《The Chains Infernal》


 Chapter One – A Record-Setting Run

    ¡°Come on. Just a minute left!¡± I looked at the monster barring my way to the crystal portal. It was huge, twenty feet of rotted flesh piled into the shape of a humanoid, in the sloppy way children make clay figurines. I could hear the muffled cheering and I knew everyone was at the edge of their seats, waiting to see if I could do it.


    The problem was, I wasn¡¯t sure I could. Despite the assertions of my wife and children. I could barely hear her through my headset, calling my name. ¡°You can do it, baby! I believe in you!¡±


    Lava fell from the craggy clifftops around me, splashing into a moat of heat and fire that encircled us in a ring from which there would be no retreat. The monster before me regenerated from damage almost at the same rate I dealt it. And though I¡¯d slashed and bashed multiple points on its body, I hadn¡¯t yet found a weak spot that could be exploited. My heart raced, every hair on the back of my neck stood on end, and a cold sweat formed on my brow. There had to be another way! How the hell had any of the others done it?


    ¡°Forty seconds left for first place! Ryan Hanson, a ripe 40 years old, hailing from Merrill, Wisconsin. Gamertag Thorack; find him on Twitch and Youtube.¡±


    I grimaced. Supposedly I was this strong, handsome, and intelligent guy who just could not fail. Yet here I was just 30 seconds away from losing the gaming tournament.


    Screw it. All for nothing. I ducked under a meandering blow and charged forward. There was no point in fighting this monolith. Between his legs I saw the azure glow of the crystal portal, the swirling vortex within, and I realized this had been the solution all along. I flipped on my Stamina Blast, letting the pale-yellow waves regenerate my run power even as I Triple Hasted my boots, giving me the special kick in the pants I¡¯d needed to make it on time.


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    In the upper righthand corner of my screen, the digits of the counter turned an emergency red.


    Ten, Nine, Eight . . .


    Past his legs, but not past danger, I swerved right in the nick of time, out of the way of a slap so intense it left a crater in its wake.


    Seven, Six, Five . . .


    A chunk of meat sailed overhead and slapped down right in front of me. I hot-keyed Bunny Hop, leapt over it, and feinted left.


    Four, Three, Two . . .


    The second meat attack slopped through the air, narrowly missing my shoulder as I ducked under it. It exploded in all directions, but my stride had carried me well past its messy range, taking me right to the edge of the crystal gate. Through my earphones came the muffled screams of the audience, their unbelieving candor.


    One . . .


    And I was through. A black screen flashed in my visor, golden-edged words rocking into view.


    CONGRATULATIONS. KUDOS TO THE WINNER


    Years of gaming, years of repeatedly grinding, practicing, studying. And now a million dollars in the bank. I opened my mouth and screamed, letting all of it out, listening to the cries and yells of the audience. I¡¯d just taken gold at the LoC Games¡ªLords of Chaos, the most popular Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game to ever exist to date.


    It hadn¡¯t been easy, even with all the effort I¡¯d put in. Winning my way through the tiers wasn¡¯t too difficult, but when I faced up with four other gaming legends, guys I¡¯d studied online and copied in my own run-throughs of the game, I thought that was that.


    This last run had been through a never-before-seen expansion, debuting at this very tournament. The Dungeons of Crayn. Hacking and blasting my way through the game, the pressure had been intense.


    So when those golden ribbons exploded out of the ceiling to flutter down around my console, I drew off my goggles and spun just in time to catch my beautiful wife, my daughter, and my son. It was a glorious moment, and one I will almost certainly treasure forever.


    Especially since I might never see them again.

 Chapter Two – Arrival

    One moment, I was wrapped in my wife¡¯s embrace, breathing in the familiar fragrance of her perfume, soaking in the momentousness of my victory, my left arm raised high in a victorious V for all to see. The next, I was somewhere else. Somewhere cold and damp. Shirtless, with only a ragged pair of breeches to protect my modesty.


    Darkness reigned in this new world, a thick curtain of waking unconsciousness that obscured all senses, all sights, and all sounds. It was like being enveloped by a sea of ink¡ªblind, disoriented, with no idea what lay ahead. And I was so tired. It felt as though I had been roofied. My head throbbed, a dull, relentless ache, and my body felt numb, foreign, as if it didn¡¯t belong to me.


    Tremendous pain wracked me, spiking through my body all at once. Ice. Everything felt like steaming, thawing ice, crackling and breaking under the natural heat of my body. A chill surged through me, slushed blood rolling through my veins¡ªa sensation I had never known before. My scattered thoughts began to align, igniting a strange warmth at the tips of my horns, flowing inward toward my core.


    Horns? I sensed them vaguely, standing curved from my head, their weight somehow familiar and bearable. A wave of liquid energy rippled through me, flooding my mind and grinding my thoughts into sand. It felt like rising from the dead, my body now numb and motionless, as if it had been in slumber for a millennium. Even the base of my newly appeared horns felt aged and worn, pried at, and cracked. I tried to lift a hand to check them and heard the metallic clink of chains.


    Only then did I realize my confinement. The reality of it hit me like a sledgehammer. I wasn¡¯t free. I was trapped.


    The air around me reverberated with words, hissing and clipped¡ªa guttural sound born deep within those who spoke. The growled syllables mixed with the terrifying darkness of something infernal, a language foreign to me yet resonating with an uncomfortable familiarity.


    ¡°Help,¡± I croaked. The word barely made it past my lips, but the sound of it was enough to stir the sensation of bubbles rippling through my veins as I felt my being thaw. It was a hot pain that seared yet soothed all at the same time.


    ¡°Help,¡± I repeated, the word gaining strength as my mind began to awaken, fighting against the tug of dreams and slumber. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and smoke. Chants echoed around me, a low, rhythmic drone. I was shackled in chains¡ªmy hands, legs, and even my head immobile.


    My dreams had become a nightmare in one fantastically horrible instant.


    Finally, I forced one eye open, then the other. My surroundings began to take shape, and I sighed. This wasn¡¯t a bed, and I wasn¡¯t waking up from some horrid after-party, alcohol-induced nightmare.


    I was upright, my arms chained above and legs chained below, strapped into place on a sturdy oaken rack. The wood bit into my skin, rough and unyielding. Around me, the sound of dripping water echoed in the darkness, the air damp and heavy. The chanting grew louder, a twisted hymn that seemed to resonate with the very stones of the chamber.


    Not really the celebration I¡¯d expected after winning the tournament. Something in my mind clicked, a voice whispered unintelligible nothings, and suddenly, I could see more.


    Infravision. Somehow, I¡¯d just turned on infravision. The world around me lit up in shades of red and blue, revealing the room in sharp, eerie detail. Candles flickered in a circle around me, their heat tiny stars in the thermal glow of my night vision. Beyond this circle knelt humanoid figures, the radiance of their heat glowing a dull orange from their knees and bowed heads. They were the chanters, their words merging into a collective, fearful moan that spoke only of horrid things to come.


    The chamber was vast, the ceiling lost in the shadows above. The walls were lined with strange symbols and glyphs, glowing faintly with an unnatural light. I gritted my teeth, anger welling up inside me. I wasn¡¯t going to be this night¡¯s sacrifice.


    As it all was going now, I was certain of just one thing. Whatever the hell had happened to me, I was going to find out who was responsible, and I was going to tear his head from his body.


    A force stirred hungrily inside of me, the faint sound of waves lolling through my ears. Through my mind flashed an image¡ªnumbers, letters, garbled words and symbols. The room around me seemed to fade as my consciousness was pulled into a vision.


    The waves grew louder, more defined, and a voice echoed within my mind. Welcome to our realm, vaunted one. The sound was internal, inside my brain, and I groaned to think of what that meant. You and I are to be partners in glory.


    I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the voice, but that just made things worse. An image of a being, ten feet tall and blue-skinned, stood before me. Its eyes gleamed like ice, and its two curved horns shined a brilliant translucence that was more like crystal than bone. Its two arms were incredibly large, swollen with muscles admired at gyms all through the world.


    Topping the beast off were scales, shimmering with iridescent colors, creating a mesmerizing pattern that extended from its chin to its ankles. It grinned at me, showing off wicked fangs that could easily gnash and tear the toughest of cube steaks.


    Looking deep into its eyes, I felt an even greater shiver rack my body than I had felt upon waking. This being, this is what I was now.


    The monster cocked its head. Things could be worse, eh? You could have been tele-merged with a mouse.


    I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I felt the clink of the chains as I shrugged. ¡°What the hell is going on around here?¡± I asked aloud, my voice shaky.


    The monster laughed, the sound reverberating through the chamber. The Hells, not Hell. I was drawn from a beautiful place of ice and snow, where the tormented of the Heklan are exposed for an eternity as punishment for their sins against the Triarchy. You should check it out sometime.


    A crystal-clear vision of an iced vista expanded to consume me. Within this place, the moon glittered in a frosty sky, slopes of mountain rising well higher than sight in every direction. A frozen lake stretched out beneath me, and I could see a thousand effervescent things moving through its crystal freshness.


    It would have been a truly blessed sight, if not for the screaming of a million tormented souls. The sound was almost deafening. My chains rattled dimly in some other reality as I lifted my arms to cover my ears.


    And then, as suddenly as it had come, the vision was gone.


    The Goblin Empire sacrificed a hundred thousand slaves, a member of the royal Gharagian bloodline, and a couple of dragons to boot. All to summon the greatest champion of the Prime Material worlds.


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    Another vision swarmed over me, pulling me away from the icy wasteland. High up in the sky, I saw a world without the grinding, whirling smoke of automated factories or the artificial shrine of chrome and waxed automobile bodies rolling through the world on tails of dirty exhaust. Instead, it looked like Earth from some thousand years ago. The lands were flat and grassy, with villages and fields splayed out in every direction. The light tan of trodden trails and dead-grass roads rounded through it all, connecting this hub to that.


    I was falling now, seeing greater and greater detail as the wind whistled past my ears. There, beneath me, was a large city¡ªthe largest of all the cities I had seen, in fact. A mob of beings gathered below. Some human, like me, but many were of other fantastical species, like some scene from a gaming convention. Most corresponded to something traditional, like the squatted crimson-cloaked figures of goblins. But others were far more outlandish, like the three-armed, four-legged, many-eyed tower that clambered about in absolute sapience despite its rather constructed appearance.


    My plummet halted, my body bouncing off of a forcefield unseen and simply holding there, stuck like a bug in flypaper. What I was shown horrified me. Being after being was pulled, bound, up the steps of a triangular pyramid, words screamed into the sky before their throats were cut and their bodies were kicked out of the way for the next in line. Clouds of red darkness steamed from the building, undulating in waves, crackling with lightning and thunder. Farther in the distance, I saw the dead bodies of what must have been two draconic younglings. Dragons, like those seen in European artworks, but dog-sized like the infamous one from the painting of Saint George the Dragon Slayer.


    I can¡¯t say I ever had love for dragons one way or the other, but the sight of them dead at such a tiny size gave me a small piece of sadness. It didn¡¯t seem fair.


    Fair is subjective. Your soul has been brought here to fight for the goblins, but they couldn¡¯t well use you without you having a body. And they wanted you to be strong and powerful right off, so they infused you into the body of an ice infernal.


    The words turned all of this into a greater and more horrid realization.


    Yep. You have possessed me, the mighty Ice Lord Jeldorain, against my will. Our purpose is to give the goblins the rest of the continent in a contest of iron and blood. Talk about fair. Before all this happened, I was about to get married to my 37th wife.


    The world snapped again, and this time I saw a brightly lit version of where I was, as seen from a fly on the wall perspective. I saw my captors. They were cowled, wearing robes of brown and red that ran all the way down to the floor, like old-timey monks from a French monastery. I got the sense that they were laughing at me, even though they were kneeling, their faces pointed towards the floor.


    A surge of anger tore through me, and I watched, mystified, as an image of myself tore those faces from their skulls, and chewed their flesh. The taste was magnificent.


    I recoiled in horror, the vision snapping away as reality reasserted itself. The cold, damp chamber came back into focus, the weight of my chains grounding me in the here and now.


    Oh, get used to it. There¡¯s perks to having my body¡ªthe tremendous taste of sapient pain and suffering is one of them. Be sure to dig in whenever you get a chance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to take your word for it,¡± I muttered. I opened my eyes, taking in the chamber around me once more. The infravision still painted everything in that eerie glow. ¡°If I close my eyes, can you make it entirely clear for me like you did for that vision? I think I want to try to get out of here, and this thermal vision is just a mess.¡±


    You¡¯ll get used to it, but yes. For some mana, I can cast a spell that allows you to see the clear reality of everything for a brief time.


    ¡°Mana?¡± I asked, the word catching in my throat. Things were starting to get weird again.


    There are no mana points in your world?


    The absurdity of it hit me like a ton of bricks. I pictured myself sitting in an asylum, rocking back and forth, chanting ¡°mana points¡± repeatedly. I laughed out loud, the sound echoing off the stone walls.


    A deep, raspy voice cut through my laughter, dragging me back to the grim reality. ¡°Awake, are you?¡± There was amusement in the tone, tinged with an undertone of promised malice.


    I closed my eyes, allowing the vision to clear once more. I was the ice infernal, in chains that glowed with magic, bound hand and foot to great pillars on either side of me. The man who was striding towards me was tall and broad-shouldered, wearing spiked plated armor, a crimson cloak hanging limply from his back. His unhelmeted head was shorn of hair, and a cruel grin rode his face, just begging for a beatdown.


    On his armor, glyphs and runes shimmered, not much different from the druidic ones I¡¯d seen in documentaries on TV. Seeing them put a damper on my current plan of escape.


    Plan? Jeldorain mocked, cackling from within my soul.


    He was right. I needed a plan. Something quick that I could run at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, giving myself more time to think.


    The man laughed, a sound that echoed through the damp chamber. ¡°Who am I? I am your summoner, your lord and master. I am he who has bound you, infernal, and you, great general. And you are my promotion,¡± he leered. ¡°Once, of course, you have been brought to heel.¡±


    I chuckled, no mirth in my tone. ¡°You just sucked the most stubborn man on his planet away from his body, put him into a supernatural killing machine, and you expect him to be your slave? Who in the hells approved this plan?¡±


    ¡°Pah,¡± he answered, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°All break when the right measures are used. And it isn¡¯t as if this arrangement won¡¯t benefit you. Serve the armies well, and you yourself can be a lord someday.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± I asked, each word laced with barely restrained fury.


    The man smiled, baring his teeth. ¡°What do I want from you? I want everything. I want your brilliant mind to lead the armies of the Goblin Empire to victory over all the nations of the world. I want your strength, your speed, your endurance, and your skills to keep you alive as you do this. I want you to be my champion, my enforcer, my weapon. I want you to kill, to conquer, to dominate, to level up, and become the greatest scourge to our enemies.¡±


    He paused, placing a single finger to the corner of his mouth. ¡°That¡¯s not too much to ask, is it?¡±


    A vision swept through my mind, this one more real than the others. I saw my body, comatose, sprawled on the floor of the gaming lobby. My wife Casey screaming frantically for help while my children cried, and people freaked out in the crowd. It didn¡¯t look like much time had passed, and my heart filled with rage.


    You got this, kid. I believe in you, Jeldorain said.


    There was a flash of light, and all my chains stopped glowing. With a roar, I tore my body away from them, shattering them into a variety of snakelike loops at my feet.


    The man¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°How did you¡ª¡±


    His throat was in my hand, his body raised off the ground, in seconds. ¡°Don¡¯t know. Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Squeezing as hard as I could, I felt his windpipe pinch shut, his entire neck collapsing into bloody mulch.


    Lick it off your fingers.


    The urge was gross yet powerful, and a frosty-crimson haze covered my vision. But the monks were off the floor, and they had weapons in their hands. I¡¯d deal with that, and everything else, later.


    Bellowing in rage, I charged their massed number, a rush of death. The first two I broke with my fists, shattering their chests and collapsing their hearts. But the air thickened as I pushed forward, the space around me sparkling blue and white, images that I couldn¡¯t quite perceive flashing on and off throughout the aura.


    Men in black robes stepped out, blasting cones of murky power into my body. I managed to reach out and tear the arm off another of the cultists, turning and using it to bludgeon the head off a fourth. But a slow despair was creeping into my anger.


    This was too much. I wasn¡¯t ready for them.


    Pain seared through my body as I was blasted again and again with magic. Some of it, I noticed, faded into wisps of nothing, barely touching me at all. But enough came through to do me harm, and I fell to the ground. The earth beneath me cracked open and sprouted tentacles of chain. They glowed a spectral white, looking quite pretty as they ensnared me. I could feel my strength fading, my vision blurring.


    ¡°Sleep,¡± the man commanded, his voice echoing in the chamber. I fought against the wave of exhaustion that swept over me, but it was too strong. My eyelids felt heavy, and I could no longer keep them open.


    As the darkness swallowed me, I thought again of my family in the lobby. I was going to get back to them. And I would destroy anyone who got in the way of me doing it.

 Chapter Three – Dreamscape

    A moment later, I was back in my living room, sitting on the family sofa. Sunlight poured in through familiar windows, casting a warm shine over the carpeted floor, the coffee table, and the framed photos on the wall. The air smelled like coffee, and for a moment, I really thought that maybe I¡¯d simply been dreaming.


    For an instance I dared dream it was real. But then I noticed the dogs weren¡¯t there. Normally, they¡¯d be all over me, tails wagging, cold wet noses shoving against my leg. Big Fat Maggie would already be lying in my lap.


    But the room was still, too still, and that¡¯s when the first flicker of doubt crept in. I reached out for the remote and I flicked on the TV.


    The screen came to life in a spinning kaleidoscope of colors, flashing and shifting in a way that made my stomach churn. No morning news, no cartoons, just a chaotic mess of images and sounds that didn¡¯t make any sense. I winced, jamming the power button to shut it off.


    I stood up, the floor under my feet feeling strange¡ªsoft like flesh and pulsing as if it were attached to a beating heart. I gasped, a knot of anxiety tightening in my chest. ¡°Casey? Kids?¡± My voice echoed through the house, sounding loud and desperate.


    There was no answer. Just silence. I wiped sweaty palms on my blue-jeaned knees, shaking my head before turning towards the kitchen. Maybe they were outside. Maybe I¡¯d walk over to the windows there, look out towards the front yard, and see them playing basketball together near the garage. But as I took a step, the TV flickered back on, this time filled by loud and crackling static. It was like a swarm of bees buzzing inside my skull, and no matter how many times I hit the power button, the damn thing wouldn¡¯t turn off.


    ¡°Casey!¡± I shouted, louder this time, my voice cracking with panic as I moved through the house. But everything was wrong. The air was getting colder, and I could see my breath in front of me, each exhale a little puff of white mist.


    The static on the TV stopped, but the silence that followed was even worse. The walls were covered in a thin layer of frost now, the ice crawling across the floor and up the furniture as if it was alive. The light outside dimmed, turning that warm, golden glow into something pale and sickly.


    And that¡¯s when I knew it for certain. I wasn¡¯t home. This wasn¡¯t real. I was in hell.


    A laugh echoed through the room, deep and rumbling, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It wasn¡¯t just a sound¡ªit was a feeling. One that crawled under my skin, wrapping around my spine like a cold, arctic hand.


    ¡°So this is the great champion? What a disappointment,¡± a voice said, low and mocking. I turned toward the TV, and there he was¡ªJeldorain, staring at me from behind the layer of ice that covered the screen. His eyes were cold, blue, and filled with something that wasn¡¯t quite amusement. ¡°Sit down, Ryan. Let¡¯s talk.¡±


    I didn¡¯t move at first. My feet felt like they were frozen to the floor, and I strained against the unreality of it all. If I sat down, if I listened to him, I¡¯d be giving in. I¡¯d be accepting this madness, accepting that my world was gone to me. But the cold was biting at me, and my legs felt weak, so I sat down on the couch. The ice cracked and crunched, but the cushions were soft, and even a little warm.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t real,¡± I said, but it came out sounding more like a question.


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    ¡°Real? Not in the way you think,¡± Jeldorain replied, his voice rolling out of the TV like thunder. ¡°This is a dreamscape¡ªa place where your mind and mine meet. We¡¯re in your head, Ryan, but this is as real as anything else you¡¯ve ever experienced.¡±


    He was right in front of me now, stepping out of the TV like it was the most natural thing in the world. His massive body filled the room, the air around him freezing as he moved. His skin was blue, shimmering like ice, and when he smiled, it was all teeth¡ªsharp, glinting, and not at all friendly.


    ¡°Where am I really?¡± I asked, my voice barely a whisper. ¡°Where¡¯s my body?¡±


    He tilted his head, like he was amused by the question. ¡°Your body? It¡¯s back in your world, lying in a bed, hooked up to strange devices that beep and whirr. Your brain¡¯s dead, at least by their standards. But you, Ryan, you¡¯re here with me. In this place. And that means we need to talk.¡±


    The words hit me like a sledgehammer. I could see it, that hospital room, the sterile white walls, the machines keeping me alive. I could see Casey, sitting next to the bed, holding my hand, her eyes red and swollen from crying. The thought of it made my stomach turn, and I could feel something inside me snap.


    ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this, aren¡¯t you?¡± I spat, the anger boiling up in my chest. ¡°You¡¯re feeding off their pain.¡±


    Jeldorain¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Their grief is like a fine wine, Ryan. Rich, full-bodied, and it only gets better with time. But it¡¯s not just their pain I enjoy. It¡¯s yours too.¡±


    I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. ¡°You sick bastard. This isn¡¯t a game! My family needs me! Put me back!¡±


    His laugh was loud, echoing through the frozen room. ¡°Put you back? I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not how this works. You¡¯re here because you were chosen. The champion spell picked you, and now you¡¯re stuck with me.¡± He shook his head and sighed. ¡°It also means that I¡¯m stuck with you, an apparently nothing being that is about as far from the intentions of the spell as possible.¡±


    I slammed my fist down on the coffee table, and this time the wood splintered under the force. ¡°I¡¯m not nothing! I¡¯m a husband and a father, and I¡¯m going to find a way out of this! I¡¯m going to get back to them!¡±


    The memories came rushing back¡ªCasey¡¯s smile, the way she¡¯d look at me like I was her whole world. The kids, laughing and playing, their voices like music. The warmth of our home, the life I had. It all felt so far away, and the thought of never seeing them again made me want to tear the walls down with my bare hands.


    Jeldorain¡¯s scowled. ¡°You think it¡¯s that easy? We¡¯re both prisoners, Ryan. Trapped by magic that¡¯s older and stronger than you can imagine. I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s a way out.¡±


    ¡°There has to be,¡± I said, standing up, my voice firm. ¡°There¡¯s always a way out. Why did the spell take me? Why am I here?¡±


    ¡°Maybe the spell made a mistake,¡± Jeldorain said, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Or maybe it saw something in you that I can¡¯t. But if you really are the champion it was looking for, then you¡¯re going to have to prove it. When we wake up, we¡¯ll be in chains, heading to some sadist¡¯s fortress to be educated into the ways of obedience. If you¡¯re really the champion, you¡¯ll find a way to break free.¡±


    His words hung in the air, and for a moment, the only sound was the creaking-crackling of the ice as it spread, inch by inch, over everything. I didn¡¯t want to believe him, didn¡¯t want to accept that this was real. But deep down, I knew it was.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I said, meeting his gaze. ¡°But I¡¯m going to need to know more about, well, everything. Magic, mana . . . it all reminds me of a video game. Nothing like my world at all.¡±


    Jeldorain stared at me, sizing me up. ¡°I¡¯ll mentor you, teach you how to escape and fight and survive long enough to find a way out of all of this and back to your home. But it¡¯s hard to know what you do and don¡¯t know. I can see snippets of things from your mind, about your world, and all of it is so different and alien. A dimension without the order of our numbers. Perhaps an unrecorded hell. I will advise you whenever you encounter things that you don¡¯t know, starting with your character sheet.¡±


    ¡°My character sheet?¡± I asked. Around me, the room began to shake and Jeldorain let out a long groan.


    ¡°This is going to be much harder than I thought. We are waking up now. I¡¯ll meet you in consciousness.¡±

 Chapter Four – Peering Into My Soul

    When I woke up from the spell, it was to the wonderful sensation of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. There I was, chained up again, this time with twice as many of them looped over me, securing me tightly to the hardwood wall. There was some light creeping in from under the front set of double doors, two shadowed figures sitting next to it, and the way it seemed to stream rather than simply radiate gave me a hint that we were all moving.


    A sudden lurch confirmed my theory, as did the narrowness of the supposed room. This was a prison cart, no two ways about it. As I became more awake, I felt a light vibration and a gentle swaying. Wherever we were going, we weren¡¯t going there in a hurry.


    Which suited me fine. I felt much better and heartier than before, my massive body well-rested, horns straight and strong. If I could break free again, there¡¯d be no stopping me. I examined the chains that bound me, recognizing them immediately as the same sort that had held me in the chanting room. I frowned and closed my eyes.


    ¡°Jeldorain?¡± I thought, digging into my soul. The sense of cool liquid was there, but it was accompanied by a guttural grinding. Snoring. He was still asleep from the spell, apparently, and hadn¡¯t been able to come and join me in the waking world.


    That complicated my plan a bit. I¡¯d been hoping to see if whatever he did to the chains before, he couldn¡¯t just do that again here.


    But there was something else there. A menu? It hovered, wavy and ethereal, in the center of my being. I reached out to it, and it clarified, showing me what looked very much like a character sheet. I thought to our conversation in the dreamscape, and wondered if he¡¯d been able to reach out briefly to whatever part of our soul held the thing and push it forward into my mental view.


    THORACK, the name field read. On the right-hand side, I could see Jeldorain¡¯s body in profile, and underneath my name were a series of statistics and fields.


    I snorted, and the sound that came out was deep and resonant, echoing off the walls of the cart. It wasn¡¯t the sound I expected¡ªa low, rumbling growl that seemed to vibrate through my chest and out into the world. It was a sound that could definitely intimidate even the bravest of souls, and it took me a moment to realize that it was Jeldorain¡¯s voice melded with my own. This world, this happening, was just getting weirder and weirder. But a small part of me was intrigued. If this sheet was me, and this world really did operate on some sort of game physics, I could certainly become a champion here.


    And that fit with what the strange man had told me before I took his life.


    There were Attributes. These consisted of Strength 20, Endurance 20, Agility 16, Wits 10, Intelligence 14, and Luck 6. Seemed straightforward enough. There weren¡¯t any descriptors anywhere to explain the exact effects of these stats, but considering that they were the same as the stat blocks we¡¯d had in Lords of Chaos, I felt I had a pretty good idea what each one meant. Anything I didn¡¯t understand now, I could learn after I busted out of here.


    After that was a line informing me that I was Level 5, underneath which were Resource Pools. These consisted of Level 5, 100 Hit Points, 70 Mana Points, and 50 Stamina Points.


    Beneath these, there were Skills, and all of those were divided into two categories¡ªBattle and Civil. I saw that I had an S-rank in Whips and Scourges, no doubt a gift from my infernal host. There were a series of special attacks and abilities listed after the S-rank, but the C-ranks I held in all other melee weapons had no abilities attached to them at all. It made me wonder what a D-rank might look like.


    I examined the special abilities in my S-Rank. At present, I had Whirlwind Attack, Disarm, and Swing. The first cost 20 Stamina to attack all enemies in range in a circle around me, which seemed useful enough. For 10 Stamina, the Disarm allowed me to attempt to snag and acquire a weapon from an enemy¡¯s hand, which sounded amazing. The Swing option allowed me to snag a protruding overhead ledge or object and use it to swing over the ground in a 180-degree arc. It all sounded very Indiana Jones, and I was quite satisfied with it.


    Ultimately, it all came down to one thing¡ªafter busting out of here, I was going to have to get a long, barbed whip. Something to lay down some real heavy damage with.


    I couldn¡¯t wait to see how they were going to keep me from going back home. An icy shiver ran through me, and Jeldorain shimmered into existence, taking the place of the previous character sheet.


    I have shaken the spell and am ready to guide you. Where are we and what is happening around us?


    Opening my eyes, I looked again through the dimness of my prison, observing the door and the figures next to it.


    An image bubbled up from inside me¡ªmy infernal form tearing through the chains, ripping off their heads and stuffing them up their rears.


    ¡°Can you unmagic the chains again and let me out of here?¡± I asked him, my voice low and rumbling, almost a growl.


    My mana points are too few, and we haven¡¯t yet had a dedicated rest. Have you examined the character sheet? Use the powers there to guide your escape. This one is all on you, master strategist and grand champion.


    I grinned and chuckled, the sound a dark, ominous rumble that seemed to shake the very air. Grand champion indeed.


    ¡°Hey, you, shut it.¡±


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Standing from their chairs, I could now see my guards. They were two armored humanoids, their chainmail armor glistening under the weak light, the metallic shimmer cold and unforgiving. Though the leather leggings spoke of a lower standing on the totem pole, the firm and professional grip they had on their hefty maces told me that they¡¯d not fall easily in a fight.


    I wondered how I¡¯d made such an impressive observation, and Jeldorain chortled within me.


    Didn¡¯t matter. The stern expressions on their faces were enough to send a chill down the spine of any mere mortal. Those were the eyes of men who liked to play with their catch before they sliced their throats.


    But I was no ordinary being. And from the sounds of things, they needed to keep me alive.


    Their eyes held a wary gleam, telling me they knew I knew it too.


    Their chests bore an emblem, crudely drawn and poorly detailed. A well-muscled goblin, atop a giant wolf, encased in a flaming sphere.


    The Goblin Empire, oh grand one, Jeldorain informed me tauntingly. I couldn¡¯t see him, but I swore he was sneering. My right hand opened and closed, desperately itching to hold something with which to brain my guards. I growled again, the sound reverberating off the walls. There was nothing I could do, yet I had to do something. I rattled my chains and bellowed. Their hands went to the weapons at their sides, their eyes widening.


    ¡°Boo,¡± I said, chuckling, the sound low and menacing. There had to be a way here, and I had the feeling that despite their professional acumen, I had them spooked. And why wouldn¡¯t I? I certainly wasn¡¯t something you¡¯d bring home to meet mom and dad.


    Not any longer.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Bit off more than you could chew?¡±


    A thrill rolled through my body, the thought of juicy raw meat in my mouth. The sensation was so powerful I could taste it, and it was absolutely delectable. Liquid rolled out of my mouth, taking a strangely long time to get to the floor. They stared, their weapons now in the air and at the ready.


    ¡°What are you on about, monster?¡± the one asked. Unlike the other one, this guard''s features were barely visible in the dim light, yet I could tell he wasn¡¯t human. The rough texture of his skin, a greenish-yellow hue; there was no doubt in my mind that it was a hobgoblin.


    I shook my head to get rid of the slimy saliva flowing from my monstrous maw, feeling the waves of hunger slowly subside and the drooling end.


    The guards stared for a few minutes after, before muttering curses and sitting back down next to the door. All was silence again, as we bobbed back and forth with the motion of the wagon. I racked my brain, trying to think of a way out of this mess. I was in some sort of gamelike world, but I was bound and powerless, so it might as well have been the county lockup after a wild night of too much drinking.


    Still, it¡¯d be a waste of time just standing about. I spat some last dregs of hunger-spit into the corner. ¡°So where are we off to, dicks?¡±


    They turned to face me, startled half out of their seats and hands on the hilts of their weapons.


    ¡°No, stay sitting. It¡¯s all good. I get the feeling that there is going to be a lot of time between here and wherever we are going, so we might as well introduce ourselves. Apparently, my name is Thorack, even though just yesterday I was Ryan. And you guys, well, you¡¯re the dicks who chained me up and are taking me to who-knows-where to apparently make me into some sort of superhero for your empire. So, I was just curious, where are we going?¡±


    The human chuckled and took off his helm. I could see him better now¡ªa peachy tan, freckled face, slightly saggy bags under both eyes. Dude was three days from retirement, as far as I could tell. He brushed a hand through a mop of trimmed graying hair, the sides sheer cliffs where it¡¯d all been shorn by a straight razor.


    ¡°You¡¯re a funny one, monster,¡± he said, standing fully now. His legs, I noticed, were cart-worthy, automatically adjusting to the sway and occasional clump of the wagon as we continued to trundle forward. ¡°Don¡¯t smell none too nice, but I¡¯d guess it¡¯s none your fault. And cuz I likes ya, I want to give ya a bit of advice.¡±


    The cart rumbled on, swaying, while the hobgoblin stood up and took off his own helm, his eyes gleaming brightly over a ruffian smile, wiry black waves marking him as younger than his compatriot. I saw the shine in their eyes, and I knew what was coming.


    Lifting his mace, the guard grinned before he thrust it forward into my stomach. ¡°Shut yer trap,¡± he said, each syllable emphasized by a strike to my gut. Behind him, the hobgoblin¡¯s head turned upward, roaring laughter into the ceiling.


    ¡°I see I gotz a lot to learn,¡± the hobgoblin said, before turning and punching me in the balls.


    I have to tell you, I saw stars. The pain was enough that I could feel tendrils of Jeldorain¡¯s iciness curl out and, for lack of a better word, drink it in. He shivered in delight, laughing as he did so. I closed my eyes, ready to have words, when a sudden blast rocked the cart on its wheels.


    ¡°What the¡ª¡±


    A second blast flung all three of us sideways as the cart tipped over, crunching and crackling but retaining enough structural integrity not to bury us alive. The sound of screams and metal on metal filtered in from the outside.


    And my captors¡ªthey were weaponless, helmless, off their feet, and well-confused.


    While I, still chained, was not actually chained to anything. Not anymore. The weight of me, combined with the force of the explosion, had been just enough to tear me and my chains from the walls of the cart.


    Bounding to my feet, I seized the chains hanging from my wrists and lashed out with them. The first one exploded against the side of the wagon, leaving a splintered hole in its wake. A sunny day flashed through, bright with the promise of freedom. The human guard used the moment to grab a crossbow from the floor next to him. I noticed a whole rack of them had fallen and scattered next to where the guards lay. The guard fired a bolt, and it hit me in my pec, drawing blood.


    I snarled, the sound a deep, animalistic growl. Moving into another attack, I thought the special attack Disarm as I swung, moving to fill the space between myself and the guards even as my wound eddied blood down my torso. I wasn¡¯t sure how everything slowed so wildly, but I leaned into it, using that slow-motion moment to measure the angles at which my captors had fallen, and the distance between myself . . . and their jugulars.


    Likewise, the stretched-out audio of the moment let me catch a distorted idea of what was happening in the world outside of my prison. I could hear the grinding chuff of a horse at a tenth of its regular speed, the immeasurably long twang of two crossbows firing simultaneously. Steel on steel. And chanting. Magic.


    My body trembled slightly. There¡¯d been enough of that stuff today.


    Angling my body into the blow, I judged my next attack and tried to let loose, but found my attack stuck on the crossbow. In an instant, the slow-motion around me ceased. I watched, enraptured, as the end of my chain ensnared the human¡¯s wrist, and I tore his hand from his body.


    Jeldorain applauded within me.


    I spun, swinging again and smashing the side of the human¡¯s face. He stuttered words, spitting blood and convulsing where he lay along the edge of the wagon.


    The hobgoblin had recovered, though. I tried to reach into myself and get back that slow-motion I¡¯d had just a moment before. It wasn¡¯t coming.


    Didn¡¯t matter. I¡¯d learn about all of that later.


    Scrabbling, the hobgoblin guard made his way to the hole in the wagon wall and pulled himself free of the wreckage.


    The gurgle I heard a second later told me that someone outside had finished him for me.


    I wasn¡¯t sure how I felt about that. Especially since I had no idea of their intentions.

 Chapter Five – Ike the Kobold

    Coiling up my chains and digging my feet into the splintered wood beneath me, I awaited the arrival of my new possible foe or savior.


    I was quite surprised when it turned out to be a kobold.


    So far, most everything had stayed in the lane of the game Lords of Chaos. Which made dark sense since I had just become the world champion of it when I was taken.


    However, in Lords of Chaos, a kobold was a scaly small fellow, a ridiculous mutated cousin of the draconic evolutionary tree according to the Monsterpedia. Feeble enemies, they were basically in the game to give first-level characters something to lord over. I eyed him over, trying to ascertain how such an enemy figure could have so easily dispatched what had seemed to be a veteran warrior.


    As I watched, the small humanoid being clambered in, saw me, and gasped. He was clad in worn leather armor and thin deerskin breeches, the latter of which sported rusty brown and red stains.


