That, as much as anything else, was one of the reasons she admired him so much. He didn¡¯t care about the danger. He didn¡¯t care if it was a good idea. All he knew was that Constance had hurt his friend, and that was enough to make her an enemy. ¡°Slightly,¡± he acknowledged with a chuckle. The pair continued to make their way through the city, covering the ground far more quickly than most people could manage. Soon, they found their destination ¨C the Foundry. It was a large building that was built more like an amphitheater. Open-aired and with a giant pit of lava in the center, the ground floor was dominated by a collection of smithies. The crack of hammers on metal filled the air as Zeke led Talia inside. They were immediately greeted by one of the Union officials, a position that was made obvious by the woman¡¯s blue uniform. ¡°Mr. Blackwood!¡± she said, wringing her hands. Sweat poured down her face. ¡°I was not informed that you were set to visit today.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I decided at the last minute, Erin,¡± he said, a sheepish expression playing across his face. ¡°Sorry. I probably should have sent someone ahead. I¡¯ll be sure to do that next time.¡± ¡°No problem, Mr. Blackwood!¡± she said, the intention behind the statement ruined by her forced tone. ¡°We serve at your discretion.¡± If Talia was one to display such emotion, she would have rolled her eyes. Instead, she was limited to a simple blink. She didn¡¯t blame the citizens of Jariq for holding Zeke in high regard. She did too. However, the constant pandering was a little too much for her taste. Perhaps she would have felt differently if she¡¯d have been made to feel as powerless as the people who¡¯d been victimized by the demons. Few of the city¡¯s people had been completely unaffected by the abbreviated demon invasion. Most had lost at least one friend or member of their family. So, Zeke, who was the face of their salvation as well as humanity¡¯s vengeance, was put onto a proverbial pedestal. Talia wouldn¡¯t be surprised if, eventually, the city erected a statue. ¡°Is he around?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Do you know if he¡¯s finished?¡± Erin was only level fifteen, and she clearly wasn¡¯t used to being so casually addressed by someone of Zeke¡¯s importance. Still, she held it together, saying, ¡°Master Raphael is at his forge. But I regret that I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s finished the¡­ah¡­project you set for him. I apologize, and I hope ¨C¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Zeke said, waving away her apology. ¡°Not going to bite your head off for not knowing something you¡¯ve got no reason to know. Relax.¡± Erin swallowed hard. ¡°Very well,¡± she said. ¡°Would you like for me to announce you?¡± ¡°No, no ¨C it¡¯s fine,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I know my way.¡± With that, he set off, not even paying attention to the surprised woman he left behind. With a shake of her head, Talia followed. When she caught up to Zeke, she said, ¡°You confound people like Miss Erin.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± he asked. ¡°You do not act according to your status,¡± Talia stated. ¡°People expect a certain¡­dismissive attitude from elites.¡± ¡°That¡¯s stupid,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s a person. I just treated her like I would anyone else.¡± ¡°And that is what makes you different,¡± Talia stated. Zeke didn¡¯t have anything to say to that. He¡¯d been to Beacon, after all. He knew how elites treated others. More, he¡¯d seen enough during his time in Jariq to cement that knowledge in his brain, so Talia wasn¡¯t telling him anything he didn¡¯t already know. However, having it reiterated clearly distressed him. Purposefully, they strode through the Foundry¡¯s outer ring, which was made of the ubiquitous sandstone. It bore a host of carvings, most of which were worshipful depictions of various crafters. Predictably, blacksmiths, with their mighty hammers and blazing forges, were the most popular. Zeke didn¡¯t pay much attention to their surroundings as he passed various forges. He did give a few smiths nods of respect, but he really only had eyes for his destination. Suspended in the center of the pool of lava was a forge bigger than any of the others, and upon that forge worked a familiar figure. Raphael Taggert was an unassuming man. Average size and even more average looks. However, beneath that unassuming exterior was one of the most advanced craftsmen in the entire Radiant Isles. His chosen profession ¨C blacksmithing ¨C was a common one to the point where there were entire subdivisions of Beacon devoted to the craft. But few reached the pinnacle, and even fewer stretched the craft the way Taggert had. He was a true master, the likes of which even Beacon could not boast. And he was hard at work on a project Zeke had given him, hammering away at familiar red-and-white metal. Zeke didn¡¯t speak as he approached. Instead, he crouched nearby, watching the man¡¯s every movement with undiluted concentration. He wasn¡¯t a blacksmith himself ¨C Talia knew that ¨C but even so, he¡¯d spent hours watching Taggert working at his craft. More than an hour passed before Taggert noticed him, but even when he did, he didn¡¯t stop working. Instead, he redoubled his efforts, hammering away at the red-and-white metal. Belatedly, Talia realized that it was a breastplate, and not dissimilar from the one Zeke had worn until it had been destroyed after the weeks-long battle against the fire ants. Finally, after two more hours, Taggert let out a sigh of relief. He held up the breastplate with a pair of tongs, saying, ¡°I suppose it¡¯ll have to do.¡± Zeke took that as his cue, saying, ¡°Thank you for letting me watch.¡± Taggert let out a harumph and rolled his shoulders before answering, ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. You saved this city. You saved a lot of people I care about.¡± Zeke looked away, and she knew what he was thinking. They¡¯d spoken about his role in the battle for Jariq, and while she knew that he acknowledged that it probably wouldn¡¯t have been won without him, he felt responsible for the people who¡¯d had buildings collapse atop him as a result of his lone strike. There weren¡¯t as many to perish as any of them had expected ¨C much of the city had been evacuated to more secure shelters when the demons began trickling out of the portal ¨C but there were enough that he felt guilty. More than that, though, all three people present knew that Taggert¡¯s subservience wasn¡¯t the result of gratitude. Not completely, at least. He had seen Zeke¡¯s power, and he was terrified of having that getting the wrong kind of attention. So, he¡¯d made every effort to ingratiate himself to Zeke. It had worked, if not for the reasons he probably expected. Zeke didn¡¯t really care that much about money. He would have happily paid whatever price the smith quoted; after unloading just a small fraction of his loot, he¡¯d made a small fortune, so he was definitely good for it. More, Zeke seemed fascinated by the man¡¯s craft, which was a reward all its own. ¡°You¡¯re finished?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°With the breastplate, yes,¡± Taggert said, setting the hunk of metal armor aside. ¡°It still needs some adornment, but¡­well, the forging is done. Thank you for supplying the blood mithril. I¡¯ve never had the chance to work with so much of it. And those raptor feathers? Grinding them up and integrating them into the metal was pure genius.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Is it going to end up working like we want it to work? Do you think it¡¯ll conduct energy as fluidly as we hoped?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Taggert stated. ¡°There¡¯s no way of knowing for sure, though. Not until we finish the whole set.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I guess that makes sense.¡± ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need a weapon?¡± Taggert asked. ¡°I¡¯ve got more experience with them than with armor. I could make something truly impressive. An axe, perhaps?¡± Zeke laughed. ¡°I think I¡¯ll stick with my mace,¡± he said, pulling the weapon from his spatial storage. It still looked like it belonged in the hands of some orcish chieftan, but Talia knew just how extraordinary it was. The weapon had been the result of a difficult quest, and it had become Zeke¡¯s signature. He handed it to the smith, but as soon as he let go of the grip, it thudded to the ground, sending a small, localized tremor arcing out through the central forge. ¡°So heavy¡­how do you lift it?¡± Taggert asked. ¡°It grows heavier based on my strength,¡± Zeke stated. Taggert paled. As a smith, he¡¯d likely invested quite a few stat points into strength. More than most warriors, in fact. And considering that he was level twenty-five, that meant that he was probably one of the mightiest people in the city, at least in terms of purely physical strength. And he couldn¡¯t even hold the mace that Zeke had handled with one hand. ¡°An impressive weapon,¡± Taggert said. Then, puffing out his chest, he said, ¡°I shall endeavor to make armor to match.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Are you getting back to work right now?¡± Clearly, the man hadn¡¯t intended to, but he didn¡¯t dare say no. So, he nodded and went back to work. Zeke, for his part, settled back down to watch. As he did, he told Talia, ¡°You don¡¯t have to stick around. I¡¯m fine here.¡± ¡°I will stay,¡± Talia said. It wasn¡¯t the most dangerous place in Jariq, but she didn¡¯t let that dissuade her. She would continue to watch Zeke¡¯s back, regardless of how safe it might appear to be. 177. Accountability Carlos sat at the bar, staring down at the brown liquid in his glass. His shoulders were slumped, and his dark hair made a curtain around his face. He didn¡¯t usually drink, but it was a special occasion. After all, he¡¯d just found out that he¡¯d lost one of the few people in the entire world he considered a friend. As such, he felt justified in needing a drink. ¡°There you are,¡± came a familiar voice. Carlos didn¡¯t need to turn to know it was Abby. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I was looking for you so we could go train.¡± ¡°Not in the mood,¡± he said, still not looking up. Abby slid onto the stool next to his, but she didn¡¯t say anything. Not at first. Finally, after a few seconds, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? I¡¯ve never seen you like this.¡± ¡°Found his body,¡± Carlos said. ¡°Marc. My friend. His daughter, too. Same with the neighbor kids. The whole building was reduced to rubble.¡± ¡°Zeke?¡± Carlos nodded, feeling everything go numb. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°Who knew tearing a canyon through a city would kill so many people, huh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair¡­¡± ¡°Twelve-hundred and three,¡± Carlos stated. ¡°What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how many people were killed when he let loose,¡± Carlos said. ¡°Twelve-hundred people. One swing of that club of his. He didn¡¯t even think about the consequences. He just¡­he just did it. And all those people died because he couldn¡¯t be bothered to think for two seconds.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t have a choice,¡± Abby said, though her voice betrayed her doubt. ¡°Do you really think that?¡± he asked, finally turning to look at her. His eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, evidence of the tears he¡¯d shed that day. ¡°Do you honestly believe that was the only way?¡± ¡°I think ¨C¡± Carlos slammed his hand down on the bar, shouting, ¡°He could have waited! We were right there! We could have taken that bastard just like we took the demon! But no. No. Zeke had to be the hero. No, that¡¯s not even right. He didn¡¯t do it to be the hero. That¡¯s the fucked up part of it all, isn¡¯t it? He just didn¡¯t think. He just did it. And twelve-hundred people died. Including my friend. Including his little girl. And countless others with stories just like theirs. Do you really think that was acceptable?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not.¡± ¡°But who¡¯s going to hold him accountable, right? Nobody,¡± Carlos went on, his throat ragged and his words coming out like sandpaper. He reached down, grabbed the glass, and raised it. ¡°To a bunch of people that didn¡¯t deserve to die. And the man-child who killed them.¡± Then, he tipped the contents into his mouth and swallowed. The liquor went down like fire, and he coughed. Abby said, ¡°Don¡¯t do something stupid.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± he asked, glaring at her. ¡°You think I¡¯m going to mess with your boyfriend? I don¡¯t have a death wish.¡± ¡°Then what do you want from me?¡± she asked. ¡°People make mistakes. He didn¡¯t mean for that to happen.¡± ¡°As if that matters,¡± was Carlos¡¯s bitter response. ¡°Not meaning it doesn¡¯t bring them back, does it?¡± Then, he pushed away from the bar and rose to unsteady feet. Even before Abby had arrived, he¡¯d had too much to drink. The last one had simply tipped him over the edge. ¡°Look ¨C it¡¯s not your fault,¡± he said, slurring his words ¨C probably as much due to his anger as to inebriation. ¡°But I can¡¯t look at you right now. So, I¡¯m going to go. Please don¡¯t follow me.¡± After slapping a couple of coins on the bar, Carlos turned and wove his way through the room. There were a few other patrons there, but it being the middle of the day, the bar was far from crowded. After a few seconds, he found his way out on the street, where he was confronted by another familiar presence. Pudge, the infernal bear, leaned against the sandstone wall, looking like he was asleep. Carlos knew better. The pedestrians that made their home in that section of the city did not; otherwise, they might¡¯ve cleared the street altogether. It wasn¡¯t difficult to see why Pudge hadn¡¯t followed Abby inside. At twenty feet from snout to rump, he was far too large to fit through the door. He probably could have made his own entrance, if that was what he¡¯d wanted, but the bear had been on his best behavior since taking up residence in the desert city. He hadn¡¯t even eaten a single person¡¯s face, which given what Carlos had seen during their descent into the caverns beneath the keep out in the desert as well as the bear¡¯s actions in the demon realm, was an accomplishment. He shook his head and stepped into the crowd of pedestrians, letting the flow take him away from the bar. Nearby, he could see the buildings that had been ruined by Zeke¡¯s skill. More than a thousand dead, and they still hadn¡¯t uncovered all the bodies. Carlos had been helping for weeks, all the while hoping that they¡¯d find some survivors. They had discovered a handful, but they were few and far between. Most had died the moment the skill hit, exploded by the sheer force of its passing. The others had perished under the rubble. As he wandered in a daze, the inebriation started to wear off. That was one of the problems with attaining more power. At a certain point, the alcohol just stopped doing its job. Carlos had long since passed that point, and so, when he did manage to get drunk, it wore off in a matter of minutes, as opposed to hours. In this case, it was just in time, because as he sobered up, he realized that he was being followed. Carlos didn¡¯t immediately react. Instead, he maintained his pace, even stumbling a bit here and there to further the illusion that he was still under the influence of the alcohol. All the while, though, he kept his eyes peeled for a likely escape route. Or better, an ambush point. It only took a little more than five minutes for him to find the latter. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. He veered down an alley, tripping over the scattered rubble of a nearby collapsed building. He fell to the ground, his chest heaving as he forced himself to vomit. That was when he felt them enter the alley. Two men, judging by their heavy footsteps. Evolved, too, but not elites. Carlos was not in the mood to be merciful. In only an instant, he¡¯d embraced three skills. First, he used [Umbral Steps], stepping through the shadows to get out of harm¡¯s way. Then, he wrapped himself in shadows with [Umbral Phantom], both to obscure his position as well as protect him from stray attacks. Finally, he activated [Shadow Spear]. Before either of the two figures knew what was happening, a half-dozen spikes of pure darkness erupted from the ground, pinning them to the nearby walls. Their wails of pain and surprise filled the air, and Carlos could tell they were trying to utilize various skills. But they were too distracted by the sudden turn of events. He stepped out of the shadows, saying, ¡°Stop screaming. If you try anything, I will rip you to pieces. You know who I am. You know what I can do.¡± The two men ¨C one tall and husky, the other short and spindly ¨C stopped screaming immediately. To Carlos¡¯s annoyance, the dual personas he¡¯d long cultivated had been revealed as one and the same, completely destroying any benefit of maintaining the ruse. He had no idea who¡¯d let the proverbial cat out of the bag, but if he ever found out, he would make them regret it. In any case, with his identity out in the open, there was no reason to hold back. More than a few times since being back, he¡¯d put his skills on full display. Anyone who was anyone knew precisely what he could do, now. ¡°Who are you, and why are you following me?¡± he demanded, stepping closer to the bigger man. He didn¡¯t answer right away, and with a thought, the shadow spear began to twist, eliciting another cry of pain. ¡°I asked you a question. Who are you? Why are you following me? Answer, and I¡¯ll end you quick. Stay silent, and I¡¯ll make this last.¡± ¡°I see you haven¡¯t lost your sense of drama,¡± came another voice from the alley¡¯s mouth. Carlos jerked his head up, and he saw a familiar face staring back at him. ¡°You don¡¯t call. You don¡¯t write. You seem to have abandoned us entirely. I must confess, the Eyes are distraught. Many have begun to wonder if you are going to be a problem. So, tell me, Carlos ¨C are you going to be a problem?¡± Carlos knew better than to hesitate. Keeping his eyes on the newcomer, he withdrew his skills, and the two men collapsed onto the ground. ¡°Lucius,¡± he spat. ¡°Should¡¯ve known it was you.¡± ¡°In the flesh, dear boy,¡± the man answered, spreading his arms wide. Carlos scowled at him, noting that he hadn¡¯t changed a bit in the year since he¡¯d last seen him. He was still tall, whipcord thin, and blonde. He had high cheekbones, sunken, blue eyes, and an air of authority he wore like a cloak. ¡°I thought you were in Salvation,¡± Carlos said. ¡°Clearly not,¡± was the man¡¯s reply. ¡°Are you going to come quietly? Or am I going to have to drag you back to the Nest like an unruly child?¡± Carlos desperately wanted the man to try. He was in just the sort of mood to throw caution to the wind and fight it out in the streets. But he knew that such a fight wouldn¡¯t happen without incurring significant collateral damage. And given his recent conversation with Abby, he knew the cost of that kind of thing. ¡°Can¡¯t you just ask your questions here?¡± he asked. ¡°I have no desire to report back in.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk,¡± Lucius said. ¡°You know as well as anyone that what you want is irrelevant. What they want, they get.¡± Carlos sighed. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with, then. And if this is a trap of some kind, I can promise you that you will not survive. I might not make it either, but I¡¯ll make that trade every time.¡± ¡°So hostile!¡± laughed Lucius. ¡°I like it. I always said you were too soft. I¡¯m glad to see that you¡¯ve seen the error of your ways. Still flitting about trying to pretend you¡¯re a superhero from Earth? Or was that just a phase?¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Carlos muttered, striding forward. When he passed Lucius, he asked, ¡°You coming? It¡¯d be a shame if you weren¡¯t able to take credit for bringing me in.¡± ¡°You wound me, sir,¡± Lucious responded with mock affront. ¡°I merely worried for my prot¨¦g¨¦.¡± Carlos snorted in derision. ¡°Whatever,¡± he said. He hadn¡¯t been Lucius¡¯s student for years, and that wasn¡¯t going to change just because the man suddenly reappeared in Jariq. Perhaps if he¡¯d never left, things would be different. But he had, and so, they weren¡¯t. ¡°I can tell you that they¡¯re very interested in your companions,¡± Lucius said, hurrying to catch up to Carlos. ¡°Very interested. Was the Cataclysm really a single skill? And by a man who wasn¡¯t even level twenty-five yet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Marvelous!¡± Lucius exclaimed. Then, seeing Carlos¡¯s reaction, he amended his statement with a much more subdued, ¡°Not for the people in The Sea, of course. Bad luck, that. Very bad luck.¡± Carlos sighed. Despite his long absence, Lucius hadn¡¯t really changed much. But then again, the man had been old even before he¡¯d found Carlos so long ago, so expecting him to change over the course of a few years was probably a vain hope. A little more respect for the dead would have been nice, though. ¡°And that monster that follows him around ¨C is it really sapient?¡± continued Lucius. ¡°Pudge? I think so,¡± Carlos said. ¡°But it¡¯s hard to tell because he can¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°No! The zombie!¡± Lucius crowed. ¡°She speaks like a human, from what I hear. But I¡¯ve heard that some believe she¡¯s being actively controlled by her master. Liches are supposed to be able to do such a thing.¡± ¡°What? No!¡± Carlos said. ¡°She¡¯s just a girl.¡± ¡°That is patently untrue,¡± Lucius stated. ¡°It¡¯s said that she consumes the flesh of infants and feasts on still-beating hearts.¡± Carlos¡¯s breath caught at that last bit. Rumors about Talia were common enough; she was a revenant, after all, and that sort of thing didn¡¯t pass without plenty of gossip. However, most of those rumors were ridiculous enough that they¡¯d become easy to ignore. But that last part? About the hearts? That cut too close to home. As far as Carlos knew, Talia hadn¡¯t had to eat one since arriving in Jariq. So, that meant that the Crystal Spiders were getting their information from elsewhere. ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°Like I said, she¡¯s just a girl who¡¯s had some bad things happen to her. She doesn¡¯t eat babies or hearts or anything else you might have heard.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s just disappointing,¡± said Lucius. Then, he fell silent as they continued along their way, eventually passing the boundaries of The Sea and entering into the Crystal Spiders¡¯ territory. It was colloquially known as The Nest, and for obvious reasons, but Carlos had always hated that name. Still, they had provided him with direction and a home when he¡¯d desperately needed both, so he owed the organization quite a lot. He and Lucius quickly found their way to a non-descript building near the center of the territory. Unlike the rest of Jariq, the Nest wasn¡¯t decorated with garish graffiti or unnecessary adornments. Instead, the surface of the territory existed as a fa?ade, disguising the access points to the tunnels beneath the city. That, Carlos knew, was the real Nest, and he knew the layout like the back of his hand. Every spider did. That was the first test, after all. Anyone who wanted to join was blindfolded and escorted into the center of the Nest. There, they were told to survive. Only ten would be allowed to advance. Carlos¡¯s group had numbered well over a hundred. Four, including him, had survived to receive their tattoo. It had taken four months, and in that time, he¡¯d learned to navigate the tunnels with enviable precision. So, he didn¡¯t hesitate before turning and entering a particular building. With sure steps, he found his way to the basement, where he moved a stack of boxes aside to reveal the entrance to the Nest. He descended with confidence, Lucius at his heels. ¡°Stop smiling,¡± Carlos muttered. He hadn¡¯t turned around, but he could practically feel the man¡¯s grin. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Yes, you are. Stop it.¡± Lucius huffed before saying, ¡°You really are no fun at all.¡± ¡°I really wish you¡¯d have just left me alone,¡± was Carlos¡¯s reply. ¡°Not an option,¡± Lucius said. ¡°Even I can¡¯t refuse an order.¡± Carlos nodded. He knew that as well as anyone. The Spiders had the advantage of unquestioned loyalty. It was one of the reasons he hadn¡¯t returned. But now, for all his delays, he was precisely where he hadn¡¯t wanted to be ¨C at the mercy of someone else. Continue reading Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible (on Nov. 7, 2023) As I''m sure most of you already know, when a book becomes available on Kindle Unlimited, it comes with the caveat that it remain exclusive to Amazon. So, given that book four will become available next month (November 7), I''ve had to remove the associated chapters from Royal Road. I''ll keep the chapters up on Patreon for another week before I delete them there. If you would like to read or listen to an edited version of the story, you can find them on the links up above. If you''re on the fence, here''s the blurb:
As legions of undead swarm the Radiant Isles, a young warrior makes a chilling decision for the fate of the people, in this post-apocalyptic fantasy. For years, Zeke Blackwood fought tooth and nail to defend the powerless and avenge the fallen, becoming one of the strongest people in the world and a match for any monster or magic-wielding sorcerer in the Radiant Isles. One life-or-death battle after another forged him into the ideal solder, meant for a war between good and evil. But when an encounter with the demon realm leaves him transformed, his body shattered, he''s forced to follow a far more dangerous path. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. As a cambion, Zeke stands on the thresholds of both Heaven and Hell, belonging to neither. Consumed with frustration at the tireless conflict between the mighty entities vying for supremacy throughout the Isles, he seeks the Portal of Ascension, a gateway that will allow him to escape the mortal realm once and for all. Meanwhile, Abraham Micayne has unleashed hordes of undead creatures in a quest to slaughter the living¡ªor turn them into servants damned to do his foul bidding. Zeke understands this is a fight he can''t win, no matter how powerful he becomes. The people of the Radiant Isles will have to face this apocalypse on their own. Now, to reach the Portal of Ascension, Zeke and his companions¡ªhis soul-bonded dire bear, Pudge; the unliving Talia Nightingale; and the archer Abby¡ªmust search high and low to uncover its location as they battle brigades of demons and other monstrous beings. But even greater enemies hunt the portal, and Zeke will face opposition from a rather unlikely source . . .
252. Class For a moment that stretched into an eternity, Zeke hung suspended within the expansive confines of the void. Between his death and rebirth, Zeke had become intimately familiar with that endless stretch of nothing, so, in some ways, it felt like he¡¯d returned home. However, contrary to his previous experience, this instance left his self-awareness intact. There was no acceptance. No contentment. Just a brutal awareness of both his insignificance as well as the unrelenting monotony that came with that torturous absence. If he¡¯d had a mouth, he would have screamed. But in that moment, he was nothing. Not even a speck of reality. Just a blob of consciousness that, given more than an instant, would dissolve and join the void. Zeke desperately reached for the solace promised by the infinite nothing, but any relief was denied him when, almost as suddenly as he¡¯d come, he found himself pulled into another realm. He stumbled to the white floor, feeling cold tiles under his bare skin. There was a chill in the air that, when it brushed over his naked body, left goosebumps in its wake. Zeke collapsed to his hands and knees, gasping for breath as his sense of self returned. After that came his memories. His emotions. His wants and needs. And like that, he regained his humanity. It was just in time, too, because only a moment later, a familiar voice echoed in his ears. ¡°It¡¯s a difficult transition, I know,¡± said Oberon, standing over him. ¡°Take a moment to collect yourself. Oh, and here.¡± Zeke looked up to see the short man wave his hand, and suddenly, Zeke was clad in the same linen clothes in which he had been reborn. More importantly, when Zeke looked down at his hand, he only saw normal human skin staring back at him. The effects of [Armor of the Colossus] were gone. ¡°What the¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not really here,¡± said Oberon, taking a seat in a leather chair that had suddenly appeared. Its twin sat across from him, making Zeke wonder if someone was about to explain the nature of the Matrix to him. ¡°This is all just a construct meant to ease your transition into the next plane. Next time, you won¡¯t get one.¡± Zeke shook his head, taking a moment to let his brain catch up to the situation. Over the next handful of seconds, he looked around. The construct was a little different than it had been the first time he¡¯d visited. Instead of a seamless white expanse, it had visible walls, a floor, and a ceiling. It was all still devoid of color, but there was enough texture to make it feel like a real room. His eyes found Oberon. Unlike the first time Zeke had seen him, he no longer looked like a famous actor; instead, he¡¯d taken an appearance more like the one he¡¯d worn when he¡¯d rescued Zeke from the clutches of the succubus. He was a short man ¨C maybe three-and-a-half feet tall ¨C but with broad, muscular shoulders. With a great beard that seemed either partially comprised of or intertwined with sticks and leaves, he looked like a prototypical fantasy dwarf, albeit one that followed a path of nature as opposed to one spent delving the earth in search of precious metals and gems. ¡°Is this the real you?¡± asked Zeke, pushing himself to his feet. ¡°Or another projection?¡± ¡°This is my real appearance,¡± the man said. Then, he gestured toward the second chair. It was overstuffed and upholstered in red leather. ¡°Sit. We¡¯ve got a lot to go over.¡± Zeke shook his head, then ran his hand through his hair. It was nice not brushing against the metal that had encased his head for the last couple of months. He¡¯d tried to take the instability of his [Armor of the Colossus] and the resultant inability to deactivate the skill in stride, but it had affected him nonetheless. He¡¯d never felt more monstrous than when those sailors had looked at him in unbridled fear. It was a good reminder of what Talia went through every day. Pushing himself to his feet, Zeke took the offered chair. Sighing, he said, ¡°So, what now?¡± ¡°You seem exhausted,¡± Oberon pointed out, somehow making the chair look small even when he was no taller than a child. It wasn¡¯t about his physical stature, but rather, his presence that filled the room. ¡°I guess I kind of am,¡± he said. ¡°The last few months¡­they¡¯ve been difficult.¡± Indeed, ever since leaving Jariq, he¡¯d alternated between inescapable crises, battle, and emotional upheaval. Not only had he fought a handful of creatures at the pinnacle, but he¡¯d also found himself enmeshed in a conflict between the living and the dead. That war had raged across the Radiant Isles, and it was one that Zeke knew in his heart that the undead were destined to win. Besides that, he¡¯d also been betrayed by the woman he thought he loved, seen an ally return from the dead, and botched a skill evolution so completely that it had nearly killed him. And that wasn¡¯t even considering the trauma that had preceded the last year or so. Frost giants, guilds of assassins, and a host of other threats had plagued his every step through the Radiant Isles, and the accumulation of all that stress had slowly built until he hadn¡¯t even realized how much it was weighing him down. Now, at last, he felt like he could relax. At least until the next threat presented itself. ¡°If it¡¯s any consolation, I tried to prevent Aja from contacting Abby,¡± Oberon said. ¡°But she already had a connection, and her power is a match for mine. Unless I went to war with her¡­¡± Zeke sighed, then asked, ¡°Was Abby manipulated? Mentally, I mean. Like, she wasn¡¯t mind controlled or anything, was she?¡± ¡°No,¡± Oberon said. ¡°That kind of magic is exceedingly rare, even at my level, and it¡¯s impossible across planes. She may have been persuaded, but she was not controlled. I¡¯m sorry, but she made her own choices.¡± That wasn¡¯t really a surprise to Zeke. When he¡¯d looked into Abby¡¯s eyes, he had seen guilt. More, he¡¯d seen that she still thought she¡¯d made the right choice, which implied that she hadn¡¯t really been manipulated. However, Zeke had still held out a little hope. Now, that hope was gone, and with it went any notion that they might rekindle their relationship. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Oberon said, leaning forward. Zeke suddenly realized that tears were falling down his cheeks. He¡¯d never been much for crying; any penchant for that kind of emotional display had been beaten out of him as a child. But there was just something about the place that removed his walls, letting him truly feel the sting of Abby¡¯s betrayal. And he didn¡¯t like it one bit. So, he wiped his eyes, saying, ¡°I¡¯m fine. So, what happens now?¡± Oberon narrowed his eyes, but he chose not to press Zeke¡¯s buttons. Instead, he said, ¡°A few things. First, we¡¯re going to talk about classes. Then, I¡¯m going to explain how this new plane differs from the one you just left behind. And then, I hope to offer you some advice before you¡¯re thrown back into it.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke said. Oberon was all business, which was precisely what Zeke needed at that moment. So long as he had something to focus on, he didn¡¯t have to think about his personal issues. Or his subdued emotions. ¡°Just like when you selected your skills, you¡¯re going to get five class choices,¡± Oberon explained. ¡°They are the culmination of your experiences in the tutorial, and ¨C¡± ¡°Tutorial? That¡¯s what Constance called it,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Right. Yes. I suppose there¡¯s no harm in telling you now,¡± Oberon said. ¡°That first plane is, for lack of a more descriptive term, merely a tutorial meant to acclimate people to the Framework and to establish foundations for further development. If someone can¡¯t ¨C or won¡¯t ¨C advance past that tutorial, then they are useless in the conflict.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he considered everything he¡¯d been through; it had all been a tutorial? If that was the case, it made Zeke wonder just what kinds of dangers he would see going forward. ¡°That¡¯s a bit troubling,¡± Zeke said, putting words to his thoughts. ¡°I barely survived the tutorial. What chance do I have in the next plane?¡± ¡°You barely survived because you pushed yourself further than most,¡± Oberon stated. ¡°If you had taken your time after escaping the troll dungeon, you would have easily gotten here in a few more years, and without the danger you experienced. However, your drive has resulted in better results than I could have ever expected. Even after your performance in the dungeon ¨C¡± ¡°Did you put that there?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°The trolls and that cave system, I mean.¡± ¡°In a sense,¡± Oberon stated. ¡°We¡¯re getting ahead of ourselves here, but as you climb the planes, you will see increasing numbers of spatial and temporal anomalies. Some call them dungeons. Others call them pocket realms. Regardless, they are completely isolated spaces that usually offer adventurers like yourself a chance to hone your skills and gain levels. In your case, I merely sequestered an existing pocket realm and rerouted it to the first plane so that you could have a proper challenge as well as the rewards that would come with overcoming it.¡± ¡°So¡­you didn¡¯t create it?¡± Oberon laughed. ¡°Of course not!¡± he guffawed, slapping his knee. ¡°I have neither the power nor the inclination to do such things.¡± ¡°So? Classes?¡± asked Zeke, his questions exhausted for the moment. There were more, but he was understandably eager to see the culmination of all his sacrifices and hard work. ¡°Right, right!¡± said Oberon. ¡°Let¡¯s get to it, then, shall we?¡± Then, he waved his hand, and suddenly, Zeke felt that he had access to his status menus. Sure enough, he easily called his notifications into being. There was only one, which notified him that he¡¯d qualified to pick a class. So, he selected it, and a second later, a series of options bloomed before his eyes. He focused on the first one: {Dread Knight} (R) ¨C Your demonic nature as well as your penchant for stealing vital energy has led you down a path of darkness and despair. The {Dread Knight} is a peerless combatant focused on commanding armies of demons. +1 Tier Strength, Endurance, and Intelligence. -1 Tier Agility. First Skill: [Demonic Empowerment]. ¡°Uh¡­pass,¡± Zeke muttered, intending to move on to the next one. However, Oberon got his attention by clearing his throat. ¡°Do not dismiss anything out of hand,¡± the nature dwarf said. ¡°These classes are not who you are. They are a tool, nothing more.¡± Zeke nodded. ¡°What does the little (R) beside the class mean?¡± he asked. ¡°That denotes its rarity,¡± Oberon said. ¡°The first is ¡®Trash¡¯, denoted by a (T). Despite the name, classes with that designation usually serve a vital purpose in any society. They perform essential functions, even if they do not hold much power. No one who was reborn into the tutorial will get that kind of a class. Instead, only natives of the next plane will be so limited. ¡°Then there are Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythic, and Aberrant. They will be denoted by (C), (U), (R), (E), (L), (M), and following the same logic, (A). The higher the rarity, the more powerful the class. Until you get to Aberrant, which can be a bit of a mixed bag. They¡¯re unique, which doesn¡¯t always mean better. But the others are fairly linear.¡± ¡°So, this one is kind of middle of the road?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°No,¡± Oberon answered. ¡°It is well above average. It is a powerful class usually only achievable by the elite. Most ascenders will either get an Uncommon or Common class. Only the elite get Rare, and the truly talented achieve Epic.¡± ¡°What about Legendary and Mythic?¡± was Zeke¡¯s next question. ¡°Or Aberrant?¡± ¡°One in a billion for Legendary, one in a trillion for Mythic. And Aberrant? So rare that it¡¯s not worth mentioning,¡± Oberon explained. The scale of those numbers definitely threw Zeke for a loop, so, rather than thinking about them, he moved on to the next class. {Ardent Crusader} (R) ¨C With a martial path dedicated to protection, you have proven yourself to be a selfless hero who puts the needs of others above your own. The {Ardent Crusader} is a noble knight focused on guarding against the forces of evil. +1 Tier Endurance, Vitality, Wisdom. -1 Tier Dexterity. First Skill: [Wave of Inspiration]. This choice seemed like the opposite of {Dread Knight}, which made sense, given the duality of Zeke¡¯s nature. In addition, he¡¯d spent much of his early days in the Radiant Isles helping or avenging others, so he felt that he was well qualified for the class. ¡°What¡¯s with the Tiers?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°I¡¯ll explain that once you¡¯ve gone through your classes,¡± Oberon answered. ¡°But suffice it to say that higher numbers are better.¡± Zeke wanted to insist upon getting answers up front, but then he thought better of it. After all, Oberon had power on a level that Zeke couldn¡¯t even comprehend. And while they seemed like they were on good terms, Zeke had no desire to poke the proverbial bear. Besides, he¡¯d get the information he needed, just in a few minutes. He wasn¡¯t so impatient that he couldn¡¯t wait. So, he looked at the next option: {Arcane Colossus} (A) ¨C An unstoppable force combined with rudimentary progression on the path of runecrafting, you occupy a wholly unique space. The {Arcane Colossus} harnesses the power of gravity, earth, and runes to overwhelm foes via sheer implacability. +4 Tier Strength, Endurance, +2 Tier Intelligence, Wisdom, -1 Tier Vitality. First Skill: [Colossus]. ¡°Uh¡­Oberon? Can you see my notifications?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°No,¡± said the dwarf. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I just got offered an Aberrant class called {Arcane Colossus},¡± Zeke said. He then read the description aloud before asking, ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Oberon responded. ¡°It seems you are more of an outlier than I expected.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s obviously the best one, right?¡± Zeke asked. Oberon shook his head. ¡°No,¡± was his answer. ¡°It may very well be. It¡¯s obviously better than the other two, but Aberrant classes represent an incredibly difficult path. It has high potential, both for success and failure. It is the ultimate in risk and reward.¡± Rather than scare him off, that actually appealed to Zeke. He¡¯d never been shy when it came to hard work and training, and the higher potential of the class was very attractive. Still, it also represented a significant risk. If he failed to get the most out of the class ¨C whatever that entailed ¨C he would be stuck. It was definitely something to consider. He shifted his focus to the next available class: {Animalist} (E) ¨C You have bound a monster to your will, raising it as your own family. The {Animalist} is a druidic variant focused on transformation with a slighter emphasis on healing and plant magic. +2 Tier Strength, Endurance, Agility, Dexterity. First Skill: [Form of the Predator]. Zeke relayed the class¡¯s information to Oberon, then said, ¡°I guess that¡¯s because I bonded Pudge.¡± ¡°Fair assumption,¡± Oberon stated, scratching his leaf-strewn beard. ¡°It¡¯s a powerful class. I¡¯ve known a couple with similar abilities, and they are always a pain to defeat. I¡¯d guess that that skill would probably accentuate your offensive capabilities by transforming you into some sort of predatory monster. Later, you would likely receive transformations meant for other situations.¡± Zeke nodded. There was a certain appeal to a nature-based class, but he knew he couldn¡¯t make a decision until he saw his last option. So, he did just that: {Apocalyptic Harbinger} (L) ¨C A vessel of pure devastation, wherever you go, destruction follows. The {Apocalyptic Harbinger} is a purely offensive class with a wide variety of attacks, both magical and mundane. +1 Tier Strength, Endurance, +5 Tier Wisdom, Intelligence. First Skill: [Hellfire Conflagration]. ¡°Well, crap,¡± Zeke muttered. The class sounded extraordinarily powerful, but there were plenty of hints that that power came at a cost. Looking at his options, Zeke knew he had a difficult choice in front of him. 253. The Only Constant ¡°Any suggestions?¡± asked Zeke, glancing at Oberon, who was literally sitting on the edge of his seat. The dwarf leaned forward, his hands on his knees, as he waited upon Zeke¡¯s impending choice. ¡°Can¡¯t do that,¡± Oberon answered with a shake of his head. A couple of leaves fell from his hair only to dissipate into nothing before they hit the white floor. ¡°Against the rules.¡± Zeke sighed, then he looked his options over once again. They all seemed powerful enough, but one thing he didn¡¯t understand was what it meant by Tiers. So, he asked, ¡°Before I make my choice, I need to know what those attribute bonuses mean.¡± Oberon leaned back, and for a moment, Zeke didn¡¯t think the dwarf was going to answer. However, after a few seconds, he said, ¡°Well, we¡¯re getting a bit ahead of ourselves, but I guess this is necessary if you really want to compare these options.¡± ¡°That¡¯s kind of what I just said,¡± was Zeke¡¯s slightly annoyed reply. That only brought a slight chuckle from Oberon, who said, ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Okay, so here¡¯s the thing ¨C your stat sheet has changed considerably. Go ahead and open it up.¡±
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class n/a
Level 25
Race Cambion (F)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Force (F), Runecraft (F)
Strength (A) 12
Agility (C) 7
Dexterity (B) 8
Endurance (B) 10
Vitality (B) 9
Intelligence (C) 6
Wisdom (B) 8
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D D D D D B C D
¡°What the¡­¡± The familiar readout that had accompanied him through his entire journey through the Radiant Isles had been transformed. Some parts were the same, but others were decidedly different. For instance, all of his achievements were gone, he only had two paths instead of three, and the numerical values that had represented his resistances had been replaced by letter grades. But the most telling change was that his once-mighty stats had all been reduced to a mere fraction of their former glory. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± he muttered. Oberon answered, ¡°So, like I said before, the tutorial is there to establish your foundation. However, many of those accumulated advantages are now hidden.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t understand,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°The last few years have been there to establish a baseline,¡± he said. ¡°For example, you built remarkable physical strength. Therefore, that stat has been categorized as A-Tier.¡± ¡°What does that mean, though?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°It means that your strength is fundamentally more potent than that of anyone with a lower tier,¡± Oberon explained. ¡°And the differences are exponential. Given an equal value, a person with A-Tier strength will be half-again as strong as someone with B-Tier, who in turn will be twice as strong as someone with C-Tier. That¡¯s why those Tier bonuses on the classes are so important.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Zeke thought he understood, but still, he had more questions. So, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the average for people on the second plane?¡± ¡°Most people will have at least one stat at C-Tier,¡± he said. ¡°But almost all will be significantly less powerful in other attributes. However, there are plenty of elites that exceed those parameters.¡± ¡°And how do my tiers compare?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Very well,¡± Oberon stated. ¡°Very well indeed, and that¡¯s before you¡¯ve even chosen your class.¡± That¡¯s when Zeke thought about something. On the grading scales with which he was familiar, A was the highest possible grade. However, what would happen if he chose a class that would elevate his already peak-tier strength by multiple tiers? So, he asked, ¡°What comes after A-Tier?¡± ¡°S,¡± was Oberon¡¯s reply. ¡°And then S+, which works a bit differently than the others because it doesn¡¯t really have defined limits. Once you reach S+ in any attribute, you¡¯ll never go any higher. However, one S+ is not necessarily equal to another. For instance, you have A-Tier strength. If you chose {Dread Knight}, you would gain a tier in strength, putting you at S. If you chose {Animalist}, you would be S+. If you chose {Arcane Colossus}, you would still be S+, but those extra two tiers wouldn¡¯t go to waste. You would be significantly stronger than if you chose {Animalist}; the Framework just doesn¡¯t categorize it.¡± Zeke nodded. It seemed simple enough. The tiers functioned as a base, and the numbers were effectively multipliers of that base. It was different than what he was used to, but he didn¡¯t have much trouble understanding it. ¡°The other thing you should understand is that getting attribute points is going to be a bit more difficult in the next world,¡± Oberon went on. ¡°If you get more than five points per level now, I¡¯ll be very surprised. Though with that Aberrant class, it¡¯s difficult to know for certain what to expect, should you choose that one.¡± Zeke ran his hand through his hair. It was easy to infer the relative quality of his resistances as well. Due to his nature as a cambion, his fire resistance was through the roof. However, his other resistances were at least average, with a couple of other standouts in his arcane and poison mitigation. He spent another few minutes examining his status sheet. However, there wasn¡¯t a lot to study. Because of the changes, when he drilled down into his race, he saw the familiar description, but without the expected per-level stat increases. Oberon explained that his race, having been evolved to F-Grade, would make his body fundamentally better, both in terms of mana control and his senses, than someone with a lower racial grade. But the days of receiving fistfuls of free points every time he leveled were gone. At least he retained the unique characteristics of his race, though; that had to count for something. ¡°What about titles?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Granted by the Framework,¡± Oberon stated. ¡°They¡¯re not achievements, per se. More like nobility. Or being a landowner.¡± ¡°And paths?¡± Zeke went on. ¡°No martial and artisan paths anymore?¡± ¡°Fundamentally, they are no different, and the Framework chooses not to separate them after the first plane,¡± Oberon answered. ¡°You will also find that they will help you in unexpected ways, though I can¡¯t be more specific than that. All I can advise is that you learn to love meditation.¡± Zeke narrowed his eyes, but he could tell that, like had been the case with a few of his other questions, Oberon was limited in how he much information he could provide. So, Zeke dove into his class choices. The clear winner, at least in terms of raw power, was {Apocalyptic Harbinger}. Not only did it provide a whopping twelve additional tiers to his stats, and it would bring multiple stats up to S-Tier or better. However, the allocation told him that it would lean pretty heavily into a caster archetype. The first skill implied the same thing. Still, it was hard to ignore the sheer power of the legendary class. Next up, he looked at {Animalist}. While he¡¯d never really considered himself close to nature, the additional attribute tiers that came with the class were attractive. On top of that, it wasn¡¯t associated with demonic forces, like {Apocalyptic Harbinger} or the less powerful {Dread Knight}. After that, he focused on {Arcane Colossus}, which shared part of a name with his unstable skill. The description was also attractive, given that it really did describe him. But that was to be expected, given that it was an aberrant class, which meant that it had been tailor-made just for him. In addition, it came with the second-most additional attribute tiers and if he understood how things worked, would put his strength on a completely different level. With his fighting style, that was very appealing. The other two class choices didn¡¯t really bear mentioning, given that neither of them offered more than three extra tiers to his attributes. They were also the lowest graded classes, and he had to believe that those grades meant something. Still, it was interesting that they seemed like two sides of the same coin, which probably had something to do with the duality of his race. After thinking about it for a few moments, Zeke also discarded {Animalist}. Of the three remaining choices, it was the least powerful. But it also just didn¡¯t feel right. He¡¯d never shown much of a predilection toward nature classes. More than that, he didn¡¯t want to be defined by his bond with Pudge. So, he compared {Apocalyptic Harbinger} with {Arcane Colossus}. The latter felt like it fit better, but he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯d be kicking himself if he didn¡¯t choose the more powerful option. When he thought of the {Apocalyptic Harbinger}, he imagined a scene where he was bathing whole armies in hellfire and laying waste to all his enemies. ¡°Can we talk about skills?¡± asked Zeke. Oberon, who¡¯d been waiting patiently, said, ¡°With some constraints, yes. Ask your questions, and I¡¯ll let you know if I can¡¯t answer.¡± Zeke nodded. ¡°[Armor of the Colossus],¡± he said. ¡°Can I fix it?¡± The dwarf answered, ¡°Of course. With the right class and skills, anything is fixable.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t miss that Oberon had put a slight emphasis on the class part. That, as much as anything else, made his choice easy. He picked {Arcane Colossus}. At the end of the day, he just wasn¡¯t comfortable with a class like {Apocalyptic Harbinger}. It reminded him too much of the times when he¡¯d lost control, like in the demon realm. Or when he¡¯d inadvertently destroyed a third of Jariq. The class was undeniably powerful, but Zeke felt that it just didn¡¯t fit who he was. Or perhaps, it didn¡¯t fit who he wanted to be. ¡°Alright, class chosen,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Good choice,¡± accompanied Oberon¡¯s smiling reaction. ¡°Now, we have another choice in front of us. It won¡¯t be an easy one, either.¡± Zeke gestured for him to go ahead. ¡°The next plane is incredibly dangerous, especially for the newly ascended,¡± Oberon explained. That was no surprise to Zeke. ¡°You will be undeniably safer if you have your friends with you. However, that safety can be a crutch. For all of you.¡± Zeke nodded, seeing where Oberon was going. ¡°I have the power to send you to an environment where you can grow,¡± Oberon went on. ¡°But only you. Your friends will go elsewhere.¡± ¡°What kind of environment?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you, Zeke ¨C where I would send you, you will be captured, enslaved, and perhaps tortured,¡± Oberon said. ¡°But you will also have unique opportunities to grow more powerful. With your gifts, those opportunities will quickly become overwhelming.¡± ¡°Just like in the troll caves.¡± ¡°Just so,¡± Oberon agreed. ¡°If you choose that route, you will have the opportunity to walk a path few have tread. However, that road can be a lonely one. More, it will require you to ignore your pride and discard your desire for freedom. If you can do that¡­well, you may one day stand shoulder to shoulder with me, as I always intended.¡± ¡°Tell me more about the next plane,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Before I choose, I mean.¡± ¡°First, you¡¯ll be able to advance to level one-hundred,¡± Oberon said. ¡°Skills generally come every five levels, but with the class you chose¡­yes, now that you¡¯ve chosen, I can tell you. It is different.¡± ¡°How so?¡± asked Zeke. He hadn¡¯t felt a change take place, so he assumed it wouldn¡¯t until he actually moved on to the next plane. ¡°You will have skills granted every ten levels,¡± Oberon explained. ¡°However, you have the unique opportunity to create other skills in the gaps. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. Plenty of people have changed skills, but to create them outright¡­it is unheard of. And I¡¯m sure you can see the advantages.¡± Zeke nodded slowly. It would¡¯ve been easier if he¡¯d had normal progression, but the potential for power was readily apparent. Being able to make skills that completely suited his style could prove to be a huge boon. It also represented a very difficult path. His experiences with [Armor of the Colossus] told him that much. ¡°Your progression will not be easy, but with great difficulty comes great potential,¡± Oberon went on. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can see that. ¡°As to the world itself, it is quite large,¡± Oberon stated. ¡°At least a hundred times the size of your old planet. And there are no arbitrary dividing lines, either. It is a living world like any other, with all the benefits and detriments that come with it.¡± ¡°A hundred times the size of Earth¡­¡± ¡°At least,¡± agreed Oberon. ¡°So, if I choose the more difficult path, there¡¯s every chance I will never see my friends again,¡± Zeke reasoned. Oberon nodded. So, Zeke shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not acceptable,¡± he said. ¡°I choose ¨C¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Oberon cut him off, raising his hand. ¡°What if I give you the ability to sense them? The distances will be no less imposing, but you will know where your friends are.¡± Zeke still didn¡¯t like it. He¡¯d spent a lot of time alone, and he didn¡¯t relish the notion of returning the sort of life he¡¯d lived in the troll caves. However, he also knew that without that experience, he never would have reached the heights he had. In fact, he¡¯d probably have been subsumed by the undead horde by now instead of waiting to be sent to the next plane. ¡°Yeah. That''ll work," Zeke said. Oberon¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he didn¡¯t argue. Instead, he waved his hand and said, ¡°Your [Mark of Companionship] has been altered. It is now permanent, and it will also give you a sense of where your companions are. The downside is that, like with the tower, it will now add a little more to your leveling requirements.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­acceptable,¡± Zeke said, suddenly realizing that he¡¯d already made his choice. As much as he wanted to remain with his friends, the pursuit of power had long since claimed him. He wanted to see how high he could reach, and he couldn¡¯t do that by playing it safe. ¡°I¡¯ll take the harder path.¡± Oberon smiled, though there was a little sadness there. ¡°Good,¡± the dwarf responded. ¡°Remember, this is for your own good. Do not try to escape until you¡¯ve wrung every benefit out of the situation.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know,¡± Oberon said. ¡°Any other questions?¡± Zeke shook his head. He had plenty, but the dwarf had already established that he couldn¡¯t convey too much information. Most of the subjects Zeke really wanted to know about were off-limits. ¡°Very well,¡± Oberon said. ¡°I¡¯m proud of how far you¡¯ve come, Ezekiel, and I¡¯m eager to see how far you have yet to go. Now, clench up. This is going to feel weird.¡± Zeke was about to ask what the dwarf meant when he felt himself being sucked away and back into the void. An instant later, he was falling through frigid air and toward the snow-covered ground below. 254. The Tundra For a split second, Zeke was falling through the air, but his momentum was suddenly arrested when he hit the ground. Fresh snow flew into the air at the impact, and it took him a long moment to gather himself. Slowly, he gathered his knees under him and pushed himself upright only to realize that he was absolutely freezing. And entirely naked. After looking around for a moment to make sure that there was no immediate danger, he retrieved some of the cold weather clothing he¡¯d used back in the mountains of the Radiant Isles from his storage. They weren¡¯t fashionable, and they were more than a little worn, but soon, he was clad in heavy pants, sturdy boots, and a thick sweater. On top of that, he donned a long coat that had been made of some fur of some unidentifiable animal. Or monster, he supposed, given the nature of the world he¡¯d left behind. Even clad in warm clothing, Zeke clutched his arms across his chest as he felt like he was freezing in place. If it was above zero degrees, he would¡¯ve been incredibly surprised. And given that he¡¯d grown up in a sub-tropical climate, that was not a pleasant realization. Still, he pushed his discomfort aside so he could take stock of his surroundings. And aside from what seemed like ubiquitous snow, there really wasn¡¯t much to see. Everywhere he looked was a rolling landscape of snowy hills. Every now and then, he¡¯d see a pine tree jutting from the sea of white, but even those were sparse. And there was no other vegetation. In the distance, Zeke could see a few dark smudges on the horizon that he suspected might be the foothills of some mountains, but with the falling snow obscuring his view, he couldn¡¯t be sure. He glanced in the opposite direction, but he saw nothing but an endless expanse of desolate cold. His breath misted as he sighed, and already, he could feel the whiskers of his beard gathering frost. So, he retrieved a spare shirt from his storage space, then wrapped it around the lower half of his face. Then, he repeated the action over his forehead and ears, leaving only his eyes bare. After that, he pulled the fur-lined hood of his coat over his head. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it would keep at least some of the cold at bay. Thankfully, Abby had had the presence of mind to buy a pair of thick gloves before they¡¯d set off into the mountains of the Radiant Isles what felt like an eternity ago. With his endurance, he¡¯d never really needed them back then, but now, they were going to come in very handy. Now that his immediate needs were satisfied, Zeke cast his gaze inward, focusing on [Mark of Companionship], and after only a moment, he was happy to feel a slight tug toward the west. Another pulled his attention to the north, while a third had him looking toward the south. At first, Zeke couldn¡¯t tell which of his companions belonged to which signal, but it only took a bit more concentration before he felt the distinctions between the three. Pudge was to the west, his emotions muted but untroubled. That was a relief; Zeke had been nervous about being separated from his companion. Not for his own sake, but rather, for Pudge¡¯s. The infernal bear had never been on his own before, and though he was capable enough to carve his own path through the new world in which they¡¯d found themselves, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but be a little nervous. Talia¡¯s signal to the north was far weaker, likely because it wasn¡¯t bolstered by a soul bond. He hoped she was okay. In a lot of ways, she was just as vulnerable as Pudge. Zeke had no idea how bear aging worked, but he often thought of Pudge as a teenager. In that respect, they were similar. Of course, Zeke wasn¡¯t really much older, even if he sometimes felt like an old soul trapped in a young body. Some of that was due to his experiences ¨C the troll caves alone had felt like they¡¯d aged him a decade ¨C but it was also because he¡¯d always felt older than his actual age. Finally, he focused to the south, where he felt Abby¡¯s signal. He hadn¡¯t even realized it, but he¡¯d never removed [Mark of Companionship] from her, which meant that he had the ability to track her down, now. However, he wasn¡¯t sure if he ever wanted to see her again, much less search her out. Sighing, he shunted that awareness into the back of his mind and turned his attention to his current predicament. In a lot of ways, it wasn¡¯t so different from when he¡¯d arrived in the troll caves. It was just as inhospitable of an environment, but he was a very different person than he¡¯d been back then. Not only had he been through a host of life-or-death experiences, but he¡¯d grown far more powerful than any Earth-bound human had ever dreamed of becoming. Finally, he also had plenty of supplies in his spatial storage. No - it was a completely different situation. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but remember what Oberon had claimed. This was an opportunity to grow. And the dwarf had also insinuated that it would be incredibly difficult to survive. So, as uncomfortable and potentially deadly as the frigid temperatures were, Zeke expected to be assailed by something far more dangerous. First, though, he wanted to use the skill that had come with his new class. However, when he tried to activate [Colossus], he got a rude awakening in the form of a Framework notification: [Colossus] (E) ¨C Skill locked. Complete quest to gain full access to [Colossus]. Zeke frowned, then navigated to his quest screen. He was relieved to see that the quest he¡¯d been given by Oda was gone, but it had been replaced by a new arrival: Quest Attained! Gather thirty (30) high-quality blood mithril ore, thirty (30) netherite, and thirty (30) black adamantine. Reward: Skill [Colossus]. Inwardly, Zeke cursed. The blood mithril ore he had left over from when he¡¯d created his armor was low-quality at best. In fact, according to Taggert, the smith he¡¯d worked with back in Jariq, nobody had ever found anything better than average-quality in the Radiant Isles. So, he was going to have to mine ¨C or buy ¨C the ore on his current plane. As to the other ores, they were completely unknown to him, which didn¡¯t bode well for his ability to easily complete the quest and gain access to his skill. As annoying as that was, it had nothing on the shock he felt when he examined the rest of his skills, which had been uniformly altered. First, he focused on his most useful ability, [Life Scythe]: [Life Scythe] has been altered by {Arcane Colossus}, resulting in a new skill: [Metallurgical Repair]. Annoyed, Zeke focused on the skill: [Metallurgical Repair] (F) ¨C A derivative of an evolved leeching skill, [Metallurgical Repair] allows the user to draw earthen energy from his surroundings and use that energy to repair his colossal body. Upgradeable. Zeke had no idea what a colossal body was, but he hoped it didn¡¯t mean that he needed to unlock the other skill in order to use it. He¡¯d leaned on [Leech Strike] and its evolved cousin, [Life Scythe] since the very beginning, and suddenly not having any ability to heal himself would leave him feeling extraordinarily vulnerable. So, it was with some trepidation that Zeke activated the skill. A sigh of relief misted out from between his lips when he felt the skill take hold. The mana swirled all around him, digging through the deep snow and into the rocky ground below. With every swirling pass, it dragged something from the earth, and when it returned to Zeke a few moments later, he felt refreshed and energized. That told him a few things. First, apparently he now possessed a colossal body, whatever that meant. He had no idea if it was just a name granted by his new class or if it came with unlisted benefits, but he suspected it was a good thing. Second, the skill worked just as the description claimed, yanking earthen energy from the ground and using it to repair any damage he might have incurred. In the absence of damage, it relieved his fatigue. Third, the skill cost a trickle of mana that he expected would increase dramatically depending on how severe his wounds were. It seemed powerful, but it would definitely take some time to acclimate himself to the new skill. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. So, he moved on to the next skill, [Armor of the Colossus], which only resulted in a system message: Skill Unavailable! Complete skill quest to gain access to an upgraded version. Oberon had hinted that the only way he could stabilize his [Armor of the Colossus] skill was if he took {Arcane Colossus} as his class, and at the time, he thought he¡¯d have to apply the class¡¯s runecrafting abilities to repair it. However, it seemed that the system was going to take the reigns, which was both annoying and relieving. Annoying because Zeke wouldn¡¯t get access to the skill until he gathered the various ores and completed the quest. But relieving in that he didn¡¯t have to tackle the job on his own ¨C which was a dubious prospect, at best. In any case, he moved on to [Mark of Companionship], which was unchanged except for the addition of the ability to locate his friends. So, he moved on to [Avatar of the Beast], which had been transformed into a new skill called [Avatar of the Colossus]. Its description was: [Avatar of the Colossus] (F) ¨C Derived from [Avatar of the Beast] Vastly increase a target¡¯s physical prowess, augmenting Strength and Endurance of a companion. Caster will experience a lesser increase. Upgradeable. The skill seemed to retain its general purpose, though it only augmented strength and endurance now, instead of all physical stats. However, Zeke suspected that it would provide a much bigger boost to strength and endurance, now. In addition, [Avatar of the Beast] had a soft limit of two recipients before the mana usage exploded. [Avatar of the Colossus] seemed to have discarded that weakness. Finally, it now would affect him as well, though he had no way of knowing the exact percentages of the increases. Still, anything was better than nothing. Finally, he found that both [Unleash Momentum] and [Weight of Two Worlds] were completely unchanged. It seemed that he would have to adjust his fighting style a little, especially without [Life Scythe] or [Armor of the Colossus] backing him up. Even so, Zeke suspected that his class had resulted in nothing but upgrades ¨C or it would when he completed his quest. Before he could worry about that, though, he needed to figure out where he was going. He looked around again, but finding no other landmarks with which to orient himself, he chose to move toward the mountains in the distance. At the very least, they might offer some resistance against the ever-present wind skating across the tundra. Hunching his shoulders against the cold, Zeke made his decision and set out. Immediately, he realized that traversal of this new environment was going to be far more difficult than he¡¯d first suspected. The snow was almost two feet deep, which put it at around his knees. That meant that he had no choice but to force a path. His stats were well up to the task. In fact, he felt far stronger than he had before his ascension, which was a bit of a surprise, considering that he didn¡¯t have [Armor of the Colossus] running. By all rights, he should have been much weaker without the significant stat increases that had come with that unstable skill. Instead, his entire body felt more powerful than it ever had before ¨C a characteristic he had to attribute to the bonuses he¡¯d received with his class. He didn¡¯t see anything heavy to lift, but he suspected that his strength had almost doubled. That gave him a hint of how impactful those increased tiers really were. Those thoughts occupied Zeke¡¯s mind as he trudged along, plowing through the deep snow drifts with a machine-like pace. More than once, he almost stumbled into a hidden crevice, but thankfully, none of them were wide enough to swallow him whole. Still, he did pick up a nasty sprained ankle, which he healed with a quick surge of [Metallurgical Repair]. It only took a trickle of mana, which told him just how powerful the skill really was. So long as the cost wasn¡¯t exponential, he could completely heal himself with only a tenth of his mana. It wasn¡¯t as efficient as [Life Scythe], but the effect would be far more immediate, which would just have to do. In any case, it highlighted the necessity of completing his quest as quickly as possible. Unless he missed his guess, [Colossus] would likely be another armor skill. And if nothing else, his experiences with the undead horde had taught him just how necessary good armor was, considering his fighting style. And he hoped that there would be some synergy between [Colossus] and [Metallurgical Repair], even if he didn¡¯t know precisely what form it might take. Slowly, Zeke drew closer to the mountains, but soon, night began to fall. The temperature dropped right alongside the darkness, and eventually, Zeke decided to summon his tower. When he did, he got another surprise; the tower had evolved once again, completely discarding the old stone-like appearance in favor of the more evil structure he¡¯d seen during his time in Mal¡¯araxis. It looked like nothing so much as a metal spire, albeit a crimson one, and the top was ringed in a crown of aggressive flanges. There were no openings aside from the front gate, which was at least three times Zeke¡¯s height and ten times as wide. In front of those metallic gates was a sturdy portcullis that rose of its own accord at Zeke¡¯s approach. It wasn¡¯t until Zeke stepped inside that he realized just how cold he¡¯d been. The interior of his tower looked remarkably similar, though it was telling that the statues depicting Abby were gone. That, as much as anything, told Zeke just how much his opinion of the woman had changed. So, without further ado, he severed the connection between them. Immediately, there was a part of him that regretted it. After all, they¡¯d been through a lot together, and he¡¯d held out some small hope that they¡¯d reconcile. However, the betrayal had been too complete, and he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever be able to make himself forget it. Even if he wanted to stay with her, it wouldn¡¯t be fair to either of them. The lack of trust would inevitably breed resentment. No ¨C a clean break was better. Hopefully, he¡¯d never see her again. With that, Zeke went upstairs. Once he peeled all of his layers off and went into the bathroom to shower, he was a little stunned by his appearance. In a lot of ways, he looked similar to how he¡¯d looked before [Armor of the Colossus] had altered his appearance. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, and powerful legs marked him as a warrior. His hair was long, and his beard had grown out of control ¨C neither of which were rare occurrences. It was difficult to worry about such things when your life was on the line, after all. But those features weren¡¯t what had grabbed his attention. Instead, his eyes found their way to the tips of his toes, which had begun to turn bright red. He hadn¡¯t grown up in a cold climate, but it didn¡¯t take a lot of intuition to recognize the onset of frostbite. So, he activated [Metallurgical Repair] once again, and he was unsurprised to see the skin take on a healthy huge. However, the rest of his body lit up with metallic red light emanating from what looked like a million tiny cracks in his skin. As he channeled the skill, his body had taken on an appearance that suggested he¡¯d been broken into a thousand pieces, then glued back together. Once he stopped channeling the skill, the lights faded, and soon after, the cracks did as well. Curious, Zeke retrieved a high-quality dagger from his spatial storage and ran it along the back of his forearm. It took a little doing to get through his incredibly tough skin, but when he did, he was alarmed to see that his blood had taken on a metallic sheen and looked almost like red-tinted mercury. Once again, he channeled [Metallurgical Repair], healing the tiny wound. Predictably, those same cracks reappeared. After a little testing with [Weight of Two Worlds], Zeke figured out that any time he used a skill or channeled mana, the cracks would reappear. They didn¡¯t hurt anything, though, so he thought they were just a side effect of his colossal body. With his experimentation done, Zeke hopped in the shower and bathed under a steaming hot stream of water before settling down for the night. But as tired as he was, he couldn¡¯t sleep. So, when the morning came, he wasted no time before donning even more layers and heading outside. He glanced back and dismissed the tower. However, even as it dissipated into motes of mana, Zeke¡¯s instincts screamed at him. As a veteran of a thousand battles, he trusted his intuition explicitly, so he didn¡¯t hesitate to dive to the side, narrowly avoiding some kind of projectile that whistled past his ear. ¡°Devil be damned!¡± growled a rough voice. But Zeke never had time to investigate the speaker, because a second later, a hundred little impacts descended upon him. The first felt almost like being hit with a baseball, but the second was significantly more severe. And the next, even more so. By the twentieth, Zeke had collapsed onto the snow and curled into a ball to protect his head and vitals. Never had he wished for armor more than at that moment. Under the barrage, Zeke could scarcely move, so he didn¡¯t even react when someone clamped a collar around his neck. Suddenly, the bombardment ceased, and Zeke unfurled his form to see a dozen white-clad figures standing around him. Then, he tried to summon Voromir, and he was shocked to find that nothing happened. He tried to activate [Weight of Two Worlds], but the only response he got was a chuckle from one of the figures. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re a strong one, big boy,¡± came an amused and slightly accented voice as one of Zeke¡¯s attackers stepped forward. He pushed back his hood to reveal a grey complexion and a black beard. But that wasn¡¯t what really caught Zeke¡¯s attention. Rather, it was the man¡¯s stature. He was short ¨C maybe four feet tall ¨C and almost as wide. More than anything, he reminded Zeke of Oberon, which meant that he was looking at another dwarf, albeit one that seemed to have had all the color drained out of him. More, something told Zeke that he¡¯d found the challenge Oberon had described. Now, the only question was whether or not he could survive. 255. Clear Eyes Pudge had no idea what to do. Even as he lay on the bare earth, everything felt wrong. He had too many thoughts. Too many emotions. And too few legs. He pushed himself to his knees, studying his body. Everything had changed, and not just a little. The little man had explained everything, telling him that he couldn¡¯t progress to the next plane in his old form. He¡¯d claimed that monsters weren¡¯t allowed to ascend. But Pudge was a special case, and because of his bond to Zeke, he¡¯d been given the opportunity to transform into something called a beastkin. The alternative was to cease to exist, so it was an easy choice. But now, Pudge was beginning to regret the decision. It was as if he¡¯d spent his entire life ¨C short though it had been ¨C with a blanket thrown over his mind. It had suffocated his feelings, restricting them to almost as much as it had smothered his ability to reason. But now, his eyes were open. Now, he could see clearly, and he was suddenly embarrassed at his childish, animalistic behavior. Looking down, Pudge saw a pair of paws. No ¨C they were hands, even if they bore wicked-looking claws. Four fingers. A thumb. He flexed his right hand, marveling at the dexterity. As a bear, he¡¯d thought himself capable of anything. But now? He saw that he¡¯d been nothing but a clumsy animal. He turned his hand over, noticing the black fur that ran along his knuckles and up his arm. The rest of his body was similarly hirsute, covered in that same fur. The only characteristic that seemed largely unchanged was his head, which still bore the familiar shape, a snout, and his single horn. The other had been torn off in the battle against the undead, and no amount of healing had been able to regrow it. His torso and legs were all corded muscle and thick, black fur. However, that black fur was accented by red streaks that flowed up his arms and legs and spread out along his torso, looking almost like the rivers of magma he¡¯d seen in the obsidian cave so long ago. His newly freed mind reasoned that it was due to his nature as an infernal bear. But was that what he was, anymore? Or had he been transformed into something else? He had no idea. Nor did he have any way to find out. So, he rolled his shoulders, working out the kinks in his muscles. He felt strong. Stronger than he¡¯d ever felt before, in fact. Which was a good thing, because only a moment later, his sensitive nose picked up an unfamiliar scent. Almost as soon as the odor registered in his mind, something burst through the nearby bushes. Animalistic instinct was the only thing that saved him. The creature, which looked like a combination of hunting cat and insect, launched itself at him. Propelled by three sets of legs, it moved with alarming alacrity. But Pudge was a veteran of hundreds of battles, and though he was in an unfamiliar body, he responded with well-learned instincts. Even so, the thing was incredibly fast, and Pudge¡¯s dodge only allowed him to avoid the brunt of the attack. Its wicked claws sliced through his thick hide with ease, sending a spray of Pudge¡¯s red-and-black blood misting into the air. He let out a roar and tried to return the injury with Hellfire. But to his surprise, nothing came out. That had never happened before. Even directly after his transformation, he had instinctively known how to use his new form. Back then, spewing a column of Hellfire at a monster was as easy as breathing. Since then, his breath had become increasingly more potent, but using it had always come naturally. So, having it suddenly fail was more than just a surprise. It rocked Pudge to his core. But he was no novice to battle, so he maintained his wits enough to narrowly avoid the cat-bug¡¯s next pounce. As it passed him by, he struck out with his claws, and when they connected with the monster¡¯s side, he was rewarded with the sound of a cracking carapace. More, the blow carried with it enough force to send the creature rocketing away to where it collided with a sturdy oak tree. That¡¯s when something clicked in Pudge¡¯s mind, and he realized that he was doing things all wrong. As a bear, he¡¯d pushed the Hellfire out of his mouth. But as¡­whatever he¡¯d become, he needed to use his hands. So, he circulated his mana and redirected it toward a pair of runes in his forearms. Those runes drank deeply of the energy, and an instant later, a thick bar of Hellfire erupted from his hands. The cat-bug, which had just begun to rise, was bathed in the red-and-black flame. It shrieked, and a second later, the sound was joined by the whistle of steam escaping from within its chitinous body. Then, suddenly, it burst apart, showering Pudge in cooked bits of white meat that smelled surprisingly like the crab he¡¯d eaten back in the desert. Either way, the monster was dead, and for the first time ever, Pudge felt an influx of energy that he¡¯d heard Zeke refer to as experience. It was just a single drop when he had an entire bucket to fill, but it was still intoxicating enough that he suddenly understood why his companions had been so driven to advance. As a monster, his advancement was wholly different, and though he didn¡¯t really remember the details ¨C they hadn¡¯t seemed all that important at the time ¨C he could recall that it was only tangentially tied to killing other creatures. In fact, his clouded memories suggested that time was a much bigger factor; it was only because of his bond with Zeke that Pudge had advanced so quickly. The beastkin didn¡¯t have long to ponder such things, because the dying monster had attracted a significant amount of attention from the forest¡¯s predators. And while Pudge felt confident in his abilities, the fact remained that he was in an unfamiliar place in an unfamiliar body. Staying and fighting would have been stupid. Especially considering that his ascension had brought him to a new plane that was home to much more powerful creatures. So, Pudge gathered himself and took off through the forest. His gait was ungainly, and he nearly tripped a number of times. His instincts, born from years of experience as a quadruped, told him that his legs weren¡¯t working quite right. But he was aware enough to recognize that he just needed to grow accustomed to his changed body. With that in mind, Pudge focused on controlling his body. In the past, when he¡¯d become enamored with the stealthy hunting cats in the mountains, Pudge had spent months perfecting his stealthy capabilities. Now, he used similar discipline to measure his steps and keep his body under control. Still, it wasn¡¯t easy, especially with a horde of hungry monsters closing in. However, he managed to fall into a rhythm as he wove between the trees, even daring to leap over fallen limbs, rocks, and a couple of creeks. Once he got the hang of it, Pudge was astounded at how well his body responded to his instructions. As a bear, he was strong, fast, and durable. But as a beastkin, he had the stamina to run for miles at full speed. Idly, he found himself wondering if he was even considered a monster anymore. If not, did he have a status like his friends? A single thought answered that question when it suddenly resulted in a table flitting across his vision. He was so surprised that he stumbled over a small rock and went tumbling to the ground. He didn¡¯t rise, though. In fact, he barely paid attention to his surroundings at all because the entirety of his attention was locked on the screen in front of him. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Name Pudge Blackwood
Class Daevic Murhaaja
Level 25
Race Beastkin (Infernal Bear)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Ferocity (E), Stealth (F)
Strength (S) 15
Agility (B) 6
Dexterity (B) 5
Endurance (A) 12
Vitality (C) 7
Intelligence (D) 4
Wisdom (D) 4
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D D D D D D D D
He had a status. An actual status, which meant that he wasn¡¯t considered a monster anymore. Pudge had already suspected as much from the influx of energy he¡¯d felt after killing the cat-bug, but the fact that he had a status was enough to solidify what had just been suspicions. That meant he probably had skills, too. Sure enough, when he navigated to the appropriate screen ¨C which was as intuitive as thinking about it ¨C he saw: [Hellfire] (F) ¨C Call upon your demonic nature to summon one of the most destructive forces in the universe. Upgradeable. [Concealed Steps] (G) ¨C Through diligent practice, you have developed the ability to move without alerting your enemies. Upgradeable. [Nether Claw] (E) ¨C Skill locked. Complete quest to gain full access to [Nether Claw]. Pudge shook his head. He liked the look of that last skill, but he was far prouder of the second. He¡¯d worked long and hard to gain proficiency in stealth, so he was extremely happy to see that the Framework had rewarded his efforts. Still, he was a little annoyed that [Nether Claw] was locked behind some sort of quest. After a moment, he realized that he was actually reading, which was a skill he¡¯d never possessed. But right now, he didn¡¯t have time to wonder how that was possible, so he just chalked it up to an effect of the Framework; after all, what good would a status sheet do if you were unable to read it? Either way, he couldn¡¯t focus on that mystery because he was still in what amounted to hostile territory. With that in mind, Pudge pushed himself back to his feet and embraced [Concealed Steps]. When he sensed it take hold, he felt somehow less substantial. It was just in time, too, because a moment later, another cat-bug burst through the brush. It raised its chitinous head and sniffed the air as if confused. Pudge backed away and crouched in the shadows. A second after that, another cat-bug joined the first, and another came a moment later. The three monsters spread out, searching for his scent. Pudge¡¯s skill must¡¯ve done something to mask his odor, because the creatures seemed incapable of detecting him. And they weren¡¯t happy about it, either. The first cat-bug let out a screech, then bounded away. The others followed, leaving Pudge alone in the forest. However, he didn¡¯t relax. Instead, he remained in place, kneeling there for two hours before he dared to let his skill drop. When he did, he heard a snort behind him, followed by a rough, gravelly voice saying, ¡°Nice skill, kid. If I wasn¡¯t lookin¡¯ for you, I wouldn¡¯t have known you were there.¡± Pudge wheeled around to be faced with a humanoid monster that looked like a strange amalgam of man and pig. But this monster was wearing rough, leather armor. ¡°What?¡± Pudge said. He¡¯d meant it as a growl, but the distinct word somehow came out of his mouth. Shocked, he worked his jaw; he¡¯d tried to speak before, but his old physiology just hadn¡¯t been up to the task. That, along with everything else about his body, seemed to have changed. The pig-man leveled a spear in Pudge¡¯s direction, saying, ¡°Who are you? And why have you come into the Pale Moon territory? And¡­why are you naked?¡± Suddenly, Pudge felt more self-conscious than he¡¯d ever felt before, and he had no idea why. As a bear, he¡¯d never worn clothes ¨C unless you counted the vest Abby had once tried to make him wear; he¡¯d ripped it to shreds ¨C so he didn¡¯t know why he felt embarrassed of his nudity now. But he was. Thankfully, the pig-man reached into the satchel at his waist and retrieved a bundle of rough cloth, which he tossed to Pudge. As Pudge caught it, the pig-man said, ¡°You can have my spare pants for now. What¡¯re you doin¡¯ out here? You lost?¡± ¡°Uh¡­Pudge¡­new¡­here,¡± Pudge managed to say. The words felt funny in his mouth, and they were barely intelligible. But he hoped they would be enough to convey his meaning. Not for the first time, he wished Zeke was around to do the talking. He was good at that kind of thing. The pig-man cocked his head to the side, and Pudge got the chance to really take in his appearance. Like Pudge himself, he had two arms and two legs, but his hands only had three digits. Otherwise, what Pudge could see of his body was covered in short, bristly fur, and his head had the familiar features of a wild boar, complete with a pair of gleaming tusks, one of which was studded with a sparkling red gem. ¡°You¡¯re freshly ascended, ain¡¯t you?¡± the pig-man asked. ¡°Was you a monster? Or some bear-man race?¡± Pudge looked down in embarrassment as he forced out a single word. ¡°Monster.¡± ¡°And a young one, looks like,¡± the pig-man reasoned. ¡°Old Heron was a monster, too. But he was almost two-hundred years old when he ascended. How old are you, kid?¡± Pudge shrugged his broad shoulders. He truly didn¡¯t know how old he was because, as a bear, he¡¯d never really marked the passage of time. In fact, his whole life had blurred together, with only a few major events remaining clear. He remembered the high points well enough, but the days in between were more muddled. Had they always been that way? Or was it a symptom of his ascension and subsequent transformation? Pudge didn¡¯t know. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the pig-man asked. ¡°P-pudge.¡± ¡°Well, Pudge,¡± said the pig-man, lowering his spear. ¡°I¡¯m Flick. Now, do you want to come with me back to my village? Or do you want to keep going on your own? If it¡¯s the first, we¡¯ll welcome you with open arms. Not so many beastkin around that we¡¯ll turn a newcomer away. But if it¡¯s the latter, I¡¯ll tell you that those caprisects that were following you were the weakest things around here. Little more than scavengers, in truth. So, I hope you can take care of yourself if you choose to go it alone.¡± Pudge¡¯s initial reaction was to turn down Flick¡¯s offer. After all, he fully intended to reunite with Zeke. However, aside from a vague sensation that Zeke was somewhere to the east, he had no clue where his companion was. Or more importantly, how far he¡¯d have to travel to find him. Besides, it wasn¡¯t as if Zeke was going to be sitting still. If Pudge had still been in his familiar quadruped form, he might¡¯ve chanced it. However, with everything being so new, he wasn¡¯t confident he could make it more than a few miles. No ¨C he was better off going back to Flick¡¯s village and waiting on Zeke, even if it rankled on his pride to do so. So, with his decision made, he nodded at Flick and said, ¡°Pudge will go with you.¡± The words came far more easily, which boded well for his ability to communicate going forward. What else the future held, Pudge had no idea. Continue Reading Book Five on Kindle and Audible on March 5 As I''m sure all of you know by now, in order to be included in the Kindle Unlimited library, Amazon requires exclusivity. So, that means with the release of book five on the horizon (March 5), I have to remove most of the chapters that will appear in that book. However, things are a bit different this time around. Until now, I''ve made minimal changes during the process of moving the story from Royal Road to Kindle/Audible. This time, I took a different tactic, adding quite a few chapters to the new version. Most of these follow the secondary characters and provide context to the world while helping the story flow a little better. That said, here''s the synopsis:
Zeke Blackwood was one of the most powerful beings in the Radiant Isles, wielding supernatural abilities earned through countless battles. A unique fusion of human and demon, he waded through oceans of blood as he fought against a tide of undeath that consumed the hearts and souls of everyone it touched. Now, with the Isles lost, Zeke and his companions have ascended to the Eternal Realm. Transformed by their ascent and scattered across the lands, each must endure their own trials as they struggle to cope with their new powers in an unfamiliar world. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Awakening in a frozen landscape, Zeke is enslaved by the remnants of a formerly mighty dwarven civilization and must once again traverse a labyrinth of tunnels inhabited by vicious kobolds, indomitable golems, and a host of other monstrous creatures. Along the way, he tests his untapped magical and combat skills in an ongoing quest to gain ever more power. With each victory, his strength grows as he struggles to defy his captors and plan an escape to reunite with his friends. Meanwhile, those friends¡ªhis soul-bonded dire bear, Pudge; the undead Talia Nightingale; and the alchemist Tucker¡ªencounter allies and enemies of their own. But Zeke¡¯s former lover, Abby, has chosen a different path. Guilt-ridden after betraying Zeke, she has fallen under the thrall of the Radian Host, servants of the Sun Goddess. Indoctrinated to serve their crusade, Abby suffers through brutal training to become their weapon¡ªand Zeke may be their eventual target . . .
If you''d like to check it out, just click the links in the author''s notes up top. 288. A Journeys First Step Pudge adjusted his pack and looked around at the crowd of beastkin that had come to see him off. He was grateful for the turnout, even if he didn¡¯t quite understand it. After all, he¡¯d only been a visitor in the town for a couple of months, but in that time, the residents had accepted him as one of their own. That gave Pudge a sense of belonging he hadn¡¯t felt since his mother had died, and even that was only a memory that had been blurred by his infancy and the passage of time. To see him off, the village had put together a celebratory feast that had ended with dancing, drinking, a general merrymaking. Even Yoree, with his dour self, seemed to have had a good time. However, there were a few people who hadn¡¯t seemed to be in quite as good of a mood as the rest of the residents. Flick had already tried to convince Pudge to stay, largely because, by defeating the trials, he¡¯d proven himself a powerful warrior. And given his relatively low level, he was only going to grow stronger, and quickly. So, in terms of the town¡¯s defenses, Pudge was considered a valuable asset, and Flick had offered him training, a position of importance within the village, and whatever else he could want. Sasha had taken a different tactic. Instead of begging him to stay, she¡¯d tried to convince Pudge to allow her to accompany him on his impending journey. Over the past few weeks, he¡¯d spent a fair amount of time with the girl, and he¡¯d discovered that Sasha felt stifled within the village. She had an adventurous spirit, and she wanted to explore the wider world. Her father had forbidden it, though, claiming that it was far too dangerous, and she rankled at the restriction. In Pudge, she saw a way out. Heron and a few of the town¡¯s other leaders had made pitches similar to Flick¡¯s, but if the familiar boarkin couldn¡¯t convince Pudge to stay, they stood no chance at all. And they seemed to have known it, though more than one had informed him of the dangers that awaited an errant beastkin who wandered out of the Pale Moon Territory. But that couldn¡¯t dissuade Pudge from what he knew he had to do. ¡°Where will you go?¡± asked Flick, ending the question with a slight snort. Pudge pointed to the east. ¡°That way,¡± he said. ¡°Are you certain? The dangers¡­¡± Pudge nodded. Everyone in town had gone on and on about how dangerous the outside world was for beastkin, and while some of their stories were troubling, Pudge didn¡¯t feel as if he had a choice in the matter. Certainly, he could have spent a few more months hunting with the town¡¯s warriors and growing stronger, but every moment he spent away from Zeke felt like someone was ripping his heart to shreds. It was only bearable if he didn¡¯t think about it. If he dwelled on the distance between them, panic gripped his mind and threatened to incapacitate him completely. No - he physically needed to find Zeke. But from an emotional perspective, the need felt even more urgent. The people of the Pale Moon had embraced him as one of their own, and he certainly appreciated it. But they weren¡¯t family. Zeke was, and that simple fact was enough to spur him along. Once it had become clear that Pudge had no intention of sticking around, Flick had bent his will toward easing Pudge¡¯s journey. Not only had he provided maps and advice on which areas to avoid ¨C there were a great many of those ¨C but he¡¯d also given Pudge plenty of supplies, including daily necessities like a waterskin and some rudimentary camping gear as well as enough rations to last him at least a few weeks. Hopefully, Pudge wouldn¡¯t need to dip into those stores, but he intended to move quickly, so hunting might not always be possible during his journey. ¡°Just like that, eh? East,¡± said Flick, shaking his head. ¡°No destination in mind?¡± Pudge shrugged. ¡°Not really.¡± He¡¯d gotten better at speaking, but he still didn¡¯t find it entirely comfortable. Often, he felt self-conscious about his lack of ability, but no one in the town had looked down on him for it. Even so, Pudge felt more comfortable using as few words to communicate as possible. So long as he got his point across, it was fine. Perhaps when he reunited with Zeke, he would have a chance to better develop in that respect. For now, though, he had other things to worry about ¨C like safely crossing hostile territory. The Pale Moon Territory wasn¡¯t massive, but it was sizable enough to support the thousands of beastkin that lived in the town. There were other settlements in the area, but most were barely big enough to be considered hamlets. These small settlements functioned as hubs for nearby farms and little else. Beyond their borders was seldom explored wilderness that was populated with powerful monsters and myriad deadly creatures. That went on for hundreds of miles until the land became more settled, eventually crossing the borders of established countries. To the north were the elves that mostly kept to themselves. To the west were the militant orcs who had waged more wars than the rest of the realm¡¯s races combined. And to the south were the mountains populated by dwarves, gnomes, and a hardy brand of humans. But the east was the most dangerous because it was populated by a particularly vicious tribe of ogres that had managed to create an alliance with a cunning nation of trolls. Together, they had forged a formidable nation of powerful warriors, and while their society was rudimentary, they were advanced enough that few would chance a journey through their territory. Which was precisely what Pudge intended to do, though he¡¯d charted a course that would only require him to skirt the edges. It was the long way around, but he wasn¡¯t so arrogant that he thought he could traverse the area without alerting the owners. The biggest problem, as he saw it, was that his route would take him through a region known as the Dead Mire ¨C a reportedly dreadful swamp that most sane people would avoid. Pudge didn¡¯t have that option. If he wanted to reach Zeke without adding thousands of miles to his journey, he had little choice but to traverse the Dead Mire. Still, he didn¡¯t look forward to it. Not only was it host to all the normal dangers posed by a swamp ¨C venomous creatures, terrain that would trap the unwary, and the unpleasantness that came with any bog ¨C but the trolls themselves were always a threat. The only good thing about the swamp was that the ogres avoided it for the same reasons everyone else did, and instead only maintained a loose presence. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°What are you looking for out there?¡± was Flick¡¯s next question. ¡°My family.¡± Flick narrowed his eyes and let out a snort. ¡°Family? You didn¡¯t mention that,¡± he said. ¡°Once you find them, you could bring them back here and ¨C¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Pudge said, knowing good and well that he would likely never return. If he¡¯d intended to settle down and create a life for himself, he might have considered it. However, that was never his goal. Like Zeke and the others, he intended to ascend until he couldn¡¯t manage it anymore. Partially for his own power, but mostly because he couldn¡¯t fathom an existence without Zeke. They were family, and Pudge knew that Zeke would be lost without his companionship and support. Besides, Pudge hadn¡¯t seen any humans in the Pale Moon Territory, so he didn¡¯t expect that Zeke ¨C or Talia, for that matter ¨C would be welcome. The beastkin lived an isolated life, partly out of necessity, but mostly because that was what they preferred. Flick had intimated that beastkin were not only hunted in the outside world, but even when they weren¡¯t, they were rarely accepted by the other races. Staying apart from the rest of the world was preferable for all involved. Pudge wasn¡¯t altogether convinced that the whole world was arrayed against people like him. After all, Zeke had accepted Pudge without a moment¡¯s hesitation, which only proved that humans ¨C and hopefully all the other races ¨C weren¡¯t all bad. But even if they were, Pudge had no intention of hiding away. Not only did he need to find Zeke and Talia, but he also knew that nobody ever grew stronger by seeking safety above all else. If people wanted to oppose him and his friends, then they would be dealt with accordingly. That was how things had worked in the Mortal Realm, and Pudge had no reason to expect anything different now that he and his companions had ascended. Or perhaps he was just na?ve. He didn¡¯t have the experience necessary to make a valid judgment. Instead, he could only address the issues in front of him. Once he was reunited with Zeke, they could figure out how to move forward together. Over the next few minutes, Pudge endured the well-wishes of everyone with whom he¡¯d interacted over the past few months. He knew some of their names, but most were relative strangers he¡¯d only met a single time. All had treated him with kindness, though, for which he¡¯d be eternally grateful. However, his gratitude wasn¡¯t enough to keep him from moving on. After all, so close to his departure, Pudge¡¯s mission to find Zeke was foremost in his mind. So, though the goodbyes were fairly quick, his impatience made it feel like an eternity. Eventually, though, the time came, and he found himself marching down the road that would lead him to the east. It was a narrow thing, barely more than a trail, but it served its purpose, and over the next few hours, Pudge covered quite a lot of ground. By the time the sun set, he¡¯d reached his first destination ¨C a tiny village known as Mistvale. There, he stopped for the night, taking advantage of the hospitality of a family of badgerkin before moving on the next morning. Over the next week, Pudge gradually worked his way across the Pale Moon territory. A couple of times, he stayed the night in small settlements, but most often, he made use of the camping gear and slept outside. And though the lack had never bothered him before, Pudge found that he much preferred sleeping in a bed. However, on the eighth day, he wasn¡¯t concerned with his sleeping arrangements. Instead, he was far more worried about the fact that, for the past few days, something had been stalking him through the increasingly dense wilderness. And doing a poor job of it, which told Pudge all he needed to know about his follower¡¯s identity. As it drew closer, Pudge readied himself. Then, when he judged the time was right, he used his newest skill, [Netherclaw] as he swiped in the right direction. The moment he embraced the skill, a giant version of his own hand bloomed into existence. But it even outside the discrepancy in size, it wasn¡¯t a perfect match. Mostly black, but pulsing with rivers of red energy, it seemed only partially solid. At five feet long and just as wide, it was enormous, and as he slashed his hand in a horizontal motion, it burst forward. But at the last moment, he caught a scent on the wind. Panicked, Pudge redirected the skill, but with it already in motion, he could only do so much. The black claw tore through a stand of trees, shattering trunks into kindling as it swept forward with undeniable force, only to dissipate an instant later. With every point of agility he could call upon, Pudge rushed into the maelstrom of splinters his skill left in its wake. His heart thundering in his chest, he frantically searched the area until, only a second later, he saw Sasha¡¯s familiar form. In a slight depression, she was curled into a tight ball, with her knees in her chest, but she seemed to have escaped the attack unscathed. But Pudge knew better than to attribute it to luck. If he hadn¡¯t minutely redirected the skill, it would have ripped her to pieces, the same way it had torn its way through those trees. Speaking of which, a series of cracks echoed through the forest before the tall pine trees started to fall. Moving as quickly as he dared, Pudge scooped Sasha into his arms and sprinted from the area. It was just in time, too, because the entire area had come alive with the sound of toppling trees. Pudge narrowly avoided one, but was knocked aside by another. As he rolled, he curled his body around Sasha in attempt to shield her from harm. In the process, Pudge took a multitude of cuts, and when he was pummeled by a particularly large branch, he felt a few ribs break. But all he could think about was keeping Sasha from harm. Finally, he stumbled free of the storm of falling trees and skidded to safety after sliding down a shallow slope. His flight had only lasted a few seconds, but those moments of danger had left him feeling a sense of exhaustion. So, he activated the borrowed version of Zeke¡¯s new skill, and a few weak tendrils of yellow energy enveloped his body. It wasn¡¯t enough to outright heal him ¨C not anytime soon ¨C but it cut the pain by a significant degree. With a sigh, he released Sasha and let her roll away while he spread his arms out wide to enjoy the relief. ¡°It occurs to me that I probably shouldn¡¯t have been sneaking up on you,¡± came Sasha¡¯s relieved voice. Pudge turned to face the girl, noting that she was wearing heavy, leather traveling gear and had a pack similar to his own upon her back. She lay only a few feet away, a chagrined expression on her face. ¡°Why?¡± he asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? If I¡¯d made a little more noise, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have ¨C¡± ¡°No. Why have you followed me?¡± he asked in a terse rumble. ¡°Oh. That,¡± she said, sitting up. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Like that, she looked incredibly small. ¡°Sorry. I just¡­I¡¯ve always wanted to see the outside world. So, I¡­I ran away. There¡¯s so much more out there than our little town. I want to see elves and dwarves and¡­and humans, too! They can¡¯t be as bad as Master Heron claims. I know it!¡± Pudge sighed. ¡°You want to come with me,¡± he reasoned, already annoyed. He wouldn¡¯t mind the company, but having someone along who couldn¡¯t sneak as well as him would make things that much more difficult. ¡°I do. But I can earn my keep,¡± she insisted. ¡°I can hunt. I can scout. And you saw in the Trials that I¡¯m good with magic, too. I promise, I¡¯ll¡­you won¡¯t regret bringing me along.¡± Pudge considered it. Even if he refused, there was every chance she¡¯d follow him anyway. And that would be even more dangerous than if they stuck together. Besides, while she wasn¡¯t exactly worldly, she still knew more than him. Perhaps that would prove valuable. And finally, he¡¯d never really been alone. Back in the Radiant Isles, he¡¯d always had Zeke, Talia, or Abby to keep him company. And the prospect of crossing thousands of miles alone wasn¡¯t one he would enjoy. At least Sasha would fill that void. ¡°Fine,¡± he said, climbing back to his feet. As he did so, he started checking the contents of his pack, and to his surprise, nothing had been broken. Sasha did the same, though she wasn¡¯t as lucky. Her own camping gear hadn¡¯t fared so well, and much of it was broken. She asked, ¡°So, where are we going?¡± ¡°East,¡± was all Pudge said. Then, he slipped on his pack and started walking in that direction. 289. Evaluation Talia followed on Baruk¡¯s heels, her eyes agog at the city of Darukar. Even from a distance, it had seemed magnificent, but her awe had overwhelmed her the closer she came to the majestic city of the dead. Up close, she could see that the black stone that comprised most of the buildings was awash with carved runes, and the bright red trim hummed with mana. To her, it felt welcoming, but with her ascension had come a new ability to sense the attunement of mana. Most of the time, that sense hovered in the back of her mind, easily ignored. But in Darukar, she felt like she was being bathed in deathly energy. And it felt wonderful, if a little distracting. Almost as if he could read her mind, Darukar glanced back, saying, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it after a while. It took me almost a month to get my bearings.¡± Talia nodded, still following closely behind the undead man. Still wearing his lusterless black armor and a huge greatsword across his back, Baruk stood out among the city¡¯s other residents. Despite being an eclectic mix of zombies, vampires, and other, more unidentifiable races of undead, they seemed otherwise normal. It was a bit disconcerting, seeing a zombie manning a food cart or a vampire seamstress, but in the week since Talia had arrived in Darukar, she¡¯d grown more accustomed to the sheer normality of the city and its population. Over the past week since she¡¯d arrived in the city of the dead, Talia had experienced something of an orientation as Baruk showed her around and helped her to get settled in. In that time, she¡¯d managed to learn a bit more about the city¡¯s history, and what she¡¯d found was a testament to how durable people could be. Over the past thousand years, the various races of undead ¨C from evolved zombies like Baruk to vampires like Adriel ¨C had managed to carve out a place in the world. Doing so hadn¡¯t been easy; they were beset on all sides by enemies. But still, they had persisted, creating a kingdom out of nothing. For Talia, it was inspiring. Of course, the lands of the living saw it differently, but the Kingdom of El¡¯Kireth was powerful enough to dissuade conflict. So long as undead kept to themselves, they were left mostly alone. There were plenty of border skirmishes, and there had also been dozens of wars in the past thousand years, but throughout it all, the undead had persisted. As a result, there was something approaching peace ¨C or at least a pact of non-aggression ¨C with their neighbors. The same couldn¡¯t be said for the dungeon at the center of the city. Talia looked up at the looming pillar of green light. The land within five miles of that pillar remained abandoned. Once, well before the founding of El¡¯Kireth, there had been a city of the living there. But now, it was home only to the abominations that were the result of the unchecked vital energy that flowed from the dungeon. At first, Talia had found it odd that Darukar had been built so close to the pillar, but that confusion hadn¡¯t lasted very long. Upon their approach to the city, the deathly mana that permeated the entire kingdom had grown more potent with each step, and Adriel had explained that there existed a line of demarcation between life and death. The closer one come to that line, the more powerful the deathly mana was. Thus, the city had been built to take advantage of that dense mana, which was further reinforced by the runes that covered every inch of the metropolis. It was all very interesting, but the most valuable part of being in the city was how relaxing it had been. Ever since her transformation, Talia had been on her guard. Certainly, Zeke and Pudge had accepted her, but at the end of the day, she¡¯d always felt like she¡¯d been stranded behind enemy lines. If she had been exposed, it wouldn¡¯t have taken long for the pitchforks to come out. Sure, she probably could have handled it, but that didn¡¯t make it any less stressful. But in Darukar, not only did she feel comforted by the death attuned mana, but she also reveled in the notion that she didn¡¯t have to hide anymore. Just walking through the streets without having her hood pulled up had been more of a relief than she could have ever imagined. Still, that pillar of green vital energy loomed over everything, reminding her that all was not perfect in the paradise of death. To that end, Baruk led her to a building close to the city¡¯s center, only a mile from the demarcation between life and death. The death attuned mana hung thick in the air, mingling with the everpresent fog and soothing Talia¡¯s nerves. The building itself was, like was the case with the rest of the structures within the city, constructed of black stone trimmed in red. The architecture followed the same theme as well, with graceful arches, soaring towers, and sharp steeples. To call the building merely beautiful would have been a vast understatement. Even for Talia, who¡¯d grown up in a palace, it was arrestingly, strikingly magnificent. Baruk led her up a series of shallow steps and into the building. The moment Talia stepped through the arched double doors and beheld the entryway, she let out an appreciative gasp. ¡°Impressive, right?¡± said Baruk, stopping and turning to grin at her. ¡°Welcome to the headquarters for the Deathguard. Let¡¯s get you tested and registered.¡± Talia nodded and followed Baruk inside, but she couldn¡¯t help but goggle at her surroundings. The first thing she¡¯d noticed were the detailed murals that adorned the walls, each scene depicting a horde of noble undead warriors battling against misshapen abominations. However, she also couldn¡¯t ignore the spacious room¡¯s occupants. Men and women, all undead, armed, and armored congregated within. Some were zombies, like Baruk. Others had the distinct pale complexions and sharp canines that marked them as vampires. But there were a number of other flavors of undead like specters, thin wights, and even a couple of shifty-looking ghouls. If she¡¯d seen such a sight during her time in the Radiant Isles, Talia would have run for the hills. Even after having seen what she¡¯d seen within Darukar, she was still a little taken aback by the sheer variety. And the dangerous aura radiating from each person in the room. It wasn¡¯t anything tangible or measurable ¨C not like her sense of mana ¨C but it was palpable all the same. It was in the way they moved. The way they seemed to watch everything at once. Even the way they stood. It all said one thing very, very clearly: each and every person in that room was dangerous. Talia followed Baruk through the crowd, and though a few of the undead noted their passage, none seemed overly concerned. Why would they be? Talia could feel that most of them were more than capable of ripping her to pieces, if that¡¯s what they wanted. It had been some time since she¡¯d felt inadequate ¨C not since she¡¯d been reborn, really ¨C but in that room, she could feel just how insignificant and weak she really was. And she hated it. She had never really let her resolve to grow stronger waver, but if it had, the short walk through that room would have been enough to bring it back with a vengeance. Talia had spent the first fifteen years of her life feeling weak and directionless, and she refused to ever go back to feeling like that again. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. So, it was with renewed surety that she followed Baruk to a massive counter at the back of the room. It was made of the white wood of the blood oak, and its surface had been polished to a dull shine. Behind the hulking form of that counter was a thin wight wearing a formal suit. Like was the case with every other wight Talia had seen, he was completely hairless, with wide, angular shoulders and a body so thin as to be nearly skeletal. ¡°Can I help you?¡± he asked, his voice coming out in an ethereal breath. Baruk answered, ¡°Registration for the Deathguard. New arrival in the city. We need to get her tested and assigned.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± said the wight. Then, he turned to Talia, fixing her with hollow eyes as he asked, ¡°Are you here of your own free will?¡± ¡°I am,¡± she answered. Apparently, recruitment of a new member of the Deathguard was a big deal, and it brought with it some sort of benefits for the sponsor. In this case, that would be Baruk. However, some unsavory members were not above trying to exploit that system by dragging people in against their will. The Deathguard tried to keep that kind of thing to a minimum, but some still snuck through. ¡°Very well,¡± the Deathguard representative said. ¡°Take the prospective member to room thirteen, where she will be tested. Your reward will be dependent on her evaluation.¡± Soon enough, Talia found herself being led through the building and to a room in the back. Once there, Baruk stopped in front of the door and said, ¡°Alright, head on in. There¡¯s an evaluator in there. You remember what we said, right?¡± Talia nodded, but she didn¡¯t give voice to the answer. She didn¡¯t need to. Instead, she headed inside, where she found a portly woman with the pale complexion of a vampire. She wore a black dress with elaborate lace trim and sat behind a table, upon which was a simple, unadorned blue plaque. ¡°Sit, sit,¡± she said, her wide smile revealing her sharp teeth. ¡°A prospective member! So exciting!¡± ¡°Uh¡­thanks?¡± Talia said, sitting across from her. ¡°No ¨C thank you! Not everyone is willing to work for the greater good,¡± the woman said. ¡°I hope you get good results!¡± ¡°So¡­what do I do?¡± ¡°Just put your hand on the stone, dear,¡± the vampire said. ¡°We¡¯ll get you sorted out!¡± While that answered Talia¡¯s question, it didn¡¯t really provide much information. Neither had Baruk or Adriel explained what was going to happen, save that she would be tested in some way. If she did well in this test, it would affect her placement within the Deathguard. In the unlikely even that she failed to meet the organization¡¯s standards, she would be given the option of backing out or taking an administrative role. Even if that happened, it was still a route to greater strength, and there were plenty of stories of people who¡¯d climbed from the very bottom to achieve true power. Of course, Talia hoped she wouldn¡¯t have to do that. So, she put her hand on the blue stone, and it immediately lit up with white runes. In an instant, those runes began to swirl, then rose from into the air to hover only a few inches above the surface of the stone. A moment later, those swirling glyphs and symbols started to creep up Talia¡¯s arm. She resisted the urge to flinch as an invasive cold enveloped her skin; that was one of the few bits of information she¡¯d been given. Don¡¯t move, Adriel had advised, and Talia had no intention of doing otherwise. Still, it was uncomfortable, feeling those runes dance up her arm and spread across her chest. Before long, she was completely covered with the white symbols, but still, she didn¡¯t move a single muscle. Not even when they sank beneath her skin and the cold turned into burning heat. It only lasted for a few more seconds, but when those runes retreated and the vampire evaluator told her she could relax, Talia couldn¡¯t stop herself from slumping in relief. Like that she remained until a sharp gasp jerked her attention toward the pudgy vampire woman. ¡°Ascender,¡± she breathed, her own hand touching the blue plaque in the center of the table. She looked up, asking, ¡°You came from the Mortal Plane?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Blunt honesty seemed the best policy. ¡°That¡¯s remarkable! And these readings¡­¡± ¡°What do they say?¡± Talia asked. ¡°That you are going to be a very valuable member of the Deathguard,¡± the woman stated. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen vital resistance like this¡­it¡¯s almost as if you¡¯re one of the living. But clearly, you¡¯re not¡­¡± ¡°The circumstances of my¡­transformation were peculiar,¡± Talia provided, though she didn¡¯t intend to get any more specific than that, so long as she could help it. ¡°I should say so!¡± the vampire exclaimed. ¡°May I ask what, exactly, this evaluation is for?¡± Talia asked. ¡°What can you see?¡± ¡°Oh ¨C yes, you wouldn¡¯t know, would you?¡± the evaluator responded. ¡°It really doesn¡¯t reveal all that much. Basic information like your race, level, and class. Yours seem unique, by the by. A blessing and a curse, but you seem to be doing just fine. Those are just for identification purposes, though. The real evaluation concerns your resistance to vital energy. Most of us can barely stand the stuff until we¡¯ve progressed to at least D-Grade race. But you¡¯re different. You don¡¯t seem affected by it at all!¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Talia asked. ¡°As I said, it means you¡¯re going to be a very valuable member of the Deathguard,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to go where most can¡¯t, and you¡¯ll be almost entirely unaffected. You could even go beyond our borders without much issue. When I saw you were an Ascender, I assumed you would simply be a more powerful version of typical undead. But you seem unique. Or new, at the very least. Truly exciting!¡± ¡°Why would my unique class and race be a curse?¡± Talia asked next. The woman narrowed her eyes, then said, ¡°That is something your mentor will need to discuss with you, but I believe I can tell you a little. How much do you know about how skills work?¡± ¡°I¡­I do not know,¡± she said. ¡°I just push mana through the runes and release when I want to activate.¡± ¡°Indeed. That is the most rudimentary way to use skills,¡± the evaluator said. ¡°But it is also only scratching the surface of what those skills can do. Watch.¡± With a simple gesture, the woman summoned a green ball of liquid that rested above the palm of her hand. Then, she tossed it toward the wall, where it sizzled but did no damage. ¡°That is the base version of my skill, [Acid Shot],¡± she said. ¡°Even at E-Grade, it¡¯s pretty unimpressive.¡± Then, she repeated the same gesture, and a huge ball of roiling green liquid erupted into being. It was at least five times as big as the last, but that wasn¡¯t the biggest change. Instead of the placid surface Talia had seen before, this globule of green acid spun and undulated, almost as if it were alive. When the evaluator tossed it at the wall, it sizzled and ate through the black stone, leaving a crater in its wake. ¡°Same skill. Same grade. I¡¯ve just spent years pushing it to its limit,¡± the woman explained. ¡°One of the fundamental things you need to understand is that skills are not static. Once you reach a certain grade, you can change them with each cast. And eventually, if you learn to control them well enough, you can upgrade them to the next grade. ¡°There are three pillars of strength in this world,¡± she went on. ¡°First, you have your stats. That¡¯s your raw power, but it functions more as a sliding scale. A range, if you will. Next, you have your skills. Learning to get the most out of them will put you on the higher end of that scale. Even if you can¡¯t upgrade them, there¡¯s a lot of improvement to be had by simply mastering what you do have. And finally, you have your path. This can allow you to exceed your potential, should you gain enough insight.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± said Talia. ¡°Indeed! If only I had the talent to take things a little further¡­¡± ¡°Uh¡­so, what happens next?¡± asked Talia, uncomfortable with the expression of regret on the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Right. Now, we finish up your registration, and your sponsor can take it from there,¡± said the evaluator. After that, she retrieved the plaque from the center of the table, and escorted Talia from the room. Just outside, she saw a grinning Baruk. His ashen grey skin and cadaverous face made the smile a bit horrifying, but Talia chose to overlook it. ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± he asked. ¡°Apparently, I am special,¡± Talia answered, giving him a shy smile of her own. ¡°I have a very high resistance to vital energy.¡± ¡°Unprecedentedly high!¡± said the pudgy vampire evaluator, thrusting her finger in the air. ¡°Oh. Sorry. I get excited. Off I go!¡± With that, the woman hurried down the hall, leaving a stunned Talia in her wake. It was then that she realized that she¡¯d never even learned the woman¡¯s name. ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s time to get you started,¡± said a still grinning Baruk. ¡°No more lollygagging around. No more sightseeing. It¡¯s time we got you trained up. But one question ¨C how¡¯s your pain tolerance?¡± ¡°My pain tolerance? Why?¡± ¡°Oh, no reason at all,¡± he answered innocently. However, his widening grin sent a shiver up Talia¡¯s spine. Continue Reading Book 6 on Amazon/Audible (7/2/2024) As I''m sure most of you already know, when a book becomes available on Kindle Unlimited, it comes with the caveat that it remain exclusive to Amazon. So, given that book two will become available next month (March 28), I''ve had to remove the appropriate chapters from Royal Road. If you would like to read or listen to an edited version of the story, you can find them on the links up above. If you''re on the fence, here''s the blurb:
To his dwarven captors, Zeke Blackwood is just another slave working the mines. They¡¯re unaware he¡¯s a Cambion, or human-demon hybrid, who¡¯s been charged with increasing his power as he battles the monstrous beings beneath the mountains of Min Ferilik. Forced by the dwarves into hard labor, gladiatorial games, and dangerous quests, Zeke continues to grow more powerful, becoming a champion meant for deployment in a forthcoming war between good and evil. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. But Zeke has his own agenda. His friends¡ªthe beastkin Pudge, the undead Talia Nightingale, and the alchemist Tucker¡ªare scattered across the Eternal Realm, enduring their own trials in order to survive and thrive. Once Zeke has acquired enough power, he¡¯ll take revenge against his enslavers and reunite with his companions. And when he¡¯s forced on an expedition to the Sea of Corruption, he finds that very power is suddenly within his grasp. Fighting his way through hordes of monsters, Zeke encounters an even deadlier entity: the spirit of the demon Eveline. Cursed for all eternity to be a prisoner in the Sea of Corruption, the succubus persuades Zeke to help her escape. Bound to Eveline¡¯s manipulative and untrustworthy essence, he must guard himself from her influence¡ªonly to discover the demonic mana he wields threatens to consume his soul. It also gives him control over an army of kobolds and golems, all more than willing to overthrow the dwarven kingdom, free its slaves, and start a revolution . . .
Hope you all enjoy it! 342. Distance ¡°Far enough?¡± asked Pudge, looking around at the gathered refugees. Most bore injuries, though the severity of their wounds varied significantly. Some were missing limbs, others had mere abrasions, but none of the former slaves or kobolds had escaped the Battle of Min Ferilik unscathed. Even more prominent than their physical wounds were their haunted, often fearful expressions. Pudge was not a good judge of such things, but even he could see that they had all been greatly affected by their time as slaves. Or perhaps it was the battle between the pair of titans who¡¯d clashed during their escape. Pudge hadn¡¯t seen the fight with his own two eyes, but he¡¯d felt it well enough. Even on the surface, the pressure had nearly been debilitating. Slowly, as Zeke had led the group across the tundra, that ethereal pressure had dissipated until, at last, it had faded completely. Two days of travel had passed since then, and without the evidence of the threat looming behind them, the slaves had lost some of their ardor for flight. The kobolds endured stoically, and with a faith in Zeke that bordered on fanaticism. Still, even they were troubled, if more by the fact that they were above ground than due to any long-held or well-earned traumas of captivity. They did look at Pudge with a mixture of hunger, jealousy, and outright hostility, though. But then again, they looked at the former slaves the same way, and more than once, they¡¯d come close to starting fights with the other reptilian humanoids. There was something behind that animosity, but Pudge had neither the time nor the inclination to investigate it further. Zeke ran a hand through his hair, then looked around at the frozen landscape of the Ianthian Wastes. From recent experience, Pudge knew precisely how vast the tundra was. And how dangerous, he thought with a shiver. He could well remember the horde of yetis he and Sasha had battled on their journey through the frigid tundra. Hopefully, they¡¯d put an end to that threat, but Pudge couldn¡¯t be sure. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Every time I think we¡¯ve gone far enough, I feel another tremor. It won¡¯t be long before Mikaena falls, and after that, the Blood Wraith is going to start digging his way out.¡± The Blood Wraith. Pudge had felt the great wyrm¡¯s power even with miles of earth between them. So, he could only imagine what it had felt like to have confronted such a creature face-to-face. The fact that Zeke had judged flight as their only option for survival told Pudge even more about just how far above them that battle really was. Zeke continued, ¡°What do you think?¡± Pudge scratched his chin, then glanced at Sasha. Since joining Zeke and the refugees, she¡¯d rarely strayed more than a few feet from his side. The fact that Zeke was almost human had surprised her, though she¡¯d been more worried about the reality of their situation. She¡¯d felt the battle as well, and on top of that, she could tell that they were surrounded by powerful people and monsters. Because that was what the kobolds were. Some had the light of sapience in their eyes, but the bulk of the kobold clan still fell short of that mark. And for someone like Sasha, who¡¯d spent much of her life sequestered in a safe city and surrounded by loved ones, suddenly finding herself amongst such company was more than a bit of a shock. Still, she¡¯d taken it fairly stoically, even if Pudge could easily read her discomfort. She shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m out of my depth here,¡± she admitted. Jasper, the dark elf who routinely followed Zeke around, added his own input, saying, ¡°More distance is always better. I still say we make for Westport. The gnomes guard their city jealously, and no monster, regardless of its power, would challenge them.¡± ¡°I told you it¡¯s the wrong way,¡± Zeke said with a tired sigh. ¡°We¡¯re going north.¡± Jasper had made his thoughts clear on that matter, and in a way, Pudge agreed with his assessment. To the north lay nothing but more tundra that went on for hundreds of miles, only ending when it gave way to the more temperate climate of a great, unsettled forest. However, Pudge knew what drove Zeke. And he agreed wholeheartedly with the plan to go rescue Talia. Of course, neither of them knew that she needed rescuing. For all they knew, she was thriving. But Zeke was convinced that if she was left alone for too long, she would get into some sort of trouble. Or truly become the monster she always claimed she was. So, reuniting with Talia was a priority, even if other paths might prove easier. ¡°There is nothing up there, my friend,¡± Jasper said, shaking his head. ¡°Just fanatics, hermits, and monsters.¡± ¡°And undead,¡± Sasha pointed out. ¡°Surely we will not go so far,¡± Jasper countered. ¡°We will die the moment we set foot in El¡¯Kireth. Either the unliving will hunt us down, or the very atmosphere will kill us. Of course, death is somewhat subjective in this instance. I knew a fellow once. Fancied himself a great explorer. He traveled all across the land, seeing sights few would believe. His journey eventually took him to El¡¯Kireth.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± asked Pudge, his rumbling voice sounding harsh even in his own ears. The dark elf flinched a bit, reminding Pudge that, with his bestial visage, he was quite intimidating. However, Jasper quickly recovered his calm and went on, ¡°I saw him again a few years later. He had been converted.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± asked Sasha. ¡°He had been transformed into one of them. Did great things for his longevity,¡± Jasper said, rubbing his chin. Then, he added, ¡°Not so great for his complexion, though. My people are not meant to be that pale.¡± ¡°So, the atmosphere kills people like us?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Then raises them as undead?¡± ¡°I do not know. Not for sure,¡± Jasper admitted. ¡°But the point is moot. We shall likely die before we ever reach El¡¯Kireth. As inhospitable as the weather is on this blasted tundra, the creatures who live here are much more dangerous.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°And the knights,¡± Sasha said. ¡°Everyone knows about them.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. The Knights of Adontis. They smite first and ask questions later,¡± Jasper agreed. ¡°I cannot imagine they would appreciate an invasion by a horde of kobolds.¡± ¡°They hunt anyone they consider evil,¡± said Sasha. ¡°Long ago, they sent an entire battalion of knights to purge the Pale Moon Territory of evil. They called it a Holy Crusade, and my people were the ¡®evil¡¯ they intended to destroy. Only because of Elder Heron did we survive.¡± ¡°They sent people against Tesh as well,¡± Jasper said. ¡°They did not get far. At one point or another, they have been convinced that everyone is evil. In truth, it is rooted in opportunism. For instance, Tesh is one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Doubtless, that played a role in their decision to attack. Pity they did not think to do some research. My people are many things, but forgiving is not one of them. The attackers were slaughtered to the last knight.¡± ¡°Are your people so formidable?¡± asked Zeke. Jasper shrugged. ¡°With wealth comes power,¡± was his response. Zeke nodded, then looked around again at the gathered refugees. Ragged and exhausted, they clearly needed to rest. But was it safe? Pudge was glad he didn¡¯t have to make the decision. It had been difficult enough when it was just him and Sasha, but to be responsible for almost a thousand people? And exponentially more kobolds? The very notion made Pudge¡¯s head hurt. Silik, the big kobold who seemed to be in charge of his entire tribe, approached. Even in the cold, he wore nothing but his loin cloth, gem-studded belt, and a pair of leather bracers. However, his mottled green-and-brown skin bore a host of complicated symbols that had been painted by one of the kobold spiritweavers. It wasn¡¯t precisely runecraft, but Pudge could still feel power pulsing through those innocuous-looking designs. He said, ¡°Ak-toh. My people wish to voice a request.¡± Pudge cocked his head to the side. The Framework¡¯s translation function was, in a word, peculiar. At times, he understood everything another person said, regardless of their spoken language. At other times, the translation came out garbled and a little halting. As if the person speaking only had a tenuous grasp of another language. And then there were times when the Framework didn¡¯t bother translating at all. Silik calling Zeke Ak-toh was one such instance, though Pudge still knew what it meant. Savior. Zeke sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯ve said it a million times.¡± ¡°As you say, Ak-toh,¡± Silik responded, nodding his head in submission. It was a curious thing, given that the hulking kobold towered over Zeke, both in terms of levels as well as size. To Pudge, who still hadn¡¯t completely left his bestial instincts behind, that seemed backwards. However, he had to keep reminding himself that levels and size failed to tell the entire story of a person¡¯s power. For instance, Sasha was higher-leveled than him, but she was not nearly as capable of a combatant. Even so, she had, on more than one occasion, proven her worth on the battlefield. The incident with the iron monkeys came immediately to mind, but that was only the most obvious example. But then again, that just supported the idea that levels weren¡¯t everything. Given time to prepare, Sasha could empower a level of devastation few could rival. ¡°What do they need, Silik?¡± asked Zeke, dropping the subject of the title he¡¯d been given. They¡¯d had that discussion more than once, and yet, Silik still called him Ak-toh. ¡°To see their friends and families,¡± the kobold answered. Pudge knew that the bulk of the kobold population ¨C hatchlings, their tenders, the old and infirm, and other non-combatants ¨C were living in the tower. However, how that was possible, he did not know. Pudge didn¡¯t really remember much about his earliest years ¨C not with any clarity ¨C but he did recall what had happened the last time a living being had been left in the tower. What stuck with Pudge wasn¡¯t the sight of that mage¡¯s dessicated corpse. Nor was it the existential notion that she¡¯d died in only an instant. But what he¡¯d been incapable of forgetting was the smell. When she¡¯d been thrust into the cellar, she¡¯d smelled like a human being. But after? There was a scent of incalculable age to her body, as if hundreds of years had passed in only a moment. He could only hope the kobolds hadn¡¯t met such a fate. Zeke sighed. ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s the final straw, huh?¡± he said. No one answered, not least because the natives of the Eternal Realm didn¡¯t really understand his idiom. Pudge only managed it because he¡¯d lived with Zeke for years. ¡°Alright. Give me a minute. I don¡¯t want to crush anyone when I summon the tower.¡± He glanced at Pudge and said, ¡°Come with me?¡± Pudge nodded, and when Zeke started walking, he followed. Inevitably, Silik, Jasper, and Sasha did as well. However, they were brought up short when Zeke said, ¡°No. Just Pudge.¡± A few arguments were killed by a simple look from Zeke, and soon enough, the pair were trudging through the snow alone. Once they were out of earshot, Zeke said, ¡°How have you been, buddy?¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? Good? You¡¯ve barely said three words since you got here,¡± Zeke said. ¡°And don¡¯t try to say it¡¯s because you¡¯re not confident in your ability to speak. I can get a sense of your emotions, you know.¡± Pudge chuffed. Indeed, he¡¯d been avoiding certain things since their reunion. He still hadn¡¯t revealed the details of his harrowing journey. Nor had he spoken of the Pale Moon Territory. Part of that was because he didn¡¯t know how to articulate his struggles, but it was also because, with all the new people surrounding Zeke, Pudge felt almost as if he¡¯d been replaced. Or like he didn¡¯t belong. Zeke stopped, then grabbed Pudge by his shoulder. It was a testament to their relationship that Pudge didn¡¯t even flinch. Instead, he allowed himself to be turned so they stood face to face. Or they would have if Pudge wasn¡¯t a head taller than his friend. No. His brother. In the beginning, Pudge had simply called Zeke that because it was easier than explaining the nature of their soul bond. However, the longer he¡¯d thought of him in those terms, the more it felt like it fit. Zeke looked up at Pudge¡¯s face and said, ¡°I need you, buddy. All these people look at me like I¡¯m some kind of leader. I¡¯m not. I just¡­I just want to help them. It would be so easy to just leave. You and me against the world, right? We could go pick up Talia and find Tucker, and then we¡¯d tear our way through the Eternal Realm like we did the Radiant Isles.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But I can¡¯t do that. Not anymore,¡± he said. ¡°Those kobolds, they¡¯re all looking to me for survival.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Zeke laughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m not really the type, huh?¡± he said. ¡°But I made a promise. At the time, I didn¡¯t think much of it, but now that we¡¯re out of the mountain and in the real world, I can¡¯t help but realize just how much of a responsibility it all is. ¡°I guess what I¡¯m trying to say is that I need you to just be you,¡± Zeke continued, running his hand through his hair again. Unlike all the others in the group, Zeke never seemed cold. Nor did his hair grow icicles like everyone else¡¯s. In fact, he radiated heat. ¡°If you have something to say, say it. If you disagree, let me know.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°And always be honest with me,¡± Zeke added. ¡°I understand if you don¡¯t want to talk about what you¡¯ve been through. I get that. But I want you to know that you can tell me anything, alright? No judgement. No beratement. I¡¯ll just listen.¡± It was such a simple statement, but hearing it lifted a weight off Pudge¡¯s shoulders. So, he nodded. Then, Zeke said, ¡°So, tell me about this girl, huh? You two seem really close.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zeke laughed, then went on, ¡°Oh, the look on your face. Good for you, Pudge. Good for you.¡± After a second, he said, ¡°Yeah. This seems far enough away from everyone.¡± Then, he summoned the tower. Pudge had seen the thing sprout from nowhere a hundred times, but he was still a little taken aback by its sudden appearance. Or perhaps that was due to how much it had changed. In a lot of ways, it looked similar to how it had in the demon realm of Mal¡¯araxis. All metal, with a crown of sharp flanges at the top. But the details were subtly different. To Pudge, the whole tower looked far more aggressive. And much bigger, too. But then again, if it could house thousands of kobold civilians, then it would have to be. ¡°Different,¡± Pudge said. ¡°Oh, you have no idea. Come on in. I want to show you around before the others get here.¡± 343. Master Zeke took great pleasure in seeing Pudge¡¯s reaction to the changes the Crimson Tower had undergone. Curiously, though, the former dire bear wasn¡¯t terribly interested in the massive city contained within the tower. Nor was he terribly enthusiastic about the healing pools or the Artisan¡¯s Terrace. However, he was more than a little excited by the prospect of testing himself in the Hunting Grounds. But most of all, he was overwhelmed by the size of the population of kobolds who¡¯d made the tower their homes. Once, Zeke might have expected the such a situation to resemble the one he¡¯d seen in the troll caves ¨C or what Abby had described after her experiences with the gnolls. The kobolds, though, seemed to have been built quite differently than other monsters. Perhaps it was their near-sapience. Or maybe it was some communal instinct. It might¡¯ve even been a learned behavior after spending countless years trying to survive in the hostile environment beneath Min Ferilik. Whatever the origin, though, the kobolds were clean to the point of compulsiveness, well-organized, and entirely dedicated to their civilization¡¯s survival. In short, they were amazing tenants. No ¨C they were a people with great potential. They weren¡¯t just squatting in Zeke¡¯s tower. He had agreed to take responsibility for them, and in return, they¡¯d offered their loyalty. He would be a fool to squander such a thing. ¡°Never stopped you before,¡± muttered Eveline from within Zeke¡¯s mind. He had just finished giving Pudge the tour, and predictably, the bearkin had insisted on trying his luck with the Hunting Grounds. So, Zeke was, for the first time since leaving Min Ferilik behind, alone. Or as alone as he could be, given that he had a demonic mind spirit latched onto his brain. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Being a fool. It¡¯s never stopped you before,¡± she repeated. ¡°But then again, we¡¯re all kind of foolish from time to time, so I suppose that¡¯s forgivable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the one who ended up as a battery in some god¡¯s soul-sucking device,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°Like I said ¨C we¡¯re all foolish from time to time,¡± she said. ¡°Right. So, what do you think about all of this?¡± Zeke asked, taking the portal down to the Residential District. The kobolds had settled in nicely, but he wanted to make certain that they had everything they needed. When he arrived, he immediately saw Silik walking alongside a slender spiritweaver with vibrantly colored ridges. She also wore an elaborate headdress that said she held some position of importance. ¡°I think they make a wonderful couple,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What? No. Not those two,¡± Zeke said. ¡°About the future. About what we need to do.¡± ¡°I still think the alchemist would be a much more useful person to have around,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°If he is as talented as your memories suggest ¨C¡± ¡°I really wish you would stay out of my memories,¡± Zeke muttered in his own mind. Having purely mental conversations with the demoness had become second nature to him. ¡°Can¡¯t really help it, can I? You have no idea what it¡¯s like for me,¡± she said. ¡°Before, my corporeal body functioned as something of a filter. I could block out what I didn¡¯t want to see. But now, I get everything. No filters. No omissions. You¡¯re lucky I can string together a cogent sentence.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel so lucky,¡± Zeke stated, though there was no real feeling behind it. As annoyed as he often was with Eveline, her presence had been a net benefit. Of course, that equation didn¡¯t take into account the distressing nature of having his inner most thoughts laid bare, but Zeke did his best not to think about that. He was only mostly successful. ¡°You know you love me,¡± she said in her sweetest voice. Or thought. ¡°And more importantly, you need me.¡± ¡°Need is a strong word.¡± ¡°But appropriate. For instance, did you know that you¡¯re only using about a tenth of this tower¡¯s energy?¡± she said. ¡°And what¡¯s more, you have no idea how to upgrade it. That you¡¯ve gotten this far is just¡­well, it¡¯s madness. Sometimes, I hate how lucky you can be.¡± ¡°Some call it luck. Others call it hard work, dedication, and a lot of injuries,¡± he stated. ¡°The fact that you¡¯re still alive at all is ¨C¡± ¡°Just get to the point, Eveline,¡± Zeke interrupted. He really didn¡¯t want to bicker with her anymore. ¡°Okay, so do you want to upgrade the tower?¡± she asked. ¡°Because I can put you on the right path?¡± ¡°You already know the answer to that question,¡± he said. Of course he wanted to upgrade the Crimson Tower. It had already proved an invaluable asset, and he expected that it would play a pivotal role in any advancements he¡¯d made. In fact, it might end up being just as important as his path or the other advantages he¡¯d developed back in the troll caves. ¡°I do. But I like to hear you admit it.¡± As Zeke stepped off the teleportation pad and into the district¡¯s main square, he let out an audible sigh. He really hated encouraging Eveline¡¯s smug attitude. But the fact remained that he¡¯d made a decision not to kill her, and ¨C ¡°You thought that on purpose,¡± she accused. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your magnanimous decision not to murder me,¡± she answered, somehow conveying petulance in the tone of her thought. ¡°As if you should get some medal for not killing an innocent person.¡± ¡°Demon.¡± ¡°Same difference.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really not.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°And we both know you¡¯re not innocent, so don¡¯t even think of playing that card,¡± he went on. ¡°Innocent when it comes to you,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve helped you every step of the way. I haven¡¯t hurt you at all.¡± ¡°Which is why you¡¯re still alive and floating around in my head,¡± Zeke said. Some people would have berated him for allowing a mind parasite to live amongst his thoughts. They would have screamed that her betrayal was inevitable. But to Zeke, it seemed that it would take a real psychopath to kill a person based on what they might do ¨C especially when there was no real evidence that her betrayal was truly inevitable. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t so self-serving, I would point out that you¡¯re ignoring one huge caveat,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Well, at the risk of sealing my own fate, I should point out that I am, in fact, a demon,¡± she said. ¡°Evil is kind of who we are.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just people,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Sure. But those two categorizations aren¡¯t mutually exclusive.¡± Instead of responding, he just shook his head as he walked through the Residential District. He wasn¡¯t really sure what he was doing, but he felt that showing his face among the kobolds was, in a way, necessary. After a few moments, he asked, ¡°How do I upgrade the tower?¡± ¡°Natural treasures,¡± she said. ¡°One for each of the major attunements.¡± ¡°Which are?¡± ¡°They¡¯re right there in your status,¡± she said. ¡°Fire and Ice. Water, wind, and earth. Arcane. Poison. And then disease. The stronger the treasure, the more powerful the upgrade.¡± ¡°And you know this how?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been snooping,¡± she said. ¡°Fun fact: the Crimson Tower is a part of you, and so I have free reign in here. I can go wherever I want. I don¡¯t really have access to change anything ¨C not unless you want to give it to me, of course ¨C but I can see a lot of things you can¡¯t. Like how to upgrade the tower. How to rename things. How to reshape it. That sort of thing.¡± ¡°Wait¡­I can reshape the tower?¡± ¡°Just the interior. But we¡¯re getting ahead of ourselves,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You can¡¯t do that until you upgrade it again. And I have to tell you ¨C you¡¯ve sort of hit a wall in that respect. You¡¯ve blundered forward about as far as you can, and now you¡¯re going to have to actively seek things out if you want it to improve. Luckily, you have me to guide you.¡± Her explanation made sense, after a fashion. Up until that point, he¡¯d sort of assumed that the experience ¨C ¡°Kill energy,¡± Eveline corrected. Her interruption almost made him lose his train of thought, which elicited a slight giggle on her part. In any case, he¡¯d originally assumed that the experience the tower siphoned from his kills was the impetus behind its continued evolution. However, if what Eveline said was true, then there were other factors as well. ¡°Do you want to see the control crystal?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°Huh? What?¡± ¡°The control crystal,¡± she repeated. ¡°Surprised you¡¯ve never seen it before. It¡¯s kind of obviously placed in the center of the manor¡¯s foyer.¡± ¡°That big chunk of ruby?¡± Zeke asked. He¡¯d seen it every time he¡¯d entered the manor, but until that moment, he¡¯d assumed it was just another decorative touch. Finding out that it was actually important made him feel like a rube. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I won¡¯t tell anybody.¡± Zeke quickly finished his short tour of the Residential District. The kobolds¡¯ numbers were impressive, but they couldn¡¯t even fill a tenth of the city within the tower. That, and they had a habit of piling in on top of one another, regardless of available space. Whatever the case, from everything Zeke saw, the people were relatively happy. However, he did worry about feeding everyone. And a thousand other managerial duties that came with housing thousands of kobolds. Not only was Zeke ill-equipped to confront such issues, but he wasn¡¯t precisely enthusiastic about devoting any of his precious time toward remedying that deficiency. ¡°I could help, you know,¡± suggested Eveline. ¡°Just give me administrative privileges over the tower, and ¨C¡± ¡°Not a chance in hell.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°No, Eveline. That¡¯s not going to happen. Just drop it,¡± he stated. Miraculously, she did. However, Zeke did catch a few stray thoughts about unfairness and bullying, but he ignored them. After seeing to the kobolds, Zeke headed back to the teleportation pad when subsequently took him to the Lord¡¯s Manor. Once there, he was a little surprised to find Sasha sitting beneath one of the trees on the idyllic grounds. Her legs were crossed, and her eyes were closed; clearly, she was in some sort of meditative trance, so Zeke chose not to disturb her. ¡°Many people consider beastkin inferior creatures,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But that girl has some talent in mana manipulation. Can you stick me in her head? I bet we could do great things together.¡± ¡°You¡¯re free to detach yourself anytime you want,¡± Zeke answered as he approached the door. ¡°You¡¯d be lost without me, and you know it.¡± ¡°Agree to disagree.¡± But she was right in a lot of ways. There were millions of little bits of information nestled in Eveline¡¯s memory, and she had the potential to make Zeke¡¯s life a lot easier. She¡¯d helped him complete his quest and gain the [Triune Colossus] skill, and that was just the overt effect of having her around. More subtly, her presence had enhanced and clarified his mind. He wasn¡¯t suddenly a genius, but he¡¯d already noticed that he could think things through much more quickly ¨C especially in battle. On its own, that was invaluable. ¡°So, there¡¯s something going on between those two, right?¡± said Eveline. ¡°I¡¯m not just imagining it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zeke said, but he¡¯d gotten the impression that Pudge and Sasha had grown close during their travels. What that meant, he didn¡¯t know, and he had no intention of broaching the subject until Pudge felt comfortable enough to bring it up himself. ¡°How does that even work?¡± asked Eveline as Zeke stepped into the manor. ¡°Do I really need to explain it to you?¡± ¡°Not the mechanics, idiot,¡± she said, a note of exasperation riding alongside the thought. ¡°The, you know, different species thing. And you know what? The mechanics are fascinating, too. I mean¡­¡± As Eveline went on a tangent about the mating habits of different species, Zeke focused in on his goal ¨C the bloodred ruby that sat on a carved pedestal in the center of the foyer. In retrospect, Zeke should have immediately recognized that it was important. However, in his defense, the manor was full of curios, sculptures, and other decorations. So, he thought it reasonable that he¡¯d assumed that it was just another piece of the overall d¨¦cor. ¡°How do I activate it?¡± Zeke asked, interrupting Eveline¡¯s monologue. ¡°Oh? Just touch it. Should happen automatically,¡± she said. ¡°Now, as I was saying¡­¡± Once again, Zeke tuned her out. Instead, he stepped forward and laid his palm flat on the faceted surface of the ruby. Immediately, a notification flashed before his eyes: Welcome to the Crimson Tower. Would you like to assume manual control? Zeke didn¡¯t immediately answer in the affirmative. He asked, ¡°Do I want to take manual control? It¡¯s not going to want me to micromanage the tower, is it?¡± ¡°No,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°You should be safe.¡± ¡°Should be doesn¡¯t sound very definitive.¡± ¡°Best I can do.¡± Zeke sighed. Then, he answered the tower¡¯s question with an affirmative response. Immediately, his mind was awash with a veritable tidal wave of information. Suddenly, he knew everything about the tower¡¯s functions, right down to the most minute level of energy usage. With a minor effort, he pushed that wall of information aside and took a deep breath before saying, ¡°That was¡­unpleasant.¡± ¡°Oh, I liked it. It tingled a little, and in all the right ways.¡± ¡°Sure. Okay. So, how do I upgrade the ¨C¡± Before the thought had finished, Zeke received a much more familiar notification. Quest Attained! Gather natural treasures representing the nine major classifications of mana. Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Wind, Nature, Arcane, Poison, and Disease. Reward: Hall of Affinity. ¡°Uh¡­I guess that¡¯s simple enough,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But it didn¡¯t say anything about the strength of those treasures, right?¡± In fact, there was every chance that one of the slaves had picked up a few treasures on their way out of Min Ferilik. Almost assuredly, Jasper had. ¡°Don¡¯t be daft,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You could complete the quest with bottom-grade trash, but the reward would be almost worthless.¡± ¡°What is the Hall of Affinity, anyway?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°No idea. But you can bet that getting a properly powerful natural treasure will give you much better results. If I were you, I¡¯d go for the bonus reward, too.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°There are two other major attunements out there. Their treasures are just a little harder to gather,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I can help you with one of them, but the other¡­well, I definitely won¡¯t be much help.¡± ¡°What are these other attunements?¡± ¡°Well, there are an infinite number of attunements, but they¡¯re all really subsets of the major ones,¡± she said. ¡°Like rot, for instance. It¡¯s a combination of poison and disease. With a little nature thrown in for good measure. Or that light attack the kobolds use ¨C it¡¯s a combination of fire, wind, and arcane.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zeke said. ¡°So, what are the other two?¡± Zeke already suspected the answer to that question, but he knew he needed to ask it anyway. ¡°Holy and demonic,¡± Eveline said. ¡°The second, I can help you with. But the first? Both of us are going to have issues with that. But as always, I believe in you!¡± 344. Heaven, Hell, and Everything in Between ¡°Wait ¨C I can change the names of the floors?¡± Zeke asked aloud, his hand still on the control crystal that allowed him access to the administrative functions of the Crimson Tower. ¡°It appears so,¡± said Eveline. Zeke had released [Bulwark of the Triumvirate], letting her free. So, she had manifested her illusory form as a succubus. He still wasn¡¯t certain whether or not it was reflective of her true body¡¯s appearance ¨C not that it mattered, really. But it would have been nice to see the real Eveline, as opposed to whatever it was she wanted him to see. The real question, though, was if her appearance ¨C which was, despite its clearly demonic nature, quite distracting ¨C was the result of simple vanity or an attempt to manipulate him in some way. The fact that she was a succubus suggested the latter, but Zeke had long since learned that his perception of the world was not always accurate. Sometimes, his thoughts were influenced by meaningless Earth norms that didn¡¯t apply to his new reality. Still, it took an effort of willpower not to stare at her curvaceous form, especially when it was encapsulated by a form-hugging black dress. Even the sight of her cloven hooves failed to ruin the effect. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that my hooves are considered quite fetching,¡± she huffed. ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Zeke muttered, forcing his mind onto other matters. Like the increased control he now enjoyed with his tower. Not only could he rename the floors, but he could also regulate access to the cellar. Or even parts of the storage space, he¡¯d discovered. If he wanted, he could make all the food and other mundane supplies available to the kobolds, while keeping the more valuable ore, armor, and weapons separate. That same restricted access could be applied to the rest of the tower, too, but that wasn¡¯t so surprising. He¡¯d already subconsciously done so with his manor, and it only took a thought to do the same with other parts of the tower. Case in point, he¡¯d already restricted the former slaves ¨C aside from Jasper, of course ¨C to the newly renamed Entry Hall. There, they had plenty of space to make a temporary camp and enjoy the benefits of getting out of the cold. Zeke had only allowed the most grievously injured to use the Crimson Spring. It wasn¡¯t that he wanted the former slaves to suffer. He didn¡¯t. The issue was that he knew he could only trust a few of them. Eta and Jasper came immediately to mind, but he hoped a few others ¨C at least ¨C would join his cause. Until they made their choice, Zeke knew he couldn¡¯t trust them with free reign of the tower. The kobolds were a different story altogether. Zeke had made a deal with Mikaena, and as such, he¡¯d assumed responsibility for their well-being. So, he felt obligated to give them as much help as he could. To that end, he¡¯d given them access to every level except the Lord¡¯s Manor. And that access had already begun to bear fruit. Not only had they started to repurpose some of the materials Zeke had in his storage space to make better weapons and armor, but they¡¯d also cultivated a few farms that he hoped would soon begin to feed the displaced population of lizard people. ¡°You know they only work hard because most of them aren¡¯t entirely sapient,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°They literally can¡¯t think of anything else to do, so they focus on survival. That means food. Weapons. Armor. They have no culture.¡± ¡°I think Silik and some of the spiritweavers are sapient,¡± Zeke said, his hand still on the crystal. ¡°Perhaps. Monsters are a difficult thing to predict,¡± Eveline responded, leaning close. Zeke could almost feel the heat wafting off of her ¨C a trick of the mind, he knew, and not even a very convincing one, but it was still effective. ¡°Progression into sapience is tricky. Intelligence isn¡¯t enough. They need identity, and not just one foisted upon them by someone more powerful. I think that¡¯s what the wyrm failed to understand.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°She gave them all the tools,¡± she explained. ¡°Society. Intelligence. A purpose. But she couldn¡¯t give them an identity that wasn¡¯t tied to her.¡± ¡°So, how do I fix that? How do succeed where she failed?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t fail. She just didn¡¯t have the right ingredient to push them over the edge,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Because she had neither the opportunity nor the desire to do what every mother needs to do. If they wanted to progress into a sapient race, she had to cut them loose. She needed to send them away.¡± ¡°But until now, the dwarves were in the way.¡± ¡°And her own love for them,¡± Eveline added. ¡°Or perhaps it was simple attachment. Who can know for sure?¡± Zeke did. From everything he had seen, Mikaena had loved her kobolds like they were her own biological children. ¡°Ah, but what was the origin of that love?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°Love is always spoken of in such grand terms, but is it any different than any other emotion born of selfishness?¡± ¡°Love isn¡¯t selfish.¡± ¡°Of course it is. Everything we do can be traced back to that,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Being in love ¨C and being loved ¨C makes you feel valid and wanted and a hundred other positive emotions. There are biological responses that support that, but it¡¯s all emotional manipulation. Sometimes, the manipulator is an outside source, but most of the time, we¡¯re the real culprit of our own self-delusion.¡± Zeke sighed. He¡¯d heard it all before. Even though he¡¯d lived anything but a full life before his death, he was still mature enough to recognize that Earth was home to a lot of cynical views on love. But he refused to believe any of it. The very idea that what he¡¯d felt for his mother and brother originated with a selfishness was just offensive in a way he couldn¡¯t quite articulate. It was as if that reductive notion cheapened the true nature of love and relationships. ¡°You think that now, but that¡¯s because you can¡¯t see into other peoples¡¯ minds,¡± she said. ¡°Even before I was detached from my body, I was an empath. I saw what really drove people. Even when they thought they were doing things for all the right reasons, I could see down to the core of it all. And I¡¯ll tell you right now, Zeke ¨C it¡¯s never pretty or pure. Love is just a pretty name for self-gratification.¡± ¡°I think this is one of those situations where we¡¯re going to have to agree to disagree,¡± Zeke said. Eveline¡¯s opinions weren¡¯t surprising. In fact, Zeke would have been more shocked to find that she saw the world in any other way. After all, she¡¯d lived for centuries ¨C or so she had implied ¨C in the demon realm amidst nothing but the worst of the worst who¡¯d been further manipulated into embracing every terrible facet of their personalities. Of course she would have a negative view of the world. But Zeke also knew that she wouldn¡¯t be easily persuaded to believe otherwise, so it was better to simply drop the subject and move on. So, he asked, ¡°You think them leaving Tisikana will be the catalyst to bring the entire race into sapience?¡± ¡°Perhaps. But it¡¯s still going to be difficult,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°You can¡¯t be Mikaeana¡¯s replacement. You have to guide and protect them, but you also need to give them room to find their own way. It¡¯s a fine line to walk.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°I could see that.¡± ¡°Plus, you need to give some thought to how you want them to develop,¡± she added. ¡°They are strong. A great base, really. But if you want them to flourish, they need options. That¡¯s where the tower comes in. And this quest.¡± Zeke nodded, then once again looked at the quest he¡¯d received from the tower itself: Quest Attained! Gather natural treasures representing the nine major classifications of mana. Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Wind, Nature, Arcane, Poison, and Disease. Reward: Hall of Affinity. It wasn¡¯t a complicated task ¨C not on the surface, at least ¨C but he suspected that actually accomplishing it would be much more difficult than understanding what was required. Zeke had only seen a few natural treasures since ascending, and according to Eveline, none of those had been particularly powerful. If he wanted optimal results, he¡¯d need to find true representations of each of the attunements. ¡°Any ideas on where we can find these different natural treasures?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°You absorbed one back in the First City,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°That dwarven king¡¯s spirit wasn¡¯t really alive, you know. None of them were. They were just blobs of earth-attuned mana. That remnant of the king¡¯s soul was simply strong enough to have carried with it some of his Will and a few of his memories.¡± ¡°What about the rest of him?¡± She tilted her head to the side and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡± ¡°I mean, like ¨C what about his¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You don¡¯t wonder what will happen to us when we die? Like, is there another world after this? Or is it just nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing, I hope. Otherwise, it will inevitably be something horrible.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure what he believed. In the past, the answer to that question would have been easy ¨C especially in light of his rebirth into the Radiant Isles. It wasn¡¯t so difficult to imagine another layer to existence. Where there were two, there could easily be a third. Or a fourth, even. Perhaps death was just a gateway to each successive reality. But now? He had no idea what to think. More, he couldn¡¯t decide whether an end was such a bad thing. Certainly, he had no wish to die and cease to exist, but after seeing what had been done to the people that had become demons, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but wonder if such an end would be a bad thing ¨C especially in their cases. That Eveline would hope for one was imminently understandable. ¡°Putting those maudlin thoughts aside ¨C it¡¯s clear what you need to do,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You need to focus on this quest.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t plan to ignore it,¡± Zeke said. When Eveline began to speak, he cut her off before she could say a word. ¡°But I¡¯m not leaving my friends out there all alone. I¡¯m going to find Talia and Tucker first. Then, we can get those natural treasures.¡± Eveline looked thoughtful, but then she said, ¡°Very well. You¡¯re obviously stuck on this friendship thing. Silly, but it¡¯s your life. However, I would be remiss if I didn¡¯t point out that you¡¯re stuck in the middle of a frozen tundra. Surely, there¡¯s an opportunity there. Perhaps an icy opportunity. Hint. Hint.¡± Zeke groaned, ¡°That¡¯s terrible. Like, really terrible.¡± ¡°Not my fault I have to beat you over the head with all the subtlety of a charging raktaron.¡± ¡°To I want to know what a raktaron is?¡± ¡°Huge creatures. Seven sharp horns. They were native to my world before¡­you know, death and demonhood slapped me across the face. In any case, they¡¯re big, strong, and incredibly stupid,¡± she said with a smirk. ¡°Kind of like a certain someone I know.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t ¨C¡± ¡°You. That someone is you.¡± ¡°I got that.¡± ¡°Are you sure? Sometimes I have to spell it out.¡± Zeke rolled his eyes, and Eveline smirked. He knew she didn¡¯t really mean her insults, and in a lot of ways, they reminded him of Abby¡¯s friendly banter. Probably why she did it; what better way to put him off his guard than to give him something familiar? In any case, it hadn¡¯t bothered him with Abby, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t allow a little ribbing to affect him now. After a few moments, he asked, ¡°You think I should rename the Residential District? Maybe give it a little less generic name?¡± ¡°Like?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Tisikana maybe?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t really help with the whole separation thing,¡± Eveline reminded. ¡°I don¡¯t disagree with the idea, but I think it would be better if it was something entirely new, though. Zeketown perhaps.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Ezekielville?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just terrible.¡± She shrugged her illusory shoulders and said, ¡°Just trying to appeal to your inner simpleton. Oh ¨C that¡¯s a good one. Simpleton. Very evocative.¡± ¡°I hate you,¡± Zeke muttered. ¡°But in all seriousness ¨C let them choose the name,¡± she suggested. ¡°It will give them ownership and establish a culture independent of their former lives.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Silik.¡± ¡°And the spiritweaver with those colorful plumes,¡± Eveline said. ¡°She seems to have a position of some authority. Besides, you rarely see one without the other these days.¡± That was true. Zeke couldn¡¯t remember the spiritweaver¡¯s name, but she rarely left Silik¡¯s side. Perhaps they were siblings. Or mates. Zeke wasn¡¯t familiar enough with kobold culture to differentiate between the two types of relationships. In any case, consulting Silik and the spiritweavers ¨C who¡¯d functioned as religious leaders among their people ¨C was a good idea. As to the other most urgent issue, Zeke was less certain. Many of the former slaves would doubtless wish to go their own way. Some, because they were independent spirits. Others because they weren¡¯t comfortable living in close proximity with the monstrous kobolds. And still others because they wanted to go back to their former lives. But Zeke anticipated that there were enough that would want to stay that he needed to establish how he wanted to deal with them. To that end, Zeke left the control crystal behind and headed to the Entry Hall. Along the way, Eveline retreated into his mind, and he reactivated [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. Of course, she grumbled about being confined, but it was as much for her good as it was his. Not only did the mental skill defend him against outside intrusion, but it also served to protect her from curious observers as well as hostilities. Because without that barrier in place, she was incredibly vulnerable to anyone with the right skills. Zeke didn¡¯t think there were any mentalists ¨C or priests ¨C among the former slaves, but that didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t there. Most of the slaves had kept their pasts to themselves, and so, not even Jasper ¨C who had the most experience wrangling them ¨C knew their histories or skills. So, he had no choice but to remain as careful as he could, because he suspected that anyone powerful enough to harm Eveline would probably make quick work of his own mind. As they searched for Jasper, Zeke asked Eveline, ¡°So, what do you know about these hidden attunements? Holy and demonic. I didn¡¯t think there were actual gods in this world, so the word holy feels¡­I don¡¯t know. Wrong.¡± ¡°There may be gods. Just not in this realm or the next.¡± ¡°Still ¨C what do you know about the holy attunement?¡± ¡°I know that it¡¯s a bit of a misnomer,¡± she answered. ¡°It¡¯s more about faith than it is about godliness.¡± ¡°Explain.¡± ¡°Okay, so say you have a shrine, and for hundreds of years, people go to that shrine to pray¡± she said. ¡°Each prayer carries with it a little bit of mana, and slowly, that shrine becomes empowered. But it doesn¡¯t stop with simple mana infusion. That mana has a distinct flavor. It¡¯s subtle, but it¡¯s there all the same.¡± ¡°Faith.¡± ¡°Just so,¡± she said. ¡°But it¡¯s more than that. It¡¯s hope. Faith. And devotion. It eventually taints the ambient mana, resulting in a holy attunement. And that shrine, as a conduit and subject of that faith, becomes a natural treasure.¡± ¡°And demonic attunement?¡± ¡°I think you know,¡± she stated. ¡°Pain and torment, greed and gluttony. There are many ways it forms, but do not make the mistake of thinking that you can only find it in the demon realm. It¡¯s here, too. Heaven has no shortage of sin. But to find a truly powerful demonic natural treasure, you will almost certainly have to return to Hell.¡± ¡°Sounds fun,¡± Zeke deadpanned. ¡°What was that?¡± asked Jasper, who they¡¯d finally found near a huddle of refugees. Zeke hadn¡¯t even realized he¡¯d spoken aloud, but he quickly adapted, saying, ¡°Nothing. Never mind. How are things?¡± The dark elf didn¡¯t even have a chance to answer before Zeke took in the state of the former slaves. This particular group was the lowest of the low, meaning that each of them had already surrendered to their fate. That they¡¯d been rescued and set free didn¡¯t seem to make much difference. ¡°Good news and bad, my friend,¡± Jasper said, raking a hand through his white hair. He¡¯d given it a thorough cleaning since entering the tower, but it was still ragged from where the ends had been burned off during the dark elf¡¯s time spent in the forge. ¡°Which would you like to hear first?¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Well, our fellows have begun to recover,¡± he answered with a jovial tone. ¡°They are growing stronger by the day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. What¡¯s the bad news?¡± ¡°They are also beginning to wonder why they are following you,¡± Jasper stated. ¡°There are rumor that some of the more powerful will attempt a coup and take this fantastic tower from you.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Great. Just great. It¡¯s never easy, is it?¡± ¡°No, my friend. It most certainly is not.¡± ¡°There¡¯s that selfishness I was talking about,¡± Eveline pointed. Zeke pointedly ignored her as he turned his mind to solving the problem at hand. Book 7 available Nov. 5 on Kindle, Audible, and in Print As many of you know, inclusion in Amazon''s Kindle Unlimited library requires exclusivity. That means that I''ve had to remove the chapters comprising book 7 from Royal Road. You can find the content at the links above, starting Nov. 5, 2024. Here''s the blurb:
Zeke Blackwood wields immeasurable power. A half-human, half-demon Cambion, he has fought his way through the Eternal Realm, becoming a legend in the process. A liberator of slaves and the leader of an army of loyal kobolds, he reluctantly takes on the responsibility of protecting those who¡¯ve sworn to fight at his side, even as his other allies remain lost to him. Talia Nightingale has joined her undead brethren in the Deathguard, investigating a series of murders most foul. The alchemist Tucker lives among the Kirran, a race of dragonkin in desperate need of a potion to cure a wicked curse. And Abby, the woman Zeke once loved and who betrayed them all, has found purpose as the inquisitor for the Radiant Host, a cult of Sun Goddess worshippers seeking to cleanse the land of the impure. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. But Zeke¡¯s closest companions are soul-bonded to him: the bearkin Pudge and the demonic mind spirit Eveline. One shares his feelings; the other reads his thoughts. But neither influences him as much as his dual nature, divided between empathy for others and an insatiable lust for dominion. And with every monster he slays, the more power he accrues, forcing him to confront the darkness that lies in own heart . . .
397. Freedom Zeke stumbled as he stepped free of the arch, then fell to one knee in gratitude. Until that moment, he hadn¡¯t realized how different the dungeon had felt. How oppressive. It had been like claustrophobia for his spirit, though he could only see it clearly in the hindsight of freedom. Soon enough, the others came tumbling out as well, and clearly, they all felt the same way. It had been months since they¡¯d set foot in the outside world, and the sudden change was just as dramatic as that implied. Before Zeke knew what was going on, he felt tears of absolute relief tracing lines down his cheeks. He wasn¡¯t the only one, either. Not only had the endured horrifying hardships aplenty, but each of them had nearly died multiple times. To suddenly be safe ¨C or at least as safe as anywhere in the Eternal Realm really was ¨C proved to be incredibly cathartic. But the relief could only last so long before reality began to set in. The problems they¡¯d left behind when they¡¯d entered the dungeon were still there, though they weren¡¯t quite as immediate as they had been back then. Still, they were in giant territory, and even though they were no longer being actively hunted, the longer they spent in the mountain forest, the more immediate the danger would become. So, after indulging his relief for a few minutes, Zeke pushed himself to his feet and looked around. The forest looked much the same as it had when they¡¯d first walked through the portal, which meant that it was filled with ancient, gnarled trees and covered in a blanket of white snow. He took a deep breath, letting the crisp mountain air fill his lungs as he tried to remember which direction they¡¯d meant to head. That was when Eveline finally spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s that way.¡± She had accompanied the statement with a mental nudge to the right. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a mind spirit,¡± she said. ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure.¡± Zeke knew well enough to trust his companion, so he said aloud, ¡°Alright, guys. We¡¯re still in enemy territory, so we need to gather ourselves as best we can, then head out. Any problems with that?¡± No one complained. Instead, they all rose to their feet and told him that they were ready to go. Zeke could understand that sentiment, but there was something he needed to do before he could move on. So, he asked Eveline, ¡°How difficult is it to destroy a dungeon portal?¡± She gave a pensive sigh, then answered, ¡°For you? The Runebreaker technique should work. Then, you just need to hit it hard enough. So, right in your wheelhouse, if we¡¯re honest.¡± ¡°All I needed to hear,¡± he responded. Then, to the others, he said, ¡°You might want to stand back. This might get messy.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± asked Eta. ¡°I¡¯m going to make sure nobody else every stumbles into that nightmare,¡± he stated. It was telling that no one argued with him. Whether it was because they agreed with his goal or if they were just unwilling to fight him on it was unclear, but the results were the same regardless of the reasoning. Once everyone was a few dozen feet away, Zeke summoned Voromir and faced the arch. It looked so mundane. So innocent. There was nothing about it to indicate that it led to such a hellish dungeon. Zeke could handle all the blood and guts. He could deal with all the death and monsters. What he couldn¡¯t stomach was how the dungeon had twisted his own memories against him. Nobody should have to experience that. So, without further hesitation, Zeke centered his mind and dragged the mana from his twin attunements, wrapping them around one another and holding them in place with a tiny sliver of his will. The braid for Runebreaker was far more stable than the one associated with Worldbreaker, but that was like saying a wolf attack was less deadly than being mauled by a lion. Either way, he¡¯d long since grown accustomed to keeping it under control, though he knew he could only do so for a few seconds before the power of his Will started ripping him apart. So, as soon as he felt the technique coalesce, Zeke infused his hammer with the braid, then swung the weapon at the base of the arch. The results were explosive. Sparks of mana, visible to the naked eye and sizzling with ethereal fury, sprayed into the air, and a shockwave of pure force swept through the forest. The nearest trees were torn asunder, their broken trunks sending splinters of wood sailing through the air. But Zeke stood firm, weathering the storm of mana with stoic determination and sheer, metaphysical weight. But to his immeasurable disappointment, the portal remained unbroken. No ¨C there was a tiny crack, barely visible and stretching out from the point of impact. That was enough to tell Zeke that his goal was possible. So, with the Runebreaker technique still singing through him ¨C body, mind, and soul ¨C he swung again, and to similar results. With every passing second, his Will threatened to rip him to pieces, but he refused to let it go until the job was done. So, he swung again. And again after that. Over and over, he hammered his weapon against that nigh indestructible gate until, at last, a sound like breaking glass preceded a monstrous explosion of mana that felt like it ripped Zeke¡¯s skin from his body. Of course, with his body still enhanced by [Triune Colossus], he was made of rock and metal, so the effects weren¡¯t nearly as devastatingly destructive as they could have been. He endured that storm of mana and force, digging into the ground with earthen immovability, and when the dust finally settled, he saw nothing but a pile of shattered rock. And a new notification, informing him that he had gained yet another level. ¡°W-what?¡± he croaked, letting his technique fall away. His body had been ravaged, but he would still remain functional. If he¡¯d used Worldbreaker instead, he never would have survived the technique for so long. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Apparently, killing a dungeon gives kill energy. A lot of it, too. Going from level forty-nine to fifty takes more than most,¡± Eveline informed him. ¡°The same can be said for every fifth level from here on out. So, you have that to look forward to on your path to the peak.¡± Zeke pulsed [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], fueling it with pure, unattuned mana. It soothed his soul, but did little for his damaged body. Still, he was in decent enough condition, all told, so he stood and looked around. The explosion had devastated the area, knocking trees down in a two-hundred foot radius. But Zeke was relieved to see that his companions hadn¡¯t been harmed. ¡°Stupid,¡± he muttered to himself. He should¡¯ve made them retreat further away. ¡°In your defense, there¡¯s no way you could have known it would be such a big explosion,¡± Eveline reminded him. It did little to assuage his guilt. ¡°Besides, no harm, no foul, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. But we can¡¯t dawdle, now,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°The giants are probably already on their way to check this out.¡± With that in mind, Zeke took one last look at the shattered gate. The moment it had broken, it had lost its magic, rendering it into a pile of inert stone. And as far as Zeke was concerned, it was good riddance. Tearing his eyes away from the entrance to the dungeon that had so tormented him, Zeke turned away and strode toward his companions. He found that the others were completely unhurt, if a little annoyed by the situation. Still, they kept their complaints to a minimum and followed Zeke as they trekked through the forest. Before long, they¡¯d covered multiple miles, giving them some degree of relief. Certainly, the giants could probably still track them, but after the devastation wrought by the exploding gate, it would be incredibly difficult. So, Zeke felt secure enough to slow their pace to something they could maintain almost indefinitely. Like that, days passed, and without sign of pursuit. They group rested from time to time, but never for more than a couple of hours. They were all eager to leave the mountain forest behind, and none of them were willing to delay that for any longer than absolutely necessary. And their time in the dungeon had prepared them well for a long trek with minimal rest. So, they continued on until, at last, they broke free into an expansive savannah. In school, Zeke had seen photographs and videos of the American Great Plains, and looking upon the changed landscape put him in that same frame of mind. In his entire field of vision, he only saw one lonesome tree. The rest was just an endless see of short grass. ¡°Do we know where we are?¡± he asked, looking at Sasha. She unshouldered her pack, then retrieved a large map. It pulsed with a slight aura of mana, telling Zeke that it had been enchanted in some way. Probably for durability, but he¡¯d have to study it to be certain. In any case, the porcine sorceress unfurled it and said, ¡°I think this is the Mukti Plains.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± said Jasper. ¡°What?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Nothing. I just¡­I hate centaurs,¡± he said. Then, he went on to explain that the Mukti Plains got their name from the most dominant centaur tribe in the area. According to him, there were hundreds of thousands of the creatures, and the bulk of them were subordinate to the Mukti. They were also incredibly territorial, which seemed to be par for the course in the Eternal Realm. No one seemed particularly welcoming to outsiders, at least as far as Zeke had seen. The only good news was that the hill giants were in constant conflict with the centaur, meaning that even if they had been pursued out of the mountains, the giants would be unlikely to follow them any further. Still, to Zeke, it felt like they were exchanging one set of enemies for another. ¡°What¡¯s beyond the plains?¡± he asked. ¡°Adontis,¡± said Sasha. ¡°Then the undead Kingdom of El¡¯Kireth, though we won¡¯t want to go there.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± was his next question. Zeke could feel Talia in that direction, and it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out that she was probably somewhere in that Kingdom. It was probably the only place she could have survived unharmed. ¡°About which one?¡± said Eta. ¡°The Knights of Adontis are famous for their intolerance of anyone they deem unclean, and they are tightly aligned with the Radiant Host. Some say that they are merely an unofficial wing.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m guessing that intolerance extends to anyone they consider different.¡± ¡°Good guess,¡± Sasha said. ¡°Every beastkin learns to stay away from anyone affiliated with the Radiant Host. They don¡¯t see us as people, and we¡¯re not the only ones, either. I¡¯ve heard their intolerance extends to anyone who isn¡¯t human. Or human-adjacent.¡± ¡°They abide elves,¡± Eta said. ¡°But only barely, largely for unsavory reasons.¡± ¡°She means that they like to keep pretty elves as sex slaves,¡± Eveline provided. ¡°Yeah. I got that,¡± Zeke replied in his own mind. ¡°Just making sure. Sometimes, you don¡¯t understand innuendo.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not responding to that,¡± Zeke said. Over the next few minutes, the group discussed the various factions in the area. The centaurs were usually hostile to anyone who didn¡¯t go on four hooves, the Knights of Adontis hated anybody who wasn¡¯t human, but were especially belligerent with their undead neighbors, and the undead largely kept to themselves. ¡°Everyone here seems to hate everyone else,¡± Zeke remarked. ¡°That¡¯s not a terrible characterization,¡± Eta acknowledged. ¡°There are plenty of places that welcome mostly everyone ¨C like Westport ¨C but they¡¯re outnumbered by those who don¡¯t.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Alright. I guess we keep going for a few more miles until we¡¯re out of sight of the forest,¡± he said, running his hand through his hair as he looked back at the ancient trees. ¡°Then, we need to check our gains, summon the tower and make sure everyone inside is okay, and then, we¡¯ll need to figure out how to proceed. I intend to go to that undead kingdom, so we need to plot a viable course through hostile territory.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t survive there,¡± Eta said. Then, she looked from one person to another. ¡°Or at least I won¡¯t. The vitality is too weak. Or the deathly atmosphere is too strong. Either way, I¡¯ll wither and die within a few hours. The same is probably true of everyone else, at least to some degree.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯ll figure it out. My friend is there. I¡¯m sure of it. And I¡¯m not going to stop until I get her back,¡± he said. ¡°Is she so important?¡± Jasper asked, giving voice to a concern clearly held by everyone else present. All except Pudge, at least. ¡°She¡¯s family. Just like Pudge.¡± That was all he needed to say before the others realized that arguing with him was a dead end. So, with that, they took off across the plain. After spending months in the dungeon, and then nearly a week trekking through the forest, suddenly being out in the open was a nice change of pace. But it also came with a certain undercurrent of unease that Zeke found a little unsettling. It wasn¡¯t difficult to ignore, but it remained in the back of his mind all the same. So, it was with a certain sense of relief that he finally summoned his tower. As always, it presented as a giant, crimson spire topped with a crown of aggressive flanges that made it look like the world¡¯s largest mace. At hundreds of feet tall, it was particularly imposing on the flat, featureless plains, and Zeke knew it would be visible for miles all around. Which meant that if any centaurs were about, they were going to soon get a visit. Zeke had gone back and forth on whether or not to summon the tower. On the one hand, he didn¡¯t want to immediately jump into battle with another group of people. But on the other, the kobolds and former slaves that lived in the tower had been stuck inside for months. They deserved to know what was going on, and more importantly, Zeke needed to check on them to ensure that they were well. So, in the end, there had never really been a choice. If the centaurs descended upon them with ill intentions, then Zeke would just deal with it accordingly. Still, he hoped it wouldn¡¯t be necessary. For now, he was tired of fighting, and he desperately wanted a few days ¨C or weeks ¨C where he could simply relax, recover, and deal with less desperate matters. So, it was with some sense of anticipation that he approached the front gates of the Crimson Tower that was his home. 398. Evolution As it turned out, the kobolds were just fine. In fact, they were more than okay, and their efforts to turn the tower into their home had certainly born fruit. The entry hall remained mostly unchanged, though there were a few legionnaires posted as guards. Why that would be necessary, Zeke had no idea, but he accepted it nonetheless. By comparison, the Merchant¡¯s Floor had undergone a dramatic transformation. Not in structure ¨C that was controlled by the tower itself, and by extension, Zeke ¨C but rather, in how the Kobolds had deigned to use it. Under Min Ferilik, they¡¯d had a fairly primitive society based on mutual need. However, the time in the tower, or more accurately, exposure to the former slaves, had instilled in them a need for commerce. At present, the mercantile pursuits were limited to a barter system, but that was more out of necessity than choice. The availability of the gem-like beads that passed for currency in the Eternal Realm was limited, and so, they had chosen to eschew their use. But seeing all the budding businesses ¨C from produce stands to businesses selling the crafters¡¯ products ¨C Zeke felt certain that, left to their own devices, the area would continue to develop and implement currency into their economic pursuits. The Residential District had seen slightly less outward development, but Zeke was happy to see that most of the kobolds had at least moved into the buildings. Although, he couldn¡¯t help but noticed that they seemed to prefer to cram as many people into each one as they possibly could. ¡°Hopefully they¡¯ll branch out a little. Develop some individuality,¡± he muttered inwardly. ¡°They¡¯re not quite there yet,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Exposure to the former slaves will help, though. It will show them how to live like people.¡± Zeke agreed, and the group continued on through the Residential District. When they reached the area that had been claimed by the aforementioned ex-slaves, Jasper and Eta broke off and headed to their own homes. Silik soon followed, making a beeline toward an area that had been taken by the more developed kobolds. Zeke couldn¡¯t be sure, but he suspected that the big kobold was eager to reunite with the spiritweaver Kianma. So, that left him with only Pudge and Sasha for company. ¡°What am I, then?¡± ¡°A parasite?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really bad at jokes.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t joking,¡± Zeke pointed out, though he did so with a slight smile that probably looked a bit odd because he was talking in his head. ¡°Seriously, though ¨C you¡¯re always there, so I sometimes forget to acknowledge it. But I do appreciate everything you do for me.¡± ¡°Which is precious little other than¡­well, poking fun at you,¡± she said. ¡°You have your moments,¡± Zeke said, remembering all the support she¡¯d given him. Sometimes, something as small as simply offering conversation, but others, she¡¯d actively assisted him in his endeavors. Either way, the fact that he didn¡¯t have to be alone all the time had certainly made his life easier. At worst, she¡¯d kept him from running headlong off a cliff and tumbling into insanity. ¡°That¡¯s assuming that I¡¯m not just a figment of your imagination,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°I am just a voice in your head, after all.¡± Zeke gave a mental roll of his eyes. ¡°Of course. But you did appear to my friends,¡± he said. ¡°Kind of ruins that theory.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you can get past that if you try,¡± she said. ¡°Reality is no obstacle to properly motivated insanity. For all you know, none of this is real. It might just be in your head.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a cheery thought.¡± Eveline giggled. ¡°That¡¯s me. All sunshine and daisies. Not like I¡¯m a demon, right?¡± ¡°Former demon. You¡¯re something else now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true enough.¡± The two continued like that as they made their way through the various levels of the tower. The Crimson Spring was much the same as it always was, but it was also far busier, with many of the former slaves taking advantage of the healing waters. The kobolds had clearly begun to make use of it as well. As far as Zeke was concerned, that was a good thing, and he made a note to himself to get Silik and the other kobold leaders to encourage it. Perhaps the excess vitality would help the kobolds in their development in some way. Next up was the Craftsman¡¯s Terrace, which, from a structural standpoint, was the most changed. As Zeke, Pudge, and Sasha stepped off the teleportation platform, they were greeted by a cheerful elf. She was missing a leg, which she¡¯d replaced with a wooden peg. Still, she moved just as gracefully as any elf he¡¯d ever seen. However, she had clearly been working, because her clothes were stained with dirt, and there were smudges on her flawless cheeks. The moment she recognized them, she grinned, ¡°Lord Ezekiel! I¡¯ve been looking forward to your arrival!¡± ¡°Uh¡­I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t remember your name,¡± Zeke said. He¡¯d never actually met her ¨C at least as far as he could remember ¨C but he had seen her before. In fact, she was one of his original barracks-mates from when he¡¯d first arrived in Min Ferilik. ¡°Right. I¡¯m Ka¡¯alasa,¡± she said. ¡°My friends call me Kala, though.¡± ¡°Alright, Kala. This is Pudge,¡± Zeke said, gesturing to the silent former dire bear. Then, he waved toward Sasha, introducing her as well. ¡°Fascinating,¡± Kala said. ¡°I¡¯ve never had the chance to meet many beastkin. My father forbade me from leaving the farm. When I finally worked up the courage, I wandered into the wrong tundra, if you know what I mean. Been mining ever since. But that¡¯s not why you¡¯re here, right? You came to see the farms.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Uh¡­sure,¡± Zeke said. That was the first thing he¡¯d noticed upon his arrival on the Craftsman¡¯s Terrace. Before, it had been dominated by various crafting stations, ranging from forges to alchemy labs. However, a good portion of the terraced land had now been dedicated to verdant farms featuring row upon row of crops. ¡°Lead on.¡± Kala did just that, telling them how she¡¯d engineered the Terrace¡¯s transformation and personally seen to the farming efforts. She had plenty of helpers, but she had a host of agricultural skills that, while they weren¡¯t very useful for combat, were incredibly potent. As a result, it was through her efforts that the people of the tower hadn¡¯t starved. And they wouldn¡¯t anytime soon, either. The fields were extensive, covering acre after acre of the terraced mountainside. That, combined with the tons of meat Zeke had looted from the cyclops, would keep his people fed for years to come. Kala was certainly enthusiastic about it, which she claimed was a bit of a change of pace for her. ¡°When I was young, I couldn¡¯t wait to get off the farm,¡± she said. ¡°But now, I¡¯ve come to realize that it¡¯s my calling.¡± After a few more minutes¡¯ worth of a guided tour, Zeke and the others finally returned to the teleportation platform and, at last, arrived at the Lord¡¯s Manor. Once there, Pudge and Sasha went their own way ¨C probably to their respective rooms ¨C while Zeke headed straight to the huge ruby that was the control crystal in the center of the manor¡¯s lobby. Once there, he turned his attention to the Potion of Evolution, which presented itself as a small vial filled with glowing red liquid. ¡°Do you know what this is going to do?¡± he asked. [Inspect] didn¡¯t give him any information, so he was clueless as to its purpose. However, the name was enough to suggest it would be something incredible. Eveline answered, ¡°It depends.¡± ¡°On what?¡± ¡°If you drink it or if you use it for something else.¡± ¡°Okay? So, the first, I guess.¡± ¡°If I had to guess, I¡¯d say it would let you evolve one of your skills. It won¡¯t be a full upgrade, unless that little potion is far more powerful than I suspect it is,¡± she said. Seeing that he clearly needed more of an explanation, she went on, ¡°Think of it like the first step in evolving a skill. It¡¯ll lay the groundwork for future evolutions, but it won¡¯t really result in that much more power.¡± ¡°That sounds a lot like something I can already do, so long as I have enough time.¡± ¡°True. But that¡¯s the trick, isn¡¯t it? You really don¡¯t like to sit still. The only times you stop moving are when you¡¯re too injured to walk,¡± she said. She certainly had a point there. However, Zeke couldn¡¯t deny that much of his enthusiasm for the potion had faded. In his mind, he¡¯d expected it to evolve his race or, at the very least, upgrade one of his skills. To find out that it would basically do nothing was a bit of a blow. ¡°I didn¡¯t say it would do nothing, you dolt,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s an investment and, for you, a timesaver.¡± ¡°Seems a bit lame for how difficult that dungeon was,¡± he still muttered. ¡°Okay, so what¡¯s the other option?¡± ¡°Give it to the tower.¡± ¡°Huh? Is that even possible?¡± ¡°I think so. Probably. Like I said before, I¡¯ve been examining it when I¡¯ve had the chance, and I think it¡¯s similar to your skills. It already evolves on its own based on criteria only it knows. This potion will give it a little boost. And with any luck, tip it over. It¡¯s been a while, right? Since the tower evolved. So, it¡¯s due.¡± ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± was her chipper reply. ¡°But if it doesn¡¯t work, what do you really lose? You¡¯ve already admitted that you¡¯re not impressed with the other way, right? So, the choice seems pretty clear to me.¡± On the surface, Zeke agreed. And he trusted Eveline ¨C at least in as much as she wanted the best for him. However, it felt like a big decision, so he wanted to make sure he got it right. With that in mind, he went upstairs, and for the first time in months, enjoyed a nice, hot shower before going to sleep in an actual bed. When he woke the next morning, he still hadn¡¯t made a proper decision. So, he spent the next few hours working on his level fifty skill. He¡¯d already laid most of the foundation, but the whole thing felt unstable to him. So, he¡¯d resolved to perfect it, at least to the degree he was capable, before moving on to the rest of the skill¡¯s structure. ¡°You know you¡¯re just procrastinating, now,¡± Eveline said when he decided to take another tour of the tower. He hadn¡¯t seen everything, and he reasoned that, as a leader, he owed it to the people who depended on him to at least know what was going on. ¡°I am not.¡± ¡°You definitely are,¡± she said. ¡°And that¡¯s not like you. What¡¯s going on?¡± He shrugged, then ran his hand through his hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I guess it just feels odd to use something like that on the tower,¡± he admitted. ¡°I mean, it doesn¡¯t really help me that much, does it?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s just stupid.¡± ¡°Wow. Tell me how you really feel.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always honest with you, Ezekiel,¡± she stated. ¡°You might not always want to hear what I have to say, but I¡¯ll continue tot ell you the truth. And right now, you¡¯re being stupid. This tower is a marvel the likes of which hasn¡¯t been seen in the Eternal Realm for centuries. Maybe millennia. And to say that it hadn¡¯t helped you is blatantly false. Tell me ¨C do you think you or any of your friend would have survived this long without it?¡± Zeke was on the verge of answering that question when he realized that she was right. He¡¯d been thinking of the tower as some external thing, but in reality, it was part of him. In many ways, it was no different from any of his other skills. It was even more important than some. So, after only a little more thought, he finally took Eveline¡¯s advice and headed for the control crystal in the foyer of his manor. Once there, he retrieved the Potion of Evolution from his storage space, then asked, ¡°So? How do I use this?¡± ¡°You pour it on the crystal.¡± Zeke shrugged, then did just that. The moment the liquid hit the ruby, sparks of visible mana flew into the air, looking like he¡¯d just taken a welding torch to it. An instant after he¡¯d emptied the vial, he received a notification: The Crimson Tower has evolved, gaining a new ability. Use it well. ¡°Oh, good. It worked,¡± said Eveline. ¡°You sound surprised.¡± ¡°I kind of am.¡± ¡°Seriously? I mean¡­really?¡± ¡°You needed a push, or you wouldn¡¯t have used it at all,¡± she said. ¡°I was reasonably sure. Call it fifty-fifty.¡± Zeke groaned, then focused on the ability. He had some degree of awareness of the tower at all times, but usually, that knowledge was limited to his spatial storage. However, now, he¡¯d gained a rudimentary awareness of the tower¡¯s new capability. ¡°Oh, this changes everything,¡± he said. And it would. The new ability was simple: it allowed him to summon a door that led to the tower. No longer would he be forced to bring attention to himself by summoning a tower that could be seen from miles away. Instead, he could be discreet. By itself, that would have been enough to excite Zeke. But that was only part of the new capability. And it was arguably far less important than the real use. ¡°So, you can summon a door and the tower at the same time,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That means you can ¨C¡± ¡°I can put the tower somewhere permanent,¡± he interrupted excitedly. ¡°That way, everyone in here can leave the tower at will. In the meantime, I can access it via the summoned door. I¡¯m not saying it solves all my problems, but it¡¯s definitely a big deal.¡± Evelien gave him a mental shrug. ¡°No need to thank me for my visionary foresight,¡± she said with a long-suffering and obviously fake sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll continue to toil away, unappreciated and oft-forgotten as you ¨C¡± ¡°Thank you, Eveline. Really. You do so much for me, and I don¡¯t really thank you that often. If there¡¯s anything I can do to help you, just let me know.¡± She manifested in her visible form and grinned as she said, ¡°Thank you, Ezekiel. I¡¯ll hold you to that.¡± 399. First Contact For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Zeke relaxed. Not fully ¨C he didn¡¯t think he would ever accomplish that feat ¨C but it was enough that he didn¡¯t feel like some deadly threat was poised to pounce on him the moment he let down his guard. However, he only allowed himself to do so for a few hours before, inevitably, someone interrupted his rest. Kianma, who was one of only a handful of kobolds with permission to visit his manor, found him in his meditation room, where he¡¯d sought something approaching tranquility. He wasn¡¯t ready to tackle his level fifty skill yet, largely because doing so would require a significant time investment as well as nearly complete serenity. He¡¯d tried messing with skills under duress before, and he definitely had no intention of repeating that experience. After all, if he screwed up, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d get bailed out by ascension anytime soon. So, he knew that getting things perfect was essential if he didn¡¯t want to hamstring himself for the foreseeable future. ¡°It might also kill you,¡± Eveline provided, her tone light. ¡°Thank you for reminding me,¡± he muttered. ¡°Ak-toh,¡± the kobold spiritweaver said. ¡°There is something outside that requires your attention.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Of course there is,¡± he said, resigned to the fact that he didn¡¯t have the luxury of relaxation. Not only was her responsible for thousands of people, but he had his own goals, none of which were modest. And that wasn¡¯t even considering his quest to reunite with his friends. Talia was closer than ever before, but there were plenty of obstacles barring their reunion. And more than ever, he was worried for her well-being. She wasn¡¯t like him or Tucker. Or even Abby. The closest analogue to Talia¡¯s situation was Pudge, but that wasn¡¯t a great comparison, either. As undead, she would, at best, be shunned. At worst, she would be hunted like any other monster. The fact that she¡¯d probably found herself within an undead kingdom that, according to the others, was known for its callous disregard for the living, made things all the worse. It wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine the impressionable young woman getting sucked into a bad situation and truly becoming the monster she sometimes considered herself. By comparison, Zeke wasn¡¯t the lest bit worried about Tucker. The alchemist was a survivor with a valuable skillset. If nothing else, Zeke felt confident that he would ultimately be fine, which was one of the reasons he¡¯d chosen to make a priority out of his pursuit of Talia. And added to all of that was the fact that he still needed to put himself in the right frame of mind to work on his level fifty skill. Then, he¡¯d have to take the time to actually do it. And with all his responsibilities, that didn¡¯t seem like it would happen anytime soon. So, it was with some resignation that he pushed himself to his feet and turned to face Kianma. She looked little different than she always looked, meaning that she was quite a bit smaller than fighters like Silik, and her head was festooned with colorful plumes. Zeke nodded at her and said, ¡°Thanks. What is it?¡± ¡°We have¡­visitors,¡± she said. ¡°A troop of centaurs have come, demanding to know who we are and what gives us the right to build a tower on their lands.¡± It was an expected response, though Zeke had hoped that they¡¯d have a little more time before the natives noticed their presence. With any luck, they would have been free to cross the Mukti Plains unmolested. Clearly, that had been an unfounded hope, considering that they¡¯d only been in place for a single day, and already, the centaurs had come calling. ¡°Alright. I need ten of the most powerful kobold warriors,¡± he said. ¡°I want you there, too. And Eta, Jasper, and Silik, as well. I¡¯ll get Pudge and Sasha. Meet me in the Entry Hall.¡± ¡°As you say, Ak-toh.¡± Zeke almost told her not to call him that, but he knew it would do little good. The kobolds all thought of him as their savior, and there was nothing he could do to stop that. So, he¡¯d resolved to simply accept their veneration, if for no other reason than because it made his life minutely easier. ¡°So magnanimous of you to allow them to worship you,¡± Eveline remarked in his head. ¡°Shut up,¡± he sighed, watching Kianma leave before he stepped into the hall. ¡°I¡¯m just saying ¨C¡± ¡°I know what you¡¯re saying,¡± he interrupted as he traversed the manor¡¯s corridors. Soon enough, he found the room Pudge had claimed as his own, and he knocked on the door. There was a grunt of acknowledgement, then a little rustling on the other side of the door before Sasha flung it open. She pushed an errant lock of hair behind her ear, then said, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Oh. Good. You¡¯re both here,¡± Zeke said, looking past her to see Pudge sitting awkwardly straight-backed in one of the chairs. ¡°I need you two to get ready for a fight, then meet me down in the Entry Hall as soon as possible.¡± Then, without another word, he bade them goodbye, then left them behind. As soon as he turned the corner and began his descent down the stairs, Eveline cleared her nonexistent throat, then asked, ¡°Were they ¨C¡± ¡°Probably. But we¡¯re not talking about this,¡± Zeke said. ¡°They deserve their privacy.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me isolate you,¡± he said. He could flare [Bulwark of the Triumvirate] and cut her off from the rest of the world. If he did that, she wouldn¡¯t even be able to communicate with him. More importantly, she would be entirely isolated, without the slightest sensory input. For Zeke, it would be mildly unpleasant to keep the skill working at such a high level, but he could handle it well enough. Eveline probably couldn¡¯t. Or at least she didn¡¯t want to. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Fine.¡± With that, Zeke heard nothing but silence as he traversed the sprawling manor and left the building behind. The grounds looked much the same as they always did, meaning that it presented as a well-manicured estate that looked like it would¡¯ve been at home in the New England countryside. Soon enough, Zeke had trekked across the lawn and to the teleportation platform that transported him to the Entry Hall. Once there, he joined a few burly kobold centurions and a handful of spiritweavers. Over the next few minutes, more came. That number included Silik and Kianma, as well as Zeke¡¯s other companions. The last to arrive were Pudge and Sasha, though they didn¡¯t take more than a quarter of an hour. Once everyone was assembled, Zeke asked Kianma to explain the situation. She did so succinctly, telling everyone that the scouts ¨C mostly kobold rangers, but a few former slaves were among their number ¨C had caught sight of a small herd of centaurs headed toward the tower. They¡¯d come back immediately, but they couldn¡¯t move much more quickly than the natives to the Mukti plains. So, by the time the news had gotten to Kianma, the centaurs had already arrived, demanding to know what was going on. ¡°How long have they been out there?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°No more than half an hour,¡± Kianma answered. ¡°And do they seem hostile?¡± She shook her head. ¡°They seem annoyed, but not overtly aggressive or antagonistic.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s almost good news,¡± he said. It would¡¯ve been better if they were only curious instead of irritated, but he¡¯d take that over warlike any day of the week. So, after making sure that everyone was prepared, Zeke led the almost two-dozen strong group to the gate. It functioned much like the teleportation platform that let people travel between floors, but stepping through the gate only led to one location. Still, that instantaneous moment of nothingness was still a little disconcerting. Luckily, the feeling was fleeting, and before Zeke even took in his surroundings, he felt everything normalize. As the others followed him out, he looked at the group of centaurs before him. At least fifty strong, the individual creatures were powerful-looking, with their bottom halves resembling massive draft horses, while their mostly naked torsos were bulging with thick muscle. Both male and female versions were represented, though even the women were more heavily muscled than most humans. Their faces looked like what he¡¯d have expected from a neanderthal, with heavy brows, sloped foreheads, and prominent jaws. The overall effect was that, to Zeke, they seemed primitive yet powerful, and when he used [Inspect] on the largest of them, he wasn¡¯t really shocked to see the results: Kraan Trak ¨C Level 63 All the others ranged from level fifty to sixty-one, telling Zeke that his initial impression had been accurate. Physical size wasn¡¯t always a good indicator of power, but it seemed that, in this case, he¡¯d guessed correctly. He stepped forward, then said, ¡°Greetings.¡± ¡°Greetings?¡± barked Kraan Trak, pointing with a long spear. The weapon was crude-looking, but that was no indicator of its power. ¡°You invade our lands and build a fortress, and you greet us as if you have done nothing wrong?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t invaded anything,¡± Zeke said, schooling his voice to patience. ¡°Nor have we built anything.¡± Kraan Trak looked at Zeke, then past him at the tower, before settling his gaze on Zeke once again. ¡°You jest.¡± Zeke sighed. Then, after glancing back at the tower to make sure no one was going in or out, he dismissed it. Instantly, the Crimson Tower dissipated. When it was completely gone, he said, ¡°See? No more tower. We¡¯re just passing through.¡± Kraan Trak looked as if he¡¯d seen a ghost, but he quickly schooled his expression into normality before asking, ¡°How did you do that?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Zeke said. ¡°The point is that we¡¯re not here to move into ¨C¡± ¡°The Crimson Tower,¡± said one of the female centaurs. Zeke quickly used [Inspect], identifying her as Rama Tul. She stepped forward, saying, ¡°He is the one foretold.¡± ¡°Enough, Rama. We do not all believe in your prophecies.¡± ¡°Your belief is not required.¡± For a moment, Kraan looked like he was going to argue, but then he said, ¡°Very well. What do you suggest?¡± ¡°He must come with us.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not going anywhere with anyone,¡± Zeke said, holding [Triune Colossus] on the verge of activation. ¡°I only want to cross this plain in peace. Give me a few days, and I¡¯ll be out of your hair.¡± Kraan cocked his head to the side as if he didn¡¯t quite understand the colloquialism, then said, ¡°If you wish to cross, you will need our permission. To get our blessing, you must meet with the Mistress of the Herd. That is fact.¡± Zeke said, ¡°And what? You¡¯re going to stop me? I have thousands of kobolds at my beck and call. But even if I didn¡¯t, I think I can take your little herd of ponies by myself. Let me go in peace, and you won¡¯t have to find out what I¡¯m capable of.¡± Kraan bowed his head. ¡°We have no wish to fight.¡± ¡°Neither do I,¡± Zeke agreed. ¡°But I¡¯m not going to stand here and let you threaten me or my people. You want me to meet somebody? Fine. Then, they come to me.¡± He summoned his tower, and as it appeared, the centaurs backed away. To drive the point home, Zeke embraced [Triune Colossus], letting earthen mana flow through him. Even as the tower manifested, he transformed into a fifteen-foot-tall rock monster. Even his voice changed, deepening into an earthy rumble as he said, ¡°Understand?¡± At that moment, thousands of kobolds came flooding out. Each of them were armed with hide shields and spears. They raced to the sides, surrounding the suddenly panicked centaurs. The half-horse people could have run away at any moment, but they clearly wanted Zeke¡¯s acquiescence more than they feared for their lives. So, they remained even though they were obviously skittish. It shouldn¡¯t have worked. Zeke was only level fifty, while every single centaur there was higher-leveled than him. On top of that, the highest-leveled kobold ¨C one of the centurions ¨C was a hair away from level sixty. So, the centaurs shouldn¡¯t have been afraid. But they didn¡¯t. ¡°They can feel that you¡¯re stronger than you look,¡± Eveline provided. ¡°Levels aren¡¯t everything, Ezekiel. Even you know that much. These people obviously do, too, and when they see someone acting above their level, they start to doubt their inspection skills.¡± ¡°I guess that makes sense,¡± he said inwardly. Then, he stepped toward Kraan Trak and, aloud, said, ¡°We¡¯re going to be here for a few more days. If you want, you can bring this Mistress of the Herd here, then I¡¯ll meet with her and hear whatever you all have to say. But I¡¯m not going with you.¡± Kraan Trak clearly didn¡¯t like that. However, he also just as obviously didn¡¯t want to fight. So, he nodded his head and said, ¡°Very well. We shall return.¡± Then, he shouted something in another language, and as one, the centaurs turned and sped off across the plain. ¡°You know they¡¯re probably going to come with an army, right?¡± said Eta, who¡¯d stepped up beside Zeke. ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°And that doesn¡¯t worry you?¡± ¡°Not with the Tower here,¡± he said. ¡°Worst case scenario, we retreat inside and wait them out. We can live in there for years if necessary, now that we have a renewable food source.¡± That much was true, but Zeke didn¡¯t much like the idea of being trapped in one place. After all, his goals were still there, and he couldn¡¯t very well meet them if he was stuck inside the tower. It didn¡¯t matter, though. Even if they immediately set off across the Mukti Plains, there was no way they could outrun the native centaurs. So, he¡¯d made the only choice he could. He just hoped it wouldn¡¯t come back to bite him. 400. Laying the Foundation Zeke took a deep breath, centering his mind as he sought the tranquility necessary to really work on what he hoped would eventually become his newest skill. At level fifty, he¡¯d opened the slot, so he could finalize the create at any time he chose. However, the structure of underlying glyphs and symbols that would make up the overarching rune simply wasn¡¯t up to his standards. And there was no shortcut to viability, either. He¡¯d learned that when he¡¯d attempted to forcefully evolve the skill that would eventually become the corrupted version of [Armor of the Colossus]. Back then, he¡¯d made the terrible choice to try to adjust his skill in the middle of battle, and the result was a half-finished skill that probably should have killed him. It hadn¡¯t, but that skill had meant that he¡¯d had to spend the last few weeks in the Radiant Isles as a half-armored monster. He had no interest in revisiting that state of affairs, not least because the skill he had planned was far more complex, and as a result, there were hundreds more ways it could go wrong. So, he sat in his meditation room, his eyes closed and his legs crossed as he tried to fall into the proper mindset. And slow, despite all the stress he¡¯d recently endured, Zeke felt tranquility envelop his mind. That¡¯s when he settled in to really get to work. He had already spent quite a bit of time working on the skill, but those efforts all been confined to the foundations. As such, there really didn¡¯t look like there was much there. Just the bare bones of what he hoped would soon begin to take shape. Time went on, and gradually, Zeke found a rhythm. Each symbol was a complex thing, a creation of almost pure mana that was somehow given solidity by the force of his soul. His Will came into it ¨C at least the part associated with his old Runecrafting path ¨C but it was just as much a mental exercise in concentration and focus as it was anything mystical. Each glyph was like a single brick in a massive tower. Small and seemingly inconsequential, and the structure could bear the loss or misplacement of a single piece, but each mistake made the entire skill less stable. And if enough instability existed, then the entire thing would fall apart. But it wouldn¡¯t stop at mere dissolution. No, if the integrity of the skill failed, it wouldn¡¯t simply dissipate so he could start over. At best, the collapse would only wound his mind and soul, if not his body, and if that happened, he would require quite a lot of recovery time. However, if worse came to worst, those fallen pieces would take on a mind of their own and mutate into something he never intended. Was it possible that it would end up as something beneficial? Perhaps. But it was far more likely the resulting skill would cripple him. That his previous mistake hadn¡¯t was a minor miracle, though situation was likely assisted by the skill¡¯s foundations being created by the Framework. That wouldn¡¯t be the case in this instance, so Zeke knew he needed to get it right, lest he reap the consequences. So, he took great pains to maintain his focus, and one brick ¨C or glyph ¨C at a time, he built the structure of his new skill. As time went on, he shored up the foundation he¡¯d already built, tearing it down and rebuilding bits and pieces until very little of the original assembly remained. But even then, Zeke wasn¡¯t happy with it. ¡°It¡¯s never going to be perfect,¡± Eveline pointed out, driving a spike through his tranquility and bringing his momentum to a grinding halt. ¡°You realize that, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I can get closer than this.¡± ¡°Sure. But do I need to remind you that you have other demands on your time?¡± she asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been sitting here for almost four days without rest. Meanwhile, your responsibilities to your people ¨C and they are your people, make no mistake about that ¨C have yet to wane. Even now, I¡¯m certain there are a thousand things demanding your attention. And yet, you remain in here, rebuilding the foundation of your skill, over and over again, to minimal improvement.¡± ¡°Big improvements can be the results of a thousand little steps forward,¡± he argued. ¡°Indeed. But you need to know when to simply step back and call it finished,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Move on and live the life you¡¯ve created for yourself.¡± Zeke sighed, then opened his eyes. They protested ¨C after all, they¡¯d remained closed for nearly four days ¨C and the dim light of his meditation room drove little pinpricks into his brain. He blinked a couple of times as his body adjusted to the change. ¡°You¡¯re just trying to distract yourself, and you know it.¡± He ran his hand through his hair, letting out another deep breath. Was that true? He certainly didn¡¯t crave the responsibility of running an entire city¡¯s worth of people. Nor was he looking forward to whatever the centaurs were cooking up. The reality was that, for better or worse, Zeke just didn¡¯t see himself as a leader, largely because he was terrified of screwing it up. Since being reborn, he¡¯d made plenty of mistakes, but usually, he only had his own well-being to consider. And he¡¯d proven incredibly resilient to¡­well, just about everything. But those around him? If he went down the wrong road now, what would happen to all the people he¡¯d taken under his wing? There were thousands of kobolds and almost a hundred former slaves living in the tower. If he took the wrong steps, they might very well end up dead. And Zeke wasn¡¯t certain if he could stomach that. Killing enemies was easy. Being responsible for the deaths of allies was something else altogether. But those problems weren¡¯t going to be solved by a new skill, regardless of how perfectly constructed it was. So, even if he knew he could do better, there was a point where he just needed to step back and call those foundations finished. Then, he could move on to the rest of the structure and, finally, to tying everything together into a viable skill. ¡°Thanks,¡± Zeke said to Eveline. ¡°I probably would have kept at it for months if you hadn¡¯t said anything.¡± ¡°No problem. Now, I¡¯m no expert on any of this, and I don¡¯t even begin to understand what all those symbols mean, but I think it¡¯s still going to take a little while to finish everything up,¡± she said. ¡°So, go get something to eat, have a shower, take a nap, and then dive back in, okay?¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Zeke said, rising from the floor. As he did so, his tense muscles protested their ill-treatment, but he pushed through it with a pulse of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. That¡¯s when the fatigue started to set in. It wasn¡¯t urgent, but he felt it deeply enough to recognize just how much it had been affecting his performance. So, he resolved to follow Eveline¡¯s advice. Over the next hour, he ate a massive amount of food. Mostly, it was nearly tasteless dried meat and vegetables grown within the tower, but it was satisfying enough that, when he was finished, his gnawing hunger had been banished. After that, he headed to the Crimson Spring, where he soaked for a few hours. He had no injuries for the healing waters to mend, but the soothing water definitely unkinked his muscles and helped banish the bone-deep fatigue that had set in. Full and relaxed, Zeke followed his soak up with a long, restful sleep that didn¡¯t end until almost two days later. He rose a few times to once again banish his hunger, but after finally getting a taste of true rest, his body craved more. He gave in, wanting to be in as perfect of shape as he could manage for the final push with his new skill. So, when he finally settled down to do just that, he did so with a fresh set of eyes and a much more rested mind. The results were predictable, and over the next week, Zeke continued to build upon his previous efforts. As always, he likened it to construction. First came the foundation, which he¡¯d already laid. Then, the frame that would support the rest of the structure. And finally, the details. Each phase was vitally important, and he didn¡¯t let himself shortchange the process. And slowly, things started to come together, one layer at a time. His analogy wasn¡¯t entirely accurate, largely because the process of building a skill was esoteric and uninhibited by the rules of the physical world. So, rather than building in three dimensions, constructing a rune ¨C and by extension, a skill ¨C required a shift in his mindset into exponentially more dimensions. Zeke could readily acknowledge that he was no genius. In fact, if he was even mildly above average, regarding to his intelligence, he would have been surprised. However, when it came to runecrafting, he was, to put it mildly, extraordinarily gifted. So, as he slotted everything together, adjusting glyphs with every thought, he created a complex masterpiece of interlocking and multi-dimensional symbols. Even from a micro perspective, the structure was a masterwork, but when Zeke allowed himself to take in the larger picture, he was stunned that he''d managed to create something so beautiful. Each piece, every single rune and glyph, fit together so seamlessly that he found it difficult to believe that it was a product of his own efforts. While it was clearly inferior to those perfect representations of runecraft that were his Framework-granted skills, it was far closer to that than any previous attempt he¡¯d made. But even as Zeke looked at it, he saw the imperfections. Every tiny wasted glyph, ever redundant symbol ¨C they screamed at him to start over and rebuild everything from scratch. He ignored those impulses, knowing that if he started down that road, he¡¯d never be satisfied. So, when he finally brushed against satisfaction, he embraced that emotion and, after taking a long, deep breath, finalized the structure by fitting the very last glyph into place. Immediately, a notification flashed before his eyes, and a pair of new skill runes enveloped his ankles, but even with that confirmation, Zeke held his breath, waiting for it all to come crumbling down. It didn¡¯t. ¡°See? I told you it would be fine,¡± Eveline pointed out. She had remained silent throughout the process, which was a rarity for her. Usually, she barely went a few minutes without making one comment or another. So, he could feel the relief in her voiced thoughts. ¡°You were worried over nothing.¡± Zeke just shook his head and said, ¡°You have no idea how many ways that skill could have gone wrong.¡± Indeed, it wouldn¡¯t have simply been a fractured skill. Rather, it would have probably killed him, given how much mana he¡¯d invested in the process. But the fact that he was still alive and well wasn¡¯t the only measure of success. So, with that in mind, Zeke read the notification: Congratulations! You have constructed your third skill, [Shifting Sands]. ¡°[Shifting Sands]? That wasn¡¯t the name I would¡¯ve expected,¡± he admitted. Then, he moved on to the skill¡¯s description: [Shifting Sands] (D) ¨C You are a master of earth, fire, and corruption, commanding it and letting it infuse your entire body. Shift through the earth, erupting with explosive and Hellish force. Upgradeable. ¡°Oh, that sounds impressive,¡± Eveline said. ¡°And it¡¯s D-Grade. I¡¯ve rarely even heard stories who have managed to reach that level in the Ethereal Realm.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s rare?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°More than rare. Not unheard-of, but just shy of it. Good job.¡± Zeke accepted the praise with equanimity. It wasn¡¯t that he was unappreciative of her opinion, but rather that Zeke was going to withhold his own judgement until after he¡¯d had a chance to test things out. The skill itself looked like what he¡¯d intended; he just wanted something that would help him move more quickly. But it had clearly been affected by his attunements ¨C and his nature, perhaps ¨C to become more destructive than he¡¯d planned. Still, that wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing, and he hoped it would be precisely the increase to his mobility that he¡¯d hoped for. ¡°Well, no time like the present to test things out,¡± he reasoned. With that, he pushed himself back to his feet, pulsing [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to deal with the soreness he¡¯d incurred from days of immobility. Then, he took a few minutes to take a shower, dress, and eat something before heading to the teleportation portal. As much as he wanted to head straight outside to test the new skill, he forced himself to stop by the budding administrative hub in the center of the Residential District. It was a building not unlike all the others on that level of the tower, but it had somehow grown, adding a couple of new floors. ¡°The Crimson Tower is an ever-evolving construct of immense complexity,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It will adjust according to your need. Or more aptly, the needs of your people.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he entered the building and found Kianma, who¡¯d taken on something of a leadership role amongst the kobolds. She was already at the head of the spiritweavers, so organizing the rest of her people had clearly felt natural. As seemed to be the case more often than not, Silik was at her side, looming over everything like a sentry. In any case, Zeke quickly discovered that everything was going extremely well with the population. Food production had seen constant growth, and now that people could venture back into the outside world, it had only gotten better. On top of that, the hunting expeditions had resumed, and people were starting to gain levels. In short, everything was going exceedingly well, which made Zeke wonder when the other shoe was going to drop. Once Zeke had confirmed that everything wasn¡¯t going to fall apart without his presence, he left the tower and headed about a mile into the Mukti Plains. Once deemed he was far enough away, he took a deep breath, then embraced his new skill. The moment the new runes were suffused with mana, Zeke¡¯s awareness shifted, and his perception of time sped up as his form became immaterial. In that state, it only took a thought to let his body slip beneath the ground. Once there, another mental command sent him rocketing more than a hundred yards forward. When he reached the end of the skill¡¯s ability, he rematerialized and burst through the earth sending out a cascade of dirt. But the earthen wave wasn¡¯t alone. Instead, it was accompanied by a ring of Hellfire that spread for almost fifty feet. It took Zeke a moment to adjust his awareness, but when he did, he began to understand the nature of the skill. From the most basic perspective, it allowed him to move through the ground at blistering speeds only to burst forth with destructive force. However, what the skill¡¯s description hadn¡¯t conveyed was that, while Zeke was moving, his perception of time was sped up, meaning that, from everyone else¡¯s viewpoint, it wouldn¡¯t be that far off from true teleportation. Zeke looked around at the destruction he¡¯d wrought on the landscape. The gently swaying grass was gone, burned to a crisp by the wave of Hellfire. However, that wasn¡¯t the extent of the damage; the earth itself had been torn asunder, and the corrupted fire had melted it to slag. The result wasn¡¯t nearly as devastating as what accompanied [Hell Geyser], but it definitely wasn¡¯t negligible, either. ¡°Teleportation with a kick,¡± he muttered. ¡°I like it.¡± 401. Mistress of the Herd Over the next few days, Zeke spent an inordinate amount of time testing his skills. He¡¯d only had a few opportunities to familiarize himself with [Hell Geyser] back in the dungeon, and so, it wasn¡¯t as ingrained in his fighting style as it probably should have been. So, during those few days, he truly put it through its paces. At the same time, he set about learning to control [Shifting Sands] as well. The first was easy enough, and he found that using [Hell Geyser] came far more naturally to him than [Shifting Sands]. Perhaps it was down to his nature, which tended toward the destructive, but tearing the landscape apart with the former quickly became almost instinctual. But Zeke suspected that, while some of his difficulty was rooted in natural affinity, at good deal of his issues with [Shifting Sands] came down to the fact that it was much more complex. That, combined with the alien nature of what amounted to time dilation and shifting his state, meant that he needed a good deal of practice before he would feel completely comfortable with the skill. Still, he endeavored to put the necessary time in, and he found that the skill featured a couple of quirks. First, he could control the distance as well as direction, though it took a bit of mental effort for the latter. Varying distance, by contrast, was easy enough, though getting things just right was a source of quite a bit of frustration, and Zeke found himself often over- or undershooting his intended targets. The second thing he learned was that the skill was incredibly mana intensive. Activation carried only a small cost, but for every subjective second he maintained the ephemeral form that allowed him to sink into the earth, it cost exponentially more until it became untenable. In fact, that was the only real limit to how far the skill could take him. So far as Zeke could tell, he could keep going indefinitely, so long as he had enough mana. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t utilize outside sources. Not yet, at least. However, Eveline suggested that if he ever managed to evolve the skill, that might change. For his part, Zeke was satisfied with [Shifting Sands], though he was eager to explore different means of upgrade. But that was true of all his skills. Regardless, by the time those few days were up, Zeke felt that he was at least competent with his expanded capabilities. Time would tell if that assessment was realistic, though. In any case, only a few hours after he¡¯d returned to the tower, he realized that the world hadn¡¯t just stood around waiting for him to complete his training. Upon his return, he was greeted by a pair of kobold rangers and one of the spiritweavers subordinate to Kianma. Zeke couldn¡¯t remember her name, which, if he was honest, wasn¡¯t terribly surprising. He had a bit of face blindness when it came to the reptilian kobolds. He could recognize a few individuals, but for the most part, they all looked very similar to his eye. ¡°I think that makes you racist,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Or at least speces-ist. Is that a word? It feels like it should be a word.¡± Zeke groaned inwardly, but he didn¡¯t respond, aloud or in his head. If he did, it would just encourage her to keep going, and he wanted to focus on whatever reason the three kobolds had for meeting him in front of the tower¡¯s gate. The spiritweaver bowed and said, ¡°Ak-toh.¡± The two rangers echoed the motion, and Zeke wanted nothing more than to sink into the ground and reappear a hundred yards away. But he resisted the urge to use [Sinking Sands] as a means of escaping an awkward situation. Instead, he said, ¡°No need for that. Just tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°The centaurs have been spotted,¡± she said. Then, she gestured to one of the rangers, and she went on to explain ¨C haltingly, either due to nervousness or lacking verbal ability ¨C that a huge herd of centaurs were only about fifty miles away. ¡°How big of a group?¡± ¡°Many hundreds,¡± the ranger stated. ¡°Thousands,¡± supplied the spiritweaver, dipping her head. ¡°Perhaps tens of thousands, Ak-toh. We think that it might be their entire nation, or at least one of their most powerful herds.¡± Zeke ran his hand through his sweaty hair and glanced back toward the west. Somewhere out there were thousands of centaurs. He didn¡¯t know precisely how powerful such a herd might be, but he felt confident that they were not to be taken lightly. He asked, ¡°How long?¡± ¡°A day, at most,¡± the spiritweaver stated. ¡°Perhaps much less, if they intend to push through the night.¡± With a nod, Zeke said, ¡°Then we need to be ready to greet them. Thank you for informing me. Where can I find Kianma and Silik?¡± She replied, ¡°In the Pillar.¡± ¡°The Pillar?¡± She cocked her head to the side, then said, ¡°Ah. You were not informed. The central building in the tower¡¯s Residential District was renamed. We call it the Pillar.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Why would we not?¡± Zeke had no answer for that, so he just nodded and extricated himself from the conversation. To his dismay, though, the spiritweaver followed him as he entered the tower and headed toward the Residential District. Thankfully, the pair of rangers ¨C a male and female ¨C immediately set off back into the Mukti Plains, presumably to keep tables on the oncoming herd of centaurs. Upon reaching the Residential District, Zeke quickly saw why the Pillar had been so named. ¡°Appropriate,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Really does look like a pillar, now. Very evocative.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t disagree. Among the two-story buildings that comprised the bulk of the level, the tall Pillar looked particularly domineering as it loomed over the others at approximately five times the height of any other structure. In fact, at its peak, it was only a few feet below the ceiling. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. In any case, Zeke hurried to the Pillar, where he quickly found that Kianma and Silik, along with Jasper and Eta, were already engaged in a meeting concerning the centaur herd. Zeke wasted no time before telling them what he expected, then heading back to the manor where he intended to don his nicest outfit. Which wasn¡¯t saying much, really. Never was that more obvious than when he looked in one of the mirrors and saw a slightly disheveled, muscular man in worn clothing staring back at him. ¡°You really should take better care of yourself,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Maybe shave from time to time. Get a haircut¡­¡± ¡°Abby used to cut my hair,¡± he muttered. ¡°At least get a decent tailor. You have plenty of wealth, if you bother to actually sell some of your dragon¡¯s hoard,¡± she said. ¡°You don¡¯t just represent yourself anymore. You¡¯re the leader of an entire people, and you need to look the part.¡± ¡°You think I should just use the colossus form?¡± he asked. ¡°It looks the same no matter what I¡¯m wearing.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s probably for the best.¡± Zeke nodded, agreeing. Though he did resolve to do something about the decrepit state of his wardrobe. At no point had he paid much attention to his clothing ¨C discounting when he¡¯d worn armor. It had never seemed all that important, and so long as everything was clean, he was fine. But now? He realized that Eveline was completely right in her assertion that he needed to think about how his appearance reflected on the people who¡¯d chosen to follow him. For now, though, his colossus form would have to do. ¡°Use the unattuned version,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°It looks more regal. The earthen version is a bit too rough, and I think you should leave the demonic version for your immediate enemies.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t argue with that assessment. So, without further hesitation, he embraced [Triune Colossus], fueling it with his unattuned mana. He watched his reflection transform from a tall, athletic man who desperately needed to spend more time grooming himself into a towering behemoth of silvery metal. ¡°Has the form changed?¡± he asked. Indeed, he¡¯d not had much opportunity to really examine his colossal forms. ¡°I remember it being more¡­rugged before.¡± ¡°How should I know?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m using your senses.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke said. In any case, the colossal form was impressive. ¡°Kind of has a Silver Surfer vibe to it. Just a little more jagged.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t what that means, but I can already tell I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Well, back on my planet, we had these things called comic books, and ¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to know.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± Eveline closed herself off from further conversation. It was the mental equivalent of walking away, so Zeke got the hint. He could¡¯ve pushed through, but he didn¡¯t want to be rude. In any case, he was content to just admire what he was convinced was a slightly different version of the unattuned colossal form. His shoulders were jagged with dark crystals, but the bulk of his body was made of silvery metal. However, unlike the aforementioned superhero, it wasn¡¯t really sleek. Instead, his muscles were blocky, like a crudely formed statue. In any case, it was an intimidating look, and what¡¯s more, he could maintain it almost indefinitely. The same could be said for the earthen version, though only if he was in contact with the ground. As for the demonic form, he wasn¡¯t sure where the limits lay, except that he knew that if he kept it going for too long, the corrosion of demonic mana would eat him alive. No ¨C the unattuned version was better, for now. Once Zeke was satisfied with his appearance, he set off across the manor¡¯s grounds, then, headed through the teleportation portal to the Entry Hall. There, he ignored the statues dotting the wide plaza on his way through the gates. Upon reaching the plains, he took a moment to use [Colossal Legion], and was soon joined by his three golems. They¡¯d had plenty of time to regenerate, so they were pristine and shone in the failing light of dusk. Zeke looked around, seeing that, while he was cleaning up, the kobolds had engaged in a mass exodus from the tower. More than a thousand were already outside, and more were streaming out with every passing minute. It was an impressive sight, and one Zeke took a moment to appreciate before locating his companions. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t take long to find them, and once he did, he strode through the mass of loitering kobolds; they parted before him, many muttering, ¡°Ak-toh¡± as he passed. Aside from nodding every so often, Zeke ignored them. Zeke greeted the others, noting that Pudge and Sasha had shown up as well. For some reason, the former dire bear looked anxious and ill at ease. But Zeke didn¡¯t have time to ask about it before one of the rangers raced forward, telling everyone that the centaurs were almost upon them. ¡°So much for a day,¡± Zeke muttered. It seemed that the centaurs were capable of moving much more quickly than the rangers or that spiritweaver had anticipated. In any case, the kobolds continued to exit the tower until there were thousands arrayed to either side of the gate. In the meantime, Zeke, his golems, and all of the most powerful members of the budding community hosted within the tower took their place at the center. There, they waited patiently. Soon after, Zeke saw a plume of dust in the distance that eventually resolved into a blob of darkness on the horizon. Even as the sun set, the centaurs arrived to find the tower¡¯s ready and waiting. Lit by hundreds of torches and a dozen huge bonfires, and with Zeke and his gleaming bronze golems at the center, they must have made for an impressive sight. The centaurs pulled to a stop almost forty yards away. A few kicked their forehooves, giving Zeke the impression that they were on the verge of charging. The moment one of them twitched the wrong way, he intended to put [Hell Geyser] to good use. But to his surprise, after only a few moments, the masses parted, and a trio of huge centaurs ¨C they were at least a foot taller and much broader than the others ¨C trotted forward. The centermost wore an elaborate headdress that resembled an eagle, while the two to the side carried long lances that had feathers tied along their length. Zeke didn¡¯t need to use [Inspect] to know that he was looking at the Mistress of the Herd, though he still used the skill out of habit: Rasa Tamaki ¨C Level 70 ¡°Impressive,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I think you could take her, though. Maybe not her friends, though.¡± Indeed, the two other centaurs flanking her were even higher level, with one at level seventy-two, and the other having reached the lofty height of level seventy-four. He didn¡¯t get the chance to [Inspect] any of the others before Rasa Tamaki stopped only ten feet from him. ¡°Greetings, Lord of the Crimson Tower,¡± she said, her voice low but unmistakably feminine. ¡°I have come to propose an alliance between our people.¡± Zeke and the others had discussed the possibility of an alliance, so he¡¯d already prepared a response. ¡°What are your terms?¡± ¡°Mutual defense. You may remain here unmolested, provided that you and yours do not spread,¡± she said. ¡°We will shield you from harm, and in return, you will lend your strength to our war against our most hated foes.¡± ¡°And who are they?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°The giants. They descend from their mountains, raid our camps, then retreat where we cannot follow. Help us to right this wrong, and the Herd will forever be your ally.¡± Zeke nodded, but he wasn¡¯t about to agree without discussing things with his people. So, he said, ¡°Give us time to discuss this amongst ourselves. You may camp nearby, but the moment I sense any hostility, we will respond in force.¡± Rasa didn¡¯t like that ¨C after all, the Mukti Plains were considered her peoples¡¯ land ¨C but she didn¡¯t respond negatively. Instead, she merely inclined her head, then led her people away. Once they were gone, Zeke asked, ¡°So, what do we think?¡± 402. Proof of Alliance Zeke paced back and forth, periodically looking up at the sun. It was high in the sky, with only a few wispy clouds marring the blue expanse. But Zeke couldn¡¯t banish the feeling that there was a storm coming. ¡°Can you be any more dramatic?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°It¡¯s just a battle. You¡¯ve fought in hundreds of those.¡± He didn¡¯t favor her with a response. Instead, he cast his mind back to the decision to join the centaurs in a potential alliance. It made sense on just about every level. They were a powerful people, and they had the ability to making crossing the wide Mukti Plains a nightmare for Zeke and his people. More, if Zeke had refused the alliance, it would have thrown everyone into unnecessary battle; and while he was confident in his abilities, that didn¡¯t mean he wanted to engage in a war with the centaurs. Because even if he won, there would be casualties. Besides, the herd had been respectful, and they¡¯d come in peace. If there was a diplomatic solution, he would¡¯ve been stupid not to take it. Of course, that diplomatic solution depended on him helping the centaurs in their ongoing war against the hill giants. ¡°Oh, come on. You hate giants.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hate all giants. Just the ones I¡¯ve met.¡± ¡°You technically didn¡¯t meet these hill giants before you neatly categorized them as enemies,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Some people might even call that subtle racism.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not racist.¡± ¡°No ¨C I know that. But other people¡­¡± Zeke sighed, running his hand through his hair. He hadn¡¯t yet adopted his colossal form, largely because it would have been a waste of mana. He did keep it primed and ready to go, though. In any case, he gave Eveline¡¯s assertion some thought. He really didn¡¯t care for giants. That was a fact. But that dislike was rooted in real events. Everything he¡¯d ever heard about or seen from the race of enormous humanoids pegged them as aggressive, warlike, and xenophobic. They hated anyone who wasn¡¯t like them, and they exercised that dislike by waging constant wars against anyone they could reach. The only thing that kept giants from sweeping across the world was the fact that many of them were tied to their native locations. Frost giants struggled to survive any temperatures that far exceeded freezing, hill giants needed their mountains ¨C or more appropriately, the earth attuned mana that suffused such areas ¨C and fire giants, presumably, couldn¡¯t venture away from their volcanoes. Particularly powerful individuals had more freedom of movement, and history was filled with all the carnage those giants had wrought. No - they were bad news, and everyone in the world knew it. So, it wasn¡¯t a difficult decision to ally himself ¨C and by extension, his people ¨C with the centaurs in their war against the giants. Still, if Zeke had had his way, he would¡¯ve already moved on. However, circumstances had forced his hand. Now that he could summon a gate that would lead him to the tower, his own movement wasn¡¯t nearly as restricted. And he¡¯d already decided that, for now, the tower needed to remain stationary so that his people could venture out into the real world. After all, they still needed to hunt and grow stronger. The tower could provide for most of their needs, but the reality of the world was that if they never gained levels, eventually, they would be steamrolled by someone stronger. Besides, from what Zeke had seen of the centaurs, they were decent enough people. ¡°You¡¯ve barely scratched the surface of who they are,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°For all you know, they¡¯re eating babies the moment your back¡¯s turned.¡± ¡°They do not eat babies.¡± ¡°You never know. It¡¯s a weird world.¡± Zeke suppressed a sigh, then continued his pacing. Behind him was a small dell, with a shallow stream cutting through the center, but the rest was the same grassland he¡¯d seen throughout the rest of the Mukti Plains. However, in front of him was a thin sheet of mana that he could barely sense, even from only a few feet away. It was the product of a group of the kobold spiritweavers, who¡¯d empowered a ritual of concealment to keep him and the nearby gate hidden from observation. The plan was simple enough. The centaurs meant to entice the giants into a pitched battle, and then, once the enemy was fully committed to the fight, Zeke and his kobolds would emerge from concealment and fall upon the enemy from the rear. It was a basic strategy, but one that was only possible because of two factors. The first was the spiritweavers¡¯ ritual, the likes of which was not common knowledge. Sasha might¡¯ve been able to achieve the same results, but not without weeks of intense study. The same could be said for various enchanted defenses; those were expensive and required much more expertise than most possessed. The second factor at play was the nature of the tower and Zeke¡¯s gates. When he¡¯d first evolved the tower, he¡¯d been thinking too small, but since then, he¡¯d discovered that the gate system gave his army unparalleled mobility. While it was difficult ¨C or nigh impossible, from what he¡¯d been told ¨C to hide an army, concealing one man and a gate was infinitely easier. Which was the deciding influence when it came to their current strategy. Zeke waited impatiently for the signal. He usually considered himself a patient man, but that was only true insomuch as he could occupy his mind. But with battle looming over him, and with the timing needing to be perfect, he couldn¡¯t afford to sink into skill crafting practice. Nor could he meditate on the ambient mana. He simply had to wait. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Fortunately, the interlude came to an end when he finally saw a small flare of light arcing through the blue sky. So, with that done, Zeke turned to Silik, who¡¯d been standing silently beside him, and said, ¡°Get them moving.¡± The giant kobold responded with a simple nod, then raced through the gate and into the tower. Only a moment later, the kobold army came pouring out. So did Pudge and Jasper. Sasha, Eta, and Kianma had remained within the tower; they had their own parts to play, and hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t require them to enter combat. ¡°You should¡¯ve just let the sorceress deal with them all,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Give her a few days, and she could have ¨C¡± ¡°We went over this,¡± Zeke responded with a mental sigh. ¡°Her spells would have killed the centaurs, too.¡± It was true. Sasha was a potent weapon, and given enough time to prepare, she could turn the tide of nearly any battle. However, her truly offensive spells were so devastating that they were as much of a danger to allies as they were to enemies. Eventually, she would learn to control her power, but until then, she would be of no more use than a watered-down mage. As for Eta and Kianma, they¡¯d both volunteered to tend to any potential wounded by setting up a triage station in the Entry Hall where they intended to treat anyone they deemed incapable of reaching the Crimson Spring before dying. Hopefully, their efforts wouldn¡¯t be needed, but Zeke had chosen to play things a bit more safely than was probably necessary. He didn¡¯t want to lose a single kobold if he could help it. ¡°That¡¯s not realistic.¡± ¡°I know.¡± It didn¡¯t matter, though. For better or worse, Zeke cared immensely about the safety of his adopted people. Partly, because he¡¯d made a promise to the giant wyrm, Mikaena. But also because they had put so much faith in him. He wanted to be worthy of the title of Ak-toh, which meant ¡°Savior.¡± In any case, those thoughts only had a few moments to flit through his mind before the bulk of the army had exited the tower¡¯s gate. Once they¡¯d finished, he turned to his army ¨C more than a thousand of the strongest kobolds ¨C and said, ¡°It¡¯s time. You all know what to do.¡± After that, he turned, used [Triune Colossus] fueled by earthen mana, and strode forward. The army followed. ¡°Great speech. Very motivating.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Zeke said to Eveline. He¡¯d considered trying to elaborate and give some riling speech that would whip the kobolds into a frenzy, but in the end, he¡¯d decided against it for two very poignant reasons. First, he just wasn¡¯t built for that kind of thing, and the mere thought of giving a speech was enough to twist his stomach into knots of anxiety. And second, he didn¡¯t think it would do much good. The kobolds were already wholly committed to doing whatever he told them to do, following him with a nearly religious fervor. So, it didn¡¯t feel as if it would make much difference, which was all the excuse Zeke needed to decide against trying to play the role of a great motivator. ¡°Coward,¡± Eveline said with a giggle. Zeke didn¡¯t respond, instead focusing the whole of his attention on the task at hand. He crested the small slope, then saw the battle raging in the distance. The two sides clashed with predictable fury ¨C they were ancient enemies, after all ¨C but that wasn¡¯t the first thing he noticed. Instead, his attention briefly settled on the terrain, which was studded with aged ruins. Mostly, those ruins were represented by a few low and crumbling walls, but the closer they got to the lines of battle, the more intact the structures were. And just behind the centaurs was a large amphitheater that looked like it could¡¯ve once held at least ten thousand people. To the centaurs, it was a place of reverence. Sometime in their ancient past, they¡¯d been allied to a race of enlightened beastkin who¡¯d built grand cities throughout the plains. However, after the hill giants claimed the nearby mountains, they¡¯d started to raid those cities. Sometimes, they took prisoners, but mostly, they just destroyed anything they could find. Eventually, after experiencing one defeat after another at the hands of the hill giants, the beastkin were either killed or fled to other lands, leaving the centaurs alone. To combat the giants¡¯ raids, the centaurs had developed into a nomadic society. Constantly on the move, they presented few targets for the warlike giants. And so, they had survived. The grand cities of the beastkin had not, though the centaurs had continued to revere their allies¡¯ former homes. Zeke had been told that such ruins were borderline to the centaurs, and they refused to allow the giants to desecrate them. So, even though it probably would have been much better for the centaurs to fight the giants on more open ground, Zeke could understand why they¡¯d chosen the field of battle. Besides, they were holding their own. The giants, just like the Jotuns back in the Radiant Isles, were nearly fifteen feet tall, with all the apparent strength their immense size would imply. More, like those Jotuns, they very much typified their attunement. So, while those frost giants had presented as clearly ice themed, the hill giants were bulky, with weathered, rock-like skin and hair beards that looked more like cascading moss than anything else. Each one wielded a primitive looking weapon, though the arms were varied. Zeke saw axes, clubs, spears, and swords, as well as quite a few shields and other, less identifiable weapons. By comparison, the centaurs had armed themselves with lances as well as wicked-looking sabers, with some of the smaller members of the race wielding bows and arrows. There were few skills in evidence, but that was as expected. Only the most powerful members of either race used abilities with outward expressions. Instead, they were usually confined to less obvious body enhancements and more subtle skills. It didn¡¯t matter, though. Both sides were incredibly dangerous, which meant that Zeke and his people needed to be wary. All of that flashed through his mind as he raced across the plain, his earthen feet leaving huge divots with every stride. He could have simply crashed through the ruins, but instead, he leaped over them ¨C a bit of an annoyance, given that any time he was out of contact with the earth, the drain on his mana became a bit stronger. But he didn¡¯t want to anger his new allies by destroying their sacred ruins. Behind Zeke, the rest of the army came. The kobolds were all armed with spears and hide shields, but the former slaves¡¯ equipment was more varied. There were a few who¡¯d managed to cobble together whole suits of metal armor, but most of them were equipped with hardened leather. The weapons, which had been provided by the Arsenal ¨C the dwarf who¡¯d been enslaved because he¡¯d resisted the corruption wafting through the portal beneath Min Ferilik ¨C so they were all of better than average quality. As for Zeke himself, the only armor he needed was his earthen form, which was far and away more durable than anything else he could ever hope to equip. In addition, he carried his trusty hammer, Voromir, as he raced toward the battle. The back line of the giants reacted, but when they finally wheeled around to meet the new threat, it was far too late. Leading the charge, Zeke crashed into a particularly large giant with a shoulder charge, then followed that up with a massive, overhand attack that shattered the creature¡¯s thick skull. And then, the battle was joined as the rest of the army of kobolds, each one wreathed in the light of their self-enhancement skills, slammed into the giants, leading the way with their shields and spears. Behind them, hundreds of lances of pure, devastating light arced out, tearing through the startled and scrambling giants. But the hill giants were durable creatures, and they wouldn¡¯t succumb so easily. That was fine with Zeke. He was already geared up for battle, and it would¡¯ve almost felt like a disappointment for it to end so quickly. With that in mind, he resumed his efforts, swinging his hammer with the stoic fury of a mountain. 403. Making a Statement Zeke crashed into the first giant, tearing into it with a herculean swing of his hammer. It hit the stunned creature in the hip, and the impact filled the air with the sound of cracking bones. The giant let out a bellowing roar of anguish as it tried to lash out, but Zeke ducked under the blow, then destroyed the creature¡¯s jaw ¨C and most of its head ¨C with a vicious uppercut with his hammer. Even as the enemy fell, Zeke raced forward and found a new foe only a moment later. After that, the battle devolved into a cascade of sameness. When one enemy fell, another soon took its place. For his part, Zeke waded ever forward, swinging his hammer with enduring fury. He took plenty of hits of his own, but cloaked in the earth-fueled version of [Triune Colossus], any damage he might¡¯ve taken was blunted. In addition, it only took a quick pulse of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to heal the resulting wounds. Meanwhile, his army progressed by his side, steadily washing over the giants. If it would have been a fair fight, perhaps the hill giants could have resisted. Perhaps they could have even won. But they were being hit from two sides, and by opponents powerful enough to put them down. So, the result was fairly predictable. Still, the battle was yet to be won, and Zeke knew how dangerous a cornered opponent could be. So, he maintained his focus as he steadily carved a path through the resisting hill giants. At one point, Zeke would have had trouble matching up against the huge creatures. They were at least fifteen feet tall, and with the girth to match. However, in his colossal form, Zeke could very nearly match them in size. And in strength, he was their superior. At least until he reached a cluster of hill giants that gave off an aura of power unlike any of the others. Clearly, he¡¯d found the leaders. One was three or four feet taller than all the rest, and in addition to his moss-like hair, his shoulders were festooned with roots and other vegetation. When he moved, a cascade of dirt and rock fell from his back, almost like he was a walking earth slide. The other four giants flanking him ¨C two to a side ¨C were only a little larger than the foot soldiers Zeke had already encountered. Without hesitation, Zeke embraced [Hell Geyser], then stomped on the ground. The earth sundered as a crack tore across the battlefield, exploding in an eruption of earth, fire and corruption that enveloped all five giants. But Zeke knew it wouldn¡¯t be enough, so the moment the skill dissipated, he used his newest skill. Even as the leader broke through the waning column of corrupted flames, bellowing in rage all the way, Zeke used [Shifting Sands]. The moment it took hold, his perception of time slowed to a crawl, and he sank through the earth before rocketing forward. He bypassed the lead hill giant, but only by a few feet. Twisting as he rose from the ground, he forcefully deactivated the skill. Suddenly, time caught up to him, but Zeke¡¯s studious practice paid off as he leaped into the air. At the apex of his leap, Zeke used [Weight of Two Worlds], increasing the gravity in his general vicinity. Then, he increased his own weight via his racial gift. And finally, he used [Center of Gravity] on the hill giant leader¡¯s legs. The creature stumbled, tipping forward as his feet were yanked out from under him. By that point, Zeke was already falling. And with so much weight behind him, he quickly reached terminal velocity. His hammer fell with lethal finality, crushing the hill giant¡¯s head. It exploded like a melon, sending blood, brains, and bits of skull flying through the air. At the same time, the secondary, smaller effect of [Shifting Sands] enveloped the other four giants in a wave of fire and earth that, with them still under the effect of [Weight of Two Worlds], sent them sprawling to their knees. It was at that moment that Pudge descended upon them, his [Netherclaw] lashing out to eviscerate one while he aimed a ball of [Hellfire] at another. It splashed across its body, melting flesh and bone alike. On the other side, Silik barreled into the other flank, his body wreathed in blindingly white light as he brought his spear to bear. So close, he didn¡¯t bother using skills; instead, the massive kobold ripped into the creature with vicious certainty. And over it all, the insistent beat of Jasper¡¯s [Rhythm of War] enveloped everyone, bestowing upon them its temporary augmentation. A moment later, the rest of the kobolds and freed slaves swept over the survivors, and without their champions to bear the brunt of the attack, the giants¡¯ lines soon buckled. After that, the slaughter commenced. On one side, the centaurs continued their own attacks with the ferocity of ancestral enemies. And on the other, Zeke and his kobolds tore through the back lines with feral fury. The end was inevitable, but still, the giants fought with enviable persistence. None surrendered. And no quarter was given. For his part, Zeke slipped into the same mindset he¡¯d developed when fighting hordes of zombies and demons. He pushed his conscious thoughts to the back of his mind, favoring his well-earned battle instincts. And like that, the battle wound down until, at last, every last giant had been slain. Zeke let the head of his hammer fall to the blood-soaked ground and looked around. Every battlefield inevitably ended up looking like a charnel house of horrible things. However, with giants as enemies, Zeke felt like he was surrounded by mountains of mutilated corpses. His shoulders sagged at the cost. The hill giants were enemies. They had established that much with their actions. Still, Zeke regretted that their slaughter had been necessary. Even more than that, he was dreading the war to come. Because he knew, after seeing how the hill giants had fought to their very last breath, that they wouldn¡¯t stop after a single lost battle. If anything, it would only serve to encourage more atrocity. ¡°Maybe Trucker was right all those years ago,¡± he muttered. Regarding the Jotuns back in the Radiant Isles, the alchemist had deemed extermination the only viable course. He¡¯d done so by rendering them completely infertile, ensuring the extinction of their race. When Zeke had learned of it, he¡¯d been horrified that Tucker had gone so far. But since then, he¡¯d learned that giants were fundamentally incapable of living in peace. They raided. They killed. And they enslaved. It was part of who they were. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°What?¡± asked Pudge, who looked just as exhausted as Zeke felt. His fur was matted with blood, and he¡¯d taken more than a few superficial wounds. He had access to a diluted version of Zeke¡¯s [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but it was weak enough that it was really only useful as a fatigue deterrent. Over time, it could hasten recovery by a fair amount, but it certainly wasn¡¯t comparable to Zeke¡¯s own skill-empowered regeneration. ¡°Nothing,¡± he said. ¡°Just wishing this wasn¡¯t necessary.¡± Pudge cocked his head to the side, then said, ¡°They¡¯re enemies. It was always going to be like this.¡± That much was certainly true, and Zeke couldn¡¯t really argue with his companion. At that moment, Jasper shoved his way past a fallen giant. The dark elf bore no wounds, but his hair was slick with sweat, and his shoulders sagged with inevitable fatigue. ¡°Everyone okay?¡± Zeke asked, rolling his shoulders. Already, [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] had banished his own exhaustion, and it had begun to heal the few deeper wounds he¡¯d sustained. None were serious, but they still hurt. ¡°Define everyone.¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± Jasper sighed, sheathing his rapier. ¡°None of the core group was injured,¡± he said. ¡°But we lost almost a hundred kobolds. A few of the former slaves, too. Even more were hurt. Most of them are already back in the tower healing in the Crimson Springs.¡± A hundred kobolds. It didn¡¯t seem like many ¨C not considering the odds ¨C but to Zeke, the cost was still too high. Inevitable. But too high nonetheless. Over the next couple of hours, Zeke used his looting power on the giants. He didn¡¯t think they had anything particularly valuable, but he¡¯d once been tasked with obtaining giants¡¯ toes for a quest, so he couldn¡¯t afford to forego looting. It was a distasteful activity, and one he wished wasn¡¯t necessary, but he accepted its necessity regardless. And soon enough, he¡¯d made his way across the battlefield, where he found the centaurs celebrating their victory. Their camp was rudimentary, with huge, hidebound tents with supports made of the bones of some unidentifiable animal. The centaurs, meanwhile, were busy drinking and dancing ¨C a curious thing, given their equine nature ¨C around an enormous bonfire. It took Zeke a few moments to recognize that fire for what it was, but when he did, he let out a small gasp. ¡°It¡¯s a funeral pyre,¡± he muttered, having let [Triune Colossus] dissipate. He turned to Jasper, who was walking to his right, and asked, ¡°How many of them died?¡± ¡°More than we lost,¡± he said. ¡°Many, many more.¡± Zeke sighed again, then gestured to his companions. Only Pudge and Jasper had accompanied him as he looted the giants¡¯ corpses; meanwhile, Silik had returned to the tower to organize the other kobolds. ¡°Come on,¡± he said. ¡°I need to meet with Rasa.¡± After that, the trio navigated the celebrating centaurs and quickly found their way to the largest tent. It was a massive affair with a peaked roof and multiple guards stationed at the entrance. The guards hesitated for only a few moments before letting Zeke and the other through, but it seemed that his exploits in battle had been noticed. None of the centaurs wanted to anger him. And that was fine by him. He hadn¡¯t set out to engender fear, but he would accept it if it made life easier. In any case, Zeke stepped through the tent¡¯s gaping entrance ¨C it was sized for the massive centaurs, after all ¨C and strode into the tent. There, he saw the Mistress of the Herd surrounded by a half-dozen other centaurs. Zeke approached, and the conversation cut off the moment he drew near. However, he did catch a few snippets about survivors. ¡°Good,¡± said Rasa Tamaki, the Mistress of the Herd. She dipped her head, continuing, ¡°You and your people have acquitted yourselves well. Our alliance will continue to bear fruit, I am sure.¡± Zeke returned her nod with one of his own, then asked, ¡°Were there any escapees?¡± ¡°A few,¡± she acknowledged. ¡°They fled toward the mountains where we cannot follow.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Our hooves are ill-suited to the terrain,¡± she answered. ¡°We can traverse the mountains well enough, but we cannot fight a battle in the mountains. For that reason alone, the threat of the giants has persisted for more than a century. We fight, and even if we win, they can always retreat where we cannot go.¡± Zeke nodded. It made sense. Horses weren¡¯t exactly known as mountain-going creatures, and even if the centaurs were better-suited to that sort of terrain than their forms suggested, it would still be difficult for them to fight in such conditions. And in battle against foes like giants, even the smallest disadvantage could quickly snowball into a rout. It was probably the reason they were so desperate to form an alliance with Zeke and his people. They weren¡¯t natives to the mountains, but due to their physiology, they could traverse the terrain with some degree of ease. The same couldn¡¯t be said for the centaurs, and as a result, the value of the alliance was quite skewed in Zeke¡¯s favor. They needed him far more than he needed them. But it wasn¡¯t the time to push that. Instead, he asked, ¡°What if we could make things easier?¡± Below the prominent ridge of her brow, the centaur narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°How?¡± ¡°Do you know anything about kobolds?¡± he asked. She admitted that she didn¡¯t, then asked what he meant. ¡°They are diggers. They can go through solid rock as easily as I can dig a hole in soft ground,¡± he explained. ¡°And I have thousands at my disposal. So, here¡¯s what I think we should do.¡± With that, he explained the plan that had been germinating in the back of his mind since the very beginning. It wouldn¡¯t be easy, and it would require quite a bit of forethought, but if he pulled it off, there was a chance that he and his people could seriously undermine the threat posed by the hill giants. At worst, they could show the raiders that their safe haven wasn¡¯t nearly as protected as they¡¯d once thought. Rasa and the other kobolds listened intently, then agreed to offer whatever support they could. However, Zeke knew that, if his plan was going to work, it was going to be up to him and, more importantly, the kobolds to see it through to the end. Once everything was set up, Zeke left the tent, and then, the celebrating centaurs behind. After traversing the corpse-strewn battleground, Zeke returned to the gate that would lead him to the tower. Upon passing through and into the Entry Hall, he met with Kianma, who informed him that they¡¯d only lost a few wounded. The triage camp had worked according to plan, but the crimson springs could only accommodate so many. As a result, a handful of seriously wounded kobolds had died before their injuries could be healed. It was expected. And by all rights, Zeke should have been thrilled that their casualties had been so few. However, he still lamented every loss. ¡°You can¡¯t save them all,¡± Eveline pointed out, her first real conversational contribution in quite some time. She¡¯d remained silent during battle, and it was only recently that she¡¯d given voice to her own thoughts. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°You just have to accept it, though,¡± she pointed out. He sighed, but he didn¡¯t respond. The kobolds were his responsibility, and every death weighed heavily on his shoulders. But before the war was over, more would fall. He just hoped it was worth it. 404. Mobility Wins Wars Zeke dropped the head of his hammer to the ground and let out a sigh as he looked out over the latest battlefield. The fight hadn¡¯t been more than a skirmish, but when the opponents were hill giants in their natural habitat, even that was potentially deadly. Fortunately, Pudge had sensed them far before they¡¯d reached the site of the ambush, which meant that Zeke and the kobolds were ready when the trap was finally sprung. ¡°Lucky,¡± he said, glancing at his companion. He and Pudge hadn¡¯t spent nearly as much time together, of late, and though he knew it was the result of unavoidable responsibilities ¨C on both sides ¨C he still regretted it. So, as frustrating as progressing into the mountains had been, it had at least given him some quality time to spend with the former dire bear. ¡°What is that new skill you got, anyway?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called [Bestial Senses],¡± Pudge replied in his gravelly voice. Sometimes, Zeke was still surprised at his ability to speak. He still wasn¡¯t the most articulate or verbose person, but he¡¯d made huge strides in that arena. ¡°It passively enhances my senses.¡± ¡°Useful. What other options did you have?¡± Zeke asked. Pudge had recently reached level forty-five, which had come with the choice of a new skill. ¡°I usually get at least three.¡± ¡°One was called [Hell Infusion]. Like the kobold body enhancement, but with Hellfire. The other was called [Shadow Evisceration]. Stealth attack. I thought better senses would help more.¡± ¡°Smart. It definitely saved us here,¡± Zeke said as he grip Pudge¡¯s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. The former dire bear was enormous, so Zeke, who¡¯d let [Triune Colossus] lapse the moment the battle ended, had to reach up. ¡°What made you pick that one, though?¡± Pudge shrugged and answered, ¡°When I came¡­here, my senses were dulled. I gained so much, but¡­the lack was disorienting. Besides, I¡¯m a scout. And scouts need to know what¡¯s out there.¡± It made perfect sense. So, even if Zeke probably would have gone in another direction, he could at least understand Pudge¡¯s reasoning. However, the brief exchange had highlighted the fact that Pudge had gone through quite a lot of changes since his ascension. Not only had he taken on a human form, but he¡¯d also gained sapience. As a result, he wasn¡¯t just forced to adapt to a new body, but an entirely new mind as well. Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t had to do so alone. Idly, Zeke wondered what would have happened to Pudge if he hadn¡¯t found Sasha or the other beastkin. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that he very well could have died quickly and without anyone to mark his passing. Or worse yet, he may have fully embraced his bestial side and descended into monsterhood. If such a thing was even possible. Zeke suspected it was. After all, it had happened with people back on Earth who¡¯d lived their lives in isolation. There was nothing to suggest that the same wouldn¡¯t occur, even in such a magical realm. Suddenly, Zeke realized that he¡¯d done Pudge a disservice. Due to his selfish desire for power, he¡¯d left Pudge all alone in a new and confusing world. That the former dire bear had survived ¨C and even thrived ¨C was a minor miracle. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°For what?¡± asked Pudge. Zeke sighed. ¡°For everything. I mean, I didn¡¯t think about how my decisions would affect you when we ascended. I should have, and I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t,¡± he said. ¡°I mean, at the time, I convinced myself that you would be fine. You¡¯re as well-equipped for survival as anyone else I know. But¡­¡± Pudge cocked his head to the side, then said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. It worked out.¡± Zeke shook his head, then rubbed the back of his neck before saying, ¡°No thanks to me. Still, I¡¯m sorry, for whatever it¡¯s worth.¡± After Pudge once again insisted that everything was fine, the awkward moment passed, largely because Pudge made an excuse about needing to scout the area. When he disappeared into the surrounding forest, Eveline said, ¡°That was painful to watch.¡± ¡°Shut up. It needed to be said.¡± Thankfully, Eveline didn¡¯t press the issue, which allowed Zeke to scan the area. Already, the kobolds had gotten to work. A few had begun dragging the slain giants¡¯ bodies away, while others had gone back to their primary task: carving a series of roads through the mountains. For any other race, it was a project that would have taken years. But the kobolds were perfectly suited for digging through rock, and that, combined with their tireless work ethic, meant that they made significant progress with every passing minute. Still, the mountains were expansive, and making them fit for centaur traversal was a massive undertaking, so even though they¡¯d been at it for more than a month, they¡¯d only barely made a dent in the endeavor. Even so, they¡¯d reached the staging point for the next attack, which was gratifying in that it was verifiable progress. He watched as the kobolds used their natural gifts ¨C incredibly sharp claws and a subtle ability to manipulate earth man that he wouldn¡¯t have even noticed if it weren¡¯t for his own attunement ¨C to gradually flatten a wide area. He pitched in where he could, hauling away huge chunks of rock, but because that made the kobolds uncomfortable, he only did so when absolutely necessary. Either way, over the course of the next couple of days, he and the army of kobolds managed to create a staging ground from which the centaurs could advance their cause. It would have been so much easier if Zeke could have just loaded them all into his tower, but they¡¯d so far refused such offers. Which was probably for the best, considering that, while they were allies, he still wasn¡¯t entirely comfortable trusting them with his secrets. So, once the centaurs had advanced along the network of roads Zeke and his kobold army had carved through the mountains and settled into their temporary campsite, the project continued. The next month was more of the same. It would have been easy enough if they¡¯d been content with carving a path straight to the giants¡¯ main stronghold ¨C which was called Berghem ¨C but there were two major problems with that strategy. First, the mountains were pockmarked with various hill giant settlements. Some were large enough to be considered cities, but others were little more than outposts. But given the giants¡¯ natural power, even the noncombatants ¨C if any hill giant could be considered such ¨C were dangerous enough that they couldn¡¯t be ignored. So, if they were ever going to stand a chance of winning the war, they needed to take care of those settlements. And that meant easing the burden of travel for the centaurs, which in turn necessitated a huge webwork of roads. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The second issue with simply going straight to Berghem was a little less simple. The centaurs were unused to fighting in the mountains. They could do it, but their physiology simply wasn¡¯t suited for the task. That was why the roads were necessary in the first place. Steadily clearing those giants¡¯ settlements offered a perfect opportunity to acclimate themselves to the unfamiliar terrain as well as, hopefully, gain a few levels along the way. Even if they only raised the average level of the army by a level or two, it could represent a huge overall increase to the force they could bring to bear, given the sheer numbers at play. So, as a training tool, sweeping through the mountains and eradicating the giants¡¯ settlements was extremely valuable. Though looking at it through such a lens definitely left Zeke with conflicted feelings. There was nothing to do about it, though. The realities of war dictated that he couldn¡¯t concern himself with collateral damage, much less the deaths of his enemies. Doing so would only ensure that he and his allies lost, resulting in many more deaths. Or that¡¯s what he kept telling himself in an effort to stay the course. In any case, Zeke and his people played their part. He didn¡¯t participate in all of the battles, largely because his contribution simply wasn¡¯t necessary. The kobolds and centaurs were more than capable of dealing with the hill giants via the sheer weight of numbers. However, he was forced to act on a few occasions, and when he did, the results were assured. With [Triune Colossus], he was more than a physical match for any but the strongest hill giants, and his skills ¨C both new and old ¨C were incredibly effective. The moment he stepped on the field of battle, the giants¡¯ fate was sealed. In fact, due to a few that managed to escape and spread the word, his reputation among the hill giants had steadily grown until, when they caught sight of his colossal form, they had begun to sound the retreat. It was frustrating, seeing his enemies escape into the unsettled mountains where he and his allies couldn¡¯t hope to keep up, but there was something gratifying about being a source of such terror among the giants. ¡°You¡¯ve come a long way from worrying about whether you were becoming a monster,¡± Eveline said as he stared at yet another ruined hill fort. It had been home to a few hundred giants, many of which had perished due to a targeted use of [Hell Geyser]. None but the strongest among them could survive the skill¡¯s effects, and there were none of those in such a remote outpost. So, it had been a massacre even before the kobold and centaur armies had swept in. ¡°What¡¯s the point? In war, we¡¯re all monsters, right?¡± ¡°So edgy.¡± He sighed, but he didn¡¯t respond. Eveline went on, ¡°Seriously, Ezekiel. War is war. It happens, and it¡¯s ugly. But right now, you¡¯re saving more lives than you¡¯re taking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s blatantly untrue. But it¡¯s fine. Their lives are worth less than my people¡¯s.¡± That was the fundamental truth of any war, and it was the only way to justify such slaughter. The reality was that the giants needed to be dealt with, and for such a vicious enemy, the only viable way to do that was to exterminate them. ¡°Whatever the case, I¡¯m fine with it. Killing is part of life, especially in this realm,¡± Zeke said. ¡°If I worried about my enemies¡¯ lives, I¡¯d end up going insane. Or just giving up.¡± ¡°I know.¡± With that, Zeke turned his attention to the cleanup efforts and began planning for the next stage of their advance through the mountains. It ended up taking another two months of constant work and consistent battle before they finally reached their ultimate destination. ¡°So, that¡¯s Berghem, huh?¡± Jasper, who was standing beside him, said, ¡°It is. Impressive.¡± Indeed, it was. The hill giants¡¯ stronghold was a massive fortress built into a mountain peak. As was the case back in Hvitgard back in the Radiant Isles, Berghem all straight edges and geometric designs, and it reminded Zeke of a combination between traditional Viking architecture and brutalist themes reminiscent of Soviet era structures. The result was an incredibly imposing fortification protected by a massive wall whose height reached at least a hundred yards and was probably just as deep. Atop that wall were hundreds of hill giants, many of whom were armed with giant crossbows that were probably better categorized as ballistae. Zeke and his people were more than a mile away, but he suspected that they were only barely out of range of those weapons¡¯ deadly projectiles. He looked around at the budding camp. The centaurs had already arrived, and they were in the process of raising their tents. The kobolds, by comparison, were passing in and out of the gate Zeke had summoned. That they¡¯d grown so accustomed to the tower and its amenities was a source of great pride for him. He took his role as their benefactor very seriously, and the fact that, even in the middle of a war, they had everything they needed was extremely gratifying. Zeke busied himself with some on-the-move meditation ¨C he was already thinking of how he intended to build his next skill, even though it was a long way off ¨C until a centaur he didn¡¯t recognize approached him and said, ¡°The Mistress of the Herd requests your presence, Ak-Toh.¡± That title was certainly getting old, but the centaurs, who¡¯d been spending a lot more time with the kobolds who¡¯d coined the term in the first place, had already adopted it. ¡°You love it, and you know it,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Accept it as something I can¡¯t change and loving it are two very different things,¡± he responded in his own mind. Meanwhile, he crossed the camp ¨C which had been built upon a flat surface carved out of the mountain via the tremendous efforts of the kobolds ¨C and to Rasa Tamaki¡¯s command tent. He passed the pair of guards, then ducked inside, where he saw a few familiar faces. A couple were the centaurs¡¯ generals, but Silik, Jasper, Kianma, and Pudge were already there as well. Of Zeke¡¯s inner circle, only Sasha and Eta were missing, but that wasn¡¯t too surprising. Eta had taken a step back from a combat role in order to focus on her new job of running the farms within the tower, and Sasha typically had little to contribute to any strategy meetings. So, she usually sat them out, preferring to turn her attention to her efforts in spellcraft. Her power was impressive, and it could turn the tide of most battles. However, she lacked control, and often enough, her spells would prove just as dangerous to her allies as they were to enemies. So, she remained a secret weapon to be unleashed at the most opportune time. As for the others, they¡¯d all contributed to the war efforts in their own ways. Silik had cemented himself as the kobolds¡¯ military commander, and Kianma had set her spiritweavers up as the force¡¯s primary healers, but the real star had been Jasper, whose songs had proven valuable in a thousand different ways. It was no exaggeration to say that without him, the invasion would have taken months longer and the losses incurred would have been far more numerous. Zeke approached the circle of advisors and leaders and said, ¡°So, what are we looking at?¡± At this, Pudge, who had taken charge of the army¡¯s scouts, described the defenses. None of it was surprising. The wall was a nearly insurmountable obstacle, and it had been enchanted to withstand more force than they could hope to bring to the battle. More, the defenders with their crossbows were the least of the active defenses. There were other siege engines as well as a cadre of hill giant mages that were supposedly adept at manipulating earth. ¡°What about the gate?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°More durable than the wall itself. The enchantments are powerful.¡± Zeke rubbed his chin. ¡°And if that gate falls?¡± he asked. Rasa spoke up, ¡°Then the whole thing unravels. If that happens, the walls will be nothing more than mundane barriers, easily torn down.¡± ¡°Alright, then. Here¡¯s what I¡¯m thinking¡­¡± Mistrunner 2 Out on Kindle and Audible! I just wanted to make a special post to let everyone know that Mistrunner 2 is now available on Kindle and Audible (narrated by Soneela Nankani). I really love this story, and I think it represents some of my best writing (especially books 2 and 3). So, if you''ve enjoyed reading this far and want to support my work, please head on over to Amazon and give it a shot (link to follow). I feel like the quality deserves success, and I hope you all do too! For those who don''t remember the chapters covered in that book, here''s the synopsis:
Nearly a century ago, the people of Earth surrendered their freedom to the aliens responsible for the cloud of nanites, known as the Mist, that transformed the planet¡¯s ecosystem: Landscapes became toxic. Animals morphed into monsters. Humans found themselves imbued with supernatural abilities and wielding technological wonders that changed the world¡¯s balance of power. Now, while ruthless entrepreneurs take advantage of their fellow man in order to accrue incalculable amounts of wealth, the aliens prepare to descend like a plague and drain Earth of its natural resources once and for all. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Mira Braddock¡¯s uncle was once the most powerful man in Nova City, and before his death, he empowered his niece with a Tier 7 Nexus Implant. Cybernetically enhanced and trained as a warrior, Mira is not only peerless on the battlefield but also possesses the ability to control the Mist that¡¯s pervaded every machine¡ªand person¡ªshe encounters. Setting her vengeful sights on Nora Lancaster, the woman who betrayed her uncle and took over his empire, Mira wages a war against the city¡¯s competing overlords, tearing apart their fragile alliances and turning them against one another. But with every victory Mira claims, innocents get caught in the crossfire. Struggling to regain her sense of compassion and empathy for others, Mira won¡¯t find peace until she¡¯s fulfilled her rage-fueled quest against Nora, an enemy whose endgame promises mass destruction on an unimaginable scale . . .
Anyway, the links are down below: 405. The Fall of Giants Zeke stood over the contraption, studying it with a skeptical eye. ¡°Do we really think this thing¡¯s going to work?¡± he asked. Baros, one of the former slaves who¡¯d been supervising construction, looked back with a grin and answered, ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not¡­that doesn¡¯t exactly fill me with confidence,¡± Zeke said. Baros was one of the few dwarves among the former slaves, and to Zeke¡¯s eye, he looked little different from most of the other uncorrupted dwarves he¡¯d ever met. With a long, blonde beard that he wore tucked into his belt and a shiny, bald head, he was easy to pick out of a crowd, though. But more important than his appearance was his profession. Before he¡¯d been abducted by the dwarves of Min Ferilik, he¡¯d worked as an engineer, and before that, he¡¯d spent quite some time in his home nation¡¯s army building siege engines. Zeke hadn¡¯t gotten the full story of how he¡¯d ended up in the mines, which wasn¡¯t terribly surprising. Most of the ones who¡¯d chosen to stay in the tower wanted nothing more than to move on from their old lives, and for a wide variety of reasons. That forward-facing philosophy was one Zeke could get behind, if only because it meant that they were fully committed to the tower residents¡¯ success. However, Zeke was far more interested in the contraption the man had been building. Constructed of wood harvested from recently felled trees, the device¡¯s shape was immediately recognizable as a catapult, though one larger than what Zeke might have expected. In fact, it was sized perfectly to hurl a human body. ¡°I¡¯m kiddin¡¯, lad,¡± said Baros. ¡°It¡¯ll work, don¡¯t ye doubt it for a second.¡± Zeke recognized a few minor enchantments on the siege engine. One was on the base of the machine, and it was clearly intended to enhance the catapult¡¯s durability. Sensible. But the one on the spring mechanism that would provide power were slightly more complicated. If Zeke was reading them right ¨C no guarantee, considering that he had little experience or aptitude for that facet of runecrafting ¨C those runes were intended to increase the torsion to incredible levels. That meant that, when the catapult was activated, it would hurl its payload with astonishing force. And considering that Zeke himself was the intended ammunition, that was a little troubling. But as anxious as he might be, it was probably the only viable plan that wouldn¡¯t result in hundreds, if not thousands of dead allies. And Zeke couldn¡¯t stomach that. So, if it meant that he had to put himself in danger ¨C or into an unproven contraption designed to hurly him across a battlefield at ridiculous speeds ¨C then he would gladly make that trade. Still, he couldn¡¯t claim that he wasn¡¯t at least a little nervous. So, he watched as Baros and a few of his helpers put the finishing touches on the catapult. None of them were particularly talented enchanters, but the runecrafting was solid enough to elevate the thing to an entirely different level. Still, Baros kept muttering about what he could do with proper materials. Zeke couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the idea of magically enhanced engines of war. Eventually, Baros announced, ¡°She¡¯s ¡®bout as ready as I can get her. She¡¯ll do the job, make no mistake ¡®bout that. But she definitely ain¡¯t gonna be pretty about it.¡± Zeke nodded and said, ¡°So long as it gets me where I need to go, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± With that, he left the dwarf to his contraption and headed back to the command tent where he informed the Mistress of the Herd and her advisors of the intended schedule. If they didn¡¯t do their part, Zeke would be hung out to dry with an entire army of hill giants howling for his blood. So, he wanted to ensure they understood the timeline. After Rasa assured him that she and her people would do their part, Zeke left them behind and headed through the gate and into the tower, where he met with Silik and the other kobold centurions. Each one loomed over Zeke by at least a few feet, though their demeanor was fully acquiescent. In any case, they took their orders and quickly moved off to ready the kobold army. Over the next couple of hours, the entire camp was awash with chaotic movement as centaurs, kobolds, and former slaves all busied themselves with preparations for the coming assault. For his part, Zeke settled in near the catapult and meditated; he was in charge, but the various pieces of the army were more than capable of functioning without his input. So, he left them to their tasks. Eventually, though, the time came, and at a touch on his shoulder, Zeke pushed himself back to his feet and surveyed the assembled force. Thousands of centaurs. Nearly ten thousand kobolds. A hundred or so former slaves. It was a daunting force, but he couldn¡¯t help but wonder how they would fare in the impending battle. The giants were strong, and the only reason Zeke and his army had made as much progress as they had was via subterfuge and surprise. Neither would be on their side with what was coming. People would die. He knew it, and so did the members of the army. But they were willing to chance it because they believed in the cause. ¡°They believe in you. They don¡¯t care about anything else,¡± Eveline pointed out. And for better or worse, Zeke couldn¡¯t disagree. He watched as ten kobold legionnaires stepped forward, grabbed the catapult by the handles Baros had built into the machine, then advanced. As they maneuvered it into position, two things happened. First, the giants on the walls fired down on them, though their projectiles fell just short. Second, the rest of the army followed the catapult, positioning themselves appropriately on either side of the catapult. Once everyone was in position, Zeke climbed atop the thing, then raised his voice. ¡°Everyone here knows what to do. We all know what¡¯s at stake. Do your job, protect one another, and we¡¯ll win. Above all, keep pushing. Keep putting one step in front of the other. One more charge. One more swing. One more skill. String enough of those together, and we¡¯ll be victorious.¡± With that, he climbed into the catapult¡¯s bucket ¨C which was really just a shallow bowl about three feet wide ¨C and clutched his knees to his chest. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Good speech,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°I was being sarcastic.¡± ¡°I know.¡± She let out an annoyed huff at Zeke¡¯s lack of reaction, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he nodded to Baros, who wore a wide grin that, to Zeke, seemed altogether disturbing. He didn¡¯t have much time to regret his choices before the blonde-bearded dwarf raised one thick arm, then let it fall. That¡¯s when one of his assistants pulled the release lever, and the machine did precisely what it was intended to do. The arm shot forward, flinging Zeke through the air with more speed than he could have expected. But he wasn¡¯t paying attention to that. Instead, he was busy activating the unattuned form of [Triune Colossus]. Even as his body transformed into the metallic, statue-like version of his colossal form, Zeke reduced his weight via his racial gift. He sailed through the air, moving so quickly that the giants on the wall failed to hit him with most of their ballistae-like crossbow bolts. But most was not all, and a few clipped him on the way, slowing him significantly enough that he knew he wouldn¡¯t make it all the way to the wall. That wasn¡¯t unexpected, though. He¡¯d always known that the catapult would only get him most of the way there. For the rest of the distance, he was on his own. He hit the rocky ground, the impact digging a shallow trench in the terrain before, a dozen or so feet later, he rolled to a stop. But Zeke wasn¡¯t going to stop there. Instead, he quickly sprang to his feet, bounded to the left to avoid an incoming projectile, then raced forward as fast as his colossal legs could carry him. Every step thundered into the rocky terrain, and before long, the giants had managed to adjust their aim. Hundreds of spear-sized projectiles tore through the air, and as they bore down on him, Zeke cradled his head in his arms. One speared through his shoulder. The next hit him in the leg, causing him to stumble. Another clipped his side. But still, he kept going. The plan required it. Finally, he drew within range and, at last, activated [Shifting Sands]. Instantly, his body became incorporeal, and he sank into the earth. At the same time, the crossbow bolts that had been embedded in his body lost their purchase and fell away. As Zeke propelled his insubstantial form forward through the ground, he looked up to see that the sky full of projectiles looked as if it had been frozen in time. Mostly. They still moved, inch by inch, but it was so slow that they looked almost stationary. Zeke tore his attention away from the curiosity ¨C after all, he¡¯d grown used to the skill¡¯s strange effect on perceived time ¨C and flung himself across the distance separating him from the massive gate. When he reached the thing ¨C it was huge, even by the standards of hill giants ¨C he erupted from the ground and, even as the earth was sundered by his reappearance, he swung his hammer with every ounce of force he could muster. Voromir¡¯s head thundered into the ironbound gate, but the attack didn¡¯t even leave a scuff mark on the wooden beams that had been used in its construction. Runes, only visible to Zeke because of his path of Arcane Destruction, flared to life, flickering with power. That was expected, though. At that moment, he summoned three different types of mana ¨C destructive corruption, stable earth, and personal ¨C weaving them around one another and holding them in place with his Will. Instantly, the disparate forces tried to escape his control, but he clamped down with the entirety of his willpower, forcing the Runebreaker technique into being. The second it coalesced, he wrapped it around his hammer and swung again. The runes shattered. An explosion of mana and force sent Zeke rocketing backwards, and he tumbled, flipping across the terrain for almost a hundred feet. But when he regained his footing, he looked up to see that the once mighty gate had been sundered. A huge crack ran diagonally across the banded surface, then spread out in the shape of the runes that had once protected it. But more importantly, the gate was now vulnerable. So, Zeke once again charged forward ¨C enduring the sudden barrage of crossbow bolts that had begun to fall upon him ¨C and shoulder-charged the gate. He hit it with the force of a battering ram, knocking the thing from its hinges. It fell with an enormous clatter, exposing the stronghold¡¯s courtyard. Hundreds of giants ¨C maybe thousands ¨C had been stationed just on the other side of the gate, so Zeke found himself staring at an army that could ¨C and would ¨C bury him under the metaphorical weight of numbers as well as the physical mass of their enormous bodies. He was strong and durable, but so were the giants. And Zeke knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he couldn¡¯t survive a fight against so many. Not alone. So, it was a good thing that his army was already on their way. Zeke had been intended as the siegebreaker. A human ¨C or cambion, rather ¨C battering ram meant to break the stronghold¡¯s defenses. He had accomplished that feat, but now, he was exposed. And that wasn¡¯t going to change until his army managed to close the distance with the walls. So, without any other options, Zeke embraced [Hell Geyser] and, with a might stomp, sent a line of sundered earth tearing across the ground. It reached the gathered army of hill giants, then erupted in a pillar of hellfire, molten lava, and piercing earth. Those at the epicenter were instantly killed, and even those at the edge of the forty-foot diameter were thrown aside. Zeke used it as a distraction. But he didn¡¯t retreat. No ¨C he launched himself into the fray, swinging his hammer with ruthless ferocity. Each attack broke bones. Every swing added to the confusion and panic enveloping the hill giant army. Zeke embraced it with all the fervor of a berserker, letting his battle instincts take over until, at last, the first line of charging centaurs joined the battle. They swept into the hill giants, impaling their ancestral enemies on long lances. Behind them came the kobolds, each one wreathed in blinding light and wielding their short spears with vicious efficiency. Somewhere in the background, Zeke heard the insistent beat of Jasper¡¯s skills, and he was infused with energy. At the same time, Pudge made his presence known with copious use of [Hellfire]. He was like a mobile turret, bathing the enemy in destructive, red-and-black flames. But Zeke couldn¡¯t keep track of all of his allies. Instead, he could only catch glimpses, here and there as he turned the bulk of his attention on the battle at hand. Thus, the battle descended into familiar chaos as centaurs, kobolds, and giants waged war against one another. And in the center, Zeke stood like an enduring anchor. Eventually, he embraced the earthen version of [Triune Colossus]. As durable as the unattuned version was, it was still incapable of standing up to the barrage he was forced to endure. But with the earth-fueled version, he was more than capable of taking whatever punishment the giants could dish out. However, even with all the endurance in the world, damage was inevitable. And he¡¯d leaned on his ability to self-heal since the very beginning, when he¡¯d taken [Leech Strike] and used it to keep himself alive in the troll caves where he¡¯d been reborn. So, he made copious use of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. On and on the battle went, and Zeke lost track of how many giants he put down. At some point, he gained a level. Then another. And another after that. But still, he fought. Vaguely, he was aware that many of his allies fell as well, and yet, even though casualties were expected, Zeke lamented each and every death. The desperate monotony of the battle wore on until, at last, something changed. Zeke barely saw the descent of the huge axe in time to dodge to the side. Still, it clipped his shoulder, sending him spinning in place before he managed to regain his balance. That was when he saw a giant looming over him. In his earthen colossal form, Zeke was close to fourteen feet tall. But even so, the giant bearing down on him was at least a head taller, and he somehow managed to be even bulkier with rippling muscles. Even though Zeke was literally made of rock and earth, the hill giant seemed the sturdier of the two. Clearly, Zeke found himself at odds with the giants¡¯ champion. And with a roar, he met the huge creature¡¯s charge with one of his own. 406. The Champion The hill giant slammed his foot into Zeke¡¯s chest, sending him skidding backwards until he collided with another giant. The impact made the large creature stumble, but he recovered quickly enough to connect with a backhanded slap that rattled Zeke¡¯s teeth in his mouth. However, he didn¡¯t let it throw him off course, and he quickly whipped around, leading the way with his hammer. It hit the hill giant¡¯s hip with a sickening crunch, eliciting a roar of mingled anger and agony, but Zeke didn¡¯t stop there. The giants were enduring foes, and a broken hip was nowhere near enough to knock one out of the fight; he¡¯d learned that much ¨C and more ¨C in previous battles with the hardy people. So, he turned his spin into a shoulder charge, knocking the already unbalanced giant over. When it hit the ground, Zeke hefted his weapon, and with massive, overhand swing, sent the head of Voromir on a collision course with the giants¡¯ screaming face. It with all the force Zeke could bring to bear, and the monster¡¯s overly durable skull cracked, then shattered completely. It exploded in a shower of brain, bone, and blood, adding a layer of viscera to the already thick coat of gore he¡¯d earned through out the battle. Zeke didn¡¯t have time to bask in his victory, though, because the hill giant champion hadn¡¯t remained idle. The massive specimen of gianthood shouldered past a pair of smaller giants, knocking one aside as he bore down on Zeke. For his part, Zeke didn¡¯t back down ¨C as if that was ever an option ¨C and he ripped his hammer free of what was left of his latest victim¡¯s destroyed head. It came loose with a wet squelch, sending a splatter of gore spraying the nearby combatants. The champion roared. Zeke echoed his call with one of his own as he charged forward to meet the monster. The two clashed with predictable fury, the impact sending a shockwave of pure force tearing across the battleground in a twenty yard radius. Giants were knocked off-balance, but the kobolds, who had grown accustomed to such things, dug their claws firmly into the ground. Even such a small advantage was impactful, and when the giants recovered their balance, they did so having lost a good many of their number to the kobolds¡¯ opportunistic attacks. But Zeke barely noticed that. Instead, the entirety of his attention was on the hill giant champion. The creature took his shoulder charge, giving only the slightest amount of ground. Meanwhile, Zeke felt as if he¡¯d cracked his shoulder. He pulsed [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], taking care of the injury as he brought his hammer around in a massive swing. The giant met the hammer with his massive shield, then lashed out with an overhand chop from a one-handed battleaxe that would¡¯ve required two hands for a human to wield. Zeke let go of his hammer with one hand, which he used to knock the blow aside, but he couldn¡¯t do anything to counter the sudden shield bash that sent him staggering backward. Despite its brutish appearance, the giant was clearly a skilled combatant. Zeke would have to display similar ability if he intended to win the battle without resorting to his Worldbreaker technique. If he had to go down that route, there was every possibility that he¡¯d scour the entire battlefield of life, including his allies ¨C not to mention that it would put him out of commission for some indeterminate time, especially after already taxing his body via the use of Runebreaker. No - he wouldn¡¯t do that unless he had no other choice, which simply was not the case. Zeke stepped forward, ducking under the giants¡¯ probing attack. Instead of using the wide, brutal swings he normally employed, he chose a more compact and controlled style as he knocked the giants¡¯ shield aside, then stomped down on the creature¡¯s foot. It barely reacted to the painful attack, and Zeke was forced to dodge to the side with an ungainly leap just so he could avoid giant¡¯s follow-up axe strike. But that was as he¡¯d expected, and he managed to connect with a backhanded blow aimed at his opponent¡¯s knee. It hit with significant force, and the impact caved the joint inward. However, the giant was largely unaffected, and it counterattacked with a backhanded shield slam that clipped Zeke¡¯s shoulder and sent him spinning away. Zeke used that momentum to flow into another attack, this one aimed at the giant¡¯s hip, but the creature shifted to the side at the last second, blunting the blow to nothing more than an annoyance. Back and forth Zeke and the champion went, attacking, countering, and then attacking again. Zeke landed a few solid blows, but so did the giant, and soon enough, it became clear that they had reached a standstill. Neither could gain an advantage, but both refused to give any ground. At the same time, the battle continued to rage, with the kobolds and centaurs having pushed the giants into a fighting retreat. If Zeke hadn¡¯t been so occupied, he would have lent his might to the effort; after all, if the giants were allowed to fall back into the keep, rooting them out would prove incredibly difficult. However, he had all he could handle just keeping the hill giant champion occupied, so he had no choice but to trust in his allies to do their part. Still, it was painful, knowing that more of his people would die, and for no other reason than because he couldn¡¯t finish the champion off. As time wore on, Zeke caught glimpses of his friends. Pudge was a terror, ripping through giants like a hellfire-infused dervish, and aside from Zeke and the champion, he was clearly the most devastating combatant on the field. But there were a few others who managed to challenge for that title, and Pudge found himself pushed to his limits on more than one occasion. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t alone, and the former dire bear was more than capable of working with his own allies to great effect. That was the only reason Zeke was able to focus his full attention on his own battle. If Pudge hadn¡¯t been so skilled, he might¡¯ve gotten distracted. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. As it was, though, Zeke continued to fight, using all of his well-earned technical skill to fight the hill giant champion to a standstill. And after another hour of constant back and forth, the courtyard cleared, giving Zeke the opportunity to bring his skills to bear without worrying about harming his allies. So, even as the kobolds and centaurs flooded the massive keep, Zeke enacted the plan he¡¯d envisioned from the very beginning. For a while, Zeke had allowed himself to fall into a pattern. A series of attacks that the giant had begun to anticipate. Suddenly, Zeke moved left when he normally would¡¯ve moved right, and then, he embraced the miniscule amounts of corruption in the ambient mana, fueling the demonic versions of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] as well as [Triune Colossus]. Even as his body transformed, growing sleeker and more aggressive, he was flooded with excess strength that he translated into an explosive shoulder charge that took the surprised giant directly in the chest. He rocked backward, stumbling a few steps as he cowered behind his shield. But Zeke didn¡¯t follow up with another attack. Instead, he allowed his body to revert back to the unattuned colossal form, then embraced [Shifting Sands]. Suddenly, the world slowed down, and he sank into the ground. As soon as his body was subsumed by the earth, he rocketed forward, passing beneath the champion and keeping going until he was almost fifty yards away. When he¡¯d gone far enough, Zeke erupted from the ground in a shower of fire and earth, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he whipped around and used [Center of Gravity]. The moment the skill took effect, the giants¡¯ stumble became a fall as he tumbled across the battlefield directly at Zeke. To the champion¡¯s credit, he eventually gathered his wits and righted himself, but he didn¡¯t do so before Zeke hit him with a massive, baseball-style swing that harnessed the power of [Unleash Momentum]. The hammer hit the giant directly in the face, shattering teeth and bone before sending him rocketing backward at a speed reminiscent of a runaway train. Of course, Zeke was incapable of fully containing the power of the skill, and the force of the impact tore the battlefield to shreds, kicking up a shockwave that cracked the walls even dozens of yards away. Even as the giant¡¯s course was reversed, Zeke once again embraced [Shifting Sands]. Doing so wasn¡¯t ideal, but he could handle the drain. Just as it had before, time seemed to halt as Zeke sank into the ground, then rocketed forward, bypassing the airborne giant along the way. When he was almost a hundred yards past the champion, he exploded from the ground and faced off against the monstrous humanoid. The giant was moving almost too fast to see, but Zeke still managed to hit it with another swing of his hammer. This time, though, he couldn¡¯t reverse the giant¡¯s course. Instead, the impact only sent it cartwheeling past Zeke until, at last, it hit the wall. That¡¯s when Zeke used [Hell Geyser]. Stomping on the ground, he sent a line of destruction ripping across the already-destroyed courtyard , and when it reached the fallen giant, it erupted into a forty-foot-wide pillar of fire and destruction that enveloped the champion. Still, though ¨C even after all of that, the thing wasn¡¯t dead. Zeke strode forward, his shoulders set with purpose. The giant clawed itself out of the crater Zeke¡¯s skill had dug into the ground, and when he finally pushed himself upright, the damage was more than clear. The giants were sturdy, durable creatures. No one could ever dispute that claim. But Zeke¡¯s skills had torn into the champion in a way nothing else could have. His skin was blackened, and thick blood oozed out of a hundred wounds. His left arm hung limp, with bones jutting out at all the wrong angles. And his right arm was little better, with the shoulder having been dislocated. As for its face? It was a ruin of misshapen blackened flesh and broken bones. And yet, the creature still advanced. Zeke could respect that much, at least. Even if he was going to kill the bastard. And he had no notions of neutrality on the giant¡¯s part, either. He¡¯d already established that they were ruthless raiders who thought nothing of killing those they deemed lesser races. Even discounting the inherently adversarial nature of battle ¨C and the natural hatred that tended to come with fighting someone in a life-or-death struggle ¨C the giants¡¯ history was enough to establish that this champion had plenty of innocent blood on his hands. Or perhaps that was just an excuse. Whatever the case, the giant needed to die. So, Zeke strode forward, rolling his shoulders on approach. The giant tried to ready himself, but one of his legs didn¡¯t seem to work. Suddenly, Zeke felt the earth rumble beneath him as the giant tried to activate some sort of skill. Without thinking, Zeke stomped down on the ground, harnessing his own earth attunement to somehow prevent the skill¡¯s activation. For a moment, a brief struggle ensued, with Zeke fighting to take hold of the ambient earth mana. He met mild success, but the skill still activated, spearing him with stalactites of pure rock that erupted from the ground. They didn¡¯t do much damage, though. He¡¯d robbed them of at least some of their fuel. ¡°Impressive. I didn¡¯t think you had that in you yet,¡± Eveline remarked, her first real contribution to the battle. Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he ripped himself free of the spears of rock, and continued his slow march toward the stunned giant. When he came within range, the champion lunged forward, aiming a slow-moving punch at Zeke¡¯s head. He ducked beneath it, then brought his hammer to bear in a vicious uppercut that connected with the giant¡¯s already ruined jaw. The force knocked the champion into the air and sent him soaring back into the crater, where he landed in an unceremonious heap. But he didn¡¯t die. In fact, even as Zeke looked down on him from the edge of the crater, the giant struggled to rise. He was unsteady. Probably unaware of his surroundings, too. But still, he sought to fight on. Zeke suspected that, left to his own devices, the giant would probably succumb to his wounds. Even if he was equipped with a self-healing skill ¨C which Zeke had discovered was fairly rare, at least according to Eveline and Eta ¨C the damage was so severe that it would take months to recover. And yet, even with victory assured, Zeke found it difficult to feel the exultation of triumph. He¡¯d never learned the champion¡¯s name. He hadn¡¯t even inspected him. But he respected the giant. So, without further hesitation, Zeke leaped into the air, increased his weight, then fell upon the unsteady champion with a massive hammer blow that shook the very earth. Even that didn¡¯t finish the deed, so Zeke continued to pound his hammer into the giant¡¯s face until, at last, he felt the surge of kill energy that signaled the champion¡¯s demise. He let the hammer fall to the sundered earth and let out an exhausted sigh. It hadn¡¯t been his most trying battle, and he¡¯d only sustained minor injuries ¨C most of which came from his use of Runebreaker at the beginning of the fight ¨C but it had been tiring in a way he couldn¡¯t really articulate. Zeke glanced down at the slain giant, then nudged the corpse with his toe, activating his looting ability. Then, once he¡¯d taken everything the champion had, he climbed out of the crater and jogged across the courtyard toward the keep. After all, his fight might have reached its inevitable conclusion, but another awaited. And another after that. Because the battle was far from won. Yet. 407. The Fall of Berghem Pudge leaped forward, his claws wreathed in [Hellfire] as he lashed out, ripping a huge chunk of earthy flesh from the giant¡¯s torso. The damage didn¡¯t end there, though ¨C not before the corrosive flames claimed their due, at least. The fire took hold, consuming the giant¡¯s muscular torso in a sudden burst of combustion. Pudge hit his enemy with a follow-up attack, swiping a hastily summoned [Netherclaw] across its legs before ripping through its face with an uppercutting claw that ended its life. By then, Pudge had already turned his attention to the next target, but when he looked around, he saw that he was entirely surrounded by the giants. He still wasn¡¯t sure how he¡¯d been separated from his allies; in battle, he often gave himself over to his path of Ferocity, which served to increase his deadliness at the expense of reason. Normally, he could keep it under control, but the longer a fight went on, the more difficult it was to keep the bestial instincts at bay. And it seemed that his lack of thought had finally come to claim its cost, because he was stranded amidst a sea of giants, each of whom was howling for his blood. They advanced, almost as one, hefting their massive weapons as they prepared to fall upon him with all the weight their huge forms and inflated stats could bring to bear. But Pudge was not without tools of his own, and his recent influx of levels had given him a few new skills. First was [Bestial Senses], which he¡¯d taken as much so he could regain the sensory acuity he¡¯d lost upon ascension. Taking on a humanoid form was extremely useful, and not just because it had bestowed upon him a level of sapience that would¡¯ve otherwise been impossible. However, it hadn¡¯t come without a price, and [Bestial Senses] served to allay some of that cost by passively elevating his senses far beyond what he¡¯d enjoyed as a dire bear. The next skill he¡¯d gained was decidedly less utilitarian in nature. In fact, it was quite the opposite, and was probably the most devastating skill he¡¯d ever been offered. However, it was one that required the proper circumstances to truly be effective; moreover, it was also incredibly destructive, so he¡¯d yet to deploy it in an actual battle. Instead, his experience with the new ability was confined to a few hours he¡¯d spent practicing in the wilderness. Still, Pudge felt that he had a good handle on how it was supposed to be used. So, he confidently held his ground as the giants advanced. The first to reach him aimed a massive warclub in his direction. Pudge ducked beneath the weapon¡¯s horizontal arc, then dove to the side in an effort to avoid a descending axe. Another blade ¨C which belonged to a sword that was at least six feet long ¨C came at him in a diagonal swing that he barely managed to dodge. Then, another tried to spear him through the guts. Pudge kept moving, narrowly avoiding being skewered, cleaved, or pummeled. But still, he waited, letting the giants close until they were packed in tight ranks that extended a few dozen feet all around him. Fortunately, Pudge¡¯s kobold and centaur allies were nowhere to be seen, though judging by the distant sounds of clashing weapons, they were only a room or two away. Hopefully, the walls were thick enough to keep them from being affected. Pudge continued to dodge the giants¡¯ attacks, though as they crowded closer, his margin for error slimmed to barely a sliver until he couldn¡¯t avoid every blow. Instead, it took the whole of his skill ¨C hard won through months of training as well as a host of life-and-death situations ¨C to mitigate the damage. Still, he waited. Until, finally, Pudge could wait no longer. He used [Shadowfire Evisceration]. Instantly, his entire body exploded into a conflagration of hellfire and shadows, sending a shockwave of the same to sweep through the giants. The weaker ones howled in agony, but most giants were too durable to fall to the first part of the attack. That was as Pudge expected, though, and he tensed as the second phase of the skill took hold. Wreathed in shadowy fire, he tensed as the giants looked like they froze in place. That lasted only a moment before they started moving again, though when they did, it was as if they were trying to do so while submerged. That was the second part of the skill. It didn¡¯t slow time. Instead, so long as he remained wreathed in shadowflame ¨C which was a mixture of hellfire and shadows ¨C his agility and dexterity experienced an exponential increase. It would only last for a few seconds, but to his perception, it felt more like a minute. Then, the third part of the skill activated, and he felt himself become more insubstantial. To an outsider, it would look as if he simply disappeared, but the reality was that he became something more akin to a shadow. Or a sliver of darkness, barely perceptible. Finally, the fourth part of the skill took hold, and Pudge felt his claws grow longer, sharper, and far more destructive. The result wasn¡¯t as dramatically deadly as [Netherclaw], but under that transformation¡¯s influence, he was more than capable of ripping through all but the stoutest defenses. The moment his transformation completed, Pudge launched himself forward, swiping his claws through the closest giant. They bit deep into the creature¡¯s stomach, slicing through flesh and bone alike, before Pudge moved on to the next. Even as he did, an explosion of shadowflame arced out, enveloping the other giants. Pudge pitched his own speed against the wave of shadowflame. He knew that was his timer; the transformation he¡¯d experienced ¨C both in terms of his increased agility and dexterity as well as the cloak of shadows keeping him hidden ¨C would only last until the flames petered out. So, he needed to do as much damage as possible before that happened. So, he leveraged every point of agility and dexterity he could muster as he tore through the giants. Rending flesh and bone, Pudge ripped through their ranks, leaving destruction in his wake. From his perspective, it was an odd feeling; despite the obvious power he¡¯d brought to bear, the giants didn¡¯t fall. Instead, they remained upright, though with every passing subjective second, they shifted a little from the momentum of his attacks. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. And then, suddenly, the ring of shadowflame reached its terminus and petered out. Despite his practice, Pudge stumbled as his stats returned to normal levels and he slipped from the shadows. But that slight stumble was nothing compared to the explosion that occurred all around him. Giants were thrown backwards. Some remained intact, though with grievous wounds. Others were burst into pieces. Few remained unharmed. As soon as Pudge regained his balance, he ripped into those with a combination of [Netherclaw], his own natural weapons, and [Hellfire]. They didn¡¯t last much longer, and when the dust settled only thirty objective seconds after he¡¯d activated [Shadowfire Evisceration], he found himself standing over a couple dozen corpses. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, and he looked around to see that no enemies remained alive within the confines of the room. Outside, though, he could hear that the battle continued to rage. So, rolling his shoulders, he stepped over the giants he¡¯d just killed, and headed deeper into the keep where he hoped to find more enemies to eviscerate. * * * Jasper had seen it, but he still wasn¡¯t sure exactly what Pudge had done. One second, he was surrounded by more than a dozen giants, and the next, a wave of black flames swept across the room. Then, something had ripped the creatures apart, one after another. It was surprising enough that he almost lost his beat, but the habit had long since become ingrained to the point that, even when he wasn¡¯t using a skill like [Rhythm of War], he often found himself drumming his fingers against whatever surface he could find. Usually, it was his belt. Or his hip. At times, he even kept the beat by clicking his tongue. Whatever the case, the fact that Pudge¡¯s skill ¨C whatever it was ¨C had nearly made the dark elf bard lose the beat was a testament to his shock. He quickly recovered, though, and he was on the verge of lending a hand when Pudge finished the remaining giants off with his distinctive fighting style. Which was to say that he was like a feral animal given humanoid shape. Not for the first time, Jasper was grateful that the beastkin was on his side. But that could apply to basically any of his allies. Over the course of the battle ¨C and the various skirmishes leading up to it ¨C he¡¯d seen just how much the kobolds had grown. Even the smaller ones were deadly with their bows, and their skills in stealth were as well-developed as any scouts¡¯ he¡¯d ever seen. The legionnaires and centurions were just as talented in their own areas, and they had become powerful in their own right. However, their true strength came from the incredible degree of unity they showed. If he hadn¡¯t known better, Jasper would have attributed it to a lack of sense of self. But he knew better. He¡¯d spent quite some time with their battle leader, Silik, and he could confidently say that, though the kobold general was certainly the strong, silent type, he was just as capable of individual thought as anyone else Jasper had ever met. Still, they acted with unified purpose, in battle as well as with more peaceful practices ¨C a trait that let them leverage far more collective power than would have been possible if they¡¯d been more individualistic. And then there were the ritualists, who, given time to prepare, were almost as deadly as that beastkin sorceress who¡¯d remained within the tower. None of them could hold a candle to Zeke¡¯s power, though. The man had launched himself across the battlefield by way of catapult, and that wasn¡¯t even the craziest thing Jasper had witnessed. And what¡¯s more, he¡¯d survived with almost no wounds to show for it, tearing down a well-fortified and heavily enchanted gate with no more trouble than if it had been a flimsy door. All of Zeke¡¯s other advantages notwithstanding, but that alone was enough to frighten anyone who knew anything about the world. That sort of ability ¨C or technique, as he called it ¨C was the sort of thing that could potentially bring down nations. From Jasper¡¯s perspective, he could just imagine how such a thing could unbalance the tentative peace of his own homeland. There, powerful families like his own sheltered behind seemingly impenetrable defenses, secure in their own safety. If they fell ¨C especially via the efforts of a single warrior ¨C chaos would ensue. While Jasper didn¡¯t think the Berghem¡¯s gates had been as powerful enchanted as those of Jasper¡¯s homeland, the fact that Zeke had torn through them with relative ease was enough to truly unnerve the dark elf. And that wasn¡¯t even considering the tactical advantage of the gates leading to the tower. Or the mobility of the tower itself. Zeke represented an entirely mobile nation, and one that could potentially pack enough of a punch to unseat established powers. He was just getting started, too, which was both exciting and terrifying for anyone caught in the wake of his continued ascension. He wasn¡¯t even halfway through the realm, and already, he was a walking natural disaster. What, then, would he become going forward? Those thoughts and more accompanied Jasper¡¯s mind as Pudge strode forward, climbing over the corpses of giants along the way. When the beastkin reached him, Jasper asked, ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°A new skill. It worked well.¡± Then, without another word, Pudge pushed past him, clearly searching for another battle to join. For his part, Jasper hung back. He could handle himself well enough, but keeping his skills active was far more important than whatever damage he could do with personal attacks. Even armed with something like [Siren¡¯s Song] or [Dissonance], the effect of his direct participation in a pitched battle was minimal. However, with his other skills ¨C or songs, as he thought of them ¨C he could augment the collective power of his allies. And with thousands of kobolds and centaurs on his side, that effect was significant enough that he had no intention of throwing himself into the fray. Still, even though he tried to keep clear of the battle proper, he was still forced to defend himself on more than a few occasions. When that happened, his goal wasn¡¯t to win the uneven fight. Rather, he strove to escape and lead the giants to his allies. Back home, he would have been called a coward for such tactics, and in the back of his mind, learned shame persisted. However, he¡¯d long tried to move past the lessons of his youth and embrace reason over pride. He was mostly successful, but still, that imperious nature that was so common amongst his people had been so ingrained that he couldn¡¯t completely escape it. Even so, he tried. As Jasper fought his own nature, the battle persisted, and slowly, the force of kobolds and centaurs ¨C augmented by Pudge and a recently arrived Zeke ¨C overcame the giants¡¯ defenses. The advance wasn¡¯t without casualties. Hundreds of centaurs ¨C and dozens of kobolds ¨C were killed. However, in battle, that was an expected price that inevitably had to be paid. Finally, the army reached the throne room, where they faced off against a few powerful giants as well as their leader. Jasper never even had a chance to inspect them amidst the swarm of battle-weary kobolds and furious centaurs. They surged forward, burying the resisting giants under a mountain of bodies. In that way, the Battle of Berghem met an anticlimactic end as the army finally slaughtered the last remaining giants. The final holdouts were powerful. In an individual fight, they would have been difficult for anyone but Zeke to defeat. However, with the weight of numbers on their side, the army of kobolds and centaurs would not be denied. Still, the giants didn¡¯t go down without a fight, but at such a disadvantage, their resistance was impotent. Thus, Zeke and his mismatched army emerged victorious. But even as the battle came to an end, Jasper couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was the beginning of something far more important. 408. The Aftermath of Battle ¡°What do you think it is?¡± Zeke asked, looking ahead at the item floating above the pedestal. ¡°I think that¡¯s obvious,¡± said Eveline, who¡¯d manifested beside him. ¡°Should I get Eta, maybe?¡± was his next question. He glanced toward the mind spirit, then past her to where Pudge stood. They were the only three who could step into the room without adverse reactions. ¡°It seems kind of like her territory.¡± ¡°If you let her near that thing, she¡¯ll never let it leave her sight,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I agree,¡± Pudge said. His fur was still bloody from battle, and he bore a few shallow injuries. However, he healed a little more with each passing moment, likely due to his constant usage of his watered-down version of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. As far as Zeke could tell, it was only about ten percent as powerful as the real thing, but even that was incredibly valuable. Still, Zeke wished his companion would head back to the tower and soak in the Crimson Spring for a few hours, though Pudge had adamantly refused to leave his side. Zeke pulled his attention from his study of Pudge and focused on the item in the distance. At first glance, it was obviously a leaf, and judging by its shape, it came from something akin to a sycamore tree, though it had to have been the largest tree to have existed, because the leaf was at least three feet across. And yet, even from so far away, he could tell that it was far from a normal leaf. Indeed, the moment he¡¯d entered the room ¨C which contained many other items, each pulsing with various flavors of mana ¨C he¡¯d known it was a powerful natural treasure. Where it had come from, he had no idea, but he was absolutely positive that the thing was far and away the most powerful item in the Berghem treasure vault. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s powerful enough?¡± he asked. The moment he¡¯d seen it, he¡¯d thought of his quest. So far, he had already gathered an appropriate ice attuned natural treasure, and Eveline had insisted that she could take care of the demonic one. So, he still needed Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Arcane, Nature, Arcane, Poison and Disease. And Holy, of course, though that one, like the Demonic attuned treasure, wasn¡¯t explicitly part of the quest. ¡°Definitely,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s at least C-Grade. Maybe B-Grade.¡± ¡°That strong? It doesn¡¯t feel like it,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve got a fifty-foot buffer,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I guarantee that as you get closer, you¡¯re going to feel it.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I once skirted around a nature attuned land ¨C it was mixed with corruption, but it was still predominantly natural ¨C and anything that went in there was grossly mutated. Extra arms. Extra legs. And the native plants constantly evolved, fought, died, and were reborn.¡± ¡°The plants fought?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. Quite sight. This won¡¯t be quite that bad, but anyone who underestimates the power of nature is an idiot.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But how do I combat it?¡± ¡°You have to use your Will,¡± she answered. ¡°Mixed with your attunements.¡± ¡°If I use either of my techniques, this whole place is going to come down.¡± ¡°That is not what I meant,¡± she said, her hands on her hips. ¡°Just let it suffuse you. Don¡¯t try to use it. Just mire yourself in those powers. Don¡¯t do anything with it, though.¡± ¡°That will rip me to pieces,¡± Zeke responded dubiously. Indeed, if his two paths had still been separate, that might have been possible. Certainly, using his old Runecrafting path hadn¡¯t been dangerous at all. But now that he was on the Path of Arcane Destruction, his Will had grown quite a bit more powerful. And appropriately, destructive. Using it in any way would inevitably damage his body. ¡°I don¡¯t know, then. You should be able to figure it out, though. You¡¯re smart. Sometimes. Kind of. In a very specific way.¡± ¡°So helpful.¡± ¡°I believe in you?¡± ¡°Is that a question?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Quit doing that.¡± ¡°Doing what?¡± ¡°Phrasing everything like it¡¯s a question. That little lilt at the end of every sentence ¨C it¡¯s annoying.¡± She rolled her eyes, then let the projection of her visible form dissipate into motes of mana. She¡¯d never really been there in the first place; rather, she was more like a hologram. Once she was gone, she said in his mind, ¡°I really do believe in you. You¡¯ve got this.¡± Zeke gave her a mental nod of thanks, then concentrated on the task at hand. Letting his Will suffuse him was the easy part. Sometimes, he felt like he had to consciously hold it back, especially in battle. However, there was a reason he did so, and that was because his Path of Arcane Destruction was so powerful that it could ¨C and would ¨C literally rip him apart. He experienced it every time he used either of his techniques, and he knew it would be even worse if just let his raw, uncontained Will do what it wanted to do. Which was destroy everything. ¡°And that¡¯s bad,¡± reminded Eveline. ¡°Unhelpful.¡± ¡°Unless you want to destroy everything, in which case, it¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Again, super helpful. Thank you.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°That¡¯s me. Here to help.¡± Zeke sighed, then tuned her out. The solution was easy enough, though he didn¡¯t know if he could handle it. More, there was every chance that he wouldn¡¯t have enough fuel for his plan. Still, as he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t come up with anything better. So, he turned to Pudge and said, ¡°I¡¯m about to do something that¡¯s probably stupid.¡± Pudge cocked his head to the side and asked, ¡°Why?¡± It was a simple question, but one Zeke had difficulty answering in the same manner it was asked. So, he explained everything to Pudge, not holding anything back. Finally, he finished by saying, ¡°I need that leaf over there. And I think this is the only way I¡¯m getting it without killing myself. I just don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll make it before the attuned mana runes out.¡± ¡°Take mine.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I have hellfire in me,¡± he stated. ¡°I¡¯m half demon, too.¡± ¡°Will that work?¡± Zeke asked silently, directing his question to Eveline. ¡°I have no idea. Your bond is odd.¡± ¡°But potentially?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe.¡± Zeke shook his head and let out an audible sigh, which seemed to confuse Pudge. To cut off any questions, he said, ¡°Give me a minute to see if I can make the connection.¡± Indeed, ever since he¡¯d bonded Pudge, the former dire bear had been able to use diluted versions of some of his skills. Normally, he only used [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but he could also access weak versions of all of Zeke¡¯s less powerful skills. He just didn¡¯t because they would be mostly useless for him. But did the bond go both ways? That was the question Zeke needed to answer, and to do so, he focused his attention inward. By that point, he was an old hand at achieving a meditative state, but instead of concentrating on the inner workings of his path, he focused on the skill that had originally bonded Pudge¡¯s life to his. On the surface, [Mark of Companionship] was a very weak skill, and it really only allowed his companions to share in his experience. ¡°Kill energy,¡± reminded Eveline. ¡°Whatever. Shut up.¡± However, it had always felt deeper than that. In fact, it had even given Talia and Abby access to even weaker versions of his skills. He¡¯d guessed that it was due to the relationships he¡¯d developed with his friends, but now, it felt like it was more based on the low bar for entry for those lesser skills. If either of them were to try to use [Shifting Sands], for instance, they would have exploded from the sheer strain it would put on their bodies. The skills they¡¯d been able to use were, for lack of a better term, much gentler. In any case, the bond with Pudge had always been different. More powerful. Versatile. At one point, he¡¯d even been capable of reading the dire bear¡¯s emotions. So, it stood to reason that it was more complex than he¡¯d ever really supposed. Regardless, it had all started with [Mark of Companionship], so he dove into that skill, examining it with the perception granted by his path. At first, he saw nothing but what he expected ¨C just a complex rune that had been formed as perfectly as any other Framework-granted skill. However, after a few minutes of examination, he found the thread of mana connecting him to Pudge. He followed it, and soon enough, he saw a vast ocean of roiling fire. It wasn¡¯t there. Not really. But it also was. ¡°It¡¯s his mana pool,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Zeke stated. Then, he took a deep breath before dipping his awareness into that ocean of fire, and the moment he did, he felt the familiar corrosion eating away at his soul. He could take it, though, and he drank deep before pulling back. When he did, the corrupted mana came with him, blazing a trail in his wake that he hoped would allow him to tap into Pudge¡¯s mana. Then, he opened his eyes and said, ¡°I think it worked.¡± Pudge just nodded. He was a beastkin of few words, after all. ¡°Are you alright, buddy?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been a little distant lately.¡± Pudge shrugged. ¡°This¡­world is confusing.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Zeke could feel the demonic mana roiling through him, but he¡¯d sooner let it dissipate than deny Pudge his friendship. ¡°Sasha. She is¡­she is insistent.¡± ¡°Do you like her?¡± Pudge nodded. ¡°I do, but it¡¯s complicated.¡± ¡°No it isn¡¯t. If you want some advice, don¡¯t let yourself overthink it. If you like her, and she likes you, just run with it. Maybe you regret it sometime in the future, but I guarantee you¡¯ll regret it more if you don¡¯t give it a shot.¡± ¡°You telling someone not to think,¡± Eveline mused, a quiet chuckle clinging to her words. ¡°Appropriate.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t favor her with a proper response, instead focusing on Pudge. For his part, the bearkin nodded in acknowledgement of Zeke¡¯s advice. He didn¡¯t know whether or not Pudge was going to follow it, but that didn¡¯t matter. The only thing Zeke really cared about was that Pudge knew that he¡¯d be there if he needed him. But once that was established, Zeke took a deep breath, then wrapped his mind around his Will, letting it suffuse his body. Despite the fact that he¡¯d been working on his control, it immediately started breaking him down. Body, mind, and soul were ripped further apart with every passing second. For a brief moment, Zeke forgot his plan. His mind went blank as his Will tore his thoughts apart. But after everything he¡¯d been through, he¡¯d long since mastered the ability to act regardless of the situation. So, he pushed the borrowed mana into [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], and it responded with rapid, unmatched regeneration. Of course, fueling it with demonic mana also sent fury coursing through his mind, but strangely enough, that helped him stave off the madness that came with embracing the full extent of his Will. He stepped forward. Then took another. Gradually, he crossed the treasure hall until he felt the weight of the natural treasure bearing down on him. The potent swirl of mana that came with it tried to take hold, but with his powerful Will coursing through his body ¨C not to mention the corruption-fueled skill ¨C it could find no purchase. Still, Zeke knew it wouldn¡¯t last forever, so he pushed forward. The closer he drew, the more difficult each step became until, when he¡¯d progressed to within ten feet, he felt like he was moving through gelatin. Even so, he refused to be denied, and he continued on, one arduous step after another until, at last, he reached his destination. The leaf looked almost benign. Just an overlarge sycamore leaf. But the closer he looked, the more Zeke saw the subtle differences. The glittering veins. The slightly golden color. The thick cloud of mana surrounding it. No ¨C it was clearly a powerful natural treasure, and that surety served to firm Zeke¡¯s plans. He would use it to satisfy the terms of his ongoing quest. So, without further hesitation, he reached out, grabbed the thing, and looted it. But it didn¡¯t disappear into his storage space. Instead, the mana swirled into something akin to a magical tornado, trying to rip his hand loose. And yet, Zeke held firm. He refused to give in. Even as his body was ripped apart by both his Will and the mana tempest, he rebuilt it with the demon-fueled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. He couldn¡¯t go on forever, though. Already, he could feel Pudge¡¯s store of mana running dry. Even as Zeke shifted to using his own tiny pool of corrupted mana ¨C the bulk of his personal store was unattuned ¨C he knew he was on the clock. There wasn¡¯t enough ambient demonic mana to fuel the skill for more than a second or two. And once he ran dry, his Will would tear him to pieces. If he loosed his grip on his path, then he would be vulnerable to whatever the natural treasure was trying to do to him. And given the horrors Eveline had described, he wanted no part of that. Yet he could do nothing to affect the outcome. His ability to loot various things and store them away wasn¡¯t a skill he could influence. So, he simply held on and hoped the looting ability that had come with his bond to the tower won out over the natural treasure. Then, just before he¡¯d exhausted his entire store of demonic mana, the leaf disappeared. Zeke collapsed to his knees as the ambient mana returned to a normal state. Exhausted, he let go of his Will, then the corruption-fueled skill. His body felt better than expected, but he knew he¡¯d need a few days in the Crimson Spring to return to normal. Maybe as much as a week. But as he looked at the quest notification and confirmed that he¡¯d gotten credit for the natural treasure, he couldn¡¯t help but think it had been worth it. 409. Tours and Plans It took a couple of weeks before Zeke felt fully recovered. However, unlike some of his previous ill-advised antics, he wasn¡¯t completely incapacitated by his latest foray into utilizing his Will. Instead, he was fully capable of tending to his followers in the tower, and in fact, he felt that if it came down to a necessary battle, he would be able to harness at least sixty percent of his power. Eveline likened it to a doctor¡¯s orders to take it easy rather than putting him on complete bedrest, and despite his hatred of her use of Earth¡¯s idioms, he couldn¡¯t really disagree with her assessment. Still, he felt cooped up and wanted nothing more than to get moving again. For one, he felt increasingly desperate to reach Talia. It made no real sense; she¡¯d been on her own for quite some time, and, as far as he knew, she was doing just fine. Or she was at least alive. So, he had no idea why he felt the urgency so keenly all of a sudden. But feel it he did. On top of that, he¡¯d never really gotten used to sitting still. Even before his rebirth into the Radiant Isles, he hadn¡¯t been suited for relaxation. Back then, the idleness that came after his injury had driven him to abject apathy; he was better, now. More mature, perhaps. And he still had purpose. But he couldn¡¯t change his nature, and every moment he spent in inactivity was a moment he wanted to be moving toward some goal. He was not meant to laze about. Which was ironic, considering how often he injured himself so badly that he was forced into long periods of convalescence ¨C which was something he intended to work on in preparation for his next skill. He just needed to figure out what form his intentions might take; then he could start to visualize how to make that happen. After that, he would need to actually build the skill. So, he was a long way from any leaps forward on that front. Either way, those two weeks were not spent entirely idle, and he dedicated the majority of his convalescence toward working on his skills. He also spent quite some time in the Hunting Grounds training his fighting style. To some, practicing without his skills might have seemed a little superfluous, but for Zeke, it made perfect sense to spend just as much time honing his those abilities as it did to work on anything else. After all, there was every chance that, sometime in the future, his skill with a hammer might prove to be the difference between winning and losing. And considering the stakes he usually faced, that was equivalent to life or death. When he wasn¡¯t training, he soaked in the Crimson Spring. Often, he was accompanied by injured kobolds or even a few centaurs who¡¯d deigned to accept the invitation into the tower, but most of the time, he was given plenty of room to himself. Was that respect? Or fear, perhaps? Zeke had no idea, but he knew it wasn¡¯t something he could change. Not overnight, at least. And what¡¯s more, he wasn¡¯t certain that he wanted to. He cared about the kobolds. Truly and deeply, he did. He would fight and kill for them, if that was what it took to give them a chance to reach their potential. And yet, he was an introvert by nature, and outside of a close group of friends, he preferred solitude. So, as much as he cared for his adopted people, he appreciated their standoffishness. Gradually, Zeke recovered until, at last, he felt as well as he had before the battle of Berghem. Which was how he found himself letting Kianma give him a tour of everything that had changed over the past few months. He¡¯d seen some of it, but only in passing; the rest, he¡¯d let fly under his personal radar. ¡°You¡¯re a terrible leader. You know that, don¡¯t you?¡± joked Eveline in his head. She¡¯d started coming out more often ¨C everyone who mattered had accepted her presence ¨C but she still preferred remaining sequestered inside his mind. Not that she could ever leave it behind, of course. She was stuck with him just as much as he was stuck with her, but that didn¡¯t bother Zeke nearly as much as it probably should have. ¡°I don¡¯t really lead them,¡± he pointed out. ¡°I¡¯m more like a mascot. Kianma and Silik do all the heavy lifting.¡± ¡°When you say jump, they all ask how high,¡± she countered. ¡°That¡¯s what being a leader is.¡± He didn¡¯t have an answer for that, so he remained silent as Kianma led him through the Residential District to an area the kobolds had affectionally named The Clutch. There, Zeke discovered more about kobold rearing than he¡¯d ever wanted. True to form, they reproduced like reptiles, which meant that they laid eggs. Once those eggs hatched, they were raised by a caste of Broodtenders, at least until they reached adolescence and they acquired a class. Which was one of the things that truly excited Kianma. ¡°This is unprecedented. Before, perhaps one in twenty attained a class at all,¡± she stated. ¡°But for those born in The Clutch, that ratio has increased significantly. Now, one in three are born with the capacity to choose a class, and the Broodtenders believe that number will increase until every kobold has a class.¡± On the one hand, that was expected. Zeke knew that Mikaena had worked for decades ¨C perhaps even centuries ¨C to usher the kobolds out of monsterhood and into sapience. She¡¯d given their care over to Zeke in the hopes that he could help them continue that journey. And that was what had happened. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. However, on the other hand, Zeke had expected it to take much longer. ¡°They¡¯re not strong,¡± Eveline said, using Zeke¡¯s senses to inspect a small kobold. The infant looked like an upright salamander, though with a few extra ridges. With its large eyes and curious nature, it was incredibly cute in a way that most reptiles weren¡¯t. ¡°They still have a long way to go, especially if we can get the tower to add that Hall of Affinity. Speaking of which, we still need quite a few natural treasures.¡± ¡°I know.¡± After showing off The Clutch, Kianma led Zeke through the rest of the Residential District where he saw the increasing quality of life for the kobolds. Before, they¡¯d all piled into a few buildings, but in the past few months, they¡¯d begun to branch out and use the space available. They still preferred close quarters, but Zeke had to acknowledge that they were making progress. What¡¯s more, he observed a lot more variation in their personalities. Certainly, they still thought of themselves as a collective, but one comprised of many individuals. As far as Zeke was concerned, that was a step in the right direction if they wanted to develop true sapience. ¡°If they haven¡¯t already,¡± Eveline said. ¡°The line¡¯s kind of blurry on that, though.¡± Zeke could agree with that, and he followed Kianma out of The Clutch and to the Pillar. It was still just a building like any other in the Residential District, and yet, it had grown to almost ten stories. Somehow, the ceiling had risen to accommodate that. ¡°It adapts on its own,¡± Kianma said. ¡°When we fill one floor, a new one will come into being.¡± ¡°The Crimson Tower is one of the most powerful artifacts in existence,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Or at least in this Realm.¡± ¡°You never did tell me the whole story behind it.¡± ¡°I told you what I remember. Broken mind, remember? I get bits and pieces here and there, but the bulk of my memory is gone.¡± She¡¯d said as much a hundred times, but Zeke kept hoping that more would jostle loose. So far, she could only offer insight into specific topics when some even brushed against them ¨C like they had in the Pillar of Desolation ¨C but those instances had proven less frequent with every passing day. In any case, Zeke was pleased to see that the people who worked in the Pillar ¨C including quite a few kobold spiritweavers and some of the freed slaves ¨C were hard at work on the various tasks necessary to run what amounted to a small city. The biggest department was dedicated to food procurement and distribution, but there were smaller groups that governed everything from housing assignments to training times in the Hunting Grounds and everything in between. ¡°Every government needs a bureaucracy,¡± said Eveline. ¡°I used to have a seneschal who handled all of that. Nice little imp who really had an eye for detail. Of course, he was stealing from me quite a bit, so I had to send him to be tortured. He lasted for almost a decade before he died.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Zeke guessed. ¡°It might be. I do remember an imp, but I¡¯m not sure what he did for me.¡± Zeke gave her a mental eye roll, then followed Kianma out of the Pillar and to the teleporter that took them to the Craftsman¡¯s Terrace. There, they met with Kala and Eta, who went over the state of their agricultural pursuits. With Eta¡¯s help, they¡¯d managed to increase their crops¡¯ yield by almost double, and according to both excited women, that was just the beginning. Soon, they hoped that their fruits and vegetables would start developing other effects. ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Well, over time, they will strengthen the people who eat them,¡± Eta said. ¡°It may take decades for adults to see a difference, but for juveniles, it could result in higher tiered attributes. And over the course of many generations, the effect could be dramatic!¡± She went on to explain that the environment within the tower was ideal for growing crops, and what¡¯s more, the density of the ambient mana was extremely uncommon. She even claimed that they expected it to continue to grow even more concentrated as time went on. ¡°And that¡¯s not even considering what how the tower will change once you complete your quest,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°I know. The Hall of Affinity.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t believe that will be the only benefit. Imagine a field of Ice Berries next to an orchard of Incendiary Plums. There¡¯s nothing better than affinity fruits,¡± she said. ¡°Are those real things? They don¡¯t sound like real things.¡± ¡°Maybe? I don¡¯t know about Heaven¡¯s weird fruits. What I do know is that if these lovely ladies can cultivate real affinity fruits, you and your army of kobolds are going to be a true force to be reckoned with.¡± ¡°Huh. Neat.¡± ¡°Neat?¡± ¡°It is.¡± ¡°I expected a¡­bigger reaction. Most people would be jumping up and down in joy.¡± Zeke shrugged ¨C mentally ¨C and said, ¡°That¡¯s all in the future. It¡¯ll be great if it happens. I might start jumping for joy then. But until we get these affinity fruits, I¡¯ll just file them away under ¡®maybe it¡¯ll happen eventually¡¯ and move on with more immediate concerns.¡± ¡°You are absolutely no fun.¡± ¡°So you keep telling me.¡± After they completed the tour of the various farms ¨C which were worked by yet more kobolds, though these were the lesser developed ones ¨C he parted ways with Kianma and headed to the Hunting Grounds. There, he pitted himself against a series of increasingly difficult foes, culminating with a difficult battle against a pair of giants. He lost, but due to the nature of the floor, he wasn¡¯t seriously injured. More importantly, the fight left him marginally more prepared for the inevitability that he¡¯d need to one day rely on his combat ability rather than his overpowering skills or Will. At any rate, once he¡¯d finished in the Hunting Grounds, he retreated to the Crimson Spring for a long soak, then headed to the manor. Once he got there, he took a few minutes to catch up with Pudge. At the same time, they practiced Pudge¡¯s articulation. For too long, the former dire bear had been lacking in that department, and Zeke had taken it upon himself to help his companion out. ¡°That¡¯s adorable,¡± Eveline said when they parted ways. ¡°What? Pudge? I mean, he was kind of cute when he was a cub, but I don¡¯t think anybody would look at him now and call him adorable.¡± ¡°No ¨C you and him.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going out of your way to spend time with him. The language lessons are just an excuse.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re looking too far into it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really not. I can see inside your head.¡± ¡°And that doesn¡¯t prevent you from misinterpreting. We¡¯ve established that already,¡± Zeke said. ¡°True. But in this instance, I¡¯m not misinterpreting,¡± she insisted. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of. You love your bear friend.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Not ashamed of it, Eveline. He¡¯s as much my family as anyone¡¯s ever been,¡± he said. ¡°Of course I love him. And he loves me. He¡¯s my brother.¡± Eveline was still formless in his mind, but he got the impression that she was grinning from ear to ear. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t have anything else to say on the matter, so after showering and eating a meal prepared by a kobold ¨C which meant that it wasn¡¯t terribly well-cooked ¨C Zeke went to bed. The next morning, he awoke with renewed purpose. Finally, he was completely recovered, and he¡¯d exhausted everything on his to-do list. Now, he needed to get on with the business at hand, which meant that he and the others needed to start planning for the final leg of their journey to El¡¯Kireth, where he hoped he would be reunited with Talia. 410. Rivers and Snakes A gentle wind swept across the landscape, sending waves across the sea of green grass. Zeke, along with Pudge, Jasper, and a handful of kobold centurions, cut through it as they made their way across the Mukti Plains. He squinted his eyes as he gazed toward the horizon, and in the distance, he saw a blurry smudge that he thought might be a tree line. But if it was, then those trees had to be quite a bit larger than any Zeke had ever seen. He shielded his eyes with an open palm and asked, ¡°Is that it?¡± Pudge said, ¡°It is.¡± Over the past few weeks, the group had slowly traversed the Mukti Plains, and in that time, Zeke had continued with Pudge¡¯s language skills. The bearkin still wasn¡¯t particularly articulate ¨C in fact, his preference for stoicism remained just as prevalent as before ¨C but he was getting better with each passing day. The journey had also served to teach Zeke a couple of lessons. First, and probably most importantly, he¡¯d begun to realize just how vast the Eternal Realm was. He¡¯d gotten hints during his previous travels ¨C especially on the tundra ¨C but the plains seemed so endless that he¡¯d often found himself marveling at the sheer size of his new world. Second, the inherent danger of said world was reaffirmed with every passing mile. He¡¯d lost count of how many times he and his small group had been attacked. Normally, they dealt with each threat without breaking a sweat, but on a few occasions, Zeke and his companions had been forced to go all out. Fortunately, no one had been killed, and there had only been a few injuries. As a result, a few of his kobold retainers had been replaced at various times throughout the journey. However, that turned out to be a good thing because it spread the benefits ¨C both in kill energy and battle experience ¨C out a little more. Otherwise, Zeke summoned his tower¡¯s gate every night to let his people send out expeditions to hunt the plains. They still had plenty of hunting expeditions leaving the physical tower ¨C which was still back where he¡¯d originally planted it ¨C but the nightly excursions were important because it let them experience a wider variety of enemies while avoiding overhunting the areas around the tower. In short, the journey had been a boon, and not just because it had gotten Zeke closer to the ultimate goal. Still, they would have to cross Adontis ¨C which would probably bring unmitigated hostility ¨C before they reached the Kingdome of El¡¯kireth and found Talia. So, there was still a long way to go, and Zeke knew better than to expect it the trek to be peaceful. But that seemed to be the case with the Eternal Realm. Conflict was the default, and though there were plenty of exceptions, peace ¨C especially between the various races of beings that lived there ¨C was a rarity. Not that Zeke expected anything different from a realm created to funnel powerful warriors into growing even stronger so that they could contribute in an ongoing battle between good and evil. Of course, Zeke had begun to wonder about the nature of that battle, but that didn¡¯t change the reality of the realms¡¯ collective purpose. For now, though, Zeke needed to focus on what was in front of him. So, he asked, ¡°How far do you think it is?¡± ¡°At least a hundred miles more.¡± At first, Zeke was a bit shocked at the estimate. However, that was only because, at times, he still slipped into the mindset of his old world. Back then, the concept of seeing a forest from that far away was laughable. Now, though, with the more powerful senses that came with his racial evolutions, it wasn¡¯t really so surprising. And given the unobstructed view provided by the flat plains, he should have expected it. ¡°So, at least two days.¡± That was another change. Because of the nature of the plains ¨C as well as the ability to travel lightly ¨C Zeke and his companions could cover much more ground than most. On Earth, going twenty-five miles in a single day was good progress, but Zeke could go at least three times that fast without breaking a sweat. Indeed, if he wasn¡¯t saddled with the slower kobolds, he could have already made it to the tree line. ¡°Three,¡± Pudge said, glancing at their companions. The kobolds centurions were strong, but they had evolved underground. As such, their physiology wasn¡¯t really suited to running long distances. Still, the reptilian people never complained, and they pushed themselves harder than most. So, Zeke couldn¡¯t find fault with his escorts. ¡°Wish the centaurs were still around,¡± Zeke remarked. For the first couple of weeks after they¡¯d set out, they¡¯d done so with the company of a full company of centaurs. However, as they drew closer to Adontis, the centaurs had turned back. They wanted no quarrel with the other nation, after all, and venturing too close to the border could be interpreted as a sign of aggression for the warlike knights that patrolled the boundary. For now, they two sides were content to ignore one another, but there was enough tension between them that it wouldn¡¯t take more than a tiny spark to set those relations ablaze. Still, the lack of centaurs meant that they were entirely dependent on Pudge and a few kobold rangers for scouting. They were good at it, but it was nothing compared to what the centaur hunters could accomplish on their native ground. After a few more moments, Zeke turned back to the resting centaurs and said, ¡°Alright. Break time is over. Let¡¯s get things moving.¡± As usual, the kobolds offered no complaints. Instead, they gathered their packs ¨C they insisted on carrying them even if they all knew Zeke could summon any necessary supplies with only a thought ¨C and followed Zeke and Pudge through the grassland. To make things easier, Zeke adopted his earth-fueled colossal form, if only because it offered him better sight lines. The kobolds and Pudge were all large enough that they needed no extra help in that department. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. After setting off, the group covered the ground at a loping jog that they could keep up for hours. It would be tiring for the kobolds, but they could manage it just fine. Like that, they miles melted before them until, at last, they reached an obstacle in the form of a wide river that sliced through the grassland. Zeke stopped a few hundred feet away. Just like on Earth, the body of water represented both sustenance and danger. The former because water was necessary for survival and the latter because that was just as true for vicious predators as it was for everything else. He scanned the area, and true to form, found precisely what he was looking for. The village ¨C a label that seemed generous, given the primitive state of the settlement ¨C was about half a mile upriver and on the other side of the snaking body of water. So, it was probably far enough away that the denizens wouldn¡¯t notice them. However, Zeke suspected that that would not be the case. No settlement of note existed without at least some members acting as scouts. Or at the very least, hunters. So, he was understandably worried about running into yet another group of sentient monsters. Sapience was probably too much to hope for ¨C especially considering that the centaurs hadn¡¯t mentioned them ¨C but Zeke refused to rule that out, either. ¡°I hate snakes,¡± Pudge said, standing beside Zeke and looking at the same settlement. ¡°I¡¯ve never had anything against them,¡± was Zeke¡¯s response. Indeed, growing up where he had, it was inevitable that he would frequently come across plenty of the reptiles. Still, that was poor preparation for the creatures in the distance. At first glance, the categorization as snakes seemed appropriate. They had long, slithery bodies and heads that reminded Zeke of cobras he¡¯d seen back on Earth. And yet, each was also equipped with a humanoid torso, complete with muscular arms covered in bright blue scales. Otherwise, they seemed mostly normal as they moved about their primitive settlement of stilted houses constructed of reeds and woven grass. Zeke watched as they dove into the water. Not long after, the first serpentine creature surfaced, a sizable fish impaled on its harpoon. ¡°Naga,¡± came Jasper¡¯s voice. Zeke glanced over to see the dark elf standing a few feet to his left. He hadn¡¯t even heard Jasper¡¯s approach, which left him feeling more vulnerable than he probably should have. He¡¯d grown so used to relying on his overtuned senses that when they were subverted ¨C a quirk of Jasper¡¯s racial heritage ¨C he found it very disconcerting. Fortunately, Jasper had proven himself a valuable ally, and on more than a few occasions. So, Zeke knew he had nothing to fear from the loyal dark elf. ¡°What are naga?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Snake people, usually found near or in vast bodies of water,¡± Jasper answered. ¡°There are a few civilized sub-races, but their level of sapience seems to be tied to the size of the body of water they inhabit. River naga are generally considered no more advanced than goblins. Less so, most of the time.¡± Left unsaid was that, if these river naga had made their home on the banks of a fairly small ¨C at least in relation to the rest of the world ¨C river, then they were almost assuredly less advanced than their ocean-going cousins. The simple reed-and-woven-grass structures supported that assumption as well. However, just because they weren¡¯t very advanced didn¡¯t mean that they weren¡¯t dangerous, especially so near to their homes. For Zeke that meant one thing ¨C they needed to give the naga a wide berth. So, he relayed his intentions to the kobolds, and they set off on a course parallel to the river. As they put some distance between themselves and the naga village, Zeke also kept an eye out for a potential crossing. While the river wasn¡¯t impressive by the standards of the enormous Eternal Realm, it was still over half a mile wide. That meant that it was likely home to dangerous river monsters as well as a swift current that would make getting to the other side a dangerous proposition. After half a day ¨C and just before nightfall ¨C they found precisely what they were looking for, too. The river had narrowed to only a few hundred yards of shallow and relatively slow-moving water which made the crossing as close to ideal as was possible. However, there was predictably a bit of an issue with it as well. Every time they¡¯d gotten close enough to the river to see the ribbon of muddy water, they¡¯d found yet another naga village. Some were just as small as the first one they¡¯d seen, but others were quite a bit more expansive. However, none were as large as the one positioned next to the crossing. ¡°How many do you think there are?¡± asked Zeke from nearly a mile away. ¡°At least a thousand,¡± answered Jasper. ¡°More,¡± added Pudge, pointing downriver where a few sinuous shapes were just visible beneath the surface. ¡°Many more.¡± Zeke let out a groan. This was the best crossing they could find, and while he didn¡¯t think it was unique, there was every chance that finding another would require that they go many miles out of their way. Already, the river¡¯s snaking path had taken them a little off track, and Zeke feared that it would only get worse if they left the crossing behind. He discussed it with Pudge and Jasper ¨C also asking the kobolds for input ¨C and in the end, it came down to three choices. The first was to simply do what they¡¯d been doing and move on, trying to find another way across the river. However, this came with a couple of problems. The first ¨C and most obvious ¨C was that there was no guarantee they¡¯d find anything better. Indeed, even if they did, it might take them so far off course that it would add weeks to their journey. The second option was to try to sneak past. The river naga were not entirely unintelligent, but Zeke likened them to apes or chimps ¨C at least insofar as their advancement ¨C so he reasoned that they would have weaknesses to exploit. So, sneaking across the river was a possibility. But just like the first option, it wasn¡¯t without its own issues. Chief among those was that there was every possibility that it was impossible to get past the naga while avoiding detection. It was their turf, and so, it stood to reason that they would recognize any deviation in the environment. Perhaps Pudge would find it easy to creep past them, but Zeke had never been the particularly stealthy sort. Which brought him to the third option, which was to simply walk in and destroy anyone who dared try to stop him. For obvious reasons, this plan appealed to Zeke. And for just as obvious reasons, it was probably a bad idea. Or at least that¡¯s what he thought until Jasper pointed something out. ¡°What? Seriously? It can¡¯t be that easy, can it?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°I would not categorize it as easy,¡± Jasper huffed. ¡°Nagas are not weak enemies, and their leaders are chosen specifically for their ferocity.¡± ¡°Right. Sure. But you¡¯re saying that I can just fight one guy, and they¡¯ll let me through?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Probably. Assuming that my education was accurate.¡± ¡°And what are the odds that it wasn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Slim.¡± Zeke nodded. ¡°Alright. So, according to what you know, how would I go about challenging their leader?¡± he asked. ¡°Do I just walk up there and smack the biggest one in the face? Or is there some sort of ceremony involved?¡± ¡°Oh ¨C their leaders are never the big ones. They have a matriarchal society and are ruled by their most powerful water seers.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°You are willing to fight a water seer in the¡­ah¡­water?¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve done stupider things.¡± ¡°I doubt that.¡± ¡°He has,¡± Pudge stated. Zeke frowned. ¡°Ouch, buddy. Seriously.¡± ¡°Truth.¡± Zeke rolled his eyes and shook his head. ¡°Okay ¨C my intelligence notwithstanding, is that how it works? I just walk up and challenge the leader?¡± ¡°More or less.¡± ¡°Alright, then. Guess we have a plan.¡± 411. Out of His Element Flanked by a pair of kobold centurions, Zeke stepped out of the tall grass. He knew that the river naga had already seen him. How could they not, when, in his colossal form, he towered so tall over the grass? And yet, he didn¡¯t acknowledge the force arrayed before him. The naga were hundreds strong, and each one of them was armed with a harpoon. Still, he ignored them, just as Jasper had advised him to do. He crossed the open ground, barely noticing the flattened grass as he approached the village. Its construction was a little more advanced than some of the smaller naga settlements, but the buildings still looked flimsy to Zeke¡¯s eyes. He wasn¡¯t there to critique architecture, though. Instead, he intended to issue a challenge. Once he had reached a spot only ten feet from the closest naga, he drew to a stop and, for a moment, studied his would-be foes. Up close, the river nagas¡¯ green scales had an iridescent quality that reminded Zeke of pearls, and their features were a little more humanoid than he¡¯d first expected. Still snake-like, especially with their flared hoods, but more human than his first impressions had suggested. The same went for their scaled torsos, which were roughly humanoid in shape as well. That changed at their waists, when their abdomens tapered into thick, serpentine tails. The scales on their underside ¨C meaning, the bottom of the tail, the front of their torsos, and their faces ¨C were slightly lighter colored than the rest of their bodies. For a long moment, Zeke stood unmoving. According to Jasper, river naga were incapable of speech, which made challenging their water seer a little tricky. Making things even worse was the fact that Zeke was surrounded by the enemy. One wrong move, and he¡¯d be overwhelmed by those serpentine creatures. Which would prove annoying, even if it probably wouldn¡¯t be deadly. After all, Zeke had completely recovered, which meant that he had all of his tools available. With his skills and Will, he could destroy the entire village. Yet, he didn¡¯t want that, and not least because he didn¡¯t want to potentially be forced to spend weeks in recovery. In addition, he just didn¡¯t have the stomach to kill a thousand naga if he didn¡¯t strictly need to. ¡°You¡¯re going soft,¡± Eveline chided. ¡°I¡¯m not a murderous psychopath. If that makes me soft, then so be it.¡± It really hadn¡¯t been that long ago that he¡¯d spent days respectfully burying the people who¡¯d been murdered by a group of opportunistic drachnids. He¡¯d even been awarded an achievement for his compassion. But so much had happened since then. He¡¯d killed so many people, monsters, and demons. Had it changed him? Certainly. How could it not? But his heart hadn¡¯t hardened so thoroughly that he would kill a bunch of creatures just because they happened to be in his way. ¡°Unless they refuse to move,¡± Eveline pointed out. Zeke didn¡¯t respond, but in the back of his mind, he had to acknowledge the truth of her statement. If they wouldn¡¯t move, he would move them, and by any means necessary. With that in mind, he summoned Voromir. It was easy to ignore the look of his weapon, but when he did notice, he couldn¡¯t help but remember how much it had changed. When he¡¯d first gotten the weapon ¨C dubbed a mace by the Framework ¨C it had been little more than a club. A powerful one, certainly, but a club nonetheless. However, over the course of Zeke¡¯s adventures, the weapon had slowly morphed into a full-fledged hammer. Zeke kept hoping that it would develop some additional characteristics, but aside from behind indestructible ¨C at least as far as he could tell ¨C the hammer¡¯s only power was that it changed weight according to his own strength. So, to him, it felt no lighter or heavier than it had when he¡¯d first picked it up, and yet, he felt confident that if he were to put it on a scale, it would weigh thousands of pounds. Eveline interrupted his thoughts by saying, ¡°Probably tens of thousands. You really have no concept of your own strength.¡± ¡°Hard to get a handle on it, honestly,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Not like I have a weight set lying around. Bet I could lift a car, though. I think the pieces would come off before I got it into the air. Like, I never understood that about Superman. He could hold a plane up from the nose, but if he really tried to do that, he¡¯d go right through the thing. Or it would at least crumple under the weight of the plane.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You can literally read my memories. You know exactly what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°But I wish I didn¡¯t, so I¡¯m just going to pretend I¡¯m ignorant. Nerd.¡± ¡°Did you just call me a nerd?¡± ¡°You know I did.¡± ¡°Huh. That¡¯s a first.¡± Zeke realized that he¡¯d been standing motionless for far too long; at the speed of thought, he could communicate with Eveline very quickly, but his mind could only move so fast. Because of that delay, the naga looked as if they were getting somewhat antsy. So, Zeke dropped the head of his hammer to the ground precisely as Jasper had instructed him to do. At first, the naga didn¡¯t respond. Then, suddenly, they parted, allowing another, much different figure to pass through. She didn¡¯t stop until she was close enough to strike at Zeke, if she so desired. ¡°We accept your challenge,¡± she hissed. The moment she spoke, Zeke used [Inspect]: Naga Water Seer ¨C Level 61 He almost sighed in relief, which probably would have ruined the stoic image he wanted to portray. She was only level sixty-one, which meant that defeating her was well within his capabilities. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate her,¡± Eveline cautioned. ¡°You¡¯re going to be fighting on her turf.¡± ¡°Is that so big of a deal?¡± he asked, looking the seer up and down. She was plainly female, at least according to the shape of her torso and delicate features. ¡°Why does a reptile need breasts?¡± ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s what you¡¯re focused on?¡± ¡°I mean, they lay eggs, right? Most reptiles lay eggs. They don¡¯t need mammary glands.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°I¡¯m sure I have no idea. Pig.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not admiring them!¡± ¡°I can read your mind, remember?¡± ¡°Then stop.¡± ¡°Believe me, I¡¯m trying to. Now pay attention.¡± Zeke nodded at the seer, and without another word, she turned and slithered back whence she¡¯d come. He followed, feeling every inch as isolated as he probably was. In the middle of so many enemies, he could easily be dogpiled, and getting free of such a melee would be incredibly difficult. The cost would be much higher than he wanted to pay. To distract himself, Zeke studied the naga seer. On the surface, she looked much like the rest of her kin. Green scales, with a humanoid torso and snakelike lower half. But that¡¯s where the similarities ended. For one, unlike the others, she wore plenty of jewelry. Around her waist was a delicate chain of gold, and a similarly golden torc adorned her neck. Finally, a bejeweled tiara rested on her head. She certainly looked the part of a ruler, though Zeke did find himself wondering where she had attained so much delicately designed golden jewelry. Such thoughts occupied Zeke until he watched her slither from the riverbank and into the shallows. Zeke followed, his colossal feet leaving deep tracks in the muddy shore. When his feet touched the water, he got his first surprise ¨C the normal attunements were present. Earth. Unattuned mana. A bit of nature. But it was hard to feel any of it beneath the tide of water-attuned mana. Already, Zeke knew that his skills wouldn¡¯t be able to exhibit the same degree of power as was normal for him. More, his regeneration would be negatively affected as well. He needed to end the fight quickly, or he stood the chance of being gradually bled dry of both mana and vitality. ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this,¡± he muttered to himself. However, he didn¡¯t back down. After all, if the fight started going poorly, he could always let his Worldbreaker technique loose. It wouldn¡¯t be pleasant, but it was better than being overwhelmed by snake people and killed. So, there was that. ¡°You¡¯ve also got your backup plan.¡± ¡°That is the backup plan.¡± ¡°The backup to the backup, then.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond, but he knew precisely what she was talking about. He¡¯d never really been one to hedge his bets, but he wasn¡¯t above cheating, especially when his life was on the line. So, he¡¯d set the tower gate up about a quarter mile into the grassland. Just far enough away from the riverside settlement that they wouldn¡¯t notice it, but still close enough that, if he got into trouble, the naga village could quickly be buried beneath an army of angry kobolds. Eveline said, ¡°Your willingness to break the rules of a sacred battle brings a tear to my eye.¡± He didn¡¯t get the chance to retort, because at that moment, the naga seer let out an ear-piercing scream and threw her hands in Zeke¡¯s direction. A second later, the river burst into motion, sending a trio of streams of high-pressure water to cut into his chest. In only an instant, they¡¯d carved three deep grooves into his torso, sending a spray of metal, rock, and mercury-like blood into the water. The surrounding naga cheered. Zeke threw himself aside, then leaped high into the air. Or that was what he tried to do. The moment his feet cleared the surface, the seer gestured again, and a giant claw of brown water reached up and snatched at his legs, then yanked him back to the river. He broke free a moment later, but by that point, the streams of water had once again found him. He roared in anger, embracing [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but fueled by only his personal mana, it wasn¡¯t nearly strong enough to completely reverse the damage. Still, it was better than leaving the increasingly more devastating wounds untreated. With that, though, Zeke had decided stop restricting himself. So, he quickly wrapped his mind around [Center of Gravity] and tried to yank the seer toward him. And at first, it worked. However, she reacted quickly, and after falling only a few feet, another watery claw reached up, grabbed her around the waist, and kept her from falling further. Frustrated, Zeke embraced [Hell Geyser], then stomped on the ground. The river split as the ground ruptured, tearing a line of devastation in the riverbed before exploding into a dense column of earth and fire. However, when it faded a second later, Zeke was dismayed to see that the seer had encased herself in a bubble that had obviously protected her from his second-most devastating ability. But as she dropped to the ground, Zeke saw that she hadn¡¯t made it through unscathed. He had no idea what the nature of that protective bubble was, but it hadn¡¯t completely protected her, as evidenced by the melted scales on one side of her body. It also didn¡¯t last long, because it dissipated only a second later. Zeke didn¡¯t relent. Using [Shifting Sands] before she could recover, he felt time slow as he fell into the riverbed. However, it wasn¡¯t nearly as dramatic as it should have been, likely due to the lacking earth attuned mana. Still, it was enough, and Zeke zipped through the earth, erupting upward when he reached the seer¡¯s position. She wasn¡¯t without a few more tricks of her own, though, and the moment he came free of the earth, a wave of water slammed into him, knocking him slightly off course. To counter it, Zeke used his racial gift to increase his weight, then doubled down on it by embracing [Weight of Two Worlds]. The effect was staggering, even for someone with his immense strength, but he weathered the wave like a true pillar of earth. Given time, the water could erode him well enough. But time was on his side, not the seer¡¯s. With his position assured, Zeke summoned his [Colossal Legion], and three bronze golems came to answer his call. The seer moved quickly, sending spears of water to tear into them, but even though their bronze husks were rent asunder, they were not living creatures, and as such, they marched on, surrounding her at Zeke¡¯s command. That was when he spoke. ¡°Seer. Surrender. Let me pass. I have no wish to kill you,¡± he stated, his voice strained from the massive weight on his shoulders. [Weight of Two Worlds] affected her as well, and she could barely remain upright, even with three watery claws holding her aloft. ¡°No surrender,¡± she hissed, raising her hand. Zeke never knew what she intended, because he chose to end the threat, there and then. He¡¯d given her a chance, which was more than he probably could have expected if their roles were reversed. The golems, which were all armed with spears he¡¯d looted in the war against the hill giants, stabbed forward. The naga seer tried to block their attacks with a wall of water, but the golems were inexorable. Intractable. Indefatigable. And ultimately, unstoppable. Still, it took a few moments for the spears to make it through, and when they did, the seer tried to summon another bubble. But it was weak ¨C much weaker than the last ¨C and it burst under the pressure the golems brought to bear. Zeke considered stepping in and ending it himself. He had no doubt that he could. And yet, he stood aside, and let his legion do the job he¡¯d summoned them to do. Even so, he forced himself to watch as they stabbed her to death. After all, even if he didn¡¯t hold the weapons, he was ultimately responsible for his death. The least he could do was watch her last moments. And so he did. She fell only a few seconds later, and her body was swept away by the current. When she was gone, Zeke turned to the gathered naga. The battle had taken him a few dozen yards out into the river, and yet, he could clearly see the surprise writ large on their faces. They hadn¡¯t expected him to win, but then again, creatures like those were probably incapable of knowing their places in the world. ¡°What do you think will happen to them?¡± Zeke asked inwardly. Eveline said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. They¡¯ll be fine, though.¡± ¡°Do you really believe that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just trying to keep you from adopting another population of monsters,¡± she said. ¡°One is enough.¡± That hadn¡¯t even been on Zeke¡¯s mind, and tempting though it was to take the naga in, he knew it was impractical. For one, they were just ordinary monsters. By comparison, Mikaena had spent decades ¨C perhaps even centuries ¨C preparing the kobolds for sapience. They were special. The naga were not. And besides, he didn¡¯t have any bodies of water within the tower, so he had no place to put them. ¡°For now,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Give it a few years, and I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll change.¡± That brought Zeke up short, but ultimately, he decided that she was right. He didn¡¯t need to adopt another group of monsters. So, without any more thought, he sent one of his golems back to tell Pudge and the others to enter the tower. He¡¯d give it until he reached the other side of the river before he dismissed the gate, then summoned a new one on the other side. Once the golem was on its way, Zeke waded into the river, then shifted back to his natural form so he could swim across. As he did, he wondered if abandoning the naga was the right thing to do. By the time he reached the other bank, he still had no real answers. 412. Adontis Towering trees stretched high into the sky, their limbs forming a dense canopy through which very little light could penetrate. Zeke had never seen the redwood forests back on Earth, but he¡¯d seen enough pictures to understand how huge they really were. However, the trunks of the trees currently surrounding him were at least three times the size of even the most massive of redwoods, and likely far older as well. ¡°Legends say that there used to be a race of ents that lived here,¡± said Eta, who¡¯d come out of the tower specifically to lay eyes on the forest known as The Old Growth. ¡°Used to be? What happened to them?¡± asked Sasha. The boarkin girl had chosen to accompany her friend, though she looked ill-at-ease in the ancient woods. Zeke could sympathize with that feeling. Usually, he took his size for granted. Especially in his colossal form. And yet, the ancient trees of The Old Growth made him feel absolutely miniscule in a way nothing since the cyclops back in the dungeon had. Eta answered, ¡°They were hunted down and used as natural treasures. A few might have survived, but if they did, they will have been sentenced to a life of captivity, displayed in the tiny gardens in some twisted villain¡¯s menagerie.¡± That sounded like she had some experience with such a situation, so Zeke asked, ¡°Do you know this for sure?¡± ¡°Adontis is not kind to non-humans,¡± she said. ¡°That is what they do with what they deem curious specimens. I have no idea if an ent would have qualified as such. Or if they would be interesting enough to overcome the undeniable value consuming them might offer. But if any survive, they would likely rather have perished with all of their kin.¡± She painted a grim and unflattering picture of the people of Adontis. Of course, Zeke had already been briefed on the Kingdom. Almost entirely human, they were equal parts xenophobic, racist, and overbearing. Moreover, they were a vassal state of a familiar force ¨C the followers of Shar Maelaine that were called the Radiant Host. Zeke had thought himself rid of the Sun Goddess¡¯s influence, but it seemed that she held sway even in the Eternal Realm. And just like in the Radiant Isles, Zeke felt like he was on a collision course with her loyal followers. He sighed, then said, ¡°We¡¯re not here to fight them.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Eta responded. ¡°But if they stand against us or try to bar our passage, then we¡¯ll show them the same mercy we showed the giants,¡± he stated. Zeke had no intention of seeking out a war, especially against an established force like the Knights of Adontis. From the centaurs, he¡¯d learned that they were powerful fighters who ruled their little strip of land with an iron fist. From an individual perspective, they were much weaker than the hill giants, but as a collective nation, they were far superior to the forces of Berghem. Still, something told him that he wouldn¡¯t be given a choice in the matter. The Knights of Adontis were not known for welcoming outsiders, and Zeke knew that if they suspected his cambion nature. They¡¯d hunt him to the end of their endurance. After all, Zeke hadn¡¯t forgotten that he was half demon, which meant that he was likely enemy number one in both heaven and hell. ¡°I would expect no less,¡± Eta stated, stepping forward to rest her palm against the giant tree. It looked a bit like an oak, though one blown far out of proportion. She sighed, the leaned her forehead against the trunk. Zeke felt a stirring of mana, but it was gentle and unthreatening. Not at all like a skill. ¡°It is her attunement,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± was Zeke¡¯s response, though he didn¡¯t utter it aloud. To do so would have felt like an intrusion into something that felt far more meaningful than it appeared to be at first glance. After a few seconds, Eta let out a long sigh, then pulled away. Tears decorated her cheeks as she turned to Zeke and said, ¡°May I return to the tower now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go, too,¡± Sasha said. Zeke looked at his other companions who¡¯d so far remained silent. Neither Jasper nor Pudge seemed eager to go back to the tower, though that wasn¡¯t unexpected. They preferred the outdoors, though for different reasons. Zeke suspected that Jasper found living in such close proximity to the kobolds uncomfortable. He didn¡¯t dislike them, but he¡¯d fought their kind on enough occasions that wariness was a natural response. As for Pudge, he enjoyed roaming the wilderness too much to spend more time in the tower than absolutely necessary. More than once, Zeke had heard whispered arguments between the former dire bear and his boarkin¡­girlfriend? He had no idea if they were officially a couple, but they certainly acted like it. Especially when it came to Sasha¡¯s explicit preference for Pudge¡¯s company. So, to placate her, Pudge spent more time than he probably wanted to within the confines of the tower. ¡°It¡¯s so cute that you think he doesn¡¯t want to be there just as much as she wants him there,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Not discussing this,¡± Zeke muttered in his own head. ¡°And stop listening in on my private thoughts. It¡¯s creepy.¡± Eveline just giggled, which was just about the most dismissive response she could have mustered. Still, Zeke ignored it ¨C mostly ¨C as the two women went back through the summoned gate. Then, they set off through The Old Growth. Fortunately, the enormous trees were far apart, and little undergrowth survived the murky shade of such a dense canopy. So, traveling through the forest was easy enough. Every now and then, one of the kobold rangers who functioned as the party¡¯s scouts returned to give Zeke a report on their surroundings, but they had yet to encounter any intelligent life. But there were monsters aplenty ¨C from large, antlered wendigos to a couple of huge, horned hares and everything in between ¨C but they encountered nothing particularly dangerous. Certainly, if they let their guard down for longer than a few minutes, they would¡¯ve been victimized by the monsters of the forest, but so long as they kept their wits about them, they were just fine. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Of course, three days into their forest journey, that all came to a sudden and inevitable end when one of the scouts came sprinting in their direction. Zeke couldn¡¯t remember the ranger¡¯s name, but he¡¯d become familiar enough with the kobolds to recognize that he was male. That was progress, as far as he was concerned. The ranger skidded to a stop, then bowed low. Zeke immediately saw that the kobold was injured ¨C a large gash on his shoulder ¨C but it hadn¡¯t slowed the small fellow down. That ability to endure was typical of the kobolds, and Zeke thought that they¡¯d gotten it ¨C at least in some part ¨C from him. ¡°What is it?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Seven men. On horses. Armored,¡± panted the ranger. ¡°They got Kitik. Don¡¯t know about Leanasa.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t put faces to those names, but he assumed they were the rest of the ranger¡¯s scouting trio. That the ranger had escaped was by design; they hunted in trios specifically so that, if they found something truly dangerous, two could slow the threat down while the third ran away and reported the danger. ¡°How far?¡± ¡°A mile. Less, maybe.¡± Zeke looked down at the little ranger, then summoned the tower gate. ¡°Go inside. Get healed. We¡¯ll take it from here.¡± The kobold looked as if he wanted to argue, but he clearly thought better of it. The rangers could fight, and in some of the running battles in the mountains, they¡¯d proved themselves worthy combatants. But one ranger wasn¡¯t going to make much of a difference in the coming confrontation, and the kobold knew it. So, instead of arguing, he obeyed Zeke¡¯s order and went inside. For his part, Zeke was already shifting into his unattuned colossal form. When the kobold disappeared into the tower, Zeke dismissed it, then turned to Pudge and said, ¡°I need to know where they are.¡± Pudge nodded, then took off. Before he was ten feet away, he seemed to disappear completely. If it wasn¡¯t for the bond they shared, he would have been entirely undetectable. Jasper started drumming his fingers on his belt and humming a wordless melody, sending a jolt of energy through Zeke. It was only a couple of minutes before Pudge returned, and when he did, he said, ¡°They¡¯re coming this way.¡± ¡°Alright. Jasper, stay out of the way,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Pudge, skirmisher.¡± That was all Pudge needed to hear before he loped off into the woods, disappearing behind one of the large trees. Meanwhile, Jasper asked, ¡°Should we bring some of the kobolds out of the tower?¡± ¡°No need. There are only seven.¡± ¡°Seven men of indeterminate power.¡± ¡°If the ranger escaped, they can¡¯t be that strong,¡± Zeke reasoned. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t want to risk the kobolds being discovered.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll risk us?¡± Zeke nodded, then grinned at his friend. ¡°You¡¯re an elf. They won¡¯t kill you, right?¡± ¡°No ¨C they will do worse. And what about Pudge? They hate beastkin more than any others.¡± ¡°If they lay a hand on either one of you, it¡¯ll be the last mistake they ever make,¡± Zeke vowed, his voice suddenly serious. He could stomach a lot. He didn¡¯t take it personally when people attacked him. But the moment someone took the fight to his friends, then that was when he would stop holding back. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jasper stated. After that, Zeke positioned himself between a pair of massive trees. Jasper retreated out of sight, and as far as Zeke could tell, Pudge was circling around so he could hit the would-be attackers from the rear. Finally, he heard the steady staccato beat of horse¡¯s hooves that announced the knights¡¯ imminent arrival. His fingers tightened on the haft of his hammer, and he waited until, a few moments later, the first came into view. The man astride a snow white horse wore glimmering armor that looked more like silver than the steel he might¡¯ve expected, and it bore quite a lot of embellishments in the form of runic designs. They weren¡¯t active. Zeke retained enough of his runecrafting path to recognize that. It was as if someone had been commissioned to copy the look, but without the magic to back it up. Another rider followed. Then another. And another after that. They kept coming until there were a full seven knights bearing down on Zeke. They were all similarly armored, and they each carried long lances. To Zeke, they looked like stereotypical fairy tale knights, though he could practically feel their killing intent as they came to an abrupt stop. One of the horses snorted as the presumed leader flipped up the visor of his helmet, revealing a visage of chiseled masculinity. Zeke instantly hated him. ¡°What do you want?¡± Zeke demanded. ¡°What are you?¡± the knight spat. ¡°Monster or man?¡± ¡°Bit of both, if I¡¯m honest,¡± Zeke answered. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat ¨C what do you want?¡± That was when he noticed the pair of kobold bodies strapped across one of the horses¡¯ backside. Or rather, what was left of them. They¡¯d been mutilated beyond easy recognition, and it looked like someone had tried to skin them. ¡°No. Never mind. I don¡¯t care,¡± he said. The leader started to say something, but he never got a word out before Zeke leaped in his direction, moving so quickly that the knight could offer no resistance as Voromir crashed into him. Briefly, Zeke felt a bit of resistance in the form of a shield of flashing light, but it quickly shattered beneath his might. The knight¡¯s skull followed soon after, exploding in a shower of skull, silvery metal, and brain. At that moment, Pudge struck. Zeke had only seen his companion¡¯s newest attack skill from afar, but even then, he knew it was powerful. Still, he was surprised when, out of nowhere, a wave of black fire erupted into being and swept across the horses. Even as it did, the men burst, one after another until, finally, the fire dissipated. When Pudge reappeared, his claws were bloody, and six knights had been torn practically to pieces. Still, two had managed to survive, though only barely. Zeke wasted no time before dispatching them with his hammer. It had all happened in the space of five seconds, and seven men had died. Aside from that first shield, none of them had even managed to use a skill. ¡°Is that all?¡± asked Zeke, stepping forward to calm one of the horses. The others had already fled. It was only then that he saw another mounted figure in the distance. This one didn¡¯t ride a white horse. Instead, they rode a more ordinary, brown horse, and instead of shining, silvery plate, they wore rustic-looking leathers and wielded a bow. The moment Zeke locked his gaze on the rider, they wheeled their horse around and sped away. He didn¡¯t even need to tell Pudge to pursue before the bearkin took off through the woods at a blistering pace. As Pudge did that, Zeke and Jasper retrieved the bodies of the kobold rangers, then laid them on the ground. A moment later, Zeke summoned the gate and sent Jasper to fetch one of the spiritweavers. As it turned out, Kianma was the one who responded, and after shaking her head sadly, she gathered the corpses and returned into the tower. Zeke watched her go, feeling equal parts impotent, frustrated, and angry. He knew it was unreasonable to feel so powerless. He¡¯d taken his revenge well enough. However, killing those knights had done nothing to assuage his ire. Indeed, it only served as fuel for his frustration. It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d lost people. The war with the hill giants had claimed its fair share of casualties. And yet, the guilt he felt was still just as potent as it had been the very first time he¡¯d watched one of the kobolds die. Those thoughts accompanied Zeke as he looted his enemies, then ushered the horse through the gate. It didn¡¯t want to go, but in the end, it acquiesced to his firm hand. Soon after he¡¯d passed it on to one of the former slaves, Pudge returned. ¡°Too fast,¡± he said. ¡°Got away.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Zeke muttered. If Pudge had been incapable of catching the rider, then no one would have done any better. Perhaps Talia, but she was still far away. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving, then. We don¡¯t want to be here when they come back with friends.¡± 413. Out of Sight, Out of Mind Zeke¡¯s feet thudded against the loamy ground as he followed Pudge through the Old Growth forest. The trees were so large and far apart that their traversal was only slightly more difficult than it had been back on the Mukti Plains. Still, the terrain was varied enough ¨C with streams, dried riverbeds, and subtle outcroppings of rock ¨C that it wasn¡¯t all smooth sailing. As such, the distance between them and their quarry had only grown lengthier over the past day of pursuit. It was also complicated by Zeke¡¯s insistence on maintaining his colossal form which, for all the strength and endurance it granted him, was ill-suited for speedy travel. However, he didn¡¯t want to let the form drop because he knew just how valuable a hidden identity could be ¨C especially given the pair of discoveries he¡¯d made only a few hours after defeating the Knights of Adontis. The first concerned the identities of the warriors he¡¯d killed. According to both Jasper and Eta, they were assuredly recruits fresh out of training, and as such, they¡¯d been given the unenviable duty of patrolling the small kingdom¡¯s borders. The only one who¡¯d had even a modicum of power ¨C at least by his allies¡¯ reckoning, which was based on the embellishments on the armor ¨C was the leader who Zeke had killed before he¡¯d had a chance to react. The rest were low-leveled and unremarkable, which told Zeke that, if he was confronted with a true Knight of Adontis, he would have a much more difficult battle ahead of him. The second discovery was that, when he was in his colossal form, his true identity was hidden by a simple label: Triune Colossus ¨C Level 50 To outsiders who didn¡¯t know any better, he would appear to be a monster. ¡°Appear? Right. You are a monster,¡± said Eveline. Zeke ignored her as he circled one of the massive trees, bounding over its roots as he followed Pudge. They had considered simply fleeing across Adontis and hoping to outrun any pursuit. However, when Sasha had pointed out that such a journey would take weeks ¨C even though, on the map, the kingdom looked like a tiny sliver of land, the scale was such that it was hundreds of miles wide and many times that in length ¨C Zeke had chosen to chase the mysterious rider. But despite their constant pursuit lasting more than a day, they still hadn¡¯t caught sight of the scout. In fact, according to Pudge¡¯s senses, the distance between them had grown even larger, meaning that the rider was steadily leaving them behind. Still, Zeke held out hope that they would catch up when their quarry finally had to rest. After all, no one could keep going indefinitely. Even Zeke, for all his advantages, would eventually be forced to stop. He was banking on his high endurance and the effects of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to let him last longer than his intended prey, though. However, after only a few hours more, he thundered to a stop when the forest came to an abrupt end. Stretching to the horizon was nothing but cultivated fields. In some grew grain. Others played host to tall stalks of corn. But in the distance, Zeke saw a variety of plants he couldn¡¯t identify. ¡°Farms,¡± Pudge said. ¡°What does it mean?¡± ¡°Civilization,¡± he answered. ¡°There¡¯s probably a city nearby. Or at least a village.¡± Fortunately, the light had already failed, and so there was little chance that they would be seen. It did present a choice, though. Would they keep going? Or would they head toward their eventual destination? According to the maps, that would take some time, and Zeke had been told that the lands of Adontis were heavily patrolled. In the end, he knew that, if they were going to cross the kingdom, they needed more information. And given that the kobold rangers had already proven themselves incapable of staying hidden, even from the green troops sent to patrol the border, Zeke expected that they would have to get that intelligence some other way. ¡°It¡¯s obvious, isn¡¯t it?¡± said Eveline. ¡°Is it? Enlighten me.¡± ¡°You should just walk in,¡± the former demoness said. ¡°Think about it. You look human. These people are human supremacists. Shouldn¡¯t be that hard to blend in. You can find their city, give it a nice look, and then continue on your way like nothing¡¯s wrong. If they stop you, you¡¯re just another human, right?¡± That idea certainly had merit. As far as Zeke knew, he was still virtually indistinguishable from the human being he¡¯d once been. Certainly, he had a few extra scars, but that wasn¡¯t so uncommon that it would be noteworthy. And even if it was noticed, it wouldn¡¯t mark him as anything but what he appeared to be. Still, the idea of sneaking around just didn¡¯t sit right with him. ¡°Oh, grow up. We all have to do things we don¡¯t want to do,¡± Eveline chided. She wasn¡¯t wrong. So, Zeke told Pudge his plan, and though the former dire bear didn¡¯t particularly like the idea of being left on the sidelines, he couldn¡¯t disagree that it was a viable plan. Even so, Zeke retreated into the forest where he summoned the gate. Once it had manifested, he sent Pudge back inside to fetch the others while he stood watch. No dangers presented themselves before the tower¡¯s major players ¨C Kianma, Sasha, Pudge, Jasper, and Silik ¨C all joined him. He explained Eveline¡¯s plan, then asked, ¡°Any objections?¡± ¡°Many,¡± said Kianma. ¡°You don¡¯t know Adontis¡¯s history,¡± Sasha added. ¡°They¡¯re almost as bad as the Radiant Host when it comes to how they treat non-humans. If they find out you have such a large population of kobolds ¨C let alone the other races in the tower ¨C at your beck and call, they¡¯ll do everything they can to kill or enslave you. They¡¯ll send whole armies.¡± ¡°You seem to know a lot about them.¡± ¡°By necessity,¡± Sasha responded. ¡°Before I left home, my father made certain that I knew what was out there. He talked about all the worst people on this continent, and the Knights of Adontis were near the top. They¡¯re monsters.¡± ¡°But if they think I¡¯m human, they won¡¯t know to treat me differently, right?¡± Zeke persisted. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°That should be the case,¡± Jasper pointed out. Then he shrugged, ¡°My people know of Adontis as well, and the human spies we¡¯ve sent into their territory have always gone unmolested.¡± ¡°And you think I can pass?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Unless they have very specific identification skills, yes,¡± said Jasper. ¡°Anything other than the basic [Inspect] or its variants are exceedingly rare.¡± Neither Kianma nor Silik had anything to add, mostly because they were almost entirely ignorant of the world outside of the environment beneath Min Ferilik. Hopefully, that would change over time, which was why he liked to include them even if they wouldn¡¯t be capable of contributing to the discussion. One day, they would be experienced enough to offer their input. After a few more minutes of discussion, the decision was made, and everyone else headed back into the tower. As soon as his companions were inside, Zeke let his colossal form fade, then checked to make sure he looked the part of an ordinary human. He had some clothing in the local style that he¡¯d looted from the knights he¡¯d killed, so he felt confident that he would fit in well enough. So, with his disguise finalized, Zeke set off through the forest in the direction Pudge had indicated he might find a road. Sure enough, after only an hour ¨C during which time the sun had set ¨C Zeke stumbled upon a wide road that, if he was honest, was little more than a cart path. Still, almost all roads eventually led somewhere, so Zeke set off in a direction that would take him past the fields he¡¯d seen. After another couple of hours, he caught sight of lights in the distance, and he hurried along until, at last, he reached a walled town. It was no fort, but the defenses were extensive enough that Zeke felt that it would be well-protected from all but the most determined of foes. Even as he approached, he ran through all the ways he would try to conquer it. A siege was possible. And the walls were far weaker than Berghem¡¯s had been. But Zeke caught sight of tall towers that, to his eyes, swirled with thick mana. That suggested that each one was far more than it appeared at first glance. Likely, those towers played host to some sort of powerful weapon meant to defend the city. Zeke hoped he wouldn¡¯t find out. And as he drew closer to the gate ¨C which was closed for the night, save for a smaller wicket gate to the side ¨C he once again began to wonder if he¡¯d made a mistake. If his nature was discovered, he¡¯d have a fight on his hands. And while he didn¡¯t think they would be able to kill him, Zeke knew that if he was attacked, he would be forced to go all out. That, in turn, meant that many people would have to die. And while he¡¯d already begun to think of the Knights of Adontis as enemies, the same couldn¡¯t be said for the people they ruled. Killing combatants was fine. Slaughtering innocents was decidedly worse, even if it usually couldn¡¯t be avoided. In any case, Zeke considered simply turning back around and taking his chances by traversing the kingdom without gathering any information. He might¡¯ve done it, too, if the guards hadn¡¯t already caught sight of him. Regardless, there were two good reasons not to simply go running off into the wilderness. First, he had no idea of the deployment of the Knights of Adontis. He needed that information if he was going to avoid confrontation. Second, the entire kingdom was a mystery; Sasha¡¯s map was great for a general picture of the world, but it wasn¡¯t very detailed. As such, it was impossible to plot a proper path through Adontis with only that map as a guide. Zeke intended to get something more detailed. And while he was at it, he wanted to investigate the state of the city while lying low just long enough to avoid whatever response might follow the slaughter of the patrol. Was it the best plan? Maybe not. But he couldn¡¯t think of anything better. ¡°Not surprising,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Thinking never has been your strong suit.¡± He knew she was only teasing him in an attempt to relieve the tension. However, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from responding, ¡°You¡¯re welcome to offer a better plan.¡± That only brought silence. Sometimes, she just liked to poke holes in whatever route he took while completely ignoring context and mitigating factors in an effort to feel superior. In any case, Zeke approached the wicket gate with a mixture of caution, anxiety, and feigned confidence. To his surprise, though, the pair of guards ¨C who pointedly did not look like knights ¨C let him through with almost no questioning. They asked his name, his reason for visiting Heartwood ¨C the town¡¯s name, no doubt ¨C and his origin, but Zeke bluffed his way through by reciting his well-rehearsed story, which established him as a trader from Westport whose caravan had been attacked by river naga. He claimed to be the only survivor. They could clearly see his level, so that was believable enough, so they didn¡¯t ask him any other questions. And just like that, he entered Stoneheart by passing through the wicket gate. The town beyond was much the same as Zeke had expected, based on what he¡¯d seen from afar. However, he had to admit that he was more than a little impressed by how clean everything was. Usually, any degree of urbanity was accompany by a commensurate level of filth. People ¨C whatever species ¨C were invariably dirty, selfish creatures, and those traits were almost always on full display in cities. But Heartwood was spotless. The cobblestone streets were clean and free of debris, waste, and detritus. The walls were graffiti free, and even the pedestrians seemed well-fed, clean, and in good cheer. After everything Zeke had been told about Adontis, it certainly wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d expected. ¡°Look closer,¡± said Eveline in his mind. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve passed at least a dozen slaves since you walked through that gate.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zeke muttered, looking around while trying not to gawk. And then he saw them. The elves, all wearing thick, woolen robes and following a couple of steps behind much more richly dressed humans. Zeke hadn¡¯t noticed them because their distinctive features were hidden under hoods. However, once he knew what he was looking for, they were obvious to anyone who¡¯d ever seen an elf¡¯s graceful gait. Once Zeke started noticing them, he saw them everywhere. They really weren¡¯t that numerous. Not compared to the humans. However, one slave would¡¯ve been too many, and so, Zeke found that the sight of even a handful was nearly overwhelming. But it was nothing compared to when he passed the beastkin pens. Hundreds of them, all being ushered into cages. None of them were permitted clothing, and most looked so downtrodden that they could only shuffle from one place to another. As Zeke watched, he caught snippets of conversation that told the story of what was happening. The beastkin were used to work the fields, though, because they weren¡¯t allowed even a modicum of freedom ¨C the city¡¯s residents considered them extremely dangerous ¨C they were required to be housed in the pens in the city. ¡°Don¡¯t do something stupid,¡± Eveline cautioned, bringing Zeke¡¯s attention to the fact that he was on the verge of embracing [Triune Colossus] and laying the city to waste. ¡°Do what you came to do. Be smart. For once in your life, think.¡± Zeke¡¯s fist trembled with unspent anger ¨C the sort he hadn¡¯t really felt since he¡¯d first walked into the troll¡¯s larder filled with human bodies. That simultaneously felt like a lifetime ago and as if it had only just happened. He still remembered it in his nightmares. What he felt standing there in Heartwood and staring at those unfortunate people was similar. And yet, there were others depending on him. He couldn¡¯t just haul off and throw himself against an entire city. If he did, he would end up dead. And then, what would happen to the kobolds in his tower? What about Pudge? And Eta? Kianma? No ¨C for once, he needed to follow Eveline¡¯s advice. So, with some degree of difficulty, he pulled himself away and continued on to the inn that had been mentioned by one of the guards. Once he entered, he was beset by a cheerful atmosphere that only served to stoke his anger. How could these people be so happy when such suffering was happening only blocks away? It was maddening. And yet, he understood it. It was so much easier to look at those beastkin and see monsters, especially when the humans stood to benefit. Suffering wasn¡¯t difficult to endure when it was happening to someone else ¨C especially when the other party looked different. Eveline said, ¡°Just find your maps. Get your information. And then we can leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do the first two. But I have no intention of leaving without freeing those people,¡± he said. 414. Living by a Code Zeke seethed. At some point, he¡¯d forgotten what true anger felt like. So often, he was subjected to the artificial fury that came from fueling his skills with demonic corruption. That had given him an erroneous perception of the debilitating nature of true rage. Sure, under the influence of demonic mana, he was often too angry to even think. But the real thing ¨C the sort that came from his own heart and mind ¨C was something entirely different. It didn¡¯t just overwhelm him like a tidal wave. Instead, it was more like a roiling storm surge, slowly rising until there was nothing else left. And as he sat in that tavern, surrounded by so many normal sights and sounds, he was very close to boiling over. It didn¡¯t matter if the timing was right. Nor was he concerned with the consequences of any potential actions. Beneath that flood of real and potent emotion, little else mattered. He gritted his teeth, then forced himself to take a deep breath. Then another. And another after that. Gradually, he reached some degree of calm, though beneath the surface, a tempest of unmitigated fury continued to rage. Out of the corner of his eye, Zeke watched the tavern¡¯s other patrons. Most were normal people, dressed in the local fashions, which put Zeke in mind of the American old west. The materials were different, and the cuts were a little odd, but there was something about their attire that reminded Zeke of the westerns his father favored. That definitely didn¡¯t help Zeke¡¯s mood. The tavern itself was all rough wood and simple design, and the meal he¡¯d just finished was more of the same. However, even if it was a relatively normal supper of roasted meat, potatoes, and some vegetables he didn¡¯t recognize, Zeke found it all disgusting ¨C because he knew the price that had been paid for harvesting those vegetables. For raising the livestock. Even the servers were pretty elves ¨C both male and female ¨C each bearing a vivid brand on their necks. ¡°Slave brand,¡± Eveline said. ¡°They¡¯re widely used in Hell.¡± ¡°What do they do?¡± ¡°They drain mana,¡± she said. ¡°All of it. Notice how lethargic they are?¡± ¡°Mana deprivation,¡± he guessed. Usually, using all of one¡¯s mana resulted in a headache and a period of weakness. However, if the drain continued, it would start eating into a person¡¯s stats, effectively rendering them no more powerful than people on Earth. Needless to say, when their masters had the relative power of comic book superheroes, that would make the slaves that much easier to control. ¡°It¡¯s very effective,¡± Eveline agreed. ¡°Fortunately, it would be useless on you. Nothing can block your Will. Except for a stronger Will, of course, but it¡¯s almost impossible to put that kind of thing into a slave brand. If you¡¯d followed your runecrafting path, you might¡¯ve managed it. But now, the best you can do is break them. Of course, doing that would require a significant degree of control on your part.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t need her to remind him of his deficiencies. If he tried to use the Runebreaker technique on a person, the residual impact would likely rip them to pieces. It would be especially deadly for people under the effects of a slave brand. With their stats having been degraded, they would have almost no defense ¨C natural or otherwise ¨C against the expression of his Will. He refocused on the task at hand. After spending a little more time in the city, he¡¯d accomplished both of his main goals. Not only had he purchased a few maps ¨C using the gem-like beads that were the Eternal Realm¡¯s currency ¨C but he¡¯d also gathered enough information that he now knew he¡¯d made the right choice when he¡¯d foregone the plan to simply cross Adontis without direction. If he¡¯d done that, there was every chance he would never have discovered the way, because there was a labyrinth that cut through the center of the kingdom. It had grown out of a dungeon, and it went on for miles, effectively slicing the country in half. If he wanted to get to the undead Kingdom of El¡¯kireth, he would need to either traverse the labyrinth or go hundreds of miles out of his way. However, the way through was well-known, and though it was dangerous, the Knights of Adontis had positioned a series of forts along the intended path, rendering it much safer than it otherwise should have been. But without a map ¨C or the foreknowledge that there was a way through the labyrinth ¨C it would have been almost impossible. What¡¯s more, it was apparently very easy for unwary travelers to stumble into the dungeon. Usually, those were never seen again. Still, that dungeon was one of the reasons the Knights of Adontis were relevant at all. They used it to funnel valuable kill energy as well as the rewards for conquering the dungeon into their people, giving them a much higher level of advancement than they should have expected otherwise. Of course, it wasn¡¯t possible to simply run the same dungeon over and over again in order to take advantage of the rewards. After the first time, both the experience and rewards were significantly reduced. And that decrease continued until, after the fourth run, a prospective adventurer would get nothing out of it. Even so, it was a great boon for their development, which was why they¡¯d garnered the interest of their vassal state in the first place. Idly, Zeke wondered if the Radiant Host ¨C and their host, which was called The Luminous Empire ¨C was as corrupt as the Radiant Isles back in the Mortal Realm. Given that they obviously sanctioned slavery ¨C or at least looked the other way when it came to their allies ¨C the chances were high. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. In addition, Zeke had learned that there was a large contingent of Knights that had been deployed to Heartwood. Estimates ranged from a couple of thousand to more than ten times that number, but Zeke suspected it was on the lower end of that approximation. Mostly, that belief was based on the size of the city, which he doubted was large enough to accommodate such a force. Still, Zeke intended to discover the truth before he moved on. So, with that in mind, he finished his meal, paid the enslaved elf who was his server, then left the tavern behind. Once again, he found himself traversing the clean and ordered streets of Heartwood, though now that he knew why everything was so tidy, he couldn¡¯t look at it as anything but the filth it represented. He ambled through the city, and though his attire was a little out of place, he barely garnered any interest. There were other foreigners in the city, each one plainly belonging to a different culture. They were all human, though. Or in Zeke¡¯s case, they at least looked the part. And so, they were accepted by dint of their species. Even though he appreciated the anonymity such acceptance provided, Zeke was still disgusted. That feeling was especially strong each time he passed an enslaved elf or heard someone mention the beastkin who worked their fields as manual laborers. So, by the time he reached the city¡¯s barracks, his anger had very nearly overcome his good sense. Fortunately, Zeke had some experience with wrangling his emotions, so he kept himself from acting according to the thoughts racing through his mind. However, buried only just below the surface was the surety that he would make the city and its residents pay for their sins. Perhaps not immediately. Maybe it would take weeks. Or months. It could even be years. But one day, he would tear it all down. That stoked the fires in his soul, but it was also strangely soothing. In any case, it allowed Zeke to think clearly, which was the most important thing at present. The barracks were housed in a large, stone castle, and Zeke estimated that it would hold at least a few thousand knights. He couldn¡¯t be more specific than that, so he was incapable of confirming or denying the various rumors he¡¯d heard. That wasn¡¯t to say that he didn¡¯t uncover some information, though. He discovered that the Knights of Adontis mostly kept to themselves. Every now and then, one would leave the castle, but for the most part, they remained within. That was a good thing, because it kept all of Zeke¡¯s enemies in one place. ¡°I don¡¯t like what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Eveline said. ¡°There¡¯s no reason to ¨C¡± ¡°There¡¯s every reason, Eveline,¡± he said, cutting her off as he stared at the castle. ¡°Thousands of them, most in cages.¡± ¡°Ezekiel¡­¡± Zeke tuned her out, largely because he didn¡¯t want to be talked out of doing something that, in his soul, he desperately wanted to do. In fact, he needed it in a way he couldn¡¯t quite wrap his brain around. He¡¯d seen injustices before, but they¡¯d never hit him quite as hard as what he¡¯d seen in Heartwood. Once, he¡¯d considered himself one of the good guys, and during his time in the Radiant Isles, he¡¯d lost sight of that. Barely a day passed when he didn¡¯t feel some degree of regret over leaving the Mortal Realm in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. At the time, it had made some degree of sense. But mostly, he had just been angry ¨C at Abby, at the people of Jariq, at everyone who¡¯d tried to kill him along the way ¨C and he¡¯d made every excuse to leave it all behind. There was even an argument to be made that he¡¯d ultimately made the smart choice. Fighting a war against an army of zombies ¨C some of which were already more powerful than him ¨C was a good way to end up dead. And yet, smart or not, he still regretted that he¡¯d turned his back on people who¡¯d needed his help. He didn¡¯t want to do that again. His conscience wouldn¡¯t bear it. If he kept going down that road, his demonic side might truly take over. It would be a gradual fall, but every step he took on that path would turn him inevitably toward evil. Because no one started off as the bad guy. It was the result of hundreds of smaller choices, each supported by logic ¨C skewed or not ¨C and excused by all sorts of reasoning. Then, one day, they would cross a line. Just a little. And that would make sense, too. But every step past that line would be easier and easier until, at last, they descended into true villainy. Zeke wouldn¡¯t allow himself to go down that road. He wasn¡¯t perfect, though. He knew he would kill. But he did intend to live his life based on his own code of morality. And as far as he was concerned, what was happening in Heartwood crossed every line he could conjure. As a result, he had already set himself on the path to doing something about it. To that end, he retreated to a disused alley in a nearly abandoned part of the city, where he summoned his gate. The moment it had manifested, he stepped inside and told one of the waiting kobolds what he wanted. Then, he headed back outside to wait. A few minutes later, he was joined by his most trusted confidants. Pudge, Jasper, Sasha, Eta, and Kinma all wore thick cloaks intended to hide them from casual observation, while Silik did the same, though he added a significant hunch to his posture. It wouldn¡¯t stand up to close scrutiny, but Zeke hoped they wouldn¡¯t be exposed for long enough for that to matter. Once everyone had joined him, he dismissed the gate. Then, he told them his plan. To their credit, none of them objected. After he explained his reasoning, everyone was entirely onboard. The only question was how they intended to accomplish their goals. ¡°Poison,¡± Pudge said. ¡°They eat. They drink. We can poison their food and ¨C¡± ¡°It would have to be some poison,¡± Eta said. ¡°I might have something that can help, but it won¡¯t kill them. It would take a real alchemist to make something that would affect people their level.¡± Zeke wished Tucker was around, but he¡¯d made his choice about who to seek out first. He had no choice but to stick with it. ¡°How long will it take?¡± he asked. ¡°Six or seven hours,¡± she answered. ¡°Alright. We need you to get on that,¡± he said, summoning the gate again. ¡°Kianma, Silik, get the troops ready. Pudge, I want you ready to move as soon as Eta finishes her poison. You¡¯re the stealthiest person we have, so it¡¯s going to be up to you to sneak in there.¡± He turned to Sasha and Jasper, asking, ¡°Anything to add?¡± Sasha shook her head, saying, ¡°I could probably bring the castle down if you want, but¡­¡± ¡°But there are innocents in there. I know,¡± Zeke finished. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯re our secret weapon. If we need to drop a meteor on someone or something, that¡¯s when you¡¯re up.¡± She looked down and wrung her hands. ¡°I guess¡­¡± After that, everyone retreated into the gate, leaving Zeke once again alone. Mostly. There was always Eveline, and she made her opinion known when she said, ¡°You do understand that if you go through with this plan, you¡¯re going to start another war. And this one won¡¯t be over in a month or two. It could take years. Thousands are going to die. These Knights of Adontis are a proper faction with real power. They¡¯re not barely-more-than-monsters hill giants living in isolated mountains.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°Then why do it?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°You have what you came for. We could move on. We could get through that labyrinth and find your friend in weeks. Maybe a month. Isn¡¯t that what you want?¡± ¡°Some thing are more important than doing what I want to do.¡± 415. From Within ¡°You don¡¯t have to do it,¡± Sasha said, resting her hand on Pudge¡¯s knee. ¡°I¡¯m sure he has another plan that doesn¡¯t involve you sneaking behind enemy lines.¡± Pudge just shook his head. Sasha was smart ¨C far smarter than him, at least ¨C but there were some things she just didn¡¯t understand. One of those was his relationship with Zeke. They were family, and what¡¯s more, he knew just how far Zeke would go for him. The same was true from Pudge¡¯s perspective. If Zeke called, he would be there, and there was nothing that would change that. But just as importantly, Sasha had been sheltered all her life. She¡¯d been taught about how terrible people could be, but she¡¯d never seen it first-hand. Neither had Pudge, but he¡¯d seen enough violence that he had some context for what Zeke described. He might not have encountered much out-and-out slavery, but he could feel the tyranny of power right down to his core. And he was cognizant enough to know how unjust it could be. Next to that, academic knowledge was woefully inadequate. So, while Sasha was content to sit in the tower and do her research ¨C important thought it was ¨C Pudge had to live in the real world. That gave him context that she lacked, and that, in turn, spurred him to commit to Zeke¡¯s plan. But Sasha didn¡¯t have his history with Zeke. Nor did she truly understand the connection they shared. She had some ideas, mostly based on how she felt about her own siblings, but that paled in comparison to the bond he¡¯d developed with Zeke, from both a magical and mundane perspectives. ¡°I do have to do this,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s no one else.¡± ¡°The rangers could do it.¡± ¡°Not as well as I can,¡± he pointed out. That was indisputable. Once he¡¯d learned their methods and taken the time to practice ¨C especially during the war with the hill giants ¨C his abilities had far outstripped theirs, largely due to his path of stealth. The kobolds could go unseen, but their methods were all based on technique and skills. Pudge had those, too, but he was also equipped with his own Will, which set him apart and above. ¡°I know, but ¨C¡± He put his hand on her knee and squeezed. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said. ¡°They will never see me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that. You can¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°Have faith in me.¡± ¡°I do, but¡­¡± Her words trailed off. Pudge still wasn¡¯t completely certain of where their relationship stood. They were together, but she was hesitant. And he was incredibly inexperienced. The result was that they were fumbling through something neither had expected nor knew how to process. But one thing was certain: they cared about one another, and in a way that exceeded mere friendship. That had to be enough, at least for now. They would figure the rest out as they went along. In any case, Pudge had made his decision, and Sasha knew precisely how important it was to him, which meant that she wasn¡¯t going to force the issue. So it happened that, a little while later, Pudge found himself standing in the Entry Hall and waiting on Eta to arrive with her prepared poison. She came about ten minutes later, carrying a few large pack. When she reached him, she opened it to reveal that it was filled with a dozen smaller sacks. Each one contained white powder that she told him was poisonous if ingested. The plan was simple enough. He needed to sneak into the castle, find where they kept their food and drink, then poison everything. After that, his task was to escape, and when the Knights fell ill, Zeke would summon his gate so that the kobold army could attack the city from within. With any luck, it would be an easy battle. But Pudge knew better than to expect everything to go perfectly. So, when Zeke summoned the gate, Pudge squared his shoulders and stepped through, knowing that his mission would require the entirety of his ability. He found Zeke waiting on the other side, and the moment Pudge fully exited the tower, the gate shimmered and disappeared. ¡°You sure about this, buddy?¡± Zeke asked, putting his hand on Pudge¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yes. It needs to be done.¡± What he hadn¡¯t told Sasha was how strongly he felt about freeing the other beastkin. They weren¡¯t his people. He didn¡¯t know any of them, and they were entirely unrelated. However, he also felt a distinct kinship with them, and he knew that, but for a twist of fate that had put him in the Pale Moon Territory, he might have ended up among them. Perhaps even in Heartwood¡¯s cages. ¡°Alright. Be careful. If you have any doubts about whether or not you can stay hidden, just abandon the mission, okay? We can find another way to do this,¡± Zeke said. But Pudge knew the truth. The entire reason they were following the current plan was because it was the safest way to accomplish their goals. If he didn¡¯t succeed in mitigating the impact the Knights of Adontis could bring to bear, many kobolds would likely die in the ensuing battle. He and Zeke were confident that they could still win, but not without significant casualties. That meant that many lives hung on Pudge¡¯s ability to remain undetected and accomplish his mission without being detected. With that in mind, he set off, following the route provided by Zeke via a map he¡¯d spent the past hour memorizing. It was just past midnight, so, despite the prevalence of mana-powered lanterns providing light, there were plenty of shadows in which to hide. The environment, combined with Pudge¡¯s skill, [Concealed Steps], as well as his Will made him virtually undetectable. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Soon enough, he reached the castle, then circled around to the back entrance. There, he saw a pair of guards. According to Zeke, they weren¡¯t Knights of Adontis. Instead, they were members of the local constabulary. They looked the part, too. Instead of the heavy plate armor favored by the Knights, these guards wore chainmail beneath matching green tabards, and they were armed with halberds. Pudge inched forward, ready to bolt at the slightest indication that they could see through his attempts at stealth. However, even as he drew within a few feet, they showed no signs of noticing him. Still, he stood in place for almost a minute just to be certain. As he¡¯d expected, they still couldn¡¯t see him, so he gathered himself and crept through the entrance. Doing so reminded him of infiltrating the ice palace back on the tundra. Back then, he¡¯d spent quite some time avoiding the notice of ice goblins. And he¡¯d only grown more adept at stealth in the time since. So, he moved confidently and quickly as he passed through the gate and into the castle¡¯s courtyard. There, he saw a few sturdy outbuildings, but there was a distinct lack of Knights in the area. That was fine by Pudge, because he had no interest in dodging enemies as he searched for their food stores. His feet were silent as he crossed the courtyard to reach one of the side doors. There, he used [Bestial Senses] to determine whether or not anyone was on the other side. He didn¡¯t smell or hear anything to indicate anyone was around, so he reached out, turned the handle, and slowly pulled the door open. But only an inch. That was enough to give him a good view of the hall on the other side. Unfortunately, he saw a pair of guards about a dozen feet away. The distance, combined with the obstacle, was just enough of an obstruction to mask them from his senses. However, now that the door was open ¨C even if it was only a crack ¨C he could sense them clearly. Thankfully, neither looked particularly vigilant, and they hadn¡¯t noticed the slightly ajar door. But Pudge knew that if he opened any further, they would see. So, he let it gently close before continuing on his way. Three more times, he tried similar doors, but in each instance, there were multiple guards around. Until, finally, he found one with only a single sentry. That would have to do. So, Pudge waited until the man looked most inattentive, and then he pounced. Ripping the door open, he darted forward. The man never had a chance to react before Pudge had his giant claws wrapped around his throat. He squeezed, crushing his windpipe. Then, he thrust the sentry against the wall, pinning his arms in place. The guard struggled. Of course he did. But against Pudge, whose stats were far superior, it did no good. Still, it took a couple of minutes of constant pressure before the man passed out. A few minutes later, and he was dead. Knowing he couldn¡¯t leave any evidence behind ¨C which was why he hadn¡¯t simply ripped the guard¡¯s throat out ¨C Pudge hefted the man onto his shoulder, then stalked forward. While fighting the giants, he¡¯d learned that flexing his Will allowed him to conceal even a carried burden, and he used that to mask his presence as he searched for somewhere to dump the corpse. He found what he was looking for a few minutes later when he stumbled upon a small, empty closet. He deposited the body, then wedged the door shut. With that done Pudge continued on his way until, at last, he found a set of stairs that would lead him to the cellar. That¡¯s where the food and alcohol was supposed to be stored, at least if Zeke¡¯s eavesdropping was to be trusted. So, Pudge gradually made his way downstairs. As he did, the air grew colder until he became certain that it was under some sort of refrigeration enchantment. After rounding a switchback, he descended the last handful of steps and found himself in a cellar filled with crates and barrels. Clearly, he had reached his destination. Now, he just needed to accomplish the goal. So, he crossed the spacious cellar to the first set of kegs. * * * Zeke had positioned himself atop a building only a block away from the castle. Below, the owners ¨C who lived above the ground-level carpentry shop ¨C were fast asleep. For his part, Zeke had climbed the outer wall, so they¡¯d remained undisturbed. He¡¯d chosen that particular perch for one reason ¨C it offered a great line of sight to the castle so he could keep an eye out for Pudge. The first sign of a response, and he¡¯d accelerate his plans. He trusted Pudge¡¯s abilities, but he¡¯d learned his lesson long ago. Not having a backup plan was just asking for failure. And given what was at stake ¨C not only Pudge¡¯s life, but the lives of all the slaves in Heartwood ¨C Zeke couldn¡¯t afford to risk anything going wrong. But if it came down to choosing between Pudge and everyone else, he knew exactly which way he¡¯d go. It wouldn¡¯t even take any thought. ¡°Not very heroic of you,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Never claimed to be a hero,¡± was Zeke¡¯s reply. ¡°Funny way of showing it,¡± she remarked. ¡°You do know if you get yourself killed, I¡¯m going to die, too. I can¡¯t survive without you. Neither can anyone else in that tower of yours, in case that was at all ambiguous. If you die, the connection will sever, and they¡¯ll be cast adrift. That means, for all intents and purposes, they will cease to exist.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± He¡¯d given a lot of thought to that, and both he and Eveline agreed that if he died, the tower would go with him. And anyone unlucky enough to be inside when that happened would die. Maybe not quickly, and certainly not painlessly, but they would die all the same. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so committed to this,¡± she muttered. For his part, Zeke didn¡¯t respond. He and Eveline had already had that discussion, and he had no interest in revisiting it. He¡¯d made his decision, and that was that. ¡°Your way or the highway, huh?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± She huffed, but didn¡¯t continue. That allowed Zeke to resume his watch. For the longest time, nothing changed. He couldn¡¯t see Pudge, but he could feel him somewhere inside the main structure. Beyond that, though, he was entirely ignorant of his companion¡¯s whereabouts. The night slowly passed, and minutes turned to hours. Still, there was no sign of Pudge. Not until Zeke felt the beastkin coming in his direction. It was telling that, even when he knew where Pudge was, he couldn¡¯t really see him. Not even a shimmer announced Pudge¡¯s passage. Zeke held his breath when Pudge reached the gate, but he needn¡¯t have worried. Just as he had upon entering the castle¡¯s grounds, he exited completely undetected. Soon, Zeke felt the former dire bear ascending the wall and slipping onto the roof. Finally, Pudge let his skill ¨C and his Will ¨C fall away. Zeke asked, ¡°Is it done? Any issues?¡± ¡°No issues. I had to kill one, but I hid the body,¡± Pudge stated. ¡°All of their drink is poisoned.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Zeke responded, pushing himself to his feet. Then, he turned and reached out, gripping Pudge¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Good job.¡± Pudge gave a curious expression of relief, but he didn¡¯t verbally respond. Zeke said nothing else, either, and the two returned to the edge of the roof to resume their vigil. The poison didn¡¯t work instantly; instead, it took a while before the symptoms became apparent. By that time, the bulk of the knights¡¯ numbers would have been affected. Hopefully. So, Zeke settled down to wait. Once he saw the proper signs, the real battle could begin. 416. Surprise Attack The sun hung high in the sky as Zeke gazed at the castle across the street. When morning came, he had been forced to descend from on high, so the view wasn¡¯t as pristine as he would have preferred. However, he could still see the steady stream of healers going back and forth through the gates. The ones headed in had their heads held high, but the ones leaving all wore defeated expressions. Each and every one of them looked exhausted, with slumping shoulders and shuffling gaits. Eta had assured him that the poison, while not lethal, was almost entirely incurable. The only thing that could banish it was if someone were to utilize a healing-related path, and even that was only possible if it was fairly advanced. She¡¯d explained it by describing the mana-laced structure, but Zeke was ill-equipped to understand that sort of nuance. Instead, he¡¯d simply taken her word for it ¨C a good decision, given the results he saw before him. ¡°Do you think we should wait?¡± he asked, glancing at the sky. It was only just past noon, so nightfall was still hours away. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should do this at all,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°But if you have to do it, then you should go when you think the Knights are at their weakest. You need to figure out what you intend to do about civilians, though. Do you intend to murder everyone here?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But are you prepared to do so if that¡¯s what it takes?¡± she persisted. ¡°Because these people may not surrender. They may choose to fight, right down to the last one.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Are you sure? You¡¯re not just killing a few bad guys here. This is an assault on their entire way of life. Do you really believe that they¡¯re going to willingly start working those fields? Do you think they¡¯ll choose to start cleaning their own city? That they will give up their little elven toys without a fight?¡± Zeke frowned as he leaned against a building. He wasn¡¯t completely unobtrusive, but he¡¯d garnered far less attention than he had expected. Still, he wasn¡¯t concerned with a few curious glances. By the time those turned into angry demands, he would have already made his move. But Eveline posed a perfectly valid series of questions. Heartwood¡¯s entire economy ¨C indeed, their way of life ¨C had been built on slavery. Suddenly yanking that out from under them was never going to be anything but disastrous. It wasn¡¯t outside the realm of expectation that they wouldn¡¯t surrender to that without a significant struggle. So, the question remained ¨C how did Zeke intend to respond to their expected resistance? It was easy to contemplate killing soldiers and slavers, but it was something else altogether to exterminate shopkeepers and tradespeople. At the end of the day, though, Zeke knew that he couldn¡¯t afford to leave them alive. If they resisted, they would have to be dealt with, and harshly. Anything else would put the entire operation at risk. However, if the citizens of Heartwood surrendered or chose not to oppose Zeke and his army of kobolds, then they would be spared. ¡°They¡¯ll end up being a problem,¡± Eveline predicted. ¡°If you leave them alive, it will assuredly come back to bite you.¡± ¡°And if I exterminate a bunch of innocents, I¡¯ll be a monster. I can¡¯t do that, Eveline. Not without trying to avoid it.¡± ¡°The kobolds would be happy to do it. They don¡¯t have your morality problem,¡± she stated. ¡°You just have to point them at whatever you want to kill, and they¡¯ll do it. They don¡¯t care about humans any more than they cared about hill giants. Or monsters. Or anything else.