    ¡°What the hell are you?¡± he asked, not flinching in the slightest. I noticed that in one hand he held a short and wickedly curved blade, the make of which I did not recognize.


    And in the other was clasped a handful of loose dirt, a sliver of it sliding out from the bottom of his fist.


    ¡°Thorack,¡± I rumbled. Was I? Should I be using my real name, or the one that this horrid world / possible delusion had given me? Jeldorain snickered inside of me.


    ¡°Ryan,¡± I corrected, watching the small being warily. He was a shifty one, I could see. Not only was his blade bloodied, the crimson stains around his mouth and on the points of his teeth told me that he was a bag full of tricks when his life was on the line.


    There was another stench to him, though. One that went past the scales of his hide and the obvious smell of weeks or months living outdoors.


    He smelled curious. And friendly. I pondered the sensation, wondering how I was able to smell feelings.


    It was one last spell. The absolute last of my mana points, oh great champion Ryan. Get me dedicated rest, and I might be able to help you once more, Jeldorain explained.


    ¡°Thorack Ryan?¡± the kobold asked. ¡°Or just the last one? Been in this situation more times than I can count, buddy, so trust me when I tell you that it isn¡¯t weird if it¡¯s just the last one. And no judging, Gharag-cultists are the worst.¡±


    He snorted loudly, a nasal chuckle that raised Jeldorain¡¯s hackles inside me. I shushed him, delighting in the fact that I wasn¡¯t about to have to fight again. Assuming the rules were mostly Lords of Chaos, I¡¯d rather know more about my character build and skill selections before I accidentally used up some unique one off ability or levelled up and chose the wrong ability raises.


    The kobold looked me up and down once, before gesturing to the hole. ¡°If you trust me, I can take those chains off lickety-split no problem. But, if you don¡¯t, come on out and meet the crew. They should have finished off this damnable menagerie about now.¡±


    I frowned. Menagerie? What in the hells was he on about?


    ¡°Take off my chains here, kobold, and tell me what just happened. Was this a rescue?¡± It didn¡¯t seem likely, since I¡¯d just gotten here. But it was possible that there was a storyline already in play, and I¡¯d just happened to get shot into the middle of it. The idea made my stomach sour.


    He laughed. ¡°Kobold was my mother¡¯s name. Just call me Ike,¡± he replied. His voice was jovial and the accent of his English lacked the yaps and barks that the kobolds in Lords of Chaos exhibited. I nodded, extending one hand.


    ¡°Ike, then. Thank you.¡±


    Ike opened his hand, letting the dirt within fall to the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t make me regret this, Ryan. This wasn¡¯t a planned rescue. I have no idea who or what you are. But I figure you¡¯re in the menagerie, so that makes you a friend.¡±


    He reached a tiny hand into the pocket of his breeches and took out a tied knot of small tools and what appeared to be the pieces of keys.


    ¡°Yes. Friend,¡± I said, thinking back to the horribly powerful hunger lust of not so long ago. I wondered if it was simply an urge reserved for enemies, or if I had indeed become a real monster. ¡°So, this menagerie, what is it?¡±


    Ike slid down to me, working one of the manacles that bound my massive wrists. ¡°Empire animals and beasts. This whole convoy was full of them. Dangerous monsters. We figured they were meant for his zoo. Not a real handsome target, but we were in the mood to piss them off. But,¡± Ike stopped, cocking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think you and them were heading to the same place. Got a feeling you were supposed to do something different. Like maybe the whole zoo menagerie was a cover.¡±


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    I nodded and sighed. ¡°From what they told me, I was meant to be some sort of super slave soldier.¡±


    A manacle clinked and fell from my wrist to tumble awkwardly to the floor. ¡°Kinda sounds awesome when you say it like that. Sorry to have gotten in the way.¡±


    Chuckling, I watched as he did the rest of the chains, taking them down one after the other with a dexterity that was impressive to watch. ¡°So, the dirt in your hand? You were going to throw that into someone¡¯s eyes if they tried to fight you?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Damn straight. I¡¯m S-class in Dirty Fighting, so why not use it? I know a lot of people are all about being honorable and fair. But there''s neither of those in dying.¡±


    I nodded, absorbing the fact that he¡¯d just mentioned a character sheet item casually in direct conversation. Wherever I was, the weapon skills were observable by all it would seem.


    ¡°I¡¯m S-class in Whips and Chains,¡± I responded.


    Ike stopped what he was doing and gave me a long up and down, before shrugging. ¡°Something that looks like you? Doesn¡¯t surprise me. Not gonna find any of those weapons out there though,¡± he said, tilting his scaly head in the direction of the cart¡¯s egress. ¡°Probably best keep these chains and craft them into something worthwhile when you get the chance.¡±


    I nodded. Beneath me, Ike finished the last of my chains, letting them clink to the floor. I bent over and collected it all up into my arms.


    This time the little kobold stared at me, his head cocked quizzically. ¡°What, your inventory full? A guy like you, I¡¯d guess Strength at least 18, probably more like 20. Those chains are heavy, but they won¡¯t take up more than 9 slots. And there is no way the guards didn¡¯t strip it all clean when they captured you or whatever. So what gives?¡±


    A hoarse yell sounded from the outside, the spicy scent of blood mixed with trail dirt wafting into my nostrils. They flared involuntarily, and Ike¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Sorry. Not sure if I should be telling people, but I need all the help I can get. I don¡¯t belong here.¡±


    Ike cast about, spotted the corpse of the human, and took a seat on his stiffening body. ¡°I¡¯m not huge on fighting. Not when it¡¯s a Party Combat and all the XP is equally shared. Tell me what¡¯s up and I promise to keep my lips sealed.¡±


    So many thoughts raced through me. Everything was so bizarre and broken here. I didn¡¯t know who or what to trust, but I had the sense that this little guy in front of me, an enemy in my world of online gaming, was someone I could confide in. Someone who¡¯d help me more than the arrogant infernal soul inside of me.


    But how could I say it? The world I was from was very different, yet so many of these terms came straight from a myriad of players¡¯ handbooks and gaming guides. It could have been pulled directly from the internet, so similar was it to what we all played back home.


    I stuttered once, sighed, and began in earnest. ¡°I am a champion from another world. A world where I was human, and not this. I had just won a great tournament when my spirit, I guess, was pulled from there into this body. The body of an ice infernal named Jeldorain, or so he says. Not sure if I¡¯m supposed to trust the word of an infernal even if I¡¯m sharing their body with them. In my world that is what we would call a bad idea.¡±


    Ike laughed. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re bound by truth, but not afraid to twist it. That¡¯s what the sages say anyways. Go on.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been here long. I woke up in this body, imprisoned, with a bunch of cultists chanting and some guy came and told me that I¡¯m meant to be the champion general of the Goblin Empire. Then I killed a bunch of them, was put to sleep with magic, and woke up in this cart.¡±


    Ike whistled. ¡°Damn. Well, not the first time that¡¯s all happened. Conjuring champions is a legendary spell. Takes a lot to pull off. Seems like they would have taken better care of protecting you wherever they were sending you. Not gonna lie, I¡¯d love to tell this story to the rest of them. But I¡¯m not gonna.¡±


    I smiled, a sense of cool relief rolling through my skin. ¡°Thank you. And why not?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Because you and me, we¡¯re gonna be best buddies. Like the story of The Dragon and The Mouse. And because I like you. Don¡¯t know why, but I just feel like we¡¯ve got something good rolling here.¡±


    Jeldorain growled inside of me. I like this being, but something doesn¡¯t feel right here. Why do I like this being? Take care of this situation and find our escape. I must . . . ponder things.


    I thought over his words, eyeing the kobold and looking for anything that might suggest treachery. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much use I¡¯m gonna be, to be honest,¡± I said, closely watching his reptilian face for ticks and tells. ¡°I don¡¯t know the rules of this world. I don¡¯t even know how to use my inventory.¡±


    Ike tutted. ¡°Different dimensions have different rules. You¡¯re lucky that this one is an easy one. Mostly you just think the cosmic word, and it happens. That chain you¡¯re holding? Think inventory.¡±


    I gazed at its links and sent it my thoughts. Inventory, I commanded. Instantly it disappeared, a faded text notification appearing briefly in my sight. 9/20 inventory filled. Contents: Chain (Anti-magic).


    Ike put a hand to one scaly ear flap, cupping it and listening.


    ¡°Sounds like the battle is over, buddy. Let¡¯s get you out of here, and back into the light. Oh, and mum¡¯s the word. Just follow my lead, and I¡¯ll teach you the world when we¡¯ve got some time.¡±


    I watched him carefully, but could feel nothing but trust and friendship. If the little kobold was a liar, he was a damn good one.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, the sudden weight of my grief pouring through me, tears coming to my eyes. I followed the kobold out of the wagon, hopes high, and images of my wife and children in my heart.

 Chapter Six – My First Real Weapon

    As I stepped down from the wagon, I was greeted by the dazzling brilliance of a sunny day, an ill-fitted backdrop for the carnage that lay before me. The aftermath of the recent battle was strewn across the field, the gruesome scene marked by the corpses of dozens of warriors being looted by what was presumably Ike¡¯s war party, and a line of broken cage carts, heavy bars keeping them open to the air in a way that directly distinguished my own.


    Inside of these were various fantastical beasts.


    I stared at them, fascinated, and drank in their details. All the creatures were things I recognized from Lords of Chaos. There was a displacer beast, looking exactly as I remembered it¡ªa pitch-black panther with two tentacles sprouting from its shoulders. Its eyes met mine and it snarled, showing a mouthful of gleaming incisors and canine teeth. The eyes shined with malicious intelligence, and as I viewed it, a duplicate of itself appeared outside the cart.


    Tensing, I prepared for combat, but Ike barked a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s a trick. The monster is still in its cage. Don¡¯t worry¡ªjust smoke and mirrors. That double is an illusion.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know what a displacer beast can do,¡± I said, my voice more defensive than I intended. But just because I knew it didn¡¯t mean I was ready to face it. The VR version back in the game was one thing¡ªmy brain knew it wasn¡¯t real, no matter how immersive it felt. But here? Here, if that thing got loose, I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d be able to fight it.


    Turning, I checked the other pens in turn. A carrion crawler, its slimy green body bristling with tendrils, squirmed in one. In the next was a hook horror, its terrifying claws tapping against the bars, while its vulture-like head twisted to and fro. A few cages down, I saw a young owlbear, its massive beak snapping at the air. There were even some mundane animals like giraffes and an elephant, giving me a rough idea of what regular fauna looked like around here.


    My mouth began to water, the scent of blood and battle again rising to my nostrils, and I turned away from my inspection. None of those mattered. What did matter was Ike and his companions. I turned to the little man and saw him pointing to the distant horizon. Shading my eyes against the sun¡¯s glare, I could see a couple of shadows, humanoid, scrambling up a hilly rise and away from the battlefield. A primal urge bubbled up within me to give chase, to hunt down those fleeing from my just vengeance.


    I could nearly taste their flesh, the fear marinating it, the adrenaline of their retreat making them so much more delectable. My muscles trembled and Jeldorain stirred within me.


    The wind blew a cool gust across my face, sobering me just as a small hand touched my calf. I shot a look down and saw Ike staring up at me.


    ¡°Best to just let them go. Our crew, what we do, it all works better if we let a few get away to tell the rest. Gives us a reputation.¡±


    Jeldorain growled inside me, but I pushed him down. I didn¡¯t know what exactly their purpose was. And until I did, it was better to assume that they knew what they were doing.


    Ike had rescued me, after all.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t got a lot of time before we need to beat feet and get on out of here. But it¡¯ll be worth a good scrounge to see if we can¡¯t get you any weapons. Do you have any decent skills in weapons that aren¡¯t whips and chains?¡± he asked.


    I closed my eyes, diving into my character sheet. C-rank. All C-rank. How was it that I was supposed to be this great champion if I just had one specialized combat skill. I opened my eyes.


    ¡°Nothing better than a C,¡± I admitted.


    ¡°C is average for a warrior class, so don''t grump about it. Besides, you can improve your abilities with use. And on certain level ups you also get the chance to raise one combat and one civil ability. How is your weaponcraft skill?¡±


    Opening my sheet again, I looked through my civil abilities and was surprised. Here I had an S-class in Weaponcraft, Leadership, Grand Strategy, and Assessment, with a flurry of A and B-classes besides. Each of the S-classes came with 3 abilities, the A-classes had 2, and the B-classes had 1. Opening my Weaponcraft, I saw that I was able to Fuse for 20 stamina, and Upgrade or Repair, both for the cost of 10 stamina. Fuse and Upgrade also came with a monetary cost of 500 gold coins, and 100, respectively.


    I opened my eyes, the gleam within them telling Ike all he needed to know.


    ¡°That good, huh. Well, tell me what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    We walked through the bodies, stripping them of gear as Ike gave me a good rundown on what to take and what would happen next. Fuse would let me take two weapons plus 500 gold coins and make them into a single new weapon, whether that be by disassembling both to make something new and different, or just combining one directly with the other. With a knowing look, a sack of gold, and his prompting, I took the chains and fused them with a pair of throwing axes.


    CRAFTED! 2-Bladed Ax-Kusarigama, Damage 2 to 18 (+10)(x2), 5% Critical Fail, Weight 5, Speed Medium


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    Great in a pinch, slicey and dicey in a way that your local chef wishes he could be. Welcome to your first fused weapon, the Ax-Kusarigama. Be careful, you¡¯ll chop your eye out.


    I startled a bit at the last line, not because of the humor in it, but because of the seeming earth reference that it represented. Did that mean they were connected? I smiled grimly, hoping that it meant there¡¯d be an easy connection between this place and mine, and that I really could find a way home.


    Focusing back on the weapon in front of me, I allowed myself to examine it. The Ax-Kusarigama looked tremendously exotic, featuring a central handle made of leather wrapped steel and two chains extending opposite each other that held ax blades on their ends. I could see immediately that this sort of weapon would act as a sharpened helicopter blade in mass combat, and that it could easily hurt me as well in the process if I wasn¡¯t careful.


    With my S-class in chains, it felt like a weapon style that I should get used to. Especially since it¡¯d been very apparent during combat that I was incredibly good at using such weapons. Who knew what sorts of area effect damage I could accomplish once I knew it well?


    I told him the stats and he nodded. ¡°S-class will get you double base damage, and your strength will give you a plus on that damage as well. The gold cost is too high to wanna spend on regular stuff like all this crap here, usually, but I wanted to see the make of yer mettle. It¡¯s really not bad. I mean, the Critical Fail isn¡¯t good, but that¡¯s because that weapon is a bit on the unsafe side. There¡¯s a reason it ain¡¯t ever seen on no battlefield.¡± He smirked at the thought. ¡°You can specialize in the weapon to get rid of that fail, and it would look big crazy in a fight. Might want to hold onto that and upgrade it when you can.¡±


    I put it back into my inventory, happy to see that the new weapon had shrunk to 5 slots. Considering how much chain had simply vanished when I crafted it, I wondered if the slot limit wasn¡¯t a function of weight. While Ike explained that I was basically a blacksmith with my Weaponcraft abilities and that I could improve weapons I created or found, depending on how many upgrades they¡¯d already had done to them, I collected more weapons, armor, rations, and even a healing potion. Ike finished talking about the whole crafting spiel about the same time I maxed out my inventory.


    ¡°So now what?¡± I asked him.


    His eyes went wide. Ike turned his head to the sky and he laughed. ¡°Sometimes when you¡¯re busy chatting with a new friend, you lose all track of who you are. Times up and I gotta sound withdrawal. Our group will be splitting into smaller parties and disappearing into the hills. Won¡¯t be much longer I suspect before patrols come out this way, and when they start tracking, we want to give them as many paths to track as possible.¡±


    ¡°It seems like you all handled them easy enough. Why bother running?¡±


    ¡°Heh,¡± Ike said. ¡°Yeah, might seem that way. But these weren¡¯t regular soldiers of the Empire. Cultist private guards, which sounds impressive, but ain¡¯t. The regulars are better trained with more hit points, and the Warg Knights that will be following them are elite. We don¡¯t want to be here for them. Especially since you are here. Makes me wonder if maybe they weren¡¯t heading to hand you off to some better group. Cultists don¡¯t brook regular Empire on their land, so might be your guard was so easy because non-cultists weren¡¯t allowed to be there.¡±


    It made sense in a bureaucratic way. Reminded me of how, when I was working as a first responder, some people wouldn¡¯t let you in to treat their grandma if you weren¡¯t the right faith.


    Thank heaven for extremists, I thought. Heavens, Jeldorain replied. I sighed. It didn¡¯t matter.


    Following Ike to a mass gathering of his people, I saw that they were composed of a great deal of familiar player races. There was a centaur, a couple of dwarves, a black-skinned elf with purple eyes, a nose-picking ogre¡ªno humans, but I suspected that I¡¯d see more of them soon enough. And when we arrived, at the center of it all stood a real-life satyr. His tiny horns glistened in the light of the sun, looking very much as if he¡¯d oiled them over.


    When we arrived, the fellow soldiers were laughing at him while he pranced and played a tune. He saw Ike, and he stopped, bowing to his crowd.


    ¡°Friend Ike, greatest of all the scaled dragon rejects of the world, come late of all things to battle break! Tell us, dear friend, that being beside you, be he rescuee, prisoner, or loot?¡±


    The lot chuckled, looking eagerly to the kobold for his answer.


    ¡°Rescuee. He¡¯s tall and he can help me get things from the top shelf back at base,¡± Ike replied, winking one yellow reptilian eye. ¡°Plus I can ride on his shoulders when my feet get sore.¡±


    The lot chuckled again, and the satyr bowed.


    ¡°Alright, men, parties,¡± Ike continued. ¡°Same as discussed. New guy¡¯s name is Ryan and he¡¯s with me. We can do introductions on the fly. Been here too long already. Up and out everyone!¡±


    The groups formed, Ike moving me into a platoon consisting of the dark elf, a satyr, a centaur, and a goblin. When all were present, a notification flashed across my vision.


    The Party ¡®Champions of the Shadowed Vanguard¡¯ has requested you join them. Do you accept?


    I nodded, mentally pressing the affirmation and seeing all of their summaries in earnest.


    Kevinar Dailstorm. Drow Elf Assassin. A figure of stealth and quietude, his form barely making a whisper as he moves. S-class sneak skill, an uncanny ability to melt into the shadows undetected. A-class dual weapons-wielding. Proficiency with the hand crossbow.


    Brandosyeus Leafroot. Satyr Bard. S-class skill with pipes. A-class ability in music magic. A boisterous figure whose weakness for the female form is perhaps what landed him here with the rebels instead of into the court of some princely goblin duke.


    Jon Schint. Centaur Warrior. A 9 foot tall, massively muscular figure. A-class skill in rapidfire shortbow. A-class in dodge. Fuse ability with armor.


    Ike. Kobold Warrior. S-class dirty fighting. A scrappy reptilian humanoid who champions his people and hopes to one day raise them up into nationhood.


    Schustak Veinslicer. Goblin Swamp Druid. B-Class Nature Magic. Born into an elite family, Schustak was the third child, handed a small purse of coin at the tender age of 15 and sent out into the world to forge his own destiny.


    The last man surprised me, since I¡¯d gathered that his kind weren¡¯t so well liked around these parts.


    The people who benefitted from empires seldom were. I narrowed my eyes. People who tore other people from other worlds were also cause for suspicion.


    We came together, exchanging just a few words, before moving up an incline, and into the darkness of the deep woods.

 Chapter Seven – Let It Go

    As the day gave way to the arms of night, a hush descended on the thick, ancient forest. It was a beautiful place to be despite my unusual circumstances. The golden orange hues of dusk bled through the dense canopy, painting the air with an almost magical glow, rolling over gnarled twists of bark and silhouetting the needles of every pine. Shadows stretched long and strange, creating a patchwork of fading light and darkness over the forest floor. Every rustle of the leaves paired with the scritching of waking crickets, a sound I hadn¡¯t actually heard since I¡¯d lived out in the country as a boy.


    Over my bare torso I now had a tunic and over that swayed light chain links, an armor given me by the centaur with the Earth name, Jon. No words, just a quick hand off and walk away. The stats read:


    Armor Type: Thin Chain Shirt, Defensive Rating: 4, Weight: light


    Unlock the power of mobility and style with our latest and greatest: The Thin Chain Shirt! Crafted on the move, this fashionable piece of impromptu armor blends impeccable protection with effortless charm. Designed to keep you agile on the battlefield and dashing at the tavern, it''s the ultimate in medieval chic! Say goodbye to clunky, restrictive armor and hello to a new era of combat comfort.


    Special Properties:


    Flexibility: The thin chain shirt is highly flexible, allowing the wearer to maintain agility in combat. It doesn''t impose any penalties on movement or agility-related actions.


    Enhanced Stealth: The interlocking chains create minimal noise, granting the wearer a +2 bonus to Stealth checks when attempting to move silently or hide.


    Durability: While lighter than many other armors, the thin chain shirt offers solid protection against slashing and piercing attacks, reducing incoming damage from these sources by 25%.


    Weight Advantage: Due to its lightweight design, wearing a thin chain shirt does not encumber the wearer, taking up 0 inventory slots.


    I blinked at the message. It read like a medieval QVC ad. My mind immediately questioned it¡ªwhy would the system deliver something like this in such a bizarrely commercial tone? Was this some sort of interdimensional glitch, or was there more to this world that I didn¡¯t understand? I pushed those thoughts aside. I needed to stay focused on the mission at hand.


    The armor felt like nothing at all, and I moved in it comfortably while Ike walked next to me, entirely cloaked in shadows from his place near my right knee cap. He gaped at the reddening sun, the yellow of his teeth giving away his awed disposition.


    ¡°Never a dull thing, sunset,¡± he whispered just loud enough for me to catch it. ¡°They say that it¡¯s the egg of a giant dragon, to crack open in a billion years and raise us all up to divinity.¡±


    I grunted, not at all surprised at how strange it was. ¡°Sounds like one of those things that are great on paper and suck in reality.¡±


    Jeldorain roared with laughter inside of me. I ignored him.


    Ike nodded. ¡°Yeah. It definitely wouldn¡¯t be fun to be here when it happens. And no one can say what the divinity part means exactly. I like to think that it means we¡¯d all be gods. But I¡¯ve lived long enough to know that the gods we have now wouldn¡¯t allow it. They¡¯re like everyone else. They want hierarchy. They need to be better than others.¡±


    ¡°So what else could divinity mean?¡± I asked, intrigued.


    ¡°When I was growing up in our warren, just a couple jumps away from a human village and their garbage pit, our shaman used to tell us that it meant energy. Food. Manna. Whatever it is that the gods use to stay alive and be gods. But that¡¯s kobolds for ya. We ain¡¯t optimists.¡±


    I was silent after that, my thoughts turned up to the sky and the beings that existed there. Surely there were good ones mixed with the bad ones? That was how the game pantheons usually worked. But in Earth''s history, so many of the ancient society gods were merciless, greedy, and selfish to the extreme. Which made sense. The kobolds almost certainly had it right.


    I glanced over at the shadows of the rest of my colleagues. All of us were in tactical near-silence, just the occasional murmur here and there as the tiniest of small talks went on between them. Our armor was covered with light skins of hide, the perfect blend for the environment.


    As the last of the sun went down over the horizon, a perfect blackness engulfed us.


    ¡°Finally,¡± a voice rasped. It was deep, a baritone, but it lilted as if unused to the language it was speaking. ¡°That infernal orb is gone. It felt like it was never going to leave.¡±


    ¡°Pipe it down, Kevinar,¡± another voice said. This one had a hint of a whinny to it, the feeling that it could at any moment break into snorting and neighing. ¡°Whining in front of the new guy? You should be ashamed of yourself.¡±


    There followed snickers, including one from Ike himself, and I realized that this was a normal contest of the night. Something this group did traditionally, perhaps to keep back the stress of their lives.


    ¡°Your mom should be ashamed of what she did last night,¡± the satyr Brandosyeus lilted at them. The man was a tenor, I noticed, a honeyed melody clinging to his words. ¡°Though, in many other ways, she should not.¡±


    Ike actually laughed out loud at that one, clapping applause. ¡°We¡¯ve got virgin ears over here, boys. Let¡¯s cap it up and bring it in. Low fire, Kevinar on backtrack,¡± he barked. I switched over to my heat vision and saw him standing close, his red-orange hands cupped over scaly lips. ¡°Actually, Kevinar and Schustak. Goblin hasn¡¯t had night duty in a week as far as I can remember.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Not a problem,¡± came the goblin¡¯s voice. His was more like that of the whiny kid from the back of class who was always asking questions to the teacher. ¡°Miss Becca,¡± I could hear from the back of my mind, ¡°It says here that the President lives in the White House. Does that mean that the President lives in the White House?¡±


    The thought and the comparison made me bust out laughing, my deep-throated giggles and squawks bouncing off the trunks, trees, and boulders that surrounded us.


    ¡°Scratch that,¡± Ike said. ¡°New guy, you¡¯re with Kevinar. It might be camp time, but that¡¯s no excuse to scream our position to everyone in a ten-kilometer radius.¡±


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    The guys chuckled, but I couldn¡¯t muster more than a half-hearted nod. Something was nagging at me¡ªsomething I hadn¡¯t had the chance to address since this whole nightmare began. I¡¯d been following their lead, sure, but I couldn¡¯t shake the growing need to take control of my situation.


    The question, of course, was how.


    As I peered around the cluttered forest, I spotted the figure of a lithe elf slinking off back the way we¡¯d come, and I hurried to join him. I¡¯d have to find a way to talk to him. In Lords of Chaos, the drow elves, like him, grew up in a place of powerful dark magics that seemed to have no limit . . . when the right price was paid.


    And I was rather sure I was ready to pay whatever might be asked. But first, I¡¯d have to figure out how to broach the subject to him.


    Behind us, there was the shuffle and clatter of equipment being taken out, and small tents being erected. It actually wasn¡¯t bad to get away from that work¡ªunless there was some innate game skill inside of me, I wasn¡¯t sure I could deal with the peculiarities of medieval camp.


    Coming up to his flank and matching his speed, I kept my weapon out at the ready. I saw the elf turn to me and nod before increasing his long-legged pace. I kept up, and soon we were well out of sight and hearing range of the little camp. Here we slowed down to a walk, spying through the many trees for any hint of residual heat.


    ¡°There are spells that can clear up heat. Special abilities too,¡± the elf whispered. ¡°So it¡¯s not a bad idea for one of us to use normal vision and look around for light.¡±


    I nodded, switching off the heat vision and exploring the night. The trees weren¡¯t as thick here, and the light of the moon was falling down upon us, casting silver rays through gaps in the canopy. It made the forest look skeletal, prognostications of doom rising to mind as I realized how many times I¡¯d seen similar scenes in horror movies with my wife Casey.


    I gulped, throttling the sudden heaviness inside of me. I¡¯d see her again. This wasn¡¯t going to be a permanent thing. I¡¯d get back to my body and my family.


    ¡°Something wrong?¡± Kevinar asked. I stared at him, uncomprehending and confused, the emotions making a tangle of my mind. My eyes traced his pointy ears, the unnatural shine of his ebony skin, the glowing purple irises set into eyes curved upwards, and I stuttered.


    ¡°Sit down,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not going to run this patrol any farther ''til I know what in the hells is wrong with you.¡±


    He was gesturing at a massive stump, and I took it despite not knowing if the rotted timber could take the full weight of my infernal body. There was a tang to my lungs and I could feel an overwhelming sadness rising inside me.


    As delectable as I find human misery, this is not the place for it, boy, Jeldorain said. You can cry your heart out when you get an actual rest and regain us our powers. Just keep it in.


    I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as I stared up at the sky, focusing on the distant stars to keep the tears at bay. Prepared, I faced the elf again.


    ¡°Kevinar,¡± I started, keeping my voice low, ¡°I haven¡¯t really had a chance to explain much about myself. The truth is, I¡¯m not from around here¡ªlike, not from this world at all.¡±


    Kevinar stopped in his tracks, turning to fully face me, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Not from this world?¡± he echoed. ¡°So you are saying that an infernal of the hells, in the land of the mortals, is from another place? Please, tell me that you don¡¯t think so little of my intelligence.¡±


    I sighed, frustrated at his sarcasm. ¡°I¡¯m human. From another world. Trapped inside the body of this thing.¡±


    I could see the gears turning in his mind, the drow¡¯s calm demeanor shifting slightly as he processed what I¡¯d just said. His purple eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, reflecting a glimmer of intrigue.


    ¡°A human possessing an infernal. Merrily enough, it is usually the other way around.¡±


    ¡°I know it sounds insane,¡± I continued, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°But it¡¯s true. I was pulled here from another world¡ªmy world. One where magic, creatures like displacer beasts, and all of this,¡± I gestured to the surrounding forest, ¡°only exist in games and stories. I need to find a way back to my family. There¡¯s got to be something¡ªsome magic or portal¡ªanything that could send me home.¡±


    Kevinar stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing the truth of my words. Then, slowly, he nodded. ¡°Infernals don¡¯t lie. They bend the truth, and speak in riddles often, but I detect none of that in your words. I believe you Ryan.¡±


    I blinked, surprised at his casual acceptance, despite how easily Ike had also taken my words as real. ¡°I¡ªthank you for that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t do thank you over trivial matters. If it turned out you are an infernal who somehow has mislead me, I don¡¯t see how it would affect matters any. So it is easy for me to take you at your word. I have questions, though. Your presence here, within that body, is intriguing. Why you? What makes you so special that you were chosen? Spells capable of what you say come with a powerful price.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted, frustration seeping into my voice. ¡°I¡¯m just a regular guy back home. But here, I¡¯m in this body, with this... infernal,¡± I said, motioning to my horrific form. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why any of this is happening. All I know is that I need to find a way back to my family.¡±


    Kevinar¡¯s gaze softened slightly. He rubbed his chin, looking away as if trying to piece together a puzzle. ¡°I see,¡± he said, his tone thoughtful. ¡°You¡¯re a stranger in a strange land, trying to make sense of it all. I suppose that makes two of us, in a way.¡±


    He fell silent for a moment, clearly deep in thought. ¡°If you¡¯re really from another world, then finding a way back won¡¯t be easy. There are ancient magics and secrets buried deep in this land¡ªsecrets that not even the most powerful beings dare to uncover. But if you¡¯re determined, and you prove yourself worthy of it, I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    I nodded, clenching my fists. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to be worthy.¡±


    Kevinar returned my nod. ¡°Good. Start by keeping your eyes open tonight. There are worse things in these woods than you might realize.¡±


    ¡°I will. It¡¯s hard though. My family. They¡¯re gone, and it¡¯s all I can do not to run off from this group and find a way back to them. It hurts to sit around, seemingly doing nothing.¡±


    Kevinar sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at me. ¡°I know the feeling. My wife was taken and made into a drider. That¡¯s a half-elf, half-spider. One of the horrors of the deep. All because she¡¯d backed the wrong house. Or so they said. I¡¯m rather sure she didn¡¯t back any house at all.¡±


    I gaped at him. I knew about driders somewhat from Lords of Chaos. But I never thought about what they really meant. The trauma attached to such a process. The people who would have been left behind from each and every time one was created.


    ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry,¡± I started, my own worries suddenly taking a back seat to what I¡¯d just heard.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even,¡± Kevinar said, waving a hand as if to brush the thought away. ¡°In my culture, it is supposed to be considered an honor. The first words out of their mouths when they told me was that she¡¯d ascended. That¡¯s what they called it. She¡¯d ascended, and because we no longer had a female head of family, my son was taken into the military academy.¡±


    I put up a hand and he placed his own on top, pushing it down.


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t do sorry. This is life, what we have. I lost everything, and I came up here and got something. I left my home in The Underground and spent my time working merc jobs for this group or that ''til I fell in with this lot. There¡¯s no point in feeling sorry, you know. It¡¯s just a thing that happens and then you move on.¡±


    He looked up at the moon, and his eyes twinkled and glowed. ¡°When I first came up here, that light there, it burned me. It hurt my eyes. But now I kinda like it.¡± He looked me up and down, and I realized he¡¯d turned off his own heat vision. ¡°I knew you were something big and bizarre, but seeing the real you, I gotta say that I¡¯m impressed. Stay with us, learn the world, and I will help you find your way home when the opportunity presents itself. That¡¯s the all of everything. Take it, adventure with me, earn your way back to the life you have left, assuming you can. I look forward to seeing you in combat.¡±


    An owl hooted overhead, and I turned away from him. His life¡ªit had the dark feeling of divination to it. As if I¡¯d just been given a glimpse of my future. And if this was what was waiting for me, I¡¯d rather die now.


    ¡°Did you try¡ª?¡± I started, and he waved me down.


    ¡°Pointless questions, Ryan. Pointless thoughts. I tried, and it hurt more than if I hadn¡¯t. I was unsuccessful. But my undertaking was almost certainly more impossible than yours promises to be. Prove yourself worthy and I will help you.¡±


    I thought of myself as him, the distance between my family and myself growing over the years, their memories fading and their names becoming something of the past. It was too much to bear. I blinked my eyes several times, but despite my efforts, a tear slid down my face.


    ¡°You stay here,¡± Kevinar said, reaching out to pat my hand. ¡°There is time for you to grieve. Just watch the area. I¡¯ll be back in a slide of the moon.¡±

 Chapter Eight – First Blood

    A hand touched my shoulder, and I glanced back to see Kevinar, finished with his rounds. He gestured for me to follow, and I fell into step behind him, keeping a wary lookout on our surroundings as we moved.


    It was a beautiful world. The moon cast a silver glow over the wilderness, where crickets sang to the stars, bats cut through the night with sharp cries, and distant frogs added their own chorus. There were no mosquitos, and I wondered if that was also something inherent to this planet, or if it were due to my infernal bloodline.


    My grandmother''s voice echoed in my mind. "Find blessings where you can," she always told me, usually after a reminder that God had made the Irish number one. As strange as it might sound, the memory settled me some. I needed to keep an eye out on things and look for my opening, but I wouldn''t get to my family by just running off into the world screaming for them. I''d have to work with this team, learn the system, and then master it.


    As we neared the camp, the strains of music reached us, a lilting tune that made me smile despite myself. It was an expert composition, one that somehow carried with it the earthy scent of leaves and damp soil. Despite my guess that it was magically enhanced, I still appreciated the effort that must have been put into producing it. The moon above was now a deeper silver, and its shine added to the joviality of the nighttime serenade.


    As we crossed the threshold into the warmth of the camp, Brandosyeus the satyr came into view. He stood quite majestically, bathed in the honeyed glow of the fire. His fingers danced over the length of a wooden panpipe, each note breathed into life. I felt the music waft over me, seeping into my weary bones, kneading the fatigue out of them with invisible, melodic hands.


    This was bardic magic. I cast him an appreciative eye, and he caught it, giving a short and curt bow in my direction while continuing his tune. I gave him a good thorough look this time, absorbing the satyr¡¯s details and filing them away into the monsterpedia of my mind. He was the height of a human, which was smaller than Lords of Chaos satyrs, but he had the telltale small horns curling up from his forehead, and the almost naked hindquarters of a goat in place of where us humans normally wore pants. Thankfully his front was covered by what could best be described as a furry thong, so the large bulge behind them didn¡¯t dangle and dance for all to see.


    Around the fire, I could see the rest laying back, their eyes closed, soaking in the magic. I cast a glance at Kevinar, and he nodded back in my direction, taking a seat and leaning back to listen to the melody. But even on the ground, I couldn¡¯t help but stare.


    The satyr himself was simply mesmerizing.


    He wore a merry earth-toned vest that left bare his six-pack abs and hinted at his large pecs. Over top that was a well-groomed goatee sprouting from an impossibly handsome face. A half-grin rode his face, showing off a single dimple pressed into the bottom of his cheek.


    He caught my eyes, a bright intelligent green meeting my own infernal ice blue, and he grinned.


    ¡°Brandosyeus at your service. I hope my song of rest has eased the weariness of your imprisonment.¡±


    I stretched, surprised at how loose my body felt. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, amazed at the friendly aura he emanated. And it hit me. This was some sort of Charisma effect! It hadn¡¯t been listed as an attribute, but I¡¯d bet a thousand dollars it was a bardic skill that he had an S-rank in.


    ¡°Thank the goddess moon, friend. It¡¯s been a long day for all of us, but more so for yourself I would expect. Let my music carry you to the land of sleep. We¡¯ll all take care of watch tonight.¡±


    With his words, a great heaviness rolled into my shoulders and back. ¡°Thank the goddess moon,¡± I said, heaving a great sigh. Closing my eyes, I snorted once, loudly, fading away to a darkened and dim layer of coals sweltering under the opposite-angled moon of the dying night sky.


    ¡°Wha¡ª¡± I started, the events of prior crashing over and into me. It wasn¡¯t a nightmare, of course. It never was. Sitting up, I glanced about the camp, looking at my companions before extending my eyes¡¯ reach to the trees about us.


    I didn¡¯t know who was on watch, but I hoped they were paying attention. Because something was definitely out there. Goose pimples pricked up on my arms, and within me, Jeldorain stirred.


    Flesh. Mortal. I heard a heavy snuffling in my soul. STRONG!


    The ground shivered beneath me, and my body reacted in a way it had never done before. Arms hit the ground while my legs pumped and kicked, throwing me up to my feet in a single second. I found myself standing, massive fists already in a battle-stance before me. It was all wrong, though. A brawling stance, not the Jujitsu that I practiced back when I was human.


    ¡°Something¡¯s here!¡± I bellowed, my eyes searching the ground for my Ax-Kusarigama. It glinted dully in the fallen moonlight. I grabbed it, letting the links slink through my palms. All around me, my new comrades-in-arms took to their feet, muttering curses, flashing weapons to their hands and gear to their bodies from their inventories as they took up battle stances.


    Right. Inventory, I thought, embarrassed that I''d left my own equipment in a pile next to me.


    A message prompt flashed across my vision.


    Random Encounter!


    Danger abounds in the deep dark woods. Sometimes that danger is you . . . sometimes it is something else.


    In the blink of an eye, our campsite was transformed into a battlefront. Swords were drawn, arrows were nocked, and magic swirled with potent energy. All eyes turned toward the gloomy forest, anxiously awaiting the unseen menace. It was not Kevinar who held my attention, nor Brandosyeus with his magic panpipe now silenced. It was the eerie feeling creeping up my spine, the prickling warning of my infernal blood.


    Beneath the shroud of darkness, the forest seemed to shift. The moonlight that once bathed the trees in a gentle silver glow was swallowed, leaving an oppressive blackness in its wake. Branches rustled, and trees swayed as something moved towards us, shaking the ground as it did so.


    It felt so close. So ready to strike. And yet everywhere I looked, there was nothing.


    ¡°Well where is it?¡± Ike piped up, standing on my left flank with his short, curved sword in one hand and a tell-tale handful of dirt in the other. A tree crashed, half-taking out another of its companions in its splintered demise.


    Kevinar, taking a place at my other flank, glanced at me. His sword was at the ready, radiating a fierce, otherworldly glow that emanated a deep sense of dread. My fingers tightened around the Ax-Kusarigama; in response to the magical fear of his blade, or a reaction to the anticipation heavy in my gut, I couldn¡¯t say. This was it. The first real fight since my transformation.


    ¡°Positions!¡± Kevinar''s voice cut through the silence like a knife. Everyone fell into a defensive circle, weapons at the ready. The music-maker, Brandosyeus, had lost his mirth, his panpipe now held in but one hand, the other gripping a leaf-bladed dagger that glowed a vibrant green.


    And then it emerged. A long red line of health streaked across the top of my vision, and for a second I couldn¡¯t tell if this was the system keeping me informed of my health or if it were emphasizing how tough this bastard of a monster we were about to fight really was.


    Stolen story; please report.


    It didn¡¯t take long for me to realize it was the latter.


    Screaming a shrill octave, a massive beast easily the size of our pontoon boat back home burst from the forest floor, flinging mulch and forest loam out in a ringed wave before it. It was covered with an extremely hard and heavy armor-like hide that shined metallic in the midst of unnatural blue-brown fur. And its head was best described as a splitting wedge, but with a giant maw filled with razor-sharp teeth.


    The only thing not terrifying about the beast were its tiny eyes, and its soprano shriek. The rest of it might as well have been pulled from my deepest and darkest nightmares.


    ¡°A forest shark!¡± Kevinar spat. His face was hard, a stone etched with lines of determination.


    ¡°Hold the line. Don¡¯t move. They can¡¯t see well and mostly depend on us running around.¡±


    His command was met with a chorus of grim assent, the voices of Brandosyeus, Jon, and Schustak vowing their obedience. Every muscle in my body tensed, coiled like a spring, ready to snap into action if the thing took a single step in our direction. My grip on the Ax-Kusarigama tightened further, its chain rattling softly against the silence. The sense of danger from earlier amplified, overwhelming my senses.


    Jeldorain within me was stirring again. Fight. Kill. Consume. A dark urge rumbled through the depths of my being, the taste of raw bloody animal flesh being chewed in my mouth. Too late, I realized I¡¯d temporarily lost control. As my mind was away, my body had sprinted forward, whipping my blades in a deadly arc that slashed between two of the beast¡¯s armored plates and arced blood out over the battlefield.


    [Achievement Unlocked: First Blood]


    +50 XP


    Objective: Strike a critical hit against a powerful foe.


    ¡°Damn fool,¡± Ike screamed, closing in just a few steps behind me. The rest were following, a symphony of curses as they ringed the monster, a battle dirge piping through from our rear.


    My heart pounded in my chest as I faced the forest shark, the adrenaline surging through my veins. Jeldorain''s instincts had taken over, and now I had to deal with the consequences of my impulsive attack. The creature roared in pain, its tiny eyes searching for the source of the pain.


    Kevinar''s voice cut through the chaos, commanding us to reform the line and stop moving. I retreated back to my original position, the Ax-Kusarigama held tightly in my hands, ready for the next move.


    The forest shark lumbered forward, its massive body swaying with each step. It seemed to be blinded by my impulsive attack, its vision hindered in the darkness. This provided us with a small advantage, but we couldn''t rely on it for long.


    ¡°Spread out and keep it disoriented,¡± Kevinar called out, and we followed his instructions, circling around the creature while avoiding its deadly jaws. The bard, Brandosyeus, began playing his panpipe again, this time producing a haunting melody that wove through the air, confusing the forest shark further.


    With my heart still racing, I focused on my breathing, trying to steady myself. I was back in control of my actions, but I didn¡¯t know for how long. I had to make sure I didn''t lose myself to the dark urges within. The battle was intense, and I couldn''t afford to lose my sense of self in the midst of it.


    As we circled the forest shark, Jon and Schustak launched arrows and spells at it, trying to chip away at its health from a distance. The creature bellowed in fury, snapping its massive jaws at anything that came too close.


    I watched for an opening, a chance to strike without putting myself in direct danger. Finally, I saw an opportunity when the forest shark lunged toward Kevinar. Taking advantage of its momentary distraction, I rushed forward, using my infernal strength to propel myself high into the air.


    With a fierce battle cry, I brought down the Kusarigama in an arc, aiming for the creature''s exposed neck. The blade connected, slicing through the armored hide and drawing another spray of blood. The forest shark let out a guttural roar, thrashing in pain.


    My landing was rough, but I quickly regained my footing, ready to defend myself from any counterattack. The others continued to rain attacks upon the creature, wearing it down bit by bit.


    As the battle raged on, the forest seemed to come alive with energy. The trees swayed in rhythm with Brandosyeus'' music, their very branches reaching out to join us in battle, clubbing the back of the squealing enemy.


    With a final, coordinated effort, we managed to drive the forest shark back, its health dwindling rapidly. Our relentless assault was overwhelming, and the creature finally retreated into the shadows of the forest, to let out one long whistling sigh and collapse in a tremorous death.


    VICTORY! 300 XP rewarded!


    The tension in the air dissipated as we caught our breath, realizing that we had survived the encounter. We had fought as a team, supporting each other and overcoming a formidable adversary.


    Kevinar clapped me on the shoulder, a smile breaking through his serious expression. ¡°Impressive, Ryan. You fought well.¡±


    I nodded, feeling strange at the sight of the blood on my large, demonic hands. I¡¯d never killed anything before I came to this world, and three bodies in, it felt strange to not feel any remorse or strong feelings about it. I wondered if that made me some sort of psychopath. ¡°Thanks, Kevinar,¡± I said robotically, feeling dazed.


    ¡°Foolish to charge like that,¡± Ike reprimanded me. ¡°Forest sharks have a swallow whole attack that can end you in seconds. Be careful.¡±


    Brandosyeus snorted. ¡°We are the Champions of the Shadowed Vanguard. Such a grand company of heroes do crazy and heroic deeds! And are rewarded in such by the immortalization in song.¡±


    ¡°Songs no doubt sung by you, at the bar, for coin and the admiration of cute women,¡± Ike replied, chuckling.


    ¡°Indeed. It is a hard life, but for one such as I, it is my due calling.¡±


    Brandosyeus resumed his music, this time playing a soothing melody that eased the tension in the air, ebbing the adrenaline from our bodies. We moved forward to the corpse, Ike giving it a once-over.


    ¡°Nothing in its inventory, lads, but the armor plates are great treasure on their own. Eight plates, so I¡¯ll take three as captain, Kevinar gets two, and you all get one apiece.¡±


    I nodded, accepted the plate from the kobold, and put it in my inventory.


    ¡°Good to sell?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yeah, and this is one of those things that are worth fusing. I¡¯d suggest doing that now before you sleep. Was a lucky find, Ryan. I look forward to seeing what you have crafted when we wake in the morning.¡± Ike tossed me a sack of coins. They clinked as they landed in my outstretched palm.


    We settled back into the camp, the memory of the battle still fresh in our minds and a glowing sense of camaraderie flowing through my body. These people were not just friends. They were better than that. They could be counted on to get me back to where I belonged. Hope and relief commingled through my body, buoying my spirits.


    ¡°Everyone sleep,¡± Kevinar said, some of them already doing so. ¡°I¡¯ve got the rest of watch. I don¡¯t want to rest anymore anyways.¡±


    Sitting around the embers of the fire, I lay with my weapon and pulled out the plate I¡¯d gotten from the forest shark. Focusing on them, I imagined fusing them together and watched them sparkle as my ability did its magic.


    CRAFTED!


    Behold, the Titan-Ax-Kusarigama. Enchanted by the scales of the fearsome forest shark, imbued with the absolute power of its magic, this weapon is a rare one, and those who can wield it are rarer still. The Titan-Ax-Kusarigama will attain one elemental power during fusion. What will that power be?


    I stared at the dialogue, surprised that it was being so interactive. Last time it had been wham, bam, thank you ma''am, simply throwing me a weapon and being done with the foreplay. But now that it was asking me for personal wants and specifics, I wondered how customizable some future items might actually be.


    And how easily exploitable.


    ¡°Ice,¡± I stated, watching as my words turned to game script before my eyes, spreading across my vision like ink on parchment. It was classy, the way it looked, and if I weren¡¯t trapped in another world bereft of my family, maybe I would have appreciated it that much more.


    Freezing Kusarigama. Epic.


    A favorite among greater infernals of the Icy Hells, this weapon is capable of not just terrific damage but may also freeze opponents into place for a period of 10 to 20 seconds. Using the weapon in multiple combats will attune the user to it, granting additional powers.


    I looked down at the weapon, astonished by its appearance. The central handle was a polished steel, light blue in color, that registered 12 inches in length. It was wrapped in a fine cured leather that simply screamed comfortable grip and that confused me to no end since no leather had ever been involved in any aspect of its crafting. From the handle¡¯s end extended a shimmering chain, the links covered in a thin coating of frost. Ice motes danced around them, winking in the dull light of the campfire.


    Another prompt grabbed my attention. Would you like to name this weapon?


    I pondered it briefly. Freezing Kusarigama was a definite mouthful, and as an epic weapon it deserved something awe-inspiring anyways.


    ¡°Frostchain,¡± I replied, watching as the words appeared in my vision and meshed with the weapon descriptor.


    Frostchain, Damage 4 to 36 (+10)(x2), Weight 7, Speed Fast, Specials: Freeze (10%) Attunement unknown


    The crafting action ended, and I was released from my reverie, left to stare at the weapon that sparkled before me. It was unreal. There was no way this was a normal fuse. I took it into my inventory and lay back, watching unnatural constellations gallop through the sky.


    And so, under the shining orb of the moon, I drifted off to the realm of slumber.

 Chapter Nine – Reflections

    The morning was still, dew steaming from leaves in the early rays of the sun. Woodland oaks and birches rose tall around our camp, their branches interwoven to form a natural canopy that kept the harshest light from piercing through. But even with the shadows, I could feel the warmth creeping in, a slow and steady promise of the day to come.


    I shielded my eyes with one massive infernal arm, still shocked at the trunk-like thickness they contained. The sight of my own form was a jarring reminder that this wasn¡¯t some fevered dream. The scales, the claws, the sheer bulk of this body¡ªit was real. I yawned, a pillar of icy vapor escaping from my broad chest, the chill contrasting sharply with the warmth of the dawn.


    The thought that my wife wouldn¡¯t mind a night with me like this, between the sheets, sent a snicker to my lips, and I shook my head as I rose. But the humor was short-lived, quickly replaced by a hollow ache. The image of Casey, laughing and teasing me, was as clear as if she were standing right in front of me. Yet she wasn¡¯t. She was a world away, and the uncertainty of whether I¡¯d ever see her again gnawed at the edges of my soul.


    ¡°All of hell¡¯s horses,¡± I muttered, a curse I¡¯d made up on my own to avoid pissing off the wife and kids. Back home, that sort of thing earned me mockery, playful jabs at my ¡°family-friendly swearing.¡± But here, it only earned me an amused grunt from Kevinar, who stood next to my legs, looking up at me with a curious expression.


    His eyes seemed dull in the light of the day, smaller than I remembered. It took me a moment to realize he was squinting, his usual sharp gaze muted by the sunlight.


    ¡°You alright, Kevinar?¡± I asked, scrabbling up to my feet, the movement making the ground tremble slightly beneath my weight.


    The elf smiled, his teeth gray in the shade of the forest. ¡°The sun and the elves of the deep haven¡¯t been friends for many millennia. But, maybe one day, we¡¯ll be back in harmony. However,¡± he noted, winking, ¡°today is not destined to be that day. Sometimes I enjoy it, though. I won¡¯t be donning my shaded spectacles ¡®til noon, I think.¡±


    I nodded, unsure of what to say. Kevinar was a good man¡ªwell, elf¡ªhe¡¯d shown me that much the night before. But his words were just high fantasy enough to leave me scratching my head. Coming from a world of BRBs and LOLs hadn¡¯t prepped me well for long and detail-oriented conversations. Part of me missed the simplicity of a text message and the straightforwardness of a thumbs-up emoji.


    ¡°Yeah, I hear that,¡± I answered, the words feeling inadequate as soon as they left my mouth.


    Yeah, I hear that, Jeldorain mimicked, his voice echoing through my head in the tone of a whiny toddler. I shut him out. We¡¯d have a talk about last night and what he had done later, when I didn¡¯t need to pay attention. But the thought of facing the infernal entity inside me, really confronting what he was and what he meant for my future, sent a shiver down my spine.


    It wasn¡¯t something I expected many had experience with, confronting a demon sharing the same body as oneself.


    Kevinar looked at me strangely. ¡°I hear nothing but the birds of the aboveground, and the playful romp of fauns just out of sight. Oh,¡± he added, putting a finger into the air. ¡°The sound of a bird in flight, a mouse screeching in protest as it dodges through the undergrowth.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just a figure of speech where I¡¯m from,¡± I said, trying desperately to think about something better to talk about. The last thing I wanted was to delve into the metaphors and musings of my world. I needed something solid, something real to focus on. Something to keep my mind off the fact that I had no idea how I was going to get home, and that I was involved in a fight against an Empire with no real agency, at least until I could find my footing.


    Luckily, Ike came stomping in, looking all grumbly and ready for a tussle. His presence was a welcome distraction, and I felt a surge of relief at the sight of the kobold¡¯s familiar scowl.


    ¡°Sunrise, Kevinar. I told you we¡¯d be rising at sunrise. Why in the Nine Hells are we waking up just now?¡± he demanded, his head tilted all the way back to look Kevinar in the face. The elf just shrugged, raising his palms upward in comic supplication.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°In the deep dark realms of my birth, clocks ticked and wound and grinded. We allowed time to rule us. And now, in the light of the sun, we are to live under the same tyranny? Even after a great exhausting victory over a tyrannous beast? While my mother matriarch might have agreed with you, I don¡¯t. Wanna live by the clock? Wake up by your own damn self.¡±


    The kobold blanched, his sharp-toothed maw and lizard-like eyes wide open. His mouth opened and closed several times before his gaze suddenly slitted, and the first squeak of a chuckle left his lips. It was a strange sound, almost alien in its softness.


    ¡°Yeah, I can see that. Whatever. We¡¯re all awake now.¡± Ike turned, glancing over the camp and seeing the bustle of his men packing for the day¡¯s travails. ¡°No harm done. Ryan!¡± he bellowed, staring up the long length of my body to the ridges of my well-monstrous face. ¡°Did you fuse a weapon like I¡¯d asked you to? What did you come up with?¡±


    I cast my mind into my body, letting the inventory screen rise up and spending a moment to marvel at how game-like this world really was. I knew that logic dictated that I wouldn¡¯t have been drawn from my world to this one if it hadn¡¯t been this way, but the impossibility that such a system could exist naturally made my head hurt.


    But beyond the logic, there was a deeper, more unsettling realization. This world was starting to make sense to me. The inventory screens, the weapon fusions, the quests¡ªpart of me was adapting to it too easily. I¡¯d spent years escaping into games, losing myself in fantasy worlds where I could control every aspect of my character¡¯s life. But this wasn¡¯t a game. It was real, and the consequences of every action, every decision, were life and death.


    Catching the cocked and curious eyes of Ike squashed the thoughts and sent me back to my task. Using my mind as a cursor, I selected Frostchain, marveling at its gleaming 2-dimensional image inside me. Even here the air frosted and sparkled around it, the icy sheen glimmering from some unseen light source. Bringing it out of my inventory, the weapon shimmered like a mirage, coming to solid existence in the grip of my meaty hand, and widening Ike¡¯s eyes to the point that I thought they might just pop.


    ¡°What is that? A legendary?¡± he gasped. Kevinar¡¯s eyes also widened, causing him to curse as the sun¡¯s rays blinded him. His hands scrabbled through the pockets of his cloak, drawing his shades hours earlier than he¡¯d prophesied.


    ¡°Very rare,¡± I answered. ¡°Attunement unknown. The stats look amazing, which makes me wonder what a legendary would look like.¡±


    ¡°No man is powerful enough to hold a true legendary until they have attained a significant level of experience,¡± Kevinar stated, his eyes finally shaded against the light of the day. Beyond him, the rest of the party was heading in our direction, no doubt captivated by the sudden ice-blue sparkle that had appeared in their midst.


    You aren¡¯t a man, Ryan, Jeldorain¡¯s voice bubbled up from within. You can hold any item, regardless of the level minimums. So long as I reside within you.


    I ignored him, giving the infernal the silent treatment that he deserved. It was worrying how he¡¯d taken me over and forced me to charge the forest shark despite my clear intentions to obey Ike¡¯s commands. The magical summoning that had brought me here and stuffed me into the infernal¡¯s body hadn¡¯t completely sealed him away. I needed time to understand it all. Someone to talk to about it without possibly forcing me away from the only allies I had.


    Instead, I kept my face joyous, and I showed off my new kusarigama, answering the excited questions of my colleagues. Given Ike¡¯s previous ire over our late wake-up, I half-expected him to break us up and send us all back onto our path to the rebel rendezvous, but his scaly cheeks were rosy and his eyes intense.


    The rest were quite enthusiastic as well. Brandosyeus eyed it professionally, declaring that the odds of fusing a weapon such as this, even from the plate of a forest shark, were astronomically low, in the realm of 400 to 1. The comparison made me envision all the times I¡¯d rolled critical successes at the gaming table. Luck was not a stranger to me in the old world, and maybe it had followed me to this one as well.


    Jon admired the blade while stomping his hooves, speaking of the great damage it could find in the hand of a mounted warrior¡¯s charge, while Schustak simply noted that, often, ¡°the fuse reflects the soul of the user.¡±


    That last observation made me feel sour inside. It was something wielded by ice infernal on their home plain, and I didn¡¯t at all appreciate being compared to that. I was still Ryan, still human despite everything, and if that fuse reflected who I was, it¡¯d somehow be made out of roses and sunshine. Or at least hints of beef jerky.


    Ike asked about the stats and how it felt in my hand. His questions grounded me, pulling me away from the uneasy thoughts swirling in my mind. As I explained the weapon¡¯s abilities, I could see the wheels turning in his mind, calculating how best to utilize this new asset in our upcoming battles.


    After the weapons chatter was over, we headed out, Kevinar scouting in front, myself standing as the tank in second while Jon kept up the rear. The air smelled sweeter and more fruitful as we progressed, a condition that I appreciated even more when I realized that it was making Jeldorain moan and struggle inside of me. The infernal¡¯s discomfort was a small comfort to me, a reminder that I still had some control over him, even if it was just a little.

 Chapter Ten – The Goblin Encounter

    The natural sounds of the forest were interrupted by the quick, almost silent steps of Kevinar as he darted back to our group. Seeing the taut serious look on his face, the lightheartedness of the morning faded away; the sunshine suddenly less welcoming and the air dense with tension. In a place where the trees spread wide and the canopy above was fragmented, our exposed position made me clench the hilt of Frostchain. Jeldorain''s mocking laughter bubbled up within me, feeding off my anxiety.


    ¡°Trouble?¡± Ike asked, his voice a low hiss.


    Kevinar''s eyes darted about, his usual calm demeanor replaced with evident concern. ¡°Warg Knights,¡± he whispered, ¡°scouring the forest.¡±


    The blood drained from Ike''s face, his tan scales growing pale. ¡°Perhaps it''s best we move back to where the trees stand close together. They won¡¯t be able to maneuver as easily there. And we might be able to find a nook to hole up and hide in.¡±


    Kevinar shook his head, standing tall, defiance sparking in his eyes. ¡°Retreating every time they show up isn''t the solution, Ike. We can''t keep running if we hope to truly revolt. What will we do when the rabble is all gone and they¡¯re the only ones left?¡±


    ¡°Warg Knights?¡± I questioned. I¡¯d heard of them in some of the fantasy novels and games back on Earth, but really had no sense of scale to them. The monsters I knew from the games I¡¯d played wouldn¡¯t be a challenge to such a professional group.


    The group exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and pity. ¡°Ryan,¡± Jon began, taking a deep breath and swishing his tail, ¡°Warg Knights are elite warriors, each one mounted atop a dire wolf warg. Psychically bonded, the unity in their movements and strategy are unparalleled. The wargs are monsters like wolves but thrice as big, with teeth like daggers and muscles of iron. Warg Knights . . . they¡¯re nearly invincible. No one''s ever defeated a squad of them, at least not in any tales I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    ¡°The tales,¡± Kevinar spat. ¡°Glory comes to those who make new tales. And rebellions are won by those who are willing to fight despite the odds.¡±


    Schustak, the goblin, let out a cough, bringing all eyes to him. I gave him a good look over for the first time, this being of the world whose people stood on top of the social pyramid. It was his kind that had forced me here, and left me dead back in my other world.


    Waves of ice radiated out through my body, a sudden rage rising in my chest. I narrowed my eyes, feeling the slush in my veins pump faster, even as something bubbled in my stomach.


    Goblin, I thought, the word dripping with ichor. The ferocity of my feeling shocked me and I tried to stuff it away, giving greater regard to Schustak and observing him more thoroughly.


    He stood shorter than most of the party but something about him exuded wisdom and confidence. His skin was a deep, mottled green, textured and wrinkled like the bark of a tree that had been submerged in swamp water for centuries. Large, yellow eyes, luminescent in the sunlight, shined arrogance beneath a heavy brow. They were shifty, covered in a guilty pallor, always scanning and observing.


    Everything about him screamed untrustworthy. Inside, I could feel Jeldorain assent.


    They took you away from your body. And they locked me deep inside mine. He is one of them. He should be torn apart and consumed, his blood and flesh made energy for the conquest of this pathetic world.


    My muscles clenched, but I forced myself to relax. I didn¡¯t know him; didn¡¯t know why he was here fighting the world that raised his kind above all others. I would listen first and learn his story and who he was.


    I wouldn¡¯t give in to assumptions.


    ¡°We could fool them,¡± Schustak said, his thickly accented voice stretching out his words in long greasy syllables. ¡°We could stand our ground here and trick them into thinking we belong. I was a noble before I found the white stag, and my true place in life. I have knowledge of words and ways by which to deceive them.¡±


    Ike grunted, nodding, and I stared at him in disbelief. Schustak had all of the obvious, over-the-top villainous qualities exhibited by so-called secret villains in cinema. His words and the way he said them were a dead give-away. As was his job. The good druids were always from sylvan glades and forests. Maybe an orchard. Sunny places filled with beauty and prosperity.


    Swamps¡ªI¡¯d grown up in a swamp. Fat rotted willows lined banks of brackish water filled with leeches and swarming with bugs. The sodden ground squelched and moaned when you walked on it, sometimes even breaking through into hidden pools of fetid stagnant water slimed through with the eggs of amphibians. Swamps were natural horror shows, and a sure sign that Schustak was a classic villain in disguise.


    I see no fault in your reasoning, Jeldorain agreed from within. They are monsters, all of them. But consider this. His plan isn¡¯t without merit. He is a spy, for sure, but this isn¡¯t yet his time to turn on us. I am certain of that.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Schustak continued speaking, telling the group his plan to bluff us all through, his words droning as I turned inwards. I¡¯m not worth turning us in for? Seems like they went to a lot of trouble to get me here.


    The feeling of understanding, and even brotherly comfort swept over my body. Would I give us up? I have just as much at stake here as you do. The goblin doesn¡¯t know what we are nor our importance. I suggest his mission is to find the rebel camp, then run off to inform his superiors.


    I thought a moment before responding. I will trust you on this. But what happened with the forest shark, I expect agreement between us before you seize control. Do that again, and I¡¯ll find some way to end you.


    Jeldorain laughed. Indeed, grand champion, I humble myself before you.


    I shut off my mind to him, catching just the tail end of the plan. It didn¡¯t seem too complicated. Schustak would pretend to be in charge of us all. And we¡¯d play the part of his armed retinue.


    With everything in position, we took our places, fanning ourselves out into a protective perimeter around the horrid goblin swamp druid.


    The silence was palpable as the first Warg Knight came into view, the luminescence of the afternoon sun soaking into the black enamel of his steel full-plate armor. With each step the monstrous warg took, the soft crunch of dead leaves and twigs sent shivers of nervous dread through my body. And despite having the stature of a goblin, he looked like an absolute total party killer, the sort of awesome bad guy who¡¯d wipe out not just you and your friends but also the randos you met and recruited in the lobby.


    His faceplate was stylized, shaped into something like the mix between a goblin and a hornless devil. I felt myself waver slightly as I tried to peek behind the mask. There was something unnaturally terrifying about it, almost certainly a magical fear spell baked into the metal, and I wondered if I wouldn¡¯t have run away already if not for the infernal and magically resistant body that I now inhabited.


    More riders followed, emerging from the forest around them until they numbered a total of five. They rode past birch trees in eerie synchronization, the wargs marching in proud and rhythmic unison.


    Watching them progress, their mostly noiseless yet heavily armed presence picking through the forest in a way known only to the greatest of movie ninjas, I felt both awed and over-classed.


    Shooting a glance at Kevinar, I noted that his own face quivered slightly at their approach. I respected the man, his blades, and his earlier call to arms. To see him in the same place as I was downright humbling.


    The newcomers all drew up in line with the first, each of them sitting stiffly upright. Over their hearts burned the fire emblem of the Goblin Empire, a symbol of subjugation and enslavement.


    I glared at Schustak, but could read nothing in his face. My body tensed. Despite the words of Jeldorain, we could very well be sold out in the next few moments.


    ¡°Glory to Gharag. Shall he see us reign forever,¡± Schustak said, pounding his fist over his heart. My pulse quickened, my eyes shifting to see the response of the Warg Knights. They stayed eerily still, like statues in a park.


    Schustak cleared his throat, his hand moving slightly up his staff. ¡°I am Grove Lord Schustak. This is my retinue. I travel to pay homage to Court Heartstabber at Gharag City. We are honored to meet you so close to the start of our travels, and request escort back to the city if you should be heading that way also.¡±


    Finally the original knight moved, his short but bulky arms reaching up to remove his helm and gaze upon us all with urine-yellow eyes.  Greenish-brown skin covered his face, and I noticed that his teeth were snaggle-toothed and jagged as he opened his mouth to take in a great exaggerated huff of forest air, the spiky goatee of his chin pointed accusingly at us as he did so.


    ¡°Ghrak tar zulik narsh in groth-nar vok,¡± he said. The knight raised his hand, pointing at all who surrounded Schustak. ¡°You! Weapons drop or die screaming.¡±


    My heart beat even harder and I looked at Ike, who gave no indication that he noticed. But Schustak spoke loudly, making it very clear by his imperial tone that he was not one to be trifled with.


    ¡°Weapons down. We have no quarrel with these fine servants of the empire.¡±


    I dropped Frostchain, the sight of it now on the ground before me somehow well more terrifying than these goblin powerhouses. One of the knights turned his helm slightly in my direction, and I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he wasn¡¯t about to steal the weapon from me. All with that bastard Schustak¡¯s blessing.


    ¡°We come for battle rebels. They hunting here. Fighting wagons,¡± the knight announced in growling tones. Tones that quickly rose to murderous rage. ¡°Taking many loot!¡±


    Schustak nodded. ¡°We have not seen any rebels. But my retinue and I were the victims of a forest shark attack. Fortunately, my servants are well-capable in combat.¡±


    The knights chuckled at that, and I felt my ire rise despite their expert appearance. Their time will come, Jeldorain agreed.


    ¡°You have monster loot? Emperor want tithe, Grove Lord. Give us here, we bring him.¡±


    Schustak growled and pounded his staff against the ground. It exploded with dark, leathery vines, a dim glow extending from their edges. ¡°We are well-capable, and I am as loyal to the crown and Gharag as my servants are to me. We will not be harassed nor robbed.¡±


    The head knight nodded. ¡°You rebels. We kill. Take all.¡±


    ¡°Grak do, zarok duo thar vok!¡± Schustak bellowed. A blast of energy pounded out from his staff, and suddenly the unnatural fear that had been gathering inside vanished. I felt like me again.


    On his warg, the knight blanched, a mixture of anger and surprise warring on his face. The battle resolved and a clear decision was reached. ¡°Grub zorgak to vorn, zrok wez vrok.¡±


    Schustak bowed. Turning to the rest, he raised his staff above his head. ¡°To your knees. Bow to the might of the Empire, slaves.¡±


    Anger roared in my ears, a sound like heavy snow pounding down the slope of a rocky mountainside. But the others dropped to their knees, kowtowing to the knights as if they were a bevy of ancient Chinese emperors.


    Schustak¡¯s face twisted with rage. ¡°Bow, slave, or feel the wrath of the empire!¡± A bolt of green energy struck out, blasting me in the face, then spreading to cover the entirety of my body with electricity. I stuttered and dropped, performing obeisance despite my best attempts not to.


    ¡°If lying you did, pain will feel,¡± the knight stated. Then, as one, they turned and moved out.

 Chapter Eleven – A Secret Mission

    ¡°What in all of the Tortured Plains got into you there?¡± Ike yelled from knee-level. He had risen from his crouch, his scaly face reddening into blazing fire. His eyes, once playful, were now stormy seas of frustration, anger, and a piercing disappointment that was hard to look at. I liked Ike, and that last part burned in a way physical pain never could.


    ¡°I was afraid that we were being sold out. I think. Honestly, I don¡¯t know what the hell got into me,¡± I stammered, my voice breaking under the weight of his gaze, ¡°and I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t just go along with the flow and bow or kowtow or whatever.¡±


    Hells, Jeldorain laughed, a sound like dark raspy silk that only I could hear. Don¡¯t apologize. What you did was show your power and rage. Now they will all respect you. And that goblin¡ªwe all know he was going to betray us. Your actions prevented him from doing that.


    I turned subtly, catching Schustak¡¯s sneering half-smile and the triumphant glimmer in his beady eyes, as his hand caressed the gnarled wood of his staff like a beloved pet. No matter how hard I pondered it, I couldn¡¯t help but think of him as a villain.


    Goblins were liars. Just like in those countless hours spent in front of a glowing screen, playing those online games. Just characters then, but Schustak was real, and right here. I couldn¡¯t let my guard down. A creature like him would never sacrifice his own gains for the well-being of others, despite the facade.


    You are correct. It is gut instinct, Jeldorain purred within my mind. Learn to trust it if you don¡¯t want to be dead.


    The others stood fanned around us like guards before royalty, their faces stone masks, as Ike¡¯s verbal lashing continued¡ªa lyrical, biting tirade that skewered my character and resolve.


    It evoked memories of boot camp, right out of college, the drill sergeants¡¯ barks in my ear, in a world now dimensions away.


    Ike paused, shielding his face, his eye snapping to the slowly descending sun. His face softened, just a little. ¡°Look, we all freak out and make mistakes. But this and you charging the forest shark earlier, that¡¯s the sort of noob stuff that¡¯ll get us all killed. You¡¯ve got a powerful body. That don¡¯t mean you can do anything you want, and not worry about what¡¯ll happen after. I¡¯m going to need you to think things through and make a decision. Are you with us? Cuz if you are, we do things together as a team. You let me know when you know, alright?¡±


    He put out his arms and turned to face the rest. ¡°And all of you, time to head out. I wanna be at the forest edge by sunset.¡±


    I exhaled slowly as I moved to the rear of the group, my boots heavy with shame and uncertainty, craving the solitude that the back of the line offered.


    Do not brood, Jeldorain whispered. Plan.


    I was a foreigner here, in both land and company. Desperate for home, yet embroiled in this uneasy alliance. How could I unmask Schustak without alienating the rest of the people in this party? Ike had welcomed me warmly before; that warmth was now in jeopardy. Whatever I did, I¡¯d have to be passive about it.


    The mournful caw of a crow pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. It cocked its head, black eyes studying me intently from the high branches of an old, gnarled tree.


    ¡°Hey there,¡± I whispered, a futile attempt at connection. The crow tilted its head the other way before fluttering higher into the branches. A moment shared, yet so fleeting. I flexed my hands, large and clawed, and I sighed.


    Ahead, the rest of the party congregated at the edge of a massive, rolling field of tall grass plains. The sun was dipping lower now, a red orange tinge spilling out into the clouds about it. A river caught its reflection, making it sparkle like a trench filled with fine wine. It was wide and long, and I found myself yearning to feel its waters and see its banks. Something to get me away from my thoughts.


    Between our hill and that river, lay a settlement¡ªno mere collection of huts, but a curious blend of stately and desperate.


    Central to this town, a stone structure dominated, belching thick black smoke into the blue sky. But surrounding it? Chaos. Dwellings cobbled together from rusted metal, twine-bound shields, clay-smeared fabric¡ªdesperation incarnate.


    ¡°What is this place?¡± I asked, my voice a tentative whisper.


    ¡°It was a human city,¡± Brandosyeus answered, his tone as melodic as a lullaby. ¡°A grand one, or so the tales of those kind say.¡±


    My eyes met Ike¡¯s; he grinned, revealing a row of sharp teeth. ¡°What you see is Jonat,¡± he explained, ¡°a mostly human town, shackled by the Empire¡¯s laws. They scavenge to survive. For them, building actual homes is a heavy offense. One that Warg Knights love to take advantage of. So they craft their dwellings with the leavings of the dead, and any garbage they might find along the way.¡±


    ¡°And the buildings in the center?¡±


    ¡°Non-humans,¡± Ike continued. ¡°Dwarvish blacksmiths, an elf¡¯s inn, a mix of caste elites. Not a few goblin families. The mayor of this place, his family, and adventurers to keep things in check. We¡¯ll stop in tomorrow for supplies, but we¡¯ll not be staying the night. Too many eyes watching and ears listening.¡±


    Kevinar slipped over to Ike, whispering words into his ear. He held up a finger, change rolling through his body like a tremor through sand. ¡°Scratch that. We¡¯re going to be staying at the Inn. It would seem that we have need for Elira Nightshade.¡±


    Around us, the rest of the party tensed, as if someone had just cursed loudly during a church sermon.


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    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m missing something?¡± I presented, scratching my big dumb head with the tip of a single deadly talon.