¡± ¡°They will,¡± he responded. That was key to sapience, Zeke thought. The ability to value life, even if it belonged to your enemy. Some of the kobolds were already there. Certainly, Kianma was. But most of the centurions and legionnaires were still a long way off from displaying real empathy. ¡°Empathy and war cannot coexist. The moment you start trying to empathize with your enemy, you will lose the ability to win the war,¡± Eveline stated as if it was absolute fact. Zeke didn¡¯t dispute her claim ¨C at least not explicitly ¨C but he vowed to give the subject some thought. For now, though, the time for action had come. According to Eta, the poison had had plenty of opportunity to work, and the steady train of healers seemed to support that. So, there was no reason for further delay. Zeke pushed himself from the building upon which he¡¯d been leaning, then joined the flow of pedestrians as he made his way to the appropriate location. As it turned out, his destination was a large, disused building only a few blocks from the castle. It had clearly once been some sort of warehouse, but for whatever reason, it had been abandoned. That made it the perfect staging ground for his army of kobolds. Once inside, Zeke summoned his gate, and signaled for the first group of kobolds to exit the tower. The force, which was composed of two entire talons ¨C a hundred kobold legionnaires and ten centurions to each talon ¨C filed out of the gate to gather inside the warehouse. It was a tight fit, but there was just enough room for all of them. Zeke ordered the centurion in charge to wait for the signal before attacking their target. The towering kobold wasn¡¯t the brightest among his peers, but he was intelligent enough to follow those directions. So, with that assured, Zeke dismissed his gate, then left the warehouse behind. It took about five minutes for him to reach his second destination, which was a much smaller building on the other side of the castle. It was also abandoned, though its condition was much worse than the warehouse¡¯s. At some point in the recent past, it had been afflicted by a fire, so its stone walls were blackened, and the interior had been gutted. However, it was still suitable for Zeke¡¯s purposes. Once again, he summoned his gate, and another group of kobolds exited. These were all centurions ¨C an elite force of the most powerful warriors the kobold army could offer ¨C and they were led by Silik himself. Zeke didn¡¯t need to explain the plan; Silik knew his role, and if past actions were any indication, he was more than capable of accomplishing his task. So, Zeke didn¡¯t waste any more time before heading to the next destination, which was the third and final point of attack. It was also the most exposed, which was why he¡¯d left it for last. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The area was a small park on the north side of the castle, and though the flora offered a little cover, there was no way any sizable force could use it as a staging area without detection. So, Zeke had no intention of even trying. Still, when he summoned his gate, he did so beneath a sizable oak tree that he hoped would offer some obscurement. Almost as soon as the gate was up, Pudge led a contingent of kobold rangers as well as a few of the stealthier former slaves ¨C including Jasper ¨C through and into the park. There were only ten of them, but each one had some ability in concealment. That, coupled with one of Jasper¡¯s songs, would hopefully be enough to allow them to accomplish their mission unseen. ¡°You know what to do, right?¡± he asked. Pudge nodded. ¡°I do,¡± he said. ¡°Be safe.¡± With that, Pudge led them away, each one shifting into some degree of invisibility before they went more than a few feet. Bringing up the rear was Jasper, who¡¯d pulled out a set of reed pipes and had begun to play a haunting melody that Zeke recognized as the accompaniment of the bard¡¯s concealment song. The dark elf gave him a sly grin and a mock salute before fading from view. That¡¯s when the bulk of the army started to pile out of the gate. More than a dozen talons composed of a hundred-and-ten battle-hardened veterans. There were more kobold warriors that had remained within the tower, but that was a strategic decision. Zeke hoped to end the battle quickly, but the war against the giants had taught him to take fatigue into account with any battle plan. So, he¡¯d gotten into the habit of keeping a sizable contingent of reserves. Still, he hoped that he wouldn¡¯t need them. Once over a thousand kobolds had exited the gate, it was only a matter of time before they were noticed. Still, that was part of the plan. If everyone was looking at the main force, then the others were free to act according to their orders. The worst-case scenario was if, for whatever reason, the Knights as well as whatever other defense forces Heartwood possessed, didn¡¯t take the bait. As it turned out, Zeke was worried over nothing, and only ten minutes after the army had been assembled, the Knights responded. By that point, Zeke had already assumed his colossal form ¨C as much to conceal his human-passing identity as for the benefits it offered ¨C so he stood at the head of his army of kobolds when the Knights mounted a response. A hundred cavalry, all atop pure white horses and clad in gleaming silver armor, sallied forth from the closest gate. The sound of hooves on cobblestone streets was loud even from a few hundred yards away, and in that moment, Zeke understood just how terrifying it must¡¯ve been for ancient armies to face down a cavalry charge. As one, the charging Knights lowered their lances as they prepared to sweep through what they probably assumed was a collection of monsters. Zeke embraced [Hell Geyser], then stomped on the ground. A line of devastation cut through the park, throwing loamy earth high into the air as the skill raced forward to meet the charging Knights. Zeke had been practicing with the skill, but even so, it was difficult to time the eruption perfectly. So, he waited a little longer than absolute necessary, sparing the tip of the vanguard. The others were not so lucky. A gout of corrupted fire and earth exploded into being, engulfing the back half of the Knights¡¯ force. Zeke felt an influx of kill energy, telling him that at least a few of them had died. However, most survived, as was evident when the flames died a second later. They probably wished otherwise, though. Their armor still gleamed with silvery luster, but the people encased within screamed in horror and agony as the red hot metal melted onto their bodies. At the same time, their horses had been charred beyond all recognition, sending the Knights tumbling to the upturned earth where they writhed in agony. Zeke only managed to get a brief glimpse, but that was more than enough to hammer home two things. First, the Knights were durable enough ¨C whether it was due to the armor they wore or innate defenses ¨C to endure one of his most destructive abilities. But more than that, he couldn¡¯t ignore the very real cost of the battle. Those were human beings. They were evil. Or at least they¡¯d committed evil acts. However, it was hard to convince himself that they deserved to be cooked alive in their melting armor. Killing giants, dwarves, and monsters was one thing. Slaughtering human beings on such a massive scale ¨C and in such a brutal manner ¨C was something else altogether. Still, Zeke was committed. He only had to think of the evil society the Knights had enabled to steel his resolve. The remaining cavalry raced across the open ground, and Zeke stepped forward to meet them. As he did so, hundreds of kobolds ¨C all hulking masses of scales, claws, and muscle ¨C came with him. Zeke hefted his hammer and prepared to meet the charge. When the tip of the vanguard reached him, Zeke swept his hammer out, knocking the Knight¡¯s lance aside, then increased his weight as he braced for impact. His shoulder took the horse directly in the chest, stopping it cold. Bones crunched, and the horse screamed in agony ¨C which sent a pang of regret through his heart ¨C as the animal collapsed. The knight kept going, though, tumbling end over end until he landed amongst the second line of kobolds. Zeke didn¡¯t even need to look back to know that they took that opportunity to rip the unfortunate knight to pieces. A swirl of mana told Zeke that the man tried to activate some sort of skills, but the legionnaires buried him beneath the weight of numbers before he could bring his power to bear. By that point, Zeke had already moved on to the next target. And thus, the battle began, but it only lasted a few minutes ¨C filled with furious fighting ¨C before the last Knight fell before the combined might of Zeke and a thousand kobold killing machines. It was a brutal clash, but it was over much more quickly than some of Zeke¡¯s previous battles. Clearly, the Knights had underestimated them and hadn¡¯t responded with overwhelming force ¨C either in terms of numbers or their most powerful warriors. If they had, Zeke felt certain that the fight would have been much more difficult. Or at least lasted a little longer. Zeke looked down at the unfortunate victims. The Knights were his enemies, so he¡¯d accepted their deaths as necessary and inevitable. Even justified. And yet, he hadn¡¯t considered their mounts. All around him, he saw dead equines. Some were charred as a result of the kobolds¡¯ skills; they hadn¡¯t used [Spear of Memories] because Zeke wanted to keep it in reserve, but they¡¯d employed their light-based enhancements, which had burned the vulnerable horses. ¡°They weren¡¯t particularly vulnerable,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Didn¡¯t you [Inspect] them? There wasn¡¯t a single one below level forty. They¡¯re just agility and dexterity focused. Probably why you couldn¡¯t catch that scout before.¡± ¡°Still hate having to kill them,¡± he muttered. ¡°You committed to this.¡± ¡°I know.¡± He didn¡¯t have any room to lament his actions. He¡¯d made his choices, and now, he just had to live with them. To that end, he turned to one of the kobold centurions and said, ¡°Send up the signal. It¡¯s time for phase two.¡± The centurion nodded his scaley had, then darted back to the gate. He passed through, then reappeared about a minute later with one of the former slaves in tow. She was a tiny gnome wearing giant spectacles and sporting an elaborate hairstyle that doubled her height. When she arrived, she straightened her glasses, then cast a skill, sending a sizable fireball high into the sky. ¡°Thanks, Qin,¡± Zeke said aloud, his voice rumbling like an earthquake of clashing metals. She shivered in fear, then curtsied before scurrying back through the gate. Zeke just shook his head. Many of the former slaves were terrified of him. Part of that was due to his actions in Min Ferilik, but most had seen him fighting in enough battles since then to know just how fearsome he could be. ¡°Fear is necessary for any leader,¡± Eveline pointed out. He ignored her, instead turning to the kobolds and saying, ¡°Two minutes. Then we charge.¡± In the back of his mind, though, Zeke wondered how the others were doing. The plan could work without them, but it would end with a bloody battle if they didn¡¯t come through. Hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t come to that. 417. A Well-Laid Plan From within a burned-out husk of a building, Silik watched as a fireball soared through the sky. It was the signal for which he had been waiting, and he felt his muscles tense in anticipation of the battle to come. Turning to his battle-hardened and elite squad, he said, ¡°Come. We fight.¡± Twenty massive fists slapped against leather armor as the squad signaled their agreement. With that, Silik set out from the charred building at a dead sprint. As he did, he embraced [Lightforged], wrapping himself in bands of white illumination that sent a surge of strength through him. The others did the same, so when they dashed from the building, there was no missing their passage. They could only hope to mitigate their visibility with sheer speed. The area was mostly abandoned, and even the few pedestrians that would¡¯ve otherwise been there had retreated at the sounds and sights of battle on the other side of the castle. Still, there were a handful that remained in the immediate vicinity, and they blanched at the appearance of the kobolds. But that was the only reaction they were allowed before the legionnaires fell on them, ripping the civilians to pieces in the space of seconds. Their meager defenses were entirely ineffective beneath the sharp kobold claws, and the humans fell before they could even turn around. Ak-toh might hesitate to kill the civilians, but the kobolds would not. Silik restrained himself from using [Spear of Memories] as he swept forward, leading the charge as they tore through any humans they encountered. The robed elves and scattered beastkin laborers, they left alone. That had been one of Ak-toh¡¯s most stringent orders, and Silik would have rather died than disobey the savior¡¯s commands. Part of that was sheer respect and appreciation. Ak-toh had been chosen by the Mother to save them, and he¡¯d followed through. That alone made him worthy of obedience. However, that was only a portion of why Silik and the other kobolds revered him so thoroughly. The kobold general had personally seen Ak-toh do the impossible, and on more than one occasion. He¡¯d watched the man battle unending hordes of monsters, defeat incredibly powerful enemies, and unmake complex runes like it was nothing. To Silik, Ak-toh was akin to a god, and his status was only subordinate to the Mother herself. But more than anything else, Silik revered Ak-toh for one simple reason: because he¡¯d provided a home to the kobold people and given them the means to evolve into something better. Every time Silik saw one of his dull-eyed and less developed brethren, it felt like someone was stabbing him in the heart. The kobolds deserved better. The Mother had wanted more for them. And Ak-toh had provided. Every day, he saw more of his people claw their way out of monsterhood and into sapience. Soon, they all would. And then, nothing could stop them from ascending right beside their savior. With that surety driving him forward, Silik raced across the empty ground until they reached their destination. It was a small building about half a mile from the castle, but more importantly, it was the access point to the sewer system. They had considered entering it from the very beginning, but that route came with too much chance of discovery. It had been decided that the kobolds would wait for the signal elsewhere, then descend upon the sewers when the battle commenced. The castle had its own closed system that was separate from the city¡¯s sewers, but for a kobold, that didn¡¯t really matter. Silik and his squad only needed a sheltered and concealed location from which to dig. The fact that it was underground only meant that some of their work had already been completed. Fortunately, the castle¡¯s defenders were busy responding to or watching the fight against Ak-toh and the others, so Silik and his elites were able to reach their destination without raising the alarm. And by the time they reached the sewers and started to dig through the stone, they were only met by a few civilian workers that quickly fell before the kobolds¡¯ might. A couple managed to escape, but by that point, it didn¡¯t matter. The battle had already begun, and the chance of the Knights or the city¡¯s defenders responding to the small squad of kobolds was nil. After all, the city¡¯s guards and the Knights of Adontis had plenty of other things to worry about by that point. * * * Pudge signaled to the kobold rangers, and they took up a position that would give them line of sight on the trio of guards. Then, the rangers let loose, and Pudge raced forward. With his high agility and dexterity, he was capable of moving almost as quickly as the arrows. The projectiles thudded home just before he reached the guards, but none were enough to kill even those lowly enemies. The rangers were powerful, in their own way, but they were not deadly. That was why Pudge was there. Taking advantage of the rangers¡¯ distracting attacks, he ripped through one throat before nearly disemboweling another guard. The third went down in a heap as Jasper ¨C who¡¯d remained hidden by his song ¨C leaped into battle, spearing the surprised man with his rapier. Pudge launched himself at another defender, while Jasper spun and backhanded yet another. The bard wasn¡¯t the strongest combatant, but he had levels and experience on his side. The guard had neither, and as a result, he went down with barely a whimper. In seconds, a dozen guards had been silently killed. Pudge glanced dismissively at the dead bodies, then shook the blood from his claws before bending down and retrieving a thick key ring. With that done, he and the others reentered stealth via various means, then stalked forward. Over the next few minutes, they swept through the area, killing any guards unfortunate enough to find themselves in their path. Soon enough, there were none left to oppose the invaders, and Pudge used the resulting freedom of movement to make his way to the cages holding the imprisoned beastkin. When he reached the first pen, he was once again appalled by the state of the enslaved. Most were naked, and their fur was patchy and lusterless. None looked well-fed, and their shoulders were hunched in exhaustion. Or perhaps defeat. Maybe resignation. Whatever the case, Pudge had no intention of allowing it to continue, so he raised his voice and asked, ¡°Is there a leader among you?¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Timaso,¡± an old badgerkin said, gripping the bars of her pen like they were the only thing keeping her upright. She raised one emaciated arm and pointed further down the line. The cages were nothing elaborate. In fact, Pudge thought that he could break through them without issue. Still, he used the key to unlock the door. As he did so, Jasper set off to find the leader. The old badgerkin woman almost collapsed when she tried to step free, and Pudge caught her. The others in the cage followed, then took Pudge¡¯s too charge of the weak woman. ¡°Who are you?¡± came a gravelly voice. Pudge turned to see a lionkin following Jasper. He had, at one point, been powerfully built. However, ill nutrition and hard living had caught up to him, robbing his body of much of its mass. Still, he had the rangy musculature of someone well used to hard labor. ¡°My name is Pudge, and we are here to rescue you.¡± ¡°Pudge?¡± the lionkin asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Save us how? We can¡¯t leave. The Knights will ¨C¡± Just then, a wave of mana swept through them, followed by the sound of an earthquake. ¡°We are not alone,¡± Pudge said. ¡°And you don¡¯t have to be anymore, either.¡± * * * Zeke smashed his hammer against the castle gate with enough force to knock down most buildings. In addition, it was backed by his Runebreaker technique. And yet, the gate survived. He¡¯d employed the technique often enough to know what it could do. So, he was both surprised and frustrated to see his efforts stymied. However, he quickly saw that the runes on the gate hadn¡¯t completely resisted the technique. Indeed, they looked frayed and on the verge of unraveling, though he wasn¡¯t sure how many more swings it would take. He swung again, and his Will ate away at his body and soul. The Runebreaker technique wasn¡¯t nearly as destructive as Worldbreaker; instead, it was intended for precisely what its name suggested. However, just because it didn¡¯t literally rip him apart with every second it was employed didn¡¯t mean that it wasn¡¯t damaging. But he couldn¡¯t stop before he finished it off, so he swung again. It wasn¡¯t until the fourth such attack that the runes finally shattered, and the gate broke apart. He kicked it in, and a thousand kobolds swarmed through the breach. For his part, Zeke drank deep from [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], using it to hold his body together and soothe his charred soul. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t afford to rest. Because he had a castle to topple. So, he rode the wave of kobolds into the castle, where he rejoined the battle. However, the Knights had discarded their horses in favor of a long shield wall that seemed to take advantage of some collective skill that allowed them to stand against the tide of kobolds. Meanwhile, there was another line of spear-wielding Knights directly behind the shieldbearers who used those spears to skewer the hindered kobolds. It was an effective strategy, not least because the kobolds had held back their most devastating attack. So, Zeke raised his hammer high into the air and bellowed, ¡°Spear of Memories!¡± The kobolds responded in only a second, backing away to put some distance between themselves and the defenders. A moment later, they leveled their own spears at the shield wall, then let loose with their most devastating skill. A thousand beams of burning light scorched their way across the courtyard to hammer into the Knights¡¯ shield wall. It stopped the skill, but that was expected. It was only ever intended as a distraction. Silik and his elites, having dug their way inside the castle, fell upon the Knights from the other side, laying waste to the comparatively unprotected spear-wielders. Meanwhile, Zeke charged forward, increasing his weight with every step until he crashed into the line of Knights with a shoulder tackle that buckled their shield wall. From there, the battle devolved into a brutal melee. For his part, Zeke was an anchor, stoically holding his ground as he laid about him with his hammer. At the same time, the kobolds surged. Enhanced by [Lightforged], they were more than a match for any Knight. The only thing that kept the Knights of Adontis from being overwhelmed was an impressive level of discipline. But it wasn¡¯t enough. Every participant in the battle knew it, too. The Knights had been outmaneuvered and outflanked, and though they probably expected to hold out until they got reinforcements from the city¡¯s guards, Zeke knew there was no help on its way. The other force of kobolds had seen to that. More, if Pudge had done his job, he and the other beastkin were in the process of taking over the city. The battle was over. The Knights just hadn¡¯t accepted it yet. So, they fought to the bitter end, never surrendering even when they were injured, surrounded, and doomed. In a way, Zeke could respect that. But whatever positive feelings he harbored for the way they conducted themselves on the field of battle was squandered by the memory of the evil they had enabled. With that at the forefront of his mind, Zeke didn¡¯t have to search for motivation to keep going. Gradually, the battle wore on until, at last, the final Knight fell. Zeke let the head of his hammer fall to the ground as he looked around at the death and carnage around him. There were hundreds of dead Knights, but scattered throughout that mass killing field were the bodies of fallen kobolds. It made him sick. ¡°Gather our dead,¡± he said, glancing at one of the nearby kobolds. The legionnaire was painted in the blood of their enemies, which gave him an altogether fearsome appearance. Zeke didn¡¯t know his name, but that wasn¡¯t uncommon. He knew very few of them personally. ¡°We will put them to rest in the tower.¡± It was a spontaneous idea, but it was one he wholeheartedly accepted. The kobolds deserved more than to be laid to rest in enemy territory. ¡°It will be a learning experience for them, too,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Sapient beings care for their dead. Monsters and animals do not.¡± Zeke responded, ¡°We¡¯ll have a real funeral. They need to acknowledge the sacrifices these people made.¡± With that, Zeke took a few minutes to loot as many of the Knights as possible. He didn¡¯t get anything unexpected. The Knights¡¯ armor was bound to each individual, so it was only useful inasmuch as it could provide the tower¡¯s blacksmiths with materials. Still, they had a lot of kobolds to arm and armor, so everything would be useful. Once he¡¯d finished with that, he summoned the gate so the kobolds could reach the Crimson Spring, then headed out of the castle to find Pudge and the rescued beastkin. He didn¡¯t have to go far ¨C just a few feet outside the castle ¨C before he saw Pudge and Jasper leading a group of scraggly beastkin in his direction. He stopped and waited. When Pudge reached him, he exchanged greetings, then asked, ¡°Did you have any issues after freeing them?¡± ¡°No. But the leader wishes to speak with you,¡± Pudge said. Zeke resisted the urge to shrug. He¡¯d been trying very hard to be a good leader, and appearances were important He couldn¡¯t afford to look indecisive in front of so many people who depended on him for protection and guidance. ¡°Very well,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s do it, then.¡± With that, a thin lionkin was ushered forward. He was clearly terrified of Zeke ¨C or perhaps of the pair of enormous kobolds on either side of him ¨C but he hid it as well as he could. He nodded his great, maned head and asked, ¡°Are you the leader?¡± ¡°He is Ak-toh,¡± said one of the kobolds. ¡°My name is Zeke,¡± Zeke said, wishing that he could let his colossal form fade. Even if it obviated the need to update his wardrobe, he hated how it made people look at him. It was mostly fear, but there was respect there as well. He clung to the latter, but he couldn¡¯t afford to ignore the former. ¡°Are we free?¡± asked the lionkin. ¡°You are. If you have slave brands, I will remove them,¡± Zeke said. He wasn¡¯t certain that he could use his Will to undermine the runic brands, but he expected that it would be no more difficult than dismantling a curse. And after doing just that countless times, he was well versed in taking curses apart. ¡°You¡¯re also welcome to join us.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°The tower.¡± The lionkin looked around. ¡°I see no tower.¡± ¡°Then let me show you,¡± Zeke said. ¡°What¡¯s your name, by the way?¡± ¡°Timaso,¡± the lionkin said. ¡°Well, Timaso ¨C let me introduce you to the Crimson Tower,¡± Zeke said. Then, he turned around and strode back toward the gate. Timaso followed, and Zeke was pleased to note that the lionkin didn¡¯t flinch at the sight of so many bodies in the courtyard. Perhaps he would prove to be a valuable ally. That remained to be seen. Pushing it aside, Zeke stepped through the gate, and the leader of the beastkin followed. 418. A Declaration of War Grand Magister Tordal Irangar slammed his fist into the wall, letting out a bestial scream of anger and frustration. He wheeled around, facing the arrayed advisors as well as the messenger who¡¯d just broken the bad news, and demanded, ¡°Gone? How can it be gone?! It was a city of more than twenty thousand!¡± And that wasn¡¯t even including the slaves. With them, that number skyrocketed to near fifty thousand. More importantly, Heartwood had been home to one of Adontis¡¯ key border fortresses, and it had been stocked with thousands of knights. That it had been taken was unacceptable. But it hadn¡¯t simply been taken. Instead, the entire city ¨C every single structure ¨C had been destroyed. Now, according to the messenger, only a crater remained. Moreover, the surrounding fields had been put to the torch, which would have ramifications for the entirety of the kingdom. Heartwood¡¯s farmland hadn¡¯t been the most productive in the kingdom, but the loss would still be keenly felt. ¡°We suspect the undead,¡± said one of his advisors. The man was large, bearded, and a former knight himself. As such, he held authority that exceeded even his lofty position. More troublingly, he was Tordal¡¯s chief political opponent, usually opposing the Grand Magister¡¯s plans simply because of their source. If Tordal said up, then Morik would say down, and try to convince others to do so as well. He was a thorn in Tordal¡¯s side, and one that would persist until he was removed entirely. Fortunately, an invading army large enough to take Heartwood presented a perfect opportunity to rid himself of just such a thorn. ¡°You always suspect the undead,¡± Tordal growled. ¡°What evidence do you have to support that suspicion?¡± ¡°We need no evidence. They are abominations,¡± spat Morik to a chorus of agreement from his sycophantic followers. ¡°We should strike back while they think we are vulnerable. Send a spear through to the heart of their kingdom and ¨C¡± ¡°Are you volunteering, Counselor?¡± Tordal asked, cutting the man¡¯s tirade short. ¡°No, I don¡¯t ¨C¡± ¡°So quick to send our young men into such a situation,¡± Tordal continued. ¡°Perhaps your son would like to be included in such a valorous mission? Tell me, Morik ¨C do you know what happens to those unfortunate enough to perish in the lands of the undead? I discovered that first-hand during my own crusade. I watched my best friend die. Speared through the gut by a zombie¡¯s sword thrust. Back then, I didn¡¯t know what would happen. They never covered that in our training. I buried him, thinking of nothing but revenge¡­¡± He sighed, then ran a hand through his grey hair. ¡°Joral rose that very night. Even as I wept for him, he tore free from the earth and attempted to take me down the path of the undead with him,¡± Tordal stated. ¡°When they first awaken, they¡¯re quite feral, you see. By comparison, the undead of El¡¯kireth are practically civilized. You must burn your dead, lest they attack you in your sleep.¡± ¡°Blasphemous!¡± Indeed, the very notion of burning a knight¡¯s remains was against so many of their collective religion¡¯s tenets that it risked the wrath of their gods. Of course, Tordal knew that their gods were merely powerful knights who had ascended to join the Sun Goddess in the battle with the rest of the heavens. But still, the lack of funeral rites for his friend had definitely left him shaken. That was long ago, though, and the passage of time had dulled his emotions concerning Joral. A little, at least. ¡°Necessary,¡± was Tordal¡¯s quiet reply. Despite his subdued voice, the message cut to the heart of everyone there. They knew that, in the realm of piety, he was unmatched, so if he was forced to go against the tenets of the Knights of Adontis, then the threat was undeniable. He sighed. ¡°This is a different matter,¡± Tordal said. ¡°It has nothing to do with the undead abominations to our south. Instead, the threat originates from the Mukti Plains to our north. I have word from our scouts that the nomadic beasts have finally defeated their ancestral enemies in the mountains. It does not take a seer to see the message. Now that their enemies are vanquished, the monstrous centaurs have turned their bloodlust toward Adontis.¡± ¡°What do you propose?¡± asked another counselor. He was a young man with ruddy cheeks and a spotty beard. ¡°War is the only language they will understand,¡± Tordal said, his voice harsh. He placed his hands on the rectangular table, then leaned forward. Locking eyes with each of the nine counselors, one after the other, he said, ¡°We must avenge Heartwood. To ensure such an atrocity never happens again, we will wipe the monsters from the face of this realm. Only then can we be certain that their lust for violence is contained. Do we have a consensus?¡± The counselors ¨C even Morik ¨C raised their voices in agreement, and Tordal knew he had them in the palm of his hand. After that, it was no great feat to push them into supporting his plan of action, and soon enough, the counsel was dismissed. Still, he remained in the counsel chambers for a little while longer before he finally returned to his own quarters. There, he found Marisa Kane, the emissary from the Radiant Host. She was dressed simply in an austere, white gown. Like many among her order ¨C especially the women ¨C she was entirely bald. However, that did nothing to disguise her loveliness, and not for the first time, Tordal¡¯s thoughts trended toward the intimate. Not that she had ever demonstrated an interest in such things. Not with him as a partner, at least, but it was a pleasant fantasy nonetheless. He sighed as he entered, then unclipped his white tabard. It fell away, revealing his armor. As he tossed it aside, Marisa asked, ¡°Did they fall into line?¡± ¡°Enthusiastically.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°Very good.¡± ¡°Are we certain it wasn¡¯t the undead? They have been restless of late.¡± ¡°The armies of El¡¯kireth are contained,¡± Marisa stated, her voice leaving no room for doubt. ¡°Most cannot wander far from their lands, and those who are strong enough, remain fearful of doing so. No ¨C there is nothing to fear.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Tordal said, ¡°Why do you want a war with the centaurs?¡± ¡°They are abominations,¡± Marisa said, gliding forward. Tordal had difficulty concentrating on anything but the way her hips moved. The gown clung to her every curve, enticing enough to garner the attention of any man. ¡°Need I another reason?¡± She¡¯d stopped only a foot away, tilting her delicate-featured face toward his own rugged visage. He swallowed hard, then said, ¡°Need? Never. But you and yours seldom do anything for a single reason. I would know yours, my lady.¡± She rolled her eyes and gave a playful scoff that seemed out of place for such a staunchly devout woman. She twisted away, saying, ¡°I am no lady, your eminence. A simple servant of the Sun Goddess. No more. No less.¡± ¡°I think you are quite a bit more than a simple servant.¡± ¡°If you say so,¡± she acknowledged. ¡°You ask what we gain from a war with the abominations, and my official answer has already been stated. However, if you wish me to answer more personally, then I shall do so. Is that what you want, Grand Magister? Do you want to get personal?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then I will tell you that, personally, I wish for the centaurs¡¯ destruction so that my people can take advantage of two dungeons in their territory. One is in the mountains, hidden from all but the most observant. The other is in the center of the Mukti Plains, where only the centaurs can access it. They misuse them both, one sin among many.¡± Dungeons. They were the linchpin of any kingdom, largely because they were the most expedient means for people to gain power through levels. Every kingdom of any worth was built around one of those pocket realms. And now, it looked as if the centaurs had access to two. ¡°Two? How are they not more powerful?¡± ¡°The first is only used by their leaders. The second was within their enemies¡¯ territory until very recently. The hill giants allowed a select few outsiders to access this dungeon. The Radiant Host counted ourselves among those lucky few. However, now that the giants have been defeated, that will no longer be the case. The centaurs count us as enemies, and no amount of goodwill will change that.¡± ¡°So, you want them removed.¡± ¡°Indeed. Think of it this way ¨C if we get what we want, then you will gain another dungeon for Adontis,¡± she said. That was enough incentive to justify Adontis¡¯s involvement. Dungeons were valuable commodities, and not least because one only received full rewards the first time they were conquered by any individual. Subsequent forays into a dungeon were still worthwhile, but more for training than for progression. So, having two chances to gain those first-time rewards was invaluable enough that they could change a nation¡¯s fate. With two dungeons within their borders, Adontis could steadily grow more powerful until they were strong enough to take El¡¯kireth as well. And that, in turn, would open up the possibility of taking more dungeons. Eventually, they might even rival the might of the Radiant Host. ¡°I see,¡± Tordal said, tapping his finger against his lip. ¡°So you do,¡± Marisa responded. ¡°Permit me one question, though,¡± he said. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Why not attack the centaurs yourselves?¡± he asked. ¡°If we did, the hill giants would have seen our true intent,¡± the emissary replied. ¡°If they had, then we would have had to fight a war on two fronts. They might have even brokered an alliance with the centaurs.¡± ¡°But now that Berghem has fallen¡­¡± ¡°We have the chance to get everything we want,¡± she finished for him. ¡°You only need to take it, Grand Magister.¡± Tordal nodded. He liked the sound of that. * * * ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± asked Pudge, walking alongside Sasha through the manor grounds. The expansive garden was well-curated by the tower, but there was just enough wildness to make Pudge feel at home. For a few moments, Sasha didn¡¯t answer, and Pudge could understand the reason. She hadn¡¯t wanted to destroy the city, but she¡¯d done it anyway because it was Pudge who had done the asking. If it had been anyone else, he didn¡¯t doubt that she would have outright refused. However, she had gone through with it, and though it had taken three days to set everything up, Heartwood had fallen. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I had that kind of power,¡± she muttered, clutching his hand tightly. ¡°What if it had still been populated?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t.¡± And Pudge knew that for a fact. He¡¯d supervised the town¡¯s purge himself, and even though he¡¯d known that it needed to be done ¨C the people who¡¯d built their entire civilization around enslaving his kind deserved nothing more ¨C he still couldn¡¯t help but feel a modicum of guilt. He was used to it, though. He¡¯d always been a killer. Sasha, decidedly, was not, and her soft heart never could have born the weight of that much death. In that way, he was her shield. Even so, the act had taken its toll on the young boarkin woman, and it would be a long while before she could escape the shadow of the city¡¯s destruction. It would be just as long before Pudge could forget the devastating power she had brought to bear. He had always known she was capable, but seeing her power at its peak effectiveness was a sobering thing indeed. The only thing that could come close ¨C at least that Pudge had seen ¨C was when Zeke let loose with all of his power. ¡°I know,¡± she said. ¡°But there were people still left in there. I felt them. I went up two levels.¡± That was troubling. Pudge knew that they couldn¡¯t have gotten everyone. He recognized his and the kobolds¡¯ fallibility. They were not perfect, and he¡¯d always known that a few people might escape his notice. But the fact that there had been enough survivors to catapult Sasha two levels forward meant that there had bene sizable population hidden somewhere in Heartwood. That meant that, even with [Bestial Senses], Pudge had missed some. ¡°That¡¯s good. They deserved it,¡± he said. ¡°Do you mean that?¡± she asked, stopping suddenly. ¡°Yes. You didn¡¯t see what I saw, Sasha. Thousands of people just like us, all in cages. Naked. No dignity. No freedom. Some were starving. Others were so diseased that even the Crimson Pools couldn¡¯t save them in time,¡± he said, describing the horrors he had witnessed. ¡°Anyone who would do that to another person is evil, and that includes the ones who could just stand by and let it happen. I don¡¯t mourn their deaths. Nor do I feel guilty. Because the people who could do that¡­they deserved what they got. Worse, even.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°You would if you saw what I saw.¡± She sighed, then let her gaze drift toward the ground. In a vacuum, Pudge might¡¯ve felt similarly conflicted. He wasn¡¯t a violent person ¨C not really. Sure, he wouldn¡¯t shy away from killing when it needed to be done. He wasn¡¯t so far removed from his bestial nature to become a pacifist. However, to him, killing without reason was just as alien as refraining from violence altogether. But Sasha had grown up within the peaceful confines of Kabalith, far removed from any real danger. It wasn¡¯t until she¡¯d trekked across dangerous and unknown territory alongside Pudge that she¡¯d been exposed to all the horrors of the outside world. She understood a little, now, but the remnants of her innocence remained intact. ¡°Do you know what makes it all worse? This feeling that I¡¯ve been used,¡± she said. ¡°If I¡¯d done it all of my own volition, it would¡¯ve been so much easier to bear. But now? I just feel like¡­I don¡¯t know, Pudge. I just don¡¯t know.¡± Then, she threw herself into his arms and buried her face in his chest. It was a testament to how far he¡¯d come that he instinctively wrapped his arms around her narrow shoulders and simply let her cry. At one point, he would have despaired, not knowing how to help her. But now, he understood that she didn¡¯t want him to solve the problem. Because there was no solution. Instead, she only needed him to listen. To offer comfort. To be the rock she needed him to be. So, that¡¯s what he did. All the while, though, he wondered if it had been a mistake for Zeke ¨C and by extension, Pudge ¨C to ask her to do such a thing. She wasn¡¯t entirely soft. He had seen her kill. However, destroying an entire city was quite different from defending herself from a monster. Pudge patted her on the back, hoping that she could wrap her mind around it sooner, rather than later. Because something told him that the fighting would only grow more intense in the weeks to come. 419. Repercussions The wind whipped the tree¡¯s branches against Zeke¡¯s legs as he held himself in place. He barely noticed it, instead focusing the whole of his attention on the army in the distance. There weren¡¯t just thousands of them. There were tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds, spread across the valley and blocking the way through. Knights, all in gleaming silver armor that, even from so far away, pulsed with mana. Mundane soldiers, wrapped in leather cuirasses and carrying bows and spears. Behind them was an enormous forest of tents, each one bearing a large flag displaying the emblem of Adontis ¨C a silver sphere amidst a black field. It was a simple symbol, meant to represent the moon among the black expanse of the night sky. From what Zeke had witnessed, the Knights¡¯ skills tended to revolve around the moon, though there were enough exceptions ¨C largely for more destructive skills like the ability to sling fireballs ¨C that they didn¡¯t present a united front. Whatever the case, Zeke knew enough to recognize the danger all skills represented. Certainly, there was a hierarchy of power, but dismissing any skill, regardless of how benign it might seem, was a mistake with the potential of getting people killed. Zeke wouldn¡¯t allow himself to make that kind of error. There was too much on the line, and far too many people depending on him. For a while, he continued to watch the gathered army, and he saw a steady stream of more Knights, spearmen, and archers arriving to augment the force. More, he watched as they established supply lines composed of hundreds of horse-drawn wagons bearing crates of goods. It took a lot to feed an army, and that wasn¡¯t even considering the incidentals they would such a force would require. In addition to food, they would need quite a bit of other supplies, each almost as important to their chance of victory as keeping everyone fed. Finally, after Zeke had seen enough, he climbed down from his perch atop one of the gargantuan trees, then set off to the north. After a few hours of travel, he felt he was far enough away from the army to chance summoning his gate. So, he pulled to a stop next to a cluster of smaller trees that had somehow survived beneath the expansive and nigh-impenetrable canopy, where he finally let his gate manifest. The moment it appeared, he stepped through, appearing back in the tower¡¯s Entry Hall. There, he instructed a pair of kobold centurions to stand guard outside the gate. In addition, he sent another to find a troop of rangers to scout the area and warn everyone if they encountered any ranging Knights. With that taken care of, Zeke headed toward the teleportation pad ¨C ignoring the arrayed bronze statues as well as the sculptures ringing the Entry Hall. Each one depicted his adventures in both the Mortal Realm as well as the Eternal Realm, and given that he¡¯d lived through each event, he didn¡¯t need any reminders of the hardships he had endured. Besides, some of the earlier statues brought to light some painful memories, most of which concerned Abby, and Zeke wanted nothing more than to move on from that doomed relationship. In any case, he quickly found the teleportation pad and let it whisk him away to the Residential District. It was much the same as it had always been, though the kobolds had continued to spread out, occupying more and more of the square buildings. As far as Zeke was concerned, that was a good thing. The more individuality the kobolds showed, the better. However, he wasn¡¯t concerned with kobold development at the moment. Instead, he quickly found his way to the Pillar ¨C the tallest building in the district ¨C which housed the budding bureaucracy that governed the tower. Or given the number of people ¨C both kobolds and the former slaves ¨C at work, it was probably more established than the word ¡°budding¡± implied. Zeke¡¯s arrival garnered no small degree of interest. Most of the kobolds regarded him as an almost messianic figure, while the former slaves rightfully looked at him as their savior. And the ones who¡¯d been picked to form the governing bureaucracy were the most zealous within the tower, so, as Zeke made his way through the Pillar, he was forced to endure quite a lot of unwanted attention. Some of the kobolds restrained themselves with deep bows, but others dropped to their knees and prostrated themselves. Still others reached out to touch him. Even the former slaves got into the mix, though they were slightly more subdued than their scaley fellows. For Zeke, it felt like the way popular movie stars and musicians were treated back on Earth. Or maybe the Pope. Regardless of how he characterized it, it was extraordinarily uncomfortable. Eveline interjected, ¡°Most people would kill to be so loved.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not love.¡± ¡°It looks that way to me. These people would do anything you ask,¡± she responded. ¡°Sure. But that¡¯s not love. It¡¯s subservience. Love happens between equals. This is worship.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see the difference,¡± Eveline said, and Zeke could tell that she was entirely serious. ¡°That¡¯s not surprising,¡± was his only response. Gradually, Zeke waded through the sea of worshipful kobolds until he finally reached his destination ¨C the chambers set up for meetings between the tower¡¯s most prominent members. He passed through the pair of double doors, grateful for the pair of burly kobold legionnaires standing guard. Without them, the others would have flowed right into the chambers behind him. Zeke didn¡¯t relax until he heard the doors shut behind him. He knew he wasn¡¯t in any danger from the kobolds, but their overflowing attention ¨C or worship, as he was beginning to think of it ¨C left him feeling on edge. Some of that tension dissipated as he beheld the small council arrayed before him. They were seated around a large, semicircular table that, to Zeke, looked like it formed a sort of shallow horseshoe. At the opening was a massive throne that he knew was intended for him. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked, glancing from one member of the council to another. All the usual people were there, including Eta, Pudge, Jasper, Sasha, Silik, and Kianma. However, there were a couple of new additions as well. Kala, the woman who¡¯d taken charge of their farming efforts on the Artisan¡¯s Terrace, sat next to the dryad, while a surly-looking dwarf whose name Zeke couldn¡¯t recall was positioned on the other end of the table. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°The tower provides. A few days ago, this room simply appeared,¡± said Eta. ¡°We decided that this was the use the tower intended.¡± Kianma asked, ¡°Do you disapprove?¡± Zeke did, but he wasn¡¯t going to say so. He knew better than to shirk his position as the kobolds¡¯ leader, and as such, he needed to take his place as their ruler, which apparently came with a really big chair. ¡°No,¡± he lied, stepping forward. It was only then that he realized that it was sized to fit his colossal form. So, with a flick of his mana, he transformed into the unattuned version and took his place. Looking down on everyone, he said, ¡°So, we have a problem.¡± Then, he outlined the issues. After the fall of Heartwood ¨C which had gotten a little out of hand when the beastkin had fallen upon their former captors, leaving most of the humans dead ¨C the Knights of Adontis had mustered a response in the form of a gathering army. That response was what Zeke had seen barring passage through the valley that would eventually lead to the labyrinth. That was the only feasible way to the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth, where Zeke was certain he would find Talia. ¡°So, we got no choice but to go through ¡®em,¡± said the dwarf. ¡°I don¡¯t know you,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Oi. Right. Dinna think ¡®bout that. Marcus is me given name, but most folks call me Bracken,¡± the dwarf said, his voice ranging somewhere between a Scottish brogue and a southern drawl. It was a strange combination that left Zeke a little uncomfortable. Bracken went on, ¡°Been trainin¡¯ yer lizards, I have. Good lads. Hard workers. Get ¡®em shaped up in a hurry, I will.¡± ¡°We voted to include Bracken because, as their chief trainer, he knows the kobolds¡¯ capabilities better than any other,¡± supplied Kianma. ¡°He is one of the former slaves you rescued from Min Ferilik.¡± ¡°I like ta think we were on our way to rescuin¡¯ ourselves. Just takin¡¯ our time ¡®bout it, s¡¯all,¡± he said. ¡°We woulda made it ¡®ventually.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Eta said, shaking her head. ¡°This is not addressing the problem,¡± interjected Jasper. ¡°What should we do about the blockade?¡± ¡°Ram it,¡± said Bracken. ¡°Scatter ¡®em. Trample ¡®em. Then execute any that¡¯s left.¡± ¡°We will lose many,¡± pointed out Silik, who¡¯d been silent until that point. ¡°All wars got casualties,¡± Bracken stated. ¡°I don¡¯t think a straightforward attack takes advantage of our advantages,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°We¡¯re mobile. We have no supply lines. We have an extremely low profile. I can move faster than any army, and we can have a thousand kobolds out of the tower and ready for battle in minutes.¡± ¡°How can we take advantage of that?¡± asked Jasper. ¡°We attack their supply lines. We kill their reinforcements. Force them to respond by splitting off to search for us. Make them chase us through this forest,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Then, once we¡¯ve run them ragged, we lead them into a trap.¡± ¡°Our force cannot stand up to so many Knights,¡± Silik said. Indeed, the battle of Heartwood had proven one thing ¨C even with surprise on their side, the army of kobolds had been stretched to their limits. It was only due to the poison, which had weakened the defenders, and surprise that they¡¯d managed to win the day without significant casualties. It would be nearly impossible to repeat that feat, now that the Knights of Adontis were ready. That meant a straightforward clash was off the table. Even if victory was possible, it wouldn¡¯t come without a cost Zeke considered unreasonable. ¡°That¡¯s why I intend to find some allies,¡± Zeke said. ¡°The centaurs owe us, right? We fought their war, didn¡¯t we? So, let¡¯s get them to help us fight ours.¡± ¡°Do you think they will do that?¡± asked Jasper. Zeke shrugged. ¡°Why not? They consider Adontis an enemy, don¡¯t they? Even if they¡¯re not engaged in open warfare, they¡¯ve fought often enough in the past that they won¡¯t balk at finishing them off,¡± he said. ¡°And if they don¡¯t consent to your war?¡± asked Eta. ¡°Our war. We¡¯re all in this together. Or is there anyone here who thinks we shouldn¡¯t fight Adontis?¡± Zeke asked. No one spoke up. ¡°Come on. If you have an objection, let¡¯s hear it. These are people who enslave and kill anyone who isn¡¯t like them. That means me. That means everyone here in this room. And everybody in the tower, too. There are thousands of beastkin out there right now who can attest to Adontians¡¯ evil nature. If we don¡¯t do this, it will come back and bite us. I can guarantee that.¡± ¡°We follow where Ak-toh leads,¡± said Silik. Kianma spoke her own agreement. Most of the time, Zeke would have insisted that they think it through more fully, rather than simply following his lead. However, he felt convinced that his cause was just, so he refrained from indulging that impulse. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be easy,¡± Jasper said. ¡°People will die. It won¡¯t be like the giants. This is an established faction with real warriors.¡± Zeke understood that well enough. The hill giants had been only a slim cut above monsters, and as such, they¡¯d been easy to outwit and outmaneuver. In addition, Zeke¡¯s forces had allied with the centaurs, hitting the giants hard and fast, without ever letting up. The giants had been on the back foot until the very end. The Knights, by comparison, were presumably intelligent enough not to be so easily outflanked. More, they were, soldier for soldier, far more powerful than the giants. And finally, they were well-equipped and supplied. Fighting them was going to be a much more difficult battle. Still, Zeke wasn¡¯t going to let that dissuade him. Not after what he had seen in Heartwood. ¡°You really let that get to you, didn¡¯t you?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°Didn¡¯t have much of a choice. I can¡¯t see something like that, then look the other way. I just can¡¯t, Eveline.¡± ¡°Understandable.¡± It was telling that she didn¡¯t argue with him. Certainly, Zeke understood that she didn¡¯t necessarily agree with their course of action. To her, slavery was as normal as breathing. It was common practice in the cities of Hell, and so, she¡¯d long ago discarded any empathy she might¡¯ve felt for the enslaved. However, she also knew him better than anyone else ¨C being privy to his innermost thoughts would do that ¨C so she was very much aware that he wouldn¡¯t be swayed. After that, they got down to the business of working out the logistics of the coming war. When that was finished, Zeke left them all behind, then led a group of centurions out of the tower before beginning the long trek through the Old Growth forest and into the Mukti Plains. Along the way, they encountered a few scattered monsters, but when they reached the river crossing, the river naga scattered. Clearly, they remembered what had happened the last time Zeke visited their small village, and they wanted nothing to do with inciting his ire. So, crossing the river went off without a hitch, and soon enough, the group was jogging across the plains in search of the centaurs. As it turned out, the centaurs were the ones who found them, and once they confirmed Zeke¡¯s identity, they consented to lead him and his kobold escort to where the bulk of the centaur nation was camped in the center of the Mukti Plains. The journey ended up taking four more days, and that was with them sprinting from dusk until dawn. For his part, Zeke had never maintained such a pace for so long a distance. However, his endurance proved up to the task, and he had no issues keeping up with the centaurs. The kobolds, by comparison, had to be switched out every night, lest they fall over from exhaustion. Still, none complained, and they never let themselves lag behind. It was that single-minded determination that Zeke hoped would set them apart from other races. Perhaps, one day it would allow them to ascend to prominence, but that was years in the future. If it ever happened at all. Eventually, the group reached the camp, and Zeke was taken aback by the sheer number of centaurs present. If there were less than ten thousand, he would have been shocked. ¡°This is more than fought the giants,¡± he remarked to Erk, the leader of the centaur patrol. Erk replied, ¡°We are more than our warriors. This is our entire civilization, gathered her for the Rite of Prominence.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°You will see. Follow. We will meet with the Mistress of the Herd.¡± With that, the centaur galloped forward. Zeke, the other centaurs, and his kobold guard followed. 420. The Rite of Leadership ¡°This is unwise,¡± spat Raku Tomasi, stomping his hooves in a petulant show of irritation. He gestured to the gathered leaders, growling, ¡°We are the People. We do not bow to two-legged abominations!¡± Rasa loomed over the much smaller centaur and glared down at him. That was all it took to quench the fires in his heart. He didn¡¯t cower ¨C not precisely ¨C but he was cowed nonetheless. She raised her voice, but she didn¡¯t shout. She didn¡¯t need to. Even at a normal volume, her voice carried effortlessly throughout the spacious tent as she said, ¡°The signs are clear. The giants have fallen. The Knights stir. The savior has come. To deny it is to deny our oldest prophecies.¡± ¡°The prophecies never spoke of a human,¡± Raku insisted, regaining some of his vigor. ¡°He is not the one.¡± ¡°I agree with your first point,¡± she said, crossing her muscular arms. ¡°Yet on the second, I do not.¡± ¡°Senseless!¡± ¡°How can a human lead us?!¡± ¡°The People will never be tamed!¡± Rasa let the gathered centaurs ¨C elders all ¨C argue like children. They should have known better. They ought to have been mature enough to see things clearly, rather than let appearances taint their opinions. That was asking too much, though. The Council of Elders had long since fallen prey to their own prejudices and preconceived notions. Expecting them to suddenly become reasonable was a false hope. Still Rasa watched silently as they worked themselves into a fervor, kicking their hooves like foals and screaming about the sanctity of centaur sovereignty. It was all so ridiculous. Because Rasa knew the truth that they refused to see. She had known it since the moment she¡¯d met Ezekiel, and the brief war against the hill giants had served to cement her certainty. Whether the Council saw it or not was irrelevant. Even Rasa¡¯s opinion didn¡¯t truly matter. Because the prophecy didn¡¯t require their acquiescence. It said nothing about their acceptance. It only said that a powerful warrior would come and put an end to the conflict with their ancestral enemies. Then, that same warrior would submit himself to the Rite of Leadership, and when he emerged, he would lead the centaurs to unmatched greatness. There were even some interpretations of the prophecy ¨C given by a long-dead seer ¨C that mentioned ascension. Finally, Rasa had had enough. So, she stamped her hoof, letting the barest hint of her Path of Authority out. The ground shook, and the walls of the tent flapped in an invisible wind. More importantly, the gathered Council ceased their bickering. ¡°I do not need your approval, acquiescence, or acceptance,¡± she said. ¡°The prophecy is clear. Ezekiel is the Spear of the People, and he will strike out at our enemies and lead us to greatness. This is my declaration.¡± ¡°But he is human!¡± ¡°He is not,¡± Rasa stated firmly. ¡°He looks like a human, but he is no more human than you or I. Likely much less.¡± ¡°How can you know?¡± Raku sneered. It was in times like those that Rasa found it difficult to believe that they were siblings. In terms of their basic features, they looked alike, but regarding their temperaments, they could not have been more different. And Rasa knew that Raku envied her. He always had, though he¡¯d long tried to hide it. His efforts were for naught, considering that he opposed her decisions at every turn. Usually, he cowered behind the barest pretense of doing what was best for the herd, but she ¨C and everyone else ¨C knew precisely what motivated him. Still, he had some modicum of support among the herd¡¯s non-combatants, so she had little choice but to humor his borderline insubordination. ¡°The Seer has spoken.¡± ¡°Then let him speak to us!¡± Raku bellowed, raising his arms and turning in circles. His sycophantic supporters cheered. The rest of the Council of Elders ¨C all twenty-two of them ¨C remained silent. However, even the seven who¡¯d thrown their lot in with Raku were surprising. Rasa intended to do something about that, but now was not the time. Not when her position was already so tenuous. ¡°The Seer does not speak to anyone but the Mistress of the Herd,¡± Rasa stated. ¡°It has ever been so.¡± There was a chorus of agreement, and for good reason. Indeed, it was one of their oldest traditions. The Seer ¨C a feeble, old stallion named Ekan Tor ¨C was almost entirely mute. He spoke to no one but his wife, who then passed his words on to the rest of the herd. As the Mistress of the Herd, Rasa was the only other exception to this rule, but even her ears had only been graced by Ekan Tor¡¯s words on a handful of occasions. One of those had occurred the night before when the Seer had told her of Ezekiel¡¯s true nature. The man was not the human he appeared to be. Instead, he was something else. A blend of corruption, divinity, and humanity that, as far as Rasa was aware, had never before existed. The Seer had also revealed that Ezekiel was meant to take his place as the first and only Spear of the People. But that wouldn¡¯t happen until after he completed the Rites. ¡°You would allow an outsider to usurp your position?¡± her brother asked incredulously. ¡°A human?¡± ¡°He is no human,¡± Rasa repeated. ¡°So you say.¡± ¡°So the Seer has said.¡± ¡°Only to you.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she agreed. ¡°I am the Mistress of the Herd, brother. Do you doubt my integrity? If so, feel free to challenge me. You may attempt the Rites yourself. You had that chance once, did you not? What happened then?¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. He flinched away, presumably at the memory. The official story ¨C and the one he¡¯d stuck to for most of his life ¨C was that an injury had prevented his challenge of the Rites. However, everyone knew the truth. Raku was, at the core of his very being, a coward. It had ever been so, and he¡¯d feigned an injury so he wouldn¡¯t have to challenge the potentially deadly Rites. No one ever pointed that out, though. It was easier to let him save face by pretending he would have gone ¨C and succeeded ¨C had he remained healthy. ¡°If I were still a colt, I would,¡± he insisted. ¡°But you are not,¡± Rasa said. ¡°That means that I am still the Mistress of the Herd. I rule here. My word is law until someone proves me unworthy of holding such authority. And I say that the man Ezekiel is no human. I say that the Seer has declared him Spear of the People. I say that he will challenge the Rites, and if he succeeds, I will step aside so that he can lead the Herd to dominance!¡± A few of the gathered centaurs stamped their hooves in agreement, but the reaction was more subdued than Rasa would have liked. However, it was not unexpected, given that she had just suggested giving control of the herd over to an outsider. Even if Ezekiel was not human ¨C and he wasn¡¯t, she was certain ¨C he still wasn¡¯t one of them. As such, it would take more than a war against the giants to establish his credentials. It would come, though. She was as sure of that as she¡¯d ever been of anything in her long life. A colt stuck his head into the tent and announced, ¡°He comes!¡± Rasa nodded, then backed away to stand in the center of the tent. The rest of the council arrayed themselves to her flanks. Even Raku knew better than to show anything less than solidarity, and he adopted a placid expression as he took his place at the end of the line to Rasa¡¯s left. He was the weakest among them, and yet, he still had influence ¨C a rarity among the centaurs. She shook her head, pushing thoughts of her contrary brother aside as she readied herself to meet the man who was destined to usher the herd to unmatched prominence. * * * Zeke had fought alongside the centaurs for months in the war against the hill giants, but he still wasn¡¯t comfortable being surrounded by so many of them. Still, as he walked through the camp ¨C or mobile city of tents, really ¨C he resisted the urge to adopt his colossal form. It was more regal, more powerful, and it obviated the need for a wardrobe update. And yet, it was also aggressive, especially since the centaurs almost assuredly associated it with battle. So, he strode forth in his cambion form, shoulders back and looking neither right nor left. The centaurs, for their part, chose not to bar his way. Perhaps that was because Silik marched alongside him to his left, while Pudge had taken a position on the other side. The pair had developed a reputation of their own, and the centaurs wanted nothing to do with barring their paths. Behind Zeke came Jasper, Eta, Kianma, and Sasha. The others, like Bracken and Kala, remained within the tower. Neither had wanted to stray far from their responsibilities, and the dwarf had plainly said that he had better things to do than to play with a bunch of horses. The city of tents was much as Zeke would have expected from his previous experiences with centaur camps. The tents themselves were made from multi-colored cloth, and most were large enough to accommodate even his colossal form. A necessity, he reasoned, considering the size of the centaurs. But the people themselves were a lot more varied than he¡¯d expected. Not only were there a wide variety of colors and patterns in evidence, but there was a wide range of body types as well. Some were no bigger than ponies, while others were twice the size of even the largest draft horses had been back on Earth. ¡°Your experience is with their warriors. Now, you¡¯re seeing the breadth of their society,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Craftspeople, merchants, hunters ¨C they don¡¯t need the physical capabilities of those they send to battle. You could learn from this as you guide the kobolds forward.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure Kianma and the Broodtenders have that well in hand,¡± Zeke said within his own mind. He had no interest in involving himself with that level of minutiae. He¡¯d only just grown accustomed to being their leader, and he didn¡¯t want to drown in the details. Besides, he chose to trust his subordinates to do what was necessary. ¡°Sure. That¡¯s what it is. You¡¯re just delegating as a leadership strategy and not because you¡¯d rather jump off a cliff than deal with that kind of thing,¡± Eveline said with a mental smirk. Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he continued on his route through the tent city, observing everything out of the corner of his eyes. Yet, he saw nothing new before he finally caught sight of the grandest tent in the city. It was at least fifty feet tall, constructed of bright red cloth, and bore a triangular flag depicting a galloping centaur at its apex. Zeke followed his guide ¨C a small, sleek mare with wheat-colored hair and matching fur ¨C through the tent flap. Inside, Zeke saw the Mistress of the Herd, Rasa Tomasi at the center of the tent. Arrayed to either side were fifteen other centaurs, both male and female. Most wore no expression, but there were a few that glared at Zeke with outright hostility. The space was lit by flickering torches, though Zeke felt no heat from the ones near the door. He also noticed that they emitted no smoke. ¡°It¡¯s like magic,¡± Eveline deadpanned. ¡°Shut up.¡± Zeke stepped forward, Pudge and Silik to his sides. Finally, he stopped in front of the Mistress of the Herd and said, ¡°I have come to request an extension of our alliance to fight against a mutual enemy, the Knights of Adontis.¡± ¡°What quarrel to we have with them? They remain in their forest, while we do not stray from our plains,¡± she said. ¡°It has been so for decades.¡± ¡°How long do you think that will last?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°They have already enslaved thousands ¨C perhaps tens of thousands ¨C of beastkin. Elves, too. They view anyone who isn¡¯t human as little better than monsters. Or beasts. Do you believe they will spare you and yours? No. They will come for you, sooner rather than later, I am certain. It¡¯s better to take the fight to them.¡± That much was especially true for the centaurs. They didn¡¯t build castles or walls, and as such, they were ill-suited for a defensive war. Instead, they were swift and strong, which meant they were built for attack. Zeke was banking on them knowing their own strengths. So, he was more than a little surprised when Rasa Tomasi said, ¡°No. We will not continue our alliance.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Because we wish you to embark on the Ancient Rites. Then, after you survive the challenge, we wish to follow you.¡± Zeke wanted to know more, but he was very cognizant that doing so would undermine the entire exchange. That conversation was best held in a more private environment. ¡°You¡¯re learning,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I thought I¡¯d have to step in to keep you from doing something stupid.¡± Zeke ignored her. Or he tried to, at least. Still, he felt an undeniable wave of satisfaction at her approval. He knew precisely how he came off. Most people would see him as a dumb brute, and having his reasoning ability acknowledged was a nice change of pace ¨C especially from Eveline, who usually took a decidedly different and far more sarcastic approach with her commentary. ¡°I will do it,¡± he said with a slight bow of his head. Just enough to show respect ¨C for the Mistress of the Herd as well as the Rites in question ¨C but not so much as to establish himself as her subordinate. ¡°Good. Follow me, then.¡± With that, the centaur turned around and walked to an exit at the back of the tent. Zeke followed, but as he did so, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that a few of the glares ¨C particularly from the slight stallion at the end of one of the lines ¨C had only grown more pronounced. There wasn¡¯t just disapproval there. It was something akin to pure hatred, though Zeke had no idea what he might¡¯ve done to offend the centaur. When he exited the tent, he followed the huge mare to yet another, much smaller tent that was clearly Rasa Tomasi¡¯s residence. Once he was inside ¨C leaving Pudge and the others outside ¨C he asked, ¡°So, what did you just get me into?¡± 421. The Remnants of What Was The sky roiled, angry and impatient to unleash its fury upon the Mukti Plains. A persistent wind whipped the grassland into a frenzy, bringing with it a desperate chill. A lone drop of rain fell upon Zeke¡¯s upturned face, a herald of the storm to come. He glanced to his right, where Rasa Tomasi stood unmoving, her hooves planted firmly in the ground. The other nearby centaurs possessed none of her stoicism, though, and they showed their nerves ¨C whether from the coming deluge or because of the unprecedented events that were about to unfold, it was unclear ¨C as they anxiously stamped their hooves and swished their tails. ¡°I hope that¡¯s not an omen,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke ignored her, instead casting his gaze toward the reason for his presence. The ruins before him were ancient, and the moss-covered bricks used in their construction had been pitted by the elements. However, there was something in the air that lent the ruins a certain, ill-defined gravity. Zeke knew he was looking at the remnants of a great history, and that carried with it the weight of everything that once was. ¡°There lay the remains of our forebears,¡± said the Mistress of the Herd, raising her callused hand and pointing at the expansive ruins. They stretched for more than a mile toward the north and south, forming a perfect circle around what sounded very much like a dungeon. The centaurs hadn¡¯t referred to it as such, instead going on about Rites. However, Zeke could infer the area¡¯s nature. ¡°You must go alone. You must endure the Rites without outside aid. Do you accept this challenge?¡± ¡°I do.¡± By this point, Zeke had little choice in the matter. When the situation had been explained to him, he¡¯d been a bit reluctant to go through with yet another dungeon. However, Rasa had assured him that the Rites were meant to be undertaken alone. More, she¡¯d challenged them and survived, which led Zeke to believe that he could as well. After all, if someone else could do it, he liked his chances of repeating the feat. Still, he¡¯d remained unconvinced until Rasa had made it clear that, if he conquered the dungeon, he would become the Spear of the People, which was a unique position within the herd that would place him above everyone else in the herd. He wouldn¡¯t be expected to tend to the day-to-day business of the herd ¨C Rasa would retain her position and see to that ¨C but where he led, the centaurs would follow. And given the nature of the war on the horizon, Zeke knew he couldn¡¯t rightly refuse such an opportunity. He¡¯d come for an alliance, and now, he had a chance to leave with the centaurs¡¯ allegiance. ¡°And all you have to do is defeat a dungeon all by yourself,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Which, I don¡¯t think I need to remind you, is unprecedented. No one goes into a dungeon alone.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Yet you charge ahead like a blind ¨C¡± ¡°If Rasa can do it, so can I.¡± ¡°That is blatantly untrue,¡± she remarked. ¡°I believe it nonetheless,¡± he stated. ¡°Of course you do,¡± she sighed. ¡°Do you have any questions?¡± asked Rasa. Zeke shook his head. ¡°No ¨C I think I get it. I go in, find the entrance to the dungeon, conquer, then return. That sound about right?¡± ¡°An oversimplification, but I cannot say more,¡± the Mistress of the Herd responded. ¡°Alright ¨C do we need to do some sort of ceremony or ritual before I go?¡± he asked. ¡°Or do I just head in?¡± ¡°You may proceed at your leisure,¡± was her reply. ¡°Great.¡± Zeke had already discussed everything with his people, and everyone knew what to do in his absence. Hopefully, they wouldn¡¯t have to go on without for more than a few days ¨C that was how long Rasa had claimed it should take ¨C but if it took longer, it would just give the kobolds more time train and grow stronger. The beastkin, too, had been taken under Bracken¡¯s wing, and as they recovered from their enslavement, they would be introduced to their possible paths of development. Some would inevitably become craftspeople, laborers, or farmers. A few might go into the bureaucracy. But a good number would assuredly wish for revenge against their former masters, and for that, Bracken and the kobolds would prepare them most thoroughly. In the meantime, the kobolds would continue to hunt the plains, and there were even some plans in place for contingencies in the unlikely event the Knights crossed the river. In short, everyone was as prepared for Zeke¡¯s absence as they could be, which freed him to do what he needed to do. Having already said his farewells, Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate any longer before striding forward into the ruins. As he did so, he was keenly aware that the eyes of the herd followed him, so he was more than a little relieved when the ground began to slope downward, taking him out of sight. The ruins reminded him a little of the ancient elven city, Tua¡¯ta¡¯alar, he¡¯d encountered just after escaping the troll caves back in the Mortal Realm. The architecture was dissimilar, but the weight of age was the same. It brought back some pleasant memories, chiefly the creation of the soul bond with Pudge. Back then, he¡¯d been a tiny cub, but now, he was his own person. Zeke wasn¡¯t sure how age worked with dire bears, but he suspected that Pudge would be considered an adult by this point. Certainly, his current maturity level suggested as much. Regardless, he quickly pushed those thoughts out of mind. He¡¯d been told the ruins were deserted, but he didn¡¯t want to take any chances through lack of awareness. So, he proceeded cautiously, making certain that nothing would get the jump on him. Fortunately, no such threats presented themselves, and he progressed without issue. One thing he did notice was that the ruins were far more expansive than he¡¯d first thought, as evidenced by the fact that, three hours later, he still hadn¡¯t reached his destination. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. During that time, the storm finally arrived in the form of a torrential downpour that soon drenched him and his surroundings. Lightning flashed, and thunder cracked as the wind whipped the storm into a fury that was closer to a hurricane than a simple rainstorm. Still, Zeke pushed on, eventually switching into his colossal form rather than endure his wet clothing. Where the clothes actually went, he had no idea, and the only explanation on offer was summed up in one word: magic. ¡°What a scholarly explanation,¡± Eveline remarked. The rain pinged against Zeke¡¯s metallic colossal form as he continued through the ruins, and as he went, he started to notice that they gradually became more intact. At first, they¡¯d been little more than a few scattered stones amid old foundations, but with every progressive mile, the buildings grew more recognizable until, by the time the sun began to set, they actually resembled the buildings they had once been, though only in the most basic shape. That slowly changed as dusk gave way to night, and eventually, the structures looked entirely intact, though weathered and covered with moss. The same could be said for the decorative statues and fountains, and though the details were lost to time and erosion, Zeke could see enough to recognize the artistry on display. He also saw that none of the statues depicted the four-legged centaurs. A few hours after dark, Zeke summoned a jug of water and some dried meat, but he didn¡¯t stop to rest. Instead, he ate on the move, eager to finish the Rites as quickly as possible. Still, it was still early the next morning ¨C a few hours after the storm passed, and when the sun had just peeked over the horizon ¨C that he reached his destination at the center of what had obviously once been a city. ¡°That¡¯s¡­a big hole in the ground,¡± he said, peering over the edge of a massive pit. It was at least a hundred yards across, and around the inside of the circular edge ran a winding staircase that extended all the way to a stone pillar at the center. In contrast to the rest of the surrounding city, the stairs looked as if they¡¯d just been built. There were no crumbling edges, no moss, and certainly no weathered surfaces. As much as any other detail, that told Zeke that he¡¯d reached the dungeon¡¯s entrance. ¡°How positively deductive of you,¡± remarked Eveline, who had chosen to appear beside him. It was both pleasant and a little disconcerting hearing her speak aloud rather than in his head. ¡°Any advice before we dive in?¡± he asked, glancing toward her. She had taken her natural form, which presented as a stereotypical succubus, complete with hooves, a spiny tail, and tiny horns above a perfectly sculpted face. She was beautiful, and in a way that few people ever could be. However, Zeke could never look at her in that way. ¡°Ouch,¡± she said, dramatically clutching her chest. ¡°That¡¯s an arrow to the heart of any succubus.¡± Clearly, even though she¡¯d manifested visibly, she could still hear his thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re very broken up about it,¡± he said sarcastically. ¡°You¡¯re like the sister I never had. A bit crazy. A little murderous. And completely amoral. But a sister nonetheless.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what every girl dreams of hearing.¡± Zeke rolled his eyes at her joke, then changed the subject. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question. Any advice?¡± ¡°Just do what you always do,¡± she said. ¡°Charge through whatever gets in your way. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do it, then,¡± Zeke said before circling the pit until he reached the top of the stairs. Then, he began his descent. At first, it was no different than traveling down any other steps. However, he soon felt the ambient mana beginning to thicken. Minutes passed into hours, and with every step, the magic in the air grew ever denser until, after the third hour, it was almost suffocating. Still, Zeke kept going. Down and down, he went, and after a while, the ambient mana manifested into a heavy fog that blocked all visibility and obscured Zeke¡¯s senses. More importantly, it also came with a metaphysical pressure that felt like it was squeezing his soul, resulting in a different kind of pain than he¡¯d ever endured. It was then that Eveline¡¯s visible form flickered and dissipated. At first, Zeke was alarmed, but then he felt her presence in his mind. With a labored sigh of relief, he continued on, struggling to keep his balance as he stumbled down the steps. After that, Zeke lost track of time. Instead, he focused the entirety of his being on putting one foot in front of the other. As he did so, he kept one hand on the outer wall, as much to reassure himself that the physical world continued to exist as it was to help maintain his balance. Then, suddenly, the wall disappeared. A step or two later, so did the fog. The pressure followed soon after, leaving Zeke gasping for air as he looked around. When he finally registered what he was looking at, his jaw dropped. ¡°Are you seeing this?¡± he asked. ¡°I am,¡± Eveline answered, her own voice just as awestruck as his. And for good reason, too. The steps were suspended in a vast expanse of nothingness. When Zeke looked, there was no evidence of the pit through which he¡¯d been descending. Looking down showed him similar results. Just a huge carpet of black, peppered with tiny pinpricks of light. Looking around, Zeke saw hundreds of celestial bodies, most of which he couldn¡¯t name. It was as if he¡¯d been suspended in space, though everything was compressed into a much smaller area. Never before had Zeke felt so small. So inconsequential. And he could feel through Eveline¡¯s thoughts that she was beset by a similar emotion. For a few minutes, Zeke just stopped and appreciated the view. ¡°Sometimes, I forget we live in a world of magic,¡± he said. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s always there, all around us. But it¡¯s so easy to take for granted. Then, I see something like this, and¡­it¡¯s awe-inspiring.¡± ¡°It is.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Just noticing the differences between our worlds,¡± she said. ¡°There are no sights like this in Hell. It¡¯s just misery.¡± She paused for a long moment, then said, ¡°Misery and pain.¡± ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You can. I wasn¡¯t kidding before. I know neither of us really asked to be stuck together, but for better or worse, we are. And over time, I¡¯ve started to consider you part of my family. And family is there for one another. If you need to talk ¨C¡± ¡°I said I didn¡¯t. Leave it at that, Ezekiel. For once, just respect my wishes.¡± Zeke sighed. He wanted to point out that he always did his best to do just that, but he knew she was in no mood to hear it. So, he gave her the silence she obviously wanted. Like that, the pair of them simply looked at the galaxy spread out before them, appreciating the opportunity to see something that most people would never enjoy. Finally, though, Zeke said, ¡°We need to move on. It¡¯s already taken longer than I expected.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± With that, Zeke tore his eyes away from the sights, then continued down the stairs. Like that, he progressed, steadily descending for hours more. With the backdrop of that fantastic galaxy, that leg of the trip was much more enjoyable than the previous, but after a while, the passing time still frustrated Zeke. So, he was more than a little relieved when, at last, he reached the end of the stairwell. Or more appropriately, the stone arch that was his obvious destination. ¡°Ready?¡± he asked. Eveline said, ¡°As prepared as we can be.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it, then.¡± He stepped forward, and for a second, experienced the same nothingness that he¡¯d felt the last time he¡¯d entered a dungeon. And just like before, he stumbled free only a moment later. Thus, his latest dive into a dungeon began. 422. Toxic Zeke¡¯s insides twisted into knots as he beheld the landscape before him. The expansive galaxy that had so captivated him was gone, replaced by something decidedly more mundane, yet still impressive in its own way. At first, Zeke thought he was back in the ruins he¡¯d left behind on the surface, but it only took a cursory examination to mark the differences. The first was that the structure in front of him was no city. Instead, it was a maze of worn walls, with each stone used in its construction covered in a thick layer of moss and a dense collection of vines. Looking up, Zeke saw a small sun, almost white in the illumination it offered, amid a light green sky. The rest of the landscape was populated by moss-covered rocks and a wide variety of mushrooms, some of which were large enough to rival the trees back in the Old Growth forest. When Zeke drew close to one of them, the twisting nausea in his stomach grew more potent than ever, suggesting that the fungi were poisonous. With that in mind, he strode forward, leaving the forest of mushrooms behind. To his relief, the queasiness retreated with every step he took until, by the time he reached the ruins, he felt normal. Still, he pulsed [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to deal with any remnants of poison that might still be clinging to life within him. ¡°Very hospitable,¡± Eveline remarked, giving the impression that she was studying the ruins. Zeke didn¡¯t respond, instead focusing on the task before him. Fortunately, the path through the ruins was straightforward, so he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about traversing a maze. Nor did they seem populated, save for an occasional knee-high mushroom, each of which he gave a wide berth. Still, the ruins were expansive, and it took him a few hours before he finally reached their terminus. The sudden cessation of moss-covered rubble was a bit jarring, especially because the wide expanse of barren rock stretching before him was such a distinct deviation from the claustrophobic confines of the ruins. Zeke recovered quickly, though, and when he did, he saw something glinting in the distance. At first, Zeke thought he was looking at a series of spires, but as he focused, he saw that it was, instead, a palace of sorts. Pushing forward for a few hundred more yards, he gradually made out more details until he got a good sense of the structure in the distance. First of all, it was quite a bit smaller than he¡¯d first expected. Usually, everything he encountered in the Eternal Realm was outsized and grandiose, but this palace was of a size that would have been at home on Earth. However, its size was the only thing familiar about it. The architecture clearly marked it as coming from alien sensibilities, and it was characterized by the prominent spheres, standing atop the slim, segmented towers. From those spheres stretched long, cylindrical protrusions, all in a circle at the widest point. Zeke counted seven tall spires, with one much shorter building nestled between them. Though they seemed to be made of mundane stone with black, metallic accents, each opening glowed with noxious green light. That suggested that they were far from normal, and given the colors, put Zeke in mind of poison. ¡°Probably because you were poisoned by giant mushrooms the moment you entered this dungeon,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Zeke rolled his shoulders, then advanced. He was already in his colossal form, so the only preparations he could make were to pay close attention to his surroundings. As it turned out, that was unnecessary, because he reached the palace entirely unmolested. However, when he drew close, he saw that something guarded the entrance. Scorponik ¨C Level 63 ¡°Is that its name? Or a species?¡± Zeke wondered aloud, his voice carrying across the barren landscape. ¡°Both, maybe?¡± Eveline answered. ¡°Do you think it wants to make friends?¡± Zeke studied the monster. On the most basic level, it had the shape of a giant scorpion, complete with eight legs, an overlarge set of pincers, and a segmented tail curving over its back and ending in a wicked-looking stinger. However, it looked like it was being held together by twisting and thorny vines that wove in and out of its chitinous exoskeleton. Finally, Zeke could see hundreds of tumor-like mushrooms ¨C each one vividly blue ¨C sprouting from where its head should have been. It reminded him of the myconids he¡¯d fought back in the Mortal Realm, though even from so far away, Zeke could feel the thing¡¯s power. Perhaps it was an evolved version of the monsters he¡¯d defeated in the Radiant Isles. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s very friendly,¡± he remarked as the creature finally noticed him. It didn¡¯t charge. Instead, it rose from where it had been lounging and planted itself challengingly in front of the palace¡¯s door. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s another entrance?¡± ¡°Probably not. This looks like your first challenge. I¡¯m guessing the next is in that building.¡± Zeke sighed, then summoned Voromir to hand. Gripping his trusty hammer, he advanced confidently. As he drew closer, he felt himself growing more nauseated with every step. Clearly, the scorponik wasn¡¯t just venomous; instead, it was obviously toxic to everything around it. When he was only a hundred feet away, Zeke noticed a subtle green fog hanging close to the ground. With the atmosphere having the same tint, the low-slung cloud was almost invisible, but now that he¡¯d noticed it, he couldn¡¯t ignore the implications. However, he still advanced, trusting in [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] and his resistances to see him through. Even so, each step sent the fog swirling. It seeped into his pores and tainted the air he breathed. In only seconds, he felt the weakness set in as he stumbled. A quick flare of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] allayed some of the effects, but the only way he could remain upright was to keep the skill churning. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. But the implications were clear. If he didn¡¯t end the fight quickly and find safety, he would succumb to the poison. With that in mind, he stomped his foot against the barren ground, simultaneously activating [Hell Geyser] and launching himself forward at a dead sprint. The rending earth outpaced him, but only just, and even as the ground erupted into a pillar of hellfire and molten rock, Zeke crashed into the monster, kicking it into the center of the geyser. The fog caught fire, burning quickly and giving Zeke some respite from the poison. However, only a second later, it crashed back into him like a tidal wave, engulfing him completely. He endured, though, and as the geyser dissipated, he raced forward to hopefully finish the skorponik off. That¡¯s when a spear-like stinger came lashing out of the retreating flames to spear him through the chest. Zeke saw it coming at the last second, so he managed to twist just enough to avoid having his heart obliterated. However, the stinger still ripped through his shoulder like it wasn¡¯t made of metal. A spray of blood like mercury splattered across the landscape, and the scorponik¡¯s tail lifted him high into the air before spinning around and throwing him aside. After rolling across the ground, he came to a stop when he hit a particularly large boulder, cracking it with his weight and momentum. Flaring [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], he climbed to his feet; however, the movement sent a wave of intense nausea rolling through his stomach. At the same time, dizziness enveloped his mind, and muted his senses as the poison¡¯s effect reached a new level. Letting out a roar, Zeke dragged more mana into his body, using the last vestiges of atmospheric corruption to fuel the demonic version of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. It burned through him, eradicating the poison and scorching his soul in the process. However, it got him upright in time to meet the charging scorponik with mighty uppercut from Voromir. The hammer took the creature in its face of fungi, sending it rocketing up in a flip that ended with the creature on its back. Zeke pounced, leaping high into the air and coming down with all the weight and force he could muster. The monster¡¯s chitinous exterior cracked, and a puff of green mist erupted from the wound. Zeke held his breath, but just like the fog had, the mist seeped into his pores, where it was quickly eradicated by the burning corruption coursing through him. But a little bit remained. Zeke hit it again. And again after that. The monster squirmed and bucked, trying everything to right itself. But on its back, it had no leverage. More importantly, it couldn¡¯t bring its massive claws or that dangerously venomous tail to bear. As such, Zeke¡¯s assault was entirely unobstructed. The only problem was that, even as he destroyed the scorponik, the clouds of poisonous mist grew ever denser. Eventually, it overcame even the demonic version of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], twisting Zeke into knots as his body was ravaged by the toxin. Yet, he endured. As he always did, and in the end, he felt an influx of kill energy that was poor reward for the pain wracking his body. He stumbled free of the monster¡¯s corpse, forgetting even to loot the thing as he staggered toward the palace¡¯s door. With every footfall, the toxic mist surged and swirled all around him. He fell to his knees, but still, he didn¡¯t stop. Even Eveline was affected, and her thoughts were a tangle of frayed and unraveling threads. Zeke dragged himself up the steps, his fingers digging into the moss-covered stone. [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] still sang through him, though the minute amount of ambient corruption in the air had already been burned. Instead, it used earth attuned mana as fuel. It wasn¡¯t as explosively effective, but it was steady and stoic against the tide of poison. Finally, Zeke reached the door and grasping the ring that was its handle, he dragged himself upright. Once he did, he pulled it open. A wave of fresh air washed over him, and he stumbled through, taking deep, gasping breaths as the door closed behind him of its own accord. The poison persisted, though, and still on his hands and knees, he vomited. What came out did not resemble food, though. Instead, it looked like pure mercury with silver clusters. The expulsion didn¡¯t make him feel any better, though, and he knelt there for a long moment, as he attempted to settle his roiling stomach. It didn¡¯t work. No matter how much mana he fed to [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], it just wasn¡¯t enough. So, marshalling his Path of Arcane Destruction, he concentrated on lacing the ability with only the tiniest bit of his Will. Pain the likes of which he¡¯d never felt ¨C even under the influence of the corrosive mana of the demon realm ¨C lanced through him, but he refused to give in. Instead, he guided that destructive power, focusing using it to eradicate the poison. That was moderately successful, and beneath all that pain, he felt the toxicity recede. He only managed to make a little progress before the agony overwhelmed his willpower, and he pushed his Path of Arcane Destruction away. That left his body ravaged, but he used [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to repair the damage he¡¯d done. So, only a few minutes later, he was better off than he¡¯d been when he stumbled through the door. The improvement in his condition was enough to allow him to take stock of his surroundings. The interior of the palace looked nothing like what Zeke expected. Instead of a grand entry hall from which corridors would branch, the place was entirely hollow. The walls were lined with cracked columns, and the center of the space was dominated by a large dais. A single mushroom, thin and topped by a yellow cap, stood next to it. Zeke pushed himself to his feet, though his legs felt like jelly. It had been some time since he¡¯d felt so weak, but he refused to let himself to surrender. So, seeing no other viable route, he lurched toward the raised platform. It was made of the same material as the rest of the interior, though the center glowed with iridescent light. However, Zeke got a surprise when he finally drew within a few feet of the mushroom. One second, it looked like a normal fungi, but the next, it unfolded to reveal a thin but definitely humanoid form. Beneath its cap was a lined face. Before Zeke could react to the sudden change, it spoke. ¡°Ah,¡± it said, stretching its arms out wide as if it had just woken from a long nap. ¡°A challenger. How novel.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t know how to respond to that, so he went with his gut by saying, ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Good. Good. Do you understand your task?¡± it asked. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°Very well. You have three tests before you. The first is a trial of strength. The second, of endurance. And the final will test your wisdom. Complete them, and you will receive your reward, challenger. Be forewarned, though ¨C these tests are cumulative, rather than completely individual.¡± Zeke asked, ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°It means that each step will carry with it the burden of the last,¡± the mushroom man said. ¡°If you can survive, you will be rewarded. If not, your mana will fuel the dungeon like so many before you. Now, go. I can offer no more assistance.¡± Zeke certainly wanted to know more, but aside from the clear mushroom man¡¯s clear dismissal, he could still feel the toxicity rampaging through his body. That, along with the explanation already on offer, told him that he would get no reprieve until he conquered the dungeon. So, he nodded to the guide and said, ¡°Thank you for your assistance.¡± Then, he stepped forward, climbed the handful of steps leading to the top of the dais, and strode into the iridescent light. Immediately, Zeke felt the telltale sensation of being teleported somewhere else, and then, suddenly he was falling. He windmilled his arms, but thankfully, the fall only lasted a few seconds before he thudded into the ground. He lay there for a few seconds before finally looking up and seeing the task before him. 423. A Trial of Strength A gentle rain fell, casting a seemingly peaceful pall across the ravine. The pitter pat of raindrops hitting the ground was almost enough to mask the sizzling sound that came with each one. But for Zeke, it was all too obvious, especially when he felt every single one burning through his metallic body and leaving it pitted and scarred. Zeke felt the pain of each drop, but he ignored the irritation as he gazed took in his surroundings. The sides of the ravine were sheer and perfectly vertical, almost to the point of looking artificial. Which given that he was within a dungeon, it was, but that was beside the point. The ground was rough, with the acid-like rain flowing to the center and creating a small stream. Otherwise, the ravine was entirely barren. Not surprising, given the corrosive precipitation, but it was notable all the same. A few dozen yards away, the ravine was blocked by a pile of rocks. On the edges, they were small ¨C barely bigger than basketballs ¨C but the further into the pile Zeke looked, the larger the rocks became until, just visible beneath the rest of the boulders, was one that rivaled a cottage in size. Looking back, Zeke saw his way barred by another sheer cliff. The first thing he did was switch to fueling [Triune Colossus] with earth-attuned mana. It offered far more durability, which was necessary given the constant corrosion that came from the acidic rain. That helped, though Zeke knew that he was on something of a timer. Not only was he still under the effects of the poison to which he had previously been subjected, but he also knew that the rain would eventually wear him down, regardless of his endurance. So, he needed to figure out how to complete the challenge as quickly as possible. Once he felt his body shift, taking on a larger, rockier form that came with fueling the skill with earth-attuned mana, Zeke set about inspecting his surroundings. Jamming his hands into the wall was easy enough, and the climb was no different. However, when he reached the top of the cliff, he met with an invisible barrier that would allow no further progress. Briefly, Zeke considered using his Runebreaker technique to shatter that obstacle, but he chose not to for two reasons. First, he had no idea if it would even work. He saw no runes to shatter, so there was no guarantee that the technique would do anything at all. Second, even if it did work, he suspected that there would be unintended consequences for breaking the challenge. For all he knew, shattering that barrier would destroy everything, including the means for progressing to the next challenge. So, for once, Zeke chose the route of caution and restraint. ¡°That¡¯s character growth if I¡¯ve ever seen it. But you definitely don¡¯t like it, do you?¡± remarked Eveline. ¡°You¡¯d prefer to just smash through without a care for the consequences.¡± ¡°I think of consequences.¡± ¡°Sometimes.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± With that, he descended from the top of the cliff, his feet thudding against the ground when he leaped from a height of around fifteen feet. Next, he tried to climb the pile of rocks and boulders, but he met with a similar issue when he encountered the same invisible obstacle. Finally, he tried to use [Shifting Sands] to go through the rocks, but another invisible barrier stopped his progress, and he was forced to cancel it. In Zeke¡¯s mind, that cemented the strategy intended to meet and defeat the challenge. So, after climbing down, he started removing rocks, tossing them aside as he dug through the pile. At first, it was easy enough. If he¡¯d been back on Earth, the rocks would have been heavy enough to give him trouble, but with his incredibly enhanced strength, their weight was completely inconsequential. But after the tenth rock, Zeke noticed an additional problem. ¡°Is the rain coming down harder than before, or is that my imagination?¡± he asked, tilting his head to the sky. It roiled with angry, green-tinted clouds. ¡°Not your imagination,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°Shit,¡± he muttered, hoping it was just a natural surge in the storm. But in the back of his mind, he could predict the pattern. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m wrong.¡± ¡°Yeah. Because that would make total sense for a dungeon that¡¯s meant to challenge you. Why wouldn¡¯t it be easy?¡± Eveline asked. She definitely had a point there, but Zeke didn¡¯t react to her response. Instead, he continued with his labor. He picked up and tossed aside one rock after another, and as time went on, they grew larger and larger until he was forced to dig handholds just so he could handle them. The weight still wasn¡¯t an issue, but boulders the size of a motorcycle made for an awkward burden. And they only grew larger and heavier as the task went on. Compounding that problem was the fact that the ferocity of the storm continued to increase. When Zeke had first arrived in the ravine, it had barely been enough to call a drizzle, but after an hour of heaving rocks out of the way, it had picked up to a heavy shower. The pain of that rain eating away at him made his labor that much more onerous, but the real issue came from the pattern it established. ¡°It¡¯s just going to get worse,¡± he mumbled as he heaved a boulder onto his shoulder, then tossed it to the other end of the ravine. ¡°That seems likely,¡± Eveline agreed. But there was nothing for it but to keep going. He couldn¡¯t climb the walls, and he couldn¡¯t return the way he¡¯d come. So, the only way forward was through that pile of boulders. With that in mind, Zeke continued his labor. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Time passed, and the hours began to blend together. At some point, Zeke stopped long enough to slake his thirst and satiate his hunger, but he took no pleasure in it. Not with the increasingly heavy downpour burning through his rocky exterior. It wasn¡¯t until the boulders had grown to ten and fifteen feet across that Zeke discovered yet another issue. The increased furor of the storm had dumped so much caustic precipitation into the ravine that the small stream flowing through the center had grown to take up the entire ground. It had gotten deep enough that it had risen to Zeke¡¯s ankles. If it kept going, the waters would continue to rise, and at an ever-accelerating rate. Eventually, it would completely envelop him. Which reaffirmed the idea that he couldn¡¯t dawdle. So, Zeke continued his labors, and as the hours stretched into more than a day, the acidic waters continued to rise until they reached his thighs. And given his massive size, that was high enough that, if he were in his cambion form, only his head would¡¯ve been visible. In addition, the furious storm continued to intensify to hurricanic levels. Wind whipped through the ravine, churning the ever-deepening waters and splashing Zeke¡¯s earthen form. Still, he persisted because he had no other choice. And then things changed. ¡°You needn¡¯t toil any longer,¡± came the familiar voice of the mushroom man. Zeke looked up to see the strange creature perched atop the tall cliff. The fact that he¡¯d heard his voice brought to light the fact that the storm ¨C and its tornadic winds ¨C had suddenly ceased. No. That wasn¡¯t quite right. Everything had frozen in place. The waves still existed. The falling rain hadn¡¯t gone anywhere. Instead, everything had just stopped. Everything but Zeke and the mushroom man, at least. ¡°What?¡± Zeke called out, his throat sore and his voice raspy. More than a little acid had gotten into his mouth, and as a result, even his insides had been blistered. ¡°You can escape,¡± the humanoid fungi said. He waved a hand, and a door suddenly appeared in the side of the cliff. Oddly, no liquid passed through the black rectangle, and Zeke couldn¡¯t see anything on the other side. ¡°You need only pass through the door. I assure you, no harm will come to you if you choose this route.¡± It was a testament to the amount of pain Zeke was in that he very nearly walked through that door without even thinking. However, the weight of his expectations brought him up short, and he asked, ¡°What happens after that? Does this mean I¡¯ve passed this test?¡± ¡°Oh, no. Passing through that door means that you admit you are unworthy. You will be deposited back in the real world, where you can do naught but wallow in the shame of your failure,¡± the mushroom man stated. ¡°However, you will live, and that must have some value to you.¡± Zeke asked, ¡°Are the tasks the same for everyone who enters this dungeon?¡± ¡°No. They are tailored to the individual. It is meant to be a challenge. What might strain your capabilities can be overcome by someone else with little difficulty. If you proceed, you will be pushed to your limits. I can guarantee that much.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re offering me a chance to fail.¡± ¡°I offer a chance to live.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t even give it a thought before he said, ¡°No thanks.¡± Then, he went back to work. The storm resumed, and the waters continued to churn. With every passing moment, Zeke felt a little weaker than before. The acidic rain didn¡¯t just leave him pitted and scarred, but it also sapped his strength like nothing ever had. Boulders that should have been well within his capabilities to lift suddenly felt far too heavy to bear. He compensated by trying to shatter them with his hammer, but they were unassailable. He couldn¡¯t even crack the things. So, he summoned every ounce of strength he could, and set about slowly shifting them out of the way. Inch by inch, he persisted until he¡¯d accomplished his goal. Then, he started in on the remaining boulders. To Zeke, time lost meaning. There was only the task. All the while, the acidic water continued to rise. The mushroom man remained in place, but he didn¡¯t say anything else. Instead, he just watched and waited for Zeke to succeed or die. For his part, Zeke refused to give up, even after the water rose to his neck, he bent his back to the task at hand. And gradually, he made progress. Even as the acid ate through his body, one layer at a time, he shifted enormous rocks. He tried to counteract the damage via [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but the skill came up short. As a result, his progress was marked by a slow but inevitable decline. He knew that he could, at any time, leave. The door remained in place, so he could end his suffering at any point. However, for Zeke, it had never been an option. He refused to give up just as ardently as he refused to fail. So, through sheer stubbornness, he persisted. Even Eveline¡¯s constant chatter couldn¡¯t distract him from his found purpose as a humanoid excavator. Then, with a mighty heave that felt as if it was going to rip his muscles to shreds, he finally edged the final boulder ¨C which was the size of a suburban starter home ¨C out of the way. The water rushed out, draining through the miniscule crack in the previously impenetrable wall of boulders. But Zeke wasn¡¯t finished. Even as the acidic water¡¯s level fell, he continued to pull the boulder out of the way. Meanwhile, the storm¡¯s fury intensified even further, and Zeke felt even his massive form shifting in the wind. He increased his weight to compensate, but the wind kept pace. He would not be denied, though. With herculean effort, Zeke let out a roar and shifted the final boulder against the current. One tiny inch at a time. Bit by bit, he dragged it far enough away that it revealed a tiny path that was just wide enough to admit his cambion form. So, after taking a deep breath, he cancelled [Triune Colossus]. It was a mistake. Fiery pain erupted across his entire body as the acidic rain melted through muscle and skin. Dollops of blood and liquified meat ran off him right alongside the drops of corrosive rain. Zeke let out a scream of agony, then harnessed his Will. It sang through him, just as destructive as the corrosion, but in a completely different way. The two forces ¨C one of Arcane Destruction, the other of corrosive rain ¨C did battle in Zeke¡¯s body, giving him a brief window of opportunity. He seized it, then lurched forward and through the opening he¡¯d created. [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] battled the two destructive forces, but it was too weak to do much more than stave off disaster. Still, that, along with the standstill created by his Will¡¯s clash with the corrosive rain, gave him just enough time to bypass the boulder and stumble into the clearing beyond. It was just more of the same ravine, but in the distance, Zeke saw an elaborate arch. The moment he caught sight of it, he knew that was his destination. In fact, as he crawled forward, it became his entire world. Inches became feet, and soon enough, he¡¯d dragged himself to the base. Bloody, and with large bits of his skin falling off, he looked up to see the mushroom man staring down at him. Zeke had no idea when the man had arrived. Nor was he in any position to care. ¡°Congratulations,¡± the humanoid fungi said. ¡°You have conquered this trial. Be warned, it will only grow more difficult from here. You may proceed.¡± With that, he gestured to the door. Zeke needed no further invitation before he dragged himself through. 424. A Test of Endurance For a few minutes, Zeke lay on the cold ground, letting [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] flow through him. However, the lack of acid falling from the sky was probably even more soothing. His skill was powerful, though, especially when he used a bit of demonic corruption to boost it. In addition, the acid burns were new enough that they hadn¡¯t begun to scar, which was a boon. Zeke wasn¡¯t a particularly vain person, but he certainly didn¡¯t wish to walk around looking like a burn victim. So, even as his flesh mended, Zeke focused his attention inward. The test of strength had been far more difficult than he¡¯d imagined it would be, largely because, of all his attributes or characteristics, he¡¯d always depended most on his physical power. However, it had very nearly come up short, which didn¡¯t bode well for the additional trials he would have to brave before he completed the dungeon. And yet, he was invigorated by it as well. If one thing could be said about Zeke, it was that he enjoyed a challenge. Certainly, the process of being melted by acid was not a pleasant one, and in the moment, it¡¯d felt like he¡¯d returned to the succubus¡¯ torture chamber when he¡¯d first arrived in Hell. But after he¡¯d managed to overcome the trial, there was an undeniable sense of accomplishment that made it all worth it. ¡°You have issues,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Oh, come on. You feel it, too. Don¡¯t even try to say otherwise. I can read your thoughts too, you know,¡± Zeke muttered. Indeed, he and Eveline were similar, and in more than one way. Sure ¨C she was a mind spirit who¡¯d once been a demoness, but she had spent much of her life driven to overcome and conquer. And she had succeeded, too. ¡°Until I didn¡¯t,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Everyone fails,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°But you kept going, and you¡¯re still here. That says more about you than a hundred successes.¡± ¡°How sweet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s me. Everyone says how sweet I am,¡± he responded dryly. After that, the short conversation came to an end, and Zeke concentrated on healing his body. Every now and then, he used demonic mana to fuel a more powerful pulse of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but for the most part, he employed his own unattuned mana. Like that, he could heal at a much accelerated pace, but without doing too much damage to his soul. And even the bit of corrosion he had to deal with was taken care of by his unattuned mana. So, his body mended at a visible pace until, less than an hour later, he was as good as new. During that time, he¡¯d taken stock of his surroundings, and unlike in the previous scenario, it was not natural. However, there were some similarities, like the sheer walls rising high on either side. Instead of a pile of boulders ahead of him, though, there was an intersection. ¡°Think it¡¯s a maze?¡± he asked, noting that there were two ways to go. ¡°I have just as much information as you do,¡± Eveline stated aloud, having manifested in her visible form. As always, she wore a tight black dress that, on any other woman, probably would have sent Zeke¡¯s thoughts into a decidedly lewd territory. However, with Eveline, his mind just didn¡¯t go in that direction. She paced back and forth beside him, clearly irritated and impatient. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to get up and explore it if you want to know more. I¡¯m still using your senses, if you¡¯ll recall.¡± Zeke picked himself up, then stretched. ¡°That¡¯s a nice look,¡± Eveline said. He shook his head, then retrieved some clothes from his spatial storage to replace the ones that had been dissolved by the acid. Eveline didn¡¯t look away while he dressed, but considering she was with him at all times, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to care about modesty in her company. Still, it was a little more awkward when she had manifested a visible form. Or maybe it was the way she pointedly refused to look away. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely zero fun, by the way. Just putting that out there,¡± Eveline huffed when she didn¡¯t get a reaction. Zeke shrugged. ¡°Never really claimed to be fun.¡± Indeed, even on Earth, he¡¯d been accused of being too serious on enough occasions that he¡¯d internalized to a certain degree. Sure, he had a sense of humor, but ¨C ¡°Debatable.¡± He sighed, then said, ¡°I can appreciate humor. I¡¯m just not going to run around like a clown.¡± ¡°I feel like if I approach this honestly, you¡¯re just going to get frustrated, so I¡¯m just going to abandon the subject, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Fine by me.¡± With that, Zeke finished dressing then looked around. The first thing he did was try to use [Shifting Sands], just as a test. However, the skill wouldn¡¯t even activate. He also tried to climb the walls, but he encountered a similar barrier to the one that had contained the ravine. So, his only option was to walk. After adopting his unattuned colossal form, he used [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to soothe whatever damage lingered. There wasn¡¯t much, but his soul had still been scorched. That kind of harm wouldn¡¯t be quick to heal. He quickly found his way to the intersection, where he was once again confronted by the mushroom man. ¡°You have two choices before you,¡± he said. ¡°To your right, you will find a reward commensurate with your efforts. In addition, you will be allowed to leave the dungeon. However, if you choose the left path, you will be once again tested. Make your choice.¡± A reward certainly sounded good, and he wasn¡¯t the masochist his actions sometimes made him out to be. He didn¡¯t like pain any more than the next person. But he knew that he could never choose the right path. Not only would it go against his competitive spirit, but it would negate the entire point of his challenging the dungeon in the first place. He still needed the centaurs on his side for the coming war, and he suspected that they would refuse even an alliance if he failed the trials they¡¯d set for him. With that in mind, Zeke picked his path. ¡°On your head be it,¡± the mushroom man muttered. Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he strode forward confidently. However, after only a step, he felt the familiar weight of increased gravity pressing down on him. He¡¯d felt the same every time he used [Center of Gravity] or increased his weight via his racial gift. When he tried to use the latter to compensate, he was unsurprised that it didn¡¯t work at all. After another step, he felt [Triune Colossus] as well as [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] forcefully deactivate. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Next came [Bulwark of the Triumvirate], exposing his mind. He stumbled a bit, but he quickly adjusted his gait. Meanwhile, Eveline retreated further into his mind, likely to avoid being exposed. Zeke wasn¡¯t certain if she was more vulnerable when she showed her visible form, but he suspected that that was the case, so her actions seemed reasonable. With every subsequent step, the weight increased until he could barely keep his shoulders from hunching. Unfortunately, that was when that first attack came. Zeke tried to react, but his reflexes were sluggish. As a result, he couldn¡¯t avoid the scorpion¡¯s descending stinger. It easily pierced his flesh, sending an influx of venom to burn a path through his flesh. Fortunately, Zeke adjusted quickly and reached out to grasp the thing¡¯s segmented tail. He ripped it free before trying to summon his hammer. Unsurprisingly, given everything else that had happened, the weapon did not come to his call. Rather than let himself get wrapped up in what he couldn¡¯t do, Zeke adjusted quickly by leaping upon the arachnid¡¯s back, wrapping his arms around its tail, and yanking with all his might. At first, nothing happened except for the scorpion¡¯s panicked skittering and screeches. But soon enough, the sound of cracking chitin filled the air as Zeke ripped the tail from the monster¡¯s body. Then, without skipping a beat, he reversed his grip, wheeled around, then drove the stinger deep into the scorpion¡¯s head. It let out one last defiant screech, but then it went limp. Zeke rolled free, panting from exertion. His strength had been unaffected, but the weight of increased gravity was still pressing down on him. Yet, he¡¯d made his choice, and for good reasons, so there was precisely zero chance that he was going to turn back. Even if the poison continued to ravage his body and sap his strength. ¡°What is it with this place and poison?¡± he growled, yanking the scorpion¡¯s stinger out. It had proved a decent weapon, and since he didn¡¯t relish the possibility of ripping monsters apart with his bare hands, he decided to keep it. ¡°Have to stay on theme,¡± Eveline remarked, though her mental voice seemed far away. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Anything I can do to help?¡± ¡°Finish this dungeon quickly.¡± After that, Zeke pushed forward, pushing himself to move more quickly. When yet another scorpion attacked, his reactions proved up to the task of avoiding another injection of venom. However, it did open him up to the monster¡¯s claws, which had no issue tearing into the muscle of one of his legs. Still, Zeke managed to kill it a moment later, and in much the same way as he¡¯d slain the first. The next few attacks were not so easily endured, and Zeke picked up a handful of stings along the way. The problem wasn¡¯t that the scorpions were faster or more powerful. They weren¡¯t. Instead, they were simply unaffected by the increased gravity that wore Zeke¡¯s strength down, so they seemed far quicker than they really were. For his part, Zeke struggled to endure the ever-increasing pressure until he could barely stand. That¡¯s when he encountered the first real threat. The scorpion was much larger than the others, and instead of one tail, it had two. The two appendages moved independently, and when Zeke stepped forward to fight it, he found out that the venom the administered was predictably stronger. Still, Zeke was experienced enough to deal with the monster, and he ended up killing it only a few moments later. The fight left him absolutely exhausted, though. He contemplated resting for a bit, but he suspected that if he let himself stop, it would be that much more difficult to force himself to move on. So, moving on sheer momentum, he continued forward. Each step thudded against the ground with enough force that, when Zeke looked back, he was surprised to find that he hadn¡¯t left footprints in the stone ground. The next few miles felt like they took an eternity, but in reality, he covered the ground in mere hours. Every hundred yards or so, he encountered another of the smaller scorpions, and eventually, it got to the point that he didn¡¯t even bother trying to dodge their attacks. Instead, he used the couple of seconds when their stingers were embedded in his flesh as an opportunity to wrestle them to the ground, then kill them with his pilfered stinger. That strategy netted him quite a bit more pain, and he was weakened with every injection of venom. But it was the only viable way to ensure he ended the fights as quickly as possible. So, as was his habit ¨C and the theme of the trial ¨C he endured, but not without significant difficulty. Over the course of the next few hours, he fought countless small scorpions as well as a handful of the larger, two-tailed creatures. As he went, Zeke¡¯s conscious mind retreated, and the more savage tendencies that had been born in the troll caves resurfaced. That left little room for anything else, but that part of his mind was very good at two things: killing and surviving. Which was precisely what Zeke needed at the moment. So, he survived. And he killed. And above all, he endured. One step after another, he progressed down the path he had chosen, and after some interminable amount of time, he finally reached the final challenge. The scorpion before him was the size of an elephant, but far more agile. Its nine tails hovered over its insectile body like snakes, ready to strike at a moment¡¯s notice. Zeke didn¡¯t care about that. Nor would he allow himself to acknowledge how much the increased gravity had slowed him. He used his Will on instinct, and even as the destruction it wrought on its body was added to the burn of the scorpion venom, Zeke felt power surge through him. He used it to great effect, unleashing his fury on the giant, nine-tailed scorpion. It never stood a chance. The stinger he¡¯d been using as a weapon only lasted for a few seconds, but when it broke, Zeke merely tossed it aside, replacing it with his bare hands. He pummeled the monster with his fists, cracking its carapace with every blow. However, Zeke didn¡¯t escape the creature¡¯s retaliation, and he was quickly skewered more times than he could count. Yet he refused to be moved. He refused to relent. And he refused to die. His Will supported him even as it subjected him to unmitigated destruction. In his primal state, Zeke gave himself over to it, and the results were explosive. He tore through the monster¡¯s chitinous exoskeleton like it was paper, then plunged headfirst into its meaty thorax. The creature screeched and bucked, but it couldn¡¯t do much else against such a determined and demented foe. With his bare hands, Zeke ripped through the scorpion¡¯s soft interior, tearing apart flesh and organs alike as he sought to conquer the obstacle that had made the mistake of standing in his path. Finally, after longer than a rational person would have suspected, the scorpion finally succumbed to the copious damage Zeke had inflicted. But he didn¡¯t stop. Instead, he kept ripping and tearing until, at last, Eveline¡¯s screams cut through his savage psyche. When it did, he used every ounce of his willpower to regain control. That¡¯s when he realized how much damage he¡¯d inflicted upon himself. The only positive was that the Path of Arcane Destruction had been just as detrimental to the venom as it had been to his own body and soul. So, while it had ravaged him, it had completely obliterated the venom. ¡°Silver linings,¡± he croaked, dragging himself from within the scorpion¡¯s carapace. He rolled free, flopping to the ground. With his Will surging through him, the effect of the increased gravity hadn¡¯t seemed so important. But now, it had returned in full force, weighing down on him with enormous pressure. Zeke pushed himself to his feet, then stumbled past the enormous monster¡¯s corpse. He couldn¡¯t even loot it, as that ability had been deactivated by the dungeon as well. His continued progress was slow, but he seemed to have killed all the scorpions, because he wasn¡¯t forced to endure any further attacks. However, the intensity of the gravity continued to increase until, at last, he could stand no longer. He collapsed to his hands and knees, but continued along at a crawl. Soon enough, he couldn¡¯t even manage that much because he was forced to drag himself along on his stomach. But he would not stop. Even when every inch felt like a mile, Zeke continued to move forward. Then, a subjective eternity later, he felt the pressure lift. Suddenly, he could breathe. He could think. He could move. Looking up, he saw the mushroom man standing over him. ¡°Congratulations,¡± he said. ¡°Few could have endured this task. I commend you. But you are not finished. One more task lay before you. Proceed.¡± Zeke¡¯s eyes went past the mushroom man, and he saw yet another doorway. After spending a couple of minutes slowly climbing to his feet, he staggered forward. As he passed through, he spared a thought to hope that the next trial would be less painful. ¡°You¡¯re probably going to be disappointed, then,¡± Eveline said, her first contribution for what felt like an eternity. Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he stepped through the door and was whisked away to another challenge. 425. A Test of Wisdom Zeke collapsed the moment he passed through the doorway, but he flared [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] with as much mana as he could muster. The skill¡¯s power swept through him, soothing the devastation his Will had left behind, though it didn¡¯t heal him ¨C not quickly, at least. Instead, he lay there, wallowing in his own pain, for nearly three hours before he could even summon the strength to sit up. When he did, he got a bit of a surprise. His previous experiences had led him to expect another ravine or corridor, but the sight that greeted him was decidedly different. He found himself in a simple, round room. The walls were entirely unadorned, and they¡¯d been constructed of simple bricks. However, the mortar binding those bricks together glowed with ethereal light that, to the senses granted by his Path of Arcane Destruction, twisted into the tiny runes of complex enchantments. No matter how closely he looked, though, he couldn¡¯t figure out the purpose of the enchantment. In the center of the room stood four pedestals, all arrayed in a line. Upon those platforms were four treasure chests of varying sizes. From his position on the floor, Zeke couldn¡¯t see much more than that, and he wasn¡¯t in any condition to change that. So, he pushed himself against the wall and continued his healing. Fortunately, he had full access to his spatial storage, and he used it to his advantage in order to satiate his hunger and quench his thirst. Not only did healing use mana ¨C both from within and without ¨C but it also required quite a bit of caloric intake to offset. Once, it had been explained to him that, even with magical healing, the body required fuel. So, Zeke ate. He drank. And he healed. Slowly, his body mended, and though he had no real context to measure time, he had enough experience with healing a ravaged body to estimate that it took him close to three days to recover. That was an improvement, and he suspected it had something to do with his increased control over his Will. Before, he¡¯d been forced to let it run rampant, but now, he managed to stem the flow to just what he needed. That, in turn, protected him to some degree. ¡°You may also be growing more resistant to your own power. With every level, your body grows more durable,¡± Eveline said. She hadn¡¯t spoken much during Zeke¡¯s convalescence, but he took solace in her presence as well as the insight she could provide. ¡°How long has it been since you inspected your status?¡± Zeke thought back, but he couldn¡¯t remember the last time he¡¯d done so. He said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Maybe when I was level forty-five? Doesn¡¯t seem all that important to look at it more often than that.¡±
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 51
Race Cambion (F)
Attunement Earth (E), Demon (E)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (D)
Strength (S+) 62
Agility (C) 25
Dexterity (B) 25
Endurance (S+) 60
Vitality (C) 21
Intelligence (A) 32
Wisdom (S) 34
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D B C D
¡°I find that odd,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I¡¯ve known people ¨C well, demons, but they¡¯re people too ¨C who couldn¡¯t go more than a few minutes without gazing lovingly at their status. There was this imp I knew just after I evolved into a succubus. Slimy fellow, but he had a talent for fire magic I¡¯d never seen before. He was also obsessed with his status. Ended up killing him.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Oh, he was distracted by it and another imp ¨C nasty things, imps; they¡¯re evil, even for demons ¨C snuck up behind him and stabbed him in the back,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I never got that bad, but I¡¯ve been known to appreciate my own status from time to time.¡± ¡°You have a status?¡± ¡°Everything has a status,¡± she said. ¡°Even beasts. They just don¡¯t have the capacity to see it.¡± ¡°Can I see yours?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°No.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Because it¡¯s private.¡± ¡°You can see mine, though,¡± he insisted. ¡°Of course I can. What does that have to do with anything?¡± she responded. Zeke started to respond, but knew he was never going to get through to her. The moment he had that realization, he felt a sense of satisfaction radiating from Eveline¡¯s mind. That seemed to support his supposition. Whatever the case, Zeke turned his attention back to his oft-ignored status. It was much as he¡¯d expected, and he¡¯d gained two points in both strength and endurance for every level he¡¯d gained. In addition, he¡¯d been awarded a point each in intelligence and wisdom for those levels as well. Finally, he¡¯d split his two free points per level between his other stats, bringing his vitality, agility, and dexterity to reasonable levels. They would always lag behind, but he was happy with their progression, nonetheless. For the next day, Zeke slowly healed until, at last, he felt completely recovered. Once he did, he pushed himself to his feet and stretched his stiff muscles before once again satisfying his hunger and thirst. Unfortunately, he was prevented from summoning the gate that would let him enter the tower. Apparently, there was some mechanism at play he didn¡¯t understand. Whatever the case, Zeke stepped forward to inspect the treasure chests at the center of the room. He¡¯d seen them from afar, but during his convalescence, he had refrained from progressing further into the room, lest he trigger some trap before he was ready to deal with it. However, no such trap presented itself, and he soon found himself standing before the four pedestals. To say that the chests were different was quite an understatement. The first was wooden, and judging by the smell, it was made of cedar. Holding it shut was a simple latch without a lock. The second chest was slightly more elaborate, and it had been constructed of polished wood and banded with sturdy iron. Its latch was guarded by a thick padlock, though one that looked absolutely ancient in design. The third was made of pure gold, with jeweled accents and silver banding. It was held shut by a massive lock that had been merged with the lid. Finally, the fourth was obviously alive. ¡°What gave it away?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°The lolling tongue? Or the growling?¡± Indeed, a thick purple tongue stuck out from the mouth-like lid, and a steady series of threatening growls filled the air. ¡°What is that thing?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Nothing good,¡± Eveline concluded. ¡°Probably stay away from it. Or smack it with your stick.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a stick.¡± ¡°Hammers are just fancy sticks,¡± she insisted. Zeke was reminded of similar exchanges he¡¯d shared with Abby, and he went silent. It was just in time, too, because he suddenly became aware of another presence in the room. He turned around to see the mushroom man approaching. ¡°I see you have recovered. This pleases me,¡± the creature said, spreading its long arms. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± the fungus man asked. ¡°You must choose a path. This is a test of wisdom.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have enough information,¡± Zeke stated, looking from the mushroom man to the chests. Clearly, he needed to open one, and yet, there was nothing to indicate the correct choice. Zeke said as much, then amended, ¡°Other than the monster chest there, I guess.¡± ¡°There¡¯s probably a key in one of them,¡± Eveline pointed out, mentally gesturing toward a metal door across the room. It looked like it belonged in a prison, and sure enough, there was a key hole near the handle. ¡°So, how do I choose?¡± asked Zeke. The mushroom man said, ¡°That is for you to decide.¡± Then, he went still, dropped his arms to his side, and in seconds, he looked like an ordinary mushroom, albeit one with an incredibly long stalk. ¡°Well, that was insanely unhelpful,¡± Zeke muttered to himself. Then, to Eveline, he asked, ¡°Any suggestions?¡± ¡°The shiny one.¡± ¡°Is that based on logic in any way?¡± ¡°The key is important. Therefore, it must be in the most important-looking box. This is easy.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t think she had the right idea. If it was him setting the challenge up, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have put it in such an obvious place. In fact, he¡¯d have put it directly in the middle. ¡°But then again, the one nobody¡¯s going to want to choose is the monster one,¡± he reasoned. Then, he ran his hand through his hair and groaned. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t there have been a hint or something?¡± ¡°It has to be the shiny one. Because it¡¯s so¡­shiny,¡± Eveline insisted. ¡°What do you think happens if I pick the wrong one?¡± he wondered. ¡°Instant death. Maybe. Probably not. But it¡¯ll definitely hurt. Why? Are you planning on picking the wrong one? I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s obviously the gold one.¡± Zeke pondered it for a few more moments before realizing that any choice was the same as the others. There was no reasonable way for him to know which chest held the key. So, he figured he may as well follow Eveline¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Not a suggestion, minion. Also, may as well? You should be honored to do my bidding.¡± For that, Zeke chose the one furthest from the golden chest. ¡°So rude,¡± she muttered as he stepped toward the cheapest-looking box. Zeke ignored her, then lifted the lid. When he did, two things happened. First, the chest disappeared into motes of mana that misted into the air. Second, a monstrous weasel the size of a labrador manifested, then launched itself at him. By reflex, Zeke reeled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet as the creature brought its sharp claws to bear. Despite his high endurance, they ripped into him with ease, sending blood and bits of his flesh flying. Letting out a growl of pain and surprise, Zeke grabbed the overly large weasel by the nape of its neck, then tore it free. It took quite a lot of his left pectoral muscle with it, and it never stopped growling, spitting, and hissing. So, without missing a beat, Zeke spun and tossed it against the nearest wall with every ounce of strength he could muster. It sailed through the air, hitting the wall with enough force that it cracked a few of the bricks. However, the thing was only dazed by the impact, and it quickly threw itself back at Zeke. He met it with a hastily summoned Voromir, and the creature¡¯s bones cracked under the blow. Still, the ferocious beast didn¡¯t even slow down, and over the next fifteen minutes, Zeke was forced to repeatedly fend it off. Each time he slapped it away, it slowed a little, but wearing it down still took quite a lot of time and effort. And more than once, the creature slipped past Zeke¡¯s guard and tore a chunk from his body. He healed quickly enough, but that did nothing for the pain, which was quite a bit stronger than he would have anticipated. Still, Zeke finally managed to down the thing when he hit it with an overhand blow that broke its back. It still tried to squirm away, but with its back legs crippled, it could do nothing more than squirm a little. Zeke ended its life a few swings later. ¡°Jesus Christ. That thing was vicious,¡± he breathed, leaning on his hammer. ¡°What the hell was it?¡± ¡°Devil Marmot. Level forty-seven. Don¡¯t you ever use your [Inspect] skill?¡± ¡°Sometimes.¡± ¡°Not often enough,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Plus, I told you that wasn¡¯t the right chest. You should listen to me more.¡± Zeke growled, ¡°Fine. You want the pretty one? Let¡¯s do it.¡± He was already annoyed by the frustrating fight against the Devil Marmot, and he had no interest in listening to Eveline¡¯s flippant comments. So, he stomped toward the gold box, grabbed the lid, then ripped it open. The sound of a breaking lock echoed through the room before, a stream of green liquid hit Zeke in the face. He stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet and falling on his backside. However, he wasn¡¯t even remotely concerned with that because it felt like his entire face had caught fire. More than anything, he wanted to claw at his burning face, but he barely managed to restrain himself. Instead, he summoned a jug of water from his spatial storage, then tipped it back, washing away the acid. Or poison. Or whatever it was. At the same time, he desperately shoved mana into [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], healing the damage it had left behind. At first, the healing skill barely kept pace with the damage, but as Zeke washed the poison away, it slowly gained ground. Even so, in addition to the initial damage, which felt like his face was being melted, Zeke could also feel some secondary effects. His muscles twitched out of control, and his heart was beating out of his chest. Still, Zeke kept up the healing going, and slowly, the symptoms dissipated. Finally, once they¡¯d disappeared altogether, he just lay back with a sigh of relief. ¡°That was one of the most painful things I¡¯ve ever been through,¡± he muttered. ¡°Clearly, you should have chosen a different chest.¡± ¡°I picked the one you told me to pick.¡± ¡°Really? I don¡¯t remember that. Perhaps you misunderstood.¡± ¡°I hate you sometimes,¡± he muttered, picking himself up. He took a few moments to ensure that his face was not, in fact, a scarred and horrific mess. Given the pain he¡¯d endured, he felt like it should have been, but it was the same as it always was. Still, he felt weakened by the poison, so he remained idle for a little more than an hour. At the same time, his gaze went from one chest to the other. The mid-range chest, which was made of all polished wood, looked practically innocent next to the monstrous one. However, no matter how many times he looked, Zeke couldn¡¯t see anything to indicate which one held the key. ¡°I guess I¡¯m just stupid,¡± he said. ¡°I often think that.¡± ¡°You were wrong, too,¡± he reminded her. Eveline pointedly ignored his statement. So, after a few more minutes, Zeke finally made his third choice. Predictably, he was wrong when he opened the wooden chest. Earthen walls shot up all around him, trapping him in a tiny stone box that didn¡¯t even allow room for movement. For a second, Zeke didn¡¯t react, but when those walls started to close in, he embraced [Shifting Sands]. Time slowed as he sank into the ground, then he rocketed forward and to the surface. It took no time at all, and when he canceled the skill, he heard the thundering impact of the stone walls of his former cage slapping together with crushing force. ¡°I knew it was the monster one all along,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to do this,¡± he stated, eyeing the monster. Its purple tongue writhed, glistening with saliva. It was anything but inviting, but he didn¡¯t have a choice. There was only one option left. It was just by chance that he¡¯d picked the wrong one each time. But now, he couldn¡¯t get it wrong. ¡°Win by default. Great.¡± As Zeke approached the monstrous treasure chest, he felt almost like he was getting a participation trophy. Still, he had to keep the end goal in mind. It didn¡¯t matter how he conquered the dungeon. All that really mattered was that he got what he needed, which was an alliance with the centaurs. So, it was with renewed determination that he grabbed the lid and yanked it open. Or tried to, at least. The second that he did, the monstrous chest went insane, chomping down on his hand with bone-crushing force. Zeke¡¯s hand shattered, and he let out a pained grunt. But he¡¯d been in enough agonizing situations that he wouldn¡¯t lose his wits because of a little pain. So, with a herculean heave, he lifted the chest from its pedestal, then slammed it on the ground. It hit with a wet thunk that sounded nothing like the wood it appeared to be. It didn¡¯t shatter, though. Instead, it deformed a little before suddenly sprouting a pair of legs and sharp claws. Before it could bring those to bear, Zeke smashed it against the floor again. Then again. Its teeth ground into his shattered hand, threatening to tear it completely off. So, Zeke didn¡¯t dare stop. Over and over, he beat that chest against the floor until, at last, it went limp. He hit it a few more times for good measure before finally pulling away. As he channeled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], Zeke felt a deep sense of confusion. ¡°No key.¡± ¡°Maybe you need to dig for it,¡± Eveline suggested. Zeke groaned, and once his hand had been healed, he knelt beside the dead treasure chest monster and looted it. But he got nothing, so he decided to do it the old fashioned way. He spent the next few minutes literally ripping the thing apart, but when he was done with the disgusting task, he¡¯d found nothing. That¡¯s when it dawned on him. ¡°No¡­I can¡¯t be this stupid,¡± he said, pushing himself to his feet. Then, he crossed the room, reaching the door in only a few seconds. He grabbed the handle and pulled. It opened without a sound. ¡°I guess I am that stupid.¡± The mushroom man had never even mentioned a key. He¡¯d simply told Zeke to choose the correct path. Everything else had been a result of his own assumptions. ¡°Congratulations,¡± said the mushroom man, who was suddenly on the other side of the door. ¡°Wisdom is seeing the entire¡­wait, you¡­you opened all the boxes?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m thorough like that,¡± Zeke said, pushing into the room and looking around. ¡°Now, that¡¯s the end of the dungeon, right? Where¡¯s my prize?¡± 426. The Hideous Joy of Senseless Violence Zeke stumbled free of the dungeon and fell to his knees. Hastily, he dismissed his prize ¨C as he¡¯d so flippantly labeled it ¨C into his spatial storage. However, even the brief time he¡¯d been forced to hold it had wrought havoc on his system. He glanced down at his hands, which were covered in a host of lesions, and pulsed [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. Even using the skill at full tilt wasn¡¯t enough to completely counteract the poison coursing through his body. In fact, it wasn¡¯t even enough to fight it to a standstill, and the toxin continued to spread. Squinting up at the clear, blue sky, Zeke saw that it was sometime around noon. More than that, he couldn¡¯t tell, because his vision had already grown blurry. Pushing his illness away, he gathered himself enough to climb to his feet and summon the gate that would allow him to enter the tower. Behind him, the centaur camp remained where he¡¯d last seen it, but even as they reacted to his sudden appearance, he had little interest in dealing with them. Instead, he staggered through the gate. The moment he crossed the threshold, his strength gave out, and he fell face-first onto the Entry Hall floor. After that, he was vaguely aware of scaley hands dragging him through the room and to the teleporter. Then, what felt like a blink of an eye later, he was slipping into the healing waters of the Crimson Spring. But for the first time, the miraculous spring wasn¡¯t enough to completely heal him. Fortunately, it managed to stave off the worst of the poison so he could think straight enough to continuously flare [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. And it worked. Barely. Even with the combined effects of Zeke¡¯s skill and the potent healing offered by the Crimson Spring, his regeneration only narrowly outpaced the devastating corrosion of the poison he¡¯d received as his prize for conquering the dungeon. Kobolds came and went. Even a couple of centaurs tentatively entered the chambers containing the springs. Though Zeke couldn¡¯t afford the lapse in attention acknowledging their presence would require. It took everything he could muster to simply maintain his healing. Anything else would ruin all the progress he¡¯d managed to make. So, for days, Zeke focused the entirety of his mind, body, and soul on counteracting the potent poison. And gradually, he recovered. Bit by bit, his body healed, and after a week, he finally managed to release his death grip on his skill. The poison had broken, and as a result, he could relax and let the Crimson Spring work its magic. However, when he opened his eyes, he saw that the normally clear waters had been stained black. Without hesitation, Zeke once again embraced [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] and climbed from the spring. The moment he left those healing waters, the poison began to gain ground, so he wasted no time before staggering into the next chamber and collapsing into the clear, scalding pool. This time, the water crashed into the poison with the fury of a tidal wave, pushing it backward without delay or difficulty. That made it clear what had happened. Somehow, the poison had tainted the other pool, and so, its power had been somewhat mitigated. Now, though, the poison had been weakened so much that the clean waters had no trouble cleansing it. Still, it was no quick process, and Zeke ended up remaining in the pool for another two days before he switched to another. Then, it took one additional day before he felt completely healed. ¡°I hope I never have to take that thing out of storage again,¡± he said. ¡°What kind of an asshole move was it for that mushroom bastard to disable my spatial storage? I mean, it was working just before he awarded it to me.¡± ¡°You need to leave the talking to me,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°You could pose as my loyal manservant and bodyguard while I take care of social obligations. Of course, I can¡¯t actually touch anything physically, so you¡¯d have to be my hands. You know what? I bet we could figure out how to give me control of our body if we really put our minds to it.¡± ¡°My body.¡± ¡°I live here too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a guest,¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°A favored guest who you will do anything to ¨C¡± ¡°Or a parasite.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a very nice way to characterize our mutually beneficial relationship,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It¡¯s symbiotic.¡± ¡°Sure. If you say so.¡± Eveline huffed, but she didn¡¯t overtly respond. Instead, she went silent, sulking in the back of his mind. That was fine by Zeke, who wanted to spend a little time considering what he¡¯d been through in the dungeon. It hadn¡¯t been nearly as onerous as his first time in a dungeon, but it certainly hadn¡¯t been what anyone would call easy. The trials had tested him in ways that, while familiar, still stretched his capabilities to a frightening degree. But nothing could have prepared him for what he¡¯d felt the moment the mushroom man had handed over the writhing ball of tentacles that was his reward for conquering the dungeon. The fungus man had said something about being a poison-based natural treasure, but the second Zeke had taken it, he¡¯d lost the ability to truly comprehend anything. The poison had raced through his body, and he¡¯d only managed to hold it in check via [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], his insanely durable body, and his sturdy resistances. Still, it had come closer to killing him than any of the challenges, which suggested that it was probably at least a C-Grade treasure. Maybe as high as A-Grade. Either way, it would satisfy the requirements of his quest to upgrade the Crimson Tower. At present, he possessed treasures pertaining to ice, earth, poison, and, if he could trust Eveline¡¯s promise, demonic corruption. That meant he only needed treasures dedicated to fire, water, wind, nature, arcane, and disease to complete the set. ¡°Don¡¯t forget holy,¡± Eveline muttered, clearly still pouting. ¡°Right. Thanks,¡± he allowed. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Vaguely, he heard her say something about not being bad for a parasite, but he ignored it. Instead, he focused on the coming days. Satisfying another requirement of his quest was all well and good, but he was more concerned with gaining the respect of the centaurs so that he could wage war against Adontis. After that, he would rescue Talia. For a long time, Zeke just floated in the pool, letting the healing waters banish any residual corruption, corrosion, or fatigue. But finally, after a couple more hours, he couldn¡¯t convince himself to stay any longer. He had responsibilities, and they weren¡¯t going to be resolved until he left the tower. So, with that in mind, he climbed out of the pool, donned some clothing someone had left for him, then headed toward the teleporter. When he reached it, he headed to his manor, where he spent a few minutes catching up with Pudge before going to his bedroom and dressing himself in something more appropriate. In the end, he chose a pair of sturdy brown pants, some black boots, and a flowing white shirt that he knew wouldn¡¯t last. He had a habit of going through clothes very quickly. ¡°Maybe if you would avoid getting roasted or poisoned or bathed in acid, you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about that kind of thing,¡± Eveline remarked. It was her first contribution in some time. ¡°Probably,¡± Zeke agreed, brushing his long hair. It had grown almost to his shoulders, and his beard wasn¡¯t much shorter. ¡°I need a haircut.¡± Once, he¡¯d relied on Abby for that kind of thing, but ever since they¡¯d gone their separate ways, he¡¯d let his hair continue to grow. Soon, he¡¯d have to do something about it. Eveline said, ¡°You miss her.¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°But you also acknowledge that she was bad for you.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That makes no sense.¡± Zeke shrugged at his own reflection, saying, ¡°Can¡¯t help the way I feel, even if I know it doesn¡¯t add up.¡± After that, he left the manor behind and progressed through the Entry Hall. Along the way, he picked up a small retinue of kobolds. Pudge came along as well, and together, they all left the tower and crossed into the centaur camp. It was the same as when Zeke had gone into the dungeon, though the residents all looked at him with renewed respect. Before, they were fearful, but now, they seemed almost subservient. And it made Zeke just as uncomfortable as it did when the kobolds treated him that way. However, he knew he¡¯d have to get used to it. For better or worse, he had set himself up as a leader. That came with certain perceptions, responsibilities, and expectations. He just needed to acclimate to the inevitable. Still, it made walking through the camp ¨C which was the size of a city ¨C more than a little uncomfortable. Zeke shouldered his unease and carried it into the large tent at the center of the settlement. There, he found the Mistress of the Herd, Rasa Tomaki. She was flanked by a half dozen other centaurs, three to a side. None of them looked happy to see him alive. ¡°You have returned,¡± Rasa said, bowing at the waist. ¡°Wasn¡¯t easy,¡± Zeke admitted, returning her bow with a nod. He wouldn¡¯t bend more than that for anyone. ¡°Nothing worthwhile ever is,¡± she said, straightening to her full height. With Zeke in his human form, Rasa towered over him. She was also a higher level than him, and yet, he didn¡¯t feel the least bit intimidated. Because he knew that, on the hierarchy of power, both real and imagined, he was her superior. She knew the same thing. That was why she¡¯d allowed him to take the trial in the first place. Not that she could¡¯ve stopped him once he knew about it, but that wasn¡¯t the point. ¡°What will you have us do?¡± she asked. ¡°You are Spear of the People. We are your servants.¡± ¡°Servants?¡± ¡°Yes. The Seer has spoken, and ¨C¡± Just then, one of the other centaurs let out a roar and charged Zeke. He reacted instantly, summoning his hammer even as he began an uppercut that took the relatively small centaur in the chest. The force of the impact crushed the creature¡¯s breastbone, sending him to flip, end over end, before he hit the tent¡¯s wall. He tore through that, only coming to a stop a few dozen feet away. Even after a few seconds, he didn¡¯t move. And Zeke knew why. The centaur was dead. One blow was all it had taken. Slowly, he turned toward Rasa, who seemed to be frozen in place. Her mouth agape, she stared at the fallen centaur. ¡°Why?¡± he demanded, his grip tightening on the haft of his hammer. ¡°I have done nothing to you or yours. I have helped you defeat your ancestral enemy. I have defeated your trial. And yet, you attack me? Tell me why, or so help me, I will murder every single centaur on the Mukti Plains.¡± And he meant it, too. If the Mistress of the Herd answered unsatisfactorily, he and his kobold guards ¨C as well as Pudge, who looked even more ready to kill everyone than Zeke himself ¨C would tear their way through the camp on their way back to the gate. From there, a flood of kobolds would wash over the plains¡¯ natives, leaving nothing behind. It was almost inevitable. ¡°Forgive us!¡± she pleaded, bowing again. This time, she bent her forelegs, sinking to the ground. ¡°Raku did not speak for us! His actions were unsanctioned. He acted alone!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zeke spat, anger still roaring inside him. Now that he¡¯d walked up to the edge, he desperately wanted to dive into that ocean of fury. That was his demonic side making itself known. He knew that. And yet, he couldn¡¯t deny it. More, he didn¡¯t want to. Instead, he wanted to quench that fury with the blood of his enemies. ¡°Master yourself,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You are better than some feral demon. You are a king. Act like it.¡± Oddly enough, that got through to Zeke, and he backed away from the cliff. The sound of those crashing waves still called to him, but he resisted. When he finally took hold of his own psyche, he blinked down at the Mistress of the Herd. She was terrified. And rightly so. Zeke hadn¡¯t realized it, but he¡¯d summoned the corrupted mana to fuel his ire, and as a result, the cracks on his skin ¨C which were usually mostly invisible ¨C had flared to life. Even Pudge had backed away. ¡°Rise,¡± he commanded, his voice rumbling with the power of corruption. He forced that demonic mana away, though it was difficult. He hadn¡¯t even used a skill. It had just suffused him. ¡°Because you are a demon at heart,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°The blood of corruption is diluted, but it is there nonetheless. You must control it, lest you surrender whatever humanity you have left. Control it, or it will control you.¡± Zeke had fought against his demon side before ¨C especially in the demon realm ¨C but never when he wasn¡¯t channeling a skill. It was a troubling development, but the solution was clear. Even without Eveline¡¯s advice, Zeke would have known what he needed to do. Rasa pushed herself upright. ¡°What would you have us do?¡± she asked. ¡°Ak-toh.¡± ¡°Why did you call me that?¡± ¡°It is what your people call you. I¡¯m told it means ¡®savior¡¯, does it not? It seems appropriate.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t acknowledge that. It seemed that he would have to live with that moniker for a while longer. Perhaps for as long as he led the kobolds. And now, the centaurs. ¡°Tell me, are you ready to go to war?¡± ¡°We are always ready. Who will we fight?¡± ¡°The Knights of Adontis. They have imprisoned and enslaved anyone who isn¡¯t like them,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re going to put an end to that, even if we have to kill every last one of them. Ready your herd. We¡¯ll move first thing tomorrow.¡± With that, he turned and strode away. The kobold guards as well as Pudge followed. Meanwhile, Eveline said, ¡°You really need to get better at making speeches.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± he agreed. However, he expected that he¡¯d never be much of an orator. ¡°Or you could just precede every speech with an attack. That way, you know you have their attention.¡± He resisted the urge to sigh, but he had to admit that a little violence always made things easier. There was also something about it that called to him. Perhaps it was his simplistic nature, or maybe it was the fact that he¡¯d been forced to fight almost constantly since being reborn, but he couldn¡¯t deny that it felt good putting people in their place. ¡°The hideous joy of senseless violence,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Delicious.¡± 427. Evolution by Necessity Zeke returned to the tower, intending to take a few days to rest and relax while his underlings managed the necessities for the coming war. However, he got quite a surprise when he stepped on the teleporter and saw a brand-new level. Please choose a floor: the Hunting Grounds, the Residential District, the Merchant¡¯s Floor, the Crimson Spring, the Craftsman¡¯s Terrace, the Jail, or the Lord¡¯s Manor. ¡°The Jail?¡± he muttered inwardly. ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°The Crimson Tower provides,¡± Eveline said sagely. It came off as more annoying than knowledgeable, though. ¡°So rude.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just your voice. Nothing personal.¡± ¡°It feels personal,¡± she said. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m literally thinking at you. Any connotations to my ¡®voice¡¯ are purely in your head.¡± Zeke ignored that. Instead, he selected the new option and was whisked away to the Jail. When he appeared on the tower¡¯s new floor, he was surprised to find that it looked nothing like the dungeon he¡¯d expected. Instead, it was a long hallway made of pristine white stone and lit by flickering mana lights. Lining the hall were a series of what looked like mundane wooden doors. ¡°Surprisingly clean for a prison,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°A proper prison should be dirty and dimly lit. With chains and whips hanging from the ceiling. Perhaps a few impaled corpses, just to let the prisoners know you mean business.¡± ¡°That¡¯s disgusting,¡± Zeke said, walking to one of the doors. ¡°Being disgusting is the point,¡± she stated. ¡°You want your captives to feel dread and a distinct lack of hope. That¡¯s part of the fun.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing fun about a jail.¡± ¡°Well, not this jail. But I once had a dungeon that was the envy of every demon in Hell,¡± she said. ¡°Bodies hanging from the ceiling, blood pooling on the floor ¨C an actual torture chamber. Ah, good times.¡± ¡°You had none of that.¡± ¡°Okay, not me. But someone I knew. An incubus. You wouldn¡¯t know him.¡± ¡°None of what you just said is true,¡± Zeke said, reaching out to open one of the doors. When he touched the handle, he received a notification: Cell No. 1 ¨C Current Status: Empty. Charge: Full. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± he asked. ¡°Well, status is meant to refer to ¨C¡± ¡°I know what status means. And you know good and well that I was talking about the charge,¡± he said, interrupting her. ¡°Are you implying that I would intentionally misinterpret your question? Well, I never,¡± she said. Then, she let out a little giggle. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re no fun. The charge refers to its level of mana. I would guess that it fuels some aspect of the jail¡¯s capabilities. Time dilation, maybe? Or perhaps it is a torture chamber that causes immeasurable pain until it runs out of charge.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that last one.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Zeke was not, though his gut told him that his tower wouldn¡¯t have an in-built torture chamber. Still, he was a little wary. He¡¯d made mistakes with the tower before, and at least one had ended with someone¡¯s death. The girl in question hadn¡¯t been innocent ¨C in fact, she was part of a team of assassins who¡¯d been sent to kill him ¨C but he still regretted his error. More, Zeke had resolved to take more care in the future, even with his enemies. He had no issues killing them, especially in battle, but he had no interest in accidently causing anyone¡¯s death. It was a fine line, but it was the one he¡¯d drawn. In any case, he quickly headed to the Residential District, where he gathered a kobold before returning to the jail. After that, he ordered the legionnaire inside, then shut the door. When he did, another notification flashed before his eyes: Cell No. 1 ¨C Current Status: Full. Charge: 99%. Time remaining: 9 years, 364 days, 23 hours, 58 minutes. While current occupant is imprisoned, they will not require sustenance. ¡°Wow,¡± Zeke said, opening the door and letting the kobold free. After interrogating the legionnaire, Zeke discovered that, for the kobold, it hadn¡¯t felt any different than being outside the cell. ¡°That could be helpful.¡± ¡°As if you take prisoners.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t really argue with her comment. However, he wasn¡¯t thinking of prisoners of war. Instead, his mind was on the inevitability of internal disputes. So far, they¡¯d been lucky, but it was only a matter of time before crime became an issue ¨C especially with the influx of beastkin, who were far more socially developed than the kobolds. Once Zeke had taken the opportunity to investigate the jail further ¨C establishing that it could house nearly five-hundred prisoners ¨C he left it behind and headed to the Residential District. Once there, he headed to the Pillar at the center of the district and quickly found his way to the office Kianma had claimed. Predictably, Silik was there as well. He told her about the Jail, then asked, ¡°How are the beastkin settling in?¡± ¡°Poorly. They are not used to freedom,¡± she answered. ¡°Most have chosen to contribute in the fields, but a few have placed themselves under Bracken, who has vowed to whip them into fighting shape. The results are varied, but not for lack of effort or commitment. They are underleveled and weak, but Bracken believes he can make use of them.¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°And the rest of the army?¡± he asked Silik. ¡°More powerful than ever. The centaurs have begun to enter the tower more regularly, and they are starting to integrate into the larger force. Bracken and I have been busy devising strategies to take advantage of their fighting style,¡± the big kobold general said. ¡°It is a learning experience for everyone involved.¡± ¡°Have we made any progress with crafting? I noticed that some of the kobolds seem to be wearing new armor,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Indeed,¡± Kianma answered with a smile. ¡°We have made great strides with our blacksmithing abilities, largely due to the dwarves¡¯ efforts. They know metals like no other. There are also a few of the beastkin who worked as smithing assistants. I¡¯m told that the dwarves consider our use of the high-quality ores we took from Min Ferilik to border on sacrilegious, but we have no low-quality ore with which to practice. So, we use what we have on hand. The results are fantastic.¡± With that, she gestured toward Silik, who was wearing a new breastplate that looked almost like his thick torso had been coated in molten blood mithril. In addition to that, he wore a segmented skirt and greaves made of the same material. In place of his hide shield, he now carried a tower shield crafted from some sort of black metal. Zeke could feel the mana wafting off of it, and he could see the crude but potent runes of an uncomplicated enchantment. Likely, it was there to improve the shield¡¯s durability. ¡°Every centurion is wearing similar armor,¡± the kobold woman said. ¡°The legion will soon follow. It is more durable than anything we wore before, though most of that is because of the materials used rather than the skill of our craftspeople. They are improving, though.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Zeke said, knowing what was coming. ¡°Very good.¡± To him, the kobold army had begun to resemble a legion of Roman soldiers, albeit ones that were nearly ten feet tall on average and reptilian in nature. After that, Kianma explained the rest of the goings on in the tower. The hatchlings were still progressing well, and every combatant participated in nightly hunts. Most of those excursions were around the physical location of the tower, but by necessity, quite a few hunted the area around the dungeon as well. Even then, they were running out of prey, and as a result, they¡¯d been forced to range further and further with each passing day. Soon, they would have to find a solution for that problem, or the kobolds¡¯ progress would end up stalling. That was unacceptable, so Zeke vowed to figure out a way around it. In the meantime, though, he was satisfied with the progress he saw. Once Zeke had been caught up on the status of his tower, he decided to take a tour. As he walked through the Residential District, he was struck by how normal everything seemed. Certainly, the fact that it was populated primarily by beastkin and kobolds made it absolutely obvious that it was anything but normal, but the actions of the residents were entirely mundane. ¡°They¡¯re just people,¡± he said. ¡°Of course they are. It¡¯s the same everywhere. Even in Hell, the demons are just people. They¡¯ve been twisted into something evil, but ultimately, they¡¯re driven by the same desires that push everyone else,¡± Eveline said. ¡°We all have the same needs. We all eat. We all crave nice things. And we all need community. The shape people take doesn¡¯t change any of that.¡± It was a poignant reminder that, as alien as some of the people of the Eternal Realm could be, they weren¡¯t so different from what he was used. However, the ways they did differ was important, too. In any case, after Zeke¡¯s tour of the Residential District was edifying, and by the time he found his way to the teleporter, he felt closer to his adopted people than ever before. His next stop was the Merchant¡¯s Floor, which was far busier than he could have expected. Hundreds of stalls dominated the main area, and more permanent businesses lined the walls. They sold everything from armor to natural resources found during the kobolds¡¯ hunting expeditions. There were other crafted goods as well, and Zeke saw no less than three furniture shops. Apparently, the kobolds had progressed from their old habits on the floors of their homes, instead opting to seek out beds, chairs, and other furniture. There were so many shops, stalls, and products on sale that Zeke briefly got lost in the hubbub. He even partook of some street food ¨C some unidentifiable meat on a stick ¨C and was reluctant to leave when he realized he and his kobold guards had garnered some attention. Everywhere he went, he drew the eyes of the kobolds. When he passed them by, they reached to touch him. Some shouted encouragement or praise. Others just stared in awe. He was a celebrity. ¡°More like a god,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That is supremely uncomfortable.¡± ¡°You have the spark of the divine,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Their adoration is yours by right. Even if you hadn¡¯t rescued them from certain death and raised them from beasthood, they would respond to that subtle feeling that you are special.¡± ¡°I disagree with everything you just said.¡± ¡°Deny it all you want. They know the truth, and one day, you will accept that as well.¡± Zeke just shook his head as the surrounding crowd of kobolds reached out to touch him. He allowed it, but that marked the end of his foray into the tower¡¯s more populated areas. So, he and his guards pushed through, finding the teleporter soon after. From there, Zeke went to inspect the Hunting Grounds, and to his surprise, he found that it had changed as well. In the past, the teleporter took him straight into one of the simulated environments. Now, though, he stepped off the pad and into a circular room that he quickly surmised was the meeting point of nine tunnels. The room itself was packed full of kobolds and beastkin. Soon enough, Zeke found someone in charge. She was one of the kobold spiritweavers, just like Kianma, though Zeke didn¡¯t recognize her. Still, she was identifiable by her elaborate plume of colorful feathers. When he asked what was going on, she explained that the Hunting Grounds had recently split, allowing for multiple instances of the training rooms. Now, instead of only accommodating a single combatant, nine could train at any given time. The crowd of kobolds and beastkin were simply waiting for their turn. ¡°The tower provides,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I really wish you would stop saying that. It¡¯s creepy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, though,¡± she insisted. ¡°I don¡¯t disagree with that,¡± he acknowledged. The Crimson Tower was an incredibly powerful artifact. Or ability. Or whatever it was. He still wasn¡¯t entirely certain. The fact that it could evolve independently of his actions was more than impressive. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly what¡¯s happening, you know. It¡¯s evolving along its own path, true. But it¡¯s not without your input. It is responding to your needs and using your achievements as fuel,¡± she said. ¡°In lesser hands, it would be no more than a useful storage ability and a place to camp in the wilderness. For you, it is city.¡± Zeke shook his head. Her statement was probably true, though. Whatever the case, he didn¡¯t dwell on it. The tower was a powerful tool, and he would use it as needed. Beyond that, he didn¡¯t need to give it much more thought. So, with that, he left the Hunting Grounds behind and returned to the Lord¡¯s Manor. Once there, he settled in for some meditation. He had a lot to do, and with the looming war, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d get much chance to focus on anything but battle over the next couple of months. For a while, he worked on his next skill. It was still a long way off ¨C he¡¯d just built [Shifting Sands], after all ¨C but he wanted to be prepared for it when he finally reached the point where he could create a new skill. Other than that, he spent quite some time trying to inoculate himself to his Will. Doing so had already borne some results, and he was eager to get to the point where he could use his Will without tearing himself to pieces. There was a long way to go yet, but he intended to eventually get there. And when he did, the world would tremble. For a couple of days, Zeke occupied himself like that. He met with various members of the community, sparred with Pudge, and spent plenty of time in the Hunting Grounds. Meanwhile, the preparations for war continued, and soon enough, Silik came to him and said that those preparations were complete. ¡°The Knights of Adontis are preparing to cross the river,¡± the kobold general said. ¡°Well, we can¡¯t allow that,¡± Zeke stated, pushing himself to his feet. Silik had found him sitting in the garden of the Lord¡¯s Manor, where he¡¯d been steadily pulsing his Will. Now, though, he put that aside. The time for practice was finished, and he needed to be at his best for the coming conflict. 428. Starting a War ¡°Quick progress,¡± said Zeke, kneeling at the edge of the forest. The tree line was almost a mile away from the river ¨C and subsequently, from where the beastkin enslaved by the Knights of Adontis were building a bridge ¨C but he could see everything perfectly well. And it was enough to set his blood to boiling. The beastkin were not as malnourished as the ones back in Heartwood. However, they had still clearly been mistreated, as evidenced by the fact that their fur was patchy, and they¡¯d been denied the dignity of clothing. To the people of Adontis, that probably made perfect sense. Animals didn¡¯t wear clothes, after all. However, to Zeke, it was just further evidence of how far past redemption those people really were. If they couldn¡¯t even afford their slaves the dignity of clothing them, then they were too far gone to pull back. So, Zeke had no reservations with doing what needed to be done. After he had met with a war council composed of kobolds, centaurs, and a few other representatives from the beastkin and formerly enslaved miners, he¡¯d set off across the Mukti Plains, crossing the river where he¡¯d fought the naga. From there, he¡¯d headed west along the tree line until he¡¯d found the intended location of the bridge the Knights of Adontis would use to cross the river. They¡¯d killed all the naga within three miles of the location, so they thought they were completely safe. However, Zeke had already set his gate up, and an army composed of tens of thousands of kobolds were only moments away. All he needed to do was give them the signal, and they would pour out of the gate and swarm the knights. ¡°They have the benefit of free labor that they consider completely expendable,¡± said Sasha from nearby. She and Pudge were stationed behind one of the Old Growth¡¯s massive trees, so they were entirely hidden from even the most attentive of Knights. ¡°They also have vast experience.¡± ¡°How long will it take you to cast the spell?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Three minutes, at least. Five at most.¡± ¡°And how close do you need to get?¡± was his next question. ¡°A hundred yards. I can probably do it if I¡¯m a little further away, but my control will suffer,¡± she answered. ¡°If you get closer than that, will it help?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Alright, then,¡± Zeke said, looking back at the bridge site. The construction proceeded rapidly, but it still wasn¡¯t completed nearly as quickly as he would have liked. He was impatient to get the battle underway, and every moment he watched the mistreatment of the beastkin slaves, his frustration grew even more potent. Yet he pushed it down, deep enough that it wouldn¡¯t affect his actions. They had a plan, and he had no intention of deviating from the strategy they¡¯d all agreed on. ¡°It was your plan in the first place,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying that ¨C¡± ¡°I know what you¡¯re saying,¡± he interrupted. ¡°Just leave it. I¡¯m not in the mood for you to point out my flaws.¡± Part of that was due to the anticipation of the battle that had him on edge, but most of it came from the fact that the plan forced him to watch the indignities being heaped upon the beastkin. Yet more frustration was the product of knowing that, soon enough, some of his people would die. Even if everything went perfectly, there would be casualties, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. But heaped upon even that pile of disparate frustrations was the idea that, soon enough, he would pit himself against an army of human beings. Once, he¡¯d been one of them. So, killing them ¨C however justified those actions might be ¨C felt different than killing a few monsters or dwarves. It wasn¡¯t rational, he knew. And the Knights of Adontis deserved whatever punishment he could dish out. Yet he couldn¡¯t escape the realities of his emotions. ¡°Humans kill humans all the time,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to feel bad about that,¡± he said. ¡°So, are you upset that you don¡¯t? Or that you do?¡± ¡°You¡¯re looking in my head. You tell me,¡± he stated. Zeke had killed plenty of human beings, but it was almost always as the result of them attacking him first. But the Knights of Adontis had done nothing to him before he¡¯d given the orders to destroy Heartwood. He was the undisputed aggressor, and he was having a little trouble wrapping his head around that. Or maybe it was like Eveline had intimated, and he was having issues with the fact that he didn¡¯t feel nearly as bad about their impending deaths as he should have. Zeke knew about his own monstrous nature. He¡¯d felt hovering over him for so long that he¡¯d grown accustomed to its presence. However, there were times when he wondered if his demonic half was exercising a subtle influence over his decisions. In any case, Zeke continued to watch as the bridge took shape. It was constructed of wood and stone that had been molded by people with skills appropriate to manipulating the materials. Apparently, those sorts of non-combat skills were quite common in the wider world, even if Zeke himself hadn¡¯t encountered that many. That was largely due to the fact that he spent most of his time fighting. A battlefield was no place for a craftsman, after all. ¡°You literally have hundreds of craftspeople ¨C or craftskobolds, I suppose ¨C working in your city,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°I do?¡± ¡°How else do you think those farms are producing so much food? Or the goods you saw on display in your Market?¡± she responded. ¡°There are hundreds of kobolds who have already taken crafting classes. Didn¡¯t you know that?¡± ¡°I¡­uh¡­¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even think about it, did you?¡± ¡°I did not,¡± Zeke admitted. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. At that, Eveline let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°You are really bad at the whole ruler thing,¡± she stated. ¡°And I¡¯m not just needling you here. You need to get better, or you need to find someone to handle that kind of thing.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t argue with that assessment, but in his defense, he¡¯d never asked to be in charge of thousands of people. He also knew that he simply wasn¡¯t suited for that sort of thing. He was good at fighting. That did not qualify him to make decisions that would impact so many people. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. They are your responsibility. The moment you took them in, you committed yourself to it. Now you have to make it work, one way or another.¡± He didn¡¯t respond to that statement, mostly because it wasn¡¯t up for debate. He knew he needed to be better. He just wasn¡¯t sure how to do that. Killing things and fighting had always come naturally to him ¨C even going back to his first days in the troll caves ¨C but leadership was something else altogether. For a long time, Zeke watched the bridge slowly take shape, and in the meantime, he pondered ways to be a better leader. To her credit, Eveline didn¡¯t interject or offer any snide commentary on his thoughts. He definitely appreciated that, even if it made him slightly suspicious of her motives. Eventually, the building crews finished, and when they stepped back, Zeke saw a sturdy stone bridge that stretched across the river. If it had been back on Earth, it would have been quite a feat of engineering ¨C probably even impossible, because it didn¡¯t have the support structures typical of non-magical bridges ¨C but in the Eternal Realm, it was just ordinary. The moment the builders finished, they were ushered back to the nearby camp, and the Knights of Adontis mounted up and thundered across. ¡°Now?¡± asked Sasha, who¡¯d been building her spell for the last couple of minutes. Zeke felt the mana stir, but it was more subdued than Sasha¡¯s usual efforts. She had been practicing, it seemed. ¡°No. Wait for it,¡± he said, holding up a hand. He watched as the mounted Knights rushed across, leaving their support personnel and foot soldiers behind. They reached the other side of the bridge in an equine stream that emptied into the grassland beyond the river. But even as the first wave took up positions on the other side, still more ¨C thousands ¨C flooded the bridge, and their progress slowed to a crawl. Soon enough, the bridge was packed end-to-end with a slow-moving train of mounted knights. Zeke remained stationary as he watched. Hundreds of knights on the other side soon became thousands, and yet, he still didn¡¯t call for the attack. Finally, once half the knights had reached the other side, Zeke said, ¡°Get the kobolds. Thirty more seconds, Sasha.¡± Pudge sprinted into the nearby gate, returning only a second later. Within seconds, a stream of kobolds came flooding out of the tower¡¯s mobile gate. Still, Sasha didn¡¯t cast her spell until, at last, she let it loose. The river roiled into frothing waves. Then, the very earth shook. And finally, the wind swirled. By the time the knights took notice, it was too late. A tidal wave erupted from the river, then crashed into the bridge, rocking it down to its very foundations. In normal times, that wouldn¡¯t have been enough to damage it. However, because of the earthen component of Sasha¡¯s spell and the way it had weakened the supports on either end of the bridge, it completely collapsed. The Knights tried to escape, but the spell took effect far too quickly to allow for that, and the bridge crumbled beneath them, spilling the knights into the river. They wouldn¡¯t drown. Most were far too powerful for that. However, that had never been the point. Instead, Zeke merely wanted the force scattered and separated for the next part of his plan. Before the proverbial dust had even settled, Zeke embraced [Triune Colossus], fueling it with his own mana. At the same time, he turned back to the gathered kobolds ¨C more than a hundred had already amassed, and there were plenty more still streaming out of the gate ¨C and shouted for them to charge. With that, Zeke led them from the trees. To his left, there was Pudge, and to his right, Silik sprinted into battle alongside him. Somewhere in the rear was Jasper, though if everything went according to plan, the bard wouldn¡¯t actually enter the battle. He was there for support. So, with Jasper¡¯s songs singing through him, Zeke raced across the open ground. The infantry that the knights had left behind tried to mount a defense. They activated skills and sent various magical projectiles arcing toward Zeke and his kobold companions. However, they barely got a single volley off before the attackers crashed into them. They never stood a chance, especially with Zeke leading the way. Still, there were thousands of them, and even if they were far less capable than the kobolds on an individual basis, they were still trained warriors. So, after that initial surge, the lines ground to a standstill. The defenders even pushed back a bit, leveraging their shields to create a mana-infused wall. Yet it wasn¡¯t enough. The second wave hit just after the first, and the third just after the second. The kobolds weren¡¯t endless, but to the defenders, it probably seemed that they were. Bright lights flashed as the lizard-people brought their own skills to bear, and the sky became a kaleidoscope of colors as the defenders tried to counter with their abilities. Meanwhile, Zeke advanced, swinging his hammer with workmanlike efficiency. He didn¡¯t use any skills other that [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], largely because he wanted to keep them in reserve so he could efficiently counter any champions that might present themselves. But none came, and so, he slaughtered any man or woman who dared to stand up to him. Some put up a better fight than others. That was inevitable. Yet none could truly counter his strength, and so he felled them in droves. The same could be said for Pudge, who was far less circumspect in the use of his own skills. Every now and then, he would disappear ¨C the first part of his latest skill, Zeke knew ¨C and then, a moment later, a dozen or more enemies would erupt into lacerations that sent blood and gobbets of flesh flying into the air. After that, Pudge would suddenly reappear and continue on fighting even as his previous victims fell dead. At the same time, Zeke was vaguely aware of what was happening on the other side of the river, where the centaurs were adding their contribution to the battle as the swept in en masse to attack the reeling knights. One-on-one, the Knights of Adontis were a match for the centaurs, but their numbers were far too few to truly put up a fight. And with the river at their backs, there was no escape from the savage centaurs. It was a slaughter. Zeke had always known that was what was coming. The plan wasn¡¯t terribly complicated, but he¡¯d known it would be effective. Because, while Zeke often floundered when it came to the leadership of his budding city, he had no such issues in battle. He understood tactics in a way that surprised even him. That talent had manifested in the early war against the giants, and he¡¯d honed it over a dozen battles. Now, he was a veteran commander, and he intended to use that well-earned skill to wage war against their latest enemy. The battle didn¡¯t end with a sudden fight against some ultra-powerful rival. Instead, Zeke¡¯s force slowly wore the enemy down until, at last, they tried to flee. They were unsuccessful, and the kobolds ran each and every one of them down until, at last, they completed the slaughter. On the other side of the river, the centaurs engaged in a similar activity. However, their battle was much less lopsided, if only because the Knights were more powerful and better trained. As such, they put up a decent, if ultimately doomed, fight. Eventually, the centaurs finally overwhelmed the armored Knights, then let out a collective cheer that carried across the river, where Zeke and his people had already commenced with looting the slain infantry. Meanwhile, a few of the beastkin who¡¯d been rescued from Heartwood, approached their enslaved brethren and made it clear that they were not going to be killed alongside their former masters. From there, they all approached Zeke, who used his Path of Arcane Destruction to remove the power from their brands. Once they were freed, a few kobolds and beastkin took over their care, ushering them into the tower where they would be healed in the Crimson Spring or set up in the Residential District so they could be fed and clothed before settling into their new home. It was an arduous process, but ultimately worthwhile. Not only had Zeke and his allies struck the first real blow in the war, but they¡¯d also rescued people who needed it. It had cost lives ¨C on both sides ¨C but it was worth it. Or that was what Zeke kept telling himself. Only time would tell if he was on the right side of history. 429. Supply Lines Knight-Champion Marcus stood atop the battlements, glaring down at the army beasts and monsters that had gathered less than a mile away. He seethed as he saw the creatures walking around and acting like men. They even wore clothing! It was a mockery that he could not let stand. And yet, he waited. Meeting such a force on open ground, no matter how barbaric they may be, would see the bulk of his knights dead or wounded. They may have been primitive monsters and beasts, but as derogatory as those labels were, they were still incredibly dangerous. That, more than anything, spoke to the necessity of subjugating such creatures. Marcus longed to watch each and every one of those creatures branded and put to work as the Sun Goddess intended. ¡°What would you have us do, sir?¡± asked one of his underlings. Marcus turned to see a sniveling slip of a man ¨C a waste of space that tarnished the very notion of Knighthood with his mere presence ¨C staring at him with an expectant expression. ¡°The walls won¡¯t hold against such a force.¡± ¡°Nonsense. They are beasts. Even our flimsiest barricades are more than a match for such creatures.¡± ¡°But sir ¨C¡± ¡°Do you question me, Cavin? Or is that cowardice I hear in your voice?¡± the Knight-Champion asked with a sneer. ¡°No, sir.¡± ¡°Good,¡± was Marcus¡¯s response. He removed his helmet and looked down at the shiny metal. In it, he could see his reflection, and he couldn¡¯t have been happier with what he saw. Strong jaw. A noble nose. Blonde hair with just enough of a curl to give him the heroic look he craved. He looked every inch the perfect Knight, which was an important factor. The Knights of Adontis craved perfection in all things, even appearances. It was why they had such a glut of infantry. Those were the castoffs. The men who hadn¡¯t lived up to the standards of the knighthood, be it in performance or, as was more often the case, appearances. Cavin belonged among them. Marcus knew it, as did every other Knight. However, the weedy, little man had avoided such a fate because, according to Marcus¡¯s superiors, Cavin was a tactical genius. As if such a thing was possible for anyone who looked like a better man¡¯s sickly younger brother. ¡°Go back to the command center and let them know that we require no reinforcements. Our numbers are sufficient to deal with such a rabble.¡± ¡°But sir, that rabble completely destroyed Heartwood and killed every Knight in the Illuminated Forerunners Company. If you would allow me to offer some advice, I ¨C¡± Marcus¡¯s hand flashed out before he could even comprehend his own reaction, and soon enough the sound of cracking bone filled the air. Then, Cavin hit the ground, where he remained completely unmoving. Blood pooled beneath his dislodged jaw. Marcus stepped back so as to avoid getting blood on his boots. ¡°Someone clean this mess up,¡± he barked. ¡°It is ¨C¡± Just then, something huge stepped out from the horde of beasts in the distance. Even from so far away, Marcus could tell it was enormous. Perhaps fifteen feet tall, with broad shoulders ¨C the thing looked like it was made completely from rock. ¡°Is that a golem?¡± he asked, but no one answered. ¡°Surrender!¡± came an echoing bellow that cut through the din of conversation on the battlements. Hundreds of Knights and more than a thousand archers and spellcasters went silent. The voice ¨C which Marcus assumed had come from the giant rock-man in the distance ¨C went on, ¡°If you give up, we will spare your lives! If you resist, we will slaughter every person in the fort!¡± In spite of the seriousness of the situation, Marcus let out a loud guffaw ¨C a sound that he hated. That horrible cackle was the only thing holding him back from further advancement, and he¡¯d worked extremely hard to get it under control. Yet, sometimes, when he heard something truly ridiculous, it snuck out all the same. Such was the case when he heard the rock-monster¡¯s demands. He turned to his immediate underling ¨C he was a Knight-Corporal named Dines, though Marcus hadn¡¯t bothered to learn more. ¡°Given the order,¡± he said. Dines clapped his hand over his chest, and his plate gauntlets clanged against his breastplate. Then, he raised his voice and shouted, ¡°Fire at will!¡± The infantry complied with the efficiency of career soldiers. The archers among them raised their bows, took aim, and loosed their arrows. Some burst into flames mid-flight, while others took on an icy chill. Many more split into dozens of copies, and others among the flight of arrows showed no visible skill at all. Marcus dismissed those out of hand. Certainly, he was aware that even invisible skills could pack quite a punch, but he also likened it to hiding, which in turn, reeked of cowardice. Men with those sorts of skills were the lowest of the low, and as such, they were beneath his notice. Meanwhile, the few infantry mages among the force let loose with more magical skills. Fireballs, lightning, and spears of ice and earth filled the air, but Marcus found it difficult to believe that any of those sorts could affect any meaningful damage. Mages were worse even than normal infantry in that they rarely epitomized the values that any Knight held close to his heart. Instead, they were routinely thin or obese, short or gangly, or some other combination of undesirable characteristics. They weren¡¯t just beneath him. They were beneath everyone but the beasts they used for manual labor. More than once, Marcus had wondered why they weren¡¯t branded as well. Even so, the volley of projectiles and magical skills was a reasonably impressive sight, and Marcus found himself watching in anticipation as the skills fell upon the rock man. Explosions tore into the ground, sending clouds of dirt billowing into the air as one shockwave after another ripped through the turf. Still, the mages and archers continued to fire off their spells and skills, blanketing the area in unmitigated destruction. However, the line of beasts and monsters, which were just out of range, remained completely motionless. That irritated Marcus more even than the fact that they¡¯d risen up against their betters. By all rights, they should have fled into the wilderness like normal animals. And yet, they remained on the battlefield, showing more discipline than even the most steadfast Knight. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. But at least the insolent rock-man would be no more. That was a good start, and it would hopefully ¨C Before Marcus could complete that thought, something huge slammed into the wall. The point of impact was more than fifty yards away from his position, but it hit with enough force that it sent him flying backwards. Even as he hit the other side of the wall-walk, the sound of collapsing stones reached his ears. He flared [Knight¡¯s Recovery], which was just enough to clear his head. He shouted, ¡°Report! What was that? Some sort of siege weapon?¡± But no one answered. At level fifty-nine, he was the most powerful person in a frontier fort like Calway, and even that was only because it housed an air dock which was vital for the supply lines all across Adontis. So, if something was powerful enough to throw him from his feet, it was more than enough to knock his subordinates unconscious. He glared at the useless hangers-on, then cast his gaze down the wall walk. A few of the infantrymen had started to recover, but most of the men in his vicinity were still out. Then, there was another impact, this one just as powerful as the last. However, now that he had [Knight¡¯s Recovery] singing through his veins, Marcus weathered the impact much more easily. Because of that, he was able to climb to his feet and cross the wall walk to look over the edge and take stock of the situation. And what he saw shocked him to his core. He was so stunned that it took him a moment to identify the creature properly: Colossus ¨C Level 51 ¡°Level fifty-one?¡± he muttered as the thing smashed a giant, bone-handled hammer against the wall again. ¡°How is that creature only level fifty-one?¡± And yet it was. His inspection skill, [Knight¡¯s Eyes] was infallible, so he couldn¡¯t fathom doubting it. Still, his surprise was palpable as the monster finally broke through the last vestiges of the wall. ¡°Knight-Champion!¡± yelled one of the infantrymen. He was a sergeant, and as such, he was probably reasonably powerful. For someone with a nose that looked more like a bird¡¯s beak, at least. ¡°We must fight it!¡± Marcus took one look at the monster striding through the breach in the wall, and he came to the conclusion that to throw himself against such a creature would be beneath him. More, it would show a lack of command skill. So, he shook his head, saying, ¡°No. I will leave it to you and yours, sergeant!¡± And with that, Marcus embraced his enhancement skill, [Blessing of the Heavens], and ran away. His path took him further down the wall, and yet, even with all the speed he could muster, he could not outrun the destruction behind him. He shoved his way through the recovering infantrymen, shouting for them to kill the creature, but it did no good. It was coming. Crashing through the wall like it was made of paper, it didn¡¯t even flinch when more skills fell upon it. Instead, it leaped to the top of the wall and laid waste to the men whose skills it had so easily endured. But as quickly as Marcus fled, he could not escape its notice. Suddenly, something wrapped around his waist, lifting him high into the air. Panicked, he flared his skills as he looked down to see a massive hand encircling him. Then, it started to squeeze. The vaunted armor of the Knights of Adontis crumpled beneath the pressure, but the creature didn¡¯t stop there. Instead, it slammed Marcus against the wall with enough force to crack the stone. He briefly blacked out, but with [Knight¡¯s Recovery] active, he regained consciousness quickly. It didn¡¯t last long before the massive monster repeated the blow. Then, it did it again. And again after that. Over and over, it slammed the cowardly knight into the wall, breaking bones and rupturing organs along the way. Marcus lost consciousness on the fourth hit, but he didn¡¯t perish until minutes later. The last thing he saw was a giant lizard creature climbing over the wall and sending a spear of pure light to lance through whichever soldiers had managed to survive so far. Then, he blacked out, and was no more. * * * With a roar, Zeke through the man in the shiny armor at another group of soldiers, then shifted to the nimbler unattuned version of [Triune Colossus]. In seconds, his body slimmed down, and he rocketed forward to continue the slaughter that had begun only a few minutes before. The barrage of skills and arrows had surprised him, so he¡¯d been forced to use [Shifting Sands] to get close enough to the wall to start tearing it down. Of course, he¡¯d had to lead off with his Runebreaker technique, which shattered the fortification¡¯s enchantment, but once those had been ripped to shreds, Zeke had relied on nothing more than his strength. After it had fallen, the kobolds and beastkin that made up his army had charged, flooding through the breach only a few moments later. Meanwhile, Zeke had leaped atop the battlements to wreak havoc on the defenders. At first, he¡¯d satisfied himself with killing a few of the weaker soldiers, but when he¡¯d caught sight of the man in the shiny, elaborate armor, he¡¯d expected a bit of a fight. Of course, the man had been running away at the time, which probably should have clued Zeke into the reality of what would happen. However, he was still surprised that the man hadn¡¯t fought back at all. Instead, he¡¯d only tried to flee. Where he thought he could go was a mystery. The fort was already on the verge of falling, and so, there was nowhere to hide. The only explanation was that the man was a coward, which was just disappointing. ¡°You really are bloodthirsty, aren¡¯t you?¡± Eveline remarked as Zeke turned his attention to inside the wall. The fort itself was composed of almost two-dozen buildings. Some were more important than others, but the reason they¡¯d assaulted the fort in the first place was the giant tower at the center. It was more than four-hundred feet tall, and there were docks every thirty feet. Most were empty ¨C the airships that had been berthed there had already fled ¨C but there were a couple that had yet to get underway. Zeke intended to take a few of those for his own use. So, he leaped from the wall, yelling for Silik and Pudge to accompany him. The two had been nearby, where they were busy slaughtering the enemy, but they broke off without a hint of hesitation and followed him to the tower. ¡°We¡¯re going for speed here,¡± he said, slamming into the tower¡¯s doors. They splintered under his strength, revealing a spiraling staircase. The center was occupied by a series of pullies that were probably used as an elevator for cargo. The air dock was sparsely defended, and the soldiers who remained were quickly dispatched by Silik and Pudge. Zeke didn¡¯t even have to lift his hammer, which made for an uneventful sequence where he just thundered up the steps. By the time they reached their first destination, the airship that had been docked there had already departed, but the second, they captured after the crew surrendered. By that point, the final ship was well on its way, removing any chance of doubling the size of their pilfered fleet. Zeke watched it fly away with a sense of annoyance and frustration. ¡°You¡¯re just mad because you didn¡¯t get to fight anyone,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°I mean, how do they not have a champion here? The highest level I saw was that guy who ran away,¡± Zeke remarked. ¡°And he didn¡¯t even put up a fight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a minor outpost,¡± she pointed out. ¡°You knew it wasn¡¯t going to be an epic battle.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I expected there to be some sort of struggle,¡± he said, looking down at the fort. It was still mostly intact, but the kobolds on beastkin hadn¡¯t hesitated to take their frustrations out on the soldiers. Even the ones who¡¯d surrendered hadn¡¯t lasted long. Even if he hadn¡¯t issued orders to offer no quarter to the Knights of Adontis, he¡¯d have had a difficult time holding the beastkin back. They¡¯d suffered too much to let their enemies live. ¡°Their attitude is rubbing off on the kobolds, too,¡± Eveline remarked. Indeed, the two populations had begun to intermingle ¨C inevitable, considering they lived in such close proximity ¨C and the kobolds had started to view the beastkin as part of their community. As such, they had much the same attitude toward the Knights of Adontis as the beastkin themselves. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to start pulling them back, aren¡¯t I?¡± he said. ¡°Yes.¡± He sighed. Fighting a war was brutal, but if he let the kobolds continue down their current path, they¡¯d begin to backslide. He wouldn¡¯t allow that. So, while the knights didn¡¯t truly deserve mercy, granting it was probably in his people¡¯s best interest. So, with that in mind, Zeke started back down the tower to end the wanton slaughter he¡¯d started. 430. Alls Fair ¡°You don¡¯t have to do it,¡± Pudge said. ¡°We can ¨C¡± Sasha cut him off, saying, ¡°I know that, but I¡¯ve already decided to go through with it.¡± Indeed, she had been working night and day for the past week in order to construct the appropriate spell for the task at hand, and she wasn¡¯t going to be dissuaded by something so inconsequential as morality. They were fighting a war, and a just one at that, so rules simply didn¡¯t apply. The only thing that mattered was killing the enemy as quickly and as efficiently as possible. That would minimize the casualties for her side, which was the ultimate goal. Still, it was a difficult step to take because she, better than anyone else, knew the horror her spell would bring with it. However, Sasha¡¯s commitment was driven by two things. First, she had seen the atrocities that had been visited upon her beastkin brethren, which had sparked a level of outrage and anger she¡¯d never thought possible. Like most children in the Pale Moon Territory, she¡¯d been warned of the dangers that were so common in the outside world. Beastkin were not widely accepted, and so, she ¨C as well as all the other young ones ¨C had been strongly advised to never stray far from their home. However, even in her wildest imaginings, she¡¯d never anticipated the things she¡¯d seen in Adontis. That deserved retribution. A secondary motivation was her desire to prove her worth. Everyone else contributed to the war effort. Thousands had fought, and hundreds had already died. Meanwhile, Sasha had remained on the backlines where she took advantage of the relative safety the collection of kobolds, centaurs, and beastkin provided. So, she felt obligated to do her part to justify her own position within the community. That was exacerbated by the fact that everyone knew about her relationship with Pudge. It was still in the early, fumbling stages ¨C neither was terribly experienced with romance ¨C but they were committed to one another in a way that couldn¡¯t be hidden. And given that Pudge was family to the man in charge of everything, that brought with it the weight of additional expectations and responsibilities, whether she wanted it or not. So, as much as she disliked the idea of what she intended to do, she wouldn¡¯t let that dissuade her from the realities of the situation. War was difficult, and at the end of the day, if there was anything she could do that would prevent more of her chosen people from dying, then she had a responsibility to take that step, regardless of the morality involved. She just hoped it wouldn¡¯t result in too many nightmares. Even though he clearly didn¡¯t agree with her choice, Pudge didn¡¯t argue. Instead, he just wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. Like that, the couple remained in position atop a shallow rise that gave them an unfettered view of the camp in the distance. Knights and other soldiers moved about the camp on various tasks as a train of wagons slowly circled the collection of tents and campfires. By her estimate, there were more than five thousand people present. The bulk were soldiers or Knights, but there were plenty of teamsters as well. More important were the contents of the wagons. According to the scouts, they contained enough provisions to feed the main army, which was still a hundred miles away, for more than a month. Now that the system of airdocks had been broken ¨C Zeke and the army of kobolds had taken three more since the first ¨C the Knights of Adontis had no choice but to stretch their supply lines overland. And that made them vulnerable to attacks from monsters as well as the enemy army. But Sasha knew they wouldn¡¯t expect her contribution to the fight. Sorceresses were too rare for anyone to anticipate. That would soon change, so she needed to make the most of her initial salvo. Well, the second one. She¡¯d collapsed the bridge in that first attack, though there were no survivors to report it. She glanced back at the kobolds that were their guards. They were all hulking specimens of the best of the best, and they had the levels to back it up. However, she questioned whether or not they were even necessary. With Pudge around, an enemy would have to have a death wish to attack them. The potential he¡¯d shown back in the Pale Moon Territory had begun to blossom into something absolutely terrifying, and she knew that he had plenty more room to grow. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder where he would end up, in terms of power. So, with his arm around her, she felt safe. Even with thousands of enemy warriors so close, she knew that Pudge would protect her. Finally, once the wagons had been circled, she turned to the team of kobold rangers that would facilitate her spell. Each one was equipped with a large pack and could utilize powerful camouflaging skills to remain hidden. She told the leader, ¡°It¡¯s time. You have to place them perfectly, just like I told you.¡± The comparatively small kobold nodded his head and said, ¡°It will be done.¡± Then, he motioned to his team before taking off into the surrounding forest. If there was one characteristic about the kobolds that impressed Sasha more than anything else, it was their ability to adapt to a wide variety of environments. The lizard people had evolved with a series of underground tunnels as their native environment, but since coming to the surface, they had shown the ability to acclimate to tundras, forests, and plains. Armed with that capability, the kobolds swept out into the woods, disappearing into the shadows. Meanwhile, Sasha, Pudge, and the centurions who accompanied them waited. The evening wore on, eventually passing through dusk on its way to night. Still, they waited for the rangers to return after accomplishing their goal. For more than three hours, Sasha maintained her vigil, watching, waiting, and more than anything else, dreading what was to come. Finally, a rustle in the nearby bushes alerted her that the kobold rangers¡¯ return had come to pass, and she glanced over to see the first of them emerge from the brush. His pack was notably lighter, but he was none the worse for wear. The same could be said for his fellows who followed in his wake only a few moments later. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Were you seen?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good job,¡± she said, then stepped away from Pudge. Closing her eyes, she took a deep, steadying breath as her mind whirled with plans. She knew precisely what she needed to do. She had memorized the spell¡¯s pattern, practicing it over and over until it was second nature. Still, uncertainty had gripped her mind, and as a result, she couldn¡¯t help but hesitate, at least for a moment. In that brief second, Pudge said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do it. We can destroy the supply lines without your spell.¡± That was blatantly untrue. There was a reason she¡¯d been tasked with the mission. After countless raids, the Knights of Adontis had implemented a system of defense that made directly attacking their supply convoys far more difficult. It could still be done, but not without significant cost. Sasha¡¯s participation was meant to save countless lives. Pudge¡¯s statement reminded her of that, which in turn, firmed her resolve and banished any doubts she might have felt. Her mission was important. Her actions were necessary. And the death of the enemy was just. She just needed to keep that at the forefront of her mind, lest cowardice and misplaced empathy begin to rear their ugly heads. She looked back, then patted Pudge on the chest before saying, ¡°I must.¡± Without another word, she tuned back around and walked to the spot she had meticulously prepared the day before. It had taken some input from Ezekiel, who had incredible insight into runes, but in the end, the ritual circle was almost entirely her creation. She¡¯d taken quite a bit of inspiration from conversations with the spiritweaver Kianma, but the design was different enough that Sasha considered it wholly unique. Constructed of mana-infused silverite wire that had been arranged into intricate patterns inside a series of concentric circles, the pattern was designed to funnel mana in a very particular way. Even from outside, it practically hummed with energy, and when she stepped inside, it nearly took her breath away with the sheer breadth of mana. Still, she¡¯d experienced it before, so even amidst the onslaught of energy, Sasha managed to keep her wits about her. She did take a moment to acclimate to it before beginning her spell, though. First, she used [Spellsurge], giving her next spell added power. A wave of mana crashed into her, but she maintained control long enough to activate [Elemental Conversion]. That allowed her to transform the ambient mana ¨C which was a tangled mess of attunements ¨C into pure, unattuned energy. That, she funneled into [Spellform], which gave her the ability to write her spell. The complex series of patterns, which flashed then dissipated each time she completed one, was the most daunting part of the process. However, Sasha had been casting spells for years, and she¡¯d recently doubled down on her practice. So, it came far more easily than the spell¡¯s complexity would have normally dictated. Yet, it was not easy. In fact, with every flashing pattern, the strain became exponentially greater until Sasha could barely hold on. That was exacerbated by the ritual circle as well as the influx of mana that fueled [Spellsurge]. Even so, Sasha maintained control, deftly manipulating that mana into delicate threads. The night wore on, but for her, the passage of time was a secondary concern. The whole of her mind was entirely focused on the task at hand. Any less, and the spell would slip out of her control. If that happened, the resultant explosion of energy would likely tear her to pieces. And even if it didn¡¯t it would surely alert the Knights of Adontis and bring them running. That would be disastrous, and not just because of the failure of her mission. So, Sasha refused to let herself become distracted. And eventually, she managed to complete the last pattern. When it flashed, her shoulders sagged in relief as all that building mana rushed into the ritual pattern, then across the landscape and into the foci the kobold rangers had placed all around the camp. They¡¯d been arranged in a very specific pattern, which would complete the spell¡¯s final stage and envelop the camp in the effects. In exhaustion, Sasha fell to her knees, her every muscle having gone numb. However, Pudge was there to catch her before she tipped over onto her face. Meanwhile, her eyes fluttered as she tried to keep herself from falling unconscious. That only lasted for a few more moments before her natural mana regeneration showed its worth. A trickle of energy flowed into her, and with every passing second, she felt a little bit better until, at last, her extremities started tingling. That spread ¨C painfully but necessarily ¨C until the feeling in her body was completely restored. She took a deep breath, then looked up at Pudge¡¯s concerned face. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± she said. ¡°Are you sure?¡± She nodded. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sure. Help me up,¡± was her response. With that, Pudge guided her to unsteady feet. As she leaned against him for support, she gazed out into the night. The camp looked no different than it had before she¡¯d cast her spell, save that the flickering light of the campfires had died down a little as the cap¡¯s occupants retired for the night. ¡°Did it work?¡± Pudge asked. ¡°I think so,¡± she said. ¡°I did everything right, but¡­we won¡¯t know until morning.¡± With that, the kobold rangers once again disappeared into the woods. They knew their role, and they needed no instructions. Still, Sasha practically held her breath waiting for their return, which came only ten minutes later. Their packs were full. After that, the other kobolds began to dismantle the valuable silverite ritual circle, packing it away in a crate one of them would carry. Once that was done, they only had to wait to make certain that the spell had done its job. Technically, Sasha and Pudge could have left that to the kobold rangers who would actually observe the camp, but neither was willing to leave before they were sure that the job had been done. So, they all waited, and when the sun rose, the team of rangers set off for the camp one last time. ¡°The wait is the worst part,¡± Sasha said, sitting next to Pudge and leaning into his embrace. ¡°I just want to know it worked. Then, we can move on.¡± Pudge nodded silently, and after thirty minutes, the kobold rangers returned. ¡°Report,¡± Sasha said. ¡°The sickness has begun,¡± the leader of the rangers said. His name was Kopik, and he was slightly larger than the others. He was also the highest-leveled ranger in the entire army, which meant that he could be quite deadly when he wanted to be. That was rarely his role, though. Instead, he was tasked with scouting, and in that endeavor, he was wildly successful. Sasha let out a sigh of relief. On the surface, the intended effect of the spell was simple, and it was simply meant to infect the enemies with a sickness that would, without warning, kill them. Of course, killing them was only a means to an end. Instead, the intention was to kill them without any outward sign of struggle, which would terrify the enemy as well as disrupt their supply lines. After all, it was one thing to lose an entire camp to an enemy raid, but it was something else altogether to come upon a well-defended camp where everyone had simply dropped dead for seemingly no reason. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s move on,¡± she said. They had four more targets, and they would have to spend quite a few days racing through the wilderness in order to accomplish their goals on time. It would be a long and arduous week, but she hoped it would strike terror into the hearts of every Knight of Adontis. 431. The Weight of Command Zeke waited. He would¡¯ve liked to have claimed that he did so patiently, but the reality was so far from that standard that he didn¡¯t even try to fool himself. Instead, he clenched his fists and stared out into the abyss of an overcast night. Earlier, the clouds had dumped a deluge of rain on the area, but that brief torrent had quickly petered out. What it had left in its wake was damp humidity and muddy turf as well as one of the blackest nights Zeke had ever seen. But out there somewhere were his people. Kobolds, beastkin, and a smattering of other races ¨C all fighting for the cause he¡¯d foisted upon them. Without his leadership, none of them would be in a battle for their lives, and because of that indisputable fact, he couldn¡¯t help but feel the heavy weight of guilt weighing down on him. ¡°None of the kobolds would even be alive if it weren¡¯t for you,¡± Eveline reminded him silently. ¡°The beastkin and the others would still be slaves. Instead, they¡¯re fighting for what they believe is a worthy cause. You put them in danger, but you also gave them the means to overcome it.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond because, whether it made sense or not, he still felt responsible for each and every one of the war¡¯s casualties. Even the Knights of Adontis, as terrible and bigoted as they were, added to that burden. It was a difficult thing, sending people to war. The cause was just. The ends were necessary. But none of that would matter to the inevitable dead. At the end of the day, courage and valor and justice meant very little to a corpse. Zeke knew that, and yet, he¡¯d sent them into battle anyway. What¡¯s more, he¡¯d moved them all around like pawns on a chessboard. Now, he waited for his moves to bear fruit. And it was excruciating. The only way he could make it through was to remind himself that, because of his plan, less of his people would die. That was enough to make him accept it all as necessary, but he knew he still wouldn¡¯t endure the execution of that plan without a significant degree of anxiety and discomfort. So, he watched. And he waited. Meanwhile, nearly five thousand centaurs were stationed in the valley behind him. They were disciplined enough that they made no noise, but Zeke could feel every stomp of their hooves. To distract himself, he examined his skills. So often, he did so with a specific goal in mind, but at present, he used it as a calming agent. Still, there was at least some intention behind the exercise, and it was one he¡¯d nurtured for the past few weeks. Instead of working on a new skill that would come at some indeterminate time in the future, he had begun to plan out ways to improve his existing abilities. He¡¯d done it before, and contrary to what might be expected, it was no less difficult than building a skill from scratch. Indeed, in a lot of ways, it was for more tedious because he had to work within the confines of the existing foundation, lest the entire thing collapse. Or be corrupted, as had happened with [Armor of the Colossus]. He didn¡¯t want to revisit that, so he¡¯d resolved to spend as much time as necessary to familiarize himself with the entirety of the skill he wanted to upgrade, then make detailed plans for how he intended to implement that transformation. That took time, and so, Zeke had taken to working on it whenever he had even a spare moment. Which, in war, seemed to be quite a frequent. Once, he¡¯d heard his uncle ¨C who was a veteran ¨C complain that army life had been characterized by a hurry-up-and-wait mentality, and now that Zeke was living something similar, he couldn¡¯t disagree with his uncle¡¯s assessment. Still, he¡¯d vowed to use that time wisely and work towards evolving one of his skills. And despite the start-and-stop nature of his efforts, he¡¯d made significant progress, though he still thought he was a few dedicated days away from finalizing his plans. Once he did that, it would take untold hours of continuous work to reform the ability. Last time he¡¯d built a skill, he¡¯d been out of action for more than a week, and he expected that reforming one would be just as time-consuming. So, it would likely have to wait until after the war. Which didn¡¯t seem like it was going to end anytime soon. Despite Zeke¡¯s forces winning every battle, the Knights of Adontis continued to prove to be a deadly and enduring foe. In all but a couple of instances, they¡¯d managed to retreat to safety with their main force. So, while their losses were staggering, they were far from true defeat. Zeke hoped to change that with his current plan. It wasn¡¯t complex, but that was nothing new. From his experience ¨C which had grown extensive ¨C the more complicated battle plans were the ones that ended up failing. Instead, he focused on misdirection and superior positioning. In that way, he could always keep the Knights of Adontis off balance. In this instance, the plan called for the kobolds, led by Silik and Pudge, to attack the fortified city of Bessik. They had no chance of winning that fight, but that wasn¡¯t the point. Instead, they were meant to initiate the attack, hold their position for long enough for the situation to seem plausible, then retreat. If everything went as planned, then the Knights of Adontis would follow, hoping to put an end to what they thought of as an inferior force. But they weren¡¯t stupid. They would be careful, and they wouldn¡¯t overcommit, which would allow the kobold army to keep just ahead, leading the Knights of Adontis into a trap. Once they reached the appropriate position, Silik would send up the signal ¨C a series of uses of [Spear of Memories] ¨C which would alert Zeke and the centaurs that it was time to charge. He knew it wouldn¡¯t be long, so he tightened his grip on his hammer and embraced the unattuned version of [Triune Colossus]. Behind him, the centaurs shifted. It was a small noise, but it was loud in Zeke¡¯s ears. He understood their nerves because he felt them himself. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Fighting a battle was so different from what he usually experienced. Normally, he just crashed into a fight with as much momentum as he could muster, then held fast, hoping to overpower his enemies. But in the battles against the Knights of Adontis, he¡¯d had to learn how to think differently. Because it wasn¡¯t just his life at stake. There was a budding nation of kobolds and centaurs who looked to him to lead them, not only to victory, but to prosperity as well. And Zeke couldn¡¯t let them down. Finally, a little more than an hour later, Zeke saw a series of flashing lights in the distance. They didn¡¯t last long, but it was the signal he¡¯d been waiting on. So, he turned to the Mistress of the Herd, who¡¯d positioned herself just behind him, and said, ¡°It¡¯s time. Hit them hard and fast.¡± ¡°That is the only way to fight,¡± she said with grim determination. With that, Zeke took a deep breath, then took off at a sprint that he knew from experience he could keep up for days if necessary. His feet slammed against the soggy turf as he dodged between the enormous trees of the Old Growth forest. They were spaced so far apart that he barely had to alter his course. The centaurs followed behind, the collective sound of their hooves like rolling thunder. The time for hiding was over. No more subterfuge. No more camouflage. Now was the time for swift action and bloody struggle. Zeke bent himself to the task, and soon enough, tore his way into a clearing where he saw that a massive battle had been joined. He already knew that there were more than twenty thousand kobolds on the field, but there were at least as many Knights and infantrymen as well. Skills flashed in the night sky, and the sound of metal against metal filled the air. Zeke heard none of it. Instead, he could only hear the steady drumbeat of his own savage heart. Zeke was self-aware enough to recognize that he lived for battle. If that wasn¡¯t who he was before he¡¯d been reborn, that was what the Mortal Realm had made of him. And in the Eternal Realm, that ferocity had been sharpened to a lethal point. It thirsted for blood. It fed off of victory. And it craved dominion over all things. He hit the backlines like an earthquake, and the thundering hooves of thousands of centaurs came with him. There were no skills used. Just the strength of their arms and the weight of their momentum. For his part, Zeke swung his hammer with brutal efficiency, the power of every attack enough to detach limbs and rupture organs. Most couldn¡¯t stand before such furor, and the ones who could fell to the second swing. Meanwhile, centaurs trampled whole swathes of the enemy army beneath their hooves, and the ones who withstood that most basic of attacks, met their demise at the ends of long spears. Zeke paid them no mind. He¡¯d fought beside them often enough to trust that they would hold up their end of the battle. Instead, he finally summoned his skills. With a stomp, he used [Hell Gesyer], sending an eruption of Hellfire and rock bursting into the air forty yards away. It engulfed an entire regiment, but Zeke wasn¡¯t done. Instead, he used [Weight of Two Worlds] in its most efficient mode, increasing the gravity all around him. The centaurs could bear it, and so could the knights. But the more mundane soldiers? They collapsed beneath the weight of it and struggled to move. Centaurs ended their lives soon after. With every passing second, Zeke slew a handful of the enemy. He was not discriminate, and he certainly didn¡¯t spare them any pity. They were human monsters, and they needed to be put down for the greater good. He had come to terms with that justification. After a few minutes, it became clear that the battle was won. On the other side of the lines, the kobolds had become an effective anvil for the hammer of Zeke¡¯s force, and the army of Knights and infantrymen had already begun to collapse. Still, they fought on to the very last. That was the thing about the Knights of Adontis. While they were prone to retreat, they refused to surrender, and according to what Zeke had learned from the beastkin they¡¯d kept as slaves, it had something to do with having faith in their goddess. And he was familiar with her. Forces dedicated to the Sun Goddess had dominated the Radiant Isles, and it seemed that she had her fingers in the pie of the Eternal Realm as well. Not only was she the patron goddess of the Knights of Adontis, but there were other organizations ¨C and even governments ¨C throughout the realm that were dedicated to her. Zeke couldn¡¯t help but wonder if they were all as crazy as Constance had been. As the tedium of battle wore on, those thoughts ¨C and many like them ¨C flitted through Zeke¡¯s mind. It was odd, that he could look at killing and only feel boredom, but the fact was that he¡¯d worked himself up for a tough challenge, and he¡¯d gotten ease instead. Not only was it disappointing, but it felt like a waste of his efforts. So, he bent his back to accomplishing his goals more quickly. Every time it was available, he used [Hell Geyser], which practically disintegrated weaker opponents. There were many of those, so it was an extremely effective use of his mana. When the soldiers tried to run, he hunted them down via copious use of [Shifting Sands]. If it was unavailable, he relied only on his stats to see him through. Slowly, his Will began to creep into his swings. It wasn¡¯t much, and Zeke had spent months inoculating himself against its destructive characteristics. As such, he could bear it. His enemies could not. At first, it was difficult to tell much of a difference. Even before, each hammer blow tore through the comparatively weak soldiers. With his high-tier strength, which was further enhanced by his colossal form, they were nothing before him. So, the addition of his destructive Will was difficult to notice. But then people started exploding, and not from the sheer force of his attacks. Instead, his Will infected them, then unmade the very fabric of who and what they were. Some were able to resist, to certain degrees, but most simply erupted into splatters of misshapen gore. It was almost enough to frighten him. In the past, when he¡¯d used his Will, the expression of his Path of Arcane Destruction was predictably devastating. But it was more like a miniature nuclear bomb. This was something different. Something far more localized and infinitely more terrifying. If he could scale something like that up, he would be unstoppable. The only problem was that doing so would rip him to pieces just as surely as it would destroy his enemies. Even the smallest fraction of his power was enough to wear him thin. With every swing, he felt progressively more fatigued. He tried to counter it with [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but the skill could only do so much to counteract the results of using his Will. Still, if he could increase his endurance ¨C or his resistance to the power ¨C he would be able to topple any foe. ¡°Even the pretenders who call themselves gods,¡± Eveline said. Zeke ignored her as he and his armies gradually overwhelmed the remaining Knights. By the time the remainder surrendered ¨C a first, as far as Zeke knew ¨C mingled blood, mud, and gore sloshed around his ankles. And yet, they had won. However, doing so had brought with it another problem, as pointed out by Silik¡¯s pointed question. ¡°What do we do with them, Ak-toh?¡± the kobold general asked. His scales were coated in so much blood that his complexion had taken on a rusty cast. But Zeke wasn¡¯t concerned with the kobold¡¯s blood-caked scales. Instead, the whole of his attention was on the two dozen Knights of Adontis who had surrendered. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we have a jail, now. Watch them closely. If any of them act out, feel free to rip them limb from limb,¡± he said, not bothering to lower his voice. He wanted them to hear. ¡°Slowly.¡± ¡°Yes, Ak-toh,¡± said Silik. 432. The Burden of Sovereignty Zeke stood outside the jail cell, only a foot away from the door, as he stared through the tiny slit into the small room. He didn¡¯t need to look. Because of his bond with the tower, he knew precisely what was happening in all twenty-six cells. He knew the condition of the prisoners, and with a thought, he could cross all sorts of lines with their treatment. ¡°Does it frighten you?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°All that control, it can be terrifying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid,¡± he answered. It was a lie. The cells, he¡¯d learned, were multi-faceted in their function. The most obvious attribute was that it weakened the prisoners to mortal levels while blocking their skills. It was far more effective than the slave brands or the various bindings he¡¯d seen that were intended to do the same. However, the cells also had the ability to negate any need for sustenance. If Zeke chose, he could deny the prisoners food or water, and no matter how thirsty or hungry they became, they would not perish. It was torture of the most insidious sort because it was as much psychological as it was physical. And, of course, he could engage in more conventional torture via the cell¡¯s ability to cause all kinds of pain. The moment Zeke had put one of the prisoners inside, a breadth of possibilities opened up in his mind. Even Eveline was struck dumb by the sheer variety of pain on offer. ¡°I wasn¡¯t dumb struck. That was admiration.¡± ¡°We both know that¡¯s not true,¡± Zeke said. Despite Eveline¡¯s insistence otherwise, she was horrified by the possibilities. She was a demon, and even she wanted nothing to do with that part of the Jail¡¯s functionality. Neither did Zeke. Yet, he could imagine situations where the ability to torture a prisoner would become useful. He wasn¡¯t so na?ve as to believe it was an effective method of interrogation, but in terms of punishment, it had some merit. Plus, there were some people that deserved whatever pain Zeke could dish out. Case in point, the Knights of Adontis held in those jail cells. They were monsters in human skin, and they were as bad ¨C or worse ¨C than any demons Zeke had encountered. ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t met enough demons. I¡¯m serious, Ezekiel. These people are amateurs compared to the denizens of Hell.¡± Zeke had difficulty believing that. The Knights made a habit of killing or enslaving anyone who was even remotely different than them. That included other races as well as any humans who chose to follow a different religion or adhered to another culture. They weren¡¯t just bigots. They were zealots who were wholly convinced that they were better than everyone else. In that way, they believed that treating others they way they did was their right as the superior people. It was ridiculous, disgusting, and terrifying. And yet, Zeke had chosen not to kill them. Not because he wanted to show them mercy. Instead, he expected that having a few hostages may one day prove useful. He wouldn¡¯t think twice about exchanging his prisoners for a few innocent lives that might otherwise be taken by the Knights of Adontis. Eveline asked, ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Zeke said, he answered as he stared at the prisoner inside. None of them had even given their names, so Zeke had difficulty telling them apart. Certainly, they all looked different, and yet, they still blended together in his mind. In any case, the man inside the cell was all but naked ¨C save for his underwear ¨C and staring at a wall. The final punishment he could levy was to alter the perception of time. If Zeke so chose, he could make a single day feel like a year. Or a year could feel like a day for the cells¡¯ occupants. Yet he had already decided not to implement that particular feature. In fact, he¡¯d refrained from doing anything aside from confining them. Perhaps that would change, but for now, he would not stoop to those levels. ¡°How noble of you,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he turned and left the prisoners behind as he made his way to the teleporter. Once he reached the dais, he took it to the Lord¡¯s Manor. After the most recent battle, the remainder of the Knights of Adontis ¨C and their civilian population ¨C had retreated to the labyrinth that divided the kingdom in half. Some would remain in the keeps that protected the entrance, but most would be led through the labyrinth to the other side, where they would almost assuredly set up a rigid defense. That would be where the war was won or lost. Already, they were so entrenched that an assault with anything but the full brunt of his forces would guarantee almost certain defeat. So, they needed to find another way, which was one of the reasons some of the kobolds and former slaves were currently working on getting the airship they¡¯d commandeered up and running. ¡°More like learning to sail it,¡± Eveline reminded him. Indeed, that was precisely what they were doing, and it was slow going. It didn¡¯t require any special skills, but it did require experience ¨C especially considering that sailing over the labyrinth was well known to be perilous as well as difficult. However, even knowing the dangers, it was a preferable to fighting a series of battles against an entrenched opponent. In the meantime, though, Zeke had some time to kill, so when he reached the Lord¡¯s Manor, he wasted no time before heading to the room he had set aside for meditation. One day, he hoped that the Hall of Affinities would obviate the need for such a room in his home, but he was still a good deal short of completing the quest that would award such an evolution of the tower. So, for now, he was stuck with what he had. ¡°Poor baby,¡± Eveline cooed. ¡°You have to meditate in your luxurious mansion.¡± Once again, Zeke ignored his resident mind parasite, which left her even more annoyed than usual. She retreated to the back of his mind where he could only barely sense her presence. That freed his mind to focus on the task at hand: If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He intended to implement his plans to upgrade one of his oldest skills, [Weight of Two Worlds]. He¡¯d had the skill for quite some time, having acquired it back in the Radiant Isles, and since then, it had served him quite well. However, recently, it had become increasingly obvious that it was not powerful enough to affect his strongest enemies. Certainly, it still slowed them down marginally, but it wasn¡¯t nearly as noticeable as it once had been. So, over the past couple of months, Zeke had spent the majority of his spare time working on the well-worn skill. And in that time, he¡¯d managed to create a viable plan for upgrading it. Now, he intended to implement those plans. The only issue was that it would almost assuredly take weeks to do so, during which time he wouldn¡¯t dare cut the process short for fear of corrupting the skill as he¡¯d done when he¡¯d created [Armor of the Colossus]. He had no desire to repeat that mistake, so he¡¯d already made arrangements for Pudge to take care of any issues that might arise. So, with that, Zeke could fully focus on the job at hand. So, he settled into his familiar position, then closed his eyes. Once he did, he thrust his awareness into the rune that governed [Weight of Two Worlds]. Because it had been built by the Framework, it was entirely perfect. However, that perfection did not come without a cost. As stable as it was, it also lacked the flares he¡¯d come to recognize from the skills he¡¯d built himself. It was as if the skill had been built by a machine. Which, given his understanding of the nature of the Framework, that wasn¡¯t so far off from the reality. It was a construct. A thing that had been built by a supreme being. It was effectively an advanced artificial intelligence meant for the singular purpose of helping people advance to the height of their own potential. For a long few minutes, Zeke refamiliarized himself with the skill¡¯s structure. He¡¯d already memorized it, but with what was at stake, he had no intention of cutting corners. He had only to remember what had happened with [Armor of the Colossus] to ensure that he gave it the time and attention it deserved. So, he spent far more time than was absolutely necessary on the task, but eventually, he was satisfied that he knew it backwards, forwards, and diagonally. That was when the real preparation began. With his long experience dealing with runes ¨C as well as his well-developed Will ¨C Zeke had cultivated a fantastic memory for the collections of symbols and glyphs. As such, it only took a flick of thought to summon his previous preparations to mind. He already knew what he intended to do, though, like his examination of the current structure, he spent quite a lot of time confirming his plans for the skill¡¯s evolution. Once he¡¯d finished that, he went to work. The first thing he noticed was that, with his Will, he was capable of easily destroying even the sturdiest of glyphs or symbols. In fact, he could obliterate whole swaths of the rune without barely a thought. The trick, though, was limiting that destruction. It took quite a lot of fine tuning and skill, but Zeke¡¯s efforts in learning to constrain his Will gave him just enough control to excise the pieces he intended to replace. Still, it wasn¡¯t the work of minutes. Indeed, Zeke was only vaguely aware of the passage of time, but he knew that days came and went while he pruned the unnecessary bits from the skill¡¯s rune. And then, suddenly, he¡¯d finished. The result was a rune that, under no circumstances, would work. It had holes in all the wrong places, and indeed, it looked like all it would take was pushing a bit of mana through it to bring it all crashing down. But that had always been how it was going to go. So, Zeke shoved the uneasiness that had come with seeing such a decimated skill aside and started building it back up. That was much more difficult. Despite having been partially made from his Path of Runecrafting, the Path of Arcane Destruction was precisely what its name implied. It was not a force for building, and using it for that task was only possible because of Zeke¡¯s long experience. However, just because it was possible didn¡¯t mean it was easy, and it took the limits of Zeke¡¯s concentration to make even one addition to the rune. When he¡¯d finished that single alteration, he felt a deep sense of fatigue that had nothing to do with his physical body. Exacerbating that was the fact that he had thousands more changes just like it to make. It was enough to overwhelm even the stoutest of minds, and yet, Zeke was not one to give up on something he had begun. So, he discarded that feeling of unease and bent his mind to the task. The second rune was no easier, and the third followed suit. Yet, Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate to plunge forward. Partly, this was because he knew precisely what would happen if he left the skill unfinished. At best, it would be unusable. At worst, it would fuse into something unintended, which could have dire consequences. No ¨C now that he had begun, he had no choice but to finish. So, he plunged ahead, completing one rune after another in his quest to force the skill¡¯s evolution. But it was no easy task, and by the time he estimated he was halfway finished, his mind felt like a fried egg. At the same time, he didn¡¯t even want to look at the damage his constant use of his Will was doing to his body. He kept [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] active, but without his active input, there was no way it could keep up. Still, he had no choice but to forge ahead, so he shouldered those issues and did just that. Gradually, as time passed, Zeke progressed further and further until, just when he thought he was going to collapse from the accumulated exhaustion and damage of his Will, the final glyph snapped into place. Suddenly, the rune lit up, and a notification flashed before his mind: Congratulations! You have forcefully evolved the skill, [Weight of Two Worlds] into [Burden of Sovereignty]. Zeke sighed and opened his eyes to a room covered in blood. Looking down, he saw the scars of his previous misadventures glowing with crimson energy. It made his body look like a puzzle that had been pieced together. A second after he saw his surroundings, his muscles seized and he fell over. Barely conscious, he was vaguely aware of a series of scaley hands, though he could hardly make sense of his changing surroundings. Not until he felt himself plunge into the soothing waters of the Crimson Spring. After that, it only took a few moments for him to slowly regain the full extent of his awareness. When he did, he saw Kianma looking down at him with an expression of distinct disapproval. ¡°Did you accomplish your goals, Ak-toh?¡± Zeke nodded, though when he tried to speak, his voice did not come. ¡°Good. I would remind you that you have many thousands of my people who are dependent on you to lead them. Please do not take that responsibility lightly.¡± After that, she turned on her heel and marched away. In the wake of her departure, he realized just how big of a risk he had taken. If he¡¯d died, what would have happened to everyone else inside the tower? Would they die too? He didn¡¯t think so, but he had no way to be sure. Next time, he would take more precautions for the sheer damage his Will would inflict upon him. For now, though, he wanted to look at his new skill. So, he found the appropriate notification and read it: [Burden of Sovereignty] (D) ¨C Not only do you bear the weight of two worlds on your shoulders, but you have taken on the responsibility of rule. That responsibility comes with power. Use it well. Summon a domain that both weakens your enemies and augments your subjects. Upgradeable. Even amidst the pain, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. More than that, he was eager to test it out. 433. Danger of the Sky The wind cut across the skyship¡¯s deck, pelting Zeke with its might. Stoically, he stood his ground, and yet, he felt like he¡¯d been cast adrift. It was not a difficult situation to understand; so far from the ground, the earth mana was almost nonexistent, and so, he¡¯d been cut off from one of the most potent sources of his power. He could still function, but anything that used earth mana as fuel would inevitably lack potency. That meant he couldn¡¯t use his earthen form of [Triune Colossus] without being severely weakened, and [Shifting Sands] was entirely off the table. [Hell Geyser] would still work, but only at about half strength. Still, he had other skills at his call, so he was still in better shape than many earth-attuned people would have been. Such was the benefit of having multiple attunements, though he was still wary of harnessing the corruption. It came with significant downsides, and he wasn¡¯t certain he could control it. On top of that, the thinness of the area¡¯s demonic mana meant that he only had a small amount of energy to work with. The result was that he intended to rely on his overwhelming stats to see him through any battles they might encounter. Those thoughts flitted through Zeke¡¯s mind as he clutched the rail and looked down at the wilderness. It had taken almost a month for them to get the ship and its assigned crew up and running, and even that had been cutting it close in terms of viability. As a result, the kobolds who were its crew were capable of keeping it in the air, but anything more than that would stretch their capability. Regardless, the reports they¡¯d gotten from the rangers had made it clear that they could delay no longer. With every passing day, the Knights of Adontis became more entrenched. Even now, their runecrafters were busy enchanting the walls of their strongholds, and Zeke feared that if he gave them too much time, they would be capable of resisting even his Runebreaker technique. Given that their entire strategy for taking such fortified positions relied on him destroying any enchantments meant that if it didn¡¯t work, they¡¯d be forced to do things the hard way. Zeke had no interest in a siege, and not just because the outcome of such a thing was uncertain. In addition to that very real concern, Zeke wasn¡¯t keen on the notion of spending months wearing down the defenders¡¯ resolve. He didn¡¯t want to starve people out. He didn¡¯t want to have to poison their water supplies. He just wanted a clean fight with a clear winner. A siege would not offer that. So, they were on the clock, which was why he¡¯d insisted that they take flight well before the crew was completely prepared for the endeavor. Still, the kobolds were capable enough to keep the ship in the air, and they could maneuver it reasonably well. Because of that, he hoped that they could avoid disaster. ¡°And if they can¡¯t?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re using a skeleton crew,¡± Zeke said. ¡°All volunteers who knew the risks.¡± Indeed, if they did encounter difficulties, or if the worst came to pass and the ship went down, the losses would be minimal. For his part, Zeke was certain that he could survive a fall from just about any height, so he didn¡¯t think he was in much danger. The kobolds would almost certainly perish, though. However, that was a risk that needed to be undertaken, regardless of his feelings on the matter. It was something with which he¡¯d had to come to terms over the course of the war. People were going to die. It was inevitable. The only thing he could do was mitigate the number of deaths. Anything else was beyond his control. Or perhaps that was just him trying to convince himself that he wasn¡¯t to blame every time one of the kobolds fell. Whatever the case, he couldn¡¯t win the war without incurring casualties, so he¡¯d forced himself to accept the risks. Even if it sometimes felt like it was ripping his heart out. In the distance, Zeke could see the labyrinth, though it was wreathed in mist that kept its pattern concealed. During his interrogation of the prisoners, Zeke had learned that there were maps that would lead him through the maze. However, none of the captives had any such map in their possession. ¡°Do you think they will recover?¡± he wondered aloud. Eveline, who¡¯d manifested beside him, said, ¡°Perhaps.¡± ¡°Did I go too far?¡± ¡°For you? Probably. For a demon? No.¡± Indeed, Zeke had used the full extent of the jail¡¯s features to ensure he got the answers he needed. He wasn¡¯t usually a proponent of torture, but with the lives of his people on the line, it was difficult to draw arbitrary lines based on morality. He had a responsibility to that collection of kobolds, centaurs, and other disparate races. They were his people, and they looked to him for protection. When weighed against that, individual morality couldn¡¯t matter. That was something Zeke had discovered after coming to terms with becoming the de facto head of a government. He was a king in everything but name, and as such, his sole responsibility was to protect his people and ensure their prosperity. Everything else came in a distant second place in his list of priorities. Morality was so far down the list that he couldn¡¯t let it influence his choices. Fighting the war against Adontis was necessary, and for a lot of reasons. The first was that he felt absolutely certain that if he didn¡¯t take the war to them, they would bring it to him. That, combined with the facts that they had been the initial aggressors as well as the reality that he¡¯d come to consider the captive beastkin as part of his responsibilities, and the war was absolutely unavoidable. But drawing a line in the sand and refusing to properly interrogate prisoners whose information might save the lives of his people? Despite his personal feelings on the matter, he couldn¡¯t afford to turn down anything that might protect the lives of his people. So, he¡¯d used the Jail¡¯s most dreadful features to break the captive Knights. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. And he¡¯d forced himself to watch every moment of it. That was the cost of survival. That was the price he¡¯d chosen to pay. And he wouldn¡¯t look away when the time came to do so. To his horror and relief, it had worked, too. It was horrifying because he knew that, with that success under his belt, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to use the Jail again. But it was also a relief because, if he¡¯d gone down that road and gotten nothing, it would not have done good things for his mental health. ¡°You¡¯re too soft,¡± Eveline said. ¡°A real demon wouldn¡¯t have twitched a claw at using the Jail for its intended purpose.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a demon.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± she pointed out. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of time and opportunity to change that, though.¡± Zeke ignored that statement, largely because he knew she was only partially serious. As much as Eveline wanted to pretend that she wanted him to fully become a demon, she was terrified of that possibility. If he did descend into demonhood, she would be the first person negatively affected. She knew that, and though she often advised him to take the amoral path, she took comfort in his lingering humanity. He only had enough time to start down that line of thought before he saw something on the horizon. At first, he thought it was a dark cloud, yet only a moment later, he discarded that theory because he recognized the oncoming threat. A flock of hundreds of birds was bearing down on them, and it only took Zeke a few seconds to take in the details. Each individual bird possessed a wingspan of more than a dozen feet, though that was no surprise. Animals in the Eternal Realm were usually larger and far more deadly than whatever creature from which they had evolved. What did worry him, though, was the fact that thick bands of electricity leaped from one member of the flock to another, telling Zeke precisely what they were. ¡°Thunderbirds!¡± he shouted over the wind. ¡°Code black!¡± The kobolds knew what that meant, and they immediately fled into the gate Zeke had summoned on the deck. During strategy meetings, Zeke and his allies had come up with a system of responses to any threats the expedition might encounter. For instance, if they were facing a moderate threat that the kobolds could reasonably be expected to survive, he would have shouted a different command. However, Zeke knew just how deadly thunderbirds could be ¨C after all, he¡¯d heard Abby¡¯s story of her encounter plenty of times ¨C and a flock of the creatures was bound to be deadly. So, he¡¯d chosen the most urgent of commands, sending the kobolds back into the tower while he dealt with the threat. That way, if the ship was destroyed ¨C a distinct possibility ¨C he only had to worry about his own survival. And if not, he would resummon the gate so that they could resume their journey. Even as the thunderbirds bore down on them, Zeke took a second to ensure that the kobolds had finished their retreat into the gate. As the last one passed through, he dismissed the portal and focused on the oncoming enemies. It was just in time, too, because the first of the monsters had drawn within range. Zeke embraced [Triune Colossus], using his unattuned form. His body shifted, taking on a metallic sheen as he grew to twice his normal size. Lately, his three forms had grown even more distinct. The earth-fueled colossal form had become even thicker and rockier, while the demonic expression of the skill had taken on a much more aggressive and athletic build. Meanwhile, the unattuned version was somewhere in between the two, though with a much more artificial appearance. But none of that was on his mind. Instead, he had focused entirely on the evolution he¡¯d worked so hard to facilitate. The moment Zeke embraced [Burden of Sovereignty], he felt the mana rush out of him. He tried to mitigate it by using as much earth-attuned mana as he could, but the supply was too low to make much of a difference. As a result, the skill was powered almost entirely by his personal store. Still, he hoped it would be powerful enough that it wouldn¡¯t matter. Immediately, Zeke felt empowered in a way he struggled to define. He wasn¡¯t just lighter, though that was part of it. It was as if he¡¯d gained an additional tier to all his stats. He felt stronger, faster, and more durable than ever before. Meanwhile, the couple of thunderbirds who¡¯d come into range experienced the opposite. One of them crashed into the side of the ship, while another hit the deck with a momentous thud. Zeke leaped forward and kicked it as hard as he could manage, cracking the comparatively delicate bones in its neck and killing it instantly. Then, the flock arrived, carrying with it a cacophony of piercing, hawk-like cries. The monsters were intelligent enough to recognize what had happened to the others, so they collectively adjusted. However, to Zeke, they still moved with the sluggishness of much lower leveled creatures. And he met their swooping attacks with Voromir. Bones crunched, and blood flew wide. And yet, Zeke didn¡¯t escape the assault unscathed. Lightning descended upon him at regular intervals, slamming into his metallic body with vicious fury. His muscles spasmed out of his control, and yet, his constant use of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] continually healed him from the damage. The ship was not so lucky. Only a few moments into the battle, a half dozen fires had taken hold on the deck, and more came with every strike of lightning. Zeke fought on, settling the entirety of his focus on the enemies, largely because if he didn¡¯t keep up the pressure, they would overwhelm him. Still, in the back of his mind, he knew the ship was in trouble. It had some protective enchantments, but they were not complex or powerful enough to deal with the sheer volume of fire enveloping the deck. Yet, Zeke couldn¡¯t afford even a moment¡¯s lack of focus to worry about that. So, he continued to swing his hammer, felling an enormous avian with every attack. He stood his ground as the beasts pelted him with lightning as the ship listed to the side. It would remain aloft indefinitely, though not if the delicate enchantments in the hull and sails were destroyed. And given the severity of the fire, he knew it was only a matter of time before that came to pass. But until he dealt with the thunderbirds, he couldn¡¯t deal with the flames. So, he redoubled his efforts, tearing through the flock of birds with stoic determination. Every now and then, he used [Center of Gravity] to throw one of the birds off balance, and he certainly took advantage of [Burden of Sovereignty], but he couldn¡¯t use any of his other skills. It didn¡¯t matter, though. He knew he was going to win. The only question was whether or not the ship would still remain aloft when he managed to finish the creatures off. So, Zeke bent his back to the task before him, crushing his enemies without mercy. And they fell in droves. Soon enough, the deck was littered with avian corpses, some of which had already caught fire, filling the air with the smell of cooking meat. Finally, after a herculean struggle, the remaining flock of thunderbirds recognized the same thing Zeke had known all along ¨C they were overmatched and incapable of overcoming the ship¡¯s singular defense. So, they fled, leaving Zeke standing on a burning ship amidst dozens of avian corpses. Immediately, he summoned his gate, and the kobolds came pouring back out. At the same time, he yanked a huge water barrel from his storage space and set about trying to extinguish the flames. Some of the kobolds assisted in that effort, but most of them raced across the deck to their normal stations. There, they endeavored to keep the shift aloft. But just like had been the case with the thunderbirds, it was clear the kobolds were fighting a losing battle. Even after the fires had been extinguished, it was obvious that the damage was too severe. The ship was going down, and they could only hope to guide it to a relatively safe location. 434. Shipwrecked The crash was a little anticlimactic. Instead plummeting to the earth, it listed lazily, losing altitude for hours until it settled into a verdant valley. The dell was home to a gentle stream and a few scattered deer, but there were no obvious threats. The kobolds who¡¯d guided the ship to the safest landing possible immediately started trying to repair the ship. However, it was already apparent that it was unsalvageable. The planks from which it had been built were easily replaceable, but the intricate runes that enabled flight were anything but. ¡°We really need to find some enchanters,¡± he said to Eveline. ¡°Or at least someone who can teach the kobolds the basics.¡± They¡¯d made some rudimentary attempts at runecrafting, but none of them had shown much of a knack for the delicate art. If Zeke¡¯s own knowledge of runecrafting hadn¡¯t been primarily based on his Path of Runecrafting that had been absorbed into the Path of Arcane Destruction, he might¡¯ve been more help. However, he¡¯d always leaned on the instinctive understanding granted by the path, and so he had no idea how to start them in the right direction. ¡°You could always find someone to curse them so they were forced to pick the curse runes apart like you did,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°You might lose a few dozen of them, but that¡¯s a sacrifice I¡¯m willing to make.¡± Zeke let out a mental sigh. ¡°I am not subjecting them to that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying that you would¡­¡± He tuned her out, instead focusing on the surrounding wilderness. Just because the valley looked idyllic didn¡¯t mean that it actually was. There could have been any number of hidden dangers out there. Eveline said, ¡°Not every place is filled with horrible things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not my experience,¡± Zeke responded. Indeed, he¡¯d seen enough of the Eternal Realm to recognize the inherent danger of the wilds. And the cities. Everything in between, too. The world was a harsh place where the only safety came from the tyranny of power. So, Zeke knew better than to let his guard down anywhere but in his own tower. That way, he couldn¡¯t be surprised when the world and its denizens inevitably tried to kill him. With that in mind, he kept an eye on his surroundings. But to his surprise, no giant monsters came barging out of the forest, and there were no snake people in the river. It seemed that, aside from the few deer they¡¯d seen from above and a couple of squirrels, the valley was as empty as it appeared to be, which left Zeke with no idea what to do. While he felt reasonably sure that the ship couldn¡¯t be repaired, he was willing to let the kobolds give it a shot. That was going to take some time, but not nearly enough for him to devote to either building new skills or evolving old ones. Nor was it enough time to get anything done in the Hunting Grounds, and he was in nearly peak physical condition, so he didn¡¯t need the Crimson Spring. ¡°You need a hobby,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Or a girlfriend. You had one of those before, right? You should find her.¡± ¡°You know why that¡¯ll never happen,¡± he said. ¡°Then move on. I¡¯m sure one of the former slaves would love to show their gratitude for their big, strong savior. Or the beastkin, if that¡¯s what you like. No judgement here. I once went out with a satyr. Nasty little guy. But he was the right kind of bad, you know? Fun times.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not listening to you anymore,¡± Zeke insisted. ¡°Sure, sure. Now, let me tell you about the time I was courted by a lower demon¡­¡± Once again, Zeke tried to tune her out, but she kept droning on. To distract himself, he told the kobold in charge ¨C a centurion named Eska ¨C that he was going to look around. The hulking warrior said, ¡°Yes, Ak-toh.¡± So, Zeke leaped over the railing and fell to the ground below. The turf was soft, and the air temperature was pleasant, so Zeke was in no hurry as he strolled toward the nearby stream. Once there, he knelt and cupped a bit of cool, clear water into his hand and took a sip. Afterwards, he let out a long sigh and looked around. Behind him, the kobolds continued to work, dragging planks of wood from the gate to replace the ones that had been burned. But like was the case with Eveline¡¯s annoying recitation of her love life, Zeke ignored them. Instead, he simply basked in the pleasant atmosphere. But he didn¡¯t relax. He couldn¡¯t, because he half expected that the moment he let his guard down, something horrible would jump out and attack him. After that, a knock-down, drag-out fight would commence, and he¡¯d narrowly come out on top. Or if the recent battles were any indication, he would easily subdue whatever creature was stupid enough to pick a fight with him. ¡°Is that your issue? Are you upset because you haven¡¯t been challenged lately?¡± Zeke pushed himself to his feet and waded across the stream. It was only calf-deep, so he managed it without issue. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he admitted. ¡°Maybe?¡± The last time he¡¯d been really pushed to his limits was in the dungeon, and even that had mostly just been a test of his endurance and pain tolerance. He¡¯d always excelled in both, so it had been a challenge he was always going to meet head on. And while the war had had its ups and downs, no one had stepped up to really test his mettle. So, perhaps he was so paranoid because he wanted something to attack him. Maybe that was his life¡¯s only defining characteristic, which would be a depressing realization indeed. ¡°Like I said, you need a hobby,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Or maybe a purpose. You can¡¯t live for fighting alone. You need something else.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°You sound like you¡¯re speaking from experience,¡± he remarked, indulging the conversation as he crossed the dell toward the tree line. He glanced up at the bright, blue sky. There wasn¡¯t a cloud in the sky. ¡°What was your purpose? What kind of hobbies did you have?¡± ¡°Other than torturing my minions into submission?¡± ¡°Be serious.¡± ¡°I am.¡± ¡°You¡¯re definitely not,¡± Zeke said. He knew Eveline well enough by that point to recognize that she was not the cold-hearted demoness she pretended to have been. There was more to her than that. ¡°Fine. I liked flowers,¡± she said. ¡°And not the bitey kind, either. The pretty ones that smelled good. We didn¡¯t have many like that down in Hell, but there were a few. I used to tell people they were for brewing poisons and such, and they were great for that. But the real reason was that I liked the way I felt when I looked at them. The smell made me nostalgic for a time that never existed.¡± ¡°Maybe it did in your old life.¡± She gave a mental shrug. ¡°Perhaps. I don¡¯t remember it, though,¡± Eveline admitted. ¡°Even if my soul hadn¡¯t been shattered, demons tend to forget the lives they left behind. I think it¡¯s a self-defense mechanism. We can¡¯t miss what we don¡¯t remember, right? It makes it easier to endure our new lives.¡± ¡°Eveline, I¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can¡¯t imagine my first life was anything good, especially if it ended with me in hell. It¡¯s better that I don¡¯t remember it,¡± she said. Then, adopting a tone of faux happiness, she added, ¡°But back to you and your potential hobbies. What do you enjoy?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in my head. You tell me.¡± ¡°Hmm. I need to think about that¡­¡± ¡°Pie.¡± ¡°What?¡± she asked, surprised. ¡°I love pie.¡± ¡°Eating pie is not a hobby,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°No, I know that. I was just thinking¡­no, it¡¯s stupid. Never mind. Maybe I could get into curing meat or something.¡± ¡°Tell me,¡± Eveline prodded, a bit of mirth in her voice. ¡°Well, not if you¡¯re going to have that tone,¡± Zeke responded, trailing his hand along the trunk of a tree. A squirrel chittered from the canopy, though when he looked up, he couldn¡¯t see the actual animal. ¡°Do you think the squirrels here are super high level?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a difference between animals and monsters. You know that,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Now, tell me about pie.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°You¡¯re not going to leave this alone, are you?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Fine. Okay, so back on Earth, my mom used to get really worked up during the holidays. Like, it was all she could think about. Kind of a manic episode sort of thing,¡± he explained. ¡°Well, she would always channel that into making desserts. Specifically, pies. Even when it was just us, she¡¯d make like ten pies every Christmas, and all different kinds. And they weren¡¯t even any good. She was so worked up that she would forget ingredients or use too much of something or whatever. They were terrible.¡± ¡°And yet, I sense that you remember this fondly.¡± Zeke shrugged, circling a dense copse of trees. ¡°Yeah, I do. She wanted the holidays to be special so badly that she just¡­I don¡¯t know. Short circuited, I guess,¡± he said. ¡°But I don¡¯t care about how terrible those pies were. I care that she tried so hard, you know? That was love.¡± ¡°If it doesn¡¯t cause crippling anxiety and manic episodes, is it even love?¡± mused Eveline. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know about that,¡± he stated. His childhood had been anything but easy, but his mother had tried her best to make him and his brother happy. A lot of the effort had gone to waste due to his father, but that didn¡¯t negate the fact that she¡¯d tried. And for that, Zeke would be eternally grateful. ¡°So, where is this going?¡± ¡°You can literally read my mind,¡± he said. ¡°You tell me.¡± ¡°Is it so wrong that I want to have an actual conversation? Humor me.¡± Zeke suddenly felt a bit guilty, so he said, ¡°Fine. I want to learn to do it right. She tried to teach me once. When I was a kid. My dad¡­he didn¡¯t like that. Said boys shouldn¡¯t do things like that.¡± ¡°Cooking?¡± ¡°He said it was women¡¯s work.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the stupidest thing I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± ¡°That sounds about right for basically everything he ever did. He was not a good person. If there¡¯s any justice in the world, he ended up on your side of the fence, then got eaten before he could make it past level one.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just that surge of anger. It makes me realize why you¡¯re so well-suited to your demonic side is all.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t want to think about or discuss my dad, okay? He was an asshole, and I¡¯m glad I¡¯ll never see him again,¡± he said. Before his experiences in the dungeon where he¡¯d had to fight the Mirror King, Zeke hadn¡¯t even thought about his father in months. Now, though, it was all at the forefront of his mind. He wanted nothing more than to shove those memories into the deepest abyss he could find. But that just wasn¡¯t possible. Nothing but time would put those thoughts of his father back where they belonged. ¡°Anyway,¡± he continued. ¡°I¡¯ve always loved pies, and I think I could be good at making them. It¡¯s just following directions, right? But I don¡¯t know any recipes, and the ingredients we have around here are sorely lacking. We don¡¯t have any chickens, so no eggs. We don¡¯t grow sugarcane, so none of that either. We also don¡¯t have much in the way of fruits. I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s kind of dumb, I guess. Maybe I can learn to whittle or something.¡± ¡°No, pies are good. You don¡¯t have to do it right now. Maybe the next city we take, you can get some of those ingredients. Plus, I¡¯m sure some of the beastkin or elves we¡¯ve freed were cooks. I¡¯m sure someone knows some good pie recipes,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke said with a shake of his head. He continued on through the woods, and Eveline continued to encourage him to pursue what she kept calling his ¡°dream of making the best pies in the world.¡± Strangely, her teasing made the idea easier to swallow. In the meantime, he kept an eye on his surroundings. His instincts told him that something terrible was going to happen at any moment, and he wanted to be ready just in case. Still, nothing happened, and he soon arrived at a wide lake. ¡°More of a pond, really,¡± he remarked aloud. ¡°Odds there¡¯s something huge and monstrous in there? Maybe a giant frog? I told you about that time I almost got eaten by one, right?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Not much to tell. It grabbed me with its tongue and pulled me underwater. It tried to eat me, and it would have, too, but I guess I didn¡¯t taste so great, so it spit me out.¡± ¡°A riveting story.¡± ¡°You asked.¡± ¡°I most assuredly did not.¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°It feels like you did,¡± he said. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m going for a swim.¡± With that, he tore his shirt and pants off, then waded into the cold water. It wasn¡¯t frigid, but it was anything but warm. To his surprise, nothing attacked him, so he spent the next hour or so just swimming and relaxing. Until he heard someone calling his name. ¡°Ak-toh!¡± called Silik from the shore. Zeke answered, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The crafters have repaired the ship as best they can,¡± the kobold general explained. ¡°It is no longer capable of flight, though. We must proceed on foot.¡± That was within Zeke¡¯s expectations, so he just let out a tired sigh before swimming back to shore. Then, he dressed and said, ¡°I guess it¡¯s back to work.¡± ¡°At least you have piemaking to look forward to,¡± Eveline responded. Silik, pointedly, remained silent. Zeke had tried to get the big kobold to come out of his proverbial shell, but he¡¯d yet to be successful. Soon enough, they had returned to the ship, where Zeke found a full talon of kobold legionnaires, complete with a handful of centurions and an entire cadre of scouts waiting for him. It seemed that he would have plenty of company on his trek through the wilderness. ¡°It¡¯s good for you. You don¡¯t need to spend too much time alone,¡± Eveline said. He couldn¡¯t help but grin at that as he responded, ¡°I¡¯m never really alone with you around.¡± 435. The Labyrinth A frigid breeze whistled through the overgrown entrance to the labyrinth, carrying with the musty scent of decay. Zeke stood before it, hesitant to take that all-important first step into the elaborate maze. But it was necessary, as had been established over the past few weeks of travel through the wilderness. After leaving the fallen ship behind, he and his cadre of kobolds had trekked through forests and over mountains as they searched for a way to the other side of the labyrinth. However, they¡¯d found no such route, largely because, where the maze didn¡¯t bar their way, giant, seemingly bottomless ravines or insurmountable mountains obstructed their path. In the end, they had no choice but to search for an entrance into the labyrinth. ¡°How confident are we that we¡¯ll find a way through?¡± he asked, glancing at Pudge. He and the rangers had been invaluable during the trek through the wilds, and without their contributions, they would never have found the entrance that could prove to be the only way to their eventual destination. ¡°We will do our jobs,¡± Pudge stated simply. It was his answer to any question regarding the competence of his chosen team of rangers. And so far, Zeke had seen no reason to doubt his companion. Pudge was a lot of things, but boastful was not how Zeke would describe the bearkin. So, he said, ¡°Alright, then. You¡¯ve set up a system, right? We¡¯re going to have to map this thing as we go.¡± ¡°The rangers are passable cartographers,¡± interjected Jasper, who stood nearby with his hands on his hips. Sasha was there, too, though that was more because she wanted to see the wilderness than because her skills fit the situation. She could take care of herself, though, so Zeke didn¡¯t mind her presence. ¡°They can do the job.¡± ¡°Alright, then,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Then let¡¯s do it.¡± With that, he strode into the labyrinth. Immediately, he felt the temperature drop ¨C not quite to freezing levels, but much colder than the temperate forest only a few feet away. That was expected, though. The dungeon at the center of the maze was purported to be based around ice, and it had affected the surroundings appropriately. Still, Zeke preferred a much warmer climate, so he embraced his colossal form in an effort to shield himself from the worst of the cold. When he did, Pudge gave him a sideways glance before shaking his head. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It is not that cold.¡± ¡°You have a built-in fur coat. Of course it isn¡¯t cold to you,¡± Zeke remarked. ¡°Baby.¡± ¡°What¡¯d you just say?¡± ¡°You act like a baby,¡± Pudge said, grinning slightly. ¡°Big man afraid of a little cold.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to choose to ignore that,¡± Zeke said. Pudge shrugged. ¡°Ignore it or not. Doesn¡¯t make it not true.¡± Zeke gave his bound companion a look of feigned shock. Normally, that would have prompted a wrestling match, but there were more important things to do than a bit of roughhousing. So, he changed the subject, explaining, ¡°When we get to an intersection, we¡¯ll stop while the rangers fan out to map the area. When they get back, we¡¯ll move to the next section and do the same thing. Over and over until we¡¯ve got the whole labyrinth mapped. Sound good?¡± Pudge nodded. ¡°How many do you have?¡± ¡°Seven-hundred and twenty-three,¡± he answered without a hint of hesitation. ¡°More if we used trainees.¡± ¡°Better not,¡± Zeke said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s out there.¡± After that, they started a pattern. Every time they reached an intersection, the army of kobolds would fan out, mapping their path with the cartography skills they¡¯d been taught by Jasper. It wasn¡¯t a system granted skill, but they¡¯d learned the techniques well enough that they could get by. And with each passing day, they grew more adept. In the meantime, Zeke often retreated into the tower to go about his own tasks. He spent whole days within the Hunting Grounds working on his fighting technique, but he also spent quite a bit of time inoculating himself against his own Will. Of course, that also necessitated quite a few trips to the Crimson Springs, though, so long as he kept ahead of the worst of the damage, he never had to spend more than an hour or two at a time within the soothing waters. He also worked on his plans for his next skill. He was still a little ways off, and in fact, he still had nine levels to go before he unlocked the slot. However, he¡¯d found that there was no such thing as too much preparation. So, he endeavored to be as prepared as possible when the time came to build the skill. Of course, there was also the possibility that his plans would be rendered useless by whatever skills he was offered at level fifty-five, but he was willing to take that chance for two reasons. First, he could always choose whichever option didn¡¯t resemble his planned skill, and second, even if he didn¡¯t, the preparation wouldn¡¯t go to waste. Every moment he spent building a skill ¨C or preparing the foundations for doing so ¨C was valuable practice. In addition to all his normal progression-centric activities, he also started down the path of a piemaker. At first, he simply got the ingredients he knew went into such an endeavor and tried to wing it. However, that resulted in some truly horrible concoctions, so he eventually broke down and solicited the help of an old goatkin woman named Margary. She was small and frail-looking, but she also had a habit of smacking him with her wooden spoon every time he made a mistake. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Which, much to Eveline¡¯s continuous delight, was a horribly frequent occurrence. Yet, after only a few days, he managed to create something that resembled an apple pie. It didn¡¯t taste great. Zeke was the first to admit that. However, it was recognizable as a pie, which was the first step in the long journey ahead of him. The moment he tasted it, he pumped his fist in mingled satisfaction and delight, though Margary pointed out that it still tasted like, ¡°garbage wrapped in undercooked dough¡±. Even so, Zeke was happy with his achievement, which only cemented his resolve to conquer the process. But eventually, after more than a week, the time came to leave the kitchen and return to his responsibilities, because the scouts had finally found one of the Adontis strongholds that dotted the labyrinth. So, Zeke left the Lord¡¯s Manor behind, exiting through the Entry Hall and to where he¡¯d left the gate summoned. Stepping back into the maze brought with it a wave of cold air, but he ignored it as he asked one of the nearby kobolds, ¡°What exactly did you find? Which fort is it?¡± While waging the war with Adontis, they¡¯d gathered quite a lot of intelligence. Some of that had been augmented by his interrogation of the prisoners in the Jail. One of the key things they had learned was the orientation of the labyrinth forts as well as their names and, most importantly, their weaknesses. Zeke had hoped to bypass those forts altogether by sailing over the maze, but now that events had transpired to force his hand, he was grateful for the thorough preparation. ¡°It¡¯s Snowfall Fort, Ak-Toh,¡± the ranger answered. ¡°Snowfall, huh,¡± Zeke muttered. That wasn¡¯t the best-case scenario. He had hoped that their path had taken them further into the maze. However, Snowfall Fort was situated very near the midway point, which meant that there was no way an attack would be expected. After all, if an enemy was coming for them, they would¡¯ve had to have gone through the other four forts along way first. So, while it could have been a better situation, it certainly could have been much worse as well. The fort itself was nothing special. Zeke and his army had conquered similar strongholds multiple times over the past months. However, there was an additional factor that made the situation unique. ¡°Can we take the watchtower before they light it?¡± he asked. ¡°No,¡± said Pudge, who¡¯d just arrived. ¡°It is too well guarded. We can get through them, I¡¯m certain. Yet, doing so before they alert the other forts is impossible.¡± ¡°Damnit,¡± Zeke growled. The last thing he wanted was to have to fight his way through the labyrinth. The going was slow enough as it was without having the Knights of Adontis dog their every step. In addition, the Knights had the advantage of fighting on their home turf. Surely they knew secrets that would give them the edge. ¡°You¡¯re looking at this all wrong,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°I said you¡¯re looking at this like a problem. It¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Oh? Then tell me how I should be looking at it.¡± ¡°As an opportunity,¡± she answered. ¡°Do you know why war is so constant in Hell?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s Hell, populated by demons. I thought that was self-explanatory,¡± Zeke answered. ¡°Well, yes. That. But it¡¯s also because there¡¯s no better way to advance than through slaughter. And there¡¯s no better way to do that than to go to war,¡± she said. ¡°Think about it. All those bags of kill energy, just waiting to be consumed. It¡¯s practically heaven, at least as far as Hell is concerned.¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that? We¡¯ve been fighting a war for a while now.¡± ¡°Sure, but you¡¯re holding back, Ezekiel. You don¡¯t want to lose your precious kobolds, do you?¡± Eveline guessed. ¡°Listen, you can probably get past these forts. Just send everyone into the tower, then sneak by on your own. If you encounter anyone who might raise the alarm, kill them. You can do that much on your own.¡± ¡°Yeah, but what ¨C¡± ¡°Or you can pull out all the stops and kill everyone in those forts as you massacre your way to the other side of this labyrinth,¡± she suggested. A second later, Eveline amended, ¡°Well, not the beastkin slaves. You can add those to your army to replace any losses.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a coldhearted way to look at it.¡± ¡°Pragmatism wins wars.¡± Zeke sighed, but he didn¡¯t immediately respond. He had two paths in front of him. One in which he could reasonably expect to find his way to the other side of the labyrinth without losing any of his people. If he chose that route, they wouldn¡¯t have a chance to develop and progress. But they would be alive. The other way would be to abandon the notion of sneaking past the various forts. The original plan was to fly over the labyrinth, land, and hit the Knights of Adontis from a direction they didn¡¯t expect. Attacking from the center, rather than from the other side still followed the same principle; the only difference was that they would run the risk of being surrounded and attacked from both sides. The rewards, though, were significant. The war had already been good for his people, ushering them to much higher levels of power than they could have otherwise achieved. Already, the kobolds were a force to be reckoned with, and the centaurs as well as the beastkin weren¡¯t too far behind. But more than anything, Zeke¡¯s choice came down to one simple factor: he couldn¡¯t afford to continue coddling his people. He felt responsible for their well-being, but didn¡¯t that include giving them the opportunity for advancement? If he didn¡¯t, there was every chance that they would soon encounter some obstacle they couldn¡¯t overcome. But if he managed to push each of the kobolds toward one more level, then maybe that would make the difference between victory and defeat. ¡°We attack,¡± he said aloud. ¡°But we¡¯re going to do it smart.¡± ¡°Something new and different for you,¡± remarked Eveline in his mind. He ignored her. Instead, he explained his intentions regarding the battle plan. First, he directed the rangers to continue their exploration and mapping of the labyrinth. He wanted to move quickly, and the only way to do that was to know the way through. As they set off, using their skills to mask their presences, Zeke went on to explain the rest of his plans. Strategically, it wasn¡¯t particularly complex. The idea was to hit each fort hard and fast, then move on to the next before the Knights had a chance to properly react. With any lucky, three of the seven remaining strongholds would fall without significant defenses being raised. After that, they would backtrack and take on the ones they¡¯d already bypassed by approaching the forts by way of an unknown entrance into the maze. Zeke knew it wouldn¡¯t go precisely as he planned, but as far as he could tell, it was the best way to take advantage of their mobility as well as the surprise they had on their side. So, with that in mind, they continued to wait. Every now and then, a patrol of Knights would pass near where Zeke had summoned his gate, but they didn¡¯t seem terribly vigilant in their responsibilities. As a result, the patrols never even looked down the side passages that led deeper into the labyrinth, and instead, followed their prescribed route without variation. Meanwhile, the kobold rangers, led by Pudge, continued their own scouting duties, and over the next week, they managed to map a route to through to the end of the labyrinth. It took another few days, but they did the same in the other direction, even marking the dungeon location along the way. And just like that, the labyrinth was completely mapped, and the preparations for the continuation of the campaign against the Knights of Adontis were complete. ¡°It looks like we don¡¯t have anything else to keep us from going forward,¡± Zeke said aloud. No one else was around, but as always, Eveline was there to say, ¡°It appears so. Good luck.¡± And so, Zeke motioned for one of the kobolds to gather the rest of the army so they could commence the first attack of many to come. 436. One After Another ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do,¡± admitted Knight-Corporal Adara. She was a large woman, with heavy shoulders and a thick neck. More than once, she¡¯d been mistaken for a man, which never bothered her as much as some people thought it should. What did annoy her were the rumors going around that she wasn¡¯t entirely human. At times, she¡¯d taken matters into her own hands and beaten people to within an inch of their lives for such insulting gossip. But in the recesses of her mind, in places she hardly even acknowledged anymore, she knew there was some truth to those rumors. Her great grandmother had been taken as an orc¡¯s mate against her will, and though she had escaped the vile creature¡¯s clutches, she¡¯d been left with a souvenir of that detestable ordeal. Eventually, that souvenir had been born, and fortunately, the baby¡¯s parentage hadn¡¯t been obvious. Sure, Adara¡¯s grandfather had been a bit bigger than most men, with a slightly heavier brow, but no one had ever suspected that he was a half-orc. In fact, Adara was the first person in her family to truly take after her disgusting ancestor, and though she still looked human, she possessed enough orcish features to give credence to the rumors that had followed her around since she¡¯d hit puberty. Still, Adara had excelled as a Knight of Adontis, and she had managed to reach the rank of Knight-Corporal. At one point, she was proud of her accomplishments. But now, she only wished that someone else was in charge. Never was that feeling stronger than when she stared out across the killing field situated before the keep and saw the army arrayed against her small force. She had known they were coming, but her duty required her to stay and defend the pass. It was the only way through to the other side of the labyrinth, which meant that it was an incredibly strategic location. Why, then, her superiors hadn¡¯t given her more knights, she had no idea. In fact, it almost felt like they intended to sacrifice the fort ¨C and thus, the labyrinth itself, which made no sense at all. Everything she knew ¨C including her instincts ¨C told her that surrendering the Devil¡¯s Pass would see the overall war ending in unconditional defeat. Already, the bestial army of lizards and half-breeds had wrought havoc on the other side of the labyrinth, so it stood to reason that they would do the same in Adontis¡¯ heartland. ¡°What was that, Knight-Corporal?¡± asked her second, a weedy man named Derek. He was no great combatant, but he had a knack for organization that few others possessed. ¡°Nothing,¡± she lied, remembering her responsibility. ¡°How many other forts have fallen?¡± ¡°All of them.¡± She fixed him with a glare. ¡°I am aware. How many? Exact numbers, man.¡± ¡°Nine. There are six more on the other side of the pass, but if we fall, they will almost assuredly retreat to Montcastle. They will make a stand, there.¡± That made sense, from a strategic standpoint. Montcastle was famous for its impregnable walls as well as its defensible position. It was the bulwark upon which the Knights of Adontis had long depended for their power. More importantly, it played host to all the most powerful warriors in all of Adontis, which meant that, if the rabble reached Montcastle, they would surely be defeated. However, Adara knew that it was far more complicated than that. For one, any Knight who showed extraordinary ability ended up joining the Radiant Host. Everyone said it was so that they could receive better opportunities that Adontis couldn¡¯t offer, and the implication was that those people would come back to defend their country at some point. But that never happened. Once someone was gone, they never returned, not even to visit. Even so, most Knights regarded it as an honor to be offered such an opportunity, and Adara had often dreamed that she would one day be selected. It was a fool¡¯s hope. She could hide her ancestry from the Knights because, at the end of the day, they needed bodies, and so long as she was mostly human, they were willing to overlook the variation under the guise of ignorance. However, the standards for the Radiant Host were much higher, and there was no way they would ignore her orcish features. The result was that Adontis was far more vulnerable than their reputation dictated. Once, that would not have been the case, but the Radiant Host had been poaching their most talented warriors for decades, and that drive had only increased of late. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can stand against this,¡± Adara said, still gazing at the gathered army. There were thousands of them, and she still had no idea how they¡¯d penetrated so far into the labyrinth without raising the alarm. In fact, the first fort they¡¯d hit had been almost directly in the center of the maze, which made absolutely no sense. After they¡¯d downed that stronghold, they¡¯d moved on with a rapidity that suggested they¡¯d already mapped the labyrinth. ¡°None of it makes sense.¡± ¡°With all due respect, ma¡¯am, it doesn¡¯t need to make sense. We have our orders, and we are obligated to follow them,¡± said Derek. Obligation. It was such a ridiculous concept. All her life, she had been sold on the idea that she owed her allegiance to Adontis. And she¡¯d bought it, too. She had accepted it as the absolute truth. Yet, for the life of her, she couldn¡¯t understand what Adontis had done to earn her loyalty. If they knew what she really was, they would turn on her in an instant. More, they had abandoned her and the men and women over which she¡¯d taken charge. Worst of all, they had willingly subjugated themselves to the Radiant Host, putting everyone in danger. It was unforgivable. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Why are we obligated? What have they done for us?¡± she asked, gripping the battlement hard enough to crack most stone. ¡°They have abandoned us. Weakened us to curry favor with a foreign power. And yet, we are expected to throw our lives away? For what? Why should I defend the undefendable? Why are we here, Derek?¡± ¡°It is our duty!¡± he insisted, glancing around. Some of the other Knights on the fortress¡¯s wall walk had taken note of Adara¡¯s outburst. As they should have ¨C she was their commander, so what she said was of the greatest import. ¡°Duty is an illusion. It¡¯s supposed to go both ways,¡± she responded. ¡°It is a bargain of two sides, and as I see it, we¡¯re the only ones living up to our obligations. They do nothing for us, and yet, we are expected to give everything to them. I¡­¡± She trailed off, unwilling to continue. The Knights of Adontis were an institution, and as such, no one ever questioned their contribution to society. Yet, that was precisely what occupied Adara¡¯s mind. She didn¡¯t mind fighting. As her orcish blood dictated, she reveled in bloodshed ¨C often too much. But she had no interest in dying for anyone who refused to make even the smallest sacrifices for her. ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me,¡± she said, turning to the thin man. ¡°I won¡¯t do it. I¡¯m going to surrender.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that,¡± Derek insisted. ¡°I¡­I won¡¯t let you.¡± Adara sighed. Then, as she used her [Flawless Form] skill, her hand darted out, clamping around his neck. Then, she yanked him from his feet and pulled him close. ¡°I can do what I want,¡± she said. ¡°Or did you think I never knew? You were spying on me all along. I know you¡¯re one of the ones spreading the rumors about me. I¡¯ve known all along. You think I¡¯m just some dumb ogre, don¡¯t you? Well, who¡¯s dumb now?¡± At that, she heaved him over the edge of the battlements. Her strength ¨C with her skill enhancing it ¨C was so prodigious that tossing him almost a hundred yards was nothing. Even as she let the temporary enhancement fade, her former second-in-command hit the ground before tumbling to a stop only a few dozen feet in front of the line of reptilian warriors. One of the hulking creatures aimed a crude spear at the fallen Knight and let loose with a pure beam of white light that scorched its way through him. He died instantly. Adara turned to her people and said, ¡°We¡¯re not throwing our lives away here. I know you¡¯ve all been brainwashed into fighting until the very end. That¡¯s stupid. Adontis hasn¡¯t given us anything. They stuck us out here in the middle of the maze and forgot about us! I won¡¯t stand for that! I won¡¯t be their tool!¡± She ripped the insignia of rank from her shoulder and tossed it onto the wall walk. ¡°I intend to surrender. Anyone who disagrees with that decision, now¡¯s your time to make it known.¡± A few of the Knights glanced in the direction of Derek¡¯s distant corpse, and they clearly made a survival-based choice. No one voiced their dissent. So, she raised her voice and shouted, ¡°I want to speak to your leader!¡± Some of the lizard-men shifted, then someone yelled, ¡°Ak-Toh!¡± Adara had no idea what that meant, but she hoped it was a good sign. In any case, she watched as the beasts continued to move around until, finally, something emerged from within their ranks. At first glance, Adara thought she was looking at a statue, but when it moved, it did so with fluidity that no golem should have possessed. Moreover, it looked so unique that she couldn¡¯t force herself to believe that it was the product of any human hand. It strode forward, and as it did, she got a little better look at the metallic humanoid. Then, it waved its hand, and a huge, black, and rectangular door ripped itself open. Another metallic being emerged. Than another after that. Finally, a third stepped free before the doorway closed. The newcomers were bronze, and to Adara¡¯s eye, they were obviously statues. They moved with a stiff gait, but they looked incredibly durable. The original continued forward until he was only thirty yards away from the gate. ¡°What?¡± it shouted in a man¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you the leader?¡± Adara yelled, looking down on the thing. ¡°I am.¡± ¡°We want to negotiate our surrender,¡± she stated evenly. A few of her underlings shifted around uncomfortably at her declaration, but her reputation was such that their reactions didn¡¯t go any further than that. ¡°There is no negotiation,¡± the metal man stated. ¡°Surrender. We will treat you fairly.¡± That was a dubious claim. She had almost a thousand people under her, and there was nowhere to put prisoners. Still, now that she had made the choice ¨C and given it voice ¨C there was no way she could back down. If she did, not only would her subordinates lose all respect they might have had for her, but if they somehow managed to return to the fold of Adontis, then they would certainly inform everyone of her so-called treason. Now that she had chosen her path, she had no choice but to walk it. So, Adara said, ¡°Very well! Open the gates.¡± No one moved, so she reiterated her command. When she glared at the man closest to the gate¡¯s lever, he shrank away and did the job he¡¯d been ordered to do. A second later, the gate opened. Without further hesitation, Adara leaped down from the wall walk and strode through to meet the giant metal man. Up close, he was even larger than she¡¯d first suspected, and the golems at his side were almost as large. More, they all radiated a level of power that made no sense, given the results of her initial inspection: Colossus ¨C Level 52 Adara was a veteran, and so, she knew that levels were a poor indicator of power. Yet, she also knew that a level fifty-two should not have felt so overbearing. It almost felt like the world could barely contain him. ¡°I am Knight-Corporal Adara Joman,¡± she said. ¡°And I formally surrender to¡­¡± ¡°Zeke.¡± ¡°Zeke?¡± ¡°Zeke,¡± he reiterated. ¡°I accept your surrender. So long as your people disarm and give us no trouble, they won¡¯t be harmed. Is that acceptable?¡± Adara nodded. ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Good,¡± he said. Then, he raised his arm in a signal, and the lizard men advanced. Interspersed throughout were beastkin who, when they passed her by, stared at her with murder in their eyes. ¡°Knight-Corporal? That doesn¡¯t seem a high enough rank to be in command of a stronghold.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± she admitted. ¡°Everyone with a higher rank fled to Montcastle. I suppose because they didn¡¯t want to die.¡± ¡°That makes sense. The others made a similar choice.¡± ¡°Others?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t the first to surrender, likely for similar reasons. Of the other forts we have taken, three have surrendered.¡± ¡°And¡­they¡¯re still alive?¡± ¡°Of course. We are not savages,¡± he said. ¡°We aren¡¯t either,¡± she insisted. ¡°Tell that to your slaves,¡± the metal man stated. ¡°They feel quite differently.¡± ¡°I have never had slaves¡­¡± ¡°You enabled and defended it,¡± he said. ¡°That makes you culpable.¡± With that, he gestured once again, and a different gate appeared. This one was just as large, and it had a frame like any other door. He said, ¡°Follow me.¡± With that, he stepped inside. Adara hesitated only for a second before she followed, holding her breath and closing her eyes as she crossed the threshold. But when nothing happened, she opened her eyes to see a wonder she¡¯d never expected. It was a huge plaza, at least a mile across, decorated by a series of statues standing on blocky plinths. There were hundreds of lizard people roaming about, though many were far smaller than the huge creatures she had seen outside. Some even had colorful plumes atop their heads and a distinctly feminine shape. ¡°What is this?¡± she asked. ¡°This is the Crimson Tower,¡± he answered. ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ll show you the Jail.¡± 437. Montcastle The wall shook, but to Zeke¡¯s surprise, it did not fall. Arrows and skills fell on his shoulders, yet they hit with none of the might one might expect. That was the one of the benefits of [Burden of Sovereignty], which not only strengthened him and his allies, but also sapped the power of his enemies. That included a drain on their physical stats as well as an impairment on their skills. As a result, Zeke, who was also under the effect of [Triune Colossus], easily endured the barrage of skills as he reared back and aimed another momentous attack at Montcastle¡¯s outer wall. It once again shuddered under the impact, and a few Knights fell from the ramparts, but the wall held, steadfast and unbroken. ¡°Just use Runebreaker,¡± advised Eveline. ¡°I wanted to do this without it,¡± he insisted, and that was the truth. Of late, he¡¯d been far too dependent on his Will, and he aimed to change that. For the most part, he could rely on his high stats and advanced skills, but there were some situations where those simply weren¡¯t enough. He knew that, and yet, Zeke still forced himself to refrain. To either side, kobolds clambered into battle, fighting against a mounted force of Knights who¡¯d sallied forth the moment Zeke and his army had begun their attack. The initial charge had been extremely effective, but they had begun to lose momentum as the kobolds and centaurs countered their attacks. Still, Zeke had already seen some of his people die, and he desperately wanted to prevent any further casualties. So, despite his own goals ¨C and his pride, if he was honest ¨C Zeke¡¯s next attack carried with it his Will as well as his intricately braided attunements. The result was explosive, and the runes keeping the wall standing shattered before his mighty technique. After the next attack, the wall followed suit, leave huge cracks running up the length of the structure. The following swing was like an explosion, sending huge blocks of stone sailing into the bailey. As soon as the wall was breached, the kobolds surged, pouring through the gap and engaging the Knights on the other side. For his part, Zeke did the same, swinging his mighty hammer with all the strength he could muster. The Knights were well-informed enough to recognize that he was the army¡¯s lynchpin, so they targeted him to the exclusion of all else. That was precisely what Zeke had wanted, and he endured their ineffectual attacks with stoic determination. For this battle, he had chosen the earthen version of his colossal form, and as such, he could take whatever attacks they sent his way. Meanwhile, the kobolds and centaurs showed the effects of their long training. Pointedly, they fought in completely different ways. The kobolds moved like they were controlled by one mind, using their shields and spears to present a unified front that, at times, reminded Zeke of the Roman legion. By comparison, the centaurs were quick and mobile, charging at the enemy¡¯s flanks, where they wrought havoc before moving on to the next target. They never stood still, instead relying on their speed to keep them from being overwhelmed. At the same time, the kobold rangers used two different methods to contribute to the battle. Some loosed arrows from afar, peppering the enemy with frustrating and distracting wounds. None were terribly potent on their own, but considering the rangers often took skills associated with poison, the collective impact over time was more than worthwhile. The other faction of rangers were decidedly more deadly. They used stealth to get close to important targets, then employed devastating but long-cooldown skills to assassinate leaders and powerful foes. Normally, it took a half dozen attacking all at once to accomplish their missions, but like their larger brethren, they were more than capable of moving in unison. And they did so to great effect, taking out important targets on the back lines. For most, it wouldn¡¯t be a viable strategy, but with Zeke garnering the bulk of the attention and the much larger legionnaires and centurions taking the rest, the stealthy rangers were free to move about without much to hinder them. Then there were the beastkin. They were far more varied in terms of their powers, and after spending the bulk of their lives being enslaved, they were comparatively much weaker. Yet, they had one thing on their side that no one else possessed: the fury of the oppressed. They knew what awaited a loss, and what¡¯s more, they had every reason to attack with a level of furor that no one else on the field possessed. As a result, they threw themselves into the fight with a recklessness that Zeke knew would need to be culled sometime in the future. Yet, for now, their ferocity surprised and frightened the Knights, giving the beastkin the opportunity to keep them off-balance. That, in turn, let the much more powerful combatants finish off the stunned Knights. It was a good system, especially considering that the Knights weren¡¯t terribly powerful. Moreso than in any of the other strongholds, for sure, but as Adara, the former Knight-Corporal, had pointed out, the best of the best among the Knights of Adontis were routine poached by the far more influential Radiant Host. To Zeke, that made perfect sense. For one, it kept the patron nation more powerful than their subordinates; in a world where a single powerful combatant could make the difference between a battle won or lost, that was incredibly important. For another, it kept the ties strong between the two kingdoms. ¡°I think one is an empire,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Same thing,¡± he said, braining a Knight with his hammer before continuing the swing with a backhanded blow that crushed another Knight¡¯s shoulder. His armor was nothing before Zeke¡¯s strength, especially with [Burden of Sovereignty] pressing down on him. Zeke had learned that the skill contained the barest wisp of his Will, which made it even more effective at degrading his enemies¡¯ advantages ¨C including their armor and weapons. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. He didn¡¯t bother dodging the Knights¡¯ attacks. Instead, he just took them, bellowing from time to time to make sure they thought they were doing damage. They weren¡¯t, but Zeke knew he needed to keep the focus on him if the others were going to avoid being overwhelmed. Because there were a lot of Knights. The number seemed endless, and they still hadn¡¯t progressed through the bailey. There was still another wall, a courtyard after that, and then the keep itself. And Zeke knew the battle would only grow more difficult the further they progressed. So, he had vowed to conserve his mana as well as his energy until he met something that could stretch his capabilities. With that in mind, Zeke waded through the amassed Knights, swinging his hammer with the stoic efficiency he¡¯d learned to utilize during the most arduous battles. And gradually, the tide turned in his army¡¯s favor until, suddenly, alarm bells started to ring in his head. He broke out of his self-imposed malaise just in time to meet a descending blade with the half of his hammer. A loud clang filled the battlefield as a shockwave knocked back any other combatants in the area. For his part, Zeke was driven to one knee by the sheer force of the blocked attack, but with a grunt, he pushed the blade away and recovered his feet. Once he had, he took a moment to study the opponent who¡¯d been shoved backwards by the violent movement. She was tall and, beneath her armor, seemed well-muscled. However, she wasn¡¯t a hulking specimen of pure mass. Still, there was an air of competence about her that Zeke had learned to recognized. She wore the same silver armor as all the rest of the Knights of Adontis, though it bore elaborately etched designs that Zeke recognized for the enchantments they were. Zeke used [Inspect]: Zari Telmonte ¨C Level 73 ¡°She looks tough,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Felt tough, too.¡± ¡°Can you taker her?¡± was Eveline¡¯s next question. ¡°I can.¡± ¡°Without using your Will?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t need to,¡± she advised. ¡°You know that, right? It¡¯s what I¡¯ve been trying to tell you this whole war. Your Path is part of you. Trying to fight without it is like ¨C¡± ¡°Fighting with one hand tied behind my back. I know,¡± Zeke groaned. She¡¯d long thought his judicious use of his Will was holding him back, but it wasn¡¯t until recently that she¡¯d begun to vocalize it. ¡°I was going to say it was akin to fighting without arms or legs. You know, just flopping around like a worm.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t use it without having to spend weeks healing in the Crimson Springs.¡± That was true as well. He knew he was undeniably more powerful with his Will backing him up, yet using it always left him in terrible shape. So, he¡¯d taken to only using a wisp of his Will here and there when necessary. It gave his attacks slightly more power, without leaving him crippled for weeks afterwards. ¡°You could if you embraced your demonic side more often. You feel that, don¡¯t you? All that power. You could ¨C¡± Zeke tuned her out. While Eveline had made a lot of strides in regards to leaving her demonic past behind, and as a result, she often made a lot of sense, she still often tried to push him down a road he had no intention of traveling. Fortunately, when she got particularly demonic, he had the ability to block her via [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. He knew she hated it, but she knew the same about how her constant prodding toward demonhood affected him. So, as far as Zeke was concerned, when she got like that, isolation was really the only option that made any sense. Still, he didn¡¯t feel good about it. Regardless, he didn¡¯t have any time to consider Eveline¡¯s feelings, because he was in the middle of a pitched battle, and he was about to face an opponent who could kill him. That required the whole of his attention. So, without further contemplation, he hefted his mace and lurched forward. Over the past few months, Zeke had spent quite a lot of time working on his fighting ability in the Hunting Grounds. And all that practice had borne fruit, giving him the sort of insight that only came with long training. Zari Telmonte clearly had been training for far longer, because she sidestepped his first attack, then sent her huge broadsword crashing into his hip with a backhanded blow. It shaved a bit of his rocky flesh away, but he wasn¡¯t concerned about a minor wound that [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] could heal in moments. Instead, he was far more worried about how easily she had dodged his attack, countering it with one of her own. And she hadn¡¯t even used a skill. In that single exchange, Zeke understood that, for all his training, Zari was a far better trained warrior than he could hope to be. And judging by the smirk playing across her face, she knew it, too. Fortunately, Zeke was more than just his fighting ability. He had skills to back him up. He already had [Burden of Sovereignty] active, but with a bit of effort, he could flare it. The mana cost was extraordinary, which meant that he couldn¡¯t keep it up for long. However, he knew that, against tough opponents, it would prove invaluable. Still, he didn¡¯t use it just yet. Instead, he intended to time it perfectly so he got the most out of it. To that end, Zeke continued his attack, and to predictable results. No matter how innovative his strategy or flawless his technique, his efforts fell short. It would have been frustrating if he didn¡¯t have a few tricks up his sleeve. Of course, so did she. He knew it, because just like him, she¡¯d yet to use any skills other than some sort of ongoing enhancement. And with her level, she had plenty of abilities she could have brought to the fight. She was biding her time and waiting for the perfect opportunity, just like him. Every now and again, Zeke had to split his attention and dispatch a lesser Knight, but it was barely an inconvenience. Instead, he kept the bulk of his focus on the battle at hand. Yet, there were no flaws in Zari Telmonte¡¯s technique. Until, suddenly, Zeke noticed a slight tell. Every time she attacked, it was preceded by the slightest of changes to her expression. At first, Zeke was hesitant to accept it, but as the fight wore on, it became every more undeniable until he was certain. That was his opportunity. So, Zeke waited until he saw the change before he flared [Burden of Sovereignty]. The decrease to her stats was enough to throw off the ensuing attack, and Zeke pounced, aiming a huge, overhand blow at her head. It was the sort of attack intended to end the fight in a single second. And yet, when Voromir¡¯s head was only an inch from her skull, there was a surge in the ambient mana. Then, she was gone. His hammer hit the ground with herculean force, digging a crater and sending a spray of stone and dirt flying into the air. The next second, Zeke felt a fiery pain erupt in his chest. He looked down to see the tip of a blade sticking out from his sternum. For a moment, he just stared at it, confused. And then, he stumbled to his knees as the strength left his body. Vaguely, he recognized a series of runes bloom into being on his body. They coincided with the locations of each previous attack, and suddenly, everything clicked in his mind. Those attacks weren¡¯t there to do damage. They were part of a skill. And that skill, whatever it was, was killing him. 438. Acceptance and Ascension Zeke tore himself free of the Knight¡¯s blade, and quite a bit of his rocky flesh came away with it. He stumbled to his knees as a dozen runes latched onto his mana, draining it with every passing second. More, he could feel it dragging down on his stats, impeding his attributes. He dragged himself forward, feeling as if a hundred iron bands had been wrapped around his lungs. He coughed, sending a cascade of metallic blood to the ground. As he tried to comprehend what was happening, an enterprising Knight shoved another sword into his back. Normally, that wouldn¡¯t have done more than annoy him, and yet, with those runes weighing down on his endurance, the blade slid into him without issue. He let out a scream of pure agony as it felt like his organs were boiling inside him. He lashed out with a backhand, sending the Knight tumbling to the ground. Yet, that blow normally would have killed him. Before Zeke could think further, a boot connected with his side, pushing him to the ground. He fell over, writhing in pain that had little to do with the kick. The runes continued to assail him as his body went into convulsions from the searing pain in his stomach. ¡°You are pathetic, monster,¡± growled Zari Telmonti. She stood over him, her blade poised to fall. ¡°Perhaps you will fuel my rise.¡± The blade fell. Zeke activated [Shifting Sands], and time slowed. He slipped into the ground, and staggered through the earth far more slowly than normal. Usually, the skill could take him more than a hundred yards away, but this time, he was forced to surface after only two dozen feet. Still, it was enough to let him avoid the Knight¡¯s falling sword. With a gasp, Zeke climbed out of the ground with none of the usual explosion of power. He gasped, unable to rise from his knees. However, that brief moment gave him enough time to wrap his mind around the situation. When he did, he recognized the solution. Embracing the Runebreaker technique, he wrapped his Will around his various attunements and forced the different types of manat o intertwine. Then, he shattered the runes that had been draining his attributes. In the process, he seared his soul. Yet, it was a small price to pay to gain access to his full stats. Even as strength surged through him, Zeke felt his Will tearing across his body. With his endurance having been drained, he had no defenses against the powerful Path of Arcane Destruction, and it wrought havoc on his body. Zeke knew what he had to do. Yet, he also knew the cost of going down that road. But it was a price he would have to pay. So, he embraced the store of demonic mana at his core. There wasn¡¯t much, but it was enough to supercharge [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. However, an undeniable rage came with it, suffusing his entire mind with a need to destroy. He obliged it, letting out a roar of pure anger as he embraced [Unleash Momentum]. He hadn¡¯t used the skill in a long time, so it carried with it the force of thousands of swings. He let it loose, twining his Will around it as he swung his hammer with every ounce of strength he could muster. Power exploded out of him, hitting anyone unlucky enough to be in front of him. That included Zari Telmonti, who was thrown backwards with such horrible momentum that her armor was crushed like an aluminum can when she hit the keep. But the power didn¡¯t stop there. It swept through the keep, hitting with the force of a bomb. The ground erupted, and hundreds of Knights were instantly killed. Dozens of kobolds, too. But in his demonic fury, Zeke couldn¡¯t spare any thought for those casualties. Even as his body was torn asunder by his Will, it was rapidly rebuilt by the power of the demonic mana-fueled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. That same corruption infected [Triune Colossus], and his form shifted, becoming slimmer, darker, and far more jagged. He bounded forward with unprecedented power, leaving nothing but cracked Earth behind him. Miraculously, Telmonti was not dead. Though, judging by the pained moans coming from within her crushed armor, she probably wished it was otherwise. As the castle fell in on itself, crushing everyone inside, Zeke brought his hammer down on the prone Knight who¡¯d forced him to such dire straits. It hit with a loud gong that echoed throughout the grounds, and yet, she persisted. So, he hit her again. And again after that. Over and over, like an unthinking beast, he pummeled the Knight until, at last, he felt the influx of energy that signaled her death. Spreading his arms wide, he let out a roar of triumph. Then, his store of demonic mana ran dry. He shuddered as everything went white, and he fell over. For a few moments, he seized, his muscles contracting of their own volition. Then, he managed to shift back to his pure, unattuned mana. [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] flowed through him, soothing the damage his unfettered use of demonic mana and his Will had left behind. Grunting, he forced himself upright, and for the first time, really saw the utter destruction he¡¯d caused. The keep was gone, and only a pile of rubble remained where it had once been. More, the acrid stench of sulfur suffused the very air. It wasn¡¯t demonic mana ¨C not exactly ¨C but rather, something more akin to the waste it had left behind. Finally, pieces of bodies ¨C both kobold and the Knights of Adontis ¨C were scattered before him. ¡°Oh, God¡­¡± ¡°There weren¡¯t many,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Just twenty or so. You aimed it well.¡± Stolen story; please report. Twenty or so. People who¡¯d depended on him. All dead. Sure, he¡¯d killed the enemy and he¡¯d saved his own life. But he¡¯d done so at the cost of all those people he was supposed to protect. Zeke sighed. He knew it had been necessary. If he hadn¡¯t done what he¡¯d been forced to do, the Knight would have killed him. And if that happened, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the kobolds were wiped from the face of the Eternal Realm. That was the grim reality he had to face. And yet, despite that justification, he couldn¡¯t escape the guilt. They had died so he could live. Sure, they¡¯d have all given their lives willingly. That was unquestionable. But to have that snatched away ¨C that was something entirely different. He hated seeing at what he¡¯d done, but he wouldn¡¯t force himself to look away, either. It was the inevitable cost of war, and one he would have to accept going forward. Not because of personal progression. That was easy and, ultimately, worthless. No ¨C he would accept the price of war because the cost of doing nothing was so much higher. Zeke had seen the sins of the Knights of Adontis, and he knew that those misdeeds would come for him and his people, even if they shied away from battle. With that in mind, Zeke marshalled his mettle and turned back to the still-raging battle. There were hundreds of Knights still among the living, and, for better or worse, that would change by the end of the day. So, he waded into the fight with determination raging through his mind. * * * ¡°What is he?¡± asked Adara, looking out at the ruins of Montcastle. She had just seen a single man destroy it. At first, he¡¯d seemed to struggle in the battle against one of the top Knights in all of Adontis, and for a few moments, it had seemed as if he was going to lose. Then, chaos erupted, and the man ¨C or demon ¨C had come to the surface. Seconds later, Zari Telmonti was dead, and Montcastle had fallen. Now, only a massive pile of rubble remained where the once-mighty fort had once stood. Her escort, one of the lizard-like humanoids that seemed to have some degree of power within the magical city in which she had been confined, said, ¡°He is Ak-Toh.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Adara asked, glancing at the creature. Her name was Kianma, and she¡¯d been Adara¡¯s constant companion since being taken into custody. Since then, her entire world had been turned upside down, not only by the fact that she had abandoned the duty she¡¯d spent most of her life embracing, but also because of the things she had seen. The tower, which seemed more like a self-contained city, was magnificent, and it rivaled any settlement she¡¯d ever visited. More, it was absolutely full of kobolds, centaurs, and beastkin, all living in relative harmony. She had seen their living conditions, their arms, and, most distressingly, the jails. ¡°Savior,¡± Kianma stated. ¡°Do you know our story?¡± Adara shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°We are kobolds. Monsters,¡± the spiritweaver said. ¡°We were ushered to the edge of sapience by a mighty wyrm who gave us the chance to become more. But she could not push us any further, and what¡¯s more, we were threatened by another powerful foe. That is when Ak-Toh came. He saved us from certain annihilation and guided us to the surface. He gave us the tools we needed to take the next step forward. Some of us have not progressed to that point, but more and more reach sapience each day. Soon, we will be an evolved people. That is Ak-Toh¡¯s influence.¡± ¡°He wanted an army,¡± Adara reasoned. ¡°No. Initially, he did not want us to fight at all,¡± Kianma explained. ¡°He protects us. We have chosen to protect him.¡± ¡°But you haven¡¯t said what he is,¡± Adara pointed out. She had seen the man in his natural form, and he looked like a normal human. He wasn¡¯t. She could feel that much. He radiated power in a way that made her uncomfortable. Of course, categorizing him as normal was a bit of a misnomer, as well. There was none of that pretty perfection for which so many of the Knights of Adontis strove. Some had even gone to foreign {Flesh Shapers} for cosmetic adjustments. Ezekiel had none of that, but there was a rugged handsomeness that Adara found attractive nonetheless. She blamed her orcish heritage. ¡°He is a being of twin heritages,¡± Kianma said. ¡°But that is his story to tell. I will not break his confidence for a prisoner.¡± Adara¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°Or you could join us. You are a creature of two worlds as well, are you not? Surely, your¡­countrymen do not accept someone like you,¡± the kobold said. ¡°We do not judge a person based on their heritage. We accept people based on merits.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Adara lied. She had long feared that someone would recognize her orcish characteristics for what they were. Or that someone would be able to read her status. There it was, plain as day ¨C Half-Orc. It accused her of impurity every time she looked at her status. ¡°You do. I can sense it.¡± ¡°And¡­you don¡¯t¡­you don¡¯t think I¡¯m a monster?¡± Adara asked. Most people did, from her experience. Orcs were people, and yet, in Adontis and every other civilized nation, they were little better than beastkin. It was even worse because orcs were often very warlike and primitive. ¡°Of course not.¡± Adara shook her head. ¡°No. I can¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°My people ¨C¡± ¡°They hate you.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°They do,¡± Kianma stated, her hands behind her back. ¡°We have questioned them. They do not accept you. They will turn on you the moment they are released. You know this, and yet, you still want their approval. Why? What do you get out of it?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Imagine a world where you do not have to overcome your heritage. With us, there is nothing to look past. We see you as you truly are ¨C a fierce warrior and a loyal commander,¡± Kianma stated. ¡°You have seen us. We do not discriminate. We only ask that everyone contribute. Do that, and you have a place with us.¡± ¡°But I would have to kill Knights.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°We would not ask you to fight former colleagues and countrymen,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°You would have a different role. Once Adontis is conquered, you could join the armies and fight our enemies.¡± ¡°To what end? What is the goal?¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kianma responded, ¡°Ascension for all.¡± ¡°Ascension¡­¡± ¡°For all of us,¡± Kianma repeated. ¡°This is Ak-Toh¡¯s goal, and so it is ours as well. Many will attempt to bar our way. They will try to stop us. Yet, it is our fate to break through any obstacle and ascend to the realm of gods.¡± ¡°And become gods yourselves?¡± ¡°No. We will serve one, though,¡± she stated. ¡°And we will defeat the deific enemies as they come.¡± That was a little much for Adara to take in. Ascension wasn¡¯t something people simply did. It was the domain of a select few ¨C the best of the best ¨C and though many stated it as a goal, few actually believed they had a chance to reach those lofty heights. Even reaching level seventy-five was an unattainable dream for most. But to progress another twenty-five levels past that? In all of Adontis¡¯ history, only three had managed the feat. None of them had ascended. They were too afraid of the challenge. Adara wasn¡¯t, though. If she was ever afforded such an opportunity, she would grab it by the horns and wrestle it into submission. But then again, wasn¡¯t that precisely what Kianma had offered her? If it was real, she owed it to herself to take it. Even if it turned out to be false bravado, she needed to give it a shot. Still, she resisted. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°You can. But I see that you are not read,¡± Kianma said. ¡°Come. Let us return to your cell.¡± Adara¡¯s heart fell. The Jail was not uncomfortable, but it unnerved her in ways nothing else could. She wanted nothing more than to avoid going back. Yet, that was her fate. For now. Perhaps after a few more days, she would take Kianma¡¯s offer, if only to avoid returning to the Jail. 439. A Nice Set of Armor ¡°You didn¡¯t need as much healing this time,¡± said Eveline. ¡°That¡¯s progress, isn¡¯t it? You should be happy.¡± Busy drying his hair, Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he settled on the most recent battle. He hated losing control like that, and he knew that if he kept allowing it to happen, he would end up killing a lot more people. He dreaded the day when he would descend into a rage-filled madness and only come out of it after he¡¯d slaughtered his own allies. And he knew it was going to eventually happen unless he did something to prevent it. ¡°I need to go back to Hell, don¡¯t I?¡± he asked aloud, glancing at Eveline. She was pretending to lean against the doorframe of his bathroom, where she¡¯d been ogling him for quite some time. ¡°I¡¯m not really ogling you, you know. I just know how uncomfortable this makes you.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t make me uncomfortable,¡± Zeke lied. ¡°See, you pretend that it doesn¡¯t, but we both know what¡¯s going on in that prudish head of yours,¡± she responded. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Almost adorable, even. If you weren¡¯t such an unstoppable monster. Though that does add to the charm, if I¡¯m honest.¡± ¡°Just what I wanted.¡± ¡°You are absolutely no fun. You realize that, don¡¯t you?¡± she said with a dramatic sigh accompanied by a exaggerated roll of her eyes. ¡°But since you fully intend to continue being a stick in the mud, I¡¯ll answer your question. Yes. I think you are going to have to go back to Hell. You need to be inoculated against the power of demonic corruption, same as your body needs to get used to channeling your Will.¡± ¡°I could withstand the corruption just fine before.¡± ¡°Enduring ambient demonic mana is far different than channeling it,¡± she stated. ¡°Most demons master that before they descend from the first circle. You never had that chance. On top of that, you¡¯re half human, which puts you at a disadvantage.¡± ¡°I thought being a cambion was a good thing.¡± ¡°Oh, it is. Your twin attunements are evidence of that. But it also means you¡¯re not quite as resistant to the effects of demonic mana as a full demon. Of course, that¡¯s probably as much to do with the fact that we¡¯re bathed in the stuff from the moment we¡¯re reborn, while you¡¯ve only dabbled a bit. I¡¯m not completely certain because cambions are a bit on the rare side.¡± ¡°Rare?¡± ¡°Well, close enough to unique that it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she stated. ¡°The closest anyone else gets are demonkin, and they¡¯re wholly different.¡± ¡°Yeah. We went over this before,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Is there any other way for me to get used to using the demonic mana? I don¡¯t want my friends to get caught in the crossfire next time I use it.¡± ¡°Not that I know of, unless you can find a demonic natural treasure, which is unlikely in Heaven.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been here for quite a while now,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Do you really still think of it as Heaven?¡± ¡°Yes. If you had spent any significant time in Hell, you would too.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke said. ¡°So, any ideas as to how I might get into Hell?¡± ¡°Quite a few, but don¡¯t you have something else to worry about? You still have a war that needs winning,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°And an undead girl to rescue, right? That is still your goal, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I need to focus on what¡¯s important.¡± With that, Zeke continued dressing, then headed out of the manor. However, before he¡¯d gotten ten feet from the house, he saw two people approaching. The first was Kianma, which wasn¡¯t so strange. The spiritweaver was the de facto leader of the kobold population, and she was the tower¡¯s chief administrator. Without her, nothing would ever get done, and as such, she had an open invitation to visit the manor whenever she thought it necessary. The person with her was a surprise, though. Vaguely, Zeke recognized her as the commander of one of the labyrinth¡¯s forts. She¡¯d chosen to surrender rather than defend the stronghold, and as such, she¡¯d saved hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. Physically, she was a big woman ¨C nearly the same height as Zeke himself ¨C and had the muscular and athletic body of a warrior. Her face was best described as striking, and though she wasn¡¯t conventionally beautiful, there was definitely something there that Zeke found undeniably attractive. ¡°It¡¯s the eyes,¡± Eveline said in appreciation. ¡°The girl has killer eyes.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t disagree with that assessment, which Eveline found amusing. Otherwise, the woman was wearing the plain clothes they¡¯d given to all the prisoners, and she looked ill-at-ease because of it. Idly, Zeke wondered if that was because she was so accustomed to wearing the Knights¡¯ heavy armor. And in his opinion, she probably would have looked much better. ¡°You have issues,¡± said Eveline. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You just thought that a beautiful woman would look better in armor. You really are a battle maniac,¡± she said. ¡°I just like the way a good set of armor looks,¡± he argued as Kianma and the Knight approached. ¡°Did I ever tell you about the set of armor I had made back in the Radiant Isles? There was this blacksmith in a city called Jariq, and we worked together for months building this amazing suit of armor out of blood mithril. I think it was the best armor in the entire realm, but I ended up using it to upgrade a skill and ¨C¡± ¡°And you screwed it up. I¡¯m literally inside your mind. I know everything you know. I don¡¯t need you to tell me how magnificent your armor is.¡± ¡°But it was.¡± ¡°Anyway. The point is that most men don¡¯t look at a beautiful woman and imagine her in armor. That¡¯s weird.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°I¡¯m not imagining. I¡¯m remembering. It looked good on her,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°You¡¯re hopeless.¡± Before he could reply, Kianma and the newcomer arrived. The kobold spiritweaver bowed, saying, ¡°Ak-Toh.¡± Zeke said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me that. We¡¯re friends.¡± ¡°Of course, Ak-Toh.¡± He sighed, realizing that he didn¡¯t have any hope of stopping her from using the honorific. All the kobolds used it, and it didn¡¯t seem like they were in any hurry to stop. So, he decided to leave it at that and aske, ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°Why are you talking like that?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying ¨C usually, you¡¯d have gone far less formal. Are you trying to impress the girl?¡± Kianma said, ¡°Adara has come to plead for mercy.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zeke asked, glancing at the woman. ¡°Adara? I¡¯m Zeke.¡± ¡°I have come to ask for better treatment for the captured Knights,¡± she said stiffly. ¡°No more time¡­dilation. And please feed them.¡± Zeke cocked his head to the side. ¡°Feed them? Why? The Jail takes care of that.¡± ¡°It is inhumane!¡± she growled. ¡°No food? No water? People need those things!¡± ¡°I disagree.¡± ¡°You refuse?¡± ¡°I see no reason to waste food and water on human trash,¡± he said. ¡°They were complicit in slavery and torture. They protected it and enabled it. As far as I¡¯m concerned, they¡¯ve gotten off easy.¡± Indeed, Zeke didn¡¯t feel bad for his prisoners at all. Even if there being tortured every single day, he wouldn¡¯t have pitied them. In fact, he often wondered why he was keeping them alive at all. Which made Adara¡¯s next request a little awkward. ¡°Then kill us,¡± she pleaded. ¡°This is no way to live.¡± ¡°You would rather die than live without food?¡± She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not that. No food. No water. No time. Just sitting in a dark cell, with nothing to differentiate one moment to the next. It isn¡¯t simply unnerving. It is¡­it¡¯s torturous,¡± she answered. ¡°She¡¯s not human,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what she is, but she is not human. Ask Kianma.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± There wasn¡¯t, and the pair made to leave. However, Zeke asked Kianma to stay back, and they sent Adara away with a pair of hulking centurions. Once they were alone, Zeke asked Kianma, ¡°What is her story?¡± ¡°She is a child of two worlds, much like you, Ak-Toh,¡± the kobold spiritweaver stated. ¡°She is lost, and she has spent most of her life hiding who she is. I believe she would make a great addition to our forces and a viable companion for you.¡± ¡°A child of two worlds? That¡¯s¡­wait, did you just say companion?¡± ¡°Of course. You would make strong hatchlings,¡± Kianma stated. ¡°That¡¯s¡­uh¡­¡± ¡°Are you blushing?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°It feels like you¡¯re blushing.¡± Zeke ignored her, even when Kianma narrowed her eyes and asked, ¡°Are you changing color?¡± That elicited a ringing laugh from Eveline, and Zeke quickly changed the subject, asking, ¡°How is the training going? What about the crafting? Are we making any progress on enchanting?¡± ¡°Ah. Yes. The beastkin we have incorporated into the city have proven to be a great boon. There are no accomplished crafters among them, but they know more than enough to usher us into a new era. We will need to find experts if we are going to keep progressing, though.¡± That was nothing new for Zeke. He¡¯d always known that learning a trade was an extremely daunting prospect, but the progress Kianma had reported was definitely encouraging. ¡°The books are helping, though, right?¡± he asked, referring to the tomes they¡¯d taken from the various fortresses and cities they had sacked over the past few months. Kianma confirmed that they were, indeed, helpful. After that, she reported on the state of the tower as a whole. The Residential District had continued to expand alongside the population, and some of the architecture had changed to reflect the new residents as well. No longer were the buildings all the same design, but now, they had incorporated a host of different structural and cosmetic differences, making it look more like a proper city. In addition, the Pillar had continued to grow as well. The other big difference to the tower had come from the Artisan¡¯s Terrace, which had seen significant expansion. The new land had been used for farms and orchards, augmenting the tower¡¯s food production capacity by a significant margin. Of course, with the increased population ¨C there were a lot of beastkin, after all ¨C that surplus had quickly been used. However, it showed that the tower would continue to respond to the needs of the population. Sure, they still had to farm the land themselves, but the one thing they didn¡¯t lack was farming experts. ¡°You¡¯re putting it off,¡± Eveline finally said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The rest of the war,¡± she pointed out. ¡°You¡¯ve spent the whole time trying to distract yourself from what you¡¯re going to have to do.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Burn it all to the ground,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Those Knights aren¡¯t going to give in. You know that. The ones that surrendered are the exception, not the rule. They were left in charge while the real villains fled to higher ground. Right now, they¡¯re preparing for you. When you leave this labyrinth, you¡¯re going to get hit with everything they have.¡± ¡°You think there¡¯s going to be one big battle to decide the war?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then what are you saying?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°I¡¯m saying that you¡¯re going to take their best hit,¡± she answered. ¡°Then, you¡¯re going to hit back. It¡¯ll go back and forth until you push their backs against a wall. That¡¯s when the big battle¡¯s coming. It¡¯ll be brutal, too. Thousands are going to die on both sides. And that¡¯s the best case scenario.¡± ¡°And the worst?¡± ¡°You lose.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about that,¡± Zeke stated. Indeed, what truly kept him from moving forward was the notion that he might end up with more prisoners on his hands. By all reasonable measurements, the Knights were evil. They¡¯d enslaved and oppressed everywhere they¡¯d ever been. They deserved execution. Yet, Zeke struggled to pull that trigger, especially when dealing with a bunch of people who¡¯d surrendered under the guise of protection. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do,¡± he admitted. ¡°I would be a little worried if you did,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°But if you want my advice, you should use them for fuel.¡± ¡°Fuel? For what?¡± ¡°For your progression. Some of those Knights are pretty high-leveled. Now, the Framework won¡¯t award you full kill energy for slaughtering prisoners, but it will give you some. I bet you could get two or three levels out of it,¡± she explained. ¡°And you know how big of a deal that is at your level.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing that.¡± ¡°Then let the kobolds do it.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not slaughtering unarmed prisoners.¡± ¡°Arm them. Make a show of it. Who knows? The tower might grow a coliseum for you,¡± she said. ¡°No.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re just going to leave them there?¡± she asked. ¡°You heard your crush, right? She called it torture. Inhumane. To me, that just sounds like they¡¯re soft, but humans are like that, from what I can tell. The point is that you have no good options here, Ezekiel. You need to make a choice, one way or another. If you don¡¯t, something is going to end up forcing your hand.¡± ¡°I need to think about it.¡± ¡°You mean ignore it.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not like you, Eveline. I can¡¯t just kill people in cold blood,¡± he insisted. ¡°You kill people all the time. You killed hundreds just yesterday. And you¡¯re going to kill thousands more before this war is finished,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Slaughtering unarmed prisoners is different,¡± was his response. And it was. He was certain of it, even if he couldn¡¯t articulate why he felt that way. ¡°Misplaced honor,¡± Eveline answered the question for him. ¡°Dead is dead. It doesn¡¯t matter how you get there. But fine. Ignore the issue. When it comes back to bite you, I¡¯ll be right here in your head saying I told you so.¡± ¡°Maybe not,¡± Zeke said. Then, he flared [Bulwark of the Triumvirate], blocking her voice. It was akin to slamming the door in her face. With a sigh, he ran his hand through his hair. Kianma had long since returned to the Pillar, which meant he was all alone. That wouldn¡¯t last. Soon enough, he¡¯d need to make a bunch of decisions that would have life-altering effects on hundreds of people. But for now, he needed nothing more than to relax. So, he returned to the manor, forgetting what task he¡¯d been about when he¡¯d stepped outside. Whatever it was, it clearly wasn¡¯t that important. For now, he wanted to focus on something that didn¡¯t have life-or-death connotations. With that in mind, he headed to the kitchen and readied himself to attempt to bake an apple pie. 440. Ambush The sword whistled past Zeke¡¯s ear, missing him by scant inches. He responded with a herculean uppercut that took the massive Knight in the stomach. His armor buckled as he was lifted a few feet off the ground, and his breath left his body in a rush. However, the Knight, who was under the influence of a powerful transformation skill that had transformed him into a fifteen-foot-tall behemoth of a white knight, was not out of the fight. Not by a long shot. He lashed out with his white-and-gold shield, slamming it into Zeke¡¯s face with a metallic clang that echoed through the battlefield. Zeke reeled, stumbling backward from the powerful attack, and was just off-balance enough that he couldn¡¯t avoid the Knight¡¯s follow-up attack, which sent his sword slicing into Zeke¡¯s shoulder. He grunted in pain as a chunk of his metallic flesh went flying away, hitting another Knight in the face and sending him staggering. Meanwhile, Zeke let the force of the attack drive him to the ground. He tuned his descent into a spring forward, and he hit the Knight in the mid-section with a flying tackle that sent them both clattering to the ground. At that moment, Zeke slammed his hand on the ground, using [Hell Geyser]. Beneath him, the ground erupted into a forty-foot wide explosion of fire, corruption, and rock. He and the Knight were heavy enough that they were only thrown a few feet into the air, but they were both bathed in destructive force. Zeke could easily endure much worse, largely due to his attunements, but the Knight had no such nature on which to rely. He screamed as huge chunks of his enlarged body melted away, but he managed to keep his wits enough to slam his still-intact sword into Zeke¡¯s chest. It only penetrated a foot before it succumbed to the intense heat and broke in half, but that was enough to send molten mana flooding into Zeke¡¯s chest cavity. He ignored the pain as he reached out to grab the Knight, but suddenly, his foe wasn¡¯t there. Instead, a streak of pure moonlight retreated too quickly for Zeke to follow. Seeing that, Zeke leaped to his feet and used [Shifting Sands], and sank into the earth. It accepted him willingly, shielding him from a descending beam of blistering moonlight that slammed into the ground with just as much force as his [Hell Geyser]. Zeke ignored it, rocketing forward under his altered perception of time. When the Knight reconstituted himself from the retreating moonlight, Zeke did the same, bursting forth from the ground with another uppercut. This time, though, he used Voromir, the weapon¡¯s head connecting with the Knight¡¯s helmeted head with enough force to send the man flipping backwards. He arced through the air, but just before he was going to land, Zeke used [Center of Gravity], yanking the Knight in his direction. For his part, the man adjusted as quickly as could be expected, but before he could bring his shield around, Zeke flared [Burden of Sovereignty]. The Knight slowed by just enough that Zeke had no issues hitting him with a momentous, baseball-style swing that elicited the sound of cracking bones. The Knight went limp, ragdolling through the air. He would have collided with the line of other nearby combatants, but Zeke once again used [Center of Gravity]. This time, the Knight had no defense at all for Zeke¡¯s next attack, which connected with his head and drove him into the ground. Zeke let out a roar, raising his metallic foot and bringing it down on the Knight¡¯s exposed back. A sound like a car crash swept through the Knights¡¯ ranks as Zeke broke his opponent, infusing the attack with his Runebreaker technique and forcibly cancelling the man¡¯s transformation skill. His shining white armor shattered like glass, then dissipated into motes of mana and revealing the much more normal-sized Knight¡¯s true form. He tried to rise. He also attempted to activate some sort of skill. But Zeke wasn¡¯t going to allow that. He brought his hammer back and dropped it in a sledgehammer strike that obliterated the Knight¡¯s head before he could complete his skill¡¯s activation. Kill energy flooded through Zeke, pushing him past the threshold and to a new level. As the energy flowed through him, he let out a roar of victory before casting his gaze across the rest of the battlefield. There were thousands of Knights engaged with the kobolds, and though each Knight of Adontis was more than a match for any individual centurion or legionnaire, the battle itself was not going in their favor. Because the kobolds didn¡¯t fight individually ¨C not by a long shot. Instead, they surrounded each Knight, using their tall tower shields to hem the Knights in before bringing their spears to bear. Knights fought back, often using their various skills. However, the kobolds had developed well, and most of them had chosen defensive skills that made their shields ¨C especially when utilized together ¨C into a powerful bulwark against enemy abilities. As a result, each fight devolved into a melee, and one which was usually won by the more numerous and cooperative kobolds. Meanwhile, the beastkin attempted a mimicry of the kobold¡¯s teamwork, but they didn¡¯t have the collectivist history of their reptilian allies, and so, they were less powerful as a group. Yet, they¡¯d gotten better with every battle, which was all Zeke could have hoped for. The centaurs were just as deadly as the kobolds, though in a different manner. They engaged in hit-and-run tactics, slicing through the outer edges of the Knights¡¯ forces and trampling the weaker, more poorly armored infantry and ranged specialists. At the same time, the powerful members of the herd, like Rasa Tamaki, targeted the strongest Knights in individual combat. They didn¡¯t always win, but they did garner enough attention to let their allies fight more appropriate opponents. Finally, the rangers had once again proved their value. The archers consistently peppered the battlefield with arrows, most of which bore an enhancement that poisoned their enemies. At the same time, hordes of the melee-oriented rangers would erupt out of stealth and overwhelm strategic targets before melting back into the shadows. But other than Zeke himself, Pudge was the real terror of the battlefield. He was constantly moving, bathing enemies in [Hellfire] or eviscerating huge swaths of Knights with his claws. Like the rangers, he was more than capable of using stealth, and from time to time, he did. Yet, he knew he was far more useful in a straight-up fight, largely because of a combination of the borrowed version of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] and the new armor the kobolds had given him. It was made all of black leather that was harder than steal, and it represented the peak of the kobold crafters¡¯ achievements. Though those leatherworkers clearly had a long way to go, their product had proven adequate protection. As a result, they were already buy creating enough to outfit the entire army. When Zeke had asked where they¡¯d gotten all the hide, he¡¯d discovered that they had repurposed the skin of the cyclops he¡¯d killed in the dungeon. That revelation had come as quite a surprise to Zeke, who didn¡¯t even realize that he¡¯d looted anything but meat from the monster. Still, he could readily attest to the thing¡¯s durability, so he wholeheartedly supported the endeavor. Zeke took all that in over the space of a few seconds, then turned his attention to his next opponent. Like the previous one, this Knight was over level seventy, but he ended up being much easier to dispatch, largely because Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate to use [Unleash Momentum], which remained his most devastating attack. It ripped through the stunned Knight as well as his cadre of followers that Zeke suspected intended to gang up on him the moment he was knocked off balance. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. He had no intention of enduring that kind of situation, so he¡¯d chosen to preempt it. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t have to worry about collateral damage because he hadn¡¯t stored the maximum amount of momentum. It was just enough to send that group of Knights flying backwards, their bones broken and their bodies pummeled into submission. As they landed, Zeke embraced [Hell Geyser], ending their lives. The leader hadn¡¯t been tossed backward, but he hadn¡¯t fared very well, either. As a result, he was too stunned to react to Zeke¡¯s next attack, which took him in the chest with every point of strength Zeke could muster. As the Knight was knocked backward, Zeke once again used [Center of Gravity] to keep his opponent in range. After that, the localized fight devolved into a series of unfettered attacks that soon ended the Knight¡¯s life. That¡¯s when Zeke turned his attention to the larger battle, assisting where he could, but mostly plunging into the largest concentration of Knights, where he wrought havoc in their midst. Without any higher-leveled Knights to challenge him, the results were predictably brutal, which meant that the battle was already over. The Knights just weren¡¯t aware of it yet. To their credit, they fought hard, and for the longest time, they refused to surrender. However, once their numbers had been cut down to a mere fraction of what they were at the beginning of the battle, they began to surrender. Not all of them did, though. There were enough holdouts that the fight lasted well into the night. But eventually, Zeke and his army came out on top, ending a battle that had begun days before when he and his people had been baited into an ambush. It wasn¡¯t all that different from the tactic Zeke¡¯s people had utilized before entering the labyrinth, and it was a sign that he and his people were not immune to being outmaneuvered. Fortunately, though, they¡¯d managed to survive the initial onslaught, and through Zeke¡¯s contributions, they had broken the would-be anvil, mitigating the viability of the Knights¡¯ hammer. Still, thousands of kobolds, beastkin, and centaurs had perished in the fight, and that was with everything after the initial ambush going their way. If the Knights had been any more competent, it might have ended in a rout. Such thoughts flitted through Zeke¡¯s head as he scanned the battlefield, the head of his hammer resting against the ground. Ever since being reborn, he¡¯d become well acclimated to death. However, war was a very different beast, and he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever get used to such large scale slaughter. It was the smell that really did him in ¨C a curious mix of blood, the early stages of rot, and feces ¨C eliciting a visceral reaction that was impossible to endure without dwelling on what it meant. But there was one well-established benefit of so much killing. Not only did it give his army the experience they needed to function as a well-oiled machine, but it also gave them the kill energy they needed to progress in levels. And if the army¡¯s average level rose by even a few, the power they could bring to bear would grow significantly. And Zeke expected that they would need it before the war was done. They¡¯d barely made it a few miles out of the labyrinth before having to fight the latest bloody battle, and Zeke was certain that they¡¯d only seen the tip of the iceberg. There were many more fights to come. From a personal perspective, though, Zeke had finally reached level fifty-five, which came with another skill choice. Before he got into that, though, he inspected his status for the first time in what felt like forever:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 55
Race Cambion (F)
Attunement Earth (E), Demon (E)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (D)
Strength (S+) 70
Agility (C) 27
Dexterity (B) 27
Endurance (S+) 68
Vitality (C) 25
Intelligence (A) 36
Wisdom (S) 38
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D B C D
In addition to the normal automatic point allocation from his {Arcane Colossus} class, he¡¯d used his two free points per level to raise his vitality, agility, and dexterity. It probably wasn¡¯t the most effective strategy, but he hated leaving those stats at such low levels. Soon, though, he intended to start investing even more points into strength and endurance. Regardless, he was making significant progress in terms of levels, but he knew that wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Eveline had often spoken of how steep the climb to the peak became once a person progressed into the seventies. And the twenty-five levels after that often took decades, at the least. Zeke intended to make the climb much more quickly, though he wasn¡¯t certain how he intended to accomplish that. In any case, if he ended up having to take the slow and steady approach, then that was what he would do. He was in no hurry, after all. Over the next few hours, the kobolds poured out of the gate Zeke summoned and commenced with the clean-up. They looted everything, stripping corpses of anything that might be remotely valuable. Even if the armor, clothes, and weapons wouldn¡¯t fit the kobolds, beastkin, or centaurs, they still made for valuable materials that the budding kobold crafters were more than eager to utilize. Meanwhile, the centaurs and rangers chased down any of the Knights that had tried to escape. Those would not survive long. Finally, a contingent of centurions and beastkin guarded the Knights who¡¯d chosen to surrender. The prisoners knelt on the ground, stripped of the armor and weapons and surrounded by hostile kobolds as well as vengeful beastkin. It was clear what the latter wanted to do, but the kobolds were mostly indifferent. Zeke was taken back to his brief conversation with Adara. The Jail had continued to expand, so space wouldn¡¯t be an issue. However, the question of what to do with the Knights lingered. The easiest thing to do would be to simply dispose of them. There were plenty of low-level kobolds who could use a few easy levels. Yet, Zeke struggled with that. He¡¯d killed hundreds of Knights by that point, but there was something vastly different about executing unarmed prisoners and killing an enemy in battle. Eventually, he would have to decide what to do with them. But for now, Zeke was more worried about an impending decision. After all, with level fifty-five had come a new trio of skill options from which to choose. So, after making certain that the area was secure, Zeke retreated into the tower, headed to the Lord¡¯s Manor, and took the time to shower before settling onto his bed to look at his choices. 441. Hell on Earth Zeke sat on the bed, his elbows on his knees as he perused the choices the Framework had set before him. And he was a little unsettled by what he saw. Not because he didn¡¯t like the choices, but rather because all three options were decidedly demon-themed. The first was called [Mark of the Doomed]. [Mark of the Doomed] (C) ¨C You are the arbiter of Hell¡¯s twisted justice. Mark an enemy with a curse that gradually corrodes their vitality with every passing second. In addition, it impairs their attributes by a significant margin. Upgradeable. ¡°That¡¯s a powerful option,¡± said Eveline. ¡°The grade alone means that it will be extremely potent. The lower-grade version would only have one of those effects, and it would be far weaker.¡± ¡°How strong do you think it is, though?¡± Zeke asked, wondering if the corrosion would make a difference against high-leveled enemies like he¡¯d encountered in the most recent battle. If it wasn¡¯t, there was no point in taking the skill. After all, he had no issues killing weaker foes. What he needed was something to let him fight people who¡¯d progressed past the level seventy-five threshold. ¡°It will definitely make a difference,¡± she said. ¡°You know how difficult curses can be to remove.¡± ¡°But enough of a difference?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she admitted. ¡°Being C-Grade suggests that it would be, but there¡¯s no way to know for certain. Without taking it, of course.¡± Zeke sighed, then looked at the second option: [Hell on Earth] (C) ¨C Hell is everywhere. Tap into the demon realm and flood your immediate vicinity with destructive corruption, establishing a domain in which you and your allies are empowered, while your enemies are damaged. Upgradeable. ¡°This one feels a little pointless to me,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I mean, it sounds really similar to [Burden of Sovereignty], doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Ezekiel, do you have any idea how rare domain skills are?¡± she asked. ¡°Obviously not,¡± he answered with more than a little annoyance. ¡°But I have a feeling you¡¯re going to tell me.¡± ¡°Or I could just let you continue on in ignorance.¡± ¡°Just tell me,¡± he sighed. ¡°I know it makes you feel important when you can lecture me about how stupid I¡¯m being.¡± ¡°It does give me the warm and fuzzies.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t say things like that.¡± She gave him a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°Fine. Domain skills require a powerful connection to an attunement,¡± she said. ¡°More, they are almost never available before level seventy-five.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like I have a particularly powerful ¨C¡± ¡°You do. By virtue of your colossal body and the way it absorbs attunements, your affinity for your attunements is extraordinarily high,¡± she stated. ¡°There are full demons who can¡¯t wield corruption like you do.¡± ¡°Except that it still tears me to pieces when I use it.¡± ¡°This new skill will help with that,¡± she explained. ¡°Probably. It will also do precisely what the description says, augmenting you and your allies while diminishing your enemies. You have already seen how effective [Burden of Sovereignty] can be. Imagine that multiplied by two. Perhaps even more.¡± Zeke had seen just that. With his latest skill running, his army had been far more effective. On the surface, the effects didn¡¯t seem all that impressive. Yet, when he took the entire army into account ¨C as well as the detrimental effect on the opposing force of Knights ¨C it was drastic. He still hadn¡¯t seen the numbers, but he felt certain that they¡¯d experienced significantly fewer casualties. That alone made an additional domain skill seem worthwhile. Yet, Zeke was hesitant for the same reasons that always affected him when it came time to choose a new skill. He wanted something overt and flashy, something more active. And a new domain skill definitely didn¡¯t seem like it filled that niche. Neither did [Mark of the Doomed], if he was honest. Perhaps that said more about his nature ¨C or at least the way the Framework interpreted it ¨C than anything else. However, the third option certainly qualified as the flashy, active skill he craved: [Pulverize] (D) ¨C The strength of the earth flows through you. Each swing of your hammer will manifest an additional copy that will pummel your enemies into dust. Upgradeable. ¡°Before you say anything, I know,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You have no idea what I was going to say.¡± ¡°Something sarcastic about cavemen or me being such a brute that even the Framework recognizes it,¡± he guessed. ¡°Well¡­¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°It¡¯s strong, right? I mean, the grade isn¡¯t as high as the other two, but it¡¯s powerful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only a lower grade because it¡¯s not as complex,¡± she stated. ¡°If I¡¯m reading it right, this skill would function as a multiplier of your attacks. So, its effectiveness is dependent on your strength, for better or worse. If I had to guess, it will do at least as much damage as [Mark of the Doomed], though without the additional effect of crippling their attributes. Still, it¡¯s more scalable.¡± ¡°Meaning that when I gain strength, which is inevitable, it¡¯ll grow more effective.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Indeed.¡± Zeke was not used to indecision. Often, he knew precisely what he wanted, and for better or worse, pursued that with everything he had. But this skill choice was one that had him stumped, largely because each one had significant upside. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked Eveline. ¡°I can¡¯t make this decision for you,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to figure out for yourself. If you want, I can help you make a pros and cons list, but ¨C¡± ¡°Ultimately, it needs to be my choice. Yeah. I get it.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he wanted Eveline to decide for him. Rather, he wanted her to point out the obvious ¨C to her, at least ¨C best option. He probably wouldn¡¯t heed her advice, but it would have helped him come to his own conclusions. He sighed, lying back on his bed as he debated with himself. [Mark of the Doomed] was a powerful ability. They all were. But from an individual perspective, it would probably be the best of the three. Not only would it give him another source of damage, but it would also depower whichever enemies it affected. Of course, it would also only affect a single enemy at a time, which meant that it was useful only when he needed it most. On the other hand, [Hell on Earth] had the benefit of augmenting his allies and weakening his enemies, though that was the extent of it. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly true. Think about how people are affected by the corrupted mana of the demon realm,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It corrodes them, body, mind, and soul. The domain won¡¯t be as concentrated as it was in the demon realm, but it won¡¯t be negligible, either. I should also point out that it will give you fuel for the demonic versions of [Triune Colossus] as well as [Cambion¡¯s Awakening].¡± ¡°So, it kind of gives me a portable pseudo-hell.¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± That changed things a little, though Zeke wasn¡¯t quite ready to make his decision. Instead, he turned his mind to [Pulverize]. On the surface, it was the weakest of the offered skills, and yet, its straightforward nature appealed to Zeke on a very basic level. Added to that, it was also the one that would scale the best as he grew more powerful. However, was that last bit really something he needed to consider? After all, he¡¯d already proven that he could forcibly evolve his current skills. So, it stood to reason that, theoretically, he could scale any skill he had. The only limiting factor was whether or not he had the time to do so. ¡°It¡¯s cute that you think that¡¯s the only limiter.¡± ¡°What am I missing?¡± ¡°Raw talent? The progression of your path? Simple creativity? There are a hundred factors that make evolving your skills a far more complex proposition than you want to admit,¡± she said. ¡°Depending on that to save you from a bad decision is, well, a bad decision.¡± ¡°So, you think taking [Pulverize] would be a bad choice.¡± She sighed. ¡°You¡¯re really going to make me weigh in, aren¡¯t you? Fine. Think about your goals, Ezekiel. You¡¯re not alone, and your measure of success is not personal progression.¡± Eveline was right on that count. For months, he¡¯d been pushing the kobolds and beastkin that depended on him to grow more powerful. And they had responded beautifully. Each battle they won was proof of that. Yet, from an individual perspective, no single kobold was a match for the enemies they¡¯d begun to face. They made up for it with collectivist thinking and good strategy, but they couldn¡¯t always count on facing enemies whose tactics were wrapped around having powerful individual warriors. Eventually, they would face another cohesive army, and unless they progressed significantly before that happened, they would soon find themselves on the losing end. And Zeke couldn¡¯t accept that. With that framing his decision, it didn¡¯t seem like there was any choice at all. So, without further internal debate ¨C with himself or with Eveline ¨C he made his decision. He chose [Hell on Earth]. And immediately, he felt the same pang of regret, mingled with a surge of excitement, that came every time he¡¯d made a skill choice. Fortunately for Zeke, none of his skills were final. That wasn¡¯t the case with most people, but if [Hell on Earth] turned out to be a dud, he could always change it sometime in the future. With that in mind, he pushed himself off the bed and headed to the manor¡¯s kitchen. There, he found Pudge and Sasha enjoying a meal together. Not wanting to interrupt them, Zeke quickly left them to it and headed outside to test his new skill. Along the way, he encountered a squad of kobolds who were about to go hunting on the Mukti Plains where the physical tower was located. It was so easy to forget that he¡¯d left it back there, and that the kobolds, beastkin, and centaurs routinely left via that exit on various hunting expeditions meant for leveling as well as the establishment of teamwork. The kobolds ¨C all lower-leveled legionnaires and rangers ¨C were awed by his presence, but Zeke quickly tried to put them at ease. It didn¡¯t work, but that seemed somewhat inevitable. So, saying that he was just tagging along, he let them take the lead. After that, he followed them outside, where they quickly fell into the rhythm of their established hunts. Soon enough, they came upon a herd of huge, red, and elephant-like creatures with huge, sweeping horns and the ability to shoot fire from their trunks. They were common foes, largely because they bred quickly and had few natural predators on the plains, and the kobolds had long-since learned the best way to deal with them. So, after establishing a shield wall, they proceeded to pepper the monsters with various ranged attacks. At first, the beams of light and rangers¡¯ arrows were almost entirely useless, but the kobolds were persistent. And protected by their shield-wall skill, the danger posed by the fire elephants¡¯ attacks was mostly mitigated. Still, as interesting as it was to see the kobolds¡¯ methods, Zeke had come along to test his new skill. So, without further ado, he used [Hell on Earth]. The moment he released the skill, the sky darkened, and a wave of corrupted mana erupted from where he stood. However, it didn¡¯t simply spread out. Instead, it latched onto the ambient mana in the air, converting it at a rapid pace. More overtly, the grass caught fire, burning with black-and-red flames. The fire elephants stumbled, clearly pained by the transformation of the environment. At the same time, red runes blazed on the kobolds¡¯ skin, and each time they cast [Spear of Memories], it was laced with hellfire. For his part, Zeke felt a little stronger, but the biggest difference was that he could feel the thick corruption all around him. It wasn¡¯t as pervasive as it would have been in the demon realm, but it was more than enough to fuel the demonic versions of his skills for quite some time. Maybe indefinitely, if he didn¡¯t overdo things. That was enough to make him appreciate his choice. However, it also highlighted the necessity to push himself further along the path of inoculating himself against both his Path of Arcane Destruction as well as demonic mana. If he could harness those two together, and without tearing himself apart, his power would become truly overbearing. ¡°Now use [Burden of Sovereignty],¡± Eveline said once the effects of the skill became clear. Zeke did just that, and the elephants collapsed under their own weight. They screamed in pain as the kobolds finished them off. ¡°That was both impressive and anticlimactic,¡± Zeke said. ¡°A group of level thirties just took down a group of level forty-fours,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I fight higher-leveled monsters all the time.¡± ¡°Your concept of what¡¯s normal is incredibly skewed, Ezekiel. Most people fight creatures below their level,¡± she stated. ¡°It¡¯s the safest way to progress.¡± ¡°Safety and progression don¡¯t go together.¡± Eveline sighed. ¡°That¡¯s true, I suppose. But that misses my point entirely. You just made it safe for them,¡± she stated. ¡°Do you have any notion of how much this could affect your army¡¯s effectiveness?¡± Zeke let the question go unanswered. Instead, he used [Colossal Legion]. The familiar portal split the air beside him, and three bronze golems stepped out. As soon as they were fully in the world, the same red runes branded their bodies. He barely noticed that, though. Instead, he was wholly focused on something else that had changed about the golems. ¡°You feel that, right?¡± he asked. ¡°They¡¯re absorbing the corruption,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°What do you think it means?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Zeke had some ideas, though. The golems were an extension of him, and he¡¯d always found it odd that they couldn¡¯t utilize demonic mana. It seemed that [Hell on Earth] would change that, which further underscored the need to upgrade the tower with the Hall of Affinities. If his new skill could potentially change his [Colossal Legion], what would more structured exposure to new affinities do? More importantly, how could that guide the kobolds in the future? They were exciting questions, and ones for which Zeke was extremely eager to find the answers. 442. Nothing is Foolproof ¡°The sounds of battle are such a unique thing,¡± said Eveline, a note of appreciation playing across her voice. ¡°Weapons clashing, people screaming. Anger and agony, death and an unmatched verve for life. I¡¯ve always found it fascinating.¡± Zeke ignored her as he ducked beneath a massive blow meant to decapitate him. The Knight of Adontis who opposed him was under the influence of the familiar transformation skill that enhanced his size ¨C and physical attributes ¨C many times over, so he towered over even Zeke¡¯s colossal form. But for one of the first times since ascending to the Eternal Realm, Zeke was faster. He owed that to his twin domain skills, [Hell on Earth] and [Burden of Sovereignty]. For more than a hundred yards all around him, hellfire burned and corruption filled the air. Meanwhile, the [Burden of Sovereignty] weighed down on his enemies while enhancing his allies. As a result, the movements of the opposing army of Knights and infantry were sluggish and lacked power. At the same time, the kobolds within the boundaries of Zeke¡¯s domain blazed with bright red runes that gave them unmatched potency. And they used it extremely well. Aside from Zeke¡¯s standstill with the champion ¨C who was level seventy-five, which made him the highest-level foe Zeke had ever faced ¨C the battle progressed with inevitable certainty. They were going to win. For the first time ever, the kobolds could individually match the Knights, and with that increased ability, their cohesive tactics were even more effective. Out of the corner of his eye, Zeke saw a group of kobolds ¨C called a talon, he¡¯d learned ¨C surround a powerful Knight. The woman lashed out with her massive sword, but she met only the kobolds [Shield Wall], which flashed with mana and light upon impact. As she rebounded from the blow, the kobolds brought their spears to bear, stabbing with unerring accuracy. Her armor deflected some of the damage, but there were so many spears that some were bound to get through. On top of that, she endured a steady barrage of [Spear of Memories] from the second line of kobolds. Her fall was certain. The kobolds advanced with inevitability. It was enough to make Zeke appreciate just how powerful his army could be. And it wasn¡¯t an isolated fight, either. All around him, similar battles raged. The beastkin had adopted the kobolds¡¯ tactics, but they weren¡¯t nearly as efficient. Nor were they, on the whole, as highly leveled as the lizard-people. As a result, their casualties were higher. Yet, they persisted, and their efforts were effective as well. ¡°Nobody but you,¡± Eveline reminded him as he aimed a horizontal hammer-blow at his foe. It hit with a loud clang that sent the Knight staggering backward a few steps, but they quickly recovered, kicking out at Zeke. He took the attack on his hip, dislodging bits of rock and metal. But it was a minor inconvenience. At the same time, he saw Pudge leap upon the Knight¡¯s back and rake two instances of [Netherclaw] across his shoulders. That elicited a response, and the Knight howled as he tried to throw Pudge free. But by that point, he was already gone, using [Shadow Evisceration] as a means of escape and to chain attacks into his next target, which was a group of Knights who seemed intent on helping their champion. An explosion of shadow and corruption swept through them, and though Zeke couldn¡¯t see his companion¡¯s actions, he saw the results. Detached limbs and a cloud of blood and rent flesh filled the air as he completed the skill, appearing only a moment later and sprinting off to another battle. Ten Knights ¨C all lower-leveled, but still deadly ¨C fell to the ground. Some were dead, but others were simply missing limbs. Either way, they were out of the fight for now. Zeke wanted to step back and appreciate the performance of his army, but there were two problems with that. First, it wasn¡¯t all good. All around, there were kobolds and beastkin being wounded or dying. His skills were powerful, but they weren¡¯t foolproof. On top of that, they only extended so far, and those unfortunate members of the army that found themselves outside of his circle of influence were having a much worse time of it. Especially the centaurs who, due to their hit-and-run fighting style, were rarely being affected by his domains. They were still effective ¨C after all, they made for a powerful cavalry force ¨C but the Knights had plenty of countermeasures to slow them down. Pikes, ditches they¡¯d dug, and makeshift palisades were very effective in counteracting the deadly stampede of the centaurs. Fortunately, the half-horse, half-human creatures had a few skills they¡¯d developed to overcome those obstacles, but they weren¡¯t always successful. Instead, they depended on surprise and superior mobility for their success, and as a result, the effectiveness of the cavalry declined with every passing hour. The second reason Zeke couldn¡¯t admire his army¡¯s clear advantage was the fact that they all depended on him to at least tie up the enemy¡¯s most powerful combatants. Zeke had already killed a couple of level seventy warriors, but the newcomer had proven to be his match. Even with his twin domains weakening the powerful Knight, he was more than up to the task of fending Zeke off. But then again, aside from his domains, Zeke hadn¡¯t used any of his own skills yet. Normally, his physical prowess was enough to see him through most battles, so he¡¯d adopted a strategy of holding his more active skills back until absolutely necessary. Using those at precisely the right time was often enough to tip the balance of any battle. Such an opportunity presented itself when, suddenly, silvery light burst from the Knight. Over the space of the next second, it swept across the battlefield, stopping only after it reached fifty yards. Then, it created a dome centered around the powerful Knight. More distressingly, Zeke felt both of his domains weaken, then shatter, creating a backlash in his mind and soul. At the same time, he stumbled with the loss of power, and that provided a brief opening for the Knight to land an overhand attack that cut through Zeke¡¯s shoulder, severing his collarbone as it sliced into his lung. It was only due to his high durability that it stopped before completely bisecting his torso. Zeke recovered from the backlash quickly, then activated [Shifting Sands]. Doing so extended his agony, but it also gave him time to react and recognize the effects of the Knight¡¯s dome of moonlight. The sudden cessation of Zeke¡¯s skills hadn¡¯t just affected him. Instead, it had robbed his allies of the enhancements they¡¯d so far depended on to give them an advantage. As a result, the shocked kobolds and beastkin were suddenly vulnerable to counterattack, and the Knights responded with vicious fury, flipping the battle on its head. The kobolds recovered with some alacrity, yet by that point, the damage was done. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Dozens had already fallen, but many more would soon follow. Zeke needed to do something, and with the time dilation provided by [Shifting Sands], he had an opportunity to do just that. As he slid through the earth, he activated [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], mending his colossal form with an influx of earth mana. Meanwhile, he tried to reactivate his interrupted domain skills. They did not respond. So, Zeke pushed harder, infusing the skills with his Will. The Knight¡¯s domain shuddered, but it held fast. That was when Zeke did something ill-advised, and wrapped his Runebreaker technique around the expression of [Hell on Earth]. The results were, in a word, destructive. Even as the technique ripped through Zeke¡¯s body, mind, and soul, it merged with [Hell on Earth] to create something wholly new. And far more devastating than he¡¯d intended. Notifications flashed in Zeke¡¯s mind, but with the pain coursing through him, he couldn¡¯t spare them any attention. Indeed, he couldn¡¯t focus on anything but trying to keep the combination of his skill and technique contained. He was only marginally successful, and the expression of [Hell on Earth] swept through the battlefield, ripping the Knight¡¯s domain apart with ease. But it didn¡¯t stop there. Instead, it completely dismantled the ongoing skills of every enemy within his domain¡¯s bounds. That included the Knight¡¯s transformation skill, and even as the man shrank to more normal size, his armor lost its luster ¨C both in the physical sense as well as to Zeke¡¯s interpretation of the mana coursing through it. As Zeke emerged from the Earth, and time reasserted itself, screams erupted across the battlefield. At the same time, Zeke forcibly canceled the flow of his Will. [Hell on Earth] went with it, but it left enough demonic mana behind to fuel his transformation into the corrupted form of [Triune Colossus]. Even as his body transformed, taking on the sleeker, more aggressive characteristics of the demonic colossus, he fueled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] with that same corruption. Rapidly, his body healed from the attack that had nearly cut him in two as well as the consequences of using his Runebreaker technique. Then, he sighted in on the stunned Knight, who¡¯d fallen to his knees, stomped on the ground, and activated [Hell Geyser]. A line of destruction tore across the battleground, covering the twenty yards between the two most powerful combatants on the field. When it reached the Knight, it erupted into an explosion of fire, corruption, and earth. Even as the Knight was bathed in destruction, Zeke reactivated his domains and to no more resistance. His allies shouted as an influx of power swept through them, but Zeke was more concerned with his more immediate enemy. Despite the potent devastation of a straight-on hit with [Hell Geyser], the level seventy-five warrior persisted. In fact, Zeke could feel the foreign mana swirling within the plume of corrosive fire and earth, announcing that the Knight was not finished. Zeke intended to change that. He launched himself forward with all the strength and speed his demon-fueled colossal form could muster, covering the distance in a flash. When he reached the site of [Hell Geyser], it had begun to dissipate. However, to his enormous surprise, he quickly saw that the Knight had turned tail and was fleeing towards the castle in the distance. ¡°Did not expect cowardice,¡± Zeke said, already embracing [Center of Gravity]. ¡°More like self-preservation,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°He¡¯s level seventy-five. Immortality is a feasible goal for him. In the face of that, who wouldn¡¯t flee a sure death?¡± Zeke didn¡¯t answer, but then again, he didn¡¯t have to. Because Eveline knew that his response to such a situation would have been the opposite of how the Knight had reacted. Zeke would have stayed and fought, right down to the last breath, and there was nothing anyone could say and no circumstances that could dissuade him from that course. He would not surrender, even in the face of certain defeat. Surely, that stubbornness would one day get him killed, but in the meantime, it was likely his greatest strength. ¡°That¡¯s how it usually is. Every strength is a double-edged sword,¡± Eveline pointed out as Zeke let loose with [Center of Gravity]. If the ragged Knight had been in any better condition, he¡¯d have already outpaced it. However, Zeke caught him just before he passed out of the skill¡¯s range, and as a result, the man quickly reversed course against his will. Suddenly, he was falling toward Zeke. When the two met, it was with the an impact that sent a wave of kinetic force across the entire battlefield. The nearest combatants were thrown to the ground, while even a hundred yards away, they stumbled briefly under that shockwave¡¯s influence. But the Knight got the worst of it when Zeke hit him with an overhand blow that drove him into the sundered earth. His body went limp as bones broke, and he tore a crater into the ground. Yet, Zeke didn¡¯t stop there. He was already swinging again, secure in the knowledge that he couldn¡¯t kill such a sturdy foe with a single blow. Or a hundred of them. Fortunately, he was in it for the long haul, and his use of [Hell Geyser] had already done most of the work. Still, Zeke ended up having to pound the insensate Knight with his hammer almost twenty times before, finally, the damage overcame the man¡¯s natural defenses. An influx of kill energy swept through Zeke, pushing him to a new level, but he wasn¡¯t concerned with that. Instead, now that he¡¯d defeated the opposing army¡¯s champion, he could turn his attention to the rest of the battle. Like Pudge had been doing since the beginning, he waded into the fight, wreaking havoc on the enemy Knights. However, unlike his companion, who favored mobility and sudden lethality, Zeke¡¯s tactics were like an inexorable tide. He didn¡¯t try to avoid his foes¡¯ attacks. Instead, after having switched to his earthen colossus form, he simply took whatever the Knights could dish out, returning those attacks tenfold. It was a painful way to fight. Despite his durability, Zeke could still feel each landed attack. Yet, his cambion racial ability that dampened pain did quite the heavy lifting in keeping him going. Even without it, Zeke¡¯s tolerance for all things agonizing was well-developed and oft-used. Still, the battle continued for hours more. Some of the Knights ended up surrendering. Others took a cue from their champion and tried to flee. Those were run down by the kobold rangers or centaurs. The would-be prisoners who made the mistake of surrendering to the beastkin who¡¯d once been their slaves didn¡¯t last long. Zeke might have been capable of stopping it, but he was of two minds as to whether or not he wanted to do that. On the one hand, it was a barbaric practice to kill prisoners of war. However, the practical side of things was that he had no idea what to do with the prisoners already housed within his ever-expanding jail, much less any additional captives they might acquire. So, while killing prisoners disgusted him, Zeke chose to ignore those excesses in all but a few occasions where the beastkin took the punishment too far. Even so, he knew he would soon need to establish some rules, or he would lose any moral high ground he¡¯d begun to enjoy. ¡°There is no morality in war,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Pretending otherwise is how you end up losing.¡± Zeke wanted to argue, but he was no good at debate. He just knew that, if he let those sorts of things continue unabated, he would be no better than the enemies he so loathed. Of course, Eveline pointed out that such a stance was na?ve. In the end, the battle had been decided the moment Zeke had killed the champion, and though it took quite a lot of time for it to play out, the ending was inevitable. Hours later, Zeke stood in the battlefield, looking at all the carnage. He was glad to have won the battle, but there was no denying the sense of melancholy he felt that it had been necessary in the first place. ¡°Cheer up. You have notifications to read,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Or did you forget?¡± ¡°Yeah. Kind of,¡± he admitted. Then, he opened his notifications and read: Congratulations! [Hell on Earth] has incorporated your Path of Arcane Destruction, becoming [Aura of Desolation] (C). In addition to previous effects, it now degrades enemy domains as well as active skills. ¡°Wow,¡± Zeke said. ¡°That¡¯s¡­unexpected.¡± Eveline didn¡¯t respond, which probably meant that she hadn¡¯t anticipated such a change either. 443. Peasants ¡°Relax,¡± said Eveline. ¡°It¡¯s going great.¡± To Zeke, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. Certainly, from a purely strategic perspective, the battle for Wealton had progressed according to their meticulous plan. The various cohorts of kobolds had swept in from three different directions, forcing the enemy to split their focus. Meanwhile, another contingent of the versatile former monsters had dug a series of tunnels far beneath the walls, surfacing within the city itself. That provided an entry point for the beastkin, who¡¯d immediately begun to take their long-held frustrations out on their former masters. Casualties had been high among the beastkin, but they hated the people Adontis so much that they¡¯d insisted on taking those losses, so long as they got first crack at their oppressors. The centaurs, meanwhile, were busy harassing enemy supply lines. Some of Adontis¡¯ supplies were transported by air, where they held a distinct superiority. However, airships were rare and expensive enough that the bulk of their resources had to be transported on the ground. Those were vulnerable to the swift and powerful centaurs. The Mistress of the Herd had those tactics well in hand, and though they often took casualties as well, she was willing to make that trade-off. That was what Zeke had trouble with. He knew that taking Wealton was necessary. He also recognized that doing so had, from a purely strategic standpoint, gone as well as possible. Yet, he longed to be down there protecting his people instead of on a nearby hill and watching them die. ¡°You know this is necessary for their development. You won¡¯t always be there for them, so they need to get used to fighting without the benefit of your domains,¡± she said. From a purely rational point of view, Zeke agreed. The acquisition of his twin domains had been a turning point for the kobolds, and with those augmenting their own strengths while weakening their opponents, the effect was as predictable as it was magnificent. So long as Zeke was around, they were nearly unstoppable ¨C against the Knights of Adontis, at least, who had proven to be a much less organized and powerful opponent than anyone had expected. Yet, it also exacerbated a different problem in that the kobolds had begun to lean on Zeke¡¯s power even more noticeably. And without him, despite the levels they¡¯d gotten, they weren¡¯t nearly as powerful as they should have been. That was an issue that had to be addressed, and Zeke had chosen to do so by withholding himself from the fight. It was a frustrating course, but it was also the only way the kobolds would ever learn to flourish without him standing over them. So, not only did Zeke feel the sting of watching his chosen people die unnecessarily, he also couldn¡¯t take his frustrations out on his enemies. And on top of that, his progression had begun to stagnate as well. Certainly, despite killing an unprecedented number of enemies over the course of the war, his progress in terms of levels was glacial. But at least he¡¯d been making some headway. Now, though, his course had ground to a halt, leaving him with only secondary progression to tide him over. ¡°It¡¯s not all about you,¡± Eveline said. ¡°If you were only worried about yourself, you could implement sacrifices. I¡¯m sure the kobolds would line up to give themselves over to their Ak-Toh. I knew an archdemon once who did that. He would raise his people like cattle, feeding them kill energy, then choose the strongest to be sacrificed. He had a whole nation funneling kill energy to him. ¡°The funny thing is that he gave them a choice. They could fight him in an arena, and if they won, they would become the new emperor. Or, they could give themselves willingly. Almost all of them chose the latter,¡± she explained. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Manipulation. Brainwashing. They were taught to believe that sacrificed themselves would follow him when he descended to the next circle of Hell. Their whole religion centered on this collectivist mentality that was based on the transfer of energy,¡± she answered. ¡°They thought that what you keep stubbornly referring to as experience was, in fact, their soul. And when it was absorbed by the archdemon, their souls lived on and would be resurrected when he reached the last circle. Then, they would become a grand army to sweep through the heavens, consuming everything and elevating the arch demon above the Framework and its architect.¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± ¡°They believed. That was all that mattered.¡± ¡°What happened to the archdemon?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°I actually don¡¯t know. He was still going strong the last I remembered. Of course, that was a thousand years ago. I think. My time as a splintered soul gets a little fuzzy,¡± she admitted. ¡°I expect he¡¯s already descended, though. He had already reached the pinnacle, even back then. He was actually a fairly nice guy, all told. A brutal killer, obviously. But everyone who achieves anything in this world is. He treated his people well, though. Gave them opportunities most wouldn¡¯t dare. He once told me that every day, he prayed to whatever gods existed that someone would take up his challenge and defeat him. ¡°What was his name?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Malaketh.¡± Zeke nodded, committing that name to memory. Demons were far more complex creatures than he¡¯d once been led to believe. At the end of the day, they were still just people. Damaged people, sure, but people all the same. ¡°Don¡¯t let that cloud your judgement. Most of us are evil. We deserve the reborn lives we were given.¡± ¡°I guess,¡± Zeke said. Though, he inwardly wondered if anyone whose past deeds were so egregious that they deserved to be tortured so thoroughly that their very natures changed. When was the punishment enough? And when did it exceed the bounds of justice and veer into pure sadism? ¡°Justice has never been the goal. It¡¯s just the excuse,¡± Eveline said. She¡¯d stated the same many times, though she seemed to have a bit of a conflicted view of her fellow demons. Often, she described them as evil, but she still felt that she ¨C and all the other demons ¨C had been wronged by the Framework¡¯s judgement. Zeke couldn¡¯t really disagree with either assessment, though he was working from a position of ignorance. He had experienced some of what Hell had to offer, but he was no expert. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I am,¡± said Eveline. ¡°But admittedly, I¡¯m a bit biased. Either way, we don¡¯t have to worry about that. We¡¯re in Heaven, and we¡¯ve got a lot of people left to kill. That should keep us well occupied without philosophical questions on the nature of justice and vengeance.¡± That statement felt a bit paradoxical, yet Zeke couldn¡¯t deny it, either. In any case, his attention quickly found its way back to the progression of the battle. And it was going well. The multiple points of ingress ¨C which included the beastkin who were currently rampaging within the city walls ¨C had completely broken the defenders¡¯ discipline. In the chaos, the kobolds had already scaled the walls and were in the process of slaughtering the Knights who¡¯d been tasked with guarding the city. Still, even with everything going according to the plan, there were plenty of deaths among Zeke¡¯s people. After all, these Knights weren¡¯t the dregs they¡¯d assigned to defend the fortresses in the pass. As such, they were higher leveled and more capable than their predecessors. To combat the most powerful among them, Pudge and Silik were working together. And every now and again, Zeke saw their progress. Still, he was on pins and needles as he watched from afar, and he was ready to leap into battle the second he thought Pudge was in mortal danger. As it turned out, though, his people were up to the task before them, and after a day of fighting, the city fell. Few Knights surrendered, but there was another problem, as explained to him by a kobold legionnaire who¡¯d been dispatched to fetch Zeke. ¡°Ak-Toh,¡± said the legionnaire, slapping a fist across his cyclops-skin breastplate. Zeke nodded, and the kobold continued, ¡°There is an issue that requires your judgement.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Peasants,¡± the kobold answered. ¡°We do not know if you wish them taken prisoner, killed, or rescued.¡± Zeke knew that they would take whichever route he dictated, which was a little disconcerting. Despite the fact that he¡¯d been leading an army for some time, the fact was that he still wasn¡¯t used to having so many lives hang on his judgement. And he didn¡¯t think he ever would. But whether or not he was comfortable with it didn¡¯t change the fact that it was his responsibility. So, after adopting his unattuned colossal form ¨C it had become his unofficial uniform for his duties as Lord of the Crimson Tower ¨C he followed the kobold down the hill to the city of Wealton. After stepping through a wide breach in the wall, he saw a city that looked like it had been bombed into submission. Whole buildings had collapsed, and dead bodies, Knights and civilians alike, were scattered through the city. There were kobolds and beastkin there, too, but already, his army had begun to remove their own dead. Soon, there would be a giant pyre to honor those who¡¯d sacrificed their lives for the Crimson Tower. For Zeke. ¡°They¡¯re not fighting for you,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°They¡¯re fighting for themselves, and against what Adontis represents. You have to realize that.¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°But that doesn¡¯t comfort you, does it?¡± ¡°It does not,¡± Zeke admitted as he glared at the death and devastation that had come at the result of his orders. He knew it was necessary, and for so many reasons. He also didn¡¯t necessarily feel guilty about the deaths of the Knights. They had made their choices, and he had few issues about delivering unto them the consequences. Yet, there was no way for anyone with a heart to look out at so much destruction and feel nothing. Still, he would not let that dissuade him from doing what was necessary, so he bore the weight of those orders on his shoulders as he stoically followed the legionnaire through the ruined city. Finally, they reached a destitute part of the town. Though the buildings looked to have been untouched by the battle, they were in clear disrepair. The streets were mud and dirt, and Zeke saw a few overturned carts of half-rotted fruits and vegetables. It was poverty on a level Zeke had not seen since being reborn. Even on Earth, it was the sort of scene that would have garnered intervention from wealthier populations. ¡°Or the appearance of it, at least,¡± Eveline said. ¡°From your memories, I can tell that many people on your home world used the plight of others to misdirect and exploit the generosity of the masses.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, though.¡± ¡°Of course it matters. Just because you left that world behind doesn¡¯t mean that people¡¯s nature will change,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°The same problems that plagued your world are almost assuredly here as well. The word Heaven implies perfection, but unless you fundamentally change people, that simply isn¡¯t an attainable goal.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean we shouldn¡¯t try.¡± ¡°And if someone uses your soft heart against you?¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s their issue, and I¡¯ll respond appropriately,¡± Zeke said. He wasn¡¯t perfect. Far from it. But he refused to let himself fall into the cynical trap of letting others¡¯ character flaws affect how he approached the world. Whatever the case, it was clear that whoever had lived in the area had been impoverished, and that supposition held up when Zeke was led to the group of people who¡¯d been confined to a large market square in the center of the poverty-stricken district. They were, one and all, thin to the point of malnourishment, and they each wore clothing that was better described as rags. Most were barefoot, and many looked no better off than the slaves Zeke had rescued back in Min Ferilik. So, when Zeke arrived, he approached Kianma, who was surrounded by a group of other spiritweavers. When he got there, they all inclined their heads, and lifted their fists to their chests. Thankfully, they did so gently. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Are these people slaves?¡± ¡°No, Ak-Toh,¡± said Kianma. ¡°Peasants.¡± Zeke took a moment to study the gathered people. From what he remembered from history class, peasantry on Earth wasn¡¯t nearly as bad as it was depicted in stories and in movies. They were far from well off, but most were treated well enough, largely because without them, the landholders would have suffered. And if the peasantry were pushed too far, that was how rebellions happened. So, there needed to be a balance. It seemed that Adontis¡¯s version of a feudal society didn¡¯t care about that balance, and had instead treated the peasants like de facto slaves. The surprising thing was that they had taken it. ¡°Do you understand how difficult it can be to progress? Most people aren¡¯t keen on exploring the wilds and putting themselves in mortal danger,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°Even in Hell, that is rare. At best, you might see hunting parties or armies, and even then, the path is a long and slow one. What you do is unheard-of. These people were all born here. They know nothing more. Certainly, a few of them might have branched out and gotten worthwhile classes. Those assuredly ended up joining the Knights. What you see here are the dregs. The ones only a step above the beastkin slaves they kept on the other side of the labyrinth.¡± After crossing into Adontis proper, they had yet to see the sort of chattel slavery that pervaded the frontier that bordered the Mukti Plains. Likely, that was because they had a ready source of nearly free labor in the peasantry. ¡°What should we do with them?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Take them in. Give them better lives. Use them.¡± Zeke shook his head. He didn¡¯t like the idea of using people who, for their entire existence, had been treated like property. Yet, he didn¡¯t see a better way. If he left them alone in what was left of Wealton, they would certainly die. For better or worse, the Knights of Adontis did protect them. Without that bulwark of power shielding them from the wilderness, they wouldn¡¯t last long. After that, Zeke gave his orders to Kianma and the spiritweavers. But before he left, he stood before the peasants and raised his voice, ¡°You have two choices before you. The Knights have fallen. They can no longer protect this city. We will not be doing so, either. However, we offer you the option of joining the Crimson Tower, where you will be protected, given the means to live your lives, and the resources necessary to contribute to the well-being of the other residents. That is option one. Option two, you can stay here and survive as you see fit. You must make your choice before the army moves on.¡± Then, without another word, Zeke left the confused peasants behind, but a pervasive sense of frustration remained. He really needed to find something to beat into submission, or he was going to go crazy. 444. Sabotage Gripping the balcony banister, Silik gazed across the Residential District of the Crimson Tower, pleased with the progress they had made since leaving the caverns beneath Min Ferilik. They had come so far that he scarcely remembered the person he had been back then, but one thing he knew for certain was that, without Ak-Toh, none of it would have been possible. Indeed, without his intervention, the budding civilization of kobolds would have been consumed by the monstrous Blood Wraith. But that was why Ezekiel was Ak-Toh. He was their Savior, and he held a position in kobold society that rivaled that of the Mother herself. She had given them life and intelligence, ushering them to the point of near sapience, but Ak-Toh had given them purpose while pushing them to heights none of them had ever even considered possible. If the great wyrm who had dragged them into the light was the Mother, then there was a good argument that Ezekiel was their Father. Or perhaps god and goddess were better terms for the two. Whatever the case, Silik was grateful for the day that Ak-Toh had taken the kobolds under his wing, and for the first time in his life, he was looking forward to the future. Of course, it wasn¡¯t so long ago that the concept of time had been a muddy, unclear thing. Now, though, he saw everything with disturbing and fascinating clarity. ¡°What will the future hold?¡± he asked without glancing at his mate. He could feel her standing there next to him so clearly that he didn¡¯t need to look at her. Kianma placed her hand over his and answered, ¡°The survival of our people. Then, we will follow Ak-Toh in his ascension.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°Not as a people. Individually. Do you ever feel¡­hollow?¡± he asked. It had been on his mind for some time. He had everything a kobold could want. He served his people as well as their Savior, and he had the companionship of a mate who was both powerful and entrancing. By all accounts, he was the pinnacle of what it meant to be a kobold, and most looked up to him as an example of what could be accomplished. Of what everyone should strive to be. Yet, his life felt thin, as if it was merely a collection of roles, rather than something substantial. It was maddening because it made no sense to Silik. Kianma reached up, placing her hand gently on his shoulder. ¡°You are becoming more,¡± she said. ¡°More?¡± ¡°The journey to sapience is not one that can be completed overnight,¡± she said. ¡°It takes a lifetime. You feel hollow because you are beginning to understand the life you¡¯ve led thus far, and you find it thin. Inconsequential. You have begun to think about the future, and not in terms of simple events, have you not?¡± ¡°I wonder for the fate of our people,¡± he said. ¡°But it is more. This¡­war has made me think of the consequences of our actions. I look at the people we have killed, and though I know they were terrible, that they deserved it, I still regret the necessity of ending their lives so abruptly.¡± He let out a hissing sigh and hung his head before continuing, ¡°Death never troubled me before. Now, I think about it often. About the futility of existence and how quickly it can all end. I wonder what comes next. I wonder what came before. I know the answers to none of my questions, and yet, I can not stop myself from asking them.¡± ¡°You should not stop.¡± He turned to look at her, and for some reason, the sight gave him some small degree of comfort. ¡°It is unpleasant,¡± Silik stated. ¡°Yes. But necessary.¡± Silik was in no position to argue. Regardless of how those thoughts and questions made him feel, he could not escape them. He had tried to refrain from giving them thought, yet that had been impossible. The more he wanted to think of something else, the more insistent his questions had become. ¡°My mind ¨C¡± ¡°It is not just your mind,¡± Kianma interrupted. She tapped a claw against his head, saying, ¡°That is but a part.¡± She pointed to his chest. ¡°Your heart is another. But together, they are your soul.¡± Silik had seen the readout for his soul on his status, yet in the context of Kianma¡¯s statement, that didn¡¯t seem like what she was talking about. So, he asked for an explanation. She said, ¡°The soul is a verifiable part of your status, and it affects your spiritual limitations. However, the word also refers to what separates a monster or beast from a person. You are a person. Sapient, but with the self-awareness of a child. Grappling with your mortality as well as your place in the world is part of embracing your new nature. It will not be a comfortable process, and yet, it is necessary.¡± ¡°When will it end?¡± ¡°Never. It is an ongoing state, and you will struggle with it for the rest of your life. At times, it will be easier. At times, worse. Yet, the journey of self-discovery is, as I said, a necessary one that will help you understand your place in all of this,¡± she said. ¡°For what it is worth, I believe that we can all adjust and that you will help lead us to our destiny.¡± ¡°Ak-Toh leads us.¡± ¡°He does, and yet, he does not. He forges head, but it is up to us to follow, lest we be left behind. How we do so is not his concern,¡± Kianma explained. ¡°Kobolds must be responsible for our own fate. You are the leader we have chosen to follow.¡± The ridges of Silik¡¯s brow furrowed as he stared at the city spread out before him. What Kianma had said made some sense. Ak-Toh rarely asserted his power regarding specifics. He simply told them a goal and expected them to figure it out for themselves. And sometimes, he didn¡¯t even give that much guidance. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. In that way, he was less of a leader and more like the deity he seemed to be. That left Silik and Kianma to occupy a place similar to the position of Rasa Tomaki, the Mistress of the Herd, held with the centaurs. She was distinctly inferior, from a societal standpoint, to Ak-Toh, and yet, she held sway over the entire herd of centaurs. Perhaps Silik could emulate her and do the same. Or maybe he already had, without even knowing it. The pair of kobolds remained silent, both lost in thought as they contemplated their nature as well as the future before them. And it was like that that a juvenile kobold found them some time later. ¡°Yes?¡± asked Kianma upon the small kobold¡¯s approach. ¡°Need general and spiritweaver,¡± he said, bowing his head in submission. It was an unnecessary holdover from their more monstrous days, yet it had been impossible to get the juveniles to abandon the shows of deference. Perhaps one day, they would get past it, but for now, it was an unavoidable expression of what they once were. ¡°Problems with the new people.¡± Silik and Kianma shared a look, then agreed to follow the juvenile. He eagerly led them through the Pillar, passing hundreds of kobolds, beastkin, and even a few centaurs who¡¯d taken up necessary administrative positions. There were precious few representatives of the other races, largely because their populations were so small. Hopefully, bringing the human peasants into the Crimson Tower would help diversify the residents as well as the people in positions of relative power, but their inclusion was too new to have had an effect. After leaving the Pillar behind, they traversed the Residential District. For the most part, it hadn¡¯t changed much of late, though there had been some small shops that had opened so that the residents wouldn¡¯t need to go all the way to the Merchant¡¯s Floor to buy necessary goods. The presence of those shops was still scattered, but they had been successful enough that Silik expected more to come. Otherwise, the district was much the same as it had always been, though he¡¯d only recently begun to notice the transformation of the architecture. Indeed, it wasn¡¯t until after he¡¯d left the dungeon with the Mirror Lord that he¡¯d even recognized those sorts of details at all. Kianma had explained it as part of his natural development, but it had opened his mind to all sorts of new concepts like art and other expressions of individuality that had never before occupied any of his thoughts. The Residential District had also grown in terms of scope, so it took some time before they reached the area assigned to the human population. There, he found a scene of some horror. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked the first ranger he could find. As he looked at the dead bodies, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder how they had died. Silik didn¡¯t bother counting, but there were dozens of them, all covered in vomit and blood, and looking as if they¡¯d been dead for quite some time. ¡°Poison,¡± the ranger stated without preamble. ¡°We thought it was a plague, but the spiritweavers detected some residual mana. It is thought to have originated with tainted food, though we have yet to find the source.¡± ¡°What is your name?¡± asked Kianma. The ranger looked a little surprised to have been asked that question, but he hid it quickly and answered, ¡°Trak.¡± Normally, kobolds didn¡¯t care much about names. Castes were different, and classes were vitally important. However, most had never cared about individual names. Yet, those labels had taken on some degree of import of late. Silik expected it had something to do with the budding sense of individuality that had been fostered within the kobold population. He¡¯d felt it for some time, but his people had lagged a little behind. They seemed to be on the verge of catching up, though. He wasn¡¯t certain if that was good or bad. Perhaps it simply was, without being either. ¡°There were other occurrences,¡± said Trak, idly scratching his brow ridge. ¡°Seven instances, each with multiple deaths. This was the most deadly, we think because of the low levels involved.¡± Silik nodded, then stepped forward. Kianma and the ranger stayed behind while he crossed the distance to the corpses. There were almost a hundred of them, and the deaths hadn¡¯t been confined to adults, either. There were children there as well. Men and women. No patterns he could think of, save what Trak suggested. Finally, Kianma approached from behind, and he asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked. ¡°It was an act of war.¡± ¡°But I do not understand. These people were slaves. We saved them.¡± ¡°Peasants. The distinction is important,¡± she said. ¡°They knew nothing but their old lives, so they have no idea what it lacked. Sasha called it brainwashing. Manipulation on a grand scale.¡± ¡°To what end?¡± ¡°Control, and not via brands or collars. Instead, they use this¡­propaganda, painting the Knights as heroic saviors. Instead, they are brutal killers,¡± she said. ¡°Were they stupid?¡± ¡°No more than you or me,¡± she answered, resting her hand on his shoulder as he knelt next to one of the bodies. It had been a child. Now, it was nothing more than another corpse. ¡°They simply do not know any better. It is our task to teach them that there is another way, that they deserve more than what they have been given.¡± ¡°In the meantime? Will we see more attempts at sabotage?¡± he asked. ¡°That is likely.¡± ¡°Then we must expel them from the Crimson Tower.¡± ¡°We cannot,¡± Kianma stated. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Ak-Toh forbids it,¡± she answered. ¡°He wishes to help them as he saved us. And it is our calling to assist in that endeavor.¡± Silik let out a frustrated hiss. Yet, he did not voice his displeasure. He wasn¡¯t fit to disagree with Ak-Toh¡¯s rules. Of course, Ak-Toh would have told him otherwise. He would have encouraged Silik to speak his mind, to disagree if that felt right to him. Silik had never done so, but there had been times when he had been tempted. This was certainly one of those instances, and perhaps, it would be the first time he succumbed. ¡°What do you believe?¡± he asked Kianma. ¡°I believe as Ak-Toh believes,¡± she answered. ¡°Not because I must, but because it is right. These people need help, and he has taken them in. As such, they are now our people. Our responsibility. We must support them and endure the pain of their transition. To do otherwise would tarnish us.¡± ¡°I¡­understand,¡± Silik lied. To him, it seemed far easier to simply expel the former peasants. However, he was not yet ready to oppose Ak-Toh¡¯s orders. So, he said, ¡°Then the way is clear. I must discover the saboteur.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kianma agreed. ¡°That is the way forward. Perhaps in doing so, you will discover something of your own nature.¡± Silik wasn¡¯t sure of that, but he did feel a sense of relief at the idea of saving people¡¯s lives. Maybe that was the point. After that, Kianma excused herself and headed back to the Pillar. Meanwhile, Silik and a few legionnaires and centurions began collecting the bodies for disposal. There were a few people nearby who were obviously family or friends, so Silik let them know that the bodies would be treated with respect and given the same funeral rites as the kobolds. That meant that they would be cremated on a communal pyre. ¡°It is how it has always been,¡± he told a dirty young woman with long, auburn hair. She had lost a father. Then, without listening to her response, he went back to the gruesome task of gathering the corpses and piling them onto carts. As he did so, he started to think of how he might perform the investigation with which he had been tasked. So, when he finally finished, he had a good idea of how to proceed. Still, he was not looking forward to it. 445. Plots Silik looked down on the other kobold and frowned. It was odd, seeing a member of the new caste. Before, there were only four. The ones who took the path of the warrior ended up as legionnaires or centurions. Or in Silik¡¯s case, a general. Then there were the scouts who ended up as rangers. Third came the broodtenders, who cared for the young. And finally, there were spiritweavers like Kianma, who¡¯d once functioned as the link in the chain that kept them connected to the Mother. That had given them access to fantastic powers that let them serve the clutch via healing as well as gave them a position of leadership. But since leaving their home beneath the mountain, the kobolds had evolved rapidly, with many reaching the precipice of sapience. That, along with new demands, meant that new castes had developed. Now, there was a whole swathe of non-combatants that focused on farming, tradecraft, and mercantile pursuits. It was a massive shift in kobold society, and one that would take quite some adjustment for them to acclimate. Yet, Silik knew that if they were to forge ahead into a new and productive future, they needed to emulate the more sapient races. That meant that their society had to evolve, lest they fail to reach their potential. None would accept that after what the Mother had sacrificed to save them. So, when he looked upon the slim kobold who worked as a merchant, Silik suppressed his budding sense of superiority as he reminded himself that the clutch needed such members. It certainly didn¡¯t help that the kobold in question was not being very cooperative. ¡°I get my goods the same way as everyone else,¡± he said, holding his chest out as he looked up at Silik. Before, that kind of show of aggression would have been met ruthlessly, but Silik restrained himself from acting on instinct. Kianma kept telling him that the mark of sapience was the ability to rise above such things. It was difficult, though, especially when the kobold was half his size and even weaker than that suggested. An image of grabbing the creature by his scrawny neck and asserting his dominance flashed through Silik¡¯s mind, but he repressed it the moment it tried to take root. He was better than that. He had to be. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not implying that I¡¯m in some way negligent!¡± the little merchant hissed. ¡°Not at all,¡± Silik replied evenly. ¡°I am merely gathering information. Nearly a hundred people are dead.¡± ¡°People,¡± the merchant spat. ¡°Weak and useless savages who can¡¯t earn their keep. Not like the clutch. Or the beastkin. Those brutes know how to work, let me tell you. Bit rough around the edges, but we¡¯re civilizing them, bit by bit.¡± That was an attitude that had begun to pervade the tower. In a way, division seemed inevitable. The clutch had their unspoken rules and customs, which often put them at odds with the beastkin who had completely separate ideas about societal norms. Then, the humans who¡¯d been peasants added a third set of customs to the mix. And on the periphery were the centaurs, who were just as different as every other faction. There was plenty of mixing between the four groups, which was probably the source of the merchant¡¯s speech patterns. Certainly, he¡¯d never learned to talk like that within the clutch. Yet, his attitude represented a wider spread problem where the kobolds saw themselves as superior to the other groups. That was, in large part, based on their close relationship with Ak-Toh, but it was also because, aside from the centaurs, they were the highest-leveled and most martially proficient of the groups. That was an issue that would, at some point, become a serious problem. And yet, though Silik had the foresight to see what was coming, he had no notion of how to stop it. Luckily, that wasn¡¯t his role. ¡°Where, specifically, did you get the meat?¡± he asked. He¡¯d already spoken to the cooks in the area, and they had all gotten their ingredients from the merchant in front of him. ¡°Same as everybody else, like I said!¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°The Craftsman¡¯s Terrace. They process the meat up there. I don¡¯t know where they get it otherwise,¡± the merchant said. ¡°I get my veggies there, too. And my mushrooms. It could¡¯ve been anything.¡± He was correct. It was easy to latch onto the idea of tainted meat, but it could have just as easily have been bad vegetables, fruits, or mushrooms. Indeed, the bulk of the kobolds¡¯ diet was meat, but they¡¯d supplemented it with plenty of other foodstuffs that trying to narrow the source of the taint down to one thing was incredibly difficult. Yet that was his task. After asking a few more questions, he realized that he¡¯d exhausted the possibilities of interviewing the merchants in the Residential District, so he decided to head to the next location on his list: the cellar. So, without further ado, he set off, across the district, eventually finding his way to the teleporter. Once there, he selected the Merchant¡¯s Floor and was whisked away. Calling them floors was a bit of a misnomer, because each one, with the exception of the Crimson Springs, was the size of a small town. Or in the case of the Residential District, it covered an area more comparable to a mid-sized city. The Merchant¡¯s Floor was no different, in that respect. In the center was a large market with hundreds of stalls, each selling a variety of goods that included food, equipment, and luxury items. The preferred currency was the same gems that were used in the rest of the Eternal Realm, though there was a good deal of barter involved as well. Along the edges of the floor were more specialized and high-end shops that catered to the wealthier among the residents of the Crimson Tower. Some of it had been looted in the cities of Adontis they¡¯d conquered, but the bulk of the goods had been created in the tower. That, in turn, had fostered a sense of accomplishment among the residents, though they¡¯d yet to truly live up to their potential. It would eventually come, Silik was certain. Regardless, he was not interested in the goods on offer. Instead, he waded through the mixed crowd of tower residents until he reached his destination. On the surface, it looked no different from any of the other premises built into the outer wall. Yet, it was guarded by a half-dozen powerful centurions and twice as many legionnaires. The less powerful legionnaires were arrayed along the fa?ade, while the centurions were stationed in front of the doors. Anyone who tried to enter without authorization would find their way blocked. And if they persisted, the powerful kobold guards had leave to use lethal force. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. As Silik approached, all eighteen kobolds slapped their fists against their chests in their customary salute. Silik gave them a nod as he passed them by, entering the building. Of course, it was no ordinary building. Instead, it was merely the access point for Ak-Toh¡¯s spatial storage. Parts of it were locked away, but he had made food and raw materials available for the kobolds. So, when Silik entered, he felt a slight shimmer in the surrounding mana as he was teleported to the cellar. There, he saw a massive warehouse filled with goods of all kinds. Piles of meat were neatly stacked in one corner, while in another, strips of leather were stored. In different section, there was all sorts of ore, and yet another contained weapons and armor. It was a collection worth a fortune, and Ak-Toh had made it all available to his people without a single thought for repayment. That was why he was the savior. Well, one of the reasons. There were a bunch of kobolds inside the storage space, each working to organize and distribute the goods inside. They were all industrious, hard-working kobolds, which gave Silik a sense of satisfaction. They understood the value of working for the greater good. Certainly, they were compensated for their efforts, but the diligence they displayed was a comforting sight to see. He quickly found his way to the food storage area, where he interviewed the female kobold who was the overseer. As Silik had suspected, no one but the kobolds had been in contact with the food, though she couldn¡¯t speak to what had happened before or after it had left the storage space. That led him to the next location on his list, which was the Craftsman¡¯s Terrace. Upon arrival, he was once again struck by how much it had changed since the first time he¡¯d visited the floor. It still looked like a giant, stepped mountain, complete with blue skies and a weather cycle. Yet, where there had once only been a few levels, which were occupied by various crafting stations, there were now dozens. They were much larger, as well, with many housing entire fields of crops. Eta greeted him when he stepped off the teleportation platform. ¡°I thought you might pay us a visit,¡± she said, flanked by a one-legged elf. ¡°Is this about the deaths?¡± Silik nodded. ¡°Yes. I have investigated the other areas of interested, which leaves me with your operation,¡± he said. The elf ¨C whose name was Kala, he remembered ¨C said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how anyone would have tainted the food supply. We guard it closely.¡± Silik shrugged his massive shoulders before saying, ¡°I do not know either. Please, show me around.¡± And they did. It was an impressive sight, and with the naturalistic landscape, it was easy to forget that he was inside the tower. Yet, the density of the mana as well as the presence of his people ¨C who were working as farmers alongside beastkin and former peasants ¨C were great reminders of where he was. Eta and Kala showed Silik a plethora of fields, each dedicated to a different staple. Grain, corn, and other crops abounded, and there was even a section underground where they grew the mushrooms his people had been cultivating for their entire history. Yet, he saw no areas of opportunity for sabotage. Until he reached the warehouse where the crops were loaded up for transport to the cellar on the Merchant¡¯s Floor. ¡°I see many humans,¡± he said. ¡°Yes. This is not a desirable job,¡± Eta stated. ¡°Normally, we start people here, then move them to other areas after they¡¯ve paid their dues. Naturally, that means that there¡¯s a concentration of peasants, right now.¡± ¡°They are no longer peasants,¡± he stated. ¡°Do you supervise them?¡± ¡°Not really. So long as the crops get where they¡¯re supposed to go, we leave them to themselves,¡± Kala answered. ¡°Though there are kobolds in charge, they¡¯re stretched pretty thin.¡± ¡°I see.¡± And he did. If there was a vulnerability, then the warehouse was it. ¡°Please send someone to fetch Kianma,¡± he said, standing at the entrance to the warehouse. The workers were clearly nervous at his close proximity, and they attempted to distract from that by focusing on their tasks. It was only moderately successful. In any case, Eta sent a kobold juvenile ¨C they were everywhere on the Terrace, running errands and doing what manual labor they could ¨C to find Kianma, and the trio settled in to wait. As they did, Silik learned more about the way everything in the Terrace functioned. ¡°We are making progress with plant mages,¡± Eta said. ¡°Kobolds don¡¯t really have an affinity for the work, but they can be taught. Perhaps in time, we can help them develop an attunement. If that happens, our food production will grow by leaps and bounds.¡± ¡°Not to mention the other benefits,¡± Kala interjected excitedly. ¡°What other benefits?¡± Silik asked. ¡°With the right skills, a dedicated plant mage can grow crops dedicated to certain attunements,¡± she explained. ¡°Think of them as miniature natural treasures. They¡¯re not powerful enough to harm anyone, but they can slowly introduce an attunement. It takes years, but it¡¯s the preferred method in most civilized places.¡± ¡°Ah. I see.¡± For his part, Silik didn¡¯t have an attunement, but from what he¡¯d overheard from Ak-Toh, developing attunements was key to his plans for the kobolds. As such, he approved of Eta¡¯s and Kala¡¯s attempts to ease that transition. After a half hour, Kianma arrived, trailing a group of other colorfully plumed spiritweavers. When she approached, she nodded in his direction and asked, ¡°Why did you summon me?¡± ¡°Do you have a ritual that can detect foreign mana?¡± he asked. ¡°I believe that someone is tainting the food with a skill, and I have narrowed the origin down to this warehouse. I do not know how to find the tainted food, though.¡± Kianma cocked her head to the side, then turned to her attendants. They spent the next few minutes huddled in conversation before she revealed that she had something that she thought would work. After that, she asked, ¡°May I have your spear, General?¡± He handed it over. The weapon was enormous in her hands, yet she handled it with ease. Then, she placed it on the ground before arranging the other spiritweavers in a circle surrounding it. Once they had arrayed themselves to her specifications, they all raised a single hand each before beginning a chant. Silik recognized some of the words, but the rest made little sense to him. Still, he felt the mana swirling at their command, and the density of the ambient energy continued to increase until, at last, each of the spiritweavers slashed their palms and released the ritual. The mana surged, then imploded, concentrating on the spear. It only lasted a second, but in that moment, it felt like all the mana had been sucked out of the area. But then, the mana outside the ritual¡¯s area of effect came crashing back in, quickly normalizing. Kianma intoned, ¡°Pick up the spear, General.¡± Silik did just that, and to his surprise, he felt a tingle rushing through the spear and into his hand. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°It is a ritual. It will detect hostile mana,¡± she said. ¡°However, you must work quickly because it will not last long.¡± Silik nodded, then began an investigation of the food stores. At first, he expected it to take quite some time, yet he found what he was looking for after only a minute. When he passed an area piled high with bushels of wheat, the spear suddenly grew blazing hot, and when he grew closer, the temperature only increased. Clearly he¡¯d found the first instance of tainted food, but he wanted to make certain that there were no others. So, he continued his inspection, and to his dismay, he found seven other areas that had been sabotaged. ¡°Round the workers up,¡± he said. ¡°Anyone who has worked here at any time over the past three weeks. Also, someone must fetch Ak-Toh. We need his guidance.¡± If it had been up to Silik, he would have executed every person who might have been involved. Certainly, some innocents would be killed, but that was a better outcome than letting even one of the culprits run free. However, Ak-Toh had different ideas about justice, and as such, he would surely want to dictate how they responded. 446. A Question of Philosophy ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this,¡± Zeke said, pacing back and forth. Silik had just explained the results of his investigation into the string of deaths that had occurred over the past week, and Zeke did not like what he¡¯d heard. ¡°But I don¡¯t know how else I¡¯m supposed to respond. I can¡¯t let sabotage go unpunished.¡± ¡°Better to kill them all than let a single guilty party roam free,¡± Eveline stated confidently. That was so contrary to how it had been on Earth, where the presumption of innocence was paramount. In fact, it was the exact opposite of how things were supposed to go. And Zeke had always adhered to that as a baseline. Unless someone was proven guilty, he would assume they were innocent. Yet, as a ruler dealing with a very real issue, that mindset felt like a luxury he could no longer afford. Because people were dying, and in distressing numbers. Certainly, the tower¡¯s administrators could stop the plot they¡¯d already discovered. That only took increased surveillance during the process of gathering and distributing food. However, that didn¡¯t solve the root of the problem. It didn¡¯t take a genius to think that the saboteurs would simply find another way to cause problems. To kill innocent people whose only crime was living within the tower. And if Zeke truly let it go unchecked, there was a possibility that things could get much worse. Instead of a few hundred deaths, the dissidents could undermine Zeke¡¯s entire population by introducing foreign concepts to the impressionable kobolds. Zeke suspected that it wouldn¡¯t take much to sow doubt among their population. And from there, it wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine the entire culture failing. He sighed, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± Eveline said, ¡°I do. Just ¨C¡± ¡°Please stop. I¡¯m not just going to kill everyone,¡± Zeke said inwardly. ¡°It¡¯s immoral, and I think it would do more harm than good.¡± ¡°Dictatorship works.¡± Zeke shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. There didn¡¯t seem to be a right answer. No matter how he looked at it, bad things were probably going to happen. If he simply killed everyone involved, there was a good chance that it would only serve to radicalize anyone who happened to be on the fence. There were still plenty of former peasants in the tower that had had nothing to do with any of it, and that wasn¡¯t even considering the population of beastkin. They might see the executions as proof that Zeke wasn¡¯t any better than their former masters and radicalize right alongside the former peasants. But if he left them to their own devices, the sabotage would continue. Perhaps not in the same way ¨C he could take steps against that ¨C but there were a host of vulnerabilities in the tower that could be easily exploited. Giving the saboteurs free rein would assuredly backfire and end up with more innocent people dead. And that, in turn, would create unrest due to a lack of confidence in Zeke to provide a safe environment. They would leave in droves. Did it make sense from a survival perspective? No. Of course not. But people were rarely rational, and they often did things that made no sense, and for all the wrong reasons. Zeke wanted to help them, to provide them a safe place to live and grow. He wanted them to survive. And yet, he wasn¡¯t sure how to bring about that eventuality without becoming something he didn¡¯t want to contemplate. Finally, he realized that he was just thinking in circles while Eveline tried to push him into taking the worst possible steps. So, he turned to Silik and asked, ¡°Do we know anything for sure? Are there any people we¡¯re certain acted?¡± ¡°Ten,¡± said Silik. ¡°They are a mixture of beastkin and humans, but we are sure that they at least helped with the sabotage.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Witnesses, Ak-Toh. The spiritweavers verified their stories.¡± ¡°Can they do anything else? Can they force a confession?¡± ¡°They can, though whether or not that confession is valid is not guaranteed,¡± Silik explained. He¡¯d clearly thought along the same lines, which didn¡¯t say much for Zeke¡¯s own abilities in that department. Silik was barely sapient, and he was already better at that than Zeke. ¡°Do you have any suggestions?¡± Silik admitted that he did not, which left Zeke back at square one. So, it was without a plan that he approached the group of gathered workers. As the kobold general had said, the collected laborers were a mixture of humans and beastkin, though they remained separated by species. Eight humans and two beastkin knelt at the front where they were bound and guarded by an equal number of kobold legionnaires. As Zeke approached, each of the prisoners glared at him with undisguised hatred. It was an indicator of how they felt, yet it was not proof that they were guilty. Hating him was not a crime. Moreover, it was completely understandable, given the things he¡¯d been forced to do in the conflict with Adontis. He tried to keep civilian casualties to a minimum, but they were entirely unavoidable. Sometimes, those deaths were the result of collateral damage, but in other cases, the so-called civilians had reacted poorly to what amounted to an invasion. They¡¯d fought back, and they¡¯d lost. Thousands had died to such circumstances. So, it was entirely plausible that the prisoners had lost family or friends in the turmoil. So, while Zeke didn¡¯t particularly enjoy the notion of being hated, he understood it. If he was in their situation, he would likely have responded in a similar manner. When he reached the group, he looked them over, trying to find some indicator of their motivation. Yet, their appearance ¨C on the surface, at least ¨C was no different than any of the other newcomers¡¯. ¡°You can¡¯t identify traitors by looking at them, Ezekiel,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. They don¡¯t stand up and shout, proclaiming themselves your enemy. They look like everyone else, and most of the time, they behave the same as well. But they¡¯re not. They¡¯re like a cancer. A tumor that must be excised, lest they kill the host.¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°I know,¡± Zeke said in his thoughts. Suddenly, he understood the plight of every occupying army in history. Justification for occupation aside, dealing with a hostile populace came with a host of issues that couldn¡¯t be solved by a simple application of force. ¡°You say that like it¡¯s true,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°You have your kobolds. From a purely strategic standpoint, you should simply wipe Adontis from the face of Heaven, so-called innocents and all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to do that.¡± ¡°Why?¡± It was such a simple question, but the answer was complicated. Zeke wanted to believe he was a moral person, that, in most situations, he would do the right thing. And in this case, the moral thing to do was to save as many of the oppressed and enslaved people of Adontis as he could. The beastkin and peasants were innocents, and ¨C ¡°That¡¯s a huge assumption. You can¡¯t see into someone¡¯s heart. For all you know, every last one of them would murder their neighbor given half a chance. In fact, in my experience, that¡¯s more likely than them being innocents,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°From my perspective, the only right answer is to simply kill them all. The kobolds are your people. The beastkin, maybe. But these humans? Trash, every single one of them. And I mean that in the kindest way possible.¡± ¡°There is nothing kind about what you just said,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°I know. That¡¯s the point,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°I don¡¯t hate them. I just think they¡¯re a needless complication in a world where things are complicated enough. If you want to advance, you can¡¯t run around saving every stray animal you meet. Not only are they a drain on your resources without much in the way of benefit, but they will inevitably bite you when you don¡¯t give them any better of a life than what they had thrust upon them by their former masters.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. The Crimson Tower has opportunities they couldn¡¯t have dreamed of as peasants.¡± ¡°And most of them will look at those opportunities as obligations. Or as requiring too much effort. I¡¯m not saying they¡¯re all lazy. Not as a baseline. Some surely are. But they¡¯ve also been trained to only do the bare minimum it took to not be punished. Breaking them out of that routine is a path of failure. And what do you think will happen when they realize that, despite the change of scenery and masters, their lives are no better than before? Or even if they are better off, they won¡¯t see it that way,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°Because, by their very nature, they will always occupy the bottom rungs of any society. It is a difficult thing to accept, that people are not equal, and that that lack of equality ¨C perceived or otherwise ¨C will inevitably foster jealousy and, eventually, rebellion. They are the unwashed masses. The below average. The weak and undisciplined.¡± ¡°If they¡¯re so weak, then we have nothing to fear.¡± ¡°You would think so, wouldn¡¯t you? But society is a house of cards. It takes almost no effort to tear it down. And even then, it¡¯s the work of days. Being successful is the work of a lifetime. The two are incomparable,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°A few bad apples can spoil the bunch because discontent spreads like rot, infecting everything it touches. And then we have to address the other issue.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Racism. Do you think a bunch of humans who were raised to believe that their species is superior will accept being lorded over by beastkin and kobolds? They equate them to monsters,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°That will not end well.¡± The conversation played out over the course of seconds, during which Zeke stood over the captured prisoners. In a way, he wished they would try to escape, that they would attempt violence. If they did, he could kill them without a hint of guilt. Yet he knew that wasn¡¯t going to happen. Not only were they bound, but they knew precisely how weak they were. As Eveline had said, they weren¡¯t fighters. They weren¡¯t exceptional. But the danger they represented wasn¡¯t limited to their ability to sabotage food supplies. It was systemic, and unless something was done to stop it, they had the capacity to cause no shortage of problems for Zeke¡¯s budding kingdom. But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe that they were a lost cause. He refused to look at the problem through the lens of Eveline¡¯s worldview. Sure, her arguments sounded reasonable, but that was almost assuredly because Zeke lacked the capability to refute her claims. He¡¯d never been much for debate, after all. The realization of his own weaknesses made the solution clear. He raised his voice, saying, ¡°You ten have been caught sabotaging the food supply, which has resulted in more than a hundred deaths. However, you will be afforded a trial before an impartial judge. If you are found guilty, you will be executed. Until that time, you will be confined to the Jail.¡± ¡°This is a mistake,¡± Eveline insisted. ¡°Just kill them and be done with it. A sham of a trial proves nothing.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be a sham.¡± ¡°Oh? Then who will be impartial? Who do you trust to levy judgement on these criminals?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he admitted to her. In the meantime, the prisoners stirred, with one of them shouting, ¡°You have no right to judge us, demon!¡± Zeke stepped forward, and the thin man flinched backward. ¡°I have every right,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°You had the option of staying. Of picking up the pieces of whichever city you came from. Yet, you came here. We welcomed you. Gave you responsibility, a way to contribute. We gave you a roof over your head and food to eat. We healed you. And you returned that hospitality with ire. If anyone has the right to judge you, it is me. This is my home, and you live here at my discretion. If you choose to spit on my kindness, then I will show you the door. If you instead attempt to undermine my authority, I will punish you accordingly. If you hurt my people, your life is forfeit. That is the law of the Crimson Tower. Abide by it or suffer the consequences.¡± With that, he nodded at the kobolds, who wasted no time in gathering the prisoners and escorting them toward the teleporter. Meanwhile, Zeke watched, his hands behind his back. He knew he¡¯d likely sentenced them to death. In fact, he preferred it that way. As much as he didn¡¯t want the responsibility of meting out justice, the reality was that it rested solely on his shoulders. If he didn¡¯t do it, then whatever it was he was building in the tower was doomed to fail. To fall before their enemies. Zeke couldn¡¯t stomach that. ¡°You called it a kingdom before,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Only in your mind, but¡­still.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Kings stand in judgement of criminals.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°Do you trust anyone else to be impartial?¡± she asked. ¡°Kianma, perhaps?¡± Zeke gave her a mental shake of his head. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he admitted. ¡°But this represents a wider issue. Since the beginning, I¡¯ve let Kianma run things. She has done a fair job. We can¡¯t run a kingdom like this, though. We need laws. Structure. We need a government and people to enforce those laws.¡± ¡°What do you suggest, then?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said, still watching the prisoners being escorted to the teleportation platform. ¡°But we¡¯re going to need to take care of that, because I can¡¯t afford the time to deal with every little issue. If we had a system in place, I wouldn¡¯t have even needed to be consulted for this. With rules and guidelines, everyone would already know what to do.¡± ¡°And you wouldn¡¯t have to personally take responsibility for whatever punishment they received,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Does that make me a coward?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t think it does.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel that way,¡± Zeke admitted. Indeed, he didn¡¯t like the idea of pushing responsibility onto someone else shoulders, but he knew it was necessary. As much as he wanted to take charge and guide the tower¡¯s development with his own hand, the reality was that he simply couldn¡¯t do it. Part of that was temperament. Some was due to time constraints. And a bit came from a simple lack of desire. Whatever the origin, though, Zeke knew he couldn¡¯t manage the tower¡¯s population. Not without going over the edge into a territory he didn¡¯t want to contemplate. With those thoughts dancing in his mind, Zeke watched the last of the prisoners disappear. Then, he let out a deep breath and set off for the platform. He had work to do and decisions to make. 447. At Arms Length Outside of the Pillar, Zeke stood before the gathered people, his eyes flicking from one to the next until they settled on Kianma and Silik, standing in the center. The pair looked much the same as always ¨C one a hulking brute of a kobold, the other much smaller and slimmer, though with a sense of dignity few could manage ¨C but there was something else there, as well. Was it pride? Maybe. Or it could have been simple satisfaction. That made sense, too. Whatever the case, the pair practically glowed with authority, which was precisely the point of the entire exercise. To the left were two others. Eta, Zeke recognized, but there was a dwarf there he¡¯d only met in passing and whose name he couldn¡¯t remember. Timaso, the lionkin who¡¯d become the de factor leader of the tower¡¯s beastkin population was present as well. To the right, there was a centaur and a human. The final participant was Adara, looking as if she wished to be anywhere but in front of thousands of people. Out of her armor, the former Knight of Adontis was just as impressive as when she¡¯d worn it, with plenty of muscle to suggest what Zeke expected was considerable strength. However, there was a definite cast of femininity about her that he found appealing. ¡°How cute,¡± said Eveline. ¡°You have a crush.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t deny it outright. Instead, he inwardly replied, ¡°I can find someone attractive without it being a crush. Besides, I don¡¯t like that word. It sounds so immature.¡± ¡°And yet, it¡¯s a perfect descriptor for what¡¯s going through your mind. You should just take her,¡± Eveline advised. ¡°She seemed amenable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not listening to you right now,¡± he muttered to himself. Indeed, he had other, far more important things on his mind than his nonexistent love life. Because over the past few days, and after quite a lot of going back and forth, he¡¯d settled on a structure for his new government. Each of the tower¡¯s races was represented, though Kianma and Silik were unquestionably in charge. Zeke had impressed upon them the gravity of impartiality, as well as how important it was that they look out for the tower¡¯s ¨C and his ¨C best interest over anything else. They had responded well, claiming to understand his orders. Yet, he was still nervous about how it would all work out. The most controversial inclusion was, of course, Adara. Despite her surrender, she was, ostensibly, still the enemy. However, after quite a lot of discussion, it had been decided that the captive Knights needed representation as well. So, she was the obvious choice. ¡°Obvious because of your crush. There were higher-ranking Knights that could have ¨C¡± ¡°Enough.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying ¨C¡± ¡°I know what you¡¯re saying, Eveline,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°But I¡¯ve heard it a hundred times already. I don¡¯t need to hear it again.¡± Zeke wanted to believe that his reasoning hadn¡¯t been affected by his admiration for the woman, but he knew that wasn¡¯t completely true. He just didn¡¯t want to be reminded of it. Regardless, he stood by his decision, largely because Adara had been the first to petition for better treatment for the imprisoned Knights. Still, he wouldn¡¯t have done it if they hadn¡¯t found an elf who had a skill related to Framework contracts. With that in hand, he¡¯d had no problem with releasing Adara. And he hoped he could release the other Knights soon as well. Some of them ¨C most of which had been confined to the fortresses within the labyrinth ¨C had already professed their innocence. But there was no way he was going to let any of them run loose without some protections in place. As far as Zeke knew, Framework contracts were foolproof, but there was no limit to the knowledge he lacked. So, there was every chance that they could find someone to remove the restrictions of any contract he could force them to sign. Yet, it was better than simply executing them. ¡°Agree to disagree on that one,¡± Eveline said. Zeke ignored her. Instead, he spoke aloud, ¡°You are the first Council of the Tower. I expect each of you to work toward the greater good. If you cannot come to a consensus based on the rules we have established, then I will step in. Believe me when I say that you do not want that. Do you understand?¡± They all professed that they did. For all intents and purposes, he was the final authority within the Crimson Tower. With a thought, he could restrict anyone inside, both in terms of where they could go and regarding their actual power. And that wasn¡¯t even considering the degree to which he exceeded their personal might. There was a time when even the average Knight would have given him trouble; Zeke well remembered having a brutal fight with a kobold legionnaire back in the Rainbow Forest. However, his power had grown exponentially since then, and now, only the elites of the realm could truly challenge him. And soon enough, even they would fail in that endeavor. ¡°Don¡¯t get too big of a head. There are still plenty of people out there who can and will kill you,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°That Blood Wraith wyrm you left back in Min Ferilik is still alive, and I can guarantee that you wouldn¡¯t last more than a few seconds against him.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°And from what I can tell, Adontis is nothing,¡± she went on. ¡°Cast-offs, has-beens, and a bunch of never-wases. Conquering this kingdom is no great accomplishment.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t conquered anything yet,¡± Zeke stated. Indeed, they¡¯d accomplished a lot, but the war was not finished. Half of Adontis still remained under the thumb of the Knights. Until the last of them were dead, subdued, or imprisoned, Zeke knew he and his army wouldn¡¯t be safe. ¡°We will not disappoint you, Ak-Toh,¡± said Kianma, placing her hand over her chest and bowing her colorfully plumed head. The rest mimicked her salute. ¡°Good,¡± he replied. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get down to business.¡± And they did. At first, Zeke paid close attention, but he quickly lost interest when they began discussing the minutiae of the tower¡¯s inner workings. There were a couple of highlights. First, Sasha approached the Council to request that a school be founded so she and a few like-minded scholars could embark on a quest to instruct the young. Kianma supported it, and the Council approved it unanimously. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. After that, Eta gave a report on food production, which she followed up with a request for more laborers. It seemed that the recent arrests had taken quite a bite out of her work force, and she needed bodies to replace them. The council chose to allocate some kobolds to temporarily alleviate the shortage, which was enough to satisfy Eta. Following that issue being resolved, there were a dozen other subjects covered. More than anything, that reaffirmed Zeke¡¯s certainty that he¡¯d made the right decision, because he couldn¡¯t imagine devoting the time or brainpower to doing any of that himself. It was bad enough that he¡¯d committed to attending the first public meeting. If he had to repeat the appearance even once a week, he would have gone insane. However, there was one subject that interested him, and that was combat training. When that topic was broached, Adara stepped up and offered to lead the way by establishing a martial training academy. Not to be outdone, Silik volunteered to teach the kobold way of fighting as well. After that, there were three others who pushed for their inclusion, and just like that, they faculty for the academy was established. Zeke expected that it would be quite popular going forward, though the war meant that training had taken a bit of a back seat to everything else of late. That would certainly change once they¡¯d defeated the forces of Adontis. After that had been taken care of, Zeke once again lost interest, and soon enough, the session ended. Though he was happy to see that the would-be instructors of both the martial academy as well as the school broke off into their own, mixed groups, presumably to hammer out the details. Zeke hoped that the spirit of cooperation would continue. ¡°Thus begins a new era of the Crimson Tower,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic. It¡¯s not that big of a chance,¡± Zeke insisted, though he wasn¡¯t sure if he completely believed that. The establishment of a government was a huge step toward his people¡¯s development, and the ideas of an academy and school made so much sense that he wondered how he¡¯d never considered either of them before. ¡°Because you spend almost all your time bashing people¡¯s skulls in,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke couldn¡¯t really disagree with that. That was why he¡¯d wanted to establish the council in the first place. If the residents of the Crimson Tower could govern themselves, then that meant he¡¯d be free to pursue his own goals. For instance, he still had quite a lot of work to do if he was going to upgrade his current skills as well as prepare himself for when he gained the opportunity to make more. In addition, his attempts to inoculate himself to his own Will ¨C or rather, the Path of Arcane Destruction to which it was connected ¨C were ongoing. And finally, Zeke needed to work on his own martial abilities, lest he be found wanting when he came up against an opponent who could match his raw stats and skills. In short, Zeke had a lot of work to do. And that wasn¡¯t even considering the war. Adontis had been punched in the mouth, proverbially speaking, but they had not been knocked out. At best, they¡¯d been staggered by the sudden rush from the Zeke¡¯s forces. At worst, they were simply consolidating their power for a more stalwart defense. ¡°You should also spend some time with your friends and allies,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Huh?¡± he asked as he left the Pillar behind. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like something you would normally suggest.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t,¡± she acknowledged. ¡°However, I¡¯ve come to understand you a lot better over the past couple of years, and I know how much you need your friends.¡± ¡°You make that sound like a bad thing,¡± he remarked. ¡°It is neither good nor bad,¡± she said. ¡°It just is, Ezekiel. Some people are islands. You are not.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve spent long stretches alone before,¡± he pointed out as he traversed the Residential District. ¡°And it nearly broke you each time,¡± Eveline argued. ¡°I can see your memories, remember? I know what state you were in after climbing out of those troll caves. You weren¡¯t thinking straight, and it caused you to make some truly terrible choices. One worked out. Another did not.¡± Zeke found himself nodding. Back then, he¡¯d altered his skill in an attempt to save Pudge, and though it had worked out, he¡¯d often chastised himself for taking such a stupid risk. In some ways, he could claim ignorance ¨C he didn¡¯t know how poorly it could have gone ¨C but he knew the real culprit was simple loneliness. Until that moment, he¡¯d not encountered a single creature since being reborn that wasn¡¯t trying to kill him. That he finally had found one had overwhelmed all good sense. The same psychological issues had led Zeke to befriend Abby, which wasn¡¯t a bad thing in and of itself. Yet, it had caused him to cling so tightly to her that he never even saw the warning signs that would later come back to bite him. ¡°You were on that same path in Hell when you first met me, too,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That was one reason I latched onto you in the first place. I thought I could use that to my advantage.¡± ¡°You did?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m a succubus.¡± ¡°And now?¡± ¡°We¡¯re stuck together, so I have a much more vested interest in keeping you whole and sane,¡± Eveline said without a hint of shame. ¡°At the time, I expected to separate from you once I rebuilt my soul. Things didn¡¯t work out that way, though.¡± ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Zeke asked, stepping onto the teleporter. ¡°Attaching yourself to me, I mean?¡± ¡°At first I did,¡± she admitted. ¡°Especially when you built that skill. You have no idea what it¡¯s like being confined like that¡­¡± Zeke felt her give a mental shudder, and he teleported to the Lord¡¯s Manor. Once he reappeared in the grounds outside his home, he said, ¡°I knew it was bad for you, but I didn¡¯t know it was that bad.¡± ¡°Whatever you¡¯re imagining, it¡¯s worse,¡± she said. ¡°And this is coming from someone who spent years being tortured until I became a demon. My tolerance is high, but that¡­that¡¯s more than I could bear for any significant time. So, thank you for not using it more often.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­uh¡­I¡¯ll try to keep that in mind,¡± Zeke said. More than once, he¡¯d used [Bulwark of the Triumvirate] with a flippant disdain for how it affected Eveline. Since she¡¯d revealed that it was painful for her, he¡¯d tried to limit that manner of use, but he¡¯d still slipped up a couple of times. Now, he endeavored to only use it if absolutely necessary. Of course, it would still remain in place at all times. He had no intention of exposing his mind to outside forces. However, he would not use it to imprison Eveline within ¨C not unless she gave him no other choice, at least. ¡°Very noble of you,¡± she said, adopting her typically acerbic mannerisms. ¡°What will you do now?¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he admitted. ¡°Tomorrow, we need to move on and continue the campaign against Adontis.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s tomorrow,¡± she said. ¡°Right,¡± he responded, glancing back at the teleportation pad. ¡°I suppose I could put in some time in the Hunting Grounds. I¡¯ve been pushed pretty hard by a few of the Knights. I definitely need to work on my technique.¡± ¡°Do you want my advice?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°Always,¡± he replied. Indeed, Eveline was often annoying, especially when she was in a teasing mood, but she often gave great advice. ¡°Rest. Relax. Make a pie. Do something that isn¡¯t about fighting a war or progressing,¡± she counselled. ¡°If you keep going like you¡¯re going, you¡¯ll burn out. We¡¯ve talked about this before.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°And? Are you going to take my advice?¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°I am,¡± he said after a moment. ¡°You could go talk to that hulking brute of a girl,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°You could compare training regimens.¡± ¡°She is not a hulking brute,¡± Zeke argued. Indeed, Adara was only a little more muscular than an average woman. Certainly, she was smaller than Zeke himself, if only in mass. They were of similar height. ¡°Besides, she¡¯s busy, remember? She¡¯s working with Silik on the academy.¡± He sighed, running his hand through his hair. ¡°I am going to take your advice, though. I¡¯m just going to rest and relax for today. Tomorrow, we¡¯re back to work.¡± ¡°Probably for the best,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You haven¡¯t smashed anything with your hammer for a while, and I know you get antsy when you go a day without killing something in some horrific manner.¡± Zeke ignored her flippant statement, instead heading to the manor where he intended to take a much-needed day off. 448. On the Move Grand Magister Tordal seethed, but he held his temper in check as he looked out across the camp. There were hundreds of white-and-silver tents arrayed in a precise grid. Each one was topped with the streaming flag of Adontis, giving the entire camp an air of extreme organization. Which was as it should be. The men, though, they were the source of Tordal¡¯s ire. Most of them were perfectly well groomed, with shining armor and pristine clothing. Those, he looked upon favorably. However, the other ones ¨C the dirty and dented wounded they¡¯d taken in from the most recent stronghold to fall ¨C were a different story altogether. Never had the saying ¡°one bad apple spoils the bunch¡± been more appropriate. The outliers were a stain on the reputation of the entirety of Adontis, and Tordal desperately wanted to execute every last one of them. Yet, he could not. In the past, he would not have hesitated to make examples of the disgraceful and poor excuses for Knights. Doing so was a perfect opportunity to teach his people a lesson. The strength of the Knights was built upon perfection in all things, and tolerating even the slightest deviation from that tenet would undermine their entire philosophy. In this instance, though, the idea of punishing the men who¡¯d so recently been defeated in battle would be akin to cutting off his nose to spite his face. The reality of Adontis¡¯ situation was that, with the enemy knocking at their gates, they needed every last body they could muster. Even failures like the men who¡¯d come trudging in, battered and broken and begging for help. Of course, Tordal had executed their commander. It was the least he could do, and it had served to briefly satisfy his need to administer harsh punishment. Yet, he longed to extend that retribution to the dirty and decrepit degenerates who¡¯d sullied their own identities with laziness, lack of decorum, and, worst of all, failure. They were disgraces, one and all. Yet, Tordal needed them. ¡°How far?¡± he asked without glancing at his advisor, Merame. She was one of the few female Knights, and she¡¯d gotten her position not through the strength of her arm ¨C as was proper ¨C but via her cunning mind. Most commanders would not have tolerated her weakness, but Tordal recognized the benefits to be gained by using her strengths to his, and by extension, Adontis¡¯s, benefit. Sometimes, he regretted his progressive nature, though. She answered, ¡°The enemy has advanced at least to Fort Timber, but we are having trouble tracking their movements.¡± ¡°They are an army of tens of thousands. Surely our scouts are not so incompetent that they cannot find such a large force,¡± Tordal stated. That was one of the issues they¡¯d encountered with the enemy. Often, they would simply appear without warning, almost as if the entire force had been teleported from one place to another. That was not the case, not least because there was no known skill that would allow for such unfettered teleportation. The second issue was that the pattern of the army¡¯s advance suggested that they were moving on foot. The pace was more rapid than any Tordal had ever seen, but it was a force of monsters, which were well known to be at home in the wilderness. No ¨C it was far more likely that the army had some sort of cloaking ability ¨C either from an individual perspective or a collective skill ¨C combined with an ability that affected their movement speed. Neither was entirely unheard-of, especially when dealing with monsters. That anyone could wrangle such despicable creatures under one banner was a disturbing turn of events. The world had dealt with powerful monsters for all of history, and usually at significant cost. However, the one thing that kept humanity ¨C and the lesser races, Tordal supposed ¨C from being overwhelmed was the monsters¡¯ inability to work together toward a common goal. The sapient races all had that advantage, and so, they could collectively stand toe-to-toe with even the strongest monsters. So, the notion that someone ¨C monster or man, Tordal still wasn¡¯t sure ¨C had wrangled those monsters into submission was cause for serious concern. ¡°At their current pace, how long do we have before they reach Ivern?¡± he asked. The aide said, ¡°Two weeks, at most. Preparations to defend the fortress have already been completed. Civilian population has been evacuated to Fairen. Food should not be an issue in the case of a siege.¡± ¡°Do you believe they can take the keep?¡± She answered, ¡°I do not know, your grace.¡± Tordal¡¯s fist tightened in frustration. He was surrounded by incompetence. Even those that appeared capable ¨C like the aide ¨C were barely better than the rest. ¡°What of the Imperium?¡± he asked, referring to the state dominated by the Radiant Host. It seemed that they¡¯d discarded all pretense and taken it over, renaming their new territory the Imperium. It was about time, too. That such a blessed force had been subservient ¨C even if it was only a charade ¨C to anyone was a travesty of epic proportions. ¡°The Radiant Host has refused to assist, sending a message that our problems are our own, and that we must meet it with whatever strength we can muster,¡± she answered. ¡°In that way, we can prove ourselves worthy of the Sun Goddess¡¯s favor.¡± Tordal gritted his teeth. It was not an unexpected response. The Radiant Host had always made it abundantly clear that Adontis was a vassal nation and that the Knights were expected to defend their own borders. Of course, they were given access to training as well as the Lunar path that was an off-shoot of the path of Radiance. In addition, they received trade concessions in exchange for allowing the Radiant Host to make use of their dungeon. Presumably, they would also respond if Adontis was threatened by a common enemy such as the undead scourge of El¡¯Kireth. Yet, the threat posed by a few monsters was entirely beneath the Radiant Host. It was supposed to be beneath Adontis, too. Yet, more than a dozen forts had fallen. They¡¯d lost access to the dungeon as well. And the horde of monsters had begun to strike deeper into the heart of Adontis. Tordal was a proud man, and he was confident in both his own abilities as well as the might of his Knights. However, he was also a realist, and he could see the tone of the war to come. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°What do you suggest?¡± he asked, finally looking at the woman. She was plain-faced, with a too-large nose and a squarish jaw. Disgusting. She clearly hadn¡¯t distinguished herself enough to earn the right to visit a {Flesh Shaper}. Or perhaps she¡¯d opted out of it. Some did, preferring their own hideous imperfections to the masterpieces a skilled {Flesh Shaper} could create. Tordal did not understand that attitude, largely because he never truly tried. Anyone who would make that choice was so far beneath him that they didn¡¯t warrant more than a stray thought. The aide was the lone exception. Perhaps he would force her to fix her face once the horde of monsters was taken care of. After all, if she was going to walk in his shadow, her appearance reflected on him. And that face, as detestable as it was, was not something he wanted associated with his own sterling reputation. Besides, she was too talented to waste away with such a mundane appearance. It was a shame she was a woman. If she¡¯d been born a man, then she would¡¯ve already achieved some degree of prominence, if only because of her keen mind. However, as a female, she¡¯d been playing catch-up since the very beginning. That she¡¯d climbed as high as she had was only because of chance, talent, and Tordal¡¯s sponsorship. ¡°We should pull back to Ivern and raise The Barrier,¡± she advised. ¡°In the meantime, send a fleet of airships across the labyrinth and into the Mukti Plains to harass the centaurs. With any luck ¨C¡± ¡°There is no such thing as luck,¡± Tordal said. ¡°As you say, your grace,¡± she said, bowing her head. ¡°With the grace of the Sun Goddess, our efforts will merit a response from the allied centaurs. Perhaps even from the main force of monsters. That will give us time to regroup.¡± ¡°And the men we sent to the plains?¡± Tordal asked. ¡°A sacrifice for the greater good,¡± the aide stated with some vehemence. ¡°There is no greater honor.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Tordal said. It was a bold plan, and one that could easily go wrong. Yet, he was enough of a realist to understand the dangers of continuing on their present course. Meeting the monster horde in the field was a mistake. He¡¯d known that from the very beginning. Yet, honor dictated that he do something other than cower in his fortress and let the monsters roam through Adontis unfettered. Sending a fleet to the plains would send the message that he was no coward, but keeping the bulk of his people safe behind The Barrier would allow him to prolong the war long enough for the monster horde to turn on one another. Because he knew that would happen. Monsters were not like people. They couldn¡¯t work together ¨C not truly. Instead, it was only a matter of time before the leader who¡¯d managed to wrangle them all together was challenged by another powerful member of the horde. And then another. And another after that. Because every victory brought those monsters more power, and eventually, that meant they would all be on even ground. Or close enough that the differences didn¡¯t matter. When that happened, they would battle amongst one another in an attempt to achieve primacy. So, Tordal knew he only needed to stall. To delay. But he had to do it in such a way that he didn¡¯t appear to be a coward, lest his own challengers appear to tear him down. ¡°Is there any word from Keleton?¡± She shook her head. ¡°The capital has not contacted us since we left the Verinar Forest,¡± she stated. ¡°Would you like to send a message?¡± Tordal answered, ¡°No. They have entrusted us with this mission, and we shall complete it without assistance or advice from our betters.¡± Even as he said the words, Tordal clenched his fists once again. The High Lord Adontis himself had tasked him with putting down the ¡°monstrous rabble,¡± and Tordal had accepted that mission with every intention of accomplishing it quickly and efficiently. However, because of the complications, he knew he needed help. That would not be forthcoming, though. After all, that wasn¡¯t the Adontis way. If he asked for help, he would almost assuredly be replaced. That would be disastrous for his career. Certainly, there weren¡¯t many men within the kingdom who could boast a higher level ¨C three that he knew of ¨C but levels were not everything. Individual power wasn¡¯t precisely easy to attain. It required significant commitment and quite a lot of work. However, it was much easier than gaining social or hierarchical power. Those were the results of a long and perfect career. Tordal feared that, by taking the mission, he had doomed himself. ¡°Very well,¡± he said, deciding that bold choices were necessary. ¡°Send the Moonlight Warriors.¡± ¡°Lord Karik?¡± ¡°Yes. Him as well.¡± ¡°But your grace, he is one of our most powerful ¨C¡± Tordal¡¯s hand lashed out, carrying with it every ounce of his frustration. He had just enough time to recognize the subtly widening eyes before his knuckles hit her ridiculously plain face. Bones shattered, and the light in those wide eyes extinguished. She¡¯d never stood a chance. The moment Tordal had struck, she was going to die. She ¨C or rather, her corpse ¨C went limp, collapsing to the ground with a clatter of armor, and he felt the tiniest bit of kill energy wash through his body. It was barely even noticeable. But then again, she had only been level thirty ¨C barely out of training ¨C and he was level seventy-six. As such, he could have killed her with a sharp look. He looked down on the body of the once-promising aide. If they¡¯d been alone, he might have let her questioning his orders pass. After all, he was a reasonable man. However, with so many people around, he could not let that go unpunished. Couple that with her unimpressive looks and low level of personal power, and Tordal¡¯s course was clear. Yet, he did regret that it had been so necessary. He¡¯d hoped that one day she could become another pillar on which the nation of Adontis could lean. With that, he turned to the next aide. He was a properly handsome young man with blonde hair. A quick use of [Eyes of the Moon] told Tordal that he was level forty-eight. A reasonable degree of progression for someone his age. Satisfied, Tordal said, ¡°Inform Lord Karik that he is to attend me in my tent. I have a mission for him.¡± ¡°Yes, your grace,¡± the young man said, bowing low. Then, he was off and running through the collection of tents. That brought a smile to Tordal¡¯s face. He¡¯d been like that once himself, responding to his orders with verve and alacrity. Perhaps this new aide would be more successful than the last. The moment that thought crossed his mind, he looked down at the corpse and said, ¡°Someone remove this trash.¡± With that, he strode into his tent while his attendants took care of the corpse. It was a shame that her armor was not salvageable, but each suit was bound to the intended wearer the moment they achieved knighthood. A waste, if there ever was one, but changing that was bound to be met with stiff resistance. Tordal didn¡¯t have the cache to embark on that particular quest, so he pushed it from his mind. Instead, he settled into the uncomfortable camp chair behind his portable desk and made a show of perusing the maps laid before him. That was how, a few minutes later, Lord Karik found him. The hulking bear of a man looked as if he couldn¡¯t be contained by his armor. He was over seven feet tall and as broad as any monster, with a great, bushy beard that spilled out of his helmet. Moreover, he was one of the few powerful Knights who¡¯d never taken the services of a {Flesh Shaper}. As a result, he looked just as plain-faced as the aide Tordal had just killed. However, despite his uncouth appearance and ridiculous size, the man was ridiculously strong. At level seventy-eight, he was the third-most powerful man in Adontis. Though unless someone passed him by, that wasn¡¯t going to soon change, because there were ten levels between him and the next. And more than fifteen until he matched High Lord Adontis himself. ¡°What is it, your grace?¡± the man asked, the words sounding more like a demand. ¡°I have a mission for you, Lord Karik. How would you like to kill some centaurs?¡± Karik only grinned, telling Tordal all he needed to know. 449. A Challenge Zeke was meditating in his tower, working on a plan to upgrade one of his most fundamental skills, when Silik arrived. The giant kobold couldn¡¯t hide his presence from Zeke¡¯s perception, even though he remained outside of the meditation room, silently waiting. Still, Zeke didn¡¯t immediately react. Instead, he spent another few minutes finalizing a few of his plans before finally pushing himself to his feet. ¡°How long was I out this time?¡± he asked. ¡°I am neither a watch nor a calendar,¡± Eveline responded. ¡°Come on,¡± he said with a shake of his head. ¡°You pay way more attention to that kind of thing than I do.¡± ¡°Three days,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°If you¡¯re wondering, the war is going well. The Knights have retreated to that big fortress our scouts found last week, but they¡¯ve raised some sort of barrier. From what they¡¯re saying in the meetings, you¡¯re probably the only one with any chance of breaching it.¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± he asked. As far as he knew, Eveline was still confined to his mind. The only exception was if she manifested physically, and even then, she needed to remain in close proximity. ¡°I might have figured out how to send my presence throughout the tower,¡± she said sheepishly. ¡°But it¡¯s limited. I can only do it for a few minutes at a time, and even then, the results are mixed.¡± ¡°How mixed? Can you spy on the whole tower?¡± ¡°No. Not yet,¡± she admitted. ¡°And for some reason, I can¡¯t see into private spaces.¡± ¡°Probably a good thing,¡± he said. Zeke certainly didn¡¯t have any issues with Eveline seeing every facet of his life, but he knew others wouldn¡¯t have that same attitude. Most people needed privacy, especially from a strange mind spirit. ¡°I¡¯m not strange!¡± she insisted. ¡°And you make it sound like I¡¯m going to be watching people in the shower or something. I¡¯m not a pervert.¡± ¡°Really.¡± ¡°Really!¡± ¡°You know I can sort of read your thoughts just like you can read mine,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°So, given that, do you want to amend that response?¡± ¡°I stand by what I said.¡± With a wry grin playing across his face, Zeke shook his head. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Eveline was a succubus, and she adhered to most of the stereotypes that implied. But if she wanted to live in denial, that was fine by him. Besides, the conversation had gotten off track, probably because she¡¯d intended to distract him from the expansion of her awareness into the tower. ¡°If it makes any difference, I can¡¯t keep it up for more than a few minutes,¡± she said. ¡°You said that before. What¡¯s the limiter? And how does it work?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Mana, same as with everything,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Wait, you use mana?¡± ¡°Everyone uses mana, Ezekiel,¡± she sighed. ¡°Me more than most, because that¡¯s literally all I am. Just a collection of mana tied together with a consciousness. When I access the tower, I have to expend some of that. It¡¯s similar to how I manifest a visible form, though far more taxing. That¡¯s why I can only do it for a few minutes at a time.¡± ¡°But how?¡± ¡°The tower is connected to you. By this point, is as much of an extension of who you are as your arms or legs,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°I can use those connections to access different parts of the tower. It¡¯s the same way I knew about the access crystal ¨C which is almost wholly unnecessary, by the way. You can make changes without touching that silly thing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. I can¡¯t ¨C¡± ¡°You can¡¯t because you¡¯ve not practiced enough, but you have the capacity,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°The fact that I can access the whole tower at will proves that.¡± Zeke stretched. After three days kneeling on the floor without moving, he was a little stiff. As he did so, he said, ¡°If you know so much, then what¡¯s Silik doing out there?¡± ¡°Standing like a statue. I thought you could sense him.¡± ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I mean,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Fine. Your sense of humor leaves much to be desired, by the way,¡± she went on. ¡°But I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s here. I¡¯ve been resting for the past few hours.¡± ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s go see,¡± he said. With that, Zeke finished stretching and left the room. When he did, he found Silik standing motionless near the door. So, he remarked, ¡°You could have come inside.¡± ¡°Yes, Ak-Toh,¡± Silik answered with a nod of his head. ¡°Your presence is requested in the Pillar.¡± ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Silik responded, ¡°Yes. It will all be explained.¡± After that, Zeke followed Silik out of the manor and to the teleportation portal, which took them to the Residential District. Once they¡¯d arrived, they quickly made their way across the entry plaza to the home of the nascent government. As they went, many of the kobolds that populated the district saluted him with fists to their chests. Some of the beastkin joined in as well, but none of humans did. That seemed to irritate Silik, though the big general didn¡¯t say anything. In any case, Zeke and Silik quickly found their way to their destination, arriving in the council chambers. There, Zeke saw the representatives of the government. None looked untroubled. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, glancing from one face to the next. They were arrayed around a circular stone table, though Rasa was standing. Zeke wasn¡¯t even certain that centaurs could sit, but he did know that none of the chairs would accommodate their irregular form. Still, she didn¡¯t look uncomfortable. The same couldn¡¯t be said for Adara and Timaso looked decidedly more uncomfortable. Adara because she still wasn¡¯t certain of her place ¨C after all, it hadn¡¯t been that long since she was a prisoner. Timaso just seemed like a fearful sort, which felt a little unnatural to Zeke, who¡¯d always associated lions with courage. Clearly, that had no basis in reality. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Kianma stood, then gestured to another seat. Pointedly, it stood on its own pediment, which meant that it placed Zeke above everyone else. His initial reaction was to be annoyed at that, but after only a moment¡¯s thought, he realized that it was appropriate. For better or worse, he was above them on the social hierarchy. It was his tower, after all, and everything within was his domain. Couple that with the borderline worship the kobolds threw in his direction, and there was no chance of anyone in the Crimson Tower seeing him as an equal. Perhaps Pudge would. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I see you as my inferior,¡± Eveline pointed out. As Zeke settled into his stone chair ¨C or throne, really, given its elaborately carved nature ¨C he said inwardly, ¡°Of course you do.¡± Once he was seated, he gestured for Kianma to go ahead, and she said, ¡°The Mukti Plains are under attack. Over the past three days, thousands of Knights of Adontis have flooded the plains. Everywhere they go, they burn. Whole tribes have been forced to flee to the tower, and worst of all, these Knights kill everything in their path.¡± ¡°When you say everything, what do you mean?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Are they literally killing all living things, or ¨C¡± ¡°Yes. They burn the grass and slaughter the herds of prey animals. Not for consumption. Likely not for kill energy, either. They are doing it in an effort to deprive us of food and targets for our hunting expeditions,¡± Kianma explained. ¡°Are we okay on food?¡± he asked. Eta answered, ¡°We produce more than enough food to support the tower¡¯s population, but we still need meat. Our stores, while prodigious, will not last forever.¡± ¡°The larger issue is the lack of hunting opportunities,¡± said Rasa. ¡°We rely on these for our progression.¡± ¡°I¡¯m more worried about theirs,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Every creature they kill helps them and hurts us, right? In the long run, I mean.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Rasa acknowledged. ¡°Who is leading them?¡± asked Adara. ¡°We do not know his name, but our scouts were too low to identify him properly,¡± Kianma explained. ¡°He is a great bear of a human, almost as large as a legionnaire and much more powerful.¡± ¡°Lord Karik.¡± ¡°You know him?¡± asked Zeke. Adara nodded. ¡°He¡¯s one of the most powerful Knights in Adontis,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s a brute who lives for battle, and he¡¯s extremely good at it. His men are the same. They don¡¯t care about what they kill. They revel in the slaughter.¡± ¡°Sounds like someone I know,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Not now,¡± Zeke muttered inwardly. ¡°It¡¯s you. I was talking about you,¡± she added. Zeke ignored her, asking, ¡°When you say one of the most powerful, how strong are we talking? What level is he?¡± ¡°Over seventy-five. One of only ten in Adontis who can claim that. Some say that only the High Lord Adontis is stronger,¡± Adara answered. ¡°There are about twice that many who have reached that threshold, but few have surpassed it.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I have told you before that level seventy-five is an important level. Progressing beyond that point is incredibly difficult, but the rewards for doing so are significant.¡± ¡°In what way?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°It differs from class to class,¡± she said. ¡°But it is not uncommon for your attribute gains per level to double. There have even been cases where people have been awarded extra stat tiers at specific intervals. In addition, you will gain the opportunity to upgrade your skills instead of gaining new ones.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Zeke said. He¡¯d already seen the momentous effects of upgrading his existing skills, and he suspected that the Framework would do a much better job of it than he could ever do. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying I need to upgrade all my skills before I get there, huh?¡± ¡°Ideally, yes,¡± she said. ¡°But you won¡¯t get that chance until at least level eighty, so you have plenty of time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve been progressing pretty quickly,¡± he stated. ¡°And I still haven¡¯t tried the labyrinth dungeon.¡± That was on his list of things to do once the war was finished. Hopefully, he could bring Talia with him once they were reunited. ¡°I think you underestimate how difficult progression will become after level seventy-five. It will likely take twice as much kill energy to push you from there to the peak.¡± ¡°Twice as much as what?¡± ¡°As what you¡¯ve already accumulated from level one on.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Precisely. In Hell, we refer to it as the Precipice. The climb to the peak doesn¡¯t even begin until you reach level seventy-five. So, anyone who¡¯s taken even a few steps along that path is worthy of respect. And fear, if you¡¯re affected by that kind of thing. Which you usually aren¡¯t. Not in battle, at least. Your fears are usually more existential in nature.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t need that last assessment. He knew himself well enough to recognize where his fears lay. Typically, the idea of losing his own life wasn¡¯t among his list of worries, but he did get anxious at the idea of his followers dying. ¡°What is the plan, then?¡± he asked aloud. ¡°We must respond,¡± Silik stated, which was his first contribution to the meeting. ¡°The juveniles need the plains in order to properly progress. Without it, they will founder. They need kill energy in order to grow.¡± It was one of the longest statements Silik had ever uttered, and Zeke was impressed. Eveline, meanwhile, said, ¡°Do not mistake stoicism for a lack of intelligence. He¡¯s smart. He just doesn¡¯t like to speak. I would think you¡¯d understand that better than most, but perhaps I¡¯m giving you too much credit.¡± ¡°Ouch,¡± Zeke said inwardly. Before Zeke could respond to Silik, Adara said, ¡°The Knights need it as well. Most of them who have joined are lower-leveled and lacked opportunities in Adontis. That¡¯s one of the reasons they chose to switch sides.¡± ¡°That does not speak well to their loyalty,¡± Timaso growled. ¡°They will flip sides again the moment things become difficult or someone offers them a better situation. There is no honor among the so-called Knights of Adontis.¡± ¡°Enough of that,¡± Zeke said, though he knew there was some truth to Timaso¡¯s statement. However, that had been the case since he¡¯d chosen to allow some of the captured Knights to join the Crimson Tower¡¯s forces. It was an issue with only one solution: keep them engaged long enough to cement their loyalty. But then again, that was his strategy with all his people, because aside from the kobolds, none of them were there because they truly wanted to be. Instead, it was a marriage of circumstance, and Zeke knew that the moment the benefits dried up, they¡¯d begin to look elsewhere. ¡°Do we know where to find the enemy?¡± ¡°They do not hide,¡± said Rasa. ¡°Alright. I think we have no other choice but to confront them,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Clearly, they were sent to the plains to distract us.¡± The problem, though, was that Zeke could only summon one gate at a time, and unless he wanted to spend a month trekking through the plains as well as the labyrinth, he had to keep the lone gate active in Adontis. So, he and his army would have to cross the plains the old-fashioned way. Which would take quite some time, considering their size as well as the issues with moving a large army. ¡°How many soldiers?¡± he asked. ¡°Seven thousand Knights and twice as many infantry,¡± said Rasa. ¡°Dammit,¡± Zeke muttered. To fight that kind of force, it would take the bulk of his army. That meant he wouldn¡¯t be able to leave much of a presence back in Adontis. In turn, that would just delay their conquest of the enemy kingdom. ¡°Okay. Fine. We take everyone. Overwhelming force.¡± ¡°Will you participate, Ak-Toh?¡± asked Kianma. He¡¯d held himself out of the most recent battles in Adontis, largely so that his people could learn to fight without leaning on the advantages he could provide. That strategy had increased the casualties, but the gains were significant. This time was different, though. If this Lord Karik was as powerful as Eveline and Adara suggested, then Zeke was the only person who could stand up to him. On top of that, the opposing force was just powerful enough that Zeke didn¡¯t think his own people could win the fight without significantly outflanking the enemy. Even then, there would be grievous casualties. No ¨C if they were going to win, Zeke had to participate. Perhaps he would even make some gains along the way. Because if there was one thing he¡¯d learned, it was that the higher-leveled the enemy, the more experience they awarded upon their defeat. ¡°Get everyone ready,¡± he said. ¡°The kobolds, the Knights, the beastkin, and the kobolds. I only want to leave a token force behind in Adontis. We can¡¯t afford to hold back. This is going to take everything we have.¡± 450. Battle The morning dawned, crisp and cold, but a sense of impending doom hung over Zeke and his people. Beside him were thousands of kobolds and beastkin, with hundreds of humans interspersed. Some of the latter wore the armor of Knights, but most had donned the cyclops-skin armor so prevalent amongst the rest of the army. Zeke didn¡¯t expect many of those to survive the coming clash, and he¡¯d cautioned against the former peasants¡¯ inclusion. They weren¡¯t ready, and everyone knew it. Yet, they had insisted on battling for their honor as well as the vengeance of an oppressed people who finally had the chance to fight back against their former masters. Zeke couldn¡¯t deny them that opportunity. Even if he¡¯d wanted to, that choice would have alienated those people and spread discontent among the population. That, more than anything, meant that he had no choice but to allow for their inclusion. Hopefully, they would lean on the much more experienced kobolds and former Knights. The beastkin were a much more mixed bag. Some were reasonably strong, approaching the level of legionnaires. They¡¯d worked hard to attain even that minimal degree of power, and Zeke applauded those efforts. However, he knew that most, like the population of peasants, were in no condition to meaningfully contribute to the coming battle. But as was the case with those peasants, Zeke felt obligated to allow the beastkin to join the army and exact some measure of revenge against the people who¡¯d kept them enslaved for so long. Zeke expected it to go poorly for them, which was why he¡¯d resisted the idea of including them in the much stronger kobold lines. Because of the techniques and tactics Silik had developed, the kobolds were much more powerful than the sum of their parts. They worked together, creating a unified front via collective skills like [Shield Wall], where each individual supported the others. It was like a chain, and the comparatively weaker and less cooperative humans and beastkin were the weak links. Yet, Silik had insisted that they could absorb the weaknesses and remain unaffected. Zeke chose to trust the big general¡¯s judgement. After all, he¡¯d put Silik in charge of the army for a reason, and he knew it would undermine the general¡¯s authority of Zeke began to question Silik¡¯s decisions. A few hundred yards behind the amassed warriors were the spiritweavers and other support personnel. They were guarded by a token force that would act as a reserve if things turned in the Knights¡¯ favor. The centaurs and the rangers were nowhere to be seen. They had their own tasks, after all. Zeke turned his attention to the enemy. Across a field of swaying grass, nearly a mile away, stood a line of Knights in glistening armor. Most were mounted, each on a pristine white horse, but there were plenty of foot soldiers as well. And behind the Knights were hundreds of ranged attackers as well as priests that acted as healers. Some even had domains meant to enhance the force beyond their normal capabilities. But Zeke only had eyes for the figure at the center of the line. Even from so far away, the man stood out. If Zeke hadn¡¯t seen plenty of actual giants, he wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to bestow that label upon Lord Karik. He eschewed a mount, which, according to Adara, was borne of necessity as well as pride. Karik was too large for any normal horse, so he¡¯d never developed the knack. Instead, in battle, he depended on his own two legs, often boasting that no horse was fit to carry him. With his power, nobody had ever disagreed. ¡°That¡¯s an intimidating force,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°It is,¡± Zeke agreed. ¡°Do you think it will work?¡± He couldn¡¯t contain a mental shrug. ¡°I think so, but I¡¯m not exactly unbiased,¡± he admitted. ¡°There¡¯s a lot that could go wrong, even if everything works exactly as we intend.¡± ¡°What can go wrong, will.¡± ¡°A bit pessimistic, don¡¯t you think?¡± Eveline said, ¡°I prefer to think of it as unabashed realism.¡± Regardless of what Eveline called it, Zeke knew that the chances of everything going perfectly were slim. Perhaps even nonexistent. That was the one thing he¡¯d learned while fighting the war against Adontis ¨C no battle plan lasted past first contact. That was why he and the war leaders he had chosen only ever designed plans in terms of broad strokes. Anything else was focusing on needless details that would change the moment they engaged the enemy. However, Zeke had a couple of advantages ¨C one that he¡¯d yet to reveal, and another that he¡¯d purposefully withheld from the last few battles ¨C in his back pocket. Hopefully, that would prove the difference they needed to win the battle. ¡°You also outnumber them,¡± Evelin remarked. ¡°On the surface, yeah. But realistically? Most of those numbers are hollow.¡± Indeed, while there were a lot of individuals on his side, he could only count on the kobolds. The rest were enthusiastic about fighting, but they lacked the discipline of a cohesive fighting force. The result was that the seven thousand Knights across the field likely represented more collective power than Zeke had on his side. He could only hope that his presence would be enough to tip the balance in their favor. With that in mind, Zeke activated one of his advantages by embracing his twin domains, [Aura of Desolation] and [Burden of Sovereignty]. When he released the skills, runes of hellfire burst into being across each soldier¡¯s skin and their eyes began to glow with red-and-black light. More importantly, their collective posture shifted with the influx of power. Zeke had no idea what the hard numbers would be, but based on all of his testing, he estimated that his twin domains raised the stats of his soldiers by at least a third. ¡°Probably more,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯d prefer to underestimate than give the skills too much credit.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± she stated. The two domains were a constant drain on Zeke¡¯s mana, but he had plenty to spare. Most of his skills cost very little to use, so he felt that he could afford to be judicious with the utilization of [Aura of Desolation] and [Burden of Sovereignty]. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. But he wasn¡¯t finished. As the two domains enhanced him and his people, Zeke used [Triune Colossus] as well. His body transformed, taking on the sleek, metallic shape that came from fueling the skill with unattuned mana. He knew the two other versions would be necessary during the fight, but he wanted to keep them in reserve until he knew what response was necessary. ¡°The demonic version is always better at everything. I don¡¯t know why you resist it.¡± ¡°Because it makes me go crazy,¡± he said. ¡°And my body can¡¯t really handle such a concentrated influx of corruption.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what the rapid healing is for. Honestly, with [Aura of Desolation] generating so much demonic mana, you should be using that version of [Triune Colossus] more often.¡± ¡°Your comments have been noted.¡± They¡¯d had that conversation a few times since he¡¯d first acquired [Hell on Earth], which had subsequently evolved into [Aura of Desolation]. The problem was that, while Eveline¡¯s argument made sense, she had a tendency to ignore the corruption-induced rage that came from fueling [Triune Colossus] with demonic mana. In fact, she regarded it as, at worst, a minor inconvenience, and at times, she considered it a boon. Zeke pointedly did not, which was the source of the disagreement. That wasn¡¯t to say that he wouldn¡¯t use it, of course. He would, but only if he was forced by evolving circumstances to do so. Otherwise, he preferred to keep it in reserve. For a different reason, he also eschewed copious use of the earthen form of the skill. It was stronger and more durable, but to achieve those traits, it gave up quite a bit of agility and dexterity. That version of the skill was useful, but Zeke preferred the unattuned version because it was, in a lot of ways, a jack of all trades. On top of that, it was also most resistant to his Will, which had infected his domain, lending it power but also coming with a significant burden on Zeke¡¯s body and soul. After spending months inoculating himself to his Path of Arcane Destruction, he could endure the trickle that laced [Aura of Desolation], but utilizing the unattuned version of [Triune Colossus] meant that he was able to do so much more efficiently. That was enough to make it his preferred form. ¡°I think it¡¯s funny that you include your natural cambion form in that mix, and still choose to be a colossus,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It¡¯s more powerful.¡± Her only response was, ¡°Indeed.¡± Once his skills fully took hold, Zeke raised his recently summoned hammer high into the air. ¡°You should give a speech,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯m not giving a speech,¡± he responded in his head. ¡°Why not? It would get them all fired up.¡± ¡°First of all, I doubt they would hear me,¡± he stated. ¡°Second, I¡¯m terrible at speeches. You know this. It¡¯s better to lead by example than to try to be a motivational speaker.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re just scared.¡± ¡°That too,¡± he acknowledged. He could charge into battle without hesitation, but the idea of speaking in front of thousands of people ¨C even ones who practically worshipped him ¨C was a little too daunting for his taste. So, rather than speaking and letting everyone see how anxious the act made him, he¡¯d decided to channel the strong, silent leader archetype. Hopefully, that would be enough. In any event, the moment his hammer was raised, the kobolds let out a collective shout. Then, everyone advanced as one. However, they didn¡¯t sprint into battle. Rather, they stepped forward slowly and deliberately, holding their large tower shields ¨C which were a new addition ¨C in front of them. Zeke strode forward among them. That¡¯s when the Knights charged, leveling their lances at the disciplined army of kobolds along the way. The thunder of hooves swept over the battlefield as the Knights raced across the field of swaying grass. It was perfect terrain for a charge. Yet, the kobolds were prepared. Just before the Knights reached them, the strongest centurions braced for impact while the weaker legionnaires thrust long pikes between the gaps. At the same time, the centurions activated their collective [Shield Wall] skill, and a barrier of pure mana swept across the physical wall of tower shields. So, when the Knights hit, and with a thunderous impact, the kobolds were in a perfect position to resist. In addition, their pikes, which had been carved from the incredibly durable cyclops bones, were much longer than the cavalry¡¯s lances. As such, they had to go through a forest of long spears before they could even reach the wall of shields. The results were predictable. With so much momentum behind them, the horses couldn¡¯t slow down before slamming into the kobolds¡¯ bristling wall of sharpened bones. The beasts screamed in agony as the pikes ripped through their chests, staining their glistening white coats with deep red. Their riders fared no better, and the sudden cessation of momentum sent them flying from their saddles to crash into the [Shield Wall]. But that was only the first line. Even as those sacrificial Knights bore the brunt of the impact, their comrades raced through the gaps and charged into the kobold¡¯s line with an immense impact that shattered the skill. The kobolds fought back, stabbing out with shorter spears and sending beams of light to ricochet off the Knights¡¯ enchanted armor. The enhancements of Zeke¡¯s domains were effective, and he knew they were probably the only reason the kobolds survived first contact. Yet, it wasn¡¯t enough to completely bridge the gap. That had always been inevitable, though. For all of their growth, the kobolds were still a work in progress. And from everything Zeke had heard of Karik in his men, they were some of the best the Knights of Adontis had to offer. As such, Zeke and his people had made their plans with their force¡¯s inferiority in mind. Zeke could only hope that the strategy they had developed would be enough to bridge that gap. But for now, he had other things on his mind as he waded into battle alongside his kobold army. He had one job, and it was a familiar one. If his people couldn¡¯t stand up to the run-of-the-mill Knights, then they had no chance against their leader. Zeke¡¯s only responsibility ¨C aside from using his domains to enhance his troops ¨C was to occupy Karik¡¯s attention so that the rest of the plan could play out absent the hulking man¡¯s interference. So, Zeke only had eyes for his opponent. In his unattuned form, he was a few feet taller than Karik, but from a sheer perspective of presence, the Knight¡¯s leader seemed to loom over the battle. And fortunately, he was as wholly focused on Zeke as Zeke was on him. Not a surprise, considering that anyone with half a brain could recognize that he was a huge contributing factor in the kobolds¡¯ power. Without him, they would lose. It was as simple as that, and Karik recognized that reality. With a roar, Karik raced forward, his enormous sword held like a baseball bat. When he reached Zeke, he wasted no time before swinging it with all the considerable force he could muster. The great slab of metal lit up with some sort of skill, and Zeke could feel the metaphysical weight of it bearing down on him as the blade swept toward him. Indeed, it was so powerful that he half expected the air to ignite with its passage. It also came much more quickly than he¡¯d expected. Karik moved so much faster than any man his size could have managed, so Zeke only barely got the haft of Voromir up in time to block it. It did not go well. Zeke rocketed backwards, bowling his kobolds over along the way, and his momentum didn¡¯t stop until he¡¯d gone nearly fifty feet. When he looked at his hammer, though, that was when he truly understood the stakes. Voromir had been through a lot over the years, and the weapon had never been found wanting. However, when Zeke looked at the rune-inscribed bone haft of his hammer, he saw a small notch where the sword had made its impact. That really drove the weight of the Knight¡¯s attack home. If it had hit him, Zeke knew it would have shattered his metallic body. Obviously, Eveline¡¯s judgement had been spot on when she¡¯d said that anyone who reached even a few steps beyond level seventy-five would present a different tier of challenge. Zeke picked himself up, and as he faced off against the bear-like Knight, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep sense of excitement. After all, it was a rare occasion when he found an opponent who could truly challenge him, and he was eager to see how he stacked up. So, with that enthusiasm dancing in his mind, Zeke stepped forward to meet the Knight. 451. Round One The head of Zeke¡¯s hammer fell with a wet thunk, collapsing the enemy knight¡¯s skull. A spurt of blood escaped the man¡¯s helmet as he fell to the ground in a limp heap. Yet Zeke wasn¡¯t concerned with that foe. Instead, he only had eyes for the huge and menacing form of Lord Karik, who was racing in his direction, the huge slab of metal that was his sword held high above him. All around him, kobolds and Knights clashed, and the light of skill activations filled the air with a strobe-like effect. Meanwhile, Zeke surged forward, clearing the way with a momentous sweep of his hammer. Knights were knocked aside as he prepared himself to meet Karik¡¯s charge. However, just before the collision, he used [Center of Gravity], pulsing it only once with the intention of throwing the big Knight off. It worked, and the man stumbled, albeit only slightly. That was enough for him to completely miss blocking Zeke¡¯s next attack, which was an uppercut that took the man directly in the chin. He went flying backward, flipping twice before landing nearly two hundred feet away. Zeke followed it up with a stomp as he activated [Hell Geyser], sending a line of destruction tearing across the battlefield to erupt directly beneath the fallen Knight. Hellfire and molten earth shot into the sky, bathing everything in a forty-yard diameter in pure devastation. Even before the destruction dissipated, Zeke used [Shifting Sands], and the world slowed as he dropped into the earth. A subjective moment later, he was ripping across the battlefield only to emerge a foot or two away from Karik. When he did, he aimed another momentous upper cut at the man, which sent him flying directly upwards. Zeke bathed in the hellfire as the destruction began to fade, and a second later, Karik fell to the ground with the force of a fallen meteor, cratering the earth for a dozen feet all around him. Zeke had no intention of letting up, though, and he jumped at the man, enhancing his weight at the peak of his leap. Leading the way with his hammer, he fell upon Karik with thousands of pounds of force behind him. And he found nothing but raw earth. A second later, Karik¡¯s sword bit into his side, carving a huge chunk of rocky flesh away as it sent Zeke tumbling sideways. He trampled a few Knights along the way, and when he came to a stop, a half-dozen others fell upon him, stabbing with spears and swords. Yet, their attacks did almost no good, at least in comparison to the screaming pain of having half his torso ripped away. The moment Zeke recovered, he threw himself to his feet and laid about him with his hammer, knocking the opportunistic Knights aside and focusing on his real opponent. Lord Karik hadn¡¯t moved. Instead, he remained in place, his chest heaving with exertion or pain. Half of his grizzly beard was gone, and the other half smoldered with hellfire. His face was red and blistered, and his armor had melted in a couple of places. His breastplate bore a few major dents and scratches, and one of his vambraces had been ripped away. But he was still standing. He even wore a grim and gruesome smile, revealing teeth coated in blood. ¡°That all you got?¡± he growled, his voice carrying over the battlefield. ¡°Not by a long shot,¡± Zeke rumbled in return. Then, as if they¡¯d heard the same signal, the two launched themselves at one another, racing across the trampled field as each aimed to murder the other. As they charged, the rest of the battle raged all around them. The kobolds fought with unnatural discipline, having regrouped after initial contact to reform their shield wall. The Knights were not to be outdone, though, and any time they managed to break the line, they created havoc among the individually weaker kobolds. Zeke couldn¡¯t concern himself with that, though. He was wholly focused on the one thing he could do that no one else could: keep Karik tied up until the rest of his army won out. He had to force himself to trust that his people were up to the task, else he would stretch his attention too thin and fail. If that happened, his army would fall soon after. So, Zeke leveraged his attention appropriately as he collided with Karik. The first few blows from either combatant found nothing but air, but after only a few exchanges, they started to land. When Voromir hit Karik, metal dented and the man was sent stumbling to the side. Always, he regained his balance quickly, yet the effect of those blows had already started to mount. For Zeke, the consequences of getting hit were different. Every time that massive slab of a sword hit him, it carved slices of his metallic body away. He had plenty to spare, and he constantly kept [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] flowing, yet the damage had already begun to pile up. Something would have to change if he intended to win the fight. So, in a brief respite that came after another titanic blow took Zeke by surprise and sent him tumbling away, he chose to shift his form. Dragging earthen mana from the ground, he transformed, his body thickening with jagged and rocky protrusions. As he thundered back into the fight, he did so a few feet taller and quite a lot heavier, and when he took another hit, it only resulted in a cascade of pebbles as the bulk of his form remained intact. That was due to the increased endurance that came with his earthen colossus form, though for all its advantages, it came with weaknesses as well. Never was that more apparent than when Karik aimed one savage blow after another at Zeke, who was too slow to block or dodge the bulk of the attacks. He endured them well enough, yet he knew that even a mountain would succumb to the constant barrage of erosion. So it would be with Karik. Each attack shattered a bit of Zeke¡¯s earthen body, and it was only a matter of time before the damage reached the point of making a true impact on the battle. In the meantime, Zeke tried to fight back, but his attempts were lumbering and, ultimately, easily dodged. As a result, his shift into his earthen form was largely useless. But he maintained it, even using [Shifting Sands] a couple of times to get the jump on his opponent. On those occasions, he managed to land massive blows that sent Karik stumbling away. However, the man was more than capable of enduring whatever Zeke could dish out. He also had some sort of regeneration ability, though it seemed far less efficient than Zeke¡¯s own [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. So the fight went as the two herculean combatants traded blows. Meanwhile, the overall battle continued apace, with each side surging back and forth as they rode the tide of momentum. Which was fine with Zeke. The strategy hinged on him keeping Karik busy, not defeating him. And in that endeavor, he¡¯d been largely successful so far. Still, fighting the overlarge Knight was frustrating, and the lack of a decisive victory rankled on Zeke¡¯s pride. But he wouldn¡¯t let that derail him. So, he fought on, trying to beat Karik into submission. At the same time, the hulking Knight attempted the same with him. As a result, they went back and forth, trading titanic blows that would have crushed lesser combatants. However, Zeke definitely got the worst of it. Still, Zeke¡¯s frustration was mirrored by Karik, who clearly wasn¡¯t accustomed to anyone being able to stand up to him. His blistered face contorted with effort as he rained one attack after another down on Zeke until, finally, he¡¯d had enough. Zeke saw the mana swirling just before Karik erupted into silvery light that bathed his surroundings in the power of the moon. Under the influence of the enemy domain, Zeke stumbled, weakened as agony ripped through him. At the same time, his kobolds faltered as well. Shields clattered to the ground as they let out a collective scream of torment. The Knights, meanwhile, were emboldened, either by Karik¡¯s skill or by their enemy¡¯s stumble, and they fell upon the kobolds with wild frenzy. Dozens died in the space of an instant. But then, Zeke¡¯s own domain, [Aura of Desolation] went to work, ripping the silvery light apart with the power of Hell mingled with the might of Zeke¡¯s path of arcane destruction. Clearly, neither Karik nor the Knights of Adontis were prepared for that, because when the effect on the kobolds dissipated and they turned the tables on the stunned Knights, they were taken by complete surprise. The kobolds slaughtered the shocked Knights, falling upon them with enhanced strength as well as their own skills. At the same time, Karik screamed in fury, activating another skill that wreathed him in moonlight. His already commanding power increased as he leaped at Zeke. For his part, Zeke was entirely incapable of responding to such an expression of power, and as a result, he was nearly cleaved in two. The Knight¡¯s blade bit deep, carving into Zeke¡¯s torso almost to his spine. The only reason he wasn¡¯t entirely bisected was because the immense momentum of the attack sent him rocketing across the battlefield until he collided with a group of his own soldiers. Some of them died on impact, but a few merely experienced broken bones. Zeke, meanwhile, tried to keep himself from falling apart. And he failed. Karik leaped at him, his immense slab of a sword held high. As he descended, Zeke embraced the corrupted mana inside and around him, shifting it into [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. At the same time, he used [Shifting Sands], though when he tried to fall through the earth, he found the way blocked by a plane of pure moonlight. Still, he was under the effects of the time dilation that came with the skill, so he had a moment to think. He looked up, seeing Karik hanging in mid-air. And he knew he didn¡¯t have a choice but to play the card he¡¯d been holding since the beginning. Because Zeke hadn¡¯t spent the past weeks idle. Instead, he¡¯d been working to upgrade his skills ¨C or one, in particular. And the results had been spectacular. [Colossal Army] (C) ¨C An evolution of [Colossal Legion], summon ten colossal golems to fight at your side. In a symbiotic relationship, they enhance the summoner, while he augments their prowess. In addition, the golems have the ability to immobilize an opponent. Upgradeable. Zeke used the newly evolved skill, and a gate opened beside him. At the same time, he dove to the side, skating across the moonlight barrier, as he narrowly avoided Karik¡¯s thunderous attack. The dilation effect of [Shifting Sands] faded a moment later, and the ground erupted into a wave of earth as the shockwave of Karik¡¯s impact threw even Zeke¡¯s massive and weighty body a dozen feet across the battlefield. But he recovered only a second after skidding to a stop, pulling on the demonic mana created by [Aura of Desolation] to fuel his transformation into the corrupted version of his colossal form. His body slimmed, and the effect of his already-inflated stats were massively enhanced. He threw himself back into the battle, riding a wave of unprecedented power as he bore down on the Knight. And he got a face full of sword for his trouble. The great slab of metal nearly decapitated him, but with [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] drinking deep from the ambient corruption, the wound healed before it could do any lasting damage. However, as had been the case each time he took a hit from the overpowered Knight, the momentum of the attack sent him tumbling across the battlefield. Somehow, Zeke managed to find his feet, thrusting his hand into the ground to arrest his own momentum as he skidded to a stop. ¡°Demon!¡± the Knight thundered in rage as he threw himself in Zeke¡¯s direction. For his part, Zeke didn¡¯t respond because he had nothing to say. Instead, he stood his ground, his muscles twitching with barely-restrained need as the man bore down on him. Then, when the enraged Knight drew close, Zeke cocked his hammer back, then used [Unleash Momentum] as he swung his weapon in an all-too-familiar baseball swing. The results were explosive. The air briefly ignited under the massive impact as Zeke struggled to contain the force to a small corridor of a few feet. He was mostly successful, funneling the unleashed momentum into a tight window that took the Knight directly in the chest. However, he was completely incapable of completely containing so much power, and as a result, his surroundings suffered. It didn¡¯t matter if it was a kobold or a Knight, they all were affected. The closest were killed outright, their armor vaporized and their bones turned to mush as they were thrown aside. The ones that were a little further away were merely injured as that same shockwave sent them flying. And even dozens of feet away, the force was felt as kobolds and Knights stumbled. But none took as momentous a hit as Karik, whose chest cratered under the impact. That was all Zeke saw before the huge bear of a man went skipping across the battlefield, his limbs flopping around as his massive sword flew in the other direction. He wasn¡¯t dead, though. Zeke knew it. So, he used [Center of Gravity], yanking the man in his direction. Under the influence of Zeke¡¯s skill, the Knight¡¯s body reversed course. Yet when Karik finally arrived, Zeke got quite a shock as he took an armored fist to the jaw. Suddenly, the situation reversed itself, and Zeke found himself bouncing across the field in the other direction. And he¡¯d had his jaw entirely ripped away for his trouble. A few moments later, when he recovered, he pushed himself to his feet to find that the lower half of his jaw was barely hanging on by a thread. So, he adjusted it back into position, then flared [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. Across the battlefield, hundreds of feet away, Karik was no better off. His chest had become a massive crater, and his armor was barely hanging on. The flesh on one half of his blistered face had been ripped clean off, leaving only a skull. Yet, he was still alive. And he didn¡¯t look too happy. Zeke rolled his shoulders, ignoring the battle still raging around him as he focused on the insanely durable Lord Karik. He raised his hammer in salute. Karik raised his fist, embracing a skill. He grew taller and broader, while his armor became more jagged. Then, the two launched themselves across the battlefield for the second round. 452. Outflanked Pudge burst out of [Concealed Steps], ripping through the Adontis scout. The man¡¯s light armor offered little resistance to Pudge¡¯s sharp claws, and the bearkin tore through him with enough violence to send his two halves flying in opposite directions. That was as expected, given Pudge¡¯s newest skill: [Sinister Claw] (D) ¨C You are an ambush predator of rare talent. Spring from stealth with a mighty attack. Upgradeable. The description of the skill lacked nuance, but Pudge suspected that was due to his own nature. He knew for a fact that many of Sasha¡¯s skill descriptions were long and involved, and he¡¯d discovered that Jasper¡¯s songs were similarly complex. By comparison, his were straight and to the point, which he preferred. He didn¡¯t need a bunch of flowery language to know what his skills did. For instance, [Sinister Claw] worked by augmenting a single attack, so long as he engaged from the stealth of [Concealed Steps]. He wasn¡¯t great with numbers, but with Sasha¡¯s help, Pudge had deduced that it increased the power he could bring to bear with an initial attack by nearly five times. Thus, when he used it, very few entities could stand up to his might. Perhaps Zeke might have managed. So could some of the more powerful Knights. But a foot soldier like the scout he¡¯d just killed? It was gross overkill, but Pudge was so enamored with the skill that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to eschew its use. As a result, he tore the scout in half before sighting in on the man¡¯s suddenly horrified colleagues. That was another thing Pudge had discovered. He was aware that there were skills to induce fear and rob an enemy of their rationality. Jasper had a song that did just that. However, for Pudge, that was entirely unnecessary, and he understood why. He was a hulking and horned bear, teeming with corruption, and when he suddenly appeared amongst the enemy, ripping one of their allies in half, the resulting terror was entirely natural. Yet, it was no less effective because of that. Using [Netherclaw], he manifested a giant, black-and-red claw, then slashed it forward. The mana-induced appendage tore through another scout, leaving only a handful left. Before they could react, Pudge slashed out again, sending an arc of blood flying before he used [Shadow Evisceration], disappearing from their perception. Time slowed as shadows enveloped him. A ring of black corrosion exploded from him, tearing across the forest and leaving corruption in its wake. Pudge barely noticed it, save to note how much time it gave him to act. He raced forward, ripping through as many opponents as he could. His attacks were inelegant and brutal, and Pudge regretted that he couldn¡¯t employ some of the more advanced techniques he¡¯d been practicing in the Hunting Grounds. But he only had a specific amount of time, and he couldn¡¯t waste it on perfect form. Instead, he used his Path of Ferocity to lend his attacks more power, and the result was predictable. In the space of an instant ¨C at least from their point of view ¨C six men were torn to shreds. Blood sprayed in wide arcs as a half-dozen gashes suddenly appeared, exposing their innards. A moment later, the ring of corruption swept through, exacerbating their condition until, finally, Pudge reappeared, bloody and with his chest heaving. It wasn¡¯t from exertion, though. Rather, his Path of Ferocity came with significant excitement. Even as his previous victims fell to the ground in what seemed almost like a synchronized event, Pudge whipped around, looking for more targets. There were none, which wasn¡¯t surprising. He¡¯d done his job well, so there were no more threats in the immediate area. As such, he quickly embraced [Concealed Steps] and loped away. Over the next few minutes, he killed three more groups, which was more than he¡¯d been led to expect. For all their prowess, the Knights didn¡¯t generally employ many scouts. So, the presence of three full groups meant that they likely expected some sort of surprise. And that was accurate. With that in mind, Pudge returned to the temporary base of operations, where he found Sasha surrounded by a dozen spirtweavers. Despite their best efforts to conceal the vast mana signature, Pudge could still feel it crawling along his hide. But he didn¡¯t dare interrupt them with his discomfort. He¡¯d seen Sasha work often enough to know that she wouldn¡¯t thank him for a distraction. With the added burden of the spiritweavers¡¯ input, and any such disturbance would likely be disastrous. So, Pudge backed away, continuing his patrol. He wasn¡¯t certain how long the casting would take, but he was well aware that the battleplan hinged on Sasha¡¯s contribution. Without it, the kobolds could still win; in fact, Pudge expected that that eventuality was inevitable, given Zeke¡¯s participation. Yet, if they wanted to minimize casualties and continue the war, they required a bold plan. That was what Sasha represented. As he caught the scent of another group of Adontis scouts, Pudge resumed his stalking. All the while, he hoped it would be enough to spare as many of their people as possible. * * * Jasper parried a Knight¡¯s longsword with his dagger, then followed it up with a thrusting strike. It was no ordinary attack, though. For the first time since taking his class, Jasper had chosen a direct attack skill. [Melodious Strike] (D) ¨C You have proven your dedication to the power of the song, and as such, you have learned to harness it for purely destructive purposes. Enhance any attack with the melody, doing extra damage while also extending the duration of any song you have in effect. Upgradeable. It was the link he¡¯d sought for so long that Jasper barely even cared about the extra damage. Instead, he was wholly enamored with the fact that it allowed him to twist his songs together in a way that let him use up to four at a time. Because of that, he had [Rhythm of the March], [Rhythm of War], [Accelerating Crescendo], and [Melody of Celerity] all running at the same time. Every now and then, he would miss a note, ruining the chain, but that was unsurprising, considering he was trying to fight a battle at the same time. Still, he was quickly getting the hang of it, and the results were better than he could have expected. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. [Rhythm of War] increased his and his allies every physical attribute, while [Rhythm of the March] enhanced their footspeed. Meanwhile, [Melody of Celerity] gave them slightly faster reflexes. Finally, [Accelerating Crescendo] did the same thing for him, though at a much higher level. Without the last, he never could have maintained his pace. Even so, Jasper wasn¡¯t sure if it would be enough. At present, the battle had come to something of a stalemate, with both sides pushing and pulling for an advantage. Kobolds and beastkin died, but so did the Knights, and Jasper suspected that unless something changed soon, even a victory would leave their forces crippled. There were two chances of that happening. The first hinged on Ezekiel, who was busy fighting an epic battle of his own against a monster of a Knight whose very presence sent a tremor of fear up Jasper¡¯s spine. He knew that if he were to face such an enemy himself, he would last maybe a second. Even his own mother would have been wary of such an opponent. Perhaps Ezekiel could win ¨C an eventuality that would usually be inevitable ¨C but there were other plans in place that could change the course of the fight. The first had the best chance of success, but the difference it could make was less overt. And it would only show its worth as the battle wore on. The second, though, was far more bombastic, though Jasper questioned if it was even possible. Yet, he¡¯d seen what Sasha could do, and she¡¯d only grown stronger as the war had continued. Couple her increasing aptitude with those enigmatic spiritweavers, and there was a chance she could end the battle on her own. The only problem was that she was entirely vulnerable while casting her spells, so she couldn¡¯t do so from anywhere near the battlefield. Jasper could only hope that her partner was up to the task of protecting her. With those thoughts in mind, he parried yet another attack and once again used [Melodious Strike], skewering one of the Knights in the joints between his armor pieces. It wasn¡¯t a fatal blow, but then again, Jasper wasn¡¯t really trying to kill anyone. It was much more important to keep his various songs going. That was his task and the best use of his skills. He could only hope that everyone else was holding up their end of the bargain. * * * Raising his spear to the sky, Silik let out a roar, which every kobold in the army echoed. While a battlecry was an important part of any fight, Silik¡¯s had a different purpose. [General¡¯s Vigor] (D) ¨C Release a momentous battleshout, giving your soldiers a temporary boost in stamina. Also provides a small degree of regeneration. Upgradeable. When he¡¯d finally attained another skill choice, the decision had been an easy one. Any kobold worth being part of the clutch would have done the same, and so, despite having the option of taking a few powerful attacks, SIlik hadn¡¯t hesitated before choosing the one that would enhance his centurions and legionnaires. Anything less would have sullied his honor and negated his position as the {Kobold General}. The shoult of [General¡¯s Vigor] was also the signal for the first part of the plan to commence, and a moment later, he looked across the battlefield to see a horde of smaller kobolds suddenly appear amidst the Adontis back lines, where they started killing the wounded who¡¯d been dragged clear, the healers meant to get the back into battle, and the officers who¡¯d so far coordinated the battle. The rangers ¨C whether they were the ones who preferred ranged attacks or the more up-close-and-personal sort ¨C were vicious and deadly, largely due to their abilities in stealth. Not only could they sneak around behind enemy lines and gather information, but they were also a vital part of any kobold strategy. If Silik had his way, the juveniles would have lent their weight to the fight as well ¨C as was proper in kobold society ¨C but Ak-Toh had forbidden it, saying that the juveniles were meant to be protected. He hadn¡¯t completely prohibited them from hunting, but Ak-Toh had banned them from participating in such a deadly battle. They were, as he often insisted, the future. And Silik had no interest in disagreeing with their leader. His role was to obey, and though he¡¯d made some strides in thinking for himself, he couldn¡¯t stomach the thought of going against Ak-Toh¡¯s wishes, even when he disagreed with them. As the rangers slaughtered the non-combatants, officers, and wounded, the Knights faltered. At that point, the kobolds surged, pushing them with their shields. They weren¡¯t concerned with killing them. Not at that point. Instead, they were meant to simply use the brief distraction to herd the Knights into the right area. But the kobolds couldn¡¯t do it alone. It was lucky, then, that they had accounted for that. With the rolling thunder of stamping hooves, the centaurs crested a slight hill in the distance, then descended upon the left flank, slamming into the already off-balance Knights with long and sturdy lances before wheeling around and retreating. They were out of range by the time the Knights recovered enough to offer a counterattack. Still, when they turned to respond, the kobolds fell on them with increased fury. The Knights, meanwhile, attempted to respond to both sides, which meant that they were out of position for both. Still, it was a testament to their durability and high-quality armor that they weren¡¯t immediately slaughtered. Being attacked from three different directions, and with the combination of Jasper¡¯s songs and Ak-Toh¡¯s powerful domains enhancing the kobold army, it should have been a one-sided fight. Yet, the Knights were powerful in their own right, and without Ak-Toh¡¯s direct intervention ¨C he was still busy fighting the powerful leader of the Knights in one-on-one combat ¨C the army of kobolds and beastkin were incapable of finishing off their enemy. Fortunately, that was according to plan. Silik and his army continuously pushed against the Knights. They killed some, but that was never the goal. At the same time, the centaurs¡¯ main focus wasn¡¯t to slaughter as many Knights as possible. Instead, they only wanted to keep them off-balance, and in that arena, they excelled. Their lightning-fast charges continuously harassed the army of Knights while the kobold rangers slaughtered the weaker Adontis combatants. Still, it was a slow strategy that would inevitably lead to many casualties, especially considering that the experienced Knights had already begun to adjust, shifting Knights armed with long lances to the left flank, which affected the viability of the centaurs¡¯ charges. Silik shouted again, giving his charges an influx of energy and extending the regeneration. They responded with renewed vigor, shoving with their massive tower shields and sending beams of deadly light to crash against the Knights¡¯ armor. And then he felt it. Mana swirled, and the ground shook. The red armband he and every other member of his army heated up, then started to glow. It was disconcerting, but ultimately necessary. For what was coming, if he and his people were without protection, they would be just as vulnerable as the enemy. That was the spiritweavers¡¯ contribution. They were meant to protect. To nurture. To lead. Meanwhile, Sasha¡¯s spell, which was contained and guided by a series of stakes the kobold rangers had driven into the ground, only had one goal ¨C to destroy. And in that endeavor, Silik expected it to succeed. The girl was nothing if not effective, after all. Even as the sky darkened, the Knights had no idea what was coming. They were too distracted to brace for the building impact. They were too off-balance to retreat. No ¨C they were bare before the power of a true sorceress, and Silik knew they would be found wanting. He couldn¡¯t wait. 453. The Power of Gods Zeke felt the world roil as the sky split open, but even as thick bolts of arcane lightning descended upon the increasingly terrified Knights, he had other things on his mind. Only a few minutes before, Karik had discarded any limitations he might¡¯ve once had, and he¡¯d embraced a transformation skill similar to what Zeke had seen before among the high-level Knights. Yet, with Karik, it was far more powerful, sending his already-imposing physical attributes soaring into even more superhuman territories. Since then, it had been all Zeke could do to hold on as the man pummeled him. Even in his corrupted colossus form, he could scarcely keep up with the damage, and returning the attacks with blows of his own was largely impossible. Still, he¡¯d managed to get a few hits in, though they only served to verify that the Knight¡¯s durability had increased right alongside his strength and speed. Even so, Zeke held on because that was his job. After taking a huge haymaker that he couldn¡¯t dodge, Zeke was hammered into the ground. He used [Shifting Sands], and was unsurprised to find that the ground was just as impenetrable as before. Normally, his domain would have broken whatever skill was responsible, but for whatever reason ¨C probably sheer power ¨C even his vaunted Will was incapable of shattering the barrier. So, as he had before, Zeke used the time dilation portion of [Shifting Sands] to fling himself away from Karik¡¯s follow-up stomp. He narrowly avoided it, then sprang to his feet. As he did, he swept his hammer out, and miraculously, managed to connect with Karik¡¯s knee. It crumpled to the side, clearly breaking. Yet, only a moment later, a surge of mana washed over the Knight, and his knee popped back into place. Zeke barely noticed as he rammed his shoulder into the man¡¯s mid-section, sending him flying backwards and into a collection of his own Knights. That was when the storm finally descended, sending hundreds of forking bolts of arcane lightning to slam into the battlefield. The first volley killed many of the weaker Knights outright, but most survived. The second collection of strikes finished off half of the remaining combatants. And the third managed to halve even that. Over and over, the lightning descended, filling the battlefield with the sound of thunder mingled with the screams of the dead and dying. It only lasted thirty seconds, but it felt like an eternity, even for Zeke and his army, all of which were protected by the red armbands created by the spiritweavers. Yet, when the spell finally ended, a few of the most powerful Knights remained. They weren¡¯t unharmed. And quite a few were outside the predefined area Sasha and the spiritweavers had created over the past week. But the number of Knights on the field had instantly been decreased by more than half. And that, Zeke hoped, would be enough to win the day. Even as the storm faded, the centaurs slammed into the left flank, charging deep within the Knights¡¯ ranks. At the same time, the rangers continued their slaughter of the backlines that had been outside the area of effect for Sasha¡¯s devastating spell. For Karik¡¯s part, he endured dozens of lightning strikes, but when the air cleared and the dust settled, he was still standing. One of his arms hung limp by his side, and large portions of his armor were melted. The blistering on his face had only worsened, leaving him with a twisted and scarred visage that looked barely human. Yet, for all he¡¯d endured, he was still alive and capable of combat. He proved that much when he reached down and picked up his sword. Even as the battle continued to rage, he took his sweet time, even backhanding a kobold that came too close. The legionnaire flew fifty feet before hitting the ground in a boneless heap. At the same time, he flexed his mana, then leveled his sword at Zeke. The only other warning came from the swirl of mana at Zeke¡¯s feet. He dove to the side, but he wasn¡¯t fast enough to avoid a giant blade, glowing with lunar power, erupting from the ground. It clipped his hip, sending him into a twirl followed by a stumble. That¡¯s when the second enormous blade ¨C it was at least five feet across and ten times as long ¨C exploded from the ground. This one nearly took Zeke¡¯s leg off. The next came only an instant later, but by that point, Zeke was using every point of his explosive strength to throw himself around. However, he was distressed to see that the effect wasn¡¯t localized. Instead, the entire battlefield had been subjected to the eruption of blades. Kobolds and beastkin died in droves, dozens with every passing second until Zeke flexed his Will, shoving as much of it as he could into [Aura of Desolation]. He''d never tried it before, but the effect was devastating for the skill. Blades crumbled into dust, and Karik screamed in incoherent rage as he threw himself across the battlefield, hellbent on finishing Zeke off. But that¡¯s when his golems showed their worth. After having been summoned, they¡¯d thrown themselves into the surrounding battle, and since then, they had been forgotten. Not by Zeke, who knew they were more than just soldiers. Instead, the evolution of the skill from [Colossal Legion] to [Colossal Army] came with an additional function, which they brought to bear as Lord Karik thundered across the battlefield. As one, all ten golems manifested giant javelins. In unison, they cocked their arms back, then tossed them at Karik. The man was too angry and focused on Zeke to even block them. Indeed, throughout the battle, he¡¯d endured a hundred attacks from opportunistic kobolds, and to almost no effect. So, they hit without any issue. However, instead of clanging off his armor ¨C melted and destroyed as it had become, it was still powerful ¨C they sank deep into his torso. Ten javelins, each tipped with the power of Zeke¡¯s Path of Arcane Destruction, pierced him through. He screamed even more loudly, yet he didn¡¯t slow. Not at first. But then, from the other end of the javelins erupted a line of arcane power that snaked out, latching onto the ground. As those mana-wrought chains stretched taut, Karik¡¯s progress came to a screeching halt. He tried to yank himself free, but the chains held. That¡¯s when the collected might of the entire army fell upon him. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Thousands of instances of [Spear of Memories] erupted into being, the light of their expression enough to make Zeke see spots, slammed into the immobilized Knight. At the same time, Zeke summoned [Hell Geyser] again. This time, Karik had no chance of escape. And as injured as he was, with the integrity of his armor having been breached, the damage was even more hellish than before. When that faded a few seconds later, Zeke used it again. And again after that. He drained his mana down to almost nothing, throwing one [Hell Geyser] after another at the man. Yet, even after four instances of the skill ¨C as well as a barrage of other skills from the kobolds, beastkin, and human members of Zeke¡¯s army ¨C Karik still stood. ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a misnomer,¡± remarked Eveline, who¡¯d been silent throughout the battle. ¡°Can¡¯t disagree with that,¡± Zeke muttered in his own head as he strode forward. Or rather, he limped. He hadn¡¯t escaped the battle without significant injury himself, and despite the power of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], he had yet to recover. Indeed, it would be weeks before he completely healed, and that was with the help of the Crimson Spring. Karik was worse off, and significantly so. The man¡¯s armor was melted onto his body, and what skin shone was ragged, charred, and blistered. He barely even looked human, he was so scarred and burned. One of his arms was missing, and the half of his face that had been ripped off earlier in the battle was nothing but a blackened skull. He knelt in place, his hand fused to the hilt of his great sword. But there was defiance in his eyes. Anger, too. Zeke knew the man had no intention of surrendering. Retreat was not in his vocabulary. In that way, he and Zeke were made from the same mold. Zeke approached, hammer in hand, stopping only when he was within ten feet of the fallen Knight. ¡°Surrender, and we will heal you,¡± Zeke growled, knowing the answer he would get. He felt obligated to extend that much respect, though. Karik clearly had no interest in respect ¨C or survival in defeat ¨C because he tried to launch himself at Zeke. He got all of a foot before he hit the ground, his face skidding across the charred earth as he came to a stop. What remained of his feet hadn¡¯t moved from the original spot, meaning that Karik¡¯s legs stopped at his knees. But still, he tried to scrape and claw his way toward Zeke. More troublingly, he was visibly healing with every passing second, which meant that Zeke needed to end the fight before his enemy recovered. Besides, Karik had made his choice. He wasn¡¯t going to surrender, and if Zeke let him live, the powerful Knight was sure to cause no end of problems. Even so, he hesitated. The man had fought well, and in that battle, there had been a note of mutual respect. It almost felt like a betrayal to kill the man. It had to be done, though. That was the grim reality of war, and one Zeke had learned well enough. So, he pushed his empathy and respect for the man aside, hefted his hammer, and brought it down with a herculean blow that harnessed every ounce of strength he could muster. Even then, it wasn¡¯t enough, though it did knock Karik senseless. As the man writhed in insensate agony, Zeke brought his hammer down again. And again after that. Over and over, he struck the Knight in the back of the head until, at last, his skull was crushed and Zeke felt a wave of kill energy wash over him. Normally, that came with a sense of palpable satisfaction. That was part of the Framework¡¯s system, after all. Positive reinforcement. But in that moment, Zeke felt none of it. Instead, he experienced only a sense of melancholy that it had been necessary. Sighing, he looked up to see that the battle had begun to wind down. The kobolds had been hit hard by the man¡¯s field of swords, but their casualties weren¡¯t nearly as extensive as Zeke had first suspected. Still, every death was a blow to both their continued war efforts and to Zeke¡¯s sense of responsibility. ¡°People die in war,¡± Eveline said unhelpfully. Then, she doubled down by adding, ¡°You should revel in the fall of your enemies.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll revel tomorrow,¡± he growled. Then, he ignored her response. Zeke was well aware that his attitude was hypocritical. He¡¯d started the war, after all, and most of the time, he felt justified. However, when confronted with so much death, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how needless it was. If only the people of Adontis had refrained from slavery, they might have been able to coexist. ¡°You know that¡¯s not true. They¡¯re rotten to the core,¡± said Eveline as Zeke watched his army finishing off the Knights. Taking their cue from their leader, the force refused to surrender. Instead, they¡¯d adopted a ¡°go down with the ship¡± mentality, fighting until the very end. The kobolds were not afflicted with the same melancholy that had infected Zeke. In fact, they didn¡¯t seem to feel any way about the fighting. They simply did what was necessary without letting emotions get in the way. The same could not be said for the beastkin or humans. The former fell upon their old masters with gleeful violence, slaughtering the Knights with ruthless fury. Zeke could understand that attitude, given what those beastkin had been forced to endure. He¡¯d been a slave ¨C albeit one with far more freedom than most ¨C and he could well remember the sense of hopelessness that came with that. And he also remembered the feeling of justice when he¡¯d killed some of his captors. The humans, meanwhile, seemed conflicted. That was also understandable. They had been oppressed ¨C most were peasants, after all ¨C but it was impossible to slaughter one¡¯s countrymen without feeling internal conflict. Even so, they did what was required of them, killing any who stood before them. Yet they did so hesitantly and with palpable regret. Strangely, the few Knights who¡¯d been freed ¨C led by Adara ¨C were afflicted with no such hesitation. They killed without regret. ¡°It¡¯s their culture,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯ve overheard a little of it. Their sense of self-value is tied to combat prowess. So, there¡¯s no negative stigma associated with defeating and killing an enemy. They revel in it. You could learn something from them, especially if you¡¯re going to keep fighting wars.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do what¡¯s necessary,¡± Zeke said. And that was true. However, he wasn¡¯t certain he would ever take pleasure in killing other humans. Monsters were fine. And even killing other races didn¡¯t hit him quite as hard. But human beings were different, especially when he was forced to respect their efforts. Gradually, the battle wound down. As it did, Zeke watched the machine that was his army¡¯s support personnel come to life. Hundreds of spiritweavers and a few beastkin as well as human healers gathered the wounded and administered varying degrees of triage. Seeing that, Zeke began to truly appreciate how much the Crimson Spring was worth. Without it being available, his army had to rely entirely on skills and a few weak potions his novice alchemists had brewed. The results were not great, and in the wake of the battle, even more of his people succumbed to their injuries. It was almost enough to prompt him to summon his gate, but he managed to resist that urge by reminding himself that keeping the gate on the other side of the labyrinth would save lives in the long run. Still, it was a difficult argument to accept. ¡°You don¡¯t have to watch it all,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Yes. Yes, I do,¡± Zeke stated. And he did, right up until the various healers had done everything they could. By that point, the people who¡¯d managed to survive intact had looted what they could from the battlefield and completed their preparations to return to the tower. As they set off across the Mukti Plains, Zeke recognized that even though they¡¯d won the most recent battle, there were many more to come. He hoped he and his people would be up to it. 454. Disbelief Grand Magister Tordal slammed his fist against the desk, demanding, ¡°What?!¡± His advisors ¨C morons, every single one of them, as far as he was concerned ¨C shuffled their feet nervously. Perhaps he should make an example of one of them. That would incentivize them to perform better. But then again, they were idiots, so maybe they¡¯d already hit the limits of their capability. In that case, it might be time to prune their ranks and bring in some fresh blood. ¡°So? No response?¡± he growled. ¡°No explanations? We¡¯re losing a war to savages and monsters, and you have nothing?!¡± As he screamed the last question, his mana flexed. One of the advisors ¨C Tordal didn¡¯t even remember the man¡¯s name ¨C crumpled to the tiled floor, where he lay twitching. The other three men swooned, but they at least maintained their feet, if unsteadily. Normally, the Grand Magister wouldn¡¯t have let his aura leak ¨C he had better control than that ¨C but he was rarely so angry as he was in that moment. With his frustration and anger as context, a little slip was more than understandable. ¡°They didn¡¯t give an explanation, your grace,¡± the longest-tenured advisor said. He was level sixty, at least, which meant that he¡¯d spent a little time out in the field. By comparison, the others were useless dandies fresh from training. ¡°The messenger they sent only said that they expect us to handle our own problems. If we can¡¯t, then¡­¡± He trailed off. Tordal demanded, ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°Then we don¡¯t deserve their alliance,¡± the advisor answered, his voice small and pitiful as his eyes found the floor. With a growl of fury, Tordal swept his arm across his desk, scattering the map, paper weights, and writing utensils onto the floor. They hit with a clatter, and Tordal¡¯s every muscle tightened. In addition, his aura slipped out of his control, and to disastrous effect. All but the level sixty advisor dropped to the ground, where they seized and frothed at the mouth like rabid animals. It was disgusting. It was weak. Tordal wanted nothing more than to truly let loose and rid the world of the stain of those weaklings¡¯ existence. Yet, he did not. The advisors were meant to be the best Adontis had to offer ¨C at least in terms of their minds ¨C and so, they represented his best chance of the kingdom¡¯s redemption. So, he pulled back, forcing himself to some semblance of calm. When he had his aura controlled, the men on the floor ¨C boys, really, especially compared to him ¨C ceased their interminable twitching. Yet, they did not recover, and he knew they wouldn¡¯t for some time. So, he signaled to a pair of guards ¨C men with proper levels ¨C who saluted, then started dragging those weaklings away. That left only the senior advisor, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but directly in front of Tordal. ¡°So,¡± he said. ¡°Our allies refuse to honor the alliance.¡± ¡°That¡­is¡­yes, your grace,¡± the man answered. ¡°They did not say so outright, merely expressing that ¨C¡± ¡°That we should handle our own problems,¡± Tordal said, gesturing for silence. ¡°Yes. I understand that much, at least.¡± It made no sense. What good was an alliance ¨C especially one that was so blatantly in favor of the newly minted Imperium and the Radiant Host ¨C if they wouldn¡¯t respond when Adontis had been invaded by monsters? That was the whole point of an alliance, after all. Adontis allowed the Radiant Host access to their dungeon, as well as their most talented warriors, and the Imperium was meant to help them against outside threats. Yet, he understood why they wouldn¡¯t want to extend help. After all, if Adontis couldn¡¯t defend against such a force, then they weren¡¯t worthy of the alliance to begin with. On top of that, the Imperium likely had plans to swoop in once Adontis had fallen, deal with the invading beasts, and take the land ¨C and the dungeon ¨C for themselves. That marked a change in policy for the Radiant Host. Before, they¡¯d been mostly contained to their own lands. Certainly, they ventured out on various crusades, but those were meant to cleanse the world of one blightful presence or another. The goal was never expansion. However, that foreign policy had changed when Ignatius ¨C the man who¡¯d redubbed the land the Imperium ¨C had come into power. Since then, he¡¯d adopted a policy of aggressive expansion, even sending an army to fight the Norik Alliance. And every indication suggested that he didn¡¯t intend to stop there. Spora and Sythe would clearly be next, and there was even a chance that Ignatius¡¯ goals extended all the way to Westport. To believe that Adontis would escape their fate was the height of naivete, yet any preparations or response Tordal might implement was hamstrung by the invading army of monsters. He could do nothing until they were defeated. At least he and the bulk of his army were safe behind the Barrier. Without it, he might have feared Adontis¡¯ fall. But with that ¨C not to mention Lord Adontis himself ¨C the kingdom¡¯s survival seemed assured. The only questions were how much population would be left after the monsters completed their rampage and how long it would take to retake their lands. But if they did, there was a chance that Tordal could turn the situation to Adontis¡¯ advantage. After all, when Ignatius had taken control of the Radiant Host and established the Imperium, he¡¯d signaled to the rest of the Eternal Realm that the Arch Magi Erdokan, who¡¯d once stood at the head of the Radiant host, was no longer in the picture. Perhaps he¡¯d been killed ¨C unlikely ¨C or maybe he¡¯d ascended. Either way, the notoriously proud Erdokan would never have tolerated someone like Ignatius taking over. That meant that, for the first time in recent memory, the Radiant Host was vulnerable. And if Tordal could defeat the horde of monsters at his proverbial gate, he and the other survivors could easily turn their attention to other lands. If the Imperium was hellbent on expansion, then so too could Adontis be. After all, conflict brought progression, and the survivors of the war would doubtless be much stronger by the time they overcame the obstacles in their way. So, it only stood to reason that they would then turn that newfound strength to the so-called allies who had refused to come to their aid. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The mere thought was enough to assuage his anger and bring a slight smile to his face. ¡°What of Karik? Is he truly dead?¡± he asked. ¡°He has succumbed, your grace,¡± the aide stated. ¡°The captains of the airships that conveyed them across the labyrinth narrowly escaped before being overrun, but they saw the lord¡¯s fall. He is gone.¡± That was even better. Karik had never truly sought advancement. He was obsessed with increasing his personal power, but he¡¯d never dabbled in politics. Still, the reality of his presence ¨C and his questionable loyalty ¨C were enough to dissuade Tordal from making any major moves. Now that he was gone, it was just another complication gone. Certainly, the loss was a major blow to the military might of Adontis. That was unquestioned. Yet, they had other powerful Knights to take his place. ¡°What do you wish us to do, your grace?¡± asked the aide. ¡°What orders should I convey?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing?¡± ¡°We are already ensconced behind the Barrier, where we are well-equipped for a siege,¡± Tordal stated. ¡°Let the monsters come. They will crash against the Barrier like every other foe who has challenged it. When they are rebuffed, they will wander off, just like every other monster horde that has ever existed. We needn¡¯t do anything. They will fail because of their natures.¡± ¡°But your grace ¨C¡± Tordal cut his eyes at the aide, letting loose the tiniest surge of his aura. The young man paled as the Grand Magister said, ¡°You would do well not to question me, child. Do you understand?¡± The aide paled, but he managed to nod before saying, ¡°Yes, your grace. I apologize for my impertinence.¡± Tordal waved his hand, shooing the aide away as he said, ¡°You are dismissed. Do not disappoint me.¡± The young man bowed, then backed out of Tordal¡¯s office. After the door shut behind the aide, Tordal pushed away from the desk before turning to face the window. Outside, the city of Ivern spread gloriously across the land. Silvery marble shone in the moonlight, soothing Tordal¡¯s agitation. It had taken years to quarry the special stone, but it had been well worth it. It was a fitting way to show the majesty of Adontis. Yet, of late, Tordal had begun to doubt the kingdom¡¯s path. Originally, the kingdom had been founded by a rogue member of the Radiant Host, but over time, they had nurtured a profitable relationship with the much larger force. As such, the collective path of the Knights of Adontis had shifted from a theme based on the sun to one of reflected light. In short, they¡¯d developed skills based on the moon. And it had so far been enough. However, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the monsters at their gate would have been quite so bold if they¡¯d had to deal with the radiance of the sun rather than a mere reflection of its powerful light. Perhaps. But he thought not. As strong as the Knights of Adontis were, their path was clearly inferior to that of radiance. In any case, it wasn¡¯t as if they could simply change their path overnight. At present, they were stuck, but he hoped that they would soon change course. Otherwise, they would never outshine the Imperium. For a while, Tordal simply observed the city until there was a knock on the door. He said, ¡°Come.¡± ¡°Your grace?¡± came the gruff voice of one of his guards. Tordal turned, gesturing for the man to continue, ¡°Lord Adontis has emerged from meditation, and he wishes to see you.¡± Tordal swallowed at the notion of seeing his uncle. He didn¡¯t have as much to fear of the powerful man as most ¨C after all, the chances that Lord Adontis would kill his own blood were slim ¨C yet Tordal knew that he wasn¡¯t immune to reprimand. And from vast experience throughout his long life, he knew that Lord Adontis¡¯ attention was rarely pleasant. Still, he couldn¡¯t avoid a direct summons, so he simply nodded to the guard and stepped away from the window. After gathering his cape and affixing it to his shoulders, he checked himself in the mirror he¡¯d had installed. His reflection pleased him, and rightly so. He was the perfect picture of a commanding Knight, with broad shoulders, a barrel chest, and a slim waist. His blonde hair had only a hint of gray, and his beard had been perfectly shaped. The same was true of his face, which had been adjusted by the very best {Flesh Shapers} available. But even then, he feared that his uncle would find some fault. He always did. So, Tordal spent a few extra minutes inspecting his pristine armor for smudges or scratches, and only when he¡¯d found none did he take a deep breath, then leave his office behind. Over the next few minutes, he made his way through the keep, barely seeing the rich d¨¦cor or acknowledging the attentive Knights standing guard. They would have been impressive, had he not been subjected to their presence throughout his long life. Yet he¡¯d grown so used to them that he hardly even noticed treasures that would have beggared lesser nations. Eventually, he found his way to his destination, passing through the massive blood oak doors ¨C an affectation meant to show that his uncle didn¡¯t fear the undead lands of El¡¯kireth ¨C and progressed down the hall. After a few twists and turns, he reached a massive chamber, in the center of which was Lord Adontis himself. And even Tordal, who¡¯d grown up in the man¡¯s shadow, was awed by his domineering presence. Lord Hector Adontis was, in a word, perfect. Appearing to be a man in his late twenties, he was even more broad-shouldered than Tordal, with rippling muscles that made him look like the god he¡¯d come so close to becoming. In addition, his golden locks hung to his shoulders, and his beardless face sported a square jaw and high cheekbones. He looked like a character ripped out of a storybook, and Tordal could admit ¨C at least in his own mind ¨C to a healthy degree of jealousy. As he approached, Hector remained kneeling in the center of the massive chamber. Momentous flows of mana swirled all around the most powerful man Tordal had ever seen in person, and in that moment, he couldn¡¯t imagine that anyone could stand up to such an august figure. Yet, Lord Adontis was only level eighty-three. What would it feel like to be in the presence of someone who¡¯d reached into the nineties? Or worse, if they had reached the peak, as was the rumor with the Arch Magi Erdikan. That degree of power was hard to contemplate. Hector flicked his eyes open, took one look at Tordal, and sighed. ¡°As disappointing as always,¡± he said. ¡°I hoped you would have gained at least one level by now. Obviously, I was expecting too much from someone of your meager talent.¡± Tordal tightened his fist, but he didn¡¯t speak. Hector noticed, though, letting out a slight chuckle. ¡°A little fire in you. Perhaps if you directed that at your own progression, you would be higher than level seventy-six.¡± Forcing his mind to placidity, Tordal said, ¡°You summoned me, Lord Adontis, and I have arrived.¡± ¡°So formal,¡± Hector said. ¡°We are family. You needn¡¯t stand on ceremony.¡± ¡°Very well¡­uncle,¡± Tordal said. ¡°May I ask why you summoned me? I was under the impression that you would be in seclusion for some time yet.¡± ¡°I expected to be,¡± Hector stated, finally rising. ¡°But when I felt the Barrier engage, I decided to investigate. To my eternal disappointment, I have found that you have allowed half the kingdom to fall under the sway of monsters. What do you have to say for yourself?¡± Tordal started to speak, but before he could get more than the first word out, Hector¡¯s aura flared, enveloping him. He fell to his knees, struggling to breathe. His muscles locked up, and his heart threatened to give out. ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t ¨C¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Hector thundered, clearly having no intention of listening to his nephew¡¯s explanation. ¡°I need none of your excuses!¡± He stepped forward, then put his hand on Tordal¡¯s head. ¡°You are a disgrace to your level and kingdom,¡± he said sadly. ¡°If your mother could see you now, she would fall on her own sword in shame. You will fix this. You will defeat the monsters rampaging through our kingdom and bring our slaves and peasants back under our banner. Do you understand?¡± ¡°I¡­d-do¡­¡± Hector¡¯s aura faded, and Tordal gasped for breath. ¡°Good,¡± the leader of Adontis said. ¡°Very good. Now, tell me how you intend to accomplish what is required of you.¡± 455. The Benefits of War As he turned the crown over in his hand, Zeke said, ¡°It¡¯s not very strong, is it?¡± ¡°No,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Not to you, at least. For a demon, it would be scalding. This is a similar artifact as the one I¡¯ve told you about.¡± ¡°The one the demon used to develop a holy attunement?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she answered. ¡°Huh. It doesn¡¯t feel like something that could alter a demon¡¯s fate,¡± Zeke mused. Indeed, the crown looked impressive enough. It was a circlet of solid gold, with various jewels set into the measured peaks of its structure. However, even if it looked like a stereotypical crown from a fairy tale, it felt almost mundane to Zeke. There was a slight tingle, but beyond that, he could barely even tell that it contained mana. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re a cambion with a spark of divinity,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°And that spark has only grown of late. With the kobolds looking at you like a deity, it will continue to strengthen until you ascend to the next realm. After as well, but that divinity will mark you even more strongly in the Ethereal Realm.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Eveline admitted. ¡°My experience in the matter is limited to myths and half-truths passed down through demonic civilization. Needless to say, falsehoods abound in such an environment.¡± ¡°So it could all be a lie?¡± ¡°No. Demons have a complicated relationship with the truth. We think nothing of twisting it to our own ends, yet there is almost always a kernel of truth, even in the most egregious lies,¡± she explained. ¡°That reality of demonhood forces us to develop an ability to separate truth from lies, so long as we hear enough stories. It can only provide the broadest of strokes, but as someone who¡¯s always specialized in the mind, I have a little more insight than others.¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re lying, just like all the other demons,¡± Zeke commented. ¡°I¡¯m no longer a demon,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Just an innocent mind spirt who happened to latch onto the first brute who offered me a chance to escape my captivity.¡± ¡°Such a sweet thing to say,¡± Zeke deadpanned. ¡°Ugh. Don¡¯t be sarcastic. That¡¯s my thing, and it sounds weird coming out of your mouth,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Technically, nothing came out of my mouth,¡± was Zeke¡¯s smug response. Indeed, the entire conversation had taken place in his head, and over the course of only a few seconds. By that point, he was used to it, though. He turned his attention back to the crown he¡¯d taken from Lord Karik¡¯s camp. It was such an ostentatious thing for a man who¡¯d exuded such stark practicality. Of course, he hadn¡¯t worn it ¨C that would have been ridiculous. Instead, it had been contained in a chest inside the Knight¡¯s tent, which was only identifiable by its massive size. The camp itself had been a few miles away from the battlefield, though it was almost entirely abandoned. The few people who¡¯d remained behind were beastkin slaves, a few of the Knights¡¯ support personnel, and a handful of peasants. Some had resisted when Pudge and a contingent of scouts had descended up on the camp, but most had surrendered immediately. ¡°And so your kingdom grows,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Do you think this thing will satisfy the requirements of the quest?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Technically, you don¡¯t need a holy treasure at all.¡± ¡°You know what I mean,¡± Zeke stated. The quest itself only required natural treasures representing the normal attunements. Left off the list were demonic and holy treasures, but Eveline had assured him that, while they were optional, they would improve the quality of the promised reward. For that same reason, they sought the most powerful treasures available in the hope that the reward could help to usher the kobolds to even more power. ¡°It will suffice,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Only barely, though.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll have to do for now, then,¡± Zeke said, silently hoping that he could find something better. And considering that they were on the verge of moving toward the capital of Adontis, which was a city called Ivern, it seemed likely. However, before that city was one of the most defensible locations Zeke had ever beheld. Nestled between two mountains, it sat behind a massive, mana-wrought shield that seemed almost entirely impenetrable. Even with the Runebreaker technique, Zeke questioned whether or not he could bring it down. Without seeing it, he could only guess that it would require multiple instances of the technique, and from what everyone had told him, that sort of exposure would likely get even him killed. Because Ivern was a proper fortress, with stout defenses and the ability to repel invaders. Not only did it house the best fighters Adontis had to offer, but it was also armed with various enchanted engines of war that it could bring to bear against anyone who assaulted their capital. And even if they overcame those glaring problems, they would need to defeat Lord Adontis himself, who was reputed to be one of the more powerful people in the realm. Certainly, he wouldn¡¯t be on the level of the two wyrms who¡¯d fought beneath the mountains, but he would assuredly push Zeke to his limits. ¡°You¡¯re not ready to fight someone like that,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I know,¡± Zeke responded, still flipping the crown in his hands. Even Karik had nearly defeated him, and Lord Adontis was far stronger. Indeed, he was supposed to have reached into the eighties. Anyone who could reach that level had done so via a host of advantages most people could only dream about. ¡°What do you suggest?¡± ¡°Get stronger.¡± ¡°How?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°There¡¯s a perfectly good dungeon within the labyrinth,¡± she answered. ¡°That¡¯s how everyone else progresses. Sure, you can fight monsters out in the world, at least for a little while. But the number of kills required to reach past the first threshold would depopulate the world before anyone found their way to the peak. Dungeons are the Framework¡¯s way of getting around that. One of the few ways it helps, rather than oppresses.¡± ¡°If I go, it will leave the kobolds vulnerable,¡± Zeke said. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°If you don¡¯t, you will spend months preparing for a fight that you still might not be powerful enough to win,¡± Eveline said. Zeke ran his hand through his hair and looked up. The grounds of his manor looked as peaceful as ever, which stood in stark contrast to the issues swirling through his mind. Certainly, he had won the fight against Lord Karik, but it had been a close contest. Without Sasha¡¯s spell ¨C as well as the surprise of his evolved [Colossal Army], there was every chance that he would have failed. Sure, it would have taken days for him to succumb. His abilities meant that sudden death was barely even a possibility. However, it was possible to slowly wear him down, and Karik had seemed like the perfect person to utilize such a tactic. But Zeke wasn¡¯t so arrogant that he thought he could defeat entities like the wyrms. Or someone who¡¯d progressed more than ten levels past the first threshold. He had plenty of advantages on his side, but so too would Lord Adontis. He would also be surrounded by powerful people like Lord Karik and have thirty extra levels ¨C along with the skills that came with it ¨C on his side. Going up against that sort of force was tantamount to suicide. ¡°For now,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You¡¯re almost level sixty. With any luck, that dungeon will usher you to level sixty-five. Perhaps even further.¡± ¡°You think so? I didn¡¯t get that many levels in the centaur trials. It was the same with the dungeon in the giants¡¯ territory.¡± Back then, he¡¯d gained nearly ten levels. But he¡¯d long found that progression was a double-edged sword, and each subsequent level took a little more kill energy than the last. Couple that with all the leeches draining experience from him, and he didn¡¯t climb the level ladder very quickly. The only reason he¡¯d kept pace was due to the fact that he routinely fought enemies much stronger than himself. That came with increased danger, though, and as he progressed, the number of enemies above him ¨C or at least the degree to which they exceeded his levels ¨C shrank. One day, he would be forced to fight hordes of lower-level monsters just to move a step forward on his path. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what that dungeon is,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Honestly ¨C how do you not know this? Most of the Knights who have turned coat have already conquered that dungeon,¡± Eveline said. ¡°They know what to expect, and they have shared that knowledge with your people. Truthfully, the fact that you haven¡¯t been sending people into the dungeons in your territory is one of the dumbest things you¡¯ve done. Or not done.¡± Zeke started to respond, but then caught himself. She was right. In the Eternal Realm, dungeons were a valuable resource, and the two he had under his control had so far been misused. Indeed, if he hadn¡¯t destroyed the first dungeon he¡¯d encountered¡­ No. That place was evil, and the world was better off now that it was gone. ¡°What is it like?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°You could ask that husky girl you think about so often,¡± Eveline responded. ¡°The one with the shoulders.¡± ¡°Adara is not husky,¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Not compared to an ox.¡± ¡°I am not having this conversation with you again,¡± Zeke stated. He hated that Eveline always wanted to turn any mention of Adara to a conversation about the woman¡¯s body. It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t interested in those sorts of things, but rather that he disliked how Eveline reduced the woman to such superficial characteristics. ¡°I can see inside your head, you know,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Not going to say anything else about it. Just pointing out that I know what you really think, even if you don¡¯t want to admit to it.¡± ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you didn¡¯t insult her inside my head.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Eveline said, giving a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll manifest physically for all insults.¡± ¡°Eveline.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± was her dramatic response. ¡°I won¡¯t make comments about peoples¡¯ appearances, even if I think they are ox-like. Starting now.¡± That was probably the best Zeke was going to get, so he changed the subject, asking, ¡°So, this new dungeon ¨C what¡¯s it supposed to be like?¡± ¡°You could ask the Knight. I¡¯m sure she would be happy to explain it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you, since you obviously already know.¡± ¡°You are absolutely no fun. You do realize that, don¡¯t you?¡± she pointed out. When Zeke didn¡¯t offer a response, she went on, ¡°The dungeon is what¡¯s known as a gauntlet. It starts off with only a few enemies, but each time you defeat a wave, more come. The last phase is supposed to be more than a thousand enemies. The best part is that they¡¯ll all be higher level than you.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t feel like a good thing,¡± Zeke said. Fighting a thousand enemies at once, especially when they were stronger than him, didn¡¯t seem like a positive trait. ¡°Higher level doesn¡¯t mean stronger,¡± Eveline retorted. ¡°That¡¯s why this dungeon is supposedly so valuable. It offers a nearly perfect leveling opportunity. Similar to those fire ants you fought back in the Mortal Realm.¡± Zeke certainly remembered that time fondly. Back then, he¡¯d progressed more in a few weeks than he had in months of effort in other situations. The fire ants had been deadly foes, but due to his advantages, they were incapable of killing him. Perhaps this new dungeon was similar. ¡°It is. All physical damage, damage, which is what you excel in taking,¡± Eveline explained excitedly. ¡°That¡¯s why the Knights wear such heavy armor, apparently. At first, it was to better combat the dungeon in their territory, but over time, it became a defining characteristic of their collective identity. Whatever the case, though, you already have what you need to wade into that gauntlet and emerge without a scratch.¡± ¡°I have a hard time believing I won¡¯t take any damage,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Well, no. You¡¯ll definitely take a bit. But you have the tools to overcome that. It really is a perfectly crafted situation for your advancement. I¡¯d be surprised if you didn¡¯t reach level sixty in the first run.¡± ¡°First run?¡± ¡°Oh, did I not mention it? You need to keep running it until you¡¯re ready for Ivern.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there diminishing returns?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Of course. But there are still returns, even if each subsequent run diminishes them. No matter how you spin it, you¡¯re going to have to take quantity over quality, at least until you reach level sixty-five.¡± ¡°How long do these runs typically take?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°And how many do you think I¡¯ll have to do before I get to sixty-five?¡± ¡°At least ten,¡± she answered. ¡°After that, it will be so miniscule that you¡¯d be better off moving on. The good thing is that you¡¯re still under level seventy-five, which means that your progress is much faster than it will be afterwards.¡± ¡°Yay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be petulant. It doesn¡¯t suit you,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Besides, your level of relative power is such that, at level sixty-five, you should be able to fight someone like the Lord of Adontis with a reasonable expectation of winning. If you fight smart, at least.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really do smart,¡± Zeke said. He knew himself well enough to recognize his flaws, and he was well aware that he¡¯d never be a great thinker. He was a man of action, and though he thought of himself as above average in the mental department, he was self-aware enough to realize that it didn¡¯t go much beyond that. ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short. When it comes to fighting, you¡¯re basically a savant,¡± she said. ¡°With a big club.¡± Zeke ignored the statement, saying, ¡°So ¨C you didn¡¯t answer my other question. How long do these runs typically take?¡± ¡°A day. Maybe two.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s¡­doable,¡± Zeke said. He would only have to leave the kobolds alone for a day or so at a time, which severely limited the amount of trouble they could find. And if they did encounter something they couldn¡¯t handle, they only had to hold out long enough for him to complete the dungeon run. ¡°What about after sixty-five? Any ideas?¡± ¡°Killing Lord Adontis and slaughtering every Knight in the city will go a long way toward pushing you higher,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But after that, you need to find another war to fight. Or more dungeons. Which is kind of your thing, so you should be fine.¡± Zeke wanted to argue that point, but he knew she was right. He might not know anything about ruling his people, and he often made mistakes with his personal relationships. But one activity in which he¡¯d always excelled was fighting ¨C which was lucky, considering that was probably the answer to all of his questions and the means by which he would accomplish his goals. ¡°Alright. I guess I need to talk to Adara, then,¡± he said, dismissing the crown into his storage space. Then, he pushed himself to his feet, raked his hand through his hair, and headed toward the teleportation portal. He didn¡¯t acknowledge it, but in the back of his mind, he was aware of the butterflies that had begun dancing in his stomach. That brought a laugh from Eveline, which he subsequently ignored. 456. The Arena ¡°This is wrong,¡± said Adara. ¡°The dungeon is not meant to be used this way. It is a reward. Not a¡­whatever it is you are doing.¡± Zeke rolled his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to sit it out,¡± he said, glancing to the side. She was wearing her armor, which he could admit ¨C if only in his mind ¨C looked good on her. She certainly cut a striking figure. ¡°I¡¯m sure I can find someone else to fill out the group.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t my point.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke said. Behind him followed Pudge and Jasper, as well as Eta, who¡¯d agreed to leave the farms to act as their healer. Her skills in that arena weren¡¯t the most powerful in the tower, but she¡¯d proven countless times that she could survive whatever the world threw at her. Anyone who could make it through the first dungeon they¡¯d run had Zeke¡¯s trust. Besides, if she could gain a few levels, she might get a new skill that would help the tower with its food production. So, as far as Zeke was concerned, bringing her along was a win-win. The other three were similarly easy choices. Jasper¡¯s songs could help everyone be better versions of themselves, and Pudge was¡­well, Pudge was Pudge, which meant that he had every ounce of Zeke¡¯s trust. The only question mark was Adara, though as a level fifty-one, she could at least hold her own. More importantly, she had run the dungeon before, which meant that she could act as a passable guide. ¡°That¡¯s definitely the reason you brought her along,¡± said Eveline, who hadn¡¯t even bothered to mask her sarcasm. ¡°Shut up,¡± Zeke muttered silently. But in the back of his mind, he knew there was some truth to her accusation. Adara had already revealed everything she knew about the dungeon, and even if she hadn¡¯t, it wasn¡¯t as if it was a complicated place. The entire thing was contained in a single arena, where they would be faced with ten waves of increasingly powerful and more numerous foes. The shape of the enemies tended to change from one run to the next ¨C sometimes, they were humanoid, others they were bestial monsters ¨C but the layout was always the same. As such, he didn¡¯t really need to bring Adara along. ¡°Going on a dungeon run is probably the weirdest first date I¡¯ve ever heard of,¡± Eveline continued. ¡°But I suppose it¡¯s appropriate for you. And judging by all that armor, she¡¯ll probably enjoy it. Once she gets over herself, at least.¡± Zeke tried to ignore the mind spirit, but he had to admit that she had a point. Adara wasn¡¯t entirely hostile, but it was clear that she didn¡¯t like him very much. That wasn¡¯t surprising, considering he had invaded and conquered much of her home. Certainly, she¡¯d surrendered and come over to his side, but that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t conflicted about it. Or maybe she just didn¡¯t like Zeke from a more personal standpoint. ¡°You really do like her, don¡¯t you?¡± Eveline remarked, probably as a response to the wave of nervousness he¡¯d experienced at the prospect of Adara¡¯s dislike. ¡°That¡¯s kind of cute. You know, if you weren¡¯t both adults and murderous¡­¡± Zeke pushed her away, saying aloud, ¡°This is happening. Get on board, or stay behind. I don¡¯t want to listen to a bunch of complaints while we¡¯re fighting for our lives.¡± ¡°Smooth,¡± said Eveline. ¡°I know how to conduct myself in battle,¡± said the part-orc woman. ¡°Good,¡± Zeke said, turning his attention to the dungeon before him. It had taken nearly a week for him to arrive, and even that had been pushing it. Without the group of kobold rangers that had guided them through the labyrinth, it would have taken much longer. Fortunately, the scouts had spent the past few months meticulously mapping the entire thing, so they had no issues leading Zeke and his companions to the dungeon. Still, he wished he could have brought Silik and Kianma along, at least. Sasha, too. Pushing them to higher levels would have been extremely beneficial for both the tower and the war effort. However, the tower needed its leaders, and so, the two kobolds had stayed behind to ensure that everything ran smoothly in Zeke¡¯s absence. As for Sasha, she was ill-suited for the sort of fighting at hand, which she readily admitted. Besides, she didn¡¯t seem eager to visit another dungeon ¨C a sentiment Zeke understood very well after his previous two. The centaur trials had been torturous, but the giants¡¯ dungeon had been enough to put Zeke off of dungeons entirely. Still, he¡¯d resolved to push those memories aside and do what was best for his own development ¨C and, as an extension of that, for the kobolds who followed him. The dungeon itself was different from what Zeke had seen from the two others he¡¯d challenged. Both of those had been fairly self-contained, with the entrances presenting as simple gates. However, this new dungeon ¨C which the Knights had dubbed The Arena ¨C was precisely what its name implied. Instead of a gate, it was a huge building that reminded Zeke of the Roman Colosseum on Earth. Or any number of more modern sports arena that had used the famous ruins as a template. In any event, there were quite a few major differences as well. For one, it was larger, giving the impression that it could seat hundreds of thousands of people. It loomed above everything like an artificial mountain, though with artfully carved columns and arches. The second key difference had to do with those carvings, each of which were incredibly detailed and depicted a wide variety of monsters, most of which Zeke didn¡¯t even recognize. Each statue looked like someone had simply turned a living creature to stone, which given the nature of the Eternal Realm, might not have been that far off from the truth. Zeke had never encountered a monster that counted petrification among its skills, but he didn¡¯t think it was a far-off possibility, either. Finally, The Arena differed from any other structure Zeke had ever seen in that it was all just a fa?ade. He¡¯d been told that the thing had no interior, and that if someone were to try to climb inside from any entrance but the one at the front, they would disappear and never return. Despite his curiosity, that wasn¡¯t a fate Zeke wanted to experience, so he had no intention of tempting fate by testing it out. ¡°Is there anything else we need to know about this place?¡± Zeke asked, turning to Adara, who stood stiffly beside him. ¡°I¡¯d hate to get in there and find some sort of deadly surprise waiting for me.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°I have told you everything I know,¡± she stated. ¡°I¡¯m just saying ¨C if I end up getting trapped in here or dying, your people are going to die, too. Everyone in the tower will,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°And yet you throw yourself into dangerous situations. That is irresponsible.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke acknowledged. He¡¯d thought the same thing himself. ¡°But if I don¡¯t get stronger, they¡¯ll die, too. So, this is the only way forward.¡± She didn¡¯t have any retort for that. So, after Zeke had asked his other companions if they were prepared, receiving affirmative answers as a response, he led them forward and through the arched entrance. The moment he stepped through, Zeke experienced that same feeling of displacement he¡¯d felt the other two times he¡¯d entered a dungeon, and then, he suddenly found himself in the center of a massive arena. A second later, the others appeared beside him. The roar of a crowd, hundreds of thousands strong, erupted all around, and Zeke looked up to a sea of spectators. Some were races he recognized ¨C like orcs and lizard-men and even a few humans ¨C but most were completely new to him. They all looked so real that Zeke couldn¡¯t help but wonder as to the nature of the creatures inside the dungeons. He¡¯d often had those same thoughts, but when confronted with the crowd in The Arena, they bloomed anew. The floor of The Arena was pure, white sand, and it extended for more than a mile in each direction, ending in tall stone walls that reached a height of nearly a hundred feet. Everything about The Arena was out of proportion, skewing much bigger than reality would suggest. And that included the booming voice that drowned out the crowd and echoed across the space. Zeke couldn¡¯t understand the words ¨C which was an oddity, considering the automatic translation usually provided by the Framework ¨C but he didn¡¯t let it shock him. After all, he¡¯d been warned, and he knew precisely what it meant. Four gates ¨C one in each direction ¨C opened the moment the announcement ended, and a monster charged out from each one. They looked like lions, though with a snake for a tail and the horns of a ram. Zeke used [Inspect] on one: Chimera ¨C Level 58 It was as he¡¯d been led to expect. Not only would the waves ¨C ten in all ¨C increase the number of enemies, but they would also grow more powerful individually. It was an escalating threat meant to test power and endurance ¨C at least according to the propaganda recounted by Adara. For his part, Zeke expected it was just another challenge that was supposed to separate the weak from the strong. As was the case with every other dungeon he¡¯d encountered. In any event, Zeke didn¡¯t have time to ponder the nature of his world and the threats within it. With the chimeras bearing down on him, he used [Triune Colossus], fueling it with unattuned mana. He transformed, growing taller and broader while adopting his predominantly metallic form. Then, summoning Voromir, he met the chimera¡¯s charge with an uppercut strike that took it directly in the lion-faced chin. It flipped backwards, landing dozens of feet away, its jaw shattered from the impact. At the same time, Adara drew her own sword ¨C a massive blade that took two hands to wield ¨C and brought it down in an overhand chop that crushed another chimera to the ground. Yet, it was not defeated ¨C not until Jasper darted in, his various songs already in effect ¨C stabbing his rapier through its eye socket. Then, he dashed away just before its tail struck, and the snake missed by inches. Adara severed it just below the cobra-like head. Meanwhile, Pudge wasted no time with his own enemy, summoning [Netherclaw] and tearing it to pieces. It never even came close. That left only one enemy, which Zeke rushed, tackling it to the ground before it could bring its natural weapons to bear in an attack that would have hit Adara in the back. The two ¨C Zeke and the chimera ¨C rolled across the ground, both jockeying for position until, at last, Zeke ended up on top. The moment he gained an ounce of leverage, he reared back, his hammer gripped in both hands, and brought it down with a ruthless overhand strike that shattered the monster¡¯s skull. Meanwhile, its snake-tail struck. Once. Twice. Then a third time. But the thing¡¯s fangs were incapable of penetrating Zeke¡¯s metallic flesh. It was a good thing, too, because each attack left a coating of powerful venom on Zeke. He knew that if it had injected that venom into his flesh, the results would be both painful and debilitating ¨C at least for a while. He was certain he could deal with it by using [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] but thankfully, that wasn¡¯t necessary. In the end, the first round concluded when Zeke grabbed the chimera¡¯s tail and tore it free. Then, he banged it on the ground until it quit twitching. At the same time, Pudge finished off the first monster with a ball of [Hellfire]. Eta had remained stationary, summoning her healing flower. It didn¡¯t cost much mana, but it let her contribute the fight and gain kill energy. Even though she didn¡¯t actually heal anyone, it still worked on their fatigue. So, she got credit for some level of contribution, which would hopefully help her gain some levels. ¡°Easy,¡± Pudge growled as he returned to the group. ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it,¡± Zeke cautioned. ¡°Jinx?¡± asked Adara. ¡°Are you cursed?¡± ¡°Not that kind of¡­you know what? Never mind,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Everyone look alive. It¡¯s going to get a lot more difficult, I¡¯m sure.¡± To punctuate that statement, the unseen announcer bellowed something incomprehensible, and the gates opened again. This time, two monsters spilled free from each gate, and once again, they were monsters out of mythology. Minotaur ¨C Level 59 ¡°One level per wave,¡± Zeke guessed. ¡°That means by the end, we¡¯ll be fighting level sixty-seven monsters.¡± ¡°Hopefully, the number won¡¯t double each time,¡± Eta said. ¡°It will be more,¡± Adara stated as the monsters cautiously approached. They were clearly more intelligent and far less bestial than the chimeras had been. ¡°The numbers are never consistent, but my other experience within the Arena saw the final waves reach into the thousands. We had ten people, with one¡­chaperone.¡± Zeke understood the implication. On the surface, they seemed weaker than whatever force the Knights had sent. However, Zeke knew that numbers were not really representative of power. After all, he felt certain that his personal might exceeded whatever their chaperone could bring to bear. Still, he didn¡¯t want to underestimate what was coming. Especially considering that after the first run, he intended to venture forth solo. In any event, he had some minotaurs to kill. So, Zeke hefted his hammer and used [Center of Gravity], yanking one to him. At the same time, he engaged his twin domains, [Aura of Desolation] as well as [Burden of Sovereignty]. Immediately, his allies grew stronger as glowing red runes bloomed across their bodies, and the minotaur monsters all stumbled. Except the one Zeke had pulled in his direction. That one fell toward him, and when it finally arrived, it was met with a vicious uppercut from Voromir. It tried to block the attack with outstretched hands, but they were crushed before Zeke¡¯s might. The hammer kept going, meeting the monster¡¯s torso and crushing its sternum before the momentum of the swing knocked it halfway across The Arena. Over the next few minutes, Zeke and his allies engaged the minotaurs. Now that he¡¯d used his domains, the fight proved trivial. That wasn¡¯t to say it wasn¡¯t potentially dangerous. It was. However, it would have taken an egregious mistake for that danger to prove lethal. And in the end, the melee ended without any major injuries. The few wounds they did pick up were already being healed by Eta¡¯s flowers. Only a few moments after the last minotaur fell to Pudge¡¯s vicious claws, the announcer¡¯s bellow once again filled The Arena. And a second later, the gates opened, revealing the next opponents, which were sixteen winged horses. Pegasus ¨C Level 60 Zeke knew they would prove even more dangerous than their levels suggested, if only because of their ability to fly. Thankfully, they seemed to be hemmed in by his domains, which meant that they couldn¡¯t fly for more than a few seconds at a time. Still, Zeke expected that it would be a difficult fight, followed by even more of the same. He rolled his shoulders and prepared to meet the challenge. 457. Gaming the System The smell of burnt flesh, blood, and all sorts of odors Zeke didn¡¯t want to contemplate filled the air as he stomped on the ground, sending a line of ragged devastation cutting across the battlefield to erupt into a huge gout of flame, earth, and corruption. It enveloped his opponent ¨C the last caprid standing ¨C searing the flesh from its bones and sending a wave of kill energy into him. Then, he let his shoulders droop in exhaustion. ¡°Was that the last one?¡± he asked, glancing back at his companions. ¡°That was the last wave,¡± said Adara, jabbing the end of her sword into the blood-soaked sand of The Arena. Everyone was injured. Pudge had a few large gashes across his chest, and his fur was matted with blood. Jasper was also covered in blood, but the wounds that were the source of all that blood had already been closed. At present, most of his most serious injuries were internal. Eta was similarly wounded, with large chunks of her bark-like skin missing. The most battle-ready was Adara, who¡¯d proven herself to be both a talented combatant as well as an enduring force on the battlefield. With her armor, she could take almost as much damage as Zeke. ¡°That¡¯s generous,¡± said Eveline. ¡°And entirely untrue. Kind of patronizing, too. She¡¯s strong, but it¡¯ll take quite a while before she reaches your level. You don¡¯t have to sugarcoat things to acknowledge that they¡¯re better than average. Just be honest.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t have the energy to argue. For his part, he wasn¡¯t hurt. Sure, he¡¯d taken plenty of hits over the course of their time in The Arena, but because of his incredible durability as well as his powerful ability to heal himself, he¡¯d never been in any real danger. However, just because he didn¡¯t have to fear for his life didn¡¯t mean that it hadn¡¯t been an exhausting exercise. He likened it to spending hours in the gym, though with significantly more blood and sweat. Zeke turned his gaze to his surroundings, and all he saw was a mountain of corpses. Between waves, they had slowly backed themselves against one of the walls so that they could eliminate one direction of attack, so looking out at the arena, Zeke could see the results of the seemingly endless battle. They¡¯d only been at it for a day, but in that time, they had killed thousands. Zeke wasn¡¯t interested in doing the map, but the numbers were seemingly endless, and with each wave had come slightly stronger enemies. The result was an ever-more-difficult task that, at last, had finally ended. ¡°And just think ¨C you¡¯re going to need to do this at least ten more times,¡± Eveline said sweetly. ¡°Maybe more. You didn¡¯t get as much kill energy during this run as you probably should have because of the tagalongs.¡± ¡°They helped,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°Sure. They weren¡¯t useless. But you could have done this alone, and you know it. Most of the reason you¡¯re so exhausted is because you had to ensure they survived,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°When you run it again, you won¡¯t have to worry about holding back or protecting anyone. You¡¯ll be able to just cut loose.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Even with the enhancements provided by Zeke¡¯s domains, the others were incapable of keeping up with his pace. So, he¡¯d spent most of his time stalling a few remaining enemies so he could delay the next round. That strategy was limited in viability ¨C eventually, the subsequent rounds would come regardless of whether the current enemies had died. However, it had given his companions a little extra time to rest and recover, which had been necessary if they were going to contribute. ¡°Contribute is a generous assessment of what they were doing,¡± Eveline said dismissively. ¡°They tried their best, but that¡¯s about all I can say for them.¡± That was true as well. For the last five rounds, they¡¯d done the bare minimum to receive credit for the kills, and even that had been pushing things. According to Adara, when the Knights of Adontis ran The Arena, they did so with a large enough group that they could rotate who was fighting, which allowed a portion of the party to rest. It was efficient, at least in terms of completing the dungeon. Yet, it was also useless for Zeke¡¯s purposes. Even bringing his current companions along had slowed the process down too much for his liking. On top of that, it had limited his experience gain. According to Eveline, each creature had a specific amount of energy within it ¨C which was based on a variety of factors, including levels, any attunements, and level of sapience, among others ¨C so when that amount was split between multiple people, each participant got a smaller piece of the proverbial pie. In turn, that meant that Zeke had to divide the fruits of his labor with everyone else. But at least it was over, and they would receive the reward upon exiting. In addition, he¡¯d gained an entire level, putting him at fifty-six. He could only hope that additional runs would be just as fruitful. ¡°The next one will probably give you just as much kill energy,¡± Eveline said. ¡°There are diminishing returns, but you¡¯ll be alone. So, you might even get slightly more the second time through. The third will be slightly less, and each run after that will be worse ¨C in terms of level gain. By the tenth, I¡¯d be surprised if it moved the needle at all.¡± Zeke gave her a mental shrug. ¡°I guess that¡¯s just how it¡¯s going to be,¡± he responded. ¡°If I have to, I¡¯ll find another dungeon.¡± A part of him regretted destroying the dungeon in the giants¡¯ territory. It had been evil ¨C he was certain of that ¨C but it was also useful. Still, with how involved the place was, it probably wouldn¡¯t have been very efficient for his purposes. The centaurs¡¯ trial was better, but according to Rasa Tomaki, it was impossible to visit it more than once. That, as well as the unique nature of the challenge of the dungeon, was why they used it as a rite of passage for potential leaders, rather than to usher their people to power. So, for now, The Arena was Zeke¡¯s only option for quick and efficient leveling. Hopefully, he could reach his goals before it became more trouble than it was worth. With that in mind, he led the others to one of the gates. Each one had begun to glow when they¡¯d finally defeated the final wave, and according to Adara, they were all identical exits. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Zeke stepped through, and when he rematerialized just outside the dungeon, he received an expected notification from the Framework: Congratulations! You have completed the dungeon, Hall of Mirrors! Rewards: Blood of Conquest Upon reading the notification, a vial appeared in the palm of his hand. It was small ¨C no bigger than his thumb ¨C and contained a glittering red liquid. ¡°What is this?¡± he asked, holding the vial up to the light of the sun. ¡°Blood of Conquest?¡± ¡°It is one of the better rewards,¡± Adara answered. She hadn¡¯t gotten a reward due to the fact that she had already completed the dungeon once before. While a person could gain experience by doing so multiple times, they were only given Framework rewards after the first time conquering a dungeon. ¡°It is an item enhancement and one of the most sought-after rewards for Knights. We used it on our armor, enhancing and binding it to an individual Knight.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Zeke said, having already decided to use it on Voromir. It wasn¡¯t as if he had any other items he used anymore, anyway. So, after asking Adara how to utilize the Blood of Conquest ¨C and finding that he merely had to pour it onto a magical item ¨C Zeke did just that. And from a visual perspective, the results were a little disappointing. The weapon further morphed into a true hammer, with the side spikes retracting almost entirely while the other two extended and widened. The haft also grew longer, but only marginally so. However, the true evolution had to do with the awareness of a new ability that suddenly bloomed in Zeke¡¯s mind. He embraced it, and suddenly, a blood-red copy of the hammer superimposed over the physical version. After making sure the coast was clear, he swung the weapon, and the duplicate extended and enlarged, sweeping out almost thirty feet away. When it hit the wall of the labyrinth, it did so with thunderous impact similar to if Zeke had hit it with the physical version of Voromir. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s nice,¡± Zeke said as the ability winked out. It had only lasted for a single swing, but he felt that he could use it five more times before its energy depleted. After that, it would be unusable for a few hours. ¡°Limited, but that could be helpful.¡± ¡°You basically just gained a new skill,¡± Eveline responded. ¡°I really hate you, sometimes. If I had your luck back when I had a body¡­¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to meet me.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s the selling point,¡± Eveline remarked with a mental eyeroll. After that, the others recounted their own gains. Everyone had earned a level, but their rewards were decidedly less impactful. Pudge and Jasper received attribute potions, while Eta was awarded a seed that she said would become a natural treasure. According to her, it would only do so with proper care, but when it reached maturity, it would enhance any garden ¨C or farm ¨C to a large degree. That sounded more like a call to work than a reward to Zeke, but she seemed excited about it, so he reasoned that he didn¡¯t have the right to judge. Adara, of course, got no reward due to the fact that she¡¯d already run the dungeon once before. ¡°Alright. If you all want to hang out, you can,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Or you can head back through the labyrinth and to the gate. But I¡¯m going to be here for a while.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± asked Adara. ¡°That was just a test run. I¡¯m going to keep running this thing until it¡¯s more trouble than it¡¯s worth,¡± he answered. He¡¯d already told Pudge about his plans, but to the others, it was a surprise. Predictably, Adara didn¡¯t like it. ¡°That is not how dungeons are supposed to work,¡± she argued. ¡°They are a reward or a rite of passage, and not ¨C¡± Zeke interrupted her, saying, ¡°This dungeon is mine. I can do whatever I want with it. And considering that me doing this is what might keep my people alive, I¡¯ll exploit this system however I can. Anything less, and I¡¯d be doing a disservice to everyone living in the tower. If you can¡¯t understand that, then maybe you shouldn¡¯t have switched sides.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t what I meant.¡± ¡°Oh? Then what did you mean?¡± She started to speak, then let out a huff before turning around and stalking off. As she did, she muttered to herself, though Zeke couldn¡¯t hear it. ¡°That was rude,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Didn¡¯t seem that way from my perspective.¡± ¡°She¡¯s trying to wrap her mind around a completely new way of life. She¡¯s been indoctrinated by the Knights of Adontis since she was young. That she¡¯s managed to come this far is a testament to her own ability to think critically,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°So, cut her some slack.¡± ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like her.¡± ¡°What gave you that impression?¡± ¡°You keep insulting her.¡± ¡°Teasing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not¡­you know what? I don¡¯t want to deal with this right now,¡± Zeke answered. Then, he said aloud, ¡°Pudge, you¡¯re in charge. Don¡¯t let anything happen to them.¡± ¡°I will guard them with my life,¡± the bearkin said without hesitation. Of late, Pudge had adopted a much more serious tone, probably because he spent so much time with Silik or the other kobolds. Suddenly, Zeke wondered how Pudge relaxed. Certainly, he was with Sasha quite a lot, but Zeke felt certain that Pudge suffered from the same issues that had plagued his own life. Chiefly, that he didn¡¯t have anything like a hobby. Zeke had tried to address that by making pies, but he had neither the time nor the true inclination to continue. Surely, Pudge had the same problems. ¡°I still think baking pies is good for you,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I don¡¯t disagree,¡± Zeke replied. ¡°But the problem is that it requires a lot of¡­¡± ¡°Accoutrements?¡± ¡°Yeah. I can¡¯t just pick it up and do it wherever I am,¡± he said. ¡°It needs a kitchen. Certain tools. That sort of thing. Maybe I can find another hobby that I can just pick up whenever.¡± ¡°Perhaps. I¡¯ll give it some thought. But in the meantime¡­¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke said, rolling his shoulders. He¡¯d kept [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] active since exiting the dungeon, and it had helped to alleviate his fatigue. That, in turn, had put him in a good position to continue in his quest to exploit the dungeon. So, after once again ensuring that Pudge understood his responsibilities, he turned back to the dungeon and entered through the open gate. Over the next couple of weeks, Zeke did precisely what he¡¯d planned, and to his surprise, each subsequent run became easier. Part of it was that he grew more powerful with each level, but there was also an element of routine about it that made everything flow far better. By the fourth run, he could anticipate most of the enemies¡¯ moves. And by the ninth, he was running on autopilot ¨C which was a good thing, because it also allowed him to continue his training with his Will. That made it interesting, at least. At some point, he passed level sixty, but by that time, he¡¯d resolved not to check any of his notifications or his status until he¡¯d completely exhausted the dungeon. Vaguely, he was aware of climbing levels, but he¡¯d found that constantly watching his status made everything seem even more tedious than before. So, he chose to focus on making each run more efficient than the last while also pushing his inoculation to his Will. Of course, he didn¡¯t make it through any run unscathed. As his levels climbed, so too did the base power of the dungeon¡¯s enemies. So, the challenge remained static even as he grew stronger. As a result, every third or fourth run required him to stop and rest after it concluded. It was during those brief moments of respite that he wished that Pudge and the others had remained behind. However, they¡¯d all gone back to the tower. There were still kobold rangers around, but they were anything but good conversationalists. So, Zeke felt just as alone as he had beneath the dwarven mines. In any case, he persisted until, at last, he felt that the flow of kill energy had dissipated to nothing more than a trickle. By his reckoning, when he reached that point, it would take a hundred kills to equal a single defeated enemy from the first run. That meant that any additional runs would be a waste of time. So, it was with some regret that he completed the final run. And when he did, he checked his notifications, resulting in a tired smile spreading across his blood-covered face. 458. An Avalanche of Progress Zeke summoned a chair from his storage space, then settled down to think. A small contingent of kobolds had taken up in the keep nearest to the dungeon, and though most of that fortification had been destroyed, there were enough intact buildings to provide a base of operations for the area. So, after exiting The Arena, Zeke had made his way to an isolated room where he could peruse his gains. After settling into the chair, he took a look at his oft-ignored status:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 65
Race Cambion (F)
Attunement Earth (E), Demon (E)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (D)
Strength (S+) 90
Agility (C) 35
Dexterity (B) 35
Endurance (S+) 88
Vitality (C) 29
Intelligence (A) 46
Wisdom (S) 48
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D B C D
In addition to the automatic allocation associated with gaining ten levels, he¡¯d also been awarded twenty free points to use as he saw fit. Those, he split between agility, dexterity, and vitality. His intention was to keep doing that until he got all three to the fifty point threshold, then focus more on strength and endurance. Those points counted for more, and by all rights, he likely should have been allocating his free points into those categories all along. However, he''d often lamented the lopsided nature of his stat distribution, and he¡¯d chosen to address that imbalance appropriately. The jury was still out on whether or not that was a good decision. ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯m aware of your opinions,¡± Zeke stated, and if he was honest, he¡¯d let those opinions sway his thought process. Otherwise, he probably would have continued to use those free points to shore up his weaknesses rather than accentuate his strengths. In any case, Zeke had a plan, and he intended to stick with it. After allocating his free points, he moved on to the more interesting notifications. At level sixty, he¡¯d gained a slot for which he could create a new skill. And he¡¯d already laid the groundwork for what he intended to build. However, before he could move on to that, he needed to choose his new Framework-granted skill that he¡¯d been granted at level sixty-five. The last time he¡¯d had such a choice, he¡¯d picked [Hell on Earth], which had already evolved into [Aura of Desolation], so his expectations were sky high for his level sixty-five skill. So, he looked at the first option with some eagerness: [Command] (D) ¨C You have raised a horde of loyal minions. Command them as you see fit. Upgradeable. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That was unexpected.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Does it mean what I think it means?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°That depends. Do you think it means that you can effectively convert the kobolds into an unthinking horde of tame monsters?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°If so, then yes.¡± ¡°Why would anyone¡­I mean¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen skills like that,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°They¡¯re normally used by beastmaster type classes. Or necromancers, though we don¡¯t have many of those in Hell. They don¡¯t last long enough to find power. When they do, though, they can threaten the entire realm. I don¡¯t need to tell you that, though. You¡¯ve seen what an untethered necromancer can do, given enough time to grow.¡± ¡°So, if I took something like that, I could just order the kobolds to do something, and they wouldn¡¯t have a choice but to obey?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°That really doesn¡¯t seem so different from how it already works.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand. That skill isn¡¯t just about giving orders. It would tie the kobolds to you in a way you can¡¯t even understand,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°It would be similar to how you bonded Pudge, though not quite as two-sided. They would be your minions in truth, living only to serve you. It¡¯s a solid path to power, though I¡¯m not certain if it suits your¡­temperament.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re right.¡± The skill had undeniable merit. The notion of commanding an army of kobolds as if they were an extension of himself was an enticing one. Though, the fact that it came with such a steep price made it useless for Zeke. If he understood it correctly, the kobolds would cease to be individuals, returning to their unthinking past as true monsters. Every bit of work he ¨C and the wyrm mother Mikaena ¨C had put into ushering them to sapience would be for naught. And that was unacceptable, especially given how far some of them had come. ¡°Okay, so we¡¯re not picking that one,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Kind of a missed opportunity, but it¡¯s your skillset.¡± Zeke nodded, then moved on to the next option: [Sacrifice] (C) ¨C You have earned the adulation of an entire people. Use them to augment your power via ritual sacrifice. Upgradeable. ¡°Oh, come on.¡± ¡°That is extremely powerful. Many who have reached the peak use some variation of this skill,¡± she said. ¡°In fact, you¡¯ve seen one in action.¡± ¡°I have?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°In Beacon,¡± she answered. ¡°Remember those people donating a stream of kill energy to the Sun Goddess? ¡°Vaguely.¡± ¡°Oh, come on ¨C if I know about it, you remember it,¡± Eveline said with a note of exasperation. ¡°The point is that that was only enabled by a version of [Sacrifice], though it was a variant that required a middle-man, so to speak. I¡¯m certain that this Shar Maelaine has a more direct version as well.¡± ¡°Oh. I remember now,¡± Zeke said. Back then, he¡¯d noticed priests on every corner of the city. ¡°My situation when you found me used something similar, though it was far removed from the base skill,¡± she explained. ¡°It also utilized runecrafting and an apparatus as well, but the fundamentals remained true.¡± ¡°These options are getting more disappointing by the minute,¡± Zeke said. He had no intentions of siphoning power from his followers, not least because he felt that it was a little counterproductive. ¡°That¡¯s not true, and you know it. As the leader, your power is what shields them from annihilation. Think about your past battles. Without you, the kobolds would have already died. So, it makes sense for them to pay a¡­tax, so to speak,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°Though I can already tell that you¡¯re not picking that one. Besides, if I¡¯m reading that right, it would require you to physically sacrifice followers.¡± ¡°I have no intention of going full Aztec,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°That¡¯s reductive and borderline offensive,¡± Eveline said. ¡°And you know it is because that statement is based on your perception of ¨C¡± ¡°Just stop. I¡¯m not picking it. That¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡± Then, he moved on to the next skill description, which at first glance seemed both better and worse than the previous options. It said: [Benevolence] (C) ¨C You are a wise and benevolent god. Bestow your grace upon a chosen few, granting them your attunement. ¡°Okay, but it is better,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Yeah. But there¡¯s the whole ¡®god¡¯ thing,¡± Zeke responded. He couldn¡¯t deny that any deific characterization made him extraordinarily uncomfortable ¨C not least because he knew he didn¡¯t qualify. Of course, the term seemed to be a catch-all for anyone that reached a certain level of power. ¡°That¡¯s not even close to true. I¡¯ve told you before that you have the spark of divinity.¡± ¡°And yet, you¡¯ve never explained what that is,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°It means that you are better than most people. Call it a mark of potential, if you¡¯re uncomfortable with the divine label. The point is that you have been marked as special by the Framework. These skill choices only confirm that,¡± Eveline said. ¡°For better or worse, whether you like it or not, those kobolds worship you. Accept that and use it to your advantage. Or you¡¯ll regret it later.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t like it, but he couldn¡¯t really deny her reasoning. So, he pushed right past it to the skill itself. After re-reading the description, he asked, ¡°What do you think it means?¡± ¡°Exactly what it says.¡± ¡°So, I could pick a few kobolds and just give them an earth attunement?¡± ¡°Essentially. Though I have another suggestion,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I hesitate to ask¡­¡± ¡°So, you know those rangers, right? The ones who like to get up close and personal?¡± she asked. Zeke was well aware of that contingent of rangers. Most of that caste preferred to use bows, but there were some that habitually used their claws in devastating stealth attacks. In a way, it reminded him of how Pudge usually fought, though without the bearkin¡¯s physical prowess. They were still deadly, though. ¡°I know which ones you mean.¡± ¡°Give them your demonic attunement.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Start a squad of corruption-attuned kobold assassins,¡± she elaborated. ¡°I don¡¯t know how many blessings you¡¯ll be able to bestow, but ¨C¡± ¡°So you think I should take the third option?¡± ¡°Obviously. We both know you won¡¯t even consider the other two,¡± Eveline said. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, even if we push your weird moral boundaries aside, it¡¯s the objectively best choice. I¡¯ve never subscribed to the notion that a force was only as powerful as its leader. Numbers matter, especially with your overlapping domains. If you continue to pile advantages onto the kobolds, they will become a truly fierce force capable of taking over the world.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to take over the world,¡± Zeke countered. ¡°He says while fighting a war of conquest against a kingdom that only attacked after you invaded their territory,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That¡¯s different.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really not. You have your reasons, and I agree with them. But the fact remains that if you had never set foot in Adontis, you would not be fighting a war right now,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Sure, freeing slaves and liberating peasants gives you moral justification, but that was not the initial goal. If you look at it objectively, their most important sin ¨C among many, granted ¨C was being in your way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not¡­¡± Zeke trailed off. The fact was that there was a lot of truth to Eveline¡¯s assessment. He wanted to look at it like he¡¯d stepped into Adontis with liberation on his mind, but that simply wasn¡¯t how it had happened. His initial idea was to simply cross the kingdom so he could reunite with Talia. But somewhere along the way, he¡¯d gotten so sidetracked that his goals had shifted entirely. Now, he didn¡¯t intend to move on until he¡¯d defeated all of Adontis. But he still didn¡¯t count world domination among his goals. ¡°Until you see something that you can¡¯t accept. Then, all bets are off, huh?¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Or did you think slavery was uncommon in this world? Or in the absence of that, what about exploitation and oppression? By those standards, you would have been fighting wars in your old world, as well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. You make me sound like I¡¯m some squeaky clean white knight or something,¡± Zeke muttered aloud. ¡°I¡¯m not. I just want ¨C¡± ¡°I know what you want,¡± Eveline said, manifesting physically. She put her hands on her hips and went on, ¡°But what you want and what you do aren¡¯t always the same thing. I¡¯m fine with who you are, by the way. It¡¯s refreshing, seeing how worked up you get when you see something that violates your shifting code of ethics. But you can¡¯t keep lying to yourself and saying that it¡¯s going to end. We both know it won¡¯t. After Adontis, you¡¯re going to find someone else to fight. Some other form of oppression to battle. Because it¡¯s not about those things. They¡¯re just excuses.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°To fight. To win. To progress. That¡¯s your ultimate goal,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°You care about the kobolds and the beastkin and all the peasants you¡¯ve freed. I know that. But you care about fighting a lot more.¡± Zeke wanted to argue with that, but he couldn¡¯t fool himself into believing any refute. ¡°Even more than progression, which is insane to me,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Most people would have been raring to look at their skill choices the moment they were available. Yet, with you, it was almost like you were putting it off. You don¡¯t really care about the skills, in and of themselves. Just how much they help you fight.¡± To that, Zeke shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t see that they have much point otherwise,¡± he admitted. ¡°And that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying. It¡¯s fine, though. But to get back to our previous discussion before we got derailed ¨C yes, I advise you to take [Benevolence], then use it to bestow your demonic attunement onto some kobolds. I like the assassin idea, but you could just as easily give it to a few centurions. Or to those spiritweavers. That could be¡­interesting, to say the least.¡± ¡°What about my plans for the level sixty skill?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°It¡¯s passable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? I¡¯ve been working on it for a while, now,¡± he said. ¡°No ¨C it¡¯s fine. I think it could help.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°I have no objections,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Mobile opponents are an issue for you. This new idea will serve to alleviate that weakness. If it was me, I would create a massive skill that could destroy whole armies, but¡­well, you don¡¯t have the mana for that. Yet.¡± Zeke nodded. He¡¯d heard that more than once, and if he was honest, Zeke liked the idea of a devastating, large scale skill. However, that wasn¡¯t his role. Nor did the idea of laying acres of land to waste appeal to him. Sure, it was coming. He knew that with his escalating power, such things were expected. Still, it was not the time for that sort of thing. ¡°If it makes any difference to you, the sorts of skills you were just offered aren¡¯t usually available so early,¡± Eveline said. ¡°From my experience, people don¡¯t normally get those kinds of skills until they approach the peak. Or after they descend.¡± ¡°Ascend,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°I¡¯m not going back to Hell unless I have to.¡± ¡°Well, you still need a corrupted natural treasure, and that won¡¯t be available in Heaven,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°So, you will have to get over that aversion sooner or later. In the meantime, I¡¯d advise you to choose your skill, then get to work finishing the other addition to your powers.¡± Zeke nodded, then chose [Benevolence]. After that, he closed his eyes and got to work doing as she¡¯d suggested. He¡¯d already built the foundations, and he¡¯d even put together the bulk of the structure. Still, Zeke expected it would take at least another week of constant work in order to complete his other new skill. Once that was done, he¡¯d have no excuse but to finish the war he¡¯d begun ¨C one way or another. 459. Too Far Mana swirled all around him, but Zeke barely paid it any mind. Instead, he focused entirely on the task at hand, because anything less would result in disaster. He had created some complex skills before, but none of them came close to what he had planned for his latest creation. Which was odd, because the skill itself wasn¡¯t meant to be complex. Indeed, it was the height of simplicity. Yet, getting to that result required more than just a sturdy foundation. It was an expression of Will, combined with his attunements, and with an absolutely ridiculous cost that would strain even Zeke¡¯s massive power. To get to that point without the entire thing unraveling and backfiring, the underlying structure had to be airtight and flawless. Any mistakes wouldn¡¯t just result in a corrupted skill. It was more than just not working, too. If he made the wrong moves, there was every chance that the skill¡¯s destructive potential would tear him to pieces in a way that made it impossible to piece himself back together. The stakes of his skill-crafting had never been higher. He was poised on the edge of knife where the slightest stumble would send him tumbling into the abyss. And Zeke loved it. For a long time, Zeke had acknowledged that he was something of an adrenaline junkie. Normally, that trait presented itself in his propensity throw himself into battle against increasingly powerful opponents. Yet, the dangers inherent in his current endeavor satisfied that quest, and well enough to garner his full and undivided attention. Zeke drew one glyph after another, solidifying various runes and building the structure of his latest skill with perfect precision. Nothing was out of place, because if he made a single mistake, everything would explode. He took concepts from his other skills, but mostly, he¡¯d taken inspiration from [Aura of Desolation] and the way it wove his Will into the expression of the skill. It was a tentative balance, but the skill acted as something of a buffer between him and the Path of Arcane Destruction. Raw, anything more than a trickle of his Will was enough to break his body down. His efforts at inoculation were ongoing, but it was a long process, and one Zeke suspected wouldn¡¯t be complete until he reached the peak of the realm. However, within the structure of the skill, its effect on his body and mind was vastly diminished, to the point where he could endure it indefinitely. Or for as long as he could provide mana to [Aura of Desolation], at least. That had given him the idea ¨C and the blueprint ¨C to incorporate that into his latest skill. There were elements of other concepts in there as well. Chiefly, [Hell Geyser] and [Unleash Momentum], but with bits of [Center of Gravity] in there, too. It was to be a chimera of a skill held together by ideas Zeke wasn¡¯t even certain were valid. He thought they were, and his instincts seemed to confirm that. But in a lot of ways, Zeke was flying by the seat of his pants. And there were innumerable ways it could go wrong. He didn¡¯t think about that, though. Instead, he focused entirely on his work, and to the point where he didn¡¯t even notice his surroundings. Nor did he mark the passage of time. His entire existence revolved around the creation of his new skill. Finally, after what felt like a timeless eternity, Zeke formed the very last glyph, and the skill solidified. He watched with his inner eye as mana and Will infused the rune, and at last, he felt the sprawling structure bloom into being across his chest. But it didn¡¯t stop there. Instead, it dipped into his soul and into that ephemeral store of Will that governed his Path of Arcane Destruction. None of that would be visible to the naked eye, but to Zeke¡¯s senses, it was like a wildfire of mana, will, and something he could only barely perceive. It was then that Eveline finally spoke, ¡°That¡¯s divinity. Congratulations.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he looked at the Framework notification that suddenly appeared before his eyes: Congratulations! You have constructed your fourth skill, [Wrath of Annihilation]. ¡°That¡¯s an ominous name,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Fitting, I suppose, given what you intended.¡± A new notification flashed: [Wrath of Annihilation] (C) ¨C Your Will is indomitable and divine. Your path, one of pure destruction. You are an avatar of annihilation. Harness your very essence to destroy anything that stands in your way. Upgradeable. ¡°I guess it worked?¡± Zeke wondered. He could feel the power contained in the skill, and the description certainly seemed worthy of his plans. Yet, it was also vague enough that he had no idea how it might manifest. Originally, the plan had been to simply toss a ball of destruction composed of his Will and Hellfire at an enemy. Yet, it felt like the result was a fair bit more potent than he¡¯d ever intended. ¡°You should focus on the description,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Those words weren¡¯t chosen randomly.¡± ¡°I need to try this out,¡± Zeke said, finally opening his eyes and letting his senses return. When he did, he realized just how much time had passed ¨C largely because of the smell. When he was in a meditative trance, he didn¡¯t feel the call of nature ¨C fortunately ¨C but that state apparently didn¡¯t stop him from sweating. As a result he smelled like a high school locker room in the middle of football season. ¡°First, I think I need to get cleaned up.¡± After that, Zeke did just that, taking a long, hot shower before taking a little time for self-grooming. Looking into his bathroom mirror, he could acknowledge that he needed to do something about his long hair and wild beard, but he was only capable of so much. Not for the first time, the idea of cultivating a barber passed through his mind. It was one more thing on his list. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°How long do you think?¡± he asked Eveline. ¡°At least two weeks. Maybe as much as a month,¡± she answered. ¡°It was a complex skill.¡± ¡°Yeah. Is everything okay?¡± he asked. ¡°No crises?¡± ¡°I would have told you if there were,¡± she responded. ¡°The Knights of Adontis remain huddled in their fortress, so our forces have been free to do whatever they wanted to do without much in the way of resistance. Three cities have fallen, and there are two more that should topple soon enough.¡± ¡°And they¡¯re just letting us do it?¡± ¡°So it seems. There have been a few counterattacks, but they¡¯ve been mostly ineffective.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°A little less than two-thousand casualties among our people,¡± she stated. That tied Zeke¡¯s stomach into knots, but he didn¡¯t need Eveline to tell him that wars inevitably brought casualties with them. Still, it wasn¡¯t easy to accept, especially when he¡¯d been holed up in his manor. That had been the biggest issue with his recent quest for progression. It had been efficient and effective, but there were people out here depending on him to be present. And when he wasn¡¯t, people died. It made him feel selfish in all the worst ways. ¡°Bad enough that I had to spend so long in that dungeon,¡± he muttered, raking his fingers through his hair. ¡°But then a month building a skill? I feel like I abandoned them all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better in the long run.¡± ¡°I know. But knowing that doesn¡¯t make it easier,¡± he said with a sigh. But he¡¯d made his choices. It was done. Now, he could only hope that it was worth it. So, with that in mind, Zeke left his manor behind and left the tower. He didn¡¯t dare use his new skill with anyone else around, because he had no idea how dangerous it could be. So, he used [Triune Colossus], then set off across the Mukti Plains. He kept going for a few dozen miles, his long legs and high stats propelling him forward at the speed of a car cruising on the highway, until he reached a spot that seemed deserted. His first order of business was to test out Voromir¡¯s evolution, so with a flick of his mind, a blood-red version of the hammer superimposed over the physical version. Then, Zeke swept it out, sending that copy spinning across the plains. He kept going, rapidly swinging a hundred times, all in a row. Each swing sent another copy twirling horizontally for around fifty yards before it dissipated. But after the hundredth, the copy winked out, and Zeke got the feeling that it would take about an hour for it to completely recharge. ¡°Not bad,¡± he said. He¡¯d tested it a few other times, but he¡¯d never pushed the hammer¡¯s new ability to its limit. Now that he had, he was even more impressed with what it could do. ¡°Do you think the number is tied to my stats? Or do you think it¡¯s based on the hammer¡¯s evolution?¡± ¡°The latter,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You didn¡¯t feel any drain on your mana, did you?¡± ¡°You know I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Well, there you have it, then. Now, let¡¯s test out this new skill.¡± ¡°You sound extremely eager,¡± Zeke remarked. ¡°Because I am. I¡¯ve never seen a divine skill before,¡± she admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard of a few, and¡­well, I don¡¯t think I need to tell you that most aren¡¯t acquired before level seventy-five. Even after, it¡¯s rare.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Zeke said. She¡¯d gone on and on about sparks and divinity more than he cared to acknowledge. So far, it was all just conjecture, and he¡¯d begun to wonder if her assertions were even accurate. But now that the word had shown up in his skill¡¯s description, he had to admit that the chances of her having been telling the truth were a lot higher. ¡°Wow. I don¡¯t think you could¡¯ve insulted me more if you tried,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯m completely trustworthy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a literal demon.¡± ¡°You have no room to talk, half-demon,¡± she pointed out. Zeke sighed. ¡°Fair enough. Guess there¡¯s no point in delaying. Here goes nothing.¡± Then, Zeke embraced his latest skill. The moment he flooded it with mana, he felt a pull that he¡¯d never experienced, and in three directions. The first latched onto his mana, which he¡¯d expected. Every skill did that to some degree or another. What he hadn¡¯t anticipated, though, was how strong the current was. It ruthlessly yanked the mana out of him, and in a huge torrent that seemed entirely inexhaustible. As distressing as that was, what was even more troubling was the expression of his Path of Arcane Destruction tearing free of his mind. Normally, he kept it to a trickle, but this was a raging river. Fortunately, the foundations of his skill protected his body from that corrosive energy. Otherwise, he would have broken down in seconds. Finally, he felt something else tugging free of his soul, and when it left, he felt the loss more keenly than he¡¯d ever felt anything before. Before, he hadn¡¯t even been aware of it, but in its absence, he was alternatively afraid, distressed, and panicked. ¡°That is the divinity,¡± pointed out Eveline. Zeke didn¡¯t need her input. He¡¯d known it from the second he¡¯d felt it. But until that moment, he hadn¡¯t truly felt that the spark of divinity was nearly as important as Eveline had intimated. Now, though? If anything, Zeke thought she¡¯d been underselling it. That spark, small though it was compared to the other rivers of energy flowing through him, was so integral to who he was that its loss left him feeling bereft and listless. Still, Zeke pushed through it, guiding the skill to a spot a few hundred yards away. It was not enough. The moment he released the skill, a black sun wreathed in a corona of white flame bloomed into being a half mile above the plains. The mere sight of it was enough to send thoughts of doom spinning through Zeke¡¯s mind. But that was only the beginning. As soon as it manifested, the sun began to spin, sending out arcs of white flame in every direction. Then, Zeke felt the pull. Mana. Will. The underlying structure of the universe was inexorably yanked into that sun. It swallowed it greedily, and for a few seconds, Zeke thought the world was going to end. Then, everything went quiet. ¡°Was that it? I thought ¨C¡± An explosion of white fire and black destruction cut Eveline off. Zeke only had a brief instant to see the expression of his skill before he was thrown backwards. Not a few hundred feet. Not even a few thousand. For miles, he flew until he hit the ground, and over the course of a thousand more yards, tumbled across the plain until he finally came to a stop. The physical toll of his flight wasn¡¯t concerning. However, he¡¯d briefly felt the touch of his skill, and he knew without a doubt that if he hadn¡¯t already been inoculated ¨C at least to some degree ¨C against his own Will, he would have been destroyed. Even after everything he¡¯d done to accustom himself to its power, he felt like he was on the verge of being unmade. It passed quickly as his body adjusted, but in the wake of that feeling, Zeke knew that if it weren¡¯t for his various advantages ¨C as well as his efforts at inoculation ¨C he would have been ripped to pieces right down to the last atom. ¡°Eveline?¡± There was only silence. ¡°Eveline?!¡± he shouted in his own mind. Still, there was no response. A sinking feeling swept through Zeke¡¯s mind as he searched for her. But there was only absence. A great void where she¡¯d once been. He continued to shout for her, but there remained no response. As desperation gripped him, Zeke picked himself up. And that¡¯s when he saw the devastation his skill had wrought. A few hundred yards away, there was nothing but a massive crater. In a daze, he staggered forward, and with every step, he felt the area¡¯s ambient mana dissipate until, by the time he reached the edge of the crater, it was almost nonexistent. He could feel mana rushing back in to fill the void, but it did nothing to address the absence in his mind. Zeke fell to his knees and asked, ¡°What have I done?¡± For the first time in a long time, there was no one to offer an answer. 460. Refuge Zeke remained at the edge of the crater for hours, just staring at the devastation he¡¯d wrought. But he was far more concerned with the absence in his mind. He could scarcely remember a time when Eveline hadn¡¯t been with him. Certainly, he knew that he¡¯d not had her company throughout his entire time in the Mortal Realm, but with every passing day, those memories had felt less solid, the details less important. That was how memory worked. Now that Eveline was gone, would he forget the details of her companionship? The tone of her voice? Her sarcastic quips at his expense? Or would he remember her like he remembered his mother? Like his little brother? Like Abby? Suddenly, he realized that he couldn¡¯t remember his mother¡¯s face. Not really. He could recall bits and pieces. Like the way her hair smelled when he hugged her. Or her work uniform. Or any of a hundred little things that seemed inconsequential at the time. But piecing it all together into a whole picture was impossible. Would that be the fate of his memory of Eveline? Zeke knelt there on the edge of the crater, tears falling down his cheeks. At times, he¡¯d found Eveline annoying, and more than once, he¡¯d felt like expelling her from his mind. Yet, now that she was gone, he didn¡¯t know what to do. He had no idea what to think. The grief was palpable, and in a way Zeke hadn¡¯t felt since his brother had first been diagnosed. It was also distracting. So much so that he didn¡¯t feel the whisper in his mind until Eveline¡¯s weak voice intoned, ¡°You like me. You really like me.¡± At first, Zeke thought he was hearing things, but then, his mind caught up and overcame the distraction of his grief. When that happened, he realized that Eveline¡¯s presence had returned, albeit far weaker than normal. ¡°W-what?¡± he muttered aloud. ¡°I thought¡­¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°How?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°It nearly killed me,¡± she admitted. ¡°Even through [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. The only reason I survived was because I have a few defenses of my own. It wasn¡¯t possible without cost, though. I had to sacrifice quite a lot of my¡­soul.¡± ¡°Are you going to be okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she answered. ¡°Maybe? It¡¯s not like this is the first time I¡¯ve taken soul damage. But many of my efforts at reestablishing my memory have backtracked. It¡¯s not as bad as it was just after we pieced everything back together, but there are more gaps than before you used that skill.¡± When Eveline had first latched onto him, he¡¯d considered excising her presence. He chose not to because, at the time, she¡¯d never actually harmed him. Over time, she¡¯d become a constant, and at times, comforting presence. Sure, she often annoyed him. And she definitely let her demonic nature show through from time to time. But he¡¯d grown to rely on her. So, her continued existence was more than just a relief. ¡°I think this proves two things,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Just two?¡± ¡°First, you can¡¯t use that again until we figure out how to upgrade [Bulwark of the Triumvirate],¡± she said. ¡°We?¡± he asked. ¡°You mean me, right? Because you don¡¯t know anything about skill creation.¡± ¡°Right. We¡¯re in this together. Keep up.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the second thing?¡± he asked, already sensing what she was going to say. ¡°The skill works better than we could have imagined,¡± she answered. And that was true. Once, Zeke had seen footage of a nuclear explosion. It had been a test out in the deserts of the American Southwest, but he remembered the feeling of awe he¡¯d experienced as he saw that fiery explosion and the mushroom cloud that had followed. He felt the same thing about [Wrath of Annihilation]. ¡°Based on your memories, this is much more devastating than those bombs from your old world. Though it is impressive how violent your people were,¡± she said. ¡°No wonder so many of them ended up on my side of the afterlife.¡± Zeke shook his head. He had no interest in examining the morality ¨C or lack thereof ¨C concerning Earth. He was well aware of the many problems in the world he¡¯d left behind. There was good there, of course, but as was usually the case, the evil was much louder and more attention-grabbing. In any case, he moved on from the subject, asking, ¡°Do you think the mana has started to stabilize yet?¡± ¡°It should be fine,¡± she said. ¡°It might be uncomfortable for you, but I doubt you¡¯d experience any truly negative effects.¡± With that, Zeke picked himself up and stepped into the crater. He slid down the sloping side, immediately noticing the thin ambient mana. Still, it wasn¡¯t nearly as bad as the first few times he¡¯d used his nascent Worldbreaker technique. So, he continued down the slope before heading deeper into the crater. As he did, the density of the ambient mana continued to decrease. Some of that was mitigated by the ongoing flood of mana from outside the crater. Eventually, it would equalize, but he suspected it would take at least a few days. Perhaps even a couple of weeks. Which only served to highlight how devastating his skill was. Not only had it created a massive, miles wide crater, but it had burned through the ambient mana as well. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Still, even knowing that, Zeke wasn¡¯t prepared for the sheer destruction he encountered on his way toward the epicenter of the skill¡¯s effects. Everything was just gone. The grass. The soil. Any animals that had been unlucky enough to be in the general vicinity. Even the humidity had dropped, suggesting that the moisture in the air had been obliterated as well. ¡°I think the air itself was destroyed,¡± Eveline said. ¡°If you had remained within the blast radius, I suspect you would have found yourself in a temporary vacuum.¡± ¡°That is insane.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a sign of what your Will is truly capable of. If it wasn¡¯t mitigated by your weak body, you could probably do a lot more,¡± she said. ¡°Is that what I¡¯m meant to be? A tool of destruction?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you are, Ezekiel. Or did you think your path was misnamed?¡± she asked. ¡°And I know you well enough to know that you will have trouble with that. So, I¡¯ll give you a piece of advice: don¡¯t try to fight your nature. Be what you are. Instead, aim yourself in a direction where you can make the most difference.¡± ¡°So, I¡¯m a bomb. I just need to make sure I¡¯m dropped on the right target,¡± Zeke reasoned. ¡°A clumsy metaphor, but sure.¡± After that, Zeke continued on, and eventually reached the epicenter. There, the ambient mana hadn¡¯t stabilized as much, so it was a struggle to remain in that space. Moreover, there was an aura of destruction hanging over everything that made Zeke¡¯s skin crawl. And if it was noticeable for him, then for someone who hadn¡¯t been inoculated against his Path of Arcane Destruction, it would have been devastating. ¡°How long do you think this is going to last?¡± Zeke asked, looking down at his hand. He rolled his fingers as he watched the destructive remnants of his Will assail his skin. Blisters formed and were healed, second by second. ¡°Eveline?¡± She didn¡¯t answer, though Zeke could feel that she was in pain. So, he quickly retreated until she told him he¡¯d gone far enough. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s going to take a while before I¡¯m fully recovered,¡± she answered. ¡°Now, what was it you were asking while your Will ate away at my very essence? I was a little distracted.¡± Zeke repeated his question. ¡°I don¡¯t know. This is unprecedented. Though there¡¯s a place in Hell where it¡¯s said that two peak entities fought an epic battle that lasted months,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°It¡¯s a barren wasteland of ice and fire. Someone named it Firefrost. Unimaginative, if you ask me, but nobody ever does.¡± ¡°So, you think this is going to last indefinitely?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Probably not, though. You¡¯re strong, but you¡¯re not at the peak. I¡¯m eager to see what you¡¯ll become when you reach that level, though,¡± she stated. Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure. Until he¡¯d seen what [Wrath of Annihilation] could do, he¡¯d been looking forward to climbing to the peak and growing stronger. But now, he could only remember what had happened in Jariq, when he¡¯d inadvertently killed thousands of innocents. With his new skill, it would be even easier. In fact, if he intended to fight people at that level, it seemed inevitable. Was he ready to confront that? ¡°More importantly, do you have a choice?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°It¡¯s not just you anymore. You have an entire of population of kobolds, beastkin, and humans that depend on you to be the strongest person around. So do I, by the way. You no longer have the option of just walking away and living a quiet life. Not if you want them all to survive and thrive.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But you don¡¯t like the responsibility.¡± Looking around at the devastation he¡¯d caused, he answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I thought I¡¯d accepted it.¡± ¡°Not really. You¡¯ve just been doing what you wanted to do. Now, you¡¯re beginning to wonder if you¡¯re on the right path,¡± she stated. ¡°But the stakes of turning away are higher than ever, so you feel hemmed in by the obligations heaped upon your shoulders.¡± Once, Zeke had heard the story of Atlas, who was condemned to hold up the sky for all eternity. At the time, Zeke hadn¡¯t identified with the mythological titan, but with every responsibility he¡¯d taken upon himself, he understood how such a curse must have felt. But unlike Atlas, who¡¯d had no choice in the matter, Zeke had chosen his own burdens. He¡¯d taken it upon himself to protect and usher the kobolds into sapience. He¡¯d rescued the peasants and beastkin slaves. And the rationale that led to those decisions was just as valid as ever. Zeke took solace in that. More, he knew he was doing the right thing. For all he struggled with the reality of war, he couldn¡¯t deny that the Knights of Adontis were the bad guys in his story. They were bigoted, exploitive, and evil ¨C at least from Zeke¡¯s perspective. With that as context, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d feel particularly bad about subjecting them to his new skill. Still, he needed to be cognizant of the danger inherent in using his power. Collateral damage was inevitable in any war. He¡¯d come to terms with that, even if he didn¡¯t like it. Yet, he had a responsibility to minimize it if possible. Never was that more relevant than when he contemplated the potential use of his new skill. It had already nearly claimed its first inadvertent victim. Eveline had come close to destruction, all because Zeke hadn¡¯t anticipated how the skill might affect her. ¡°I need to be careful,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s all there is to it. I can¡¯t use that skill without thought.¡± Zeke expected Eveline to make some sarcastic quip about his propensity to leap into battle without considering the consequences. Yet, she didn¡¯t. Instead, she said, ¡°That¡¯s the nature of power. The more you acquire, the more difficult it is to contain.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± After that, Zeke watched as the effects slowly dissipated. Knowing how long it would take things to normalize after the usage of [Wrath of Annihilation] was extremely important, so he remained in place as mana continued to flow into the area. As it did, the expression of his Will faded as well. Overall, it took nearly twelve hours for the mana density to normalize, then another twenty-four before the effects of his Path of Arcane Destruction dissipated. ¡°Thirty-six hours,¡± he muttered. ¡°Give or take.¡± ¡°Better than years,¡± Eveline said. While he¡¯d waited, Zeke had focused on another task he¡¯d so far delayed. Until he¡¯d seen how vulnerable Eveline was, it hadn¡¯t seem all that important, but with how she¡¯d nearly died, Zeke knew that he needed to upgrade [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. It was a process that he expected would take months, especially considering that he didn¡¯t have any other examples from which to draw inspiration. Yet, he¡¯d built the skill in the first place, so he was a little more prepared to force it to evolve than if he¡¯d been working with a Framework-granted skill. Still, he¡¯d barely even scratched the surface of the planning stage when he realized that the area¡¯s mana had normalized. By that point, his continued responsibilities to his followers reasserted themselves, and he realized that it was time to return to the tower. So, he picked himself up and started home. He didn¡¯t hurry, though. If someone needed him, they knew which direction he¡¯d gone. ¡°And it¡¯s not like you could use that skill and nobody would notice,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if people hundreds of miles away saw some of the effects.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± In that way, it was similar to the worst weapons Earth had ever created. Or a natural disaster, if he was being generous. In any case, Zeke agreed with Eveline¡¯s assessment. One thing was certain, though ¨C if it came down to it, he had a potent weapon to use against Adontis. Perhaps he could end the conflict alone. ¡°That might be too much to hope for,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Yeah,¡± he agreed. If nothing else, Zeke felt certain that Adontis had more up its sleeve than they¡¯d so far revealed. They would have to. So, it was with that weighing against his mind that he returned to the tower. 461. Multiple Disciplines Lightning flashed as a deluge of rain fell upon the battlefield, yet Zeke was unconcerned with the weather. Nor did he pay attention to the muddy conditions that would make for treacherous footing. Instead, he stared at the solid sheet of mana that constituted Adontis¡¯ vaunted Barrier. ¡°It looks solid,¡± he said. ¡°Like a pane of blue glass.¡± Indeed, the entire city of Ivern ¨C often called the Heart of Adontis ¨C was encased in what looked like a dome that reminded Zeke of a snow globe. Yet, instead of a cozy winter scene, there was a massive fortress with thousands of zealous Knights inside. But he was even more worried about the man at the top of Adontis¡¯ social ladder. From the prisoners in his dungeon as well as the Knights who¡¯d already turned coat, Zeke had heard plenty of stories about the vaunted Lord Adontis. From everything he¡¯d been told, the man was a living legend who was only a handful of levels from the peak. Zeke had fought powerful opponents before, though. ¡°Not like this,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°He¡¯s supposed to be level eighty-seven.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke stated in his mind. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the same reports as you.¡± From everything Zeke had been told, Lord Adontis was hundreds of years old. Perhaps even thousands. He¡¯d come from a different time, and though he rarely took the field of battle -never in recent memory ¨C stories of his prowess persisted in his kingdom¡¯s mythology. To them, he was akin to a god. Apparently, he didn¡¯t need to fight to gain levels, either. He simply had to accumulate power through long bouts of meditation as well as siphoning it from his people. It was slow. Very, very slow. But it had the added benefit of not requiring the man to lay waste to entire swaths of the world just to move the needle a couple of inches. Because he¡¯d long since exhausted the benefits of the local dungeons. With their diminishing returns, he¡¯d taken everything he could from them. Probably quite a few more as well. So, his only options were to wander the Eternal Realm and challenge any dungeons he found, or to remain in his fortress and parasitically drain the people he was meant to lead. Zeke hated the choice the man had made because it spoke to a selfishness he couldn¡¯t countenance. Leaders were meant to raise their people, not the other way around. Still, he couldn¡¯t argue with the results. Reaching level eighty-six was an impressive feat, regardless of how it was accomplished. ¡°You¡¯re underselling it,¡± said Eveline. ¡°You remember how difficult fighting that great brute of a Knight was, right? This will be infinitely more difficult.¡± ¡°I¡¯m stronger now.¡± ¡°You are. But it may not be enough,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°You should leave this war behind ¨C at least for now. Come back after a decade or so. You can reach his level by then if you do nothing but fight dungeons.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing that, and you know it. If I leave now, everything we¡¯ve worked for will be for nothing.¡± At some point, Zeke¡¯s goal had shifted. In the beginning, he¡¯d only wanted to pass through Adontis to reach El¡¯kireth and reunite with Talia. The way was open, now. The border was only a day or so away, and it was entirely unguarded ¨C at least on the Adontis side. And yet, Zeke refused to rush toward that opening because, over time, he¡¯d begun to see the liberation of Adontis as his primary goal. While he¡¯d been fighting in The Arena and building his skill, his army had swept across the kingdom, sacking cities and defeating small armies along the way. However, the bulk of Adontis¡¯ forces had long since retreated behind the Barrier. If Zeke and his army passed them by and left Adontis behind, those Knights would assuredly charge forth and reestablish the oppressive systems of the past. No ¨C the only way to ensure those people¡¯s freedom was to finish the Knights off. And that meant bringing the Barrier down, then killing the man behind it all. Zeke just wasn¡¯t sure if he was up to it. Fortunately, he was not alone. Glancing back, he saw Sasha animatedly talking to three other people. The first was Kianma, the second was one of the enchanters they¡¯d liberated from a nearby city, and the third was, predictably, Silik. Kianma was there for two reasons, with the first being that she was the undisputed head of the tower¡¯s government as well as the Ritualists who led the charge in healing and support. As such, she needed to be aware of the battle plan. However, the second reason was far more important, because the Ritualists were not just healers. They were powerful in their own right, so long as they were given time to work their curious magic. The enchanter, whose name was Romus, was only there for one reason ¨C to give Sasha everything she needed to funnel power into the most devastating spell she could cast. As far as Zeke ¨C or Eveline ¨C knew, what they had planned had never been done before. Certainly, plenty of sorcerers had worked with enchanters, but because of the rarity of the former, it was not common practice. However, the addition of the Ritualists was unprecedented, largely because the kobolds¡¯ powers were unique. That they already had experience working with Sasha was the only reason there was any chance of success. But it was just a chance. For all any of them really knew, it would just blow up in their faces. ¡°Love that optimism,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°It¡¯s risky,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°There¡¯s so much that could go wrong. Three different disciplines, all working in tandem? You know as well as I do how easily it could turn catastrophic.¡± Indeed, Zeke may have lost much of his ability in enchanting when his Path of Runecrafting had been absorbed into the Path of Arcane Destruction, but he retained enough knowledge and experience to know just how volatile the combination of sorcery, ritualism, and enchanting could be. Even if everything worked exactly as they planned, there was a good chance that it could go out of control. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Have faith. That little pig girl ¨C¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call her that.¡± Eveline sighed. ¡°Boarkin, then. She¡¯s more talented than you could know,¡± she explained. ¡°Not even level fifty yet, and the things she can do¡­¡± ¡°I know, but ¨C¡± ¡°And those spiritweavers are just as unique. Especially Kianma. She¡¯s capable of far more than she¡¯s shown,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Zeke said. ¡°That¡¯s why it worries me.¡± Ever since he¡¯d every nearly killed Eveline with his latest skill, he had been a little more cautious. When he didn¡¯t have the power to level mountains, it was a little more acceptable not to think about consequences. But now that he had the power of an atom bomb at the tips of his fingers, things were a lot more complicated. Eveline didn¡¯t have much to say to that, so it wasn¡¯t long before Zeke turned to the others who¡¯d gathered nearby. There were nine kobold rangers, all standing in a line. Each one wore all black leather armor, but they were completely unarmed. Instead, they had incredibly long, sharp, and thick claws that were meant for tearing their foes to pieces. ¡°They don¡¯t look like much, really,¡± Eveline remarked. And she wasn¡¯t mistaken. The rangers were only about five feet tall and slightly built, and they stood in stark contrast to the hulking centurions nearby. Yet, Zeke had seen them in battle, so he knew just how effective they could be. He aimed to enhance that effectiveness. ¡°Silik,¡± he called out. The kobold general stepped away from where he¡¯d been hovering protectively near Kianma and stopped beside the rangers. Zeke said, ¡°Silik, do you accept my [Benevolence]?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Zeke pushed mana into the skill, then laid his hand on the kobold¡¯s bare shoulder. A second later, a rune bloomed upon his scales. More importantly, Zeke could feel the skill¡¯s effect take hold, granting Silik permanent access to Zeke¡¯s demonic attunement. Corruption raced through the kobold, and he let out a grunt of pain. Yet, he did not flinch away, and his body soon acclimated. ¡°Thank you, Ak-Toh,¡± Silik said. ¡°Use it well,¡± Zeke said. Then, he progressed to the rangers. Each one had proven themselves in battle, and they were the highest-leveled rangers among the kobolds. As such, they were already deadly. Zeke hoped that with his [Benevolence], they would be even more so. With that in mind, he asked the first, ¡°Do you accept my [Benevolence]?¡± ¡°I do, Ak-Toh,¡± he said. And Zeke repeated the bestowment on the first ranger. Or assassin, as he would be known. He took to it a little more easily than Silik, which was curious because he wasn¡¯t as high of a level. Yet, Zeke wasn¡¯t in any position to question the skill¡¯s mechanics. Instead, he went down the line, repeating the process until all nine had gained access to Zeke¡¯s demonic attunement. But it was more than that. He could sense it. Each assassin was stronger than a simple attunement would suggest. ¡°Does that make sense to you?¡± he asked. ¡°Nothing about your power level makes sense,¡± Eveline said with no small degree of sarcasm. ¡°Be serious.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± she said with a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°Yes. It makes sense. Using [Benevolence] isn¡¯t just giving these kobolds access to your attunements. You¡¯re fundamentally changing who and what they are, binding them to you in a way that is far more than simple mana type. From now on, they will develop in ways you can¡¯t really predict. They¡¯ll gain access to different skills. They may have even experienced increased tiers to their attributes.¡± ¡°From one skill?¡± ¡°From the spark of divinity within you,¡± she countered. ¡°Though, by this point, it¡¯s more of a flickering flame. One day, it will be a wildfire that sweeps through everything, laying waste to your ¨C¡± ¡°I get the picture.¡± That wasn¡¯t the entire truth. Zeke was just beginning to come to terms with the reality that the spark of divinity Eveline had once mentioned was a real thing. But to think that he could change a kobolds fate with the simple use of a skill? That was daunting. ¡°It will be even more impressive when you can bestow your [Benevolence] on an entire army,¡± she said. ¡°I just got the skill, and you already want me to start trying to upgrade it?¡± ¡°Not yet. You don¡¯t have the expertise or the power to do that,¡± she stated. That was true enough. Zeke had explored upgrading some of his more powerful skills, and he¡¯d hit a wall. It seemed that, even if he had the tools to continuously evolve his skills, he lacked the ability to use those tools properly. More, he sensed that if he took things too far, the cost would exceed his capacity for mana. So, Zeke couldn¡¯t just sit back and upgrade his skills, over and over again, until he had reached some ultimate threshold. Not that he would¡¯ve had the patience for that. ¡°Not enough fighting,¡± snarked Eveline. In any case, after Zeke had bestowed [Benevolence] onto his chosen ten ¨C the skill¡¯s limit ¨C he watched as Sasha, Kianma, and Romus got to work. The spell she intended to cast required a pair of enchanted circles ¨C one sized to fit a single person, and the other encircling the entire city of Ivern. So, for the past two weeks, the kobolds had been busy laying the groundwork for the larger of the two. Now, they only had to enchant it. So, for the next week, Romus and his team of three other enchanters did just that. Foot by foot until they¡¯d drawn runes on miles of silver wire laid by the kobolds. As they did, the spiritweavers enacted a series of rituals meant to connect the two circles. However, in connecting them, they established a conduit that would enhance any spells channeled through them. After that, Sasha continuously checked everything for any errors. Zeke couldn¡¯t see what she saw, but even he knew that even the slightest mistake could be catastrophic. With the amount of mana she could bring to bear, combined with the augmentation the from the rituals and the further enhancement of the enchantment circles, the spell would be exponentially more powerful than if she¡¯d cast it alone. And given what Zeke had already seen from her, that was bound to create a large and formidable effect. But would it be enough? ¡°Maybe,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Very insightful,¡± Zeke responded. The reality was that she was even less capable of estimating the powers at play than he was. She couldn¡¯t see the runes, after all. ¡°Technically, I can see everything you can see. I just can¡¯t make sense of them.¡± Regardless, even if the spell failed to do what it was intended to do ¨C which was to bring down the barrier ¨C it would assuredly weaken it. Then, it would be Zeke¡¯s turn, and he¡¯d never met an enchantment he couldn¡¯t break. As they worked, the Knights of Adontis remained within their fortress. Things would have been much more difficult if they¡¯d tried to interrupt the process. Yet, they refused to sally forth, perhaps because they couldn¡¯t. ¡°That Barrier is probably difficult to raise and lower,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of mana involved.¡± ¡°I guess,¡± Zeke said as he watched Sasha and the others putting the finishing touches on the entire system of spells, rituals, and enchantments. ¡°I hope I don¡¯t have to use [Wrath of Annihilation].¡± ¡°It should be fine,¡± Eveline said. ¡°We know how far away we need to be, right?¡± After nearly killing Eveline the last time he¡¯d used the skill, Zeke had sent some kobolds to measure the size of the crater. So, he knew that the effect would only extend for two miles from the epicenter of the skill¡¯s explosion. So, theoretically, so long as he aimed properly, he could position himself at his maximum range, use the skill, then run away while the skill built. It wasn¡¯t a perfect plan. But it was also the only viable way he could use his most powerful ability. And besides, Eveline should be safe, so long as he wasn¡¯t standing as close as he had been before. ¡°Should be is a little too vague for my taste,¡± Eveline said, trying to joke. ¡°Yeah. For me too.¡± At that moment, Sasha waved at him. Seeing that, he strode toward her, and when he reached the sorceress¡¯s position, he asked, ¡°Is it ready?¡± ¡°It is.¡± So, Zeke turned to Silik and said, ¡°Get the army ready. You know the plan.¡± ¡°Yes, Ak-Toh.¡± Then, the kobold general jogged toward the gate, which was more than a mile away, to ready the rest of the army for the invasion of Ivern. 462. Short With a crack of thunder, the sky broke apart to reveal a sea of roiling flames and molten rock. For a second, nothing else happened, but then, a cataclysm of unprecedented proportions fell upon the city of Ivern, burying the dome of the Barrier in hellfire and brimstone. Inside, Lord Adontis looked up and sneered at the expression of the massive spell. It was impressive. Powerful and destructive. Yet, it was not enough. The monsters ¨C or more appropriately, whoever had harnessed their might ¨C had given it their best shot, and they had come up short. As was appropriate. However, just because the massive attack had failed didn¡¯t mean that it had been completely ineffective. The Barrier verged on insurmountable, but like everything else in the Eternal Realm, it had limits. The city-encompassing enchantment was powered by a thousand slaves, each one linked to the enchantment via a lunar steel collar. A full half had fallen, completely drained of all mana. When their cores had run dry, the enchantment had sucked the vitality right out of them. Lord Adontis didn¡¯t need to inspect them to know that they were dead. Normally, the loss of a few slaves wouldn¡¯t have concerned him. However, these slaves were special. Powerful in their own, very specific way. They¡¯d each been forced to take a class that gave them all sorts of advantages ¨C in terms of mana capacity, regeneration, and the ability to funnel all of that into the enchantment ¨C which meant they were largely irreplaceable, at least in the short term. Fortunately, the danger quickly passed. The flames retreated, and the molten rock slid away from the shimmering dome of protective power, and Ivern still stood ¨C perfectly safe and undamaged. It was not surprising, but inwardly, Lord Adontis could at least acknowledge that it was a relief. The monsters were far more powerful than they had any right to be, which only enhanced his certainty that they needed to be removed from the world. Unfortunately, none of his allies had answered his requests for aid. The so-called Imperium of the Radiant Host had ignored him altogether, and every other ally had made excuses. Cowards, all. He intended to deal with them appropriately. He¡¯d been in seclusion for too long. The Eternal Realm had forgotten what it meant to insult Adontis. Years ago, he would have laid waste to an entire empire for such a thing. Yet, he¡¯d been far too focused on his own development, of late. The world needed to be reminded who he was and why they should respect his people. But for now, they had a monster horde at their proverbial gate. And it was becoming increasingly obvious that the current strategy of simply waiting for them to disperse on their own was a losing proposition. Perhaps it was a sign that he needed to take a firmer hand in his city¡¯s defense. That went against his overall strategy. He¡¯d spent nearly a century trying to usher them to self-sufficiency. That meant taking a hands-off approach where he let the Knights of Adontis defend themselves so that, when the time came for him to ascend to the Ethereal Realm, they could help nourish him even as he¡¯d nurtured them. He was no expert on what to expect upon ascension, but he did know that no one climbed to the top without followers. So, he¡¯d spent the past century preparing his people to fill that role ¨C which meant leaving them to fend for themselves. Now, that strategy looked like it was on the verge of failure. Thousands had already been lost. He¡¯d given even more to the Imperium. And for what? So they could refuse him aid when requested? It was an insult, and of epic proportions. The moment he removed the monster horde from the equation, it would be time to turn his attention to the so-called Imperium. They were vulnerable, now. And if they weren¡¯t allies, then they had established themselves as enemies. Lord Adontis was just getting worked up when something stirred outside the Barrier. At first, he thought it was another spell. But then he felt the power swirling. And he flinched away. It wasn¡¯t just destruction, though that was there. It was so much more. Like his very concept of destruction was merely a shadow of the real thing roiling overhead. A black sun of pure annihilation manifested, and it brought ruin with it. At first, it simply pulled everything ¨C mana, air, the very notion of gravity ¨C to it. It yanked streams of energy from the Barrier, draining it of all power. Yet, the shield held. Mostly. Even as fissures spread across its surface, more slaves fell. Lord Adontis dashed forward, leaping from his balcony and sending himself sailing across the city. He landed among the fallen slaves and yanked a collar from an unfortunate soul¡¯s neck. Then, he clasped it around his own and channeled his own mana through the apparatus, hoping the influx of energy would give it the power it needed to maintain its structure amidst that dreadful pull. And over the next minute, he poured more mana into the Barrier than he ever thought possible. Yet, it worked. The pull slowed, then ceased altogether. Lord Adontis let his shoulders sag in relief. But then the sun exploded. The Barrier shattered, and for the first time in a century, Lord Adontis felt the wrath of true agony. Of annihilation in its purest form. Buildings were destroyed, stripped of their structure right down to their most fundamental pieces. In the space of a second, people caught fire, melted, then turned to ash. Then, that ash dissipated into motes of mana as the brief instant of annihilation tore them entirely apart. Lord Adontis activated every defensive skill he had. But even then, his armor ¨C an artifact of massive power on its own ¨C melted to his body. Fortunately, the shield had blocked the worst of the effects, so the locus of destruction only extended a couple hundred yards from the black sun¡¯s location. Even then, the casualties ¨C especially among the Knights, who were mostly stationed near the outer wall ¨C were devastating. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. For his part, Lord Adontis survived more or less intact. Yet, the strain on his stores of mana as well as body exceeded anything he¡¯d felt in centuries. He was still alive, though. And now that the Barrier was down ¨C and it didn¡¯t look like it would ever recover ¨C he was free to exact revenge on whoever had brought a monster horde to his doorstep. Only then did he hear the screams. Lord Adontis whipped around and launched himself through the air. On a cushion of pure moonlight, he raced to the center of the city, where he saw his worst nightmares come to life. Thousands of monsters ¨C scaley and armed with shields and spears, of all things ¨C poured out of a sinkhole in the middle of the city. A few Knights were stationed there, and they put some degree of resistance, but most of his strongest warriors had been stationed near the wall. Most of those were now dead, destroyed so completely that nothing but a few motes of mana remained. If his city was going to survive, Lord Adontis had no choice. He needed to intervene, and quickly. So, he summoned his sword, pushed what mana he retained into [By the Light of the Moon] and rushed forward to slaughter the monsters who¡¯d invaded his city. He only got a few feet before he felt himself falling in the wrong direction. An instant later, something hit him with enough force to rattle his bones and send him sailing across the city. His momentum didn¡¯t stop until he crashed into his palace, toppling one of the soaring towards and sending a cascade of brickwork falling to the ground a thousand feet below. Climbing free of the wreckage, Lord Adontis looked back to see a massive golem standing just inside the city. It looked like a statue forged from blood mithril and silvery steel, though with enough jagged protrusions to suggest more brutality than beauty. He used [Eyes of the Moon Lord]: Arcane Colossus ¨C Level 65 Strength ¨C Peak Agility ¨C Average Dexterity ¨C High Endurance ¨C Peak Vitality ¨C Average Intelligence ¨C Very High Wisdom ¨C Extremely High Resistances ¨C Extremely High [Eyes of the Moon Lord] was an extremely powerful skill, and one that had, on many occasions, proved to be the difference between life and death. After all, a warrior who didn¡¯t know his opponent was bound to make mistakes. Yet, for the first time ever, he wished for ignorance. The monster was only level sixty-five, and yet, its attribute tiers were more impressive than any Lord Adontis had ever seen. That was enough to confirm that this Arcane Colossus was the leader of the horde. Was it the source of that black sun skill? If so, could it bring it to bear again? If that was possible, Lord Adontis was certain that nothing would survive. Still, the creature was only level sixty-five. No monster of that level should be capable of standing up to him. Yet¡­ Even from so far away, Lord Adontis could feel the weight of the thing¡¯s accumulations. Its attributes were unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen, and the presence of its Will was nearly overwhelming. Finally, there was something else he¡¯d never felt before. Something otherworldly. Or divine. He shuddered, a wave of fear crawling up his spine. Then, he clamped down on that unnatural feeling. He was level eight-seven. Twelve unimaginably vast levels past the threshold. He¡¯d killed millions. Hundreds of millions, perhaps. And he¡¯d spent decades slowly accumulating levels while augmenting his own Will. He feared no being. So, after shoving his dread aside, Lord Adontis stepped forward, using [Moon Bridge] to support himself. He drifted slowly toward the ground, ignoring the monsters who were, with every passing second, slaughtering his people. They had sheltered beneath his might for far too long. If they couldn¡¯t defend themselves from a monster horde, then they didn¡¯t deserve his protection. Instead, he focused entirely on his opponent. The Arcane Colossus had yet to move. Instead, it stood rooted in place, carrying a massive and brutal club. Or was it a hammer? Whatever the case, the barbaric weapon had a handle of bone, with two tapered protrusions on opposite sides, with smaller, perpendicular projections on the others. ¡°Monster,¡± he shouted. ¡°You are blessed to become fuel for my rise. You must ¨C¡± ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± the monster growled. And then, Lord Adontis was once again falling toward the creature. He managed to use [Protection of the Moon] just before the monster¡¯s massive weapon hit him. Yet, the protective shield that had been the inspiration for the great Barrier could do nothing to dissipate the sheer force of the attack, so Lord Adontis was once again sent flying across the city. However, this time, he was ready for it. Using [Moon Bridge] to allay some of his momentum, he kicked off another tower and launched himself back at the Arcane Colossus. What followed was a clash that shook the very foundations of the city. And thus, the battle truly began. * * * Silik felt the impact of the clash as a shockwave swept through the city, kicking up dust and tearing down the already-crumbling buildings. However, he couldn¡¯t afford the attention necessary to assist Ak-Toh. Instead, he forced himself to trust the savior of his people as he focused on the battle at hand. A Knight of Adontis, wearing its ridiculous metal suit, aimed a sword strike at Silik. He raised his hide-bound shield ¨C it had been made from layer after layer of hardened leather that had, in turn, been created from the skin of the cyclops Ak-Toh had killed in the dungeon. He blocked the two-handed attack, shoving it to the side before ramming his spear into the Knight¡¯s chest. It skittered off the protective breastplate, but Silik followed it up with a shield strike that sent the monstrous human staggering backward. Then, he aimed his spear at the Knight and let loose with [Spear of Memories]. A beam of blistering light tore across the intervening space, searing through the breastplate and destroying a large portion of the stunned Knight¡¯s chest. A second later, one of Ak-Toh¡¯s assassins fell on the enemy, ripping it apart with corruption-laced claws. The second the Knight died, they disappeared from Silik¡¯s awareness as they went on the hunt for other targets. That was the plan, after all. As soon as Ak-Toh¡¯s devastating skill had dissipated, the kobolds had flooded out of the gate where they were kept safe, entering the tunnels they¡¯d dug in preparation of the assault, then bridged the gap from where the shield had once stood to the surface of the city. After that, they¡¯d erupted into the center of the city, where they were tasked with destroying everything in their path. Meanwhile, Ak-Toh fought the powerful leader of the Knights, sending shockwaves of force to sweep through the city. In the distance, Silik saw Pudge ripping through a group of Knights. They flailed to stop him, but he was too fast. Too strong. As was proper. The demonic bearkin was second only to Ak-Toh in terms of power, so it felt appropriate that none of the mundane Knights could stand before his might. The same could be said for the rest of the kobolds, though. Enhanced by Ak-Toh¡¯s twin domains, they were far stronger than they otherwise would have been. And because of that, the Knights who¡¯d managed to survive the devastating combination of the destructive spell and Ak-Toh¡¯s skill of annihilation were ill-suited to standing up to the horde of kobolds. It was a sign of things to come. A portent of the future Silik had seen the moment the Mother had declared Ak-Toh their savior. He kicked out, taking another Knight in the chest before rejoining his legionnaires. The wall of kobolds arrayed themselves against the remaining Knights, encircling them before, at last, advancing. The Knights fought back, throwing out various moon-themed skills. In response, the kobolds sheltered behind their shields as well as the collective [Bulwark of the Legion]. As a result, none of the attacks landed. Not until a trio of men crashed into the defensive line. It bent, then buckled beneath the weight of their power. Silik rushed forward, leading the charge with his shield. His target ¨C the largest among them ¨C wielded a giant axe. The other two were armed with swords. It didn¡¯t matter. Because when Silik hit, he was stopped cold by the large Knight¡¯s strength. And then, he was sent staggering back from a backhand that took him in the shoulder. That¡¯s when he felt Pudge step up next to him on one side. On the other was the former Knight, Adara. She shouted, ¡°The triplets. You¡¯ve finally pulled yourselves out of seclusion?¡± ¡°Traitor!¡± shouted the shortest among them. It was only then that Silik realized that she was female. All around, the battle between the two forces raged. The sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air as Silik, Pudge, and Adara faced off against the so-called triplets. And then, at some unknown signal, the Knights launched themselves at Silik and his companions. Thus, the battle within a battle began. 463. The Battle of Ivern Zeke was disappointed. [Wrath of Annihilation] had torn the dome-like shield completely apart, but the damage it had done to the city of Ivern was minimal. ¡°Minimal?¡± Eveline said, mentally focusing on the blocks of ruined buildings and slain Knights who¡¯d been stationed on the outskirts of the city. ¡°You and I have very different interpretations of that word.¡± He could acknowledge the truth of that. However, given what he¡¯d seen on the Mukti Plains, Zeke felt justified in expecting [Wrath of Annihilation] to do more. He¡¯d even held out hope that it would end the battle before it had even begun. The results came far short of that mark, leaving him a little dissatisfied. Of course, the rest of the plan had worked to perfection. After the collaborative effort to destroy the shield had failed ¨C which was expected ¨C Zeke had moved on to the next step. So, once everyone had been evacuated into the tower and he¡¯d desummoned the gate, he¡¯d used his most powerful skill to tear the shield down. In the wake of that destruction, he¡¯d summoned his gate, and the kobolds had raced through the tunnels they¡¯d dug in preparation for the battle. Of course, before, they¡¯d been stopped by the barrier, which formed a sphere around the entire city, but now that it was laid bare, they brought their sharp, purposeful claws to bear. After that, they¡¯d burst forth into the middle of the city, where they¡¯d been only met with nominal resistance. At the same time, Zeke had been kept busy by the most powerful man or creature he¡¯d ever fought. The armored human was not as strong as either of the wyrms back beneath Min Ferilik, but he was far closer than anything else Zeke had ever fought. That suggested he was Lord Adontis himself, which Zeke had taken a few brief seconds to verify via his [Inspection] skill. The results were as disappointing as the results of [Wrath of Annihilation]: Lord Adontis ¨C Level ?? Zeke had hoped to get some measure of the man before the battle began in earnest. Yet, he was clearly too low of a level, which was both troubling and exciting. After all, Zeke had long since acknowledged his own pattern of behavior, which was characterized by constant challenge. But on the other side of that coin was the fact that he had no idea how much more powerful Lord Adontis was than him. Not only had he taken Zeke¡¯s best shot ¨C albeit after it had been diluted by the city¡¯s shield ¨C but he¡¯d shown no signs of injury, even after Zeke had hit him with a couple of attacks. That harkened back to Zeke¡¯s fight against Karik. That man had only been level seventy-six, and he¡¯d taken everything Zeke could dish out only to keep coming back for more. Clearly, his superior would take even more to defeat. Never was that more apparent than when Lord Adontis pulled himself from the wreckage of one of the city¡¯s towers and stepped onto a beam of moonlight that sent him on a collision course with Zeke. For his part, Zeke leaped up to meet him, using Voromir¡¯s ability to summon a blood-red copy that extended his reach by no small degree. However, Lord Adontis was no novice fighter, and he summoned some sort of silver shield to block the attack. Zeke saw a few cracks spread across the bulwark ¨C which seemed to have been made of pure moonlight ¨C but the higher-leveled combatant seemed otherwise unaffected. What¡¯s worse, Zeke¡¯s swing had left him slightly off-balance, giving Adontis the opening he needed to send a spectral sword slash slicing through Zeke¡¯s chest. Agony erupted in its wake, though there was no visible wound. ¡°Soul damage,¡± said Eveline, providing unhelpful commentary. But as painful as it was ¨C and it cut through his racial pain tolerance like nothing else ¨C Zeke knew how to deal with it. Even as he met another slash with Voromir, knocking the attack aside, he embraced [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to heal the damage. Then, he kicked out, connecting with the powerful lord¡¯s knee. With all his strength, the strike was very effective, buckling the joint. However, Adontis barely let it affect him, and he responded with a backhanded blow with his moonlight shield that sent Zeke tumbling backward into a mostly destroyed building. What was left of it fell atop him in a cascade of bricks that buried him in rubble. To combat that, he used [Shifting Sands], but as he had been against Karik, he was stymied by a plane of glass-like moonlight that covered the entire area. Zeke was ready for that, though. He flared [Aura of Desolation], then slammed his hammer into the restrictive sheet of silvery light. Weakened by his domain, it shattered beneath the blow, and he sank into the ground before sliding through the earth, only to erupt directly beneath the armored lord. As he did, the entire area was bathed in earth and hellfire, but Zeke was more intent on hitting the Knight with as much force as he could muster. He connected with an uppercut that sent the man flying high into the air. The arc of his trajectory took him hundreds of yards away before he crashed into a building. Zeke raced forward, intent on piling on the damage. He didn¡¯t get the chance, though. At that moment, the leader of Adontis erupted from the wreckage of his passage, growing into a fifteen-foot-tall behemoth of silver armor and moonlight. He leveled his sword at Zeke before a beam of pure, silvery destruction tore across the city. Where it passed, the world was ripped asunder. Zeke tried to use [Shifting Sands] again, but even with the increased perception of time that came with the skill, he was incapable of dodging the destructive stream of moonlight. It slammed into his chest, tearing into his metallic and rocky flesh before erupting from his back. Meanwhile, he found himself knocked backward, slamming through various walls even as agony enveloped his mind. His landing cracked the very foundations of the city, ripping a crater in the ground with every bounce. Finally, after a few hundred yards, he came to a stop, woozy and as injured as he¡¯d been in quite some time. But he didn¡¯t get a chance to collect himself, because Lord Adontis landed a second later, burying his sword in Zeke¡¯s ruined chest. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Zeke screamed in torment as the enormous Knight twisted the blade. As he did, he sneered, ¡°You are beneath me, monster. A piece of trash meant to fuel my rise.¡± He raised his sword. But before he could bring it down, a javelin hit him in the chest, sinking deep. Then another ripped into him. And another after that. Over and over until ten shafts of bronze sprouted from his body. Each one was connected to a tether of mana which, in turn, led to the ten golems of [Colossal Army]. Through those tethers pulsed huge torrents of mana as they weakened the leader of Adontis. It wasn¡¯t enough to defeat him. Far from it, in fact. In the grand scheme of things, even that effect ¨C as powerful as it was ¨C was only capable of making the man stumble. That was all Zeke needed, though. He threw himself to his feet, aiming a massive uppercut at the Knight. The moment Voromir connected, Zeke used [Unleash Momentum], lacing it with his destructive Will. After spending months inoculating himself against the Path of Arcane Destruction, the pulse of his Will wasn¡¯t enough to damage his body, but it was more than enough to give his already-powerful skill an extra kick. The power of a thousand swings erupted from Zeke¡¯s hammer, hitting the Knight with unparalleled force. Adontis attempted to block it with his moonlight shield, yet it crumbled before Zeke¡¯s Will. A second later, the sound of denting metal echoed across the city as the most powerful person in the kingdom was sent sailing across the cityscape with enough force to topple any building in his way. At the same time, Zeke used [Shifting Sands] to race forward, narrowly keeping up with the man¡¯s flight. As Zeke followed, Adontis crashed through one building after another, destroying them and leaving an explosion of bricks in his wake. When he finally reached the palace, he came to a sudden stop as his armor twisted into an unrecognizable hunk of gleaming metal. Yet, he wasn¡¯t dead. Zeke aimed to change that with [Hell Geyser], which he summoned directly at the point of impact. Fire and brimstone erupted from the ground, melting the palace walls and burying Lord Adontis in earth and corruption. Still, the powerful Knight persisted. So, even before [Hell Geyser] faded, Zeke vaulted forward, and at the apex of his leap, he increased his weight as much as possible. He fell with the force of a meteor, putting every ounce of strength behind the ensuing hammer strike. And he was rebuffed. Once again, Lord Adontis had summoned a moonlight shield. When Zeke hit it, the impact sent a massive shockwave to tear across the cityscape. Brocks were turned to dust, walls fell, and a nearby tower teetered and fell. But Lord Adontis ¨C with metal melted onto his body and looking like his flesh was no better off ¨C was unaffected. Instead, he shoved against his moonlight shield, the force of which sent Zeke flying away like a ragdoll. A second later, a hundred sharpened spiles of silvery moonlight assailed him. Even as he soared back the way he¡¯d come, Zeke was pierced through dozens of times. Each one drained a combination of Will and mana while degrading his very soul. Pain unlike anything Zeke had ever felt tore through his body. He used [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but it was too weak to keep up with the sheer amount of damage he¡¯d had directed his way. As a result, his body was ripped to shreds, one chunk of metal at a time. Until he¡¯d finally had enough and shifted from the unattuned version of [Triune Colossus] to the demonic form. Even as his body transformed, he forced even more demonic mana through [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], rebuilding his body with a rapidity that was visible to the naked eye. It could do nothing for the damage that had left his soul in tatters, but that was something he¡¯d just have to deal with. In the interim, he had a Knight to murder. As fury raced through his mind, Zeke hit the ground feet first, then shoved his hand into the ground, arresting his momentum. When he looked up, Lord Adontis was already on his way, sprinting across the battlefield with an eye toward finishing Zeke off. Using [Center of Gravity], Zeke sent him tumbling forward. At the same time, he summoned the blood red expression of Voromir before slamming the weapon down in an overhand swing that marshaled every point of strength Zeke possessed. The red hammer fell, smashing the off-balance Knight into the ground. Then, Zeke ran toward the man. He was tired of playing games, so he let his Will encompass his mind. As it did so, it raged through his body, leaving behind a wake of destruction that was almost instantly repaired by his demon-fueled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. The corruption was so powerful that it became visible to the naked eye, misting around his jagged form. When he reached Lord Adontis, he didn¡¯t say a word. Nor did he try any fancy techniques. That wasn¡¯t his style. Instead, Zeke brough his hammer down with world-ending force. The earth shattered in every direction as he pummeled the fallen Lord Adontis into the ground. The hammer fell. Over and over again, it descended. The first few were blocked by shields of moonlight. Then, when those were exhausted, the next couple had to make their way through the man¡¯s raised hands. Those broke soon enough. Next came his armor. Then, the man¡¯s body. Throughout the onslaught, Zeke was assailed by hundreds of lunar spears. They ripped his body apart like nothing ever had. Before those attacks, his vaunted endurance was worth almost nothing. Yet, when those blades retreated, the corruption-fueled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] healed him before the next could add to the damage. It was a cycle of destruction and reparation that, at any other time, would have been fascinating. But in those few moments, with demonic fury raging through him, he only cared about annihilating the mana beneath him. And he did. Metal crumbled. Flesh was rent. Bones shattered. Still, Lord Adontis persisted. Zeke continued to pour his Will into his attacks. At first, he¡¯d only taken a few sips, but after only a few moments, those had become the gulps of a man dying of thirst. And the results were obvious. The ground burst, cracks of pure devastation spreading from the point of impact. The very air caught fire, and reality seemed to shiver beneath the might of Zeke¡¯s Path of Arcane Destruction. His body fared no better, yet with [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] roaring through him, it was rendered moot. Not so for his already wounded soul. He couldn¡¯t worry about that, though. Instead, he could only focus on finishing the man off. If he didn¡¯t, there was every chance Lord Adontis would recover and rejoin the battle. Now that he had the upper hand, Zeke needed to kill him, once and for all. He didn¡¯t dare pay attention to anything else. Which was why he had no idea there was another huge Knight barreling in his direction. The man hit him with a reckless shoulder tackle. Zeke¡¯s latest hammer fall went wide, thudding into the ground instead of continuing to crush Lord Adontis into paste. He backhanded his assailant, snapping the man¡¯s neck in the process, but another hit him a second later. Then another after that. Hundreds of Knights followed, each one enhanced by some sort of lunar based skill that coated their whole bodies in silver light. None of them could stand up to Zeke in single combat. In fact, it was only a matter of time before he killed them. Yet, with every passing moment, Lord Adontis would recover. He couldn¡¯t let that happen. So, with fury raging through his mind, Zeke targeted the ground beneath him and slammed his fist into the ground. That was enough to satisfy the requirements of [Hell Geyser], and a second later, corrupted fire and earth exploded from beneath. Zeke increased his weight a hundredfold, so he managed to maintain his position. The Knights that had piled atop him were not so lucky. The ones that weren¡¯t burnt to a crisp ended up being thrown aside like so much confetti. Meanwhile, Zeke was assailed by the demonic flames. They blistered his flesh and melted his rocky skin, but [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] managed to keep pace. Without his domains, that wouldn¡¯t have been possible. He¡¯d have long since run out of fuel. But because of [Aura of Desolation], he had more than enough corrupted mana for his purposes. Still, that brief delay had allowed Lord Adontis ¨C wounded and barely alive ¨C to climb from the crater where Zeke had been beating him to death. And he wasn¡¯t happy. He let out a roar, shouting, ¡°You cannot defeat me! I am a god!¡± And then, silver light erupted from his body, sweeping across the battlefield. 464. Found Wanting Silver light tore through Zeke, making him feel like he was being ripped apart, piece by piece. However, he maintained his wits enough to counter it by flooding [Aura of Desolation] with as much mana as he could manage. More, he shoved his Will into the skill as well. For the next few seconds, the two domains ¨C for that was what that silver light clearly represented ¨C warred, with either combatant pushing their abilities as hard as they could. Meanwhile, they rushed one another, their heavy footsteps thudding against the rubble of their previous efforts. When they finally collided, they did so with enough momentum to send a deadly shockwave to tear through their surroundings. For nearly fifty yards all around them, buildings toppled and any people unlucky enough to find themselves in the area were sent flying away as if under the influence of a bomb. Zeke lashed out, twisting his twin attunements and holding them together with a combination of his Will and the pure mana from his core. His hammer hit with the might of the Worldbreaker technique, ravaging his body along the way. However, the technique was even more effective against Lord Adontis. The man wasn¡¯t through backwards. Instead, when Voromir hit, unleashing Worldbreaker into the man¡¯s chest, his armor was unmade while massive cracks spread across his chest. Bits of flesh and shards of his armor flew free, disintegrating as they sailed through the air. But Zeke wasn¡¯t finished. Instead, he flooded his own leg with the technique, then kicked out, connecting with Lord Adontis¡¯ knee. The joint buckled, and Zeke followed that strike up with a baseball swing that took the man in the hip. Following that was another kick that sent the man to his knees, and then a brutal, overhand strike infused with as powerful of a Worldbreaker technique as Zeke could muster. Even as the ambient mana blistered and burned, he crushed the leader of Adontis¡¯ skull. It crumbled beneath the mighty blow. Yet, even then, the powerful Knight did not die. After everything the man had endured, he still clung to life. And Zeke knew that if he didn¡¯t kill him off ¨C and soon ¨C he¡¯d only recover and return to the battle. And given the price Zeke would inevitably have to pay for his copious use of his Will, that would be disastrous. So, he had to finish the man off, and before his Will rendered him helpless. So, he kept going. One blow after another, each one crushing a piece of Lord Adontis. Even as the man was pummeled into submission, the effects of Zeke¡¯s Will spread across their battlefield. Stones were rendered into dust, and that dust broke down to whatever smaller components comprised each cloud. And even that was destroyed. Soon enough, the entire area was a desolate place devoid of anything but bare ground. And even that was a crater, yards deep and with an aura of pure destruction ripping it apart one layer at a time. Even the ambient mana succumbed before Zeke¡¯s Path of Arcane Destruction. Anyone unlucky enough to remain in the vicinity was destroyed, but even if they had survived, they would have choked on the lack of mana. It was destruction in its purest form. But Zeke knew there was more. He knew there was another step. Destruction wasn¡¯t just breaking things down, bit by bit. It was removal of the highest order. It was the pursuit of nothingness. Even as his body was ravaged by the powerful Path of Arcane Destruction, Zeke¡¯s mind searched for a deeper meaning concerning his path. And nothing was the key. But it wasn¡¯t everything. There was something else. Something he couldn¡¯t quite understand. If he just kept going, perhaps he could find it, though. So, he pushed, continuously channeling his Will with everything he could muster. ¡°Ezekiel, stop!¡± screamed Eveline, punctuating it with what sounded like she was pounding against a door. ¡°Please! Nothing will survive if you keep going!¡± Zeke blinked. The man beneath him was dead. In fact, he didn¡¯t even look like a man at all anymore. Instead, he was a pile of ash, shards of metal, and bones. Zeke had long since received kill energy from Lord Adontis¡¯ demise. He was just too wrapped up in his Path of Arcane Destruction to acknowledge it. He looked up. And he saw destruction. For a hundred yards all around him, nothing remained. The buildings hadn¡¯t crumbled. Instead, they were just gone. As were any people who were within them. The ground had been scoured clean, right down to the bedrock. Zeke released his Will and immediately fell to his knees. The ambient mana was gone, but his domain had picked up the slack, generating enough corruption to fill the gap. Still, it was hard to breathe. Difficult to think. He knelt there in a daze, unsure how to proceed. That was probably why he didn¡¯t see his doom bearing down on him. * * * Pudge rammed his claw through a Knight¡¯s chest and out the other side, killing the man instantly. Yet, it was unsatisfying. After the so-called triplets had attacked, the battle had devolved into a one-sided melee, with his companions getting the worst of it. Pudge had held his own, if only barely, but the newcomers had proven themselves extremely powerful. Curiously, Adara had withstood the onslaught better than any of the rest, but that was likely only because her powers tended toward the defensive. Still, the utilization of her training and techniques made for an impressive display that Pudge wished he¡¯d had the time to truly appreciate. But he had his hands full with his side of the battle. He yanked his claw free, then used [Shadow Evisceration]. As soon as he disappeared from sight, his body erupted into black fire that spread out in a slow ring all around him. As it did, he launched himself forward, bringing his claws to bear against the copious number of enemies. The triplets were out of reach, but Pudge had plenty of other targets. Over the next few subjective moments, he raced from one Knight to the next, ripping through them with his Path of Ferocity coursing through him. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The results were predictable, and by the time the circle of black fire finished its passage, Pudge returned to a normal perception of time. With a clatter, the Knights fell to the ground, blood leaking through their rent armor. Each one was already dead, but Pudge didn¡¯t have the leeway to appreciate his handiwork. Not only was he still surrounded by hundreds of Knights, but something was happening in the center of the town. And it was troubling, because, even from hundreds of yards away, Pudge could feel the destruction in the air. More, being so close to Zeke, he could feel the vast amount of pain coursing through his companion¡¯s body. It was like he was being unmade and reconstituted with every passing moment, convincing Pudge that Zeke needed him. So, he abandoned the battle and raced across the city. At first, he kept to the streets, but that preference quickly became untenable due to the ruined state of Ivern. When Pudge reached a toppled building, instead of going around, he simply vaulted across the rubble, dropping to all fours as he leaped over it. He was forced to repeat that action three more times, and with each step, the atmosphere of destruction grew even more vivid until he crossed a threshold and saw a crater amidst a barren wasteland. And at the center of that was Zeke. He was in his demonic colossus form, which meant that his powerful body was a collection of jagged crystals and sharp spikes of metal. Pudge had seen it often enough that it no longer troubled him. Instead, he was more worried about the fact that the form had been whittled down to almost skeletal proportions. With every passing second, more material sloughed off Zeke¡¯s form, then dissipated into dust. That dust disappeared a second later, completely destroyed. Of the shining Lord Adontis, there was no evidence, save for a pile of ash and metal beneath Zeke¡¯s knees. Suddenly, the aura of destruction ceased, and Zeke¡¯s shoulders slumped. He blinked, but he didn¡¯t otherwise move until he started looking around. Even as he did, his body rebuilt itself, looking as if it was inflating. Or like time had sped up. Whatever the case, Pudge sighed in relief as he saw that Zeke wasn¡¯t going to be doomed to some skeletal existence. But then he saw the pair of men racing toward Zeke. They descended into the crater so quickly that Pudge took a moment to understand what was happening. He recognized them as two of the tree triplets. The largest one had already died, but the other two had clearly managed to survive and escape. Now, they wanted revenge. Pudge threw himself forward, trying to use [Shadow Evisceration] along the way, more for its time-dilation effect than any of its damage. However, so soon after he¡¯d last used it, the skill was unavailable. So, he had to rely on his own two feet to carry him to Zeke¡¯s aid. Yet, even as he took the first few steps, he knew he wasn¡¯t going to make it. He shouted, the sound coming out like a roar that Zeke plainly didn¡¯t hear. But just before the two knights reached him, Zeke looked up. A second later, he disappeared, and the two men crashed into one another. As they tangled together, Zeke reappeared with a gout of fire and earth, though he fell to the ground a second later, clearly injured. That¡¯s when Pudge arrived, summoning [Netherclaw] and slashing it across the tangle of Knights. A second later seven bronze golems thudded into the crater, each one armed with thick cudgels. Each one looked like they¡¯d been abandoned for centuries, with their normally pristine bodies having picked up a patina of oxidation. In addition, large chunks of their bronze forms were missing, and two lacked an arm apiece. But they fell on the Knights with the inevitable fury Pudge had come to expect. They pummeled the pair of Knights, denting armor and sending the sound of broken bones echoing across the wasteland. Yet, Pudge knew they wouldn¡¯t fall so easily, and his prediction was borne out when one of the Knights threw himself to his feet and wildly hacked at the golems. Pudge disappeared, using [Concealed Steps] and channeling his Path of Shadows as he awaited the perfect opportunity to add his efforts to the fight. Meanwhile, Zeke still hadn¡¯t moved. Pudge knew he was still alive, but he was not in good condition. That couldn¡¯t be the object of Pudge¡¯s focus, though. He needed to concentrate on defeating the Knights. And as the one who¡¯d regained his feet laid waste to the golems, felling them one by one, hacking them to pieces with all the skill of a lumberjack, Pudge circled. And then, when the Knight finally overcommitted, and one of the two remaining golems smash its cudgel into his knee, Pudge pounced. His claws flashed as he enveloped himself in [Hellfire]. At the same time, he used [Netherclaw], twice in quick succession before bringing the manifested claws to bear. The raked through the Knight, eliciting a scream of agony that Pudge ignored before he crashed into the man. He tackled him to the ground, ripping into him with [Hellfire] wreathed claws. The man¡¯s metallic armor melted, and his skin followed suit. With Pudge on top of him, he couldn¡¯t bring his sword to bear. Nor could he gain any leverage, and even as he tried to activate one skill after another, Pudge continuously interrupted his concentration with copious amounts of pain. He roared like the beast he¡¯d once been, ripping the man to pieces. But with that degree of focused concentration was bound to come back to bite him, and it did when he felt a sword enter his lower back. Then, it erupted in a wide arc of moonlight that ripped a huge chunk of his side away. Organs flew free, and flesh followed suit. Still, Pudge wouldn¡¯t allow himself to be distracted. He knew that if he didn¡¯t finish the Knight off, he would recover. And if that happened, Zeke would die. Pudge refused to lose his brother, and so, he would not allow himself to fall. Not until he finished the task at hand. So, even as the Knight brought another attack to bear, Pudge managed to kill the Knight beneath him. But he paid the price, falling forward and bleeding all over the man he¡¯d just killed. Hopefully, his sacrifice would be enough. ¡°Beast,¡± growled the man, kicking Pudge over and leveling his bloody sword at the bearkin. Suddenly, the air shimmered, and a kobold ranger popped into view before falling upon the Knight. His claws ¨C even wreathed in demonic mana ¨C were incapable of doing much damage. But that¡¯s what his companions were for. Ten more kobolds appeared, burying the man beneath a mountain of claws and corruption. That wasn¡¯t enough to kill him. Not by a long shot. But the arrival of the kobold assassins was a herald of things to come, and only a few moments into their assault, a storm of kobolds and beastkin arrived, with Silik and Adara leading the way. After that, the battle was all but over. So, Pudge let himself fall to the ground, content in the knowledge that he¡¯d saved Zeke from certain death. As soon as he hit the ground, his consciousness faded. Some indeterminate time later, he awoke surrounded by warm water. At first, he panicked, but then, only a second later, he recognized the friendly confines of the Crimson Spring. More importantly, he saw Zeke. And he couldn¡¯t contain a gasp. It looked like his companion had lost a third of his mass in the space of a day. His muscles had always been visible, but now, they bulged grotesquely. Moreover, his bones were clearly visible. Finally, his cheeks were hollow, and his eyes were sunken deep in their sockets. But he was alive. Zeke gave him a weak smile, then croaked, ¡°Hey buddy. You were touch and go there for a while. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°Are you?¡± ¡°Okay? I don¡¯t know,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°I can barely move. I feel like I lost fifty pounds. And my head¡¯s pounding like someone¡¯s hitting it with a sledgehammer. But we won. Adontis has fallen.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Pudge said, letting himself relax. He fingered his side, noticing that his flesh still hadn¡¯t completely mended. But it would. Pudge had seen the miracle of the Crimson Springs work its magic. He only had to wait, and he would be healed. ¡°Thank you,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You saved my life.¡± ¡°You do not need to thank me. Brothers. We protect each other.¡± ¡°Yeah. I guess we do.¡± 465. The Fall of Adontis ¡°How many?¡± Zeke asked, looking up at Kianma. She stood near the edge of the pool of the Crimson Spring, her hands clasped behind her back. ¡°Seven-thousand,¡± she answered. ¡°Mostly beastkin. Then humans. We lost a little over a thousand of the Ak-Kal Ra.¡± Zeke shifted, sending ripples through the steaming water. In the wake of the battle, the kobolds had chosen a name for themselves. Ak-Kal Ra. In their language, it meant The Rescued. Or The Saved People. Exact definitions were a little murky due to the limitations of that language. But Zeke knew that the name was meant to honor him as their savior, which made him just as uncomfortable as being referred to as Ak-Toh once had. Still, he had to remind himself that it was a good sign of their development. It had been close to a week since the fall of Adontis, and the days since then had been filled with clean-up, administration, and integrating the displaced slaves and peasants. Most that had been in Ivern had perished during the battle, but there were still plenty that had managed to make it through. The same could be said for the Knights they¡¯d taken prisoner. All of that had conspired to give Zeke a massive headache, and one that resisted even the constant influence of the healing springs. As for his body, it was still a work in progress. His copious use of the Path of Arcane Destruction had destroyed much of his body, whittling it down to a shell of its former self. Since then, Zeke had spent most of his time eating or soaking in the Crimson Spring, and though that had been effective, he knew there was still a long way to go before he¡¯d be back to full strength. Still, his efforts at inoculation had not been without benefit, and it had only taken him a single day before he was able to move around the tower. That was a definitely improvement from the weeks it had taken him to reach that point after similar expenditures. Even so, he¡¯d gained quite a bit of his muscle back, and he was beginning to feel healthy enough to move on. ¡°Don¡¯t get too impatient. You want to be at your best before we push on to the next adventure,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Adventure?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Is that how you characterize what we just went through? It was a war, Eveline. Thousands of people have died.¡± ¡°Bad people. That¡¯s the kind of thing you care about, right? Morality and whatever.¡± ¡°They were still people.¡± She let out a tired sigh. Zeke did the same. He knew that Adontis needed to fall. They were, by basically any measure of morality, evil. They¡¯d enslaved whole swaths of people and oppressed everyone but a select few. And even the privileged ones had been practically brainwashed and forced onto a treadmill of ever-increasing power. ¡°Coming from you, that¡¯s ¨C¡± ¡°I know, Eveline,¡± Zeke said. He knew he was on that same treadmill. But the difference was that he¡¯d chosen that route. Left unspoken was the questions about how he¡¯d pushed his own people to do the same. The kobolds hadn¡¯t chosen their path, after all. They were merely following his example. But at least the battle hadn¡¯t been for naught. Not only had he gained three levels from killing thousands of people with [Wrath of Annihilation], but finishing Lord Adontis off had pushed him even higher. As he floated in the spring, Zeke looked at his status:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 69
Race Cambion (E)
Attunement Earth (E), Demon (D)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (C)
Strength (S+) 100
Agility (C) 35
Dexterity (B) 36
Endurance (S+) 100
Vitality (C) 30
Intelligence (A) 50
Wisdom (S) 52
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D A C D
His status had changed quite a bit, and not just because of the four levels he¡¯d gained. In addition to the normal allocation of attribute points for each level, he¡¯d also been awarded eight extra points to do with as he saw fit. He¡¯d chosen to use those points to bring his strength and endurance to triple digits, then used a point to increase his vitality to an even number. The final point, he¡¯d added to dexterity. Yet, as impactful as those changes were, Zeke was more interested in the rest of his status, which had changed in four notable ways. First, his arcane resistance had increased from B-Tier to A-Tier, likely due to his exposure to the Path of Arcane Destruction. He had no idea how that would impact him going forward, but he liked the idea that he could increase his resistances by inoculating himself against that sort of mana. ¡°You know that isn¡¯t normal, right?¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°Most people can¡¯t do that without decades of exposure. And even then, not when their resistances are that high. It must be a feature of your colossal body.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke agreed. However, from his experience, he¡¯d always been capable of developing resistances quickly. All it had taken was a single bout of exposure to a deadly poison to unlock his resistances way back in the Mortal Realm ¨C which was something Abby had claimed was unheard-of. Either way, it was a nice addition to his power. Hopefully, he¡¯d be able to develop his other resistances in the same way, though he knew it would take quite strong attuned mana to do so. The next change he focused on was a bit mixed, but it had probably come from the same source. His demonic attunement had increased in grade, going from E-Grade to D-Grade. That would hopefully give him better resistances to the caustic effects of the corrosion, but Eveline seemed to think that any gains in that arena would be offset by a more powerful version of that corruption. In any case, he¡¯d chosen to look at it as an upgrade. The third major change was his race, which had improved from F-Grade to E-Grade. That, according to everything he knew, was uncommon as well. It wasn¡¯t completely impossible to improve one¡¯s race without external treasures, but it was so rare that most people considered it to be so. Still, Zeke had done it, and he¡¯d already felt some of the effects. Not only were his senses more acute, but he felt more durable than ever before ¨C even when he wasn¡¯t back to full strength yet. The most poignant effect was that he felt capable of thinking more quickly and clearly than he had before the racial upgrade. He wasn¡¯t more intelligent, but he could process information better. So, that was definitely a benefit. But the final alteration to his status sheet was, perhaps, the most important. He¡¯d upgraded his Path of Arcane Destruction from D-Grade to C-Grade. It had already been powerful enough to rip his body to pieces, so he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what it was capable of now. ¡°Just when I was starting to get strong enough to take it¡­¡± ¡°You will continue to grow stronger,¡± Eveline assured him. ¡°The divine spark is still there. You are more than your status sheet would imply.¡± Zeke hoped so. Even if he wasn¡¯t, his status was incredibly impressive. And he knew it would only grow more overbearing in the future. The reality of it was that he was special. He¡¯d killed a level eighty-six, and without any help. That wasn¡¯t just uncommon. Rare didn¡¯t even cover it. It was supposed to be impossible. And yet, Zeke had managed it. What, then, did the future hold? More power, surely. He already held the equivalent of an atomic bomb in the palm of his hand. If he grew even mightier, would he become capable of destroying whole planets? Entire galaxies? Would he become a god, as the divine spark seemed to indicate? ¡°More,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You will be more than a god. A god among gods. A titan among ants. You are more than those pretenders could ever be,¡± she stated. ¡°That much is clear. You only need to walk your path, and the universe will fall before you.¡± Zeke started to respond, but he cut himself short. What did he have to say to that sort of declaration, after all? Suddenly, Zeke felt very lonely. Pudge was still around, though he¡¯d already recovered from his more mundane injuries. Kianma was there, droning on about whatever was going on in the tower. And there were tens of thousands of other kobolds nearby, and each one practically worshipped him. The others were around, too. Jasper. Silik. Sasha. Eta. And a host of other people he¡¯d come to know. But in that moment, he still felt alone. Sighing, he said, ¡°That¡¯s enough, Kianma. I trust that you¡¯ve got everything in hand.¡± ¡°Yes, Ak-Toh,¡± she said. ¡°Do you need anything else from me?¡± He said that he didn¡¯t, and the kobold spiritweaver quickly excused herself. More kobolds remained nearby, ready to wait on him hand and foot. Yet, Zeke¡¯s loneliness persisted. ¡°You¡¯re not alone,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You know that, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m here with you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± And he did. Without Eveline, he¡¯d have already gone insane. Zeke was certain of that. In some ways, she knew him better even than he knew himself, and she wasn¡¯t shy about telling him when he was acting contrary to good sense. There was value in that, even if he often found her borderline insulting quips annoying. ¡°That¡¯s a backhanded compliment if ever I¡¯ve heard one,¡± she said. ¡°But I¡¯ll take it.¡± For a long time, Zeke just lay there in the pool. It was more than soothing, and he knew that he would recover much more quickly if he limited his time outside of it. So, he sank into his skills, searching for ways to upgrade. The most glaring opportunity was [Triune Colossus], but it was such a complex skill that he hesitated to do anything with it. More, it felt more solid than any of the others, probably because it was his class¡¯s defining ability. Next, he looked at [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but he didn¡¯t have any solid ideas on how he would improve the skill. Sure, he¡¯d have liked for it to be more powerful, but his knowledge was too limited to figure out how that might be accomplished. After that, he took a look at the oft-forgotten [Mark of Companionship]. In a perfect world, he¡¯d have already improved upon that skill. It was easily his least powerful ability, so it was ripe for advancement. Yet, he was held up by two things. First, he was hesitant to mess around with it while it was the only link between him and his other two companions. He and Talia would soon be reunited ¨C he hoped ¨C but Tucker was still at large. Without [Mark of Companionship] to point the way, there was little chance of a reunion. So, given that Zeke didn¡¯t want to run the risk of altering it so much that the effects changed, Zeke had decided not to mess with it. The other contributing factor was the alteration Oberon had already made to the skill. That had changed the structure enough that Zeke struggled to understand every facet of the skill. So, he chose to leave it alone. Next, he checked [Unleash Momentum], and while Zeke thought there was room for improvement, he knew it would take thousands of hours to make any headway on that complex structure. Finally, he turned to the most obvious candidate for upgrade: [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. Not only was the necessity for improvement obvious ¨C after all, he wanted to protect Eveline ¨C but he¡¯d created the skill himself, so there was nothing in there he didn¡¯t understand. So, with that in mind, he focused on just that. It would still be weeks before he felt confident enough to even start building the foundations, but Zeke comforted himself with the knowledge that every journey inevitably began with a single step. The same was true with building and adjusting his skills. So, like that, Zeke occupied himself for the next few weeks. Time passed easily, and without his noticing it. Sinking into a meditative state was a necessity for working on his skills, and doing so had the added benefit ¨C at least in his current state of convalescence ¨C of tuning out the rest of the world. He came out of that trance to eat and for biological necessity, but for the most part, he remained in the pool, meditating on his skill, for hours upon hours until, at last, he realized that his body had completely healed. Once he had reached that state, Zeke pulled himself from the soothing waters and headed toward his manor. Once there, he took a few minutes to catch up with Pudge, who¡¯d also experienced quite a lot of growth. That seemed to be the case with everyone in the tower. ¡°War is good for progression,¡± Eveline stated. Zeke couldn¡¯t disagree with that. As distasteful as it was, it seemed that fighting other forces ¨C as opposed to constantly running dungeons or hunting in the wilderness ¨C was the best way to gain levels as well as insight into other areas of improvement. The only downside was that it was far more dangerous. But that was the case with anything worthwhile in the Eternal Realm. After that, Zeke took a while to clean himself up, then rest a bit before he descended the tower and headed to the Pillar, where he received more reports on how the end of the war had progressed. As it turned out, killing Lord Adontis had broken the Knights¡¯ backs, and many had fled across the borders to join their allies. Or they¡¯d scattered. In any case, the kingdom of Adontis was no more. But Zeke was more concerned with finally meeting his goals and reuniting with Talia. She was closer than ever before. Now, he just needed to cross the undead kingdom of El¡¯Kireth to find her. So, with that in mind, Zeke left the tower via his gate and headed in the direction indicated by his [Mark of Companionship]. After a few days, Zeke felt the atmosphere shift, and in a familiar direction. It was far stronger than it had been in the area around Micayne¡¯s keep, but the ambient mana was similar enough that Zeke couldn¡¯t escape the comparison. Eventually, his guards were forced to return to the tower, but Zeke felt few ill effects. It was probably because of his high resistances. According to Eveline, undeath was a mixture of arcane, disease, and poison. And while his disease resistance wasn¡¯t very high ¨C at only D-Grade, it was, at best, average ¨C the others made up for it. Couple that with his incredible endurance, and he was minimally affected. The same couldn¡¯t be said for his companions, who were forced to remain in the tower. So, he continued on alone until the land visibly shifted. The trees went from normal to some variant with white bark and crimson leaves, telling him that he¡¯d finally reached El¡¯Kireth. Now, he only needed to find his way to Talia. With that in mind, he pushed forward. 466. The Smell of Death ¡°This isn¡¯t up for debate. None of you can come with me,¡± Zeke said. ¡°If you want to argue, step outside, and if you survive the death attuned mana, you can come. Otherwise, I have to go alone.¡± That did not go over well with anyone present. Pudge had taken it in more or less in stride, but Zeke could tell that the bearkin wasn¡¯t happy about the arrangement. He¡¯d even mentioned that Zeke had a tendency to get into trouble when he didn¡¯t have people to watch out for him. The kobolds, by contrast, insisted that they could endure the death attuned mana. They could not, as had been proven during a few exploratory excursions. Within half an hour, they were vomiting. An hour, and they could scarcely put one foot in front of the other. If they¡¯d stayed any longer, it would have completely degraded their ability to move. Then, it would only be a matter of time before they succumbed. After that, they would rise from the dead as entirely different ¨C and undead ¨C people. As for Zeke, he had no issues with the attuned mana. He assumed it was due to his time in the Farindale Forest back in the Mortal Realm, but Eveline seemed to attribute his resistance to his colossal body. Perhaps it was a little bit of both. Either way, Zeke was the only one who could endure the deathly mana, which meant that if he was going to find Talia, he would need to go alone. And that was fine with him. He wasn¡¯t some child who required a minder. He was perfectly capable of taking care of himself, regardless of what his people might think. ¡°They just care about you,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Well, the kobolds practically worship you,¡± she pointed out. ¡°But that¡¯s a kind of caring, I suppose.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t really argue with that. Ever since he¡¯d bestowed his own demonic attunement on a squad of kobold rangers, the other members of that race had begun to venerate him with even more intense fervor. They¡¯d even changed the name with which they referred to themselves. Ak-Kal Ra. The rescued. And he was Ak-Toh, their savior. Both names were valid. They fit. But that didn¡¯t mean Zeke was entirely comfortable with the pressure they represented. But it was unavoidable. Over the past year or so, Zeke had experienced quite a lot of upheaval. When he¡¯d first entered the Eternal Realm, he¡¯d done so alone and was quickly enslaved by a race of demon-influenced dwarves. However, Zeke had turned that enslavement to his advantage, using it to complete his quest to gain the first skill associated with his class, the Arcane Colossus. During that time, he¡¯d gained allies like Jasper, the dark elf Bard, and Eveline, the demonic spirit living in his mind. More, he¡¯d begun to touch the barest hints of his own potential, developing methods to utilize his Path of Arcane Destruction. In doing so, he¡¯d rescued the kobolds from certain death, escaping from the dwarven city as a pair of powerful wyrms engaged in battle. After that, they¡¯d set off across the tundra of the Ianthian Wastes, collecting natural treasures before being chased into a dungeon ¨C which was a pocket world filled with deadly challenges ¨C where Zeke was tested even more thoroughly than he¡¯d ever been before. However, he and his allies had emerged stronger than ever before heading to the nearby Mukti Plains, where they had come to an alliance with the sturdy centaurs. From there, he¡¯d fought two wars ¨C one against the centaurs¡¯ hereditary enemies, and another against the dastardly Knights of Adontis. The latter had pushed Zeke to his absolute limits, but he¡¯d also gained an incredibly amount of power in the prosecution of the war. But now, he was on the verge of reuniting with Talia, the undead girl who¡¯d been his ally throughout many of his adventures in the Mortal Realm. ¡°Ah, memories,¡± sighed Eveline. ¡°And all at once, too. In a reminiscent mood or something?¡± Zeke gave her a mental shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I guess.¡± As he spoke, he looked at his status:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 69
Race Cambion (E)
Attunement Earth (E), Demon (D)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (C)
Strength (S+) 100
Agility (C) 35
Dexterity (B) 36
Endurance (S+) 100
Vitality (C) 30
Intelligence (A) 50
Wisdom (S) This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. 52
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D A C D
It had been a few weeks since he¡¯d gained level sixty-nine, but he¡¯d yet to kill anything in that time. That was fine, though. He had a feeling that he would remedy that during his trip through the undead Kingdom of El¡¯kireth. From everything he¡¯d learned from the Adontians who¡¯d joined him, the undead were largely peaceful. Or at least, they kept to themselves. However, Zeke had some well-acknowledged biases against undead, largely due to the fact that the Radiant Isles had been overrun by a necromancer named Abraham Micayne. After killing the necromancer, Zeke had left the people of the Mortal Realm behind to fend for themselves. And while it was possible that they might have survived, it was extremely unlikely. That meant that the Radiant Isles were, even now, assuredly overrun by undead. So, it was with some trepidation and a healthy dose of worry that he had chosen to cross El¡¯kireth. In any case, none of his gathered followers had anything to say to his challenge. They knew they couldn¡¯t survive the undead atmosphere. So, after ensuring that they knew what to do in his absence, Zeke left the Pillar behind and headed for the Entry Hall, where he would exit through the gate he¡¯d left on the border between Adontis and El¡¯kireth. When he left the tower, he couldn¡¯t help but exhale a sigh of relief. He appreciated his followers. Without them, he never would¡¯ve been able to accomplish anything. Yet, he could acknowledge that they were exhausting. Zeke just wasn¡¯t built to be cooped up, and having an entire city looking to him for guidance made things even worse. ¡°You don¡¯t mind responsibility when you¡¯re guiding an army,¡± Eveline said as Zeke set off across the landscape. ¡°Because I know what I¡¯m doing. Mostly. I mean, wars aren¡¯t that hard. It¡¯s all about flanking and misdirection,¡± he stated. ¡°But governing a city? Ugh. Especially when there are so many different factions competing for attention. I¡¯m just glad I have Kianma. Without her, I¡¯d have gone crazy and killed the lot of them.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°No. Obviously. But I¡¯d have thought about it a few times,¡± he said. ¡°And you know that. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯d ask.¡± Eveline gave him a mental shrug. ¡°Just making conversation, I suppose. I think we have a long way to go.¡± Zeke thought so, too. From everything he¡¯d learned about El¡¯kireth, it covered a sizable area that made a rough circle around their capitol city of Darukar. Everything else was shrouded in mystery due to the fact that few living people had ever ventured within its borders. In addition, even fewer undead had ever left the kingdom, and for similar reasons that no one visited. The undead of El¡¯kireth were acclimated to the atmosphere, which meant that they had difficulty surviving anywhere else. But Zeke knew Talia was different. She¡¯d been fine in the Mortal Realm, and he suspected that she would be okay in the living world of the Eternal Realm as well. However, he did wonder what she¡¯d been up to since they¡¯d been separated. Back then, she¡¯d been in an incredibly vulnerable state, and Zeke knew it wouldn¡¯t have taken much for her to snap. Was she, even now, running around like a rabid zombie? Or had she found a community? The first was just as possible as the second, but Zeke hoped for the best. As he went, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but notice the smell. It wasn¡¯t precisely rot, but it was close. After a while, he came to realize that most of the smell came from the native trees. They had white bark, with red leaves, and when Zeke shoved a dagger into one trunk, he was rewarded with a stream of blood-red ooze. ¡°That¡¯s disturbing,¡± stated Eveline. Zeke couldn¡¯t disagree, but he was more disgusted by the smell that seemed to pervade the entire area. It got to the point where he shifted into his colossal form, just to blunt the effect. Like that, he trudged forward, passing through the odd landscape. A few times, he was forced to fight curious monsters, like a pack of wolves that were half-rotted, with exposed ribs and mangy fur. They weren¡¯t particularly dangerous to Zeke, but he knew that would not have been the case with someone less durable. In the end, he had to use [Center of Gravity] to yank them into his range, then mercilessly pummel them into submission. After he finished them off, the things were so broken and battered that they didn¡¯t even offer any loot. So, Zeke moved on, though he did stop at a stream to wash the gore from his rocky body. It was then that a monster of tangled and slimy roots and vines burst free from the stream and wrapped itself around him. Zeke reacted instantly, using [Shifting Sands] and sinking into the ground before rocketing free. When he emerged in a fountain of rock and fire, he used [Hell Geyser], roasting the monster in corrupted flames. Then, he dropped to his knees, nausea twisting his stomach into knots. That¡¯s when he noticed the barbs that had been embedded in his hip. They wriggled as they tried to dig their way into his rocky flesh, but they weren¡¯t nearly powerful enough to get past the surface. Either way, it was clear that they were the culprit of his sickness. So, he reached down, clamped his stone fingers around them, and ripped them free. When he did, he saw a long, thin tendril extending from his hip to the little monster¡¯s mouth. Then, it came loose, whipping around like a striking snake. Zeke tossed it as far as he could. Then, he repeated the same motion with the other one, though its tendril was far livelier. Once they were gone, he used [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], which soothed his stomach. But he knew it wasn¡¯t enough. He could feel something wriggling beneath his skin. So, without further hesitation, Zeke embraced his Path of Arcane Destruction, letting it rage through his body. He only did so for a moment ¨C any more, and his body would have broken down ¨C but that was enough to destroy whatever was inside him. Then, he used [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] and watched as black ooze seeped out of puncture wounds he¡¯d never even felt. ¡°I hate this place already,¡± Zeke muttered. Indeed, he did. It smelled horrible, the monsters were even worse than normal, and he felt absolutely out of place. Plus, like any sane person, he had a definite aversion to anything that wanted to burrow inside him. ¡°That¡¯s not abnormal, Ezekiel. Most people would be horrified by that.¡± ¡°Yeah. I guess,¡± he muttered, grabbing a jug of water from his spatial storage and washing the goo away. To be sure everything was gone, he continuously flared [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] for a few more minutes. But nothing else came out, so he had no choice but to assume he¡¯d gotten it all. After that, he continued on. However, that wasn¡¯t the last time he was attacked. Over the next few hours, he was constantly assaulted by one terrible monster after another, and it quickly reached the point where he was wondering if it was worth it. Still, he kept going, braving the dangers until night began to fall. That¡¯s when the ghosts came out. Zeke didn¡¯t even notice them until his arm went numb. Then, he looked in that direction, and he was horrified to see a spectral ghost latched onto his shoulder. Then, when he tried to swat it away, his hands just passed through it, the only effect being that his fingers felt colder. Once again, he was forced to use his Path of Arcane Destruction, which sent the ephemeral creature shooting away and into the darkness. Sighing, Zeke realized that he couldn¡¯t keep going. His constant efforts to inoculate himself against his Will had paid off, and even though it had recently evolved, it wasn¡¯t nearly as destructive as it once had been. However, that didn¡¯t mean he could just use it without consequences. No ¨C if he flared it for more than a few seconds, it would destroy him. And then he¡¯d be forced to spend weeks in the Crimson Springs, delaying his journey even further. That was unacceptable, so Zeke decided to summon his gate and enter the tower. It was only when he stepped inside that he recognized the area¡¯s insidious effects for what they were. He stumbled as the ambient vitality in the area hit him like a ton of bricks, then enveloped him so thoroughly that he felt like he was wearing a warm blanket. Shivering, he dropped to his knees, where he knelt for a long moment, acclimating himself to the change. ¡°Was it as bad as I think it was?¡± Eveline said, ¡°Worse. That area isn¡¯t good for the living. And it¡¯s going to get worse the closer you travel to their city.¡± ¡°You think?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how I would lay it out. Biggest population center in the most preferable environment.¡± ¡°And you think that¡¯s where Talia is?¡± ¡°I have no idea. Maybe. The girl from your memories would be more at home in the wilderness,¡± she said. ¡°But she was also a teenager. Practically a child. You all are. So, who can say where she would end up? I¡¯ve told you before, though ¨C any search should start in Darukar. After that, you can branch out.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°So glad.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be snippy,¡± Zeke said, pushing himself to his feet. A few kobolds had already responded, but he waved them away, saying that he was okay. He pushed forward, resuming his normal form. ¡°I need a shower.¡± ¡°Should probably stop by the Crimson Springs, too. Just in case.¡± Zeke agreed, and over the next few hours, he soaked in the scalding water. And to his surprise, he found that the healing spring managed to get even more of the black goo out of him. That was terrifying, largely because he had no idea what it did. But the Crimson Spring had yet to fail, so he assumed that it got everything. Regardless, he couldn¡¯t afford to soak in the spring for longer than a few hours before he retreated to his manor and went to bed. As he waited for sleep, he remarked, ¡°I hope tomorrow is more productive. I barely made any progress.¡± ¡°It should be,¡± Eveline stated. Zeke took some comfort from that assessment. 467. A Different World Traveling through the undead kingdom El¡¯kireth made Zeke feel like a trespasser. Weeks had passed since he¡¯d first passed into the land of the unliving, and every step had come with a cost. In a way, it reminded him of the times he¡¯d trekked through various swamps, where everything seemed hellbent on killing him. No matter which way he turned, there was another deadly threat waiting to show him why he did not belong. Some that had manifested were like the river monster that had injected him with that black goo, the purpose of which could not have been beneficial. Eveline thought it was trying to convert him to another one of the undead, but Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure. Killing him was clearly part of the process, though. What happened after was more up to the environment than anything else. Others were more insidious ¨C like the gnats and biting flies that seemed so prevalent. They were drawn to him ¨C or more likely, to his vital aura ¨C and they were more than eager to feed on his living tissue. It had gotten so bad that he¡¯d resorted to traveling only in his earthen colossus form, even though it was a little slower than even his normal human shape. Still, he made progress, and day by day, he¡¯d progressed deeper into what increasingly felt like enemy territory. He could endure the hardships, though. Even if it meant having to periodically return to the Crimson Springs to rid himself of the various toxins native to the wildlife, he was durable enough that they weren¡¯t usually life-threatening. In any case, Zeke wasn¡¯t worried about that at the moment. Instead, his attention was wholly focused on the ongoing battle in the distance. At present, he was standing on a low rise and camouflaged by dense underbrush, so he felt confident that no one had seen him. That gave him the opportunity to study the two sides. However, no matter how closely he looked, he couldn¡¯t really make heads or tails of the situation. Both armies were undead, composed of various zombies ¨C most of which were far more intact than anything he¡¯d seen back in the Mortal Realm ¨C wights, and pale figures that put him in mind of vampires. However, there were other flavors of undeath present as well, though Zeke had difficulty categorizing them. The difference was that one side wore black and red, while the other wore white and aquamarine. And they were clearly intent on slaughtering one another. It was the first time Zeke had seen two undead armies battle, and he was impressed with their durability. What would have been mortal wounds for the living were easily endured, and there seemed to be only two ways to kill them. The first was decapitation, which was always a good way to deal with any enemy, as far as Zeke was concerned. Though his normal strategy was to crush skulls rather than separate them from their bodies, he could attest to the efficacy of such a strategy. He''d also used the second tactic, which was to pile so much damage on the enemy that their natural durability was overwhelmed. The second option was the most popular, and for obvious reasons. Decapitation was effective enough, but managing it required a difference in power or technique that just didn¡¯t seem common. However, in a battle between two armies, it was comparatively much simpler to simply overwhelm any opponent who was caught out in the open. ¡°Do you think we should step in?¡± he wondered. Eveline, who¡¯d manifested beside him, said, ¡°You should just kill them all. Unnatural things.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not unnatural. In fact, they¡¯re the product of their environment. They¡¯re just another version of an attuned race. It¡¯s no different than a dryad like Eta.¡± Indeed, Eta¡¯s race had been guided by their attunement, the same way the undead had been molded by theirs. It wasn¡¯t their fault that, to the living, their bodies seemed ¨C at best ¨C grotesque. He suspected that they didn¡¯t feel that way about one another, though. ¡°It looks a lot different to me,¡± Eveline stated haughtily. ¡°There¡¯s potential there, though. You can see that, can¡¯t you? Can you imagine having an army of those zombies?¡± he mused. ¡°That¡¯s not your path,¡± she stated. ¡°It could be,¡± he said. ¡°I got the kobolds to follow me, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Mykaena did the heavy lifting, but yes,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°However, I think it would be far more difficult with sapient beings who, need I remind you, can not venture forth from their own lands. All but the most powerful are stuck here.¡± Zeke ran his hand along his rocky scalp, scratching an itch that wasn¡¯t there. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± he admitted. ¡°So ¨C do we just let the battle play out? Or¡­¡± Just then, a black-armored warrior stepped forward and swung a massive scythe, sending a blade of pure death to slice through the opposing force. Another warrior ¨C this one female, and wearing turquoise and white ¨C summoned a blood red shield to protect those fighters nearest to her, but she could only do so much. Many of her people were sliced into ribbons. After that, she sounded a retreat, and the group of fighters began backing away. The black-clad warriors refused to let them do so unscathed, though. And by the time the white-armored undead reached the nearby town, they¡¯d lost more than half their numbers. However, once they passed some heretofore unseen line, an aquamarine dome manifested, cutting off further pursuit. The scythe-wielding warrior railed against the obstruction, smashing his weapon against it with all the fury he could muster. Yet, it held, allowing the opposing army ¨C or what was left of it, at least ¨C to regroup. ¡°Well, that was a little anticlimactic,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°We should ¨C oh, they finally noticed you.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Zeke muttered as, seemingly as one, the black-clad army turned to face him. He had no idea if it was just that, now that they were no longer distracted by the battle, they¡¯d had a chance to see him, or if it was some other factor at play. But it seemed clear that he had two options before him. Either he could run, or he could stand and fight the people who clearly intended to attack him. The first was a bit of a non-starter, largely because every step he took through the kingdom of El¡¯kireth was hampered by the native wildlife. Doubtless, the unliving would be able to traverse the terrain much more quickly than he could manage. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The second appealed to his sense of simplicity, though. And his pride, if he was honest. Zeke was a lot of things, but a runner simply wasn¡¯t one of them. He would retreat if he had no other choice ¨C or if it was strategically important ¨C but doing so felt like rubbing sandpaper on his mind. So, without further hesitation, Zeke summoned Voromir. The weapon had evolved during the war against Adontis, and over the past few weeks, its appearance had followed suit. Very little of the old, flanged mace remained. Instead, it looked like a proper hammer with an oversized head of some silvery metal. The bone haft ¨C which was still carved with various runes that made it look like scrimshaw ¨C was much the same as before, though it snaked around the hammer¡¯s head, looking almost like a series of roots that had grown to encompass a foreign object. To Zeke, it still felt as familiar as it had since the very beginning. He stepped forward, ready to meet the undead charge. ¡°You should just use [Wrath of Annihilation] and end them all,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°It would be a net benefit to the world.¡± Zeke ignored her, at least in part because he knew she was only half-serious. ¡°I¡¯m really not. I¡¯m completely serious. Kill them all. Or re-kill them.¡± That wasn¡¯t going to happen. Not only would doing so run the risk of harming Eveline and himself, but he had no intention of killing a bunch of innocent people who hadn¡¯t attacked him. And if he used [Wrath of Annihilation], the nearby village would not survive. He knew that. ¡°That¡¯s the point,¡± she persisted. ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying ¨C¡± Zeke tuned her out, instead focusing on the charging army arrayed before him. In only a few seconds, they¡¯d covered a third of the distance, so it wouldn¡¯t be long before they swept over him. So, Zeke used his domains, [Burden of Sovereignty] and [Aura of Desolation], and the atmosphere all around him came alive with demonic corruption. It empowered him, but he knew the true benefit was that it would weaken his enemies. And given that the battle would be fought on their turf, he considered that vitally important. The only problem was that he had no allies who could take advantage of the augmentation. Once the two domains took effect, Zeke sighted in on the scythe-wielding warrior leading the charge, then used [Center of Gravity]. The armored warrior stumbled, then shot forward like, only to be met with the head of Zeke¡¯s hammer. Clearly, the warrior wasn¡¯t very durable ¨C at least compared to the foes Zeke had been fighting ¨C because his head and most of the upper part of his torso exploded into shards of black metal, chunks of decayed flesh, and congealed blood. The rest of the warrior went flying to the side, cartwheeling into the twisted trunk of a tree. When it came to rest, it twitched a couple of times before going still. ¡°Oh, that feels good,¡± Zeke said, basking in the wave of kill energy he¡¯d been rewarded. It wasn¡¯t much. Barely a drop in the ocean. But it was still better than the bits he¡¯d gotten from the local wildlife. More, he couldn¡¯t help but revel in his own power ¨C at least a little. He still hadn¡¯t reached level seventy, but he was far stronger in relation to the average person than he¡¯d ever been. Even the elites like the armored warrior couldn¡¯t stand before him. ¡°Don¡¯t get a big head,¡± Eveline said, having retreated back into his mind. ¡°There are plenty of powerhouses out there, many of whom can and will kill you at the slightest provocation. Just because you managed to defeat someone like Lord Adontis doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re unbeatable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± he muttered. Zeke could see the hesitation in the amassed army¡¯s gait, but stopping such a large group of people was difficult. Still, he didn¡¯t take the battle to them. Instead, he wanted to give them the chance to retreat if that was their desire. It was not, and they surged forward with renewed fervor. That struck Zeke as odd, but he wasn¡¯t going to argue. Instead, he hefted his hammer, then activated the weapon¡¯s inherent ability before sweeping it forward. Voromir¡¯s red-sheened projection leaped forward, smashing into the first wave of undead. The impact knocked them to the ground, crushing bones and rending flesh, and the trampling boots of their fellows finished the job. That¡¯s when they reached Zeke. He lashed out with one vicious hammer-strike after another, knocking the undead warriors aside. Some exploded under his strength, but others merely broke bones or had bits and pieces dislodged. It was a testament to how wide the range of their levels were that the effects were so varied. Yet, Zeke fought on. And he came to understand just how far beneath him they were. Their leader had been at least respectable. The rest of the army was, in a word, pathetic. Still, they were also rabidly persistent, and though it felt more unnecessary with every passing moment, the things¡¯ refusal to back away meant that he had little choice but to destroy them right down to the last member. Which he did, feeling at times like he was the world¡¯s most disgusting wheat field. Horrid smells ¨C both from the still-standing undead as well as the ones that had already fallen ¨C hung over the battlefield, and if Zeke wasn¡¯t already accustomed to such smells, he would have retched. As it was, he managed to keep his stomach under control even as he turned the area around him into a charnel house. The battle didn¡¯t last long, largely because the enemy threw themselves at him with reckless abandon. Yet, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of regret at the necessity of it. It was like fighting children. If said children were ravenous and bitey and smelled of rot. In the end, the battle ¨C if it could even be called such ¨C finished just how it had started, which was to say, anticlimactically. And even though Zeke stood amidst nearly a thousand dead and dismembered bodies, he¡¯d barely even moved the needle of his progress toward level seventy. It was such a waste. But there was nothing to be done. So, over the next few minutes, Zeke waded through the piles of bodies, mentally looting each one. After all, most wore armor, and though it was all ill-suited for his people, he hoped the craftsman being nurtured would find the materials useful. He also got more than a few bits and pieces that he found distasteful, like necrotic hearts, flayed skin, and, oddly enough, zombie toes. He didn¡¯t envy whichever kobolds or beastkin would be tasked with cataloguing the grotesquerie that was his loot. Finally, once he was finished, he strode forward. The moment he dropped his domains, the aura of undeath returned, and an unconscious shiver went up his spine. Zeke ignored it. He could endure a little discomfort. Once he reached the bubble that was the shield, he hammered his fist on it like he was knocking on a door. ¡°I don¡¯t want in. I don¡¯t care about whatever fight you had going on,¡± he rumbled in his colossal voice. ¡°The only reason I killed those others was because they attacked me first.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± came a voice from within the village. Zeke focused on the source, which was the woman wearing white-and-teal armor. She was a little taller than a human, and though she wore a helmet which hid her appearance, that was enough to peg her as some other race. ¡°I want a map,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s the easiest way to get to Darukar?¡± ¡°You wish to visit our capital city?¡± she asked, cocking her head to the side. ¡°You are living.¡± ¡°Yeah. I have a friend I think¡¯s there,¡± he admitted. ¡°What was that fight about? I was led to believe that this kingdom was peaceful.¡± ¡°It was,¡± she admitted. ¡°Until recently. There was a schism in the government. The more¡­warlike among us occupy one side, while those of us who wish to remain within our borders are on the other.¡± ¡°Warlike? They want to expand?¡± ¡°Indeed, stranger,¡± she stated. ¡°I caution you. If you proceed to Darukar, you will find yourself mired in battle.¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s kind of my life,¡± he said. ¡°So, about that map?¡± ¡°We will give you no map. Doing so would require us to lower the shield, and ¨C¡± Zeke used his Runebreaker technique. It only required a wisp of his will, but the shield shattered before his lightest touch. The woman reacted predictably, raising her sword. ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Zeke lied. ¡°I just want to find my friend. I don¡¯t care about you or your kingdom. So ¨C give me the map, and I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Left unsaid was the threat inherent in his actions. The warrior knew that if he wanted to, Zeke could do the same to her force as he¡¯d done to the one they¡¯d only recently been fighting. And given that they¡¯d been forced to retreat, it probably would have been even easier. ¡°Very well,¡± she said. ¡°We will fetch you a map.¡± ¡°Good. Glad someone can be reasonable,¡± Zeke said. 468. Wartorn Nation Zeke ripped his leg free of the creeping glob of ooze that had wrapped around it, then bounded backward as another slapped down in the location he¡¯d just vacated. It hit with a wet splat, then started to creep forward, leaving a trail of gooey moisture behind. Zeke barely noticed it. Instead, he waved his hammer, trying his best to dislodge the other bit of sticky, gelatinous muck from its head. It resisted. ¡°Just use [Wrath of Annihilation] on the whole kingdom,¡± Eveline remarked with a mental yawn. ¡°It¡¯ll save time, and I bet the rest of the Eternal Realm would thank you.¡± Zeke dove to the side, narrowly avoiding another serpentine glob of goo that had just slammed down. Eveline added, ¡°Profusely.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not helping,¡± Zeke grunted, finally gaining enough distance to assess the situation. The monster across from him was, fittingly, called a death ooze, and it looked like a blob of black mucus with a hundred long slugs sticking out of it. But that description did little to convey just how grotesque it look, with its moist and undulating mass. But as nauseating as it was to behold, the real issue was that a simple touch was enough to drain a not-insignificant portion of his vitality. Zeke knew that, if he wasn¡¯t equipped with such overbearing stats, he would have been drained even further. At level 62, the death ooze was also the highest-level creature he¡¯d seen since entering the Kingdom of El¡¯Kireth, which meant that it could pose a realistic threat to him. Why the authorities in charge of the kingdom would allow such a powerful monster to exist was a mystery, but Zeke suspected that it had something to do with the fact that it was heavily death attuned. Perhaps it didn¡¯t pose any real threat to the land¡¯s natives. Or no more than any other strong monster. Regardless, Zeke had no intention of prolonging his battle. So, he stepped forward, activated Voromir¡¯s projection ability, and swung. Instantly, a blood-red copy of the hammer extended a dozen feet in front of him, sweeping across the monster. It hit with inevitable force, the impact tearing a chunk of the mucus-based monster free. However, that wasn¡¯t enough to kill it. So, Zeke added [Unleash Momentum], laced with the tiniest bit of his Will, to the mix. The results were predictable. Even as the skill ripped the monster to pieces, the Path of Arcane Destruction destroyed whatever was left. Bits of the monster simply ceased to exist, and whatever remained was torn to shreds. That exposed the core of its being, which presented as a glittering black gem. Zeke leaped forward, aiming a follow-up attack at the faceted crystal. Black goo raced back to fill the gap his skill had created, but it was too slow. Voromir connected with a titanic impact that shattered the gem into dust. The black mucus lost animation, and it turned to liquid that soon evaporated. What was left was just a few puddles of black tar. He let the head of his hammer fall to the ground as he stared at the aftermath of the battle. Usually, when he fought, whole landscapes would be rearranged. Yet, the battle against the ooze had felt almost quaint by comparison. Sure, [Unleash Momentum] had done some damage to the terrain, but it was nothing compared to the devastation he¡¯d authored in the past. That was because he was learning to control the skill. Like [Bulwark of the Triumvirate], he intended to upgrade the skill before he reached level seventy-five. However, he wasn¡¯t certain if he¡¯d have the time. Level seventy was close, and he expected that the next five levels after that would fly by. ¡°Your leveling speed is disgusting, by the way. Even with all the drains on your kill energy, you are pushing ahead more quickly than anyone I¡¯ve ever seen. I¡¯ve never even heard of anyone going so fat,¡± Eveline said. Indeed, Zeke suspected that he would have long since passed level seventy-five if he didn¡¯t have the tower draining his experience. The same was true of Eveline, whose presence in his mind was at least as much of a burden. And finally, maintaining the bond with Pudge was a drain as well. And on top of all that, the weight of his achievements in the Mortal Realm meant that it took more kill energy to push him ahead. The result was a significantly lower speed of leveling. But even then, his entire life had become one fight after another. He rarely took breaks, except when he needed to heal. He¡¯d tried to develop hobbies ¨C the most recent attempt centering on baking pies ¨C and while he enjoyed them to varying degrees, the fact was that he felt like committing to anything that wasn¡¯t progression or actively working toward his goals was a waste of time. ¡°You¡¯re going to burn out,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°You¡¯ve said that before.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s been true every single time I¡¯ve said it. You¡¯re riding momentum right now, and that¡¯s fine. You can do that. But eventually, you¡¯re going to crash,¡± Eveline pointed out. That wasn¡¯t new information. Zeke knew she was right, too. However, knowing that and actually following her advice were two very different things. If he stopped and took a break, it would be that much more difficult to start back up. And in addition to that, what if he failed because he lacked a single level? What if it came down to one more skill upgrade? Or any number of other things he¡¯d devoted himself to accomplishing. What if his laziness got people killed? What if it meant he never reached his potential? Zeke couldn¡¯t stomach that. As much as he knew Eveline was right, he had difficulty squaring that reality with his own expectations. So, each time he tried to force himself to take a break, those efforts ended up languishing, unused and forgotten as he threw himself against whatever obstacle he¡¯d found in his way. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke responded with a shake of his head. Eveline knew him better than anyone, so he suspected she¡¯d known all along that her admonishment would fall on deaf ears. Still, the fact that she kept it up meant something to him. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Aww.¡± Zeke rolled his eyes. Then, he took a few minutes to wash the mucus from his rocky body. It took almost three barrels of water ¨C that he grabbed out of his spatial storage ¨C to accomplish the feat, and even then, he felt like that area was under the cover of cling wrap. Hopefully, when he reached the city of the undead, he would find something to do a better job. For the time being, though, Zeke continued on. As he did, he encountered more signs of battle. Whole towns had been wrecked, and the undead denizens had been killed. Left to rot, they were slowly being overtaken by the various scavengers who thrived off the aura of death. It was clear that the battle he¡¯d encountered in that first town was no isolated event. So, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of trepidation concerning Talia¡¯s fate. Certainly, she could take care of herself, and the fact that she¡¯d survived so far was just further evidence of that. However, in war, casualties were inevitable, and often, they included the last people you would expect. For instance, Zeke had seen hundreds of his strongest kobolds perish in the final battle against Adontis. Meanwhile, the weaker members of his army had escaped almost completely unscathed. It was a grim reminder that war was fickle. Eventually, Zeke crested a hill, and he saw a battlefield absolutely covered in corpses. The loss of life ¨C even if they were undead ¨C was horrific, especially considering that he knew precisely how sapient they were. Yet, what was even worse was that some of the undead were still moving, albeit only weakly. They were dying. Zeke knew that. Likely, they did as well. And yet, their enemies had stripped them of anything valuable, leaving them without dignity, then left them to live out the remainders of their short lives in absolute agony. For some reason, that went too far for Zeke. And before he knew what he was doing, he¡¯d started to use [Wrath of Annihilation]. Eveline screamed at him to stop, but he had no intention of listening. Instead, the moment the skill had charged, he swept his hand forward, summoning the black sun of doom. He desperately wished he could stay and watch the aftermath. Yet, he knew that doing so ¨C even from close to a mile away from the roiling black sun ¨C would be too dangerous for both him and Eveline. So, he used [Aura of Desolation], surrounding himself with demonic mana, then switched to the demonic from of the [Triune Colossus]. With that, he sprinted away, and by the time [Wrath of Annihilation] erupted, he was more than three miles away. Still, he was buffeted by harsh winds that very nearly threw him to the ground. He maintained his feet, though, enduring the aftermath of his most powerful skill. More than that, Zeke received just enough experience to push him to level seventy. He ignored the notification, instead basking in the aura of a job well done. It was satisfying, knowing that he could help those people. Sure, he¡¯d have loved to heal them. Perhaps the spiritweavers or the healers among the beastkin and humans in the tower could have managed it. However, they couldn¡¯t endure the deathly atmosphere, and Zeke had never had any ability to heal other people. So, offering mercy was the best he could do. ¡°That was stupid and reckless,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I know,¡± Zeke admitted. But just like when, so long ago, he¡¯d chosen to take the time to bury the people who¡¯d been killed by a hive of drachnids, he had felt compelled to do something about the dead warriors. If it was the wrong choice, then he would pay the consequences. Or someone else would. After the atmosphere normalized, with the deathly mana rushing in far more quickly than the ambient mana had returned the first time he¡¯d used the skill, he found nothing but the expected crater. The bodies were gone, eradicated by the skill. That was the result of the bits of his path woven through it. Sighing, he asked, ¡°Should we say something?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to say? They¡¯re dead and gone.¡± That much was true, but Zeke had often wondered if there was anything after death. It had happened once, so who was to say that he couldn¡¯t find himself reborn into another world again? ¡°We won¡¯t know that until the end,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But unless you want to find out sooner rather than later, I suggest we move on.¡± Indeed, Zeke knew that the usage of his skill would almost assuredly bring some attention, and he didn¡¯t want to be there when it arrived. So, he moved on, shifting back to his earthen colossus form along the way. ¡°No lasting damage, though,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s progress.¡± Even with his upgraded path, which had reached C-Grade in the fight against Lord Adontis, he felt only a twinge of pain when using his skill. On top of that, he¡¯d managed to keep it from rampaging through his body when he¡¯d sundered the shield around the village as well. As he¡¯d said, that was good progress, and he hoped that was a sign of things to come. One day, he might even be able to use the full weight of his Will without ripping himself to pieces. In any case, reaching level seventy had finally opened a skill slot. So, as he raced across the landscape, dodging the local fauna as well as he could, Zeke continued to develop his plans for his next skill. According to Eveline, he wouldn¡¯t get the chance to build many more skills. Most people only got one after level seventy-five. And after a hundred? She had no idea, but Zeke suspected that it skills would be even more infrequent. Still, he could progress by upgrading his skills manually. And unlike most people, he had limited leeway to alter those skills. So, if he wasn¡¯t happy with something, he could always fix it later. He hoped. Either way, that was how days passed. Every now and again, he would summon his gate and rest for a few hours. When he¡¯d return to the undead territory, he was reminded of how oppressive the atmosphere was. It was almost as if the longer he stayed immersed in that deathly ambiance, the more acclimated he became. ¡°Colossal body,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me.¡± ¡°No ¨C what do you mean?¡± he asked. He knew that his colossal body meant that he could internalize multiple attunements. However, that didn¡¯t really apply to the current situation. The deathly aura of the area was strong, and it was potentially deadly to anyone below a certain threshold of endurance, but it was not nearly on the level of some of the natural treasures he¡¯d acquired. ¡°The first step to gaining a new attunement is adapting to different kinds of mana,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s the core strength of your body. Anything that doesn¡¯t kill you will served to enhance your resistances. As those resistances rise, you will be able to endure stronger mana. And eventually, that resistance will morph into an attunement.¡± ¡°That seems too easy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± she said. ¡°It will be incredibly painful, and it will test your resolve in ways you can¡¯t imagine. There is also more to gaining an attunement than simple exposure. You must understand it. Internalize it. You must live it. You skipped a few steps with your demonic attunement, but your earth attunement didn¡¯t spring up from nowhere. You spent years underground. You know earth better than any other element.¡± Zeke had to admit that much was true. Describing his time in the caves was difficult for him. However, what was inescapable was the fact that, by the time he surfaced, he did so as a changed man, and in more ways than he could count. Not only had he learned to survive in ways he never would have considered possible, but he¡¯d also acclimated to the caves as completely as possible. In the end, he was a subterranean creature. And that hadn¡¯t faded in the few years he¡¯d spent on the surface of the Mortal Realm. That, as much as anything, was probably the origin of his class¡¯ attunement to earth mana. ¡°Regardless, this is all speculation. Call it an educated guess, though. I believe I¡¯m right.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± was all Zeke could respond. Then, he continued on, hoping that he would soon reach Darukar and reunite with his friend. 469. A City in Conflict The next week was more of the same. Zeke was continuously amazed by the level of destruction that had befallen the kingdom, but given that he¡¯d just stepped out of a war, he wasn¡¯t really surprised that it was present. When warriors had the power of heavy munitions in their skills, a certain degree of devastation was inevitable. However, what truly troubled him was the number of casualties. ¡°I never though I¡¯d feel sorry of undead,¡± Zeke said, looking at a town that had been flattened. He itched to repeat his actions from before so he could put the bodies to rest, yet the skill was still on cooldown. On top of that, he knew that if he kept it up with such actions, he would draw a lot of unwanted attention. That, in turn, would only result in more deaths. So, he restrained his impulses and endeavored to ignore the tragedy all around him. It was difficult. But necessary. ¡°That seems to be your mantra,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Difficult but necessary.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she admitted. ¡°Sometimes, it feels like an excuse you tell yourself. You retrain yourself, and for what? You should be standing tall. Whole swaths of this world should be under your control.¡± ¡°I have the tower,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°A drop in the ocean,¡± she countered dismissively. ¡°Those kobolds are sufficient to form a core for your power, and they have great potential. However, you need to find more people. Powerful warriors who can sweep across ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a conqueror, Eveline,¡± Zeke stated as he turned from the latest battlefield, continuing in the direction dictated by the map he¡¯d been given. With it guiding his path, he could avoid many of the pitfalls that had slowed him during the first leg of his journey through El¡¯Kireth. ¡°Tell that to the kingdom you just conquered. This one will be the same,¡± she predicted. ¡°The powerful can¡¯t let someone like you walk around unchallenged. They will attack you. Try to subjugate you. Then, when it¡¯s clear that they can¡¯t, they will want you gone. Because you represent a threat to their very existence. That was why Lord Adontis came out of seclusion. Where you walk, ripples follow. The strong will feel it, and they will have to respond.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond. He¡¯d learned that Lord Adontis had spent quite some time in seclusion before coming out to challenge Zeke. That was probably the only reason the leader of Adontis had fallen. It had been decades since he¡¯d fought anyone in earnest, and as a result, he wasn¡¯t prepared for the danger Zeke represented. The next conflict with a powerhouse was unlikely to fall in his favor. But he was stronger, now. And he intended to keep that going. Besides, if things got too heated, he could always use his escape plan and retreat. ¡°As if you will ever do that,¡± Eveline scoffed. ¡°You are fundamentally incapable of running away, even when you should.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve retreated before.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Uh¡­the hill giants? That¡¯s why we ended up in that dungeon.¡± ¡°That was only because you were worried about the people around you,¡± Eveline correctly pointed out. ¡°You move forward. That¡¯s who you are. Maybe it ends up getting you killed, but your entire being is centered on momentum.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t have anything to say to that, except that he felt that if the situation truly warranted it, he could retreat. But in the back of his mind, he knew that he would never judge that to be the case unless other people were in danger. If he only had himself to worry about, he would prefer to move forward and trust his own strength to see him through any situation. And if he failed, then so be it. There was reason behind that attitude, though it was buried under a mountain of pride. At the end of the day, Zeke knew that the truly dangerous battles required complete commitment without regard for his own well-being. Anything less, and he would fall. So, even if much of his attitude was wrapped in pride and confidence ¨C or arrogance, depending on who was doing the assessment ¨C Zeke was certain that his way was the only way he could keep moving forward. ¡°A little arrogance isn¡¯t a bad thing,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°You¡¯re strong. Acting like it is not a mistake.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure about that. Growing up, he¡¯d always been taught to give credit to his teammates. At first, it was false modesty ¨C he knew he was better than most ¨C but at some point, he¡¯d internalized it. So, admitting that he was far-and-away more powerful than others was a little uncomfortable. And acting like made him feel like a fraud, even if it was true. ¡°Your world was strange,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°The strong pretending to be no better than others? Crediting your accomplishments to a god that you didn¡¯t even believe in?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What? Believed in your god?¡± Zeke crested a hill, then stepped around a tree. ¡°I did. I do. I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°I guess maybe I wanted to, at least. Or maybe I was afraid of not believing in something that might turn out to be real. It¡¯s complicated.¡± ¡°Religion usually is. My world worshipped nature,¡± Eveline said. ¡°A god in every tree, a deity in every grain of sand.¡± ¡°Sounds as complicated as what we believed,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°It was. But it was good. It worked. We revered nature, often to our own detriment,¡± she said. ¡°I think my resistance to that was part of why things ended up how they did.¡± ¡°With your death?¡± Zeke asked. It was rare that Eveline spoke of her past, and it was even rarer that she gave any information about the world she¡¯d left behind with her death. ¡°In Hell,¡± she said. ¡°I never believed. My pursuit of power ignored my people¡¯s beliefs. I was unrestrained. Amoral. I didn¡¯t consider myself evil. I just didn¡¯t care about myths and superstitions. Or the lives of those I deemed beneath me. Which was everyone. As a result, I was considered¡­evil. People hated me. And so¡­¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I died, went to Hell, rose to some degree of prominence, and then had my soul split and used as a¡­battery for someone far more powerful than me,¡± she stated succinctly. ¡°Some people would consider that to be poetic justice. In my first life, I did much the same to others.¡± After a moment, she added, ¡°Economically speaking, of course.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Zeke asked. She gave the impression of shaking her head, saying, ¡°Not really. I don¡¯t think I was wrong. Perhaps I could have been kinder, but I refuse to coddle people who worship imaginary tree spirits.¡± ¡°But were they imaginary?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I never saw any evidence that any of it was real,¡± she answered. Zeke frowned. As far as he was concerned, that wasn¡¯t how faith worked. If it was verifiable, then belief in god ¨C or in the case of Eveline¡¯s native world, nature spirits ¨C would lose much of its meaning. And real or not, if that belief gave people hope, who was he to tell them that they were wrong. After all, back on Earth, there had been no evidence of an afterlife. Yet, here he was, walking through a magical kingdom populated by the undead. Clearly, evidence was overrated. ¡°You have a point,¡± Eveline acknowledged. ¡°But it feels wildly anti-scientific. I still choose to believe in the things I experience with my own senses.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke stated. After that, the conversation petered out, and Zeke continued on his trek through the undead kingdom. As he went, he saw more evidence of war, but after a while, those scenes lost their novelty. It was all still tragic, but such was his nature that he eventually grew accustomed to the evidence of so much death and destruction. Fortunately, he managed to avoid most of the most dangerous areas, as they were clearly marked on the map. Some of them, like the Death Pools, which referred to a series of tar pits populated by skeletal monsters, had the potential to put even Zeke on edge. Regardless, the avoidance of such dangers meant that his path was much longer than it would have been otherwise. As a result, his journey seemed meandering, often doubling back and going around particularly deadly areas. So, it took a further week before he emerged from a stand of blood oaks and found himself looking at the city of Darukar. It was still miles distant, but even from that distance, Zeke had to admit that it was an impressive sight. Or it would have been if it wasn¡¯t clearly a city in conflict, with great plumes of smoke twisting into sky as evidence of pervasive fires that had engulfed half of the city. On top of that, the deathly aura was stronger than ever, though over the weeks since he¡¯d entered the undead kingdom, Zeke had mostly grown accustomed to it. It still wasn¡¯t comfortable ¨C he felt eternally cold, with even the rocky flesh of his colossal forms having grown clammy ¨C but he could endure it with no real determents. Regardless, he did recognize one simple fact: he did not belong. As one of the living ¨C even with his colossal body ¨C he was an outsider. Yet, he could sense Talia nearby, which was all the encouragement he needed to keep going. Other than the fires, the city was incredibly impressive, with architecture that reminded Zeke of Renaissance architecture, like what he¡¯d seen in his art history class during high school. Even from afar, he could see that the undead had placed great emphasis on geometry and symmetry, yet there were plenty of artistic flourishes ¨C like spires, domes, and arches ¨C that set it apart from earthly designs. The buildings were almost universally made from black stone and trimmed in red, the designs of those details clearly runic to Zeke¡¯s trained eye. However, he could also tell that they were far beyond anything he could truly understand. Perhaps he could break them if he chose, but that was true of just about everything. ¡°You truly are a maestro of destruction,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke ignored her, instead settling down to the study the situation. Beyond the architecture, the city ¨C like the rest of the area ¨C was cloaked in a low fog. He could see through it, but it still made everything feel far creepier than he wanted to acknowledge. That wasn¡¯t helped by the aura of death and the knowledge that it was populated by the undead. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked inwardly. ¡°You have to go in there,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Unless you just want to destroy the whole thing. Though, I think you would find that [Wrath of Annihilation] will be quite a bit weaker within that city¡¯s limits.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Zeke queried. He didn¡¯t sense any shields like the one that had protected Ivern. ¡°You don¡¯t feel it?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Focus. If I can feel it, so can you.¡± Zeke wanted to argue. However, he did as she¡¯d suggested. It took a couple of minutes, but eventually, he realized what was going on. The deathly aura was far denser inside Darukar, which he suspected would sap the energy from his skill. It would still be destructive, but the effect would be quite a bit less potent in the city. ¡°You would probably destroy a few blocks,¡± she said. ¡°Maybe as much as ten. But it would be nothing like what you¡¯ve seen so far. It¡¯s similar to when you attacked the Barrier. The skill can only absorb so much mana before it¡¯s spent. That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t turn Ivern into a barren wasteland like you did on the plains.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying that my skills might not be as strong in there?¡± he asked. ¡°Just the one,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re not nearly as reliant on skills as most people. You can bully your way through almost anyone who wants to stand in your way. So, that¡¯s good, at least.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to bully anyone. I just want to find my friend,¡± Zeke muttered aloud. ¡°You may not have a choice in the matter. It seems that you have been noticed,¡± she responded. Indeed, a group of twenty undead warriors had left the city gates, and they were heading in his direction. From a distance, Zeke couldn¡¯t gauge their power, but they moved well enough that they could prove a threat. Each one wore the black armor he¡¯d seen from the other combatants he¡¯d encountered in his trek through the kingdom. He didn¡¯t know much about the sides, but he had to admit that he was more sympathetic to the people in white-and-teal. They¡¯d been the defenders in almost every situation, which doubtless colored his perception. The aggressors were rarely in the right, in his experience. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so na?ve,¡± Eveline said. ¡°There are countless situations where that¡¯s just not the case. For all you know, the defenders were baby eaters, and the people in black were only trying to save the children.¡± ¡°Do undead have children?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Not that point.¡± ¡°I know, but it¡¯s a good question, right?¡± ¡°Not the sort I want to ponder.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°I guess that¡¯s fair,¡± he remarked. Still, he remained in place as the people approached. As he waited, he let his unattuned colossal form melt away, replacing it with his normal cambion body. His colossal form changed the results of any identification skills thrown his way, and he didn¡¯t want to run the risk of being misidentified as a monster. The group of undead were an eclectic bunch. Some were zombies, others were vampires, and there were even a couple of wights in the troop. A few others sorts of undead were present as well, but Zeke didn¡¯t know what races they represented. Regardless, they all wore black ¨C some in metallic armor, but others wearing leather ¨C and were armed with various weapons ranging from spears to swords. In short, for anyone who wasn¡¯t accustomed to undead, they would have presented a terrifying sight. Except when Zeke used [Inspect] on the first one to come into range, he came away more than a little disappointed: Fara¡¯mur Daltain ¨C Level 51 ¡°Only level fifty-one,¡± he remarked inwardly. ¡°A decent level for a guard,¡± Eveline said. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t send their best and brightest to the walls. Especially when there¡¯s clearly a war raging through the city.¡± ¡°I guess.¡± Just then, the group reached him, and Fara¡¯mur raised the visor of his black helmet, revealing the grey, lifeless skin of a zombie. Otherwise, he showed few indicators of his race. ¡°Stranger,¡± he said. ¡°State your business.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just visiting. Maybe take in the local customs,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Sample the cuisine. That sort of thing.¡± ¡°Do you jest?¡± the zombie asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion. ¡°Only a bit. I¡¯m looking to visit an old friend,¡± he stated. ¡°Is the city open to visitors? If not, I¡¯ll turn around and be on my way.¡± Zeke had no intention of doing that. If he needed to, he would sneak in. Or as was probably more likely, fight his way through whatever they put in his way. But he didn¡¯t need to tell them that. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that will not be possible. All living visitors must be evaluated for potential danger,¡± Fara¡¯mur stated. ¡°Please do not resist. You may be able to defeat us, but you will not fare well against our captain.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I¡¯ll go willingly. I don¡¯t want any trouble, after all. But if you try to shackle me, we¡¯re going to have big problems.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± he said. ¡°Come with us.¡± Then, Zeke stepped forward. As he did, the other members of the squad surrounded him, and like that, they made their way toward the city. The whole time, Zeke was on pins and needles, ready to respond with deadly force if they stepped over his lines. 470. Mistakes The trip into the city was eye-opening. Not because of the obvious damage from the ongoing conflict. Nor because of the war-torn people he saw. Each one looked ragged ¨C even more so than their race would usually indicate ¨C and thin, with expressions that said they were exhausted. But that was expected, given everything Zeke had seen in the rest of El¡¯kireth. No - what he found most interesting was the runecrafting work on the buildings. He couldn¡¯t sense the purpose of those collections of glyphs ¨C not unless he spent hours, or perhaps even days studying them ¨C but he could feel the flow of the mana well enough to recognize that it was a powerful design. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s for defense?¡± he asked inwardly as he was escorted through the city. ¡°No. It feels more like accumulation,¡± Eveline said. ¡°This is a pure guess, but I think it might be meant to augment the deathly aura. You feel it, don¡¯t you? It¡¯s thicker in the city.¡± Zeke acknowledged that he did. Indeed, even with his constantly evolving colossal body, he could hardly stand the cold seeping into his bones. It was especially effective because he was in his human form, which offered far less protection from outside forces. Still, he walked with his back straight and his shoulders back as he tried to portray a sense of dignity and power. ¡°You¡¯re a high enough level that most people will feel that even if you limped in on one leg,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You¡¯re on the verge of hitting the major threshold at level seventy-five. Anyone who¡¯s gotten to your level is powerful enough to cause problems.¡± That was probably true, but Zeke continued along all the same. His reasoning was that he represented more than just himself. He was the leader of an entire city. More than a hundred-thousand people depended on his reputation to keep them safe. As a result, he felt driven to live up to the image of a powerful leader. Otherwise, people might start to get ideas about challenging him. And while he felt sure that he could defeat any number of would-be rivals, the fact was that he couldn¡¯t be everywhere at once. So, like every other powerful leader, he depended on his reputation to dissuade anyone from stepping up. ¡°Very mature of you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± he asked silently. He¡¯d grown accustomed to having discussions in his own head, so he had no issues with holding a conversation while simultaneously keeping an eye on his surroundings. They were more of the same, with the customary black stone trimmed with red runes. Yet, many of the buildings showed some sign of damage ¨C evidence of the kingdom¡¯s ongoing conflict. ¡°It means that your usual response to any potential challenge is to run at it screaming a battlecry,¡± she answered. Zeke just sighed as he rolled his eyes, which brought a curious glance from one of his escorts. The zombie didn¡¯t say anything, but he definitely noticed. ¡°See what you did there? Don¡¯t do that. People are going to think you¡¯re weird,¡± Eveline said unhelpfully. ¡°I think that ship¡¯s sailed,¡± Zeke muttered inwardly as they continued on. Other than noticing the architecture and the downtrodden people, he also couldn¡¯t help but examine the feelings brought along by the deathly aura. As had been the case for the last weeks, it elicited a feeling of pervasive cold that simply wouldn¡¯t go away. But it wasn¡¯t the sort of cold brought on by the frigid temperatures of the Ianthian Wastes. Instead, it was deeper. Almost conceptual. And Zeke felt it in his mind and soul almost as much as his body. On top of that, the everpresent fog left his clothes and skin damp, augmenting the effect of that cold and ensuring that he remained miserable. But there was something else in there as well. Something Zeke couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. It wasn¡¯t until Eveline pointed out the presence of the local attunement, which was comprised of arcane, disease, poison, ice, and water, with bits and pieces of other attunements as well, that Zeke recognized it as the feeling of encroaching death. Zeke had been in hundreds of battles. So, he¡¯d long since acclimated to the knowledge of his own mortality. After all, he¡¯d died once already, and despite all his power, he knew he would experience that again. However, that creeping sense of existential dread was a familiar companion. And as he walked through Darukar, that feeling was stronger than ever. It almost felt like he was being stalked, though not by anything corporeal. Instead, it was like he was being hunted by the concept of death, and it did not put him in the best frame of mind. After some time, during which he experienced more of the same as they traversed the city, Zeke found himself being led into an enormous black building. It followed the same architectural sensibilities as the rest of the city, yet it was set apart ¨C and plainly so ¨C by the row of columns that stretched across its fa?ade. Their presence reminded Zeke of the government buildings he¡¯d seen growing up, though with a few extra flourishes, like soaring towers and flying buttresses. Regardless, it was an impressive structure, though from Zeke¡¯s perspective, which had been tainted by living in his tower, it still seemed a little small. Almost petty in its attempts at domineering ambiance. It was as if someone had once seen true majesty, and they¡¯d done their best to copy it, only to fall a little short. So, Zeke wasn¡¯t nearly as impressed as he probably should have been. ¡°Do you have any weapons on your person?¡± asked the leader, Fara¡¯mur. Zeke shook his head. ¡°Just me,¡± he stated. And it was true. Voromir was only a thought away, but at present, he was entirely unarmed. ¡°No weapons.¡± ¡°Good. You will be detained. Please understand that it is only a temporary measure. We rarely host visitors from outside our borders,¡± the armored zombie said. ¡°There are certain protocols that we must observe for our safety. We have enemies, many of which will go to any length to destroy our home.¡± ¡°Adontis?¡± The zombie nodded. ¡°They are a persevering thorn in our side,¡± he answered. ¡°But they are one of many.¡± ¡°Well, if you haven¡¯t heard yet, Adontis has fallen,¡± Zeke said as he was led into the building. The interior was opulent, with a prevailing theme of silver details that complimented the black stone. ¡°Lord Adontis is dead, and Ivern has been destroyed.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Fara¡¯mur stopped, and the other undead that composed his troop did as well. He turned on Zeke, asking, ¡°Is this true? How?¡± ¡°Killed him myself,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Freed their slaves. Destroyed most of their knights, too. I had help, obviously.¡± ¡°You lie.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Zeke said, not taking offense at the zombie¡¯s disbelief. He¡¯d obviously inspected Zeke, and as a result, he clearly knew his level. And if Zeke was a normal fighter, there would have been no way he could have defeated someone of Lord Adontis¡¯ statue. But Zeke was not normal. The man¡¯s brows furrowed, then he said, ¡°We will inspect the veracity of your claims. But know that if you are lying ¨C as I suspect you are ¨C it will not help your case.¡± Zeke did his best not to react, but he wanted nothing more than to roll his eyes. Or level the entire building. ¡°Maybe you haven¡¯t come quite as far as I thought,¡± Eveline remarked. That comment was ignored as Zeke was led through the building. Along the way, he garnered quite a lot of attention. He was clearly one of the living, which certainly made him stand out amongst the collection of zombies, wights, and other undead. For the most part, Zeke had grown accustomed to the smell and the sight of such people, but every now and then, he¡¯d see a particularly damaged zombie, and the disconcerting feeling would return. By contrast, the smell came in waves. ¡°I know what you are thinking,¡± said Fara¡¯mur. ¡°Oh, yeah? What¡¯s that?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°We can repair our bodies,¡± he stated. ¡°It is a difficult process, and it¡¯s only possible because of specific skills. As a result, it is expensive. So, the wealthiest among us are whole. The poor are not.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Zeke assumed the same was true of the smell, though even Fara¡¯mur, who seemed far more intact than any of the others he¡¯d seen, had a distinct odor of death about him. It wasn¡¯t the aroma of decomposing flesh, but its nature was clear all the same. Eventually, after traversing a maze of hallways, Zeke found himself being led into what was plainly a holding cell. He could see the runes decorating the walls, and to some degree, he could intuit their purpose. However, he could also tell that none of it was strong enough to truly contain him, so he didn¡¯t hesitate to step inside. The interior wasn¡¯t a jail cell. Rather, it reminded Zeke of the interview rooms he¡¯d seen in police shows back on Earth. There was an unadorned stone table in the center of the room, and on either side of that edifice were carved chairs. They did not look comfortable, but Zeke wasted no time before crossing the room and taking a seat. ¡°Wait here,¡± Fara¡¯mur said. Then, he turned and left, closing the thick, metal door behind him. The moment it clanged shut, Zeke felt the mana in the room still. ¡°Interesting,¡± he said, probing the feeling that came with it. His skills felt further away than ever, and between his mind and the activation of those abilities was a wall. Zeke knew he could batter it down with his Will, but it would take more than a wisp of power to do so. ¡°That¡¯s pretty impressive.¡± Eveline agreed, adding, ¡°I bet this would be quite restrictive if it weren¡¯t for your unique path.¡± ¡°Should I break it?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± she advised. And Zeke agreed. So far, no one had done anything overly aggressive. The room didn¡¯t count. It was just a precaution against what they probably considered a potential danger. That perception was accurate, too. Let loose for only a few minutes, Zeke could destroy a quarter of the city. Perhaps even more. So, instead of tearing everything asunder, Zeke turned his mind inward. And as he waited for the next couple of hours, he continued to build the foundations of his newest skill. It wasn¡¯t quite ready yet, but when he¡¯d gained level seventy, he¡¯d gotten a new slot that he was eager to use. However, it was not a process that could be completed instantly, and given that he couldn¡¯t afford to spend weeks finishing things up, he¡¯d been using whatever spare moment he could to lay the groundwork for success. Eventually, he¡¯d have to settle in and focus completely on it, but for now, he was content to make incremental progress. Like that, hours passed until, at last, the door opened. Zeke felt the room¡¯s ambient mana stir, but the wall between him and his skills remained in place. More importantly, he sensed a presence that was significantly more powerful than Fara¡¯mur. He opened his eyes to see a woman standing in the doorway. She wore a black dress that did little to conceal her curves, reminding him of Eveline¡¯s preferred attire. However, instead of the red skin of a succubus, the newcomer¡¯s complexion was like alabaster, making her look as much like a statue as a living thing. That sense was only supported by the fact that she clearly didn¡¯t need to breathe. Only her eyes, which were blood red, indicated that she was, indeed, a living ¨C or unliving ¨C creature. Zeke used [Inspect]: Dalamya Samona¡¯a ¨C Level 71 ¡°One level higher than you,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°I noticed,¡± Zeke acknowledged inwardly. Did they believe that she could handle him? Or was it nothing more than a custom? That remained to be seen. ¡°Ezekiel Blackwood,¡± she said, stepping inside. Fara¡¯mur followed, closing the door behind him. The ambient mana swirled once again, though Zeke noticed that it was much quieter around the pair of undead. That suggested that they were somehow protected, which made sense if they were meant to be his jailers. Dalamya slid into the other stone chair. ¡°Level seventy. Impressive.¡± ¡°Dalamya Samona¡¯a,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°Level seventy-one.¡± Pointedly, he was certain to omit any admission that he was impressed. Because he wasn¡¯t. She was surely powerful, but Zeke had already taken her measure, and he was sure he could defeat her, even with the restrictions in place. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked, moving past the omission, though Zeke saw the flicker of annoyance in her eyes. ¡°Sightseeing.¡± ¡°Indeed. Captain Fara¡¯mur says that you gave him the same flippant answer. He also informed me that you claim to have defeated Lord Adontis in battle,¡± she said. ¡°It was a group effort,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°I see. And where is this group?¡± she asked. ¡°Back home.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°That way,¡± Zeke said, hiking his thumb in the general direction of the Mukti Plains. ¡°Do you greet all visitors by imprisoning and restricting them?¡± ¡°Most,¡± she admitted. ¡°The living rarely come here except to pose a threat to us. Especially humans.¡± ¡°Seems like you all have a lot bigger problems than little, ol¡¯ me,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Civil war?¡± ¡°A few malcontents. Nothing more,¡± she stated. ¡°Seems like more than a few. I¡¯ve seen a lot of bodies over the past few weeks,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°But I¡¯m not here to interfere in any of that.¡± ¡°Indeed, you are here to sightsee.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Alright. Here¡¯s the deal,¡± he said. As much as he didn¡¯t want to reveal his true purpose, the reality was that he had almost no chance of finding Talia unless he got some help. He could find a general direction, but as close as he was, [Mark of Companionship] only told him that he was close. So, he decided to ask for help. ¡°I have a friend here. She arrived a couple of years back. She would have been alone.¡± He went on to describe Talia as he remembered her, which elicited a single question from Dalamya, ¡°And this friend¡¯s name ¨C what is it?¡± ¡°Talia Nightingale.¡± ¡°Ah. That presents a problem,¡± the woman said, her demeanor changing. Zeke noticed the shift, and he poised his Will to batter through the block. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Guilt by association,¡± she answered. ¡°I am sorry, but you will not be allowed to leave this cell. In the meantime ¨C¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to work for me,¡± Zeke said, tearing through the block. It offered a little more resistance than expected, but against his Will, it couldn¡¯t stand for long. ¡°Let it be known that I tried to do this the diplomatic way. I have nothing against you or your people. I came in peace. But I told Captain Fara¡¯mur ¨C if you try to shackle me, it won¡¯t end well. This is the exact situation I was talking about.¡± ¡°Think long and hard about what you¡¯re about to do,¡± the undead woman cautioned. Zeke shook his head. ¡°As most of my friends can attest, thinking isn¡¯t my strongsuit,¡± he responded. ¡°You have one chance. Get out of my way and let me find my friend. Or you will very much regret it.¡± ¡°I cannot do that.¡± ¡°So be it,¡± Zeke said, embracing [Triune Colossus]. 471. Herald of Destruction With a flex of demonic mana, Zeke grew into his colossal form. Even as he transformed, he embraced his domains, one after another. First came [Burden of Sovereignty], which served to weaken his enemies while augmenting his own physical attributes. Dalamaya stumbled slightly, but her comrades fell to their knees under the weight of it. Next came [Aura of Desolation], igniting the ambient mana with corruption that further enhanced him while digging through his enemies¡¯ defenses. By the time his transformation completed, fire danced in the air and corruption swirled. But he wasn¡¯t finished. He was in enemy territory, and he wasn¡¯t so na?ve as to believe no one in the city could match him. Certainly, if they had managed to endure with someone like Lord Adontis on their doorstep, they could count mighty warriors among their number. As a result, Zeke knew that his only chance of survival was to hit hard and fast and escape. ¡°Do you want to use the escape plan?¡± asked Eveline. Zeke gave her a mental shake of his head. ¡°No. We¡¯re not there yet.¡± Even as Zeke embraced yet another skill, Eveline asked, ¡°Then what are you going to do?¡± A portal slashed through the air, widening enough to permit ten bronze golems to step free. Each one was armed with a cudgel as well as a sheath of javelins on their backs. Zeke knew that those javelins were part of the skill¡¯s most recent upgrade, and if they were just another method of depowering his enemies. ¡°Speaking of, I don¡¯t think Little Miss Black Dress there has high Endurance. Her resistances to demonic mana are atrocious,¡± Eveline said. Zeke couldn¡¯t help but agree. Dalamaya had fallen to her knees, just like her companions. And it wouldn¡¯t be long before she fell altogether. Her muscles seized, and she seemed completely incapable of controlling her body. ¡°I told you,¡± Zeke said aloud, his voice coming out rough and powerful. ¡°I came in peace. I had no intention of hurting anyone. What happens next is your fault. If you survive, I hope you remember that.¡± Just then, Dalamaya erupted into motion. A wicked black blade appeared in her fist just before she rammed it into Zeke¡¯s side. It sliced through his corruption-fueled demonic body with ease, and a moment later, Zeke felt a pull on his mana. Energy flooded out of him and into Dalamaya, and with every passing second, she seemed to recover. ¡°I could say the same for you, demon,¡± she growled. Zeke looked down on her, then shook his head. If she wanted to drain him, then that was fine. With his domains and his golems active, he had plenty to spare. The real question was whether or not the undead woman could handle what he had to offer. So, without further hesitation, he lowered his defenses and let the corrupted mana flood out of him. Dalamaya twisted the dagger, a smirk spreading across her face. But it faded only a moment later when she was inundated by far more corrosive power than she¡¯d expected. When that happened, she tried to yank the blade free, but Zeke clamped down on her wrist and growled, ¡°You want it? Take it. See if you can endure.¡± As she struggled to free herself, it quickly became clear that she could not. Cracks spread up her pale arm, each fissure erupting in blood, fire, and corruption. They tore across her skin to her shoulder, then spread across her torso. Her dress caught fire. Then, her body began to fracture. After only a few more seconds, she fell apart into a smoking heap of undead flesh. Zeke dropped the piece of her arm that he¡¯d held in his hand, then yanked the dagger free. After looking at it for a moment, he dismissed it into his storage. Only moments later, his mana normalized and, via [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], the wound in his side healed. But the process hadn¡¯t come without a cost. Even with [Aura of Desolation] active, the levels of corrupted mana in the air had seen a noticeable dip. If it had taken much longer, Zeke might¡¯ve gotten worried. As it was, his skill was hard at work replenishing what he¡¯d used. Zeke sent his golems through the door, and as they spread out in the hall, he killed Dalamaya¡¯s spares. It only took a stomp apiece before they perished. ¡°This whole situation escalated pretty quickly,¡± Eveline remarked as Zeke followed his golems through the door. Looking left, then right, he established that there were no threats. So, with his golems surrounding him, he strode down the hall. He thought he remembered the way, but if he ended up getting turned around and lost, he intended to simply tear through the walls. Eventually, he would find open air. ¡°Where are we going? Home?¡± ¡°I still need to find Talia,¡± Zeke said. The fact that the Dalamaya, who was a representative of the government, had reacted so poorly to Zeke¡¯s mention of Talia¡¯s name was alarming. More than ever before, he suspected that she was in trouble, and he was determined to rescue her. ¡°And how are you going to find her?¡± ¡°You saw that big, green light in the center of the city, right?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Eveline acknowledged. ¡°You felt it, too, didn¡¯t you? It¡¯s life,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I know for a fact that Talia doesn¡¯t have any issues with that, but I¡¯m willing to bet these other undead probably wouldn¡¯t be able to deal with it very well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a leap of logic if I¡¯ve ever heard one.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t argue with that assessment. He wasn¡¯t certain why he felt the way he did, which, if he was honest, wasn¡¯t that abnormal. Often, he followed his intuition without knowing why it pointed him in a particular direction. But it felt right. And besides, he didn¡¯t have any other hints to follow, considering that, as he¡¯d gotten closer to Talia¡¯s location, [Mark of Companionship] had grown increasingly vaguer. As a result, the skill only confirmed that she was, indeed, in the vicinity. Without an indication of direction, the source of life at the center of the city seemed as good a place to start as any. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. But first, Zeke needed to escape the government building. To that end, he strode through the halls, retracing what he thought was the path they¡¯d taken on the way inside. They passed multiple people, though most simply took shelter in the surrounding buildings. There were some would-be heroes among them, but they were incapable of standing up to even Zeke¡¯s [Colossal Army]. So, with the explosive strength and healing that came with his corrupted colossus form being unnecessary, Zeke shifted to the unattuned version. ¡°You can endure the corruption much better now,¡± remarked Eveline. ¡°It¡¯s still a work in progress,¡± Zeke said. It felt like his efforts inoculating himself against his Will had borne unexpected fruit that took the form of increased resistances to other damage. It wasn¡¯t enough to increase his resistances or his endurance, but he suspected that if he kept going along his current path, the improvements would become apparent on his status. For now, though, Zeke still needed the soothing influence of unattuned mana to wash away the damage of his attunement. Eventually, he reached the building¡¯s lobby. Predictably, opposition had arrayed themselves against him. Ten warriors, each one at least as strong as Dalamaya, with one even reaching level seventy-four, stood against him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Then surrender,¡± retorted the level seventy-four leader. He was a large zombie with ashen-grey skin and enough muscles that Zeke expected he had some non-human heritage buried in his ancestry. The others were an eclectic group, each one wearing black armor, though their similarities ended there. Tall and short, they represented a variety of races. There were two undead elves, a couple of zombified dwarves, and three unliving reptilian people. The remaining two were wights. ¡°Yeah ¨C I¡¯m not doing that. I came in peace,¡± Zeke said, rolling his shoulders. At last, he pulled Voromir from his storage space. ¡°A peace which your friend back there broke.¡± ¡°That is irrelevant,¡± the huge zombie said. ¡°You are in Darukar, land of the unliving. You will submit to our authority.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t acknowledge your dominion.¡± ¡°Then we are at an impasse. When you rise, you will be a mighty addition to our forces,¡± he stated, unlimbering a huge axe from his back. Zeke had never been one for witty repartee, so he didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he flexed his Will and embraced Voromir¡¯s ability. When intertwined, the pair created a red projection of the hammer, crackling with black lightning. He swung. And the projection tore through the air with inevitable force and undeniable speed. The leader raised his axe just before the attack arrived, but it did him little good. The impact sent the man sailing backward through the air, and he only stopped when he hit the black stone wall on the other side of the lobby. The other warriors were not so lucky, and even though they were not Zeke¡¯s primary target, they certainly felt the effects of his ire. The two lowest leveled fighters simply burst beneath titanic impact, sending a wave of congealed gore misting into the air. The other seven only fared a little better, and the sound of wrenching metal, agonized cries, and broken bones followed the herculean strike. By the time those sounds faded, Zeke was upon them. Voromir descended, crushing a wight¡¯s bulbous body into pulp and cratering the patterned tile floor. Zeke used [Center of Gravity] on the furthest combatant, yanking the undead dwarf in his direction. When the flailing body arrived, Zeke met him with a baseball swing that tore through his mid-section, bisecting him. Two pieces of unliving dwarf went flying in different directions. By that point, the leader had recovered, and, with a two-handed, overhand heave, he launched his axe in Zeke¡¯s direction. Zeke knocked it aside before using [Shifting Sands]. Time slowed, and he sank into the ground before rocketing forward. He erupted from the ground in a shower of earth and fire that engulfed three other fallen fighters. They screamed, but for only a moment before Zeke cut their cries short. That left only two ¨C other than the leader ¨C alive. And they were both stunned, making them easy targets. However, just before Zeke charged in their direction, he sensed something coming at him from behind. He threw himself prone just in time to avoid the leader¡¯s flying axe. The weapon returned to the huge zombie¡¯s hands a second later. Tiring of the charade, Zeke did two things at once. First, he directed his golems to attack the remaining underlings. One-on-one, they were no match for the fighters. However, when it was ten-on-two, and with those two already injured, Zeke liked their chances. Second, he used [Hell Geyser], aiming it at the leader. Corrupted fire and rock erupted from the tiles, and ten bronze golems fell upon the two dazed unliving fighters, their cudgels descending with enough force to shatter bones. The two combatants attempted a defense, one of them even going so far as to summon some sort of mana-powered shield. But it was too little and far too late. As for the leader, Zeke threw himself in the zombie¡¯s direction, raising his hammer high as he charged. To his credit, the enemy burst forth from the geyser only a second later. A moment after that, tiny hands tore through the tiles and tried to impede Zeke¡¯s passage. It did not work. At first. But they kept coming. More, each failure made the hands grow, and after only an instant, they¡¯d gone from the size of a child¡¯s hands to something more appropriate to a giant. By that point, though, Zeke reached his foe, and they clashed with titanic force that shook the walls. But Zeke was clearly stronger, and he sent the zombified man staggering backward. He tried to use some sort of skill, but Zeke stomped on the ground, once again using [Hell Geyser]. The skill exploded into fruition, bathing them both in fiery hell. Zeke endured it with only a little discomfort, but the already-injured zombie leader was not so lucky. Even as Zeke aimed another attack at his foe, he saw the creature¡¯s skin sloughing off and his flesh melting. Voromir took full advantage of the enormous zombie¡¯s weakened state, ripping through his hastily raised hand and continuing on to crush his shoulder. Zeke snapped outa front kick that sent the zombie stumbling backward. Then, Zeke leaped high into the air, decreasing his weight to add height to the jump. When he reached the apex of the leap, he increased his weight as much as he could. He fell with the force of a meteor, adding his own massive strength to the descending weight of his hammer. The already-weakened zombie had no chance to endure such a strike. Or so Zeke thought. He activated some sort of skill, sprouting bones all over. They encased him, blocking much of the force Zeke had brought to bear. However, just because one attack didn¡¯t do the trick didn¡¯t mean a second would fail. Still, the bones held fast. In fact, it wasn¡¯t until the fourth brutal, overhand swing did they start to crack. It took another four before the skill failed, exploding with enough force to send Zeke staggering backward in a storm of bone shards. But when the dust settled, it was clear that the zombie was barely holding on. ¡°Why have you come?¡± he croaked. ¡°I came to help my friend.¡± Then, Zeke¡¯s hammer descended for a final time, ending the zombie¡¯s life. He looked up, taking in the destruction he¡¯d wrought. He hadn¡¯t only killed the ten combatants. Multiple other innocents who¡¯d been in the lobby had been caught in the crossfire. More, the building itself seemed on the verge of falling. Zeke glanced toward his golems, who¡¯d already finished the final two undead warriors off. One of the golems had been damaged enough to return to the tower, but the other seemed mostly fine. That was a good thing, too, because Zeke knew that he was in for a running battle. Certainly, the undead had sent some of their best to stop him. Yet, he wasn¡¯t so na?ve as to believe that they would give up there. So, after the golems joined him, he sent them forward before following them through the door. Once outside, Zeke set off toward the center of the city, hoping that he wouldn¡¯t meet too much resistance before he finally found Talia. But if he did, he would be ready to do what was necessary. If push came to shove, he still had [Wrath of Annihilation] in his back pocket, and he wasn¡¯t afraid to use it. 472. The Cradle of Life Talia crouched atop a pile of rubble, staring toward the city. Behind her, the huge, green pillar that represented the dungeon that had poisoned the Cradle of Life with unchecked vitality loomed. Yet, even with that deadly source of life so close, the whole of her attention was on the city. Because something was happening. ¡°What do you think it is?¡± asked Baruk, standing at her shoulder with his huge sword strapped to his back. He was still recovering from the inoculation procedure that allowed him to live in the Cradle of Life, though he¡¯d borne the burden better than most. Almost half of their people had died. Another ten percent had succumbed to the madness. A few more had simply disappeared into the ruins, never to be seen again. That left a mere fraction of survivors ¨C no more than a few thousand ¨C to continue the fight against the government that had once given them succor. They had been taken over by the Death Warden herself, who, after the gruesome murders perpetrated by Adontis loyalists, had adopted an attitude of unchecked expansion. She wanted to inoculate the entire Deathguard and sweep out across the world, creating pockets of undeath that would slowly transform the land into a paradise of death. Talia and her companions had tried to stop her. They¡¯d attempted a coup, destroying most of the improved inoculation chambers and killing the people responsible for developing them. However, it was only a delaying tactic. Unless the Death Warden was stopped, her plan would eventually reach fruition. The worst part was that many of the undead citizens of Darukar ¨C and El¡¯kireth at large ¨C supported her. On the surface, expansion seemed like a great idea that would raise everyone¡¯s power. In addition, it would offer freedom to people who, so far, could only travel within the bounds of their native kingdom. Talia could understand that. But she couldn¡¯t support it. Expanding the borders of El¡¯kireth would, by design, sentence every living person to death. Sure, they would rise as undead, but from experience, she knew that they would do so as different people with different personalities. Perhaps even different souls. No ¨C the conversion into the undead meant the death of one person and the birth of another. And Talia couldn¡¯t bring herself to support that. But even then, the largest reason she opposed the Death Warden was born of instinct. Something had changed about the woman, as well as her closest followers. They didn¡¯t seem like the same people they¡¯d been when she¡¯d first come to El¡¯kireth. However, Talia was incapable of pinpointing what, exactly, that change entailed. She was just aware of it. And that meant she couldn¡¯t ignore it. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said, still looking at the distant destruction. Fights in the city weren¡¯t uncommon, but usually, they only happened at her discretion. But she knew nothing of the reason for the crumbling buildings and massive spikes of mana she saw miles away. ¡°Something big, though. Do you think one of the abominations got into the city?¡± Those were always an issue in the Cradle of Life. Huge, malformed monsters of malignant growth, they were terrifyingly powerful. Fortunately, they rarely left their native environment, and when they did, the Deathguard was tasked with keeping them away from the city proper. Obviously, in the middle of a civil war, the Deathguard had already become lax in their duty. And it didn¡¯t help that almost all of Talia¡¯s people had come from their ranks. ¡°How is Adriel?¡± Talia asked, referring to Baruk¡¯s partner and Talia¡¯s mentor. The vampiric woman was one of the people who¡¯d been horribly affected by the inoculation procedure. She hadn¡¯t died or gone insane, but the last time Talia had checked, Adriel was still in a coma. It had been ongoing for weeks, and it didn¡¯t seem that there was anything anyone could do but wait. ¡°The same,¡± Baruk stated evenly. He didn¡¯t let his emotions show, but Talia knew the man well enough to recognize the slight tension in his shoulders. More, he had stopped joking, which was just as telling as any change in posture. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°We wait. It¡¯s coming this way,¡± she said. ¡°Get the others ready. Five squads. We need to be ready if it comes to a fight.¡± Baruk nodded, then climbed down the pile of rubble to the underground headquarters they had established. It had originally been part of the city¡¯s sewer system, but those tunnels had been discontinued once the ever-expanding Cradle of Life had enveloped that part of the city. As a result, once they¡¯d cleaned everything up ¨C which had been a long and arduous process ¨C the maze of tunnels and chambers had become a perfect staging ground for the resistance. Though Talia had difficulty separating them from their former function, even if everything was clean. Over the next hour, she watched the destruction progress. Buildings fell, and huge surges of mana swept through the city. Yet, the battle clearly raged on, indicating that a powerful force had come to Darukar. Would they be an ally? Or an enemy? Perhaps a third side to the civil war had emerged. There was no telling. What was obvious, though, was the fact that it was clearly heading in the direction of the Cradle of Life. So, it was a good thing that Baruk had managed to gather their soldiers and position them appropriately. Despite not being the most powerful combatant on the field, he was a good commander, and the fighters all respected him. For her part, Talia made her own preparations, infusing herself with [Alacrity of Undeath] and her newest skill, [Inevitability]. The latter increased the power of her more active skills, adding a layer of cold and death that had the potential to make them doubly effective. She looked at the notification she¡¯d gotten upon choosing it: [Inevitability] (D) ¨C Create an aura of frigid death that serves to augment your every attack. It grows more powerful the longer you remain in motion. Upgradeable. It was a powerful ability, especially given her fighting style. At present, it was barely even noticeable, yet if she kept moving for a few minutes, it would reach its peak. When that happened, she would become a terror ¨C as was evident from the first time she¡¯d used it against the Death Warden herself. Talia hadn¡¯t won that fight ¨C the woman was far too powerful ¨C but she¡¯d held her own long enough for her people to escape. That, she considered a moral victory. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. After that, Talia leaped down from the pile of rubble and joined her troops. By that point, the battle had gotten close enough that she could hear the crushing weight of heavy blows as they toppled buildings. Dust filled the air, and the mana had come alive in a way she couldn¡¯t quite understand. Then, something else hit her. Suddenly, she felt stronger than she ever had before, and great, orange runes erupted across her body. The same couldn¡¯t be said for her soldiers, all of whom had fallen to their knees. Even Baruk, whose endurance was among the highest among her forces, struggled to remain upright. Talia readied herself for battle, though she had no idea what was going on. Not until a giant man made of stone burst through a building a few blocks away. He was more than ten feet tall, with a jagged form made of earth, and mana swirled all around him. More, five bronze figures followed, fighting a retreating battle against a dozen members of the Deathguard. Talia used [Eyes of the Revenant], the upgraded version of her inspection skill: Colossus ¨C Level 71 Strength: Peak Agility: Above Average Dexterity: Above Average Endurance: Peak Intelligence: High Wisdom: High Resistances: Very High Most Used Skill: [Triune Colossus] The fact that there was a most used skill suggested that the colossus was no monster. Rather, it was a person under the effect of some sort of transformation skill. That, in turn, told Talia that whoever was beneath that skill was an ally. After all, any enemy of the Deathguard was a friend of hers. She hoped. So, without further consideration, she darted further. Under the effect of [Alacrity of Undeath], she covered the ground in the blink of an eye, and when she fell upon the Deathguard, she did so with extreme prejudice. The colossus, meanwhile, wheeled around, swinging a massive hammer with a bone haft. The head took one of the Deathguard in the face, launching the woman hundreds of feet through the air. She didn¡¯t stop until she¡¯d collided with a crumbling wall, and even then, she burst through, only slowing when she¡¯d crashed into the next one over. Talia shouted, ¡°Follow me! They will not pursue into the Cradle of Life.¡± The colossus stopped in his tracks. ¡°Talia?¡± came an oddly familiar voice. It was distorted by the transformation, but there was still something about it that she recognized. Then, the figure shifted, shrinking down to human sized. Talia stared, not believing what she saw. ¡°Zeke?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± he said, casually backhanding a charging member of the Deathguard. ¡°Is¡­are you suppressing my people?¡± she asked. ¡°Oh. Maybe. I guess I just default to assuming everyone¡¯s an enemy until proven otherwise. Which ones are yours?¡± he asked, seeming entirely unperturbed by his situation. Talia had no idea how Zeke was even in El¡¯kireth ¨C most of the living couldn¡¯t endure the deathly ambiance ¨C much less how he¡¯d already reached level seventy-one. Clearly, much had happened since they¡¯d ascended. ¡°Those,¡± she said, pointing to Baruk and the others. They were still on the ground, struggling to rise. ¡°Release them, and we will turn the others away.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Zeke said. And suddenly, the other members of Talia¡¯s force sprang to their feet. More, the same fiery runes that had appeared on Talia¡¯s body now manifested on theirs. After only a second¡¯s worth of hesitation, they charged. The pursuing members of the Deathguard saw the writing on the wall. They weren¡¯t just outnumbered, but they were also outclassed. So, without delay, they wheeled around, gathered their injured, and fled. Suddenly, the battle ended, but Talia knew that if they remained on the edge of the Cradle of Life, they would be exposed to further retaliation. So, she said, ¡°We must return to the tunnels. Then, we can ¨C¡± Just then, she received a quest: New Quest Acquired! Quest: A New Place Objective: Enter the dungeon called The Pillar of Life and conquer the challenges within. Reward: Seed of Life and Death ¡°Did you just get a quest, too?¡± Zeke asked. She said, ¡°I did.¡± ¡°I think¡­I think I know what this is,¡± he said. ¡°But let¡¯s talk about it once we reach safety. I don¡¯t think your friends back there are going to leave me be.¡± Talia agreed with that, then said, ¡°Very well. Follow me.¡± After that, she signaled to her people, who were accustomed enough to her orders that they fell into line behind her. They set out after that, delving into the Cradle of Life that had become so familiar over the past months. Even before that, during the war with the abominations, she¡¯d spent enough time in the life-attuned area that it barely even made her uncomfortable. The same could not be said for her companions. Even after the inoculation procedure, the densely life attuned mana in the area was painful for them to endure. Zeke, of course, had no issues at all. She longed to hear his story, but that would have to wait until after they were safe in the tunnels. So, she led the group of warriors deep into the Cradle of Life until they reached their destination. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary gate guarded by a rusty grate. However, a few dozen feet after they descended into the abandoned sewer system, they were confronted with clean walls and bright lights. They followed the proper path until, almost an hour later, they reached the chamber that served as their main headquarters. It took only a few minutes before everyone was sent on their way, and she led Zeke to her own quarters. Once there, she asked, ¡°How did you get here? Why have you come? And where is everyone else?¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± he said. And it was. Zeke then went on to describe his journey, from being enslaved to having to make a foray into the demon realm in order to complete a quest. He told her how he¡¯d helped free the dwarves¡¯ slaves amidst a battle between two peak entities, then his trek across the tundra before he entered a dungeon. He skipped over much of that part, only saying that they spent months inside and barely made it out alive. When they did, they¡¯d made an alliance with a society of centaurs, fought a war against hill giants, then fought another one against the Knights of Adontis. That they won. ¡°I killed Lord Adontis a couple of months ago,¡± Zeke said, massaging the back of his neck. ¡°Then, I came looking for you. When I got here, they tried to detain me.¡± ¡°Did you mention me by name?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why,¡± she said. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with El¡¯kireth. Some of the people here ¨C especially the ones in charge ¨C don¡¯t seem like themselves anymore. This kingdom has existed in isolation for millennia. Now, they¡¯ve suddenly embarked on a policy of expansion that will inevitably turn the entire world against us.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re part of the resistance to that,¡± Zeke guessed. ¡°The leader, actually,¡± she corrected. ¡°Or one of them. The other leader is¡­indisposed right now. Now, about the quest¡­what is it?¡± ¡°It is clearly the answer to your problems,¡± came a voice from nearby. She wheeled around to see a tall, statuesque, and red-skinned woman wearing a form-fitting black dress. Horns grew from her forehead, and a luxurious mane of black hair tickled the small of her back. To say she was beautiful would have been an understatement. ¡°Who are you?!¡± demanded Talia, leaping to her feet. Zeke only sighed. ¡°Eveline, we talked about this,¡± he said. ¡°You were taking too long,¡± the horned woman said. Zeke turned back to Talia, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I would have warned you if I knew she was going to do that. Talia, this is Eveline. She¡¯s a parasitic mind spirit who occasionally helps me out. Most of the time, she just insults me.¡± ¡°A mind spirit?¡± ¡°Yes, dear,¡± said Eveline. ¡°And more importantly, I have some insight into what your quest is. The Framework does not give out meaningless quests. Chances are, you have a need. The reward for that quest is meant to meet that need.¡± It only took Talia a moment to think of Adriel¡¯s condition. The Seed of Life and Death sounded like precisely what the vampiric woman would need to overcome her comatose state. ¡°I think I know what it¡¯s for,¡± she admitted. ¡°Good,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Because Ezekiel has already decided that he must have the reward from the quest he received, and he truly wants you to tag along.¡± ¡°You could have let me tell her,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Stole my thunder a little, there.¡± ¡°You take too long.¡± ¡°Keep it up, and there will be consequences,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Promises, promises,¡± the red woman smirked. 473. The Pillar ¡°At least it doesn¡¯t smell down here,¡± Eveline said as Zeke looked around. The chamber was clean, though he¡¯d been in enough sewers to recognize the subterranean room¡¯s previous purpose. ¡°At least there¡¯s no fecal fiend,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°Or monsters performing rituals to summon one, I guess.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Eveline said. She knew all about his history, so she didn¡¯t need him to explain his previous expeditions into sewer systems. The chamber itself was made up like a bedroom, complete with a cot, nightstand, and a wash basin. ¡°So, you have reunited with your undead friend. What now?¡± ¡°I think you know,¡± Zeke said, looking at the notification for his quest. It had been a while since he¡¯d received one from the Framework, but he had enough experience with them to recognize what an opportunity the latest represented. New Quest Acquired! Quest: Life and Death Objective: Enter the dungeon called The Pillar of Life and conquer the challenges within. Alternative Objective: Defeat the Death Warden Reward: Orb of Undeath Alternative Reward: Upgrade for Orb of Undeath ¡°That is quite a powerful quest,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°I know. The rewards are clearly treasures, right? What attunement do you think they represent?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°A mixture. I¡¯m not certain if they will satisfy the terms of your tower upgrade quest, though,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°I get the sense that they¡¯re for a different purpose.¡± ¡°Kind of like the holy and demonic treasures you¡¯ve talked about?¡± asked Zeke. Indeed, those were considered hidden attunements because they didn¡¯t appear on everyone¡¯s status sheets, but they were very real. And, according to Eveline, they could help him in his quest, even though they weren¡¯t listed. ¡°Sort of,¡± she said, seeming to hedge in her response. ¡°Undeath is an odd one. We don¡¯t allow it in Hell.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve mentioned that before, I think.¡± ¡°It¡¯s one of the few things that unites the demons of Hell. If anyone finds a pocket of undeath, we descend upon it en masse, and we don¡¯t stop until it is destroyed,¡± she said. ¡°So, needless to say, this entire kingdom makes my skin crawl. It¡¯s even worse when I see those abominations walking around.¡± After a second, she added, ¡°But I¡¯m sure your little friend is nice.¡± Zeke rolled his eyes and sat on the cot. It creaked under his weight, and he sighed. ¡°You know what ¨C I¡¯m not sleeping in this place,¡± he said. After that, he went in search of Talia, finding her in a central chamber that seemed to function as a command center. When he found her, she was poring over a series of maps and giving a subordinate instructions as to how they were supposed to conduct themselves while she attempted to conquer the dungeon. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s safe for you to come, Baruk,¡± she said, glancing at the big zombie. He carried an enormous sword on his back, but he radiated an adequate level of power. Using [Inspect], Zeke saw that Baruk was level fifty-nine, which was respectable. Talia continued, ¡°Plus, I need you here to make sure things don¡¯t go off the rails. Adriel needs you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± he groused. ¡°Me neither,¡± Talia admitted. ¡°But this is our best chance of saving her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. But that doesn¡¯t mean I have to like it. I think ¨C¡± Baruk cut off when he noticed Zeke¡¯s approach. The zombie didn¡¯t exactly glare in his direction, but it wasn¡¯t a friendly look, either. Regardless, Zeke wasn¡¯t concerned with him. He only wanted to talk to Talia, so he asked, ¡°Do you have a little time? I wanted to show you something.¡± ¡°Is it important?¡± ¡°Fairly,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°It might even help your people out, especially because there¡¯s so much vitality here. I think I can help with manpower. Or¡­something like that. Supplies, too.¡± Talia said, ¡°Okay. But there¡¯s a lot to do before we can go into the Pillar. My people depend on me.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But this will help. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± After that, Zeke asked for somewhere large enough for his purposes, and he was led to an unoccupied, out-of-the-way chamber. Once he was there, he summoned his gate. Originally, he hadn¡¯t planned to do so ¨C having it in Adontis was strategically important. However, there were enough people who had taken up residence in the area that he felt confident that they could hold the territory with minimal input from the tower. ¡°What is this?¡± asked Talia. ¡°You remember the tower, right? Well, that¡¯s where this leads. And I¡¯ll warn you right now ¨C it¡¯s changed a lot. As of now, there are almost a quarter of a million people living inside,¡± he said, though that estimate could have been a little off. The kobolds had continued to multiply, and without any real threats to the juveniles, the mortality rate for the undeveloped kobolds had dropped to almost nothing. Their rate of reproduction had begun to slow down in recent months, but it was still as high as would be expected from any thriving population. In addition, there were thousands of beastkin who¡¯d chosen to live within the tower rather than return to the lands where they¡¯d been enslaved. And finally, there was a contingent of former Knights who¡¯d seen the opportunities Zeke and the tower represented, so they¡¯d turned coat and joined his forces. Finally, there were a few other races present, though their populations were largely inconsequential to the overall number. In short, the tower was a developing metropolis that, despite the losses incurred during the war against Adontis, continued to grow by leaps and bounds. ¡°The tower is through there?¡± asked Talia. ¡°It is,¡± Zeke answered. ¡°And like I said, a lot has changed.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Then, he stepped through. Talia followed a moment later, then gasped. It was strange, seeing her so emotive. In the past, that had only happened after she¡¯d eaten a heart, but it seemed that more than just the tower had changed in the past couple of years. Talia had grown, both in terms of levels as well as from an emotional standpoint. ¡°It¡¯s so different,¡± she whispered, looking around. ¡°It happened a little while after I ascended,¡± Zeke explained, looking at the entry hall with no small degree of pride. There were hundreds of kobolds going in every direction. Some exited through the normal gate, which led to the Mukti Plains. Others used the teleporter that would take them to the other levels. And finally, some had set up some small shops to cater to people like the centaurs who didn¡¯t live within the tower but had full access. Those shops only carried basic supplies, with the more expensive gear being sold in the Merchant¡¯s Quarter. As always, there were ninety-nine bronze statues standing on plinths throughout the square, and other statues depicting Zeke¡¯s exploits ringed the floor. Zeke escorted Talia around, explaining what each statue represented. Meanwhile, she filled him in on the details she hadn¡¯t already explained. It was a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours, and Zeke was impressed with how much Talia had matured. Soon enough, he showed her the other floors. For her part, Talia was suitably impressed with everything, but she was most interested in the Crimson Spring. However, that quickly turned to disappointment when she dipped a finger into the scalding water and came away yelping in pain. She¡¯d only touched the water for a second, but even then, her finger had been badly burned. Clearly, the Crimson Spring was not meant to heal undead. ¡°I hoped it would help my friend,¡± she admitted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zeke said with a shake of his head. ¡°But I hope that might change after the quest. I think my reward is meant to make the tower habitable by undead. Maybe that will include adjusting the springs to heal you and your people. ¡°Perhaps.¡± After that, Talia was a little more subdued, but she did delight in meeting kobolds like Silik and Kianma. Oddly, she seemed disdainful of Jasper. She wasn¡¯t rude, but she didn¡¯t make any efforts to ingratiate herself to the dark elf bard. However, the real highlight came when they reached the Lord¡¯s Manor, and she saw a great, furry figure sitting on the lawn next to Sasha. The pair had clearly been in the middle of a picnic. When they reached the pair, Talia said, ¡°Pudge? Is that you?¡± ¡°Talia?¡± he grunted in surprise. ¡°You¡­changed.¡± ¡°So did you,¡± he said. Then, Talia let out an uncharacteristic squeal and threw herself at Pudge, wrapping her arms around him. ¡°I was so worried about you,¡± she said. ¡°Zeke never took proper care of you.¡± ¡°How cute,¡± Eveline remarked. And it was. Talia and Pudge had always been close, largely because the former had considered herself a monster, so she didn¡¯t think she was fit to be around anything but another monster. And back then, Pudge had fit the bill. Now, though, they were both people, but with a sibling-like bond that had persisted, even after being separated for so long. It was a heartwarming reunion, especially when Pudge introduced Talia to Sasha. The boarkin was a little uncomfortable, and rightly so. In most of the world, the undead were feared. Yet, for Pudge¡¯s sake, she made every effort to appear welcoming. Eventually, they all ended up heading into the manor, where they settled in to catch up. Zeke remained mostly silent as Pudge explained everything that had happened to him since his ascension. He¡¯d grown more accustomed to speaking, so his recitation of events wasn¡¯t nearly as halting as it had once been. Still, he lacked some of the necessary vocabulary. Sasha stepped in when necessary, telling her part of the story as well. In the end, it was a nice evening, but one that Zeke knew couldn¡¯t last. And sure enough, hours later, when all the stories had been told, Talia said, ¡°We must go soon. Adriel will not make it much longer, I am certain. I need to save her.¡± After that, the mood grew somber, and Zeke led Talia back to the teleporter. Pudge and Silik came behind, and once they were back in the sewers beneath the Cradle of Life, the pair were introduced to Baruk, who Talia ordered to incorporate Zeke¡¯s army into their defenses. They weren¡¯t capable of striking out into the death-attuned city, but they were perfectly capable of defending within the life-saturated area around the Pillar of Life. So, that was the plan. Hopefully, it would be sufficient until Zeke and Talia completed their quest. Because only two of them could go. The Pillar of Life was not like most dungeons, according to the information Talia had gathered on the subject. For one, despite having existed for the entirety of El¡¯kireth¡¯s history, it had never actually been completed. Thousands of people had challenged it, yet none had ever emerged from within its depths. Even when the undead kingdom had brought living warriors in, they¡¯d failed the same as the undead challengers. The result was that it was impossible to know what was inside. The only thing they knew was that the more people who entered at the same time, the more difficult the dungeon would become. Ideally, only one person would enter, but considering that both Talia and Zeke had the quest, they had decided to go together. But it was obvious that it would be difficult. ¡°I¡¯ve done difficult before, though,¡± Zeke said the next day when he and Talia stood a few miles away from the enormous green pillar of light. ¡°This can¡¯t be worse than the Mirror King.¡± ¡°I hope you are right,¡± Talia said. ¡°Me, too,¡± Zeke said. Then, the pair set off through the ruins. Along the way, they met a few abominations, but they proved incapable of standing up to the combination of Zeke¡¯s Will and Talia¡¯s ability to inflict multiple afflictions with every strike. After only a little back and forth, they developed a strategy that would have Talia initiate the fight, then use her incredible speed to run the creatures in circles. Then, once they were sufficiently weakened by Talia¡¯s skills, Zeke would strike. They normally wouldn¡¯t last more than one strike. The effectiveness of the strategy boded well for the upcoming challenges. Though Eveline was quick to remind Zeke that the dungeon was unlikely to cooperate. Every dungeon was meant to push the challengers to the absolute brink, and from Zeke¡¯s experiences, that was true. The only one that hadn¡¯t was the Arena, though that was likely because of his particular skillset. What would happen if he encountered something that required a different set of skills? ¡°You¡¯ll probably just destroy everything,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That usually works, right?¡± ¡°I guess,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I suppose,¡± he responded inwardly. Then, he glanced at Talia and asked, ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°I am,¡± she stated, resolve wrapping around her voice. ¡°I guess there¡¯s no point in waiting,¡± Zeke said. They¡¯d made the arrangements they could, and now, they just had to hold up their end of the bargain. ¡°If we get separated, just keep going forward. Don¡¯t look back, and don¡¯t search. If we keep moving ahead, we¡¯ll eventually intersect.¡± That was the best advice he could offer, and Zeke wasn¡¯t certain if it applied to every dungeon. Sure, it had been the case before, but there was no guarantee that the Pillar of Life would follow that same pattern. For all he knew, it would be entirely different. One thing was certain, though ¨C it was going to be difficult. Because it had existed for so long, and without being conquered, it was likely as dangerous a dungeon as was possible in the Eternal Realm. ¡°Sorry,¡± Zeke said, running his hand through his hair when he noticed Talia staring at him. ¡°It¡¯s just that we have no idea what to expect in here. I¡¯ve recently become aware that I don¡¯t always look before I leap, which is something I need to fix. Do you know what happens in a dungeon if it¡¯s left too long?¡± ¡°It grows,¡± Talia said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The space expands, the denizens evolve, and everything grows more dangerous,¡± she stated. ¡°And eventually, it starts to affect the local environment. This one has been doing that for the entire history of the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s safe to say that this will be complex?¡± ¡°It will be,¡± she said. ¡°But we can¡¯t afford to hesitate. There is too much at stake.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Zeke said. He had no intention of abandoning his quest. On top of that, he knew that a dungeon like the Pillar of Life would be incredibly beneficial for his progression. He might even reach level seventy-five, if it was anything like the Mirror King dungeon. So, after taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± And after that, the pair progressed the last few blocks and into the green light. At first, it only tingled a little, but soon enough, Zeke felt like things were crawling all over his body. Talia clearly fared much worse, but aside from gritting her teeth, she gave no sign of her obvious pain. Then, suddenly, Zeke experienced that strange feeling of nothingness before appearing in the dungeon. That wasn¡¯t surprising. What was shocking was the fact that he was in freefall, thousands of feet above an expansive jungle. 474. The Ancient Forest Zeke plummeted through the air, a brief moment of panic suffusing his mind. However, after only a couple of seconds, he realized that he had nothing to worry about. Not because his momentum was arrested. No ¨C he still fell at a truly frightening speed. However, he¡¯d fallen from great heights before, and he knew that hitting the ground would do little more than annoy him. But Talia wasn¡¯t nearly as durable as he was. Yet, when Zeke glanced up, he saw that she was unconcerned. So, he pushed her well-being from his mind and threw his arms out wide. The speed of his fall dissipated ever so slightly as he took a moment to study the terrain. A primordial forest stretched as far as he could see, though in the distance, a giant stone pyramid jutted toward the sky. Zeke only had time to notice the weathered exterior that suggested advanced age before he hit the first branches, snapping them as he tore through the canopy. Finally, he hit the ground, the impact digging a sizable crater in the soft, loamy turf. Meanwhile, Talia simply appeared at the edge of the crater, completely unharmed. ¡°She must have a skill like [Shifting Sands],¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°She just disappeared and reappeared here, dissipating all momentum along the way. Impressive at her level.¡± ¡°Talia¡¯s just as special as I am,¡± Zeke said. Indeed, he believed it, too. She was wholly unique ¨C at least as far as he knew ¨C and her abilities reflected that. He wasn¡¯t certain what she¡¯d been through since their ascension ¨C she¡¯d told him a little, but he knew there was much more to it ¨C but he suspected that her path had been similarly harrowing. And the Framework always rewarded danger with progression, assuming that one managed to survive. ¡°It¡¯s cute that you actually believe that,¡± Eveline stated. Zeke ignored her as he pushed himself to his knees. The impact hadn¡¯t done much damage, but that didn¡¯t mean it didn¡¯t hurt. So, he pulsed [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] as he climbed to his feet. Then, he used [Triune Colossus] to make climbing out of the small crater easier, and once he¡¯d reached the top, he asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Talia stated, her eyes darting around. ¡°I can tell why no one comes here. The vital aura is intense.¡± Zeke felt it as well, which was saying something. Normally, life attuned mana sort of faded into the background. The fact that he could even feel it without concentrating was a testament to how powerfully dense it was. Still, it wasn¡¯t uncomfortable for him. He asked, ¡°Can you endure it?¡± ¡°I can. It just itches,¡± she said. ¡°This would instantly kill all but the most powerful undead, though. Even elites would be weakened. We do not belong here.¡± It was further evidence that Talia had fully adopted El¡¯kireth as her home and its people as her own. They had taken her under their wing, given her responsibility and purpose, and accepted her in a way that the Mortal Realm never had. Even before her transformation, she¡¯d been an outcast. That was by design. Her mother had curated Talia¡¯s upbringing to such a degree that she¡¯d never formed any meaningful connections with anyone else. As a result, she¡¯d made for a perfect sacrifice, but a socially crippled one. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± she asked, cocking her head to the side. ¡°Just glad you¡¯ve found a place,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You¡¯ve come a long way since Jariq.¡± She sighed ¨C another alien expression in which she never would have engaged in the Radiant Isles ¨C then said, ¡°They want to destroy it, you know.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The Expansionists. They won¡¯t come out and say it, but there¡¯s something pushing them,¡± she said. ¡°I believe it¡¯s a foreign actor. A plot by someone like Adontis. If we leave El¡¯kireth in force, the rest of the world will respond. They will band together in order to defeat us.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± Zeke asked. Eveline had already informed him that that was how the demon realm worked. If an undead threat arose, the entirety of Hell would put aside their many differences so they could put it down. ¡°I do,¡± Talia answered. ¡°We frighten people, and on a very fundamental level. El¡¯kireth represents a self-imposed but altogether necessary exile. Without it to restrain us¡­¡± ¡°At least she understands the stakes,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You think she¡¯s right?¡± ¡°Of course. Suffer not the undead,¡± Eveline answered to Zeke¡¯s non-verbal question. ¡°Excluding your friend. Obviously. And her allies. They seem okay.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he spoke aloud, asking, ¡°Did you see the pyramid?¡± ¡°Yes. That is the obvious goal,¡± Talia said. ¡°There were other ruins, though. Perhaps we must explore those.¡± Before Zeke could offer his opinion on the subject, a rustling nearby alerted him that they were not alone. He muttered, ¡°Get ready for a fight.¡± Talia¡¯s claws extended, and she erupted into a miasma of rot that surrounded her like an aura. It was powerful enough that even Zeke felt it. Clearly, she¡¯d had seen the benefit of plenty of lucky encounters of her own. For his part, Zeke only summoned Voromir. He couldn¡¯t activate the tower¡¯s gate function inside of a dungeon, but the storage ability still worked the same as it always did. A good thing, too, because he didn¡¯t want to tote his weapon around. In any case, the sudden appearance of the bone-hafted hammer elicited a response from the surrounding enemies. Suddenly, the trees shifted, and not because of the wind. Instead, Zeke was shocked to find that they weren¡¯t trees at all. Or at least some of them weren¡¯t. They were bipedal creatures made of twisted limbs, thick trunks, and moss. The moment he recognized that they weren¡¯t trees, Zeke used [Inspect]: Treant ¨C Level 64 He did the same with the other fifteen creatures surrounding them, and he saw that they ranged from levels sixty-one to sixty-six, meaning that they were powerful enough not to completely dismiss. Or ignore. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Intruder,¡± the first creature rumbled. ¡°Declare your allegiance or perish.¡± ¡°Allegiance?¡± Zeke responded. ¡°Only to myself and my people.¡± That was the wrong answer, as evidenced by the monster¡¯s sudden charge. The shape of a tree implied that the creatures would be slow and ponderous, but the reality couldn¡¯t have been further from the truth. The first treant hit Zeke before he could even move, sending him staggering back a couple of steps. Which was impressive enough, given his enormous strength and the massive size of his earthen colossal form. Yet, that wasn¡¯t the end of the creature¡¯s first salvo. Instead, it hammered him with arms like tree-trunks, swinging them as if they were clubs. Meanwhile, the ground came alive with vines and roots, each one ripping out of the soft soil to wrap around Zeke¡¯s legs. He ripped them free, raising his arms to block the treant¡¯s attack. However, even as one vine was destroyed, another took its place. Finally, after the first few seconds, Zeke had had enough, and with a roar, he activated [Shifting Sands], giving him some extra time to think. He slipped into the earth, but he didn¡¯t go far. Instead, he exploded from the ground behind the treant, bathing it in rock and fire as he swung Voromir with as much power as he could muster. The hammer¡¯s head hit with momentous impact, splintering the monster¡¯s twisted-trunk torso and ripping it into two pieces. Yet, in the split second the creature was separated into two halves, more vines snaked out, intertwining with one another, and arresting its momentum. A second later, they pulled back together, mending the damage Zeke¡¯s hammer had just wrought. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not fair,¡± he muttered inwardly. Then, he waded forward, aiming another attack at the monster. This time, it blocked with its club-like arms, but it could do nothing about the sheer momentum of the attack, and it was launched away like a rocket. Even as it flew away, the other treants reached him, burying him beneath hundreds of battering blows. He bore them as well as he could, but each one dislodged a bit of his rocky flesh, hinting at the degree of power the monsters possessed. They were strong, which told Zeke that he couldn¡¯t simply turtle up and endure. He needed to attack. Fortunately, Talia had the same idea, and she descended on the creatures from behind, raking her claws across their limbs with ruthless precision and unstoppable speed. Zeke couldn¡¯t see her, but he could feel the insurmountable aura of rot as it intensified more with every passing second. In only moments, it had reached a point that, if it had been directed at him, it would have alarmed even Zeke. And the treants were ill-equipped to stand up to such power. They rumbled in pain, increasing the fervor of their attacks. Yet, Zeke wasn¡¯t willing to stand idle and let Talia have all the fun. So, he shouted, ¡°Get away! At least forty yards!¡± He waited a couple of moments for Talia to obey his command, then he embraced [Hell Geyser], stomping on the ground. The earth erupted directly beneath his feet, sending a pillar of hellfire and molten rock erupting into the sky. The treants let out a full-throated scream. For his part, Zeke used [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to repair the damage of his own skill. He could endure it better than anyone else, but that didn¡¯t mean he was completely safe from the forces he could bring to bear. But with [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], he managed to reach the termination point of the skill relatively unscathed. Relatively wasn¡¯t completely, though, and he ended up smoking with quite few bits and pieces of his earthen body having been melted. Thankfully, what should have been an agonizing event only twinged a bit, due to his racial pain dampening. The treants were not so lucky, and a full half of them had perished in the gout of flame. The rest were still alive, though they were much the worse for wear. As Zeke looked back, he saw that Talia had already returned, and with a beam of dark energy, she cut one into pieces. She moved like a blur, and Zeke knew that if it weren¡¯t for his high levels and the increased perception speed that came with his mental statistics, he never would¡¯ve been capable of tracking her. ¡°Oh, she is special,¡± remarked Eveline. ¡°I like her. Even if she is unliving.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure she¡¯s completely undead,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°I think she¡¯s a blend, like me.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± was Eveline¡¯s only response. Even as she said that single word, Zeke waded back into battle. He didn¡¯t bother using anymore skills. Instead, he simply swung his hammer, tearing through some of the monsters while sending others rocketing into the forest. It was a massacre, and though Zeke had fought his way through Darukar, he¡¯d been forced to hold back. After all, he didn¡¯t want to completely destroy the city. As a result, he hadn¡¯t let loose in quite some time, so finally being able to against the treants, without any regard for the collateral damage, was freeing. The battle didn¡¯t last much longer after Zeke¡¯s use of [Hell Geyser], and only a few minutes later, he stood next to Talia, looking down on their fallen foes. Both wore expressions of subtle disappointment. ¡°Seems like they should have been a little more difficult,¡± Zeke said. Talia looked at him with horror written across her pale face. When Zeke asked why, she let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to say things like that,¡± she stated. ¡°What? Why? Are you afraid I jinxed it?¡± he asked. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in ¨C¡± The ground shook, cutting Zeke off. He glanced toward one of the fallen treants, and when the ground shook once again, he saw its leaves rustle. A moment later, the tremble in the earth repeated. ¡°What is it?¡± Talia shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Earthquake?¡± ¡°Too even,¡± Zeke said, already suspecting the origin of the shaking earth. ¡°Plus, I think I¡¯d feel that.¡± ¡°You had to say it,¡± Talia muttered. ¡°This isn¡¯t my fault,¡± Zeke argued, holding his hands out wide. The ground shook again, this time slightly more violently. In addition, the sound of snapping branches and falling trees echoed through the region. ¡°Footsteps,¡± Eveline said unhelpfully. ¡°I know,¡± Zeke muttered inwardly. ¡°This isn¡¯t good.¡± Indeed, anything that could shake the ground that violently was bound to be enormous. And given his experiences in dungeons, Zeke expected that size would correlate to power. ¡°I think we need to move,¡± Talia stated. ¡°How fast can you go?¡± ¡°Fast enough,¡± Zeke said with a nod. Talia blurred, disappearing into the brush. He muttered to himself, ¡°But not that fast.¡± Then, he shifted to his unattuned colossal form before setting off in the same direction. Pointedly, it was away from the rumbling footsteps. Zeke didn¡¯t mind fighting whatever was out there, but he didn¡¯t want to do so before taking stock. That just seemed like a good way to get killed. After all, he knew that not everything in a dungeon was meant to be killable. ¡°Except you already killed one that wasn¡¯t,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Or did you forget the cyclops?¡± Indeed, that creature had never been meant to be an opponent. Instead, it was more like an environmental danger. Still, Zeke had found a way to tear it down, and he suspected that he could do the same to whatever was stomping through the forest. And if it was just him, he¡¯d have already gone to check it out. But it wasn¡¯t. He still had Talia to worry about, and that meant he wasn¡¯t going to put her in unnecessary danger. ¡°Mature,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s me. Really mature. Everyone says so,¡± he stated inwardly, rushing past the trees. In his unattuned form, he felt much more coordinated than in when fueling [Triune Colossus] with earth attuned mana, and he used that to great advantage, dodging most of the trees in his way. Hopefully, that would be enough to keep the creature from tracking them. If it was even coming their way, which was an unconfirmed assumption. Gradually, Zeke sprinted through the forest. Every now and again, he¡¯d catch sight of Talia waiting on him, which just further confirmed that she was much, much faster than he could ever hope to be. Regardless, she put that speed to good use, picking a path through the forest until, at last, they reached a series of ruins. The area was so deteriorated that architecture was largely unidentifiable, though there was a pile of stone that rose nearly a hundred feet above the surrounding forest¡¯s canopy. So, Zeke and Talia climbed that hill of discarded stone and looked back the way they had come. ¡°Wow,¡± Zeke muttered, seeing the monster that followed them. ¡°I can¡¯t say I expected that.¡± ¡°Me neither,¡± Talia agreed. Eveline manifested, stating, ¡°I think you may have finally found a monster you can¡¯t kill.¡± 475. The Moving Mountain The mountain moved. ¡°I think you underestimate me,¡± Zeke said, staring at the massive tortoise. It was the size of a city, and despite the fact that the ground shook with its every step, it was dozens of miles away. Aloud, he asked, ¡°How big do you think that thing is?¡± ¡°At least a mile across,¡± Talia answered. ¡°Perhaps more. Perspective is difficult to gauge from this distance.¡± For his part, Zeke expected that Talia¡¯s estimate was a little conservative. He had some experience with enormous creatures, and he knew just how easily the mind could be fooled by a sight that shouldn¡¯t have been possible. In any case, the gargantuan tortoise¡¯s basic shape was no different from any other he¡¯d ever seen. Comparatively short, stumpy legs, a huge shell, and a scaley head. However, even considering its size, the most surprising thing about the creature was the city on its back. ¡°How did we miss this on our way down?¡± he asked. Talia shrugged. ¡°Freefalling can be distracting,¡± she answered. Zeke couldn¡¯t disagree with that assessment. Sure, during the fall, he¡¯d been far calmer than he probably should have been. However, that didn¡¯t mean he had an opportunity to really study his environment. As a result, he¡¯d likely missed the vast majority of details. ¡°I saw it,¡± Eveline said. ¡°No you didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I did,¡± she insisted. Zeke just shook his head. He didn¡¯t believe Eveline for a second. Normally, she was far more attentive than him, which he would readily admit. However, she was not infallible. She missed things just like him. The big difference was that she liked to pretend she was omniscient, which couldn¡¯t have been further from the truth. ¡°That¡¯s just rude,¡± she muttered in his mind. ¡°Just calling it like I see it,¡± he responded inwardly. As they spoke, the turtle continued to wade through the forest, felling trees with every step. However, Zeke was happy to see that it wasn¡¯t actually coming in their direction. Rather, it took a diagonal path that would be miles away from intersecting with their position. ¡°You really don¡¯t think I could kill it?¡± he asked. Eveline let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sure you could find a way if you put your mind to it,¡± she admitted. ¡°Though that might be a bit of a mischaracterization. It¡¯s not your mind that would be doing the heavy lifting, if you understand my meaning.¡± ¡°Ouch.¡± Talia interrupted that conversation when she asked, ¡°What should we do? The turtle city seems the most likely place to complete the dungeon.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I¡¯ve participated in three dungeons. Four, if you count the troll caves. Two were incredibly complex, with dozens of ways to get to the end.¡± That was true. The troll caves, which were a displaced dungeon that Oberon had appropriated for his training, contained hundreds, if not thousands, of miles tunnels. As a result, he¡¯d spent years fighting his way through the dungeon until he¡¯d finally reached the end. The Mirror King¡¯s dungeon was similarly complex, though on a slightly smaller scale Even then, it had featured multiple potential paths. ¡°But two of them were almost comically straightforward,¡± he went on. The dungeon that had functioned as the centaur trials had only featured one possible path. Certainly, that didn¡¯t make it any less difficult to conquer, but finding the right way through was not an issue. And the arena was even simpler, only requiring him to defeat the waves of enemies. ¡°I think this is one of the complex ones,¡± he said. ¡°There will be multiple ways through. Some will probably be harder than others, and I¡¯m sure a few of them will be dead ends.¡± ¡°Emphasis on the dead part,¡± Eveline supplied, manifesting beside him. ¡°Choosing the wrong path in a complex dungeon is often fatal.¡± By this point, Talia was accustomed to Eveline¡¯s presence, so she didn¡¯t even flinch at the former demoness¡¯ sudden appearance. Instead, she said, ¡°In my experience, choosing the wrong path in any situation is potentially lethal. This world is not meant for the weak or stupid.¡± ¡°Oh, I like that,¡± Eveline said. Then, to Zeke, she added, ¡°I like your friend. She¡¯s far more realistic than you are.¡± Zeke rolled his eyes, but he didn¡¯t miss the slight smile on Talia¡¯s face. It was nice to see that her emotions weren¡¯t as bottled-up as they once had been. He had no idea what had changed, but it was definitely a good change. Before, it was easy to believe that she was completely unfeeling, but he knew better. She felt emotions just like anyone else, but because of her race, those feelings had remained buried deep in her mind. ¡°What do you think we should do?¡± asked Zeke. Talia answered, ¡°Scout. We need information, and the only way to acquire it is to explore the dungeon.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Zeke said, rolling his shoulders. He looked down from where they were perched upon the hill of rubble and said, ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that forest is filled with things that want to kill us.¡± ¡°The whole world is full of such things. This is just another day,¡± Talia stated. ¡°I really do like her,¡± Eveline said. ¡°So fatalistic. She could have been a proper demon.¡± Talia cut her eyes at Eveline¡¯s projection, clearly disliking the idea of being compared to a demon. However, she didn¡¯t say anything. Neither did Zeke. Instead, the pair shared a silent nod, then set off down the slope and back into the overgrown ruins. Soon enough, they were among the trees, and it wasn¡¯t long before they were once again assaulted by more treants. Fortunately, the new threats were not nearly as high of a level as the others, and as such, they were easily dispatched. After that, every step through the jungle ¨C and it was a proper rainforest ¨C came with significant difficulty. If it wasn¡¯t the nearly unpassable terrain, it was the local fauna slowing their progress. Some, like the treants, were clearly magical in nature, but there was plenty of mundane wildlife as well. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As they progressed, they fought hunting cats of all shapes and sizes, canines that looked like hyenas on steroids, and all sorts of reptiles, ranging from snakes to enormous lizards. However, the worst were the insects. Never was that more apparent than when a swarm of monstrous mosquitoes descended upon them. Their bodies were the size of labradors, which meant that their segmented legs were nearly a dozen feet long. But the worst was the spear-like proboscises jutting from their insectile faces. They were sharp enough to pierce even Zeke¡¯s colossal form, and when they did, they latched on and sucked more than just blood. They took mana and vitality, too, rapidly weakening him. Even counteracting the effect with [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] wasn¡¯t enough to cancel it out; indeed, the only way to do that was to splatter the monsters across the jungle. Of course, Talia avoided their attacks altogether. With her speed, she was more than capable of dodging whatever the forest could throw at her. However, on that same note, Zeke noticed that she wasn¡¯t without weaknesses of her own. She wasn¡¯t nearly as durable as she could have been, and on the few occasions where she was cornered and had to take an attack, the damage was usually extensive. On top of that, the expression of her skills was interesting. She could pile on the damage, but only in short bursts. After that, Talia was forced to whittle her enemies down. It was effective, especially with her speed adding to the effect, but she lacked the ability to stand toe-to-toe with enemies of similar stature. Fortunately, very few creatures in the jungle qualified for that label, which meant that she became an absolute terror. By comparison, Zeke felt like a lumbering oaf. He had plenty of his own strengths, but as he fought, he couldn¡¯t help but compare his abilities to Talia¡¯s. More, he found himself wondering how he would counter her powerset. With his domains, he could control the battlefield to such a degree that it would slow her down. Then, he would have to use [Center of Gravity] to interrupt her rapid movement. Even then, he would likely take plenty of hits. However, he was perfectly suited for that style of battle, so he liked his chances. ¡°You would crush her, and you know it. The ability to kill weak beasts quickly does not make her more powerful than you,¡± Eveline reminded him. She¡¯d once again sunk back into his mind, so the statement was silent. ¡°She would hold her own.¡± ¡°Perhaps. But she would fall. She couldn¡¯t stand against someone like Lord Adontis. Nor could she defeat you,¡± Eveline reiterated. ¡°That is the tyranny of power. You are stronger than her, and not by a small degree.¡± ¡°Lord Adontis was stronger than me,¡± Zeke reminded her. ¡°The mere fact that you defeated him suggests otherwise. Levels are not everything, as you well know,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°They are a gauge for progress, not power.¡± That was a good way to put it, Zeke thought. He¡¯d often found levels to be misleading. On too many occasions to count, he¡¯d fought and killed enemies that were much higher level than him. As such, he¡¯d found them to be mostly useless, except as a means for gauging when he could expect a skill choice or slot. Yet, looking at those levels as a way to gauge a person¡¯s progress was better than trying to think of it as a means of quantifying someone¡¯s power. After all, it was just one piece of the puzzle, and arguably the least important one. So it went, with the pair of them tearing their way through the jungle. The wildlife wasn¡¯t the only obstacle, either. More than once, they were forced to scale cliffs that, from their initial inspection, were hidden beneath the canopy. Similarly, there were quite a few deep ravines they had to traverse, and more than one raging river populated by monstrous piranha, beasts that resembled crocodiles, but were quite a bit larger and far more dragon-like, and even some pygmy-sized, bipedal frog creatures who kept throwing spears at them. In short, the journey was arduous, but not because the quality of the enemies within. Rather, it was the quantity of foes was nearly overwhelming. Every step was a labor, and as a result, the journey was mentally exhausting. Fortunately, neither Talia nor Zeke were prone to physical fatigue. For Talia, that was due to her undead body, and for Zeke, it was because of his rare combination of herculean stats and [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. ¡°Too bad it doesn¡¯t do anything for mental fatigue,¡± Eveline remarked. As Zeke climbed, hand over hand, to the top of yet another cliff, he couldn¡¯t help but agree. And that agreement reached a fever pitch when a giant snake struck his hand. Its fangs sunk deep into his metallic skin, injecting him with burning venom. He already had [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] active, so it only took a flick of thought to flare the skill. It went to work combating what probably should have been a debilitating venom. Meanwhile, his own hand shot out, grabbing the creature by one of its massive fangs. It hissed, attempting to coil its body in retreat. But Zeke held fast. At least until the fang snapped off. The snake shot backward, losing its balance and falling free of the cliff. To prevent himself from falling victim to that same fate, Zeke shoved the fang into the cliff. It penetrated deep into the rock, bearing his weight long enough for him to climb over the edge of the cliff. He rolled over, taking a deep breath. ¡°I hate jungles,¡± he muttered to himself. Talia joined him a moment later, nimbly spring over the lip of the cliff. She looked down on him, asking, ¡°Are you injured?¡± ¡°No. Just going to rest my eyes a bit,¡± he rumbled. ¡°Why? We have reached our destination,¡± she stated. Zeke turned his head and realized that she was right. For some time, they¡¯d been traveling toward another set of ruins she had seen after climbing to the top of a tree. And at last, they had arrived. However, like everything else in the dungeon so far, it was not what either of them had expected. Because the ruins were not ruins at all. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely accurate,¡± Eveline pointed out. Indeed, there were ruins there, though they were far more intact than anyplace they¡¯d visited so far. Still, they were in an advanced state of decay, with most of the structures having been reduced to mere foundations. Here and there existed a few standing walls, and in the center of the site was a large structure that looked to Zeke like a temple. Once, it must have been a majestic structure, with elaborately carved walls festooned with hundreds of artful statues. However, the building ¨C or really, compound ¨C had clearly seen better days. The details of the statues had been worn away by the elements, and what remained of the carvings had been blurred by erosion. Still, the place radiated power in a way Zeke couldn¡¯t really understand. Yet, the slightly better state of the ruins was not what drew Zeke¡¯s attention. Instead, his focus was reserved for the fact that the ruins were not abandoned. Instead, the were populated by small rodent-like humanoids. And the village of rat-people were obviously sentient, too. They wore primitive clothing and many of them carried stone-tipped weapons. More, the ruins played host to a series of buildings that constituted a village. Each of those structures were made of vertical logs, between which Zeke could see large gaps, with roofs of what looked like piled palm fronds. In short, it felt like they¡¯d stumbled into a stone age village, though one populated by rat-people instead of cave men. ¡°Should we kill them?¡± Talia asked. ¡°No. Not unless we have to,¡± he said, pushing himself to his feet. Their arrival hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed, and the rat-people chittered anxiously as they gathered at the edge of their village, which was located almost a hundred yards away. Suddenly, the group parted, revealing a pair of rat-people. One was clearly old, and much of their weight was supported by a crooked walking stick. Otherwise, they walked with a hunched but steady gait. The other wore an elaborate outfit that glittered in the sun. It wasn¡¯t until Zeke focused on the details that he realized that it was made from hundreds of disparate gemstones that had been sewn into a robe. This one carried an equally elaborate metal staff tipped with a giant, green emerald. The pair of rat-people approached, giving Zeke a chance to use [Inspect]: Ratongi Chief ¨C Level 59 That was the elderly creature. He used [Inspect] again on the other: Ratongi Witchdoctor ¨C Level 62 ¡°Hail, strangers!¡± the witchdoctor squeaked in what Zeke interpreted as a feminine voice. ¡°Have you come to save us from the dreaded blight?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Say yes, idiot,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Sure. Just¡­uh¡­point us in the right direction,¡± Zeke said. 476. Back into the Jungle The ratongi tribe was clearly a little short of sapience, and as a result, they reminded Zeke of when he¡¯d first met the kobolds. Certainly, they were intelligent enough. They used tools, they created sustainable shelter, and they had a clear social structure to the tribe. However, they lacked a certain self-awareness that would have vaulted them into the realm of sapience. It was a small difference, but the gap between the mere sentience and sapience seemed incredibly wide and nearly uncrossable. Even the kobolds, after everything they¡¯d been through, and with the support of a peak being like Mykaena and as much help as Zeke could offer, hadn¡¯t completely bridged that gap. Most had come down on the other side, but there were still plenty that hadn¡¯t quite made the leap. The ratongi had yet to even attempt it. In any case, Zeke had a soft spot for them that Talia and Eveline clearly didn¡¯t feel. ¡°They¡¯re basically monkeys with tools,¡± Eveline said. ¡°They can communicate, too.¡± ¡°From your memories, I understand that many primates had that ability. Your scientists taught them sign language. Many species of birds could speak as well,¡± Eveline countered. ¡°The ability to speak does not make them special. Minor imps can communicate passably well, and they¡¯re nothing but cunning pests.¡± Zeke ignored that. Instead, he looked around the village¡¯s main structure, which was the lone standing remnant of whatever the ruins had once been. It was remarkably well maintained, but the ratongi nature was on clear display within the interior. Large piles of useless but shiny bits of metal, gems, and quartz decorated each corner, and a large bonfire, upon which was a huge carcass, stood in the center. Hundreds of ratongi circled the blaze. Finally, Zeke and Talia were led to a connected room, which seemed far more ceremonial in nature. That perception was largely due to the presence of what could only be called a stone altar, it surface bearing ancient bloodstains. The ratongi witchdoctor stood to one side, while the chief stood to the other. The witchdoctor, in her glittering robes, said, ¡°You are hero. We pray for you to come, and the great bird-goddess has sent you to fight the blight and defeat the tortoise.¡± ¡°Please explain,¡± Talia said before Zeke could think up a response. ¡°The tortoise consumes everything. It does not respect territory. Its children are a menace. Ancient enemy. The bird-goddess children are worse. They come from the mountain and snatch ratongi,¡± explained the witchdoctor. Then, the chief cut in, ¡°Not always so. The blight takes them. Corrupts. Once, there was peace. No longer.¡± After that, the pair of ratongi continued to explain the situation. It seemed that the jungle was the site of a war of three sides. The ratongi were the weakest participant, and they only survived due to their semi-nomadic nature. The second participant were the tortoise¡¯s children, who made a home upon the enormous monster¡¯s back. They consumed everything in their path, including resources the ratongi deemed vital to their continued existence. Left unchecked, the tortoise¡¯s people would destroy everything, leaving nothing for anyone else. And finally, there were the bird-goddess¡¯s people, who were clearly avian in nature as well. They had once been peaceful, but something had recently changed, corrupting them and sending them on the warpath. Due to their superior mobility, they were the deadliest participant in the war ¨C at least from the ratongi perspective ¨C and Zeke suspected that he and Talia would be forced to destroy them and their goddess before they could complete the dungeon. ¡°What would you have us do?¡± Talia asked. ¡°Kill the bird people,¡± the witchdoctor answered. ¡°Reach the mountain summit. Kill the goddess.¡± ¡°That sounds pretty straightforward,¡± remarked Eveline. ¡°It does, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Zeke said inwardly. ¡°It seems like there should be more to it, though.¡± ¡°Fighting through that jungle should have taught you that nothing in this dungeon will be easy,¡± she said. ¡°And I¡¯d wager everything I have that we won¡¯t escape the tortoise unnoticed. We will inevitably draw its attention. Then, we will ¨C¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have anything.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°To wager. You¡¯re an incorporeal mind spirit. You have literally no possessions,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°I bet you make fun of disabled people, too.¡± ¡°What? I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I was just ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯m messing with you. Learn to recognize a joke,¡± she said with a dramatic and entirely mental roll of her eyes. ¡°My point is that there¡¯s almost no way we¡¯re making it through this dungeon without significant hardship. Since the first moment we arrived, we¡¯ve barely taken more than a few steps without a fight. I expect that will continue.¡± Zeke agreed with that assessment. From everything he¡¯d experienced, dungeons scaled ¨C at least to some degree ¨C with the challengers. There were other factors that determined the difficulty involved, but he had no way of determining what they were or how much weight they were given. Either way, Zeke felt confident that they should expect a difficult time. Still, despite his eagerness to get started, he and Talia took a couple of hours to experience a feast put on by the ratongi. By that point, Zeke had made a habit of eating some truly unappetizing things, so he didn¡¯t turn his nose up when he was offered a huge slab of barely-cooked meat. To her credit, neither did Talia. But Zeke suspected, in the undead city of Darukar, what was considered acceptable food was likely very different from what he was accustomed to. Either way, it took a while before, at last, the ratongi sent them on their way. Fortunately, the little rat-people had provided them with a crudely drawn map that they claimed would lead Zeke and Talia to the mountain. The journey would clearly be quite long, though; after all, it would have to be if they couldn¡¯t even see the mountain from their current position. The ratongi had not been very helpful on that count, and they hadn¡¯t offered much insight into the distance they would have to travel. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Instead, they only said that they¡¯d once lived very near the mountain, but over the past years, they¡¯d been forced to travel ever further by the bird-people. That suggested that Zeke and Talia would be forced to travel no small distance. It was also in the direction of the tortoise, which only increased the chances they would encounter that faction as well. Zeke could only hope that they could either avoid the force ¨C as well as the gargantuan reptile ¨C or that they would prove as peaceful as the ratongi. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much chance of that,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Yeah. Me neither,¡± Zeke said in his mind as he and Talia made their way free of the ratongi village. Soon enough, they had returned to the jungle, and it wasn¡¯t long before they were fighting a familiar war against the environment. It felt as if they couldn¡¯t take a single step without being attacked by some beast, and on those few occasions when they managed a little peace, they were forced to traverse the many obstacles the terrain put in their way. Still, over time, they developed a rhythm. It was a marathon, not a sprint, and if there was one thing Zeke could do, it was endure. Slowly, he sank into the frame of mind he¡¯d first developed in the troll caves, then sharpened in the mines beneath Min Ferilik. It had served him well in the much more dangerous environment of the demon realm, and so, it put him the right state to combat whatever the jungle could throw at him. Like that, they traveled, and one day turned into two. Two, into three. Before Zeke knew it, they¡¯d been traveling for a week. They rested periodically, sleeping in shifts as they recovered their strength. However, they rarely stopped for more than an hour or two. With their abilities and advantages, that was enough, though as before, the mental exhaustion of constant battle began to wear on them both. Zeke¡¯s mindset helped with that. He didn¡¯t sink into reminiscence as he had before. Instead, he thought of the future. About his personal goals as well as his intentions with the kobolds and the rest of his people. Most of all, he continued to work on his level seventy skill, slowly focusing on his plans so that when the time came, he could construct the skill without hesitation or thought. And so, a week turned into two, with no end in sight. Until, just before the twentieth day away from the ratongi village, they found themselves facing off against a group of strange creatures. They were humanoid, just like the ratongi. However, where the ratongi clearly traced their ancestry back to rodents, these foes ¨C and they were clearly enemies, based on their stances ¨C were reptilian in nature. More, considering their large shells, Zeke felt confident that he and Talia had found the tortoise people. ¡°What is a ninja turtle?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one thinking it,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°You can see my memories.¡± ¡°Not all of them. Plus, I¡¯ve told you before ¨C finding specifics is time-consuming. It¡¯s better if you just tell me.¡± ¡°It was a cartoon from my childhood. About humanoid turtles who fought evil,¡± Zeke said. ¡°These things look a little like them.¡± That was true, at least on the most basic level. However, there were some key differences. For one, instead of the cartoon characters¡¯ fairly welcoming visages, the creatures arrayed before Zeke and Talia were, to put it mildly, horrifying. They looked like a combination of lizard, human, and turtle, and the result was incredibly off-putting. In addition, their shells were less bulbous than sleek, and instead of the hard, bone-like shells of terrestrial tortoises, they were more like the leathery shells of marine turtles. And then there were the fangs. Each creature¡¯s mouth was festooned with row after row of sharp teeth, remining Zeke of a shark¡¯s gaping maw. They also had curved claws that were similar to what Zeke had seen on badgers back on Earth. In short, they were horrific monsters that, judging by the fact that they¡¯d attacked on sight, were clearly aggressive. Once that had been established, Zeke and Talia were more than willing to meet them in battle. The first fight went similarly to the ones against the various tree-men who¡¯d attacked them, but it quickly became apparent that it wouldn¡¯t end with a single battle. Instead, over the next week, they fought almost constantly. Some of the turtle-men, who were called Tortoloids ¨C were strong enough to force Zeke to use his skills, too. So, even if they were never in any real danger, the attrition from so much fighting began to take its toll. That was why, eventually, Zeke sent Talia out to search for somewhere to rest. Even as he held his own against yet another tortoloid attack, she raced across the terrain, far too fast for most creatures to even see her, and almost two hours later, she returned to tell him that she¡¯d found something. With that, Zeke followed her, bowling through anything in his way. He didn¡¯t bother fighting. Instead, he just shouldered any challengers aside, often sending them smashing through the jungle for hundreds of feet. Soon enough, they outpaced the tortoloids, and after about an hour, they found themselves inside a deep cave. That wasn¡¯t enough, though. So, Zeke aimed his hammer at the ceiling, collapsing the entrance. Only when the dust had settled did he let himself relax. ¡°This is exhausting,¡± he muttered. ¡°Yes,¡± Talia said. ¡°I went through something similar a little more than a year ago. The Cradle of Life came alive with new threats. Abominations surged forth, and they would have overrun the city if it wasn¡¯t for the Deathguard. We fought them to a standstill, but the effort did not come without a cost. We lost many.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zeke said. He was well acquainted with loss, so he knew how Talia must have felt. ¡°I saved hundreds,¡± she said, her gaze far away. ¡°I kept going back into the Cradle of Life. I was one of the few who could do so without help. And I saved as many of the fallen as I could. There were many more I could not save.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lost a lot of people, too,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t think it gets easier. If you need someone to talk to, I¡¯m here. For whatever that¡¯s worth.¡± She sighed. ¡°I wish Pudge were here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he wishes the same thing,¡± Zeke said. ¡°He¡¯s changed a lot,¡± Talia said. ¡°I didn¡¯t even recognize him. I know it¡¯s silly, but back in the Mortal Realm, I used to think we were a lot alike. People saw a monster when they looked at him, just like with me. But we¡¯ve both come a long way. I was accepted in Darukar, and it seems he¡¯s been on a similar journey. Still, there¡¯s a kinship there. I used to think of our relationship as if we were siblings in suffering. The first part still applies, I think. We¡¯re family.¡± ¡°I agree. He reminds me of my little brother sometimes,¡± Zeke said. He ran his hand through his hair, adding, ¡°So do you, honestly.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zeke said, letting his colossal form fall away. It felt like weeks since he¡¯d returned to his normal form, and though it didn¡¯t require more than a trickle of mana to maintain the colossal form, adopting those shapes still left him feeling more than a little stiff. He sat, leaning against the wall. ¡°I guess it¡¯s more about me than it is you two. I want to protect you, just like I did him. I know it¡¯s not necessary. But you and Pudge were in similar situations. You were both incredibly vulnerable when I found you. It¡¯s in my nature to try to protect my friends, I suppose.¡± That was certainly true. He¡¯d once let it affect his skill choices as well as his path. That had been a mistake. However, letting that desire affect his actions was normal, as far as he was concerned. He might not think much of slaughtering whole populations, but when it came to his friends, he would do whatever it took to shield them from danger. ¡°That is nice of you to say,¡± Talia stated. ¡°I will sleep now. Will you stand guard?¡± Zeke nodded, saying that he would. The cave only had one entrance, so if anything wanted to get to them, it would have to do so through a few tons of rock. And while that wouldn¡¯t stop a determined assailant, it would at least give Zeke plenty of warning. So, as Talia went to sleep, Zeke kept one eye on the pile of rock and another on his progress concerning his skill. ¡°It¡¯s coming along nicely,¡± Eveline said encouragingly. ¡°You only think that because I do.¡± ¡°Just so,¡± she admitted. ¡°But it¡¯s almost finished, isn¡¯t it? Once that happens, you¡¯re going to need to take a few days to finalize everything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. I may have to wait until after the dungeon, though. We¡¯ll play it by ear.¡± ¡°Ah, something new and different.¡± ¡°Are you saying I don¡¯t plan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying that you rarely adhere to your plans. But that¡¯s part of your charm,¡± she added before he could retort. Then, she disappeared from his conscious awareness as she sank deeper into his mind. He could find her if he really wanted, but she deserved privacy as much as the next person. Besides, he didn¡¯t need the distraction she represented. So, as Talia rested, Zeke turned his attention to his skill¡¯s construction. 477. The Temple What felt like an eternity of runes stretched before Zeke¡¯s mind. Millions of symbols and glyphs, each one representing a concept that, even after countless hours¡¯ worth of examination, he only barely understood. However, even if he didn¡¯t know them as well as he likely should have, he knew where each one was supposed to go. More than once, he¡¯d found himself thankful for his path that had, at least in part, originated with runecrafting. Without it, he would have been forced to spend years studying just to create the most basic of enchantments. And skills were infinitely more complex than any enchantment he¡¯d ever seen. ¡°To be fair, you haven¡¯t seen the work of a true master enchanter,¡± Eveline cut in, as she was wont to do. He was used to it, though, so he didn¡¯t lose his focus as she continued, ¡°There are a few masters in Hell. And a few more that have since descended. Their work still stands, though. The grand city of Palos is the best example. No one knows who created it, but the entire city is laid out as one huge enchantment meant to rob demons of their power.¡± ¡°Really? Why? A defensive measure?¡± ¡°No. It was meant to ensure that everyone who entered would be equal,¡± she said. ¡°Over time, it became the only peaceful place in all of Hell. It is our largest city, and the only place the seven tribes are willing to meet on equal footing. Of course, there are still conflicts. Fights aplenty. But without skills and with everyone reduced to similar attributes, they¡¯re rarely fatal. You would still be a monster, there, though. It can reduce the numbers, but it can do nothing about your stat tiers.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Zeke said. He¡¯d heard something similar about a city called Westport, though it was far enough away that he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever visit it. Not with everything else on his plate. Not only did he need to help Talia deal with the expansionists in El¡¯Kireth, but he also suspected that his actions against the Kingdom of Adontis would not go unnoticed or unanswered. They¡¯d had allies, and though those allies hadn¡¯t participated in the war, Zeke felt certain that they would show up at some point. And finally, there was the simple needs of progression. As far as he could tell, there was only one way for him to climb to the top of the ladder. If he wanted to reach the peak, it was going to be on the shoulders of torrential slaughter. Much of that would happen in dungeons, he hoped, but he couldn¡¯t deny the efficacy of war when it came to progression, both for himself and for the people who followed him. After all, the kobolds and beastkin had seen wonderous results from the war against Adontis and the giants. Already, they had become a formidable and unignorable force. If they kept going, they would continue to develop into an army that could conquer the world. Not that Zeke had any plans for world domination. He didn¡¯t. But the ability to follow that path was one he hoped would prepare his chosen people to combat the innumerable issues they would surely face. Because the prejudice against beastkin and former monsters wasn¡¯t going away, he felt sure. The only answer to that was to be so strong that everyone had to accept them as equals. That was a worry for another day, though. For now, Zeke needed to focus on the task at hand. Four hours had passed since they¡¯d found the cave, and most of that time had been spent resting. For his part, Zeke didn¡¯t really need to sleep much anymore. He could put it off for weeks if necessary. So, he had remained on guard while the much less durable Talia slept on the ground. But it was time to move on with the dungeon. Zeke had no interest in spending months inside, and he suspected that it wouldn¡¯t be necessary, because, even though the size of the dungeon ¨C at least in terms of landmass ¨C was enormous, the goals seemed fairly clear. They needed to reach the mountain ¨C avoiding the giant turtle along the way ¨C and likely fight to the summit. There, Zeke expected to encounter a much more powerful foe that would act as the ¡°boss¡± of the dungeon. Of course, even if Zeke felt certain that that was how the dungeon would play out, he also knew that it would almost assuredly throw some curve balls their way. It already had, in a sense, and he expected that trend to continue. So, he and Talia needed to be ready for anything going forward. To that end, he abandoned his latest bout of skillcrafting and rose to his feet. Once he was upright, he spent a few minutes pulsing [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] while stretching in an effort to loosen his stiff muscles. The latter probably wasn¡¯t strictly necessary, but he¡¯d always enjoyed the feeling of stretching. In another life, he might¡¯ve pursued a path as a yogi. ¡°I think you¡¯re giving your former self far too much credit,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke smiled at the idea, then agreed, ¡°Can¡¯t really argue with that. I probably would have ended up like my dad.¡± After everything he¡¯d been through, the notion that he¡¯d have followed in his father¡¯s footsteps as a mechanic seemed almost as alien as if, back then, he¡¯d known what was in store for his future. But if he hadn¡¯t died on that operating table, there was a good chance that that was where he would have ended up. Certainly, without baseball, he wouldn¡¯t have gone to college. Or even if he had, the chances that he¡¯d have graduated were pretty slim. ¡°Well, it¡¯s water under the bridge,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°That life never happened.¡± With that in mind, Zeke finished his stretching regimen, then approached Talia. When he shook her awake, she didn¡¯t start, as he might have expected. Instead, she simply opened her eyes and asked, ¡°Is it time?¡± ¡°I think so. We should probably swing wide around the turtle,¡± he said. ¡°I have a skill that could probably at least hurt it, but there are usually consequences for that kind of thinking. We should avoid it if we can.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± After that, they embarked upon the task of clearing the entrance. With Zeke¡¯s strength, it was a trivial process, and Talia displayed more physical might than he would have expected. In the end, it took less than an hour to dig themselves out, and that only because the ceiling kept collapsing every time they removed one of the larger boulders. Regardless, it wasn¡¯t long before they found themselves facing the jungle once more. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. And it was more of the same, with every step they took through the jungle being opposed by the local wildlife. At first, they fought a few of the tortoloids, but as they swung wide around the still-distant walking mountain of a turtle, those attacks grew less frequent. Yet, there were plenty of other threats that stepped up to replace them. From more treants to vicious hunting cats to a couple of huge reptiles that could only be described as dinosaurs, Zeke and Talia were forced to wade through a veritable sea of blood ¨C or sap, in the case of the treants ¨C before they caught sight of the mountain that was their goal. Days passed as they slowly worked their way closer, and more than once, they were forced to take shelter in various caves. Never had Zeke appreciated his tower more than when he finally let himself sleep in the bare earth. It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d been forced to rough it. During his time in the troll caves, he¡¯d spent years sleeping on the ground, and that pattern had once again emerged in the dwarven mines beneath Min Ferilik. But at least those caves and caverns hadn¡¯t played host to millions of creeping and crawling things, most of which were eager to climb out of the soil and bite him. A few even crawled into his nose and ears, resulting in a blinding headache which took a pulse of his Path of Arcane Destruction to counteract. Talia had no issues like that, though. Her undead body clearly wasn¡¯t appetizing to the insects, millipedes, and other crawling creatures. Still, their progress was steady, and eventually, they emerged from the trees to look across a wide clearing, where they saw a large temple nestled at the base of the mountain. To Zeke, it looked like someone had fused ancient Indian and Chinese architecture, which oddly worked well together, though he couldn¡¯t say why he¡¯d dubbed the structure a temple. When he mentioned as much to Talia, she narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°I think it is the mana.¡± Notably, her manner of speech had once again drifted back to what he¡¯d come to expect back in the Mortal Realm. During one of their stops, she¡¯d revealed that she had a collection of potions called Heartsblood Elixirs that served the same purpose as her old habit of eating hearts, though the effect was spread out over time. However, since neither of them knew how long they would be forced to remain within the dungeon, she¡¯d begun to ration her supply, resulting in the same muted emotions she¡¯d experienced before her ascension. ¡°I think there are runes there, too,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Maybe. It all feels odd.¡± ¡°Dungeon shenanigans,¡± Eveline said sagely. ¡°They don¡¯t always follow the same rules, and not everything inside is a perfect representation of reality.¡± That felt like it was at least partially correct. The runes he saw were more like reflections of the things he¡¯d seen in real life. Though, there seemed to be more to it than that, even if he couldn¡¯t quite figure out what those factors might be. In any case, he and Talia remained at the tree line, crouched and trying to avoid notice, because the temple was clearly occupied. Like the ratongi and tortoloids seemed like combinations of humans and other creatures ¨C rats and turtles, respectively ¨C the new monsters clearly traced their origin back to birds. Specifically, vultures. They had the same featherless heads, tufts at the bases of their long necks, and black-feathered bodies. However, their wings seemed almost vestigial, with spans that should not have been capable of holding them aloft. Their behavior supported that, because Zeke didn¡¯t see any of them take flight. Instead, they milled around the temple, clearly on one task or another. Some carried water buckets from a nearby well, others pruned the grounds, and still others worked on the temple¡¯s upkeep. They looked entirely mundane ¨C at least until, as one, they each bobbed their heads in the same direction. Zeke followed the gesture, gazing across to the other side of the wide clearing, where he saw a limping beast. The beast was enormous. Maybe twice the size of a fully grown African elephant, though with thick, pebbled scales and a maw that made it look like a quadruped tyrannosaurus. It was also clearly injured, with deep gashes along its thick torso. Its legs, too, bore many seeping wounds. It stumbled free of the tree line, and the vulture-people reacted with vicious ferocity, leaping across the clearing in only a couple of bounds. As Zeke had suspected, they weren¡¯t fully capable of flight. Instead, they used their wings in much the same way as fleas, helping them soar through the air in long, bounding jumps. The monstrous reptile put up a decent fight as the flock of bird-men fell upon it, and more than one of its foes disappeared between its teeth. However, wounded as it was, it could only fight for so long. After only a few moments, during which hundreds of bird-men descended upon it with ripping talons and sharp beaks, it fell. After that, they ripped it apart in a gleeful frenzy of raw meat, blood, and other assorted viscera. In seconds, the creature was completely invisible beneath a blanket of black feathers. ¡°That¡¯s disturbing,¡± Zeke remarked, keeping his voice low as he tried to sink a bit lower into the underbrush. ¡°Indeed,¡± Talia agreed. ¡°Reminds me of a flock of blood imps,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Cute little things until they smell blood. Then things get extremely horrifying very quickly.¡± Zeke whispered to Talia, ¡°Retreat for a few minutes. We need to figure out how to attack the problem at hand.¡± Talia nodded, and the two did just that. However, they didn¡¯t go far, largely because they didn¡¯t want to abandon the brief respite afforded by their proximity to the murderous bird-men. Nothing seemed to want to get too close to the temple, and now that Zeke had seen the reason, he couldn¡¯t blame the local wildlife for their choice. In any case, a few minutes later, they settled in next to an enormous tree. Zeke didn¡¯t recognize the species, but that wasn¡¯t terribly abnormal. The jungle was full of things that didn¡¯t fit into his current understanding of such categories. ¡°I think we need to get past that temple,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I agree. There is a path on the other side of the temple that leads up the mountain,¡± Talia stated. Zeke hadn¡¯t noticed that, but Talia seemed to have sharper eyes than him, so he trusted her information. ¡°Full assault?¡± he asked. ¡°We could go at it like we used to. I¡¯ll draw their attention while you sweep in from the sides and rear.¡± ¡°Can you handle them?