    ¡°She¡¯s a handler,¡± Ike said, his eyes in the dirt. ¡°And Kevinar has information for her. A secret left to him to deliver when we came this way. Secret words best not heard by the rest of our ears.¡±


    I resisted looking at Schustak but felt his presence like a storm cloud. How the rest couldn¡¯t feel it, how they could talk such things in front of him mystified me.


    ¡°So what does that all mean?¡±


    Jon clopped over next to me, pointing out over the city. ¡°It means that tonight we will be staying at that two-story stony building near the center. Near to where the gobbo governor and a few other Empire notables live. Like moving into a beehive and setting up a tent next to the queen.¡±


    I swallowed and nodded. It meant kowtowing and obeisance. A small ember of anger flared. It was no wonder the people here were up in arms.


    ¡°Any wisdom before we enter?¡± I asked, my voice tinged with irony. ¡°Given my apparent talent for disruption?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Schustak growled, voice dripping with venom, the tip of his staff flaring and drawing all eyes to him like moths to a flame. ¡°The goblins there will expect all of you to be my servants. Do not disappoint.¡±


    I stared at Schustak, incredulous, the rage building inside me like a storm waiting to unleash its fury. The gall of this goblin was simply unbearable. Yet, when I glanced around, they all watched us as if nothing was out of place.


    Jeldorain¡¯s voice, calm as a serene lake, whispered in my mind. Control. This is part of the game. He has them under his control. It is up to you to break that.


    I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I forced my clawed hands to relax. ¡°Fine,¡± I said, my voice steady. ¡°I¡¯ll bow and kowtow and do what needs to be done.¡±


    Schustak smiled, but his eyes remained as cold as ever. ¡°Smart,¡± he replied, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. ¡°This is the way of our world. The sooner you accept that, the easier your life will be here. We respect them in the light, and fight them when no one is watching.¡±


    Ike stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. ¡°I understand it. You¡¯ve got the shakes. A case of the nerves. You aren¡¯t from around here and you haven¡¯t had to hide yourself in plain sight like we have. But you¡¯ll get through this,¡± he whispered, his voice sincere. ¡°It gets easier. Let¡¯s just stay focused on our mission and get the information to Elira. We don¡¯t have to like it, but we have to get it done.¡±


    The tension among us was thick as swamp mosquitoes as we descended toward the town of Jonat. The setting sun dropped further, painting the sky in shades of deep orange and purple, casting long shadows that seemed to dance and merge with the despair that hung over the settlement like a shroud.


    I tried to imagine being a human here, and I thought of the sharecroppers of the American South. Children wearing potato sacks as clothing, playing with twine cleverly wrapped and tied into the semblance of toys. It was a hard image to ponder.


    But it wasn¡¯t incorrect at all. Things were as I¡¯d imagined as we entered the town. The disparity between the residents was stark and heartbreaking. Human townspeople, their faces marked with weariness and resignation, went about their evening tasks under the watchful eyes of a brutish assembly of monstrous-looking guards. Most of their lot I recognized ¡ª muscular and cruel-faced orcs, a beer-bellied and loin-cloth clad ogre, a couple of yellow-skinned hobgoblins ¡ª but the cruel-faced purple-skinned lump of lard that lorded over them all, sneering as he walked through them ¡ª that was something I had no iota of knowledge on.


    Fortunately, they paid little attention to us. It was near night and we were just another group of strangers passing through their tormented lives. The non-humans, meanwhile, moved with a degree of freedom and authority that made my skin crawl. They stuffed their faces into this group or that, demanding information, coin, or simply bullying for the pleasure of the act. They were the privileged class here, and they knew it.


    We moved through the town in formation, a silent and grim procession. Schustak led the way, his staff held high and his posture radiating arrogant authority. The rest of us fell in line behind him, our expressions neutral but our eyes alert.


    As we marched through the town, I began to understand its structure. It was like an onion. The thick outer layer of misshapen junk pile homes hid another layer of more advanced thatch cottages of the sort you¡¯d see in a medieval movie. Here lived a dirty assortment of the general player races¡ªthe elves, dwarves and halflings who would have been heroes in any other world.


    I also began to appreciate the size of the place. It was larger than I¡¯d thought, maybe a thousand beings living here instead of the hundred I expected. Most of them were downtrodden good guys, but as we got closer to our destination, nastier-looking beings became the common people, as did nicer homes. Places of actual timber and design.


    Past those lay the core of the onion, a town square paved over with cobblestone, the grandest of buildings around its square. Ike pointed to the tallest of the buildings, and though by this hour the day had faded enough that everything was silhouettes, I saw a sign well-lit by torches on both sides of it.


    Elira¡¯s Haven, it stated, the graven symbol of a sword on the one side and a shield on the other.


    It stood tall and imposing, two stories high and built solid for defense. I couldn¡¯t imagine why an inn would be constructed in such a way, yet I appreciated that it had been. This place was a poor man¡¯s citadel, and surely it would serve as a great place to hole up if push came to shove.


    We stepped forward to the entrance, a set of large and thick oaken double doors, and we pushed them open, entering the establishment.


    Inside the inn, the atmosphere was a strange mix of tense and welcoming. A myriad of beings sat and ate stew from the common table, while a single private corner table was occupied by what looked to be a glowering quartet of dwarves. Three brute-faced orcs were standing against a wall, singing a shanty and sloshing beer from their mugs as they swayed left and right to the non-existent rhythm of their tune.


    And through it all moved a trio of human waitresses, their eyes always downcast despite the alertness of their movements, and one quite beautiful elf who¡¯s well-muscled body hinted at her true rebellious profession. She was Elira Nightshade, no doubt about it. As ethereal and graceful as her name suggested, she slung a few mugs and a pot of stew to waiting patrons, then juked her way through the crowded room without touching a single customer.


    ¡°Well met,¡± she said, a warm smile on her face, an alert coldness in her eyes. She was clearly a woman accustomed to balancing on a razor¡¯s edge, her every move calculated and precise.


    Ike stepped forward to speak with her, and I noticed a subtle but unmistakable change in her demeanor as she bent down to listen to him. Her posture relaxed slightly, and for a fleeting moment, her eyes softened.


    As Ike and Elira talked in hushed tones, Schustak leaned close to me, his foul breath mingling with his sinister words. ¡°Remember your place here,¡± he hissed. ¡°We have an audience.¡±


    I met his gaze steadily, refusing to let him see the storm raging inside me. ¡°And remember yours,¡± I whispered back, the threat in my voice unmistakable. ¡°A puppet is still just a puppet, no matter how grand its stage.¡±


    Schustak''s eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Ike turned back to us with a determined expression. ¡°We have our mission,¡± he whisper, just loud enough for us to hear. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare and remember¡ªwe are here for a reason. Let¡¯s not forget what that reason is.¡±


    At a gesture from Elira, Kevinar broke from our pack, and the two headed towards back rooms unknown.

 Chapter Twelve – The Soul Eater

    ¡°Might as well make yourselves comfortable. I don¡¯t know what they are up to, but they say we¡¯re staying the night.¡±


    It was that proclamation from Ike that sent me to test the limits of my new body. I wasn¡¯t a big drinker back on Earth, not really, yet I had a suspicion that here I could drink that world¡¯s ten fittest livers under the table and still have plenty of sobriety to spare.


    The waitress who took my order gave me a quick, furtive look when she approached but kept her eyes downcast as I told her to give me the best ale they had. Seemed like a good way to welcome myself to the world properly, and besides, everything was being paid for by the ¡®party pool.¡¯


    Still, as I handed her a coin from my pouch, I couldn''t help but feel a little uneasy. Ike had given me nearly a thousand gold for my weaponcraft, so money didn¡¯t seem to be an issue, but how much was that really worth here? The waitress slipped the gold into her apron, and I realized I hadn¡¯t even asked how much the ale cost.


    Back home, I knew how much a good beer set you back, and it definitely wasn¡¯t measured in gold coins. In Lords of Chaos, everything was paid in gold, but the prices went up quite unrealistically as you progressed. In a level 70 zone, a mug of ale with some fancy high level name attached to it could easily top 1000. But this world, despite its many similarities with the game, clearly didn¡¯t have level zone, so I was left wondering about what it was all worth. How expensive was a pint of ale?


    ¡°Hey,¡± I called out as she turned to leave. ¡°How much does that cost?¡±


    She paused, glancing over her shoulder. ¡°The finest ale in the house is two silver pieces, sir. Thanks for the tip.¡±


    I blinked. Two silver pieces? Didn¡¯t sound like a lot, I thought, the wheels of my mind spinning up. But again, I didn¡¯t have a real feel for what the silver was worth either.


    ¡°Can you stick around a bit?¡± I asked. ¡°I¡¯ve got some more questions. Money questions.¡±


    She cocked her head and grinned, walking back over to me. ¡°Strange questions from a strange being. I kinda like that. Listen, give me another gold and I¡¯ll answer whatever it is that¡¯s on your mind.¡±   I flipped her another coin, and she caught it, giving it a bite and me a wink. ¡°Ask away!¡±


    ¡°So, I¡¯m from another world, and I need to learn what money is worth around here.¡±


    The woman chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t say? Figured you might be, with the horns and the size and all. Not that the Empire doesn¡¯t hold all types. Well, it ain¡¯t that hard but I do wanna be moving before the lady of the pub gets wind that I¡¯m sitting on my arse. Basic rules is this: First thing you need to know is that most folk don¡¯t deal with gold. Not unless you¡¯re rich or looking to buy something big¡ªland, a fine horse, a sword that really sings in battle. For us regular folk, it¡¯s all silver and copper.¡± She flipped the gold coin in her hand casually. ¡°This, right here, is a small fortune to most people. One gold could get you a whole month¡¯s worth of food for a family if you spent it wisely. Thank ya very much, by the by.¡±


    My mouth dropped open. A month¡¯s worth of food? Even in the 1<sup>st</sup> level areas of LoC, a single gold coin was practically worthless.


    ¡°So, let¡¯s break it down,¡± she continued. ¡°One gold is equal to ten silver. And one silver is worth about a hundred copper coins. Most of what you¡¯ll be buying¡ªyour food, drinks, simple gear¡ªwill be priced in copper or silver. Like I said, a good ale is two silver. Now, a plain pint? That¡¯ll set you back a couple copper, no more.¡±


    I scratched my head, trying to piece together how much Ike had spent on me. ¡°Say I¡¯ve got about a thousand gold. What would that get me?¡±


    The waitress almost dropped the coin. Her grin widened, and she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°A thousand gold? You could live like a nobleman for at least a year with that, assuming you¡¯re a mindor dandy and not an adventurer type. You could buy yourself some land, build an estate, hire some servants. Wouldn¡¯t be the grandest of places, but it¡¯d make for good living. Most people¡¯ll never see that kind of money in their lifetime.¡±


    I suddenly felt afraid. I glanced down at the pouch of coins hanging by my side, thinking of how expensively I, a stranger, had already been gifted. ¡°What does the average person make in a year?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, standing up straight and brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, ¡°take a simple farmer or laborer¡ªthey might make thirty to fifty silver in a year. Artisans, people with a skill like blacksmiths or carpenters, they make a bit more¡ªmaybe a hundred, two hundred silver a year if they¡¯re good. Merchants do better if they¡¯re lucky. But for someone with no title, earning a gold coin is a big deal.¡±


    I shook my head, still struggling to wrap my mind around the scale of things. ¡°So, for most people, even a single gold is a lot of money?¡±


    ¡°More than a lot,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°Which, bit of advice, be careful flashing it around. Folks might get the wrong idea. Though, with your size, might be take a bit before they move to do something about it.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°So what about the really rich? The big-time nobles? How much are they dealing with?¡±


    She smiled. ¡°Oh, they¡¯ve got plenty, don¡¯t worry. They deal in gold mostly, but they¡¯ve also got access to rare goods and trade deals that make them even richer. They don¡¯t just have gold lying around, though¡ªthey invest in land, military power, and magic. Some of the richer ones might pull in thousands or even tens of thousands of gold a year, but it¡¯s all tied up in estates and influence.¡±


    I nodded, taking it all in, a knot of fear weaving itself through my gut. ¡°Alright, that helps. Thanks for the lesson. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± she said with a grin, pocketing the gold. ¡°And if you need more help figuring out this world of ours, just holler. I¡¯m always happy to chat with a big spender.¡± With a playful wink, she turned and went back to her duties, leaving me with a lot to think about.


    ¡°Right, keep the change,¡± I said, whispering to where she¡¯d been a moment ago. I had things to think about. Things I needed to learn more about it.


    But first, I¡¯d go get drunk. It was too much for now. And not something I could act on in the moment.


    Thinking of that, I took a table specially designed for us giant beings, a thick thing built of granite that was stuffed into the corner of the common room farthest from the drinks. I supposed the distance gave them time to figure out a battle strategy if one of us biggies got drunk and belligerent.


    Sitting there, in a chair both surprisingly fit and sturdy, I soon found myself next to Jon, the centaur. He gave his order, a simple request for the same brew as mine, before sighing.


    ¡°The sooner we¡¯re out of here, the happier I¡¯ll be.¡± He peered furtively about, his eyes tracing the beams of the ceiling over to the start of the stairs upwards and ending at the doors through which we¡¯d come. ¡°If we were meant to spend our time frolicking indoors, the gods wouldn¡¯t have given us hooves.¡±


    I snorted. ¡°Yeah, I suppose they wouldn¡¯t have.¡±


    He took a long draw from his mug. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter what they want, not while Gharag rules these plains.¡±


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    I matched him, drawing from my own drink while regarding him thoroughly. He was usually a quiet one, at least in my experience thus far. Well-muscled and tall, formidable through and through, but someone who didn¡¯t flap their lips about whenever there was a moment of silence.


    Setting the mug down, I leaned in. ¡°Why does everyone tolerate Schustak?¡± I whispered. ¡°He¡¯s a goblin. How can he be trusted?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what things are like where you are from, but power is complicated here,¡± Jon growled. ¡°Schustak has... connections. Not just in the Empire, but in places you haven¡¯t seen yet. He has power from the land.¡± The big man paused, casting his eye across the crowded room to light upon the goblin. ¡°He and his aren¡¯t draining power from the immortal Gharag, nor the growing cult of Balos and to be honest, in these times, that is good enough for me.¡±


    A shiver ran down my spine, and a startled moment later I realized it came not from my mind, but from Jeldorain inside me. That didn¡¯t bode well.


    ¡°These names, these beings, what are they exactly?¡±


    Jon smirked. ¡°The tales of the immortals, that¡¯s what they are. Once upon a time a goblin arose in the great swamps of the south. He was born to great portents, and he was a prime member of their race. Took control of his tribe, then united the tribes, then united the rest of the dark things that lived on the fringes of civilized society.¡±


    I fidgeted, grabbing another mug and the waitress came by. It wasn¡¯t time for a thorough history lesson, but I needed to understand this world I was in better if I was going to find my way out of it.


    ¡°Was there a great empire?¡± I asked.


    He stared at me, draining half a new mug. ¡°The lands were for the beings of light. Humans, elves, dwarves, halflings. Centaurs, some of us. The rest of them, we kept them to the worst spots. The hardest places to live. Out of our way.¡±


    I stared, thinking back to the games of my home world. Always the goblins and orcs were stuck in swamps, ruins, garbage heaps and real dumps. Sounded like here they got tired of it all and broke free.


    ¡°So then what happened?¡±


    ¡°The plains kingdoms were the mightiest the world had ever known. And all five of them had spent themselves fighting a big war to figure out which king was the greatest. When Gharag and his armies came, they took down the Merkia first. That was the closest to where they¡¯d formed up. And the other kingdoms didn¡¯t raise a finger to help. Then Gharag rode through and conquered the others. Then he came for the elves in their forests and the dwarves in their mountains. Not much he didn¡¯t come after, or so the history says.¡±


    Jon smiled and downed the rest of his mug, wiping his mouth with the back of his arm.


    ¡°The Goblin Empire is what it all comes down to. Gharag made it; he made the caste system, set the goblins up on top, then sat down with his scholars and found out how to become a god. Now his descendents sit upon the Fire Throne, and he watches over them and the nation from a flaming dimension of horror somewhere in the heavens.¡±


    Inside of me, I could feel the cold essence of Jeldorain shrink away from the mention of the place. I glanced over at Schustak once more. ¡°And he doesn¡¯t follow that god? He¡¯s all about worshipping trees and standing up giant stones?¡±


    As if he could feel my eyes upon him, Schustak turned my way, locking his eyes to mine. He saluted me with a mug of his own, then turned and walked elsewhere.


    ¡°He¡¯s a druid, so I guess. For us the druids of the forest circle tend to life and grow us food that we eat alongside the catch from the day¡¯s hunt. Now, back to the gods, Gharag is strong and worse, he was mortal. That makes him a whole lot more cunning than any of the gods before him. Excepting maybe Balos.¡±


    The Soul Eater Jeldorain burbled from within.


    ¡°Balos was the last of the human kings. He was an evil man, a mage king whose power could sweep whole ranks of life in the march of battle. When the forces of Gharag came to face him, they prevailed. But not before losing half their number. And the legends say that when Balos was near out of magic, he left for his chambers. From there a powerful bright light shone. And Balos was gone.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like very powerful teleportation,¡± I said, images of bright lights scouring an overcast sky writhing through my thoughts.


    The centaur nodded. ¡°Something like that. Whatever ritual he performed, it brought him into the heavens and made him into one of the immortals. But unlike Gharag, he had but a handful of followers left in this world to worship him. He needed a different means to sustain himself. There wasn¡¯t enough faith to preserve him. So he granted to his followers the ability to drain life. And that life, those bits of soul, they pipe up to him and fill his plate if you know what I mean.¡±


    My mind lit up, thinking about the games online, how it was always so easy to revive and come back. Just buy the right talisman, go to the local temple, have a cleric of the right level, and poof, back in business. Half of them you¡¯d just respawn when you died. So what Jon was saying was a huge deal. In this gamelike world with its gamelike rules, there existed the means to kill permanently.


    ¡°What happens to those who die here if they still have their souls? Can they be brought back?!¡± I burst, unthinking.


    Jon stared, then laughed hard into the ceiling.


    ¡°Waitress, we need meat over here,¡± his voice boomed. ¡°Roast venison if you have it, chicken or pork if you don¡¯t.¡± A woman bowed and disappeared to the back. ¡°Listen, I don¡¯t know what it is like where you come from, but I¡¯m going to advise you not to die here. There are some powerful magics that can bring you back if you are lost, but there are so many ways to die that make that impossible. And not just soul-eating. Plus the odds that a god will give a piece of their essence away to bring any of us back from the land of the dead just aren¡¯t that good.¡±


    A tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, drawing both our attention. It was a platter of venison covered over with a heated brown grease that I assumed to be the local gravy. It didn¡¯t look like something I¡¯d buy back in the US of A, but here in the middle of Quaint Town, Goblin Empire, it shimmered in its splendor. My stomach growled at its approach.


    ¡°I¡¯ll watch my back,¡± I said, listening to the wisp of the platter slide into the center of our table. I gave one more glance towards the crowd, scanning for Schustak, but he was nowhere to be seen.


    Jon chuckled, carving a piece of the venison and taking a bite. The scent filled the space between us, a deep, smoky aroma mixed with a hint of sweet herbs. ¡°Always a wise choice, especially in this land. I don¡¯t know about where you came from, but here people change teams fast. The secret police see to that.¡±


    Secret police. Seemed like such a modern thing for this world. I took a slice for myself, savoring the flavors as I pondered the information. But the tenderness of the meat and the richness of the gravy didn¡¯t allow me to ponder for very long. They blended in my mouth, forming an exquisite delight that I¡¯d never before imagined. A strong sensation rolled through my body, down my arms and through my legs to reach the very tips of my toes.


    Meat. Hungry. More.


    I felt the infernal inside me lapping up the juices as they entered me, and for a moment it felt as if he were physically inside my stomach, taking in the sustenance as a real material being rather than a passenger inside my soul.


    A long strand of saliva escaped a corner of my mouth, slopping onto my broad chest and Jon stopped eating, staring at me.


    ¡°You should learn some manners. Learn how people around here work, and learn how to do things in public. Because that is really gross,¡± the centaur stated. I nodded and focused, trying to numb myself to the taste and smell.


    More saliva escaped from my mouth and I turned away from my companion. ¡°I think I need to head outside,¡± I murmured around the growing torrent from my maw. Ducking and hiding my face as much as a ten-foot-tall infernal can, I shoved my way through the crowded inn and out into the chillness of the night.


    And inside of me, Jeldorain laughed. Did you think that being an infernal was going to be all fun and games? There are so many dark impulses that I hold, Ryan. So many things that I can¡¯t help but desire.


    A movement caught my eye, and I gazed out over the cobblestones to see a woman standing and gawking. She was a kobold, like Ike, and her reptilian face was contorted in horror as she watched me gob a flood of saliva onto the street.


    ¡°Go!¡± I bellowed once, new impulses pushing me to chase her down and tear her asunder. The woman turned and fled, a gold embroidered blue cape flipping in the wind behind her as she made her way elsewhere.


    What do you care? You killed many kobolds in your world, in this place called ¡®Online¡¯. I get sensations and memories from you, Ryan. Bits at a time. I know that you killed many. Why not do so now?


    I growled. Though my mouth had stopped watering, the homicidal impulses inside of me were increasing. Desperate, I imagined different times. My family and I together at the playground, playing with a set of foam bricks and building a castle wall from which to fight against the evil unknown. Instead of the playground, I imagined we were inside of me, and that opposite the wall was the malevolent spirit of Jeldorain.


    He shuddered inside of me, screaming, his voice muffled more and more as I built the wall. Until, suddenly, he and his impulses were gone, sealed away and leaving me clear headed and sane.


    I had no doubt that my solution was temporary. But I grinned up at the stars, satisfied that I¡¯d found a way to control myself. Turning back to the inn, I made my way through to Jon and prepared myself for a hard night in this unique and terrible world.

 Chapter Thirteen - Morning Regrets and Missing Pieces

    My consciousness swam back into existence, slowly, the light of day painfully bright despite the fact that I was quite indoors. My head was pounding, and my vision swirled with various shades of regret. An intense feeling of discomfort settled in, and I groaned.


    ¡°Ugh, what happened last night?¡± I mumbled, sitting up. My Game Interface flickered into sight, a small icon of a broken bottle flashing in the corner. The text below it read:


    Debuff: Hangover. -15% to all abilities


    ¡°Fantastic,¡± I muttered, rubbing my temples.


    Jon was sprawled next to me, face down in the dirt, snoring like a tranquilized bear. I gave him a little nudge, but Jon¡¯s equine flanks continued to rise and fall, not at all acknowledging my attempts. From somewhere else, seeming out of space and time, came the open and shut slam of a door used in haste, followed by the rapid patter of tiny, booted feet.


    ¡°Hey everybody. Up and at ¡®em! Time to roll out!¡± Ike bellowed, marching over to Jon and pulling open one eyelid. The centaur gasped and yelped, his hooves scraping against the wooden floor as he struggled to rise.


    Finding my feet, my eyes met Jon''s in mutual bloodshot suffering. ¡°Morning,¡± he said to Ike, wincing.


    ¡°Welcome to the land of the living,¡± Ike jested, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you all had your fun, because we¡¯ve got work to do.¡±


    From around the communal sleeping area, the rest of the team members rose from their piles of yellow straw, all looking worse for the wear.


    A few other fellows were snoring in their own straw piles as well, not a one of them roused by our leader¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Up means up!¡± Ike bellowed. Around the room, bodies flung themselves upright, an automatic response to the suddenly stern military bark of this voice. Brandosyeus managed to stand upright too quickly and slumped back against the tavern wall in an obvious bout of dizziness.


    ¡°Alright, folks,¡± Ike said, the crinkles around his eyes tight and his reptilian face serious as he pulled a worn, enchanted map from his pocket. ¡°We need to talk, but not here. Too many prying eyes and far too many loose lips. Plus Schustak¡¯s not here to bail us out if we get in a scrap with the locals.¡±


    Looking around the sleeping area, I saw other drunken mounds groaning and shifting in their night¡¯s hay, and wondered if any of them were even capable of such feats. But I let it slide¡ªno doubt at least one of them was faking it. Ike walked off and the rest of us followed, lurching forward like a bunch of Frankensteinian monsters.


    It was strange watching him. The kobold practically bounded, his steps giddy despite the dangerous he was no doubt about to draw us into. It was like watching a kid get up for Christmas morning. Whatever this mission was, I realized that it couldn¡¯t be half bad.


    Ike darted through the tap room and walked us to the door I''d seen him take the other night. Pulling out a key, he unlocked it and held it open so that all of us could make our way inside, revealing wholly different and unexpected interior style.


    This new room was comfortable, a place lit by a couple of torches, sparking with something that I instinctively understood to be ever burning fire. Old crates, stacked haphazardly, made a makeshift table and seating area. It was evident that this spot was a frequent meeting point for hidden talks; there was a feeling of privacy to the place that was almost magical.


    A thought came to my mind. It quite probably was.


    ¡°We''re safe from any scrying here,¡± Ike declared, breaking me from my thoughts. He pulled a metal spherical case from one of his many belt loops and unscrewed its end. Pulling a few rolled maps from its inside, he glanced over their edges, then selected one, returning the rest to the safety of their case. The chosen one he unrolled across the surface of a wooden crate. I had to squint to get a good look; the magical light of the torches wasn''t the greatest and the map seemed to shimmer in the dancing shadows that they created.


    But my eyes widened as I made them out. The map was an artistic masterpiece, filled with beautiful graphics, quest markers, geographic features, and even indications of weather patterns, all cataloged and graphed into smaller boxes that indicated seasons and even months. It was a thing of absolute wonder and I¡¯m not ashamed to say that I gawked and gawped.


    ¡°Normally, we wouldn¡¯t be given an Adventure Quest,¡± Ike stated, his eyes scanning each of our faces for any signs of doubt or dissent. ¡°We¡¯re too far into the Empire. Too close to the enemy. But the information I was given tonight, well, this isn¡¯t a quest one ignores.¡±


    The rest of the group leaned in, but I wasn¡¯t so sure. I had bigger concerns¡ªlike finding a way back home. The battles, the quests¡ªthey were distractions, and now that we were all here in town, part of me wondered if I shouldn¡¯t just peel away.


    Especially considering the small ominous feelings I was beginning to have about them all. Schustak wasn¡¯t a good guy; I was sure of that. Especially after seeing that little oversight marble of his that Ike carried. But there was also the money¡ªthere was no way they were paying me, stranger, so much money without some really big plans in mind.


    On the other hand, I wasn¡¯t sure I really had a choice yet. I still had much to learn about the system, and a quest would give me a powerful opportunity to figure things out while also attaining powerful loot and items.


    I decided it was a good idea to sit back and listen, then make up my mind from there.


    ¡°The Goblin Empire has learned of an artifact, within a week¡¯s distance of this very town, and they want it. Badly. Which means we want it more.¡±


    Kevinar cocked an eyebrow, barely perceptible in the dim flickering light. ¡°An artifact?¡±


    Ike shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll let you all decide. But from the sounds of things, it¡¯s something that¡¯ll help us out well in our fight against the Empire.¡± His gaze turned distant, like he was staring into some unseen abyss, maybe weighing the weight of this quest against some hopeful future. A moment later, the details of the Quest materialized in front of us.


    Quest: Retrieve the Eye of the Stormbringer


    Difficulty: Elite


    Objective: Infiltrate the Temple of Storms and retrieve the Eye.


    Rewards: Substantial XP, Unique Items, and Faction Reputation.


    Penalties: Possible Death, Loss of Items


    Possible Death. Loss of Items. Faction Reputation. The words caught my eye and made me slightly angry. All of this was for the fight against the goblins? I wasn¡¯t a soldier in some rebel army. I wasn¡¯t here to take down empires, find artifacts, or chase down glory. I was here by accident, a glitch in the system, and every second I spent chasing their objectives was another second I wasn¡¯t spending trying to get back to my family. Casey. The kids. They were my reason to keep going, and yet here I was, getting dragged along on a quest.


    I could feel my frustration building. I wanted to say something, anything, but I bit my tongue. We don¡¯t have time for this, I thought. What good does this do me? When can I get out of all of this and set off on my own?


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Yes, Jeldorain¡¯s voice replied, sympathetic and enticing. We should leave them. Find our own way. If we strike them now, they wouldn¡¯t have time to prepare themselves. Our infernal might would ruin them and give us a great deal of good gear and finances.


    I didn¡¯t respond. Instead, I pushed back, deep into my own thoughts, forcing myself to think beyond the immediate situation. Were my present companions really friends? I¡¯d only known them for a short time and so much seemed . . . off.


    What was my next step?


    Sure, Ike and the others had been helpful, but I didn¡¯t owe them my life. My family was waiting for me at the hospital, clustered around my comatose body, and I needed to get back to them. This artifact, this quest... it had to connect somehow, right?


    They always somehow connected in Lords of Chaos. They all fit neatly together as stepping stones on the main quest of the hero. I couldn¡¯t help but think that way, that I was being pulled along some game designer¡¯s highway and that, if I did it well, maybe it could help me figure out a way home.


    ¡°Ryan,¡± Ike¡¯s voice snapped me back to the present, pulling me from the depths of my mind. He looked at me with a mixture of expectation and challenge. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    I blinked, caught off guard. Me? What did I think? Since when did I get a say? I was just the guy with the demon inside him trying to make sense of this nightmare. Still, the fact that he was asking meant something, didn¡¯t it? I looked around at the others, watching them watch me, and suddenly felt ashamed about my own thoughts. Yes, I had my own quest to pursue, but Ike had already promised to help when he could, as had Kevinar. After my night with Jon I was sure he would be on board as well.


    We just had to be in the right place and at the right time. Then it would be my turn.


    ¡°I...¡± I hesitated, feeling the weight of everyone¡¯s gaze on me. What was I supposed to say? That I didn¡¯t care about their artifact hunt, that I was just here for answers, not their revolution? No, that wouldn¡¯t fly. I needed to tread carefully. Maybe this quest could give me the information I needed. Maybe there was something in it for me after all. I couldn¡¯t just storm off on my own, not yet.


    ¡°I think... we need more information,¡± I said slowly, my voice gaining confidence as I spoke. ¡°This artifact¡ªit sounds important, sure, but what does it do? How exactly does it help us? Can it help me get back to my family?¡±


    The others stared at me for a moment, and I could see the gears turning in their heads. Kevinar¡¯s lips twitched, like he was about to say something, but Ike cut him off.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Ike admitted, crossing his arms over his chest. ¡°All I need to know is that it will help the rebellion. But you, we¡¯ve been dragging you along without question, just giving little promises to help out. I don¡¯t know if this can help you get back. But I can tell you that it might. And to be honest, fighting the Goblin Empire is probably your best bet over all.¡±


    Kevinar nodded, but the other less informed ones cocked their heads at his response, obviously out of the loop.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked.


    Ike looked me dead in the eye. ¡°The Goblin Empire holds all the cards right now. They control the portals, the magic, the flow of information. If this artifact is what I think it is, it could give us leverage¡ªleverage that could get you home.¡±


    I studied his face, trying to gauge whether he was telling the truth or just trying to manipulate me into helping. But there was no deceit in his eyes, and that same aura of friendly honesty I¡¯d experienced before exuded from his very pores. He meant it. If this artifact could somehow give them the power to turn the tables on the Empire, then maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªit could give me the way home.


    Interesting, Jeldorain mused again. My spell can be mislead, but it doesn¡¯t lie. He is telling the truth as far as he knows. I think we should do the quest.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, making my decision. ¡°Sorry to sound ungrateful. It¡¯s just been . . . a lot.¡±


    Ike grinned, his teeth sharp in the dim light. ¡°It¡¯ll all work out in the end. Trust me.¡±


    I nodded, feeling like I¡¯d finally gotten some of my bearing. I wasn¡¯t just aimlessly following the group; I had a real goal. Maybe this wasn¡¯t technically my fight, but it could possibly help me get back to my family. And if it couldn¡¯t, busting up the guys who caused all this mess in the first place wasn¡¯t a bad secondary objective.


    ¡°Right. Yeah. Alright. So, before we go running off into the dungeon,¡± Ike said, rubbing his palms together in that way that only small beings brimming with mischief can, ¡°we''ve got some prep work to do. This mission is Elite level, so we¡¯re going to head out to the market and equip ourselves accordingly. Elira¡¯s taken our extra loot for coin, so we have options.¡±


    I nodded, a tear ripping through my brain and sending a whiskey-flavored belch through my mouth. My eyes touched on the broken bottle hangover debuff still mocking me from my interface, and I sighed. ¡°I''m not sure I''m up for a trip to the marketplace,¡± I said, the pounding in my head momentarily escalating as if to underline my point.


    ¡°You can thank me later,¡± Ike quipped, throwing a potion bottle my way. I caught it, albeit clumsily, and found myself staring at a vial labeled ¡®Elixir of Sobering.'' Downing it in one fluid motion, my mind perked up immediately, but not before the sharp, bitter taste hit me. The liquid felt like a strong brew of black coffee mixed with a splash of vinegar, tingling my tongue with a metallic tang. It was earthy, like drinking herbal tea that had gone bad, and left a warming aftertaste, almost like the whiskey that clung to the back of my throat. I grimaced but watched in relief as the hangover debuff icon flickered and vanished from my interface.


    [Achievement Unlocked: Hair of the Dog]


    +50 XP


    Objective: Recover from a hangover in less than traditional ways.


    The achievement message surprised me, and I coughed, loudly, staring at the kobold before my suddenly very alert mind notified me of an extremely important fact.


    We were missing a member of the party.


    ¡°Ike, where''s Schustak?¡± I asked, my eyes scanning the group again to make sure I hadn''t just missed him in my previously hungover state.


    Ike shrugged, not taking his eyes off the map he had just unrolled. ¡°Schustak has a habit of wandering off. He always finds his way back, especially if there''s a reward involved. Don''t sweat it.¡±


    His nonchalance was almost infuriating, but also calming in a strange way. It was as if he had said, ''The sun rises in the east.'' A simple fact, not worthy of concern.


    Which was, itself, strange for a group of apparent guerillas.


    ¡°Isn''t that a bit irresponsible?¡± I pressed. ¡°We''re in the middle of some dangerous territories, aren''t we?¡±


    This time Ike looked up, his eyes meeting mine. ¡°Ah, Ryan. You need to get over this obsession. You¡¯ll find that Schustak is a loyal and dedicated member to our cause.¡±


    I glanced over the others, disbelief mounting. None of them seemed to care one iota about the fact that the goblin of the group had gone off on his own in Goblin Empire territory. For a moment I thought of opening the barrier between myself and Jeldorain, but decided against it. That was something I wouldn¡¯t do unless absolutely necessary.


    I raised one thick pointer finger, about to protest the logic of it all, when a notification popped up in my interface:


    [Achievement Unlocked: Learning to Trust...or Not?]


    +50 XP


    Objective: Witness a team member''s puzzling behavior and live to ponder it.


    I sighed. That was not helpful at all. I saw the rest had started rifling through their inventories, apparating various items and inspecting them with critical eyes, deciding on what was needed and what was not. Each had their own method, I noted, with Ike depositing everything on the floor before him then picking at it like a dragon admiring its hoard. His opposite, Kevinar, took each item out individually, inspecting it before replacing it with something else. Jon was somewhere in the middle with it, taking out small piles at a time, apparently organized by type, while Brandosyeus seemed to simply be checking it all through the game interface, staring blankly ahead and standing as straight-backed as a board.


    That last method seemed the right fit for me, I decided, and I examined all three of my items through the small transparent windows of the inventory interface.


    There was my weapon, my chain mail, my hooded cloak, and nothing else. A clean start to this dirty business. It was actually a bit freeing not having to decide what to toss or replace, especially since I hadn¡¯t had any quests yet and hadn¡¯t a clue what to grab.


    The thought made me grin. That wasn¡¯t absolutely true. The longer I was here and the more I did, the more parallels with Lords of Chaos that I observed. So I¡¯d prepare for this just as I did for quests in the game back home.


    Healing potions would take high priority. Those vials of basic red were a mainstay for sure. And I was rather curious about how they would taste. Would they be a sweet cherry? A tart wine? It would be interesting to find out.


    Usually the next buy would be pure blue mana potions, but despite having mana in my character sheer, I didn¡¯t seem to have any way to use it. Instead I¡¯d see if they had any stamina potions, since all of my whip abilities were dependent on them. What would they even look like, I wondered, an image of Gatorade coming unbidden to my mind.


    I stifled a chortle and moved on. Whatever they looked like, I¡¯d take as many as I could get. It seemed likely that this weapon of mine was going to unlock a number of other stamina-consuming abilities, and I did not want to lose out on using them in the middle of intense combat.


    I¡¯d also be on the lookout for anything that dealt with Jeldorain. Suppression, soul removal, whatever it took.


    The barrier between our souls shook feebly and I smirked.


    Hells, maybe I could find a reason for having mana. There was a lot to learn in this world, and I felt sure that the marketplace was going to be a full-on education.


    Backing out of my inventory view, I saw that the rest were putting their things away. Ike clapped his hands together, grinning reptilian canines from ear to ear. ¡°All set? Great! Our next stop is the marketplace. I¡¯ll keep a tally of everything you buy and take that out of your share of the treasure, so don¡¯t go crazy.¡±


    Donning my cloak and raising my hood to obscure my face, we made our way out of the hideaway. I couldn¡¯t wait to get to the market and see what was there.

 Chapter Fourteen - Shopping Spree

    Stepping out of the tavern and into the mid-morning air, the transition was nothing short of magical. The air filled with the scent of spices and arcane incense. Colors splashed my vision as merchants hawked exotic wares and a smattering of humanoid monsters loitered near market stalls, already well into the back and forth of bargain and barter. Behind their talk clinked the exchange of coins and the clatter of on-site craftsmanship.


    And past the open-air stalls and temporary lean-tos stood the stone shops of the wealthy goblins who ran the highest brow and fanciest stores in town. The architecture of these goblins was itself a mix of form and function: high spires curled up toward the sky like the tip of a mad garden gnome¡¯s hat, while behind these shops, stone huts squatted low and undecorated, their wealth only apparent by the sturdiness of their construction.


    I was impressed.


    ¡°Ah, the ever-bustling Grand Jonat Market!¡± Ike exclaimed, his scales shimmering in the sunlight as he absorbed the wonder before us.


    ¡°Bugger off with that poetic nonsense,¡± a gruff voice cried out. Peering through the crowd, I saw what appeared to be a very tall man in leather armor flipping us off. Ike waved at him and continued his spiel.


    ¡°This, Ryan, is where you get to turn all your loot into gear worth your work. Or find yourself out a lot of hard-earned coin, wearing nothing but an empty dagger sheath and carrying a bag of magic beans.¡±


    Ike winked, but I was rather sure he wasn¡¯t joking.


    ¡°It might be that I should shadow you, watching everything you do and questioning everything you pick up. But I¡¯m not gonna do that. Because honestly you just need to get thrown into the deep end to learn how to swim. I firmly believe that, and I also think that you¡¯ve got a good smart mind inside the gigantic infernal head of yours. So I¡¯m just gonna give you some advice instead. The first rule of thumb here is never take the first price. Always haggle. And whatever you do, don''t buy from the first vendor you see. Check things out. Comparison is the key,¡± he added.


    ¡°Sounds like every marketplace ever,¡± Jon noted, cantering close to us while rolling his eyes.


    Kevinar joined us as well, while Brandosyeus simply saluted and walked toward the nearest food stand. It was a stone slab with trenches cut into it, and I marveled at the strength that it must have taken to lug out here.


    ¡°Examine and test,¡± Kevinar murmured dramatically, drawing the words out. ¡°Magical items purchased here are often real and worth the purchase. But, they can just as likely be fake. Anything you buy, if you can, try it first.¡±


    I nodded, scanning the market stalls. There were so many baubles. As I looked on, I saw a tiny woman put a necklace about her neck, then raise a gout of fire from her open palms.


    ¡°What do I do if someone cheats me?¡± I asked.


    Ike grinned. ¡°Unless they¡¯re a gobbo or one of the alliance races, you tell us and we go kick them in the jewels and get our coins back.¡±


    ¡°And if it is a goblin?¡±


    Ike¡¯s smile dropped. ¡°Then just walk away. We don¡¯t mess with them unless they¡¯re far away from home.¡±


    I nodded again. The message was clear; caution was needed when dealing with buying magical items in a place like this. I¡¯d have to be careful.


    ¡°If you need anything, go find one of us,¡± Jon said, placing a hand on my shoulder before cantering off into the crowd. The rest of us broke up, heading out to do some shopping.


    Now properly on my own, I began to weave my way through the bustling throng of shoppers. I wasn¡¯t exactly sure what I had to be on the lookout for, but that didn¡¯t keep me from watching everyone closely, keeping an eye out for pickpockets, traps or cons.


    ¡°Unicorn horns!¡± one merchant bellowed. ¡°Dragon scales,¡± bawled another. I walked through a great deal of dubious hawkers, my massive frame naturally parting the shoppers before me, before I finally spotted something useful. A stall leaning against the side of a stone building, it had the trustworthy look of long use, and was laden with various potions. Its vendor was a dwarf, barrel-chested and standing atop a stool with a beard so massive it could''ve been a separate entity altogether.


    ¡°Greetings and salutations,¡± he boomed, his eyes twinkling like gemstones as he looked up to my approach. ¡°Looking for some fine elixirs to up yer game? I''ve got yer healing, yer mana, yer stamina, even yer love potions!¡±


    ¡°Love potions?¡± I enquired, trying to imagine what game effect such a thing could instill.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Not worth the bother,¡± Brandosyeus announced, sliding next to me. ¡°They charm people into temporarily loving you, but in a way that will have you wishing you¡¯d never taken your pants off,¡± he said, chortling. ¡°Luckily for you, I am also in need of magical libations.¡± The satyr turned and bowed to the vendor. ¡°We''re interested in healing potions, stamina potions, and mana potions. What have you in the shelves and cookeries of this fine establishment?¡±


    I watched, amazed, noticing an immediate and almost supernatural happiness come over the dwarf¡¯s face as he turned to this new customer. ¡°Ah, ye came to the right place! Behold, my Stamina Surge Potions, Greater Mana Potions, and Majestic Healing Elixirs! Only 50 gold pieces each,¡± the dwarf exclaimed, unveiling three types of bottled liquids¡ªone a steely gray, the second a brilliant blue, and the last a radiant red.


    I glanced at Brandosyeus, who gave me a wink. He began to haggle with the dwarf while I went to my knees, browsing through the other items. My hands danced over the various vials, pausing when my eyes locked onto one labeled Aqua Brevis. The deep blue liquid inside, populated by floating bubble-like spheres, seemed to mimic the ocean''s depths. The promise of underwater exploration or a potential escape route through the rivers called to me. I reached out and gripped it, then focused my mind on its contents.


    IDENTIFIED! CRITICAL SUCCESS.


    The sudden flash of information across my vision startled me, and I almost dropped the bottle. Taking a breath, I relaxed, focusing into the contents once again.


    Aqua Brevis:


    Effect: Allows the consumer to breathe underwater for a duration of fifteen minutes.


    Usual Cost: 55 gold pieces.


    Description: A deep blue liquid filled with floating bubble-like spheres.


    I smiled. This was a good skill to have. There was obviously a check involved, so I couldn¡¯t use it to necessarily weed out all the cons and frauds in this place. But it would help me avoid being swindled.


    Reaching out, I grabbed bottle after bottle, focusing into their depths. Each of them yielded me information, and none of them gave me another critical success, allowing me to realize something more crucial. There was no indication of failure, which meant that failing the check would simply give me the wrong information on the potion.


    My grin fell, my mood going sour. This wasn¡¯t the exploit I¡¯d been hoping it would be. Still, it was good to learn. I went back through the list of potions, separating the useless from the useful, until I had a list of potions that I was interested in buying.


    There was the Elixir of Night Vision, which promised to grant the ability to see in the darkness as though in bright light for an hour, the Potion of Haste, which doubled the consumer¡¯s speed and agility for a limited time.


    The Elixir of Elemental Resistance caught my eye with me reasoning that, in the event of a battle with something that used fire, my icy body would likely be vaporized without some prepared protection against flame.


    And honestly, the Invisibility Tincture spoke for itself, rendering consumers invisible for up to five minutes, though with the disclaimer that movement would cause the air to ripple, and that speaking or attacking would break the invisibility.


    Lastly I added the Potion of Giant Strength to my mental list, reasoning that its ability to augment my physical strength to rival that of a giant for ten minutes might be incredibly useful if trapped someplace where my own strength wasn¡¯t sufficient.


    Torn between the variety and potential of each potion, my hand hovered uncertainly. I glanced back to see Brandosyeus, still engrossed in hearty haggling, the numbers dropping as the conversation flowed. The dwarf''s expressions alternated between feigned indignation and eager selling, his eyes still twinkling with the gleam of potential profit. As the bargaining dance continued, I drew a deep breath, preparing to make my choice in the ocean of elixirs, each one a drop of hope in the expansive sea of the unknown journey ahead. The scent of spices and arcane incense hung in the air, mingling with my anticipation, as the Jonat¡¯s Grand Market buzzed with the vibrant pulse of countless stories intertwining in the tapestry of adventure.


    Screw it, I decided, grabbing one of each of them as well as a dozen healing and stamina potions. I rose up and handed them to Brandosyeus, whose crooked smile indicated he¡¯d gotten us a wonderful deal. Exchanging coins, a moment later I had my potions, as well as five healing, mana, and stamina elixirs courtesy of the charming satyr.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I told him as we left the merchant¡¯s stall.


    Brandosyeus nodded. ¡°I think you will find that the longer we are together, the more often your thanks will come.¡± He smiled broadly. ¡°I¡¯m off to see what musical melodies might be obtained. Fare well with your market adventure.¡±


    I waved, feeling out of place and dumb when he didn¡¯t wave back, then set back to shopping. The potions in my inventory each took up just one tenth of a slot, which meant I didn¡¯t have to think about them much as I picked up the generic adventuring sundries. I starting thinking about what those sundries would be when my interface buzzed with a new notification:


    [Achievement Unlocked: Partnership Forged]


    +50 XP


    Objective: Experience a meaningful team action with a party member.


    ¡°Partnership Forged, huh?¡± I mumbled, feeling the unexpected warmth of camaraderie. I looked back over my shoulder, but the satyr was nowhere to be seen. Shrugging, I made my way forward, eyes sharp, looking for tents, shovels, rope and the like.


    Walking through a labyrinth of stalls, I passed an assortment of vendors selling everything from spell scrolls to flying carpets before seeing something that made me stop. A stone smithy, black smoking rolling out its stout chimney. The sign hanging overhead read, ¡°Fenrik''s Forge: Blades and Shields for Heroes and Zealots Alike.¡±


    I stooped to enter the establishment, spotting behind the counter a mountain of a man, all muscle, eyes as sharp as the swords he crafted.


    ¡°Fenrik?¡± I asked, thinking back to the sign out front.


    He gazed at me, looking me from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. ¡°Lock the door behind you. I got word you might be coming, and that your needs might be something different. Let¡¯s see if we canna fix you up with everything you need.¡±

 Chapter Fifteen - Geared up and Ready to Go

    I apparated my weapon to my hand, feeling a shiver of anticipation ride up the iciness of my bones. Crouched slightly at the knees, I scanned side to side, scanning for enemies.


    ¡°Oh relax,¡± Fenrik said, wiping his sweaty palms on his apron. ¡°I¡¯m a friend of Elira¡¯s if you catch my drift. And Ike¡¯s. Been told we had a special new member of the crew who might have some unique needs. I¡¯m here to figure those out with you.¡±


    The chill of my body refused to ebb, but I locked the door behind me as he had asked, before turning back and taking a single step forward. ¡°I thought humans weren¡¯t allowed to have actual homes or shelters.¡±


    He chuckled, a deep and resonant sound. ¡°They aren¡¯t.¡± The man¡¯s face shifted, sloughing off definition to change to a hairless doughy gray.


    Fenrik was humanoid but utterly featureless¡ªpale, smooth skin stretched over an androgynous form, eyes that were dark endless voids with no seeable end. He seemed to vibrate or shimmer, as if struggling to maintain this form. And with a great sigh, he lapsed back into his former self.


    ¡°I see,¡± I said, staring at the man. My mind raced back to the Lord of Chaos monsterpedia, opening the entry for doppelgangers. There weren¡¯t many in the game, and those that you ran into were often played up to be some huge twist in the quest story. I grunted, imagining what sort of twisted purpose Fenrik might have been sent here to perform.


    It didn¡¯t matter, though. As far as I could tell, he was just here to give me arms and armor. And whatever else I needed. I decided to play along.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said cautiously. ¡°Show me what you''ve got.¡±


    I moved alongside him, warily, as he led me past racks of swords and suits of armor, each sturdy-looking and well-hammered. But it was a shield that caught my attention¡ªa round, shimmering piece, a lined swirl etched through its surface glowing lightly-blue. The piece had five foreign runes, each stamped deeply 90 degrees from the last. Reaching out and touching it simply made me more confused, it didn¡¯t feel like metal at all. More like a thick piece of obsidian, glassy smooth wherever it wasn¡¯t etched or stamped.


    ¡°Ah, you''ve got good taste,¡± the blacksmith said, lifting the shield off its stand. ¡°This isn''t your ordinary shield. It offers protection against flame attacks and has a little trick up its sleeve¡ªit reflects 10 percent of damage back in the direction it came from.¡±


    The game system in my mind buzzed to life, displaying the stats of the shield:


    Aegis of Retribution, Defensive Rating: 4, Weight: light


    The Aegis of Retribution. Crafted from enchanted metals and imbued with powerful warding runes, this is the shield that doesn''t just protect; it fights back! Block flames as easily as strolling through a garden and watch as 10% of any damage you take is reflected back upon your assailants. Why merely survive the heat of battle when you can turn the tide? With the Aegis of Retribution, you''re not just a defender; you''re a vengeful force to be reckoned with.


    Special Properties:


    Fire Resistance: This item grants 50% immunity to flame-based damage. It also grants a second saving throw versus heat-based attacks.


    Reflect Damage: Any strike deflected by the shield will deduct 10% of the attack damage back to the attacker.


    My eyes widened. It was perfect. There was no way that flame attacks wouldn¡¯t end me quickly and this would at least protect me halfway. I met the doppelganger¡¯s eyes and saw him grinning, a knowing look painted over his face. ¡°How much?¡± I asked.


    ¡°For you? It¡¯s a bunch of favors from Elira and the Society, plus 5000 gold pieces. It¡¯ll put you in debt to your party pool, no doubt. But it¡¯s worth it.¡±


    5,000 gold? That was a lot of money. I hesitated.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I said slowly, thinking back to all the advice I¡¯d received about not accepting the first price. ¡°It seems pretty steep for just one shield. Couldn¡¯t we negotiate?¡±


    Fenrik smiled, clearly expecting the haggling. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good head on your shoulders. I¡¯ll admit, 5,000 is high. For a new adventurer, 4,500 would be a more appropriate deal. You¡¯re still getting a premium item, but I know the value of building relationships.¡±


    4,500 was better, but I still wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°I¡¯ll give you 3,500,¡± I said, trying to push the deal further. ¡°That way I won¡¯t be too deep in debt with the party.¡±


    He laughed, shaking his head. ¡°You drive a hard bargain, but this is enchanted gear. The best I can do is 4,000.¡±


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    I paused, considering my options. It was still a lot, but the shield was too valuable to pass up. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, extending my hand. ¡°4,000 it is.¡±


    He clasped my hand, sealing the deal. I equipped the shield, immediately feeling its power flow through me. For a moment, it felt like I was a starship, deflector fields buzzing inches above the surface of my glistening blue skin. The sensation faded, but I knew the power was still active. ¡°Is there anything else I can interest you in?¡± the blacksmith asked, a twinkle in his eye that made me wonder how much he really knew.


    Now I did pause, thinking over the sheer generosity of my hosts. An iced fury built in my gut, threatening to spill out, and I gasped, pushing back at it with all of my might, confusion rolling through my mind. What was I so angry about?


    Fenrik¡¯s face turned from smiling compassion to doubt, his eyes locked on mine. I forced a smile.


    ¡°Sorry. Stomach pains. Drank too much last night.¡±


    His eyes softened, and he nodded in sympathy. ¡°It must have taken silos of booze to knock you over,¡± he commented, before strolling forward to show the rest of his goods. I meekly followed, browsing the shelves once again, while pondering what the hell had just happened.


    My thoughts left me, though, as I came upon another magnificent item. One that certainly looked made for a giant like me. Fenrik had led me straight here, and one look at the set and the mannequin it shined from told me that this was most definitely a custom job. I cast a curious look at his face, trying to understand why I was getting so much given to me.


    INSIGHT! CRITICAL FAILURE.


    Hiding a grimace, I stepped forward, laying a hand on the breastplate. It was a black armor that shimmered with an iridescent undertone. Runes looped around the edges of the breastplate, and each piece seemed to vibrate with barely-contained power.


    ¡°Tell me about this armor,¡± I said, stepping away.


    His smile widened. ¡°It¡¯s nice, isn¡¯t it? Multi-phasic. Whenever a being sees it, and it isn¡¯t equipped, it is the exact size of the one perusing it.¡±


    The blacksmith smiled, his eyes flashing. ¡°That is the Armor of Entwined Destinies. Imbued with properties that, once daily, can maximize a single action.¡±


    Armor Type: Armor of Entwined Destinies, Defensive rating 6, Weight: Medium


    Step into the Armor of Entwined Destinies, where fate meets form in a harmonious blend of enchanted metals and mystical fabrics. This isn''t just armor; it''s an embodiment of destiny interwoven with choice. Each link is inscribed with arcane sigils that fortify your resistance to both physical and magical attacks. But that''s not all! As you journey on, this unique armor adapts to the challenges you face, forging a symbiotic relationship that strengthens both wearer and worn. When destiny calls, be prepared to answer clad in armor that makes you more than a warrior¡ªit makes you a legend. The Armor of Entwined Destinies: Where your future finds its fit.


    Special Properties:


    Elemental Balancing: Increases resistance to all elemental damage by 20%


    Duality: Provides a 5% boost to the effectiveness of all abilities


    Soul Sync: Once per day, allows the wearer to tap into their deepest potential, amplifying one chosen action to its maximum potency for a short duration


    ¡°Much like your inner complexities, it can be both a shield and a weapon,¡± he continued.


    I glanced at the stats and hesitated. The armor was powerful, no doubt about it, but something about the term ¡°Soul Sync¡± had him on edge. Would the armor enhance Jeldorain''s influence over me?


    The barrier within my mind bent and warped, snapping under the pressure behind it. Fear flooded my mind.


    Don''t be a fool, Jeldorain''s said, his voice echoing through my mind. You¡¯ve made your point and proven your power. Don¡¯t leave such an item behind because you fear me. Harness its power; let it serve both of us.


    Relief flooded through my body, sluicing forth from the center of my soul. Why should I be afraid? Jeldorain was right, I had bested him and I could just put him away anytime he went overboard.


    I looked at Fenrik. ¡°How much for this Armor of Entwined Destinies?¡±


    ¡°For one as deserving as you, the cost is 10,000 gold coins,¡± he replied, flashing that smile that told you he already knew the deal was sealed.


    I blinked. ¡°10,000 gold? That¡¯s a fortune.¡±


    Fenrik shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a premium piece of gear. But I¡¯ll tell you what, since you¡¯ve been such a good customer, I¡¯ll knock it down to 9,000.¡±


    9,000 was still steep, but the armor was too valuable to pass up.


    I nodded, taking the armor from its mannequin, feeling its weight, which was lighter than I''d expected. As I wore it, a strange sensation enveloped me¡ªlike a rush of cold and warm air simultaneously flowing through my body. This new feeling, though, slumped to the ever-present question of why. Why was I getting so much given to me by this group so new to my arrival in this world?


    ¡°I¡¯m spending all of this money that I don¡¯t have. What is the limit? What exactly is going on around here?¡± I asked, each sentence tumbling rabid fire one after the next.


    Fenrik shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ve accrued a lot of debt here, and it won¡¯t be to me. Your benefactors will be paying me today after you are finished. Any questions you have, you should send their way. But let me say, you¡¯ve gotten a hells of a haul here, so maybe your first words should be to thank them.¡±


    I nodded, my mind clouded by the mystery of it all. ¡°Thank you. I believe it will.¡±


    Exiting the marketplace, I felt armed, not just with good gear but also with real purpose. Up to now I¡¯d just been living and reacting, spinning and turning in a sea filled with shock and sadness. Now, having made some of my own decisions, it felt like I was gaining back my life, one step at a time.


    But the mystery of all of this charity gnawed at me.


    Jeldorain, do you have any idea of what is going on with these people? I asked. The shambles of the barrier between us swept away, fading into nothing as I allowed him to come back. I warily regarded his presence for any sense that he was going to try something, but his soul exude apologetic waves and the feeling that he had been thoroughly chastened.


    I might, he purred. I lost some of my observational power when you stuck me behind that screen of yours, but I will keep my eyes and ears open and watch. And when I know, you¡¯ll know.


    Flashing my inventory open, I gave my new equipment a once over. I was ready for whatever lay ahead. Closing it, I stepped back into the crowds, on a mission to fill up on the rest of my inventory sundry needs . . . and to understand the role I was being put into with these new friends of mine.

 Chapter Sixteen - Talking Shop

    Stepping out from the smithy, I sucked in air, feeling it frost over inside of me. To my left, a group of children ¡ª tiny little kobolds, orcish lads with their tusks just beginning to protrude, and gnoll pups with wild, furry manes ¡ª laughed and tussled near an alleyway. They played a game that reminded me of tag, yet with a distinctly otherworldly twist as they slapped, ducked and wove through the crowd, swinging through the adult pedestrians.


    However, what caught my eye was the absence of goblin kids. It struck me as odd, especially given that this city was, at least in part, ruled by goblin elites. It made me wonder how many of the supposed allies of the goblins hated their crap as much as the rest of us did.


    As my gaze wandered, I spotted another stone shop at a distance. Its windows shined in the midday light, displaying an array of miscellaneous items. Rope, tools, torches . . . the sort of stuff that we always bought once and constantly neglected during tabletop RPG games. Giving a short sigh, I headed over and filled up on necessary sundries, noticing that they barely took up any space at all in my inventory.


    Taking a deep breath, I set off, the streets now bursting with activity. The sky above was all white and blue, the shadows of clouds drifted over me as I walked across the way.  Moving through the market hubbub, the distant cawing of crows reached my ears and I swung my enough head skyward to see them swirling in circles over the city.


    I had the peculiar feeling that they were bidding me goodbye, and I gave them a meaty-handed wave in response.


    It was amazing how much time I¡¯d lost. It reminded me of my old life. Back on Earth, I¡¯d get engrossed in an online game, losing myself in a slurry of amazing graphics, team play, and boss raid competitions. Hours would vanish in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, it would be past midnight. On more than one occasion, Casey would lean over my shoulder, her voice a mix of amusement and exasperation, reminding me that reality awaited the next day in the form of work. But even then, I prided myself on never letting my escapism interfere with my duties. My punctuality was one of the few things I could control, and it grounded me.


    Here though¡ªI couldn¡¯t let myself be so distracted.


    Navigating through the bustling streets of this new world, I tried hard to slide through the crowd, avoiding any possible confrontations. I couldn¡¯t help but bump and shove, though, my large frame just too large to do otherwise. As I shoved through the locals, I was surprised to see them simply stumble and then pick up where they had left off, entirely unperturbed. Their reactions ranged from apathetic shrugs to brief nods, suggesting that such encounters were nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps in a fantasy town as cosmopolitan and diverse as this, a giant outsider like me wasn¡¯t the strangest sight.


    Or maybe they just didn¡¯t want a giant to hammer them into the ground.


    As I made my way, a familiar silhouette caught my attention. From behind, it bore an uncanny resemblance to Schustak, our party''s goblin swamp druid. I narrowed my eyes and quickened my pace, pushing faster through the crowd. But when the figure finally turned around, I was met with the face of a stranger.


    Laughter bubbled in my ears, and I turned in that direction, but there was no mirthful figure to be seen.


    Unnerved, I hustled my way back to Elira¡¯s Haven.


    When I approached the inn, I could hear the cacophony of conversation emanating from within¡ªanimated discussions, boisterous laughter, and even the occasional heated argument. The inn, which had been relatively quiet when I had left earlier, was again pulsating with life.


    The mingling aromas greeted me a few paces from the entrance¡ªrich, mouthwatering notes of roasted meat and herbs, undercut by the tang of spilled beer that had been absorbed into the old wooden floors over time. A powerful whiff of flowery perfume permeated the mess of aromas and for a fleeting moment, I was reminded of Casey''s hair¡ªa sweet, comforting smell that I''d grown so accustomed to. A sharp pang of longing pierced through me, tugging at the edges of my emotions.


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    I paused momentarily, allowing my emotions to dissolve in the iciness of my blood before pushing it aside. Now wasn''t the time to dwell on what I missed from my world. With a deep breath, I fixed my gaze on the inn''s heavy oak doors, bracing myself for the hustle and bustle that awaited inside.


    Giving the inn''s doors a good push, I swung them open with a loud creak, revealing the dimly lit common room filled with an assortment of beings. There was a halfling bard in one corner, strumming a tune, his fingers flying deftly over the strings as he sang of women and beer and all he held dear, while a couple of orcs clapped with the words, roaring with joy. To my right, a few armored men loudly discussed their latest raid on some dungeon, and who would get what items from the party pool when they split. The inn''s atmosphere was heavy with the mingling of so many different cultures and races, yet, somehow, it worked.


    My eyes caught sight of Ike, and I made my way towards him. Spotting my approach, he gave a quick nod, removing a curved-wooden pipe from his mouth. The smoke from it curled up in gouts like dragon¡¯s breath before disappearing into the ceiling. I narrowed my eyes. The sight of a kobold smoking was not something I¡¯d ever guessed I¡¯d see in gamelife, let alone in some fantasy world.


    ¡°Don¡¯t like smoking?¡± he asked, casting an eye to my new set of armor.


    ¡°Can¡¯t stand it,¡± I answered.


    ¡°Too bad,¡± Ike remarked with a smirk, exhaling another puff of smoke. ¡°There are a lot of fine moments to be shared between two beings with a pipe.¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°Sorry I took so long. I lost track of time. These shops and this marketplace are absolutely fascinating to me. Given a full day I bet I would have used up all of the party¡¯s credit and then some. Which, speaking of, why? Why are you all being so good to me? And where is everyone else?¡±


    He nodded, taking a drag from his pipe. ¡°Why don¡¯t you have a drink, on me. You took long enough that I managed to get a few rounds in myself.¡± He pointed with his pipe stem towards a small pile of gold coins on the table next to him. ¡°Won those off a couple of orcs at arm wrestling. Should well pay for you without increasing your debts.¡±


    I laughed, ¡°Impressive.¡±


    He grinned, showing off his sharp teeth, ¡°Never underestimate the power of technique over brute strength.¡± He winked. ¡°Or of a good story to set one¡¯s heart at ease.¡±


    I took a seat opposite him, the wooden chair groaning under my weight. We shared a few minutes of comfortable silence, each lost in our thoughts. The inn''s atmosphere was warm and cozy, providing a respite from the hectic events of the past days.


    When the elven barmaid came by and slid me my tankard, I took a deep gulp and sighed. ¡°Now can you tell me what¡¯s happening?¡±


    Ike took his own swig. ¡°Listen. We¡¯re recruiting you. Seems kinda like you already have been recruited. This thing that we do, that we aren¡¯t going to go into detail on in the middle of this town if you understand what I am saying, it could use some big strong folk like you. Even if you aren¡¯t from around these parts. The people who called you here, they spent a lot of good resources on getting you here because they believed that you¡¯d be a powerful asset.¡±


    I quaffed the rest of the mug, signaling for another. ¡°So you¡¯re being nice to me so that I¡¯ll work for you. I get it. And that debt? This isn¡¯t something where I¡¯m going to be paying interest for the rest of my time here, is it?¡±


    Ike laughed. ¡°Do I look like a nobleman? Listen, that debt is interest free, pay as you go. Nice suit of armor by the way. I¡¯m impressed you can wear it, since I¡¯ve never seen one with a minimum under 10<sup>th</sup> level.¡±


    I smiled, remembering what Jeldorain had told me before. Level requirements were not something I would have to ever deal with.


    ¡°Yeah, it was a good buy,¡± I answered. ¡°Sounded like you had it made for me, from what the blacksmith was saying.¡±


    ¡°You can thank Elira and her group for that. They gave him a description of what you were and he came up with some pieces he thought would work well for you from that.¡±


    I smiled. It all made sense and I was happy it did. But inside, I could feel coils of doubt turning and snaking through my body. The explanations made sense. So why did I feel all of this dread?


    Ike regarded me, sighing and hopping from his stool. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here and get started on the quest. The others will have set off and found a good place to camp far from town. I¡¯ll track them and get us there by nightfall at the latest, or my uncle be a mongrelman¡¯s hussy. We¡¯ll get there and then we can talk more if you wish. Or talk about the quest if you don¡¯t. It¡¯s going to be a good one; I can feel it in my bones.¡±


    I finished my beer in another swift gulp and stood up beside him. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s get it done,¡± I said, an icy weight over my soul.

 Chapter Seventeen - Trust and Trepidation

    Traveling through the afternoon and into the dregs of the day¡¯s end, Ike and I moved out of the city and into the hills, following the traces that the rest of the party had left for us. When we came upon the campsite, it was to a rather picturesque sight. My new companions were settled by a trickling brook, its gentle burble mixing with the campfire''s youthful crackling and the occasional whisper of leaves.


    Brandosyeus was there, his fingers moving gracefully, plucking a somber melody from his lute. Jon was stamping flat some ground on which to lie the night, and Schustak was deep in a trance-like state, tendrils of phantom vines wrapping themselves thoroughly around his arms, legs and torso.


    Schustak. I narrowed my eyes, though he showed no indication of malicious intent.


    ¡°Ryan!¡± Jon shouted, looking up and seeing the two of them arrive. ¡°Ike! How good of you to join us!¡±


    Ike growled. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be happy if I were an owlbear. What happened to camp discipline?¡±


    ¡°Right behind you,¡± whispered Kevinar, stepping from the shadows, his wicked blade winking in the setting sun¡¯s light. ¡°Been following you for a while.¡±


    Ike chuckled. ¡°Good. Thought for a moment you¡¯d all lost your rat-infested minds! I see you found Schustak.¡±


    Brandosyeus stopped his song and glanced over. ¡°Hey! So we have!¡±


    Kevinar, meanwhile, circled my flank, his eyes rolling over the new suit of armor that adorned my body. ¡°Fascinating. That is a powerful outfit for a beginner. By what means are you wearing it?¡±


    I opened my mouth to answer, to tell them what Jeldorain had told me about this body and its ability to wield and wear without any level limits. But a wave of suspicion shuddered through my body, sluicing slush through my veins. Mouth agape, I faked a sneeze, then shrugged.


    Kevinar¡¯s eyes narrowed a moment, then he shrugged as well. ¡°It suits you. You look like an ice giant dressed for dragon hunting. I bet with that outfit you could storm a castle all on your own.¡±


    I chuckled, hoping it didn¡¯t sound forced. ¡°It¡¯s always good to be ready for both, I¡¯d say.¡±


    Ike clapped me on the back. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Alright everybody, Ryan has been asking some questions and I would like to give him some answers. He¡¯s a little suspicious of the warm reception we¡¯ve given him, and rightfully so.¡±


    The campfire¡¯s glow danced over their gathered faces, casting shadows that accentuated every angle. They were smiling, I saw. Well Jon was anyways. And the rest certainly didn¡¯t look like menacing conspirators over some great evil plan..


    ¡°Why?¡± I began, my voice slightly quivering with uncertainty. ¡°Why such a warm reception for someone you barely know?¡±


    The fire crackled in response, and the night''s noises seemed to hush in anticipation. Jon, perhaps because of the drunken comradery of the previous night, was the first to break the silence.


    ¡°Why not?¡± he grinned. ¡°We¡¯re all in this together, right? A bond forged in adventure.¡±


    Ike smiled, his wicked teeth like little scimitars, shaded blood-red by the growing flame of the campfire. ¡°We¡¯ve been on many quests, faced countless dangers. One learns to quickly judge character. You seem¡­trustworthy.¡±


    Kevinar snorted, taking a seat on a large stone seemingly made by the gods above exactly for that purpose. ¡°You¡¯re big and supposedly tough. It was the same with me when I came up from down below. They gave me a bunch of stuff and it got me to stick around. They are taming you.¡±


    I bristled and he smirked, white teeth juxtaposing against ebony skin.


    ¡°Ryan,¡± he continued, ¡°there is nothing wrong with being tamed. Have you ever seen a house cat? One of those furry little tiger beasts some of the townsfolk keep in their homes and feed from their own larder? None of them is wanting for anything, so great is their comfort. It¡¯s good to be tamed. Just remember, make them work for it. It¡¯ll land you more stuff.¡±


    The whole group snickered. All but Schustak, who sat quietly, his eyes shadowed and unreadable. Schustak¡¯s earlier trance with the phantom vines was still fresh in my memory. The goblin man felt alien and distant. Like a hyena lurking just at the edge of a torch¡¯s light, waiting for it to end before rushing in to strike.


    Trust no one completely, Jeldorain whispered and I froze, the arctic breeze of his presence slipping back into my mind. The barrier was still in place, I could feel it as concretely as I could feel the armor on my body. Yet he was here, unbarred, moving as freely as when we¡¯d first met. I could barely hear the jovial banter, the murmurs of agreement over Kevinar¡¯s latest words of wisdom as fear seized my heart, dimming all other senses and refocusing them onto my interior.


    How? I managed to fire back, nodding and smiling without seeing or feeling, hoping that I was keeping up a presence that wouldn¡¯t invite suspicion.


    I have my tricks, oh great champion. Listen, I was behaving and staying behind your little wall, giving you your space, because the way I see it we¡¯re in big trouble here. We¡¯ll talk about it later, when we¡¯re alone. Talk it through with everyone, get them sleepy, then let¡¯s chat.


    I blinked my eyes, pushed to reality as Brandosyeus, who had been quietly strumming his lute, set it aside. ¡°We¡¯ve all had our fair share of mysteries and pasts we¡¯d rather not delve into. But together, as a group, we''ve found strength. Perhaps we see in you another piece of that puzzle.¡±


    I took a deep breath, every fiber of my borrowed being on alert. I saw soft and kind eyes, Jeldorain¡¯s words imprinted over each of them in some devilish trick. Trust No One. I nodded, confidently, the entire thing an act for this crew since my confidence in myself in this world had just proven entirely unjustified. ¡°Thank you for your faith in me. But I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t¡­ hesitant. There''s a lot I don''t understand.¡±


    The group exchanged knowing glances. Some secrets were universal, shared silently between gamers and adventurers alike. But for me, the largest secret was the presence within, an infernal named Jeldorain, who had suddenly proven much more powerful than he had seemed. And possibly, nestled with even that secret, was one so powerful that it had Jeldorain spooked.


    The rest of the night was spent murmuring small talk. I feigned great tiredness quickly, play-acting the effects of last night¡¯s drink on tonight¡¯s energy. Then I laid there, listening, as Kevinar and Schustak wandered off to take watch, and the others slowed their breathing, Jon breaking into a whinny-like snore.


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    Jeldorain? You wanted to talk? I lowered the barrier, since it seemed to do no good anyways. Through the opened gap Jeldorain¡¯s essence flowed and I could see him as he saw himself, standing before my mind¡¯s eye as the mighty blue-skinned and thick veined infernal knee deep in the icy waters of his domain.


    My, if it isn¡¯t the great and noble Ryan, great champion of the Goblin Empire. Have you come for a visit?


    In my vision he bowed, his smirk arrogant yet worried.


    What is it that has you so worked up, Jeldorain? What are you worried about? Fear rode my words, and I could feel him sucking it off them like a man licking chicken grease from his fingers.


    The goblin. I think he holds them all in thrall. I think, with his magic, he owns this party. And that he came to get you, to get us! The battle was staged, the rescuing false. This is our training, and when we complete it, we will be back in chains, our liberty rotted from our frames until it is no more.


    I opened my eyes, searching the shadowy camp site for a glimpse of the goblin. Surely he should have been back from his guard duty? A faint whisper tickled my ear.


    ¡°Get up and arm yourself Ryan. We have company,¡± Kevinar murmured before slipping shadow-like to our next nearest companion. I listened closely, equipping my arms and armor. Sure enough, the muffled sounds of approaching footfalls was growing clearer, accompanied by the guttural murmurs of voices, unfamiliar and threatening.