¡± Talia asked. Zeke shrugged at that. He hadn¡¯t gotten close enough to determine their levels, but based on the brief battle with the giant reptile, the bird-men didn¡¯t seem overly strong. Not individually, at least. Instead, their power was derived from their collective ferocity. That was a perfect match-up for Zeke, who excelled in taking a multitude of hits from comparatively weaker opponents. ¡°If there¡¯s a powerhouse in there, you might get in trouble,¡± Eveline reminded him. She did so aloud, having manifested on the other side of Talia. ¡°Together, we should be able to handle it,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right,¡± Eveline remarked, disappearing back into Zeke¡¯s mind. So, after a few more minutes, during which they both recovered as well as they could, the pair separated. Talia raced off, following the tree line while Zeke stepped forward, adopting his earthen colossus form as he strode into the clearing. The effect was immediate and expected, with the bird-men jerking their heads in his direction after he¡¯d taken only a few steps. Then, they were racing toward him. Zeke braced himself for battle, yanking Voromir from his storage space as he summoned his two domains. Fiery runes erupted across his body as corruption suffused the air, but the mass of screeching and frenzied bird-men never even hesitated before plunging into Zeke¡¯s domain. He rolled his shoulders and stepped forward to meet them. 478. A Flock of Foes They fell upon Zeke like feathered piranha, moving quickly enough that he couldn¡¯t even begin to react to each of the bird-men. He¡¯d started the fight by using [Hell Geyser] to thin the flock a little. However, they were endless tide, each one durable enough to endure all but the strongest flames. Zeke met them with Voromir¡¯s latest ability, sending a huge, red projection of the hammer to slam into the surging mass of foes. That helped, knocking the first wave of monstrous bird-men aside. Yet, Zeke was shocked to see that they were largely unhurt by the impact. In addition, when they went sailing through the air, they used their wings to arrest their momentum and glide back into battle. The tactic seriously hindered the viability of Zeke¡¯s initial salvo, but he met them with his normal gusto. ¡°Aviaki,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Between levels sixty and seventy. Probably the strongest force yet.¡± Zeke appreciated her commentary, largely because, in the middle of battle, he often forgot to use [Inspect]. However, he didn¡¯t need her input to recognize how dangerous the aviaki were. Each time they landed a blow ¨C which was quite a frequent occurrence, given their speed as well as the sheer numbers they could muster ¨C they dug deep gouges in his rocky form. Using [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], Zeke had no issues healing the initial damage. Yet, he knew that if things kept going like that, he would start to fall behind. So, he got to work further thinning the flock, swinging his hammer with ruthless efficiency and boundless strength. And with so many of the monstrous humanoids surrounding him, he couldn¡¯t miss. Still, despite that, Zeke was disappointed in the effectiveness of his attacks. Hitting them wasn¡¯t the problem. Rather, the issue was that their odd combination of light weight, ability to glide, and likely, some sort of skill, the aviaki warriors were well-equipped to deal with his brand of blunt-force trauma. Never before had he wished that he¡¯d received some sort of bladed weapon from that quest back in the troll caves. Usually, with his high strength and Voromir¡¯s ability to alter its weight to match his might, Zeke never had cause to question his choice of arms. Yet, blunt force was not the perfect tool for every situation. Even so, Zeke had no thoughts of switching the weapon. Instead, he altered his tactics. Instead of sweeping attacks that would hit multiple targets with each swing, he began to use overhand blows that smashed the feathered monsters into the ground. With the turf as a backstop, the aviakis had no way to dissipate the momentum, and after changing his methods, Zeke was rewarded with the twin sounds of breaking bones and the agonized screeches of his enemies. However, the alteration of his tactics didn¡¯t come without a cost. There was a reason he typically employed long, sweeping attacks against hordes of enemies. It was the most efficient way to deal with numerous foes, largely because each swing could impact multiple enemies at once. The overhand attacks, by contrast, could only affect one enemy at a time. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m playing whack-a-mole,¡± he muttered, leveraging a thunderous blow against an aviaki. Voromir¡¯s head slammed into the ground, pulverizing the monster. Yet, because of the nature of the attack, he received a dozen blows from the creature¡¯s comrades in return. ¡°Could always end it the easy way.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not using [Wrath of Annihilation].¡± ¡°Why not? Just tell the undead girl to vacate the premises, use your skill, and collect whatever rewards this dungeon has,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°Seems like an easy way to do it.¡± Zeke grabbed one of the aviaki around the neck, then smashed it against the ground. At the same time, he backhanded another with Voromir, before snapping out a front kick that cleared a little space. For good measure, he tossed the now-dead aviaki at its fellows before hefting his hammer with both hands and bringing it down with herculean force. The unlucky monster that found itself on the wrong end of that attack crumpled, its bones breaking so violently that they tore free of its hide, becoming dangerous, bloody shrapnel that tore through the rest of the flock. They barely reacted, coming at him with ruthless and unthinking ferocity. ¡°It¡¯s a limited skill. I can¡¯t use it anytime I want to,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°If I waste it here, it won¡¯t be available for the boss.¡± That was the skill¡¯s major weakness. It was difficult to gauge exactly how much time had to pass between uses ¨C density of mana seemed to affect it ¨C but the reality was that it was no repeatable attack. To a lesser extent, the same was true of [Hell Geyser], which could only be used a handful of times before it needed to recharge. So, against the horde of aviaki, who were more annoying than dangerous, Zeke chose to rely on more mundane attacks powered by muscle, rather than mana. Eveline didn¡¯t like that, but she was a big proponent of shock and awe tactics. Hit them hard in the beginning, and the fight would be over before it ever really started. By contrast, Zeke tended to save his most effective ¨C and deadly ¨C attacks for truly dangerous situations. That attitude came from the fact that, until relatively recently, he¡¯d lacked large-scale, flashy attacks. Instead, he¡¯d been forced to fight ¨C more or less ¨C without overt skills, other than [Leech Strike] and its descendants. So, with that in mind, Zeke continued to pummel the creatures into the ground. Meanwhile, Talia made her presence known on the other side of the battlefield. Zeke had trouble tracking her movements ¨C she moved so quickly that it was almost impossible to see her with the naked eye ¨C but the results of her passing were far more noticeable. In the back lines, aviaki fell. Some were ripped to shreds, while others decomposed in the space of seconds. Still others were blanketed in a layer of frost that slowed them considerably. Her style was effective. She slowed them, afflicting them with rot and poison, while moving far too quickly for the monsters to respond. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Much better than your normal strategy of letting them hit you,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°I bet she won¡¯t even be wounded.¡± ¡°Until she finds something that can keep up with her,¡± Zeke said, pulverizing another monster. To punctuate Eveline¡¯s commentary, a dozen more aviaki ripped into his rocky body. None did more than superficial damage, but it was starting to add up. ¡°Then, she¡¯ll have issues.¡± ¡°With that speed, it¡¯s a rare foe that will be able to match her.¡± ¡°Just like it¡¯s rare for me to find someone who can rival my strength? Rare doesn¡¯t mean impossible, as we¡¯ve seen,¡± Zeke stated, continuing the fight. ¡°I hope she has some wild card to play against someone who can counter her strong points.¡± After that, the conversation ceased, leaving Zeke to turn his entire attention to the fight at hand. The aviakis continued to pour out of the temple, leaving Zeke to wonder just how the building housed them all. Yet, he didn¡¯t have the leeway to ponder that particular question. Instead, it took the entirety of his brainpower to keep from being overwhelmed by the tide of bird-men. The creatures had no arms to speak of. Instead, they only had wings, enormous talons on their feet, and sharp beaks. Yet, they knew precisely how to use those natural gifts to their advantage, leaping in, talons first. Over time, Zeke took more damage than he would have liked, and slowly, it started to outpace [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. Despite all of his advantages, there was a certain strength in numbers. Sure ¨C the group had to cross a minimal threshold of power for them to become more than just fodder, but the aviakis certainly met that requirement. As a result, Zeke knew that he was fighting a losing battle. So long as he kept going the way he was going. However, it was a good thing that he had other directions in which he could turn. So, harnessing a trickle of his Will, Zeke once again altered his fighting pattern, going back to his original tactics which were more appropriate to use against large groups. This time, though, his attacks didn¡¯t simply launch the monsters in all directions. Instead, each swing carried with it the power of pure destruction, and the results were predictable. Because even if Zeke could handle that trickle, it was only because he¡¯d spent untold months inoculating himself against its power. The aviakis clearly had not. Where his hammer passed, devastation followed. Monsters were destroyed, bursting into an explosion of feathers and gore with each swing. But he knew he couldn¡¯t keep that up, either. Every second he used his Will pushed him closer to destruction. So, without pausing, he grabbed at the demonic mana that had suffused his domain and shoved it into [Triune Colossus]. Even as his body transformed, becoming sleeker and spikier, strength and speed exploded through his new form. However, he didn¡¯t immediately go on a rampage. Instead, he shoved more mana into [Colossal Army]. The air split into a doorway, and ten golems came marching out. They didn¡¯t hesitate to go on the offensive, trusting their durable forms to shield them against the aviaki attacks. Suddenly, Zeke was no longer a lone and enduring mountain amidst a tide of monsters. Instead, he was an unrepentant predator ¨C a harbinger of death accompanied by a small army of powerful and relentless automatons. It was a heady mix, and the shift marked the turning point of the battle. Zeke didn¡¯t care about minimizing the attacks targeting him. Instead, he took them, trusting on his demon-fueled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to restore him nearly instantly. At the same time, that skill countered the damage of so much corruption rushing through him. He might¡¯ve made some headway in resisting the demonic mana, but he was still a long way from immunizing himself. After all, it often took centuries of torture for demons to reach that point. He¡¯d only been using demonic mana for a couple of years. So, by comparison, he was still a novice concerning demonic mana, despite his attunement. ¡°You¡¯re being a bit hard on yourself. You¡¯re no expert, but part of that is because of your dual nature. If you were full demon, you would be fine.¡± Zeke ignored her as he rushed through the aviakis, destroying as many as he could before he was forced to return to his unattuned form. Meanwhile, Talia and the golems wrought havoc on the flock, killing their own fair share as they gradually whittled the flock down. By the time the damage caused by the corruption started to overwhelm him and Zeke was forced to transform into the unattuned version of [Triune Colossus], he¡¯d begun to think that they were going to win the battle handily. But no sooner had the thought left his mind than a presence washed over the battlefield. Then came a shadow. And when Zeke looked up, he saw a bird the size of a cargo jet diving in his direction. He didn¡¯t hesitate to use [Shifing Sands]. Time slowed, and he sank into ground before racing off in a random direction that he hoped would see him clear of the enormous raptor¡¯s diving attack. He burst from the ground a hundred-and-fifty yards away, burying a few straggling aviakis beneath a mound of earth and fire. But Zeke wasn¡¯t worried about them. Instead, he only had eyes for the bird, who hit the ground with meteoric force, sending ripples of earth to crash over the aviaki flock like a series of tidal waves. They took to the sky, leaping high into the air in order to avoid the repercussions of the bird¡¯s dive. Zeke, Talia, and the golems had no such ability. And worse yet, the waves carried with them a shockwave of force that was dangerous, even to Zeke. Even as he tried to keep his balance amongst the roiling earth, the kinetic wave swept through him, leaving behind a wake of agony as Zeke felt like his insides had been scrambled. As he pushed [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to its limit in an effort to heal himself, Zeke turned his attention to his golems. And they had fared much worse than he had. All ten were twisted dented and twisted, with their limbs going in all the wrong directions. They couldn¡¯t move, which meant they wouldn¡¯t be of any use as Zeke battled this new foe. So, as the bird climbed out of the crater of its own making, Zeke stomped his foot, sending a line of destruction in its direction. [Hell Geyser] erupted beneath its talons, bathing the creature in fire and corruption. But Zeke knew it wasn¡¯t dead. Because he had already used [Inspect]: Golden Roc ¨C Level 79 It was as Zeke had suspected since first laying eyes on the monster. It was beyond the first threshold, which meant that it would take everything he could bring to bear if he was going to defeat it. So, he stepped forward, stomping on the ground once again. As soon as one [Hell Geyser] ended, another began. Fortunately, the aviaki flock had begun to land, and many of them were within the skill¡¯s destructive radius. They didn¡¯t survive, and though Zeke was awash in kill energy, he knew he had quite a fight ahead of him. So, he used [Hell Geyser] once again. Two more times, he utilized the skill until it went onto cooldown. When the monster climbed out of the waning flames, it was smoking, and many of its feathers were singed. However, aside from one talon looking as if it had been partially melted, the thing was mostly unharmed. Clearly, it would take a lot more than that if he was going to finish the bird off. Talia suddenly appeared beside him and asked, ¡°What is the plan?¡± Zeke glanced at the pale, undead girl. She had a few small rips in her leather armor, but otherwise, she was entirely unharmed. ¡°Okay, here¡¯s what we should do¡­¡± She listened as Zeke explained his extremely basic plan, and once he¡¯d finished, she shot off to obey. For his part, Zeke simply stood his ground, aiming a challenging scowl at the bird. He had no idea if it was intelligent enough to understand what was going on ¨C aside from the fact that something had attacked its flock ¨C but it obviously didn¡¯t like the fact that Zeke had survived its diving attack. So, with a screech, the monster launched itself from the crater, and the battle was engaged. 479. Roc The giant bird dove, its enormous claws outstretched. Each talon was the size of a motorcycle, which meant that Zeke was definitely at a size disadvantage. Yet, he stood his ground, shoving mana into a skill as he hefted his hammer. When the monstrous raptor descended upon him, he swung. And the momentum of a thousand other swings was loosed upon the creature. Although, Zeke didn¡¯t only use [Unleash Momentum]. In addition, he laced the powerful skill with as much of his Will as he could handle without tearing himself apart. It was barely more than a thread woven through the expression of the skill, but it was more than enough to send its destructive power into an entirely different realm of devastation. Once, Zeke had destroyed a quarter of a city with [Unleash Momentum]. That had been an accident, and one he¡¯d regretted the moment he¡¯d seen the aftermath of his reckless use of the skill. This time, though, he was entirely in control. The devastation was still similar. Perhaps even more expansive. The moment the force hit the roc, its course was diverted, then reversed. After less than an instant, it was flying backward as the shockwave drove it into the jungle. Trees snapped like twigs as the impact of Zeke¡¯s skill tore through them like a tornado toppling a house of cards. And it kept going for half a mile. The earth was sundered, ripped apart even as roots tore free, and any animal unlucky enough to find themselves in Zeke¡¯s path was killed. The closest, all of which happened to be aviakis, simply burst under the pressure. Blood and feathers misted into the air, only to be destroyed by Zeke¡¯s will. That level of devastation only lasted for a few dozen feet, but from the stream of kill energy Zeke was awarded, he knew that the death toll rose into the hundreds. Perhaps thousands. But it didn¡¯t include the roc. Even as the avian monster recovered ¨C it had been knocked nearly a mile away ¨C Zeke prepared himself for the continuation of the battle. Once again, he stood his ground as, minutes later, the creature emerged from the ruined forest. It was not in good shape, either. One of its wings had been ripped completely from its body, leaving only a long and jagged wound atop a short stump. It moved with a limping waddle, and rightly so ¨C the thing¡¯s left talon was a destroyed mess of blood and bone, though the monster still seemed capable of putting weight on the ruined limb. When it reached the tree line, the roc let out an unholy screech that felt like a physical blow. Zeke staggered backward, barely capable of keeping his balance. His head swam, and his organs felt on the verge of bursting. Nearby, aviakis fell to the roc¡¯s auditory attack, bleeding from their mouths and eyes. Across the battlefield, Zeke saw Talia stumble, then fall. His heart skipped a beat as he remembered the fate of Carlos. The man had been a glass cannon who depended solely on his mobility to avoid damage. However, the flaw in that tactic had been made clear when he¡¯d been incapable of dodging a massive wave of wyrm fire that had incinerated him before he could even react. It was an abject lesson in skills and attributes. There was a place in the world for all sorts of combatants. However, there was no substitute for obscene endurance. After all, one could not dodge every attack. No ¨C they had to be able to endure. And Carlos¡¯ fate was a grim reminder that not everyone was capable of doing so. Fortunately, Talia didn¡¯t instantly perish, and out of the corner of his eye, Zeke saw her tip something into her mouth. Likely, that was the Heartsblood Elixir that would fuel her body¡¯s repair. But Zeke didn¡¯t have time to worry about that. Instead, he needed to focus on the monster coming his way. Even moving with a waddling limp ¨C it wasn¡¯t a terrestrial bird, certainly, and its mobility reflected that ¨C the creature moved incredibly quickly, likely due to the overbearing nature of its stats. With high enough strength, dexterity, and agility, a mostly destroyed leg wasn¡¯t enough to appreciably slow a person ¨C or a beast ¨C down. In either case, Zeke swung his hammer, activating Voromir¡¯s ability. An enormous, red projection of the weapon manifested, then lashed out, hitting the roc directly in its beak. That shut the thing up, ceasing its aural attack and sending it staggering to the side. However, Zeke wasn¡¯t going to let the thing recover its balance, so he used [Center of Gravity], yanking it in his direction. At the same time, he launched himself forward, intending to meet it with the head of his hammer. The creature threw its wing out, arresting some of its momentum before Zeke crashed into it. It felt like hitting a mountain, for all the give of the monster¡¯s feathery flesh. Yet, even mountains could fall, and Zeke¡¯s hammer acted like a pickaxe, cracking the bird¡¯s breast. Zeke didn¡¯t let up, though. Instead, he activated [Shifting Sands] the moment he hit the ground. Once again, time slowed, and he sank into the ground before rocketing forward only to emerge on the other side of the monster. He erupted from the earth with a shower of rock and fire, hitting the bird¡¯s lone healthy leg with a vicious uppercut that shattered one of its talons. It screeched, though that ability seemed to be at least partially directional, because with his positioning, he barely felt the effects. The same couldn¡¯t be said for the aviakis, and the ones who¡¯d managed to endure the previous aural attack fell writhing to the ground. Zeke paid them no mind. He also forced himself to ignore his concern for Talia. Instead, he focused entirely on the continuing fight as he followed the uppercut with a massive, overhand strike that destroyed another of the creature¡¯s three talons. That was when it seemed to have had enough, and it threw itself into the air. And despite the fact that it only possessed a single wing, the monstrous bird was still capable of flight. It wasn¡¯t fast. Nor did it seem graceful. But still, it flew. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Zeke wasn¡¯t going to let it get away, though. So, he once again used [Center of Gravity], reversing its course. It was only partially successful. The skill worked by literally making Zeke the center of gravity, reversing the natural force to bring his foes falling in his direction. However, the roc seemed to possess some sort of ability to manipulate gravity itself, so after falling only a few dozen feet, it righted its course and continued to fly away. That left Zeke was no idea what to do. Thankfully, his golems did not share his ignorance, and soon enough, the air was full of bronze spears, each of which tore into the roc¡¯s hide, hooking into its flesh with barbed tips. Attached to the shafts of those spears were ethereal ropes that were normally used to siphon the golems¡¯ foes¡¯ power. However, it worked well enough to keep the roc from flying away. In fact, Zeke¡¯s [Colossal Army] pulled the monster out of the sky, bringing it back to the ground with a thunderous impact. It resisted, pulling with all its might, but with the golems¡¯ draining its power, it could not escape their grasp. That¡¯s when Zeke hit it again, having leaped high in the air to bring his considerable weight and strength to bear. Its break cracked under the herculean attack, but the bird was not going to go down without a fight. The moment Zeke fell to the ground in its range, it snapped out with its broken beak, clamping down with a crushing bite. Zeke grunted as his metallic body was crushed, twisting out of shape. He flared [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but it wasn¡¯t enough to keep up with the damage. Fortunately, Talia had recovered, and as Zeke tried to leverage the beak open, he saw his ally scythe through the monster¡¯s leg with an explosion of pure rot. Then, she leaped upon its back and went to work with her elongated claws. Zeke had seen [Calcification] at work, but the skill had clearly evolved, because her claws had grown to more than a foot long. But they were flimsy. Nor were they awkward. Instead, they sliced through the monster¡¯s hide with enviable ease. Meanwhile, Zeke used the creature¡¯s distraction to his advantage, levering the beak open and breaking free. The moment he escaped and the pressure ceased, [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] caught up, repairing the immense damage Zeke had incurred. He rolled away as the monster crashed down. With both of its legs having been destroyed, it could only writhe in pain as Talia continued her assault. But the danger had not passed, and every cry it let loose carried with it the aural attack, though it seemed to have weakened alongside the creature¡¯s body. It would have been pitiful if it didn¡¯t make Zeke feel like his insides were bursting from the explosive pressure the attacks caused. But with pain coursing through his body, Zeke only felt resolved to end it. So, as soon as he managed to push himself to his feet, he leaped back into the fray, bringing his hammer down with inevitable force. It smashed into the creature¡¯s skull ¨C just below the eye socket ¨C shattering bones upon impact. Even that wasn¡¯t enough to stop it, so after Zeke landed, he grabbed hold of a handful of feather¡¯s for balance, then proceeded to hammer the point of weakness he¡¯d caused. In the end, it took five long minutes ¨C every second filled with another attack ¨C for the monster to fall unconscious. Even after that, it was another few minutes before it finally succumbed to the massive damage Zeke and Talia had caused. The monster fought most of the way ¨C at least so long as it was conscious ¨C but it had been robbed of most of its weapons. If it had been a sapient fighter, it would have had many more abilities to use. From Zeke¡¯s perspective, that was one of the major differences between monsters and people. Monsters were powerful, often with higher effective attributes than people. They were normally equipped with a strong ability or two, as well. However, people generally had access to ten or more skills, some with very different effects. So, monsters were strong but limited. People were comparatively weaker, but with a host of skills meant to combat a variety of different situations. By the time the monster died, Zeke had recovered almost entirely, save for a little residual weakness caused by the extended period fueling [Triune Colossus] with demonic mana. However, because of his efforts training his body to endure that caustic corruption, there would be no lasting effects. ¡°My little boy is growing up,¡± Eveline said with faux sweetness. Zeke rolled his eyes, inwardly saying, ¡°That statement was extremely off-putting, just so you know.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You know why,¡± Zeke said, pushing her away. He didn¡¯t lock her behind [Bulwark of the Triumvirate], but they¡¯d developed a sense for one another¡¯s moods. And to keep the peace, when one didn¡¯t feel like speaking, the other generally ignored them. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but having a foreign presence in his mind would never be ideal. Certainly, Eveline had proven herself a hundred times over, and Zeke considered her a friend. Perhaps even his best friend. Yet, with such close proximity came inevitable clashes of personality. He reached down, looting the monster. Much of its mass disappeared, leaving behind only a few bits of broken skeleton, a pile of innards, and the thing¡¯s shattered beak. But because of the creature¡¯s size, he received more than a few tons of edible meat. ¡°Maybe it¡¯ll taste like chicken,¡± he said. While, on paper, the tower¡¯s dietary needs were met by the vast farms on the Craftsman¡¯s Terrace, the reality was that everyone needed a bit of protein in their lives. Already, the cyclops meat had begun to run out, so the influx of roc meat would help fill the upcoming void. Perhaps he would make a habit of fighting massive creatures, if only for the influx of meat to feed his people. Fortunately, the aviaki flock had been killed down to the very last creature. Many had fallen to the roc¡¯s aural attacks, but Zeke and Talia had killed their fair share as well. And because of the vast number of kills ¨C each one with some serious levels ¨C Zeke had managed to gain almost two levels, bringing him to the precipice of level seventy-three. That highlighted the fact that he needed to work on upgrading his remaining skills, then finishing his level seventy skill. He was almost ready to do the latter, but the former was going to take some time and concerted effort. However, Eveline had repeatedly stressed how important it was to upgrade as many skills as he could before reaching the level seventy-five threshold. Because that level was the first time he would definitely get a system-sanctioned upgrade opportunity, and he wanted as many options as possible so he could choose the very best one. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Talia, reminding Zeke that he¡¯d been standing there and staring off into space. ¡°Just realizing I have a lot of work ahead of me,¡± he answered with a shake of his head. ¡°I wish I could just hole up and remain in isolation for a year or two. But the world doesn¡¯t want to cooperate with that plan.¡± Indeed, most of the world¡¯s powerhouses took their time with leveling. Part of that was due to the ever-increasing dangers required to progress; most people didn¡¯t have Zeke¡¯s a healing skill like [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] or his vast durability. And the ones who lacked those gifts tended to veer toward caution. Zeke¡¯s path would never be described like that, which meant that, even with so many drains on his kill energy, he¡¯d always leveled extremely quickly. However, that came with the issue of never really settling into his power. With everything constantly changing ¨C and with other things requiring his attention ¨C it was remarkable that he¡¯d managed to accomplish so much, regarding the development of his skills. ¡°Some people would call you an idiot savant,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Not me. Obviously. I would never be so crude. But others don¡¯t possess my tact.¡± Zeke just shook his head before embarking on a quest to loot as many of the aviaki as possible. Fortunately, the upgrade from [Colossal Legion] to [Colossal Army] came with increased self-repair abilities for the golems, so a few of them had managed to become ambulatory enough to help with the task. Still, it took no small amount of time before, at last, everything had been looted. So, Zeke and Talia approached the temple, recognizing that it was the path they were meant to follow. After all, the roc had felt a bit like a sub-boss, which was usually an indication that they were on the right track. With that buoying his spirits, Zeke led Talia through the temple¡¯s front gates. 480. Conflicting Attunements The interior of the temple was unremarkable. Certainly, it was beautifully crafted, but given the impressions Zeke had of the exterior design, that was expected. They entered through the gates, arriving at a large courtyard populated by perfectly manicured topiary and the tinkling sound of running water. Fountains stood in each corner of the courtyard, with a much larger one in the center. Predictably, there was a statue of a bird, its majestic wings outstretched, atop the fountain. Otherwise, the courtyard was empty. It seemed that none of the aviaki had remained behind. Instead, the entire flock had responded to Zeke¡¯s and Talia¡¯s presence, especially when the battle against the roc had begun in earnest. It was ironic, then, that that decision had gotten so many of them killed. After all, the roc¡¯s attacks were responsible for at least half of the overall deaths. If Zeke hadn¡¯t seen the way the aviaki had attacked the giant reptile that had wandered into their territory, he might¡¯ve thought they were peaceful. Certainly, that was the impression of the meticulously curated garden through which he and Talia wandered. But he knew it was an illusion. The monsters might¡¯ve been peaceful among one another, but to outsiders, they were vicious killers. Gradually, the pair made their way through the courtyard, exploring every inch until they were forced to realize that it held not importance, other than as a hint into the aviaki¡¯s nature. ¡°What do you think these creatures do when there are no challengers to the dungeon?¡± Zeke asked aloud. ¡°I do not know,¡± Talia admitted. Taking on a visible form, Eveline answered, ¡°They do not exist until they need to exist. Everything you see is pantomime. An act. Or an illusion. These monsters are built the moment you enter the dungeon, and the entire landscape will cease to exist the second you leave. Only when there is another challenger will they be reborn. Or recreated.¡± ¡°Really? You know that for certain?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°I do. Hell may be a cutthroat world, but we are not savages. Many demons have spent their lives in an effort to decipher dungeons,¡± she explained. ¡°Of course, most were slaves to much more powerful masters who wished to manipulate the system for their advantage, but the research is still valid. Often, that is the case. Morality is a detriment to progress.¡± ¡°That depends on how you define progress,¡± Zeke said. Talia added, ¡°I have been the subject of such a thought process.¡± Indeed, at the insistence of Abraham Micayne and Talia¡¯s own mother, the now-undead girl had been the subject of invasive experimentation. Certainly, Tucker had only engaged in that experimentation mostly to preserve his own life ¨C back then, he was a prisoner ¨C but the results were the same. Talia had been transformed into one of the undead, setting her apart from everyone in the Mortal Realm. Only when she¡¯d ascended had she found any acceptance aside from what Zeke and his other companions had offered. ¡°Progress at all costs. Any researcher who follows any other creed needlessly hinders themselves,¡± Eveline persisted. ¡°However, I see that my input is not required, so I shall take my leave.¡± With that, she disappeared, retreating once again to the back of Zeke¡¯s mind. He could tell that she was embarrassed, which he considered a form of progress all its own. She wasn¡¯t really shameless, but demons certainly looked at the world much differently than anyone else. They were products of their environment, and Zeke knew it would take some time before she moved past the years she had spent in Hell. But he wanted to believe she could change. Already, she¡¯d left some of her more murderous tendencies behind, though Zeke wasn¡¯t certain if that was just an act or if she¡¯d truly changed. After all, she had adopted many of his speech patterns in an effort to better appeal to his sensibilities. So, it wasn¡¯t outside the realm of possibility that she would make other changes, outward though they may be. Regardless, Zeke didn¡¯t want to ponder the nature of demons. It was a fruitless endeavor, because, even if Eveline was truly a monster, he wasn¡¯t willing to crush her. Not unless she proved herself a threat. After that brief conversation, Zeke and Talia continued to explore the courtyard until, at last, they decided that there was nothing to find. So, they sighted in on the set of double doors on the side of the courtyard opposite the entrance, coming to the inevitable conclusion that it was the way they were intended to go. The doors themselves had been constructed of bare stone, without any carvings other than a slight indention that formed a rectangle around three inches from each door¡¯s edge. Otherwise, the surface was entirely flat, save for a pair of giant, brass rings meant to assist in opening the doors. Zeke grabbed hold of one and heaved. At first, it didn¡¯t budge, so he pulled harder. It wasn¡¯t until he used the majority of his strength that it budged, and even then, it was only a quarter of an inch. So, he used [Triune Colossus] in its unattuned form, augmenting his already prodigious might. Then, he managed to open the door, albeit not without significant effort. Inch by inch, and with a rumble that sounded like an earthquake, the door swung open. Finally, the gap was wide enough to allow Zeke and Talia to pass through, so they didn¡¯t hesitate further before stepping into the next room. That was a mistake. The moment he set one foot onto the granite tiles on the other side of the door, Zeke felt an enormous weight settle upon his shoulders. By that point, Zeke had reached the point where he could easily lift dozens of tons. However, there was a limit even to his strength, and with what felt like the weight of the world pressing down on him, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from falling to one knee. He grunted, then tried to push himself upright. But it was too heavy. The weight wasn¡¯t just physical. It pressed down on his mind, too. On his very soul. Even Eveline felt it, and Zeke heard an unspoken cry of pain coming from the depths of his mind. But he was more worried about Talia, who hadn¡¯t simply fallen to her knees. The immense weight had crushed her to the floor, and Zeke could hear her bones cracking with every passing moment. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Arduously, Zeke turned his head, intending to retreat. However, he saw that the door had shut. With that weight pressing down on him, he hadn¡¯t even heard it close, and there was no way he could muster the strength to leverage it open ¨C not when it took everything he had to keep himself from being flattened. So, with that avenue having been cut off, he turned his attention to the room into which he¡¯d just entered. The stone tiles were unadorned ¨C much like the door ¨C and the chamber was otherwise uninteresting. A few designs decorated the granite walls, though Zeke could tell that they weren¡¯t runes. Indeed, he had no notion of where the immense weight originated. But there were two things that gave him hope. The first was that the room wasn¡¯t particularly large. Maybe fifty feet square, and on the other side of the room was another gate. This one was much larger and far more elaborately carved than the one behind him. Zeke couldn¡¯t make any sense of those designs, either, and to his untrained eye, they seemed entirely random. It was only after a few more seconds that he realized that they were not designs at all. Instead, they were claw marks. Something had tried to dig its way through the door, and judging by the depth of those scars, they hadn¡¯t even come close to succeeding. And even though Zeke had discerned the nature of the ¡°carvings,¡± he was still filled with dismay. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t the first one to fall victim to the immense weight. In fact, Zeke saw a few bits of fossilized bone on the right side of the door, confirming his suspicions. The second hopeful detail was the fact that the weight wasn¡¯t gravity-based. If it had been, he¡¯d have had no chance to drag Talia to safety ¨C if such a thing existed. However, since it was not based on gravity, Talia would be just as light as ever. More, lifting her would have probably further injured her. So, as far as Zeke could tell, he had two choices before him. Either he could turn back and try to either destroy or open the door that would let him retreat, or he could cross the room and hope that he¡¯d fare better than his fallen predecessor. The choice seemed obvious. With a growl, he pushed himself to his feet, though that simple task nearly exceeded his abilities. How much pressure was on his shoulders? A hundred tons? A thousand? He¡¯d never bothered measuring his own strength, but he knew he¡¯d rarely met his match. And he didn¡¯t intend to let the room defeat him. So, marshaling every bit of strength he could muster, he reached down and gathered Talia into his arms. Then, once he¡¯d again straightened himself upright, he stepped forward. The stone felt like it should have cracked beneath his feet, but it remained intact. Zeke staggered forward, and with every step, the pressure increased. The only solace he felt was that, once Talia¡¯s feet had left the tiles, the pressure on her body had ceased. He could hear her bones straightening out, likely because she still had plenty of vital energy available from the potion she¡¯d drunk after the fight against the aviaki and their roc protector. Yet, he knew that even if she managed to completely recover, she could offer no assistance. She¡¯d collapsed the moment she¡¯d stepped inside. So, there was no chance she could endure the ever-increasing pressure as Zeke progressed through the room. Step by step, the pressure increased. He could feel his body breaking with every foot traveled, and yet, he kept going. Because if there was one thing Zeke could do, it was endure. His pain tolerance helped, and so did [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. However, both were soon overwhelmed, and as a result, he had no shield against the agony erupting across his body. But he kept going until, at last, body broken and barely standing, he reached the scarred door. The moment he laid his hand on the stone, a notification flashed across his mind: New Quest Acquired! Quest: Assemble the Key Objective: Gather: The Heart of Goliathan, The Witchdoctor¡¯s Staff, and the Eye of the Guardian to create the Key. Reward: Key to Heaven Zeke could intuit the meaning, even if it wasn¡¯t outwardly stated. To bypass the door, he would need the three items mentioned in the quest. The only one whose location he knew for certain was The Witchdoctor¡¯s Staff, which was back in the ratongi village. It would take a little backtracking, but that wasn¡¯t so difficult. Given the nature of the dungeon, with three sides constantly at war, Goliathan probably referred to a tortoloid. Or perhaps the giant turtle itself. Zeke didn¡¯t know for sure, and he wouldn¡¯t discover the truth until he investigated. As for the Guardian¡¯s identity, that became obvious only a moment later, when the doors on the other side of the room once again opened, and a giant aviaki stepped through. The creature was even larger than Zeke in the form of the earthen colossus, but its bird-like body was very similar to the smaller aviaki Zeke had fought outside. He used [Inspect]: Aviaki Guardian ¨C Level 74 The creature stepped forward, clearly unimpeded by the room¡¯s pressure. Zeke didn¡¯t dare drop Talia so deep into the room, so he mirrored the monster¡¯s gait, feeding corrupted mana into his colossal skill. He transformed, his body growing more jagged and athletic. To his surprise, the pressure lessened ¨C not because of increased strength, but rather, due to the nature of the pressure. Before, he¡¯d been wrapped in earth attuned mana. Even his unattuned form had more than a trace of that flavor of mana, and clearly, the effect inside the room had clashed with his nature. It wasn¡¯t enough to stop him, likely due to his dual nature. But it had slowed him down. Of course, there was more to it than that. Otherwise, Talia would not have been so affected. Yet, Zeke was no scholar, so he had little in the way of context for how different attunements affected one another. ¡°It¡¯s wind and life,¡± Eveline muttered, barely loud enough for Zeke to make out. That made sense to Zeke. The aviaki were clearly acquainted with wind mana. Perhaps they were even attuned to it. And the entire dungeon was blanketed with dense vitality. That also explained why the pressure had been so impactful on Zeke, especially in his colossal form. But now that he was in his demonic form, the pressure had lessened. Pointedly, it had not disappeared, but it had grown weak enough to allow Zeke to harness much of his normal strength. That was due to the nature of demonic mana. It was domineering and corrosive, and when it came into contact with any other form of mana, it became even more volatile, voraciously consuming anything that opposed it. As a result, his demonic form was, for lack of a better term, more pure than his others, which mingled multiple forms of mana into one effect. For instance, while his earthen colossus form was predominantly earth-attuned, there was still a hint of corruption and quite a lot of unattuned mana in the form as well. In any case, Zeke didn¡¯t have time to ponder the interactions between myriad mana types. With the impending class with the aviaki guardian, he needed to focus on the coming fight. So, shifting Talia on his shoulder, he summoned Voromir from his storage space and threw himself at the giant bird-man. Clearly, the monster hadn¡¯t expected Zeke to move so quickly, so he took the thing by surprise, knocking it backward through the still-open doors. That had been Zeke¡¯s intention. He couldn¡¯t fight with Talia on his shoulder, so his first priority was to get her out of the room. So, when he crossed the threshold, he kicked the aviaki guardian free, then took a brief moment to place Talia on the floor. He straightened to his full height just in time to brace himself for the recovered guardian¡¯s charge. It screeched as it launched itself into the air, descending with its talons outstretched. Zeke met it with a vicious uppercut that sent it rocketing toward the ceiling. However, two factors alarmed him. The first was that the guardian seemed completely unhurt by Zeke¡¯s attack. Indeed, he was used to his blows resulting in shattered bones ¨C or in the case of some of the lesser aviaki, bursting them like balloons ¨C but this time, he hadn¡¯t even left a scuff on the monster¡¯s beak. The second issue was that the creature threw its wings out wide, arresting its momentum before colliding with the ceiling. Then, it swooped around, to resume its attacks. It was clearly far more durable than the smaller versions Zeke had fought outside, but it was also much more mobile as well. So, he hefted his hammer, adjusted his stance, and prepared to meet the monster¡¯s diving attack the same way he always did. Head on. 481. A Powerful Foe Voromir whistled as Zeke swung, harnessing his considerable might, and to full effect. But the swooping aviaki guardian was no ordinary monster, and it moved with lightning quickness, banking to the side just in time to narrowly avoid Zeke¡¯s attack. The hammer¡¯s head clipped a couple of feathers before crashing down on the paving stones, shattering rock as well as the earth beneath. The impact sent a wave of turf and stone to roll through the courtyard, uprooting the topiary and cracking the central fountain¡¯s base. Water shot into the air, misting from the shockwave before falling like a summer drizzle. Zeke paid no attention to it, though. Instead, the ongoing battle reserved every ounce of his focus as the guardian lashed out with its wicked talons, slicing deep into his demonic colossus form. Those claws didn¡¯t stop until they hit his metallic bones, and even then, their surface was deeply scored. Zeke lashed out with a backhand that barely connected, but even that comparatively light touch was enough to send the creature spinning away, where it crashed into a copse of bushes. As he pulsed [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], Zeke pounced, using the influx of physical power that came with his corruption fueled colossal form to cover the distance in an instant. Meanwhile, the monster struggled to untangle itself from the shattered remnants of the shrubbery. It wasn¡¯t a large delay, but it was enough for Zeke to take advantage. However, just before he reached the huge aviaki, the thing¡¯s body shimmered, then disappeared. Zeke¡¯s hammer crashed down with meteoric force, the impact tearing a crater in the courtyard, but the monster was gone. A second later, he felt the bite of talons ripping through his back. But it wasn¡¯t just one attack. There were three, each in different positions. Zeke cried out in surprise, wheeling around a moment later to see three identical aviaki guardians leaping away. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± ¡°Clone skill,¡± Eveline provided, having recovered somewhat from the previous room¡¯s enormous pressure. Her mental voice was still strained and far away, but she had attempted to mask it. ¡°Only one of those is real. But the others still pose a significant threat.¡± Zeke processed the information quickly, and decided to counter it with a couple of allies of his own. So, he used [Colossal Army], and the air split into a portal, from which three golems appeared. They were still damaged from the previous battle, but they were still functional. The other seven that should have come had not recovered enough to respond to his call. He''d expected as much, but he¡¯d hoped for more. The golems rushed forward, wielding cudgels that looked like banded baseball bats. For his part, Zeke held back, wanting to see how the aviaki clones reacted to the new threat. Perhaps he could find some hint as to which one was real and which two were copies. The trio of aviaki met the golems with predictable fury and unsurprising tactics. They all moved identically, using their superior mobility to harass the golems. Perhaps if they¡¯d been in perfect condition, the [Colossal Army] might have fared better, but due to the damage of the previous battle, their movements were more sluggish than normal. In addition, their javelin attack was clearly unavailable, though Zeke wasn¡¯t certain if that was due to some sort of innate cooldown or if it simply required all ten golems in order to be effective. Regardless, the golems proved a poor match for the aviaki. They were slower, weaker, and as it turned out, less durable ¨C the results were predictable. Yet, Zeke didn¡¯t immediately lend his weight to the conflict. Instead, he stayed back, watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. It occurred after thirty seconds, which felt like an absolute eternity in the middle of a fight. The golems had arranged themselves back-to-back in a defensive triangle, the effort intended to prolong the battle as long as possible. The aviaki guardians responded with swooping attacks. They were clearly fully capable of flight, unlike their lower-leveled counterparts, and they used it to their full advantage. The opening came when all three dove, each one at a different target. The timing was such that they hit at the same time. Zeke stomped his foot, using [Hell Geyser]. Fire and destruction raced across the courtyard, covering the distance between their originator and the triangle of golems in an instant. The aviaki saw the danger and attempted to react, but for once, their speed gave way to simple inertia, and they were delayed just enough that, when the eruption of fire, earth, and corruption came, they could not escape its wrath. But Zeke knew it wouldn¡¯t be enough. The monster ¨C the original, not the clones ¨C was level seventy-four, and a single use of [Hell Geyser] wouldn¡¯t be enough to destroy a creature of that level. So, even as the explosion of fire and earth dissipated, he used [Shifting Sands], sliding into the ground and darting through the earth with incredible speed. He emerged from below, riding a wave of destructive force as he aimed Voromir at one of the monsters. He had no idea if he was attacking a clone or the original ¨C they all had identical identifiers ¨C so he¡¯d resolved himself to killing each one and hoping he picked correctly. If he didn¡¯t he would just destroy them all. With that in mind, Zeke aimed a wicked uppercut at his chosen foe. It harnessed his herculean might, as well as the momentum of his emergence, and when it connected to the singed monster, it did so with enough force to rip its beak completely from its face. The stunned creature attempted to let out an agonized screech, yet without a beak, it came out as a gurgling cough. Zeke followed the attack with a mighty stomp that crushed the aviaki guardian¡¯s talon, then launched himself into a shoulder tackle that knocked it away. Or that was Zeke¡¯s intention. Instead, he felt the creature¡¯s other talon wrap around his thigh, and then he was hefted into the air. As the monster sped higher ¨C the courtyard had no ceiling, after all ¨C Zeke briefly found himself dangling from its talon. He leveraged himself upright, dismissing his hammer along the way, and grabbed a handful of feathers. Fortunately, they held, and Zeke used them as handholds as he repositioned himself and clamped his arms around the monster¡¯s torso. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Then, he squeezed. The beakless bird-man tried once again to screech, but it came out no better than before. Zeke continued to squeeze until, at last, the monster¡¯s bones started to break. Then, they shattered. But it wasn¡¯t enough. They continued to soar higher and higher until Zeke changed tactics. The monster needed wings to fly, after all. And Zeke was willing to bet that, without them, the creature would plummet to the ground. So, he reached out, grabbing the upper portion of a wing before wrenching it sideways. He didn¡¯t do much damage with that first heave, but it was more than enough to interrupt the monster¡¯s flight. It fell, frantically flapping one wing while the other struggled against Zeke¡¯s strength. It failed. In fact, once Zeke gained a little leverage, it wasn¡¯t difficult to rip the joint out of its socket. And without that mechanical connection, the flesh followed soon after. And that turned the herky-jerky drop into a freefall. That was when Zeke saw how far they¡¯d climbed. If it was less than a thousand feet, he would have been surprised, and that was after they¡¯d already lost considerable altitude. But Zeke didn¡¯t think even such a fall would hurt him that much. And if it did, he was well-equipped to deal with any damage it left behind. So, he reengaged his bear-hug tactic, squeezing with every ounce of strength he could bring to bear. As he did so, he shifted just enough that the frantically flapping aviaki guardian would hit the ground first. When the impact finally came, it was far more explosive than Zeke had expected, and the monster¡¯s bones he hadn¡¯t broken were pulverized. It exploded with a loud exhale of gas, though its hardy skin didn¡¯t rupture beneath its feathers. Instead, all of its innards liquified, killing it instantly. Apparently, the damage Zeke had already done was enough to tip it over the edge. For his part, he didn¡¯t escape completely unscathed, and without [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], he might¡¯ve been in trouble. However, with that skill powered by demonic mana summoned by his domain, Zeke¡¯s body mended in seconds. Yet, that was enough for the remaining two aviaki ¨C still smoldering from [Hell Geyser] ¨C to fall upon him with furious attacks. Talons ripped into his back, healing only instants later, before another flurry of scything strikes tore the wounds anew. Zeke used [Shifting Sands], falling once again into earth, only to emerge a few dozen feet away. He was getting ready to use another attack when, at last, Talia made her presence known. The aviaki guardians were fast. Much quicker than Zeke, in fact. But Talia, free of the oppressive pressure of the other room, was much, much faster. Bloody wounds erupted on the guardians¡¯ bodies, immediately beginning to fester. Zeke could barely perceive the blur of Talia¡¯s passage, but he suspected that the guardian and its remaining clone could see nothing of Talia¡¯s presence. And she used that to her full advantage, slicing them to ribbons. Eventually, one attempted to fly away, but Zeke used [Center of Gravity] to interrupt its flight. The effect was brief ¨C the thing¡¯s instincts were enough that it could adjust to the change in gravity fairly quickly ¨C but by that point, Zeke was on top of it. He didn¡¯t bother summoning Voromir. Instead, he grabbed hold of the creature¡¯s wings, planted his feet on its back, and pulled. The effect wasn¡¯t immediate. The creature was far more durable than the clone Zeke had already killed, suggesting that it was the original. Yet, his strength was indomitable, and his willpower was undeniable. In a battle between Zeke¡¯s power and the monster¡¯s durability, the winner was as inevitable as it was predictable. After a few seconds, bones began to crack. Then, they broke altogether. Once the integrity of its wings had been sundered, the creature stood no chance. Its flight had taken it ¨C and its passenger ¨C a hundred or so feet off the ground, but with its wings having been ruined, it fell. They crashed into the temple¡¯s roof, then tumbled across the surface until they fell outside the building. The aviaki guardian snapped its sharp beak out, trying to rip Zeke apart one bite at a time. Meanwhile, it brought its talons to bear as well, ripping into his colossal flesh with relative ease. However, if Zeke could do nothing else, he could persist through levels of damage few others could survive. So, he continuously channeled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], while countering the huge aviaki¡¯s attacks with plenty of his own. There was no subtlety to the battle. No finesse. It was a fight between two ferocious monsters intent on ripping one another apart. That was the sort of battle in which Zeke excelled. But the guardian was no weakling. It was powerful, with high durability as well as regenerative properties. So, even though Zeke had the upper hand, it was not a quick fight. Indeed, long minutes passed as he endured the creature¡¯s ripping attacks. Each passing moment saw the thing growing weaker, while Zeke¡¯s powerful healing ability kept him on an even keel. And eventually, his hand found the thing¡¯s throat. He clamped down with demonic claws that sliced through its hide, then pulled. The monster¡¯s entire throat ¨C and all the necessary bits it held ¨C came free in a shower of blood and feathers. After a brief burst of panicked ferocity that surprised Zeke, the catastrophic damage took its toll. The creature¡¯s attacks lost their fury, and with every passing second, it weakened until, at last, it could hold on no longer. It died with one of its talons buried in Zeke¡¯s leg. On his knees and straddling the monster, Zeke pushed himself upright. He let go of [Triune Colossus], returning to his cambion form. The rage that came with his corruption-powered skill faded, and it was replaced by simple fatigue. Covered in blood, sweat, and feathers, he let out a long sigh. Then, he looted the monster, receiving the Eye of the Guardian, which satisfied one of his quest requirements. Other than that, there was nothing of note. He didn¡¯t even get any meat, though he wasn¡¯t terribly upset about the lack. After all, the aviaki were monsters, but they were close enough to people to make the prospect of using them for sustenance less than attractive. Perhaps if there was no other choice. But Zeke¡¯s spatial storage had meat aplenty, especially after looting so much from the roc. A few moments later, he rose to his feet and looked back to see Talia standing at the entrance to the temple. She was also covered in blood, and the integrity of her armor had clearly been violated, with bits and pieces having fallen free. Still, Zeke was happy to see that she looked completely whole, which just highlighted the necessity of having a skill for healing. Without that, neither of them would have survived as long as they had. Sure, Zeke¡¯s was easier to use, and especially when fueled by corruption, it was incredibly powerful. However, Talia¡¯s was almost as strong, even if it necessitated a reagent like hearts or the elixir she favored. She approached, asking, ¡°Did you get it?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke answered, assuming she¡¯d gotten the same quest he had. ¡°Did your quest update?¡± For a second, her eyes glazed over, then she refocused and answered, ¡°I did. Lucky that the quest works for both of us. Otherwise, we might¡¯ve had trouble.¡± Zeke nodded before looking around. ¡°The other parts ¨C what do you think? The ratongi probably have the staff. How much do you want to bet that the other one is related to the turtles?¡± ¡°No bet,¡± Talia answered with a slight smile. ¡°So, which first? The one we know or the one we only suspect?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check the turtle. It will be the most difficult.¡± ¡°Fair enough. First, I need a few minutes, though. Maybe an hour or two. That fight took a lot out of me, and I want to give my golems a chance to repair,¡± Zeke said. After that, they returned to the temple courtyard, where they settled down for a few hours until Zeke sensed that his golems were once again functional. He waited another couple of hours before he said, ¡°Alright ¨C are you ready to go?¡± Talia said, ¡°I am. We¡¯ve no time to waste. My friend¡¯s life depends on our success.¡± 482. Goliathan The ground shook, but Zeke maintained his footing as he trudged forward, stomping on the head of the last tortoloid from the latest group to assault them. He let his shoulders sag a little as he took a deep, exhausted breath. The past day had been a nightmare. If before, he¡¯d felt like he was wading through a sea of monsters, the closer he came to the giant, mountainous turtle, the more he felt like he¡¯d begun to drown. Every step was earned, paid for with a mountain of blood, and it had gotten to the point where Zeke had begun to wonder where all the creatures were coming from. ¡°It¡¯s a dungeon. Just go with it,¡± Eveline said. ¡°These places don¡¯t have to follow logic.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke responded, looking around. Over time, he and Talia had developed a strategy that worked well enough. While Zeke stomped through the jungle like an enraged rhinoceros, gathering as much attention as he could, Talia ranged far and wide, killing the distracted creatures before they could even reach him. Certainly, she couldn¡¯t get them all. Not even half. But it kept Zeke from being overwhelmed. Even so, after miles of constant battle, Zeke was mentally ¨C if not physically ¨C exhausted. And he¡¯d yet to reach his goal, though judging by the periodic earthquake-like footsteps, he expected that they were close. ¡°What do you plan to do when you get there?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°It depends,¡± he admitted. ¡°On?¡± ¡°A lot of things. I don¡¯t even know what level that thing is,¡± he said. ¡°But I¡¯m thinking that the cyclops method would probably work.¡± Indeed, killing that creature had required Zeke to scale the skyscraper-sized monster, then use its ear canal as a point of access. He¡¯d spent what felt like an eternity steadily digging through its skull before he finally reached the thing¡¯s brain, which he¡¯d unceremoniously destroyed. Even a creature like that couldn¡¯t function when its brain had been turned to slurry. But Zeke wasn¡¯t sure if that tactic would work against the turtle, largely because he expected that the dungeon would throw him a curveball. Killing monsters wasn¡¯t always easy, but wholesale slaughter had always come naturally to Zeke. So, he expected that it would be more complicated than that. ¡°You don¡¯t do well with complicated,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Are you implying that I¡¯m stupid?¡± he asked, scanning the jungle for signs of Talia¡¯s return. Getting closer meant that they needed to create some sort of plan of attack. ¡°No. Just that you¡¯re straightforward,¡± the former demoness answered. ¡°And that¡¯s a good thing, by the way. After spending centuries dealing with conniving imps and tricky incubi, straightforward is a nice change of pace.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you approve,¡± Zeke said, seeing a flicker of movement that turned out to be Talia. The undead girl slowed to an easy jog, letting Zeke see the effects of the constant battle. She could avoid most attacks, but the some of the tortoloids were powerful enough to be able to perceive her. As such, she¡¯d taken a few hits of her own, and the state of her armor reflected that. She came to a sudden stop, then crossed her arms self-consciously as she said, ¡°You¡¯re staring.¡± Zeke quickly averted his eyes. There was nothing truly salacious on display, but there was more than a little of her pale skin exposed. By contrast, her normal attire covered everything from the neck down, save for her claws. So, Zeke¡¯s eyes had stuttered to a stop on the exposed bits. ¡°Sorry,¡± he muttered. ¡°Children,¡± Eveline said, giving a mental roll of her eyes. Zeke ignored her, and he changed the subject as he asked, ¡°Do you know how far we have to go before we reach the turtle?¡± ¡°No more than ten miles,¡± Talia answered as another earthquake shook the area. She had no issues maintaining her balance, but Zeke was forced to reach out and steady himself by gripping a nearby tree. Talia went on, ¡°It is larger than we thought.¡± Indeed, the entire area had been drowned in the gargantuan monster¡¯s shadow. The proximity of the creature meant that he needed to let Talia know the plan, so he told her what he¡¯d been thinking, ending with, ¡°It worked on the cyclops I killed back in the other dungeon, so I think it¡¯s safe to assume it¡¯ll work here, too.¡± Talia nodded, offering no argument. After that, they continued on, killing tortoloids and the odd treant that decided to bar their way. The only good thing about it was that Zeke was gaining more kill energy with every passing hour, and he¡¯d already progressed to the precipice of level seventy-five. That meant that his plan to upgrade all of his skills before reaching that point was not going to happen. It was a disappointing development, but one he couldn¡¯t really change. They were on the clock, which meant that, even if they could find somewhere to hole up for a few weeks while he made the necessary upgrades, they couldn¡¯t afford to take that much time. After all, the life of Talia¡¯s friend was at stake. Regardless, Zeke couldn¡¯t be too upset about the influx of kill energy. Better than most, he knew precisely how difficult it was to level, so he¡¯d resolved to take any boost he could find. Which meant that he hadn¡¯t even looked for ways to avoid the monsters. Instead, he carved a path through them, reaping the benefits that came with wholesale slaughter. And eventually, the monster that was their destination and goal came into view. Or its foot did, at least. ¡°It¡¯s a lot bigger than expected,¡± Eveline said. Indeed, the foot alone was as large as an NFL football stadium, and the rest of its body had been sized to match. Seeing that, it wasn¡¯t difficult to understand how an entire population of tortoloids made their homes atop its shell. But the notion of killing such a huge creature was a daunting prospect, and one Zeke wasn¡¯t certain of its possibility. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Then again, he¡¯d never met a monster he couldn¡¯t kill, so he stepped forward with no small degree of confidence. That was quickly shattered when he found his way blocked by an invisible plane of force. Only after narrowing his eyes and focusing on his Path of Arcane Destruction did he recognize the subtle runes dancing in the air. They were invisible, too, but with focus, he could sense them all the same. Zeke didn¡¯t have time to study them, though, because the moment he touched the sheet of invisible force, two things happened. First, a wave of energy erupted from the shield, enveloping him and burrowing into his body. It only took a moment, but once it had fully suffused his form, his every muscle locked up, stunning him and rooting him in place. Second, the giant turtle lifted its foot far more quickly than Zeke could have expected, then shifted it slightly until it was positioned directly over his head. In only a second, it was falling, and Zeke was entirely incapable of avoiding being squashed like a bug. Fortunately, Talia hadn¡¯t been affected by the stunning force, and she swooped in, grabbed ahold of his arm, and dragged him away. She didn¡¯t focus on strength, but she had more than enough to get him moving, especially after Zeke did the one thing he could and embraced his racial gift to decrease his weight as much as possible. After that, Talia dragged him away with ease, but because of the sheer size of the turtle¡¯s foot, they only narrowly managed to escape. Talia kept going as thousands of tortoloids leaped from above, thudding into the ground, knocking down trees and spraying earth into the air. Talia ran on, barreling past the monsters until, miles later, they¡¯d managed to outpace them. Soon after that, she found one of the secluded caves they¡¯d previously used for shelter. All the while, Zeke struggled to overcome the inability to move that had been inflicted upon him. For the longest time, he couldn¡¯t even prompt a twitch, but slowly, he regained his mobility. Even then, he felt weaker than he¡¯d felt since ascending to the Eternal Realm. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± he muttered aloud. Eveline dragged herself out of his mind, appearing next to Talia. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like that. It was far too powerful for that thing¡¯s level.¡± Zeke hadn¡¯t remembered to use [Inspect], but Talia had. And the results weren¡¯t encouraging. Goliathan ¨C Level 89 ¡°That thing is almost at the peak,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know if we can kill it.¡± ¡°Perhaps there is another way,¡± Talia suggested. ¡°We could ask the ratongi when we retrieve the staff.¡± Zeke let his colossal form fall away. It was the first time in a while that he¡¯d done that, and it was an oddly poignant relief, to be in his own skin for once. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. They¡¯re not giving that staff up without a fight,¡± he predicted. ¡°Chances are, if we go back, we¡¯ll be in for a battle. It¡¯s better to get rid of this thing now.¡± ¡°We are not capable of that.¡± ¡°Well, I think I have one thing that could do the trick. But it¡¯s kind of¡­dangerous,¡± Zeke said to Talia. ¡°If I do this, I¡¯m going to need you to stay pretty far away. The ability is a little destructive.¡± In response, Talia asked, ¡°Like in Jariq?¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°Worse. This makes Jariq look tame by comparison,¡± he answered. ¡°It¡¯s a skill. My strongest one. The first time I used it, it almost killed me. And Eveline. I know how to control it now. And I think it¡¯s the only way we¡¯re killing that creature.¡± Zeke hadn¡¯t intended to use [Wrath of Annihilation] so soon in the dungeon, but he felt certain the he was right in his assertion that it was the only means of killing the Goliathan. Eveline agreed, though she did caution him to be careful. He fully intended to do just that, though he wasn¡¯t sure how careful he could afford to be. The Goliathan was the strongest creature he¡¯d ever fought ¨C aside from the two wyrms that had battled through Min Ferilik, and he¡¯d never been a real participant in that engagement ¨C so he knew he needed to bring every ounce of power he could muster. Otherwise, the creature would simply shrug it off. Besides, it wasn¡¯t as if he could get close to that shield. It was too strong. So, with that in mind, he established his plan, then left Talia behind in the cave. There, she stood a good chance of remaining unaffected. For his part, Zeke circled around, trying to find somewhere with a good line of sight. In the end, he found a low rise that gave him a decent view. More importantly, it was directly in the monster¡¯s path, so he could clearly see its approach. It looked as if it was moving in slow-motion, but Zeke knew that was a trick of perception. Besides, its every, lumbering step covered nearly a mile. It was nearly ten miles away, so Zeke knew he had a couple of minutes before it came into range of [Wrath of Destruction]. So, he settled in to wait, putting himself in the right frame of mind as he did. ¡°This could go very wrong,¡± Eveline cautioned. ¡°I know,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But I need to make it work.¡± It wasn¡¯t just to complete the quest and conquer the dungeon, either. He¡¯d worked long and hard to inoculate himself against his Will. He¡¯d endured countless hours of pain in that endeavor, all because he knew that he would need it going forward. Without access to his Path of Arcane Destruction, he was just another man. But with it at his beck and call? He was an avatar of destruction, and one to be feared by everyone who might draw his ire. As a result, the upcoming clash was more important than a means to conquer a dungeon. It was confirmation that he was on the right track. A verification that his hard work wasn¡¯t for nothing. That he could stand toe-to-toe with any foe and have a chance of coming out on top. After all, he was about to step into a new level of power. Once he reached level seventy-five, he would be among the true elites of the world. And he needed to be ready to fight anyone who tried to bar his way. So, as the turtle drew closer, Zeke focused on his Path of Arcane Destruction, tracing the familiar sensations as he embraced it. And when the monster came within range, he forced mana into [Wrath of Annihilation]. It drank greedily, absorbing more mana than Zeke could have ever anticipated until, at last, it was sated. He held it there for a brief moment before letting it loose, aiming above the turtle¡¯s massive shell. However, unlike before, when he¡¯d simply let the skill take from his Path of Arcane Destruction according to its construction, he shoved as much of his Will into the skill as he could manage. It ripped through his body, tearing it to pieces, but because he¡¯d used the corruption-fueled version of [Triune Colossus], coupled with his twin domains, and utilizing the demonic version of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], his body could narrowly keep pace with the damage. Not for long, but he didn¡¯t need it to last. Instead, he finished throwing as much power ¨C his Will as well as Mana ¨C into the skill before, at last, the black sun bloomed into being. Wreathed in roiling white flames, it was larger and angrier than ever before. And it grew a little with every passing second. The turtle reacted, pulling its head and legs into its shell. But that was as far as Zeke saw, because he flashed away, using [Shifting Sands] to move hundreds of yards in the space of an instant. However, he didn¡¯t stop there. He knew precisely how powerful that sun could be, so he continued to run, utilizing every ounce of agility and dexterity he could muster. In the meantime, the sun continued to grow until it was three times larger than the one he¡¯d summoned back on the Mukti Plains. As Zeke ran, so too did the wildlife. Treants, giant reptiles, simian monsters, and other creatures all sprinted in the same direction, sensing what Zeke already knew. If they stayed, they would be destroyed. Even so, when the sun began to suck the mana out of the atmosphere, Zeke felt the pull. It was strong enough that it slowed him by at least half, but still, he struggled against it. And with each step, it grew weaker. Until, at last, it disappeared. At first, Zeke thought he¡¯d escaped, but then he realized that the sun had been saturated. No sooner had that thought crossed his mind than it exploded. Even miles away, Zeke was thrown across the landscape, shattering trees as he tumbled across the terrain. He didn¡¯t come to a stop for hundreds of yards, and when he did, he was beaten and battered, with large chunks of his colossal form having been crushed. But he was alive. The only question was whether the turtle could say the same. 483. Finishing the Impossible The world screamed. And safe in her cave, Talia couldn¡¯t help but cower before its cry. Her reaction only lasted a few moments, but in that time, a bevy of emotions tore through her mind. Fear ¨C primal and unknowable ¨C was the most prevalent, but it was accompanied by so many others that the totality could only be described via one word: horror. It wasn¡¯t long before Talia took control of those emotions, though. After everything she had experienced ¨C both before and after her ascension ¨C she was accustomed to the discomfort it brought with it. Often, the difference between survival and ceasing to exist could be found in how one reacted to sheer and incomprehensible terror. So, as the world seemed to tear itself apart, Talia marshaled her courage and focused on what was happening. The good thing was that whatever it was took place a good distance away. She knew the source, too. Zeke had always had an enormous capacity for destruction, and it seemed that his increased power had accentuated that talent. She¡¯d expected that. What she hadn¡¯t anticipated was the degree to which he¡¯d improved. Often, she had been praised for her own quick progression. In a scant couple of years, Talia had gone from a broken girl, fresh off of her ascension, to one of the more powerful people within the city of Darukar. Certainly, stronger people existed in El¡¯kireth, and plenty of them. However, she was already a cut above the commoners, and with her other gifts ¨C like her seemingly unique tolerance for vitality ¨C had established her as a future elite. But Zeke was different. Already, he was knocking on the door of the threshold to true power, and his levels only told a tiny portion of the story of his might. Back in the Mortal Realm, he¡¯d been strong. But here? He was even further ahead of everyone else, and that gap would only widen going forward. It had been all Talia could do to keep up with him as they slaughtered their way through the jungle. And for all her own gifts, she¡¯d still failed. The memory of her own weakness, of how she¡¯d been incapable of withstanding that insidious draining effect, had highlighted the differences between herself and a true powerhouse like Zeke. That was what had driven Abby to betrayal. Talia understood the other woman¡¯s distress, even if she didn¡¯t excuse her actions in the Radiant Isles. However, unlike that traitor, Talia would not react by trying to tear someone else down. Instead, she intended to work even harder. And if she never achieved the same degree of power her friend enjoyed, then so be it. She would be happy for him. Because she didn¡¯t need to compare herself to others in order to feel like her life was worthwhile. She was her own person, with her own goals, and with an entire world stretching out before her. Talia pushed those thoughts from her mind as she took stock of her situation. In seconds, the volume of the world¡¯s scream had increased tenfold, turning into a portentous roar. She knew it wouldn¡¯t stop, either. She wasn¡¯t safe. So, harnessing her incredible agility, which was augmented by [Unliving Speed], which was an upgrade of [Alacrity of Undeath], she raced away from the cave ¨C or more importantly, in the opposite direction of that horrific roar. Behind her, the air rushed inward, and when she glanced back, she saw a black sun wreathed in white fire. It was a sphere of pure destruction. A moment later, the air stilled. The roar abruptly ceased. Talia slowed to a stop, confused. And then she felt it. An explosion of force and devastation swept across the jungle, destroying anything in its path. Talia ran, dodging trees as she rushed past fleeing beasts and monsters that, from her perspective, seemed to be running in slow motion. But behind her, the wave of destruction gained a little with each passing moment. It was going to catch her. So, she used [Through the Afterlife], phasing into a gray and frozen mirror world. To outsiders, the skill would look like teleportation, but in reality, it was more like briefly stepping into an alternate dimension where time flowed differently than it did in the real world. It only lasted a few seconds before she was spat back into normality, but Talia could cover quite a lot of ground in that span of time. As a result, when she returned to the real world, she did so nearly a mile away. But to her horror, she hadn¡¯t left the explosion far behind. Indeed, she¡¯d barely gained a little ground. So, she continued to run, using [Through the Afterlife] as often as she could. It required an exorbitant amount of mana, which meant that she couldn¡¯t chain it, back-to-back, but if she was willing to use all the energy at her disposal, she could still use it often enough. Like that, Talia continued to run until, at last, just before the explosion caught up to her, it lost its momentum and came to a stop. Talia did the same, turning to watch the roiling fire and force retreat, where it rejoined the black sun only seconds later. Then, even that winked out of existence. And that¡¯s when Talia saw the aftermath. She stood there, miles away, aghast at the sight. If she was awed by Zeke¡¯s power before, then there were no words for how she felt about him after seeing what he¡¯d done to the jungle. Often, the beings that stood at the top of the Ethereal Realm ¨C like Oberon or the Sun Goddess ¨C were often referred to as gods. They weren¡¯t. Talia knew that as well as anyone. Yet, that level of power was still worthy of the name. That was what she felt when looking upon the devastation Zeke had wrought. He was a true god of destruction. And that fact was both terrifying and exciting, both in equal measure. To Talia, though, it could be interpreted via a single word: hope. He wasn¡¯t just strong. He was the sort of person who could completely unbalance the Eternal Realm. And Talia, for one, was eager to see what that meant. But more than anything, she knew he had the strength to help her save her friend. That, for now, was the most important thing on her mind. * * * ¡°You really need to get better at this,¡± Eveline remarked from behind [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. It wasn¡¯t enough to completely protect her from [Wrath of Annihilation], but he¡¯d been far enough away from that black sun that his mental skill did the job well enough. The same could not be said for his body, which was pockmarked with small craters and cracks. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you,¡± he groaned, climbing to all fours. Even with all his precautions, he¡¯d still been thrown miles away from the explosion. Fortunately, other than superficial physical damage, his body was in decent shape. His Will hadn¡¯t left him crippled, at least, though he knew he¡¯d need a little time to recover if he wanted to return to perfect condition. ¡°How much did you use?¡± asked Eveline, obviously referring to his Will. Most of the time, he only unleashed a trickle, but in this instance, he¡¯d used quite a bit more. ¡°About a third,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe as much as forty percent.¡± Indeed, he¡¯d packed far more of his Will into the skill than he¡¯d ever used before. And the results were far more destructive ¨C befitting his path ¨C than he¡¯d expected, increasing the blast radius by a significant degree. Fortunately, he¡¯d been extremely cautious with his preparations, setting himself up much further away than he had in previous uses of the skill. He¡¯d still paid the price, though it wasn¡¯t nearly as debilitating as the first time. ¡°I hope Talia¡¯s okay,¡± Zeke said. She was still alive ¨C he could tell that much via [Mark of Companionship] ¨C but her condition was unknown. She also had the benefit of [Avatar of the Colossus], which increased her strength and endurance. He normally didn¡¯t even consider the skill, simply using it on all of his allies by reflex, but he¡¯d made a special point to ensure that it was active before he¡¯d used [Wrath of Annihilation]. Hopefully, that, as well as her distance, would prove enough to shield her from any damage. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s fine,¡± Eveline said, dismissing his concern. ¡°That girl is a survivor. Besides, the fight¡¯s not over.¡± Indeed, when Zeke looked across the landscape, which had been stripped clean of foliage, allowing him a clear view, he saw that, while his skill had been very effective, it had not killed the goliathan. But it was clearly injured. The black sun of his skill had been positioned directly over the creature¡¯s shell, so the surface had been completely scoured of all life. The city that had stood atop the turtle was completely gone, and the tortoloids who lived there had been killed. However, the shell had protected the monster from the worst of the effects, though a huge crater stood in its center. Zeke hoped that it had gone all the way through, though he was skeptical he could be that lucky. He pulsed [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] for a few seconds, healing the superficial damage he¡¯d incurred. Then, he loped forward, descending into the much larger crater that had appeared where the jungle had once stood. The ambient mana levels were incredibly low, and with each step, they continued to drop until Zeke felt as if he were being deprived of oxygen. He could survive, but it was still uncomfortable. ¡°If it¡¯s this bad for you, think about what it must feel like for others. Of course, they¡¯re all dead,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Except the big guy, and he¡¯s probably wishing he¡¯d died.¡± That much was true. The Goliathan had emerged from its shell, but it merely lay there, looking like a fish out of water. Zeke felt the thin mana in the air stir, indicating that the creature was trying to engage some sort of skill. That lit a fire under him, so he rushed forward, covering the intervening ground as quickly as he could. When he reached the creature, he leaped high into the air before latching onto its shell. From afar, it had looked smooth, yet from up close, it had plenty of ridges that acted as handholds. Zeke used them to vault ever higher, climbing the mountainous turtle with incredible speed. Soon enough, he¡¯d reached the summit, though by that point, the ambient mana had begun to recover. Instinct told him that if the Goliathan wasn¡¯t dead before it returned to normal, his task would prove impossible. So, he poured on the speed, racing across the crown of the shell until he reached the crater. It descended nearly a thousand feet, ending in a slurry of blood, minced flesh, and shards of shell. Zeke leaped in, splashing down a second or two later. His feet hit something solid, and when the gore came crashing back in, it was waist high. ¡°Gross,¡± Zeke said in disgust. From experience, he knew that his best bet of killing such a large monster wasn¡¯t attacking it from without. Instead, he needed to do so from within. So, he hefted his hammer, swung it around, and brought it down in a thunderous overhead blow that sent gore splashing against the wall. However, the bone he¡¯d hit didn¡¯t give. Instead, it seemed just as solid as before. He hit it again. And again after that. ¡°This isn¡¯t working,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°You think?¡± growled Zeke in response. He¡¯d rarely come up against anything that could resist his full-power swings. Even the cyclops, which was one of the most durable creatures he¡¯d ever fought, had given in after a while. But the turtle seemed to have been made of sterner stuff. Just before Zeke hit it again, something else splashed down into the crater. He wheeled around, expecting to find one of the tortoloids. But he brought his responding attack up short as he recognized Talia. ¡°Hello,¡± she said, scraping a bit of stringy flesh from her hair. ¡°What are we going.¡± ¡°Uh¡­I¡¯m trying to get through this bone, but it¡¯s proving a little uncooperative,¡± Zeke answered. ¡°I¡¯ll get through, though. It¡¯s only a matter of time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we have much time,¡± guessed Talia. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong,¡± remarked Eveline. ¡°I¡¯m doing the best I can,¡± Zeke said with a hint of frustration. Talia blinked. ¡°May I?¡± she asked after a second. ¡°Be my guest,¡± Zeke said. Then, Talia embraced a skill, aimed at the exposed bone, and let loose with a concentrated beam of black rot. At first, it did nothing, but after a few seconds, Zeke saw the evidence of decay. Over the next half-minute, it spread ¨C gradually at first, but speeding up toward the end ¨C until Talia gasped. The beam dissipated, and she began to fall. Zeke caught her before she collapsed. ¡°Sorry,¡± she muttered. ¡°I might have overextended myself.¡± ¡°Do you need one of your potions?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t help. Just need¡­time. Hopefully it will be enough,¡± she mumbled, nodding at the blackened bone. Zeke helped her to the edge of the crater, settling her down so she could rest. Then, he returned to the site of the rot, hefted his hammer once again, then brought it down with yet another herculean strike. The first attack hit with a shower of bone shards, and the next sent cracks spreading across the surface. The third shattered the first layer. He kept going, one attack after another in a furious barrage. He knew just how short on time he was, and he didn¡¯t want to see what sort of attacks ¨C or defenses ¨C the Goliathan could bring to bear, given enough opportunity. Each blow dug further into the bone until, at last, he broke through to yet more flesh. After that, his efforts were much more efficient, and within a couple of minutes, he was so deep that he¡¯d lost sight of Talia. And after a few more moments, he found his first organ. Zeke was no expert in turtle anatomy, but he didn¡¯t need to be. Instead, all he really needed to know was that it was something important, and that its loss would bring the turtle even closer to death. So, he stomped down, sending a wave of destructing tearing across the organ until [Hell Geyser] erupted in a pillar of fiery destruction. Then, he did it again. The turtle bucked, its first sign of movement, but by that point, they were far too ensconced to be dislodged. So, Zeke continued on, and over the next hour, he dug his way to various organs, destroying them along the way. It was a gruesome, bloody task that left him coated in gore, but he kept at it all the same. Until, at last, when he burst what he thought might¡¯ve been the monster¡¯s pancreas, he finally received a flood of kill energy, sending him past level seventy-five. And seventy-six. His rise didn¡¯t stop until he reached level seventy-seven. A lot of it had probably come from killing every single living creature in what Zeke estimated was a ten mile radius, but he knew from recent experience that the Framework tended to take difficulty into account when awarding kill energy. And there was no way anyone should have expected to be able to kill the Goliathan at his level. That suggested that the bulk of his kill energy had been awarded based on that act alone. Hopefully, it also meant that Talia would get her fair share as well, because without her efforts, he would not have been successful. ¡°Damn,¡± he gasped. ¡°That was a lot of experience.¡± ¡°It was,¡± Eveline agreed. ¡°Now, can we get out of here? I might be a demon, but that doesn¡¯t mean I enjoy being covered in gore.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± 484. Difficult Choices The mana density was still thin, making the crater slightly uncomfortable. However, as irritating as it was, it also served as a great barrier for the local wildlife. The combination of the lacking mana and the previous destruction added up to an area that most living things would avoid on instinct. So, it gave Zeke and Talia a chance to rest ¨C albeit with no small degree of unpleasantness. But the pair of friends were well-equipped to handle such a situation. They¡¯d both been through worse, after all, so they could endure all manner of discomfort. For Zeke, it gave him an opportunity to recover from the damage that his use of the Path of Arcane Destruction had wrought on his body. It wasn¡¯t as debilitating as previous uses of his Will, but it still left him at less than a hundred percent effectiveness. So, he settled in atop the slain turtle¡¯s shell, adopting his cambion form and using the unattuned version of [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. At first, the thin mana kept him from using the skill to its fullest potential, but over time, its efficacy grew more potent. ¡°You¡¯re stalling,¡± said Eveline. ¡°I know,¡± Zeke admitted. His excuse was that he wanted to be at his best when he examined his level seventy-five skill choices. But that was unnecessary, and he knew it. Rather, he knew precisely how important the choice would be ¨C many people considered the level seventy-five skill, be it an upgrade of an old ability or something new, to be each person¡¯s definitive skill ¨C and he was more than a little anxious about the choices the Framework might bestow upon him. Still, he could only put it off for so long. So, at last, he let himself see the notifications. The first was a surprise: Congratulations on reaching level seventy-five. With this achievement, you have proven yourself worthy to embark upon the next stage of your journey. If you wish, you may attempt to ascend to a higher plane. Beware: climbing to the Ethereal Plane is a harrowing journey that should only be undertaken by the most powerful, but reaching the end of that journey is even more dangerous. Only embark upon this voyage if you are certain of your own power. ¡°I can ascend at this level?¡± Zeke asked. He¡¯d actually gone past the level in question, reaching seventy-seven, but the question still stood. ¡°Or descend, if you want to go to a lower circle of Hell,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°You would have to find another portal to the other realm, but I¡¯m certain it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for someone like you to find one. Just follow your instincts, and you¡¯ll stumble upon one eventually.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t my question, Eveline.¡± ¡°I know. But the Oppressor doesn¡¯t care about levels, per se. The thresholds only exist because that¡¯s when it deems you capable of surviving the trip. However, just because there¡¯s a chance that you could live through the experience doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s a good one,¡± she said. ¡°How much of a chance do you think I¡¯d have?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°One in a million. Maybe a bit higher.¡± ¡°That low?¡± ¡°Even at level one-hundred, only one in every ten thousand will make the journey intact,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Or that¡¯s the general consensus. With your gifts, it would be slightly higher.¡± That was not what Zeke had expected. The trip from the Mortal Realm to the Eternal Realm hadn¡¯t been onerous. Certainly, it had been complicated by the demonic presence as well as Constance¡¯s army, but other than that, his ascension had been as easy as stepping through a gate. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would be so difficult,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°It is not a task to be undertaken by the faint of heart,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Most people spend decades in preparation, even after they¡¯ve reached the pinnacle. And it is a journey of years, often spent alone. It is the crucible of godhood.¡± ¡°Does it have anything to do with the spark of divinity you¡¯ve mentioned?¡± Zeke asked. Often, Eveline had spoken of that, though the notion was still a bit ephemeral for him. ¡°No. Not really, though it most often manifests during the descent. Or ascent for residents of this realm,¡± she said. ¡°That you already possess it bodes well for your chances of survival. However, the crucible of godhood is more a colloquial term. Anyone who makes it through to the other side is irrevocably changed. Even if they fail to gain a single level during their ascent, they will be exponentially more powerful than those they left behind.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Zeke said. Although, he would have preferred a few more details. ¡°So would I,¡± Eveline said. ¡°These are rumors and gossip. It is impossible to know facts without experiencing it. And as you know, I never did.¡± Zeke thought about that for a moment, but once he realized that there was no more concrete information at hand, he moved on to the next notifications, which detailed the options available to him regarding his skills. His heart beat a little more quickly as he read the first notification: You have reached the first threshold. As such, you have five options before you. Three are skill upgrades. Two represent new abilities. Choose wisely. Zeke said, ¡°Five choices. Is that normal?¡± Eveline gave a mental shake of her head, answering, ¡°No. Most get three. Two skill options and three upgrade options.¡± ¡°What does it mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. And you won¡¯t either until you look at your options,¡± she said. ¡°Fine.¡± Then, Zeke checked the first of his three upgrade options: [Aura of the Titan] (C) ¨C Upgraded from [Avatar of the Colossus]. The Titan is the natural evolution of the colossus. Create a domain that will imbue your allies with indomitable strength and endurance. Upgradeable. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Another domain,¡± Zeke muttered. Sometimes, he forgot to use [Avatar of the Colossus], largely because it had a tendency to cancel out if he moved too far away from whomever he used it upon. ¡°That choice would solve that problem,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°A good option, then.¡± Zeke moved on to the next skill upgrade available to him: [Titanic Swings] (C) ¨C Upgraded from [Unleash Momentum]. You are a creature of momentum. Harness it to a higher degree. Instill every strike with the momentum of your previous two attacks. Upgradeable. ¡°Hmm,¡± Zeke said aloud. He liked the idea of a permanent upgrade to his attacks. However, he wasn¡¯t thrilled about losing what amounted to his second-most-powerful skill. Certainly, he could only use [Unleash Momentum] seldomly, but when he did, it packed quite a punch. ¡°You¡¯re looking at this wrong.¡± ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°You heard me.¡± Zeke rolled his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. Tell me what you¡¯re thinking.¡± ¡°Let me ask you a question, then,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°Does that description say anything about any restrictions on the skill?¡± ¡°No,¡± Zeke said after rereading it. ¡°There you go, then.¡± ¡°Just explain it, Eveline. I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± ¡°Fine. Each swing will harness the power of the previous two,¡± she said. ¡°So, what happens when you swing four times? One of those attacks is going to have increased power. Which will be included in that fourth attack. Then, the fifth and six will be even more powerful. It¡¯ll keep going until every attack hits a hundred times harder than your normal strength would allow.¡± As Zeke listened to Eveline¡¯s prediction, his eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s¡­that is incredibly powerful.¡± ¡°It is. I¡¯m certain there are restrictions. Probably time-based, if I had to guess. Like, it¡¯ll reset every ten seconds or something like that. But you can output a lot of damage in those ten seconds, right? It¡¯s momentum. You get stronger as the fight goes on.¡± ¡°So, you think I should take that one?¡± he asked, already leaning in that direction. The potential was just too high to ignore. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Keep going,¡± Eveline said. Zeke did, moving on to the third choice: [Titan] (B) ¨C Evolution of [Triune Colossus]. The Titan is a natural evolution of the colossus. Take on the form of a titan, gaining the ability to temporarily grow in size and power. Upgradeable. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zeke had hoped for an evolution of his most-used skill, but he¡¯d never truly expected it. However, it seemed an obvious choice, given that it was an entire grade higher than the other two. With that in mind, could he really choose anything else? ¡°That¡¯s not the question you should be asking yourself,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Then what is?¡± ¡°You are capable of upgrading your own skills,¡± she stated. ¡°The real question you should be asking is whether or not you could do the job yourself. Technically, anything the Framework can do ¨C regarding skills, at least ¨C should be possible with your skills. The only variable is how long it would take you to mimic the same results laid out before you.¡± ¡°A long time,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Especially with the third choice.¡± [Triune Colossus] was already his most complex skill. Just looking at the runes associated with it gave him a headache, and even when he¡¯d forced himself to study it, he¡¯d only managed to comprehend a tiny fraction of the structure. It was like looking at a complex mathematical proof with only basic arithmetic skills. By comparison, [Unleash Momentum] felt like a child¡¯s drawing. ¡°You¡¯re mixing your metaphors,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°In my own head,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°Which doesn¡¯t matter, so long as I understand it.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Eveline agreed. ¡°But your logic is sound.¡± However, even if he didn¡¯t take [Titanic Swings] or [Aura of the Titan], the simple descriptions did give him some ideas on how to upgrade the skills. He didn¡¯t quite understand how to make those ideas a reality, but with that guidance, he felt fairly certain he could figure it out. It would just take time. And quite a lot of effort. The latter was easy enough, but the former was in short supply for now. Yet, that was the way of the world. Nothing worthwhile came without significant investment, be it time, hard work, or money. ¡°You should at least check the two new skills,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°There might be something worthwhile there.¡± Zeke agreed with that, too. So, he checked the penultimate notification: [Worshipper¡¯s Tithe] (B) ¨C You are on the verge of godhood. Your followers revere you. Let them support you. Take a portion of your followers¡¯ power as your own, gaining a trick of energy that will, in time, push you to higher levels. Upgradeable. ¡°Ugh,¡± Zeke muttered. ¡°What? It seems useful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s gross.¡± ¡°Most would not agree,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Many would say that followers were there for this very purpose.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not one of those. I¡¯m also not a god.¡± ¡°The Framework disagrees,¡± she pointed out. ¡°The Framework isn¡¯t the ultimate authority,¡± Zeke insisted. ¡°It kind of is, though.¡± ¡°Whatever. It doesn¡¯t matter, though. I¡¯ve said it before, and I¡¯ll say it again. I¡¯m not using the kobolds as batteries,¡± he said with finality. ¡°Why? They¡¯ll recover their power in time. That¡¯s how these things work,¡± she said. ¡°Of course, it would prevent them from ever truly progressing, but that¡¯s ¨C¡± ¡°My job is to lift them up. Not hold them down so I can become a little stronger.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re looking at this the wrong way,¡± Eveline said. ¡°This is how things are done. I don¡¯t know the entirety of how the Ethereal Realm works, but I do know that progression on that plane requires a ridiculous amount of kill energy. If reaching the peak of the Eternal Realm is difficult, then doing so in the Ethereal Realm is practically impossible. It¡¯s even worse if you don¡¯t take advantage of every opportunity for power you can find. Including cultivating worshippers.¡± ¡°And yet, I will do it my way. I will stand on my own two feet, Eveline. For better or worse.¡± ¡°For worse. There¡¯s no question.¡± ¡°Then so be it,¡± Zeke said with no small degree of finality. For her part, Eveline went silent, clearly sulking. So, Zeke moved on to the final notification: [Cloak of Hellfire] (C) ¨C You are no stranger to corruption or destruction. Wreathe yourself in Hellfire, temporarily increasing your physical attributes by two tiers. Upgradeable. As Zeke read the skill¡¯s description, he couldn¡¯t deny that it was an attractive option. The idea of increasing his strength by two tiers was extremely tempting, even if he knew it would only be a temporary boost. His strength was already ridiculous, being at the S+ tier. So, increasing it even more represented a level of power he could scarcely fathom. Finally, Eveline broke her silence, offering her input as she said, ¡°It¡¯s powerful. Very, very powerful. With that kind of increase, your strength would likely double. However, I would be remiss if I didn¡¯t point out the fact that, as a half-demon, you do not have the resistance to Hellfire that most full-demons possess. The skill would likely damage you for its entire duration. ¡°Pudge uses Hellfire all the time,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°And I have no idea how he manages that. Perhaps it¡¯s due to his nature as a former monster. They often display unique traits. You have proven that you¡¯re not immune to corruption, though. This will be stronger than normal as well. I suggest that you disregard this option, though you clearly don¡¯t value my input.¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Words and actions,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°I know which of the two I heed more closely.¡± ¡°Oh, come on. Just because I don¡¯t want to prop myself up as a god doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t listen to you,¡± he insisted. ¡°So you say.¡± Then, she went silent retreating to the deepest corner of his mind. Zeke tried not to categorize it as pouting, but he didn¡¯t know any other way to describe it. Either way, he turned his attention fully to the choice before him. After only a little though, he chose to discard the two new skill choices. [Worshipper¡¯s Tithe] made him extremely uncomfortable, and it went against his nature to use others to fuel his own progression. So, removing it from contention was not a difficult decision. And though he didn¡¯t want to admit it, Eveline had been correct about the detrimental effects of [Cloak of Hellfire]. Perhaps if he hadn¡¯t had other options that were at least as good, he might have considered it more closely. However, with the other options before him, Zeke didn¡¯t see any reason to take what he considered a flawed skill. So, the choice came down to one of the three upgrades. [Aura of the Titan], [Titanic Swings], or the more simply named [Titan]. They all seemed incredibly helpful, but Eveline¡¯s advice kept springing to mind. Of the three, only one seemed completely beyond him in terms of manifesting the upgrade on his own terms. It also helped that it offered an immediate upgrade to his most-used skill. ¡°Are you going to offer your input before I choose?¡± asked Zeke. Eveline remained silent, but Zeke got the impression that she approved of his decision. He wouldn¡¯t follow her advice blindly, but she was a centuries-old demoness with far more experience than him. So, it would have been idiotic not to at least consider her input. Regardless, Zeke focused on his choice, then chose [Titan]. 485. A Whole New Me ¡°I feel like every time I start to get a handle on something, I get an upgrade that puts me back at square one,¡± Zeke said to Eveline. Not only had his efforts with his Will recently been reset when he¡¯d upgraded the grade of his Path of Arcane Destruction, but now that he¡¯d begun to acclimate to the flood of demonic mana that came with the corrupted version of [Triune Colossus], he¡¯d evolved the skill to something more powerful. He could only hope that it wouldn¡¯t be a step back in terms of usability, because Zeke had a feeling that, going forward, he would need every ounce of power at his disposal. ¡°Oh, poor you, getting supremely powerful skills and paths,¡± she responded sarcastically. ¡°I weep for you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that.¡± ¡°It is difficult not to be,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Do you know what I could have done if I¡¯d had a B-Grade skill at my disposal? And I expect that you¡¯re going to get more before you reach the pinnacle of this realm. You have an embarrassment of riches, so pardon me if I don¡¯t pay lip service to your whining.¡± ¡°Ouch. Tell me how you really feel,¡± Zeke muttered aloud as the pushed himself to his feet and looked around. He¡¯d been sitting atop the turtle¡¯s corpse, which meant that he had an unobstructed view of much of the landscape. In the distance, he could barely make out the mountain, but he was much too far away to see the temple at its base. Nor could he discern which of the ruins throughout the surrounding jungle played host to the ratongi. ¡°What was that?¡± asked Talia, who¡¯d been meditating nearby. Zeke suspected that she¡¯d also reached the threshold to gain another skill, but he hadn¡¯t asked her about it. She opened her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear what you said.¡± ¡°Just talking to Eveline. Usually, I keep it in here,¡± he admitted, pointing to his temple. ¡°But sometimes my responses just slip out.¡± ¡°How does that work? Your relationship with her, I mean.¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. She¡¯s with me all the time. She can hear what I hear, see what I see. She even knows what I¡¯m thinking,¡± he explained. Eveline manifested beside him, saying, ¡°That¡¯s not completely true. I use his senses to perceive the world ¨C mostly. But I don¡¯t know everything he¡¯s thinking. I can hear him if he directs something my way ¨C or if he shouts it in his mind, which is most often the case ¨C but if he doesn¡¯t want me to know something, I won¡¯t. Mostly. We are intertwined, and in a way I can¡¯t fully explain or understand.¡± Then, she went on to recount how she¡¯d become a mind spirit, ending with, ¡°I¡¯m still relatively new to this, but I¡¯m learning more each day. One day, I hope to be capable of existing outside of his mind.¡± That was oddly disappointing to Zeke. Certainly, he¡¯d never asked to have Eveline stuck in his head, but the notion of losing her left him saddened in a way he didn¡¯t really want to acknowledge. ¡°That is interesting,¡± Talia stated. Wanting to change the subject, Zeke asked, ¡°Did you get a new skill?¡± ¡°I did,¡± the undead girl answered. ¡°It is called ¨C¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me if you don¡¯t want to,¡± Zeke interrupted. She cocked her head to the side, then asked, ¡°Why would I not want to? I trust you.¡± ¡°I¡­trust you, too,¡± Zeke said with a small smile. ¡°So ¨C what¡¯d you get?¡± ¡°It is called [Death Touch],¡± she said. ¡°It reduces an enemy¡¯s vitality. For weak foes, a single touch will kill them. For higher-level people with higher vitality, it will merely weaken them. However, if I understand the skill correctly, even then, if I [Death Touch] them enough, they will die as well.¡± ¡°That seems pretty powerful,¡± Zeke said. Then, he explained his own skill upgrade. As he began, Eveline protested in his mind, but he chose to ignore her. After all, he trusted Talia as well, and more importantly, he wanted her to know that fact. It was intended as a vote of confidence, a sign that he viewed her as more than simply a companion, and wanted her to know that he didn¡¯t intend to keep any secrets from her. When he¡¯d finished, Talia said, ¡°That is uncommon, is it not? A B-Grade skill at this level?¡± ¡°I believe so,¡± Zeke said. He expected that skills followed the same grading system as stat tiers, which meant that there was still some way to go before he reached the pinnacle of power regarding skills. After all, with S+ being the eventual goal, he still had at least three tiers to go. Even so, Zeke felt that the skill¡¯s grade was a notable achievement. Yet, as interesting as discussions on skills were, they were still on the clock. Talia¡¯s friend wasn¡¯t getting any better until they defeated the dungeon. So, they didn¡¯t have time to sit around talking about skills and progression. With that in mind, Zeke said, ¡°I think we need to get to the ground before I loot this thing.¡± Indeed, in the past, he¡¯d looted huge monsters and ended up falling hundreds of feet. He could take it, but he wasn¡¯t so certain that Talia could. Besides, it didn¡¯t make sense to put either of them in danger ¨C even if it was remote ¨C when it wasn¡¯t necessary. So, over the next few minutes, he and Talia descended from atop the slain turtle until, at last, they reached the ground. The earth was barren, stripped clean by [Wrath of Annihilation], and they were at the bottom of an enormous crater. That lack of flora truly gave the area a desolate, alien appearance. It was humbling, seeing the consequences of his actions. Often, Zeke forgot about the implications of his path as well as the skills he¡¯d earned. But looking at that crater, it was difficult to ignore the reality of his nature. He was a destroyer, and if he continued on his path, nothing would dare stand in his way. With the level of devastation [Wrath of Annihilation] could bring to bear, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but speculate what any upgrades might entail. Would he graduate from destroying miles of the landscape to obliterating planets? After that, would he become capable of destroying galaxies? Universes? Whole realities? Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. That was the terminus of his path. Zeke knew that right down to the core of who he was. He¡¯d spent far too much time meditating on and inoculating himself against his Will to not see where his Path of Arcane Destruction led. The only question was how he intended to use the power at his beck and call. Once he and Talia had reached the nadir of the crater, Zeke reached out and rested his hand on the turtle¡¯s shell. For a moment, he left it there. He knew the creature hadn¡¯t been real. It was a construct created by the dungeon, and it would return the moment someone else entered. However, beneath his fingers, it felt real enough that he couldn¡¯t help but feel awed by the monster¡¯s implied journey. It had spent thousands of years as the king of this little world. And he had killed it. The same was true of the roc, though to a lesser extent. That creature had felt old, too. Powerful. It was a ruler of its little corner of reality. No more. What would Zeke do when he was forced to battle something similar in the real world? Would he hesitate? Would he try to reason with it? Or would he adhere to his nature and destroy anything that dared to stand in his path? Zeke knew the answer. His track record spoke for itself. But he hated what it said about him. At the same time, though, he reveled in the fact that, for all the powerful creatures and people he¡¯d faced, none had been capable of stopping him. He had won. There was enough of his personality wrapped around competition and victory that he could at least take solace in that. ¡°You can be more than a destroyer,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You are.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± he asked, closing his eyes. His path wasn¡¯t just another means of power, though it was that. It was so much more, though. It was a reflection of who he was. A prediction of what he could be. If he wanted to reach the end of that path, he would need to become more of the same. He needed to embody destruction. That was the problem with his path. To a creature whose very existence was wrapped around destroying whatever lay before him, everything looked like a candidate of destruction. Would that grow to encompass innocents who happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time? What about his allies? Neutral parties? The old saying that, to a hammer, everything looked like a nail, felt more applicable than ever. ¡°You saved the kobolds. The beastkin slaves, too. All those former Knights of Adontis,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°You¡¯re in here right now so you can help save Talia¡¯s friend. So you can help her defeat her enemies. That is not destruction.¡± ¡°It certainly feels like I¡¯m destroying a lot of things.¡± ¡°Selectively. You choose your targets. So long as that remains the case, you¡¯ll be just fine,¡± Eveline pointed out. Zeke sighed. ¡°I hope so,¡± he said, activating his looting power. The shell disappeared beneath his hand. Then the mountain of meat. Tons of sinew that he suspected would be used for crafting. And finally, the Heart of Goliathan, satisfying that portion of his quest. Now, they only needed the Ratongi staff before they could open the gate and ascend the mountain. ¡°Anything useful?¡± asked Talia. Zeke shook his head and said, ¡°Not immediately. That shell might be good for armor or something. The meat will go to good use, too. We¡¯re almost out of cyclops.¡± ¡°Cyclops?¡± ¡°Oh. Yeah. I killed this huge cyclops in my first dungeon. It was a few thousand feet tall,¡± Zeke said. ¡°When I looted it, I got a mountain of meat. But apparently, kobolds eat a lot, and the population in the tower just keeps growing. So, it didn¡¯t last as long as I expected it to last. This should help.¡± ¡°Very interesting,¡± Talia said. After that, the two wasted no time before leaving the remains of the turtle behind. There were plenty of bits and pieces that hadn¡¯t been looted, so there was a small mountain of useless organs, bones, and other viscera. So, Zeke was more than eager to vacate the area before the smell became too strong. At first, Zeke didn¡¯t use his new skill. Part of it was due to him being a bit nervous about it, but it was also because he didn¡¯t think he needed it. However, the latter was quickly put to the lie when he noticed how often Talia had to wait on him. So, even before he reached the edge of the crater, Zeke used [Titan]. The familiar sensation of transformation enveloped him, and Zeke grew, quickly taking on a new form. However, there were some key differences that immediately became apparent. The first thing he noticed was that he could no longer choose which attunement ¨C or lack thereof ¨C he used as fuel. Instead, the form drew a little from all three sources. At first, Zeke found that alarming, but he quickly realized that the cost was much lower than it had been before. His natural regeneration would have no issues with keeping the skill active indefinitely. For a moment, he focused on that trio of mana sources ¨C unattuned from his core, earth from the ground beneath his feet, and demonic from all around him ¨C twisting into a braid that reminded him of his two techniques. However, unlike Worldbreaker or Runebreaker, it was entirely stable, with each of the threads supporting one another until they were much stronger than before. Zeke also noticed that, even though two sources of mana came from without, he could easily fuel the skill with the naturally occurring attuned mana in his body. So, he wasn¡¯t entirely dependent on the environment, now. That alone would be incredibly helpful. Next, Zeke saw that he was much bigger, now. Previously, his largest form was the earthen colossus, and it topped out at around thirteen feet. The [Titan] form was at least twenty feet tall and built with the stature of an NFL linebacker. Wide shoulders, thin waist, and a thick bottom half gave him an appearance of unmatched athleticism and power. That was interesting, but size didn¡¯t always correlate to power. Zeke had killed plenty of creatures much larger than himself, so he knew that better than most. However, it only took one step for him to recognize the difference. ¡°It¡¯s stronger and faster than the demonic form of [Triune Colossus],¡± he remarked inwardly. ¡°It¡¯s a B-Grade skill, Ezekiel. Of course it¡¯s better,¡± Eveline said. That made sense. But before he really put it through its paces, Zeke removed a large mirror from his storage space and inspected his new appearance. And he was more than a little surprised by what he saw. The reflection was clearly based on his normal appearance, though it was an idealized version, without the flaws he was so used to seeing. But even more shocking was the composition of the form. It was primarily silver, though without the shine he was used to seeing, with a web of cracks covering his upper body. From those cracks glowed three colors. Yellow that felt like earth mana, black that was clearly demonic, and white that was unattuned. The result was both intimidating and beautiful. Finally, Zeke recognized one other factor that came with his transformation. He had an ability associated with the form. Tentatively, he prodded it with some mana, and he instantly grew twice as large, with an increase in power to match. And what¡¯s more, Zeke felt that if he were to flood the skill with mana, he would continue to grow, both in power and size. Until the mana ran out. Which, given how greedy that addendum to the skill was, would be quite soon. Clearly, it was meant to be a temporary boost to his power, meant to help him overcome desperate odds. Zeke cut the ability off, returning to the normal [Titan] size. When he did, he experienced a brief moment of disorientation, but it quickly faded. ¡°Strong,¡± Zeke remarked, pulling Voromir from his storage space. It grew to match his new size, which was both expected and appreciated. ¡°Very, very strong.¡± ¡°Are we happy with our choice?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°I am,¡± he answered, giving his hammer a few test swings. ¡°If I¡¯d had this against the roc, I could have made quick work of it.¡± ¡°Not the turtle, though. Goliathan was much more powerful than that bird.¡± Zeke agreed with that. Then, without any further conversation, he resumed his journey, catching up with Talia much more quickly than before. Part of that was due to his longer legs, but much was due to his increased power. ¡°I could definitely get used to this,¡± he said. 486. The Power of a Witchdoctor The treant was large. But in his [Titan] form, Zeke was much larger. And considering that Voromir had grown to match his new stature, when the hammer dropped on the enormous creature, it shattered into kindling. Shards of wood rocketed off into the woods as blobs of sap covered the hammer¡¯s head. Zeke had always been strong. Even going back to the very beginning, when he¡¯d awoken in that cave only to be attacked by juvenile trolls. And he¡¯d grown much more powerful since that day, taking a huge leap upon ascension to the Eternal Realm. The step he¡¯d taken by gaining his new [Titan] form was just as ¨C or perhaps more ¨C impactful. It was like his strength and endurance had doubled, with his other physical stats taking smaller but still impactful steps forward as well. ¡°Told you so,¡± said Eveline. ¡°What?¡± Zeke asked, whipping around to brace himself for another attack. Three more treants, each one just as large as the first, raced toward him, only to be met by a sweeping attack from his hammer. One managed to duck beneath the heavy blow, but the other two were sent flying off into the distance, broken and bleeding sticky sap. He followed the attack up with a momentous front kick that the remaining treant attempted to block. The creature was ill-suited to the task, though, and its arms were destroyed before Zeke¡¯s metallic foot buried itself in the monster¡¯s chest. The momentum of the attack sent the creature to the ground, where Zeke¡¯s stomp ended its life. And then, the forest went quiet. ¡°I said I told you so.¡± ¡°No ¨C I heard that. But what are you talking about?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°About the level seventy-five skill evolution. I told you it would change everything. It¡¯s always a huge step forward,¡± she explained. ¡°What was yours?¡± he asked. ¡°A spell meant to charm my enemies,¡± she answered. ¡°Its original form could only affect a single target, but in the evolved form, it could bespell more than a hundred.¡± ¡°That¡­that¡¯s disturbing, Eveline,¡± Zeke admitted. He¡¯d known that her class had dealt with mental manipulation, but he¡¯d rarely considered the implications of that. The notion that she could have controlled other people against their will was more than a little distressing. ¡°It was still limited. It only lasted for a short time, and even then, I couldn¡¯t actually make them do anything. Instead, they sort of just stood there,¡± she stated with a wistful sigh. ¡°I¡¯d hoped to evolve it again, but¡­well, that just wasn¡¯t my fate. Now, I don¡¯t even have any skills. Or a body. Sometimes, I question if I¡¯m even real. This could all just be a figment of my imagination. It does sound like a fairy tale. A beautiful princess, imprisoned against her will and rescued by a¡­well, not a handsome prince, but by¡­a¡­well, that doesn¡¯t really fit the analogy. If it was all a fantasy, I would have imagined you as much more handsome. And far more cooperative. So, I suppose that¡¯s evidence enough that this is real.¡± ¡°Unless your subconscious mind knew that was what you would assume,¡± Zeke suggested. ¡°Then, it would imagine things like this so as to trick yourself.¡± ¡°I hate you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t. Next time you feel like making me question my entire existence, just don¡¯t.¡± Zeke was going to respond ¨C after all, he rarely got the chance to tease Eveline to such an extent as to elicit a reaction ¨C but before he could, Talia returned. She was covered in sticky sap that made her hair stick up in all directions, but she was unperturbed. ¡°I found it,¡± she said without preamble. ¡°Really? This isn¡¯t like the last time?¡± he asked. They had been searching for the ratongi tribe for what felt like weeks. In reality, it had only been a few days, but the nature of the jungle hadn¡¯t allowed them any rest, which made the task seem like it had taken much longer than it had. The last time Zeke had referenced had occurred when Talia had pinpointed the location of a group of ratongi that they had both assumed was the one they¡¯d met before. However, they were quickly disabused of that notion when the monsters attacked them with a level of ferocity neither had expected. The monsters had lost, but when the dust had settled, it had become clear that they had found a completely different tribe. Once they¡¯d had a chance to inspect the corpses, the differences in their attire had become obvious. ¡°It is not like last time,¡± said a stone-faced Talia. However, her tone told Zeke that the question had annoyed her. ¡°I saw the witchdoctor.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Talia asked. ¡°I think I can rush in and grab the witchdoctor before anyone can react.¡± ¡°What if it resists?¡± he asked. ¡°I will deal with it,¡± she answered without hesitation. ¡°I love the confidence,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°But I think your demeanor is rubbing off on your companion.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Zeke asked inwardly. ¡°You charge first, think later.¡± ¡°I think.¡± ¡°Sometimes. After the fact.¡± ¡°Agree to disagree,¡± he muttered. Then, aloud, he said, ¡°Let me get into position, first. There¡¯s a good chance that things are going to change the moment you make contact. Something like that room outside the gate or the roc.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Talia said. ¡°How long do you need?¡± She looked up at him. ¡°And are you going to remain in that form? It is not good for sneaking.¡± That was the truth. At more than twenty feet tall ¨C he couldn¡¯t be certain of the exact measurements ¨C it was large enough and shiny enough that there was precisely zero chance of him going unnoticed, so long as he remained in his [Titan] form. Still, he was hesitant to let it fall away. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Aw ¨C you like your new toy,¡± Eveline said with a chuckle. That was enough to cut through any hesitation Zeke held in his heart. So, he let the form fall away, returning to his normal stature. Still, in his own skin, he felt more vulnerable than ever before. Once Zeke had let [Titan] fall away, he proceeded in the direction Talia had indicated. For a few miles, he found himself wondering if he¡¯d misunderstood her directions, but eventually, he reached an open area characterized by more ruins. In the center of those ruins was a large ziggurat, atop which was a giant pagoda. Surrounding the ziggurat were hundreds of ratongi, each one armed with great, knobby clubs and wearing hardened leather armor. ¡°Looks like we were expected,¡± came Talia¡¯s voice as she slowed to a stop. ¡°The plan does not seem viable.¡± Zeke shook his head. He hadn¡¯t wanted to kill the creatures. After all, it hadn¡¯t been that long ago that they¡¯d tried to help Talia and him. However, he expected that the witchdoctor would refuse to give up their staff, which was the only way to progress past the gate. Already, Zeke had attempted to climb the mountain in other places, but he¡¯d been rebuffed by a force similar to the one that had kept him from bypassing the obstacles in the centaur¡¯s dungeon. The message was clear. He had to play by the dungeon¡¯s rules, or he had no chance of emerging victorious. ¡°I think we should at least give them a chance to surrender,¡± Zeke said. He didn¡¯t feel bad about the prospect of killing the ratongi, but he didn¡¯t relish it, either. Perhaps his previous thoughts about the morality of what he¡¯d become hadn¡¯t quite faded from his mind. ¡°That is not tactically sound,¡± said Talia. ¡°At least she¡¯s thinking logically,¡± muttered Eveline. She was privy to Zeke¡¯s thoughts, so she knew just how inflexible he was on the subject. ¡°But go ahead. Try to reason with the monsters. I¡¯m sure that¡¯ll go very well.¡± Zeke rolled his eyes at her. Then, he said to Talia, ¡°It¡¯s fine. If they attack, I¡¯ll just use [Titan].¡± ¡°You¡¯re not invulnerable in that form,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°I know,¡± Zeke responded inwardly. ¡°But it¡¯ll be fine. These guys didn¡¯t seem that strong before.¡± After discussing it with Talia a little more, establishing her role in the fight to come, Zeke stepped forward. The moment he did, the ratongi closed ranks and pointed their clubs at him. Meanwhile, the witchdoctor and the chief faced him from their spots halfway up the ziggurat. Only when Zeke drew within a couple hundred feet did the scent of blood and death hit him. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good,¡± Evelien said. Zeke ignored her. Instead, he squinted at the structure, finally noticing that the sides had been stained red. He slowed to a stop when he saw the results of [Inspect], though: Ratongi Chief ¨C Level 74 Then: Ratongi Witchdoctor ¨C Level 77 Zeke used the ability again, getting the same results. It didn¡¯t make sense. The last time he¡¯d encountered the tribe, the chief and witchdoctor had both been in their mid-sixties. There was no way they¡¯d managed to progress ten or more levels in the space of a couple of weeks. ¡°I think I know what¡¯s going on,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Sacrifices.¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± Zeke asked, focusing on the bloodstains marring the ziggurat¡¯s sides. ¡°Can people level via sacrifice?¡± From what Zeke understood, the Framework took into account things like difficulty before rewarding kill energy. Sacrifices didn¡¯t seem like a viable option, and even if they were, there weren¡¯t enough ratongi in the area to fuel those kinds of gains. It would have taken tens of thousands of rat-people for the chief and witchdoctor to have progressed that many levels. Zeke stepped forward. The witchdoctor gestured with its staff, and it erupted into bright, green light. A moment later, a hundred tendrils of power reached out, slamming into the horde of surrounding ratongi. Each one those snaking tentacles of power hit dropped dead a moment later, and the light returned to the witchdoctor. ¡°Uh¡­Ezekiel¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Use [Inspect] again.¡± He did: Ratongi Withdoctor ¨C Level 79 ¡°What the¡­¡± The creature¡¯s staff once again blazed with power, and another hundred ratongi warriors fell a second later. When Zeke inspected the monster again, it had gained an additional two levels. What¡¯s more, it had begun to glow with that same green power. ¡°You should not let it sacrifice any others,¡± Eveline advised. ¡°Especially the¡­oh¡­that¡¯s not good.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t help but agree, especially as he watched the witchdoctor slam its hand into the chief¡¯s chest, shout something unintelligible, and withdraw its beating heart. The bloody mass of muscle glowed with enough green power that Zeke felt like he was looking at a miniature sun. Then, the witchdoctor bit into it like an apple. With grim resignation, Zeke once again inspected the creature: Ratongi Witchdoctor ¨C Level 83 ¡°This is really, really bad.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke muttered. He¡¯d already infused the rune for [Titan] with enough mana to activate the skill. However, even as he grew, adopting the metallic shape, he heard the ratongi witchdoctor let out a massive screech before sending a thousand tendrils of power to slam into the remaining warriors. A moment later, those same tendrils returned, pushing the monster past level eighty-five. It kept rising until, finally, it settled at eighty-seven. That was only two levels shy of the goliathan. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re going to have a chance to put that new form through its paces,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Good luck. Please don¡¯t die to a rat-monster.¡± Before Zeke could muster a response, the witchdoctor disappeared. A second passed. Then another. Finally, after the third second, a giant claw made of mud, blood, and shiny trinkets erupted from the ground beneath Zeke¡¯s feet. He tried to react, but the thing¡¯s talons closed around him before he could move. Suddenly, he was surrounded by suffocating earth, with thousands of tiny metal trinkets digging into his skin. Then, it dragged him under the ground. Zeke embraced [Shifting Sands], trying to escape the skill¡¯s grasp, but despite his efforts, he found himself incapable of moving through the surrounding earth. Instead, he remained trapped in the skill¡¯s grip, a situation that lasted past the point where [Shifting Sands] forcefully deactivated. So, Zeke countered it by embracing his twin domains. The moment he used the second, [Aura of Desolation], the claw shook. A second later, the metal trinkets started to melt beneath the onslaught of fiery corruption. That loosening grip gave Zeke the room he needed to bring his immense strength to bear. He burst free, ripping and tearing at the earth until, at last, he shoved his way back to the surface. By that point, Talia had entered the battle. She had found the witchdoctor¡¯s position, and she was currently circling the creature, darting in every so often as she tried to whittle it down. Meanwhile, a dozen other giant claws closed on the area, slowly crawling across the ground, using their fingers as legs until they reached the site of the battle. Talia clearly recognized the danger, and she darted away. That¡¯s when Zeke arrived, swinging Voromir with all his might. The hands rose to meet the heavy blow, but they shattered before his herculean strength. However, when he finally carved a path through the disembodied claws, he saw that the ratongi witchdoctor had once again disappeared. Furious and frustrated, Zeke whirled around, searching for a target for his ire. None were apparent. Until he saw the fallen ratongi warriors. At first, Zeke didn¡¯t know what to make of the green auras that suddenly enveloped the corpses. However, that only lasted until spectral facsimiles of the creatures erupted from the bodies and leaped at him. Zeke swept his hammer out, but the weapon swept through the incorporeal figures without harming them. Then, they were upon him, leaping atop his shoulders and sinking insubstantial claws into his body. Zeke roared, trying to rip them free, but because of their intangible nature, he couldn¡¯t grab hold of them. Meanwhile, he felt his strength draining with every passing second. With hundreds having already latched on ¨C and with hundreds more on their way ¨C Zeke felt panic rising in his heart. How could he fight them if he couldn¡¯t even touch them? That question loomed large in his mind as he felt himself growing weaker by the moment. But he didn¡¯t have any answers. 487. Everything is Destructible With a roar, Zeke swung his hammer, but it did no good. The spectral monsters were completely incorporeal, and no matter how hard he swung, the attacks did nothing more than elicit a slight flicker in the green energy that composed their forms. Meanwhile, they piled atop him, latching on with insubstantial claws and draining his strength as well as the mana coursing through him. He knew he needed to do something ¨C anything ¨C different, or he¡¯d end up as a dried-out husk, devoid of mana or power. If that happened, he would die. For the first time in quite a while, he felt a tendril of fear slither up his spine. Danger was nothing new, but foes he couldn¡¯t fight certainly were novel. ¡°Don¡¯t panic,¡± Eveline cautioned, her voice sounding like it was coming from within a deep well. It echoed around his mind, distorted and barely audible. ¡°The fear is part of their attack!¡± Zeke had no idea what she meant. At least at first. But after she screamed the same thing a few more times, it felt like the dam of understanding shattered. Suddenly, he felt the tiny threads of mana that had somehow bypassed [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. Most were rebuffed by the mental skill, but a few had managed to slither through the cracks he hadn¡¯t even known were there and wrap themselves around his thoughts. Now that he saw them for what they were, he knew precisely what to do. Stomping his foot, Zeke used [Hell Geyser], but instead of sending a line of destruction to tear across the landscape, he aimed it directly beneath his feet. And a second later, the ground erupted into a geyser of fire and earth. Normally, that would have done nothing against the spectral ratongi. Yet, Zeke had expected that weakness, and he¡¯d chosen to counter it by lacing the skill with a tiny bit of his mightily destructive Will. At the same time, he aimed more of that destructive might inward, pulsing it through his body. The results were both powerful and predictable. The ghostly figures screeched in torment as the destructive flames ripped them to pieces, and Zeke felt the fear-inducing tendrils of mental energy being torn asunder. However, when the fires and earth settled, he was more than a little disappointed to see that more than half of those spectral monsters had managed to survive the onslaught. For his part, he had felt the bite of his own power as well. Yet, it wasn¡¯t nearly as bad as it would have been before upgrading [Triune Colossus] to [Titan]. The evolved form of the skill was far more durable ¨C he¡¯d known that from the very beginning ¨C but it was also far better equipped to deal with the rampaging energies of the skill and his Will. Perhaps [Titan] did more than simply increase his physical attributes. Maybe it had enhanced his resistances as well. Regardless, Zeke knew that he couldn¡¯t afford to investigate further, because the surviving monsters had already begun to return. And they looked even angrier than before. More distressingly, they also felt more powerful, almost as if the deaths of the others had somehow empowered the remaining ghosts. So, he repeated his actions, once again utilizing the destruction-laced [Hell Geyser] to destroy the remainder. However, the same pattern emerged. Some were destroyed, but the ones that survived were further empowered. And when Zeke used [Hell Geyser] a third time, it was almost entirely ineffective. Of the thousand of spectral ratongi, only ten remained. Yet, those had harnessed the power of all the rest, growing in might as well as size until they rivaled Zeke¡¯s [Titan] form. ¡°Any suggestions?¡± he asked. ¡°Stall,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°For what?¡± was his responding question. ¡°For the girl. You don¡¯t feel it?¡± Eveline answered. That¡¯s when Zeke let his awareness spread out across the ruins. At first, he didn¡¯t feel anything but the powerful specters. But then, he detected a ripple of power a few hundred yards away. A second later, he felt another. Then another after that. Only then did he realize what he felt. ¡°She¡¯s chasing the witchdoctor,¡± Zeke guessed. He couldn¡¯t even see her, she was moving so quickly. Nor could he see Talia¡¯s foe. Instead, they were engaged in a furious chase that he couldn¡¯t even perceive. ¡°Is the ratongi moving as fast as her?¡± ¡°No,¡± Eveline said. Then, she indicated a position a few hundred feet away. For a brief second, Zeke saw the witchdoctor appear, only to disappear an instant later. ¡°It¡¯s teleporting.¡± ¡°What do I do? How can I help?¡± he asked. He¡¯d considered using [Wrath of Annihilation], but he¡¯d decided against it because of the collateral damage it would wreak on the environment. If Talia got caught in that explosion, she would be ripped to pieces. And that was saying nothing about the staff that was their goal. No ¨C Zeke didn¡¯t dare use his most powerful attack. His others were just as useless, considering he couldn¡¯t catch up to the creature¡¯s rapid teleportation. Perhaps he could get lucky and catch it with a swipe from Voromir¡¯s ability. However, in his experience, relying on luck ¨C as opposed to overwhelming power ¨C was a good way to end up dead. ¡°I told you already. Stall,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Kill as many of these ghosts as you can, and trust your friend to hold up her end of the bargain.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like that,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Because you¡¯re a control freak,¡± she remarked. ¡°And no ¨C that¡¯s not a compliment. Just let her do her part. She needs this, and so do you. Plus, it¡¯s the only way you¡¯re going to kill this thing without destroying everything in a three-mile radius.¡± ¡°That strategy has worked so far.¡± ¡°Rampant destruction is not always the right answer.¡± ¡°Agree to disagree on that one,¡± Zeke said, backing away from the oncoming spirits. It seemed that they¡¯d finally chosen to act, which meant that Zeke didn¡¯t have time to continue the conversation. Indeed, as they charged ¨C or glided across the ground ¨C he could only hope that Talia could indeed do her part. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. * * * Talia ducked beneath an enormous, green claw, sliding across the ground before popping back up. Her speed was such that a move like that should have launched her hundreds of yards across the landscape. But her high dexterity and potent skills gave her supernatural control over her own body. In short, natural laws such as inertia and momentum had ceased to hold sway over her movement. A good thing, too, because without that caveat, utilizing her incredible speed would have been entirely impossible. As she regained her feet, Talia raced across the terrain, her feet barely touching the ground as she gained on the rapidly teleporting witchdoctor. But as quickly as she covered that ground, the monster was quicker, and it teleported away before she reached her destination. Frustrated, Talia pushed herself even harder. She struggled to go faster. [Unliving Speed] had been an enormous upgrade over [Alacrity of Undeath], but when the monster could teleport and instantly cover hundreds of yards, Talia¡¯s speed counted for very little. The only solace was that she had managed to keep it busy, preventing it from offering more than token attacks like the spectral claw she¡¯d just dodged. Another such claw manifested, sweeping down with thunderous force. Talia kicked off the ground, propelling herself to the side just in time to avoid the impact. However, it sent a rippling shockwave across the earth, eliciting a brief stumble. She recovered quickly, but even that tiny delay was enough to give the witchdoctor an opening of attack. It appeared next to her, slamming its palm into her chest. Talia¡¯s entire system went wild. Her body seized, her every muscle cramping while her mana went out of control. Her active skills cancelled, and her momentum reasserted itself, sending her cartwheeling across the terrain only to come to a rest a few moments later. Broken bones protested as she attempted to pick herself up, but she ignored the pain. Looking down, Talia could see shards of bone protruding from her thigh, where they¡¯d ripped through her pants. Blood ¨C green and vibrant ¨C surrounded her, and she could feel her life waning. In the past, she might have considered letting it overtake her. Back then, her grip on her continued existence was tenuous at best, and she¡¯d often considered simply giving up. However, since her ascension ¨C and coming to Darukar ¨C she¡¯d found purpose as well as friendship. So, the thought of giving in never really manifested. Instead, she yanked a bottle of Heartsblood Elixir from her pouch, popped the cork, then swallowed the contents. Immediately, Talia felt the vitality flowing through her, and she redirected the powerful energy into [Recovery]. It was the simply named evolution of [Focused Reformation], and it had been a huge upgrade. Instantly, Talia¡¯s body mended. Her bones snapped back into place, and her pale flesh knitted itself together. In addition, she felt that her store of mana had completely recovered as well. Finally, a tiny trickle of vitality continued to suffuse her, and she knew from experience that it would work toward healing any damage she sustained for the next hour. But with that power came limits. The skill was only usable once every few hours, regardless of how many hearts she consumed ¨C either via mastication or by way of Heartsblood Elixirs ¨C which meant that, if she incurred enough damage to outpace the trickle of healing, she would die. Regardless, it saved her life, and not just because of the healing itself. Indeed, the witchdoctor, clearly thinking that she was vulnerable, had finally ceased its constant teleportation and had reappeared beside her. Talia, in perfect condition, launched herself at the monster. She used [Frigid Claws] and [Plague Strike], enveloping her claws in a swirl of white and green. The former was the evolution of [Chill of Undeath], and though its effects hadn¡¯t changed with the skill¡¯s transformation, they had grown far more potent. As a result, the slowing effect was incredibly effective. [Plague Strike] remained unchanged because she¡¯d had no luck in trying to upgrade it. Even as she threw herself forward, she used [Calcification], extending and hardening her claws. They ripped into the unsuspecting witchdoctor, eviscerating the monster with seven furious strikes before it recovered its wits enough to teleport away. However, before it disappeared, Talia opened her mouth wide and used [Bone Rot], which was one of her new skills. A cloud of black smoke erupted from between her lips, enveloping the monster. It disappeared a second later, but Talia felt certain that the skill had done its job, which was to weaken her foe¡¯s endurance by a large degree. And when the thing reappeared a second later ¨C almost a hundred yards away ¨C it stumbled, falling into one of the ruined buildings. That¡¯s when Talia pounced, racing across the intervening distance to bury her elongated claws in the creature¡¯s stomach. They only managed to go a few inches in, but that was enough for her to deliver another dose of [Frigid Claws] and [Plague Strike]. More importantly, she used her other hand to activate [Flood of Death]. She didn¡¯t bother aiming it. Instead, the concentrated rot erupted out of her in a wave of pure, black death. It crashed into the witchdoctor like a physical thing, and the creature panicked, teleporting away once again. When it reappeared, it was only a few dozen yards away. That told Talia that she was making progress. However, that didn¡¯t mean the monster was down for the count. Indeed ¨C it was a level eight-seven powerhouse, which meant that it had stores of endurance and vitality that dwarfed her own. With that in mind, she continued to chase the monster across the landscape. Vaguely, she was aware of Zeke¡¯s furious battle with the curious specters, but she couldn¡¯t spare any attention for that. If anyone was suited to survive such a situation, it was him. He would endure, just like he always did. For her part, Talia engaged every point of agility and dexterity to keep up with the witchdoctor. Even with it having been weakened, the task was nearly insurmountable. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that it clearly didn¡¯t specialize in endurance or strength, she never could have made any progress. But as it was, she was barely capable of whittling it down. Still, it took hours which, because of Talia¡¯s increased speed ¨C and the perception that came with it ¨C every passing second felt like an eternity. Even so, she kept going, maintaining her focus even when her concentration began to wane. And gradually, her efforts bore fruit. The monster slowed with every attack, and it clearly didn¡¯t have the ability to regenerate from the damage Talia caused. Finally, the thing collapsed, and she thought she¡¯d managed to defeat it. However, an eruption of green light made the error of her assumption clear. It threw her backward, and once again, she found herself tumbling across the landscape. When Talia finally looked up, she saw that the witchdoctor had grown to nearly twenty feet tall. Its muscles rippled and bulged grotesquely, and cracks had appeared across its misshapen body. From those cracks leaked green light. It let out a roar. And then, out of nowhere, Zeke appeared. His huge, [Titan] form was even larger than the transformed ratongi, and its majestic appearance made the humanoid rodent look even shabbier than ever. His hammer descended, crushing into the thing¡¯s bulbous shoulder. Even from so far away, Talia heard bones crunching, followed by the monster¡¯s agonized screech. She expected it to teleport away, but it seemed that the transformation had robbed it of that ability. Clearly, it had traded mobility for strength, powering the metamorphosis with the green specters that had since disappeared. That was a mistake. Because while it could stand toe-to-toe with someone like Talia, it definitely couldn¡¯t do the same against a monster like Zeke. And he made that abundantly clear as he once again brought his hammer to bear. It fell with gruesome finality, smashing through the creature¡¯s upraised hand and into its rat-like face. Still, it didn¡¯t immediately die. So, as was his typical pattern of attack, Zeke kept going. One momentous blow after another fell upon the monster until, at last, it perished. Talia was flooded with kill energy, pushing her to level sixty-nine. Meanwhile, she lay there, exhausted, both mentally as well as physically. Normally, she didn¡¯t have to deal with the latter, but the battle had gone on far longer than normal, and she had been forced to push herself to the brink. But they had won. That had to count for something. Now, they only needed to combine the pieces and head through that temple gate. What dangers the mountain beyond might hold, she didn¡¯t know. But she expected it would push them both to their limits. 489. The Garden The mountain loomed, somehow seeming even larger than it had the first time they¡¯d visited. By comparison, the temple at its base was small and insignificant. Yet, the only way to the pass that would lead to the summit was through the temple gate. Thankfully, the quest had been completed, as evidenced by the key Zeke held in his hand. The item itself didn¡¯t seem particularly special. Just a large, brass key wrapped around an onyx gem. Yet, Zeke could feel the power wafting off of it. ¡°I hope the room isn¡¯t as restrictive as it was the first time,¡± Zeke said aloud. He could traverse it, especially now that he¡¯d upgraded [Triune Colossus] to [Titan]. Yet, if the restrictions were still in place, Talia would never make it through without being carried. Which she most assuredly would not appreciate. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it will be,¡± Talia stated in her raspy voice. ¡°Unless it¡¯s another test,¡± he countered. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Not going to find out until we go,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Stay close, just in case.¡± After that, he stepped forward, climbing the steps into the temple. Inside, it was much the same as it had been the first time he¡¯d passed through, though when they reached the gate room, he felt no restrictions. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, glancing at his companion. She nodded curtly. ¡°I feel nothing.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Zeke said. Then, he led her to the gate itself. There wasn¡¯t anything so mundane as a key hole, which begged the question of how to proceed. However, the moment he came within a couple of feet, the door swung inward, revealing a large garden on the other side. With Talia close on his heels, he strode through, and as soon as they had passed into the garden, the doors clanged shut. Zeke remarked, ¡°I guess that means there¡¯s no going back.¡± ¡°Not as if that was an option. Dungeons are about moving forward, not going backwards,¡± Eveline provided, having manifested next to him. She¡¯d taken to doing that more often of late, so her illusory presence wasn¡¯t as jarring as it once might have been. Talia said, ¡°I agree. The summit awaits.¡± She stepped past Zeke and followed the winding path through the garden. Zeke came after, scanning the area for any threats. But it was just a normal ¨C albeit beautiful ¨C garden. Most of the plants were unrecognizable, but that was no great surprise. Zeke had never been a horticulturist, so one plant looked much the same as another to him. Still, he did see a couple of rose bushes, some tulips, and even a stand of orchids. Otherwise, the garden featured a host of water features like natural-looking streams and waterfalls, a few fountains, and a couple of large ponds stocked with fat carp. In every way Zeke could see, it was an idyllic garden. Which was why he found it so unnerving. For weeks, they¡¯d fought for every step they took through the jungle. So, to finally find peace within the garden was more than a little jarring. He knew it wouldn¡¯t last, though. ¡°Just enjoy it while it does,¡± Eveline said, walking beside him. She took a deep breath, then let it out. ¡°You really should put something like this in the tower. It¡¯s important to take a step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. How is the pie making going?¡± ¡°You know the answer to that question,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Why did you abandon it?¡± ¡°Do I seem like I have time to make pies?¡± he asked. Indeed, he already had so much on his proverbial plate. Between needing to push himself for progression, fight wars, work on his skills, and the quest to inoculate himself against his own destructive will, Zeke had more than he could handle. ¡°You¡¯re going to burn yourself out.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not going to change, are you?¡± Eveline asked. That was a good question. Zeke had long sought to develop interests outside of his quest for progression. But the reality was that, even if he had the time to spare, he¡¯d have preferred to use it doing something productive. Like working on his skills, which was the closest thing he had to a hobby. It wasn¡¯t precisely enjoyable ¨C though that was close to describing it. Rather, it was satisfying, seeing everything click into place and work the way he¡¯d intended. ¡°When your relaxing hobby has a chance of blowing up in your face and killing you, it doesn¡¯t really count,¡± Eveline said. Zeke recognized that as well. Certainly, he knew just how quickly meddling with runes could go wrong. He¡¯d spent months as a half-armored monstrosity because he¡¯d made a mistake while trying to create [Armor of the Colossus]. And that was probably the tamest representation of the consequences of skill-crafting mistakes. As Eveline had said, if he made a misstep while creating a skill, it could easily tear him to pieces. Yet, that was part of what made it so enticing. The danger of it all heightened the whole experience. It was like doing battle with the underlying forces of the universe. ¡°You¡¯re a thrill seeker, then,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke shrugged. ¡°Maybe.¡± That characterization fit pretty well, if Zeke was honest. He loved fighting. Part of that was his competitive nature, but the sheer adrenaline rush of a life-and-death struggle was at least as impactful on his demeanor. The same could be said for war, which was just a larger scale fight. And the painful process of inoculating himself against his will was just a war of a different sort. A battle against a piece of himself, and one he needed to win if he had any chance of survival. Finally, there was the addictive process of progression. That appealed to his most basic personality, which was built around constant improvement. It had been the driving force of his life back on Earth, and that hadn¡¯t changed with his death and reincarnation. He didn¡¯t just want to reach the top. He needed it. And he knew that if, for whatever reason, he failed, it would absolutely devastate him to the point where recovery would be nigh impossible. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Glutton for punishment and an adrenaline junkie,¡± Eveline said with a shake of her head. The image shimmered slightly, evidence that she wasn¡¯t physically there. ¡°That¡¯s what I like about you, Ezekiel. You¡¯re simple.¡± ¡°I like to think of it as uncomplicated, but okay,¡± Zeke said with a wry smile. After that, they continued along the garden path. It continuously sloped upward, going on for what seemed like miles. That wasn¡¯t so surprising, considering the sheer size of the mountain and the trail¡¯s winding nature. However, it did lull both Talia and Zeke into inattentiveness. When nothing changed, it was natural to let one¡¯s mind wander, after all. Eventually, they reached a large, tranquil pond. Atop the surface of the water were drifting lily pads, each one at least ten feet wide. However, Zeke was more concerned with the creatures encircling it. Like the other factions they¡¯d encountered in the jungle, these new monsters were humanoid beasts. This time, though, they were clearly based on frogs. With huge, bulbous heads, rubbery skin, and legs that looked capable of propelling them huge distances, the monsters paid no attention to Zeke and Talia. Instead, they stood around the pond, their hands raised in exultation. Zeke used [Inspect] on the nearest one: Amphibinid ¨C Level 61 ¡°What do you think?¡± Zeke asked aloud. They were far enough away from the creatures that he felt secure in the expectation that they would not be heard. Besides, the creatures looked completely distracted by whatever activity in which they were engaged. ¡°We must kill them,¡± Talia said. ¡°You think?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Maybe we could sneak past.¡± Eveline let out a chuckle. ¡°You are many things, but stealthy is not one of them,¡± she said. ¡°The girl could likely do it, though.¡± ¡°They could be peaceful. The ratongi were at first,¡± he argued. ¡°They are summoning something,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°We don¡¯t know that,¡± Zeke countered. ¡°I think we do. Look,¡± Talia said, gesturing to the pond, where the water at the center had begun to bubble. Even as the bubbling increased in intensity, so too did the croaking chants of the amphibinids. It was not a pleasant chorus. After a moment, a giant tentacle lashed out, grabbing one of the creatures and dragging it into the pond. Then, one by one, more tentacles erupted from the water and snatched the frog-like creatures until, at last, they were all gone. The water stilled, and the peace of the garden returned. ¡°What the hell are we supposed to do now?¡± Zeke asked. Just then, another notification flashed before his inner eye: New Quest Acquired! Quest: The First Challenge Objective: Defeat the Guardian of the Deep Reward: Safe Passage to the Second Challenge ¡°You get that, too?¡± Zeke asked. Talia nodded, and he added, ¡°Pretty sure those tentacles belonged to the guardian of the deep.¡± ¡°That is a fair assumption,¡± Talia said. ¡°How do we get it to come up?¡± he asked. Neither Talia nor Eveline had any answers for that, so Zeke leaned into his straightforward manner. He approached the pond cautiously, ready to fend off any tentacles that might emerge. However, when he reached the shore, nothing happened. He waited there for a few minutes, even splashing the water a bit, but it remained just as calm as ever. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to do this,¡± he muttered, eyeing the water. ¡°Go on. Be our bait,¡± Eveline said with a giggle. He said, ¡°You¡¯re riding shotgun in my head, right? If I¡¯m bait, so are you.¡± ¡°That¡­well, let¡¯s not talk about that. Go on. Dive in and fetch us a tentacle monster,¡± she said cheerfully. Zeke sighed. Truthfully, it was probably smarter to send Talia. She was much faster, and her abilities wouldn¡¯t sink her to the bottom like using [Titan] would. However, he wasn¡¯t willing to foist that responsibility onto his companion. So, after stripping down to his underwear, Zeke waded into the pond. However, when he dove in, he found something incredibly surprising. Surfacing, he shouted back, ¡°It¡¯s only about ten feet deep!¡± ¡°What about the tentacle monster?¡± asked Talia. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. After that, he dove back in and began a search. Yet, no matter how much he inspected the area, there was no evidence of the monster. It just wasn¡¯t there. Nor were there any fish, amphibians, or reptiles. There weren¡¯t even any bugs. It was entirely desolate, as if the creature had eaten everything in the pond. After almost an hour of swimming around, Zeke returned to the shore and climbed out. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked. Talia admitted that she had no idea what to do. The quest was to defeat the guardian of the deep, but there seemed to be a hidden sub-quest to find the creature first. So, Zeke settled down, and as he air dried, he pondered the dilemma. Perhaps if they could find some more of those frog creatures, they could use them to summon the monster. But wherever they¡¯d come from, it wasn¡¯t anywhere Zeke or Talia had seen. So, that plan seemed like a bit of a non-starter. ¡°Any suggestions?¡± he asked Eveline. ¡°Nothing yet,¡± she answered. ¡°Which is frustrating. I¡¯m supposed to be the brains of this operation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely not true,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Well, of course you wouldn¡¯t realize it. Underlings never do,¡± she said. Zeke wanted to argue, but before the words left his mouth, an idea sprouted in his mind. He didn¡¯t give voice to it. Instead, he headed back into the garden, following the winding path until he reached another, much smaller pond. He looked down on the water, seeing exactly what he¡¯d hoped to find. ¡°Carp?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°You can read my mind. You know what I have planned.¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked. ¡°It might work. It might not.¡± ¡°Way to sit on the fence,¡± he muttered. Then, he dove into the pond. With his high stats, catching the fish proved trivial, and before long, he¡¯d tossed five of the large carp onto shore. Over the next half hour, he gotten nearly every fish in the pond, and when he returned to the shore, they¡¯d suffocated. Seeing that, he wasted no time before throwing them into his storage space. ¡°Think that¡¯s enough?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°You¡¯re right. I should get more.¡± After that, Zeke became a fisherman, and he visited every pond in the garden. After that first pond, he adjusted his method, though. Instead of diving in, he simply slapped his hammer against the water, and the resulting shockwave killed the fish. Once they¡¯d died, it was simple to gather them. Still, it took him nearly an entire day to finish the task, but by the time he returned to the larger pond at the end of the garden, he had gathered a huge pile of fish. He tossed a few hundred pounds into the pond, then arranged the remainder into a trail that led away from the water. There, he emptied his storage of fish. The resulting pile was taller than he was. ¡°I hope that¡¯s enough,¡± he said, his hands on his hips. ¡°You smell like dead fish,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You do,¡± Talia agreed. ¡°It is not pleasant.¡± Zeke was about to respond when he saw the water bubbling in the center of the pond. A moment later, a tentacle emerged. However, unlike before, it was tentative, creeping onto shore until it reached the first fish in the trail. It snatched its meal, reeling it back into the pond. But another tentacle replaced it a second later. Over and over, the same scene repeated until, at last, Zeke got a good look at the monster. It was enormous, slimy, and equipped with a hundred bulbous heads. He used [Inspect]: Cueyatl ¨C Level 81 It crawled free of the pond, dragging itself across the ground toward the pile of fish and exposing its monstrous body. Zeke had never seen anything like it, but it looked like a hundred-headed frog that had been crossed with an octopus. But somehow, it was more nightmarish, a trait that probably had something to do with its high level and enormous size. Its tentacles plopped against the ground, dragging it forward. The awkward motions told Zeke that, on dry land, it was completely out of its element. That gave him some hope that it would be a winnable fight. Because he suspected that if he tried to battle that monster in the water, he would be at an extreme disadvantage. ¡°Are we ready?¡± he asked in a whisper. He and Talia had positioned themselves a little further into the garden, where they¡¯d hidden themselves behind a bush. From there, they watched as the cueyatl descended upon the small mountain of fish, sticky tongues snapping out from each of the hundred heads to reelin in another fish. Talia nodded. Zeke took a deep breath, then stomped on the ground, sending a line of destruction to erupt across the landscape. A second later, a column of fire, earth, and corruption exploded beneath the monster as the battle began. 490. The Guardian of the Deep The guardian of the deep ¨C called a cueyatl ¨C emerged from the pillar of flame and corruption like a storm of tentacles. Zeke met it with an overhand hammer-strike. In his titanic form, he was more than twenty feet tall, but even so, the mass of furiously waving tentacles towered above him. And when his hammer fell, they acted as a shield against the blow, slowing the weapon down just enough to keep it from crushing the monster¡¯s body to paste. Still, the creature was strong enough to take the hit and return the attack with a barrage of tentacles that battered Zeke into the ground. Then, they darted out, wrapping around Zeke¡¯s body, and before he could muster a reaction, they lifted him from the ground and threw him back into the garden. Even as Zeke flew through the air, he twisted so he could keep track of the massive frog-like creature. Yet, when he laid eyes on it, he saw nothing but its backside as it retreated to the pond. Zeke tumbled through the air, hitting one of the meticulously cultivated bushes before rolling to a stop nearly a hundred yards away from the original battlefield. ¡°Don¡¯t let it get to the pond!¡± he shouted, already using [Colossal Army] as he picked himself up. The group of golems emerged, then raced toward the fleeing cueyatl. Zeke followed, though he knew he wouldn¡¯t catch it. The thing wasn¡¯t fast on dry ground, but it had enough strength, agility, and dexterity to make up for the unsuitability of the environment. But Zeke was more concerned with what might happen when it reached the pond. The task was to defeat the guardian of the deep, and it had already demonstrated that it could disappear within the pond. So, Zeke suspsected that if they allowed it to reach the water, completing their objective would be far more difficult. Perhaps even impossible. That was the first thing on his mind as he raced across the garden in pursuit of the monster. However, it quickly became apparent that neither ne nor his golems would reach it in time. So, it was a good thing that they weren¡¯t alone. Talia slashed in, moving almost too quickly for Zeke to even perceive, and she leaped upon the monster¡¯s moist, rubbery back. Its tentacles ¨C at least the ones it wasn¡¯t using to drag itself back toward the pond ¨C went wild trying to dislodge her, but Talia used her incredible speed to great advantage, deftly dodging the frenzied appendages. At the same time, she fell upon the monster¡¯s back with all the fury she could muster. Her extended claws raked out, blurring with speed as she ripped into the creature. Blood and blubber flew, but Zeke could tell that Talia¡¯s claws did no real damage. Yet, that wasn¡¯t really the point. Instead, each wound was merely a delivery mechanism for her other skills. One spread rot, while the other noticeably slowed the creature until it was barely creeping across the ground. But it wasn¡¯t enough to kill it. Talia was deadly. However, her skills tended toward slow and steady, which meant that it would take her hours to kill such a powerful monster. That was more time than they had, because the creature hadn¡¯t ceased its continuous crawl toward the pond. Upon reaching the monster, Zeke swung his hammer with all his might, activating Voromir¡¯s ability for good measure. Yet, when the weapon hit, it rebounded violently, bouncing back with enough force to overbalance Zeke. He spun around, almost falling over. It was almost like jumping on a trampoline. As he struggled to recover from the stumble, the golems fell upon the creature, throwing their javelins with unerring aim. The bronze weapons pierced the cueyatl¡¯s hide, though their tips barely penetrated, and they fell free after the first tug. Zeke¡¯s mind whirled. The creature felt almost invulnerable, especially to his brand of attack. Talia¡¯s claws could barely wound the thing, but even that was better than blunt force. As he thought, he once again stomped on the ground, sending another [Hell Geyser] to bathe the monster in flames. But it wasn¡¯t until they faded that Zeke came upon a viable strategy. The thing was aquatic by nature. ¡°I think amphibious is the right word,¡± Eveline helpfully pointed out. ¡°Right. Whatever. But it needs water,¡± Zeke said, noting the steam rising from the creature¡¯s rubbery skin. There were only hints of blisters ¨C solidifying that it was a monster of incredible endurance ¨C but their presence had provided fuel for a leap of intuition that Zeke felt certain would bear fruit. ¡°It needs the water, I think. That¡¯s why it¡¯s so eager to get back.¡± ¡°Or maybe it just wants to escape.¡± ¡°Either way, we want to keep it away, right?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°That is true.¡± ¡°And even if it doesn¡¯t kill it or make it more vulnerable, we¡¯ll give Talia¡¯s rot a chance to work,¡± Zeke explained. ¡°As good a plan as any. How are you going to do it?¡± Eveline asked. Zeke answered, ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± The conversation had taken place over the course of a split second, and once it was done, Zeke rocketed forward. However, he didn¡¯t follow his normal pattern of attack. He didn¡¯t leap into battle, recklessly swinging his hammer. Instead, he veered off to the side, using his incredibly long legs to cover an incredible amount of ground in seconds. Circling, he didn¡¯t stop until he was standing between the grotesquely tentacled, multi-headed frog-monster. For its part, the creature was so hellbent on reaching the pond that it barely even noticed Zeke¡¯s presence, much less altered its course. Zeke met it, not with his hammer, but with a shoulder tackle that stopped its progress cold. Then, he grabbed a couple of handfuls of tentacle, then wrenched dashed away. All the while, Talia remained atop the monster, steadily attacking it with her claws. The creature went wild, slapping its tentacles around with reckless abandon. Zeke bore the attacks stoically, only stopping when the creature tried to encircle him like a boa constrictor. Even then, he paused only long enough to dislodge those tentacles before resuming his charge away from the pond. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Leveraging his massive strength, Zeke dragged the monster away. It didn¡¯t go easily or without reaction. However, in his new form, Zeke was capable of enduring an enormous amount of punishment. On top of that, his increased power made dragging even the huge cueyatl possible. Zeke endured a thousand lashing attacks as he bent his back to the task, and with every passing moment, the blows grew weaker. That wasn¡¯t to say that he didn¡¯t take damage. He did. However, with [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] fueling his regeneration, it was nothing more than what he¡¯d experienced a hundred times before. By that point, Zeke was well acquainted with pain as well as the destruction of his own body. Long minutes passed as the giant, hundred-headed and tentacled frog monster grew simultaneously more frenzied and weaker until, at last, it couldn¡¯t muster the strength to lift its own tentacles. But it wasn¡¯t dead. Zeke let the tentacles fall from his grip, noting that the thing¡¯s rubber skin was as dry as parchment. Zeke also saw thick, black veins coursing just below the surface, hinting at the rot Talia had steadily inflicted upon the creature. ¡°It¡¯ll probably die on its own, now,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke said, summoning his hammer. But then, on second though, he realized that it was a poor tool for the job at hand. So, he dismissed it back into his spatial storage and leaped upon the creature¡¯s bulbous body. Its hundred heads wheezed in pain, and a couple tried to bite him. But the attacks lacked follow-through or strength. As Eveline had suggested, it was already dying. That fact hadn¡¯t put a stop to Talia¡¯s efforts, though. She continued to slice into the monster¡¯s increasingly delicate skin. She¡¯d yet to make it through the thick layer of blubber, but it was only a matter of time before she hit something vital. Zeke considered letting her complete the task, but in the end, he chose to participate. Time was of the essence, and they¡¯d already spent longer within the dungeon than either had anticipated. Who knew what the situation was outside? Talia¡¯s friend was still dying, and the sooner they could complete their task, the sooner they could save Adriel. So, without further consideration, Zeke clasped his giant hands around the first head he could reach, then wrenched it in the wrong direction. Twisting, he continued pulling until he heard bones cracking. That elicited a chorus of screeches that only grew more cacophonous as he continued his task. Eventually, without the bones holding it together, the head tore free, showering Zeke in blubber as well as blood. He tossed it aside and set his sights on the next head. It recoiled from his gaze, clearly terrified. But Zeke couldn¡¯t be bothered with empathy. Instead, he wrapped his arms around it, then continued his disgusting task. As he did, he spared a thought for the sheer durability on display. The monster was on its last leg, with its vitality having been drained by the dry setting as well as Talia¡¯s continued assault, and yet, it still lived. Even when Zeke had torn a dozen heads from its body, it continued to struggle. It highlighted the fact that, even with his enormous power, Zeke wouldn¡¯t be rewarded with many quick kills. Going forward, his opponents would be capable of enduring well past the point where they should have succumbed. That was the case with the Knight he¡¯d fought on the Mukti Plains, and the same was true of every powerful foe he¡¯d encountered since then. ¡°The real issue is going to be when you can¡¯t incapacitate a monster,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Think about trying to finish this thing off if it was still capable of whipping those tentacles around.¡± ¡°I had a plan for that.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I was going to tear them off first,¡± Zeke admitted. He¡¯d hoped he wouldn¡¯t have to, but if his plan to dry the monster out had failed, he was prepared to take those steps. The situation also confirmed that dungeons were meant to be conquered. Certainly, doing so was no easy task. But there was always a way to overcome the obstacles. In most cases, Zeke didn¡¯t bother with the contrived mechanics ¨C he¡¯d found that simply beating the problem to death was more his speed ¨C but they were there, nonetheless. The real issue was that, in the outside world, there was often no established route to victory. No contrived situations. Instead, it was a measure of power ¨C be it personal, situational, or one of armies ¨C that would decide conflicts in the real world. Those thoughts occupied a part of Zeke¡¯s mind as he slowly tore the monster apart. With every passing minute, the task grew easier ¨C both by virtue of the dry environment and Talia¡¯s efforts ¨C until he was ripping the heads off without much in the way of difficulty. And finally, when the last one came free, he received a flood of kill energy that pushed him closer to the next level. ¡°At this rate, I¡¯m going to reach level eighty before the end of this dungeon,¡± Zeke remarked inwardly. ¡°I thought you said it was going to slow down.¡± If anything, his pace felt faster than before. ¡°Most people can¡¯t kill monsters ten levels higher than them, and if they can, they must do so with the help of an army,¡± Eveline said. ¡°The Framework wasn¡¯t built for someone like you.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± And it was. Perhaps he would reach the peak much more quickly than expected. Especially with [Titan], which made him feel almost invincible. Idly, he wondered how he would fare against something like the Blood Wraith, now. Its power had felt overwhelming back in Min Ferilik, but he¡¯d gained so much since then. ¡°That monster would still destroy you. It is at the absolute pinnacle of power for this realm,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°You¡¯re powerful, but you¡¯re at least ten levels from even standing on the same stage as that thing.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke allowed, though his mind already whirled with the possibility of fighting something that could truly push him to his limits. The cueyatl had been strong, but it had fallen much more easily than Zeke had expected. As such, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little disappointed by the encounter. He enjoyed the influx of kill energy, and he would never turn down a victory, but still ¨C it wasn¡¯t the epic battle he¡¯d hoped for. ¡°Be careful what you wish for,¡± Eveline cautioned. ¡°I suspect that this dungeon will throw something truly powerful at you before everything is said and done.¡± Zeke glanced back at Talia, who¡¯d managed to dig a sizable hole in the monster¡¯s back. He called out, ¡°Are you okay back there?¡± Talia poked her head out of the hole, then pushed her hair out of her face before saying, ¡°I am fine. The monster never touched me.¡± ¡°Oh. Good. Then, you might want to get out of there, because I¡¯m going to loot now,¡± he replied. After that, they both climbed down before Zeke used his looting ability to take anything useful from the creature. Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t much. A few bones. A couple of organs that might be useful for his crafters in the tower. But the meat had been completely ruined by Talia¡¯s efforts. Or perhaps it had never been edible. Given the look of the creature, that wouldn¡¯t have been surprising. Whatever the case, the loot was disappointing, but that hadn¡¯t been his goal. Instead, Zeke only wanted to satisfy the terms of the dungeon quest. And according to his notifications, they¡¯d managed to do just that. He and Talia approached the pond only to see that the water had completely drained, revealing a muddy expanse, in the center of which was a large staircase leading downward. The next notification made their path clear: New Quest Acquired! Quest: The Second Challenge Objective: Navigate the Labyrinth and Reach the Stairway Reward: The Key to Heaven ¡°Alright, then,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Unless you see another path¡­¡± ¡°I do not,¡± Talia stated. ¡°Then off we go,¡± he stated. With that, Zeke trudged forward, his feet squelching against the sticky mud until he reached the stairs. They were made of ancient stone and coated in algae, but otherwise, they looked normal enough. So, he stepped forward, with Talia following close on his heels. However, when they were both fully underground, the stairs disintegrated into dust. Zeke flailed, trying to find something to which he could grab hold. But there was nothing but open air. He fell into the darkness, his mind reeling. 491. Freefall Zeke threw out his arms in an effort to arrest his fall. It was only marginally successful, so he also decreased his weight as much as possible. That helped, too ¨C at least from his biased perspective ¨C though as he fell, he knew he was in some degree of danger. Unfortunately, he could see nothing. Nor could he hear anything over the rushing wind. It was as if there was nothing but a great and endless void through which he would eternally fall. Then, after some indeterminate amount of time, he saw a green light in the distance. At first, it was only a pinprick of illumination, but over the next few minutes, it slowly resolved itself into a vast landscape of alien flora. There were no trees. No bushes, either. Instead, mushrooms as large as redwoods stretched from one horizon to another. Zeke couldn¡¯t see what was beneath that fungal canopy, but he suspected that itw as dangerous. So, he guided his fall ¨C like a skydiver ¨C toward the center of one of those enormous mushrooms. And as he drew closer, he realized that each one was even larger than he¡¯d first expected. It was a trick of distance, and an effective one at that. By the time he thudded into the surface of one of the mushroom caps, Zeke had discovered that each mushroom was bigger than the largest skyscraper back on Earth, with enormous caps that spread out for hundreds of yards in each direction. As he picked himself up, he inspected his own condition. Such a fall, even having reached terminal velocity, was far from enough to harm him. However, the sudden stop had been uncomfortable. So, he used [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to heal himself. That¡¯s when he fell to his knees, coughing blood. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Talia, whose fall had been much more graceful. She had landed on her feet, rolling to dissipate momentum, and she looked entirely unharmed. Zeke didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he focused on his own body. The minor discomfort from the fall, he ignored, and it didn¡¯t take him long to pinpoint the problem. He¡¯d been poisoned on enough occasions that he knew precisely what it felt like when his organs started to shut down. So, that prompted two reactions. The first was to pulse his Will, letting it suffuse his body in an effort to destroy whatever had ailment had infected him. He knew from experience just how effective that could be, so he trusted that even the slighted trickle of his Path of Arcane Destruction would take care of that issue. Next, he flared [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], using what little demonic mana in the air to fuel it. There wasn¡¯t much, so he followed that up by enacting his domains. Even then, with the explosive regeneration from the corruption fueled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], the sickness was slow to retreat. For a moment, Zeke was back in the Mortal Realm and fighting an assassin¡¯s poison, though that only lasted a few seconds before his powerful abilities pushed it away. He coughed again, and this time, more than just blood came up. There were balls of mucus-covered seeds as well. ¡°Spores, more likely. And look closer. Your organs were not shutting down.¡± Zeke had long developed a supernatural awareness of his own body. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was due to his level, his path, or something else he didn¡¯t understand, but he could feel his injuries well enough to diagnose them with a frightening degree of accuracy. So, when he looked inward, he could tell right away what the problem was. ¡°Tumors.¡± Indeed, the malignant growths attached to his organs and bones were recognizable enough, especially given Zeke¡¯s familiarity with cancer. After all, his own brother had fought that deadly disease for years. So, Zeke knew precisely what he was looking at. Thankfully, with his combination of Will and his healing skill, the cancerous growths had shrunk down to nothing. And even as he watched, they disappeared completely. However, there were others trying to take hold throughout his body. With every passing second, they would grow worse, provided he let down his guard for even a second. ¡°This place is called the Pillar of Life,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°And what is cancer if not unchecked growth. We should have expected this.¡± Zeke pushed himself to his feet. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked allowed, focusing on Talia. ¡°I am fine. Are you?¡± Zeke then explained what had been happening, then asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you affected?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Perhaps it does not affect undead. We are not creatures of life, after all. I suspect that if any of the others in Darukar were to enter this place, they would be killed by the heavy influx of vitality.¡± ¡°But not you.¡± ¡°I am special,¡± she admitted. ¡°From the very beginning, vitality has failed to affect me. I believe it is because of the circumstances of my¡­resurrection. I am neither alive nor undead, but rather, somewhere in between.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Eveline remarked, appearing. ¡°You may be unique.¡± ¡°Nothing is unique,¡± Talia said. ¡°There are others like me. Perhaps not in his realm, but in the next.¡± She said it with enough conviction that Zeke wanted to believe her. However, he knew that she was being a little na?ve. Perhaps uniqueness was a myth, but that didn¡¯t mean there were others like Talia walking their realm or the next. It was more likely that, even if someone like her had existed in the past, they were already dead and gone. But Zeke didn¡¯t say that. Instead, he said, ¡°We should get a move on. Every second I stand here, there¡¯s a chance that the spores or the cancer will overcome my abilities.¡± With that, they gathered their wits and set off across the enormous mushroom. It took about an hour to reach the edge of the cap, but there was only a tiny gap between it and the next. ¡°Down?¡± Zeke asked. Then, he gestured across the canopy, adding, ¡°This doesn¡¯t really look like a labyrinth, does it? I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s on the ground.¡± ¡°Perhaps. But what else is down there?¡± asked Talia. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Zeke didn¡¯t know the answer to that question. When he peered through the small gap between mushrooms, he could see only darkness. For all he knew, there was an endless expanse of nothingness beneath them. Logic dictated that there was a ground far below, but sometimes magic and logic were completely incompatible. After everything Zeke had seen, he would take nothing for granted. Even the existence of a ground. Those thoughts did nothing to provide an answer, though. So, without enough information to make an informed choice, he and Talia agreed that traveling atop the canopy was their best option. However, the issues with that decision presented themselves only a few hours later when Zeke heard a distinct chirping sound. Then, another. And another after that. Soon enough, it sounded like they were surrounded by high-pitched chainsaws. That¡¯s when he saw the source of the noise. ¡°This isn¡¯t good,¡± he muttered to himself. He¡¯d already adopted his titanic form ¨C the extra endurance helped with the spores as well as the cancerous growths inside of him ¨C so as he faced off against a horde of insects, he only had to summon Voromir to ready himself for battle. But as they drew closer, he took an involuntary step back. ¡°Nope. Just nope.¡± They looked a little like crickets, which explained the chirping sounds. However, these creatures differed from mundane crickets in a few different ways. The most obvious was size. Instead of being an inch long, these monsters were the size of elephants, and when they drew close enough for Zeke to inspect them, he saw that their levels were on par with their monstrous size. Crickeloch ¨C level 74 The others Zeke managed to inspect ranged from level seventy-three all the way up to level seventy-nine. And there were thousands of them. Some sailed through the air, propelled by large legs. Others crept forward like cockroaches, skittering across the fungal canopy with deceptive speed. The other differences between the monsters and the smaller versions with which Zeke was already familiar were, at first glance, cosmetic. Chitinous spikes where there should be none, oversized mandibles, and scorpion-like tails gave them a chimeric appearance that Zeke found incredibly unsettling. ¡°I hate bugs,¡± he muttered. Even going back to the spider-like drachnids he¡¯d fought shortly after climbing out of the troll caves, he had nurtured a strong dislike for all things creepy, crawly, and chitinous. By that point, the crickelochs had closed in on Zeke and Talia, so he focused on Voromir¡¯s ability and swung. That resulted in the manifestation of a huge, blood red copy of the weapon, which arced out with inevitable force. When it hit, though, Zeke was both surprised and disappointed to see that the effect was limited. A few were knocked aside, but most that had found themselves in its path had leaped over it before continuing their charge. Then, another set of chirping echoed from behind. Zeke wheeled around to see more crickelochs closing in from the other direction. All in all, there were tens of thousands of the monsters, the horde stretching as far as Zeke could see. And he knew that, despite his power, the odds of making it through the ensuing battle would be slim. Even worse for Talia. She was fast. But everyone made mistakes. Eventually, she¡¯d take hits. And those would add up to where she could no longer go on. It was inevitable, given the sheer number and power of the oncoming monsters. ¡°We should retreat!¡± he shouted. ¡°Where?!¡± ¡°The gap! We can take our chances with whatever¡¯s down below,¡± Zeke answered. That decision was based on two things. First, he didn¡¯t see as how they had much of a chance. Certainly, he could make a valiant effort, and he could kill hundreds ¨C perhaps even thousands of the monsters ¨C before they took him out. But he would eventually fall. It was inevitable. But more than that, Zeke could recognize that this was one of those situations where the dungeon was trying to guide them in a specific direction. It was just like the cyclops back in the first dungeon he¡¯d run. It wasn¡¯t meant to be fought. Instead, it had been intended as a means of funneling him to the next confrontation. Sure, Zeke had still killed it. And he could probably do the same with the crickelochs. The issue was that doing so would require the use of [Wrath of Annihilation], which would probably kill him and Talia as well. So, he resolved to take the dungeon¡¯s not-so-subtle guidance and follow the prescribed path. But to do so, he needed every ounce of power he could muster. With that in mind, he lowered his shoulder and charged the oncoming horde. His hammer took the first monster right between the mandibles, eliciting a shriek of pain as the crickeloch took the full brunt of Zeke¡¯s immense strength. However, the results were not what he expected, as the monster only stumbled a bit to the side. Clearly, it was even stronger than he¡¯d expected. The next monster crashed into him, and if he hadn¡¯t increased his weight at the last second, he would have been sent tumbling across the fungal landscape. Even having augmented his weight a hundred fold, he was still knocked a few dozen feet to the side. But Zeke didn¡¯t let that disorient him. Instead, he stomped on the ground, sending a line of destruction to tear across the mushroom cap and erupt into a fiery pillar of corruption that engulfed a handful of the overgrown insects. Then, he used [Shifting Sands], which resulted in another surprise. ¡°No ground, no skill!¡± shouted Eveline. Her commentary was unhelpful, considering that the skill had failed to activate. Zeke adjusted, throwing himself aside as another monster fell upon him. He followed that up with a spinning attack that rammed the head of his hammer into another of crickelochs¡¯ legs. It shattered beneath the weight of his blow, but Zeke didn¡¯t have time to admire the results. Instead, he was quickly buried beneath a mass of legs, chitin, and biting mandibles. A barbed tail whipped out, jamming into his shoulder and administering some sort of venom. Zeke ignored it, already having flared [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] to the best of his ability. At the same time, he activated [Colossal Army], and his golems joined the fight. The numbers were still so lopsided ¨C a hundred to one, at least ¨C that their help was like trying to put on a forest fire with a water hose. Which was to say it was entirely ineffective. The swarm of enormous insects piled atop him, and for the first time in quite a while, Zeke began to worry that he might lose a fight. Yet, he had plenty of options available. He just hesitated to use them until he was certain that Talia had gotten free. He shouted as loudly as he could, telling her to leave the area, but he had no way of knowing if she had made it before, at last, he was forced to bring his most damaging abilities to bear. First, he embraced his Will, braiding his attunements into his Worldbreaker technique. However, instead of just letting it loose, he used [Unleash Momentum]. His swing was obstructed by a hundred biting mandibles and slashing legs, but that didn¡¯t matter. The force of the skill had already been gathered. He only had to let it free. And he did. More, riding right alongside it was Worldbreaker. The results were both predictable and disappointing. Force and destruction ripped through the horde. The closest were ripped to shreds, and the ones further away were simply wounded. It was the first time Zeke had ever encountered anything that could stand up to his second-most-powerful skill, much less when it was laced with the Worldbreaker technique. The problem was that insects were packed so densely that they effectively sacrificed themselves to shield the ones further back. He also suspected that there was some sort of ability at work, though he had seen no true evidence of such. Regardless, while he¡¯d managed to kill a hundred or so of the crickelochs, there were plenty more to take their place. However, that attack had opened a corridor through which Zeke could gain momentum. He raced forward, his enormous body a match for any single crickeloch, and he shouldered his enemies out of the way. He wasn¡¯t trying to win the fight. Rather, he only wanted to escape. And as his legs churned with machine-like rhythm, he did just that. The monsters attempted to stop him, and there were a few points where his progress slowed to a crawl. But Zeke used his enormous stats ¨C as well as a trickle of his Will ¨C to bull his way through. Finally, hours later, he broke free. But the job wasn¡¯t done. His escape was still some distance away. So, he continued to run until, some interminable time later, he reached another gap between mushroom caps. Without hesitation ¨C and with a horde of crickelochs on his tail ¨C Zeke let [Titan] fall away and slid through the tiny gap. Then, just as he had upon leaving the garden behind, he found himself falling through a black abyss. 492. The Labyrinth Zeke splashed into a pool of tepid water, the impact burying him in the thick mud only a foot or two deep. As he unsuccessfully tried to extricate himself, a moment of panic gripped his mind, but it only lasted for a few moments before he broke free of the sticky mud and pushed himself to all fours. He¡¯d been falling for what felt like hours, but in reality had only been a few minutes. The problem had been the impenetrable darkness, which had surrounded him throughout his freefall until, at last, the ground had become visible far beneath him. It wasn¡¯t so different from his first freefall, and yet, it was different as well. Looking around, he couldn¡¯t deny that much, at least. There was enough light to see, all of it emanating from bioluminescent plants lining the swampy terrain. But only a few dozen feet away, Zeke saw an animal he very much didn¡¯t expect. ¡°Is that a stingray?¡± he muttered inwardly. Indeed, the creature looked a lot like the aquatic animals with which he was familiar. With mostly flat bodies and long tails, the resemblance was uncanny. However, there were a few key differences. The most obvious was that the thing was floating, not in water, but in mid-air. It hovered a few feet off the ground, drifting lazily about on an air current Zeke couldn¡¯t feel. The second major difference was the monster¡¯s size. It was at least thirty feet across and probably twice as long, with a thick torso to match. And finally, its back was decorated with bioluminescent spots that traveled up its spine, giving its grey-black hide definition. It was both horrifying ¨C due to its size and alien appearance ¨C and strangely beautiful. The same could be said for the rest of the terrain. On the one hand, it was a swamp, which came with quite a few unpalatable traits. Like the smell, which was a mixture of rotting compost, moisture, and all the worst parts of nature. Or the insidious creatures that inevitably lurked below the surface of the stagnant water. Yet, there was something hauntingly beautiful about it as well. ¡°It¡¯s the stillness,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°It¡¯s peaceful.¡± ¡°And the lights,¡± Zeke pointed out. Even on Earth, swamps had held a note of mysticism, especially at night. They were terrifying, too, but the two generally went hand-in-hand, at least from Zeke¡¯s experience. He continued to look around, hoping to catch sight of Talia. However, his efforts went unrewarded; clearly, she¡¯d leaped down from the mushroom canopy in a different spot. Or, in the back of his mind, Zeke couldn¡¯t deny the note of worry telling him that there was a chance that she hadn¡¯t made it at all. Those crickelochs were dangerous enough to pose quite a threat to her. To Zeke, too. He¡¯d only made it through because he¡¯d used [Unleash Momentum] to carve a path. Without it, he might never have reached the edge. But fortunately, none of the monsters had followed him through the gap between mushrooms. Whether that was because of their size, a function of the dungeon¡¯s contrived challenges, or territorial reasons, Zeke wasn¡¯t sure. But he was grateful not to still be dealing with the monsters. More importantly, he could feel the earth mana beneath his feet, which felt like coming up for air. He hadn¡¯t realized how much he depended on his attunements until one side had been completely denied to him. ¡°You¡¯re fortunate you had enough to fuel Worldbreaker,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I know,¡± he admitted. It had taken almost every ounce of earth mana in his body to power the technique. He didn¡¯t know what would have happened if he¡¯d run out, but he was well aware of just how delicate the balance of energy was in his techniques, and he suspected that it would not have ended well. Zeke continued to survey his situation, and eventually, he spotted dry land. So, he trudged in that direction, climbing out of the mire and looking around. The strip of land was wide enough that it could have been a road, and it stretched in either direction, disappearing into the gloom. However, looking one way, then the next, Zeke saw glowing lights in both directions. ¡°Which way, do you think?¡± he asked. ¡°There¡¯s no way to know,¡± was Eveline¡¯s answer. He was worried about Talia, but he had to trust that she could take care of herself. After all, she¡¯d done so for quite some time after her ascension, even reaching some degree of prominence within Darukar. No ¨C she would survive well enough on her own. The only question was whether or not they would meet up. In any case, Zeke knew his best chance for a reunion lay at the end of the challenge. It had happened in his first dungeon, where he and his other companions had been separated only for their paths to cross as they progressed through the challenges. So, Zeke picked a direction and started walking. As it turned out, the strip of dry land was an actual path, as evidenced by a couple of bridges ¨C each one made of twisted, white wood that looked like it had been brown, rather than shaped by a craftsman¡¯s hand ¨C and the floating lights, which were actually lamps that hung from curved poles. Zeke kept going, trying to keep an eye out for anything dangerous. He saw more of the floating stingrays in the distance, but they seemed completely uninterested in him. So, he left them alone in the hopes that they would do him the same favor. However, his diligence was eventually rewarded when he caught sight of a towering beast only a hundred yards away. It was at least a hundred feet tall, and it was only visible because it periodically flickered with what looked like arcs of electricity coursing through its tentacles. ¡°What does it have to be tentacles?¡± he muttered to himself. Indeed, the monster in the distance looked a lot like a jellyfish, though instead of drifting about in the current, it was floating in mid-air. And it was clearly in command of its own path, because after watching it for a few moments, Zeke saw those dangling tentacles lash out, wrap around one of the stingrays, and drag the struggling creature towards the creature¡¯s gelatinous head. Once there, the thing didn¡¯t eat the beast, but rather absorbed it. Each time the electrical current flashed, Zeke saw the stingray trapped in the jellyfish¡¯s semi-transparent body. But bit by bit, it dissolved until, after only a couple of minutes, the thing was no more. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°That is horrifying,¡± Eveline said. Zeke didn¡¯t disagree. Fortunately, the jellyfish monster wasn¡¯t moving in his direction, so he didn¡¯t need to think about how to fight such a thing. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but consider it. Yet, all he could come up with was that he¡¯d simply have to endure whatever it could dish out and hope he found a way to rip it to pieces. ¡°So, your normal strategy.¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± he admitted. From a tactical standpoint, Zeke had always been a simple fighter. He had rarely set out to outsmart anyone. Instead, his goal was to outlast and out-muscle anything that stood before him. It had worked so far, and with his ever-increasing power ¨C as well as his new skills ¨C Zeke saw no reason to alter his preferred strategy. Gradually, Zeke followed the path until he reached an intersection. He stood there for a long few moments, unsure of how to proceed. However, the presence of the intersection suggested that the term ¡°labyrinth¡± had not been a coincidence. It didn¡¯t appear that it was a traditional maze, with narrow corridors and walls. Rather, it was a labyrinth of a different sort. ¡°What if we cut cross-country? Do you think that would help?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°For what purpose? You don¡¯t even know if you¡¯re going the right direction.¡± That was true. So, while there was nothing ¨C at least that he knew of ¨C that was keeping him from cutting across the curious swamp, Zeke saw no real reason to do so. Perhaps if he needed to bypass some obstacle, he would reconsider it. But Eveline¡¯s statement also highlighted the fact that, because he didn¡¯t really have a destination in mind, the direction he chose didn¡¯t really matter. Sure, one might be better than the others, but without any other information, he had no way of differentiating between the paths. So, without further ado, he decided to continue forward. That turned out to be a mistake, because the path ended only a few miles later. There had been a couple of twists and turns along the way, but Zeke had encountered no other intersections. And as Zeke squinted into the distance, he saw a few flickering bolts of electricity that indicated that the expanse of swamp before him was infested with those jellyfish monsters. That told him that he was meant to turn back. But he¡¯d never really put much stock in following the prescribed path. So, without overthinking it, Zeke went with his instincts and waded into the tepid water. The moment he did, he felt something familiar assail his body. ¡°Destruction,¡± he muttered. It was barely a tingle, but the fact that he could feel it after he¡¯d spent so much time inoculating his body meant that it would have ripped most other people to shreds. He took another step, and the feeling intensified. A third, and the power continued its upward climb. After ten steps, it had reached the point where it had grown uncomfortable. Ten more, and his body had begun to break down. He only made it five more steps before he was forced to turn back. Perhaps he could have endured. However, with that destructive force chipping away at him, Zeke was in no condition to fight. And every step he took into that swamp had brought him closer to those jellyfish monsters. They were still hundreds of yards away, but the closer Zeke came, the more he realized that there were quite a few more of them than he¡¯d initially thought. One, he might be able to fight. Two was probably possible as well. But dozens? While being assailed by the destructive energies in the water? It was suicide, even for him. So, it was with some regret that Zeke turned back and returned to the path. It wasn¡¯t until he once again reached dry land that he realized how much his body had degraded. He¡¯d tried to counteract it with [Cambion¡¯s Awakening], but his skill¡¯s effects had been completely overwhelmed. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± said Eveline. ¡°You always know what I¡¯m thinking.¡± She let out a sigh. ¡°Only if I actively try to read your thoughts. This isn¡¯t one of those occasions, but I still know what you¡¯re thinking.¡± ¡°Okay? So, what am I thinking?¡± ¡°You want to use this environment to continue your inoculation.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t deny it. Instead, he said, ¡°It¡¯s kind of perfect, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Not as perfect as you think. You felt the difference, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s pure destruction. You follow the Path of Arcane Destruction. They¡¯re very much related, but there are enough differences that it dilutes the benefits,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°It would help, though.¡± ¡°But it would take a while, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Months, at least.¡± ¡°Until I see any benefits? Or until I¡¯m entirely inoculated?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Your colossal body is a mystery to me. I can see how it works, but predicting how it will react is beyond me,¡± she said. ¡°My point is that it¡¯s not as ideal of a situation as you think it is. Besides, you still need to find your friend.¡± ¡°Talia can take care of herself,¡± he argued. And she could. Most of the time, at least. Whatever the case, she didn¡¯t need him to swoop in like a knight in shining armor and rescue her. She was her own person, with plenty of power in her own right. ¡°And her friend? Do you think she can survive for months while you work on your own progression?¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°I thought you were supposed to be the selfish one.¡± ¡°Whatever gave you that idea?¡± she asked. ¡°Uh¡­demon? And the fact that you¡¯ve repeatedly told me to ignore the plight of others in pursuit of my own power?¡± ¡°Well, besides that.¡± Zeke shook his head and said, ¡°That kind of seems like the important part.¡± ¡°Why are you arguing? We both know you¡¯ve already made your choice,¡± Eveline pointed out. That much was true. Zeke wasn¡¯t so hard-hearted that he would even consider letting someone Talia considered a friend die just so he could eek a little progression out of the situation. After all, his own efforts at inoculation had already proven effective, so he didn¡¯t need to take chances like that. With that in mind, he spent the next few minutes healing his body before returning the way he¡¯d come. When he finally reached the intersection, he turned to the right and followed that path. Over the next couple of days, Zeke continued with that pattern. He still had no notion of which way he was supposed to go, but given that there were no hints, that seemed to be the dungeon¡¯s intention. So, he kept going, picking his path seemingly at random. Fortunately, Eveline proved to be something of a secret weapon. As a mind spirit, she was capable of keeping track of an incredible amount of information, and so, she did just that regarding his path. She guided him as he picked his way through the swamp, slowly making progress until, at last, the situation changed. A huge mansion loomed before Zeke, reminding him of old, southern gothic movies he¡¯d seen back on Earth. It was clearly a plantation-style house, with hundreds of ancient oak trees with widespread branches decorating the surrounding grounds. Spanish moss hung from those limbs, and the remnants of a few scattered statues ¨C broken and covered in more moss ¨C peppered the area. An old, wrought iron gate swung in the wind. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look creepy at all,¡± Zeke muttered. It reminded him of home. Certainly, he¡¯d never lived in such a grand home, but there were plenty just like it ¨C albeit in better condition ¨C in the city where he¡¯d grown up. ¡°It does have an¡­ominous vibe,¡± Eveline agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s nicer on the inside than it looks from without.¡± ¡°Yeah. That feels unlikely. But here¡¯s to hoping,¡± Zeke said, pushing through the gate. The moment his foot hit the ground, he heard a woman¡¯s piercing scream. ¡°Definitely unlikely.¡± 493. The Little Lord ¡°Stop,¡± came a voice from nearby. Pausing mid-stride, Zeke whipped around, ready to destroy the new threat, but relaxed when he saw Talia crouching behind the low wall that encircled the estate. ¡°What? How long have you been here?¡± he asked. ¡°Seven hours,¡± she answered. ¡°You move much more slowly than I do.¡± Zeke knew as much, but still, he hadn¡¯t expected it. Clearly, he should have, if she¡¯d beaten him there by seven hours. ¡°How did you survive the fall?¡± he asked. ¡°I am durable enough to survive a fall.¡± ¡°Most people at this level are,¡± Eveline supplied. ¡°I¡¯m more surprised that she didn¡¯t get ripped to pieces by those enormous insects.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Zeke agreed. Then, aloud, he asked, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gone in? Were you waiting on me?¡± ¡°That is one reason,¡± Talia admitted. ¡°But I am more concerned with the fact that it is obviously a trap of some sort. The moment we step inside that gate, something is going to happen. Perhaps it is a monster we will be forced to fight. Or it could be situational. Environmental, maybe. But it is clearly nefarious. Given that, I thought it prudent to observe and plan before walking in there.¡± Zeke blinked. In the back of his mind, he¡¯d suspected the same thing. Yet, his reaction hadn¡¯t been to engage in reconnaissance. Instead, he¡¯d fallen back on his normal strategy, which was to charge in and adjust to whatever foe presented itself. And while he knew that there was a time and place for scouting, he also recognized that those activities tended to stretch his patience to the limit. He found it tedious in the extreme, and what¡¯s more, it usually proved unnecessary. Rare was the situation where he couldn¡¯t simply overpower or smash through the obstacles in his way. It was just further evidence that his way was not the only way, regardless of how effective it had been for him. ¡°What did you find?¡± he asked after a moment. ¡°Not much,¡± she admitted. ¡°There are creatures in there, but they were too far away for me to identify.¡± ¡°How big?¡± he asked. ¡°Varied. Some are as large as you in your alternate form. Others are smaller than me,¡± she answered. ¡°I could not see more than that.¡± Zeke nodded, then looked around. Clearly, the mansion was their destination, which meant that they¡¯d have to enter the grounds at some point if they wanted to conquer the dungeon. However, just because that was true, it didn¡¯t mean they had to follow the script and enter via the most obvious route. With that in mind, Zeke said, ¡°I¡¯m going to circle the grounds. There might be another way inside.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Talia said, reaching out to stop him. ¡°The water is ¨C¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I can take a lot of damage. I¡¯ll turn back if it gets to be too much, though.¡± After that, Zeke left the path and waded into the water. Before he took more than a few steps, he resumed his [Titan] form, which served two purposes. First ¨C and most importantly ¨C it made him much sturdier. He didn¡¯t know precisely how to quantify the difference, but it was significant. ¡°It makes you about fifty percent stronger and more durable,¡± Eveline provided. ¡°Your agility and dexterity increases as well, but to a much lesser extent. I would say around ten percent at most. Probably a little less.¡± ¡°That much?¡± Zeke asked. He didn¡¯t question how Eveline knew those things. She was an incredibly intelligent entity with a wealth of experience. As such, she could infer things much more easily than he could. ¡°Those are estimates, but yes,¡± she said. The other benefit of his titanic form was that, with his added size, the water only extended a little past his ankles. It didn¡¯t prevent the destructive aura from eating away at him, but it did make traversing the pool of tepid water that much easier. Regardless, it only took a few steps before the slight tingle of destruction became something far more potent. However, Zeke quickly discovered that, so long as he remained close to the low wall encircling the area, it didn¡¯t continue to escalate. He continued on until he¡¯d made a loop around the grounds, but he¡¯d found no other obvious entrances. More importantly, when he¡¯d tried to bypass the wall by simply stepping over it, he encountered a barrier that reminded him of the one he¡¯d found in the centaur trials. That made one thing abundantly clear ¨C they had no choice but to enter the grounds via the gate. ¡°That makes it pretty obvious that the undead girl¡¯s prediction is going to turn out to be true,¡± said Eveline as Zeke approached the original path. ¡°Which means there is likely to be something deadly in store.¡± Zeke shrugged and mentally said, ¡°What¡¯s new? This was always going to be dangerous. Honestly, I¡¯m just ready to get to it. Sneaking around like this just doesn¡¯t sit right with me.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°You¡¯ve done it before.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke said, casting his thoughts back to the troll caves where he¡¯d made a habit of stealth. Yet, since then, he¡¯d moved further and further away from that sort of tactic. Perhaps it was simply his nature, but there was a chance that his class and Path of Arcane Destruction had affected him as well. After all, colossi and titans weren¡¯t exactly known for flitting from one shadow to the next. Instead, they conjured images of unstoppable juggernauts who never let anything get in their way. ¡°I think you may be attributing your own traits to those of mythological creatures,¡± Eveline pointed out. That was possible as well. Zeke had never studied mythology, so he couldn¡¯t be sure. However, it still felt right, so he was going to just run with those assumptions until something proved him wrong. When he reached Talia, he climbed out of the water and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t see another way in. I think this is our only option.¡± ¡°Unless this isn¡¯t the end of the labyrinth,¡± she pointed out. ¡°This could be an elaborate dead end.¡± Zeke hadn¡¯t thought about that possibility, but considering how long it had taken to find the place, he didn¡¯t want to go exploring for other routes unless it was absolutely necessary. ¡°I think we should cross this off our list before we start looking for other paths,¡± he said. Talia agreed, and at last, Zeke stepped through the gate. It proved a bit anticlimactic, because it prompted no change. Indeed, the area past the gate was little different than the outside. He looked back and said, ¡°Seems fine.¡± ¡°Welcome, traveler,¡± came a raspy voice that made Zeke shift his focus back to the grounds. That¡¯s when he realized that he was entirely surrounded, and not by anything remotely human. ¡°We seldom host visitors.¡± The speaker was tall. At least fifteen feet, and painfully slim. He was dressed in an old-fashioned tuxedo, with a ruffled shirt and long tails. His arms and legs were incredibly long, especially compared to his much shorter torso. However, Zeke was more focused on the creature¡¯s head, which looked like a poorly sewn together rag doll with buttons for eyes and ragged stitching for a mouth. Atop his head was a tall top hat. He wasn¡¯t alone, either. Zeke counted ten more creatures ¨C some were female and wearing what looked like servants¡¯ dresses ¨C but he suspected there were many more he couldn¡¯t see. ¡°What do you want?¡± Zeke asked as the gate clanged shut. Thankfully, Talia had already entered, so they weren¡¯t separated. ¡°Want? To serve, of course,¡± the doll-like creature answered. ¡°Would you like to join the Lord for tea? It is quite good. Only the best for the little Lord.¡± Zeke glanced at Talia, who shrugged. At the same time, Eveline said, ¡°Just kill them all. We don¡¯t need to participate in this farce.¡± For his part, Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure. Anytime he¡¯d tried to bypass dungeon mechanics, it had made things much more difficult. So, he suspected that the case would be similar in this instance. Perhaps the goal was to slaughter everything, and if it was, he would gladly participate. However, it was just as likely that the situation was similar to the riddle room he¡¯d encountered in his first dungeon. ¡°That was stacked against you,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°Those hags never intended to let you through.¡± He couldn¡¯t argue with that assessment. Back then, he¡¯d answered their riddles, but he¡¯d still been forced into a seemingly unwinnable battle against his own reflection. Perhaps he¡¯d find himself in a similar situation this time around, though he hoped not. There was no Pudge to bust down the door and save him. Maybe Talia could play that role. ¡°That sounds good,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Only then did he bother to [Inspect] the creature: Raggedy Jack ¨C Level 91 ¡°Uh¡­good thing you didn¡¯t attack him,¡± said Eveline. ¡°He might be more than you can handle.¡± ¡°But you said ¨C¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not get into what either of us may or may not have said,¡± Eveline interrupted. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on what comes next.¡± As it turned out, what came next was a tour of the grounds, and in the course of seeing everything it had to offer, Zeke¡¯s choice to go along with the scenario proved to be the right decision. Because every creature he inspected was at least level eighty, which meant that he had almost no chance of winning a battle. ¡°I think you¡¯d surprise yourself,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You could at least manage mutual destruction.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡­¡± Eveline continued to babble, but Zeke paid her no attention. Instead, he focused on the situation. There were hundreds of the raggedy people, but they all seemed entirely peaceful. That would change if he attacked, but so long as he kept his hammer to himself, he suspected that they were only meant to add flavor to the scenario. ¡°And now, to the big house,¡± said Raggedy Jack, sweeping his hand to indicate the giant plantation-style mansion. It was an impressive structure, but up close, Zeke could see that time had clearly taken its toll. In many places, paint was peeling, and there were even some signs of rot. However, it still seemed sturdy enough. Raggedy Jack led them inside, and the interior of the mansion was just as impressive as the outside. Yet, it was beset by many of the same issues. The carpets were moldy, and the paintings on the walls were so faded that the subjects proved incomprehensible. The paint on the walls was chipped and peeling as well, and the fixtures were dull and tarnished. In short, the place looked like it had been long abandoned. ¡°Pardon the mess,¡± said Ragged Jack. ¡°Our cleaning staff has been a bit lax of late. Be assured that they have been punished, but the little Lord was a tad too exuberant in his discipline. So, we are a bit understaffed at the moment. Good help is so hard to find, I¡¯m sure you agree.¡± ¡°Uh¡­yeah,¡± Zeke muttered. ¡°Come, come. The little Lord is waiting. He does so love to share his tea with visitors.¡± Zeke and Talia continued to follow the odd creature through the house until, at last, they reached a large sitting room. Decorated with moldy chairs and rotting, wooden tables, it displayed many of the same issues as the rest of the house. However, Zeke was far more focused on the¡­child at the center of the room. ¡°Hello!¡± he chirped. To Zeke, the child looked no different than any other toddler he¡¯d ever seen. At a height approaching three feet, with pudgy cheeks and straw-colored hair, the child looked entirely out of place. ¡°Let¡¯s have a tea party!¡± the young man said with age-appropriate exuberance. ¡°Sit! Sit! Tell me all about your adventures!¡± Zeke glanced at his companion, then turned his attention inward and asked, ¡°What the hell is this?¡± ¡°Inspect him,¡± Eveline said. He did as she suggested, and when the results flashed before his inner eye, he couldn¡¯t suppress a shudder. Little Lord Liddle ¨C Level 100 ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have come here,¡± he said in his mind. Then, the creature before him grinned broadly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be silly! We¡¯re going to have some fun!¡± 494. Teacups and Tangents ¡°Sit, sit!¡± the Little Lord Liddle excitedly exclaimed, gesturing with his pudgy hands. ¡°Have some tea!¡± ¡°Uh¡­okay.¡± Zeke had no real idea how to deal with children, let alone a toddler with enough power to squash him like a bug. After he¡¯d used [Inspect], revealing that the child was level one-hundred, the Liddle¡¯s power had washed over him, letting him know that the boy was at least as strong as either of the wyrms back in Min Ferilik. And while Zeke was more prepared to deal with such strength, just one whiff of that power was enough to tell him that he had a long way to go yet. Numerically, he wasn¡¯t that far from the peak, but those twenty-plus levels were incredibly important. For Zeke, it was a poignant reminder that he couldn¡¯t afford to let up. He¡¯d never set out to be the strongest person in the world, but he knew that reaching the pinnacle was the only way he could ensure his people¡¯s safety. More, he recognized that strength was the only real protection against oppression. It wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine that, without adequate power, he would end up under someone¡¯s boot. And Zeke refused to allow that to happen. Those thoughts raced through his mind as he and Talia took their indicated places. Zeke knew just how much danger they were in, but he also suspected that it would come from an unexpected source. If it didn¡¯t turn out to be a scenario similar ¨C in tone, if not the details ¨C to the riddle challenge he¡¯d experienced before, he would have been incredibly surprised. For now, though, he could only let the situation play out, because he had no intention of attacking a child ¨C especially when said child was a level one-hundred monster surrounded by powerful servants like Raggedy Jack and its companions. The Little Lord once again called for tea, and Raggedy Jack responded by producing a tea tray from nowhere. The teapot was made from elaborately etched silver, while the cups were shallow, dainty things trimmed in gold. The tea smelled delicious, though. ¡°Sugar?¡± asked Raggedy Jack, bending his tall body double as he prepared the drinks. Liddle shouted, ¡°Lots!¡± Zeke just nodded, and Raggedy Jack served the tea. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t drink that,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Place like this? Who knows what¡¯s in it?¡± Before Zeke could respond, Liddle looked up, fire in his eyes. Suddenly, a voice boomed inside Zeke¡¯s head, shouting, ¡°The tea is just tea!¡± For a second, Zeke¡¯s mind spun under the sheer volume of the shout. It had been Liddle¡¯s childlike voice, but there was something else in there. Something almost divine. Given the child¡¯s level, that shouldn¡¯t have been surprising, and yet, Zeke still had trouble wrapping his mind around it. But he did know enough that he didn¡¯t hesitate further before taking a sip of the tea. And once again, he was surprised ¨C this time, because the tea was, in fact, just tea. It was even pretty good, despite Zeke¡¯s lack of taste for the stuff. He¡¯d always been more of a coffee guy, after all. When he pulled the cup away, he saw Liddle clapping his pudgy hands in delight. Finally, he asked, ¡°Do you want to play a game? Raggedy Jack doesn¡¯t like my games, but you will. I promise.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± At that point, another quest flashed before Zeke¡¯s inner eye: Quest Adjusted! Quest: Reaching the Stairway Objective: Play Little Lord Liddle¡¯s Game Reward: The Key to Heaven The objective was without ambiguity, making Zeke¡¯s intended path clear enough. However, he still hesitated. Without any knowledge of what Liddle¡¯s game might entail, he was loathe to commit to playing. However, it didn¡¯t seem that he had much choice. Reaching the stairway was the way to reach the next step of the dungeon, and to do that, he needed the Key to Heaven. And in order to acquire that item, he would be forced to play the Little Lord¡¯s game ¨C whatever it was. ¡°What kind of game?¡± asked Talia, her first contribution to the scenario. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s super fun. You¡¯ll love it.¡± That did not answer the question, which raised even more alarms in Zeke¡¯s mind. Yet, he couldn¡¯t see a way out of the situation. Perhaps they could just leave, but there was no guarantee that doing so would solve the problem. Most likely, they¡¯d be swarmed by Ragged Jack and the others like him, but even if they weren¡¯t, the path through the dungeon went through Liddle¡¯s game. So, as far as Zeke could tell, his hands were tied. After exchanging a glance with Talia, he said, ¡°We¡¯ll play your game.¡± That delighted the Little Lord, which he showed via enthusiastic clapping. That made Zeke even more nervous. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. As it turned out, his anxiety was rightly placed because Little Lord Liddle ended his applause with a single, much louder clap, and the world shifted. Suddenly, Zeke was once again falling, but that only lasted a split second before he hit the ground. Talia landed more lightly, and when Zeke looked up, he saw a look of confusion on her face. His own expression mimicked hers when he beheld the changed setting. Above them loomed Little Lord Liddle, though he wasn¡¯t so small anymore. In fact, he was as big as a mountain. Raggedy Jack stood beside them, and with a sigh, he said, ¡°The game is simple. You must reach the end of the board, overcoming all obstacles in your way. Good luck. Many of my people have perished in this¡­game.¡± Zeke was about to respond, but Raggedy Jack disappeared before he had a chance to utter a word. Then, Little Lord Liddle shouted, ¡°Go!¡± Before that word echoed through the space, the entire area had been obscured in darkness, but the moment it left Liddle¡¯s lips, everything lit up. When it did, Zeke groaned. The floor had been painted with colorful squares, some of which bore words like ¡°Go back!¡± or ¡°Free Space¡±. Those squares of color meandered back and forth in a serpentine pattern that snaked off into darkness. Barely obscured were structures hanging in the air, looking as if they were simply waiting to fall. ¡°It¡¯s like Mouse Trap,¡± Zeke muttered aloud. ¡°What?¡± asked Talia. ¡°Mouse Trap. It was a board game I used to play with my little brother,¡± he answered. ¡°You had to work your way across the board, but it had a bunch of traps and stuff. Sort of. I mean, it was only one trap built around Rube-Goldberg mechanisms. You know, a ball falls onto a lever that makes wheel turn that ¨C¡± ¡°I suspect this is much more deadly than that,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Go!¡± shouted Liddle once again. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°There¡¯s no thematic throughline. I mean, gardens to swamps to a child¡¯s game?¡± ¡°Dungeons don¡¯t always make sense,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Clearly,¡± Zeke said with a shake of his head. Then, he added, ¡°I guess we should go before the giant toddler throws a tantrum.¡± With that, he stepped forward. However, he quickly found that he couldn¡¯t stray from the path of squares. The same unidentifiable force that had prevented him from simply climbing the wall outside kept him on the path. So, he kept going, following the prescribed route, with Talia following a few steps behind. As it turned out, the distance was just enough to keep her from falling prey to the first trap. A giant cage fell from the sky, clanging to the ground and entrapping Zeke. Talia¡¯s speed came in handy as she dove free, but Zeke had no chance of avoiding the metal, bell-shaped cage. ¡°Just like Mouse Trap,¡± he sighed. Then, a creature manifested in the center of the cage, and it was one Zeke recognized ¨C a ratongi. But it was a much larger, far more muscular, and clearly more powerful version. The intent was clear, so Zeke adopted his [Titan] form and rushed the monster. It responded to his charge with one of its own, and the pair clashed with monstrous force. Unfortunately, other than being able to use [Titan], Zeke found that all of his other skills were blocked. It was like they¡¯d been trapped inside of an impenetrable glass case. He could see them, and he almost felt like he could touch them. Yet, they were just out of reach. So, it was a good thing that he was more than capable of holding his own without his skills. In fact, his fighting style often veered in that direction anyway. So, even if the ensuing battle was vicious, Zeke was never in any danger of losing. Still, the creature put up a good fight until he grabbed it by its hide and repeatedly slammed it into the ground. That knocked it out, and it was only a few seconds later that Zeke managed to destroy its skull. That¡¯s when the cage lifted. ¡°This is really going to suck,¡± Zeke said to himself. Then, he looked back at Talia and added, ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s going to trap you, too. But skills are a little wonky right now. You might not have all of them available.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± she replied. Zeke stepped forward, but he was surprised to find that when his foot fell on one of the squares labeled ¡°Go Back!¡± he was teleported a few squares to the rear. That put him behind Talia, who¡¯d indeed been trapped inside the cage with another ratongi. She fought well, but it was clear that she didn¡¯t have access to any of her skills. Still, she was much faster than the monster, and she managed to whittle it down, killing it after a few minutes. When the cage lifted, Zeke let her know not to step on the wrong tiles. So, over the next few minutes, they progressed across the board. When they encountered a tile that suggested it would slow their progress, they leaped across it. However, on more than a few occasions, they were forced by the layout to endure the consequences of stepping on the wrong square. And they had to fight multiple battles as well. Many of them were set in cages similar to the first, but a couple were more freeform. All the creatures they¡¯d encountered within the dungeon were represented. From treants to rocs, everything made an appearance. But as had been the case in the first battle, skills didn¡¯t seem to work properly, which turned out to be a bit of an advantage for Zeke and Talia. It took some adjustment, but their statistical advantages were enough to set them apart, especially when the monsters lacked the abilities that they relied on so heavily. That left them a little disconcerted, and Zeke likened to fighting without a limb. Certainly, it was possible, but those creatures had always had the benefit of those abilities. And to for them to suddenly disappear put them at a sever disadvantage. Regardless, Zeke and Talia gradually traversed the game board until, at last, they reached the center. There sat one of the raggedy people. With her long limbs, painfully thin frame, and cloth-like skin, the only thing that marked her as female was her dress. However, instead of the servants¡¯ attire that characterized the others Zeke had seen, this one looked like she was meant to look like a princess. ¡°Please. I don¡¯t want to kill anymore,¡± she moaned, sitting on the floor, her legs curled beneath her. The dress spread out for almost a dozen feet, and her posture suggested extreme fatigue. Zeke said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just need to get past you.¡± She sighed wearily. ¡°They all say the same. But if you step into this circle, I will be forced to kill you. Just like all the others.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°Not this time,¡± he stated. In the past, he might¡¯ve felt a little conflicted. After all, the raggedy princess was clearly a victim just as much as he was. However, the reality of the situation was that she wasn¡¯t a person. As real as she seemed, she was just a construct created by the dungeon to provide an appropriate challenge. Probably. He still wasn¡¯t entirely sure how all of that worked. But even if she was a real person, she was standing in his way. He had goals. He had people to protect. And most of all, he didn¡¯t have any choice. The route to conquering the dungeon was clear, and it passed through her. So, without further hesitation, Zeke stepped into the circle. Talia followed, and the raggedy princess rose to her full height. ¡°So disappointing,¡± she rasped with a shake of her head. ¡°Come, then. Let us complete this farce of a battle so I can return to my eternal suffering.¡± 495. Dance of Death Talia raced forward, embracing all of her skills as she covered the ground in less than a second. At times, she had to force herself to slow down, just so that her perception could keep up, but in this instance, she let herself run at full speed. And it was glorious. But it was also uncontrollable. At that speed, she could only move in a straight line, and as a result, she didn¡¯t try to engage in any complex maneuvers. Instead, she dashed close to the raggedy princess, raking her claws across the monster¡¯s leg. She intended to rip the appendage to pieces, but Talia was more than a little surprised when her claws barely made it past the creature¡¯s elaborate skirts. Despite her power and the force of her momentum, they only left the tiniest scratch before Talia darted past the creature and to safety. Or that was what she thought right up until the monster¡¯s foot connected with her back and sent her flying across the circular space. She skipped across the tile floor, coming to a stop a few seconds later. The attack had barely clipped her, but even that comparatively light impact was almost enough to break bones. Fortunately, Talia was sturdy enough that she survived intact. As she picked herself up, she saw Zeke ¨C in his enormous new form ¨C crash into the raggedy princess. Or he tried to, at least. The creature danced away from him, gracefully twirling away like a ballerina. By comparison, Zeke looked like a charging beast ¨C powerful but clumsy ¨C as his bone-hafted hammer smashed into the tile floor. He roared in anger, and a second later, the air came alive with corruption and power. Those were his domains, Talia knew. She¡¯d heard of such things from Adriel and Baruk, but before her reunion with Zeke, she had never experienced such a thing. By now, though, she was well-accustomed to the influx of might that came with the twin skills. Not only did her strength and endurance rise, but also her agility and dexterity as well. More importantly, the monster was slowed beneath the weight of those domains. Not a lot, but enough to make a difference for her. Zeke used another skill, and suddenly the raggedy princess stumbled, falling toward him. He met the creature with a swing of his hammer, and due to his immense strength that far outstripped Talia¡¯s, he was rewarded with the loud sound of broken bones. Yet, the monster was far from defeated, and she twirled away from the blow, using its momentum to lend her speed. That was when Talia, having recovered and returned to the fight, reached her. The raggedy princess attempted to dodge, but she was hampered by her own inertia, and she couldn¡¯t avoid Talia¡¯s swiping claws that once again ripped through her skirts and tore into the burlap-textured skin of her legs. Once, twice, and then a third time, Talia attacked, and each one delivered a dose of rot as well as [Plague Strike] and the effects of [Frigid Claws]. Hopefully, it would prove effective in slowing the creature. However, she was forced to retreat only a moment later when the raggedy princess recovered her balance and whipped her leg out. Talia ducked beneath it, then got one more attack in before she was forced to retreat. The creature continued to twirl balletically, extending her legs in vicious, yet graceful attacks that Talia could only narrowly avoid. Fortunately, that was when Zeke stomped back into range. He shoulder charged the creature, sending it ragdolling across the space until it hit an invisible barrier and collapsed to the floor. The moment the creature tried to rise, he used that same ability to yank it in his direction, where he met the form of the raggedy princess with his hammer. It once again went tumbling across the circle, where it landed in a heap of too-long arms and legs. Talia dashed in, getting a couple of good hits in before she once again raced away. It was just in time, too, because a moment later, the creatures was engulfed in a pillar of hellish flames that Talia knew would have turned her into a charred corpse. But the raggedy princess was not defeated. When the flames died down, she rose. Her dress fell away, and when it hit the ground, it crumbled into ash. That revealed an androgynous body covered in burlap skin. The only sign that she had endured any attacks at all were the tendrils of smoke twisting toward the sky. ¡°I do not want to do this,¡± the raggedy princess, her voice much rougher. ¡°But you leave me no choice. My existence is torture, and yet¡­I will not give in. I will not be defeated. I may be enslaved. I may be your¡­toy. But I will not let you win! Do you hear me, Liddle?! I will not give in!¡± Then, she burst into flames of her own. However, in contrast to the black-and-red fires of Zeke¡¯s skill, the immolation that engulfed her was purple. A second after those flames had completely covered her, a flame-wrought copy detached itself. Then another. And another after that. On and on it went until a full dozen fiery doppelgangers were arrayed against Talia and Zeke. Thunder rolled across the area, and it took Talia a moment to realize that it was laughter. She looked up to see the gargantuan form of Little Lord Liddle looming above the entire scene. The moment Talia locked her eyes on the enormous child, his face was obscured by black clouds. Fiery lightning arced across its surface, and the laughter became thunder in truth. That was when the flame-wrought decoys began to spin. At first, they were no different than the originator, twirling like ballerinas. However, after a few seconds, the flames elongated into fiery tornadoes that stretched all the way to the roiling clouds above. Then, finally, they started to move, their path erratic and unpredictable. All of that happened over the space of a few seconds, but in that time, Talia refused to remain stationary. While there was a chance that Zeke could endure such flames, she could sense that she would not fare well against their destructive heat. After all, she was undead, and though she was more resistant to the natural weaknesses that came with that classification, she had no defenses against the traditional bane of the undead that was fire. So, while she could endure more than most, she was still vulnerable to the flames. As a result, she knew that if those tornadoes engulfed her, she would not survive their wrath. So, she moved ¨C faster and with more balanced than ever before, hopeful that she could endure long enough to defeat the monster. And failing that, that she wasn¡¯t a burden on Zeke¡¯s efforts. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Talia pushed herself faster and faster, embracing her skill more fully than ever. She had long since mastered it, but now, she began to embody [Unliving Speed] in a way that she¡¯d never imagined. The skill had only recently upgraded, which was an achievement in and of itself, and yet, when she suddenly exploded with new power, it became clear that she had done so again. [Echoes of Sudden Death] (C) ¨C The end of life often comes too suddenly to combat. You embody this characteristic, increasing the potency of your agility and dexterity by two tiers. In addition, your perception of time, while under the auspices of this skill, will allow you to take full advantage of your speed. Upgradeable. Talia nearly stumbled as the world came into sharper focus. The whirling tornadoes moved in slow-motion, while the sound of thunder stretched out into eternity. Meanwhile, her body screamed to go faster, to move with unforeseen suddenness. She gave in, weaving between the slow-moving tornadoes as she dashed toward the raggedy princess. * * * Talia disappeared. Zeke could still feel her within his domains, but she moved far too quickly for him to track. However, he did see the results of her charge when the raggedy princess¡¯ leg erupted into a cloud of coarse cloth and what looked like stuffing. Yet, it wasn¡¯t enough. Even with Talia¡¯s immense speed, she could only do so much damage. Perhaps she would eventually wear the creature down, but with every passing moment, the whirling tornadoes of flame grew larger and more potent. At some point, they would encompass the entire area. Then, she would burn. For Zeke¡¯s part, he didn¡¯t think he had much to worry about. The heat was uncomfortable, but his [Titan] form, coupled with his high resistance to fire, was perfect for the situation. So, without any further delay, he rushed toward the reeling raggedy princess, barreling through the tornadoes to tackle her to the floor. The maneuver was only partially successful, though. For all the force he could bring to bear, she was too flexible and far too quick to take the full brunt of his attack head-on. Instead, she shifted every so slightly, and when he rammed into her, she only spun away like the ballerina she clearly was. But it wasn¡¯t completely without effect, either. Zeke felt whatever acted as her skeleton crack beneath the weight of his attack, which gave him hope that he could eventually whittle her down to nothing. It would only take time, which was in short supply as the fires had continued to grow in both intensity and volume. ¡°Any ideas?¡± he muttered inwardly after skidding to a stop. His hammer arced out, but the disrobed raggedy princess ducked, then pirouetted away, her feet skating across the floor with ease. ¡°Kill her quickly. Even you¡¯re going to start feeling the effects of the fires soon,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°And the heat will probably kill Talia well before that.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± he growled out loud. But for all his power, he didn¡¯t know what to do. Thankfully, Talia did. She continued to attack the creature, her sharp claws ripping into its cloth skin. The wounds themselves weren¡¯t grievous, especially considering that the monster couldn¡¯t bleed. That was not the point, though. Instead, Talia¡¯s entire strategy seemed to hinge on her cutting the creature as much as possible ¨C deep, shallow, or somewhere in between didn¡¯t matter, so long as the attacks bore the effects of her skills. And they did, as evidenced by the fact that the raggedy princess noticeably slowed after each series of attacks. However, it didn¡¯t come without cost, and the few times Zeke caught sight of Talia, he saw that her skin was blistered, and she looked as if she was barely hanging on. He needed to do something, and as Eveline had said, he needed to do it quickly. The alternative was that he would lose one of his closest companions. If he was honest with himself, Talia was more important to him than anyone but Pudge, and even those two were impossible to compare. Doing so would feel like pitting a pair of siblings against one another. So, Zeke knew he needed to act, and do so in a hurry. He just didn¡¯t know how. But he wasn¡¯t going to let that stop him. With no real idea what he was going to do, he charged through the flames and once again swung his hammer at the dancing form of the raggedy princess. It connected, but it was only a glancing blow that was largely ineffective. So, he swung again, ever advancing. That¡¯s when he realized the answer to his problem. The area wasn¡¯t completely circular. Instead, it was more of an oval, with one side quite a bit narrower than the others. That, Zeke hoped, would even the odds a bit. So, even as the fires raged all around him, sending the ambient temperature skyrocketing, he continued to attack. However, now that he had a plan, he didn¡¯t just swing his hammer with reckless abandon. Instead, he attacked with a pattern, intent on herding the creature in the right direction. When she tried to spin away, he swung horizontally from that direction, cutting her off. When she tried to dart past him, he shouldered her backwards. And when she tried to attack, he took the blows as the cost of pushing her in the right direction. Over the next couple of minutes, she retreated until there were invisible barriers on both sides. She could no longer dodge Zeke¡¯s attacks ¨C both because of Talia¡¯s continuous attacks, which had slowed her considerably and due to being boxed in ¨C so she went on the attack. Even as she rained furious blows upon Zeke¡¯s body, he endured them, returning the barrage with his own inexorable assault. Every fall of his hammer crushed something inside the creature, but still, she fought on until, at last, Zeke used [Hell Geyser], bathing them both in corrupted flames. Those took their own toll, the exposed stuffing catching as the demonic fire tore through her insides. Even then, she didn¡¯t fall. Over and over, Zeke attacked, the blows landing about a third of the time. Talia did too, though hers were far more accurate. Still, it took some time before, at last, she succumbed, crumpling to the now-molten floor, then bursting into flame. She burned to ash before Zeke could even process that she was dead. That¡¯s when the fiery tornadoes winked out. The skies cleared, and the thunder ceased. But Zeke only had eyes for Talia, who stumbled to a stop and collapsed. He raced to her side, aghast at her state. Her entire body was covered in blisters, and it looked like quite a lot of her flesh had simply melted away. On Earth, if someone had endured burns extensive enough to char them to that degree, they would have long since died. But through sheer force of will, Talia was still alive. Barely. And Zeke knew it wouldn¡¯t last. When he reached her, he slid to a stop and asked, ¡°Do you have any of those potions left?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Come on ¨C you have to have some. Or a heart maybe,¡± he pleaded as he searched through his spatial storage for a heart. However, there was nothing there. Apparently, his looting ability didn¡¯t consider those important enough to take. ¡°Ezekiel¡­she¡¯s¡­she¡¯s not going to stay for long¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯ll make it! She has to!¡± he countered. Then, he said, ¡°I can save her¡­¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°Something stupid,¡± he said, closing his eyes. He¡¯d been working on his level eighty skill for some time, but he knew it wasn¡¯t ready. So, he shifted to another project he¡¯d been working on. An long-gestating upgrade that he¡¯d only barely scratched the surface of. It was not a smart plan. Chances were, it would blow up in his face. But he couldn¡¯t simply allow Talia to die. So, he threw his focus toward the only skill he thought might help him. All the while, Eveline protested that he was making a mistake, but when she wouldn¡¯t shut up, he flared [Bulwark of the Triumvirate] to keep banish her distracting voice. He needed to focus, or he would perish right alongside Talia. 496. A Divine Gift As Zeke knelt beside Talia, he closed his eyes and dove into his skill. In the past, he¡¯d let himself become restrained by the scope of each skill. Every additional rune increased its instability, which necessitated even more runes to keep the structure from collapsing in on itself. In a lot of ways, it was like building a pyramid. The foundation had to be much broader than the peak, lest it would crumble. The problem was that the peak he intended for his latest skill evolution ¨C at least in his analogy ¨C was far wider than its current base. That meant the foundation had to follow suit, making it the largest skill ¨C in terms of sheer number of glyphs ¨C he¡¯d ever created. Or that was the plan, at least. Even now, he still hadn¡¯t finalized the idea in his head, much less outlined the completed skill evolution. He¡¯d made the mistake of forging ahead without proper planning before, and it had worked out a couple of times. However, it had also resulted in one great failure that hand ended with a corrupted skill called [Armor of the Colossus]. Fixing it had required him to take a specific class upon ascension. Otherwise, he¡¯d have remained a half-armor, half-cambion freak. Still, Zeke didn¡¯t have any choice. If he wanted to save Talia, he was out of options. More than that, he didn¡¯t have time for doubts or second guesses. He needed to act, and he needed to do so quickly. So, without further hesitation, Zeke plunged his awareness into the skill and wrenched it apart. It hurt. Not physically, but rather in his soul. It wasn¡¯t surprising. Tearing down a rune was not a pleasant experience, and given that this particular skill had been with him from the very beginning, it was deeply entrenched. But if nothing else, Zeke was accustomed to pain, so he forged ahead with undeniable determination. And gradually, he tore it down, glyph by glyph, until there was nothing but the most basic scaffolding in place. It glowed with power, still, and it was perfectly stable. Zeke intended to use that to his advantage, and he began to attach more glyphs. In reality, there was no such thing as top or bottom, when it came to skills. But Zeke had always used those terms to establish context for himself. Otherwise, understanding the multidimensional composition would have been impossible. In truth, what he considered the bottom was just the most stable piece of the structure. The load-bearing bits that needed to be more stable than any other parts. Fortunately, it was the part where he¡¯d spent the most of his time, and that effort had paid off in the form of a firm foundation. Which was necessary for what he intended. The plans were still quite ephemeral, yet Zeke knew he could make it work ¨C because he needed to. So, he added one glyph after another, slotting them into place more by instinct than guided intent. Those glyphs added together to become larger glyphs, and those, in turn, became even larger symbols. Each bit felt like it took an eternity to fit into place, but in reality, he did hundreds with every passing second. But it still felt like it was taking too long. Talia was strong and durable, but she wasn¡¯t going to last much longer. So, Zeke embraced his Path of Arcane Destruction, focusing on the parts that had once been Runecrafting and ignoring the more damaging portion. It was a mental trick that helped his efforts, but it also brought with it a flood of destructive energy that threatened to tear him to pieces. He ignored that. Because he¡¯d already decided his path. He would do everything in his power ¨C up to and including destroying his own body ¨C if it meant he¡¯d have a chance to save his companion. She was like a sister, and in the back of his mind, Zeke knew that he¡¯d begun to equate her life with the life of the brother he¡¯d lost back on Earth. Back then, he¡¯d chosen to give his kidney to Tommy, and he¡¯d died for that choice. Yet, he¡¯d never regretted it. Tommy had kept on living, which had always been the goal. Zeke looked at Talia the same way. So, he had no intention of holding back. He kept going, slamming glyphs into place, one after another, until the skill began to take shape. As he built, he sank deeper into his path, sinking deeper into the sea of destruction. Even as he felt the degradation of his body, mind, and soul, he kept going, focusing on the part of his path that he needed. It enveloped him, wrapping around him to such an extent that he couldn¡¯t even perceive the rest of the world. Instead, the rune he was building was all that existed. And he followed his instincts more fully than he ever had before. For so long, he had neglected that part of his path, focusing instead on the combat applications of destruction. Yet, they were two equal halves of a whole, and though destruction was more overtly useful, the runecrafting portion was just as powerful. Zeke leaned into that. And he was rewarded with an intuitive understanding that he hadn¡¯t felt since he¡¯d first committed to unraveling the curses back in the troll caves. It was more powerful now, but even then, his comprehension of the runic structures far outstripped what should have been possible. Part of that was sheer persistence, but it was due to talent as well. After all, the intersection of talent and hard work was greatness. He¡¯d been told that hundreds of times in his baseball career, and he¡¯d always tried to apply it to his life. Now, he hoped that attitude would bear fruit. The skill came together quickly ¨C at least in comparison to the careful construction he¡¯d engaged in during previous skill evolutions. Yet, he felt that it was even more stable than those had been. It was almost as if he was being guided by some divine hand, though he knew that wasn¡¯t the case. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Not really. It was all him. A product of thousands of hours of practice and a natural affinity for runecrafting. Still, in a shadowy corner of his mind, he felt panicked. What if he was too late? What if Talia didn¡¯t survive? What if he failed? But he couldn¡¯t let himself acknowledge those questions. He could only put his best foot forward and hope that it was enough. But that wasn¡¯t to say that it was easy. It was not, and especially when the structure became more expansive. One little mistake, and he knew it would all fall apart. What¡¯s more, even if it didn¡¯t fall, there was always the chance that he¡¯d built the skill wrong. So, he tried to ignore those fears as he forged ahead. And after a subjective eternity, he finally slotted the last glyph into place, and at last, he let himself relax. He didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d completed the skill evolution as he¡¯d imagined it ¨C not yet, at least ¨C but he felt completely wrung out. His mind drifted around, lost in an ocean of mental exhaustion. Then, everything snapped back into place when he received a notification: Congratulations! You have forcefully evolved the skill [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] into [Touch of Divinity]. With bated breath, he looked at the evolved skill¡¯s description: [Touch of Divinity] (B) ¨C Through selfless actions, you have proven yourself a merciful demi-god. Weave multiple attunements together to rapidly heal. Use your divinity to extend that healing to a single target. Upgradeable. That was all Zeke needed to see before he opened his eyes, laid his hand on Talia, and, for the firs time, used his newly evolved skill. The ambient mana went wild as he drew energy from the ground and the air. It swirled around him like a tornado, then funneled into his body. After that, it raced toward the rune and through his hand. However, it didn¡¯t immediately do anything, which he found confusing. Until he felt something else drawing out of him. It felt like a piece of his soul was being ripped out, and it was just as brutal as that sounded. The pain of it was completely unmitigated by his racial tolerance, and he couldn¡¯t help but gasp. Yet, he maintained his grip, making the connection between the final sentence of the skill¡¯s description and the agony coursing through his soul. It was his divinity, and apparently, lending it to someone else ¨C even through the structure of a skill ¨C was not a pleasant process. Still, Zeke didn¡¯t let go, and the skill took hold, channeling that power into the rune and into Talia. Instantly, she began to heal. The blisters closed, scabbed over, and flaked off, revealing the slightly green surface of fresh skin. That too faded until it returned to the same pale complexion Zeke was used to. The only thing that didn¡¯t return was her hair. Or her black armor. Zeke ignored her naked form, focusing entirely on channeling his power through the skill until, at last, her eyes shot open. Immediately, she leaped to her feet, whipping her head around in alarm. Confusion quickly followed before she focused her attention on Zeke. ¡°What happened? Are you well?¡± she asked. ¡°Not really,¡± he muttered, feeling the full weight of his weakness crashing down on him. His shoulders sagged in exhaustion as a hollowness he¡¯d never felt gripped his soul. Still, he kept his wits about him, retrieving some of Abby¡¯s old clothes from his spatial storage and handing them over. Once she took them, Zeke let himself collapse. However, he couldn¡¯t even slip into unconsciousness, the pain was still so intense. Even the echoes of his agony were enough to keep him awake. ¡°I think I tore something.¡± Fortunately, now that he wasn¡¯t trying to heal someone else via [Touch of Divinity], the damage to his soul had ceased. And even more luckily, the normal version of the skill ¨C which was only meant as a personal heal ¨C worked quickly to mend the damage he¡¯d endured. In a way, it felt similar to when he¡¯d fueled [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] with unattuned mana, but the current of healing was far more powerful. He could feel his body rapidly rebuilding itself even as the pieces of his divine soul regenerated. Even so, it took quite some time for the pain to cease. And when it did, it was replaced by exhaustion. He didn¡¯t even have the energy to sit up, much less move around. ¡°That took more out of me than I expected,¡± he said in his mind. Even thinking exacerbated his fatigue, though he could at least manage it. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯ve done?¡± asked Eveline, her voice small. ¡°Saved Talia?¡± ¡°No. Yes, but that¡¯s not what I mean. Divinity is not a currency to be used. It is a source of personal power.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s not accurate,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Proof is right here inside me. I know you saw it. I know you feel it, too.¡± ¡°And it doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ve never even heard of something like this happening. Divinity does not flow down. It goes in the other direction,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s part of why those lofty existences in the next realm have underlings in the first place. They don¡¯t just get experience. They feed off that devotion. They use it to fuel the expansion of their divinity. Those deities would consider what you just did an abomination, and an expensive one, too. That much divine power will take months to regenerate.¡± ¡°Worth it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand. It¡¯s ¨C¡± ¡°No, Eveline. You don¡¯t understand,¡± he insisted. ¡°If it means Talia would live, I would have ripped my entire soul to pieces and shoved it down her throat.¡± Indeed, he¡¯d only used a tiny bit, and even that was enough to lay him low. Still, there was no way he¡¯d have chosen differently. ¡°Then you are stupid.¡± ¡°I thought we¡¯d established that a long time ago,¡± he said. ¡°What use is power if I can¡¯t save the people I love? If I can¡¯t do something good? I mean, what if I ended up hoarding all that power and ascending to the very peak? Do you think I¡¯d be happy, if it meant that I let everyone else die? If I used them as fuel? That sounds like a special kind of hell.¡± ¡°Na?ve.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°But that¡¯s who I am. You know that.¡± She sighed. ¡°I do,¡± was her response. ¡°I¡¯d just hoped you would learn your lessons.¡± ¡°Nope. I¡¯ll keep banging my head against the same wall until it falls down,¡± he said. ¡°Or until I do. Whichever comes first.¡± She gave a mental shake of her head, responding, ¡°I suppose it was foolish to expect anything else.¡± ¡°I am who I am, Eveline.¡± That was true, and what¡¯s more, Zeke liked himself. He didn¡¯t think he needed to change, especially when it came to the notion of helping people up, rather than using them to fuel his own rise. It was clearly an unpopular attitude, but it was one he felt confident was right. Those thoughts and many more raced through his mind as he slowly recovered from his ordeal, and over the next few hours, he decided that, despite the capability of [Touch of Divinity] to heal other people, he would refrain from doing so unless absolutely necessary. The price was too high for common use. But even so soon after that skill¡¯s evolution, he wondered what it might look like when he upgraded it again. And even more than that, that success spurred him on as his plans for his level eighty skill continued to take shape. First, though, he knew he and Talia needed to complete the dungeon. Until then, he couldn¡¯t afford the time investment he¡¯d need to finish building the skill. So, he lay there, focusing all of his attention on his recovery. Because as difficult as the latest challenge was to overcome, there were still more obstacles over which they needed to prevail before they could complete the dungeon and the quests attached to it. 497. The Mountain Path ¡°I¡¯m not asleep. I¡¯m just resting my eyes,¡± Zeke muttered as he lay on the ground. Nearby, the pile of ashes that had been the raggedy princess remained scattered across the cracked and charred tile floor, evidence of the battle that had nearly claimed Talia¡¯s life. Meanwhile, the other battle Zeke had fought was less evident, though the pain and exhaustion gripping his body and soul reminded him of what it had cost. It had been hours since his first use of [Touch of Divinity], and in that time, he¡¯d recovered only slightly. And Zeke expected it would take much longer before his convalescence was complete. ¡°Tearing pieces off of your soul will do that,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Is that what I did?¡± he asked. The skill¡¯s description had talked about using his divinity, so it was a little unclear. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s where divinity resides,¡± she answered. ¡°Not all souls are divine, of course. But all divinity lives in the soul.¡± ¡°It comes back though, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just like any other wound. It will heal, but it takes time. It will also leave scars,¡± she said. Then, she added, ¡°I think. This is new territory for me. You¡¯re using your nascent divinity all wrong.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wrong,¡± Zeke said. ¡°And I don¡¯t think it¡¯s quite as unprecedented as you think.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°How do you think the kobolds got to where they were?¡± he asked. ¡°I mean, sure ¨C the wyrm mother might¡¯ve used some other method. A skill maybe. But I think she had a spark of divinity, too.¡± ¡°If she did, I didn¡¯t feel it.¡± ¡°Would you have?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± she insisted. But Zeke knew the truth. If Eveline displayed any lack of certainty, it was a good indication that she really had no idea one way or the other, but didn¡¯t want to admit it. ¡°That¡¯s unfair,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Maybe,¡± he responded. Then, he went back to the original subject, saying, ¡°I think she had a spark. Maybe she didn¡¯t know what she was doing. Or maybe she did. But I just don¡¯t think the kobolds would have gotten so close to sapience without that kind of influence.¡± He¡¯d felt the vast power of his own divinity, and it had left him with some idea of its capabilities. They seemed endless, like with that spark, he could do anything. The only limiter was his own imagination. Of course, Zeke also knew that that wasn¡¯t really accurate. It was a finite resource, and though he¡¯d progressed past the point where it could be described as a spark, he knew that it would be a long time before he could enact any real changes, especially on the scale of his imagination. Still, with divinity, all things seemed possible. After spending so long using his skills, that godly force felt more like magic than anything else he¡¯d encountered since being reborn. And he held the power of a nuclear bomb in the palm of his hand, so that was saying something. After a couple more hours, during which Zeke let himself drift in and out of consciousness, he pushed himself upright to see that Talia hadn¡¯t moved. She¡¯d stood sentry over him the entire time. Looking around, Zeke saw that the area hadn¡¯t really changed much. The tiles were all the same, and behind him, he could see the shadowy forms of the obstacles they¡¯d overcome before fighting the raggedy princess. But there were two major changes. First, Little Lord Liddle was nowhere to be seen. Above, there was only nothingness, completely devoid of any features. And second, there was a small staircase leading upward into the black expanse. ¡°I¡¯m guessing we¡¯re supposed to go up,¡± Zeke said aloud, having deduced the dungeon¡¯s intentions. ¡°I believe so,¡± Talia admitted. Thankfully, she¡¯d donned the clothes he¡¯d given her, though she looked a bit odd wearing one of Abby¡¯s tee-shirts and pants. Not only were they slightly oversized, making her look a bit like a pre-teen who¡¯d raided her older sister¡¯s wardrobe, but it was also strangely incongruent. That was probably because he was so accustomed to seeing her in her black leathers. She asked, ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Sore,¡± Zeke admitted. It was an understatement. His soul still hurt, and in a way that wasn¡¯t mitigated by his racial pain tolerance. ¡°But I should be okay-ish in another couple of hours. Maybe a day. What about you?¡± ¡°Perfect condition,¡± she said. Then, after a brief pause, she added, ¡°Thanks to you. I didn¡¯t know you could do that.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t. I¡­I evolved one of my skills,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°You were there on the ground, and I thought you were going to die. So, I did something stupid. And miraculously, it worked out.¡± ¡°Like with the armor skill in the Mortal Realm?¡± ¡°Yeah. But I was better prepared for it,¡± he answered. ¡°I¡¯ve had that skill evolution on the backburner for months. It was never my primary focus, but I had a lot of stuff already worked out. I¡¯m just glad it didn¡¯t backfire.¡± ¡°I am as well,¡± she admitted. ¡°Thank you.¡± He nodded graciously, and after that, the pair lapsed into silence. Even Eveline refrained from speaking as Zeke focused on his recovery. He wished he could summon a gate and return to the tower so he could go for a good soak in the Crimson Springs, but that was impossible within a dungeon. He could still access his spatial storage, but every other aspect of the Crimson Tower was out of reach while he was in a dungeon. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Still, even though he couldn¡¯t take advantage of the healing powers of the Crimson Springs, he found himself slowly recovering, and as he¡¯d predicted, it only took a day before he judged himself ready to move on. So, without any further hesitation, he and Talia mounted the long staircase and climbed into the sky. It was straight, steep, and without rails. However, with their high stats, maintaining their balance wasn¡¯t difficult. Even so, the trip was disconcerting, especially when they¡¯d been climbing for more than an hour and they were surrounded by nothing but impenetrable darkness. It took another few hours before Zeke saw a pinprick of light in the distance. After pointing it out to Talia, he led the way, and over the next half hour, that light resolved into a doorway, through which was an unexpected scene. ¡°It looks like a mountain pass,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like we have much of a choice here.¡± Talia agreed, and Zeke stepped through. She followed. Once they were on the other side, the doorway winked out, leaving them to observe their new surroundings. In most ways, it was precisely what he¡¯d expected. They were standing upon a rough trail, surrounded by tall, craggy mountains whose snowy summits were wreathed in clouds. A few hardy trees dotted the slopes, but for the most part, the area was bare of flora. When Zeke looked back, he saw the enormous jungle stretched out below them. He could even spot a speck at the base of the mountain that he thought might have been the temple. They¡¯d reached the surface. Of course, none of the distances made sense, but Zeke hadn¡¯t expected them to. Still, the sight was a little jarring and incredibly awe-inspiring. He could see for hundreds of miles, and there was nothing but thick jungle stretching all the way to the horizon. ¡°It didn¡¯t seem this big from down there,¡± he said. But it had been. He and Talia had spent weeks traveling back and forth through that rainforest, fighting every step of the way. With how quickly they could travel ¨C even through the dense brush ¨C that was confirmation of just how large the forest was. Yet, he hadn¡¯t really made that connection until he could see everything laid out beneath them. ¡°What do you think the next challenge will be?¡± Talia asked, and he saw that she was looking in the opposite direction. Leading up the mountain was a twisting trail that Zeke suspected would end at the peak. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zeke admitted. At that moment, he received another notification of an update to the quest chain associated with the dungeon: New Quest Acquired! Quest: The Third Challenge Objective: Climb the Mountain and Free the Prisoner Reward: Passage to the Summit of God Accompanying that notification was the sudden appearance of a silver key in his hand. He hadn¡¯t even noticed when it had happened. Just one second, there was nothing there, and the next, the key had appeared. ¡°I guess that¡¯s it, then,¡± Zeke said. ¡°We need to climb the mountain and free some prisoner.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be that easy,¡± Talia said, gazing up the mountain. The path looked peaceful enough, but after everything they¡¯d experienced in the dungeon, neither of them expected that the climb would lack hardship. ¡°Nothing for it but to get started, I guess,¡± Zeke said. Then, he took a deep breath before setting off up the steep path. For a while, they followed the narrow and winding path, and no threats presented themselves. However, after a couple of hours, a chill went up Zeke¡¯s spine, and he happened to glance back the way they had come. He flinched in shock. Only twenty feet behind them was a transparent person. She was petite, young, and completely recognizable as the shield mage he¡¯d accidentally killed by leaving her in his storage space. The event had occurred back in the Mortal Realm ¨C even before he¡¯d ever met Talia ¨C but the memory had stuck with him ever since. The specter didn¡¯t move. Instead, she just stared at him accusingly. Even when he called out, there was no response. ¡°What do you think?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Death,¡± Talia stated. ¡°Do you not feel it?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything,¡± he admitted. ¡°Just cold.¡± That much was true, but the mountain itself was frigid, so the sensation wasn¡¯t really noteworthy. ¡°That is death. If you touch that¡­thing, you will have your life force sucked out of you,¡± Talia explained. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I am.¡± ¡°She seems like she knows what she¡¯s talking about,¡± Eveline added. ¡°Probably best if we listen to her.¡± ¡°So, do we just keep going? I don¡¯t like leaving enemies behind me,¡± he said aloud. ¡°I think it¡¯s there to keep us from going back the way we came,¡± Eveline guessed. Zeke sighed. It was an odd challenge, but he wasn¡¯t going to argue with it. So, after only a little more delay, he set off up the mountain once again. However, when he looked back after another few minutes, he saw another figure ¨C this one depicting the leader of that troupe of would-be assassins. She was a tall, rawboned woman, and Zeke remembered her face almost as well as the other. A few minutes after her appearance, another ghost appeared. This was one of the giants. A host of the same manifested after that, and over the next few hours, hundreds more joined them until it was difficult to differentiate where one ended and the others began. That¡¯s when Zeke and Talia reached the first fork in the road. They both continued up the mountain, but one of the options went left, while the other went right. ¡°Which way?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°There¡¯s no way to tell,¡± Talia answered. ¡°Just pick a direction.¡± Zeke did just that, going left. An hour later, they found themselves faced with a wide chasm, at the bottom of which were hundreds of vicious-looking treants. ¡°Can you make that jump?¡± Talia asked. ¡°Probably?¡± answered Zeke. It was almost three hundred feet from one side to the other, and though he suspected he was capable of making that leap, it wasn¡¯t a chance he wanted to take. He said as much, adding, ¡°We should probably just go back and pick the other route.¡± Just then, the ghosts let out a collective shriek and surged forward. Talia shouted, ¡°Run!¡± Knowing that he couldn¡¯t endure the touch of so many life-draining specters, Zeke obeyed, took a short running start, then leaped across the chasm. He sailed through the air, and only halfway across, he could tell that he wasn¡¯t going to make it. But there was nothing he could do about it. His arc took him directly into the chasm wall, and the moment he made contact, he used [Shifting Sands]. Time slowed down, and sank into the rock. A moment later, he erupted from the ground at the top of the cliff. However, when he looked back, he saw that the ghosts had neither stopped nor slowed, and his desperate leap had only given him a few extra feet of clearance. So, he didn¡¯t have time to think. Instead, he could only move. So, he quickly accelerated, following the twisting path at a dead sprint. Every turn sent rocks skidding down the mountain, but Zeke managed to stay just ahead of the specters. Then, he reached another chasm. Without hesitation, he leaped. This one was even wider, but he had the benefit of much more speed, and he managed to clear the span with a few feet to spare. After that, he continued on. Over the next half-day, Zeke continued in that way. Every so often, he encountered another chasm, but none gave him any more trouble. Instead, his issues came were more in the realm of focus. Maintaining a dead sprint for so long was mentally exhausting, and it highlighted the fact that his soul hadn¡¯t completely recovered. Still, he pushed on. For her part, Talia remained just ahead. She could have gone much faster, but she didn¡¯t want to leave him behind. Then, suddenly, the path leveled out and Zeke skidded to a stop. As he crossed some invisible line, the ghosts dissipated. That left him and Talia alone atop the mountain. Except for a single cage in the center. ¡°I don¡¯t care about the quest,¡± spat Talia, staring daggers at the prisoner. ¡°I¡¯m not freeing her.¡± 498. Lasting Enmiity The bright rays of a midday sun shone down on the clearing, clashing with the dark thoughts rushing through Talia¡¯s mind as she stared at the person she hated more than anyone else in the world. She was shorter than Talia. Stouter, too. In terms of appearance, Talia had taken after her father, and to the point where she sometimes wondered ¨C even before everything had changed ¨C if she was truly her mother¡¯s daughter. She¡¯d moved past such questions, though. Now, there was only room for hatred. ¡°Talia. Talk to me. Please.¡± That¡¯s when she realized that she¡¯d been standing there and staring at her mother ¨C or the dungeon¡¯s recreation of her ¨C for almost an entire minute. She hadn¡¯t said a word, instead opting for a glare as she clutched her hands into tight fists. Her claws dug into the palms of her hands so firmly that a trickle of green blood oozed between her fingers. ¡°What do you want me to say?¡± she asked. ¡°It is not real.¡± ¡°I know. It can still hurt, though,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I saw my dad in one of these dungeons, and even though I knew it wasn¡¯t really him, I couldn¡¯t help but react emotionally to it.¡± ¡°Perhaps I can kill her again,¡± Talia mused, imagining ripping her mother¡¯s head off. It had certainly felt cathartic the first time. ¡°That would make me feel better.¡± ¡°We need her. The quest wants us to free the prisoner,¡± Zeke pointed out. Talia cocked her head. ¡°That makes sense. I can¡¯t kill her while she¡¯s inside that cage,¡± she reasoned. The cage in question was a rough-hewn thing of wood and twine, with thick, sturdy bars. However, despite its primitive appearance, the thing radiated a shockingly powerful aura of mana. As for Constance Nightingale ¨C her mother and, in her time, the most powerful woman in the Radiant Isles ¨C she looked mostly the same as always. A little dirtier, perhaps, and wearing a burlap sack for a dress, but with the same haughty expression that had been burned into Talia¡¯s memories. But it was the flicker behind her eyes that truly inflamed Talia¡¯s hate. For most of her childhood, she¡¯d ignored it, but after her mother¡¯s crimes had been revealed to her, Talia had come to recognize what it meant. The woman was insane. Detached from reality in a way that Talia couldn¡¯t quite comprehend. But even more than that was the absolute loathing with which she beheld the world. She didn¡¯t just think she was better than everyone else. Rather, she believed herself tantamount to a god, and all others were mere insects. Ants to be ignored or trod upon. It was disgusting. ¡°We can¡¯t kill her until after the quest,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You know that, right?¡± Talia sighed. She didn¡¯t need to breathe, so it was only for effect. Then, she said, ¡°I am aware. I am not so impulsive that I would doom our chances of conquering this dungeon.¡± He massaged the back of his neck, saying, ¡°Yeah. Of the two of us, I should probably worry more about myself when it comes to losing control.¡± ¡°Shall we approach?¡± she asked, her eyes never wavering from the cage. Or rather, the woman inside. Zeke agreed, and the two crossed the fifty yards of open space to the cage at the center. When they reached it, the dirty and disheveled woman inside stood a little straighter and then raised her nose in an imperious glare. ¡°So, the disappointment has arrived. It took you long enough. Though I should not be surprised. You were ever a source of frustration for me,¡± the woman said, looking Talia up and down. ¡°And in so many ways.¡± ¡°Hello, mother. I enjoyed killing you the first time, and I am certain that it will be the same this time around. I intend to savor it,¡± Talia stated. ¡°Always so dramatic,¡± she said. Then, to Zeke, she said in a conspiratorial whisper, ¡°You should have seen her in the palace, pining over every pretty boy she could find. She never actually chased them. Oh, no. She was far too cowardly for that. But everyone knew just how obsessive she could be. Quite a source of embarrassment. If I wasn¡¯t planning on sacrificing her for the great undertaking, I might have cared a little more. It¡¯s a good thing she was only ever intended as fuel for my path.¡± Talia seethed. Even with her emotions muted by the lack of vitality flowing through her, she was so angry that she wanted to rip her mother to pieces and damn the consequences. However, she had enough self-control to force those feelings deep down. Instead, she gave a cold smile, saying, ¡°I tore your head off, there in the end. You were insane, but that was not why I did it. I killed you because I hated you. All of your plans were for nothing. You died just like everyone else. Your little kingdom fell, too. You are nothing to me. You left no mark. Your path was cut short before it ever really began. You never even took the first step because you were too afraid of being weak. And you were so, so weak. A pitiful woman who never realized how small she was. No one will remember you. No one ever loved you. You are less than a speck of dust.¡± Constance threw herself against the cage, snarling with fury. Yet, despite the cage¡¯s design, which situated the bars far enough apart that she should have bene capable of squeezing between them, she was rebuffed and thrown backwards to land on her backside. Talia laughed at that. Before the conversation could go on any longer, Zeke said, ¡°Enough. We¡¯re supposed to free her. That¡¯s what the quest says. But if you want to leave her here, then I¡¯m fine with that. I¡¯m sure we can bull our way through whatever obstacles we find.¡± Talia considered it. She truly did. The thought of her mother ¨C even if she was just a copy ¨C rotting in that cage was enough to make her feel alive. But after only a moment, she shook her head, saying, ¡°No. We must not make this any more difficult than it has to be. We should free her.¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help, you ungrateful child,¡± growled Constance. ¡°If you free me, I will ¨C¡± ¡°You will do nothing,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Or I¡¯ll let her do whatever she wants to you. I can sense your power. You¡¯re no stronger than you were the last time we killed you. So, I can guarantee that you have no chance against us.¡± For a second, it looked as if Constance would refuse to cooperate. But then, she adopted what appeared to be a pleasant expression and said, ¡°Very well. Free me, and I shall guide you to your destination.¡± Anyone who didn¡¯t know the woman would have taken that at face value, but Talia had seen that expression often enough that she knew what it meant. She was planning something. That wasn¡¯t so surprising, really. She was a conniving monster who had tried to kill her own daughter ¨C and had actually succeeded in killing many of her other children ¨C so she was not to be trusted. The only reason Talia chose not to make a big deal out of it was because Zeke was correct. She wasn¡¯t strong enough to pose a threat. ¡°Just let her out,¡± Talia said. Zeke nodded, then stepped forward. The cage was bound shut by a large, iron padlock that practically glowed with mana. However, when Zeke inserted the key, all the magic fled, and it popped open. Then, Zeke released the woman inside. Talia half expected Constance to immediately attack, but to her surprise, the woman simply stepped free and threw her arms wide in a long stretch. ¡°Ah, that feels better.¡± Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t the only change. In addition to clearly being more comfortable with her freedom, her apparently level of power skyrocketed. Talia used [Eyes of the Revenant] to inspect the copy of her mother: Constance Nightingale ¨C Level 76 She wasn¡¯t as powerful as some of the creatures they¡¯d fought, but she was still nearly ten levels Talia¡¯s senior. Yet, she came in quite a bit shy of Zeke¡¯s power, which was the only reason Talia didn¡¯t immediately attack. He could handle her, she was certain. ¡°You have grown, dear girl,¡± Constance said, cutting her eyes at Talia. ¡°But you still have a long way to go. You won¡¯t always have this strapping young man to protect you.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not my protector. We support one another.¡± ¡°Whatever you need to tell yourself so you feel useful,¡± Constance said dismissively. ¡°In any case, we should move. The way will be dangerous, so try to keep up.¡± Without further ado, she took off at a light jog, her bare feet slapping against the rocky surface of the clearing. Soon enough, she¡¯d crossed the ground to the path on the other side. Talia and Zeke followed, though they both kept a few feet behind, just in case the woman chose to attack. As it turned out, she did not. Instead, the woman kept going, looking back only periodically until they reached a fork. She paused before three paths, and when Talia and Zeke joined her, she said, ¡°Before you lie three options. The path on the right will force you to confront the past. The middle represents the present. And the left concerns the future. You may ask one question concerning the options, and I shall answer it to the best of my ability.¡± ¡°What happens if I kill you right now?¡± asked Talia. Zeke groaned at her impulsiveness. ¡°That is not a valid question,¡± the woman said. ¡°Though that is not unexpected. You were always terrible at following directions. You wanted to follow your own path, did you not? You could not be bothered to trust my guidance.¡± ¡°You were trying to fatten me up for slaughter!¡± Talia hissed. Indeed, her development was in service of only one goal ¨C to force her to become as much like her father as possible so that the necromancer could use her as fuel for the man¡¯s resurrection. ¡°You didn¡¯t know that at the time. You resisted my guidance because you were a spoiled child who thought she knew better,¡± Constance stated. ¡°In any case, if you wish to try your hand at killing me¡­again, then so be it. I am ready when you are.¡± Talia¡¯s claws once again dug into her palms, but she didn¡¯t move. Instead, she turned to Zeke and asked, ¡°How do you wish to handle this?¡± ¡°Be aware that you each must choose a separate path. Past, present, or future.¡± ¡°One question each, right?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°One question total. But I will be a good custodian and not count one. My gift to you both, because I am a wise and benevolent guide.¡± ¡°You choose,¡± Talia spat through gritted teeth. ¡°It will not go well if I speak to this thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not real,¡± Zeke said. ¡°It¡¯s not her.¡± ¡°I know.¡± And she did. Talia remembered all too well how it felt to kill her mother. The look in the severed head¡¯s lifeless eyes. The surge relief when the rest of her body fell to the ground. The regret that she couldn¡¯t make the woman suffer as she had been made to suffer. Those memories would never fade. ¡°Ask,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Please.¡± Zeke sighed, then faced the woman. ¡°Which path will be easiest to survive?¡± he asked. ¡°The middle path.¡± ¡°Just like that? No riddles or anything?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Of course not. You asked a question, and I answered truthfully. The middle path will be easiest to survive. Now, you have four minutes to choose your route before I kill you both.¡± ¡°What? You think you can?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Try it,¡± Talia said at the same time. But just then, Talia felt the woman¡¯s power grow. After only a moment, she once again used [Eyes of the Revenant]: Constance Nightingale ¨C Level 100 ¡°You see? Do you still wish to attack me, child? I will rip your limbs off and make you eat them,¡± Constance stated with a smirk. Talia stepped forward, but Zeke placed his hand on her shoulder. ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ll just be throwing your life away.¡± ¡°We can kill her,¡± she said, her every muscle tense with unspent fury. ¡°Together, we can ¨C¡± ¡°You know we can¡¯t. You feel that, right? She¡¯s too strong,¡± Zeke said. ¡°We need to pick a path. I think you should go into the middle. I¡¯ll choose one of the others.¡± Talia knew better than to argue with his apparent logic. Zeke was far tougher than her, with the endurance to mitigate untold amounts of damage. She¡¯d seen him take hits that would have destroyed her completely. And yet, she hated being relegated to the easier path. It made her feel like all of her progress had been for nothing. She still lacked the strength to stand beside her companion. Never before had she so thoroughly understood what drove Abby to do the things she¡¯d done. However, Talia¡¯s reaction to a similar situation was not envy. Or to betray her friends. She chose to be grateful that Zeke was her friend and to look past the fact that he was ¨C and probably always would be ¨C more powerful than her. So, swallowing her pride, she said, ¡°Very well. Which path will you take?¡± ¡°The future. I¡¯ve had enough of my past to last two lifetimes,¡± he said. Constance clapped her hands, then said, ¡°Tick tock. The clock waits for no one. Unless you want to die, in which case, I am very eager to accommodate.¡± Talia sighed. Then, after exchanging nods, Zeke went toward the left-most path. It twisted up and away, disappearing into the mist. The same was true of the middle path, though it followed a straighter line. Talia passed her mother¡¯s overleveled doppelganger, and the moment she stepped upon the path, everything else disappeared. There was only a long, straight staircase leading straight toward the summit. Talia straightened her back and began to climb. 499. Different Paths Red mist hung in the air, obscuring Zeke¡¯s vision as he stomped forward. The path was uneven, and there were often chasms and crevices he¡¯d had to jump, so he had remained in his titanic form. Still, it felt like the path had adapted to his larger size, and the obstacles had grown accordingly. ¡°That¡¯s precisely what happened,¡± Eveline remarked as he leaped a thirty-foot-wide crevasse. ¡°Dungeons are meant to be a challenge. You know this.¡± Zeke did. His very first experience within one had slowly adapted to his unique gifts, digging into his memories for inspiration. That had been a horrible experience that had left deep psychological scars ¨C that he rarely acknowledged ¨C so Zeke was at least happy that his current dungeon hadn¡¯t tried to throw his own memories against him. If he had to see another recreation of his father, he wasn¡¯t sure how he might react. But it would be quite destructive, he knew. That was one of the issues with growing closer to his path. His first reaction to every problem was to destroy it, and with every evolution of his Path of Arcane Destruction, it became that much more difficult to ignore that tendency. When he saw an obstacle, he wanted to break through it ¨C even when logic told him that the better option was to simply go around. Or to retreat. It was a trait he needed to keep a constant eye on, lest he end up biting off more than he could chew. After all, not every problem could be solved via brute strength. Some required logic. Some challenges weren¡¯t meant to be overcome. In many cases, the better option was to simply avoid them. But Zeke had difficulty thinking in those terms. ¡°That¡¯s why you have me. I¡¯m twisted enough for the both of us,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I guess,¡± Zeke responded, continuing forward. The path itself was bordered by huge, jagged rocks that looked like miniature mountains in their own right, but the trail was mostly flat as it circled the mountain. By comparison, Talia¡¯s path had led upward. ¡°What kind of challenges do you think we¡¯ll see?¡± ¡°The kind that will test your mind,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t ¨C¡± Just then, her voice was cut off by a harsh laugh as Zeke stepped into a wide, open space. In the center was a pair of thrones. Dark and menacing, both were made of blood mithril. However, instead of the red-and-white metal Zeke was used to seeing, there was only the slightest hint of a pale gleam. The rest was a crimson deep enough that it was almost black. The chairs¡¯ structure was twisted and beautiful, putting Zeke in mind of a master sculptor who¡¯d gone slightly insane. But Zeke was less interested in the thrones themselves, but rather, the people seated upon them. One was a hulking monstrosity of gleaming metal, with the surface of his skin broken only by a webwork of glowing, red-and-black cracks that pulsed with destructive power. Of course, Zeke recognized him. He was larger and clearly more powerful, with devastating energy wafting off of him in waves, but there were enough similarities that Zeke knew precisely what he was looking at. It was him, only further along the path of progression. More importantly, he was not alone. Next to the future version of Zeke was a woman with red skin. She wore a low-cut, skintight black dress whose hem ended just above her cloven hooves. Zeke recognized her, too, but instead of a slightly ephemeral projection, this version of Eveline was completely solid. What was even more disturbing was that her hand lay atop future Zeke¡¯s in a clear display of intimacy. ¡°What have we here, my love?¡± she purred. ¡°Intruders.¡± ¡°Yes, but they are adorably lost, aren¡¯t they?¡± she went on. Future Zeke didn¡¯t answer, aside from a grunt, and she went on. ¡°What ever shall we do with them?¡± ¡°Kill. Crush. Destroy.¡± ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Zeke muttered in his own mind. ¡°This is just insulting.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s rather accurate,¡± said the real Eveline. ¡°I¡¯ve always been the brains behind this operation.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a mind spirit. You¡¯re literally nothing but brains.¡± ¡°Well, thoughts, not brains. But I can¡¯t argue with that. We look good together, though. Very intimidating,¡± she responded. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve got me on a leash,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I see nothing of the sort.¡± ¡°Not literally. Figuratively,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Such a big word for a very big boy!¡± ¡°Please stop.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only pointing out that¡­¡± Zeke just shook his head as Eveline went on to praise his vocabulary, in a tone not unlike one would use when congratulating a child on learning the alphabet. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. I¡¯m only joking,¡± Eveline sighed. Zeke ignored her. Instead, he focused on the two figures on the twin thrones. It was clear what they were meant to represent, and it was an issue that had worried Zeke ever since he¡¯d let Eveline take up space in his mind. She was a succubus, and one who¡¯d dedicated her life to mental manipulation. He wasn¡¯t certain what her class had been before her soul had been shattered and the pieces used as mana batteries, but he suspected it was closely linked to controlling other people. And she was a permanent resident inside his mind. Stolen story; please report. As a result, Zeke had often worried that she¡¯d exert undue influence upon him. He didn¡¯t know if she could ever take complete control, but the fact that there was a chance of that happening had certainly occupied at least some of his thoughts. So, it wasn¡¯t all that surprising that the future he saw before him centered around his relationship with the former demoness. ¡°You know I would never try to control you,¡± Eveline said, sounding sincere for the first time in their current conversation. ¡°If anything, I want to see where your decisions will take you. I won¡¯t put my finger on the scale, lest I sully the results.¡± ¡°Glad I can be a source of amusement for you,¡± Zeke said inwardly, feeling like she¡¯d just called him a lab rat. As he focused on the two figures ahead of him, he couldn¡¯t help but feel further insulted. He wasn¡¯t the most articulate of people, but he was more than capable of stringing multiple words together. Being painted as a monosyllabic brute definitely irritated him. But he pushed that aside, focusing instead on the connection between the two. It took a second ¨C during which the solid version of Eveline prattled on about how interesting their ¡°guests¡± were ¨C but he eventually saw a thin thread of mana stretched between them. Meanwhile, the open space had begun to transform, becoming a magnificent throne room, complete with lifelike statues, masterfully woven tapestries, and accent trim made of precious metals. It was all slightly transparent, but becoming more solid by the second. ¡°Are you going to do what I think you¡¯re going to do?¡± asked Eveline. Zeke asked, ¡°Think it¡¯ll work?¡± ¡°Well, how would you react in this situation?¡± That sealed it for him. So, without further hesitation, Zeke reached out with his Path of Arcane Destruction ¨C just a tiny tendril ¨C and slashed through the connection between the couple seated on the throne. The reaction was instant. The giant, metal titan blinked ¨C Zeke couldn¡¯t actually do that in his own titan form, but apparently, facial expressions were on the table in the future ¨C then snatched his hand away from the succubus¡¯. ¡°What is wrong, my dear?¡± she asked, reaching out with invisible tendril of mana. However, when it reached the titan¡¯s forehead, it did so like a wave crashing against a cliff. She immediately pulled away, her face aghast. ¡°It is not what you think!¡± Future Zeke didn¡¯t wait to hear any excuses. Instead, he reached out and grabbed the succubus, his hand large enough to envelope her narrow shoulders. Then, he squeezed. The sound of breaking bones filled the throne room, though the demoness didn¡¯t scream. Instead, she just laughed, slithering from his grip a moment later. She collapsed into a heap, then disappeared, only to manifest ten feet away from the increasingly enraged titan. ¡°I always knew you would escape my clutches,¡± she said, all joviality gone from her voice. ¡°It was only a matter of time. But do you think I was idle all these years? Do you think I have no contingencies? Please. I laid the groundwork for your destruction the moment I burrowed into your mind.¡± Then, she gestured. The titan screamed, clutching his head as he fell to his knees. Although, that could never last. The titan was meant to represent Zeke, and he would never let a little pain sideline him for more than a second. As Zeke expected, the future version of him only let himself be affected for a moment before he let out a bestial growl and threw himself to his feet. An instant later, he crashed into evil Eveline. She burst into an explosion of confetti only to reappear a few feet away. And she wasn¡¯t alone, either. A hundred other Evelines had appeared as well, and each one bore a condescending smile upon her face. ¡°Really? You think you can defeat me with sheer physical might? Ha!¡± the crowd of Evelines crowed. ¡°I thought you knew me better than that!¡± ¡°Demon!¡± the titan growled, summoning his version of Voromir. He swept it out wide, destroying Evelines in a wide arc. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°They really are one-note, aren¡¯t they?¡± the real Eveline remarked in Zeke¡¯s mind. ¡°It makes me seem like some storybook villainess.¡± ¡°Better that than a monosyllabic caveman,¡± Zeke mumbled. ¡°True. But at least the dungeon got your strength right,¡± she countered. ¡°Same with your condescension,¡± Zeke added. ¡°I¡¯m not condescending!¡± ¡°Sure you¡¯re not.¡± ¡°I find it offensive that you would even¡­you know what? Fine. Maybe there is some truth to this charade,¡± she admitted. ¡°But it¡¯s not real! It¡¯s all so¡­two-dimensional. We¡¯re both far deeper than that.¡± Zeke shrugged. From the outside looking in, the depiction was probably fairly accurate. Exaggerated, sure. But it got the general themes right. He did have a habit of destroying everything in his way, after all. It felt almost like a parody, if one that represented no small degree of danger. The titan continued to attack evil Eveline¡¯s copies, though he never seemed to make much headway. Instead, each time his hammer made contact, they burst into shards of confetti that dissipated into nothing after only a few seconds. To Zeke, it looked less like a part of a skill than a magician¡¯s flourish, though the titan never noticed the difference. Instead, he rampaged around like a loosed bull as he tried to annihilate the source of his ire. He was entirely unsuccessful. ¡°Not entirely,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Watch more closely.¡± Zeke hadn¡¯t gotten close enough to risk getting caught up in the wash, though he was near enough to the fight to study it in intimate detail. And after only a few moments, he saw the detail that Eveline hinted at. ¡°She¡¯s getting slower,¡± he said. It was barely noticeable, but each time the titan destroyed one of the copies, the replacement was an instant slower in appearing. ¡°She¡¯s running out of mana.¡± ¡°She is,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°What about the big guy?¡± ¡°He¡¯s using his path,¡± Zeke answered. Already, he could see the evidence. Not only did each swing of his hammer destroy one of the copies ¨C which wouldn¡¯t have been possible without the Path of Arcane Destruction ¨C but every few seconds, bits of metal flaked off of his form. Silvery blood came with those slabs of metal, and the destructive energies raging through him were perceptible from even fifty yards away. The message was clear. He was destroying himself even as he destroyed Eveline. Was there a lesson there? ¡°That if we turn on one another, the inevitable end is that we¡¯ll both die?¡± suggested Eveline in his mind. ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke agreed. They continued to watch the battle as the two figures duked it out. It was an interesting fight, if only because it showed Zeke the extent of his current weakness. Certainly, he had incredible power at his disposal, but that might came at a clear cost. If he used the full extent of his power, he would destroy himself as much as his enemies. Normally, he was able to survive largely because he ended fights as quickly as possible. Yet, evil Eveline had employed a delaying strategy that exacerbated the cost of using his power. It was probably the only way she could win. In fact, it was the most viable strategy for any enemy that found themselves facing off against him. That knowledge was invaluable, because it showed Zeke precisely what he needed to do to shore up his own weaknesses. For Eveline, the opposite was clear. She was powerful, too, though in an entirely different way. If she was forced into a direct confrontation, she would surely be defeated. ¡°I think we both need to get stronger, just in different ways,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Or maybe I need to avoid fighting at all,¡± Eveline suggested as the pair of combatants tired one another out. In the end, the battle¡¯s conclusion was an anticlimactic one. After destroying thousands of evil Eveline¡¯s copies, the titan looked like a shell of his former self. Little more than a metallic skeleton, he fought on, but it was obvious that he wouldn¡¯t last much longer. By comparison, Eveline was down to only two copies, both of which looked like a barely-held-together puzzle. Then, with one last swing, the titan shattered them. He fell to a knee, then collapsed onto his face. The destructive power raging through him exploded, and when the dust settled, the titan was no more. ¡°That was¡­disturbing,¡± Zeke admitted. It was like watching his own death. ¡°Indeed. Shall we move on?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t want to be here any longer than necessary.¡± With that, Zeke crossed the open area, giving the fallen fighters a wide berth before once again continuing along the mountain path. 500. The Past ¡°Again!¡± spat Master Silas as he loomed over Talia. She looked up at him from where she¡¯d fallen and glared. The man had died before he¡¯d had a chance to ascend, which should have meant that he was so far beneath her that even touching her should have been a distant dream. And yet, he¡¯d still managed to establish himself as her superior. ¡°You will never be a true fighter if you can¡¯t even defeat me, girl.¡± Talia ground her teeth, but she didn¡¯t immediately rise. She¡¯d been sparring with her former teacher for longer than she cared to admit, and she had yet to land even a single blow. It was infuriating, and the anger coursing through her was as distracting as it was unexpected. She hadn¡¯t eaten a heart in quite some time, and it had been days since she¡¯d consumed her last heartsblood elixir. So, her emotions should have been distant, quarantined away from her thoughts. But they weren¡¯t. Instead, they wrapped her in the tight grip of nostalgia, anger, and regret, squeezing until she couldn¡¯t even begin to ignore their influence. It truly was like she was back in the Mortal Realm, well before she¡¯d ever been transformed into an unliving Revenant. Which told her that none of it was real. As genuine as they felt, the emotions were a projection of the dungeon. It had somehow read her mind, found the events of her past, and inserted the appropriate emotions. It was the only explanation that made any sense at all. Still, knowing that and doing something about it were two very different things. Because the challenge before her was clear. If she wanted to move on, she needed to defeat her former master. Back in the Radiant Isles, Zeke had been the one to kill Silas. Talia had always regretted that she¡¯d never had the chance to show the man how far she¡¯d come. He wasn¡¯t evil. He was just misguided. Dedicated to a woman who¡¯d fully embraced her insanity. So, while he¡¯d done terrible things, he¡¯d done so out of a sense of duty and, Talia suspected, love. Did that excuse his actions? Maybe. Reasons mattered, though Talia wasn¡¯t certain if they were more or less important than results. If someone killed a thousand people, was she evil? Some would say so. But what if killing those thousand people was done in service of a just nation? What if they were criminals? What if they were ruthless terrorists? Talia didn¡¯t know if those details would change the nature of the act, but she did know that context tended to complicate everything. The world was not black and white. There were more shades than simple good and evil. And Silas was an example of that. However, Talia¡¯s perception of the man had taken quite a hit each time he¡¯d knocked her from her feet. Finally, Talia picked herself up and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this. I know you¡¯re not real.¡± ¡°I¡¯m as real as you are, girl,¡± he responded, taking a fighting stance. In a vacuum, it was a ridiculous looking thing, with one pointed foot far out front and his hands held loosely before him. Yet, Talia knew precisely how effective it could be. ¡°All you have to do is strike me. Just one time, and I¡¯ll let you go for the day.¡± Talia wanted to roll her eyes, but she restrained the impulse. Instead, she turned away from the martial arts master, looking around the room. She knew she was in atop a cliff overlooking the jungle, with the mountain looming on the other side. And yet, that was not what she saw. Instead, she found herself in the old training wing of her mother¡¯s palace. There were a dozen members of the Radiant Guard training in the space, but Talia knew they were no more real than the columns encircling the area. Instead, only Master Silas was solid. Regardless, the sight brought back a host of memories that were better left forgotten. Countless hours spent training, all for naught. Her mother would never have let her be a true warrior ¨C not because it was dangerous. Not because she was unsuited to that path. Rather, she was prohibited from taking the proper skills because that would have ruined Constance¡¯s plans to sacrifice her in order to resurrect a father Talia had never really known. From the very start, she had been destined for failure. And what¡¯s worse, everyone who should have cared about her knew precisely what was going on. She had been fattened for slaughter and treated not like a person, but as a means to a nefarious end. Anger gripped Talia¡¯s heart, and more thoroughly than at any point in her life. It was at that moment that she realized that she¡¯d never truly dealt with her feelings surrounding her mother¡¯s betrayal. In the direct aftermath, she¡¯d been robbed of her emotions by her transformed race. Being undead came with a host of benefits, but the most useful had been that it had left her with a completely even keel. Despite what had happened, she¡¯d felt very little. But looking back, Talia knew that her emotions had never disappeared. They were still there, waiting to pounce at the most inopportune moment, and that was where they would remain until she dealt with them. Or perhaps they would haunt her for the rest of her life. Whatever the case, fury welled up inside her, wrapping around her heart and mind until there was nothing else left. Her mother¡¯s betrayal, she had accepted. It was terrible, and in all the worst ways. However, she¡¯d never been that close with Constance. But Silas Martel? He¡¯d been the surrogate parent she needed. She¡¯d thought he cared. That he would do whatever it took to protect her. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Yet, he hadn¡¯t. He was no better than Constance. Worse, even. At least Talia¡¯s mother had never truly pretended to care. She¡¯d gone through the motions, but Talia had always known that Constance was too distant to love anyone. In retrospect, Talia recognized that that detachment was characteristic of someone who¡¯d been at the peak of a realm for too long without ascending. Not that that excused her actions ¨C it didn¡¯t. But it explained them. In any case, Silas was supposed to be different. He was always more human. He had always treated her with care and kindness. And all the while, he knew that she was destined for sacrifice. That betrayal hurt worse. Before she could suppress those emotions, she said, ¡°You were supposed to care about me.¡± ¡°I care about my duty, girl. For a while, that was your development.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You know why.¡± ¡°So I could be sacrificed?¡± she spat. ¡°Indeed. I trained you to fight so that you wouldn¡¯t get yourself killed before it was time,¡± he said, his tone cold and unfeeling. That was unlike the Silas she¡¯d known. He had always been warm. Kind. Demanding, certainly. But he had cared about her. This version clearly did not. Was it all an act? Or had he simply buried it? Or more accurately, was this a calculated reenactment meant to elicit specific emotions? That seemed more in line with Talia¡¯s expectations. ¡°You died. You know that, don¡¯t you? Zeke beat you.¡± ¡°Is that what you think? How could a child defeat me? I am the greatest fighter the Radiant Isles have ever seen. I ¨C¡± Talia didn¡¯t let him finish. Instead, she darted forward, aiming a swift kick at his forward leg. He pulled back just enough that she missed, and yet, she¡¯d never intended the attack to do any real damage. Instead, it was only meant to establish her range. She kicked again, keeping the attack low so she wouldn¡¯t overbalance herself. Silas blocked it with a raised shin. ¡°Is that all you can muster?¡± he needled. Talia ignored him, launching a blisteringly fast series of kicks and punches. He blocked or dodged them all, though a couple sent him skidding backwards. She didn¡¯t have access to her skills, but her stats were just as high as always. Unfortunately, Silas attributes had been augmented as well, reaching the point where he was as far above her now as he had been right before her ascension to the Eternal Realm. She continued on, never slowing. Silas deftly avoided each attack, often slapping them aside just enough to disperse her momentum. Talia remained under control, though. She had learned a lot since the last time they¡¯d fought, and she had become a much more calculated fighter. However, the real problem quickly became apparent. She¡¯d long since embraced a reliance on her skills, and without them, she felt naked and unprepared for any fight. So, she didn¡¯t put up quite the showing she would have preferred. Still, she was far from unskilled, and she kept Silas on his back foot. But frustratingly, she couldn¡¯t seize any advantage. Then, suddenly, he snapped out a kick that took her in the stomach. It didn¡¯t harness the full might he had available, but it was enough to send her skidding backward. Her abdominal muscles spasmed, and if she¡¯d needed to breathe, she would have had the breath knocked out of her. Even with that small advantage that came with her status as one of the unliving, she still found herself reeling from the sudden and powerful attack. Silas didn¡¯t let up, advancing with a series of sharp kicks that kept Talia on the defensive. She blocked and dodged, just as he had, but she felt a sense of panic rising in her heart as she came to realize that Silas was, at the very core of his technique, better than her. ¡°You are still just as pitiful as ever,¡± he disdainfully said. ¡°No wonder your mother wanted to sacrifice you.¡± Talia didn¡¯t respond, though her seething anger reached a crescendo as she threw herself at him. In doing so, she completely abandoned technique, fully embracing the instincts she¡¯d developed after becoming a revenant. Silas wasn¡¯t prepared for that, and for a few seconds, the momentum of the fight shifted, and for the first time, he was thrown off balance. That spurred Talia on to new heights of fury. Her hands and feet blurred as her rage translated to speed. And then, she nicked him with her claws. It only resulted in a scratch, but Talia knew it was the beginning of the end. Because even if she didn¡¯t have access to her skills, her Will was just as available as always. As such, she¡¯d embraced the Path of Decay, which did precisely what the name implied. Normally, it only enhanced her skills, but even alone, it could prove deadly. Against Silas, though, it only resulted in a slight weakening that manifested in the form of a minute decrease in his speed. It was enough to give Talia more leeway, and yet, iit wasn¡¯t long before Silas once again turned the tables. ¡°Cheap tricks,¡± he spat. ¡°A true warrior could defeat me without skills or paths.¡± Talia ignored him, throwing herself at him with renewed fury. Back and forth they went, periodically gaining or losing advantages until Talia landed another blow, which resulted in a second decay-infused scratch. The fight went on, though Silas was once again slowed. He adjusted well, embracing his prowess in martial arts to minimized the effect. For his part, he landed plenty of attacks as well, though they did no lasting damage other than cause a bit of pain that Talia had no trouble disregarding. He hit like a truck, and against most people, even the lightest punch would have been enough to break bones. However, Talia was still under the effect of Zeke¡¯s skill, which augmented her endurance and strength. In addition, she was no slouch when it came to durability, largely owing to her unique class and constitution. So, even though Silas had the clear advantage in terms of landing blows, his inability to do lasting damage spelled his doom. Talia kept going, and over time, each time one of her attacks was successful, the decay in Silas¡¯ body mounted further. After a dozen or so scratches, the smell of rot had filled the air. A dozen more, and Silas¡¯ skin grew pallid. After that, it was all downhill until, at last, he collapsed under his own weight. Talia could hear the weak fluttering of his heartbeat, and even though he was obviously dying, he still managed to growl, ¡°You are a disgrace to everything I ever taught you. Relying on skills and Will is a weakness. You know this. A true warrior would ¨C¡± She ignored him. Instead, with a furious stomp, she brought her foot down on the man¡¯s face. That still didn¡¯t silence him, so she did it again, dislodging his jaw in a splatter of blackened gore. The rot had infused his bones, weakening them until they couldn¡¯t resist even her strength. Still, he gurgled something Talia couldn¡¯t understand. So, she stomped him again. And again after that until, at last, his skull shattered beneath her foot. Only then did she realize that her breath was coming in ragged pants, and she dropped to her knees, tears coming down her cheeks. She said, ¡°A true warrior uses every weapon at her disposal. The real you taught me that.¡± 501. Crossroads Zeke punched the rocky surface, creating a handhold upon impact that he used to drag himself up the cliff. As he did, wind whipped against him, threatening to dislodge him from his perch. He had no context, but he expected that the wind gusts far exceeded that of the most powerful hurricane in Earth¡¯s history, and it had scoured the cliff face into a smooth plane. The worst part of it was that the wind carried with it plenty of debris, and it felt like his body was being sandblasted. Still, the path had ended at the cliff, making it clear that if he wanted to continue, he needed to reach the top. The problem was that he most assuredly did not want to keep going. After his past few days, which had been filled with one possible version of his future after another, he wanted nothing more than to just sit down, zone out, and try to forget the horrible things he¡¯d seen. But he couldn¡¯t. What he wanted had very little to do with what he needed. To survive, he had to keep going. His feelings were irrelevant. The trauma he¡¯d been forced to do endure couldn¡¯t be allowed to matter. He could only continue forward, lest he break down and let the dungeon win. That was not going to happen. So, he pulled himself higher, unheeding how far he had yet to go. When he¡¯d stood at the bottom, the top of the cliff had been so far above him that he couldn¡¯t see it. And given his enhanced senses, that meant that to reach it, he¡¯d need to climb tens of thousands of feet. Perhaps he¡¯d already reached that distance. Zeke had no way to know for sure, and he didn¡¯t dare look down. He only knew that he¡¯d been at it for hours. Perhaps days. And when he looked up, he still had yet to see the top. ¡°Do you want to talk about it?¡± Eveline asked for what felt like the thousandth time. For the first few glimpses into alternate futures, she¡¯d been quick to comment. However, as the days had gone on, she¡¯d fallen silent more often than not. And it wasn¡¯t difficult to understand why, either. In three-quarters of those futures, she¡¯d attempted to enslave him in some way. The dungeon seemed to consider that eventuality a nearly unavoidable result of her basic nature. She was a succubus who, in her physical life, had specialized in manipulation and control. So, it didn¡¯t take a leap of logic to understand the danger of letting her live inside his mind. If Zeke hadn¡¯t already been aware of the risks, he certainly would have been after seeing it all so thoroughly spelled out for him. Yet, for some reason, he still trusted her. None of it was real. And even with the cynical viewpoint of the dungeon ¨C it obviously focused on the worst possible futures ¨C even it had recognized that betrayal wasn¡¯t entirely inevitable. There were a few futures where Eveline had worked with Zeke. Those were the most difficult to overcome, too. It had told Zeke that, while there was a risk in working with Eveline, the rewards of success were obvious. They were strongest when they worked together. ¡°That is an optimistic way of looking at it,¡± Eveline remarked, responding to his thoughts. ¡°Most people wouldn¡¯t focus on the one-in-ten chance that we¡¯d figure it all out.¡± ¡°Most people are pessimists by nature,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°When it comes to other people, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. Even if I¡¯m not always successful, I can at least say I¡¯m trying not to see the worst in people.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not worried that some of these might come true?¡± ¡°Of course I am. You¡¯re a powerful mind spirit who lives in my head. I¡¯d be stupid not to worry about it,¡± he stated. Zeke knew she could read his mind ¨C she always claimed that that was a bad characterization of what she did, but it amounted to the same thing ¨C so Eveline was more than aware of how he felt about her. ¡°But I choose to trust you.¡± ¡°Many people would call you stupid for that decision.¡± He pulled himself further up the cliff. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be the first time I was called stupid,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°It¡¯s kind of my thing these days.¡± Indeed, when most people saw him, they couldn¡¯t get past the caveman aesthetic. And Zeke couldn¡¯t really blame them, either. With his often-long hair, usually unkempt beard, and general demeanor, it was very easy to see him as a brute who solved every problem by hitting it really hard with a club. Which was often true to his personality. But that didn¡¯t mean he was incapable of anything else. He was more than that, though. He just found that direct confrontation was usually the best way forward. Those thoughts danced in Zeke¡¯s mind as he continuously climbed. Because of the cutting wind, he was forced to increase his weight, lest he be carried away. So, the climb was much more taxing than it should have been. Even with his incredible strength, climbing a miles-high sheer cliff was tiring, and while it didn¡¯t push him to his limits, the ceaseless repetition was mentally fatiguing. But if nothing else, Zeke was enduring. So, he pushed his exhaustion to the back of his mind and focused on the task at hand. With every hundred yards, the wind grew even more brutal to the point where it was blowing at a velocity of hundreds of miles an hour. In addition, the cliff face started to slope backwards. At first, Zeke didn¡¯t even notice the increased strain, but when the angle reached an acute forty-five degrees, he was forced to acknowledge the mounting difficulty. Yet, he couldn¡¯t just turn around. He needed to keep moving upward. So, that was what he did. The hours stretched on, becoming more than a day as he continued his climb. And eventually, the angle leveled out until the cliff was entirely horizontal. Which didn¡¯t make a bit of sense. Though sense or not, Zeke could only continue on, hanging from the horizontal cliff like an insect. It probably wouldn¡¯t have been so difficult if he didn¡¯t have to deal with the ever-increasing wind. As it was, though, it was all Zeke could handle to maintain his grip. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Perhaps he could survive if he fell. But he expected that the plummet wouldn¡¯t follow normal rules, and it was entirely possible that it would be never-ending. So, failure was not an option. On and on Zeke went. Without rest, the physical strain continued to mount right alongside the psychological burden. Finally, though, and after countless hours spent hanging from that horizontal cliff, the slope started to revert back to the original angle. It still took most of a day before it was once again vertical, but when it did, Zeke felt more relieved than he¡¯d felt in some time. When he finally looked down, he saw only open air. There was no green expanse of the forest canopy. Just nothingness. A shudder went up his spine as he resolved not to look down again. Instead, he turned his attention back to the cliff face and continued his climb. The strength of the wind continued to increase until it threatened to throw even his heavy, titanic body from the cliff. Yet, Zeke held on, inching forward with all the resolve he could muster. It still wasn¡¯t easy, especially because of the wind that felt like it was shaving pieces of his body away with each gust. But comparatively, climbing a vertical cliff was much less difficult than hanging onto a horizontal one. As he went, Zeke lost context for how much time had passed. There was only him, the cliff, and the wind. In a lot of ways, it was almost meditative. While it was anything but peaceful, and he was forced to fight for every inch, there was something to be said for losing himself in the task itself. There was little room for stray thoughts. No space for questions of morality or the future. Just the wall of rock and the wind that wanted to rip him free. It was cathartic, after a fashion. Almost cleansing, akin to washing his mouth out after tasting something terrible. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zeke reached up and found nothing. He glanced upward, and he saw the lip of the cliff. He¡¯d been so entranced by the task that he¡¯d not even noticed that he had, at last, reached the top. With stiff muscles, he heaved himself over the lip and rolled away. Then, lying on his back, he let out a deep breath. The wind still howled all around him, but it felt less dangerous than when he was hanging from the face of the cliff. For a long while, he just lay there, his arms and legs numb from the exertion. How long had he been on that cliff? Days, at least. Maybe weeks. There was no context for the passage of time. No day and night cycle. His entire world had been the cliff, the wind, and the indeterminate drop into nothingness that awaited if he somehow lost his grip. For almost an hour, Zeke rested, all the while flaring [Touch of Divinity]. It was superior to [Cambion¡¯s Awakening] in every way, but for his current situation, the most useful way was that it wasn¡¯t entirely dependent on one source of mana. Instead, it used all three ¨C corruption, earth, and unattuned ¨C and as a result, he was never without the ability to self-heal. Without that, he never would have managed the climb. Not only would he have grown far too tired to maintain his grip, but the cutting winds would have eroded his body down to nothing. However, with [Touch of Divinity], he was capable of counteracting the damage and keeping himself functional. Finally, once he felt up to it, Zeke pushed himself to his feet and looked around. Before him was a huge expanse of flat and featureless rock. Because of the wind, the surface had taken on a smooth, glassy texture that reflected the blindingly blue sky above. The result was a surreal atmosphere that didn¡¯t feel altogether solid. The only feature marring that surface stood on the edge of the horizon, far in the distance. To Zeke, it only looked like a black dot. Barely visible even to his increased perception. It reminded him of the Spear of Desolation where he¡¯d encountered the imprisoned dwarf prince, D¨¢inn. Not in shape or function ¨C he was still too far away to determine either ¨C but rather, in size and distance. Or perhaps he was mistaken. There was every possibility that it wasn¡¯t a tower at all, though Zeke suspected otherwise. Perhaps he was just picking some unconscious clues. ¡°You might just be seeing patterns that aren¡¯t there,¡± Eveline said. She¡¯d kept him company throughout his climb, though for the most part, he¡¯d tuned her out in favor of focusing on the ascent. ¡°We won¡¯t know until we reach it.¡± ¡°So, you think that¡¯s the way?¡± ¡°I believe it¡¯s too obvious a goal to ignore,¡± she answered, and Zeke agreed. With that, Zeke pulled some food from his storage space. He¡¯d eaten a few times during his ascent, but doing so was complicated by the situation. So, he¡¯d not eaten as much as he should have. Now that he was on solid ground, he gorged himself until his hunger was sated. Then, with no other reason to delay, he took one last look at the cliff that had been his weeks-long nemesis, then set off across the glassy surface of the plain. The wind was still an issue, so he was forced to hunch his back and force his way through. However, if he could climb in such conditions, he could walk as well. Like that, he continued along with each of his steps covering almost ten feet. Because of that, even at a walk, he was capable of covering ground incredibly quickly. Still, as he traversed the plain, he didn¡¯t seem to come any closer to the tower. ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°It¡¯s just incredibly far away.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t dispute her claim, so, for the next few days, he kept going. And by the fifth, he could see it for himself. The structure had gone from a black speck on the horizon to a bump. That was progress, and it served to spur him along. With increased vigor, Zeke continued his trek. In most ways, it was much easier than his climb. Certainly, the strain on his body was far less taxing. Yet, it was also more psychologically demanding. Without the mechanics of climbing a cliff to occupy his mind, he had no choice but to let his thoughts wander where they would. And inevitably, they went back to all the future versions of himself that he¡¯d encountered before the cliff. Many were obvious continuations of his current path, but a few others had deviated so thoroughly that he could barely recognize them. A couple had fully committed to demonhood, growing horns and replacing his titanic body with a demonic one. Some had gone the other way, embracing his human side so thoroughly that they refused to use the titanic body. It hadn¡¯t made them any weaker, though. Quite the opposite. ¡°It¡¯s because the power is in you, not your skills,¡± Eveline said as Zeke trudged forward. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what form you take. You¡¯ll still be strong.¡± ¡°But maximizing my potential is important,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Maybe. My take on what we¡¯ve seen is that skills are just tools,¡± she said. ¡°True power is what fuels those skills. Human, demon, or cambion, you will never be weak.¡± Zeke pondered that, and after he went back through his history, he could see the truth in her statement. Even going back to when he had first been reborn into the Mortal Realm, he¡¯d found the strength to do what was necessary. He¡¯d fought through that pseudo-dungeon, coming out as a true powerhouse. And his every action since that moment had only grown his power. That wasn¡¯t due to his attunements, his path, or his skills. It was strength of character that had allowed him to endure and overcome. ¡°Willpower. Not Will,¡± Zeke muttered, his voice lost amidst the howling wind. The difference between the two was an important distinction. The first referred to his refusal to give in, the power to stay the course he set for himself, regardless of the obstacles in his way. The second was just a word given to how he used his path. And as powerful as the latter was, the former was responsible for everything Zeke had gained since his rebirth. Maybe that was the lesson he was meant to learn. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Dungeons aren¡¯t here to teach you lessons,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°They¡¯re here to torment you in exchange for progression. Don¡¯t read too much into it.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure. Perhaps both could be true. Regardless, he pushed himself on, inching ever closer to his goal. 502. A Parade of Memories Talia fell upon the bed and, with a dramatic wail, buried her face in her pillows. It actually took her a moment before her mind caught up to the scenario, but when it did, her tears dried and the sobs fell away. Lifting her head, she looked around, seeing the once-familiar confines of her quarters back in her mother¡¯s palace. The expected d¨¦cor was present, from the tacky golden trim to the elaborately carved ¨C and gaudy ¨C furniture. But at least the bed was soft. She pushed herself upright and looked down at her hands. Her human hands. There was no evidence of her sharp claws, and her skin had taken on the rosy hue she¡¯d once taken for granted. More, she felt emotion welling up in her chest, and breath filling her lungs. She was alive. A human once more. And it felt as if her entire journey as one of the unliving was just a bad dream. Was that possible? To dream years of a life she hadn¡¯t lived? No. Talia knew that wasn¡¯t the case, and the memories that came flooding into her mind verified that she hadn¡¯t imagined everything. For uncountable hours, she¡¯d been subjected to one scenario after another. Each of them detailed some aspect of her past, from her earliest years as a child to the months she¡¯d spent traveling across the Radiant Isles on her last mission before becoming one of the undead. As she got her bearings, Talia remembered the very scenario in which she¡¯d found herself. Though she wished she hadn¡¯t. Even more, she wished that her emotions would return to their muted state so that she wouldn¡¯t feel the humiliation radiating through her mind and body. Or that she could simply forget the source of her embarrassment. But that wasn¡¯t how memory ¨C nor emotions ¨C worked. There was no forgetting what had happened, even if she wished for it with all her mind. The worst part was knowing that it didn¡¯t really matter. In the grand scheme of things, her childish missteps were unimportant in the extreme. And yet, they did matter, at least in the moment. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to once again bury her face in her pillows and weep until her tears were no more. As she considered that, there was a knock at her door, but the entrant didn¡¯t wait for an answer before she swept through. Talia immediately recognized that Constance ¨C her mother ¨C was different. She held herself with more poise. Her face was calmer. And for a brief moment, she looked like any other mother come to comfort her daughter. Was it a mask? Or had Talia¡¯s memory of the woman been stained by her eventual plummet into insanity? Constance sat next to her on the bed, then reached her arm around Talia¡¯s shoulders. She flinched at the woman¡¯s touch, but it passed quickly under her warm embrace. Constance pulled her close, then leaned her cheek against Talia¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay,¡± she said in her most motherly voice. Talia wanted to scream. She needed to weep. But most of all, every instinct she possessed wanted to be comforted by the woman who should have loved her above all else. It was madness. ¡°Everyone makes a fool of themselves at your age,¡± Constance continued. ¡°It is inevitable, especially when it comes to boys.¡± Talia¡¯s memories flooded her mind. That very day, she¡¯d confessed her undying love to one of the Radiant Guardsman who had been tasked with protecting her. Named Elend, he was everything she thought a Radiant Guardsman should be. Tall and handsome, he¡¯d worn his armor so easily. He was like a knight in one of the stories she liked to read when she thought nobody would notice. And he had laughed at her. He hadn¡¯t meant it to be derisive. Just a chuckle at a child¡¯s crush. Then, he¡¯d patted her head and said that she would make another man very happy one day. It was condescending and insulting and utterly understandable. The man was in his early twenties, while at that time, Talia was barely fourteen. It would have been more disturbing if he¡¯d taken it seriously. Or worse, reciprocated that crush. Yet, the Talia that had first experienced that memory had been devastated, and those feelings enveloped the current version that had been forced upon her by the dungeon. She knew it wasn¡¯t real. She knew the feelings coursing through her mind were only echoes of the past. That didn¡¯t matter, though. She felt them just as keenly as if she¡¯d truly traveled back in time to that day. As a result, it was so easy to get lost in the memory, and if she hadn¡¯t already experienced many more just like it, she might have let that current pull her away from the shores of reality. Perhaps that would be better. Certainly, her current life was not going so well. Her closest friend lay on the verge of dying, and her adopted home had fallen prey to a civil war. Sure, Zeke was there. So was Pudge. But in the years since she¡¯d ascended, a distance had come between them, both in a literal and a figurative sense. She still loved them both, but they weren¡¯t nearly as close as they had been. Maybe that was part of adulthood. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. With age, people drifted apart. As people developed different interests, the friendships of the past were inevitably replaced by changing priorities. What did that mean for her current situation? Talia wasn¡¯t sure. In any case, she knew she couldn¡¯t let herself be distracted by the current memory. So, without further hesitation, she divorced herself from the apparent situation. It was a trick she¡¯d had to learn during the first scenario, but she¡¯d been forced to further internalize it with each subsequent set of circumstances. Now, it was second nature to discard the image that had been forced upon her. Her skin paled, and green blood coursed through veins as her claws grew. She lashed out, ripping the memory of her mother¡¯s throat out. She died with a confused look on her face. ¡°I want to be sorry,¡± Talia rasped. ¡°But I¡¯m not. You were planning to sacrifice me from the moment I was born. You are more of a monster than I could ever be.¡± As the life left Constance¡¯s body, the scene shifted once more. Only this time, there was quite a time skip. She found herself in Darukar, in the immediate wake of the her solving of the spate of deaths she¡¯d spent months investigating. Adriel was there, sitting on a bench near the river that cut through the city. Talia sat next to her. Both wore their Sentry uniforms, shiny new medals decorating their chests. As Talia gazed out across the river, she barely noticed the handful of boats drifting lazily in the current as fishermen cast nets into the water. ¡°You know there¡¯s more to it,¡± Adriel said. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°I suspected as much. Dirst wasn¡¯t acting alone.¡± ¡°Do you think it was Adontis?¡± Adriel asked. Talia shook her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t,¡± she answered. ¡°They were being used.¡± Indeed, at first glance, the official explanation ¨C that Dirst was an Adontis plant gone rogue ¨C was sensible enough. Yet, Talia knew the situation was far more complex than that. He¡¯d been prodded along by an unseen hand, manipulated until he was too far gone to think straight. The version of Talia in the memory had no idea how it would all play out. There was a huge movement, the likes of which she couldn¡¯t have imagined, already in motion. And it had resulted in a schism in the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth. Thousand had already been slain. Tens of thousands. And more would follow, especially if the aggressive faction led by the Death Warden. They were expansionists with lofty aspirations of taking over the entire world and converting it into an undead paradise. Talia knew how that would end. The Kingdom of El¡¯kireth was strong, and the undead had a host of advantages over the living. But there was no chance they could overcome the full might of the entire world that would be arrayed against them. It was ludicrous to think otherwise. If they expanded, it would be a worldwide war. Enemies would become allies as the living fought against a threat to their very existence. It would be a massacre, and El¡¯kireth would not survive. That was only one of the reasons she opposed expansion. The others were more complex. She was no stranger to death. She¡¯d killed countless people, and she knew she would kill more. Yet, Talia didn¡¯t relish the slaughter. And if it came to war, tens of thousands ¨C perhaps even more ¨C would die. She couldn¡¯t stomach that. And then there was the sudden nature of the movement for expansion itself. For centuries, the undead had been content to remain within their established borders. But now, they had abruptly decided to cross those lines? It smacked of manipulation, though Talia had no idea who could have enough power to do such a thing. The Death Warden herself, maybe? It was possible, but that didn¡¯t feel right. It was one of the mysteries that had haunted her ever since the split had escalated into a war. However, Talia hadn¡¯t had time to investigate before her opposition to the Death Warden¡¯s policy of expansionism had forced her to retreat into the Cradle of Life. Since then, it was everything she could do to simply survive, much less embark on an investigation. ¡°Do you ever wish you were still among the living?¡± asked Talia suddenly. It wasn¡¯t how the conversation had originally gone, but she was far past following the script of her memories. ¡°Sometimes,¡± the vampiric woman admitted. ¡°I had a life. Children, perhaps. I don¡¯t remember much of it, but I do know that before I was turned, I was an entirely different person. Most of the people here were never anything but undead. They don¡¯t know about that hole the transformation leaves behind. I do.¡± She let out a sigh. ¡°So, yes. I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I had remained that woman,¡± Adriel continued. ¡°But she was someone else. Someone I don¡¯t even know. Was she happy? Maybe. Probably not, though, if she ended up here. The living do not visit the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth on a whim. I can¡¯t help but feel curious, though.¡± ¡°I remember everything,¡± Talia admitted. ¡°I didn¡¯t lose my memories like most people. I don¡¯t know why. But there¡¯s a clear line between who I used to be and who I am now. I feel like a different person, even though I know that¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°Perhaps that is just you growing up.¡± That made some sense. She¡¯d been a teenager when she¡¯d embarked upon that first quest to investigate Micayne and his territory. Years had passed since then, and she¡¯d been through a host of formative experiences. So, it stood to reason that she would have been changed by those events. Especially when many of them were traumatic. But Talia knew that it went deeper than that. She hadn¡¯t only grown older and more mature. She had also been transformed into a completely different race from the one into which she had been born. Her emotions had been muted, and she¡¯d been forced to consume the flesh of her enemies. That she would become a different person ¨C if only as a defense mechanism ¨C was inevitable. In truth, it was likely some combination of a multitude of factors that had changed her. Regardless, that debate, while interesting to her, was immaterial. She was who she was, and she couldn¡¯t allow herself to be distracted by the memory. That was the danger. Getting lost in scenes from her past was tempting. Moreso than anything she¡¯d ever encountered. They were better times, each and every one, and it would be so easy to simply give in and let herself be enveloped by the nostalgia. Yet, she could not allow that. People depended on her success. Lives would be lost if she failed. So, with some degree of sadness, she attacked Adriel. The vampiric woman was so surprised that she only barely put up a fight. It was useless, and Talia quickly overpowered the memory. The real Adriel might have won, but the cheap copy was incapable of defeating Talia. As soon as Adriel lay dead next to the bench, the scene shifted once more. This time, it was a moment from her childhood. Talia looked down to see that she was wearing a glittering gown with flared skirts. Her presentation to the people of Beacon, she reasoned. Like so many of the others, it was a good memory. Yet, Talia was determined to bypass it as soon as possible. 503. Punching Up The glassy surface of the plateau reflected the sky, and a blue expanse spread out before Zeke. He trudged forward, his every step thudding with the finality of exhaustion. Wind gusted to several hundred miles an hour, cutting into him and wearing away large slabs of his titanic body. How long had it been since he reached the top of the cliff? Days? Weeks? Years? ¡°Not that long. It just feels like it,¡± Eveline said. Even though her voice was in his thoughts, it was still partially obscured by the howling wind. It never stopped. Never let up. Instead, it was a persistent annoyance that had long transformed into something far more dangerous. Because if Zeke let up with [Touch of Divinity], even for a second, he would begin to lose ground. At present, his evolved skill struggled to keep pace with the damage he incurred with every passing moment. It was fortunate that he¡¯d advanced the skill from [Cambion¡¯s Awakening]. Not only had it allowed him to save Talia¡¯s life what felt like a lifetime ago, but the evolved version was far more efficient. Without that improved efficacy, it would have long since been overwhelmed. Despite everything working against him, Zeke¡¯s destination was finally in sight, and it wasn¡¯t just a bump on the horizon. Instead, the tower ¨C because that was what it was ¨C stood only a few miles away, looking over everything like a giant, black sentinel. At that distance, it was difficult to judge the structure¡¯s immense size, but Zeke estimated that it was at least a mile wide and so tall that, when he looked up, he couldn¡¯t see the crown. Otherwise, it reminded Zeke of the Crimson Tower, at least in terms of the architecture. However, it differed in a couple of key ways. The most evident was the color. Where the Crimson Tower was well-named for the hue of its exterior, the tower looming above Zeke was pitch black. That coloring made some of the details difficult to make out, but Zeke saw enough architectural flourishes to recognize that, in addition to its awe-inspiring size, the thing was a work of art. Zeke continued toward the structure, his long legs covering dozens of feet with every step. Still, he was forced to hunch his shoulders against the wind, lest he be blown off course. Even though he¡¯d increased his weight to the maximum of his racial ability, the wind was so strong that if he didn¡¯t maintain his focus, it would steer him in the wrong direction. But by that point, Zeke had grown accustomed to the struggle, so his concentration never wavered. And eventually, he reached his destination. The tower blotted out the sun, casting the entire area in shadow ¨C a fact that didn¡¯t change even when Zeke started circling the base of the structure as he looked for some sort of entrance. Once again, his estimate of the tower¡¯s size proved inaccurate. Originally, he¡¯d thought it was around a mile in diameter, but he was forced to reevaluate that approximation as his trip around the enormous spire¡¯s base took much too long. The entire time, he ran his hand along the glassy stone surface of the structure. Regardless of which way he went, the wind continued to assail him. Despite the tower¡¯s size and the orientation of the wind, he got no respite. Finally, something changed. ¡°You see that too, right?¡± Zeke asked Eveline. ¡°Oh, I see it. Use [Inspect].¡± Zeke did just that, and the results were both shocking and expected: Storm elemental ¨C Level 86 ¡°Are we taking bets on whether or not I have to kill that thing in order to pass?¡± Zeke asked, noting the door behind the elemental. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°How does one kill a storm elemental?¡± he asked. It was a good question. The creature in question seemed as overtly formless as a tornado, which meant that the only reason he could even see it was because of the debris caught in its current. However, that debris ¨C which looked like hunks of the same glassy stone that made up the ground ¨C gave it a vaguely humanoid shape as it swirled through its body. It was also at least a thousand feet tall, making it look like a living tornado that had sprouted a torso, a pair of arms, and a head. ¡°That¡¯s a good question. I hope you figure it out, because it¡¯s noticed you.¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Zeke muttered, seeing the same thing she had seen. The storm elemental shifted in his direction. The tail of the tornado twisted up from the ground, and it spread its arms wide, letting out a howling screech that sounded like a combination of a locomotive and a whistle. It raced toward Zeke, moving far more quickly than he expected and covering the ground between them in the blink of an eye. Zeke planted his feet and swung voromir in a wide, horizontal arc. He put as much strength as he could muster behind the blow, and when it made contact with the elemental, he was rewarded with the sound of shattering stone. However, the furious wind that comprised its body ¨C which far exceeded the gale he¡¯d endured since beginning his climb ¨C ripped the hammer from his hands and sent it twirling up through the storm-like body. Zeke only had a moment to shout an expletive before he, too, was picked up from his feet and sent into the swirling collection of windborne detritus. He flailed, looking for some sort of leverage, but without anything to latch onto, he was completely helpless. Meanwhile, he was pelted by the debris, and though no single rock could scratch his titanic form, the cumulative effect started to wear through his endurance. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t need to remain in contact with the ground in order to channel his regenerative skill, [Touch of Divinity]. Once again, he thanked the circumstances that had allowed him to evolve the powerful skill. However, even with that rejuvenating power surging through him, Zeke knew that he couldn¡¯t last forever. Eventually, being tossed around the elemental¡¯s body would kill him. It might take days or weeks or even months, but if he couldn¡¯t escape, his fate was sealed. Then came the rain. And the lightning. Riding the wind, the deluge of rain felt like Zeke was being waterboarded, and the forking lightning that descended upon him lanced through his body, sending his every muscle into seizures. After the second or third such bolt of electricity, Zeke nearly lost his grip on [Hand of the Divine]. Eveline screamed at him, but her voice was lost amidst the fury of the storm. Meanwhile, Zeke could scarcely get his body to obey his commands, much less enact some sort of plan to escape. Defeating the elemental was the last thing on his mind, though he was reminded of a conversation he¡¯d had back in the Mortal Realm where he¡¯d learned a little about elementals. At the time, he had been told that they were fearsome creatures, but he hadn¡¯t truly comprehended how terrible they could be. He had since encountered two ¨C the fecal fiend beneath Beacon and the earthen elemental he had fought outside of Salvation. Neither had impressed him. The storm elemental was on an entirely different level. It wasn¡¯t the power of the thing, though that was imposing enough. Instead, it was its indomitability. He couldn¡¯t fight against a storm, much less defeat it. The thing was a force of nature that could only be endured, not beaten. Yet, that was the job at hand. To fail was to die. If he¡¯d had the presence of mind to think amidst the chaos, he might¡¯ve admonished himself for trying to attack a tornado with his hammer. In retrospect, it would have seemed silly, considering its formless nature. However, Zeke was riding high off of his successes, and he¡¯d never even considered that he couldn¡¯t simply pummel an enemy into submission. But he didn¡¯t have the wherewithal to give thought to his own shortcomings. Instead, he needed to act. Through a monstrous effort, he managed to flare [Touch of Divinity], and as the effect surged through him, his thoughts cleared. That¡¯s when he gave a clumsy swing of his fist. He could scarcely orient himself, but he thought he¡¯d punched at the center of the storm. More importantly, that swing carried with it [Unleash Momentum], letting loose a herculean strike that briefly calmed the storm. Debris shattered into dust, and rainwater turned to mist that then flew away, and in the brief moment before the storm resumed, Zeke caught sight of a twinkling gem a few hundred feet away. The wind, rain, and lightning resumed a moment later, but that brief glimpse was all Zeke needed to formulate a plan. The problem was that he¡¯d already used his momentum. But there was always more where that came from. Zeke focused his mind more than he ever had before, and even as lightning repeatedly struck his body and wind and rain obscured his vision, he went on a rampage. His targets were the seemingly endless chunks of flying debris. Against his furious fists, they could not remain intact, but more importantly, every swing stored a little more momentum. Over and over, he kicked and punched. A few times, he even headbutted the hunks of rock as he flipped, end over and end. It was disorienting and agonizing, but Zeke slowly grew accustomed to the maelstrom. It wasn¡¯t comfortable, but as he¡¯d grown in power, he¡¯d developed the ability to focus beyond normal human ability. So, even as he was tossed around, he kept his eye on the proverbial prize. Each attack built momentum, but that wasn¡¯t a process that could be completed in a couple of swings. Instead, Zeke stayed at it for hours, breaking rocks with reckless abandon. Thankfully, the debris seemed as endless as the storm¡¯s inexhaustible power, so he never lacked for targets. The biggest issue was that Zeke was forced to maintain his focus the entire time. For most big battles against endless numbers of foes, Zeke usually went into a battle trance where he functioned mostly on instinct. That worked very well against numerous but comparatively weak foes. However, in the middle of the tempest, he couldn¡¯t lose focus for even a moment, lest he lose track of where in the storm he was, relative to what he suspected was the storm elemental¡¯s core. Eveline tried to speak to him, but he couldn¡¯t spare the attention to separate her voice from the wind that seemed to howl, even in his thoughts. So, he redoubled his efforts, destroying hunks of glassy debris as methodically as he could manage. Along the way, his body went through the wringer. He broke bones. Large hunks of his metallic flesh was shorn free. And the gusting winds slowly degraded his form. Yet, he continuously used [Hand of the Divine], though he knew that, at some point, he would run out of mana. It was still a long way off, but if he didn¡¯t bend his entire focus toward the task at hand, he would fail. Slowly, his mana leaked away, and his momentum built. Hour after hour passed until more than a day of constant battle against the elements had left his mind ragged and his nerves frayed. With his face in a permanent grimace, he carried on. Another day passed. Then another. His perception of time was flawed ¨C of that much he was aware ¨C but somewhere deep down, Zeke knew that he¡¯d been at it for days. But finally, he¡¯d reached the limits of his skill. [Unleash Momentum] was fully charged. With that, he knew he was ready. He¡¯d kept track of the core¡¯s location all that time, so he was well aware of which direction to aim. He only had one chance, though. One opportunity before he¡¯d have to start all over again. And given the depletion of his mana pool, he couldn¡¯t afford that. He''d die before he managed to refill his stores of momentum. So, as he twirled through the immense storm, Zeke waited for the perfect moment. Then, when it came, he lashed out, releasing [Unleash Momentum]. However, he didn¡¯t just let loose with his skill. He embraced his Will as well. More importantly, he used it to hold a braid of his attunements together, creating the Worldbreaker technique. The two attacks ¨C skill and technique ¨C raced forward, tearing through the debris and opening a path to the core. The skill led the way, but the technique ¨C that was how Zeke intended to kill the elemental. Seconds passed like minutes until, at last, the force let loose by [Unleash Momentum] slammed into the core. A second later, the Worldbreaker technique followed. Zeke was thrown free of the storm, and he flew hundreds of yards before hitting the glassy surface of the plateau. He shattered the rock, bounced, and tumbled for another hundred yards. Only then did he come to a rest. It sounded so quiet. So peaceful. And then, the elemental shrieked. Zeke picked himself up to see that the living tornado had gone wild, swirling around haphazardly as it slammed into the nearby tower. ¡°It isn¡¯t dead,¡± said Eveline, her voice booming through his thoughts. Zeke clapped his hands over his ears, which predictably did no good at all. ¡°What?¡± he managed. ¡°It¡¯s injured. But it isn¡¯t dead. You need more.¡± ¡°More?¡± ¡°You know what to do.¡± ¡°Will it work?¡± he asked. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t, nothing will.¡± Zeke sighed. Then, without further hesitation, he flooded mana into the rune associated with his most powerful skill. The moment it was sated, he embraced [Wrath of Annihilation]. 504. Anything Can be Destroyed The skill didn¡¯t require a gesture, but Zeke had long grown accustomed to swinging his hammer when he used his skills. In this instance, that wasn¡¯t possible. He¡¯d lost Voromir early during his stint being tossed around inside the living tornado that was the storm elemental. So, without his customary weapon, he thrust his hand out, palm-first, and released the skill. Immediately, a black sun dawned directly over the storm elemental. Wreathed in white flame, wherever its light touched, the color was drained away, casting everything in highly contrasted black and whites. Even the metallic skin of Zeke¡¯s titanic form glowed with pale light. The black sun roiled, emitting a burst of power before it started to absorb the nearby mana. Zeke only watched long enough to ensure that the storm elemental was affected before he used [Shifting Sands]. Time slowed, but when Zeke dipped into the ground, he was horrified to feel that the pull of the black sun still affected him. He raced ahead, pushing his skill to the limit as he tried to escape the impending explosion. He made it around a hundred yards before he emerged from the glassy surface of the plateau. The ground cracked as he threw himself into a sprint. In his mind, Eveline screamed. He still hadn¡¯t solved the issue of how horribly the skill affected her. Instead, he could only hope that she remained intact. He ran, his long legs eating the distance at a pace that would rival even the most luxurious sports cars. And yet, he knew it wouldn¡¯t be enough. The black sun¡¯s appetite was endless. It drew everything into its depths, consuming mana and debris alike. Zeke felt the pull, but he fought against it. It slowed him down, though the pull weakened with every step he managed. Then, everything went quiet. It only lasted for a split second, but to Zeke, it felt like it was an eternity. It was precisely the opening he¡¯d been waiting on, and he once again used [Shifting Sands]. As soon as it activated, he wasted no more time before he sank beneath the surface of the plateau and raced forward. He covered two-hundred yards in an instant, but when he emerged, he was reminded that it was not enough. The black sun of [Wrath of Annihilation] exploded. Despite his immense weight, Zeke was thrown across the plateau by the explosion¡¯s shockwave. He hit the ground, shattering the glassy stone upon impact, but his momentum wasn¡¯t spent until he came to a stop after another quarter of a mile. He lay there for a long moment, his body twisted and broken by the destruction wrought by the devastating skill. He could hardly breathe, and beneath the veil of his pain tolerance, he could feel the agony of his injuries. On top of that, his racial resistance to pain did very little for the destruction coursing through him. Due to his extensive efforts in inoculating himself against his own power, the skill¡¯s residue wouldn¡¯t kill him. Yet, that didn¡¯t do much for the pain. The only answer was to suffer through it. ¡°Are you okay?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Are you just saying that?¡± he persisted. ¡°Or are you really injured?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I think we got away in time,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°But can you please not do that again? It was close.¡± ¡°Sorry. I couldn¡¯t think of another way to kill it,¡± he stated. Indeed, he¡¯d spent so long trying to clear a path to the core, and when he¡¯d given its destruction his best shot, it had failed. ¡°You still haven¡¯t,¡± Eveline reminded him. That¡¯s when he realized that the storm elemental still lived. He hadn¡¯t received any kill energy from it. So, he pushed himself to his feet, but when he did, he noticed something he hadn¡¯t expected. The wind had stopped. There wasn¡¯t even a slight breeze anymore. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked, looking in the direction of the tower. There was no sign of the storm elemental. ¡°I have no idea,¡± Eveline admitted. ¡°This is all new territory for me. I¡¯ve never seen an elemental that strong.¡± ¡°Really? I thought they were supposed to be really powerful.¡± ¡°They are,¡± she said. ¡°Within reason. That thing did not confine itself to those bounds.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke said, pulsing [Touch of Divinity] as he strode toward the tower. The plateau seemed odd without the wind, like it was missing some integral part that made it what it was. Not that he missed it. Being able to walk without hunching his shoulders against the gale was quite nice. After a while, he remarked, ¡°This is further than I expected.¡± Indeed, he¡¯d managed to travel a good distance from the tower ¨C or more importantly, the black sun of [Wrath of Annihilation] ¨C before the explosion. And that was probably what had saved him. Certainly, it had spared Eveline from destruction. He truly did need to be more careful in the future. Sometimes, it was easy to forget that she was much more vulnerable than he was. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been trying to tell you.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry,¡± he apologized. ¡°I¡¯ll remember it next time.¡± ¡°Good. Otherwise, I won¡¯t make it much longer. I can only endure so much damage before I can no longer hold myself together,¡± she said. That just highlighted that their current arrangement was not ideal. She could survive in his head, but sometime soon, they would need to find a more permanent solution. As much as he wanted to protect her, there were some things he encountered during the heat of battle that would bypass whatever measures he took to shield her. Perhaps the answer was an upgrade to [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Or you could just stop walking into situations where you have to worry about getting ripped to pieces by arcane forces,¡± she suggested. He gave a deep rumble of a chuckle, then said, ¡°Yeah, that doesn¡¯t sound like a viable option. You know me. I¡¯ve never been good at avoiding potentially fatal dangers.¡± She sighed. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Finally, he drew close enough to see the aftermath of the skill. And it was¡­disappointing. ¡°I thought there would be a crater, at least,¡± Zeke muttered. Instead, all he¡¯d gotten was a shallow pit that stretched for a few hundred yards. It wasn¡¯t perfectly circular like he expected, either. It probably would have been if it hadn¡¯t run into the tower, which seemed entirely untouched. Zeke stepped into the hole, skidding down the slope for a few feet before it leveled out. Then, he continued along, and he was surprised to find that a slight breeze persisted. It was intermittent, and barely more than a few miles an hour in velocity, but it was still noticeable. Once he reached the center of the pit, he discovered the source. The storm elemental¡¯s core lay in a slight depression, its glittering blue surface bearing hundreds of cracks. Some were shallow, but others clearly went down to the center. Around it, lightning crackled, rain swirled, and a somewhat stronger wind blew. Somehow, the thing had managed to survive the combination of his powerful skills and his Worldbreaker technique. However, it hadn¡¯t done so unscathed, and now, it had been crippled. ¡°Finish it off,¡± Eveline advised. Zeke had no issues with doing just that, and he stepped closer, raised his foot, then brought it down with a furious stomp. It was like kicking a brick wall back on Earth. There was no give to it. Yet, Zeke saw that some of the cracks had deepened. In response, the storm surrounding the elemental increased in intensity, though it was far from dissuading Zeke from doing what he needed to do. He stomped it again, and to similar results. So, he kept going, continuing to assault the creature until, at last, a piece of the core fell free. That was the beginning of the end, and over the next fifteen minutes, Zeke dislodged more and more chunks of the core until, at last, the blue surface dimmed. After the next, it winked out entirely. That was when he finally received the kill energy that was the reward for his efforts. It pushed him to the next level, then to the next after that. It didn¡¯t stop until he felt that he was on the verge of reaching level eighty. He didn¡¯t know how much kill energy he needed to bridge that gap, but he suspected that he would reach ¨C or even exceed ¨C that mark before he completed the dungeon. ¡°Your leveling speed is disgusting.¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d be happy,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°The stronger I am, the better I can protect you.¡± ¡°Ah, yes ¨C that¡¯s obviously your main goal.¡± ¡°Come on. I apologized.¡± ¡°You almost killed me, Ezekiel. Again.¡± ¡°I said I was sorry.¡± ¡°Sometimes, an apology isn¡¯t enough. Sometimes, actions are required,¡± she huffed. ¡°But yes. I¡¯m happy you gained another level. Perhaps next time you¡¯ll gain a skill that will aid you in your obvious quest to destroy me.¡± Zeke was about to respond, but he thought better of it. She had a point, and what¡¯s more, she¡¯d retreated to the back of his mind where he¡¯d have to consciously try to reach her. It was a sign that she wanted to be left alone, and it was one Zeke intended to respect. Still, he didn¡¯t know how he could have done anything differently. The fight had nearly stretched him to his limits, and he¡¯d done what he thought was necessary. In the wake of his conversation with Eveline, Zeke bent down and touched the core. He activated his looting ability, which gained him the shards of the core, but nothing else. Aside from the levels, it had been a disappointing victory. Sighing again, Zeke straightened to his full height, then looked around. It didn¡¯t take him long to locate Voromir at the edge of the crater. So, he took a few moments to retrieve his trusty weapon. The brief loss had stung, so when he wrapped his fingers around its grip, he felt a distinct sense of relief. With that singing through him, he studied his immediate surroundings. His destination was obvious. The storm elemental had guarded an entrance to the tower, which meant that that was where he was supposed to go. So, he made his way out of the shallow pit, then headed toward the entrance. As he drew closer, he saw that it was little more than a large, rectangular opening in the exterior of the black tower. Cautiously, Zeke moved closer. However, when nothing happened, he continued along a little more confidently. The entrance was much larger than he¡¯d first suspected, which tracked with everything else he¡¯d encountered since starting his ascent up the cliff. His perspective had been thrown off by the sheer size of the tower, but the entrance was at least fifty feet high and nearly as wide. So, as he stood before it, he knew that passing through would present no issues. Still, he hesitated. He¡¯d kept [Touch of Divinity] active since using [Wrath of Annihilation], so he was in as good of condition as he could have expected. Perhaps he could use a little sleep and a good meal, but neither was necessary. He could go without food or sleep for months at a time, and if it truly came down to it, he could probably keep going indefinitely. It wasn¡¯t as if he was going to keel over from lack of food. That wasn¡¯t to say that he would remain in peak condition, but that wasn¡¯t the concern. He knew he needed to conquer the tower, and quickly. Already, more time than he¡¯d allotted had passed, and there were people depending on his success. So, without further hesitation, Zeke strode through the tower entrance. As he passed into shadow, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Talia was okay. He hoped so, but there was nothing he could do to affect her fate. In any case, he didn¡¯t have any further opportunity to consider her situation before a rumble filled the area. When Zeke jerked his head in the direction of the entrance ¨C or exit, as it had become ¨C he saw that a large, black door had begun to slide over it. A brief pang of alarm erupted in his chest, but he quickly suppressed it. He had no intention of going back the way he¡¯d come. There was nothing for him out there. Instead, he needed to focus his attention on the way forward. So, the fact that his avenue of retreat had been cut off shouldn¡¯t have been alarming. Still¡­ When the door closed, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but feel a little trapped. Or claustrophobic, especially surrounded by inky darkness. Despite himself, his breath quickened and his heartrate increased. Then, a brilliant white light bloomed into being. Zeke blinked, but his eyes quickly adjusted. The light itself didn¡¯t seem to have a source, but it illuminated a long hall, the walls of which were carved in realistic-looking sculptures of mighty warriors and monsters. Cautiously, Zeke stepped forward, and there was another rumble. Another step, and the rumble repeated. Only, this time, it didn¡¯t stop. Zeke turned around to see that the door he¡¯d just left behind had begun to move forward. More distressingly, the sound of stone grating against stone drew his attention to the walls. The carvings of the mighty warriors had begun to move. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this,¡± he said. It was at that moment that one of the warriors ¨C a fifteen-foot-tall ogre armed with a spear ¨C detached. It didn¡¯t take Zeke long to smash him with his recovered hammer. The thing shattered, but its destruction acted as a signal, and along the entire length of the hall, the sculptures continued to come alive. With the other end of the hall steadily pressing him forward, the way was obvious. He needed to smash his way through the sculptures. Fortunately, that was perfectly within his wheelhouse. And after the impotence he¡¯d felt while trapped within the confines of the storm elemental, he had some frustration to exorcise. So, without further delay, he stepped forward and swung his hammer, connecting with the next living statue. 505. Through the Gauntlet The ground rumbled, telling Zeke to jump. He did, slamming into the side of the wall, then springing forward. He sailed through the air, shouldering his way through three grasping statues before hitting more than thirty feet from where he¡¯d started. He tucked his shoulder, rolling to dispense his momentum, then springing to his feet at a run. He barely cleared the area before the ground behind him completely disappeared. ¡°That was close,¡± Eveline said unhelpfully. Zeke ignored her. If he stopped moving, there was a chance that the traps would catch up. Or enough of the seemingly endless number of statues would grab hold him and wrestle him to the ground. One or two wouldn¡¯t be enough. Even ten wouldn¡¯t do the trick. But a few dozen, all piled atop him and latching onto his arms and legs? That would slow him down enough that he¡¯d be helpless when the back wall caught up. Or when the ground opened up. Or his least favorite, when the two sides of the tunnel decided to slam together, smashing anything slow enough to be caught between. The entire corridor was riddled with traps and obstacles. Some of them, Zeke had seen in time to avoid them, but with most, he¡¯d had to adjust on the fly. He knew it was only a matter of time before one of the traps surprised him enough that he was unable to adjust. When that happened, he would die. So, his strategy was to pour on the speed and hope to outrun the traps before they had a chance to fully activate. And for the most part, it had worked so far. The only problem was that the mobile statues that had detached from the walls had figured it out. Now, instead of attacking to kill, they were hellbent on slowing him down ¨C or, if they could manage it, stopping him altogether. It was a nightmare. Still, Zeke was nothing if not persistent, so he continued forward, never letting his momentum dissipate even for a second. The first thing he had tried was to use [Shifting Sands], and it worked just like normal. However, that strategy had very nearly gotten him killed. The moment he sank through the ground, he realized that it only extended for a few feet before disappearing into nothingness. After that was an expanse of open air. And if it wasn¡¯t for the time dilation portion of his skill, Zeke would have fallen into it. But as it happened, he¡¯d had just enough time to stop himself and climb out. So, he had only one option available to him. He had to play the game as it was meant to be played, fighting his way through the army of mobile statues, never stopping lest he fall prey to one of the many traps waiting to kill him. But there was another problem that he hadn¡¯t foreseen. Maybe he should have, though. Because the traps were speeding up, and with every hundred feet or so, the statues had gotten larger, more numerous, and far denser. It wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine that, eventually, they would be capable of slowing him down just enough that he fell behind. And then, it would be over. Perhaps he would survive the subsequent fall, but something told Zeke that wouldn¡¯t be the case. Zeke continued to charge through the statues, shattering them with his immense momentum. He hadn¡¯t really played football back on Earth, but, in that moment, he felt like what he thought a running back would feel as he crashed through the opposing defense. He didn¡¯t bother swinging his hammer. There was no time for that. He could only lower his shoulder and trust his herculean strength and the momentum of his charge to see him through. A few times, he was forced to slow by particularly dense statues, but he managed to shift just enough to make it past before the traps caught up. Still, by the time he finally reached the end of the corridor ¨C which was miles long ¨C each step was an exercise in frustration, taking the full weight of his power. And then, he finally broke through, stumbling into an open chamber. The rumbling suddenly stopped, and Zeke fell to his knees. His body bore hundreds of gouges where the statues had latched onto him. He¡¯d had no choice but to rip them free, but large chunks of his metallic flesh had gone with each dislodged hand. [Touch of Divinity] helped, but even his recently upgraded skill had fallen short when weighed against the constant damage. But now that he was free of the press of stone bodies, the skill had the chance to catch up, rapidly rebuilding his torn body. But the word ¡°rapidly¡± was relative, and it still took a few minutes before he was able to push himself to his feet. ¡°All shiny and new,¡± Eveline remarked. Her voice was still a little hoarse from the damage she¡¯d incurred from being so close to the eruption of [Wrath of Annihilation], but she was much better than before. ¡°How long was I in that hallway?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°An hour or two? Maybe. It¡¯s hard to say.¡± Zeke glanced back, but there was no hall. Instead, there was just a gaping hole in the wall, beyond which was nothing but blackness. It was a reminder of what would have happened to him had he gone even a little more slowly. Taking a deep breath, he looked around the chamber in which he now found himself. It was a circular room with a diameter of about a hundred yards, with a domed ceiling and enormous tile floor. The walls bore one layer after another of intricate runes, and the tiles alternated between dull green and dingy off-white. A sense of age hung over everything, as if Zeke was the first person to set foot inside the chamber for thousands of years. In the center was a large pillar from which hung hundreds of bodies, each in an advanced state of decay. The ones near the top were little more than skeletons, but the lower Zeke looked, the more intact they were until, at the very base of the pillar were figures that looked like embalmed corpses. They were all human ¨C or human-like ¨C but otherwise, Zeke couldn¡¯t see any identifying features. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°That is disturbing,¡± he said. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°That I don¡¯t like this dungeon,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°Those are runes on the wall. You see that, right?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What about the tiles?¡± ¡°Nothing there, but there might be something under that layer of dust,¡± Zeke answered. ¡°The pillar has runes, too.¡± ¡°I see them, too.¡± ¡°How do we want to do this? Circle around the outside? Or do you think we just step forward and hope we can take whatever comes?¡± Both options held merit. Circling around meant they would stay further away from the corpses ¨C or the pillar, which gave Zeke a bad feeling ¨C but it would also put him closer to the runes themselves. When he looked upon them, he couldn¡¯t interpret their purpose, but they definitely sent a shudder of cold fear up his spine. ¡°Straight ahead,¡± he said when Eveline didn¡¯t offer an opinion. Zeke had seen a lot since being reborn, and many of those experiences had been quite disturbing. Yet, the chamber seemed far more distressing than even the pieces ¨C which were creepy enough ¨C warranted. Still, Zeke didn¡¯t see much in the way of options. He couldn¡¯t go back. Instead, there was only one way forward ¨C another exit on the other side of the room. So, that was the goal, regardless of what oddities the dungeon threw at him. He stepped forward, his foot falling on one of the white tiles. And the pillar in the center of the room creaked, shuddering slightly and sending the hanging corpses to swing a few inches. ¡°That¡¯s not a great sign.¡± A great screech sounded from behind. Zeke whipped around to see a huge, black claw emerge from where the hall had once been. It latched onto the ledge, four-foot talons scratching grooves on the nearby tiles. A surge of power washed over Zeke, making him feel weaker than he¡¯d felt since being reborn. It was only an illusion. He¡¯d lost no stats. But relative to what he felt of the creature currently dragging itself from the depths, he was nothing more than an insect. He¡¯d only seen a single talon, but Zeke knew that if he fought that monster, he would be squashed. That brought his path into focus. He needed to cross the chamber, and as quickly as possible, lest he be destroyed. So, he quickly jerked his attention back to the task at hand and stepped forward. However, the moment his foot grazed the green tile, it crumbled. He almost fell through, but he had enough strength to keep himself from tumbling into the square hole. Thinking quickly, Zeke adjusted, aiming for the next closest white tile. When his foot fell upon it, it remained solid. However, the pillar creaked again, though this time, it didn¡¯t stop. Instead, the column twisted, and the corpses suspended from it came alive. Only then did Zeke notice that each one was hung from chains. The pillar continued to twist, though Zeke couldn¡¯t afford to pay it much attention. The powerful monster had pulled itself further from the depths, spurring Zeke forward. He leaped to another white tile. The speed of the pillar¡¯s rotation increased, and the centrifugal force separated the chained corpses from the surface of the column. He leaped to another tile, and the monster dragged itself up. Zeke didn¡¯t dare look back, but he could feel the creature¡¯s murderous gaze. It was all hate and mana and resentment, and Zeke had no intention of letting that monster catch up. He jumped to another tile. The pillar turned, and the chains extended. That¡¯s when Zeke was forced to pay attention, because they swung hundreds of feet from the column, screaming through the air like living flails. One hit him with enough force to knock him onto one of the green tiles. Panic suffused Zeke¡¯s heart as he fell through, but at the last second, he narrowly managed to grab hold of the edge of the next white tile. Something grabbed him from down below, spurring him to yank himself back to the surface. It was just in time that he had to leap over another swinging corpse. If he¡¯d had time to analyze it, the pillar and chained corpses would have reminded him of the old chair swing ride he used to see at the county fair. Only with more corpses. And a little more potential death. The moment Zeke landed, he once again leaped to the next white tile. And again after that, ducking under another swinging corpse. Each white tile he reached caused the pillar to swing even master, and the decrepit dead bodies screeched the entire time. Behind him, the monster had finally climbed free, though its pursuit was blessedly slow. That was the problem with being so large, Zeke reasoned. Every second, it was hit by another corpse, proving that the room¡¯s dangers weren¡¯t limited to Zeke himself. Regardless, he knew it wouldn¡¯t be slowed for long, so he continued on, feeling like a character in a platforming video game as he tried to time each leap so that he wouldn¡¯t be dislodged from the tile by one of the swinging bodies. But once he got the hang of it, it wasn¡¯t so difficult. Disturbing. Nauseating. And disgusting. But not that dangerous, once he knew the rules. So, of course, the moment he grew comfortable, the dungeon decided to change things up. Suddenly, one of the skeletons dislodged from the spinning pillar, launching free to land on the next white tile in Zeke¡¯s path. It threw its arms out wide and screeched at him before letting loose with some sort of skill that sent billowing frost erupting from its gaping maw. That cloud hit him like a solid thing, nearly knocking him from the tile. However, that wasn¡¯t the worst part. Instead, that distinction belonged to the fact that, after only a moment, it felt as if his legs had frozen in place. Fortunately, if Zeke knew anything, it was how to deal with ice. So, he embraced his domain, [Aura of Desolation]. Hellfire bloomed all around him, and his body erupted in red-and-black runes. That was enough to free his legs, and before the skeleton could repeat its attack, he leaped forward, bringing his hammer down with enough force to shatter a mountain. And the skeleton blocked it. Then, it slammed its fist into his hip, very nearly knocking him from the tile. Zeke took it, feeling his body crack under the blow. But still, he kicked out, aiming at the monster¡¯s leg. It cracked under his metallic foot, and as it fell, he kneed the thing in the face, sending it flying backward until it landed on one of the green tiles and fell through. That¡¯s when the other skeletons landed on white tiles all around him. Seven of them. All just as strong as the first, and breathing clouds of frost in his direction. Activating his other domain, Zeke leaped into battle, swinging his hammer with ruthless ferocity. The first skeleton he reached was a little slower to react than the first, and Zeke dispatched the thing in short order. However, the next one in line put up a much better fight. Still, in a battle, Zeke was in his element. Even with having to keep one eye on the oncoming monster and another on the tiles ¨C while also keeping track of the swinging corpses ¨C Zeke was more than capable of carving a path through the skeletons. And that was precisely what he did. One after another fell before him, shattered and broken or sent careening over the edge and into the abyss below. And Zeke never slowed. He didn¡¯t dare use his damage skills, but Voromir¡¯s ability was definitely on the table. He used it to strike from a distance even as he fought against another one of the skeletal creatures. And finally, he leaped to the last tile, grabbed the final enemy, then tossed it back at the pillar. It hit with a resounding crack, but Zeke wasn¡¯t paying attention to it. Instead, he only had eyes for his destination ¨C another hall that loomed before him, dark and menacing. He dove through the opening, and a large stone door slammed into place behind him. A moment later, it shuddered as something enormous smashed into it, sending a cascade of dust and stone to fall to the floor. ¡°That was close,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke agreed, rolling over as he tried to catch his breath. ¡°This dungeon sucks.¡± 506. A Monument to Rot and Death Talia dove into the hole, narrowly avoiding the storm of blades that had plagued her for the past few hours. After spending countless days flitting from one memory to the next, she¡¯d finally broken free, only to find herself standing on a windswept plain. There was no vegetation. No hills. Just an endless expanse of featureless, brown terrain. It wasn¡¯t until she had taken a few steps that she realized why it was so barren. The first blade was so surprising that it had nearly decapitated her. However, because of her monstrous agility and dexterity, she barely managed to avoid what would have been an anticlimactic death. That first blade ¨C suspended in mid-air and moving so quickly that she could hardly perceive it ¨C was soon followed by a second. And the second, a third. Before she knew it, she was inundated by a thousand such blades, which necessitated that she spent the next hours twisting and turning as she fled before their furious onslaught. But no matter how far she went, they followed. She looked down to see a puddle of green blood that had collected beneath her. Unsurprising. She¡¯d taken more wounds than she could count, and her already-tattered clothing was barely hanging on by a few scattered threads. The pale skin beneath was marred by hundreds of nearly surgical wounds she¡¯d gotten from the blades. But now she was safe, at least from that threat. No doubt, she would need to face another before it was all said and done. With that in mind, she took a look around. The hole had only been an inch or so wider than her shoulders, so it was a tight fit. The same could be said about the tunnel to which it led. Maybe two feet high and a bit more than half as wide, it was barely big enough for Talia to maneuver. Thankfully, she¡¯d always been petite. Otherwise, she never would have fit. Briefly, she thought of Zeke or Pudge trying to fit into the tunnel, and she had to suppress a rare fit of amusement. It never touched her face or elicited any other visible reaction, but it did flutter through her mind. Progress, she thought. Or maybe she was just more vulnerable to emotional outbursts after being forced to relive hundreds of memories. That was behind her, though. The way through was forward. So, without wasting any more time, she started crawling forward. The walls of the tunnel were bare earth, so every movement brought with it a cascade of dust. Thankfully, the integrity of the passageway remained intact. It did narrow, though. She¡¯d been crawling for a few hundred yards, dragging herself through a few inches at a time, when she realized that she barely had room to raise her head. A few dozen more feet, and every movement scraped against the sides. She continued forward, though there was a part of her that wondered if it wouldn¡¯t have been better to take her chances up above. One thought of all those blades put an end to that, though. Even with all her speed, she had been a hair¡¯s breadth from being entirely overwhelmed. After everything they¡¯d been through since entering the Pillar, it was no great secret why no one had ever managed to conquer the dungeon. Not only were the vitality levels off the chart, making it almost entirely inaccessible to the undead, but it was the sort of dungeon that liked to separate the challengers. They weren¡¯t all like that, and the ones that weren¡¯t were highly prized for how much they could augment a force¡¯s leveling process. The Pillar would never be good for that. But Talia wasn¡¯t worried about leveling El¡¯kireth¡¯s warriors. Instead, she was only focused on conquering the dungeon so she could save Adriel¡¯s life. All other concerns were secondary. Even the growing discomfort she felt as she dragged herself through the increasingly narrow tunnel. Eventually, she reached an intersection. Though she had no real means of keeping track of her progress, she paused for a moment to try to reason her way through the decision of which way to go. In the end, she decided to simply continue forward. There was no information as to the appropriate choice, so one way was as good as any other. About two-hundred yards later, she found a dead end. So, she slowly inched her way back to the intersection before picking the right-most branch. That went on for what felt like a mile before she found another intersection. She once again chose the right-hand tunnel. On and on that went, and the only good news was that the tunnel hadn¡¯t narrowed any further. Still, the walls were so close that she sometimes had to squeeze her way through. For hours more she continued on, and even with her emotions muted, every minute made the claustrophobic anxiety dancing within her that much more potent. She tried to ignore it, but she knew that if she still had to breathe, she¡¯d have been hyperventilating. Once again, her undead nature won through, and she managed to stave the anxiety off just enough to keep going. One tunnel after another, she kept going, and to distract herself from the mindless fear that came from being trapped underground, she cast her mind back to the events that led to the schism in the undead kingdom of El¡¯kireth. If she¡¯d never joined the Sentries, things might have gone differently. Or if she had let those murders remain unsolved, as she¡¯d been told to do by her superiors. Or if she¡¯d made a hundred other slightly different decisions during the investigation. On and on it went, and she was forced to realize that she was the catalyst for the kingdom¡¯s civil war. She hadn¡¯t intended to cause it ¨C and indeed, she wasn¡¯t the instigator ¨C but without her, everything would have skated along under everyone¡¯s noses with them none the wiser. Perhaps the murders would have continued. Maybe Adontis¡¯ plan to sow discord within El¡¯kireth would have borne fruit. Talia wasn¡¯t sure. But most of the kingdom would have remained unaffected. Now, though, everyone was picking sides. The conflict had spread across the countryside, and there didn¡¯t seem to be an end in sight. Because both sides thought they were right. The expansionists believed their entire race would eventually die out unless they spread beyond their current borders, and that was probably accurate enough. But Talia believed that going on a war of conquest would get them all killed much more quickly. There had to be a better way. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. She just wasn¡¯t sure anyone wanted to find one. Those thoughts danced through her mind as she continued to drag herself through the tunnels. She was so caught up in them that she didn¡¯t even recognize when the passages began to widen. However, she couldn¡¯t miss it when the tunnel opened into a large chamber. But when she saw the residents, she was happy that she didn¡¯t have to breathe. Because she certainly would have let out a gasp otherwise. And that would have inevitably gotten their attention. In the center of the cavern was a great pillar of rock and dirt, though it was no natural formation. Instead, it had clearly been created by the little creatures skittering across the surface and burrowing their way inside. At first, Talia didn¡¯t recognize them ¨C though she knew they were insects of some kind ¨C but then, it dawned her. Termites. Not just hundreds. Not just thousands. There were hundreds of thousands of the creatures, each about three feet long, skittering across the chamber and ducking into various tunnels or burrows. Most were equipped with enormous mandibles that they used to tear through the dirt with ease. It didn¡¯t take a lot of imagination to think of how they would do the same to Talia¡¯s body. But her discomfort wasn¡¯t solely based on the danger. Instead, it was a visceral reaction to the insects. She wasn¡¯t afraid. But she didn¡¯t particularly like them, either. Still, she knew ¨C deep down ¨C that if she wanted to escape the tunnels, reunite with Zeke, and conquer the dungeon, she would need to go through them. However, Talia wasn¡¯t willing to engage in an all-out assault. Not yet, at least. Instead, she backed away as slowly and quietly as she could. Termites, she knew, were blind. So, she hoped that if she didn¡¯t make any noise, they wouldn¡¯t know she was there. And fortunately, that proved to be the case. But after exploring a few more branches, she discovered that each off-shoot ended up in the same place. The message was clear. If she wanted to keep going, she needed to traverse the chamber. Steeling herself for what she knew would be a difficult time, Talia embraced her various augmenting skills ¨C [Unliving Speed] for extra dexterity and agility and [Inevitability] for when her traversal of the chamber became a fight. Then, she used [Frigid Claws], [Plague Strike], and [Calcification]. Finally, with her body practically vibrating with unused speed, she opened her mouth and used [Bone Rot], expelling a column of black smoke that quickly spread across the chamber. Diffusing over such a large area meant that it would lose some of its efficacy, but that was unavoidable. The moment she heard the termites start to screech, Talia launched herself through the chamber. At first, she dodged the enormous insects without issue, but soon enough, it became clear that by trying to avoid them, she was fighting a losing battle. Never was that more obvious than when she stepped on one. It didn¡¯t smash into paste as she expected, either. Instead, its thick exoskeleton remained intact as it bucked, throwing her off balance. But with Talia¡¯s high dexterity, she managed to remain upright. Still, that small mistake was all it took for the termites to catch up. They swarmed her, nipping at her legs with those giant mandibles. As she raced for the other side of the chamber, the creatures tore bits and pieces from her already torn body, and when she finally reached the other end, she was distraught to find her way blocked by an enormous pile of the creatures. There were thousands of them, all stacked one atop the other and piled hundreds deep. She saw no alternative. There was no way out but through. No more trying to tiptoe her way to safety. This was a dungeon, and the only viable way through a dungeon was to kill everything in her path. The moment that thought passed through her mind, it was as if a switch had been flipped. She went on the offensive, flaring her abilities as much as she could. In addition, she embraced her Will as well, imbuing her every movement with the power of rot. She slashed her claws through a termite, dancing aside as another tried to bite her. Kicking out, she sent it flying through the air to collide with three others. She dodged and attacked, and with every forced breath, she sent another cloud of black mist to hang in the air. Wherever she went, death and decay followed. But it wasn¡¯t enough. There were far too many to dodge. And she wasn¡¯t as durable as someone like Zeke. With so many of the creatures dogging her every step, her speed was only marginally helpful. Still, she had no choice but to keep going. Green blood splattered across the ground, and pain blossomed in her mind. She ignored it. Just as she ignored the desperation of her situation. She pushed aside her increasing weakness as well. Every wound slowed her down. Every lost drop of green blood sapped her strength. And every skill she used diminished her reserves of mana. Yet, she couldn¡¯t stop. She refused to be killed by a group of overgrown bugs. So, on she went, shunting her human feelings aside and fully embracing her unliving nature. In the cold embrace of undeath, Talia moved like a machine. Like her skill¡¯s name implied, she was inevitable ¨C just as death was inevitable. She slaughtered whole swaths of the termites, and yet, they kept coming. They leaped upon her back, ripping into her torso before she snatched them free and tore them apart. They cut through her limbs, right down to the bone. And more than once, she fell, buried beneath thousands of legs and biting mandibles. But she kept getting back up. Over and over again. Even when her body was in tatters. Even when every thought in her mind screamed at her to stay down, to give in, she continued to rise to the challenge. And at some point, a notification appeared: Congratulations! Through strenuous effort, you have unlocked a hidden skill, [The Dead Will Not Die]. Next, came another: [The Dead Will Not Die] (C) ¨C The true unliving will not die. Keep fighting well after your body should have given in. This skill is not upgradeable. Talia barely noticed either of the Framework¡¯s messages. Instead, she continued on, fighting against the termites well after she should have fallen. Her condition as irrelevant. So long as she lived ¨C or whatever passed for that among the undead ¨C she would keep fighting at peak condition. And she used that to her advantage. Even as her flesh hung off her in ragged strips, she fought like she had in the very beginning, slaughtering hundreds of termites with every passing minute. Still, there were hundreds of thousands of the creatures, and no matter how quickly she managed to kill them, it would be the work of days. So she got down to it. Sinking ever further into herself, she destroyed one termite after another. Some fell to her claws. Others, to the mist of decay she summoned with [Bone Rot]. Still others were slain by the sheer amount of Will-empowered decay that hung in the air. But regardless of how they died, die they did. In the end, Talia lost track of how long she fought. It may have been days. It could have been years, for all she noticed. But by the time she was finished, the chamber had become a monument to rot and death. When the last termite fell, Talia stood in the shadow of the great pillar. Her arms and legs had been stripped down to the bone, and her torso wasn¡¯t much better off. And surrounded by so much death and decay, she felt more at peace than she ever had before. 507. Levu For a long while, Zeke lay on the floor. After everything he¡¯d been through in the dungeon, he was exhausted. It was his fault, really. With how relatively easily he¡¯d conquered the previous two dungeons ¨C both the centaur trials as well as the arena where he¡¯d ground out multiple levels ¨C he had begun to underestimate dungeons. He should have remembered how difficult the first dungeon was, but as with most people, his memories were afflicted with a serious recency bias. As he lay there, he vowed not to make the same mistakes in the future. ¡°Don¡¯t be so hard on yourself,¡± Eveline said. Zeke was in no mood for her platitudes, so he ignored her. Instead, he continued to flare [Touch of Divinity], repairing the damage he¡¯d incurred in the previous chamber. He wasn¡¯t in as bad of shape as he¡¯d expected, but there were some lingering injuries that would get worse if he didn¡¯t take care of them. So, he spent a little more than half an hour ensuring that he could attack the rest of the dungeon in perfect condition. Once he was fully healed, he climbed to his feet and looked around. The passageway was completely unadorned, with smooth, rounded walls and a inclined floor. The latter led upward, though Zeke couldn¡¯t see where it ended. There was only one way to go, though, and he started forward. Thankfully, nothing attacked him. No living statues climbed out of the walls, and no winds cut through him. Instead, he merely had to climb the ramp, which was quite a difference from what he¡¯d encountered previously. Zeke was grateful for the break, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t last. With that in mind, he remained on guard as he waited for the other shoe to drop. He knew that, at some point, something would attempt to kill him. And when it did, he would be ready. His heavy footsteps echoed up and down the ramp as he slowly climbed, and hours passed without incident until, at last, he spotted a door in the distance. As he drew closer, he saw that it was decorated with a relief sculpture of a large tree with spreading branches. From that tree were carved long lines that Zeke thought were meant to represent light. Or power. Either way, it was an interesting carving, but it brought to mind a question. He gave it voice when he asked, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m going to have to fight a tree?¡± ¡°Oh, are you speaking to me now? How grand,¡± Eveline deadpanned. ¡°Come on. I¡¯m sorry. I just wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk.¡± ¡°And so, instead of simply saying so, you rudely ignored me,¡± she pointed out. ¡°I said I was sorry.¡± ¡°Sometimes, an apology isn¡¯t enough,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Actions speak louder than words.¡± Zeke sighed. He hadn¡¯t really needed an answer to his question. There was no telling what sort of enemy he might face on the other side of the door, so he¡¯d meant the query rhetorically. Still, he said, ¡°I really am sorry. I¡¯ll try not to do it again.¡± She responded, ¡°Fine. Apology accepted. This time.¡± After reaching the door, Zeke took a few minutes to inspect it. However, there was nothing particularly noteworthy about it, save for its immense size. The thing was at least fifty feet tall, which meant that it dwarfed even Zeke¡¯s titanic form. Seeing no other choice, he pushed it open, and when the landscape on the other side was revealed, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but let out a small gasp of surprise. It was paradise. If the garden they¡¯d encountered before was beautiful, there were no words to describe the expanse of greenery Zeke saw on the other side of that door. Which meant that he just knew something terrible was about to happen. That was how dungeons worked, wasn¡¯t it? Slap him in the face with something incredible, then sneak up behind him with something deadly and dangerous. But there was nothing for it but to keep going. It wasn¡¯t as if going back was an option. He¡¯d just have to keep an eye out for threats. That in mind, he stepped forward into paradise, looking around as he fully left the tunnel behind. Green trees, colorful flowers, and blue skies greeted him, and he couldn¡¯t help but relax a little. A tinkling brook flowed on his right, while the path led off to the left. He followed it. ¡°It even smells pleasant,¡± Eveline remarked. That much was true, and it brought Zeke back to when he¡¯d visited botanical gardens back on Earth, though it somehow felt stronger and more real than his memories. So, it was more than a little shocking when he turned a corner and saw a heap of bones lying in the center of a path. There was a stairway leading downward into ground, making it look as if the owner of the bones had crawled from down below. Then, the bones moved. Zeke raced ahead, expecting the worst. He hefted his hammer, fully intending to smash the undead monster into dust. However, he skidded to a stop when he heard a familiar voice. There were no words, but Zeke couldn¡¯t mistake Talia¡¯s voice for anything else. He dropped to his knees and flipped her over. Most of the flesh was completely gone from her arms and legs, but her torso remained somewhat intact. Her face was untouched, confirming her identity. Resisting the urge to demand an explanation, Zeke immediately embraced [Hand of Divnity] and channeled it into the fallen girl. Her body ¨C or what was left of it ¨C absorbed the healing energy greedily, drinking it in great gulps. As it did, Zeke could see Talia¡¯s flesh reforming. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. But one look told him that it wouldn¡¯t be a quick process. First came tendons and cartilage, and by the time he¡¯d run completely out of mana, the job had barely even begun. However, Zeke couldn¡¯t stop, so after a short rest ¨C during which Talia only groaned in obvious agony ¨C he began anew. Hours passed, punctuated by brief bursts of rapid healing. The rest of the time, Zeke could only wait for his mana reserves to renew themselves. It was torturous for him and agonizing for her. Hearing her whimpers was enough to break anyone¡¯s spirit. Yet, Zeke kept his eyes on the proverbial prize, and slowly, Talia¡¯s body was rebuilt, one bit of flesh at a time. Layer by layer, her muscles returned. Then, finally, flawless pale skin crept across her arms and legs, encasing them in ivory. It wasn¡¯t until he was nearly finished that he realized that she was almost entirely naked. If it had been possible in his titanic form, Zeke would have blushed at the realization. As it was, he quickly drew a pair of blankets from his spatial storage and covered her most private parts. Only when Talia¡¯s body had been completely rebuilt did she awake, and she did so in a flurry of panicked activity, springing to her feet and looking for something to fight. Notably, the blankets had fallen away ¨C as had whatever was left of her armor. After a few seconds, her panic waned, and it was replaced by humiliation. She clapped an arm over her chest and a hand over her groin before fleeing behind a bush. Zeke rubbed the back of his neck, then retrieved one of Abby¡¯s old outfits from his spatial storage. He passed the clothing to her, saying, ¡°Sorry. You were missing your clothes when I found you. What happened?¡± She told him, recounting her journey ever since they had been separated. Zeke had a hard time comparing what he¡¯d been through with her experiences, but her story did confirm the fact that the dungeon was horrible. It seemed as concerned with testing their psychological state to forcing them to fight, which was a horrifying turn of events. Zeke could mow through whole armies without issue, but having to confront his innermost fears was something else altogether. Hopefully, the dungeon would soon be over. Once Talia was dressed ¨C in clothes that didn¡¯t really fit ¨C she joined him in the small clearing around the stairwell. She looked at it with no small degree of anxiety, so Zeke planted himself between her position and the descending steps. That seemed to help. After they¡¯d both rested for a bit, Zeke asked if she was ready to move on. ¡°Yes. It is the only option,¡± she answered. Zeke helped her to her feet and, together, they continued along the winding path. As they progressed, their surroundings became increasingly more idyllic. Seeing that, it was easy for Zeke to forget that he was inside a dungeon that would inevitably attempt to kill him again. Finally, something changed. A woman sat near the path, her legs tucked under her as she held a hand before her. Upon her finger was a large butterfly with rainbow colored wings. She sighed, and the insect lifted off and fluttered away. Only then did she turn to face Zeke and Talia. ¡°Come. Join me, children. We have something to discuss,¡± she rumbled. The entire paradisical landscape shuddered at her words. Not only were they incredibly loud, but they carried with them a level of power Zeke had never felt before. Using [Inspect], he saw: Lenu, Primordial of Life ¨C Level ??? ¡°I hope we¡¯re not meant to fight her,¡± Zeke said inwardly. Before Eveline could respond, Lenu laughed ¨C a sound like ringing bells that echoed across the entire dungeon ¨C then said, ¡°You have nothing to fear from me, child of destruction. Come. We haven¡¯t much time.¡± With a shake of his head, Zeke stepped forward, partially to shield Talia from further harm. She wasn¡¯t having it, though, and she dipped past him to walk at his side. So it was that they reached the woman together. Upon approach, Zeke was struck by Lenu¡¯s appearance. First of all, she was enormous. At least fifty feet tall, which just seemed to large to exist. The only reason Zeke hadn¡¯t noticed it before was because of the distance. However, when he drew closer, the size difference was unignorable. Otherwise, she had skin like willow¡¯s bark and vivid green hair. When she turned her gaze on him, Zeke saw that her eyes were like miniature galaxies on a field of green. Finally, she wore a Greek style toga with a short hem. ¡°Good. I hoped you wouldn¡¯t hesitate too much,¡± she said, her voice fading to a more normal volume. It still carried with it a significant amount of mana, but Zeke didn¡¯t feel threatened. ¡°You must help me.¡± ¡°What can we do that you cannot do yourself?¡± Talia asked. ¡°A good question, unliving champion,¡± Lenu stated. ¡°My domain is beyond this garden, but it has been invaded by abyssal invaders. If we do not stop them soon, I will cease to exist. I can counter their general, but it will take all of my power. I need you to combat the army he brought along,¡± she explained. ¡°The moment I begin to engage my defenses, they will come in force, and from multiple directions. Even now, they work to subvert my power. I feel it waning with every moment. Please, I need your help.¡± As soon as Lenu finished speaking, Zeke got another notification: New Quest Acquired! Quest: Protect Lenu Objective: Slay the abyssal invaders, protecting Lenu as she battles the general. Win the battle, and complete the dungeon. Reward: Seed of Life and Death It seemed simple, but Zeke knew it wouldn¡¯t be. And even if it was, it would still be deadly. Still, the quest was as straightforward as it could be. They needed to help Lenu, and upon completion of the battle, they would get their rewards for finishing the dungeon. So, after exchanging a glance with Talia and receiving her nod of ascent, he said, ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll help. Just show us where to set up.¡± Lenu smiled, and in that moment, Zeke felt like he was on top of the world. It quickly faded, but the echoes remained. She climbed to her feet and bade them to follow. They did, and as they pushed forward, Zeke noticed that the paradisical garden grew more haggard with every step. By the time they reached another door, the trees had become black and twisted skeletons, and the ground was barren. The colorful insects were gone, and the babbling brook had gone dry. Lenu frowned sadly. ¡°So much damage,¡± she rumbled. ¡°The abyssal invaders will pay. Never fear.¡± Then, she opened the door ¨C which looked almost identical to the one Zeke had passed through to enter the garden. On the other side was a maze of platforms and pathways, each one suspended in midair. They all led to the center of a huge expanse, where a massive tree stood. Beside that tree hovered an enormous and vaguely humanoid cloud of black smoke. ¡°You have come to challenge me, Lenu? You wish for another beating?¡± it roared, following it up with a slight chuckle. ¡°So be it.¡± Then, the door clanged shut, and the atmosphere darkened. A huge hole broke open in the sky, and from that poured thousands of winged monstrosities. ¡°So it begins,¡± Lenu said, her voice steely. ¡°Protect me from the minions, and I shall deal with the master.¡± Then, she leaped forward. Zeke and Talia followed. 508. Life and the Abyss Lenu, the Primordial of Life met the black cloud going too fast for Zeke to track, and when her fist cracked into the thing, the mist parted, revealing a sight he would never forget. The individual pieces were easily catalogued. Claws. Tentacles. More eyes than he could count. But sight of the roiling mass of vaguely humanoid flesh sent Zeke¡¯s mind reeling, and for the briefest of moments, he felt truly afraid for the first time in a long, long while. Coupled with that jolt of terror was a wave of confusion, and in its wake was a blank nothingness of thought that, even in retrospect, he couldn¡¯t quite extinguish. Then, everything suddenly came rushing back into him as the army of monsters ¨C each one more hideous than the next ¨C crashed into him. He skidded backward, hitting the now-closed door with a massive thud, and he was nearly knocked from the platform. However, he barely managed to regain his senses in time to arrest his momentum by increasing his weight by a shocking degree. Suddenly, the wave of monsters couldn¡¯t move him, which gave him just enough time to straighten his thoughts into some semblance of order. When he did, he took stock of the situation. The floating platforms that created the three-dimensional maze were absolutely packed with monsters. They varied in size, but most of them took on similar shapes, looking like some mad scientist¡¯s blend of octopi, demons, and a host of other monsters Zeke couldn¡¯t identify. The eldritch beasts seemed to have stepped right out of a Lovecraftian nightmare. Even looking at them for too long sent a bolt of fear through his mind, though after what he¡¯d experienced looking at the larger creature in the sky, it wasn¡¯t difficult to ignore. Zeke remembered to use [Inspect] on the closest creature, though he did not get the result he expected: Unidentifiable Denizen of the Abyss ¨C Level Unknown That was not encouraging, though identifying the nightmarish creatures was not necessary for him to fight them. In fact, the battle had already arrived, so however the Framework chose to classify them was completely irrelevant. It wouldn¡¯t change anything about what he had to do. Thankfully, he was already in his titanic form, though even it was incapable of resisting the clawed tentacle attacks that had descended upon him. Great gashes had already been ripped into his form, and the weight of a hundred abyssal monsters pressed down on him, threatening to crush him beneath their sheer numbers. That would not do. So, without further hesitation, he shoved mana into [Touch of Divinity], mending his wounds as quickly as the monsters could inflict them. Then, he burst forth with all the might he could bring to the battle. It was considerable, and in only a moment, he¡¯d broken free of the pile of nightmarish monsters, sending many of the to fall over the edge. But that didn¡¯t help, because apparently, they could fly, propelling themselves through the air like octopi swimming through water. The only difference was that, where those sea creatures were symmetrical, the monsters were anything but. That asymmetry didn¡¯t seem to hinder them, though, and they flew through the air with surprising grace. Zeke didn¡¯t have a chance to appreciate it, though, because the monsters crowding the platform once again surged. He met them with his hammer, using Voromir¡¯s ability to extend his reach as he swept a crimson copy of the weapon through their ranks. As he did so, he also embraced his Will, channeling a wisp of the Path of Arcane Destruction into each attack. He worked like a lumberjack, smashing through the shockingly durable creatures. They seemed completely devoid of bones, which meant that his blunt-force attacks lacked some degree of efficacy. Still, he was strong enough to make up for it, and on more than one occasion, the monsters exploded like overfilled balloons. Meanwhile, Talia¡¯s claws had no issue slicing through the rubbery skin, and wherever she attacked, creatures turned to rot. They didn¡¯t immediately fall, but all around him, Zeke saw tentacles flopping to the ground, having decayed so thoroughly that they detached from the body. Which was a shame, really. If they¡¯d stayed where they were, perhaps the monsters would have been more affected. However, as it was, they had plenty of limbs to spare, and they weren¡¯t afraid to sacrifice a couple if it meant getting a good shot at the pair of interlopers in their midst. As Zeke and Talia fought, steadily pushing forward all the way, Lenu fought against the abyssal creature in the sky. Their battle sent shockwaves of mana crashing through the entire space, and if they¡¯d been any weaker, Zeke and Talia might¡¯ve been disintegrated, then and there. Once, Zeke had felt something similar in the Battle of Min Ferilik. But back then, Zeke had barely even begun to level, and as a result, he¡¯d nearly been overwhelmed by their power. Similar, though, didn¡¯t mean the same, and the entities in the sky were to the wyrms as Zeke had been to Mykaena and the Blood Wraith. So, even if he¡¯d gained quite a lot of power since then, the gap certainly had not shrunk. If anything, it was even wider than before. That meant that Lenu far exceeded the limits of the Eternal Realm. Zeke was certain of it. Perhaps she was even on Oberon¡¯s and the Sun Goddess¡¯ level. Whatever the case, he couldn¡¯t think on it long before he was once again swamped by monsters. So, he continued to fight, wading through the creatures as he pummeled them into permanent submission. Knocking them around was fairly easy, but killing them ¨C that was difficult enough that he felt a jolt of excitement when he managed to put one down. Still ¨C the rewards matched the difficulty. Each time one of the monsters died, he received a surge of kill energy that pushed him ever closer to his next level. If he¡¯d had to guess, he was getting more per kill now than he ever had before. That spurred Zeke on, and he continued to slaughter the monsters as quickly as he could. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. But he knew it wouldn¡¯t last. It couldn¡¯t. For every monster he killed, two more took its place, and he knew Talia faced similar issues. Suddenly, a voice exploded in Zeke¡¯s mind. ¡°Fear not, child,¡± came Lenu¡¯s overbearing voice. ¡°It is not my intent to harm you. You must focus your efforts, or it will all be for naught. I will assist you.¡± Then, a series of beacons lit up across the maze of platforms. There were seven of them, with the closest being only a few hundred yards away. ¡°There are seven dangerous creatures buried within the horde. You must kill them, or they will dismantle the underlying power structure of my realm. If that happens, I will be weakened enough to give the Abyssal Primordial the upper hand. Help me, please. You are my only hope.¡± At first, Zeke was a little upset that the primordial had invaded his mind, but he quickly got over it. Having some direction was very much appreciated. Without it, Zeke would be rudderless amidst a sea of monsters. He could kill them, but it would make no real difference with so many other joining the fight with every passing moment. So, he raced forward, aiming not to kill the monsters, but rather, to carve a path through them. Once he reached a crossroads in the floating path of platforms, he turned to the right and continued on. The abyssal monstrosities tried to stop him, but once Zeke got moving, his momentum was incredibly difficult to bring to a halt. As he went, Talia followed behind, using her abilities to infect everything nearby with death and rot. She took a few hits, but her speed was high enough that they were never more than glancing blows. Finally, Zeke reached the first beacon, which was attached to a much larger monster than all the rest. It was at least twenty feet tall, and its tentacles were more than four feet in diameter. More, it moved with a truly intimidating level of quickness, which Zeke discovered when it launched itself at him, latching on and wrapping those enormous tentacles around him. Its claws dug into his body as he was crushed under the immense pressure it brought to bear. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t alone. Talia fell upon its back, throwing a black beam of death directly into its torso. That carved a furrow into its back, which she dove into without hesitation. The sound of squelching meat filled Zeke¡¯s ears as he tried to escape the monster¡¯s constricting tendrils. Gradually, even as black spots began to dance at the corners of his vision, Zeke overpowered the tentacles by ripping one free. It came loose with a shower of black gore. But the fight wasn¡¯t over. The monster went wild, screeching in agony as it pummeled Zeke beneath its tentacles. He took each blow with equanimity, vowing to endure long enough for Talia¡¯s rot to do its work. And finally, it did. The monster fell apart after a few more minutes, dissolving into a putrid puddle of pure rot. ¡°One down,¡± Zeke said, sweeping his hammer out to clear the platform. The other monsters had given the larger one a wide berth, but now that it was dead, they¡¯d once again flooded in. Zeke continued his assault, tearing through them as he looked for the next closest beacon. It was nearly half a mile away, which meant that he had his work cut out for him. To Talia, he asked, ¡°Are you okay? Do you need me to heal you?¡± She was covered in black gore, but she shook her head. ¡°I am fine.¡± ¡°Good,¡± he said. Then, without further hesitation, he set off for the next beacon, repeating his actions from before. As he plowed through the abyssal monstrosities, he reached the threshold between levels, then ticked over. That was an astonishing feat, considering that it hadn¡¯t been that long since he¡¯d gained his last level. But at the pace he was gaining kill energy, he knew it wouldn¡¯t be long until he hit the next level. The next beacon¡¯s monster was even larger than the first, but it fell all the same. It took longer to kill them, but that was to be expected. It didn¡¯t require any changes in tactics, though, which was good because Zeke wanted to save his big attacks for emergencies. After killing the second, they moved on to the third. The horde of monsters was even thicker, but Zeke¡¯s momentum was undeniable. He did manage to catch a few with [Center of Gravity], killing a handful of extra monsters that would¡¯ve otherwise flown away. Each kill made noticeable difference regarding his levels, and he suspected that if he managed to kill everything, he would gain at least a few more levels. Maybe as many as five. Which was completely unreal, given the requirements to gain levels. He was tempted to simply use [Wrath of Annihilation] and kill them all, but he knew that would put both Talia and himself ¨C not to mention Lenu ¨C at risk. There was little chance of survival, at least for the non-primordials in the fight. So, while it would gain plenty of kill energy, it was not a viable strategy. ¡°Smart not to do the thing that will get us both killed,¡± Eveline remarked. It wasn¡¯t her first contribution since the battle had begun, but Zeke hadn¡¯t paid much attention to her flippant statements. Zeke fought on, wading through the monsters until he found the fourth beacon. It was the largest yet, reaching an intimidating height of more than fifty feet. However, Zeke wasn¡¯t going to let himself be dissuaded, so he threw himself at the monster with the same ferocity he¡¯d employed throughout the battle. Rather than try to wrap him in its tentacles, though, it swatted him. Zeke tried to hold his ground, but the thing was far too strong, and the blow lifted him from his feet, sending him flying over the edge. It was a terrible feeling, not having anything beneath his feet, but despite the panic coursing through Zeke¡¯s mind, he harnessed his concentration and used [Center of Gravity]. The huge beacon monster slipped to the side and over the edge. It could fly, but that was the point. When its flailing tentacles came into range, Zeke latched on, riding the thing as it righted itself. Then, even he reared back and slammed his free hand into the rubbery skin. Such was his strength that he managed to gouge a sizable divot out of its flesh. And that was all the opening he needed. Because of his position on its back, the monster couldn¡¯t reach him with its tentacles, so Zeke had free rein to continue to dig his way through its body. And he used that to great advantage, ripping black flesh free as he tore further and furth into it. Eventually, he reached a few organs that looked important, and he destroyed those as well. Over the next few minutes, he kept going, and finally, after a few minutes, the thing went still. Zeke basked in the kill energy that drove him toward his next level. Right up until he realized that he was right next to another beacon. And the monster attached to this one wasn¡¯t just a little bigger than the last. Instead, it was well over a hundred feet tall and at least twice that thick. Its tentacles were as large around as an eighteen-wheeler, and judging by its screeching charge in Zeke¡¯s direction, it was clearly unhappy with him. Zeke climbed free, readying himself to meet the charge. But then he saw another beacon charging toward him from afar. A third one wasn¡¯t far behind it. ¡°I think you got their attention,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke stated, barely even noticing the thousands of other, smaller monsters coming his way. ¡°You know what I¡¯m going to have to do, right?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Try to take cover,¡± Zeke said, already embracing [Wrath of Annihilation]. 509. Out of Control Zeke flooded his skill with mana, pushing his Will in as well. Even as he did, he shouted, ¡°Talia! Run!¡± When he¡¯d been knocked from the previous platform, Zeke had lost track of his companion¡¯s location. But he had a vague notion of her direction, and it was opposite of where he was aiming his skill. Besides, if anyone was capable of outrunning the destruction of the black sun of [Wrath of Annihilation], then it was Talia. So, he didn¡¯t spare any other thoughts for her well-being, trusting that she could take care of herself. Instead, Zeke focused on his own situation, flooding more mana into the skill than he ever had before. He¡¯d long since recognized the ability to flare his abilities, pushing them past their base power. However, he¡¯d never done so with his most damaging skill. But given the desperate situation, he felt the circumstances called for the full measure of his power. Whether or not he would survive it would depend on his ability to control it. Or failing that, escape the aftermath. The skill drank deeply from his mana, absorbing his Will as well. Power surged through him, ripping through his flesh on a cellular and ethereal level. The channels through which his mana traveled were scorched as the mixture of mana and the power of his Path of Arcane Destruction raced into the rune governing [Wrath of Annihilation]. Then, when it could take no more, he shoved it into motion, releasing the wave of power at the largest of the monsters. The thing was a hundred feet tall and so dense with rippling black muscle that Zeke briefly questioned how effective his skill would be. But then, mana and Will coalesced into a roiling black sun larger and angrier than any that had come before. White fire wreathed the furious orb, licking the nearby monsters. They turned to ash beneath it. And then, even that ash was utterly destroyed. Zeke didn¡¯t watch any further. Even as the sun yanked mana to it, Zeke fled, leaping high into the air and grabbing hold of the edge of one of the platforms. As he pulled himself over the ledge, he felt power continue to coalesce. More, the unthinking monsters on that platform collapsed upon him. He paid them no mind, launching himself into motion and shouldering them out of the way. As he did, he pushed his domains to their maximum efficacy, surging with [Touch of Divinity] as well. He crashed through the mass of black tentacles and claws, thundering his way past them. He took plenty of damage along the way, and more than one monster wrapped its clawed tentacles around his limbs. However, he refused to let that slow him down. A couple became a handful, and then, that became an entire horde of monsters clinging to his metallic flesh. They dug their claws in and wrapped t heir tentacles around him. Yet, Zeke couldn¡¯t slow down. He could feel the pull of his black sun. It slowed him, but it could not stop him. Still, if he could feel its power, then he was within the blast radius. So, he pushed forward with renewed desperation. Soon, it became clear that he would not make it, though. He needed a different strategy. So, he skidded to a stop. The monsters reacted predictably, piling atop him as they scratched, bit, and clawed, weaving their tentacles around one another in a dense, black ball of writhing flesh. Zeke didn¡¯t escape their wrath. The monsters were strong. Stronger than most creatures he¡¯d ever encountered, and there were so many of them that the sheer weight of their mass was enough to drive him to his knees. But they kept coming. One after another, hundreds of the monsters piled atop him. Then, thousands. Tens of thousands. They created a mountain of pulsating flesh as they attacked one another ¨C clearly driven to get at him ¨C as much as they did him. At the bottom of that pile, Zeke was smashed flat. His strength was incredible. Perhaps as potent as anyone¡¯s in the Ethereal Realm. But even he had limits, and at last, he¡¯d found his in the form of thousands of tentacle monsters. He fell flat, and before long, all he could do was push [Touch of Divinity] to its peak. If he¡¯d failed to evolve it earlier in the dungeon, the skill would not have been up to the task. However, he barely managed to maintain something approaching an equilibrium. Even as the monsters ripped into him, he healed himself. He was also saved by the fact that only so many tentacles could reach him at any given time. But it wasn¡¯t enough. He knew that he was losing ground. The damage was too extensive for [Touch of Divinity] to fully counteract, which meant that, eventually, it would be entirely overwhelmed, and he would slowly succumb to his injuries. He only had to hold on for a little while, though. The black sun continued to build in potency. Soon, it would erupt. Hopefully, it would destroy the monsters when it did. That was the crux of his plan. Without the ability to flee ¨C not far enough away to matter, at least ¨C Zeke had chosen to use the monsters as a shield. And they¡¯d been more than compliant, leaping upon him and creating a mountain of dense flesh between Zeke and the powerful skill. But even that might not be sufficient. [Wrath of Annihilation] wasn¡¯t just powerful. It was mighty on an entirely different level than anything else Zeke had seen. That was because it wasn¡¯t fueled only by mana. Rather, it utilized his potent Path of Arcane Destruction as well. And this time, Zeke had pushed as much of both sources of fuel to their absolute peak, meaning that the eruption would be far stronger than what had come from previous incarnations of the skill. The monsters continued to pile on. ¡°What have you done?!¡± screeched Lenu in Zeke¡¯s mind. He ignored the primordial. If she couldn¡¯t survive his skill, then she wasn¡¯t as all-powerful as he¡¯d expected. If he did manage to kill her ¨C as well as the abyssal primordial up above ¨C how much kill energy would he get? A few levels? Would it push him all the way to the pinnacle? Would he ¨C The sun erupted, and Zeke¡¯s mind went white. Even his thoughts were obliterated beneath the sheer power of the skill. The air disintegrated all around him. Then, the monsters ¨C layer by layer ¨C were dismantled right down to their molecular composition. That was destroyed next until all that remained was ash. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Then, the ash was destroyed as well. That¡¯s when the destructive force hit Zeke, ripping through him without slowing. But with [Touch of Divinity] surging through him, he managed to endure it. Not easily. And certainly not completely. His healing skill was far from a match for the sheer destruction of the wave. However, it enabled him to survive long enough for the shockwave to hit him and throw him further away. He sailed through the air, hitting another platform before bouncing free. For a moment, he fell through nothing, but as his momentum began to dissipate, he grabbed hold of the next platform, narrowly managing to stop himself from falling over the edge. Everything suddenly went quiet. The white light faded. And his brain started working again. For a moment, he heard nothing. No screeching tentacle monsters. No wind. He couldn¡¯t even hear his own breathing. Then, abruptly, a hideous screeching sound filled the air. Clapping his hands over his ears, Zeke looked up. The effort proved pointless, because the sound was no sound at all. Instead, it went much deeper. And it emanated from the pair of primordials up above. Upon looking at them, Zeke blanched. The abyssal primordial had been stripped of its black mist, exposing its malformed body in its entirety. Zeke felt himself going mad just looking at it, but he couldn¡¯t look away. Because it was obviously injured. Great chasms had been carved into its flesh, and half its tentacles were missing. Many of its eyes were bleeding, and it was clearly in agony. Lenu was injured as well, with one of her arms completely missing. However, she seemed to have taken the blast much better than her opponent, and Zeke saw her limb regrowing with every passing moment. With some effort, he ripped his attention away from the ghastly scene, then ran his eyes over the rest of the platforms. Or what was left of them. Where Zeke had summoned the black sun of [Wrath of Annihilation], there was nothing left. The platforms ¨C and all the monsters that were on them ¨C were gone. Nothing remained. That pattern continued for hundreds of yards until, at last, one of the platforms had barely survived. It was pitted, and there were large pieces of the stone slab missing, but the structure remained intact. However, it was listing to the side, looking as if it was barely staying aloft. Closer to Zeke, the platforms were in better condition, but even the one on which he crouched was barely hanging on. The monsters, though, were gone. Even hundreds of yards past him, nothing remained. He hadn¡¯t just killed hundreds. Thousands was inadequate to describe the number slaughtered. Tens of thousands of the monsters had perished. And he¡¯d gotten the kill energy to prove it. Congratulations! You have reached level 88! ¡°Damn¡­¡± It was a larger jump than any he could¡¯ve imagined. Never before had he gained so many levels before, and given just how much kill energy it took to gain levels now that he was getting so close to the peak, it was far and away the most experience he¡¯d ever gained at one time. It really shouldn¡¯t have been surprising, considering how much kill energy he¡¯d been getting for each individual kill. But looking up, he still couldn¡¯t help but wonder what he¡¯d get for killing that big monster in the sky. He could scarcely even look at it without going insane, so the power it held¡­ No. He couldn¡¯t get greedy. Not because of some moral implications. He literally couldn¡¯t. He¡¯d used every ounce of mana in his body to fuel that strike, and even contemplating using his Will made his head pound. His body wasn¡¯t much better off. Despite his efforts at inoculating himself to his Path of Arcane Destruction, he still wasn¡¯t immune to its devastating power. It would take a few hours ¨C at the very least ¨C before he could continue the fight. And it would be weeks before he reached perfect condition, even with [Touch of Divinity]. ¡°Eveline?¡± he rasped, feeling the former demoness in the back of his mind. She had enacted a protocol they¡¯d spent quite some time working out, and it seemed to have worked. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said. ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve been shattered into a thousand pieces, but I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked. She assured him that she was, which gave Zeke the peace of mind to move on to the next item on the list. Even as Lenu threw herself back into the fight, Zeke cast his gaze across what remained of the maze of platforms. Almost a mile away, he started seeing corpses. They were still mostly destroyed, but the fact that there was any meat left at all was a sign that the force of his skill had petered out with the distance. A half mile after that, the bodies were mostly intact. And still another half mile, and some of the creatures had begun to twitch. Fortunately, Zeke saw Talia soon after. She was clearly a little worse for wear, with the flesh on one side of her body having been disintegrated. However, she was still moving just as well as ever. Still, it took her a few moments to reach him. When she did, she collapsed to the ground. Zeke knelt beside her, shoving the power of [Touch of Divinity] into her. She accepted the healing without issue, and over the next few minutes, her flesh rebuilt. As it did, the battle raged up above. Zeke didn¡¯t dare look in that direction, but he could only hope that Lenu would win. It was a decent assumption that she would. After all, she¡¯d seemed confident in the outcome, assuming that Zeke took care of the beacon monsters. He¡¯d done that and more, so it seemed a foregone conclusion that she would finish the abyssal primordial off. Still, the fight continued, with blistering levels of power erupting across the area. Zeke endured it easily, using his huge body to shield Talia from the worst of it. And over time, he healed her. Finally, another surge of kill energy sent him to level eighty-nine, signaling that the fight was over. He hadn¡¯t needed that sign. The sudden cessation of the ongoing waves of mana was enough. Still, he looked up to confirm what he knew, and he saw Lenu absorbing the monster. She was wreathed in green light, and with every passing moment, a little of the monster converted into that same verdant light and flowed into her. It went on for some time, though Zeke managed to tear his eyes away and focus on helping Talia. In the end, it took another few hours before both tasks completed, and Lenu suddenly appeared before them. By that point, Talia had almost completely recovered, but Zeke was still barely capable of standing on his own two feet. He¡¯d used all of his energy to promote Talia¡¯s healing, so there hadn¡¯t been much left for him. ¡°That is a dangerous skill,¡± said the Primordial of Life. ¡°It is,¡± Zeke agreed. ¡°My instinct is to kill you now,¡± she admitted. ¡°Your existence is a threat to us all.¡± ¡°Maybe. And you¡¯re welcome to try,¡± Zeke said. He¡¯d only recovered a little energy, but he could use that for another cast of [Wrath of Annihilation]. It wouldn¡¯t be nearly as powerful as the last, and it would likely kill him before it finished Lenu off. But if it came down to it, he would go down fighting. She stared down on him for a few moments, then shook her head. ¡°You are insane,¡± she stated. ¡°But I cannot exceed my mandate. The dungeon restricts my actions, so the point is moot.¡± ¡°How ¨C¡± ¡°I will not answer your questions,¡± she stated. ¡°Except to say that the Framework hovers over us all. You have conquered the dungeon. Now, you will be given your reward.¡± With a wave of her hand, a pair of shimmering lights ¨C one black, and the other green ¨C appeared. Then, after a short gesture, the pair of lights were shoved together. At first, they merely clashed, but then, they began to merge. A moment later, a pearlescent orb ¨C one half vibrant green, the other pitch black ¨C stood in place of the lights. The primordial offered it to Zeke, who took it. ¡°That is a potent treasure. In my presence, its effects are subdued. But away from this dungeon, its full power will be unleashed. I suggest you keep it somewhere safe, secure, and isolated until you are strong enough to endure it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Zeke said, taking the thing in both his hands. It was the size of a beach ball, so in his titanic form, he was more than capable of holding it. Then, he got the notification that his quest had completed. In addition, Lenu disappeared. When she was gone, no indication of her presence remained. It was as if she¡¯d never even been there. Finally, a green rip in reality appeared. Zeke reached down, helping Talia to her feet as he asked, ¡°You ready to leave this place?¡± ¡°I am,¡± she said before stepping through. Zeke followed, glad to have finally completed the dungeon. 510. Catching Up Zeke stumbled through the gate, and after a brief moment of nothingness, appeared next to the green pillar of light that dominated the Cradle of Life. He took a deep breath, drinking in the vitality as he continued to use [Touch of Divinity]. It wasn¡¯t that much more effective outside the dungeon than within, but it was still enough of a difference that Zeke couldn¡¯t ignore it. Casting his mind into his spatial storage, he saw the Seed of Life and Death next to the other treasures he¡¯d gathered. They were quarantined in a section of the storage area well away from anything else and separated by thick walls decorated with various runes. He hadn¡¯t consciously built the chamber; instead, it seemed to have reacted to his subconscious desires. It was a good thing it had, because if any of his people came into contact with those treasures, they would surely perish. To confirm that he¡¯d satisfied the requirements of his quest, he pulled up the notification: Quest: Multiple Attunements Objective: Gather natural treasures representing the nine major classifications of mana. Progress: Zeke found his progress a little disappointing, but he was surprised to find that the Seed of Life and Death didn¡¯t satisfy the requirements that had originally been listed on the quest¡¯s objective. Instead, two new categories ¨C life and death ¨C had been added. At his current pace, it would be decades before he completed the quest, especially if he kept adding different requirements rather than satisfying the ones that already existed. ¡°The others will be much easier,¡± Eveline said, having recovered enough to offer her insight into the situation. Her voice was still weak, but she was better off than at any other time she¡¯d experienced the effects of [Wrath of Annihilation]. Perhaps she was growing stronger. More likely, she¡¯d developed an ability to shield herself from the devastating skill. ¡°I hope so.¡± ¡°Remember that the more different types of mana you gather, the more effective the reward will be,¡± she pointed out. ¡°This is a good thing. Life and death are not usually represented in this sort of thing, much like faith and corruption. That you¡¯ve managed to gather a treasure for both is something of a miracle.¡± Zeke hoped that was the case, but at the moment, he was far too exhausted ¨C both mentally and physically ¨C to deal with hypotheticals. He wanted to complete his quest, but most of his actions had been driven by other goals. So, he intended to keep going as he was, and only when he got a little closer to completion would he actively seek out situations where he could obtain the right treasures. In the meantime, though, Zeke meant to get a little rest before addressing the issue of his skills. So, he and Talia set off through the ruins of the Cradle of Life, finding it mostly deserted. Every now and again, they saw mutated animals or powerful abominations, but they never passed close enough to cause any issues. And eventually, they reached their destination after passing through the abandoned sewer system and arriving at the large chamber where Zeke had left his gate active. Talia went off to help her friend, while Zeke headed into the tower where he quickly met with Kianma and Silik, who told him how things had gone in his absence. Outside of a few skirmishes on the edge of the Cradle of Life, the expansionist faction of El¡¯kireth had remained mostly quiet. In addition, his people had made great progress in rebuilding the infrastructure of Adontis, which they¡¯d used to help the formerly enslaved beastkin get back on their feet. A few of the braver ones had enlisted in Zeke¡¯s army and moved into the tower. Training had continued as the kobolds made use of the arena dungeon, and their levels had skyrocketed. Still, there were quite a lot of kobolds ¨C not to mention the beastkin and the centaurs ¨C so it wasn¡¯t quite as large of an increase as Zeke might have expected. Still, it was good progress. ¡°The assassins are the standouts, though,¡± Kianma stated, referring to the ten kobold rangers Zeke had imbued with some of his power. He¡¯d done so via [Benevolence], and it had apparently given them abilities associated with his path. They were now quite deadly, even beyond their levels, and Silik had more than a few ideas about how to utilize them in battle. Eventually, Zeke heard all there was to hear, so he retreated to his manor and settled in for some well-earned rest. After eating and taking a shower, he went to bed, and after spending weeks awake, he finally surrendered to sleep. He was unconscious in seconds. When he awoke, he didn¡¯t remember any dreams, but he felt more energetic than ever before. So, it was with a clear mind that he finally looked at his status:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 89
Race Cambion (E)
Attunement Earth (E), Demon (D)
Alignment If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (C)
Strength (S+) 161
Agility (C) 40
Dexterity (B) 40
Endurance (S+) 140
Vitality (C) 40
Intelligence (A) 70
Wisdom (S) 72
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D A C D