    ¡±It is a tribe of wild orcs,¡± whispered Kevinar, the rest of the party now awake and already geared up for battle. Brandosyeus quietly began to hum, the melody vibrating with a subtle cloying energy that indicated bardic magic was being prepared.


    ¡°Stay down and ready,¡± Ike commanded, his voice growing a bit shrill and whiny at this unnaturally low volume. They¡¯ll attempt to kill us in our sleep, like as not.¡±


    On his last syllable they burst into the campsite, their intentions evident in their drawn weapons and hostile demeanor.


    And as one we leapt to meet them, sharpened blades at the ready. I felt the raw, untamed power of Jeldorain coursing through my veins, high-pressure slush sluicing through veins of iced flesh as I whipped Frostchain through the air. The orc I faced had just enough time for his eyes to widen before his head went flying through the air. Beside me, another orc simply dropped, his dead eyes confused about the dagger buried hilt deep in its spine.


    Kevinar, I thought, my admiration for the silent fighter growing.


    An orc swatted at me with his ax and the stone head of it cracked on impact with the plate of my armor. As he gawked I lassoed Frostchain through the air, flinging it past him and into a knot of three fighters behind him. Simultaneously I activated my Whirlwind Attacks, feeling the 20 stamina points leave my being. With its ax blades now spinning like a helicopter¡¯s rotor, their wicked edge ground through hide and flesh, spitting gore in all directions.


    ¡°Gross,¡± Brandosyeus cursed loudly, a patch of orcish flank now hanging from the edge of his panpipes. Backing away, I saw the brief image of cracked musical notes, a sure sign that whatever spell he had been crafting had been disrupted by my attack.


    Yanking Frostchain back, I struck the orc in front of me, cutting meat from his shoulder and causing him to bellow in rage. Something flashed through my mind, a blazing notification, and I saw something I hadn¡¯t encountered before. In my scrolling mental slate, a series of notifications documented the battle thus far.


    Critical Hit!


    Critical Hit!


    Combo Activated!


    Feeling a rush of power, my next attacks came faster, each blow multiplying in strength. Despite the orcs now being on the defensive, I saw that their numbers were somehow larger than I¡¯d first thought. From out of the woods came more and more of the tribesmen, snarling and waving primitive weapons in their fists.


    Inside me Jeldorain grinned, and I mimicked him, a small gout of frost escaping from my nostrils.


    Charging into this oncoming knot of warriors, I lashed out, cracking open the chest of one and de-legging another, before getting stabbed in the arm by a snarling tattooed youngling whose pride and glory shined through his ecstatically smug face. With the drop in hit points came another notification.


    Combo Deactivated.


    Snarling, I used the Disarm ability, spending 10 Stamina Points as I wrapped the weapon and pulled it from his grasp. His long spear clattered to the ground, and he looked up just in time to receive a crushing blow from my fist.


    To my left, I heard the sound of hooves and Jon rode by wielding a shining lance, spearing another two orcs from the oncoming horde. He spared me not a glance, his usually bare chest and head now armored over in brass plate and chain.


    A sharp pain in my ankle brought me about, and I cursed losing focus in the middle of battle. The orc youth and slashed me long and deep with an obsidian dagger, and now he was running back into the woods from which he had come.


    Jeldorain reared inside of me.


    Catch him! End him! The flesh of his body shall be our vengeance.


    Gritting my teeth, I resisted, turning away from the now retreating relief force to focus on what was left of the original attackers.


    In the center of our camp, floating about the remains of our campfire, an orc stared straight forward, his eyes blazing a swirling green the color of pine. Scars crisscrossed his mostly naked body¡ªsome old and faded, others fresh and blood red. Atop his head, he wore a headdress made from the antlers of a great stag, intertwined with fresh flowers and twigs, and around his waist clinked a leather belt filled with bone figurines, and it was from here that he cast his spells, as I found out when he threw one of the fingers at my feet.


    It exploded, knocking me onto my back, while also summoning a great puma. The beast growled, its teeth hungry for blood.


    I chuckled. It would be in for a hells of a surprise if it got through my jugular. Standing, I noted that the beast¡¯s master had a small patch of scorch on his body, and I remembered the damage reflection properties of my aegis. Holding it aloft, I stared at the puma and bared my teeth.


    It leapt. And I swung sideways, swiping Frostchain in a left-to-right arc as I did so. The glowing blade of its ax tips filleted the great cat snout to tail, the corpse squelching as it fell to the forest floor.


    Jeldorain laughed heartily. I could feel his excitement rolling through me in waves.


    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± I asked.


    It may have been new in this place, though, because the shaman¡¯s eyes cleared, reverting to their natural amber state, and glaring at me under arched eyebrows.


    ¡°You dare challenge he of the Five Oaks?¡± the orc muttered in a surprisingly urbane English accent. ¡°Your death will be both fulfilling and final.¡±


    I made a quick sitrep of the battle, noting where everyone was and what clusters of orcs they were fighting. Other than this shaman, not a one of the fighters seemed particularly powerful, and I realized that his absence would almost definitely end the battle.


    Taking a step into his direction, I raised my weapon¡ªand then howled in pain, a sudden wall of sharp, pointed thorns and brambles rising between myself and my target, skinning my toes in their push up from the mulchy forest floor.


    Nearby, the shaman focused his attention on me, recognizing the threat I posed. Another spell cast, this time sending a barrage of magical thorns. But Jeldorain''s protection kicked in, reducing 45% of the spell''s damage. I felt the sting but was far from incapacitated.


    I tore through them, swinging left and right into the orcish knot ahead of me. The orcs were on the defensive, their numbers dwindling quickly.


    However, the shaman wasn''t done. He began a complex incantation, and the very ground beneath me started to shift. Roots erupted, attempting to bind me in place. With a Swing, I latched onto an overhead branch, expending 5 Stamina Points and swung over the roots in a wide arc, landing directly in front of the startled shaman.


    His eyes glowed with malice.


    ¡°The forest calls for your blood,¡± he growled, a sharped staff of young, green wood rising from the ground into his grasp.


    ¡°Tell the forest that I¡¯m not available,¡± I returned, striking forward in an overhead arc. The ax-heads raked shriekingly over a shield of blue shimmering energy that faded as I dragged them back. His eyes narrowed, and in one impossible movement his sharpened staff was in his arc, flying through the air at the center of my body. Dropping to the ground and avoiding the weapon completely, I swept at the shaman¡¯s legs and knocked his legs into the air.


    He dropped with a loud swoosh as all the air in his legs erupted outwards.


    ¡°You¡¯re not much in hand-to-hand, are you?¡± I asked, standing up. I walked over to him, barely noticing the sudden pause in the fighting as both orcs and allies turned to watch us.


    ¡°Dem-on spawn,¡± he gasped, spitting blood to the side and closing his eyes. I ended him with a hard stomp to the face.

 Chapter Eighteen – Gourmet Eating

    I was exhausted. Frost huffed out of my throat in quick and voluminous puffs of cloud, dissipating in the air as I surveyed the battle situation. It seemed that seeing their leader fall had taken all of the fun out of the fighting, I noted, as I watched the back sides of the orcs disappear into the forest. Around me none of my companions had been felled, though a few of them sported wounds.


    Wounds that it quickly became obvious would not be there for long as Brandosyeus put panpipes to his mouth and began to play.


    Battle Completed. Party experience Gained: 2000XP


    As Brandosyeus sang a tale of Orrin the Orcsmith, the idiot-god of the greenskins, we began to sift through the belongings of our fallen foes. Gold coins, hide armor, and an assortment of stone and bone weapons lay scattered around. The gold we all pocketed, but none of the rest of it was worthwhile. And even the shaman seemed to be a bust on good treasure.


    That was until I spotted an eye socket. The extreme strangeness of seeing the removed and smoothed out portion of skull that held a single eye socket bereft of any other skeletal feature was bewildering. I turned it over in my hand, appraising it.


    I reached out and gripped it, then focused my mind on its contents.


    IDENTIFIED!


    Information flashed across my mind, like before, but this time I was more relaxed as it rolled over my consciousness.


    Skeletal Summoner Talisman:


    Effect: Allows the wielder to summon one skeletal minion each day. This power is reset at dawn. The summoned minion remains loyal and follows the commands of the summoner for a duration of one hour. Requires the presence of an enemy corpse to cast.


    Usual Cost: 2500 gold pieces


    Appearance: A section of human skull containing an eye socket


    Color: Bone white with faint ethereal glows radiating out from the socket


    I peeked over at one of the orc bodies while my companions continued to loot, curious. Spotting one that looked like a green-skinned version of Hulk Hogan, I thought about him rising.


    The body began to smoke, the skin and flesh sloughing off.


    ¡°Holy Hells, we¡¯ve got another encounter!¡± Ike yelled, rushing up and kicking dirt on its face. Brandosyeus changed his musical tune, and I grinned at the skeleton rising from its body as the rest of the party wielded their arms.


    I laughed and raised my new item high for all to see, just in time to see Jon destroy my skeleton with a glowing and super large magic fist.


    ¡°Woah!¡± I bellowed, watching my new creation fly to pieces before me. Jeldorain pealed laughter from inside my soul. The party turned, regarding my new toy, then turned back to the shattered bones that now lay fanned out against the edge of the campsite.


    The campfire''s glow illuminated the faces of my companions, each one trying to stifle their laughter. Brandosyeus, with a mischievous glint in his eye, was the first to speak up. ¡°Ryan, next time you find a magical item, maybe give us a heads up? It would save us from... unexpected surprises.¡±


    Ike, the kobold warrior, chuckled, ¡°Especially if it involves summoning the undead. Those things freak me out!¡±


    I laughed and was about to respond when I noticed Schustak, the goblin swamp druid, slinking back into the campsite. His usual mysterious demeanor was intact, and he seemed unfazed by the recent events. ¡°Evening,¡± he greeted nonchalantly, as if he hadn''t been absent during the fight.


    ¡°Welcome back!¡± Jon called cheerfully. ¡°I just got to one shot a skeleton.¡±


    The others greeted him in kind, with no hint of concern or surprise at his sudden reappearance. I felt a growl build in my throat, but refused to let it pass.


    Do you see it? Do you understand my concerns, oh great grand champion?


    ¡°Not in the mood,¡± I whispered, all hilarity pulled from my body. I liked these guys, and I hated that Jeldorain might be right. ¡°Hey everybody, how about we let Schustak take a break and I¡¯ll head up the rest of the watch for tonight?¡± I asked. Kevinar cocked his head, his velvet eyes curious, but the rest took it in just as much stride as they did Schustak.


    ¡°Yeah, sure, just make sure you wake us up if some more orcs come by,¡± Ike said, the rest already getting set to sleep in their assigned spots. Schustak cocked his head, but he said nothing and took over my former position around the embers of the fire, falling asleep in an instant.


    Kill him, Jeldorain said.


    I stared at his head, thinking of the deadly stomp I¡¯d orchestrated not so long ago. I couldn¡¯t though. Not yet. It¡¯d be my own death sentence if Jeldorain were wrong about them all being in thrall. I needed to know for sure that it was what he said it was.


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    Jeldorain sighed inside of me, and his presence faded slightly as if he, too, were going to slumber.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Kevinar whispered. ¡°The night awaits our presence.¡±


    The two of us left the camp and moved back out into the woods. The coolness of it all felt incredible on my frosty skin, and I found myself reveling in the absence of the fire. The hoots of owls and the chirp of crickets wove themselves into a pure and primeval world around me, and so lost was I in the beauty of it all that I jumped when Kevinar touched my arm.


    ¡°Something on your mind?¡± he asked, purple penetrating into my icy blues. ¡°Your family?¡±


    My mind raced, thinking of what to say. I¡¯d already mentioned my concerns about Schustak before, so I¡¯d have to bring up something else instead.


    ¡°Orcs,¡± I lied. ¡°Why are there bands of wild orcs rolling through the forests of this empire? I thought the goblins had it all conquered?¡±


    Kevinar nodded and turned away, looking into the brush. ¡°It¡¯s a good question. The orcs are an enigma. They could be a part of this empire and hold great position and titles. Some of them do. But despite the invitation, most of them stick to the ruins of old cities and palaces, or else to the forests and swamps of the exterior. If you ask one why, and they don¡¯t first try to jelly your head with a club, they will say because of freedom. Without the cities of the empire, the soldiers and taxes and commerce, they are free. And that is how they want to be.¡±


    ¡°Freedom,¡± I repeated, thinking of nights spent around a campfire on a sandy beach with barbecue grills and the golden hair of my lovely wife. ¡°I can respect that.¡±


    Kevinar chuckled. ¡°It is about as opposite as you can get to the place where I come from. Yes, freedom is something to be appreciated, even if you can truthfully say that the orcs maybe take it to an extreme.¡±


    We walked on in silence, scanning our surroundings for trouble. After 30 minutes of this, a question formed in my head. One I¡¯d asked many times when I¡¯d first started Lords of Chaos.


    ¡°Hey Kevinar. When do I level?¡±


    He stopped, and stared at me, his eyes seeming to drill their way into my soul. ¡°One more kill should do the trick if my appraisal check was successful.¡± He nodded and smiled. ¡°Indeed, I think we might be able to get this taken care of tonight. Follow me.¡±


    I paused, startled, looking back in the direction of the camp. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to be protecting them?¡± I asked.


    Kevinar cocked his head. ¡°I have been in communion with Schustak. He will guard them tonight.¡±


    Gritting my teeth on his words, I followed along, letting Kevinar lead the way. His movements were a real marvel, completely silent despite the debris of the forest floor, and I found myself trying to copy his movements, failing miserably as I did. Still, a +1/10 Stealth notification appeared as we walked, and I marveled at the simplicity of this world.


    After what felt like an hour, the dense trees gave way to a clearing, at the center of which stood the entrance to a dark cave. The rock around the opening was scored with claw marks and scattered bones, hinting at the presence of a formidable creature within.


    Kevinar turned to me, his purple eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°There is a ritual where I come from, in which a warrior may prove his greatness in the arena against a giant beast of his choosing. It is fun to watch, though sometimes fatal to take part in. This is the lair of a cave bear. A formidable beast that I spotted on my rounds. Not dangerous to the party given our distance from the cave, but I believe a battle with it here and now might well be in your favor.¡±


    Jeldorain stirred. The meat is greasy and juicy. They make a wonderful feast. Plus you can gain a level. Take this fight. But do remember that Kevinar is enthralled, and this fight is simply training for our place in the Goblin Empire. We take the training, gain the levels, then slaughter them all.


    We¡¯re still not sure on that, I said. I could feel his presence pulsing, excited, threatening to breach the bounds of my massive body. Save that energy for the cave, Jeldorain. Tonight we feast.


    With a swift motion, Kevinar threw a rock into the cave, causing a deep, guttural growl to echo from within, then lightly hopped up to the first branch of a tree, climbing it to the top. ¡°Good luck!¡± he yelled.


    Jeldorain laughed. Enthralled or not, I like Kevinar.


    Moments later, a massive cave bear, much larger than I was, its fur matted and eyes glowing with rage, charged out of the darkness, swinging a paw large enough to bat the head off a human. Above me, a boss hit point bar appeared, stretching left and right across my vision.


    ¡°What the hells, Kevinar?¡± I asked as I barely ducked under the attack.


    Jeldorain bellowed laughter inside of me.


    The cave bear roared at me, and I felt sparkly needles of pain lance over my face and arms. Moving fast, I cased the scene before me, checking all of the higher ledges and angles, before settling on the bear¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Want me?¡± I asked, backing up slowly. ¡°Come get me!¡±


    Jeldorain chortled from inside.


    The gigantic ursine galloped, his jaws wide with obvious culinary intent, and I put my plan into action.


    Swing I thought, engaging the ability as the bear drew near, and looping Frostchain around the monster¡¯s upper jaw, charging forward as I did so. My momentum, its momentum, and the abilities of my special attack swung me in a wide and terrifying arc, landing me on the back of its neck.


    ¡°Well done!¡± Kevinar called from above, clapping and cheering.


    I smashed my weapon down against the bear¡¯s spine once, and then again. It roared and stood on its hind legs, a height at which it was now eye-to-eye with Kevinar, I noted, as I hastily stopped myself from falling by digging my blades into the bear¡¯s thick hide. It bellowed again, swiping at Kevinar¡¯s tree and knocking it over. But not before he managed to leap to another one.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got this victory in hand, Ryan. I believe in you!¡± he called. I simply groaned, pulling one of the ax blades from the bear and this time activating my Soul Sync. Torrents of cold rolled off my body in waves of shrieking frost, billowing over the bear and causing it to shudder.


    HELLS AM I ALIVE. STRIKE NOW, AS MY POWER IS AT ITS PEAK!


    Following the shrieking infernal¡¯s instruction, I smashed the ax blade back into the bear, then watched in mystified horror as the new wound froze over, driving a massive icicle through the cave bear¡¯s body. His health bar was at 20% now, and I was absolutely stunned.


    This body really was OP as hell.


    The bear, though wounded, was not defeated. It roared in defiance, tearing its body off of the massive icicle and losing another 10% of its health, before dropping backwards to pancake me into oblivion.


    Tearing the blades out and activating Swing, I narrowly lassoed a rocky outcropping towards the top of the bear¡¯s home, swooping through the air into safety. As the dazed bear looked up at me with jaws open, blood trickling out the side of its mouth and frothing from its nose, I felt a bit sorry for it. I had been the aggressor here, not it.


    Leaping down from my perch, I cut through its snout, and ended its life.


    The forest returned to its eerie silence. I panted heavily, looking at the bear, relief and sadness swarming through me, mixed with nearly unfightable hunger. A bright light enveloped me, energy coursing through my veins and rejuvenating me. When the light faded, I felt stronger and more powerful.


    VICTORY! 300 XP rewarded!


    Kevinar approached, clapping me on the back. ¡°Well done! I knew you had it in you.¡±


    I turned, barely able to keep saliva from spilling out of my mouth. ¡°You should leave, now, Kevinar,¡± I groaned. ¡°This will not be pleasant.¡±

 Chapter Nineteen – Level Up!

    The space where once had lain the carcass of an enormous cave bear was now just torn shreds of meat and gristle, the whole forest floor and side of the mountain painted as if it were a scene from a haunted hotel in a horror movie. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the earthy aroma of the forest, creating a juxtaposition of life and death. The trees, tall and ancient, stood as silent witnesses to the carnage, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze.


    I looked it over with now sober eyes, Jeldorain inside of me grunting and munching on some spiritual facsimile of the grotesque buffet that I had dug into. It chilled me that I had given into this desire. Memories of my old world flashed before my eyes¡ªfamily dinners, laughter, and the simple joy of a shared meal. How had I come to this? It iced me over to reflect on how much I enjoyed it. I¡¯d dug in deep and with wanton abandon, and it had tasted and felt so good.


    The forest around us seemed to close in, the shadows growing darker and the sounds of nature eerily silent. The weight of my actions pressed down on me, and I felt trapped between two worlds¡ªmy past and this new, brutal reality.


    The munching inside of me stopped, and I felt the presence of a satiated Jeldorain float to stand beside my soul.


    That was magnificent, he reveled, frosty joy radiating from him in all directions. A true delicacy. Stick with me, Ryan, and we¡¯ll make this whole world into our buffet.


    The thought crossed my mind that I was a vagrant in this world, with no real hope to ever get back to my own, and I briefly contemplated his offer. After all, what did I have to lose?


    Gritting my teeth, I shook my head. ¡°No, this is enough. There will be a way home. We just need to find it. Now, how about you help me figure out this whole leveling thing.¡±


    My body shuddered and I briefly thought that Jeldorain was going to refuse me, but he surprised me with a mental nod and a welcoming bow. Together we entered into the center of our spiritual meld, looking over the letters and numbers of my character sheet.


    Character Name: THORACK, the top of it still read. I let out a gusty sigh and Jeldorain laughed heartily. You can change it, you know, he said, laughing harder when my eyes widened and I stared him full on in his frozen, blue-skinned face. Muttering under my breath, I thought at the letters, watching them shudder and fade into my own.


    RYAN, they read. It felt good to see that. A step back to where I came from.


    Beneath the name was the still life profile image of Jeldorain doing his very best to intimidate whoever he was looking at, his mouth wide open and his jagged icy teeth shining in the light, his massive arms cast backwards as if they were about to clap someone into a bloody mess. The infernal made for an intimidating figure, I had to admit.


    We do, Jeldorain stated proudly, reading my mind and responding warmly like a father proud of his son.


    Continuing past, I read through the Attributes:


    Strength: 20


    Endurance: 20


    Agility: 16


    Wits: 10


    Intelligence: 14


    Luck: 6


    This looks like something I can change, I noted, looking back at the monster.


    He nodded. You can raise an ability point every 5 levels. So your next shot at it is level 10.


    I growled, moving on to the Resource Pools.


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    Level: 5


    Hit Points: 100


    Mana Points: 70


    Stamina Points: 50


    Skills & Abilities:


    Freezing Icearigama Mastery


    Raise Skeletal Ally


    S-Rank Skills:


    Whips and Scourges


    Whirlwind Attack: Attack all enemies in range in a circle around the user.


    Disarm: Attempt to snag and acquire a weapon from an enemy¡¯s hand.


    Swing: Snag a protruding overhead ledge or object and swing over the ground in a 180-degree arc.


    Weaponcraft:


    Fuse: 20 stamina (500 gold)


    Upgrade: 10 stamina (100 gold)


    Repair: 10 stamina


    So what can I change here? I asked.


    Jeldorain¡¯s blue eyes wandered over the rest of the sheet. You can improve 1 skill per level. Which might not seem like much until you realize that unlike the regular training-based progression, this is a way to skip the checks and just be better at whatever it is you choose. Your hit points, mana, and stamina will all increase on their own, randomly, with a set of variables known only to the gods.


    I nodded, thinking of what I knew from this world. It was so much like Lords of Chaos. And in that game, at the higher levels, you were taking damage pretty much constantly. So something that could help me heal or evade would be good. I looked over my sheet and a sudden shock rolled through my mind.


    I can choose any ability? I asked. He nodded, a slushy glimmer in his eye. Turning back to the sheet, I thought of healing and spellcraft and about did a jig when it appeared.


    E-rank Spellcraft:


    Minor Healing ¨C Heal 1 hit point per second at the rate of 1 mana per hit point.


    Grinning from inside my body, I thought the words LEVEL UP then let it all update through my sheet. I popped up to Level 6, my Hit Points went to 120, my Mana Points jumped to 84, and my Stamina Points went to 60.


    Things were looking pretty tasty. I thanked Jeldorain and swam back into reality. Just in time to see Kevinar picking his way through the flesh-strewn wilderness.


    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you saved any for me?¡± he asked, his face twisted into an amazed smirk.


    I shrank back, surprised and embarrassed, gesturing at the mess around us. ¡°You¡ªyou aren¡¯t disturbed by all of this?¡±


    Kevinar shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve seen worse. And it isn¡¯t as if cave bears aren¡¯t good eating. Do wish you would have set a little aside for me, though. Laid over late night coals, cave bear makes for a tremendous meal in the morning. I¡¯m tempted to take some of these meat scraps but I¡¯m worried that they¡¯re full of ice-infernal slobber.¡±


    Appreciation and gratitude washed through me. ¡°Thank you. It means a lot that you aren¡¯t freaked out.¡±


    Kevinar nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve all got something hard to deal with. There¡¯s no point in me making it harder.¡±


    The predawn light began to paint the sky with hues of lavender and pink as we walked, casting a soft glow over the trees and mulch. The forest came alive with the chirping of crickets and the distant hoot of an owl. Dewdrops glistened on leaves, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of pine and moss. A cool mist rolled through it all, coming to my knees, and I felt serene. The feast had been good for me, I decided, no matter how strangely it had been undertaken.


    The battle as well.


    When we arrived back, the first rays of dawn were breaking on the horizon. The sounds of nature were growing in their intensity, and I saw a squirrel slip by, darting to the trunk of a tree and scrambling up in an instant. Golden light bathed everything in a warm ethereal glow, signaling the new day, while the bloodied aftermath of the night battle lay strewn around, a testament to the day prior.


    ¡°Shh,¡± Schustak said, stepping out from a bush with a finger to his grotesquely chapped lips. ¡°Give them another hour. This is a time of communion and worship.¡±


    I stopped and stared at the goblin, wondered what he was on about, while Kevinar moved over to the trunk of a tree and sat down, cross-legged, closing his eyes. Abruptly he began bobbing forward and backward, as if he were rocking out to some unseen tune. Despite my feelings towards him, I turned to Schustak with a question on my lips.


    ¡°What is happening with Kevinar?¡± I asked.


    Schustak turned his head, looking annoyed. ¡°He is meditating to gain back the energy he has expended through the night. For us, we rely on sleep. For him, he may simply gather new energy from his surroundings. It is a complicated process, and I have important things of my own to take care of, by the way,¡± he said, turning on the last word and moving over to what seemed to be a small shrine made of local rocks, moss, and a single branch. Curious, I watched him.


    First the goblin laid both of his hands on the branch, muttering words in a language that I couldn¡¯t possibly understand. Then he raised it up, above his head, speaking the words into the sky, before laying it down again and repeating the process. A green aura slowly intensified in color around him as he did so, and I filed the whole bizarre ritual away as a future question for my next outing with Kevinar.


    With any luck, it would give me a way to exploit this world¡¯s system and grant me additional gaming resources with which to battle and quest. And if it didn¡¯t, there was always the possibility that it would show me a weakness in Schustak. One that I could exploit mercilessly when push finally came to shove.


    Jeldorain nodded inside me, rubbing his hands together and grinning as he bathed in the light of my scarlet rage.

 Chapter Twenty – Certain Uncertainties

    The sun was a quarter past the horizon by the time everyone was up, supped, and ready to go. Kevinar had on his shaded goggles, the rest were geared for combat with gear packed and balanced on their shoulders as they prepared for another day¡¯s journey. The mood was jubilant, with everyone bantering and Brandosyeus even treating them to a mid-morning song about the wonders of life without beds.


    I rolled through it all in a daze, my thoughts lost on Jeldorain¡¯s prognostications. As we moved out into the day¡¯s march, I found myself next to Ike, taking up the party¡¯s rear in the formation.


    ¡°Ryan,¡± began Ike, marching cheerfully near my knee. ¡°How are you feeling today? You seem lost in yerself.¡±


    I sighed, not sure how much I should tell. If Jeldorain was right, it was probably best that I kept my words to myself. There was something about the kobold, though, that just begged words from my mouth.


    ¡°I worry that maybe I¡¯m in over my head here. A human possessing an infernal in a world full of magic and swordplay, well, that isn¡¯t what I¡¯m used to. Why did the spell choose me even? It¡¯s not like I know what¡¯s what in this world.¡±


    Ike nodded. ¡°Kobold communities are worlds of their own as well. When I first set out, I was lost. Not afraid to admit it either. People were always shooing me away and keeping me out of their shops. Thought I was going to steal things, I think.¡±


    I snickered, looking down at him and seeing his eyes go wide with feigned innocence.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have stolen anything important,¡± he answered, chuckling back. ¡°It¡¯s a bad stereotype us lot are saddled with, but it might not be unearned.¡±


    We walked a few minutes more in silence, questions and thoughts swirling through my mind. ¡°Adventuring and leveling and magic, those didn¡¯t exist in my world. We just sat around playing games, driving cars to work, having drinking parties at the beach or in the yard. I feel like the magic grabbed the wrong guy.¡±


    Is that so? Jeldorain asked, his voice heavy with sarcasm. I ignored him, focusing on my friend.


    ¡°Could be. But I doubt it. I¡¯ve seen you in action. You¡¯ll get on fine. Spells of that caliber, they can critically fail and grab the wrong person, but I don¡¯t think that is the case here. You seem like a smart guy, now with a tremendously powerful body, and it makes sense to me that the Goblin Empire would want one such as yourself to take over the reins of its armies and to fully conquer our world.¡±


    I nodded, but didn¡¯t really feel the gesture. The idea that I was this great champion was so ridiculous in light of where I was. I still knew little of my own body, and barely knew how to live here. I snorted and changed the topic.


    ¡°So, got any tips on dealing with human-infernal friendships?¡± I asked.


    The kobold tripped with a yelp, tucking and rolling to avoid fall damage. ¡°What?!¡± he spluttered from the ground, his reptilian cheeks a flash of pink. ¡°You aren¡¯t talking to it, are you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t really have a choice,¡± I muttered, reaching down and helping him to his feet. He swept forest detritus from his body, cursing in a language that seemed composed of child yips and monstrous growls.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, heading back into stride. ¡°Infernals are tricky, is the thing. They are deceitful beings. Often, they require chaos to sustain their presence here in our world. Though that might not be the case for your body, since your human soul is probably anchoring here. Still, I bet old habits die hard.¡±


    Kevinar I like. Ike, I do not, Jeldorain muttered. Old habits die hard? Don¡¯t talk to an infernal? What does he expect me to do in here, be a mute and silent prisoner?


    I winced under the thunderous barrage of his anger, and Ike frowned. ¡°He doing that?¡± Ike asked.


    False concern. False pity! Do not trust them!


    I stopped walking, focusing my thoughts into muting the infernal. He shut up, allowing me to get my own thoughts in edgewise. You will let me make my own decisions. Don¡¯t be afraid, if you aren¡¯t misleading me and we really are a team in this, I¡¯ll keep you company. But for all that is holy, let the man talk!


    A wave of grudging acceptance washed through my body, sluicing through ice-clogged veins. I restarted my walk, my focus back on the world around us.


    ¡°He¡¯s part of me,¡± I finally said, watching Ike¡¯s face closely as I talked. ¡°Whether I like it or not, he¡¯s there. And I¡¯m not going to lock him away. Honestly, Jeldorain is as much a victim in this as I am. Plus he¡¯s seen things, knows things.¡±


    A lightbulb went off in my head, and Jeldorain barked a laugh. Bout time, dummy, he said as I realized that the missing piece of my existence in this world was him. I didn¡¯t need to know the system because, just like with the leveling and the escape, he was there to fill in the gaps and tell me the things I didn¡¯t know.


    I looked up to the treetops, spotting a long-tailed bird of brown and black plumage. Its wings spread wide as it took flight, the sunlight catching the iridescent sheen on its feathers. The bird''s call echoed through the forest, a melodic tune that seemed to resonate with the very essence of the wilderness.


    Jeldorain, what can you tell me about that? I asked him, my eyes still fixed on the bird as it soared gracefully through the sky.


    Jeldorain''s presence stirred within me, and I could feel his consciousness focusing on the bird. That is a Lustra Hawk, he began, his voice echoing in the depths of my mind. A majestic creature, native to these woods. The Lustra Hawk is known for its keen eyesight and unmatched agility in flight. Its feathers are often sought after by alchemists and potion makers for their magical properties. The bird''s call is said to have the power to soothe even the most troubled of souls.


    He paused. They are solid fighters due to their aerial tactics but aren¡¯t hostile unless provoked. Catching one and consuming its still-beating heart is thought to increase your Luck stat by one point, permanently, one time only, he eagerly added.


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    I chuckled, and pointed at the flying avian. ¡°Lustra Hawk?¡± I asked Ike.


    He nodded. ¡°Have them in your world?¡±


    ¡°Nah. Just have an infernal teacher hanging out in my guts. He knows a lot and being there is going to help us both out.¡±


    Ike snorted. ¡°Tis the tale of the infernal and the boy. Never ends well, not even when old mum is the one reading it. But, you aren¡¯t wrong. Feel free to come to me when you need something, though. Don¡¯t haggle with the hells, ya hear? It never comes to any good.¡±


    It never comes to any good mocked Jeldorain. Oooh do I not like Ike. We should hang out with Kevinar. Maybe he¡¯ll have us fight another Cave Bear.


    I scanned the sky, watching as the Lustra Hawk disappeared into the distance, its call fading away.


    Keep your word and help me get home. They¡¯ll come around, I shot back. It was then I noticed the ghostly image of Schustak from the corner of my eye. This shade of him, whatever its reality, was staring at me intently, his gaze unsettling, full of an unreadable emotion. I shot a look to Ike, but he was oblivious to the ghostly apparition.


    Do not trust them, Jeldorain reminded, before fading back to wherever it was he constantly sprang forth from.


    As we continued our journey, the path ahead was filled with dense undergrowth, making progress slow. Yet, every so often, I would feel a prickling on the back of my neck, a sensation that I was being watched. Every time I looked back, I would catch Schustak''s shade, its eyes on me. The feeling of suspicion intensified, and the lines between reality and hallucination began to blur. Whispers in the wind sounded like hushed conversations. Shadows seemed to move of their own volition.


    It felt like I was losing my damn mind.


    That evening, as we thankfully ended the day¡¯s march and set up camp at the base of a hill, I kept my distance from the group. I needed clarity, a moment to gather my thoughts. The campfire crackled, its flames casting a warm, orange glow that danced upon the faces of my companions. The scent of burning wood was comforting, a small reprieve from the tension that had built up throughout the day.


    Jeldorain''s voice echoed in my mind, cold and clear. You are surrounded by foes. You must act first.


    I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I whispered, looking around me.


    Before he could answer, a cacophony of battle shouts came from the undergrowth. From the top of the hill, a gaggle of orcs entered eyesight, their shadows long in the waning light of the day. Hooting and hollering, they shook their weapons above them in clear challenge to our group.


    ¡°Orcs never learn, do they,¡± Jon quipped, his lance appearing in his hand from his inventory. Galloping forward and up the hill, the centaur let out a long high-pitched yell as he charged our foes, his hooves thundering against the rising ground. Ike cursed, pointing at the orcs who were now backpedaling in the face of Jon¡¯s brave attack.


    ¡°No, Jon! It''s a trap!¡± I shouted, suddenly realizing the import of Jeldorain¡¯s words, but it was too late. The rest of the party ran up the slope and I followed, hoping to break them out of whatever mess this would turn out to be.


    Behind us, bulky orcish axemen walked out of forest hiding places, blocking our rear, while from the sides came a hail of javelins, cracking and breaking against our bodies. I took three hits, and watched in dismay as my hit points dipped 13% of their total.


    ¡°Stop the attack!¡± I yelled. ¡°Pull back to the camp!¡±


    I caught Ike¡¯s eyes and he nodded, repeating my command. Turning to our flank, I rushed the heavy bushes and scrub, now clearly seeing the figures hidden within.


    ¡°The infernal approaches!¡± one yelled, a guttural common tongue that surprised me. There were half a dozen, and they charged me enmasse, a wave of green-skinned muscle backed by bone-sabers and hide-bound shields.


    I quickly assessed the situation, my game instincts kicking in. The attackers had a clear strategy, using the terrain and their numbers to their advantage. I stopped my charge, readying myself for the onslaught.


    Luckily the orcish rush was on uneven footing alongside a hill full of exposed roots and mulched leaf-coverings. It made the attack uncoordinated, allowing me to single out one target ten feet before the next. Whipping my stringed blade forward, I caught him in the chest and was pleased to see him go rigid, eyes rolling in panic as ice encased his body.


    My next attack whipped into my target¡¯s shield, the orc throwing it in the way just in time. Activating my Disarm attack, I swung again, missing his saber but wrapping his shield and pulling it from his body. His legs pumped, pushing him into attack range, but before he could swing his saber I whipped him in one fully extended leg.


    CRITICAL HIT! DISMEMBERMENT!


    Jeldorain cackled in glee as the limbs separated from the orc¡¯s body, an anguished scream erupted from the warrior as he rolled down the slope. His friends behind him continued the charge, yelling orcish curses as they did so.


    They were close enough to do damage now, I realized, and I launched myself into the middle of their ranks, smashing the knot at its center with the brutish icy mass of my infernal body, before activating my Whirlwind attack. As my weapon danced in a tornado of bladed fury about me, I was pleased to see that the enemy I¡¯d frozen before had unfrozen and just entered weapons range before I attacked. His eagerness for vengeance against me lost him his head. The other orcs were battered back, another freezing in an angle that suggested he might be dead, and the rest fled into the forest from the direction they had come.


    I turned, entirely unsure of what to expect. Looking on my adventuring party, I saw to my immediate discomfort, Ike deballed one orcish axemen in a move that was both admirable, and sickening. Even Jeldorain shrank back within me, a loud Ooouch echoing through my body. Up the slope, I saw Jon down but his flanks still heaving, blood flowing freely from his wounds. Schustak, of course, was nowhere to be seen,


    Brandosyeus had his back to a tree trunk, heartily singing a song about orcish mothers and the fathers who leave them, while Kevinar stood in front of him, two wickedly glowing blades slashing out to keep the attackers at bay. I saw that these orcs were armed and armored similarly to the ones I¡¯d just run off, and tried to assess the battle field.


    The javelin-throwers are all 3<sup>rd</sup> level Jeldorain offered. But the ax men that Ike fights alone are 4<sup>th</sup>. And the ax men that Jon chased up the hill are 5<sup>th</sup>. This ambush was well-planned, and those warriors are likely to pop out at us whenever we are most inconvienced.


    I nodded. The attack was a feigned retreat, that brought the party into a withering missile barrage. Jon had taken the bait hard, then gotten the crap kicked out of him, and probably the orcs who did it had been sneaking over to where I was now, leveraging for a shot at my back. I cast a glance into the up and to the left of my position, and briefly made out movement.


    Ike is shifty and small. He can hold his own for a while. And Kevinar can outclass that mob anyday I suspect. You up for a blind charge into some tribal champions? I asked, engaging my healing as I did so. My hit points slowly began to tick up as my mana ticked down.


    Summon a skeleton. Then charge.


    I cast about, my eyes falling upon the orc I¡¯d decapitated and wondering if being headless would affect it at all in combat. Didn¡¯t matter, I decided, raising the bone artifact and casting its power.


    The body smoked and sizzled, and the champions emerged from their hiding places, fanning out to take me from all angles.


    Why are they coming out of hiding? I asked.


    Jeldorain chortled. Many of the orc tribesmen fear sorcery. They don¡¯t understand it well. They are afraid of what you are doing, and hope that killing you will stop it.


    I circled the group, moving towards my rising undead ally and wondering what it would be like fighting four 5<sup>th</sup> level warriors when I was just one level above them. Helping my skeleton to its feet, we both turned and prepared for battle.

 Chapter Twenty-One – Just in the Nick of Time

    The forest echoed with the sounds of battle as the orc champions charged my position. The clash of Kevinar¡¯s steel against orcish shields and flesh, the guttural shouts of the enraged orcish ax men as they continued to swing and fail to connect with the evasive kobold, and the determined cries of my companions filled the air.


    Bracing myself against the soft and shifting dirt of the hill, I dug my feet in and again charged the enemy as they came within range. Spinning in a Whirlwind Attack, one was frozen and temporarily subdued, rolling into the range of my skeleton ally who moved to tear at him with bony clawed fingers.


    I tried to attack again before their axes could swing, but they moved quickly, chopping at my massive body with tremendous force. I found myself gashed in three places, down 31 hit points and spiked through with sharp agony.


    There it is, Jeldorain noted, sucking on the agony of my flesh. Crying out, I let myself roll backwards down the hill, bounded to my feet with what I had to assume was a well-contested skill roll before rising up and pulling out my plan B. Calling a potion of haste to my hands from the ethereal strangeness of my inventory, I pulled the cork at its top and downed its contents.


    Just in the nick of time, too, as the world slowed around me, revealing the orcish champions almost in range for another attack on my infernal body. I struck out at one, Frostchain slicing a neat line through his hide armor and drawing blood from the body within, before stepping back and whipping him again. With the speed at which I was moving, the befuddled orcs struggled to move into range as I backed up again and again, striking them until I reached the bottom of the hill. By that point one was dead, a second was frozen, and the third was hesitant, staying back out of the range of my attack.


    Something about the expression on his face gave me pause though. My body slowed down, the effects of the potion expiring, and I tried to figure out just what trick the warrior had up his sleeve. As the eager form of my blood-drenched skeleton ran into view to attack the champion, I glanced left. Just in time to time to hear a thunderous roar tear through the forest, and to feel it lift me up and through me through the trunk of a hardy oak tree.


    Dazed read a debuff flashing in the corner of my vision. Looking up from where I lay, I saw a boss meter appear at the top of my vision as a massive war orc smashed through the forest towards me, towering almost to my height, and about as wickedly awesome looking as an orc could be.


    Above the health meter came the name: Gruulok Thunderfist, Orcish Warlord.


    He was an epically monstrous figure, his broad shoulders and muscular frame casting an ominous shadow through the dusk-laden forest floor. His deep green hide was more scar tissue than skin, and it glistened like an oiled Chippendales model, juicy with the sweat of expectation. A jagged scar ran from his left eyebrow, slicing through where an eye should have been, giving him a menacing, asymmetrical appearance. His remaining amber eye locked onto my own, burning with a fiery intensity that spoke of battles won and enemies vanquished.


    Woah, Jeldorain exclaimed inside me. To use the parlance of your world; that dude is wicked cool!


    I got up from the ground, noting that the other champion had broken my skeleton but was not advancing to help his boss, It made me wonder what sort of area-of-effect attacks that meant this guy would have. He was wielding a massive tree trunk with surprising ease. Peering at it more closely, I realized it wasn''t just any tree trunk; it was festooned with humanoid skulls, each one a grim symbol of Gruulok''s prowess in battle. The macabre decorations clinked and clattered from bone-fashioned hooks as he charged, bellowing like a Viking berserker.


    I stood and took a swing, hoping that I might freeze him and buy myself some time to figure out what to do next. The ax blade slashed a new bloody line into his thigh, but as far as I could tell, the damage only made him stronger. Moving into range, he raised his trunk and I swung again, scoring new damage against his torso. He was at 75% health, and after his trunk smashed me into the ground, I was at 10%.


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    Worse, I now had an additional debuff alongside my apparently renewed Daze. This one read Stunned and in horror I realized that I couldn¡¯t move. The 10 second counter next to both conditions suggested that I was a goner.


    There was a flash of light, pale nature green that lit the entire battlefield with the force of daylight, and Schustak appeared before me. Waving his hands in an arcane manner, he threw a bolt of green magic at the tree trunk and I watched in surprise as it branched and flowered, roots growing out the end in Gruulok¡¯s hand and sinking into his forearm with voracious excitement.


    The boss screamed, his health steadily dripping to 50%.


    ¡°Are you okay, idiot?¡± Schustak sneered. Unable to move, I simply blinked my eyes. His expression softened. ¡°This is a fight not meant for your level. Learn to run if you wish to survive in this world.¡±


    Overcoming his pain and shock, Gruulok roared and swung the tree trunk at Schustak, who in turn raised both hands as if to catch the attack. A hard carapace of thorns rose swiftly from the ground, sprouting faster than the eye could credibly follow, its sharp and wickedly curved spikes gleaming menacingly as they tore into the boss¡¯s body. As the Stunned status ticked down, I found myself able to move my head and I scanned the battlefield as well as I was able, worried for my friends. I noted that all combatants had stopped fighting, and were watching the match between Schustak and Gruulok with interest.


    All except Ike, who had disappeared from the battlefield completely.


    Turning back to the fight, I saw Gruulock tearing the thorns out of the ground with bloody fists, his eye crazed and narrowed. Schustak waved his hands forward, and the thorns launched themselves over the orc¡¯s body, ripping at every bit of exposed skin.


    And from behind him came the figure of Ike. Seizing the moment, with swift and deadly trade mark dirty fightmanship, he lunged at the orc leader in an attack from the rear, slashing deep gouges into the back of the boss¡¯s heels, and dropping him to the ground. The entire area shook with his fall, and the orcs of his tribe turned, taking heel into the night. Now standing upon Gruulok¡¯s back, Ike turned his curved sword downward and drove it into the place where spine met brainstem.


    The word: ¡®Coup de Grace!¡¯ flashed over the boss bar, and the monster gave one final spasm before moving no more.


    Scratch what I said before, Jeldorain said his mental words mingled with appreciative awe. I like Ike.


    My Stun wore off and I started laughing. Schustak regarded me with one scornful eye and walked off while Ike walked over to check me over.


    ¡°You and Schustak saved me,¡± I said, my voice cracking in the adrenaline-reduced aftermath of the fight.


    ¡°Sure did,¡± Ike replied, reaching out a tiny hand to help me up, before realizing how ridiculous a gesture it was and pull it back to his side. ¡°Probably not the last time we¡¯re gonna do it neither.¡±


    I still don¡¯t trust Schustak, Jeldorain announced. But this time his words were grudging and uncertain.


    I don¡¯t think we have to trust him, I thought back. If he is who you think he is, he¡¯ll be on our side until we¡¯re at the level the Goblin Empire wants us to be at. And when that happens, we might be strong enough to fight back.


    Jeldorain growled agreement, fading back into my soul as all of us moved back towards Jon to regroup, rest and recover. It was a powerful fight, and I was left to wonder how difficult this quest was going to be if these were the random encounters we had to deal with to get there.


    Treating Jon, looting the bodies, and distributing the coins, we went back to camp, set up a rotating watch, and lay back, listening to the warm healing words of Brandosyeus.


    In a realm where moon''s glow did stun,


    Brighter far than the golden sun,


    Lysandra roamed, a maiden fair,


    With lustrous locks of silver hair.


    Eyes deep as night, a gaze so true,


    In lands vast, she''d wander through,


    Seeking souls, in shadows cast,


    Lost in time, bound to the past.


    With every step on ancient ground,


    Stars did twinkle, all around,


    A trail of stardust in her wake,


    A path of dreams, for all to take.


    Her voice, a song, pure and clear,


    Echoed through the universe, drawing near,


    Mending spirits, shattered and torn,


    Calming hearts, weary and worn.


    Warriors scarred, from battles fierce,


    Children lost, with tears that pierce,


    Creatures of night, in torment deep,


    All found solace, in her song''s sweep.


    For Lysandra''s melody, so divine,


    Wrapped them in warmth, made stars align,


    Healing wounds, easing their strife,


    Bringing hope, and a new lease on life.


    Brandosyeus''s voice flowed through the camp, a gentle aura enveloping everyone. The soft bliss of the music washed over me, and even as my hit points rose and my new wounds knitted into faint scars, I fell away into the realm of dreams, my last wish being that I would see my family there once again in a land without war orcs and forest sharks.

 Chapter Twenty-Two – Forged in Shadows

    The barely lit coals of the campfire smoldered gently, their warmth a faint memory of the night before. We sat in a circle, munching on salt biscuits and jerky, the taste a stark contrast to the dampness in the air. Banter flowed freely as each of us recounted our individual skirmishes and the epic showdown with the orc warlord. The gray overcast sky loomed above, casting a somber mood over our gathering. Every so often, a distant crack of thunder would punctuate our stories, a reminder of the storm that might be on its way.


    Ike rose, having finished his modest meal faster than the rest of us. He scanned the horizon, his eyes narrowing at the thickening clouds. ¡°I don''t like the look of those skies,¡± he began, his voice tinged with concern. ¡°But I''m even less fond of the idea of charging up those hills and stumbling into another ambush. We''ve had two close calls already, and I''m starting to think they weren''t mere chance encounters. We need to sort through this loot, see if we can gear up better for the next fight.¡±


    Kevinar, having also finished his meal, stood beside Ike. I glanced down at the remnants of my own food, realizing that I''d need to stock up more the next time we hit a market. ¡°Are you sure about waiting here?¡± Kevinar questioned, his signature goggles resting against his chest. ¡°That thunder didn''t sound too friendly.¡±


    Ike shrugged, his gaze still fixed on the distant hills. ¡°It''s a tough call. But this spot is more defensible than up there. And who knows how many more orcs are lurking, waiting for us? We should take stock, maybe find a way to bolster our defenses before we move.¡±


    I surveyed the area, noting the organized piles of loot from our recent victory. As well as a complete and by now usual absence of Schustak. ¡°Maybe I could try to upgrade some of our gear or fuse new weapons if we have the materials?¡± I suggested, pointing to the loot.


    Ike''s initial scowl of irritation softened into contemplation as he considered the piles. ¡°That Frostchain might fuse well with the orc warlord¡¯s club.¡±


    I cocked my head, confused. Fusing was one of the few things this world had that wasn¡¯t present in Lords of Chaos, and it was still such a mystery to me. ¡°How would that work? They aren¡¯t even the same kind of weapon!¡±


    Kevinar nodded thoughtfully. ¡°There is a risk, but fusing totally different weapon types can also create a completely new weapon. But there''s also a risk of ruining a perfectly good weapon.¡±


    I summoned Frostchain from my inventory, admiring the frosty motes that danced around it. ¡°What if I tried my Upgrade ability?¡±


    Kevinar raised an eyebrow, turning to Ike. ¡°It''s not a bad idea. He''s guaranteed a slightly better weapon.¡±


    ¡°But it''s the wrong weapon type,¡± Kevinar countered. ¡°There''s a chance it''ll gain attributes that don''t suit its design.¡±


    I pointed to the loot piles, my claw indicating the stone axes. ¡°What about those? I could fuse the club with Jon''s lance and then use those axes to upgrade Frostchain?¡±


    Brandosyeus approached, his eyes scanning the weapon in my hand. ¡°May I?¡± he asked. I handed it to him, and he examined it from various angles before returning it. ¡°My Knowledge Assessment suggests that this weapon could gain a Shield Break Modifier of 1% for each stone ax used in the upgrade process.¡±


    Ike did some quick calculations. ¡°12 axes would give a 12% modifier, but it''ll cost 120 stamina points.¡±


    ¡°And 1200 gold,¡± Kevinar added with a smirk.


    I nodded, then hesitated. ¡°I only have 60 stamina points,¡± I admitted, seeing their surprised expressions. ¡°Is that bad?¡±


    The distant thunder rumbled again, closer this time, but still far off.


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Ike replied with a chuckle. ¡°Just thought you''d have more, being a big guy and all. Alright, four upgrades and a fuse it is. But we''ll need to rest here for eight hours, even if the storm hits. Use the time to train, everyone. Who knows, you might actually get good at something!¡±


    Laughter echoed around the campfire. I noticed Jon produce his own bag of coins, pulling out some of the hide armor that had been placed at the bottom of the pile.


    ¡°New armor?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Nah. I¡¯m hoping to make a sweater. Or a blanket. Things are looking like they might get chilly soon.¡±


    My large ice-chiseled mouth dropped open and he barked a laugh. I joined him, feeling warm thoughts steam through the innate cold of my body. I would run the upgrades first, I decided, placing Frostchain and 3 of the axes before me. Rolling my clawed hands over them, I thought the command Upgrade, and they glowed as they lifted up into the air, slamming together to become one.


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    Then all at once, the weapon data flashed before me:


    Frostchain, Damage 4 to 36 (+10)(x2), Weight 7, Speed Fast, Specials: Freeze (10%), Shield Break (3%), Attunement Level 1


    Which in turn was followed by a new announcement that absolutely dominated my vision entirely:


    ATTUNEMENT UNLOCKED ¨C LEVEL 1 ACHIEVED


    ¡°Everything okay, Ryan?¡± he asked, concern evident in his voice as I stumbled backwards, flailing and almost tripping over my own legs.


    I nodded, blinking the shock from my eyes. ¡°I just unlocked my first attunement to my Frostchain and wow did the weapon want me to know it!¡± I exclaimed.


    Jon''s face broke into a wide grin. ¡°Congratulations! And, yeah, they¡¯ll do that to you. So, what power did you get?¡±


    I stared down at the weapon. It gleamed with a newfound power, the edges of the ax heads sharper and, somehow, even more perfect. Reaching into it I looked into the weapon to find its first unlocked power.


    Vorpal (5%)


    I spoke the words as I read them, and the whole camp went silent, staring.


    ¡°Vorpal? As in cutting through anything?¡± Kevinar asked, his usual smirk growing to an outright smile. ¡°And you can still wield it, despite the level restrictions?¡±


    I remembered the words of Jeldorain before, about how those didn¡¯t apply to us, and I just shrugged. ¡°Yep. Guess I got lucky.¡±


    ¡°Lucky?!¡± Ike yelled, incredulous. ¡°You just got a weapon that on every hit has a 5% chance of outright killing its non-boss type, non-undead type target.¡±


    Inside of me, I could feel Jeldorain smile, his lips curving up and over jagged ethereal fangs to lick the surface of his frosted lips. Yes. This will do nicely. I will feel good to end the lives of so many, so quickly.


    Thoughts of the orcish mob we¡¯d just fought flitted through my mind, and I found myself agreeing. He chuckled, following me through the frantic visions of battle, watching the fight play on repeat.


    Why are my fuses and upgrades so special? I asked the infernal. His great blue eyes peered into my brown ones, rolling on to examine my human soul from my bald head to my bald feet. He snorted and shook his great head.


    Infernals have an extra ability that the other races don¡¯t have. We have luck. The luck greatly affects all of the rolls of the prime material plane and beyond, through the stars and the elements, tipping the numbers ever in our favor.


    His eyes flared, icy-cold flame shooting from the circumference of his eyes.


    Luck! he bellowed, the righteous anger of his being driving piles of icy waste to pelt through my body. Infernals are lucky! I am lucky!


    We were back in the icy hell of his home world, the torment of millions screaming into the gusting wind. I saw him, Jeldorain, standing atop the peak of a perilous peak, bellowing fury into the snow-laden sky. No one will control me! he cried. Around him, swirls of many colors were coalescing. One from every color of the rainbow. All of the colors in between. They wrapped him, webbed him, and chained him, pulling him up and out of his dimension like an angler yanking a trout from a river.


    And as he rose, I saw the silent, sleeping and see-through silhouette of myself. It was above Jeldorain now, and unlike what I¡¯d thought must have happened, I watched him be dragged, struggling hard, into the spirit of my body. I saw and felt my soul ooze into his every pore while otherworldly powers spread me over Jeldorain¡¯s spirit, hardening me into a prison.


    I gasped, falling to the ground. Around me, the rest of the party were already at my side. All excepting Schustak, of course.


    ¡°He¡¯s here. I seen his eyes move,¡± Ike chirped excitedly. ¡°That infernal giving you trouble?¡± he asked. The others watched me closely, and I noticed that the rest of them had their weapons out, a measure well described as ¡®Just-in-case¡¯.


    ¡°No,¡± I shook my head. ¡°No. He showed me something about his past, and I guess I got lost in it.¡± My gaze wandered over them, imagining how any one of them would have reacted to themselves being kidnapped from their plane of existence and then being forced into spiritual possession. As far as I could tell, Jeldorain was actually taking things fairly well, all things considered.


    I stood, all eyes following me, and I took the warlord¡¯s club and Jon¡¯s lance, laying there in front of me along with the money for its fuse. Weaving them together with the command, I let the magic of my work distract us all.


    Crafted ¨C Behold!


    Infused with the spiritual residue of the ancient warlord¡¯s victims and the precision of a knight''s lance, this weapon is a monument to the power of the free people and those who fight them.


    Warlord''s Lancer. Epic. Revered by the elite guards of the Goblin Empire, this weapon combines the brute force of a club with the piercing might of a lance. Not only can it deliver devastating blows, but it also has the potential to impale foes, immobilizing them or carrying them away from the battlefield. Wielding this weapon in multiple battles will attune the user to its unique essence, unlocking hidden capabilities.


    Warlord''s Lancer, Damage 5 to 40 (+12)(x2), Weight 8, Speed Medium, Specials: Impale (8%) Attunement unknown.


    Jon took the lance with great reverence, and everyone examined it excitedly. The shaft of the lancer was made of a dark, almost black wood, polished to a high sheen. It was about six feet in length, sturdy and straight, with intricate silver inlays that depicted scenes of tremendous battles. These inlays not only served as decoration but also provided an added grip for the wielder.


    At one end of the shaft was the club component, a bulbous, heavy mass made from the densest part of the warlord¡¯s tree trunk. It was studded with sharp, jagged pieces of obsidian and quartz, giving it a brutal, raw appearance.


    The other end of the shaft tapered into the lance component. Made of a gleaming, polished silver metal, the lance was about two feet long and ended in a razor-sharp point. The metal was etched with runes that glowed faintly with an ectoplasmic green, hinting at the weapon''s magical properties.


    With my stamina spent, my body exhausted and the rest of the party oohing and aahing over my most recent creation, I lay down in my sleeping spot and hoped that, in the next 8 hours, nothing wouldn¡¯t happen while I dreamed of another world.

 Chapter Twenty-Three – Echoes of Home

    The dream felt so real, the sort of clear crispness that is often more vivid than life itself. I was back in Wisconsin, at my home out in the sticks of Merrill. The fields of tall grass danced with the wind, and the distant sound of chickens clucking brought a smile to my face. Across the way, the forest stood majestic and welcoming, its trees rustling with tales of old adventures. Above, the sky painted a vivid blue, with clouds so fluffy they looked like they¡¯d go well with some gravy.


    Walking around my lawn, memories flooding back, I called out, ¡°Jacob? Casey?¡± But there was nothing, just a silence that filled me with dread. The house sagged, panels falling off here and there with the front door hanging askew. Cobwebs draped over railing and patio furniture, and a thin layer of sooty dust, untroubled by footprints, lay over everything.


    My heart quickened, adrenaline coursing through my veins. They hadn''t been around for ages. My eyes welled up with tears. I rushed inside, the door coming off its hinges in rusty squawking protest as I ran inside.


    ¡°Nicole?¡±


    No one. I walked through the rot of my living room, turning to the door of my bedroom and dreading what I would see when I opened it. Inside was nothing but dust and memories, and the familiar sight of my bed. I lay down in it, letting my racing heart slow and my thoughts drift, feeling myself fall away from my own mind and into the mind of a powerful, freezing other.


    I woke up to the cool feel of mist on my skin.


    Blinking, the dreadful warmth of the dream faded, and the reality of my situation flooded back. I was here in another world, in a medieval campsite, underneath a sky of stormy gray, a gentle patter of light rain falling down over everything. I groaned and stretched, the ground mulchy against my skin.


    ¡°You too, hey?¡± Jon asked. I looked over to see the centaur pushing himself up off the ground in a manner that looked awkward but worked surprisingly effectively. He grinned at my expression. ¡°Yeah, it might look goofy, but it works,¡± he informed me, successfully guessing at my thoughts.


    I got up off the ground and surveyed our surroundings. By the firepit, the party members sat, hands outstretched before a two-foot tall being made entirely of orange-red fire. Streaks of yellow roiled through it as it danced and spun, sparks flinging off its body as it moved. Moving closer, I noticed tiny horns atop its head, coal-black like charred wood. It had a lithe, fluid body, that constantly shifted and flickered, and yet, it moved with the precision of a master performer.


    The imp began with a bow, arms sweeping wide as it addressed the group in a high-pitched, yet oddly formal tone, like a stage actor addressing an audience.


    ¡°Good travelers, I present to you the grand tale of the Hamor and the Carbon Shuffle, a performance most fiery! Behold, and witness the dance of ancient times!¡±


    The imp twirled into the air, leaving behind a trail of wispy embers. As it did, the flames of the campfire grew brighter, crackling more intensely. The fire imp raised its hands, and a great plume of flame shot into the sky, transforming into the shape of a massive hammer¡ªHamor, I presumed. The imp jumped into the shape, spinning around as if mimicking the great tool being swung by some unseen giant.


    ¡°Hamor the Great, a tool forged in the molten heart of the earth,¡± the imp narrated in its high, squeaky voice. ¡°It reshaped mountains, and brought kingdoms to their knees.¡±


    The flaming hammer swirled and reshaped, becoming an enormous figure wielding the mighty tool. The imp mimicked the figure¡¯s movements, acting out the crushing blows as the hammer smashed down onto what appeared to be a walled city. But the walls were no match for Hamor, apparently, as it all crumbled into ash beneath the hammer¡¯s strike. The imp spun gracefully, leaping through the flames as it brought the destruction to life with dramatic gestures, its voice rising with excitement.


    ¡°But Hamor was restless, never content with just kingdoms. It desired more! It sought the powers of the elements themselves.¡±


    The imp clapped its hands, and suddenly the flames shifted. The hammer morphed into something else¡ªa swirling mass of fire and smoke. I squinted as I watched, realizing the imp was portraying a battle. The flames roared, and the imp leapt into the center of it, twisting and dodging as if it were part of the conflict.


    ¡°And so came the Carbon Shuffle,¡± it continued, ¡°the dance of the elements, where Hamor would face off against the primal forces of the earth and sky.¡±


    The imp danced through the flames, its tiny body twirling in intricate patterns. The flames shifted around it, creating flickering forms that resembled lightning strikes and boulders, swirling like a storm. The imp moved between these fiery shapes, dodging and spinning as it mimicked the struggle between Hamor and the elements.


    The imp¡¯s movements became faster, and more intense, as around it rose and fell the enemies of earth, air, and water. Sparks flew from its tiny frame, and the flames roared, the shapes they formed growing more chaotic. The imp stopped and gestured to all of us, standing perfectly still within a maelstrom of fire and smoke.


    ¡°And yet, despite the chaos, Hamor was victorious,¡± the imp declared, ¡°for it had mastered the Carbon Shuffle, and from that moment on, no element could stand against it!¡±


    With a final leap, the imp spun high into the air, its body becoming a brief but blazing meteoric streak across the sky. It landed gracefully, bowing low to the ground as the flames subsided. The crackling fire calmed, returning to back to its old campfire self. The imp stood before us, tiny embers flickering from its body, breathing heavily and quietly expectant.


    It raised its arms, beaming with pride. ¡°And that, dear friends, is the tale of the Hamor and the Carbon Shuffle! A tale of fire, fury, and triumph! Thank you for your attention. You''ve been a great audience.¡±


    Everyone erupted into animated applause and the imp gave us a large, soot-toothed grim before sweeping into a grandiose bow.


    ¡°Alas, I must depart now, for there are other fires that need tending and other stories that need telling. I bid you all safe travels!¡±


    With a final flourish, the imp vanished in a puff of ash, leaving behind nothing but a small, glowing pile where it had stood. The rest of the party laughed and clapped some more, exchanging grins and excited murmurs.


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    ¡°What the hells was that?¡± I asked, still trying to wrap my mind around the show I¡¯d just seen. Inside me, Jeldorain laughed uproariously.


    ¡°That was a fire imp,¡± Schustak answered, his voice lilted in a way that seemed to suggest he was talking to the slowest kid in class. ¡°Those are beings of the elemental plane of fire, a mischievous lot that love tricks, theater, and storytelling.¡±


    I nodded, taken aback. I¡¯d never really considered what new and strange forms of entertainment might exist here. Lords of Chaos mostly just hackneyed it, having any games that got mentioned be the same old stuff that real medieval humans did back on Earth.


    ¡°A fire imp. Thanks for letting me know.¡± I walked over to the group, Jon on my flank. Everything had been packed up, I saw, excepting the unused items of loot that were invariably too big and useless to be lugged around.


    As Jon and I approached the campfire, we were greeted with nods and smiles from our companions, all of them standing up as we came near.


    ¡°We were beginning to think you two might have decided to sleep in,¡± Ike said, his reptilian grin revealing rows of tiny draconic teeth. ¡°I¡¯m glad that you didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Yes, as pleasant as another night might be sitting in the same spot as last night, it is time to get moving,¡± Kevinar began, his voice low. ¡°The weather might turn worse, and we''re exposed.¡±


    Ike nodded in agreement. ¡°Yup. The ruins atop the hill could offer good shelter. We¡¯ll have to be careful though. These encounters, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a coincidence that a tribe of orcs has attacked us twice on our way in.¡±


    ¡°Another merry entanglement in the ruins of the once great sounds like a tremendous ode in the making,¡± Brandosyeus interjected merrily. ¡°The call of adventure beckons!¡±


    Kevinar snorted. ¡°Many odes become dirges if the heroes aren¡¯t careful enough.¡±


    I summoned Frostchain to my hand. ¡°So then we¡¯ll be careful,¡± I said. Jon summoned his own lance, its now ghostly green shimmer lighting an aura over us all.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to be watchful for Goblin Empire adventurers as well,¡± Ike added. ¡°They''re after the same thing we are. Be cautious, move silently, and be ready for anything.¡±


    We all nodded in agreement, forming up ranks to move out. I¡¯d take the rear, with Kevinar far out front, Schustak and Brandosyeus in the center, with Ike on the left flank and Jon on the right. Trudging up the hill, we moved forward at a slow pace, eyes watching and ears listening. The quiet was quite beautiful, the light patter of raindrops and the fresh scent of their fall threatening to lull me, but I couldn¡¯t shake the symbology of the dream I¡¯d had. It felt like a portent of what was to come if I didn¡¯t succeed in getting home.


    The forest began to thin out, and soon we found ourselves on the edge of a natural clearing. The ground was covered in a carpet of downy weed-grass, flattened in large concentric circles, as if the wind had played with it for ages. The scrub forest seemed to shy away from this open space, creating a stark contrast between dense woods at the lip of the hill and open land that lay before us. To my right, a massive rock jutted out, almost as tall as me, providing a natural vantage point.


    Kevinar took this moment to appear near my elbow. ¡°The rest of the party is behind the rock,¡± he said, his eyes shifting in that direction. My own followed, trace the jagged lines of its surface. The thing was huge, and I had no doubt all of us could fit behind it without any trouble.


    ¡°Two orcs,¡± he whispered, ¡°on the far edge of the clearing. They''re hiding, probably scouts. If we continue forward without dealing with them, they''ll surely alert others to our presence. Follow me.¡±


    I followed Kevinar, moving slowly but quietly through the woods. The sky was starting to darken, and the shadows of day were lengthening. Hopefully adding to my attempts to not be noticed.


    Nearing the rock, I saw the rest of them huddled and engaged in idle chatter. When Kevinar stepped to the bare stone behind the boulder, their eyes met his, then mine.


    ¡°It¡¯s just two orcs?¡± I asked, shrugging.


    ¡°Scouts,¡± Schustak answered, scowling. ¡°Probably there are a dozen pairs of them situated all around these ruins.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes at the druid, unsure if he was mocking me for my apparent ignorance.


    He is, Jeldorain supplied helpfully.


    ¡°An ambush, as quick and silent as possible,¡± Ike whispered, looking at the group. ¡°It''s our best shot.¡±


    Jon looked at his new lance, swirling with arcane energy, and sighed. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll just sit this one out,¡± he grumped. Brandosyeus snorted into his palms, covering his face to avoid making any loud noises.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get to have fun with your toy later.¡± Kevinar¡¯s voice was scolding, but calm, I noted. His eyes, still bereft of goggles, stared intensely into the direction of their quarry. ¡°I¡¯d rather not alarm the entire orcish nation to our presence. Ike and I go ahead and the rest of you wait here in case things turn bad.¡± He raised his purple-aura covered blades. ¡°Things won¡¯t turn bad.¡±


    Ike, his scales shimmering slightly in the muted light, nodded. ¡°I can take the left. The scrub forest there is dense enough for me to move without being seen.¡± His yellow eyes were already plotting a path, I noticed, turned away from the group and hopping through the trees to find the best angles of approach..


    Kevinar, his body already beginning to blend with the shadows, chimed in, ¡°That sounds perfect. I''ll flank them from the right. The terrain there is tricky, but I trust my movements. I will make no sounds.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps a soothing stealth song will improve the impish patter of your feet?¡± Brandosyeus jested, meeting a stony stare from the dark elf. ¡°Or not!¡±


    I shook my head, smiling. This was going to be interesting. Never in Lords of Chaos had I sat back and just let others do the fighting for me. It made me feel both curious and uncomfortable.


    The discomfort is wise. At any point, they could betray us all.


    Shut it you, I commanded. The infernal laughed.


    As Ike and Kevinar moved into position, the atmosphere grew thick with anticipation. I crouched behind the rock, trying to control my breathing. An eerie mist was rising as the day faded, one that seemed to grow denser and denser, wrapping the clearing in a ghostly veil.


    From my vantage point, I could barely make out Ike''s silhouette as he melded with the trees, his every step deliberate and silent. Kevinar, on the other hand, was invisible. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t get a bead on him.


    Jon, next to me, whispered, ¡°They''re good, aren''t they?¡± I turned and saw the centaur¡¯s crooked smirk.


    I nodded. ¡°The best.¡±


    The seconds dragged on, each moment stretching out, filled with a tension that was almost palpable. We waited, ready for the signal or the clash that would tell us the ambush had begun.


    Suddenly, a muffled grunt broke the silence, followed by the unmistakable sound of a scuffle. It was brief, intense, and then eerily quiet again. Moments later, Kevinar and Ike emerged from the side of the clearing, signaling that the threat had been neutralized.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± I asked, looking on their return.


    Ike shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯ll be more later if you need someone to bang up. They weren¡¯t high-level. Makes me wonder why they even bothered to have scouts.¡±


    Turning my head, I caught Schustak staring at me. He grinned and turned, leaving me to curse under my breath. Jeldorain and I would take care of it, whatever his end game was.


    ¡°Stop for the night?¡± Kevinar asked. In his hands the purple flame of his blades disappeared back into his inventory.


    Ike took a long, heavy breath, letting it out with a whistle.


    ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re so close. I know we are. But I¡¯d rather tackle whatever is ahead in the daylight. Can you and Schustak take a peek while I guard first shift and the rest are sleeping?¡±


    Kevinar nodded his head in my direction. ¡°I¡¯ll take Ryan. Will be good experience for him.¡±


    Ike looked me up and down, taking in the entire length of my outrageously tall infernal body. ¡°A giant infernal for a sneak mission?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it work,¡± Kevinar stated, his tone suggesting this was not something he would back down on.


    ¡°Yeah okay. You two, check ahead while we set up camp. No fire tonight. And no going in the ruins without us!¡± he chided, wagging his finger, his reptilian eyes sparkling.


    ¡°Scout¡¯s honor,¡± I said, smiling and pumping myself up for my first scouting mission.

 Chapter Twenty-Four – The Temple of Storms

    The night was silent as Kevinar and I made our way forward, staying low and moving from shadow to shadow to cloak our presence.


    A Stealth +1/10 notification popped into my side bar, and I felt a small surge of pride. My abysmal stealth skills were improving. ¡°I''m getting the hang of this,¡± I whispered to myself.


    I could feel Jeldorain roll his eyes inside of me. Luck has its uses.


    The night was dark, the stars all hidden behind a thick bank of storm clouds. Light rain was falling again, misting wetness over everything around and further mucking up the already mulchy ground. The fresh scent of rain-soaked earth and trees thickened, and I stealthily sucked it in as we moved forward, hunched and silent.


    As droplets pattered softly around us, Jeldorain grumbled within me, and I stopped, his unease radiating through our icy bones. But after a moment, he settled. I thought about asking him what the problem was, but given the possibly dangerous circumstances we were in and the probability it was a rant about Schustak, I let it be.


    I could deal with all of that later.


    ¡°You dreamed of home.¡± Kevinar¡¯s whispered words caught me completely by surprise. My mouth stuttered a juicy mix of unorganized letters and vowels as his violet eyes stared at me through the dark, and I went silent. ¡°Was it a portent, or simply a dream?¡± he asked.


    My home, my yard, the gids and wife gone, the place gone to rot, I couldn¡¯t tell exactly what it was. But it had been so vivid, and felt so real. ¡°Portent,¡± I uttered, surprising myself.


    He nodded. ¡°Stay there and don¡¯t move,¡± he said. Creeping up a few meters, I saw him trace the air with his finger, and suddenly I realized there was a trap in front of us. Game errata fluttered up to dominate my vision:


    Noise-Maker


    Type: Mechanical


    Trigger: Trip Wire


    Effect: When activated, the trap releases a series of loud noises, including clanging metals, rattling chains, and a high-pitched whistle. This is designed to alert nearby enemies or creatures to the presence of intruders.


    Location: Hidden beneath a layer of leaves and soil on the main path.


    I marveled at the find, the thin wire impossible to see even with the boons of dark vision. But to Kevinar, it had just been another day in the woods. As I watched, he traced the wire to its tree, then down to the mulched leaves and dirt under which the device lay. Pulling a small kit of tools from his inventory, his movements made tiny clicks and creaks, but were well covered by the noise of the weather. After a few minutes, he picked up the trap and disappeared it into his inventory.


    ¡°Portent,¡± he said, continuing where we¡¯d left off, continuing our sneak forward. ¡°Visions of the future are powerful things, Ryan. Dangerous too, though. Would you tell me of your dream as we approach? I am confident that I will be aware of any possible enemies well before they come into possible earshot.¡±


    I nodding, talking him through the events of the dream, and the horror of my family¡¯s disappearance. He reacted not at all as I talked, and I began to wonder if he was even listening, but when I finished, he stopped walking and turned, facing me.


    ¡°Your focus on your home is all about your family. That is important to know, because I expect, given the power used to bring you here, that you might have to choose one or the other. That is assuming you ever get the choice at all.¡±


    Opening my mouth to answer, he shushed me, pointing to the horizon. We had finally arrived at our destination. First glimpsed as an ember spark in the distance, hard to see due to its lower elevation, we soon stood from the edge of this hill, looking down to the opened depths of the next. Hidden amongst a thick bunch of trees and bushes, we hunched and set up our observation post.