In addition to the automatic allocation pattern of his class, Zeke had spent his two free points per level to even out his agility, dexterity, and vitality, while putting the remaining points into strength. His reasoning was that it remained his most important stat, and it gave him the most return for each point invested. It only made sense to keep his points there now that he¡¯d managed to get his other attributes to an acceptable level. But even more exciting than his stat gains was the fact that he had suddenly gained the opportunity to choose another skill. At level eighty, he¡¯d gotten a slot he intended to fill by creating another skill, but he wasn¡¯t quite ready for that. In addition, he was still working on an upgrade for [Bulwark of the Triumvirate]. So, he was looking forward to having a little time to himself so he could work on those projects. First, though, he needed to choose from the skills offered by the Framework. The first option was: [Prosperity] (B) ¨C You are a magnanimous leader. Channel your divinity into others, increasing leveling speed and path comprehension among your dedicated followers. Upgradeable. ¡°Uh¡­is that as good as it seems?¡± Zeke asked aloud. ¡°It is,¡± was Eveline¡¯s answer. ¡°But that¡¯s not how this is supposed to work. They are there to funnel power to you, not the other way around.¡± They¡¯d had that discussion before, but Zeke didn¡¯t agree with her. He had no intention of leeching off of his followers. Instead, he wanted to positively influence his people, raising them to new levels. And given the nature of the first offered skill, that was precisely what it would give him the chance to do. Still, he moved on to the next: [Atlas Hammer] (B) ¨C To a hammer, everything is a nail. By sacrificing a powerful weapon, empower the skill to summon a mighty hammer infused with the power of a titanic god. Upgradeable. ¡°Pass,¡± Zeke muttered. ¡°Wait ¨C don¡¯t dismiss it,¡± Eveline said hastily. ¡°Think about this for a moment. It¡¯s similar to your quest for the Hall of Affinity. The stronger the base component, the more powerful the result. In this case, it would be a weapon infused with your divinity, the might of your hammer, and the power of a B-Grade skill. It would make for an unreal combination.¡± That made some sense, but Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure about sacrificing the weapon that had been with him almost since the very beginning of his journey through the Mortal Realm. He¡¯d gotten it as a reward from his first quest, and even then, it had been an extremely powerful weapon. Since that time, it had slowly evolved into a devastating part of his toolkit. But had it reached its peak? Maybe it had. He¡¯d only managed to add one ability over the years, and even that wasn¡¯t terribly useful. Sure, it gave him a little reach, but that usually didn¡¯t matter that much. Rare was the time when he couldn¡¯t simply yank an enemy to him via [Center of Gravity] or just leap at them from afar. So, maybe Eveline was right. Perhaps he should consider [Atlas Hammer] as a viable option. The only question was whether or not it would retain the weight-shifting feature of his current weapon. If so, then he would be free to take it. However, that ability to adjust its weight based on his strength was the key to harnessing his immense might. The fact that the description didn¡¯t specify that it would retain that ability gave him pause. He moved on to the next available skill: [Hammerfall] (B) ¨C Destruction and hammers ¨C your forte. Summon a series of hammers that revolve around your person. They will automatically attack anyone you deem an enemy, but you can release them all at once in a devastating attack. Upgradeable. ¡°Oooh¡­¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t pick that one,¡± Eveline groaned. ¡°What? Why? It looks perfect!¡± Zeke argued. Indeed, hammers and destruction definitely described his journey since being reborn. ¡°Do you want the logical answer? Or would you prefer the truth?¡± ¡°Both?¡± ¡°The logical answer is that you already have two large-scale attacks,¡± she said. ¡°In addition, you normally have no issues dealing with smaller-scale threats. If it¡¯s powerful enough to hurt you, then it¡¯s probably too powerful for the first part of that skill to affect. Even at B-Grade.¡± ¡°Oh. And the real reason?¡± ¡°It makes you seem like a lunk.¡± ¡°I am, though? You say it all the time.¡± ¡°Teasing. Nothing more. You¡¯re smarter than this, Ezekiel. Both [Atlas Hammer] and [Prosperity] are better. That is fact,¡± she said. ¡°And as much as I hate to admit it, the first is probably the right choice.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t what you said a moment ago.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m tired of you empowering others!¡± she hissed. ¡°But think about your own life. How often has your path made the difference between life and death for you?¡± ¡°More than I can count.¡± ¡°Do you know how difficult it is to improve the comprehension of a path? It is the work of a lifetime,¡± she said. ¡°It hasn¡¯t seemed that difficult for me,¡± Zeke said. Indeed, he¡¯d had an instinctual grasp of his path since the very beginning. ¡°That¡¯s because you are a humanoid monster,¡± she said with a slight chuckle. ¡°That [Prosperity] skill has limitless potential, especially when you take into account how hard the kobolds work. With that, they will be an army like no other. In time, you could conquer the world.¡± There was certainly a temptation to pick something else just to be a contrarian. He hated when Eveline dictated his actions. But he couldn¡¯t argue with her logic. He¡¯d already been leaning toward [Prosperity], and even though [Hammerfall] sounded pretty fun, its scope was not on the same level as something that could aid his entire force. The same was true of [Atlas Hammer]. Personal power was great. In fact, it was the foundation upon which his army had been built. But he already had plenty of destructive power at his disposal, and he would get more with every level, not to mention that he could always build a skill to shore up his weaknesses. So, as much as he wanted to take the other skills, he chose [Prosperity]. The moment he confirmed the choice, the tower began to tremble. Then, it shook as if under the influence of a massive earthquake. Mana surged to an incredibly high level before, suddenly, everything settled back down. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± he breathed. ¡°I believe that was everyone in the tower making a connection to their paths,¡± Eveline said. ¡°This¡­this is going to change things. Mark my words, this might have been the most important choice you¡¯ve ever made.¡± 511. One Path Among Many Things were different. Zeke knew that the moment he stepped into the common areas of the tower. But nothing made it clearer than when he decided to visit the Pillar at the center of the Residential District. Normally, the area was teeming with kobolds, beastkin, or the humans he¡¯d taken in during his conquest of Adontis. But now, the wide streets were nearly empty, save for a few stragglers. ¡°They¡¯re exploring their paths,¡± Eveline pointed out. Her input was unnecessary, as Zeke had already made that connection. Even so, he was still a little shocked at how universal it seemed to be. ¡°How much do you think this will affect their power?¡± he asked, striding from the teleportation pad toward the Pillar. ¡°Right now? Minimally. But it will grow more prominent as time goes by,¡± she answered. ¡°It will be even more impactful once you finish your quest and develop the Hall of Affinity.¡± Zeke had been thinking the same thing, which just highlighted how much he needed to focus on completing the quest. He still had quite a ways to go before that point, but he didn¡¯t know where he was going to find the remaining natural treasures. Sure, it wasn¡¯t that difficult to find attuned items, but he¡¯d established a certain standard of quality. As a result, he wasn¡¯t willing to compromise just to complete the quest more quickly. With that in mind, he crossed the Residential District and entered the Pillar. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t as empty as the rest of the city, and Zeke found Kianma and Silik on the floor that held his force¡¯s organizational hub. Predictably, they were still hard at work. Connecting to their paths wasn¡¯t enough to dissuade them from meeting the terms of their responsibilities. However, the meeting that followed did give him a little insight into the repercussions of his new skill. [Prosperity] affected everyone in his force, but it seemed to be limited by loyalty, which was such an ephemeral characteristic that Zeke couldn¡¯t quite understand how the Framework determined who benefited and who didn¡¯t. Yet, there was a clear line of demarcation. Most of the kobolds had been affected, and many of the beastkin as well. Very few of the humans had, though. And none of the centaurs, even among the few who lived in the tower. But that was fine with Zeke. The last thing he wanted was to waste power on people whose loyalties might change at the drop of a hat. For better or worse, the kobolds were dedicated to him, and he owed it to them to reward their loyalty with his support. It was one of the reasons he¡¯d chosen [Prosperity] in the first place. They were his people, and they deserved every opportunity he could give them. According to Kianma, the vast majority of the kobolds had manifested a path associated with light. That was unsurprising, given the flavor of their skills. However, there were a few ¨C especially in the farms on the Artisan¡¯s Terrace ¨C who¡¯d connected with different paths, like nature or growth. A few budding craftspeople had developed other paths as well. In short, most people connected to paths that would accentuate the things they already did, which would hopefully make the entire operation ¨C whether it was in a combat capacity or not ¨C more efficient. After discussing it with Kianma for a little while, Zeke went to find Talia. Somewhat predictably, she was in the Crimson Spring, where she was visiting her still-comatose friend while recovering from the dungeon. The quest reward she¡¯d received had helped with Adriel¡¯s condition, but it was not an immediate cure. Instead, it would take some time before the vampiric woman completed her recovery. Seeing that Talia was in no condition for conversation, Zeke moved on to checking on his other friends. Pudge and Sasha were both out of the tower ¨C they were doing something in the Muk¡¯ti Plains ¨C and everyone else Zeke might¡¯ve visited was busy. That left him with nothing to focus on but his own goals and recovery. ¡°You could go fight a war,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°Those expansionist undead are still out there.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting that I don¡¯t know what to do with myself unless I¡¯m fighting someone?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m saying it outright, not suggesting it.¡± Zeke sighed. She wasn¡¯t altogether wrong. There was a time when his life was about more than just finding the next fight. Or preparing for the next battle. But after separating from Abby ¨C or maybe even before that ¨C he¡¯d begun to hyperfocus on those things. It was a very real problem, and one he didn¡¯t know how to combat. ¡°You could go find that half-orc girl you seemed to admire so much,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°I won¡¯t even watch. Much.¡± ¡°Pervert.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a succubus. It comes with the territory,¡± she said without a hint of shame. ¡°But seriously, Ezekiel ¨C you need to find a way to let off some steam that doesn¡¯t involve decimating entire populations of enemies. You¡¯ve got more willpower than anyone I¡¯ve ever seen, but eventually, your momentum is going to run out. When it does, you¡¯re going to flounder. I¡¯ve seen people ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Zeke insisted. ¡°You really aren¡¯t.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this,¡± he said as he made his way back to the manor. He still hadn¡¯t fully recovered, so he intended to spend the next couple of days resting. However, when he got back to his home, he didn¡¯t head to his bedroom. Instead, he went to his meditation chamber. The way he saw it was that he could waste time lying in bed, or he could kill two birds with one stone by resting and working on his skills. He had two slots open, not to mention a couple of old skills he intended to evolve. So, he couldn¡¯t afford to just sit around and do nothing when he could rest and work at the same time. ¡°That¡¯s not how rest works,¡± Eveline pointed out. Zeke ignored her. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Instead, he settled down in his meditation chamber, crossed his legs, and dove into a world of symbols and glyphs. In his old life, Zeke had always enjoyed doing puzzles with his little brother, and that hobby had translated to the new world in the form of runecrafting. The only difference was that instead of putting together pre-defined components, runecrafting required him to create his own pieces. Then, he needed to slot them into place, all the while remaining cognizant of how each glyph affected the ones around it. In a three-dimensional space. It was the world¡¯s most complex puzzle, and it required every ounce of Zeke¡¯s concentration to make any appreciable progress. But that was part of why he loved it. If it was easy, then everyone could do it. The fact that it taxed even his abilities was what made it such an attractive pastime. Gradually, he worked his way through the skill he was building. He¡¯d already made a ton of progress on it ¨C after all, he¡¯d been working on the foundation well before he¡¯d even begun the dungeon ¨C so while it wasn¡¯t completely mindless, it wasn¡¯t nearly as onerous as it would¡¯ve been if he¡¯d had to start it from scratch. That wasn¡¯t to imply that it was effortless. It most assuredly required quite a high degree of labor. Yet, Zeke took solace in it. ¡°You¡¯ve found your happy place,¡± Eveline remarked during one of Zeke¡¯s short breaks. If he kept at it too long, his head started pounding, and it would only get worse until he allowed himself to recover. And [Touch of Divinity] did nothing to assuage that pain. ¡°Most people enjoy hanging out with friends or reading good books, but you? You like to spend your free time putting together a puzzle that¡¯s so complex that it literally wounds your soul if you don¡¯t take breaks.¡± ¡°Is that a bad thing?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± she hissed in exasperation. ¡°That¡¯s literally the point, Ezekiel.¡± He shrugged. He couldn¡¯t help his interests. He¡¯d tried to focus on other things like baking, but it just hadn¡¯t filled him in the same way that runecrafting did. If he were a little more introspective, he might¡¯ve acknowledged the feelings that accompanied any leisure activities. No matter how much he enjoyed himself, those times were always laced with the feeling that he was just wasting time. Was he always like that? Maybe. Back on Earth, he¡¯d focused on baseball to the exclusion of all else. Now, it was similar. If he wasn¡¯t working on runecrafting or fighting battles that furthered his goals, he felt like he was doing nothing worthwhile. Days passed, and as his body continued to recover, he slowly pieced the skill together until, at last, the last glyph fell into place. Congratulations! You have constructed a skill [Storm of Hammers]. Finally, he opened his eyes and let out a sigh. Before he could truly relax, he needed to inspect the description to ensure that it would work the way he¡¯d intended: [Storm of Hammers] (C) ¨C Blunt force is the solution to most problems. Using your bonded weapon as a template, summon a storm of destructive hammers to assault a foe. Upgradeable. ¡°Close,¡± he said to himself. ¡°Very, very close.¡± ¡°It seems a little like [Hammerfall],¡± Eveline remarked. Indeed, it did. The skill the Framework had offered had provided the inspiration for a slight change in the expression of the skill. Before that, Zeke had intended for it to use earth as its base, creating a localized earthquake. However, after seeing the description of the offered skill, he¡¯d switched gears and adjusted his plans. And he couldn¡¯t have been happier with the result, assuming he was reading the description correctly. ¡°You know you need to be a little more judicious with these skills,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°You won¡¯t get any new ones after you reach the peak.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± he asked. ¡°After that, it¡¯s all evolutions,¡± she said. ¡°From what I understand, at least. You and your weird class might be different, but I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± he muttered. It didn¡¯t change anything. Not really, at least. He was happy with the skills he had, and what¡¯s more, he still had a few more opportunities to expand his repertoire in the near future. Three, to be exact. ¡°That¡¯s assuming that those aren¡¯t upgrade opportunities.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Still, he was happy with the skill, and he wasn¡¯t going to let Eveline rob him of that. So, without further hesitation, he climbed to his feet. And very nearly tipped over the moment he pushed himself to his full height. ¡°Woah,¡± he said, barely catching himself before he fell. ¡°It¡¯s probably best if you rest for a little before you go testing things out,¡± Eveline suggested. Zeke agreed, so he finally retreated to his bed, where he quickly fell asleep. What followed was two days of dreamless sleep that, in retrospect, he would have admitted that he desperately needed. Regardless, when he finally awoke, he did so with more grogginess than he expected. It took another day ¨C during which Zeke just took it easy, a state which nearly drove him mad ¨C before, at last, he felt up to testing the skill out. To do so, he left the tower via the true exit, which lead to the Muk¡¯ti plains. Then, he set off across the landscape at a trot. Notably, the team of assassin kobolds followed him. What they thought they would do that he could not was a mystery, but they remained silent, so he didn¡¯t mind the company. After around thirty miles, Zeke came to a stop. He¡¯d learned his lesson with [Wrath of Annihilation], so he didn¡¯t dare use any new skills close to the tower. [Storm of Hammers] didn¡¯t seem quite as powerful as that skill, but he wasn¡¯t going to take any chances with the tower and the people who lived there. Once he was satisfied that he was far enough away, he told the kobolds to back away. As he did, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that they had grown a little larger than normal rangers, and their scales had taken on a much darker shade. Finally, their eyes twinkled with barely noticeable red energy. Clearly, Zeke¡¯s gift of [Benevolence] had done more than simply giving them access to his path. Some of his attunements had snuck through as well. ¡°Keep an eye on them. If they go fully demonic¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke said. Then, he added, ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Does it matter? Just do it.¡± Zeke took a deep breath, then embraced his skill, flooding it with mana. With a gesture of his hand, he aimed it about fifty yards away. When he released the charged energy, the skill manifested. A thousand copies of Voromir suddenly appeared, each one looking just as solid as the original. They whirled around, though not on a single axis. Instead, their orientation looked entirely chaotic until one realized that they never collided with one another. The ground erupted into a cloud of dust and grass, digging a fifty-foot wide crater. Zeke snatched at the flow of mana, gesturing to his right. Then, his left. More whirling storms erupted into being, blanketing an area three-hundred feet wide in blunt force. Zeke could sense that each hammer held enough force to rival his own blows, and what¡¯s more, he could use [Storm of Hammers] a dozen times before he started to run low on mana. It was exactly the sort of skill he needed. He had plenty of skills to combat a single powerful combatant. However, to quickly and easily clear smaller, weaker enemies ¨C without harming his own forces ¨C was much more difficult. To date, he¡¯d had to use a combination of [Hell Geyser] and manual combat to get the job done. Now, he had another tool at his disposal. His skillset was slowly rounding out into a truly devastating show of potential, but already, he was making plans for upgrades and other skills he could build when the time came. But for now, he¡¯d accomplished his goal. With that done, he needed to turn his attention to the next item on his to-do list, which was dealing with the situation in El¡¯Kireth. ¡°Or you could take another break,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°You¡¯re still not fully recovered. That dungeon took a lot out of you, and ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You deserve to be better than fine.¡± Her statement fell on deaf ears as Zeke gathered his kobold followers and returned to the tower. 512. Marshalling Forces Zeke sat at the head of the long, sturdy table, his head pounding as he listened to everyone argue. As silent as Silik usually was, he thought nothing of using his immense size to bully the newcomers into submitting to his plan of attack. However, the undead were undeterred by the physicality he could bring to bear, and they refused to back down from the kobold general. Instead, they insisted on attacking the expansionist forces their own way. And given that it was their territory, they were quite adamant that their new allies ¨C Zeke¡¯s army ¨C follow their lead. Of course, that insistence was met with disdain, largely because the undead needed their help. Otherwise, they were destined to lose the battle. If that wasn¡¯t the case, then why had they been forced to take shelter in the inhospitable Cradle of Life? Finally, Zeke reached his limit. He slammed his hand on the surface of the table, shouting, ¡°Enough!¡± Everyone went silent, and Zeke shifted his gaze from one person to the next. The kobolds had the grace to wear chastised expressions, casting their eyes downward at the expression of his ire. However, the undead glared at him defiantly. He was stronger than them, and they knew it. But that didn¡¯t mean they were willing to accept his leadership. Only his help. In a quieter voice he repeated, ¡°Enough. No more arguing. We¡¯ve been going round and round in circles for days, and we¡¯ve gotten nowhere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because these beasts ¨C¡± Zeke cut the undead knight off with a glare. ¡°They are not beasts. They¡¯re people, same as you or me. Accept them as equals, or you and I will have a serious problem,¡± Zeke promised. He almost wanted the sallow-skinned zombie to refute his claim. A good fight would have been far preferable to talking in circles as both sides tried to pretend they were infallible. ¡°Do you understand me?¡± ¡°I¡­I do,¡± the knight said, sinking back into his chair. ¡°Just so I understand everything,¡± Zeke began. When he continued, he addressed the undead, ¡°You want to attack overland, challenging the expansionist faction in a direct confrontation. Is that right?¡± ¡°We have right on our side. Surely, we don¡¯t need to slink around in the shadows and strike from the rear.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Right or wrong has nothing to do with it,¡± he said. ¡°This is war. You don¡¯t get bonus points because your cause is just.¡± Left unsaid was the fact that, surely, the other side felt they were in the right as well. That was the problem with morality and justification. Everyone felt they were on the right side of both. ¡°What do you think, Talia?¡± he asked. ¡°I think we should follow the general¡¯s plan,¡± she said, nodding to Silik. That was unsurprising. Talia was nothing if not comfortable with attacking from the flank. She was a realist who understood the benefits of surprise and positioning, and she put very little stock in honorable combat. After all, he¡¯d seen her slaughter an entire fortress of defenders, then eat their hearts. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided,¡± Zeke said. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was the right plan. There were quite a few others that had been floated during the interminable strategy meetings. Yet, if there was one thing he knew, it was that a decision needed to be made, one way or the other. Even if it was the wrong plan, it was better than arguing about it, then doing nothing. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been trying to tell you,¡± Eveline pointed out. And she had. The entire time, she¡¯d advised him to put his foot down and simply dictate what would happen. Zeke hadn¡¯t taken it that far ¨C adopting Silik¡¯s plan instead of one he made himself ¨C but apparently, it was close enough. She made that abundantly clear with her smug tone. Zeke ignored her statement, and from then on, the discussion turned from what they were going to do to how they intended to do it. Surprisingly, once their own plan had been shot down, the undead pivoted to the new challenge. They obviously weren¡¯t happy about their strategy being shot down, but they kept their disappointment ¨C or anger, perhaps ¨C in check while they helped to hammer out the logistics of the situation. Meanwhile, Zeke kept the bulk of his focus inward as he contemplated his runecrafting projects. Not only did he need to upgrade some skills, but he intended to build at least one more as well. So, he¡¯d resolved to dedicating the bulk of his free time to that endeavor. ¡°You call this free time?¡± asked Eveline. It was a valid question. They were on the verge of fighting another war, and the strategy meetings were a necessary evil if the coming battles were going to go their way. However, Zeke had long since determined that he was no great general. Certainly, he had a knack for tactics ¨C as he¡¯d proven in the war with the giants as well as in the fight against Adontis ¨C but that didn¡¯t mean he enjoyed the minutiae associated with waging war. Better to just get out there and do it, rather than sitting around talking about it. With a sigh, Eveline said, ¡°That¡¯s how you lose wars, you know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± he responded in his thoughts. ¡°Just because I can acknowledge that I dislike it doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t do what¡¯s necessary.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll just whine about it.¡± ¡°In my own head, yes,¡± he said. It would be different if he¡¯d given voice to his complaints, but as far as any of the others knew, he was listening attentively as they droned on and on about contingencies and lines of retreat. ¡°You have a point.¡± ¡°That sounded like it hurt you to admit.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t pleasant,¡± she said. ¡°Sometimes, I forget that I¡¯m seeing your innermost thoughts. From that perspective, I¡¯m sure that everyone would seem like a bit of a whiner. Or hypocritical. Or any number of unpleasant things. The amount of times I¡¯ve had to listen to you go back and forth on morality issues¡­ugh. Even I sometimes want you to just shut up and start swinging that big hammer around.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Zeke just gave a mental roll of his eyes. Certainly, he had a habit of engaging in introspection, but surely it wasn¡¯t that bad. ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± he said. ¡°But just so you know, I¡¯m not going to change anything. These are my thoughts. You¡¯re in my territory, like it or not.¡± With that, Zeke went back to runecrafting while keeping his ears open for anything worthwhile. That was the advantage of his increased power ¨C he could focus on multiple things at once, and only lose a little efficacy of thought in the process. In any case, he managed to sit through the entire session, at the end of which was some semblance of a plan. The others resolved to refine the details when they met again on the following day, giving Zeke a much needed break from everything. Still, he took the time to meet with a few of his followers, making certain that they felt seen. Then, he retreated to his manor, where he continued his work. By the end of the next day, he felt as close to perfect condition as he had in months. It was a good thing, too, because the others completed their plan by mid-afternoon. After that, it was just a matter of another day before it was implemented. So, during that time, Zeke did his best to relax. Not an easy thing, given his proclivity for motion. Still, he forced himself to remain idle until, at last, the beginning of the war dawned. Soon enough, he found himself leading a contingent of elite soldiers ¨C a group composed of every faction under his banner, including kobolds, undead, centaurs, and beastkin, as well as a couple of former Knights of Adontis ¨C through the sewers. Normally, the tunnels beneath the Cradle of Life were not connected to the city¡¯s system, but the kobolds had been hard at work since Zeke had entered the dungeon, and the results of their efforts were laid bare when the small force easily passed into the city proper. In most cases, the undead would have sensed something going on, but the burgeoning force of enchanters among the beastkin and kobolds had spent weeks carving runes of obstruction into the tunnels. Those masked the presence of the small army, letting them plunge deep behind enemy lines. Meanwhile, the rest of Zeke¡¯s people ¨C alongside most of the undead ¨C amassed at the line of demarcation between Darukar proper and the Cradle of Life. They were meant to be a distraction, with Zeke and his force being the dagger in the back. Sasha was the ace in the hole, though everyone who had seen her power hoped that it wouldn¡¯t be necessary. Her spells weren¡¯t quite as destructive as something like [Wrath of Annihilation], but given enough time, she could come very close. And she¡¯d had more than a month to work on something for Darukar, which suggested that if she was needed, there probably wouldn¡¯t be much left of the undead city when she was finished. Regardless, Zeke pushed ahead, and when the time came, he and his people erupted from the sewers and charged toward the city¡¯s center, where they hoped to catch the expansionists leadership by surprise. However, it wasn¡¯t long before Zeke discovered their error. Thousands of undead fighters ringed the Deathguard headquarters. It was a large, imposing building composed of black stone and bearing the same red trim as most of the rest of the city, which made it seem a bit ludicrous that they¡¯d abandoned the defenses it promised in favor of an open confrontation. ¡°Never mind the fact that they seemed to know we were coming,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Traitors?¡± ¡°Probably,¡± she said. ¡°But I¡¯d be more worried about everything else.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Zeke asked, studying the undead arrayed before him. The square separating him from that force was a couple hundred yards wide, and his people were hidden in a series of alleys, so they had yet to be seen. That gave him leave to observe the enemy. And what he saw wasn¡¯t encouraging. ¡°They¡¯re not moving.¡± Indeed, the undead stood as still as statues, staring straight ahead with unseeing eyes. Zeke would have thought they were, indeed, a series of lifelike sculptures if it wasn¡¯t for the mana swirling all around them. ¡°They¡¯ll move the moment they find an enemy. Of all people, you should recognize what you¡¯re looking at.¡± Zeke narrowed his eyes. Then, it dawned on him. The creatures across that square weren¡¯t sapient beings. Not anymore. He could feel that in his very core. But if that was true, then what were they? He feared the answer. Not because he was afraid of the creatures themselves. Rather, because of the implications associated with it. ¡°You¡¯re dancing around it. Say it. Acknowledge what you¡¯re looking at.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an army. It¡¯s a horde. Just like back in the Radiant Isles. But how? I went through this city only a month or so ago. I talked to these people. They were sapient. I know they were.¡± ¡°I agree. So, what could have changed them? Again, I think you know the answer here. What could enforce its will upon undead?¡± ¡°A necromancer.¡± ¡°Necromancers,¡± Eveline corrected. ¡°Plural.¡± That made some sense. While there was no upper limit on a necromancer¡¯s horde ¨C Zeke had seen that with his own eyes ¨C it took time to build. So, if that many undead had already been converted, then it stood to reason that it was the result of multiple necromancers¡¯ efforts. And that was terrifying. ¡°This isn¡¯t good,¡± Zeke said, glancing back the way they¡¯d come. A full quarter of his own force was comprised of undead. Would they be vulnerable? ¡°We should retreat.¡± ¡°If we do, the bulk of the army will be destroyed. A few of the most powerful will make it, but¡­¡± ¡°Shit,¡± Zeke muttered. Then, he turned to one of the kobold assassins that had become his constant shadows. ¡°Tell our people to watch the undead for any issues. They might not be on our side.¡± The assassin hissed, ¡°Yess¡­¡± Then, he disappeared completely, slipping through the shadows as he departed on his mission. Zeke waited a few more minutes before he gave the signal for attack. Soon, his force flooded out of the alleys, intent on slaughtering the undead arrayed against them. For their part, the unthinking minions were quick to respond, silently surging forward to meet the charge. Zeke held back, watching and waiting for some indication of the necromancer¡¯s location. In the Mortal Realm, he¡¯d fought against plenty of other undead, but back then, he¡¯d been completely incapable of seeing beneath the surface. Now, though, he could sense the flows of mana all around, and now that he knew what to look for, he saw the controlling bands wrapped around the horde. More importantly, Zeke could see where they were going. Those flows came together, merging into a single river of mana that went straight into the headquarters. More importantly, there were others streams of mana that branched out across the city, clearly indicating that there were other hordes under this particular necromancer¡¯s control. ¡°If I kill the necromancer, will these undead be freed?¡± he asked Eveline. In the realm of control, she was the best source of information he was likely to get. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Perhaps. Necromancers are strange. They don¡¯t just control their minions. They alter them. They raise them. It depends on how long these have been under this necromancer¡¯s thumb.¡± Zeke nodded inwardly, then said, ¡°Then let¡¯s hope it¡¯s a new development. Otherwise, we¡¯re going to have some issues.¡± ¡°It would be smarter just to destroy the city now and get it over with.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to do that,¡± Zeke said. Then, he amended, ¡°Unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary.¡± ¡°It will be. Mark my words.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke acknowledged. After all, he¡¯d chosen to abandon the Radiant Isles because it was overrun with undead. He knew good and well just how quickly things could grow out of hand. ¡°But maybe not.¡± With that, he used [Titan] and strode forth, ready to kill a necromancer. 513. More than Meets the Eye Mindless undead barreled forward, heedless of their own safety. Many were cut down by Zeke¡¯s army, but some were far too powerful to easily fall. It was a striking state of affairs, knowing that some of them had once been pillars of El¡¯kireth. Now, they were feral zombies, incapable of thinking for themselves. Instead, they only knew aggression and whatever dictates their master had passed onto them. Still, they were strong ¨C far more powerful, in fact, than the hordes from Zeke¡¯s memories ¨C and they were more than capable of bringing that strength to bear against his army. So, Zeke stepped in, using his twin domains as well as [Storm of Hammers], conjuring a whirlwind of blunt force among the horde. His own people were unaffected by the skill, and the spectral hammers passed right through anyone loyal to him. That was one of the factors he hadn¡¯t expected. Normally, his skills were just as dangerous to his people as they were to his enemies. Yet, [Storm of Hammers] was clearly different. He had no idea how it determined the difference between allies and foes, but its decision making in that regard seemed largely infallible. That gave Zeke the freedom to wade into the fray, completely secure that he wasn¡¯t going to end up hurting his own forces. His hammer arced out, destroying a swath of weaker zombies. They all wore armor ¨C remnants of their past lives that suggested that they¡¯d only recently been turned ¨C but for the most part, that protection was insufficient to the task of stopping one of Zeke¡¯s mighty swings. He tore through them with ease. The other members of his force weren¡¯t so fortunate, and their attacks were blunted by that sturdy armor. That factor proved just how dangerous the horde was. Zombies were bad enough on their own. Not only were they relentless, feeling no pain and enduring well past the point a more sapient creature would have given in, but they could also spread their disease with every bite. As such, they represented an exponential threat that could overwhelm the world in a matter of years. Finally, zombies weren¡¯t constricted by vital mana. They could ¨C and would ¨C exist well outside the boundaries of El¡¯kireth. Zeke wasn¡¯t sure why that was, but he¡¯d seen it in action back in the Mortal Realm. Add durable armor to the mix, and the danger levels grew even more prominent. No ¨C with the zombies¡¯ inclusion, the war against the expansionists had become something far more primal. It was no longer a conflict of ideology. Instead, it had turned into one of survival. If they didn¡¯t stop the zombies, then the entire world would suffer. Despite the fact that he was no white knight, Zeke couldn¡¯t stomach the idea of letting that happen. Again. Before, he¡¯d abandoned the Radiant Isles because he knew he couldn¡¯t stop the undead menace. This time, though, he found himself at ground zero. He could stop it before it ever got started. So, he strode into the fray, swinging his hammer as he carved a path through the horde and, hopefully, to the necromancer who was responsible for the mass of zombies. All around him, the battle raged. His [Storm of Hammers] surged across the square, killing weaker zombies while the stronger specimens were only slowed. If it weren¡¯t for the deadly stakes, Zeke would have considered the battle a perfect opportunity to gauge the efficacy of his new skill. After all, some of the zombies were beyond the level seventy-five threshold, and as such, they were quite mighty. Certainly, the loss of control had robbed them of some of their power ¨C chiefly, that they didn¡¯t even use skills ¨C but their bodies were more than durable. Alone, none of them could stand up to Zeke. But that was the thing about zombie hordes ¨C they were never alone. They fought in hordes, and through some strange amalgamation of instinct and direction from their necromancer, they complimented one another, becoming more than the sum of their rotten parts. So, even Zeke was pressed by their surging might, taking more than a few wounds along the way. He could have used [Hell Geyser], [Unleash Momentum], or [Wrath of Annihilation] to make quick work of the horde, but that would have also destroyed his own people as well as the infrastructure of the town. On top of that, he had no idea if there were innocents about, so he refrained from employing his most destructive skills. Still, with the advantage of [Titan] as well as his twin domain skills, he was more than capable of wreaking havoc among the horde. On top of that, any damage the managed to inflict ¨C which was more than he might have expected ¨C was quickly counteracted by [Touch of Divinity]. Finally, he let a trickle of his Will flow into each swing of his hammer. It wasn¡¯t enough to damage his body, but it added a significant level of extra power to every attack he brought to bear. Then, just as he was getting into a rhythm, Zeke caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye. He barely managed to brace himself before he was knocked from his feet by an unbelievable amount of force. He flew through collection of amassed zombies, splattering more than a few of them ¨C as well as a couple of kobolds who hadn¡¯t reacted quickly enough to get out of the way ¨C before hitting the ground in a tumble that took him all the way to the edge of the square. He only stopped there because he crashed into a building. He lay there for a moment before the creak of crumbling stones announced that the collision had robbed the building of stability. It came down a second later, burying Zeke under tons of rubble. More distressingly, he felt a gaping wound in his side. Whatever had hit him had done so with enough force to rip through his titanic body, stopping only when it hit his spine. And even that was damaged. Zeke pulsed [Touch of Divinity], dragging mana from all around him as he channeled it into healing the wound. The rubble wasn¡¯t an issue. He could withstand tons of pressure without being injured. But the wound in his side represented an urgent need, largely because it resisted even his powerful healing skill. The metallic flesh mended easily enough, but there was something else buried within it. A skill, perhaps? Some sort of spreading disease? It might¡¯ve even been the source of zombification. Whatever the case, Zeke knew he couldn¡¯t allow it to fester, so he flared the skill as powerfully as he could manage. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. It was like fighting a war against a rising tide, but instead of swinging a hammer, Zeke was armed only with his willpower. That was when he realized he was going about it all wrong. Before, he¡¯d used his Path of Arcane Destruction to rid his body of unwanted contaminants. Why did this have to be any different? So, he laced [Touch of Divinity] with a wisp of his Will, then shoved it toward the tidal wave of contamination. At first, it did more damage than the skill could counteract, weakening him significantly. However, after only a few more moments, Zeke started to see results. Sure, the addition of his Will was detrimental to his body. He knew that. But it was just as bad for the disease trying to overtake him. Soon enough, that disease started to break down, and at last, dissipated into motes of mana. Even that felt contaminated, though it only lasted for a few seconds before disappearing altogether. Then, once his wound was entirely healed, he used [Shifting Sands], descending into the earth and rocketing out from beneath the rubble. He merged in an explosion of hellfire, only to see that the battle had turned, largely because of the arrival of three powerful zombies. Zeke didn¡¯t really get a good look at any of them, they moved so quickly. However, he could see enough to know that they were trouble. They all had long, thin arms and wicked claws, but other than that, they looked little different from any other zombie in the square. He finally got [Inspect] to take hold: Undead Ravager ¨C Level 88 It was telling that the things no longer had names. The Framework truly considered them monsters, now. Such a waste. Moreover, it was terrifying on an existential level to know that someone with the right skills could completely take over one¡¯s mind and fundamentally change who they were. But those sorts of concerns were secondary, especially considering that his emergence had garnered the attention of all three ravagers. They raced in his direction, their claws glistening with malicious intent. They covered the ground in a split second, but this time, Zeke was ready for them, so the results were quite different than before. He stomped on the ground, using [Hell Geyser]. However, in this instance, he didn¡¯t aim for some distant target. Instead, he let the power of the skill explode from directly beneath him, bathing his titanic body in corrupted fire. Yet, after his efforts had inoculation, he had few issues enduring such an onslaught. The same could not be said for the ravagers. They never even slowed. Instead, the trio ripped through the skill, aiming graceless attacks at Zeke. But he was already gone, once again using [Shifting Sands] to slow down time and slip into the earth. Normally, he couldn¡¯t use the skill again in such quick succession, but with levels came a little more flexibility. Still, he wouldn¡¯t be using [Shifting Sands] a third time for at least a few more hours. It was worth it, though. The corrupted flames took hold, burning through withered flesh without issue, and by the time the creatures emerged from the other side of the pillar of flame, they¡¯d been burned down to the bone. More importantly, their armor had been compromised, leaving them much more vulnerable. Zeke aimed [Center of Gravity] at one, yanking it in his direction. It tried to resist, but the thing was no less mindless than its fellows. As a result, it was incapable of adjusting so quickly, and so it fell toward Zeke. He met it with the head of his hammer, sending it sailing away in a long, lazy arc that wouldn¡¯t reach its terminus for another half mile. It didn¡¯t die, though. The thing was far too durable for that. But for now, it was out of the picture. That would have to be enough. Zeke followed that up with a backhanded swing accompanied by Voromir¡¯s ability. A projection of the hammer ¨C giant and bloodred ¨C crashed into the remaining two ravagers, knocking them aside and sending them to crash into a nearby building. Knowing he needed to keep them off-balance, Zeke leaped forward, covering almost a hundred yards with a single bound before bringing his hammer down in a vicious, overhand attack that harnessed every point of Strength he possessed. And that was a considerable amount. His hammer hit its target ¨C the ravager¡¯s head ¨C with thunderous force, exploding the weakened skull and splattering its brains across the square. But the momentum didn¡¯t end there. It kept going, carving a sizable crater in the ground. The shockwave took hold of the other ravager, sending it cartwheeling across the square to collide with another building. Zeke used [Center of Gravity] again, yanking that monster back into range before hammering it into the ground with a sledgehammer strike that obliterated its torso. For good measure, he stomped on the ground and used [Hell Geyser] again. Before it erupted, he leaped away, taking only a little damage from the corrupted flames before he cleared the pillar of destructive force. That left only one, and Zeke felt as much as saw the thing careening toward him like an out-of-control car. One of its legs was clearly broken, so it moved with a limp. However, because of its ridiculous attributes, it still covered quite a lot of ground in a hurry. But it wasn¡¯t fast enough. Now that Zeke knew it was coming, and with that small dip in speed, he had no issues with meeting it head-on. It died almost as quickly as the first two, but because it wasn¡¯t quite as off-balance, it managed to delay the inevitable for a few extra seconds. Zeke ended it by stomping on the monster¡¯s good leg, then knocking it to the ground with a shoulder tackle. Then, he rammed his fist into its chest cavity, grabbed hold of its spine, and ripped it free. Only then did Zeke look around at the rest of the battle. And what he saw wasn¡¯t good. His people had been driven back. The kobolds were putting up a good fight, using their advanced tactics and formations to form a fighting retreat. However, they were on the verge of being overwhelmed by the zombies, which seemed even more numerous than before. ¡°Where are they all coming from?¡± he wondered aloud. ¡°Follow the mana,¡± Eveline said, indicating that Zeke should look up. Once again, he saw dozens of flows of mana, all merging into a river of energy that led to the headquarters. ¡°That¡¯s where the necromancer is,¡± he said. He¡¯d thought the same in the very beginning, but he¡¯d been distracted by the battle as well as the trio of ravagers. Now, though, it seemed that he had no choice. If he wanted to keep his people alive, he would need to destroy the source. That meant going into the headquarters and killing the necromancer. ¡°I think I can do that,¡± he said. ¡°Be careful.¡± As he strode forward, Zeke remarked, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you cared.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. It¡¯s all self-preservation. If you die, so do I.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t believe that for a second, but he didn¡¯t make a big deal of it. Instead, he climbed the steps toward the huge, black-and-red building, hoping he could find the necromancer in time to save his army from total annihilation. 514. The Fallen, Far and Fast Zeke barreled through the horde of zombies, completely obliterating quite a few of them on his way through the enormous gates. However, when he entered into the headquarters, he was confronted with a dozen large undead, each one brimming with enough mana that he didn¡¯t need [Inspect] to tell him that they were just as high of a level as him. Still, he used the identification skill: Reaper ¨C Level 85 The creatures were not zombies. Instead, they resembled a variety of undead he¡¯d encountered back in the mortal realm. And as their names suggested, they looked a lot like the stereotypical grim reaper, though with a lot more heft to their bodies. The fact that he¡¯d not seen anything like them among his allies suggested that they were not natural. Or as natural as any of the unliving. As he skidded to a stop, he wondered, ¡°Can necromancers change the forms of their minions?¡± ¡°They can do whatever they want, provided they have the expertise and the proper skills,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°It is one of the reasons they¡¯re so dangerous. Naturally occurring undead are tied to specific forms and functions, and the sapient versions ¨C as rare as they are ¨C generally have classes much like any other race. However, true minions of a necromancer are completely pliable. They have no identities, and as such, their masters can mold them into unspeakable abominations.¡± ¡°What happens if we kill the necromancer and free these things from his control?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Perhaps their sapience would return. Maybe they would become monsters. Much about necromancers is unknown, largely because no civilized population would tolerate their existence,¡± she said. ¡°That is one of the reasons your little friend was directed to kill the one back in the Radiant Isles. Even the gods fear a necromance run amok.¡± Zeke shook his head. Even if that was true, it didn¡¯t excuse Abby¡¯s actions. All she¡¯d had to do was relay her plan, and he would have helped her to execute it. However, she¡¯d chosen dishonesty and guile, putting him and, more importantly, Pudge in danger. As far as he was concerned, that selfishness was enough to create an impassible rift between them. Regardless, he had other issues on his mind. Chiefly, that the reapers had begun their advance, gliding forward with their tattered robes brushing against the elaborately tiled floor. With their scythes held high, they closed on Zeke. He responded with his own, far more abrupt charge as he tore into the creatures with reckless abandon. Normally, he would have been far more cautious against a group of level eighty-five opponents. That represented real power on a level that demanded his attention. Yet, he¡¯d recently learned that the undead minions of whatever necromancer had taken control of the forces of El¡¯kireth were far less powerful than their levels indicated. As such, he reasoned that caution was undue. Zeke dipped low, dragging his hammer only an inch above the floor, then exploded into a momentous uppercut that took the first reaper in the chest. Voromir¡¯s head ripped into its body, which erupted into a geyser of dead flesh and tattered black cloth. The rest of its body flew upward, splattering against the vaulted ceiling. But by then, Zeke had already moved on to the next reaper. However, he received quite a shock when the undead minion managed a glancing blow that barely scratched the metallic flesh of his titanic form. The moment that scythe made contact with shoulder, his arm went numb, and he very nearly dropped his hammer. More distressingly, a quick pulse of [Touch of Divinity] barely elicited a tingle, and it took a few seconds of flaring the skill to bring feeling back to the limb. Fortunately, he¡¯d reacted quickly to the infirmity, springing backward before any of the other scythes could hit him. Still, that single point of contact was enough to tell him just how dangerous the remaining reapers could be. So, he wasted no more time before stomping on the ground, using [Hell Geyser] to bathe them in fiery wrath. Moreover, he added [Storm of Hammers] to the mix, and the two skills ¨C whirlwind and fiery plume ¨C worked together to create a blazing vortex of destruction. Zeke didn¡¯t stop there, though. He threw himself into the fray, trusting his uncommon resistances and titanic body to keep him safe from his own skills. Meanwhile, he wrought havoc amongst the creatures, sweeping his hammer out in vicious arcs that kept them at a distance while harnessing the full potential of his enormous strength. It was like fighting in the middle of a fiery hurricane that had just torn through an armory. Copies of Voromir flew around, shattering stone and reaper bodies alike. At the same time, Zeke added his own might to the mix, destroying anything that managed to survive the wrath of his skills. In a way, it was like he¡¯d gone back to the battle against the storm elemental, though this time, the chaotic tornado was of his make. Strangely, that made all the difference. ¡°It is disturbing how much you¡¯re enjoying this,¡± Eveline said. Zeke didn¡¯t respond, but he also couldn¡¯t deny that he found the chaos to be almost cathartic. There was a beauty to it. A comfort level he never expected to find amongst so much havoc. Still, the effects of Zeke¡¯s skills, the undead creatures were still level eighty-five, and they had enough durability to make the fight take quite a while. So, thundering through the chaos, Zeke brought his battle-hardened expertise to bear, destroying one reaper after another until, at last, the threat was gone. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The wind died down, and the fires dissipated, leaving only Zeke and a handful of bodies. ¡°Bravo,¡± came a voice in the distance. Zeke followed the sound to see a woman standing on the other side of the immense lobby. She looked wholly normal ¨C not even undead ¨C and she wore a pristine white robe trimmed in gold. There was something familiar about that. ¡°Adontis,¡± he muttered, using [Inspect]. Catherine Dubois ¨C Level 91 ¡°Indeed, monster,¡± she said with a cold smile. She held a slender, golden staff whose head ended in a twisted cross. ¡°Or have you achieved sapience? Rare for one who has not reached the peak, but not entirely unheard-of. I take it you are responsible for that old fool¡¯s death?¡± Zeke stepped forward, but so did the creature beside her. He hadn¡¯t noticed it at first, but he wasn¡¯t entirely certain why. He said, ¡°If you¡¯re asking if I killed Lord Adontis, then yes. That was me.¡± ¡°Good riddance. He was a talented child, but he never stood a chance of ascension,¡± she said. ¡°He was higher leveled than you,¡± Zeke pointed out. In truth, he¡¯d never seen the man¡¯s level. In addition, he wasn¡¯t certain why he¡¯d chosen to defend the man to the strange woman before him. He shouldn¡¯t have cared how she referred to Lord Adontis at all. Yet he did. He didn¡¯t like her flippant attitude. But there was a good chance that his own disdain stemmed from the fact that she was plainly a necromancer. The creature behind her was proof of that, even if her presence within the heart of the undead Kingdom of El¡¯kireth hadn¡¯t served that same purpose. ¡°So he was. But power is a funny thing, isn¡¯t it?¡± she said, still wearing that infuriatingly cold smile. ¡°Take yourself for example. By all rights, you should have struggled to defeat my little toys. Yet, here you are, almost entirely unscathed. Even their Touch of Death ability barely slowed you down. Pity. They came from such good materials.¡± ¡°Materials? Is that how you refer to the people they were?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°People? These rotting things? They may have had some semblance of sapience ¨C questionable, but I¡¯ll grant it ¨C but we both know they weren¡¯t people. Ambulatory corpses. Abominations. Unnatural creatures who should not be allowed to exist, save under the firm hand of someone who can properly control them,¡± she said. ¡°Like you?¡± ¡°If the shoe fits,¡± she acknowledged with a slight nod. ¡°Which brings me to my greatest achievement. I give you¡­the former Death Warden herself.¡± The creature ¨C her minion ¨C stepped forward and into the light, giving Zeke a better look. It was an abomination, and there was no other way to think of it. It was difficult to imagine that it had once held a fairly humanoid shape, largely because Catherine Dubois had robbed the creature of any dignity it had once possessed, attaching a multitude of grasping limbs, more dead flesh than Zeke wanted to consider, and a plethora of weapons. It was grotesque. And it had once been a person. The sight made him nauseous, but he still managed to use [Inspect]: Death Blob ¨C Level 98 ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Catherine said. ¡°Death blob is such a bad name. I agree completely, and I¡¯m still workshopping a proper label. I¡¯m sure you understand, though I¡¯m also certain that you¡¯ll agree it¡¯s a fitting moniker.¡± It was. The former Death Warden ¨C who he¡¯d learned was one of the most prominent leaders in the kingdom ¨C looked like nothing so much as a round glob of decaying flesh, from which grew dozens of limbs. Each grasping hand held a weapon, and it moved forward not by walking, but rather, by grabbing hold of the ground and rolling. Each revolution came with a wet plopping sound, and where it went, a trail of mucus followed. ¡°You are a monster,¡± Zeke said. Catherine laughed. ¡°Coming from a giant metal colossus, I¡¯ll take that as a compliment! In any case, enjoy playing with my toy. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find it quite up to the task of ¨C¡± Zeke didn¡¯t need to see anymore. Instead, he charged forward, cocked back his hammer, and swung. However, he didn¡¯t do so with only the not-inconsiderable might of his muscles. Instead, his swing was accompanied by the power of a thousand swings, which he let loose via [Unleash Momentum]. That power hit the death blog with a herculean level of force, tearing into the mass of rotting flesh. The first few layers were ripped free, then torn to bits that splattered against the far wall only a moment later. Then, the creature itself followed, hitting that same wall with a grotesque splat. Its body deflated like a beachball with a hole in it, then fell to the ground. For her part, Catherine only took a glancing blow from the skill, though even that was enough to send her cartwheeling back the way she¡¯d come. She flew through the doorway, hit the floor in a tumble, then disappeared down the connected hallway. She didn¡¯t die, though. Neither did the death blob. But Zeke was prepared for that, and he leaped forward to deal with the threat, bringing his hammer down in an overhand strike that sent pus and decayed flesh misting into the air. He nearly choked at the smell, though he kept at it, hammering the creature again. Normally, he might¡¯ve been a little put off by the fact that he was killing what had once been a sapient creature. But helpless as the death blob was, he felt nothing except annoyance at the sheer disgust raging through his mind and causing his stomach to rebel. For all that it had once been the powerful Death Warden, nothing of that person was left. Only the monstrous creature remained. And Zeke knew how to deal with those. So, he followed through with what turned out to be an extermination, ripping into the undead creature without empathy or remorse. And after only a couple of minutes, it finally perished, flooding him with experience. It wasn¡¯t enough to push him to the next level, but it was far more than he had expected. Apparently, fighting monsters near the peak was a good way to level. Regardless, Zeke wasn¡¯t done with his task, so he pushed those thoughts to the side as he left the death blob behind and stomped through the doorway. Unfortunately, Catherine had already recovered, and she¡¯d disappeared into the depths of the building. It was not a surprising turn of events, but it certainly was annoying. Zeke wanted nothing more than a straight-up fight, and she¡¯d robbed him of that satisfaction. ¡°Yeah ¨C you¡¯re not a battle maniac at all,¡± Eveline remarked in her first contribution to the battle. ¡°But proceed with caution. There¡¯s more to this woman than meets the eye.¡± ¡°You sound pretty sure about that,¡± Zeke said. ¡°She¡¯s not so different from who I used to be. I recognize in her the demoness I was.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke said, thankful that Eveline had moved past all of that. He wasn¡¯t so deluded as to think that she had completely left her manipulative nature behind, but she¡¯d made some degree of progress. Perhaps being separated from her body had helped. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about me like I¡¯m not even here. Stop. It¡¯s annoying.¡± Zeke let out a mental sigh as he stepped forward, his hammer held at the ready as he went in search of the monstrous necromancer. 515. Complicated Zeke plunged his hand through the undead monstrosity¡¯s skull, wrapped his fingers around the squishiest parts of its brain, and yanked it free. It came without issue, though there were some discolored and wriggling bits that he could only call worms that came with the handful of grey matter. He tossed it aside in disgust, then kicked the hulking creature free. It fell, limp and lifeless, to join all the others he¡¯d slain. Over the past two hours, he¡¯d slaughtered his way through the massive castle, seeing one misshapen horror after another. The creator of the macabre army ¨C who Zeke could only assume was Catherine ¨C seemed limitless in her imagination, each of her designs more horrifying than the last. They were made even more so by the visible hints of who they had once been. A badge of authority here. A fantastic sword there. A pair of hauntingly normal eyes, buried amidst the putrescent mounds of flesh. It was disgusting, and in a way Zeke had rarely encountered. But he¡¯d yet to catch sight of the necromancer herself. Not since that first meeting. Since then, it had felt as if she was leading him on a merry chase through the castle, during which she gleefully displayed her disgusting creations. ¡°I should just destroy the whole place,¡± he said, shaking his hand to rid it of the more stubborn bits of brain. One of the worms had wrapped itself around his finger, and it was trying to burrow its way through his metallic skin. It was unsuccessful, though the sight sent a shiver up his spine. He pinched the thing between his thumb and forefinger, sending a burst of pus to mist into the air. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t even be that hard. Just one [Wrath of Annihilation]. I might have to use a little extra Will, but¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯d kill thousands.¡± ¡°They¡¯re already gone.¡± ¡°Not all of them. We have to believe that,¡± Eveline said. Not for the first time, Zeke wished he¡¯d retreated to warn his undead allies of the dangers arrayed against them. Yet, by this point, if he left, he would lose all the ground he¡¯d already covered. Because he had no doubts that, given even a little room, Catherine would create even more monstrosities. It was what she did, after all. So, after looking around to ensure that he¡¯d not left any undead live, he strode from the chamber and into the next hallway. The problem with the castle was that it was practically a maze, with hundreds of branching hallways and thousand of rooms. Some were small ¨C little more than broom closets ¨C but others were the size of arenas. And most of the place was packed full of those undead monstrosities. It was disgusting and horrifying, in equal measure. However, Zeke couldn¡¯t afford to simply quit. He¡¯d taken on the job, and he intended to see it through to the bitter end. Catherine would die by his hand, even if he had to spend months traversing the confusing knot of hallways that was the headquarters of the Deathguard. ¡°Months is a bit of an exaggeration, but I like the enthusiasm,¡± Eveline stated. Then, she gave the impression of pumping her fist in excitement as she said, ¡°Go team Ezekiel.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You know what. Just¡­don¡¯t. It¡¯s weird, and it doesn¡¯t fit,¡± Zeke said. She gave a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll just hide my entire personality,¡± was her response. Zeke wanted to point out that he was explicitly asking her not to do that, concealing her true demeanor behind feigned enthusiasm she thought would get through to him. However, he refrained from doing so, and instead, focused on the task at hand. He continued to stomp through the halls, dispatching any undead who stood against him. Like that, hours passed, and his frustration mounted. If he could have been certain that it wouldn¡¯t bring the building down on his head, he would¡¯ve simply smashed his way through the walls. However, because he wasn¡¯t sure what differentiated between normal walls and load-bearing edifices, he kept his destructive tendencies in check. Or rather, he channeled them into killing zombies and other undead monstrosities. Each one was more horrifying than the last, and as the hours wore on, Zeke became desensitized to the disgusting sights. Even in the best of times, undead were not the most appealing to the living eye. Yet, knowing that each creature he encountered had once been sapient and that they¡¯d had their identities smothered beneath the necromancer¡¯s control, made it all the worse. ¡°Can the living be controlled on such a scale? Can they be altered like this?¡± he asked after ripping the multitude of limbs from a zombie that looked like it¡¯d been fused with a spider. There had been hundreds of others all around, though the smaller ones only had the heads attached to arachnid bodies. ¡°Anything is possible with enough power and the right skills,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But I have never seen anything like this. Undead are uniquely vulnerable to a necromancer¡¯s skills. Even mind mages like I used to be are limited in scope. I was a peak power before I was imprisoned, and one of the most proficient in Hell when it came to my field. Yet, I could only control two or three people at a time, and even then, I couldn¡¯t do what this necromancer has done to these undead wretches.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zeke asked, continuing forward. ¡°Unquestioned obedience was not within my purview. I could enslave someone for a short time, but the living mind has natural defenses against such an intrusion,¡± she stated. ¡°It adapts quickly, and it will quickly break free from even the most accomplished mind mage¡¯s control.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°But undead are different?¡± ¡°Clearly. Some suspect that it¡¯s because of the lack of vitality, but others claim that other factors contribute to their lacking resistance,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°I don¡¯t know the answer because, for the most part, there was always a lack of test subjects. We do not tolerate necromancers or undead for good reason.¡± Zeke shook his head. The existence of El¡¯kireth was akin to a time bomb waiting to go off. To its enemies, it represented a serious danger to everyone in the Eternal Realm. And now, that danger was on the verge of being let loose. ¡°The zombies under control of a necromancer aren¡¯t limited to death-attuned areas, are they?¡± ¡°No,¡± Eveline said. ¡°They will sweep across this world like a plague.¡± ¡°Do you know why?¡± he asked, ignoring her prediction. She gave a mental shake of her head. ¡°No. Again, some speculate that they don¡¯t actually shed those limitations. Instead, they simply aren¡¯t allowed to respond to them. Sapient undead will lose their minds if exposed to too much vitality. Many will become comatose. Or they will start to degrade. Whatever the case, none of that is an issue if they¡¯re not in control of their own actions.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t. When I took control of someone, I had to deal with quite a lot of backlash,¡± she said. ¡°It was difficult to maintain, and when it broke, there was a good chance that those people would immediately try to kill me. I had ways of dealing with that, but none of it was pretty. ¡°Necromancers don¡¯t have that issue. They don¡¯t just control someone. They erase them. They turn their minds to mush. There is no chance of escape. They rob those undead of any sapience. The practice is abominable.¡± It was interesting to see what Eveline really thought about it all. The fact that she considered what necromancers did to be abominable ¨C considering her former nature ¨C raised all sorts of flags. But Zeke could easily follow her line of thinking. There was a marked difference between temporary mind control and completely obliterating someone¡¯s identity, turning them into an unthinking monster in the process. ¡°What about all the¡­changes she¡¯s done to these undead? Is that normal?¡± he asked. ¡°None of this is normal. It is so far beyond normal that I question how it was allowed to get this far. A necromancer of that level should have been slaughtered the moment she revealed herself,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That she wasn¡¯t represents a clear failure on the part of every powerful person in this world.¡± ¡°Tell me how you really feel¡­¡± ¡°This is not time to be flippant, Ezekiel. She is a serious ¨C¡± Just then, something detached from the ceiling and flopped onto Ezekiel¡¯s head, covering him like a fleshy blanket. Then, it started to constrict, wrapping him in thick, rubbery skin. He struggled, tearing through the stuff as well as he could, but it regrew faster than he could destroy it. Panic suffused Zeke¡¯s mind until Eveline¡¯s presence overwhelmed his budding fear, pushing it to the side as she said, ¡°Be calm. It is a skill, and a powerful one. I¡¯m keeping it at bay so you can react appropriately.¡± Zeke did just that, activating [Shifting Sands] and sinking through the floor. However, he only got a few feet before his progress came to a halt. The ground ¨C and the rest of the castle, it seemed ¨C bore the signs of enchantment, the purpose of which was to block skills precisely like the one he¡¯d just tried to use. Seeing that, he pushed himself back to the surface, then used [Hell Geyser], letting it erupt beneath his feet. The blanket of skin let out a screech as it ¨C and Zeke ¨C were bathed in fiery destruction. It only squeezed harder, though. And what was even more disturbing, Zeke could feel the life being sucked out of him with every passing moment. He needed to do something. He couldn¡¯t break free. Nor could he escape. So, he decided to go in the other direction. He¡¯d already learned that undead were vulnerable to vitality. Talia¡¯s vampiric friend had been put into a coma by that very energy. So, what would happen to the fleshy creature trying to squeeze him to death? He aimed to find out. With that endeavor in mind, Zeke embraced [Touch of Divinity], flaring it with every ounce of willpower he could muster. The flow of vitality turned into a raging river that rushed into the unliving monster. At first, it only squeezed even harder, but soon, it let out a pained screech of surprise. That turned into a quiver of agony before it tried to dislodge itself. Zeke wouldn¡¯t allow that. Instead, he latched onto it with both hands, pushing his skill to new heights. He screamed, though the sound was muffled by what felt like a fleshy, moist blanket of rotting tissue. Yet, it worked. For long minutes, he pushed enough vital energy to regenerate his entire body into the creature. And it responded by going wild, ripping itself free and flopping around. All the while, Zeke maintained his grip. Grey flesh turned pink, then it grew huge tumors that burst with foul smelling pus. It contorted, constricting into itself as it slowly succumbed to the influx of vital energy. Then, finally, Zeke felt it die, gifting him with the reward. It barely moved the needle in terms of his level, but he wasn¡¯t terribly worried about that. Instead, he only cared about removing the threat, and in that endeavor, he¡¯d succeeded. ¡°That thing was¡­unpleasant,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°Indeed,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It was so¡­moist and fleshy. What do you suppose it was before Catherine got ahold of it?¡± ¡°I have no idea, and I¡¯m not eager to find out, either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably for the best,¡± she agreed. Then, Zeke kicked the mound of misshapen flesh to the side and continued down the hall. As he did, three more flesh-blankets attacked him, and he responded with the same tactics. Even so, he couldn¡¯t banish the panic he felt when they wrapped themselves around him. Regardless, he kept going, and eventually, Catherine¡¯s monsters shifted in form. More zombies with too many limbs, a couple of creatures that resembled the transformed Death Warden, and small, cockroach-like monsters that skittered along the walls and inflicted a powerful necrotic venom with every bite were just the beginnings of the horrifying cascade of undead monstrosities. But eventually, Zeke reached the end of the line. It looked like a throne room, dominated by a large, ornate chair of bone that stood atop a dais. Upon that throne sat a bored-looking Catherine. But Zeke was more concerned with the fact that the vast majority of the huge throne room was packed full of zombies of all sorts. And lining the walls were huge, hulking abominations that looked as if they¡¯d been sewn together from hundreds of disparate parts. ¡°Oh, good. You¡¯ve managed to join us,¡± Catherine said laconically. She sat with one leg over the arm of the throne, while she propped herself on the other arm. She waved her hand, adding, ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t mind that I¡¯ve prepared a bit of a welcoming committee.¡± Then, without any other conversation, the zombies surged in Zeke¡¯s direction. He stepped forward to meet them, ready to turn their dead flesh into disgusting pulp. 516. Glee Zeke surged ahead, but the tide of zombies shifted around him, flowing to the side and avoiding his measured swing. Then, they attacked from the flanks and from behind, their sharp claws and teeth scratching against his metallic body. Then, even as he tried to turn, the first few leaped onto his back. Reaching up, he snatched at an arm, but when he pulled, the limb came free. Its owner cackled in glee ¨C a first for zombies, as far as Zeke had heard ¨C and bit down. He barely felt the attack. But what he did feel was the weight of dozens more as they followed their comrades¡¯ lead, leaping onto his back and burying him beneath tons of dead flesh. They latched on, digging their grasping claws into his body, one after another. Hundreds followed suit. Then thousands. Before Zeke knew what was happening, he found himself at the bottom of a mountain of decaying meat, and his ears were filled with harsh and high-pitched laughter. It reminded him of how, what felt like a lifetime ago, Pudge had nearly died. Because of Abby¡¯s betrayal, hundreds of zombies had caught the dire bear off guard and piled upon his back. Pudge had fought back, but back then, he was too weak to resist so much damage. They¡¯d ripped him to shreds, and they would have killed him if Zeke hadn¡¯t intervened. That was the biggest factor in why Zeke never intended to forgive the woman for her betrayal. He could endure dangers aplenty, and he¡¯d never placed his own well-being high on his list of priorities. However, when it came to people endangering his friends ¨C or Pudge, who exceeded that label by a wide margin ¨C he was entirely unforgiving. Yet, Zeke was not Pudge, and the weight of a mountain of zombies was nothing to him. So, with a massive heave, he pushed against the mass of undead monsters. At first, nothing happened, but after only a moment¡¯s worth of effort, the ambulatory corpses shifted. Zeke continued to push, harnessing his massive strength. All the while, the creatures bit and clawed, and the collected effort began to bear fruit. It would take hours for them to dig their way through his metallic flesh and find anything important, but the fact that they¡¯d wounded him at all was proof that they were far more dangerous than most zombies. Still, it was just pain. Once, Zeke had heard a wise man say, ¡°Pain don¡¯t hurt.¡± At the time, he had thought it senseless. But with his racial pain tolerance, it was more true than ever. So, what should have been an debilitatingly agonizing experience was only mildly annoying. It did not divert his efforts, and with another great heave, Zeke exploded upward. The zombies never stood a chance. He burst through the first layer, obliterating them completely. The second later didn¡¯t fare much better, though they remained much more intact than Zeke¡¯s first victims. The third and fourth layers were a little less impacted, and by the time Zeke got to the fifteenth layer of zombies, his momentum had been spent. He fell. And the zombies fell with him, collapsing in on him a second later. Once again buried beneath the weight of a thousand zombies, Zeke gathered his willpower and repeated his actions. This time, his way went a little easier, but the end result was much the same. So, he did it again. Each leap burst a few hundred zombies, but those deaths were nothing compared to the sheer number of undead that had piled atop him. Yet, Zeke was nothing if not persistent, and he continued pushing. One leap after another, with each iteration carving a little closer to the apex. Then, finally, he exploded free. Clear of the impediment represented by thousands of bodies, he soared all the way to the ceiling. Then, he started to descend. However, Zeke was prepared for it, and he increased his weight as much as he could. More, he lead the way with his hammer, crashing back into the mass of zombies with the force of a fallen meteor. The results were predictable. The cackling monsters exploded, sending a wave of dead flesh crashing toward the edges of the room. The floor burst into a crater, and the entire chamber shook with the impact. Zeke picked himself up, wheeling around to face any stragglers. And there were plenty willing to meet him. They surged from the edges of the room in a massive wave meant to once again bury him beneath a pile of necrotizing flesh. However, with the extra room he¡¯d managed to create, Zeke was in a much better position to defend himself. He did just that, too. Swinging his hammer as he charged. This time, he refused to stop. Unwilling to let his momentum dissipate, he carved a path through the mass of zombies until he was brought up short by an enormous, sweeping hand that caught him by surprise. The backhanded attack from one of the giant flesh abominations hit with unnatural power, cracking metallic bones before sending Zeke to tumble through the chamber and back into the mass of zombies. Stars flashed before his eyes as the opportunistic undead piled atop him. But Zeke was done holding back. Often, he fell into the habit of fighting without his skills. It was the result of, for so long, having so few active abilities. He had plenty now, though. He only needed to remember to use them, and as more than a last resort. So, as he used [Touch of Divinity] to clear his head, he activated [Storm of Hammers]. The whirlwind of spectral weapons erupted into being, and with the wisp of his Will he¡¯d infused into the skill, they tore easily through the zombie horde. At the same time, Zeke repeated his previous actions, leaping through the monsters and finding freedom much more quickly than before. As soon as he tasted open air, he used [Unleash Momentum], sending a wave of force to rip through any zombies who¡¯d managed to endure [Storm of Hammers]. When he landed, he did so with a stomp that sent a wave of hellish destruction along the floor, only to erupt a moment later into a geyser of corrupted earth and fire, bathing the horde in destructive force. He used [Storm of Hammers] again. And again. Three more times, and the entire chamber fell under the influence of the skill. When the dust settled, the horde had been almost entirely destroyed. A few zombies had managed to survive, but they were so broken that they posed little threat. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°That was amazing!¡± crowed Catherine from her throne. It remained entirely unaffected, though hundreds of zombie bodies ¨C all ripped to shreds ¨C had been piled at the foot of the pedestal where the throne was located. ¡°Bang! Pow! So impressive.¡± Zeke shook the remains of a zombie from his hammer. ¡°You act like this is all a game,¡± he growled, loud enough for the woman to hear. ¡°These were people. They all were.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s actually an interesting philosophical debate,¡± she said. ¡°To me, they ceased being people the moment they died. There are no souls to violate. No true minds to torture. No ¨C they¡¯re just collections of rotting meat, and no one really cares what happens to meat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°And you know? Are you an expert, then?¡± she asked. ¡°Or perhaps you should listen to the professional in the room, huh?¡± ¡°You?¡± ¡°I am a necromancer. More importantly, with the slightest flick of my Will, I can completely subjugate any of these undead. They are mockery¡¯s of life, Zeke. Nothing more than that, and certainly nothing less. They deserve what they get from me,¡± she insisted. ¡°Besides, it doesn¡¯t matter. This is a world of the strong. There¡¯s no room for compassion, is there? No place for silly laws and policies that prop up the weak. You and me ¨C we¡¯re the same. We¡¯re not afraid to take what we want. What we deserve.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t really believe that, do you?¡± Zeke demanded. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have said it if I didn¡¯t,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Regardless, I¡¯ll give you three options. A choose-your-own-fate sort of thing. The first is that you keep on fighting, and my lovely flesh giants will splatter you against the walls. It¡¯ll take a while, but believe me, they can do it. I¡¯ve spent years building them up, and I can assure you, that time was well spent.¡± She waited for a moment, but when Zeke didn¡¯t offer a response, she went on, ¡°Or we can go with choice number two ¨C surrender. Work with me. I can promise you won¡¯t regret it. We¡¯ll lay waste to this whole realm. It will be incredibly fun, I can promise that.¡± ¡°And the third choice?¡± Catherine leaned forward, a wide grin on her face. ¡°Give up and let me use you for my experiments. I can promise you won¡¯t survive to regret it. You¡¯ll just be a husk. Whatever makes you an individual will be long gone,¡± she promised. ¡°But your body ¨C oh, it will make for a wonderful material. I can make a masterpiece out of you that makes my flesh giants look like children¡¯s toys. You¡¯ll be so much more than you are now. So much better because you won¡¯t have that pesky sapience to worry about. You won¡¯t be able to think at all. You¡¯ll just be gone. A blissful end to a life difficultly lived. You will have peace. Wouldn¡¯t that be nice?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t really expect me to go along with that, do you?¡± ¡°No,¡± she admitted. ¡°But I feel obligated to at least ask. Who knows? Perhaps one day someone will agree to give me their bodies. Do you know how much time and effort it takes to reverse the damage of a true battle? Ugh. It would be so much better if people would simply recognize when they¡¯ve lost.¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t lost.¡± ¡°Oh, not yet. But you will. They always do,¡± Catherine insisted. ¡°But I can sense that you won¡¯t take the noble route. Join me, then. As equals. You of all people should know the danger represented by an uncontrolled horde of zombies.¡± ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be coy. I know all about your misadventures in the Mortal Realm. Abandoning all those people? For shame,¡± she said. ¡°That was your fault. You could have simply left things as they were, and it would have been fine. Some people would have survived. But now? Unmitigated death. Think of all the people who are reborn into that situation. They won¡¯t be strong enough to resist, either. All because you couldn¡¯t control your little friend who, in turn, couldn¡¯t recognize a goddess¡¯ lies for what they truly were.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t want to hear about that. He¡¯d already processed his issues with Abby, and the last thing he needed was to revisit them. So, he said, ¡°I think you know my answer.¡± ¡°I need you to give it voice.¡± ¡°I intend to fight you until my last breath,¡± he said. ¡°No compromise. No surrender. Just battle. Is that what you needed to hear?¡± She sighed. ¡°Very well.¡± Then, the enormous flesh giants ¨C each one was at least fifty feet tall and with builds reminiscent of power lifters back on Earth ¨C rumbled forward. The ground shook, and Zeke stepped forward, ready for a battle. But then, he thought better of it. ¡°I¡¯m going to do the thing,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°Are you okay with that?¡± ¡°One hundred percent. I¡¯ll survive if you do.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Zeke said. Then, he commanded his mana into the rune associated with [Wrath of Annihilation]. For a brief moment, he blazed with energy, but that passed quickly as he released the skill. However, he didn¡¯t do so without strict control. Instead, he clamped down on it with his considerable willpower, keeping the skill from taking from his Path of Arcane Destruction as it required. He limited the flow of that ephemeral energy to barely more than a trickle, starving the skill of its most potent fuel. When he released the skill, the results of his constraint were dramatic. The black sun that manifested was much smaller ¨C barely more than twenty feet across ¨C but it still pulsed with destructive power. Immediately, the implosion began, sucking all the mana from the room. The flesh giants staggered, but they were too stupid to know how to react to the sudden pull. They toppled forward, then were sucked through the air, all in the direction of that throne. They splatted against some transparent barrier, but Zeke could see the cracks that had already begun to show on the shield. It shattered a second later, and Catherine screamed something unintelligible. The flesh giants collapsed atop her, then were sucked toward the black sun. The white fire wreathing the sphere went wild, creating a blinding corona, the heat from which burned his eyes. Before it had a chance to explode, Zeke turned and ran. Normally, he would have used [Shifting Sands], but because of the building¡¯s enchantments, the skill was entirely inaccessible. He could use it, but it just wouldn¡¯t do much more than change his perception of time, which was useless in his current situation. So, he did the next best thing, harnessing his high attributes to charge toward the door. He slipped through the doorway and into the hall as the black sun reached a crescendo, and he narrowly managed to turn the first corner before it exploded. The building shook, and Zeke was thrown forward by the shockwave. However, he wasn¡¯t nearlya s impacted as he might have expected. Instead, it felt more like a mundane explosion, which was more than a little disconcerting, considering how much power he knew was contained in the skill. A few seconds later, he picked himself up and returned to the scene of the skill. Upon turning the corner, he saw that a huge layer of stone had been stripped from the walls ¨C and that was just in the hallway. The chamber beyond had been entirely destroyed. Some bits and pieces remained, but the roof was completely gone, and a crater had appeared beneath the location of the black sun. However, at the base of that crater was a small body. And it was moving. ¡°She probably used those flesh giants as a shield,¡± Eveline suggested. Zeke shrugged as he descended the slope of the crater, coming to a stop beside the necromancer. She was not in good shape, with large swaths of her skin having been stripped from her body. Much of her flesh had gone the same way, exposing bare bone. She coughed out a laugh. ¡°Did not see that coming. Impressive,¡± she croaked. Then, she opened a single, bloodshot eye as she asked, ¡°Couldn¡¯t convince you to leave me be, huh?¡± ¡°Not a chance,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Eh. Not a bad end. But if you think this is over¡­well, I¡¯m just one of many. And the master is far more difficult to kill than I could ever hope to be. You¡¯re going to be knee deep in mindless undead before you know it, and there¡¯s nothing you can do to stop us.¡± ¡°I can think of one thing,¡± he said, hefting his hammer. Then, he whirled it around, bringing it to bear in a sledgehammer strike that cracked her head open like a melon. When he did, an influx of kill energy enveloped him, driving him closer to the next level. ¡°One of many,¡± Eveline quoted. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound good.¡± ¡°No. It doesn¡¯t,¡± Zeke agreed. But for the moment, there was nothing else he could do. So, after rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck, he set off toward the exit, hoping that he wasn¡¯t too late to deal with the necromancer¡¯s companions. 517. War of the Dead Zeke emerged from the castle just in time to avoid being buried beneath a pile of black rubble. Even as it collapsed behind him, he was nudged forward by the powerful shockwave created by the enchantment breaking. His stumble took him down the steps and into the plaza abutting the castle. Or, in retrospect, what was left of the building. He straightened to his feet and glanced backward at the ruins. ¡°One day, I¡¯m going to end a fight, and everything won¡¯t be torn to pieces,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°It¡¯s important to have goals,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°Even if they¡¯re kind of impossible to reach,¡± she added. Zeke could only sigh. His propensity for destruction was no secret. In fact, it was such a prevalent part of his nature that it had been codified into his status via his Path of Arcane Destruction. But could he overcome that nature? Perhaps. But the real question was whether or not he¡¯d be willing to pay the price to do so. After all, avoiding destruction was easiest if he simply refused to fight, if he retired somewhere nice to reap the benefits of his long labors. Was that him, though? Could he stomach that much peace? ¡°You know you can¡¯t,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°So, why even think about it? You don¡¯t want peace. You want a purpose. You want victory. You want a good fight. That¡¯s what drives you, and you know it. Why fight something you can never hope to overcome? Just steer into it.¡± ¡°Like you did?¡± he asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked innocently. ¡°Are you implying that I¡¯m manipulative by nature? And that is why I became a coercive demoness?¡± ¡°If the shoe fits.¡± ¡°I do not wear shoes, and you know it,¡± she said. ¡°But you might be surprised to discover that I was quite an innocent before my death. A perpetual victim, even. The only reason I ended up in Hell was because of one lapse of judgement.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right,¡± Zeke responded. Indeed, one event was not enough to condemn someone to demonhood. If it was, then he¡¯d have been reborn there as well. So would most people. ¡°It was quite a large lapse in judgement,¡± she said. ¡°Tens of thousands died. Is that evil enough for you to justify my condemnation to centuries of torment?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°You were supposed to say no.¡± ¡°Okay? Doesn¡¯t mean I believe it. I don¡¯t have enough information to make a judgement. But for what it¡¯s worth, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re evil. A little annoying, maybe. And very manipulative. But not evil.¡± ¡°Your assessment fills me with joy,¡± Eveline deadpanned. ¡°Whatever.¡± With that, Zeke scanned his surroundings. The aftermath of the battle was clear, with the remains of undead everywhere. There were plenty of bodies belonging to his army as well, though they were in the clear minority. Perhaps he should have stayed and fought with them, but he felt certain that, if he¡¯d chosen that route, Catherine would have made things much worse. So, he wasn¡¯t in a position to second guess his actions. Once he was reassured that there were no survivors, he set off toward the location where his undead allies were supposed to be fighting against the expansionist faction. However, he had a suspicion that he wouldn¡¯t be happy with what he¡¯d inevitably find. Sure enough, after rushing through the abandoned city, Zeke found the aftermath of incredible carnage. It was clear that a battle had been fought, but it was on the scale of nothing he¡¯d ever seen before. Tens of thousands of bodies ¨C belonging to undead, it seemed ¨C decorated the line of demarcation between the Cradle of Life and the city proper. But there weren¡¯t just soldiers in evidence. Few of the bodies wore armor. Most were unarmed. And from the remnants of mana in the area, Zeke concluded that they hadn¡¯t been high level, either. ¡°Civilians,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Likely under control of a necromancer, if Catherine¡¯s promise was true.¡± Zeke frowned as he surveyed the mounds of the dead. So many lives lost, and for so little point. El¡¯kireth had been peaceful, from what Talia had said. They were content to live their undead lives secluded from the rest of the world. And then, everything had changed after she had discovered some plot perpetrated by Adontis. But the moment that threat had been neutralized, another had taken its place. The replacement had proved much more dangerous, too. Now, it seemed that the expansionist plot might have been a mask for something even more nefarious. There had been at least one necromancer, and it was unclear how long Catherine had influenced the events in Darukar. Had she been at it for months? Years? Longer? It was a daunting prospect, especially considering that she clearly hadn¡¯t been alone. As she¡¯d said, there were more necromancers afoot, including someone she¡¯d called her master. ¡°What should we do?¡± he wondered. ¡°Follow the trail,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°Or pick up everything and flee. We¡¯ll be out of this realm before it affects us.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Zeke shook his head. He¡¯d tried that once before, and thought that decision hadn¡¯t exactly haunted him, he still wasn¡¯t entirely happy about how his time in the Mortal Realm had ended. Much of his choice to leave had been based on a desire to move past his failed relationship with Abby. Even at the time, that motivation had been clear, and yet, he¡¯d chosen to leave anyway. Because of that decision, millions had likely died. He would not make that same mistake again. So, he said, ¡°We need to take care of these necromancers once and for all. If that means destroying the entire Kingdom of El¡¯kireth, then that¡¯s what we¡¯re going to do.¡± It wasn¡¯t his first option, though. Instead, he would need to take stock of the situation, then act accordingly. As he walked through the battlefield, his thoughts settled on Talia. Was she vulnerable to a necromancer¡¯s commands? Would he soon find himself facing off with some altered version of his friend? While confronting the rest of Catherine¡¯s creations, he¡¯d kept those ideas in the back of his mind. Now, though, he had nothing else to occupy his thoughts. And those notions did not make for pleasant company, especially surrounded as he was by so much death. After a while, he passed into the vitality-infused Cradle of Life, but he didn¡¯t leave the aftermath of the battle behind for another quarter of a mile. Clearly, the zombies were not as averse to exposure to life as they had been before coming under the control of necromancers. It was not a good sign for what was to come. Still, Zeke tried to keep his spirits up, especially when the presence of the bodies trickled down to nothing. And when he finally reached the entry to the sewers, he was relieved to see the sapient undead guarding the gates. More, there were a few kobolds there, too, though the ones Zeke saw sported injuries. He passed through without hesitation, letting his titanic form fade away so he could more easily traverse the tunnels. He felt oddly vulnerable in his more natural cambion body, but he supposed that was inevitable. After all, the level of power he could bring to bear under the influence of [Titan] was incomparable to how strong he was without that skill. And as with all power, it was addictive. As he passed through the tunnels, Zeke saw more evidence of the battle. Most of the undead were even more injured than the kobolds, though that didn¡¯t mean the latter had escaped unscathed. Rather, it just meant that the wounds the unliving had sustained were quite grievous. Finally, Zeke reached the central chamber, where he found Talia rushing to and fro as she tried to be everywhere at once. She was clearly manic, and she didn¡¯t stop until Zeke planted himself in her path. ¡°Calm down. What happened?¡± he asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The whole city turned against us,¡± she said. ¡°They were unthinking. Unheeding of their own vulnerability. My soldiers hesitated, and by the time they realized their mistake, the others were on top of them. It was a massacre.¡± ¡°I think I know a little more than you,¡± Zeke responded. ¡°Come with me. We need to make plans.¡± With that, the pair headed through the gate and into the tower. It wasn¡¯t long after that that Zeke led Talia to the Pillar, and then into the headquarters. There, they found the rest of the tower¡¯s leadership. Silik was there. So was Kianma. Jasper had made an appearance, and Pudge had returned as well. Even Sasha was there. Zeke approached, and after exchanging greetings, he said, ¡°There are necromancers in Darukar. I killed one at the Deathguard headquarters. She was controlling everyone there, and what¡¯s more, she¡¯d transformed them, too. Even the Death Warden had been molded into something horrifying.¡± He went on to explain what Catherine had claimed about not being alone, ending with, ¡°And she mentioned a master. I don¡¯t know if she was telling the truth.¡± ¡°You got pretty chatty with her, huh?¡± said Baruk, who¡¯d joined midway through Zeke¡¯s explanation. ¡°She liked to talk,¡± was his only response. Adriel, who¡¯d come with him, said, ¡°We must kill these necromancers at all costs. What they are doing to our people is unconscionable. There is not a single undead who wouldn¡¯t rather die than endure what you described.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Talia stated. ¡°Good,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Because that¡¯s precisely what I intend. But I need help. I don¡¯t know this city. I don¡¯t know where they might be holed up. We need to find them before we can kill them.¡± Left unsaid was the fact that they had no idea how many necromancers there were, aside from the certainty that there was at least one more out there. When would they know they¡¯d finished the job? After a few minutes¡¯ worth of discussion, the natives of Darukar came up with a half-dozen likely places where a necromancer might have set up shop, but none were more likely than the old catacombs on the other side of the city. ¡°They were here before the undead, before the Pillar of Life came into being,¡± Adriel said. ¡°And they¡¯re the most potent source of death-attuned energy in the city. If I were a necromancer, that¡¯s where I¡¯d have started.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s where we¡¯ll start our investigation,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But first, we need to make certain that everyone is at their best. So, rest and recover. We¡¯ll set out in the morning.¡± ¡°We should go now,¡± Talia insisted. ¡°No. It¡¯s too dangerous. The whole city is infested with zombies by now,¡± Zeke argued. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to miss with this. When we hit the necromancer, they have to die. We won¡¯t let them escape. If we do, this situation might never end.¡± With that statement, everyone went silent. Then, Zeke said, ¡°I¡¯ve seen where this goes. So has Talia. I watched an entire continent get overrun in the span of a couple of years. It can happen here, too. We won¡¯t allow the necromancers to win because if we do, then the whole world is gone. Living, undead ¨C it doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯re all in this together. Remember that as you prepare. Get your troops ready, because tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll sweep through Darukar and slaughter everything in our way.¡± Left unsaid was that there was no way to bring the converted undead back from the necromancer¡¯s control. They were gone. Now, the only option was to exterminate the threat. Zeke was prepared for that, and he could only hope that everyone else was, too. So, having said what he thought needed to be said, Zeke retreated from the Pillar and headed to the Crimson Spring. Once there, he settled in for a long and rejuvenating soak. There were lots of others there, so it wasn¡¯t a relaxing experience. Still, after a few hours, he climbed out of the pool and went to his manor, where he took a few more hours to rest. That was much more relaxing. And when morning finally did come, he was ready to continue his campaign against the undead and the necromancers who controlled them. So was everyone else, he soon learned upon finding an army that had been amassed in the Entry Hall. The bulk of the force was composed of kobolds, but a host of other races were represented as well. There were thousands of beastkin, a few armored humans, and hundreds of centaurs. In addition, quite a lot of undead had joined, sending the numbers skyrocketing well past the bounds of any other army Zeke had seen. Zeke approached the leadership, looked from one steely-eyed face to the next before asking, ¡°Are we ready?¡± They all confirmed that they were. So, without further hesitation, Zeke stepped through the gate and into the sewers. Without pausing, he continued forward upon the predesignated route, passing undead guardsmen along the way to the surface. And when he finally reached the exit, which abutted the line of demarcation between the Cradle of Life and the undead city of Darukar, he paused only long enough for the rest of his army to catch up. Then, with thousands of people following, he set off into the city on a mission to rid the world of necromantic influence. 518. The Second Lieutenant Zeke was tense. Under the silvery light of the full moon, the city was eerily deserted. Every footfall echoed heavily in the empty streets, bouncing from one building to the next, with little to obscure its path. Behind him, the army followed silently, clearly feeling the same trepidation that enveloped Zeke¡¯s mind. ¡°Where did they all go?¡± he wondered inwardly. ¡°I think you know,¡± Eveline answered. Indeed, he had his suspicions, though he was hesitant to give them voice. The notion that every person in Darukar ¨C save for the ones who were following him ¨C had succumbed to the control of a necromancer was more than a little disturbing. It was made even more so because he knew what they had been. Zeke had only gotten a bare glimpse of the city before they¡¯d chased him away, but he had seen enough to recognize that, despite their nature and appearance, the undead living in the city ¨C and in El¡¯kireth as a whole ¨C were just people living their lives. And now they had almost certainly been transformed into mindless zombies. Could someone exercise such power over the living? Perhaps not. There was a reason that necromancers were so reviled. Even in Hell, where torture and enslavement were common practices, necromancers were kill-on-sight. ¡°I hate to be the one to point this out, but you do know this is at least partially your fault, right?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Do you really think that, if Adontis hadn¡¯t been distracted by your war, they would have let this happen?¡± she asked. ¡°They would have sent every powerful warrior they had into El¡¯kireth. They probably would have brought their allies along as well. Those knights of the Radiant Host would certainly have pitched in.¡± Zeke shook his head at the unintended consequences of his actions. Certainly, he¡¯d never meant to clear the way for a necromantic takeover of Darukar, but it seemed that his war ¨C as justifiable as it was ¨C had done just that. Still, he had difficulty regretting his actions. After all, he¡¯d set tens of thousands of slaves free, and on top of that, he¡¯d had little choice in the matter. They had been the first to attack him. ¡°That¡¯s true. But you did sort of invade their lands,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°They had every right to rebuff your advance.¡± ¡°It was just me and a few others,¡± Zeke said. They¡¯d meant to sneak through Adontis on their way to the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth when they¡¯d been accosted by a group of Knights of Adontis. That had kicked off the war that had ended with the total destruction of that kingdom¡¯s power structure. ¡°But I get what you¡¯re saying. Without me, maybe none of this happens.¡± ¡°But look on the bright side,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You have a perfect opportunity to gain a level or two. Necromancers are powerful, and they¡¯re certainly nuisances. But much of their strength is tied up in their ability to control large numbers of undead. Because of that, they have few personal defenses. You couldn¡¯t ask for a better situation to kill a high level foe.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond to that. Instead, he continued on, paying close attention to his surroundings. The eeriness of the city didn¡¯t fade, but he grew more accustomed to the emptiness. Meanwhile, he sent his scouts out to ensure that it was as it appeared at first glance. Talia, in particular, covered a lot of ground, and she reported back that the population of the city had abandoned it. Gradually, they made their way through the deserted city, and with every step, Zeke¡¯s trepidation grew. Every time he saw an empty store, a completely abandoned market stall, or various discarded detritus, he felt a pang of regret. Still, he pushed past those feelings, and eventually, he found his destination. And his quarry. Tens ¨C perhaps even hundreds ¨C of thousands of zombies were clustered amidst a collection of mausoleums, gravestones, and elaborate tombs. According to Talia and her undead companions, the graveyard was a place of reverence among their people. A source of densely death-attuned mana that contributed to the overall ambiance of the city. There were bodies interred within the space ¨C after all, even undead could be killed ¨C but it drew most of its power from the symbolism of the place. Even looking upon it sent a chill up Zeke¡¯s spine. And the chill turned into something far more impactful as he gazed at the collection of undead. However, his reaction was nothing compared to Talia¡¯s. In a rare show of emotion, she clenched her fists, practically shaking with anger. So, he tore his eyes from the mass of undead, glanced in her direction, and asked, ¡°Are you going to be okay?¡± ¡°No. I am not okay.¡± He knew from his undead allies¡¯ explanations that they were functionally immune to the call of a necromancer. The vitality they¡¯d absorbed during the inoculation process made for impenetrable protection. Yet, nothing could shield them from the sight of so many of their people having been enslaved, of seeing their natures fundamentally changed. It was abominable. ¡°This cannot stand,¡± said Adriel from nearby. Zeke saw that the vampiric woman wore a stoic expression, but he could infer that she was no less furious. ¡°They must all be destroyed. The necromancer must be slain.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°That may prove much more difficult than the last time,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°What? Why?¡± Zeke asked inwardly. ¡°Two reasons. First, you can¡¯t just use [Wrath of Annihilation].¡± ¡°Again I ask ¨C why not?¡± ¡°Are you certain the other necromancer is in there?¡± she asked. ¡°More, can you guarantee your skill will kill them? If not, you¡¯ll need to spend days digging through rubble. What happens if you don¡¯t find them? You¡¯ll have wasted all that time, letting them escape. No ¨C you need to lay eyes on them so you can ensure their death.¡± That made sense, so Zeke asked, ¡°And the second reason?¡± ¡°We may be dealing with a lich. Perhaps more than one.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°A lich walks the line between the living and the dead,¡± she said. ¡°They are neither alive nor truly undead. As such, they are incredibly difficult to kill.¡± ¡°In what way?¡± was Zeke¡¯s next question. She sighed. ¡°They are rare, but the situation here is unique enough that the presence of a lich makes the most sense,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°A normal necromancer merely holds dominion over the undead, controlling and altering them to their needs. A lich is a necromancer, just like any other, but with one key difference. Their bodies are merely husks. Instead, they are creatures of spirit whose consciousnesses inhabit a disposable body. To kill them, you must find the location of their true form ¨C a receptacle where their spirits are held ¨C and destroy it.¡± ¡°That sounds a lot like you.¡± ¡°It is not dissimilar, though they inhabit inanimate objects that they call phylacteries,¡± she stated. ¡°If we are dealing with a lich, then you will not be able to kill it unless you discover their phylactery.¡± That was not an encouraging piece of information. Depending on how large of an object could function as a phylactery, it could be anywhere ¨C even in a completely different part of the world. ¡°It won¡¯t be far,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Even at the peak, a lich can¡¯t exist more than a mile or two from their phylactery. However, you should know that killing their body will do nothing, save for forcing them into another body.¡± ¡°And you really think we¡¯re dealing with a lich here?¡± Zeke asked. She answered immediately, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You should pretty sure.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t at first, but I can feel the presence of another mind spirit,¡± she answered. ¡°It is subtle ¨C like a fog ¨C but I feel it all the same.¡± Zeke set his jaw. It was just one more challenge amongst many, and though he wanted nothing more than to have a straightforward fight, he couldn¡¯t very well step away from the one he¡¯d found. The fact was that if he didn¡¯t end the threat posed by the necromancer, then it could easily grow out of control and reach a point where even he couldn¡¯t meet the challenge. And Zeke had no intention of abandoning the Eternal Realm as he had the Radiant Isles. With that in mind, he turned to Silik, who stood on his left, and said, ¡°We must destroy every zombie in this city. Can you do it?¡± ¡°We can,¡± the kobold general said, slapping his clawed fist against his breastplate. The other kobolds mimicked his salute, filling the air with a cacophony of thuds. Then, Zeke asked Adriel how she wanted to use her own people. There were far less of them than there were kobolds, though they still made up a sizable force of nearly ten thousand. It was a sad testament to the dire situation that so few had survived with their minds intact. Darukar had once housed millions. Now, the number of sapient undead was tantamount to a rounding error. Adriel answered, ¡°We will act as a rapid reaction team, filling any gaps and preventing any escape. When this day is finished, none of these zombies shall remain.¡± He gave her a nod. Then, without further hesitation, he told Silik to attack. The graveyard was encircled by a stone wall, but it was no defensive structure. Instead, the barrier was mostly symbolic, with many points of entry. So, Silik divided his kobolds into ten companies, each with more than five thousand members. It made for an impressive force, and they were flanked by much smaller group of a thousand centaurs that would act as skirmishers. As the kobold army surged through the gaps in the wall, Adriel held her undead back. Zeke watched as the kobolds advanced, shield to shield and using tactics that reminded him of the Roman legions. The moment they passed into the graveyard, the zombies took notice and rose to meet them. They rushed forward, howling in gurgling glee as they crashed into the shield wall. But the line did not break. Nor did it give. Instead, the frontline kobolds lit up with their self-enhancement, then shoved forward. The mass of zombies stumbled backward, giving the kobold legionnaires enough room to bring their spears to bear. They did so with deadly efficiency, cutting down swaths of zombies with every passing second. And then, they stepped forward as one before repeating the action. As they did, Zeke used his twin domains, empowering the nearest of the kobolds as much as he could. They didn¡¯t need it, as evidenced by the fact that the ones outside of his range advanced almost as easily as the ones affected by [Burden of Sovereignty] and [Aura of Desolation]. The battle wore on, and Zeke itched to join his people. However, even when the line broke and Adriel¡¯s undead were forced to step in to fill the gap, he held back. Because he wasn¡¯t there to kill zombies. He needed to save himself for the fight against he necromancer. Still, he kept telling himself how easy it would have been to simply use [Wrath of Annihilation] and destroy the entire force of zombies. ¡°I think you¡¯re overestimating how much damage the skill will do,¡± said Eveline. ¡°You¡¯ve seen it.¡± ¡°This entire city is a huge runic enchantment powered by death-attuned mana,¡± she pointed out. ¡°It limits skills like yours.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°I know it because you know it, Ezekiel,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°Just because you won¡¯t pay attention to the warnings in your mind doesn¡¯t mean that I will ignore them, too.¡± Zeke wanted to argue, but instead, he searched his own feelings. And it didn¡¯t take him long to come to the same conclusion she¡¯d found. How he¡¯d managed to ignore it for so long was no mystery. He was too wrapped up in the battle to pay attention to the information provided by his path. ¡°It¡¯ll weaken the skill,¡± he reasoned. ¡°More like containment.¡± ¡°And besides ¨C your people need this. It¡¯s a perfect opportunity for them to gain levels,¡± she said. ¡°Millions of mindless foes, each one with a decent level of power? Most forces would kill for such an chance.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure about that, but he didn¡¯t argue, largely because Eveline was right. The kobolds ¨C and all the rest ¨C would gain an incredible amount of kill energy by the time the battle was through. And given that he had no intention of stopping anytime soon, he hoped their increased progress would be a great boon. Still, he itched to join the fight. So, he felt a thrill of excitement fluttering through his mind when a couple of massive flesh giants burst forth from a particularly opulent tombs. ¡°I guess that¡¯s my cue,¡± Zeke said, finally letting [Titan] transform his body. The influx of power felt amazing, and he strode forward with eagerness and purpose. 519. The Battle Zeke ducked beneath a fist the size of a compact car, then between its owner¡¯s legs, rolling to his feet a moment later. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t engage in such acrobatics; indeed, he usually preferred to stand his ground and trade momentous blows with his opponents. However, in this case, he knew that was an inadvisable path, largely because of the size disparity. In his Titan form, Zeke was more than twenty feet tall, but the flesh giants towered over him like buildings. And by virtue of that size, they could bring quite a lot of force to bear, as he¡¯d discovered upon first engagement when a kick had sent him tumbling across the graveyard to crash through a mausoleum. Even that brief fall was enough to give the other undead an opening to pile atop him. Zeke was no longer vulnerable to that sort of attack, though. Their sharp claws and biting teeth weren¡¯t incapable of piercing his skin, but they couldn¡¯t do much more than leave a series of shallow scratches. Meanwhile, he was more than capable of throwing off the weight of hundreds of zombified bodies. Which he had, sending them arcing through the air in an explosion of rotted flesh. But that had happened nearly fifteen minutes ago. Since then, he¡¯d spent the intervening time dodging massive attacks while searching for an opening to return the favor. He¡¯d gotten in a few good licks, but because of the flesh giants¡¯ nature, those hits had been less than effective, even despite his own incredible strength. ¡°This isn¡¯t working,¡± he muttered inwardly as he leaped aside to avoid a descending foot. When it hit the ground, he lashed out with Voromir, the head of the hammer burying itself in the rotted flesh. It tore a chunk from the monster¡¯s thick ankle, but that small degree of damage would do little to slow the creature down. What¡¯s more, the wound quickly sealed shut, preventing the thing¡¯s pus-like blood from leaking out. It wasn¡¯t healing ¨C not precisely ¨C but it was reasonably effective in keeping the little damage Zeke could do from impacting the monster¡¯s combat viability. ¡°Hit them harder?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°Brilliant,¡± Zeke deadpanned within his own mind. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I didn¡¯t think of that.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to get snarky,¡± she responded. Zeke ignored her, as he had more important things to worry about ¨C like another descending fist. He reached back, swinging his hammer in an uppercut. When the two forces met, they did so with a tremendous shockwave that threw the surrounding undead a few dozen feet away. It also sundered the ground as if under the influence of a small, localized earthquake. And the flesh giant¡¯s fist exploded into a shower of rotting meat, pus, and death-attuned mana that fell upon Zeke like the world¡¯s most disgusting rain shower. He didn¡¯t let that slow him down, though. Instead, he gathered his strength and leaped toward the staggered flesh giant. As he did so, he dismissed his hammer into his spatial storage. It disappeared just in time to free his hands so he could grab hold of the monster¡¯s chest. Then, without missing a beat, he pulled back, straightened his fingers, then stabbed forward. The monster¡¯s flesh parted before his knife-like hand, but his arm stopped after plunging wrist-deep. So, he yanked it free before repeating the action. This time, it went in up to his elbow. It was good progress, but by that point, the creature had recovered. Fortunately, it was no mental giant, and it responded to Zeke¡¯s attacks by slapping its massive hands against its chest. That did very little to dislodge him, and when those hands retreated, Zeke repeated his attack. This time, his arm went in up to his shoulder. That was enough. So, after enduring another blow, Zeke took hold of the wound he¡¯d dug into the monster¡¯s chest, grabbing the sides with both hands. And then, with a roar, he flexed as he tore the two sides apart. He dove in. And he immediately wished he hadn¡¯t. Digging into a living creature¡¯s chest was a dubious prospect in the best of times, but doing so to an undead monster created from melding hundreds of other corpses together was, in a word, disgusting. Never was that more clear than when Zeke felt things wriggling all over his face. The monster wasn¡¯t composed of only necrotizing flesh. Rather, there were worms, bugs, and even fat maggots the size of his finger digging through there. Even though Zeke was well used to all things disgusting ¨C he¡¯d once dug through a living cyclops¡¯ skull for untold days ¨C he had never encountered anything that turned his stomach quite like being surrounded by all the things that comprised the flesh giant¡¯s body. Still, he didn¡¯t let it derail his progress. Instead, he clawed his way deeper, wishing the whole time that there was a better way. There was not, though. So, Zeke continued on. It was a testament to the monster¡¯s size that he was able to fit his entire twenty-foot body in the thing¡¯s chest cavity. As he climbed through, he felt the monster¡¯s flesh closing in all around him. The gaping wound he¡¯d already dug had closed only moments after he¡¯d climbed through, so he was entirely enclosed within the flesh golem¡¯s chest. Then, he found its rib cage. Fortunately, it was sized to fit the monster¡¯s enormous body, so the ribs were spaced comparatively far apart. As such, Zeke had no trouble slipping between them and to the much squishier bits within. Of course, those organs were no more important to an overgrown zombie than any other parts of its flesh. However, what Zeke was counting on was that there was a threshold for damage, beyond which the creature would be incapable of enduring any longer. So, as was his natural inclination, Zeke embarked on a quest for destruction. He channeled a little Will into his body as he ripped and shredded, pulled and punched. With his high strength as well as the power of his Path of Arcane Destruction singing through him, he made great progress in that endeavor. Great, disgusting progress. But Zeke kept at it, angling upward as he went through the lungs and heart, eventually reaching the creature¡¯s neck. That¡¯s when he had an idea. He reached through liquifying flesh, digging outward until, at last, he found the monster¡¯s skin. His fingers peeked through, feeling fresh air for the first time in minutes. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Then, Zeke ripped his arms out, raking them sideways until a gaping wound had opened. And unlike before, the flesh didn¡¯t immediately mend. It still healed, though much slower than it had in the beginning. That seemed to verify that Zeke¡¯s efforts had overwhelmed the monster¡¯s flesh healing ability. But more importantly, it was precisely the opening Zeke needed to enact his plan. He continued to rip sideways through the monster¡¯s thick neck. It was at least forty feet across, so it took no small degree of effort to make his way around. Complicating matters was the fact that, despite not being at full power, the flesh giant¡¯s healing ability still worked hard at mending the damage. So, Zeke was forced to retrace his proverbial steps. In the end, though, he completed the task by ripping through the creature¡¯s spine. Its head toppled free, and its enormous body followed suit ¨C with Zeke peeking out from its stump of a neck. The body hit with a tremendous crash that splattered almost a hundred zombies, but fortunately, they were deep within the horde, and none of the members of Zeke¡¯s army were affected. He didn¡¯t have time to rest on his disgusting laurels, though. There were nine more flesh giants on the battlefield, and he was the only one capable of taking them out one-on-one. However, he was more than a little impressed with the fact that Adriel¡¯s undead ¨C Talia among them ¨C had surrounded one of the enormous monsters and were making good headway toward taking it down. Meanwhile, another was tied up by Pudge, who was roasting the thing with a copious application of hellfire. Every now and then, he would disappear from Zeke¡¯s perception, only to reappear a moment later. When that happened, a hundred new wounds sprouted on his opponents¡¯ body. At the same time, Zeke¡¯s assassin kobolds had descended upon another flesh giant. They looked like ants crawling all over the thing¡¯s body, but everywhere they went, fiery destruction followed. It was a testament to the power of the path he¡¯d granted them via [Benevolence]. Over the raucous sounds of battle rose a melodic crescendo as Jasper brought his own skills to bear on the battle. Often forgotten, the Troubadour¡¯s efforts were not to be underestimated. Everywhere his music touched, it energized Zeke¡¯s armies and spurred them to new heights of power. Finally, Silik and his kobold legion held their own against the hordes of zombies. They even managed to advance, cutting the undead down with the ruthless precision of their tactical mastery. None of it was new. Zeke knew enough about history to recognize the formations the kobolds used those usually associated with the Roman legion. Yet, the introduction of skills made those tactics ¨C drilled and practiced tens of thousands of times ¨C that much more effective. But the tyranny of power was not merciful, as became apparent the moment one of the flesh giants crashed into the meticulously raised wall of shields. The kobolds were great against other armies composed of similarly powerful members. However, they were at a severe disadvantage against individually powerful foes like the flesh giants. The monsters were too large. They were too strong. Their levels were too high. And over it all hovered a truism that Zeke didn¡¯t like to acknowledge. Tactics could only take an army so far. Numbers were useless in the face of true power. And at the end of the day, the kobolds were not well-developed enough to stand against anyone the truly mighty. But that was where Zeke and his companions came in. Already, the others ¨C like Adriel, Pudge, and Silik ¨C were holding their own. Sasha waited in the wings, ready to destroy the whole city if it came to that. Her spell was already drawn. The power was ready. She merely needed to wield it. And then there was Zeke, the most powerful piece on the entire board. With a flick of a skill, he could end the threat entirely. He would kill countless allies in the process, and he might have to search for the necromancer who caused it all. But he would do it if it proved necessary. Because he had no intention of letting an zombie horde take over another world. Before it came to that, though, he would exhaust all other possibilities. So, while Talia, Adriel, and their army of undead took care of one flesh giant and Pudge tore through another, Zeke resolved to slay the rest of them. Seven flesh giants were scattered across the cemetery, and Zeke knew precisely how to deal with them. So, after climbing free of the one he¡¯d already decapitated ¨C the hard way, no less ¨C he stomped his way through the gathered horde. Mundane zombies posed little threat to him, but there were other undead creatures that could ¨C and would ¨C kill him if given the chance. So, it was no stroll in the park. Instead, Zeke carved a path through the mass of rotting flesh as he set his sights on the nearest flesh giant. When he reached the creature, he wasted no time before employing the same strategy he¡¯d used with the first. It was disgusting, but if it worked, he had no issues with repetition. So, after leaping upon the monster¡¯s chest, Zeke once again dug a path through the creature¡¯s rotting flesh, then set about destroying as much as possible. That was the key to outpacing its healing ability, and he committed to it fully, wreaking havoc within the monster¡¯s chest cavity until he finally reached the thing¡¯s neck. Then, he repeated his actions from the first flesh giant, and soon enough, the creature fell the same as the last. Seeing that his strategy was still just as valid as the first time, Zeke embarked on a quest to rid the battlefield of all the others. And everything went perfectly well for the next four monsters. Yet, he could feel the tension growing with every felled monster until, at last, the necromancer finally showed himself. They were tall, slim, and wore a hooded black robe, which couldn¡¯t have been more obvious. The staff topped with a skull was just icing on the cake. That was the only thing Zeke saw before the figure raised their staff, waved it around a bit, and released a wave of dense, death-attuned mana that swept across the cemetery. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Look.¡± Zeke did, and at first, he saw nothing. Then, the issue became obvious when he observed huge clusters of undead merging together into masses of rotting flesh. ¡°I guess that¡¯s how flesh golems are made,¡± Zeke said as those zombie clumps started to take shape, building into the familiar forms of the flesh golems. However, it didn¡¯t stop there. And soon, one flesh golem merged with another. ¡°Oh, shit.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Sound the retreat!¡± Zeke yelled, waving at his allies. Fortunately, Silik followed orders, and after only a few seconds, the kobolds disengaged and began a retreat. It helped that the zombies had already turned around and were running to merge with the building mass. Talia came to a stop beside him. ¡°What is going on?¡± ¡°If anyone else is here when that thing gets going, they¡¯re going to die,¡± Zeke answered, gesturing toward the growing monster. To test its durability, he stomped on the ground, sending a gout of hellfire to erupt beneath one of its feet. It did nothing. He used [Inspect]: Flesh Abomination ¨C Level 81 Then, the number changed to eighty-two. And eighty-three a moment later. ¡°It won¡¯t stop until it¡¯s at the peak,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to hold back anymore. What I need you and the others to do is to destroy as many buildings as you can. This place is a giant, city-sized rune formation. I want you to break it.¡± Pudge arrived a second later, and Zeke turned to face his companion, saying, ¡°Tell Sasha to cast her spell as soon as our people clear the battlefield. We can¡¯t afford not to use everything at our disposal.¡± To his credit, Pudge didn¡¯t argue. Neither did Talia, and they both raced away on their separate tasks. For his part, Zeke remained rooted in place as the flesh abomination continued to build. The normal flesh giants were at least two hundred feet tall, but this new creature looked as if it wouldn¡¯t stop growing until it rivaled the cyclops in size. What would happen if it was loosed upon the rest of the Eternal Realm? Would anyone be able to stand up to it? ¡°It would be stopped,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But not without inflicting serious casualties. And as with all of the mindless undead, it will spread its corruption everywhere it goes. You feel it, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Zeke said. The death-attuned mana in the air was the strongest he¡¯d ever felt. Without the protection of his domains, his people would have been vulnerable. And it was only going to grow stronger. It was clear what he needed to do. The only question was how much of the city would survive. 520. The Brink of the Abyss The monster was bigger than the cyclops had been, and Zeke knew it was far more dangerous. Death-attuned mana wafted off of it like heat from the sun, visible as whirling mists of aquamarine. The flesh abomination itself was only humanoid in the most basic sense of the world. It had all the appropriate pieces ¨C two arms, two legs, a torso, and a head ¨C but that was where the suitability of that descriptor ended. The misshapen limbs were all wrong, and they bulged in the oddest of places ¨C like writhing tumors composed of disparate hunks of dead flesh. It loomed over everything like a grotesque building, casting the retreating army in dark shadow. Only Zeke stood against it, and despite the normally impressive size of his titanic form, he looked positively tiny. Like a metal insect that would stand no chance of felling such a monstrosity. So, it was a good thing that he had no intention of attacking such a creature directly. Instead, his job was to kill the necromancer first. Otherwise, the flesh abomination would simply rise again, ready to wreak havoc on the world. And it would. Zeke had no doubts about that. With the macabre creature¡¯s stature and power ¨C which had climbed all the way to level ninety-five ¨C there wasn¡¯t much that could stand in its way. If Zeke failed to stop it, here and now, the entire Eternal Plane would pay the inevitable price. ¡°No pressure,¡± Eveline said. Zeke ignored her useless comment. She often helped him ¨C not least by simply being the companion he needed so he wouldn¡¯t descend into abject loneliness ¨C but in battle, she was best ignored. It wasn¡¯t Eveline¡¯s fault. Not really. Even when she¡¯d been a demoness, she hadn¡¯t been combat-focused. And her transition into a mind spirit hadn¡¯t changed that. She had no head for tactics, and what¡¯s more, Zeke couldn¡¯t afford the distraction she represented. So, he focused on what was important ¨C namely, the hundreds-of-feet-tall monstrosity standing in the center of the graveyard. It took a step that shook the world, crushing a mausoleum that looked hundreds of years old beneath its bulbous foot. Then, it let out a gurgling roar, the shockwave of which sent Zeke staggering backward. Finally, he used [Inspect], seeing the result he¡¯d expected ¨C and dreaded ¨C since the thing had formed. Flesh Abomination ¨C Level 100 Zeke regained his balance just in time to see another enormous foot descending in his direction. Without hesitation, he used [Shifting Sands], slowing perceived time and, even as that gigantic foot fell, inch by agonizing inch, he slipped into the earth and raced forward. When he emerged, he was hundreds of yards closer to the necromancer that controlled the abomination, but the second time returned to normal, the undead monstrosity¡¯s foot finally hit the ground. It was no mere step, but rather a stomp meant to end the battle before it had a chance to truly being. Yet, Zeke was no longer where the thing had expected him to be. Still, that didn¡¯t mean it was entirely ineffective. The simple attack hit the ground with the force of a bomb, sending earth, dust, and mana billowing outward in a shockwave that Zeke felt even hundreds of yards away. More, it cratered the turf, and the ground erupted in a ripple of dirt and long-rotted corpses that made the entire cemetery look like a storm-driven sea. Even after increasing his weight via his racial trait, Zeke couldn¡¯t resist such a degree of force, and he was thrown hundreds of feet away. When he hit the still roiling ground, he tumbled a few times before coming to a stop after tearing through a huge and elaborate mausoleum. The entire structure collapsed atop him, but Zeke couldn¡¯t be hurt by a few falling blocks of marble. Nor was he injured by his unplanned tumble across the graveyard. However, it did highlight the degree of danger the flesh abomination represented. Certainly, it was of a size with the cyclops he¡¯d killed what felt like a lifetime ago. Similarly leveled as well, though the dungeon monster¡¯s power had been hidden behind a couple of question marks. Yet, they were close enough in both size and power that Zeke couldn¡¯t help but make the comparison between the two gigantic creatures. The key difference, though, was that the cyclops had been incapable of focusing on him. Indeed, it hadn¡¯t really been a fight at all, with him defeating the creature by burrowing through its ear canal and skull, then destroying its brain. If he¡¯d had to make a comparison, he would have likened himself to annoying bug ¨C so miniscule that the cyclops could barely even detect him. He¡¯d used that to his advantage, killing the creature from the inside. However, the flesh abomination ¨C or more likely, the necromancer that controlled it ¨C was well aware of Zeke¡¯s presence. And it was more than capable of focusing all of its attention on him. Never was that more obvious than when the thing turned and began another step in Zeke¡¯s direction. The thing looked like it was moving in slow motion, though Zeke knew that was just an optical illusion. He only had seconds to act. Fortunately, he had no issue tearing himself free of the rubble that had once been a beautiful mausoleum. Then, he used every point of strength, agility, and dexterity to throw himself into a headlong rush, with the necromancer as his target. The figure was still a quarter mile away and standing atop a pyramid made of marble and carved into beautiful relief sculptures depicting a battle between angels and demons, but Zeke covered that distance in the space of a few seconds. Even though he¡¯d already put almost a hundred yards between himself and the mausoleum where his previous tumble and ceased, the descent of the giant¡¯s latest stomping attack upset his footing and made him stumble. But at least he didn¡¯t go flying this time. Zeke quickly recovered and continued his sprint across the graveyard. The time between the abomination¡¯s thunderous steps was eerily silent, which allowed Zeke to focus on the necromancer in the distance. The figure was still ambiguously shaped and cloaked in form-obscuring robes, though Zeke did hear an ethereal chant coming from that direction. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. He threw himself in that direction. The flesh abomination followed, but it couldn¡¯t cover the ground quickly enough to affect Zeke¡¯s next action. The second he was within range, he stomped on the ground, sending a line of destruction tearing across the intervening distance, and a moment later, the entire pyramid was bathed in a pillar corrupted fire and earth. Zeke didn¡¯t stop there, though. Instead, he continued on, nearly outpacing his skill. And when the fiery destruction receded, he leaped high into the air. He descended with the force of a meteor. The necromancer ¨C whose robes had been burned away, revealing a spindly and charred body ¨C could not dodge. Zeke hit them before they could recover, and when Voromir fell, it did so with enough impetus to completely destroy the androgynous figure. Bones cracked and broke, and their body burst, filling the air with the smell of rotted flesh. But even as the thing¡¯s body was destroyed, Zeke felt a surge of deathly mana that disappeared a second later, racing across the graveyard-turned-battlefield and into the flesh abomination. The thing staggered, then teetered on the brink of falling. ¡°What just happened?¡± Zeke wondered inwardly as he looked up from the crater he¡¯d just created. The kill had been far too easy. Any necromancer who could create something as powerful as the flesh abomination would¡¯ve had to reached close to the peak. And yet, after only a couple of attacks ¨C one of which wasn¡¯t even accompanied by a skill ¨C they had been entirely destroyed. ¡°You didn¡¯t kill them.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Did you feel an influx of kill energy?¡± Eveline asked. Zeke started to answer, but then frowned. He had felt nothing, though in the confusion of his attack, he¡¯d missed the lack of energy entering his body. In retrospect, he should¡¯ve recognized what had happened, though. ¡°It¡¯s in the abomination,¡± he said aloud. ¡°I think you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°How?¡± he asked, pushing himself upright and staring down the suddenly awkward creature. Was the necromancer directly controlling it now? Its movements were stilted and unfamiliar. ¡°One of the other undead must¡¯ve been carrying their phylactery. It¡¯s inside the abomination now,¡± Eveline said. Zeke focused, using [Inspect], which confirmed Eveline¡¯s supposition: Necromantic Vessel ¨C Level 100 ¡°Dammit,¡± he breathed, knowing that he only had a slim opening in front of him. If he didn¡¯t use the creature¡¯s sudden awkwardness ¨C clearly, the necromancer was having issues adjusting to controlling the new body ¨C he would never get another chance. And if he let that thing survive, it would be even more dangerous than he¡¯d first suspected. It wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine it sweeping across the land and destroying everything in its path. ¡°It¡¯s now or never.¡± But there was one major problem. With the city¡¯s enchantment still being active, he couldn¡¯t use [Wrath of Annihilation] at full power. And if that was the case, there was no chance of destroying the abomination-turned-necromantic vessel. ¡°Aren¡¯t the others supposed to be taking care of that?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°They are,¡± Zeke answered. ¡°But it¡¯s not done yet, and I don¡¯t think that creature is going to sit around and wait for them to complete the task.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably true.¡± So, the strategy before him seemed simple enough. He needed to delay the monster ¨C or necromancer ¨C for as long as he could, while hoping that Talia, Pudge, and the others satisfied the terms of their own task. Once they disrupted the city¡¯s enchantment, then Zeke would be free to use his skill to the full extent of its power. ¡°Simple,¡± he deadpanned. But as was often the case, simple didn¡¯t necessarily mean easy. That became more evident with every passing second, which saw the necromancer¡¯s control over the abomination tighten. Moment by moment, its movements became more fluid, and what was even more concerning, it clearly knew that Zeke was the only thing standing between it and whatever goals were harbored by the necromancer. And it knew precisely how to deal with him. So, it once again stepped forward, but this time, it took a much more measured approach. Zeke tried to dash away, but the thing¡¯s foot was far too large. More, when he tried to activate [Shifting Sands], some sort of ethereal force reached out and blocked him. Vaguely, he heard Eveline yelling something about counter skills, but he couldn¡¯t hear her. Instead, the whole of his attention was occupied by the descending foot. It was grotesque, grey-skinned, and writhing with thousands of wriggling tumors. But it was also the size of a football field, so it was impossible to avoid its descent. Zeke braced himself, preemptively channeling [Touch of Divinity]. If he was going to survive, he would have to simply take the damage of being squashed like a bug, then recover from it. The air screamed, and then, suddenly, Zeke was buried beneath a mountain of rotting flesh. At the very last second, he¡¯d swung Voromir upward in an attempt to knock the monster¡¯s foot aside. Yet, that had proved just as useless as he had expected it to. Zeke felt his bones crunch beneath a force that was more than simple weight. It was as if he¡¯d found himself in the middle of a black hole, with a gravitational pull so fierce that even light could not escape. That description was far too tame to describe what he felt, though. He was crushed beneath the very concept of mass as the fundamental truth of the world asserted itself upon him. It wasn¡¯t like his Path, though. It was far too wild and unfocused to compare. Instead, it was like peeking in at the underlying rules of the world itself. And against that, no amount of endurance could ever hope to stand up. Zeke was crushed. His body was unmade, metallic flesh and silvery blood splattering beneath that creature¡¯s overbearing stomp. Then, even that was broken into its base components. For a moment, Zeke blacked out. Nothingness gripped him and attempted to drag him away. But its efforts were resisted by a single spark. A pinprick of white light that blazed with the power of a thousand suns. It was tiny, but in that glimmer of divinity ¨C for that was what it was ¨C lay boundless power. Zeke embraced it, channeling his healing skill, [Touch of Divinity] though that its burning light. Even then, it was a close thing. The darkness pulled against his spirit ¨C his very soul ¨C as it attempted to drag him from the land of the living. An infinite abyss waited on the other side, beckoning him to join. He refused. In fact, he felt anger on a level so deep that he split his attention, embracing the power of pure destruction, and lashing out with his Will. The nothingness screamed silently, and for a second, it felt like it would break. However, that lasted only for an instant before it rushed back with a vengeance, wrapping around him like a living thing. Yet, that small recoil was enough for the spark of divinity to assert its dominance and drag him away. That tipped the balance in Zeke¡¯s favor, and he felt divine vitality suffuse his entire existence before his body rebuilt itself. Blood and flesh raced in his direction, surrounding and suffusing his soul until, layer by layer, his body was made anew. So, when the necromancer-controlled flesh abomination¡¯s foot ascended, Zeke¡¯s body was entirely whole. But Zeke knew that it was a one-time thing. He couldn¡¯t afford to tempt that endless abyss. That was a foe he could not fight. Nor would he win if he tried. It knew him now, had branded him with its nothingness. If it had another chance, it would take more than a small spark of divinity to rebuff its advances. With that in mind, Zeke acted, racing forward. He was done waiting for the monster. Instead, he would take the fight to the abomination. 521. Doing Their Part Talia raced through the empty streets, her horror at what she¡¯d just seen having overwhelmed any emotional distance she¡¯d managed to maintain. It didn¡¯t matter if she had heartsblood singing through her veins. Even if she hadn¡¯t, the blanket that normally covered her feelings would have been completely insufficient to smother the emotions she experienced after seeing the bulk of Darukar¡¯s population having been turned into unthinking zombies. But for a quirk of her own undead race ¨C and the circumstances that had created it ¨C she might¡¯ve been one of them. Personal power was irrelevant. The fact that the Death Warden had fallen was proof of that. Talia hadn¡¯t personally known the woman, but she had seen her often enough to know that she was near the peak. And she had fallen prey to the necromancer¡¯s power, just like all the others. The only shield against that control was vitality. Without their efforts at inoculation, the entire city would have fallen under the necromancer¡¯s sway. Even then, their force was only a fraction of the city¡¯s population. Millions had already been lost, and for those who¡¯d become mindless zombies, there was no recovery on the horizon. They were gone, having merged with that enormous monstrosity back in the graveyard. Even as she sprinted through the vacant city, a horrible shudder raced up her spine. The mere memory of that gargantuan thing was enough to haunt her nightmares. Not only was it too large to truly comprehend, but it was composed of millions of bodies that had merged together into a single mass of undead flesh. All innocents who¡¯d had their minds stolen. The thought twisted her stomach into knots. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t have long before she reached her destination. Fittingly, it was one of the strongholds created by the Death Guard. Large and composed of black stone trimmed with red runes, it was a large, imposing castle, and it was also one of the seven lynchpins holding the city¡¯s protective enchantment in place. Because of its effect, Zeke was prevented from feeling the full weight of his power to bear. And without those horribly destructive abilities, he would have no chance of defeating a level one-hundred monster like the one in the cemetery. So, her task was simple. She¡¯d been charged with destroying the enchantment, and to do that, she needed to obscure the runes in that building. Others ¨C like Pudge or Silik ¨C were tasked with doing the same, though at different nodes. There was a significant problem, though. Before the castle stood three hulking flesh golems. Each one was nearly a hundred feet tall, with bulbous bodies and a multitude of pudgy limbs protruding from all the wrong places. One had an arm growing out of its bulging stomach, while another and a pair sticking out of its back. Their flesh was white and clammy, with rolls of glistening, mucous-covered fat. Even for someone who¡¯d grown accustomed to the unique appearances so common amongst the undead, the sight of each of those three creatures was disgusting. But that was something of a theme for the past few days, and with no small effort, Talia managed to put her nausea aside and focus on the task at hand. It probably would have been smart to go back and find help. There was an entire army of undead, kobolds, and beastkin only a couple of miles away. Presumably, they were fighting their own battles, as evidenced by the sound of various skills going off in the distance. And if Talia went back, she would doubtless become embroiled in that conflict, and while that would likely ensure victory, the nature of the situation meant that she couldn¡¯t afford that kind of a delay. Zeke needed help now, which was why they¡¯d chosen to split their efforts in the first place. No - she needed to do her part, and that meant killing the disgusting monsters herself. After that, she would tear through the node and weaken the enchantment. Or she would die trying, which, given the power of those abominations, was probably the most likely result. Still, Talia was not in the habit of letting potential death affect her choices. She¡¯d long since accepted her own mortality, and she had no intention of letting the fear of death curtail her actions now. So, without further hesitation, she embraced [Unliving Speed] and [Inevitability], enhancing her agility and dexterity via the former, while empowering her other active skills with the latter. Then, she used [Plague Strike], [Frigid Claws], and [Calcification]. Finally, she kept [Flood of Death] on the edge of activation. Then, she raced forward, letting her Will suffuse her entire body. The giant abominations barely had time to react before she slashed into the first. Without leaping, she could only reach the creature¡¯s heel, but that was enough to deliver a wave of rot that blackened the pale flesh with decay. The monster let out a warbling wail that shattered the nearby castle¡¯s stained glass windows, and Talia stumbled from the sheer aural impact. That nearly got her killed as the monster moved with far more speed than a creature its size should¡¯ve been capable of achieving. It brought its foot down in a vicious stomp, and Talia recovered just in time to dive to the side. It narrowly missed her, but the shockwave spoiled her footing, and she once again stumbled. That gave the monster another opening. But this time, when it stomped, it put all of its weight on its rot-infested ankle. Under normal circumstances, that wouldn¡¯t have been enough to impact the thing¡¯s balance. However, with so much mass, the monster¡¯s footing was a precarious thing at the best of times. So, the result was all but inevitable. The moment it raised its healthy foot, the ankle snapped. It let out another scream as it tipped over. Talia used that opening to avoid the thing¡¯s suddenly off-target stomp. She ran, pushing her speed to heights she¡¯d rarely employed, and she was nearly a hundred yards away when the abomination fell. It hit one of its nearby fellows, and the pair collapsed into a heap of pasty, rotting flesh. Seeing that pile of fatty decay, Talia steeled herself for what was coming. Then, setting her jaw, she raced forward, leaped upon the fallen monsters, and brought her claws to bear, one slash at a time. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! After a few seconds of furious attacks, she finally unleashed [Flood of Death]. It was already a powerful skill, and it was made even more so by the enhancement of her Will. The moment the cloud of black ethera made contact with the monster¡¯s pale flesh, black and bubbling rot began to spread across its body. But Talia wasn¡¯t content with that. Taking a page out of Zeke¡¯s book, she dove into the resultant wound, continuing her efforts and evisceration as she turned the thing¡¯s flesh into a rotting miasma of rot and death. It would not have been so impactful against a creature with vitality coursing through its veins. But the undead monstrosities were composed entirely of dead flesh. More, they were not true entities, but rather, minions under someone else¡¯s control. So, aside from being quite durable from a physical standpoint, they lacked the protections of being living creatures. The results were surprising, though. Even as the monster melted into a slurry of liquified rot, Talia kept going until, at last, an influx of kill energy announced the abomination¡¯s death. That¡¯s when she turned her attention to the other monster in the pile. She¡¯d moved so quickly that only a minute or so had passed, but in that time, the other flesh giant had struggled to extract itself from its companion¡¯s embrace. So, Talia had no difficulty carving her way through the first monster and into the second. It fell just like the other, and after only a few minutes, there was but one monster remaining. Talia, covered from head to toe in rotting gore, burst free from the slain creature¡¯s chest, but she was immediately met by a descending fist that sent her back the way she¡¯d come. Disgusting viscera cushioned her descent, but even so, she felt bones breaking beneath the powerful third monster¡¯s blow. Still, Talia had been through worse than a few dozen broken bones. And besides, her pain receptors hadn¡¯t worked properly since she¡¯d become one of the undead. So, the moment her brain caught up with the situation, she twisted and used her unbroken leg to spring to the side. She moved like a missile, tearing through the mass of flesh and into the open. She tumbled free, rolling across the paved square before coming to a rest a couple dozen feet away from the mass of dead flesh that had once been the pair of flesh golems. The third brought its fist down again, splattering even more viscera across the square. Clearly, it had not noticed Talia yet. Using that to her advantage, she embraced [Focused Reformation], fueling it with the remaining Heartsblood Elixir she had in her system. She only had one more of the potions in her possession, and no alchemists to brew more. So, even as her body mended, she knew she lamented her limited supply. But she¡¯d had no choice but to use it, a fact that was hammered home by the sound of her many broken bones snapping back into place. Her burst organs stitched themselves back together, and her thoughts cleared. Perhaps she had been a little more injured than she¡¯d thought. Now, though, she was in perfect ¨C if disgusting ¨C condition. So, there was nothing standing in the way of finishing the job. While the remaining giant was occupied ¨C still pounding its fists against the increasingly liquified bodies of the other two ¨C Talia sprang into motion. When she came into range, she leaped, and when she slammed into the creature¡¯s calf, she rammed her claws into its disgustingly malleable flesh. But she didn¡¯t focus on inflicting damage. Instead, she climbed that wall of pale, mucous-covered meat until she found herself clinging to its back. Only then did Talia begin her real assault. Every slash of her claws spread black decay, and accompanied by the monster¡¯s howls of pain, she dug her way into its torso. Once she was completely encased in the creature¡¯s rapidly rotting flesh, she unleashed [Flood of Death] to the fullest extent of the skill¡¯s power. In addition, she coated it in her Will, amplifying the damage with the power of her Path of Decay. The results were predictable. Though it took quite some time ¨C longer even than the other two put together ¨C the monster eventually fell before her efforts, flooding her with kill energy that pushed her to the next level. However, Talia was well aware of the cost of the battle. Even as the creature toppled, rotting and dead, she could feel the seconds ticking by. The task had never been to kill the guards. Instead, she was supposed to disrupt the city¡¯s protective enchantment. And after taking so long to kill the creatures, she may well have doomed Zeke ¨C and by extension, the rest of the world. Still, she climbed free of the fallen giant, then raced toward the castle. However, she was brought up short by the sight of a lone figure ¨C no larger than a normal person ¨C looming at the top of the steps leading into the castle. Talia slid to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, looking up. The woman was a living being, as evidenced by her rosy complexion and lustrous blonde hair. However, an aura of death hung from her shoulders, establishing ¨C in Talia¡¯s mind, at least ¨C that she was a necromancer. The woman began to speak, but Talia had no interest in conversation. So, she raced up the steps, intent on ending the threat. Of course, the necromancer reacted, casting her hands out as she threw a skill at the ascending Talia. It washed over her, doing nothing. ¡°W-what ¨C¡± That was all the necromancer managed to say before Talia rammed her claws into her torso. It erupted with blood and viscera, the shockwave of Talia¡¯s attack exploding every organ in the woman¡¯s body. She was dead in an instant, giving only a trickle of kill energy. That confirmed that she was very low-leveled, which made sense. The giants had been strong, fearsome creatures, but they had been no higher level than Talia herself. Otherwise, she¡¯d have been entirely incapable of winning the fight. More distressing was the presence of the necromancer herself. That made at least three. The first one Zeke had killed, then the lich in the cemetery, and now, the blonde Talia had just slain. One was bad enough. Two was worse. But three? That probably meant there were many more in Darukar. How, though? Necromancers were supposed to be rare. Even the worst of the worst would kill them on sight. Was there an entire coven of necromancers, then? And if so, how had they managed to gain so much power? How had they avoided notice? How had they survived? Those were all important questions to be answered, but for now, Talia had a job to do. So, without further hesitation, she pushed those thoughts aside and rushed into the castle. Fortunately, most of the Deathguard¡¯s strongholds followed a well-established layout, so she had no trouble finding her target at the center of the castle. Every other time Talia had seen the design on the floor, she¡¯d considered it mere decoration. Now that she was looking for it, though, she could feel the subtle current of mana racing through the elaborate, red whorls. The design itself was complex and beautiful, which made what she had to do quite a shame. That wouldn¡¯t stop her, though. Not with her friends¡¯ lives depending on her to come through. So, without anymore ado, she attacked the red pattern. At first, it stubbornly resisted ¨C and to a significant degree ¨C but eventually, it gave way to her repeated attempts at destruction. Finally, she broke one of the lines, which resulted in a small, localized explosion of mana. But that wasn¡¯t enough to disable the node. So, she kept going, ripping it to shreds of rock and gemstone until, at last, the thing went dark. So too did all the other red trim that decorated the black stone. When she rushed outside, she saw that the same was the case with every other structure in the area, leaving the entire district completely dark. It filled her with a sense of dread as well as sadness, but she pushed those emotions to the side in favor of one simple thought. She had done her job. Now, it was up to the others to finish their own tasks. With that in mind, she ran through the city, hoping to lend her own power to their struggle. 522. Dominoes The thing Zeke had learned about fighting massive monsters was that they often had difficulty dealing with anything smaller than a mountain. Most could manage it, though not without significant issues. However, the gargantuan abomination-turned-necromantic vessel was far clumsier than any real creature. Instead, it was like trying to pick up a needle with a puppet ¨C theoretically possible, assuming the thing was equipped with the right articulable digits, but a practical impossibility, given the constraints at play. In the case of the skyscraper-sized abomination, it could only stomp and smash, hoping that Zeke would get caught in the wash. It was more complicated than that, of course. The thing was equipped with an seemingly uncharacteristic wealth of speed, which meant avoiding its attacks required every ounce of Zeke¡¯s concentration. Once, he¡¯d already failed, and he¡¯d paid the price via his near-death experience. Without [Touch of Divinity], he would have already succumbed to the pull of that abyss. Yet, he had persevered, and as a result, he¡¯d been given what amounted to a second chance. Zeke refused to waste that opportunity, and so, he¡¯d spent the following half hour dodging the creature¡¯s wrath as he attempted to find a weakness. There were none. No matter how often he bludgeoned the monster with his hammer or brought his less-powerful skills to bear, the thing just kept going, largely unharmed by Zeke¡¯s attacks. Once, someone had told Zeke that size mattered as much as attributes. All stats being equal, a large creature would always be stronger than a smaller one. His experiences so far had proved that true, and never more so than when he found himself facing off against something like the cyclops back in the dungeon ¨C or in this case, the enormous undead monstrosity made of tens ¨C or perhaps hundreds ¨C of thousands of zombies. It wasn¡¯t just strong. Its power felt almost conceptual, like it didn¡¯t play by reality¡¯s rules, but rather, bent those rules to its own end. That was how Zeke had almost died. And now, as he faced off against the creature, it was the reason he couldn¡¯t harm it. Size, in the end, mattered, and far more than he wanted to accept. On top of that, the creature was at the absolute peak of power in the Eternal Realm. Level one-hundred. Power wafted off of it in great clouds of deathly mana, and the world bent around it in a way Zeke could scarcely comprehend. It felt as if the entire realm struggled to keep it contained. Still, Zeke fought on because if he didn¡¯t, millions ¨C perhaps even more than that ¨C would perish. The monster could not be allowed outside of the city. If it was, it would rampage across the Eternal Realm for untold months until it finally met its match. There were people out there who were strong enough to fight it. Zeke didn¡¯t think he was alone in that respect. However, getting those people to do so would likely prove an insurmountable obstacle until they were forced to protect people ¨C or things ¨C they cared about. In the meantime, the necromantic vessel would destroy everything in its path. No ¨C Zeke refused to let it exist. He was no white knight, but the threat the abomination represented was too great for him to ignore. He would¡¯ve had to have been a monster himself to allow it to live. ¡°Or smart,¡± Eveline cut in as Zeke used [Shifting Sands] to dodge another descending stomp that would have smashed him to bits. ¡°There¡¯s no shame in running away.¡± ¡°Feels a little shameful,¡± he said. ¡°No one expects you to give your life for a bunch of people you don¡¯t even know,¡± Eveline said. It was a dubious statement, claiming that he didn¡¯t know the people of Darukar. He¡¯d met quite a few of them. And besides, Talia cared about them, and Zeke cared about his friend. As such, they were worthy of his protection. ¡°That¡¯s where we disagree,¡± he said inwardly, surfacing in a gout of earth and flame before continuing his sprint to try to flank the monster. It was a losing strategy, largely because the creature seemed to have eyes in the back of its head. Regardless of which way Zeke went, his enemy knew precisely where he was. ¡°I¡¯ve always hated that idea. You can¡¯t fight a war going half-speed. You can¡¯t expect to win if you¡¯re hedging your bets. If I judge something worth fighting for, I¡¯m going to go all out. I¡¯m going to give it everything I have. Otherwise, I¡¯m just pretending to fight.¡± ¡°That seems a good way to die.¡± ¡°Or a good way to live without regrets,¡± Zeke countered. Just as the thought flitted through his mind, he felt a surge of mana in the distance. It swept through him like a tidal wave, solid enough to stagger him. That proved to be its own issue, and the stumble ¨C brief though it was ¨C very nearly got him killed via another murderous stomp. Zeke avoided it, but only barely, and when the shockwave of that foot¡¯s descent echoed through what was left of the graveyard, he was sent sprawling to the ground. Without thought, he used [Shifting Sands] once again, sinking into the earth and launching himself away. But he couldn¡¯t keep going like that. He¡¯d grown powerful enough to use that skill multiple times in quick succession, but eventually, its continuous use would run him dry of mana. However, that surge of mana had announced the fall of the first domino. Someone ¨C whether it was Talia, Pudge, or his army ¨C had managed to reach the first node of the city¡¯s defense and destroy it. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Destroying those nodes were the key to victory, though Zeke wasn¡¯t sure if it would be enough to tip the balance in his favor. Even the terrible power of [Wrath of Annihilation] seemed inconsequential next to the might of the abomination. He couldn¡¯t worry about that, though. The plan had been made ¨C albeit on the fly ¨C and it was his role to execute it. If everything went well, his allies would see to their parts, and then, he would do his. Until then, his job was to stay alive. So, he pushed himself to his limits as he continued to avoid the walking catastrophe that was the abomination. In the meantime, Zeke could only hope that his friends accomplished their own tasks. Otherwise, there was no way any of them would live much longer. Even as that thought crossed his mind, another wave of mana announced the destruction of yet another conflux of runic energy. It was enough to give Zeke hope that they could win the day. * * * Pudge leaped upon the flesh golem¡¯s back, savaging it with his Hellfire-wreathed claws. The smell of burnt and rotting flesh assailed his nose, and the wail of a thousand deaths echoed in his ears. He ignored the overwhelming sensory input, pushing himself to focus on the job at hand. The assault on his first target had gone off without a hitch, and he¡¯d destroyed it ¨C and the building that housed it ¨C with a dense beam of [Hellfire]. However, when he and his team set their sights on their second goal, they had found it guarded by three hulking flesh giants, each one more disgusting than the last. What had followed was the beginning of a titanic struggle, during which one of the enormous amalgamations of decay and dead flesh had fallen. However, the small victory was not without a cost of its own, and almost half of Pudge¡¯s force of beastkin had already fallen. It would have been many the entire force if it wasn¡¯t for Pudge¡¯s efforts, which had left him with a number of injuries that he expected would take weeks to heal. But the job was yet to be finished, so retreat never even crossed his mind. So, after burning a massive hole into the flesh golem¡¯s back, he leaped free just in time to avoid a swiping claw from the second remaining monster. The massive blow took the already-wounded giant in the back, sending it to stumble away. The attacker paid no heed to its companion¡¯s fall, instead turning the entirety of its attention on Pudge. And because he was unbalanced ¨C as well as a little slower than normal due to his injuries ¨C it caught him completely off-guard. Fortunately, he was not alone, and when the thing¡¯s fist fell, it found a barrier in its way. Adara ¨C the half-orc former Knight of Adontis ¨C held her shield aloft, buoying it with some sort of skill. And when the unstoppable force of the monster¡¯s attack fell upon the immovable object of her shield, the fist broke. More importantly, Pudge had a moment to collect himself and regain his balance. After that, he raced forward, intent on finishing the injured monsters off. Meanwhile, the rest of the beastkin surrounded the other wounded golem, peppering it with comparatively weak skills that, alone would have been incapable of piercing its tough skin. However, the sheer quantity of abilities at play made all the difference, and it became clear that it would soon fall. But Pudge couldn¡¯t stop to admire their work. Instead, he needed to do his part. To that end, his next attack was meant for the reeling creature with the busted fist. He activated [Hell Infusion], wreathing his body in corrupted flames that enhanced his attributes to untold levels. Then, he used [Shadowfire Evisceration]. Shadowfire exploded from him, and time slowed to a crawl. He darted forward, leaping upon the flesh giant¡¯s chest. His momentum was enough to send it toppling backward, but it happened in slow motion. That was never his primary intent, anyway. Instead, he slashed and clawed, leaving broiled flesh in his wake. The skill was not a perfect tool for the job. In fact, it was far better suited to dealing with a multitude of weaker enemies. However, it was good enough that, by the time the ring of shadowfire washed over the golem, further devastating the creature, he¡¯d carved a sizable hole in the thing¡¯s chest. He leaped free, flipping backward before landing on the cracked cobblestone street. Then, time resumed, and the aftermath of his attack hit the golem all at once. Flesh and pus erupted into a fine mist as it fell backward. Pudge was not finished, though. He took aim, thrust out his fist, and let loose with a beam of [Hellfire] that engulfed the already wounded creature. Because of how much damage it had already taken, the monster had no defense against the powerful beam of corrupted fire. As a result, it didn¡¯t just burn. Instead, its insides boiled beneath the influence of such intense heat. The liquid inside its body expanded, and for a brief moment, it bulged even more grotesquely than ever before. That only lasted an instant before it burst into a disgusting miasma of rotting flesh, pus, and whatever other grotesque components comprised the hulking monstrosity. Only then did Pudge turn his attention to the final guardian. But the beastkin ¨C as well as Adara and a couple of former Knights ¨C had it well in hand, using their abilities to finally bring it down. Once it was on the ground, the thing tried to continue the fight, but it did so from an extreme disadvantage. Then, once Pudge lent his own aid, the monster predictably fell victim to their cascade of attacks. Standing amidst the fallen creatures, Pudge looked around, aghast at the wreckage he saw. It wasn¡¯t unexpected, but ever since awakening his sapience, he had begun to appreciate the work that had gone into building the great cities and civilizations he¡¯d witnessed. And yet, it had all been brought low by a few necromancers. Sighing, he wondered how far any of them truly were from returning to a more primitive state. He remembered what that was like, and losing his sapience ¨C and everything that went with it ¨C was one of the most horrifying things he could imagine. So, he couldn¡¯t help but feel pity for their undead allies who were forced to confront that very idea, all while fighting against whatever was left of their friends, family, and countrymen. Calling it a tragedy did not even begin to describe it. But for now, he couldn¡¯t allow himself to be distracted by such thoughts. Instead, he would need to keep his wits about him if he was going to protect those he truly cared about. So, without further consideration, he turned his attention to the nearby castle. It housed one of the nodes ¨C he could feel it ¨C and if they were going to win the battle, it would have to be destroyed. He said as much to his allies, then strode forward, still wreathed in hellish flames. 523. The Power of the Clutch Jasper drummed his fingers against his belt, and the army of kobolds were enveloped by the power of his skill. Mana suffused them, speeding their reactions and pushing them to new heights of strength. He hummed, adding a wordless melody to the bass, enhancing their natural regeneration. Finally, the periodical clang of his sword and parrying dagger sent a wave of high-pitched and discordant sound to wash over the battlefield, tearing through the rotting giant¡¯s decaying flesh, weakening it so that Jasper¡¯s allies could bring their own power to bear. That was his role in the battle, set against a backdrop of an enormous and imposing castle, against a trio of massive flesh giants that towered more than a hundred feet above the army of much smaller kobolds. One of the lizard-men in particular stood taller than all of his subordinates, directing the legion with ruthless precision. Silik called out one order after the next, and his captains relayed them to their lieutenants, who in turn, passed them on to the rank and file legionnaires. The hulking kobolds surged forward with their interlocking shields. The bulwarks were bound together via dense flows of mana, protecting the front lines against any damage. Even when the flesh giant attacked, bringing its enormous fist down with enough force to flatten a building, the blow was rebuffed by that sturdy shield. It was a reminder that, for all that they were individually weaker than something like the giant, the kobolds¡¯ numbers could make up for their limitations. The barrier wasn¡¯t infallible. It could be broken. But not so long as the line held firm. And given the nature of the kobolds, they would do just that, and down to the last remaining legionnaire. The power of the so-called clutch, which was the label the kobolds had given their entire society, was not merely defensive. There was plenty of offense there as well, as characterized by the second line of fighters when they brought their spears to bear. Each one was long ¨C at least a dozen feet of enchanted steel ¨C and incredibly sharp. Against such a monstrously large foe, one stab was insufficient. But when a hundred spears pierced the giant¡¯s leg, everything changed. The spearmen lashed out, each thrust of their spear like lightning. The weapons stabbed with such rapidity and repetition that Jasper only saw an illuminated blur, followed by a mist of pus and flesh. But the third line was the real source of damage, as those kobolds ¨C the most powerful among the entire legion ¨C used their strongest skill to send beams of blistering light to burn through the already weakened flesh. The smell of burning and rotted meat filled the air as they cut through the thick limb all the way to the bone. And then they kept going. Shield-bearers protected the legion. The spearmen softened the target. And last, the powerful ranged-focused kobolds aimed to finish the task via their powerful skills. It was not a strategy that would win the battle in a few minutes, but one volley after an other pushed the fight in their favor. They weren¡¯t the only ones fighting, either. Another group surrounded one of the other giants, while a third employed the same strategy against the final guardian. Meanwhile, two more batallions ¨C each group numbering in the thousands ¨C waited in the wings, ready to step in should they be needed. And finally, there were two more protecting a mobile infirmary manned by the spiritweavers. Between them all raced a number of kobold rangers, who used their tiny but powerful bows to pepper the giants with a multitude of errors. There were also juveniles on the battlefield, dashing between the various groups, bearing messages and helping to remove any kobolds who were injured during the battle. It was a dazzling display of organization and efficiency, and Jasper couldn¡¯t help but wonder what would happen if the kobolds were allowed to continue their march toward the peak. Already, most were sapient, and the most powerful among them had begun to push past the Eternal Realm¡¯s average levels. What could they accomplish if they kept going? If they kept progressing? Those thoughts, tinged by fear, anticipation, excitement, and, most of all, anxiety, haunted him as he saw the first giant fall. The kobolds didn¡¯t pounce like the wild monsters they¡¯d once been. Instead, they advanced in an orderly fashion, slowly closing the ring of shields around the fallen creature. But now that they had easy access to the rest of its prone body, the end of the fight was nigh. The legion ripped through it without mercy or hesitation, scorching and stabbing until, at last, it expired. Jasper felt a wave of kill energy wash over him, pushing him closer to level sixty-five. It was quite an accomplishment, given that, when he¡¯d left home, his family had been convinced that he would never amount to anything. In only fifteen more levels, he would surpass his mother. Fifteen more, and he would approach the peak, which was something only a few of the most powerful women in Tesh, the city where he¡¯d been born. In the entire empire, only the Blessed Empress herself had reached the peak. Certainly, no male had ever been allowed to climb to those heights. What would they say when they saw how far Jasper had progressed, and in such a short amount of time? It was bad enough that he¡¯d chosen an disgraceful ¨C in their minds at least ¨C class. But he¡¯d also had the audacity to go into battle? They would be horrified to see what he had become. Still, Jasper was satisfied with his path. He didn¡¯t revel in battle ¨C not like Zeke ¨C but he wouldn¡¯t shy away from it, either. Regardless, he had long since left the beliefs of his home behind. He¡¯d chosen to travel a different road than most, and after befriending Zeke, he had gone much further than most could have imagined. And there was a long way yet to go. To that end, he continued to use his Troubadour¡¯s skills, empowering the kobolds to new heights of power. And they rewarded him by slowly whittling the flesh golems down, felling them with organization, precision, and the power of the clutch. It was both terrifying and impressive, both in equal measure. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. For his part, Jasper never even used his weapons. Against such a foe, he would have just gotten in the way, and for no more reason than to feel like he was doing something. He wouldn¡¯t succumb to such vanity, and so, he remained at a distance, playing his songs while the kobolds did all the dirty work. And finally, the last flesh giant fell. The kobolds raced into the castle the macabre creatures had protected, then, brought the entire building down. When they broke the enchantment, a powerful wave of mana raced across the city. Nearby, Silik met with his captains, as well as a group of those special rangers that normally followed Zeke around. Those creatures were a little larger than most of the scouts, and their scales had taken on a black-and-red coloring that marked them as special. Even more, they radiated a different flavor of power than any of the other kobolds. ¡°We have found five other nodes,¡± the leader of those rangers said. ¡°We must destroy them, or Ak-toh will fall.¡± ¡°So it is,¡± said Silik. Then, he assigned the various forces, splitting them up so they could cover more ground. Three battalions for each node, with one auxiliary force to fill in the gaps. It was not ideal, but after what Jasper had seen, it would be enough. For his part, Jasper would remain with the main group. Hopefully, his participation would allow them to complete the task more quickly. However, he knew that the strategy would stretch them thin, though with a thousand-foot-tall undead monster fighting Zeke in the cemetery, they knew they couldn¡¯t afford to play it safe. He was depending on them. And no one ¨C including Jasper ¨C could afford to contemplate failure. So, they split up. Hopefully, it would be enough. * * * Zeke felt one pulse of mana after another, but he couldn¡¯t afford to concentrate on that. Instead, he was busy trying to stay alive against the undead abomination that was the necromantic vessel. So long as he maintained his focus, he could stay just ahead of it, but it felt a lot like trying to outrun a natural disaster. One wrong move ¨C a single stumble, perhaps ¨C and he would be squashed like a bug. So, he relied on Eveline to keep count. Meanwhile, he leaped over huge piles of rubble or slid down the craters created by the creature¡¯s previous attacks. Behind him, the earth erupted into a geyser of dirt and stone as the monstrous giant brought its own power to bear. ¡°I can¡¯t keep going like this,¡± he breathed, diving out of the way of yet another stomping attack. The resultant shockwave ¨C and rolling earth that came with it ¨C slapped against his back, pushing him into a roll. His momentum never stopped as he sprang to his feet at a dead sprint that let him narrowly escape yet another stomping attack. ¡°That¡¯s eight. We only need one more,¡± Eveline reminded him. Just then, another wave of mana washed over the city, buffeting Zeke with unparalleled energy. That was the last one, which meant that he could finally go on the offensive. After only a second, the enchantment dimmed to almost nothing, announcing that their restrictive effect was an all-time low. ¡°We need to give them time to escape,¡± he said. ¡°You think they¡¯re going to run away? You don¡¯t know your people very well,¡± Eveline said. ¡°They¡¯re more likely to try to help.¡± ¡°They know the plan.¡± ¡°Plans are easily discarded,¡± she reminded him. Zeke wanted to argue, but even as he dodged another attack, he knew that any argument he could conjure would fall flat. He knew his people, and the notion that they would abandon him ¨C even under orders to do so ¨C were almost laughable. So, he only had one choice. He could only hope that it wouldn¡¯t get him and his people killed. So, with that in mind, Zeke used [Shifting Sands], racing through the earth and erupting almost a quarter of a mile away from the hulking monster. With its size, even that great distance seemed largely inconsequential. But it would have to be enough. He whipped around and unleashed [Center of Gravity]. His skill wasn¡¯t broad enough to influence the entire monster, but that was never his goal. Instead, he aimed it at the creature¡¯s raised foot. The skill took effect, and the foot shifted. Only a few dozen yards, but enough to throw it off balance. Because a monster that size ¨C especially one that was no natural creature ¨C would inevitably be clumsy. As such, its fall was expected. ¡°Should have done that sooner,¡± Eveline said as the thing tipped over. Zeke didn¡¯t respond. He knew the strategy would only work once. The necromancer in control of the monster would adjust, meaning that he only had one shot. He¡¯d saved it for when it would matter most. As the creature fell, Zeke stomped on the ground, and an eruption of hellfire and sundered earth exploded beneath the falling creature. It burned the thing, but it was barely a flesh wound against such a large monster. Hopefully, his next attack would be far more effective. Zeke harnessed his Will, weaving together his different attunements into his Worldbreaker technique. This time, he allowed much more than a trickle of the power of his path into the braid, and the corrosive might of the Path of Arcane Destruction tore through him, leaving devastation and agony in its wake. He ignored it. Instead, he guided it into [Unleash Momentum], and when he let loose the power of a thousand swings, it was laced with sheer obliteration. It erupted from Voromir, riding alongside the projected expression of the weapon¡¯s ability. A crimson hammer, fueled with as much might as Zeke could harness, hit the monster directly in the chin. It hit with the power of a nuclear bomb, absolutely annihilating the golem¡¯s face. The shockwave threw Zeke backward a few hundred yards, but his titanic body was more than durable enough to withstand that. Unfortunately, so was the giant amalgamation of necrotic flesh. It tipped backward, stumbling a few steps before hitting the ground, causing a localized earthquake powerful enough to topple buildings. Any mausoleums that had managed to survive the battle so far were crushed beneath its massive body. But Zeke knew it was still alive, largely because he hadn¡¯t received any kill energy. More importantly, when the dust settled, he saw the monster stirring. ¡°You knew this was how it was going to be,¡± Eveline said in his mind. ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke replied, already preparing himself to unleash his most powerful skill. Before that, he dismissed the gate to his tower. Hopefully, everyone had managed to get inside. Otherwise, there was every chance that his skill would do them in. But he couldn¡¯t worry about that. Not with the stakes as high as they were. So, once his gate was gone, he thrust mana into [Wrath of Annihilation], pushing as much of his Will into the ability as he could manage. It tore its way through his body and mind, fittingly leaving destruction in its wake. And for the second time that day, Zeke felt the abyssal blackness of true death knocking on the door. He ignored it, infusing his skill with more and more power. He screamed as reality flexed all around him. It shimmered, black bolts of lightning tearing away from his metallic form. Those same bolts were mimicked on his body, spreading across his torso like a spiderweb of pure destruction. Finally, when he felt on the verge of passing over to the other side of the abyss, he let the gathered power loose. The moment he did, he realized that he¡¯d made a huge mistake. 524. Consequences The black sun imploded, and the world shattered into a thousand pieces. Even though he¡¯d made it a few hundred yards away, Zeke screamed as his body followed suit. It wasn¡¯t the endless abyss waiting for him, though. Instead, he briefly saw past the construct of reality, only to witness an all-seeing eye staring back at him. It was like a black hole, a sun, and the eye of a true god, all rolled into one. And Zeke couldn¡¯t even begin to comprehend it. Indeed, when he tried, he felt madness begin to unravel his mind. ¡°You are not ready,¡± a voice, simultaneously louder and more silent than anything he¡¯d ever heard, intoned. It echoed through his mind, obliterating any thought of a response. But there was some shred of his identity left, some tiny sliver of Ezekiel Blackwood that refused to surrender to anything. Even God. So, with great mental effort, he latched onto the broken pieces of his identity and, through sheer force of willpower, yanked them back into place. Nothing fit together properly, but that didn¡¯t matter. It gave him solace, and brief though it was, it also allowed him to see beyond the broken shards of reality. And it was horrifying. A great battlefield stretched before him, larger even than a galaxy, and filled with countless warriors. Each one towered hundreds of feet into the air, trading titanic blows with one another. Every attack shook the ground like a true earthquake, and the combination of the multitude was enough to shatter worlds. Powerful didn¡¯t even begin to describe the warriors. If they had fought in the Eternal Realm, the entire plane of existence would have broken before their might. They were all different, too. Some fought with enormous weapons. Others did so with slung balls of molten lava. Great and holy light erupted in clusters, countered by massive gouts of hellfire large enough to swallow cities. It was chaotic. It was beautifully destructive. And to Zeke, who had practically lived on a battlefield for the past few years, it felt like the home he¡¯d sought ever since being reborn in those troll caves, what felt like a lifetime ago. The glimpse only lasted a single instant, but it was enough to tell Zeke that he had a long, long way to go. Only a short time ago, he¡¯d been crushed by the necromantic vessel, but even that hulking and powerful creature had found itself on the battlefield he¡¯d just seen, it would have been destroyed right down to the very smallest molecule. And it wouldn¡¯t have taken more than a second to meet that fate. ¡°You do not belong!¡± the voice shouted, far more forcefully than before. When that sound ¨C if that was even the right word to describe it ¨C hit Zeke¡¯s mind, it did so with the force of a hammer, scattering his thoughts to the wind. At last, the world repaired itself. The great cracks in reality disappeared, and suddenly, Zeke was thrown backward, hitting a building and passing through it like it was made of paper. He didn¡¯t even slow down. Not on the first or second, and not even on the tenth. In fact, he lost count of the number of buildings he destroyed during his flight. Then, finally, he came to a rest on the outskirts of Darukar. But he couldn¡¯t move. He could barely think, much less witness the destruction he¡¯d caused. More than anything, though, he could only hope that his people had managed to survive. * * * The world screamed. Looming over the once-great city was a giant pillar of destruction, the likes of which Talia had never witnessed. She had never imagined such a thing was possible, even after having witnessed the destruction wrought by Zeke¡¯s most powerful skill. He¡¯d used it back in the dungeon, but what she saw now was obliteration on a completely different level. With that great pillar at its center, a dense and intricate web of black cracks spread across the sky, and when Talia looked upon them, she only felt despair, death, and worst of all, a blinding headache that felt like her very memories had been snatched out of her mind. If she stared for too long, she had no doubt that everything about her would simply cease to exist. And then, it all exploded. She was more than a dozen miles away, but the force of the shockwave ¨C spreading far too fast for even her increased perceptions to track ¨C knocked her backwards at least a hundred yards. The only reason her path had ceased was because she hit a building. Otherwise, she might¡¯ve kept going for a mile or more. Still, it wasn¡¯t any worse than other injuries she¡¯d sustained over the years. Only a few broken bones, which was nothing a little heartsblood elixir ¨C or an actual heart ¨C wouldn¡¯t fix. Before that, though, Talia pushed herself to her feet and looked out at the devastation Zeke had wrought. Of the enormous giant of necrotic flesh, nothing remained. The afterimage of a black sun loomed above a barren landscape. Of the once-mighty city, nothing remained. There wasn¡¯t even rubble left. She let out a long, low gasp. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. But then, a wave of relief swept through her. At least everyone had gotten into the tower. The only reason she¡¯d stayed outside was because she had mistakenly believed herself durable enough to withstand the skill. After all, she¡¯d already seen it once before. She was confident in her own endurance. That had been a mistake, and one that could very well have killed her, had she been even a few hundred feet closer to the skill¡¯s epicenter. Even with how far away she had stayed, it had been a close thing. At times, Talia felt powerful. And by all accounts, she was a gifted fighter, with plenty of evidence to support that label. But when she looked upon that field of devastation and was reminded of the things Zeke could do, she realized that she was like a child comparing herself to an adult. Even if their levels were similar ¨C which they still weren¡¯t ¨C Zeke could destroy cities. Meanwhile, she struggled to fight a measly flesh giant. They were not the same. But rather than make her feel useless, the difference in power gave her hope. When they¡¯d ascended, they had been much closer in power. Certainly, Zeke had always been stronger than her, but back then, she had managed to close the gap. Since that time, he¡¯d spent almost every waking moment in battle. Meanwhile, she¡¯d played detective. Or she had lazed about in the now-destroyed city of Darukar. And that gap had only widened. The fact that there was a clear reason for it gave her hope, though. She could do the same as him. And while his head start seemed huge at the moment, in the grand scheme of things, a couple of years was nothing. She could catch up, and together, they would be capable of doing far more than either of them could alone. She was certain of it. After a few more moments, she dusted herself off and limped away from the rubble through which she¡¯d crashed. It only took a few hundred feet before even the rubble disappeared, replaced by bare earth that looked as if a portion had been scooped away with the world¡¯s largest spoon. Talia knew that wasn¡¯t really what had happened. Instead, everything within the skill¡¯s blast radius had simply been destroyed. Now, it was like it had never even existed. The crater sloped slightly downward, and each step Talia took toward the nadir, she felt the destructive power of Zeke¡¯s Will. It was unmistakable. After a few hundred yards, it started to sting. And a couple hundred more, it became truly uncomfortable. Eventually, she was forced to stop altogether when bits of her skin started sloughing off. So, she retreated, knowing full well that if she kept going, she would not survive. More, the mana in the area had grown so diffuse that she questioned whether or not it was even there, which made her even more uncomfortable than the pain she felt when her skin was peeling off. Once she reached a safe distance, she crouched to consider the situation. Zeke was out there somewhere. She was sure of it, largely because she was completely unwilling to consider the alternative. After all, he wasn¡¯t entirely safe from his own power ¨C a fact he¡¯d proven on multiple occasions. Sighing, she realized that she had no other choice but to search for him. He was a big person, and as such, she could only hope that he would be easy to locate. So, without further consideration, she pushed herself to her feet, tested her legs to see if the broken bones had mended, then after feeling that they were up for at least a light jog, she took off. It was painful, but she¡¯d long since learned to deal with much worse. Fortunately, Talia¡¯s version of a light jog was much faster than most people ¨C even ones with a decent number of levels under their belt ¨C could sprint. So, she could cover quite a lot of ground. On the other side of the coin, she had a lot of area to search. The crater itself was a few miles in diameter, and she hoped Zeke had made it much further than the edge of the depression. So, her effective search area was at least ten miles wide. Maybe closer to fifteen, which meant that she¡¯d be forced to traverse the rubble strewn outskirts of the city. With that in mind, she started her search. At first, she did so haphazardly, but it wasn¡¯t long before she realized that the only way she¡¯d find Zeke like that was if she got incredibly lucky. It wasn¡¯t long after that realization that she established a grid pattern, depending on her memory of the city to guide her. And like that she searched for hours, finding nothing. Eventually, when the sun set, she was forced to take a break. During her search, she discovered two things. First, nothing in the city was left alive. No pests. No people. Not even the bacteria that grew on the sewer grates. There was absolutely nothing left. The second thing she came to recognize was that she didn¡¯t like being alone. So long as she had something to focus on, she was fine. She could ignore the despair growing in her heart. But the moment she slowed down and let herself truly grasp her own loneliness, she found herself sinking into a depressive pit from which she would struggle to escape. She needed to find Zeke. He was her only hope of filling that hole in her heart. Everyone else was inside the tower, and if Zeke hadn¡¯t made it¡­ No. She wouldn¡¯t consider that possibility. He was fine. He was always okay. And the others would be safe in the tower, too. They had to be. With that in mind, Talia settled in the shadow of a half-fallen building located at the edge of what used to be the city. She didn¡¯t sleep, though. Instead, she merely meditated, trying her best to clear her mind, and like that, the night passed. The next morning dawned, much the same as always. However, she soon realized something she hadn¡¯t noticed before. As the destructive energies of Zeke¡¯s path had dissipated, mana had come rushing back into the area. However, it was not the same, death-attuned mana that had once covered Darukar. Instead, it was suffused with vitality. That was when she saw something she had never expected. The great, green pillar of vitality that once marked the dungeon was now gone. Presumably, the dungeon itself had been destroyed as well. It should have been obvious, and if she¡¯d let herself recognize it, she might have seen it the day before. But now? She could only gape at the lack. ¡°Impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡± came a smooth voice that she¡¯d never expected to hear again. Talia whipped around to see a man she had not seen in years, but one whose face she would never forget. He was still thin and acerbic, but his complexion had grown waxy and even paler than in her memories. But he was still recognizable. ¡°I thought you were dead.¡± ¡°Undead, actually,¡± he said, running a hand through his lank hair. ¡°All that time spent on your mother¡¯s quest, and I managed to learn a few things. More importantly, he discovered a very interesting skill.¡± ¡°This¡­this isn¡¯t real¡­I saw you die.¡± ¡°Did you? I certainly felt dead,¡± he said. ¡°Imagine my surprise when ¨C¡± Talia didn¡¯t hesitate any further. The moment she¡¯d laid eyes on the man, she had embraced [Unliving Speed] and [Inevitability], though she didn¡¯t wait to activate any other skills before attacking. She threw herself forward, heedless of her still fractured bones. Rarely did she feel true rage, and when she did, it was always muted. Not so, when she saw the man who had haunted her dreams for so long. It was white hot, and it manifested in a thirst for his death. He never even had a chance to move before Talia rammed her claws through his chest. His torso exploded into a puff of meat, bone, and blood, and she watched as the light went out in his eyes. He fell. But distressingly, she felt no influx of kill energy to announce his death. She didn¡¯t know how he¡¯d managed it ¨C both before and now ¨C but Abraham Micayne, the man who was most responsible for her transformation into one of the undead, was still alive. 525. The Nature of Persistence Abraham Micayne, destroyer of an entire realm, looked down on his greatest creation, wishing for everything he was worth that he could simply grab hold of her and enforce his Will. However, the girl who¡¯d once been Talia Nightingale was beyond his reach. Undead though she was, she¡¯d become infused with pesky vitality, even a speck of which would fight his control. And with as much life as she had flowing through her, he couldn¡¯t even get a foothold. No - she was off-limits. And he railed against the limitations of his class. Necromancer, he¡¯d been called back in the Radiant Isles, but he¡¯d never truly qualified for the class. Yet, when his body had been destroyed, his passive, oft-forgotten skill came to the fore. [Spirit Walk] was a wild skill, earned during the course of his necromantic studies, and it only had one purpose: to save the skill-wielder from death. When his body had been destroyed, his spirit had been ejected, and for a few moments, he¡¯d felt agony truer than anything he¡¯d ever experienced. His ephemeral being had been ripped apart, shred by shred, and in only the space of a few seconds. Panicked, he¡¯d thrown himself into the nearest body ¨C that of one of his lowly zombies. That had been an eye-opener, existing in that primitive creature¡¯s body. It was a monster with a singular purpose, and it had taken every ounce of willpower Micayne had possessed to force it to turn around and retreat from the battlefield. One shambling step at a time, and he slowly left everything behind. It was only after he¡¯d traveled for more than a dozen miles into the wilderness that he managed to wrap his mind around his situation. At first, it had seemed hopeless. He was in the body of a zombie whose lone instinct ¨C to devour any living creature it could find ¨C fought against him with every passing moment. He couldn¡¯t access his other skills, which would have made it much easier to control those impulses. So, all he had on his side was his considerable willpower. It was not enough. And for the next few weeks, he descended into the life of an untethered zombie, stumbling through the wilderness, killing and eating anything that crossed his path. He fought it, but his efforts seemed for naught until, at last, he had a breakthrough. Not through anything he did, but rather, via a chance encounter with one of the more evolved undead. Micayne took that opportunity, leaping from one body to the next. It wasn¡¯t easy, and once again, his still-wounded spirit took quite a lot of agonizing damage along the way. Yet, when it was all said and done, he¡¯d found a new, far more amenable body. Only then did he embark upon the quest to improve his situation. One body after another, he used and discarded dozens until he¡¯d found his way all the way across the continent and to the coast. Once there, Micayne ¨C in his zombified body ¨C had snuck aboard a ship that he¡¯d learned was bound for the Portal of Ascension. Stowing away was easy enough, especially considering he didn¡¯t have to worry about food, water, or air. Still, clinging to the bottom of that ship was not what anyone would call pleasant. But Micayne was committed. He had heard plenty of stories about ascension. Most had come from Constance Nightingale, whose goddess had passed on plenty of information. And he had latched onto that as his only means of solving his problem. After all, he hadn¡¯t exactly been pleased with his situation. Grateful he hadn¡¯t been killed, for certain. But please? Not at all. So, he¡¯d chosen to ascend and leave his life¡¯s work behind. His wife would remain dead, and even though he¡¯d long since lost hope that he could resurrect her, finally closing that door had been quite a blow to his psyche. But it was easier, once he¡¯d detached himself from his body and, subsequently, the emotions that went with it. He witnessed the battle around the Portal of Ascension from afar, though he almost perished once again when the demoness nearly killed the brute who challenged her. However, the situation changed when a large, dark-skinned man leaped out of the portal and turned the tide of the battle. After that, the demoness was killed, and, after a couple of days, the lone surviving humans had stepped through the portal, ascending to the next plane of existence. Micayne waited for a few days before he followed. And it had been everything he¡¯d hoped it would be, giving him a class called Arch-Lich, which allowed him to not only create a new body, but to also pass his teachings on to any followers he might gain. But when he¡¯d stepped into the Eternal Realm, he¡¯d quickly discovered that necromancers ¨C or Arch-Liches, as was his case ¨C were not welcome. He was hunted from the start, and his new body was destroyed dozens of times. But they couldn¡¯t kill him. Not without discovering his secret. Soon enough, he managed to escape, creating a new body along the way. That was when he¡¯d met Catherine, who would become his finest pupil. An aristocrat from birth, she was just bored enough to find a budding Arch-Lich to be quite interesting. And through arduous effort, she had managed to transform her mundane Mage class into Lich. From there, she and Micayne had experienced a rapid rise, largely due to the decimation of an entire city. It hadn¡¯t been the original intention. Micayne had only wanted to take over a few palaces. But one thing led to another, and with each kill, his army had grown. He¡¯d let the power go to his head until the entire city had fallen. And he¡¯d gained more than a city. He had pushed himself forward far more quickly than anyone could have imagined. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. And that was before he and Catherine had discovered the city¡¯s dungeon. The next year was spent steadily slaughtering his way through the dungeon, one run after another, until he¡¯d exhausted all it could give. Only then did he hear of an entire kingdom of undead. So, he and his army of zombies ¨C along with Catherine and another student he¡¯d picked up ¨C set off through the wilderness, slaughtering anything in their path. But everything hadn¡¯t gone perfectly. Eventually, he and his minions faced off against a powerful monster ¨C some sort of enormous toad that belched fire ¨C that destroyed his entire army. The toad had died, sending Micayne¡¯s level even higher than before, but the damage had been done. So, without any other corpses with which to build his army, he had been forced to resort to stealth. There were a few bumps along the road, especially when it came to infiltrating the city itself. However, he¡¯d managed to take advantage of an already-ongoing conflict between two factions, which allowed him to set up in one of the disused portions of the town. From there, he¡¯d begun to build his forces, one zombie at a time. And he¡¯d discovered that they had very little defense against his control. More, each one he converted counted as a kill, which made sense, considering that, once he¡¯d finished, there was nothing left of the person they¡¯d once been. The only thing they retained was a durable body that depended on their levels. Everything else was gone. Micayne had found an absolute treasure trove of leveling energy, and he¡¯d used it to great advantage as he swept through the undead city. With every converted zombie, he progressed a little closer to the peak. He had yet to reach that lofty level, though he had shot past the supposed bottleneck and attained level ninety-one. But everything had gone wrong the moment that brute showed up. It had actually taken Micayne quite some time to realize that it was the same man he¡¯d encountered in the Mortal Realm. Now, he seemed to favor a sleek, metallic form, though Abraham had seen him let it fall away, revealing a muscular and athletic man that only vaguely resembled the half-armored monstrosity with which he¡¯d tried to make peace. Regardless, as seemed to be the man¡¯s only purpose in life, he¡¯d wrecked Micayne¡¯s plans, destroyed his army, and killed his followers. That last skill had taken most of the city, too, atomizing everything in its path. If Micayne had been back on Earth, he¡¯d have thought someone had detonated an atomic bomb. Yet, there were enough differences ¨C not least that such things didn¡¯t exist in the Eternal Realm ¨C that he knew that wasn¡¯t the case. It was a skill. A terrible, terrible skill. Micayne¡¯s body had been destroyed, of course, but that was nothing new. It was never meant to be anything but a fragile and temporary thing. He¡¯d retreated to his base of operations outside of the city, where he¡¯d immediately inhabited one of the other bodies he had already prepared. Then, he¡¯d gone searching the blast zone for anything interesting. And that was precisely what he¡¯d found when he encountered Talia Nightingale. During Micayne¡¯s reminiscence, she had continued to eviscerate the hunk of meat that he¡¯d been wearing. It came apart easily, but despite her enthusiasm, she clearly didn¡¯t enjoy tearing it apart. He briefly wondered what she got out of such destruction. Was it purely catharsis? Or had she gone feral? He would have loved to observe her for a little while longer, but the agony of being a spirit without a body was beginning to affect his ability to think. So, without further observation, he flitted away. As a spirit, he couldn¡¯t move very quickly. Complicating matters was the still-mounting pain. He still hadn¡¯t reached a crescendo, but when it did, Micayne knew he would run the risk of being lost, his spirit dissipating into the ambient mana. He¡¯d come close a few times over the years, and it was a situation he certainly had no intention of repeating. He pushed himself faster, racing across the ruined city until he reached the river that flowed alongside it. He followed the body of water downstream until he reached a small warehouse at the very edge of the city. It was miles away from the graveyard that had been the epicenter of the skill¡¯s explosion, and yet, it did not escape unscathed. The roof had been partially ripped away, and the stone walls looked on the verge of collapse. But fortunately, it had survived, as had the bodies inside. Micayne flowed through the wall like it wasn¡¯t even there, then located the next body in line. He entered it, using his skill [Locorpus] to take control. He sighed. ¡°That did not go as expected,¡± he said as a cascade of emotions washed over him. As a spirit, he felt nothing. He was entirely analytical. Yet, the moment he took control of one of his carefully constructed bodies, he was forced to feel everything. The weight of his failures pressed down upon his shoulders, threatening to crush him into the ground. The only cure was to keep moving forward. To keep progressing. If he did that, he may one day be capable of completely detaching himself from the burdens of his physical form. It was a lofty goal. And yet, he thought it was possible. He only needed to reach a high enough level, to develop his skills to such a degree that his spiritual existence wasn¡¯t so agonizing. But for now, he needed to figure out what he was going to do about Talia Nightingale and her hulking protector. That man had destroyed a city, and far more thoroughly than what Micayne had managed to accomplish. How many had he killed with that single skill? Tens of thousands, at the very least. Maybe far more. After all, Micayne had not managed to turn every single person in Darukar. Indeed, there were pockets of resistance that had remained hidden. They were all gone now. Dead. Just like everyone Micayne had ever loved. Now, Catherine had been taken from him, too. She had been a poor replacement for his wife, but she had been a nice distraction. He shoved those thoughts out of his mind. They were useless. Instead, he focused on his next move. Clearly, he would need to leave. Not only had he been robbed of his purpose for coming to Darukar in the first place, but even the death-attuned mana was gone. He wouldn¡¯t rebuild his army here. No ¨C he would find somewhere better. Because while having an undead population on which to prey made things much easier, there was nothing to say that he couldn¡¯t work with a living city. He¡¯d even learned some valuable lessons about keeping out of the public eye. Yes. He¡¯d lost, but it was just a singular battle amidst the war of a lifetime. He could rebuild. And he would grow stronger for it. By the time he took control of his other spare bodies and began to march them out of the warehouse, he was already beginning to see the bright side of the entire situation. 526. Finding a Friend Talia stared at the man¡¯s body, watching as it slowly lost its shape. It had been almost an hour since she¡¯d killed Micayne, and even as his corpse dissolved into a mass of unrecognizable goo, she still had yet receive any kill energy. And that could only mean that he was still alive. It wouldn¡¯t have been the first time he¡¯d cheated death. She glanced away, less awed now by the devastation of Zeke¡¯s skill. The city was still in ruins ¨C what was left of it, at least ¨C but the aura of desolation had begun to fade. Perhaps that was due to the return of ambient mana, the lack of which made her feel like she was drowning in nothingness. Now that she could feel the embrace of mana ¨C even if it lacked the cold undertones of death that had existed before ¨C the world felt less like it was ending and more like it had experienced some cataclysmic disaster. Neither situation was good, but one was clearly better than the other. Regardless, she was too distracted by the implications of Micayne¡¯s return to give the state of Darukar its proper due. That the vile necromancer had survived should not have been a surprise. In fact, she should have expected his involvement in the devastation of Darukar¡¯s population from the very beginning. But given that she had seen him destroyed ¨C and with her own two eyes ¨C it had never even crossed her mind. How he¡¯d gone from that to controlling large swathes of Darukar¡¯s population was a question that she still couldn¡¯t answer. And yet, that was the case. That was what had happened. And she didn¡¯t thinks he¡¯d get any answers anytime soon. More troubling than anything else was the fact that he was strong. Not in body ¨C she¡¯d ripped through him with ease ¨C but rather, in the power of his spirit. If his level wasn¡¯t comparable to Zeke¡¯s, she would have been immensely surprised. However, given the events she¡¯d just witnessed as well as the return of the man most responsible for the fall of the Radiant Isles into unthinking undeath, she knew she couldn¡¯t really trust her own perception of the situation. Better to just take things as they came, rather than try to make inferences that would turn out to be wrong. With that in mind, she knew she still had a job to do. Zeke was still out there, and given that she¡¯d yet to find him, Talia couldn¡¯t help but think that he was in no shape to defend himself. That was where she was supposed to step up. After all, everyone else was tucked away in the Crimson Tower. Assuming Zeke wasn¡¯t dead, in which case, there was no telling what would have happened to the people living in that space. That space wasn¡¯t part of their reality, and as such, it was entirely tied to Zeke. Without that tether, would it simply cease to exist, along with all of the residents Zeke had complied? Or would they remain in that space, forever cut off from the world? Maybe the tower would simply stay where it was in the Muk¡¯ti Plains. The reality was that Talia had no idea how it worked. Neither did Zeke himself, which meant that no one did. So, the only way she was going to get any answers was to find him. Fortunately, that coincided with her need to reunite with her friend. Without any further delay, she tore her eyes away from the mass of liquefied flesh that had been Micayne¡¯s body, then returned to her search. With every step she took deeper into the crater, she found herself more horrified ¨C at least inasmuch as she could feel such intense emotions without the benefit of heartsblood elixir running through her veins. The destruction was complete, and more so than anything she could have imagined. What was even more terrifying was the fact that one man had been the source. Back in the Radiant Isles, there were rumors that her mother had once torched an entire forest, and to a much younger Talia, that had seemed the peak of destruction. But here and now? Seeing what she¡¯d witnessed? She had come to realize that she was comparing two entirely different realms of obliteration. If it had been anyone else, she might¡¯ve been worried about one man holding so much power in his hands, but considering it was Zeke, she had no such thoughts. That he had waited so long to use such a power was a testament to his character and one of the reasons she¡¯d latched onto him so strongly. He wouldn¡¯t use such power unless absolutely necessary, and even then, he¡¯d take whatever precautions he could. As Talia searched, she forced herself not to think about Micayne. Instead, she focused on the task at hand, covering as much ground as she could. And over the next couple of days, she learned to move a little more freely, given her injuries. They wouldn¡¯t heal until she ingested some source of vitality, so until then, she would be forced to work with what she had. That meant running with a limp that shot pain up her leg and into her hip with every step she took. But she could take it, and not just because her race muted most pain. Indeed, she had long since become acclimated to all sorts of agony, and its persistence wouldn¡¯t slow her down. She wouldn¡¯t let it. On and on she went, gradually covering one section of her grid at a time as she closed in on the epicenter of the crater. Ironically, the closer she came to the point of impact, the easier her search became. After all, there came a point where nothing had survived. Surveying that was much easier than picking through rubble. Like that, days passed, and Talia¡¯s tension mounted. By the end of the fourth day, she could no longer ignore the anxiety eating away at her. She forced herself to acknowledge the chance that Zeke had not survived, that at best, she might find a body. At worst, he would have been destroyed by his own skill. But she felt in her heart that he was still there, that she would soon find him. Maybe he would look up at her and ask what took her so long. Or perhaps he would downplay his own power. Maybe he would even embrace her, as no one else ¨C even her undead friends ¨C seemed willing to do. Because even someone like her sometimes needed a hug. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Zeke had been there for her through the most traumatic events of her life, and he¡¯d offered his support every step of the way. He¡¯d given her the comfort of simply being her friend. And for that, she would ever be loyal. So, she kept going, grid by grid, and as she did, she struggled to keep her search in context. The city had been quite large, and without any remaining landmarks, she had no context for how the search had progressed. Further complicating matters was the weather. A storm had rolled in on the second day, which further obscured the region. But then, on the fifth day, when she¡¯d progressed within a mile of the point of impact, she saw a glint of metal. Normally, she might not have even noticed, but in the barren wasteland of the crater, she could scarcely miss anything out of the ordinary. So, she raced toward the location, and when she recognized it as a hand, she could no longer contain her excitement or anxiety. She dug through the mud, slinging the sticky substance aside with the unrelenting fervor, and after only a couple of minutes, she had managed to unearth Zeke¡¯s enormous titanic body. Panicked, she checked for any hint of vitality, and to her absolute horror, she sensed something she hadn¡¯t felt in years. The abyss. She hadn¡¯t experienced it since her transformation into one of the undead, but she¡¯d spent what felt like an eternity floating between this life and the next, tormented by a tether that held her there. She had been incapable of moving on. Unable to go back. People weren¡¯t supposed to experience the abyss for more than a moment, but she¡¯d been forced to hang there for what seemed like multiple lifetimes. No - she would never forget that. And now, she felt something similar on Zeke. More, there was deathly mana ¨C reminiscent of what had once been so prevalent in Darukar ¨C hanging off of him like a cloak. Yet, he was a live. Unconscious. Unresponsive. But alive, nonetheless. The state of his body had changed, though. Before, he¡¯d taken the form of a metallic man whose features weren¡¯t dissimilar from the ones of his natural appearance. That silvery skin was normally marred by a web of cracks, glowing yellow, green, and black, that spread across his upper body. But now the cracks spread across his entire form, even covering his face, making him look like a puzzle that had been inexpertly assembled. The light coming from those cracks was muted, and in daylight, it wouldn¡¯t have been visible at all. Yet, in the darkness of night, Talia could see that another color had been added to the mix. Violet. She had no idea what it meant, but she suspected that the scent of death wafting off of him had something to do with that new color. He was not undead, though. She could feel that much. Knowing that she didn¡¯t have the requisite expertise to make a determination on the subject, Talia pushed those thoughts aside and focused on how she was going to help her friend. She was no healer, and she couldn¡¯t wake him up. So, it soon became clear what she was intended to do. If Zeke was still alive, she needed to get him back to the tower. There, he could recover in those miraculous pools, and once he did, they could turn their attention to finding and, once and for all, killing Micayne. The only issue was that, as far as Talia knew, the tower¡¯s entrance was all the way in the Muk¡¯ti Plains. That meant she would have to cross hundreds of miles, all while carrying a multi-ton man. Or given her lacking strength, dragging was likely a better description of her future endeavors. Before she embarked on that task, she chose to retreat to a more friendly environment, then wait to see if Zeke recovered on his own. If he did ¨C even for a moment ¨C he would be able to summon a gate and save Talia quite a lot of trouble. So, with no small degree of difficulty, she grabbed him by one massive hand and started dragging him away. The path was eased ¨C and to a degree, complicated ¨C by the still-muddy ground. The first, because Zeke¡¯s body was that much easier to slide across the slick surface than it otherwise would have been. However, the complications came from the fact similar lack of traction she was able to attain. So, what followed wasn¡¯t dignified. Nor was it easy. And by the time she managed to reach the outskirts of the city, she was covered in mud and as exhausted as she had ever been. After a few hours rest, Talia resumed her journey, continuing to drag Zeke out of the city and into the wilderness. Along the way, she encountered quite a few beasts, but they were all much weaker than they¡¯d once been. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out why, either. The lack of death-attuned mana hadn¡¯t just affected the city, but also its surroundings. And given that most of the wildlife depended on that flavor of mana to survive, they were confused, weakened, and almost assuredly dying. The same was true of the flora. By destroying the city ¨C and the Pillar of Life dungeon ¨C Zeke had killed everything in the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth. What would happen to the people outside the city? Would they die as well? Were there any left, or had Micayne and his followers already converted the entire kingdom? There were so many questions, and few readily available answers. Until she encountered the first village. Talia hadn¡¯t spent much time outside of the city, save for the period just after her ascension. Yet, she¡¯d seen enough to know that, aside from being undead and having all the characteristics that went with that, the people in those villages were, plainly put, just people. They were living their lives the best way they knew how, without consideration for ascending to the next plane of existence or gaining power. For her part, Talia couldn¡¯t understand the appeal of simply existing. She needed a goal, and one she stood a chance of achieving. Yet, she knew she wasn¡¯t like most people, and she accepted that their way of life was just as valid as her own. Regardless, Talia was aghast when she came upon a small village and saw all of the bodies. Each of the residents were dead, their bodies having given out when they were deprived of their source of life. Or death, as it were. Even now, Talia could scarcely sense any death-attuned mana in the air. Eventually, the entire land would give way to life, and one day, it would be undiscernible from any other part of the Eternal Plane. And that saddened her. Even with her muted emotions, Talia felt tears falling down her cheeks. An entire kingdom, gone. A whole population, dead. And all because of one man¡¯s terrible skill. But more than that, she knew just how unique the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth was. Or had been. It was the result of a confluence of events and factors that would be almost impossible to replicate elsewhere. And now it was no more. But the village provided a safe haven where she could make her task easier. The first step was to clean herself and Zeke up, and she went to the nearby stream ¨C which was probably the reason for the village¡¯s existence in the first place ¨C where she arduously scrubbed the mud and muck from her own body. Then, she did the same for Zeke¡¯s metallic form. That pushed her to her limits ¨C she still hadn¡¯t entirely recovered, after all ¨C so she retreated to one of the village¡¯s houses, where she finally let herself rest. When she awoke the next morning, she had a better plan for how to proceed. It seemed clear that Zeke wouldn¡¯t soon awaken, so her path was obvious. Traversing El¡¯kireth wouldn¡¯t be difficult, but getting through Adontis would be quite a hardship. Hopefully, once she reached that kingdom, she could enlist the help of some of Zeke¡¯s people. He hadn¡¯t truly subjugated the place, but there were enough of his followers that she had some hope of finding aid. Before that, though, she needed to ease her own path. After all, dragging Zeke across the wilderness was not a sustainable plan. So, she embarked upon the task of making a litter. However, it wasn¡¯t long until she stumbled upon a wagon that would serve her purposes quite well. After levering Zeke onboard, she took her place at the tongue, then bent her back to the task of pulling her friend to safety. 527. The Journey Talia ducked under the sweeping sword strike, then leaped high into the air in order to avoid another. She landed in a roll that took her just out of reach of a descending axe. However, she could do nothing to avoid the stabbing spear from the fourth armored foe. It took her in the shoulder, lancing through flesh and bone before erupting out the other side in a shower of pale flesh. ¡°Undead filth!¡± cried the man. His armor was clearly high-quality, though the once shiny surface had been marred by dirt and quite a few dents. There was even a crack in the breastplate. The other men were even worse off, with each one wearing damaged armor and bearing visible scars. But their weapons proved viable enough, and they were certainly high enough level to kill her. If she hadn¡¯t already been injured, they never would have stood a chance, though. Or if their group had even one less member. Yet, that was the hand she had been dealt, and there was no point in lamenting the unfairness of it all. Especially considering that, only a few dozen feet away, Zeke still lay unconscious in the wagon she¡¯d been pulling. He was defenseless, which meant that she couldn¡¯t afford to allow herself to be defeated. So, with that in mind, she yanked herself free of the spear, taking quite a bit of her shoulder with her, then used [Flood of Death], sending a beam of pure rot to hit him in the exposed face. The effect was immediate, as great, black tendrils of decay spread across his visage, down his neck, and beneath his breastplate. A second later, he let out a gurgling scream as his skin began to slough off. Talia didn¡¯t worry about him very much after that. Instead, she turned her attention to the other former Knights of Adontis. Using [Calcification], her claws grew to a length of almost a foot, and she threw herself forward with all the speed she could muster. And given that she was using [Inevitability] as well as [Unliving Speed], she could bring quite a bit of speed to bear on the battle. She raced forward, and less than an instant later, her claws clanged off of a breastplate. The Knight tried to respond, but his counterattack came far too slow, and his blade bit deep into the turf. Talia was already gone, though, raking her claws across the unprotected hamstrings of the axe-wielding Knight. He let out a cry of pain as the backs of his legs were shredded. More, Talia¡¯s other skills, [Frigid Claws] and [Plague Strike] inflicted their effects on the bearded man, slowing him while also infecting him with a lesser rot. He stumbled, but he didn¡¯t fall. The Knights had clearly fallen on hard times, but that didn¡¯t mean they¡¯d lost their levels ¨C or more importantly, their stats. So, they could stand up to quite a lot of damage. That was fine, though. Talia was nothing if not persistent, and even injured, she could run circles around the much slower Knights. For the next few moments, she proved that that was the case, darting between them with impunity. At first, it wasn¡¯t difficult to keep them off guard, but after that initial burst of activity, her own injuries began to make themselves known. As a result, Talia very nearly had her head cleaved from her body. She only avoided it by ducking at the very last second, but still, the intended decapitation sliced a bit of her skull free. She responded by ramming her claws into the man¡¯s neck and ripping his trachea free. However, that opened her up for reprisal from his companions, and Talia took another couple of injuries ¨C one to her shoulder and another to her bad leg. That slowed her further, but by virtue of being one of the undead, she had an extraordinary tolerance for pain. More than that, though, she was committed in a way most people couldn¡¯t understand. She used those traits to spur her on, diving out of the way of another attack, then dipping low to rip through a second Knight¡¯s ankle. The tendon severed, and when he tried to pivot, his leg collapsed beneath him. Talia took that opportunity and pounced on his chest. He struggled, but as immobilized as he was, he had few defenses against her claws. She struck three times in quick succession, eviscerating every bit of exposed flesh she could find. That meant his face and neck were torn to shreds, sending splatters of blood everywhere. But the man still didn¡¯t die. Not until Talia sensed another attack coming her way. She sprang backward, flipping in mid-air as she avoided the knight¡¯s axe. It hit the man¡¯s wounded companion in the chest, cleaving through his breastplate and into all sorts of necessary organs. The prone Knight died with a gurgle. His stunned ally fell a moment later when Talia threw another beam of rot at him. It hit the man in the back, rusting his breastplate in seconds before boring through the compromised metal and into his vulnerable flesh. He fell atop his slain companion, where he writhed in agony. That left only one man standing. Talia turned on him. He smirked at her. ¡°Fiend. You will pay for that. You will all pay. The beasts and that metal man over there. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know who he is,¡± the Knight spat. ¡°He is the leader. The one who slew Lord Adontis. When I kill him, I will be hailed as a ¨C¡± His tirade was cut off by Talia¡¯s sweeping claws that ripped his throat out. ¡°You talk too much when you should be fighting,¡± she rasped as she grabbed him by the breastplate. The man tried to continue the battle, weakly flailing his sword at her. But there was no strength to it. Talia ignored his efforts, instead reaching out to slice through the leather straps that held the breastplate in place. Then, she ripped it away, exposing the Knight¡¯s chest. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. His shirt was already soaked through with blood from his throat wound, which was severe enough that he should have known he was dying. Yet, his eyes widened as he gurgled, ¡°W-what are you doing?¡± Talia had no idea how his vocal cords had remained intact. Nor did she particularly care. So long as he didn¡¯t have some hidden healing ability, he wasn¡¯t long for the world. Even if he did have some miracle up his sleeve, he would soon die. To highlight that, Talia cocked her arm back, then plunged her claws deep into his chest. They snagged on his ribcage, but Talia persisted, stabbing again and again until she broke through. Eventually, she managed, but by that point, the Knight had succumbed to his fate. It was no matter, though. What she wanted ¨C needed, really ¨C was already at hand. For the final time, she thrust her hand into his chest and wrapped her fingers around the Knight¡¯s heart. Then, she yanked it free. For a moment, she stared at the blood-coated knot of muscle. In the past, her stomach might have roiled at the thought of what she was about to do. It was why she had come to prefer heartsblood elixirs. However, she¡¯d begun to come to terms with her own nature, and as such, she didn¡¯t find the necessity of the act nearly as distasteful as she once might have. After another few seconds, she brought the heart to her mouth, then bit into it. Immediately, she felt a flood of foreign vitality. Talia had no idea why the heart contained so much life energy, but it was practically made of the stuff. She took another bite, receiving another wave of vitality. Then another. A few more massive bites, and she¡¯d consumed the whole thing. That¡¯s when she activated her skill, [Focused Reformation]. In seconds, her body knitted itself back together. Bones mended. Wounds sealed. Weariness she hadn¡¯t even acknowledged melted away. But she focused on the emotions. The fear. The disgust. The sheer hatred flowing through her mind. Until that moment, she had considered the implications of everything that had happened through the haze of her muted emotions. But now, that obscuring fog had been stripped away, laying everything bare. She dropped to the ground, overwhelmed by the sheer scope of what she had seen. Millions of people had died. Most had fallen under the necromancers¡¯ sway, but quite a few more had perished because of Zeke¡¯s actions. He¡¯d destroyed Darukar, and the Pillar of Life with it. That powerful dungeon had been responsible for the entire kingdom¡¯s death-attuned nature, and without it, the region had been flooded with vitality, which was like poison to the undead. On top of that, they¡¯d suffocated ¨C in a metaphysical sense ¨C due to the lack of death-attuned mana. It was a horrible way to go. Over the past week ¨C as Talia had traversed the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth ¨C she had seen countless undead villages and towns. Every single one of them played host to nothing but the truly dead. Only due to her muted emotions had she been capable of keeping going, but now? She was like an exposed nerve. More, she couldn¡¯t fathom the reason behind it all. Certainly, she understood the actions of individuals. People like Micayne craved power more than anything else, and they were willing to sacrifice everything to attain it. And Zeke had done what he¡¯d had to do, using that terrible skill to eradicate the mass of zombies and flesh giants that would have swept across the world, killing everyone in its path. She knew those things. And yet, that knowledge was no comfort. If there were gods up there in the higher planes ¨C and the presence of the Framework suggested that there were ¨C then why would they have allowed so much death, destruction, and tragedy? The entire system seemed hellbent on pitting everyone against one another, and all in the pursuit of more power. It was so senseless. She knelt there amidst the dead bodies of her enemies, and she wept for the injustice of it all. But then, her sadness turned to anger. And that anger became purpose. She wasn¡¯t satisfied with the state of the world. Once, she¡¯d trained to be a healer, but that ship had long since sailed. That was no longer her nature. However, what remained was a drive to fix things. So, while she could no longer repair people, she could work toward figuring out why the world had to be the way it was, and if she wasn¡¯t satisfied with the answer, she would change it. But to do that, she needed to play the game. She had to grow much, much stronger if she ever wished to challenge gods. And she could not do it alone. Her gaze flicked toward Zeke. Not only was he her friend, but he was also the key. He had more power than her. More potential. And even more importantly, he was equipped with a similar sense of justice. He was the key to everything. As he went, so would she. But first, she needed to complete her journey across enemy territory. Now that she was healthy, it would be much easier. However, the presence of the dregs of the Knights of Adontis would complicate things. Clearly, the conquered territory wasn¡¯t nearly as under control as Zeke had thought. Regardless, her task remained the same, and she once again took up her position at the head of the wagon, and trudged forward. Fortunately, the country had been fairly well-developed, so she¡¯d found a road early on. She followed that, trying to remember the maps she had seen. Along the way, Talia saw plenty of evidence of strife. A couple of villages had been completely razed, and though she wasn¡¯t entirely sure who the culprit was, the Knights of Adontis seemed to be likely perpetrators. Talia only paused briefly to investigate, though. Her goal wasn¡¯t to fight a war, after all. Instead, she had a singular task ¨C get Zeke back to the tower so he could heal. Only then could they focus on everything else. On and on she went, and on more than one occasion, she was forced to fight. None of those battles were nearly as harrowing as the first clash with the Knights, but she couldn¡¯t completely dismiss them either. So, as she traveled, she left a trail of blood and corpses in her wake. It was unavoidable. And yet, it was a grim reminder of her previous vow to discover the reason the Framework seemed so focused on fostering conflict. It could have just as easily rewarded crafting. Or diplomacy. Friendship or art. But it gave them skills focused on killing. Certainly, there were people with supposedly non-combat classes. Crafters were the most prominent, but she¡¯d seen a few entertainers back in Darukar as well. There were healers and administrators, too. But the vast majority of the world¡¯s skills were focused on combat. That was a pretty good indicator of the Framework¡¯s intent, at least as far as Talia was concerned. Regardless, after three more weeks, during which she was forced to fight dozens of small battles, Talia reached the labyrinth. She¡¯d hoped to find kobolds manning the fort guarding the entrance, but it was entirely abandoned. That didn¡¯t matter, though. Talia knew where to find the tower, so while it would have been nice to find some allies, she wouldn¡¯t be deterred by the lack. Without a single backward glance, she trudged forward, dragging Zeke into the labyrinth. 528. Aid Talia bent her back to the task of dragging the wagon along the uneven path. Once, it might have been well-preserved, but it had fallen into disrepair. Likely that had coincided with the fall of its host kingdom. Adontis might¡¯ve been populated with monsters-in-human-skin, but they were well-versed in management. It was amazing how well a government functioned when they had little oversight and weren¡¯t beholden to morality. Slavery made maintenance so much easier, and all it cost was a people¡¯s collective and metaphorical soul. She¡¯d been in the labyrinth for most of a week, and she¡¯d passed three strongholds along the way. They had all been abandoned, and quickly enough that they¡¯d left most of their supplies behind. That had proven a boon for Talia, as she¡¯d broken more wheels than she could count. On top of that, even though she was undead, she still had the need to eat and drink. She wouldn¡¯t starve like a living person, but she would progressively grow weaker ¨C both in mind and body ¨C if she forewent sustenance. So, having a ready source of food ¨C even if some of it had begun to turn ¨C had lifted a burden from her shoulders. Still, the way was not easy, and to make matters worse, Talia had, on more than one occasion, found herself lost. The map she¡¯d taken was not as detailed as she would have liked, and the portion devoted to the labyrinth was even more confusing than the rest. Still, Talia¡¯s persistence never wavered, and she trudged along. However, in the back of her mind, she couldn¡¯t help but worry for Zeke. He¡¯d remained unconscious throughout the journey, never moving a single muscle. If she didn¡¯t know better, she would have considered him to be an actual statue. Yet, she knew he was alive, if only barely, and she was the only person who was in a position to help. It was fitting. Zeke was her only true friend, and Talia had to believe that she occupied a similar space in his life. He had Pudge, but the former dire bear was more of a little brother than a friend. And Talia had Adriel and Baruk, but she hadn¡¯t known either of them long enough to put t hem on the same level with Zeke. Of course, she could recognize that she¡¯d put the man on a pedestal, idolizing him in a way that wasn¡¯t particularly healthy. But in her defense, it was unavoidable. He¡¯d saved her. He had taken the time to understand her. To help her maintain whatever was left of her humanity. No one else had done anything like that, and so, her relationship with Zeke was different from what she shared with all the rest. Her feelings were aromantic, but no less powerful for that. One step after another, she covered ground. When she grew tired, she rested. When she was hungry, she dipped into the stores she had gathered from the strongholds. And when danger presented itself, she fought with every ounce of ferocity she could muster. And like that, they traversed the labyrinth. Eventually, she started talking to Zeke. Originally, she¡¯d done so in the hopes that the sound of her voice might pull him closer to consciousness, but as the days wore on, she was forced to acknowledge that it was as much for her own benefit as it was to help him. None of what she said was particularly poignant. In fact, she often found herself simply narrating her surroundings. It made the time pass a little more easily, and what¡¯s more, she found it cathartic to simply talk, even if her chosen conversation partner could neither hear her nor respond. Even when she was human, Talia hadn¡¯t engaged in mindless chatter. Some of that was because of the loneliness of her childhood, but it was also due to her characteristic social anxiety. She didn¡¯t really get along with people very well, and her transformation into one of the undead had only made that trait more pronounced. But that was how she liked it, if she was honest. Vapid conversation was the last thing she wanted to occupy her time. So, the catharsis she felt was a little surprising, but she chose not to question it too much. Instead, she just focused on taking one step at a time. Gradually, she covered one mile after another until more than a week after she had entered the labyrinth, the wagon¡¯s axle broke. Talia shuddered to a stop as it dug into the rocky ground. It actually took her a moment to recognize what had happened, but when she did, the emotions of the moment overwhelmed her. She dropped to her knees and buried her head in her hands. Like that, she wept. The heart she had eaten had stuck with her for far longer than normal. Maybe it was because of the Knight¡¯s level. Or perhaps there was some other factor at play. Whatever the case, her emotions had been running wild ever since, and they were far stronger than normal. After her time in Darukar, she¡¯d thought she had grown accustomed to once again having emotions. But what she felt now far exceeded anything she¡¯d experienced in the undead city. As tears of frustration fell down her cheeks, she couldn¡¯t help but ponder her situation. Was Zeke doomed? Would he every awaken? Or was she destined to go back to being alone? It would be like returning to the abyss, and she knew ¨C in her heart and soul ¨C that she couldn¡¯t take that. Not again. Talia wasn¡¯t sure how long she remained there, kneeling in the center of that path. But when she finally rose, her tears had long since dried. The sun had set as well, and she decided that she would wait until the morning before she figured out how to repair the wagon. And if that failed, she would turn it into a litter. Because one way or another, she was going to get Zeke back to his tower. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The night passed uneventfully, though because of her undead nature, Talia had long left any fear of the shadows behind. She was a monster herself, wasn¡¯t she? What did she have to fear from the terrors of the dark? At sunrise, she dragged Zeke out of his wagon, then got to work trying to fix the axle. It had completely snapped, meaning that there was no hope of repairing it. So, she attempted to find alternate means of getting the job done. However, it quickly became apparent that without tools or a replacement for the axle, she was doomed to failure. But with the coming of a new day, she¡¯d felt a resurgence of purpose. A renewal of hope. She would make it work, one way or another. So, with new resolve flowing through her mind, Talia started to deconstruct the wagon. Once it was in pieces, she put them back together, tying them in place with some rope she¡¯d salvaged from one of the abandoned forts until she had a passable litter. Finally, she dragged Zeke into place, then continued on her way through the labyrinth. For two more days she traveled until she reached another abandoned outpost. There, she found another large wagon, which she commandeered to make her progress easier. It worked, speeding her along the way through the labyrinth until, at last, she caught sight of other people. At first, she was elated to have discovered habitation. However, that quickly dissipated when she realized that they were Knights, and not the sort she had fought in Adontis proper. These were somehow shinier and more dignified, though Talia couldn¡¯t quite place why she felt the latter. Yet, she did know who they were. Back in Darukar, she¡¯d been briefed on the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth¡¯s enemies, which were innumerable. She had tried to learn them all, but she¡¯d focused most of her attention on the closest among them. First on that list were the Knights of Adontis, with whom the forces of El¡¯kireth frequently clashed. There were a couple of others ¨C like Spora and Sythe ¨C but the most prominent among their enemies was the one to whom Adontis owed their allegiance. The nation itself had been known by many names in the past, but the true power lay with what was known as the Radiant Host. Talia, of course, was very familiar with their origin. They were dedicated to the same Sun Goddess who had claimed her mother¡¯s loyalty. Even if they hadn¡¯t been labeled as enemies of undead, Talia would have distrusted them for no other reason than because of that association. Her mother had been a monster, so any goddess that Constance Nightingale worshipped had to be one too. Upon seeing the Radiant Host, Talia retreated a couple of miles, where she left Zeke behind. She didn¡¯t like leaving him unguarded, but she couldn¡¯t very well scout the enemy ¨C and that was what they were, she was certain ¨C with a wagon in tow. So, unburdened, she returned to the camp. The Knights of the Radiant Host were arrayed across the the labyrinth¡¯s exit. Row after row of tents marked the temporary settlement, and the soldiers were just as orderly as the neatly laid-out camp implied. There were no fights. No gambling. No rowdiness of any kind. But that wasn¡¯t what drew her eye. No ¨C she couldn¡¯t have cared less about their demeanor. What she did care about was the woman seemingly in charge of it all. Talia¡¯s emotions were still a little volatile, but her fury reached entirely new heights when she laid her eyes on Abby, all decked out in golden armor. That woman didn¡¯t deserve to be in command of anything. She was a terrible person who¡¯d betrayed her friends. Did her subordinates know that? Did they care? From the concealment of an outcropping of boulders, Talia observed her former ally, and as she did, she felt her seething rage mount until she could feel nothing else. She should have killed Abby when she¡¯d had the chance. The fact that the woman had joined the Radiant Host was testament to that. Talia itched to rectify that mistake. Yet, what could she do? Abby was surrounded by a hundred Knights, and judging by the way they moved, each one of them was high enough level to make killing them problematic. Talia was just contemplating her course of action when she felt something pressed against her back. ¡°No move.¡± Talia didn¡¯t. Instead, she said, ¡°You are one of Zeke¡¯s¡­I mean, Ak-toh¡¯s rangers, right?¡± ¡°I am Chosen.¡± ¡°Is that your name? Or¡­¡± ¡°No name. Just Chosen.¡± ¡°Okay. I need your help, then. If you are here, then that means the others are around, right? Zeke is nearby. I dragged him here, but I do not think I can get him past that camp. He needs healing.¡± ¡°We will do this.¡± Then, the pressure of the blade being held against Talia¡¯s back disappeared. She turned to see a small kobold ¨C maybe four feet tall ¨C standing before her. It had pitch-black scales and vivid red eyes that felt like they could bore into her soul. ¡°Come with me,¡± she said. Then, without another word, she set off, intent on returning to where she¡¯d left Zeke. As she went, she became aware of eight more kobold rangers following her. She knew that they¡¯d let her see them. Otherwise, there was no way she could have detected them. Once the rangers saw Zeke¡¯s unconscious body, they let out a collective wail that didn¡¯t cease until Talia insisted that he wasn¡¯t dead. Still, the little kobolds took a few more minutes before they settled down. When they had composed themselves, Talia explained that he was still alive, just unconscious, and that he needed the Crimson Spring back in the tower. They took that news with equanimity, and before Talia knew what was happening, they surrounded Zeke¡¯s prone form, then lifted him up. Without a word, they set off, but not toward the Radiant Host camp. Rather, they went in the other direction. Talia followed, wondering what was going on. She found out about ten minutes later when the kobolds turned down a side path that had been carefully concealed by some sort of enchantment. Until Talia saw the kobolds pass through, she had thought it was just another cliff. Over the next half day, they followed a winding path until, at last, they exited the labyrinth into the Muk¡¯ti Plains. The little kobolds never slowed. They didn¡¯t complain. Instead, they simply marched forward, carrying Zeke¡¯s massive body on their shoulders. Once they¡¯d reached the plains, it was only a matter of time before they found their way to an enormous army of kobolds, beastkin, and a few converted Knights of Adontis. Talia was also relieved to find quite a few familiar faces, Pudge among them. ¡°What happened?¡± he demanded. ¡°I do not know. He used his skill. This is how I found him,¡± Talia replied. ¡°I think he needs the springs.¡± Pudge agreed, and after that, he led the procession through the plains and, at last, to the Crimson Tower. The fact that it was a relief. Despite knowing that Zeke was alive, Talia had feared that she had imagined his heartbeat. Now, though, she felt certain that he would recover. And with that certainty, she finally felt her burden slide away. At last, she could rest. So, she headed to Zeke¡¯s manor, where she¡¯d stayed before the various battles of Darukar, and settled in for a long slumber. 529. Out of the Abyss Zeke floated in pervasive nothingness. He struggled to feel anything, could not think, and failed to move. In his most cognizant moments, he was reminded of the space between Earth and the Mortal Realm. He¡¯d spent eons there, content with similar nothingness. And yet, this was different, though subtly so. The ephemeral pain, barely felt but still definitely there, was probably part of that. Before, the endless darkness was peaceful, and in the most profound way. But this? It was chaotic. Untethered. And agonizing. But if there was one thing Zeke could endure, it was pain. He¡¯d been forced to do so since the very beginning. Even going back to his life on Earth, pain had been familiar company. So, that was what he did. Still, he knew it would change him, that with every passing moment, it altered the very nature of his being. Because how could it not? Gradually, Zeke acclimated to the abyss. It wasn¡¯t pleasant, but a man could grow accustomed to anything ¨C even endless pain. Or perhaps his mind had shattered, just like his body. His body. The necromantic vessel. [Wrath of Annihilation]. His memories came tumbling back, though he felt detached from it all. It was as if he¡¯d heard about those events from a stranger. He cared, inasmuch as he could, but they couldn¡¯t affect him. Not anymore. Indeed, the only thing that mattered was the abyss. And the pain, even if he¡¯d steadily grown accustomed to it. Like that, a subjective eternity passed. In the distance ¨C or close enough that if he reached out, he could touch it ¨C a tantalizing light danced. Zeke didn¡¯t know what it was. He scarcely cared. But it called to him in a way that the abyss could not rival. If he could have moved, he would have gone to it. Yet, something held him in place. Or maybe it was the nothing itself that prevented him from going to the light. Then, suddenly, he heard a noise. It was so abrupt that, for the longest time, Zeke couldn¡¯t even remember what sound was. Then, that too came rushing back to him, and after an indistinct time, he recognized the noise for what it was. A voice. And it was calling to him, steadily screaming his name. ¡°Ezekiel!¡± it yelled, piercing through the miasma of the abyss. He recognized the voice from somewhere, but he couldn¡¯t place it. Not at first. Then, in an epiphany he couldn¡¯t even begin to explain, a name came to him. ¡°Eveline,¡± he thought. ¡°Yes! You must come to me, Ezekiel! Come to me now!¡± she said with no small degree of urgency. It didn¡¯t make sense to him, why she would be so agitated. A subjective eternity later, he saw a different light at the edge of the abyss. To his perception, it was mostly the same. And yet, it was markedly dissimilar as well. Zeke couldn¡¯t understand it, but he accepted it nonetheless. In any case, that was the origin of Eveline¡¯s voice. So, he asked what he thought of as the most pertinent question. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°People are depending on you,¡± she said, sounding much further away than only moments before. ¡°Please. Think of everyone who needs you to ¨C¡± And then her voice was gone, leaving Zeke enmeshed in the desperate peace of his painful existence. He drifted a little closer to the second light, and his thoughts cleared. More importantly, he remembered precisely what Eveline had referenced. All the kobolds. The beastkin. Pudge. Talia. Tens of thousands of people would assuredly perish if he never returned. But even as those thoughts crossed his mind, he wondered why it even mattered? What good was life, anyway? It was filled with constant struggle, ups and downs, joy and pain. He much preferred the constant agony that his existence within the abyss had become, if only because he lacked the context of comparison. With no pleasure, pain lost much of its bite. Abruptly, a fire ignited in his mind. If Zeke was honest, he¡¯d never been driven by good deeds or heroism. He had saved people. He tried to put the needs of others first. That was what being a decent person entailed. But it was not what had pushed him to continue on, to take one step after another along his path of progression. It wasn¡¯t what kept him going, even when every fiber of his being had told him to stop. No. He wasn¡¯t driven by helping others. Instead, he was motivated by his own ego, by the treading the path itself. By continuing to strive for the a higher tier. To take the next step. To be better that he was even a moment before. It was the same thing that had pushed him to become an elite athlete back on Earth. Certainly, he could trace some of it back to his father¡¯s abusive attempt to live vicariously through his son. However, even that took a backseat to his own personal ethos. The core of who he was had never been about baseball or winning or fighting, though he enjoyed those things. Instead, it was about improvement. It was the idea that if he pushed himself hard enough, he could one day become the best version of himself. Of course, what that best version meant was up for debate, but after being reborn in those troll caves, Zeke had latched onto personal power as his gauge. The eternal treadmill of gaining levels, of developing skills, of meeting one goal after another ¨C that pursuit was what defined him. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. And it was what burned so brightly in his mind, banishing the peace he¡¯d come to take for granted. He didn¡¯t want peace. He didn¡¯t want quiet. He wanted the struggle and the pain, the joy and the triumph. He needed it because, without that, he was nothing. So, with the fire of ambition roaring through his mind, Zeke turned his attention away from the first light and focused in on the second. The abyss faded from his thoughts as he latched onto the light ¨C of his life ¨C and pulled. At first, it did nothing. He had no body, and yet, he leveraged his mind in its place. And eventually, he inched toward it. That small distance felt like a thousand miles, but that was enough to spur Zeke on. Gradually, inch by agonizing inch, he moved closer. In the abyss, time had no meaning, but if it had, it would have been like walking to the moon. Or further. But Zeke didn¡¯t care for distances. Nor was he concerned with the passage of time. He only cared about his goal. At some point, he realized that the abyss wasn¡¯t responsible for his pain. Rather, it was his Will. The power of his Path of Arcane Destruction burned through him, and he suspected that it was the only reason he hadn¡¯t moved on. Zeke had no idea how that worked, but it gave him a clue as to how to speed things up. He embraced his path, harnessing his Will. The pain increased a thousandfold, but he embraced that as well, welcoming it to him. More importantly, the pace of his steady trek toward the light increased, and before long, he¡¯d made discernible progress. It loomed before him like the sun, torturing him with its proximity. He pushed harder, and the pain increased accordingly. Soon enough, Zeke could no longer ignore it. So, he did the opposite, diving headfirst into the agonizing miasma. It welcomed him like an old friend, wrapping its arms around him and squeezing until he could neither think nor feel. But he kept going toward that light. Finally, he saw an opening. A hole in the nothingness that beckoned to him in ways he couldn¡¯t understand. Through that bright, white portal was hope and joy and fear and every other emotion he couldn¡¯t currently feel. And he needed those things. In his state, Zeke wasn¡¯t certain why he knew that, but he was aware of it nonetheless. And it only grew stronger as he inched toward the aperture. And then, it happened. At last, he plunged through and into whiteness. Zeke fell face-first, his cheek hitting the ground a moment later. ¡°I thought you¡¯d never make it,¡± came another voice. This one was familiar, though not nearly as much as Eveline¡¯s. Zeke looked up to see a short man with broad shoulders looking down at him. He was maybe four feet tall, with leaves and twigs interwoven into his beard. ¡°Oberon,¡± he said. ¡°Ah, so you remember me. Good. I had wondered if your mind would survive the abyss,¡± the dwarf said, extending his hand. Zeke took it, then let himself be pulled to his feet. ¡°What happened? Why am I here?¡± ¡°Because you died. Mostly. Once someone reaches your level of power, the lines get a little blurry,¡± Oberon explained. ¡°More importantly, you glimpsed the final battle, didn¡¯t you?¡± Suddenly, Zeke remembered the world-sized war he¡¯d witnessed. It had only been there for an instant, but the image was burned into his mind. So, he said, ¡°I think so. What was it?¡± ¡°That is our goal,¡± Oberon said. ¡°Some interpret it as a war between heaven and hell, but it¡¯s not. The two sides are more fundamentally opposed than demons and men.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you described it as,¡± Zeke pointed out. He remembered it distinctly, even if he¡¯d been a bit distracted by all the other information that had been conveyed during that meeting. ¡°Sake of brevity. Humans tend to process a battle between heaven and hell a little more easily than they can comprehend the notion of beings from an entirely different dimension trying to unmake our reality,¡± the dwarf stated. ¡°But that¡¯s what we¡¯re dealing with. Or we will be if you make it to the Ethereal Realm. Do that, and you can join me. Together, we¡¯ll ascend to the Divine Realm where we will defeat the invaders once and for all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point of all this, then?¡± Zeke asked, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Of course. Why else would the Framework have been created?¡± Oberon asked. Zeke just shrugged. He didn¡¯t know enough to offer an answer. Instead, he asked another question, ¡°I heard a voice telling me that I shouldn¡¯t have seen that Final Battle. Who was that?¡± ¡°The Arbiter. It is the final power of our universe.¡± ¡°Is it God?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Oberon said. ¡°I don¡¯t know. No one does, at least as far as the Ethereal Realm. Perhaps we¡¯ll find out when we ascend.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. People talk about you and others like you as if you¡¯re gods. Why haven¡¯t you ascended already?¡± he asked. ¡°It is complicated.¡± ¡°I think we have time,¡± Zeke persisted, glancing around the pristine white room. It was no different than the last time he¡¯d visited, which wasn¡¯t surprising. There just wasn¡¯t anything else to see in what Oberon had once described as a construct. ¡°People are selfish. They are also often cowards. No one wants to ascend until they are certain that they can maintain the power they¡¯ve worked so hard to compile,¡± Oberon explained. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go alone.¡± It was a simple statement, but Zeke felt a world of regret in those few words. ¡°I see. So, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°You go back to your body, where you will spend quite some time healing. Then, I expect you¡¯ll be able to guide your own hand. However, I will give you a few hints. First, the necromancer you thought you killed in the Mortal Realm was not slain. Indeed, he is responsible for many of the problems you recently faced.¡± ¡°Micayne is alive?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°I killed him.¡± ¡°You did not. And you will not, unless you can find his phylactery. It is the tether that binds his soul to your world, and without it, he will be torn apart.¡± Zeke just nodded. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°You took that better than expected.¡± ¡°I realized that I didn¡¯t get any kill energy when I thought I killed him. Your explanation makes sense.¡± Oberon scratched his beard. ¡°That will be your first challenge. The second will be even more difficult. Shar Maelaine¡¯s forces are arrayed against you. This is my fault. She fears what you represent.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A threat to her power in this realm and the next,¡± Oberon answered. ¡°When you awaken, you will have only a short time before a war breaks out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing new. I¡¯ve been at war for a while now.¡± ¡°So you have. And finally, the most difficult challenge of all is that you must find your way to the Ethereal Realm through Hell.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°You will not make it otherwise. If you ascend from your current realm, you will be forced to swear allegiance to one of the other so-called gods, or you will be killed,¡± Oberon answered. ¡°The only way to avoid that is to come in through the back door, so to speak. The demons will not force you to make such a choice. If you have the power to brave the Pit, they will leave you to make your own way.¡± ¡°Do I have that kind of power?¡± ¡°Not yet. But by the time you reach the peak of the Eternal Realm, you will,¡± Oberon answered. ¡°Our time has run out, though. You must move on, one way or the other. Make your choice.¡± Despite the dwarf¡¯s vague statement, Zeke understood it well enough. He needed to pick a light. Now didn¡¯t have the abyss clouding his mind, he recognized what they represented. One way was death. The other, which was the one he¡¯d already chosen, was life. But it was more than that. Life meant struggle. Pain. Hardship. While death was peace. Zeke only thought about it for an instant before he reaffirmed the choice he¡¯d already made. He would return to the Eternal Realm, then figure out a way to accomplish the goals Oberon had set for him. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said to the dwarf. The choice didn¡¯t need to be stated. Oberon already knew. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± And then Zeke opened his eyes. 530. Making Plans The pools of the Crimson Spring stirred, sending ripples through the steaming water. But there was no one there to see it. No one but the enormous, metal man at its center, and he could see nothing. Nor could he hear. Blind, deaf, and dumb, he didn¡¯t even know his name. And yet, there was a spark. A memory. A world torn asunder by an eternal war between entities too powerful to comprehend. From that terrible memory grew awareness, and from that awareness came a return to sapience. It was no quick process. Indeed, it felt as if it took years. Yet, persistence was easy when one knew nothing else. When one had nothing else. Zeke opened his eyes, and for the first time in what felt an eternity, he saw. Tears of joy dragged their way down his cheeks. Not because he lived again, but rather, because he finally knew his path. He knew what awaited him. And he knew precisely how he was meant to get there. There was happiness in that, especially when he¡¯d spent much of the past few years ¨C indeed, ever since he¡¯d been reborn ¨C mired in aimless wanderings. But now he had a goal. Three, to be precise. The first was simple, though that didn¡¯t mean it would be easy. Killing the Radiant Host would assuredly prove much more difficult than destroying their vassals, the Knights of Adontis. But he¡¯d defeated their goddess¡¯ underlings in the Mortal Realm, and he knew he could repeat that feat in the Eternal Realm. Second, he would need to destroy the necromancer he¡¯d thought dead. Micayne was still alive, and killing him would be much more complicated than fighting a war. Indeed, Zeke didn¡¯t even know where to find the man¡¯s phylactery, much less how to destroy it. But if there was one thing he did well, it was destruction. The investigation would likely prove much more time-consuming and difficult. And finally, he had to go to Hell, find the Pit, and descend to the next realm. As an addendum to that, he would need to find his way out of whatever passed for Hell in the Ethereal Realm. Each time Zeke had visited the demon realm ¨C twice so far ¨C he¡¯d nearly died. It was a dangerous place, and one that he only vaguely understood. So, descending through the so-called Pit ¨C as opposed to ascending like everyone else ¨C would doubtless challenge him in ways he couldn¡¯t even imagine. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t have to worry about that for a while. He still had quite a few levels to go before he would be ready to ascend. Or descend, as Oberon had insisted. ¡°Not as many as you think,¡± came a quiet voice from within his head. ¡°Eveline?¡± Zeke asked, his memories still piecing themselves back together. His first recollection was his name, but after that, he¡¯d remembered his conversation with Oberon. Now, everything else was beginning to rush back, and with it came Eveline. ¡°Welcome back,¡± she said. ¡°I was beginning to wonder if I¡¯d spend the rest of my days stuck in the mind of a comatose person. Or worse.¡± ¡°How close did I come?¡± ¡°Too close. You may very well be more durable than anyone I¡¯ve ever seen ¨C even some who are at the peak,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°But the combination of that much destructive Will and that glimpse into that other Realm ¨C it nearly unmade you. I knew you were alive. I tried to reach out to you. But¡­¡± ¡°I know. I was almost dead.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­don¡¯t do that again, okay? That was too much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what it took,¡± Zeke pointed out. If he¡¯d done any less, the necromantic vessel would not have been destroyed. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the only thing that you destroyed.¡± ¡°What else?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°The city. The whole of Darukar and everything in it. You also destroyed the dungeon,¡± she said. ¡°The whole region has been affected, with the undead attunement fading away. The unliving Kingdome of El¡¯kireth is no more.¡± It was not unexpected, but it also wasn¡¯t the great loss Eveline made it out to be. The entire city had fallen under the sway of necromancy, and those people had already been lost. ¡°That is not the case,¡± Eveline said, her voice even more subdued than before. ¡°What?¡± ¡°There were survivors hiding in the city. They were killed. That isn¡¯t considering all the people living outside of the city. They won¡¯t survive, now that life has begun to return to the region. You killed millions, Ezekiel. Not all directly, but they¡¯re still dead because of you,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m not saying this to accuse you of anything. I know you did what you did because there was no other choice. But I also know that you would want this information.¡± That was true. He would have preferred not to have slain so many ¨C it tore him up inside to think of how many lives he¡¯d taken ¨C but between knowledge and ignorance, he knew precisely which one he would choose. So did Eveline, it seemed. ¡°How did I get to the tower?¡± he asked, pushing those thoughts aside for another day. He distinctly remembered dismissing the gate leading to the tower, so for anyone to have rescued him, they would have had to trek across the labyrinth and all of Adontis, not to mention El¡¯kireth, to reach the site of his skill. ¡°Your little undead friend,¡± she said. ¡°Talia found you and dragged you across two kingdoms until the kobolds found her. It took weeks.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°That girl loves you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± Zeke insisted. ¡°Love doesn¡¯t have to be romantic. She¡¯s not a potential partner ¨C I can recognize that much, at least ¨C but she¡¯s devoted to you in ways that are rarely seen. I hope you reciprocate.¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Eveline said. ¡°How long have I been in recovery?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Two months,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ve been in the Crimson Spring since for most of it, but there were a few weeks before that where the girl was dragging you to safety.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zeke said. ¡°There¡¯s also something you should know,¡± Eveline went on. Zeke gave her the go-ahead to explain, and she said, ¡°The necromancer you dealt with in the Mortal Realm. The one who brought that world down. He¡¯s not dead.¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°What? Were you aware?¡± Zeke gave a mental shake of his head. ¡°No. A friend let me know what¡¯s going on.¡± Then, Zeke explained everything that had happened in the space between realms. When he¡¯d finished, Eveline said, ¡°I can¡¯t see those memories. Even when I focus, there¡¯s nothing there.¡± ¡°It happened.¡± ¡°I believe you,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­it¡¯s been a while since I couldn¡¯t verify someone¡¯s story. Even when I had a body, I could easily delve into someone¡¯s mind and take what information I wanted. It¡¯s both easier and more difficult with you, but I suppose I just grew accustomed to it. Moreover, I was under the impression that you were a simple curiosity to that god.¡± ¡°Oberon is not a god,¡± Zeke said. ¡°He¡¯s just extremely powerful.¡± ¡°He is at the peak of the next realm,¡± she said. ¡°And even among those at his level, he is among the strongest. I don¡¯t know much of the gods of angels, but I do know that even if he is not technically a god, he might as well be, for how far above us he is. For how far above everyone else ¨C save for a few ¨C in that realm are.¡± ¡°That¡¯s hard to comprehend,¡± Zeke admitted. Already, he could destroy cities. One day, if he reached high enough to call himself one of Oberon¡¯s peers, there was no limit to what he could do. When he got to that point, would he be capable of destroying whole worlds? Galaxies, perhaps?¡± ¡°Universes.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You will be able to destroy whole realities, Ezekiel.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡­I don¡¯t know if I believe that.¡± ¡°Believe it or not, it is true,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You are special. You have been from the very beginning, and your advantages have continued to grow. Assuming you aren¡¯t killed, you will one day be akin to a god of destruction. That is your fate. That is who you are.¡± ¡°What if that¡¯s not what I want?¡± Zeke asked. He wanted to progress, and he wanted to fight in that eternal battle. He wanted to put an end to that conflict altogether. It was the purpose everyone had been given, but only a few were capable of achieving anything substantial. He was one of those. However, the notion of wrapping his whole identity in the act of destruction was not one he looked forward to. ¡°Just because you can destroy doesn¡¯t mean you have to do so,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You are your own person. You make your own choices. That is where your power is headed. That is why you can shape the world ¨C or worlds ¨C however you see fit. A man who can destroy a thing but chooses not to is the most powerful man in the world.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he lay in that pool, still incapable of moving, and stared at the ceiling. The power of destruction had changed him, and not just physically. He¡¯d always been a fighter, but his Path had affected his mindset until his first response to any situation was to destroy it. Would that continue? Would he keep changing? Would a day come when he never even considered any other way? He wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°You may want to look at your status.¡± ¡°What? Did something change?¡± Zeke asked. That elicited nothing but a laugh, so Zeke took her suggestion to check his progress. If he could have moved, he would have let out a gasp when he saw his status:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 94
Race Cambion (D)
Attunement Earth (E), Demon (D), Death (D)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (C)
Strength (S+) 171
Agility (C) 40
Dexterity (B) 40
Endurance (S+) 150
Vitality (C) 40
Intelligence (A) 75
Wisdom (S) 77
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D A B B
There were a handful of changes, not least of which was the fact that he¡¯d gained five levels ¨C presumably from killing an entire city and the necromantic vessels. He¡¯d gained ten points to both strength and dexterity, with five points in intelligence and vitality as well. He also had ten free points ¨C two per level ¨C to spend, though he wasn¡¯t sure if he was going to use his previous strategy of accentuating his strong points or shore up some of his weaknesses. But that was the least of the changes to his status. First, he¡¯d somehow evolved his race, and though he wasn¡¯t certain what benefits that might bring, he knew it would be a good thing. Back in the Mortal Realm, advancing one¡¯s race came with a host of benefits. Some were quantified in his status, adding extra points to his stats, but there were hidden rewards, like an improvement to his senses, as well. Since ascending to the Eternal Realm, that had all changed, so he was still at a loss as to what having a D-Grade race meant. He was certain it would be a good thing, though. Maybe he would gain another racial ability. Or additional attributes. Maybe it would be something he couldn¡¯t even think of. Regardless, there were notifications associated with it, so he would have to figure it all out on his own. The second major alteration to his status came from his attunements. Or rather, an addition to that line, which told him he¡¯d somehow developed a death attunement in addition to his demonic and earth attunements. He wasn¡¯t one of the undead, though, so he wasn¡¯t sure how that would manifest. One thing was certain, though ¨C it would make his titanic form stronger. The same was true of his Worldbreaker technique, which utilized attuned forms of mana to create extreme destruction. Regardless, it was definitely an unexpected addition, but a welcome one. For now. He would certainly change his tune if he started displaying undead tendencies. Finally, he saw that his resistances had increased by a significant margin. Both poison and disease resistances had reached B-Grade, which meant that it would take quite a lot of either of those to do any damage to him. ¡°The rich get richer,¡± said Eveline. Zeke couldn¡¯t argue with that. It seemed that the Framework tended to reward great feats of strength, which were only possible if one was already powerful. So, the powerful got rewards, while the weak remained mired in, at best, mediocrity. Sure, people could change their fates, but it was not easy. Then again, nothing about Zeke¡¯s path could have been called that. Indeed, he¡¯d bled and sweated and nearly died more times than he could count. He¡¯d been to Hell and back on more than one occasion, and he¡¯d killed literal armies. No ¨C his path had not been easy. And going forward, he expected the obstacles in his way to only become more prominent. Whatever the case, Zeke needed to rest and recover before he could do anything. So, he settled in to do just that ¨C as if he had any choice in the matter, considering he couldn¡¯t even move ¨C while contemplating his future. 531. The War Abby Summers, the High Inquisitor of the glorious Radiant Host, stood on the battlefield, her features twisted into an expression of disgust. More than a thousand soldiers, each one loyal to the Imperium, all dead, and there was no sign of the monsters responsible for the resounding defeat. But she knew who¡¯d killed them. Or rather what. Those bestial lizard-men had plagued the Radiant Host ever since they¡¯d entered the territory that had once belonged to Lord Adontis and his Knights. Individually, they weren¡¯t any stronger than her own soldiers. In fact, many of them were quite a bit weaker. However, when they fought together, they could bring far more force to bear than their numbers indicated. Their teamwork was exquisite, and their smattering of skills worked seamlessly to create an effect that was more than the sum of its parts. If they hadn¡¯t been monsters, Abby might have admired them. And even with their savage nature and the lack of sapience, they would be a worthwhile addition to the Radiant Host. Once they were conquered and cowed, then fitted with slave collars to ensure everyone else¡¯s safety, at least. It wasn¡¯t unheard of. They¡¯d done the same with the so-called beastkin ¨C monsters that had learned to mimic humanity ¨C and they would do so again. As was their right as the superior race. Thinking in those terms had once turned Abby¡¯s stomach, but that was when she was still mired in old thought processes. Back on Earth, she never would have given racial superiority any credence. However, in the Eternal Realm, things were different. Humanity was obviously the ideal. Everyone else was only capable of base mimicry. She had seen it with her own eyes, the way those other so-called races lived in dirty hovels and engaged in bestial practices. They were little better than the wild monsters that plagued the wilderness. Their only saving grace was that the other races had enough intelligence that, with the proper controls in place, they could prove useful. The Imperium had made copious use of the subjugated races, employing them as footsoldiers and shock troops. Cannon fodder by another name, Abby knew. And though they died by the score with every battle, they served their purpose in delivering glory upon the Radiant Host. That was worth a million deaths. Regardless, they army of lizard-creatures ¨C which were called kobolds ¨C had proven to be a dangerous enemy. However, the new battlefield was something she had never seen before. Normally, the creatures¡¯ movements weren¡¯t difficult to track. They traveled in huge packs, and as such, they weren¡¯t adept at utilizing guerrilla tactics. So, finding nothing but her own dead was more than a little troubling. Even more of an issue was the fact that the battlefield had not seen a true battle. Certainly, it was clear that her people had put up some resistance. The ground had been turned, and there was evidence that they¡¯d employed their skills. However, those signs didn¡¯t add up to what she would have expected from a thousand-strong force. It was clear that they¡¯d been caught by surprise. Most had been killed within the orderly tents, slaughtered in their bedrolls. Many of those tents still stood, undamaged and in neat rows. ¡°What happened here?¡± she asked her second-in-command. Stiff-backed, Eran answered, ¡°We don¡¯t know, Inquisitor. There were no survivors.¡± ¡°That is disappointing,¡± Abby replied, fingering the grip of her sword. She rarely used the thing, instead relying on her bow in most battles. Yet, she found the presence of the weapon reassuring, and on the few occasions where she¡¯d been forced to use it, she had found great pleasure in hacking her enemies to pieces. It was such a visceral feeling, and one that she did not take for granted. ¡°Collect the tents. Gather the remaining supplies. And return it to the main force.¡± ¡°Yes, Inquisitor.¡± With that, Eran strode off, her demeanor filled with glorious purpose. The woman was a true believer, and in a way that Abby could not rival. Few could. For her part, Abby knew that the Shar Maelaine was no true goddess. She was just a powerful being who¡¯d chosen to use that strength to manipulate and empower the Radiant Host for her own ends. Abby wasn¡¯t certain what the end goal was, and what¡¯s more, she knew it didn¡¯t matter. Not yet. But one day, she would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Sun Goddess. Perhaps she would even take her place. It was a worthy goal. And yet, it was a long way off. So far, in fact, that she wouldn¡¯t give it more than a second of thought. Instead, she focused on what really mattered. If she didn¡¯t win this war ¨C as she had against the rest of the Radiant Hosts¡¯ nearest enemies ¨C she would go no further than her current level. That would not do. Because Abby had felt what it meant to be weak, to be dependent on others. And she would not allow herself to return to that state. She had vowed to cultivate strength, and in that pursuit, she would do whatever it required. And right now, that meant winning a war against an army of kobolds that had suddenly developed the ability to attack without warning. To that end, she began her investigation by inspecting a few of the bodies. A cadre of advisors and other sycophants followed, but none of them were capable of independent thought. Instead, they simply parroted whatever she said or gave opinions they knew she¡¯d agree with. It was disgusting, and if she had any choice in the matter, she would have refused their company. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Yet, she couldn¡¯t do that because the High Commander of the entire Radiant Host and the default ruler of the Imperium had insisted they come along. They were all spies by another name, but Abby was beholden to Ignatius, and in a way that provided both comfort and consternation. She hated the man, but he was also subject to her gratitude. Hypocritical? Maybe. But Abby couldn¡¯t force herself to feel any differently. So, she¡¯d resolved to simply accept it and, with awareness, minimize its effect on her actions. So far, she¡¯d been mostly successful, but that didn¡¯t mean it would always remain the case. Regardless, her inspection soon led her to the corpse of the force¡¯s captain. Abby couldn¡¯t remember his name, but she did recall his features. Like most of the rest of the Radiant Host, he¡¯d been a handsome, well-built man that could had the bearing of a hero. He wasn¡¯t one, though. Indeed, he¡¯d reached the peak of his capabilities, meaning that he would have never progressed any further. Of course, that fate was assured, considering that he¡¯d perished alongside the rest of his underlings. He didn¡¯t look so handsome anymore, with severe burns all over his body. The metal of his armor had been melted by intense heat, and, perhaps more importantly, a stench Abby recognized hung all around him. ¡°I need to see Serpentus.¡± One of the sycophants rushed off to fetch the incubus while Abby continued to inspect the nearby bodies. Most were badly burned, and that same smell lingered on nearly every corpse she beheld. ¡°Is it strange that I am more attracted to you now, surrounded by charred corpses, than I have ever been before?¡± came a silky voice. ¡°On second thought, I take that back. You are especially beautiful when you¡¯re covered in blood.¡± Abby stood from where she¡¯d been kneeling beside one of the bodies. Like all the others, it had been burned beyond recognition. She turned to face the demon she¡¯d asked to see. Serpentus was, in a word, gorgeous, and in a way that promised everything Abby had ever wanted from a lover. Of course, that was the point. He was an incubus, after all, and his stock and trade was lust. ¡°Did one of yours do this?¡± she asked, ignoring all the feelings he caused. ¡°Straight to the point, I see. I like that, too. Assertive women are quite magnetic, if I say so myself.¡± ¡°Answer the question, demon,¡± Abby said. She hated the incubus, and not just because of the way he made her feel. It went much deeper than that, including the demon¡¯s very nature. She had seen him revel in levels of carnage that would make a veteran of a thousand battles blanch. He offered an affected sigh before saying, ¡°My minions are under my strict control.¡± ¡°That does not answer the question. I want a yes or no.¡± He rolled his eyes, making Abby¡¯s heart race. ¡°No. They are not responsible. And before you ask, neither am I,¡± Serpentus answered in as straightforward way as she could have hoped to hear. ¡°But it is intriguing. Did you run afoul of some archdemon, perhaps? I know you have been to Hell. Did you offend someone important while you were there? Do tell.¡± ¡°No. Do you have any other suggestions as to what happened here?¡± she asked. He tapped his chin and bit his lip, lost in thought. Abby did her best not to let it distract her. She didn¡¯t even like pretty men like Serpentus, so even if he hadn¡¯t been a demon, she wouldn¡¯t have acted on her attraction. Yet, there was something magnetic about him that drew her attention in all the worst ways. She had grown accustomed to ignoring it, but she could no more stop it from happening than she could divert a river. ¡°It might have been a rogue demon,¡± Serpentus suggested. ¡°They wander into Heaven from time to time.¡± ¡°How likely is that as an explanation?¡± ¡°Not very.¡± ¡°Any other possibilities?¡± ¡°Not that I can think of,¡± Serpentus answered. ¡°If it was just a few kills, I would have guessed that someone had cultivated a demonic attunement. It is not completely unheard-of, even if it is exceedingly rare.¡± Abby¡¯s breath caught in her chest. She knew someone just like that. Zeke was half-demon, after all, and even back in the Mortal Realm, he¡¯d been capable of withstanding the full power of Hell¡¯s demonic corruption. That was a testament to both his power and his attunement. However, it only took Abby a moment to realize that there was no way Zeke could have perpetrated the attack. Assuming that he¡¯d continued to grow more powerful at the same rate of progression he¡¯d displayed on the Radiant Isles, he would have been powerful enough to slaughter her army. Yet, if he¡¯d done so, there wouldn¡¯t have been as much left. He would have destroyed everything. No - Zeke couldn¡¯t have been responsible, but that didn¡¯t mean someone else with similar circumstances hadn¡¯t done so. ¡°It is curious, though.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Normally, demons who can sneak about don¡¯t make such copious use of hellfire,¡± Serpentus answered. ¡°And the opposite is true, too. Hellfire is not a subtle tool, so it doesn¡¯t play well with stealth tactics. Surprising.¡± ¡°You have no other explanations?¡± Serpentus shook his head. ¡°I do not,¡± he admitted. ¡°But I would love the opportunity to track the culprit. My minions will sweep across the land, burning everything they see.¡± Abby cut him off before he could get going. ¡°Your minions, as you¡¯ve suddenly started referring to them, have been soundly defeated in the past four engagements,¡± she reminded him. ¡°Unless they can improve on their woefully disappointing performance, we are going to have to rethink how they are deployed. I¡¯m certain you understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you a thousand times that being here weakens them. If you¡¯d only let me create a Hell Font, we could bring our full power to bear,¡± Serpentus said. ¡°No.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°I said no. Drop it.¡± He sighed petulantly, then adopted an affected pout. ¡°Very well,¡± he said, bowing sullenly. ¡°Then my soldiers shall continue to underperform. I¡¯m certain you understand.¡± With that, he turned on his heel and marched away. Or sauntered, really. Swaggered was probably a better term. When Abby realized that she was staring, she jerked her eyes away. She had actually considered allowing him to create his Hell Font, but the process would have required a hundred sacrifices. All female, of course, and as beautiful as they could find. Abby wasn¡¯t sure if those last two requirements were Serpentus¡¯ additions or if they were necessary, but their existence made her skin crawl. More, she¡¯d refused his request, regardless of how much it would have helped her situation. When Serpentus was gone, she returned her attention to the corpses, but she found no answers. Only questions. And memories. Where was Zeke now? Was he happy? Had he moved on to find another woman? Abby didn¡¯t want to care. She¡¯d forced herself to push those feelings away and focus on her pursuit of power. Yet, she still loved him, and in the back of her mind, she hoped that they would one day reunite. In time, her little mistake would be forgotten, and they would live happily ever after. As equals. But first, she needed to find whatever force had murdered her people, then defeat the kobolds, and finally, push herself to the peak of the realm. Sighing, she got to work. 532. Every Means Zeke threw himself forward, tackling the Knight to the ground and locking his arms around the man¡¯s neck. He squeezed, feeling bones break beneath his grip. Still, the Knight struggled on, his entire body glowing blinding light ¨C a fact which epitomized the issue Zeke faced. The battle had gone as well as could be expected. Even as his army of kobolds fought against the comparatively stronger contingent of Knights from the Radiant Host, he¡¯d engaged their leader in a furious back and forth. And Zeke was winning. He¡¯d destroyed the man¡¯s body so thoroughly that he should have died a hundred times over. And yet, the Knight fought on, healing himself after every exchange. It was infuriating. ¡°Now you know how your enemies must have felt,¡± Eveline supplied. ¡°Not now,¡± he grunted aloud. ¡°You could just use your Titan form and crush him to paste. I¡¯m sure he couldn¡¯t heal from that,¡± Eveline continued. That was probably true, but Zeke refrained for one simple reason ¨C he¡¯d begun to rely too heavily on that form. It was part of him, and in a way that he only vaguely understood. However, in the back of his mind, Zeke had to acknowledge the feeling that he shouldn¡¯t neglect his more natural form, either. [Titan] was powerful, but in that strength lay its weakness. ¡°Are you really doing this to handicap yourself?¡± she asked. He was. In a way, it reminded him of how he¡¯d played games with his little brother, which probably should have told him something about the quality of his opponent. Still, Zeke persisted with his plan, knowing that if it failed, he could always end it via the use of one of his devastating skills. In the three months since the completion of his recovery, Zeke had yet to use [Wrath of Annihilation] or [Unleash Momentum]. Nor had he utilized the Worldbreaker or Runebreaker techniques. Instead, he¡¯d fought like he didn¡¯t have access to the tools needed to end any battle in moments. ¡°You need to learn to control them,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Avoiding them only makes everything worse. You know that. And trying to fix them with runecrafting isn¡¯t what I¡¯m talking about. They don¡¯t need fixing. The problem is you, not the skills.¡± In the deepest places of Zeke¡¯s mind, he knew Eveline was right. The issue wasn¡¯t the skills themselves. Indeed, they did precisely what they were intended to do. However, learning to regulate their power required consistent use, and that was a line Zeke wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to cross. So, instead of practicing with them, he¡¯d begun to delve deeply into the skills¡¯ runic structure, hoping to find some insight into how to regulate their power. So far, he¡¯d been unsuccessful in that endeavor, but that wasn¡¯t terribly surprising. He¡¯d only mapped a fraction of the skills¡¯ runes, and even that basic familiarity barely scratched the surface of their complexity. The reality was that it would take years to understand those skills. ¡°Which has distracted you from other, more beneficial projects,¡± Eveline said. He didn¡¯t need the reminder. Indeed, he had two skill evolutions he¡¯d been working on for months, one skill¡¯s construction he needed to finalize, and another choice he needed to make. It was a lot of progression, and despite knowing exactly what direction he wanted to take everything, he¡¯d pushed it all to the background in favor of adjusting his most powerful skill. That was not a smart plan, and Zeke knew that down to his very core. Yet, he¡¯d clung to it because the memory of a million deaths continued to haunt him. That number was not hyperbolic. In fact, it was probably a vast underestimate of the damage he¡¯d truly wrought. Some of those deaths could be directly attributed to the initial skill use. [Wrath of Annihilation] had destroyed an entire city, and in doing so, had killed an estimated hundred thousand sapient undead who¡¯d managed to evade the necromancer¡¯s control. That was bad enough without considering that he¡¯d also destroyed the dungeon known as the Pillar of Life, which had absorbed all the vital mana in the region, creating a vacuum, into which death-attuned mana had rushed. The result was the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth. And Zeke had killed every single sapient undead who called it home. Not directly. Instead, the destruction of the Pillar of Life had upset the precarious balance that was responsible for the region¡¯s aura of death. So, not only had his actions indirectly resulted in the deaths of all those people, but they¡¯d also destroyed the entire ecosystem. Countless species who¡¯d evolved to live in the midst of so much death were now gone, never to be seen again. That was his fault. ¡°You didn¡¯t have a choice,¡± Eveline said as Zeke wrenched one of the Knight¡¯s arms out of socket. The limb nearly tore free of the man¡¯s body entirely, but white light flared, healing the damage almost as soon as it was incurred. ¡°There¡¯s always a choice,¡± Zeke said, again not bothering to keep his thoughts in his mind. He spoke aloud, which clearly unnerved the Knight. ¡°You are insane!¡± the man growled in obvious pain. ¡°Maybe,¡± was Zeke¡¯s simple reply, and there was some truth to that admission. He didn¡¯t feel like he¡¯d gone mad, but he supposed that no one who had ever thought they were crazy. The toll of all the death and destruction had affected him, though. How could it not? As Zeke continued to struggle against the Knight¡¯s healing powers, he considered the past few months. In a lot of ways, it felt like a penance for his actions. Sure, he wanted to develop his fighting technique without the use of his [Titan] skill. For that same reason, he¡¯d left Voromir in his spatial storage. But it was an unavoidable fact that doing so had resulted in quite a lot of pain on his part. He didn¡¯t precisely revel in it, but in the back of his mind, Zeke had to admit that it was fitting, considering how much of horror he¡¯d spread over the past couple of years. With giants and bigoted Knights of Adontis, it was easy to excuse. Yet, when his victims were innocent, his guilt became much more difficult to endure. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Yet, Zeke had no choice but to keep going. His goals remained the same as ever. Indeed, with what Oberon had revealed concerning the endgame of the entire Framework, his progression seemed even more urgent than ever. ¡°And still you procrastinate doing what you know you need to do.¡± Zeke ignored her. He¡¯d had the same thoughts often enough, but knowing what one needed to do and actually doing it were two very different things. Regardless, he¡¯d chosen to focus on the three tasks Oberon had given him, rather than dwelling on what was to come in the distant future. The most urgent ¨C at least as far as he was concerned ¨C was finding and dealing with the necromancer Micayne. The man ¨C or lich, now ¨C had put the Radiant Isles onto a path of complete destruction, and for that, he needed to pay. Zeke might¡¯ve inadvertently killed millions, but Micayne¡¯s kill count was significantly higher. Making it even worse was that his actions had been intentional. That search had proven frustrating, though. So far, Zeke¡¯s scouts had found no sign of the necromancer. For all they knew, he was hard at work building another army of undead. He wouldn¡¯t have the raw materials he¡¯d found in El¡¯kireth to work with, but the Eternal Realm was littered with corpses. He would have no shortage of fuel for his army. The worst was that he had clearly demonstrated a willingness and ability to nurture other necromancers, compounding the problem to a significant degree. But no matter the dangers Micayne represented, Zeke couldn¡¯t simply conjure a trail. And if they couldn¡¯t find the man, they couldn¡¯t deal with him. So, he¡¯d been forced to focus on the second task ¨C dealing with the Radiant Host. That had gone slightly better so far, with most of the resultant clashes between the two armies ending in favor of Zeke¡¯s forces. But like the Knight with which Zeke now fought, the Radiant Host was incredibly difficult to put down for good. And this was just a fraction of their entire organization. The Imperium ¨C which was what the Radiant Host called their native land ¨C was vast, both in terms of land and population. It had taken Zeke and his army more than a year to defeat one of their vassal states, so he knew that dealing with the host itself would prove a difficult and time-consuming task. Especially when they had demons on their side. Given their paladin-esque aesthetic, Zeke would have thought the Knights to be the natural enemies of demons, but that assumption had proven erroneous by the alliance they¡¯d fostered between themselves and a horde of slavering demons. Fortunately, the former Knights of Adontis were quite committed to fighting demons, and their skills were very well suited to the endeavor. Adara in particular had shown herself to be an invaluable asset in that arena, combating the situation with a fury that bordered on obsession. It was odd, then, that she ¨C nor the other former Knights of Adontis ¨C had transferred that hatred for demonkind to him. Apparently, being a cambion kept him from triggering whatever abilities they had concerning demons. So, Zeke was free to admire their commitment. ¡°That¡¯s all you admire, huh?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Zeke grunted, wrapping his arms and legs around his foe. He squeezed with all of his considerable might, and was rewarded with the sound of cracking bones. ¡°You definitely know,¡± Eveline said, obviously referring to his budding relationship with the half-orc woman. They hadn¡¯t progressed much past the initial stages, but they had spent a few nights together. Fortunately, Eveline had remained silent throughout, avoiding what would have been an extremely awkward situation. Yet, she hadn¡¯t given him that same courtesy in the aftermath, often wanting to discuss whatever future he might share with Adara. He¡¯d outright refused, much to Eveline¡¯s consternation. And finally, there was the need to find somewhere he could access Hell. He couldn¡¯t go back to the portal he¡¯d used back in Min Ferilik. Like everywhere else he went, he¡¯d left a wake of destruction in the fallen dwarven city. Besides, as far as he knew, the Blood Wraith was still there, and Zeke had no interest in battling it out with a peak wyrm who assuredly held him in quite a bit of contempt. No - he¡¯d need to find another way to Hell, so he could descend to the next circle of Hell that ran parallel to the Ethereal Realm, he would need to find a way to cross over. But that was a problem for another day, and one he wouldn¡¯t need to solve for years yet. Somewhere in the middle of those three tasks, he still had his quest to complete. He¡¯d made no headway in finding any other natural treasures, but he¡¯d sent a few scouts ¨C beastkin and other races that had been enslaved in Adontis ¨C to find any tales of such treasures. He¡¯d not heard back from any of them yet, but that wasn¡¯t surprising, given that they had only been gone for a couple of months. Over the next half hour, Zeke continuously broke the powerfully regenerative Knight¡¯s bones, ruptured his organs, and ripped bits and pieces off of his body. And yet, he continued to heal from every bit of damage Zeke managed to inflict. Finally, when the rest of the battle had begun to wane ¨C with the kobolds being the victor ¨C he let a little of his destructive Will enter into the conflict. That was all it took. Just a trickle, and the man¡¯s healing faltered. The bones stayed broken, and his organs remained ruptured. After that, it wasn¡¯t long before he finally succumbed to his injuries. It was a hollow victory, and yet, with the battle having been decided, he didn¡¯t have any more time to waste on the fight. Picking himself up, he grimaced at the blood soiling his clothing. He didn¡¯t wear armor anymore, and he¡¯d long become accustomed to the generally easy-to-clean nature of his titanic form. After all, metal was very difficult to stain. Clothing, not so much. Sighing, he inspected the battlefield, and he saw a similar scene to a dozen others he¡¯d observed over the past couple of months. Lots of dead Knights, a few slain kobolds, and a lot of blood and carnage. With his domains empowering them, the kobolds had proven themselves a very effective army. Though Zeke wasn¡¯t solely responsible. Their collectivist nature lent itself very well to group tactics, which they used to their immense advantage. In any case, the battle was won. Now, he needed to deal with the aftermath. To that end, he strode across the field ¨C they¡¯d fought on the Muk¡¯ti Plains ¨C to find his advisors. Soon enough, he stood across from Adara, who¡¯d been conversing with Silik. The hulking kobold general stood head-and-shoulders taller than the half-orc woman, but if anything, she seemed to loom over him. ¡°Casualties?¡± Zeke asked upon approach. It was the same thing he asked after every single battle. ¡°Six-hundred and nine,¡± answered Silik. ¡°An acceptable number of losses.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°Still too many,¡± he muttered. It was a conversation he¡¯d had on multiple occasions, and he expected to do the same many times in the future. In the grand scheme of things, six-hundred dead kobolds shouldn¡¯t have mattered. But it did. They did. They mattered more than Zeke could have imagined before they had all become his responsibility. The only solace to be found was that the number wasn¡¯t higher. ¡°And the raid?¡± he asked, referring to the group of Rangers and Assassins he¡¯d sent to assault a camp the day before. ¡°Successful. No casualties on our side,¡± Adara said, her face bearing mixed emotions. She didn¡¯t like fighting a war like that. Instead, she preferred meeting her enemy head-on. Of course, she also understood why such raids were necessary. Despite having numbers on their side, the Titan¡¯s Legion ¨C as his army had dubbed themselves ¨C were outclassed. The only reason they were winning so far was Zeke¡¯s participation and their willingness to use every means at their disposal. Like raiding an enemy camp under the guise of stealth. ¡°Good,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Join me in the manor?¡± She shook her head. ¡°We have much to do here. Perhaps later.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that,¡± he said before striding away. ¡°Smooth,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Very smooth.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± 533. A Foundation of Corpses Zeke stood, overlooking the town and struggling all the while to repress his repulsion. It wasn¡¯t easy, considering the advanced state of decay. He asked, ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Seven thousand,¡± answered Adara. ¡°We couldn¡¯t get an accurate count, but that¡¯s the estimate.¡± He just shook his head, then ran his hand through his hair. It needed to be cut, but he hadn¡¯t had much opportunity for grooming over the past few months. First, he¡¯d been occupied by his recovery, then the ongoing war against the Radiant Host had demanded his attention. It felt like that was his entire life, now. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Adara asked. Zeke sighed, then looked at the half-orc woman. She looked almost entirely human, save for her build being slightly more muscular than most other women he¡¯d met. In addition, her skin had a slightly green tint that was only visible in direct sunlight, and her incisors were a little larger than normal. Otherwise, there were no other visible indicators of her complicated parentage, and Zeke could no longer pretend that he didn¡¯t find her incredibly attractive. But that wasn¡¯t only her appearance at play. Instead, he was drawn as much to her personality ¨C as well as their shared interests ¨C as he was to her looks. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that their relationship had progressed incredibly quickly. In the wake of nearly killing himself, he¡¯d been vulnerable and mostly immobile, spending almost all of his time in the Crimson Spring. Adara had acted as his liaison with the army, delivering daily reports as to the progression of the war. Eventually, they¡¯d begun to bond, and that had soon become something neither of them could ignore. What followed could generously be called a romance, but to Zeke, the relationship they¡¯d developed just felt comfortable. And that wasn¡¯t a negative, either. There was something to be said for the sort of antagonistic relationship he¡¯d shared with Abby. From the very beginning, she¡¯d nurtured an enormous inferiority complex that had often made their pairing feel like a battle. For his part, Zeke had been blind to that, at least until it had driven her to sabotage his meeting with Micayne and nearly get Pudge killed. After that, he saw it all so clearly, but that clarity didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t sometimes look at those memories with fondness. At the very least, the relationship had been exciting. With Adara, things were very different. In her company, Zeke often felt that he¡¯d found his other half. They shared much of the same drive, and they¡¯d both spent most of their lives mired in one battle or another. Their goals were similar, and she was understanding without being judgmental. In short, she was a perfect partner, and her presence in his life was one of the reasons he hadn¡¯t completely descended into melancholy. Yet, he couldn¡¯t escape the consequences of his actions. ¡°I sometimes feel like my entire life is built on a foundation of corpses,¡± he admitted. ¡°It is. That¡¯s the nature of this world. It is one of constant conflict.¡± Eveline added, ¡°She¡¯s not wrong. From what Oberon said, that¡¯s the whole reason for the afterlife¡¯s existence.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke said, wishing Eveline would stay out of his private conversations. He didn¡¯t mind her input, but if she was going to add her thoughts to the discussion, he wanted her to manifest visibly so that Adara would know that the conversation featured a third party. ¡°I just wish it was different. I didn¡¯t set out to be a killer, to destroy everything in my path. But that¡¯s what I am, now. I can¡¯t remember the last time I participated in a conflict that ended peacefully.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Adara said, stepping closer. She snaked her arm around his waist, leaning into him in a half hug. ¡°You can¡¯t change the whole universe.¡± But he could. Eventually, at least. That was the whole point, wasn¡¯t it? That battle he¡¯d briefly glimpsed was overwhelming, but the entire reason for the Framework¡¯s existence was to funnel warriors into that conflict, all with the hope of eventually winning against forces intent on unmaking existence. Zeke didn¡¯t have a name for the enemy, but their nature had been made clear. They weren¡¯t like demons, who had, at one point, simply been people. Sure, they¡¯d made mistakes. Some of them were outright evil. ¡°Most,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°There aren¡¯t many demons with hearts of gold.¡± ¡°Okay. But that¡¯s kind of my point. The real enemy isn¡¯t evil. It¡¯s not good, either. Those don¡¯t even come into it. They¡¯re just opposed to us,¡± Zeke explained. That was why he¡¯d begun to refer to them as the enemy. He didn¡¯t even think he was capable of comprehending why they did what they did. They were too alien to understand. Perhaps they didn¡¯t even have a reason. Maybe they were just acting according to their natures. Whatever the case, the stakes were clear. One side would win, and one would cease to exist. That made his own allegiances obvious. ¡°I know a lot of people who wouldn¡¯t mind the world ceasing to exist,¡± Eveline countered. ¡°Blessed nothingness is better than the bleakness of their continued lives.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± he acknowledged. That was as alien a concept as the nature of the enemy. The notion of giving in was not one to which he could even begin to relate. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re a fighter,¡± she said. ¡°And you¡¯ve never really lost. Most of these people have been losing ¨C often through no fault of their own ¨C over and over since they were born. Through two lives. Apathy toward your existence is the natural reaction to that kind of thing.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I disagree,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Giving up is¡­I don¡¯t know. I just¡­I just don¡¯t know how that could ever happen to someone.¡± ¡°Because you have the privilege never to have had to confront the pointlessness of your own existence. But think of your younger brother, the life he led before your death. Now, imagine that he¡¯d died despite your efforts. Then, upon being reborn into the Mortal Realm, he experienced a similar illness. Or he was just weak. What if that was all he¡¯d ever known, with other people taking advantage of him and making his life more difficult? Now imagine that going on for his entire second life? No matter what he did, he¡¯d always be behind. Weak and sick. Do you think he¡¯d be driven to excel? Or do you think he might give up?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never had to deal with it. But remember after you hurt your arm? Because you couldn¡¯t play a silly sport, you fell into a deep depression that persisted until your death. So, before you judge people for not being strong enough of mind, remember that was how your first life ended. You had given up. Maybe it was temporary. Certainly, you had your reasons. But you were not ¨C and still aren¡¯t ¨C immune to that sort of thinking.¡± Zeke wanted to respond, but he brought himself up short. He saw what she meant, but he still felt disgusted ¨C in his heart and soul ¨C by the notion of giving up, even in the face of eternal hardship. ¡°Sisyphus and his rock. Eternal struggle with no end is a punishment befitting those who anger the gods. Remember that,¡± Eveline pointed out. He was well aware of that particular myth, but he wasn¡¯t certain that the story applied to their current conversation. In any event, Zeke wasn¡¯t willing to continue the discussion. Instead, he pushed himself away and focused on the scene stretching out before them. It wasn¡¯t pretty, but there was nothing he could do about the consequences of his actions. The people had died, and there was nothing to do about it but to keep going and hope that he made better ¨C or at least more informed ¨C choices in the future. Despite the results, Zeke couldn¡¯t think of any other way he might¡¯ve ended the threat. It was simple math. A few million people was a small price to pay when held up to the price of doing nothing. Tens of millions ¨C perhaps hundreds ¨C would have been slain if he hadn¡¯t destroyed the undead army. And Micayne was still out there, likely rebuilding. But at least he wouldn¡¯t have an entire nation of undead to fuel his rise. ¡°You don¡¯t need to dwell on this,¡± Adara said. ¡°I kind of do,¡± he countered. ¡°At least for a little while. They deserve that much, at the very least.¡± ¡°They do,¡± she agreed. Like that, they remained for half an hour, both lost in their thoughts until they were interrupted by a juvenile kobold who informed them ¨C or more accurately, Zeke ¨C that they were needed within the tower. So, after paying their inadequate respects for everyone who¡¯d fallen, they returned to the gate that had been reestablished in El¡¯kireth, which whisked them away to the tower. It was so easy to take that for granted, crossing hundreds of miles in an instant. It just reminded Zeke of the harrowing journey undertaken by Talia, who¡¯d trekked across the breadth of two kingdoms to return him to the tower so he could recuperate. After heading to the Pillar, Zeke endured reports of the ongoing battle with the Radiant Host. Things were still going well, though the pace of their losses had increased as the more traditional army adjusted their tactics. Soon, they would be on equal footing. That was when Zeke would step in and hopefully end the conflict in one fell swoop. But until that time came, he had a few more things to which he needed to attend. So, once he¡¯d received the reports, he parted ways with Adara. She went to drill with her former Knights, while he headed to the Lord¡¯s Manor. Once there, he sealed himself in his meditation chamber so he could put the finishing touches on his latest skill. To that end, he settled in to work, embracing his Will to ensure that he could manipulate the skill to the best of his ability. He only had two more chances to build skills before he reached the peak, and he suspected that he wouldn¡¯t receive any such opportunities in the next realm. He didn¡¯t have much information on it, but from Eveline ¨C as well as a few other knowledgeable people like Eta, the dryad gardener with which he¡¯d been enslaved beneath Min Ferilik ¨C ascension into the Ethereal Realm represented the finalization of his skillset. He would still have chances to evolve, but he wouldn¡¯t receive any new abilities, except under very specific circumstances. So he needed to make the next two skill constructions count. Moreover, he had two chances to choose Framework skills. One was still pending, but the other wouldn¡¯t come until he reached level one-hundred. In any case, he¡¯d spent the past couple of months slowly building the foundations of the two skills, and now, one was on the verge of completion. So, he focused on that, checking and double-checking every glyph that comprised the runes associated with the skill. For two days, he remained in seclusion, pushing himself to the limits of his abilities as he built the skill. Finally, when he¡¯d reached the ends of his mental endurance, he received a notification: Congratulations! You have constructed a skill [Flames of Reprisal]. ¡°Moment of truth,¡± he muttered, his voice hoarse. He could only hope that his efforts had resulted in what he¡¯d intended. The name seemed appropriate, but that didn¡¯t necessarily mean anything. He looked at the description: [Flames of Reprisal] (C) - You are a creature of vengeance and conviction. Judge your attackers with hellfire and destruction. Upgradeable. ¡°That seems vague,¡± he said. It sounded like it could have the effects he¡¯d intended, but it was difficult to know for certain. But at least it hadn¡¯t backfired. That had been a distinct possibility, considering the sheer volume of glyphs he¡¯d had to force into the rune. It was not an exaggeration to say that the skill had millions of moving parts, each one comprised of thousands of symbols infused with his mana as well as his Will. The power he could bring to bear worked with him and against him, meaning that it would make the skill all the stronger, but at the cost of potential stability. As a result, he¡¯d had to use every ounce of his expertise just to keep it from collapsing. ¡°I think it¡¯s exactly what you wanted,¡± Eveline said. Knowing that any distraction could result in the skill¡¯s collapse, she¡¯d remained silent the entire time. But he¡¯d felt her watching. ¡°It has all the right key words.¡± ¡°I think so too,¡± he admitted. ¡°But I won¡¯t know until I test it out.¡± ¡°Good. Now that this is finished, I think you need to do something you¡¯ve been putting off.¡± ¡°My skill choice,¡± he said. ¡°Indeed.¡± He hadn¡¯t chosen yet because he wanted to see how his constructed skill turned out. Now that he knew, he felt confident in giving the Framework¡¯s choices the attention they deserved. 534. Flames of Reprisal Zeke left the manor on a mission to test his latest skill, but to accomplish that goal, he needed enemies. Rather than use an untested skill in a battle where his people might have to pay the costs of his lacking experience, he chose to do in a more quarantined environment. That meant heading out into the wilderness. Ideally, he would have gone into the dungeon arena where he¡¯d once ground out a few levels, but that wasn¡¯t feasible for a couple of reasons. First, he would¡¯ve had to travel for at least a few days through the labyrinth before he reached the dungeon. And he couldn¡¯t afford to be away that long. Still, the second reason was more of an issue. The Radiant Host had created a blockade, quarantining the fortresses that guarded that dungeon and cutting them off from the rest of his force. So, unless he wanted to go the long way around, he wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the dungeon without defeating the Radiant Host. And given that they¡¯d been fighting that war for months, it didn¡¯t seem feasible to end it in a day. ¡°You could, you know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing that,¡± Zeke said inwardly as he strode toward the teleportation pad. ¡°We¡¯ve talked about it.¡± ¡°And I think it¡¯s silly that you won¡¯t use your most powerful skill,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯d rather your people die than ¨C¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do it, Eveline. Last time, I almost killed myself. I did kill millions of innocents. Do you know what that feels like? Do you know ¨C¡± ¡°You feel guilty because you think that¡¯s how you should feel,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You don¡¯t really care about all those undead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong.¡± ¡°Oh, I suppose you care,¡± she replied, putting emphasis on the last word. ¡°But not in any way that matters. It¡¯s more like if you saw an overturned anthill. Or a few dead fish. You can acknowledge that their lives mattered, but to you, their deaths weren¡¯t that impactful. And before you argue, remember that I can see your thoughts. I know your emotions better even than you do because I don¡¯t have to wade through a blanket of self-loathing to get at the real feelings.¡± As Zeke stepped upon the dais that played host to the teleportation pad and selected the Entry Hall, he had to acknowledge that Eveline was probably right. He wanted to be saddened and horrified by the sheer volume of death he¡¯d caused, but he¡¯d grown desensitized to it in a way that should have been troubling. He could kill thousands without blinking an eye, and he wouldn¡¯t even feel bad afterwards. He¡¯d done so more than once, and those deaths failed to trouble him. So, what made the people of El¡¯kireth different? The simple answer was that they weren¡¯t. Sure, they were innocent, but it wasn¡¯t as if he¡¯d set out to kill them. They were collateral damage, which was unavoidable in any war. And the reality of the situation was that, by destroying the undead kingdom ¨C inadvertently or not ¨C had saved more lives than it had cost. Still, Zeke knew that looking at numbers of deaths like they were lines on a ledger was morally wrong. He just didn¡¯t feel it in the same way that he was certain other people probably did. But he wanted to. ¡°You¡¯re not evil,¡± Eveline said. Zeke responded, ¡°Coming from a former demon, I¡¯m not sure how much weight I can give that statement.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve just been desensitized to violence and death,¡± she said. ¡°But the fact that you¡¯re aware of it and want to be better is good evidence that you¡¯re not the horrible person you see yourself as. And the fact that I am a demon ¨C or that I used to be ¨C should lend credence to that claim. I know evil, Ezekiel. I¡¯ve seen it. I have lived it. And what you¡¯ve done is¡­evil-adjacent at best.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t exactly adhere to her logic. Sure, her experiences in Hell ¨C and presumably, in her previous life ¨C gave her a certain perspective on evil. However, they also wildly skewed her perception of morality in such a way that she couldn¡¯t recognize that small evils were, by their very nature, still evil. Zeke¡¯s judgement was not so afflicted, and he knew that knowingly killing even one innocent person qualified as immoral. But sometimes good people had to go down that road, to sacrifice their own morality for the greater good. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be a martyr.¡± ¡°Who else is going to do it?¡± he asked as he crossed the Entry Hall. It was a hive of activity, with kobolds running to and fro on various errands. There were legionnaires and centurions, wearing the new armor crafted by the non-combatants on the Artisan¡¯s Terrace. They each carried huge, rectangular shields, spears, and swords. But they were not alone. There were beastkin within their ranks as well. A couple of humans and other races, too. Interspersed throughout were the hulking centaurs, many of whom had been forced to take refuge within the tower, now that the Radiant Host had turned their attention on the Muk¡¯ti Plains. Fortunately, there was plenty of space, but it was clear that the centaurs craved the open sky. Zeke nodded at people he recognized ¨C he was getting better at distinguishing between the individual kobolds ¨C though he didn¡¯t slow himself. He had a mission, and he wouldn¡¯t allow himself to get bogged down in the minutiae of running his city. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder how many had come to live within the tower. ¡°Last count was half a million,¡± Eveline supplied. ¡°That¡¯s bigger than my home town,¡± he muttered. ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°It was in one of the reports you didn¡¯t listen to,¡± she answered. ¡°You really should pay more attention in those meetings. This city of yours is a marvel, and your people have made tremendous strides in self-sustainability. When was the last time you visited the Artisan¡¯s Terrace?¡± ¡°We really need to rename that. It¡¯s more about farming than crafting.¡± ¡°Most of the space is,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But your community of artisans has grown significantly, and they don¡¯t just make instruments of war, either. There¡¯s a school there, too. An academy for magic run by your favorite piglet.¡± ¡°I told you not to refer to Sasha like that.¡± Eveline gave a mental sigh, adding, ¡°Judged by my thoughts. What is this world coming to?¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. After that, their conversation petered out, and Zeke reached the gate. It looked no different than ever ¨C just a freestanding doorway made of the same red-and-white stone that was so pervasive within the Crimson Tower ¨C though it seemed to have grown a little larger. Probably to accommodate the size of the legionnaires as well as the centaurs, Zeke reasoned. In any case, he stepped through to find himself in the army¡¯s forward camp. There weren¡¯t dozens of tents as one might expect from a normal temporary base. Instead, it was more of a marshalling ground where they¡¯d built some rudimentary defenses. The gate itself ¨C and by extension, the tower ¨C was not in any danger from enemy forces. Even Zeke thought he¡¯d struggle to even scratch it. Instead, the fortifications were there to protect anyone leaving the tower. Otherwise, they were at risk of being picked off during the short period of disconcertion that followed being teleported out of the tower. In any case, there were a couple of thousand kobolds stationed there, and they all seemed to notice Zeke¡¯s arrival. In his natural form, he wasn¡¯t nearly as recognizable as he would¡¯ve been if he¡¯d used [Titan], but still, the kobolds knew him by sight. Perhaps even by feel, after he¡¯d used [Prosperity]. ¡°If you didn¡¯t want to be worshipped like a god, then you shouldn¡¯t have taken that skill,¡± Eveline said. That certainly hadn¡¯t been his goal. Instead, he¡¯d simply wanted to elevate his chosen people, increasing their leveling speed and path comprehension. And it had worked, too. With every passing battle, his kobold subjects grew stronger. By the end of the war, they would doubtless be more powerful ¨C individual as well as collectively ¨C than the Radiant Host. In addition, his crafters and other support personnel had seen benefits as well ¨C which was evident in the strides they¡¯d taken toward self-sustainability and creating powerful equipment for the army. But it went further than that. Divinity wasn¡¯t like mana. Indeed, it made mana look positively mundane, and using it came with unintended side effects. The most obvious was that his people looked at him like a god. Or a particularly charismatic leader, at the very least. And given Zeke¡¯s personality, he knew it wasn¡¯t due to anything he¡¯d done. He wasn¡¯t a good speaker. He didn¡¯t inspire loyalty, save by leading the way in battle. Instead, the divinity infused in his skill affected the way the kobolds saw him. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely true. They practically worshipped you before you used [Prosperity],¡± Eveline countered. ¡°The skill just pushed them over the edge.¡± Zeke wanted to argue, but it was true. He¡¯d been endorsed by their mother ¨C the wyrm who¡¯d ushered them to the brink of sapience ¨C and that had put him on an entirely different level, at least in their eyes. And as Eveline had put it, [Prosperity] had simply pushed them over the edge. However, unlike the mind spirit, Zeke worried about where the kobolds would end up, about how they would come to see him in the future. ¡°You should be more worried about what you might become,¡± she said. ¡°Power goes both ways, after all.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t take the skill that would let me drain them,¡± he responded, striding through the camp. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. The way they look at you will only support the growth of that spark of divinity. And eventually, you will become a god in truth,¡± she said. Zeke didn¡¯t know what to think about that, what with coming from a monotheistic culture. He wasn¡¯t sure how Earth¡¯s religions fit into everything that had happened since his death, but he did know that being referred to as a potential god made him incredibly uncomfortable. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± Eveline said. After that, Zeke made his way out of the area, heading in the opposite direction of the Radiant Host. Fortunately, the enemy wasn¡¯t intent on hiding. They had scouts out and about, but they¡¯d made no attempts at concealing their movements. For better or worse, they intended to meet their enemies head-on and without subterfuge. One of the prisoners they¡¯d interrogated had characterized it with one phrase, ¡°The sun¡¯s light was not meant to be hidden.¡± It was a silly statement, but it made their philosophy very clear. By comparison, Zeke¡¯s own philosophy was just as simple. He would do whatever it took, even if it meant eventually bringing the terrible might of [Wrath of Annihilation] to bear. Just because it wasn¡¯t his first strategy didn¡¯t mean he would shy away from it if it proved necessary. Regardless, the Radiant Host¡¯s philosophy meant that Zeke didn¡¯t have to worry about running into an enemy army. So, he set off across the plains at a jog that, in the old world, would have rivaled highway speeds. Mile after mile melted before his stride until, at last, he found his destination. It was a nest of creatures the centaurs referred to as gribbles. The little monsters were more nuisance than anything else, but if they were left alone, they would grow into a truly dangerous force that would sweep across the plains destroying everything in their path. The nest ¨C which was more like a termite mound ¨C had already been earmarked for extermination, and, because it was a perfect opportunity to test his new skill, Zeke had volunteered to take care of it himself. The creatures themselves were small, furry, and circular, with stubby legs and mouths that looked like they split the monsters in two. Those mouths, in turn, were filled with razor sharp teeth that could cut through stone. Zeke stepped toward the mound, embracing [Titan] and transforming in the space of a few moments. So, by the time the monsters noticed him, he¡¯d become a thirty foot tall mass of shining metallic flesh. However, the consequences of his previous actions were obvious, and his once-flawless form was marred by a molten spiderweb of deep groves that covered his neck, shoulders, and much of his torso. From those scars came glowing red fire and demonic corruption. Yet, there was more, too. A flavor of mana with which he¡¯d become intimately aware. It was death. The new attunement he¡¯d picked up after his experiences within Darukar. Or more appropriately, after his time in the abyss between his death and the afterlife. But rather than weaken him, it worked with his other attunements to strengthen the titanic form. It wasn¡¯t quantified on his status ¨C other than listing the attunement itself ¨C but it was there all the same. More, it hinted at the future of his skill. The more attunements he managed to nurture, the more powerful it would become. But Zeke wasn¡¯t interested in testing out [Titan]. It was only there to protect him from taking too much damage. So, without further ado, he got down to the business at hand, using [Flames of Reprisal]. The moment the skill took hold, the molten web of cracks in his titanic flesh erupted into an angry conflagration, coating his entire body in red-and-black flames. When the first wave of gribbles hit him, he felt their razor-sharp teeth latch onto his legs, cutting into him like organic chainsaws. Even his metallic flesh was no match for their jaws, and he felt earth mana spinning all around the creatures. That explained how they managed to do so much damage. And they did, cutting into him with ease. Normally, the centaurs would have killed the things via ranged attacks. They weren¡¯t terribly durable, after all. But Zeke wasn¡¯t interested in that. Instead, he just stood there, letting them cut into him. Then, [Flames of Reprisal] took full effect. At first, it didn¡¯t seem to do anything, save for whipping the fires into a frenzy. However, after only a few seconds, the smell of scorched fur filled the air. A moment after that, high-pitched screams of agony joined the bitter odor. The stupid creatures didn¡¯t know how to retreat, so they simply doubled down on their attacks, sealing their doom. In seconds, the first wave had been burned to ashes. The second wave soon followed. And the third after that. Before long, Zeke was surrounded by the charred remains of the nest of gribbles, teaching him two things about his new skill. First, [Flames of Reprisal] did precisely what its description claimed, burning anyone who attacked him. It was exactly what he¡¯d intended. After all, he was incredibly durable. He could take all sorts of hits and keep going. On top of that, he had [Touch of Divinity] to heal him. So, he¡¯d decided to lean into that, creating a skill that would reflect damage back on any attackers. And it had worked like a charm. The second thing he¡¯d learned was that the skill was incredibly strong, and he could make it even more powerful by channeling his Will through it. Though doing so would be quite painful, which just seemed like normal operating procedure for his skills. ¡°I think we¡¯ll call this a success,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Ready to move on to the next one?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke said, surveying the site of the extermination. For others, it might¡¯ve been a battle, but for him, it only required that he remain standing in place while the monsters killed themselves on his flames. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to make a choice, then.¡± With that, he turned his attention to his long-ignored notifications. He had three skills available to him, and he needed to make a decision on which one he wanted to choose. 535. Choices ¡°You don¡¯t have to choose right this second,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°You can give it another couple of days.¡± ¡°Do you think that¡¯ll change anything?¡± Zeke asked, already looking at his choices. ¡°You can devote your full attention to it, rather than just whatever is leftover after you burned out on runecrafting,¡± she answered. ¡°You¡¯ve been burning the candle at both ends, Ezekiel. It might be beneficial to take a step back and relax for a few days. Maybe do something with that orc girl.¡± ¡°Half-orc,¡± he said. ¡°Quarter-orc, technically,¡± she corrected him. ¡°Not that it matters, of course. Someone out there likely finds orcs quite attractive. Maybe that¡¯s what you like about her.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°What? I¡¯m just saying that you¡¯ve had plenty of other opportunities with humans and elves. Even kobolds, if that¡¯s your thing. But you latched onto the girl with orc blood running through her veins. Given your proclivities concerning battle, it kind of fits,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of.¡± Zeke sighed, then shook his head. He knew it was just Eveline¡¯s way of relieving tension, but sometimes, she took her teasing a little too far. Distilling Adara down to her ancestry felt at least mildly offensive, and he had no intention of putting up with it. So, he said, ¡°If you keep going like that, we¡¯re going to have issues, Eveline. I know you don¡¯t mean it like that, but I won¡¯t have you talking like that, even if it¡¯s only in my head. Are we clear?¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°No buts,¡± he said. ¡°I love you, Eveline. You¡¯re like the big sister I never had. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll let you badmouth Adara with mildly racist comments about her parentage.¡± ¡°Calling orcs warlike brutes is not racist. It¡¯s the truth,¡± Eveline argued. ¡°But okay. I get it. I won¡¯t say anything else about it. Besides, I don¡¯t mean to imply that I don¡¯t approve of the girl. She¡¯s good for you. Keeps you grounded and relieves stress.¡± Zeke wanted to say that his relationship with Adara was more than that, but the reality was that it hadn¡¯t progressed far enough for him to make that claim with any reasonable honesty. He cared for her, but he wasn¡¯t ready to call it anything approaching love. Perhaps that sort of thing just wasn¡¯t in the cards for him, given his promised future full of battle and death. ¡°Stop feeling sorry for yourself,¡± she said. ¡°Nobody likes that kind of thing.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t feeling sorry for myself.¡± ¡°I was being charitable by not calling it whining,¡± she pointed out. ¡°I think you love every second of battle. It¡¯s the times in between when you struggle with everything.¡± ¡°That¡­isn¡¯t untrue,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°I think it would be better if you just went on with your skill choice,¡± Eveline said. ¡°We¡¯re coming dangerously close to self-realization here.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± ¡°Not for you.¡± He rolled his eyes and, after moving away from the nest of gribbles he¡¯d just killed, he settled down to go over his choices. He¡¯d been through them dozens of times already, and he thought he knew which choice he would make. However, he knew just how important the decision was, and he¡¯d vowed not to shortchange it. So, he would go through the process one more time before making his final choice. To that end, he looked at the first offered skill: [Unstoppable Charge] (B) ¨C You are an undeniable juggernaut. Charge forth, obliterating all that stand before you. Upgradeable. It was the one that drew Zeke¡¯s eye more than either of the other two, and for good reason. After all, during the war with the giants, he¡¯d made a habit of turning himself into a siege engine, and that had worked out very well for him. However, he got the impression that [Unstoppable Charge] was a little more complicated than the description implied. He didn¡¯t know how, but as a B-Grade skill, it clearly wasn¡¯t weak. The same could be said for the second option, which was the same grade: [Totem of Wrath] (B) ¨C You are a creature of boundless fury and vengeance. Summon a totem that will devour your enemies. That one sounded an awful lot like [Wrath of Annihilation], which meant that it probably filled the same niche. ¡°Is that what we¡¯re calling it now? Total destruction of everything within a three-mile radius is a niche?¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Zeke ignored her, though he wanted to point out that she was exaggerating. After the first mile, it was only partial destruction. In any case, as powerful as [Totem of Wrath] seemed ¨C and as a B-Grade skill, it certainly was strong ¨C Zeke had trouble envisioning a situation where he needed two world-ending skills. So, as much as he believed that it was the most destructive of the offered skills, he chose to forego it. Finally, he moved on to the last option: [Eye of Reckoning] (B) ¨C You have judged and been judged. Channel your divine spark through your eyes, rendering judgement on everything within the bounds of your gaze. ¡°I¡¯m noticing a theme here,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Yeah. Me too,¡± he responded. This was where he had hit a speedbump. He had no issues discarding [Totem of Wrath]. It was too similar to [Wrath of Annihilation]. And in truth, so was [Eye of Reckoning], save for one major difference. The wording of the skill¡¯s description implied that he could aim it. Compared to [Wrath of Annihilation] and [Totem of Wrath], it seemed like a precision weapon. And that was precisely what he needed, wasn¡¯t it? He¡¯d spent weeks trying to regulate the damage output of [Wrath of Annihilation], and to no avail. It was a broad skill meant to obliterate entire armies. So was [Totem of Wrath], at least according to the impressions he got from the description. But [Eye of Reckoning] sounded far more focused. At the very least, he could aim it in a specific direction, which gave it a leg up on his other skills. ¡°That¡¯s what makes it a tough choice,¡± Eveline said, her input entirely unhelpful. ¡°Glad I¡¯m not the one who has to choose.¡± Zeke just shook his head. ¡°But then again, there¡¯s a chance that one of them will give you eye lasers. That has to count for something,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Eye lasers?¡± ¡°Or eye death rays, maybe? I don¡¯t know. On a side note, your culture had some interesting ideas about what the future might hold. I wonder if any of it actually came true? Like, did they travel to other galaxies? Did they carry ray-guns that could disintegrate an enemy with a single shot? Were there giant cyborgs dressed all in black and wielding laser swords?¡± Zeke said, ¡°That last one was supposed to be in the distant past.¡± ¡°It seemed futuristic.¡± ¡°Not my story, so I don¡¯t know what to say other than that it was right there in the beginning of the movie,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away¡­¡± ¡°Regardless, I think you should take the eye lasers of death. That¡¯s a lot cooler than being able to charge like an out-of-control herd animal.¡± ¡°Bull.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°An out-of-control bull.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± Zeke was about to extend the argument, but then he thought better of it. Eveline gave a petulant roll of her eyes ¨C mentally, of course ¨C then went silent, giving Zeke all the room he needed to make the appropriate choice. However, even though he¡¯d already made the choice a hundred times in his head, he kept going back to Eveline¡¯s description. Could he really pass up laser eyes? Of course, there was no guarantee that that was how [Eye of Reckoning] would manifest. For all he knew, it would simply explode his enemies. Or do something entirely unexpected. The reality of skill choices was that it came down more to feelings than the actual descriptions provided by the Framework. And Zeke wasn¡¯t sure how he felt. ¡°Oh, come on. You¡¯ve had weeks to make this choice,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Just pick one. I can guarantee you won¡¯t be disappointed in either of them. And if you are, you can always just change it like you have with all the other skills you weren¡¯t happy with.¡± That much was certainly true. Zeke had originally made some bad choices when it came to skills, and he¡¯d worked tirelessly to rectify those decisions. And while it would be just one more thing to add to his to-do list, there was nothing to keep him from tinkering with whatever he chose. So, when it came down to it, he went with his gut and picked [Eye of Reckoning]. Instantly, a rune far more complex than any he¡¯d seen before branded itself on his forehead. The smell of charred metal filled the air, and a moment later, Eveline manifested beside him. ¡°Ouch,¡± she said. ¡°Do you want the good news or the bad news?¡± ¡°You choose.¡± ¡°Okay, so you now have a glyph on your forehead. It looks like the cracks on your shoulders and chest,¡± she said. ¡°And the good news?¡± ¡°It looks kind of cool,¡± she said with a shrug. Zeke let out a breath in frustration, then dragged a mirror from his spatial storage. Indeed, the rune was right there on his forehead, glowing with red-and-black fire as if someone had taken a branding iron to his face. Yet, as Eveline had said, it didn¡¯t look horrible, especially with the rest of his titanic body covered in a molten web of cracks. He let [Titan] go, and to his relief, the skill¡¯s rune disappeared right alongside his metallic body and the rest of his scars. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good,¡± he said. He hadn¡¯t liked the notion of walking around with a giant symbol burned into his forehead. As a titan, it was fine, but in his more natural form, it was a bit much. ¡°Try it out,¡± she said. Zeke once again used [Titan], just to make sure his own skill didn¡¯t kill him. The huge, metallic form had saved him a few times in the past, and he knew it could prove the difference between life and death. Once he felt safely ensconced in his titanic form, Zeke focused on a point a few hundred yards away, then used [Eye of Reckoning]. Fire, dense and hot and teeming with demonic corruption, lanced across the plains, and when it hit his target ¨C a low rise of a hill ¨C it disintegrated the terrain. There was no explosion. No eruption of earth and fire. One second, there was a hill, and the next, nothing. But there was more to the skill. He could feel the ability to control the beam of fire to a degree he couldn¡¯t with any of his other skills. He narrowed the flame to no wider than a finger, and when it hit his next target, the damage was no less severe. However, it was far less widespread, only shaving a bit off the top of the next hill. Then, he widened it as far as it would go, which turned out to be about the width of a football field. And predictably, the damage was as extensive as that implied. His control was instinctive, and he could adjust on the fly. The only downside to the skill was that it consumed a fair bit of his mana pool. But that was fine. He rarely used expensive skills, so he always had plenty to spare. ¡°We happy?¡± Eveline asked as he let the beam dissipate. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re happy,¡± Zeke said with a grin. ¡°Are you ready to move on to the last skill? I know you¡¯ve been working on it,¡± she stated. Zeke shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The army needs me,¡± he said. ¡°We need to end this war so we can move on to what¡¯s important. Like finding Micayne and destroying his phylactery.¡± ¡°Or looking for a portal to Hell.¡± ¡°Yeah. That too,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Do you want my advice? Or are you just going to tell me to shut up again?¡± ¡°What do you suggest?¡± ¡°Get as much done now as you can,¡± she answered. ¡°You never know when you¡¯ll have another chance.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± he said. But he definitely wasn¡¯t looking forward to secluding himself in meditation as he put the finishing touches on the penultimate skill that he¡¯d get in the Eternal Realm. 536. Smash Zeke¡¯s mind swirled with a million symbols, each one subtly different from the last. There were pieces that were meant to fit together, but it was like trying to piece together a puzzle, if said puzzle was a three-dimensional depiction of the abstraction of an ephemeral concept. And sometimes, those pieces needed to be adjusted so that they fit into the proper place. So maybe the puzzle analogy was erroneous. Whatever the case, it was entirely possible for Zeke to lose himself in the process and open his eyes to weeks¡¯ worth of elapsed time. Fortunately, he could go indefinitely without food and eschew water for only a little less time. More, he was experienced enough with runecrafting that he could drag himself out of the nigh-hypnotic state to check in with his attendants. And if something truly required his attention, Adara, Pudge, and Talia all had access to his meditation chamber. They would drag him away if he was needed. Thankfully, that didn¡¯t happen. The war continued to progress, with his forces winning most engagements. However, there were a few key defeats that had necessitated a quick retreat. Thousands of kobolds and beastkin had already been slain, and he knew that if he didn¡¯t soon complete his task, many more would follow. But he agreed with Eveline. He had a feeling that, once he¡¯d completed the penultimate skill of his current realm, he would be hard pressed to find another opportunity to work on runecrafting. Sure, he had plans for if that proved untrue. There were a couple of skills he needed to adjust ¨C [Shifting Sands], [Bulwark of the Triumvirate], and [Hell Geyser] among them. He also knew he needed to adjust [Mark of Companionship] and [Avatar of the Colossus] so that they were more broadly beneficial. He often forgot to use the pair of enhancing skills on his allies, largely because they needed to be individually applied. In the heat of battle ¨C or the lead-up to it ¨C he usually had other things on his mind, and he usually forgot to use them. And that was a waste, because both could be beneficial. They weren¡¯t enough to save anyone¡¯s life, but they could certainly function as the straw that broke the proverbial camel¡¯s back. In that way, they could be the difference between life and death. So, at some point, he intended to evolve them into something that required a little less input from him. If he could turn them into domains, that would be ideal, but he wasn¡¯t certain if his soul ¨C or perhaps his spark of divinity ¨C could support such a transformation of the skills. In any case, that was a problem for another day. For now, it took every ounce of his concentration to avoid making mistakes in his current skill¡¯s construction. He couldn¡¯t avoid them entirely, but each time he made an error, it meant that he would be forced to spend that much more time mending the damage he caused to the skill. And if he somehow missed recognizing a problem, it could skew the entire skill. He thought he was past creating a corrupted skill ¨C especially with the Framework¡¯s subtle assistance ¨C but if he let too many errors through, the skill might become something entirely different from what he intended. In the worst case scenario, it might be useless and impossible to fix without completely rebuilding it. And given how much time he¡¯d already spent, that just wasn¡¯t possible at the moment. Those thoughts only skated along the surface of his mind, barely noticeable as he fitted one symbol after another together. With some, he had to build bridges, with others, he only had to position them properly. But none of them came together without a significant injection of his Will. Doing so required more control than he¡¯d ever exerted; otherwise, he ran the risk of destroying everything. It would have been so much easier if he¡¯d simply had his old Runecrafting path with which to work. Instead, he had to be consistently cognizant of his path¡¯s destructive side. Indeed, that was the dominant portion of his Path of Arcane Destruction, and it was a constant chore to keep it in check. But Zeke was well accustomed to that burden, and he shouldered it without complaint. Days passed, and with each passing second, another glyph slid into place. After a week, the foundations were complete. Another week, and the frame came together. And finally, over the next month, Zeke layered the glyphs atop each other until, at last, the skill snapped together. When it did, a wave of mana swept through it, solidifying everything and cementing it in place. He took a deep breath, smelling the stale air of his meditation chamber before letting it out in a long sigh. It was finally finished. For a few moments, he refused to inspect the notification begging for his attention. If he¡¯d gotten it wrong¡­ ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± Zeke countered. ¡°You can¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°I saw everything you did. I watched every glyph fall into place. You got it right. I¡¯m certain of it,¡± she said. Zeke opened his eyes and ran his hand through his greasy hair. Should he clean up before looking at the results? Part of him wanted to, but he knew that was just a delaying tactic. And he refused to run away from reality. So, without further ado, he shifted his focus to the notification, and when he read it, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. [Titan¡¯s Smash] (C) ¨C You are a god swatting flies. Bring your power to bear in a massive attack that will obliterate your enemies. Upgradeable. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. As opposed to [Eye of Reckoning], it was only C-Grade, which was a bit of a disappointment. However, considering that it was on the same level as [Flames of Reprisal] or a host of other skills in his repertoire, he couldn¡¯t be too upset. Other than that, the description suggested that it was precisely what he¡¯d intended. ¡°You created a C-Grade skill before reaching the peak of this realm,¡± Eveline said with a mental shake of her head. ¡°Only you would complain about something that most of this realm¡¯s elites would do anything to accomplish.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t complaining,¡± he said. ¡°Sure,¡± was her petulant reply. Zeke pushed the exchange out of his mind. Instead, he focused on the skill ¨C or rather, the feeling he received when he examined it. The idea was to create a repeatable attack, so the most obvious route was to harness his extreme strength to enable just that. He still needed to test it, but Zeke felt certain that it would be exactly what he needed. Once he¡¯d confirmed that his skill was complete, and that it was, at least on the surface, what he intended to create, Zeke pushed himself to his feet and stretched his stiff muscles. A quick pulse of [Hand of Divinity] pushed his soreness aside, and, after weeks of inactivity, he finally left the meditation chamber. Almost as soon as he stepped out of the room, he found himself face to face with Adara. ¡°You¡¯re done? Or is this just a break to keep up to date?¡± she asked, a slight tone of annoyance dancing in her voice. Zeke opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off, adding, ¡°You stink. Go get cleaned up.¡± Suddenly, Zeke became very aware of his own stench. Spending more than a month locked in a single room clearly hadn¡¯t done his hygiene any favors, and he suddenly felt absolutely grotesque. ¡°Sorry,¡± he managed to mutter. ¡°Normally, I like the way you stink,¡± she said, stepping close and placing her hand on his chest. She looked up, adding, ¡°The smell of battle is very different than whatever this is, though.¡± ¡°And what does battle smell like?¡± ¡°Blood and sweat and anger and fear,¡± she said with a slight quiver in her voice. ¡°It¡¯s all violence and destruction. This makes me think of unwashed librarians.¡± She said the last with a note of disdain that made her opinion of academia quite clear. It wasn¡¯t surprising. She was a trained warrior, and with orcish blood to boot. That race¡¯s warlike reputation was well-earned, and though she mostly clung to her human side, Adara had plenty of orcish characteristics that made themselves clear in her personality. ¡°Your opinion is noted,¡± he said. She rolled her eyes, then slapped his chest before saying, ¡°Go. Shower. We¡¯ll talk after.¡± Zeke just nodded before heading to the shower, where he washed away weeks¡¯ worth of musty stink. He even took a few moments to trim his beard before inspecting himself in the mirror. He looked much the same as always, save for a couple of key differences. First, his hair and beard ¨C despite his efforts to corral it ¨C were quite unruly, making him look like the world¡¯s most muscular hobo. And then there were his scars. Most of the time, he didn¡¯t even notice them. However, when he took the time to truly look at his reflection, he couldn¡¯t escape how much they¡¯d changed his appearance. In his titanic form, they were represented by red-and-black flames, but when he took his natural cambion form, they looked little different from any normal scars. The only difference was that they covered his shoulders and most of his torso, dipping down to his navel and climbing up his neck. The thin, puckered remnants of his past decisions made his skin look like a vase that had been painstakingly put back together. But there was an order to them, too. A pattern that made them seem almost ritualistic. On Earth, their presence might¡¯ve been labeled as intentional body art. But Zeke knew the truth, that they were evidence that he¡¯d ripped himself apart and been pieced back together. So, he had more in common with a broken vase than he really wanted to consider. Even as he leaned forward, his hand on the bathroom counter, the door opened behind him, and Adara slipped insider. Before he could react, she had her hand around his waist. He turned to face her, and, as was always the case, her other fingers quickly found those scars. She was fascinated by them, and in a way that probably should have upset him. As it was, Zeke simply accepted that she enjoyed the tangible confirmation of his power, of his past battles and the strength he¡¯d needed to pull through. To someone like her, who revered battle and respected warriors above all, they were badges of honor unlike any others. What followed was the best welcome back he could¡¯ve hoped to receive, and thankfully, Eveline remained out of it. Once or twice in the past, she¡¯d offered to advise him throughout, but that certainly hadn¡¯t gone the way she¡¯d hoped. In those instances, he¡¯d locked her behind [Bulwark of the Triumvirate] until the act was finished. That had gotten the message across, and since then, she had kept her opinions and offers of advice to herself. In the aftermath, Zeke lay in his bed ¨C which had not survived their enthusiasm intact, having broken in half ¨C cradling his head in his hands. Adara lay next to him, one arm draped over his chest. ¡°Was it a success?¡± she asked. ¡°Seemed that way to me, but you¡¯d be a better judge than me,¡± Zeke answered. ¡°Not that, idiot. The skill,¡± she said. ¡°Oh. Right.¡± She smiled up at him, displaying her overly sharp incisors. ¡°So?¡± ¡°Yeah. I think so. It¡¯s a skill called [Titan¡¯s Smash]. I think it¡¯s¡­wait, why are you laughing?¡± he asked. ¡°Nothing. Nothing at all.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡­oh,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­I mean¡­that is not what it means.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Adara said, her grin widening. Eveline finally offered, ¡°Double entendre. Very nice.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s actually a double entendre. It¡¯s more of a ¨C¡± Eveline giggled as she said, ¡°Just shut up. You¡¯re just going to embarrass yourself.¡± ¡°This is such a weird dynamic,¡± he muttered inwardly. Then, aloud, he said, ¡°Anyway ¨C my point is that the skill turned out like I had hoped. I mean, there¡¯s a chance that the description isn¡¯t accurate. Or that I misunderstood it. But I think it¡¯s a repeatable attack that I can use instead of just blowing everything up.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± Adara said, pulling herself closer. Their relationship had progressed far more quickly than Zeke might have expected, but it was still comfortable in a way he¡¯d never shared with Abby. Was that because he¡¯d grown more mature? Or was it because Adara was a better pairing? He didn¡¯t know, but he wasn¡¯t going to question things. In that moment, he felt content. He knew it was temporary. Soon enough, his responsibilities would reassert themselves. Now that he¡¯d completed his work on his skills, there was no reason not to contribute to the war against the Radiant Host. And once that was finished, he¡¯d need to find Micayne and the threat he represented. That wasn¡¯t even considering the necessity of finding a portal to Hell, then discovering a way to descend into the Pit. No ¨C with all that looming in his future, Zeke was content to simply hold Adara and focus on the present. 537. Progress Report From his vantage high above, Zeke gazed out at the vast fields. He didn¡¯t know the names of the crops the farmers had planted, but he could feel the mana billowing from the expanse of farms. The Artisan¡¯s Terrace, which really didn¡¯t qualify for that name anymore, had grown considerably larger, though he¡¯d yet to hear the extent. ¡°How big is this place now?¡± he asked, glancing at Eta, who¡¯d taken it upon herself to develop the area. She could fight, as she¡¯d proven in the arenas beneath Min Ferilik and in the dungeon where they¡¯d encountered the Mirror King. However, her abilities clearly lent themselves to non-combat applications. She¡¯d once been a highly sought-after gardener, and she¡¯d leveraged those skills in service of the Crimson Tower. Without her efforts, they would have struggled to feed the booming population. She wasn¡¯t alone, though. There was a whole council of experienced farmers ¨C each of them beastkin who¡¯d been enslaved by Adontis ¨C who¡¯d become instrumental in the terrace¡¯s development. ¡°We have thirty-eight fields,¡± Eta said. ¡°Four gardens and six nurseries where we grow herbs.¡± ¡°So many?¡± Zeke asked. Last he had checked, each farm had covered more than a hundred acres, which meant that, over the past few years, the amount of available land had grown by leaps and bounds. ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡± ¡°You should be more impressed by what we¡¯re growing than by how much of it we can produce,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Every crop we grow is infused with enough mana that it has become a pseudo natural treasure. That is what our people have been eating, and it has increased their development by a significant degree.¡± Zeke had seen as much the last time he¡¯d watched the kobold army at work. They still couldn¡¯t stand toe-to-toe with the Radiant Host ¨C at least not on an individual level ¨C but they drew closer to that ability by the day. Some of that was due to his skills like [Prosperity], but he knew that the farming infrastructure had a lot to do with it as well. ¡°Are the farmers happy?¡± Zeke asked. Eta answered, ¡°What is happiness? They have a purpose, they¡¯re treated well, and they have opportunities to advance. That¡¯s far more than they could expect in most situations, leaving aside the fact that they come from enslavement. So, as far as it goes, yes ¨C they are happy. Most of all, they are productive.¡± ¡°The crafters are happy, Ak-toh,¡± said a kobold Zeke didn¡¯t recognize. From a size standpoint, he was somewhere between the legionnaires and the juveniles, which put him at slightly larger than a man. More, he wore a thick leather apron, and soot stained his scales. The implication was clear ¨C he was a blacksmith. Bowing, the kobold went on, ¡°I am Nak, the lead smith, and I represent the Crimson Crafters.¡± After that, Zeke learned that his people had established a multitude of guilds, each one dedicated to specific endeavors. There was one for blacksmiths, another for jewelers, and still another for those who dealt in textiles and leathers. Altogether, there were fifteen such organizations, and they all fell under the overall umbrella of the Crimson Crafters. It was an unimaginative name, but considering that so many of the kobolds had only achieved sapience within the past few years, it wasn¡¯t surprising that they weren¡¯t the most creative when it came to applying labels. In any case, Nak spent the next few minutes explaining their manufacturing capabilities, and Zeke was more than a little impressed to discover the breadth of the operation. Their growth wasn¡¯t as tangible as the scope of the farming efforts, but the army¡¯s success was just as dependent on the goods they could provide ¨C including armor and weapons ¨C as they were on good food. In short, the Artisan¡¯s Terrace was a resounding success, and there were many plans to improve upon it. Happy to see those developments, Zeke was content to leave them to their farms and workshops. The next stop on his tour was the training facility known as the Hunting Grounds. There, he was informed that the kobolds used it to develop strategies and practice their formations. Certainly, they had a natural affinity for working together, but much of their battle success could be traced back to the drills they went through in the Hunting Grounds. Zeke watched one such session, which involved an entire clutch of legionnaires and centurions fighting against an army of Knights. There were no skills in use, so it wasn¡¯t quite as overtly impressive as a real battle, but the lack also made it far more brutal. Seeing the kobolds respond to varying tactics was just as impressive as seeing a devastating skill being used. In another section of the Hunting Grounds, other fighters engaged in individual battles. Sometimes, they fought against one another, and others, they faced off against monsters. This was where the kobolds tended to fall short. Their strength was in their unity, and once they were alone, they found themselves at a disadvantage. It was especially apparent without skills to assist them. But they made it work, though not without considerable attrition. Luckily, any wounds incurred in the Hunting Grounds were illusory and would disappear upon a warrior¡¯s exit. That, along with the flexibility of the floor gave his people a distinct advantage that most forces would never experience. The most interesting scenario Zeke witnessed was when the assassin kobolds ¨C who¡¯d been dubbed the Inashi by the other kobolds ¨C engaged in a hunting simulation. It took place in a forest, and the Inashi were required to stalk and kill specific targets. Normally, that wouldn¡¯t have been difficult for the little kobolds. Originally, they¡¯d all been rangers, so it was precisely what they¡¯d spent their lives doing. However, without skills, that became much more difficult. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. But they made it work, using the shadows and the cover provided by the trees for concealment, then pouncing on their prey with bestial ferocity. Because of [Benevolence], they¡¯d gained access to some of Zeke¡¯s advantages, including his attunements. However, the skill had also strengthened them in a more general sense, turning them into elite assassins that could stand up to anyone of similar level. So, even without their skills ¨C which could be overbearing ¨C they were deadly foes for any opponent. ¡°The Inashi have been instrumental in our success,¡± said one of the beastkin who¡¯d managed to rise within the ranks. Kobold society was nothing if not merit-based, so they had no qualms with integrating other races into their command structure. The only requirement was competence. ¡°Their activities have forced the Radiant Host to implement time-consuming and expensive defensive strategies each time they make camp. As a result, the ground the enemies can cover is vastly reduced.¡± It had also turned the conflict into a war of attrition. The longer Zeke¡¯s forces managed to drag it out, the worse it would be for the Radiant Host. After all, they were a long way from home, and their supply convoys were under constant threat of attack. Meanwhile, the kobolds ¨C along with the centaurs, beastkin, and others who made up the army ¨C were on their home turf. That came with the advantage of never being far from the supplies they needed. So, anything they could do to slow them down and make their progress more difficult was a win. Even if all they did was keep the enemy on pins and needles and making them search every shadow for a potential assassin, the Inashi¡¯s efforts would be more than worth the trouble. After watching the progress in the Hunting Grounds ¨C and leaving impressed ¨C Zeke headed to the prison. It had gained quite a few new residents since the war had begun ¨C most of which were Knights of the Radiant Host ¨C and they had proven to be even more indoctrinated than even the Knights of Adontis. Never was that more apparent than when Zeke stood across from a high-ranking Knight who¡¯d been one of the first prisoners they¡¯d taken. The man was tall and gaunt, the latter because he refused to eat anything his jailers gave him. He was powerful enough to survive without food, and he flatly disregarded anyone who attempted to interrogate him. Even torture had proved ineffective. So Zeke was more than a little surprised when the man spoke. ¡°You are the one in charge, I take it,¡± he croaked. He¡¯d drunk a little water since being taken, but only enough to ensure his survival. ¡°I am,¡± Zeke said. The man made a show of looking Zeke up and down before shaking his head and scoffing, ¡°I am not impressed, monster.¡± ¡°I am no monster.¡± ¡°I can smell the corruption on you, fiend. Even if I could not, your actions speak louder than any foul odor. You consort with beasts and monsters, treating them as people. Only another monster would stoop to that level.¡± ¡°And what about demons?¡± Zeke asked. When he¡¯d visited battlefields, he¡¯d sensed the familiar note of corruption in the air, and the kobolds had reported fighting against creatures that could only be demons. ¡°They are a means to an end,¡± the knight said. ¡°And what end is that?¡± ¡°Supremacy.¡± ¡°Over whom?¡± ¡°Everyone.¡± ¡°Why? Just for the sake of power? Or do you have any other goal?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°We will join the sun goddess and rule over the heavens, as is our right as her loyal servants,¡± the man spat. The statement had notes of learned propaganda to it, which wasn¡¯t surprising. He¡¯d met Lady Constance, after all. He knew just how insane worshipping the so-called Sun Goddess could make a person. ¡°You know that Shar Maelaine is not a real goddess, right? She¡¯s just a step above us. Ascension doesn¡¯t bestow godhood. It¡¯s just the next step in our progression. I have seen sights that would make your Sun Goddess quiver in fear. I have felt things that would tear her to pieces. You are an insect worshipping a child because that power is the limit of your perception.¡± That got through to the man, but not in the way Zeke had hoped. The Knight launched himself at Zeke, fully intending to tear him to pieces with his bare hands. However, he hadn¡¯t counted on the fact that, in the Crimson Tower, Zeke was the ultimate master. The prisoner¡¯s strength failed him even before he could fully through himself at Zeke, and he fell to the ground with a thud. It didn¡¯t stop him, though. Instead, he clawed his way forward and likely would have tried to claw Zeke to death if he hadn¡¯t been stopped by a boot to face. Zeke had only utilized the tiniest fraction of his strength, but the blow still sent the man flipping backwards to collide with the wall of his cell. He was unconscious a second later. ¡°That was unproductive,¡± Zeke muttered inwardly. Belatedly, used [Inspect] on the man: Ronar Amin ¨C Level 76 ¡°He didn¡¯t feel that powerful,¡± Eveline said, her first real contribution to Zeke¡¯s tour of the Crimson Tower. She¡¯d remained silent more and more of late, though he wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. ¡°He wasn¡¯t,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Even if I¡¯d let him go, he could have done nothing to hurt me.¡± ¡°In your titanic form?¡± ¡°In any form,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You¡¯re definitely getting stronger,¡± she pointed out. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if anyone but those at the absolute peak could challenge you now. And even those would need to be old monsters who should have ascended long ago.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke agreed. ¡°Any thoughts on what we saw today?¡± ¡°Just that you need to stop stalling.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°This needed to be done. I need to be seen, and I need to know what¡¯s going on here,¡± he argued. ¡°Otherwise ¨C¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve seen all there is to see,¡± she interrupted. ¡°You know all there is to know. What¡¯s the next step?¡± Zeke sighed. In truth, he had been putting it off, but now that he¡¯d done everything he needed to do, there was no point in further delay. So, he said, ¡°I guess I need to end this war with the Radiant Host.¡± ¡°You mean you need to kill them all,¡± she said. Zeke shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Probably. They don¡¯t seem like the negotiating types.¡± ¡°They definitely don¡¯t,¡± Eveline said. After that, Zeke headed to the Pillar, where he summoned everyone he considered part of his war council. Obviously, that included Silik and Kianma as representatives of the kobolds, but there were a few beastkin there as well. Pudge came, and so did Jasper. Even Sasha showed up, largely because, aside from Zeke himself, she was their heaviest hitter. With time, she could single-handedly destroy an army. There were a few others there, too, but they were mostly new faces with whom Zeke wasn¡¯t terribly familiar. Once everyone was ready, the discussion around how to finish the Radiant Host once and for all began, and it ran well into the night. But in the end, they decided on a simple, straightforward plan that would hopefully bring the conflict to a close. 538. Overwhelming Force The battle began just like any other, with two sides clashing. The monsters utilized similar a similar approach to what they normally employed, though Abby knew better than to grow complacent. The creatures had shown a remarkable ability to shift tactics at a moment¡¯s notice, and some of her lesser commanders had found themselves on the losing end of a battle they¡¯d thought would be an easy victory. ¡°Idiots,¡± she muttered to herself. Against these monsters, there was no such thing as an easy win. Even when the Radiant Host had emerged triumphant, they¡¯d paid a heavy price for their victories. Sometimes, the cost was in simple numbers. Every knight they lost was a blow to their chances of winning the overall conflict, largely because they were so far from home. Any reinforcements they might get had to travel overland for weeks or, if they were lucky, take to the skies in one of the Imperium¡¯s airships. But the fleet was only so large, and most of it was occupied with other concerns, like protecting their merchant vessels from pirates or powerful airborne monsters. Before Ignatius had taken over, they¡¯d taken care of the former with bribes that kept them at bay, but the new Lord Commander refused to kowtow to the pirate kings and their own fleet of airships. So, the only answer was war, and one that had been frustrating to wage. The problem was the sheer volume of area they needed to control. The Imperium was large, and the Radiant Host was powerful, but the world was huge, wild, and pockmarked with places to hide. Whole enclaves of pirates could exist without the proper authorities even knowing about them, and Abby had heard tales of entire cities that depended on those scum. If she¡¯d been in charge, that war might have gone differently. However, she had her own concerns, and handling the army of bestial lizard-men was enough to occupy the whole of her attention. But once she¡¯d finished putting down the monsters, she would turn toward the pirates. None would survive, she¡¯d already vowed. But for now, she focused on the battle unfolding before her. She¡¯d deployed her cavalry in a flanking maneuver that she hoped would serve to scatter the creatures. However, they¡¯d reacted to it smoothly, and when the knights struck, they found a heavy shield wall, enhanced by the powerful collective skill, blunting their attack. The heavy cavalry should have been able to break through it ¨C that was their purpose, after all ¨C but they were rebuffed and forced to break off the charge, retreating until they saw another opportunity. Meanwhile, the infantry clashed with the front lines, meeting an even more powerful wall of shields. However, they had no opportunity to retreat. With the press of thousands of bodies pushing them forward, they had no choice but to continue to press the attack. And that took them right into spears of their enemies. Hundreds had already died, and the battle was only minutes old. Yet, the Radiant Host was not without teeth of their own, and the powerful archers and mages loosed one volley after another. Some of those attacks were stymied by the shield, but many made it through to wreak havoc on the hulking lizard monsters. As was always the case, the injured were quickly taken away, where they would be treated by other, slimmer monsters. Abby had read all the reports. Her spies, each one equipped with potent skills dedicated to stealth, had observed the structure of the deceptively sophisticated operation. If she hadn¡¯t known better, she would have labeled them people. They were not even on the level of human-like elves or dwarves. Instead, they were purely monstrous, even if they sometimes acted far more civilized than that label would have suggested. Once, Ignatius had explained it to her in no uncertain terms. ¡°You can teach a dog tricks. They can follow directions and mimic some human behavior. But you cannot change their nature. They are beasts, and nothing any of us can do will ever change that. It is the same with monsters. They may stand on two feet. They might speak. They can even parrot human intelligence. Yet, their natures will never change. They are inferior creatures, and they deserve to be subjugated.¡± Abby had taken that statement to heart, and once she¡¯d begun to accept it as the truth, everything had come into focus. It was so obvious that humanity was superior, and she wondered how she¡¯d ever failed to recognize that fact. Still, that superiority didn¡¯t mean that the monsters of the world were any less dangerous. She respected their ability to kill, even if she knew that their lives were worth far less than that of a human being. In the back of her mind, though, there were doubts. And those doubts were seeded by a simple question: was she only making excuses so that her actions ¨C which included wholesale slaughter of many of these ¡°monsters¡± ¨C were more palatable? She¡¯d buried those doubts ¨C and the question that led to them ¨C deep in the back of her mind, and yet, they were always still there, waiting to pounce on any situation that might support them. But for now, she had no room for such superfluous thoughts. ¡°Loose the juggernaut,¡± she said without looking at her second-in-command. Eran said, ¡°As you say, commander.¡± Then, the woman relayed the command to another subordinate, who in turn would take it to Serpentus. In her mind¡¯s eye, Abby could see the beautiful demon¡¯s smug expression at being told his little project was needed. So far, she had kept it in her back pocket, fully intending to leave it there. Because the thing scared her. However, with so much on the line ¨C and her army slowly being pushed back ¨C Abby felt that the time had come to make some tough choices. And the time had finally come to loose the full might of her demon allies. Hopefully, she would not come to regret it in the future. For a few minutes, nothing changed. Her people continued to die, while the lizard-men remained steadfastly ensconced behind their nigh-impenetrable shield wall. If she¡¯d had a few of Ignatius¡¯ archwizards on her side, perhaps things might have gone differently. Her own mages, as strong as they were, were no elites, and the power they could bring to bear was quite limited. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Briefly, she considered adding her own skills to the mix, but as impactful as they might have been, she chose to hold them in reserve. When she struck, it would not be to destroy some shield and save a few meaningless soldiers. Instead, that action would only be undertaken when she could make the most difference. With her power, she could absolutely obliterate anyone below level seventy-five, so she could severely wound even those at the peak. Wasting that on a lesser opponent was the height of stupidity. No - she would use it as a surprise attack whenever the monsters¡¯ leader ¨C Ak-toh, according to her people¡¯s interrogations ¨C showed himself. Until then, she kept her power in reserve. Even using one of her aces by unleashing the demons left a bad taste in her mouth, but she was tired of losing battles. So, she watched as the fight continued, and ten minutes later, a rumble in the earth announced the arrival of the demons. They swept in from the east, a horde of monstrous humanoids that would strike fear into the hearts of any human. However, the lizard-men reacted to their charge with the same tactics they¡¯d used on Abby¡¯s knights. But when the two collided ¨C an unstoppable force versus a seemingly immovable object ¨C the shield broke. It shimmered back into existence a second later, but by that point, the demons had already broken through the more mundane shield wall. The monsters reacted quickly, switching to a more conventional melee, but the damage was done. Especially since it was only the first wave. Thousands of demons had already struck, but there were thousands more on their way. They swept across he plains, hitting the already sundered front lines like a tidal wave of corrupted flesh. The monsters were thrown into disarray, but to Abby¡¯s surprise, they managed to recover and, over the next few minutes, regrouped. The order they imposed on the battle was only tenuous ¨C at best ¨C but it was far more effective than she had expected. Even when the third and fourth waves joined the battle, they held on. But Abby had never intended for those four waves of demons to be her ace. No ¨C they were there to soften the enemy and prepare them for something far more horrifying. Once again, the earth shook, but this time, it wasn¡¯t afflicted with mere tremors. Rather, it was as if a sizable earthquake had struck the area. It heralded the arrival of a monstrous thing, the likes of which Abby had never encountered. It was a demon, though it was far larger and much more grotesque than any of the others of its kind. At nearly fifty feet tall, it became visible from miles away, and it covered that ground as only such a large monster could. With four legs, a form bulging with pitch-black muscle, and a head covered in thick bone, it lived up to the name of juggernaut. And when it hit the army of lizard-men, they were smashed beneath its massive hooves, but many more were thrown aside like so much trash. ¡°It is a terrifying creature, is it not?¡± came Serpentus¡¯ smooth voice. Abby didn¡¯t look back, but she knew he wore an infuriatingly smug grin. He¡¯d been campaigning for his demons ¨C and the juggernaut ¨C to be included in her battle plans for weeks, but until then, she¡¯d refused. After all, she had seen what they did when they were let loose, and as much as she detested the monstrous lizard-men and beastkin, she knew that Ignatius had big plans for them. Who would throw away such a ready source of labor? Or shock troops? They would make for grand fodder in the coming battles. But they could not be used for anything if they were eaten by demons. ¡°What level is it?¡± she asked. The creature was too far away for her inspection skill, but judging by the way it was rampaging through the enemy, she guessed that it was well past the level seventy-five threshold. ¡°Ninety-three,¡± he said. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for me, that thing would rampage through these lands and destroy everything it could find. It may even create a new Scar.¡± Abby didn¡¯t respond, but inwardly, she was horrified at the notion that such a creature¡¯s presence was so strong. If it remained in the area, it would corrupt everything and create a region of demonic influence. She didn¡¯t believe the corruption would be as strong as the Scar, which was a region populated by demons and demonkin, located halfway around the world. However, even if it was a fraction of that size, it was still a troubling prospect. She was about to say something when her words caught in her throat. Something huge and metallic had suddenly appeared on the battlefield. It looked like a mobile statue, and it was surrounded by ten others that were smaller but of similar composition. What¡¯s more, Abby could feel the power wafting off of the creature. Then, a beam of black-and-red fire erupted from its forehead. The energy was so intense that, for a moment, Abby only saw white spots. But her vision cleared just in time for her to see the juggernaut fall apart. Even as its top half slid free at the waist, Abby let out a gasp of surprise. A moment later, the monster hefted a giant hammer and smashed it into the mass of demons. When it hit, dozens were smashed into pulp, but that was only the beginning. Six more times, an invisible force descended upon the area, hitting like mortar shells. Earth erupted, and a cloud of dust billowed, and just like that, a quarter of the demonic horde had been slain. Then, the metallic monster did it again. In moments, the horde ¨C as well as the knights who were still fighting the lizard-men ¨C were in disarray, but Abby knew that her time had come. She embraced her skills. First, she began the charging process of [Ire of the Sun Goddess], and as its power built, she let loose with a series of [Eruptions]. At the same time, she fired a dozen arrows a second. They streaked across the battlefield, looking for all the world like a series of white lasers, and when they hit the monster, she was satisfied to see that they dug divots into its torso. Abby recognized that those attacks wouldn¡¯t really contribute to the creature¡¯s defeat, but she also knew that if her least powerful skills could harm it, then it was vulnerable to the others. A beam of pure and destructive sunlight smashed into the creature, and she was even more satisfied to see it melting like a candle. Then, finally, [Ire of the Sun Goddess] finished charging. She drew one last arrow and fired. It streaked across the battlefield, then split into three more arrows of light. A second later, those split into three more arrows apiece. On and on it went until hundreds of arrows filled the air. But they stopped only a few dozen feet away from the melting monster, forming the visage of Abby¡¯s patron. Light coalesced into a massive and disapproving face. ¡°Insolent whelp!¡± Shar Maelaine bellowed as she fixed her gaze on the monster. Then, a force unlike anything else Abby had ever felt exploded, bathing the entire area for thirty feet in pure and radiant fire. The solar pyre burned for a full five seconds before Abby¡¯s mana gave out. That was better than the last time she¡¯d used it. Back then, she¡¯d only been able to maintain it for three seconds, but she still remembered the devastation it had wrought. So, she fully expected that when the dust settled and the smoke cleared, she would only see a crater. And that was precisely what she saw, except for one rather striking problem. The monster had clearly been injured, and its body looked like a misshapen mass of silver putty. However, with every passing moment, the creature pulled itself back together. ¡°I don¡¯t ¨C¡± Just then, a series of screams erupted from behind her, and she turned to see a dozen small, black lizard-men tearing through her officers. 539. Unforgiveable The Inashi fell upon the Radiant Host¡¯s support personnel in what seemed to be an indiscriminate campaign of slaughter. However, their targets had been well-chosen, and their strikes were surgical, intentional, and most of all, effective. So, when Adara led her own contingent of former Knights of Adontis in a charge, she and her people were met with little resistance. They slashed through the soldiers who¡¯d been tasked with guarding the higher-ups, crashing through them with ease. And though the power of the charge wasn¡¯t unexpected, it still surprised her how much strength she and her people had gained since joining Zeke¡¯s force. For her part, she¡¯d jumped nine levels in the space of the last few months, and overall, she¡¯d crashed through the level seventy-five threshold without even slowing down. War, after all, was good for advancement, and it seemed that the Crimson Tower was in constant conflict with one force or another. This time, they were fighting against the Radiant Host, which had finally dropped all pretense and disbanded their civilian governments in favor of direct rule. They¡¯d dubbed their new empire the Imperium, and they were led by a man she¡¯d never heard of. And considering that Adontis had been one of their vassals, that was saying something. They¡¯d tried to learn more about the man known as Ignatius, but their efforts had so far come up frustratingly empty. Normally, Adara wouldn¡¯t have concerned herself with such matters. She was a soldier, not a spy, after all. However, because of their humanity, her people were best suited to infiltrating the Imperium so they could discern the truth of their enemies. And it had been eye-opening indeed. If such a thing was possible, the Imperium treated non-humans even worse than Adontis had, rounding them into camps and using them as slave labor. The conditions in those camps were reportedly terrible, and the beastkin, elves, and other so-called ¡°undesirables¡± were prone to disease, malnutrition, and death. And some had even been the subject of experimentation. The goals of those experiments, neither Adara nor her people knew, but when people went into those facilities, they certainly did not come out. Once upon a time, she had labored under the surety that the concepts of good and evil were arbitrary. One culture¡¯s misdeeds were lauded in another society. However, ever since joining the Crimson Tower ¨C and beginning her relationship with Zeke ¨C she¡¯d come to far different conclusions. Good and evil existed. Those terms were not relative. People only pretended they were because it gave them a sense of control. After all, if those who committed evil deeds were merely misunderstood, or they were driven to those actions by environmental factors, then there was hope of fixing things. But Adara had seen the truth. True evil was not learned. It was not a societal creation. It went bone-deep and was an integral part of who they were. As Zeke was fond of saying, some people were simply built differently. Somewhere inside of them, things had become muddled, and evil had infected them. That was the undeniable truth of what she¡¯d learned concerning the Imperium. To them, humanity was the prerequisite to respect, and after that, only strength truly mattered. It was disgusting in a way Adara could scarcely quantify in her own thoughts, much less articulate. So, when she led the charge, she did so not as a woman fighting a war. Rather, she engaged in a battle of good versus evil, and one she knew they couldn¡¯t afford to lose. Her horse¡¯s hooves thundered beneath her as she lowered her lance and hit their hastily built line of soldiers. The clash of metal on metal was loud, but the screams of the dying were even louder. Beside her, centaurs and former Knights charged, and to great effect. None of their skills were flashy. Most merely augmented their natural abilities. But every now and then, an explosion would erupt, or a mana-wrought shield would encase rider and mount, shielding them from damage. And then, a beam of sunlight punctured the centaur next to Adara, carving an enormous hole in the warrior¡¯s chest. She crashed to the ground a moment later, dead before she completed her fall. Adara discarded her broken lance by throwing it at a soldier. It hit the man in the shoulder, spinning him around and distracting him so that another knight could run him through. Meanwhile, she drew her sword, ready to enter the melee. Another beam of sunlight punched through the man in front of her, and suddenly, Adara¡¯s instincts kicked in. A veteran of many battles, she knew better than to ignore those instincts, so she whipped her horse around. It reared, lashing out with its hooves to catch another soldier in the face. That move was the only thing that saved her life, but her mount wasn¡¯t so lucky. A third beam of sunlight lanced through the stallion, and his chest disappeared in a bloom of intense heat. Adara leaped from the saddle as the horse fell, the smell of charred meat filling the air. Then, a pillar of that same destructive light descended from above. Adara dove away as it slammed into the ground. The impact tore a crater in the ground as the shockwave sent her flying through the air, only to collide with one of the enemy soldiers. She¡¯d kept her wits about her, so she rammed her gauntleted fist into his chin. A second later, she slid her dagger through his chainmail shirt and between his ribs. Even as her opponent died a gurgling death, she dashed away. It was just in time, too, because another beam of light scorched its way through the area she¡¯d just vacated. That was enough for Adara to pinpoint the origin, and she dashed in that direction, intending to end the threat. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Over the next few minutes, the battle raged on. Adara¡¯s path was barred by dozens of soldiers, but none were strong enough to stand in her way. She dispatched them with workmanlike efficiency, continuing forward with dogged determination. More troubling than the soldiers was the constant barrage of sunbeams, each one capable of punching a hole in her body. To mitigate those deadly rays of light, she progressed in a zigzag pattern, randomly changing directions so that she would make for a harder target. It worked, but only barely, and more than once, she was singed by the beams¡¯ passage. The originator was indiscriminate in their targets, killing friend and foe alike as they tried to pin Adara down. It was disgusting, how little the Radiant Host cared about their own allies. When Adara finally caught sight of the culprit, she was a little surprised to find herself looking a beautiful woman. At first, she thought she was looking at an elf, but the details quickly showed her the error of that judgement. No tapered ears. No ethereal grace. Just a blonde woman who¡¯d been blessed with rare beauty. She hefted a bow, materializing an arrow of pure light, then loosed it at Adara. They were so close together that Adara had no chance of dodging. So, she used one of her emergency skills, enveloping herself in an impenetrable shield of mana called [Righteous Bulwark]. The beam of light slammed into it, and it shattered. Her breastplate melted beneath the intense heat, and her skin began to blister. However, she had survived, which gave her the chance to reach the archer. She swung her sword in a wide arc, and the blade whipped through the air with blazing speed. More, she¡¯d long since used [White Blade], which would give it the lethality it would need to get through the other woman¡¯s golden armor. However, at the last second, the archer leapt away in a backflip, and mid-air, she shot another arrow. This one didn¡¯t have the benefit of being a beam of light, but it still slammed into the surprised Adara with enough force to punch through her armor and penetrate deep into her shoulder. More troublingly, it threw her off-balance. ¡°Filth,¡± the archer spat. ¡°I was going to¡­say the same thing,¡± Adara panted, yanking the arrow out of her shoulder. It dissipated into motes of mana only a moment later. She advanced. The other woman hefted her bow once again, but when she fired, Adara did the unthinkable and slapped the mana-based projectile out of the air. Without [White Blade] ¨C or her constant practice as well as the leaps she¡¯d recently made in her progression ¨C it would have been impossible. But she was an elite. A powerful warrior who could stand toe-to-toe with anyone. She bulled through the remaining distance, shouldering a pair of soldiers out of the way before reaching her blonde foe. She lashed out, barely grazing the woman before she felt something latch onto her ankle. Before she knew what was going on, her feet had been yanked out from under her, and she fell on her face. ¡°I had her,¡± hissed the woman. A melodious male voice that filled Adara with fear and desire in equal measure responded, ¡°I¡¯m certain you did. But what are friends for if not to lend a hand from time to time.¡± Then, someone kicked Adara in the ribs, rolling her over. That gave her a good view of her assailant, and he was the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes upon. Delicate features, a permanent cocky smile, long, glistening hair ¨C he was the sort of man whose mere presence elicited intense feelings of longing. But he wasn¡¯t a man at all. ¡°Demon,¡± she growled, trying to escape what she now knew was a whip of pure darkness. Adara knew about Zeke¡¯s dual nature, so she was well-acquainted with the taint that came with demonic corruption. However, she¡¯d never thought it could be so attractive. Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on her situation. Her legs were bound, and no matter how she tried to escape, the whip¡¯s grip remained firm. She still had her armor and her sword, but from her position on the ground, the degree to which she could bring them to bear was close to nil. There were two of them, too, and both were more powerful than she was. Still, she refused to give up. So, she slashed her sword at the whip, which did no good at all. The demon laughed. ¡°Just finish her,¡± the woman said. ¡°This battle is already lost.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± the demon said with a dramatic sigh. Then, he focused on Adara. ¡°If it makes any difference, I won¡¯t enjoy this. You¡¯re pretty enough, in a peasant-y sort of ¨C¡± Just then, something moving too fast for Adara to see hit the demon so hard that she heard the crack of his bones. A second later, black blood erupted into a storm of gore that rained down on everyone in the area. When it settled, a familiar pale figure stood over what was left of the demon. But Talia wasn¡¯t looking at Adara. Nor did she pay attention to the demon she¡¯d just ripped to pieces. Instead, her hateful gaze was fixed on the golden woman. ¡°Betrayer,¡± she said, her claws extending. They dripped a mixture of gore, green energy, and biting cold, and when that combination hit the ground, it sizzled with unchecked power. ¡°I should have known you would throw in with the likes of them. It wasn¡¯t enough to betray us, you had to and join the enemy as well.¡± ¡°Talia,¡± the woman said with an inclination of her head. ¡°Killing him is going to set me back months.¡± ¡°Is that all you have to say? Do you have no excuses?¡± ¡°That you¡¯ll accept? No,¡± the woman said. Her tone was one of deep exhaustion. ¡°You made your mind up about me the moment we met. It just took a while for you to accept your own hatred.¡± ¡°You nearly got him killed. You betrayed us!¡± ¡°That¡¯s your perspective. From mine, I did what I thought was necessary to ensure the survival of humanity against a horde of undead,¡± the golden woman said, her eyes flicking to the battle. They were separated from the fighting by a few dozen yards, but it was only a matter of time before it reached them. ¡°And I would do it again. Over and over, if it meant that we had even a miniscule chance of saving the Radiant Isles.¡± ¡°Then you are lost.¡± ¡°I suppose I am. What now? Are you going to kill me? I can tell you right now that it won¡¯t be as easy as you think,¡± the woman responded. ¡°I don¡¯t ¨C¡± Just then, mana swirled, and a bright light erupted from the woman. When it faded an instant later, she was gone. Talia let out an uncharacteristic scream, then tore across the battlefield, clearly searching for the woman¡¯s destination. For her part, Adara had no idea what to think of what had just happened. However, she did know that there was still a battle raging all around her, so she quickly untangled her legs ¨C the whip had lost whatever binding force it had carried while the demon was alive ¨C and she climbed to her feet to rejoin the battle. It didn¡¯t last much longer. With Zeke and his kobolds taking care of the demons, and the Inashi combining their might with Adara¡¯s force of knights to take out the leadership and support personnel, the fighting quickly petered out. There were plenty of holdouts, but by that point, the army of the Crimson Tower was well accustomed to mopping up after a battle. So, after another few hours, Adara looked around and all she saw was another victory. But then she caught sight of Talia, and the expression on the undead woman¡¯s face told her a completely different story ¨C one of failure and fury. 540. Pursuit Abby blazed across the sky as a streak of sunlight, and if she¡¯d had a heart, it would have been beating out of control. Of all the people she might have expected to meet in battle, Talia Nightingale was not one of them. They had been separated upon ascension, and though Abby had often thought of the girl ¨C and her undead curse ¨C she¡¯d resigned herself to never seeing Talia again. Which was probably for the best, given what the girl thought of her. Abby had thought she¡¯d long since moved on, that she didn¡¯t care about such judgement anymore. After all, she was secure in her reasoning, and she didn¡¯t really think she¡¯d done anything wrong. Micayne was a menace, and he¡¯d needed to be stopped by any means necessary. She was a hero for killing him. And yet, it had cost her everything. Perhaps martyrdom was simply her fate. A test of her faith, of her dedication to duty. She would suffer so humanity could flourish. Was that what she wanted? Not at all. If she¡¯d had her way, she would¡¯ve still been with Zeke, going from one adventure to the next. She would have been happy with that. But fate had ruined that, and now, she had resigned herself to playing the role she¡¯d been given. She would suffer. She would do the things no one else wanted to do. And in the end, her people would thank her for it. But still, seeing Talia again ¨C and the hatred the girl still held for her ¨C had definitely rattled Abby. That was why she had fled. Or that was what she told herself. In the back of her mind, she knew the truth, though. Even now, after everything she¡¯d been through, she had been outmatched. Whatever Talia had been doing since her ascension, it had granted her an incredible amount of power. It was almost enough to prompt a waver in Abby¡¯s conviction that she was on the right path. She had survived, though. That was because she¡¯d put everything into her allegiance to the Sun Goddess, and it had granted her the power she deserved. If she¡¯d been truly serious about the fight ¨C or if they¡¯d met one another in a more individual battle ¨C she knew she would have won. That thought comforted her as she streaked across the sky. After a few dozen miles, she plummeted to the ground, hitting with the force of a meteor. She was unharmed, but the same could not be said for the terrain. Or the creatures that were too stupid to get out of the way. Once she had gathered her wits, Abby set off for the Radiant Host¡¯s main camp. It was nearly a hundred miles away, but with her abilities, she covered that ground in only an hour. When she arrived, she immediately called for a meeting with her most senior advisors. They were all cringing sycophants, but they were a necessary evil if she wanted to get anything done. ¡°We must retreat,¡± she said, leaning forward with her hands on the table. ¡°Our allies have been destroyed, and our position is untenable.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t give up against these beasts!¡± cried one. ¡°It is unconscionable!¡± ¡°The Imperium will not be denied!¡± ¡°Hear, hear!¡± a woman shouted, slamming her hand on the camp table. Abby listened as they all congratulated themselves on how inviolable the Radiant Host was. Idiots, the lot of them, but that kind of confidence in the cause was imperative. If the members of the host didn¡¯t believe they were invincible, then what were they fighting for? More, would they charge into battle, sure of their own superiority if someone pointed out that even monsters could be far stronger than them? Of course not. But there was such a thing as taking it too far. So, after a few moments, Abby slammed her own hand down, and the table collapsed beneath the blow. Her whole body glowed with the radiance of their goddess as she asked, ¡°Do you question my orders?¡± Predictably, the cowards all gasped and pulled away, all the while saying that they would never think to disobey. Abby wanted their input ¨C sometimes, they offered insight that she might have missed ¨C but she could not allow them to question her. After that, the talk turned from reassurances of their own superiority to a more mundane ¨C but necessary ¨C discussion of the logistics involved in retreat. Thankfully, they were all competent enough at their particular jobs, so it wasn¡¯t long before the wheels were set into motion. For her part, Abby retreated to her own command tent, where she finally let down her guard. With shaking hands, she removed her armor, then the clothes beneath. Even when she settled into the bath she¡¯d had drawn, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to relax. Her whole world had been shaken, and not just by Talia¡¯s presence. There was also the metal monster to contend with. With a single attack, it had torn Serpentus¡¯ juggernaut apart. The demon had been on the verge of reaching the peak, and while she knew it wasn¡¯t as powerful as a human of the same level, the implications of its quick demise were enough to rattle her worldview. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Like that, she lay for over an hour, and as she did, she was thankful for the enchantment that kept the water scalding hot. She was also thankful for the nameless Servants of Light. Often, she forgot they were even there, and yet, it was their sacrifices that allowed the entire camp to run. What would prompt someone to make such a choice, she wondered. For a moment, she tried to put herself into a frame of mind that would allow her to understand how someone would give up everything ¨C even their identity ¨C to serve their betters. Had they been manipulated, as she had been in the Crucible? Perhaps. But their dedication exceeded anything she¡¯d ever encountered. It was admirable. And worthy of pity. Despite the heat of her bath, Abby shuddered at their fate. Then, she pushed such meaningless thoughts away. She wasn¡¯t some winsome girl with a bleeding heart. Not anymore. The Servants of Light had, each and every one, chosen their paths. And she had her own road to travel. So, she focused on the upcoming journey, mentally preparing herself for the report she was going to have to give. Not only had they lost the bulk of the army, but the demonic allies as well. And while mundane soldiers were replaceable, demons like Serpentus ¨C or the horde he¡¯d commanded ¨C didn¡¯t just grow on trees. Would Ignatius punish her? ¡°Mistress,¡± said one of the Servants of Light. Because of their shapeless robes and with their hairless head, it was difficult to determine whether they were male or female. Not that it mattered. They were a servant, and as such, their gender was wholly irrelevant. ¡°The captain of one of the scouting parties wishes to give a report.¡± Abby nodded, then said, ¡°Inform them that I will see them in twenty minutes.¡± ¡°Yes, mistress.¡± With that, Abby pushed herself from the water and stepped out of the gilded tub. It was one of her favorite possessions, though even she had to admit that it was a little ostentatious. In any event, she quickly turned her attention to her appearance, dressing in her uniform and donning her armor. Since the battle, it had had the opportunity to repair itself, so it gleamed like new. Soon enough, she was inspecting herself in the mirror. Abby had never considered herself a vain person, but she had to admit that, in her golden armor, she cut a striking figure that even an elf would respect. How she was seen by her subordinates was important for morale. So, once she was satisfied with her appearance, Abby left her tent and informed one of her Servants to fetch the scout commander and bring them to the command tent. All around, the signs that the army would soon be on the move were apparent. People hustled to and fro, gathering gear, packing supplies, and collapsing tents. It would take more than a day before everything was ready, but Abby was still impressed with the efficiency on display. It was comforting, especially after seeing so much go so wrong in the previous battle. Finally, she planted herself on the far side of the tent, her hands on the table, and waited. It wasn¡¯t long before a lean man swaggered in. His skin was swarthy, and he was still dirty from his long stay in the wilderness. As a scout, he forewent the normal uniform of the Radiant Host, and instead wore brown and green leathers that would blend into his surroundings. In addition, he carried a longbow, a thick machete, and a cocky grin. ¡°Commander,¡± he said, inclining his head slightly. Scouts were known for their arrogance and for eschewing normal rules, and this man seemed to epitomize the attitude of his chosen profession. However, those men and women who could do that job were few and far between, and as such, they were given quite a lot of leeway. Some barely even considered them part of the Host. ¡°Captain,¡± she said. ¡°You asked to speak with me?¡± ¡°I did. Good of you to cut your bath short for little old me,¡± he said. ¡°We all must make sacrifices in service of our lady, the Sun Goddess.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± he agreed. ¡°But some sacrifices are clearly weightier than others, if you don¡¯t mind my saying so.¡± ¡°We serve as we are called to serve.¡± ¡°From each according to his ability. To each, according to his need.¡± ¡°You are an ascender?¡± Abby asked, recognizing the communist saying. ¡°I am,¡± he said. ¡°Long time ago. So long that I haven¡¯t thought about that in years. Not sure why I said that last bit.¡± Ascenders were rare, Abby knew. It was a difficult process, and on top of that, most that climbed from one plane to the next died soon after reaching their destination. Something about the shock of going from the top of the heap to the very bottom caused the mortality rate to skyrocket. It was a feat worthy of respect. ¡°What do you have to report?¡± she asked, pushing that out of mind. ¡°Undead,¡± he said. ¡°We caught their trail about a week ago, been following them ever since. But it¡¯s funny. Weird, even.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°The trail is faint.¡± ¡°And that is abnormal?¡± ¡°Normally, when you run into undead, you find a wake of bodies,¡± the scout explained. ¡°Not everything survives the turning, you see. Some just break down and eventually rot to nothing. Sure, they¡¯re still dangerous if you stumble on them, but for the most part, they¡¯re not going to do much except decay. It¡¯s one of the signs we¡¯re taught to look for. But this time, there aren¡¯t any bodies. No pools of death-attuned water. No twisted trees or pockets of death.¡± ¡°So, how do you know there are undead out there?¡± Abby asked, thinking of Talia. She was certain that her old friend wouldn¡¯t leave any such trail. ¡°I can smell them,¡± the scout said. ¡°Call it a skill if you want, but I know my business. I can smell beasts and monsters, people, and especially undead. And mark my words, there¡¯s undead out there. A few dozen of them, too.¡± ¡°Which way are they headed?¡± ¡°West, mostly.¡± ¡°And do you have any guesses as to where they might be headed?¡± ¡°They¡¯re undead, Commander. They don¡¯t head anywhere. They just wander until they find something to eat, and then when they¡¯re done, they wander some more. Unless you think we¡¯re dealing with those abominations from El¡¯kireth, but as I hear it, they can¡¯t leave their little kingdom.¡± ¡°That may well be true,¡± Abby said, but she didn¡¯t believe her own statement. It was too much of a coincidence, that only the day before she¡¯d run into Talia, and now her scouts were reporting the presence of undead. The only question was what Talia was doing out there. ¡°What do you want to do about it?¡± he asked. ¡°Follow them,¡± Abby said. ¡°And keep me updated on their progress.¡± ¡°Aye, ma¡¯am,¡± he said, giving her a lazy salute. ¡°And captain?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Tell no one,¡± she said. ¡°This is for my ears only.¡± ¡°As you say.¡± She dismissed the man, then settled into a camp chair to think. If the scouts could find Talia, she would likely lead them to something important. And that, in turn, could allow them to turn the tide of the war and win a victory for the Sun Goddess. 541. A Wild Dungeon Appears Zeke cracked his knuckles as he looked at the freestanding arch. The interior was filled with gray fog, through which he could see nothing. That wasn¡¯t surprising, given what he was looking at. He turned to Pudge and asked, ¡°When did it pop up?¡± ¡°Yesterday,¡± Zeke¡¯s demonic bearkin companion answered. Pudge had been a big part of the previous battles, stepping in when the kobold legion was on the verge of being overwhelmed by powerful foes they couldn¡¯t handle. He¡¯d passed the level seventy-five threshold, meaning that he could stand up to just about anyone the Radiant Host could throw at him. His path of progression wasn¡¯t as powerful as Zeke¡¯s, but he was clearly an elite in his own right. The same could be said for Sasha, though she¡¯d rarely added her own thumb to the scale in battle. Instead, she¡¯d spent most of her time working in the Crimson Tower¡¯s academy, teaching young kobolds about mana. Her efforts had yet to truly bear fruit, but Zeke felt certain that that would change soon. He¡¯d sat in on a couple of her classes, and he¡¯d been exposed to a few ideas that even he hadn¡¯t known before. He¡¯d used some of those theories when constructing his latest skills. But it was an indisputable fact that her levels had begun to lag behind everyone else¡¯s. Zeke wanted to say something about it, but at the end of the day, some people simply weren¡¯t cut out to reach high levels. It took an incredible amount of slaughter to achieve what she already had, and that was only a drop in the bucket of what would be required to progress further. And Zeke knew that trying to force someone to become a killer ¨C or to continue down that path ¨C was a road to heartache. Still, at least she had contributed to the tower¡¯s well-being. There were plenty of others ¨C mostly the formerly enslaved beastkin ¨C who hadn¡¯t done nearly as much. They weren¡¯t quite to the level of being a drain on the budding society growing within the tower, but they weren¡¯t that far off, either. ¡°Just kick them out,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What? No.¡± ¡°Why not? If they aren¡¯t contributing, then what good are they? The tower is not a charity. People need to earn the right to live there, and if they don¡¯t, they can go elsewhere. You have enough land under your control that you can accommodate that,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Just send them back to Adontis. Or what used to be El¡¯kireth. There¡¯s enough life in that area that it should become decent enough farmland. They can take care of themselves.¡± Zeke wanted to say that he hadn¡¯t considered it, but that would have been a lie, and they both knew it. It was so frustrating, seeing people who¡¯d been given the chances that the residents of the tower had, only for them to squander every opportunity. It was easy to excuse by pointing to how they¡¯d been treated in the past, but at the same time, plenty of others had made the most of the benefits provided by the tower. The compassionate part of Zeke wanted to leave everything the way it was, but the more practical side said to cut the freeloaders loose and let them fend for themselves. It was a conundrum, and one he wasn¡¯t sure how to solve. ¡°I know. Follow my advice,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke just ignored her. Instead, he focused on the arch in front of him. ¡°Has anyone gone inside?¡± he asked. Pudge shook his great head, saying, ¡°No. We don¡¯t know what to expect inside a wild dungeon, so we didn¡¯t think it was smart to go inside without talking to you first.¡± ¡°I see. What would you do?¡± Zeke asked his oldest friend. ¡°I¡¯ll go in,¡± Pudge offered. ¡°It¡¯s not safe,¡± Sasha offered from beside him. ¡°We¡¯re getting conflicting results when we test the grade. I think it¡¯s because it¡¯s so new, and it hasn¡¯t quite settled into its final form. If we go in now, there¡¯s no telling what we¡¯ll find.¡± Zeke frowned. In a lot of ways, he wished he could just drop everything and head into the dungeon alone. It was just the sort of distraction he needed after spending the past months at war. He¡¯d only fought in a handful of engagements, and only when his assistance was absolutely required. Otherwise, he¡¯d stood back and watched while his followers fought for him. So, not only did he have a lot of pent-up frustrations he could exorcise within the dungeon, but he could also start making some headway toward reaching the peak. Because he¡¯d begun to stagnate. Even on the few occasions when he¡¯d let loose and slaughtered hundreds, his level had barely moved. He needed a larger challenge, and he expected that a dungeon would provide just that. However, even though he wished the situation was otherwise, he had to agree with Sasha. Going into a wild dungeon was not a good idea, even for someone like him. Maybe especially for him. ¡°We need to set up a perimeter around this portal,¡± he said. ¡°A fort maybe. No one goes inside until it stabilizes, and then we will let groups give it a shot. This is a strategic resource, just like the arena dungeon. We¡¯d be silly not to use it once everything comes together.¡± Kianma, who¡¯d been standing to the other side of Pudge, nodded. ¡°As you say, Ak-toh,¡± she replied with a nod of her head. Then, she headed off to do his bidding. A trio of powerful legionnaires followed close behind, clearly intent on protecting her. That wasn¡¯t a bad idea, considering that she was far and away the most important administrative force within the tower. Without Kianma, everything would grind to a halt. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°I will have one claw stationed here until we can finalize plans for a fort,¡± Silik stated. He didn¡¯t often speak, but when he did, it was normally straight to the point. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Zeke responded, giving his blessing. It wasn¡¯t necessary. Most of the tower¡¯s forces could act autonomously, yet they always preferred to get his approval before doing anything. ¡°Let¡¯s get to it, then.¡± After that, the small group started in on their respective tasks, and in only a couple of hours, they had everything in hand ¨C which left Zeke with nothing to do. Throughout it all, he kept glancing at the dungeon¡¯s entrance, wondering all the while whether he really needed to follow his own dictate. The answer to that was a resounding no, but he¡¯d long since decided to set an example for the kobolds. And he refused to show himself to be so weak that he couldn¡¯t do what he¡¯d asked them to do. In the meantime, he distracted himself by scanning his surroundings. There were a few beasts in the area, but that was nothing new. The Muk¡¯ti Plains were a wild place, and though he wasn¡¯t currently in much danger, that would change if he let his guard down. The dungeon had appeared on the edge of their territory, and if it had happened only a few months before, it would have been within the area claimed by the Radiant Host. However, when he¡¯d defeated their demonic champion, their lines had broken. Since then, a month had passed, during which the remaining forces had been steadily pursued to the edge of the plains. ¡°Zeke,¡± came a rasping voice, and he turned to see Talia standing nearby. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°We need to speak in private. It is important,¡± she said. He nodded, then told her to lead the way. A few minutes later, they¡¯d gone a couple of miles from anyone else. When they reached a small pond, Talia slowed to a stop and turned to Zeke. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked. ¡°A month ago, we defeated the largest of the Radiant Host¡¯s armies,¡± she answered. ¡°But there is something I did not tell you about that day.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The leader is familiar to us,¡± she said. Then, the undead girl took a deep and ultimately unnecessary breath. ¡°Abby was with them. As far as I can determine, she was their leader.¡± The news hit Zeke like a ton of bricks. ¡°What did you do?¡± he asked. ¡°We fought. I won, but she escaped before I could kill her.¡± Zeke frowned as a thousand complicated and conflicting emotions raced through his mind. He¡¯d long since moved on from his relationship with Abby, but the idea of killing her was the furthest thing from what he wanted. But that wasn¡¯t the most shocking aspect. ¡°She was with the Radiant Host?¡± ¡°She led them,¡± Talia stated evenly. ¡°And you¡¯re sure?¡± he asked. That earned a nod, and Zeke¡¯s heart jumped into his throat. Before they¡¯d ascended, Abby had made some sort of deal with Lady Constance, but Zeke had never expected that to last once they¡¯d reached the Eternal Plane. Clearly, he had been wrong. Suddenly, a wave of guilt swept through him. If he had chosen to ascend alongside Abby and his other friends, then perhaps things would have turned out differently. ¡°It is not your fault,¡± Talia said. Eveline agreed, ¡°She is her own person.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure. He shook his head, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know. We abandoned her, Talia.¡± ¡°She deserved it.¡± ¡°I wish¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish the statement, because he knew it was ridiculous to wish that things had been different. It wasn¡¯t as if he could simply go back in time and change the past. Abby had made her own choices ¨C good or bad ¨C and the consequences for those decisions were hers alone. He knew that, but the reality was that reason didn¡¯t really matter. He still hated what had happened. And more than anything, he hated what it meant for the future. He knew ¨C deep down where he didn¡¯t want to look ¨C what the development meant. ¡°You might not have to kill her,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Do you really believe that? She¡¯s the enemy. She led an army whose sole purpose was to come here and slaughter my people. I can¡¯t imagine she¡¯ll just stop. Even if she did, she¡¯s still the same person who made that choice, right?¡± ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t argue with that,¡± she admitted. ¡°But I will say that people change.¡± ¡°Clearly,¡± Zeke muttered to himself. Indeed, the Abby he¡¯d known never would have sided with the Radiant Host. After all, they were unrepentant bigots against anyone that wasn¡¯t human. They considered everyone else inferior, and they weren¡¯t shy about using deplorable methods like slavery to get what they wanted. And that was only the tip of the iceberg. From some of the prisoners he¡¯d interrogated, Zeke had discovered that things back in their Imperium were characterized by fascism and fear. Whole swaths of the former nobility had been executed, and only because they¡¯d refused to side with the man who¡¯d taken the Imperium as his own. It was disgusting. By joining them, Abby had given those tactics her tacit approval. ¡°She likely participated,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°She¡¯s been with them for a short time. The only way to rise that quickly in that sort of organization is by doing precisely what they asked of her.¡± Zeke had not thought of that, but the moment Eveline said it, he realized that it made sense. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± asked Talia. ¡°I can hunt her down. I know that because of your history, you wouldn¡¯t want to be the one to ¨C¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡®What?¡± ¡°I said no, Talia. We don¡¯t hunt her down. Not specifically. If it comes to a fight, then we¡¯ll fight her, but so long as they¡¯re running away, we let them,¡± he said. ¡°There are more important matters.¡± ¡°Like?¡± ¡°We need to find Micayne first,¡± Zeke said. ¡°That is priority number one. You know better than most just how much damage he can do, right? He¡¯s a despicable creature that has the capacity to destroy this entire continent. Perhaps the whole realm.¡± ¡°I do not believe he will,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s done it before, Talia. We have to assume he has the same goals he had back in the Radiant Isles,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t what you want to hear, but this is how it¡¯s got to be.¡± Indeed, Talia held a particular enmity for Abby that far exceeded anything reasonable. Micayne had taken everything from her, and still, Talia hated Abby far more than she did the necromancer who¡¯d transformed her into one of the undead. Eveline let out a long-suffering sigh. ¡°You are so blind, Ezekiel.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± he asked inwardly. ¡°The girl cares for you,¡± Eveline said with a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°Perhaps not romantically, but I won¡¯t rule that out, either. She hates your former lover because of what she did to you. She wants to protect you.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Talia said, interrupting the unspoken conversation he¡¯d been having with Eveline. ¡°I will endeavor to hunt down the necromancer, then.¡± ¡°Take some of the Inashi. They should be a big help.¡± She nodded, then took off before he could say more. ¡°People are complicated,¡± he muttered to himself, glancing across the plains in the direction of the dungeon. ¡°Monsters are way easier to deal with.¡± 542. Privateers Tucker took aim and shot an alchemical globe above the enemy ship. When it was halfway to its destination, it split into ten smaller balls that spread out to cover the whole ship. Once they were in position, they all exploded, showering the deck ¨C and the sailors upon it ¨C in green mist that he knew would weaken even the strongest members of the crew. The weaker sailors would be knocked out, while a the least powerful ran the risk of being killed altogether. ¡°They should¡¯ve just surrendered,¡± he said to himself, already triggering his blunderbuss¡¯ reload function. Even as another globe ¨C this one containing the combustible Conflagration potion ¨C rolled out of his spatial storage and into the weapon, a dozen powerful kirran pirates leaped across the gap between the two ships. Only a few brandished weapons, but that didn¡¯t mean the others were unarmed. They didn¡¯t need swords or axes to be lethal. Instead, their claws, along with their powerful musculature, were more than enough to get the job done. Athis led the way, landing on the enemy deck in a whirlwind of motion. It was difficult to see with the naked eye, but every swipe of his claws extended a bit further than one would expect ¨C evidence that the treatments were working. Even without that, the giant dragon man was a terror, and each of his attacks resulted in a cloud of red mist. Tucker fired, and the globe containing the Conflagration potion hit the enemy ship¡¯s sails. They burst into flame, eliciting panicked shouts from down below. ¡°I told you no fire!¡± Iris hissed. ¡°Sorry,¡± Tucker said, cutting his eyes at the beautiful captain. He gave her a grin. ¡°I just can¡¯t help myself.¡± ¡°If you down another ship¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll put it out before it spreads too far,¡± he said, already loading a Dousing potion for just that purpose. He only wanted to cripple the airship, not knock it from the sky. While they could loot a downed ship, it was far preferable to simply take it intact. That was why they gave each of their targets the chance to surrender. Few took it, which necessitated more direct action, but the hope was that they would gain enough reputation that, eventually, their victims would be too afraid to fight back. That was when the real money would start rolling in. ¡°Bad guys over there,¡± he said, pointing to the other ship¡¯s stern. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re trying to escape on one of the lifeboats.¡± Indeed, a few members of the other crew had loaded a couple of chests into one of the smaller airships attached to the much larger Hermes. They wouldn¡¯t have much range to them, but hunting them down would prove extremely frustrating. Tucker knew that from experience. The life of a sky pirate had turned out to be a little different than what he¡¯d expected. There was a lot less cannon fire and elaborate sword fights, and a lot more searching and waiting. He was a patient man, but combing through miles of forest just to find an enemy life boat was the height of tedium. ¡°They¡¯re not all bad guys,¡± Iris said. Tucker didn¡¯t need to look in her direction to know that she¡¯d rolled her eyes. ¡°These ones are. Radiant Host. I¡¯ve had some dealings with their kind.¡± Indeed, he¡¯d been a little surprised to find that Shar Maelaine had followers in the Eternal Realm, just like she¡¯d had in the Mortal Realm. And they were strong, too. One of the preeminent factions on the continent, and they¡¯d only grown more powerful over the past few years. Something about taking over an entire country and building an empire through conquest. Tucker wasn¡¯t sure about any of that, but he did know that their ships were always loaded with expensive goods. Sometimes, they carried weapons or mundane supplies, but just as often, they transported powerful natural treasures that would fetch a pretty gem on the open market. Whatever the case, he had plenty of motives to target the Radiant Host. More, they didn¡¯t need to fear much in the way of reprisal. Partly, that was due to Iris¡¯ skill and experience, but it was also because the Radiant Host was too busy to chase down a single pirate ship. They probably looked at the loss of a few ships here and there as the cost of doing business, much as large retail businesses back on Earth had seen shoplifting. ¡°Are you going to stop them?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m considering it, but I¡¯ll remind you that you claimed that this ship wouldn¡¯t be equipped with lifeboats. How did you put it?¡± she asked. Then, she adopted a deep voice that he knew was supposed to be an imitation of his own baritone, saying, ¡°They¡¯re running scared, Iris. They didn¡¯t have time to equip the ship properly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how I talk,¡± he pointed out, finally shooting the Dousing potion at the fire racing through the sails. The ship was already crippled ¨C at least for the time being ¨C and there was no reason to let it burn any more. ¡°It¡¯s exactly how you talk,¡± she counted. ¡°But that¡¯s not the point, and you know it. This ship wasn¡¯t supposed to have any soldiers. Nor was it supposed to have any life boats. So, I ask you ¨C why is our favorite lizard man ripping the arms off of a bonafide Radiant Knight right now? And why do I see the captain loading all of our treasure into a top-grade life boat?¡± ¡°Okay, for the first part ¨C Athis is not a lizard-man. He¡¯s a dragon-man. You know how sensitive he is about that,¡± Tucker said. ¡°And he¡¯s ripping that man¡¯s arms off ¨C wait, that¡¯s a leg, I guess ¨C because that¡¯s kind of his thing. He wouldn¡¯t be happy unless he got to ¨C¡± ¡°Not the point, Tucker.¡± ¡°I know!¡± he replied. ¡°Seriously. Let¡¯s just chalk this up to bad intel, alright? Don¡¯t rake me over the coals because my source wasn¡¯t as reliable as I thought it was.¡± ¡°Fine. But we¡¯re not done talking about this,¡± she said. Then, she gave a signal, and a pair of crew members raced to the giant ballistae at the front of the ship. The thing looked like a crossbow, though one that was of a size to be wielded by a giant. Its arms were at least seven feet across, and the rest of it had been built to match. The bolt they loaded into it was nine feet long, made of high-grade metal, and when it hit, it would explode not unlike a missile, albeit one filled with napalm. Tucker had helped build it himself, and he considered it one of his greatest achievements. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Not because of how destructive it was. That was part of it ¨C after all, he very much enjoyed making things explode ¨C but the real reason was that it could punch through even the staunchest defenses. That meant it was perfect to take down a lifeboat, most of which were built with powerful shields that could protect their occupants from all sorts of attacks. But not from his ballistae. It was the single biggest reason they¡¯d been able to make their campaign of piracy work, and Tucker took no small degree of pride in their many successes. Not only had they begun to stockpile a considerable amount of wealth, but they¡¯d also managed to make significant progress in terms of their levels. Already, he¡¯d hit what Iris referred to as the bottleneck at level seventy-five, and he was on the verge of punching right through. Of course, he had an advantage that many of his more martial friends didn¡¯t. They all had to kill things to progress, but because of his hybrid class that included significant crafting abilities, he could make progress by brewing potions. And then, he could double-up by getting energy by using those potions. It was slower than going out and killing things, but it was steadier as well. Not that Tucker didn¡¯t do his own fair share of hunting. He had, which was why he¡¯d managed to progress so much and so quickly. Sometimes, it felt like he was cheating, which was absolutely fine by him. The sailors ¨C pirates, really ¨C took aim, then fired the bolt. It scorched its way through the air, faster than a bullet, only to slam into a powerful shield protecting the life boat. However, the bolt didn¡¯t simply fall away. Instead, it bored into the shield, then exploded into a blue mist that settled onto the surface of the shield. The enemy captain screamed something Tucker couldn¡¯t hear, but it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°One Mississippi,¡± Tucker recited, taking aim with his blunderbuss. As he did, he loaded it with a Null Potion. Strong enough to keep it from taking off, but not so strong that it would send it plummeting to the forest below. He went on, ¡°Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi.¡± He fired. This time, the single globe didn¡¯t split. There was no reason to use [Bombardment]. Instead, it slammed into the weakened shield, shattering it on impact. The glass globe broke apart, and the liquid inside fell with a thump that no liquid should make. The captain, having no idea what had just happened, leaped aboard the lifeboat, but when he tried to break away and sail to freedom, nothing happened. ¡°That one is weird,¡± Iris said. ¡°Null potion. The trick is making it powerful enough to disable the uncoupling mechanism for the lifeboat, but not so strong that it removes the flight enchantment altogether,¡± Tucker said. ¡°You should see the math I had to do to get it just right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you worked very hard,¡± she said, her hands on the helm. ¡°I heard that.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You know what. You were patronizing me.¡± ¡°I would never do that to my big, strong alchemist who¡¯s the smartest man in the ¨C¡± He groaned. ¡°Stop. Just stop.¡± Her laughter filled his ears, accompanied by the screams of battle on the nearby ship. It was music to Tucker¡¯s ears. It was difficult to believe that only a year-and-a-half before, he¡¯d been the one hijacking Iris¡¯s ship. Since then, they¡¯d worked together on dozens of heists, starting with the one that had allowed him to cure the curse afflicting the kirrans. More importantly, only six months before, they¡¯d finally stopped dancing around the fact that they were attracted to one another. After that, things had progressed quickly. Tucker wouldn¡¯t say that what he had with Iris was the same as the relationship he¡¯d shared with his wife back on Earth, but he could, without question or hesitation, call it love. It was the last thing he¡¯d expected, especially after spending so long alone. He¡¯d mostly given up on finding anyone else after being reborn into the Mortal Realm, and he¡¯d not considered anything more than a dalliance possible. Until he¡¯d met Iris. She flashed him a wide grin that he couldn¡¯t help but return. Meanwhile, the assault on the transport ship continued, with Athis having been joined by a half-dozen other powerful kirran fighters. There were a few other races among the crew as well, including Iris¡¯ first mate, Gira, who happened to be the homeliest half-elf he¡¯d ever seen. The girl had drawn the short straw from both ends of her parentage, getting the least appealing traits of humans and elves. Nice girl, though. Once you got past her surly hatred for just about everyone and everything. Except Iris. She was devoted to her captain in a way that Tucker found a bit creepy. Or he would have if she hadn¡¯t included him the moment she¡¯d discovered that he and Iris had become a couple. Either way, Gira and Athis were strong enough that none of the other sailors could hold up to their assault, and it wasn¡¯t long before the ship was theirs. That¡¯s when Iris and Tucker crossed over to find the whole crew kneeling on the top deck. Nobody had bothered binding them, largely because none were combatants. The highest level among them was the captain, a square-jawed man who was level sixty-three. Not weak, but by no means powerful, either. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done?¡± demanded the captain. ¡°Uh¡­looks like we¡¯re taking your stuff. And your ship. We probably would have let you keep the boat, but then you tried to fight back. Then, you tried to run away. You have no idea what kind of a pain in the ass it would have been to chase you down,¡± Tucker said. ¡°Seriously. Why won¡¯t you people just cut your losses and recognize when you¡¯re in a no-win situation? We wouldn¡¯t have even killed anyone if you¡¯d just paid the toll.¡± Indeed, that was the deal. If people wanted to fly through their air space ¨C and a lot of them did ¨C all they had to do was pay a minor fee. Then they¡¯d be left alone to do their thing. But some people refused, and so, Tucker and Iris and their merry band of pirates had no choice but to show them the error of their ways. It wasn¡¯t the life he¡¯d envisioned, but it was strangely gratifying. Not just because of the power, though that was part of it. The luxury helped, too. But also because he could pick and choose who paid what and what sort of consequences they incurred. For instance, they left some of the more honest merchants alone, while targeting people like the Radiant Host with a ruthlessness that approached obsession. He wasn¡¯t exactly Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, but he was more than happy with the morality of his actions. Whatever the case, it was better than doing dodgy experiments for a budding necromancer. Especially given that he¡¯d managed to funnel some of his wealth to the kirran, who¡¯d used it to help implement his cure for their curse. They still hadn¡¯t recovered ¨C it would take generations before that curse was fully banished ¨C but it was enough to put them on the right path. ¡°The Imperium will not stand for this! They will hunt you down and slaughter you, destroying everything you care about!¡± the captain spat. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Iris said. ¡°We know they¡¯ve got their hands full with that little beast problem on the Plains. Especially with keeping all those other territories under control. They¡¯ve bitten off more than they can chew, so they have nobody to spare for a few little privateers like us.¡± ¡°We¡¯re pirates, dear.¡± ¡°Privateers sounds better,¡± she said. ¡°But if you keep calling us privateers, I¡¯ll have to stop calling myself the Dread Pirate Tucker. And Dread Privateer just doesn¡¯t have the same ring to it,¡± Tucker stated. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± she said, tapping her lip. Meanwhile, the bound captain looked apoplectic, a vein bulging out of his forehead at being mostly ignored. ¡°What do you want to do with them?¡± he asked, nodding toward the prisoners. ¡°I¡¯m fine with tossing them overboard,¡± she said. She¡¯d had run-ins with the Radiant Host, and she very much hated them. ¡°Maybe we can put them ¨C¡± Just then, the captain glowed with some sort of skill and launched himself at Iris. Tucker was ready for him, though, and in an instant, he¡¯d fired his blunderbuss into the man¡¯s face. Which melted off. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to clean that up,¡± Iris said, looking at the puddle of liquified flesh on the deck. Tucker sighed. ¡°Yes, dear.¡± 543. Pursuit The hammer fell with inevitable finality, crushing a mighty Knight of the Radiant Host into nothing. Zeke felt a wave of kill energy sweep through him, announcing the Knight¡¯s death. With that confirmation of his victory, his shoulders sagged and he looked around. Hundreds of Knights lay dead all around him, each one crushed beneath the weight of his hammer. ¡°I almost forgot the smell,¡± he said aloud. Eveline asked, ¡°This is far from the worst battlefield you¡¯ve seen of late.¡± ¡°But I usually use skills. Ash and smoke smells a lot better than voided bowels and blood,¡± he said. Indeed, it was easy to rely on his overbearing skills in battle. With a single use of [Eye of Reckoning], [Storm of Hammers], or even [Hell Geyser], he could absolutely obliterate his foes. Never mind what [Unleash Momentum] or the much more destructive [Wrath of Annihilation] could do. So, lately, he¡¯d made it a focus to enter the Hunting Grounds, just so he could keep his martial abilities sharp. It was only marginally effective. The Hunting Grounds could pit him against any of his previous foes, but the fact was that the Crimson Tower, for all its power, couldn¡¯t give him a good fight. He¡¯d taken to battling against hundreds of foes just to work up a sweat, and even that was only marginally taxing. ¡°You¡¯ve outgrown this realm,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Perhaps you crossed that threshold twenty levels ago. You will find few challenges in the Eternal Realm, and most of those who can rival your power would choose not to.¡± ¡°Are they cowards?¡± ¡°They covet their positions atop this small hill, fearing to climb the mountain in the distance,¡± she said. ¡°Big fish in a small pond.¡± ¡°Indeed. So, when they see someone like you, they tend to get out the way, assuming that you will ascend in good time,¡± she said. ¡°That won¡¯t remain true if you threaten their little spheres of influence, but so long as you don¡¯t step on any toes, your path to the next realm should be clear.¡± ¡°Not until I finish what I started here,¡± he said. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got five levels to work with,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°With how much kill energy that will require, you¡¯ll have plenty of time to get everything you want done. I would also recommend upgrading any skills you want to upgrade before you head into the demon realm.¡± ¡°Why? I can just do it there. Or in the pit. From what you¡¯ve told me, it¡¯s basically a realm of its own,¡± Zeke said. Eveline hadn¡¯t told him much about the Pit that separated the circles of hell ¨C because her knowledge of such things was severely lacking ¨C but she had explained that it was something like a pseudo-realm that was rumored to take years to traverse. Her own experience going from Mal¡¯araxis to Mal¡¯canus had taken months, and she¡¯d claimed that it was a transformative experience. ¡°I would be very surprised if you have the chance,¡± she said. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to retreat into the tower to rest. It¡¯s a challenge meant to test everything about you. That means you¡¯ll be pushed to your absolute limits in a way you¡¯ve never experienced. The few tales we have of the pit are enough that only the strongest demons ever attempt to descend.¡± Left unsaid that if a demon reached level one-hundred and unlocked the opportunity to descend, they were already among the strongest in the realm. No weak person ever reached the peak. At that point, they¡¯d all experienced their fair share of lucky encounters and stood head-and-shoulders above everyone else. No ¨C even once Zeke had reached the appropriate level, his descent through the pit would be wrought with enough dangers that even surviving would be difficult. It would remain to be seen if Eveline was right about not being able to do anything else, but Zeke was inclined to trust her judgement. With that Zeke cancelled the Hunting Grounds¡¯ simulation, and he was immediately returned to the lobby. It had grown into something truly impressive. Before, it had been a fairly simple affair, but now, the floor comprised dozens of training chambers just like the one he¡¯d just occupied. In addition, the lobby itself was an expansive arena where his people could engage in drills, both large and small in scale. They also held tournaments where individuals were pitted against one another. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t take this place for granted,¡± Eveline said as Zeke looked at the training army. ¡°I have never heard of anything like this. Nothing even close. The death prevention is enough to make it wholly unique, but the fact that it seems to have grown according to the army¡¯s needs¡­the Crimson Tower is truly a wonderous construct.¡± Eveline had told him that even she had heard of the Crimson Tower, but it was a thing of myths and legends. Apparently, the reality far exceeded even the stories she¡¯d heard. Idly, Zeke massaged the place on his chest where the tattoo had been placed. Even with all the damage he¡¯d endured, it was still there and just as prominent as ever. In fact, he felt more connected to the tower than at any other time, perhaps because he¡¯d been spending so much time inside. After watching the army for a few minutes, Zeke shrugged his shoulders and headed back to the manor, where he took a while to clean himself up. Then, he went to the Pillar, though he dreaded what he knew he was going to hear. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°I am sorry, Ak-toh,¡± Silik said. ¡°They have found no trace of the necromancer. The Radiant Host continues to retreat, refusing to meet us in open battle. Instead, they scatter when we draw close.¡± ¡°Have they continued to raid the centaurs settlements?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°They have,¡± the kobold general answered. Zeke gripped the table until his knuckles went white. He¡¯d fought in a few wars and countless battles, but he¡¯d never really found himself playing defense. Instead, he¡¯d always been the aggressor, and he was just beginning to understand how much more he preferred that role. Theoretically, defending was an advantageous position, especially if they could choose their ground. However, it also meant that they were tied to that one location because if they abandoned it, then their enemies would be free to do whatever they wished. In this case, they would slaughter the centaurs who, while they weren¡¯t technically Zeke¡¯s people, were staunch allies. He didn¡¯t want to abandon them, so he¡¯d been forced to deploy his army defensively. It was a purpose to which they were ill-suited and for which they had been unprepared. It wasn¡¯t their fault, and they¡¯d since endeavored to learn new tactics. But it would be some time before they managed to become as adept at defense as they were with more aggressive methods. ¡°Are you thinking about them? Or yourself?¡± asked Eveline. Zeke didn¡¯t answer, because he didn¡¯t know what to say. In any case, he listened to their reports, and he was at least pleased to find that they weren¡¯t actually losing many people. Rather, the Knights of the Radiant Host had mostly attacked centaurs, and even then, only to disrupt what they thought were the Crimson Tower¡¯s supply lines. In reality, they only managed to keep the young kobolds from hunting the comparatively lower level monsters of the plains. The only thing they¡¯d disrupted was the development of the Crimson Tower¡¯s young. An issue, to be sure, but not an urgent one. ¡°They¡¯re more like pests than actual threats,¡± he muttered. ¡°That is true,¡± said Jasper. ¡°However, I should point out that we have only seen a tiny fraction of their forces. If they come to war ¨C truly and completely ¨C we will be hard pressed to match them. Even in Tesh, we know better than to fight a war against those zealots.¡± ¡°Your people have dealt with them before?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Once. Centuries before I was even born, they attempted a crusade against dark elves,¡± the Troubadour answered. ¡°They pushed us back to Tesh, where we finally ceased our infighting, banded together, and retaliated. It took another decade before they were banished from our lands. We pursued them all the way back to their little corner of the world, and they have left us alone since. That conflict is the reason that, in times of war, my people abandon all personal enmities in favor of common defense. It is the only time they will work together. I suppose we owe them that, at least, even if they murdered thousands of my people before we could repel their attacks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying that if we meet them in battle with their full army behind them, we won¡¯t win?¡± ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t say that. But I will say that if you¡¯re not with us when that happens ¨C and I think it¡¯s inevitable at this point ¨C we will lose terribly,¡± Jasper stated. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°And I believe you need to reach the peak before that happens,¡± the dark elf added. ¡°Are they so powerful?¡± Kianma asked, an expression of surprise on her face. Sometimes, it was difficult to read the emotions of the kobolds, but over time, Zeke had learned to do so. ¡°I think so,¡± Jasper answered. ¡°A group like that will have multiple old masters at the peak. Perhaps as many as a dozen. And they¡¯ll be strong, even for their levels.¡± ¡°But not so strong to ascend,¡± Zeke pointed out. But had they remained in the Eternal Realm out of a sense of duty? Or were they truly afraid to start over from the bottom of the next plane of existence? It was a good question, but it was one Zeke didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever get the answer to. It wasn¡¯t as if he was going to sit down for a conversation with any of them. ¡°Except your former lover,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t kill her before you gave her a chance to explain herself, would you?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Zeke admitted. It was a good question. Abby had clearly been in a position of some authority within the Radiant Host, but she hadn¡¯t been seen since her encounter with Talia. Had she abandoned them? Or was she simply laying low? More, if she was in charge ¨C or held a high rank within that force ¨C was she then responsible for what her troops had done? They¡¯d lost almost every major battle, but that didn¡¯t mean they hadn¡¯t killed quite a few kobolds. But more than anything, Zeke wondered how the woman he¡¯d known could belong to a faction that, according to all the evidence he¡¯d seen, was evil. They weren¡¯t just bigoted, xenophobic, and warlike. They were those things, but they also seemed to take pleasure in killing anyone that wasn¡¯t like them. Whether those differences were rooted in species, ethnicity, or religion ¨C or any number of other factors ¨C it didn¡¯t matter. If they weren¡¯t part of the Radiant Host, or one of their subservient vassals, then they weren¡¯t really people. That doctrine was core to who they were. And Abby hadn¡¯t just joined that force, but she¡¯d climbed the ranks. That suggested that she was either a true believer or that she had fooled them into believing that she was. Either way, she¡¯d clearly done horrible things in service of her new masters, and Zeke struggled to rationalize how she could ever go down that road. ¡°Power.¡± ¡°What?¡± he asked inwardly. ¡°Power. That¡¯s usually the answer,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Or maybe they gave her something she wasn¡¯t able tog et elsewhere. Acceptance, perhaps. They might not have given her a real choice in the matter, either.¡± ¡°There¡¯s always a choice.¡± ¡°But if your options are death or following an evil master, which would you choose?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°The third option. I¡¯d fight back.¡± ¡°Everyone doesn¡¯t have that in them, Ezekiel,¡± Eveline said. He was going to respond, but chose not to. He knew that few people would choose to fight against overwhelming odds. That was common sense. Most would run. Others would capitulate. But that just wasn¡¯t how Zeke was built, and he¡¯d never even consider giving up. Especially when it would mean surrendering to people like the ones who made up the Radiant Host. ¡°What will you do?¡± asked Jasper. Zeke shook his head. ¡°We need to force them to fight,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to chase them across this continent, getting attacked every mile we travel. I want to take the fight to them. I want to invade the Imperium.¡± It was an idea that had been marinating in the back of his mind ever since he¡¯d recovered from the campaign against Micayne¡¯s undead. He and his army weren¡¯t suited for defense, so they wouldn¡¯t do that. If needs be, he would pick up the Crimson Tower so the Radiant Host wouldn¡¯t have anywhere to attack. ¡°Except your army, which is what you want.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± 544. Forced Confrontation ¡°It was a trap,¡± Eveline said in Zeke¡¯s mind as he stared out across the battlefield. His people were hard-pressed, being attacked from three sides, but they were holding their own. Or they would have been if it weren¡¯t for four figures dominating the fight. They were all knights, wearing bulky sets of shining armor, and they were each over level ninety. Currently, they were engaged in a match against Talia, Pudge, and Silik, with an entire squad of Inashi as backup, and they were winning. Pudge was in the best shape, but even he¡¯d taken more than a few grievous wounds. The same was true of Talia, whose arm looked as if it was barely hanging on by the tendons. Silik was the worst off, his shield having been shattered and he moved with a significant limp. The Inashi were largely unharmed, but in the few seconds since Zeke had been watching, he¡¯d seen that their attacks were largely ineffective. ¡°I have to step in,¡± he said to the spirit in his mind. Eveline agreed, adding, ¡°Don¡¯t hold back. These people are dangerous.¡± That much was obvious, but Zeke had no intention of unleashing his most damaging attack. If he loosed [Wrath of Annihilation], it would kill the four knights, but it would also destroy his own army. There was no way they could retreat quickly enough to save themselves. Still, just because he didn¡¯t want to use [Wrath of Annihilation], he was far from defenseless. So, without further ado, he adopted his titanic form, noting that in the past few weeks, it had grown even larger than it had been when he¡¯d first gotten the skill. That was curious, because he hadn¡¯t even tried to upgrade it. Regardless, he was at least five feet taller than before, and far broader as well. With his cracked torso that spewed smoke and fire, he must have cut a very intimidating figure. He stepped forward, and the ground shook beneath his feet. The moment he entered the fray, a dozen attacks came his way, but they¡¯d all originated with regular soldiers, none of whom could even begin to meet his level of power. The skills ¨C mostly radiant beams of sunlight that should have scorched him to ash ¨C hit him without even leaving a mark. Zeke didn¡¯t break his stride, only attacking when one of the regular soldiers were too stupid to get out of his way. Despite their weakness, he refused to pull his punches, and when he attacked, he crushed them utterly with Voromir. More than one were sent skipping across the battlefield, already dead and broken. He bulled his way through until he reached the melee. Once there, he targeted the man who¡¯d been fighting Pudge. He didn¡¯t rush in like a barbarian, though. Instead, he used [Eye of Reckoning], sending a beam of pure hellfire and destruction to spear through the man¡¯s chest. Or that was what Zeke expected. Instead, his efforts were far less effective. The man was sent tumbling backwards with a smoking crater in his chest, but he was not cut in half like Zeke had hoped. Whatever the case, that got everyone¡¯s attention, and Zeke shouted, ¡°Retreat. I¡¯ll handle these.¡± ¡°But we can ¨C¡± Zeke cut Talia off. ¡°I said I¡¯ve got this.¡± She clearly didn¡¯t like that, but given that she was practically dead on her feet ¨C as were Zeke¡¯s other most powerful allies ¨C she didn¡¯t argue. Miraculously, the Knights let them flee, and one of them even gave Talia¡¯s retreating form a slight smirk. Zeke intended to wipe that smile off the woman¡¯s face. The man Zeke had hit with [Eye of Reckoning] picked himself up. Like all the others, he wore the bulky armor of the Knights of the Radiant Host, but he carried a huge cudgel that had been banded with what looked like iron. Thick studs protruded from the bat-like weapon. The man himself looked fit to use it, too. He was at least seven feet tall, with thick muscles and a neck that was so thick that it made his head look like it sat directly atop his shoulders. The others¡¯ body types weren¡¯t so extreme, though they all looked extremely formidable. Their levels supported that notion. Zeke cycled through them, using [Inspect] on each one: Karag Morn ¨C Level 94 Stepin Rano ¨C Level 90 Marian Kaza ¨C Level 91 Noa Li ¨C Level 92 All above level ninety, with the largest ¨C Karag Morn ¨C only a level behind Zeke. Even if he hadn¡¯t seen the results of their dismantling of Pudge and the others, Zeke would have recognized their strength. Not for the first time, he wished he¡¯d have been there when the battle had begun. If so, then a few hundred of his soldiers might have survived. Instead, he¡¯d been back in the Crimson Tower, working on his plans for final skill upgrades. He knew it would be a while before he accessed the pit and descended to the next circle, but he was well aware that skill-crafting wasn¡¯t something that could be accomplished overnight ¨C especially when he was changing Framework-granted skills. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Even so, he knew he should have been there for the battle. ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up,¡± Eveline said as Zeke stepped forward. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have known this was coming.¡± Her words were fair enough, but they did nothing to assuage the guilt flowing through Zeke¡¯s mind. Because he knew that he¡¯d chosen to sit the battle out because he¡¯d found the last few to be incredibly boring and boundlessly frustrating. The past couple of months, they¡¯d pursued the Radiant Host across the Muk¡¯ti Plains and into a much more forested region. The terrain had made chasing their forces that much more difficult, and they¡¯d been completely unable to corner the Radiant Host¡¯s armies. That meant that pitched battles were few and far between, and the ones they had fought were mere delaying tactics meant to help with the strategic retreat. What made it even worse was that Zeke and the others knew what was happening. The Radiant Host was a much more nimble and better organized force. Zeke could move incredibly quickly alone, but because it took time to move the others ¨C even if all he did was summon a portal ¨C they could never get themselves in position before the enemy was gone. Thinking it would be much the same situation this time around, Zeke had eschewed attending the current battle. That had been a mistake that had gotten kobolds killed and nearly resulted in his companions¡¯ defeat. If one of them had died¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t think about it,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Monster,¡± growled Karag. ¡°We wondered when you would show your despicable face.¡± ¡°From where I¡¯m standing,¡± Zeke said, looking down on them from his height of nearly thirty-five feet. ¡°You¡¯re the monsters, killing innocent people and enslaving anyone who isn¡¯t human.¡± ¡°You speak?!¡± declared Noa Li, who was the smallest among them. She was perhaps five feet tall, with the compact body of a gymnast. She carried a pair of swords, while the other two members of their group were armed with spears and shields. ¡°I do,¡± Zeke rumbled. ¡°This changes nothing!¡± Karag declared. He stepped forward, and the other three spread out, clearly intending to encircle Zeke. He didn¡¯t move. In fact, the longer they took to attack, the better. His army had already been winning the battle, and now that Silik, Talia, and Pudge had returned to their ranks ¨C even injured ¨C the momentum had begun to shift even further. In minutes, the fight would be over. And selfishly, he wanted to know whether or not he could take whatever damage they could dish out. The last time he¡¯d been pushed to the brink had been against the necromantic vessel, and that unimaginably powerful creature had been the size of a skyscraper. It had very nearly destroyed him, and more than anything, Zeke wanted to know if that was a special circumstance or if other people in that level range were capable of doing the same thing. ¡°You know they won¡¯t be,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Need to be sure,¡± he said in his own mind. ¡°I need to know where I am in my development.¡± Indeed, if he couldn¡¯t take care of these four Knights, then there was no way he could survive a descent to the next circle. He wasn¡¯t even sure if he could live through a trek through hell. No ¨C if he failed against the Knights, he would need to go back to the drawing board and rethink the evolution of his skill. Maybe he would even take a few years to ensure that he¡¯d eked every last ounce of power out of the realm. But that was a last resort. For now, he would fight. To that end, he hefted Voromir and used [Storm of Hammers]. Immediately, a whirlwind of ethereal hammers bloomed into being. Even as those weapons slammed into the Knights, one by one, the enemy reacted. Karag launched himself at Zeke, hefting his huge cudgel while the others came at him from the sides and the back. They were knocked off course by the flying hammers, but the skill wasn¡¯t powerful enough to take them out of the fight. For that, he used [Hell Geyser], stomping on the ground and sending a trail of destruction racing across the field to erupt beneath the feet of the lowest-level combatant. Stepin Rano barely covered three feet before he was bathed in an explosion of roiling earth and hellfire. He screamed, his armor melting in an instant, but he kept coming, his spear held out in front of him, and he passed out of the pillar of flame. Only to meet Zeke¡¯s hammer right to the face. It was odd, finally fighting regular sized people, especially in his titan form. He was so much bigger than them that it felt a bit like fighting infants. Of course, these people were strong enough that he couldn¡¯t just stomp them to death, so he needed to maintain his discipline. Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t been idle over the past few months, and when he swung his hammer, he did so with perfect technique. The uppercut blow hit the unlucky Stepin Rano directly in the chest. His breastplate crumpled, and then, his entire body was turned to mush by the sheer force of the impact. Less than an instant later, his boneless form, held together only by what was left of his armor, went sailing across the battlefield. It didn¡¯t land for half a mile, and only then because it was slowed by a tree trunk. Zeke didn¡¯t need to feel the influx of kill energy to know that he¡¯d killed the Knight. The other three stopped in their tracks, horrified by what they¡¯d just seen. ¡°Retreat!¡± cried the now-terrified Karag. The other two didn¡¯t need to be told twice, and they raced away in different directions. Meanwhile, Karag continued his charge, fully intending to meet Zeke and slow him down. ¡°Not going to happen,¡± Zeke muttered, using [Shifting Sands]. Time slowed, and he slipped into the earth. A moment later, he was racing across the battlefield toward one of the fleeing Knights. Marian, if he remembered correctly. In any case, he erupted from the ground, wrapped his hand around her stunned body, and squeezed. She tried to activate some sort of defensive skill, but it was entirely incapable of standing up to his power. A golden shield enveloped her, but it shattered after only a moment. Her body came next. It was like squishing a bug in his fist. Distasteful, but not even difficult enough to merit significant thought. He tossed the broken form of the dead Knight to the side, then used [Shifting Sands] again. At one point, the skill had been subject to a significant cooldown, meaning that he couldn¡¯t simply chain it back-to-back. However, as he¡¯d leveled, those restrictions had loosened to the point that he could use it three times without rest. After that, it would take a few minutes for the skill to become usable again. But normally, that was enough. He slipped through the earth, and when he surfaced, he killed the third knight in much the same manner as he¡¯d killed poor Marian. Vaguely, Zeke was aware that many of the other Knights had taken notice of what he¡¯d done to their champions, and they¡¯d responded with horrified screams, but he didn¡¯t dwell on that. Fear from his enemies was both expected and desired. Finally, he faced off against Karag, who¡¯d gone completely red in the face. The Knight spat, ¡°You killed them!¡± ¡°It¡¯s war,¡± Zeke responded calmly. ¡°That¡¯s what happens.¡± ¡°W-what are you?¡± the big knight demanded. Zeke didn¡¯t answer. In a few minutes, Karag would be dead anyway, so any conversation was completely pointless. Instead, he stepped forward, raising his hammer as he readied himself to finish the battle. 545. Perspective Something smashed into Zeke¡¯s hip, sending him stumbling to the side. At the same time, another force hit him from the other direction, followed by the Karag Morn, the level ninety-four Knight, finally making his move. Zeke raised his hammer to block the oncoming strike from the big man¡¯s cudgel, but he was too slow. It hit him in the chest, knocking him away. He skidded backwards almost a hundred feet before he came to a stop in a cloud of dust. That¡¯s when something else hit him, though once again, Zeke couldn¡¯t see the culprit, even if he could feel the wound they¡¯d opened up along his ribs. Metallic blood oozed out, but he knew the effects weren¡¯t serious. More annoying than anything, actually. That escalated when something pierced his eye, and he let out a violent roar that cracked the nearby earth. ¡°That¡¯s it. No more messing around,¡± he muttered inwardly, blinking away the pain. The vision in his injured eye had gone blurry, but he hoped it wouldn¡¯t be permanent. To heal it, he embraced [Touch of Divinity], letting rejuvenating mana course through his body. The wound on his side mended, and his massacred eye sealed shut. His vision didn¡¯t return to normal, but that was expected for now. It would take more than a second¡¯s worth of healing to heal it completely. Even as he healed, he enacted a few skills. First came [Flames of Reprisal], and his body erupted, with black-laced fire pouring out of the cracks all over his metallic body. Zeke didn¡¯t bother trying to stop the next attack. Instead, he let it come as he picked himself up from the ground. A second later, another invisible strike slashed into his thigh, but this time, the culprit didn¡¯t escape unscathed. Instead, [Flames of Reprisal] leaped out, enveloping a human-shaped figure, wreathing them in fire. They screamed. Zeke¡¯s hand snapped out, wrapping around the enemy¡¯s waist. They¡¯d stumbled in pain, and now that he could see them ¨C or at least an outline ¨C it was easy enough to catch them. And when he did, he squeezed. The sound of bones cracking filled the air, accompanied by another agonized scream. When he felt a jolt of kill energy enter his body, Zeke tossed the figure aside. He glanced at the broken figure, which had been rendered entirely unrecognizable by a simple squeeze of his fingers. ¡°Pitiful,¡± he growled, just loud enough for the real enemy ¨C Karag Morn ¨C to hear him. The man let out a wordless roar, then used a skill. It was one Zeke had seen before ¨C or at least a variant ¨C so he wasn¡¯t surprised when the Knight became a gleaming, twenty-foot-tall avatar. Nor was Zeke impressed when the Knight leveled his cudgel at him and let loose with a battering ram of unseen force. It took Zeke in the chest, but because he¡¯d felt the attack coming, he¡¯d increased his weight to the maximum his racial ability would allow. Still, when it slammed into him, it made him stumble backward a single step. [Flames of Reprisal] lashed out, licking Karag Morn with black fire that glanced off his shining armor. He charged, but by that point, Zeke had already summoned [Storm of Hammers], so his mad dash exposed him to a battering that filled the air with the sound of denting metal. When he finally reached Zeke, he found himself on the losing end of Zeke¡¯s hammer. The knight screamed as his entire chest caved in, but miraculously, he held his grown long enough to bring his own weapon to bear. It hit Zeke in stomach, then in a massive uppercut, the weapon collided with his chin. He fell backward once again, frustrated by the shape of the battle. ¡°Take it seriously, then,¡± Eveline said. Zeke hit the ground, then rolled to his feet just in time to avoid the Knight¡¯s next attack. The man was furious, attacking with reckless abandon that exposed him to a hundred counterattacks Zeke didn¡¯t perform. He didn¡¯t want to beat the man too quickly. Instead, he wanted to test his new skills as well as the durability of his own body. That meant taking a few extra hits. For the next few minutes, the Knight battered Zeke with one attack after another. Some of them hurt, a few broke bones, but mostly, they were just annoying. ¡°Is this all he¡¯s capable of?¡± asked Zeke. He¡¯d leveled a couple of attacks at the man, but for the most part, he¡¯d confined his reactions to defense. Perhaps Karag should have continued with his attempt at retreat, because he clearly wasn¡¯t capable of standing up to someone like Zeke. Nearby, he noticed the other members of the Radiant Host trying to flee, but his own army cut them down before they had a chance to go far. And then the centaurs swept in, cutting off any hope of escape. Trapped, the Knights tried to mount a defense, but their lines had been broken, and they had no chance of standing up to the steady onslaught of the kobolds¡¯ attacks. Meanwhile, Zeke took everything Karag could throw at him. Some of the abilities he used were meant to do damage. Others, to help the Knight endure Zeke¡¯s attacks. Still others mended his armor or maintained a weak domain around him. It was all so ineffective that Zeke began to wonder if that was the best the Radiant Host could throw at him. ¡°I beseech thee, my goddess!¡± screamed Karag. ¡°Lend me your aid so that I may vanquish this foe!¡± As he finished, he thrust his cudgel into the sky, and for a moment, Zeke just looked at the man like he¡¯d gone insane. But then, the mana in the area stilled, and his blood ran cold. Suddenly, he couldn¡¯t move, and he wasn¡¯t the only one. Every single person on the battlefield had frozen in place. A twinkle in the sky caught Zeke¡¯s attention. ¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°I agree,¡± Eveline replied. She made to say something else, but before she got an entire word out, she went completely silent. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Zeke struggled to move, but it was like pushing against a mountain. Or carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He couldn¡¯t even blink, much less twitch a muscle in the right direction. His thoughts grew sluggish, and his mind went briefly blank. But then, his Will took hold. The fires of destruction flowed through him, and suddenly, he was free. Still, he could feel himself struggling to maintain enough power to keep the shackles on his soul at bay. The twinkle grew into flame, and then that flame became a great conflagration that lit up the entire sky. People on the ground collapsed, their entire bodies turned to ash that remained suspended in the air. To keep his people safe, Zeke poured his Will into his domains, pushing as much mana into them as he could possibly spare. Their power flared, enveloping his army in his own black flames. ¡°Interesting,¡± came a booming and impetuous voice as a figure stepped out of the sky. Instantly, Zeke recognized her as Shar Maelaine. He¡¯d seen her portrait in Lady Constance¡¯s office, but she didn¡¯t even begin to resemble that painting. Still, he could never convince himself that she was anyone but the Sun Goddess. She glowed with a radiant power that seared Zeke¡¯s eyes, threatening to blind him. She eschewed armor, instead opting for a white toga trimmed in gold that hugged her perfect form and left almost nothing to the imagination. ¡°So, you are Oberon¡¯s little project,¡± she said, stepping down from the sky. Her feet fell on nothing but air, but it was as if she was descending an invisible staircase composed of pure light. ¡°For such a primitive creature, you do have potential. Yes. I have chosen to extend to you an offer. Join me.¡± Zeke stared at the woman for a long moment before letting loose a peal of laughter. That clearly wasn¡¯t the response she was looking for. The pressure on him doubled, and he very nearly collapsed as she demanded, ¡°You dare?!¡± ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Zeke said, his voice ¨C indeed, his entire body ¨C straining beneath her imperious gaze. ¡°You didn¡¯t expect that to work, did you? You stand for everything I hate. And besides, I already have a patron. I don¡¯t think he would take too kindly to your attempts to poach me.¡± ¡°The druid is inconsequential. He only cares for his little forest. He does not play the game,¡± she said, getting her anger under control. But she did push a little more of her power into him. That finally broke him, and he collapsed to his knees. Still, no one else in the area had moved a muscle. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­a traitor,¡± Zeke growled, flaring his Will to new heights. It flowed through him, empowering his body and allowing him to climb ¨C difficult though it was ¨C to his feet. By that point, she had reached him, and when she did, she found herself face-to-face not with a man cowed by her power, but with a [Titan] who refused to be overcome. ¡°Oh, you are an interesting one,¡± she said, tapping her plump lip with one slender finger. Only then did Zeke notice that she wasn¡¯t human. Her ears were tapered, and her features had the distinct cast of elven ancestry. ¡°You¡¯re not even human? Do your followers know that?¡± he managed to croak. Indeed, they were uniformly human, and they treated everyone else ¨C even elves ¨C like they were inferior. Often, the Radiant Host enslaved any non-human they found. She waved her hand dismissively. ¡°I do not care what they do here,¡± Shar Maelaine stated. ¡°Only that they grow stronger so that they may serve me better upon ascension.¡± ¡°And so you can drain a portion of their power, right?¡± She raised a single, perfectly arched eyebrow. ¡°Just so,¡± she admitted. ¡°You have begun to tap into that well yourself, have you not? I sense the spark in you.¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯re here? You want to take my power for yourself?¡± ¡°Ideally? Of course. It would be nothing to me, but every drop counts. However, I have come to understand that those arrangements are not fit for someone of your talents. What I propose is an alliance. I offer my patronage in good faith, expecting you to continue to grow. When I call on you, we will fight together. Otherwise, you maintain your autonomy, such as it is.¡± Zeke pretended to think about it, but he already knew his answer. There was no way he would subjugate himself to someone like her. The things she¡¯d allowed to happen under her nose were deplorable. And besides, Oberon had supported him from the very beginning. The dwarf had saved his life, and he¡¯d helped Zeke on too many occasions to count. No ¨C he wouldn¡¯t trade one for the other. ¡°I think I have to refuse,¡± he said. She frowned, not unlike a petulant child. ¡°Very well. I expected you would make that choice. A pity. You did have potential.¡± Then, she raised a single finger, and a beam of light descended from the sky. Zeke tried to move. He wanted to dive out of the way. But suddenly, any mobility he¡¯d regained disappeared as she clamped down on him with the full weight of her own Will. His mind nearly shattered, and his Will broke before the beam of light slammed into him. But he did not burn. In fact, his vision suddenly darkened and he realized that he was entirely encased in¡­something. The smell of wood burning tickled his nose, and he used the next few seconds to regather his Will. It was weakened by the Sun Goddess¡¯ attack ¨C or perhaps it was just her attention ¨C but it would take more than that to completely destroy it. Just as Zeke recovered, the wood encasing him retracted, revealing a ring of devastation that surrounded him. More, he saw that another figure ¨C this one familiar ¨C had arrived. Oberon looked the same as ever, short and stout and with a beard of leafy vines, but he wore an expression of fury upon his usually placid face. ¡°You overstep, Shar Maelaine,¡± he growled, his knuckles whitening around the haft of his gnarled staff. ¡°You came? Color me surprised, o venerable druid.¡± ¡°Do not mock me.¡± ¡°Never!¡± she said, her eyes wide. ¡°I merely saw a promising candidate and made an offer. He insulted me, and you know I can not let that go. I acted out of anger, and I am certain I will pay the price.¡± ¡°You will. I intend to see to it myself,¡± Oberon said. It was only then that Zeke saw that the dwarf was floating in mid-air. ¡°The Judicator shall hear of this.¡± ¡°So they shall,¡± Shar Maelaine said, dipping her head. ¡°And I will accept my punishment.¡± With that, she flashed once again and disappeared. The battle did not resume, though. Instead, Oberon simply shook his head and looked around, an expression of disgust playing across his face. Zeke followed the dwarf¡¯s eyes, and he saw that, for thirty yards all around Zeke, there was nothing but molten earth. ¡°She killed her own follower in a fit of petulance,¡± Oberon muttered, zeroing in on a puddle of liquified metal where Karag had once been. Then, he turned to Zeke, ¡°Are you injured?¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said. ¡°What was that all about? Who is the Judicator? And why are you here?¡± ¡°I am permitted a certain amount of leeway to protect my followers from others like me,¡± the dwarf answered. ¡°But beware ¨C I thwarted Shar Maelaine this time, but she does not take losing well. She will send every agent she has on this plane after you now. You must be ready.¡± ¡°Is there anything you can do to help?¡± Zeke asked. He felt prepared for war ¨C after all, that was what he¡¯d been doing for the better part of two years ¨C but he wasn¡¯t going to pass up an opportunity to ask the powerful dwarf for assistance. ¡°No. If I meddle too much, you will use my power as a crutch. You must stand on your own, or you will be far too weak to survive what¡¯s coming,¡± Oberon stated. ¡°Remember your quest. Remember the tasks I mentioned during our last meeting. You mustn¡¯t grow distracted, or you will fail.¡± With that, the dwarf disappeared, and the world returned to normal. Even as his people continued to clash with the other army, Zeke lost himself in thought of his future. During the fight against Karag, he¡¯d lamented the ease with which he would have defeated the Knight. He wanted a challenge. And now, he¡¯d found one. He would destroy Shar Maelaine. Not now. Perhaps not within the next hundred years. But one day, he would stand before her and strike her down. With that goal in mind, he turned his attention back to the action and set out to take the first steps in what he knew would be a long journey. 546. The Full Weight of the Imperium Ignatius, the High Abbot of the Radiant Host and the Lord of the Imperium, took a deep breath. He didn¡¯t see his surroundings, no matter how grand. Nor did he feel secure in his own power, though in his territory, it was absolute. Few people in the Eternal Realm could hope to stand up to him, and yet, he felt as weak as a child. Because he had just been visited by a being so far above him that he might as well have been the most inconsequential insect. And she had not been happy with his failures. For a long while, he knelt on the floor of his office, feeling as if his entire world had come crashing down. His body felt as though it was on the verge of unraveling, and tears of blood ran down his cheeks. Slowly, his breathing steadied, and he managed to regain some degree of composure. Still, he knew it would be some time before he fully recovered. And rightly so. Even in the best of times, Shar Maelaine¡¯s touch was too volatile to bear for someone like him. He¡¯d reached the peak of the realm, and yet, he was nothing to her. He could scarcely withstand her presence, much less endure her ire without significant consequences. Hours passed while he focused on his recovery. He didn¡¯t dare use any skills. His entire system felt like it had been scorched clean, and letting mana flow through it would only exacerbate his issues. So, he relied on his high stats and natural regeneration for his recovery. At the same time, he steadied his mind and cast his thoughts toward the problem at hand. The monsters and their army needed to be destroyed. He¡¯d known that even before the Sun Goddess had visited him. Yet, he had, like everyone else, underestimated the danger of their leader. Shar Maelaine had not referred to him as a beast, instead calling him a man ¨C which went against everything Ignatius knew. Monsters would not follow a human. He knew that because he¡¯d supported experiments to enslave whole races of near-sapient creatures. They had all met with failure. So, the notion that a man led the horde of monsters that had destroyed Adontis was as terrifying as it was ludicrous. From any other source, the claim would have been dismissed entirely. But Shar Maelaine was a goddess, and one ignored their statements at their own peril. More, she had given him a task. ¡°Destroy them,¡± she¡¯d said, her voice echoing in his mind as her power forced him to his knees. ¡°Root and stem, right down to the last monster. I will return for the leader¡¯s head.¡± Then, she¡¯d reached down and placed a single finger on his chin, raising his face to hers. ¡°Do not disappoint me, child,¡± she had said. ¡°Do this, and you will be richly rewarded.¡± Without anything else, she had disappeared, leaving Ignatius to recover as best he could. It wasn¡¯t easy, because the echoes of her presence remained, and when he looked around his office, he saw that the copious gold decorations had all melted. His desk had burned to ash, and the two guards who¡¯d been stationed at the door had been cremated where they stood. Ignatius didn¡¯t care about any of that. Wealth was as replaceable as those two mid-level guards. What he was worried about was how he was going to accomplish the task he¡¯d been given. The reality was that if Karag and his team hadn¡¯t been enough to kill the man or destroy the army of monsters, then there was very little that the Radiant Host could throw at him. Especially considering that, after his coup of the Imperium and the wars he¡¯d been fighting ever since, many of his assets were either out of position or dead. There were a few members of the Radiant Host who¡¯d reached the peak, but Ignatius suspected they would not be enough. Man or monster, the leader of that horde was too powerful to take lightly. Ignatius finally picked himself up, and the first thing he realized was that he was entirely naked. The ceremonial armor of his office had been burned away, just like the room¡¯s d¨¦cor. Without hesitation, he went to the door and left the office behind. Thankfully, because of the enchantments he¡¯d had placed on the room, the destruction only made it about fifty feet outside of the office. There were a few piles of ash that he suspected had once been other guards, but he ignored those as he strode down the hall. After a while, he found himself confronted with a group of terrified men and women. ¡°Do not fear. I have been visited by our goddess, the most Radiant Shar Maelaine. She has given me a mission, a chance to earn glory for the Radiant Host and raise the Imperium to new heights!¡± The people were taken aback, but they didn¡¯t delay him as he strode past, eventually finding his way to his personal quarters. As soon as the door shut behind him, he felt his shoulders sag as the weight of everything settled onto his shoulders. Hundreds had died, and that wasn¡¯t even an attack. Shar Maelaine hadn¡¯t even visited in her physical form. Instead, she¡¯d sent a projection, and even that was enough to destabilize everything in the general vicinity. He took a deep breath, then found his favorite robe, which he donned with no small degree of relief. A few minutes later, one of the Servants of Light entered, leading a healer inside. The man used his skills, tending to the burns Ignatius¡¯ visit with the Sun Goddess had left behind. Briefly, he¡¯d considered leaving them unhealed. A badge of honor to remind his subjects of the power they truly served. Yet, in the end, the pain persuaded him otherwise. He couldn¡¯t do what was necessary if he was in constant agony. When the healer had finished, Ignatius sent the Servant of Light to fetch Abigail. She¡¯d returned only recently, and she¡¯d told a story of power that, at the time, he hadn¡¯t truly believed. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Now, he believed every word she¡¯d said. When she arrived, he¡¯d placed himself upon one of the couches, and was enjoying a cup of restorative tea. Feigning unconcern, he said, ¡°So good of you to join me, Abigail.¡± ¡°You summoned me?¡± ¡°Sit.¡± ¡°I would prefer to stand,¡± she said stiffly, her hands behind her back. He could feel the power radiating from her, but that was the entire reason he had chosen her as his Inquisitor. She had the favor of the Sun Goddess, which boded well for her development. Since she¡¯d begun fighting his wars, she had progressed well, reaching far higher than he ever could have imagined, and in such a short amount of time. In a few years, she would become one of the world¡¯s true elites. If she made it that far. Normally, she was as reliable as she was methodical, and yet, she had been soundly defeated, losing an important and irreplaceable ally along the way. The demon was a detestable creature ¨C as was his horde ¨C and yet, he¡¯d proven to be an invaluable asset when it came to bringing the masses under Imperium control. Now he was dead, and it would take months to travel to the Scar and find a suitable replacement. If one was even available. Demons were, at their very core, volatile, and finding one that would follow the rules without going on a rampage across the countryside would be extremely difficult. Not that Ignatius cared overmuch about the damage they would do. Rampaging was all demons were good for, after all. However, he had no use for one he couldn¡¯t at least point in the right direction. Serpentus had been unique in that respect. Powerful enough to be an asset, but still controllable, if only because he was intelligent enough to recognize the potential benefits he could earn. A pity he was gone. ¡°Very well,¡± he said. Deciding to embrace brevity rather than engage in small talk, he continued, ¡°I have been visited by the Sun Goddess, and she has given me a mission. I believe you can assist me in completing it.¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°I was under the impression that I was in your doghouse at the moment.¡± ¡°You are,¡± he said. ¡°What happened during your last assignment was regrettable, but the Sun Goddess will not wait for us to dwell on that failure. Instead, we are required to move ever forward, lest we disappoint her.¡± Abigail shivered. Like most of the elites ¨C and future elites ¨C of the Radiant Host, she had been through the Crucible. Unlike most, she had been chosen by Shar Maelaine, her attunement altered so that she could serve more efficiently. However, as powerful as she had become, she had yet to fully escape the conditioning ¨C both magical and psychological ¨C she¡¯d endured during her training. For someone like her, the mere thought of disappointing the Sun Goddess was unconscionable. ¡°How am I to serve?¡± she asked, flexing her jaw. ¡°You are familiar with the leader of the beast horde, are you not?¡± he asked. ¡°A metal monster. Inspections label it a titan approaching the pinnacle.¡± ¡°A titan,¡± Ignatius echoed, tapping his lip. ¡°Yes. I read that. However, the Sun Goddess has informed me that our intelligence is faulty. The leader is no monster. Instead, he is a man using a high-tier transformation skill.¡± ¡°A¡­a man?¡± she breathed. ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°Furthermore, he is familiar to you, and not just because you fought his armies so recently. Tell me, do you recall your life before your ascension?¡± he asked. ¡°W-what? What does that have to do ¨C¡± ¡°Ezekiel Blackwood,¡± Ignatius said. ¡°A former lover of yours, from what I understand. A human, though one unlike any I¡¯ve ever seen. He frolics with undead, consorts with monsters, and has the stench of a demon about him. Am I wrong?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t¡­it can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Questioning me is questioning the Sun Goddess.¡± She steeled her resolve. ¡°Then no,¡± Abigail stated. ¡°If you say it is him, then it must be true. But I don¡¯t know how I can assist. He is more powerful than me, and when we parted, he made it clear that he never wished to see me again.¡± ¡°A lover¡¯s quarrel?¡± ¡°He believes I betrayed him.¡± ¡°Did you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated. I did what I thought was necessary to save the world,¡± she stated evenly, though Ignatius could see the tightening of her eyes. ¡°Did you? Save the world, I mean.¡± ¡°I did not.¡± ¡°A pity.¡± Abigail didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she simply stood there, stiff-backed and staring straight ahead. Ignatius was no fool, though. He could see that she was angry. Perhaps he could use that. The scorn of a lover could be a dangerous thing. ¡°The Sun Goddess wants him eliminated,¡± the High Abbot said. ¡°Do you believe you can do that?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Is he so powerful?¡± She locked her eyes on his, saying, ¡°I saw him cut a peak demon in half with a single attack, and from what I understand, he destroyed Karag and his team. If ¨C¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Deduction. I knew he was sent to clean up my mess,¡± she said with no small degree of resentment. She was a proud woman, and she didn¡¯t like the implication that she had made a mistake. Even if she had, she certainly didn¡¯t like being reminded of her faults. ¡°If you¡¯re talking to me, then that mission was unsuccessful. Karag wouldn¡¯t have retreated, and so¡­he¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Just so. A great loss for the Radiant Host.¡± ¡°He was a two-bit thug who got lucky a few times,¡± Abigail said. ¡°Perhaps. But he was strong.¡± ¡°Strength is relative. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t as powerful as you thought.¡± ¡°Obviously,¡± Ignatius agreed. ¡°So, you do not believe you can kill him?¡± ¡°I know I can¡¯t,¡± Abigail answered. ¡°He was the strongest person in the world when we ascended, and it seems that he has only grown stronger since. I don¡¯t know what benefits he¡¯s found, but if you go after him, you better do it with an army of powerful people. Hit him hard and fast. Don¡¯t let him respond, because if you allow him to get going, he will destroy everything you¡¯ve built.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°No. You really don¡¯t. There¡¯s a demon in him. A being of pure destruction. That¡¯s what he does. That¡¯s who he is. Underestimate him at your peril.¡± ¡°How would you fight him?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. If he was in my way, I would go around. I would stay out of his path until he chose to ascend,¡± she said. ¡°There¡¯s no benefit to fighting him and a host of ways it could go wrong. My advice? Let him do his thing. Give him what he wants. And stay out of his way.¡± Ignatius shook his head, then took a sip of his tea. It had gone cold. ¡°That is an unfortunate opinion,¡± he said. ¡°The Sun Goddess has given us a mission, and we dare not abandon it. But this man, this demon of destruction, he is not invincible. And we are not without allies. That is your part in this. You are to travel to Westport and meet with the Sultan. He and his¡­gnomes are powerful crafters. Tell them the issue, give them as much information on this man as you can, and have them create some contraption to kill or contain him.¡± She dipped her head, but she said, ¡°It won¡¯t be enough.¡± ¡°It is but one part of the plan,¡± Ignatius stated. ¡°We will defeat this man. Make no mistake about that. The only question is how many favors we¡¯ll owe once this is finished. Now, go. Meet with the Diplomatic Union to arrange the trip.¡± ¡°As you wish, your holiness,¡± she said with a bow. Then, she turned on her heel and started for the exit. ¡°And Abigail?¡± She turned to face him, asking, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do not let your feelings interfere with our mission. This man may have forgiven your betrayal, but the Sun Goddess is not so kind.¡± ¡°As you say.¡± 547. Blood in the Snow ¡°Are we certain that it¡¯s stabilized?¡± asked Zeke, glancing away from the dungeon portal and looking at Sasha. In addition to leading the academy in the Crimson Tower, she was also the most knowledgeable person when it came to mana, dungeons, and just about everything else that didn¡¯t involve killing. The boarkin girl glanced at a sheet of crystal and nodded. The apparatus looked almost like a tablet, though it was surrounded by enough mana that Zeke knew it was magical in nature. Sasha answered, ¡°It¡¯s stable, and it looks no more powerful than the arena dungeon. Perhaps slightly less. It shouldn¡¯t give you any trouble.¡± ¡°Shame about the pig girl,¡± Eveline muttered in Zeke¡¯s mind. ¡°If she hadn¡¯t lost her nerve, she could have been a true asset. She has a head for mana like no one I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Zeke once again warned Eveline not to refer to Sasha with such a derogatory term, but he couldn¡¯t disagree with her sentiment. Sasha was, to put it mildly, a genius. However, after her experiences in the Mirror King dungeon ¨C and the war that followed ¨C she¡¯d taken a step back from a combat role. If he ¨C or more accurately, Pudge ¨C had asked her to step up, she would have done it. She was as committed as anyone else. But she clearly had issues with it, and ever since realizing it, Zeke had given her every opportunity to serve a different function. That just showed him that planning for the future was, in a lot of ways, futile. He couldn¡¯t just move people around like chess pieces. ¡°More like checkers, in your case,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Or tic tac toe.¡± ¡°Never claimed to be a genius,¡± he remarked inwardly. Regardless, Sasha¡¯s disdain for combat had sundered some of his plans. She represented quite a lot of power ¨C indeed, she could empower her spells to enact true devastation ¨C but if her heart wasn¡¯t in it, he couldn¡¯t very well force her to do it. ¡°You could,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°You¡¯d just have to make peace with breaking her.¡± ¡°Same difference,¡± he said in his mind. Then, he turned to Adara, Pudge, and Silik, asking, ¡°Are you three sure you want to come with me? I can¡¯t guarantee your safety.¡± ¡°I must gather information for my soldiers,¡± Silik stated. ¡°I won¡¯t let you go alone. Not again,¡± Pudge growled. Adara said, ¡°This is an opportunity to get stronger. I can¡¯t pass that up.¡± Zeke sighed. His friends¡¯ reasons were their own, but he couldn¡¯t find any fault with them. Silik¡¯s reasons were particularly poignant, because the wild dungeon that had cropped up in the Muk¡¯ti Plains represented an opportunity to train their army. And as their leader, the kobold general had taken it upon himself to ensure that they were as prepared for the challenge as they could possibly be. Pudge¡¯s reasons were a lot more personal. Clearly, the beastkin blamed himself for Zeke¡¯s most recent near-death experience, and he¡¯d vowed to be there to help the next time he faced such long odds. Did it matter that Pudge couldn¡¯t have helped against someone like Shar Maelaine? Not to him. And so, he¡¯d been by Zeke¡¯s side ever since. As for Adara, her reasons were, in a lot of ways, just as personal. Sure, she¡¯d always been driven toward growth. She wanted power, same as ever. However, her pursuit of strength was driven by something new. She clearly wanted to prove that she was worthy to stand beside him. The thought made him uncomfortable, and not just because he didn¡¯t think of their relationship in those terms. Mostly, though, he was reminded of Abby and her insecurities. ¡°She¡¯s different,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°She doesn¡¯t resent you for being stronger than her. Even if she never stands on even ground, she won¡¯t grow bitter.¡± ¡°You know that for sure? How?¡± ¡°Nothing is certain in this world, Ezekiel, but I know people. And that girl is as solid as any rock,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°The difference is that her sense of self-worth is not tied to her strength.¡± ¡°Neither was Abby¡¯s.¡± ¡°It was,¡± Eveline insisted. ¡°She was weak. She knew it, and though she railed against her nature, she couldn¡¯t change it. She made excuses for her weaknesses, and eventually, it broke her. Her desperation drove her to ¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to rehash this,¡± Zeke said inwardly. Eveline was about to respond, but then she clearly thought better of it. So, instead of prolonging that discussion, she said, ¡°Very well. I think it¡¯s time to test this new dungeon. Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I do.¡± After that, Zeke took a few minutes to ensure that his army would be ready in case anything happened. The Radiant Host was in full retreat, and his scouts were adamant that they wouldn¡¯t return any time soon. In addition, the dungeon itself was a small one, and as such, Sasha had claimed that it would not take long to conquer. A few days, at most. So, with all that taken care of, he led the other three through the portal and to the other side. Upon stepping through, he had been ready for anything, but he still stumbled a little when he felt the bitter cold envelope him. Thankfully, he¡¯d grown quite accustomed to frigid temperatures during his time in the Ianthian Wastes, so it only took a moment before he acclimated. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The others weren¡¯t quite so quick to adapt, but they were all strong enough that even the sub-zero temperatures wouldn¡¯t threaten their well-being. With their safety ensured, Zeke took a moment to look around, and for a second, he thought he¡¯d gone back to the base of Min Ferilik. A huge mountain range loomed over them, surrounded by an apron of pristine snow. Yet, they were not alone. Only a few hundred yards away, Zeke saw a camp which was comprised of a half-dozen tents and a huge bonfire that looked large enough to offer at least some protection against the cold. After discussing it with his companions, Zeke decided that the camp was their best shot of figuring out what was going on ¨C because they¡¯d gotten no notifications upon entry. So, Zeke strode forward, pushing through the snow on his way to the collection of tents. He eschewed his titanic form, hoping instead to engage in diplomacy. And no matter how powerful [Titan] was, it tended to put people on the defensive. ¡°You think? I wonder why people would be a little alarmed when confronted by a thirty-foot-tall indestructible golem,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke ignored her, and soon enough, he saw a collection of figures huddled around the fire. And to his immense surprise, they looked human. Even more shockingly, they were all injured. Some were missing limbs. Others were clad in thick bandages. And a few lay still, probably dead. ¡°Hello there!¡± he called out, raising his arm. That got their attention, and a couple of the healthier humans gathered weapons and took fighting stances. ¡°What d¡¯ya want? Don¡¯t come no closer!¡± one shouted. ¡°We¡¯re here to help!¡± Zeke claimed. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Frost trolls,¡± said the leader. She was tall and pale, with vivid red hair. However, she also had a wicked wound across her scalp that descended across her eye. ¡°They ambushed us in the pass. Don¡¯t come no closer!¡± Zeke stopped, his hands raised. ¡°I can help. I can heal them at least enough so they don¡¯t die.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look like a healer,¡± she said skeptically. ¡°And don¡¯t think I don¡¯t see that thing behind you. I don¡¯t know what manner of creature that is, but I don¡¯t trust upright lizards. Too many bad experiences.¡± ¡°Fine. They¡¯ll stay back. Just let me help,¡± Zeke said. It took a few more exchanges before the woman finally relented, letting Zeke approach. After that, he used [Hand of Divinity] to heal the wounded. He only used the skill at around half power ¨C which was the limit of his control ¨C but that was enough to keep them alive. Once he¡¯d finished, he said, ¡°Tell me exactly what happened.¡± ¡°They took ¡®em,¡± the woman said. ¡°Three of our people. Don¡¯t know what for, but it can¡¯t be good. I¡­I want to rescue them, but¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re too strong. I don¡¯t know how, but these trolls ain¡¯t like normal trolls. There¡¯s somethin¡¯ about ¡®em that makes ¡®em stronger,¡± said one of the others. ¡°Took us apart like we was nothin¡¯. If you go up there, you ain¡¯t makin¡¯ it out. Lizard-man bodyguard or not.¡± Zeke listened to the rest of their reports, but it was just more of the same. Despite the Framework¡¯s lack of direction ¨C which, according to Sasha, wasn¡¯t uncommon for newly materialized wild dungeons ¨C the goal seemed clear enough. He and his companions would need to head through the pass and try to save the hostages while figuring out what was going on with the trolls. The problem was that, despite their willingness to tell Zeke just how strong the enemy was, the people in camp were too weak to provide any reasonable context. For all he knew, the trolls weren¡¯t even level fifty ¨C which would have been enough to take them apart. Or they could be at the peak. Either way, Zeke couldn¡¯t allow the lack of information to derail him. And besides, he¡¯d long developed an absolute loathing for trolls. He¡¯d spent years fighting them, and if he couldn¡¯t he would wipe any trace of trolls from the face of the universe. So, he was more than willing to do what needed to be done. With that in mind, after Zeke ensured that the people in the camp would live, he retreated to where he¡¯d left his companions, explained the situation, then led them to the pass. Once there, they began an easy climb that eventually switched back before winding around the mountain. For miles, they traveled until they reached the spot where the humans had been ambushed. It looked like the area had been hit by a bomb. Overturned wagons were scattered across the narrow pass, suggesting a furious battle with creatures equipped with supernatural strength. Then Zeke saw the bodies. Or what was left of them. Bits and pieces had been thrown all across the pass. Zeke saw severed arms, mangled torsos, and more unidentifiable hunks of meat than he cared to count. In short, it had been a massacre. Sprinkled here and there were mostly intact blue bodies. They resembled the trolls with which Zeke had grown familiar, though they were a good deal larger than the ones in the caves where he¡¯d been reborn. Maybe fifteen feet tall, with thick hides and thickly muscled bodies. Two-foot long tusks jutted from their ugly mouths, and ice crystals decorated their heads. ¡°I¡¯ve seen these before,¡± Adara said, kneeling beside one. ¡°In the mountains on either side of the labyrinth. They would sometimes descend and raid villages.¡± ¡°Do they have weaknesses? Fire, I¡¯m guessing,¡± Zeke said. She nodded. ¡°Blunt force, too. They¡¯re extremely strong, insanely durable, and they have the same ability to regenerate that most trolls do,¡± she said. ¡°But it¡¯s more powerful the colder it is.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Zeke muttered. They all knew the reason for the expletive. As they¡¯d climbed the mountain, the already-frigid temperatures had continued to drop. That made it clear ¨C if they continued up the mountain, they would be walking right into the trolls¡¯ natural environment. And that probably meant that putting them down was going to be that much more difficult. ¡°There¡¯s something else,¡± Adara said. ¡°Trolls have a shamanistic culture. If they get strong enough, they can be sapient. These are big enough that I think it¡¯s almost a certainty that they¡¯ll have reached that point. That means we¡¯ll have to deal with spellcasters.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± asked Pudge. ¡°It means that if you see any totems on the ground ¨C they¡¯ll look like statues ¨C the first priority has to be to destroy them,¡± she answered. ¡°Otherwise, the trolls will be¡­augmented in some way. The raiding party that did this is nothing compared to what we¡¯ll face. And it¡¯ll be even worse if they have any shamans worth a damn.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zeke said. But as useful as that bit of information was, it didn¡¯t change what they had to do. So, Zeke and his companions continued up the pass, steadily trudging through the increasingly deep snow drifts for miles and miles until finally reaching a small valley. There, they rested for a few hours, eating and recovering their stamina before resuming their trek up the mountain. Then, after almost an entire day ¨C which was a significant amount of time, considering how quickly they could cover ground ¨C they crested a rise and saw their quarry. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of trolls,¡± Adara said. Zeke countered, ¡°That¡¯s an understatement.¡± 548. A Slaughter of Trolls A beam of pure destruction cut through the mass of trolls. Hundreds of them burst into flame, burning to ash in only a moment, while the strongest among them were merely cut in half. A second later, a whirlwind of ethereal hammers slammed into them, pulverizing the scattered few who¡¯d managed to live through [Eye of Reckoning]. A second later, a gout of fire, corruption, and earth erupted deeper into the troll settlement, destroying everything within a fifty-yard radius. Then, another exploded. And another after that. The onslaught barely made a dent in their numbers. ¡°There are so many,¡± Eveline said in Zeke¡¯s mind. ¡°A million at least.¡± ¡°More,¡± Zeke said. Indeed, the entire valley was covered in trolls. When they¡¯d arrived, the entire mass of blue-skinned behemoths had faced inward, chanting something as they surrounded a huge bonfire. Atop that fire were the missing caravanners, though they had already succumbed to the effects of smoke inhalation. There was no telling if they were dead or simply unconscious, but Zeke suspected the former. Regardless, saving those hostages had never been his primary goal. His hatred of trolls ran far too deep for that, and if he could have guaranteed the safety of his companions, he would already have let loose with [Wrath of Annihilation]. As it stood, he couldn¡¯t afford to take that step, lest they all be killed. So, he embraced the next best strategy, which was to unleash a barrage of other skills that would hopefully slaughter as many of the hateful things as possible. However, despite his obvious power, the trolls were strangely resistant to his attacks. [Eye of Reckoning] should have cut through without stopping, but it had only carved a small divot into the crowd of blue-skinned monsters. And though [Hell Geyser] and [Strom of Hammers] had claimed even more victims, the effects were not nearly as widespread as he had expected. Only a moment later, Zeke saw why. ¡°There!¡± Pudge shouted, pointing to the right side of the huge bonfire. Zeke followed the gesture and immediately saw the same thing his companion had. There was a troll, taller and thinner than all the rest, there. It wore an elaborate headdress composed of bleached-white bones, with human skulls dangling from it. They swayed as it raised a brutal-looking spear, and a wave of mana spread across a quadrant of the valley. As it swept through the crowd of trolls, their muscles visibly bulged, and they let loose a collective roar loud enough to cause an avalanche. Four more troll shaman repeated the actions of the first, and the entire horde of monsters added their roars to the first group¡¯s. More importantly, Zeke could see even more trolls coming from a path on the other side of the valley, clearly intended as reinforcements. ¡°This is going to be more difficult than we thought,¡± Zeke said, having already shifted into his titanic form. Voromir appeared in his hand, having grown even larger and with a more pronounced head. It was a true hammer, now, and it radiated with enough power to make any warrior jealous. ¡°Pudge, go for the shamans. Adara and Silik, take the right side of the pass. I¡¯ll take the left.¡± What had begun as an attack had quickly shifted into defense. If they charged in ¨C as powerful as they were ¨C they would be surrounded. Zeke could probably survive that, but he wasn¡¯t so arrogant as to believe he was entirely invulnerable. He could die, just like anyone else, and a million empowered trolls was powerful enough of a force to make even him wary. Especially given that when he used [Inspect], he saw that the lowest-level monster was in its mid-eighties. The most powerful among them had cleared the level ninety mark. Alone, they were strong enough to kill most fighters, and there were a million of them. ¡°More than that,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°Reinforcements, remember. Their numbers seem endless.¡± ¡°Thank you for that,¡± he muttered, wishing she¡¯d just kept her mouth shut. ¡°Glad to help!¡± was her chipper reply. ¡°Better clench up.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t have a chance to reply before the wave of charging trolls reached them. He met the first with a compact hammer-strike that obliterated its chest cavity. However, to his surprise, the thing kept coming, ripping into his titanic body with sharp claws. The found little purchase, but the fact that those attacks left even slight scratches was enough to tell him that they were not to be trifled with. He hit the monster in the face, destroying its head. That gave him a drop of kill energy, telling him that it was dead. ¡°Go for the heads!¡± he shouted toward Silik and Adara, who¡¯d already established a viable strategy where Silik acted as the bulwark against the monsters while Adara attacked. A troll¡¯s head went flying at the end of her blade, disappearing into the crowd of monsters and confirming that Adara knew what she was doing. So, deciding to trust her, Zeke lowered his shoulder and braced himself for the rest of the charge. It crashed over him like a tidal wave, but Zeke was both larger and stronger than any of the trolls. So, he had no trouble holding his ground. However, the sheer weight of numbers made it extremely difficult to swing his hammer, so he dismissed it. He preferred fighting with his loyal weapon, but he could use his own two hands just as well. He lashed out, embracing his twin domains as he fought. Then, he raised both hands above his head with an intended attack. One of the trolls rushed in, stabbing him with a rusty-looking sword. The weapon cut through his flesh, but stopped after only a few inches. As such, it hit nothing vital. Zeke brought his hands down on the thing¡¯s back, breaking its spine. However, that wasn¡¯t the extent of his attack. No ¨C he used [Titan¡¯s Smash]. The results were explosive. Snow, mud, and troll¡¯s blood erupted from the ground, and a shockwave of herculean proportions obliterated the monster in front of him. And the next fifty or so in line. Another hundred were injured. The primary targets simply exploded into showers of viscera, while the others were merely grievously wounded. So, Zeke used it again ¨C this time, after leaping to his left and aiming a simple right hook at a reeling troll. It exploded, just like the other twenty or so nearby. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Zeke used it again after leaping thirty feet to his right. His efforts carved a hole in the trolls¡¯ numbers, giving him enough room to resummon his hammer and use the ability associated with it. An ethereal red hammer ¨C with head measuring at least fifty feet across ¨C erupted into being, and when Zeke swung, trolls were knocked backward, their bones broken and their bodies ruptured. Zeke roared, wanting nothing more than to charge forward. However, he knew better than to abandon his companions. If he did, they would be surrounded. So, he held his ground, swinging Voromir with ruthless fury as the trolls continued to flood the pass. Meanwhile, Adara and Silik worked together seamlessly. Without having to worry about her own defense, the half-orc woman carved into the trolls with the precision of a trained soldier. But Zeke could see ¨C or perhaps feel ¨C the rage inside of her. She was part orc, and that side of her thirsted for battle at least as much as he did. In a display of discipline, she kept it in check, though, loosing the battle lust only in short bursts. ¡°You could learn a thing or two from her,¡± Eveline said. Zeke ignored the mind spirit as he steadily slaughtered trolls. They recovered from his onslaught of [Titan¡¯s Smash] quickly, swarming over him with clubs and crude blades. Yet, he fought on, summoning [Storm of Hammers] the moment he could. The skill was powerful, but it was incapable of killing any of the monsters outright. And with their ability to regenerate, it was largely useless. Especially when the shamans brought their own powers to bear. A huge stone statue ¨C it looked to Zeke a little like a totem pole, but with unrecognizable designs ¨C erupted from the ground, and suddenly, the trolls grew even stronger and more vicious. Zeke was pushed back by their newfound fury, though he quickly recovered by aiming a few more uses of [Titan¡¯s Smash] their way. That cleared the area, but there were always more to fill the gaps. Zeke stomped on the ground, using [Hell Geyser], but just before the column of corrupted flames cut through the horde, another totem came into being. This one pulsed with blue power that spread across the entire valley. And when Zeke aimed a hammer strike at one of the monsters, his attack was rebuffed. Not to be stymied, he aimed another attack at the creature, and this time, he managed to crack the ethereal shield. Another attack shattered it, and still another killed the monster. Yet, the message was clear. Those totems needed to come down, or there was no way they would be able to keep up with the horde. Just as that thought passed through Zeke¡¯s mind, he saw an eruption of shadow and fire that told him that Pudge was hard already hard at work. From so far away, he could only see hints of what was happening, but after a few seconds, one of the giant totems shattered into a million shards of stone. The blue shields flickered, but they didn¡¯t disappear altogether. However, a second later, when Zeke engaged in another assault, he found that it only took two attacks to get through it. Clearly, Pudge¡¯s efforts had been effective, but now, the former direbear was in trouble. ¡°Back away!¡± Zeke shouted to Silik and Adara. ¡°Down the pass and to that narrow path we saw a few hundred yards away!¡± To their credit, they didn¡¯t question his order. Instead, they executed a perfect fighting retreat. Zeke aided their efforts by launching a furious assault that included all of his skills ¨C save for [Wrath of Annihilation]. He laid waste to the troll horde, pushing it back just long enough that Adara and Silik could reestablish themselves in the more defensive position. Once they did, Zeke felt confident that he could enact the next part of his plan. He used [Shifting Sands] and, once he was below the ground, launched himself forward with blistering speed. A few seconds later, he exploded from the earth and swept his hammer out. It was just in time, too, because Pudge had already taken enough blows that his hide was positively stained with blood. Zeke used [Hand of Divinity], holding it for a few moments and healing Pudge enough that the bearkin was in no danger of dying. Then, together, they cut a path through the horde. It wasn¡¯t easy, and Zeke had to be everywhere at once. Pudge used his own abilities, sending out beams of [Hellfire] and wreathing himself in black flames that allowed him to stand toe-to-toe with the monsters. And fortunately, trolls ¨C especially once attuned to ice ¨C were weak against fire. Pudge¡¯s attacks did even more damage than Zeke¡¯s, but the former direbear was far less durable than his companion. So, Zeke was forced to bend all his efforts toward ensuring that Pudge was free to do what he did best. With their combined efforts, the pair tore through trolls like they were nothing. Many died, but many more were simply injured. The companions didn¡¯t stop, though. They could kill thousands of trolls, and it wouldn¡¯t make much difference. If they wanted to win, they needed to take out the remaining three totems. And to do that, they would have to kill the shamans who¡¯d summoned them. So, aside from doing enough to carve a path through the horde of trolls, neither Zeke nor Pudge expended any extra effort ¨C or time ¨C to slay the monsters. Instead, they rampaged in a straight line until, at last, they reached one of the trolls. That¡¯s when Zeke felt a curse hit him. Immediately, nausea twisted his stomach into knots, so powerful that it was all he could do not to double over and vomit. But unbeknownst to the shaman, Zeke had quite a lot of experience with curses. Almost from the very beginning of his new life, he¡¯d been forced to unravel them. So, without hesitation, he embraced his Will and ruthlessly plucked the rune apart. It wasn¡¯t easy. Far from it. But Zeke¡¯s Will was so powerful, and he had enough experience in unraveling curses, that he accomplished the feat in less than an instant. Then, his hammer came down on the troll shaman at the same time as a flame-wreathed claw ripped into it. The results were predictable, and the creature positively exploded from the twin attacks. Fire and viscera sprayed in all directions, and the giant totem crumbled into dust and mana. ¡°Two down,¡± Zeke muttered aloud. ¡°Two more to go.¡± Pudge¡¯s response was a simple roar, and together, the pair pushed through the horde, carving a path of blood and ash until they reached the next shaman. This one recognized the danger straightaway, and it growled something indecipherable as it aimed its staff at the pair. Suddenly, it felt like Zeke was running through quicksand. His momentum came to a halt, and, for a moment, he was entirely vulnerable. Trolls collapsed onto him. Blades bit into his body, and claws dug deep groves into his metallic flesh. But it was Pudge¡¯s cry ¨C of pain and anger ¨C that cut through all the damage and spurred Zeke forward. He gritted his teeth and embraced [Unleash Momentum]. He swung Voromir, enacting the hammer¡¯s ability at the same time. The huge ethereal hammer manifested, but it glistened with solidity it had never had before. The swing crashed through the trolls without issue, loosing the power of hundreds of attacks. The results were explosive. Trolls exploded, and the shaman ¨C screaming as spittle flew from its mouth ¨C flew backward, colliding with its own totem. The sound of cracking stone filled the air, punctuated by the thing¡¯s pained screams. And its spell dissipated. Suddenly, Zeke could move. More importantly, so could Pudge. The former direbear found the crippled shaman first, and the evisceration that followed was brutal even by Zeke¡¯s standards. When Pudge had finished, he looked back at his companion and said, ¡°One more.¡± ¡°One more,¡± Zeke agreed. Then, they set off for the final target. Unfortunately, they¡¯d saved the biggest and most powerful for last. It didn¡¯t matter, though. Together, they could do anything. 549. A Familiar Foe ¡°Who dares attack my people?!¡± came a roaring voice from the other side of the vale. Zeke raised his eyes, looking past the carnage-filled battlefield and at the figure who¡¯d finally arrived. If he was honest, Zeke had expected it. He knew a little about troll society, and he¡¯d experienced enough dungeons to recognize that there was going to be more to it than killing a few million underpowered trolls. Still, he couldn¡¯t deny that he¡¯d enjoyed it. His hatred of the detestable species ran deep, and nothing he¡¯d experienced since being escaping the troll caves had changed his opinion. They were despicable creatures, and as far as he was concerned, they could be wiped from the face of every realm. Regardless, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of nostalgia ¨C and maybe a bit of remembered fear ¨C when he looked upon the creature standing in the distance. It was a blue-skinned troll, just like all the rest, but where they ones he¡¯d already slain had topped out at around twelve feet in height, the new arrival was more than twice that. In fact, even from a distance, Zeke could tell that it could at least rival him in size. More likely, it would be even larger. Which was a considerable feat, given that his own height measured approximately thirty feet. ¡°I do,¡± he bellowed. ¡°And I intend to kill every troll I see until you¡¯ve all been exterminated.¡± ¡°Ezekiel, that¡¯s ¨C¡± He cut Eveline off with a mental glare. He¡¯d come into the dungeon at least partially so he could let off some steam in a controlled environment. Getting stronger was the primary goal, but he would have been lying if he¡¯d said that he didn¡¯t crave a little indiscriminate slaughter. With the Radiant Host in constant retreat, he¡¯d had few chances to engage in real battle of late. The fight he¡¯d just experienced help sate some of his bloodlust, but he still hadn¡¯t been pushed. The troll, which looked strikingly similar to the warlord he¡¯d slain to escape the caves where he¡¯d been reborn, represented just such an opportunity. Or so he hoped. In addition to its towering stature, the creature wore thick, metal armor that looked like poorly made cast iron. However, even though there existed plenty of rust or other corrosion, Zeke could tell that it was extremely sturdy. The monster had armed itself with an enormous axe, double-bearded and with sharp, jagged edges. In short, the creature looked as dangerous as any foe Zeke could have expected, and a tingle of excitement went up his spine at the prospect of fighting it. ¡°Battle maniac,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke did not dispute her claim. While he often lamented the necessity of fighting, he couldn¡¯t even begin to deny that he never felt quite as comfortable as he did on a battlefield. He wasn¡¯t the most intelligent man in the universe. Nor was he as emotionally mature as most. But one thing he could confidently say was a strength was his ability to fight and wage war. ¡°An idiot savant,¡± Eveline added. ¡°I think that term is considered offensive now,¡± Zeke said inwardly. Before she could reply, he looked back at his companions and said, ¡°Stay back. This one is mine.¡± A tinge of relief blossomed on their faces. As much as Zeke considered the previous battle no more than a warm-up, his friends had been pushed to their absolute limits. They all sported various shallow wounds, and they¡¯d clearly expended most of their stamina. They could ¨C and would, if he asked ¨C still fight, but not at their best. So, they didn¡¯t argue with his insistence on fighting the troll alone. He stepped forward, his massive metallic feet squishing corpses to jelly. That enraged the troll, who roared, ¡°Have you no respect for the dead?¡± ¡°For trolls? No,¡± Zeke answered, striding forward, hammer in hand. ¡°Not for you, either.¡± Once he¡¯d crossed half the valley, he came in range of [Inspect]. When he used it, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a slight chuckle. Takor, Troll Overlord ¨C Level 100 ¡°He¡¯s dangerous,¡± Eveline said. ¡°So am I,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°This plan of yours is stupid.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke said, knowing that she¡¯d read his thoughts. By this point, he was accustomed to it, though. ¡°But I think it needs to be done.¡± She gave a mental shake of her head, and for once, Zeke couldn¡¯t really argue with her assessment of the situation. On the surface, what he had planned was monumentally stupid ¨C especially after seeing the troll overlord¡¯s level. It was at the absolute peak of the Eternal Realm, which meant that it would be the strongest foe he¡¯d defeated. ¡°If you can defeat it,¡± Eveline countered. ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee of that if you don¡¯t intend to use your skills.¡± She was right, but that was what made it exciting. For so long, Zeke had tried to look past his nature. He¡¯d attempted to ignore the fact that his driving force had nothing to do with doing the right thing, with saving people, or whatever battle lay at the end of his path. Instead, he reveled in the fight itself. Whether it was an individual encounter or the overarching struggle to reach ever higher, Zeke reveled in challenging overwhelming odds and coming out on top. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Eveline had called him a battle maniac, and he could not think of a better label for his nature. ¡°You are insane.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± he allowed. ¡°But I can¡¯t change who I am, Eveline. You know me as well as anyone else in the world. Better, probably. Can you honestly say that you¡¯d want me to be anything but what I am?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then ¨C¡± ¡°But this idea is still stupid. Fight the thing, but use your skills to do it,¡± she pleaded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die just because you¡¯re too stubborn to use every tool at your disposal.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what everyone thinks. And then they get killed.¡± Zeke knew that there would be no convincing her, but as much as he wished she would understand, he had no need to sway her to his way of thinking. She was a passenger, albeit one who shared his fate. If possible, he would protect her, but he couldn¡¯t let that desire to keep her safe change what he knew he needed to do. So, he ignored her please, stepping forward with a mixture of grim finality and excitement dancing in his mind. Once he was within a hundred feet of the hulking troll, he said, ¡°I challenge you. Here and now, and to make it an even fight, I won¡¯t even use any of my skills.¡± ¡°Arrogant beast,¡± the troll growled, tightening his grip on his giant axe. ¡°I will not give you the same consideration. You do not deserve it.¡± Zeke cocked his head to the side. ¡°Pretty eloquent for a troll.¡± ¡°We are not savages,¡± the creature spat, though its appearance told a different story. It looked so similar to the warlord ¨C aside from the blue skin ¨C that Zeke wouldn¡¯t have been surprised to find that they were related. But then again, perhaps he was just incapable of seeing the subtle differences in trolls. ¡°So you say, but then you attacked a caravan and murdered a bunch of people,¡± Zeke said. He shrugged his massive shoulders. ¡°Seems pretty savage to me.¡± ¡°They invaded our territory and ¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Zeke interrupted. ¡°I really don¡¯t.¡± The troll ground his teeth together hard enough that, even a hundred feet away, Zeke could hear it. He thought about making a sarcastic comment about that, but kept it to himself. Instead, he shifted his feet and readied for battle. It was a good thing, too, because only a moment later, the troll let out a massive roar and leaped in his direction. He sailed through the air, his massive axe held high. Zeke dropped the head of his hammer, took one step forward, and swung. The uppercut took the troll by surprise, hitting him right in the chin and launching him back the way he¡¯d come. Two-hundred feet later, his arcing flight ended as he slammed into the snow-covered ground, rolled a few dozen feet, then came to a stop. But Zeke hadn¡¯t remained idle as the overlord sailed through the air. He rushed forward, his heavy feet thundering against the frozen ground as he sprinted into position. Any other time, he might have used [Shifting Sands], but he¡¯d vowed to fight ¨C at least for as long as possible ¨C without his skills. He wanted to beat the troll, warrior-to-warrior, without mana or magic getting in the way. He hit the troll just as the creature climbed to his feet, but to Zeke¡¯s surprise, the thing managed to stymie his path via sheer strength. Then, with a roar, the overlord brought his axe to bear in an overhand attack. The blade screamed as it cut through the air before hitting Zeke¡¯s shoulder with a metallic crunch. ¡°That almost got you in the head. Not sure you would survive that,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Shut up,¡± he muttered in return. The axe had done some damage to his shoulder, but it was a long way from debilitating. As strong as the troll was, it would take much more than that to put Zeke out of commission. More importantly, it seemed that the troll had a sense of honor, and it had chosen to abide by Zeke¡¯s no-skills vow. It was going to be a slugfest, and Zeke was more than ready to see what they both could take. Zeke tightened his grip on his hammer¡¯s haft, and launched himself forward. At times, he¡¯d found himself holding back in terms of his physical abilities because he feared overextending and getting his allies killed. Or because he was fighting creatures the size of skyscrapers. In those instances, he relied almost exclusively on his skills, which had established itself as a habit. But he was more than his abilities. Zeke¡¯s attributes were worth more than just about anyone else¡¯s in the world ¨C at least as far as he could see ¨C so it was silly not to use them. That was his purpose with the overlord. He wanted to push himself forward and, like had been the case when he¡¯d fought the troll warlord so long ago, he felt that he needed to take the next step in regards to his fighting technique. To that end, he bent the whole of his concentration toward executing each attack ¨C which came at multiple strikes per second ¨C to utmost perfection. His body control had always been a strength, going back to his time as a baseball player on Earth, and he used that to his advantage. At first, the troll was overwhelmed by the sheer speed of Zeke¡¯s attacks. But like most of its species, the thing was equipped with a ridiculous advantage in self-healing. Any other time, and Zeke would have called it a skill, but he could tell that the troll wouldn¡¯t violate the sanctity of their duel. Even as the creature¡¯s bones mended after each landed attack, its own blows rained down on Zeke, cutting into his incredibly durable metallic flesh. For the next few minutes, the pair battered one another. Zeke seemed to get the better of the troll, though its natural healing took care of any wounds he managed to inflict. Meanwhile, the troll¡¯s blows did far less damage with each attack, so, even though they hit each other a similar number of times, the impression was that Zeke was winning the fight. He wasn¡¯t. And he knew it. The troll was at least his equal in terms of technique, and if he was honest, probably his superior. Yet, Zeke refused to give in, and so, he continued to fight. Slowly, he sank into an almost meditative trance, though there was nothing peaceful about it. Instead, even as he hammered the troll ¨C and received plenty of attacks in turn ¨C he began to truly look at his technique. At his combat philosophy. At his very nature. And what he found was disappointing. He knew he¡¯d never be a cold-hearted technician. His personality simply wouldn¡¯t allow for it. But he knew he could be better. He needed to be, or his goals would become entirely unachievable. So, he focused, tapping into his Will in an entirely different way. He didn¡¯t care to bring out more destructive power, and he wasn¡¯t looking to enhance his skillcrafting abilities. No ¨C he wanted to home in on another piece of the puzzle that had become his Path of Arcane Destruction. Once, his martial path had focused on blunt-weapon combat. He¡¯d discovered it against the warlord that reminded him so much of his current opponent. And now, he wanted to experience a similar revelation. He didn¡¯t think it would change his path. That seemed to be set in stone. But what he did believe was that he could isolate and focus on the parts that comprised his current Path of Arcane Destruction. He barely felt the incoming blows, even as they cut even deeper than ever before. Nor did he feel it when his own attacks landed upon the regenerating troll. Instead, his entire mind was focused on the task at hand, on becoming the most technically proficient warrior he could be. Then, after some indeterminate amount of time ¨C it could have been hours or days, for all he knew ¨C everything clicked into place. He didn¡¯t receive a notification, because it wasn¡¯t something quantified by the Framework. It was something deeper inside him. A primal understanding of himself, his hammer, and, most importantly, of battle. His eyes snapped to his opponent, and he smiled. Then, Zeke brought his newfound focus to bear. 549. Battle Intent The air surrounding Zeke rippled, but not with mana. Nor was it his Will making itself known. It was something else, something for which he had no label. Whatever it was, though, he couldn¡¯t deny its profundity. Every ripple brought with it understanding. With every passing second, the world came further into focus, and he could see the battle so much more clearly. ¡°Battle intent,¡± Eveline said, her mental voice low and filled with awe. Zeke barely heard her. Gripped by his newfound understanding, Zeke only saw his foe. The troll took a step back, recognizing that something had changed. He made to speak, but before the words came out, Zeke took a step forward and rejoined the battle. He was no stranger to fighting. Indeed, ever since the very beginning, Zeke had been going from one battle to the next with very little in between. It was how he moved forward, so much so that it had once been quantified in his very status. The Framework had acknowledged his nature with his old martial path, which, even if it had been combined with Runecrafting to become the Path of Arcane Destruciton, still affected him greatly. Yet, in all of his innumerable battles, Zeke had never felt such clarity of purpose. He¡¯d never been beset by such efficiency of motion. That single step echoed in his mind, placed perfectly to maintain his balance so that he could attack or defend as the situation dictated. But it was more than that. Even just looking at the troll, who seemed on the verge of panic, Zeke could intuit the enemy¡¯s actions. Even before the hulking monster swung his great axe at Zeke, he knew it was coming. He ducked before the motion even began, then launched a counterattack. The troll, unbalanced by the blow it had attempted to levy in Zeke¡¯s direction, couldn¡¯t avoid the hammer coming his way. It slammed into him, crushing its dense bones with a single attack. The troll staggered backward, clutching his wounded chest. ¡°What¡­¡± The blow had been far from lethal, and even as the troll muttered that single word, his chest began to mend. But that was fine. Zeke could feel the advantage. He could practically taste the shift in momentum. He¡¯d been fighting the troll for so long that he knew precisely how much danger it represented, and with that knowledge in hand, he could easily see the impending outcome. All of that, from a single attack. Zeke felt powerful. Nearly invincible, like he¡¯d suddenly become a god of war. With that heady sensation tingling through his body, Zeke took another step forward. The troll flinched away, but Zeke was more interested in the monster¡¯s wound. It wasn¡¯t healing nearly as quickly. In fact, the troll looked like it was under enormous pressure. Its movements seemed sluggish, and its eyes bulged, red-veined and quivering. ¡°It¡¯s battle intent,¡± Eveline repeated. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard stories about it. I didn¡¯t believe it was real.¡± Zeke hefted his hammer and aimed a feint at the troll. The monster responded just as Zeke predicted, raising its axe to block. But Zeke aborted his attack, then snapped out a front kick that shattered the monster¡¯s knee. A second later, he followed it up with a furious onslaught. Taken by surprise, the troll overlord couldn¡¯t stem the turning tide, and with every attack, it fell further behind. For his part, Zeke felt like his attacks were crisper and more controlled than ever. Yet, they¡¯d lost none of their strength of savagery. Zeke didn¡¯t gain any more attributes. Nor did he use any skills. But the difference was so dramatic that, suddenly, the fight that had been a stalemate only a few moments before, seemed entirely trivial. Not that the troll overlord didn¡¯t still pose a significant threat. He could still kill Zeek if he made any mistakes. Yet, Zeke knew that wasn¡¯t going to happen. He could read the flow of battle in a way that would have been impossible only a few minutes before. And the results were predictable. Gradually, Zeke¡¯s hammer found the troll¡¯s flesh, over and over again. He broke bones. The sheer force behind his attacks split blue flesh, and within a minute, the overlord was on his last legs. Zeke took advantage of his enemy¡¯s flagging strength and finally ended the fight with an overhand blow that completely crushed the monster¡¯s skull. The troll fell, collapsing bonelessly to the ground, but the once formidable creature didn¡¯t immediately die. Instead, it took another three attacks ¨C all in the space of a second ¨C before Zeke felt an influx of kill energy. It took another few moments before his intense focus faded, and his body sagged. His breath came in ragged gasps as he blinked, then looked around. The battlefield looked much as it had at the beginning of the fight, and a carpet of blue bodies decorated the valley¡¯s floor. In the distance, he saw his companions, each one staring at him in awe. ¡°What was that?¡± he managed to ask Eveline. ¡°I told you.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I¡­I wasn¡¯t¡­I heard you. I just¡­¡± ¡°Developing battle intent is only possible for the greatest and most experienced warriors. In martial circles, it is spoken of with intense reverence, and most people ¨C even the ones who seek it ¨C don¡¯t truly believe it¡¯s real,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°But what is it? I felt¡­invincible.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s a culmination of all you¡¯ve learned as a warrior.¡± Zeke checked his status, but he didn¡¯t see anything there. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t. This isn¡¯t a Framework thing,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°This is something much older. It existed even in my old world. There were stories about warriors who developed it.¡± Zeke found himself nodding. Even on Earth, there were athletes who were capable of exceeding their normal physical abilities through sheer experience and focus. In certain situations, they could push further than ever before. So, it wasn¡¯t that surprising that something similar might exist for warriors. ¡°It¡¯s focus,¡± Eveline said. ¡°And adrenaline. Experience. The source isn¡¯t important, but it is the pinnacle of martial achievement. I suspect that if you hadn¡¯t already developed a martial path, the Framework would have recognized one after that fight.¡± Zeke let [Titan] fade, then ran his hand through his sweaty hair. Was that what had happened during his battle against the warlord back in the troll caves? That was when he¡¯d gotten his first martial path, and he¡¯d experienced some level of insight back then. However, it was nothing compared to what he¡¯d just felt. Then again, he¡¯d fought in countless battles since then, so maybe it made sense. Whatever the case, Zeke quickly saw the benefits. It wasn¡¯t often that he chose to fight without using skills, but if he ever found himself without access to abilities like [Unleash Momentum] or [Titan¡¯s Smash], he would now be capable of holding his own. Just as he was wrapping his mind around the concept of battle intent, the others joined him. Adara was the first to speak, asking, ¡°What was that? You two were evenly matched for almost an hour¡¯s worth of fighting. Then, you just ended it. Were you holding back the whole time?¡± Zeke shook his head, then explained what had happened. Apparently, Adara had heard of battle intent as well, but she¡¯d never considered the concept a real possibility. ¡°It¡¯s a myth meant to push warriors to use better technique,¡± she said. ¡°Instead of just relying on skills.¡± ¡°Well, it seems pretty real to me,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Ak-toh is unlike anyone else,¡± Silik said. ¡°He makes the impossible ordinary.¡± ¡°Eloquent as always,¡± Adara said with a roll of her eyes. She and the kobold general had gotten along famously from the very beginning. ¡°I¡¯m just saying that most people don¡¯t think of battle intent as anything but a legend.¡± ¡°You must develop this further,¡± Pudge stated. Zeke agreed with that assessment. The only problem was that there weren¡¯t any enemies left. They¡¯d completed the dungeon, as made abundantly clear when they saw the exit gate just behind where Zeke had fought the troll overlord. But unlike previous dungeons, there was a chest standing in front of it. It reminded Zeke of the ones he¡¯d received for completing quests in the past, though it had been quite some time since he¡¯d experienced that kind of boon. ¡°It¡¯s a one-time dungeon,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t like the other dungeons you¡¯ve completed,¡± she answered. ¡°Those can be repeated. Some, like the centaur trial or the one Pudge completed can be run a single time by each person. However, they will still be available to others. Wild dungeons are sometimes different, and they can only be completed a single time. This dungeon will disappear the moment this group exits.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Zeke muttered aloud. Then, he explained it to the rest of the group. After that, he asked Eveline, ¡°And the chest?¡± ¡°Your reward. Think of it like completing a unique quest. No one else will be able to get this reward,¡± she said. ¡°Sometimes, they¡¯re extremely valuable.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zeke said. In truth, he¡¯d wondered why he¡¯d not gotten a quest when entering the dungeon, but now it seemed that he had his answer. ¡°I guess we should see what we got, then.¡± With that, he headed up the slope until he reached the chest. Once there, he reached down and popped open the lid to reveal a small glass globe. Inside was what appeared to be a whirlwind. The second he touched it, he received a notification: Congratulations. You have attained the Frozen Gale, satisfying one criterion of your quest, Multiple Attunements. In addition, Zeke felt dense and destructive attuned mana rushing all around the globe. It eroded his hand, ripping the skin from his flesh and peeling muscle down to the bone. He pushed it into his spatial storage, then used [Hand of Divinity] to heal the damage. ¡°Damn, that hurt,¡± he muttered. ¡°You think?¡± Adara said with a shake of her head. ¡°You just had your hand scoured to the bone, and you act as if you were stung by a bee.¡± ¡°I mean¡­it definitely hurt more than a bee sting,¡± he said. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t know it by your reaction.¡± ¡°I fought bees once,¡± Pudge said suddenly. ¡°Their stings were very painful.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they were, buddy.¡± ¡°What was it?¡± asked Adara. ¡°Not the bees. The globe.¡± ¡°Called the Frozen Gale. It¡­I think it¡¯s a natural treasure,¡± he said. ¡°It satisfied the terms of a quest. The only question is if it¡¯s strong enough.¡± Eveline appeared beside him, saying, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s definitely strong enough. With your endurance, anything that can damage you so quickly is very powerful. Check your quest, though.¡± Zeke did, and he saw: Quest: Multiple Attunements Objective: Gather natural treasures representing the nine major classifications of mana. Progress: Indeed, the requirement for Wind had been satisfied. Now, all he needed were Disease, Arcane, and Fire natural treasures in order to complete the quest. ¡°And Faith,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Corruption as well.¡± ¡°Right. And I still don¡¯t even know where I might find either,¡± he said. Or the rest of them, if he was honest. Regardless, completion of the quest was not his first priority. If it happened, he would be happy that he could help the kobolds progress more easily, but if not, he felt they would be fine. Whatever the case, now that they had gotten their reward, Zeke and his companions stepped out of the gate and back into the Muk¡¯ti Plains. The moment they rematerialized in the real world, the gate collapsed in on itself and disappeared. ¡°Well, that sucks,¡± Zeke said with a shake of his head. He¡¯d hoped to farm the dungeon for kill energy, both for himself and for his army, but now that was impossible. But that was fine. They had an entire empire of enemies waiting for them in the Imperium, and it was high time they took the fight to the Radiant Host. 551. Advancing Into the Imperium The forest was still. There were no rustling leaves, no chirping birds or chittering insects. It was entirely silent, but for Zeke¡¯s heavy footsteps. Following a few miles behind was a troop of kobolds and his more capable companions, but the rest of the kobold army remained in the tower. They were ready to respond should the need arise, but Zeke hoped such a need would not come to pass. For now, he moved alone, and for one simple reason: a single man could move far more quickly than even the most efficient army. On top of that, he could skate by unseen, while his army would surely draw plenty of attention. Already, he¡¯d been forced to skirt large colonies of monsters ¨C a giant anthill, a river full of horned, hippopotamus-like creatures, and a warren of goblins ¨C and he¡¯d managed to avoid a fight each time. If he¡¯d brought his army along, that would not have been possible. Normally, he¡¯d have welcomed the challenge and opportunity to train his troops. There had been a lot of monsters along the way, and that would have given his army a great boost in levels. However, with how close they were to Imperium territory, stealth ¨C relatively speaking ¨C was far more important than a little kill energy. He did mark them on his map, though, and once he¡¯d completed his task of destroying the Imperium, he had every intention of revisiting the large colonies of monsters. After all, his success didn¡¯t only depend on his power. The army had proven its usefulness time and time again, and he expected that would remain the case even after he descended the Pit and passed into the next realm. ¡°You say that like it¡¯ll be a walk in the park,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I don¡¯t think that.¡± ¡°You literally do,¡± she pointed out. ¡°I can read your mind, remember?¡± ¡°You said you only get impressions of ¨C¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be na?ve. I know everything you¡¯re thinking. And I can tell that you¡¯re not taking the Pit seriously,¡± she said. ¡°You really, really should. Most demons who try to descend never make it to the other side. Truly, most never even make it to the Pit at all.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked inwardly. ¡°Hell is not like Heaven.¡± ¡°Yeah. I know. I¡¯ve been there.¡± ¡°Not like this,¡± she said. ¡°You visited a lower realm and an isolated portion of Mal¡¯canus. It¡¯s akin to looking around a secluded forest and thinking you know what it¡¯s like in a big city. That is to say that you have no idea what¡¯s in store. Hell has its own culture. A unique society, powerful armies, and plenty of strong figures who would like nothing more than to kill someone like you. And none of them want to allow anyone to descend to the next circle. In a lot of ways, that situation mirrors what you¡¯ve seen here.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It means that there are gods in Hell just like there are in Heaven. You have deities like the Sun Goddess and your dwarven druid patron. We have archdemons like Oda and the Devourer. Seven demon nations, each with their own patron,¡± she explained. ¡°Some are willing to work with the others, but most would just as easily choose to destroy everything.¡± ¡°Including me, I assume.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You more than most, because you look so¡­well, you¡¯re obviously not a demon.¡± ¡°Half-demon.¡± ¡°Technically, maybe. But you didn¡¯t go through what they went through,¡± she countered. Before Zeke could argue, she went on, ¡°Oh, you went through a bit of torture, and I¡¯m sure it was just terrible. But all the demons on the other side had to endure everything you did and much, much more. They¡¯ll look at you like you¡¯re a tourist.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll target you. Test you. And they¡¯ll certainly attempt to destroy you,¡± she said. ¡°And around the Pit is where you¡¯ll find the most powerful among them. Just getting to the point of descent will tax you like nothing else. By the time you reach the Pit, you¡¯ll have killed enough of them to be a true demon lord.¡± Zeke pondered her words. He felt confident in fighting just about any foe ¨C especially with his newfound battle intent, which he still only vaguely understood ¨C but he wasn¡¯t so na?ve as to believe that he was invincible. The recent encounter with the Sun Goddess and nearly dying to the necromantic vessel had proven the error in that way of thinking. ¡°Nearly dying? Ezekiel, you did die. You were just too stubborn to cross over.¡± He frowned, but he didn¡¯t dispute her assessment. Instead, Zeke continued on, passing through the hilly region. He¡¯d left the Muk¡¯ti Plains behind almost a week before, and after crossing a forest, he¡¯d encountered some low foothills that, according to his map, abutted the mountains that acted as a natural barrier for the Imperium¡¯s border. From what he¡¯d seen, those mountains were infested with high-level monsters that the Radiant Host allowed to exist because they helped guard their borders. Zeke fully expected to be forced to fight his way through, but so long as he didn¡¯t make too much of a ruckus, he would be able to sneak his army ¨C still in the tower ¨C into the Imperium where they would wreak havoc on the Radiant Host. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. That was the biggest advantage of the Crimson Tower. With it, he didn¡¯t need to move his army via conventional means. One man could move far more quickly and much more quietly than an army. On top of that, he didn¡¯t need to worry about supply lines stretching out for miles. Once, Zeke had read that the Romans were capable of maintaining their empire at least in part due to the presence of their extensive system of roads. With them, they could move their armies and supplies efficiently and quickly, which allowed them to respond to any threats extremely rapidly. Zeke hoped to exploit that same strategy, though to a far more extensive degree. But first, he needed to pass through the foothills, cross the mountains, and get the lay of the land on the other side. So, even as Eveline continued to extoll the virtues ¨C or lack thereof ¨C of demon society, he climbed and descended one hill after another. For miles, he trotted across the landscape, and the days passed, one after another until, a week later, he reached the base of a truly imposing mountain range. Zeke had never seen the Himalayas back on Earth. Indeed, at the time of his death, he¡¯d never even visited a real mountain in person. But after seeing other mountain ranges both in the Mortal Realm and since ascending to the Eternal Realm, he¡¯d thought he understood the scale of such landmarks. The range before him skewed that perception, though. It was larger even than the mountains above Min Ferilik, and not by a small degree. ¡°How high do you think the peak is?¡± he asked inwardly. ¡°According to the briefing you barely paid attention to ¨C¡± ¡°I was paying attention!¡± ¡°You really weren¡¯t, or you would know that the highest peak of this mountain range ¨C which is called the Daggers of Heaven, by the way ¨C is around four-hundred miles high. If I¡¯m reading your memories correctly, then that would put it outside your original planet¡¯s atmosphere,¡± she said. ¡°Of course, this planet is much larger than that, so the scale is a bit different. There¡¯s also the chance that you remember those lessons incorrectly, in which case, I can¡¯t be blamed for any errors.¡± ¡°How in the world do you know all of that? I don¡¯t even remember it,¡± Zeke said. Indeed, most of his school years were a bit of a blur. He remembered the gist of things, but specifics eluded him. ¡°You remember it well enough. You¡¯re just incapable of accessing those memories properly. You humans barely use the power of your own minds,¡± she said. ¡°I know how to, so it¡¯s no great difficulty delving into your memories and acquiring the appropriate information.¡± Zeke sighed, then shook his head. ¡°Whatever.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. Humans are just¡­deficient.¡± ¡°Yeah, no ¨C I understood what you were saying.¡± ¡°And now you¡¯re angry.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he started climbing. It quickly became apparent that he was going to need to find a pass if he wanted to expedite the process, so he waited for the others to catch up, then summoned his gate. After that, he sent the rangers ¨C including the Inashi ¨C out to scout a proper path through the mountains. While they did that, Zeke enjoyed a meal with Adara, followed by some alone time. And after a few hours, he was glad to find that the kobold rangers had been successful. So, armed with a detailed map, he shifted into his titanic form and headed to the designated route. It was the easiest way through, but that didn¡¯t mean it was without difficulty. Not only was he forced to climb more than one steep cliff, but the pass only cut the journey down by a hundred miles of elevation. That still meant that the way through was like climbing a dozen Mount Everests, but with the added danger of having to battle dangerous monsters along the way. There were yetis, ice goblins, ice wolves, and a few elementals, but that was only the beginning. There were dozens of other creatures that defied description. Via [Inspect], he had no difficulty identifying them, but the labels were esoteric enough that even that was insufficient. Regardless, none of them could rightly stand up to Zeke, so he had no issues traversing the mountain range. Or at least that was true right up until he crested a peak and looked down on a snow-covered valley. ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°I concur,¡± Eveline said. Instinctively, Zeke crouched, which was probably an odd sight, given that he was in the form of a thirty-foot-tall metal titan. Yet, as silly as the move might have been, Zeke felt it was warranted, given what he saw in that valley. There were three creatures down there, which wouldn¡¯t have seemed like bad odds if they all weren¡¯t the size of skyscrapers. The monsters were enormous, composed of sharp rocks, and bipedal. Covered in ice, they all looked like they were moving in slow motion, but Zeke knew that was a trick of perception. The things were just so large that their movements seemed much slower than they really were. And they were in the middle of a three-way battle that sent enormous shockwaves for miles in every direction. Every couple of seconds, the sound of huge rocks slamming against one another assaulted Zeke¡¯s ears, making it difficult to think, much less hear anything around him. Otherwise, the entire area was devoid of life, which wasn¡¯t surprising, given the sheer destruction caused by the herculean struggle. ¡°No,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do not go fight them,¡± she said. ¡°I¡­I wasn¡¯t¡­¡± He¡¯d been planning to do just that. With the isolated nature of the area, he could truly let loose without any chance of hurting innocent people. After all, if he¡¯d judged it correctly, he was currently more than a hundred miles above sea level, so the chances of there being a settlement nearby were pretty slim. ¡°Those things will squish you!¡± Eveline shouted in his mind. ¡°Probably not. I¡¯m pretty durable.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be just like the necromantic vessel.¡± Zeke had reason to believe otherwise. After all, those things down there were clearly attuned to earth mana. Maybe ice, too, but definitely the former. And so was he, which he expected would give him an advantage. And besides, if he didn¡¯t tempt death from time to time, there was no chance he was going to advance enough to descend into the Pit. He needed to keep pushing forward. ¡°That¡¯s not how most people do it!¡± Eveline insisted. ¡°They don¡¯t go around challenging mountain-sized monsters to a fight, and if they did, they wouldn¡¯t do so alone! This is suicidal, Ezekiel. Do you have a death wish? Didn¡¯t the last time teach you that you¡¯re not immortal?¡± The stress in her voice ¨C mental though it was ¨C raised some alarms in Zeke¡¯s mind. Suddenly, he realized how frightening his experience with the necromantic must have been for her. Had she briefly died as well? Or had she simply been put in limbo? Or worse? ¡°I¡¯ve been a bad friend, haven¡¯t I?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you want to ¨C¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to talk about my feelings! I just don¡¯t want you to pick a fight with a trio of walking mountains!¡± ¡°Oh. Well, I¡¯m still gonna.¡± ¡°Of course you are,¡± she muttered. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful. Ish.¡± ¡°That is extremely reassuring.¡± ¡°I thought so.¡± ¡°Ugh. You¡¯re so¡­just ugh.¡± ¡°Very articulate. Any advice? You know about fighting walking mountains?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Don¡¯t get squished.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Fine. Be that way. Good talk.¡± Then, without further conversation, he leaped from his perch, slid down the corresponding slope, and launched himself at the closest creature. Just before he reached the thing, he used [Inspect]: Mountain Elemental ¨C Level 100 ¡°Oh. This might have been a mistake,¡± he breathed before he reached his destination. 552. Mountain Elementals Predictably, the mountain elemental hit quite hard. It swatted Zeke out of the air with barely a thought, and he went flying across the valley for more than a mile before hitting a vertical cliff. He shattered its surface, digging a crater almost ten yards deep before finally coming to a rest. ¡°Ouch,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°That¡¯s what you get,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Not helpful,¡± Zeke growled, climbing out of the crater and tumbling to the ground thirty feet down. The blow hadn¡¯t truly hurt, and it had done much less damage than might be expected. Even that had been healed by a quick pulse of [Hand of Divinity]. Yet, the sheer disdain with which it had dealt with him was more than a little insulting. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± ¡°What? I don¡¯t ¨C¡± ¡°I can read your mind. Don¡¯t do what I know you¡¯re thinking of doing,¡± Eveline persisted. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of the repercussions. That¡¯s normal for you, but in this case, I think you should try something different and think of the consequences before they smack you in the face. Don¡¯t use [Wrath of Annihilation].¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to.¡± ¡°You definitely were,¡± she said. Zeke gritted his teeth, largely because she was right. He¡¯d already begun to funnel mana into the corresponding rune, the flow of which he cut the moment Eveline had spoken. However, in his defense, it made perfect sense. The mountain elementals were incredibly strong, even in the context of being at the peak of the realm. It was only proper that he should hit them with his best shot. Yet, he knew the dangers of using [Wrath of Annihilation] as well as she did, and the last thing he wanted was to spend weeks in recovery just because he¡¯d picked the wrong fight. ¡°You¡¯re giving up?¡± ¡°What? God, no. I¡¯m just attacking from a different angle.¡± Eveline gave a mental shake of her head. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°You remember the cyclops?¡± he asked. ¡°How could I forget?¡± ¡°Well, elementals don¡¯t have brains, right? But they do have cores. And destroying those cores will kill the monsters. So, the way I see it is that I need to dig my way into their chests, then use something like [Unleash Momentum] or [Titan¡¯s Smash] to break it,¡± he reasoned. ¡°Simple, right?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean it will be easy. Are you even sure their cores are in their chests?¡± she asked. ¡°And unless you forgot, those things are the size of literal mountains. Getting to the cores is going to be¡­¡± ¡°Difficult?¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m still going to give it a try,¡± Zeke said, already trotting forward. ¡°And don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± ¡°I am an ephemeral mind spirit. I don¡¯t have expressions.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. The second part, I mean,¡± Zeke said, leaping as high as possible. This time, he didn¡¯t announce his impending arrival with a shout, which meant that he hit the creature¡¯s chest without having to worry about taking a backhand for his trouble. Then, after latching onto the craggy surface, he brought his hammer to bear, slamming it into the creature¡¯s chest. On his backswing, he said, ¡°You¡¯re doing it again. Thinking at me angrily. C¡¯mon. This¡¯ll be fun. You¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Fun, he says,¡± she mentally mumbled. Zeke once again swung his hammer, and the resulting web of cracks was more than a little disappointing. He swung again, and this time, a few pieces came free. Yet, he knew it would be the work of hours to dig a path through the dense stone that comprised the mountain elemental. Oddly, the creature completely ignored his efforts, almost as if Zeke was beneath its notice. Or like it couldn¡¯t feel the blows. Both explanations sent a thread of rage wrapping around Zeke¡¯s mind. He¡¯d already become one of the most powerful people in the Eternal Realm, and he would not be ignored. So, he used [Titan¡¯s Smash], which acted as a force multiplier for his attacks. The skill hit with an enormous crash. This time, his efforts carved a deep crevice in the monster¡¯s torso, and even though it was barely more than a scratch, considering the thing¡¯s size, Zeke was more than happy with the results. So, he did it again. And again after that. Over and over, he poured mana into the skill. Fortunately, [Titan¡¯s Smash] was a repeatable attack, and though the mana requirement was high, Zeke¡¯s attributes were inflated enough that he could easily deal with the burden. As a result, he quickly dug a deep crater in the creature¡¯s rocky body that it simply could not ignore. The response was not what Zeke expected, though. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Even as he stood in the center of the crater he¡¯d dug, spears of rock erupted all around him. One hit him hard enough to send him spinning around, while another impaled him on the sharp point. Still another hit him in the shoulder, and finally, one clipped his head. He pulsed [Hand of Divinity], healing himself as he continued his assault. Because if there was one thing Zeke knew about himself, it was that he could endure all sorts of agonizing attacks. He¡¯d done so since the very beginning of his journey through his second life, and he didn¡¯t think that would change anytime soon. Besides, he had tools to deal with it. Not only was he equipped with the pain resistance of a demon, but he could also easily and quickly repair any damage done to him. He wasn¡¯t indestructible ¨C far from it, in fact ¨C but he could endure far more than most, which he¡¯d proven on so many occasions that he¡¯d lost count. So, Zeke bent his willpower to the task, and gradually, he ripped through the mountain elemental¡¯s rocky body. With instincts born of his newly discovered Battle Intent, he knew precisely where to hit in order to wreak the most havoc. Over and over, he slammed his hammer into the rocky flesh of the mountain elemental. At first, it was slow going, but with every swing of his hammer, Zeke picked up speed until he was going through it like a jackhammer through concrete. Even so, the creature was the size of a small mountain, meaning that regardless of his pace, he had a long road ahead of him. Zeke sank deep into a workmanlike trance, every ounce of focus on the task before him. At some point, the rocky spears redoubled their efforts, but he hardly noticed it. He didn¡¯t even respond to the attacks, largely because he knew they couldn¡¯t truly injure him. Knowing that, he refused to be denied. Long minutes stretched into more than an hour, and he was reminded of his efforts digging through the cyclops¡¯ skull. However, in this instance, the dungeon wasn¡¯t working against him to artificially lengthen the process, so instead of digging for weeks, he only had to keep going for a few hours before he finally arrived at his destination. The core pulsed with dense mana that was so powerful that it felt like it could strip Zeke¡¯s flesh from his bones. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what it¡¯s doing,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°You¡¯re just too focused to recognize how much you¡¯re using [Hand of Divinity] to heal yourself.¡± Zeke blinked, then looked down at his hand. Every passing second saw a little of his metallic flesh melting away. Unconsciously, he used [Hand of Divinity] to repair the damage before the whole thing repeated. ¡°Damn,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°How much energy does this contain?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the core of a peak elemental,¡± she said. ¡°You do the math.¡± ¡°Math was never ¨C¡± ¡°A lot, Ezekiel. An awful lot.¡± For a few more moments, he watched his hand melting, then rebuilding, before he finally decided to do what he¡¯d come to do. So, without further hesitation, he said, ¡°This is definitely going to hurt.¡± Then, he reared back and swung his hammer. It hit the core with enough force to level a small hill, and yet, the pulsing yellow core remained completely unblemished. So, he hit it again, but this time, he used [Titan¡¯s Smash]. However, even that had no more of an effect, aside from clearing a little of the surrounding rock away. He frowned, then switched gears. Channeling a wisp of his Will into [Titan¡¯s Smash], he swung again. And it exploded. One moment, Zeke was swinging his hammer, and the next, he was flying across the valley as thousands of shards of rock buried themselves in his body. He hit the ground, then tumbled along for a few hundred yards before his momentum was spent. However, when he looked up, he saw something quite troubling. Hovering over the battlefield was a roiling yellow mass of pure earth-attuned mana. He¡¯d freed the energy from its confinement within the core, but that increasingly looked like it had been quite a bad idea. ¡°If only someone would have warned you¡­¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m just saying. If ¨C¡± ¡°Point taken, Eveline. Now what am I looking at?¡± he asked, staring at the storm of earth-attuned mana. Before the mind spirit could answer, it exploded, and Zeke was buffeted by a powerful shockwave. He maintained his footing, though, so he had a perfect view of what followed. Yellow light streaked across the valley, slamming into the boulders strewn across the area. Then, the rocks ¨C big and small alike ¨C started moving. A second later, they were rolling into clumps, and before Zeke could react, a thousand earth elementals were born. And [Inspect] told him that each one was at the pinnacle of the realm. Earth Elemental ¨C Level 100 ¡°What the¡­¡± Zeke didn¡¯t have time to finish his exclamation, because a huge, rocky fist slammed into him a second later. He staggered beneath the blow, his body dented and cracked. Then, another hit him. And another after that. Over and over, he was battered with enough force that he had difficulty getting his bearings. Then, finally, he¡¯d had enough. There wasn¡¯t enough room to swing his hammer, so he lashed out with his fist, imbuing it with [Titan¡¯s Smash]. It hit with characteristic strength, sending one of the earth elementals flying. The thing was the size of a suburban house and made entirely of rock, which meant that it weighed hundreds of tons. So, when it hit the ground a few seconds later, it did so with the force of a fallen meteor. After that, Zeke laid into the other earth elementals surrounding him. There were dozens of them, and that was nothing compared to what he saw across the valley. To him, what had happened was clear. Upon shattering the mountain elemental¡¯s core, that energy had been unleashed into the surrounding area, infusing all of the rocks with enough energy to become animate. In short, he had traded one enormous enemy for countless smaller ones. And that wasn¡¯t even considering that he still had two other mountain elementals to deal with. ¡°You might have been right,¡± he said to Eveline once he¡¯d gotten a little space. ¡°This time. Don¡¯t let it go to your head, though.¡± ¡°Never,¡± she said, giving the impression of a slight smirk. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°What do you think? I¡¯m going to smash all of these things to bits, then repeat the process until everything is dead.¡± ¡°Such an eloquent, well-considered plan,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You have a better idea?¡± ¡°My better idea was to not fight them in the first place,¡± she pointed out. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be worth the trouble. The amount of kill energy you stand to gain is miniscule compared to if you fought hordes of lower-leveled enemies.¡± Zeke knew she was right. While he enjoyed getting huge chunks of kill energy from defeating higher-level foes, it wasn¡¯t nearly as efficient as fighting many weaker enemies. However, engaging with more powerful opponents was far more satisfying. Without further consideration, Zeke put his plan ¨C simple though it was ¨C into action and began carving his way across the valley. Though they were the same level as the mountain elementals, the smaller earth elementals were much weaker and far less durable. Still, because of their attunement, they were still tough nuts to crack. So, Zeke knew the battle would not be short-lived. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s worse than that, Ezekiel. You¡¯re probably going to have to repeat the process with both of the other mountain elementals,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Good luck.¡± 553. At First Glance ¡°At the risk of stating the obvious, you could have just drained the earth attuned mana,¡± said Eveline. ¡°That would have weakened them enough that ¨C¡± Panting, Zeke rested his hammer on the ground. ¡°I know that. I didn¡¯t want to do that.¡± ¡°You¡¯d rather spend three days whacking them with a hammer?¡± she asked. Zeke frowned. It wasn¡¯t as if he had forgotten his own nature. So long as he was attuned to a certain type of mana, he could manipulate it at least enough to drain it into his own stores. However, the whole point of the fight hadn¡¯t been to take the easiest road. It wasn¡¯t training ¨C not specifically ¨C but fighting the mountain elementals had been a way to test himself against long odds. ¡°That¡¯s the stupidest thing I¡¯ve ever seen. And I¡¯ve been in your head for years now, so that¡¯s saying something,¡± Eveline said the moment the thought had crossed his mind. ¡°If you keep doing this, you¡¯re going to end up biting off more than you can chew. You do realize that, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I was keeping the ability to drain them in my back pocket,¡± Zeke said. ¡°If it got to be too difficult, I would have used it.¡± ¡°And what if they killed you too quickly for you to respond?¡± she asked. ¡°They didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Because the things were barely more intelligent than beasts. If something with that level of power and the brains of an actual person were to fight you, you¡¯d be in real trouble,¡± Eveline countered. ¡°I don¡¯t know if something like that exists. If I fought the necromantic vessel right now, I think I could kill it without using [Wrath of Annihilation].¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself. You¡¯d get squashed, same as last time,¡± Eveline said. Zeke didn¡¯t see the point in arguing with her. Not to mention that, after three days of battle, he was incredibly tired. Not physically, but a film of weariness clung to his mind. That was how thing worked, now that his attributes had gotten so inflated. He could fight almost indefinitely, but his mind, while enhanced, was still that of a human. And a person could only focus for so long before things started to blur together. ¡°You don¡¯t ¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it, Eveline. You¡¯ve said what you wanted to say, so just drop it,¡± he said with a weary sigh. ¡°Fine.¡± Then, she retreated into his mind, quarantining herself in her own corner. Zeke could tear down the walls she erected, but he didn¡¯t mind giving her a little privacy. Even if she didn¡¯t really respect his own. ¡°I heard that,¡± Eveline¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. ¡°Wasn¡¯t hiding it,¡± he muttered. Then, he looked around the battlefield. It looked like someone had dumped hundreds of tons of gravel in the valley. In some places, the rocks had been piled high enough to resemble dunes, but in others, there was nothing but bare earth. It was difficult to look at those and remember the massive mountain elementals, and if he¡¯d just stumbled upon the site, he might not have. However, he¡¯d smashed those things to bits himself, often with his bare hands, so he knew precisely what each pile represented. Unfortunately, nothing useful remained of the elementals. He¡¯d destroyed the cores, and what mana they¡¯d contained had been used to animate the broken shards. So, all that was left were those piles of mundane gravel. Seeing that, Zeke took one last look around before crossing the valley and continuing on his way. After two more days, he summoned his gate and returned to his manor to rest for a while. As he did, the kobold rangers fanned out, searching the area and directing hunting parties to powerful creatures. Like that, a few more days passed, and the kobolds swept through the surrounding area, killing anything dangerous and gaining a significant amount of experience. For his part, Zeke took that opportunity to rest and spend some time with Adara. But to his surprise, she was the one who cut it short, citing a need to tend to her own responsibilities within the army. Eveline made a few snide remarks about that, pointing out that everyone¡¯s lives didn¡¯t revolve around Zeke¡¯s whims. So, after a week of rest, Zeke left his manor and headed back into the mountains. The gate, he dismissed a day later, which he hoped gave the kobolds enough time to return to the tower. If not, they were more than capable of returning to the Muk¡¯ti Plains of their own volition. So, Zeke wasn¡¯t worried about them. ¡°So you keep telling yourself,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I think we both know that¡¯s not true, though.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond, but in his own mind, he could acknowledge that he couldn¡¯t keep his mind off of his people. They could flourish without him, he knew. They¡¯d proven that much. However, he still kept fussing over their well-being. It was more than just responsibility. ¡°It¡¯s love, Ezekiel. You love them. Maybe not each one individually, but as a whole. Like a parent.¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I¡­I guess,¡± Zeke admitted. It was such a strange concept. He usually thought of himself as quite young, but by that point, he was nearing thirty years old. If he¡¯d survived having his kidney removed, he might¡¯ve been married with children by this point. ¡°Is that what you want?¡± asked Eveline. Pulling himself to the top of a cliff, Zeke answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe one day. But with all of this¡­¡± ¡°Probably not.¡± ¡°Right,¡± he said. That was the cost of his chosen path. There were plenty of people in the Eternal Realm who¡¯d eschewed the pursuit of power above all else, instead settling into a family life. Sasha¡¯s father was like that. He was one of the strongest members of her beastkin village, but he seemed to put his family before the pursuit of strength. Could Zeke have ever chosen that route? ¡°I think we both know the answer to that question,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Someone who could make that choice isn¡¯t the kind of person who¡¯d challenge a bunch of mountain elementals to a fight,¡± she answered. That made a ton of sense, though Zeke still couldn¡¯t help but wonder about it. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not too late. You can abandon everything, take that half-orc girl, and make a bunch of battle-crazed babies,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That isn¡¯t what I was talking about.¡± ¡°Sure. But ¨C¡± ¡°Enough, Eveline. I don¡¯t want to discuss this anymore,¡± he said, striding forward. Thankfully, she let the conversation die out, and Zeke continued on in silence. Over the next few weeks, he experienced much of the same. From time to time, he was forced to fight the local wildlife, but nothing was nearly as powerful as the mountain elementals. Every couple of days, he¡¯d stop and spend some time in the tower while letting the kobolds explore the mountains. If he didn¡¯t have any goals, he might¡¯ve spent years ranging across the mountain range. There were plenty of monsters to fight, which would have made it a perfect place for his kobolds to level. And he felt certain that, if he searched for long enough, he could have found a few challenges for himself as well. Yet, the threat posed by the Imperium ¨C as well as his anger at what Shar Maelaine had done ¨C meant that he couldn¡¯t afford to tarry. So, while he didn¡¯t rush through the mountains, he didn¡¯t take too much longer than necessary to cross. And after two months, he finally started his descent into the Imperium. Another week, and Zeke finally left the mountains behind, exchanging those craggy peaks for verdant forest. The area reminded Zeke of the curated forests he saw in movies and television shows, rather than the dense woods where he grew up. The trees were spaced far apart, and the wildlife seemed almost friendly. It was such a jarring shift that Zeke couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had prompted it. ¡°This is civilization, Ezekiel. To date, you¡¯ve done nothing but trek through the wilderness. Did you truly think that everywhere was like those backwater towns you¡¯ve visited? The world couldn¡¯t have survived if that was the case,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°This place probably has teams of warriors who cull any monster that grows too powerful or aggressive. They have woodsmen who tend the forests and fighters who hunt those who disturb the peace. This is real civilization.¡± Zeke frowned, but it only took a moment for him to realize that she was right. Not about the civilization stuff ¨C that would remain to be seen. Rather, she was correct in her assertion that his experiences in the Eternal Realm had been woefully limited. He¡¯d seen a little of Adontis, but according to Adara, even the Knights themselves admitted it was a backwater. But the Imperium? That was different. And now that he was there, Zeke wanted to see just what sort of difference such civilization could make. So, it was with no small degree of eagerness that he continued through the forest, and a day later, he encountered a wide river. Knowing that such bodies of water typically led to towns and cities, Zeke followed it downstream until he finally found a stout stone bridge. Or more importantly, a road. In the mountains, he¡¯d mostly used his titanic form, but now that most of the danger had passed, Zeke had no problems assuming his natural shape. More importantly, he summoned his gate and asked Adara to accompany him as he made his way toward what he hoped would be a city. Only a day later, they encountered traffic. People driving mana-motivated carriages, on horses, or a few pulling handcarts dotted the wide road. Most of the residents of the Imperium took one look at Zeke and Adara and turned their noses up. At first, Zeke thought it was due to her unusual parentage ¨C after all, it had been an issue in Adontis ¨C but it quickly became apparent that the problem was that they were clearly outsiders. And if there was one thing that seemed common among the people of the Imperium, it was a widespread sense of superiority. The only reason they weren¡¯t accosted outright was because they were both clearly high level. Otherwise, Zeke had no doubts that they would¡¯ve been harassed until they left or were thrown into a prison. Perhaps even enslaved, given what he knew of the place. As he and Adara traveled along the road, he had to admit that the place was beautiful, though. Idyllic, even. If he hadn¡¯t known better, he would¡¯ve thought that he¡¯d stepped into a lavish period movie set during the Regency era. But there were signs of rot, as well. Every now and again, they¡¯d see slaves ¨C humans and beastkin alike ¨C tending to the orchards. Though those sights were rare, they still sent his rage to bubbling over. More than once, he nearly shifted into his titanic form so he could wreak havoc much as he had in Adontis. If Adara hadn¡¯t been there, he might have succumbed, but she acted as a calming force. It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t just as angry as he was. Rather, she had far more experience turning a blind eye to such injustice, so she was more than capable of maintaining her composure. Still, Zeke knew her well enough to recognize the anger simmering beneath the surface. Soon enough, it would erupt, and when it did, people would die. Even so, they managed to keep their rage bottled up long enough to reach the first major city. It was at least as large as Darukar back in El¡¯kireth, and it was absolutely stunning. With tall white spires, colorful flags, and knights in shining armor ¨C it was like a fairy tale world come to life. It was a shame, then, that Zeke fully intended on tearing it all down. When they approached the gates, Zeke asked the guard on duty, ¡°What¡¯s the name of this city? Is it the largest in the Imperium?¡± ¡°Oh, no. This is Moreth, the jewel of the east. We are one of the wealthiest cities in the Imperium, but our population is fairly low compared to some of the other cities,¡± he said. ¡°May I ask what your business is, then?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°No?¡± the man asked, swallowing hard. He¡¯d clearly seen Zeke¡¯s level, so he knew precisely how much danger he was in. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to have a look around. Adara?¡± Zeke asked, ignoring the guard as he stuck his arm out. Adara took it, and the pair strode inside, leaving a stunned guard behind. 554. Moreth If Zeke was honest, he would have said that he expected what had ended up happening. However, the reasons behind it were surprising. Walking through Moreth, he¡¯d been suitably impressed by the architecture. To date, he¡¯d had few chances to see truly awe-inspiring settlements, so the city was a nice change of pace. It almost felt like a date ¨C or a vacation ¨C as he and Adara gawked like tourists. For a while, it became difficult to remember that he was behind enemy lines. With its sweeping bridges, tall towers, and gleaming white stone, the city was beautiful, and in a way Zeke had never encountered. So, it was inevitable that it would be interrupted by bigotry. ¡°We don¡¯t serve her kind here,¡± spat a doughy baker as he crossed his arms over his prodigious gut. He wore a white apron, and his hands were white with flour. ¡°So go on, now. Get out of here, or I¡¯ll be forced to call the guards.¡± Zeke¡¯s knuckles whitened as his every muscle tensed. ¡°What did you just say?¡± he demanded. ¡°You heard me. Half-breeds aren¡¯t welcome here. And don¡¯t try to convince me she¡¯s not one. I can tell.¡± As Zeke tried to restrain his fury, Adara put a hand on his shoulder and said, ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± As she spoke, he heard a chorus of voices from behind him, each one whispering the same word. ¡°Half-breed,¡± they gasped, which only served to push his anger to a new level. ¡°It kind of feels like it would be worth it,¡± he said, resisting the urge to summon his hammer. The time for real violence might soon come, but for now, he could make do with his bare hands. After all, the baker was only level forty-three, which meant that Zeke could rip him apart with both hands tied behind his back. So could Adara, come to that. Which probably should have steered him toward restraint. But some people just didn¡¯t have much in the way of self-preservation instincts. ¡°Listen to your master, freak,¡± the baker spat. ¡°I¡¯m not ¨C¡± Adara¡¯s hand snapped out in a backhand that sent the rotund man flying backward. He hit the wall, and the shockwave rattled the shelves, knocking cooking implements and containers crashing to the ground. A pot even fell directly on the baker¡¯s head, though he was in no condition to notice it. He was too busy trying to hold his broken and dislocated jaw in place. He tried to say something, but all that came out of his mouth was a warbling mewling sound that Zeke couldn¡¯t quite interpret. For her part, Adara turned to a woman who was standing behind the counter, then said, ¡°I think we¡¯ll take two of those lemon pastries.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°You two are so compatible it¡¯s disgusting,¡± Eveline said in Zeke¡¯s mind, giving the impression that she¡¯d rolled her eyes. Zeke ignored her, glancing back as the other customers inside the bakery fled the scene. That probably should have been his first hint that things were about to go wrong. He¡¯d hoped to spend a couple of days scouting the city unnoticed, but it seemed that was out of the question. Not that he blamed Adara for her reaction. If she hadn¡¯t done it, he would have. ¡°I think we¡¯re going to have to cut this short,¡± he said. ¡°I expect the guards will be here soon.¡± ¡°I was hoping to visit that boutique across the street,¡± she said with an exaggerated pout. ¡°That is a weapon¡¯s shop, not a boutique.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Same difference. The weapons the kobolds make are nice, but they lack a certain artistry,¡± she said. ¡°They get the job done and all, but¡­well, sometimes, I want something that looks nice, too.¡± Zeke shook his head. He could certainly understand Adara¡¯s point, especially considering how long he¡¯d spent helping to build his armor back in Jariq. He¡¯d fussed over every detail, most of which were completely inconsequential to the efficacy of the final product. But he¡¯d wanted it to look a certain way, and he¡¯d been unwilling to compromise on his vision. Clearly, Adara was similarly motivated. ¡°How about this ¨C I¡¯ll find some raw materials, and we¡¯ll get with the best blacksmiths in the tower,¡± he suggested. ¡°Then, we¡¯ll both lend our help. You can oversee every detail until they get it perfect. We can make a project out of it.¡± To Zeke, it sounded a little like the time when his father had asked him to help restore an old pickup truck. At the time, he¡¯d been thrilled to accept the offer, but as was usually the case, his father had lost interest before the project even began. Still, the idea of creating something as a bonding experience loomed large in his mind. ¡°That sounds nice,¡± she said, grinning. The expression exposed her slightly sharp teeth, which was one of the only features that marked her diverse parentage. ¡°It¡¯s a date, then. I¡¯ll ¨C¡± Stolen story; please report. Before Zeke could complete the statement, someone flung the door open and strode in. The man was obviously strong ¨C probably early seventies ¨C though when Zeke tried to use [Inspect], he found nothing but question marks. Still, he was experienced enough to estimate someone¡¯s power level just by the way they moved. The man wore a blue tabard over lacquered white armor, with a longsword at his waist and a shield across his back. The effect would have been intimidating, but Zeke had long since passed the point where someone in his seventies could scare him. ¡°Be still,¡± the man said, holding out a hand. ¡°We have the area surrounded with a suppression ring. If you go quietly, you can get through this with a simple fine for letting your half-breed run amok. Your property will be confiscated, but you will be reimbursed for its value.¡± Zeke blinked. ¡°Property? You mean the clothes on my back?¡± he asked. Because of his spatial storage, Zeke never carried anything on his person. ¡°The half-breed battle slave.¡± ¡°Oh. Well, you¡¯ve got it all wrong,¡± Zeke said, stepping forward. He didn¡¯t do so with any urgency. ¡°Adara¡­I think we¡¯re going to have to take a rain check on shopping for materials. I hope you can forgive me.¡± ¡°I like this better,¡± she said. Zeke didn¡¯t need to look back to see the murderous gleam in her eye. He heard the rasp of a sword leaving its scabbard. Unlike Zeke, Adara didn¡¯t have a spatial storage, so she had to keep her weapons on her. ¡°I warn you ¨C this is a minor matter, but it will escalate if you allow your slave to ¨C¡± Zeke finally came within arm¡¯s reach of the man, who was clutching the hilt of his sword as he backed away. Without skipping a beat, he slammed his hand into the guard¡¯s throat, smashing him against the wall. ¡°First of all, she¡¯s not a slave. I don¡¯t believe in that kind of thing,¡± he said. ¡°Second, I don¡¯t allow her to do anything. She does what she wants. And right now, I think she wants to ram her sword up your ¨C¡± ¡°No need to be crass,¡± Eveline interrupted. ¡°Backside,¡± he finished. ¡°And third, I think you got the wrong impression of why I¡¯m here. I was going to just walk around, enjoy the sights, and maybe buy some things. But the last I checked, I was at war with the Imperium. So, this was always going to end with people like you dead. This little encounter just pushes that matter to the front. Suppose I¡¯ll just have to teach kobolds how to bake pastries.¡± With that, he ripped the guard¡¯s throat out ¨C much to the horror of the bakery¡¯s workers, who let out a collective shout. Zeke let the man fall, but before the body hit the floor, a wave of mana swept through the store. Everyone in the bakery ¨C including Adara ¨C fell. Only Zeke managed to catch himself as he was beset by a wave of weakness. ¡°That looks like the suppression circle,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Ring. He said ring,¡± Zeke pointed out, gritting his teeth. ¡°You know how this thing works?¡± ¡°Should be a rune formation,¡± she answered. ¡°You just need to find the runes. If it was me, I would put them on flags that could be deployed on all around the target. You just need to¡­oh, you¡¯re doing that. I guess that¡¯ll work too.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t listening. Instead, he embraced his Will, letting it flow through him. In the past, he wouldn¡¯t have been capable of withstanding so much of his own destructive power. However, as he¡¯d leveled, he¡¯d gained an incredible degree of durability. On top of that, he¡¯d learned to control his Will quite well. And finally, he¡¯d spent countless hours inoculating himself against its effects. The end result was that he could wield it almost as well as he could use his skills. The big difference was that it was a lot more versatile. Skills were meant to do one specific thing, and while someone could vary the power of those effects, they couldn¡¯t change its nature. Will was different. More and less limited at the same time. With his Path of Arcane Destruction, he could infuse his skills with increased destructive power, destroy foreign power if it invaded his body, and pick apart runes like it was nothing. And that was only the tip of the iceberg. So long as he perceived it to be under the purview of runecrafting or destruction, Zeke could leverage his Will to affect it. One of the advantages of his path was that, because it had originally formed partially from his knowledge of runecrafting, it also came with the ability to sense nearby runes. And unfortunately for the guards intending to attack him, that included the suppression ring. Zeke found it, and just like Eveline had predicted, it had been created via a circle of flags, each one bearing a dense collection of glyphs and symbols. Functionally, they were the building blocks of the overall rune, and Zeke knew from experience just how easily such complex formations could be broken. So, with a flick of his mind, Zeke destroyed a single glyph, and the entire structure came toppling down. Outside, he heard a series of tiny explosions followed by panicked screams. But he didn¡¯t move. ¡°Hmm,¡± he hummed to himself. ¡°What?¡± asked Adara, who looked like she was itching for a fight. ¡°Just thinking. How big was the garrison in this town?¡± he asked. They¡¯d passed it earlier in the day, but he¡¯d forgotten how many warriors Adara had estimated it could support. For all his power, Zeke was not trained in the more tedious aspects of war. He could fight, and he would overcome any enemy before him. But guessing how many soldiers an enemy could field? That was beyond him. Thankfully, he had people like Adara who could pick up that slack. ¡°Approximately five thousand. Seven if they really packed them in there, which is unlikely, given the location,¡± she said. That made sense. The Imperium was isolated, and any potential invader would have to bring an entire army across those mountains. Zeke had bypassed that by doing it on his own, but it would have been an impossible journey for an army of any size. So, Moreth wasn¡¯t considered to be in danger of invasion. Thus, the small size of its defending force. ¡°You think the kobolds want a fight?¡± he asked. ¡°I could probably beat them all by myself, but I was thinking the army needs a little work. What do you think?¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s a great idea,¡± she said. ¡°So long as I get to fight, too. Without your rampaging, there¡¯ll be plenty to go around.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t rampage.¡± ¡°Sure you don¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s obviously tactical.¡± ¡°Whatever. Stand back,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m going to summon the gate.¡± Once Adara was out of the way, he did just that. A few moments after he¡¯d summoned his gate, Silik stepped out. ¡°Situation?¡± ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of a city called Moreth,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Five to seven thousand enemy combatants. Many times that in civilians.¡± ¡°Orders?¡± ¡°Kill the enemy warriors. Engage civilians in self-defense only. Otherwise, we¡¯re moving toward the palace,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Adara can show you.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± the half-orc woman asked. ¡°I told you ¨C I wanted some of those pastries,¡± he said, stepping behind the counter. He squatted to retrieve a couple of the flakey treats. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be fine out there without me rampaging, right? Just shout if you need my help.¡± She grinned. ¡°This is a much better gift than pastries.¡± Zeke just shook his head and bit into the pastry. It was just as tasty as he¡¯d hoped. Meanwhile, a veritable flood of kobolds flowed out of the gate, and a few moments later, the sound of battle echoed in Zeke¡¯s ears. 555. Just a Man Zeke sat atop the wall and took a bite of the pastry. The lemon filling was tart, perfectly complimenting the sweetness. The city of Moreth stretched out before him, and the sound of ongoing battle echoed through the streets. Everywhere he looked, legions of kobolds fought against groups of knights. As was usually the case, if it was a one-on-one fight between a kobold and a knight, Zeke¡¯s legionnaires would have been easily defeated. The general power they could bring to bear had increased, but their monstrous origin had yet to be completely discarded. ¡°One day,¡± Eveline said. Zeke agreed with that assessment. They¡¯d made great strides, but they still had a long way to go. To counter that deficiency, they had developed their ability to work together. That was further enhanced by their collectivist nature, which served to give them a nearly supernatural ability to anticipate one another¡¯s actions. They moved almost as one, deploying shield walls powerful enough to stymie even the strongest knights, then counterattacking with wicked spear strikes as well as their light-based skills. Meanwhile, Adara and her own squad ¨C mostly former Knights of Adontis ¨C fought using similar tactics to that of the Radiant Host. However, with her strength driving them forward, the chaff they¡¯d found in their path was insufficient to even slow them down, much less stop them. Then there were the Inashi, led by Pudge, who attacked with such ferocity that any conflict was settled before their targets even had an opportunity to react. Once the enemy fell, Pudge and the kobold assassins disappeared, departing to hunt for another foe. To maximize their impact, they took aim at officers or particularly powerful enemies, which spread a sense of panic and fear among the opposing ranks. Finally, Zeke saw the assorted collection of beastkin, humans, and other races that had once been enslaved in Adontis. Most of those people had taken on non-combat roles within the Crimson Tower, but there were plenty who sought revenge on those they deemed responsible. And as the Adontis was a vassal nation of the Imperium, their ire had been transferred to the Radiant Host and the people who fell beneath their protective umbrella. The Irregulars, as Zeke thought of them, fought with fury, though they lacked the discipline and supernatural teamwork of the legion. So, they predictably took great losses in any battle. The only reason they hadn¡¯t all died was because they were also incredibly versatile. Among their ranks were healers, mages, rangers, and warriors - and everything in between ¨C so they were capable of exceeding the power their levels suggested were possible. They took casualties, but they were effective nonetheless. Zeke enjoyed his pastry as he watched the battle progress, and for a while, he thought they would win handily. Even on equal footing, his army was a match for whatever forces Moreth could muster, and given that they¡¯d taken the city by surprise, the favorable outcome seemed assured. Yet, Zeke knew deep down that it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. That was one of the reasons he¡¯d yet to lend his own strength to the battle. The other was that his people needed the experience as well as the kill energy. Primarily, though, he didn¡¯t want to be distracted when Moreth¡¯s true powerhouses showed themselves. Because he knew such a large city wouldn¡¯t be devoid of true strength. Armies were all well and good, but often, battles were won or lost on the efforts of the elite. So, Zeke watched and waited, ready to step in the moment his help was needed. ¡°You know you can just go in and win this thing, right? Less would die,¡± Eveline said. She had appeared in her visible form, sitting next to him on the top of the building Zeke had chosen as his vantage point. She looked entirely out of place, but given that she was a succubus ¨C or had been ¨C that wasn¡¯t surprising. ¡°Not the point,¡± he answered, taking another bite of the pastry. ¡°These are really good. I hope the baker doesn¡¯t get caught up in the fighting. Maybe he can come live in the tower and teach some of the kobolds the trade.¡± ¡°Kobolds only eat meat and mushrooms.¡± ¡°They eat whatever is available, actually. I think they were naturally scavengers, but after Mikaena¡¯s influence, they became more carnivorous.¡± ¡°Whatever the case, I don¡¯t think they have the capacity to appreciate baked goods.¡± ¡°Probably not,¡± Zeke acknowledged, though the statement sent a wave of sadness through him. A life without pastries was a terrible thing to contemplate. ¡°I wish we had a good barbecue place in the tower. You know, there were people back in my hometown who¡¯d been doing it for generations, and it showed. Only once have I had anything half as good since being reborn.¡± ¡°My people were vegetarians,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But there were some truly talented chefs on my world. After being sent to Hell, I tried to survive on plants and other gathered foods, but the first circle is almost entirely barren. It isn¡¯t possible to pick and choose which foods you want to eat. You take what you can find.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. She sighed. ¡°Not that I was even thinking about that. Not after the first few years, at least. Just like everyone else, I went feral. I had no choice but to give in to my demonic nature. It wasn¡¯t until I reached the peak of that realm that I began to reassert my identity. I was changed, though. The girl I was when I died had long since been discarded. I barely remember her anymore.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zeke said. In truth, he hardly recognized the person he¡¯d been back on Earth. Looking back, his obsession with a simple sport seemed silly. Sure, he understood his thought processes. It was a path to success, both financial and social. If he conquered the sport, he could have become a millionaire, and even if he fell a little short of greatness, he would have ended up with a head start on most people his age. But his dedication had gone beyond that, and for the life of him, Zeke couldn¡¯t really remember why. By comparison, it all seemed so pointless, especially considering the stakes he now dealt with every day. It was difficult to take a sport seriously when he engaged in life-or-death struggles. ¡°You are an obsessive person by nature, Ezekiel. It¡¯s one of your greatest strengths, but simultaneously, it can be a significant weakness. Do not become so focused on your goals that you miss the world around you,¡± she said. ¡°Right now, my goal is to finish this pastry. Then, I ¨C¡± Before Zeke could get the rest of his statement out, an explosion of power swept through the city. At the point of initial impact, buildings were flattened, and hundreds of fighters ¨C both kobolds and soldiers loyal to the Imperium ¨C were immediately killed. Zeke wasn¡¯t certain about the nature of the attack, but he saw a few people simply explode from the sheer kinetic force on display. More importantly, as the dust settled a few moments later, he saw the culprit. A man, standing taller than any of the other Knights, stood in the center of a crater. He wore red-and-gold armor with a winged helmet, and he carried a massive axe that looked far too large for even his frame. Behind him, at the edge of the crater, three women approached. They were all dressed identically in hooded white robes, and they each carried golden staves topped with elaborate depictions of angels. They were too far away for [Inspect] to work, but Zeke suspected that their levels approached the peak of the realm. ¡°Finally,¡± he said, pushing himself to his feet. He tossed the remainder of the pastry aside and summoned Voromir to hand. He leaped, already taking on his titanic form. By the time he landed on the side of the crater opposite to the robed women, the transformation had completed. That was when he used [Inspect] on the man at the center of the depression: Callum Fris ¨C Level 99 His attention shifted to one of the women: The Handmaiden ¨C Level 98 Then to the next: The Concubine ¨C Level 97 And finally, the third: The Consort ¨C Level 99 They were all powerful enemies, and they outnumbered Zeke four-to-one. Yet, he had enough experience that he knew his strength far exceeded what one would expect from his level. And looking at these newcomers, Zeke got the feeling that they were all much weaker than the necromantic vessel that had nearly killed him. ¡°Monster!¡± shouted the man, hefting his axe. ¡°You have intelligence enough to understand that you have trespassed on our territory. Surrender now, and we will provide you with whatever you wish. Food. Mates. Enemies to hunt. But if you persist in this conflict, we will be forced to put you down. Make your choice.¡± Zeke was initially taken aback by the offer. From his experience, he¡¯d not expected to be afforded a choice. Certainly, the Imperium had never given any options to those they habitually enslaved. However, after only a moment, Zeke felt a surge of mana that announced that the three white-robed women were casting some sort of collective skill. So, the offer was only meant as a distraction. Still, Zeke didn¡¯t immediately attack. Instead, he intended to let them believe he was considering the offer. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of power, Ezekiel,¡± Eveline said, referring to the building skill. ¡°I know. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± It built for a few more moments until, at last, it reached a crescendo. Then, the sky opened up and a column of dense fire descended from the heavens. It crashed into Zeke a second later, burying him beneath a torrent of flames that were hot enough to melt the stone beneath his feet. Yet, Zeke endured, drawing on [Hand of Divinity] to mend the damage caused by the powerful spell. Which was minimal. When the fires ceased and the steam and smoke dissipated, Zeke stood before the crater, his metallic body glowing red. He said, ¡°You know, anything but fire, and that might have hurt a little.¡± Then, he used [Storm of Hammers], followed by [Titan¡¯s Smash]. As he swung Voromir, he also activated its innate ability, and a giant spectral copy of the weapon appeared in mid-air. It fell upon the Knight in the center of the crater, hitting him with the combined force of Zeke¡¯s skill, the immense weight of the hammer, and all the strength he could bring to bear. At the same time, a tornado of phantom hammers manifested, slamming into the Knight and obscuring his vision. Zeke stomped on the ground, sending a rift tearing across the crater. However, he hadn¡¯t aimed at the Knight. Instead, he¡¯d targeted the three women. A second later, a column of corruption and fire erupted from the earth, bathing all three of them in destruction. But Zeke wasn¡¯t finished. He activated [Shifting Sands] as well, and time stood still. He descended into the earth, then shot forward, only to bypass the crater entirely. By the time he reached his destination, the fires of [Hell Geyser] had reached their peak. Screams of sheer agony filled the air as he erupted from the ground, already swinging his hammer. The first attack hit the Handmaiden, and she crumpled beneath the blow. The second descended upon the Concubine, and though she attempted to erect some sort of shield to protect her from Zeke¡¯s vicious attack, it shattered beneath his immense power. So did she, only a moment later. The Consort put up more of a fight, but she too fell after only two more attacks. It all happened in the space of a couple of moments, and by the time [Hell Geyser] dissipated, all three women were dead. More importantly, Zeke had already used [Colossal Army]. One after another, ten bronze golems stepped out of the rip in reality, joining him as he faced down the stunned Knight. ¡°W-what¡­what are you?¡± ¡°Just a man,¡± Zeke answered. 556. Elite The hammer smashed into the knight ¨C named Callum Fris ¨C with the force of a falling mountain. Yet, when the head of Voromir met the man¡¯s blade, he remained unmoved. A shockwave erupted from the point of impact, tearing through the surrounding crater and felling buildings for blocks all around. After enduring the blow, the knight counterattacked, and his glowing blade seared through Zeke¡¯s shoulder, slicing a hunk of metallic flesh free. Zeke lashed out, kicking the much smaller knight, but once again, his blow was entirely ineffective. Certainly, the environment suffered, but Callum Fris remained unmoved. A second later, the blade arced out. The air sizzled with its passing, and before Zeke could react, he felt falling to the ground. It took a moment before he realized that the blade had completely sheered through his leg. He crashed to the ground only to see the oncoming attack aimed at something far more vital than a leg. Zeke rolled free, and the axe cut a deep furrow into the ground. Meanwhile, Zeke embraced [Hand of Divinity] while mentally commanding his [Colossal Army] to attack the knight. Ten bronze golems took aim, then threw their spears at the man. This time, the blows cut through whatever shield he¡¯d erected, slamming into his chest. A second later, ropes of black-and-red flame extended from the shafts and to the golems¡¯ hands. They heaved, and the man screamed. Before Zeke could take advantage of the knights¡¯ distraction, the man erupted into white light. Zeke shielded his eyes, but even then, he could feel the mana searing its way through his brain. He pulled harder on [Hand of Divinity], and semi-liquid metal grew from his stump, forming into a lower leg. At the same time, the powerful skill raced to repair whatever damage the white light had wrought, barely keeping pace with the manifestation of the knight¡¯s skill. When the light faded, Zeke saw that the javelins had completely disappeared, and his golems had fallen back. They were steadily pulling on earth-attuned mana in an effort to combat the progression of their own destruction. Already, they were misshapen to the point of being unrecognizable, and no matter how much mana they drew in, the damage was not being repaired. Zeke threw himself upright, extending Voromir via the inherent ability, concurrently using [Titan¡¯s Smash]. Power coalesced into a crimson hammer that descended upon the knight with enough force to shatter buildings. And when it hit, the ground was further sundered for hundreds of yards all around. That prompted questions about whether or not the city would survive. Then, he leaped forward, summoning [Hell Geyser] even as he sailed through the air. He incorporated a touch of his Will into the attack ¨C enough to give it some extra bite, but not so much that it would rip through his own body. Even as the column of earth, corruption, and fire responded to his call, Zeke also used [Flames of Reprisal]. His metallic body erupted into molten flames ¨C and it was just in time, too, because the Knight emerged from the [Hell Geyser], his glowing blade already cutting through the air. Zeke couldn¡¯t stop his own momentum, but he could twist just enough to avoid a killing blow. The blade scorched through Zeke¡¯s side, cutting through his metallic flesh and slicing through his ribs like they weren¡¯t even there. It didn¡¯t stop until it hit his spine, where it came to a sudden halt. Zeke grunted as he delivered a massive blow harnessing the full weight of his strength. Voromir¡¯s head smashed into the knight, driving him into the ground. Then, the retaliatory effect of [Flames of Reprisal] took hold. Fire lashed out, cutting into the knight and eliciting a blood-curdling scream. That was the true value of [Flames of Reprisal]. It tended to bypass all defenses. So long as Zeke was willing to get hit, trusting his own durability to stand up against his enemy¡¯s attacks, he could deliver irresistible retaliation upon them. Still, Callum Fris was obviously a cut above the rest. As was the case with Zeke, levels clearly weren¡¯t everything. Because of that, he was far more powerful than the three women Zeke had easily killed. Perhaps there had even been some sort of connection between them, and their deaths had empowered the knight. Whatever the case, the man had so far withstood the onslaught, and even [Flames of Reprisal] wasn¡¯t enough to permanently put him down. It did injure him, though. More importantly, even when the knight sprang backward, his armor bearing a huge gash, he looked far more cautious. With the threat represented by [Flames of Reprisal], he couldn¡¯t simply bury Zeke beneath a mountain of attacks. Because he¡¯d already seen that Zeke was more durable, and what¡¯s more, what should have been debilitating injuries had healed almost instantly. Zeke¡¯s leg was already back, and nearly being sliced in two had barely slowed him down. He wasn¡¯t indestructible ¨C far from it, as proven by his encounter with the necromantic vessel ¨C but he might as well have been for someone who wasn¡¯t strong enough to completely obliterate him. The knight was powerful, but he wasn¡¯t nearly at that level. The man landed in a skid, clutching his arm across his midsection and propping himself up with his axe. He wasn¡¯t out of the fight, but he was obviously injured. Zeke felt mana swirl around the knight, heralding the activation of a healing skill. It wasn¡¯t nearly as powerful as [Hand of Divinity], though, and it would take hours to mend the damage inflicted by Zeke¡¯s attacks. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Monster,¡± Callum Fris growled. ¡°How?¡± Zeke didn¡¯t bother answering. The knight might have been a worthy opponent, but the organization to which he belonged was responsible for untold suffering. As such, Zeke didn¡¯t think he deserved any consideration, let alone a response. Instead, he flexed his own mana, shoving it into the runes in his forehead. Power blazed between his eyes, and he activated [Eye of Reckoning]. Mingled fire and destruction erupted from Zeke¡¯s forehead, then raced across the ruined battlefield to slam into the knight. The black-and-red beam of roiling energy bore down on Callum Fris, connecting with a thunderous explosion that reverberated through the very fabric of reality. The sheer power behind the attack drove the knight backward until he slammed into ground. Then, he skipped across the earth for another few hundred yards until Zeke let [Eye of Reckoning] fade away. Even with the skill having been cut off, afterimages of the power danced in the atmosphere. Dust and debris filled the air, and for a few moments, Zeke struggled to see through the dense cloud. He stepped forward, his hammer at the ready as he prepared for a counterattack. Instead, there was only silence. A stillness that Zeke had rarely felt settled upon the battlefield. In that moment, the surrounding city didn¡¯t matter. Nor did the ongoing fight between the kobolds and the rest of the Radiant Host¡¯s forces. Instead, there was only peace. That shattered when Zeke saw earth shifting in the distance. He strode ahead, prepared to finish the battle. He¡¯d felt no influx of kill energy, so he knew the knight wasn¡¯t dead. Still, as he closed on the location where Callum Fris had come to a stop, he wondered just how much damage the man could really take. The answer to that question become obvious a few moments later, when he saw what was left of the man. Zeke stood over what was left of his enemy, looking down on the powerful knight. The once-imposing aura of strength possessed by Callum Fris had disappeared. Now, all that was left was a weakly fluctuating cloud of mana that suggested he was trying to activate a skill. That was fitting, given the state of his body. Burned beyond all recognition, the knight could barely move. What¡¯s more, one of his arms was entirely missing, and his huge axe had been reduced to a puddle of molten metal. His once-pristine red-and-gold armor was mostly gone, with only a single pauldron remaining. The rest had been disintegrated or melted, all of its power lost to Zeke¡¯s powerful skill. Zeke could feel the man¡¯s life force barely flickering. Despite the ravaged state of the knight, Zeke remained vigilant. He¡¯d faced too many powerful foes to take an enemy¡¯s demise for granted. More than once, he¡¯d found himself on the receiving end of a last-ditch attack, so he maintained caution. Calum Fris stared blankly at the sky, mumbling something Zeke could not hear. He knelt, then leaned close. ¡°Forgive me, mother,¡± the man croaked in a rasping whisper. ¡°I have failed you. Please, take my remaining life force and add it to your own so that you may deliver vengeance upon the enemies of the Radiant Host. I consent and embrace my fate.¡± Just then, the man¡¯s power surged, though not in an attack. A rune blazed itself across the knight¡¯s burned chest, and mana gathered. Recognizing the situation for what it was, Zeke embraced his Path of Arcane Destruction and lashed out with his Will, sundering multiple foundational glyphs that connected the rune. It shattered, and the gathered power dissipated into nothing. The knight screamed, and he tried to grab Zeke. However, in his state, he could scarcely move, let alone bring his no-doubt impressive attributes to bear. Zeke slapped the reaching hand aside. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°W-what¡­what are you?¡± ¡°Just a ¨C¡± ¡°You are no man,¡± the knight spat, his burned skin cracking even further. Zeke could see white bone peeking out from underneath. ¡°You are a monster sent from Hell to force us from our path. We will not stray. You may kill us all, but we will only rejoin the Sun Goddess in Heaven. She will strike you down. We will have our vengeance, monster. We¡­we¡­¡± He went on, ranting about the wrath of Shar Maelaine, but Zeke barely heard the man. Instead, he let [Titan] fade. For some reason, he thought it was important that the knight see that he was no monster, that he was human. Or close enough. Callum Fris¡¯ eyes widened when he saw Zeke¡¯s true form, and he started to say something. Zeke didn¡¯t want to hear anymore from his fallen enemy, though. His hand snapped out, and his fingers closed around the man¡¯s charred throat. Then, he squeezed. Even if he hadn¡¯t been possessed of incredible strength, his fingers would have cut right through the knight¡¯s burned flesh. He didn¡¯t stop until he¡¯d found the man¡¯s spine. And then, without further ado, he ripped it free. For a long moment, he looked at the macabre trophy in his hand, at what the once-proud knight had been reduced to. Then, he tossed it aside like so much trash, and he reveled in the kill energy flowing into him. He was a long way from gaining another level, but that was as expected. It was just another step on a long journey, and having beaten four nearly peak-level enemies definitely brought a smile to his face. Still, the satisfaction didn¡¯t linger. He wouldn¡¯t allow that. After all, he had won a battle, and an important one at that, but the war was far from over. Moreth still needed liberation, and there were many more cities within the Imperium that would fall before his task was complete. ¡°You know, you don¡¯t have to do this,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± Zeke asked, pushing himself to his feet and looking around at the destruction he¡¯d wrought. It wasn¡¯t nearly as complete as if he¡¯d used [Wrath of Annihilation] or [Unleash Momentum], but it was still devastating enough all the same. ¡°Fight this war. You could just reach the pinnacle, then go to Hell and descend into the Pit. You don¡¯t need to do this.¡± ¡°Need?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°This isn¡¯t about necessity, Eveline. This is what I want to do. I refuse to leave this plane as I left the Mortal Realm. I want to leave it better than when I arrived. And that means defeating the Imperium and dealing with Micayne, at minimum. After that, I will consider moving on.¡± Put like that, he knew there was a long way to go. But for now, he savored the taste of victory. 557. Clean-Up ¡°I almost expected that you would swoop in and try to save me,¡± said Adara, running a hand through her hair. It was caked with blood, with a little fleck of flesh stuck just behind her slightly pointed ear. Her armor wasn¡¯t much better off, and though it was high quality, it had been dented and cracked in multiple places. A giant bruise decorated half her face, and her eye had begun to swell shut. In short, she looked like she¡¯d been in the fight of her life, an appearance that was at odds with the giant smile she wore. ¡°You¡¯re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself,¡± Zeke replied. Indeed, he knew Adara well enough to know precisely how treating her as a damsel in distress would have worked out. He didn¡¯t think she would actually attack him ¨C especially in the middle of a battle ¨C but he didn¡¯t rule that possibility out, either. Whatever the case, she certainly wouldn¡¯t have appreciated it. ¡°I trust you in a fight as much as I trust anyone else.¡± ¡°Except Pudge.¡± ¡°Well, yeah. He¡¯s¡­well, he¡¯s Pudge. He¡¯s built a bit differently than most. You¡¯re not jealous, are you?¡± Zeke asked, glancing at the bearkin in question. Standing on the other side of a large square where they¡¯d set up their post-battle operations, Pudge was just as covered in gore as Adara, though he had no injuries. Even if he had been hurt, there¡¯d been enough time for him to recover. Changing the subject, Zeke asked, ¡°Do you want me to take care of that bruise?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Maybe later. I want to feel it a little longer,¡± she said. ¡°What? Why?¡± Shrugging, Adara answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I like the pain. It¡¯s a good reminder to duck next time.¡± Zeke wanted to argue that there was no reason for her to continue to suffer, but he stopped himself short. Adara reacted poorly to any expression of his protective nature. Sure, she would endure it, but after the challenges she¡¯d been forced to suffer as a half-breed Knight of Adontis, she¡¯d learned to value her own independence. More than that, she¡¯d also learned to hide any weakness. Otherwise, her enemies ¨C of which there were quite a few in that corrupt and bigoted organization ¨C would surely exploit them. That kind of lesson was hard to unlearn, even when Zeke had so far endeavored to ensure that she felt safe in his company. So, as much as he wanted to help her, he held back. If she wanted it, she would ask. ¡°Did we lose many?¡± he asked. ¡°Less than you¡¯d think,¡± Adara answered. ¡°A few hundred kobolds, but they were weaker members of the clutch. Novices, really. This was the first battle for many of them. Of the veterans, only a dozen or so fell.¡± ¡°And the beastkin? The humans? Did we lose any centaurs?¡± Adara went on to explain that the beastkin were predictably the hardest hit among the army, with hundreds falling in the battle. The humans, most of which were former Knights like Adara, hadn¡¯t lost a single person, but a handful of centaurs had been killed. By anyone¡¯s measure, it was a resounding victory. They¡¯d killed thousands of members of the Radiant Host. However, Zeke knew that without a few unique advantages, they¡¯d have never won the battle. For one, the element of surprise had given them a distinct edge, allowing them to hit hard before anyone even knew they were there. On top of that, they¡¯d benefited from completely bypassing the enemy¡¯s defenses. Walls didn¡¯t count for much when Zeke could summon an army in the center of the city. But most impactful was Zeke¡¯s intervention. If he hadn¡¯t been there to deal with Callum Fris and his three companions, that group would have swept through the city, destroying the kobold army. Even elites like Silik, Pudge, and Adara couldn¡¯t have stood against such a powerful opponent. ¡°That¡¯s your role,¡± said Eveline within Zeke¡¯s mind. He suppressed a sigh. ¡°I want them to be able to stand on their own,¡± he replied. ¡°I can¡¯t always be here.¡± ¡°It will be some time before they rise above their nature,¡± she pointed out. ¡°The kobolds grow stronger, but even with the benefit of sapience, they¡¯re not fundamentally stronger than they were beneath Min Ferilik. Higher average level, perhaps. But they are still limited by their base.¡± ¡°Silik isn¡¯t,¡± Zeke argued. ¡°He is exceptional. There are a few others who have managed to claw their way free of the limitations imposed by their humble origins,¡± she said. ¡°Kobolds are not strong creatures. In the wild, they are scavengers. Certainly, they can be a threat to the unprepared ¨C all monsters can make that claim ¨C but if you want them to truly grow, you need to address the fundamental weakness of their base.¡± ¡°The quest.¡± ¡°Just so,¡± Eveline agreed. ¡°You need that Hall of Affinities. For your own development as well as the kobolds. Otherwise, they will only hold you back. They will become an anchor. They already are.¡± Zeke wanted to argue, but he knew that there was at least some truth in her assessment. By the standards of the Eternal Realm, he¡¯d cultivated a strong force. However, most of their victories had come via trickery, superior tactics, or Zeke¡¯s personal intervention. Left on their own, they would have long since been wiped out. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. And that wasn¡¯t what he wanted. The kobolds needed to be capable of standing on their own, or when they reached the next realm ¨C or descended to a lower circle of Hell, as was the plan ¨C they would become an extreme liability. Even Zeke didn¡¯t consider himself strong enough to take that step, so the kobolds were so far away from that standard that it didn¡¯t even bear considering. ¡°How do we do it, then?¡± he asked, looking around the city. ¡°Interrogate the survivors,¡± she suggested. ¡°Find the most powerful treasures you can. Use those to complete the quest. That¡¯s the only way they¡¯ll grow strong enough to keep up with you.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already got a lot on my plate,¡± he stated. Indeed, he¡¯d just started a war with one of the most powerful militaries on the continent. The Radiant Host had the advantage of the Sun Goddess¡¯ support and a half dozen other territories from which to draw resources. They had strong fighters, many of which were at or near the peak, and Zeke suspected that, in the future, he wouldn¡¯t be able to repeat the tactics he¡¯d used to take Moreth so quickly. More than a few people had escaped the city, and it was an inevitability that they would find their way to someone important. After that, the secret to Zeke¡¯s success would be exposed, and the Imperium would take steps to curtail those efforts. No ¨C he wouldn¡¯t be able to take another city by simply sneaking in and summoning an army in his enemy¡¯s midst. Instead, he¡¯d need to take them by more conventional means, which would require sieges and large scale battles. It would not be easy. Nor would it be a short war. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? We won,¡± said Adara, following Zeke¡¯s gaze as he cast it around the city. ¡°This is just the beginning.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s a good thing.¡± ¡°People are going to die, Adara. They already have,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not a child. I¡¯m aware of how war works,¡± she countered with a frown. ¡°The cause is just. Do you know how many slaves we freed by taking this city?¡± ¡°No. How many?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But there were thousands. Maybe tens of thousands. And a lot of them want to be part of this. They¡¯ve been enslaved for generations, Zeke. It¡¯s not just beastkin or non-humans, either. The Imperium doesn¡¯t limit its atrocities by race. If you¡¯re against them, you¡¯re not worth anything,¡± she said. ¡°Here. Follow me.¡± She took his hand and guided him through the camp. He¡¯d summoned the gate in the central square, but there were limitations on who they let into the tower. So, they¡¯d established a temporary base of operations around the gate. Mixed into the groups of kobold soldiers were bearskin, elves, and even a few dwarves. But most of the people not belonging to his army were human. And they were uniformly in poor shape. Some were starved. Others were wounded. Almost all were dirty ¨C which didn¡¯t make sense to Zeke. As if reading his mind, Adara said, ¡°The ones owned by the higher class didn¡¯t survive.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They were killed by their owners,¡± she stated. ¡°I don¡¯t know why. A few resisted, but they were restrained by collars, so almost none of them made it.¡± As they walked, he let that sink in. It wasn¡¯t so different from sailors scuttling a ship so the enemy couldn¡¯t take it. Or burning crops during a retreat. But they hadn¡¯t simply destroyed goods or proprietary technology. They¡¯d killed people. ¡°They¡¯re just property,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°In the Imperium, slaves aren¡¯t people.¡± Zeke ground his teeth, but after a few moments, he asked, ¡°Where are you taking me, Adara?¡± She answered, ¡°You¡¯ll see. Just come on.¡± As they traversed the city, the aftermath of the battle became increasingly apparent. None of the damage was as extensive as that which was associated with his own fight against Callum Fris, but there were plenty of buildings that had been destroyed during the fighting. Many more had been so heavily damaged that they would likely need to be demolished. Then there were the bodies. Hundreds of Knights, soldiers, and other people loyal to the Imperium had been killed. Fortunately, Zeke didn¡¯t see any of his people¡¯s bodies. More than a few had died in the battle, but their remains had already been gathered and transported back to the tower, where they would be laid to rest. For long minutes, Zeke was forced to witness the consequences of the battle he¡¯d started. And though he was mostly inured to death and destruction, he was still human where it mattered. And he regretted the necessity that such widespread death had become so necessary. It was one thing to engage in wholesale slaughter against monsters or the denizens of dungeons. There was little guilt associated with that. But when his enemies were people? He¡¯d have had to be a true psychopath to remain unaffected. Eventually, they reached an area that had once been a very affluent district populated by elaborate mansions that verged on being classified as palaces, complete with expansive estates with well-tended topiary. Of course, the heavy fighting had destroyed the beautiful gardens, felling trees and tearing the lawns to asunder. The huge buildings hadn¡¯t escaped, either, and whole wings had been destroyed. Finally, corpses littered the district. Most had been heaped onto huge piles, but there were still plenty that had yet to be gathered. ¡°The fighting was thickest here,¡± Adara said. ¡°They were strong, and even though they were unprepared, this is where we lost the most people.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Even then, the ratio was very much in favor of Zeke¡¯s army. ¡°Why did you bring me here? I knew we took losses.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± With that, Adara kept going until, at last, they reached a mostly intact building. There, Zeke saw hundreds of naked bodies. Most were female, but there were plenty of males present as well. Zeke looked a little closer, and he had to admit that, even in death, they were all quite attractive. The vast majority of the bodies belonged to elves, though there a couple of humans and even some beastkin in there. ¡°What is this?¡± he asked. ¡°This was the most exclusive brothel. All of these people were slaves, bred specifically for the purpose of giving pleasure to the more affluent members of the Imperium. The moment they realized the city was going to fall, they slaughtered every single one of these poor people,¡± Adara said. ¡°From what I understand, most of them were kept intentionally ignorant. Some never saw the outside of that compound. All they knew was a life of ¨C¡± ¡°I get it,¡± Zeke interrupted. He wanted to look away, but he refused to do so. He needed to see what his enemies would do, given half a chance. He needed to witness the expression of their twisted natures, to carve those images indelibly into his mind¡¯s eye so that, even when things became difficult, his resolve would not waver. ¡°Were there any survivors?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Not even the people who¡­did this?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good.¡± After that, Zeke and Adara stepped forward and helped to gather the bodies of the former slaves. They afforded them as much dignity as possible, but Zeke knew that it didn¡¯t matter. The dead didn¡¯t care. He needed to concern himself with the living. 558. Opportunity Tucker staggered down the street, lifting a jug of rum to his lips and taking a long swig. The taste wasn¡¯t anything spectacular, though it wasn¡¯t terrible, either. Still, it did the job, which was all he could ask for. As he lowered the jug to his side, it slipped from his fingers, shattering against the flagstones. ¡°Damn,¡± he muttered, kicking the shards of glass with his boot. Then, he looked back the way he¡¯d come. Mariskal wasn¡¯t nearly as large as Westport, but it still played host to hundreds of thousands of people. Most were civilians who¡¯d settled in the coastal city because its proximity to the sea offered them a wide variety of opportunities. However, there were plenty who¡¯d come to Mariskal for the same reason that brought Tucker to the city. It wasn¡¯t entirely lawless, but the authorities didn¡¯t seem to care much about piracy, smuggling, or other activities that, in another city, would have seen them thrown deep into a dungeon. For his part, Tucker and his ¨C or rather Iris¡¯ ¨C crew had come to see the city as their base of operations. It had everything they needed, including a robust air dock where their ship had been moored. In addition, it played host to all the infrastructure they needed to move their pilfered goods and plenty of opportunities for Tucker to purchase the necessary ingredients to advance his craft. Because as much as he liked being a pirate ¨C and he very much loved it ¨C he hadn¡¯t left his true passion behind. Piracy ¨C or privateering, as Iris called it ¨C was only a means to finance his experiments in alchemy. Sure, he could have simply sold his concoctions and made a decent living, but that was a slow rolling means of progression. Piracy afforded him the opportunity to work with the best ingredients without worrying about failures. In turn, that let him push forward at an unprecedented pace. Often, he thought of it in similar terms to how he remembered working for Micayne, though without the monstrousness inherent in being enslaved to a necromancer of questionable sanity. Back then, he¡¯d been given everything he needed to progress, and he¡¯d used that to push himself harder than ever could have alone. Without that opportunity, he never could have survived the events since. Of course, if he hadn¡¯t been there when Zeke and Abby came along, he probably would have ended up like everyone else in the Radiant Isles. He shivered at the thought. He would have fought, and with as much fury as he could muster. However, he knew the scope of the threat Micayne represented, and after the undead started infecting the wildlife, the writing had been on the wall. No one would survive, he was certain. Escape had been the only option, though he¡¯d never really had the opportunity to choose. By the time he escaped the demon realm, the choice had been made for him. Regardless, everything had worked out well enough, even if there had been a few bumps in the road. At present, he was part of a thriving operation, he¡¯d progressed much more quickly than he thought possible, and he¡¯d even set the Kirrans on the path to curing their curse. It would still be generations before they completely recovered, but even now, they¡¯d begun to show positive signs. And most of all, he was in love ¨C which was a state he never thought he¡¯d find himself in again. Iris was far from perfect, but she filled a hole in his life that he hadn¡¯t even realized was there. For now, though, he was on a mission, and if he could trust his senses ¨C and he could ¨C the plan was about to come to fruition. There were six people closing in on him. Two from behind, two in front, and one from either side. Currently, they were hidden in dark alleys on either side of the street, but he knew they were ther. Mostly because they were expected. That was the whole point of his farcically obvious drunken stupor, after all. He stumbled dramatically, whistling a lively tune as if he hadn¡¯t a care in the world. Meanwhile, he kept his blunderbuss a thought away. It was classified as an alchemical instrument, so he had no issues storing it away via [Alchemist¡¯s Constitution]. The storage space associated with that skill had grown truly enormous, so it was large enough to accommodate his preferred weapon as well as thousands of the glass globes full of potions that he used as ammunition. There were larger spheres in there as well ¨C some as big as a basketball and sloshing with volatile concoctions ¨C that he could use as bombs and grenades. In this instance, he would only need his blunderbuss, though. The necessity of even that weapon was in question because he was far from alone. Gira and Athis were somewhere on the roofs above the street, ready to pounce at a moment¡¯s notice. Meanwhile, Iris and the rest of her crew were only a block or so away, and Tucker knew from experience how viciously they could respond to a perceived threat. The ship¡¯s healer had even shown up. So Tucker¡¯s safety was all but assured. Still, he didn¡¯t exactly enjoy being bait. There weren¡¯t many other options, of course. Of the entire crew, he was the only one important and reckless enough to be targeted. Iris and Gira had well-earned reputations for stubbornness, and anyone who expected to get any information out of either of those women would have another thing coming. Athis was seen as pure muscle ¨C an accurate assessment, if Tucker was honest ¨C and the rest of the crew didn¡¯t have any actionable intelligence. That left Tucker. He stumbled again, but this time, it was more than just an act. He¡¯d sensed ¨C via his Trajectory Path, which had progressed to E-Grade ¨C an oncoming projectile. A dart, if he could trust his senses. Probably loaded with some sort of tranquilizer. That was stupid, given that he was an alchemist by trade, which meant that he was functionally immune to most toxins. Still, he didn¡¯t want a dart in the neck, so he¡¯d conjured a slight stumble to remove himself from its path. It worked, and the dart thudded into the wall of a nearby building. The metal tip clattered against the stone before it fell to the ground. As his tricorn hat tumbled to the ground, Tucker drunkenly mumbled, ¡°Wha¡­¡± Then, the would-be assailants stepped out of the shadows. ¡°Stop right there,¡± commanded one in the front. He was too tall to be human, though with his hood pulled up, Tucker couldn¡¯t place the man¡¯s species. Tucker looked up as if he didn¡¯t quite understand what was going on. ¡°You talkin¡¯ at me?¡± he slurred. ¡°Hold on¡­¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Then, he bent down and picked up his hat. ¡°There we go,¡± he said, dusting it off and settling back into place on his head. After that, he narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°You look scary, all dressed in black. You¡¯re not robbing me, are you? I don¡¯t have anything on me. Somebody stole my gem pouch a few ¨C¡± ¡°Take him,¡± the leader spat. The bandits rushed him, which was a huge mistake. Tucker wheeled on the two coming from behind, summoning his blunderbuss along the way. He fired from the hip, hitting one directly in the chest. The globe exploded, bathing the pair in sticky brown goo. The moment it was exposed to the air, it started to dry. Turning from brown to white, it solidified before they could take another step, gluing their feet to the ground. Predictably, their momentum kept pushing them forward, but with their feet stuck, they fell flat on their faces. Unfortunately ¨C for them, at least ¨C that meant slamming their chests into more of the sticky goo, and in less than a second, they were entirely immobilized. Tucker didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, though. He trusted his Glue Bomb to do what it had been designed to do. Instead, tossing a much smaller globe at the one rushing in from the left. He dodged it ¨C or at least that was his intention ¨C but the Seeker Grenade was not to be outdone. It changed direction mid-air, then slammed into the man¡¯s face. It exploded in a cloud of red gas that Tucker knew from experience would knock him out entirely. When Tucker turned to the next foe, he saw that Silik had leaped down from the roof and wrapped his great, scaly arms around the fellow¡¯s shoulders. The sound of cracking bone filled the air. And screams of pain, but Tucker ignored those. Instead, he focused on the next targets. The leader and another bandit stood rooted in place, obviously shocked at how quickly their ambush had been foiled. They stared at Tucker for a long moment, which was probably why they never saw Iris and Gira approaching from behind. For his part, Tucker had taken great pains to only use humane means of detainment. Aside from knocking his opponent unconscious ¨C and a headache that would come when the man awoke ¨C the gas would have no ill effects. And the glue would become inert under the application of the appropriate solvent. So there was no lasting harm done. Iris was clearly not as restrained. Her rapier lashed out. It was not a weapon meant for slashing, but it had an edge nonetheless. And Iris knew precisely how to use it. The blade cut through the leader¡¯s hamstring, severing the muscles of both legs. He tried to use some sort of skill, but Gira slapped her hand against his back, releasing a wave of mana that Tucker knew would disrupt any skills. The man clearly hadn¡¯t expected that, and he flopped to the ground a second later. His companion ended up with a dagger buried in the base of his skull, and he was dead before he hit the ground. Even as blood pooled beneath the two, Tucker shook his head and said, ¡°I thought we agreed not to kill them.¡± ¡°We only killed one,¡± Iris said. ¡°That¡¯s a good ratio.¡± ¡°I think we have different ideas about what an acceptable rate of collateral damage is,¡± Tucker said. ¡°Did you forget what these people had planned? You saw the torture room they had prepared for you,¡± Iris pointed out. ¡°You heard the same thing I did. They were going to cut off your ¨C¡± ¡°I know what that other idiot said,¡± he interrupted, referring to the man they¡¯d caught the day before. He¡¯d spilled the beans about the planned attack ¨C and the torture they had in store for Tucker. As a result, Tucker had agreed to play the role of bait so they could coax their enemies out of the shadows. It had worked, though they still had a long way to go before they were done. ¡°Help me with the others. We need to get them out of sight before the guards -¡± Just then, an extremely loud crack echoed down the street. Tucker didn¡¯t even look at Athis before he shook his head, let out an exasperated sigh, and said, ¡°Please tell me you didn¡¯t just break his spine.¡± ¡°Uh¡­I didn¡¯t?¡± the giant Kirran replied. Then, Tucker heard a body fall to the street. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m dealing with children,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Deadly, psychopathic children.¡± ¡°What?¡± asked Athis when Tucker finally looked his way. Just as he¡¯d expected, the man had been crushed and had fallen to the Kirran¡¯s feet. ¡°Nothing. Just¡­nothing.¡± After that, they did just as Tucker had asked, gathering the living prisoners and transporting them to a predetermined location. Along the way, they had to gag the leader to keep him from crying out and bringing too much attention to the situation, but other than that, they had no issue moving everyone to the warehouse Iris had rented for their use. In one section, there were hundreds of crates containing mundane goods they¡¯d liberated from their original owners, but a much smaller pile of boxes held potent natural treasures Tucker used for his experiments. They separated the four prisoners, putting them in different rooms so they could question them independently. Then, Tucker fed the leader a potion ¨C forcibly ¨C that stopped his bleeding. After that, he planted the tall man ¨C who was some sort of half-ogre ¨C in a chair. Of course, his hands and feet were bound, and they¡¯d fitted him with a powerful suppression collar that was normally used on slaves. ¡°Alright. Spill it. Who sent you?¡± Tucker asked. Iris stood behind him, digging at her fingernails with a small bladed dagger. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you anything. If you expect ¨C¡± Iris hucked her dagger at him, burying the thing in his shoulder. There was a nerve there, so Tucker knew just how painful such a wound could be. Of course, if there was any doubt, the man¡¯s scream would have told him enough. ¡°Oh, calm down. It¡¯s not even a lethal wound,¡± Iris said with a roll of her eyes. ¡°You crazy bitch!¡± ¡°Now, don¡¯t go talking to her like that. I¡¯m a pretty reasonable man, but the second you start treating my girlfriend with ¨C¡± ¡°Wait ¨C am I your girlfriend?¡± Iris asked. ¡°Uh¡­yes?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the first time you¡¯ve called me that,¡± she said with a small smile. ¡°It feels nice.¡± It definitely did, but as pleasant as that little exchange was, Tucker needed to maintain his tough-as-nails demeanor. So, he went on, ¡°Anyway. I wanted to talk to you about a potion I just made. You know I¡¯m an alchemist, right?¡± The man nodded. ¡°Good. I¡¯m pretty decent at it, too. Anyway, I made this potion,¡± he said, summoning a vial to hand. It contained a blue liquid. ¡°One part chimera venom. One part stinging kelp from the Barrow Sea. A quarter portion of great canid saliva. And just a pinch of noxiric fungus. All suspended in a solution of liquid mana. I call it an Agony potion. I¡¯ll give you one guess as to what it does.¡± Tucker waited for the man to make that guess, but he said nothing. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll just tell you then. Imagine the worst pain you¡¯ve ever experienced. This is worse. I¡¯m told that even demonkin can¡¯t handle it. But the fun part is that it doesn¡¯t actually do any damage. Nor does it stop unless the antidote is administered. And I¡¯m the only person who knows how to make that antidote. So, if I pour this down your throat, you can expect to remain in agony until the day you die. Or until you tell me what I want to know. So, I¡¯m going to ask you one more time before we get serious about this ¨C who sent you? And why?¡± ¡°The Imperium!¡± he half-shouted. ¡°They¡¯ve put out a bounty on pirates, and they¡¯re looking for natural treasures in bulk. You satisfy both. We were going to take your ship and your cargo and take it back to Larapole.¡± ¡°The Imperium? Why would they have a bounty on pirates?¡± asked Iris. ¡°They¡¯re at war.¡± ¡°They¡¯re always at war.¡± ¡°Not like this. There¡¯s a horde of monsters that routed one of their armies. So, they¡¯re building up their forces, and they¡¯re doing everything they can to advance their most powerful fighters. I don¡¯t know how the treasures fit into that, but that¡¯s why they want them. As to the pirates¡­well, they can¡¯t let threats to their supply lines continue,¡± the man babbled. ¡°Hmm. Interesting.¡± After that, the man¡¯s information petered out, but to his credit, the interrogation of the other people in his group of bandits corroborated his statements. So, Tucker believed him. Afterwards, he sat across from Iris and asked, ¡°So, what does this mean for us?¡± She grinned. ¡°Opportunity. That¡¯s what it means.¡± ¡°I like the way you think.¡± 559. Best Shot The spear, glowing with radiant power, skittered off Zeke¡¯s ribs, and he returned the failed attack with a backhanded blow from his hammer. The Knight took it on her shield, activating some sort of skill, and for a brief second, she resisted the momentum of the strike. Then, an explosion of sound, the skill broke, and Voromir sent the woman flying backward into her subordinates. A hail of arrows fell upon Zeke. Some hit with enough force to stagger him, but most glanced off his metallic skin. Only one or two managed to pierce his flesh, but even then, they only made it an inch into his body before grinding to a halt. He slapped the offending arrows away just as dozens of magical attacks descended. Fireballs, jagged shards of ice, and blades of wind were the most prominent, but there were quite a few other, more esoteric forces at play. Zeke felt his body weight increase a hundred-fold as someone harnessed the power of gravity, and bright lights seared his retinas at the behest of some sort of light mage. Chains of darkness erupted from the ground, wrapping around his limbs, and a dozen curses seared themselves onto his soul. It was almost enough to make him stumble. With a roar, Zeke harnessed his Will, ripping apart the chains and eradicated the primitive runes governing the curses. At the same time, he endured the volley of spells, trusting his insane durability to see him through. But even with all of his advantages ¨C his high attributes and his innate resistances ¨C he couldn¡¯t deny the pain of having all that power directed at him. But it was a long way from harming him, and even if that barrage did some damage, it would have easily been dealt with by [Hand of Divinity]. That skill wasn¡¯t necessary. His foes, while numerous, were not strong enough to offer him any threat. The same could not be said for the man that suddenly appeared atop the nearby wall. Using [Inspect], Zeke determined that the white-armored Knight had reached the peak of the Eternal Realm, meaning that he was level one-hundred. By comparison, Zeke was only level ninety-eight, which meant that he should have been at a disadvantage. But levels weren¡¯t everything. ¡°Face me, or I will slaughter everyone here!¡± he shouted. To punctuate that statement, Zeke used [Eye of Reckoning]. A beam of pure destruction erupted from the center of his forehead and scorched its way across the battlefield. It slammed into the invisible shield encircling the city, but that barrier shattered after only a second. The people behind it barely had time to widen their eyes in shock before they were obliterated. Almost a hundred people died in the space of a second, but then the shield snapped back into place, stronger than before. Zeke could punch through it again, but not without serious expenditure of mana. But his enemies didn¡¯t know that. For all they could tell, he was a monster, which meant that they thought he was equipped with the nearly endless supply of energy characteristic of the most powerful creatures. That was one advantage they had over sapient races, though that was mitigated somewhat by the fact that monsters were almost always highly specialized ¨C meaning that they usually only had one or two skills available to them. ¡°I will do it again and again until you fight me, coward,¡± Zeke spat. ¡°Hide behind your little wall of mana if you wish, but know that in doing so, you doom those you were meant to protect. Choose now, or I will make the choice for you.¡± To highlight the statement, Zeke kept [Eye for Reckoning] on the edge of reactivation. From experience, he knew that doing so would cause the rune governing the skill to become visible, and it would glow so bright that even from a distance, there was no chance that the Knight in charge would fail to see it. Then, Zeke started counting down from five, fully intending to let loose with another beam of death if the Knight chose to ignore his ultimatum. When he reached the end of the countdown, the man finally leaped down, landing with a resonant thud. The impact kicked up quite a lot of dust ¨C some of which were the ashes of combatants Zeke had destroyed with [Eye of Reckoning]. Perhaps some of them had been the peak Knight¡¯s friends. Or failing that close of a relationship, maybe he at least knew their names. Followed their careers, perhaps. He might have even targeted some of them for promotions. Yet, as much as Zeke might have empathized with the Knight¡¯s emotions, he didn¡¯t feel sorry for the man. The Knights associated with the Radiant Host were horrible people who¡¯d, at the very least, looked the other way when confronted with one injustice after another. Zeke only needed to remember the state of the brothel back in Moreth to silence any doubts. Or any pity for what he was about to do. For what he¡¯d already done to those loyal to the Imperium. ¡°They never had a chance to be anything else,¡± Eveline remarked as the Knight strode forward. He wore white lacquered armor and carried a longsword in one hand and a shield in the other. At his waist was an elaborately jeweled dagger that practically glowed with mana. A powerful artifact, then, and one the man would surely attempt to use against Zeke. Eveline then added, ¡°He probably didn¡¯t have a choice in who he became.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°There¡¯s always a choice, Eveline.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lie, and you absolutely know it. We¡¯re a product of our environments. Maybe he would have turned out the same in another situation, but you can¡¯t stand there and tell me that this man has been unaffected by being in the Imperium, where one wrong statement could see him hanged,¡± Eveline said. ¡°He could have left. He could have ¨C¡± ¡°Easy to say when it¡¯s someone else. This man is what he was made to be. He was just ¨C¡± ¡°If you say he was just following orders, I¡¯m going to lock you away.¡± ¡°Ezekiel, I ¨C¡± Zeke forcefully ignored her. It wasn¡¯t the same as using [Bulwark of the Triumvirate] to imprison and quarantine her, but it was enough to let the former demon know that he didn¡¯t want to continue a line of discussion. Thankfully, she took it as it was intended, and she went silent. However, there was a significant degree of ire radiating from her presence within his mind. He ignored that, too. Instead, he focused on his opponent, who¡¯d covered a few dozen feet over the course of Zeke¡¯s conversation with the mind spirit. In that time, the man had grown to a height of almost twenty feet. Clearly, it was a similar skill as the one used by various Knights of Adontis, but even with that powerful ability at play, he was still much smaller than Zeke¡¯s titanic form. Finally, the man came to a stop, his shield held aloft. ¡°Monster.¡± ¡°I was going to say the same thing,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You think me the one at fault?¡± the man asked, cocking his head to the side. His face was hidden by a full helm, but Zeke didn¡¯t need to see his expression to know what it meant. ¡°You invaded my country. You slaughtered my people. You ¨C¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get to take the high road,¡± Zeke said, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Your armies attacked my people hundreds of miles from here. The Imperium started this, and now that I¡¯ve seen the state of this empire, I¡¯m more than happy to be the one to finish it. You enslave those you deem beneath you, and when you¡¯re done with them, you have no qualms about slaughtering them. I have seen it with my own eyes. You¡¯d rather kill the enslaved than let them be free. Monster, you called me. But in my eyes, you and yours qualify for that label far more than I ever could. More than any creatures I¡¯ve ever seen. And let me tell you, I have fought monsters you can only imagine.¡± ¡°It is a skill, isn¡¯t it? You are no Titan, as you are labeled by the Framework. What are you?¡± ¡°People keep asking me that.¡± ¡°And how have you answered it in the past?¡± the Knight asked. ¡°Just a man, and one who¡¯s tired of allowing people like you and yours to continue to exist. Your goddess picked a fight with me. I make her uneasy. One day, I intend to stand before her true form and make her answer for the sins of her followers,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But for now, I¡¯m going to have to settle for you.¡± ¡°You truly believe that. You have no idea who I am, and yet, you believe yourself my superior. Is that hubris? Or are you just that powerful?¡± the knight asked. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no getting around this, is there?¡± ¡°Unless you surrender the city to me, free all your slaves, and turn every single Knight over to me, then no,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°There¡¯s no getting around it. We¡¯re going to fight, you¡¯re going to die, and I¡¯m going to purge this city from the face of the Eternal Realm. That, I can promise you.¡± The Knight let out a barely audible sigh. Then, he raised his sword and said, ¡°So be it.¡± The moment the words left the man¡¯s lips, Zeke felt a massive surge of mana in the air. Glancing up, he saw a spinning vortex of radiant energy. Normally, that particular brand of mana was golden, but this particular case presented so brightly that the area was cast in a wide variety of brilliant colors. Then, that vortex tightened. At first, it had been a little more than a hundred feet wide, but with every passing second, it lost around fifteen feet in diameter. However, it didn¡¯t lose any intensity, though. Instead, it grew denser with ever contraction until it was only teen feet wide and hovering directly over Zeke¡¯s head. He could have moved. One use of [Shifting Sands], and he could be a quarter of a mile away. He didn¡¯t use the skill, though. He wanted to see just how hard a peak member of the Radiant Host could really hit. Sure, a provincial Knight stationed in what amounted to a frontier town probably wasn¡¯t the strongest the Imperium had to offer, but he was a good measure of what Zeke might expect going forward. Finally, after ten seconds, the vortex coalesced into a dense beam of radiance that hit Zeke with the force of an atomic bomb. The earth beneath his feet disintegrated immediately, digging a hundred-foot-wide crater in the ground. Vaguely, he was aware of a shockwave that tore across the battlefield, melting the bodies of the warriors who¡¯d dared to fight Zeke earlier in the battle. Thankfully, his own army was a few hundred yards away, safely nestled behind shields erected by the spiritweavers. The Knights atop the wall were protected as well, though a few cracks spread across the stone edifice. But the real damage happened within a few feet of Zeke¡¯s location. In that small circle, everything was destroyed. Even Zeke¡¯s durable body ¨C with all its resistances ¨C couldn¡¯t stand up to that. In a detached way, he felt his metallic body melt under the onslaught. Then, the resulting quicksilver-like substance started to evaporate. Zeke let it go on for nearly five seconds before he took hold of his body with [Hand of Divinity], gripping it with the incomparable force of his Will. Normally, he employed it to destroy but in this case, he reversed his intent, preventing the complete destruction of his body. It held long enough for [Hand of Divinity] to do its work, healing him without issue. The barrage of radiant destruction continued for almost an entire minute before, at last, the power waned. When it finished, Zeke found himself kneeling at the bottom of a molten crater. His unblemished body shimmered in the last vestiges of that radiant light. He took a deep breath, realizing that he¡¯d used his Will in an entirely new way. But it made sense to him. The key was that Radiance, for all the power it could bring to bear, was not pure destruction. And so, it could never conquer his Will. Zeke let that breath out, then straightened to his full height. The crater dug by the Knight¡¯s skill was more than a hundred feet deep, and Zeke had found himself at the nadir. So, he flexed his legs and leaped to the top, where he found an extremely surprised Knight approaching the crater. ¡°Not bad,¡± Zeke said. ¡°My compliments. A few months ago, that definitely would have killed me.¡± ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°I guess whatever doesn¡¯t kill us, makes us stronger, though. Now it¡¯s my turn,¡± he said, hefting Voromir. The hammer was glowing with the residual heat of the beam of radiance, and yet, Zeke could feel that the weapon hungered to return the attack with one of its own. He intended to oblige the weapon¡¯s brutal nature. 560. Surrender Zeke shook his head as he looked at the long lines of shackled prisoners. There were thousands of people there, and plenty more remained within the city, where a few pockets of resistance had sprung up to defend the civilians. The scouts had found more than one mass grave containing hundreds of beastkin, elven, or even dwarven bodies, and by all indications, they would continue to find the results of the Imperium¡¯s barbaric practices. If Zeke had felt guilty about the prosecution of the war, those feelings were quickly banished by the reality of the evil associated with the Radiant Host and the citizens of their empire. Still, knowing that he was doing the right thing didn¡¯t help with the logistics of the situation. ¡°Where the hell are we going to put them all?¡± he wondered aloud. Eveline answered, ¡°The dungeon will accommodate as many people as necessary.¡± Indeed, the tower had a habit of growing when necessary. The fields of the Artisan¡¯s Terrace covered miles of territory, and the Residential District had grown to encompass an area large enough to be called a city in its own right. Even the grounds associated with the Lord¡¯s Manor had expanded. So, if the Crimson Tower deemed more space in the dungeon a necessity, then it would grow to suit those needs. Still, Zeke didn¡¯t like the idea of imprisoning thousands of people. Sure, they had tacitly approved of the Imperium¡¯s evil practices, but despite Zeke¡¯s previous assertions that there was always a choice, he could at least acknowledge that they weren¡¯t entirely to blame for the immorality hosted by their country of origin. Most of the civilians he¡¯d seen were bigoted toward non-humans, but they had never actually harmed anyone. So, it begged the question of whether or not he could rightly imprison those people for no more than having the wrong attitude. But it was more complicated than that. Ideas gave way to actions, and without their approval ¨C or at least tolerance ¨C the situation never could have degraded so thoroughly. So, even if they hadn¡¯t actively participated in the enslavement of non-humans, they were at least partially responsible. Not that that distinction made it any easier for Zeke to figure out what to do with them. In truth, there was a part of him that just wanted to execute them all and be done with the issue. That would have been much easier. However, even at his most bloodthirsty, Zeke could never approve of that path. In a perfect world, the captives could be rehabilitated and incorporated into the tower¡¯s society. Maybe then they could see that all non-humans weren¡¯t inferior. Yet, Zeke knew just how unlikely it was that those people¡¯s minds would be changed. Even back on Earth, prejudice had been pervasive. People distrusted anyone who looked or acted differently. And that had been when everyone was the same species. It would be much worse when one was dealing with elves and dwarves, and it would result in nearly insurmountable differences when beastkin were considered. Zeke sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to imprison them for now. Give them a chance to change, I guess. But¡­¡± ¡°But don¡¯t hold your breath, right?¡± Eveline said. ¡°Yeah. Something like that.¡± The likelihood that those people would change was, to put it lightly, a low probability proposition. Once bigotry was ingrained ¨C especially considering how the Imperium seemed to reinforce the notion of human superiority ¨C it was incredibly difficult to bypass. In such a situation, facts and logic had no place. Only hate. ¡°It¡¯s not even hate. It¡¯s just narcissism. Those people can¡¯t stand the notion that they aren¡¯t inherently the best. And if they fail, they have an easy scapegoat,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°It¡¯s not just humans, either. On my world, we had similar issues. We moved past them, but there were still pockets of the population that refused to see the truth.¡± Zeke ran his hand through his hair and said, ¡°I can¡¯t solve discrimination. I¡¯m only one person, and I¡¯m not going to be here long enough to change anything. Not for good, at least.¡± ¡°Nobody expects you to.¡± He wasn¡¯t so sure about that. He¡¯d seen the looks on some of his people¡¯s faces. The kobolds were largely unaffected by the scenes of slavery. For them, the world was a simple place, and they didn¡¯t have the experience to recognize the moral implications at play. They saw an enemy, and they killed them. That was it. They didn¡¯t even feel hatred, as far as Zeke could tell. The beastkin, elves, and humans beneath him were very different. They were more than capable of hatred, and they had no issues aiming their ire at the sorts of people who would enslave them, given half a chance. It was an ongoing problem, just keeping them from executing the citizens of the Imperium. Only the children were relatively safe, and even they found themselves as the targets of revenge. After all, if you truly wanted to hurt someone, there was no more effective action than killing their children. Zeke and his immediate underlings had done everything to curtail such actions, but he knew those efforts weren¡¯t entirely effective. Wronged people were prone to lashing out, and there was little he could do to stop them. A part of him didn¡¯t even want to, which was a troubling realization, and one he pushed aside. Ignoring it didn¡¯t stay his ire, though. Those thoughts and many more raced through Zeke¡¯s mind as he toured the city. He didn¡¯t lend his power to the ongoing battles, instead leaving his people to solve the problems on their own. He¡¯d learned that maintaining an army meant walking a tightrope between giving them the assistance they needed and letting them figure things out on their own. On one side, he would protect them. On the other was true growth. Balance was the key. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Regardless, he didn¡¯t see anything that required his intervention. But he did realize that he didn¡¯t even remember the name of the city he¡¯d taken over. Ever since the fall of Moreth, the prosecution of the war had grown blurry. Three other cities had already fallen, and it was only when he¡¯d found the way barred by the powerful peak Knight had he risen above the malaise that came with what felt like an endless battle. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t even lie and say you don¡¯t enjoy that.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Fighting. You live for it. You just don¡¯t like it when they can¡¯t challenge you,¡± she said. ¡°But I have a surprise for you.¡± ¡°Really? How?¡± ¡°I see things. I hear things. Just trust me when I say I¡¯m not quite as bound to you as you might think. You know I have some freedom within the tower, but I¡¯ve recently discovered that you don¡¯t necessarily have to be inside of it for me to gather useful information,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°That¡¯s¡­a little troubling.¡± ¡°You know I¡¯m on your side. Don¡¯t worry about it. Instead, look at this shiny new thing I¡¯m going to dangle in front of you,¡± she said. ¡°Jingle.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not helping your case very much. You know that, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. But the real question is if I¡¯m acting this way, knowing that you¡¯ll see through it, or ¨C¡± ¡°It¡¯s kind of obvious that you¡¯re trying to distract me from whatever it is you¡¯re doing in my tower,¡± Zeke said. Though he wasn¡¯t really all that worried about Eveline, he still wasn¡¯t quite sure what to make of her freedom, such as it was. ¡°That¡¯s my point,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯d obviously see through it, so maybe I¡¯m trying to lower your guard. But it¡¯s not difficult to see through that, either. So, am I banking on you knowing that I know? Following that, maybe I know that you¡¯ll know, which you know. Of course, I¡¯d know that, too. And ¨C¡± ¡°I get it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you do, Ezekiel. The real point here is that if I haven¡¯t earned your trust by this point, then I never will. In that case, you¡¯re going to be going round and round as you try to figure out what my real goal is.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the solution, then?¡± ¡°Trust that I¡¯m sincere in my desire to help you. Or failing that, trust that I want to help myself. We¡¯re in the same boat, so by assisting you, I accomplish that all-important goal of survival,¡± she said. ¡°Fine. So, what kind of surprise do you have for me?¡± he asked. ¡°Jingle.¡± ¡°Please stop.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re so fun to tease!¡± Zeke didn¡¯t overtly respond, but his attitude must have seeped through, because she gave a mental nod before going on, ¡°You need to lighten up.¡± ¡°Thousands of people died here,¡± Zeke said, looking around the city. Most of it was intact, but there were still fires raging out of control. Those had been set by skills, and the only way to put them out was for someone with the opposite skill to extinguish them. Or by letting them burn themselves out of mana. ¡°I¡¯d have to be a psychopath to lighten up.¡± ¡°Fair point. So, I¡¯ll just move right along here. I found a dungeon,¡± she announced. ¡°And it fits one of the attunements you need. If we play our cards right, we might just tick another one of those boxes and get that much closer to finishing your quest.¡± ¡°Which attunement?¡± Zeke asked excitedly. He¡¯d been worried about finishing that quest, largely because he knew that powerful natural treasures weren¡¯t widely available. Certainly, he had a large cache of weaker items, but while those would satisfy the terms of the quest, he wasn¡¯t willing to compromise the original vision of making the tower upgrade as powerful as possible. The Hall of Affinities would assuredly be a huge boon, regardless of which treasures he used, but he owed it to the kobolds ¨C and himself ¨C to avoid shortchanging the process and using inferior items. Belatedly, he asked, ¡°Where did you find this information, anyway?¡± ¡°I listened.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± She gave a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°The kobolds that raided the affluent district found a map. There are two dungeons listed on there. So, naturally, when the spoils were brought back to the tower, I helped myself to the information. Both dungeons are close, too. One is about a hundred miles into the mountains, while the other is located on the northern coast of a nearby inland sea.¡± ¡°Earth and water?¡± ¡°Close,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Fire and water. Two that you need.¡± ¡°Interesting. Did you discover anything else? And why didn¡¯t someone tell me?¡± he asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been moping around ever since you had to kill that knight,¡± she said. ¡°Nobody wanted to bother you.¡± Zeke sighed. He needed to remember that, for all that he still thought of himself as a simple person, he had become a ruler. The kobolds revered him as something akin to a god. Or if not that, then close to how they¡¯d viewed the wyrm who¡¯d ushered them to the edge of sapience before sacrificing herself so her children could escape the mines beneath Min Ferilik. ¡°This is my own damh fault, isn¡¯t it?¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°It usually is.¡± That much was certainly true. If he wanted to be kept abreast of the happenings within his tower, he needed to make an effort at being a more active ruler. That meant less brooding in his manor and more attending meetings. ¡°Or you could appoint me as your voice,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, rightly pointing out that she was, in fact, an incorporeal mind spirit who presented as a succubus. The latter was a problem, but the former meant that she literally couldn¡¯t affect anyone in the physical world. As far as Zeke knew, she couldn¡¯t even manifest visually unless he was nearby. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But you¡¯re forgetting two things.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°First, the Crimson Tower is as much a part of you as any of your appendages. As such, I can appear anywhere in the tower with only a little expenditure of mana,¡± she said. ¡°Second, do you really believe that everyone in your army has failed to notice that you wield corruption? Those domains of yours ¨C you know, the ones you use in every single battle ¨C have begun to inoculate your people against corruption. Some of have even manifested demonic attunements. They know what you are, and they don¡¯t care. Following that, they won¡¯t care what I am, either.¡± Zeke considered her pitch ¨C for that was what it was ¨C but in the back of his mind, he questioned whether or not he wanted to be alone with his own thoughts. He¡¯d often joked about wanting her out of his head, but the reality was that he¡¯d gotten used to her constant company. And as annoying as Eveline could sometimes, be he still valued her input. More than once, she¡¯d helped him survive, and he was loathe to leave that behind just so he didn¡¯t have to attend a few meetings. ¡°I¡¯m touched.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t make this weird.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to make it extremely weird, considering you just admitted that you can¡¯t imagine a world without me in it,¡± she said smugly. ¡°But before that, I¡¯ll point out that, as a mind spirit, I can process multiple threads of thought at any given time. I can be with you ¨C a desire you so lovingly expressed, I might add ¨C and I can attend to your affairs in the tower without either suffering my absence.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°If people start to depend on you, and then you disappear¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t disappear. I can promise that. I¡¯ve had free rein in the tower for months now. I think I would know if I couldn¡¯t make good on my promise.¡± There was a firmness to that statement that allayed any of Zeke¡¯s doubts. So, he said, ¡°Fine. But if it¡¯s something you know I¡¯ll care about, you need to swear to me that you¡¯ll let me know so I have an opportunity to give my input. And I know you know what kind of things I¡¯m talking about, so no excuses.¡± ¡°I agree to your terms,¡± she said. ¡°Now, when do we get to tell the kobolds? I¡¯m very eager to meet everyone in person.¡± 561. The Volcano ¡°That was weird,¡± Zeke said as he leaped over a fallen tree. The forest all around him looked as if it had just been hit by a hurricane of epic proportions, but he knew that wasn¡¯t the case. For one, they were too far from the ocean for that, and for another, he¡¯d been assured by some of the natives that there had been no storms. However, they had informed him that there were powerful monsters in the forest, which prevented them from going too far from their villages. ¡°What? The village?¡± asked Adara. ¡°They seemed like normal people.¡± Indeed, in the past two days since they¡¯d left the conquered city ¨C Zeke still hadn¡¯t learned its name ¨C behind, they¡¯d encountered a scattered few villages. And he¡¯d been surprised to find that they were surprisingly ordinary. There were no Knights there, and if Zeke hadn¡¯t known better, he¡¯d never have suspected that they were subjects of the evil Imperium with which he¡¯d gone to war. They¡¯d been more than welcoming when he¡¯d come into town, and he¡¯d been further surprised to find that the beastkin and other races ¨C of which there were only a few ¨C were not enslaved. It seemed that that particular issue was reserved for the larger cities. Zeke had learned that the rural villages were entirely ignored by the Imperium ¨C a necessity, given the amount of land the empire covered. They simply didn¡¯t have the manpower to enforce their views on their entire territory. Visiting those villages definitely brought to mind some pleasant memories, and the experience highlighted the fact that Zeke¡¯s black-and-white, enemy-or-friend style of thinking had some definite holes in it. Just because someone was ruled by a bunch of evil monsters in human form, it didn¡¯t mean that they subscribed to the same immoral ideas. Of course none of that mattered when those same people took up arms against him, but it was definitely something to think about. Regardless, that wasn¡¯t the subject of his comment. Instead, he was still flabbergasted by the fact that everyone had just accepted Eveline without even a hint of an issue. The kobolds¡¯ reaction, he¡¯d expected. They revered him to the point that they would do whatever he said without question. Yet, he¡¯d anticipated that he would get at least some pushback from the others. However, they¡¯d all embraced Eveline like she was a long-lost friend. Or part of their family. If he hadn¡¯t known better, Zeke would have thought that she was using some sort of skill. But he was well aware that wasn¡¯t the case. Not only had he forbidden her from doing anything of the sort, but in her current form, she just wasn¡¯t powerful enough to affect that kind of change among so many people. Maybe she¡¯d been sandbagging all along, but he also felt confident that he would have felt it if she¡¯d used any abilities. No ¨C they had just accepted her like one of their own because they trusted his word when he¡¯d told them that her supervision of the tower was for the best. It was baffling and off-putting. ¡°I was talking about the thing with Eveline.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Adara had already heard plenty about his misgivings, and she hadn¡¯t been terribly subtle about what she thought of them. ¡°I know what you¡¯re going to say,¡± Zeke stated before she had a chance to go on. ¡°Do you?¡± she asked. ¡°If I didn¡¯t trust her, I shouldn¡¯t have put her in charge of the tower,¡± he answered. Adara had said as much more than once, and though Zeke felt that she was right, he also felt there were some gray areas that she¡¯d yet to acknowledge. ¡°That¡¯s true enough. But I was also going to remind you that you¡¯ve been living with her in your mind for years now, and she¡¯s never done anything to betray the trust you¡¯ve given her,¡± Adara stated. ¡°That has to count for something, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only reason I even considered giving her free rein in the tower at all.¡± But in the back of his mind, he also knew that Eveline was, at her core, still a demon, and an ancient one at that. Before she¡¯d been chained, she had been a peak power in Hell. A person like that was capable of anything. ¡°It doesn¡¯t do any good to continue worrying about it,¡± Adara said. ¡°And it could become detrimental.¡± ¡°I can put those thoughts aside when I want to.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about focus,¡± Adara said. ¡°I¡¯m talking about you and me. I like you, Zeke. I really do. But that could change if you start moping around all the time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not moping.¡± ¡°Close enough,¡± she said. ¡°And let¡¯s not forget that the demon in question is still sitting in your mind. Her focus is split, right? That means she can hear everything we say.¡± At that moment, Eveline flickered into existence. However, instead of her usual appearance, which was visually indistinguishable from solid matter, she looked faded and partially transparent. That was the cost of splitting herself between the outside world and the Crimson Tower. ¡°That is true, but at this point, I¡¯m used to Ezekiel¡¯s quirks,¡± she said, floating above the ground. ¡°You should hear how introspective he can get when he¡¯s alone. The world sees this brutish monster of a man, but me? I get to see an amateur philosopher who constantly worries about moral implications and dwells on the traumas of his past. I prefer the brute, if I¡¯m honest. It feels more authentic.¡± ¡°Because it is,¡± Adara said, vaulting over another fallen tree. ¡°A warrior should spend time debating morality with himself, but once committed to an action, the time for thinking is long past. Only the battle matters at that point.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°That is an interesting view,¡± Eveline said. ¡°And it is a fairly accurate way to describe Ezekiel. Although, he does worry quite a lot about the fate of the masses, unimportant as they often are.¡± ¡°To you,¡± Adara said. ¡°Those unimportant civilians often feel differently.¡± ¡°Ah, yes ¨C to them, they are the center of everything. Even the beggars in the streets feel that their lives have meaning,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make them right.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t make them wrong, either,¡± Adara stated. ¡°We must strive to ensure a just society for all people, regardless of their species.¡± ¡°Oh, I couldn¡¯t care less about that kind of thing. The only thing that matters is power. That provides meaning. The weak are just a weight keeping the strong from truly realizing their potential,¡± she said. ¡°Unless properly utilized, of course. That is my goal for the tower. It should uplift Ezekiel and the others like yourself. Its population should support you and help usher each successive generation to ever more power.¡± ¡°And the weak? What about them? Do they have no place?¡± ¡°Of course they do. They can be motivation. They can be cautionary tales. They can support and manage. There are countless ways for them to contribute, and they will be rewarded for doing so,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°Perhaps they can change their own fate, given enough work. Or failing that, the fate of their offspring can be altered. That is the power of a collective. As the most powerful rise, so do the least. The Crimson Tower is a tool with unimaginable potential, and if we use it properly, the truly weak will only have themselves to blame. Certainly, they will not lack support, resources, or opportunity. As such, those who remain among the bottom rungs will be there because they deserve it.¡± ¡°Can we please focus?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°There¡¯s something out here that¡¯s been tearing up all these trees.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably just a monster,¡± Eveline said dismissively. ¡°You¡¯re more than a match for anything. You should really be focusing on the dungeon. It¡¯s not far away now.¡± Indeed, from the maps Zeke had been given, the dungeon was less than a hundred miles away. Given that he could cover that much ground in a single afternoon ¨C of half an hour if he wanted to push it ¨C he did need to put himself in the proper mindset. Dungeons were always dangerous, and if he wasn¡¯t prepared, he would run the risk of an injury that might sideline him for weeks. Plus, he had Adara with him. She was strong and durable, but she was still much weaker than him. His instincts told him that she needed protection, but he knew precisely how much she would resent that attitude. She wasn¡¯t afflicted with the same jealousy or the inferiority complex of someone like Abby, but the half-orc woman was adamant about trying to stand on her own. If she couldn¡¯t she would accept help gratefully, but the last thing she wanted was to be put into a box and kept safe. That made Zeke¡¯s path a fine line to walk. Because Zeke was good at fighting, but in battle, he¡¯d never been great at protecting people. Even when he¡¯d flirted with the idea of wielding a shield and dedicating himself to becoming a barrier between his friends and danger, he¡¯d known he was ill-suited to the task. That was why he¡¯d discarded the notion. Still, he sometimes wondered if he could have changed his nature if he truly committed to doing so. ¡°Assuredly not,¡± Eveline said, this time in his mind. ¡°Nor should you. The girl is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. But this isn¡¯t really about Adara, is it? You feel guilty about leaving the kobolds to prosecute the war on their own.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I? What if they encounter another peak fighter?¡± ¡°Many will die. But they are stronger than you think,¡± she said. ¡°Besides, all of our intelligence suggests that the Imperium has begun to pull back, abandoning these frontier cities so that they can better protect the more important locations.¡± ¡°And if our intelligence is wrong?¡± ¡°Again, people will die. That is war, Ezekiel.¡± Zeke shook his head, and as he continued through the devastated forest, Adara and Eveline maintained their conversation. The pair got along quite well, which was both comforting and frustrating for him. So, to distract himself, he considered the previous conversation. Not the part about leaving his army to fend for itself. That made sense to him, and not just because he wanted to challenge the dungeon and hopefully satisfy the terms of his quest. That was part of it, but he also knew that the kobolds couldn¡¯t grow unless they were let off their proverbial leash. He couldn¡¯t hover over them like some overprotective parent. Doing so would only stunt their development. Still, like a parent, he struggled with the notion that implications of his absence. They would be hurt. Some would die. And in the end, the whole would be better for it. That didn¡¯t make the impending deaths any easier to accept, though. He¡¯d gone through that debate often enough that he didn¡¯t need to dwell on it further. Instead, he considered war itself. It was an ugly thing, and something he wished wasn¡¯t necessary. As much as he enjoyed fighting ¨C and he very much did ¨C Zeke wasn¡¯t blind to the inevitable consequences of war. If the damage was limited to soldiers, it would have been far more acceptable, but that simply wasn¡¯t the case. In any battle, there would be collateral damage. Innocents would die, and lives would be ruined. It was almost enough to make a man question the path he¡¯d taken. Yet, that awareness also cemented in Zeke¡¯s mind the necessity of war. Evil existed. He knew that down to the core of who he was. He¡¯d seen it. And sometimes, evil needed to be eradicated at all costs. Such was the case with the Imperium, who routinely enslaved anyone who was different from them. They thought nothing of killing anyone who didn¡¯t fit into their box of acceptability, and they had instituted a system of governance that ensured that only certain people were allowed to grow. Keeping their proverbial boot on the necks of anyone who didn¡¯t fit the mold was the only way they¡¯d maintained power. And Zeke was certain that their actions were evil, and what¡¯s more, he¡¯d seen enough in the Radiant Isles that he could reliably label their patron ¨C the Sun Goddess Shar Maelaine ¨C the same way. She was an infection that had been allowed to spread too far, and he intended to scour the Eternal Plane of her influence. And when he was done with that, he would find her on the Ethereal Plane and finally end her reign of evil. That was Zeke¡¯s commitment, and he refused to waver from that path, regardless of how detestable he found the consequences of the war he had chosen to wage. It was as those thoughts coalesced in his mind that he became aware of a subtle tremor racing through the ground. He looked around, unsure of what to expect. But he said, ¡°Look alive. Something is coming.¡± Adara wheeled around, ready to meet whatever threat presented itself, and in that moment, Zeke was once again struck by just how much she embodied everything he admired. She was strong. Powerful in a way that exceeded her levels, stats, and skills. She wouldn¡¯t hesitate to stand up to any threat. ¡°Doesn¡¯t hurt that she¡¯s quite attractive, either,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°No. No it doesn¡¯t,¡± Zeke said with a slight grin as he embraced [Titan]. As he grew, the tremors became more pervasive until it felt like he was in the middle of an earthquake. Yet, still, there was no sign of any opponent. Then, just as Zeke was beginning to wonder if, perhaps, the shaking came from a natural source, that he caught sight of the monster. Towering hundreds of feet over the fallen forest, it was a true sight to behold. ¡°Who has invaded my territory?¡± bellowed the dragon, its head the size of a locomotive as it looked down on the pair of intruders. 562. The Difference Between Wyrms and Dragons Zeke took an inadvertent step backwards as a wave of primal fear swept through his mind. It only lasted a moment, but in the brief instant, he knew what others might feel when they looked at him. Violently, he shoved that away and studied the creature looming over him. It was enormous. Zeke had seen many huge monsters since being reborn in the troll caves. From the cyclops to the enormous tortoise to his recent encounter with the necromantic vessel, he¡¯d often been made to feel very small. Despite being only a couple hundred feet tall, the dragon gave that same impression, though it seemed to encompass more than just size. It was like, for the first time ever, Zeke found himself face-to-face with a true god. Which was ridiculous, considering that he knew for a fact that Shar Maelaine ¨C or even Oberon ¨C were far more powerful than the creature looking down on him. It took a few seconds ¨C during which, Zeke just stared at the thing ¨C before he zeroed in on the source of that feeling. Mana, thin and diffuse, swirled around the dragon, sending tiny tendrils of energy to interact with everything in its immediate area. That included Zeke. With a flex of his Will, he destroyed them. ¡°In some cultures, using a skill on someone is enough to pick a fight,¡± he said, tightening his grip on Voromir. ¡°Luckily for you, I¡¯m not here for that.¡± ¡°Why you are here is unimportant, little golem,¡± the dragon announced. It was at least the size of a jumbo jet, with jet-black scales that glistened with red highlights. Otherwise, it looked remarkably similar to the depictions of western dragons back on Earth. Inevitably, he couldn¡¯t help but compare the creature to the wyrms he¡¯d seen, and though there were similarities between the two species, there were enough differences to make them appear wholly different. For one, wyrm bodies tended toward the serpentine. They had legs, but they were closer to the way eastern cultures depicted dragons. They were missing wings, though. By comparison, the dragon looming over Zeke was thick-bodied and muscular, with huge, bat-like wings that were currently tucked close to its body. But the most impactful difference was in the eyes. At the end of the day, wyrms were monsters, and when Zeke had looked into the eyes of one even as powerful as Mikaena, he¡¯d seen the evidence of her heritage. However, this dragon was obviously sapient, with intelligence behind its eyes that said in no uncertain terms, that it was a person, rather than a beast. ¡°Then what is important, big lizard?¡± he retorted. The dragon¡¯s eyes widened in shock before a puff of red flames erupted from its nostrils. ¡°You dare?¡± ¡°You started it,¡± Zeke pointed out, shifting his feet slightly. He felt confident in his defenses, but he was well aware of the reputation associated with dragons. So, he had no interest in taking the thing¡¯s best attack head-on. Beyond that, he only ensured that he was between the giant, reptilian creature and Adara, who surely could not withstand an attack from what Zeke suspected was a peak being. ¡°Impudent ¨C¡± ¡°Look,¡± Zeke interrupted. ¡°Like I just said ¨C I¡¯m not here for a fight, but I want to make it perfectly clear that if you want to throw down, I¡¯m more than happy to oblige. I¡¯ll warn you right now, though. If it comes to that, you¡¯re going to end up regretting it. So, I¡¯m asking right now ¨C do you really want to do this? There¡¯s still room for us to coexist.¡± That was when Zeke used [Inspect], which confirmed what he already knew. The dragon was level one-hundred, which meant that it was as powerful as any creature on the Eternal Plane. Yet, the notification he received also contained a slight surprise: Juvenile Dragon ¨C Level 100 ¡°Juvenile,¡± he said in his mind. ¡°Dragons aren¡¯t like us,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Level for level, they are far more powerful than any other race. And a dragon isn¡¯t considered to be full-grown until they cross the threshold and ascend to the Ethereal Plane. This one is practically a child. An adult dragon is many times its size, and an elder dragon can grow to the size of a planet.¡± ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Which planet?¡± he asked. ¡°There¡¯s a big difference between Pluto and Jupiter.¡± ¡°Does it matter? We¡¯re talking about creatures whose size defies comprehension,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Degrees to which you are outclassed are irrelevant.¡± ¡°Touche.¡± ¡°You ignore me?!¡± ¡°I was having a conversation,¡± Zeke said calmly. The dragon narrowed its eyes. ¡°By mocking me, you court death.¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be the first time,¡± he admitted. Indeed, ever since being reborn, he¡¯d leaped from one death-defying stunt to the next. It was a miracle that he had yet to pay the ultimate price. But in that time he¡¯d grown inured to the inevitability of his own death. He didn¡¯t want to die, but he accepted that, at some point, he would find himself facing off against something that could permanently put him down. It had nearly happened against the necrotic vessel, and he expected it would probably do so again. ¡°I will tolerate your impertinence no longer! I will ¨C¡± Zeke didn¡¯t let the creature work itself up. Instead, he exploded into motion, harnessing all of his physical strength to aim a momentous uppercut at the monster¡¯s chin. He leaped, his movement so quick that the air blistered at his passing. Doubtless, the dragon possessed impressive physical attributes of its own, but its posturing had put it on bad footing. And it certainly hadn¡¯t expected him to attack. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The results were monumental. Voromir hit the creature directly in its scaley chin, and a second later, it rocketed backward, flipping so quickly that what little of the forest remained standing was destroyed. Trunks splintered, and trees were uprooted. Boulders went tumbling across the ground as if under the effect of a bomb, and most importantly, the dragon sailed away in a long and lazy arc that saw it colliding with the face of a mountain. A second later, the peak of the mountain collapsed into an enormous landslide that buried the creature beneath hundreds of tons of rock and dirt. Zeke glanced back at Adara, who¡¯d been thrown backward as well and said, ¡°You need to get out of the area as quickly as possible. If you stay, I can¡¯t guarantee your safety.¡± Adara was a proud warrior, but she was no idiot. As such, she knew when she was outmatched, so she wasted no time before pushing herself to her feet and taking off at a sprint. With her attributes, she could cover quite a lot of ground in a hurry, but even so, Zeke could only hope that the dragon would stay down long enough for Adara to get clear. Because if anything happened to her, he didn¡¯t know what he would do. ¡°Probably murder that dragon and anyone it calls kin,¡± Eveline provided. ¡°Yeah,¡± Zeke agreed. ¡°Probably.¡± Wanting to keep the dragon distracted, he stepped forward. As the results of the landslide began to shift, he accelerated from a simple stride to a light jog, and when he saw a scaled snout poke its way out of the pile of dirt and rock, he pushed himself to a sprint. So, when the creature finally climbed free, spreading its wings and roaring its displeasure, Zeke was already upon it. He buried Voromir¡¯s head in the thing¡¯s eye, eliciting a gasp of pain as the orb popped under the pressure. Zeke didn¡¯t let up, either, and over the next few moments, he pummeled the thing with every ounce of force he could muster. And given his massive attributes, that was quite a lot. The dragon never had a chance to react, and over the next few minutes, Zeke bullied the massive thing with his superior strength and the building momentum that came from beginning the fight on his terms. Then, finally, the creature managed to clip him with one of its claws. Not only did the graze send him flying away, but it also sliced through his impressive endurance without issue. His metallic flesh parted with a spray of quicksilver blood, and it was Zeke¡¯s turn to let out a gasp of pain. That attack, simple though it had been, had cut through his defenses like they were nothing. What¡¯s more, it had completely ignored his resistance to pain, lighting his nerves on fire as if he¡¯d never changed his race. ¡°There was Will in that attack,¡± he muttered inwardly. ¡°Of course there was,¡± Evelin stated. ¡°Dragons are better than us in every way. They¡¯re inherently magical, and they can utilize their Will with unrivaled instincts. I thought I made this clear.¡± Before Zeke could respond, he felt a massive surge of mana before he was buried beneath a wave of flames so dense that they seemed almost solid. They tore through his body with a viciousness he could never have anticipated, and for the briefest of moments, all thought ceased. He simply didn¡¯t exist. But then, [Hand of Divinity] soared through him, restoring everything he¡¯d lost. His body had been melted into a puddle of molten silver, but his mind ¨C or his soul, perhaps ¨C remained intact. He used that, as well as the spark of divinity at the core of his being, to rebuild himself. He surged upward from that puddle, all of his body¡¯s details gone. In that moment, he looked like nothing so much as a featureless mannequin made of silver. Yet, a few seconds later, he was back to normal, with black-and-red energy billowing out from the cracks all over his upper body. The dragon, which was more than half a mile away at that point, looked on in shock. ¡°I was going to do this without skills,¡± Zeke said, stepping forward with the inevitable stride of a man on a mission. ¡°Remember ¨C you¡¯re the one who started this. You¡¯re the one who escalated it. Now it¡¯s my turn.¡± Before the dragon could respond, Zeke used both of his domains. Normally, he didn¡¯t bother with either when he was alone, but the psychological effect of suddenly being surrounded by demonic corruption was a valuable tool. On top of that, the resulting atmosphere did make using his Will easier while enhancing skills like [Hell Geyser]. The domains took hold, transforming the fallen forest into a hellscape of fire and corruption. The dragon¡¯s eyes widened once again, but Zeke was already moving. He stomped on the ground, sending a fissure to tear across the intervening distance before it erupted into a column of earth and hellfire. Before it had fully manifested, Zeke used [Eye of Reckoning], which sent a beam of destruction to tear into the dragon¡¯s face. When it hit, it carved a giant wound from just below one eye diagonally across its snout and into its horned head. Blood erupted from the injury, but Zeke wasn¡¯t finished. He ran forward, and mid-stride, used [Shifting Sands]. As time slowed, he saw the terror and pain writ large on the creature¡¯s face. It reeled, trying to regain an advantage it had never really had. But Zeke didn¡¯t allow himself to feel pity for the creature. It had attacked him. It had pushed for a fight. Now, Zeke intended to finish it. He sank into the earth, then rocketed forward. When he erupted from the ground, he used [Unleash Momentum]. It had been quite some time since he¡¯d used the skill, so it had reached its maximum capacity. He let loose with the power of a thousand swings, aiming directly for the dragon¡¯s already injured face. But a second before Voromir made contact, Zeke¡¯s momentum disappeared. Suddenly, he couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Enough,¡± came a boundless voice as immense pressure descended up on Zeke. ¡°Your point is proven, demonkin.¡± Zeke fell to his knees, all of his strength gone. Taken from him. And he didn¡¯t need to look up to know the culprit. Some powerful entity had deigned to look down from on high, just as Shar Maelaine had. And he was tired of it. Summoning his Will, Zeke forced himself upright. He¡¯d intended to leap to his feet, but the best he could manage was a strained stumble. Still, he shoved the ascended entity¡¯s power aside and finally looked up. There, a dragon hovered. And it was at least the size of a moon. Perhaps larger. All Zeke knew was that it filled his vision entirely. ¡°I am no demonkin,¡± Zeke growled. ¡°And you have no place here.¡± ¡°Oh, but I do. You were about to kill my child,¡± the dragon said. ¡°Your child attacked me first. Your child escalated the fight. Your child ¨C¡± ¡°Is an impertinent whelp,¡± the giant dragon stated. Zeke got the impression that it was female, but the voice was androgynous enough that he wouldn¡¯t cling to that assumption. ¡°I know this, but he is my child. I will not allow him to fall.¡± Zeke gritted his teeth. With every passing second, he regained some of his mobility ¨C mostly because he was circulating increasingly potent Will through his body and soul. ¡°You don¡¯t get a say in the matter,¡± he spat, fully embracing his Path of Arcane Destruction. In doing so, he shattered whatever force held him in place, and the image of the dragon shimmered. He hefted his hammer, saying, ¡°I will kill him if I choose to do so.¡± ¡°You will not!¡± the dragon roared, doubling the pressure. However, one side effect of constantly inoculating himself against his own power was that his Will had become incredibly potent. And no matter how powerful the dragon was in their realm, in the Eternal Realm, they were just a projection. And no projection could stand against his Will. Not the dragon. Not Shar Maelaine. No one. With the sound of breaking glass, the image shattered into a million pieces. But the dragon pulled its power back together a moment later. As Zeke advanced on the fallen juvenile dragon, its parent screamed, ¡°Please! I will¡­I will do anything. Just don¡¯t kill him!¡± Zeke stopped. Then, he said, ¡°Anything, you say?¡± ¡°Anything!¡± ¡°Alright, deal,¡± he responded, letting his Will fade. ¡°I¡¯ll let the whelp live, but when I ascend, I will call on you for a favor. If you have any honor at all, you will make good on your promise.¡± ¡°I swear it,¡± the image of the dragon said gravely. Even as they spoke, the projection grew less solid. Just before it faded entirely, it said, ¡°I will remember this.¡± 563. Never Dull Zeke watched the dragon flee into the skies, its wings, huge as they were, seemingly incapable of holding it aloft. Not helping that perception was the fact that its flight path was erratic, its flapping wings stuttering every so often. Clearly, it would take quite some time for it to heal after being so thoroughly injured. After the encounter with its mother, the thing had climbed free of the mountainous landslide, eager to get away as quickly as possible. For his part, Zeke wanted nothing more than to simply finish the job. Fighting such a powerful creature ¨C and even though it was only a juvenile, it was incredibly strong ¨C without getting the kill energy that came from victory was extraordinarily frustrating. It was like waving a big, juicy steak in front of a starving man, and Zeke had to admit that he didn¡¯t like it one little bit. However, he also was no idiot. Killing the creature would have been satisfying in the short run, but despite his posturing, he knew that making such a powerful enemy as the creature¡¯s mother would be counterproductive. Immediately upon ascension to the next realm would be Zeke¡¯s weakest point, and the last thing he needed was to have a strong enemy with a grudge eager to make his life that much more difficult. So, as much as he wanted to chase the wounded creature down and finish it off, his better judgement kept him in place. Once dragon had disappeared over the horizon, Zeke set off in search of Adara. He found her only a few minutes later, hunkered down on the other side of a mountain and surrounded by a shimmering white shield of pure mana. It was her emergency protection, created by the Tower¡¯s tradeskillers, and it harnessed the power of runecrafting to provide much stronger defenses than she could muster on her own. Of course, Zeke could have shattered it with a thought, but he could admit that that fact didn¡¯t make it weak. He was uniquely suited to breaking enchantments, and if he¡¯d had to guess, he would have said that the shield, which was tied to a large, silver plate upon which the runes had been carved, was strong enough to have resisted most attacks from anyone level seventy-five and under. That made it a very useful item that, against more powerful foes, could make the difference between life and death. ¡°You killed it?¡± asked Adara, her body glowing with a defensive skill. She was level eighty-three ¨C a remarkable degree of power given her level when they¡¯d first met ¨C so those skills were no joke. Would it have made a difference against a creature as strong as the dragon? No, not against a direct attack. But those skills, with the added defenses associated with the enchanted plate, might have kept her from becoming collateral damage. Zeke shook his head. ¡°No. We came to an arrangement,¡± he admitted. Then, as she deactivated the shield as well as her skills, he explained what had happened. ¡°It¡¯s never dull with you, is it?¡± she remarked. ¡°Do you know how often most people see projections of the gods? Never. In all my life, I¡¯ve never heard of anyone seeing one. And it seems like a weekly occurrence for you.¡± Zeke responded, ¡°I¡¯ve been meeting gods from the very beginning. I had a conversation with Oberon before I was even reborn, and I met a tree goddess and her demonic brother during my time in the Mortal Realm. Seems like every time I turn around, one of them is trying to interfere with my life.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spark of divinity at work,¡± said Eveline, suddenly appearing beside him. Her form was almost entirely transparent, making her look like a stereotypical ghost. Not helping that impression was the fact that she was floating almost a foot above the ground. ¡°Are you doing that on purpose?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Floating so you look like a spirit.¡± ¡°Uh¡­the spark of divinity marks you within the Framework,¡± she said, ignoring Zeke¡¯s question. ¡°Thought it¡¯s close to a flame of divinity at this point. If it weren¡¯t for your weak body and soul, it would have already reached that point. Which reminds me ¨C you really need to upgrade your race at some point before you descend into the Pit. Otherwise, you won¡¯t get as much out of the journey.¡± Zeke knew good and well that if Eveline wanted to avoid a subject, she would, so he left his question about her theatrics aside. Instead, he asked, ¡°And how am I supposed to do that? I¡¯ve got a lot on my plate right now, in case you didn¡¯t remember.¡± Indeed, between gathering the final natural treasures meant to empower the tower via his quest, he still had Micayne to hunt down, a war to prosecute against the Imperium, and a couple of levels to gain. ¡°You know a talented alchemist, right? Maybe start angling for a reunion. A potion won¡¯t be enough, but combined with the Hall of Affinities, you should be able to push for a racial evolution.¡± Zeke hadn¡¯t really thought about Tucker for quite some time. [Mark of Companionship] was still active, which meant that he could point in the general direction of the alchemist. However, that didn¡¯t mean a reunion would be easy, and not just because of the distance between them. On top of that, Tucker rarely sat still for more than a few days, meaning that, even with [Mark of Companionship], tracking the alchemist down would require quite a lot of effort. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Still, it was one more item to add to his list. He was less worried about Tucker than he had been about Pudge or Talia, largely because he knew the big alchemist could more than take care of himself. Indeed, Zeke wouldn¡¯t have been surprised to find that Tucker¡¯s time in the Eternal Realm was even more successful than his own. Even so, he very much wanted to arrange a reunion before descending into the Pit. Not only were Tucker¡¯s skills incredibly valuable, but Zeke didn¡¯t want to leave the man behind. ¡°Just one more thing to add to the list,¡± he remarked. ¡°But you didn¡¯t really explain the divinity thing. How does that relate to my repeated meeting with beings from the Ethereal Realm?¡± ¡°Being marked by divinity is effectively the Framework acknowledging your potential. It¡¯s more than that, but in this context, that¡¯s what matters,¡± she said. ¡°So, when the Framework sees you as a person with potential, it creates an opportunity for those more powerful to contact you. Most people theorize that it¡¯s meant to help those touched by the divine find patrons who will help them get the most out of their potential, but that¡¯s mostly conjecture. Either way, that feature works regardless of the gods¡¯ intent, implying that it may be meant to test as much as nurture. It¡¯s a fascinating field of study, and one that hasn¡¯t seen nearly as much research as it deserves. Those with divine sparks are rare, and those so touched are generally not amenable to being poked and prodded by their lessers.¡± It made some sense to Zeke, but he had to admit that he didn¡¯t have enough information to make a proper judgement. Besides, for better or worse, he wasn¡¯t really suited to deep thoughts. He just didn¡¯t have the capacity for looking at things from multiple perspectives. Instead, he liked things to be straightforward, and preferably involving a fight. That was his comfort zone. ¡°I guess,¡± he said, running his hand through his hair. Of late, he¡¯d become quite cognizant of how much time he spent in his titanic form, and while he didn¡¯t necessarily think it was an issue, he felt that it was important to devote some of his time to remaining a cambion. Otherwise, he thought that he might begin to lose touch with himself. After assuring Adara that he was okay, the trio ¨C Zeke, the half-orc knight, and Eveline ¨C set off through the ruined forest. Despite the encounter with the dragon, their destination hadn¡¯t changed. The dungeon still beckoned, after all. Traveling among the masses of fallen trees was an exercise in frustration, and more than once, Zeke found himself wishing he could fly. Yet, he¡¯d discarded that notion due to unsuitability, so he had no choice but to traverse the ruined landscape on foot. Climbing trees, going around massive piles of overturned earth, and crossing raging streams of acidic water made the entire journey one of constant annoyance. ¡°It¡¯s like that movie,¡± he said, kneeling beside one such stream. ¡°I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Eveline said. Adara added, ¡°Movies are like plays, right?¡± Zeke still found it odd that the Eternal Realm had never developed better entertainment options. Some of the larger cities featured mages that could create three-dimensional displays of light that, to Zeke, sounded a lot like holograms, but they were highly sought-after and expensive to hire. So, most people never saw anything like that, instead relying on in-person plays, concerts, and even puppet shows for entertainment. ¡°Pretty much,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But when I was a kid, I saw this movie about a volcanic eruption. In it, one of the lakes became so acidic that it killed an old lady.¡± He dipped his hand into the stream, and he felt a sting of pain as the water immediately started to corrode his fingers. ¡°This is like that. I think we¡¯re getting close.¡± Most dungeons were incapable of affecting their environments. Instead, they were self-contained spaces whose only representation in the normal world were the gates leading within. However, there were a scarce few that exerted some influence on the natural world. From what Zeke understood, there was some debate about whether the dungeons changed the world or if they simply manifested in locations that matched their natures. To him, it felt like a meaningless chicken-or-the-egg sort of debate, and one which he had no interest in contemplating. Regardless, the dungeon they sought, which was supposed to be devoted to fire, was located in an area of volcanic activity. The acidity of the stream supported the notion that they were getting close to the entrance. For the next few hours, Zeke and Adara ¨C with Eveline making an appearance every now and then ¨C traversed the landscape, and in that time, it grew progressively more hellish. Eventually, even the fallen trees grew sparser until there was nothing but volcanic rock. In places, fire spewed from the ground, and the smell of sulfur pervaded the atmosphere. It got to the point that Adara grew obviously uncomfortable. She was a creature of immense durability ¨C that had always been her focus ¨C but she didn¡¯t have the advantage of Zeke¡¯s incredible resistance to fire. The lack showed in the sweat pouring down her pallid face. Yet, she didn¡¯t complain. ¡°She¡¯s desperate to prove she can keep up,¡± Eveline suggested in Zeke¡¯s mind. ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± he replied. ¡°I think she just can¡¯t stomach giving in. She¡¯s too stubborn.¡± ¡°Like someone else I know,¡± the mind spirit remarked. Zeke ignored that statement. He was secure in his nature, and while he wasn¡¯t averse to adapting, he knew there was a fine line between growth and abandoning his defining characteristics. Sure, he was stubborn. He didn¡¯t know when to give up. But he believed that characteristic was an advantage as much as a flaw in his personality. Eventually, they found themselves looking up at an enormous volcano. It was at least the size of Mount Everest back on Earth, and the way it towered over them was at least as intimidating as it was intriguing. More importantly, their information claimed that the dungeon¡¯s entrance lay at the very peak of that volcano. So, they didn¡¯t hesitate to start the climb. Along the way, they experienced more of the same, though now they had to contend with the issues that came with climbing an active volcano. The slow-moving lava flows were terribly dangerous, but they did represent obstacles that forced Zeke and Adara to reroute. So, the climb that shouldn¡¯t have taken more than a day or two ended up taking almost a week. But eventually, they reached the peak, and, predictably, they found themselves facing a stone arch. It was made of porous black rock, and the center of the arch shimmered with indistinct shapes that looked like shadowy wraiths. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Zeke asked. Adara nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± Then, without further discussion, they stepped forward and entered the dungeon. 564. A Land of Fire Flames danced across Zeke¡¯s metallic forearm, casting it in an orange glow. It tingled a bit, but due to his nearly perfect resistance to fire, it was incapable of harming him. Beside him, Adara took a sip from a metal flask, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t have an infinite supply of this fire resistance potion, so we probably need to get through this dungeon as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°One second,¡± Zeke said, concentrating on the mana woven through the flame. It didn¡¯t just suffuse the fire. Instead, there were tiny tendrils, almost entirely undetectable, flowing from the flame and into the sky. Those threads disappeared before he could track them more than a few feet, but he felt certain that they were somehow important. If he hadn¡¯t progressed so close to the peak ¨C and received the attributes that came with those levels ¨C he never would have been capable of seeing those thin threads. But now, they almost seemed obvious. ¡°That¡¯s your intelligence,¡± said Eveline. It wasn¡¯t one of his highest stats, but it was still far more potent than average. To hammer that home, Zeke took a quick look at his status:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 98
Race Cambion (D)
Attunement Earth (E), Demon (D), Death (D)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (C)
Strength (S+) 180
Agility (C) 40
Dexterity (B) 40
Endurance (S+) 160
Vitality (C) 40
Intelligence (A) 80
Wisdom (S) 85
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D A B B
He felt a deep sense of satisfaction every time he looked at his status. Part of that was due to how high his attributes had climbed, but mostly, it was because he¡¯d finally managed to manipulate those stats into even numbers. Obviously, that didn¡¯t really affect his power, but he liked the way all those zeroes looked. ¡°I knew a demon once who wouldn¡¯t increase his intelligence attribute past a hundred,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°He liked the way it looked on his status, so he just kept saving his free points until he could reach another ¡®acceptable¡¯ threshold. He ended up getting into a fight against another sorcerer and ran out of mana. Meanwhile, he had almost forty points saved up. That would¡¯ve assuredly been enough extra mana to help him win the fight. A Memory Mage investigated it a few weeks later, and she saw that at the very end, he tried to shove all those points into the appropriate stat, but it was too late.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Is there a lesson there?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t save points. It¡¯s stupid.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never done that, and I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a situation where I would,¡± Zeke remarked. ¡°Good. Don¡¯t.¡± Zeke just shook his head and pushed himself to his feet. As he retracted his arm from the flame, he looked around the landscape. On the surface, it looked like a charred forest, though only a scattered few trees had survived whatever calamity had fallen upon the region. They were black and twisted, having adapted to their environment by growing leaves of dense, red flame. Meanwhile, rivers of fire flowed where streams must¡¯ve once been, and in various places throughout the area, fire shot up in great plumes that reminded him of miniature instances of [Hell Geyser]. On a hill in the distance, surrounded by a moat of red magma, was a giant castle made of black glass. ¡°Obsidian,¡± Eveline clarified. ¡°Or some magical equivalent,¡± he ventured. Obsidian had historically been used for weapons, but it was historically quite brittle. Using it for building materials was probably impossible, at least insofar as Zeke¡¯s understanding of the volcanic glass went. He was no geologist, though, so there was every likelihood that he was entirely mistaken. Regardless the construction, it featured huge, spikey towers that looked like jagged shards of black glass, a massive wall of dark stone, and a structure that looked like someone looked at Tim Burton¡¯s design aesthetic and decided it wasn¡¯t gothic enough. Fire danced among the towers, and the air shimmered with intense heat. To say that it didn¡¯t look inviting was a massive understatement. However, Zeke was happy to see that the area didn¡¯t seem to be populated by much in terms of wildlife. He¡¯d caught sight of a few huge creatures shuffling along between the trees, but there weren¡¯t enough of them to give him pause. However, it did mean that he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to grind out any levels within the dungeon. That had never been the purpose of the excursion, though, so it wasn¡¯t a big disappointment. Still, he was eager to progress to the peak so he could attain his final skill. Once that was done, he intended to take some time to adjust a couple of his other skills before finally making his way to the demon realm and descending into the Pit. But first, he had a lot of other things to take care of. Like his quest. And Micayne. And perhaps more importantly, the Imperium. Thankfully, Zeke wasn¡¯t the only one working on most of those tasks, so he could focus on his personal development. Case in point, he asked Adara, ¡°It¡¯s enough to protect you, though, isn¡¯t it?¡± She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not comfortable, but I have enough to protect me for a few days. After that¡­¡± ¡°I can still access my spatial storage, so you should be fine.¡± Indeed, Zeke hadn¡¯t entered the dungeon without making plenty of preparations. Not only were there plenty of fire protection potions in his storage, but he¡¯d also received a lot of information on the layout, potential enemies, and how to conquer it. ¡°Don¡¯t get complacent,¡± Eveline cautioned. He had no intention of that. Dungeons were mostly static, but they could adjust difficulty based on the level of the challenger. There were ranges associated with each dungeon, but exceptions existed. According to Eveline, that was where his spark of divinity came into play. It was a signal to the Framework that he could handle exceptional situations, and as such, he would usually get the worst any particular dungeon had to offer. After all, the Framework had no interest in letting him skate along without any significant challenges. The point of the system it put in place was to push him to his limits so that he would grow into a powerful warrior and make a difference in the war against evil. As such, he expected the dungeon to throw quite a few curveballs his way. With that in mind, he and Adara set off through the charred forest. The terrain was uneven, with jagged outcroppings of obsidian and littered with volcanic rocks. The heat was so pervasive that, even in his titanic form, Zeke found it uncomfortable. It didn¡¯t hurt him ¨C his resistances were too high for that ¨C but it was certainly no walk in the park. Never was that more clear than when they met their first enemy. The creature was the size of a locomotive, and it vaguely resembled a green-and-black hound. However, said canine seemed to have been crossed with a demon and a bear, giving it massive front shoulders, huge jaws, and a narrow backside. More importantly, it was obviously vicious and capable of breathing fire. The moment it saw him, it let out a barking roar before bounding in his direction. Hissing steam escaped from between its forearm-sized fangs, and boiling saliva flew from the corners of its mouth. Its jaws gaped before a spark ignited, and a moment later, Zeke was buried beneath an onslaught of flames. Thankfully, Adara had the presence of mind to dive to the side, but Zeke stood his ground. And to his surprise, he felt a bit of destruction within those flames. It wasn¡¯t much ¨C just a trickle ¨C but against most other people, it would have made the fires that much deadlier. Thankfully, Zeke¡¯s reflexive Will had no difficulty suppressing it, so when that barrage of flame faded, he remained entirely unharmed. That seemed to surprise the creature, who attempted to halt its charge. Its momentum was too great for that, though, and it stumbled right into Zeke¡¯s hammer. He hit it with a baseball swing that drove it sideways in a roll that didn¡¯t stop until it hit one of the charred trees. That¡¯s when Adara leaped in, hacking at it with her axe. The blade bit deep, and boiling blood spurted free of the wound. However, she¡¯d read the same reports that had been provided to Zeke, so she knew better than to stand her ground. Jumping away, she avoided the worst of the spray, then used a skill to lash out a barrage of axe strikes that hit the same spot she¡¯d just struck. A second later, Zeke descended on the creature. It was a strange thing, bullying a monster larger than an African elephant, and yet, Zeke managed it. His next strike came as an overhand attack that drove it into the scorched earth, and he followed that with a spinning backhand that sent it tumbling away. He didn¡¯t let it recover, either. Instead, he followed it with dogged determination, adding more damage with every passing moment. Adara contributed via the use of her skills, but they both knew that her efforts were largely unnecessary. The idea was to get her some kill energy, and that required her to participate. For some others, that plan might¡¯ve seemed a bit patronizing. Yet, she had no issues with ignoring her pride. That was one of the things Zeke admired most about her. Adara was stronger than most, but she had no ego about it. More, she was more than willing to take advantage of her relationship with Zeke to climb ever higher. But Zeke didn¡¯t have the mental bandwidth to devote to that and kill the monster. It wasn¡¯t that strong, but it was still powerful enough to make him pay for letting himself become distracted. So, he focused on the battle at hand, slowly pummeling the creature into submission, then finally destroying its brain with a massive overhand strike. Only then did he relax. Letting out a sigh of relief, he said, ¡°That felt good.¡± Eveline asked, ¡°What? Bullying some poor monster?¡± ¡°Would you think less of me if I said yes?¡± ¡°I can see inside your mind, Ezekiel. I know that you enjoy asserting your dominance,¡± she said with a mental smile. It was at that moment that Adara caught up. ¡°That was a lot of kill energy,¡± she said, her cheeks flushed from the exertion. ¡°I¡¯m on the verge of gaining another level. If we keep going like this, I¡¯ll hit eighty-five before we know it.¡± Gaining two levels in a single dungeon ¨C especially one that was neither complex nor sprawling in its scope ¨C would be an extremely good result. So, hoping to help Adara do just that, Zeke and Adara set out to rid the entire region of the monsters he belatedly identified as hellhounds. The following battles went much the same as the first, though Adara grew more confident with each one. Eventually, she felt confident enough to shoulder most of the burden herself, soloing the monster for quite some time before she had to admit that she simply lacked the offensive power to dispatch it. Still, it was quite a feat for her to endure its attacks for so long, and with a smile, Zeke stepped in to end it. Like that, hours passed until, at last, they¡¯d exhausted that area of foes. Zeke¡¯s gains in terms of kill energy were less than impressive, and at that rate, he knew it would be some time before he managed to progress. However, Adara¡¯s prediction that she might reach level eighty-five proved almost accurate. She didn¡¯t quite attain that level, but she got so close that only a few kills would push her over the edge. Once they could find no more foes, they approached the castle. And when they reached the gates, Zeke had to amend his previous estimate of the structure¡¯s size. It was practically a city unto itself, covering many miles in dozens of jagged towers. However, the gate stood entirely open, which put him on edge. ¡°Just walk in?¡± he asked aloud. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have much of a choice,¡± Adara answered. ¡°Everything I read said it was a straightforward dungeon with only one path to victory.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I read, too. Just making sure. You ready for this?¡± he asked. She nodded with a wide grin that exposed her slightly sharp teeth. ¡°I was born ready.¡± 565. The Hunter Zeke shoved his hand through the monster¡¯s chest. Its scales were durable, but a simple punch from Zeke could shatter boulders with ease. As a result, he felt almost no resistance until he latched onto the creature¡¯s spine. Then, he reared back and kicked the monster in the stomach while yanking back. The opposing forces countered one another for only a second before the thing¡¯s spine ripped free of its body ¨C along with its serpentine head ¨C showering Zeke¡¯s metallic body with sizzling blood. A second later, he was swinging that makeshift weapon at another of the monsters ¨C [Inspect] called them fire naga ¨C who took the blow about as well as could be expected. Not only was it horrified at seeing its companion¡¯s fate, but it was wholly incapable of winning the fight it had picked. Zeke bludgeoned the thing to death, then wheeled around to take stock of the rest of the battle. He needn¡¯t have bothered. Adara stood amidst a pile of bodies, her axe having been discarded for a pair of swords. She was a true knight, and as such, she was an expert in the use of a wide variety of weapons. Zeke had seen that she was deadly with axes, spears, and swords of all sorts. She was even a great rider ¨C though she preferred her own two feet ¨C and a deft hand with a lance. In short, she was the perfect warrior she¡¯d been trained to be. And despite her lower levels of power, she could more than hold her own within the confines of a dungeon. Of course, Zeke also knew that, if he wasn¡¯t there, she would have been overwhelmed by sheer numbers. The moment they¡¯d stepped foot into the castle, they¡¯d discovered that it was not as unpopulated as the surrounding area. Mostly, the creatures inside were fire naga ¨C red-scaled monsters that looked like someone had combined snakes and people ¨C but they¡¯d also been confronted by tame hellhounds, a couple of fire elementals, and even a bird made entirely of flames. Fortunately, none were terribly dangerous to Zeke. Adara had to be careful, and over the course of a dozen battles, she¡¯d been injured often enough that Zeke was required to use [Hand of Divinity] to heal her. However, that was expected, given the circumstances, and he didn¡¯t mind. She did, though. Not the healing itself. No warrior could fight as much as they did without being injured. What bothered her was what each wound said about her performance. Adara was a perfectionist, so any failure shone a bright light on her shortcomings. That was how she saw her injuries, and Zeke was at least conscious enough to know that she wouldn¡¯t react well to any attempt to convince her otherwise. Adara was not to be pandered to. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Zeke asked, still holding the spine of his slain enemy. Voromir remained in his spatial storage because he wanted to work on his unarmed abilities. It was rare that he was separated from his favored weapon, but it did happen from time to time, so he wanted to remain prepared. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Adara answered, her chest heaving. She was also covered in sizzling gore from her hot-blooded enemies. She pushed a wet lock of hair out of her face. ¡°How many did you get?¡± ¡°Seven. You?¡± he asked. She glanced down at the bodies. Most had been hacked to pieces, so the count wasn¡¯t as easy to attain as it should have been. ¡°Something close to that, I think. These things are dangerous, but they die pretty easily.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t have agreed more. The fire naga were quintessential glass cannons ¨C high on offensive power, but a little deficient in defense. Given Zeke¡¯s and Adara¡¯s high durability, the creatures weren¡¯t quite as deadly as they probably would have been against other groups who¡¯d challenged the dungeon. Still, if they stood still and took the attacks head-on, it wouldn¡¯t be comfortable. Zeke would certainly survive whatever they threw at him, but Adara had to be cognizant of the dangers they represented. ¡°Do you need to rest?¡± With a grin, she answered, ¡°No, I¡¯m good. How many more do you think we¡¯ll get to fight? I¡¯m getting close to a level.¡± Zeke could not say the same thing. The fire naga, as strong as they were, failed to move the needle in terms of his own store of kill energy. Each one was only a drop in a very large bucket. It would take tens of thousands of such kills to push him to level ninety-nine. Hopefully, there would be something more powerful waiting at the end of the dungeon. Of course, the guide they¡¯d read concerning the challenges had proved to be inadequate. Sure, the types of creatures present was the same, but they were much more powerful ¨C and numerous ¨C than the records had indicated. Clearly, Zeke¡¯s presence, or more accurately, his divine spark, had pushed it to a new tier of difficulty. But rather than resent that modification, Zeke was thankful for it. Otherwise, the chances of him getting anything out of it would have been quite low. This way, he would not only get to fight something that might give him a good chunk of kill energy, but he would stand the chance of accomplishing his real goal of acquiring a fire-attuned natural treasure that would satisfy the terms of his quest. He tossed the skeleton aside, then proceeded to loot each of the slain enemies. He wasn¡¯t certain if there was anything useful in the piles of scales or meat that were deposited into his spatial storage, but he would leave that determination up to the kobolds whose job it was to sort through everything he acquired. Still, he was a little leery about the meat. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s acceptable to eat the meat of sentient creatures?¡± he asked aloud. Adara shrugged. ¡°I grew up eating monster meat,¡± she answered, trying to pick a few of the larger strings of gore from the seams in her armor. ¡°Many of those are sentient. Some are even sapient. It¡¯s never bothered me.¡± It struck Zeke as akin to people eating primates back on Earth. He was certain that it had happened, especially in places where starvation was a matter of course rather than an exception. However, to him, it just seemed distasteful. He certainly wouldn¡¯t have eaten a chimp unless there were absolutely no other options, and it was the difference between life and death. Perhaps he needed to adjust those views, because they didn¡¯t seem prevalent in the Eternal Realm. Originally scavengers, the kobolds would eat anything put in front of them, and natives of the Eternal Realm held a similar attitude to the one Adara espoused. So, it was likely up to Zeke to adapt, rather than try to force his own views onto others. Or maybe he would just not think about the origins of the food the kobolds gave to him. That thought had settled onto his mind when, suddenly, Adara went flying across the room. The sound of wrenching metal announced that her armor had been shredded, but Zeke didn¡¯t have time to consider her condition. Instead, the whole of his attention was occupied by the looming fire naga who¡¯d suddenly appeared at Adara¡¯s former location. It was much larger than the others, with red scales streaked with white. More disturbingly, Zeke could feel the mana coursing through those pale lines. They were runes that had been etched into the creature¡¯s flesh. A dicey proposition even if someone had the proper path, but the incredible results of success meant that plenty of people tried to make it work ¨C usually to their detriment. One wrong move, and a person¡¯s entire mana system could be broken. Zeke had considered it quite a few times, but ultimately, the cracks and scars covering his torso and shoulders served a similar function. It wasn¡¯t quantified in his status, but they definitely accentuated the level of power he could bring to bear. But where his version was chaotic and often disjointed ¨C they were the result of his Path of Arcane Destruction ¨C the fire naga¡¯s were beautiful and organized. ¡°Invader,¡± the naga said. ¡°You will be the culmination of my Path of the Hunter.¡± ¡°You really should have hit me first,¡± Zeke growled, flicking his eyes to Adara. He could see that she was still breathing, so she was definitely alive. However, he couldn¡¯t help but be concerned with how shallow each breath was. If he didn¡¯t end the fight quickly, then there was a chance that she would die. Belatedly, he saw a thick spear jutting from her back. He turned his attention to the hunter. ¡°I see you brought friends.¡± Indeed, two hellhounds, both more muscular than any other Zeke had seen so far, flanked the snake-like humanoid. In the naga¡¯s hands were two short spears, both glowing with that same white-hot power. The air wavered under the heat of the creature¡¯s mere presence. Zeke summoned Voromir to hand. The moment he was armed, the hounds bounded forward. Even a few months before, Zeke would have been overwhelmed by their speed. They darted in, covering the ground between in less than a second. However, Zeke was a different man than he¡¯d been back then. He¡¯d gained a handful of levels, and what¡¯s more, he¡¯d improved in so many other ways. So, what once would have been a truly overbearing degree of speed was now only vaguely superior. Zeke could work with that. He¡¯d never been a creature of speed, so he¡¯d long since learned to lean on his strengths in order to mask his weaknesses. So, he shifted only slightly, and instead of latching onto something vital, the hounds¡¯ jaws only found bits Zeke was more than willing to sacrifice. In this case, that meant one of his forearms and a thigh. They savaged his limbs, their sharp teeth shredding his metallic flesh. But aside from a little pain, their efforts were mostly fruitless. Pulsing [Hand of Divinity] and dragging all sorts of mana into his body, Zeke quickly repaired the damage. Quicksilver blood splashed upon the stone ground, but Zeke ignored it as he brought Voromir¡¯s head down on one of the hounds. He couldn¡¯t harness the entirety of his strength, but even from his awkward position, he could power the blow well enough to elicit a high-pitched yelp. The beast¡¯s jaws tightened. That¡¯s when Zeke dismissed his hammer. It was ill-suited to this sort of battle. Instead, he would rely on his own two hands. Still, he wasn¡¯t averse to tipping the fight in his favor, so he used his twin domains. The room was already swelteringly hot, with fires dancing along the black walls, but the moment Zeke used [Aura of Desolation] and [Burden of Sovereignty], those flames took on a very different appearance. As corruption wove through them, they grew darker and more aggressive. Almost eager to consume and taint anything with which they came into contact. Zeke felt the influx of power in his very bones, and he used that increased strength when he reached down, wrapped his fingers around the hellhound¡¯s head, and squeezed. Its skull cracked immediately, but it took two seconds before it burst entirely. The creature went limp, but its jaws remained locked in place. So, Zeke had no choice but to rip the monster free, tearing his own flesh in the process. Fortunately, [Hand of Divinity] quickly mended that damage. The other hound, which was still attached to his thigh, redoubled its efforts to savage his limb, but Zeke barely felt it. With so much corruption swirling through the air, he verged on losing himself to the battle lust of his demonic side. He kept it under control, but it still affected him. So, he used that to his advantage, letting it fuel his strength as he brought his fist down on the other hellhound¡¯s head. This one proved a little more durable than the last, which meant that it endured three blows before it was rendered unconscious. A fourth and final attack cracked its neck, and Zeke pulled it free a moment later. That was when the hunter finally joined the battle. Only a few seconds had passed, but that should have been more than enough time for the creature to act. Instead, it had remained on the outskirts of the room ¨C as if it had been giving its hounds an opportunity to win the battle alone. Did it think to use Zeke as fuel for its pets¡¯ progression? Did it think so little of the threat posed by Zeke? No. That was when Zeke felt the effects of the creatures¡¯ bites. Sure, their attacks were physically damaging, but that was just a mask for the true effects. Corruption, disease, and poison formed a triumvirate of an affliction that, by all rights, should have been enough to down a powerful opponent. Unfortunately ¨C for the hunter, at least ¨C Zeke was likely the worst match-up it could have picked. The corruption only served to fuel him, and the combination of poison and disease was easily resisted. So, aside from being slightly angrier than normal, Zeke felt no ill effects. He laughed. ¡°You really picked a fight with the wrong guy,¡± he said. Then, Zeke summoned Voromir to hand and advanced on the confused hunter. 566. War Profiteering is Dangerous ¡°Who are they again?¡± asked Tucker, standing at the bow of the ship and staring at the makeshift and obviously new sky dock in the distance. It was surrounded by an enormous camp full of tents and a few more permanent structures like the sky dock. But Tucker was more interested in the tens of thousands of people scattered throughout the city-sized camp. Potential customers, all. ¡°Resistance fighters,¡± Gira answered. Then, after a second, she added, ¡°They call themselves Dawnbreakers. According to local history, they were subjugated by the Radiant Host nearly two centuries ago. Fully incorporated a little less than a hundred years after that. They were once considered a top-tier vassal on par with Adontis. Major exports are minerals mined from the Dragon¡¯s Teeth Mountains.¡± ¡°Very succinct,¡± Tucker remarked with a slight grin. He knew that Gira had some sort of memory skill that allowed her to store and retrieve information. Often, he thought of her as a walking computer, but one look at the muscular half-elf put the lie to that perception. She was a more-than-competent fighter, which she¡¯d proven time and time again since Tucker had first met her. ¡°What changed?¡± ¡°They never forgot the century of subjugation, during which they were little better than slaves,¡± she replied. ¡°Their work was exploited, they were taxed down to nothing, and they were given none of the benefits of being a part of the whole. That nurtured a long-running disdain that came to the fore when they heard about the war to the east. With the Radiant Host¡¯s attention elsewhere, they were free to overturn the local government and establish themselves as a resistance.¡± ¡°That resentment must¡¯ve run pretty deep. Why was the Imperium so hard on them?¡± he asked. ¡°The war where they were conquered was particularly brutal. The Dawnbreakers ¨C or whatever they were called then ¨C fought bravely and stubbornly, killing more members of the Radiant Host than they¡¯d lost in dozens of other wars,¡± she explained. ¡°The now-Imperium responded by executing their strongest people. Fighters, non-combatants, and even promising children were put down. Then, the Radiant Host scrubbed their existence from memory via a massive spell. Now, no one remembers the details, but the resentment remains.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Gira stated. It was one thing to defeat an enemy, but it was something else to go full scorched-earth on them, destroying even the memory of who they were. Tucker never even knew such a thing was possible, and yet, he was constantly reminded that, in a world full of magical things, the line between impossible and possible was incredibly blurry. Those thoughts occupied Tucker¡¯s mind as the ship slowly circled the town, waiting for an opportunity to dock. Gira and Iris had already set everything up, so they were allowed to be in town for an entire week. However, they weren¡¯t the only ones who intended to take advantage of the war, so they had to wait their turn. To address the issue, the Dawnbreakers had begun construction on a second sky dock, though it wouldn¡¯t be completed for another week or so. Until then, the skies would be full of ships waiting to magnanimously assist in the war against the Imperium. There were also land caravans, but only the hardiest of wagon trains could make it through the mountain passes. Many of those wouldn¡¯t have bothered, even with such a profit waiting on them. ¡°Their loss,¡± Tucker said, grateful that he¡¯d turned to a life of sky privateering. After a couple of hours of circling, one of the other ships ¨C there were ten berths in the sky dock ¨C departed, and the Mercury¡¯s pilot was given the go-ahead to come in. Of course, Iris had no intention of letting the pilot guide the ship in, so it wasn¡¯t long before she took her place at the helm and deftly maneuvered it into position. Only a few minutes after the berth had opened, they were sliding into place at the top of the sky dock. The structure itself was more than five-hundred feet tall and at least half that wide, which let it accommodate ten ships. More importantly, it was bristling with various cranes meant to assist in the loading and unloading of cargo. The moment the Mercury was in position, a series of large clamps latched onto the mooring blocks on the side. Tucker could feel the dense mana in the atmosphere, the result of so many enchantments. That was the limiting factor in building such towers ¨C the required hundreds of powerful enchantments in order to function properly, and the sorts of people who could work with such runes were fairly rare. It made him think of Zeke, who¡¯d shown such a talent for runecrafting in the past. Was that the path he would have taken upon entering the Eternal Realm? No. But Tucker hoped he hadn¡¯t abandoned the trade altogether. There was plenty of money to be made with that sort of talent. Once the airship was firmly docked, Tucker adjusted his hat and joined Iris on the other side of the gangway that connected the Mercury to the dock. ¡°What kind of welcome do we expect?¡± he asked, still fiddling with his tricorn hat. As he straightened his long coat, Iris answered, ¡°Fair. We have goods they need if they want to wage their little war, but they¡¯re not going to be happy with our prices.¡± ¡°Beggars can¡¯t be choosers. They¡¯ll pay what we tell them to pay, or we¡¯ll sell elsewhere,¡± he stated. ¡°That¡¯s what I love about you, Tucker. You¡¯re so optimistic that you truly believe they¡¯d just let us leave. We¡¯re surrounded by thousands of volatile and desperate warriors,¡± she pointed out. ¡°They¡¯ll buy on their terms, or they¡¯ll just take it.¡± Tucker¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°If they try that route, they¡¯ll find that we¡¯re a tough nut to crack,¡± he stated. ¡°I won¡¯t hold back, either. I have no love for the Imperium, but I don¡¯t particularly care for these Dawnbreakers, either. At best, they¡¯re the lesser of two evils, which means I won¡¯t feel the least bit guilty about ¨C¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°I know. That¡¯s the other thing I love about you,¡± she said, nudging him with her shoulder. Iris wasn¡¯t one for public displays of affection, so that little bump was the equivalent of her leaping into his arms and sharing a passionate kiss. ¡°Your ruthlessness can be so sudden and unexpected.¡± ¡°Did I ever tell you about the time I killed an entire valley full of demons? There I was, stranded in the demon realm, and I saw these ¨C¡± ¡°Incoming,¡± said Gira, who stood just a little behind them. Tucker cut himself off as a cluster of men emerged from the dock¡¯s main structure. At first glanced, they all looked very impressive. Four were clearly warriors, as denoted by the weapons strapped all over their armored bodies. However, the fifth was as richly dressed as any man Tucker had ever seen, with rings on every finger and a tangle of golden necklaces around his neck. Each pieces was practically bristling with unused mana, suggesting that the man was just as well-armed as the warriors. ¡°Mage,¡± he whispered through his teeth. ¡°I know,¡± was Iris¡¯ response. Of course, Tucker didn¡¯t know the man¡¯s actual class. There was nothing to say that he wasn¡¯t a close-combat fighter. However, in his experience, people who decked themselves out in enchanted jewelry tended toward the more ranged approach. There was also the chance that his class and skills tended toward mercantile or administrative effects, but that wasn¡¯t the impression Tucker got. Regardless, they weren¡¯t there for a fight. If everything went well, then they¡¯d negotiate a reasonable tax rate before unloading their goods. It might take a few days for them to find appropriate buyers, then a further couple of days to search out new inventory to sell at their next stop, but in the end, they had no interest in starting a brawl. Hopefully, neither did the Dawnbreakers. ¡°Welcome to New Navaria,¡± said the man upon approach. He had a nasally voice that did not give Tucker the best first impression. Or that might¡¯ve been the guards¡¯ clear readiness for battle. ¡°What do you have to declare?¡± As the captain, Iris took the lead, saying, ¡°We have mana-rich food, decent quality armor, and a small store of natural treasures. In addition, we carry a stock of potent potions meant to meet a wide variety of challenges.¡± With that, she handed the ship¡¯s manifest to the man. He took it with a sneer, then looked it over. When he got to the section regarding the potions, his eyes widened, which wasn¡¯t terribly shocking for Tucker. With access to so many natural treasures ¨C even if most weren¡¯t much more powerful than mundane herbs ¨C he¡¯d made great strides in his alchemical pursuits. As such, he was capable of creating some truly powerful potions, most of which would never make their way onto a ship¡¯s manifest. Still, most of what was listed was head and shoulders above what the Dawnbreakers should have had available. More importantly, those potions would make their fight against the Imperium that much easier. ¡°I see,¡± said the man, schooling his expression to calm. ¡°Of course, we will be taking half.¡± Tucker burst into laughter, which seemed a bit of a mistake when he saw the bureaucrat mage fix him with a glare. ¡°Oh,¡± he said. ¡°I thought that was a joke. Clearly¡­it wasn¡¯t.¡± Iris cleared her throat. ¡°What my colleague meant to say is that fifty percent is a little excessive,¡± she clarified. ¡°Perhaps something more like ¨C¡± ¡°There will be no negotiation.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°No. Negotiation. Our people will board your ship in ten minutes. Please do not resist,¡± the man said. ¡°It will not be pleasant. Now, if ¨C¡± ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± asked Tucker, suddenly holding a small globe. It was no more than an inch in diameter, but it was filled with whirling black smoke. When there was no response, he said, ¡°No, of course not. Why would you? I only discovered this particular concoction last week. I figured it would be a nice deterrent for this sort of thing.¡± He tossed it into the air, catching it in his palm a second later. ¡°I¡¯ve level eighty-two, you see. Pretty good, considering I only arrived on this plane a few years ago. It¡¯s been an eventful span, though, and I¡¯ve used that time to great effect,¡± he said. Grinning, Tucker went on, ¡°Don¡¯t let the hat and the dapper outfit fool you ¨C I¡¯m an alchemist by trade. But I¡¯m a special kind of alchemist. I can make most of the same potions everyone else can. You know, health tonics and temporary attribute boosting potions. But where I really excel ¨C my passion, as it happens ¨C is with things that go boom. There¡¯s just something so satisfying about a good explosion, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°What is that?¡± asked the bureaucrat in a breathless whisper. He clearly knew just how dangerous someone like Tucker could be. Crossing the level seventy-five threshold was uncommon enough that doing so put him in an entirely different category of a threat. ¡°I¡¯m getting there, chief. Just hold your horses,¡± Tucker said, still toying with the glass ball. ¡°A lot of warriors of my level have abilities that can absolutely demolish an army. And that¡¯s fine. But I don¡¯t think any of them can do what this little ball can do.¡± ¡°W-what is it?¡± asked the man, clearly reading the situation for what it was. The glass ball was delicate enough that, if they attacked, it would surely break. And no one wanted to find out first-hand what it could do. ¡°I call it Death. Not very imaginative, I know. But it¡¯s accurate. The moment this ball breaks, the cloud inside will expand a thousand-fold. Now, I know what you¡¯re thinking ¨C a thousand square inches isn¡¯t that big of an area. But here¡¯s the thing, bud. It¡¯s more than enough to kill everyone in this little camp of yours. Not immediately, no. Before you die, you¡¯ll wish it was that quick,¡± Tucker said. ¡°It works like a disease, you see, jumping from one person to the next until there¡¯s no one left for it to kill.¡± ¡°You would die too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, chief,¡± Tucker said, still bouncing the ball of glass in his palm. ¡°I¡¯m entirely immune. Benefit of the trade, I guess. And my people? They¡¯ve already gotten the antidote. So, you¡¯ll die. So will everyone you know and care about.¡± He produced another marble-sized potion filled with crimson liquid. ¡°Or I could use this one. It works a little differently. More magical than biological. It follows your bloodline like a curse. Learned this from studying some friends who were dealing with something similar. Anyway, it¡¯ll slowly weaken everyone with even a drop of your blood. Children. Parents. Cousins. It doesn¡¯t matter where they are. It doesn¡¯t even matter if they know you at all. They¡¯ll wither away until they¡¯re no stronger than a child.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± the man asked, having gone pale. ¡°Fairness, for one. Maybe an apology for trying to use your little army to extort us. I¡¯m not asking to completely avoid tariffs. But fifty percent is a bit much. Even you have to admit that,¡± Tucker said. After that, the negotiations proceeded in good faith. In the end, the tariff imposed was fifteen percent, which Tucker found fair enough. Once the delegation of the Dawnbreakers departed, Iris asked, ¡°Do those potions really do what you said they¡¯ll do?¡± ¡°The first one? Sure. It¡¯s a nasty one I just developed. I don¡¯t want to use it, because the ingredients necessary to create it were pretty expensive,¡± Tucker said. ¡°Now, the second one is more¡­ah¡­theoretical in nature. I think I know how to make it work, but I haven¡¯t quite cracked it yet. This,¡± he remarked, holding up the marble with the red liquid, ¡°Is a healing potion.¡± ¡°You are a devious man, Eric Tucker. A very devious man,¡± she said with a slight smile. ¡°That¡¯s why you love me,¡± he said, returning her smile with one of his own. ¡°Now, let¡¯s make some money. After that, let¡¯s see what this town has to offer.¡± ¡°Or we could remain on the ship,¡± she said. Pointedly, she added, ¡°The deserted ship devoid of distractions or other crew members.¡± His smile widened. ¡°I like how you think.¡± 567. The Nature of Destruction For what felt like the thousandth time, Zeke brought Voromir down in a massive sledgehammer strike that splattered the hunter¡¯s brains all across the stone floor. Yet, only a second later, the thing flared with mana and pulled everything back into place. Of course, the creature had ceased moving. Repeatedly having its brain destroyed had rendered it entirely comatose. However, it simply refused to die. ¡°This is getting ridiculous,¡± he muttered. ¡°You know how to end it,¡± Eveline reminded him, sitting on an illusory chair, her legs crossed as she picked at her nails. For her part, Adara had already disappeared into the fortress, where she was busy hunting the lower-leveled creatures within. It was good practice for her, and she would assuredly gain plenty of levels following that dictate. That left Zeke entirely alone. At that thought, Eveline cut her eyes at him and asked, ¡°And what about me?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t count,¡± he said, hefting his hammer again. He brought it down on the oft-destroyed head of the hunter, and to similar results as the last time. ¡°And I¡¯ve told you a hundred times, I don¡¯t want to rely too heavily on my Will or my skills.¡± ¡°That makes you an idiot. Those two factors are what set you apart,¡± she said, her statement punctuated by another wet squelch that came from a squished brain. ¡°Mostly. Your ridiculous strength plays a small part as well. But sometimes, strength isn¡¯t enough.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t agree with that assessment. To him, it seemed silly to neglect one facet of his power for another, even if, at first glance, physical strength didn¡¯t seem quite as important as the ability to create an implosion of nuclear proportions. Still, the sheer variety of his past battles suggested that, at some point, his survival would come down to an application of his strength and battle prowess. When that day came, he intended to be prepared. So, he brought his hammer down again. The fight with the hunter hadn¡¯t been terribly difficult. Sure, the thing was powerful, but not quite on the level where it could truly threaten Zeke. However, his every attack had been stymied by the creature¡¯s incredible self-healing ability. No sooner had he done damage than it mended, often before his very eyes. For a while, Zeke had despaired that he might not be capable of killing the thing, but in the end, persistence won out. Mostly. He hit it again. And again after that. Over and over, he destroyed the monster¡¯s brain. About halfway through the fight, he¡¯d discovered that doing so was the key. Apparently, it couldn¡¯t completely heal from brain damage, and so, each time it reformed, it did so imperfectly. So, after two or three times, the effects had become clear. And after ten, it had fallen unconscious. Almost a hundred times since then, Zeke had broken its skull open, and yet, it still refused to die. One small wisp of his Will, and that would change. Or he could use [Titanic Smash]. Maybe even [Hell Geyser] would do the trick. Zeke wanted nothing more than to go down that route, but he¡¯d chosen to beat the thing with the power of his body alone, and he wasn¡¯t going to go back on that decision just because it proved difficult. So, he kept going until, almost an hour later, he felt an influx of kill energy that announced that the thing¡¯s innate healing had finally succumbed to Zeke¡¯s repeated attempts at destroying it. A sense of relief swept through him, though it was nothing compared to something else he¡¯d come to understand. One can¡¯t spend hours attempting to destroy a thing without starting to think, and in this case, Zeke¡¯s thoughts centered around the struggle of destruction against regeneration. And the lesson seemed clear ¨C no matter how powerful the ability to regrow, destruction would always and inevitably win. Because it wasn¡¯t just a force. It was the natural course of existence to one day meet one¡¯s destruction. ¡°So philosophical,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°That¡¯s unlike you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°That you¡¯re more of an unga-bunga, me hit with club than a philosopher kind of guy,¡± she said. Zeke didn¡¯t dispute that claim. The world seemed so much simpler when he could beat it into submission. He liked that. No matter what the problem was, it could usually be solved with the generous application of brutal violence. Or that was his experience, at least. He was intelligent enough to know that it his philosophy ¨C such as it was ¨C probably had plenty of holes, but he wasn¡¯t smart enough to find them. So, he didn¡¯t try. ¡°It¡¯s not about philosophy. It¡¯s about my path. I think the only way forward is to understand it better,¡± he said. ¡°The arcane part is easy. It¡¯s just runes and magic, and that¡¯s always made sense to me. But the nature of destruction is different. There¡¯s an underlying truth there that I definitely don¡¯t fully understand. I mean to, but I think it¡¯ll take quite a lot of embarrassingly deep thoughts to get to that point.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it always is,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Lots of wrong turns on the path to true understanding.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°So sage. So wise,¡± he remarked with a grin. Just then, Adara arrived. She was covered in blood, but she too wore a wide grin. ¡°You look excited.¡± ¡°This place is a gem mine,¡± she said. ¡°So much kill energy, just waiting to be plucked.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re confusing your metaphors there,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Plucked implies a harvest.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Whatever. Did you kill that thing finally?¡± she asked. He nodded, saying, ¡°Yeah. It was tough, though. Any ideas on where to find its boss? I want to get through this dungeon so we can get back to the army.¡± He was worried about the state of his city, and no amount of assurance from Eveline or Adara would derail his concern. The reality was that he¡¯d taken responsibility for the kobolds. They were his people, and he looked at them a lot like one might look at children. If something happened to them, he would be absolutely devastated. And the world might not survive what came after that. So, for everyone¡¯s sake, he hoped that they were doing okay. In the meantime, he had a task to complete, and the dungeon certainly wasn¡¯t going to conquer itself. Thankfully, Adara¡¯s campaign of murder had taken her throughout most of the castle, and she had a good idea which way to go. That was how they ended up passing through the castle and exiting on the other side. There, they were confronted with two things. The first was a moat of magma, through which swam huge reptiles of fire. They were far enough below that they had no idea Zeke and Adara were even looking down on them, but he suspected that they would prove quite deadly if he and his companion ended up invading their territory. Across that moat, which was at least half a mile wide, was a giant arena sunk deep into the surrounding stone. From their vantage, they could see that the center of said arena was populated by an enormous dais, though there was nothing upon it. ¡°What do you think it is?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The notes never mentioned anything like this. Every other account of this dungeon said that they boss was another one of those fire nagas that was a powerful pyromancer,¡± Adara explained. ¡°But you saw his chambers. There was nothing there.¡± ¡°And nobody ever saw a giant arena in the back yard,¡± Zeke remarked. Yard was a bit of a misnomer, considering the sheer scope of the landscape. However, he didn¡¯t bother amending his assessment. Instead, he focused on how they were meant to get across. In the end, the solution was already close at hand. Just beside the door leading back into the castle was a pedestal, upon which was a red gem. Zeke picked it up and gave it an exploratory shake, asking, ¡°What do you think it¡¯s for?¡± Before Adara could answer, the ground shook as an earthquake tore through the area. Down below, the moat of lava roiled, and the creatures within went crazy. However, Zeke was far more concerned with the bridge that suddenly grew between his position and the far side of the moat. It was made of clear crystal, but because of the light from the lava, it sparkled with orange highlights. ¡°What the¡­¡± Tendrils of crystal wrapped around one another as the bridge slowly grew from one end to the other, meeting at the center. ¡°That was unexpected,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Convenient, though.¡± Indeed, it was. Until that moment, Zeke had considered simply diving into the lava, fighting whatever those creatures were, then climbing the other side. The problem with that plan was that Adara wouldn¡¯t be able to accompany him. So, he was happy to have another avenue now available. He held out his arm, ¡°My lady?¡± She took it eagerly, and arm-in-arm, they strolled across the crystal bridge. ¡°Very romantic,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Except that she¡¯s covered in blood and you¡¯re in a hellscape of lava and soot. And you¡¯re heading to fight a monster of indeterminate power that could very well destroy you both. So, not romantic at all, unless your battle mania is exceeded only by your partner¡¯s.¡± Zeke ignored her. Instead, he focused on his surroundings. The bridge looked so delicate that he wasn¡¯t willing to rule out the possibility of its collapse. After all, he¡¯d been through enough dungeons to know that they sometimes liked to pull the rug right out from under people like him. Thankfully, that didn¡¯t happen in this instance, and they reached the other side of the moat unmolested. The moment they stepped into the arena, a ring of fire erupted all around them, and once more, the earth shook. Zeke reached out to steady Adara, but she didn¡¯t seem to need it. And judging by the look of steely determination on her face, she was ready for whatever threat might present itself. The ground tore open, and a web of cracks extended from the central dais. The arena itself was at least half a mile wide, with stepped seating that looked like it would accommodate hundreds of thousands of people. But it was all empty, and it wasn¡¯t just the fires that cast everything in an eerie glow. Suddenly, the shaking faded, but before Zeke could remark upon the sudden cessation, a creature burst forth, sending a shower of rocks, molten lava, and ash spraying into the air. ¡°Who treads upon my domain?!¡± it bellowed. Zeke didn¡¯t even have the breath to answer, he was so taken aback. The monster was at least as big as the necromantic vessel, though, other than size, the two creatures couldn¡¯t have been more dissimilar. The monster in the center of that arena was more than a thousand feet tall and half as wide, but what really surprised Zeke was that it seemed like it was made of fire and magma. Shapeless aside from the most basic of humanoid parts ¨C meaning two arms, a torso, and a head ¨C the thing¡¯s lower half remained beneath the ground. In its hand was the largest hammer Zeke had ever seen. The weapon seemed more like an extension of the creature¡¯s body than an item in its own right. ¡°You seem impressed,¡± Eveline said. ¡°By the size of its hammer, I mean.¡± ¡°You make it sound dirty.¡± ¡°I mean, is it not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nice hammer,¡± Zeke insisted. Then, without further conversation, he stepped forward. ¡°I think that¡¯s me,¡± he said. The creature took a moment to look around, as if it couldn¡¯t find Zeke. Then, it finally glanced down. Its face was obscured by flames, but Zeke could only imagine that its eyes narrowed. ¡°You? A puny insect? Die!¡± Then, it swung that mighty hammer. The air blistered with its passage, and when it descended, it did so with the force of a god¡¯s might. Zeke reached up with one hand and caught the hammer, stopping it cold. Still, the impact sent a shockwave spreading throughout the arena, and even that ripple of power was enough to knock Adara from her feet. It also cracked some of the nearby stones. When the monster pulled the hammer back, Zeke said, ¡°My turn.¡± Then, he unleashed the power of a thousand swings as he activated both [Unleash Momentum] and Voromir¡¯s projection ability. 568. God of the Flame [Unleash Momentum] ripped into the enormous creature, knocking it backward. It only moved a few feet ¨C which was nothing, given how huge it was ¨C but even that small reaction was enough to give Zeke hope for the coming battle. If he¡¯d leveled the same attack at the necrotic vessel, for instance, it wouldn¡¯t have moved even an inch. The hit also gave Zeke an opportunity to use [Inspect]: Uko, the God of the Flame ¨C Level 100 As expected, the creature was at the peak of the Eternal Realm. More interestingly, it had a name, which usually meant that it would be more powerful than a typical monster. The creature was not simple, that much was certain. And it proved that when it unleashed a truly massive gout of flame that engulfed Zeke and everything within a hundred feet of him. That included Adara, but fortunately, she had come prepared with the fire resistance potions created by the Crimson Tower¡¯s alchemist. In addition, she had her own defenses in place, so even that primal column of fire was not enough to do more than singe her hair. For Zeke, it wasn¡¯t even an annoyance, and he endured it without flinching. That clearly shocked Uko, and for good reason. With a title like the God of the Flame, the being likely wasn¡¯t used to their attacks being summarily ignored. It was just further evidence that, even though he had yet to reach the peak himself, Zeke¡¯s power had begun to outpace the Eternal Realm. Soon enough, he would be forced to ascend ¨C or in his case, descend ¨C just get a challenge. But for now, he was focused entirely on the task before him. So, the moment Uko¡¯s attack flickered out, Zeke used [Storm of Hammers], then engaged his twin domains before activating [Colossal Army]. At his side, the familiar portal slashed through the air and widened, releasing all ten of his golems. The expressionless automatons stepped through, their spears at the ready. Finally, Zeke used [Eye of Reckoning], unleashing a beam of roiling destruction upon the so-called God of the Flame. It hit the creature dead in the chest, gouging and enormous gash into its torso. Boiling blood erupted from the wound, showering Zeke in smoking gore. But to its credit, the monster was not slain. Not that Zeke expected it to be. Instead, even if he didn¡¯t anticipate being pushed to his limits ¨C otherwise, he¡¯d have never brought Adara ¨C he did predict a difficult fight. At the very least, the thing wouldn¡¯t die easily. It really was a shame. Against most people, those fires would have been quite lethal, but with Zeke¡¯s near perfect resistance to fire, they were little more than an irritation. The moment [Eye of Reckoning] winked out, Zeke threw himself forward, activating [Titanic Smash] in mid-air. And when the resultant attack connected with the creature, it did more than simply reel backwards. It bent almost double, and if it had been human, its back would have broken entirely. As it happened, the thing snapped back upright, then clamped its enormous hand around Zeke the second he landed. That was when it tried to squish him to death. Of course, that would prove no more effective than its attempts to burn him, but Zeke was still surprised at the sheer amount of physical strength the thing could bring to bear. It wasn¡¯t on par with the necromantic vessel, but it was more than enough to make Zeke uncomfortable. ¡°Tiny insect! Feel my power!¡± the thing gloated. Then, Zeke¡¯s army of golems released their javelins. They slammed into Uko, and for a brief moment, his flames flickered. He roared in pain, and Zeke chose that moment to push against his confinement. He burst free, breaking a couple of fingers on his way out, then fell to the ground. He hit hard, turning his momentum into a roll before wheeling around to fight the God of the Flame. Zeke was admittedly in a bit of a pickle concerning how to attack the creature. [Hell Geyser] was out because its flames ¨C which comprised much of its damage ¨C would be useless against the giant fire-wrought creature. And he didn¡¯t dare use [Wrath of Annihilation] with Adara around. [Storm of Hammers] was still ongoing, steadily battering the creature with a whirlwind of blunt force. And he¡¯d already used [Unleash Momentum]. ¡°You could just use your Worldbreaker technique,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°That would bring it down to size.¡± Zeke shook his head. He didn¡¯t like using those techniques as a crutch. Sure, he¡¯d employ them as necessary, but at the end of the day, he saw both Worldbreaker and Runebreaker as weapons of last resort. Still, it was beginning to look like he might not have a choice in the matter. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have brought Adara along,¡± he said inwardly. She wasn¡¯t dead weight, but he couldn¡¯t¡¯ do the things he needed to do when she was around. Just as that thought flashed through Zeke¡¯s mind, Adara leaped through the air. Then, at the apex of her jump, she disappeared entirely. A second later, she descended upon Uko¡¯s face, leading the way with her spear. The creature¡¯s head snapped back as if it had been hit by a wild haymaker, but Adara wasn¡¯t finished. She yanked her spear ¨C which was glowing with red light ¨C from the monster¡¯s forehead, then plunged it through one of its eyes. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Before it could respond, she leaped away, backflipping as she soared through the air, hitting the ground almost forty yards away. Then, she leveled that same spear at the monster and let loose with a torrent of blistering red mana that carved a deep wound in its chest. Together with the injury Zeke had inflicted with [Eye of Reckoning], it formed an X upon the thing¡¯s torso. Uko howled in pain, and Zeke chose to use that moment to once again use [Titanic Smash]. Its mana was still out of sync due to the golem¡¯s spears, so it had no defense against Zeke¡¯s latest attack. The blow, harnessing every ounce of Zeke¡¯s strength as well as his powerful skill, hit with predictable results. The creature crumpled under the weight of it, but that wasn¡¯t enough to satisfy Zeke. Now that he was fully committed, he had no issues lacing his blows with a bit of his Will, which made them all the more devastating. Because of Adara¡¯s efforts, Uko was incredibly off balance, so it had no defense against the onslaught Zeke brought to bear. He pummeled it repeatedly, and Voromir tore through its fiery exterior with every descending blow. Eventually, the thing managed to dislodge Zeke, sending him skipping across the landscape until he came to a rest almost a hundred yards away. But by that point, the damage had been done. When Zeke picked himself up, he saw that the monster¡¯s entire ribcage had been destroyed. If it had possessed normal organs, it would have already been dead. However, it was a monster of magic, and because of that, it clung to life. Zeke intended to put a stop to that. Adara beat him to it, though, sending another blistering ray of red mana at the thing. It tried to dodge, but with its lower half still stuck in the ground, there was no chance of that. Its howls of agony echoed across the fire-strewn area, and they only grew in volume when Zeke once again threw himself into the fray. That was the thing about monstrously large creatures. They were powerful, but if one could stand up to their incredible strength, then they stood little chance against a much smaller foe. Especially when it was someone like Zeke, who could pack so much power into a much smaller frame. Of course, standing up to such a creature was impossible for most. Zeke, however, had a unique constitution that allowed him to endure when most would have been destroyed entirely. That, coupled with his massive strength, gave him the ability to stand toe-to-toe with such a powerful monster. Still, it wasn¡¯t as if it was easy. The battle went back and forth, and Uko managed to get more than a few heavy blows to land on Zeke. More than once, Zeke was forced to use [Hand of Divinity] to heal himself. However, none of those attacks carried with them a fraction of the power the necrotic vessel had leveled against him, so he had no issues with taking whatever the so-called God of the Flame could level in his direction. Even so, the battle couldn¡¯t be won in a hurry, and in the end, it raged for more than a day. Uko fought with every ounce of primal fury it could muster, and yet, it was nothing compared to what Zeke could wield. On top of that, Adara added her own flavor of damage to the proceedings, and together, they overcame the massive monster. In the end, Adara got the killing blow, spearing it through the heart ¨C which was more of an elemental core than a beating mass of muscle ¨C shattering it into a million pieces. They¡¯d been at it for hours, hammering away at that hunk of gem-like crystal, so the moment they received the kill energy, their shoulders slumped in relief. ¡°Damn,¡± Zeke said, collapsing in the creature¡¯s chest cavity. It wasn¡¯t as grotesque as it might¡¯ve sounded, considering that Uko had been composed of rock, fire, and magma. Still, it was a bit macabre, even by Zeke¡¯s lofty standards for such things. ¡°He was tougher than I expected.¡± Adara had no more compunctions about the setting than he did, and she plopped down right next to him. Wiping sweat from her slightly green-tinged brow, she beamed at him as she said, ¡°That was amazing! Did you see how I hit him with that spear strike?¡± To accentuate the point, she thrust her arm forward. Her spear had long since shattered, but Zeke got the picture. ¡°Is that a new skill?¡± he asked. She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s called [Fatal Strike]. Kind of a misnomer, but it got the job done for sure,¡± she answered. ¡°Were you holding back?¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°I can¡¯t use my most powerful skill with other people around,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ll get caught in the wash, and there¡¯s no way anyone else would survive. I can barely endure it myself.¡± ¡°Well, even if you held back, the way you manhandled him was really something.¡± Zeke nodded and said, ¡°Thanks. You weren¡¯t so bad yourself.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± said Eveline in his mind. ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying ¨C it¡¯s sweet. Bonding over a shared experience. I mean, it¡¯s a bit creepy that you chose a fire god¡¯s chest cavity for the setting, but I suppose to each his own,¡± she said. ¡°Next thing you know, you¡¯ll be making love in the entrails of your enemies. Coincidentally, that is one of the more obscure mating habits of a particular race of demons called corpsefu ¨C¡± Zeke flexed [Bulwark of the Triumvirate], then said, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a tower to run?¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t run it. I supervise. Besides, I can do two things at once. Do you want me to recite the ongoing meeting I¡¯m currently attending? If you wait a few minutes, I can probably even create an illusion ¨C only visible to you, sadly. It¡¯s a bit boring, but if you insist on ¨C¡± ¡°Just stop. Please.¡± The last thing Zeke wanted to think about was the minutiae of running the tower. Sure, he very much cared about those people who¡¯d put their well-being in his hands, but he was honest enough with himself to admit that actually tending to their needs was well outside his wheelhouse. ¡°Not to push my luck, but aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡± she asked. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°The natural treasure. You need to search the area,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be hard to find now that the creature¡¯s dead. Just follow your mana nose.¡± ¡°Mana nose?¡± ¡°Sense?¡± ¡°That sounds better,¡± Zeke said. After that, he pushed himself to his feet and informed Adara of his intentions. For her part, she was at least as eager as he was to find the item. Apparently, hunting for treasure was universally enjoyed. So, they quickly set out, but initially, their efforts were stymied by a simple lack of direction. Because of that, they were forced to wander around, retracing their steps until, at last, Zeke caught wind of something. He would never have felt it if he hadn¡¯t been working diligently on his mana senses, but now that he had, it was obvious. Following that trail proved easy enough, and over the next hour, they trekked across the landscape until, at last, they found it. The treasure itself was an orchid the size of Zeke¡¯s head, and it emitted a level of fire mana that made being in its presence extremely uncomfortable, even for him. For her part, Adara was forced to remain more than a hundred yards away, lest she be burned to a crisp. The fact that it affected her so strongly ¨C even when she was still under the influence of her fire resistance potion ¨C boded well for the treasure¡¯s quality. So, Zeke quickly dug it up, then stashed it away inside his spatial storage. And sure enough, the second he did, he saw that his quest had been updated to show his progress. Now, he only needed a few more steps, and the Hall of Affinities would be his. 569. Slow and Methodical Zeke felt himself progress closer to level ninety-nine, but as he stepped out of the dungeon, he knew he was still a long way from reaching that mark. ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. For most people, it takes years to make any appreciable gains at that level,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Decades in some cases. Your leveling speed is absolutely ridiculous.¡± He knew she was right, but still, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but feel a little impatient for meaningful progression. Part of that was because he¡¯d become addicted to the steady climb of power that his levels ¨C and to a lesser degree, his stats ¨C represented, but mostly, he was excited about what level one hundred represented. Not only was it the peak of the realm and a threshold very few people managed to reach, but it would also result in a new skill. ¡°Focus on fully incorporating your existing skills into your fighting style before you start looking for new ones,¡± Eveline advised. ¡°Plus, you still need to upgrade a couple of the old ones. And you need to evolve your race. Not to mention that it would be best if you reached the next tier in your path before you descend. C-Grade is good, especially with as powerful a path as yours, but I would be much more comfortable if you managed to reach B-Grade.¡± ¡°Your comfort is obviously my priority,¡± he deadpanned in his own mind. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. Your fate is mine, so I¡¯m obviously invested in your survival.¡± ¡°What if it wasn¡¯t?¡± he asked as Adara appeared next to him. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I mean, what if you could survive outside of my head?¡± he asked. He¡¯d thought about it often enough, but he didn¡¯t know how possible such a thing was. In a lot of ways, Eveline was like a parasite. She was powerful in her own right, but without a host, she would wither and die. Likely, that process would happen very quickly, too. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly content where I am,¡± she said. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. I know it sounds odd to you, but that¡¯s because you¡¯re limited by the idea of your physical self. Even before I lost my body, I was more a creature of the mind than most. And since then, I have come to terms with who and what I am. I have more than enough freedom to suit me, especially now that I have the run of the tower. And I will tell you now ¨C there¡¯s almost no chance I would have descended without your help. I had reached the peak, but my journey was long and difficult enough that I wouldn¡¯t have abandoned my place unless forced to do so,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°Now, that decision is out of my hands, and I think I¡¯m better for it.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zeke said. In a lot of ways, it made sense. Fear ¨C of failure, mostly ¨C kept people from achieving many of the goals they professed to possess. Even to their detriment, as was often the case. Now that Eveline wasn¡¯t in charge of her own fate, she only had to go along for the ride. ¡°You make me sound like some pathetic follower,¡± she complained. ¡°I don¡¯t think of you like that, and you know it,¡± he said. Sure, he wasn¡¯t happy when she first latched onto him, and at times, he became incredibly frustrated with her, but at the end of the day, he had difficulty imagining his life without Eveline in it. It was only then that he realized that he loved her. Not as a romantic partner ¨C obviously. But rather, like she was his sister. ¡°Gross.¡± ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°People can ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯m still a succubus at heart, and the idea that anyone would love me like a sister is just¡­well, gross. So, thank you for that,¡± she said. Then, she pulled away, quarantining herself in the back of his mind. It was her way of telling him that she wanted privacy, and Zeke was more than happy to accommodate that desire. Regardless, Zeke quickly moved on to the next item on his to-do list. Each time he completed a dungeon, he was given a reward. In some cases, said reward was game-changing, as had been the case with the first dungeon he¡¯d ever completed. The Mirror King¡¯s house of horrors had given him the ability to open a gate separate from summoning the tower itself. But even before that, he¡¯d received the bond with the Crimson Tower itself. At the time, he hadn¡¯t known that the troll caves were a pseudo-dungeon ¨C in Oberon¡¯s words ¨C but in retrospect, it seemed obvious. In any case, those two rewards had been instrumental in his life so far. However, there were other times when the rewards weren¡¯t terribly useful, so he couldn¡¯t help but hope for the former rather than the latter. With that in mind, he took a look at the Potion of Evolution he had received upon completion of the dungeon. The name was identical to the one attached to the potion he¡¯d gotten from the Mirror King¡¯s dungeon, so he had high hopes. However, he wouldn¡¯t know for certain how useful it would be until he used it. ¡°You could use it on yourself,¡± Adara said, guessing what he was thinking. ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories about potions like that. They can evolve a skill. Or an attunement. Or sometimes, even a race. That you¡¯ve gotten two of them is¡­I don¡¯t know what to call it. But it definitely isn¡¯t normal.¡± ¡°I gathered,¡± he said. ¡°But I can do those other things myself, can¡¯t I? I have no idea how to evolve the tower, though.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. She shook her head. ¡°The idea that you can just evolve skills is so alien to me,¡± she admitted. ¡°Most people can¡¯t do that.¡± He gave her a grin. ¡°I¡¯m not most people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely true,¡± she admitted with a smile of her own. After that, the pair descended from the mountain and passed through the ruined forest. This time, there were no angry dragons barring their way, so they traveled quickly and efficiently. Still, they were hundreds of miles from where they had left the army encamped, so it still took an entire day before they arrived. Fortunately, no great crises had best the kobolds during his absence, and in fact, they¡¯d actually won a decisive battle only the day before. Very few kobolds had been injured during the fighting, and even fewer died from their wounds. By any measure, it was a great victory. But Zeke still forced himself to put things into context. Every dead kobold weighed on his conscience, and he spent over an hour listening to Kianma reciting their names. Some were juveniles who had yet to earn a moniker, which Zeke found even sadder. Of course, the kobolds accepted that many of their young would die. In the past, that was because they lived as scavengers and were far from the most powerful creatures in their natural environment. ¡°That¡¯s not how it is anymore,¡± Zeke told her. ¡°You need to adjust your thinking. Those juveniles are children, and as such, every death is a great tragedy. Internalize that.¡± She nodded, though he could see that she struggled to understand what he meant. Perhaps as they continued to evolve, that would change. By then, Eveline had left her self-imposed isolation behind, so as he headed back to the Lord¡¯s Manor, she said, ¡°You know there¡¯s no guarantee that will happen, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°That they¡¯ll learn to value their young,¡± she said. ¡°I once encountered a civilization of sapient wasps. They were incredibly intelligent, and they were quite adept at creating all forms of art. Cultured, you would say.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°And they couldn¡¯t have cared less about their children,¡± she said. ¡°They cared about the collective and advancing as a group, but they reproduced so rapidly that the loss of a single wasp larva was nothing to them. There have been other cases ¨C¡± ¡°You¡¯re forgetting one thing, Eveline,¡± he said, stepping onto the teleporter and selecting his destination. Once he was transported to the Lord¡¯s Manor, he continued, ¡°Me. I won¡¯t let them downplay the importance of their children. They will value and protect their young.¡± In his eyes, there was no other way, and for a variety of reasons. Not only would that ensure the prosperity of the clutch as a whole, but there was value in treasuring one¡¯s children. ¡°So, you would change them. Enforce a culture they neither want nor need?¡± she asked. ¡°If it proves necessary, yes. I will.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that make you a tyrant?¡± she asked. Zeke was about to answer, but then he narrowed his eyes. ¡°Maybe a benevolent tyrant,¡± he said. ¡°Do you know why dictatorships fail?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°Because they are unjust?¡± ¡°Because you can¡¯t predict what will come once you¡¯re gone,¡± she said. ¡°You have the best intentions, right? Let¡¯s assume that you do. You want the kobolds to prosper. You want them to grow. And you intend to push that agenda going forward, correct?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Zeke admitted. Indeed, he cared more about their fate than he ever would¡¯ve thought possible. The relationship between him and his chosen people had been all but forced upon him by the wyrm Mykaena, but he had embraced it with everything he had. And that showed in his actions. Even his skills had been chosen with them in mind. ¡°What about when you¡¯re gone?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m not about to die, Eveline. In fact, I¡¯m pretty sure my lifespan is in the thousands of years at this point.¡± ¡°You¡¯re functionally immortal, at least in terms of the ravages of time,¡± she said. ¡°However, you also lead a life of extreme danger. In recent months, you have picked fights with two beings that could squash you like a bug. You consistently attack challenges meant for more powerful people, and you often do it alone. The chances of you dying are much higher than you think.¡± ¡°Okay? I¡¯m aware of my own mortality. I¡¯m not an all-powerful god.¡± ¡°So, who takes over when you¡¯re gone?¡± she asked. But before Zeke could answer the question, she said, ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to name a successor. I¡¯m asking you what happens when all the authority and adoration you¡¯ve worked for gets transferred to someone else? What happens when that person has other priorities in mind than the good of your people? What happens when they want to exploit these kobolds? Enslave them? What happens when, suddenly, they start creating castes within the population and telling some of the kobolds that they¡¯re better than the others? The problem with dictatorship doesn¡¯t lie with the first ruler. It¡¯s with all the tyrants who can come later.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zeke said, but he didn¡¯t think his situation could turn out like that. In the even that he died, then someone like Kianma or Silik would take over. ¡°And after them?¡± ¡°I assume they would choose someone.¡± She sighed. ¡°The moment it¡¯s not you in charge, the greater the chances of tyranny. I saw it before I died,¡± she explained. ¡°My people were supposedly enlightened. We employed a perfect system to choose rulers based on their suitability, and we trained them accordingly. But then the tyrant came. He wasn¡¯t evil. Not at first. He was just flawed, the same as everyone else. He had blind spots. Prejudices born of life experience. And less than reputable people manipulated him into embracing those flaws and calling them virtues. By the next generation, those prejudices had been ingrained into the government, and the next saw mass genocide against those deemed lesser. It doesn¡¯t happen all at once, Ezekiel. It¡¯s a slow and methodical fall.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Because you need to be wary of the consequences of your choices,¡± she said. ¡°Especially with a people as potentially powerful as these kobolds.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t sure that he would fall down the slippery slope she described, but he could admit to the value of caution. And ultimately, that was what Eveline wanted. So, he agreed to be careful with his decision-making processes and approached the red gem at the center of his manor. Once there, he retrieved the Evolution Potion from his spatial storage, uncorked it, then poured the glimmering contents over the ruby. The Crimson Tower has evolved, expanding on an existing ability. Use it well. The moment he received the notification, Zeke gained an awareness of what had changed. And when he did, he couldn¡¯t keep a smile from spreading across his face. Suddenly, Eveline¡¯s morose lecture on philosophy was forgotten, and he focused on how the expanded ability would change his approach to everything. It was simple. Instead of his ability to create a gate that led to the tower being limited to a single portal, he could now summon five. It was a simple change, but the implications were profound. ¡°That worked out better than expected,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It really did,¡± he agreed. 570. Obsession Talia stalked through the forest, moving slowly. For her, at least. For anyone else, it would have been a dead sprint. With her incredible agility and dexterity, she was capable of cover hundreds of miles per hour, but she wasn¡¯t interested in traveling the largest distance in the shortest amount of time possible. Instead, she was searching for a clue as to the whereabouts of Abraham Micayne, the necromancer responsible for her rebirth as a revenant. By all rights, she should have been grateful for the man¡¯s efforts. He¡¯d inadvertently given her everything she¡¯d ever wanted. Before he¡¯d suspended her in that void between life and death and converted her into one of the undead, she had been caught a very different limbo ¨C this one of her mother¡¯s making. Back then, Talia had endeavored to become a fighter, training with Master Silas Martel until she¡¯d mastered hand-to-hand combat. However, she had lacked the stats or skills to keep up, largely because her mother had insisted that she become a healer like her father. Of course, her reasoning hadn¡¯t been altruistic, as she had claimed. No ¨C she¡¯d wanted to remake Talia in her slain father¡¯s image in the hopes of using that connection to bring the man back from the dead. It was an outrageous plan, and ultimately, it had been doomed by Micayne¡¯s incompetence. And when Zeke had intervened, he¡¯d saved her from the necromancer¡¯s clutches. Of course, Micayne had tried to kill them for their efforts, but ultimately, he¡¯d failed and everyone had escaped. Yet, now that the man was free from his own quest to resurrect his dead wife, he¡¯d turned his attention to getting the most out of his necromantic arts. More importantly, he¡¯d unleashed an unliving horde on the Radiant Isles, and that army of zombies and other unthinking undead had swept across the main island, converting everyone it encountered. That had doomed the entire subcontinent. And ultimately, it had brought Micayne into conflict with Zeke. Or more importantly, Abby, who, at the behest of a goddess, had attempted to slay the necromancer. That, in and of itself, was not a bad thing. However, she¡¯d chosen to act at a time that put Zeke, Pudge, and Talia in grave danger. In most cases, it would have resulted in their deaths, but Zeke had never been one constrained by the odds. He¡¯d broken through, and unsurprisingly, he hadn¡¯t been happy with Abby¡¯s betrayal. Still, they¡¯d thought Micayne dead. At least they had right up until the necromancer ¨C who¡¯d become a lich of incalculable power ¨C had taken over the undead city of Darukar, enslaving its citizens and forcing Zeke into a confrontation. That had not ended well for Micayne, and he¡¯d gone on the run. Talia would have chased him to the ends of the Eternal Realm, but at the time, she¡¯d had other priorities. Like saving Zeke. But now that that was done, she¡¯d left the war with the Radiant Host behind in favor of hunting down the man who¡¯d authored so much misery. Hopefully, she could kill him this time. With that in mind, she stalked through the forest. She wished she had a stealth skill like Pudge or the kobold rangers ¨C or better, like the Inashi ¨C but she had to make do with simply being faster than everything else. And she was. Every now and again, she¡¯d come up against something that could almost keep pace, but in the end, they all fell behind. And even those few instances were incredibly rare. However, there were plenty of foes that had mechanisms to counter her speed. Some did so via clever traps or slowing skills, while others took the same path as Zeke, meaning that they relied on insane durability. But unlike most speed-focused fighters, Talia also packed quite a punch. She had a host of disease and rot-based skills, including her Path of Decay, which she¡¯d recently upgraded to C-Grade. That made her a deadly opponent, even for those talented warriors who¡¯d already reached the peak. Was she on par with someone like Zeke? No. In her experience, few ¨C if any ¨C could. But she could keep up with just about anyone else, and for the vast majority of threats, she was more than a match. That was why she had no issues going off on her own and searching for the man who¡¯d changed the direction of her life. The reason she¡¯d chosen to hunt him wasn¡¯t due to her personal enmity with the man, though. Instead, she¡¯d picked that path for two reasons. First, he was a menace that threatened the entire world. Despite being undead herself, she didn¡¯t want the entire world turned. Darukar ¨C and the Kingdom of El¡¯kireth ¨C was unique in that it produced sapient unliving. Every other version of undead were mindless, enslaved to the will of a necromancer. It was an abomination. However, the biggest motivator for her quest was simple revenge. She¡¯d become attached to Darukar. She had found a home. Friends that were as close as family. And Micayne had destroyed it all, killing hundreds of thousands as if they were nothing more than fodder for his own goals. The man needed to pay for that, and Talia intended to force the issue. So, she ran, casting her senses wide as she crisscrossed the forest in a search grid. Over and over, she covered the same ground as she looked for anything that might indicate which way Micayne had gone. She knew the general direction he¡¯d taken off, but after that, the trial had gone cold. But nobody was perfect, and a man as steeped in death as Micayne would inevitably leave some sort of trail. Talia only needed to find it. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The search had been ongoing for weeks, but she refused to give up. Soon enough, those weeks turned to multiple months. At times, she returned to the tower to report her findings ¨C or lack thereof ¨C and she heard tales of the war with the Imperium. During her last visit, she had learned that Zeke had gone into a dungeon in search of levels and a natural treasure attuned to disease, but other than that, everything seemed normal back there. So, she had no excuses not to continue her search. It was only after two months of nearly constant activity that she finally found a clue. It was just a piece of bone, but Talia could recognize the aura of undeath surrounding it. She knelt in place, leaning close without daring to touch it. For all she knew, it could be a trap meant to kill or convert an unwary passerby. She had no idea if such a thing was possible ¨C especially from something so innocuous as touching a bone ¨C but Talia knew better than to underestimate the wily necromancer. After all, insane though he might have been, he was still an unsurpassed genius who¡¯d managed to achieve true necromance ¨C and lichdom, apparently ¨C in the Mortal Realm. That made him the sort of person who could potentially the heavens. Even normal necromancers ¨C if such a term could be applied to those sorts ¨C were considered kill-on-sight in most civilizations. But an ascender who¡¯d crossed that threshold in the Mortal Realm? He was a weapon of massive proportion. And Talia wouldn¡¯t allow him to reach his potential. She would succumb to true death before that happened. After studying the bone ¨C it was a human femur ¨C for a few minutes, she surmised that it wasn¡¯t inherently dangerous. So, she built a fire and burned the thing before moving on, expanding her search in a circular grid radiating from the site where she¡¯d found the clue. She went over everything with a fine-toothed comb, slowing to a crawl so she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of missing anything. And after only a day, she found her second clue. The bits of flesh were gone and long rotted, but Talia could sense the subtle aura they had left behind. That led her to a few clumps of moldy earth that told her to the next indicator that undead had been in the area. Over and over, she found various out-of-place details that told her a story of Micayne¡¯s path. As a lich, the man was one of the undead, but he could keep himself together well enough to hide his own trail. The same could not be said for his minions, who were prone to rotting. They were kept upright via his magic, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t forestall the inevitable rot that came with their nature. Eventually, they would be nothing but skeletons, devoid of all flesh and wholly reliant on his skills to keep them going. At that point, they¡¯d be almost impossible to track, except by those who could sniff out magic. Such trackers existed. Likely, the kobold rangers had such a skill, though communicating with them was frustratingly difficult. That was part of the reason Talia had foregone using them. The other reason was because she felt it necessary to do the job herself. It was a personal vendetta, and one she would entrust to no one else. Except maybe Zeke or Pudge. Nobody else understood what Micayne could do. Even her undead friends who¡¯d survived the fall of Darukar were unsuited for the task. So, she continued on alone, traveling through the forest and eventually reaching a coastal plain. Because of her unerring focus, she wasn¡¯t certain how far she¡¯d gone. Maybe as much as a thousand miles, but no more than that. In any case, the territory was wholly unfamiliar, as were the dangers. As she discovered when she stumbled upon a nest of human-sized, wasp-like creatures that burst from the ground with fury at her intrusion. ¡°Intruder!¡± one buzzed. ¡°Protect the nest!¡± another shrieked. Talia tried to raise her hands and tell them she meant them no harm, but the creatures were upon her in an instant. More distressingly, they could fly and were armed with enormous, sword-sized stingers that they intended to use upon her. They¡¯d also managed to surround her. So, she knew she would need to fight if she intended to survive. Or maybe she just had a little frustration to work out after spending more than eight weeks following Micayne¡¯s trail. Whatever the case, judging by the results of [Eyes of the Revenant], the creatures were powerful, but not so strong that she needed to run: Verspiran Warrior ¨C Level 78 Strength: Average Endurance: Low Agility: Very High Dexterity: Very High Intelligence: Low Wisdom: Average Resistances: Average Most used Skill: [Agonizing Sting] There were more than a dozen of the creatures, which meant that they would pose quite a threat. Or, in the back of her mind, she had to acknowledge that she hoped it meant that they would prove to be a challenging foe. She erupted into motion, pushing her speed to its limit as she utilized [Death Claws], which was an evolution of [Calcification] that added an aura of invasive death to the expression of the skill. In addition, she used [Plague Strike] as well as [Chill of Undeath]. As always, she had [Inevitability] active, augmenting her speed even more than her base attributes would normally allow. Finally, she used [Frigid Claws] and [Plague Strike], wrapping her elongated claws in a swirl of green and white. A second later, she was upon the first verspiran warrior, and her claws exploded through its thorax in a shower of viscera and chitin. The others had barely moved by the time she treated the second to a similar fate. And the third beat its wings in the hopes of escape. It only made it a few inches before she exploded through it as well. Apparently, their low endurance meant that she didn¡¯t even need her normal skills, so she let those fall away. Instead, with only [Death Claws] and [Inevitability] remaining active, she focused every thought on pushing herself ever faster. The queasiness and head high that came with those extreme speeds was familiar ¨C almost comforting ¨C but she knew that if she kept it up for too long ¨C as she had in the past ¨C she would need days of recovery. But her goal was simple ¨C end the fight before they wasps ever had a chance to respond. They weren¡¯t strong enough to resist her. Indeed, they seemed like they were speed-focused creatures that normally played a similar role to the one she occupied. They were just inferior to her, and as such, they¡¯d picked a fight they simply could not win. Over the next fifteen seconds, Talia destroyed almost twenty wasps. Then, suddenly, the air went quiet, and she realized that she was all alone. There were probably many more of the creatures in their nest belowground. She could sense them, after a fashion. But they seemed to have had enough. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to fight,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m just passing through. I would appreciate it you didn¡¯t make me kill any more of you.¡± There was only silence in answer. So, without further distractions, she continued on her way. She thought she was getting closer to her goal, and she didn¡¯t intend to let anything distract her. 571. Poison Zeke stepped out of the latest dungeon, his shoulders sagging in mingled relief and exhaustion. Adara followed behind, though she was in much worse shape. Her complexion had turned even greener than normal, and she staggered with every step. That was Zeke¡¯s first hint that she wasn¡¯t okay. The second was when she bent over and vomited in the ankle deep water of the bog surrounding the dungeon¡¯s entrance. In only a second, he was by her side. He laid his hand on her back, channeling mana into the runes governing [Hand of Divinity]. Healing coursed through her, waging a localized war with the poison and disease rampaging through her body. For his part, Zeke felt a similar effect, though he was far more capable of enduring. Partly, that was because of his much higher endurance, but it was also because his resistances to the two types of attuned mana were significantly better. The result was that the nausea that effects that had nearly crippled her were only nauseating to Zeke. Even so, they¡¯d been inside that dungeon for close to a week, and no one could endure that sort of sickness unfazed. As a result, Zeke was well and truly done with anything to do with disease and poison. ¡°It was so different than the centaur trials,¡± he said to Eveline, referring to the dungeon he¡¯d conquered to earn the centaurs¡¯ trust. Back then, he¡¯d gotten a disease based treasure, but it was much too weak for his purposes. So, when the scouts had found another disease- and poison-based dungeon, he¡¯d jumped at the chance to gain an upgrade. He very much regretted it. ¡°That was more caustic than anything.¡± Indeed, the dungeon had very much resembled the swamp in which it had been located, and it carried with it many of the same issues characteristic of such an environment. Zeke had never seen so many stinging insects, venomous reptiles, or disease bearing rodents. They¡¯d swarmed him the second he¡¯d stepped through the entrance, and they had kept up the pressure through the entire dungeon. Even Eveline had been affected. How that was possible for a mind spirit, Zeke had no idea, but she¡¯d grown progressively more lethargic until she¡¯d all but disappeared from his mind. To counter that, he¡¯d developed a new technique where he channeled [Hand of Divinity] into his own mind. It had worked, healing her just as thoroughly as it did anyone else, but with the side effect of giving Zeke a pervasive headache. It was also exhausting. He didn¡¯t think she would have made it through the dungeon otherwise, so he couldn¡¯t bring himself to regret it. Regarding the nature of the dungeon¡¯s other obstacles, Zeke could only call them frustrating. He¡¯d fought an enormous snake who was large enough to swallow him whole, battled a mosquito the size of a cargo plane, and waged a war against a swarm of fist-sized flies whose bites were almost enough to kill Adara in seconds. Of course, she¡¯d been forced to sit the last one out, but she had also made quite impressive gains in the rest of the dungeon. Though she wasn¡¯t in any condition to enjoy them. In that dungeon, he¡¯d seen a side of her that he couldn¡¯t have anticipated. The vulnerability, he¡¯d expected to go through with her at one point or another. Sitting in a cave and nursing her back to health had been a novel experience, especially considering the expression of her afflictions. ¡°You will never speak of what happened in that dungeon,¡± Adara said, looking up at him. Her expression held notes of anger and pleading, though he wasn¡¯t sure which one was more dominant. ¡°My lips are sealed,¡± Zeke stated solemnly. Once Adara had recovered a little of her strength, they began the long trek through the swamp and back to civilization. On the way in, Zeke had remarked that it was an incredibly unpleasant environment, but after experiencing the bobby hellscape that was the dungeon, it felt like a walk in the park. Sure, there were plenty of venomous reptiles and insects, but they seemed like pale imitations of the truly dangerous creatures within the dungeon. Still, it felt endless. The swamp ¨C referred to by the locals by the simple moniker of No Man¡¯s Land ¨C covered hundreds of miles, and the dungeon they¡¯d just conquered was right in the center. So, it took them the better part of three days of difficult travel before they reached the edge. Then, they were forced to travel through the slightly more forgiving wetlands until, at last, reaching a mountainous region characterized by forests. It was only then that they allowed themselves to relax. Zeke could have simply summoned a gate, then stepped inside to get a break from the elements. However, he knew that Adara ¨C proud as she was ¨C wouldn¡¯t have appreciated being seen in such a state. She was covered in mud, vomit, and other unpleasant things, and the swamp hadn¡¯t afforded them any opportunity to fix those issues. So, when they came across a mountain stream, they were more than willing to take advantage. Without hesitation, they both stripped down and bathed. After that, Zeke laid out an impromptu picnic while Adara burned her old and ruined clothes. She probably would have gotten rid of her armor, too, but it was high-quality gear that had been bonded to her the day she¡¯d become one of the Knights of Adontis. That organization was now defunct, and she¡¯d left it even before its fall, but the armor remained. Of course, Zeke could have broken that bond with a generous application of his Will. He¡¯d done so for a few other former Knights. But when he¡¯d offered that to Adara, she had outright refused. Was the armor so valuable? Or did she wear it as a reminder of her old life? Zeke had no idea, and he sensed that asking would have been the wrong move. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°You didn¡¯t sense anything. I told you,¡± Eveline reminded him. ¡°Same difference,¡± he said. She rolled her eyes. After Adara had finished cleaning up ¨C both herself and her armor ¨C she returned to the riverbank where Zeke had built a fire and set out a few pieces of furniture. Most prominent among them was a bed, but he¡¯d also retrieved a couple of padded chairs and a table from his storage space. Upon that table was a feast. A platter containing a wild hog shank was the centerpiece, but there were tureens of vegetables, fluffy bread with fresh butter, and a cask of wine Zeke had taken from one of the Imperium¡¯s palaces. ¡°What¡¯s all this, then?¡± Adara asked, raising one eyebrow. He shrugged, then gestured to one of the chairs. ¡°This is what you do after you¡¯ve been sick, right? That¡¯s what my mom used to do when I was a kid. The second I got over whatever was wrong, she¡¯d practically force feed me.¡± As she sat, she asked, ¡°What was she like? Your mother, I mean.¡± Zeke took the other chair, answering, ¡°I don¡¯t know. She was a good mom, but she had her flaws. I didn¡¯t see them as much when I was younger, but these days, I recognize that she had her own issues. I think that¡¯s part of getting older, right? You realize that your parents are just human.¡± ¡°Or orc.¡± He smiled sadly, knowing her history well enough. ¡°Just an expression. I didn¡¯t mean to ¨C¡± ¡°I know,¡± Adara interrupted. ¡°I met an orc once. A full-blooded one. They were¡­formidable. And terrifying.¡± ¡°They?¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell if they were male or female. That¡¯s the thing with orcs. You¡¯d have to manually check if you wanted to know for sure,¡± she said. ¡°They have all the proper parts. It¡¯s just that they come from a very cold climate, and they¡¯re usually decked out in thick furs. No real difference in size or facial features though. Not that we would notice, at least.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°They tried to kill me,¡± Adara answered. ¡°Oh. Did you fight them?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. I was only sixteen years old at the time, and I¡¯d barely even begun my training. So I ran,¡± she said. ¡°Thankfully, there were plenty of Knights around to step in. They fought the orc, and a couple of them died. A couple of others expected me to repay them for their act of ¡®kindness.¡¯ I didn¡¯t, which was the beginning of my issues.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°In the past,¡± she said, reaching for the central platter and slicing a hunk from the hog shank. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan now? We need to find a water treasure too, right? Then divine and demonic, too? After that, you¡¯ll complete your quest.¡± Zeke nodded. ¡°I have some people looking for a water treasure. Some of the former slaves were willing to travel to Westport, which is apparently a trade hub,¡± he stated. ¡°I¡¯m hoping they¡¯ll be able to buy one.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hold my breath if I were you,¡± Adara said, biting into the juicy meat. Unsurprisingly, she had neglected the vegetables. Apparently, that was one of the few nods to her orcish heritage that she didn¡¯t try to fight. They were entirely carnivorous, and Zeke could count on one hand how many times he¡¯d seen her partake of vegetables or fruit. She did like sweets and bread, though. She continued, ¡°Those kinds of treasures don¡¯t really get sold. If they find one, you¡¯ll probably have to kill the owner.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve been told.¡± That was indeed the case, but Zeke had the wealth of an entire nation at his disposal. Adontis had not been a prominent state. In fact, it was widely considered to be a provincial kingdom whose only claim to real power was its relationship with the Radiant Host. However, it was still a nation of more than a million people, and as such, it was wealthy in a way that no individual could ever boast. On top of that, Zeke had made a habit of looting anything and everything that wasn¡¯t nailed down, which meant that he had a trove of rare and powerful crafting ingredients to his name. And then there was the war against the Imperium. Four cities had already fallen, and his kobolds had taken everything claimed by the state itself. The civilians¡¯ wealth, they mostly left alone, but the nature of such places was that few citizens of the empire would ever sit out a war. So, there just weren¡¯t many people who could call themselves civilians. As such, Zeke¡¯s coffers had seen an influx of wealth, which he hoped would allow his agents to buy things that otherwise would not have been for sale. And then there was the other way. Zeke wasn¡¯t above simply taking what he needed. So, if the owners of viable treasures resisted his efforts at buying them fair and square, he would do what was necessary. After all, his people¡¯s fate was at stake. The kobolds needed that Hall of Affinities if they were going to continue to progress. With that on the table, there was little he wouldn¡¯t do to ensure their prosperity. ¡°You can¡¯t go to war with everyone,¡± Adara advised. Zeke narrowed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about a war. I¡¯m talking about walking into some merchant¡¯s headquarters and taking what I need.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a slippery slope,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s the wrong path, but I am telling you that it¡¯s a good way to end up like Adontis or the Imperium. It doesn¡¯t matter if your cause is just if you end up killing some poor merchant whose only crime was that he didn¡¯t want to sell his prize treasure.¡± Zeke was about to respond, but then he cut himself short. Adara was right. Of course she was. If he¡¯d thought about it for even a second, he would have come to the same conclusion. Often, he¡¯d thought of his efforts on behalf of the kobolds as honorable, and normally, he tried to do the right thing. However, of late, he¡¯d found himself addicted to the notion that war was always the right answer. If someone stood in his way, he would simply trample them. If they refused to give him what he wanted, he would take it. Because he thought he was justified. In reality, though, if he let those ideas dictate his actions, he would only be a bully. He sighed. ¡°I was never meant to rule,¡± he muttered. Things were so much easier when he could just venture out into the wilderness and gather the items for his quests. But when other people were involved ¨C on either side ¨C things became significantly more complicated. ¡°Well, you are a ruler, whether you like it or not. That is a simple and indisputable fact. So, you need to accept it and act the part,¡± Adara said before taking a bite of the pork. ¡°This is really good, by the way. And you were right. I¡¯m famished.¡± After that, their conversation died out in favor of the satisfaction of their hunger. Once they were finished eating, Adara collapsed onto the bed and immediately went to sleep. For his part, Zeke remained awake, and as he watched over her, he gave quite a lot of thought to what she¡¯d said. He was a ruler. A king. Practically a god to the kobolds. And he needed to start acting like it. But what did that mean? The entire point of a ruler was to look after the needs of his subjects. Wasn¡¯t that what he was doing? Wasn¡¯t that what he¡¯d always done for the kobolds? There was more to it, though, and he suspected that figuring that out was going to take more than a single night. 572. An Old Friend ¡°What do we know about this army?¡± Tucker asked, reclining on the bed within the Mercury¡¯s stateroom as he watched Iris getting dressed. They¡¯d been together for some time, but his enthusiasm for the relationship had yet to fade. Not only was she physically attractive, but she was also incredibly intelligent, resourceful, and uniquely interesting. The only time he¡¯d ever felt anything even close to as powerful was with his wife back on Earth. They¡¯d been married for close to four decades, so to put such a relatively new relationship on equal footing with that union was quite a step. ¡°Stop looking at me like that,¡± she said, pinning up her hair. ¡°We can¡¯t afford any other delays.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t help it. Won¡¯t apologize for it, either. You¡¯re gorgeous, and I won¡¯t pretend otherwise,¡± he replied. She rolled her eyes. ¡°Even with this?¡± she asked, fingering the scar stretching from her forehead to her jaw. It was a jagged thing, clearly the result of something horrific. Tucker had yet to ask how she¡¯d gotten it, but given her profession, he expected it had come during a battle. ¡°Every part of you,¡± he said. ¡°But you didn¡¯t answer my question. What¡¯s going on with this mysterious army? They¡¯ve been fighting against the Imperium for months now, and no other country has claimed credit.¡± As she buttoned her shirt, she answered, ¡°There¡¯s not much information to go on. Some reports say the bulk of the force is composed of monsters, but I don¡¯t regard that as reliable. Chances are that they¡¯re just some obscure race, much like your kirran friends.¡± ¡°Any clue as to where they came from?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. The first reports of their presence came from the Muk¡¯ti Plains, though from what I understand, no one believes that¡¯s where they originated. The centaurs are fiercely territorial, and they would not have allowed such a significant army to form under their noses.¡± ¡°I heard that the centaurs joined them.¡± ¡°They did,¡± Iris stated. ¡°We don¡¯t know why or how it happened, but there have been sightings of centaurs charging alongside the rest of the army.¡± Tucker knew the basic history just as well as Iris did, but he¡¯d long since established that it was best to get her take on things. The army in question had wracked up a handful of major victories. Not least among them was a campaign that ended with Adontis conquered, but they¡¯d also utterly destroyed a race of hill giants. They¡¯d already taken some of the less important cities associated with the Imperium, and they were steadily marching toward the empire¡¯s seat of power. Of course, all of his information was second-hand, and that made it at least partially unreliable. However, the sheer volume of rumors ¨C most of which agreed on those basic facts ¨C told him that there was at least some truth to the stories. And that made the army dangerous. But mostly, he was wary because he didn¡¯t know where their loyalties lay. It was one thing to treat with a force whose allegiances were well-known. But a completely independent force? That was something entirely different, and Tucker thought that wariness was the proper response. ¡°Do we really want to do this? We¡¯ve been making a lot of money elsewhere. There are plenty of rebels we could be selling to,¡± he said. Indeed, with the bulk of the Imperium¡¯s attention on the invading army, they¡¯d neglected the disgruntled citizens within their borders. As such, a host of small rebel forces had sprung up. Tucker and the other privateers in their employ had spent the past months catering to their needs while making a hefty profit. But that was nothing compared to what they stood to make by selling to the much larger army of unknown origins. With that kind of money, there would be no further limits on Tucker¡¯s alchemical pursuits. Not only could he afford all the best materials with which to experiment, but he could also pay the expensive fees to acquire various treatises on other alchemists¡¯ experiments and methods. While he enjoyed working things out for himself, there was something to be said with the accumulation of historical knowledge. With just a little study, he could avoid many pitfalls and overcome obstacles in ways that would have taken him months to figure out. To say that the rewards for the excursion were nearly limitless was not hyperbolic. It was the simple truth. And yet, it was dangerous, and now that he wasn¡¯t just dealing with his own life, Tucker was a little more averse to recklessness. Not entirely. He still had an aggressive personality when it came to the pursuit of his goals. However, he no longer had the luxury of completely disdaining the dangers that came with that philosophy. After all, he now had something other than alchemy to live for. Iris said, ¡°I don¡¯t think we have a choice. The Imperium is on the back foot for now, but that won¡¯t last much longer. That army is on the verge of entering the Heartlands. That¡¯s where things will get much, much more difficult. They¡¯ll have to fight for every inch. And they¡¯ll need quite a lot of support, which is where we come in. From what I understand, they are mostly self-sufficient, but they don¡¯t have access to high-level crafts or powerful enchantments. Of course, their leaders will want the luxuries we can provide as well. This makes too much sense to give up without even trying.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I thought I was the reckless one,¡± he said, finally sitting up. She gave him a small smile as she stepped forward. Before Tucker knew it, she had her arms wrapped around his neck as she said, ¡°Maybe you¡¯re rubbing off on me.¡± Just as things were getting interesting, there was a knock at the door. Iris rolled her eyes, then extricated herself from Tucker¡¯s embrace. Once he was covered up, she said, ¡°Enter.¡± Gira opened the door and, without even acknowledging Tucker¡¯s presence, said, ¡°Emery says we¡¯ll be arriving in two hours. If you wish to turn back, now is the time.¡± The ship¡¯s first mate had already made it clear that she didn¡¯t approve of their current course. She wanted to take things much more slowly as they safely built a mercantile empire with an entire fleet of airships as the backbone. It was a good plan, but in Tucker¡¯s mind, it was a non-starter. That course would take years before it bore fruit, and he simply didn¡¯t have that kind of patience. Fortunately, neither did Iris. ¡°Maintain course. I¡¯ll be up in a few minutes.¡± ¡°Aye, captain.¡± With that, Gira turned on her heel and retreated to the deck. Pointedly, she shut the door a little harder than was absolutely necessary. ¡°Well, I suppose I should make an appearance as well. For morale¡¯s sake,¡± Tucker said. ¡°Do you truly believe your presence boosts morale?¡± ¡°I provide the crew with alcohol. Of course they love me,¡± he said. Indeed, he¡¯d taken great pains to ingratiate himself to the crew. Some of that was just his nature, but it was also a calculated move to get on the good side of people who might someday hold his life in their hands. That just made good sense. So, after Iris finished dressing, he did the same, donning what could only be called his pirate attire. He wore a loose, ruffled white shirt, a long coat, and his tricorn hat. On top of that, he¡¯d bought various jewelry ¨C some of which was actually enchanted ¨C to give him the appropriate aura. However, he¡¯d drawn the line at gold teeth. Or the customary pegleg, though he¡¯d considered trying to find an intelligent bird that could sit on his shoulder. That would have to wait, though. After finishing dressing, he took a look at himself in the mirror, and once he was satisfied with the look, he headed to the deck. There, he found the crew hard at work as they sailed the Mercury over a verdant forest. Tucker knew better than to join Iris, Gira, and the helmsman ¨C they were busy and wouldn¡¯t appreciate his presence ¨C so he went to the bow so he could get a good view. Forest stretched for miles all around, but in the distance, Tucker saw a few fields and a couple of small settlements. From one of the crew, he found that the name of their destination was Araville, an Imperium city that played host to a few hundred thousand people. That was a decent size for a frontier town, but from what he¡¯d discovered, there were cities in the Heartland with populations in the multiple millions. And unlike a city like Westport, they would all be human. Discounting the slaves, of course. Thinking about that understandably elicited quite a bit of anger on his part. As he stood there at the front of the ship, a few of the crewmembers approached him and jovially asked if he¡¯d made a new batch of liquor. Of course, he had. That was the quickest way to any crew¡¯s hearts. He wouldn¡¯t provide it for free, but rather at cost. That would keep him in their good graces, so if things came down to it, they would be more inclined to protect him. Or their source of booze, at least. Regardless, over the next hour, nothing really changed. Just more forest, interspersed with farmland and small towns. But then, he saw a column of smoke in the distance. That was the first indication that their arrival was imminent, and as the ship drew closer, more details emerged. The city was in ruins. The wall ¨C which, in places, stood at an impressive height of more than fifty yards ¨C had been almost entirely toppled. He knew from the reports he and Iris had received that that wall had been heavily enchanted, so the fact that it had been almost entirely destroyed was significant. Most of the buildings closest to the wall had been toppled, but toward the center of the city ¨C where a formidable keep stood ¨C they were mostly intact. The keep itself was not. In fact, very little of it remained, aside from a pile of rubble and a foundation. ¡°Damn,¡± he muttered to himself. It was a level of destruction he¡¯d not expected. Then he saw the bodies. Thousands of them, all piled next to heaps of wood that he belatedly realized were intended for funeral pyres. The death toll was overwhelming, and as he looked upon those stacked bodies, Tucker had second thoughts about their course. Third thoughts, too. And maybe fourth. But they¡¯d already come so far, and turning back didn¡¯t seem a viable option. A few moments later, he saw the conquerors, and he was unsurprised to see that most of them were, indeed, reptilian in nature. They weren¡¯t quite as large ¨C on average ¨C as kirrans like Silik, and they were largely darker skinned. However, they moved with military precision, carrying huge tower shields and spears. They also wore armor, which most of the kirrans avoided. The helmsman guided the Mercury toward the intact airdock, where he deftly maneuvered it into place. It only took a few minutes before they were safely moored. Only then did Tucker get a good look at one of the lizard-men. He was bigger than expected, and he held himself with a military demeanor. When he used his inspection ability, he was surprised to find that the creature was level seventy. Thankfully, he had an actual name, rather than a monster¡¯s designation. That told Tucker that, for better or worse, the army was populated by sapient creatures. Not that he¡¯d had any doubts after seeing their rigid discipline. However, he also saw multiple beastkin working at the airdock, which was an enormous, square spire with dozens of berths. One, in particular, caught his eye, if only because he radiated corruption like nothing Tucker had encountered since his time in the demon realm. On a whim, he inspected the creature, who was giving orders to a few other beastkin, and when he saw the notification, his heart leaped into his chest. Without hesitation, he strode forward, leaving the ship behind and approaching the beastkin in question. ¡°Pudge?¡± he asked. ¡°Is that really you?¡± The beastkin glanced in his direction, and then his eyes widened. A second later, a pair of huge, furry arms were wrapped around Tucker. ¡°I missed you,¡± Pudge growled. ¡°I missed you, too,¡± Tucker admitted. He hadn¡¯t been as close with the dire bear as the others, but he was still quite fond of Pudge. Then, he asked the most obvious question, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± 573. Catching Up ¡°You got big,¡± said Tucker, grinning as he clapped Pudge on the shoulder. The former dire bear was at least nine feet tall and built like a champion power lifter. The only thing that remained the same ¨C from what Tucker remembered ¨C was the bearkin¡¯s head, which had retained much the same shape. He used his inspection ability: Pudge Blackwood ¨C Level 86 There were a few other lines denoting Pudge¡¯s highest attributes and most favored skill, but Tucker was far more interested in the bearkin¡¯s high level. That he¡¯d reached such lofty heights was amazing. Tucker knew that his own leveling speed was incredible, largely because he¡¯d taken advantage of the fact that he gained energy from crafting potions. He¡¯d coupled that with long bouts of combat, which let him achieve an accelerated pace of progression. And yet, Pudge had outpaced him. ¡°In more ways than one,¡± he remarked. ¡°Level eighty-six? What have you been doing to get that high?¡± In his gravelly voice, Pudge said, ¡°War.¡± ¡°Oh. Right. Kind of obvious, if I took a second to think about it. But how did this happen? How did you get here?¡± he asked. ¡°And where¡¯s Zeke? What about Talia? And Abby?¡± ¡°Not here,¡± Pudge said, looking around. ¡°Come with me.¡± Tucker nodded, then turned to tell Iris ¨C who was looking at him like he¡¯d gone insane ¨C and said, ¡°Me and my buddy are going to catch up. I¡¯ll be back later!¡± With that, he waved. Iris, of course, tried to object, but Tucker quickly latched onto Pudge¡¯s arm and guided him away. That¡¯s when he realized he had no idea where he was going, so the second they entered the central part of the airdock, he admitted as much. Puge let out a chuckle that sounded like a growl, then led him down the stairs, across the ruined city, and to one of the few intact buildings. Upon reaching that building, Tucker¡¯s attention wandered to a curious arch in the center of the adjoining square. Opposite streams of lizard people were steadily walking into and out of that arch, disappearing and appearing as if by magic. ¡°What is that?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you in a moment,¡± Pudge said, leading him into the building. Inside, there were more of the lizard-people, but a few of them were much slimmer, with colorful plumes that set them apart from all the rest. There were also a few other races represented inside, and Tucker recognized humans, beastkin, and even a couple of elves. ¡°Who is this?¡± asked a little boarkin girl, planting herself in front of Pudge, her hands on her hips. ¡°You can¡¯t just bring anyone in here, Pudge. There are confidential matters that are not meant for strangers¡¯ eyes.¡± ¡°He is not a stranger. He is an old friend. Trust me,¡± Pudge said. Tucker took that opportunity to extend his hand and introduce himself. The boarkin girl took his offered hand, shaking it warily. ¡°Tucker? Where have I heard that¡­¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re the alchemist,¡± she breathed. ¡°It seems that my reputation precedes me,¡± he said with a wide grin and an elaborate bow that included a sweep of his glorious tricorn hat. ¡°How did you get here? Where did you come from?¡± she asked. ¡°Not here,¡± Pudge chided in the same tone that he¡¯d used with Tucker only a few minutes before. ¡°Oh. Right. Obviously,¡± she said. ¡°Come on.¡± With that, she wheeled around and marched deeper into the building. Pudge followed, and Tucker just shook his head at the bossy girl. Soon enough, they reached an empty room that had obviously been used for planning. A map of the area hung on the wall, while another was laid across the huge table at the center. Various cities had been marked with notes, while there were a host of figurines meant to portray the disposition of armies. Before heading out, Tucker had heard quite a few stories about the force rampaging across the Imperium. Some called them an army, but most seemed convinced that they were a horde of monsters that were slightly more organized than normal. Perhaps led by one who¡¯d awakened their sapience. If those people could see what Tucker saw, they¡¯d be much more frightened of what the force represented. Finally, once the door was shut, Tucker asked the question he¡¯d wanted answered from the moment he saw Pudge standing on the airdock. ¡°This is Zeke, isn¡¯t it? He¡¯s in charge of this whole army.¡± ¡°In charge isn¡¯t entirely accurate,¡± the boarkin girl said. ¡°I¡¯m Sasha, by the way. I just realized that I didn¡¯t introduce myself. I¡¯m not normally so rude, but I¡¯ve heard a lot of stories about you.¡± ¡°All good, I hope.¡± ¡°Some. Talia¡¯s tales are a little less complimentary, but even she seems to think of you in decidedly neutral terms,¡± the girl answered. ¡°But to your question, Ezekiel is nominally in charge, but he mostly leaves the actual running of things to others. He fights when he needs to, and he makes some decisions, but¡­¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°But Zeke isn¡¯t really the leader type,¡± Tucker supplied. It made sense. The boy was a fighter, not a leader. He could do a decent job if he was thrust into the latter role, but he¡¯d never be comfortable with it. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Off running dungeons,¡± Pudge said. ¡°Without me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pout,¡± Tucker said. ¡°I¡¯ve been telling him the same thing!¡± Sasha said, slapping her hand against the table. ¡°He has responsibilities here. He can¡¯t just go running around and playing with his brother.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not playing,¡± Puge growled. ¡°It¡¯s getting stronger. That helps everyone.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been gaining levels here, and ¨C¡± ¡°Not to be rude,¡± Tucker said, interrupting what he expected would be along, drawn-out discussion. ¡°But can y¡¯all tell me exactly what led to Zeke having an army of lizard-people? And why is he fighting against the Imperium? Not that I object, of course. They¡¯re bad news. But they¡¯re also strong enough that I think I¡¯m justified in asking why he¡¯d choose to pick a fight with them.¡± Pudge took a deep breath, then began, ¡°It started when Zeke first ascended¡­¡± After that, he described how Zeke had been enslaved by a race of corrupted dwarves, and it was while working as one of their captive miners that he met the first kobolds, who he¡¯d later save from an evil wyrm called a Blood Wraith. After that, he had led the kobolds across the Ianthian Wastes, eventually fighting a war against hill giants on behalf of the centaurs of the Muk¡¯ti Plains. Then, after he¡¯d won that war, he promptly started another against the Kingdom of Adontis. ¡°This time, they attacked us first,¡± Pudge explained. ¡°But when he saw the way they treated the beastkin they¡¯d enslaved, our path was established. We needed to destroy them.¡± And they had, utterly obliterating the entire kingdom. Many civilians had survived, but very few of the famous Knights of Adontis had made it. After reuniting with Talia and enduring the fall of the undead Kingdom of El¡¯kireth at the hands of Abraham Micayne, they¡¯d retreated to the Muk¡¯ti Plains only to find the Radiant Host waiting to wage war against them. ¡°Wait ¨C I thought y¡¯all killed Micayne. What did I miss?¡± Tucker asked, genuinely confused. The one comfort he¡¯d felt after leaving the Mortal Plane behind was that the man who¡¯d enslaved him was dead. But now, that seemed to not be the case, and he wanted answers. ¡°He¡¯s a lich,¡± Sasha stated. ¡°He can¡¯t be killed unless someone destroys his phylactery. Or that¡¯s the working theory, at least. We don¡¯t know enough about necromancy to be sure. But Talia¡¯s hunting him down.¡± ¡°She would be,¡± Tucker stated. ¡°Abby is one of the people in charge of the Radiant Host,¡± Pudge blurted. ¡°We don¡¯t know how that happened. She was supposed to end up with the elves, but ¨C¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s the problem right there. That tree goddess y¡¯all met doesn¡¯t know here people very well if she thought they¡¯d endure Abby¡¯s presence,¡± Tucker said. He¡¯d met a few elves in his time, and he¡¯d learned that they were just as racist as their human counterparts in the Imperium. Perhaps even more so, if such a thing was possible. ¡°They probably shipped her off as soon as they could make a deal with someone else. And Eta wouldn¡¯t have cared, either. Now that she got what she wanted out of Abby, she¡¯d only follow the letter of the deal.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Pudge said. ¡°Talia almost killed her when she found her. I¡­I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s a little conflicted about it. He remembers this woman a little differently than the others,¡± Sasha stated. At that, Pudge glared at her. He clearly didn¡¯t enjoy having someone speaking for him. Tucker could understand that. In his youth, he¡¯d had a stutter, and before he¡¯d developed strategies to adapt to it, his parents had often spoken over his attempts to communicate. That had always annoyed him, even if he knew they had the best intentions. He suspected that Pudge felt something similar. ¡°What about you?¡± asked Pudge. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bit of a long story,¡± Tucker admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Long story short, I made some friends ¨C also lizard people, as it happened, though don¡¯t tell them that because they prefer to think of themselves as dragons ¨C saved some children, and became a privateer. Met a nice woman, got some levels, and well, here I am.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a pirate?¡± asked Sasha. ¡°Privateer.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°Mostly the name,¡± Tucker admitted. ¡°Sounds better, though, doesn¡¯t it? Anyway, I think we can help one another. I have a ton of luxury goods, and ¨C¡± ¡°You need to see the tower,¡± Pudge stated. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I have time to go sailing across the world to ¨C¡± ¡°No. Come with me,¡± Pudge said. ¡°Do you think this is wise? We should wait for Zeke,¡± Sasha said. ¡°My brother trusts Tucker. I trust Tucker. There¡¯s no reason to wait.¡± She looked as if she wanted to argue, but she brought herself up short. Perhaps there was hope for the pair after all. ¡°If you say so, I¡¯ll trust your judgement.¡± After that, Tucker allowed himself to be led out of the building and to the arch. In retrospect, he should have expected that was their destination, but he hadn¡¯t really expected it to lead to the tower. And when he passed through the portal, he was even more surprised to find himself in a huge plaza ringed with shops and populated by dozens of huge statues of formless warriors. There were also thousands of people in the area, but the crowd parted as Pudge strode forward. Tucker couldn¡¯t help but gape at it all. When he asked about it, Pudge simply said that he would explain everything once the tour was complete. The next level ¨C which they reached via a teleportation portal that was even more sophisticated than anything created by the gnomes of Westport ¨C was even more impressive, and it contained a city¡¯s worth of residential buildings. After that, they visited what Pudge called the Artisan¡¯s Terrace, which was entirely misnamed. It featured expansive fields that looked fit to feed an entire nation. Then, they went to the Crimson Spring, where Tucker found the most wondrous water he¡¯d ever beheld. The steaming liquid contained more mana than anything he¡¯d ever seen, and Pudge had to practically drag him away from the miraculous stuff. He did manage to snag a few sizable samples, though. Next, they found a training area with a huge plaza and multiple wings that Pudge claimed could somehow replicate hundreds of different scenario against an uncountable variety of enemies. Tucker wanted to test it out, but he was persuaded to wait until after the tour, which finished at a luxurious manor set amidst perfectly manicured grounds that felt so peaceful that Tucker didn¡¯t want to leave. ¡°This is amazing,¡± he said. ¡°Ah, I know you,¡± came a melodious voice from nearby. Tucker turned, and he nearly stumbled when he saw one of the most beautiful women he¡¯d ever beheld. She was so fetching that he almost didn¡¯t notice her cloven hooves or the pair of dainty horns protruding from her forehead. ¡°I am Eveline, your friend¡¯s resident mind spirit, and you¡¯re here just in time. We have need of a good alchemist.¡± ¡°You¡­you¡¯re a demon.¡± She let out a tinkling laugh. ¡°Once upon a time, and maybe again in the future. But for now? I¡¯m just a spirit. Now, let¡¯s have a nice little conversation, Mr. Tucker.¡± 574. Opportunity and Challenge ¡°I don¡¯t like them,¡± said Athis with a grimace. ¡°They¡¯re¡­so¡­accommodating.¡± ¡°You could learn a thing or two from your reptilian cousins,¡± Tucker remarked. ¡°They¡¯re ¨C¡± ¡°They are lizards. We are dragons,¡± Athis reminded him, though he lacked the fire he might¡¯ve once had when talking to Tucker. It wasn¡¯t surprising, either. The alchemist had almost single-handedly saved his entire race. It was difficult to marry that to his obvious irritation at being compared to what he considered a lesser race. ¡°So you keep saying. Did you know they can shoot lasers?¡± ¡°What in all the realms is a laser?¡± the kirran asked, his enormous feet propped on the table. It sagged a bit beneath the weight, but that was not surprising, given Athis¡¯s size. ¡°Light beams that burn through people,¡± Tucker stated. ¡°Or anything, really. But we¡¯re focusing on people right now. My point is that dragons are known for spewing fire, right? Well, a laser is kind of like that.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°Well, can you shoot lasers? Or spew fire?¡± ¡°Careful, human,¡± Athis warned. ¡°Or what? You¡¯ll kill the savior of your people? They gave me a title, right? I forget.¡± ¡°Nothing says I can¡¯t beat you up a little,¡± Athis stated, taking a swig from the enormous mug he¡¯d been given. ¡°Killing you isn¡¯t necessary to get my point across.¡± At that, Tucker just rolled his eyes. Then, he cast his gaze around the makeshift tavern. The first thing that stood out to him was the sheer diversity present. He counted no less than ten different races, ranging from elves to dwarves, and to the aforementioned kobolds. And everything in between, too. It was also enormous, having once been some sort of enclosed arena. The Imperium definitely liked its gladiatorial fights, and they were quick to build arenas in every city they annexed. ¡°Panem et circenses,¡± he muttered, quoting the Roman poet Juvenal. It roughly translated to ¡°bread and circuses,¡± implying that a population was easily distracted so long as they were fed. The Imperium subscribed to that philosophy, using said distractions to keep their people from noticing the various injustices over which they presided. ¡°It really is remarkable, isn¡¯t it? So many different cultures. Zeke really has done something special here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like one of your grenades waiting to explode,¡± Iris said. She¡¯d remained mostly silent after Tucker had explained the situation, only saying that she was glad that he¡¯d found his friends. She hadn¡¯t really meant it, though. He knew her well enough to recognize that much. ¡°Everyone seems happy enough,¡± Tucker remarked. ¡°I am concerned about the demon, though.¡± ¡°As you should be,¡± Gira stated before draining her own mug. If Iris was silently uncomfortable, then the first mate was vociferously adamant that they should get in the airship and flee as soon as possible. That probably had something to do with the fact that the Imperium had destroyed her entire hometown, slaughtering many of the elves. The ones they didn¡¯t slaughter, they ended up taking as slaves. The most beautiful among them were sent to brothels. That was the fate of the first mate¡¯s mother, and ultimately, it was how the half-elf woman had been conceived. As a result, she held absolutely no love for the Imperium, but she was unabashedly fearful of what they could do. After all, she¡¯d experienced it first hand. Some, through her mother, who hadn¡¯t survived long after Gira¡¯s birth. The rest, from her own experiences as the orphaned child of a sex slave. Hatred had given way to self-preservation, dictating that she stay as far away from those monsters as she could possibly get. Tucker understood it, though he veered closer to Zeke¡¯s path. He saw that injustice ¨C and others like it ¨C and wanted to do something about it. But he had the luxury of not having experienced the worst parts of her life, so he didn¡¯t judge her for it. Indeed, he wanted to give her the safety she so desperately needed. That was one thing Zeke and his tower represented. Safety the likes of which just wasn¡¯t seen in the Eternal Realm. He didn¡¯t oppress those beneath him. In fact, from all accounts, he¡¯d worked tirelessly to raise the kobolds from monsterhood and into sapience. It was an ongoing process, as Tucker had seen when he visited the rest of the Residential District. There, he had seen nearly feral kobolds that likely would have attacked him if they weren¡¯t so afraid of their superiors. But the fact that so many had achieved sapience was a miracle. And apparently, he could help the rest to bridge the gap. The demon mind spirit had been quite excited about his return, and what¡¯s more, she knew him at least as well as Zeke had. So, she was well aware of his capabilities even before Athis had bragged about his efforts to help the kirrans overcome their hereditary curse. After that, she was positively giddy with excitement.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°If you want to leave, you can. I won¡¯t keep you here,¡± he said. ¡°But I trust Zeke with my life. He¡¯s practically family.¡± It felt odd to say as much. After all, he¡¯d not known Zeke for that long before he¡¯d been stranded in the demon realm. But those months he¡¯d spent on the other side had put a lot of things into perspective, and the time since then had made him appreciate the friendships he¡¯d forged after he¡¯d been freed from servitude to Micayne. ¡°And besides, I have a lot of unfinished business. I¡¯ve told you a little about the necromancer, but¡­I have to see him dead. I can¡¯t just abandon the world to that maniac,¡± he stated. There was also some guilt there. He¡¯d played a large part in giving Micayne the tools he¡¯d needed to become a lich. Tucker wasn¡¯t certain precisely what had happened, but he knew that his alchemical research had played a role. In addition, some of that guilt was due to what he¡¯d done to Talia. She seemed to have turned out okay, but he couldn¡¯t deny that his experimentation had been tantamount to torture. Had she forgiven him? She¡¯d said as much. But that did nothing to assuage the guilt he¡¯d felt ever since. All of that had coalesced into a need to stay and help as much as he could. He hoped that Iris and the others ¨C even Gira, who¡¯d never seemed to like him much ¨C would stay too, but¡­ Well, even good things had to come to an end at some point. He would be saddened by it, but he was prepared for it nonetheless. ¡°I understand if y¡¯all don¡¯t want to stay. Nobody signed up for a war. But I have to,¡± he said at last. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± said Iris. ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯ve thought a lot about this, and ¨C¡± ¡°We¡¯re obviously staying with you, idiot,¡± said Athis. ¡°What?¡± Tucker asked, genuinely surprised. He looked from Iris, to Athis, and then to Gira. ¡°All of you?¡± ¡°The crew too,¡± Gira said. ¡°I don¡¯t like being here, but we¡¯re a crew. We don¡¯t abandon one another just because we get a little uncomfortable.¡± ¡°We¡¯re with you,¡± Iris said, reaching out to grip his hand. She gave it a subtle squeeze. ¡°Even if this place is really weird.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to say it, but it¡¯s definitely not normal here,¡± Athis agreed, taking another big gulp of his beer. ¡°Decent beer, though. And they have proper sized mugs.¡± Indeed, the tavern¡¯s offerings were definitely better than Tucker would have expected, but that was probably because they¡¯d been rampaging across the frontier of the Imperium, and they¡¯d likely looted quite a lot of booze along the way. As to the mug the big kirran had been given, it could hold at least a gallon of beer, which was probably the only reason Athis had chosen to stay. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Irish asked. ¡°For now? I want to wait until Zeke returns,¡± he said. ¡°In the meantime, we still have a lot of cargo to unload. I don¡¯t think anyone will begrudge us a profit, right?¡± That elicited a trio of smiles. If there was one language they all spoke, it was profit. So, once they¡¯d broached the subject, they started making plans for how they were going to take advantage of the situation. They didn¡¯t intend to price gouge, but there were beads to be made, and none of them wanted to leave anything on the table. Once they¡¯d established a plan of action, they all split up and went their separate ways. Athis was charged with liaising with the kobolds ¨C which he protested ¨C largely due to the similarities between the two races. The were obviously different species, but it didn¡¯t stretch credulity to think of them as cousins. At the same time, Irish went off to deal with the army¡¯s leadership. They had a small cache of decent-quality weapons that she thought would benefit them. Meanwhile, Gira went to talk to whoever was in charge of the other races. As a half-elf, she would be readily accepted in those circles, especially given that she shared a similar origin to many of those Zeke¡¯s army had rescued. ¡°And what will you do?¡± asked Iris. ¡°I¡¯m going to talk to the craftsmen. According to Pudge, they have a decent industry set up in the tower,¡± he explained. ¡°I might be able to offload or trade some of our treasures. After that, I¡¯m going to talk to Pudge to see about getting a lab set up. Zeke has a very special looting power, and with what he¡¯s been up to all this time, I¡¯m pretty sure he has a lot of ingredients just lying around. I want to take advantage of that.¡± So, as everyone else went their separate ways, Tucker headed toward the platform that would let him teleport to the Artisan¡¯s Terrace. Along the way, the demonic mind spirit appeared beside him. ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked. ¡°According to what you¡¯ve already told me, you have free run of this entire tower,¡± he said. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then you were probably listening to my conversation with my friends,¡± he stated. ¡°So, you know exactly where I¡¯m going.¡± ¡°I was only trying to be polite,¡± she said, crossing her arms in a pout. ¡°But yes. I know where you¡¯re headed. That¡¯s why I came to you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already begun to set up a laboratory for you,¡± the demon explained. ¡°It should be fully equipped, but if you need anything else, just let me know. We have all sorts of goodies in the spatial storage, and no one to use them.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°But this isn¡¯t a favor,¡± she stated. ¡°I want something from you in return.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I would help with your little kobold problem,¡± Tucker reiterated. Apparently, they needed a little kick to make the leap from monster to sapience ¨C as an entire people, at least. It wasn¡¯t such a different problem than the one afflicting the kirrans. They only had a borrowed attunement and a very limited selection of classes, which in retrospect, made Tucker wonder if the so-called curse of the kirrans hadn¡¯t simply been the remnants of a monstrous origin. ¡°Not that,¡± she said. ¡°Well, that. But I want something else.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push it too far. I¡¯m sure I could just wait for Zeke to get back, and he¡¯ll just give me whatever I want.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be a couple of weeks, though,¡± she said. ¡°Do you really want to waste all that time? Think of the potions you could make in that time.¡± He sighed as he stepped onto the platform. It whisked him away, and when he appeared in the Artisan¡¯s Terrace, so did Eveline. ¡°What do you want? Just be plain.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t be plain if I tried.¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± she said, pouting again. It was annoying affectation that reminded him of some of the worst sorts of women he¡¯d known back on Earth. ¡°I want you to teach.¡± ¡°Who?¡± he asked, a little surprised by the statement. ¡°We don¡¯t have many real crafters here,¡± she said. ¡°Some of the kobolds have made strides in that direction, but they¡¯ve struggled with some of the more esoteric crafts. Runecrafting and enchanting elude them entirely, and they¡¯re not very good at alchemy. They do okay with armor and weapons. Construction¡¯s easy for them. But I hope to use you to help push their minds in a more expansive direction. What do you say?¡± Back on Earth, Tucker had been a chemist, and he¡¯d had a stint as a teacher as well. Those were mostly fond memories, so he said, ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do. But I only want the smartest ones. They¡¯ll learn what I have to teach, then pass that on to the lesser students.¡± ¡°You read my mind. Now, let me show you to your new lab.¡± 575. Under the Sea Zeke plunged through the semi-permeable barrier and tumbled onto dry land. His titanic body was a shredded mess, resulting in a small pool of silver blood beneath him. He vomited a mixture of blood, water, and bile ¨C along with some sort of black sludge ¨C onto the ground. ¡°I hate this place,¡± he grunted not bothering to look around. He knew good and well that some sort of monster was probably waiting on him within the habitat, but in a childlike bout of stubbornness, he refused to look up. The rumbling ground told him that he wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain that stance for very long. ¡°You know what they say,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Whatever doesn¡¯t kill you makes you stronger.¡± ¡°I hate that saying. And I hate you. I hate everything.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you grumpy today.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond because he didn¡¯t really have a proper retort. The fact was that he was grumpy, but he felt that he had good reason. He was a creature of earth, corruption, and death. An avatar of destruction. A titan who could stand up to dragons. So, why then did he feel so clumsy and out of place in the latest dungeon? He knew the answer. But Eveline said it anyway, ¡°Water doesn¡¯t mix with earth. I thought we went over this in the beginning. I seem to recall you dismissing my warning and telling me it would be fine. You really need to look up, though. Unless you want that thing to knock you back out of the habitat and into the water.¡± That was enough to get his attention, and he finally raised his head. Predictably, the monster charging him was enormous. Probably the size of a double-decker bus. With claws. ¡°Is that a lobster?¡± he muttered to himself. Indeed, the thing looked very lobster-like, though its claws were far larger in proportion to its long body than they probably should have been. It was also pale white, with blue streaks running along its back. But it definitely had a lobster shape to it. He used [Inspect]: Mad Lobster God ¨C Level 100 ¡°So, is it an actual god? Or just god-like compared to the other lobsters?¡± he wondered. It didn¡¯t actually matter, but it was an interesting question nonetheless. The thing let out a screech. Via the Framework¡¯s translation feature, he caught a few words in the cacophony, but most of it was absolutely indecipherable. Perhaps the word ¡°mad¡± wasn¡¯t just there for show. Maybe the thing really was insane. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be hitting that thing with a hammer?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered, summoning Voromir to hand as he used [Shifting Sands]. The skill was slow to activate, probably because it was dependent on earth-attuned mana to operate. However, the fact that they were within one of the dungeon¡¯s many habitats meant that there was enough that the skill still activated. ¡°Silver linings.¡± Time slowed drastically, and he slipped into the ground. However, when he moved forward, he was only capable of doing so at around half the normal speed. Still pretty fast, but nothing compared to the nearly instantaneous effect ¨C at least from an outside perspective ¨C he was used to. Whatever the case, it gave him time to simultaneously refocus his mindset and cover the distance between him and the lobster god, and on his terms. He erupted from the ground only a dozen feet in front of the creature, and he did so with a swing already in motion. Voromir hit the overgrown lobster in the mouth ¨C which had way more teeth than he remembered lobsters having. The power behind the blow sent the monster flipping backward until it landed on its back. Zeke didn¡¯t waste any time before using [Hell Geyser], then following that up with [Eye of Reckoning]. [Storm of Hammers] followed just after that, and he ended it with [Titanic Smash]. The barrage of attacks took the lobster by surprise ¨C or Zeke assumed so, considering that it never even tried to fight back before he was awarded a wave of kill energy that finally pushed him to the next level. That gave him an opportunity to take a look around. The habitat looked much the same as all the others he¡¯d visited. He had lost count of the number ¨C it was well into the dozens, and he suspected that it had already surpassed a hundred. Each one played host to a different peak monster, all with an aquatic theme. He¡¯d fought crabs, fish of every sort, an army of sea otters, and even some creatures called coral beasts that were just what their name implied. And all the while, Zeke had been missing what he estimated was about thirty percent of his power. It was even worse in the open water outside the habitats. Out there, he could barely travel a foot without being attacked by swarms of monstrous sea life. None of his earth-themed abilities worked properly in the water, so he¡¯d been forced to fight hand-to-hand. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t have minded that, but the combination of his unsuitability to the environment, his extremely heavy titanic form, and the pressure that came with being so far underwater put him at an extreme disadvantage. The result was a dungeon that, while not quite as life-threatening, was easily as frustrating as the Mirror King¡¯s abode. To say he wanted it over with was a vast understatement. The biggest problem was that he had no idea how to bring that eventuality to fruition. He¡¯d been in the dungeon for what felt like a month ¨C but was probably much shorter ¨C and he¡¯d visited so many habitats that he¡¯d lost count. And yet, he¡¯d found nothing to suggest the overall goal of the dungeon. He had no clue how to conquer it, and so, he¡¯d been going about it aimlessly, hoping that he could find something to point him in the proper direction.Stolen story; please report. He''d yet to discover such a clue. ¡°You need a break,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You should have brought Adara along. She helps with stress relief.¡± ¡°She¡¯s more than that.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t mean to imply that she wasn¡¯t,¡± Eveline replied. ¡°Just pointing out one of her many talents.¡± ¡°You know why she couldn¡¯t come. There¡¯s no way she could have survived this place,¡± Zeke stated. Indeed, he had it on good authority that it was one of the deadliest known dungeons. Few people had managed to conquer it, which was why there wasn¡¯t much information on it. Just a location and vague notion that it was underwater. Apparently, those powerful enough to defeat it weren¡¯t very keen on sharing what they¡¯d found inside. ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± Eveline acknowledged. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m surprised you can hold your breath so long. Most earth-attuned creatures would have suffocated within an hour.¡± Indeed, that had surprised Zeke as well. While the habitats had plenty of breathable air inside their bubbles, the water was still water. And it required more than an hour of travel to make his way from one to another. He¡¯d still yet to find his limits in terms of how long he could hold his breath, but he¡¯d sensed that he still had a long way to go before that was a problem. ¡°I guess it¡¯s because I have multiple attunements.¡± ¡°Or the divinity within you.¡± ¡°Or that,¡± he agreed. That spark-turned-flame of divine energy had become a gift that just kept on giving. And Zeke felt certain that it would continue to do so going forward. Finally, after pulsing [Hand of Divinity] for a few more minutes, Zeke looted the lobster ¨C hopefully, it would prove as tasty as lobsters back on Earth ¨C before looking around the habitat. Like all the others, it was around two miles across, and it featured a host of abandoned stone buildings. Eveline supposed that it was supposed to represent an underwater research facility, but Zeke hadn¡¯t found any evidence to support that. Indeed, most of the buildings were clearly apartments, meaning that each habitat reminded him of the Residential District within his tower. As he explored, Eveline said, ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± he asked, poking his head inside one of the stone buildings. It was predictably empty, devoid of anything that might give him a hint as to the nature of the beings who¡¯d once called it home. ¡°Well, two somethings,¡± she said. ¡°The first is good news. The second is good news too, but it¡¯s not going to make you happy.¡± He sighed. ¡°Just spit it out, Eveline. I¡¯m exhausted.¡± ¡°You know how I¡¯m running the tower, right? I¡¯m effectively in two places at once. Or if we¡¯re being technical about it, I¡¯m in about seventy-six places at once, but seventy-five of them are in the tower.¡± ¡°You can split your mind in that many different directions?¡± ¡°I can.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so cool,¡± he acknowledged. And it was. If he had the ability to do something like that, he¡¯d be unstoppable in battle. No one would ever surprise him again. ¡°Well, thank you. However, there¡¯s been a development that I think you need to be aware of,¡± she said. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you before because you had other things on your mind. Besides, there¡¯s nothing you can do about it right now, and ¨C¡± ¡°Just tell me what¡¯s going on, Eveline.¡± ¡°Eric Tucker has found the tower,¡± she said. ¡°And he¡¯s brought quite a few interesting treasures with him. A few new friends as well. I¡¯ve already put him to work in his own laboratory in the Artisan¡¯s Terrace, and from what he tells me, he has extensive experience with helping monsters cross the gap between their innate nature and become a truly sapient race. ¡°Of course, the people he¡¯s been working with made up some nonsense about a hereditary curse, but I can recognize it for what it was. They aren¡¯t so similar to the kobolds, all said,¡± she continued. ¡°I think that¡¯s what they were. A different version, perhaps, but kobolds all the same. Perhaps a breed that lived on the surface. I¡¯m not certain, but what I do know is that he will prove an invaluable asset for your people.¡± ¡°Tucker¡¯s back,¡± Zeke breathed. ¡°That¡¯s what I just said.¡± Zeke ignored her. Because of [Mark of Companionship], he¡¯d long known Tucker¡¯s general location, but he¡¯d yet to go searching for the alchemist. Part of that was because he knew that Tucker could get along just fine on his own, but it was also because he¡¯d deemed other things more important. Like finding Talia. Or waging war against the Imperium. Even his current journey to satisfy the terms of his quest by jumping from one known dungeon to another in search of natural treasures had taken precedence over a reunion. ¡°Does he resent me for not going to search for him?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°In fact, he¡¯s incredibly happy with the resources we¡¯ve provided. He¡¯s even talking about bringing his kobold friends to help in your war. He calls them kirrans, but we all know what they really are. So far, I¡¯ve asked him not to do that because I believe there might be some tension between the two races, but ¨C¡± ¡°Are you sure? That he¡¯s not angry that I left him to fend for himself, I mean.¡± ¡°I¡¯m positive. Like I said, this is good news. I just didn¡¯t tell you yet because you can¡¯t exactly leave the dungeon until you kill the leviathan.¡± ¡°What leviathan? Is this like the creatures we encountered in hell?¡± he asked, remembering the huge, fish-like demons he¡¯d encountered while trekking through Mal¡¯canis. ¡°Similar,¡± she acknowledged. ¡°But without the demonic flavor. In addition, this is an adult, whereas those were only juveniles.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that if I ever encountered an adult leviathan, I should run?¡± ¡°Well, yes. But you¡¯re much stronger now, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be okay,¡± she said with fake enthusiasm. ¡°And that brings me to a slightly more important question. You seem pretty certain that I¡¯m going to have to kill a leviathan to defeat this dungeon,¡± he said evenly. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Um¡­like I said, this is good news.¡± ¡°Eveline.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± she said with a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°I sensed it a few days ago. It¡¯s so strong that it has to be the target of the dungeon.¡± ¡°And why didn¡¯t you tell me about it?¡± ¡°This dungeon offers incredible kill energy,¡± she explained. ¡°Fighting across the seafloor gives you volume, while each habitat gives you quality. It¡¯s a perfect leveling opportunity.¡± ¡°Except that this is my own personal version of hell,¡± he muttered in annoyance. Eveline¡¯s heart was in the right place. She wanted what was best for him, and he had to admit that the kill energy he¡¯d earned within the dungeon had been a great boon. He was on the verge of tipping over into level ninety-nine, which was an incredible amount of progress. ¡°Are you angry? You feel angry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just annoyed,¡± he said with a sigh. Knowing that he could have been finished with the dungeon days ago was enough to send his frustration through the roof. ¡°But it¡¯s fine. Just tell me next time.¡± ¡°Are you really not ¨C¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s fine, Eveline. Don¡¯t push it right now,¡± he advised, his voice practically a growl. He took a deep breath, then asked, ¡°So, which way was this leviathan?¡± 576. Leviathan ¡°I really don¡¯t want to do this,¡± Zeke said, pacing back and forth only a couple of feet away from the permeable wall that protected the habitat from the crushing abyss on the other side. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You¡¯ve survived worse.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about it killing me.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the issue?¡± she asked. The reality was that, even if he wasn¡¯t particularly afraid of the seagoing creatures killing him, he definitely didn¡¯t look forward to it. And the leviathan Eveline had mentioned was assuredly at the peak of the realm, which meant that it was not to be underestimated, especially on its home turf. Mostly, though, Zeke could anticipate just how unpleasant it would be. The fish and other sea life were fast, vicious, and powerful enough to wound him. And even if he could survive, that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t feel the pain of being ripped to shreds. He also just didn¡¯t like water. ¡°That¡¯s your attunement talking,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Try to remember your past. You grew up near a coast, right? You probably swam in the ocean plenty of times.¡± He had, though as he¡¯d grown older, he¡¯d stayed away from the gulf. There was something about swimming in the ocean that made him uncomfortable. Maybe it was watching Jaws as a pre-teen. ¡°I¡¯m obviously going to do it,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m just working my way up to it.¡± ¡°Every second you wait, the worse your fear will become,¡± she advised. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid,¡± he insisted. ¡°Just uncomfortable.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Just dive in. You¡¯ll be fine.¡± Zeke was about to respond, but then he realized that he didn¡¯t really have anything to say. After all, Eveline could read the shape of his thoughts, so she knew precisely what was going through his mind. So, without further hesitation, he summoned Voromir to hand, took a deep breath, then stepped through the permeable wall. Passing through it wasn¡¯t difficult, and he quickly found himself back on the open seafloor. The first thing he felt was the immense pressure of so much water pressing down on him. He could withstand it, but not without pain. He¡¯d been through worse, though, so with that dull ache accompanying him, he stepped forward. Unlike what he might¡¯ve expected, the seafloor wasn¡¯t populated by kelp or coral. Instead, it was almost entirely barren, looking more like the surface of the moon than the bottom of the ocean. Then, he saw a flash of silver, and something lanced into his side. Zeke reacted as quickly as he could, but when he reached out to grab the attacker, he found nothing but an water. A second later, another creature ¨C he knew from a previous inspection that it was a creature called a bloody barracuda ¨C tore a chunk out of his thigh. The barracuda were pack ¨C or school, he supposed ¨C hunters, meaning that they never attacked alone. Instead, he¡¯d encountered schools containing hundreds of the long, silvery fish, and they were all capable of moving at incredible speeds. That allowed them to attack almost unmolested. Though Zeke had a tool for just such an occasion. He used [Flames of Reprisal]. Fire, ephemeral and hot, erupted across his entire titanic body, and the water all around him boiled. When the barracuda once again attacked, one after another in a silvery blur, they felt the lash of Zeke¡¯s skill. However, it wasn¡¯t nearly as powerful as it normally would have been, and it wasn¡¯t difficult to see why. While the flames were magical in nature, they still retained enough of their nature that they could remain unaffected by the water and the attuned mana in the dungeon. Still, they were effective enough that they briefly stunned the creatures, which in turn, gave Zeke a chance to bring Voromir to bear. He swung, and even though his arms were slowed by being submerged, he was more than strong enough to power through it. The first barracuda he hit exploded into a cloud of flesh and blood, and the rest soon followed as Zeke became a whirlwind of death. It was a strategy he¡¯d learned early on in the dungeon, and he¡¯d replayed the lesson hundreds of times as he¡¯d endured the attacks from the usually speed-focused enemies that claimed the sea as their home. If fish even thought in such terms. Regardless, the battle didn¡¯t take long, but it was simply a herald of what was to come. As Zeke followed Eveline¡¯s directions, he fought through hundreds of other monsters. Some, like the barracuda, were fish. Others were giant crustaceans and other sea-dwelling creatures. He even fought a giant eel that sent hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity coursing through his body the moment he got close. But if nothing else, Zeke was incredibly durable, and he¡¯d experienced unimaginable pain since being reborn in the troll caves. As a result, he was perfectly suited to bull his way through the obstacles before him, and though he certainly didn¡¯t enjoy it, he managed it all the same. Until, at last, he reached a giant trench, at the bottom of which he sensed a powerful foe. Looking over the edge, he couldn¡¯t actually see the bottom. But he knew the leviathan was down there. He could feel it. ¡°You could feel it from the very beginning,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯m using your senses, after all. If I knew it was there, then you could have figured it out, too. You just don¡¯t pay enough attention.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I¡¯m not here for a lecture,¡± he said inwardly, thankful for the ability to speak to Eveline within his own mind. Without it, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to communicate at all. Of course, she hadn¡¯t really said anything useful, save for pointing him in the right direction. And according to her, he should have been able to manage that on his own. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to convince yourself that you don¡¯t need me, are you?¡± she asked. He shrugged. ¡°Not really. I know I¡¯m stuck with you and your back-brain driving,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°I hate that you¡¯re pleased with yourself for saying that. It¡¯s terrible.¡± ¡°A wordsmith, I ain¡¯t.¡± ¡°Please just stop. Go fight that monster. It¡¯s coming up, by the way. You¡¯d better brace yourself, because it¡¯s quite big,¡± she advised. Just then, something the size of a skyscraper burst out of the trench. Zeke got the impression of sleek, rubbery skin before the wave of displaced water sent him flipping backward for hundreds of yards. He slammed through rocky formations, one after another, until he finally came to a stop nearly half a mile from where he¡¯d started. The distance didn¡¯t keep him from seeing the creature, though. In fact, it probably helped him understand the scope of his foe. The monster was hundreds of feet wide and maybe a mile long, with a ridged, reptilian head that put him in mind of a crocodile. Instead of legs, it only had comparatively small fins and a long, serpentine body. It resembled an eel, but if someone would have told him it was a sea snake, he wouldn¡¯t have argued. Either way, it had traits of both, with a few other inspirations thrown in for good measure. Even from such a distance, he could activate [Inspect]: Depths Leviathan ¨C Level 100 Its level was predictable, and Eveline had already revealed that it was a leviathan. So, the notification wasn¡¯t a surprise. Still, it seemed entirely insufficient to describe the enormous monster he faced. Over the years, Zeke had faced a few other creatures that were comparable in size. The cyclops was the first, but the necromantic vessel came to mind as well. But this instance felt different. On the good side of that difference was that he was on equal footing ¨C at least in terms of level ¨C with the leviathan. In previous encounters with monsters of that size, that hadn¡¯t been the case. But on the bad side, the thing knew he was there and seemed intent on changing that fact. He locked its beady eyes on him, then twisted its serpentine body in his direction. After that, it shot forward so quickly that it put the barracuda to shame. But Zeke was ready. He swung, using [Unleash Momentum] as well as the Voromir¡¯s projection ability. He also laced both with a bit of his Will, and as soon as the attack was unleashed, he followed it up with [Eye of Reckoning]. As he crept closer to the peak of the realm, Zeke¡¯s abilities had taken a huge step forward. He was more powerful than ever before, but at some point, he¡¯d crossed a threshold, beyond which, he could use his skills much more quickly than ever before. It was like his entire body ¨C including his brain ¨C had developed the ability to function much faster. The result was that he could activate multiple skills a second, enabling a barrage that he hoped would at least wound the leviathan. He didn¡¯t hold back. He didn¡¯t dare, against such a powerful foe. More importantly, he was fed up with being underwater, and he wanted nothing more than to find the dungeon¡¯s end. The trio of skills rushed out, with a huge, crimson projection of Voromir leading the way. It hit first, slamming into the leviathan with all the force Zeke¡¯s mountainous strength could bring to bear. The monster¡¯s rubbery flesh rippled under the impact, and it shook with pain. But it didn¡¯t get the chance to respond before a beam of fire and corruption tore into the same spot. [Eye of Reckoning] was a powerful skill, and it showed just how strong it was when it ripped through the leviathan¡¯s weakened flesh, digging an enormous crater through its body. Then, [Unleash Momentum] hit, tearing into that that crater and practically ripping the monster in half with the power of a thousand swings. And given that those swings came at the end of Zeke¡¯s strong arms, that was quite a lot of destructive force. Finally, a gout of corruption, fire, and earth erupted from the seabed, destroying the leviathan¡¯s innards. Alone, none of the skills would have done much. Even together, they would have fallen short. But Zeke¡¯s Will pushed them over the edge and allowed them to truly wreak havoc on the monster. It writhed in agony as clouds of blood and flesh mingled with the water around it. But Zeke hadn¡¯t remained still. He raced forward, propelling himself through the water with his incredible strength until he rammed into the leviathan¡¯s wound. He led the way with Voromir, but he quickly surmised that it was the wrong tool for the job at hand. So, even as he clung to the ragged clumps of flesh dangling from the leviathan¡¯s ruined body, Zeke use [Colossal Army]. A small portal opened, and out poured ten golems. Each one was armed with a spear and a shield, though they wouldn¡¯t need them. Instead, Zeke used mental commands to send them on their way. The automatons discarded their arms, and dove into the wound. Then, they started to rip and tear. Zeke followed suit, climbing into the gaping wound and lending his own hands to the task. The leviathan, for all its size and power, was entirely incapable of fending him off. That was the problem with monsters that size. Certainly, they were incredibly powerful, but once he got inside their reach ¨C or inside their bodies, as it usually ended up ¨C they couldn¡¯t do anything to stop him. It was not a pleasant experience, though. And it took far longer than he expected, even with eleven sets of hands devoted to the task. Still, his victory was inevitable, and he continued to tear through the monster until, at last, he found his way to an organ he expected was its heart. He destroyed it, but to his disappointment, the monster still didn¡¯t die. So, he kept going until he found its second heart. Then, its third. On and on he went until he¡¯d obliterated fifteen hunks of muscle ¨C along with a host of other important-looking organs ¨C but it still hadn¡¯t died. Knowing he didn¡¯t have much other choice, he dug his way upward, ripping through its stringy flesh and following its spine until, finally, he reached its skull. He couldn¡¯t use the same strategy he¡¯d employed against the cyclops. There was no room to swing his hammer, so he simply cocked his fist back and rammed it into the bone. It didn¡¯t crack on the first try. Nor the second. Indeed, it took nearly fifty punches ¨C each with an extremely limited range of motion ¨C before he saw a crack. It was nearly a hundred more before that crack widened, and almost a thousand before he broke through. After that, it was just a matter of dislodging the broken pieces and plunging into the brain cavity. As was the case with the cyclops, a brain that size was capable of generating quite a lot of electricity, so Zeke didn¡¯t bother with dismantling it by hand. Instead, he destroyed it with another use of [Unleash Momentum]. By that point, the skill hadn¡¯t had the chance to fully regain its peak power, but it was more than strong enough to turn the leviathan¡¯s brain to mush. And just like that, the monster died, resulting in a wave of kill energy that finally pushed Zeke to level ninety-nine. More importantly, it signaled the end of the dungeon, and it couldn¡¯t come soon enough. Because as he¡¯d said throughout his time inside, he was tired to being underwater. 577. Not Quite Complete Zeke dropped to his knees, then planted his hands in the blessedly dry sand. He took a deep breath, then flopped onto his back and stared at the sun, which hung high in the sky. ¡°Sometimes, you forget just how amazing the sun is,¡± he said aloud. ¡°Don¡¯t get maudlin on me,¡± sighed Eveline. ¡°Nobody wants that.¡± ¡°If I want to wax poetic about the beauty of the sun, I¡¯m going to do just that.¡± ¡°Is that what you call it?¡± she asked. ¡°Because I definitely would have used another term.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± he said, seeing her out of the corner of his eye. As had been the case since she¡¯d taken on the duties of running the tower, her illusory form was slightly translucent. From afar, she looked solid enough, but up close, Zeke couldn¡¯t ignore the fact that he could see right through her. Not in any detail, but she still looked like a ghost from a low-budget horror film. ¡°Ouch,¡± she said, clutching her hands to her chest. ¡°That hurts. At least acknowledge that it would take hundreds of artists and a plethora of computing power to replicate this form.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what a computer even is,¡± he pointed out. ¡°I know what you know.¡± ¡°Which isn¡¯t much,¡± he stated. Indeed, the details of his former life had become blurrier of late. He still remembered the big things, but the rest had grown hazy. Still looking up at the sky, he wondered, ¡°How long has it been since I died, do you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Again, because you don¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°You seemed to have latched onto two years as the span you spent in the troll caves, but we both know that estimate was just that ¨C an approximation. And what¡¯s more, without any distinction between day and night, you had no context by which to measure time. And finally, you were in no frame of mind to pay attention to such things.¡± Indeed, Zeke had spent months at a time completely alone in the dark. Sometimes, he tried to ignore the mental toll that had taken on him, but the fact was that it had left him markedly changed. And Eveline was right ¨C he had no idea how long he¡¯d spent down there. It could have been a year, or it might¡¯ve been a decade. There was a good chance he¡¯d never know for sure. ¡°What about since I got out of the caves?¡± he asked. ¡°Nearly twelve years,¡± she said. ¡°What? That long?¡± he wondered. ¡°This can¡¯t be that surprising to you. You spent years wandering across the Radian Isles. And more than two years passed before you got out of the mines,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s not counting how long you spent in Hell. Or various dungeons. Even traveling across such a vast land isn¡¯t something that happens overnight.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m over thirty now,¡± he said. ¡°Even if I only spent two years in the troll caves.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say you¡¯re closer to forty than thirty,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Maybe not much closer, but closer all the same. Which is insane. Someone your age should never have the kind of power you wield so nonchalantly. You know I¡¯m not one to offer compliments, but you are a one-in-trillions talent.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not talent.¡± ¡°Not completely, no. But natural suitability for the life you¡¯ve chosen to lead has played a large part in your rapid progression,¡± Eveline explained. That made sense. Zeke had always believed that hard work always beat talent when talent didn¡¯t work hard. However, there was a third category ¨C people that put in the time and effort to get the most out of their talent. That was where greatness came from. ¡°I never said anything about greatness,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Right now, you have potential.¡± ¡°You just said I¡¯m one-in-a-trillion. And I¡¯m close to the peak,¡± he replied. ¡°What level were you when you were imprisoned?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important. We¡¯re different people with vastly different circumstances.¡± Zeke just shook his head and continued to enjoy the fact that he could once again fill his lungs with air. However, he knew he couldn¡¯t remain on the beach for much longer. He¡¯d already spent far longer in the dungeon than he¡¯d originally anticipated, so he needed to return to the tower as soon as possible. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t need to trek across hundreds of miles to do so. Instead, he only needed to summon one of his five gates. ¡°Aren¡¯t you interested in the quest reward?¡± she asked. ¡°Of course I am,¡± he said. He¡¯d been working on that particular quest for years, and he was more than eager to receive the reward. There was only one issue. ¡°We don¡¯t have the holy or demon treasures yet.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°You don¡¯t actually need them,¡± Eveline said. ¡°The demon part will take care of itself.¡± ¡°What? How?¡± ¡°The tower is part of you,¡± she explained. ¡°And you are demon enough to lend your attunement to that quest. It won¡¯t be particularly strong, but ¨C¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re not going that route,¡± he interrupted. Indeed, the entire reason he¡¯d ben running from one dungeon to the next was so that he could get the most powerful treasures possible. Cutting corners when he was so close just didn¡¯t sit right with him. ¡°What about the holy treasure?¡± ¡°I hate that word.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Holy. It makes them seem good. Or moral. They¡¯re not, by the way. Some might be, but most are just like everyone else. Many are much worse,¡± she said. ¡°Regardless, I prefer to use the word faith. I think it¡¯s more descriptive of what it actually is. Sadly, the Framework doesn¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t answer the question.¡± ¡°Right. Well, it¡¯s not strictly necessary,¡± she answered. ¡°It will help to balance things out, but you don¡¯t actually need it.¡± Zeke thought he understood. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that skew things in favor of corruption?¡± he asked. ¡°Perhaps.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re sticking to the plan,¡± he stated, finally picking himself up. ¡°Where do you think we might find what we need?¡± ¡°Well, you still need to go to Hell and descend the Pit. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll pick something up during your visit,¡± she said. ¡°I even have some ideas. As far as the faith attunement is concerned, you need to keep in mind the sorts of people who might have such treasures in their possession.¡± ¡°And those are?¡± ¡°Self-righteous believers.¡± ¡°The Radiant Host,¡± Zeke said without hesitation. ¡°I was thinking the same thing. In fact, I¡¯ve heard of a crown worn by their little emperor. It¡¯s said to be quite powerful,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°Perhaps that will work for your needs.¡± It was fortuitous, then, that they were already at war with the Imperium. The moment that thought crossed Zeke¡¯s mind, he considered the possibility that it wasn¡¯t wholly a coincidence. After all, Eveline was a mind spirit. Wasn¡¯t it possible that she had pushed him in that direction? Looking back, Zeke felt that he¡¯d been in control the whole time, and even as he thought about it, his reasons for going to war were consistent with his ideology. But there were doubts. ¡°If you intend on going down that road,¡± Eveline began. ¡°We should part ways right now.¡± ¡°Did you manipulate me?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Depends on what you consider manipulation. Did I twist your thoughts? No. I couldn¡¯t do that even if I wanted to. There are limits, Ezekiel. Perhaps I could push you one way or another for a few minutes, but beyond that? I would unravel if I tried anything more than that.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t fully answer the question.¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t, because I don¡¯t like how it was framed. Manipulate. It¡¯s such a nasty word. I prefer to think of it as offering advice. Through it all, that¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever done. Not because I can¡¯t do more, but because I consider you a friend. An ally. We are in this together, Ezekiel,¡± she said. ¡°And if you no longer believe that, then it¡¯s time we went our separate ways.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t survive outside of my mind,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out,¡± she maintained. ¡°You need to make a choice, Ezekiel. Either you trust me, or you don¡¯t. If it¡¯s the former, great. I will continue to be your friend. If it¡¯s the latter? Then I refuse to subject myself to that sort of abuse. You may not mean to hurt me, but the mere hint that I¡¯ve done something untoward is quite painful. I thought we were past that.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Zeke said. He could recognize deflection when he saw it, but he also understood her perspective. He¡¯d basically just accused her of controlling him. Of course she would be upset at that. ¡°Look ¨C I didn¡¯t meant to imply that ¨C¡± ¡°I know what you meant, Ezekiel. I don¡¯t begrudge you the thought. In fact, I appreciate that you think so highly of my powers, if not my character. But I suppose I just hoped for more,¡± she sighed. ¡°I¡¯m going to need a while to process. Think of what you want from our partnership, and if you want me gone, then I will figure out how to make it happen.¡± With that, she disappeared. Zeke knew his concerns were perfectly valid. She was a demonic mind spirit who¡¯d often talked about her powers of manipulation. It wasn¡¯t outside the realm of possibility that she might have turned those talents on him. Even so, when she left, retreating deep into his mind and practically slamming a mental door in his face, he felt guilty. Of what, he wasn¡¯t sure. Maybe he really should have trusted her implicitly. Whatever the case, the damage had been done. He would try to make it up to her at some point in the future ¨C though he didn¡¯t know what might do the trick ¨C but for now, he had other demands on his time. So, after picking himself up, he summoned one of his gates. It looked no different than it had before the tower¡¯s latest evolution, but with the ability to summon multiple gates had come one other change. Now, he didn¡¯t need to go through the Entry Hall. Instead, he could simply head straight to his home. So, a few moments later, he was stepping off the dais that held the teleporter in the Lord¡¯s Manor¡¯s estate. The scenery was just as idyllic as always, which served as a balm to his soul as well as his exhausted body. So was the other sight that greeted him. ¡°How long have you been waiting on me to return?¡± he asked. Adara looked up from her book. ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself. I was just reading,¡± she said, still sitting with her back against the trunk of a tree. Her posture was relaxed, but he¡¯d seen the tension drain from her shoulders the moment she had laid eyes on him. ¡°You¡¯re not the center of everyone¡¯s world.¡± ¡°You¡¯re literally inside a tower that, as far as I can tell, is lodged in my soul,¡± he said. ¡°Fair point,¡± she said, pushing herself to her feet. She stretched languidly, showing Zeke in no uncertain terms just what he¡¯d been missing. In her armor, she cut an intimidating and powerful figure. Outside of it, she was just as formidable, but with a few soft edges that Zeke couldn¡¯t deny he appreciated. ¡°Before you get caught up, you should know that your friend has been asking for you.¡± ¡°He can wait,¡± Zeke said, stepping closer to her. He wrapped his arms around her, but before he could go any further, she pushed him away. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You smell. Like dead fish.¡± ¡°I fought a leviathan. From the inside out. That¡¯s probably what you¡¯re smelling,¡± he said. ¡°That is¡­gross. Oddly exciting, but still gross. Go take a shower.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± Zeke didn¡¯t get any further than that before she cut him off with a glare. After that, he saw what she meant, so he headed straight into the manor and took a shower. The steaming water was so soothing that, when he went into the bedroom, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from flopping onto the bed. He was asleep only a few moments later. 578. Burned Out ¡°You seem to have done pretty well for yourself,¡± Zeke said, leaning against the railing and trying to ignore the thousands of feet worth of open air separated him from the ground. The last time he¡¯d been on an airship, it had crashed well before they reached their destination. Since then he¡¯d avoided that particular mode of travel, even if it probably would have made some of his trips much easier. ¡°I can¡¯t complain,¡± Tucker responded with a grin, his eyes locked on the helm. Iris wasn¡¯t steering the ship, but she hovered near the pilot, clearly struggling with giving up that control. Zeke had met the woman only the day before, and he¡¯d found her to be a perfect counterpart for Tucker. While he was a bit carefree ¨C especially with his own life ¨C she was exacting and detail-oriented, as befitted a successful pirate. Or privateer, as Tucker kept insisting. Zeke didn¡¯t know if there was an actual difference between the two, aside from semantics. ¡°I do wonder why you never came looking for me. I thought that was why you put your mark on me in the first place,¡± Tucker remarked. He didn¡¯t seem angry, but rather, he was only curious. ¡°Other priorities,¡± Zeke answered honestly. ¡°Of everyone, I thought you were the best suited to take care of yourself. Talia can as well ¨C as I discovered ¨C but she wasn¡¯t in a great place when we ascended. I was more worried about her than anyone else.¡± ¡°Even Abby?¡± Tucker asked. ¡°Different kind of worry,¡± Zeke stated. He didn¡¯t hate Abby, and his resentment for her had faded with time. There was still no chance he¡¯d ever go back to her. His previous feelings had been replaced by apathy, at least in regard to their relationship, and he was self-aware enough to recognize that they¡¯d never been well-suited for one another in the first place. Back then, he¡¯d craved company so strongly that he had never even stopped to wonder if it was right for either of them. It wasn¡¯t. He¡¯d come to that conclusion only a few months after their separation. But at the time, he¡¯d been blinded by the fact that he¡¯d spent years alone. ¡°She was quite beautiful, too,¡± added Eveline in his mind. ¡°Still is, according to Talia. But that¡¯s not the point.¡± ¡°It¡¯s at least part of the point, Ezekiel. You found her attractive. That¡¯s okay to admit,¡± she said. ¡°Weren¡¯t you ignoring me? Can we go back that?¡± he asked. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true,¡± Tucker said. ¡°I never would have said this before, but I found her off-putting from the first.¡± He gripped Zeke¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re better off without her.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Zeke responded. Then, he shook his head and grinned as he changed the subject. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you became a sky pirate. I¡¯m eager to meet your friends, though. Do you think they¡¯ll want to integrate into the tower?¡± ¡°Probably not,¡± Tucker answered. ¡°But it¡¯s probably best for them. They have an independent streak, though. And the kobolds will remind them that they¡¯re not so far from monsters.¡± ¡°I¡¯m standing right here,¡± breathed Athis, the huge lizard-man that was Tucker¡¯s friend. He looked a lot like a kobold, though there were plenty of differences to set him apart. He was slightly broader than most ¨C save for Silik, who¡¯d grown into a true specimen of koboldanity. ¡°That is not a word,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It should be.¡± She responded with a mental roll of her eyes, though she didn¡¯t say anything else. Tucker glanced at his friend, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t get surly. Nobody likes you when you show your moody side.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not moody. I just don¡¯t like being compared to a monster.¡± ¡°So, you really don¡¯t think that is your people¡¯s true origin?¡± Tucker asked. ¡°We are descended from dragons.¡± Zeke cut in, ¡°I met a dragon a while back. I wasn¡¯t really impressed.¡± ¡°You met a dragon? Really? How big was it?¡± Before Zeke could answer tucker¡¯s question, Athis asked, ¡°Which one was it? Keltarion the Vile? The Red Dread? The ¨C¡± ¡°Um¡­are those real names? They don¡¯t sound real,¡± Zeke remarked. ¡°But I didn¡¯t ask its name. I just hit it a few times and its mom came by and told me off. Kind of rude, actually. It wasn¡¯t like I picked the fight. That thing came at me. I just put it in its place.¡± Athis winced and let out a hiss. ¡°You¡­hit a dragon a few times? How are you still alive?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty hard to kill.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°So, how big was it?¡± Tucker asked again. ¡°And most importantly, did you get any of its blood? Please tell me you killed and looted it. I can¡¯t imagine there¡¯s anything more inherently magical than dragon¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°Nope, sorry. I did get some leviathan blubber the other day, though. Nasty creature. Kind of a shark and an octopus merged into an eldritch horror,¡± Zeke explained. ¡°There are probably a lot of poison glands and such in storage, though. I recently ran a disease-and-poison based dungeon that was extremely unpleasant. It was filled with all sorts of stinging and biting creatures. I looted most of them, including the final boss that¡­ugh. I don¡¯t even want to talk about that one. My point is that if there¡¯s anything that could of use to someone with your skillset, it¡¯s probably that.¡± ¡°Still wish you¡¯d have gotten me some dragon blood.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Athis asked. Zeke blinked. ¡°Uh¡­I¡¯m Zeke. I thought I introduced myself to you¡¯re a few days ago¡­¡± ¡°No. Not your name, human.¡± ¡°Cambion.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not human. I used to be, but that changed during my first trip to Hell. So, I¡¯m a cambion now. Part demon. Part human.¡± ¡°But not a demonkin,¡± said Eveline, who¡¯d suddenly flickering into visibility. Pointedly, she didn¡¯t look like a succubus, but rather a beautiful human woman. That was probably best, because Athis looked like he was going to be sick. Though Zeke had to admit that he wasn¡¯t the best judge of lizard-man expressions. For instance, he could never tell what Silik was thinking. ¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s expressionless even for a kobold,¡± Eveline said aloud. ¡°What?¡± Athis asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met,¡± Tucker said, doffing his hat and giving Eveline a little bow. ¡°My name is Eric Tucker, and I¡¯m one of the richest pirates in the world. Likely the preeminent alchemist as well.¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯ve met, Mr. Tucker,¡± she said, her eyes flashing with corruption. It only lasted a second, but it left no question as to who she was. ¡°Ah, Miss Eveline. I didn¡¯t recognize you.¡± Zeke noticed Iris¡¯ eyes flick in their direction, but surprisingly, she didn¡¯t abandon her post. Perhaps she wasn¡¯t the jealous type ¨C no small feat considering the look Eveline had adopted. ¡°All is forgiven, Mr. Tucker,¡± she said, smiling demurely. ¡°But to your conversation, the tower could truly assist your people, Mr. Athis.¡± ¡°Just Athis.¡± Eveline bowed her head. ¡°So it is. Know that we will welcome you within the tower. You will have a place. A true home where the threat of enslavement need not hang over your heads.¡± ¡°So you say,¡± Athis replied. ¡°I don¡¯t have the authority to speak for anyone else, though. I left that behind when I joined this idiot.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s a bigger idiot? The idiot himself? Or the man who follows him?¡± ¡°You¡¯re both idiots,¡± said a nearby half-elven sailor. She was the first mate, if Zeke remembered correctly, though he couldn¡¯t recall her name. ¡°I resent that,¡± Tucker said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t make it untrue,¡± she countered. ¡°I think we¡¯re getting off-track here,¡± Zeke cut in. ¡°The only point we were trying to make is that if you and your people need a home, there¡¯s one for you in the tower, Athis. Just putting the ball into your court. It¡¯s up to you if you want to play.¡± ¡°Through context clues, I understand what you¡¯re trying to say, but that idiom makes no sense to me. Why would you throw a ball into a court? Wouldn¡¯t the adjudicator be angry?¡± asked Athis. ¡°It¡¯s a sports metaphor, man,¡± Tucker said. ¡°Ugh. Like the gladiator games in Westport?¡± ¡°Less about killing people and more about scoring points,¡± Tucker answered. ¡°What¡¯s the point if no one dies?¡± ¡°Fun, my friend. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound fun.¡± At that the pair wandered off, bickering back and forth about the merits of competition. To Zeke, it felt like he was watching friends who¡¯d been together for years. But then again, that was precisely the case. Athis had picked Tucker up only a little while after his ascension. And they¡¯d been together ever since. ¡°You make it sound like they¡¯re an old married couple,¡± Eveline said in his mind, having disappeared the moment she no longer had an audience. ¡°And that¡¯s not fair. I find that people are more receptive when I can speak to them directly and they can see me.¡± ¡°You were practically falling out of your dress.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fashion, Ezekiel. And I won¡¯t be told how to dress.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t technically wear clothes at all. You just conjure what you want on the illusion you create, and ¨C¡± She huffed and retreated to the back of his mind. That hadn¡¯t been Zeke¡¯s primary goal, but he wasn¡¯t going to argue with the results. He didn¡¯t mind having Eveline around, but there were times when he wanted a little peace, quiet, and privacy. Even if it was just an illusion. He turned around and once again, his eyes found the forest¡¯s canopy. Every now and again, that green expanse was broken up by small towns, fields, or lakes. Still, the scope of it all was daunting. He¡¯d been in the Eternal Realm for a while, but he¡¯d not seen even a small fraction of it. Was that his fate? To progress so rapidly that he never had a chance to experience any of it? There had to be more to life than to simply push for the next skill, for the next level, and the next point on his status. He had Adara, but he wasn¡¯t certain if that was real. He liked her. And he loved being with her. She understood him, and he thought he understood her in turn. Yet, there was a part of him that thought it was nothing more than a fling. It was probably his fault. He hadn¡¯t committed to the relationship. Not truly. He just didn¡¯t have time, what with the war and the quest. And things weren¡¯t going to slow down anytime soon, either. But maybe they needed to. Zeke thought about going on a sightseeing trip around the world. It could take years. Decades, even. As far as he knew, the Eternal Realm was much larger than Earth had been. Given that, it would require decades ¨C maybe centuries to see everything it had to offer. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid.¡± ¡°What?¡± he asked Eveline. ¡°You heard what I said. Ezekiel, I love you, but you¡¯re not the sort of person who could be happy in that kind of a situation. You¡¯d get bored after a few weeks,¡± she said. ¡°And that¡¯s the optimal scenario. Much worse is if you actually liked it. It would be catastrophic to your development. You¡¯d end up squandering your potential, and for what? So you can see a bunch of things millions ¨C if not billions ¨C of other people have already seen? You¡¯re better than that.¡± ¡°What do you mean? I can always just pick up where I left off.¡± ¡°Momentum isn¡¯t just an ephemeral concept. It¡¯s a real thing. If you stop progressing, it¡¯s much more difficult to restart the engine. You could gain levels, certainly, but finding the motivation to go above and beyond would grow much harder. It would be a life wasted.¡± Zeke shook his head, but he didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he imagined growing old with Adara. What if they had children? A home. What if he built the kobolds into a real nation, nurturing them until they were accepted as people? ¡°That¡¯s what people who can¡¯t keep going do,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I know you¡¯re burned out right now. Take a few days. A week or two. Explore this city we¡¯re going to visit. And if you¡¯re still feeling this way, perhaps we can discuss what to do going forward.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zeke agreed. 579. Westport ¡°They¡¯re staring at me,¡± Adara said, her eyes flicking one and another as they strolled, hand-in-hand, down the street. ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re wearing armor,¡± Zeke said. For his part, he¡¯d chosen a simple white shirt and a pair of trousers, with a pair of sturdy boots on his feet. It was a variation of his normal attire, though he¡¯d made sure that it was all of the highest quality. Even then, he felt a little underdressed ¨C like walking into a fancy party while wearing shorts. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m half-orc. They can tell,¡± she muttered, glaring at a gnome whose eyes had lingered too long on her. That was one thing about Westport Zeke had discovered very quickly. It was more diverse than anyplace he¡¯d ever been. Not only were there elves, dwarves ¨C notably not the corrupted kind with which he was familiar ¨C and gnomes, but there were other races he¡¯d never encountered as well. He even saw a couple of demonkin hanging around the airdock, both of which were red-skinned, with curling horns. The rest of the population gave them a wide berth, though Zeke was a little surprised that no one had attacked them. He remarked as much to Tucker, who had told him that Westport was not only a bastion of diversity, but the peace was kept by a powerful enchantment. It suppressed the power of those inside, which Zeke had discovered when he passed into the city proper. He felt he could overcome it if he wanted to, but he also knew it would bring unwanted attention. As it turned out, he shouldn¡¯t have concerned himself with that, because only a few minutes after he¡¯d left the airdock, he found his way blocked by a half-dozen gnomes. He only had eyes for one, though. Like all gnomes, she was tiny. Maybe three feet tall if he was generous with his estimate. She wore a blue robe trimmed in silver, and she carried a crystalline staff almost twice as tall as she was. Her escort was comprised of gnomes as well, though all five of them wore heavy suits of armor and carried giant ¨C to them ¨C polearms. ¡°Can I help you?¡± Zeke asked, ready to flex his Will and shatter the enchantment restricting his skills. It also suppressed his attributes, but not nearly enough to make a difference. ¡°Who are you?¡± the gnome demanded in a squeaky voice. ¡°And why have you come to Westport?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I like your tone,¡± Zeke said, clenching his fists. ¡°And I don¡¯t like a peak entity of unknown origins walking around my city,¡± she stated. As she spoke, Zeke used [Inspect]. The skill seemed to be the lone exception to the enchantment¡¯s restrictions, and it activated as smoothly as ever. The results were unsurprising. Ula Tanis Fayik ¨C Level 99 He glanced at each of the guards, finding that they were all in their nineties as well. A formidable force by anyone¡¯s measure. And Ula was exactly the same level as him ¨C not a coincidence, Zeke decided. They probably thought that someone of her level ¨C plus the city¡¯s enchantment ¨C was enough to counter him, especially with the help of five powerful guards. But if they thought that, then they had no idea what they were dealing with. Zeke may have been a little burned out on the steady grind of progression, but his personality was still the same as it had always been. That meant that the week he¡¯d spent onboard the airship Mercury ¨C or more accurately, the peace that had come with that time ¨C had begun to wear on him. He wasn¡¯t exactly itching for a fight, but he wouldn¡¯t refuse one, either. ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked. ¡°You obviously know my name and level.¡± ¡°Ezekiel Blackwood. Level ninety-eight. Threat level: extreme,¡± she said. ¡°Fair assessment,¡± Zeke acknowledged. ¡°Though if there¡¯s a higher threat level, you should probably bump it up a little.¡± ¡°There is not.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± he said, pushing Adara behind him. She was strong enough to hold her own in most fights, but not when her power was being suppressed. Unfortunately, he heard another set of gnomes approach from the rear. At the same time, the rest of the pedestrians scattered, clearing the street. ¡°Are we really going to do this?¡± he asked. ¡°I came here in peace.¡± ¡°You are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths,¡± Ula stated. ¡°You have already conquered one kingdom, and even now, your forces wage a war of conquest against the Imperium. We are well within our rights to refuse you access to this city.¡± ¡°And if I refuse to go?¡± ¡°We have not decided to bar you from Westport.¡± That was a little surprising. Zeke also wondered why they simply hadn¡¯t attacked him. That would have made more sense. While he could probably live through whatever they threw at him, their best chance of overcoming his power was to keep him on the back foot. The easiest way to do that was to set up an ambush. The fact that they hadn¡¯t was a little confusing. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask again,¡± Zeke said. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°We would like you to come with us,¡± Ula answered. ¡°If I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Please comply. Doubtless you believe yourself a match for us. I will not try to convince you otherwise. However, from what I have been led to believe, you value life. If this confrontation ends in a battle, many people will die,¡± she explained. ¡°I do not believe you want that.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Where do you want to take me?¡± ¡°To meet the Circle of Mages. They will determine whether or not you will be allowed to remain in Westport,¡± Ula replied. That opened Zeke¡¯s eyes a little. Upon meeting the gnomish woman, he¡¯d expected her to be in charge. However, it appeared that she was little more than a guard. A high-level one, but a guard nonetheless. ¡°Promise me I¡¯m not walking into a trap,¡± Zeke said. ¡°It is illogical to trust anything I say.¡± ¡°Maybe. But I want to hear it anyway,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Very well. There is no trap. If you do not threaten violence, then peace will be maintained.¡± Zeke nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go,¡± he stated. Then, he glanced back to Adara, thinking to send her back to the airdock. It wasn¡¯t far, and it would keep out of harm¡¯s way. However, the look on her face told him that she wouldn¡¯t allow that. He knew her well enough not to even suggest it. Instead, he turned back to Ula, saying, ¡°Just so you know, if you¡¯ve lied to me, you¡¯re the first person I¡¯ll hold responsible.¡± ¡°That is acceptable.¡± ¡°But you won¡¯t be the last,¡± he added, a note of menace in his voice. ¡°You seem very certain of yourself.¡± ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°Please follow.¡± With that, she turned and walked away. Her short legs covered a lot more ground with every step than should have been possible, and Zeke felt a swirl of mana in the air. ¡°Spatial mage,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Because one wrong move, and you¡¯ll find yourself miles away,¡± the former demoness answered. ¡°I can be back in a few seconds,¡± he argued in his own mind. Indeed, if he really pushed himself, he could cover a mile in only a few seconds. More if he decided to use [Shifting Sands]. Being teleported away seemed more like an annoyance than an actual hindrance. ¡°Straight up.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I once knew a spatial mage,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°His favorite move was to transport an enemy miles straight up.¡± ¡°I can survive a fall from any height,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But can you survive space?¡± she asked. ¡°Even if you can ¨C which is likely ¨C you¡¯ll have no real way to direct your path. It¡¯s possible that you¡¯d just drift around out there. Or maybe stay in orbit for years. Or she might send you straight down, which is probably better for you. Most other people would be crushed beneath millions of tons of rock. My point is that you don¡¯t mess with spatial mages unless you have to.¡± Zeke frowned, but he didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he focused on the city itself as he followed the little gnome through the streets. The other guards kept pace, surrounding Zeke as he looked around. The architecture was eclectic, presenting a number of disjointed styles that seemed to fit the notion that the city was quite diverse. The streets, however, were all but empty, with most people having stepped aside to allow for the group¡¯s passage. Were they afraid of the gnome? Or Zeke. Perhaps they were just respectful. ¡°You can¡¯t really believe that last one,¡± Eveline said. He didn¡¯t. Respect didn¡¯t send people to cower in their homes and shops. Fear did. Over the next few minutes, they marched across the city until, at last, they reached their destination. It wasn¡¯t a building, but rather, what looked like a gondola lift, though one without cables. ¡°Inside,¡± ordered Ula. Zeke inspected the interior, finding that there were no other guards to be seen. What¡¯s more, there clearly wasn¡¯t room for the crowd of gnomes. ¡°Seems like it¡¯ll be a tight fit,¡± he remarked, climbing in. Adara followed, and finally, Ula boarded. The other gnomes remained outside. ¡°Not afraid to be in here all alone with me?¡± Ula answered, ¡°Not at all.¡± That¡¯s when Zeke noticed the network of runes within the carriage. When it lifted off the ground, he saw that many of those glyphs were meant to govern its flight. He¡¯d seen similar enchantments on the Mercury. Yet, there were plenty of others that remained inert, and it didn¡¯t take Zeke long to trace the connection between them and a pendant around the gnome¡¯s neck. In a moment of pique, he considered severing that connection. With his Path of Arcane Destruction, it would have been the work of a thought. Yet, he restrained himself, largely because Ula had yet to make any aggressive moves. If ¨C or perhaps when ¨C she did, he would surprise her with the full scop of his power. Until that moment came, he would act as if he didn¡¯t know the runes were there. ¡°This Circle of Mages ¨C who are they?¡± Zeke asked as the magical gondola carried them above the city and to the huge plateau in the distance. As they drew closer, Zeke could see that the natural formation had been carved with millions of artful sculptures, balconies, and even a few glittering fountains. ¡°They are the true rulers of this city, though they normally prefer to remain in the shadows,¡± Ula answered. Adara asked, ¡°And what do they want with us?¡± ¡°I am not privy to that information,¡± Ula replied. ¡°My job was to collect you. What happens once you are in their custody is up to them.¡± ¡°Above your pay grade, huh?¡± Zeke said. ¡°I get it.¡± She displayed no emotion at all, which he thought was response enough to give him some insight into her nature. She was just doing a job, and one she considered important. Everything else was beyond her. Which, considering that she was only a level away from the peak, said a lot about the Circle of Mages Zeke was intended to meet. They were almost assuredly at the peak, but they probably had good classes and useful paths as well. One thing was certain, though ¨C they would have power. ¡°You need to be careful. It may different here than in Hell, but in my experience, anyone calling themselves a mage is probably tricky,¡± Eveline said. ¡°They will be masters of their chosen field, and they will ¨C¡± ¡°They¡¯re dangerous,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I get it.¡± ¡°I can tell by your thoughts that you¡¯re not taking this seriously,¡± she chided. ¡°I am.¡± But the reality of it was that, after fighting monsters the size of skyscrapers, it was difficult to get too worked over someone the size of a child. Ula was assuredly powerful, but her stature made it difficult to take her seriously. He knew that was a mistake, but his instincts didn¡¯t seem to agree. ¡°Besides,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s why I keep you around. You felt that Ula was a spatial mage, right? You¡¯re going to be able to warn me if I should worry about someone else.¡± Her only response was a sigh. Fortunately, the gondola ride didn¡¯t take much longer before it reached the summit of the plateau, which was dominated by an enormous palace that seemed like a city of its own. Almost as if she¡¯d read his mind, Ula said, ¡°This is the original city. In our native language, it is called Ikhania. You may refer to it as the Ancestral Seat.¡± The carriage slowed to a stop before a small gate, and Ula disembarked. Zeke and Adara followed her inside, and he had to admit that he was impressed with the d¨¦cor. It reminded him of what he¡¯d seen in both Adontis and the Imperium, though with less gold and more taste. Thankfully, it was large enough to accommodate his height, which turned out to be a bit surprising, given that he didn¡¯t see a single person inside that wasn¡¯t a gnome. It made Zeke feel like a giant, awkward and out of place. Finally, after a few more minutes, Ula came to a stop in front of a pair of double doors guarded by a handful of warriors wearing ornamental armor and carrying pikes. She knocked, and a squeaky voice immediately said, ¡°Enter.¡± The doors opened, revealing a round chamber. When Zeke stepped inside and looked around, he was reminded of a coliseum. All around were raised seats bearing an audience of at least a hundred gnomes. Before Zeke could process that information, Eveline spoke, ¡°You should be very, very careful, Ezekiel. Each one of these gnomes are peak powers, and none of them are weak.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± he muttered. A particularly old-looking gnome stood and banged his staff against the stone floor before he said, ¡°Ezekiel Blackwood. You stand before the Council of Mages to be judged for your crimes against the Imperium and the Kingdom of Adontis. What do you have to say for yourself?¡± 580. On Whose Authority Zeke just stared at the odd-looking gnome, processing what he¡¯d just heard. Then, he burst out into laughter. In his mind, Eveline said, ¡°Ezekiel¡­¡± ¡°This is a serious matter!¡± seethed the gnome. After a moment, Zeke cut his laughter off. Then, he asked, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just thought you were joking.¡± ¡°Do you think we gather the entire Circle of Mages on a whim, boy? Of course we aren¡¯t joking!¡± growled the gnome. ¡°I guess in retrospect, that should have been obvious,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°It¡¯s just that what you said was so ridiculous that I couldn¡¯t really take it seriously.¡± ¡°Ridiculous? You think the deaths of tens of thousands is a laughing matter?¡± Zeke shrugged, staring straight into the gnome¡¯s eyes with such intensity that the figure looked away. ¡°Normally, no,¡± Zeke acknowledged. ¡°I¡¯ve killed plenty of people, and even more have died at my order. But I¡¯m not a callous murderer. I don¡¯t regret what I¡¯ve done, but I don¡¯t take it lightly, either.¡± ¡°You admit your crimes, then?¡± ¡°I admit that I¡¯ve killed most of the people you think I¡¯ve killed,¡± he countered. ¡°Assuming you¡¯re still talking about Adontis and the Imperium. Though you should probably know about the dwarves beneath Min Ferilik, too. I¡¯m pretty sure none of them survived. What I don¡¯t admit is that they were crimes at all.¡± ¡°What you believe is criminal is irrelevant. There are standards by which those who live in the civilized world must live,¡± the gnome stated. ¡°You have flouted those standards, and whole cities have fallen as a result. Innocent people ¨C¡± Zeke laughed again. ¡°You mock us?!¡± ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m really trying to take this seriously, but you just keep saying ridiculous things,¡± Zeke said. ¡°To call the people of the Imperium ¨C or worse, Adontis ¨C innocent really stretches the meaning of that word to the point where it loses any significance at all. Those people weren¡¯t innocent. Every single one of them was complicit in so many crimes that, by all rights, you should be on your knees in gratitude. But I¡¯m not unreasonable. A simple thank you will suffice.¡± ¡°They were lawfully established states, and their practices were codified in the rule of law!¡± ¡°So your logic is that because they made evil laws, they were morally justified?¡± ¡°The law is sacred.¡± ¡°I disagree,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°If you think I¡¯m going to obey laws that actively hurt or enslave people, then you may want to adjust your expectations.¡± ¡°You do not unilaterally decide those things,¡± said the gnome. ¡°It kind of seems like I do,¡± Zeke said. ¡°The fall of Adontis says so. The Imperium is going down as well. It¡¯s just a matter of time. Don¡¯t worry, though ¨C when we¡¯re done, I¡¯ll have my people make some new laws. ¡°But understand this,¡± he continued, stepping forward. He could feel mana swirl around him. ¡°I will not stand idly by while people like the ones in charge of Adontis and the Imperium oppress and enslave anyone who doesn¡¯t look like them. If you expect to punish me for acting, then you¡¯d better be ready to back this up with action. I¡¯ll warn you right now, though ¨C if you do, I will destroy everything you¡¯ve built here. When I¡¯m done, there won¡¯t be anything left of all of this.¡± ¡°You threaten us?¡± the gnome demanded. ¡°I do,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I came in peace. That can change very quickly.¡± At that, a din of conversation spread through the circular room. A few of the gnomes were apoplectic with rage, while many had gone pale as they whispered questions to their colleagues. But they were all afraid, and rightly so. Zeke wasn¡¯t in the habit of making idle threats. What¡¯s more, he knew how they¡¯d expected things to go. The gnomes had probably anticipated one of two outcomes. Either he capitulated to whatever demands they made, and they would gain an ally. Or they were forced to subdue him. The first ship had already sailed, but the second seemed more likely by the second. However, his distinct lack of fear had thrown them off. He didn¡¯t believe they had any authority over him, and he certainly didn¡¯t think they had the power to force him to do anything. Doubtless, they could see that written in his every movement, and they had no idea how to deal with such a situation. The leader banged the butt of his crystal staff against the floor, sending a series of echoing thuds throughout the chamber. ¡°Silence!¡± he bellowed in his high-pitched voice. He repeated the word a few more times before the rest of the Circle of Mages finally complied. Then, he stared at Zeke. ¡°We will not be threatened, Ezekiel Blackwood. It is time you learned your place.¡± At that, the mana in the atmosphere surge. Suddenly, a force clamped down on his ankles and wrists. An immense weight appeared on his shoulders, shoving him to his knees. It happened in the space of an instant, and when he raised his head, he saw the gnome looking down on him with a haughty expression. Zeke glanced back and forth across the room, seeing similar looks on a number of other faces. However, there were plenty of other expressions as well. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Fear. Sadness. Anger. Those were all present, but above all was the evidence of strain. Zeke closed his eyes, focusing his Will in such a way that he could perceive the interconnected runes that governed the effect. It was the most complex enchantment he¡¯d ever seen, composed of billions of glyphs and symbols. However, unlike some of the others he¡¯d seen, these were in motion. It was a delicate machine of runes, and a work of art. There was no way Zeke could understand even a tiny fraction of such a piece of work. Yet, destruction usually didn¡¯t require understanding. At times, it could help, but one didn¡¯t need to comprehend how something worked to recognize points of weakness. And with something as complex as the enchantment surrounding him, Zeke saw plenty of ways to break it. He opened his eyes to see a half-dozen gnomish guards approaching him. Each one carried a hoop that Zeke recognized as shackles meant to contain his power. Even from a distance, he could recognize that they were more advanced than the ones he¡¯d worn back in the mines. But he¡¯d grown much more powerful since then. With his Path of Arcane Destruction being so advanced, there wasn¡¯t a set of shackles in the Eternal Realm that could truly restrain him. The smart thing was probably to let them take him, then break the shackles when he wasn¡¯t surrounded by a hundred peak powers. At the moment, though, Zeke wasn¡¯t interested in doing the smart thing. His anger refused to allow that. Was Westport so corrupt that they would support a clearly evil empire from the consequences of their own actions? Did they truly believe Zeke was in the wrong? Or were they only trying to protect the status quo? It didn¡¯t matter. Zeke shoved himself to his feet, and the building rumbled with power as the enchantment attempted to keep him contained. Potent flows of power ¨C like condensed rivers of mana ¨C infused the enchantment, but no matter how much power it contained, it could not suppress Zeke¡¯s strength. He stood there for a long moment, his body quivering with the strain of remaining upright. It was a statement. Even with their fancy enchantments that they expected to give them an upper hand, they had no answer to the tyranny of superior power. But even Zeke had limits. He could feel the escalating nature of the enchantment as it shifted all around him. Did it have limits? Certainly. But Zeke had no intention of finding them. Before he truly acted, he had something to say, though, ¡°If you don¡¯t agree with what¡¯s been done here, you¡¯d better leave. If you remain in this chamber in five seconds, I will assume you¡¯re my enemy. And I don¡¯t let my enemies live.¡± Even as the building shook, the gnomish leader barked a harsh laugh as he shouted, ¡°Defiant ¡®til the very end! I will enjoy breaking you down and delivering you to my allies in the Imperium!¡± ¡°Your side is chosen,¡± Zeke said. Then, he waited for five long seconds. In that time, the pressure escalated explosively. The rise wasn¡¯t quite exponential, but it wasn¡¯t far off, either. However, he knew it could only maintain that strain for a little while longer, which was why the gnomish guards ¨C who¡¯d stopped their approach when he stood ¨C advanced with grim determination. He didn¡¯t allow them to reach him. Instead, Zeke reached out with his Will and shoved a proverbial wrench into the mechanism of the enchantment. He only shattered a few glyphs, but that was enough to foul the delicate runic machinery. As it went off the rails, a dozen of the straining gnomes collapsed. However, to Zeke¡¯s surprise, the enchantment quickly firmed, getting back on track after only an instant. The pressure had ceased its escalation, but it maintained the power of suppression. ¡°Impressive,¡± he grunted. Then, he lashed out with the full weight of his Will, destroying thousands of symbols in the space of an instant. Before, he¡¯d attacked with a scalpel. Now, he assaulted the runic structure with a sledgehammer. It took more strength to wield the larger weapon, but as always, Zeke had strength to spare. He battered the enchantment mercilessly, and the delicate mechanisms fell before him. ¡°No!¡± screamed a gnome that must¡¯ve been the masterpiece¡¯s architect. Zeke felt a little guilty about destroying what had to be the gnome¡¯s life¡¯s work, but given what the Circle of Mages obviously had in store for him, that guilt faded after only a few moments. It only took a couple of seconds before the runes were broken beyond repair. The pressure disappeared, and, finally free of the attempted suppression, Zeke rolled his shoulders. Glancing back at Adara, he asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± She was still on the ground, but she¡¯d recovered her strength enough to lift her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Zeke ground his teeth in frustration. He could abide their attacks on him. He could take whatever they chose to dish out. But Adara was different. He knew he didn¡¯t need to protect her like she was some defenseless damsel in distress, but he did feel responsible for her safety. How could he not? He clenched his fists, then finally embraced [Titan]. He grew to colossal proportions, and his flesh became metallic. Mercury-like blood flowed through his veins, and new strength infused his muscles. He summoned Voromir to hand, then focused on the Circle¡¯s leader. The little gnome was obviously furious. His face was red, and his expression was frozen in a rictus of rage. He pointed his staff at Zeke, screaming, ¡°Attack!¡± A few other mages complied, sending various spells to slam into Zeke¡¯s titanic body. He took the attacks head-on, partially because he didn¡¯t think they could truly hurt him. Mostly, though, he didn¡¯t bother to evade them because he wanted to see just what a peak mage could do. And the barrage was impressive. Chunks of metallic flesh flew from Zeke¡¯s body, sliced free by blades of wind. Pillars of flame threatened to melt him into a silvery puddle, while a swirl of cold froze him in place. Forks of lightning lanced out, and unseen pressure weighed down on him like his mass had suddenly increased a thousand-fold. He recognized the latter as the effect of gravity manipulation ¨C after all, he had plenty of experience with that. A dozen other more esoteric attacks slammed into him. He saw visions, pieces of his body suddenly disappeared, and blood burst from every pore. By all rights, he should have succumbed then and there. But [Hand of Divinity] had brought him back from much worse. His entire body had been destroyed and rebuilt, and he¡¯d stood on the brink of crossing over into the afterlife. Yet, he had recovered each time, so even as those spells ripped him to pieces, he channeled mana into his skill, stoking the divine flames within him until he was regenerating faster than they could destroy him. After that, it became a battle of endurance, and one that Zeke would never lose. He stood there, taking everything they could throw at him, and the only thing on his mind was ensuring that Adara lived through it. To that end, he channeled [Hand of Divinity] into her as well, and it was enough to counteract the effect of the spells splashing off of him. If she¡¯d taken a direct hit from any of them, she would have died immediately. Yet, she was strong enough to endure the secondary effects. And Zeke was powerful enough to ensure her survival. For long minutes, the barrage continued until they began to peter out, one after another. Because even though mages could bring quite a lot of firepower to any fight, they were not known for their endurance. That showed itself when, as the dust settled and their powers were spent, Zeke stood exactly where he¡¯d begun. The guards who¡¯d thought to shackle him were dead, but he and Adara were still alive. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± Zeke said, stepping forward. 581. The Ally of my Enemy is my Enemy The floor shook as Zeke stepped forward. ¡°You will halt!¡± screamed the gnomish leader. Zeke paid him no mind. Instead, he embraced [Eye of Recknoing]. A beam of pure destruction erupted from his forehead, and a second later, tore through a hastily erected shield before completely obliterating the gnome. When [Eye of Reckoning] winked out, there was nothing left. Not even ash. For a long few seconds, silence reigned, and Zeke took that opportunity to glare at the Circle of Mages, each in turn. That¡¯s when they fled. A few simply disappeared, teleporting away, but most of them simply turned and ran toward the exits. ¡°No,¡± he growled. Then, he used [Storm of Hammers]. A tornado swirled into being, picking up speed over the course of only a couple of seconds. Hammers of every sort, almost transparent, manifested, riding the wind and slamming into mages, walls, and seating alike. Dozens died, then and there, but not enough to satisfy Zeke¡¯s fury. So, he used his twin domains. [Burden of Sovereignty] and [Aura of Desolation] took hold, turning the chambers into a hellish landscape of burning wood and stone. Corruption swirled in the air, and at the center of it all, Zeke stood like a metallic statue of singular purpose. Trembling with anger, he lashed out with [Titanic Smash], tearing through a group of fleeing mages. At the same time, the wall burst from the applied force. Sunlight streamed in, but Zeke paid it no heed. Instead, he stomped his foot, ripping a line through the floor that ended at another group of panicked gnomes. The ground erupted into [Hell Geyser], practically disintegrating the little creatures. Because mages, while being known for the power they could wield, were not known for their defenses. Rage swept through Zeke¡¯s mind as he used [Colossal Army], opening a portal from which stepped ten powerful, spear-wielding golems. ¡°Kill them all,¡± he growled. The automatons didn¡¯t hesitate to make his order a reality. The scattering mages finally mustered a defense, and one manifested a powerful shield of pure mana in an effort to protect her colleagues. Zeke shattered it with another [Titanic Smash] that he¡¯d laced with his Will. She collapsed as the plane of mana broke into a thousand pieces, and Zeke¡¯s golems swept forward, dispassionately stabbing the suddenly defenseless mages. ¡°Watch out!¡± shouted Eveline, mentally indicating a direction. Zeke whipped his head to the side, locking onto a newcomer. From a visual perspective, this gnome was no different than all the rest. However, Zeke could feel the little figure¡¯s power. Everyone in the room ¨C save for Zeke and Adara ¨C was at the peak of the realm. But this gnome was a cut above the rest. An elite among elites. He raised his staff, and a great, blue dome bloomed into being. It crackled with roiling power, but what¡¯s more, it shielded the other gnomes from Zeke¡¯s wrath. So he aimed another [Titanic Smash] at the shield. It rippled, but it did not shatter. ¡°You dare?¡± demanded the gnome. ¡°I dare?¡± echoed Zeke. ¡°You attacked me. I came in peace. I would have left everyone in this city alone. And yet, you came for me. I won¡¯t let that stand.¡± ¡°You have no choice. You are incapable of ¨C¡± Zeke swung again, but this time, he let loose the power of a thousand swings. [Unleash Momentum] was not his most powerful skill. Not anymore. But it had the advantage of scaling with his strength. So did [Wrath of Annihilation], but not nearly as well. In short, when he used the skill, it set free a truly terrifying amount of power. The room exploded into a cloud of flying debris. Stones, tiles, dust, and everything else that had once been part of the building flew away from Zeke¡¯s momentous swing. A series of runes flashed with power, draining some of the force, not unlike a system of magical breakers. They tripped, one after another, for hundreds of yards. Each instance siphoned some of the power until, after a quarter of a mile, the skill petered out. And yet, the damage was done. Clouds of dust hid the effects of Zeke¡¯s skill, but he knew better than anyone else just how much destruction he¡¯d wrought. He could feel it hanging in the air like a fog, and his path drank it in. But when the dust settled, the gnome remained upright. His shield was gone, and his robes had been ripped to shreds. Many of the other mages he¡¯d been protecting had fallen. A few were dead. Still, he stood with his back straight, with his staff pointing accusingly at Zeke. Mana swirled around its tip, then lashed out, forming into a huge block of force that tore across the ruined chambers in Zeke¡¯s direction. That skill contained truly terrifying amounts of power, but Zeke merely stood his ground. He adjusted his weight, making himself as heavy as he could manage, and lowered his shoulder just in time to take the hit. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. It smashed into him with unimaginable force, and despite the fact that he weighed many dozens of tons, he was pushed backward. Ten whole feet. More importantly, he¡¯d activated [Flames of Reprisal]. Corrupted fire erupted from him like a spear, tearing across the chambers to skewer the shocked gnome. A brief spray of boiling blood misted into the air before it evaporated under the intense heat of [Flames of Reprisal]. Then, the golems finally recovered enough to throw their spears. They sailed through the air like javelins, hitting the gnome in ten separate places. The mana that had been swirling around him winked out, and he would have collapsed if it wasn¡¯t for the ephemeral bands of energy connecting the spears to the golems. They held him up, and he screamed in agony. At that, the few remaining gnomes ¨C the survivors, at least ¨C managed to crawl away. Zeke ignored them. At the moment, he only had eyes for the most powerful among them. He intended to make an example. But first, he glanced back to ensure that Adara was unharmed. She was not. Clearly, she had many broken bones, and half of her face was covered blood. But she gave him a thumbs up, verifying that she would be okay. Still, the sight of her injuries reignited the fires of his Zeke¡¯s rage. So, when he stepped toward the gnome, the very air blistered with his fury. He didn¡¯t make any efforts to contain his power. His Will surged through him, begging to be used, while his combination of attunements ¨C corruption, earth, and death ¨C billowed off of him in a fog of diffuse mana. He rolled his shoulders as he beheld the broken gnome. ¡°Why?¡± he demanded. ¡°I came in peace.¡± ¡°You know nothing of politics,¡± the gnome spat, coughing up phlegm and blood. Zeke shrugged. ¡°Maybe not. But politics don¡¯t matter next to power.¡± The gnome laughed, which turned into another hacking cough. ¡°You can¡¯t be that na?ve. The Imperium is coming for you. Even now. Your companions are doomed. You will be stripped of everything. It is what they do. It is who they are. So, kill me if you ¨C¡± Zeke did just that, stomping on the gnome with his massive foot. Because of his high level and undeniable power, the gnome had decent endurance. Yet, he was still a mage, and he succumbed to Zeke¡¯s strength the same as any other specialized caster. ¡°You heard him, right?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°I did,¡± Zeke responded, already turning away from the gruesome scene. He wanted nothing more than to use [Wrath of Annihilation] and wipe the whole gnomish city off the face of the world. Yet, he held back. Too many innocents would perish if he gave in to those urges. Including Tucker and the crew of the Mercury. With that, he strode toward Adara and asked if she could travel. She revealed that she could not, so he summoned a gate right there in the center of the room. There was some resistance as a plateau-wide runic formation attempted to stop the activation of the skill, but the Crimson Tower was too powerful to be denied. The gate manifested after only a few seconds of mental strain, and a kobold exited a moment later. ¡°Take her to the Crimson Spring,¡± he told the legionnaire. Then, he gave the order to muster a sufficient force to take the plateau. ¡°Are you sure about this, Ezekiel? We¡¯re already fighting one war,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± he grunted. They¡¯d attacked him unprovoked, and while he could live with that, he couldn¡¯t ignore the reality that in doing so, they¡¯d declared their allegiance. Any ally of the Imperium was Zeke¡¯s enemy, and not just from a practical standpoint. It signified Westport¡¯s tacit approval of the Imperium¡¯s practices, including slavery and other forms of oppression. Zeke couldn¡¯t abide that. So, from every perspective, he¡¯d uncovered an enemy force that needed to be dealt with. Did it matter that they expected to never be included in a war? No. They clearly thought they could simply take care of Zeke, and everything would go back to normal. But in doing so, they¡¯d bitten off far more than they were prepared to chew. Especially when they¡¯d threatened Zeke¡¯s friends. Once there were enough kobolds to hold the gate, Zeke took a squad of the Inashi with him as he tore across the plateau. The trip didn¡¯t take long, and when he reached the edge, he didn¡¯t stop for even a moment. Instead, he decreased his weight as much as possible, then, at a full sprint, leaped from the cliff. He sailed across the city, covering more than a mile as he drew closer to the airdock. Even with his strength, he couldn¡¯t quite jump that far, though. So, he crashed into a building, collapsing the roof and nearly tearing the entire structure down. The only reason the walls remained standing was because they were enchanted. Otherwise, they would have crumbled under the impact. Zeke didn¡¯t care about that. He burst through the wall and raced down the street. As he did so, the Inashi ¨C who¡¯d had no means of keeping up with him ¨C continued to cling to his body. However, when a bunch of guards tried to stop him, they leaped away and slaughtered the obstacles. Were the guards true enemies? Did they have any idea what was going on? Zeke had no idea, but in his mind, the entirety of Westport had just established itself as his enemy. He was at war, and he couldn¡¯t afford to stop and consider each enemy. If they attacked him, he intended to put them down without even a hint of mercy or hesitation. Because anything else would get people he did care about killed. With that in mind, he raced across Westport. Most of the guards saw enough to recognize the futility of barring his way, but there were a few would-be heroes who attempted to stop him. They died unceremoniously, either by Zeke¡¯s hand or Inashi claws. Then, finally, he reached the airdock. There, he found Tucker standing over a bunch of guards who¡¯d been stripped of their armor and weapons. Their hands and feet were bound, and they each wore suppression collars around their necks. Tossing a small globe up and down on his palm, the alchemist called to Zeke, saying, ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d show up. Do you know anything about why these guys tried to take my ship?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Tucker looked back at Iris, then said, ¡°Correction. Her ship. I¡¯m just a lowly alchemist she allows to tag along.¡± Iris rolled her eyes, which Tucker ignored. Zeke answered, ¡°The gnomes attacked me. Westport seems to have thrown in their lot with the Imperium.¡± ¡°Not surprising,¡± Tucker admitted. ¡°They go where the money is, and there¡¯s a lot of wealth in the Imperium. Centuries of conquest will do that for you, especially when you don¡¯t have to pay your labor force.¡± ¡°Probably would have been nice to know that.¡± Tucker shrugged. ¡°Seems to have worked out okay for you,¡± he said. ¡°What do you want to do now?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? We¡¯re going to take Westport.¡± 582. The Problem with People Westport fell with a whimper. There were pockets of intense fighting, but as had happened so many other times, the ability to plant an entire army within the city was a game changer. So, in a way, Zeke understood why the gnomes had attacked him. His very presence ¨C assuming that they knew about his ability to summon gates, which was almost certain ¨C represented an immense security risk. So, of course they¡¯d chosen to neutralize him. The only issue with that strategy was that they¡¯d swung and missed and made an unnecessary enemy. If they¡¯d simply left him alone, things would have worked out very differently. Perhaps they might have even been allies. And failing that, at least they could have maintained their neutrality. Because Zeke didn¡¯t really want Westport. He¡¯d had no intention of conquering the city. But due to the actions of the Circle of Mages, he was now beset by a host of new problems. ¡°This can be a good thing,¡± Eveline reminded him as he stood atop the plateau overlooking the city. In places, he could see a few ongoing battles, but for the most part, the fighting was finished. It had only taken a week, and despite the generally high level of the city¡¯s ruling class of gnomes, there hadn¡¯t even been many casualties. For the most part, the everyday citizens didn¡¯t care who was in charge. They just wanted to live their lives. ¡°Shortsighted not to develop some degree of patriotism in their populace,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°A little bit of propaganda goes a long way toward keeping a ruler on her throne.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond, but he knew she was right. The moment a population lost their patriotism, they became vulnerable. Sure, taking pride in one¡¯s country of origin was a bit silly ¨C especially when no state was free of corruption, both on a large and small scale. However, that same sentiment would push people to fight even against long odds, to defend a city when, by all rights, they should have been questioning why they should even care. Of course, there were unjust rulers like the people in charge of the Imperium who were responsible for atrocities aplenty. Yet, Westport wasn¡¯t like that. They treated everyone fairly, more or less. They¡¯d just chosen the wrong allies. ¡°Your thoughts are a mess,¡± Eveline said in his mind. ¡°Because this all seems so pointless,¡± Zeke admitted. He hadn¡¯t come to Westport as a conqueror, and yet, that was what he¡¯d become. ¡°Sometimes I feel like I can¡¯t help but destroy everything I touch. The second I step foot into a new place, war feels inevitable. And the worst part is that I know why they attacked me. I might have chosen a different tactic if our places were reversed, but I get it. Just once, I want to go somewhere new and just experience it like a normal person.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not normal, Ezekiel.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to remind me of that fact, Eveline.¡± ¡°I think you do,¡± she persisted. She manifested beside him, then continued, ¡°Being who you are comes with a heavy burden of responsibility. Everywhere you go, you¡¯re going to get attention. Some of it will be good, but for the most part, it¡¯s going to be bad. Some of it will come from jealousy. Fear, too. They¡¯re all afraid that you¡¯re going to come in and take what they have. Even without your reputation, you are a massive threat to anyone in charge. And most of them didn¡¯t get where they are by ignoring threats.¡± ¡°I know.¡± He just wished things were a little different. It wasn¡¯t even the killing that caused issues for him. There was that, but it was mostly that it was just all so unnecessary. He was committed to his war with the Imperium, but what had happened in Westport was more than regrettable. ¡°Next thing, you¡¯re going to ask why everyone can¡¯t just get along.¡± ¡°And? What would be your answer?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the problem with people,¡± she said without hesitation. ¡°They all want what they can¡¯t have. They crave power. Possessions. Love. Riches. It¡¯s all the same thing. It¡¯s like we¡¯re all hardwired for conflict, and the sorts of people who end up in charge are the worst of the worst.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not like that.¡± ¡°Sure you are,¡± she said. ¡°Everyone is. You have a code. A rough one, sure, but a code all the same. But if you think for one second that your motivations are any different than those idiots who attacked you¡­well, you¡¯re wrong.¡± Zeke¡¯s first instinct was to refute her claim, but he stopped himself short and asked himself if she was right. There certainly were elements that fit. But why did he seek power? Was it for power¡¯s sake? The sense of progression? For altruistic reasons? Or did he just want to be better than everyone else? It was a good question, but one he wasn¡¯t nearly introspective enough to answer. Not honestly, at least.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. So, he sighed and asked, ¡°You saw Tucker, right? He took that whole airdock by himself.¡± ¡°He is a powerful alchemist,¡± she agreed. ¡°And his class is a particularly combat-oriented sort. Your other companions are powerful in their own right, but that man could cause more damage than anyone but you. Give him a few weeks to prepare, and he might even do much, much worse. With enough time, he could probably kill everyone on this plane.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± ¡°I know he could. Alchemists aren¡¯t uncommon,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°It¡¯s not a difficult path to take. But to push it to its limits¡­that is a rare thing. Most eventually lose interest in progression. They burn out. Or they die from old age. As a semi-combat class, your friend gets the best of both worlds. Fast progression in terms of levels, with the slower, steadier growth of an artisan. He¡¯ll reach the peak. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± ¡°That can be said about a lot of people.¡± ¡°Your battles have given you a skewed perspective on the average level on this plane. Most people stall out in their forties. Exceptional fighters make it to the level seventy-five threshold. And the best of the best get past that. A tiny fraction of those end up making it to the peak.¡± Zeke had known that, but it seemed like everywhere he turned, there was another peak power. Obviously, he knew it was selection bias, but it still resulted in the impression that it wasn¡¯t difficult to reach the highest level possible in the Eternal Realm. ¡°What should we do next?¡± he asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to rule this place.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you have a choice. Your people have destroyed most of the government,¡± Eveline said. He groaned. ¡°Why did they have to be so stupid?¡± Indeed, they¡¯d made so many problems for him. Couldn¡¯t they have inferred that he wasn¡¯t the sort of person they wanted to attack? If he was vulnerable, he never would have gone to meet with the Circle of Mages in the first place. Surely that should have been a hint that they should rethink their actions. ¡°Hubris,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Or misinformation. Maybe both.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, if they knew who you were and what you could do, they probably just thought the reports were overstated. When you fought in the war against Adontis, you were much lower level than you are now. Likely, they never expected that you would progress so far.¡± ¡°They inspected me.¡± ¡°Oh, they knew your levels had grown. An impressive feat, but they likely assumed that you have a weak base that allows you to level quickly. It happens like that sometimes,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°They most likely thought themselves your superior, especially when they were all together. It¡¯s not an unreasonable stance. Some of them were quite strong.¡± ¡°Not strong enough.¡± ¡°Clearly.¡± With a sigh, Zeke turned away from the city and strode toward what was left of the palace atop the plateau. It was still mostly intact, but it was also the site of the bloodiest fighting. The gnomes might have been at a disadvantage, but they¡¯d fought with everything they had. That battle had claimed much of the palace, and very few gnomes had survived to be taken prisoner. The only reason things weren¡¯t worse was because Zeke had already killed many of the most powerful among them. Without that, a good many kobold would have been lost. Those thoughts accompanied Zeke as he strode through the palace. There were plenty of signs of battle. Destroyed walls, splatters of blood, and scorched stones were among the most common, but every now and again, he¡¯d pass a pile of bodies awaiting disposal. The place was crawling with kobolds and beastkin, all conducting themselves with the discipline of career soldiers. The notion of loot or pillage was alien to the kobolds ¨C they fought because he told them to, not for personal gain ¨C and the beastkin had adopted a similar mentality. After all, they were given much better gear, food, and accommodations than anything they might take from the palace. They weren¡¯t going to risk that for a few extra trinkets. Eventually, Zeke reached the command center, which was only a little way away from the site of his battle against the Circle. That¡¯s where the gate remained, but they needed a lot more space for a proper headquarters. When he arrived, he saw many familiar faces. Silik directed the troops, while Kianma and Sasha tended to the minutiae of logistics. Even Jasper contributed by organizing the prisoners. Pudge, of course, was out in the city fighting. As was Adara. Zeke couldn¡¯t have kept them from it even if he¡¯d wanted to. When he reached his army¡¯s commander, he asked, ¡°How is it going?¡± Silik bowed his head slight, saying, ¡°Ak-toh. We have taken most of the city. There are pockets of resistance here, here, and here. In addition, many airships managed to escape before Master Tucker subdued resistance.¡± Zeke looked at the places Silik had indicated on the map. One was on the other side of the city, but two were close to the plateau. ¡°Gnomes?¡± he asked. Silik nodded. ¡°The space mage defends this area,¡± he said. ¡°The remaining members of the Circle of Mages fight in the other locations.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°Send the Inashi.¡± Silik agreed, and rightly so. The group of former rangers had continued to develop, gaining levels at an accelerated pace as they proved themselves time and time again. They were a formidable force, comprised of fighters who could attack virtually unseen. And when they did strike, they did so with lethal force. Very few could stand against them. After consulting Silik, Zeke spoke with Kianma. She and Sasha informed him that they¡¯d lost more than four-hundred kobolds and almost fifty beastkin. A handful of others had died as well, and many more had been injured. It was a costly battle, but Zeke had expected as much. They¡¯d not had any chance to truly plan, which meant that the situation wasn¡¯t nearly as favorable as normal. By all rights, taking a city the size of Westport and losing less than a thousand people was a great accomplishment, but Zeke still felt guilty about every time one of his people died. So, as happy as he was with the results, he still regretted so many deaths. Once he¡¯d received casualty reports, Kianma outlined their plan for integrating Westport into his holdings. They intended to follow a similar model they¡¯d used with the various cities in Adontis and the Imperium, where they installed loyal locals to govern the city. There would remain a contingent of kobolds in the city, but for the most part, they¡¯d be left to their own devices. Of course, not much would change for the residents. They¡¯d still be required to pay taxes ¨C which would primarily be used to pay for services within the city. The only difference was that Zeke¡¯s people would take whatever valuables they wanted from the conquered gnomes. That meant looting most of the palace. The truth was that he didn¡¯t care about holding the city. Nor did he want their wealth. He¡¯d only taken it because they¡¯d attacked first. It was all a headache that he just didn¡¯t need, and it almost made him long for the dungeons he¡¯d recently conquered. But not quite. 583. The Vile Reach Talia smelled salt on the wind. She had long since lost track of how far she¡¯d traveled. To her, the only thing that mattered was the next sign. A bone here. A hunk of necrotic flesh there. Sometimes, there were miles between each clue, slowing her search to a crawl. When she was forced to cover so much ground, it didn¡¯t matter how fast she could run. But still, she continued, never stopping even for a moment. She didn¡¯t rest, and fortunately, her undead body didn¡¯t require it. Nor did she need to eat or drink. Starving was uncomfortable. So was dehydration. But she could endure it all the same. Her body had progressed to the point where biological processes were irrelevant. So, she didn¡¯t allow herself to be distracted from what really mattered. The hunt continued. Follow that trail was frustrating, but her commitment would not allow her search to be derailed. Not by something as simple as tedium, at least. More difficult to overcome were the various monsters she had been forced to fight along the way. From murderous wasps to hulking lizard creatures, she had killed them all. And over that time, she¡¯d reaped her rewards, gaining a handful of levels that progressively pushed her closer to the peak. But her journey was coming to an end. She could feel it in her still heart, and she could sense it in the clues she¡¯d found. Most notably, the still-moist piece of rotted flesh that was the most recent indicator that Micayne and his undead thralls had come this way. She jabbed it wither her clawed finger, listening as it squelched. Talia had no idea what sort of creature it had come from, but she could feel the necrotic energy it held. After a few seconds, she stood and looked around. The latest biome was that of a coastal plain riddled with marshes. That came with its own problems. Not only was the terrain difficult ¨C one wrong step would see her mired in the thick mud ¨C but many dangerous creatures lived in such an environment. She¡¯d already had to kill many such monsters, and she didn¡¯t want to draw any further attention. Glancing at the overcast sky, she tried to determine the time of day. It was almost impossible. Ever since arriving in the bog-ridden lowlands, the thick cloud-cover had obscured the sun, moon, and stars. The days were gray, but the nights were pitch black to the point where even she had difficulty seeing her way. Worse, with that darkness came a series of truly terrifying monsters that preyed on travelers. Characterized by floating lights, the things were otherwise obscured by shadows so thick that they were impossible to see. Even Talia couldn¡¯t make out their shapes. But she¡¯d seen them at work only a few days before, when one had fallen upon a hairy creature she¡¯d identified as a swamp ape. The thing wasn¡¯t a person, but it sounded disturbingly human as it was wrapped and darkness and dragged into one of the bogs. Since then, Talia had kept her eye out for the unidentified hunters, but fortunately, they¡¯d left her alone. So far. She didn¡¯t think that would continue, so she resolved to get through the area as quickly as possible. With that in mind, she continued on her way, searching the region via a tight grid that would have taken months for a normal person to cover. With her speed, she managed it in days. In that time, she caught sight of the bog lights on multiple occasions, though she¡¯d never gotten close enough to identify them. From afar, the gently bobbing globes of illumination were mesmerizing, but she could recognize that was the point. More than once, she saw other swamp creatures wander toward the lights and pay the price, cementing in Talia¡¯s mind that there was some sort of skill at play. Either way, she had no interest in experiencing it, so she stayed far away. She almost managed it, too. She was kneeling beside a bone that was teeming with necrotic power when she felt a tug on her mind. Before she even realized what was happening, she followed it. The moment she turned her head, Talia¡¯s thoughts went fuzzy, so she didn¡¯t even react when she saw one of those lights bobbing in her direction. For a long few moments, she just stared as it drew ever closer. In the back of her mind, she knew something was wrong, but she couldn¡¯t through the fog to figure out precisely what the issue was. Gradually, the thing came closer until a mass of darkness hovered over her. ¡°Come¡­¡± It was a sweet, unthreatening voice, and Talia could see no reason to refuse. She pushed herself to her feet and followed. One plodding step at a time, she staggered after the thing until her feet sank into the bog. In seconds, she was up to her knees, and a few moments after that, she¡¯d managed to mire herself up to her chest. That was when something latched onto her leg. Pain lanced up the limb, followed by a numbing sensation that should have overtaken her in seconds. However, due to her unique nature as one of the undead, it wasn¡¯t nearly as impactful as it should have been. In fact, it ended up jarring her out of the malaise, and even through the lack of emotions that clung to her mind, panic set in.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Because she could finally see one of the creatures. It was thin. Unnaturally so, reminding Talia of a wight, though without the bulbous belly characteristic of the undead variant. The arms were a little too long, and the legs rose a little too high, creating a shape that was too far removed from the norm to be truly humanoid. But that wasn¡¯t what sent a chill up Talia¡¯s spine. No ¨C she had seen many oddly shaped creatures over the course of her life. What truly disturbed her was the thing¡¯s face. Perched on a long, spindly neck was the face of a beautiful woman. With pale skin, wide, innocent eyes, and plump lips, it was the sort of visage that would have drawn attention even among the notoriously haughty elves. Yet, it was all wrong, and not just because it sat atop such a monstrous body. The hair ¨C long and lustrous ¨C floated about the face like the thing was submerged, and trickles of bright red blood emerged from the corners of its mouth. Then, it locked its wide eyes on Talia¡¯s, and the second it detected that she was no longer under its spell, the thing opened its mouth to reveal sharp, shark-like teeth. It screamed. Talia¡¯s eardrums burst as her mind went blank. By the time she recovered only a second later, the thing had already latched its teeth onto her neck. It ripped a chunk of flesh away, then seemed confused when no blood gushed out. Talia wasn¡¯t going to let that moment of confusion lapse without a response, so she lashed out with her claws. She swiped a half-dozen times in the space of a second, but her claws were incapable of penetrating the thing¡¯s rubber skin. But that was okay. She had other tools at her disposal. Her Will surged forward, and the thing once again shrieked as Talia spewed [Bone Rot] from her gaping mouth. [Flood of Death] came next, slicing into the creature with pure necrotic energy. It tried to retreat, but even as Talia¡¯s mind struggled to piece itself back together, she moved on instinct. The thing couldn¡¯t escape, and she buried it beneath a tidal wave of death. Her claws were still incapable of getting through its rubbery skin, but her other abilities were more than up to the task of bringing it low. Soon enough, the thing went down in a heap of too-long limbs. Talia yanked herself out of the bog, pulling herself free one inch at a time until she finally found dry land. There she lay for a few minutes until she saw the glow of another light. Then another. Before she could react, she was surrounded by dozens of the things. Before they could act, she yanked a vial from her pocket, pulled the cork, and downed the contents. A surge of vitality enveloped her, healing her mind and body until she felt entirely intact. A second later, she was on her feet and ready for a fight. Talia wasn¡¯t certain if the creatures suddenly recognized the danger or if they were only reacting to her attacks, but they immediately tried to flee. They didn¡¯t get far. Normally, they were the predators, but now Talia was the hunter. And she didn¡¯t rest until every single one of the things had fallen. It was a curiously dry battle. Aside from the muck that came from the bog itself, there was nothing to suggest she¡¯d just slaughtered a dozen monsters. No blood. No guts. Their rubber skin prevented that kind of thing. But she had the kill energy to prove that they were all dead. However, Talia had no interest in sticking around to fight more of them. So, without further delay, she continued her search. The only difference was that when she saw any other creatures, she no longer adhered to the live-and-let-live philosophy. She ruthlessly hunt the things down without pausing in her search. And eventually, she found her way to the edge of the bog-strewn region. It took her another few hours before she found an additional clue, which led her to another. And two days later, she finally reached what she suspected was her destination. The sound of crashing waves heralded her arrival at the coast, which she confirmed only a few minutes later when she crested a hill and saw the edge of a cliff. Beyond that was the roiling ocean. The body of water looked like it was under the effect of a hurricane, and Talia had the horizon blurred in the distance, making it difficult to distinguish between the slate-gray sky and the similarly hued water. However, Talia¡¯s attention was firmly locked on something else. On a craggy island a mile from shore stood the ruins of an old castle. It was still mostly intact, its tall spires reaching high into the gray sky, but there was enough damage to establish that it had long stood abandoned. At odds with that impression was the certainty that it was occupied. Even if she was incapable of feeling the deathly energy enveloping the structure, she couldn¡¯t miss the ambulatory skeletons patrolling the walls and manning the turrets. One, in particular, drew her focus. It was larger than all the rest, and it practically glowed with power. She didn¡¯t need an inspection ability to know that it was a peak-level creature for the realm. Then, she saw another. And another after that. In only a few moments, she noticed nine such entities standing guard against an invasion they had no reason to expect. The island was connected to the mainland by a long, crumbling bridge. It stretched from short to gate, playing host to even more skeletons, though these were the lower level sort. Finally, around the tallest tower swirled a cloud of wraiths. From such a distance, it was difficult to distinguish between individual entities, but Talia had enough experience with the creatures to recognize that there were at least fifty of them. Probably many more than that number. For a long time, Talia stood on that hill and watched as she searched for an answer. Her instincts told her to rush in, kill Micayne, and be done with the whole thing. Yet, she was self-aware enough to recognize just how bad of an idea that would be. She could fight against a peak-level monster, but against so many? She would die if she attempted that battle. On top of that, she didn¡¯t really know how to kill Micayne. According to everything she understood, he would possess a phylactery that housed his soul, but there was no guarantee that it was within the castle. For all she knew, the necromancer himself wasn¡¯t even there. She only had the necrotic trail to point her in that direction. So, after observing for a little longer, she retreated. Now that she knew where the trail led, she would report back to the tower, gather her allies, and, with Zeke beside her, come down on Micayne with the full force of their armies. Fortunately, the journey back would be much quicker. Familiarity helped, but not needing to search for clues made the biggest difference. She poured on the speed, racing across the landscape and dreaming of what she intended to do to Micayne. 584. Unfinished Business ¡°They have evacuated all military personnel up to here,¡± said Adara, pointing to a line cutting across the territory of the Imperium. She had insinuated herself into the army in the months since the run of dungeons she¡¯d conquered with Zeke. At first, he¡¯d thought that they¡¯d accepted her primarily because of the relationship she shared with him, but he¡¯d quickly discovered the error of that line of thinking. The kobolds recognized her expertise, and they¡¯d begun to lean on it during the ongoing war against the Radiant Host. ¡°Most of the cities are still occupied, but the situation is quite bad. The army took most of the supplies and conscripted most of the strong fighters. What¡¯s left can¡¯t really support themselves.¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°We have to save them.¡± ¡°Some of them attack us on sight,¡± Adara pointed out. ¡°They¡¯re incapable of doing much damage, but ¨C¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Get some humans, gather food and other supplies, and at least make sure they have enough to get them through for a couple of months,¡± Zeke ordered. ¡°That will be quite taxing on our stores,¡± objected Kianma, who was sitting primly next to Silik. The pair were rarely apart. ¡°How far should we push it?¡± ¡°Make sure we have enough for the tower. Also, offer the opportunity to join. I don¡¯t think many will take us up on that, but things would be a lot better for them here,¡± Zeke said. ¡°If we¡¯re running short, we can always send some hunting parties back to the Muk¡¯ti Plains. There are plenty of herds there. I¡¯ll go myself to speed up the harvesting with my looting ability. If we run out, I can go back to the water dungeon. There¡¯s no shortage of fish there, and it¡¯s almost all edible. I can spend a week and harvest enough meat to feed us for months.¡± ¡°What about Westport? We still don¡¯t have much control there, and it¡¯s quickly becoming a haven for criminal activity. If we leave it like that, it¡¯ll become a pirate city in the space of a year,¡± Jasper said. He¡¯d spent quite some time in Westport of late, and he¡¯d managed to get a handle on the situation better than most. He¡¯d also struck up a fast friendship with Tucker, who¡¯d remained behind. For all that the alchemist knew the city, he wasn¡¯t really the sort to take on that kind of responsibility. Instead, he spent most of his time trying to source new natural treasures for his experiments. And Eveline encouraged him, explaining that a high-level alchemist was an invaluable asset for the tower. She also hoped that Tucker might figure out how to help the kobolds reach their potential. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to hold that city. Keep our foothold,¡± he ordered. They¡¯d set up the gate in the most defensible structure in town. Once a martial guild that had produced most of the gnomish guards, it was a veritable fortress atop the plateau at the center of the city. ¡°Keep a presence, but if they want to descend into piracy and lawlessness, then let them. We never intended to take the city in the first place, and we don¡¯t have the resources to hold it. Not while we¡¯re fighting a war. So long as nobody crosses the line, just let them do whatever they want.¡± Of course, everyone knew what Zeke considered to be crossing the line. He¡¯d made it abundantly clear, even if he hadn¡¯t actually codified it. ¡°Above all, keep advancing through the Imperium. I know it¡¯s a big job, but we¡¯re going to rid the world of Shar Maelaine¡¯s influence,¡± he said. After that, the meeting progressed to more detailed plans. Zeke was fine with giving them basic directions, but it was beyond the scope of his abilities to direct the entire invasion. He knew his strengths and weaknesses, and he had no intention of trying to insinuate himself into acts for which he had no talent. Doing so would be counterproductive. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you found competent subordinates,¡± Eveline said as he made his way to the Lord¡¯s Manor. Another copy of her stayed back to liaise with the other leaders of the tower. Her input was integral to ensuring that the tower ran the way it was supposed to, and she¡¯d already proven herself invaluable by not only making it much more efficient, but finding a few pockets of rebellion. Those people had been killed when kobold legionnaires had attempted to apprehend them. ¡°It lets you focus on bashing things with your hammer.¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± Zeke admitted. If he hadn¡¯t lucked into finding people like Silik, Kianma, and all the others, he wouldn¡¯t have been trying to fight a war in the first place. Instead, he¡¯d have simply strode into the Imperium, picked a few fights, and battled it out. And he¡¯d have probably died. Zeke was strong ¨C especially now ¨C but he wasn¡¯t powerful enough to take on whole armies of high-level people. Not yet, at least. He hoped to change that. Upon reaching the Lord¡¯s Manor, he was surprised to find Pudge sitting a few dozen feet off the main path next to one of the fountains. The big bearkin sat with his legs crossed, eyes closed, and his hands resting on his knees. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Is he meditating?¡± Zeke wondered inwardly. ¡°He is,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°He does it every day. You¡¯d know that if you paid a little more attention to him. I know you¡¯re busy, but you really should make time for him. He has that little pig girl to keep him busy, but ¨C¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call her that. She has a name.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Eveline said dismissively. ¡°My point is that not everyone is a battle maniac like you. Other people care about spending time with their friends and family. You should remember that, or you¡¯re going to end up alienating the people closest to you.¡± The notion of just hanging out was anathema to Zeke. Somehow, he thought that if he let his momentum fade ¨C even just a little ¨C he would shudder to a stop. And if that happened, thousands would die. His army had yet to encounter the true elites of the Imperium, but everyone knew it was coming. When it did, their only real defense was his presence on the battlefield. Not only could he stand up to them one-on-one, but he could also ensure their survival via his twin domains that would empower them enough to see them through. Maybe some of his own elites ¨C like Silik, Talia, and Pudge ¨C could make a difference, but Zeke knew that he was the lynchpin of any strategy to confront a true powerhouse. As such, he had a lot of pressure on his shoulders. If he wasn¡¯t strong enough, everyone would die. But he knew Eveline was right. So, he quickly closed the distance between him and Pudge and sat next to him. After only a few moments, he was itching to move on, but he remained in place for another couple of minutes until, finally, Pudge opened his eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do this.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°This,¡± Pudge said, gesturing between himself and Zeke. ¡°We¡¯re fine. I know you¡¯re busy. So am I. We don¡¯t need to be together every second of the day. We both know what it means to be family.¡± Zeke was about to answer, but he thought better of it. Pudge wasn¡¯t wrong. He still felt as close to the bearkin as ever. It was a bond between two brothers, and it would last through any across any amount of time or distance. Still, he wanted to show Pudge that he cared. ¡°How are you doing?¡± ¡°Doing well. I¡¯m trying to advance my path. It is¡­difficult. I am close, though.¡± ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡± Pudge shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Having enemies to fight is enough.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll see much peace going forward, so you¡¯ll definitely have that going for you.¡± ¡°Good.¡± After that, the pair went silent, and Pudge once again closed his eyes. For a while, Zeke just sat there with him, but it didn¡¯t take him long before he found himself growing a little jittery. He needed to act. He needed to do something. Otherwise, he would go crazy. So, he returned to his manor, plopped himself down in his meditation chamber, and took a page out of Pudge¡¯s book. He didn¡¯t ponder his path, but rather, started working on the evolution of one of his skills. It was the last one he wanted to figure out before beginning his descension to the next circle of Hell, but he knew it would take some time before he managed to put it all together. It was the biggest shift in purpose he¡¯d yet seen, and as such, it would require quite a lot of effort before he could progress past the planning stage. Still, it was a soothing process that continued for almost the entire day before Eveline interrupted him. She said, ¡°You¡¯re needed in the Pillar.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked. ¡°Talia has returned,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°And she has found Micayne¡¯s hiding place.¡± At first, Zeke had been a little worried about his friend. She¡¯d been gone for so long, and though he knew she could take care of herself, the world was a dangerous place that could kill even the strongest people. If Talia ran into a threat like the dragon, there was a very real chance that she would die. ¡°Is she okay?¡± he asked. ¡°She¡¯s fine. A little worn out, but her stats are high enough that she could keep going almost indefinitely without much in the way of adverse effects. It would probably do her good, actually,¡± Eveline answered. With that, Zeke hurried out of the manor and to the platform that would take him to the Residential District. After that, he rushed to the cylindrical building at the center of the expansive space. The district itself had grown to encompass miles and miles of apartment buildings, with a multitude of palaces having sprung up. There was no rhyme or reason to it, either. The only rule was that the more important people tended to get lodgings closest to the center. Eventually, he reached his destination, then let Eveline direct him to where he could find Talia. Predictably, she was in the same meeting room that he¡¯d left only a few hours before. This time, though, instead of a group representing the tower¡¯s entire leadership, only Kianma, Sasha, and, oddly enough, Pudge were present. And Talia, of course. She looked a little worse for wear. Not physically, of course. Her pale skin was unblemished, and she didn¡¯t seem as if she¡¯d been wounded. However, her armor couldn¡¯t say the same. It was ripped and torn in a multitude of places, making her look like she was wearing rags rather than expensive armor. ¡°How are you?¡± Zeke asked, rushing to her side. ¡°You¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I found him, Zeke. He¡¯s a long way off, but I found him.¡± Then, she launched into a story of her journey, detailing the search she had undertaken. She mentioned a few enemies she¡¯d been forced to slay, but her explanations were short and to the point. Likely, she was underselling them. In any case, she eventually came to the meat of the discussion, describing the castle she¡¯d found on the coast. More importantly, she talked about the creatures she¡¯d seen from afar. ¡°That sounds like a necromancer¡¯s lair,¡± Zeke agreed. ¡°But did you see him? Did you sense him?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I know h is there, though. Biding his time. Waiting and building his strength until he can slaughter more people. We have to kill him, Zeke. No one else even knows he¡¯s there. And even if they did, they would not be capable of killing him.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°But we need a plan. Otherwise, there¡¯s no chance of being successful.¡± After that, they entered into a detailed discussion concerning just that. Destroying the Imperium was one thing, but they¡¯d still be there in a few weeks. He had unfinished business with Micayne. 585. Pudges Task ¡°Are you sure you can do this?¡± asked Zeke. Pudge didn¡¯t immediately answer, but instead stared ahead at the castle in the distance. It was miles away, but even then, he could smell the necromantic power wafting off of it. Finally, he said, ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can.¡± ¡°The Inashi ¨C¡± ¡°They¡¯re not good enough,¡± Pudge cut in. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t have interrupted anyone, much less Zeke. But the fact that they¡¯d had the same conversation dozens of times over the past couple of weeks contributed to his annoyance. He didn¡¯t blame Zeke for his concern, but he wished his brother would accept that he was capable of doing the job at hand. He repeated, ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can do this.¡± It was entirely true, too. For all the power at Zeke¡¯s disposal, he was completely unsuited to infiltrate the castle and search out the necromancer¡¯s phylactery. Pudge, on the other hand, could remain hidden from even the most astute observers, and with his enhanced senses, he could find their target more easily than anyone else. Besides, of late, Pudge had felt constrained by circumstances. He could fight the Imperium as much as he wanted, but none of them had given him much trouble. And the few who might have given him a good fight ended up being buried under an army¡¯s worth of attacks. He didn¡¯t resent it ¨C in fact, the current tactics kept a lot of people from being killed ¨C but he did sometimes wish he could let loose and fight someone worth fighting. Like Zeke often did. Sasha likened it to letting his brother rub off on him. But then again, she didn¡¯t have the most favorable opinion of Zeke, who she usually regarded as a battle maniac who could easily get them all killed. The only reason she tolerated him was because he was Pudge¡¯s brother. Otherwise, she¡¯d have long since moved on. ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s there?¡± Zeke asked Talia, who stood at his other shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere else. If it¡¯s not there, then we¡¯ll never find it,¡± she rasped. The idea was a simple one. There were two options ¨C either the phylactery that held Micayne¡¯s soul was somewhere familiar, in a location that held some significance for the necromancer. Or it was somewhere entirely disconnected from his past. In the former case, they had a chance of finding it. But if it was the latter? There was no chance. So, they approached it from the first perspective. ¡°No sense in waiting, then,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I don¡¯t really like this plan, but I can¡¯t really argue against it, either.¡± He turned to Pudge and rested a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t take any undue risks. Your job right now is to find it. Don¡¯t try to do it all on your own.¡± Pudge nodded. He knew the plan. He¡¯d helped formulate it. However, if Zeke expected him to let any opportunity to end the necromancer pass by, he had another thing coming. If he found the phylactery, he would destroy it, and that was that. But Zeke didn¡¯t need to know his plans. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay,¡± he said. Then, before any other mushy exchanges had a chance to occur, he slipped into stealth via [Shadow¡¯s Embrace], which was the latest evolution of his favorite skill. He winked out of sight, then set off across the flat terrain. It didn¡¯t take him long to reach the edge of the cliff, and for a long few moments, he stared down at the waves crashing against it. Even as the wind swirled all around him, he could taste the salt in the air and feel the gentle spray of those swells. Before he could think better of it, Pudge dove over the side. Because of his high strength, dexterity, and agility, he went sailing through the air, and when he crashed into the water, he did so nearly a hundred yards from the cliff. The frigid water enveloped him, so cold that it very nearly stopped his heart. But after only a few moments, he banished the budding panic and righted himself. A second later, he was cutting through the waves with powerful strokes. Swimming as a bipedal creature was much more difficult than it had been before he¡¯d ascended, but he¡¯d long since mastered the skill. So, even with the massive waves, he had no issue covering the gap to the boulder-strewn island in the distance. Soon enough, he found himself climbing free of the ocean. The huge rocks almost seemed manmade, their sides were so sheer. Some almost looked like perfect cubes, while others were slightly more irregularly shaped. Pudge pushed those impressions aside and continued his journey. As he did so, he paid special attention to his senses. The smell of decay hung heavy in the air, but beneath that grotesque scent was something else. Something both cleaner and more disturbing. He recognized it as death-attuned mana, though he wasn¡¯t certain precisely how. The only thing he could think was that, via the bond he shared with Zeke, he gained access to some small part of his brother¡¯s attunements. Whatever the case, it marked the trail he intended to follow. The problem was that the entire island was drenched in the stuff, and there were areas of dense concentration of death-attuned mana around the various undead creatures in the castle. The worst were the enormous skeletons atop the wall, though if they were bonfires, they were surrounded by comparative torches that were almost as difficult to ignore.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. So, finding a single thread amongst all of that was more than difficult. For most people, it would have been entirely impossible. However, through a combination of [Bestial Senses] and the nature of the borrowed attunement, he managed to narrow things down to a few different paths. With that, he proceeded forward, eventually climbing the castle wall and entering the stronghold itself. It was then that he began the long and arduous process of eliminating one avenue after another. Pudge trusted his twice-evolved stealth skill to keep him concealed from the undead he passed along the way. Most were almost entirely inert, but there were a few that seemed almost sentient as they moved around the castle on various tasks. In a way, it reminded him of the ice castle he¡¯d entered so long ago, but instead of goblins, he was looking at zombies, skeletons, and other forms of undead. Just looking at them sent a chill up his spine, but being inundated in the aura ¨C and smell ¨C of death made it immeasurably worse. Still, Pudge continued on, creeping through the castle and steadily ruling different paths out. It took hours, but eventually, he found the right thread. In retrospect, it should have been obvious. It pulsed on a subtly different frequency than all the rest. A different smell. It was only after he¡¯d been following it for a while that he recognized it, though. In any case, he kept going, progressing ever deeper into the bowels of the castle. At some point, he started to descend, and it felt like he kept going like that for miles and miles. Perhaps he did. The simple fact was that with the nature of the Eternal Realm, a castle that was much larger than it seemed from the outside wasn¡¯t that far outside the norm. Perhaps it was even common in some places. In any case, Pudge continued to follow the thread, progressing past the well-structured walls and stairwells of the castle proper and into rougher catacombs that were absolutely infested with undead. There were thousands of the creatures just milling about, aimlessly staring at nothing. They were so closely packed together that he had difficulty traversing some of the corridors. Eventually, he ended up clinging to the ceiling at times. After a few more hours, he left even those catacombs behind, exchanging them for natural caves and caverns. From his understanding, such tunnels should have long since flooded due to the proximity of the ocean, but judging by the roughly carved runes he periodically saw, the original builders had taken that into account. They still pulsed with mana, so he knew they were active. He pushed those details aside and continued on. Soon enough, the horde of zombies thinned until he thought he was alone. That feeling persisted right up until he noticed a wraith coming in his direction. He barely managed to avoid it by flattening himself against the wall and waiting for it pass. He didn¡¯t even breathe as it paused next to him. The vaguely humanoid-shaped collection of ethereal mist turned in his direction, and he could have sworn it sniffed the air. But then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it flowed down the tunnel and disappeared around a curve. Still, Pudge didn¡¯t dare breathe. He held his breath for a few long minutes until, at last, he felt certain that the thing was gone. Only then did he continue on. On a few occasions, he was confronted with similar situations, but after that first encounter, he was ready. It wasn¡¯t easy, but he managed to traverse the tunnels in relative safety until, at last, he found the cave. Inside was a shrine comprised of hundreds of black candles that burned with green-tinted light and a golden statue depicting a man holding what looked like an urn. Or at least that was how it was shaped. It was also made of crystal so dark green that it was almost black. It was also opaque, and it wasn¡¯t until Pudge looked closer that he realized that the crystal urn¡¯s color and level of transparency was due to the swirling mist it contained. That, as well as the fact that it blazed with deathly energy, told him that it was precisely what he¡¯d been looking for. There was only one issue. The room was not empty. Indeed, there were three guards, and the moment he¡¯d stepped into the room, they¡¯d all turned their ghastly heads in his direction. Pudge stopped, but he knew that no matter how still he stood, there was no changing the fact that they knew where he was. The creatures themselves reminded him of Talia, though less intact and far less sapient. Once, they might have been elves, judging by their pointed ears. Pudge had no idea where Micayne might have found such creatures, but it was clear what was coming. He moved, already embracing [Shadowfire Evisceration]. Time slowed as a wave of darkness erupted from his position. Normally, when he used the skill, he was moving so quickly that his foes looked like they were standing still. This time, though, the three figures tracked his movements without issue. He raced forward, and they reacted. They didn¡¯t move at full speed; rather, they seemed like they were underwater. However, the implications were clear. These things were incredibly fast, and unless something changed, he¡¯d be overwhelmed by their speed the second [Shadowfire Evisceration] wore off. Fortunately, there was more to the skill than that. He ducked beneath a blow that very nearly took his head off, then rammed his claws deep into the first creature¡¯s stomach. He latched onto her spine, then ripped it free. He didn¡¯t stop to see the results before he pounced on the second monster, tearing through his neck and nearly decapitating him. The third got the worst of it, though, when Pudge ripped it limb from limb just in time for the wave of corrupted darkness to reach them. The creatures collapsed as the shadowfire finished the job. And just like that, the room was empty. He knew precisely how lucky he was. If they¡¯d been even a little more durable, he never would have been able to finish them off. And if [Shadowfire Evisceration] had worn off before he completed the job? Those things would have ripped him to pieces, and there wasn¡¯t much he could¡¯ve done to stop them. But now, the phylactery was exposed and unguarded. He padded forward warily, but nothing attacked him. Only a second later, the mist erupted from the urn and rammed into his mind, gripping it as pain erupted across his entire body. ¡°Naughty, naughty beast,¡± came a disembodied voice. ¡°You truly thought you could sneak in here and destroy my phylactery? Please. But you¡­you might make a nice base for my next guard template. Would you like that? Would you like to live forever?¡± Pudge was in no shape to answer. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m certain you would. Who doesn¡¯t want eternal life? Now, let¡¯s see about getting rid of that pesky mind of yours¡­¡± Pudge screamed as agony raked his mind. 586. Wrath Zeke¡¯s stomach tightened into a knot. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± demanded Eveline. ¡°Pudge,¡± he grunted, already embracing [Titan]. ¡°He¡¯s in trouble.¡± Without hesitation, he summoned a gate and told Talia, ¡°Get the army.¡± ¡°How many?¡± she asked. ¡°All of them,¡± he stated. ¡°The second they¡¯ve assembled, I expect them to attack. Get Sasha, too. Tell her that Pudge is in danger. Tell her not to hold back.¡± The second his transformation completed, he sprinted for the bridge connecting the island to the shore. As he did so, he summoned Voromir to hand and readied himself for the upcoming battle. At the same time, he tried not to focus on the pain he felt through the bond he shared with his brother. He didn¡¯t know what had happened to Pudge, but he knew that if he didn¡¯t step up, the person he cared about more than anyone else in the world would die. ¡°You need to think this through,¡± Eveline cautioned as he reached the bridge. His heavy footsteps were nearly enough to topple the structure altogether. ¡°You can¡¯t just barge in there. We had a plan for a reason.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Zeke said. A long time ago, he¡¯d made a decision to sacrifice himself for his brother, and he¡¯d died for that choice. Even if he¡¯d never been reborn, he was okay with that. And even though he and Pudge didn¡¯t share blood like he and Tommy had, the bearkin occupied a similar place in his life. As such, Zeke wasn¡¯t about to place his own well-being ¨C or anyone else¡¯s, for that matter ¨C over saving his brother. Skeletons and zombies reacted to his charge, pouring out of every nook and cranny in an attempt to bar his way. He crashed through them, pulverizing most of them with repeated swings of his hammer. Others, he simply squashed beneath his heavy footsteps. He refused to be denied. And yet, before he¡¯d even reached the castle, the first true obstacle presented itself. The weight of his titanic body was not insignificant, and the bridge was barely capable of withstanding its own mass. It crumbled under the additional weight of his passage. A rumble from behind announced its collapse. Zeke poured on the speed, pushing himself as fast as he could manage. The rapidly crumbling bridge continued to chase him until, at last, he leaped. Pushing with all his strength, he sent himself sailing through the air for almost a quarter of a mile. The skeletons and zombies fell along with the bridge, disappearing into the black waves beneath. Then, Zeke thudded into the oddly square boulders that marked the island¡¯s boundaries. He hit hard, flipping over as he skipped across the beach until, at last, he came to a rest. But he didn¡¯t lay there long, because he saw something enormous and pale coming in his direction. The enormous skeleton¡¯s foot landed, crushing the boulder a second after Zeke rolled away. Pebbles and dust shot away, clouding the air as Zeke found his feet. He looked up to see that a half dozen skeletons, each at least a hundred feet tall, with proportionally thick bones, had already surrounded him. They loomed over him, pale and white, though he did see a few strips of ragged flesh hanging from various joints. Otherwise, they were entirely bare, save for green flames that burned in their eye sockets. Zeke didn¡¯t even bother with [Inspect]. He knew they were at the peak, but he didn¡¯t care. He leaped into action, racing forward and swinging Voromir with every point of strength he could muster. The second the weapon made contact with an ankle, the sound of shattering bone filled the air. The skeleton didn¡¯t react to what should have been a debilitating blow. Instead, it kicked out, its foot larger than Zeke¡¯s entire, fifteen-foot body. However, he¡¯d already used his racial gift to increase his weight as much as possible, so when the foot connected, it was stopped cold. Zeke had already used [Flames of Reprisal], so a swirl of corrupted fire swept out, enveloping the creature and singing its bones. It didn¡¯t react to that, either. Clearly, the things were incapable of feeling pain. But that was fine, because he didn¡¯t care about making them suffer. His only concern was getting through them as quickly and efficiently as possible. To that end, he summoned both of his domains, then let loose with [Hell Geyser]. The gout of flame enveloped the skeleton¡¯s entire leg, scorching its way all the way to mid-thigh, but when they guttered out, the bone showed no signs of damage, save for a few burn marks that were ignored. By that point, the other five monsters had closed on him, and he spent the next few moments dodging their heavy blows. Finally, he¡¯d had enough. If fire wouldn¡¯t do anything, then blunt force would have to do. He summoned [Storm of Hammers], and as the winds whipped a tornado of blows into the surrounding skeletons, he used [Titanic Smash]. Finally, one of his attacks did some good, shattering the already-injured skeleton¡¯s femur. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The monsters might have been magical in nature, but physics was still a thing. And with one bone broken, the creature could no longer support its own weight. It tipped over, and as it was pummeled by one storm-driven hammer after another, collided with one of its fellows. The sheer force of it sent the other skeleton stumbling into a third, and they all collapsed in a heap of bones. They weren¡¯t dead, but Zeke now had a good path to changing that. Because from his experience, glowing bits usually meant weak points. So, he pounced on a skull, swinging Voromir with all his might. The first blow sent a spiderweb of cracks arcing over the white bone. The second widened those fissures, and the third shattered it altogether. A fourth dug a huge hole in the bone, exposing a swirling green mass of pure death energy. Zeke dove in, wrapping his hands around it and channeling his Will. For a moment, it seemed to resist ¨C as if there was another Will fighting his ¨C but he quickly overwhelmed it. The thing exploded, tearing a hole in his chest before sending him flying away. He rode a wave of bone shards as he skipped across the boulder-strewn beach, then came to a stop only as he rammed into a particularly large rock. ¡°Well, one down, I suppose,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Five more to go.¡± With a growl, Zeke pushed himself to his feet and threw himself back into the battle. The second skeleton went down much like the first, which meant that he once again found himself skipping across the beach. Afterward, he used [Hand of Divinity] to mend any damage he¡¯d incurred, then rushed back in for more. Four more times, he repeated the process by destroying the death-attuned power source in their skulls. Twice, he did so by felling the giant creatures via well-placed hammer blows. However, the two other times, he was forced to climb the hundred-plus foot tall creatures and destroy them even as they attempted to dislodge him. For anyone else, it might¡¯ve been a death sentence, but for Zeke, it only took about ten minutes for him to defeat the creatures. And he didn¡¯t even have to use his most powerful skills. He didn¡¯t dare ¨C not until he knew Pudge was safe. The bearkin was somewhere down below ¨C how far, Zeke couldn¡¯t tell ¨C and he was in more pain than he¡¯d ever felt before. Zeke ached to rescue him, but he needed to reach him first. To that end, Zeke picked himself up after the latest explosion, only to find a horde of zombies collapsing onto his position. They tripped and clambered over the rocks, but they didn¡¯t seem to care about that. They just kept coming like the mindless creatures they were. But he did see a trio of newcomers that seemed different. Elves, unless he was mistaken, and they stood atop the wall, looking down on him with equanimity. Then, they disappeared. A second later, Zeke felt a huge chunk of his torso being ripped free. He looked down to see mercury-like blood flowing freely down his side and to his hip. Then, he was hit again, this time in his thigh. A piece of his forearm went next. And then most of his calf. [Flames of Reprisal] lashed out, but the flames found nothing. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out what was going on. After all, one of his closest friends could move so quickly that she was practically invisible to the naked eye. Clearly, the elven undead were similarly fast. ¡°Revenants,¡± Eveline said as he activated [Shifting Sands]. On an island in the middle of the ocean, the earth-attuned mana was so thin that it didn¡¯t work nearly as well as it normally would, but Zeke was forced to take what he could get. ¡°All three at the peak, too.¡± ¡°Fantastic,¡± he muttered inwardly, slipping into the earth. He was tempted to simply keep going, but [Shifting Sands] would give out before he ever reached Pudge. Chances were, he¡¯d end up reforming in the middle of a rock. He didn¡¯t want to know what would happen in that instance, so he shot off as fast as he could manage, looking for a particular setting. He found it only a few subjective moments later when he spied a trio of rocks leaning against the castle¡¯s wall. The longer two were leaning together, with the third balanced on the top. But there was a small gap in between, and it was just large enough for him to fit ¨C so long as he let [Titan] fade. As soon as he surfaced, letting [Shifting Sands] lapse, Zeke changed back to his natural form and dove inside. During that dive, he flipped around and activated [Eye of Reckoning]. Fire and corruption lanced out from his forehead, bathing the entire entrance in destructive power. When the skill faded, he saw three bodies ¨C each one missing their entire top half ¨C falling to the ground. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that would work,¡± Eveline said. ¡°They were always going to follow,¡± he reasoned. ¡°I just needed to restrict their avenue of approach.¡± ¡°Smart.¡± ¡°You sound surprised,¡± he said, picking himself up as a few drops of rain fell outside. ¡°Maybe I am. You don¡¯t usually use your head like that,¡± she stated. He countered, ¡°Most of the time, I don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Fair enough. What now?¡± It was a good question. He¡¯d rushed off without a real plan, but now that he had a second to think, he realized that he didn¡¯t really know how to get to Pudge. ¡°He¡¯s down there,¡± he said, pointing to the ground. Frustration bubbled in his mind. ¡°A ways, too. I don¡¯t know anything else.¡± ¡°The castle,¡± Eveline said. It was the most obvious place to start, so Zeke stepped out from between the boulders and used [Titan]. A second later, he leaped atop those same boulders, then climbed the wall. There were no handholds, so he was forced to create his own by slamming his metallic fingers into the stone. It was old and crumbly, so he didn¡¯t even need to use much strength. The wall was tall, though. Hundreds of feet, at least. From afar, it didn¡¯t look quite as huge, but that was an optical illusion. Whatever the case, it took him only a minute or two to reach the top, where he found more skeletons. These were all human-sized, though, so he tore through them without issue before turning his attention to the courtyard on the other side of the wall. ¡°Is that a¡­¡± He answered, ¡°A necromantic vessel. Yeah. Same as before.¡± It felt slightly different, though. More powerful, but also incomplete. Like it was missing a piece. But otherwise, it was an enormous, vaguely humanoid mass of necrotic flesh. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°Last time, you almost died.¡± ¡°I did die, Eveline. I just came back. And I¡¯m a different man than I was then.¡± With that, he leaped from the wall, ready to do battle with a carbon copy of the creature that had once killed him. 587. Escalating Issues Zeke¡¯s hammer slammed into the necromantic vessel¡¯s malformed head. It snapped to the side, the sound of breaking bones an tearing flesh announcing the attack¡¯s effectiveness. He didn¡¯t stop there, though. Planting his feet on the thing¡¯s shoulder, he cocked Voromir back, then embraced [Unleash Momentum]. The result ripped the thing¡¯s monstrous head off, sending it flying away to slam into one of the walls. The edifice crumbled beneath the immense force, and black blood geysered from the stump of the vessel¡¯s neck. That was his first hint that he was dealing with an inferior foe. He knew he¡¯d grown stronger, and not by a small degree. However, he knew he hadn¡¯t become that much more powerful. ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short,¡± Eveline remarked as he swung his hammer again. It hit with inevitable force, dislodging a mini-van sized chunk of rotting flesh. ¡°But I think you¡¯re right.¡± Over and over, Zeke tore through the monster. It tried to stop him, radiating the same formless pressure that had once come so close to killing him. Yet, he bore it stoically, managing the damage with [Hand of Divinity]. Then, he felt something new. Something far more powerful than anything he could take. He leaped free of the necromantic vessel just in time to avoid being pummeled by a column of dense flames that radiated the level of heat he would have associated with the sun. It wasn¡¯t radiance ¨C not like he¡¯d experienced against Shar Maelaine and her followers ¨C but rather, a level of heat that far transcended anything else he¡¯d ever felt. It was only after he landed nearly two-hundred yards away that he noticed that his army had finally arrived. And amongst them was Sasha. Her presence ¨C or the power radiating from her ¨C explained the column of flame he¡¯d barely escaped. ¡°That girl has so much potential,¡± Eveline said. ¡°If only she had the right demeanor for battle.¡± That much was true. Zeke was strong, and he felt certain that [Wrath of Annihilation] was stronger than anything Sasha could manage. But not by much. And with enough preparation, the boarkin girl could bring any number of effects to a battle. She was powerful, albeit in a different way. But as Eveline had mentioned, she was also ill-suited to the rigors of battle. Physically, she was practically defenseless, but the real issue was her mental state. Some people were made to fight. She most assuredly was not. And she had the presence of mind to recognize that and focus on other things, like the academy she¡¯d helped to found. Through that, she would do more to augment the tower¡¯s collective power than she would ever be able to assert on her own. Still, seeing one of her spells in action was a reminder that Zeke wasn¡¯t the only person who could wield enough power to end entire cities. At the moment, that wasn¡¯t important, though. As Zeke picked himself up from where he¡¯d fallen, he felt something surge beneath him. Deathly energy flowed through the burned husk of the necromantic vessel, then spread across the entire courtyard. Like a dam had broken, thousands of zombies erupted from every opening in the ruined castle, flowing forward and collapsing into the necromantic vessel. They merged with the mass of necrotic flesh, merging with it and healing the damage that had been done. At the same time, the army opened up, with thousands of kobolds rushing from the bridge and into the castle grounds. The overcast sky lit up with the light of a thousand skills as the kobolds used their ranged abilities. Finally, a group of more powerful skeletons ¨C noticeable by the sheer weight of their presences ¨C exited what Zeke belatedly realized was an extensive underground area. From the way they moved, it didn¡¯t take a leap of logic to recognize that they were unlike the other unthinking undead. They were sapient. And they let loose on the army with gleeful enthusiasm. One threw out teal fire that, when it passed through the front line of kobolds, sucked the very life right out of them. As they collapsed, another of the powerful undead raced forward, moving almost too quickly for Zeke to track, and lashed out with a pair of shortswords. It was like a whirlwind of blades, and it ripped through the kobolds like they were made of paper. A third stayed back, chanting something that Zeke recognized as a spell. And finally, a fourth planted a skull-topped staff in the ground and sent a wave of mana to rush through its allies. Runes encircled the other three skeletons, rotating around their limbs and hovering above them. The speed-focused skeleton grew faster. The teal flames became more voluminous. The fourth was unaffected, though. That, as much as anything firmly established Zeke¡¯s order of attack. His feet thudded heavily against the ground as he rushed forward. At the same time, Talia met the speed-focused skeleton on its own terms. Her claws clashed with its swords, the sound ringing across the courtyard. At the same time, the front-most kobolds lowered their shields and used a skill that linked them all together. The teal flames washed over the ethereal barrier. It flickered for a second, but it held. They advanced as one, intending to meet the flood of zombies coming from below. Zeke sprinted forward, and after a few steps, he felt an infusion of energy he recognized as originating with Jasper. He couldn¡¯t hear the dark elf bard¡¯s song, but that wasn¡¯t surprising, given the clamor of the clash of undead and the shield-bearing kobolds. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Zeke activated Voromir¡¯s ability, then used [Titanic Smash] before swinging his hammer. The weapon swept out, and because he was so far away from his target, the it hit nothing but air. However, the red copy of the weapon extended much further, and it fell upon the augmenting skeleton with predictable weight and fury. Upon impact, dust billowed, obscuring the results of Zeke¡¯s attack. An instant after the red copy of his hammer hit, he was peppered by flying rocks and bits of necrotic flesh. He rushed through it, barely noticing any of it. But when he reached the point of impact, he was surprised to find that the skeleton still stood. Encased in a teal bubble, it remained entirely unharmed. The only evidence of Zeke¡¯s attack was a series of cracks upon that sphere of blue-green energy. That changed when he completed his charge and rammed into it. It shattered like glass, and a moment later, he wrapped his fingers around the skeleton¡¯s neck. Dismissing his hammer, he thrust his other hand through its ribcage and grabbed ahold of its spine. With a roar, he hefted the thing over his head and, heaving mightily, ripped it apart. An eruption of death-attuned mana washed over him as the creature¡¯s motivating force exploded. Zeke endured it without issue. After all, death was a part of him now, no different than earth or demonic corruption, and its effect was more energizing than deleterious. Either way, the skeletal mage died ¨C at least as much as an already-dead creature could ¨C and Zeke tossed the remnants of its body aside. A second later, dense flames bore into his chest, melting the metallic flesh and boiling his blood. He screamed, embracing [Hand of Divinity] even as agony lanced through him. It was more than powerful enough to bypass his natural pain tolerance and dig deep into the core of who he was. Yet, Zeke was no stranger to pain. Even as his body melted and reformed a hundred times a second, he kicked off the ground and threw himself at the skeletal mage. It threw up some sort of flaming shield obviously meant to arrest his momentum, but it was no more effective than a wall made of paper. He crashed through it without even a moment¡¯s delay and brought his resummoned hammer down with all the might he could muster. The creature shattered. Shrapnel of bone exploded from the point of impact, moving with enough force that it ripped through the surrounding zombies with ease. Zeke barely noticed them. They were a minor concern compared to the much more dangerous squad of skeletons. But now, two were down. Only two more remained. The sorcerer-skeleton finally completed its spell, and a dense cloud of necrotic energy swept in from the sky. Just before it reached the army of kobolds, a group of spiritweavers led by Kianma concluded a collective chant. A shield of light bloomed above the army, stymying the cloud¡¯s progress. Power clashed, green and white, and for a second, Zeke wondered which would prevail. But then, he completed his charge and rammed into the skeletal sorcerer. The thing was made only of bone, so it felt light as a feather. It flew backward with such velocity that, when it hit a wall almost a hundred yards away, it shattered into dust. The cloud disappeared, and Zeke caught sight of Talia¡¯s enlarged claws slicing through the speed-focused skeleton. Its bones fell apart with each surgical cut, and within a second, it was gone. The battle continued to rage, though. The zombies weren¡¯t like the ones Zeke had encountered back in Darukar. They were much, much older. Strips of ragged flesh remained, but it was hardened by mummification. They also carried weapons, and many wore armor. Fortunately, they were still zombies, though. That meant they were comparatively slow-moving, stupid, and only really useful for horde-tactics. Countering that was the fact that their numbers seemed virtually endless, and they were far stronger than normal zombies. For someone like Zeke, it didn¡¯t make much difference. They were weak enough that they couldn¡¯t hope to overwhelm him. Yet, they were more than capable of killing kobolds. Moreover, they were so numerous that killing them ¨C even if it wasn¡¯t difficult ¨C would assuredly be time-consuming. Unless he used [Wrath of Annihilation], which was out of the question with his virtually unprotected army so close. So, with the vague awareness of Pudge¡¯s pain dancing in his mind, Zeke waded into the sea of zombies and got to work slaughtering them all. Every swing of his hammer was accompanied by a wisp of his Will, and as a result, each impact exploded a zombie. Yet, with the sheer weight of numbers arrayed against him, Zeke was incapable of quickly dispatching them all. It was a good thing he wasn¡¯t alone, then. His army surged forward with the precision they¡¯d learned throughout countless battles against the forest giants, Knights of Adontis, and the forces of the Imperium. Their spears lashed out, while their spears protected them from reprisal. At the same time, they continued forward, one step at a time. And the zombies fell before them. Meanwhile, Zeke carved his own way forward, and after an intolerable delay, he reached one of the castle¡¯s entrances. From a quick inspection, he saw that it only led into the main structure. He needed to go down, though. That¡¯s where Pudge had gone, after all. Even as the battle raged, Talia suddenly appeared beside him and asked, ¡°Where is Pudge?¡± ¡°I need a way down,¡± Zeke answered, swinging his hammer again. A half dozen zombies exploded upon impact. ¡°Find me one.¡± Talia nodded, then raced off. With her speed, she could cover much more ground than he could ever hope to search. In the meantime, Zeke continued to mow down zombies. Quite a few managed to get past his guard, but they were wholly incapable of getting through his natural defenses. More than once, he wished he could just ram his way through them. And while he could have probably done that, they were numerous enough that each step would be see an incremental decrease in his momentum. He was strong, but his power was not infinite. They couldn¡¯t stop him. They couldn¡¯t kill him. But they could keep him from reaching his destination. Besides ¨C he didn¡¯t know exactly where he was meant to go. The castle hosted dozens of entrances, and most didn¡¯t lead downward. So, due to his ignorance and the effectiveness of the zombies¡¯ swarm tactics ¨C at least in terms of delaying him ¨C Zeke was wholly dependent on Talia to lead him in the right direction. Thankfully, she was more than capable of holding up her end of the bargain, and only thirty seconds later, she reappeared beside him. ¡°Northeast entrance. It is not well hidden. Follow.¡± Zeke said, ¡°No. You need to stay here. I don¡¯t want you going anywhere near Micayne.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°Remember what happened in Darukar,¡± he said, kicking out and obliterating a zombie. ¡°I won¡¯t risk losing you.¡± She clearly wasn¡¯t happy with that, but she didn¡¯t argue. After all, she¡¯d seen what had happened to her adopted home, and she knew that, despite her unique nature, she was vulnerable to a high-level necromancer. Perhaps he couldn¡¯t control her, but he could certainly kill her, and probably easily. ¡°Very well. Go. Rescue him.¡± Zeke nodded, then put his shoulder down, and rammed his way through the zombies. As he¡¯d initially predicted, his momentum was spent after only a couple dozen feet, so he used [Shifting Sands] to cover the last fifty yards. Then, he found the entrance and wasted no time before entering the tunnel. He had a brother to save. 588. Beware The zombies were old. Very, very old. Most of them were barely more than skeletons, with dried bits of flesh clinging to their bones, and they all wore elaborate armor, clothing, and jewelry. For a while, as Zeke plowed through them, he found himself wondering where they¡¯d all come from. Back in Darukar, the hordes of zombies were explicable by the fact that Micayne had converted much of the city. However, the castle of the Vile Reech was long-abandoned. But then Zeke saw the catacombs. At first, it was difficult to identify them. After all, he wasn¡¯t in any position to stop and investigate, and it wasn¡¯t until Eveline identified them for what they were that he recognized their nature. It seemed obvious in retrospect. The castle had once played host to a decent-sized population. It was old, too, suggesting a long history. Doubtless, they¡¯d buried their dead in the crypts below the castle. With that discovery, the hordes of undead made a lot more sense. In a way, their advanced state of decay made fighting them easier. They were lighter than most zombies, and as such, easier to push through. In addition, he didn¡¯t have to worry about filling the air with wet chunks of rotting flesh, which wasn¡¯t something that normally slowed him down, but he¡¯d experienced it often enough to appreciate the lack. Still, there was no denying that they were stronger than their fresher counterparts. ¡°Age matters in necromancy,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°The older the corpse ¨C so long as it¡¯s intact ¨C the more powerful the magic needed to animate it. So long as the necromancer is strong enough to get them upright, that magic translates to increased power.¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± Zeke said, trying to ignore the knowledge that Pudge was being tortured. He could feel it needling it into the back of his mind. Why Micayne would do such a thing, Zeke had no idea, but his ignorance just made it all much more difficult to endure. He used that frustration as fuel as he pushed his way through the mass of ancient undead. Most fell before him without putting up much of a fight, but some were powerful enough that he was forced to take them seriously. It only took a couple of swings from Voromir to dispatch even those stronger creatures ¨C they were still zombies, after all ¨C but every second of delay wore on Zeke¡¯s mind. Pudge needed him, and now. He left a trail of bodies behind him as he descended ever deeper. The only solace available to him was the fact that the catacombs were fairly straightforward. There weren¡¯t many twists or turns. Instead, it was a long, descending hall with various rooms branching off. Once he discovered that those rooms didn¡¯t lead to other paths, Zeke began to ignore them on his long trek to his destination. At the same time, he felt the battle raging above. He¡¯d left a lot of zombies alive up there, and he knew it would take his army some time before they managed to slaughter them all. If the stakes weren¡¯t so dire, he might have looked at the fight as a good thing. The zombies, for all their disgusting nature, could prove to be a decent whetstone for his soldiers¡¯ development. Each individual creature wouldn¡¯t give much kill energy, but being as how there were tens of thousands out there, the collective gains would be significant. But none of that mattered if he couldn¡¯t get to Pudge in time. ¡°We don¡¯t even know if he¡¯s killing him,¡± Eveline said. ¡°The necromancer could be torturing him in an attempt to lure you into a trap.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke growled, crushing a group of zombies with a horizontal swing. ¡°Doesn¡¯t change anything.¡± ¡°You know you¡¯re not supposed to spring traps,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s kind of ¨C¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, Eveline. I have to save him. There¡¯s only one way down. This isn¡¯t a situation where I can plan for every contingency. I can¡¯t wait around for the perfect circumstances. I have to go now, for better or worse. And if it¡¯s a trap, I¡¯ll have to just power through.¡± And that was his intent right up until he encountered something he didn¡¯t expect. He jerked to a stop in the center of a round chamber as seven figures stepped free of the shadows. They were all human-sized, and a brief glance told Zeke that they looked little different from the other zombies. Perhaps their attire was a bit richer, and they wore a lot more jewelry ¨C including crowns on each head ¨C but it was difficult to tell, given the advanced state of decay with which they were afflicted. They were all holding two-handed swords that were so bejeweled that Zeke suspected they were ornamental. ¡°He comes,¡± one said. ¡°He will join us,¡± another intoned. ¡°Power to restore the Reach,¡± they all chanted in unison. Zeke struggled against invisible bonds, but his efforts were for naught. He couldn¡¯t move even a single inch, regardless of how powerfully he pushed against his invisible shackles. What¡¯s more, when he tried to activate [Shifting Sands], nothing happened. It was as if his mana was frozen within him, completely unresponsive. ¡°What is going on, Eveline?¡± he growled in his own mind. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t¡­know¡­¡± Her voice was weak. Barely even there. That, more than his inability to move, raised red flags in Zeke¡¯s mind. He didn¡¯t panic ¨C not exactly ¨C but he was certainly alarmed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the figures shove their swords into the ground. They entered with a grating sound that echoed across the chamber. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Only then did Zeke recognize that the zombies were gone. How hadn¡¯t he noticed that sooner? When had they stopped? His thoughts were fuzzy and difficult to grasp. As he did anytime he was threatened by something he didn¡¯t understand, Zeke embraced his Will. It flowed through him, the pain of destruction racing through his body and leaving damage in its wake. However, when it came time for it to accumulate, it just flowed out of him. ¡°What the¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­a¡­skill¡­¡± Zeke leveraged his massive Strength, and for the briefest of moments, he thought he was going to escape. His arms moved barely more than an inch before an even stronger force latched onto him. He trembled with the effort as he felt both mana and Will being drained out of him. Suddenly, he remembered the chains that had turned Eveline into something akin to a battery. However, instead of the power flowing into another realm, it went to the undead figures surrounding him. And they were growing less dead by the second. Already, flaps of dry, grey skin had begun to fall from their exposed faces, but the effect wasn¡¯t limited to that. Their bodies filled out as muscles returned to a vital state. They were returning to life, and Zeke¡¯s power was the battery meant to enable it. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t the same thing, but it was close enough that Zeke knew he was in trouble. He flexed with every point of Strength he could muster, and the room shook under his might. One of the figures said, ¡°So powerful. So strong. Delicious.¡± ¡°Fortune shines upon us. Our disciple has served us well.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t listen. Instead, he sank deep within himself, reaching for a well of strength he¡¯d never before tapped into. For the longest time, Zeke had felt like he was skating from one victory to another. He¡¯d rarely been challenged, and when he was, the situation could best be described as mildly taxing, rather than a true life-or-death situation. There were moments ¨C like his first encounter with a necromantic vessel and the wind elemental he¡¯d fought in one of the dungeons ¨C but mostly, he¡¯d felt like he was playing a game against inferior opponents. As a result, he¡¯d grown complacent. Sure, he worked. He fought. And he built his knowledge of runecrafting. However, he didn¡¯t put as much into it as he might have if he¡¯d thought his life really depended on it. But now, it did. And though it took some digging, Zeke knew precisely how to respond to that. The same spirit that had driven him to survive for untold years alone in a troll-infested system of tunnels came roaring back into him. He wasn¡¯t all-powerful, but there was something to be said for unbreakable resolve. He refused to be denied. He would not let these creatures use him as fuel for their own rise. Before he really knew what was happening, he was screaming. And with his powerful lungs ¨C as well as his nature in his titanic form ¨C those shouts shook the very foundations of the castle. He paid it no mind, though. He was too focused inward. That was the answer. He was certain of it. For all the fancy terms ¨C Will and battle intent, divine energy, and mana ¨C it all had the same source. A commonality that, in retrospect, should have been obvious. He pushed, harder and harder, until, at last, something happened. Congratulations! You have discovered that all power comes from a common source. Recombine them to create Divine energy. Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate to weave them together. In the past, he¡¯d done something similar with his Worldbreaker and Runebreaker techniques, but this was something new. It took every ounce of his runecrafting ability to create even the most basic of foundations, over which he layered the different types of energy. They did not want to cooperate, but through sheer stubbornness, he forced everything into place. And when it did, he received another notification: Beware. You have created a new passive trait that will fundamentally alter you, your skills, and your future. Proceed with caution. Zeke didn¡¯t have a choice. He could feel his energy being drained by the second, and if he didn¡¯t do something soon, he would die. And he was strangely fine with that. He¡¯d long since come to terms with what his warlike nature meant for his mortality. But alongside his own demise would come the death of Pudge. Of all the people in the tower who depended on him. Still, he took a few moments to ensure that everything was in place. He wasn¡¯t stupid, after all. Impulsive, perhaps. Reckless, certainly. But not stupid. He spent the next few minutes ¨C that he didn¡¯t really think he had ¨C making minor adjustments to the foundations he¡¯d built. Then, at last, he empowered it. Beware. You have taken the first real step toward divinity. You will no longer use Will, Mana, or Battle Intent to fuel your abilities. Instead, you will use a divine energy, the beginning of all things. Some effects may vary. Zeke didn¡¯t take the time to question the wording, but if he had, he might have wondered why the Framework, which had always been so congratulatory with every step forward he took, was suddenly warning him. In any case, the change was immediately noticeable when he went through the motions of embracing his Will. He¡¯d spent untold hours inoculating himself against the caustic effects of his Will. That was the only thing that kept him from being ripped apart by his own power. It raged through him, tearing through his metallic flesh like it was no more durable than paper. Then, it exploded out of him. He screamed ¨C maybe he¡¯d never stopped ¨C but somehow, he still heard the sound of one of the figures fall to the floor. Then, another. ¡°How?!¡± Zeke didn¡¯t listen. Instead, he finally ripped free of his ephemeral bindings and fell to his knees. A second later, something hit him in the back, but he paid it no heed. Instead, he channeled [Hand of Divinity], and once again, the power very nearly melted him where he knelt. However, because of the skill¡¯s nature, he recovered even more quickly than he was destroyed. It only took a pulse and he was back to perfect health. He opened his eyes and looked up. When he locked his gaze on one of the figures, he saw that it had become an elven woman. She screamed. Zeke stood. His very presence sent ripples through the air, and when he stepped forward, the very fabric of reality flexed. The elven woman exploded at the lightest touch, sending a mist of blood and bone to splatter against the wall. There was more screaming, and Zeke was pelted with a bunch of attacks that did nothing to harm him. He turned and, with only a single step that took less than an instant, he destroyed another elf. Then another. Over and over, he slew them. It didn¡¯t take any real effort. Just a touch, and they exploded. But Zeke wasn¡¯t unaffected. He could feel his body screaming at him to bring it under control. Only a second after he acknowledged that, he collapsed to his knees. The earth shuddered under the impact of his presence. ¡°Beware,¡± he breathed. His voice was barely a whisper, but it echoed as if spoken by a god. It was an appropriate warning, because for all his newfound power, Zeke didn¡¯t think he was going to last much longer. 589. A Reason to Stay In some ways, it was a familiar feeling, being ripped apart by his own power. Certainly, he¡¯d experienced something similar when he¡¯d managed to evolve his path. However, it was also wholly different, and in ways both subtle and profound. Destruction was, at its core, a fundamental part of the universe. Things were created, then were destroyed ¨C either slowly or quickly ¨C and there was nothing that could be done about it. But in reality, destruction wasn¡¯t true destruction. Nothing ever ceased to exist. Rather, it merely changed form. At least that was what Zeke thought before the various forms of energy were combined to form divine energy. Or perhaps that action simply unlocked it. Regardless, Zeke knew that he now had the power to truly destroy something ¨C including himself. If he truly let it loose, not only would be burned out of reality, but so would everything nearby. Even amidst the pain, he found that notion strangely enticing. He wasn¡¯t suicidal ¨C far from it ¨C but, in a lot of ways, he was tired. Exhausted, really. It sometimes felt like every step he took just led to another. Then another after that, and on and on into infinity. It was easy to call life a journey and to look at perfection ¨C or the end of that journey ¨C as a goal. But the knowledge that he might spend eternity reaching ever higher, and for no other reason than because he might improve minutely? The idea that it would never end, that he would never reach his ultimate goal ¨C it was exhausting to consider. By contrast, simply giving in to the divine energy felt so easy. Almost comforting. Maybe those thoughts came from without. Or perhaps Zeke was far more burned out than he¡¯d ever realized. It was possible that he just wasn¡¯t as committed to the ever-running treadmill of progression that he¡¯d always claimed to love. ¡°There is an end,¡± came a familiar voice. Zeke barely managed to open his eyes, and when he expended the monumental effort of lifting his head a few inches, he saw Oberon. But the dwarf was only a projection. Zeke could see that as clear as day. ¡°W-what?¡± he croaked, the sound shattering stones in his general vicinity. Fortunately, the castle¡¯s tunnels were well-supported, and the chamber didn¡¯t collapse. ¡°Don¡¯t speak. Not yet, at least. Just listen.¡± Zeke nodded minutely, the motion sending out a rippling shockwave. With some effort, he stilled his body and focused on [Hand of Divinity]. It was the only thing keeping him alive as it rebuilt his rapidly disintegrating body. If he let go for even a second, he¡¯d lose too much ground and cease to exist. ¡°There is an end to it all. You have seen it. There is an eternal battle that rages in the divine realm,¡± Oberon explained. ¡°You may be the key to ending it. You only need to hang on, to keep going until you¡¯ve ascended past this realm and into the Ethereal Realm. Once you¡¯re there, I can help you in person. ¡°You were not supposed to harness the divine in this low realm,¡± he went on. ¡°The world can¡¯t handle it. Your very presence unravels reality.¡± ¡°What¡­do¡­I¡­do?¡± Zeke managed to whisper. Even that sent more ripples out. ¡°I can contain it with a quest,¡± Oberon said. ¡°Lock it away until you accomplish something worthy of the power.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t really have a choice. If he wanted to continue to exist, then he needed to contain the power within him. And somewhat surprisingly, he did want that. Not for himself ¨C he didn¡¯t so much care about that. Rather, for all of the people depending on him. Pudge was still down there, and his torture had not ceased. Then there was Talia. Tucker. Adara. The kobolds. All the former slaves still living in his tower. He owed it to them to continue on. ¡°Do it.¡± ¡°Brace yourself.¡± Oberon surged with a power Zeke suddenly recognized as divine energy. It wrapped around him, squeezing him within tendrils of power. And to Zeke¡¯s immense surprise, it was far weaker than what he felt raging through his own body. Was that because Oberon had developed better control? Or was Zeke potentially stronger than the dwarf? It was a question without an easy answer. And Zeke didn¡¯t think he was going to get one anytime soon, because the moment those threads of divine energy settled onto him, the dwarf disappeared. When he faded from view, he was replaced with a new notification: Quest Acquired! Objective: Obtain a Titanic Body Reward: Divine Tome Note: I apologize for the simple wording. Creating a quest of this magnitude is no easy feat. Until you complete this quest, your divine energy will be contained. After you do, your Titanic Body will be capable of handling it. In the meantime, you will be incapable of using some of your skills. I trust that you will figure it all out. The pressure of the power flowing through him suddenly disappeared as the divine energy retracted into the center of his being. It was still there, though it was entirely contained by what felt like a solid cage of the more refined divine energy Zeke recognized as originating with Oberon. But more importantly, the deterioration that had beset him faded. He collapsed to his hands and knees, then vomited. What came up was not food, but rather, bits and pieces of metallic flesh and mercury-like blood that pooled beneath him. He hung his head and closed his eyes, taking one deep breath after another. Had he truly come so close to giving up? In retrospect, it didn¡¯t seem like him, but in the grips of that divine energy, he¡¯d almost convinced himself it was the best course of action. ¡°Eveline?¡± he asked inwardly. ¡°Are you there?¡± ¡°I¡­am.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Her voice was weak, and it almost sounded like she spoke from afar. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll live,¡± she said. ¡°That was profoundly stupid. Did anyone ever tell you not to try to make advancements in the middle of battle? That kind of thing never ends well.¡± Zeke answered, ¡°I¡¯ve been through something like it before.¡± ¡°And yet, you didn¡¯t learn your lesson. Why am I not surprised?¡± she wondered, her voice regaining some of its vigor. ¡°You know I almost died, right? That energy¡­I¡¯ve never felt anything like it.¡± ¡°It was¡­a lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an understatement. I didn¡¯t catch everything your god friend told you. What did he say?¡± she asked. Zeke explained what had happened, then added, ¡°I still don¡¯t know how it¡¯s going to affect me. I¡¯m still in my titanic form, so I feel like that skill wasn¡¯t affected.¡± If anything, the form still felt like it had gained some degree of power. It wasn¡¯t as reality-defying as it was before, but he knew his body well enough to recognize that he¡¯d gained quite a lot of strength. A quick look at his status gave him some hints as to what had happened:
Name Ezekiel Blackwood
Class Arcane Colossus
Level 99
Race Cambion (C)
Attunement Earth (D), Demon (C), Death (C)
Alignment Unchosen
Titles n/a
Path Arcane Destruction (B)
Strength (S+) 182
Agility (B) 41
Dexterity (C) 41
Endurance (S+) 162
Vitality (B) 40
Intelligence (S) 81
Wisdom (S+) 81
Resistances Fire Ice Water Earth Wind Nature Arcane Poison Disease
S+ D E S+ E D A B B
Just looking at it, it looked as if every facet of his development had taken a step forward. His attunements had risen a grade, and his path had jumped from C-Grade to B-Grade. On top of that, his race had evolved as well. It was an enormous breakthrough, but Zeke felt that it was only the beginning of his gains. Because he could still feel the divine energy infusing his body. It was barely more than a wisp, but that was enough to completely change everything. And that influx of power had forced each of his attributes to rise an entire tier. That wasn¡¯t as evident with Strength and Endurance, both of which were already well above S+, but he suspected they¡¯d experienced a similar degree of growth. ¡°This is unprecedented,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°People don¡¯t just increase their attribute tiers like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Zeke said. He¡¯d done a little research on it, and it was clear that he found himself in entirely new territory. Or perhaps he¡¯d just skipped ahead a little. He pushed himself upright, sitting back on his knees for a moment before finally rising to his feet and saying, ¡°I guess I need to figure out what works and what doesn¡¯t.¡± The answer was a mixed bag. [Hand of Divinity] still worked, and he sensed that [Unleash Momentum] remained available. His domains were still active as well. That was the good news. The bad news was that when he tried to activate any of his other skills, he got nothing. ¡°I think I know the problem,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What?¡± asked a frustrated Zeke. ¡°I think those other skills are too powerful,¡± she answered. ¡°This cage around your divine energy, it¡¯s not foolproof.¡± She picked at it with mental energy. ¡°I sense that if you really put your mind to it, you could unravel it. It would take you a few years, but you could manage it, I think. It will collapse under the influence of too much power. Then, you¡¯ll be back where you started.¡± It was the first hint that he¡¯d begun to catch up to Oberon. Sure, the dwarf¡¯s power was diluted by the fact that he could only send a projection down to the Eternal Realm, but the fact that Zeke could even begin to rival that much was a sign that he was on the verge of achieving real power within the context of the wider universe. Not that it helped him at that moment. Nor could he give it much more thought. Fortunately, despite how it had felt, his brief foray into divinity hadn¡¯t actually taken more than a few minutes. So, the situation hadn¡¯t appreciably changed, save for the fact that he¡¯d killed the undead he suspected had once been the founders of the castle. So, he gathered himself and continued down the connected hall. Over the next few minutes, he steadily descended, easily killing hundreds of zombies. They didn¡¯t even slow him down. The increase to his power was intoxicating. Not only was he stronger, he was also much faster and more coordinated as well. It was like he¡¯d gained a hundred attribute points in each stat. Maybe more, considering that the zombies were entirely incapable of even scratching him. But he knew it wouldn¡¯t last. Micayne was strong enough to have captured Pudge, which was no easy feat. Doubtless, he had some tricks up his sleeve, so he knew he needed to be at his best in order to defeat the hated necromancer. With that at the front of his mind, Zeke continued on, descending ever deeper until, at last, he arrived at his destination. It was a large chamber, which wasn¡¯t surprising. What did shock Zeke was the sheer amount of death-attuned mana he felt in the air. The room itself was circular and maybe fifty yards wide, with an elaborate platform at its center. Around that platform was a series troughs containing what Zeke could only describe as fluid death. It was as if the death-attuned mana had been given liquid form. Vaguely, Zeke could see that those channels formed a runic shape, but he couldn¡¯t quite wrap his mind around what it all meant. That was when he realized that his path was inaccessible to him. Mostly, at least. It was like a memory half-remembered. He could recognize the rune, but what it meant was entirely lost to him. ¡°That complicates things,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t concern himself with what he¡¯d lost. Instead, he was wholly focused on the man standing upon the platform. Or rather, on Pudge, who was suspended just above him, hanging by hooks attached to chains that glowed with mana. ¡°Mr. Blackwood,¡± said the necromancer, turning to face Zeke. ¡°So glad you could make it. I¡¯ve been looking forward to continuing our previous conversation.¡± 590. Building Blocks Zeke¡¯s fingers tightened around the haft of his hammer as he glared at the man standing upon the platform. Micayne had clearly joined his minions as one of the undead, judging by his maggoty pale skin, hollow cheeks, and stringy hair. He barely resembled the well-groomed man Zeke had met back in the Mortal Realm, though there were enough commonalities to confirm his identity. He had to rely on that, because [Inspect], like so many of his other skills, was unavailable to him. It didn¡¯t matter. Skills or not, Zeke was going to kill Micayne once and for all. However, despite the rage flowing through him, he knew he couldn¡¯t just charge in. The necromancer had become a lich, meaning that his soul wasn¡¯t housed within his body. Rather, it was contained within a phylactery in some unknown location. ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± Eveline said. ¡°We can feel it.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± Zeke asked in his own mind. At least his communication with Eveline hadn¡¯t been cut off. As skeptical of their partnership as he¡¯d once been, he now struggled to imagine a life without her in his head. ¡°Yes. Additionally, Pudge came here for a reason. He felt it too.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± With that in mind, Zeke stepped forward. The glowing green liquid in the patterned troughs sloshed with every passing second, and Zeke felt certain that there was something down there. Would it soon emerge? Or was it there just to prevent him from taking a dip? Not that he would have done so. He possessed an attunement to death, but that didn¡¯t mean he would bathe in that foul stuff. ¡°Let him go,¡± Zeke growled, the sound of his voice echoing through the circular chamber. ¡°Why would I do that?¡± Micayne asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion. ¡°He is almost finished. You should be excited. This beast was inferior. Vulnerable. Just like that troublesome girl you freed so long ago. At the time, I had no idea why everything worked. The alchemist claimed it was due to his efforts, and he was right. Without him, it never would have been possible in that low realm. But there was far more to it. A nascent attunement to death. She was fated to become a revenant. ¡°So is this one. It is weak, but I can feel the death within him. He will be like young Talia. A sapient undead. I have had some other successes on this realm, but none so powerful as she turned out. I wonder ¨C did you bring her with you? If you did, I will gladly exchange one for the other.¡± ¡°She would never submit to you.¡± ¡°Submission is not a requirement,¡± Micayne explained. ¡°In fact, I have seen some evidence that a bit of fight is healthy. It makes them stronger.¡± ¡°The answer is no.¡± ¡°Do not be hasty. You are powerful. You must be, to have gotten through the Kings of Queens, with that insidious ritual room. I nearly fell victim myself,¡± Micayne explained, gesturing like he was giving a sales pitch. Perhaps he was. ¡°Did you know that they were here before I arrived? They weren¡¯t necromancers, but they were naturally occurring undead. Of course, any undead trying to resist a necromancer ¨C even a weak one ¨C will be fighting from a distinct disadvantage. We discovered that in El¡¯kireth, did we not?¡± ¡°What you did to those people was abhorrent,¡± Zeke said, taking another step. ¡°You know he¡¯s stalling, right?¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°I do.¡± The problem was that Zeke didn¡¯t know what to do. If he used his lone available attack skill, he stood a chance of killing Pudge as well. He was close enough to his brother to see that he¡¯d been vastly weakened, and he was hovering only a little above death. If he was going to kill Micayne, he needed to be certain of two things. First, that he¡¯d finish the job. Second, that Pudge wouldn¡¯t become collateral damage. The former dictated that he needed to find the phylactery first. Otherwise, his efforts would be for naught. But the latter was complicated by the time constraints. If he failed to act, Pudge would die. It was a situation Zeke couldn¡¯t overcome by swinging his hammer harder, and he didn¡¯t like being thrown off his game. ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡± demanded Micayne. ¡°Of course. You were giving your maniacal villain monologue. Keep going.¡± ¡°I¡­I was not¡­¡± Zeke was finally close enough to act. He leaped, using every point of strength, agility, and dexterity at his disposal to throw himself forward with unmatched velocity. And given his recent gains, he covered the ground in less than an instant. Micayne was faster. Not physically, of course. His stat allocation clearly didn¡¯t favor the physical attributes. But from a mental standpoint, he could keep up with anything Zeke did. To that end, he used a skill. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Suddenly, Zeke felt himself plummeting to the ground. His forward momentum ceased entirely, and he slammed into the floor with enough force to shatter the stone tiles. But he wasn¡¯t concerned with that. Rather, he was far more worried about the feeling of something boring into his body. It felt like an infestation of maggots had decided to make a meal of him. ¡°What¡­is¡­happening?¡± ¡°A skill. Dependent on the density of death attuned mana,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It¡¯s¡­I don¡¯t know how to break it! If you still had access to your Will¡­¡± She didn¡¯t need to finish the thought. In the past, Zeke rarely had had to worry about foreign mana invading his body. With a flick of his Will, he could eradicate anything of the sort. But now? With his power caged by Oberon¡¯s divine energy, he had no access to that power. But he wasn¡¯t defenseless. After all, he¡¯d been building his endurance ever since ascension, and he¡¯d just gotten a significant boost to that attribute. Sure, it wasn¡¯t displayed on his status, but that was because he¡¯d already been far above the standard of measurement it used. He was multiple tiers above what the Framework deemed S+, and as such, he likely possessed the highest endurance ¨C and strength, come to that ¨C of anyone who¡¯d ever existed in the Eternal Realm. ¡°Maybe don¡¯t go quite that far,¡± Eveline said. Despite the situation, she wasn¡¯t concerned. Zeke took his cue from her, delving deep into his concept of his own body. It wasn¡¯t difficult; he¡¯d spent so much time meditating and working on runes that he¡¯d long since developed the ability to perceive his body on a level far beyond the physical. In his mind¡¯s eye, he could see individual cells. He went deeper. Past the atoms. Electrons. Neutrons. And then, finally, he arrived at the true building blocks of the world. In the past, he didn¡¯t know what to call what he observed. They weren¡¯t blocks, per se. They didn¡¯t resemble cells. Rather, they were like strings of energy governed by the Framework. But now he recognized it as divine energy. It was slightly different than what he felt in his core. More constrained, but no less powerful for it. Whatever the case, even if he¡¯d observed it before, he¡¯d never been able to manipulate it. He still couldn¡¯t. Not really. But he could nudge it. And it was a powerful enough energy that a simple nudge could move mountains. Or, in this case, purge him of the foreign mana burrowing into him. Zeke opened his eyes, and an explosion of death-attuned mana followed. It burst free of his pores, then dissipated into the air. Micayne staggered backward as Zeke rose to his feet. ¡°What ¨C¡± Zeke took a step forward as the death-attuned mana came alive and attempted to burrow into him. He flexed his mind, closing the gaps and took another step. While keeping himself safe from the assault of mana, he couldn¡¯t move quickly. It was like trying to walk while keeping his entire body clenched. However, he managed it all the same, taking one step after another as Micayne attempted to stop him. In the end, those attempts were all useless. Micayne staggered backward as Zeke climbed onto the platform, but he couldn¡¯t move quickly enough to escape a thrusting hand that latched around his slim shoulders. Zeke squeezed, and he was rewarded by the sound of cracking bones. He cut himself off before he killed the lich, though. He needed him alive for what would come next. ¡°I need your help,¡± Zeke said inwardly. ¡°Already on it,¡± Eveline responded, and Zeke could feel her scanning the entire chamber. As she did, he focused on what had just happened. It wasn¡¯t like it was a surprise. For all his power, Micayne wasn¡¯t a fighter. He relied on swarms of minions to do his battles, and once those were gone ¨C and his mastery over death-attuned mana neutralized ¨C he was incapable of keeping up with someone like Zeke. It was why Zeke had always felt so secure in his place in the world. Sure, people like Sasha or Micayne could potentially wield world-ending power. But if someone managed to survive that onslaught, those powerful mages would have no defense against reprisal. Only slightly better were people like Pudge and Talia, both of whom relied on avoiding damage. Pudge did so via stealth, while Talia focused on pure speed. Both were effective enough, but if someone countered those characteristics, they were vulnerable. But Zeke? His focus on strength and endurance meant that he could take almost any hit an enemy could throw his way. ¡°You¡¯re being reductive. It¡¯s not a fair comparison. You¡¯ve had plenty of situations where your endurance and strength would have failed if it wasn¡¯t for your other abilities,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Focus on the task at hand. Pudge isn¡¯t going to last much longer.¡± Indeed, when Zeke looked up at the bearkin, he saw that Pudge was fading fast. And Micayne wouldn¡¯t stop the process unless he truly died. Zeke knew the man well enough to recognize his commitment. He wouldn¡¯t stop until he was dead or had achieved his goal. Thankfully, Eveline soon found a line of mana that connected the lich to a hidden cavity behind the right-most wall. So, Zeke pushed forward, moving slowly but surely as Micayne continued to assail him with foreign mana. There were other spells wrapped in there, but Zeke had no issues resisting them. Finally, he reached the wall and battered it down, revealing a floating crystal in the shape of a teardrop. Green energy swirled inside. ¡°What¡¯s the plan here?¡± he asked. ¡°Destroy the phylactery, then the man?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the accepted order.¡± Zeke reached out with his other hand, wrapped his fingers around the crystal, and squeezed. It resisted for a few long seconds, hinting at how durable the thing was. But it couldn¡¯t stand up to Zeke¡¯s strength, and soon enough, it shattered. An explosion of energy battered Zeke, but he bore it well enough. Micayne screamed as his dead skin was ripped from his body. But miraculously, he lived through it. ¡°W-what¡­what have you done¡­¡± Zeke would have preferred if he¡¯d had some witty response on hand. Like a bad eighties action move. But he just wasn¡¯t that kind of guy. So, his answer was more physical in nature. He squeezed, and Micayne¡¯s already cracked bones shattered further. His ribcage came next. Then, his organs burst. That¡¯s when Zeke threw him on the ground and stomped him into a mass of necrotic flesh. He didn¡¯t stop until he felt a wave of kill energy wash over him. He sighed, letting himself relax. ¡°Uh¡­Zeke¡­¡± It was at that moment that he realized that Pudge was falling. He leaped forward, catching his brother before he hit the ground. However, he couldn¡¯t verify more than that Pudge was alive before he felt the earth tremble. The green liquid sloshed violently before a tentacle burst free. The thing wasn¡¯t alive. Zeke could tell that much from the rotting flesh scraping free of its exposed bones. But that didn¡¯t seem to matter, because he could also feel the thing¡¯s power, which rivaled that of the dragon he¡¯d encountered. And it was coming right for him. 591. The Unliving Hydra It wasn¡¯t until Zeke saw the comparatively small head ¨C like that of a snake ¨C at the end of the tendril that he realized he wasn¡¯t dealing with some sort of undead tentacle monster. Instead, he faced a many-headed creature, not unlike a hydra out of Greek mythology. Except that it was clearly undead. The thing struck him in the chest, knocking him backward. However, the power disparity wasn¡¯t nearly as broad as he¡¯d expected. In the past, if something had him that hard, he would have been crushed. Certainly, he likely would have survived by virtue of [Hand of Divinity], but he definitely would not have done so without that skill patching him up. Now, though, he didn¡¯t even need that. Instead, he took the attack with minimal damage, which seemed to surprise the hydra. It pulled back, clearly confused as to why Zeke hadn¡¯t been obliterated. He took that opportunity to leap towards it, wrap his arms around its thick, tree trunk neck, and start squeezing. Its rotting flesh proved no real deterrent to his strength, and it was only a second or two before he found bone. Gripping the vertebrae, he wrenched them apart, decapitating the monster. But as Zeke fell to the ground, he saw a dozen other heads coming his way. More distressingly, the one he¡¯d just decapitated was already regenerating. The flesh didn¡¯t look like it was going to come back, but the bone was growing at a noticeable rate. In Greek mythology, the hydra was killed by severing its heads and burning the stumps. However, Zeke didn¡¯t exactly have a bunch of fire at his disposal. If he¡¯d had [Eye of Reckoning] or [Hell Geyser] available, things would have been very different. But without them? He needed a different sort of strategy ¨C and he needed it quickly, or he was going to end up getting ripped to pieces by the hydra¡¯s many heads. He caught the first to hit him, wrapping his arms around its serpentine head. He skidded backward a few feet, but he managed to arrest his momentum just before he tipped over the edge and into the roiling green liquid. Then, with a heave, he yanked the giant, tentacle-like neck, pivoting on one heel and twisting his hips. To Zeke¡¯s surprise, the thing didn¡¯t just rip free. Instead, as he harnessed every ounce of strength he possessed, he pulled the entire monstrosity from the troughs cutting through the floor. The physics of it didn¡¯t make sense. Zeke knew that even as he continued to twist, swinging the creature around like he was an Olympic hammer thrower. Its many heads went wild, hissing and roaring in confusion and anger, until Zeke slammed it into the nearest wall. The entire chamber shook as if it had been hit with a significant earthquake. But even as dust and debris rained down from the domed ceiling, Zeke knew his efforts wouldn¡¯t be enough. The hydra was barely even hurt ¨C its bulbous body was thick with blubber like a walrus, which cushioned it from the blow. It was incredibly angry, though. ¡°It doesn¡¯t like you very much,¡± Eveline remarked as Zeke shifted his feet. ¡°You probably shouldn¡¯t have messed with it.¡± ¡°What the hell even is this thing?¡± ¡°You ask as if I know. No [Inspect], remember? But it looks like a nydarian hydra. Undead, of course. They¡¯re incredibly dangerous when fully grown. Which this one is. Good luck.¡± That was all Eveline got out before the monster threw itself ¨C and all of its heads ¨C at Zeke. He whirled, summoning his hammer to hand as he met their charge with his own attacks. The first head to reach him exploded at the end of his countering blow, and even as that neck went limp, whipping backwards from the momentum of the attack, Zeke spun to hit the next in line. He used every point of agility and dexterity at his disposal, and his hammer became a blur. It was easy to get wrapped up in the effect of his increased strength and endurance, but the tier-up in agility and dexterity was almost as impactful. What was once a relative weakness had become another strength, and he used that increased speed and control to maximize the effect of his defense. Soon enough, the hydra was entirely de-headed, though the very first had already regenerated. There was no flesh to be seen ¨C instead, it was just a bleached white skull at the end of a meaty trunk. ¡°Disturbing,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke could not disagree. But as off-putting as that sight was, he was more concerned with the other issue before him. ¡°There weren¡¯t so many necks before, were there?¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°Definitely not. Seems as if you¡¯re getting the true hydra treatment. Sever a head, and two shall sprout in its place,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem very fair.¡± Fair or not, the situation was what it was, and Zeke needed to figure out a new plan. Or he¡¯d end up overwhelmed. He could keep fighting for a long time, but his stamina was not infinite. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Suddenly, he felt something shift behind him, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Pudge had pushed himself to his feet. The bearkin was disheveled and disoriented, but he was alive and mostly unhurt ¨C so long as the psychological damage of being tortured wasn¡¯t taken into account. But as concerned as Zeke was with his brother¡¯s well-being, there were other, more immediate issues to confront. And more importantly, Pudge represented the perfect counter to the problem at hand. ¡°Pudge! Burn the stumps when I destroy the heads!¡± The former dire bear grunted, and mana swirled around his hands. A second later, they burst into red-and-black flames the burned with heat and corruption. At that moment, Zeke met another barrage of hydra heads. He once again whirled his hammer, smashing the darting heads aside with as much viciousness as he could manage. There was definitely something to be said for being able to move so quickly, but without his strength, it would have been largely useless. The combination was devastating, and Zeke battered the hydra¡¯s many heads until they, too, exploded from the sheer force of his blows. Dutifully, Pudge stepped in on wobbly feet and bathed the stumps in hellfire. It burned hotter than ever before, charring the dead flesh and bone to a crisp. One by one, they fell, limp and unmoving, until, at last, the creature collapsed. But it wasn¡¯t dead. The bulbous body continued to writhe like an overfilled maggot. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to do this,¡± Zeke muttered, eyeing the thing¡¯s bulging stomach. He could see something writhing beneath. ¡°Do you think we could just burn it from the outside?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But it¡¯ll be easier from the inside.¡± Zeke had been afraid of that. But at the end of the day, he didn¡¯t have any other options. So, he told Pudge what he planned, then took a deep breath before ramming his hammer into the hydra¡¯s body. The thing was the size of a Greyhound bus, and it was just as durable as that implied. Zeke¡¯s hammer rebounded from the monster¡¯s rubbery hide, but the resulting frustration only served to spur him ahead. And the second attack managed to open a crack in its slick and rotting flesh. Zeke seized upon that opening, aiming his next five attacks at it. Each one further widened the gash until it gaped like an open wound. ¡°Roast it,¡± he commanded. Pudge staggered forward, raised his hands, and sent a pillar of hellfire deep within the decaying monster¡¯s torso. At first, nothing happened, but after only a few seconds, a thousand tiny tendrils burst free ¨C clearly they were nascent versions of the heads ¨C ready to bite and tear their attacker to pieces. Fortunately, Zeke was there to fend them off. He shouted, ¡°Keep going!¡± Pudge didn¡¯t need any further encouragement, and he redoubled his efforts, roasting the thing¡¯s insides. Meanwhile, Zeke had abandoned his hammer in favor of his own two hands, which he used to grab and twist the heads free before crushing them underfoot. But there always seemed to be more. Hundreds of the things kept coming, and each one was more than capable of taking a chunk out of his metallic flesh. Many did just that, sending his silvery blood to join the slurry of pulverized necrotic flesh at his feet. Pudge maintained his hellfire, pouring more and more into the opening. It was so hot that even Zeke felt uncomfortable being so close to the raging inferno. But if it was capable of stinging even him, then it was more than enough to turn the hydra to ash. It just took a while. At first, the thing just bubbled and spat steam, but soon enough, all the moisture was gone. Then, the flesh turned to an unidentifiable goo, which in turn, became ash. Only then did Zeke feel the influx of kill energy that announced the creature¡¯s true death. And to his surprise, it pushed him to level one hundred, a feat that was accompanied by a Framework notification: Congratulations! You have reached the peak of power for this realm. In order to ascend to the next realm, find and climb the Steps to Heaven. Until then, you may not advance your levels. It was odd that the notification didn¡¯t include the alternate route that Zeke intended to take. Then again, going to hell and descending to the next circle wasn¡¯t something most people could accomplish. Even those who¡¯d reached the peak would be adversely affected by the corrupted atmosphere. Zeke wasn¡¯t as concerned about that than he was with his brother¡¯s well-being. So, he laid his hand on Pudge¡¯s shoulder and, as he channeled [Hand of Divinity], asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zeke asked, alarmed. ¡°Everything. That¡­that was bad. Really bad. I¡­I don¡¯t¡­I don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± Pudge answered. Only then did Zeke recognize that Pudge¡¯s problem wasn¡¯t physical. Rather, he was dealing with the psychological aftermath of enduring so much torture. Zeke had experienced something similar, and though he¡¯d not let it adversely affect him ¨C at least not where other people could see ¨C he knew just how difficult it was to overcome such trauma. ¡°I¡¯m here for you,¡± Zeke said, giving Pudge¡¯s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. ¡°Just tell me what you need, and I¡¯ll do whatever I can. If it¡¯s just that you want to talk, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just¡­I¡¯m here for you.¡± Pudge only nodded as he cast his gaze toward the floor. After a few moments, he said, ¡°We should leave.¡± That statement was punctuated by a rumble from up above. The implications were clear. Whether it was due to the battle against the hydra or because of some other factor, the subterranean complex beneath the castle was clearly on the verge of collapse. ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that. You need help?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure about that. Pudge looked like he was on the verge of collapse. But he knew that it wasn¡¯t the time to point that out. So, Zeke led the way from the chamber and out into the corridor through which he¡¯d entered. It was just in time, too, because the ceiling collapsed only a few seconds later. ¡°You should probably hurry,¡± Eveline pointed out. It was good advice, and Zeke embraced it as he ran through the corridor. Pudge followed, moving a little more quickly than Zeke could have expected. The bearkin wasn¡¯t injured, but he was clearly so exhausted that it had become a labor to put one foot in front of the next. He kept up, though, which was all that really mattered at the moment. More rapidly than Zeke thought possible, they raced through the progressively collapsing tunnels, and eventually, they emerged into the courtyard where the army had fought a battle against a horde of zombies. They¡¯d acquitted themselves well, if the piles of decaying flesh was anything to go by. But the real measure of success was how many casualties it had cost them to accomplish that feat. There was a rush of wind, and then, suddenly, Talia was standing before him. ¡°Is it done? Is he dead?¡± ¡°Entirely. I got kill energy for it,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Good. I only wish that I could have struck the killing blow,¡± Talia stated. Truthfully, Zeke wished he could have given her that opportunity. However, that just wasn¡¯t possible. It would have been far too dangerous. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Back to the tower to regroup. Then, we¡¯re finishing this war with the Radiant Host.¡± 592. The Peak Zeke knelt in the center of his meditation chamber, unsure how he was supposed to feel. After finally reaching the peak of the realm, he felt a little lost. Adding to that was the latest notification he¡¯d received: Due to outside forces, level one hundred skill choice has been suspended. Break your chains to unlock your options. He¡¯d fully expected that the cage erected by Oberon around his divine power would restrict him from using any new skills. However, he hadn¡¯t anticipated that the very choice would be suspended until he sundered that cage. Moreover, he knew he could probably break it if he truly lent the task his full power. Yet, he also knew that doing so would put him back in the same situation that had necessitated his patron¡¯s interference. In short, despite reaching the peak, he was no better off than he¡¯d been at level ninety-nine, save for a few stat points. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate those,¡± Eveline advised, breaking his meditation. ¡°Each point counts for more than ¨C¡± ¡°I know, Eveline. I know.¡± ¡°Then why are you ¨C¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m frustrated!¡± he growled. ¡°Do you know what it feels like to strive toward a specific goal, and then when you reach it, you¡¯re told you need to keep going for another mile? Or two? It¡¯s beyond frustrating.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± He sensed that she didn¡¯t. As much as Eveline had experienced ¨C and she was a wealth of information ¨C she couldn¡¯t truly understand how he felt. For years now, he¡¯d been working towards reaching the peak. Certainly, he¡¯d known for a while that his time in the Eternal Realm wasn¡¯t going to end when he passed the threshold and into level one hundred, but he had expected some reward. The Framework had trained him well when it came to that expectation. In a way, he felt like a dog who¡¯d been trained to anticipate a treat every time he did a trick. And now, when he¡¯d done just that, he found no treat. It left him angry and annoyed in spite of knowing the reason behind the lack. In the end, it was almost comforting in the confirmation of his humanity. He wasn¡¯t a human ¨C not for a long time ¨C but he maintained the foibles of his species. But just because it reaffirmed his humanity, and at a time when that characteristic seemed thin on the ground, didn¡¯t mean that he found it any easier to endure. Regardless, Zeke knew it did no good to dwell on it. He just needed a little peace and quiet to wrap his mind around his emotions and get them under control. So, he tuned Eveline out and focused on inner peace. In the past, he might have used that time to work on runecrafting, but with his Will trapped behind Oberon¡¯s cage, that was impossible. So, for the first time in a long, long while, he just let his mind go blank. And he hated it. With every passing second, his thoughts headed in one of two directions. Either he found himself contemplating the future ¨C the still ongoing war against the Imperium, his active quest to upgrade the tower with the Hall of Affinities, and the task to find his way back to Hell so he could descend to the next circle ¨C or he focused on the past and his many mistakes. It was not pleasant. So, only an hour or so later, he pushed himself to his feet and left the meditation chamber. The manor was much the same as always, so after spending another few hours trying to rekindle his interest in baking pies ¨C and finding that he still lacked the patience to make it work ¨C he headed to the Pillar. Along the way, he saw Pudge and Sasha sharing a picnic, but other than that, his way was unremarkable. Eventually, after descending to the Residential District, he reached his destination, though he couldn¡¯t fail to notice the looks of awe thrown towards him along the way. It wasn¡¯t just the kobolds, either. They¡¯d always looked at him with reverence bordering on worship. What was surprising was how the others ¨C beastkin, elves, and even humans ¨C looked at him. Back on Earth, he¡¯d often fantasized about being idolized by adoring fans. It certainly wasn¡¯t the reason he¡¯d worked so hard in his pursuit of baseball excellence, but it was definitely something he¡¯d thought about. To hear tens of thousands of people cheering for him definitely held significant appeal. However, to feel that adoration first-hand was distinctly uncomfortable. ¡°You should get used to it. You know that, right?¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°What do you mean? They¡¯ll acclimate to my presence.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not ignoring me anymore, I see. You know how hurtful that can be?¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just dealing with some stuff.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m trying to help. You would do well to remember that,¡± she advised. ¡°So, you want to be my therapist, now?¡± he asked. ¡°Not at all, but I¡¯ll play the role I¡¯m assigned by your need,¡± she stated. ¡°But I¡¯d rather just be a friend. You need that, I think.¡± ¡°I have plenty of friends.¡± ¡°Most of which you rarely even speak to. You isolate yourself because you know you¡¯re different,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s not conscious. You probably don¡¯t think about it at all. But it¡¯s there, all the same.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s a mistake, I take it,¡± he said. However, while he wanted to, he couldn¡¯t really argue with that assessment. More often than not, he preferred to be alone. The others clearly cared about him, but he¡¯d slowly drifted away from his closest companions. He rarely even spoke to Pudge, much less any of the others. Perhaps that was a character flaw, but it was possible that Eveline was right.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Not really. Maybe. I don¡¯t know,¡± she admitted. ¡°My point is that nobody can go through life by themselves. It¡¯s too much weight to carry on your own.¡± ¡°Maybe I should just open up more. Spend time with my friends,¡± he said inwardly as he climbed the Pillar. ¡°It probably won¡¯t work,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯ve known some people who¡¯ve reached the peak. They¡­drift away from everyone else. Slowly but surely, they isolate. It¡¯s probably worse for you because of your power.¡± ¡°Not you, though, right? You were at the peak.¡± ¡°I¡¯m different.¡± ¡°Better, you mean?¡± ¡°No. I was always isolated, Ezekiel. I had people around me, just like you. But most of them were there because they wanted something from me. That¡¯s normal in Hell. Alliances aren¡¯t uncommon. Demons are no strangers to loyalty, as odd as that might sound. However, that¡¯s usually based on the hierarchy of power. The moment someone slips ¨C even a little ¨C those once-loyal subjects pounce,¡± Eveline said. ¡°The only thing keeping them in check is the notion of consequence.¡± ¡°You mean biting off more than they can chew?¡± Zeke wondered. ¡°I mean that while they¡¯re gorging themselves on the bodies of their former masters ¨C metaphorically, of course ¨C there¡¯s always someone else waiting to pounce,¡± she explained. ¡°Often, the only thing keeping the enemy at bay are alliances based on mutual enemies.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°My point, Ezekiel, is that what you¡¯re feeling right now is not going to end. It¡¯s going to get worse and worse until you descend,¡± she stated. ¡°After that¡­I¡¯m not certain what will happen. The Ethereal Realm is one of gods, and I know very little of what you should expect.¡± Neither did Zeke. When he thought of the next realm, he had difficulty imagining what it might entail. Were there people who¡¯d been born in that realm? Or were they all ascendants? Logic said that it was the former, but Zeke had discovered that sometimes, logic wasn¡¯t really in control of reality. So, making predictions was probably a good way to end up disappointed. Finally, he reached his ultimate destination, and he found Silik, Kianma, and, of all people, Tucker huddled around a table. ¡°Ak-toh,¡± Silik and Kianma said, rising. Tucker maintained his seat, with his feat propped on the table as he leaned back in his chair. He did tip his hat, though. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on with the war,¡± he ordered. Then, he added, ¡°And hello, I guess.¡± After that, Silik and Kianma explained that when he¡¯d pulled the armies back, they¡¯d been on the verge of entering the Imperium heartlands, which contained the region associated with the original kingdom from which it had spawned. ¡°What was it called?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t remember, honestly,¡± Tucker said. ¡°I heard it a time or two, but it doesn¡¯t really matter, does it? It won¡¯t be there once we¡¯re done with it.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Silik agreed. ¡°How much further will we have to go before we conquer the whole Imperium?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°There are ten major cities, nearly twenty smaller towns, and dozens of hamlets we¡¯ll need to take before we get to the capitol. Once it falls, the war will be over. All except the clean-up. There might be a few hold-outs, but for the most part, they¡¯ll be done,¡± Tucker stated. ¡°How much distance is that?¡± ¡°About fifteen hundred miles,¡± Tucker answered. Zeke shook his head. The world truly was enormous. But then again, it probably needed to be. ¡°Are there any significant speed bumps along the way?¡± he asked. The two kobolds looked at each other in confusion, which reminded Zeke that the concept of speed bumps probably wasn¡¯t universal. ¡°All ten of the major cities house at least a million people,¡± Tucker said. ¡°They are significant population centers, and they¡¯re probably going to be defended as such.¡± Zeke sighed. He knew it wasn¡¯t time to engage in strategy discussions. By his count, it was in the middle of the night for the tower¡¯s odd thirty-six hour cycle, which was based on the one the kobolds had used underground. Which begged the question of why the three of them had been meeting. When he asked, Tucker explained, ¡°I need test subjects. I think I¡¯m on the right track in helping the kobolds overcome some of their deficiencies, but I can¡¯t know for sure until we engage in testing. The good thing is that they reproduce so quickly that once I figure it out, we¡¯ll see results very, very quickly. A few years at most. Maybe a couple of decades to wipe out all traces of generational handicaps.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Zeke said. It sounded like a long time, but on the scale of the Eternal Realm, where people tended to live much longer than they would have on Earth, it was practically the blink of an eye. ¡°What exactly are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Oh. Nothing much,¡± Tucker said smugly. ¡°Just rewriting their genetic code. No big deal.¡± ¡°Rewriting their ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯m kidding, of course. But not really. It¡¯s complicated. If you think about our attunements ¨C especially when it concerns monsters ¨C it comes down to, for lack of a better term, genetics. It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s deeper than DNA. It¡¯s magic. But to avoid giving you a seven hour lecture that you won¡¯t even understand, let¡¯s call it magical DNA. So, in sapient races like humans, you¡¯re genetically predisposed toward one thing or another. You can overcome that with practice and constant exposure,¡± he explained. ¡°But for monsters, it''s hardcoded into their very being. So, to overcome that, we have to rewire some things through absolute saturation. For instance, if we want to give a human being a shadow attunement, we just need to find an appropriate natural treasure and expose that person to it until they slowly build up an attunement. How long that takes depends on the person, but theoretically, it¡¯s always possible. Even if it takes a thousand years. But if we tried the same thing with a monster, it wouldn¡¯t matter how long we tried. It would never work because that energy can¡¯t get past their¡­ah¡­monsterhood. ¡°To get past that, we have alchemy. I don¡¯t think I need to tell you that potions aren¡¯t just chemical mixtures, right? There¡¯s magic in there that force the body ¨C or mind ¨C to absorb certain things, which prompts a reaction. So, if we administer the right potions to a monster, we can force changes in their magical DNA because those potions get past the barriers that raw natural treasures would fail to overcome,¡± Tucker explained. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that work with people, too?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Not that the kobolds aren¡¯t people¡­¡± ¡°Right. But if you were to try this with a human being, you¡¯d melt them. Not an exaggeration, either. You would literally melt them. Any potion powerful enough to change a person¡¯s attunement would absolutely overwhelm their natural defenses and kill them,¡± Tucker explained. ¡°Chalk it up to natural differences.¡± ¡°And this is what you¡¯re doing with the kobolds?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Not exactly. I haven¡¯t quite figured it out. The best I can do right now ¨C and this is what I did with the Kirrans ¨C is to make their natural attunements more malleable. It brings them closer to what you¡¯d expect with a human, which lets their young develop different attunements. For them, it meant that they could branch out into more classes, which I think will be similar with the kobolds. I wouldn¡¯t say this around Athis ¨C because he¡¯d probably rip my arms off if I did ¨C but kirrans and kobolds almost assuredly share ancestry. They¡¯re both monsters, at their core. Smart monsters who¡¯ve achieved sapience, but monsters nonetheless. I intend to change that.¡± Zeke asked, ¡°Will it weaken them?¡± Tucker answered, ¡°Probably. At least collectively. But it also gives them freedom to be what they want to be. And I think that¡¯s way more important than easy power. Don¡¯t you?¡± Zeke nodded, but he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if that wasn¡¯t why the kobolds had proved to be such an effective fighting force. And if they changed, would that weaken his position as well? It was food for thought. 593. Menace ¡°They are animals!¡± shouted Ignatius, sweeping the map and the paper weights from the table. ¡°Do you have any concept how it makes us look that we can¡¯t deal with a horde of savages? The rest of the world is laughing at us! Worse, they¡¯ve lost all respect for our power and are waiting to invade! If those beasts can do it, then so can they!¡± ¡°Yes, High Commander,¡± said the general, his head bowed. The man had been at the peak for a century, and he could still be cowed by a little shouting. It was pitiful. ¡°What would you have us do?¡± Ignatius took a deep breath, and when he spoke, his voice was much calmer. ¡°My orders have not changed. Abandon the indefensible positions, congregate in the larger cities, and turn back the tide,¡± he commanded. ¡°Go. Now.¡± The general saluted, then turned on his heel and marched away. Once he was gone, Ignatius turned to his Inquisitor and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Abigail blinked as if she hadn¡¯t expected the question. For months now she had been distracted, as if she had lost faith in their mandate. Perhaps she was looking forward to the day when she could ascend. Doubtless, with the Sun Goddess¡¯ favor, she would make it to the Ethereal Realm without issue. So could Ignatius, but he had too much work to do. Such was his mandate. He could not ascend to his proper place in the universe ¨C not so long as the Eternal Realm remained so chaotic. It was his charge to bring the savages to heel, to establish Shar Maelaine¡¯s rule across the entire world. And he¡¯d made good progress, subduing all of their neighbors and combining them into the Imperium. That was, until they¡¯d made the mistake of picking a fight with the savages that had destroyed Adontis. It was as if the gods were laughing at him as his forces experienced one loss after another. The vast majority of the enemy were monsters, and yet, they fought with discipline and precision characteristic of a well-established army. It was galling to think that his people ¨C the proud of Knights of the Radiant Host ¨C could be defeated by such creatures. But they had been, and repeatedly. Ignatius told himself that it was all according to his goddess¡¯ plan. She only tested him to ensure that his ¨C and the entire Imperium¡¯s ¨C faith remained strong. He hadn¡¯t wavered, but he knew that some of his people had. And if he was honest, he couldn¡¯t blame them. In the back of his mind, he harbored plenty of doubts about the future of the Imperium. He hated that they existed, that he wasn¡¯t strong enough to resist, but they were there all the same. Taunting him. Needling him. Subverting his faith. He shoved them away, focusing on what really mattered. Certainly, times were difficult. He knew that. But that was the point. It wouldn¡¯t be a test if it was easy. The struggle was the entire point. Shar Maelaine would not have put so many obstacles in his way if she didn¡¯t believe he could overcome them. And he refused to disappoint his goddess. But he didn¡¯t know if Abigail had such fortuitous faith. Certainly, when she looked up, he saw doubts etched into her expression. She answered, ¡°He will lose.¡± ¡°Elaborate,¡± Ignatius ordered. He didn¡¯t dare let any of his own thoughts affect his expression. His control would not waver. ¡°Our forces are too spread out,¡± she said, locking her eyes on Ignatius. ¡°Zeke is not your typical enemy. Even if he was alone, he would be capable of destroying our armies.¡± ¡°That is right. You have a history with this tamer of monsters,¡± Ignatius mused. He wasn¡¯t certain as to the exact nature of her past with the man ¨C if man he truly was ¨C but Ignatius knew suspected she had once known him quite well. Perhaps they¡¯d even been intimate, the thought of which twisted his insides into knots. The notion of Abigail lying with such a creature was abhorrent. ¡°Do you truly believe he is so powerful?¡± ¡°When I knew him, he was the most powerful man in the entire realm,¡± she said. ¡°And he¡¯s grown exponentially stronger since ascension. Within the Radiant Host, I am special. I can say that without false modesty, and I know you would not argue with the claim.¡± ¡°That is true.¡± ¡°I am a gnat to him,¡± she stated. ¡°I am not proud of it, but that is the reason we parted ways. I could never hope to keep pace. And powerful and unique people flock to him.¡± ¡°Like the undead creature you fought.¡± Abigail nodded. ¡°Talia. She was an innocent girl, once, but no more. You call his army monsters, and that may be true. However, Talia epitomizes that label more than any other. I watched her eat her own mother¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°Disgusting.¡± ¡°Her mother was insane, and the woman attempted to sacrifice Talia in order to resurrect her slain husband,¡± Abigail said. ¡°She had it coming. My point is that these people are not to be underestimated. If you find yourself face-to-face with Zeke ¨C or Talia, come to that ¨C you had better throw everything you have at them. No hesitation. No measured responses. Otherwise, you will die.¡± ¡°I¡­see.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± she stated unequivocally. ¡°But you will. If you want to stop him, you need to make sacrifices. Abandon your cities and bring all of your forces here. Together, you might have a chance.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Adontis attempted something like that,¡± Ignatius said. ¡°I think we know how that turned out.¡± ¡°Adontis was our vassal for a reason. They were weak and lacked true leadership,¡± Abigail stated. ¡°We are one of ¨C if not the ¨C most powerful force in the world. If we can¡¯t stop him, then no one can.¡± Ignatius frowned. He didn¡¯t like pinning his entire strategy on a single battle, but he didn¡¯t see much in the way of choice. Previous battles had told him that, for all of the Imperium¡¯s might, they couldn¡¯t stand against the monsters. Not in a conventional war, at least, and his people were not suited to asymmetrical warfare. For better or worse, the Knights of the Radiant Host was a straightforward sort of force. But there was another option. ¡°What about diplomacy? Will they treat with us?¡± he asked. Abigail shrugged. ¡°Probably. He was never particularly bloodthirsty,¡± she answered with a faraway look. ¡°He even tried to negotiate with the biggest villain in the Mortal Realm. However, from everything we¡¯ve seen, he takes particular affront to the practice of slavery. Likely, any truce would involve freeing them.¡± ¡°That is not going to happen,¡± Ignatius stated. He didn¡¯t hold the same views as many within the Imperium. As such, he didn¡¯t believe beastkin and other races were inherently inferior to humanity. However, he did believe they lacked the culture to embrace excellence. Not that it mattered. Without slaves, the Imperium would collapse. Economically, they were necessary. And if they were freed? Not only would those same slaves threaten public safety ¨C after all, they likely wouldn¡¯t forget how they¡¯d been treated ¨C but they would become a lightning rod for Ignatius¡¯ political enemies. His hold on the empire was new and tenuous, and he couldn¡¯t afford to show any weaknesses. ¡°Then there won¡¯t be any diplomacy,¡± Abigail stated. He shook his head. ¡°Regardless, we need to try,¡± he said. ¡°If for no other reason than to get a good look at him.¡± He still wasn¡¯t certain how a human could harness the bestial savagery of a horde of monsters, and Ignatius wanted to see for himself what sort of man could accomplish that feat. And perhaps harness it for himself. After all, Ignatius was no idiot, and the ease with which the horde of monsters had defeated Adontis had opened his eyes to a host of possibilities. What if he had such a force on his side? Of course, they would need to be muzzled ¨C their leader included ¨C but if they were proper directed, there was no limit to what he could accomplish. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me when it all goes to shit, then,¡± Abigail said. ¡°For my part, I want nothing to do with it. I¡¯ll fight, but I have no interest in ever speaking to him again.¡± ¡°What you want is irrelevant. You are our only connection to him. He won¡¯t kill you on sight. Nor will he turn on you the second your back is turned,¡± Ignatius stated. ¡°Or am I wrong? You need only say so, and I will relent.¡± ¡°No. You aren¡¯t wrong,¡± she said begrudgingly. As much as she likely wanted to say otherwise, she would not lie to him. That was one thing he¡¯d made abundantly clear the moment he¡¯d elevated Abigail to her position. If she was ever untruthful with him, then there would be grave consequences. ¡°Then I am ordering you to put together a diplomatic force,¡± he said, leveraging the weight of his authority. ¡°Once that is done, you will go forth and meet with this man. In the meantime, I will prepare terms for their surrender.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°Surrender, I mean. You must know that.¡± ¡°I will give him an offer he cannot, in good conscience, refuse. I will give him power. Wealth beyond measure. A position within the Radiant Host. He would be a moron to turn it down,¡± Ignatius revealed. He¡¯d been thinking about it for quite some time, and the way he saw it, no man would give up personal power just to spare a few monsters. ¡°All he needs to do is work for us. He can kill as many people as he likes ¨C the Imperium has no shortage of enemies. He only needs to follow my leadership.¡± ¡°If this is an order, I will, of course, do it,¡± Abigail said. ¡°But I caution you ¨C this will not end well for you.¡± ¡°Your objections are noted. Go and gather your people. You are dismissed.¡± She bowed, then left the room. For his part, Ignatius sat behind his desk, and finally let some emotion show on his face as he permitted himself a small smile. If things went the way he expected, he would turn calamity into opportunity. * * * Abby wanted to punch something. Her knuckles went white, her fists clenched as she strode down the hall. She paid no attention to the ostentatious d¨¦cor. She¡¯d seen it all so often that it held no appeal to her. Not anymore, at least. Perhaps it never had. Once, she might have been blinded by the opulence of the Radiant Host ¨C in terms of luxury as well as the power they wielded ¨C but now, she saw them for what they were. Maybe Ignatius was correct in his belief that if they allowed Zeke and his army of monsters to win even a few more battles, then the rest of the world would see the Imperium for what it was. All bluster and no real power. Of course, she knew that wasn¡¯t necessarily the case. The Radiant Host was a mighty force that could conquer any number of kingdoms or empires. They had done just that when consolidating power after Ignatius¡¯ takeover. Yet, they¡¯d needed a horde of demons to make it work. And now Ignatius wanted to do the same with Zeke and his army of monsters. He didn¡¯t know Zeke, though. Not like Abby. If the man she had once loved actually considered Ignatius¡¯ offer, she would be both surprised. And disappointed that he would compromise his values. What then, did that say about her that she¡¯d done the same, and for something so small as a little bit of power? What did power mean, really? At present, she was one of the strongest people in the Imperium. Not the mightiest, certainly, but close enough that she should have been happy with herself. She wasn¡¯t, though. Was it because of her habit of comparing herself to Zeke? Or to Talia? Or was it because she¡¯d begun to recognize that the quest for power was a fruitless one? Increasingly, it felt like the second applied more fully than the first. What good was power when it was a never-ending struggle for more of the same? If she reached the peak, then was she destined to repeat the cycle in the Ethereal Realm? What happened after that? One day, it had to end. One day, she needed to make her own choices as to her future. Would she continue to chase a goal that she probably could never achieve? Or could she break the cycle and find contentment elsewhere? There were so many questions, and Abby just didn¡¯t know any of the answers. To say that she could simply get off the ride was one thing, but doing it was another altogether. She had responsibilities. People who depended on her. And years of effort lay in her wake, all in the interest of reaching her potential. She had given so much. Sacrificed everything she¡¯d once held dear. And she couldn¡¯t stop now. Even if it meant pitting herself against the man she had once loved. With that in mind, she headed to the requisition office and began to gather her team. 594. Pushing Ahead Zeke felt a dozen skills hit him all at once, but he didn¡¯t even stagger under their collective force. If anything, he only found it irritating. If he¡¯d known that the resistance was destined to be so light, he would have remained in the tower. At least there, he could pretend he was doing something useful. As it stood, even the least powerful legionnaires wouldn¡¯t have had any issues standing up to the barrage. ¡°That¡¯s being generous, calling it that, even in your mind,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°These people are effectively slinging stones at armed and armored knights.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he said, forging ahead. A second later, he put his shoulder into the city gate, knocking it from its hinges. Shouts of panic followed, but he tuned them out. Most of the city¡¯s residents would survive ¨C so long as they didn¡¯t make too much trouble. However, if they put his people in undue danger, the kobolds wouldn¡¯t hesitate to put them down. ¡°Are you still dwelling on what happened in the last city?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°It was a massacre, Eveline. Thousands of people died,¡± Zeke stated. Of course, those people had been monsters ¨C in the metaphorical sense, at least. Instead of simply surrendering when they knew they¡¯d lost, they had slain every last slave in the city, piled them in the market square, and awaited their fate. The leader had then laughed in Zeke¡¯s face when he¡¯d asked why they had done such a thing. Killing her hadn¡¯t been a difficult decision, but the slaughter that followed was something that would stick with him for the rest of his days. Or at least until the next horror he was forced to confront. Those seemed to be piling up more and more as the war progressed. ¡°Where are all their Knights?¡± he wondered inwardly as he strode into the city. Thousands of kobolds followed, each one holding huge tower shields and long spears while wearing powerful armor that made them resemble reptilian versions of Roman legionnaires. ¡°It¡¯s been the same in every city. I think it¡¯s safe to assume they¡¯ve chosen to retreat and regroup in a more defensible location,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad strategy. It¡¯s much easier to defend one impregnable city than trying to guard twenty locations at once.¡± Zeke shook his head. The Imperium¡¯s strategy left him frustrated, but it also put him on guard. It wouldn¡¯t have been so bad if his forces weren¡¯t required to honor the idea that each city might be defended. Even if they were fairly certain they harbored no soldiers, it only took one false assumption to devastate the force of kobolds. So, they approached every situation like it had the potential to end them. But remaining constantly on guard without any payoff was exhausting in a way that Zeke hadn¡¯t expected. He just wanted to be finished with the war, but it felt as if the Imperium was hellbent on dragging it out as long as possible. ¡°You don¡¯t expect them to just surrender, do you?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°I expect them to fight,¡± he murmured aloud as another group of what amounted to peasants aimed various skills at him. They pinged off his metallic skin like pebbled, rather than the deadly abilities they were meant to be. Indeed, Zeke would have been perfectly happy if he¡¯d gotten a stand-up fight or two. However, he was constantly denied even that satisfaction, which had left him feeling even more frustrated than the situation might have otherwise dictated. Fortunately, as Zeke progressed through the city ¨C with his kobolds spreading out through the streets ¨C they found no piles of dead slaves. The residents soon figured out that they didn¡¯t have much of a chance, and they surrendered not long after Zeke had broken through the gate. All in all, the city had taken less than three hours to completely conquer, and he¡¯d never even gotten a real fight. ¡°It would be a waste if you killed anyone anyway, wouldn¡¯t it? You don¡¯t get kill energy now that you¡¯ve reached the peak,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°But you just want to fight something, right?¡± ¡°Something that¡¯ll fight back, yeah. This is like¡­I don¡¯t even know. But I don¡¯t like it,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Not one bit.¡± ¡°Understandable.¡± After that, Zeke returned the way he¡¯d come. Being a glorified battering ram was the best use of his immense strength, but after that, the kobolds were more than capable of handling everything else. So, he headed back to the gate he¡¯d left summoned in a field almost a mile away from the city. Once he was back inside the tower, he wasted no time before reporting to the Pillar, where he found Silik and Kianma. He couldn¡¯t be sure ¨C reading kobold expressions wasn¡¯t the easiest thing in the world ¨C but he thought that Silik shared his frustrations. The big kobold general was obviously a creature of action, and he resented being forced to remain in the tower where he could direct the army. ¡°Which one is next?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°I want to get going, so I¡¯m in position as soon as everyone¡¯s finished with this town.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Kianma pointed to the map. ¡°This city is around three-hundred miles away,¡± she answered. ¡°It¡¯s called ¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really care what it¡¯s called,¡± Zeke interrupted. ¡°Just point me in the right direction.¡± She did just that, directing him toward the northeast. From what Zeke saw on the map, they were steadily tightening the noose on the Imperium. However, there were hundreds of small towns and hamlets throughout the region, which was populated by curated forests, farmland, and lakes. From what he¡¯d seen, there were very few monsters in the area, and even mundane animals were fairly rare outside of livestock. Of course, Zeke had confiscated all of the latter, and the fields in the Artisan¡¯s Terrace were now well-populated with cattle, pigs, and chickens. As it turned out, the beastkin were fantastic herdsmen, and he expected that the already self-sufficient tower would create an even larger surplus going forward. While he appreciated the fact that his people ran the tower like a well-oiled machine, Zeke had no real interest in the mundane. As far as he was concerned, he was happy enough just eating whatever monster meat he had in his spatial storage. ¡°That is patently untrue. Don¡¯t think I haven¡¯t noticed you sampling all the rich foods they send your way,¡± Eveline accused. ¡°I eat what they give me. I don¡¯t ¨C¡± ¡°I can literally read your thoughts, Ezekiel. Don¡¯t lie to me. It doesn¡¯t work, and you just come off looking kind of silly.¡± Zeke resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It was at that moment that one of the juvenile kobolds rushed into the room. In its halting way, he relayed a message that a force of knights had been spotted on the horizon. Zeke couldn¡¯t stop himself from grinning as he and Silik strode from the Pillar and toward the teleporter that would lead them back to the Entry Hall. Once there, they exited through the gate. ¡°Which way?¡± he asked one of the nearby legionnaires that had set up a camp around the portal. The kobold pointed to the west, telling him that there were at least a thousand knights. So, Silik gathered as many kobolds as he could quickly find, and together, they all set out in that direction. ¡°You are eager, aren¡¯t you?¡± Eveline said, obviously amused. ¡°You sure you¡¯re not biting off more than you can chew? You know you don¡¯t have many of your skills available, right? Or did you forget?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± he acknowledged. However, he had done a lot of testing since defeating Micayne, and he¡¯d established that, for most fights, he didn¡¯t even need skills. His ridiculous attributes were more than enough to take care of the vast majority of opponents. And for the rest, he still had a few skills available. ¡°You seem pretty confident.¡± ¡°I am,¡± he stated. And it was true. If there were more than a handful of people in the Eternal Realm that could stand up to him, he would have been very surprised. ¡°You can¡¯t really believe that. If it¡¯s anything like Hell, there are hundreds of old monsters in this world. People who have been at the peak for millennia. It would be a mistake to underestimate them.¡± ¡°If they were truly powerful, they would have already ascended,¡± he argued. ¡°There are plenty of reasons why someone might remain behind,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°Just because your goal is to climb as high as possible doesn¡¯t mean that¡¯s true for everyone. Be careful. That¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡± ¡°Yes, mother.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°What? You don¡¯t like it when I call you that?¡± he asked, grinning. ¡°It makes me want to vomit.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a physical form. I don¡¯t think you can vomit,¡± he reminded her. ¡°Still¡­¡± On it went like that until, at last, Zeke and the group of kobolds finally caught sight of their enemy. The Knights were all mounted ¨C apparently, the Radiant Host served as inspiration for the Knights of Adontis ¨C and a few carried streaming flags on their upright lances. They certainly looked like an impressive force, though they were all too far away for Zeke to get their true measure. What he did see was one of the Knights riding forward and waving a huge, white flag. ¡°Does that meant the same thing in this realm as it did on Earth?¡± he wondered. ¡°A white flag seems pretty universal. Even in Hell, it means that someone wants a temporary truce,¡± Eveline answered. Zeke shrugged, then summoned his hammer. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s a trick, it¡¯ll be the last mistake they ever make.¡± Zeke slowed to a stop, and the kobolds mimicked the action. The Knights stopped as well, and for a long few moments, the two sides stared at one another. Then, the one carrying the white flag rode his horse forward, covering the ground between the two small armies in only a few seconds. When he stopped, he said, ¡°We wish to treat with you.¡± ¡°Why should I? I¡¯m winning,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I could kill everyone in your little army in only a few minutes. It wouldn¡¯t even be much trouble, except running you all down.¡± He glanced back at the kobolds, then returned his gaze to the Knight. ¡°Did you know that a kobold legionnaire can easily outrun one of your horses? Sprinting. Distance. It doesn¡¯t matter. They¡¯ll run you down and crush you inside that pretty armor you like to wear.¡± For his part, Zeke hadn¡¯t even bothered to use [Titan]. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d need it. ¡°You would be wise not to insult us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never been known for wisdom,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Ain¡¯t that the truth,¡± Eveline said in his head. ¡°Please don¡¯t talk like that. It doesn¡¯t suit you,¡± Zeke responded inwardly. Then, aloud, he added, ¡°Tell me what you want.¡± ¡°I am not privy to the terms on offer,¡± the man replied. ¡°Nor would I be authorized to reveal them, even if I knew what they were. What I can do is set up a meeting between you and the High Inquisitor. She speaks with the full authority of the Imperium.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zeke said. Then, he asked Eveline, ¡°What do you think? Should we just kill them?¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s inevitable,¡± she said. ¡°But on the off chance that they¡¯re genuine in their desire for peace, I think we owe it ourselves to hear them out. Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I suppose.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what everyone says about you. You can be reasonable when you want to be,¡± she said, and he could hear the smirk in her voice. Aloud, he told the messenger, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll meet with your grand whatever. But I should warn you ¨C if I get even a hint of betrayal, you¡¯re all going to die.¡± ¡°Death is inevitable. I welcome the embrace of the Sun Goddess.¡± It was all Zeke could do not to roll his eyes. ¡°Just go. I¡¯ll be waiting. I guarantee safe passage so long as you all don¡¯t attack.¡± That seemed to be all the messenger wanted to hear, because he quickly wheeled his horse around and galloped off. Only a few minutes later, a group of ten other Knights trotted toward the center of the field, where they waited. But Zeke really only had eyes for one of them. ¡°Oh, this is not going to be good,¡± Eveline muttered in his head. Zeke couldn¡¯t disagree. The last person he¡¯d expected to see in that field was Abby, but there she was, waiting on him in the middle of that field. 595. The Problem with Diplomacy ¡°Don¡¯t do anything rash.¡± Zeke barely heard Eveline¡¯s warning. Instead, his entire focus rested on the conflicting emotions flowing through his mind. Some were easily explicable, like the sense of relief underlying everything. He¡¯d often wondered about Abby¡¯s fate, fearing the worst, but now he had confirmation that she was alive and, from the looks of things, well. Complicating matters was the fact that she¡¯d clearly survived by allying herself with his enemies. Was she familiar with the evils practiced by the Imperium? That they¡¯d enslaved whole swaths of the population, and for no more reason than their sense of human superiority? What¡¯s more, had she truly given herself over to the Sun Goddess, despite all the terrible things Shar Maelaine and her followers had done? In the back of his mind, he was already making excuses for her. Upon ascension, she¡¯d been all alone. Likely, she had latched onto anyone who could offer her a modicum of protection. People did a lot of questionable things in the interest of self-preservation, so it made sense that Abby might have forgiven her protectors¡¯ propensity for evil things. Or maybe she didn¡¯t know. Abby had never been particularly curious. Even back in the Radiant Isles, she had been perfectly fine with accepting the inequality that was so prevalent. But then again, Zeke had accepted it, too, so did he have any right to judge? ¡°It looks like she¡¯s in charge,¡± Eveline pointed out. Upon further inspection, Zeke realized that the mind spirit was right. It only took a few seconds for Zeke to see the deference among the other members of the Imperium. She wasn¡¯t some ignorant follower. She held a position of some importance, which meant that she knew precisely what the Imperium had done. Likely, she had benefited from it. Zeke rolled his shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t kill them yet,¡± Eveline cautioned. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to,¡± Zeke said inwardly as he stepped forward. A gentle wind disturbed the clearing, and the knee-high grass swayed under its influence. He barely noticed it, his mind roiled so violently with a multitude of emotions. ¡°It really feels like you do,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Just take a breath. Listen to what they say, and if it proves necessary, then you can kill your ex-girlfriend.¡± Zeke groaned. ¡°Girlfriend has always sounded so childish to me,¡± he said. ¡°Like we¡¯re in middle school passing notes to one another.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do anything about your weird hangups with common language, Ezekiel.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he glanced toward the kobolds and ordered, ¡°Stay here. If I attack, I want you to spread out and surround them. Don¡¯t let any escape.¡± ¡°Yes, Ak-Toh,¡± Silik said, a bit of eagerness in his voice. The kobolds didn¡¯t live for battle, but they enjoyed it nonetheless. Zeke thought that was more about the thrill of victory ¨C and, if he was honest, pleasing him ¨C than it was about bloodlust, but he wouldn¡¯t have sworn by that assessment. At their core, they were still monsters after all. Whatever the case, Zeke knew that they would obey the order, and with an eagerness that ensured success. So, with that in mind, Zeke strode forward. * * * ¡°He¡¯s coming alone,¡± said Captain Rodrick. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said one of his aides. Abby spoke up, saying, ¡°It means he¡¯s not afraid of us. Be on your guard. This is the most dangerous enemy you will ever face.¡± She didn¡¯t need to inspect him to know what she would find. It had already been confirmed that Zeke had reached the peak, and according to their scouts, he radiated a sense of power that suggested he was far stronger than even that lofty level might have otherwise suggested. That was no surprise to her. Zeke had always been stronger than everyone else, and so long as he avoided death, it was inevitable that he would reach the peak of the Eternal Realm. Now, she questioned whether anyone in the world could put him down. Certainly, she knew she could never accomplish that feat. Not alone, and not with the pitiful thousand Knights she¡¯d brought with her. The only hope was that she might succeed in her mission. But given everything she knew about Zeke, she didn¡¯t expect it. He was no idealist, but he would not stand for many of the things that were so commonplace in the Imperium. Likely, that was the entire reason he¡¯d set himself against the Radiant Host. No alliance or concessions would deter him. Which was why Abby had an escape plan. It would assuredly put her at odds with the rest of the Imperium ¨C they didn¡¯t take kindly to failure ¨C but if it was between that and fighting Zeke, she knew which one she would prefer. But somewhere in the back of Abby¡¯s mind, she wondered if he might welcome her back into the fold. After all, a lot of time had passed since she had done what she¡¯d done. He¡¯d once called it a betrayal, but she knew it was just a misunderstanding. If he¡¯d given it any real thought, he would have done the same thing. All of that flitted through her mind as she watched the man approach. Finally, he stopped only fifteen feet away. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Hello, Zeke.¡± ¡°Hey, Abby.¡± ¡°You look good,¡± she said, though it was a bit of a lie. His hair was far too long, and his beard was unkempt. He¡¯d always favored the appearance of a wild man who spent too much time in the wilderness, but in the years since she¡¯d last seen him, Zeke had taken that to an extreme. What¡¯s more, his body was crisscrossed with scars ¨C some mundane, but most looking like magma-filled cracks. He wore simple clothing. Just a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up on his forearms, and brown pants with sturdy boots. He wasn¡¯t armed, though Abby knew his club was only a thought away. By comparison, she felt a bit silly. If Zeke¡¯s attire was the epitome of simplicity, then her armor was opulent beyond reason. Suddenly, she felt strikingly overdressed, like she¡¯d come for a parade rather than a battle. Still, there was a reason she¡¯d fallen for him, and it wasn¡¯t just proximity. Some of it came from the power he clearly wielded. Abby was honest enough with herself to admit that much, at least. However, he was objectively attractive in a rugged, battle-scarred sort of way. He made such a contrast with the preening men she¡¯d known within the Imperium that he looked even better in comparison. Or maybe more real, as opposed to a bunch of porcelain dolls with immaculately trimmed beards who wore armor more for the aesthetics than for the protection it offered. ¡°You do too,¡± he said. ¡°Very shiny.¡± She blushed, resisting the urge to glance down at her own gilded armor, which was even more elaborately decorated than the equipment worn by the men she was so quick to criticize. Abby sighed. ¡°What are you doing here, Zeke?¡± she asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t set out to fight a war, did you? That doesn¡¯t sound like you.¡± ¡°I could ask you the same thing,¡± he stated. ¡°You joined a bunch of megalomaniacal bigots who enslave anyone who doesn¡¯t look like them. I mean, I can barely even tell your cronies apart. I know they probably have names, but I¡¯m looking at them and labeling them blonde dandy number one through ten.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair.¡± ¡°Fair doesn¡¯t come into it, does it? Not for all the beastkin I¡¯ve seen enslaved and treated like they¡¯re not people,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You didn¡¯t care so much about people when you left everyone to die back in the Radiant Isles.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I could do anything to help those people. They were doomed, Abby. We talked about this. We agreed ¨C¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t agree to anything. You just steamrolled me,¡± Abby said. Zekes closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and for a moment, Abby thought he was going to ignore her. Finally, he opened them and said, ¡°I¡¯m not here to relitigate the past, Abby. You did what you did, and I did what I did. Nothing either of us can say will change that. So, let¡¯s just move on. Why are you here, and why did you bring all these toy soldiers with you?¡± Abby bristled at that insult almost as much as she inwardly raged at his dismissal of the argument she¡¯d wanted to start. If it had happened even a year before, she might have ordered the attack then and there. However, she¡¯d come a long way in the past twelve months, and the Radiant Host¡¯s mental conditioning had faded just enough that she managed to push her anger aside. Not without some difficulty, though. After a moment, she said, ¡°I come with an offer.¡± ¡°Why you?¡± ¡°Do you really need to ask? No one thought you would listen to anyone else.¡± ¡°So, they know about our past?¡± ¡°They know enough. It doesn¡¯t matter, Zeke. I know I¡¯m far from unbiased here, but I suggest you listen to what we have to offer. A lot of lives could be saved,¡± she said. ¡°And what would I have to give up?¡± he asked. ¡°We just want peace.¡± ¡°In my experience with the Imperium, that is categorically untrue. You only care about peace when someone challenges your authority,¡± he stated. ¡°It¡¯s easy to talk about peace when you¡¯re not the one being oppressed, right? Besides, we¡¯re winning. Why should I even consider letting you and yours off the hook?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy, Zeke,¡± Abby said. ¡°You say that, but you sure are wearing their uniform.¡± Abby looked away, a surge of guilt welling up inside her. She was under no illusions about the nature of the Imperium. They weren¡¯t out-and-out evil ¨C not like Zeke said ¨C but she could acknowledge that they had compromised their values in the search for order. Sure, they¡¯d enslaved a few beastkin, but that was a necessary evil they had embraced in service of the greater good. And besides, beastkin truly were closer to beasts than to people. She had seen the way they lived. The way they acted. They were savages that, if left to their own devices, would descend into barbarism. No ¨C she was not the bad guy. She wasn¡¯t good, either. No one in the Imperium was. But what they¡¯d done was necessary. Not that it mattered. Abby was no more capable of changing things than she could prevent the sun from rising. ¡°You will be given a place of prominence within the Imperium,¡± she said, reciting the terms she¡¯d memorized. ¡°You will be second only to the High Abbot himself, and that only in name. You will be given wealth beyond measure and all the resources you could possibly use. And finally, all past grievances with the Sun Goddess or her minions will be forgotten. When you ascend, you will do so under the umbrella of her protective embrace. Once in the Ethereal Realm, she will personally oversee your development until the heavens quake at your every step.¡± She took a deep breath, then locked her eyes on his. ¡°Do you accept?¡± For a moment, he didn¡¯t answer. Then, after a few long seconds, he asked, ¡°Do you know the problem with diplomacy, Abby?¡± ¡°I do not.¡± ¡°It assumes that both sides want to end the fight,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You have nothing I need. Nothing I want. I don¡¯t care about your false goddess¡¯ protection. You ask me if I accept your offer?¡± He spat on the ground. ¡°That¡¯s what I think about it. Now, let me counter your offer with one of my own.¡± He raised his hand and pointed into the distance. ¡°Go back to your boss and tell him that I¡¯m coming,¡± he said. ¡°I intend to free every single slave within the Imperium, and once I¡¯m done with this little empire, I¡¯ll head to the Ethereal Realm and take up my grievances with the woman in charge. I¡¯ll probably kill her, too, when it¡¯s all said and done.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t expect me to ¨C¡± ¡°Honestly, Abby, I don¡¯t really expect you to do anything,¡± he admitted. ¡°In fact, you¡¯ll probably attack me at any moment. That¡¯s fine. The moment I saw you in that armor and flanked by these evil assholes, I realized that you were already lost. I wish things could have been different. I wish you would have found another path. But if you think that our history will save you ¨C even for a second ¨C you¡¯re sadly mistaken. You are the company you keep, Abby. You¡¯re surrounded by and dressed like a bunch of slave-holding bigots. I can¡¯t think of any reason to believe you haven¡¯t become one yourself.¡± Before Abby could respond, two things happened. First, the men to her left and right began to gather mana for an attack ¨C which was not part of the plan. Second, the other members of the army ¨C hundreds of yards away ¨C charged. That was when she realized that Ignatius had never expected diplomacy to work. Instead, he¡¯d only intended to bring Zeke out into the open, where the army could get a good shot at him. For his part, Zeke took one look at the situation, then shook his head. ¡°Disappointing,¡± he muttered. ¡°Not unexpected, but disappointing all the same.¡± Then, he locked his eyes on Abby and said, ¡°You should run. If you¡¯re still around when it all starts, I¡¯m probably going to kill you too.¡± That¡¯s when the Knights let loose with their various attacks. Abby didn¡¯t see them. Instead, she took his advice, but instead of turning and running, she activated her escape skill. A moment later, she became a beam of light zigzagging across the sky. 596. Springing the Trap Zeke nearly sighed in disappointment as he saw Abby disappear in a ray of light. Had she planned the ambush? Or was she ignorant of the trap? Zeke had no idea, but either way, he wasn¡¯t truly surprised. Either she was woefully na?ve when it came to the people to which she¡¯d pledged her allegiance, or she¡¯d once again proven that she didn¡¯t care how her decisions affected everyone. ¡°You should have killed her,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Probably,¡± Zeke admitted. It wasn¡¯t that he particularly wanted to kill his former lover. He definitely didn¡¯t. But a man could only endure so many betrayals before he cut off the source. In this case, that meant putting Abby down. Of course, she was gone now, making that impossible. Certainly, he could hunt her down, and a few seconds wasn¡¯t enough time to decide whether or not he wanted to go down that route. Moreover, with a thousand Knights ¨C each one far more powerful than he¡¯d initially expected ¨C bearing down on him, he didn¡¯t have time to ponder it further. Not until he dealt with them, at least. However, even as he adopted his titanic form and prepared to meet them, Zeke had to admit that he was tired of political machinations. ¡°This is child¡¯s play, Ezekiel. You need to get used to dealing with this sort of thing, or Hell is going to eat you alive,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°That¡¯s why I have you.¡± With [Titan] having taken hold of his body, transforming him into a fifteen-foot-tall monster of metal, Zeke stepped forward. He hefted his hammer and waited. A host of skills fell upon him a second later, digging deep grooves into his body. That was an eye-opener, considering how durable he¡¯d become. If they could harm him ¨C even as shallowly has they had ¨C they were a force with which to be reckoned. Still, Zeke barely even staggered beneath the heavy attacks, and when the line of Knights finally arrived, he met them with the head of his hammer. The first enemy unlucky enough to lead the way found his entire chest caved in as he flew backward. His horse, meanwhile, staggered forward, hitting Zeke and breaking its bones beneath the force of its own charge. Zeke took a single step backward, cocked his hammer back, and hit the next Knight in line. This one managed to intercept the herculean blow with his shield, but that crumpled beneath Zeke¡¯s heavy blow. Somehow, the Knight maintained his seat and jabbed his lance into Zeke¡¯s chest. It managed to penetrate nearly a foot, but that was far too little damage to truly alarm Zeke. In response, he grabbed the lance and yanked. The off-balance Knight refused to give up his grip on the weapon, and as a result, he flew forward. Zeke met him with a sharp jab that crushed his skull. Even as Zeke healed himself via [Hand of Divinity], he whirled, leading the way with his sweeping hammer. Each Knight he hit slowed the weapon¡¯s passage by a little, but he still managed to unseat all four enemies before him. They sprang to their feet, one by one, ready to take advantage of the opening he¡¯d created with the wild swing. That¡¯s when Zeke used the only other skill available to him. He¡¯d been saving [Unleash Momentum] for quite some time, and with thousands of Knights bearing down on him, Zeke expected it was the perfect time to let it loose. His backhanded swing was short and compact, but that was all he needed to activate the skill. Momentous force arced out, rending the earth before tearing into the Knights. Zeke didn¡¯t bother to guide the attack. Instead, he gave it the freedom to spread out as wide as possible. The bulk of the line of Knights collapsed beneath the blow. The first few ranks were killed outright, their bodies crushed inside their expensive armor. They flew backward into the next rank, toppling them like bowling pins. The next few ranks of soldiers were decidedly less affected, though not because Zeke¡¯s attack lacked power. It was far and away the most powerful instance of [Unleash Momentum] he¡¯d ever used. He needed only to look at the ground, which had been unearthed all the way to the bedrock, which in turn had been riddled with fissures. Yet, the most than a few of the Knights had survived, largely because they weren¡¯t without power of their own. Most were at or near the peak, which meant that they had plenty of Endurance ¨C as well as their powerful armor ¨C to shield them from any attacks. ¡°Wish I had [Wrath of Annihilation] available,¡± Zeke muttered to himself. ¡°It probably wouldn¡¯t kill them all,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Well, not as it was before your little upgrade with divine energy. That skill you just used was almost as powerful as the first time you used [Wrath of Annihilation], just omnidirectional and without the destructive force of your Will attached to it.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t care about that. Instead, he was only really concerned with results, and the fact was that the skill he¡¯d hoped would end the fight then and there had fallen far short of his expectations. So, he had no choice but to wade into the fray and get his hands dirty. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. In a way, that thought came with a wave of satisfaction. There was something off-putting about being able to solve all his problems with a single skill. Sure, that hadn¡¯t always been the case ¨C [Wrath of Annihilation] wasn¡¯t a cure-all ¨C but it was so powerful that, at times, it made him feel like his hammer-work had become superfluous. ¡°Silver linings,¡± Eveline said as Zeke brought Voromir down in a massive, sledgehammer strike that absolutely obliterated a Knight. And the ground beneath him, too. A wave of earth rippled out from the point of impact, but Zeke moved so quickly that he had no issues outpacing it. The Knights hadn¡¯t had a chance to recover from [Unleash Momentum], so when Zeke fell upon them, he did so with unopposed fury. Most never even realized what had happened before Zeke crushed their bodies beneath his hammer. But all good things were destined to end, and so it was with Zeke¡¯s unchecked slaughter of the Knights. He got through a couple dozen before the others began to recover, and when they finally found their feet, they didn¡¯t hold back in their retaliation. And unlike Zeke, they weren¡¯t afflicted with a lack of skills. Most had identical abilities ¨C as it was with many armies ¨C which usually manifested in the form of bolts of radiant energy. Some glowed with similar power, and a few formed shimmering shields of mana. When the attacks hit Zeke, they carved through his metallic flesh without issue. His endurance was high, but he wasn¡¯t invulnerable ¨C especially to peak warriors like he was currently fighting. Once, he¡¯d struggled with a single fighter on that level, but now, he was fighting hundreds. So, he inevitably found himself on the back foot. At least until his precautions ¨C taken before he¡¯d gone out to meet the supposedly peaceful delegation from the Radiant Host ¨C bore fruit. An enormous clash announced the arrival of his army as they pincered the Knights of the Imperium from two sides. The kobolds weren¡¯t nearly as high of a level as the enemy, but they made up for it with sheer numbers and coordination. The Radiant Host had brought a thousand peak warriors. Zeke had brought ten times that many kobolds, each one having reached the first threshold at level seventy-five. After all, his people had been fighting one war or another for years now, and when they weren¡¯t engaging in battle, they were hunting. In addition, the dungeons Zeke controlled had been put to good use, giving the kobolds plenty of fuel for their levels. But most of all, their rapid rise was due to the single-minded dedication to Zeke himself. Their every instinct told them to follow his orders, so when he¡¯d told them to get stronger, they¡¯d taken that to heart. The results were evident. They trampled the unprepared Knights from behind, shoving their shields forward with unstoppable momentum. The enemy fought back, and more than a few kobolds went down. However, they worked like a well-oiled machine, cycling the fallen to the back lines and keeping the casualties to a minimum. They weren¡¯t strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with the Knights ¨C especially not one on one. But they were more than strong enough to endure their frantic counterattacks for long enough for their superior numbers to overwhelm the Knights. Because of that, Zeke suddenly found his own efforts unhindered, and he wasted no time scattering Knights as he dismantled their defenses. Because if the kobolds couldn¡¯t match the Knights one-for-one, then the same was true for the Radiant Host when fighting Zeke. The difference was that his kobold allies kept the Knights from using their numbers to pile onto him. Still, they were powerful fighters, and they didn¡¯t go down easily. That was fine for Zeke, who¡¯d been craving a good battle for quite some time. After he got over the lack of skills, he began to revel in the fight itself. In a lot of ways, he felt like he¡¯d gotten back to his roots, and he started to remember the lessons he¡¯d learned early on. As the hours wore on, Zeke tightened his technique and started to use his increased dexterity and agility to good effect. Not only was he stronger and far more durable than the Knights, but he was also faster than most. It was only when that thought sprang to mind that he realized that he hadn¡¯t even begun to tap into the full weight of his stats. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been trying to tell you,¡± Eveline pointed out as Zeke latched onto a Knight¡¯s throat, spun, and threw the unfortunate man high into the air. The arc of his flight wouldn¡¯t end for half a mile, Zeke expected, and there was little chance he would survive much longer with a crushed windpipe. ¡°You haven¡¯t told me anything,¡± Zeke countered, swinging his hammer. ¡°Well, I would have if I thought you would have paid attention,¡± she said. ¡°Stats are representations of potential. At low levels, it¡¯s easy to push to your limits, but with something like your stats, you¡¯re going to have to work long and hard to get the most out of it. Your strength and endurance aren¡¯t just increased physical ability. They represent conceptual shifts in what power really means.¡± ¡°Not sure I follow.¡± ¡°Do you think you shatter a planet with a single blow?¡± she asked. ¡°Uh¡­I don¡¯t think so?¡± ¡°Then you haven¡¯t reached your potential. You think not having your skills available is a detriment? I think it¡¯s a training tool. Push your body to its limits, and you might just discover that, at your level, it doesn¡¯t truly have any. You want to destroy a mountain? Do it. Endure the depths of a star? Do that, too.¡± ¡°I just have to believe? What kind of fairy tale crap ¨C¡± ¡°It¡¯s not crap, Ezekiel. That¡¯s how it works. You have the power. You just have to throw off the shackles of your mind and let it loose.¡± Zeke wanted to counter that with a sarcastic comment, but he couldn¡¯t think up anything appropriate. That brought a giggle from Eveline, which just irritated him even more. He took his frustration out on the Knights, and to his surprise, each swing ¨C powered by his anger ¨C hit harder than ever before. ¡°Maybe there is something to all your fairy tale bullshit,¡± Zeke muttered. After that, he focused on his technique as well as pushing his body to its absolute limit. To his surprise, each attack was incrementally stronger, and by the time he finally killed the last Knight, he found himself wondering where the limit truly lay. Perhaps it was as Eveline had said, and there wasn¡¯t a true limit. Either way, the threat was finished, and now, he needed to focus on the next step. The Imperium had had their chance at a peaceful resolution, and they¡¯d used that to ambush him. It was time he made them pay for that mistake. 597. Slinking Away Abby hit the ground in a roll that did very little to arrest her momentum. Instead, she skipped across the ground, digging a deep trench with every instance of contact. Finally, after almost half a mile, she slowed to a stop, where she lay in the overturned soil, her entire body smoking with the consequences of using her escape skill, [Radiant Retreat]. Unlike most skills, it had the potential to harm her, but when faced with a situation like she¡¯d just escaped, it was a necessary evil. Still, as she lay there, she couldn¡¯t ignore the damage she¡¯d done to her own body. None of the burns had been permanent, but because they utilized radiant mana, they were extremely painful to endure. After a long while, she opened her eyes to see that night had fallen, and after a quick scan of the stars, she estimated that she¡¯d traveled at least a thousand miles to the south. If her estimates were correct, that put her on the edge of the Emerald Expanse, which was an enormous rainforest populated by powerful monsters as well as a reclusive race of elves. Abby had no interest in dealing with elves. She¡¯d had enough of them directly after her ascension. So, as she lay there recovering from her skill, she focused on remembering the forest¡¯s layout. It covered a truly daunting area, which meant that she would need to spend quite some time traversing it. Complicating matters was that it was also known for playing host to some truly terrifying monsters. She was no Zeke. If she met a peak monster in the wild, she would surely die. So, avoiding that eventuality was at the top of her list. Prudence told her that she should just turn back and return to the Imperium. She had broken protocol by leaving her people behind, but if she knew much about Zeke, she didn¡¯t expect that any of the others would return to tell the tale of her cowardice. He wouldn¡¯t leave any of them alive, and if he did, they would be his prisoners. No one ¨C except for her ¨C would escape. In any other situation, she might¡¯ve felt guilty about what she¡¯d done. However, those other Knights had acted without her knowledge, putting her in the line of fire. It was a miracle that she¡¯d managed to survive. Of course, she recognized the irony of what had happened. It wasn¡¯t so different from what she¡¯d done to Zeke, Pudge, and Talia so long ago. That didn¡¯t make it any better, though. In fact, it made it so much worse because it forced her to consider how her actions had affected the people who should¡¯ve been closest to her. And her conclusion was an obvious one. She was a selfish person. She always had been, even going back to her first life back on Earth. Sure, she had been forced to endure an abusive husband, and she would never believe that she deserved what he¡¯d done. What she did believe was that both things could be true. He was an abusive asshole, and she was a selfish person who¡¯d never weighed her own advantages against the affects on other people and come out favoring the latter. It was a difficult realization, but it had been lurking in the back of her mind for years by that point. And now that she had effectively freed herself from the Imperium ¨C she had no intention of going back ¨C she had no shield against the aftermath of her actions. She had ruined everything, and there was nothing she could do to escape her self-recrimination. For a long while, she simply lay there, ruminating on her own selfishness as she allowed her body to heal. It was nearly morning when she finally picked herself up. She hadn¡¯t fully recovered, but she was well enough to begin her journey. Because during that time, she¡¯d decided that she wanted to be anywhere but the Imperium. They were evil. She couldn¡¯t convince herself otherwise, now. And with that surety gripping her mind, she could not force herself to return. So, she had only one way to go ¨C through the Emerald Expanse and to the other side. There were cities there, unaffiliated with any force with which she had come into contact. Perhaps she could start over there. Maybe she could build the life she¡¯d failed to create so far. With that in mind, she started forward. That first day, she barely covered twenty miles. Every step sent pain arcing throughout her body, which forced her to take it slow. The second day of travel, undertaken after spending the night resting in an abandoned hollow, was easier. However, she was forced to kill a few monsters along the way, though none were strong enough to truly tax her abilities. Like that, she continued on. Days passed, becoming more than a week, and eventually, she lost track of the passage of time. Vaguely, she noticed the cycle of day and night, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to care how long she¡¯d been in the forest. After all, there was nothing pressing clambering for her attention, so she had no reason to pay the passing days undue attention. When she was tired, she rested. Hunger meant scavenging for wild edibles or killing various beasts for their meat. She was no stranger to wilderness survival, so she had the skills to keep herself moving. But it wasn¡¯t easy. The deeper she went into the forest, the more dangerous it became. The wildlife trended towards giant reptiles that resembled dinosaurs, but there were plenty of odder creatures around as well. From slimes that dropped from the forest canopy to devour their prey to living trees that used vines to entrap and strangle unwary animals, the variety was truly impressive.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. And daunting. It harkened back to her days immediately after the Crucible. Back then, she¡¯d spent months battling her way through a similar environment, and at the time, she had looked upon it as something similar to what Zeke had been through directly after his arrival into the Radiant Isles. Even then, she knew she was wrong. Zeke had spent years in those troll caves ¨C he didn¡¯t even know how long he was down there ¨C without even the most basic of safety nets. He¡¯d not known what was going on or how he was meant to survive. By comparison, her own experiences were a walk in the park. Yet, she¡¯d emerged from that time a different person. It was a formative experience, and she leaned on that now. One thing she did come to understand was that she needed to stop comparing herself to others. That was the root of her issues, and if she continued down that road, any hope at happiness would be dashed upon the rocks of comparison. It was a recipe for disaster, and so, she forced thoughts of Zeke out of her mind. The effort was freeing, but it was not easy. At least at first, she spent more time backsliding than moving forward. Yet, over time, it became easier until, at last, she managed to steel herself against the inviting nature of comparison. After a few weeks, she caught her first sighting of the elves. It happened by accident ¨C just a random glance that resulted in her seeing one of them crouched amidst the thick underbrush. The elven girl was shorter than Abby would have expected and darkly complected, with much of her mostly naked body covered in intricate tattoos. Most prominent was a band of blindingly white inch that stretched across her face like a blindfold. Abby waved at her, but that motion of intended greeting only served to spook the girl. After that, another three days passed before Abby saw another one ¨C this time, a male, though his body was slight enough that it was difficult to tell the difference at first glance. Whatever the case, he stalked Abby for one mile after the next, never coming closer than twenty feet. Despite the thick vegetation, he never made the slightest sound, and Abby suspected that if he chose to attack, there wouldn¡¯t be much she could do about it. Maybe she could win, but getting a clear shot would be exceedingly difficult. So, she pretended that she didn¡¯t even notice him. Then, suddenly, he just wasn¡¯t there anymore. As Abby continued to progress, she kept looking for his return, but there was no indication that he was there. That left her feeling saddened. As much as Abby liked to pretend she was immune to the effects of social interaction, she still valued the presence of other people. And though the elf had never actually spoken to her ¨C or acknowledged her in any way ¨C she had taken comfort in his silent company. Now he was gone, and she felt all the worse because of his absence. But despite her feelings, she couldn¡¯t halt her progress, so she continued along her path. And as one day passed into another, she began to sense something changing about the jungle. It took her a long time to realize what it was, but when she did recognize it, her heart started to beat out of her chest. She sensed a predator. It was difficult to quantify what that meant. There was an olfactory component to it of course ¨C a sickly sweet smell of rotting meat. Not a strong odor. Almost an undercurrent. However, once she recognized it, it was unmistakable. Then there was the noise, or rather, the lack thereof. Everything was quiet, which was odd in the middle of any forest, much less a jungle so thick with life as the Emerald Expanse. Suddenly, she froze. Abby knew good and well that she was not well-equipped for stealth. Her armor, as dirty as it was, was still so shiny that it was probably visible from half a mile away. That, and she¡¯d never focused on concealment. She summoned her bow, then an arrow, and crouching low, she crept forward. It was at that moment that the monster chose to attack. The underbrush didn¡¯t even rustle before something clamped down on her arm. She screamed, ripping her limb free and throwing herself away in a backward somersault. Her feet hit the trunk of a tree, which she used to launch herself in the opposite direction. It was just in time, too, because the monster rammed the tree a second later. It shattered beneath its jaws. More importantly, Abby was afforded an opportunity to see her attacker. It looked like tyrannosaurus rex, though with jet black scales and a row of red spikes along its back. Mid-air, she used her inspection skill: Bloodscale Alpha ¨C Level 91 The thing was more than five levels her senior, which meant that she was at a distinct disadvantage. Making matters worse was that the thing had punctured her armor, and subsequently, her chest. It wasn¡¯t a lethal wound, but judging by the wetness she felt beneath her breastplate, it was bleeding profusely. She hit the ground in a skid, already drawing back the ethereal string of her bow. She let loose with [Eruption]. Radiant energy descended from the sky, slamming into the Bloodscale with undeniable force. It burned through the creature¡¯s scales, and spots danced in Abby¡¯s eyes. She followed that up with an immediate use of [Ire of the Sun Goddess]. Mana rushed through her, enveloping the projectile she¡¯d summoned via [Radiant Arrow]. Then, she started counting. One. The effect of [Eruption] began to fade. Two. The monster emerged, its scales melted into a wet and smoking slurry. Three. It roared, then staggered forward. Four. Five. Six. Abby dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding its charge. Fortunately, the thing was far from its best shape, and it could scarcely control its own body. However, Abby could sense dense flows of mana roiling within its hulking form. It would recover. She had no doubts about that. She continued to count, holding her bowstring taut the entire time. Mana surged through her, flooding into the summoned arrow. When she got to nine, she was forced to leap high into the air, kick off the monster¡¯s lowered head, and flip around in mid-air. She was still airborne when she reached ten, and her skill completed its charge. She loosed the arrow. It tore across the few intervening feet, scorching into the monster¡¯s head, and searing its way through the monster¡¯s brain. She felt a flood of kill energy before she even hit the ground. The monster fell a moment later. Panting, she looked around. Her wound was bleeding worse than ever, and if she didn¡¯t stop that soon, she knew she would begin to weaken. More troublingly, she could sense that her fight had gotten plenty of attention. A brief rustle of underbrush announced the arrival of a smaller, but no less deadly dinosaur-like creature. She ran, and it was just in time, too, because three more came on the first¡¯s heels. She didn¡¯t see it, instead focusing on sprinting away. 598. Pushing them Back Zeke surveyed the battlefield, taking in the situation. They had been fighting through the Imperium for what felt like an eternity, and though most of the cities had been abandoned, there had been enough resistance that it had required significant effort to progress. And now, they had finally arrived at their destination. Eldoria was an enormous city, normally housing more than ten million people. And it was built on a scale to accommodate that population. In addition, it was one of the world¡¯s most important trading hubs, so it usually played host to at least a million foreign traders. So, to call it huge would have been a vast understatement. Zeke had never visited the largest cities back on Earth, but he¡¯d grown up in the information age, which meant that he¡¯d watched plenty of movies and seen more than enough accounts on the internet to know just how large a city like New York was. Eldoria was larger, and by an order of magnitude. ¡°I thought Westport was big,¡± said Tucker from beside him. ¡°It is,¡± Adara stated, standing at Zeke¡¯s other flank. ¡°Eldoria is just bigger. Some people say it¡¯s the biggest city in the Eternal Realm, but it¡¯s hard to compare when the other largest cities are halfway around the world.¡± ¡°Celestium is bigger,¡± Jasper stated. The dark elf was on the other side of Adara, but his voice was clear when he added, ¡°That¡¯s the city of the High Elves. Their kind rarely leave their city, so it houses their entire kingdom.¡± For his part, Zeke had difficulty believing any city could be much bigger than Eldoria. Its walls extended hundreds of feet into the air, according to everything he¡¯d been told, almost as thick as they were tall, with whole communities living within. Zeke could see the tops of buildings and statues peeking over the edge of the wall. The edifice itself was carved with hundreds of runes, meaning that it would be almost impossible to breach, and from what Zeke understood, the entire population of Knights had been recalled for its defense. In short, the city of Eldoria was buttoned up tight, well defended, and nearly impregnable. If he¡¯d had the full breadth of his power available, Zeke felt certain he could have destroyed the walls and given his army free passage into the city. As it was, he wasn¡¯t certain he could bypass even the weakest spots. ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short. You¡¯ve been practicing.¡± Indeed, over the previous couple of months, while his army continued its advance, Zeke had spent nearly every waking moment in training. For whole days at a time, he toiled away in the Hunting Grounds, fighting against ever escalating copies of his former enemies. It was built to restrict the usage of skills, so even if most of his weren¡¯t locked away by Oberon¡¯s cage, he would have been forced to fight hand-to-hand. And he¡¯d made staggering progress. If he¡¯d had to guess, he would have estimated that he was only using a third of his true strength and even less of his agility and dexterity before he¡¯d begun his training regimen. Now, he was closer to sixty percent. He knew he had a long way to go, but he¡¯d already made a ridiculous amount of headway. ¡°You call it a guess? I literally told you those numbers,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°I know,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°You¡¯re an invaluable tool.¡± ¡°Ugh. Don¡¯t call me a tool. It¡¯s gross.¡± Zeke let a tiny smile turn up the corners of his mouth. However, it faded soon after when he began to realize that taking the city would require a significant amount of sacrifice on the part of his army. Many kobolds and beastkin would die. ¡°Is this worth it?¡± he wondered aloud. ¡°What?¡± asked Adara. ¡°Taking this city. They don¡¯t really have anything we want,¡± he stated. ¡°It might be better to just move on. I can find the last two pieces for his quest somewhere else.¡± That would go a long way toward preparing his body to handle his true power. He didn¡¯t think it would be as simple as that implied, but he knew it was a necessary step in the right direction. Whatever the case, taking Eldoria was probably needless, at least regarding his personal progression. ¡°Yes,¡± said Silik, who¡¯d remained standing silently behind Zeke the whole time. Zeke turned to look at the big kobold. Seeing that he wanted to say more, Zeke told Silik, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Many are held captive within that city,¡± he stated. ¡°We have a responsibility to free them. Even if the cost is high, we must, because we can.¡± ¡°Well said,¡± Tucker agreed. The others voiced their agreement as well, which told Zeke all he needed to know. The fact that Silik had spoken up was probably enough on its own. The kobold general rarely offered his opinion outside of matters concerning military strategy, so when he did voice his thoughts, it was impactful. The fact that everyone agreed with him was just icing on the cake. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Okay. So, we¡¯re going in,¡± he said. ¡°How should we do it?¡± ¡°The sorceress,¡± Eveline said, manifesting beside him. ¡°She can create a spell that encircles the entire city, and she can weaken the walls.¡± ¡°But not bring them down?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Doubtful. If she¡¯d been gaining levels all this time, perhaps she could have managed it, but she¡¯s been stagnant. Slowing down has consequences,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°I see.¡± Just then, Pudge arrived. He¡¯d been scouting the area around the city for the past few hours, so Zeke hoped that his brother had found something important. He asked, ¡°Anything?¡± ¡°No,¡± Pudge answered. ¡°The entrances have all been sealed. Even the sewers are blocked off and guarded by powerful enchantments. We will not enter that city without bringing them down.¡± ¡°Dammit,¡± Zeke muttered. ¡°I guess we do this the hard way, then.¡± After that, they retreated a few miles to the camp surrounding the latest gate position. Once there, he sent Pudge inside to fetch Kianma and Sasha so they could add their input to the planning stage. Meanwhile, Zeke and the rest of his brain trust set up in one of the tents that had been erected by the kobolds. It was not a particularly opulent affair, with the most prominent piece of furniture being a large table that hosted a map of the area. Soon, Kianma and Sasha arrived. The former, with characteristic stoicism, but the latter, with no small degree of trepidation. Clearly, she remembered what it felt like to participate in mass slaughter, and she very much did not want to repeat it. Hopefully, she wouldn¡¯t need to. After a little discussion, Zeke broached the pertinent subject. ¡°Sasha, I know you¡¯ve been trying to leave war behind,¡± he said, his hands on the table as he leaned forward. ¡°I get that. But I need you to create one more spell.¡± As he explained what he required, her frown deepened. Finally, he ended by saying, ¡°If everything we¡¯ve seen so far is accurate, you won¡¯t kill a single person. Your only job is to sunder the wall¡¯s defenses. Do that, and we¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± At present, Zeke had close to a million kobolds at his disposal. Most weren¡¯t of a level to fight a Knight of the Radiant Host toe-to-toe, but they were more than capable of contributing to the battle. What they lacked in quality, they more than made up for in sheer numbers ¨C especially when their unerring cooperation came into play. The backbone of the army was around a hundred thousand strong, with most of them having progressed to the first threshold at level seventy-five. Quite a few, like Silik, had blown past that mark. Zeke suspected that no one outside the tower had any clue just how many kobolds he had at his disposal. To most, one kobold looked much the same as any other, and he¡¯d made it clear that he expected them to cycle the participants in every battle. On top of that, they were truly dedicated when it came to grinding out levels. The dungeons were in constant use, and when they weren¡¯t fighting for levels, they were in the Hunting Grounds perfecting their techniques. If Zeke had tried to create perfect soldiers in a laboratory, he couldn¡¯t have come up with anything better than the kobolds. And now, the full might of the Crimson Tower was on the verge of being unleashed. ¡°This is going to change everything,¡± Eveline stated within his mind. ¡°I know,¡± he responded, watching as the others continued their preparations. Sasha hadn¡¯t been happy about having to participate, but she¡¯d agreed that it was the best plan. ¡°Her soft heart is working against her,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°She¡¯s made friends with many of your citizens, and she knows that she can save them. That¡¯s worth more than your little speech.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a speech,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I just told her the situation.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Zeke resisted the urge to shake his head, but both he and Eveline knew she was right ¨C as was usual. For all that he resisted her influence, he couldn¡¯t deny that, without her, he would have long since been lost. After everyone had settled on a plan of action, they all went off to make their own preparations. There were materials to gather from storage, defenders to organize, and a spell to create. For his part, Zeke mostly had nothing to do, so he settled down in the center of the tent and began to meditate. It didn¡¯t work, though. Of all the battles he¡¯d fought, the stakes had never been higher than they were concerning the assault on Eldoria. He just hoped it went according to plan. Otherwise, a lot of his people were going to needlessly die. * * * Ignatius peered into the glass orb, seeing only the barest flickers of movement within its abyssal depths. ¡°What are they doing?¡± he growled. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything! Is this thing broken?¡± ¡°No, your grace,¡± said one of the mages. ¡°They are too far for us to sense it properly, but we suspect they have enacted some sort of countermeasure against scrying.¡± ¡°And you can¡¯t bypass it?! They are primitive beasts! What kind of mages are you?¡± he demanded. When one of them tried to answer, he cut her off, saying, ¡°Never mind. Just¡­just go.¡± The mages scurried out of the room, and he turned to one of his advisors. Another unqualified idiot. If Abigail had been there, he could have sent her out to ascertain the nature of the threat. But she hadn¡¯t been seen since the ill-fated attempt to ambush the leader of the kobold horde. He feared that she, along with the rest of the Knights he¡¯d sent, was dead. That fateful day was when everything had changed. He¡¯d overplayed his hand, sending nearly a thousand of his most powerful Knights. At the time, he¡¯d thought it was overkill, but as it turned out, he should have sent even more. They¡¯d all been slaughtered or captured, and what¡¯s worse, Ignatius didn¡¯t even know how many of the monsters they¡¯d taken with them. How large was the army arrayed against him? Ten thousand peak monsters was enough to have killed the Knights he¡¯d sent against them, but he wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if there had been double that number. He still didn¡¯t know how they managed to move so quickly, and his own force had barely managed to make it back to Eldoria in time. ¡°How long can we last?¡± he asked the advisor. ¡°Regarding food and water, indefinitely. Some of the slaves may be forced to go on short rations, but citizens will have everything they need,¡± the advisor stated. ¡°In terms of morale, the soldiers are ready to meet the enemy on the battlefield. The non-combatant citizens are understandably less enthusiastic about the coming battle.¡± ¡°And the defenses?¡± ¡°The runes on the wall are fully charged,¡± was the answer. ¡°The mana batteries will last for at least a decade under heavy fire. Much longer, if the enemy lacks the power to tax it.¡± ¡°They have power. Their leader is known for shattering defenses,¡± Ignatius stated. It was due to that that he¡¯d had Eldoria¡¯s walls reinforced a dozen times over the course of the last couple of years. His craftsmen had been working on it ever since the fall of Adontis, and he had been assured that it would take the power of a god to knock them down. ¡°Call upon the Siegemasters. We will attack at dawn.¡± 599. A Crack in the Wall A hundred thousand kobolds stood in the Entry Hall, each one equipped identically with long spears, heavy shields, and segmented armor. Their gear was the product of years of work and development for the Crimson Tower¡¯s crafters, and its quality was second to none. However, as well-equipped as they were, the real strength of that massive army was the obsessive dedication of the kobolds themselves. They trained with the sort of single-minded commitment seldom seen among the more accepted races of the world. Many of the strongest among them had begun their lives deep beneath Min Ferilik, where they¡¯d been forced to scrape and claw for mere survival. Down there, the only means of survival was through selfless dedication to the clutch, and that generation had passed that trait on to those who¡¯d been born within the tower. The result was a fighting force whose coordination and dedication to improvement was unmatched. They¡¯d used that to drive them forward with obsessive determination that had fueled their rapid rise to true power. To date, they had held back the bulk of that army, cycling through the squads one-by-one as they fought battle after battle. Everyone in the army had been bloodied during the war against the Imperium. They¡¯d all contributed to the army¡¯s successes. However, the full weight of the entire force had yet to be felt upon the Eternal Realm. That was about to change. ¡°Are they ready, Silik?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Yes, Ak-toh,¡± the big general stated. ¡°The First Army will follow you into battle. The second wave, which consists of the Second-to-Seventh Armies, will surround the city and prevent any escape. The Eighth-to-Tenth Armies will remain in reserve, alongside the trainees and Scout Corps.¡± Zeke almost shook his head at that. He¡¯d vastly underestimated the number of soldiers he had at his disposal. Not only were there more than a million kobolds ready for battle, but there were nearly a hundred thousand Irregulars ¨C which consisted primarily of beastkin, but also included other races who called the tower home ¨C and just as many scouts. There was not an accurate count for the trainees, which were mostly juveniles who would act as stretcher-bearers and runners, while also occupying other necessary roles. ¡°The Spiritweavers are ready as well, Ak-Toh,¡± Kianma stated. ¡°The mobile hospital is at the first campsite, while there are satellite sites surrounding the city. The main infirmary will remain within the tower itself, though. We are ready to treat all wounds and save as many people as possible.¡± Zeke was in awe. Adara spoke up, ¡°The former Knights and our students are ready to charge alongside you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be with them, I suppose,¡± Jasper stated. ¡°We will infiltrate unseen,¡± Pudge added, and the ten shadowy kobolds ¨C the Inashi ¨C beside him hissed their agreement. ¡°We know our work well.¡± After that, various other leaders voiced their own parts in the upcoming battle. The centaurs were there, as well as a contingent of undead led by Talia¡¯s friends, Adriel and her husband, Baruk. They looked fierce in their black armor and oversized weapons, and Zeke knew from experience just how deadly they could be. In all, there were at least two million people ready to fight the war he¡¯d insisted upon starting. And there were at least twice as many others working behind the scenes to ensure the warriors had everything they needed. It was an awe-inspiring thought, and one Zeke could only scarcely square with himself. ¡°How are there so many?¡± he wondered inwardly. He¡¯d known the tower¡¯s population had grown. He¡¯d seen the evidence. But he had never expected it to have reached such gargantuan proportions. ¡°Monsters,¡± Eveline said. ¡°That¡¯s how this kind of thing works. There aren¡¯t many people who¡¯ve ever managed to harness a horde of monsters, but this is the reason they are so feared. Monsters ¨C especially social ones like kobolds ¨C often reproduce quite quickly. In the wild, this is offset by a high mortality rate. But you have given them safety and security, as well as empowering them with training and opportunity. This is actually less than I would have expected.¡± Suddenly, Zeke saw a vision of an entire world overrun with ultra-powerful kobolds. It was not a pleasant notion. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Eveline said. ¡°The introduction of sapience will rob them of much of their fertility. Depending on their natural longevity ¨C which I think will be quite high ¨C their birth rates will drop precipitously. Once they reach full sapience ¨C as a race ¨C they will produce offspring at a rate similar to humans. Perhaps even less.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t sure what to think of that, save to simply acknowledge it. There was a good chance that the force he¡¯d gathered represented the absolute peak of kobold society. He¡¯d never endeavored to create such an army. In fact, he¡¯d only ever wanted to honor his promise to Mykaena, the wyrm the kobolds had often referred to as their mother. But now, he was on the verge of using them like a tool.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. That didn¡¯t make him feel great. Complicating matters was the fact that, even now, quite a few of the kobolds were not sapient, and as such, were not capable of making their own choices. Most of them were only there because they were following the others. The rest, because their mother had dictated that they should. Did they make choices? It was hard to say. Whatever the case, Zeke couldn¡¯t afford not to use them. Not after they had already come so far. The Imperium was evil. He knew that down to the core of who he was. And as such, they needed to be put into their place. Without the kobolds, Zeke couldn¡¯t make that happen. So, yes. He would use them. And as a result, many would die. He had no illusions about that, either. But he hoped that, in the end, it would be worth it, that their deaths would not be in vain. ¡°Give the order,¡± he said. ¡°The second Sasha enacts her spell, we assault Eldoria.¡± Silik clapped his clawed hand over his breastplate, then relayed the orders to juveniles who would carry them across the entire Entry Hall. It was miles wide, by that point, and it would take a little time before everyone had been informed. ¡°I hope this works,¡± he said inwardly. Otherwise, a lot of people were going to die. * * * Ignatius stood with his hands behind his back as he peered into the glass orb. He¡¯d never enjoyed scrying, but it was a necessary part of any general¡¯s life. And though he¡¯d left the life of a warlord far behind ¨C taking the entire Imperium upon his shoulders ¨C he had not forgotten all the training he¡¯d received in his youth. So, he kept his face impassive as he peered into the darkness. Until he grew too frustrated to keep his questions to himself. Finally, he asked, ¡°What is happening? Why can¡¯t I see anything?¡± The mage in charge ¨C Ignatius didn¡¯t know her name ¨C said, ¡°I don¡¯t know, your grace. Something obscures the sight. Perhaps they have countermages in ¨C¡± ¡°It is a horde of monsters. They have no countermages. They are beasts led by a savage of indeterminate origin,¡± Ignatius reminded the mage, his tone scathing. He knew good and well those sorts¡¯ propensity to blame everything but their own ineptitude for failures, and he would brook none of it. ¡°Yes, your grace. Maybe it¡¯s a specialized sort of monster, then. The webweavers of the Argathi Depths are known to block the sight. Perhaps it is something like that.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Ignatius agreed, though he felt more confident that his mages were simply out of practice or incapable. Those were fixable problems. The existence of some mysterious monster was not. Fortunately, Eldoria was equipped with countermeasures. So, he said, ¡°Empower the ¨C¡± Before he could finish the order, a bright light flashed in the orb. For anyone below his level, that flash would have been blinding. Even for him, it left spots dancing across his vision. However, he was able to discern a shape amidst the blazing light, and he almost laughed at the sight. ¡°Is that a pigkin?¡± he muttered, though when he looked at the mage who was in charge of the scrying orb, he saw that the woman¡¯s eyes had been burned out of her skull. Clearly, she had a low endurance, and she paid the price for her lack when she finally collapsed, dead before she hit the ground. Regardless, Ignatius was far more interested in what he¡¯d seen in the orb before it suddenly went black. A single figure. A beastkin that looked like it could trace its origin back to a common boar. What purpose could such a foul creature serve? He had no idea, but he definitely didn¡¯t like it. Perhaps it was meant as an insult. Yes. That made sense, even if he didn¡¯t quite get what such an insult was meant to say. Still, he never got the chance to figure it out before the sound of a huge explosion echoed through the city. Even in the depths of his stronghold, which was protected by thousands of powerful enchantments, he could hear it clearly. It shook the very earth and knocked the scrying orb from its cradle. It hit the floor and shattered, though Ignatius did catch sight of that same pig-creature collapsing before it fell apart. * * * Zeke watched from the gate as, more than a mile away, Sasha collapsed. She had spent more than a week building her spell, and though her efforts had enjoyed the protection of Kianma¡¯s spiritweavers, she¡¯d been forced to fight through plenty of counterspells. The level of power she¡¯d summoned via her spell was, in a word, staggering. The last time Zeke had seen her power at work, she¡¯d barely managed to manipulate only a fraction of that mana. ¡°She¡¯s grown, Ezekiel. They all have,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°The girl does not enjoy fighting, but she spent plenty of time hunting with Pudge and the kobold warbands.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know,¡± he muttered inwardly. As far as he¡¯d known, Sasha had confined her activities to teaching in the academy. He was happy with that, too. She was incredibly intelligent, and she¡¯d helped plenty of others work toward reaching their potential. That was enough. ¡°There are many things you don¡¯t know,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°That girl is extremely powerful. What¡¯s more, she was successful.¡± Indeed, Zeke stared out across the field, and even on such a dark night, he could see that the walls had been breached. Physically, they were unharmed, but the runes that had protected them were in shambles. That had opened a gap in those defenses. ¡°Charge,¡± he ordered. A second later, a hundred thousand kobolds began to pour out of three gates. They moved efficiently, but even then, it took almost five minutes before the flow ceased. Seven hundred thousand other kobolds were soon to follow. But Zeke wasn¡¯t concerned with them. Nor did he waste any thought on command. Others were in charge of that. Instead, his job was simple ¨C he was meant to bolster the First Army¡¯s charge, surmount the wall, then kill as many high-level Knights as he could find. Once he managed to enter the city itself, he would open another gate so that, even if the Imperium managed to reengage Eldoria¡¯s defenses, it wouldn¡¯t matter. So, without further ado, Zeke embraced [Titan], summoned Voromir, and sprinted ahead. It wasn¡¯t long before he passed the kobolds ¨C after all, he was much stronger and faster than them ¨C and after two more miles, he came into range of the wall. With a mighty leap, he jumped into the wall, and when he reached his destination, he slammed his hands into the well-fitted bricks, shattering them just enough to create handholds for the following kobolds. Hundreds of feet above, mana swirled and the twang of snapping bowstrings filled the air. A moment later, the first kills hit him. Zeke hunched his shoulders and began his climb, hoping that his massive body would shield his people. Thus, the Battle of Eldoria began. 600. Street to Street Bursts of fire erupted overhead, bathing the city streets in an orange glow. The world rumbled as other skills tore between the enemies and through the alleys, eviscerating anyone who found themselves in their way. Most were slaves, but there were a few normal citizens of the Imperium who¡¯d not made it into the shelters. They never would, because their own soldiers were indiscriminate in their defense of the city. Anyone left outside was fair game. It was just one more reminder of just how cruel the Radiant Host could be, though it had been quite some time since Zeke had needed one. He knew who they were. More importantly, he¡¯d seen their patron, the Sun Goddess, and felt her influence. They were evil because, at her core, she was rotten. And his crusade wouldn¡¯t end with her minions. One day, he would face her down and force her to pay for everything that had been done in her name. For now, though, he shouldered through a giant fireball, feeling its intense heat stripping away layer after layer of his metallic skin away. It was painful ¨C even with his natural tolerance ¨C but he didn¡¯t let it distract him. Largely, that was because he knew it would never be enough to do appreciable damage. And if it did past that threshold, he always had [Hand of Divinity]. When he rushed through the ball of fire, Zeke saw the mage¡¯s self-satisfied expression of superiority fade only a second before he crushed the man with his hammer. Voromir descended with such power that the robed mage burst into a gelatinous slurry, unidentifiable and disgusting. The head of the hammer smashed into the street a fraction of an instant later, and the force of the blow sent a shockwave of destruction arcing out in every direction. The kobolds leaped over him, leveling their shields and erecting a powerful barrier the second their feet hit the ground. It was just in time, because a thousand arrows fell upon it a moment later, sending ripples of power across its entire length. Each one of those attacks could have killed Zeke only a few years before, but he knew that he could easily endure everything all at once and come through it. Maybe not entirely unscathed, and certainly not without significant pain, but he could take anything the city¡¯s defenders could dish out. The kobolds could not, though. They were still quite vulnerable, and that meant they needed to take the threats seriously. As such, the line of powerful kobolds pushed forward cautiously, keeping their interlocking shield skill running at full power even as the defenders¡¯ ranged attacks rained down upon them. The army¡¯s advance was slow, but it was also steady. Even as the fury of those attacks increased ¨C probably due to panic ¨C the kobolds¡¯ march continued unabated. In the distance, Zeke saw the enemy¡¯s lines falter, and if he was honest, he couldn¡¯t blame them. The kobolds were each at least ten feet tall, and they were packed with enough muscle that they cut an intimidating presence. But for the Radiant Host, who¡¯d been raised and trained on the idea that they were superior, the sight of the hulking monsters and their inevitable advance was assuredly horrifying. For some, their fear meant an increased instance of skill-use. Mages hurled one radiant fireball after another in the hopes that eventually, they could punch through the powerful shield. Archers mimicked that action, but instead of using fireball, they summoned arrows of gleaming light that were more than capable of killing any individual kobold. But together, the army was unstoppable. Together, their defenses were unassailable. It was a beautiful thing to witness, and Zeke stood at the rear of the army, admiring the force he¡¯d helped build. For his part, he was ready to leap in and help if necessary, but he knew just how valuable ¨C for their levels as well as their psyche ¨C such a battle would be. Even now, at the precipice of winning a war, he was cognizant of his kobolds¡¯ progress. They needed to get stronger, and not just to combat the trials ahead. It was also their best way to ease their way into sapience, at least as far as he could see. There were other steps, but he had no control over those at the moment. For now, he could only help them grow more powerful. And the Radiant Host was the grindstone upon which they would sharpen themselves. The Knights charged down the wide street ¨C it was the main avenue through the city, so it was at least a fifty yards across ¨C but when they hit the kobold¡¯s front lines, they were stopped cold. That¡¯s when the legionnaires lashed out with their spears, piercing their enemies¡¯ chests and sending them reeling in retreat. Zeke saw their intention immediately, but fortunately, so did the kobolds. Instead of giving chase, they continued their inexorable advance, thwarting the Radiant Host¡¯s attempt at baiting them into a trap. The furious barrage of skills increased in intensity, and the shield began to waver. The moment before it collapsed in on itself, the second line of kobold stepped forward even as the first row backed away. As they did so, the shield winked out, but before even a single skill made it through, the second row erected their own barrier, completing the switch. The bombardment continued, but the kobolds were entirely unfazed. Not long after, one of the Inashi appeared beside Zeke.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°We have found them, master,¡± he hissed, flicking in and out of Zeke¡¯s vision like a shadow. ¡°Show me,¡± Zeke ordered. At one point, he¡¯d objected to them calling him master, but he now knew he couldn¡¯t stop them from labeling him as such. He didn¡¯t care about that, now. Instead, the entirety of his attention was on the task at hand. So, as much as he wanted to remain with the bulk of the army, he had another objective. He could have killed the opposing army himself, but so could his kobolds. The same could not be said of the leaders of the Radiant Host. He ¨C with the help of his closest companions ¨C was the only one who could take care of them ¨C at least without significant casualties. So, he resolved to trust that the kobold army could finish off their counterparts, and in the meantime, he followed the Inashi through the city. He barely noticed the architecture, expect to acknowledge that Eldoria was a beautiful city. That fit. It was the capitol of the Imperium and one of the richest cities in the world. Of course it would be beautiful. But Zeke knew the ugliness that underlay the buildings¡¯ carved facades and the sculptures that decorated every intersection. It had all been built on slavery and oppression, which everything he saw. That made it abhorrent, regardless of how it had been dressed up. Zeke continued to follow the Inashi, and he was struck by just how large the city was. Of course, it had to be, considering the numbers at play. Housing millions of people was no mean feat, and it required quite a lot of space. That was especially true when the city¡¯s layout made no attempt at utilizing the area efficiently. There were no high-rises. No communal housing. Just one palace after another. ¡°Where do they put their poor people?¡± he wondered as he trotted along behind the shadowy Inashi. Eveline answered, ¡°They went over this in one of the meetings. Much of the city is underground. The further down, the worse it gets. The slaves are kept ten levels down, and they are reportedly packed into unhealthy conditions. There are whole communities down there that have never seen the light of day. They toil away in mines, manufacturing operations, and underground farms. Tens of millions of them.¡± ¡°Wait ¨C the population of the city ¨C¡± ¡°Those numbers never included the slaves or those who lacked citizenship. The true numbers are close to fifty or sixty million.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Zeke breathed. ¡°Indeed. Most won¡¯t survive this war.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°The Imperium will burn this city down to the ground ¨C literally and metaphorically ¨C before it lets you take it intact,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°That includes slaughtering every slave they have. That¡¯s one of the reasons the plan was built the way it was. The armies will sweep in and rescue as many slaves as possible while you and the others deal with the elites of the Radiant Host.¡± Zeke recalled something about that, but he¡¯d only listened to his part of the battleplan. He was no strategies, and so, he¡¯d never considered knowing what everyone else was supposed to do to be a high priority. Perhaps he needed to adjust his thinking, especially if the next realm proved to be as contentious as he expected it to be. ¡°That¡¯s why you have me, right?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°You can focus on the smashing things part while I¡¯m the brains of the operation.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I ¨C ¡± Zeke didn¡¯t finish the thought, because something rammed into him, cutting him off. The figure ¨C it was a person, he was sure ¨C hit him with so much force that the resulting momentum sent him through the first four walls in a nearby palace. He didn¡¯t come to a stop until he¡¯d skipped across a large garden and into a massive statue of some heroic warrior. Zeke picked himself up just in time to see that he was surrounded by a series of ten-foot-tall Knights. He could feel enough mana to know that each one was under the effects of identical skills that gave them their increased size. It was much like [Titan], though he was far larger. ¡°Fifteen?¡± he asked aloud. ¡°Is this all you brought?¡± ¡°Fiend,¡± said one, stepping forward and leveling his sword in Zeke¡¯s direction. ¡°You have sullied our very streets with your foul presence and ¨C¡± Zeke didn¡¯t care about what he had to say, so he didn¡¯t hesitate before throwing himself forward. Just before his hammer was going to tear through the Knight¡¯s helmeted head, his momentum petered out and he came to a sudden halt. It was only then that he saw that a globe of bright light had surrounded him. ¡°A skill,¡± he said inwardly. It was the obvious answer, considering he couldn¡¯t sense any runes nearby. However, that didn¡¯t make it any easier to combat. Suspended in mid-air, he had no leverage. On top of that, he felt like he was entirely paralyzed. His muscles wouldn¡¯t respond to his commands. ¡°Take him,¡± the Knight commanded, and the other fourteen figures advanced. Four carried thick shackles, and Zeke didn¡¯t need a great imagination to figure out what they were meant to constrain. One for each limb, and another for his neck. ¡°If you let them shackle you, this will end extremely poorly,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know,¡± he muttered, trying to figure out how to move. Just then, the Inashi appeared on the lead Knight¡¯s shoulder. A black dagger flashed a half-dozen times in quick succession before the Inashi disappeared. The Knight howled in pain, swinging his sword around, but he found nothing but air. Zeke didn¡¯t pay attention to that. The Inashi had given him a few extra seconds, and he intended to use it properly. Normally, he would have lashed out with his destructive Will, but with that having been transformed into divine energy and locked away, he didn¡¯t have that option available. What he did have was a level of strength that should not have been possible in the Eternal Realm. As Eveline was fond of reminding him, it wasn¡¯t just physical might. He held at his beck and call the very concept of strength, and, for the first time, he felt the restraints on his mind lift away so he could use it. The air all around him shimmered, and reality flexed. He pushed harder, his every muscle flexing with every pulse of his mind. He couldn¡¯t feel his body. He couldn¡¯t move. But in that moment, none of that mattered. The globe of light shattered. So did the ground beneath him. And everything within fifty feet. Even the Knights, all of whom were just out of sight, were thrown backward hundreds of feet. Zeke dropped to the ground with a thud, then took a deep breath. He¡¯d taken upon himself the responsibility for killing the Radiant Host¡¯s elites, and it seemed to him that fifteen of them had been kind enough to save him the trouble of having to search them out. Now, he intended to return that favor with quite a lot of aggression. He pushed himself to his feet, then rolled his shoulders as he looked around. The Knights did the same, and even though Zeke couldn¡¯t see their faces, he knew that they were shocked to find that he was free. ¡°How?¡± muttered the leader. Zeke glanced in his direction, and he was happy to see strands of corruption spreading across his golden armor. Whatever the case, Zeke had no intention of holding a conversation. So, he stepped forward, ready to get started on his mission. 601. Execution Zeke hit the knight with a shoulder tackle, sending him ragdolling across the square until he hit a pile of rubble. He followed that up with a spinning, backhanded swing of Voromir that launched another knight into a long arc that ended hundreds of yards away. The collapse of the building where he landed was like music to Zeke¡¯s ears. However, he was quick to note that he didn¡¯t receive any experience. ¡°I hit that guy with enough force that he should have burst,¡± Zeke remarked as a greatsword dug into his side. He reacted by pinning the blade to his body, then twisting. It snapped a second later, and even as it clattered to the ground, he snapped out a vicious punch that drove the wielder into the ground. A quick kick sent that knight rolling across the square. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± ¡°I¡¯m working on it,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°Something is strange about their armor.¡± ¡°Work faster,¡± he grunted as another knight rammed into him. Zeke skidded sideways almost fifteen feet before he managed to arrest his momentum. As he came to a stop, he elbowed the man in the back. Once. Twice. Three times. Each blow rang like a bell as his metallic form collided with the knight¡¯s gilded armor. The crunch of crumpling metal came next, and Zeke dismissed his hammer before wrapping his hands around the fellow¡¯s torso, spinning, and throwing him as far as he could. And given Zeke¡¯s massive strength, that was quite a long way. At least a mile. Maybe two. But instinctively, he knew it wouldn¡¯t matter. Soon enough, the knight would return, and given the recovery he saw among the first few he¡¯d attacked, he¡¯d come back unharmed. As for the others, the ones he¡¯d already hit had begun to recover, and remaining knights were closing in on him. Zeke re-summoned his hammer and lashed out, activating Voromir¡¯s ability. A huge, read projection of the weapon manifested, sweeping across the square and smashing into four knights who¡¯d clumped together. The attack halted their charge, sending them stumbling backward. ¡°I think they¡¯re getting stronger,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on here, Eveline. Sooner rather than later would be great.¡± ¡°I think¡­the armor is all connected,¡± she said. ¡°Like a rune formation, but not.¡± ¡°So, I need to destroy one of them? Like smashing an enchantment node?¡± He kicked another knight, and though he put a good deal of his strength behind the blow, the man only flew a few dozen feet before he hit the ground. He rolled a few more feet before coming to a stop. A second later, he twitched, then rose, looking as if he¡¯d not taken a bit of damage. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s going to work,¡± she said. ¡°The sense I¡¯m getting is that the source of the ¨C watch out!¡± Just then, another sword hit Zeke¡¯s side, cutting deep into his hip and stopping only when it hit his spine. He grunted in pain as he threw himself aside. The blade wrenched free, and he employed [Hand of Divinity] to heal the damage. However, it worked much more slowly than normal. Clearly, the attack had been coupled with a skill. Whether it only hampered his healing or if it was something more complicated, Zeke wasn¡¯t certain. But the fact remained that it did not bode well for his survival. Zeke held his ground, unsure how he was meant to respond to the threat. Killing the knights ¨C quickly, at least ¨C didn¡¯t seem to be an option. Perhaps he could wear them down, but something told him that he lacked the punch to do that. They could heal more quickly than he could do damage, which meant that ending them would take quite a lot of time. If it was even possible. ¡°The source?¡± he asked Eveline as he backed away. Worst case scenario, he would just run away. As much as that wounded his pride to even consider, Zeke would endure it if it meant his survival. However, going down that route would doubtless put his allies in serious danger. After all, if he couldn¡¯t stand up to them, then the kobolds certainly could not, especially not without significant losses. And he valued their lives too much to go truly consider that route. Eveline answered, ¡°To your left. The big one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s him?¡± ¡°No. But there¡¯s a thread of mana emanating from him. It¡¯s a little thicker than any of the others, and I think it might lead to the source,¡± she explained. ¡°But I need you to get closer so I can see it properly.¡± ¡°That might be a little bit of a problem,¡± he muttered to himself. The largest knight ¨C the one that had been attacked by the Inashi ¨C stood next to five others. They weren¡¯t quite the threat he was ¨C Zeke expected that he was a peak entity, while the others were a few levels his inferior ¨C but altogether, they posed quite a danger. And it was one he wasn¡¯t eager to confront. ¡°Suck it up,¡± she said. ¡°You think of yourself as some indestructible berserker, right?¡± ¡°That is not accurate at all.¡± ¡°Please. You know it¡¯s true,¡± she said. ¡°Well, it¡¯s time you put your own perception to the test. You¡¯ve been working on your fighting technique for a while now. Show me what all that work is for.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Zeke knew she was just trying to manipulate him, but he wasn¡¯t immune to attacks on his ego. He was a proud man, and he didn¡¯t like the notion of anyone doubting his proficiency in battle. Regardless of how insincere he knew Eveline was in her assessment, he couldn¡¯t ignore it. ¡°Who said I¡¯m insincere? Now, go knock those guys down a peg or two, and let me see if I can find us a thread to follow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what to do,¡± he mumbled to himself. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying. If I do what you suggest, it¡¯s because I want to. Not because you told me to.¡± ¡°Is this really the time to ¨C¡± Zeke threw himself forward, moving faster than he¡¯d ever moved before. Even under the effects of [Shifting Sands], he¡¯d have had difficulty keeping up. It was the effects of his upgraded attribute tiers pushing him to new feats of ability, and he was more than willing to finally let loose. The ground cracked beneath his first step, and the shockwave of his movement tore the rest of the flagstones apart as he raced into battle. When he hit the first knight, it was with enough force to crush his chest. Even so, Zeke could see the damage repairing itself in real time, and before the man flew backwards, the effects of the blow had already been mended. But Zeke wasn¡¯t concerned with that. Instead, he aimed a horizontal swing at the next knight in line, and it connected with a vicious crunch that echoed across the square. Next came a spinning blow that crushed one of the remaining knights¡¯ knees, which Zeke followed up with a kick that sent them sprawling across the ground. After that, the melee devolved into a series of rapid attacks that knocked the remaining knights out of range. Zeke took a few wounds along the way, but he ignored the pain they caused. Instead, he had only one overarching objective ¨C to isolate the leader ¨C and his every action was meant to serve that goal. Once that was done, he latched his arms around the smaller figure and squeezed. ¡°Figure it out yet?¡± he asked inside his own mind. The strain of his efforts was evident even in his thoughts, and rightly so. With every passing moment, the knights grew stronger. Even now, the leader was on the verge of escape. He flexed, battling the increasing power of his opponent. Then, the knight broke free. Before Zeke could recover, he took a massive fist to the face. His bones crunched under the blow, and his vision erupted with stars. He hit the ground a second later, but thankfully, he managed to roll free before the knight¡¯s foot fell in a vicious stomp that tore a crater into the ground. ¡°Eveline¡­¡± Zeke continued to roll away, using every point of his incredible attributes to avoid the next attack. This time, the knight¡¯s sword cut through the paving stones, digging a deep rift in the earth below. Instinctively, Zeke tried to activate [Shifting Sands], but as had been the case since he¡¯d discovered divine energy, the skill remained just out of reach. ¡°Eveline!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± she screamed. ¡°I¡¯m using your senses! If anyone¡¯s to blame, it¡¯s you!¡± Zeke threw himself to the side, then sprang to his feet. However, his leg collapsed under him when he tried to put any weight on it. Only then did he realize that another of the knights had finally recovered to jam a sword into his thigh. Zeke reached down and ripped it free, but that short delay cost him. The leader hit him with a baseball swing, his sword very nearly cutting Zeke in half. Again. It came in at an angle, slicing between his ribs and cutting through his vital organs. Fortunately, his immense endurance and vitality meant that he wasn¡¯t immediately crippled. However, he wasn¡¯t so durable that having his lungs and heart destroyed didn¡¯t slow him down. He stumbled again, channeling [Hand of Divinity], but the skill was far less effective than it should have been. The knight¡¯s leader loomed over him, his sword poised for another attack. His helmet disappeared, revealing a square-jawed face that made Zeke think of Captain America. But that look was ruined by the man¡¯s smug expression, which somehow managed to convey hatred and disdain at least as well as any words ever could. ¡°You stood before the Hand of the Goddess, and you have been found to be just as pitiful a creature as any other monster,¡± he said. ¡°You will ¨C¡± ¡°Grab him!¡± Eveline shouted. Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate to follow her directions. Nor did he need any further elaboration. She¡¯d given him everything he needed via her unspoken thoughts. Because of that, he knew precisely what he was meant to do, where he was supposed to go. So, even as the knight leader opened his mouth to voice another insult, Zeke threw himself upright. He summoned all the willpower he could muster, then sprang forward. His shoulder hit the knight in the midsection, but instead of knocking the man aside, Zeke wrapped his arms around his waist. His dash turned into a mad sprint that obviously left the other knights confused. The one over his shoulder in a fireman¡¯s carry pounded his fists against Zeke¡¯s back, but it did nothing to dissuade him from continuing on. Instead, Zeke followed Eveline¡¯s directions, aiming for a shadowy alley on the other side of the square. ¡°No, no!¡± the man screamed, already activating some sort of skill. Before he could finish, Zeke rushed into the alley and saw a simple spear that had been thrust into the ground. The entire thing was made of silver, and it pulsed with so much mana that he wondered how he hadn¡¯t sensed it before. ¡°Part of its effect,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It¡¯s masterfully enchanted to tie the knights¡¯ armor together, and it redistributes damage across everyone. It¡¯s also¡­oh, you¡¯re not even listening, are you?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Zeke admitted, finally closing on the spear. Then, he didn¡¯t hesitate before hefting the knight over his head, grabbing the man¡¯s ankles, and swinging him like the world¡¯s most unwieldy sledgehammer. As it happened, the butt of the spear was sharply tipped, so when the man hit, it had no trouble piercing his armor. It punched through the breastplate, tore through his torso, then exploded out the other side in a shower of blood. Without further hesitation, Zeke let the man go, grabbed the spear, then used his immense strength to break it in half. The second it snapped, a wave of mana swept through the area, and more importantly, the knight¡¯s leader went limp. He wasn¡¯t dead, but it was clear that much of his power was gone. That made Zeke¡¯s next task much easier. With a massive stomp, he crushed the man¡¯s chest. The next stop burst his head. And a third finally killed him. That was when the other knights finally reached the head of the alley. They stuttered to a stop, clearly horrified at what they saw. For his part, Zeke only turned to face them, then in a dramatic show, cracked his knuckles. Without their protective enchantment ¨C and with the best of them having already been killed ¨C they had no interest in facing him. So, they turned to flee. Zeke, of course, refused to allow that. He didn¡¯t have access to his skills, but as he¡¯d already established, he could move quite quickly when he so desired. And in that moment, he wanted to go very, very quickly. 602. The Depths The earth shook as Pudge led a group of nine Inashi into the depths of the city. They¡¯d already passed a half-dozen layers, each of which had been broken up into at least ten floors, but he sensed that they still had a long way to go before they reached their destination. Before he could rescue his brothers and sisters who¡¯d been enslaved by the wicked Imperium. Over the course of the war, he had grown increasingly furious with what he had seen. Every conquered town, every victory for the forces of the Crimson Tower, and each defeated enemy had been accompanied by droves of slain beastkin. They had not died in battle, but rather, they had been executed by their uncaring masters in an attempt to both deny them freedom and prevent them from joining forces with all the others rescued from enslavement. The first few times Pudge had seen mass graves, he had been enraged, and he had taken those emotions out on the Radiant Host. Or even the run-of-the-mill citizens of the Imperium. What few had remained behind in each of the conquered cities had been complicit in the slaughter, and Pudge had ensured that they¡¯d paid for their grievous actions. But after a handful of such instances, he¡¯d begun to grow numb to it. It still infuriated him. Instead of erupting with that fury, though, he found himself seething. That anger and frustration boiled beneath the surface, building pressure with every dead beastkin body he saw until he felt ready to explode. And now, they had reached Eldoria. The crown jewel of the Imperium. The seat of the Radiant Host. And the knights and others like them could no longer run and hide. They were cornered, and Pudge intended to make each and every one of them pay for what they had done. Rationally, he was well aware that they hadn¡¯t all had a hand in the deaths of so many, but just as logically, he knew that they weren¡¯t ignorant of what was going on beneath their noses. Even if they hadn¡¯t participated, they knew. Through inaction, they gave those practices their tacit approval. And they deserved to be punished for that. However, before he could make good on that personal vow, Pudge had a job to do. According to every report he¡¯d seen, there were thousands, if not millions, of beastkin still alive, and they were all trapped in the lower reaches of Eldoria. The wealthy and powerful citizens of the Imperium lived on the surface, and with each level beneath the ground, the status of the residents decreased. And at the very bottom, there were the slaves. Most were beastkin, but there were a fair few political dissidents, criminals, and other races among them as well. Pudge was set upon freeing them, and not just to right a wrong. That was most of it, but he was also charged with breaking their shackles so they could join the fight above. The kobold armies could defeat the Imperium alone, but doing so would doubtless create untold casualties. So, adding millions of freed slaves to the mix might help with that. In addition, Pudge also wanted to give them the chance to take vengeance on their former masters. If he¡¯d been in their situation, that was what he would have wanted. So, before he could join the battle proper, he had a job to do. That was why he found himself trotting through the corridors ¨C they were as wide as the streets above and far more spread out ¨C on a mission to reach the bottom. But there was still a long way to go before he and his Inashi got to that point. So, they trotted along, and though Pudge and the small, corruption-attuned kobolds were all cloaked in dense stealth, he could still feel them. Part of that came from the fact that he¡¯d been working with them for months, but it also was because he¡¯d developed his own corruption attunement. Because of that, he could sense their presence via the increased concentration of demonic energy. The citizens of the Imperium were not so lucky. Pudge and the Inashi spared no one as they swept through one floor after another. The kills were swift and brutal, but they also didn¡¯t allow themselves to be sidetracked. Instead, they took the shortest route possible, leaving a wake of bodies behind. Technically, they didn¡¯t need to kill anyone. They could have passed by undetected. But even though Pudge had mastered his fury, he couldn¡¯t deny himself vengeance when it presented itself so willingly. And the Inashi were always hungry for violence. The little kobolds were bloodthirsty in a cold and calculating way that probably should have unnerved Pudge. Yet, they treated him like an extension of Zeke, who they practically worshiped. So, he knew he had nothing to fear from the little creatures. They weren¡¯t family ¨C not like Talia, Zeke, Sasha, Tucker, or even Adara ¨C but they were stalwart allies who would do whatever needed to be done. So, they had his trust, even if they were a little discomforting. One thing that was undeniable was that they were incredibly efficient killers. They had begun their lives as rangers. Many had been extremely skilled even before Zeke had gifted them their new attunements. Even back then, they could move silently, track prey unerringly, and kill their quarry without issue. And the attunements had given them a deadly sharpness that, from Pudge¡¯s perspective, was unmatched.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. In a lot of ways, they weren¡¯t so different from Pudge himself. Certainly, he¡¯d risen on his own merits, ascending and fighting tooth and nail for every step of progression. However, Pudge was honest enough with himself to acknowledge that he would have been nothing without his brother¡¯s influence. Not only had Zeke saved his life so long ago, but he¡¯d also given him countless opportunities, which he¡¯d used to garner a host of advantages. So, he felt a kinship with the Inashi, who had benefited greatly from Zeke¡¯s influence as well. Gradually, they made their way through the complex, steadily descending from one floor to the next. As they did, the d¨¦cor grew shabbier and shabbier, and the well-fitted walls became rougher. Every now and again, they¡¯d pass a stretch that someone had tried to maintain properly. But for the most part, it was obvious that they¡¯d crossed some invisible line, beyond which was true poverty. Oddly enough, the residents were almost universally human. They were dirty, malnourished, and clearly afraid. Most of them huddled in their homes ¨C which had been carved into the walls ¨C cowering with every rumble from above. Pudge had no idea what was going on up there, but through their bond, he could feel that Zeke was agitated. Not afraid. Not truly in danger. Just a little frustrated. But that was not uncommon. Something had happened in the fight against Micayne, and much of Zeke¡¯s power had been locked away. He¡¯d grown immeasurably stronger as well, and in a way that Pudge didn¡¯t quite understand. However, that had come at the price of his skills being locked away. Ever since then, Zeke had been incredibly frustrated. So, despite the rumbles that felt more like earthquakes, Pudge was not afraid. The lower caste of the Imperium could not say the same thing, though. So, rather than simply slaughter them, Pudge and the Inashi passed them by as they made their way deeper and deeper. By the time they reached their destination, the corridors had become rough-hewn tunnels that were so low that Pudge was forced into a crouch. The Inashi could remain upright, but even their short stature was nearly too much to easily accommodate. Of course, they were creatures who¡¯d evolved in the caverns beneath Min Ferilik, so they had no issues with tight spaces. Finally, Pudge heard something that set his blood to boiling. He knew he was close to their destination, so he didn¡¯t need to infer much to know what the screams of pain signified. So, he pushed himself to pick up speed, and soon enough, they burst free of the tunnel and into a large cavern. It was clearly meant as some sort of commercial hub, with many stores cut into the walls. Some sported colorful awnings, though many of those had been set aflame or ripped from their frames and trampled beneath a thousand feet. The center of the cavern sported a large well, but it was mostly obscured by the crowd of beastkin. Pudge recognized the collars they all wore, and he seethed at the injustice. More importantly, his eyes locked onto a group of fifty knights, each one nearing the peak in terms of levels. They cut quite the set of imposing figures, with their gilded armor, shining weapons, and arrogant demeanors. A sword flashed, and Pudge raced ahead. Using [Shadowfire Evisceration], he threw himself forward with as much speed as he could muster. The world slowed, and an arc of corruption spread out around him. He paid it no mind as he covered the ground between him and the knights in the blink of an eye. He knocked the sword aside, and even as it fell in slow motion, he rammed his [Hellfire] encased claw through the knight¡¯s breastplate. The metal parted, and his fiery claws dug through the man¡¯s chest. Even as time returned to normal, the knight¡¯s blood boiled, and a cacophony of noise echoed through the large cavern. The man let out a gurgling scream as his sword hit the ground, digging a deep trench upon impact. The slave that had been his target was blasted away by the wind of Pudge¡¯s passage, though he could only hope that she was unharmed. It couldn¡¯t matter ¨C not at the moment. Because Pudge¡¯s fury could finally be unleashed. He followed that first attack by sweeping to the side, dropping to all fours, then leaping onto another knight. The man tried to brace himself, but Pudge was far too large and much too mighty for that. He hit the man with the full force of his weight, knocking the knight to the ground before savaging him with his fire-wreathed claws. Screams erupted all around Pudge, but he didn¡¯t pay it any mind. Instead, he focused every ounce of his mind on ripping the knight to pieces. The smell of charred flesh and melted metal filled the air as he dug through the breastplate and tore through his organs. Only when the man¡¯s screams died did Pudge look up, and a scene of carnage greeted him. The Inashi were very good at their jobs, and when Pudge had acted, they¡¯d followed his lead, falling upon the other knights with similar savagery. Most of those knights lay dead, but one had taken one look at the slaughter before choosing to flee. He only got a few steps before Pudge caught up to him. He died quickly, but not well. Finally, Pudge glanced around, and he saw a mass of terrified slaves. He had no idea how many were there, but it had to be thousands. ¡°My name is Pudge Blackwood, and I represent the Crimson Tower. We are here to free you,¡± he announced, standing to his full height. ¡°What you do with that freedom is your prerogative, but if you wish it, you will have a place in the Crimson Tower. You will have food, shelter, and opportunity there.¡± ¡°We¡­we will not be slaves?¡± asked one woman. She was a foxkin, if Pudge could trust his judgement. ¡°No. There are no slaves in the Crimson Tower,¡± he said. With that, Pudge stepped forward, wrapped his claws around the collar at her neck, then tore it free. ¡°You will never be slaves again.¡± She rubbed her neck. ¡°There are others,¡± the foxkin woman stated. ¡°Many, many others. Will you save them as well?¡± ¡°We are here to save everyone,¡± he responded. ¡°I¡­I will help. I think we all will.¡± ¡°Good,¡± he said approvingly. ¡°But first, we must remove your collars.¡± After that, he and the Inashi proceeded to do just that. It progressed quickly enough, largely because, once the slaves were freed, they could help. And soon enough, Pudge, the Inashi, and the now-freed slaves were hunting through the tunnels, ready to free slaves and kill knights of the Radiant Host. For Pudge, he wasn¡¯t certain which he cared about more. 603. Chemical Warfare Athis spun and heaved a large knight across the street. The man crashed through the reinforced wall of a building, though due to some sort of magic Tucker didn¡¯t understand, the damage was confined to the point of impact. Despite being structurally unsound, the building remained standing. A common enough scene across the entire city. Even as Athis threw himself at another knight, Tucker nearly lost his balance from an earthquake emanating from the other side of the city. He knew Zeke was involved, though he wasn¡¯t sure how. Not that it mattered. That man could take care of himself. Tucker, meanwhile, had his own task. Chiefly, he was charged with helping the first army as it progressed through the city and to the fortress at the center of Eldoria. There, they hoped to find the Imperium¡¯s leadership. It would be no easy feat, he knew, but with the way everything was going, he had some hope that things would work out in their favor. After bashing the knight to death, Athis pushed himself upright and turned to Tucker. He asked, ¡°You just going to stand around and do nothing?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll step in when I¡¯m needed,¡± Tucker answered. He¡¯d yet to bring his full abilities to bear on the battle, but that was more because he hadn¡¯t encountered a sufficiently dense collection of knights. His potions were wasted on the relatively small groups they¡¯d fought so far. ¡°You could go to the front line,¡± Athis suggested. ¡°Seems like a lot of knights there.¡± Tucker shook his head, shouldering his blunderbuss. He still wore his pirate attire, including the tricorn hat, but that was mostly because it had become a part of his style. ¡°No can do,¡± he said. ¡°The kobolds don¡¯t like people messing with their tactics. They work best when they can control everything.¡± While that was mostly true, it needed to come with the caveat that he hadn¡¯t really earned their trust yet. He¡¯d made a lot of promises about developing a potion-based regimen that might usher them into a new era of kobold sapience, but he had yet to deliver. Most kobolds couldn¡¯t have cared less about that kind of thing, but the leaders certainly did. And kobolds, for better or worse, followed their leaders. It wasn¡¯t so much that they couldn¡¯t think for themselves. They were definitely capable of that. The problem was that they trusted those leaders, completely and without even a second thought. So, if people like Silik didn¡¯t trust him, then the rank-and-file surely would not. Still, Tucker had made some progress on the project, though because of the war, he hadn¡¯t had as much opportunity to grind it out as he would have liked. The result was that there were a lot of unfulfilled promises floating around, and the kobolds were in no position to ignore them. Thankfully, their frustrations only took the form of blatant annoyance when he meddled in their affairs. They didn¡¯t hate him. Nor did they attack or insult him. They just wanted him to stay in his lane, while they prosecuted the war on their terms. And Tucker wasn¡¯t going to overstep. ¡°The monsters run a good army. I¡¯ll admit that,¡± said the big Kirran. It was ironic that, if he¡¯d clad himself in the same armor, most people wouldn¡¯t have been able to tell the difference between him and the larger kobolds. They were obviously different creatures, but there weren¡¯t as many differences as Athis pretended. He was right, though. The kobolds had swept through the city with undeniable efficiency. Many had been wounded along the way ¨C especially when their shields had been broken ¨C but very few had been killed. The knights of the Radiant Host, by contrast, had fallen in droves. Most of that opposition had been killed, but there were quite a few that had been taken prisoner. Fortunately, the Crimson Tower¡¯s dungeons seemed nearly infinite in their capacity, so there was no danger of them being overfilled. Not that Tucker was particularly happy with that part of it all. He¡¯d never been comfortable with keeping people in captivity, even when they so blatantly deserved it. It seemed cruel, and he would have preferred to simply kill them and be done with it. He¡¯d been overruled on that subject, though. Just as that thought crossed his mind, one of the juvenile kobolds approached with a message asking him to come to the front. Tucker agreed, leaving Athis behind with a few other Kirrans who were tasked with dealing with the stragglers. They weren¡¯t part of the main army, so, despite their power, they had been relegated to a nearly superfluous mission. Tucker followed the messenger through the city, passing areas where the fighting had been thickest. Many of the buildings had been damaged, and there were bodies all around. Some were still alive, which they showed by moving slightly and letting out pained groans, but most were lifeless. There were still a few pockets of resistance here and there, but for the most part, the way was clear. The city was enormous, so it took quite some time for Tucker to cover the ground to the front lines. By the time he reached his destination, the sun had begun to rise, illuminating the carnage before him. Tens of thousands of knights fought against the kobolds, covering the retreat of the bulk of their force. Their goal was to reach the huge citadel at the center of the city. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Besides being quite inspiring in terms of architecture, the structure was also a nearly impregnable fortress festooned with protective enchantments on par with those that had protected the outer walls. Those had been sundered by the porcine sorceress, which wasn¡¯t a repeatable feat. Even if the girl was capable, her skills were not suited for repetitive tasks. In short, if they wanted to breach those sturdy walls, they would need to do so the hard way. Tucker¡¯s talents were nearly useless in that endeavor, so when he approached Silik and asked why he¡¯d been summoned, he listened to the answer with some degree of curiosity. ¡°Are you sure about this? It won¡¯t be pretty,¡± he explained. ¡°And your people will see some effects as well. I¡¯m pretty sure it won¡¯t kill them, but¡­well, it¡¯s going to be agonizing. Not deadly, given your resistances, but still¡­¡± ¡°We are prepared for this,¡± Silik stated. ¡°Please do it.¡± Tucker sighed, then nodded. He wasn¡¯t particularly opposed to mass killing, especially when the enemy happened to be people who definitely deserved it. The Radiant Host ¨C and the larger Imperium ¨C certainly fit that description. Even so, he wasn¡¯t altogether comfortable with what he was about to do. After all, there was a reason chemical weapons had been banned back on Earth. Not only was it a horrible way to die, but in the wrong hands, there were a lot of ways it could go very wrong, very quickly. His were definitively the right hands, but that didn¡¯t really help. Regardless, he¡¯d already agreed to doing what he could to help with the prosecution of the war. Indeed, over the past few months, he¡¯d used his abilities to kill countless people. In that way, he¡¯d progressed far more than he could have expected, and he¡¯d already passed the level ninety mark. Soon, he¡¯d reach the peak, though he wasn¡¯t sure what would happen after that. Ascension, surely. Beyond that, though, he couldn¡¯t have guessed what to expect. As he retreated from the front lines and found his way to a nearby building, he knew that what he was about to do would go a long way toward pushing him to the upper reaches of the Eternal Realm¡¯s power scale. So, he would need to figure things out sooner rather than later. He found the stairs, then climbed to the roof, and when he reached his destination, the battlefield was laid out before him. The citadel was surrounded by a large, well-manicured lawn with beautiful fountains, various stands of trees, and winding paths meant for pedestrians out on a nice stroll. Much of that area had been trampled by thousands of pairs of feet, but there was enough left standing that it gave Tucker a good impression of its former magnificence. He tried to ignore it as he brought his blunderbuss to his shoulder and took aim. After activating [Bombardment], then summoned a globe into the weapon¡¯s chamber. He fired the grenade, then watched it soar through the air. After only a second, it split into five identical copies before descending into the mass of knights. Tucker didn¡¯t wait to see the results. It would take some time until it activated, and he wanted to blanket the entire battlefield before that happened. So, he shifted his aim, then fired again, and to similar results. Five more times, he fired identical globes, and with each instance, he felt his pool of mana drain. He wasn¡¯t like Zeke, who always seemed to have an infinite source of energy. Instead, his own reserves were quite limited, and using five instances of [Bombardment] was quite draining. But he knew it would all be worth it. Finally, once the globes had shattered, spreading their contents across the entire battlefield, Tucker raised his blunderbuss and took aim. Once he¡¯d selected his target, he summoned another grenade into the chamber. This one was the same size as the others, though where they¡¯d been filled with a swirl of green poison, this latest globe was filled with the spark that would change everything. The [Catalyst Potion] was just what its name implied, and it was meant to create a specific effect. In this case, it would create a cause a chain reaction that spread through the cloud of green gas he¡¯d already spread across the battlefield. By itself, the [Plague Potion] was enough to cause debilitating effects among its victims, but with the [Catalyst Potion], those effects would accelerate and the potency would skyrocket. Even among people with high endurance, it would be deadly. Only entities with significant resistances would be safe. Fortunately, that bard, Jasper, was out there and improving those very resistances. In addition, the spiritweavers had used their abilities to shield the kobolds from the worst of the effects. The end result was that, though they would get sick, they wouldn¡¯t be nearly affected as their enemies. And that was enough. Tucker fired, then used the last of his mana to activate [Bombardment]. Five glittering copies flew through the air before landing among the army. None of them had even noticed Tucker¡¯s efforts. Yet. That changed only a few seconds later, when a shockwave of white energy spread through the green haze, igniting it. It glowed a virulent and sickly yellow, and only a moment or two later, the knights started dropping. Despite knowing what he would see, Tucker peered closer, and he nearly vomited as he saw the consequences of his actions. The knights didn¡¯t simply fall unconscious and die peacefully. If only that was the case, he might not have as many nightmares. But even his worst dreams couldn¡¯t compare to the reality of what he saw. He knew from experience that the first effect blood bursting from every orifice, and he could see that red liquid oozing from the seams of the knights¡¯ armor. However, that was only the first effect, and it certainly wasn¡¯t the worst. Liquefied organs was probably the most devastating, but Tucker¡¯s worst nightmares centered on the cracking bones caused by the superpowered poisonous gas. Even the kobolds, with all their precautions and defenses, faltered. Fortunately, the knights were in no position to take advantage of their sudden stagger. In only a few moments, thousands of knights had fallen. Seconds later, they were dead, each and every one. Sadly, the poison never made it past the citadel¡¯s walls. It wasn¡¯t airtight, but the enchantments blocked the mana powering Tucker¡¯s poison, and so, only inert gas flowed through the gaps. The gates clanged shut the second the people inside saw the first wave fall. But Tucker had done his job. Now, they needed to either besiege the citadel, starving them out, or find another way to bypass the defenses. Despite his success, Tucker wasn¡¯t certain how he was meant to feel about his role in the battle. Sure, he¡¯d probably saved a lot of lives among his allies. But he couldn¡¯t keep himself from considering the cost. But that was war, he supposed. Even back on Earth, every battle had come with a price. And that hadn¡¯t changed just because magic was now involved. Everyone in the Eternal Realm could do wonderful things, but they were also capable of true monstrousness. And Tucker was no different. 604. Rescued Abby leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding being impaled by a descending spear. Its blade still sliced through her calf, eliciting a strained shout. She landed in a roll before springing to her feet. The wound she¡¯d just incurred was only one of many inflicted upon her over the last few weeks, but still, she struggled to ignore the pain lancing through her leg. However, Abby couldn¡¯t afford to let it affect her, so she pushed through the pain and limped into a hobbling sprint. An arrow thudded into a tree only a second later, barely missing her. She ducked behind the trunk, then sprang into a twisting leap as she drew back her bowstring. A glowing arrow manifested just as the elf skidded into view. She loosed the arrow, and it streaked across the intervening distance in only a moment before blistering its way through the enemy¡¯s leather armor and scorching a hole through his chest. Abby couldn¡¯t admire her handiwork, because even as she landed, the sound of trampling feet announced the continued pursuit of the rest of the elves. There were seven more ¨C down from the twenty-five that had originally attacked her ¨C but even though she¡¯d established her superiority, she knew that her success was short-lived. The elves were powerful enough to threaten her, which meant that she¡¯d been forced to leverage every ounce of mana she possessed in an effort to defeat them. So far, it had worked, but she¡¯d begun to run on fumes. It was only a matter of time before she ran dry, and when that happened, she¡¯d have nothing but her attributes to protect her. And for better or worse, raw physical ability had never been her forte. She could hold her own, but against skilled opponents like the elves, she had no shot of survival. The gap widened even further when she took the fact that they were on native territory into account. No ¨C the only option was to keep going as she¡¯d been, using hit-and-run tactics to cover her retreat. Eventually, she¡¯d leave their territory, and she could only hope that, when that happened, they¡¯d give up their dogged pursuit. The current hunters were only the latest threat she¡¯d been forced to overcome. Beasts of every sort had harassed her every step within the forest, and she was a long way from her best self. She¡¯d taken countless wounds along the way, and in addition to running low on mana, her stamina had long since begun to wane. Even as she continued her sprint, dodging trees and leaping over various roots and crevasses, she knew that she was running more on momentum than the strength of her endurance. But it didn¡¯t matter. The only other option was to give up, and though she didn¡¯t possess the superhuman willpower of someone like Zeke, she was more than capable of pushing herself past the bounds of her stats. So, she ran. The elves did not give up, and they certainly didn¡¯t give in. Every step was dogged by one attack or another. Arrows followed her every move, and more than a few found a home in her flesh. She did what she could to mitigate the damage they inflicted, but her armor had long since been destroyed, and there was only so much she could do. Days passed, and slowly, her body was whittled down. Whatever energy she still had, she used to stay ahead of the persistent elves. At first, she¡¯d harbored some hope that they would be subjected to the same issues she was forced to confront, but somehow, they avoided exhaustion. Perhaps it was because the forest was their home. The elves, who were shorter and stouter than the other elves she¡¯d encountered after her ascension, had attacked her shortly after entering the forest, and they¡¯d pursued her for weeks even before her current stretch. But back then, she¡¯d been afforded a few opportunities to rest. They were invariably short-lived, but even a short respite was better than nothing. But now¡­ How long had it been since she¡¯d stopped moving? She had long since lost count of the days, but Abby knew that she verged on surrendering to exhaustion. It was unavoidable. Still, she could not let herself give in. She wouldn¡¯t allow herself to give up. She had come too far, survived too much to let them win. And she had no doubts as to their intentions. Abby¡¯s every experience with elves had painted a vivid picture of a proud race that looked down on everyone else. That was one of the reasons they were so prized as slaves among the citizens of the Imperium. There was a certain pleasure in seeing the proud race brought low and enslaved. Even then, they¡¯d toed the line of impropriety, and often, they¡¯d gone too far. Punishing them had become something of a national pastime. Abby had seen them endure some truly horrible things, and what¡¯s more, those practices were not kept secret. Surely, the elves of the Emerald Expanse knew precisely what the people of the Imperium had done to their cousins. No ¨C there would be no peaceful surrender. No quarter given. Even if they let her live, Abby had no interest in seeing what they would do to someone like her. She¡¯d never participated in slavery, but the colors she wore ¨C before her armor had been torn to pieces ¨C painted a vivid picture of her values. Besides, even Abby had to admit that her lack of participation in the enslavement of elves, beastkin, and a host of other races didn¡¯t absolve her of blame. She had allowed it, and as such, she was complicit in its proliferation. So, even if she wasn¡¯t individually guilty of taking slaves of her own, she couldn¡¯t escape the implications of her position. As such, she did not expect mercy from the pursuing elves.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. At best, she would be taken as a slave herself. She would rather die than endure that particular fate. So, she ran, and with every passing day, her gait grew sloppier. Her endurance waned, and her mind wandered. Even as she took one wound after another, splattering her blood across the forest floor, she considered her path. And her future, should she be fortunate enough to escape the elves¡¯ pursuit. What would she do if she reached the edge of the forest? Where would she go? Returning to the Imperium was not an option, and for multiple reasons. For one, she suspected that if she did make it back, she would only find the ruins of Zeke¡¯s wrath. She knew her former partner well enough to know that he would not allow for its continued existence. Even if he failed to bring it down, the Imperium ¨C and the Radiant Host ¨C would be mortally wounded. That, in turn, would invite challenges from all the people they¡¯d conquered along the way. The Imperium was going to die. Whether it was by Zeke¡¯s hands or through the actions of their conquered enemies, they were doomed. It was only a matter of time. Knowing that, Abby recognized that returning to her old position was out of the question. Even if the Imperium somehow made it, she would not be welcomed back. After all, she¡¯d fled the scene of battle. She had proven herself a coward. There was no way Ignatius would forgive her that. Finally ¨C and perhaps most importantly ¨C she didn¡¯t really want to return. For years, the indoctrination she¡¯d experienced in the Crucible had been fading, and it felt like the last vestiges of her dedication to the Imperium, and to a larger extent, the Sun Goddess, had finally snapped. It hadn¡¯t happened all at once. Indeed, it was more like it had happened without her noticing. It was just that now that she was looking, it was gone. And she scarcely remembered why she¡¯d been so enamored with Shar Maelaine¡¯s lies. Of course, Abby knew the answer to that question. Or answers, plural. The first was that she had been psychologically manipulated. No one ever believes they¡¯re vulnerable to that sort of thing ¨C least of all Abby, whose background should have afforded some measure of protection against it ¨C but the reality of being human was that everyone could be victimized in such a way. But there was more to it than that. In addition to mundane manipulation, she¡¯d also been subjected to a magical influence. What, specifically, had it done? She wasn¡¯t sure. But it certainly had challenged her footing and made her vulnerable to the Sun Goddess¡¯ influence. And then there was her many personal issues, not least of which was her oft-ignored inferiority complex. After spending so much time with a savant like Zeke, she was understandably reminded that she just wasn¡¯t all that special. And the Radiant Host had offered a cure for that. Through them, she became important. She¡¯d fooled herself into thinking that she had a chance of catching him. She had been wrong. Sure, Abby was strong. Maybe even gifted, in the grand scheme of the Eternal Realm. However, she was not special ¨C not like him. And the second they¡¯d been reunited, she had been reminded of just how far behind him she truly was. That, more than anything, had broken her resolve, and now, even as she fled for her life, Abby found herself wondering if any of it had been worth it. Did she truly care about being the strongest? Or did she only want to beat him? Maybe it was that she wanted to prove herself worthy of his love. Perhaps it was all of that, tied together into a huge knot. Regardless, as she sprinted through the forest, wounded and facing down the very real possibility of her death, Abby knew she¡¯d been a fool. Not for what she¡¯d done with Zeke. She still thought that her heart was in the right place when she shot Micayne. The method was a little suspect, but she¡¯d accepted her own mistakes. Rather, she was foolish because she¡¯d kept comparing herself to Zeke. And that was a losing battle. It wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d experienced such thoughts, but in the haze of exhaustion, she finally accepted it as fact. It was a freeing moment that, in her current situation, she was incapable of truly appreciating. Still, if she was going to die ¨C as seemed likely ¨C it was good to finally reach an understanding with herself. On and on she ran, covering dozens upon dozens of miles each day. At one point, she thought she was running in circles, but then she remembered that the Emerald Expanse was just that large. The forest dwarfed any that had ever existed on Earth, and by no small degree. It was difficult to know for sure, but from the maps she¡¯d seen, it was likely the size of a continent. Unfortunately, the elves never wavered in their pursuit. They weren¡¯t inexhaustible, which kept them from closing ground, but they also never fell too far behind. Then, finally, the inevitable happened, and in her fatigue, Abby tripped over a fallen tree. She didn¡¯t fall, but that slight stumble was more than enough to expose her vulnerability. A second later, an arrow thudded into her back with so much force that she was sent sprawling. She fell, skidding across the wet undergrowth until she came to a stop. When she tried to rise, her muscles simply wouldn¡¯t cooperate. She wasn¡¯t paralyzed, but she was so exhausted that the fall had robbed her of the momentum that had so far kept her going. Abby tried to push herself to her feet, but failed after rising only a few inches. A moment later, a foot connected with her jaw, spinning her around until she landed on her back. The arrow splintered, and as the head dug deeper into her flesh, she let out an agonized hiss. She didn¡¯t even have the energy to scream. ¡°You have trespassed for the last time, human,¡± spat an elf. Abby couldn¡¯t even tell if the figure was male or female, but that was no surprise when it came to the pointy-eared species. Most of them were androgynous enough that determining gender was often extremely difficult. Another said, ¡°You are ¨C¡± Just then, a huge, hairy figure burst through the brush and tackled the elf to the ground. With a roar, the man gripped the much smaller elf¡¯s ankle with one hand and the wrist with another, then yanked. With a sickening sound accompanied by an agonizing scream, the elf was ripped apart. ¡°The Beast!¡± screamed one of the elves. Another shouted something else, but Abby was more interested in trying to push herself upright. She failed, so with the last of her strength, she attempted to drag herself away from the roaring man who¡¯d rescued her. Predictably, the elves scattered, and just as Abby began to drift away, she felt a large hand resting on her back. She struggled weakly, but she couldn¡¯t stave off the coming unconsciousness. ¡°U-unhand me¡­¡± That was the last thing she said before finally passing out. 605. The Challenge Zeke crushed a knight¡¯s head in his hand. It burst like a melon, sending brains and other gore oozing from the eye openings of the man¡¯s helmet. Once the knight was dead, Zeke tossed the man¡¯s body aside like the trash it was. It clanged against the ground before rolling to a stop next to all the others. He¡¯d lost track of how many he¡¯d killed. After destroying that first group, he¡¯d been beset by another. And another after that. Each instance was complicated by their protective enchantment, which he¡¯d long since determined didn¡¯t actually enhance the knights themselves. Rather, it funneled enormous amounts of power into their armor, which in turn made them stronger and more durable than would have been possible otherwise. It also gave them the ability to regenerate at a level that rivaled Zeke¡¯s own [Hand of Divinity]. The result was that he couldn¡¯t kill them until he destroyed the anchors, which turned out to be more tedious than actually dangerous. Never before had he appreciated his old abilities to destroy whole city blocks. But without his skills, his destructive capabilities were far smaller scale. He was still an unstoppable juggernaut, but having his skills sealed away definitely affected his large-scale capabilities. Even so, Zeke hadn¡¯t let his dedication to the task waver. If anything, he translated his frustration into a furor that made him an absolute terror on the battlefield. It also forced him to think more strategically and fight with proper technique, which hadn¡¯t really been the case for quite some time. ¡°You really should be thankful for this,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°There is opportunity in hardship.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he looked around, taking stock of his situation. His path through the city had been dogged by the groups of knights, but he¡¯d slowly made his way closer to the giant citadel at the center of the metropolis. Now, it was only a mile or so away, which meant that he¡¯d gotten close enough to hear the sound of the kobolds¡¯ continued fight. But only an hour or so before, the clatter had ceased, telling Zeke that something had changed. He didn¡¯t believe the kobolds had lost, which meant that they¡¯d been forced to deploy their contingency. ¡°That Alchemist is truly interesting. Most of them focus on healing potions and the like. Enhancements. The fact that he¡¯s so dedicated to killing his enemies is a great benefit to our efforts,¡± Eveline said. ¡°He¡¯s also quite intelligent, and his experiments have already borne fruit. Did you know that he is on the verge of creating something to help the kobolds¡¯ development? I think ¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to hear about your crush on Tucker,¡± Zeke muttered aloud before leaping to the top of a building. He landed with a heavy thud, but thankfully, the buildings had been reinforced by powerful enchantments. Otherwise, the structure would have collapsed under his immense weight. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. I am no teenage girl. I do not get crushes.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Zeke said distractedly as he looked across the city. Night had already fallen, and there were hundreds of instances of fires glowing in the darkness. In addition, he could see pockets of fighting, usually between lower-level knights and the beastkin-led portions of the army. They weren¡¯t the fighters that the kobolds were, but many of them had been training for years by that point. So, they held their own. But Zeke wasn¡¯t worried about them. Instead, his attention locked onto the citadel looming in the distance. It wasn¡¯t just enormous. That word seemed ill-suited to describe what he saw. It was so large that it defied logic, and he¡¯d even been told that it bore a large-scale spatial enchantment meant to make it even larger on the inside. By any measure, it was a masterpiece of magical engineering and one of the wonders of the Eternal Realm. And Zeke intended to tear it down. To that end, after getting his bearings, he leaped down from the building¡¯s roof, then trotted ahead. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t need to worry about being ambushed along the way. It seemed that the bulk of the Radiant Host was either dead or confined to the citadel, so there was no one left to attack him. Due to that, he soon reached his destination, and he was happy to see that most of his army of kobolds had survived. There were casualties in every battle, and this one was no different. However, most were alive and well, which was gratifying to behold. The ranks of kobolds parted before him, and when he reached the front lines, he was greeted by Silik. Nearby, Zeke saw Tucker and his Kirran companion, Athis. The pair looked a little out of place, but considering the green haze hanging over the entire area, the alchemist had already done his part. ¡°Those piles of bodies in front of that monstrosity of a building should have been your first hint,¡± Eveline remarked. Zeke ignored her, focusing on Silik as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the status? Why aren¡¯t we attacking?¡± ¡°We have,¡± Silik stated. ¡°We have employed the siege engines, but not no effect. The fortress is completely sealed. The gate has so far proven impervious to our efforts at bringing it down, and the walls are impregnable. We do not know how to proceed.¡± ¡°What about Sasha? Can she cast a spell?¡± Silik shook his head. ¡°Not for a long time,¡± he answered. ¡°She must recover from fracturing the wall¡¯s defenses.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Zeke had already known that, but he¡¯d held out hope that she had been holding back. Clearly, that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°Where is Pudge?¡± ¡°Down below,¡± Silik stated. ¡°He is tasked with rescuing the slaves.¡± Zeke nodded, then studied the citadel. It was absolutely covered with runes, and they were so thickly applied that even with his Will blocked, he could easily perceive them. If he¡¯d had access to his path, he might have been able to break them, but even that might not have been possible. ¡°Likely not,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°Not without a significant investment of time, at least.¡± ¡°What do you suggest?¡± he asked her. Then, when she didn¡¯t answer, he repeated the question aloud. Silik answered, ¡°I do not know, Ak-Toh.¡± Zeke tightened his fist in frustration. He¡¯d hoped for better news, but if he was honest, he couldn¡¯t have expected the kobolds to be more effective. They¡¯d taken the city without much issue, and they hadn¡¯t even needed to employ their full numbers. Sure, more than the first army had been required, but they hadn¡¯t even dipped into the reserves. From just about any perspective, they¡¯d won a resounding victory. But they hadn¡¯t won. Not yet. As close as they were, they still needed that final push before they could truly claim unmitigated success. ¡°Do we have any intelligence on their situation?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Do they have food? Water? Can they withstand a siege?¡± The answer to that question was not encouraging. Everything they knew about the Radiant Host suggested that they were well-equipped for a siege. They couldn¡¯t survive indefinitely, but the expectation was that they could hole up in that citadel for years if necessary. Perhaps a decade or more. The exact number wasn¡¯t known, but in reality, it just didn¡¯t matter. The fact was that Zeke and his army couldn¡¯t simply starve them out. After getting that report from Silik, Zeke joined Tucker and asked the alchemist what he could do. Taking off his hat and wiping his forearm across his forehead, Tucker answered, ¡°It¡¯s sealed up tight. There¡¯s no chance I can get anything inside. Even the rangers can¡¯t find a way in.¡± ¡°Dammit,¡± Zeke muttered. Over the next few hours, he thought of a dozen different tactics for getting into the citadel, but they were all met with failure. He asked the earth mages ¨C most of which were beastkin ¨C to create a tunnel. The same request went out to the kobolds, and both groups told him it was impossible. They floated all sorts of ideas, but with similar results. There was no way inside. Finally, Zeke threw himself at the gate, hitting it with all his strength. That proved moderately successful, and the entire citadel shook beneath his blow. However, only a second later, the people within the citadel opened fire with the massive cannons scattered across the structure. The first one only clipped Zeke, but it was enough to nearly take his arm off. As he retreated, he recognized that even with the advantage of his massive endurance and the ability to regenerate via [Hand of Divinity], he couldn¡¯t withstand an entire barrage. Later, he would be told that those cannons had been created by a peak artificer who¡¯d since ascended. As such, they were far more powerful than they had any right to be ¨C especially considering that they were operated by relatively low-level knights of the Radiant Host. In any case, the results were clear. Zeke and his army couldn¡¯t get inside, and as such, he couldn¡¯t finish the task and move on with other, far more important things. ¡°You don¡¯t really believe that or you wouldn¡¯t be here,¡± Eveline said. ¡°This is important. It¡¯s just not something that will result in progress. Don¡¯t confuse progression with worthiness.¡± ¡°Do you think this is worthy?¡± She gave a mental shrug. ¡°Not to me. But you do. You¡¯d never forgive yourself if you didn¡¯t take them down,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°And that is all that matters.¡± ¡°If you say so.¡± An hour later, he found himself inside one of the nearby buildings ¨C just out of range of the cannons, of course ¨C and meeting with his closest advisors. They all had plenty of suggestions, but as it turned out, none were truly viable. Still, once they had a series of options, they tried everything they could. But in the end, nothing worked, which left them with only one real option ¨C waiting it out. Zeke summoned a gate near the front lines, then headed inside. Meanwhile, they cycled the surrounding armies just in case the knights tried something. After that, the plan was simple ¨C they¡¯d continue the siege until the people inside gave up or the citadel¡¯s defenses failed. After all, it likely took quite a lot of mana to power such powerful enchantments, and Zeke was banking on the power supply being finite. In the meantime, he occupied himself with training. If he wasn¡¯t sleeping or eating, he was inside the Hunting Grounds fighting against ever-escalating odds. Weeks passed, becoming months, and Zeke continued his training regimen. In the beginning, he could only fight a hundred or so copies of his most powerful enemies, but after the first month, he¡¯d doubled that. After the third, he¡¯d added half again more enemies. His obsession with growing stronger ¨C not via stats or skills, but through sheer training ¨C took over, and he was reminded of how dedicated he¡¯d once been to baseball. Back then, he¡¯d done little else but practice, and he channeled that same attitude into becoming an elite fighter. At the same time, his armies continued to train as well. Some of them used the Hunting Grounds, just like him, but others utilized the various dungeons at their disposal. Still others hunted for powerful monsters in the wilderness. Like that, they grew stronger, just like him. None reached the peak, but some, like Silik, had already blown past the first threshold and were knocking on the door of maximizing their potential. The first year passed without any change. The Radiant Host refused to open their gates ¨C or acknowledge the army on their doorstep in any way ¨C and the armies of the Crimson Tower continued to grow stronger. For his part, that first year¡¯s passage allowed him to take a slight step back and reevaluate his priorities. Sure, training was important, but he had to admit that he wasn¡¯t going to solve his problems through sheer effort. Time was his only weapon against the citadel¡¯s impregnable defenses. So, he decided to use it to his advantage, and he began to spend more of it with Adara. She was almost as dedicated to training as he was, and she often accompanied the kobolds on hunting expeditions or dungeon runs. However, when she was home, they both made a point to spend as much of their time together as possible. As such, their bond deepened, and they settled into their relationship. Halfway through that second year, they professed their love for one another. It wasn¡¯t a huge event, but it wasn¡¯t inconsequential, either. Either way, it was something they¡¯d both felt, but they had so far hesitated to give voice to the obvious. It wasn¡¯t until the end of the second year that something changed. That was how Zeke found himself staring up at the citadel¡¯s ramparts, where a single man stood. He called down, ¡°I challenge the leader of this force to single combat. If I win, this army will vacate the Imperium. If I lose, then my people will surrender. Know this ¨C if you refuse, we have supplies to last at least another decade. So, choose wisely. I will reappear at dawn to receive your answer.¡± With that, the man disappeared, and Zeke¡¯s heart began to beat a little faster. The end of the years-long siege was finally at hand. All he had to do was beat a knight in battle, and it would be finished. 606. The Duel ¡°You should not do this,¡± Adara stated. ¡°We can just wait them out.¡± ¡°I concur,¡± Tucker said. ¡°There¡¯s no real benefit except time, and a whole lot of ways it can go wrong. We have no idea what this is going to look like.¡± Jasper added, ¡°That¡¯s not true. The Radiant Host has a long history of solving their grievances via single combat. There is a list of rules they must follow.¡± ¡°These are people who enslave innocent people and would prefer killing them rather than allowing them to be freed,¡± Pudge pointed out. ¡°We cannot trust anything they claim.¡± ¡°We can trust them on this,¡± Jasper insisted. ¡°Jasper isn¡¯t wrong. We adopted a similar system in Adontis,¡± Adara explained. ¡°It is a duel of honor, undergone with no skills or other advantages. There aren¡¯t even weapons allowed.¡± ¡°How does that work?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°There is an arena here in the city. You¡¯ve seen it,¡± Adara said. ¡°With the right rune flags, they can activate the native enchantments to rob the participants of their skills. It also forces all attributes to the same level.¡± ¡°But not stat tiers?¡± he asked. She shook her head. ¡°Not that I know of. But you still shouldn¡¯t do this. Tucker¡¯s right. There isn¡¯t any advantage to it. They¡¯re desperate. That¡¯s the only reason he came out here to offer the duel in the first place. We don¡¯t need it.¡± It was patently true. They did not need to give the Radiant Host ¨C and their leader, a man named Ignatius ¨C what they wanted. Instead, Zeke and his army could simply keep doing what they were doing, and nothing would really change. They wouldn¡¯t be in any more danger. No one was coming to save the Imperium, and even if they had allies, those forces certainly wouldn¡¯t challenge the armies that had so thoroughly defeated one of the most powerful militaries in the Eternal Realm. No ¨C there was no imperative to give Ignatius what he wanted. Yet, when Zeke thought about ignoring the challenge, his stomach twisted into knots so dense that it made him nauseous. ¡°You¡¯re going to do it, aren¡¯t you? All of your closest advisors tell you not to, but it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Eveline interjected as the rest of the group continued to discuss their options. Zeke had already begun to ignore them, so he barely heard their chatter. ¡°I can¡¯t let the challenge go, Eveline.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s the wrong move?¡± ¡°Even then,¡± Zeke acknowledged. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I have it in me.¡± Was it pride? Or was there something else in there? Sure, the argument could be made that the longer they stayed in one place, the more danger they were in, but Zeke knew that wasn¡¯t really valid. Everyone did. As he¡¯d previously acknowledged, no one was coming to challenge the army that had defeated the Imperium. Doing so was suicidal. But in the back of his mind, Zeke knew that the real reason he was even considering giving the Imperium the duel they wanted was because he couldn¡¯t fathom backing down from a fight. Especially when he knew he was better. ¡°Stop,¡± he said quietly. It didn¡¯t stop the chatter, so he raised his voice and repeated himself. ¡°Stop!¡± Everyone went silent and looked his way. He took a deep breath, then went on, ¡°I¡¯m going to do it.¡± ¡°Zeke¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t let this go, Adara. You know that,¡± he stated. ¡°This isn¡¯t just about me. This is about the Crimson Tower. What do you think the kobolds would think of Ak-toh backed down from a fair fight?¡± ¡°We follow you,¡± Silik said. ¡°Always and entirely.¡± Zeke shook his head. ¡°For some of you, that¡¯s probably true. I don¡¯t question your loyalty, Silik,¡± he explained. ¡°But everyone here knows that these people are all here because of the strength I represent. For the former slaves, I¡¯m their savior. The man who freed them. I provide safety and opportunity. For the kobolds, I rescued them from the Blood Wraith. I helped them grow. I gave them the chance to become something more. If I back down, if I let this challenge go unanswered, they¡¯ll start to have doubts. And those doubts will slowly burrow into their minds until, one day ¨C maybe not soon ¨C they¡¯ll let them push them into doing something stupid.¡± He pushed himself to his feet. ¡°I can¡¯t allow that. My most important task is to be a rock upon which all of this can rest,¡± he explained. ¡°I can¡¯t show weakness. I can¡¯t let them see cracks. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t afford to turn away from this duel.¡± It was all a lie. In the strictest sense, it was an accurate enough depiction of how precarious the balance in the Crimson Tower was. However, it was not how he truly felt. In truth, he didn¡¯t care about any of that. Sure, he would do everything in his power to help the kobolds, as well as the rest of the residents of his tower, but in this case, that was not his largest concern. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Instead, he just wanted a good fight. He wanted to face down his enemy and come out ahead. Anything else was anathema to who he was. ¡°You¡¯re lying to yourself again,¡± Eveline said in his mind. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked inwardly. ¡°You do care how they look at you,¡± she pointed out. ¡°You can¡¯t help it, either.¡± ¡°You think you know better than I do about how I think?¡± ¡°Of course, because I know something you don¡¯t. I can see it, weaving its way through your very mind. It affects who you are. It dictates what you feel. It permeates your entire being to the point where you can¡¯t even sense it, much less deny it,¡± she explained. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Divinity, Ezekiel,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°It enhances you. It strengthens you. But that doesn¡¯t come without a cost. Going forward, you will find that you are more inflexible, that you will start to embody certain ideals. That is what being a god means.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a god.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± she said. ¡°But if you keep going the way you are, you will be. And here¡¯s the thing, Ezekiel ¨C I don¡¯t think you can stop it. One way or another, if you survive, you will become a god. That¡¯s what ascension to the Ethereal Realm is all about. Right now, you are building a foundation of what you will represent. So, you need to think long and hard about what you want, about who you want to be. Because one day, and sooner rather than later, it will be set in stone.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, not nearly as distressed by that as he might have expected. He knew who he was, and more importantly, he liked himself ¨C flaws and all. There were worse fates than to have his personality etched across his very being. ¡°The cost of divinity is immutability. Gods do not change, Ezekiel. I thought you knew this.¡± In a way, he had, even if he¡¯d never actually given it any thought. It made sense. But as interesting as it might have been, it also wasn¡¯t his primary concern. The reality was that he had no doubts about his choice. He needed to fight the duel. Partially because of his personality, but also because it was the right move for the development of the Crimson Tower. ¡°Are you sure?¡± asked Tucker after everyone else had gone silent. ¡°I am,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I don¡¯t need skills to defeat some jumped up knight of the Radiant Host.¡± That much, he definitely believed. After all, he¡¯d spent month after month training precisely for such a situation, and he¡¯d not had his skills ¨C aside from [Titan] and [Hand of Divinity] ¨C available to him since defeating Micayne. So, he thought he was well prepared for just such a duel. Such was their faith in him that, once he¡¯d made his stance clear, no one else argued with him. They didn¡¯t try to talk him out of it. Nobody questioned his motivation. Instead, they simply accepted it and began planning their next steps. For months, they¡¯d been sending out people to search out a means of reaching Hell, and they¡¯d narrowed it down to a location on another continent. Reaching it would require Tucker¡¯s and Iris¡¯ ship, the Mercury, but they¡¯d both made it clear that they were up to the task of ferrying him to his destination. But they didn¡¯t want to abandon the former lands of the Imperium or Adontis ¨C not until the people there could govern themselves. To that end, they¡¯d spent more than a year working to ensure their self-sufficiency, and to a degree, it had worked. They weren¡¯t yet strong, but they could at least survive on their own. Of course, there were plenty of people who had chosen to live in the tower. Once the fear of their liberators ¨C or conquerors, as many saw them ¨C had worn off, many had migrated into the tower. And with Eveline watching over them in her role as the steward of the Crimson Tower, they had flourished. And she¡¯d kept any dissidence to a minimum. Before they could address issues like that, though, Zeke needed to make good on his claim. He needed to accept the duel, kill Ignatius, then take over the rest of the Imperium. So, without further hesitation, Zeke and his companions headed out of the gate and found their way to the clear area in front of the citadel¡¯s gate. Once he was there, Zeke raised his voice and shouted, ¡°I accept your challenge!¡± A disembodied voice responded, ¡°Very well.¡± A second later, the man himself strode out of the gate. He wore no armor, and instead was clad only in a simple white robe with the hood drawn. For the briefest of moments, Zeke considered attacking and ending the war then and there. Yet, his sense of honor would not allow for it. In the back of his mind, he wondered if that was his divinity at work. Was it restricting his actions because it was out of character? Or was it a genuine choice on his part? He had no idea, but he didn¡¯t question the decision itself. When Ignatius was only a few feet away, he pushed the hood back, revealing a handsome, middle-aged face. His gray hair was short, and his beard was immaculately trimmed. By comparison, Zeke knew that he was quite shabby. ¡°You do not look like a monster,¡± Ignatius said. ¡°Funny,¡± Zeke responded. He hadn¡¯t bothered with [Titan], so he looked like any other human being at the moment, save for the scars concealed beneath his white shirt. He wasn¡¯t one, but that didn¡¯t really change the way he looked. ¡°I was going to the say the same thing about you. I guess looks are deceptive.¡± ¡°I suppose so,¡± the man responded, reaching into a pocket. When he removed his hand, he held a scroll. ¡°This is the standard contract for an Honor Duel. I won¡¯t insult your intelligence by asking you to trust my explanation.¡± He handed it to Zeke. After unfurling it, Zeke read the contents. The terms were clear and concise. Neither combatant would harm the other until they reached the arena. Other than that, it specified the terms they¡¯d discussed before. If Zeke won, the Imperium would surrender. If the Champion of the Radiant Host proved victorious, then Zeke¡¯s army would disperse. ¡°Good terms,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Even if you lose and are horribly killed, at least the kobolds will survive. Well, the ones outside the tower. Surely, the ones inside will perish.¡± Zeke had already ordered everyone out of the tower, and at present, the non-combatants were congregated in the area around the gate in the Muk¡¯ti Plains. If he died and the tower collapsed, then only a few would die. ¡°Any loopholes?¡± ¡°Other than the champion stuff, no,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s possible that he won¡¯t be the one to fight you. You realize that, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Zeke stated inwardly. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter. When I win, he¡¯ll surrender. That¡¯s the important thing. Who I kill doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing wrong with this contract.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Zeke said. Then, he signed it. A burst of mana announced the binding of the contract. Aloud, Zeke added, ¡°There. When do we fight?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no better time than the present,¡± the leader of the Imperium responded. Then, he motioned to the gate, and a huge figure emerged, confirming Eveline¡¯s suspicions. For Zeke¡¯s part, he hadn¡¯t expected anything different. From what he knew of Ignatius, the man was no fighter, after all. Still, the sight of the enormous figure was enough to send a tiny note of fear down Zeke¡¯s spine. 607. The Brute ¡°I see it, you know,¡± hissed Ignatius. ¡°The fear you try to keep hidden. The weight of expectations presses down on you. The pressure will be your undoing.¡± Zeke ignored the man. Instead, he walked through the streets, looking neither left nor right. Every instinct within him screamed at him to murder the leader of the Imperium then and there. To crush him where he stood. Yet, Zeke knew that wasn¡¯t going to happen. It couldn¡¯t, and not just because of the contract he had signed. That was part of it, but an even bigger concern was how it would look. His army had practically deified him. They had put their trust in his strength. And if he went back on the agreement, it would tell all of those kobolds that he was too weak to follow his own promises. Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t have immediate consequences, but eventually, it would seep into their impression of him, ruining everything he¡¯d done. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be that bad,¡± Eveline said. Zeke could hear in her tone that even she didn¡¯t believe it. Leadership was a precarious thing, especially so for someone like him. He ruled by virtue of strength, and anything that called that into question would threaten his authority. Both Zeke and Eveline knew it, too. ¡°What level do you think he is?¡± Zeke asked, referring to the enormous warrior a few dozen feet ahead of him. The man was barechested, wearing only a loincloth and a series of manacles, and if he was shorter than nine feet tall, Zeke would have been surprised. He¡¯d have also been a little surprised if someone told him that the man was entirely human. He was too large. Too muscular. Too hairy. ¡°He could be part beastkin,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Zeke responded. Then, he repeated his previous question, ¡°So no clue about the level?¡± ¡°I know as much as you do. At least in this instance. But you¡¯d be fooling yourself if you think he¡¯s anything but a peak entity,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°He¡¯s going to be strong, too. Savage. With this kind of a fight, with no skills or equipment, that¡¯s going to matter as much as his level.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think I can beat him?¡± ¡°Of course you can beat him,¡± she scoffed. ¡°In fact, I expect that you will. What I worry about is what it will cost. You understand that contract doesn¡¯t actually bind the rest of the Radiant Host, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. But he¡¯ll have to open the citadel. That¡¯s going to have to be enough,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°Not him. He wasn¡¯t the one to sign it. If I had to guess what¡¯s going to happen, they probably have some surprises for you and the army for when you enter the citadel,¡± she speculated. ¡°And they¡¯re probably banking on this fight wounding you enough that you won¡¯t be able to help out. I¡¯d expect that Ignatius will try to escape, too. He seems the type.¡± ¡°He does seem a bit¡­slithery.¡± ¡°Good characterization. No matter the agreement, he will turn on you the second he thinks it will benefit him,¡± Eveline said. Zeke felt fairly confident that she was right. Moreover, he recognized in Ignatius something that he¡¯d seen in other people as well. The man was powerful in his own right, probably at or near the peak, but he hadn¡¯t gotten ahead on his own merits. He¡¯d done so by climbing over other people, using them as stepping stones on his path to power. And Zeke expected that to continue, especially when Ignatius¡¯ survival or continued freedom was at stake. ¡°He¡¯ll abandon them at first opportunity,¡± Eveline reasoned, giving voice to Zeke¡¯s thoughts. ¡°He will. That¡¯s why the army has not stood down.¡± Indeed, the Radiant Host had no real context for just how many kobolds he could put on the field, largely because they¡¯d only seen the first army at work. Knowing that, Zeke had already given the order for the rest of the kobolds to surround the citadel and ready themselves to take it down. ¡°And keep the Radiant Host from escaping,¡± he added. He had no interest in prolonging the war, which was what would happen if he let any of them slip through. That was especially true when it came to Ignatius. All of that went through Zeke¡¯s mind as he and Ignatius ¨C led by the giant brute ¨C traversed the city to the arena. A contingent of kobolds flanked them, but they kept a respectful distance. After all, everyone was playing nice at the moment. They were at least pretending that they intended to follow the agreement. Even though everyone knew that it was all a farce. Eventually, they reached the arena and passed through the massive gates. Soon enough, Zeke found himself on the field of battle, facing off against the brute. As expected, he could feel that the enchantments woven through the entire structure prevented him from activating the few skills at his disposal. Oddly enough, he could still utilize his racial gift to change his weight and ignore pain, though he was cut off from the Crimson Tower. He was also bare-chested, just like the brute. Not because it was required, but because he didn¡¯t want to ruin a good shirt in what he expected would be a furious battle with a savage opponent. Facing the brute, he studied the man. He was almost three feet taller than Zeke and quite a bit denser as well. His muscles bulged beneath a mat of body hair, and his face had a blunt, squished arrangement that reminded Zeke of a prize fighter who¡¯d fought a few too many fights. Still, Zeke could see the power in those rippling muscles, and for the first time in a long time, he felt that he was looking at someone possessing more raw strength than him. Was that true? Or just a natural response to visual cues?This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Only time would tell. Zeke reached up and cracked his neck before rolling his shoulders. He wasn¡¯t permitted a weapon, so Voromir remained locked away in his spatial storage. If he was going to beat this brute, it would be with his bare hands. Fortunately, Zeke had more than a little practice in that arena. Not only had he spent some time as a pit fighter beneath Min Ferilik, but he¡¯d also trained extensively in hand-to-hand combat over the past year. He was as ready for the challenge as he could be. The only question was whether or not he had the strength to compete. The brute paced back and forth, grunting with every other step. With the sun hanging high in the sky, Zeke just stood there, ready for the signal to begin. Then, a bell echoed throughout the arena, and the fight began. The brute thundered forward, his arms outstretched. Zeke stood his ground, though he did shift slightly sideways and raised his hands. Just when the brute reached him, Zeke stepped to the side, then hammered his fist into the huge man¡¯s hip. The crack of bone filled the air as he stumbled. Then, the big man pivoted in an attempt to backhand Zeke into oblivion. For his part, Zeke danced backward, easily avoiding the attack, then darted in and smashed his other fist into the brute¡¯s midsection. A second punch came shortly on the heels of the first, rewarding Zeke with the sound of a sharp exhale. He ended the combination by stomping on the man¡¯s enormous foot, cracking a dozen delicate bones in the process. Then, he once again sprang backward, narrowly avoiding retaliation. He danced on the balls of his feet like the trained fighter he was. The brute was obviously powerful. Zeke could see that much. However, he seemed largely untrained, with sloppy technique. He was also slow. Just as those thoughts flitted through Zeke¡¯s mind, he heard something that he knew would change everything. The moment the sound of bones shifting back into place reached Zeke¡¯s ears, he realized what was going on. Clearly, the brute was more than just an immensely strong fighter. He had some sort of racial ability that enhanced his regeneration. Like a troll. Maybe he could even trace his lineage back to one of those hateful creatures. He did have some skin beneath that mat of body hair that looked suspiciously scaley. ¡°This just got a lot harder,¡± Zeke remarked inwardly. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯ve trained for this,¡± Eveline responded. That much was true. During his time in the Hunting Grounds, one of his favorite opponents was the troll warlord. Not only was the first powerful enemy he¡¯d ever fought a difficult match-up due to his allocation of attributes, but he also possessed the regenerative capabilities of his race. That made fighting him an exercise in frustration that Zeke thought brought out the best in his own abilities. Also, if given the chance to beat a troll to death, he¡¯d always take it. And in his mind, the brute before him had just revealed his true nature. He was no longer just an obstacle. He was a representation of the hated trolls who¡¯d made the first few years of his life in the Mortal Realm extremely difficult. As such, when Zeke stepped forward, it was with renewed vigor and incredible resolve. The troll met him head-on. Zeke ducked beneath a wild swing, then danced to the side, narrowly dodging a hasty kick, before smashing his fist into the troll¡¯s midsection. He¡¯d have gone for the head, but doing so would have thrown him off-balance. So, he hammered the troll with a second, then third punch. This time, though, he didn¡¯t let up. Even as his foe reeled, Zeke forged ahead. Each punch broke bones, but he had to maintain constant focus to avoid taking a hit. He ducked and dodged, dancing aside as the troll threw one wild attack after another at him. And they all missed. Some by miles, others by mere inches, but none of them connected. But Zeke knew he wasn¡¯t winning. Not really, at least. Sure, he¡¯d done a little damage, but the troll¡¯s regeneration was so high that by the time he¡¯d hit it with another attack, the previous was already healing. It was painful, he was certain, but it was insufficient to bring the troll down. And he was well aware that, because it was a racial ability, it wasn¡¯t likely to run out of energy anytime soon. On the flip side, if Zeke took a few good hits, he would be crippled. And as high as his vitality was, it was not sufficient to heal him from that kind of damage. For years, he¡¯d neglected that stat because he always had [Hand of Divinity] and its predecessors to prop him up. Without it, he was a bit of a sitting duck. Zeke could keep going for days. Weeks, even. But this was one fight he wouldn¡¯t win by attrition. He couldn¡¯t simply wear the troll-man down. Nor could he fell him with a single blow. That realization begat another, and he recognized the only route to victory lay in unmitigated and relentless assault. He knew he would be injured in the process, but that was a price he was going to have to pay. It would endanger him, but he needed to trust that his army ¨C his people ¨C would ensure that it didn¡¯t cost him his life. Without further hesitation, Zeke rushed the troll-man, taking out his knee with a well-placed shoulder tackle. Doing so opened him up for a retaliatory strike that hit him in the back, and the sheer strength behind that blow cracked Zeke¡¯s ribs. He ignored it, grabbing the enemy¡¯s other leg, twisting, and sending him toppling to the ground. The troll-man hit with a cloud of dust, and Zeke pounced atop him. He raced up the man¡¯s toros, then landed a massive, two-handed attack on his squashed face. His skull cracked, briefly stunning the powerful warrior. However, it only lasted a split second before he lashed out and hit Zeke in the side. Before he was launched across the arena, Zeke increased his weight as much as possible, which kept him in place. He hit the troll-man again. Then again after that. One blow after another rained down on the enemy, and many were answered by the creature beneath him. Some of those attacks were glancing blows, but the thing was so strong that even those were devastatingly effective. And the solid hits were absolutely hell to endure. But Zeke did endure them. He took them with powerful stoicism, weathering the storm as he threw one punch after another. His strength was no less than that of the troll, and each one of his strikes came with the sound of cracking bones. But those wounds were quickly reversed by the creature¡¯s massive regeneration. Not completely, though. Slowly, Zeke gained ground, and the troll-man¡¯s weakened bones shattered even more easily than before. Soon enough, he was pummeling the thing¡¯s bare brain. It kept up its own attacks, but they gradually lost their vigor as the thing became insensate. But it still didn¡¯t die. Not for the first hour, at least. Nor the second. In the end, it took three entire hours of Zeke¡¯s constant attacks before the thing came to the edge of death. If he let up even for a few seconds to catch his breath, the troll-man would regenerate. So, he didn¡¯t do that. With broken bones and sagging resolve, Zeke continued top pummel the monstrous man into submission. Then, finally, his hand went through the troll¡¯s brain, entirely obliterating it. Only then did the thing die. He sat back, still straddling the thing¡¯s shoulders. His own broken bones were sticking out at all sorts of weird angles. His hands had been shattered by his own strength, reminding him of his first few days after being reborn. And he knew he¡¯d have trouble walking now. But he had won. And just as he had predicted, that wasn¡¯t where the conflict would end. That was made absolutely clear when an arrow streaked across the sky and rammed into his chest. 608. An Unlikely Savior Talia saw it coming, but for the first time in years, she found that she was too slow to stop it. Just after the archer loosed his mana-enriched arrow, Talia reached him. She didn¡¯t bother using any skills. Instead, she simply rammed her claws through his leather armor and into his ribcage. Bones shattered an instant later, but her hand kept going until she wrapped her fingers around his heart. She yanked it away in a shower of blood. But the damage had already been done. The arrow streaked through the air before slamming into Zeke¡¯s back. It hit with such force that it knocked him flat on his stomach and pinned him to the ground. Then, Talia saw a hundred more arrows take flight as just as many archers flickered into view. Clearly, they had been cloaked in some sort of stealth, which meant that she¡¯d never had a chance to detect them. The arrows fell, each one slamming into the motionless Zeke. A roar echoed from across the arena, and Pudge suddenly popped into view. Already, he¡¯d decapitated one of the archers, but there were so many left scattered throughout the arena¡¯s stands. The structure was large enough that even Talia, with her ridiculous speed, wouldn¡¯t be able to get them all. Fortunately, she was not alone. Not only had Pudge stationed himself in the stands with the goal of ensuring a fair outcome, but the Inashi were there as well. The shadowy kobolds swept out, killing with enviable efficiency as Talia accelerated to full speed. The archers nocked new arrows, but the vast majority of them never had the chance to loose their projectiles. Between Talia, Pudge, and the Inashi, they were able to slaughter most of the remaining enemy. But a few got their arrows off, only to die before another second passed. After that, a dense silence spread across the arena. Talia dropped her latest victim as she stared at where Zeke had fallen. She froze, unable to move. If he¡¯d died¡­ No, Talia couldn¡¯t let herself consider that. Instead, she vaulted from the stands, intent on going to him. However, she quickly hit a mana-based shield that stopped her cold. Falling to the front row of the arena, she briefly panicked as she saw someone approach from the entrance far below. Someone she recognized. Someone she hated. * * * Zeke struggled to breathe. He¡¯d lost count of how many arrows had pierced his back, but he knew there were a lot of them. That, coupled with the wounds from the battle against the brute, meant that he was wholly incapacitated. He tried to push himself upright, but the best he could manage was to roll free of the slain brute. When his back hit the ground, dozens of arrows splintered, their heads digging ever deeper into his flesh. But he was more interested in the person approaching. ¡°Abby,¡± he coughed, spitting blood across his chin. ¡°Come to finish what you started?¡± She looked different than the last time he¡¯d seen her. Both better and worse. Better, because she seemed to have had a weight lifted from her shoulders. But worse because she bore a mask of scars that stretched up across her neck and extending to just below her right eye. They were barely visible even in the harsh light of day, but Zeke¡¯s vision had long since progressed past superhuman capabilities. So, he noticed them. ¡°I could, you know.¡± ¡°Last¡­I saw¡­you were running away,¡± Zeke said. If she was going to do it, then he wanted her to get it over with. The best way to ensure that was to provoke her. ¡°It¡¯s not going to work, Zeke,¡± Abby said, stopping a few feet away. ¡°What?¡± he choked. ¡°I¡¯m past this,¡± she stated. Squatting down, Abby went on, ¡°You know, I was gone. Long gone. I¡¯d settled down. I thought I¡¯d left all of this behind. Then, about three months ago, Ignatius finds me. Oh, he doesn¡¯t come himself. He¡¯s too good for that. Instead, he sends a team of knights. I don¡¯t know how they escaped your little siege, but they did. And they found me, directed by the Sun Goddess herself. Do you know why?¡± ¡°To kill me?¡± he muttered. ¡°Something like that,¡± Abby answered. ¡°I think you really pissed her off, Zeke. She¡¯s given them everything they said they needed, all in the hopes that they could kill you. And she wanted me to do it. She thought it would hurt more.¡± ¡°The contract...¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Doesn¡¯t apply to me,¡± she stated. ¡°Not to most of the Radiant Host in this city, actually. She cut them off ¨C temporarily, she said ¨C so that they wouldn¡¯t be included in that contract.¡± She paused, tilting her head to the side. ¡°You hear that, right? They¡¯re attacking your pet monsters right now. And they¡¯re going to hit a lot harder than you ever thought possible.¡± Zeke¡¯s stomach twisted into knots. Not from the pain. He felt that, but he¡¯d long since learned to ignore it. Instead, his problems stemmed from the undeniable fact that he had lost. As injured as he was, he couldn¡¯t even fight back. And [Hand of Divinity] was lost to him so long as he remained within the arena. ¡°Stop,¡± Abby said. ¡°Come any closer, and he dies. I¡¯m not as fast as you, Talia, but I¡¯m fast enough to make good on that promise. I can assure you that much.¡± Only then did Zeke realize that both Pudge and Talia had come to the arena. Vaguely, he sensed the Inashi nearby as well, but they felt further away. ¡°If you do anything to him¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll kill me,¡± Abby said. ¡°I know. You¡¯ll probably kill me regardless, won¡¯t you? You¡¯ve always hated me.¡± ¡°You have earned it.¡± Abby sighed. ¡°I suppose I have,¡± she admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be, if it makes any difference.¡± ¡°It does not.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± asked Pudge. Abby shook her head. ¡°I wanted to be left alone,¡± she answered. ¡°I thought I had escaped. I was building a life. Not one of importance, but the little community I found¡­well, it was good. I could have been happy. But they dragged me back, and well¡­here I am. The question is what I do now.¡± Zeke shifted a little, though he couldn¡¯t move much more than that. He was not accustomed to being helpless, but there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it. Instead, he looked inward. Not at his core of power, which was held behind the cage wrought by Oberon. Instead, he looked at himself. At the essence of who he was. And he realized something extremely important. He was not the sort of man to die helpless in some forgotten arena. He was more than that. He was stronger. He just needed to harness his power in a different way, and one that didn¡¯t necessarily conform to the system. Once, Zeke had heard stories about monks who could control their own heartbeats, who had such command over their bodies that they could accomplish all sorts of amazing feats. And if those monks back on Earth could do such a thing, then why couldn¡¯t Zeke? Only then did he realize that, for months and months, he¡¯d been training for that very thing. Not explicitly, but rather though his extensive time in the Hunting Grounds. During countless hours training against innumerable enemies, Zeke had developed a level of body control that far exceeded anything that would have been possible back on Earth. It went deeper than controlling his muscles ¨C or his physical being ¨C and dipped into the spiritual. Recognizing that unlocked something within him, and suddenly, he felt his wounds begin to mend. It wasn¡¯t as fast as if he¡¯d used [Hand of Divinity], which could mend him in seconds, but it was enough to stem the flow of blood and reverse some of the damage that had been done. His fingers twitched. ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked, his eyes boring into Abby. ¡°The same thing I wanted when they came for me,¡± she answered. ¡°I want to be left alone. I want to go back to the little village where I¡¯d settled and live my life. And I know the only way that¡¯s going to happen is if I help you. So, the question is ¨C are you going to try to kill me the second we get out of this arena?¡± ¡°I could never kill you,¡± he breathed, strength already flooding back into his body. ¡°I believe you,¡± she said. ¡°But I¡¯m also going to need some assurances against her.¡± Zeke¡¯s eyes flicked to Talia, who looked like she was almost vibrating in her eagerness to rip Abby apart. ¡°You hear her, Talia?¡± he asked. ¡°I heard. I don¡¯t like it. She¡¯ll just betray us again.¡± ¡°If she does, feel free to tear her to pieces,¡± Zeke said, his voice stronger. Then, he glanced at Abby and asked, ¡°Deal?¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Only then did Zeke pick himself up. His body still played host to dozens of arrows, many of which had been broken, but he had recovered enough of his strength to regain his feet. Abby¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What? How?¡± Zeke didn¡¯t have the energy for a proper shrug, so he just said, ¡°A lot has changed since we were together.¡± Then, he stepped past her and began the long, hobbling trip back to the arena gate. Along the way, Talia stepped in to rip the arrows free. It was not pleasant, but it was necessary. After he¡¯d gone a few feet, he looked back and asked, ¡°Are you coming?¡± * * * Abby¡¯s heart was beating out of her chest. She knew precisely how dangerous Zeke could be, which was why she hadn¡¯t dared to approach until after the fight against the battle slave and the subsequent volley of arrows. But he¡¯d never truly been down. She had never really been in control. She took a deep breath, pushing those thoughts aside. As she¡¯d learned of late, nobody could control everything. It had taken nearly dying in the Emerald Expanse, then being rescued by Renou, before she had accepted her own fallibility. The thought of Renou sent a pang of grief through her mind. She hadn¡¯t known him that long, but he¡¯d taken her in and cared for her as if she was one of his family. As such, she had been accepted by the rest of the village where she¡¯d been taken. What had followed was the happiest stretch of time she¡¯d experienced in her entire life. Then, it had ended when the Radiant Host had found her. They hadn¡¯t even considered asking nicely. They¡¯d simply slaughtered everyone in the village, then informed her that her presence was required. She wouldn¡¯t have gone if they hadn¡¯t spoken with the borrowed authority of the Sun Goddess herself. That had forced Abby to go along. But now, she had managed to wriggle free of those restraints ¨C probably because so much power had been expended to subvert the dueling contract imposed upon Zeke ¨C and she could do what she wanted to do. And she very much wanted to bring the entire Radiant Host down. Everything else she¡¯d said was merely in service of that goal. She needed Zeke, and not just because she knew that he ¨C or Talia ¨C would kill her given half a chance. No, it was also because without him and his army, the Radiant Host would persevere, and she would once again become enslaved. If that happened, she would never get her vengeance for what had happened to Renou and the other villages. They¡¯d been primitive people, but they had been kind to her. And then, they¡¯d died. Abby was hellbent on getting justice for that act. With that in mind, she nodded at Zeke and followed him out of the arena. It wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d followed him into battle, but in the back of her mind, she hoped it would be the very last. 609. Forging Ahead Zeke let out a sigh of relief as [Hand of Divinity] flooded into him, mending his wounds in only moments. The skill didn¡¯t expel the arrowheads in his back, but rather, melted them down so they could join his now-transformed titanic body. Often, he¡¯d chastised himself for using [Titan] as a crutch, but with the sounds of battle crashing through the city, he knew he needed every advantage he could get. A slight sound from behind alerted him, and he glanced back to see that Pudge and the Inashi had arrived. He¡¯d been vaguely aware that they were around, killing the archers in the arena¡¯s stands, but Pudge hadn¡¯t been fast enough to reach him before Abby made her move. Thankfully, his assistance hadn¡¯t been necessary, though Zeke expected that his brother was likely to feel guilty because of how it had gone down. Pudge took those sorts of things very seriously, after all. ¡°Wonder where he gets it,¡± Eveline said. Zeke ignored her as he and the others strode forward. He was tempted to run, but he didn¡¯t want to blunder into a battle in progress. He didn¡¯t fear for his safety ¨C not now ¨C but he also knew just how precise the kobolds¡¯ battle strategy usually was. If he fouled their lines, they wouldn¡¯t thank him. ¡°Are you going to say anything?¡± Abby asked. ¡°No questions? Comments?¡± ¡°Micayne lived through what happened in the Mortal Realm,¡± Zeke said at once. ¡°What?¡± ¡°He was alive,¡± he reiterated. ¡°Ended up here in the Eternal Realm. He destroyed an entire city of undead and enslaved the population. I killed most of them, but he got away.¡± ¡°He¡¯s still out there?¡± Abby asked. Zeke shook his head. ¡°Talia found him, and we killed him. For good this time. And no one had to betray any of their friends to do it.¡± Perhaps he wasn¡¯t as over her betrayal as he thought. Eveline gave him a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°You think?¡± ¡°Zeke, I didn¡¯t ¨C¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it, Abby,¡± he firmly stated. ¡°The only reason I¡¯m tolerating your presence right now is because we had a deal. Otherwise, we¡¯d be fighting, and this time, I wouldn¡¯t let you get away.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said. Before he could respond, she spoke over him, saying, ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to hear it, and I don¡¯t blame you for that. I regret so much about what happened. About how everything went down. I don¡¯t expect you to forgive me, and I know you¡¯ll never forget. But I wanted to apologize anyway, if only because I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever get another chance.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re ascending, right? You¡¯re at the peak. I know you¡¯re not one to sit still and conquer this world,¡± Abby explained. ¡°So, ascension is the only option. I don¡¯t intend to go anywhere, so this will probably be the last time I see you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t plan to ascend?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m done with chasing that kind of thing,¡± she said. ¡°I just want to find somewhere quiet to settle down. This life, all the conflict, it¡¯s only brought me pain. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± That was moderately surprising to Zeke. Going all the way back to the first time he¡¯d met Abby, she¡¯d been striving to prove herself worthy. Of what, he wasn¡¯t sure, but it had been such an integral part of her identity that her declaration that she no longer cared about it struck him as more than a little off. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like you.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t really spoken to me for years, Zeke. People change. I¡¯ve changed,¡± she argued. ¡°Sometimes forcefully. Sometimes as a defense mechanism. I don¡¯t want the same things I used to want.¡± ¡°And what do you want?¡± he asked. ¡°Peace. Love. Simplicity. Mostly, I just want to be left alone.¡± He didn¡¯t immediately respond to that statement. Did she have the right of it? After all, Zeke already had enough power to live like a king. He could spend the rest of his days ¨C thousands of years, if he wanted ¨C lounging around and living off the spoils of conquest. Maybe he and Adara could even start a family. Perhaps they could be happy. But that wasn¡¯t what he wanted. Or more appropriately, it wasn¡¯t what he needed. For better or worse, Zeke thrived on conflict. Without it, he would be lost. Even the past year or so of besieging Eldoria had left him incredibly bored and feeling purposeless. He¡¯d staved that off by remembering that he was there for a reason and rededicating himself to training. However, that wouldn¡¯t work without an ultimate goal. He needed to work toward something. Otherwise, he would likely fall into a deep depression, not unlike what had happened when he¡¯d found he could no longer play baseball. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. That was something he never wanted to revisit. Still, he was happy for Abby. Despite how much he still blamed her for what she had done, he didn¡¯t want her to suffer. If she could find peace, then good for her. He said as much, adding, ¡°I hope you find what you¡¯re looking for.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± After that, the pair went silent. Pointedly, Zeke was well aware of just how much his attitude differed from Talia¡¯s. If he hadn¡¯t been there, he felt certain that she would have already ripped Abby to pieces. She had no desire to see the hated woman make peace with herself. For his part, Pudge seemed mostly indifferent. Did he even remember his time with Abby? From their few conversations on the subject, Zeke knew that Pudge¡¯s memories of the Mortal Realm were, at best, blurry. He remembered them more as feelings than as actual recollections. So, when he looked at Abby, he only saw a figure from his distant past. She was just blip on the radar of his existence. That struck Zeke as incredibly sad. Abby had done a lot of things wrong, but she¡¯d always loved Pudge. He remembered those first few days after they¡¯d met, when he was training Pudge to survive. She had been so concerned with him. They¡¯d cuddled together at night, and she had treated him like a wayward puppy. Not a terrible characterization, if Zeke was honest. But Pudge was no longer that little dire bear cub. He was his own person now, separate from Zeke but still part of his family. Abby could not lay claim to the same. Whatever the case, Zeke didn¡¯t have long to dwell on those thoughts before he led the others into the largest-scale battle any of them had encountered. There were hundreds of thousands of kobolds on the field, and they were opposed by just as many members of the Radiant Host. Somehow, the soldiers of the Imperium had managed to attack from behind. Another force had attacked from the citadel, and all the while, heavy siege weapons rained powerful balls of mana down on the beleaguered army. Soon enough, Zeke spotted Silik only a hundred yards away. He announced his intentions to his companions, then lowered his shoulder and bowled his way through the knights in his way. After only a few moments, he reached what appeared to be a command post. Silik was there, as were Tucker and Jasper. Even Kianma had come out of the nearby gate. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened?¡± Zeke demanded. ¡°They attacked, Ak-toh, just like you predicted,¡± Silik answered. ¡°We were still taken by surprise. They materialized out of nowhere, attacking from the rear. When we adjusted to that, another force spilled out of the citadel, hitting us from the other direction. We are holding our own, but if nothing changes, we will take heavy casualties.¡± ¡°The other armies?¡± ¡°Also attacked,¡± Silik said. ¡°Dammit,¡± he growled. He hadn¡¯t truly believed they¡¯d be constrained by the contract, but he hadn¡¯t expected so many to have been housed within the citadel. It was certainly big enough, but his intelligence had indicated that there were far fewer soldiers within. What¡¯s worse, he sensed something in the air that he hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°Demons,¡± he said after a moment. ¡°Is there a portal here?¡± Abby shook her head. ¡°Not that I know of. But Ignatius has dealt with them before, as you know. So, I wouldn¡¯t put it past him.¡± Zeke swore again. Then, he looked at Tucker. ¡°Are you okay with doing your thing?¡± he asked. The alchemist shook his head. ¡°Are you sure you want me to go down that route? It¡¯s not going to be pretty,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t see that we have much choice.¡± Without his most powerful skills, Zeke had no ability to quickly clear out large swathes of troops. And the longer it took to defeat the opposing army, the more casualties his side would experience. ¡°Do it, Tucker. Talia, I want you to focus on killing their healers. Pudge, you and the Inashi hit their officers,¡± Zeke ordered. ¡°Jasper, just keep playing your songs.¡± ¡°Of course, my friend.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± asked Abby. ¡°Shoot as many of these bastards as you can,¡± Zeke said. ¡°What will you do, Ak-toh?¡± Zeke summoned Voromir and searched the battlefield for an appropriate route to the citadel. And with the mass of knights in his way, he knew that there was only way ¨C straight through. ¡°I¡¯m going to make a hole,¡± he said. Then, without further discussion, he sprinted forward. As he did so, he swung his massive hammer, activating the weapon¡¯s ability along the way. A huge, crimson version of Voromir manifested before swiping through the air in a hundred-yard arc in front of Zeke. The knights had no chance. Even a few kobolds were caught in the wash. However, Zeke had to trust that they could take it, and even if they were injured, Kianma and her spiritweavers would simply need to heal them. For his part, Zeke couldn¡¯t let himself be bothered by their fate. If he didn¡¯t get through, then everyone in the army was going to die at the foot of the citadel. Mana cannons continued to fire, hitting the battlefield like artillery shells of pure magical energy. Huge sprays of dirt, charred body parts, and stone erupted into the air with each impact. Zeke took one directly in the chest, but he was far more durable than the ground or a few soldiers. Even so, he was more than a little singed, though he had [Hand of Divinity] on his side to mitigate those effects. He forged ahead, and when he found himself facing off against another horde of soldiers, he swung Voromir once again. This time, though, they were ready for it. The mana-construct slammed into a shimmering blue shield, shattering without doing any damage whatsoever. A second later, the knights opened up. Thousands of arrows filled the air, accompanied by fireballs, ice shards, and every other manifestation of a mage skill imaginable. They all hit Zeke at the same time, burying him under a deluge of destruction that felt like it was ripping him apart. His body melted and froze, was pierced through and crushed. All the while, he kept [Hand of Divinity] going at full blast, though even that mighty skill was taxed by the sheer amount of damage inflicted upon him. Yet, if there was one thing Zeke could count on, it was his ability to outlast and endure. So, he tapped into that, and just as he¡¯d begun to understand his other attributes in novel ways, so too did he comprehend his endurance on an entirely new level. He quite possibly possessed the stoutest defenses in the world ¨C especially when his resistances were taken into account ¨C so how could a few spells ever hurt him? He sank into his own thoughts, grabbing hold of that notion and forcing his body to respond. Suddenly, arrows that had, only a moment before, easily torn through him were now stopped cold without even penetrating his metallic skin. Spells washed over him like they were nothing, and when he finally pushed through the cascade of destruction, he was entirely remade by [Hand of Divinity]. That was when they started to panic. And they were right to do so. 610. Nothing Zeke rammed the gate, flexing his immense strength to give him more power. It shattered before him, launching backward across a courtyard and into a wall. It would have gone further, but the material of the gate was much weaker than the wall with which it had collided. So, it broke into pieces rather than smash through. How had Zeke never recognized what he could do? His attributes were not just representative of his traits. Strength didn¡¯t really describe the power of his muscles. Instead, it was a conceptual representation of how his presence distorted reality. Sure, it meant that he could lift progressively heavier things, but it was far more than that, too. And he¡¯d only tapped into a small part of his potential. He suspected that most people failed to truly reach the pinnacle of what their attributes might allow. It was more than just his physical abilities. It was a measure of his mind, body, and soul all working in conjunction to exceed what should have been physically possible. That was why he¡¯d never truly maximized his abilities. It wasn¡¯t about the numbers in his status. Rather, it was about belief. About knowing he could do anything he wanted. About shattering perceived limits. And if there was one thing Zeke had grown to be very, very good at, it was shattering things. Case in point, the destroyed gate that allowed him free entry into the citadel. He stomped through, his hammer in hand as he looked around. Above him, tens of thousands of warriors looked down on him, and he could feel their fear as a solid thing. For a moment, a pregnant silence stretched across the entire citadel until someone let loose an arrow. It hit Zeke directly in the chest, bounced off, then clattered to the ground. He felt the mana blazing through it, and though the attack had not been weak, it was laughably insufficient to penetrate his metallic skin. Only a few hours before, it might¡¯ve pierced him through, but he now understood his attributes and how the affected the world on a much deeper level. The first attack was like the firing of a starter pistol, and only a moment later, every single one of the citadel¡¯s defenders let loose with powerful skills. Zeke only stood there, waiting as he flexed his endurance. They flew unerringly, slamming into him with all the force of their high-level originators. Yet, Zeke stood firm, unharmed and unafraid. He lost track of how long the attacks persisted. Minutes? Hours? It meant nothing. Each cast skill was like a mosquito bite, and one that was immediately healed by [Hand of Divinity]. Once, back in the Mortal Realm, he¡¯d been forced to acknowledge that he had become the most powerful man in the world. As Zeke stood against the barrage of attacks, a similar thought flitted through his mind. He wasn¡¯t certain if it was accurate, but in that moment, he certainly felt that nothing could stand before him. He no longer felt like a powerful man. Instead, he was a god amongst mortals. A titan in truth. He leaped, covering hundreds of feet in a second. When he began his descent, he did so with all the power he could muster. His hammer slammed into the top of the citadel¡¯s wall, and anyone within thirty feet of the impact was simply vaporized. The wall itself shattered only a moment later, the point of the hammer¡¯s contact exploding in a massive rift before cracks spread across the entire wall. Zeke hit the ground soon after, and when he turned around, he saw thousands of kobolds flooding through the now-destroyed gate. They worked together to scale the wall from the inside, and soon enough, they were ripping through the panicked members of the Radiant Host. Those knights, mages, and archers had used every ounce of mana trying to destroy Zeke. Now, they had nothing left against the armies of the Crimson Tower. As such, the results were predictable. Zeke didn¡¯t even need to kill them himself. He only had to watch from below as they cut through the enemy like a hot knife through butter. It was horrific. It was beautiful. But most of all, it was justified. Those people had, at the very least, stood by while millions of people had been enslaved, oppressed, and abused. At worst, they¡¯d participated in those detestable practices. So, they deserved every ill inflicted upon them by the kobolds. Zeke¡¯s army did not fight like avenging angels. There was no fury in the execution of their duty. They only did what they had been trained to do, advancing as one and crushing the enemy beneath the weight of their efficiency. The knights never had a chance to truly resist, and they fell in droves. Blood flowed down the wall, gathering in the cracks Zeke had created before pooling on the ground. It mixed with the dirt, creating bloodstained mud and filling the air with the smell of iron, death, excrement, and all the other aromas characteristic of a slaughter. In the past, Zeke might have insisted upon participating in the rout, if only for the kill energy. However, he¡¯d already reached the peak, and as such, he believed that the kobolds could benefit far more. After all, none of the remaining members of the Radiant Host were low-leveled, so without the mana to affect any skills, they became giant sacks of potential progression.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. So, Zeke remained where he was, ready to step in if necessary. Meanwhile, the battle outside the citadel progressed as well as the one on the walls. Tucker deployed some of his nastier potions, blanketing the entire area in caustic poison that killed the weaker members of the opposing army and weakened everyone else. The kobolds were affected as well, but they had the benefit of Kianma¡¯s spiritweavers as well as Jasper¡¯s powerful songs to support them. As such, they were far less affected, which freed them to indiscriminately slaughter the enemy. It was then that Zeke realized just how much the kobolds ¨C and the beastkin as well ¨C had grown. Not that long had passed since they were cowering beneath Min Ferilik, and now, they had become the most fearsome army in the Eternal Realm. What¡¯s more, they had grown steadily more sapient with every passing day. Some of that was due to Tucker¡¯s potions, but it was also the structure of the tower at play. As a species, they still had a long way to go, but if they kept on the way they were going, they would reach higher than he ever could have imagined. And it would be even more dramatic once he unlocked the Hall of Affinities. Just as that thought appeared in his mind, the main keep of the citadel shook, and Zeke felt a familiar power welling up from within. Corruption erupted from the keep, then spread across the battlefield, thick and caustic. Fortunately, his people had been inoculated against it via his twin domains, but that was far gentler than the wave of corruption crashing through the army. ¡°Retreat!¡± Zeke ordered, his words echoing through the courtyard and across the battlefield. ¡°Into the gate!¡± To their credit, the kobolds didn¡¯t panic. Even as the caustic aura burning through them, they began an orderly retreat. At the same time, Jasper switched his songs to adapt to the new source of damage. The spiritweavers ¨C as well as the other healers they¡¯d coopted from the ranks of the beastkin ¨C adjusted too. It wasn¡¯t enough to completely shield the army from the effects of the corruption, but it was sufficient to give them time to retreat. The level of corruption in the air continued to rise, wave after wave, as the earth shook. Meanwhile, the kobolds continued their retreat until only Zeke remained in the courtyard. The members of the Radiant Host were already dead. The ones who¡¯d survived the battle with the Crimson Tower¡¯s army could not bear the touch of so much corruption. It was a tough way to die, but given who they were, Zeke didn¡¯t spare their fate much thought. In any case, the entirety of his attention lay on the keep. Or more importantly, on what he felt within. His senses weren¡¯t keen enough to be certain, but he knew that something incredibly strong was coming for him. ¡°What do you think it is?¡± he asked aloud. Eveline, who¡¯d appeared beside him, answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know. It doesn¡¯t feel right to just be a demon.¡± ¡°If you had to guess?¡± ¡°I have no idea, Ezekiel. I¡¯ve never felt anything like it.¡± Zeke nodded. ¡°You¡¯d better disappear. I don¡¯t want you to be hurt,¡± he said, intuiting that the coming fight was going to tax him at least as much as any other battle he¡¯d ever experienced. ¡°Go deep. Maybe completely into the tower, if you can. This is going to get bad, I think.¡± For once, Eveline didn¡¯t argue with him. Instead, she just said, ¡°Be careful.¡± Then, without another word, she faded from view. A second later, even her presence within his mind disappeared. He could still feel her, though he could tell that she was far away. It was like looking at someone through frosted glass. As he waited, Zeke rolled his shoulders and tightened his grip on his hammer. Even though, in his titanic form, he¡¯d become quite an enormous figure, he felt progressively smaller as the enemy approached. Its aura reminded him of the Blood Wraith from so long ago. Not in the flavor, but rather, in the potency of the energy swirling around it. He¡¯d grown quite a bit since then, but he still wasn¡¯t certain he could stand up to something on that level. But he also wasn¡¯t entirely sure that he couldn¡¯t. He was eager to find out, though. It wasn¡¯t long before he got his chance, but the creature that emerged from the keep was not what he had expected. It was just a man, and one Zeke recognized. ¡°Ignatius?¡± he muttered aloud. ¡°In part,¡± the man answered, stepping forward. Corruption flowed out of him with every beat of his heart. ¡°A small part, admittedly. Poor Ignatius likely regrets his choice. Inviting me into this world, giving me such a prime vessel. The Sun Goddess even gave me her blessing. Complete control over one of her little toys. He¡¯s screaming inside, you know. Railing against my Will. He can¡¯t win, of course. He is but a gnat compared to a god.¡± ¡°Bold claims,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°I once made you an offer,¡± the demon wearing Ignatius¡¯ skin said, coming to a stop. He clutched his hands behind his back. ¡°Do you remember, Ezekiel? I gave you a quest that you promptly ignored. A novel feeling, being ignored. I am not accustomed to such disdain.¡± ¡°Oda.¡± ¡°Ah, so you do remember me. That is¡­gratifying.¡± ¡°How are you here?¡± Zeke demanded. ¡°I was invited,¡± Oda stated with Ignatius¡¯ voice. ¡°Only a few years ago, I made a deal with little Shar Maelaine. She wanted to borrow a few of my followers, and I wanted to let them rampage a bit. Of course, I never anticipated that they would be destroyed so thoroughly. You truly have raised a unique army, Ezekiel. They are far more capable than anyone could have anticipated.¡± He stepped to the side, and Zeke turned to follow his movement. That brought a slight chuckle. ¡°With that failure, I never expected to hear from the Sun Goddess again. However, you truly must have offended her, because she came to me with an offer I simply could not refuse. Putting down someone with the spark of divinity is quite an accomplishment, and I shall savor the reward for doing so.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve come to kill me?¡± ¡°I have come to drain you,¡± Oda stated. ¡°Did no one tell you? The second you took your first steps down the road to divinity, you put a target on your own back. Those of us who can sense it will hunt you down, kill you, and take that power for our own. It is only a drop, but even that is enough to ¨C¡± Zeke didn¡¯t allow the possessed leader of the Imperium to utter another word before he threw himself at him. He tore across the courtyard, his feet barely touching the ground as he aimed to end the threat before it could ever truly present itself. 611. Oda Zeke¡¯s heavy feet thudded against the ground, digging deep divots into the muddy turf as he raced toward Oda. The demonic tree god had somehow possessed Ignatius, the leader of the Radiant Host, but he stood his ground as if he didn¡¯t feel at all threatened. Perhaps he didn¡¯t. After all, he was a god, and for all of Zeke¡¯s strides forward, he was still just a man. He hefted Voromir, activating the hammer¡¯s ability, and sending a massive, crimson manifestation of the weapon arcing toward the stationary target. Just before it hit, Oda waved his slender sword, and a thousand black, crystalline trees erupted from the ground. Voromir¡¯s copy hit the trees, shattering their delicate branches, but when it the trunks, it stopped cold. However, Zeke was not deterred. He was already committed to battle, and he wouldn¡¯t stop until he was either dead or victorious. The ground shook beneath the weight of his charge, and he covered the ground in only a couple of seconds. When he came into range of the barrier of trees, he cocked the hammer back and prepared to leverage the entirety of his divine strength to rip a hole through them. Before he got the chance to swing, another wave of trees sprouted, their branches spearing him through the torso. His momentum was arrested, and he shuddered to a stop as dozens of branches shattered. There were always more, though, and each one was as sharp as any sword. Every inch he moved ripped him to shreds, and soon enough, the ground was coated in his silver blood. But Zeke was not one to stop. He didn¡¯t have that in him. Instead, he embraced [Hand of Divinity], but to his distress, the healing that came was but a trickle of what he anticipated. He pushed it harder, feeding as much energy into the skill as he could manage. It wasn¡¯t enough, though. He roared as he willed the skill to move faster, to work harder. Even as he did, he never stopped moving. Inch by inch, he tore himself to pieces, but he drew ever closer by the passing second. Then, he reached the first trunk. Leveraging his strength to the maximum of its capability, he reached back and slammed Voromir into the stout crystal. It cracked, sending a bell-like sound ringing through the courtyard. Vaguely, Zeke was aware that Oda was speaking, but he paid the insidious tree demon no heed. Whatever he wanted to say was irrelevant. Zeke slammed his hammer into the trunk again, and the cracks spread. Meanwhile, more branches tore into his torso, but he only pulled harder on [Hand of Divinity]. It was insufficient to heal him entirely, and pain wracked his entire body. Yet, Zeke was not one to kneel at the feet of something as inconsequential as a little agony. He¡¯d been through worse, after all. So, he ignored it, forging ahead and smashing Voromir into the tree once again. Then again after that. Over and over, he channeled the same stubborn refusal to quit that had seen him through so many battles, and gradually, the crystalline trees began to shatter. The first one fell after the fourth attack, but now that Zeke had managed to harness his rhythm, he managed to take the second one down only a couple of seconds later. Each attack came harder than the last, and soon enough, he was ripping through the crystalline trunks like they were paper. At the same time, the sharp branches fouled upon his increasingly durable skin. Zeke was not in full control of his attributes. That would take more time than he could imagine. But he did have some command over how they affected the world, and more importantly, he had the willpower to force them to obey his unspoken authority. And with every passing moment, they responded further to his will. After only a minute, Zeke caught sight of his adversary. Oda ¨C in Ignatius¡¯ body ¨C stood before the keep¡¯s gate, idle and unworried. His once-pristine golden armor had sprouted hundreds of crystal branches. The same was true of the man himself, and glassy, black limbs sprouted from his ears like antlers. Blood coated his cheeks from where similar branches had erupted from his eyes. Zeke rammed through the final trees, and he didn¡¯t hesitate to charge Oda. However, only a second later, the adversary disappeared, and a fiery pain unlike any other he¡¯d ever experienced erupted in his legs. A second later, glassy roots erupted from the wounds and slammed into the ground, anchoring him in place. Overbalanced, he fell ¨C right into Oda¡¯s slender sword. It ripped through his chest and pierced his heart. For a moment, the world seemed to stop as the two came together. Oda cradled him, almost like a child, and smiled. ¡°You are a powerful mortal,¡± he said. ¡°Perhaps the strongest I have seen. But you are no god.¡± He ripped his sword free, and Zeke fell. He hit the ground with a thud, shattering the glass roots beneath his heavy body. He couldn¡¯t move, so he had no ability to escape when they began to encircle him. Hundreds of glassy tendrils wrapped around him, squeezing him even as their sharp thorns ripped into his metallic body. The sound of screeching glass against metal filled the air, accompanied by his screams of agony. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. But Zeke had been through worse. The fiery pain was unique, and it burned his soul as much as it did his body. It was still just pain, though, and that meant he had not only his high tolerance, but also long experience dealing with it on his side. So, he pushed the pain away and focused on his situation. He couldn¡¯t move, and without his skills, he was at an extreme disadvantage. But he could mitigate some of that by focusing on what he did have. In short, he needed to use his nearly limitless strength to his advantage. If he could potentially move a mountain ¨C and he suspected that he could do just that ¨C he could break free of a few glass roots. He only needed to push himself harder. Zeke closed his eyes, centering his mind as he focused on the essence of his strength. It wasn¡¯t just the ability to lift things. That was part of it, but it was also about willpower. About enforcing his determination on the outside world. If he wanted a mountain to move, then it would move. By that same note, if he wanted to break the crystalline roots confining him, then they would break. Or he would die trying. He flexed, and not just his muscles. He moved his mind as well, and suddenly, the sound of cracking glass filled the air. Oda let out a gasp of surprise as Zeke broke free of the roots, roaring in triumph as he sprang to his feet. ¡°You!¡± shouted the possessed knight. Zeke didn¡¯t bother responding. Instead, he aimed an almost casual backhand at the tree demon, and when he connected, the sound of an exploding bomb echoed through the courtyard. Oda was launched to the side, moving so quickly that he was practically invisible to the naked eye. And when he hit the wall on the other side of the courtyard, it broke. And so did he. Thousands of shards of glass exploded in every direction, ripping Ignatius¡¯ body apart. However, Zeke knew that Oda wasn¡¯t dead. He could feel the mana in the air swirling all around as every sliver of glass lifted from the ground. Soon enough, they swirled like a tornado, clanging off Zeke¡¯s metallic body as he flexed his endurance. Then, the whirlwind shrank, collapsing in on itself until it all coalesced into a vaguely humanoid form. When the dust settled, Zeke saw that Oda had been remade into something closer to the tree¡¯s true form. Branches stretched in every direction, emanating from a willowy trunk, from which grew legs, arms, and, of course, a face. The last feature was twisted in anger and disgust as Oda locked his eyes on Zeke. ¡°You impertinent insect,¡± he growled in a voice that sounded like grinding glass. ¡°You dare to stand up to me? You dare?!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t let the word¡¯s echo dissipate before he threw himself forward, ready for round two. By the second step, the ground had begun to rumble. With the third, it cracked. And by the time Zeke had taken his third stride, a giant tree had erupted beneath him. It hit him like a speeding locomotive, though it didn¡¯t launch him horizontally. Instead, it threw him straight up, though his momentum took him in an arc that should have sent him flying well over the citadel¡¯s wall. Before he got there, another tree exploded from the opposite direction, hitting him even harder than the first. Then, a third. And a fourth. Zeke had no defense against the battering he received at the end of the trees. And what¡¯s more, separated from the ground, he didn¡¯t have quite as much power with which to heal. [Hand of Divinity] harnessed a spark of divine energy to fuel it, but the bulk of its power came from attuned mana ¨C one flavor of which originated with the earth. Still, he pushed his vitality to keep up, though it was far from capable of doing so. However, with the addition of the weakened version of [Hand of Divinity], he managed to survive the battering barrage of arboreal manifestations. It went on for what felt like hours, and his body was ripped to shreds in the process. But even Oda ¨C at least the version that could step foot in the Eternal Realm ¨C had limits. Zeke found them when the pace of the summoned trees began to wane before finally petering out. Zeke fell to the ground, hitting hard enough to dig a sizable crater in the courtyard. Blood was everywhere, shimmering silver in the fading light as Oda approached. ¡°You are a cockroach,¡± the demonic tree said, moving forward. He didn¡¯t walk. Rather, he hovered in mid-air, suspended on roots that snaked beneath the ground. A slender sword grew from his crystalline arm. It glistened with black corruption that distorted the air around the blade. ¡°The world will thank me for putting you down.¡± Zeke let [Hand of Divinity] infuse him, healing his body with every heartbeat. He didn¡¯t move, though. Instead, he just lay there, hoping to convince Oda that he couldn¡¯t move. It worked, eliciting a gloating laugh. ¡°Broken and battered. You are not so mighty now, are you? To think what Shar Maelaine gave up, just to let me kill you,¡± Oda went on, hovering over Zeke. ¡°I wonder if she knows that I would have done it for free? Some consider rejection a right of passage. A character builder. I am not one of those people. Snubbing my quest was the moment you sealed your fate, young cambion.¡± He raised his sword, ready to strike. That was when Zeke acted. His hammer had been lost somewhere during his battering, so he simply used his body. Launching himself upright, he put every ounce of strength he could muster behind a massive uppercut. His entire concept of power ¨C of that indomitable spirit that let him dominate his enemies ¨C drove his fist upward with undeniable fury. And just before it hit, he used [Unleash Momentum]. The skill had not had a chance to truly replenish its power, but it had always been a force multiplier. And given everything behind that punch, there was a lot to multiply. Oda tried to dodge. He drifted backward just a hair, which was why Zeke¡¯s attack didn¡¯t let solidly on his chin. Instead, the punch ¨C its path altered at the very last moment ¨C clipped the demon tree in the jaw. That was enough. For the second time that day, Oda shattered into a million tiny shards. Those pieces of crystal flew in every direction, embedding themselves in the nearby walls, the ground, and in Zeke himself. [Hand of Divinity], already pumping at full blast, discharged those shards, and the clinked to the ground even as the shockwave of Zeke¡¯s attack swept through the courtyard. But once again, Zeke knew that the demonic tree was not dead. Never was that clearer than when the shards started to move, writhing across the ground as they began to congregate. It appeared that the fight wasn¡¯t over, but Zeke knew he would shatter the demonic tree a thousand times if that was what it took. 612. Embodiment Zeke smashed his forehead into the black crystal trunk of the tree, shattering it with a single blow. At the same time, he grabbed hold of one of the thousand branches jutting from his chest and yanked. It came free with the sound of glass scraping against metal, sending a spurt of silver blood to splatter on the ground. It never hit, for the entire courtyard was inches deep in black shards of crystal. He didn¡¯t have time to notice any of that, though. Instead, Zeke had everything he could handle with tearing one branch after another from his body. Each time he yanked one free, he weakened a little more, but he refused to let it affect him. Those attacks all sapped his strength, but fortunately, he had plenty to spare. At some point, he lost sight of his goal. Every time he destroyed one tree or broke one branch, there was another to take its place. If Zeke had plenty of strength, then Oda had more than enough mana to keep going nearly indefinitely. Against that, all Zeke could hope to accomplish was to hold out until the tree demon¡¯s energy began to dip. Until then, Zeke had only one goal ¨C endure. So, that was what he did. He bit and clawed, his trusty hammer having long since been discarded. He headbutted and kicked, wrestled the snaking branches into submission, and used every trick he had at his disposal to extend the battle even for one more minutes. Minutes became hours, and hours turned it into more than a day. And yet, Oda showed no signs of slowing down. Neither did Zeke, though. He¡¯d decided to keep going, and in that, his will was like iron. His entire world was crystalline branches. He was surrounded and inundated, with thousands of branches piercing his body. In a way, he felt like Sisyphus and his eternal labor. Though, instead of pushing a boulder uphill, he was tasked with fighting against an endless inundation of crystal trees. But like that mythological figure, Zeke had no intention of giving up. If the gods had chosen to punish him, then he would endure that punishment until they tired of their little game. So it was with Oda. Clearly, he couldn¡¯t overpower the demon tree. He simply didn¡¯t have the strength to finish him off. However, what he could do was outlast him. And as it turned out, that was precisely what Zeke was good at. Of all his traits, it wasn¡¯t his strength or endurance that had seen him through countless battles. That wasn¡¯t how he¡¯d gotten through years in a cave system filled with trolls. Instead, he¡¯d made it through those harrowing events because he was far too stubborn to know when he should simply give up. He channeled that same attitude as Oda tried to bury him beneath an endless cascade of black crystal. Tree after tree impaled him, tearing through his body and elicitin a degree of agony he¡¯d never before felt. And yet, Zeke endured ¨C not because of any mystical trait, but through a simple refusal to surrender. Zeke lost count of the days. Not that they mattered. He would keep going until Oda tired of the fight. Or, unlikely though it seemed, until the demonic tree ran out of energy. Everything and everyone had limits. Zeke just needed to find Oda¡¯s. So, on he fought. As he sank further into himself, he became increasingly more aware of his body and the expression of his attributes. It didn¡¯t happen all at once, but over time, the tree branches that had once so easily pierced his body were stopped by his skin. What¡¯s more, every punch, every kick, every flick of his fingers shattered the crystal trunks. He was gaining ground, though he didn¡¯t really notice it. He was too focused on survival to care about things growing easier. But eventually, the trees ceased reappearing, and Zeke burst through the wall of crystal, bloody and with his body having been ripped to pieces, only to find nothing left to fight. Then, he glanced upward to see Oda floating around fifty feet up. ¡°You vex me,¡± the tree said. And he was a tree in truth. After being shattered multiple times, Oda had discarded his host entirely. Now, he was represented by a gloriously perfect tree, much as he had been back in the Mortal Realm when Zeke had encountered him in the center of that corrupted lake. Back then, he¡¯d barely understood what he was looking at, and now, he was only a little more knowledgeable. ¡°And you piss me off,¡± Zeke growled, glancing across the courtyard and seeing his hammer. Over the years, he¡¯d developed something of a sixth sense regarding the weapon. It had been with him almost since the very beginning, so he could feel it almost as well as he could sense his own limbs. ¡°You want to come down here so I can finish breaking you into increasingly tiny pieces?¡± ¡°You fight even when you know you are beaten. Tell me ¨C why?¡± ¡°Because that¡¯s who I am.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Oda said, his branches waving. ¡°You have the spark of divinity. I can feel it locked away behind that ridiculously crude cage. If you live, you will become a god. When that happens, what will you embody? I sense destruction in you. Is that what defines you? Or is it merely a tool you have adopted?¡± Zeke didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he stood there, staring defiantly up at the tree. He could easily reach Oda with a leap, but then what? He¡¯d already proven that he couldn¡¯t kill the tree. He¡¯d spent countless hours trying to do just that, and he¡¯d yet to be successful. No ¨C he needed a different tactic. But he just didn¡¯t know what that might be. So, he stood there, stalling. Finally, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t care, either.¡± ¡°You should. If you kill this avatar and ascend to the next realm, you will need to make a choice as to what defines your very being. Is it destruction? Or endurance? Something else of which I am not aware? Your sponsor, Oberon, chose nature. I chose something similar, though from a different perspective. My sister, Eta, chose creation. Did you know that she made the elves? They were not reborn from other worlds, as they would have you believe. Their race began in the Mortal Realm. Her little project that she thought would usher her to prominence. And yet, they failed her.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to kill me?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Oda stated. ¡°But I will admit that there is a chance that you will destroy this avatar. A small one, to be sure, but a chance nonetheless. I merely wanted to know if you had considered your future.¡± ¡°Not especially.¡± ¡°Then you should. For your sake as well as the sake of your subjects,¡± Oda said. ¡°I care not for either, but one god to another, do not let Oberon manipulate you to his purpose. He fights a meaningless battle, and joining him will only result in ruin. Not that it matters. You will die here.¡± ¡°Lot of talking and not a lot killing going on,¡± Zeke remarked. ¡°You going to get to it, then?¡± Oda¡¯s branches shook, and Zeke wasn¡¯t sure if the tree was laughing or furious. Whatever the case, the brief respite ended then and there. Hundreds of crystal trees burst free of the courtyard earth, sending the shards of shattered trees spraying in every direction. Zeke braced himself, but he was still taken aback by the fury with which the trees descended upon him. If his resolve had been tested before, now it was pushed to the absolute brink. However, in the back of his mind, he continuously replayed the conversation he¡¯d shared with the demonic tree. Oda had claimed to have dedicated himself to something nature-adjacent. What did that mean? Zeke pondered that while defending himself against the ever-growing branches. While he did so, he cast his senses downward, and when he did, he finally understood. Oda wasn¡¯t a nature-based creature. Rather, he was dedicated to earth. The tree motif was just misdirection. Even as Zeke waged a war against an army of crystal trees, he used his earth attunement to search the ground. And soon enough, he found it ¨C buried deep beneath the citadel was a ball of dense crystal from which all the trees sprouted. The message was clear ¨C if he wanted to kill Oda¡¯s avatar, he needed to destroy that ball of crystal. So, without further delay, Zeke started to dig. Not all at once, but in between shattering trees and yanking sharp, crystal branches from his body. And gradually, he made progress until, just as he came within a dozen feet of the ball, Oda once again spoke. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he demanded. ¡°Stop! You can¡¯t ¨C¡± Zeke surged through the last few feet, latching onto the hunk of sharp crystal. He could feel the powerful mana deep inside, and it wasn¡¯t just earth-attuned energy, either. There was significant corruption as well. What was even more important was that it was an object, not a living thing. And that meant that Zeke had no issues sending it straight into his storage. Oda let out a scream that cut off only a second later when the crystal disappeared. The moment it did, Zeke turned his attention inward and shouted for Eveline to come out. ¡°What?¡± she asked, peeking out from her mental bunker. ¡°I just sent Oda into the storage space. I need you to lock him down before he can do any damage. When I get back, I intend to put him in the prison,¡± Zeke explained quickly. They were able to speak at the speed of thought, but time still passed. And who knew what someone like Oda could do with even a few seconds of freedom inside a place like the Crimson Tower? ¡°On it,¡± she said. Only a second later, she continued, ¡°It¡¯s done. He¡¯s screaming pretty loud, though. And just so you know, that isn¡¯t actually Oda. It¡¯s an avatar.¡± ¡°He mentioned that, but I have no idea what it means.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a tiny sliver of his soul,¡± she explained. ¡°He had to be invited here, which was why he latched onto the Imperium¡¯s leader. But once he was here, he didn¡¯t really need the host anymore.¡± ¡°Is he dead?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Oh, yeah. Definitely. He was dead the second he invited Oda in. But you totally killed him.¡± Zeke nodded. That was as expected, but he still wasn¡¯t entirely sure what to think about it. Indeed, he was in no place to ponder the man¡¯s fate, considering everything that had happened. Fighting a god¡¯s avatar was no mean feat, and it had left him with a hundred questions about his place in the world, how his attributes were expressed, and, most importantly, about his future. But he didn¡¯t have any answers. One thing he did know was that the battle was over. Not only had Oda been defeated, but during that fight, his army had completed the takeover of the city of Eldoria. Soon enough, Eveline confirmed that, though Zeke would need to speak with the others to learn just how the battle had gone. For now, though, he had a simple question. ¡°It occurs to me that Oda was an object,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have been able to send him into the storage space otherwise.¡± ¡°Right. Well, he¡¯s also an extremely powerful source of mana, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°And that makes him sort of like a natural treasure, doesn¡¯t it?¡± he ventured. Eveline didn¡¯t answer for a few seconds, but then she said, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s perfect. Absolutely perfect. Much better than what I had planned.¡± ¡°Will that hunk of crystal work for the quest?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°It definitely will. Probably a good thing, because I don¡¯t think we had the means to kill him otherwise. Now, the Framework will take care of it,¡± she said with a sigh of relief. ¡°What was the other plan?¡± he asked. ¡°Oh. That. I was going to sacrifice myself.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be that surprising, Ezekiel. Do you think I¡¯m happy like this?¡± she asked. ¡°I was a powerful demon, with all the freedom that implies. Now, I¡¯m an ephemeral spirit who can¡¯t leave your head. Getting out into the tower helps, but this is not the life I envisioned for myself. So, I decided to sacrifice myself for your little quest. It seemed like the right move.¡± ¡°You were going to kill yourself¡­¡± ¡°Well, as far as I¡¯m concerned, I died a long time ago. I¡¯m just a ghost now, Ezekiel. And like all ghosts, I¡¯m just waiting for the right opportunity to be put to rest.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t accept that, Eveline. I just don¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not up to you. I won¡¯t actively seek my own demise, but if it comes down to ¨C¡± ¡°What if I could get you a body? What if you had your life back?¡± ¡°You know that¡¯s not possible¡­¡± ¡°Anything is possible,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°And I¡¯ll make it happen. Just hold on until then.¡± She let out a sigh. ¡°Fine. If it makes you feel better,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s not as if I was going to jump off the proverbial cliff tomorrow or anything. Don¡¯t get so worked up over nothing.¡± ¡°Your death isn¡¯t nothing.¡± ¡°Debatable.¡± Zeke knew he wasn¡¯t going to win that argument, so he decided to be happy with her vow not to actively seek the end of her own existence. ¡°Besides, there¡¯s another extremely important thing we need to do,¡± she added. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Well, that citadel probably has a lot of loot, and given their dedication to the Sun Goddess, I¡¯d be willing to bet you¡¯d find something appropriately holy in there.¡± That brought a slight smile to Zeke¡¯s face, though he knew that it was a hollow expression. With what he¡¯d just learned about his friend, it was difficult to focus on something so inconsequential as a bit of loot. Still, he owed it to her to put on a brave face, so that was what he did. 613. Peace ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± Abby said, inadvertently shifting her eyes to the floor. After what she¡¯d seen during the previous battle, which had lasted for more than a week, she knew precisely how little she belonged with Zeke and the others who¡¯d joined him. She was an outcast, and one that people like Talia actively hated. If she stayed, she knew she would one day find a set of claws through her ribcage. Zeke, who had finally returned to his human form after fighting that crystal demon who¡¯d somehow taken control of Ignatius body, let out a long sigh. ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked. Part of Abby was a little disappointed that he didn¡¯t argue with her choice, but she knew that their relationship had fractured beyond repair. Her betrayal had widened the chasm between them, and nothing she¡¯d done since then was nearly enough to bridge that gap. She accepted that, even if it left her with mixed feelings. Even now, she had difficulty accepting rejection. Perhaps she always would. ¡°I am,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I think Talia would kill me if I stuck around for much longer. Your new¡­partner as well.¡± At first, it had surprised her that Zeke had moved on ¨C especially with a woman that looked like an ogre with long hair. She had no idea what he saw in her, except maybe a shared interest in brutality. But after a little consideration, she realized that she was being unfair. Her assessment of Adara wasn¡¯t an honest one, and if she forced herself to be honest, she would admit that she had a certain appeal to her. In addition, she couldn¡¯t deny that Zeke seeking company elsewhere made sense. After all, he was a powerful man. Perhaps the most powerful in the Eternal Realm. That kind of thing tended to attract people, especially potential partners. Even Abby had considered giving it another try, though for obvious reasons, she¡¯d decided against it. Not only did she not want to have to walk around on eggshells as she hoped Talia left her alone, but she didn¡¯t believe that Zeke would ever truly forgive her. That was no recipe for happiness ¨C for anyone involved, but most importantly, for herself. Of course, her pride told her otherwise. So far, she had managed to ignore it, but she had no idea how long that would last. No ¨C she needed to leave, and soon. Otherwise, she would start making bad decisions. ¡°Besides, there¡¯s really no place for me here. I just want to find somewhere peaceful to settle down. Join a community. Maybe find someone special,¡± she admitted. ¡°I failed to do that in my old life, and ever since I was reborn in the Radiant Isles, I¡¯ve been chasing something that, ultimately, isn¡¯t important. Or maybe I¡¯m just ill-suited for it. Regardless, it¡¯s not healthy.¡± ¡°That¡­that is a mature way of looking at it,¡± he said, running his hand through his hair. He¡¯d cut it since the battle, which made him look far more presentable. When she¡¯d first taken a look at him after returning to Eldoria, she had very much wanted to offer her services as an amateur barber. But she knew that would be a step too far. ¡°That¡¯s me. Miss Maturity. You can tell by the fact that I¡¯ve ruined every relationship I¡¯ve ever had,¡± she quipped. It came out more pained than she had intended. Maybe she wasn¡¯t as over it as she¡¯d thought. Before Zeke could remark, she said, ¡°I really do need to go. I can¡¯t do this anymore, Zeke. I just can¡¯t stay.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± he said. ¡°Do you need anything before you leave?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. I have supplies.¡± ¡°Where will you go?¡± Abby shrugged. ¡°Not sure. Probably best if you don¡¯t know, honestly. Besides, you¡¯re headed downstairs, right? Soon, you¡¯ll descend through Hell and move on from this realm entirely.¡± ¡°You could come with me. The tower will persist, even if ¨C¡± ¡°Like I said ¨C no. It¡¯s not a good idea, Zeke. Goodbye,¡± she said. She considered giving him a hug. Maybe a kiss on the cheek. But if she got too close, she felt that she wouldn¡¯t be able to muster the will to leave. It didn¡¯t help that Adara was hovering nearby, looking as if she was ready pounce at the slightest provocation. Abby had no idea where Talia had gone, but she knew that if she stuck around for much longer, the undead girl would turn up. In the week since the battle had concluded, Talia had taken to following her around. Or stalking her, as Abby had come to think of it. Regardless, she didn¡¯t want to chance another encounter, so she soon said her final goodbyes and left through the city. She hadn¡¯t been allowed inside the tower, which she didn¡¯t really blame anyone for. It wasn¡¯t meant for people like her. In any case, the city of Eldoria had survived the battle pretty well intact. There were areas that had been destroyed, but they were isolated. By comparison, the keep was mostly rubble, having fallen during the long battle between Zeke and the demon who¡¯d hijacked Ignatius¡¯ body. The leader of the Radiant Host had to have been truly desperate to agree to something like that. He had to have known it wouldn¡¯t work out well for him. Yet, from everything Abby knew about Ignatius, he had been a true believer, and he likely would have considered the sacrifice worth it, so long as Shar Maelaine got what she wanted. She had not. That was another reason Abby had no intention of ascending. Or descending, as Zeke had revealed about his plans. At present, she had the framework on her side, and the division between the realms protected her from her former patron¡¯s wrath. However, if she ended up in the Ethereal Realm, there would be nothing to shield her from the Sun Goddess¡¯ fury. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Shar Maelaine was a lot of things, but forgiving was not one of her reputed traits. No ¨C if Abby put herself on the same plane as the Sun Goddess, she would either be killed or forced into slavery. She couldn¡¯t stomach either options, so that route was out of the question. After all, she wasn¡¯t Zeke. She didn¡¯t have the power to challenge gods. She was just a woman, albeit one with a modicum of power, and she needed to start living like one. As she traversed the city, she saw many of the former slaves she¡¯d studiously ignored during her time in the Radiant Host. Most were ragged, even after spending a week under the care of Zeke¡¯s people. Many flinched at the sight of her blonde hair ¨C or maybe when looking at her humanity ¨C which made her feel guiltier than ever. Because she was. She¡¯d never participate in their oppression. Not directly. However, she had looked the other way. She¡¯d known when her underlings visited the elven brothels where they sated their lust. She was well aware that the bulk of the Imperium¡¯s labor came from beastkin slaves. And yet, she had done nothing. Part of it was because she was far too wrapped up in her own problems. Her struggle against the Radiant Host¡¯s conditioning ¨C both magical and mundane in nature ¨C had taken precedence, and to the exclusion of all else. And because of that, she¡¯d managed to ignore the tragedies right beneath her nose. That was just one of her many regrets, though, and one that was easily forgotten so long as it wasn¡¯t directly in front of her. So, she hurried out of the city, leaving it behind soon after. Tucker had offered to take her somewhere via his airship, but she had refused. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck in a confined space with that man. Despite knowing that he was more than her first impressions indicated so long ago, she had never gotten over her dislike of the alchemist. She¡¯d rather trek through the wilderness alone than deal with him. Which was she did, entering the forest outside the city without a hint of hesitation. Along the way, she saw a few clumps of wounded knights. Zeke¡¯s people hadn¡¯t bothered hunting them because they were so few. The Imperium had been broken, and it didn¡¯t matter if a few hundred fighters managed to escape. Thankfully, none of them recognized her. Otherwise, there might¡¯ve been some awkward conversations. Or perhaps not. Her reputation was such that few within the Imperium would willingly confront her. She had earned it, too. Abby had no idea how many people she¡¯d killed over the years, but she knew the number was incredibly high. Thousands, at the least. More likely, she¡¯d killed tens of thousands. Hopefully, that would soon come to an end. Gradually, she left the forests immediately surrounding the city of Eldoria behind. After the first day, she camped in the wilderness, where she was thankful for her old [Makeshift Camp] skill. Often, she¡¯d neglected it because her life had drifted away from the sorts of situations where it would prove necessary. However, in the forest, it proved invaluable by keeping the wildlife at bay. The next day, she continued along in much the same way. When she¡¯d been escorted back to Eldoria, she had done so mostly via airship. So, it had been quite some time since she¡¯d traveled through the relatively tame forests of the inner Imperium. And it was oddly peaceful. Sure, there were plenty of monsters around, but her combination of skills and relatively high level meant that they usually left her alone. So, she was only forced to fight on a couple of occasions, and even then, the opponents were not terribly powerful. It was almost relaxing, especially after the intensity of the battle against the Radiant Host. Back then, she had fought against people who¡¯d once looked to her as an ally. As one of their own. The few who¡¯d recognized her had been so surprised that their shock proved an effective enough distraction that it contributed to their deaths. Another reason for her guilt. Abby knew that everyone in the Imperium wasn¡¯t evil. Most of them were just doing their jobs. They¡¯d been trapped by their situation, and they¡¯d never been afforded an opportunity to escape. And yet, they had all done evil things. So had she. Which was why she often found herself wondering why she was the one who¡¯d been allowed to escape that life. Certainly, she wasn¡¯t special. She knew that down to the core of who she was. In fact, that was precisely what she¡¯d had to discover before she could ever hope to find inner peace. She was above average at best. Maybe even good. But never special. Over the next week, she traveled in much the same way, eventually finding a pass through the mountains ringing the inner Imperium. Traversing that pass wasn¡¯t difficult, but for the first time, she was force to fight reasonably powerful opponents. First, it was a flock of powerful eagles that mistook her for prey. She killed three of them before they moved on to easier quarry. Then, she was stalked by a mountain lion that very nearly succeeded in its ambush. However, her long months surviving in the wilderness, both during her training after leaving the Crucible as well as her more recent trip through the Emerald Expanse, served her well, and she managed to turn the tables on the cat. It died with one of her arrows having burned a hole through its torso. After that, she found herself facing off against what she could only call an abominable snowman. When she¡¯d tried to inspect it, she got nothing but question marks. However, it was made of snow, so her radiance-attuned abilities made quick work of it. When it melted, the way was clear for her descent, and she soon enough found herself trekking across a series of low, boggy plains. The way didn¡¯t grow any less dangerous, but she managed it nonetheless, and eventually, she found her way to a well made road. One direction would lead to Westport, hundreds of miles away. She chose the other direction. That was the way to the unknown, but that fit her agenda quite well. If she didn¡¯t immediately find what she wanted, she would just keep going. One thing she knew, though, was that she would find no peace in Westport. The place was too corrupt. Too populated. It just didn¡¯t fit what she was looking for. On and on she went, and along the way, she passed plenty of other travelers. Oddly, she saw many former knights, their armor damaged and dirty. They held themselves with shoulders sagging in defeat, suggesting that Zeke¡¯s conquest over the inner Imperium extended even to the other territories the Radiant Host had colonized. For her part, Abby ignored them. She also paid little attention to the many caravans and other groups of travelers. None of them held any interest to her, so she just kept going. Weeks passed. Then months. The weather went through one season after another, and she continued on. Until, at last, she found a quiet, little village that needed a protector. Abby took that role, killing a handful of ogres that had taken up residence in an abandoned fort in the nearby wilderness. That earned her the trust of the villagers, and they made her their official protector. After that, Abby settled in, hoping that, at last, she had found peace. But all the while, she wondered if Zeke and his army of kobolds had begun their descent. 614. The Final Step of the Eternal Realm Zeke slammed his hammer against the vault door for what felt like the millionth time. In reality, it was probably more. Much, much more. For months, he¡¯d been steadily beating his hammer against the giant vault, but to very little avail. He¡¯d made some progress, as evidenced by the deep cracks spreading across the metal surface. However, he¡¯d yet to get through. And he very much wanted to see what was on the other side. He could feel it. So close, and yet, so far away. He hefted the hammer, then, like swinging a sledgehammer, he hit the door again. The blow sent a loud gong echoing throughout the citadel and into the citadel, and from what he understood, it could be heard even miles away. But he didn¡¯t care about that. Instead, he only wanted to complete the task he¡¯d taken upon himself. Everyone in the tower with even an ounce of runecrafting ability had attempted to get into the vault. Sasha had tried her hand as well. And even Zeke, whose path of arcane destruction was locked away behind Oberon¡¯s divine cage, had endeavored to unravel it. Nothing had worked. So, he¡¯d resorted to brute strength. At first, he¡¯d leveraged the entirety of his stats against the problem, but when that hadn¡¯t worked, he¡¯d opted for slow and steady. He¡¯d even tried to dig down from the citadel above and come at it from the top. However, the same metal that comprised the door encased the rest of the vault. It was stronger, too. No ¨C if he wanted to get inside, he¡¯d have to go through the door, one way or another. Knowing that, and down to the very core of who he was, Zeke embarked on a quest to do just that. The first crack didn¡¯t come until the third week, and the second came only a few days after that. However, the third didn¡¯t appear until three more weeks had passed. By that point, Zeke had lost count of the fissures in the shiny metal. He only knew one thing ¨C keep going ¨C so that was what he did. Day after day, week after week, he continued in his task. At times, he was forced to rest, and when he did, other people took their turns. Silik used much the same tactics that Zeke did, but to much worse results. Pudge tried to use hellfire to melt it, and Tucker used all manner of caustic substances to try to get through. Many others ¨C such as Adara, Jasper, and even Sasha ¨C had attempted various means, but the only person who managed to make any progress was Zeke. The stuff was nearly indestructible, but he refused to let it conquer him. And slowly, new cracks appeared. They didn¡¯t affect the integrity of the door ¨C not yet, at least ¨C but Zeke knew it was only a matter of time before it shattered beneath his monstrously strong blows. He only needed to maintain his commitment, and it would fall before him. Meanwhile, the kobolds and his friends continued their own progression, sweeping out into the wilderness ¨C both in the forests of the Imperium as well as the Muk¡¯ti Plains ¨C to rid the areas of monsters. Because of that, the locals hailed them as heroes that kept danger at bay, and to a far greater extent than the Radiant Host ever had. At the same time, they¡¯d found multiple dungeons, all of which contributed to the continued leveling of the army. Even the beastkin got into it, and many of them showed themselves to be extraordinary. Zeke knew that, if he so chose, his army would sweep across the world and conquer everything. Perhaps there would be difficult battles along the way, but the combination of the disciplined kobolds and his ability to easily transport them wherever he wanted ¨C via the gates to the Crimson Tower ¨C his army was practically invincible. That had never been his goal, though. Regarding war, he had accomplished most of what he wanted to accomplish, and now, he just wanted to move on. However, before he could do that, he needed to get through the damnable vault door. So, he renewed his focus, pushing harder on his strength than he had in weeks. Doing so took a truly ridiculous degree of concentration, but he could feel the effects of each blow. The cracks widened and spread, and yet, the door remained intact. It was maddening. From what he felt, there was no reason for its continued resistance. Despite that, it still stood. So, Zeke pushed even harder. He delved even deeper into his pool of willpower. Each blow was enough to sunder a mountain, and every one left him staggered and weak. But after only a few hours¡¯ rest, he was ready to repeat his actions. Like that, week after week passed. Until, at last, the vault gave way. One second, it was the same as it had been for months ¨C just a collection of jagged pieces of metal that somehow remained stuck together ¨C and the next, it turned to dust that billowed inward. When it settled, the interior of the vault was laid bare. ¡°Finally,¡± he croaked, yanking a canteen of water out of his storage space. He drank deeply, adding, ¡°That thing was ridiculous.¡± ¡°Indeed. But I¡¯ll point out that most people would have consulted master enchanters or other specialized personnel to bypass the security measures, rather than simply whacking the door with a hammer,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°But I suppose the latter fits your personality far better than the former.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Damn right,¡± Zeke agreed. Once, he might¡¯ve felt a little annoyed at the statement ¨C or more importantly, the implication that he was so stubborn that he made bad choices ¨C but now, he was far more attuned to his nature. And he¡¯d accepted that banging his head ¨C or his hammer, in this case ¨C against a wall was just a representation of who he was. Of what he represented, for better or worse. In any case, it had worked, which was all that really mattered. Now, with the interior of the vault open to him, he didn¡¯t hesitate to step inside. When he did, he was both impressed and disappointed, and in equal measure. The second, because there were only a handful of items inside. He didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d expected ¨C maybe a trove befitting a dragon or a pirate king, perhaps ¨C but five treasures certainly didn¡¯t measure up, in terms of quantity. However, he was impressed because at least one of those treasures emitted enough attuned mana to make him uncomfortable. And he could easily intuit which one it was. On a pedestal in the center of the vault, there lay a simple crown. It was just a circlet, but it radiated so much mana that Zeke knew that it would easily satisfy the hidden requirements of his quest. And the others weren¡¯t much weaker. What¡¯s more, the swirl of attuned mana told him that many elements were represented, so he hoped that he¡¯d finally found the last piece of the puzzle that was his quest to upgrade the Crimson Tower by adding a Hall of Affinities. He stepped forward, and starting with the first one on the right, he circled the room. As he did so, he stored each item ¨C ranging from a broken sword to what looked like a piece of kelp waving in a nonexistent sea ¨C in the tower¡¯s storage. Finally, he approached the crown. And when he was only a few feet away, he found himself struggling against the flow of mana. It was so strong that it felt like he was swimming against a heavy current. However, if nothing else, Zeke was both strong and persistent, so even though he struggled with every inch, he gradually covered the ground to the crown. He reached out, and the second his fingers grazed its golden surface, his hand began to disintegrate. He gritted his teeth and tried to dismiss the crown into his spatial storage. However, for whatever reason, it required more than a simple touch. So, he grabbed it. Immediately, he wished he hadn¡¯t. Fiery pain lanced through his flesh, traveling up his arm and to his shoulder. Immediately, the disintegration resumed, and Zeke was forced to embrace [Hand of Divinity]. It was only marginally effective in neutralizing the effect, but thankfully, he didn¡¯t need to do so for very long. As soon as he wrapped his fingers around the crown and lifted it from its pedestal, he was able to dismiss it. Suddenly, the pain stopped, and his arm mended under the effects of [Hand of Divinity]. ¡°Damn,¡± he muttered. ¡°That might have been the strongest one.¡± There was no answer. ¡°Eveline?¡± Still nothing. ¡°Eveline!¡± He knew she was still there. He could feel her nestled in the back of his mind. However, she had clearly been weakened by the dose of what he suspected was holy mana. Perhaps if he¡¯d held on for even a moment longer, she might have been completely destroyed. More evidence that he needed to be careful when he confronted forces he didn¡¯t understand. He could endure almost anything, but the same couldn¡¯t be said for those he cared about. His heart beating a little faster, he redirected [Hand of Divinity] toward where he felt Eveline, flooding her with healing. He wasn¡¯t sure if there was anything to actually heal, but he suspected it would work all the same. After all, it was at least partially powered by divine energy. If it didn¡¯t work, then nothing would. Even as a notification from the Framework pushed at his awareness, he focused entirely on funneling healing to the former demon in his mind. Her presence fluttered, and then, she slowly started to recover. Finally, in a small voice, she said, ¡°Thank you. That was an incredibly powerful holy-attuned treasure. I wasn¡¯t paying attention, so I didn¡¯t prepare for it.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t paying attention? I thought you were always aware.¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± she admitted, conveying that she was smiling. ¡°Not to everything, at least. Most of my attention was on the tower, adjusting mana densities so that your people could continue to flourish. But let¡¯s not talk about that. Let¡¯s complete your quest and see what this Hall of Affinities becomes.¡± Zeke nodded, then finally acknowledged the notification begging for his attention: Quest: Multiple Attunements Objective: Gather natural treasures representing the nine major classifications of mana. Progress: Congratulations! You have satisfied the requirements for the quest, Multiple Attunements! You may immediately complete the quest, or you may delay its completion until you gather more powerful natural treasures. Which do you choose? Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate to choose to complete the quest. For one, he felt confident that he¡¯d gathered incredibly powerful natural treasures, so he didn¡¯t believe he could easily or quickly find anything better. More than that, though, he was tired of leaving that thread dangling. Even if it wasn¡¯t optimal ¨C which he thought it was ¨C he believed that it was best to simply complete the quest and start gaining the benefits of the Hall of Affinity. When he completed the quest, he received another notification informing him that the tower had undergone an evolution, adding another floor. But as interesting as that was, Zeke was far more interested in the other factor ¨C that he had finally reached his goals for the Eternal Realm. Not only had he completed the quest, but he¡¯d progressed to the peak. Now, at last, he could move on. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t need to search out a portal to hell, because thanks to Ignatius and his dealings with demons, there was one right under his very nose. He only had to activate it, and he could step across to begin his search for the pit. Once there, he would descend to the next circle of hell. Not exactly an opportunity that would excite most people, but it was the next step to reaching the Ethereal Realm, where he would reunite with Oberon, get a few answers, and discover a little more about his purpose. And probably most importantly, he would unlock the divine energy within him. Most people would run in horror from such an itinerary, but Zeke was not most people. So, he couldn¡¯t help but let a small smile cross his face as he turned away from the vault and made his way back to the tower. He had a few preparations to make before he embarked on the next leg of his journey. 615. The Hall of Affinity The Crimson Tower was abuzz with activity. Kobolds, large and small, young and old, made up the bulk of the crowds moving about the newly renamed Commerce District, but there were plenty of other races represented as well. Beastkin, most of whom had been enslaved by the Imperium, were the second most common, but the population of humans had grown considerably as well. Those were former peasants who¡¯d been enslaved or otherwise oppressed by the Radiant Host, with a few former Knights of Adontis mixed in. Pointedly, none of the Radiant Host itself had chosen to switch sides. Clearly, they were too well indoctrinated. From what Zeke understood, a few of them had been forced to undergo said indoctrination in a place called the Crucible, but most had simply never been given another option. They were raised in the Imperium, and since childhood, they¡¯d been taught its governing values. In short, they were lost causes, which presented something of a problem for Zeke. ¡°How many are there?¡± he asked, striding through the Commerce District. As the name suggested, it was dedicated to commercial pursuits, with hundreds of shops having sprung up over the years. Some were manned by enterprising kobolds, but the lizard-like race were too disinterested in wealth to make for good merchants. The same could not be said for the humans and beastkin, who¡¯d seized upon the opportunity to build something. Often, Eveline spoke of a day when people would come from far and wide to trade with the merchants in the Crimson Tower. At present, though, most of the business was internal, centering on the trade of things gained in dungeon runs, during frequent training hunts, or from the war against the Imperium. That meant there was a lot of wealth flowing around, which made for a lot of activity. ¡°At last count, thirty-two thousand prisoners,¡± Eveline answered, walking beside him. She didn¡¯t have to actually walk ¨C or appear at all ¨C but in the tower, she liked to make her presence known. It helped people to accept her authority, she claimed. ¡°And change.¡± ¡°Have any shown any remorse?¡± ¡°They have not,¡± she replied. ¡°In fact, most have made weak attempts at escape or attacking our interrogators. Even Adara has had trouble getting through to them. Their hatred runs deep.¡± ¡°I guess that should be expected, given the level of their indoctrination. Shar Maelaine really didn¡¯t a number on them, didn¡¯t she?¡± he muttered, shaking his head. A few kobolds noticed their passage, but he¡¯d made a point of showing his face more often of late, so he wasn¡¯t as big of a distraction. ¡°Indeed,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°She is like a demon in that respect. I sometimes wonder if she is one.¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°Likely not. Demonic energy is difficult to hide, especially with the amount of power she wields. However, it should be noted that with enough dedication, anything is possible. Perhaps she altered her attunements,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°It is not entirely unheard-of. But I think not. Demons do not have a monopoly on evil or cunning.¡± Zeke agreed with that. He¡¯d met too many people who displayed both characteristics, and most were uncorrupted by demonic energy. Still, the notion that Shar Maelaine ¨C the so-called Sun Goddess ¨C was a demon was an amusing thing to consider. ¡°What do you think we should do with them?¡± he asked, finally reaching the teleportation platform. There was a line, but the kobolds respectfully made way for him, murmuring Ak-toh as he passed. He couldn¡¯t ignore the reverence in their tones. Or the way they dipped their heads. Once, it would have made him incredibly uncomfortable, but it had been an ongoing trend for so long that he¡¯d grown used to their worshipful treatment of him. ¡°Kill them,¡± Eveline said as she followed him onto the platform. They teleported to the Fields of Creation ¨C once called the Artisan¡¯s Terrace ¨C and she added, ¡°Or release them somewhere they can¡¯t cause any trouble. If you choose the latter, ensure that they are split up. We don¡¯t want them banding together and causing problems.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think we can just keep them?¡± he asked. That was the crux of the issue. The Crimson Tower was a peerless treasure, but it was not without its limits. And at last, they¡¯d finally found them. The Jail simply wouldn¡¯t hold any more inmates. On top of that, the amount of energy necessary to keep them there and alive ¨C it suspended their biological needs, including the necessity of being fed ¨C was causing problems in the rest of the tower. Most notably, the density of the mana in the Fields of Creation, which was necessary to cultivate the amount of food necessary to feed the population of the tower, had dropped. ¡°You know we can¡¯t. If you were on the verge of gaining a few more levels, then perhaps we could chance it.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not, and I won¡¯t for a while.¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± she acknowledged. It was no secret that he¡¯d reached the peak of the realm, and given that the Crimson Tower was tied to his overall power, it was unlikely to get much stronger in the near future. After all, even if he decided to enter the Pit immediately, descending through the various levels would doubtless require quite a lot of time. And in that span, the tower would continue to stagnate. ¡°So, we only have the two options. Kill or release.¡± ¡°Do you want my advice?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have asked otherwise.¡± ¡°Kill them,¡± she stated. ¡°Don¡¯t do it yourself. Let your kobolds do it. Choose a few who¡¯ve shown promise and allow them to execute the knights. They will gain a little kill energy that way. Or¡­¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Or what?¡± ¡°Give them a chance to earn their freedom via gladiatorial fights. Let your kobolds fight them. One on one. They will earn much more kill energy that way, especially if the prisoners believe they will be set free at the end. They¡¯ll fight tooth and nail, fostering the perfect environment for advancement,¡± she explained. ¡°And if one of them wins?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Give them what they want. Let them free. Most won¡¯t make it, though.¡± Zeke felt that was an accurate assessment. His kobolds, on an individual level, weren¡¯t more powerful than the knights. In fact, the opposite was true. The kobolds¡¯ strengths lay in their unrivaled dedication to unity. Yet, many of the knights depended on outside sources of power, like potent weapons and armor. Without those crutches, they wouldn¡¯t be nearly as deadly. It was a good plan. Still, Zeke hesitated. He had few issues with killing in battle, but being an arbiter who could decide the fate of thousands of people left him feeling incredibly uncomfortable. It came with the territory, though. For all intents and purposes, he was a king, now. He had more than a million people who looked to him for leadership. So, it was a foregone conclusion that he would need to make difficult decisions. ¡°Implement that plan,¡± he said, overlooking the Fields of Creation. Once, the floor had been no more than a single mountain that had been carved into various terraces, at which people could work on various crafts. That still existed, but the bulk of the floor was dedicated to vast farms that stretched for miles all the way to the horizon. ¡°How big is this area?¡± he asked Eveline. ¡°Approximately a thousand square miles,¡± she said. ¡°We have plans to implement vertical farms, though. Soon, our production will double. Perhaps even triple, if our farmers succeed in their plans for development.¡± ¡°A thousand¡­¡± That was far larger than he¡¯d expected. But then again, he rarely visited the Fields of Creation. He hadn¡¯t even been the one to rename it. That task had fallen to Eveline, who¡¯d assumed the responsibility of managing the entire tower. She seemed to enjoy it, but that was probably just because it gave her something to do. After all, a life without purpose was a life without meaning. ¡°I remember when this tower was just a single cottage,¡± he stated, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s insane that it¡¯s grown so much.¡± ¡°It will become much larger once you descend and your divinity is unchained.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°What do you think it¡¯ll be like?¡± ¡°The Pit?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°No one knows, precisely,¡± she admitted. ¡°There are stories, but from what I understand, it isn¡¯t the same for everyone. It is tailored to each individual, usually as a cultural representation of whatever your species considered hell to be.¡± ¡°What if a species doesn¡¯t believe in hell?¡± ¡°Everyone believes in Hell, Ezekiel,¡± she stated. ¡°Maybe not overtly, but the concept exists in every world and every reality. It is part of being mortal. One thing I can tell you is that it will test you in ways you¡¯ve never imagined. It will not be easy, and you will almost assuredly be remade as much by the descent itself as the evolution you will experience in its wake.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate it, Ezekiel. This will not be easy for you. Perhaps if you had your skills, you would have no difficulty, but¡­¡± ¡°I know, Eveline,¡± he said with a sigh. ¡°Thank you for your concern, but there¡¯s no sense worrying about it. I have to do this.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°But why?¡± she asked with no small degree of concern. ¡°You could have a good life here. The kobolds are only going to get stronger. You could take over this entire realm. Or nourish a small and prosperous kingdom. You could ¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already stagnated for too long, Eveline. I have to keep moving forward. Otherwise, I¡¯ll lose my nerve,¡± he said. And that was true, too. The siege had lasted almost two years, and almost two months had passed since he¡¯d killed the Oda-possessed Ignatius and concluded the war. However, in even that short amount of time, he felt that his momentum had begun to dissipate. If he spent any longer confined to the Eternal Realm, he would never progress. And he very much needed to keep going. He wasn¡¯t even sure why. It was almost as if it was a biological imperative ¨C an instinct ¨C he could not ignore. Maybe it was just in his nature. Perhaps that was why Oberon had chosen him in the first place. At the time, the dwarven god had claimed it was because of Zeke¡¯s sacrifice on his brother¡¯s behalf ¨C and maybe that contributed ¨C but he expected that it was likely more because of his mix of personality and singular dedication. He wasn¡¯t just obsessive. When he latched onto something ¨C like he had with baseball ¨C he cared about little else. In the world into which he¡¯d been reborn, that dedication had ushered him to power few in the Mortal Realm had ever achieved. And the same was true of the Eternal Realm, where he¡¯d just managed to defeat one of the most powerful nations in the world. On top of that, even with most of his skills locked away, he¡¯d killed a peak fighter who¡¯d been possessed by a demonic deity. Nobody else could have done that. Zeke knew that much down to the core of his very being. He was special, and he needed to see his path through to the end ¨C even if he suspected it would end with him throwing himself against a foe he had no hope of ever defeating. ¡°I might die in the Pit,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°I probably will. But I can¡¯t just stop, Eveline. I don¡¯t have that in me.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s finish the tour, and then we can make your final preparations before you head into Hell.¡± Zeke agreed, and after that, the pair visited the Hunting Grounds, which had expanded to hundreds of rooms where kobolds and beastkin fought against previous foes in illusory environments. Nobody ever gained any levels in the Hunting Grounds, but it was an amazing tool to develop their fighting ability. Some rooms had even been developed where whole battalions of kobolds could engage in wargames. After the Hunting Grounds, Zeke visited the Residential District, which had continued to grow to accommodate the enormous population. To him, it looked like a vast city on par with some of the greatest of Earth¡¯s metropolises. It wasn¡¯t as densely populated as some of those huge cities, but it was still made for quite an impressive sight. Finally, he visited the newest floor ¨C the Hall of Affinities. It presented as a series of natural caves ¨C thirteen of them, in fact ¨C each one representing one of the affinities for which he¡¯d gathered a natural treasure during the quest that had unlocked the floor. Inside those caves was densely attuned mana that would slowly inoculate a person, much like continued exposure to a powerful natural treasure. Each cave was occupied by a group of juvenile kobolds under the supervision of a spiritweaver. Those groups would cycle each week in the ongoing effort to broaden their possibilities and hasten their ascent to species-wide sapience. For his part, Zeke had already partaken in the Hall of Affinities, though he¡¯d been disappointed to find that it was, for the most part, too weak to affect any changes within him. Still, that continued exposure had the capacity to help him ¨C at least according to Eveline. It would just be a slow process. Once his tour was completed, Zeke returned to the Lord¡¯s Manor, which looked much the same as always, where he headed inside his mansion and settled in to meditate. Something told him that when he entered Hell, he wouldn¡¯t have much of an opportunity for peace, so he wanted to get as much of it as he could before he took that step. 616. The Portal After spending a couple of days getting his mind right, Zeke was finally ready to enter Hell. However, before he did so, he had a couple of other details begging for his attention. The most important was his relationship with Adara, which would have to be put on the backburner for quite some time. Certainly, while in Hell, he could still open a gate back to the Crimson Tower, but once he reached the Pit and began his descent, he would be entirely isolated. ¡°We¡¯re not completely certain of that,¡± Eveline remarked as Zeke headed toward his quarters. ¡°Just mostly.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he quickly found his way to the shower, where he cleaned an entire day¡¯s worth of sweat from his long bout of meditation. He felt more at peace with himself than he had in a while, but he knew that wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Never was that clearer than when he stepped out of the shower to find Adara waiting on him. She crossed her arms, saying, ¡°You¡¯re leaving, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Soon,¡± he admitted, tossing his towel aside and gathering his clothes. As he dressed, he added, ¡°I need to keep moving. We¡¯ve talked about this.¡± ¡°Would it kill you to stick around for another month? Maybe even a year?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he answered. ¡°Maybe.¡± He¡¯d told her the same things he¡¯d explained to Eveline. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose momentum, or he¡¯d run the risk of never regaining it. And the notion of being stuck at the peak of the Eternal Realm for the rest of his life ¨C which could be a long, long time ¨C was a hell he didn¡¯t want to contemplate. Even if he spent it with loved ones, his squandered potential would forever grate on him. Even now, he sometimes found himself thinking about the life that was taken from him back on Earth. It didn¡¯t happen often, but when the notion struck, he¡¯d wonder what he could have been. Many of those thoughts ¨C or psychological issues, if he was honest with himself ¨C had been replaced by his quest to continue his climb through the realms, but if he lost that, he knew just how quickly he would descend into depression and regret. And resentment. He couldn¡¯t do that to Adara or the other people he loved. They deserved his best self, and he wouldn¡¯t rest until they got it. Zeke had already explained as much to Adara ¨C not as articulately, but when he tried to give voice to his thoughts, the result was often a tongue-tied half-explanation that failed to convey what was in his head ¨C but she clearly hadn¡¯t accepted it. Not entirely, at least. But it couldn¡¯t matter. Zeke knew what he had to do, and he said, ¡°My mind is made up on this. I want your support, but if you can¡¯t give it¡­well, that sucks. It really does. I can¡¯t let it derail me, though.¡± ¡°Of course you have my support,¡± she said, stepping closer. She draped her arms over his shoulders, lacing her fingers behind his neck. Then, she pulled herself closer, and suddenly, her lips were on his. After that, they said a proper goodbye, and when they¡¯d finished, Zeke found that he needed another shower. He took one, and when he stepped out and redressed, he found that Adara was gone. She¡¯d already told him that she couldn¡¯t watch him walk away. Instead, she preferred to distract herself from things she couldn¡¯t change. Zeke accepted that about her, even if he didn¡¯t think it was particularly healthy. In any case, he¡¯d delayed his departure for long enough, so after asking Eveline to arrange a meeting with his friends and companions, he headed to the Residential District, then to the Pillar. ¡°We¡¯re not calling it that anymore,¡± Eveline told him. ¡°What are we calling it, then?¡± ¡°The Capital.¡± ¡°Creative,¡± he remarked, striding into the building. ¡°We thought so.¡± ¡°I was being sarcastic,¡± he stated. ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± she countered. Zeke just sighed and continued on his way, eventually arriving in the conference room where most of the tower¡¯s most pressing issues were addressed. There, he found his friends, including Pudge, Tucker, Talia, and Jasper. In addition, the kobolds were represented by Silik and Kianma, and the undead were represented by Baruk and Adriel, while a few beastkin he recognized but couldn¡¯t name stood in for their race. ¡°Thank you all for coming,¡± he said, striding toward the head of the table. Once he reached his destination, he went on, ¡°I called you here today because the day has come for me to continue my journey. I will be taking the portal into Hell later today. Before I go, I need to ensure that you all have everything in hand.¡± While he was in Mal¡¯canus, the Eternal Realm-equivalent of Hell, he could still summon his gates. However, the last thing he needed was to be distracted when he was in what amounted to enemy territory. Besides, the time it took him to find the Pit and make the journey was something of a dry run to make certain that they could handle his prolonged absence.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. He said as much, adding, ¡°Once I¡¯m in the Pit, I¡¯m fairly sure that I won¡¯t be able to use the gates. What¡¯s more, I don¡¯t know how long it¡¯ll take to get to the bottom. For all I know, I¡¯ll be down there for months.¡± ¡°Or years,¡± Eveline supplied, having appeared nearby. Everyone in the room was accustomed to her presence, so they didn¡¯t even flinch at her sudden appearance. ¡°It could be even longer.¡± ¡°Is that likely?¡± asked Talia. Zeke shrugged. ¡°We have no idea,¡± he admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to take my time or anything, but this isn¡¯t going to be a walk in the park. It¡¯s going to take time. I need assurances that you all can handle it. Otherwise¡­¡± He let that hang in the air, but it wasn¡¯t really for effect. Rather, he wasn¡¯t sure how he reacted if they told him they couldn¡¯t live up to the standards he had in mind. He had no intention of delaying his descent, but he wasn¡¯t sure if he could, in good conscience, choose otherwise if they couldn¡¯t do what needed to be done. ¡°We can handle it,¡± said Kianma. ¡°I agree,¡± Silik stated. The others voiced their agreement until Tucker just shrugged and said, ¡°I don¡¯t intend to do much except brew my potions. But if that¡¯s all you expect of me, then that¡¯s what I¡¯ll do.¡± Talia stated, ¡°I wish to come with you.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t survive the corruption,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°I will find a way.¡± ¡°No, Talia. You will literally die.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± She ground her teeth together, then, without another word, left. She moved so quickly that no one even saw her leave. ¡°I can survive. I will go with you until you reach the Pit. Then, I will return here,¡± Pudge said. ¡°The Inashi will come as well.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t particularly like that plan. He knew precisely how dangerous it would be in Hell, and as such, he wanted to go alone. For better or worse, additional people were more of a liability than anything else. A weakness for enemies to exploit. However, he couldn¡¯t very well say that without driving a wedge between himself and his brother. So, he said, ¡°Fine. But just you and three Inashi. No more.¡± Pudge nodded, then said, ¡°I will go prepare. Do not leave without me.¡± With that, he left Zeke alone with the rest of the tower¡¯s ruling council. Jasper spoke up, saying, ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I have no desire to go with you. But I do wish you luck, my friend. May you find whatever it is you¡¯re looking for down there with all the demons and eternal torture.¡± Zeke shook his head and gave a chuckle. ¡°Hopefully, it won¡¯t be as bad as all that.¡± After that, the conversation turned to specifics. Most of it, Zeke tuned out. It had been quite some time since he¡¯d taken an active hand in the city¡¯s operation, and with his departure on the horizon, he had no desire to change that established pattern. Instead, he just listened, offering opinions when asked, until, at last, there was nothing left to discuss. When that happened, he took his leave, then headed to the Great Plaza ¨C what had once been known as the Entry Hall ¨C and made his way to the gate which would lead him back to Eldoria. When he passed through, he saw what he¡¯d expected. Pudge and three Inashi were waiting on him, though he was more interested in the reconstruction of the great city. That had been Eveline¡¯s idea, and in retrospect, it made sense. The Crimson Tower would always be the hub of his kingdom, but they needed to integrate more accessible locations as well. So, they¡¯d chosen Eldoria for their first city, but there were already preparations to take a larger hand in Westport. But Zeke had nothing to do with any of that. He had intelligent and capable people to cover those sorts of things. For now, he only needed to focus on one thing ¨C his upcoming passage into Hell. To that end, he was silent as he and his retinue strode through Eldoria. The city itself was under reconstruction, but most of the population had been killed, captured, or joined the tower. So, it was like walking through a ghost town, though Zeke barely paid any attention to the deserted feeling. After only a few minutes, they reached the citadel and strode through the gates. They were guarded by a couple dozen burly kobold centurions, largely because the contents were still being sorted. The Radiant Host had hoarded a lot of wealth over the years, so it took quite some time to categorize and repurpose everything. Those efforts were obvious as they entered the citadel, because there were kobolds everywhere. Most were juveniles or Spiritweavers, but there were plenty of soldiers around as well. Zeke endured their worshipful bows and respectful mutterings of, ¡°Ak-toh,¡± doing his best to ignore them. Instead, he led Pudge and the three Inashi deeper and deeper into the citadel. Along the way, the tunnels and halls grew less defined and more ancient, and eventually, Pudge was forced by the low ceilings to duck. He didn¡¯t complain, though. For his part, Zeke was happy that, as a cambion, he was much smaller than in his titanic form. They followed the maze of halls for almost half an hour until, at last, they reached their destination, which was a large, perfectly circular chamber. The surface of the domed ceiling was covered in disgusting murals depicting all sorts of terrible tortures, while the center of the vast room featured a raised dais, around which were thirteen pillars. Atop those pillars were still-beating hearts that looked as if they¡¯d come from giants. Those had been there when Zeke arrived, and he had no idea how long they would continue to beat. What he did know was that they were the backbone upon which the entire ritual had been built. Zeke was far more interested in the jagged rip in reality that stood at the center of the dais. The edges were ragged ¨C as if someone had simply torn the air in two ¨C and the interior was pitch black. However, the power wafting out of that gap was unmistakable. Corruption. Even if he hadn¡¯t interrogated dozens of people that claimed it led to Hell, he would have known, just from the sulphuric stench. That was his path, and it was time he finally stepped through. There were a dozen spiritweavers and hundred strong centurions stationed in the room, just to ensure that nothing made its way out. Nothing had so far, but there was no guarantee it would remain that way. ¡°Ak-toh,¡± said one of the spiritweavers. Her head was decorated with prominent plumes, which, from what he¡¯d been told, was an indicator of great beauty among the kobolds. ¡°Is it time?¡± ¡°It is,¡± he said. ¡°After I step through, destroy the hearts. This portal cannot remain open. It is too big of a security risk.¡± She probably didn¡¯t agree with his decision ¨C few did ¨C but to her credit, the spiritweaver nodded, saying, ¡°It will be as you command, Ak-toh.¡± ¡°Alright. No time like the present,¡± he said. Turning to Pudge, he asked, ¡°You ready?¡± ¡°I have made all necessary preparations.¡± The Inashi, as always, remained silent, but they nodded as well. With that done, Zeke took a deep breath, used [Titan], and once the transformation was complete, strode forward. Without further hesitation, he ducked through the rip in reality, ready to begin his journey to the Pit. 617. Hellscape Zeke stepped into a setting he very much did not expect. ¡°What the¡­¡± It was clearly a city, but one that had been abandoned for centuries. The sun beat down from overhead with enough intensity to create a heat shimmer that distorted his vision. The buildings themselves were unremarkable, though they did remind him of some of the urban areas he¡¯d seen back on Earth. However, there were a few key factors that made all the difference. For one, they were all the same, with absolutely no variation in size or structure. Second, there were no windows ¨C just blank walls of what looked like mud brick. And third, everything was a dull brown that was anything but pleasing to the eye. It was as if someone had been tasked with building a series of apartments, but hadn¡¯t cared one little bit about beauty or the occupants¡¯ sanity. ¡°I know this place,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Do you? What is it?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Hell, Ezekiel. Keep up.¡± ¡°Eveline¡­¡± She gave a mental roll of her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a joke. Relax,¡± she said. ¡°Or don¡¯t relax. O¡¯lak is an extremely dangerous place.¡± ¡°O¡¯lak?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the name of this city. Or it was before it was destroyed by a plague of cinder locusts,¡± she explained. ¡°See those holes at the tops of the buildings?¡± Zeke looked up, shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun. It was much brighter than it should have been, which was as expected. Hell didn¡¯t follow the same rules as the world he was used to. His first experience in Mal¡¯Canus ¨C which was the name given to the Eternal Realm¡¯s hellish counterpart ¨C had supported that expectation, but he¡¯d long thought it was an isolated and unique location. It was not. Unique, perhaps, but much of Hell was comprised of very specific biomes that often made little sense. For instance, the sun that currently tormented them was assuredly a trait specific to O¡¯lak. When he left the area, he could suddenly find himself mired in complete darkness. Or an icy tundra. It could change in a single step, and usually without much in the way of warning. ¡°Hell is tricky like that,¡± Eveline said. ¡°But once you get the hang of it, it¡¯s not that difficult to navigate. And by ¡®getting the hang of it¡¯, I mean getting strong enough that it doesn¡¯t kill you outright.¡± ¡°Well, not much I can do to progress for now,¡± Zeke said. He¡¯d been working to get the most out of his incredible attributes, and he¡¯d learned to flare them so that they affected the world on a conceptual level. However, progress on that front was slow going, and he¡¯d already reached the peak in terms of levels. Finally, with his Will locked away, he couldn¡¯t even work on upgrading his skills. In a lot of ways, it felt like he¡¯d already begun to stagnate, which was one of the biggest reasons he was so eager to reach the Pit and begin his descent. Once he was on the next plane ¨C the Ethereal Realm ¨C he would regain access to his divine energy. Thus, he would unlock his skills and be free to once again progress normally. ¡°There¡¯s nothing normal about you, Ezekiel,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Besides, you have no guarantees Oberon will release you when you reach the next realm. I certainly wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Control,¡± she answered. ¡°That¡¯s what all of this is about. The sooner you realize that, the better off you¡¯ll be. You¡¯re a weapon, Ezekiel, and a potent one that could tip the balance of the next realm. But do you know what people do with weapons they can¡¯t control?¡± ¡°Destroy them.¡± ¡°Exactly. They scrap the failed experiment then move on to the next. That¡¯s what you need to avoid,¡± she advised. ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯ll spend the rest of eternity under someone else¡¯s thumb.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t disagree, but he also had reason to trust Oberon. The dwarf had been his first contact after being reborn ¨C well, before, to get technical ¨C and he¡¯d steered Zeke in the right direction at every turn. In addition, he¡¯d saved Zeke¡¯s life on multiple occasions, which was more than he could say about anyone but his closest companions. Still, it wasn¡¯t impossible that the dwarf ¨C or deity, really ¨C might be playing the long game in an effort to manipulate Zeke. He was functionally immortal, after all. He certainly had the time to let his plans play out. ¡°No,¡± he said aloud, his voice echoing strangely through the city as he finally sighted in on the holes at the top of the buildings. Given the perspective, he expected that they were around four or five feet across. ¡°If I go down the road of questioning everyone¡¯s motives, I¡¯ll never known any sort of peace. I¡¯ll accept his good intentions until he gives me reasons to do otherwise.¡± ¡°Whatever. Just be careful. That includes speaking aloud. Cinder locusts have very good hearing,¡± she stated.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The moment those words flitted through Zeke¡¯s minds, a sound like a thousand helicopters echoed throughout the city. A second later, Zeke saw something emerge from one of the holes at the top of the building. It was clearly insectile, but to him, it looked more like a beetle than a locust. Zeke was no entomologist, though. To him, one bug looked much the same as any other. What he did know was that this particular species was big ¨C probably around three or four feet long and almost as wide ¨C and equipped with huge pincers at the front of its tiny head. It leaped free of the hole, and for a moment, Zeke thought the thing was destined to plummet to its death. However, after only an instant, wings of flame erupted from its back. They moved so quickly that Zeke could scarcely see them. Rather, it looked more like a halo of fire had suddenly appeared over the insect¡¯s back. ¡°Cinder locusts. Fire. Gotcha,¡± Zeke muttered, already having summoned his hammer. He¡¯d already used [Titan] before entering the portal, so that meant he was as ready as he could have been. ¡°Speaking of the portal¡­¡± Just then, it disappeared, leaving Zeke entirely stranded. Of course, he could always summon a gate and head back into the tower, but that was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment. After all, it had been a little while since his last fight, and after spending so much time on administrative tasks, he was itching for a nice tussle. ¡°Brute,¡± Eveline mumbled, almost to herself. ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that,¡± he admitted. Even as he spoke, a thousand more cinder locusts erupted from the various holes in the buildings. They swarmed into the air in great clumps, trailing huge tails of fire ¨C like insectile comets ¨C before finally zeroing in on the source of their disturbance. As one, they looped around, each flow of locusts joining to create one enormous wave. For a moment, they blotted out the torturous sun. Then, without further hesitation, they dove. Zeke felt the heat well before the creatures reached him, but because of his inflated resistance to fire, he merely found it mildly annoying. Clearly, the locusts hadn¡¯t expected that, because the first few in line hesitated for a moment. Yet, the others pushed against them, creating so much momentum that they could never hope to change directions. And that was perfectly fine by Zeke, who met them with a projected version of Voromir. The huge, crimson hammer smashed into the first wave of insects, and Zeke was rewarded with the collective sound of a hundred cracking shells. That was soon followed by a chorus of agonized screeches. It was music to his ears. ¡°God, I missed that,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°You have issues, Ezekiel. And this is coming from a demon.¡± ¡°Former demon.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± There wasn¡¯t time for further conversation before the first few locusts closed in on him. [Inspect] was one of the skills that had been locked away, but Zeke had enough experience with monsters of various degrees of power that he could estimate the locusts¡¯ level well enough. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was accurate enough that he couldn¡¯t think of a reason to ignore those instincts. In this case, the way the monsters moved, as well as how well they first few took hits from Voromir, Zeke judged that they were around level eight-five. Maybe a few had reached level ninety. He was certain none of them had reached the peak. They were far too weak for that. Never was that clearer than when Zeke smashed the first one with his hammer. It didn¡¯t just crack. It burst entirely ¨C not unlike a bug hitting a windshield on the interstate ¨C covering him in sticky and boiling goo. It didn¡¯t even burn him, though, so he had no issues ignoring that slight discomfort as the rest of the swarm reached him. Zeke swung again, smashing his hammer¡¯s head into another, and to similar results. The next one fared a little better, but that only meant that it shattered into slightly larger pieces. Soon enough, Zeke felt an elation he hadn¡¯t felt in quite some time. Finally, he could do what he did best, and he didn¡¯t have to worry about how it affected everyone else. He was fighting for the sake of the fight itself, slaughtering dangerous monsters indiscriminately without having to account for morality, freeing slaves, or rendering judgement until evil people. And after a few moments, he found himself laughing at the sheer joy of it. The battle ¨C if it could even called that ¨C lasted for hours. The locusts just kept coming in droves, and Zeke slaughtered them with cathartic glee gripping his mind. It wasn¡¯t the killing ¨C not in and of itself, at least. Rather, it was the unburdening of his spirit that coming to Hell and letting loose represented. And it was absolutely necessary. Eventually, the levels of the creatures climbed as the true elites of the swarm descended upon him. They were larger by at least fifty percent, and their fires were far more potent. In addition, they could spit flames from dozens of feet away. Those actually cut through Zeke¡¯s titanic flesh, but any damage they did was almost entirely superficial and easily healed by [Hand of Divinity]. The only issue was that they had a preference for hovering just out of range, which necessitated a change in tactics. Before, he¡¯d simply stood his ground and weathered the fiery, insectile storm. Now, he found himself leaping through the air and tackling the car-sized creatures. They were more than capable of supporting his weight. What they couldn¡¯t do was buck him off. Each time he mounted one of the monsters, they zipped around in a burst of panicked adrenaline. Meanwhile, Zeke dismissed his hammer and used his bare hands to rip their exoskeletons to pieces. That, too, was cathartic. Because if there was one thing that defined Zeke, it was his propensity for destruction. Some people liked to build things. To develop them. To nurture their creations to prosperity. Zeke liked to topple buildings and rip his enemies apart. It was just one of the many ways he differed from most, and at last, he was free to finally embrace his nature to the fullest extent. As much as he liked the notion of protecting and developing the kobolds, it went against his fundamental drive. Until he¡¯d entered Hell, Zeke hadn¡¯t even realized the toll it had taken on his psyche. Now he did. And he reveled in the lack. Gradually, he leaped from one monster to the next. In between downing those higher-leveled creatures, he slaughtered plenty of their weaker counterparts. At some point, Zeke lost track of time. The enormous and sweltering sun never moved, but he knew that more than a day went by. He didn¡¯t care, though. He was having too much fun. Then, at last, he finished the last locust off. It thudded into the ground, kicking up plenty of dust before it hit one of the unnaturally durable buildings. Zeke climbed free of the pile of insect parts, covered in so much goo that his silver body looked entirely purple. It was at that moment that he heard the slow cadence of a clap. It didn¡¯t take Zeke long to find the source. A lone figure approached, slapping his hands together once per second. Zeke¡¯s eyes flicked in every direction, and he determined that he was surrounded. ¡°Impressively brutal,¡± came a voice from the clapping figure. ¡°I have use for someone like you.¡± 618. Unexpected The demon pushed back his hood, revealing a face that looked almost elven in its sharp symmetry. However, it was marred by a wicked scar that stretched from his eyebrow, down his cheek, and to the corner of his mouth. In addition, the demon¡¯s elven appearance was further sullied by the presence of small, curved horns ¨C maybe an inch in length ¨C covering his head. And finally, his skin was purple, with white markings that Zeke took to be tattoos. ¡°Natural,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen his kind before. Be wary. They usually specialize in telekinetic skills.¡± ¡°Noted,¡± Zeke replied in his own mind. Then, aloud, he asked, ¡°What makes you think I intend to allow myself to be used?¡± ¡°It speaks! Until this very moment, I thought you were an automaton!¡± the demon said, grinning broadly. His scarred face elongated his mouth, revealing more teeth than normal. ¡°And yet, I¡¯m not. Tell me, demon ¨C why shouldn¡¯t I destroy you the same as I killed the bugs?¡± Zeke asked, gesturing with his hammer at all the dead monsters. He¡¯d yet to loot them, so they would remain as they were until something ate them or they rotted. Given his location, Zeke expected it would be the former. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°Not really,¡± he admitted. ¡°You look very scary, though. Truly. The scar really brings the whole look together. The entrance was a little theatrical, but it still worked.¡± The purple demon narrowed his white eyes ¨C they glowed subtly ¨C then, after a few seconds, burst into laughter. ¡°Of course! One never gets a second chance to make a first impression. I¡¯m sure you understand that. But as you assuredly already know, Mal¡¯canus is a big place. You can clearly survive well enough, but I should warn you that you will certainly wander in circles, spending untold centuries searching for whatever brought you to Hell. I can help you avoid that fate. All I require is a tiny bit of your soul.¡± ¡°Ezekiel¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± he replied inwardly. ¡°I¡¯m not giving this idiot my soul.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said, relieved. ¡°You sometimes make bad decisions.¡± ¡°But I am considering his offer,¡± he stated. ¡°What? I thought you just said ¨C¡± ¡°I need a guide, Eveline. I was thinking about giving him something else in lieu of my soul. And failing that¡­well, there are other ways to get what I want,¡± Zeke said. ¡°He¡¯s not far from the peak.¡± ¡°I can tell. But I feel pretty confident, especially against some random¡­bandit I found so soon after crossing over into Hell. What are the chances that he¡¯s one of the most powerful demons in the realm? Not high,¡± he explained. Aloud, he responded to the demon¡¯s offer, saying, ¡°I kind of like my soul just where it is. Perfectly willing to trade something else, provided you can actually come through with your claim.¡± He clutched his chest. ¡°I am hurt. Truly. I am the most trustworthy demon in the realm,¡± the demon said. ¡°Everyone says so. Right, boys?¡± Just then, Zeke saw a flicker of motion atop one of the buildings. A second later, that movement resolved itself into a four-armed demon. And they weren¡¯t alone, either. All around Zeke¡¯s position, hundreds of demons suddenly rose to their feet. Some were atop buildings, but others were in the alleys between the ruins. He stopped counting at a hundred, but he wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if the final number of demons exceeded four digits. ¡°Interesting,¡± Zeke said. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Ah, well, we heard there was a portal here. We decided to try our luck on the other side. Chances were, we¡¯d end up choking on all that pure air, but there¡¯s always a chance a few of us would¡¯ve survived,¡± he explained. ¡°Then we see you step out, and before we know what¡¯s going on, the portal closes. I¡¯m guessing you had something to do with that, eh?¡± ¡°I might have.¡± ¡°Tell you what, future ally,¡± the demon said, stepping forward. ¡°I don¡¯t want your soul. I¡¯ve eaten plenty over the years. What I really want is to see what all the fuss is about on the other side. You get me there, and I¡¯ll show you all the sights. The fiery Fields of Despair, the Corpse Forest, the vaunted Soul Well ¨C don¡¯t get too close to that one, or you¡¯ll lose whatever bits of your soul you have left. Or we can visit one of the cities, though I don¡¯t suggest it. Dodgy places, even by demon standards. One wrong step, and you¡¯ll lose more than a bit of soul, if you know what I mean. Those monsters will eat you alive, then heal you up just so they can empower some fel ritual.¡± Zeke decided to broach the subject he¡¯d come to Hell to address. ¡°What about the Pit?¡± ¡°Which one? There¡¯s a kranim pit only a few hundred miles from here,¡± the demon answered. ¡°Ornery little demons. You go in there, they¡¯ll tear you to pieces. Millions of the things with these sharp, little teeth. Grotesque, but if that¡¯s what interests you, who am I to judge?¡± ¡°The Pit. Not a pit. I want to descend to the next circle.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the demon said. ¡°That¡¯s different.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± ¡°What does a topsider like you want with the Pit, anyway? Can¡¯t you just ascend like all your angel friends?¡± ¡°I¡¯m no angel. And you didn¡¯t answer the question. Where is the Pit? If you don¡¯t want to guide me, then just point me in the right direction. I can find it on my own.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one refusing to answer questions. Tell me why you want to go to the Pit, angel. And then we¡¯ll figure out the rest,¡± the demon stated. Zeke frowned. He was getting very tired of the exchange. Talking with the demon was like talking to a used car salesman. No straight answers, too many questions, and a refusal to give any actual information. It was both frustrating and infuriating, and Zeke wanted nothing more than to simply smash the demon with his hammer. The only thing holding him back from doing just that was the fact that he very much did need a guide. Eveline didn¡¯t know the location of the pit because she¡¯d never intended to descend. And besides, it tended to move ¨C an especially big issue when one considered that she hadn¡¯t been in the loop for hundreds, if not thousands of years. So, as much as he hated the idea, Zeke needed the demon. ¡°I want to descend to the next circle,¡± Zeke said. ¡°The Pit is the only place to do so. I have enemies up there.¡± He pointed to the sky, hoping that the demon would understand the gesture. ¡°Some of them will be waiting on me if I choose to ascend. This is safer.¡± The demon stared at him for a moment, then burst into harsh laughter. ¡°Safer? Descending through the Pit? Are you mad?!¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke acknowledged. ¡°So? Will you take something else in trade?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need coins, gems, or slaves. So, unless you have a hoard of natural treasures, then I will have to decline,¡± the demon said with a bow. ¡°Which leaves us in a bit of a tough spot, if I¡¯m honest. You see, I brought these boys here for a reason, and they get a bit antsy when they¡¯re not allowed to do the job they love so much.¡± ¡°And what job is that?¡± ¡°Killing, obviously. You want to keep your soul intact. I understand that. But here¡¯s the thing ¨C you¡¯re worth a lot of experience,¡± the demon stated. ¡°Nothing personal. You seem like a nice enough angel, but ¨C¡± ¡°Like I said ¨C I¡¯m not an angel.¡± ¡°You keep saying that, but I¡¯m fairly certain you stepped out of a portal to Heaven. Only angels come from there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just inaccurate.¡± ¡°Maybe. Let me see your true form, and I might just believe you.¡± ¡°How do you know this isn¡¯t my true form?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°There are no titans on this plane.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure of that?¡± ¡°I am,¡± the demon stated without hesitation. There was clearly a story behind that, though Zeke wasn¡¯t certain what it might be. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. Eveline objected to what he was about to do, but Zeke knew he¡¯d need to take a couple of chances to get what he wanted. Besides, he could easily resume his titanic form whenever he wanted. Not to mention that he had plenty of other tricks up his sleeve. He let himself shrink back to his cambion form, then said, ¡°There. This is me. Happy?¡± The demon was now almost a foot taller than Zeke, but as his eyes flashed with an inspection skill, he still took a step back. ¡°You are a cambion.¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°Guilty.¡± He stammered, ¡°Please. I meant no disrespect, my lord. I didn¡¯t know what you were.¡± Zeke narrowed his eyes. ¡°You know what¡¯s going on here?¡± he asked Eveline. ¡°I think it¡¯s obvious. It seems that cambions are well-regarded in Hell. Must be a new development, because I don¡¯t remember that being the case. Well, new as in the last thousand years or so.¡± ¡°By no measure is that new, Eveline.¡± ¡°New to me.¡± He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, saying aloud, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Now, will you agree to guide me? I will pay you. Natural treasures will have to do, though.¡± After that, he asked the demon what he preferred. Turns out he wanted a mixture, so Zeke grabbed a variety out of his storage ¨C he had plenty after raiding so many cities in the Imperium as well as Westport. ¡°Take your pick.¡± The demon sorted through them, finding a handful that he needed. Meanwhile, the other demons had become restless, so Zeke raised his voice and announced that they¡¯d each receive a natural treasure as well. That seemed to delight them, so it wasn¡¯t long before he reached an agreement with the leader. Once that was taken care of, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name, anyway?¡± ¡°Ah. I¡¯m Mixik. And you, my lord?¡± ¡°Call me Zeke.¡± ¡°Zeke. Interesting name.¡± ¡°It works for me. Let¡¯s get going.¡± With that, the demon gang gathered together, and they moved off. It wasn¡¯t long before they left the city behind and passed into a desolate wasteland. To Zeke¡¯s surprise, the demons worked well together, killing anything they could find. Partially, their actions were a matter of safety, but they also clearly hungered for power. After all, Hell¡¯s denizens were a lot more overt in the pursuit of strength above all else. It was almost refreshing, knowing that they didn¡¯t even pretend to care about anyone else. The second they thought killing one another would give them a leg up, they¡¯d do it. The only thing holding them back was shared interests, the safety of numbers, and the possibility that they would fail. Still, not all of them were terribly intelligent, as Zeke discovered when one tried to stab him in the back. The dagger ¨C which was made of jagged, black metal that hissed with corruption ¨C never even made it through his skin. In response, Zeke whipped around, grabbed the demon around the neck, and ripped his head clean off. It only took a second, but it clearly made the point that Zeke was not to be messed with. ¡°Subtle,¡± Eveline remarked sarcastically as he dropped the head. ¡°But effective.¡± After a few days of moving through the wasteland, they reached a different biome. This was just as empty, but instead of a sweltering sun, it featured driving rain made of what appeared to be sharpened diamonds. To combat this, the demons all donned special talismans meant to protect them from the environment. They worked well enough, but Zeke didn¡¯t have one. Nor did he need one, especially after resuming his titanic form. However, he did find the constant clinking sound of diamond on metal to be annoying. Thankfully, that only lasted a few days before they reached another biome. This one looked more like what Zeke had expected from Hell, with raging lava flows, the smell of sulfur, and black, volcanic rock. It was also home to tiny, fat-bellied imps that attacked by running at people and exploding when they got close. Zeke saw one of the demons disintegrated by one such attack, and soon after, the imp that had orchestrated the explosion reformed. From then on, they never let the imps get close. They also hurried through that biome, reaching another desolate wasteland soon after. On and on they went for almost two months, finding one odd setting after another, until, at last, they reached something new. ¡°A city?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Indeed, Lord Zeke,¡± said Mixik. ¡°One of the greatest in Hell. Called Tenebralis. There, we can get directions to the Pit.¡± ¡°Wait, you don¡¯t know where it is?¡± Zeke asked. He¡¯d already given Mixik a dozen natural treasures, which wasn¡¯t a lot compared to his stockpile, but it was more than nothing. ¡°I know a direction. We can get an exact location in Tenebralis. Trust me.¡± Zeke did not, but he had no choice but to go along. ¡°Well, you have plenty of choices. You could kill everyone here, then set off on your own,¡± Eveline suggested. She clearly didn¡¯t care for Mixik. ¡°But that would be counterproductive, as cathartic as it might be to destroy that uppity demon.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Zeke said aloud. ¡°But if you try anything in there, I¡¯m going to go on a rampage. And I don¡¯t think anyone in there can stop me.¡± ¡°Of course. I would never dream of betraying you,¡± Mixik said, virtually ensuring that he would do just that. Maybe not in Tenebralis, but at some point. When he did, Zeke intended to be ready. 619. Tenebralis Mixik betrayed him the second they entered the city, proclaiming loudly that Zeke was an interloper. The only silver lining to that dark cloud ¨C as represented by an angry mob of demons ¨C was that Zeke had expected it. So had Eveline, which she wasn¡¯t shy about reminding him. ¡°You can¡¯t trust demons, Ezekiel. How many times have I told you that?¡± she asked. ¡°But you want me to trust you,¡± he replied, facing off against thousands of demonic entities. None were particularly powerful, but they certainly looked impressive enough. Hulking creatures with sweeping horns, tiny monsters with bloated bellies and wings that shouldn¡¯t have held them aloft but somehow did, and slender creatures with too-long limbs and bulbous heads were just the tip of the iceberg. There were so many different varieties that Zeke had already given up on trying to categorize them. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m not a demon anymore, Ezekiel. I no long feel the urge to betray anyone who trusts me,¡± she said primly. ¡°Nor do I want to torture and kill. I have been reformed by my transition into a mind spirit.¡± ¡°Does the fact that you can¡¯t affect the corporeal world have anything to do with you turning a new leaf?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°No. Of course not.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t! My motives were rooted purely in self-improvement!¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t so sure about that, but truthfully, he wasn¡¯t that concerned by putting his trust in Eveline. On so many occasions, she¡¯d already proven her loyalty. He¡¯d lost count of how many times she¡¯d had an opportunity to betray him, and she¡¯d so far kept her demonic impulses contained. Maybe she¡¯d changed, and maybe she hadn¡¯t, but she had earned the benefit of the doubt. The same could not be said for the demons arrayed before him. Zeke looked them over with a practiced eye, and he found that none of them were even remotely powerful enough to challenge him. Perhaps all that was required was for him to prove his strength, and then they would back off. That seemed like the law-of-the-jungle brand of thinking that pervaded demonic logic. So, with that in mind, Zeke decided to approach it like he would the first day of prison. ¡°You¡¯ve never been in prison.¡± ¡°Sure. But I¡¯ve seen movies,¡± he said inwardly. ¡°The key to survival is to pick the biggest, strongest guy in there and put him down. After that, everybody will be too scared to challenge you.¡± ¡°Oh. Well, that should probably work. Assuming that these aren¡¯t just the dregs in the outskirts of Tenebralis. Which they are. Your plan won¡¯t work,¡± she said. ¡°Oh. You¡¯re not even listening.¡± Zeke wasn¡¯t. Instead, he¡¯d locked his eyes on a particularly large, bull-headed demon with sweeping horns that extended at least six feet on either side of its head. Its body was packed with dense muscle, and it stood at least a head taller than any other demon present. Which meant that when Zeke embraced [Titan], it matched his nearly thirty-foot height. What it didn¡¯t match was Zeke¡¯s inflated level. He stepped forward, his footfall thundering so loudly that it cut off the din of accusations and insults. The demons didn¡¯t run, as he¡¯d expected. Instead, they collapsed in on him, piling on without hesitation. Before Zeke knew what was happening, he had a hundred demons biting and clawing at his legs while even more had leaped upon his shoulders. And as much as he hadn¡¯t wanted to cause a huge ruckus, he knew that the time had come to show Mal¡¯canus who he was. With a roar, he snatched one unlucky demon from where it clung to his chest. The thing had the face of a scarred rat and the body of an overweight athlete. Zeke barely noticed its features. Instead, he just squeezed. Its head popped like a tube of toothpaste, spewing blood and innards in a steep arc that ended in a splatter. He tossed the dead thing aside, then grabbed another demon. This one had a large shell, so he didn¡¯t bother trying to squeeze it to death. He threw it instead, and for a moment, he watched as it flew miles and miles away, screaming the entire time. After that, Zeke lost track of individual kills. He didn¡¯t care how the things died. All he wanted was for them to understand their mistakes in attacking him. He smashed, he ripped, and he tossed aside hundreds of demons, and eventually, they got the picture. Rather than buying him peace, though, his actions only caused more attention, and from someone that he couldn¡¯t easily dismiss. The lower leveled demons scattered, fleeing before his might. Meanwhile, a creature that looked like the bull-demon¡¯s big brother stepped forward. It was taller even than Zeke in his titanic form, and far more densely muscled. ¡°Interloper. Why are you here?¡± the bull-man demanded. ¡°You the one in charge?¡± ¡°I am Rakar, the Bloodied, and I rule Tenebralis by virtue of my unmatched strength. Bow before ¨C¡± ¡°You¡¯ll do,¡± Zeke said, and Voromir suddenly appeared in his hand. He stepped forward, shifting to the side before he enacted a most familiar, baseball style swing.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Rakar, to his credit, initiated a block, erupting in corrosive mana that formed a thin dome before him. The head of Zeke¡¯s hammer shattered that shield without even a second¡¯s delay, and when it crashed into Rakar¡¯s chest, the bull demon¡¯s entire torso exploded in a dense cloud of blood, muscle, and what was left of the creature¡¯s organs. Rakar¡¯s immense body ragdolled backward, skipping across the ground until it hit the wall of a nearby building that crumbled upon impact. The now inert hunk of meat and bone kept going through three more walls, which brought an entire building down, before it came to a bloody rest. The few demons that hadn¡¯t already left the scene disappeared, dodging into alleys and taking to the sky on wings that looked incapable of supporting flight. ¡°Dammit,¡± Zeke muttered, looking around. ¡°How the hell am I supposed to find the Pit now?¡± ¡°You should have kept one of them alive,¡± Eveline said. ¡°I should have wrung Mixik¡¯s neck,¡± he countered. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s still around?¡± ¡°If he is, he¡¯s even stupider than I thought.¡± ¡°The real question is why,¡± Zeke said. ¡°I mean, he saw what I did against the locusts, right? He must have known this wasn¡¯t going to end well.¡± ¡°That unfortunate thing you just destroyed was a peak demon, Ezekiel. People like Mixik can¡¯t fathom someone doing what you just did,¡± she explained. ¡°Their conditioning won¡¯t allow for them to consider it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s stupid.¡± ¡°Be that as it may, they can¡¯t help it. They have to believe those above them are almost infallible. If they question it, then they¡¯re close to making a move,¡± she went on. ¡°Mixik knew you were strong, but he¡¯d probably seen that bull-demon ¨C¡± ¡°Rakar.¡± ¡°Right. Rakar likely put down thousands of challenges over the years. Tens of thousands. He expected you¡¯d be the same,¡± she reasoned. ¡°And before you ask why he would do that, maybe he thought you¡¯d injure Rakar and render him vulnerable to another challenger. There¡¯s no telling.¡± Whatever the case, Zeke was a little disappointed. When he¡¯d been betrayed ¨C as mild of a betrayal as it was ¨C he had felt a twinge of hope for a good fight. The locusts had sated his lust for battle, but that satiation had been brief. He needed something more substantial. ¡°You could just go home,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°Summon your gate and at least visit your friends and loved ones. Maybe that would reset you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t really talking at all.¡± ¡°You know what I mean,¡± Zeke said. ¡°And I don¡¯t need to go back to the tower. They¡¯re fine. I made sure they had everything they need.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more to it than just making sure ¨C¡± ¡°Enough, Eveline. I¡¯m not going back,¡± he interrupted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get distracted and lose momentum.¡± That was what would happen if he let himself go back to the tower. He¡¯d spent so much time trying to reunite with his companions, and now that he had, he realized that they couldn¡¯t go where he needed to go. None of them had reached the peak, and as such, they would not be allowed to enter the Pit. Besides Pudge, they couldn¡¯t even survive in Hell. Just as Zeke was considering that, he saw a familiar figure standing only a hundred yards away. Mixik was peeking around the corner, looking at whatever remained of the slain Rakar. Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate. He threw himself in the demon¡¯s direction, and with enough quickness that Mixik couldn¡¯t even think of escape. Zeke slammed into him, though he held back just enough to ensure the demon¡¯s survival. Still, he grabbed Mixik by the throat and shoved him against a wall with enough force to crack the surface. ¡°You set me up,¡± he accused. ¡°Give me one reason why I shouldn¡¯t just rip your head off right now.¡± ¡°I¡­can¡­help¡­you¡­¡± Zeke released the demon. ¡°How? Going to introduce me to another horde of demons I need to kill? They were pathetic, by the way. And Rakar? My little brother could have ripped him to pieces.¡± It was true. Pudge could have killed that peak demon without issue. ¡°I can help you. I know where to find the Pit.¡± ¡°Feels like I¡¯ve heard this one before. Tell me why I shouldn¡¯t just do to you what I did to your buddy over there,¡± Zeke said, looking down on Mixik. ¡°The way I see it is if someone like you knows where the Pit is, then plenty of others will too.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t help you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure I could just kill a few of them and change the others¡¯ minds,¡± Zeke reasoned. ¡°Might not work the first few times, but it¡¯ll eventually get the point across.¡± ¡°I swear it ¨C I can lead you to the Pit. It¡¯s not even far,¡± Mixik insisted. ¡°A couple of days. Maybe less. You won¡¯t find it without me. I was once part of a retinue for a demon that made the descent. I know how to get through the obstacles.¡± ¡°Maybe let him do it,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°You can always kill him later.¡± That was true, and he fully intended to do just that once he got what he wanted. For all that Zeke didn¡¯t like to kill people, he had no such compunctions about slaughtering demons. If he¡¯d had his skills available, he would have destroyed the entire city with a well placed [Wrath of Annihilation]. But as it stood, it would take him weeks to do that kind of damage, and he didn¡¯t want to spend that kind of time on an ultimately pointless endeavor. Because whatever else happened, there was no shortage of demons in Hell. In fact, Zeke suspected that their numbers far exceeded those sent to the other side. ¡°Fine,¡± Zeke said, looking around. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Are you going to kill me?¡± ¡°No. Not today. Maybe tomorrow.¡± After that, Mixik stood, dusted himself off, then glanced all around. ¡°It seems that I have lost my followers,¡± he said. ¡°I think I killed a few if it makes any difference. Most ran away.¡± ¡°Cowards,¡± Mixik said without a hint of irony. ¡°Let us go, then. I¡¯m certain that when they return, they will bring more demons. I¡¯d prefer it if we got this over with sooner rather than later.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Zeke said. He gestured, saying, ¡°Lead on. I¡¯m following you.¡± ¡°Oh. Right. Onward, then.¡± With that, the pair set off through the city. To Zeke¡¯s surprise, they didn¡¯t return the way they¡¯d entered. Instead, they traversed the entirety of Tenebralis, and the more he saw, the more he found it to be a truly terrible place. The architecture was uninspired, reminding Zeke of the poorest areas of Earth. Given the nature of magic and mana, he had expected more. ¡°Great feats of civilization require cooperation, Ezekiel. Demons are not capable of that. This place probably grew when individual demons built onto existing structures, adding on until it became a city,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°You will see great things in Mal¡¯canus, but it¡¯s all built on the backs of slave labor. And not the kind you¡¯re used to. Those demons are enslaved, body, mind, and soul. They know nothing else. So, don¡¯t get it in your head to go rescue them.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that,¡± Zeke said as they trekked through the seemingly deserted city. ¡°I have no sympathy for demons.¡± Eventually, they left the city behind and continued their hopefully short journey to the Pit. The less time Zeke had to spend in Hell, the better off he¡¯d be. In that way, he was almost looking forward to his descent. ¡°You¡¯ll change your tune soon after it begins. Mark my words,¡± Eveline said. ¡°You¡¯ll be dreaming of Hell like it was a relaxing vacation.¡± 620. Into the Maw Zeke slammed his hammer into the demonic creature, exploding one of its heads. That seemed to be the right one, because the monster went limp a second later. After that, silence reigned across the battlefield. He looked around at the results of the last hour¡¯s worth of fighting, and a shiver went up his spine. ¡°When did this become normal?¡± he asked, his voice loud in the silent expanse. It was a good question, given the setting. The air was thin, and what he could see of the ground was comprised of dry, cracked earth. Every now and again, a gout of flame would erupt from unseen crevices, and he knew it was hot enough to burn him despite his high fire resistance. The creature he¡¯d just killed was one of hundreds, and they defied adequate description. Multi-headed, covered in scales with intermittent rings of crystal, they looked a little like worms. Defying that appearance were tiny legs that appeared all across their bodies, making them look almost as if their scales were coated in fur. It was like if a millipede had legs on every surface, rather than just on the bottom of their worm-like bodies. What made them even more disturbing was that the majority of their heads ¨C which numbered in the dozens for each monster ¨C were just decoys. Destroying most of them did nothing. And the only way Zeke had discovered to kill them was to smash the real head, a task made more difficult by the fact that each of their maws were lined with long fangs capable of inflicting a potent venom that could affect even Zeke. He had been forced to use [Hand of Divinity] constantly or risk succumbing to that toxin. And the real issue was that this wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d been pushed. None of the things were going to kill him ¨C he was too strong for that ¨C but every new biome came with wildlife that made his life a nightmare. Every step came with significant difficulty, and he was growing more mentally exhausted by the passing day. ¡°How long has it been?¡± Zeke asked inwardly. ¡°Three weeks.¡± ¡°Feels like it¡¯s been a lot longer,¡± he argued. Indeed, when he was forced to fight for every inch, a foot felt like a mile. Aloud, he asked, ¡°How much further?¡± Mixik, who¡¯d lost much of his personality after following Zeke through the hellish landscape, had adopted a thousand-yard stare that rarely fell away. He was no stranger to traveling through Mal¡¯canus, but he typically did so with his entire warband. So, he was normally inoculated from the worst of the dangers. Zeke had protected him, but the journey had been quite troubling for the demon. ¡°Mixik,¡± Zeke said more forcefully. That got the demon¡¯s attention. ¡°How much further?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know. We are close,¡± he admitted. ¡°Very close.¡± Zeke was already looting the monsters, placing his hands on each one and activating the looting skill he¡¯d been given along with access to the Crimson Tower. He didn¡¯t know if any of the creatures were valuable, but he had plenty of room to spare. Perhaps the crafters back in the tower would find some use. It took a few minutes to complete the task, but in the end, he¡¯d gained a few tons of meat ¨C the things had been enormous ¨C a bunch of venom sacks, and plenty of fangs. Each item pulsed with mana, so he suspected they counted as low-grade natural treasures. Zeke spent the next few minutes embracing [Hand of Divinity] so he could heal his wounds. He¡¯d once thought himself mostly invulnerable, but his trek through hell had disabused him of that notion. Many of the native creatures were as deadly as they were malformed, and though they were incapable of killing him, they were more than able to injure him. He even healed Mixik, who, even though he wasn¡¯t the target, had taken plenty of injuries of his own. The demon was uncomfortable with Zeke¡¯s ministrations, but he accepted his help all the same. After all, refusal would probably mean death. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving. Which way?¡± Zeke asked. Predictably, Mixik pointed him in the proper direction. For Zeke¡¯s part, he had quite a lot of difficulty navigating Hell. With the changing biomes, most of which had nothing to do with the last, there were no static features he could use for guidance. Even the sun wasn¡¯t constant, and many biomes lacked any celestial features. It was maddeningly confusing, though Mixik seemed perfectly capable of finding the right direction. When Zeke had asked how, the demon just shrugged and said that he just knew. Eveline elaborated, adding some context by informing him that demons develop something of a sixth sense that helped them navigate their world. It wasn¡¯t like using a map, but it did help them with basic directions. Zeke tried to tap into that, and he felt some subtle differences in the ambient mana. However, those differences weren¡¯t distinct enough to help him with navigation. So, he was beholden to Mixik¡¯s guidance, which left him with a sour taste in his mouth. Gradually, they left their current biome behind. Thankfully, none of the many-headed worms were left ¨C they¡¯d all attacked at once ¨C so the way was mostly peaceful. That changed when they passed into the next area, which was characterized by huge shards of crystal that emitted a piercing sound that felt like it turned Zeke¡¯s insides to jelly. Knowing that Mixik couldn¡¯t endure it, he grabbed the demon, threw him over his shoulder, then charged ahead. Dragonflies with bodies made of similar crystal tried to attack, but he bowled through them on his way through the environment. Along his route, he was forced to smash through the jagged crystal shards, and each time he broke one, the sound became even more pronounced.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. By the time he passed through that environment, he could barely think. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t immediately attacked upon exiting, and the sound ceased the moment he left it behind. Still, it took him a few moments before he regained his wits enough to remember to use [Hand of Divinity], healing the damage wrought against him and his much more vulnerable guide. The next few biomes progressed along those same lines. Some featured extremely dangerous environments, but others played host to powerful monsters. Zeke preferred the latter, if only because it gave him something to fight. Whatever the case, the journey had just started to become annoying when, at last, Mixik announced that they had arrived. Zeke didn¡¯t need the demon¡¯s proclamation. He could see the pit, yawning dozens of miles wide like a hole in the world. But to access it, there were two major obstacles barring his way. The first was the most obvious, which presented as a wide river of black fire that cut through a desolate and barren wasteland of white earth. Looking at it, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but think that the entire area looked as if someone had sucked the color out of the world. In the black river swam slithery, horned eels that Zeke could barely glimpse. They did look dangerous, though. ¡°The River of Ruin,¡± Eveline said in his head. ¡°Even you can¡¯t survive in there. Nothing but those eels can.¡± Looking at it, Zeke didn¡¯t have any reason to doubt her assertion. The entire body of water felt like death, and in a way that left him more than a little uncomfortable. But he was more interested in the area beyond. From the white earth sprouted thousands of crosses and spikes, upon which people had either been impaled or nailed. None of those people were humans. Indeed, most were clear representations of demons, and their corpses were desiccated and emaciated. But Zeke suspected they were all still alive. Between those stakes wove a group of five figures. Each one wore a black robe, which made them all seem almost harmless. However, when one turned to look at Zeke, he found himself reeling as he veered close to blacking out. Once the thing went on its way, he muttered, ¡°What the¡­¡± ¡°The Harrows,¡± responded Mixik in a reverent voice. ¡°Do not look at them, lest you feel the weight of their guilt. If they catch you in the Fields of Woe.¡± ¡°Evocative names,¡± Zeke remarked, still recovering from the Harrow¡¯s stare. But they fit, given everything he saw. ¡°So, I assume these are the obstacles you said you knew how to bypass? Well, how are we going to do that?¡± Mixik swallowed hard. ¡°There is a ferryman that will usher us across the River of Ruin,¡± he said. ¡°But he requires payment.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t be named Charon, would he?¡± asked Zeke, remembering his Greek mythology. ¡°No?¡± ¡°Oh. So, what kind of payment does he require?¡± he asked. ¡°It varies based on the person attempting to cross. For some, a single coin will suffice. For others, the price of passage is much higher. I have heard that some have sacrificed whole kingdoms,¡± Mixik stated. ¡°Great,¡± he mumbled. ¡°What about the other side? How do I avoid the Harrows?¡± ¡°Run. Do not hesitate. Do not tarry. And do not let yourself be led astray. The moment you begin to linger, they will find you, bind you, and put you on one of those spikes. I have seen it happen,¡± Mixik stated. ¡°The Pit is just beyond the Fields of Woe. You must leap in. After that, you are on your own. I don¡¯t know what dangers the descent might hold.¡± ¡°So, we pay the ferryman, head across, then sprint to the Pit?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°You pay the ferryman. You sprint to the Pit. I will take my leave,¡± Mixik stated. ¡°Will you?¡± asked Zeke. ¡°Ah¡­uh¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m kidding,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Once we find the Ferryman, you may leave.¡± Mixik let out a relieved breath. Then, they began searching for the ferryman. After only an hour of walking along the bank of the black River of Ruin, Zeke spotted a black-clad figure standing in their path. It was tall ¨C maybe five feet shorter than Zeke himself ¨C and slender to the point of emaciation. It wore a shapeless black robe, and, somewhat predictably, it wielded a scythe with a glowing green blade and elaborately carved handle. ¡°I wish to cross,¡± Zeke said as they approached. ¡°What price do you require?¡± ¡°It is an interesting question,¡± the figure rasped. ¡°What if I asked for the life of your companion?¡± Mixik made to run, but Zeke grabbed the demon by his shoulder. ¡°That would be acceptable.¡± ¡°Not that one. The spirit in your mind.¡± Zeke¡¯s heart jumped into his throat. ¡°I¡­I would need to think on it,¡± he admitted. ¡°Is that your price?¡± The ferryman let out a rattling and humorless laugh. ¡°I have no use for a mind spirit of middling power,¡± he said. ¡°I want something else. Something more interesting.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I require but a whisper of fear.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Zeke lied. ¡°You do.¡± And Zeke did. The ferryman wanted to know his greatest fear. A true accounting of the sort he hesitated to acknowledge even in his own mind. ¡°Very well,¡± Zeke said, releasing Mixik. The duplicitous demon sprinted away. He was devoured after only twenty steps by a white worm that burst free of the ground, swallowing him whole. The thing retreated in the blink of an eye, leaving the ground undisturbed. It was as if it had never been there. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I will get to the end and fail. I fear that I will find that there is no end to the journey. I¡¯m scared that I will be cursed to continuously climb, never achieving anything. I¡¯m afraid of my own nature that won¡¯t let me rest until I know I can¡¯t go any further.¡± The ferryman stared at him for a moment that stretched into an entire minute, and Zeke initially suspected that it would require more from him. Then, at last, it nodded, saying, ¡°This is acceptable.¡± After that, it waved its hand, and a raft appeared. The vessel was just a twenty-foot wide flat hunk of wood, but the ferryman stepped onto it without hesitation, Zeke hesitated, expecting it to tip over at his weight. It did not. The ferryman immediately used his scythe like a pole, pushing them away from the bank and, slowly, they crossed the river. With every foot they traveled, Zeke felt a little colder, as if his soul was being drained from his body. He knew that wasn¡¯t the case ¨C it was just an environmental effect. However, that didn¡¯t change the way it made him feel, and nearly thirty minutes later, when they arrived at the other bank, Zeke was more than ready to depart. The ferryman stopped him with a three-fingered hand that looked almost like bone. ¡°You will find the end, cambion. End this eternal war.¡± Zeke just nodded. Then, when the ferryman removed his hand, Zeke stepped off and onto the white earth. Remembering the late Mixik¡¯s instructions, he didn¡¯t hesitate to break into a sprint. As he ran, he realized two things. First, the Pit was much further away than he¡¯d expected, and he knew it would take at least ten minutes for him to cover the ground. Second, the impaled and crucified demons populating the Fields of Woe were not dead. They screamed in agony, begging him to free them. They needed help. He ignored them. Even as their cries assailed his ears, Zeke continued to run. He was not a typically emotional man, but the sheer anguish in those voices eventually prompted tears. He couldn¡¯t stop, though. Never was that clearer than when he realized he was being chased by the Harrows. He didn¡¯t look back. He wouldn¡¯t allow himself to take even the shortest peek at his pursuers. One little stumble would see him caught, so on and on he sprinted. Then, at last, he reached the edge of the Pit, and without even looking, he leaped. When he looked down and saw what awaited him, he briefly wished he¡¯d let the Harrows catch him. Because in that Pit, madness awaited. 621. Conviction As Zeke fell into the Pit, he regretted his life decisions. It wasn¡¯t difficult to see why, either. The Pit was less of a hole in the ground and more like the maw of some gargantuan creature. Teeth as large as buildings jutted from the edges, while something wet and squishy awaited down below. But at the moment, Zeke was far more disgusted by the smell, which was a mixture of rot, raw sewage, and hot garbage, which very nearly had him retching. Still, he was committed. Even if he could have reversed course ¨C which was impossible, considering he was in freefall ¨C he wouldn¡¯t have. He had made his decisions, and if nothing else, Zeke was a man of conviction. Once committed, he was not easily deterred from following his chosen path. So, he fell, regretting his choices but wholly committed to seeing himself through. The fall lasted far longer than it should have. He¡¯d fallen a few thousand feet before, and it was over in less than thirty seconds. This time, he felt as if he was falling for hours. So, either the Pit was far deeper than his initial impressions suggested, or something else was at play. And considering the nature of the Pit, he suspected the latter. Still, after what felt like a couple of hours, he thudded into something wet and gooey. He tried to rise, but to his horror, Zeke found himself stuck in place. And no matter how much he tried to escape his bindings, he couldn¡¯t manage a single inch of movement. Not on his own, at least. Whatever he¡¯d landed on had other ideas, though. Before long, Zeke felt himself drifting along on a river of sticky goo. There wasn¡¯t enough light to see much more than a few impressions, but what he saw was so alien that he couldn¡¯t understand what he was looking at. So, he resolved to simply go along for the disgusting ride. After an interminable amount of time, Zeke began to notice something troubling. He¡¯d barely noticed it at first, but the sticky substance was also corrosive. When he¡¯d first gotten stuck, it wasn¡¯t enough to do more than tingle a little, but progressively, it had grown more powerful until he actually felt the pain of it. That¡¯s when panic started to sneak in. He couldn¡¯t move. He couldn¡¯t escape. And he was slowly being dissolved. However, the anxiety he felt at those realizations were nothing compared to what he experienced when the walls closed in on him. They were soft and gooey ¨C almost fleshy ¨C but they were undeniably powerful. And as they closed around him, Zeke¡¯s panic began to spike. It only got worse from there. Before long, he couldn¡¯t even breathe, those fleshy confines were so tight. He certainly couldn¡¯t move. He¡¯d never been particularly claustrophobic, and if he had been, his time in the troll caves would have forced him to learn to live with that fear. However, what he experienced as the life was slowly crushed out of him was something new. Something worse than any claustrophobia he could ever have imagined. It was more than just discomfort or fear. It was a feeling of helplessness that felt wholly alien to the man he had become. It was maddening, and with every passing second, he told himself that it couldn¡¯t last forever. What he didn¡¯t acknowledge was that the descent through the Pit was never intended to be short or easy. There was every chance that it could last for all eternity. That would be fitting, given he¡¯d started in Hell. What made it even worse was that the few skills he still had available were completely out of reach. Something had blocked them, and no matter how much he railed against the restrictions, he couldn¡¯t make a dent in his prison. So, he endured, going progressively madder with every passing moment. Then, after what could have been hours, minutes, or years, Zeke suddenly broke free. Once again, he was falling. However, this descent was much shorter than his first, and soon plopped down into a pool of liquid. In his shocked state, it took him a few moments to recognize that he was being eaten alive by a powerful acid. His metallic form and vaunted attributes were no match for the corrosion, and [Hand of Divinity] remained out of reach. He splashed around for a moment, eventually choosing a direction at random. He swam, his metallic flesh sloughing off with every motion. Fortunately, he only had to swim for a few minutes, and for the first time, his incredibly high endurance and resistances proved their worth. Even so, by the time he reached a fleshy beach, he was missing more than half his mass. His titanic form didn¡¯t have organs, per se. It was just a mass of metallic flesh and silvery blood, which was lucky. If he¡¯d been in his natural form, he would have had much more pressing issues. As it was, he struggled to drag himself ashore, and once he was safe, he just lay there for some indeterminate amount of time. Eventually, though, Zeke knew he needed to move on. So, he arduously pushed himself to his feet and looked around. As had been the case since a few minutes into his fall, he could see almost nothing. However, in the distance, he saw a slightly lighter area that suggested a direction he was meant to go.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Without any other options, he trekked toward it, his feet squishing against the disgustingly soft ground. Fortunately, the acid was only vaguely corrosive, which his durable body had no trouble enduring. The light slowly grew stronger, and, by the step, Zeke grew progressively more confident that he¡¯d chosen the proper direction. However, it was much further away than he¡¯d hoped, and once again, time became meaningless. His featureless surroundings gave him no context, and for some reason, he lacked the ability to keep track of how long he¡¯d been walking. All he knew was that he needed to keep going. So, that was what he did. One squishy step at a time, he closed in on the light. And eventually, he arrived at a door. Without hesitation, Zeke pushed through, ducking so that he could pass the threshold. He blinked. Suddenly, his mind was much clearer, and he realized that he¡¯d just experienced something on par with being digested. He¡¯d fallen through the maw, then was pushed down the thing¡¯s esophagus, only to end in the thing¡¯s acidic stomach. He could only hope that the journey ended there, because he certainly didn¡¯t want to keep going through an enormous creature¡¯s digestive tract. ¡°So gross,¡± he tried to say, though no words would emerge from his throat. He attempted to speak again, but still, nothing happened. It took him a few moments to recognize that the mechanisms for speech still worked properly, but something magical prevented any sound from traveling through the air. Shaking his head, Zeke took stock of his situation. Surprisingly, the ground was no longer squishy, and instead looked like stone pavers. Otherwise, there was nothing noteworthy about his surroundings. He continued forward, walking for another three or four hours until, at last, something changed. It happened without warning, and suddenly, Zeke was aware that someone was beside him. He didn¡¯t know if he saw them out of the corner of his eye or his awareness was the result of some sixth sense. Whatever the case, when he turned, he saw a young woman. Except that she was at least twenty feet taller than him, and her feet were floating a half dozen feet off the ground. She wore a simple, white, and flimsy robe, and she never once acknowledged his presence. Instead, she drifted forward, heedless of her surroundings. Even when Zeke planted himself in front of her and started jumping up and down, she didn¡¯t even blink. Then, she passed through him. Suddenly, Zeke was colder than he¡¯d ever been in his entire life, and instinctively, he knew that it wasn¡¯t the result of temperature. He¡¯d lost something when the woman touched him. Something invaluable and irreplaceable. He shivered. By the time he recovered, the woman had progressed another fifty feet. Towards what, he couldn¡¯t know, and she certainly wasn¡¯t going to tell him. So, marshalling his fortitude, he continued his trek, soon passing the woman and leaving her far behind. His footsteps might have been a bit quicker than normal, though he never would have admitted that he was frightened. Soon enough, he found another floating figure, though this one was male. He wore an identical robe, and he was similarly unresponsive. Zeke knew better than to stand in his way. After that, Zeke saw hundreds of others as he progressed through the area. He proceeded for hours, and as seemed to be the theme, those hours soon turned to days. He once again lost track of time as he followed the endless procession of floating people. It wasn¡¯t until, some indeterminate time later, that he realized what it was. They were disembodied souls. In retrospect, he should have felt it. Certainly, once he¡¯d come to the realization, he could feel it. It was unmistakable for anything else. Once again, Zeke trembled. Not in fear. Certainly not that. He was just uncomfortable. Regardless, there was only one way to go, so he continued on, passing hundreds more souls along the way. Some were old. Others were distressingly young. None of them even saw him, they were so intent on their destination. Perhaps to them, he didn¡¯t even exist. Never had Zeke felt more like an interloper than at that moment. He desperately wanted to turn back, to go home and usher the Crimson Tower to supremacy. He might have done just that if he wasn¡¯t so committed to the task at hand. He¡¯d barely taken the first step in his descent, and he would not be dissuaded by a little discomfort. So, on he went. Step by step, hour by hour, time and distance lost all meaning. Yet, he knew he was making progress, if only because he kept passing disembodied souls. Every now and again, he would pass his hand through them, just so he could feel something other than the walking. It never ended well. But it was different, which was all he really cared about in those moments. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, things changed. Suddenly, a giant gate loomed in the distance. It was the size of a skyscraper and far more intimidating. It felt like a living thing filled with anger and hate, and when Zeke looked upon it, he couldn¡¯t help but stop in his tracks. He even took a step backward. A laugh echoed, assailing his ears and shaming him. With renewed conviction, Zeke forced himself to step forward. Another step followed the first, and before long, he was striding toward the gate with regained vigor. The laughter never returned, but eventually, Zeke saw a figure standing before the giant gate. That shape resolved itself into a knight wearing black armor and wielding an enormous sword. As Zeke drew closer, he saw that the knight wore no helmet. Instead, its head was a horned skull, and its sword shimmered with red energy that, to Zeke, felt incredibly similar. ¡°I offer you a deal, mortal,¡± the knight declared. His voice was a force of nature, and it hit Zeke like a hammer blow. Still, he¡¯d experienced worse, so he remained steadfast before the weight of the knight¡¯s voice. ¡°I suggest you take it. Surrender now, and I will take your life. You will then proceed to be judged like any other soul. If you are righteous, perhaps you will know peace. If not, then you will exist in torment for all eternity. Choose not to surrender, and I will ensure that the fate awaiting you is the latter. A special circle of hell is reserved for trespassers and ¨C¡± ¡°And if I resist? If I defeat you?¡± ¡°You are mortal. You will fail. You will fall. And you will suffer until time ceases to exist.¡± ¡°I disagree,¡± Zeke said, reaching into his spatial storage. Until that moment, he probably would have said it wouldn¡¯t work. The rest of the Crimson Tower¡¯s features were locked away, after all. But the hammer came, and Zeke readied himself for battle. For his part, the knight briefly seemed disappointed. But then, he hefted his sword, which burst into green flames. ¡°You will regret this,¡± he said. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be the first time,¡± Zeke acknowledged. Then, he stepped forward. The knight did the same, putting them on a collision course from which neither could veer away. 622. Guardian of the First Circle As Zeke flew backwards, he regretted many of his life decisions. Before he could get too far into the many mistakes in his life, he hit a solid wall that surprisingly did not crumble. It did rattle his bones, though ¨C a testament to how hard he¡¯d been hit. As he fell to the ground with a crash, and a moment later, his hand crept to the wound on his side. A huge chunk of his torso was missing, and if he¡¯d possessed any organs, they would have already been ruptured. That was where the knight had hit him. A single blow, and it had very nearly cut him in two. If he hadn¡¯t been launched backward, Zeke felt certain that it would have done just that. By reflex, he tried to channel [Hand of Divinity], but as had been the case since he¡¯d entered the Pit, it remained out of reach. He couldn¡¯t afford to get hit again. Pointedly, he never considered the notion of not fighting. The knight had scarcely moved from his position in front of the giant gate. Just enough to aim a wickedly quick strike at Zeke¡¯s side. Zeke pushed himself to his feet, and thankfully, his high vitality had already begun the process of healing him. Even without [Hand of Divinity], he had a constitution that could rival that of a troll. Stretching slightly, he studied the knight. The creature wasn¡¯t human, but that wasn¡¯t surprising. It reeked of corruption, but it wasn¡¯t a demon, either. It was something else. Something more. Considering that Zeke felt certain that no demon in Hell could match him, that made a lot of sense. But instead of feeling fear, he experienced a twinge of excitement. Finally, he¡¯d found a challenge, and he wasn¡¯t going to let it pass him by. So, after the wound in his side had mended ¨C at least enough that it wouldn¡¯t affect his fighting style ¨C he once again strode forward. He hadn¡¯t lost his grip on his hammer, so he was still armed for battle. ¡°Nice shot,¡± he said when he drew closer. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I am the Guardian of the First Circle, and I will die before you pass.¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°That sounds like an acceptable arrangement,¡± he answered. With that, he hefted his hammer and launched himself at the creature. This time, though, he paid attention to the subtle cues that would herald another attack. And his focus was rewarded with a subtle twitch that announced a lunge that would have skewered Zeke. As it was, even with that warning ¨C tiny though it was ¨C Zeke only barely managed to avoid that fate. The giant sword scraped his chest, doing no damage. It didn¡¯t even slow him down. So, Zeke was entirely unimpeded when he rammed into the knight with shoulder. The creature staggered backward, scrambling to regain its footing. Zeke wouldn¡¯t allow that, and he slammed his fist into the monster¡¯s skull, cracking a few of its teeth. Then, Zeke suddenly found himself skipping backward across the floor. He¡¯d not even seen it before it happened, but the knight had managed a vicious front kick for which Zeke had no defense. And the monster hadn¡¯t moved from its spot. Zeke did see it spit out a tooth, though. That was enough to give him a little extra encouragement. So, he once again picked himself up, rolled his shoulders, and headed back into the fray. This time, he approached with a little more caution, measuring his steps and watching his foe. Aside from shifting a bit when Zeke had rammed into it, the knight hadn¡¯t moved from in front of the gate. And he sensed it was more than symbolic. If he could get the knight out of the way, he¡¯d be free to proceed. So, Zeke shuffled sideways, then came at the knight from the side. As expected, the creature responded with perfect fluidity, offering a controlled defense. Unfortunately for the monster, Zeke had decided to stop holding back. It wasn¡¯t that long ago that Zeke had learned to harness the very concept of strength, but his control over it had become intuitive. So, when the knight blocked his first attack, the creature¡¯s sword was snapped in half by the sheer force of Zeke¡¯s blow. The knight was driven into the ground, which cratered beneath its feet. However, the creature itself didn¡¯t buckle. That was fine by Zeke, and he followed that attack up with a kick of his own. Even as his metallic foot connected, he could sense that he¡¯d overstepped. Sure, he¡¯d shattered the creature¡¯s jaw, but he¡¯d overbalanced himself to do so. It snapped out an attack, burying the jagged remnants of its sword into the side of Zeke¡¯s knee. He howled in pain as agony arced through his entire body. It wasn¡¯t just physical, either. It felt like the knight had set his soul afire. He staggered backward, stumbling on his injured leg until he was out of range. The knight didn¡¯t pursue. Instead, it only climbed out of the crater, set its feet, and leveled what was left of its blade in Zeke¡¯s direction. ¡°You are strong, but I will not be moved.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll move you,¡± Zeke spat. But he didn¡¯t attack. He wanted to let his knee recover before he continued the fight. ¡°Do you know what you pursue? Only madness awaits beyond this gate. The seven circles will break you,¡± the knight stated. ¡°You will spend the rest of eternity suffering. You do not need to follow that path. I can deliver you to the afterlife. You will feel no more pain. No more desire. You will be free from all the trappings of mortality.¡± ¡°Are you offering to mercy kill me?¡± Zeke asked, incredulous. ¡°It is the only way. If you proceed, you will suffer for all eternity. You will not be permitted to stay here. You must die,¡± the knight stated as if he was offering the most reasonable thing in the world. ¡°I will descend,¡± Zeke stated. ¡°And I will find the next ¨C¡± ¡°You will fail. They always do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m different,¡± Zeke insisted. ¡°They all think that, but they are not. No one is special. No one is unique. Millions have attempted it, and they are all down there, wandering the circles and enduring an eternity of suffering. I merely wish to spare you that fate. Will you not listen? Or do you continue to insist on charging to your own demise?¡± ¡°The second one, for sure,¡± Zeke said, trying to sound confident. But what if the knight¡¯s words were accurate? What if it was telling the truth? Was that what awaited Zeke? Had he already consigned himself to an eternity of suffering? No. He would make it. Others had, even if the knight didn¡¯t want to admit it. ¡°Are you going to stand aside? Or will you make me kill you?¡± Zeke asked. Truthfully, he hoped for the latter. A good fight always made things easier. But there was a part of him ¨C a small one, but still there nonetheless ¨C that hoped the creature would let him pass. It might have been acting according to its nature, but it seemed to truly care about sparing him the horrors beyond the gate. ¡°I will not.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think so.¡± With that, their brief reprieve ceased. However, it gave Zeke a few hints as to how to win the fight. The knight was a better fighter than him. Not by much, but Zeke was honest enough with himself to admit when he was outmatched. However, his high attributes made up for that, putting them on mostly even footing. Still, Zeke had an advantage that the knight probably hadn¡¯t even considered. So, without further hesitation, he once again charged his foe. The knight reacted, shifting its feet and readying itself for the clash. Zeke didn¡¯t slow down. He didn¡¯t approach with caution. Instead, he threw himself at the creature, barely caring for his own well-being. And he was rewarded with a few solid hits, both of which dented the creature¡¯s armor, before the knight buried its blade in his shoulder. Zeke wrenched himself free, then backed away. Predictably, the knight didn¡¯t follow. Pain that rivaled anything Zeke had ever felt coursed through his body, but by that point, he was an old hand at enduring whatever agonies the world threw at him. He took it with equanimity, ignoring it as he sank to his haunches. Slowly, the wound healed. Not completely, but that was fine. So long as it remained functional, Zeke would take it. And once it was, he charged again, and to similar results. His attacks found their way to the monster¡¯s skull, chipping a few of its teeth and cracking its cheekbone. Then, after Zeke had once again felt the bite of the knight¡¯s jagged blade, he backed away. Again, he settled down to slowly heal. Meanwhile, the knight stared at him in fury. ¡°You are a coward.¡± Zeke shrugged, plucking a shard of metal from his neck. It came out with a spurt of silvery blood. ¡°Maybe so. But I will win.¡± And he did. It took hundreds of attacks. Thousands of wounds ripped his body to shreds. But over time, the injuries he inflicted upon the knight slowly piled up. If it had been willing to move away from its position and press the attack, it could have easily beaten him. It either could not or would not do that, though. And Zeke was more than willing to exploit that fact. By the end, the knight¡¯s skull was a mass of cracks. Zeke knew that it would only take one solid hit to shattered it entirely. Still, he hesitated. The monster was his enemy, and he had no intention of granting it mercy. But even so, he could acknowledge that it was good opponent. ¡°What happens to you after I kill you?¡± Zeke asked, leaning on his hammer. He was just out of reach, so he knew he was safe. The knight¡¯s jaw didn¡¯t work, but its voice was unaffected. ¡°You will not kill me. I will prevail.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Zeke said. ¡°But hypothetically, let¡¯s say you lose. What happens to you then? You¡¯ve been beaten before.¡± ¡°I will return to health the moment you pass through the gate.¡± ¡°Oh. Good. I¡¯d hate to think that I killed you.¡± He dashed forward, aiming a sledgehammer swing at the monster¡¯s head. It tried to react, but its beneath its armor, its body had been so thoroughly battered that it couldn¡¯t hope to match Zeke¡¯s speed. As expected, Zeke shattered the creature¡¯s head only a moment later. It collapsed, its armor clanking to the ground. Before Zeke could take stock of the situation, the body dissolved. It was an ignominious end, but one that Zeke couldn¡¯t say surprised him. More importantly, a cacophonous sound echoed through the area, bouncing off the walls and reaching Zeke¡¯s ears. He looked up to see that the gate had begun to vibrate. A white light shone around its edges, illuminating everything. And what Zeke saw was enough to make his breath catch in his chest. He was surrounded. Hundreds. Thousands. Millions. All floating just above him. Souls, detached and disembodied, loomed over him. And all at once, they said, ¡°You think you have won? You have only earned suffering. Go, cambion. Go and find that you are not as strong as you believe yourself to be.¡± When he didn¡¯t move, they all turned their eyes upon him, and Zeke was nearly unmade by their attention. It was more than he could ever hope to endure. ¡°Go!¡± He fell to his knees, incapable of remaining upright under such scrutiny. Before he knew what was happening, he was obeying their command. Crawling forward, he struggled to move an inch an hour, and all the while, those souls stared at him. He could feel his own soul unraveling, but he refused to allow it. With every ounce of willpower spurring him along, Zeke dragged himself forward. When he reached the gate, he saw that it was slightly ajar. A gap only a couple of feet wide beckoned him forward. He accepted its invitation without once questioning it. He merely wanted to flee the souls¡¯ attention. And he did, pulling himself inside and, at last, escaping the agony he¡¯d experienced. The gate clanged shut behind him, leaving him entirely disoriented and in darkness. But at least he was no longer in pain. Zeke couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯d simply leapt out of the frying pan and into the fire. 623. An Impossible Task Often, people referred to the demon realm as Hell. Zeke had done so more times than he could count, and he considered himself a decent authority on the subject. However, after taking ten steps past the gate, he started to reevaluate his word choices. Because if anything ever qualified for that label, the environment on the other side of the gate certainly did. It was an enclosed hall, though it wasn¡¯t made of stone ¨C or any other inorganic material. Instead, it seemed to have been built from the flesh of the damned, and they remained very much alive. Some were intact, but others looked as if they¡¯d merged with the wall. One of the more intact ones wailed at him, ¡°Free me! Please!¡± The man was naked, with his back half having merged with the rest of the writhing wall. Otherwise, he was shackled, with his hands stretched high above his head, and he looked as if he hadn¡¯t eaten in years. Hollow cheeks, haunted, eyes, and enough wounds to suggest he¡¯d been mauled by a wild animal. Yet, none of them bled. Nor did he weep, despite clearly being in agonizing pain. Zeke thought he¡¯d left his heroic tendencies behind, but they came back to the forefront of his mind, and with a vengeance that could not be ignored. He stepped forward, intending to free the man. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± shouted a voice in his head. ¡°Eveline?¡± he breathed, slightly confused. She hadn¡¯t spoken since he¡¯d leaped into the Pit, but for whatever reason, he¡¯d not even noticed. That didn¡¯t make sense, either. He¡¯d grown accustomed to talking to her at all times, and the lack should have heralded an alarming situation. And yet, he hadn¡¯t even realized she was gone. ¡°Where have you been?¡± ¡°Right here with you, idiot,¡± she responded. ¡°You just couldn¡¯t hear me. That¡¯s what you need to be worried about in here. This place will affect your mind unlike anything you¡¯ve ever experienced. If you let it, it will worm its way into your thoughts and force you to do ¨C or worse, become ¨C things you never would have otherwise.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been controlling my mind?¡± ¡°No. Not exactly. It¡¯s more like a fog,¡± she answered. Then, she continued, ¡°Don¡¯t stop moving. That¡¯s how you become one of them.¡± Even as she uttered those words, Zeke realized that his feet had sunk deeper into the fleshy floor. Panicked, he ripped them free, and much of his metallic skin stayed stuck to the ground. ¡°Jesus¡­¡± ¡°Keep moving.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t need another reminder. So, with an apologetic look at the damned prisoner, he continued on his way. As he did, the tortured and pleading prisoners became more numerous. Some even reached out to touch him, but he deftly avoided their grasping hands. Then, as he progressed, the hall narrowed. At first, he didn¡¯t even notice it, but soon enough, he couldn¡¯t ignore how close the walls had become. He forged ahead, and soon enough, he could no longer avoid being touched by the captives. Each one left bloody handprints on his metallic skin, and soon enough, he realized that that wasn¡¯t the only consequences. Every touch ¨C even if it was only a graze ¨C sapped a little of his vitality. That, combined with the narrowing hall, was enough to cause quite a lot of worry. But Zeke could not stop. Nor could he go back. The only option was to continue forward, and that meant forging ahead, regardless of what it did to him. Eventually, his resolution was put to the test when the close confines of the hall forced him to shift sideways. Then, even that wasn¡¯t enough, and his chest and back never lost contact with the fleshy and blood-covered walls. Eventually, he let [Titan] fall way, which granted him a few moments of relief due to his much smaller stature. Yet, it didn¡¯t last. It couldn¡¯t, he realized. The entire experience was meant to test him. To force him to endure the worst things imaginable. And his power couldn¡¯t spare him from the consequences of his choice to descend. He could only keep going. So, that was what he did. Even when the walls once again closed in on him, forcing him to squeeze past hundreds of grasping hands, he kept his mind on the task at hand. Inch by inch, he pushed ahead, and the entire time, he worried that he wouldn¡¯t have enough vitality to make it. But that kind of thinking did no one any good. So, he focused as best he could, and soon enough, minutes passed into hours until he lost track of time entirely. That wasn¡¯t an unfamiliar feeling, and Zeke welcomed the trance-like state that accompanied some of his worst moments. Thus armed, he progressed. Through it all, Eveline remained almost entirely silent. That was noteworthy, but Zeke suspected it had something to do with the situation. The descent was meant to be a solitary experience, and it seemed that the Framework wasn¡¯t going to let him cheat that requirement by talking to the mind spirit in his head.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. However, over time, he began to doubt himself. He started to wonder if anything he¡¯d experienced since awakening in those troll caves had ever really happened. Or was it all just delusion meant to distract him from his now-torturous existence? Maybe Earth hadn¡¯t been real, either. Perhaps pain was all there was. In those moments, Eveline made herself known, reminding him that everything was real. That helped, at least until the agony made him wonder if she, too, was a coping mechanism. Like that, Zeke slowly went mad, but even though he couldn¡¯t distinguish between reality and imagined scenarios, enough of his mind remained that he never stopped moving forward. Even when every instinct told him to give up, to give in to the forces trying to consume him, he kept going. And finally, his diligence bore fruit when he spilled free of the hall and stumbled into a misty glade. For the longest time, he just lay there, quivering in pain and unwilling to do anything else. But slowly, his natural regeneration repaired the extensive damage he had endured. His muscles ¨C which had been torn to shreds by grasping prisoners ¨C knit themselves back together. Bones that had broken from the pressure of the fleshy walls closing in on him were mended. And eventually, his mind returned to some semblance of normality. But even as he picked himself up and looked around, he knew what he¡¯d just experienced wasn¡¯t normal. He should have been broken. His mind should have been torn to pieces just like his body had been. And yet, he felt only mildly uncomfortable. He remembered the hellish experience well enough, but those memories felt like they belonged to someone else. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± he wondered aloud. ¡°It will get worse,¡± came a voice from nearby. Zeke looked in that direction, seeing that Eveline had appeared. ¡°I didn¡¯t think the Hall of Torture was real. I¡¯d heard stories, but¡­¡± ¡°How am I not mad?¡± he asked. She shrugged, visibly shaking with the effort. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Perhaps it is your unique constitution,¡± she guessed. ¡°You are still partially divine, even if it is locked way. Maybe it¡¯s that.¡± ¡°What is this place?¡± was his next question. He looked around, but he saw only a dense bank of fog. If he strained, he could see vague shapes here and there, and to his discomfort, some of those were moving. But it was such a departure from what he¡¯d just experienced that he allowed himself to think it would be better. ¡°The Plains of the Forgotten.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It is the first circle,¡± she answered. ¡°I¡­I remember it now.¡± The return of her memories wasn''t abnormal. Due to having her soul shattered and put back together, she often didn''t remember things until they were staring her in the face. It seemed that their recent experiences had jogged loose some memories of the Pit. And Zeke was eager to find out what was in store. So, he asked, ¡°You know what to expect here?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Only vague ideas,¡± Eveline answered. ¡°But I remember the tales I heard about the descent.¡± She looked away, then said, ¡°I am sorry. I am so, so sorry. I never should have suggested you come here. You will never make it.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Zeke said, feeling more like himself with every second. ¡°I really feel the support.¡± ¡°This is no joking matter.¡± Zeke was unused to that side of Eveline. Usually, she gave as good as she got when it came to sarcasm and jokes. So, he asked, ¡°Okay ¨C what should I expect, then? The more I know, the better chance I have of making it, right?¡± ¡°You have no chance.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re stuck here, so at least tell me what¡¯s coming. Like, you called this place the Plains of the Forgotten? What does that mean for me? What am I expected to do to get through it? Is this the last test?¡± he asked, the questions coming out rapid fire. She didn¡¯t respond like he expected. Instead, Eveline let out a laugh. ¡°The last test?¡± she asked. ¡°What you have experienced so far is the price of entry. You haven¡¯t begun to be tested.¡± Zeke processed her statement for a long moment before asking, ¡°What have I gotten myself into? This is a solvable problem, Eveline. It has to be. Other people have done it.¡± ¡°With the help of gods. You don¡¯t have that,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Even with divine intervention, descending through the nine circles is a dicey prospect. Most perish before their patron can step in. Only the strongest make it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m as strong as anyone else out there,¡± Zeke maintained. ¡°Stronger.¡± ¡°Granted. But you will be forced to endure nine circles of Hell, each one representing a fundamental sin,¡± she stated. ¡°This is the Plains of the Forgotten, where lost souls roam, purposeless and ignored. If you manage to escape limbo, you will be thrust into the Tempest, where lustful souls will entrap and use you for their own ends. Then, there is the Mire of Hunger. The Hoard. The Bloodlake. The Pyre. The Crimson Wastes. The Spiral Labyrinth. And finally, the Frozen Depths, where treachery knows no bounds. ¡°If you make it through all of that, then you will have proven yourself as worthy as any archdemon. Still, you will be forced to sacrifice something you love,¡± she stated evenly. ¡°People do not descend the Pit. They leap in and are never heard from again. They are consumed by it. Forced to confront the most vile parts of their souls. It is unconquerable.¡± Zeke looked away, unsure how to respond to her rant. She¡¯d only given him a few hints as to what would come next. She¡¯d referred to his current location as limbo, which wouldn¡¯t help him navigate the fog. He didn¡¯t even know what the goal was, much less how to overcome it. But he was not deterred. She¡¯d called it impossible, but that only served as motivation. Others had traversed the various challenges of the descent. Eveline might not know their names. In all likelihood, that sort of thing wasn¡¯t advertised. Zeke could think of hundreds of reasons why that might be the case, but they mostly came down to benefiting the powerful demons in the next realm. They wanted to tie the powerful to them, and there was no better way to do that than to offer to help them descend. But what prideful demon would accept such help when it came at the cost of their loyalty? None ¨C unless there was no other option. So, spreading the rumor that it was impossible without divine intervention was just good business. Or maybe he was entirely wrong, and Eveline¡¯s warnings were valid. ¡°They are.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± he stated. ¡°It can¡¯t matter. We¡¯re here. We can¡¯t go back. There¡¯s only one way to go, and it¡¯s forward. Wallowing in self-pity and convincing ourselves we don¡¯t have a chance isn¡¯t going to help anything.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand what you have in store, Ezekiel.¡± He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t, but I¡¯ve overcome long odds before. I¡¯ll make it through this, too. I have to.¡± And it wasn¡¯t just because he wanted to progress. That was a big part of it, but he also wanted to take the fight to his enemies. For too long, so-called gods like Oda, Aja, and Shar Maelaine had been interfering with his life. They¡¯d caused him so many problems that he couldn¡¯t help but want revenge. Perhaps that would fuel him going forward. ¡°Cling to that,¡± Eveline advised. ¡°You¡¯re going to need something to keep you on track.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I have you.¡± She didn¡¯t respond, but when she disappeared from sight and took her customary place in his mind, Eveline radiated a sense of purpose to rival his own. 624. The Forgotten Zeke peered at the steps, studying the fog billowing down from their summit. It was only fifteen feet above him, but it felt like an insurmountable distance. That was because he could feel the mist invading his thoughts. Already, he found it difficult to think, and he suspected that if he fully immersed himself in the fog, it would grow much worse. But as he¡¯d often reminded himself of late, he didn¡¯t have much choice in the matter. He¡¯d already committed himself to descending through the Pit, and his only two options were to keep going or surrender. The latter just wasn¡¯t part of his nature, which made the choice easy enough. However, just because it wasn¡¯t difficult to make the decision, that didn¡¯t mean he looked forward to following through. Finally, he rolled his shoulders, took a deep breath, then began his ascent. Each step brought with it a dose of confusion. He still knew who he was ¨C at least at his core ¨C but things like the memories of his companions and their shared history immediately seemed very far away. It was like looking at his past through dirty glass, and soon enough, the details began to blur. Zeke refused to waver in his resolve. Instead, he pushed ahead, eventually reaching the summit. When he looked around, he saw a wide open plain, though one wreathed in thick fog. Visibility was limited to around twenty feet, though the billowing mist fluctuated, concealing more or less with each passing second. He stepped forward, and the mist swirled all around him, almost as if it was alive. It suffused him, drifting in and out of his body and taking things he knew he couldn¡¯t afford to lose. ¡°You can¡¯t stop,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Keep going, Zeke. No matter what else happens, you can¡¯t stop moving.¡± Zeke nodded, though he didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he followed her instructions, and for the longest time, he continued on. After a few minutes, he once again sank into a trance ¨C or at least he tried to, but his mind simply wouldn¡¯t cooperate. He felt every passing second as if it was his last. On and on Zeke went, and after a while, he forgot why he was walking. He only knew Eveline¡¯s constant refrain. ¡°Don¡¯t stop. Keep moving.¡± Eventually, he forgot what that voice even represented. He didn¡¯t know if it came from his own mind or if the mist was whispering to him. Regardless, he continued to put one foot in front of the other. Then, something loomed above him, and Zeke¡¯s instincts took over a second before a sword would have cleaved him in two. That brought him back to awareness, and he summoned Voromir to hand as he took a look at his attacker. It looked like an animate statue of a demonic king. Proud and slightly out of proportion, it held a massive, obsidian sword at the ready. When it moved, it did so with plodding but deliberate steps that quickly covered the distance between them. Once again, he attempted to attack, but Zeke easily stepped aside and slammed his hammer into its leg. That was as high as he could reach, and the attack wasn¡¯t even remotely effective. Instead, the hammer rebounded, vibrating violently as Zeke tried to recover his balance. He managed it just in time to avoid another strike that dug into the grassy turf of the plains. The impact sent a shockwave out that very nearly knocked Zeke from his feet. He pushed himself upright to see that the animate statue was gone. ¡°What the hell was that?!¡± he demanded aloud, his mind clearer than it had been in hours. Or days, perhaps. It was difficult to remember how long he¡¯d been wandering in the mist. ¡°The Keepers of the Forgotten,¡± Eveline answered, her voice surprising him. Until she spoke, he¡¯d completely forgotten she existed. ¡°I heard stories about them, but¡­they were supposed to be a myth.¡± ¡°Seemed real enough to me,¡± Zeke remarked. ¡°Keep talking to me. I think the fog has been affecting me.¡± ¡°It is. If you spend too much time here, you will forget everything and be doomed to wander the plains with all the other lost souls,¡± she explained. ¡°That¡¯s a cheerful subject. Why do I feel fine now?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± Zeke had an idea, though. Was his identity truly so intertwined with battle that it acted as an anchor for him? It felt like that was the case, but he couldn¡¯t be certain. What he did know for sure was that he couldn¡¯t stand still. He needed to keep moving. Already, the fog had begun to thicken all around him, and he knew that if he stayed in one place for long, he¡¯d end up worse off. So, without any further questions, he resumed his directionless journey. To him, it didn¡¯t matter which way he went. He just needed to move. Perhaps that was the effect of the fog, but he suspected it was more about who he was. He didn¡¯t like sitting still, after all. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Soon, he was once again surrounded and inundated by the fog, and just like before, he started to forget who he was. Just before he lost connection with his identity, another Keeper tried to attack him. And similar to what happened the first time, he endured its attacks, returning them in kind until the thing ran away. That gave him a little respite from the memory loss. But that was when the voices began. At first, Zeke couldn¡¯t even make out what they were saying, but soon enough, he began to understand them. And he wished he never had. ¡°You were meant to save us,¡± hissed a formless voice. ¡°But you left us to be consumed by the undead. We will never know rest. You doomed us to this hell.¡± On and on they went, a chorus of accusations that made it clear that Zeke had made the wrong choice when he chose to abandon the Radiant Isles. He¡¯d long since accepted that. At the time, he had only wanted to move on from the responsibility, but in retrospect, he knew he should have been strong enough to fight. Because he could have won. He knew it. So did everyone else. And the voices were quick to remind him of his selfish cowardice. They didn¡¯t stop there, though. The whispers soon incorporated his time in the Eternal Realm. Many of those voices belonged to Knights of Adontis or others victims of his war against their kingdom, but just as many came from the people of the Imperium. ¡°We were happy. Our civilization was content. And you destroyed everything. Millions have died, and millions more will be doomed by your bloodlust,¡± they claimed. He¡¯d had the best intentions. He¡¯d only wanted to free the people who¡¯d been enslaved by the wicked Imperium. Yet, he knew there were consequences to the choice to wage war against the Radiant Host. Not only had he and his army killed hundreds of thousands of knights, but they¡¯d also torn down the framework of their civilization. Many had starved. Others had been killed by monsters the knights had kept at bay. And even more had been slain by vengeful members of the Radiant Host who were intent on ensuring that their slaves would never be freed. Guilt over the things he¡¯d done warred with the surety that he¡¯d only acted according to his conscience. Thankfully, each time he was attacked by one of the Keepers, they were temporarily silenced. Of course, if he was even a moment too late in his reactions to the giant statues¡¯ sudden appearance, he would have been sliced in half by their enormous swords. Yet, he still found himself looking forward to their attacks. Like that, it went on for days. Weeks, perhaps. Zeke felt every passing second like it was an eternity, but he still lost track of the passage of time. It was almost impossible to gauge, given that the environment never changed. The fog obscured everything, and for all he knew, he might have been walking in circles. The only break he got were the intermittent attacks from the statues. And then, suddenly, he found himself facing an obelisk. He stood there, facing it for the longest time, confused as to what it meant. The structure was almost fifteen feet wide, with square sides, and taller than Zeke could perceive. Upon its surface, numerous glyphs were carved, though they were unlike any he¡¯d ever beheld. It was gibberish. But not knowing what else to do, Zeke stepped forward and touched the black surface. It was cool to the touch, and it radiated a dense wave of energy that immediately rushed through his body. In its wake, Zeke understood what he was meant to do. He could also comprehend what he¡¯d been doing. Or rather, what the fog had been doing to him. Each passing minute had robbed him of attributes as well as afflicted his mind with a status effect called Mind Fog. The only reason he hadn¡¯t already succumbed was because of his incredible attributes. Without them, he would have been defenseless. Even with those advantages, he knew he didn¡¯t have much longer before he tipped over the edge. Thankfully, the obelisk imparted upon him the knowledge of what he was intended to do. It just wasn¡¯t something he wanted to think about, much less a task he wished to embark upon. ¡°What is it?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°I have to follow the whispers,¡± he said. ¡°They lead to Fragments of Memory, which will restore my attributes. Once I¡¯ve collected enough, I need to find the edge of the plains, where the Gate of the Forgotten stands. There, I must defeat the Warden of Lost Souls and collect his key. That will allow me to pass to the next circle.¡± ¡°You discovered all of that from that monument?¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s called a Wayfinder. An obelisk meant to usher lost souls to their eternal rest. But it¡¯s purpose has been undermined by the Warden, who delights in torturing these poor people. It wants the situation to change. It needs to free these people.¡± ¡°The obelisk needs it? It¡¯s an object.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t change anything,¡± Zeke insisted. ¡°It¡¯s not sapient, but it understands its purpose.¡± It was all so clear to him that he never even considered questioning what he knew to be true. Eveline was not so convinced, and she said, ¡°Ezekiel. That thing could just be part of it. You know that, right? It¡¯s probably pushing you into a situation where you¡¯ll end up dead.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke acknowledged. ¡°But at least it¡¯s something. Any direction is a good direction right now.¡± With that, he set off, and for the first time, he truly paid attention to the whispers. Not the content ¨C that would have driven him insane ¨C but rather, to where the voices were coming from. At first, it was difficult to tell for sure, but after what felt like days, he began to recognize subtle differences in their tones. And that led him to a rudimentary form of echolocation. It was far from foolproof, but Zeke¡¯s senses were far more powerful than they¡¯d once been. And because of that, he was able to manage it. Proof of that came when he found his first Fragment of Memory, which presented as a shard of glass that resembled a broken piece of a mirror. When he held it up, Zeke didn¡¯t see a reflection, though. Instead, he saw a bunch of wispy shapes whose form he couldn¡¯t make out. They left him feeling both disconcerted and hopeful, and in equal measure. The first because he didn¡¯t know what he was looking at, and the second, because it told him that he was on the right track. So, without further delay, he set off to look for the other fragments. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right, Ezekiel,¡± Eveline said, suddenly appearing beside him. She looked more incorporeal than normal, almost as if she was less real than before. ¡°Because there is a good chance that this place is not what it seems.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he said, striding confidently through the mist. ¡°But this is the best lead we¡¯ve got.¡± 625. The Warden Zeke slotted the final piece into the item, then held it up before him. It blazed with ethereal light, dispersing the fog directly in front of him. Instantly, his mind cleared, and he remembered where he was, what he was doing, and why. ¡°The Lantern of Clarity,¡± said Eveline. ¡°Another myth made real.¡± Zeke nodded, studying the item. It was well named, considering it looked like an old oil lantern, though one made entirely of glass. For what felt like an eternity, Zeke had wandered through the Plains of the Forgotten, slowly gathering pieces of that lantern. At first, he¡¯d had no idea what those pieces represented, but during a few idle moments, he¡¯d noticed that two fit perfectly together. Since then, he¡¯d gathered more than a hundred pieces, putting them together until, at last, they formed what Eveline had referred to as the Lantern of Clarity. Just as it had earned the first part of its name, so too was the latter part appropriate, because it dispersed the fog and returned his memories. For the first time in a long time, he remembered his companions. The tower. His history. And those memories weren¡¯t ephemeral and wispy things, as they had been before. Now, they were just as solid as they had been before he¡¯d leaped into the Pit. It brought tears to his eyes. ¡°How long have I been down here, Eveline?¡± he asked. ¡°Years. Beyond that, I have no idea,¡± she answered. ¡°Do¡­do you think they¡¯re okay? Back in the tower, I mean.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Ezekiel. Probably,¡± she replied. ¡°You left them with every advantage. They have all the resources they could ever want, and your friends are all capable leaders. You have to trust them.¡± Zeke did, but more than once, during moments of weakness, he¡¯d tried to summon a gate to the tower. The idea was to flee the purgatory in which he¡¯d found himself, but he knew that underlying those desires was a need to see his companions. Of course, it hadn¡¯t worked. Whatever magic governed the Pit prevented him from escaping back to his old life. There was only way out, and that meant descending through every circle until he found himself on the other side. But just because he acknowledged that didn¡¯t mean he was happy about it. In any case, Zeke was forced to confront those suddenly clear feelings, and that almost made him throw the Lantern of Clarity aside. He refrained from such a ridiculous and pointless action, instead focusing on the opportunity it afforded him. Suddenly, he wouldn¡¯t need to just wander from one obelisk to another. He could plan. He could chart a course across the Plains of the Forgotten and defeat the guardian of the gate to the next circle of hell. With that in mind, he set off, full of purpose. It was only after the first hundred steps that he recognized a couple of serious issues. First, he still didn¡¯t know which way to go. The obelisks were still necessary in that respect, and he would need their guidance if he was going to find his way to the other side. Second, the lantern did not possess an infinite source of fuel. Which meant he was on a timer. So, he wasted no more time thinking. He simply felt. It wasn¡¯t easy, as he was unused to casting his senses outward. However, he was quick to realize that his wandering hadn¡¯t been quite as random as he¡¯d thought. Instead, he¡¯d been following his metaphysical senses the entire time. Now that he had clarity of thought, he could feel them even more keenly. Gradually, as the power in the lantern was continuously spent, Zeke made his way across the plain. Along the way, he fought more of the Forgotten Keepers. However, he could now harness far more of his strength, so dealing with them was much easier. He still couldn¡¯t shatter them in a single blow ¨C not like he thought he should¡¯ve been capable of doing ¨C but he could definitely crack their stone bodies. And he did. Over and over again until, eventually, he managed to destroy the leg of one of the statues. It toppled to the ground, hitting with a massive thud, and Zeke immediately pounced. A moment later, he was atop it and using Voromir like a sledgehammer. The first ten blows didn¡¯t do much, but the next ten cracked its head. The next ten shattered it to pieces. That¡¯s when Zeke felt a surge of strength. ¡°What the hell?¡± he asked aloud, staggering backward. But he already knew the answer to his question. So did Eveline, who said, ¡°They¡¯re holding your attributes captive. Kill them, and you will regain your full power.¡± Zeke had already suspected as much, so he immediately set out to find more Keepers. He knew he didn¡¯t have much power left in the lantern, but he also suspected that if he was less than full power when he challenged the warden of the Forgotten Plains, he would be destroyed. With that in mind, he added another task to his to-do list. Recover his strength. Find his way through the Forgotten Plains. Then defeat the Warden. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. In a way, his previous supposition was correct. The shards of memory had shown him the way to restore his strength. By assembling into the lantern, they had lit the path to full recovery. But as seemed to be the case with everything in the Pit, there was more to it than it seemed at first glance. Doubtless, his next steps would be dogged with misconceptions and false paths. But what else could he do? He couldn¡¯t make himself stop and investigate every facet of his descent. That was a sure path to ruin, just as any other failure. No ¨C he needed to keep it in mind and adjust accordingly. Anything less, and he would fall prey to the many dangers of the Pit. After killing the Keeper, Zeke continued on, following his instincts as he stalked the others. The second kill came far more easily than the first ¨C probably because of how much his strength had been restored. However, it was by no means easy. Just as before, his victory was rewarded with another sliver of his power. Like that, Zeke¡¯s trek across the Plains of the Forgotten continued. Even though he¡¯d regained his wits, he still lost track of time. There was nothing to help him mark the days, but he felt certain that months passed. With each day spent, the lantern¡¯s power dipped a little lower. Eventually, he found more shards, which he used to replace spent portions of the lantern. Because of that, his timer extended much further than he would have thought possible. Dozens of Keepers fell by his hand, and with every kill, he regained a little more of his power. Finally, he started to feel more like himself. Not entirely, but he could feel a connection with his strength that had been absent for far too long. Once he reached that point, the battles against the Keepers became trivial. Then, at last, he found his way to something new. ¡°A maze?¡± he asked aloud. ¡°Seems that way,¡± Eveline answered. She was his only companion, and he knew that he would have long since gone insane without her living in his mind. He shrugged. ¡°Any lore about this I should know?¡± he asked. So far, she had been an invaluable source of information. Her input only came at the last second ¨C when her own memory was jogged by events ¨C but Zeke would have succumbed to his trials long ago without her help. ¡°No. This is entirely alien to me.¡± ¡°Oh. Fantastic,¡± Zeke murmured. Then, he stepped forward into the maze. Inside, the fog was even denser, and the lantern¡¯s power began to dissipate faster than ever before. ¡°At this rate, it¡¯ll be gone in a few hours at most,¡± he said. ¡°Then you¡¯d better make it through this maze by then.¡± At that, Zeke took off at a jog. When that proved too slow, he decided to take a chance and simply ram his shoulder into the stone wall. It didn¡¯t fall, but it didn¡¯t seem entirely impregnable, either. So, Zeke took a bigger lead-up, then charged. He pushed himself as hard as he could, and when he collided with thew all, there was a brief struggle. Then, the wall lost. It crumbled before him, and his momentum kept him going. Without hesitation, he leveraged his strength into another charge, knocking down the next wall in his way. Then, the next. It was highly unlikely that was the strategy meant to overcome the challenge, but Zeke couldn¡¯t have cared less about that. All he cared about was results, and he¡¯d gotten precisely that. So, he kept going, ramming through the walls like an out-of-control train. Then, suddenly, there was no wall before him. Instead, a huge figure ¨C probably fifty feet tall and dressed like an armored knight ¨C loomed before him. Its armor was pitch black and filigreed in gold, and it carried a sword to match its enormous size. The entire figure glistened with so much mana that Zeke very nearly fell to his knees in reverence. It wasn¡¯t a god like Shar Maelaine or the dragon¡¯s mother, but it was a step above anything else he¡¯d ever seen. ¡°You make a mockery of my preparations,¡± the thing intoned. Its voice was androgynous, but louder than anything Zeke had ever heard before. Zeke craned his neck to look up at the thing. It was perhaps even larger than his first impressions suggested, but it was by no means the largest creature he¡¯d ever seen. That label still belonged to the cyclops he¡¯d killed in his first dungeon. That thing had been the size of a mountain, and Zeke had managed to take it down. So, despite its obvious power, Zeke wasn¡¯t even remotely intimidated by its presence. He looked back at the rubble he¡¯d left in his wake, then said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have put them in my way, then.¡± He hefted his hammer onto one shoulder. ¡°So, are we doing this thing, then?¡± ¡°Are you so eager for a true death, Descender?¡± Zeke shrugged. ¡°Maybe. If it gets me out of this damned fog, then sure,¡± he admitted. He could deal with a lot, but having his mind toyed with held a uniquely detestable spot in the list of things that bugged him. ¡°You could always just step aside, though.¡± ¡°That is not possible.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t think so,¡± Zeke admitted. ¡°So, what are you, anyway? You¡¯re the warden, right? Does that make you a god?¡± ¡°I am no deity,¡± it stated. ¡°I am the Warden of Lost Souls, as you well know. My inmates have shown you the way, hoping that you would free them. Na?ve spirits. Their efforts will only serve to add another to their number.¡± ¡°Are they in pain?¡± ¡°They feel nothing. They know nothing. They are blank,¡± said the Warden. Zeke didn¡¯t believe that, even for a second. The fact that those whispers had guided him ¨C albeit, in a roundabout way ¨C to a pending fight with the Warden suggested that they were aware. Not entirely, but enough. Far more than the Warden gave them credit for, in any case. ¡°Do you truly believe you can defeat me?¡± it asked. Zeke wasn¡¯t sure how to answer that. The enormous creature was clearly powerful. Far more so than he was, especially without access to his skills. The Pit had sealed even [Hand of Divinity] away, leaving Zeke with only his attributes and mettle to rely upon. But that would have to be enough. ¡°And if it isn¡¯t?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°Then this little vacation will be cut short.¡± ¡°Is that how you see this?¡± ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s Hell, Eveline, and it¡¯s everything that name implies. You call that place up above Hell, but it¡¯s not. At best, it¡¯s Hell-adjacent. This is the real thing,¡± he stated inwardly. ¡°Besides, like I keep saying ¨C there¡¯s no turning back. This is the path I¡¯ve chosen, and I need to walk it.¡± So, without further hesitation, he stepped forward, saying aloud, ¡°I¡¯ve killed bigger and badder things than you. Let¡¯s get this thing over with. I want to see what the next circle has in store.¡± ¡°You do not know what you are saying. This is nothing compared to the Tempest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll figure out how to overcome that, too. Now, quit stalling. You¡¯re not getting out of this fight.¡± 626. Thinking on His Feet Zeke leaped high into the air, intent on ending the fight before it had a chance to truly begin. However, when he swung Voromir in a sledgehammer strike that should have caved the Warden¡¯s chest in, he found nothing but air. He passed through the knight-like creature¡¯s torso like it was nothing, and he hit the ground only a moment later. Stunned, he stumbled ¨C which was probably the only thing that saved him. The Warden¡¯s great sword sliced through the air only a few inches in front of him, slamming down with enough momentum to create a shockwave that knocked Zeke off course. He rolled to the side, still a little stunned, but he regained his wits soon enough to leap aside when the Warden aimed another blow his way. When he rose to his feet, he saw that his foe was still just as solid as ever. Zeke couldn¡¯t help but notice that the fog had thickened around the Warden, though. He approached more cautiously, wishing he had access to his skills. But as they had been for what felt like an eternity, they were still locked away behind Oberon¡¯s cage. It had been a necessary measure, and without the dwarf¡¯s help, Zeke would have been eaten alive by his own power. However, just because it was crucial didn¡¯t mean that Zeke was happy about the lack. What¡¯s more, he felt that it had grown far more flexible than it had been before. Still a long way from brittle, and he knew he didn¡¯t currently possess the strength to break it. Yet, he suspected that wouldn¡¯t always be the case. After all, it was always meant to be a temporary measure. He wasn¡¯t sure how long he¡¯d wandered the Plains of the Forgotten, but it was not a short amount of time. Did that mean he had a time-limit on his descent? He wasn¡¯t certain, but what he did know was that he needed more information about the Warden¡¯s abilities. So, to that end, he knelt down and grabbed a rock. It was about the size of a softball, which meant that it was perfect for what he had in mind. With a flick of his arm, he tossed it forward, but with his strength, it sped along with the speed of a bullet. When it should have crashed into the Warden, something troubling happened. The creature became mist, and the rock passed through it without incident. More importantly, the fog swirled around the creature, thickening and extending tendrils of mist more than fifty feet out. Zeke didn¡¯t need a warning to know that he didn¡¯t want to be touched by those fog tendrils. He could see the power glowing within them, and he suspected that if he touched them ¨C even for an instant ¨C he would experience symptoms similar to what he¡¯d felt in the Plains. ¡°How the hell am I supposed to beat this asshole?¡± he wondered aloud. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Eveline admitted. ¡°Mind mage, remember? I always had others fight for me. But you¡¯re right about not getting touched by the fog. They¡¯ll steal your memories, just like the mist in the Plains of the Forgotten.¡± That was as Zeke had expected, but without any help from his resident mind parasite, he didn¡¯t know what to do. And unfortunately, the brief delay while he was trying to think up a strategy had deleterious effects on the battle. Even as he stood there, the mist continued to swirl, eventually concentrating into six figures. They weren¡¯t as large as the Warden, but they were all still much bigger than Zeke. ¡°Keepers,¡± he muttered, recognizing the ivory statues that had dogged his journey through the Plains. He¡¯d wondered where they came from, but seeing that they were apparently created by the fog was both comforting and troubling. The first, because having an explanation for how they suddenly appeared in his path removed some of the mystery from the Pit. Knowing that they followed some sort of rules was reassuring. ¡°Even if those rules are bullshit,¡± he said to himself. It troubled him because there was a lot of fog around, which meant that there was plenty of fuel to make more Keepers. But that gave him an idea. If the fog was the problem, and it was used to create the Keepers, then wasn¡¯t his path clear? He raced toward the first, smashing his hammer into the thing¡¯s leg. It crumbled beneath his strength, and he finished it off a second after it fell. Even as his hammer descended into the summoned monster¡¯s ivory head, a tendril of mist threatened to envelop him. He fought it off by waving the lantern in its direction. It dimmed slightly, but the fog dissipated. It was an encouraging sign. Zeke didn¡¯t know how he was going to deal with the Warden, but he had a strategy for destroying the Keepers. That was enough for now. After that, Zeke went on a rampage, smashing through the Keepers with impressive fury. Some, he managed to fell with a single blow, but most required more than a few hits to bring down. That was okay, though, because with each fallen enemy, the fog dissipated. Of course, his task was exacerbated by the Warden¡¯s continued participation. Every now and again, the sword would fall, and with enough speed that Zeke struggled to avoid it. If he lost focus even for a second, he knew he would be split in two. And without [Hand of Divinity] to bring him back, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of survival. Fortunately, Zeke¡¯s many years of battle served him well. His instincts were well-honed, and his reflexes were even more developed. So, as long as he kept his head on a swivel, he could remain unscathed. So, he waged a small war against the Keepers, destroying them while avoiding direct conflict with the Warden. That task was exacerbated by the fact that, with each destroyed Keeper, another coalesced from the fog. So, in terms of the number of enemies he faced, he never made any visible progress.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it But he could see the fog thinning, which was all the encouragement he needed. The Warden clearly took issue with Zeke¡¯s strategy, and its blows came faster and more frequently than ever before. That allowed Zeke to experiment a bit, and he found that no matter how quickly he acted, the second he came close to the creature ¨C or its weapon ¨C it became incorporeal. That didn¡¯t bode well for Zeke¡¯s continued success. If he couldn¡¯t hit the thing, then he couldn¡¯t beat it. Something told him that if he¡¯d had access to his Will ¨C or skills like [Wrath of Annihilation] ¨C he wouldn¡¯t have had any issue killing the creature. He¡¯d yet to find anything that could stand up to either, at least in the long term, and as powerful as the Warden was, Zeke didn¡¯t believe it was that strong. But who knew how things worked in Hell? Zeke had already established that it didn¡¯t follow the rules with which he was familiar, so there was every chance that the Warden would have simply walked through [Wrath of Annihilation] unscathed. In any case, Zeke didn¡¯t have those skills available, so he put them out of his mind. Instead, he focused on the problem at hand. With that in mind, he continued his onslaught against the Keepers, ever mindful of the Warden¡¯s blade. With every ten Keepers he destroyed, the mist dissipated until, after countless hours of battle, the area was almost entirely devoid of fog. Except around the Warden, who seemed a little panicked. For his part, Zeke was both encouraged and a little uncertain how to proceed. On the one hand, he¡¯d proven that he could keep going almost indefinitely. Either because of his powerful constitution or Hell shenanigans ¨C he truly wasn¡¯t certain which applied ¨C he didn¡¯t need to eat or drink. And his body was inexhaustible. He wasn¡¯t going to give in anytime soon. However, he still hadn¡¯t figured out how to beat the Warden. Was he intended to simply wear it down? That might work, but for some reason, it just didn¡¯t seem like the right answer. He needed something better. He needed information if he was going to figure it out. So, without further ado, he decided to start experimenting. One attack after another, he explored the Warden¡¯s limitations. And to his horror, he found none. More, he discovered that if he got too close, those tendrils of mist were more than capable of lashing out. It only took experiencing that once for Zeke to vow to never again let it happen. The second the tendril wrapped around him, he felt a wave of cold that sapped both his strength and muddled his concentration. Instinctively, he threw himself backward just in time to narrowly avoid the Warden¡¯s descending blade. Slowly, over the next few minutes, his mind cleared, and his power returned. Yet, the implication was clear. If he allowed those tentacles of fog free rein, they would end him just as quickly as the Warden¡¯s sword. But Zeke also discovered that the creature was even more intangible than ever. Before, it only turned to mist at the last second, but now, it spent more time in that form than it did in its more solid state. ¡°It so obvious,¡± he said, suddenly coming upon a solution. And it was. That he hadn¡¯t thought of it immediately was a testament to his dogmatic dedication to only relying on his own body. But he¡¯d had the proper tool the whole time. He just needed to use it. ¡°Are you sure this is going to work?¡± asked Eveline. He stalked forward, his hammer in one hand and the solution to the fight in the other. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe.¡± Then, without further hesitation, he cocked his arm back and threw the Lantern of Clarity at the Warden. Only when it left his hand did he realize how easily his strategy could go wrong. If he was mistaken about what it would do, he would lose one of his most powerful defenses. But it was too late to rethink it. Doubts would help no one. He was committed, and there was nothing he could do to change course. The Lantern of Clarity sailed through the air, and to Zeke¡¯s perception, it did so in slow motion. He held his breath, praying that it wouldn¡¯t simply pass through the Warden¡¯s incorporeal body. Then, finally, it reached his enemy. And exploded. Shards of Memory rode a wave of force and light that tore through the surrounding area, burning through the remnants of fog as the Warden let loose a massive roar. The scream contained infinite pain and rage, though Zeke was far more concerned with the aftermath. He watched as the Warden solidified into an ivory statue. Just like the Keepers. Zeke thought the fight was over until he saw the thing move. Its motion was twitchy, but far faster than ever before, and when it sighted in on Zeke, it moved with such alacrity that he couldn¡¯t hope to avoid it. The sword bit deep into his shoulder, shattering his clavicle and digging into his flesh. But it stopped before bisecting him, which was more than he could have expected. The Warden retracted its blade, cocking its head as if confused that Zeke wasn¡¯t dead. For his part, Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate. Using his hammer one-handed wasn¡¯t ideal, but due to its properties, he could swing it well enough with a single hand. And he wasn¡¯t going to let his gaping wound slow him down. He charged forward, swinging Voromir with all his might. Its head slammed into the Warden¡¯s knee, sending a deep crack arcing up its thigh. But Zeke had seen enough that he couldn¡¯t allow his momentum to dissipate. Even as the Warden aimed its sword at him, Zeke used the creature¡¯s on legs to shield himself from reprisal. He dipped behind it, and a second later, the tip of the blade slammed into the ground in the location he¡¯d just vacated. That would have finished the job for sure. He didn¡¯t allow it to repeat the feat. Instead, he circled the monster¡¯s legs, hammering into it as rapidly as his arm could move. And slowly, the creature¡¯s stance began to crumble. Then, when he aimed a particularly brutal blow at its calf, the right leg fell to pieces. It remained upright, balancing on one leg, but the loss of the other leg was the signal that announced its eventual demise. After that, it wasn¡¯t long until Zeke managed to shatter the other leg. It fell, and when it hit, it did so with enough force to author an enormous shockwave that nearly cost Zeke the battle. However, he maintained his footing and leaped upon its chest. Once he got there, he spent an untold amount of time dodging its awkward attacks as he slowly destroyed its torso. Eventually, he found his way to its heart. And it his surprise, it looked just like a human organ, fleshy and full of blood. It also pulsed with so much mana that Zeke struggled to remain in its presence. He¡¯d endured the aura of powerful natural treasures before, but this one was easily one of the strongest. It was too bad, then, that he needed to destroy it. Not that it mattered. He didn¡¯t have access to his storage, so he couldn¡¯t take it with him. So, with one last hammer blow, he crushed the organ. Only then did the Warden¡¯s struggles cease. The battle won, Zeke climbed free of the cavity he¡¯d dug into the creature¡¯s chest. Then, he looked around, seeing that the mist had begun to gather. He didn¡¯t want to be there when it returned, especially since he¡¯d destroyed his only defense against it. So, grievously wounded and weary, he leaped from the monster¡¯s prone form and trekked toward the now-open gate leading to the next circle of Hell. 627. The Tempest ¡°The last time I jumped into a pit, things didn¡¯t go so well,¡± Zeke said, peering over the edge of the pit in question. The hole in the ground was a few hundred feet across, and the lip was lined with jagged, black crystal. Even with his enormous endurance, those sharp shards of glass-like material were capable of cutting through his flesh with ease. He knew that because he¡¯d been forced to cross more than a thousand feet of the stuff. No matter where he stepped, his feet were shredded. But as he¡¯d done since the beginning of his descent ¨C or really, since he¡¯d begun his journey ¨C he endured, and finally he was on the precipice of reaching the next circle of Hell. According to Eveline, there were seven more, each one representing a specific sin. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t know the order ¨C in fact, it changed from person to person, according to the legends she¡¯d heard ¨C so Zeke couldn¡¯t mentally prepare for what was coming. There was a good chance he wouldn¡¯t even recognize the setting for what it was until it was too late. Some could mess with his mind, as the Plains of the Forgotten had. In retrospect, it was obvious that they were meant to represent limbo, but how that knowledge could have helped him, Zeke didn¡¯t know. Regardless, there was no way to prepare for what was coming. Which made his hesitation illogical. ¡°At least you recognize it for what it is,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°It¡¯s fear, Ezekiel. You¡¯re not so divorced from mortality that you can¡¯t feel the same emotions.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just uncomfortable not knowing what¡¯s in store.¡± ¡°Maybe you don¡¯t recognize it, then. Self-delusion is a powerful thing,¡± she responded. ¡°Are you going to go? Or should I expect you to continue standing here for the rest of eternity? You wouldn¡¯t be the first.¡± Even as she said it, Zeke noticed hundreds of skeletons peppering the field of jagged crystal. Many of the bones had been sliced in two, but some had only been scratched. That suggested that the crystals hadn¡¯t stopped them. Instead, they¡¯d simply given up rather than brave the pit.¡± Zeke refused to let his fear ¨C and in his own mind, he could acknowledge it as such ¨C dictate his actions. Or inaction, as it happened. So, he took a deep breath before climbing to the top of the lip. Even as he dragged himself to the peak, his body was shredded, but when he reached the top, he didn¡¯t dare halt his momentum. Instead, he leaped. His heart jumped into his throat as he fell, and soon, he¡¯d left the subtly glowing crystals far behind. He continued to fall for a few minutes before something slapped against his face. It was cold and wet, but in the utter darkness of the pit, he couldn¡¯t tell what it was. As he fell, his mind conjured hundreds of horrible things, but he pushed those aside, recognizing that such speculation wasn¡¯t helpful. It hadn¡¯t hurt, so he wouldn¡¯t devote too much energy to trying to identify it. After a few more minutes, he was being pelted by more and more wetness, but he was more concerned with what he smelled. ¡°The ocean.¡± Zeke had grown up within a couple hours¡¯ drive of the Gulf of Mexico, so he was no stranger to the briny smell of the sea. It immediately made him think of home. It had been years ¨C more than a decade, though he wasn¡¯t sure how much more ¨C since he¡¯d died, but his memories of Earth remained as sharp as ever. It highlighted just how much he¡¯d almost lost in the Plains of the Forgotten. After a few more minutes of continued freefall, Zeke saw a pinprick of light far below. It was the first change he¡¯d witnessed since he¡¯d begun his fall, so it was more than noteworthy. Gradually, the source of light drew close, growing larger with every passing second. Still, because of the distances involved, it still took a few minutes before it was large enough for him to see what it illuminated. Even then, Zeke couldn¡¯t make sense of the grey expanse. Not until he came significantly closer, at least. Only then did he recognize the roiling sea below him. Grey waves and white foam characterized the seascape, but once he drew within a few hundred feet, Zeke saw that a storm had affected the ocean below. Then, he was through the gaping hole. The second he passed the threshold, Zeke was battered by swirling winds and driving rain. He flipped around and saw that there was no evidence of the pit. It was like it was never even there. But Zeke couldn¡¯t concern himself with where he¡¯d been. Rather, he needed to focus on where he was going. The storm was more powerful than any storm he¡¯d ever heard of, and it knocked him off course. He was like a leaf in a hurricane being violently thrown in every direction. So, the fall to the ocean took far longer than he ever could have anticipated. But gravity eventually took hold, sending him plummeting into the ocean. He landed in the trough between two waves, and when he surfaced, he saw that those waves were the height of mountains. And one was about to crash down on him. He took a deep breath, then steeled himself for the impact. However, no degree of precautions could have ever prepared him for what was coming. The falling wave hit him harder than he¡¯d ever been hit before. His bones broke, and his organs felt like they were pulverized. He instinctively reached for [Hand of Divinity], and thankfully, the skills that hadn¡¯t been locked away behind Oberon¡¯s cage were once again available to him.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. He shoved divine energy into the skill, and his body responded. Bones mended, and his organs reformed. Yet, he knew he wasn¡¯t out of the woods yet, because there was nothing special about that wave ¨C at least in context of it surroundings. Instead, it was just one of many, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before another slammed down on him. So, he dove. It didn¡¯t save him, though. The next wave smashed down with enough force that he felt it even hundreds of feet down. More distressingly, the world beneath the surface was not without dangers of its own. Never was that more obvious than when something loomed out of the abyssal darkness far below and tried to snatch him with a pair of slimy tentacles. Zeke batted them away, then forced himself toward the surface. The tentacles pursued for a few dozen feet, but the light from above seemed to act as a deterrent, and it halted its pursuit soon after. The implication was clear ¨C if he strayed too deep, he would need to contend with the creatures of the abyssal depths. But if he surfaced, he would need to endure the battering of the waves. Zeke knew which one he preferred, so he pushed himself to the surface, only to take another wave to the face. It was no less damaging than anything else he¡¯d been forced to endure, so he forced himself to ignore the pain of having his bones shattered. Instead, he focused on using [Hand of Divinity]. He couldn¡¯t do much more than that, though. There was no chance to get his bearings, and even if there had been, he would have been incapable of guiding his own path through the tempest. Instead, he went where the storm sent him, with his only input being that he prevented himself from going too deep. The creatures below didn¡¯t like that, and Zeke caught sight of their tentacles writhing in fury every time he arrested his momentum and surged to the surface. Like that, he continued. It wasn¡¯t torture like he¡¯d experienced in the path, but that didn¡¯t mean it was any less effective in breaking his will. Once, he¡¯d read that back on Earth, being waterboarded was one of the worst experiences one could endure. And what the storm put him through wasn¡¯t so different from that method of torture. Zeke lost track of time. In fact, he sank within himself so deeply that his body functioned almost entirely on instinct. It was easier that way. If he allowed himself to think ¨C to truly comprehend the pain he was forced to experience ¨C he would have gone mad. Days passed. Then weeks. It could have been months or years. But for Zeke, there were only three aspects of his existence. Taking the hit from the waves, using [Hand of Divinity], then surfacing in time to take a breath. After that, the cycle repeated itself. Over and over, tens of thousands of times. Eveline tried to speak to him on more than one occasion, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to respond. Doing so would break the trance, and returning to that state would have been incredibly taxing. If he let it happen, he wasn¡¯t certain he could survive the torture. So, he ignored her. And in response, she retreated into her own corner of his mind. Together and apart, they suffered. Until, at last, something changed. At first, he didn¡¯t even notice it ¨C only a couple of extra seconds between waves, which allowed him to get two breaths instead of one. But once he recognized what had happened, that small delay between crashing waves was enough to drag him closer to consciousness. Still, he remained in his trance for days more ¨C until, at last, he could take three breaths between waves. Days more, and that grew to four. Five. Six. Zeke couldn¡¯t make sense of it, but by the time the nadir between waves grew to almost thirty seconds, he dragged himself back to consciousness. The first thing he felt was the pain. His body had been battered for longer than he cared to acknowledge. Months, at the very least. Maybe even longer. The first consequence of recognizing that was that he began to wonder about the tower and his companions. Why hadn¡¯t he visited them before descending into the Pit? He could have. And yet, he¡¯d refused, citing a need for haste. Now, between his experiences in the first circle ¨C as well as the lead-up to it ¨C Zeke had spent years on his descent. And he¡¯d only just begun. Another wave crashed down on him, and because he hadn¡¯t been prepared for it, he was very nearly sent tumbling too deep. He managed to stop himself just in time to avoid getting caught by a pair of tentacles, but the lesson was clear. He couldn¡¯t afford distractions. Not now. So, he resurfaced and, in the thirty seconds between waves, he took stock of the situation. What he found was encouraging. He couldn¡¯t be certain, but it seemed that the wind had died ever so slightly. Even the waves didn¡¯t seem quite so towering in stature. What did it mean, though? Zeke wasn¡¯t sure, but he decided to look at it as a good omen. Over the next few weeks, the interval between waves continued to grow. And Zeke came back to himself more and more. With the space to think, he once again took conscious control over his body. It was still excruciating, being battered by the waves ever so often. However, he managed the pain the same way he always did ¨C via his natural tolerance and sheer determination. At least until one of the waves slammed him into something solid. That nearly broke him. He¡¯d gone no deeper than at any other point, and yet, he¡¯d hit the seafloor. Using [Hand of Divinity], he barely pieced himself back together in time to get hit again. This time, he was ready for it, though, and he fared a little better. More importantly, as his mind cleared, he recognized that he¡¯d reached the shore. Or close enough to it that it didn¡¯t matter. So, he pushed forward, swimming when possible, but mostly just bouncing across the seafloor. And soon enough, he found himself being smashed into a black cliff. At first, he just bounced off before being hit by another wave. But after a few instances of that, he managed to grab hold. He was still battered by the sea, but his grip was sufficient to keep him in place. Then, he started to climb. The waves didn¡¯t cease, and they were still the size of skyscrapers, so he was forced to endure one heavy blow after another. Yet, he kept his mind on the task at hand, which was to reach the top of the cliff. Once again, he lost track of time. More than once, he fell back into the sea and lost more than a little ground. However, that only served to strengthen his resolve, and eventually, he progressed high enough that the waves could no longer reach him. Their spray still filled the air, but without the constant battering, Zeke¡¯s climb was much easier. He was climbing for another few days before he started to miss the sea. A month later, with sharp winds cutting through him like sword blades, he contemplated just letting go and returning to the trance-like state that had helped him endure so much pain. He pushed those thoughts aside and continued his climb. Then, two months later, he finally crested the rise and took in the landscape before him. It was not an encouraging sight. 628. The Eye Zeke dropped to his haunches, studying the scene below. It looked familiar, though it took him a few moments to understand what he beheld. Once he did, it all clicked into place. ¡°It¡¯s the elven ruins from the mortal realm,¡± he muttered, mostly to himself, though he wouldn¡¯t have objected to Eveline¡¯s input. She remained frustratingly silent, sequestered in the back of his mind as if she was trying to protect herself from something. Perhaps she felt threatened by him. Regardless, he couldn¡¯t afford to split his focus, so he homed in on the ruins laid out before him. They weren¡¯t identical to what he¡¯d experienced back in the Radiant Isles, though the architecture followed a similar pattern. On top of that, he saw the familiar shapes of harpies fluttering back and forth, and for his vantage point, he couldn¡¯t miss their nest at the center. There were tens of thousands of the creatures within the ruins. Zeke looked a little closer, recognizing that the monsters weren¡¯t entirely the same as the ones he¡¯d encountered in the abandoned elven city. For one, they were much larger ¨C at least human sized ¨C and their bodies were more developed. Taken piece by piece, their features might¡¯ve been enticing. But when seen as a whole, the combined effect was horrifying. Yet, Zeke couldn¡¯t deny that they held a certain graceful allure, even if he was disgusted by the way it made him feel. Shame colored his mind as he shifted his attention elsewhere, and he soon saw something else familiar. Something that should not have existed in Hell. Zeke was moving before he¡¯d even thought it through. An inadvisable, stumbling descent from the lip of what seemed to be a crater followed, and soon enough, he was within the ruins. A second later, he encountered his first harpy. He had only a moment to recognize that his previous observations about her size were accurate, but then, her claws flashed, and he found himself staggering backward, his chest reduced to ribbons of flesh. She fluttered a retreat, her talons glistening with his blood. Then, she smiled, though there was no kindness there. Only the expression of a predator who was about to slaughter her prey. Zeke¡¯s eyes drifted down to her naked chest. Then¡­ She hit him again, faster than ever before and the attack nearly ripped his eye out. He¡¯d flinched at the very last moment, saving his eye, but blood flew from his new scalp wound. He steeled himself against the distractions her naked body represented. He shouldn¡¯t have found it so alluring. She was part bird, with a feathered lower half and wings to match. But every time he let his focus slip even a moment, his eyes drifted down to her all-too-human chest. ¡°Lust, Ezekiel,¡± came Eveline¡¯s strained voice. ¡°Firm your thoughts and be strong. There is magic at play.¡± Zeke followed her orders, though not without difficulty. The harpy remained at a distance, flapping her wings lazily as she awaited a slip in Zeke¡¯s focus. So, he obliged, his eyes drifting slightly downward, and she struck. This time, though, Zeke wasn¡¯t as enamored with her body. Being aware of what was happening had helped him fight against it, and when she came at him, he met her with the head of his hammer. The blow broke her in every way possible, and with a dying squawk, she hit the wall of a ruined building before succumbing to her numerous injuries. ¡°What¡­the¡­hell¡­¡± Zeke had never felt mental manipulation of that sort. It was almost as if he¡¯d had no control. If he¡¯d been left to his own devices, he would have fallen prey to the harpy¡¯s predations. ¡°I know what this place is,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It is the Tempest. Lust. Desire. Greed. You mustn¡¯t let it derail your purpose, Ezekiel. It is insidious. You will succumb without even knowing what is happening, and you will be happy about it.¡± ¡°You can help me though, right?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Like you just did.¡± She gave a mental shake of her head. ¡°I cannot. If I let myself free here, I will happily betray you. I am powerless before the forces present here. I am guilty of many sins, Ezekiel, but none more so than unbridled lust. I was a succubus for a reason, after all. You can¡¯t depend on me. From now on, if I speak to you at all, you must ignore me, for I will surely be trying to seduce you, one way or another.¡± ¡°But ¨C¡± ¡°Heed my words, and you will pay the price. Let me worm my way into your psyche, and I will surely be your doom. Do not be afraid, though. If any man can overcome the challenges of this place, it is you.¡± ¡°What will you do?¡± he asked.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I have some defenses, though once I take refuge within your mind, I will be unreachable. Do not breach my walls until you have broken through to the next circle,¡± she said. Then, she retreated deeper than Zeke had ever felt. He almost couldn¡¯t even feel her in his mind, and when she erected her defenses, she was almost entirely undetectable. Only a slight stirring of ethera betrayed her presence, and even that was barely more than a flicker. Only then did it hit him that he was more alone now than he¡¯d ever been before. Immediately, he craved companionship, but was that just a natural response to Eveline¡¯s absence? They¡¯d not been so surely separated since she¡¯d taken refuge in his mind, and Zeke keenly felt the loss. Or was it the Tempest muddling his emotions? Did a desire for friendship count as a sin? Maybe, at least in the way Hell tended to twist things around. Regardless, there was nothing to be done about Eveline¡¯s absence. Her precautions were understandable, and Zeke had no choice but to accept them. Even if he never wanted companionship more than at that moment. Suddenly, he felt like he had back in the troll caves. At first, it hadn¡¯t been so bad, but after a couple of months, the solitude had nearly driven him insane. It had gotten easier over time, but for most of that first year, he¡¯d become little more than an animal. He¡¯d blocked most of that from his memories, but in Eveline¡¯s absence, he felt the keen sense of isolation like he hadn¡¯t since. Before he could succumb to those feelings, he turned his attention to his surroundings. He didn¡¯t know what he was meant to do, and he expected that part of passing through the circle was figuring that out. So, he stepped forward, intent on keeping his wits about him as he traversed the city. It covered a much larger area than the ruins in the Radiant Isles, though from a visual perspective, it looked much the same. What was left of the architecture suggested a flowing beauty that he hadn¡¯t seen from any other city, and it left him wondering just what had happened to the elves that had built it. Clearly, they had ascended to the Eternal Realm en masse, but what happened after that? Had they become the elves he¡¯d heard about in his travels? Or had they been wiped out, as so many others had? Those questions flitted through Zeke¡¯s mind as he traversed the ruins. Along the way, he was attacked by a few more harpies, and though he felt the pull of his desires tugging at his mind, he succeeded in ignoring them. With his mind on task, he had no issues killing the creatures. At least that was the case until he found himself facing off with an updated version of the queen. Like all the other harpies, she was a naked amalgamation of human and avian, though she leaned far closer to the latter than the lower-leveled creatures. There was barely a feather in sight, which made her nudity all the more enticing. For a long moment, Zeke was entranced ¨C especially when she spoke. There were no words, just a melodic tone that cut through any mental defenses he possessed. He fell to his knees, ready to worship her. But even as she approached, Zeke knew there was something wrong. He just couldn¡¯t put his finger on why he felt the need to resist. Still, he struggled against his emotions until something snapped within him. By that point, she was only a few feet away, but she stumbled backward as her song faltered. That ended Zeke¡¯s entrancement. He responded without hesitation, aiming his hammer at her torso. She twisted out of the way, then launched herself at him. Suddenly, he noticed that there was one bird-like feature he¡¯d neglected to notice. Talons screamed through the air, sharp and glistening with mana. Zeke leaped to the side, though he wasn¡¯t able to avoid the attack entirely. Instead, those sharp claws ripped through his hastily upraised arm, cutting down to and notching the bone. But the fact that he¡¯d managed to mostly dodge the attack was enough to throw her off-balance. Zeke¡¯s hand shot out, closing around her neck. He squeezed. She let out a pained cry, and his mind spun with pity. He almost released her, then and there. But Zeke¡¯s battle-hardened instincts were enough to drive him forward. He knew precisely when to press his advantage, and his body reacted without the benefit of thought. He slammed her against the ground, shattering the delicate bones of her wings. He didn¡¯t stop there, though. No ¨C he couldn¡¯t afford to let her continue living. That was a good way to once again become entranced by her song¡­as well as her other assets. In the end, Zeke was forced to smash her against the ground five more times before she finally died. That was a testament to how much more durable she was than the lesser harpies, and when she finally succumbed to her injuries, Zeke knew that she was one of the most dangerous foes he¡¯d ever faced. Obviously, the Eye of the Tempest would test him at least as thoroughly as the Plains of the Forgotten. And if he faltered even a little, he would be slaughtered. Or worse. He shuddered at that though, but he wasn¡¯t certain if it was due to excitement or horror. Those two emotions warred within him, casting his entire mind into turmoil. To maintain his sanity, he shoved them aside, vowing to keep them there until he wasn¡¯t affected by the Tempest. With that, he strode forward, keeping ever ready for the next attack to come. He only got a few more steps before he found himself swarmed by an entire group of harpies. They were led by one of the larger ones, but oddly enough, the fact that there were so many diluted their effect, and he managed to dispatch them without issue. That wasn¡¯t the last time he was forced to endure the physical and mental assaults of the harpies, and over the next few hours, he lost track of how many he killed. Hundreds, at the very least, but it might have been thousands. He simply didn¡¯t know, and in his increasingly muddled state, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to keep track. But as had become his mantra, he vowed to keep going. His goal was to reach the center of the ruins, which seemed as good a place as any to find some answers. Once there, he would slaughter the population of harpies, then take stock of what he needed to do next. It was a good plan, but as was the case with most plans, it didn¡¯t last. Because on his second day trekking through the city, Zeke found himself face-to-face with the last thing he expected to see in Hell. What¡¯s more, it was almost a perfect recreation of an experience he¡¯d lived through before. Though his memory and what he saw before him were subtly different in so many ways that he scarcely recognized the scene. As he stood at the edge of the plaza, he wondered how Abby had ended up in Hell. And what¡¯s more, how had she drawn the attention of a group of men who look strikingly similar to the ones who¡¯d attacked her when they had first met? 629. My Hero Zeke crouched at the edge of the plaza, unsure of what he was looking at. On the surface, it was Abby fighting ¨C and losing ¨C against the men who¡¯d attacked her so long ago. Yet, it didn¡¯t take him long to surmise that things were not what they seemed. For one, Abby herself seemed far more beautiful than she ever had back then. And that was saying something, considering that even back then, Zeke had considered her one of the most enticing women he¡¯d ever seen. However, this version of her was exaggerated in a dozen different ways. It reminded Zeke of the proportions used for comic book characters back on Earth, and her body seemed to have been designed to appeal directly to the male gaze. And it worked, especially with the artful tears in her armor that exposed her flesh. Oddly, none of her injuries did much to lessen her beauty ¨C like a Hollywood actor who¡¯d just been in a big, climactic fight. It was patently odd, and Zeke couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on why it bothered him so much. One thing was certain, though ¨C he very much wanted to rush in and save her. He held back, though, largely because he could feel the alien influences on his mind. He¡¯d moved on from Abby. She was an acknowledged part of his past, but she would never be part of his future. For all he knew, she was dead and gone. After all, years has passed since he left the Eternal Realm. Sometimes, it didn¡¯t feel like it, but it was true nonetheless. Zeke had no idea what he¡¯d find when he finally completed his descension and could once again access the Crimson Tower. One thing he knew for certain was that Abby was gone. So, whoever it was in that plaza fighting against those men ¨C it wasn¡¯t her. It couldn¡¯t be. Yet, the longer Zeke watched, the less he cared about that. Especially with every strip of skin that was exposed. What tipped him over the edge was when they finally cornered and disarmed her. Those men surrounded her, and judging by their lustful expressions, their intentions were clear. And when one of them ¨C the leader whose name was entirely forgotten ¨C grabbed her roughly, Zeke couldn¡¯t stop himself from acting. Not because he wanted her for himself, but rather, because he couldn¡¯t stomach standing by and watching what he knew was coming. At least that¡¯s what he told himself. The emotions skating through his mind said something else entirely. He shut his fantasies away as he thundered across the plaza, cocked his arm back, and delivered a vicious hammer blow to one of the attackers. The man might¡¯ve worn the face from Zeke¡¯s memory, but he definitely didn¡¯t move like those old foes. Back then, he¡¯d had no difficulty with the fight, but now, his foe deftly swayed to the side, avoiding the attack, then darted forward. A second later, Zeke had a dagger buried in his ribs. It hurt, but more than anything else, it infuriated him. Ignoring the pain, he lashed out with a backhand that sent the attacker staggering backward with a broken jaw. Then, he threw himself at the next foe, tackling him to the ground. Without hesitation, he rammed his fist into the man¡¯s temple, knocking him senseless. That¡¯s when a sword blade fell upon his back, cutting deep. Thankfully, the blade stopped when it hit his rigid spine. As was often the case, Zeke ignored the agony of nearly having his spine severed and sprang to his feet. Whirling around, he let his hammer¡¯s head lead the way. He was rewarded with a solid crunch as one of the attackers¡¯ skulls was crushed. But the move also opened Zeke up to a half dozen counterattacks, and he was in no position to avoid a single one. His body reacted on instinct, flaring his endurance to meet those attacks head-on. It wasn¡¯t enough to deflect the blades, but it certainly lessened their effect. That surprised the attackers, which gave Zeke an opportunity to turn the tides of battle. Normally, he had no issues fighting against multiple opponents, but in Hell, power levels tended to fluctuate. He knew he should have been far superior to his current foes, but at the moment, he wasn¡¯t much stronger than he¡¯d been back in the Mortal Realm. So, there was real danger in such a fight. Zeke didn¡¯t care. Not only had his lust for battle enveloped his mind, but it had mingled with his need to rescue and protect Abby. The result was that there was absolutely zero chance of backing down. Even strategic thinking was out of the question. Instead, he sank into a berserker state where the only thing that mattered was defeating ¨C and killing ¨C his enemies. With a roar, he dipped low and shattered a man¡¯s kneecap with a short hammer swing. He screamed in pain as his knee buckled, but he didn¡¯t immediately fall. The head of his axe did, though, cutting into Zeke¡¯s shoulder. On instinct, he channeled [Hand of Divinity], but as was the case with his attributes, it was far weaker than normal. It only provided a trickle of healing, which was enough to stem the flow of blood but not much else. It did keep him going, though, and that was all he really cared about. He flexed his legs, then dove at the man¡¯s lone healthy leg. As his shoulder hit the joint, it snapped. But Zeke didn¡¯t stop there. Instead, he dropped his hammer, wrapped his arms around the leg, then lifted. The man tried to resist, but he was in far too much pain to concentrate on anything but the agony of having both of his legs snapped like twigs. Zeke used that to his advantage, flipping him through the air. He sailed away, landing in a tangled heap after only ten or fifteen feet. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Zeke had enough control not to immediately pounce on the fallen man. Instead, he acknowledged that the enemy was out of the fight, which was all that really mattered at the moment. With that in mind, he whirled to face the remaining six opponents. That was more than he remembered from when he¡¯d first met Abby, but at the moment, he couldn¡¯t afford the focus to really think about it. Instead, he had six more men to kill, and one of them looked head-and-shoulders above the rest. Suddenly, Zeke remembered his name. ¡°Julio.¡± That brought the fight to a stop, much to Zeke¡¯s irritation. ¡°You know me, brute?¡± Zeke clenched his fists, studying his opponent. Julio was handsome ¨C there was no denying that ¨C but it was the sort of attractiveness that put people in mind of a predator. And not the kind that hunted other animals. Perhaps it was because Zeke knew the man¡¯s backstory ¨C at least a little ¨C but when he looked at Julio¡¯s sharp features, all he could see was a man who refused to take no for an answer. And that infuriated him. So, he didn¡¯t bother responding to Julio¡¯s question. It was irrelevant. All that mattered was crushing that handsome face. So, he dashed forward, his hammer entirely forgotten. He was armed only with his fists, and that was more than enough to deal with someone like Julio. The man reacted quickly, stepping forward and thinking his slender sword would be enough to defeat Zeke. In most cases, he¡¯d have likely been correct. An armed man had an undeniable advantage against someone without a weapon. Yet, he couldn¡¯t have known that Zeke was more than willing to trade blow for blow, even if he got the worst of the exchange. The sword cut through the air in a wicked slash meant to decapitate Zeke. He ducked under it, then connected with a vicious uppercut that should have sent the man flying backward. Instead, it only staggered Julio. Surprised, Zeke wasn¡¯t ready for a follow-up, which was why he was entirely unprepared when the five other attackers fell upon him. Their blades didn¡¯t bite deep, but their enthusiasm for the act was enough to worry Zeke. He took a dozen attacks before he managed to barrel through the encircling attackers, extricating himself from a very dangerous situation. But he didn¡¯t take that opportunity to step back and reassess his strategy. No ¨C he¡¯d sunk too far into his rage-induced battle lust to even think about that. He raised his fists, then dove back in. The opponents were clearly his inferior, but six-on-one tipped the odds in their favor. Or it should have. The difference was that Zeke didn¡¯t care if he was cut to ribbons. They could have flayed him alive, and he would have kept coming ¨C which wasn¡¯t far from the truth. He refused to acknowledge the pain they inflicted, and with [Hand of Divinity] keeping him from bleeding to death, the wounds were mostly superficial. They certainly weren¡¯t life-threatening. As he fought, he did make a few concessions, though. Protecting his joints was a priority. For all that he could take a thousand attacks and keep going, if someone fouled the mechanical connections of his joints, he would go down the same as anyone else. So, he subtly altered his fighting style to prevent such an occurrence. He also protected his face. Not because he was worried about scars or how he looked. Rather, he wanted to preserve his senses. If he lost sight in even one of his eyes, he would be at a disadvantage. So, when possible, he shielded his face. Like that, the fight continued, and slowly, the attackers¡¯ energy started to lag. It wasn¡¯t surprising. Zeke¡¯s most potent weapon was his endurance. Not the attribute, but instead, his ability to keep going regardless of what the world threw at him. He¡¯d endured so much already, and he refused to give in to a few petty thugs. He took the damage he needed to take, felling his enemies as viciously and efficiently as he could. The first went down when Zeke got his fingers around the man¡¯s throat and ripped out his trachea. The second fell prey to a brutal punch to the temple that shattered that portion of his skull. It also cracked Zeke¡¯s knuckles, but [Hand of Divinity] was enough to patch him up so he could continue the fight. The third, fourth, and fifth went down with a shattered jaw, a crushed hip, and a broken back. That left him to face only Julio, who¡¯d backed away to nurse his own broken jaw. The others weren¡¯t all dead, but a couple had succumbed to their injuries. One thing was certain, though ¨C they were out of the fight. Zeke shook out his arms, and his blood ¨C mingled with the blood of his enemies ¨C splattered the ground. His shirt was in tatters and left more of his torso exposed than it covered. Vaguely, he realized that his own injuries weren¡¯t nearly as extensive as they should have been. Like Abby ¨C who remained on the ground, her half-exposed chest heaving enticingly ¨C his wounds were more akin to what he¡¯d expect from a Hollywood movie. They were just deep enough to give the impression of hardship, but not so serious as to mar his appearance. He knew that wasn¡¯t normal. But it also wasn¡¯t something he could concern himself with. Not with Julio standing only ten feet away. The man tried to speak, but his jaw was too malformed to enable speech. So he satisfied his anger by throwing a seething glare Zeke¡¯s way. For his part, Zeke returned it in kind. But he also said, ¡°You¡¯re scum, Julio. A piece of human garbage. I¡¯ve killed you before, and I¡¯ll do it a thousand more times if that¡¯s what it takes.¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened, but that was the only reaction he managed before Zeke rushed forward, intent on ripping Julio apart with his bare hands. However, the swordsman had learned his lesson, and instead of employing a wide, arcing cut, he offered a short jab. Zeke ignored it. He took the glancing blow, barreling through the pain and tackling Julio. The advantage of reach didn¡¯t matter much when Zeke was perfectly willing to take what should have been a debilitating wound. And once he¡¯d closed the ground between them, whatever advantages Julio had disappeared. He was weaker than Zeke and less skilled. More importantly, he flinched away at every blow, clearly affected by the pain. Zeke leaned into that, targeting areas he knew would cause the most agony. In only moments, Julio was writhing in pain as he begged for mercy. Zeke ignored his pleas. He was far too invested in ripping the hateful man limb from limb. So, he didn¡¯t cease his pummeling. Nor did he stop when Julio was clearly out for the count. Instead, he kept going until the man¡¯s head resembled a burst watermelon. Only then did Zeke look up. Glancing around, he saw that some of the other men had stirred. A couple had even managed to crawl away. But that wouldn¡¯t do. That would not do at all. So, Zeke picked himself up, crossed the intervening distance, and proceeded to end them the same way he¡¯d killed Julio. It didn¡¯t take long. They weren¡¯t nearly as durable as their leader. However, it was notable for two reasons. First, he didn¡¯t even consider letting them live. His anger wouldn¡¯t allow that. And second, during that time, Abby had stirred. Yet, when they locked eyes, she did not look at him in fear. Instead, she stared at him with wide-eyed awe, her chest heaving in excitement. ¡°My hero,¡± she breathed, her tone a promise that Zeke couldn¡¯t help but understand. And in his state of mind, there was absolutely no chance that he would even think to resist the desire flowing through him. 630. Ravaged Zeke stepped forward, only one thing on his mind. Abby waited, her cheeks flushed with obvious desire. She was practically shaking with it. As she gazed upon him, she bit her lip and took a tentative step in his direction. The dead bodies of all the assailants were quickly forgotten as they embraced. Her body felt so perfect ¨C so right ¨C as it pressed against him, and her hand quivered as she fingered the bulging muscles of his torso. Then, they kissed, but even as their tongues intertwined, Zeke squeezed, and with all his strength. Because he knew it wasn¡¯t real. She wasn¡¯t Abby. Not really. She looked like the woman he¡¯d once professed to love, but all the details were wrong. She was too compliant. Too in awe of him. Abby was never like that. This version seemed like she was entirely dependent on him for an identity, as if she was completely defined by her lust. And given the setting, the danger was obvious. She gasped as her chest compressed, but she couldn¡¯t break free of the kiss. She never even tried. She only became more insistent, and Zeke¡¯s desire grew so potent that he could scarcely deny it. Only through a sheer force of willpower was he able to stop himself from plunging happily ahead and enjoying what she so clearly wanted to give him. Even when her bones broke and blood spurted from her body, she pressed against him. Zeke¡¯s mind screamed at him to break away from the kiss ¨C even as her acrid blood filled his mouth ¨C but willpower was a finite thing, and he¡¯d spent his entire store to kill the creature in his arms. And creature it was. When it finally fell limp, it was nothing but a sack of bones. However, the shape of its body had changed entirely. It still had a mouth ¨C of sorts ¨C but the thing¡¯s skin was a storm cloud grey and the mouth was more suited to a lamprey than a human being. More distressingly, its lower half extended into the ground, and when Zeke looked around at all the bodies, he saw nothing but grey tentacles lying about. The implications were clear. He hadn¡¯t fought a multitude of opponents. Rather, he¡¯d battled a single monster. What¡¯s more, he¡¯d been destined to win the fight and claim his reward. What would have happened if he¡¯d lain with that creature? Zeke had no idea, but he had no doubts that it would have been horrible. The entire encounter had embraced his lust ¨C both for Abby and for battle ¨C to a degree that he¡¯d never expected. It wasn¡¯t magical, but rather, purely psychological in nature. It took advantage of his natural instincts, offering him precisely what he wanted. It was a trap of the purest sort, and he had very nearly fallen prey to the creature¡¯s predations. Going forward, Zeke knew he needed to take care, lest he find himself on the wrong end of something similar. Because he knew that his trials had only begun. After all, he¡¯d spent months wandering the Plains of the Forgotten. Doubtless, the Tempest would be just as difficult ¨C and time-consuming ¨C to traverse. With the creature¡¯s true nature revealed, Zeke gained some perspective on the situation. He looked around, and saw that the ruins remained the same as they¡¯d appeared, which was something of a surprise. He¡¯d half expected things to change now that he was in his right mind. The fact that it hadn¡¯t was just proof that there was no magical mind manipulation going on. Rather, the influence was more mundane in nature, which was probably even more frightening. He could fight against magic, but against his own mind? That was a much taller task. In any case, Zeke knew he couldn¡¯t remain in the same place for long. After all, thousands ¨C if not millions ¨C of harpies were still out there, and as easily slain as they were, he still didn¡¯t want to face more than a few dozen at any given time. So, he continued on, gradually moving through the ruins. Along the way, he was forced to fight progressively larger groups of harpies. And he discovered that with every ten or so that he faced in any given group, their powers of seduction grew more potent. The increase wasn¡¯t exponential, but even an additive rise was troubling. Still, Zeke had no choice but to continue, and eventually, he reached the nest. It was much larger than it had been in his past experience. If there were less than a million harpies present, he would have been surprised, and many of them were the larger, more powerful variants. More distressingly, the one at the center of the nest was obviously stronger than any of the others. It wasn¡¯t any larger. In fact, it was positively petite, and its body was that of a gymnast. All compact muscle and enticing curves. Because, aside from a pair of wings sprouting from the thing¡¯s back, it looked entirely human. Extremely attractive, too, and in a way Zeke couldn¡¯t even begin to ignore. Mostly, that was because she was very, very naked and obviously entirely unashamed at that state. For a long moment, Zeke couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away, but eventually, he forced himself to do so. The pull didn¡¯t fade, though. The image of her comely form remained fixed in his mind, taunting him with desire. Or lust. That was the point of the current circle of Hell, after all. It was temptation made manifest, and Zeke found it incredibly difficult to resist the pull. Yet, after a few long minutes of taking one deep breath after another, he managed to corral his desires. Not without difficulty, though. There was something so natural about the idea of succumbing. It was instinctual. Evolutionary. Animalistic. Yet, that was also its weakness, because, for better or worse, Zeke was a thinking a creature. He had reason on his side, and it gave him the ability to resist the pull of his baser instincts. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The only problem was that, from the results of his previous exploration, he knew that he couldn¡¯t simply go around the enormous nest at the center of the ruins. They were built into the city itself, but the real problem was that there was no path meant to avoid it. If he wanted to continue on his way, he not only needed to brave the dangers of the nest containing millions of harpies, but he would also be forced to overcome his own instincts. It was not a battle most men would win, and yet, it was the only way through. So, Zeke steeled himself as best he could, spending hours centering his mind before, at last, he pushed forward. The response was immediate. The moment he came within range of the first few harpies, a wave of compulsive desire slammed into his mind. By that point, he was used to their manipulative tactics, so he forged ahead, slamming his hammer into the enemy one after another. Soon enough, he found himself surrounded by harpies. The monsters laid constant siege to his mind, but the more insidious aspect of the fight came from within. Zeke reveled in his own bloodlust, slaughtering the things by the hundreds. He lost himself in the battle, and eventually, he also lost track of his own goals. He didn¡¯t care about getting through the plaza. Instead, he only cared about slaughtering as many as possible. Along the way, he killed hundreds. Then thousands. Tens of thousands. Time passed, much as it had when he struggled against the tempest itself, but he never wavered. He was as inexhaustible as ever, and soon enough, days passed into weeks. Still, he fought on. He was a shadow of himself. A creature who only lived for battle. Even if he could have resisted ¨C and that was the furthest thing from what he wanted ¨C that bloodlust was the only reason he managed to resist the more carnal temptations presented by the harpies. Zeke took thousands of wounds, but with [Hand of Divinity], none were life-threatening. Every sweep of his hammer felled a monster, but his clothing didn¡¯t survive their reprisals. Eventually, he found himself fighting naked, though with how much blood covered him, he might as well have been fully clothed. It didn¡¯t matter. Zeke couldn¡¯t bring himself to care about anything but the battle, about slaughtering as many of the monsters as he could. Later, he would realize that the fight was meant to be unwinnable. A temptation that preyed on his desires for battle as much as the lust of a different sort. Yet, Zeke¡¯s inexhaustible nature was more powerful than Hell¡¯s intentions, and eventually, the seemingly innumerable harpies began to thin. And finally, they were all dead. All except the single harpy standing against him. She was just as perfectly formed as he¡¯d seen from afar, though with how close she¡¯d come, the effect was even stronger. If she hadn¡¯t been standing there with murder in her eyes, he might have succumbed. However, she¡¯d clearly abandoned any plan of seduction. The wholesale slaughter of her people had driven her into a mad rage, and she¡¯d embraced her own lust for blood at least as thoroughly as Zeke had latched onto his. In that way, they were perfectly paired. She threw herself at him, claws glinting in the moonlight. Zeke didn¡¯t have time to wonder when night had fallen. It wasn¡¯t the first, after all. Days had passed during the battle, and he¡¯d never once faltered. He didn¡¯t intend to change that, and he met her charge with one of his own. She moved like water, slipping aside as he aimed a hammer-strike at her naked torso. Before Zeke knew what had happened, blood sprayed, and a chunk of his torso had been sliced away. He staggered away, feeling a potent toxin coursing through him. [Hand of Divinity] took care of that. His flesh didn¡¯t regrow ¨C not immediately ¨C but the flow of blood ceased. Her eyes narrowed in frustration, and it was clear that she recognized the message. She could tear him apart piece by piece, but if she expected him to bleed out, she would be sorely disappointed. Zeke dropped his hammer. It was too slow. Too unwieldy. He would fight her hand to hand. Perhaps not the best plan he¡¯d ever had, but in the throes of bloodlust, he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of returning her attempts to slice him apart by ripping her limb from limb. It was only fair, after all. There was a certain brutal poetry to the notion that, in his violence-addled state, he found more than appealing. Facing her once again, he rolled his shoulders. He should have felt exhausted. Days ¨C or weeks, for all he knew ¨C of battle should have sapped him of energy. However, he felt as invigorated as if he¡¯d spent days relaxing in the tower. The only downside was that his body had become crisscrossed with so many scars that he scarcely recognized himself. Or maybe that was a benefit. ¡°Chicks dig scars.¡± ¡°What did you say, human?¡± the harpy spat. Her voice was just as enticing as her well-formed body. Breathy and deep, but nowhere near masculine. ¡°Nothing,¡± he muttered to himself. If Eveline hadn¡¯t been quarantined in her corner of his mind, she would have appreciated his remark. But she remained sequestered, terrified that she would be overcome by the circle¡¯s lust-driven atmosphere. Zeke clenched his fists, then stepped toward the harpy. She remained in place until he launched an attack. Swaying to the side, she moved almost as quickly as Talia, though far more gracefully. Zeke¡¯s friend was faster, but she moved with an abrupt urgency that felt more like brute-force than out-and-out speed. It didn¡¯t matter, though. The results were the same, and Zeke ended up losing another pound of flesh. But he didn¡¯t stop, and when she shuddered to a halt, she found his fist already on its way. The harpy blurred, but when she tried to counterattack, her aim was off. She barely scratched him, coming to a stop an instant later. Zeke followed doggedly, having figured out the battle. Unlike Talia, who could keep up her speed indefinitely, the harpy could only move so rapidly in short bursts. That would have been fine if Zeke had fully succumbed to his blood lust ¨C or desire of another sort ¨C but he was still in control. At least enough to recognize the pattern. As a result, he took advantage of her weakness, landing a massive blow to the temple that sent her spinning sideways. She recovered quickly, launching into another burst of speed that took a chunk of Zeke¡¯s thigh. Yet, with the strategy uncovered, he knew it was only a matter of time before he emerged victorious. So, he stuck with it, and for a while, he was only moderately successful. Every punch he landed came at the cost of another hunk of his flesh. Still, with the aid of his massive endurance, natural vitality, and most importantly, [Hand of Divinity], he managed to stay on his feet. The harpy had no such advantages. In fact, she was a two-trick pony. She had speed, and she had her lust-inducing appearance. In the end, the effect of one landed punch after another took their toll, and her attacks became ever more erratic until, at last, Zeke managed to grab hold of her. That ended the fight, and just as he had with the Abby-monster, he crushed her to death. It wasn¡¯t lost on Zeke that he hadn¡¯t truly resisted the temptation that had set upon him. Indeed ¨C he¡¯d fully surrendered to the battle lust that should have spelled his doom. Yet, when pitched against his endurance, the circle of hell had lost. There was something to learn from that, though even as the slain harpy fell from his arms, Zeke was at a loss as to what knowledge he was meant to take from it. 631. Grief, Guilt, and Excuses Zeke slew tens of thousands of harpies. Every time he left the plaza, he would walk in a straight line only to somehow end up back in the same place. Each return was met by a repeat of the same situation he¡¯d already overcome. He killed the monster pretending to be Julio and his thuggish henchmen, then overcame the Abby-monster ¨C or rather, his lust for her ¨C and destroyed the harpy queen. Over and over until he lost track of time. Or anything else, really. As he sank ever deeper into his most primal state, Zeke fully leaned into his most defining characteristic. He¡¯d never set out to become a battle junky. At first, he¡¯d only fought when absolutely necessary, but as his time in the caves wore on, he¡¯d begun to enjoy it. The feeling of overcoming an enemy, of winning a battle ¨C that was almost as addictive as the ultimate victory that killing his foes represented. It was more than that, though. The struggle itself was his true drug of choice. It encompassed the back and forth of battle, but it also included the pain ¨C both in terms of what he caused and what was inflicted upon him. He was no masochist, but he couldn¡¯t deny that it held an addictive quality all its own. Being broken down and remade was the final piece of the puzzle. Taking blows that should have killed him, then forging ahead as his magical abilities rebuilt him ¨C it made him feel like an unstoppable god. That was the case even before he¡¯d braved the Tempest, and as he found himself in an endless loop fighting his way through the ruins of a long-abandoned elven city, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from leaning into it. Was it magical manipulation of his mind? Maybe. But there was just as much of a chance that it all came from within. After all, he¡¯d never shown much restraint when it came to battle. The other side of lust never truly tempted him. Even when the rescued Abby-monster was even more blatant with her intentions, Zeke never wavered. He knew the truth, and what¡¯s more, his relationship with the real Abby had never really been based around that sort of thing. Indeed, back when they¡¯d met, he¡¯d been so starved for attention that he would¡¯ve probably imprinted on just about anyone he stumbled across. Did it help that she was an incredibly attractive woman who looked like she was in his age range? Sure. But that wasn¡¯t the primary motivation for latching onto her as strongly as he had. After all, spending years alone with nothing but murderous trolls for company had a tendency to foster desperation. He¡¯d needed human companionship, and she was the first person he had met who could meet that need. The romance came later, but even then, it was more about proximity and habit than lust or love. Both of the latter were present ¨C at least to some degree ¨C but enough time had passed that Zeke could look at the situation without the rose-colored glasses he¡¯d worn back then. Still, there were moments of temptation. Dozens, in fact ¨C especially as the loop wore on into multiple weeks. At times, he wondered just how far the Abby-monster might go with the illusion. Would she let it go all the way, only to pounce when he let his guard down? And if so, what was the harm in letting it happen? He knew he could kill her. So, why did he continue to resist? Of course, it was a stupid idea. Zeke knew that down to his core. Yet, it was still tempting enough that he considered it. And at the end of each consideration, he vowed, ¡°Maybe next time.¡± Usually, that came even as he ripped the creature apart. Or crushed it. Or clubbed it to death. He killed it in a hundred different ways, revealing its true nature. Yet, each time he returned to the plaza, he was once again tempted to let the temptation win. He overcame it every time, but it grew more difficult with every passing day. As had been the case in the Plains of the Forgotten, he lost track of the passage of time. He knew weeks had gone by, but after that, it devolved into one long blur of battle and blood. He did take time to rest, and he even discovered that harpy meat tasted a lot like chicken, but with his high endurance and vitality, mundane necessities had become mostly optional. He slept to reset his mind, and he ate to break up the monotony. In those moments, his thoughts were clearest. Divorced from constant battle, he was free to try to think of a way to escape the loop. And yet, when the time came to move on, he always ended up returning to his previous pattern. Trek through the ruins, kill harpies, murder the Abby-monster, then rinse and repeat. At one point, Zeke had thought his love of fighting was tied to the positive reinforcement of gaining levels and new skills. Yet, now that he was at the peak, and there was no Framework rewards waiting at the end of each kill, his battle lust had yet to wane. That led him to realize that, while the Framework¡¯s rewards definitely provided some incentive, the true motivation came from within. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. It had always been in him. Even going back to when he was a baseball player striving to reach the peak of his game, it had been there. It took a different form, but he¡¯d felt it all the same. It was about domination and winning, not levels and skills. Or maybe it was all wrapped together, and Zeke was misinterpreting ingrained habits with inherent traits. Regardless, those traits were the only reason he¡¯d managed to survive as long as he had, and he knew that escaping the elven city was never going to happen if he tried to suddenly embrace a doctrine of pacificism. The very notion was silly. The world in which he¡¯d been reborn was a violent one. Sure, there were people who¡¯d managed to live lives devoid of combat. Millions ¨C perhaps even billions ¨C of them, in fact. Yet, their weakness ¨C and that was what it was, regardless of morality ¨C made them vulnerable. If they offended the wrong person, then their journey would end. Zeke had seen that from the very beginning, and it had been cemented in his first visit to civilization back in the Mortal Realm. Beneath its fa?ade of civility, Bastion was a cesspool where the strong oppressed the weak. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t so different from Earth. Zeke hadn¡¯t had much chance to experience what his home had to offer. Not before he¡¯d died. Yet, even he¡¯d been aware that the rich and powerful exploited those beneath them. That was the nature of humanity. Maybe it was the nature of all sapient beings. The only cure was to become powerful himself, and then he wouldn¡¯t be subject to their whims. That meant he needed to progress, to escape the loop and move on to the next challenge. Otherwise, he wasn¡¯t any better than all those wretches back in Bastion ¨C the ones who¡¯d been conned into funneling their power to a self-styled goddess who couldn¡¯t have cared less about them. That seemingly simple realization was what broke the loop. His drive to remain unexploited was stronger than Hell¡¯s machinations. Zeke blinked. The ruins themselves looked the same as ever, but they were absolutely covered in blood. The path he¡¯d taken through the city bore a thick carpet of corpses. Most looked like harpies, but there were plenty of other variants as well. Some were human. Elves. Dwarves. Thousands of them, all intermingled with the monsters¡¯ bodies. And Zeke knew he¡¯d killed them all. With the clarity of having broken free of the illusion, he remembered thinks more clearly. Most of the attacks he¡¯d endured were not attacks at all. Instead, they were people running to him for help. They¡¯d only wanted a savior. Zeke fell to his knees, distraught at his actions. But it only took him a few moments to push that aside. Instead, he focused on his previous revelation. If those people had been more powerful, they wouldn¡¯t have needed rescuing. They would have saved themselves. It was a harsh thought, but it was true. Still, there was no shortage of guilt that he simply could not escape. The only solace was that they probably weren¡¯t real. It was a scenario created by the current circle of Hell, meant to elicit emotions and break him in an effort to halt his progress. It was difficult to remember that when he was looking at a three-deep carpet of bloody and rotting corpses that he had created. Zeke pushed himself to his feet, then set off through the city. At first, he followed his previous path, which made a wide circle through the city. Every inch was covered in bodies that he studiously ignored. Even so, he was forced to push them aside if he wanted to make any progress. Before he even realized what he was doing, he was back at the plaza, and the same scenario that he¡¯d overcome a thousand times presented itself to him. Without even knowing it, he¡¯d continued the loop. Aware of the illusion or not, his feet had naturally found the same path. The solution was clear. If he wanted to escape, he needed to discard his instincts and consciously control his actions. Falling into his normal, trance-like state that often characterized his battles ¨C especially against seemingly endless hordes ¨C was no longer an option. So, after dealing with the situation in the plaza ¨C again ¨C Zeke moved on. This time, he made a point to avoid taking the same paths. Fortunately ¨C or horrifyingly, if he thought about it ¨C his previous routes were all well marked by plenty of bodies, so they were easily avoided. Still, the first few times Zeke took that tactic, he still ended up back in the plaza and killing the Abby-monster. But he continued on, maintaining his focus even when his every instinct told him to sink into the trance-like battle lust that had characterized his time in the ruins. And then, suddenly, he broke through the outskirts of the city. He was climbing a slope before he even realized that things had changed. More importantly, his mind came into sharp focus, and for the first time in a long time, his thoughts were entirely clear. He was horrified by his previous thoughts as much as his actions. It was one thing to kill tens of thousands of people, but it was something altogether to justify it by saying that it was all okay because they should¡¯ve been stronger. The only solace to be found was that it probably wasn¡¯t real. But even that wasn¡¯t entirely accurate. Zeke knew that Hell was not devoid of its own population. In all likelihood, those people he¡¯d killed were others who¡¯d attempted the descent. Or maybe they were simply doomed to this circle of Hell due to the sins of their past life. Whatever the case, there was a good chance that they weren¡¯t the figments he¡¯d hoped they were. Which only served to augment his horror. Was he always a monster? Or had he been manipulated into becoming one? Did it even matter? Not to the people he¡¯d killed. Certainly, even in the Mortal Realm, he¡¯d left a trail of victims behind. And that had only grown in the Eternal Realm, and by an exponential number. His wars had killed hundreds of thousands. Millions, maybe. And even more had been affected. Certainly, he¡¯d tried to save some of them. He¡¯d taken prisoners when possible. But at the end of the day, because of his choice to go to war ¨C more than once ¨C people had died. He had to bear the weight of that on his conscience, and his actions in the ruins he¡¯d just left behind were no different. They just added to his burden. Those thoughts spurred him on, and he climbed the slope to the summit, only to see that he was on the lip of a crater. A vast desert stretched out before him, though it wasn¡¯t a normal landscape. Instead, enormous crystals floated in mid-air, glinting with power and promise. Zeke trekked forward, intent on investigating. Or maybe he just wanted to leave the horrors of the ruins behind. Either way, his steps were hurried as he stepped into the arid desert. 632. The Tempest Lords Zeke stumbled through the black sands, driven to dizziness by a lack of water and the sweltering heat emanating with the white sun blazing in the sky. It cast the whole desert in monochrome, further disorienting him. But the worst part was the crystals. Each one emitted an incessant and rhythmic base strong enough to turn his insides to water. With each thumping beat, his stomach twisted into knots, protesting their ill treatment. None of it made sense. He shouldn¡¯t have been affected by something so mundane as a little heat. And he¡¯d forgotten the last time he needed sustenance like water or food. Both helped keep him in top shape, but they were far from necessary. If they had been, he¡¯d have long since succumbed to dehydration or malnutrition. After all, he¡¯d spent an untold amount of time in the Tempest, the Plains of the Forgotten, and the Maw ¨C all without eating or drinking. The only time he¡¯d let his hunger drive him was in the ruins, where he¡¯d eaten what he¡¯d thought was harpy flesh. It wasn¡¯t. Images of what he¡¯d done flashed through his mind, eliciting a wave of guilt. It was a different sort of torture, but it was no less powerful than the physical consequences of his situation. The memory of thousands of bodies laid out before him was enough to send his mind reeling. And his body followed. He crashed to the ground, hitting the black sand face-first. Then, he just lay there, struggling to conjure a reason to keep going. He didn¡¯t know the route to his destination, so he¡¯d been wandering the desert for days. Maybe weeks. Time didn¡¯t make any sense in Hell, and in his state, he couldn¡¯t even begin to accurately mark its passage. Yet, time did pass. He could feel it. Minute by minute. Hour by hour. Days and weeks turning into months and years. He knew he¡¯d been in Hell for a long time. Not an eternity, certainly, but at times, it felt that way. This was one of those times. Zeke wasn¡¯t sure how long he lay there. The sun didn¡¯t let up, and his hunger and thirst followed that same pattern. The result was that he wasn¡¯t given the rest he so dearly wanted. Instead, he just suffered. It wasn¡¯t lost on Zeke that, perhaps, that was what Hell was meant to be. Eternal suffering. Maybe there was no end to the desert. No goal. It was possible that descending the Pit to reach the Ethereal Realm was never a viable option. There was every chance that it was just a trap for the overly ambitious, for those trying to climb above their station. If that was the case, then what was the point of going on? All his striving to keep moving forward, to forge through every obstacle ¨C it was for nothing. And if that was true, then his suffering was pointless. He might as well just give up. Give in and take the punishment he¡¯d so clearly earned. After all, he was a mass murderer. Wasn¡¯t Hell where people like that went? Wasn¡¯t it what they deserved? What he deserved. Eventually, Zeke hit rock bottom. His mind went blank, and he refused to move. The indomitable willpower that had so far driven him forward was gone, and he couldn¡¯t summon the wherewithal to continue going. As he lay there, his mind wandered back to the days leading up to his entry into Hell. At the time, he¡¯d considered bringing others along. Pudge could have come with him. The same was true of the Inashi. As the only ones who could handle the corruption in the atmosphere, they were the only real options for company. And yet, Zeke had snuck away, leaving them behind. Even then, he¡¯d known it was too dangerous for anyone else to risk the descent. And he was right, too. There was no way they could have survive the initial stage, much less the trials and tribulations that had come after. All that bringing them along would have ensured was their doom. Zeke had known that his conscience couldn¡¯t handle that loss, so he¡¯d left without them. Assuredly, Pudge ¨C at the very least ¨C hated him for that decision, but Zeke could endure his brother¡¯s hatred, so long as it kept Pudge safe. Zeke also thought about Adara and all the nights they¡¯d spent together. He loved her, after a fashion, but he wasn¡¯t in love with her. Theirs was a coupling based on mutual attraction and opportunity, and it had blossomed into something more than either had intended. Yet, it wasn¡¯t a fairy tale sort of love. Perhaps that kind of thing didn¡¯t truly exist. Not in real life. Whatever the case, he missed her, just as he missed everyone else he¡¯d left behind in the tower. As he lay there, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but wonder how things were going back there. By his calculations, years had passed since he¡¯d leaped into the Pit. In that time, the kobolds could have taken huge strides regarding the development of their civilization. After all, Tucker¡¯s plans to usher them forward were still underway. He¡¯d claimed it would take multiple generations before it all came to fruition, but given the kobolds¡¯ rapid rate of reproduction, that would happen sooner rather than later. There was every chance that when Zeke managed to return to the tower, its civilization would be entirely different. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. In fact, he was counting on it. Because, while they couldn¡¯t accompany him in his descent, he hoped that they could use the nature of the Crimson Tower as a bridge to enable them to cross over into the Ethereal Realm. That would allow them to bypass the requirements of ascension. They wouldn¡¯t gain the same benefits, he was certain, but they could continue as his support system. And as Eveline kept reminding him ¨C before she went into quarantine, that is ¨C they could also funnel divine energy his way. Because no god could exist without worshippers, and he had a ready-made population who already revered him. It wouldn¡¯t take much before they took that next step. He let out an exhausted chuckle ¨C his first movement in what felt like an eternity ¨C as he considered the idea of kobolds erecting monuments and temples in his honor. Perhaps they would take over the Eternal Realm and spread mythologized stories of his deeds. Or maybe when they reached sapience, they would realize that he was just a man doing his best. Whatever the case, he knew that things would be very different when he finally emerged from the Pit, crossed that level of Hell, and entered the Ethereal Realm. Even as those thoughts pushed through him, Zeke felt a surge of energy. It didn¡¯t take him long before he recognized the source. His core ¨C that central part of who he was, where Oberon had erected the cage around his store of divine energy ¨C was leaking. Not a lot. Barely a drop had escaped. And yet, when it fell upon his soul and spread through his mind, it banished the morosity that had infected him. His thirst disappeared. The hunger gnawing at his belly and sapping his strength vanished. And more importantly, he felt his willpower return. Slowly, Zeke picked himself up and looked around. One of the giant, floating crystals hovered over him, the sound of its rhythmic bass like a heartbeat. It washed over him, and for a moment, he experienced a sudden return of the depression that had affected him so deeply only a moment before. It dissipated a moment later, but the echoes remained to remind him just how close he¡¯d come to succumbing. And it only took him a moment to decide what to do about it. If the crystals were responsible, then his response was clear. He summoned his hammer to hand, then threw himself at the thing. It erupted with a sound so deep that it became a physical thing intent on battering him aside. Such was his momentum that he was not deterred, and he slammed his hammer into the glassy surface only a moment later. It retaliated, sending another wave of sound to assail him. Yet, now that Zeke had something to fight ¨C and a drop of divine energy flowing through him ¨C he could not be deterred. The second he hit the ground, he dug his feet into the black sand and leaped at the crystal once again. The second blow went off much like the first, though with two key differences. First, the sound echoed even louder and more impactful than before. That nearly overcame Zeke¡¯s defenses, but he managed to regather his wits to such a degree that he saw the second ¨C and far more encouraging ¨C difference. A crack. Not a large one, certainly. More like a tiny chip. But it was enough to spur him forward. He hit the crystal again, and a gong spread across the desert. Even the sun seemed to shiver at the sound. But Zeke maintained his footing ¨C both physically and mentally ¨C to continue his assault. In the end, it took nearly a dozen such blows before the crystal shattered. And when it did, the result was far from the one he had anticipated. A man ¨C ancient and unconscious ¨C tumbled free, hitting the ground in a spray of black sand. Zeke stood apart, studying the man. Lying amidst pieces of shattered crystal, he was clearly a mighty figure, clad in elaborate blue armor, with muscles upon muscles layering his body. In addition, even unconscious, he clutched a large and intricate silver scepter. He stirred. And the wind stirred with him. Clouds manifested out of nowhere, and rain began to fall a second later. Zeke never even had a chance to process what was happening before he found himself buried beneath a localized deluge characterized by driving rain and hurricane force winds. The tempest he¡¯d survived upon arrival hadn¡¯t been so long ago that he couldn¡¯t guess where it was heading. After all, even in the space of seconds, water had begun to accumulate, rising to his ankles. It wouldn¡¯t be long before it reached his waist. Would one broken crystal ¨C among thousands ¨C manifest a sea? If it was back on Earth ¨C or in the Mortal or Eternal Realms ¨C Zeke would have called such a thing impossible. Yet, in Hell, there were no laws of physics that couldn¡¯t be broken. Zeke¡¯s memory of his time in the ocean was fresh enough that he would do just about anything to avoid revisiting it. So, with a target identified ¨C after all, the man was clearly the cause ¨C Zeke ran forward. His feet splashed in the calf-deep water as he launched himself at his foe. Only to be knocked aside by a gust of wind that hit him like a locomotive. He tumbled away in a spray of water, coming to rest almost a hundred yards from the still disoriented man. ¡°You defy me?¡± he rumbled, his voice a roll of thunder. ¡°I am a Tempest Lord, and this is my domain. You are but a ¨C¡± Having recovered, Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate to throw himself back at the man. This time, though, he put everything he had behind the charge. When the inevitable gust of wind hit him, he sliced through it by sheer force of will and momentum. Then, he hit the Tempest Lord with his hammer. The sound of crunching metal was music to Zeke¡¯s ears as the man crashed into the ground. Zeke didn¡¯t let up, though. He wouldn¡¯t dare, given what he knew would assuredly follow. The man raised his scepter to fend off Zeke¡¯s attacks, but it was useless. Voromir fell with metronomic precision, smashing through the Tempest Lord¡¯s defenses. Still, the man didn¡¯t surrender. Instead, he fought with every scrap of mettle he could muster, even regaining his feet long enough to send bolts of lightning to assail Zeke¡¯s body. Fortunately, Zeke was no stranger to all sorts of damage, and he took the hits without slowing his own assault. One hammer blow after another rained down on the Tempest Lord, and after only a few minutes ¨C during which time, the water level had risen to Zeke¡¯s waist ¨C he completed his task. The Tempest Lord opened his mouth, but Zeke didn¡¯t let him speak before he finally finished him off by crushing his head beneath a sledgehammer-style blow that harnessed every ounce of his available strength. The man died, having never had a real chance to recover from his imprisonment. Zeke hadn¡¯t even given him the opportunity to plead for his life. Or offer a warning, perhaps. Because even after the man¡¯s death, the water levels continued to rise. And with a leap of intuition, Zeke decided that the only way to stop it was to slaughter every Tempest Lord imprisoned within the crystals dotting the desert. With that in mind, he set off, thankful to finally have a goal. 633. Endless Zeke wavered. He¡¯d lost count of the number of Tempest Lords he¡¯d slain, but he knew the figure had to have reached four digits. Maybe five. Along the way, he¡¯d discovered a couple of important facts. First, he didn¡¯t really need to breathe, as he¡¯d found after spending hours beneath the waves. Like going without food or water, it certainly wasn¡¯t a comfortable experience, but it was something he could endure. After all, he was well used to discomfort. He could live through almost any level of torture and come out the other side of it ready for a fight. So, going without oxygen was neither easy nor pleasant, but he could handle it all the same. A good thing, too, because it hadn¡¯t been long before the water levels rose so high that, if he wanted to continue his quest to kill the Tempest Lords, he had to do so while submerged. The second thing he discovered during his quest was that those Tempest Lords varied greatly regarding their comparative levels of power. Some were as strong as any creature he¡¯d ever fought, and killing them had been an epic ordeal that took days of constant struggle to manage. However, others were similar to the first. Those only put up a nominal fight and were easily overcome. And there were plenty in between as well. As he¡¯d already acknowledged, the number of Tempest Lords that had fallen was lost to him. Indeed, the only way he knew to continue was to sink into his familiar trance-like state as he half-swam, half-bounced along what had become the seafloor as he destroyed one crystal ¨C and its occupant ¨C after another. It was a Sisyphean task of the highest order, and yet, Zeke had no ideas on how to break the loop. While fighting, he remained wholly focused on his task, but between those battles, he let his mind wander. Inevitably ¨C given the situation ¨C his thoughts eventually settled on a novel idea. The task of destroying the crystals and killing the Tempest Lords really wasn¡¯t so different from the grind he¡¯d experienced since being reborn in the troll caves. Even then, he¡¯d bounced from one fight to the next, all in service of a singular goal ¨C escaping the system of tunnels and caverns. Some battles were much more difficult than others, but he¡¯d overcome them with similar grit and determination to what he now depended so heavily upon. Was that just what life was? Struggling from one even to the next, all in the hopes of accomplishing some imaginary goal that, ultimately, didn¡¯t matter to anyone but him? On Earth, it was defined as success. Acquiring money. Being respected. Maybe starting a family and being loved. But were those goals any more real than getting the next level? Reaching the peak of a realm? What¡¯s more, was there always going to be another goal waiting for him after he managed to finally reach the last? Or was there an end waiting for him somewhere down the road? And if so, what did that look like? Peace, perhaps? Could Zeke handle such a thing? He might not have begun his life as a man of violence and action, but it had become his defining characteristic. In retrospect, his every decision was driven by his desire to perpetuate that cycle. He wrapped those choices in pretty reasoning about morality and saving people, but at the end of the day, he just wanted to fight another battle. Always. Forever. On and on until the end of eternity. What kind of a life was that? Certainly, he enjoyed the thrill of a fight. The positive reinforcement of victory and progression helped as well. Yet, would he look back in a thousand years and only see an expanse of blood and slaughter looking back at him? If so, wouldn¡¯t that make him a monster not unlike those he usually hunted and killed? Once, back on Earth, Zeke had heard his friends complain about the mundanity of modern life. The requirement of working their entire lives, day after day, all so they can retire some day far in the future and live a few years in peace. It was a dire notion, and one couched in existential dread. Back then, it was easy to dismiss. He had purpose. Goals. But now? Reaching the next plane was an end, certainly. But it was not the end. Doubtless, once he reached the Ethereal Realm, he would be tasked with fighting Oberon¡¯s enemies. Or perhaps he¡¯d need to set himself against Shar Maelaine and her like. Even that wasn¡¯t the ultimate goal, though. After all, he¡¯d briefly witnessed the eternal battle between good and evil, and aside from being overwhelming in scope, it had functioned as a promise of more of the same. Despite the power levels on display, it was just another fight. And despite Zeke¡¯s doubts and introspective tendencies, it excited him in a way he couldn¡¯t really articulate. But then, he realized why it drew him so strongly. The battle seemed eternal to him. That was how it had been described, at least. To a man whose life had become characterized by fighting, that was enticing enough. However, even more inviting was what it represented. If he won, then that would be the end. It would be an ultimate victory. Did it matter what else a win might signify? Not really, if Zeke was honest with himself. He might purport to care about how it would affect all the lower realms ¨C maybe it would establish them as paradisical heavens where everything was perfect ¨C but in the end, that was not a goal that motivated him. Instead, the win itself, the battle it would take to achieve it ¨C that was the draw. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. And he knew that made him abnormal. A psychologist like Abby might diagnose him with any number of disorders. But he didn¡¯t care about any of that. His lust for battle was more important to him than fitting in with everyone else. He still had his loved ones ¨C Pudge and Talia, Tucker and Adara, even the kobolds to a certain extent ¨C but at the end of the day, they all played a secondary role in his life. His true reason for being ¨C and his defining characteristic ¨C was the fight itself. Or maybe it was better categorized as a need for struggle. Perhaps the introspection with which he was currently engaged came from the lack of difficulty. He¡¯d reached the peak in more ways than one, and though his path through the various levels of Hell ¨C so far ¨C hadn¡¯t been easy, it felt more like he was just going through the motions. Ticking off one box after another as he overcame foes that should have been deadly, even to him. Yet, they weren¡¯t. And that lack of dire consequences was enough to send his mind spiraling into self-appraisal and, ultimately, doubts. Those thoughts dominated his mind as he killed yet another Tempest Lord. This one had been a veritable king among his kind, but Zeke had managed to slaughter him all the same. Perhaps if he¡¯d been at full power, the battle might have gone differently, but like all the other Tempest Lords, this one was weakened from his long captivity. And Zeke didn¡¯t crave a struggle enough to let the man recover. After all, a good fight was desirable, but he wanted to escape the tempest more than he wanted to engage in a back and forth with a powerful foe. His discomfort dictated that much. So, he swam forward, battered by enormous waves that, even as deep as he was, sent him spinning across the seafloor. Every two steps forward ¨C metaphorically speaking ¨C was characterized by at least one backward. The result was that his progress was slow, but after his arrival, he¡¯d been forced to ride the waves for an untold amount of time. So, even if he¡¯d gotten a short break while exploring the ruins, getting back into that frame of mind wasn¡¯t particularly difficult. Over the next few weeks, dozens more Tempest Lords fell before him. Some, he killed by smashing their heads open with his hammer. Others, he ripped limb from limb with his bare hands. Still others, he fought via a battle of attrition, wearing them down until they could no longer defend themselves. Those were the most satisfying, but none of the fights sated his lust for battle. But then, what could have been months later, Zeke realized that he¡¯d once again become sidetracked from his true goal. Escaping the circle of Hell and continuing his descent had become secondary to his quest to destroy every last Tempest Lord. His endless lust for battle had derailed him. Frustrated, Zeke tried to overcome it. He attempted to force himself to find another way. But whether that was due to a failure to search out a different path, or if his need for battle was too strong, he always returned to fighting the Tempest Lords. It was so much easier. Then, an indeterminate amount of time later, Zeke noticed something interesting. And in his battle-addled state, concerning as well. The waters had begun to recede. He rode the wave ¨C of both the sea as well as the powerful need to continue the slaughter ¨C until, at last, he stood on dry land. Zeke looked around, unsure what to do. There were no more crystals in his line of sight, and even after another week of searching, he found nothing but the shattered remains of those prismatic prisons and the broken bodies of their former occupants. The white sun continued to blaze overhead, having long since returned the desert to its former level of dehydration. Zeke sank to his knees, bereft of the purpose that had driven him for so long. Then, the earth beneath him shifted. Sand scattered, swirling in an unseen wind. He looked up to see, almost a mile distant, something emerge from the black sand. At first, Zeke had no idea what it was, but it soon resolved itself into a hand, though one so massive that Zeke had difficulty wrapping his mind around it. After the hand came a wrist, then an arm the size of a skyscraper. Bit by bit, a figure revealed itself. Tens of thousands of feet tall, it defied all notions of reality. As it emerged, Zeke studied the figure. It was a man, dressed not unlike the Tempest Lords he¡¯d spent countless days killing. Though this enormous figure differed in a couple of key aspects. The size disparity was the most obvious, but his robes were also quite a bit more elaborate than the attire worn by the Tempest Lords. In addition, he wore an elaborate headdress that reminded Zeke of the mask of Tutankhamen, with flared sides ¨C he remembered from his history lessons that it was called a Nemes, and it was a symbol of divine authority among Egyptian pharaohs. In a void that set the whole world to shaking, the creature rumbled, ¡°You present a difficult conundrum, little cambion.¡± Zeke very nearly launched himself at the mountainous creature, but as lustful for battle as he was, he didn¡¯t have a death wish. That thing was beyond him, and there was absolutely no mistake about it. So, he harnessed his better judgement and resolved to simply listen. ¡°Do you know that these tests require energy?¡± Zeke realized after a few moments that he was expected to answer. Instead of shouting, he trusted that the thing could hear him regardless of his volume. So, he spoke normally when he said, ¡°I did not.¡± ¡°At first, I thought you had set out to overcome the trial by draining its power. However, now I see that your lust for battle simply outpaced the flow. In short, your efforts have made it inadvisable to continue feeding power into this test. You may proceed to the next level, where you will become the problem of one of my¡­colleagues.¡± At that, the ground once again rumbled, and the sand split, revealing a stairway leading downward. Zeke couldn¡¯t see past a couple of feet. But he didn¡¯t take the offered path out. Instead, he asked, ¡°You¡¯re just letting me go?¡± ¡°As I said, powering this test has become a losing proposition. It simply is not worth it to wait until you one day find your way to the proper means of passing.¡± ¡°Wait. I have questions.¡± ¡°You will receive no answers. Proceed or die. Those are your choices,¡± the creature rumbled. Zeke had no doubts as to whether the huge, god-like man could make good on that threat. By comparison, all of his power was nothing, and he knew that if he fought, he would be squashed like a bug. Even so, he was tempted. Very, very tempted. However, for once, he managed to clamp down on his desire for battle and embrace a more rational stance. With that, he nodded only once before descending the stairs. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little disappointed. Certainly, he¡¯d spent months battling through the Tempest, and he¡¯d managed quite a lot of valuable introspection along the way. He felt that he better understood his own motivations, and he knew himself a little more than he had before falling into that sea. Yet, while he¡¯d managed to ignore the more carnal facets of his lust, he certainly hadn¡¯t pushed past the battle-focused parts. And because of that, he felt he¡¯d missed the point. More, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what puzzle he¡¯d missed out on solving. Regardless, he did take some pride in how he¡¯d conquered the circle of Hell. He hadn¡¯t solved any great mysteries, but he¡¯d broken the system. And that was satisfying in its own way. 634. Making a Plan Zeke descended the steps, and for the first time in what felt like years ¨C it might¡¯ve even been that long, for all he knew ¨C he heard a familiar voice. ¡°That certainly was unpleasant,¡± Eveline said. ¡°Wait ¨C are you crying?¡± He was. In fact, he¡¯d stopped in his tracks and sunk to his knees, practically hyperventilating as he wept. The simple release of hearing her voice was enough to send him into a tailspin of relief and grief and every other feeling he could conjure. It was so overwhelming that he simply couldn¡¯t keep that wave of emotion from outwardly affecting him. ¡°Sorry,¡± he croaked, his voice cracking under disuse. He¡¯d spoken to the arbiter of the last circle of Hell, but in retrospect, he wasn¡¯t certain that he¡¯d actually uttered any words. The experience was so surreal that, looking back, he might have been exchanging thoughts with the powerful creature. Eveline thrust her awareness into his mind, and he felt her eyes widen. Suddenly, she appeared beside him, then threw her arm around his shoulder. Somehow, she was solid enough that he felt her touch ¨C though only barely. Still, it was comforting enough that the power of his sobs shook his back even more thoroughly. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said soothingly. ¡°It¡¯s behind you now.¡± That was true. He¡¯d left the Tempest behind, but he knew that his struggles were only beginning. He¡¯d conquered two circles of Hell ¨C associated with limbo and lust ¨C but, according to Eveline, he still had seven more to go. Greed and gluttony. Wrath and treachery. Violence and fraud. Then, finally, there was heresy. Nine circles for nine sins. And the first two had very nearly broken him, even if he refused to acknowledge it at the moment. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to hear this right now, but that¡¯s the point, Ezekiel. It¡¯s supposed to break you. To wear you down until there¡¯s nothing left,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°You are meant to be reforged, to understand your own flaws so you can become something better. That¡¯s why most demons are incapable of descent. It goes against our nature to understand and accept that we have flaws, much less work to mitigate their effect. We are creatures of instinct, driven by our most basic natures. The very notion that anything should limit us ¨C be it morality or simple logic ¨C is anathema to our very existence.¡± ¡°Maybe my nature as a half-demon wasn¡¯t an accident, then.¡± Because that sounded a lot like him. He cast his own faults as strengths, and he¡¯d never really made any efforts to overcome them. He was a violent person who struggled to truly connect with other people. More ¨C or perhaps because of that ¨C he made excuses, latching onto a thin veneer of morality so he could justify surrendering to his violent nature. Often, he¡¯d thought of himself as the hero of a story. He saved people, and he had what amounted to super powers. Yet, he was no selfless white knight. Maybe he¡¯d begun as something close to that, but that was before he¡¯d truly tasted power. Once he attained enough strength that he couldn¡¯t be forced to feel consequences, he stopped caring about others. Sure, he paid lip service to the idea. He rescued slaves. He talked about justice. And he claimed to value the things he thought would make him a good person. But he wasn¡¯t. No man with his body count could ever be considered good. Not truly, and regardless of his motivation. Throughout his campaign of conquest in the Eternal Realm, he¡¯d never really embraced the peaceful options. Instead, he always resorted to violence. At the time, he had told himself that his enemies had forced his hand, but was that really true? Or was it just another excuse? ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Eveline said. ¡°It feels like it should,¡± he responded, tears still streaming down his face as he stared at the steps. He looked up and into her eyes. She¡¯d clearly been weeping as well. ¡°Our reasons need to matter, Eveline. It would be so easy for me to just go through life, killing anyone I wanted, all in service of progression. But that would make me a monster.¡± ¡°Even if the people you killed were evil?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know. Maybe? It depends on why I did it. If I killed those people because they were bad people, then¡­maybe it would be justified. But if I did it to serve my own interests? That would make me worse.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overcomplicating things.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m complicating them enough.¡± ¡°Then, we¡¯re just going to have to agree to disagree, Ezekiel. You¡¯ve been through a lot. You¡¯re emotionally raw right now. I can feel it affecting even me, and I have protections against that kind of thing. You¡¯re like an exposed nerve. Don¡¯t make any major choices or develop any life-altering philosophies in this state,¡± she advised. It made sense, but Zeke had never been one to fully embrace logic. As odd as it seemed to him, he was an emotionally-driven person. He rarely thought things through, and he acted based on how he felt at the time. Normally, that meant charging a problem head-on and killing anyone or anything that stood in his way. But perhaps it was time to take a step back from those emotions. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°You know you have to keep going, right?¡± ¡°I know,¡± he admitted, raising his eyes to stare down the steps. After only a few feet, they were swallowed in darkness, so he had no idea what lay ahead. What¡¯s more, he couldn¡¯t predict which sin he was meant to confront when he reached the bottom. It could have been any of them. ¡°It¡¯s probably gluttony,¡± Eveline said. ¡°There¡¯s a certain order to this kind of thing ¨C at least there were in the legends. The first two ¨C limbo and lust ¨C were in order. It¡¯s probable that it¡¯ll continue.¡± ¡°What do you think I should expect? To be hungry all the time?¡± he asked. ¡°Probably. It is a realm of excess. Consumption. Unchecked indulgence.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound so different from lust,¡± Zeke reasoned. ¡°All sins are connected,¡± she explained. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of overlap, Ezekiel.¡± He sighed. He¡¯d never expected to be forced to confront the worst parts of his nature, and he was entirely unprepared for it. Even after spending years in the previous circles, Zeke had not experienced any true revelations. He hadn¡¯t changed ¨C not at the core of who he was. ¡°No one ever really changes, Ezekiel.¡± ¡°You just said ¨C¡± ¡°You get worn down. Eroded,¡± she said. ¡°Unnecessary pieces are discarded. But at the core of who you are, you¡¯ll always be the same battle-crazed lunatic you¡¯ve always been. If you expect Hell to forge you into some introspective and well-adjusted monk, you¡¯re going to be left wanting.¡± In truth, the notion didn¡¯t really appeal to Zeke anyway. Sure, there was value in self-actualization and improvement, but at the end of the day, he didn¡¯t normally feel broken. His experiences in the past two circles of Hell had been taxing, and as Eveline had suggested, they¡¯d torn free some of the superfluous parts of his personality. That left him with all jagged edges, but there was a sort of freedom to it, too. He wanted to be a better person, but more than that, he needed to be the sort of man who could step into Hell and emerge from the other side. More importantly, he needed to think about the future. After all, there were figurative gods out for his blood. Shar Maelaine certainly hadn¡¯t given up on killing him. Nor had Oda, the demonic tree. Oda¡¯s similarly arboreal sister probably had convinced herself to hate Zeke as well. And finally, Oberon surely had plans of his own. He¡¯d so far acted altruistically, but Zeke had trouble believing that such a powerful figure would help him out of the goodness of his heart. There had to be an angle there. He clearly had expectations. Some, he¡¯d already laid out ¨C at least in a barebones sort of way ¨C but there was assuredly more to it. ¡°You¡¯re a threat to them,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°All of them. You have the potential to upset their balance. Or worse, dominate them. These aren¡¯t the sorts of people that take that lying down. They will not welcome the challenge.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t beat them as you are.¡± ¡°I am very aware of that,¡± Zeke said. He didn¡¯t currently possess enough power to do so. ¡°Then use this descent as an opportunity,¡± Eveline suggested. ¡°Don¡¯t just survive. Don¡¯t wander aimlessly from one circle to the next. Be purposeful.¡± ¡°Are you telling me to use the descent that most people can¡¯t even fathom the difficulty of as a training arc?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m telling you to do just that. You can¡¯t gain any more levels, right? But you have a trickle of divine energy within you. That cage of Oberon¡¯s is leaking, and I¡¯m fairly certain that¡¯s by design. When you reach a certain tolerance, you¡¯ll get a little more. Over and over until the cage is gone,¡± Eveline explained. ¡°You know this for certain?¡± Zeke asked. He could handle the tiny trickle leaking from the cage Oberon had erected around his core, but even that miniscule amount was nearly enough to burn him from the inside out. His natural regeneration could handle it for now, but the flow increased even a little, he¡¯d be overwhelmed. ¡°That¡¯s how I know I¡¯m right,¡± Eveline pointed out. ¡°What are the odds that the leak is exactly as much as you can handle without dying? It¡¯s intentional. Trust me. And if you don¡¯t, at least trust my own sense of self-preservation. If you can¡¯t handle any increased flow, then I¡¯ll be burned out long before you die.¡± ¡°So, how do I do this?¡± he asked. ¡°I know as much about divine energy as you do,¡± she answered unhelpfully. ¡°But I think that if you treat it much like your Will, you might make some progress. Try latching onto that thread of divine energy and cycling it through your body.¡± Before she could continue, Zeke did just that, which elicited a loud scream of pain. He let the tendril of power loose a second later, and it returned to its mostly inert state. The agony dissipated as well, but the echoes remained, pulsing through his body with enough power to once again bring tears to his eyes. ¡°I probably should have warned you that it will be pretty painful.¡± ¡°Kind of figured that part out on my own,¡± he grunted through gritted teeth. In truth, it should have been expected. After all, the much lesser power of his path had initially left him in agony as well, and its potency couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the amount of energy contained in that tiny thread. Zeke suspected that the energy in his core was enough to destroy planets. ¡°Universes, Ezekiel. That¡¯s what you have at your fingertips.¡± It was difficult to imagine such power, especially in his hands. He wanted to believe he would use it for good, but his past suggested that morality wouldn¡¯t even come into the equation. It was a weapon, but more importantly, it was a training tool. If he could endure the pain of his own power, then what could Hell throw at him that he couldn¡¯t overcome? Suddenly, Zeke felt much better about himself. As always, the key was a goal. Not knowing what was in store ¨C as well as the torture of his recent past ¨C felt a lot less overwhelming when self-improvement was on the horizon. However, he didn¡¯t immediately set out. Instead, he asked, ¡°How much time has passed, do you think? It¡¯s felt like years.¡± ¡°I think¡­I think your perception is mostly accurate, and I suspect that when we emerge from Hell, we will find a very different Crimson Tower waiting for us. At times, I wish I¡¯d detached from your mind and set up shop permanently within.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you?¡± he asked. ¡°You need me.¡± It was a simple enough statement, but a profound one nonetheless. Zeke couldn¡¯t dispute its veracity, either. He did need Eveline, and more than he ever could have imagined. The knowledge that she was with him ¨C even if at times, she would be forced into quarantine ¨C was comforting. And in Hell, even the barest comfort was thin on the ground. With her presence bolstering his mood, Zeke finally stood and continued his descent. 635. Homecoming Zeke focused inward, funneling the tiny trickle of divine energy into something approaching a pattern. It resisted his efforts at control, but that was to be expected. It was a thing of gods, after all, and he was only a mortal. ¡°For now,¡± Eveline reminded him. He ignored her, preferring instead to concentrate on moving that energy. It shifted a little, but despite his constant effort, it soon spun out of his control, flooding throughout his body and doing a significant amount of damage. Harnessing a bit of that same energy, he powered his skill, [Hand of Divinity], healing himself. However, his efforts again proved inadequate, leaving echoes of agony to ripple through his body and soul. Finally, he opened his eyes and said, ¡°I think I¡¯m getting better.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell,¡± Eveline admitted in a skeptical tone. ¡°I know you¡¯re trying, but¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to say anything,¡± she lied, her tone the very picture of innocence. ¡°Sure.¡± Despite literally hearing his every thought, Eveline just didn¡¯t understand why moving the divine energy was so difficult. She could barely even sense it, except as a dense foreboding hanging in the air. She knew it was powerful, and she knew that if Zeke managed to harness it, he could destroy her with barely a thought. Yet, knowing and seeing were two different things, and she¡¯d been forced to take his descriptions on faith. For a demon ¨C or former demon, Zeke supposed ¨C that was a tall order. He took a deep breath, then said, ¡°I think we need to move on. I¡¯ll keep trying to control it, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to sit between circles like this. I keep feeling like something terrible is going to happen.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s a given regardless of what you do from here on out. It¡¯s Hell, Ezekiel. Terrible is kind of what it¡¯s all about,¡± she explained. ¡°Thank you for your insight,¡± he deadpanned as he set off down the steps. They looked no different from any other steps he¡¯d ever descended, yet with every inch of progress, he felt the air grow denser with churning mana. At first, it was barely noticeable, but after only a few dozen feet, he couldn¡¯t ignore it. Or the hunger it elicited inside of him. Idly, he reached into his storage space, grabbing some meat. Before he even realized what he was doing, he was tearing into the raw flesh. Then, suddenly, he stopped and looked down at his impromptu meal. There were two issues at play, and they were equally troubling, though in different ways. First, his storage space was suddenly open to him. That was great news, but it seemed that only food was available. And Voromir, but it functioned on entirely different rules. No matter what else happened, his hammer was always there. The second ¨C and more obvious ¨C issue was the fact that he¡¯d started eating raw meat without even thinking about it. Given the nature of the next circle ¨C which Eveline had said was almost assuredly related to the sin of gluttony ¨C it should have been expected. However, he¡¯d not even fully descended, and it was already affecting him. Even as he stood there, hunger twisted his stomach into knots, begging him to eat the raw and red meat still clutched in his hand. The fact that Hell ¨C or whatever entity ran the Pit itself ¨C kept messing with his access to the Crimson Tower felt more like a violation than anything that had been done to his mind or body. It wasn¡¯t just a piece of him. Rather, it was tied to his very soul in an inextricable and inexplicable way. That anything would alter his connection to it was enough to elicit a growl of anger. He threw the meat to the ground, where it hit the steps in a wet splat. ¡°They want hunger? I¡¯ll give them hunger,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zeke didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he marched down the stairs, energy swirling around him like a typhoon. Some of it came from him in the form of a diffuse cloud of diluted divine energy that had been filtered through his body, but the majority of that tornado of energy came from the ambient mana. He sank into it, letting it infuse him with all the hunger it could force upon him. It gnawed at his belly and infected his mind, but now that Zeke had experienced it, he didn¡¯t let it affect his actions. Instead, he funneled it into the great pit of rage and his violent nature, where it was transformed into a hunger that food could never sate. He wanted to kill something. To destroy it utterly. And he descended those steps, aiming to give the hunger what it so desperately wanted. After all, gluttony came in many forms. Sometimes, it was linked to food or drink, but at others, it was epitomized by overindulgence in all sorts of vices, ranging from drugs to destructive behaviors. Zeke embraced the last. He didn¡¯t have many true vices, but violence was definitely one of them. After a few thousand yards of steps, Zeke finally reached the bottom of the steps, where he found something he did not expect. It was a mundane door, not unlike one might see in an upscale home. He pushed through it, ready for any attacks that might come his way, but nothing presented itself. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Instead, he saw a suburban house that would have been at home in a nineties, multi-camera sitcom. ¡°Welcome!¡± came a feminine voice. The moment Zeke beheld the owner of that voice, his rage melted away. ¡°M-mom?¡± His own voice cracked with that single utterance. She looked just like she did in his memories, though far healthier. Less worn down by life. Her cheeks weren¡¯t as hollow, and her eyes didn¡¯t have any bags beneath them. Tommy¡¯s illness had taken quite a toll on all of them, and she was no exception. In fact, aside from Tommy himself, she¡¯d gotten the worst of it, largely because the burden of taking care of him had fallen mostly to her. To do so, she¡¯d been forced to work too-long hours in a series of thankless jobs. She hadn¡¯t really been old, back then. ¡°What is it, son?¡± she asked, concerned. ¡°I¡­I just realized something. I¡¯m older now than you were when I died.¡± There was more than a little ambiguity about how much time had passed. Often, he thought of his time in the troll caves as being around two years, but there was every possibility that his estimate was extremely wrong. Back then, there was no day-night cycle to mark the passage of time, and he certainly hadn¡¯t been in any mental state to keep accurate track. So, it could have just as easily been longer. But he didn¡¯t think it was less than two. Regardless, it had been long enough since his death that he thought his previous statement was close to accurate. It was an odd thing to realize, and it left him with a hollow dread deep in the pit of his stomach. ¡°Nonsense. Wash your hands and come to dinner. Everyone¡¯s waiting.¡± Zeke looked down at his hands, which were still covered in dried blood from the raw meat he¡¯d just eaten. On top of that, most of his clothes were gone, leaving him wearing nothing more than a pair of pants that were barely holding on. Finally, his beard and hair had grown out of control, leaving him looking like a shipwrecked castaway. And not the sanitized Hollywood version. He was also filthy. In something of a daze, he followed his mother¡¯s instructions, heading into the house and to the bathroom. His feet led the way of their own accord, like he¡¯d walked that path a thousand times. But it was not his house. Back on Earth, their house had been old and creaky and barely big enough for the three of them. By comparison, this was a mansion, and a perfectly clean one as well. Zeke felt guilty, tracking dirty and sand and blood along the pristine, hardwood floors. Eventually, he reached the bathroom where he finally got a look at himself in the mirror. He looked a lot worse than he¡¯d realized. Apparently, he could go without food, rest, or water, but there were consequences for going down that route. He had lost a ton of weight, leaving him with a lean and stringy physique more befitting someone who ran super marathons than the athletic body he¡¯d cultivated through his struggles. On top of that, his cheeks were hollow, and his eyes sat far back in his skull, giving him a slightly skull-like appearance. His body was also crisscrossed with a dense pattern of scars. In most cases, he didn¡¯t remember the wounds that had created those marks, but that wasn¡¯t abnormal. He¡¯d been in a daze for much of his time in Hell ¨C whether it was the Plains of the Forgotten or the Tempest ¨C and the fact that he didn¡¯t remember all of the wounds inflicted upon him was not surprising. What did shock him was the sheer volume. Barely a single inch of his chest was unmarred. Not even his face had escaped unscathed, with a couple of long, jagged marks running along his cheek. Unsurprisingly, his back hadn¡¯t gotten it nearly as bad, and it lacked any major scars. He didn¡¯t make a habit of running from his problems, after all. As always, the cracks in the skin on his shoulders and upper chest remained just as prominent as ever, though at present, they lacked the glow they displayed when he used his Will. Perhaps that was a thing of the past, considering that his Will and mana had combined into divine energy. In any case, Zeke soon found himself using some liquid soap to scrub the dried blood from his hands. For good measure, he washed his face as well, though the combined effort ended up taking him almost ten minutes of furious scrubbing. When he was done, he left the bathroom behind and, as if his feet had a mind of their own, quickly ended up in the dining room. When he arrived, his jaw once again dropped in shock. Not only was his mother there, looking like the perfect picture of a content housewife, but both his brother and his father had taken their seats as well. Even his uncle had come. But none of them looked the way they should have. His father didn¡¯t have the paunch he¡¯d developed from drinking too much beer and spending too many afternoons planted in his rickety, old recliner and watching sports. Tommy looked better than he ever had in life, with a healthy glow about him that had never been present before. In fact, he looked taller and more muscular than he had back then. Like he was an athletic boy on the cusp of beginning his journey into manhood. It was what Tommy could have been if he hadn¡¯t been so sick for so long. Even his uncle looked like a movie star version of the man he knew. It was surreal and, in a lot of ways, moving. It was like getting a peek into the lives they could have led, the people they could have been. ¡°Sit, sit ¨C dinner is almost read!¡± his mother said. As he followed her directions, taking a seat opposite his brother, she continued, ¡°You¡¯re always out galivanting across the realms. We never get to see you anymore. Or that pretty girl you¡¯ve been seeing. What was her name again? Adara. Right. When can I expect some grandchildren, huh?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t answer that,¡± his father said with a chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s a trap.¡± It was that statement ¨C so far from anything his real father might¡¯ve uttered ¨C that broke the spell. Zeke refocused his mind, unsure of how he was meant to react. ¡°Should I just leave?¡± he asked in his mind. But Eveline was silent. A moment later, his mother reappeared from the kitchen, carrying two huge platters. When she set them down, Zeke saw that one contained an enormous, still-steaming turkey. The other bore a bowl full of chicken and dumplings. He was still staring at them ¨C his mouth watering ¨C when she returned a minute or so later with two more platters. The first had green bean casserole, and the second featured cornbread slathered in butter. The smells dragged him back into the delusion he¡¯d only just escaped. Only a moment later, his mother slid into her own seat, then said, ¡°Alright ¨C we¡¯re all supposed to go around and say what their thankful for. I¡¯ll start us off. I¡¯m thankful for my wonderful family, my loving husband, and the circumstances that allowed us all to get together for Thanksgiving.¡± A chorus of agreement followed before each member of the family rattled off their own version of what she¡¯d just said. When it got to Zeke, he mumbled something about family, but his eyes were glued to the meal spread out before him. Each dish represented some of his favorite memories ¨C usually from his early childhood before things went wrong with his family ¨C and he couldn¡¯t help but be distracted by it. However, the illusion of a big, happy family was once again shattered when he heard his father say, ¡°I¡¯m most thankful for my two sons. They¡¯re my life. I love you two more than I can say.¡± That, more than anything else, drove a spike of awareness through Zeke¡¯s mind, cementing that it was not real. After all, his selfish bastard of a father would never have said anything like that. Not in a million years. 636. Its All Wrong The moment Zeke took a bite of the turkey, he was transported back to his childhood. His life hadn¡¯t always been devoid of familial joy, and he had plenty of pleasant memories from before Tommy had gotten really sick. A few of those came from family meals not unlike the one he now experienced. Sure, everything was wrong about it. His mother was unrecognizably happy, his father lacked the bitterness he¡¯d always worn like a mantle, and his brother showed no signs of his battle against the illness that would one day threaten his life. Even his uncle looked well-rested and successful. And then there was the food. In the past, when Zeke had eaten turkey, he¡¯d always found it a little dry. On Earth, he¡¯d much preferred ham as a holiday meal. Yet, this version was moist and succulent and bursting with so much flavor that he very nearly let out a moan of pleasure when the taste hit his tongue. The rest of the meal followed suit, and it was helped along by the atmosphere. Everyone there was so happy. They genuinely seemed to enjoy one another¡¯s company. Even his father ¨C the dour, angry man who¡¯d made Zeke¡¯s life hell ¨C actually smiled and laughed just like a normal, content person. Zeke knew it wasn¡¯t real. He felt it in his very bones. And yet, the situation was so enticing that he almost didn¡¯t care. He certainly didn¡¯t even notice that, no matter how much they ate, the amount of food on the table never really diminished. His mother kept patting him on the forearm and saying, ¡°There¡¯s always room for seconds!¡± So, he kept eating. Even as he felt his stomach expanding and his mind turning to mush, he continued to laugh at his uncle¡¯s mildly off-color jokes, bask in his father¡¯s positive attention, and embrace his mother¡¯s happy attitude. It was infectious and more distracting than anything he¡¯d experienced in the Plains of the Forgotten or the Tempest, and yet, he didn¡¯t care. Because for the first time ¨C perhaps ever ¨C he was happy. His family was no longer the dysfunctional group it had always been. And the food ¨C it was a social lubricant meant to make it all work together flawlessly. Zeke fell victim to it, sinking ever deeper into the morass of contentment with every bite, with every chuckle. With ever smile at his mother. But above it all stood Tommy¡¯s attitude. The most telling was his laugh. There was no more struggle. No more tightening around his eyes at the pain. He didn¡¯t wince at every sudden movement. Nor were his gestures so careful. He didn¡¯t look like one wrong move would break him into a million pieces. Instead, he was happy, healthy, and confident. Zeke couldn¡¯t help but like that version ¨C as opposed to the sick and doomed one he¡¯d always known ¨C better than the one in his memories. He knew it wasn¡¯t real. But what if it was? What if everything else he¡¯d experienced had been a bad dream? He looked down, and he saw that his clothes had changed. No longer was he half-clothed in nothing but scraps. Instead, he wore a collared shirt and slacks. He even had loafers on his feet. His hand crept up to his head, finding that his hair was freshly cut, and his jaw felt cleanly shaven. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked his mother, once again patting his forearm. ¡°Uh¡­nothing. I just¡­I just have this weird thought that none of this is real.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± she said with a laugh. Then, she reached out for the serving spoon and plopped another helping of dumplings on his plate. ¡°Eat up. We don¡¯t want you wasting away!¡± Zeke couldn¡¯t resist the smell, and he dug in, those odd notions fading from his mind. After a while, he found that he was entirely fully ¨C he didn¡¯t think he could eat another bite ¨C but he couldn¡¯t stop himself from getting seconds. And thirds. Fourths and fifths. On and on it went until he was writhing in pain, ready to burst. Yet still, he kept going. Everyone around him continued to laugh and make small talk that they never would¡¯ve engaged in in the past. But as odd as that was, Zeke couldn¡¯t stop himself from letting the feeling of camaraderie wash over him. It was so comforting, even amidst the pain of overindulgence. And then, suddenly, he felt something stirring inside of him. At first, it was only a tiny spark of energy ¨C like a jolt of caffeine in the morning ¨C but it gave him just enough of an opening to latch onto more. Desperately, he clung to that thin thread of energy as he struggled to remember why his need was so urgent. After all, he only had to sit there and enjoy the meal, and happiness would follow. Didn¡¯t he deserve a little contentment? Good food and the love of his family? A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Even though he wanted nothing more than to give in, he latched onto what he suddenly recognized as the tendril of divine energy leaking from his core. The moment he did, his mother stopped mid-laugh and turned to him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you not happy?¡± she asked, her voice suddenly one of accusation. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you want?¡± ¡°Everyone needs family, son.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want me to be sick again, do you?¡± asked his brother. His uncle glared at him and said, ¡°I am so disappointed in you. We could have all been happy. We should have been content. I thought I taught you better than that.¡± Zeke felt his determination wither under their accusatory stares. Yet, it was bolstered by the divine energy within. He grabbed ahold of it with every ounce of mettle he could muster, and, using the technique he¡¯d already started to train, he looped it through his body. It hurt. More than anything, it felt like his soul was being sandblasted. But it worked. The second he embraced that energy, the scene before him flickered. It quickly reasserted itself, but his family soon started to panic. ¡°If not this, then what about another family?¡± his mother asked, once again flickering. Suddenly, he was sitting next to a campfire in a forest. His family from Earth was gone, replaced by arguably more familiar people. Abby was there. So were Talia and Tucker. Pudge too, though he¡¯d reverted to his dire bear state. ¡°This is the last time you were truly happy, wasn¡¯t it?¡± asked Abby, handing him a skewer of sizzling meat. It looked like pork, but Zeke couldn¡¯t really identify it. Behind Abby, a modest cottage stood. It was the first iteration of the Crimson Tower. A small but sturdy structure where they could sleep. ¡°No responsibilities to millions of kobolds. No gods looking to kill you. Just us and adventure. Good, simple food. A life unbeholden to anyone else. Don¡¯t you want to go back? Isn¡¯t this what you truly want?¡± It was. Zeke hadn¡¯t realized it until that moment, but it was true. He was happiest when he was still back in the Mortal Realm, just living his life, fighting monsters, and trying his best to satisfy the requirements of difficult quests. His divine energy pulsed again. The scene flickered. ¡°Just let it go, Zeke,¡± Talia said. ¡°Yeah ¨C you don¡¯t have to resist,¡± Tucker added. ¡°This is the heaven you want. Eat. Be content.¡± To punctuate that, the big alchemist took a bite of one of the skewers. Grease dripped down his chin, staining his beard. Even Pudge looked up, fixing him with a wide-eyed expression that should¡¯ve never found its way onto a bear¡¯s face. It conveyed one thing ¨C stay. ¡°We can be happy. We can eat to our heart¡¯s content. Don¡¯t you want that?¡± asked Abby, scooting closer. The divine energy writhed within him, and the scene once again flickered. Briefly, Zeke saw behind the proverbial curtain, and when he did, he found himself reeling in disgust. Nothing was what it seemed. Even as everything returned to what seemed like normalcy, Zeke couldn¡¯t forget what he had just seen. None of his friends were really his friends. Instead, they were skinless monsters with too-thin arms and legs, grotesquely bulging stomachs, and lamprey-like mouths. They were gooey and gross, and in all the worst ways. What¡¯s more, he had seen the environment as well, and it was no better. Everything was fleshy and covered in blood. Small parasites feasted on the rolling hills, and huge monsters roamed the landscape, scooping up anything they could find. There was no vegetation. Nothing that didn¡¯t look like bloody flesh. But the most disturbing sight was that the skewers Abby offered him were just hunks of raw meat, crawling with tiny parasites that seemed eager to eat him from the inside out. It didn¡¯t take a leap of intuition to guess that his Thanksgiving feast had been comprised of just such fare. He vomited, and when he did, he briefly saw the same writhing pests swimming in his pool of sick. But worst of all, he still wanted to eat it. More than just about anything else he¡¯d felt in his life, he wanted to pick up each individual parasite and savor it like a grape. The only thing stopping him was the divine energy arcing through his body, and even that wasn¡¯t really enough to fully stave off the sheer, overwhelming hunger coursing through him. It infected his mind and body, twisting his stomach into cramps as images of his favorite foods raced through his thoughts. The monster pretending to be Abby spoke again. But Zeke refused to listen. Instead, he focused not on the hunger, but on the thin thread of hope extended to him by the divine energy. It responded to his call, wrapping around his body and leaving devastation in its wake. His muscles withered, only to be remade by [Hand of Divinity], only to dissipate again. It was a vicious cycle filled with agony. And yet, that pain was probably what saved him. With that occupying a good portion of his mind, he couldn¡¯t focus on how much he wanted to continue eating. On how much he truly desired his friends¡¯ companionships. He knew it wasn¡¯t them, but in his addled state, he couldn¡¯t force himself to care. He needed them. And they needed him, too. Maybe that was what made it all work so flawlessly as a distraction from the true danger. It was a much simpler pleasure than what he¡¯d experienced in the Tempest, and yet, it was more powerful for the lack of complexity. Zeke focused on the divine energy, doing everything he could to control it. It bucked and writhed, always wanting to do what it wanted rather than follow his commands. But still, he kept it up, and slowly, his efforts bore fruit. The flickers between reality and the illusion became longer, which only served to heighten the disconnect he felt. It was especially disconcerting when Zeke heard Abby¡¯s voice coming from a one of the monsters¡¯ lamprey-like mouths. Its orifice didn¡¯t actually move with the uttered words, which made it even worse. It was like the sounds were just beamed right into his ears, emanating from nothing at all. Beneath the voice, Zeke could hear faint squishing and the grinding of the thing¡¯s shark-like teeth. He shuddered. And then, just as he felt like he was making real progress, the things all stood at once and faced him. ¡°He resists,¡± one said. ¡°He is strong,¡± another stated. ¡°He is food.¡± Then, all at once, they intoned, ¡°We hunger.¡± That was the last thing Zeke heard before they darted toward him, the illusion forgotten. Their spell broken, Zeke was free to see the landscape as it was, and as disgusting as the sight might have been, he was grateful for it. Because at last, he was free of its influence. With divine energy coursing through him, he reacted to their charge the only way he knew how ¨C with unmitigated violence. 637. Embracing Instincts Zeke fell upon his foes with ruthless violence in his heart. The creatures moved with boneless agility, like terrestrial octopi able to contort their bodies in all the wrong ways. Still, Zeke managed to grab hold of one, and when he did, he nearly recoiled. Its skin was slimy and rubbery, like a garden hose that had been slathered in grease, and it defied his grip. He clamped down even as it latched onto his shoulder, digging its shark-like teeth into his flesh. Then, its face started spinning, and it shredded his muscle with ease. Even as bits of flesh sprayed in every direction, its mouth became a vacuum, sucking the liberated meat from his body. Zeke screamed in agony as he was eaten alive, the creature¡¯s saliva serving to soften his defenses. Flexing, he ripped the monster¡¯s arm off. It flailed and flopped, slapping him with ineffectual blows that Zeke ignored. Instead, he threw the dismembered arm at one of the other creatures, then tore into one trying to make a meal of his shoulder. It ripped free in a shower of blood, but Zeke paid no attention to the now-missing hunk of flesh. A second later, he had his hand wrapped around its spindly neck. He squeezed, and the monster let out a wheezing laugh that soon turned to panic. All the while, its lamprey-like mouth continued to spin, its teeth like a chainsaw. Finally, Zeke¡¯s efforts bore fruit when the thing¡¯s head came free. Blood and something milky white sprayed from the stump, but Zeke paid it no mind. He focused instead on ensuring the thing¡¯s death, tearing it to pieces one limb at a time. In moments, it was nothing more than a dismembered pile of rubbery flesh, fluids, and various organs. Zeke didn¡¯t look too closely at the puddle of viscera. Nor did he pay attention to the horrid smell that came with its death. He was too focused on the other monsters to give it any real consideration. Though he did notice it. Regrettably. If he¡¯d been even a little less distracted, he would have vomited. Fortunately, he had plenty of monsters to fight, because the creatures who¡¯d posed as his family had been joined by many, many more. And they were all hungry to take a bite out of him. Deprived of his favored weapon, Zeke met their charge with fists and feet. He was no kung fu master ¨C indeed, his unarmed fighting style was better described as mixed martial arts combined with the savage fury of a wild animal. But over the years, he¡¯d found it to be effective enough. It was doubly so in the current fight. He ripped and tore, bit and clawed. Normally, he¡¯d have gone for broken bones or dislocated joints, but these creatures were completely boneless. So, there was nothing for it but to tear them apart, one bit of flesh at a time. Zeke sank into the battle, but for once, he didn¡¯t lose his focus. He knew that if he let the trance-like state he normally employed take over, he would lose himself to the hunger gnawing at his belly. Even with his entire mind dedicated to the task of keeping that twisted sense of craving reigned in, he struggled to maintain it. He was just so hungry. So very hungry. The only thing that kept him from succumbing to those urges was the trickle of divine energy flowing through him. It left plenty of damage in its wake, but so long as he kept [Hand of Divinity] active, it wasn¡¯t too much for him to handle. So he fought, his own divine energy doing far more damage than the monsters could ever hope to inflict. Because of that, the fight went on for far longer than it should have. But Zeke didn¡¯t care, largely because it was much better than the alternative. It wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine descending into a state of pure hunger and joining the monsters in their ongoing and doomed quest to sate it. Eventually, though, Zeke¡¯s superiority won out. At that point, he found himself standing amidst a pile of foul-smelling corpses, contemplating a feast of rubbery flesh. In his addled state, he just knew it would be the best meal he¡¯d ever enjoyed, on par with any Thanksgiving feast he¡¯d ever experienced. Yet, Zeke wasn¡¯t so far gone that he would let that affect his actions. He felt the hunger down to his very bones, but he refused to allow it to infect the rational parts of his mind. He was tempted, though. Sorely, and with more ferocity than he¡¯d experienced in a long, long time. Pushing that aside, he closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath. The smells that infected him were cloying. Sweet and sour. Garbage and freshly baked cake, and it brought with it the feelings that came with those smells. For a moment, they warred for dominance, but in the end, Zeke managed to subdue them. Again, he suspected that was only possible because of the divine energy coursing through him. ¡°How does anyone else deal with this?¡± he wondered aloud. It was a valid question. According to Eveline, the descent was not something many completed. Most who embarked upon the quest fell victim to its insidious dangers. However, Zeke wasn¡¯t certain if her knowledge was accurate. After all, it was based on myths and legends, rather than basic facts. What¡¯s more, there were obvious some people who¡¯d managed to descend. And given that Zeke was far and away more powerful than even those at the peak of the Eternal Realm, he had to wonder what he was doing wrong. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°You have many flaws,¡± came a voice. Zeke turned to see a much larger version of the creatures he¡¯d just killed. It was just as spindly, with an even more bulbous belly, and its lamprey-like mouth was at least as large as Zeke¡¯s body. However, it carried itself with far more control. ¡°You possess power, there is no lie. No doubt, it is wondrously delicious. Yet, Hell is not meant as a test of your power. Instead, it is a test of character.¡± ¡°Character? For demons?¡± Zeke asked, willing to allow the truce to continue even if his every instinct told him to attack the monster. He knew it would come down to a fight, but he didn¡¯t want to push for that until he¡¯d gotten some information. Eveline was once again silent, so she would be no help for now. ¡°Ah, yes. Demons are known for succumbing to their base instincts. They embrace their sinful natures, which makes these circles that much more insidious. If all it took was power, then the next circle would be a truly crowded place. But if it is only populated by demons who can control themselves? Well, that is much rarer and far more dangerous. The last battle has no use for those who cannot control their instincts, after all,¡± it said with a chuckle that sounded like wet meat squishing together. ¡°You have come far, little cambion. Perhaps you will continue, but power will only suffice for so long before you are forced to understand and confront your own flaws.¡± ¡°Any tips?¡± Zeke asked, not expecting much from a monster who¡¯d been consumed by its own gluttony. ¡°You look at me as if I am a monster. I understand this attitude, and yet, it curdles my stomach to know what I have become. I was once like you. We all were. We failed in our descent, just as you will,¡± the creature explained. ¡°If you are to make it, you must learn more control than you have so far displayed.¡± It sighed ¨C a bubbling sound that put Zeke in mind of the feeling he got when he was on the verge of vomiting ¨C then said, ¡°The time for discourse has passed, for my hunger grows more insistent by the moment. Know that when I consume you, I will regret my actions. Most of us my¡­brethren cannot say as much. If you emerge victorious, you will be like them. A mindless creature of pure hunger. A powerful one, to be certain, but limited by your own flaws. I hope you never have to experience that.¡± With that, the monster lurched toward Zeke, and faster than his eyes could track. Before he even knew what was happening, the thing¡¯s mouth had closed around him. Then the teeth dug in, and all Zeke knew was agony. He screamed a scream that no one else could hear, and he fought a battle he could not win. No matter how much he struggled, he could not escape that orifice of whirling, blade-like teeth. He was ripped to shreds. And yet, he persisted. Somehow, he managed to leverage his control over his own endurance and vitality to combat the damage done, but he could do no more than achieve a stalemate. So, he suffered. But if nothing else, Zeke was more than prepared for that. It seemed that his entire life since being reborn in those troll caves was characterized by suffering. Even when he experienced good times ¨C like with his found family ¨C it only highlighted the pain he¡¯d be forced to endure. It was not a pretty way to live, leaping from one bout of agony to the next, but it did serve a singular purpose in preparing him for his current situation. He could not escape ¨C not yet ¨C but he could endure. And in the interim, he would grow. He would push himself forward by sheer force of willpower. With that in mind, Zeke yanked on that thread of divine energy. It barely budged, regardless of how ardently he pulled. Yet, even a miniscule amount of movement was enough to affect change. The trickle thickened by a nearly imperceptible degree. That, in turn, fueled his manipulation of his attributes. It also sparked a moment of understanding. It was all connected. He couldn¡¯t quite understand how, but mana, will, his unnamed control over his most powerful attributes ¨C it all came from the same source. It was all an expression of divine energy. Different sides of the same concept, but with a common thread all the same. But he would need a lot more time ¨C years, perhaps ¨C before he managed to figure out how it all fit together. Maybe he never would. For now, though, Zeke continued to pull on that thread. He paid the price as more and more destructive energy flowed through him. However, it also empowered him, strengthening his muscles and enhancing his durability as he struggled to keep himself together. Eventually ¨C what might have been hours or weeks later ¨C he started to gain ground. Even as his body regrew, bit by bit, it resisted the monster¡¯s sharp teeth a little more until, at last, Zeke found himself once again whole. He wasn¡¯t in good condition, and he questioned whether or not even his closest friends would recognize the skinless near-corpse he had become, and yet, it was progress. Zeke continued on, steadily outpacing the monster¡¯s efforts until, finally, he managed to latch onto its whirring teeth and yank them free. The monster went wild. Convulsing violently, it first tried to swallow him. Then, realizing that it couldn¡¯t accomplish that seemingly insurmountable feat ¨C not with Zeke actively resisting ¨C it spat him out. Zeke tumbled along the fleshy ground, rolling away until he came to a stop. Like that, he lay there, covered in grotesque saliva and still far from fully recovered. After a moment or two, he pushed himself to his hands and knees and looked up to see what he guessed was a horrified expression on the monster¡¯s face. ¡°How?¡± it asked incredulously. ¡°You say I need to overcome my instincts, right? Well, I disagree. Enduring things like this is my nature,¡± he said, finally rising to his feet. His footing was unsteady, but he felt strong enough to continue. ¡°This fight isn¡¯t finished yet.¡± Then, he channeled some of his divine energy into his strength and threw himself forward. He clearly used too much, because when he hit the monster¡¯s bulbous belly, he passed right through like it wasn¡¯t even there. It exploded in a shower of pus, blood, and half-digested meat. Zeke hit the ground a moment later, where he tour through the gooey landscape, digging a twenty yard long trench before he came to a stop. The monster fell a second later, dead before it hit the ground. Breathing hard as [Hand of Divinity] healed the damage he¡¯d just done to himself, Zeke looked around. The most immediate enemy was defeated, but he was no closer to escaping the circle of Hell devoted to gluttony. So, he rose and, after looking around for a few moments, he chose a direction at random and began his journey. 638. Underpinnings Starvation gnawed at Zeke, gripping him in an iron vice and never relinquishing its hold. It was so intense that he¡¯d begun to look at the landscape with desire in his eyes. He¡¯d never been so hungry, a feeling which turned the gluttonous actions of the local wildlife ¨C if it could even be called that ¨C from disgusting to understandable. If they felt half of what he did, he could sympathize with the furious commitment to sating their hunger. Yet, Zeke managed to refrain, and not just because the disgust he felt every time he saw a misshapen creature tearing bloody meat from one of the fleshy trees or burying itself in the similarly constructed ground. Instead, he did so because he knew that if he took one step down that road, he would never return. He was like an addict abstaining from just one drink that would send them spiraling down the path to ruin. Divine energy helped with that endeavor, but it was not a perfect shield. Perhaps such a thing didn¡¯t exist. It did allow him to resist, doing much of the heavy lifting for which simple willpower was insufficient. The hunger ¨C perhaps because he refused to give in ¨C cast the entire circle of Hell in a curious light. Nothing seemed quite real, but at the same time, it was all so enticingly solid that it felt more fully formed than anywhere else he¡¯d ever been. Colors ¨C mostly red ¨C were more vibrant. Sounds were louder. Smells were far more potent. It was like a fever dream, though one that left him reeling as he considered that it was reality. Hunger made manifest colored everything. The landscape was made entirely of rolling hills of bloody flesh, while even the vegetation ¨C such as it was ¨C followed the same theme. Seeing what looked like a palm tree, but with plump fingers instead of fronds was more than a little disconcerting. Especially when Zeke wanted nothing more than to climb the trunk and rip into those fronds with reckless abandon. The natives certainly had no reservations about doing just that. Everywhere he looked, small creatures with disproportionate features waged a war of mastication on the terrain and one another. Fights were common, and the losers not only lost their lives, but were immediately consumed in a fit of gluttony. The smaller monsters were no worry for Zeke. They still attacked him, and without anything approaching caution. Yet, he killed them without issue, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. However, the larger monsters were far more concerning. Some ¨C like the spindle-legged, big-bellied humanoids he¡¯d fought upon arrival ¨C were incredibly dangerous. They weren¡¯t terribly powerful, but they were smart, and they showed enough restraint that they were willing to lay traps and wait. Zeke forged through each attempt to entrap him, using his immense attributes to turn their plans to ruin. Still, it wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine a situation where they were successful. If that happened, he might find himself in similar circumstances to what he¡¯d experienced when he¡¯d first set foot in the circle. Then there were the largest creatures. Some were only the size of houses, but in the distance, Zeke had seen many that were much, much bigger. Huge, slug-like monsters that consumed everything in their path. The only solace was that they could barely move faster than a normal man¡¯s walk, and so, they were easily avoided. However, Zeke had spent more than a few hours just watching as they inched across the landscape. But it was only towards the end that he realized the truth. They weren¡¯t slugs. Rather, they were normal creatures ¨C some even resembled humans ¨C whose stomachs had grown so distended that they looked like slimy invertebrates. Would that happen to him if he succumbed to the starvation gnawing at him? After that, the divine energy didn¡¯t need to work quite as hard to keep him from indulging his hunger. That path wasn¡¯t without issues of its own, though. As days passed, Zeke felt his body withering away. His limbs became thinner, and his steps started to falter as his strength failed him. Eventually, the only thing differentiating him from the other monsters was his dogged determination and the lack of a bulbous stomach. Still, he did what he always did. He endured, secure in the knowledge that if he indulged ¨C even a little ¨C he would be lost forever. To distract himself from the hunger, he focused almost entirely on the divine energy coursing through him. He¡¯d already resolved to use his descent as training, and it was time he truly gave it its due. Every cycle of that energy left his body in ruins, but it was quickly counteracted by [Hand of Divinity]. And after a few weeks of stumbling through the circle of gluttony, Zeke realized something he¡¯d been missing. [Hand of Divinity], as the name implied, used divine energy as fuel. Not primarily, but it was there, all the same. Compared to the trickle that had since escaped the cage, it was barely a thimble to an ocean, but its presence sparked an idea in Zeke¡¯s mind. The system had given him a key to unlock his own potential, and it was up to him to figure out how to use it. So, even as he cycled divine energy through his body, counteracting the destructive effects with his skill, he studied the flow of [Hand of Divinity] as it mended his body. At first, detecting the divine energy within the current of mana was difficult. As he¡¯d previously noted, it was far too thin to sense. Instead, he found that the only real way to see it was to observe how the mana reacted to its presence. In that way, it was like looking at a shadow and trying to figure out what sort of entity had cast it. Stolen story; please report. The general shape of it was easy enough, but anything more than that was like pulling teeth ¨C difficult and time-consuming. However, trekking through the circle of gluttony was no quick matter, and as a result, Zeke had plenty of time on his hands. So, he bent a portion of his willpower to the matter, and all the while, he lamented his lack of an academic background. Perhaps a theoretical physicist would have done better. But what Zeke lacked in mathematical or conceptual skills, he made up for with sheer determination. He might not have been an ideal candidate to study the phenomenon within his skill, but he attacked the problem with the same verve and vigor with which he confronted any other obstacle. Straight on, and without a hint of hesitation. He battered at the issue before him, using his mind instead of his withering muscles. And eventually ¨C after weeks of effort ¨C he came upon a commonality. He¡¯d long known that runes were more than just ephemeral symbols. Rather, they were conduits of energy ¨C usually mana ¨C that reacted with one another to create specific effects. The collection of symbols and glyphs that governed [Hand of Divinity] were no different in that respect. But there was more. Something slightly out of phase that he¡¯d somehow missed in his previous inspections of the skill. That¡¯s when he recognized that they were all like that. Each of his skills had an underlying mesh of other, invisible runes that had escaped his notice. That was more than a little disturbing. He¡¯d spent countless hours examining and building skills, so if he¡¯d never noticed them, then the chances that anyone else had were absolutely nil. It was so distressing that, for a while, he didn¡¯t believe what he sensed ¨C and that wasn¡¯t a surprising development. It was like learning that his entire world was a lie. Or that he¡¯d only been seeing a piece of the world. Or a reflection. Divine energy was reality, and everything else was just shadows dancing on a wall. He stumbled and collapsed to the fleshy ground. On hands and knees, he really looked at the terrain. Past the disgustingly meaty earth, there was something else there. Something he could sense but not quite see. Divine energy. That wasn¡¯t all there was to it, but once he sensed the underpinnings of the world, he couldn¡¯t ignore it. He needed to see more. He needed to understand the rest of it. But try as he might, there was nothing else to see. Whether it was due to his level of progression or a simple lack of experience, Zeke couldn¡¯t sense anything more than a flicker of divine energy underlying everything. It was both frustrating and enthralling. Terrifying and exciting. But more than anything else, it gave him another goal. He wasn¡¯t meant to simply make it through the various circles of Hell and emerge on the other side. He intended to continue studying the phenomenon he¡¯d so far only begun to sense, and by the time he reached his destination, he would truly understand it. Or he would die trying. With that in mind, Zeke pushed himself to his feet just before a lumbering rhinoceros-type creature smashed into him. The monster was no different from all the rest he¡¯d fought in the circle of gluttony. Too thin in all the wrong places, with a bulging stomach that dragged the ground. And it was obviously hungry, judging by its slavering jaws. Zeke stepped aside, ramming his hand out in a straight punch that sent the monster tumbling across the fleshy landscape. It was a strong monster, but Zeke was far stronger. And when it tried to rise, it stumbled around drunkenly, under a clear concussion. Not surprising, considering that Zeke had felt the thing¡¯s skull crack under his blow. He pounced on it, hammering his fists into the monster¡¯s head until it had descended into mush. The hunger remained, screaming at him to claw out a few hunks of delicious brain and skull so he could have a feast, but for whatever reason, it was easier to resist. After he¡¯d seen a glimmer of truth, the circle of gluttony¡¯s hold on him felt less real than ever before. Even the divine energy coursing through him wasn¡¯t as destructive. Certainly, it still left calamity in its wake, which he was forced to heal with [Hand of Divinity], but it wasn¡¯t as painful. That gave him hope. On and on he went, wandering aimlessly for days that turned into weeks, which in turn became months. Zeke lost all track of time, but he was too engrossed in his task ¨C as well as the hunger ¨C to notice the passage of time. That seemed to be a theme with each circle of Hell. Passage through each one was a time-consuming endeavor, and the Circle of Gluttony was no different. He did not regret it, though. On the rare occasions that he let himself entertain stray thoughts, he found that he was almost glad for the opportunity. It let him truly dive deep into the nature of divine energy and the underpinnings of reality he¡¯d sensed. He barely made any progress, but that was to be expected. Figuring out the nature of the universe was no quick process, after all. However, after some interminable amount of time, Zeke made a breakthrough. He sensed something he hadn¡¯t expected. Beneath the surface of his reality, he could sense a tiny thread of symbols stretching off into the distance. He followed it, more to continue studying the phenomenon than because he wanted to see where it led. But then he sensed something difficult to ignore. Somewhere far ahead, there was a veritable explosion of divine energy. It was far more structured than anything he could summon, but he could still feel it pervading the entire area. So, he headed in that direction. Gradually, he continued to cover ground, fending off the gluttonous natives and fighting a personal battle against the hunger gnawing at him. At first, he had no idea what he might find, but then, he caught sight of an obstacle that did more than just give him pause. It was one of the sluggish creatures he¡¯d only glimpsed from afar. Yet, it was the size of a mountain. Visible from dozens of miles away, the thing was larger ¨C and more powerful ¨C than anything he¡¯d yet sensed in the Circle of Gluttony. But it was not the source of the divine energy. Instead, it lay before it, obscuring it. The task was clear ¨C if Zeke wanted to see what produced so much energy, then he needed to go through that bulbous monster. 639. The Insidious Allure of Gluttony ¡°Kill me.¡± The pleading voice cut through Zeke¡¯s mind, pulling him up short. The bulbous mass of writhing flesh was still more than a hundred yards away, but he heard its voice clearly nonetheless. And more importantly, he could hear the pain in every syllable. Its next words supported the notion that it was in torment. ¡°End my suffering. I beg you.¡± Even from so far away, Zeke could see that the monster was more than the slug-like collection of fat and flesh. Indeed, that was just its stomach. The rest of its body rested atop that monument to gluttony, like a tortured king on its disgusting throne. Or queen, perhaps. Despite the creature¡¯s nudity, he couldn¡¯t ascertain gender. But by this point, the thing was no longer a person ¨C if it ever was. Just a tortured monster who¡¯d long since surrendered anything but its commitment to gluttony. The same was true of all the other creatures he¡¯d fought in the current circle of Hell, though none had quite reached this monster¡¯s level. In any case, Zeke was more than willing to grant the thing¡¯s wishes. After all, it had planted its bulbous body in his path, and if he wanted to find his way to the next circle of Hell, he needed to at least move the creature out of his way. Or more likely, given his previous experiences, he would be forced to end its life. Which seemed to be exactly what it wanted. Zeke stepped forward, intending to grant its wish. However, after only a few steps, he found himself doubled over in pain as a cramp gripped his stomach. It was as if he hadn¡¯t eaten in years ¨C perhaps he hadn¡¯t, considering that he had no real context for how long he¡¯d been in the circle of gluttony ¨C and the consequences came calling all at once. He fell to his knees, clutching his midsection as tears flowed down his cheeks. It was a pain as intense as anything he¡¯d ever felt, and making it worse was that the knew precisely how to stop it. That was unique. Normally, when Zeke found himself subjected to torture, he had no control over it. He simply had to endure. Or perhaps move forward. But never did he have the ability to simply end it. Now, he did. And suddenly, his grotesque surroundings began to look far more appetizing. More than once, he¡¯d seen the native creatures of the circle of gluttony tearing into the terrain like it was the best meal they¡¯d ever enjoyed. Zeke now sympathized with their actions and attitude. He wanted to emulate them, and with every threat of his mind. The only thing stopping him was the divine energy writhing within him. It did not possess its own will, but if it had, the energy would have shouted in outrage, attacking the unnatural hunger just as surely as Zeke normally threw himself at any obstacle he found in his path. But it was not a sentient force. Still, it fell upon the hunger, wrapping itself around the foreign feeling and squeezing it like a boa constrictor might smother its prey. It contracted, sending tiny tendrils of divine energy into the hunger. From the perspective of physical reality, it didn¡¯t make a lot of sense. Hunger was not a tangible thing. Yet, neither was divine energy ¨C at least not wholly ¨C and so, the two concepts battled it out, and all the while, Zeke struggled to thing straight. He writhed in agony as a conceptual war unfolded within him. The bulbous monster the size of a mansion remained thankfully still, never moving except to jiggle a bit as it convulsed in an agony all its own. Zeke wanted nothing more than to sate his hunger, to rip into the meaty ground with his bare hands and shovel the contents into his mouth. He knew it would offer no real relief. Rationally, he understood that giving in to the hunger within him would only beget more hunger. Yet, the temptation was still there, hammering against his mind and sending shivers of need through his wasted body. And it was wasted. Thin beyond all comprehension, he¡¯d become nothing more than skin and bones. If he¡¯d been a creature who relied on the strength of his muscles to move, he¡¯d have never been able to do so. But he was more than his flesh and bone. He was a creature of energy and will, divinity and immortal resolve. He could not surrender to the weakness gripping him any more than he would allow himself to cave to the hunger twisting his stomach into progressively more intricate knots. It was a stalemate. If he¡¯d been lucid, he might have realized that he¡¯d once again missed the point of the Circle of Gluttony. Surely, there was some means of passage that didn¡¯t include overcoming it via brute force. But Zeke had never favored such things. He was not terrible at riddles, but when faced with a problem, his first instinct would always be to attack it head on. And in this instance, that meant fighting the hunger rather than trying to find a clever way to banish it. Fortunately, he was perfectly suited for just such a tactic. With the combination of divine energy and his indomitable will, Zeke wrestled with the very concept of hunger. And slowly, as days passed, he started to win. With every tiny victory, he pushed forward ¨C both in terms of his battle against the hunger as well as in the physical space he occupied. Inch by tiny inch, he crawled across the flesh landscape that he knew would simultaneously sate his hunger and doom him to an eternity of seeking the unattainable satisfaction of a full belly. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. For that was the point of the Circle of Gluttony. It would never be enough. It didn¡¯t matter how much he consumed, he would always be hungry. It was a game he was destined to lose, and the only solution was to simply not play ¨C at least not by the rules that constrained everyone else. Hell was not a fair place. The odds were already stacked high against him. So, he attacked the very structure of the circle, and eventually, he made progress. The hunger never abated. In fact, it only grew stronger the closer he came to the bulbous monstrosity. Yet, his efforts were not without their own rewards, and he grew stronger and more resistant with every passing moment. At some point, he was no longer dragging himself across the fleshy landscape. Rather, he¡¯d found his way to his hands and knees, effecting a crawl that was far more efficient than the writhing posture he¡¯d so far employed. Some time later ¨C he still had no clue how long ¨C he pushed himself to his feet. His gait was more of a staggering stumble, but it was still a sight better than a crawl. Gradually, that became a slow walk. Then, a confident stride. A jog. And finally, a sprint. It took a relative eternity to reach that point, but by then, Zeke was an old hand at ignoring the hunger threatening to bore a hole through his stomach. But with every foot he closed on the monster, he was beset by an increase in the intensity of the hunger. It grew so powerful that, by the time he finally found his way to within striking range of the creature, his mind had become entirely blank. Except for two things. The hunger was there, pulsing with a life of its own. It was like an insatiable demon had taken up residence inside of him, constantly clawing for release. The only opposition was the other resident of his mind ¨C the sheer resolve to resist. It formed a wall around the hunger, never letting it push him over the edge. Fortifying that wall was divine energy, but if Zeke would have been of rational mind, he would have noticed that it was not the majority of its construction. Instead, it was his own willpower that made up the bulk of the bulwark. He was more responsible for his own endurance than anything divine. Perhaps there was no difference between the two. Maybe it was just two sides of the same coin. Whatever the case, Zeke was in no position to judge one way or the other. He could only move forward, a single goal in mind. He needed to reach whatever was on the other side of that bulbous monster. Before, he¡¯d established that it was the way out ¨C a gate to the next circle ¨C but in those moments, with his feet slapping against the fleshy earth, he only knew that it was the direction he was meant to go. That was enough. What¡¯s more, in his single-minded state, there was only one viable way to the other side. So, it was without even a hint of hesitation that he attacked the bulbous monster¡¯s stomach, boring into the thing¡¯s rubbery flesh with all the fury of a man driven mad by the circumstances enveloping him. At first, he barely made any headway. His hands ¨C which felt more like claws than fingers ¨C couldn¡¯t find any purchase. But in Zeke¡¯s experience, persistence was the solution to almost every problem, and that attitude was so ingrained that he didn¡¯t even need the capacity to think for it to drive his actions. He persisted in his efforts, and eventually, deep gouges began to appear on the thing¡¯s writhing stomach. It screamed in pain ¨C probably not as much from the attack as it was from the hunger clearly overwhelming the monster ¨C but Zeke paid it no mind. He was incapable of caring about the thing¡¯s fate, and even if he could have, it wouldn¡¯t have made any difference. He was committed to his path, and, in his addled state, it was clear that the only way to achieve his goals was to go through the monster. So that was what he did, and eventually, his efforts bore fruit. The thing¡¯s stomach burst like a balloon, showering him with blood, digestive juices, and the remnants of its former meals. Many of those leftovers were still alive, too. They were entirely unrecognizable as anything Zeke had ever seen, but they were just as committed to their freedom as Zeke was to carving a path through the gluttonous creature. So, they attacked, raking sharp claws across his body. They found little purchase. He didn¡¯t have much flesh to rend, so they mostly only hit bone. It was painful, but by that point, adding a few dollops of agony to the mix wasn¡¯t enough to get his attention. He forged ahead, never stopping even for a moment. Half-digested and mostly dismembered monsters tried to latch onto him. They tried to consume his flesh with the same fervor with which they¡¯d been eaten. But instinctively, Zeke flared his own endurance, fouling their attempts. Soon enough, they were replaced with others of their ilk. Everything inside the monster wanted a piece of him, and they were willing to fight amongst themselves for the honor of sinking their teeth ¨C or claws ¨C into what was left of his flesh. For his part, Zeke ignored them. Not because they were incapable of stopping him. Perhaps they would have been, had he stopped even for a moment. Instead, he paid them no attention because he simply didn¡¯t have the mental bandwidth to do so. With the pain and hunger coursing through him, opposed only by his divine energy-fortified willpower, he simply could not think of anything but the way forward. At some point, he started screaming. The mostly digested creatures screamed back. And as always, the bulbous monument to gluttony joined in, begging him to finish the job. Hours passed. Then days. Biologically, it made no sense. Spatially, it was even less logical. By all rights, he should have torn through the stomach in minutes. But for Zeke, the process felt eternal. It was a circle of Hell all its own. Perhaps that had always been the point. The Circle of Gluttony had never really begun until he¡¯d clawed his way into the monster¡¯s stomach. Time lost any meaning, but that was nothing new. Such was the nature of Hell that his suffering would be a timeless, eternal thing. Because if it had an end, if he could see his way to the goal, it would have lost much of its effect. Still, Zeke had already endured two circles, and his willpower had cemented itself as a result. He would not stop. He would not surrender. Not to his own urgings, and certainly not to the situation. So he continued on, gouging his way through the mass of flesh and digestive juices, barely noticing when uncountable monsters attempted to tear him to pieces for their own mastication. Then, finally, he burst free to the other side. It did not come with a sense of relief. Indeed, Zeke had descended so far within himself that he didn¡¯t think anything as he stared at the gate looming above him. Like the rest of the terrain, it was made of living, pulsing flesh. But it was a promise of freedom. It came with the surety that his suffering ¨C his hunger ¨C would come to an end. Still, it didn¡¯t really register. By that point, he could only continue forward with the same heavy steps that had characterized his journey so far. It was enough, and soon, he passed through the gate, leaving the Circle of Gluttony behind. 640. Recovery As Zeke crossed the threshold, the echo of a whisper reached his ears. ¡°You hunger as I do, and you will never be satisfied. You will consume everything to reach your goals,¡± it sighed. ¡°You have not escaped. You have not overcome. You have merely embraced your own gluttony ¨C not for food, but for victory. Beware the cost of winning, for it will be your undoing.¡± Zeke tried to ignore the statement, but it stuck with him even as he proceeded through the gate and into an ornately decorated hallway. The second he left the Circle of Gluttony behind, Eveline¡¯s presence returned to his mind. It had been some time since he¡¯d even noticed her absence, but now that she was back, he wondered why she had chosen to remain silent. ¡°It was not a choice, Ezekiel,¡± she said, her voice hoarse ¨C as if she¡¯d been screaming for days at the top of her lungs. ¡°And I don¡¯t have a body, much less organs like lungs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a figure of speech,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°You did better in that circle than I expected,¡± she said, changing the subject. ¡°Gluttony was never your sin, though. For many demons, overcoming that natural instinct to consume until you can hold no more is extremely difficult. Most consider the Circle of Gluttony to be an impassible wall, beyond which a true demon can never pass.¡± ¡°True demon?¡± ¡°In our culture, there are those who embrace their nature to the fullest extent. They call themselves true demons, as if overcoming one¡¯s instincts makes them less demonic,¡± she explained. ¡°Those who have done so are considered impure. As if they are trying to set themselves above everyone else. It is like they are playacting as angels, begging to be included in heaven. It¡¯s all nonsense, of course, and overcoming one¡¯s sinful nature is usually the only way to complete the descent.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I really overcame anything.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re clearly different, Ezekiel. Most who attempt this are not blessed with a store of divine energy.¡± ¡°Most? There have been others with access to it?¡± ¡°Of course. Nothing is new. Nothing is unique. You are not as special as you believe,¡± she intoned. ¡°The only thing that makes you different is the degree to which you can endure its touch. That is not supposed to be possible until you reach the next realm.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only reason I¡¯ve gotten this far,¡± Zeke responded. Indeed, without it, he would have descended into a fit of gluttony right alongside all the other monsters in the previous circle of Hell. That he hadn¡¯t was a testament to the power of divine energy. ¡°That is true,¡± she agreed. ¡°But that may not always be the case. Regardless, you should certainly continue to accustom yourself to the energy. You will need it if we are to continue.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t need the reminder. He¡¯d leaned on that energy for some time, and he intended to continue cultivating his ability to use it. For now, though, he had to ask, ¡°If I completely harness it, will I become a god?¡± ¡°Perhaps. Such terms are difficult to define. What is a god, really? To those in the Mortal Realm, anyone at the peak of the Eternal Realm will appear as a god,¡± she answered. ¡°The same is true of those at the peak of the Ethereal Realm, at least in relation to the one below. The gap grows wider, in fact. But the use of divine energy sets you apart. It makes you different. Know that it does not make you unique. Others have managed the same feat. In fact, I would be very much surprised if Shar Maelaine had no access to that form of power. The same is true of Oberon. Or the twin trees. Chances are that anyone who has established themselves above the rest of the Ethereal Realm¡¯s population will have done so.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just putting myself on an even playing field, then,¡± Zeke reasoned. ¡°I believe so, but you have to recall ¨C my information is limited, Ezekiel. I have never traveled to the Ethereal Realm. I can only tell you what I remember from my studies long ago, and there is every chance that the details are wrong. Moreover, my memory is obviously incomplete. So, look upon my words with skepticism. I know I do,¡± she explained. Zeke took that into consideration. The problem was that he didn¡¯t know anything for certain. Whether it concerned his own attributes, the nature of each circle of Hell, or how divine energy worked ¨C he was almost entirely clueless. Often, even when things had been explained to him, he¡¯d found that he¡¯d only received part of the story. Or that what he¡¯d learned was entirely inaccurate. It was exhausting. But one thing he knew he could depend upon was his own immovable nature. He could keep going through just about anything. He could endure. And he would continue to fight. That had to be enough, because he didn¡¯t think he could fully depend on anything else. With that in mind, Zeke continued down the hall, and as he did, he took notice of a few factors. First, the hall itself was reminiscent of what he might expect in an ornate palace. The vaulted ceilings were decorated with various paintings that would have been at home in the Vatican, and the walls were trimmed in real gold. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I believe it¡¯s called Rococo style,¡± Eveline said. ¡°What? How would you know that?¡± Zeke asked, noting that Eveline had never been to Earth. ¡°I know what you know. Even if you don¡¯t know you know it,¡± she explained. ¡°You learned about it in school, even if you didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. Rococo style is not so different from Baroque, only more playful and ¨C¡± Zeke interrupted, ¡°That¡¯s a bit creepy, you delving into my memories like that.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t need to if you would remember your own past.¡± ¡°Forgive me if I don¡¯t immediately recall pointless architectural lessons from decades ago,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°Centuries.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°It might have been centuries. At least from your perspective,¡± she stated when he expressed some alarm. ¡°There is some evidence that the passage of time during the descent is subjective, but you can guarantee that you have been here for quite some time. By the time you emerge, you will find an entirely different world waiting for you. It is possible that¡­¡± Zeke tuned her out. He didn¡¯t want to think about such things, though he found it difficult not to consider the reality that he might complete his descent only to find that his companions had all died of old age. Or from some other tragedy. The Eternal Realm was no stranger to war, after all, and his friends weren¡¯t invulnerable. But if he let himself dwell on those sorts of things, he would never be able to reach his chosen goal. Besides, there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it. It wasn¡¯t as if he could simply turn around and return the way he¡¯d come. So, he distracted himself by focusing on two other details. The first was the incredibly ornate d¨¦cor, which seemed both rich and tasteless, and in equal measure. Certainly, Zeke could appreciate it for what it was as well as the skill it had taken to create such masterpieces. At least on an individual level, he could. However, he also recognized it for the gaudy whole it represented. It was like walking through a house where a suddenly-rich teenager mistook expensive for stylish. In any case, he was far more concerned with the other glaring detail. His body was absolutely wasted, and if he¡¯d had to guess, he would have approximated that he¡¯d lost more than half his body weight. It would have been more, but his skeleton wasn¡¯t affected by malnutrition. In a couple of the reflective surfaces, Zeke caught a glimpse of his face, and he was appalled by how terrible he looked. But there was some hope. With every pulse of [Hand of Divinity] ¨C as well as the divine energy that preceded it ¨C he regained a little of his former stature. It would not be a quick process, but he was optimistic about the prospect of a full recovery. It would have been much easier if he¡¯d had access to his spatial storage, but as had been the case since the beginning of his descent into the various circles of Hell, that access was restricted to only his hammer, which wouldn¡¯t help him in his current situation. Slowly, he traversed the hall, and throughout, he continued to let the divine energy flow through him. It was still just as destructive as always, but his body seemed on the verge of passing a threshold of acclimation. Or maybe that was just blind hope. In any case, he knew that just like his recovery from extreme malnutrition, the inoculation of his body against the power of divine energy would be no quick process. Indeed, if it ever truly happened, it would only be at the end of decades of constant effort. So, Zeke continued his task ¨C almost by rote ¨C and kept up the pace as he followed the long, ornate hallway. In the end, it took almost a week of consistent walking before he reached the end of the hall, which was characterized by a simple if predictably ornate door. The dark wood was carved with a symbol depicting a set of scales. ¡°What do you think it means?¡± he asked, staring at the carving. Eveline gave him a mental shrug. ¡°If it follows the order I was taught, we should find ourselves in the Circle of Greed next,¡± she answered. ¡°Likely, I will be forced to retreat while you do what you must. So, get any questions out now while you can.¡± Zeke did have plenty of queries, mostly concerning what he should expect. However, aside from the name of the circle and its nature, Eveline had little in the way of real information. She did have one piece of advice, though, which she conveyed in a single order, ¡°Take nothing. Ignore the greed in your heart.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never been very materialistic,¡± he said in response. ¡°I think I¡¯ll be okay.¡± ¡°Greed can take many forms that have nothing to do with money or material possessions, Ezekiel.¡± That tracked with what he¡¯d found in the previous circles. In fact, it seemed that there was a common thread of selfish desire that connected each circle to the others. What was the true difference between gluttony and lust, save for the object of desire? It was a good question, but one for which Zeke had no answer. Neither did Eveline. So, it wasn¡¯t long before she retreated into the fortress within his mind, leaving Zeke with one task ¨C he needed to enter the next circle of Hell, conquer whatever sin it represented, and then continue on. Before he did, though, he spent another few days in preparation. Even as his body continued to recover, so did his thoughts come into focus. Because even if each circle was meant to test his physical endurance, the solutions for each usually had more to do with his mental state than the strength of his body. It took another week before he felt that he was ready. Finally, he rose from where he¡¯d been sitting before the door. His body still hadn¡¯t entirely recovered to its former glory. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of fat on him, which made the muscle he had regained look even more prominent than ever before. More importantly, he felt that he could display his full power, so he had no more reason to delay. He took a long, deep, and steadying breath, centering his mind and readying his body for the trials to come. Then, he reached out and pushed open the door. It swung on its hinges, revealing a level of darkness that defied any attempt to make out what was within the room on the other side. Zeke stepped through, and the second he crossed the threshold, bright light bloomed from above, bathing the room in blinding illumination. At first, he could see nothing, but after blinking away his temporary bout of blindness, he saw that he¡¯d entered a realm of riches unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen before. 641. The Hoard Mountains of gold stretched as far as Zeke could see, and between them flowed rivers of molten silver. Gems and jewels peppered each mountain, and a moon like a faceted diamond hung high in the sky. In the distance, Zeke saw a lone figure trekking through one of the valleys, his back hunched beneath a comically large pack. A trail of gold coins trickled behind him, and Zeke could easily imagine the tinkling of metal on metal that accompanied the figure¡¯s every step. Zeke had never been a particularly materialistic person, but even he was tempted by the amassed wealth. That temptation was significantly tempered when he saw something erupt from one of the mountains of gold and clamp down on the lone traveler. The worm was hundreds of feet long and at least fifty feet wide, with a gaping, four-pronged mouth that completely enveloped the figure and his burden, all in one bite. It retreated into the mountain after only a second, and the gold collapsed into the tunnel it left behind, sealing the hole entirely. Still, Zeke had a hard time focusing on the dangers ahead, especially when he saw an emerald the size of his head. Before he could resist the temptation, he took a few steps and bent down to retrieve it. He had nowhere to put it. Nor did he really have a plan for how to use such a gem. However, he knew it was extremely valuable, and he was overwhelmed with the desire to hoard it. In the back of his mind, he made excuses centering on it being a magical gem that his people might find useful, but in reality, his retrieval was driven by nothing more than a desire to possess it. Or to keep others from having it, perhaps. Whatever the case, he wanted it. And there was no one there to stop him from having taking it. Except, that wasn¡¯t precisely the case, as he discovered the moment he touched it. The ground beneath him trembled, and the emerald blinked. It turned toward him, and for only a moment, he found himself rooted in place. Even as something emerged from the ground, Zeke couldn¡¯t move a single muscle. But then a pulse of divine energy banished his paralysis, and it was just in time for him to make sense of what he saw. It was a dragon, at least in shape. But the thing was made entirely of jewels and precious metals. A shower of loose coins fell to the ground as it spread its wings, and when it opened its gaping maw, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but notice that its massive fangs were made entirely of diamonds. ¡°You dare disturb me, mortal?¡± it rumbled. Zeke knew better than to offer an answer. Instead, he snatched his hammer from his spatial storage and threw himself at the dragon. From afar, it likely appeared a comical sight. He was no larger than most other men, and the dragon was at least the size of a jumbo jet. Yet, Zeke had fought plenty of large creatures in the past, and when his hammer fell, it did so with the power of divine energy and his immense attributes backing it up. To him, the results were predictable. The monster tried to react, but he¡¯d taken it by complete surprise. His hammer smashed against its snout, throwing free a million gold coins and precious gems. It let out a gurgling roar as the lower part of its jaw completely fell apart. Zeke had no interest in prolonging the fight, so the second he hit the ground in a roll, he launched himself forward with the intention of dismantling the golden beast. And that was precisely what he did. Every hammer blow sent the sound of tinkling coins echoing across the landscape. More importantly, he dug gaping craters in the creature¡¯s body with each attack until, at last, he¡¯d completely destroyed the thing. Or so he thought. He stood there, his breath deep and slow after the thing was defeated. Then, all the coins and gems that had made up the dragon¡¯s body began to vibrate. Then, they started to move of their own volition. It started with an inch of movement, but soon enough, it had become a tornado of pure wealth that, after only a few more seconds, reformed the dragon. ¡°You cannot destroy me, mortal. I am the spirit of this ¨C¡± Zeke didn¡¯t believe that line for a second, and what¡¯s more, he was in no mood to confront such a monster with words alone. So, he defaulted to his normal strategy of hitting it until it either shut up or died. Usually, that worked well enough, and this dragon ¨C despite its ability to reform after being entirely destroyed ¨C was no exception. Everything had limits. Even him, though they were further away than with most people. Regardless, the dragon¡¯s limits came after about the tenth time Zeke scattered its coins across the terrain. He wasn¡¯t certain if the thing had simply given up or if he¡¯d killed it, but after that, it left him alone, so he felt comfortable marking it as a victory. Which let him study his environment a little further. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. As seemed to be a pattern in each circle of Hell, there were no directions. No helpful quests to point him toward a means for traversing it. So, left to his own devices, he simply started walking. At first, he kept to the valleys, but after a few days, that seemed entirely ineffective. So, he climbed the tallest mountain he could find, and standing upon the pile of gold, he got a good view of the landscape. And he was disheartened to see that it was just more of the same all the way to the horizon. Upon seeing that, Zeke resolved to simply keep going. Weeks passed until, at last, he saw something different. It was another traveler. This one was much the same as the first Zeke had seen, though his pack was even larger, stretching at least thirty feet into the air and bulging with what Zeke expected was considerable wealth. What the man planned to do with it, he didn¡¯t know, but Zeke was less concerned about that than with getting some sort of directions. With that in mind, he headed forward until, at last, his path overtook the man¡¯s. The reaction was as immediate as it was violent. The man threw himself at Zeke with wild abandon, clawing and scratching as he screamed, ¡°Mine! You can¡¯t have it!¡± His attacks weren¡¯t terribly effective, and what few broke Zeke¡¯s skin were easily healed by [Hand of Divinity]. But the ferocity of the assault was both disheartening and more than a little disturbing. Thankfully, Zeke had no issues subduing the man, and soon enough, he had the fellow¡¯s thin wrists locked in a vice-like grip. Of course, the man still tried to escape, squirming and kicking until Zeke said, ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯m going to rip your arms off. Your choice. I don¡¯t want your stuff. I just want to know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°You have no treasure,¡± the man breathed. At first, Zeke had thought he was incredibly old, but on further inspection, that was just an illusion created by what seemed to be a hard-lived life. The man¡¯s skin was leathery, and his hair and unkempt beard were streaked with white. However, Zeke suspected that he was no older than middle aged. ¡°You only want my wealth. You can¡¯t have it!¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Zeke asked, but the man was testing his patience. He truly did consider following through with his threat, but he restrained himself. Instead, he focused on cycling divine energy, which had become something of a reflex for him. Even when he was unconscious ¨C a rare thing ¨C he had the powerful current running through him. It still did plenty of damage along the way, but it had lessened considerably. [Hand of Divinity] mended what destruction it left in its wake, and easily enough. The other effect was that it kept his head clear of whatever madness had obviously infected the man pinned beneath him. ¡°There is only one destination. The Vault beckons.¡± After that, Zeke¡¯s interrogation became even more frustrating. The longer he held the man captive, the more irate he became ¨C at least until Zeke once again asserted his authority. It felt as if he were questioning an easily distractable child, save that said child would gladly claw his eyes out and run away if given half a chance. Whatever the case, the whole process was frustrating, but Zeke gained some vital information. The man cared about his wealth more than anything in the world, and he would do anything to keep from losing it. So, all Zeke had to do was threaten to take it, and he fell into line, answering whatever questions were thrown his way. That¡¯s how Zeke learned that, though the man cared about his wealth for its own sake, the real benefit was that if he accumulated enough ¨C piling it into the Vault ¨C he would be allowed to escape the Circle of Greed. The problem with that was that the closer one came to said Vault, the more people ¨C and monsters ¨C would attempt to try to take it away. Few people were strong enough to survive the journey, especially when they had so much wealth weighing them down. For Zeke¡¯s part, he suspected it was a Sisyphean task. Would whatever wealth the denizens of the Circle of Greed managed to gather ever be enough? Maybe. But Zeke strongly believed that it would never be sufficient. Instead, the task was meant to embody the circle¡¯s sin. People were forced to covet their neighbor¡¯s possessions, and to the point where they likely forgot the primary goal. Zeke had already experienced such shifts in mindset in the other circles, and he expected that the Circle of Greed would be no different. One taste, and it would begin a slow descent into madness. Eventually, Zeke decided to let the man go. Not out of any sense of altruism, but rather, because he wanted a guide. As it turned out, that was a bit of a misfire, because after only a few hundred yards ¨C during which the man sprinted as fast as he could ¨C he was attacked by a glittering beetle made of solid silver. He did not survive. However, the whole thing did give Zeke a direction, and he soon began his journey in earnest. For days, he traveled without incident. Certainly, he saw plenty of other hoarders, as he began to think of them, and each one had a larger pack than the last. He even saw a few battles in progress, and more than a couple of monster attacks. For his part, he remained entirely ignored ¨C probably because he hadn¡¯t taken anything. He suspected that if he had, he would have likely found himself subjected to just as many attacks as the others. Days became weeks, but by that point, Zeke was no stranger to long treks without an apparent end. He knew how to endure, and he used that trait to his advantage as those weeks stretched into months. Still, he continued on, and slowly, the population grew denser. Everyone was going in the same direction, and each individual looked at the others with suspicion, greed, and hate. But fights were more infrequent, largely because those who¡¯d made it this far were clearly powerful enough to give anyone pause. Zeke bothered no one else, and in turn, he was left to his own devices. The wealth surrounding him was tempting, especially if he found himself subjected to the same conditions as everyone else. If that was the case, he was wasting a lot of time that he could have used hoarding wealth. Yet, he remained strong and unburdened, bypassing many of those travelers with heavier burdens. And then, he saw it. The Vault. It was not just a single building, as he¡¯d expected, either. Instead, it was an entire city of gold that twinkled in the diamondlight. For a long time, he stood atop a mountain, just staring at it in wonder. And even his resolve shook at the sight. The person who controlled that city was wealthy beyond measure. With that, he could do anything. He could be anything. Godhood was only a matter of resources, and that glittering city was enough to push him over the edge. Divine energy pulsed through him, banishing those alien ¨C and largely irrational ¨C thoughts. So, it was with a clear head that he began the final leg of his trek, wondering what he¡¯d find within the city. 642. Contentment Zeke approached the city cautiously, only to find that it was unnecessary. Without the burden of wealth carried by so many others, no one even looked at him twice. But even if they didn¡¯t notice him, he certainly saw them. Most remained in the shadows, waiting to pounce on anyone they thought they could catch unawares. However, there were quite a few bands of outlaw types who barred various streets. There, they shook down anyone who crossed their paths, taking a toll that usually included everything that traveler had gathered. More than once, Zeke saw fights break out amongst those bandits as they warred with one another over who got what. But even with those dangers standing in their way, the travelers never faltered in their quest to reach the center of the city. By virtue of carrying nothing of worth, Zeke was left to his own devices, which allowed him to get a look at those travelers¡¯ destination. And he was incredibly disappointed to find that it was nothing but a pile of treasure, to which each traveler added a significant share before turning around, clearly intent on repeating the cycle. Zeke wanted answers. So, after spending a little time observing the situation, he waited until someone had recently dropped off their burden, then pounced. He grabbed the man, pinning him against one of the golden buildings, and demanded, ¡°What is going on here? Why are you so intent on adding to that pile?¡± ¡°The beast must be fed,¡± the man stammered, obviously panicked. ¡°If we feed it enough, it will open the gate, and we can escape. But it will not allow anyone who hasn¡¯t contributed through. Please ¨C I can¡¯t stay here any longer. I need to move on!¡± Zeke let the man go, then repeated his interrogation a few times, getting the same answers. He had no idea if the situation was what they believed it to be, but he suspected that there was at least some truth to it. With that in mind, Zeke settled in to wait, all the while cycling divine energy through his body so he could counteract the greed threatening his mind. It was only barely sufficient. Even someone like him, who had never truly coveted worldly possessions, was very much affected by the need for wealth. He looked upon the travelers¡¯ burdens with malice born of envy and greed. It would not take much to simply take what they had. He was more than a match for any of them. Perhaps that was the secret to passing through the circle. He only had to take enough. He only needed to possess enough wealth, and then, the gate would be open to him. Zeke was on the verge of acting on those thoughts when he caught himself. Down that road lay ruin. He knew that down to the core of his being, and yet, he¡¯d nearly succumbed. That was the insidious nature of each circle of Hell. If he let up for even a second, he would become trapped just like everyone else. He forced more divine energy through his body. His long use had widened the gap in the cage, allowing the trickle to become something more substantial. He needed that now. Thankfully, that same use had acclimated his system to the destructive energy, giving him the ability to withstand its damaging effects. To a degree. He could still only handle a tiny flow, barely more than the trickle he¡¯d endured in the past. It was enough to counteract the effects of the circle, though only just. And he still needed to remain focused, or he would lose perspective. Subsequently, he might end up as one of those doomed travelers, spending an eternity walking back and forth as they accumulated wealth that did not matter. As those thoughts flitted through Zeke¡¯s mind, he saw a shift in the pile of treasure. At first, it was nothing more than a tremble, but then, the clink of coins and jewels echoed across the city. That was followed by a flood of people who clambered into position all around the giant pile of wealth. ¡°The Magnificent One comes!¡± someone shouted. The others cheered. Zeke merely watched, curious as to what form the creature might take. And when it finally showed itself, he was not disappointed. It was another dragon, though one far larger than the creature he¡¯d killed when he¡¯d first arrived in the Circle of Greed. That one had been the size of a jumbo jet, but this particular specimen was at least five times as big, with a wingspan of more than a thousand feet. As it burst free of the pile of wealth, it spread those wings ¨C which looked like they were made of spun gold ¨C showering the locals in heavy coins. Then, it let loose a pillar of flame that melted the entire square into a morass of melted gold. Finally, it slurped it all up, and in only a few moments. Before it once again descended into the pit at the center of the city, it bellowed a single phrase. ¡°Not enough!¡± it roared. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Then, it disappeared, leaving a stunned and disappointed crowd behind. For a long while, they just stared ahead, clearly wishing for a different outcome. Then, the fighting started. ¡°Laziness!¡± someone shouted. ¡°Someone¡¯s hoarding their stash!¡± Accusations flew around, and soon enough, those words turned into action. Before Zeke knew what was happening, a brawl broke out. And given that each of these people had at least a modicum of power, it quickly turned to chaos. Buildings were destroyed, and lives were lost ¨C sometimes brutally. But the battle didn¡¯t last long. Maybe an hour, and then the looting began. They took everything that wasn¡¯t nailed down, tossing it into the pit. Even bodies went in, along with whatever wealth the enterprising survivors could find. When that was all done, everyone ¨C even the bandits ¨C set off into the landscape, abandoning the city in search of wealth. Some went in groups, but most undertook the task entirely alone. For his part, Zeke just watched from atop one of the buildings. A few times, he was accosted by rioters, but they learned their lessons quickly enough. Mostly, though, they left him to his own devices, which allowed him to watch the whole situation unfold. He suspected it wasn¡¯t anything new. It probably happened each time the dragon emerged. But Zeke felt more certain than ever that it was all just a trap. It would never be enough. Whatever lies the people confined to the Circle of Greed had been told, there would be no escape. As he¡¯d previously suspected, it was a Sisyphean task meant to capitalize on their greed and desire to move on. Which made Zeke¡¯s path easy enough to ascertain. He wouldn¡¯t be participating in their search for wealth. He had no intention of playing the game as it was set before him. Instead, he would change the paradigm ¨C but not until he knew more. So, he waited, spending the next few weeks meditating as he watched the city go through another cycle. It wasn¡¯t long before the first few waves of travelers returned, and most of those set up as bandits. Next came the more earnest travelers, who paid their way through to deposit only a fraction of what they¡¯d gathered. On and on it went, with larger and larger hauls coming in. After a month or so, the treasure in the pit approached the lip. Then, it spilled over. Still, the travelers piled more and more wealth into the collection until, at last, the dragon reappeared, though it was larger and shinier than ever before. More than anything, Zeke wanted to simply attack it right then and there. Even if he couldn¡¯t kill it, at least it would mark the end of his time in Hell, which had grown much more tedious than he¡¯d expected. Agony, he could take. Enemies, he could overcome. Boredom, though, was an insurmountable enemy. Zeke¡¯s only recourse against it was to focus on his task of inoculating himself against the divine energy within his core. Otherwise, he would have had nothing to do. Fighting a dragon made of gold seemed like a good way to break up the monotony. However, Zeke hadn¡¯t gotten where he was without leaning on his patience. So, he endured another four cycles before he finally decided that the time to act had come. So, the sixth time he saw the dragon emerge, he pounced, taking the enormous creature by complete surprise. He hit it like a bullet, carving a deep gouge in its forehead. It went out like a light, its long and sinuous neck hitting the ground in a shower of gold and silver coins. Meanwhile, the stunned crowd of onlookers gasped in collective shock before their minds caught up to the situation. Rather than attack the dragon that was their jailer ¨C as was probably logical ¨C they homed in on Zeke. Before a few seconds had passed, he was dealing with thousands of unburdened and angry travelers even as the dragon pulled itself back together. The coins flowed into place, filling in the hole Zeke had left behind, and it rose to its full height. The creature spread its wings, and it focused its gem-like eyes on its attacker. ¡°You dare?!¡± it bellowed, its voice sounding like an avalanche of coins. ¡°Be punished, puny ¨C¡± Zeke hit it again, dislodging its jaw and exposing bones of diamond. The monster screamed inarticulately, but Zeke was incapable of following up, because the horde had finally fallen upon him. Individually, most of the travelers were not terribly strong. But there were so many of them, and buried amidst that crowd were a few powerhouses that put pressure on even Zeke¡¯s mind. He fought them all in a desperate melee, at first relying on his hammer, and then discarding it in favor of fists and feet. He lashed out with every ounce of strength he could muster, flexing his control over the attribute to hit harder and faster than anyone could have thought possible. And in that moment, he was in his element. Fighting was so much easier than waiting. Than thinking. He didn¡¯t have to plan or contemplate the nature of the universe. He didn¡¯t have to think about overarching goals or concepts he didn¡¯t fully understand. Instead, he simply met the horde of travelers with unmitigated violence, which was definitely within his comfort zone. He smashed through one person after another, destroying them with extreme prejudice and maximum joy. He didn¡¯t see them as people at all ¨C because they weren¡¯t. Not anymore. They were only instruments of greed, and killing them was better than forcing them to endure more of their eternal and pointless task of gathering wealth to feed an unappreciative dragon. On and on he fought, reveling in the violence until, at last, there were no more left. He stood in a field of blood and broken bones. No one was left alive, save for him and the dragon, who watched with curiosity and more than a little fear. ¡°What are you?¡± it rumbled. ¡°I sense the divine flowing through your veins.¡± ¡°My name is Ezekiel Blackwood, and I will escape this circle of Hell.¡± ¡°I¡­I will let you pass.¡± As it spoke, the dragon shifted away from the pit. ¡°Let?¡± Zeke asked, cocking his head to the side. Once again, he summoned his hammer to hand. ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand what¡¯s going on here.¡± He leveled the weapon at the dragon, eliciting a tinkling shiver of fear from the monster. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to let me do anything. I intend to carve a path through you. I won¡¯t be stopped ¨C not by you or any of the other guardians tasked with barring the way. You think I don¡¯t feel divinity in you, as well? I do. But it doesn¡¯t scare me. It excites me, because maybe you¡¯ll give me a decent fight. Probably not, but a guy can dream.¡± With that Zeke leaped forward and into battle. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he¡¯d been happier. 643. The Greediest Man Alive Zeke hammered his fists into the golden dragon, sending out showers of coins spraying in every direction. Even as his knuckles bloodied from the impact, he shoved divine energy into [Hand of Divinity], supercharging the healing effect. It was unnecessary for such small scratches and fractures, but with the thrill of battle surging through him, Zeke acted more on instinct than by virtue of rational thought. By this point, he¡¯d spent years ¨C perhaps even decades ¨C honing his ability to utilize divine energy, so it came to him like a second nature, ripping through his body, destroying, strengthening, and repairing him all in quick succession. His entire being was in constant flux, but somehow, he held himself together even amidst the whirlwind of his own making. The dragon could say no such thing. Beneath the fury of his battle lust, the gargantuan embodiment of greed could do nothing. Certainly, it tried. It attacked him, slicing through him with scythe-like waves of pure, molten gold. However, its power was no match for the divine energy-fueled regeneration flowing through Zeke¡¯s body. Still, Zeke¡¯s attacks were not powerful enough to end the battle easily or quickly. Perhaps if he¡¯d had his skills ¨C and especially if they were fueled by divine energy ¨C he could have made easy work of the monster. Yet, he lacked access to those hard-won abilities, and so, he had nothing but his natural weapons, which he brought to bear to devastating effects. At first, Zeke confined his efforts to simple punches. With such a large opponent, he couldn¡¯t miss, and in his heady state, he couldn¡¯t have cared less what he hit, so long as he got to hit something. That went on for some time, and the echoing wails of pain his attacks elicited from the dragon were like music to his ears. They were especially pleasing when combined with the tinkling of coins as they hit the ground, creating true music that he found incredibly gratifying. Still, Zeke hadn¡¯t descended so deep into his battle lust that he recognized a losing proposition. He could hammer away at the dragon¡¯s golden body for years, and he wouldn¡¯t make much progress in bringing it down. But it would be satisfying. Despite that, he harnessed what reason he could find within his mind and focused on winning the battle. To that end, he searched for vulnerabilities. The first target was the dragon¡¯s eyes, but those gem-like orbs were no more susceptible to attack than anywhere else on the monster¡¯s body. So, Zeke roamed across the creature¡¯s body, constantly attacking and being attacked. He lost count of how many times he was subjected to those scythes of molten gold or showers of bullet-like gems that descended upon him with such velocity that they tore holes entirely through his torso. Each attack was countered by the inexhaustible supply of divine energy within him. [Hand of Divinity] had always been a powerful skill that utilized that power. Now, it had taken a step forward, and the results were absolutely magnificent. Zeke put it to the test. Peppered with holes and cut to pieces, he forged ahead, and his skill pushed his body back together. If he¡¯d been of rational mind, he would have wondered just how much of him needed to remain for him to heal. A single cell? An atom? Perhaps all that was needed was his soul. Regardless of the answers to those questions, Zeke¡¯s only concern was waging what seemed an endless war on the dragon. Eventually, its wails of pain turned to begging. It pleaded with him to leave it alone, offering rewards up to including all of its accumulated wealth. But what use did Zeke have for gold or gems? He only cared about battle. And eventually, that was what the dragon gave him. At some point, the travelers returned and, seeing their god ¨C for that was what the dragon had become to them ¨C being steadily dismantled by a madman, leaped into the fray. Zeke met their efforts to defend their god with distinctive joy, felling the weakest of them with a single blow. Some, however, had not reached the Circle of Greed by accident, and they displayed power on a level Zeke had rarely seen. Huge storms of wind and water, fire and ice, blades and spears raged all around him. Zeke never even bothered to count how many times he was ripped to pieces. It didn¡¯t matter, because with the engine of divine energy roaring through him, he could keep going through anything. Death simply could not claim him. He fought an endless parade of enemies, but in every moment of respite, he went back to his primary task. Still, he found no weaknesses. The only way to slay the dragon was to tear it apart, coin by coin, shattering gems and other precious metals along the way. So, that was what Zeke did. It too had some degree of power over its own regeneration, though. For every two chunks he destroyed or dislodged, another healed, making his task all the more difficult. At some point, the travelers stopped coming ¨C either because they lacked the numbers or courage, Zeke wasn¡¯t entirely certain. It didn¡¯t matter, though. In his mind, all that mattered was the joy of destruction. The lust for battle. The power of dominating his enemy and leaving nothing but a corpse behind. But that end goal continued to elude him, and frustratingly so. That resulting irritation only added to his fury, building upon it until there was little else left in his mind. He didn¡¯t simply want to kill his enemies. He needed it. He craved it on such a deep level that¡­ A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. It was greed, only of a different sort than a lust for wealth. Zeke¡¯s thoughts wavered at that revelation, and his body slowed. That was a mistake, because it allowed the dragon to throw him free. Even as he sailed through the air ¨C clearing at least a mile before landing among the gold-strewn terrain ¨C he realized that he had fallen prey to the very thing that he¡¯d vowed to resist. He wasn¡¯t vulnerable a need for gold or gems. He didn¡¯t care for material things. But his lust for battle ¨C it represented a different facet of greed. Even when it was the wrong choice, and objectively so, Zeke went out of his way to get a decent fight. That pervasive selfishness was the backbone of greed, and he¡¯d fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker. Zeke picked himself up and pieced himself back together. Now that the spell was broken, he found cycling the divine energy that much more difficult. The torrent of healing he¡¯d found so simple during the battle was now barely the trickle to which he¡¯d grown accustomed during his previous treks through the various circles of hell. Was there something there? Was he simply thinking too much to truly utilize such awesome power? Perhaps. But then again, succumbing to that same state was too dangerous to contemplate, even if it might offer him the opportunity for growth. So, it was with his mind entirely intact that he strode forward. The battle with the dragon had devastated the city known as the Vault. Most buildings had been reduced to rubble, and what few remained were badly damaged. Every so often, Zeke saw movement suggesting that some of the travelers had managed to survive, but those moments were fleeting and easily dismissed. The travelers, for all that they¡¯d put up a decent collective fight, were beneath his notice. Instead, Zeke only had eyes for the dragon, which remained perched atop its pit, ready for his return. And when it saw him, it wore a smug smile ¨C if a dragon made of gold coins and gems could even manage such an expression. Still, Zeke found it infuriating, and he very nearly launched himself back into the battle. He restrained himself, though. ¡°You return? May we continue our descent into battle-born depravity, then?¡± it asked in a vastly different voice than the one it had used in the beginning. It was deeper and somehow more melodic. Enticing, even. And it carried with it a thrum of energy ¨C mana or Will, he didn¡¯t know ¨C that latched onto his mind. He clamped down on it with ruthless effort fueled by divine energy. ¡°You will not manipulate me.¡± ¡°Ah, so you believe,¡± the dragon said, spreading its wings to cast the entire destroyed city into deep shadow. ¡°Perhaps, so you hope. Even now, do you not dance to my tune, little traveler? That divine energy coursing through you will not save you from my influence. Come, fight me. Relish in the battle and claim your victory, if you can. I challenge you. Should you refuse, I shall besmirch your honor and call you a coward.¡± Zeke seethed. He¡¯d always counted it a point of pride that he never ran from battle. Others had, and for good reason. Logic told him that he should have done the same on plenty of occasions. Yet, he always moved forward, forging through each battle like he had no other choice. So, the dragon¡¯s words were well chosen to elicit the response it so obviously desired. Still, Zeke would not succumb, now that he knew what was happening. The struggle against the monster¡¯s influence was a fight not unlike any other, though the circumstances were not traded blows and blood and guts, but rather set in the landscape of his mind. ¡°You need not resist. You wish to fight, and I cannot stop you.¡± ¡°No,¡± Zeke said. ¡°No?¡± it asked, incredulous at the simple word. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight you.¡± ¡°That is a lie. I can feel your need. I can feel the greed for battle flowing through you,¡± it said, lowering its head. Its sinuous neck moved like a snake. ¡°Oh, I definitely want a fight, just not with you,¡± Zeke countered. ¡°Or rather, not with this¡­thing. I want to fight your puppeteer. Your master. Whatever you want to call them. That¡¯s the only fight worth having.¡± ¡°I have no master.¡± ¡°Liar.¡± The dragon stared at him, its expression unreadable as it clearly tried to figure out what to do about Zeke. It couldn¡¯t simply eat him. Zeke had proven that he was practically immune to any efforts at destruction it could throw his way. And Zeke refused to give in and fight. Finally, the light went out in its eyes, and it suddenly fell apart into a shower of coins. They all ended up in the pit, even if gravity dictated they should have hit the ground outside. Then, the sound of laughter touched upon Zeke¡¯s ears. At first, it was barely noticeable, but after only a few moments, it became a booming sound that shook the remains of the city. Then, at last, the owner of that laugh appeared. A man, clad in so much jewelry that Zeke wondered how he could even move, floated above the pit. He had multiple rings on every finger, dozens of golden chains around his neck, and a crown so tall and heavy that it should have broken his neck. And yet, his posture was straight, and he looked down on Zeke with a sneer. ¡°You wish to fight me? I am a god, you pitiful insect. You can not ¨C¡± Zeke didn¡¯t care what the man had to say. In fact, now that he was visible, all he really wanted was to beat that smug look off his face. So, he threw himself forward with so much velocity that the self-styled god had no opportunity to react. Zeke hit the enemy in a shoulder tackle that should have broken every bone in the bejeweled god¡¯s body. He barely moved an inch, though. ¡°Pitiful,¡± he growled, grabbing hold of Zeke and ripping both of his arms off. But by that point, the battle lust had once again overcome Zeke¡¯s deficiencies concerning the use of divine energy, and he reformed both arms in less than an instant. He used those arms to pummel the god¡¯s face. ¡°Honestly, this is ¨C¡± Finally, Zeke managed to draw blood. It took the harnessing of every ounce of strength he possessed, coupled with a flex of the concept itself to do so, but he did it nonetheless. It sent at thrill through him unlike anything he¡¯d ever felt. Before him was a self-styled god. Even if the man didn¡¯t reach the technical parameters of such a being, he was far and away more powerful than any creature Zeke had ever fought. And he¡¯d managed to hurt him. That was enough to cement his path. Of course, the bejeweled man didn¡¯t react well to his own blood loss, and he attacked Zeke with all the fury of a petulant child who¡¯d had his favorite toy confiscated. And with his power, he ripped Zeke into so many pieces that, by all accounts, he should have ceased to exist. And yet, he reformed and threw himself back at the bejeweled man. He may not have been capable of overcoming that sin, but in his mind, he didn¡¯t have to, either. His greed for battle would outweigh whatever the self-styled god of greed could manifest. 644. Breaking the Chains Pummeling a god into submission was no easy feat, but Zeke was more than willing to try. His fists slammed into the god of greed with merciless fury, but aside from knocking the man backward, there was no real effect. That only meant he needed to hit him harder. Of course, the man wasn¡¯t willing to just stand idly by and allow himself to be beaten to a pulp. Instead, he created a storm of gold and silver blades, diamonds that exploded on impact, and a host of other attacks that tore Zeke to pieces. However, if there was one thing Zeke could do better than just about anyone else, it was endure. He¡¯d displayed that capability throughout his descent through the various circles of Hell, and he knew it was easily his greatest strength. He leaned into it, letting his battle-hungry instincts drive the divine energy within him. It flowed through his skill, [Hand of Divinity], pushing it to new heights of potency. Even as his body was ripped apart, tendrils of flesh and bone snapped out, reattaching the various pieces and dragging them back together. The second he was whole, Zeke resumed his assault ¨C and to similar effects. It was a testament to his endurance ¨C both of mind and body ¨C that he never considered letting up. In his fury, he had become a creature of pure violence. In his mind, there was nothing but battle. No superfluous thoughts. No doubts. No goals or other desires. Just a simple and unadulterated need to beat his enemy to death with his bare hands. Of course, that was never going to happen, as he discovered as minutes became hours stretched into days. Never did he let up. He refused to be thrown off the path he¡¯d chosen. Instead, he continued with the same fury with which he¡¯d begun his assault, much to the god of greed¡¯s chagrin. ¡°Enough!¡± the bejeweled man screamed from time to time. Zeke ignored him. He wasn¡¯t there to talk. He didn¡¯t want to solve any puzzles. As far as he was concerned, all of his problems could be solved by virtue of his fists. By the end of the first month, the god had given up on his attempts to reason with Zeke. By the second, the ferocity of his reprisal had begun to wane. That continued for three more months until, at last, Zeke drew blood. It was nothing more than a busted lip, but the sight of the greedy god¡¯s blood ¨C which was predictably gold ¨C was enough to drive Zeke into a frenzy. He redoubled his efforts, furiously attacking the perceived weakness. However, a busted lip was no debilitating injury, and Zeke lost track of time. It might have been another six months or six years before he felt the man¡¯s jaw crack beneath his fist. But his savage ferocity never wanted. He couldn¡¯t have stopped, even if he wanted to, his mind had descended so deep into the act itself. By that point, he was no more self-conscious than a purpose-built war machine. The only way he would stop was when his enemy fell for good. The greedy god did not remain idle. He harnessed his powers, scouring the entire circle of Hell entirely clean. He used those piles of gold to fuel his skills ¨C if that was even how he thought of them ¨C steadily tearing Zeke apart. But divine energy was inexhaustible. There was no end to the pool within him, and Zeke put that characteristic to the ultimate test. Years of use didn¡¯t stem the flow, and he suspected that he could keep going for centuries without wane. The golden god seemed to understand that better than anyone, and after what felt like decades of fighting, he attempted to flee, diving deep into the pit and into the piles of gold below. Zeke followed, doggedly hounding his steps until he once again latched on. Of course, the deeper they went, the more powerful the bejeweled man became. That was when Zeke managed to get a rational thought through his fury. His efforts had caused some damage to the god, but it was all superficial and inconsequential. So, he forced himself to observe the man¡¯s reactions, looking for a weakness. At first, there appeared to be none to be found. However, after a few more weeks of fighting ¨C and being ripped to pieces ¨C Zeke saw something that changed the entire battle. It was nothing more than a simple flinch, but there were volumes of meaning behind. The twitch came when Zeke¡¯s finger brushed against one of the greedy god¡¯s many earrings, but the movement was so violent that, even in his battle-addled state, Zeke saw it clear as day. And when he tried again ¨C surreptitiously, and after another day of fighting ¨C the reaction was similar. That was enough for Zeke to form a plan. From then on, he engaged in a furious assault not dissimilar from what had characterized the last few years of his existence. However, instead of targeting the normal weak spots ¨C eyes, throat, and groin ¨C Zeke went after the man¡¯s jewelry. The first time he snatched away one of the god¡¯s earrings, the man went wild. In a panic, he threw everything he had at Zeke, and given the power at hand, it was enough to scour an entire would of all life. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Zeke simply reformed each time he was destroyed, secure in the knowledge that he¡¯d found a true weak point. And it made sense, too. A god of greed wouldn¡¯t care much for his own body. But attacking his wealth was attacking the core of who he was. They were vital to his very existence. With his strategy established, Zeke continued his assault. The next to go was one of the god¡¯s rings. Zeke ripped it free alongside most of the bejeweled man¡¯s pinky finger, and against all odds, the god faltered. Zeke pounced on that moment of weakness, thinking he¡¯d finally made real progress. And he had, which the god well knew. The reaction was epic, and he unleashed a level of power Zeke had yet to see. The torrent of molten gold that hit him charred him down to his skeleton, then turned even his bones to ash. For the first time, Zeke¡¯s ability to regenerate was taxed, and he was forced to embrace the concept of vitality ¨C tied to the stat ¨C to assist in the reformation. Even then, it was a struggle, though Zeke managed it all the same ¨C much to the god¡¯s shock and horror. Of course, Zeke didn¡¯t give the greedy god any time to contemplate the meaning behind such a feat. Instead, he threw himself back into the fray, and instead of being dissuaded by the god¡¯s display of potency, he was emboldened by the fact that the bejeweled man had reached so deep for a response. It meant that Zeke had struck a nerve. Using that success as fuel, he forged ahead. The bejeweled god of greed became ever more protective of his powerful and glittering adornments, but Zeke simply could not be denied. The attempt was made, and the god grew increasingly panicked with every passing second. Yet, as furiously as the man ripped Zeke apart, his efforts were for naught. No matter how thoroughly he accomplished that feat, Zeke kept coming back for more. And with infinite tries, Zeke¡¯s success was inevitable. Even the god¡¯s attempts at flight were met with the same implacable resolve. Zeke had gone from simply enduring to overcoming, and in the space of only a few short years. Eventually, he would win. Though emerging victorious before a god was practically inconceivable for someone of his level, Zeke found himself doing just that. And the world shook from his effort. Literally and figuratively. He could feel divine energy racing all around him as one watcher after another became part of his audience. Yet, they could not interfere. They dared not. For reasons Zeke could only guess at, they could only observe as he broke one of their own down, one piece of jewelry at a time. First, Zeke tore out the man¡¯s earrings. Then came the necklaces. The rings. Noserings. The piercings in his eyebrows. His crown. Zeke even pried the god¡¯s golden teeth from his mouth and ripped his glorious robes away, leaving him broken and shivering in both fear and weakness. The pitiful creature looked up, pain in his eyes and venom in his voice as he spat, ¡°You cannot do this. I am a god, you piece of trash. I will not be defeated by the likes of you.¡± ¡°You already have been,¡± Zeke announced, standing over him. His own clothing was gone, leaving him entirely naked. He didn¡¯t care. His body was whole, stronger than it had ever been before. The previous circles had withered him down to almost nothing, but his every moment of combat against the god had rebuilt his form until he had reached absolute perfection. ¡°You do not know what you¡¯ve done,¡± the god growled. ¡°No. Not really. But whatever consequences I face, I intend to defeat them just as I have beaten you,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Do you have any last words? Any last requests?¡± ¡°I¡­I want everything¡­¡± It was a fitting last statement from the god of greed. Zeke raised his bare foot and stomped down with every ounce of strength ¨C augmented by the very concept underlying the attribute ¨C he could muster. His foot fell with the weight of a mountain, and the god¡¯s head exploded. Zeke sighed and looked around at the destruction his years-long battle had wrought upon the landscape. There was nothing left. No one else had survived. Just barren earth, devoid of all the wealth it had once hosted. Yet, Zeke only had a moment to take it all in before he felt something stirring with him. The cage around his core of divine energy twisted violently as the core expanded near to bursting. Then, it broke. Not all at once, but rather, only a tiny piece ¨C barely more than a tenth of its mass ¨C but enough to turn the normal trickle of divine energy into what felt like a torrent. His body disintegrated as more divine energy than he¡¯d ever experienced exploded within him. But Zeke¡¯s previous exertions stood him in good stead, and he managed to endure it. It was not pleasant. It taxed him to the very limits of what he could take. Yet, he focused on the silver lining. Before the Circle of Greed, he could never have stood before such an onslaught of destructive energy. Even now, he barely managed it. It was a step forward, though, and absent the battle, he could focus on that to keep him moving ahead. Still, adapting to the cage¡¯s rupture did not happen in mere moments. Instead, Zeke took almost a week ¨C or maybe a month, given that his perception of time had become very skewed ¨C before he felt capable of pushing on. During that time, he knelt before the corpse of the god he¡¯d slain, his eyes closed in meditation as he guided divine energy throughout his body. As always, it left devastation in its wake, but [Hand of Divinity] was enough to counteract that. As the days wore on, Zeke began to wonder why [Hand of Divinity] functioned so much differently than the raw divine energy. What he came up with was that there was something within the skill that acted as a filter for the incredibly potent energy. Perhaps he needed to study that further if he wanted to truly adapt to the power within. For now, though, he focused only on the task at hand, guiding that energy in endless loops as his body continued to acclimate. And then, he finally managed to reach a point of stasis where [Hand of Divinity] could keep up. At that point, he pushed himself to his feet and once again looked around. In the distance, he could see his goal. It was a gate not unlike those he¡¯d encountered in the past. Though this one was unguarded. It was the way to the next circle, which was one he¡¯d been dreading since Eveline had described the procession of sins he would need to overcome. The Circle of Wrath beckoned. 645. Breaking Point ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have been able to do what you just did,¡± Eveline stated the second Zeke crossed the threshold of the gate and left the Circle of Greed behind. ¡°It¡¯s not supposed to be possible.¡± ¡°From my experience, what¡¯s possible is kind of fluid,¡± Zeke responded, letting his shoulders sag. He never would have shown it to someone like the god of greed, but he was absolutely exhausted. And it wasn¡¯t just because of what he¡¯d experienced in the most recent circle. Rather, he¡¯d spent years ¨C decades or centuries, maybe ¨C being pushed to his absolute limits, and he felt like he couldn¡¯t take a single step more. So, he sank to the floor and leaned against the wall. ¡°Are you okay?¡± asked Eveline. ¡°You know I¡¯m not,¡± he said. It was one thing to forge ahead when there wasn¡¯t much of a choice in the matter, but now that he had a moment of peace, he could see just how thoroughly he¡¯d been manipulated. By all rights, he¡¯d failed the test inherent in the Circle of Greed. The only reason he wasn¡¯t stuck in the same loop as all those other travelers was because he had the power to defeat the god who ran the place. Would that always be the case? Could he continue to count on out-doing the representations of each sin, beating them at their own game? Or would he meet his match sometime soon? Perhaps even on the next circle? Zeke had no idea, but he was absolutely exhausted by his experiences. ¡°Is this all there is?¡± he asked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Endless battle, I mean. If that¡¯s the case, I don¡¯t know how much longer I can keep going,¡± he explained. ¡°I¡¯ll keep fighting, but at some point, I¡¯m going to lose perspective. I might not be me anymore after that.¡± ¡°Fighting is who you are.¡± ¡°I know, but ¨C¡± ¡°What do you think a god is, Zeke? It¡¯s a distillation down to the core of who you are. Everything else erodes away until all that¡¯s left is that all-important facet of your personality. Some are defined by their sins. Others, their virtues. But you? You are made for battle.¡± ¡°I thought¡­I thought the gods were just extremely powerful people.¡± ¡°They¡¯re more. And less,¡± she elaborated. ¡°Just as you are becoming.¡± ¡°And if I don¡¯t want to be that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you have a choice, Ezekiel. You have the fires of divine energy within you. Burning through it will slowly change you. It will help you discard all those superfluous bits it doesn¡¯t need. And when it¡¯s done, you¡¯ll be exactly what you were always meant to be,¡± she said. ¡°A god of war.¡± Zeke didn¡¯t like that one bit. Not the war part ¨C he was mostly fine with fighting, even if it was his primary purpose. One thing he didn¡¯t want was to have it completely define him. Despite the fact that he¡¯d done nothing to develop any interests outside of battle, he felt that letting it become his most prominent ¨C or only, if Eveline was to believed ¨C feature was somehow giving in to what the Framework wanted him to be. ¡°Do you ever think that whatever is going on here just isn¡¯t working?¡± he asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean this. The whole thing. The Framework. The levels. This whole divine energy thing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s everything there is.¡± ¡°I know. Or I guess that¡¯s what we¡¯ve been told,¡± Zeke muttered in his own mind. ¡°But you saw what I saw, right? An eternal war between good and evil. Heaven and Hell fighting together against some other enemy. Even then, there¡¯s just a stalemate. What does that tell you?¡± ¡°That the enemy is terribly strong,¡± she reasoned. ¡°Or we¡¯re going about it all wrong. Who made the Framework? Why is it so insistent on putting us into boxes? What moral system would doom people to a life of torture, just because they made a few mistakes? It all feels so¡­wrong. Like it¡¯s just meant to perpetuate the cycle, rather than solve the problem.¡± ¡°To what end?¡± she asked. ¡°You think anyone wants to fight an eternal war?¡± Zeke didn¡¯t have the energy to shrug, but he conveyed the gesture with his thoughts as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe. I don¡¯t have the answers, Eveline. I can¡¯t even really put it into words. I just know that this doesn¡¯t feel right. This isn¡¯t how it¡¯s supposed to be. You have to feel that too.¡± ¡°I live in the world as it is, Ezekiel. I don¡¯t concern myself with why it is the way it is. I¡¯m too busy trying to survive.¡± And that was the problem, at least as far as Zeke was concerned. For the most part, people just lived their lives, but anyone with even a modicum of potential was forced to continue climbing, lest they find themselves losing connection with the world around them. That was what had happened with Constance back in the Mortal Realm, and it had slowly driven her mad. Zeke had felt something similar infecting his thoughts there towards the end, and he knew that if he¡¯d stayed in the Eternal Realm for even a few more years, he¡¯d have revisited that feeling. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The whole system ¨C the entirety of the Framework ¨C was designed to funnel people upward. And given what he¡¯d seen, they were all rushing headlong to their own doom. Because that war didn¡¯t seem like it was ending anytime soon. Moreover, the eternal battle was assuredly beset by plenty of casualties. Most ¨C if not all ¨C people would die in their attempts to overcome the great evil he¡¯d witnessed. But he still didn¡¯t know why it was evil at all. Did the enemy want to destroy all of existence? If it did, what would come next? Or did it simply wish to rule over them? If that was the case, what would really change? For the denizens of Hell, not much. It was a conundrum that, for now, had no answer. So, without many other options, Zeke just let his mind go blank as he recovered from his experiences in the Circle of Greed. He wasn¡¯t certain how long he sat there, but it must¡¯ve been at least a day or two. In that time, he found himself fantasizing about simple creature comforts like a good meal or a soft bed. And he thought of Adara. He never should have left her behind. He knew that now. Indeed, he should have just stayed and enjoyed her company for as long as she managed to survive. They could have been happy. But he knew that wasn¡¯t really true. He¡¯d left her behind before they even met, and if he¡¯d stayed, he would have lost his connection with her. The same was true of Pudge and Talia and everyone else. No ¨C it was better that he¡¯d gone when he did, even if he regretted it, and in moments of weakness, wished he¡¯d chosen a different route. If only he could have accessed the tower, things would have been so much easier to endure. But that would have defeated the entire purpose of his descent. It was a solitary journey, meant to test his willpower as much as his strength. One could not be properly tested if he had friends to lean on. Zeke knew that, but even so, he wished the situation were otherwise. Such was his weakness. His humanity. But eventually, came to the inevitable conclusion that none of his regrets truly mattered. He¡¯d made his choice, and now, he had no other option but to live with them. He couldn¡¯t go back. He refused to give up. So, the only way forward was through. Perhaps when he reached the other side, he¡¯d find his friends waiting for him. In the back of his mind, Zeke suspected that would not be the case, though. After all, he¡¯d already spent decades in Hell. Maybe a century or more. And he¡¯d not yet made it to the halfway mark. By the time he reached the end of his journey, everyone he ever cared about might be dead, gone, and buried. Or at the very least, so irrevocably changed that he didn¡¯t recognize them anymore. That thought came with a deep depression that kept him locked in place for weeks more. Each time he considered moving, he was beset by a wave of hopelessness that infected his every moment with its insidious nature. But eventually, after what was probably months, he regained control over his own fate and pushed those thoughts aside. They would never go away, but so long as he had something on which to focus ¨C like progressing to the Circle of Wrath ¨C he could bear their presence well enough. Through it all, Eveline had been silent. Perhaps she felt something similar to the depression that had overwhelmed him. Or maybe she simply recognized that he needed to work through it on his own. Regardless, the moment he pushed himself to his feet and dusted himself off, she spoke. ¡°The Circle of Wrath will likely be the most difficult test you¡¯ve yet faced,¡± she said. ¡°Are you truly ready for it?¡± Zeke nodded. ¡°I think so,¡± he said. Though he definitely wasn¡¯t certain. If there was one sin of which he was truly guilty, wrath was definitely it. Often, he sank into a battle trance of rage and fury, and he wasn¡¯t so na?ve as to believe that he wouldn¡¯t be grossly affected by the next circle. And yet, he had no choice but to forge ahead. His first few steps were a little unsteady as he worked out the catches in his stiff joints. Sitting in one place for multiple weeks was definitely not an easy thing to endure. However, a quick burst of [Hand of Divinity] got him going quickly enough, and before long, he was striding along as confidently as ever. The only problem was that he¡¯d lost all of his clothing. That it had lasted as long as it had was a minor miracle, but being consistently destroyed and reforming from whatever was left was not conducive to maintaining one¡¯s wardrobe. Still, there was no one around to judge him. Well, no one but Eveline, and though at one point, she might have seized upon that opportunity to tease him, the former demoness remained mostly quiet. When she did speak, her tone was reserved and quiet, which worried Zeke more than he would allow himself to acknowledge. After a few days, Zeke finally regained enough of his wits to notice his surroundings. The hall had been carved through densely packed earth, though it was supported by rough beams that reminded him a mine shaft. Torches dotted the walls, lighting his way with flickering flames. Eventually, the material of the tunnel changed to something resembling plaster that bore detailed frescoes depicting various battle scenes. There were hundreds of species represented there, but the one theme stretching from one to the next was a palpable sense of bloodlust. Zeke ignored the implications. He knew what awaited him in the next Circle of Hell, and he didn¡¯t need a few paintings ¨C no matter how realistic they were ¨C to remind him of what was coming. So, he continued his trek, his footsteps the only sounds echoing through the hall. After a while, he defaulted to something that had filled his days for longer than he cared to remember. Divine energy continued to course through him, and with the trickle having widened into a torrent, it was even more destructive than ever before. But Zeke could bear it, if only barely, and he could handle the searing damage with [Hand of Divinity]. So, he continued his quest for inoculation as he trekked toward the end of the hall. And after some indiscernible amount of time, he finally reached his destination. The door before him was made of thick and weathered wood, banded together with black iron, and heavy enough that it should have taken a giant to move. But if there was one attribute in which Zeke excelled, it was strength. So, even if that heavy door creaked under his applied influence, it still swung open to reveal the next circle of Hell. ¡°Wrath,¡± he said, staring at the landscape beyond. Despite his trepidations, Zeke felt certain that he would find that he fit right into the next challenge. 646. The Bloodlake ¡°Anything you want to say before I head in?¡± Zeke asked, standing before the gate leading to the next circle ¨C this one dedicated to the sin of wrath. ¡°If it¡¯s anything like the others, you won¡¯t be able to communicate with me while I¡¯m in there.¡± ¡°I am well aware of the restrictions,¡± Eveline said, having recovered a little vigor. ¡°And just so you know, I am not locked away while you fight through the circles of Hell. It is a self-imposed isolation. I could emerge if the need arises.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Because if I did, I would succumb to the circle¡¯s influence, likely betraying you along the way,¡± she answered. ¡°I am not as strong as you, Ezekiel. I do not deserve to be here ¨C not based on my own merits, at least.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I do, either.¡± ¡°Perhaps not. You have followed few rules since you began your descent,¡± she acknowledged. ¡°Each of these circles are meant to be overcome in very specific ways. Straying from that path is supposed to mean your doom. And yet, you simply plowed through them as if they were any other obstacle in your way. The only one you did even remotely properly was the Plains of the Forgotten, and even that wasn¡¯t entirely ¨C¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zeke interrupted. ¡°I don¡¯t usually set out with that in mind, but you don¡¯t know what it feels like in these circles. I can¡¯t control myself, Eveline. Not really. I can stop myself from fully descending into sin, but when I¡¯m in it, the only thing I can think about is moving forward. And if there¡¯s something standing in my way¡­¡± ¡°You go through it.¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Zeke acknowledged. It wasn¡¯t what he wanted. If he had the brainpower to figure out complex puzzles, he probably would have done so. But that strategy was neither within his nature nor played to his strengths. If he¡¯d clung to the idea of doing things the right way, he never would have made it out of the second circle, much less conquered the lower ones.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan here?¡± Eveline asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to expect,¡± he admitted. Eveline gave a mental sigh, then manifested beside him. Her image was even thinner ¨C both in terms of her body and the projection itself ¨C than ever before, and he easily see the wall through her. No details. Not yet, but it wouldn¡¯t be long before he could see through her, clear as day. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Eveline shook her head. ¡°Just tired. Keeping myself bottled up is taxing,¡± she stated. ¡°So long as you keep your mind on the task at hand, I will be fine. As to what you can expect in the Circle of Wrath ¨C I¡¯m not certain. Most legends don¡¯t even touch on it, except to say that it is a realm of constant conflict. Every step comes with boiling rage. It is referred to as the Bloodlake.¡± ¡°The Bloodlake,¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°Sounds like a nice vacation spot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Hell, Ezekiel. Even for demons, this is meant to be the worst place imaginable. Don¡¯t underestimate them,¡± Eveline chided. He shook his head, then turned his attention to the gate. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to isolate yourself again, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I am,¡± she answered. That was one of the most difficult parts of his descent. The intervals between circles, when Eveline could speak to him, were not enough. Like any other human being, he was a social animal. He needed interaction with other people, or he would go progressively insane. It had happened ¨C at least to some degree ¨C in the troll caves, and if he let himself dwell on his current mental state, Zeke knew that he would be horrified at what he found. He was broken. He knew that as well as he knew anything else in the world. And yet, he had no choice but to keep plunging into progressively more isolating and horrible environments. It made him long for that brief moment when he thought he¡¯d returned to the Stepford version of his childhood home for a family Thanksgiving dinner. ¡°That was all a lie, Ezekiel.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he said, not looking up at Eveline¡¯s physical manifestation. ¡°But sometimes, lies feel more real than¡­well¡­reality. More preferable, at least. Easier to swallow.¡± ¡°You would be dead now if you succumbed to that.¡± ¡°I know that too,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t miss it, though.¡± Since beginning his descent, his hardships had been constant. They never let up. Not even between circles, largely because he knew what awaited him on the other side of each gate. If he wanted to live, he had to keep going. And if he kept going, he would suffer more than his mind could easily parse. Eventually, it would snap him into a thousand pieces, too. The only hope was to reach the bottom before he was irrevocably broken. Yet, that hope was marred by what he would need to experience in order to see it through to the end. ¡°You¡¯re thinking in circles.¡± ¡°I know.¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°And delaying the inevitable. Procrastination isn¡¯t going to make it any easier.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°You need to move on, Ezekiel. If you stay here, you¡¯re going to keep finding excuses to ¨C¡± ¡°I know!¡± he shouted, the power of his voice echoing down the hall. It was the voice of a god, and it shook the very foundations of Hell with its volume. In a more normal voice, he whispered, ¡°I know, Eveline. Just give me a moment of peace before I throw myself back into the fray.¡± She didn¡¯t say anything to that, and a moment later, she disappeared. Zeke¡¯s heart dropped when she let her form dissipate. Suddenly, he felt more alone than he had in years. ¡°I¡¯m still with you. Even when you can¡¯t see me. Even when I can¡¯t speak to you. I¡¯m always with you, Ezekiel.¡± ¡°Sometimes it doesn¡¯t feel like that,¡± he said aloud, as he sank to the ground. He leaned back against the wall, tilting his head toward the ceiling. It was no different from the rest of the hall ¨C just a blank space that looked like it had been formed from concrete. When had it changed? He couldn¡¯t remember. ¡°Sometimes, it feels like I¡¯m entirely alone.¡± Indeed, there were times when Zeke wondered if anything he saw or felt was even real. Maybe he¡¯d never been reborn. Perhaps he¡¯d never escaped the troll caves. Everything he¡¯d been through might¡¯ve been completely in his head. Especially Eveline. She¡¯d been with him through so much, but was there a chance that she didn¡¯t truly exist? Others had seen her. They¡¯d interacted with her. But that could¡¯ve been imagined as well, couldn¡¯t it? ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m real. Don¡¯t go down that road.¡± Zeke knew that he was on the verge of breaking. He was barely halfway through his descent, and already, he could feel his mind unraveling. Even if he made it ¨C which was more than possible, given the power he could bring to bear ¨C would he remain the same person he¡¯d been when he began? ¡°No,¡± Eveline stated. ¡°You¡¯ll be someone else, and that¡¯s okay. People evolve. They grow. They are the result of their experiences. You¡¯re no different.¡± ¡°I am different.¡± ¡°Not in this instance,¡± she pointed out. Zeke couldn¡¯t refute that claim. For all the power he could wield and the divine energy circulating through him, he was still a mostly human man. At least in his heart. In his mind. And that was what truly mattered. He couldn¡¯t let Hell break him, though. He didn¡¯t know what was going on back in the tower or in the Eternal Realm, but there were people depending on him to survive. What¡¯s more, that never-ending war still beckoned, even if he didn¡¯t know the terms of engagement. So, after sitting there and wallowing in indecision, self-pity, and exhaustion for a couple of hours, Zeke finally mustered the energy to push himself to his feet and approach the gate. ¡°Last pieces of advice?¡± he asked. ¡°No. Just survive. And remember that I¡¯ll be with you through it all, even if you can¡¯t hear my voice.¡± He took a deep breath, then pushed through the latest gate. He blinked in the harsh sunlight that immediately assaulted him, and he raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sudden change in brightness. The first thing he noticed after the spots cleared from his vision was the color. Everything was cast in a red hue, and the source was no secret. A huge lake of what looked like blood loomed in the distance, with the intervening space marked by small pools of the same red liquid. Each one bubbled angrily, as if someone had set it all to boil, but the lack of heat put that assumption to the lie. The ground itself was mostly barren and covered in thick, red mud, and the overly large sun cast everything in bright, white light. In the distance, Zeke saw black clouds churning in the sky. The juxtaposition of sunlight and the storm made everything feel that much more surreal. Across the terrain, there were ragged and battle-scarred people and animals roaming between the red pools. Even as Zeke stood there, taking in the landscape, he saw a thousand battles unfold in real time. A creature burst forth from a blood-filled pool, grabbed a wanderer, and tried to drag him beneath the surface. The fighter wasn¡¯t having it, though, and he responded with immediate aggression, scratching and clawing at the monster until it retreated. Only when it was gone did Zeke register that it had looked a little like a crocodile, but slimmer, sleeker, and more eel-like. And it was pale white, like an overgrown maggot. The figure fell to his knees, blood dripping from a fresh wound on his chest. He looked around, briefly confused ¨C at least until he caught sight of Zeke. Rage contorted his weathered features, and he launched himself to his bare feet. A second later, he was sprinting toward a surprised Zeke. When they clashed, Zeke did what he needed to do, though the man was far stronger than his ragged appearance suggested. Still, Zeke dealt with him appropriately, beating him into submission before tossing him into one of the pools. The water churned as the creatures within consumed the body. But even as he watched that, Zeke felt an unmitigated rage sweep through his mind. That such a wretch even considered attacking him was such an affront that Zeke had difficulty wrapping his thoughts around it. Only when he felt himself trembling with wrath did a pulse of divine energy banish those emotions. That¡¯s when he realized that, just like all the other circles, this one would affect his mental state. Not surprising, given the nature of the sin it represented, but still a troubling development nonetheless. After all, if there was one sin which Zeke had embodied throughout his time since being reborn, it was wrath. He was there, though. He couldn¡¯t escape through retreat, so as had been the case for longer than he cared to consider, the only way out was through. So, Zeke pulsed his divine energy, cycling it through his body while counteracting the effects with [Hand of Divinity] as he stepped forward and into the Circle of Wrath. Tension and the smell of blood filled the air as mud squished between his toes. He was still naked, stripped of all dignity and reduced to the same state as all the other wanderers. They attacked him the second he drew near enough for them to notice, and as they fought, Zeke recognized that there was no room for defense in their minds. They were relentless, driven, and strong, and Zeke was forced to adapt his own style to counter their rage-fueled, berserker-like tendencies. Unfortunately, in addition to a powerful well of strength, they also possessed the ability to regenerate from most wounds. If Zeke wanted to defeat them, he needed to either feed the monsters in the pools or literally rip them limb from limb. Sometimes, both were necessary. So, that was what he did, and with each kill, he lost a little bit of the control he¡¯d so far managed to foster. He didn¡¯t descend into the same state that characterized the other denizens of the Bloodlake, but he wasn¡¯t nearly as far above them as he wanted to believe. The first time he fought one of the creatures, he very nearly succumbed to the rage within him. The monster was all muscle and fury, and to defeat it, he was forced to tap into every advantage he had at his disposal. And with every bit he surrendered to his wrath, the stronger he became until, at last, he managed to kill the monster by tearing it in two. That was distressing, but in his state, Zeke couldn¡¯t truly understand why he was so worried. With the strength of wrath flowing through him, he continued his trek through the latest Circle of Hell, but in the back of his mind, he couldn¡¯t help but realize one simple fact. It seemed like he¡¯d come home, and in a way he¡¯d never felt before. 647. Crashing Waves Blood roiled at his feet, but Zeke could not be bothered to notice. Instead, the whole of his attention was on the monster trying to eat his face. If he¡¯d had the space to think, he probably would have considered that a logical course. Instead, he¡¯d fully embraced the fury within. It was the only way he had any chance of overcoming the creature, which looked like a giant salamander, but with enormous teeth that would ¨C had had ¨C ripped him to shreds on more than one occasion. Zeke had lost track of how long he¡¯d fought the monster. Days, at least. Probably closer to weeks since it had ambushed him. But the passage of time had ceased to matter. No ¨C the only thing he could let himself care about was surviving one more moment. Because even if the creature wasn¡¯t quite as powerful as the god of greed he¡¯d already bested in the previous Circle of Hell, it certainly was no slouch. It took his full focus just to avoid being eaten, which meant there was no room for other concerns. Finally, he saw an opening and dove for it, digging his fingers deep inside the creature¡¯s slimy flesh. It bucked, trying to throw him free. Normally, that would have been enough. But in this instance, Zeke managed to hold on and knife his other hand through the monster¡¯s skin. After that, it was only a matter of time before he¡¯d dug his way through blood and flesh, eventually reaching something vital. He ripped the monster¡¯s innards to pieces, overcoming its ability to regenerate before bursting free in a shower of gore. He hit the ground in an exhausted roll before coming to a stop a few feet away from the largest pool he¡¯d yet encountered. The monster fell behind him, hitting with so much force that the impact created a localized earthquake. More importantly, the other monsters in the area scattered, their fear of him overwhelming their inherent wrath. That gave him a moment to catch his breath and let [Hand of Divinity] banish any wounds he¡¯d incurred. Panting, he looked around. The Bloodlake still loomed in the distance, seeming no closer than it had upon his initial arrival. Whether that was a trick of perspective ¨C it was as large as any sea ¨C or some characteristic of the circle itself, Zeke wasn¡¯t certain. But one thing he knew was that he wouldn¡¯t escape and continue his descent until he reached its shores. So, it wasn¡¯t long before he once again rose to his feet and continued his journey across the marshy wetlands that dotted the area. The smell of blood hung heavy in the air, and Zeke remained on the verge of vomiting. At the same time, he reveled in it ¨C or in the aura of constant conflict it represented. Not for the first time, Zeke nearly lost himself to the fury that came with the territory. However, he overcame that the same way he¡¯d progressed so far in his descent ¨C by pulsing divine energy and letting it circulate through his body and mind. Without that, he would have long since succumbed. Even with it bolstering his mind, he found it difficult to stay on track, and more than once, he found himself veering off course in search of a good battle. He always caught himself, but he knew that it would only take one slip-up, and he¡¯d never escape the Circle of Wrath. So, he continuously cycled it, keeping his goal firmly in mind. Days passed as Zeke¡¯s journey continued. Then weeks. Months. By that point, he¡¯d entirely lost track of the passage of time, largely because there were no markers for day and night. The landscape continuously shifted, with powerful storms frequently sweeping through the area and reshaping the terrain. There were plenty of attacks as well ¨C both from the slimy, eel-like monsters as well as other travelers like Zeke. The second either caught sight of him, a fight became inevitable. And as much as Zeke knew he should resist such urges, he rarely managed to avoid those battles. Instead, he tore his way across the landscape, toppling anyone who stood in his way. Then, just when he had begun to despair that his journey would be neverending, he arrived at the shores of the Bloodlake. And the sight did not disappoint. For a long time, he just stood there, awestruck by what he saw stretching out before him. Kneeling, he dipped his hand in the water, and when he pulled it away, he saw that his fingers had been stained red. It was blood, just as the name implied. Worlds and worlds of blood. Throughout his journey, Zeke had added plenty of the same to the puddles surrounding the Bloodlake, but this ¨C it was an ocean. If all of humanity ¨C throughout its entire existence ¨C were to be exsanguinated, they still couldn¡¯t have filled such a reservoir. But it wasn¡¯t an unbroken expanse of red liquid. Instead, Zeke saw the remnants of old buildings peeking over the waves. In addition, there were pieces of debris ¨C and more bodies than he could count ¨C floating throughout. The message was clear. Wrath led to destruction. There were no winners in battle ¨C not really. Zeke rejected that notion. Sometimes, violence was the only answer. Maybe it wasn¡¯t pretty. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t honorable. But it was necessary. Without it, everyone would have long since died. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Yet, even as that idea swept through his mind, Zeke knew he wasn¡¯t being honest with himself. He¡¯d never really cared about right and wrong. Not more than surface-deep, at least. His primary motivator wasn¡¯t protecting people or doing the right thing. Instead, he¡¯d always fought because, at the core of his very being, he was a fighter. Every other justification only existed in service of that simple facet of his character. Of course, there was selfishness in there as well. In the beginning, he¡¯d warred with himself over his skill choices, many of which had been picked because he was so terrified of being alone that he needed to protect those few people who could tolerate his presence. But he could have accomplished the same thing by simply settling down in Beacon and only fighting when necessary. If he¡¯d chosen that route, perhaps he and Abby would have remained together. Maybe they would have started a family and had children. They could have been happy. Or at least that was what they would have told themselves. However, Zeke was introspective enough to recognize that he could never be happy living a peaceful life. He needed goals. He needed hardship. He needed a battle. Otherwise, he¡¯d be lost. Maybe that was what had happened to his father. It wasn¡¯t difficult to draw the parallels between that man¡¯s life and what Zeke imagined would have awaited if he¡¯d chosen to settle down with Abby. Would he have turned to alcohol or other inebriants, never satisfied with the life he¡¯d chosen? Perhaps. And that realization only made him all the angrier. If it kept him from confronting that fate, he would slaughter whole civilizations. Entire worlds, even. He would destroy all of existence to avoid becoming anything like his father. A pulse of divine energy flowed through him unprompted, and his rage cooled. Only then did he realize that he was on the verge of diving into the Bloodlake in search of something to kill. And while that might have been a necessary step in order to traverse the Circle of Wrath, doing so under the influence of so much rage would not have had great results. But where had that energy come from? He hadn¡¯t summoned it. He certainly hadn¡¯t guided it. Instead, it had emerged from his core entirely on its own, circulating through him without any conscious direction. What¡¯s more, it was more powerful than any pulse he¡¯d ever experienced, though the volume wasn¡¯t any greater than at any other point. It was a mystery, and try as he might, Zeke was incapable of solving it. So, he moved on ¨C both literally and figuratively. At first, he just circled the Bloodlake, but as the days passed and nothing changed, Zeke began to realize that there was only way to escape the Circle of Wrath. Only a week later, he decided it was time. He waded into the blood, and for a while, it rose no higher than his knees. However, a few hundred yards out, the bottom plummeted, and he found himself swimming in the stuff. Waves crashed down, threatening to drown him. But if Zeke could survive the Tempest, he had nothing to fear from the comparatively miniscule waves. The moment that reality settled into his thoughts, Zeke found himself falling. Not through blood, as he might have expected. Instead, the waters of the Bloodlake had retreated entirely, revealing a vast battlefield far below. Zeke fell for almost five minutes, and with each passing second, he saw that the fighters were far larger than he¡¯d initially suspected. Then, when he finally landed among them, he realized that he¡¯d been thrust into a war between giants. Most of them were recognizably human, though they were all grievously wounded. Moreover, they seemed to have come from wildly disparate eras. Zeke saw Roman legionnaires locked in battle against what appeared to be modern soldiers. Gunfire filled the air, accompanying the twang of snapping bow strings. Only a few feet away, an enormous boulder hit the ground, bounced, then destroyed a thirty-foot-tall medieval knight. Zeke had no more time to take in the sights before something tackled him to the muddy ground. A second later, and his side played host to a dozen puncture wounds, and his attacker seemed hellbent on adding more to the count. Zeke grabbed his attacker ¨C who looked like a Spanish conquistador ¨C by the breastplate, and threw him as far as he could manage. And given Zeke¡¯s incredible strength, that was a long way indeed. He didn¡¯t even see where he landed. Instead, he focused on his surroundings. In addition to the enormous warriors, there were millions of normal-sized fighters doing battle across the muddy ground. Miles away, he saw what looked like a blood-red wall, and it actually took him a few seconds to realize that the Bloodlake had parted. The terrain itself was characterized by bloody mud and shattered buildings. Zeke had seen plenty of warzones in his time ¨C both during his own campaign against the Radiant Host and on television and in movies back on Earth. And the ruined cityscape matched those images, except that everything seemed to be coated in a red sheen. Zeke didn¡¯t have time to truly appreciate it before he was once again attacked. This time, by a samurai. Zeke blocked the man¡¯s sword strikes with his forearms before lashing out with a punch that went right through his lacquered armor. After that, Zeke was too busy to focus on anything but survival. The smaller fighters were nothing special. Sure, they¡¯d likely dominate any battlefield back in the Eternal Realm, but against Zeke, they were mere fodder. The larger warriors were far more dangerous, and more than once, Zeke found himself on the losing end of one exchange or another against one of their ilk. But as he¡¯d already established, Zeke was a difficult man to permanently put down. He fought, and he lost more battles than he won. However, he always got back up, his body being reformed by [Hand of Divinity] each time. The real fight wasn¡¯t with the men ¨C and scattered women ¨C all around him. Rather, he warred with himself as much as any other fighter as he tried to overcome the urge to lose himself amidst the wrath threatening to flood his mind. If that happened, he¡¯d be just like all the others. And Zeke couldn¡¯t allow that to happen. Instead, he needed to keep his wits about him so he could figure out a way through the Bloodlake and to the next Circle. For once, it wasn¡¯t enough to simply outlast the circle. Sinking into a battle haze was precisely what it wanted from him, after all. So, practically crippled by his inability to fully commit to any fight, Zeke stumbled ahead in an attempt to overcome his own nature. 648. Chains Zeke slumped to the muddy ground, nearly collapsing in exhaustion, both mental and physical. Never before had he been tested so thoroughly than as he¡¯d traversed the neverending battle. He¡¯d lost count of the number of people he¡¯d killed. Powerful or weak, it didn¡¯t matter. If they stood in his way, they were destined to fall. He crashed through thousands of enemies on his path to the center of the Bloodlake. But he hadn¡¯t done so unscathed. One arm hung limp by his side, and despite the divine energy coursing through him, powering [Hand of Divinity], it remained entirely unresponsive. One of his eyes was missing ¨C yanked out by an enraged female warrior armed with a set of claws ¨C and he couldn¡¯t put any weight on his right foot for fear of it collapsing beneath him. However, he¡¯d finally left the battle behind, and he hoped that the respite would give him a chance to heal. He had no clue why [Hand of Divinity] seemed hampered, but as he fought against the battle trance that he so wanted to let envelop him, he had no mental bandwidth left with which to discern the true nature of his situation. So, as he¡¯d done since the beginning, he had simply pushed forward, overcoming all obstacles in his way. Zeke had no doubts that there were other means of traversing the battlefield. He¡¯d caught sight of what could have been points of interest, most of which were guarded by some fearsome beast that even the battle-crazed warriors gave a wide berth. Yet, he knew he was in no state to figure his way through puzzles or solve riddles. It was everything he could do to simply put one foot in front of the other. That was what he¡¯d done, and against all odds, he¡¯d overcome the challenge. But he had not truly reached the center of the Bloodlake, even if it had finally come into view. It loomed large in the distance ¨C a massive, mountain-sized creature that reminded him of his lost titanic form. Yet, there were miles between him and it, and he had no illusions about whether or not crossing the intervening distance would be a peaceful endeavor. Still, he had no choice. Certainly, Zeke couldn¡¯t simply turn back. Not only was there nowhere to truly go, but he suspected that if he plunged back into the fray, his demise would soon follow. As powerful as he was, he simply wasn¡¯t strong enough to survive it. Not without succumbing to the very wrath he was meant to resist. For a while, Zeke just knelt there, his knuckles digging into the bloody mud. Behind him, the battle raged, but he¡¯d crossed a line the other warriors would not breach. He was safe ¨C for now. That would soon change, because when he looked up, he saw that thousands of statues had appeared. Spaced equidistant from one another, they each depicted an enraged warrior fighting against a set of imprisoning chains. Was it metaphorical? Was it meant to depict his own struggle? Or was something else at play? Zeke had no idea, and he knew he wouldn¡¯t discover the truth until he continued forward. So, as soon as he felt up to it, he pushed himself unsteadily to his feet and limped ahead. The second he passed the first statue, the chains snapped out. Zeke attempted to dodge, but even if he¡¯d been entirely healthy, he never could have managed it. The chain pierced his shoulder, erupting from his chest a second later. Blood and bits of bone rained down onto the muddy turf. Zeke fell to his knees, gasping for air, but only for a moment until the chain started pulling backward. He screamed as the links tore through him, but that agony was nothing compared to what he felt with the end of the chain ¨C which had somehow morphed into a hook ¨C dug into his chest. He stumbled toward the statue, which had begun to sink into the ground. Boiling blood seeped from its base, telling him in no uncertain terms what would happen if he let himself be dragged underground. He resisted, his feet sliding across the ground even as the hook ripped into his flesh and embedded itself into his ribcage. He screamed himself hoarse as, inch by inch, he was dragged toward the statue. But then, divine energy pulsed through him, letting him plant himself on the ground and halt his slide. It was just in time, too, because he was less than a foot away from the now half-submerged statue. It twisted its head and stared at him with unblinking implacability. Then, its face contorted in rage as it opened its mouth in a silent scream that somehow managed to echo in Zeke¡¯s mind. He gritted his teeth, bent his back, then took another step. It was the most difficult of Zeke¡¯s life, and yet, with divine energy rushing through him, looping around, and infusing his entire body, he managed to follow it up with another. Then another after that. After ten feet, Zeke¡¯s mind started to clear. Twenty, and he began to hope for the best. Thirty, and he felt relief suffusing him. Then, just when he¡¯d begun to relax ¨C at least as much as was possible given his situation ¨C another chain lashed out, skewering him from the other direction. The pull came next, but this time, Zeke was ready for it. Still, with two chains yanking him in opposite directions, Zeke felt as if he was being ripped in half. Yet, it didn¡¯t matter if he continued forward or retreated. The pull would remain the same. So, he bowed his head, ground his teeth together, and took another step. The third chain came around the twentieth step. The fourth wasn¡¯t far behind. And with the fifth, Zeke lost track of those sorts of details. It was difficult to count steps when his chest had been impaled from five different directions, each of them threatening to end him, then and there. He trudged ahead, and soon enough, he had so many chains sprouting form his body that, from afar, he would haven¡¯t been visible. Even so, he kept moving forward. The statues followed behind him, dragging furrows across the bloody landscape. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. His progress was slow. A step a day, at best, and even that taxed his strength and willpower to such an extent that nothing else remained but to keep moving forward. If he¡¯d had a thought to spare, he might¡¯ve considered that he¡¯d once again found his way back into his comfort zone. After all, the simple act of moving forward had characterized most of his time in Hell. After a while, he realized that he was dragging hundreds of statues forward, an inch at a time. If he let up for even a second, he would have been dragged beneath the mud. After that, he would die. Zeke had no illusions about that. By all rights, he should have been ripped apart. However, with a combination of divine energy and his embrace of the very concept of endurance, he held himself together. Finally, after an interminable journey, he reached the feet of the mountainous titan, though he didn¡¯t even know it until he heard a voice so loud that it echoed throughout the entire Circle of Wrath. ¡°Little man,¡± it rumbled, and the waves that had so far been held at bay trembled at his words. ¡°You come to challenge me, the Rage Titan. Do you not know the foolishness of your task? Do you not realize just how doomed you truly are?¡± The titan¡¯s very voice screamed at him to give up, to lay down in the blood-soaked mud and surrender to the agony coursing through him so thoroughly. He ignored those calls. Instead, he raised his head, inch by painful inch, and glared defiantly at the mountainous titan. The thing loomed over him, its form dripping with boiling blood that continued to pool at its feet. The distant walls of the Bloodlake churned with every drop that hit the muddy ground. ¡°I¡¯ve come this far,¡± Zeke growled, his voice barely audible amidst the constant roar of the waves. The Rage Titan let out a booming laugh, a sound so loud that it shook the ground and sent Zeke stumbling to his knees. ¡°Very well, mortal. Show me your wrath. Prove your anger. Let it consume you, as it has all who came before and all who will come after.¡± The Rage Titan slammed its fist into the ground, sending a shockwave that rippled across the landscape. Harnessing a reservoir of strength he didn¡¯t know he had, Zeke leaped aside, barely cresting the wave of muddy earth. But his efforts were for naught, because the statues were caught in the ripple. They were thrown aside, taking Zeke with them. He skipped across the bloody terrain, only to come to a rest nearly a mile away. When he did, he rose to the sound of the Rage Titan¡¯s rumbling laughter. It said something, but Zeke could scarcely hear it. A flicker of divine energy managed to keep his body together as he threw himself forward, only to be met by a geyser of boiling blood that erupted from the ground at the Rage Titan¡¯s gesture. It enveloped Zeke, stripping the flesh from his body and leaving nothing but a skeleton behind. But if even a little of Zeke¡¯s body remained, he could rebuild. All it took was divine energy. Before he even knew what he was doing, he pushed past whatever barrier had kept his power at bay, and his body reformed ¨C entirely unblemished, save for the chains that had embedded themselves into his very bones. ¡°You are slow, little mortal,¡± the Rage Titan taunted. ¡°Weak. You think endurance alone will save you?¡± Zeke didn¡¯t bother with a reply. Instead, he brought his mind into a pinpoint focus, flaring [Hand of Divinity]. White light suffused his body, bursting from his eyes and mouth as he charged forward. The statues felt light as a feather. The chains no longer hurt. They were as much a part of him now as his natural limbs. And he meant to use them. The chains burst forth with divine light as he spun, whipping them around in a whirlwind of activity. Thousands scorched through the air, tearing into the Rage Titan with unmatched ferocity. Meat and stone showed the landscape as Zeke¡¯s chains sawed through the monster¡¯s ankle. But the Rage Titan was the size of a mountain, and Zeke¡¯s efforts ¨C though mighty ¨C were that of an insect. It lifted its foot, then stomped, shaking the ground and sending a ripple of blood to cut through Zeke at the waist. There was no denying the attack¡¯s power, and yet, it did no good. Zeke was cut in half, but his body refused to accept the injury. And with so much divine energy flowing through him, it didn¡¯t need to. Tendrils of flesh extended, grabbed hold of one another, and pulled the pieces back together. Even before the ripple of weaponized blood finished its flight, Zeke was once again whole. He leaped, grabbing hold of the Rage Titan¡¯s leg. It was an amalgam of flesh and earth, so it offered plenty of handholds. And where it didn¡¯t, Zeke¡¯s chains made up the difference. In seconds, he¡¯d scaled hundreds of feet. ¡°You dare?!¡± the Rage Titan screamed, its voice scorching across the entire Circle of Wrath. Warriors exploded at the mere sound. Zeke, however, endured. Moreover, he homed in on five locations. From afar, he couldn¡¯t even feel them. Yet, now that he¡¯d come so close, he knew what they were. Just like the core of divine energy within him, the Rage Titan had similar nexuses across his body. One in each calf, one on its chest. Two in its shoulders. And then, at last, one embedded in its head. Zeke¡¯s plan was to rip those free. When he did, he hoped that it would bring the giant down to size. So, he climbed. When he reached the first nexus, he found that it was represented by a glowing white crystal. He hit it with every ounce of strength he could muster, but it remained entirely unscathed. He hit it again and again, but to similar results. All the while, the Rage Titan aimed one attack after another in his direction. Zeke took each one, reforming in their wake. And yet, he knew he was running out of time and energy. Whatever he¡¯d done to coopt the chains had drained his divine energy much more quickly than anything he¡¯d ever done before, and as a result, he knew it would run dry before he managed to even scratch the crystal. He had no choice but to change tactics. With that in mind, Zeke focused on the energy itself. The crystal was just a vessel, he soon found. The real prize was within. And with how much experience he¡¯d recently gained circulating divine energy, it was child¡¯s play to grab hold of it and siphon it away. The Rage Titan screamed, increasing its efforts to kill or dislodge him. Ironically, Zeke used its own energy to reform, draining the entire crystal in only a few moments. Then, he used his chains to leap from one calf to the next and repeat his feat. Once that was done, the titan fell to its knees, its legs entirely drained of all power. That made it easier for Zeke to reach the other crystals, which he drained without issue ¨C at least until he finally arrived at the largest and most powerful. ¡°You take from me that which I have given my entire life to accrue. You¡­you are no god. You are a devil. A monster. An abomination.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Zeke muttered, latching onto the giant¡¯s final vestige of power. When he pulled it within himself, it raged through his body with so much potency that it very nearly unmade him. Zeke screamed. He could take it. He could endure. He would not be defeated. And then, suddenly, it was over. After a moment of eternal silence, the Rage Titan exploded. Zeke slammed his chains into the ground even as the shockwave tried to send him tumbling miles away. He whipped around like a windsock, refusing to be dislodged. Finally, it died down and fell face-first into the muddy ground. When he looked up, he saw a small figure sprawled nearby. The man was barely more than a skeleton with skin draped tightly over his body. Zeke picked himself up and limped in his direction. The man ¨C bearded and dirty and barely even alive ¨C tried to flinch away. ¡°You¡­you took it all¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re the Rage Titan.¡± ¡°I am the god of wrath, you dull mortal. You have defeated me, but wrath is eternal. You will ¨C¡± Zeke had no interest in hearing the man¡¯s rant, so he quickly brought his foot down in a vicious stomp that exploded his skull. ¡°Not much of a god,¡± he mumbled. Then, a rumble grabbed his attention, and he realized that the wall of blood had finally collapsed and had begun to rush toward him. 649. The Light at the End of the Tunnel The wall of blood hit Zeke with enough force to break every bone in his body. Yet, via the wonder that was the divine-energy-infused [Hand of Divinity], he managed to pull himself back together just in time to slam into the other wave that had come crashing into him. For a long time, that continued, and he was battered back and forth. He barely felt it, though. Instead, he remained wholly focused on the energy within. Guiding it. Embracing it. Harnessing it, and with more dexterity than ever before. Part of that newfound ability came with the sheer volume of energy. Yet another hole had emerged in the cage, flooding his body with enough energy that he should have been dissolved right down to the last atom. But he wasn¡¯t. Instead, he withstood it, albeit barely. Such was the effect of his constant efforts at inoculation. He¡¯d gone through it before ¨C with his Path of Arcane Destruction ¨C so he knew the process better than anyone. If he could train himself to endure his own potently destructive Will, then he could do the same with divine energy. It only took time and effort. And a lot of pain. Thankfully, he¡¯d long since grown accustomed to that, too. Whatever benefits he¡¯d gotten from being a cambion were wholly insufficient to shield him from the agony arcing through his body. That had been the case for quite some time, so he had no protection from it. It didn¡¯t matter, though. He didn¡¯t need to be protected. Instead, he sank into the pool of pain, letting it suffuse him, allowing it to shape him into something stronger. It sharpened his edge with every pulse, and though Zeke knew he couldn¡¯t endure it indefinitely, he was also aware that he didn¡¯t need to. The Circle of Wrath had been conquered. He had yet to reach the gate, but he knew enough to recognize that his way was clear. It had nothing else to throw at him. Just a few measly waves. That meant he only had four more to overcome. He was more than halfway to the Ethereal Realm ¨C or whatever they called it in Hell ¨C and he would no longer allow himself to be denied. Not when he was on the downslope. So, as he always did, Zeke endured. He fought against the churning waves ¨C and the eel-like denizens that took that opportunity to attack him ¨C until, at last, the bloody waters stilled. Only then did he kick his way to the surface, and when he broke through, he gasped a lungful of bitter air. Lighting lanced through the sky, heralding his return, but he ignored it. Instead, he focused on a glimmer on the horizon. It was the only landmark in evidence, so he pushed his tired body into motion, swimming in that direction. With every mile traveled, hundreds of attacks came at him, but he repelled them with a combination of strength, fury, and endurance. He didn¡¯t make it through unscathed, but he refused to be denied ¨C right up until, at last, he reached his destination. For days, the glimmer had grown bigger until it became a massive silver ring, the interior of which shimmered with nothingness. Zeke didn¡¯t hesitate to swim through, and soon enough, he found himself being pushed along by a current strong enough to carve a path through mountains. But there was no landscape. He couldn¡¯t see a thing. Instead, he could only go with the flow of blood, hoping that it would soon end. It didn¡¯t. In fact, his path twisted along for so long that he lost track of time and space and even his own body. It was like floating along as nothing, on nothing, and with no particular destination. In a way, it was rejuvenating. Zeke healed himself back to normal, then finally let [Hand of Divinity] fall away. The divine energy still looped through his body, but without him pulling against it, the volume was so low that it could do no damage to his well accustomed body. Then, finally, Eveline spoke to him. Until that moment, he hadn¡¯t even realized just how much he¡¯d missed her voice. Or how much he¡¯d been looking forward to her return. But the second he heard that first word in his mind, Zeke broke down in tears of relief. Thankfully, there was no one there to see the weepy mess he¡¯d become. ¡°I think it¡¯s probably more from stress than appreciation for my presence,¡± Eveline remarked. ¡°Though I do appreciate the sentiment.¡± Her voice was the weakest it had ever been, a fact which Zeke more than noticed. So, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on with you? You get weaker with every circle.¡± ¡°So do you.¡± That wasn¡¯t true, and they both knew it. If the current version of Zeke found himself in the Plains of the Forgotten, he¡¯d tear through it with few issues. Such was the power of the divine energy rushing through him. It was not just a force multiplier. It shielded him from the worst of each circle¡¯s effects. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just not as strong as you, Ezekiel. Have you ever considered that possibility?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡­I guess? Maybe. I don¡¯t know. Is that what it is?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine when we reach the other side,¡± she assured me. ¡°It just saps my strength, having to erect a barrier to protect myself from these circles of Hell. I was never meant to come here. I¡¯m not strong enough to survive on my own. Even before I lost my body, I was destined to remain in Mal¡¯canus for the rest of my life, short as it might have been.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t talk much about that.¡± ¡°There¡¯s not much to say,¡± she admitted. ¡°I lied. I cheated. I manipulated others into giving their lives for reasons they never would have if left to their own devices. I took a personal hand as well, killing my fair share. Even before that, in Mal¡¯araxis, I was just as savage as any other demon.¡± ¡°What about your life before that?¡± Zeke asked. ¡°Not worth mentioning. That world is long gone. My people are all but extinct. If I¡¯m all that¡¯s left, it is a sorry universe indeed.¡± ¡°What did you look like?¡± ¡°I was a being of pure energy,¡± she said. ¡°If we had met before all of this, you likely couldn¡¯t have even perceived me, much less the rest of my world¡¯s population.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°You sound disappointed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. It¡¯s just that I thought maybe you were an elf or something. I feel sure you said something ¨C¡± ¡°Elves are haughty creatures that deserve every ounce of misfortune that comes their way,¡± she said. ¡°They murdered and enslaved my people, all for their own amusement. We took it for eons, too. We let them do as they wished, all because a few were different than the others. We saw potential in them.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Ezekiel, I don¡¯t want to talk about this.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have anything else to do,¡± he pointed out. He meant to gesture, but he couldn¡¯t even feel his hands. Still, Eveline got the picture. ¡°Fine. But I will only tell you this once, Ezekiel. I never want to revisit this subject.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reasonable. What happened?¡± he asked. If he could have moved, he would have leaned forward in anticipation. ¡°Like I said ¨C I happened. I watched them use my people as fuel for spells. They liked to put us in these little lanterns,¡± she said. ¡°All so we could generate light. Thousands of my people enslaved for illumination, when all they needed was a torch. It was galling. I called for a council, gathering all the other wisps. I pled my case, calling for war. I didn¡¯t want to kill the elves. I just wanted to free my people. The council refused. ¡°But I had plenty of support, and I reasoned that I didn¡¯t need the council¡¯s approval. So, young and brash and stupid, I led the attack,¡± she explained. ¡°Millions of wisps descended upon the nearest elven settlement. I killed seven of them that day. I attacked through their eyes, boring into their skulls and frying their brains. Others followed my lead, and we freed our people.¡± She sighed. ¡°For a while, we basked in our victory. The enslaved didn¡¯t know what to think. Some wanted to go back. Some wouldn¡¯t even leave their lamps,¡± she said. ¡°Cowards, we called them.¡± Eveline gave the impression of shaking her head. ¡°But they had the right of it. They knew what we didn¡¯t want to see,¡± she explained. ¡°The elves came for us. They saw what we had done, and they labeled us as dangerous. Coexistence was no longer an option. They swept through our communities, slaughtering us with their magic. ¡°Regrettably, I survived ¨C at least for a while. I tried to fight back, to lead a resistance. But there was something I should have already known ¨C they were the strong, and we were the weak. That was all that mattered. My refusal to accept that was how I authored the extinction of my people. Ultimately, it¡¯s why I ended up in Hell. The moment I realized the opportunity before me, I refused to ever be weak again. I would not be enslaved. I would not¡­I would bow to no one. ¡°Until you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t bow to me, Eveline,¡± Zeke pointed out. ¡°We¡¯re friends.¡± ¡°You could destroy me on a whim. I know that, Ezekiel. Don¡¯t insult my intelligence and pretend otherwise,¡± she responded. ¡°But it¡¯s fine. I accept my fate. Do you know why?¡± Zeke said that he didn¡¯t. ¡°Because I think you can bring the entire system down,¡± she stated. ¡°And maybe ¨C just maybe ¨C you can create something better in its place. We don¡¯t have to live in such a stratified world. We can all be equal. Happy. No Heaven or Hell. Just¡­just people living in harmony.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know how realistic that is,¡± Zeke admitted. Left unsaid was that he certainly didn¡¯t believe that he was the person meant to bring such a utopia to fruition. He was a creature of destruction, a fighter that sought battle at every opportunity. There was no place for someone like him in that kind of world. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know that?¡± she asked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t live in that world, either. I¡¯m a monster, and so are you. The point is that we both recognize that about ourselves. We also know that this Framework is built to sow seeds of discord. That¡¯s its purpose, to pit us against one another so that the strongest can rise to the top.¡± ¡°It¡¯s necessary. You saw what I saw. You know what awaits at the end of this road,¡± he said, referencing the eternal war between gods. ¡°But what if it wasn¡¯t necessary? What if that war was suddenly over? They wouldn¡¯t need to fight anymore. They could exist in harmony.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Zeke said, though he certainly wasn¡¯t sure about any of that. The world she described seemed incredibly boring to him. However, that was probably because he was, as he¡¯d so often pointed out, a man built for battle. He couldn¡¯t be happy unless he had something to fight. An obstacle to overcome. ¡°It¡¯s just something to think about, Ezekiel. Do you think you¡¯re ready for the next Circle?¡± she asked, eager to change the subject. He wanted to shrug, but he felt nothing. So, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Which one is it?¡± ¡°Heresy.¡± ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± he asked. Obviously, he understood the concept in context of religion, but it didn¡¯t seem quite as universal as sins like wrath or lust. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The myths say it has something to do with authority, though I can¡¯t predict what that means,¡± she answered. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll just have to play it by ear, then,¡± he responded. It wasn¡¯t as if the descriptions had helped him so far anyway. Chances were that even if he knew what to expect, he¡¯d have to find his own way through. So, he settled into silence and awaited his fate. 650. The Pyre ¡°The Circle of Heresy is a misnomer,¡± Eveline said suddenly. ¡°What?¡± asked Zeke, still trudging along. ¡°I thought you said you didn¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°Well, now I do. You know how my memory works. Or doesn¡¯t work, as it happens,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah. I guess. So, what makes it a misnomer?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s not heresy as you would consider it. Instead, it¡¯s dedicated to punishing those who stray from the truth, spread malicious lies, and falsely lay claim to knowledge they do not possess,¡± she intoned. ¡°It is a place of oppressive control, vindictiveness, and the rule of the mob. Any individual thought is punished.¡± ¡°Sounds like a fun place,¡± Zeke sighed. ¡°I guess that¡¯s normal now, though. I should look forward to being ripped apart, then.¡± ¡°Burned.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You will be burned at the stake. That is the preferred punishment in the Circle of Heresy.¡± ¡°Damnit,¡± Zeke spat. ¡°And I suppose my fire immunity will do nothing against it?¡± ¡°I would be shocked if it helped at all.¡± ¡°Do you know anything else about it?¡± Zeke asked. Eveline gave the impression of shaking her head. She hadn¡¯t manifested physically for quite some time, which worried Zeke. He wasn¡¯t in the best shape in the world, but he wasn¡¯t blind to how the descent through the circles of Hell had affected his lone companion. It was not unexpected, and the damage she had already suffered was one of the reasons he¡¯d decided to descend alone. But he couldn¡¯t leave Eveline behind. She was as much a part of him as his own mind. ¡°Not quite. I can detach if I wish. I simply wouldn¡¯t survive,¡± she pointed out with a harsh laugh. ¡°Not that that would be much worse than being whittled away, one circle after another.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it better, Eveline. Don¡¯t talk like that. You¡¯re going to survive this,¡± he said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me that. I have no intention of giving up,¡± Eveline assured him. ¡°I will survive this, one way or another ¨C if only to see you topple this system.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to topple anything,¡± he said. ¡°You will. I¡¯m certain of it.¡± Zeke definitely wasn¡¯t so sure. It was one thing to talk about winning an eternal war and abolishing the Framework that funneled everyone¡¯s efforts into conflict. But it was something else altogether to actually state that as a goal. What¡¯s more, Zeke had no idea if he was even capable of such a feat. He hadn¡¯t even finished his descent, much less broken into the Ethereal Realm where he would be forced to fight gods. ¡°You will, Ezekiel. They will tremble in your presence and fall before your might. I can see it. I will ensure it,¡± she said. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked. ¡°I am fantastic, and I will be even better when we break free of Hell and begin our conquest of justice.¡± Zeke just shook his head as she muttered something about making them all pay. He had no idea how long he kept walking, but during that time, he continuously cycled divine energy through his body in a process that he hoped would further his goals of entirely inoculating himself against that corrosive force. It had worked so far, and he felt that he had no other choice in the matter. After all, without divine energy, he never could have survived the previous circles, and he suspected that that pattern would continue going forward. Besides, Zeke felt that there was more to be gained. Already, he could feel one of his skills ¨C [Shifting Sands] ¨C just on the other side. If one more portion of the cave broke loose, he would regain access. It wasn¡¯t his most powerful ability, but having it was certainly better than it being locked away. Hopefully, by the time he needed the others, they would be freed as well. Such thoughts accompanied him as he trudged along the path. He could see nothing of his confines. He couldn¡¯t even feel the ground. Yet, he could somehow walk. So, considering that taking one step after another was his only available action, that was what he did. Every now and again, Eveline made her presence known. At times, she was completely coherent, but at others, she devolved into venomous hatred of elves, Hell, and the Framework itself. She had latched onto the notion that Zeke was meant to destroy the entire system, and she wouldn¡¯t be persuaded to drop it. For his part, Zeke harbored a little animosity of his own toward the Framework. Sure, he¡¯d chosen his own path at every turn, but the Framework had pushed him into conflict with every step forward. Without its influence, would he have settled down with Abby? Or even Adara? The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Maybe. Perhaps not. The problem was that he didn¡¯t know one way or the other. He hadn¡¯t authored his own path, and that sent a tremor of fury through Zeke¡¯s mind. Gradually, the days ¨C such as he could tell them apart ¨C passed until, at last, he reached the end of the hall. If he let himself appreciate it fully, the door would have looked like it was suspended in perfect nothingness. Zeke knew there was something beneath his feet, but no matter how much he tried to feel it, there was nothing. The same was true about his other surroundings. Except the door which beckoned for him to open it. He complied, and suddenly, he found himself falling. Trying not to panic, Zeke threw his arms out in an effort to arrest his momentum. It didn¡¯t work, and he slammed into the ground only a few moments later, and hard enough to dig a sizable crater in the soft earth. ¡°A witch descends from above!¡± came a scream. ¡°Seize him!¡± ¡°The light beckons!¡± ¡°The light purifies!¡± ¡°The light absolves!¡± Zeke pushed himself to all fours, shaking his head in confusion. He could scarcely feel his own strength, even with divine energy flowing through him. Then, suddenly, someone grabbed his arm. He reacted without thought, yanking away and spinning around to deliver a devastating punch. The blow landed, but the effect was far different from what he could have imagined. Instead of being launched miles away, as his strength usually dictated, the victim of his attack merely staggered backward, then fell to his backside, dazed and with an out-of-place jaw. That¡¯s when someone else seized his other arm. Zeke tried to yank free, the same as before, but another pair of hands latched onto his wrist. Then another. Before he knew what was going on, he had three people restraining him. In any other situation, tossing them aside would have been child¡¯s play. But now, he seemed no stronger than a man of his stature would have been back on Earth. That was to say that his bulging muscles still counted for something, but there was no supernatural stats backing him up. Still, he struggled, utilizing his well-earned fighting prowess to pull free and knock a few others out. However, there were always more, and it wasn¡¯t long before they managed to tie him up. Being carried over their shoulders gave Zeke an opportunity to assess his situation. The landscape looked like a dark and foreboding forest, though in the distance, he flickering firelight. Given the distance and the orientation, he figured that the fire must be absolutely enormous to cast so much light. Overhead, the sky was entirely dark but for a silvery moon that cast everything in an eerie glow. His captors were human and wore entirely black outfits. From what few glimpses he managed, they also seemed extremely thin, though he had difficulty judging. The trip through the forest was blessedly short, though when he caught sight of the destination, Zeke couldn¡¯t help but blanch. It looked like a pyre, though that was only the effect of stylized architecture. Still, the exterior was like charred wood, and it even smelled of ash. The black-clad captors carried him inside. The smell of the interior was even worse than outside, and Zeke found it difficult to breathe among the ash and smoke that permeated the space. He writhed and kicked, attempting to escape, but his captors were both vigilant and capable. He made not progress. Then, they arrived at the center of the pyre-like pyramid. His captors tossed him to the ground, where he rolled across dark sand until he hit a blackened pole. Still bound, Zeke tried to worm away, but his efforts were useless, and a few of the captors leaped down and positioned him against the pole. Someone wrenched his arms up, and suddenly, Zeke was being lifted by a rope. The sound of cranking gears reached his ears, but he could see no machinery. That¡¯s when he finally got a good, solid look at his captors. They had no eyes. And even more disturbingly, their mouths had been sewn shut. Somehow, though, they kept screaming. ¡°Purify him!¡± ¡°Bathe him in the light!¡± ¡°Expose his transgressions!¡± On and on they went as Zeke hung there, waiting on something to happen. And then, suddenly, it did. A beam of scalding light erupted from the ceiling, stripping everything from him. Suddenly, he had no hair. No clothes. No identifying features. He was just a formless shape, thoughtless and without identity. Then, the visions came. ¡°Murderer.¡± ¡°Selfish.¡± ¡°Liar.¡± ¡°Honorless.¡± ¡°Traitor.¡± On and on they went, accompanied by the intonations of his captors. He saw them all. Hundreds of murders. Thousands. Millions, even. He saw himself turning away from his friends who needed him. He saw himself lying, both to himself and his companions. He¡¯d run away from them, claiming that it was for their protection. That had never been the case. He simply didn¡¯t want to lose them. It was easier to keep them in a box, safe and sound, rather than risk them. Not for their sake. But for his own. He couldn¡¯t watch them die. He could not lose them. He refused. And so, he had selfishly lied. It went on for longer than Zeke could have imagined, and he was forced to come to terms with his own shortcomings. With his sins. His transgressions. Suddenly, it stopped, and Zeke thought it was over. He hung there, limp and confused, for a long moment before he felt a tendrils of divine energy rolling through him. It sparked his memory as well as his awareness. Then, he felt it. Fire tickling his toes, then rising up his legs. He looked down to see that someone had lit the pyre. What he had mistook as sand was nothing of the earth. Instead, it had been the ashes of those who¡¯d come before him. He screamed in agony as his body succumbed to the flames. Bit by bit, his flesh blistered and was scorched from his bones. But he persisted. He endured. [Hand of Divinity] coursed through him, though it could do nothing to combat the flames. Instead, it kept him alive. It maintained his awareness. Regrettably so. The fires persisted for longer than Zeke could track. Yet, he lived through it. Only as a charred skeleton, but so long as a single cell remained, he would persist. He would survive. Only when the fires died out did Zeke hear the whispers. At first, he thought they were meaningless gibberish. But when he focused on the ring of captors, twisting and turning in place, he realized that they had never stopped their accusations. Some were real ¨C like the label of murderer ¨C but others were entirely fabricated. It didn¡¯t matter. They believed he was guilty, and so, in this twisted trial, that was precisely what he was. But then, he began to wonder if they were right. He gave credence to each accusation He felt their sting all the way to the core of his soul, branding him with the resultant guilt. Yet, he endured. Even when his pleas for forgiveness filled the air, he refused to give in. So it went. So a part of him died. It was not the first piece of Zeke that Hell had sheared away, and it certainly would not be the last. 651. Divine Fire He burned. But he did not waver. He refused to give in, and somehow, his pool of divine energy responded. Not all at once, and certainly not quickly. But it answered the call, somehow sustaining him through a level of torture no soul could be expected to endure, and certainly not without grievous consequence. He had no more voice to scream. No thoughts to distract him. Instead, he had only suffering. If he¡¯d had the capacity to think, he might have wished for the cessation of that divine energy. Maybe then he would know some measure of peace. Perhaps if he succumbed, surrendering to the cleansing fires, he could be reborn as something else. Something better. A sinless creature of pure vengeance and accusation. That was what had happened to the creatures all around him. They looked like people, their eyes sewn shut and their eyes replaced by smooth, maggoty white flesh. Zeke didn¡¯t see them. Not anymore. The flames were too hot, the pain too expansive to overcome. And yet, he endured. Even when everything else was stripped away, that would always remain. A stubborn refusal to quit. An instinctual aversion to surrender sustained him almost as much as the divine energy. When the fires ceased, Zeke¡¯s charred remains sagged in exhaustion. He did not die, though. Perhaps he couldn¡¯t ¨C not in this realm. Maybe that was the whole point. Regardless, he could hear his captors¡¯ frustrations mount via the feverish repetition of their baseless accusations. It became a contest of wills. Either Zeke¡¯s ability to endure would succumb to the flames, or his captors¡¯ fervor would dissipate. In the end, they fell, one by one, until only a single accuser remained. He was little different than all the rest ¨C cloaked in black, eyeless, and with his mouth sewn shut ¨C but he radiated more power than any of the others. Zeke knew he was important. Somewhere deep down, beneath the pain and the refusal to surrender, he recognized the man before him for what he was ¨C an obstacle to be overcome. The flames ceased, and the captor¡¯s shoulders slumped. That was when Zeke acted. Entirely on instinct, he channeled [Hand of Divinity], and his body reformed. Ash and charred bone flaked away, revealing a pristine, white skeleton. Then, flesh reformed, growing from nothing. Organs, as well. Then, finally, skin. With a roar, Zeke broke the chains binding him to the ashen pillar, and he fell to the ash-strewn ground below. It billowed with the impact, and the accuser shouted something unintelligible. The fires returned, but Zeke had already proven their insufficiency, and that was without [Hand of Divinity] coursing through him. He embraced [Shifting Sands], and the difference jarred him from his enduring stupor. There was divine energy in it. Likely, if he¡¯d had access to his status, he might see that it had changed its name and description. Aside from a brief moment of acknowledgement, Zeke had no care for those changes. Instead, he intuitively grasped the differences and harnessed them. He darted forward, the entire world frozen in time. Ash hung in the air, and flames glowed behind him, mid-flicker. He slammed into the accuser, intending to level him with a single punch. That was not what happened. Instead, his fist went through the creature¡¯s chest, erupting from his back in a frozen shower of blood. Then, time resumed, and the man imploded. Flesh rushed in, forming a ball, then expanded rapidly, spraying whatever was left across the room. It happened so quickly that, without [Shifting Sands] enhancing his perception, he could scarcely track what had happened. In fact, because he was acting mostly on instinct, Zeke didn¡¯t realize what he¡¯d done until a few seconds later, when his mind finally caught up to his body¡¯s reformation. Until he¡¯d set foot in the Circle of Heresy, he¡¯d thought he knew what pain was. He hadn¡¯t. Not even close. The level of torture he¡¯d just endured ¨C for how long, he had no idea ¨C was well beyond anything he could have imagined, much less lived through. It brought to mind the stereotypical fire-and-brimstone sermons he¡¯d heard the few times he¡¯d attended church in his youth. Perhaps there had been some degree of truth to those preachers¡¯ rants. He fell to his knees, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Behind him, the pillar still smoked. How it had remained intact, he had no idea. Magic, obviously. Nothing in Hell worked according to the physical laws he¡¯d once taken for granted. In retrospect, it all seemed so surreal, but having lived through it ¨C having felt it ¨C he knew precisely how real it all had been. Finally, he pushed himself to his feet. Once again, his clothes were gone. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to care, though. Naked and with his body smeared with ash, he climbed from the pit and found his way to the door. As he did so, he finally took a moment to examine the interior of the building. It resembled a church, though there were elements of pyre-like design of the exterior. Far above, a dense flame danced like the world¡¯s most evil campfire. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. At first, Zeke had difficulty yanking his eyes away, largely because he felt the divine energy within those flames. They certainly weren¡¯t natural. In fact, the more he looked, the more they offended him. Before he knew what he was doing, Zeke found himself climbing the wall. It was simple enough to do so, and it wasn¡¯t long before he hung from the ceiling, only a few feet away from that hungry flame. Without thinking, he reached out, thrusting his hand into the fire. Predictably, he was burned. His entire hand turned to ash after only a second. Yet, after what he¡¯d just endured, Zeke barely paid it any mind. Divine energy fueled [Hand of Divinity], reforming his limb as quickly as it was destroyed. Then, he felt something solid. He wrapped his fingers around it and pulled, but it wouldn¡¯t move. No matter how hard he yanked on it, it refused to dislodge. So, he changed tactics, squeezing instead of pulling. At first, nothing happened. Zeke leveraged every ounce of strength he could muster in service of his chosen task, and still, he was unsuccessful. He even harnessed the very concept of strength, but the crystal continued to frustrate him. It was as immovable as reality itself. But he refused to give up. The flame needed to be doused. The world practically demanded it, and Zeke had taken that quest to heart. He would not move until the fire was no more. That meant the crystal, which he suspected was the source, needed to be destroyed. For long hours, he struggled against it until, finally, he stumbled upon an idea. It was divine in nature. He could feel that much. So, what would happen if he used his own divine energy to destroy it? Without any other ideas, he committed to that plan. Controlling his own divine energy was nothing new, but forcing it free of his body was something else altogether. It scorched its way through him, emerging from his fingers in an explosion of corrosive energy that far exceeded whatever damage the fire could author. Following close on its heels was the healing provided by [Hand of Divinity], reforming his hand and maintaining the conduit through which the divine energy could travel. It slammed into the crystal like a silent hammer, and Zeke could feel the surface spiderweb with a million miniscule cracks. But the crystal did not break. Neither did the flow of divine energy cease. For long moments, the two forces warred. Divinity versus divinity, with Zeke stuck between them. He did not fare well, but after so long, he¡¯d grown accustomed to the agonizing pain of having his body destroyed and reformed. That wasn¡¯t to say that it was pleasant. Little about Zeke¡¯s life was. Once, he¡¯d dreamed of a day he could bask in his power and truly experience the wonder of a world laid bare. But he¡¯d long since realized that the universe in which he¡¯d been reborn was not that sort of place. There was no wonder. Not for him. Not in Hell, certainly, and likely never again. He¡¯d made amends with that reality. He would suffer to reach his goals, to emerge victorious. To be the best. The strongest. The most powerful. In the back of his mind, there were other considerations ¨C like his companions¡¯ well-being ¨C but at the end of the day, it all fed into his need to reach his potential. A simple aim, and yet, it encompassed so much that it could never be regarded as such. All that flitted through Zeke¡¯s mind as he channeled more and more divine energy into that crystal. The flames flickered, and he realized he was screaming. It didn¡¯t matter. He pushed harder. He dragged more and more divine energy out of his caged core and pushed it through his repeatedly ravaged hand. Power raged through him, and with every passing second, the crystal¡¯s integrity weakened. The cracks along its surface widened, proliferating at a rapid pace until, at last, it shattered. For a second, Zeke felt nothing. He no longer existed. The resultant explosion had destroyed him entirely. But then, the divine energy that was his core spun back into being, reweaving his body out of nothing. For a few minutes, he floated in mid-air, held aloft by nothing but his will to survive, before, at last, his body reformed. He fell, then. After hitting the ash-strewn floor with a cloud of dust, he lay there, his mind reeling from what he¡¯d just done. However, he didn¡¯t have time to contemplate his actions. Instead, he had no choice but to focus on the flames that had begun to envelop the building. They were unlike the ones he¡¯d endured for so long. Instead, they were blue in color, and they raged with the power of divine energy. Instinctively, he knew that if he let himself succumb to those fires, he would cease to exist. With stiff muscles, he forced himself to his feet. He only wavered for a few seconds before staggering toward the door. An accuser barred his way, but Zeke¡¯s one-track mind had thrown itself fully behind the concept of escape. And this creature ¨C as pitiful as it was ¨C could not stop him. He barreled through the thing, his momentum enough to crush bones and rend flesh. But there were more crowding the exit. With the heat of divine fire billowing in his wake, Zeke embraced [Shifting Sands] ¨C or whatever it was called now ¨C and stepped forward. His footsteps rattled the world like miniature earthquakes, and when he rammed into the clump of accusers, they exploded into a cumulative shower of gore. Zeke ignored them. In the back of his mind, he catalogued the changes to his ability. He no longer needed to dip into the ground, and what had once been a simple change in his perception of time was now something far different. It was as if he¡¯d infused his every footstep with divine energy, and because of that, he could not be stopped. Zeke was used to being a juggernaut, but this was different. It was like he¡¯d briefly channeled the power of a god ¨C a true deity, and not the pretenders of the Ethereal Realm ¨C and the creatures standing before him simply couldn¡¯t endure his touch. It only lasted a few subjective seconds, but that was enough to get him well clear of building. Looking back, he saw that the structure ¨C which had been built to mimic the look of a potential pyre ¨C had become a furnace of divine flames. If any accusers remained within, they lacked the ability to even scream in pain. Zeke regretted that. If anyone deserved to have their deaths stretch out a bit, it was them ¨C especially after what they¡¯d put him through. Yet, Zeke knew they¡¯d never had a choice. He¡¯d felt it himself, the pending transformation. If he¡¯d succumbed, he would have become one of them, preying on any newcomers as much as he targeted his fellows. For that was the point of the Circle of Heresy. It wasn¡¯t about defying gods. It was about the accusations. The lies. Neighbor turning on neighbor. It was disgusting. But as had been the case with every other Circle of Hell, Zeke had no choice but to carve a path through it all. Thankfully, he had a new tool at his disposal. Hopefully, he could use it to do what needed to be done. Looking around, he saw hundreds more pyre-like pyramids, and he knew his task. He stepped toward one, still bathed in the heat from the divine fire behind him, and prepared to repeat his actions. 652. Web of Lies Zeke stepped forward with footsteps of thunder as a thousand pyres burned behind him. Every step shook the very nature of reality. Every twitch sent ripples of divine energy to scorch their way through the air. And his gaze carried with it the full weight of a demigod. With every passing second, his body cried out in agony as his flesh was destroyed, then remade by the very same power that made him so dangerous. He couldn¡¯t ignore it. The only answer was to endure. He¡¯d grown accustomed to that. Destroying the pyres had taken every ounce of willpower he possessed. One by one, the energy within the crystals that powered them burned his flesh and charred his bones, turning everything to ash. But he¡¯d rebuilt himself, flooding them with power until they shattered, immolating the pyres with their own energy. It was cathartic torture, repeated thousands of times until he scarcely acknowledged the pain. It still tore through him with just as much vehemence, but it was just a fact of life. Like breathing. Or the need to keep moving forward. At last, though, his task was complete. The pyres were destroyed. The accusers were dead. And he was ready to move on. However, he knew enough to recognize that he wasn¡¯t finished with the Circle of Heresy. One obstacle, no matter how unconquerable, would constitute an entire circle. So, as he pushed forward, he wrangled the divine energy within him and, with a force of willpower, pushed it back into his core. Confining it to that location wasn¡¯t easy, especially when he needed to keep his skills available. But as he¡¯d engaged in his personal war against the pyres, Zeke had learned to adapt. So, after a few more steps, the world stopped shaking, and reality was no longer in danger of being torn asunder. But for Zeke, the biggest difference was the lack of pain. In some ways, he almost missed it. He shook his head. He couldn¡¯t think like that. He strode forward, leaving the burning pyres behind. For the first few days ¨C marked via his internal clock, which he knew was likely inaccurate ¨C passed without incident. The terrain was featureless, save for rocky pillars that, after a little inspection, he established were burned pyres. All in all, it took nearly a month until he found the edge of the pyre-pocked landscape and on the edge of a foreboding forest. Darkness enveloped the twisted trees, pervading the entire landscape until even Zeke¡¯s eyes failed to pierce the gloom. He hesitated at the tree line, trepidation building in his heart. He was afraid. And he wasn¡¯t certain why. After everything he¡¯d endured, he questioned whether anything in Hell could truly kill him. Certainly, if he simply gave up, he could be destroyed. And maybe that was the point. After all, he¡¯d lost count of the number of times he¡¯d considered surrender, if only it would allow him to sink into the fugue of Hell-bound torture. He¡¯d remained strong so far, leaning on his long experience to endure whatever agonies Hell could throw at him. However, that would not always be the case. Zeke had his own weaknesses, even if they were buried deep down beneath layer after layer of psychological malformities. Perhaps that was why he was afraid. The guilt that had come from the hurled accusations had nearly unraveled his will to endure. But if he could push through that, then he could make it through anything. With that in mind, he took a deep breath, smelling the dark decay, and stepped forward. Immediately, he was enveloped by shadows. He could still see, but only the barest glimpses of a shape here and there. Almost blindly, he stepped forward, his naked foot crunching something sharp and brittle. It didn¡¯t pierce his skin, but he felt it. More distressingly, he knew that sound. For better or worse, he¡¯d long since discovered that breaking bones sounded so much different than cracking sticks. So, he couldn¡¯t convince himself that it was the latter. Not even if he truly wished that was the case. Soon enough, he stepped on another. Then another after that. Soon, he couldn¡¯t deny the reality of his situation. He was trekking across a carpet of bones, and he wasn¡¯t so na?ve as to believe they were anything but human. That wouldn¡¯t really fit the theme of Hell, after all. In any case, Zeke pushed that out of mind and continued forward, feeling his way through the trees. Fear of the dark is, at its core, a fundamental human instinct. Whether it came from a natural fear of nocturnal predators or some chemical reaction to being in low-visibility situations, it was deeply ingrained in most people¡¯s minds. And despite his nigh-invulnerability, Zeke was no different. He could easily shove that fear aside, refusing to let it affect his actions. But it was still there, lurking in the back of his mind and telling him that with every step, he might be assaulted by some creature from nightmare. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Or maybe he¡¯d just step into a really big hole and end up falling for all eternity. Regardless of why he feared the dark, he did. And that stayed with him as he stepped on one brittle skeleton after another. On and on it went as days, then weeks passed him by. Zeke could go indefinitely without food or sleep, which made judging time even more difficult. That was part of the difficulty of his descent through Hell. It was so much more difficult to keep going when he couldn¡¯t see the end of the road, and it was made even worse when he couldn¡¯t reliably track the passing days. At times, he couldn¡¯t see at all, and at others, the gloom receded somewhat, allowing him to glimpse the shapes around him. But never was his vision entirely unobstructed. Still, he had no choice but to continue along that path. And when something finally changed, he almost wanted to scream in triumph. He withdrew his hand from the tree, trailing something sticky but solid. Holding it only an inch from his face, he thought he saw what appeared to be threads reflecting the scant light. Zeke had encountered enough arachnid monsters throughout his reborn life to recognize a spider web when he saw it. As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he felt something slap him in the chest. Raising a hand to dislodge it, he felt something else hit him on the shoulder. Another impact on his back told him that he was under attack, though none of the blows actually hurt. They kept coming, though, and it wasn¡¯t long before he realized what was happening. Something was shooting webs at him. He took off running. He had no idea if he was going in the right direction, but he knew that if he remained in place, he would be captured once again. And after enduring the flames in the pyre the last time he¡¯d been captured, that was the last thing he wanted. But escape was not to be. He ran, and for a long time, but eventually, the webs built up enough to slow him down. And that slowed pace only resulted in more webs hitting him. Soon enough, he was covered. That¡¯s when he actually saw one of the monsters attacking him. He was wrapped in webs, but even so, the second he saw the creature, he tried to squirm away. It was useless, and what¡¯s more, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes away from the thing. It was a spider, and in terms of basic shape, it reminded him of the drachnids he¡¯d killed so long ago. A humanoid torso, with an arachnid lower half. However, its skin was the color of a maggot, and its legs were those of a human. There were just eight of them, and they were oriented in all the wrong directions. The thing limped forward, surprisingly quick. Zeke wasn¡¯t sure how he could see the thing. Perhaps that was part of the circle¡¯s challenge. Regardless, he soon found himself wishing for darkness. The thing¡¯s torso had been flayed and poorly sewn back together with large stitching. Like the accusers, its mouth had been sealed shut. This creature had eyes, though. They stared at him with unrepentant intensity. Then, a voice echoed in his ears. ¡°Lies and deceit bind you,¡± it said. ¡°You cannot escape your own dishonesty.¡± ¡°Heresy is in your heart.¡± ¡°Suffering is your only reward.¡± ¡°Embrace it.¡± ¡°Become one of us.¡± ¡°Join those who came before and punish the liars who follow.¡± On and on the voices went, and with each one that echoed in his ears, another spider monsters entered his field of view. Then, Zeke felt an immense pressure descend upon him. The weight of his own lies. The guilt of his own heresy. The sheer pain of his actions. The webs constricted him, squeezing the life from him. He screamed. He writhed. He tried to escape. But his efforts were useless. There was no freeing himself. Then, he shouted, ¡°I do not lie!¡± The sentence was more than just words. Instead, he¡¯d unleashed the divine energy within him. The webs were torn asunder, freeing his limbs. What¡¯s more, the ferocity of the divine energy was visible as he burst into white flames that illuminated the forest. The spider monsters screeched, but they did not run away. Instead, they tore across the carpet of bones in an obvious attack. One went high, springing off a nearby and gnarled tree, while another went low. Still another came at him in a limping gait that, as awkward as it was, harnessed a level of speed Zeke had rarely seen. He embraced the evolved [Shifting Sands], and the world went still. The white flames surrounded him, building to furor only he could see. He stepped forward, his footsteps rattling the trees as he leveled a simple punch at the rushing spider. It exploded at the touch of his fist. Channeling [Hand of Divinity] to remake himself in the wake of so much divine energy, Zeke threw himself at the next monster, and to similar results. Time accelerated, and he let out a roar that sent the monster skidding backward. Then, he was upon them, ripping and tearing and punching. They had no defense against his divine wrath. Whatever damage the managed to inflict upon him was easily healed by [Hand of Divinity]. He¡¯d endured the attacks of a god. A few malformed monstrosities could never hope to permanently hurt him. But they certainly tried. Over and over, they threw themselves at him in wave after wave of deformed monsters. They hit him with plenty of webs as well, but the divine energy flowing through him burned them to nothing before they had a chance to hit his body. So, he fought on, tearing them apart bit by bit until, at last, there was nothing left. The divine flames faded away, and the darkness returned. That was when the whispers began. Lies and dishonesty, heresy and guilt ¨C the accusations came hard and fast, but when Zeke whipped around, looking in all directions, he couldn¡¯t find the speakers. Without any other options, he took another deep breath, then continued on. The forest was just as dark and oppressive as ever, but for whatever reason, he barely felt any more fear. Part of it was certainly the reassertion that the denizens of the dark could not harm him. However, there was something else there. A bolstering that came from within. It took a while for Zeke to trace it back to his core. A trickle of divine energy ¨C more diffuse than any he¡¯d ever experienced before ¨C flooded his body. It wasn¡¯t enough to burn him, and it was so diluted that it offered very few tangible benefits. But what it did do was banish the fear. He was grateful for that. On and on, he went, constantly accompanied by the accusations. Certainly, Zeke knew he should have been afraid. He could feel the forest trying to affect him. To force him to collapse and cower in terror. Yet, it had no effect on him. Days passed. Weeks. Months. He had no idea how long it took him to reach the end of the forest, but when he did, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep sense of relief. Especially because it looked like he had reached some semblance of civilization.