    From our hidden perch, my eyes followed the lines of the temple below. Tall, fluted columns rose from the ground, their shadows flickering long to short to long again against a foreground of large campfire. Between them, detailed carvings danced out scenes of churning clouds, lightning bolts, and horned figures that crackled lightly but audibly with electricity every time it was hit by wind or rain.


    The place had a presence, the air heavy with a pulsing feel of electricity, smelling of ozone and burnt carbon. And the stones themselves whispered, their words rolling out in a litany of ancient words whose meanings were almost certainly lost to time.


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    Some still remember, Jeldorain muttered suddenly.


    One moment I was on my chest, peering through bushes. In the next moment, I was floating over a world from eons past, watching its events unfold before my eyes. Majestic temples, much like the one below, stood tall and proud. Each had their own theme, their own particular overlord to be worshipped.


    Zooming through the air, I landed near one, a place made of obsidian, its walls bristling with white hot magical torches. The landscape before me was a stark contrast of blazing inferno and solid ground. On one side, a Fire Infernal danced amidst roaring flames. Its body was a living pyre, with skin that seemed to be made of molten lava, constantly shifting and flowing. Flames licked off its form, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow. Its eyes, burning coals set deep within its face, held a fierce intensity that was both captivating and terrifying. Every movement it made sent embers flying, and the air around it shimmered with intense heat.


    I was thrown to another temple, this one gray granite, bulky and thick. Here an Earth Infernal stood, a stark contrast to its fiery counterpart. It was a towering figure, its body resembling a mountain of rough stone and compacted soil. Crystals glinted where its eyes should be, reflecting the fiery glow from the Fire Infernal. Moss and plants grew in patches on its back and arms, a damp tangle of weeds sprouted from its chin. Its movements were slow and deliberate, each step causing the ground beneath to tremble. The deep rumble of its guttural roars echoed through the landscape, sounding like rocks grinding together.


    There were many of us, Jeldorain whispered. Strangely, the world was much more peaceful then. A sacrifice on holidays, in return for protection and magical pacts.


    I was sucked back into the sky, looking over the lands from above. Elemental infernals, powerful and awe-inspiring, ruled these sacred grounds. Humans and other beings bowed in reverence, serving these elemental lords. The wind tore at my naked human body as I watched the horrific wars and chaos between them all.


    Peaceful? I questioned him.


    He shrugged. We weren¡¯t so nice to others, but we were kinder governors than those that exist today.


    We flew through the air, alighting a small distance from the temple that I was actually near. Jeldorain''s voice echoed in my mind, tinged with nostalgia. The Temple of the Storm he murmured. Ah, those were the good old days. I ruled not far from here in a different life, or so my dreams tell me.


    You have multiple lives? I asked.


    Not known for certain, but as an infernal, I can remember the lives of some others and those others might have possibly been me. I look forward to going inside here and seeing how things have changed over the years.


    I nodded, no words left worth saying, and I shook off the remnants of the vision, focusing on the present. Below, a few orcs lounged around a campfire, their hide armor glistening wetly in the firelight. They chatted in a guttural language I couldn''t comprehend. One of them, larger than the others, caught my attention. Half his nose was missing, likely to some past battle or skirmish. Beside the temple entrance lay a pile of tools, discarded and forgotten, their purpose served.


    There were no tents, no signs of where these orcs might retire for the night. It struck me as odd. Were they so confident in their safety that they felt no need for shelter?


    From our bushy hideout on the hill''s edge, we observed the scene below. The temple, the orcs, the mystery of it all. There was no one else in sight, yet the sheer amount of tools in the pile indicated at least a platoon of laborers. Had we killed that many, that just these few were left? And if so, why were they even bothering to stick around?


    I turned to talk to Kevinar about it, but he beat me to it, his grip on his weapon tightening and his eyes darting around.


    ¡°Something''s not right,¡± he murmured. ¡°Where''s the rest of the tribe?¡±


    Before I could respond, a guttural orcish howl echoed from behind us, followed by another and another. We were surrounded. Orcs appeared from the shadows, trees, and forests, almost certainly the recipients of an invisibility spell of magic, weapons drawn, their eyes filled with malice.


    As I scanned the emerging horde, one figure immediately caught my attention. Towering over the rest, the chieftain stood with an imposing presence that demanded respect. His massive frame was draped in intricately detailed armor, adorned with symbols and talismans that likely held significance within his tribe. Deep-set eyes, glowing with a fierce intensity, locked onto mine, challenging and unyielding. His face, a rugged landscape of scars and war paint, was twisted into a snarl, revealing sharp tusks that protruded menacingly from his lower lip. A thick, braided beard fell to his chest, interspersed with beads and bones, likely trophies from past conquests. In his grip, he held a massive ax, its blade gleaming ominously in the dim light. Every inch of him radiated power and authority, and it was clear that he was a force to be reckoned with.


    ¡°Surrender,¡± he shouted, his thick black beard rocking with the fury of his call.


    Above me, a long red bar stretched out. Gorthak Skullsmasher, the name read.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a plan,¡± Kevinar said, smiling. It was a strange smile, strained. The sort of thing you might expect to come from someone making light of his impending execution at the gallows. He hopped over the edge of the hill, tumbling down towards the few orcs guarding the front of the ruin, and I followed, running and trying to remain upright, but failing whatever check the physics system required and crashing to the ground before rolling sideways like a big frozen log.


    Above us, at the edge, Gorthak and his orcs glowered.


    ¡°You will not befoul the temple. Enter those halls, and your flattened skulls shall join the others in the Pits of Despair,¡± he called.


    The orcs at the bottom stood, saw Kevinar leap to his feet, saw me roll in from behind, and they took off running. Getting up, I glanced over my shoulder to see the orcs picking their way more carefully down the slope. Sensing our opportunity, we broke for the temple entrance.

 Chapter Twenty-Five – Descent into Darkness

    We entered the temple at a breakneck pace, descending a series of broken stairs into the ruins of what was once a grand lobby. Once upon a time this would have been something magnificent and filled with tremendous elemental energies, from what Jeldorain had shown me. But now, well past its heyday, it crackled with static electricity, but nothing more.


    Loping past the stairwell and to the floor itself, I sucked in air that was cold and damp. Soothing. I felt my ice infernal body revel in its touch, the tendrils of dark chill being drawn into my infernal companion¡¯s soul with an eager, almost maniacal, cheer. He exuded a feeling that felt akin to homecoming after a particularly long and tragic war.


    Behind us, orcish tribesmen followed in pursuit, their grunts and howls echoing off the cracked visages of well-forgotten idols and statuary.


    A notification popped up in my vision:


    Quest: Retrieve the Eye of the Stormbringer


    Difficulty: Elite


    Objective: Infiltrate the Temple of Storms and retrieve the Eye.


    Rewards: Substantial XP, Unique Items, and Faction Reputation.


    Penalties: Possible Death, Loss of Items


    ¡°Looks like we are going to do the quest without the party,¡± Kevinar noted, running alongside me. ¡°But on the plus side we seem to have gained an army of over a hundred orcs!¡± He was hardly out of breath at all, and I was grateful that he was sticking by my side when he could obviously and quite easily out-distance me.


    I stumbled over a small mess of cracked pillar, almost pitching to the floor, but managed to regain my balance. Kevinar stopped and turned, twin crossbows appearing, one in each hand, and he fired on the mob before turning and catching back up with me.


    Seven arched exits opened up in the darkness, their stones crackling with bits of white and blue lightning, feeble remnants of what had been. Without hesitation Kevinar took the one straight ahead and I followed.


    The corridor went forward for an impossibly long time, sloping downwards into subterranean depths as we continued our retreat. Behind us, the orcs bellowed and clomped, their sounds constant but more and more distant. All was total darkness, but the cool stones exuded their blue hues quite distinctly under the power of my infravision, and I dodged several piles of rubble without missing a step.


    All at once, the impossibly high ceiling lit with electric yellow fury, bathing us in a glimmer not unlike that of an incandescent light bulb. The light stretched for miles in every direction and it became obvious that we had just run ourselves into a labyrinth. From where we stood we could see the structure in its convoluted entirety, 100 foot walls of jagged shimmering fulgurite stretching a hundred feet tall, the maze¡¯s top uncapped and open.


    Trial of the worthy, Jeldorain corrected smugly. The infernal Voltarius ran supplicants through its halls to test their will and ability. The victors would gain great living standards and the honors of serving directly within his elite guard. The losers would die slowly, in tremendous agony, entertaining him for weeks on end. The magic here isn¡¯t what it once was, so I expect the magics that once prolonged dying life are gone. But the traps and monsters, though lesser than they once were, I expect are still here.


    The maze¡¯s interior walls were also made of fulgurite, I noticed, peering through one of the five entrances that stood open before us, inviting us in. Our steps echoed softly, crunching against the ancient, glass-like floor. The walls themselves pulsed with life, bolts of electricity dancing inside the crystals that formed them.


    I reached out, my fingers brushing against the cool, smooth surface. A yellow zap of electricity reached out, tearing a single hit point from my total health. Jeldorain laughed inside me.


    ¡°We have to pick one and keep moving, Ryan. I¡¯ll take front and try to keep us from being caught in any traps. Follow me, listen to me, and we¡¯ll get through this.¡±


    I pointed to the entrance on our farthest right, and Kevinar nodded, loping through it immediately. I ran after him, keeping a ten-foot gap between us for good measure, staring in awe of the ruin as I jogged its twists and turns to the next junction.


    Kevinar looked at me, and this time I pointed to the leftmost passage. He nodded again, taking lead as we took the newest passage through twists and turns meant to baffle mortals of all species. On one turn a bolt of lightning shot out, striking me in the shoulder but barely doing any damage as it tingled up my arm.


    That would have ended us once upon a time, Jeldorain noted sadly.


    As we ran, wall carving lit up a liquid blue, depicting in perfect lucidity tempestuous storms with lightning bolts from the heavens and figures channeling the raw power of the heavens into feats of legendary prowess. The artistry was breathtaking, the details so intricate that I could almost hear the roar of the wind, feel the sting of the rain on my skin.


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    Jeldorain''s voice echoed in my mind, a soft whisper. ¡°These walls have seen more than you can imagine. They have borne witness to the birth of gods, the death of empires. They hold the memories of a time long forgotten, a time when infernals ruled supreme.¡±


    A hand lighted on my knee. ¡°Pay attention, Ryan. We need to keep moving,¡± he said, urgency in his tone. ¡°The orcs are close.¡±


    As if to emphasize the point, the sound of an orc screaming filled the air, echoing off the ceiling. More yells and the sound of battle followed.


    I nodded, shaking myself from my awed revery. The sooner we got to where this maze led, the sooner we¡¯d find an exit. In Lords of Chaos there was almost always multiple ways in and out of ruins, and I doubted that this would be an exception.


    As we delved deeper into the maze, the air suddenly froze, Kevinar dropping to his knees, and gagging. I scooped him up, my own breath starved, and turned to go back the way we¡¯d come before noticing an amulet, the color of diamond, pulsing with the rhythm of the wall.


    +1/10 Perception flitted through my vision and seized with a sudden theory, I reared back my beefy right arm and smashed it as hard as I could with the bottom of my fist. It exploded into fragments and air gushed back into our lungs.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kevinar gasped, picking himself up from the floor. ¡°There aren¡¯t many traps I can¡¯t find, but that one was beyond my acumen.¡±


    ¡°No sweat,¡± I grinned. A grin that quickly turned down as the sound of orcs heading up our corridor flittered into hearing. ¡°They aren¡¯t so close, but some of them are still on our trail. Let¡¯s get going.¡±


    Kevinar nodded, moving back into the lead position and leading us through the twisting corridor of the maze once again. Left and right, through more junctions, while listening to more fighting, zaps, explosions, and screams.


    Ah, the gold old days, Jeldorain sighed.


    Another junction met, and we saw three orcs sitting there, heaving, obviously the victors of some gruesome combat. Kevinar pulled his blades, killing two before they noticed us. I smashed the third against a wall, shattered half of its spiky crystals and ending his life.


    ¡°Some of these must double back. Ryan, keep picking. Your infernal¡¯s luck is our best bet to get through this thing.¡±


    The drowling knows infernal lore, Jeldorain mulled. Perhaps he is the one sent to train us.


    I growled at him. Schustak I could believe. But not Kevinar. I choose the central passage and we continued forward, skidding to a stop after the first turn.


    ¡°Careful,¡± Kevinar said, pointing to the floor. Staring, I noticed a patch that seemed a little off color. We skirted it, my shoulder brushing up against the wall and taking another one hit point shock.


    Pushing forward, it wasn¡¯t long before we heard a loud explosion behind us. The ground shook briefly, the tremors followed by the cries of wounded and the silence of unknown dead.


    How tragic, Jeldorain commented.


    A low rumble echoed through the floor beneath us, as if another trap had exploded in our vicinity, but instead this time the crackling tiles rose up, forming slowly into an amorphous shape. A red bar began to take hold above my vision. Sparks shot from the walls, the force of their echoes growing louder with each passing moment, while the ground beneath us began to vibrate.


    If the name under that hitpoint bar was to be believed, the creature emerging from the tiles before us was a Floor Golem, this particular one a boss type. Rising from the very rock of the temple, this massive creature had a body that was chiseled in both senses of the word, with a six pack set under two enormous pecs and an undercarriage that would not disappoint the ladies. It rose even above my large body, and it stared down at us with two deep-set gemstones, each sparking like a toaster in a bathtub. The golem opened its mouth, revealing rows of razor-sharp fulgurite teeth, and a loud groan filled the air.


    ¡°Watch and learn, Ryan,¡± Kevinar said, running through the monster¡¯s legs into the next passage. I ran and dove, sliding through after him, then popped back up into a sprint. The golem screamed outrage straight up into the air, and just as we were about to turn the next corner, I saw a squad of orcs step into view.


    ¡°Good luck guys,¡± I called with a wave and a smile, before moving out of view. The savage tearing, rending, screaming and clanging that rolled over us afterwards made me well happy that we had not battled the thing, no matter how many experience points it might have been worth.


    We kept running and didn''t stop to catch our breath until we were well away from the sounds of battle.


    ¡°That was a guardian of the old world,¡± Kevinar remarked, ¡°A sentinel bound to protect the temple''s inner sanctum. And also to trip up the stupid from the intelligent. The smart ones ran past it. The dumb ones died.¡±


    Jeldorain¡¯s mistrustful growl told me his observation was right on target.


    The deeper we ventured into the maze, the more distant the sounds of our pursuers grew. The guttural shouts of the orcs, their heavy footfalls, and the occasional clang of metal echoed through the winding corridors here and there, but after some silence I wondered if they had all perished.


    But seeing a sudden burst of electricity arc down from the ceiling some miles distant let me know that at least one more orc had been lurking around the place. Here the maze seemed more alive, blue-white arcs of energy dancing across the tops of the fulgurite, illuminating the intricate carvings well.


    We continued on. Kevinar would occasionally pause, his head tilting slightly as he listened intently. His keen senses did well for us and more than once, he''d shove me back just as a bolt of electricity shot out from a hidden panel in the wall or the floor beneath us gave way to reveal a pit filled with crackling energy.


    ¡°It''s getting harder to detect these traps,¡± he whispered after what seemed to be ages. ¡°The energy in this place is playing havoc with my senses. And I have been having to augment my abilities with stamina. It''s almost as if the temple itself is alive, fighting back against our intrusion.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Use some stamina potions?¡± I asked.


    Kevinar shook his head. ¡°At 10 points each, I¡¯ll have to drink them all. It¡¯s better if we save them for an emergency.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s encamp. Get your stamina points back, and I¡¯ll take watch.¡±


    Kevinar nodded, stomping a clear place into the jagged floor, then sitting and closing his eyes to meditate. And I stood near him, watching both the way we¡¯d come from, and the way we had been going, with cautious, careful eyes.

 Chapter Twenty-Six – Epic Fusion

    Four hours of meditation and reverie. That''s how long it would take for Kevinar to regain his stamina points and be ready for another run. The time ticked by slowly, every moment tense with the possibility of peril, and I couldn''t help but wonder when rather than if a monster would come and take us unawares.


    Fortunately, I had the crazed company of Jeldorain to keep me company. As he was enjoying reminding me every few minutes while I surveyed the entryways for enemies, using his icy orbs as my own.


    After an hour, Jeldorain¡¯s tone shifted subtly, his words slithering into my thoughts like a serpent¡¯s whisper. Ryan, open your eyes he urged. Kevinar¡¯s path aligns too neatly with ours. Consider the possibility¡ªhe could be an agent of the Goblin Empire.


    ¡°Not this again,¡± I muttered under my breath, wary of possibly disturbing Kevinar¡¯s meditation. ¡°Look, you¡¯re wrong. Kevinar is kind and understanding. I know him. Same with Ike.¡±


    Yeah? I could see him, his semi-solid body standing at attention in the mind space, his head cocked at an angle. Childhood friends, are you? Grew up together? Worked in the same fields? Went to the university together? His words, barbed thoughts targeting my brain, stumbled on the last question in a way that suggested that the word he¡¯d found within me held a conceptual image that was somewhat confusing to him. Probably the large classes and modern technology. I smirked, knowing that I¡¯d just blown his mind.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to trust somebody,¡± I answered.


    ¡°Trust,¡± Jeldorain scoffed within the confines of my skull. ¡°A luxury ill-afforded in this world. Look at him. A dark one from the lands of the damned. His people worship spiders and dark spirits. Of course he isn¡¯t worthy of your trust. But lucky for us, he is vulnerable now. An easy kill. It would be a simple thing to¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I cut him off, forcing myself to keep my voice low. ¡°It isn¡¯t right.¡±


    Kevinar''s eyes snapped open, his brow furrowing ever so slightly. ¡°Are you arguing with your infernal again?¡± he asked, his voice tired and worn.


    I nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt for disturbing his rest. ¡°He thinks you''re a threat.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Kevinar said, closing his eyes. ¡°Make sure he understands that I am, and that I¡¯m best left alone.¡±


    Jeldorain''s sigh seemed to echo through the cavernous space of my mind, a sound of weariness tinged with mockery. Let me regale you with a tale he began, his voice a dark ribbon weaving through my thoughts. ¡°The Silly Little Imp Who Trusted, a cautionary fable known well in the infernal realms.¡±


    I nodded, still keeping my eyes peeled and waiting for possible danger, but curious as to what such a tale would be about.


    Once upon a time there was an imp named Ryan. A fire imp, of all things, the worst of the infernals. Not just because of how hot they are, but because of the smell also. Fire infernals and all of their kin are trash.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± I said, chuckling. Despite his gross desires and strange nature, Jeldorain could be quite charming and funny at times.


    This imp wandered through the forest, lost from his home, running into trees and stuff because that¡¯s how dumb he was. He danced through the forests, hugging everything and everyone, a beacon of misplaced trust, greeting each creature with a wide smile wide, his greeting always the same. ¡°Hello, friend,¡± he¡¯d say. ¡°I¡¯m so glad to meet you!


    ¡°So is this improv, or are you just shoving me into a real story from back when you were a baby infernal?¡± I asked.


    Larvae, Jeldorain corrected. Quiet or you¡¯ll ruin the story.


    I smirked, rechecking my six and nine. ¡°Alright, keep going.¡±


    Everything was good in the forest, even for the idiot fire imp, until one day there came a dark elf. A fiend named Kevinar!


    I frowned. ¡°Really?¡±


    Shush. Kevinar! Jelodorain repeated, his voice curling the name into malevolent angles and dips. He offered apples, crimson and luscious. Their scent was tantalizing. Yet the forest''s inhabitants shunned the deceitful gift, because they weren¡¯t idiots. All of them but one.


    ¡°Let me guess¡ª¡±


    I will not tolerate spoilers, Ryan. For I am not a foolish fire imp named Ryan who of course took three of the apples and ate them down one after the other. With each bite, agony took him. He dropped to the ground, twisting and howling, his body bubbling and shuddering until nothing was left but a cluster of gerbils.


    I cracked up hard, laughter booming out into the Labyrinth. Kevinar opened his eyes, sighed, and closed them again.


    ¡°Your story is ridiculous, but that was some good improv,¡± I whispered. ¡°You¡¯re right, I barely know them. I¡¯ll be careful, alright?¡±


    A chill swept through my mind as Jeldorain chuckled. Yes, oh great champion, caution is wise. Remember, he is a dark elf¡ªtrust and friendship are not their common coin.


    I looked over at Kevinar¡¯s meditating form, seeking any hint of duplicity. I couldn¡¯t see anything.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I''m nothing like the imp of your story. I can tell rotten apples from ripe.¡±


    Jeldorain''s presence withdrew, leaving a silence in its wake. Kevinar continued his meditation. I stood guard, my resolve fortified. And as the hours passed, with Kevinar''s steady breathing as my companion, I watched over us both, a sentinel against the darkness.


    It was an absolute relief when Kevinar rose again, his body rejuvenated. ¡°Are you done fighting your infernal?¡± he asked, his face emotionless.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I nodded.


    ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s go.¡± Moving forward again, the place silent but for our footsteps, we pushed through the twists and turns, the ebbs and flow of the pulsing fulgurite growing stronger and more rhythmic as we moved. It felt as if we were inside the body of an electric elemental, head through its veins to find the chambers of its heart.


    Kevinar maintained a vigilant watch for traps and lurking monsters. On one occasion, as we rounded a corner, we were confronted by a creature composed entirely of seething energy. Its form shifted and morphed as it moved, crackling ferociously. There were no eyes, no distinct limbs. Just amorphous, charged chaos.


    ¡°We do not want to fight this thing,¡± Kevinar whispered.


    ¡°What can we do? Can I sneak past it?¡±


    Kevinar shook his head, pondering the floating mass, while I started thinking back to school and a man called Benjamin Franklin. What I needed was a way to get this energy to discharge into the ground. I called up my inventory, scanning it wildly for something that I could use. There was nothing useful there, seeing as my Elixir of Elemental Resistance was against fire. My armor granted me 20% resistance to all elemental attacks, but that still wasn¡¯t very useful for what I want to do.


    My eyes pinned to the wall, looking at the pulsing fulgurite and the electricity coursing through it. I imagined what must be happening there, in the physics of this world. It was like copper wiring, directing the power of this place, perhaps the power of its kills, towards some battery deep in the planet. And the fact that it was conducting electricity instead of generating it meant that I could use it here, against the elemental.


    Jeldorain, what would happen if I fused fulgurite with Frostchain? I asked mentally whilst pulling the weapon from my inventory.


    The infernal shrugged.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Kevinar asked.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± I answered. ¡°I¡¯m making a plan. Hopefully a good one.¡±


    The elemental hovered in place, crackling in eternal storm, oblivious to our presence. Kevinar watched it, equipping his own weapons, waiting on my thoughts. Kevinar observed it a moment, before materializing a bag of coins into his hand and gently handing it over. I took Frostchain and pushed it up against a thick chunk of fulgurite wall, willing them to fuse together into something greater.


    The fulgurite''s touch upon Frostchain sent a shiver down my spine. A soft hum filled the air, and the fulgurite began to quake and spark, emitting a sound like thunder.


    As I initiated the fusion, the glow from the fulgurite intensified, casting electric blue shadows against the temple''s ancient walls. Static electricity danced across my skin, zipping and crackling across the frosty sheen of my skin. From the corridor, the electric elemental turned and began walking in our direction. Kevinar brought his glowing blades to bear, and stood protectively in front of me and my weapon''s ongoing transformation.


    With a sudden burst, fragments of fulgurite showered down as a section of the wall melded onto Frostchain. Atoms clashed in a brilliant display of plasma and untamed energy, the fusion unleashing a cacophony of light and sound. A pillar of energy shot upwards, blasting a crater into the ceiling of the labyrinth while simultaneously cocooning my weapon and I in radiant, yellow-electric light. The ground shook, tossing both Kevinar and the elemental to the side.


    Within my cocoon, my ax relented, and a spectacular dance of frost and electricity began. The icy motes of the weapon swelled and erupting with lightning, the hue of my weapon changing to the color of an icy storm-laden sky at dusk.


    CRAFTED! Stand in awe of the Stormforged Freezing Icearigama (Epic)


    In the primordial epoch, where the cosmos was yet untamed and the elements raged with wild abandon, there existed a domain where the fury of the storm kissed the cold of the ice. This realm, known as the Tempest Glacier, was a canvas of awe-inspiring dread, a place where the gales gnashed with frosty teeth and the heavens mourned with a blizzard''s sorrow. Here the Storm Heralds reigned supreme, their weapons Stormforged fuses, and none but the highest levels of warriors could wield them.


    Congratulation on an epic fusion, adventurer.


    [Achievement Unlocked: Create an Epic Fusion]


    +1500 XP


    Objective: Create an Epic weapon using the Fuse Ability


    Stormforged Icearigama, Damage 5 to 40 (+12)(x2), Weight 7, Speed Fast, Specials: Freeze (10%), Shield Break (3%), Attunement Level 1 - Vorpal (5%)


    EPIC FUSION ¨C THE WEAPON MAY NO LONGER BE FUSED WITH NON-EPIC MATERIALS


    Attunement Level 2 - Storm''s Embrace: As the wielder becomes more attuned to the weapon, they gain a passive resistance to electrical damage, and their critical hits have a higher chance to trigger a powerful lightning strike.


    Specials Update:


    Electrical Capture: When grounded, the Stormforged Icearigama may consume electricity, giving it access to the following attacks until its charge (random 10% chance per attack) runs out:


    Freeze (10%) now with added electrical damage over time.


    Electrified Freeze (10%): The freeze effect deals continuous electrical damage to frozen opponents.


    Shield Break (3%) chance increased due to the fulgurite''s piercing nature.


    Vorpal (5%)


    The is now an additional chance to call down a concentrated bolt of lightning on a critical hit.


    Chain Lightning (5%), with a chance to hit additional targets.


    Aesthetic Change: The weapon glows with a blue-white aura, and sparks of electricity dance along its edges, especially when swung.


    As Kevinar and the elemental stared at the new iteration of Frostchain, I charged. Seeming to realize its fate a moment too late, the elemental reared back, attempting to dodge my blow. But the tip of one of my crackling, frozen axes tore through its substance, and all of its energy began to flow into my weapon. I stopped moving, hanging onto the weapon fiercely as it vibrated intensely within my hands, threatened to slip from my grip.


    The elemental keened, a sorrowful crackling wail that reminded me of a poorly wired microphone, an eerie echo rolling out over us and into the maze walls beyond.


    And then it stopped. The elemental was still there, but much reduced in size. It wrapped itself into a tiny ball lightning and floated away in retreat, leaving both of us staring in stupendous awe.


    [Achievement Unlocked: Vampyre]


    +50 XP


    Objective: Steal an amount of life essence from an enemy combatant


    VICTORY! 1300 XP rewarded!


    ¡°The Luck of the Demons,¡± Kevinar exclaimed, his eyes wide and upon Frostchain. I stared as well. It wasn¡¯t just a good weapon. It would act as a key to finding and unlocking my path home.

 Chapter Twenty-Seven – Heart of a Labyrinth

    We pushed on, navigating the serpentine twists of the maze for what felt like an eternity. The walls, lined with the pulsing veins of fulgurite, throbbed with the energy of the temple, renewed by the many lives it had taken this last day and a half.


    Shadows danced eerily around us, our footsteps light against the floor as we progressed. The air smelled of ozone now, the air humid with the sense of impending rain. We¡¯d encountered more traps, many and varied, growing more complex and difficult as we progressed. They sparked and sizzled, burning a few hit points here and there. We encountered other electric monsters as well. Imps, minor electric infernals of varied shapes and sizes, and a bird of cloud that breathed lightning. But all we easily vanquished by us at the cost of little stamina and little damage.


    Kevinar led us through, catching and disabling most of the traps before they had a chance to fire, and spotting our enemies well before they spotted us.


    But as we ventured deeper, the traps grew more cunning, more deadly. Electric arcs that leaped from hidden nodes in the walls sought to fry us where we stood. Pit traps yawned open just before our feet, threatening to swallow us into a crackling abyss. And once, a magma trap that erupted with a roar, spewing molten death upwards in a geyser swarming over with volcanic lightning that surely would have ended us both if Kevinar hadn¡¯t detected it just a second before. The sheer heat of it singed our eyebrows, taking a few more hit points off our life forces.


    The labyrinith itself had taken on new life as we moved deeper, grinding as it shifted walls and moved corridors each and every hour. Walls slid away to reveal new paths, while others emerged to block our way. It was as if we were inside the belly of some great beast, its innards rearranging themselves with a mind of their own.


    Through it all, though, Kevinar''s face was set in a grim determined line, his usual stoicism shining through the difficulty of the maze. It gave me confidence that we could make it through this fierce dungeon of a temple, despite the hunger growing in my stomach.


    I did my best to help out, my eyes constantly scanning for the telltale signs of the next trap, my mind racing to understand the maze and predict its next move. But it was unlike any of the puizzles I¡¯d faced in Lords of Chaos, and it thwarted all of my best efforts.


    Until, finally, we were caught.


    The trap was as sudden as it was vicious. One moment Kevinar was bending down to examine a cracked tile in the center of the room, the next a surging wave of electricity was rising from all of the surrounding tiles, the cresting waves of it interlocking with each other to envelop Kevinar in a cage of energy. He screamed, his body convulsing involuntarily and his health plummeting as he struggled against the prison of crackling light that held him. The air stank with burnt flesh and singed hair.


    I stood, paralyzed for a heartbeat, watching in horror as my companion struggled against the attack.


    Let him die, Jeldorain counseled, his attention focused on the dying drow warrior.


    I shut him out, my eyes desperately bouncing around the hall. There was almost certainly a solution, but I didn¡¯t have time. Closing my eyes, I did the best thing I could think of. I charged the elf, bursting through the electricity and seizing him in my massive, frosted arms, losing a third of my health and taking a Stunned debuff. Laying there next to Kevinar, unable to move, I felt tremendous relief. The trick of the trap seemed to be that it kept anyone caught in it stunned until they were dead. My strength and momentum had carried us out of harm¡¯s way.


    Our strength and momentum, Jeldorain groused.


    Behind us the cage still crackled and sizzled, growing wilder and more chaotic. My debuff running down, I grabbed the barely conscious form of Kevinar and sprinted around the corner, an explosion throwing fulgurite shrapnel and flame at the corner around which we had just traveled.


    ¡°That was a bad one,¡± I said to Kevinar. His head lolled, but he managed a weak nod. Jogging ahead, I turned another corner and entered another chamber, this one bereft of any visible enemies. Laying him on the floor, I uncorked a healing potion, pouring the crimson liquid through his cracked and burned lips.


    ¡°More,¡± he gasped, coughing. I took another from my inventory, then another, reversing the scorched, cooked skin back to its supple and youthful self. Kevinar sighed, sitting up and scooching back to put his back to the wall. ¡°Thank you, my friend. That was . . . unexpected.¡±


    I smiled. His strength was returning, though the encounter had obviously taken its toll. There was a vulnerability to him that I had not seen before, a reminder that even dark elves named Kevinar were able to fail.


    We shared a look, one that spoke volumes.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± I said, pouring a couple of healing potions down my own throat. ¡°Seems like I should have bought more potions!¡±


    He grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve got twenty. I¡¯ll replace your spent ones with mine.¡± Standing up, he handed over the loot, and after checking his gear, we continued on. This time at a snail¡¯s pace. The traps had shown us their teeth, and we had no intention of being bitten again.


    After an hour the labyrinth''s serpentine passageways ceased their trap-filled turns, spilling us into the grandeur of an ancient temple room. The transition was startling, from the narrow confines of the maze to the expansive sanctity of this unholy hall. The air here was still, heavy with the memory of incense and the weight of time.


    The room stretched vast and wide, its ceiling lost to shadows far above, where faint etchings of constellations could be glimpsed, carved into the stone by hands long turned to dust. Columns lined the space, rising like the trunks of petrified giants, their surfaces etched with the delicate filigree of a forgotten language. Between these pillars, the walls were adorned with tapestries and frescoes, scenes of celestial battles and divine parleys, each thread and stroke a recorded entry of the temple''s ancient glory.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    At the far end of the room, an altar stood solemn and solitary, carved from a single block of marble that gleamed as if it drank the light. Upon this altar rested an orb, about the size of a human head, its surface smooth and unblemished. The orb was home to yellow, blue and white electrical arcs that, viewed together, formed an overly large eye. The light of this combination bathed the entire chamber in a sickly and erratic radiance. It buzzed loudly, a sound that reminded me of a beehive in the woods, its insides dripping with honey.


    ¡°The Eye of the Stormbringer,¡± Kevinar whispered. ¡°As an elite level quest, I would have expected many more combats.¡±


    I shook my head, staring at the chamber before us. Between us and our goal stood thirty clay statues of swordsmen, arrayed in the columns and rows of a fighting unit. They were motionless, yet there was a tension in their stillness, a promise of violence held in check by some unseen command. The statues, each one a masterwork of terracotta artistry, bore the armor and weapons of ancient warriors, their postures poised for battle. Their eyes, though unseeing, seemed to follow our every move, and I knew, with a certainty that settled in my bones, that this was a trap. The statues would not remain statues for long.


    And the unholy eye on the altar staring at me, unblinking, made me positive that it was just waiting for me to march forward so that it could engulf me on all sides.


    Thoughts, I asked Jeldorain, my mind meeting his.


    Pick one up and use it to smash all of the others? he suggested. A quick glimpse of what he was thinking filtered through to me, and I saw that his thoughts were focused on the hilarity of killing a construct with another of its kind, so I turned to Kevinar.


    ¡°I¡¯m rather positive these statues are going to attack us as soon as it is favorable to do so,¡± I said.


    He pondered them, then nodded. ¡°Good observation. I haven¡¯t seen such an action myself, but I don¡¯t doubt that it exists. Should we smash them now, before they have time to react?¡±


    I looked around the chamber for the possibility that something here might offer an easy win. The light cast by the orb touched everything, throwing long, soft-edged shadows behind the statues that stood sentinel along the room''s perimeter. It reflected off the polished stone floor, creating a pathway of light that led straight to the altar, inviting us forward, don¡¯t be shy, and don¡¯t worry about the statues lining the way..


    In other words, there was nothing. Heaving a great sigh, Kevinar and I exchanged a glance, then I stepped forward and lay loose with a whirlwind attack, smashing the nearest five statues with Frostchain. The impacts were met with the sounds of shattering pottery, but the destruction of five awoke the others.


    And the statues were surprisingly quick. Kevinar broke one with his two blades, but was rushed by three, throwing him off balance and putting him on the defensive.


    All around us the clay swordsmen charged, their movements stiff and jerky, yet bizarrely sped up as if they were hasted ventriloquist dummies with a taste for blood. They were relentless, each blow from their stone swords striking hard and fast. The sound of clashing metal and the shatter of clay filled the air, a cacophony of battle that echoed off the temple walls.


    In the heart of the temple room, beneath the glow of the Eye of the Stormbringer, Kevinar and I were now surrounded by the clay sentinels. The air was thick with the scent of cracked clay. I struck them twice, but the results affirmed to me something I¡¯d suspected.


    The activated clay warriors were much stronger than when they had been deactivated.


    I thought about doing another Whirlwind Attack, but using one at the start had me already down to a reservoir of fifty stamina points. And I had no idea what would happen next. This felt like a boss battle, so likely it had tricks. I growled at the thought that my initial attack might have been a bad idea. But if I could get out of melee, I¡¯d be free to drink some stamina potions. I¡¯d just have to be wise with the attack I had until I had an opportunity to break free.


    Kevinar, with his S-class stealth, melted into the shadows cast by the orb''s light, his form blurring at the edges until he was nearly invisible. I swung my ax, the blade¡¯s ice and lightning leaving a shimmering arc of electric vapor in its wake. The clay shattered upon impact, the fragments scattering like pebbles across a pond.


    CRITICAL HIT! TOTAL ANNIHILATION!


    Twenty-three warriors were left, and two managed light rakes against my armor, dipping me down to 90%. Striking again, I smashed one back, sending it stumbling to the floor, but another took its place.


    In front of me, Kevinar appeared as if from nowhere, his dual enchanted blades a blur of purple energy. He struck with precision, the purple aura rolling out and into his third strike, dark energy seeping into its clay form and causing it to crumble from within.


    We fought back-to-back, a vortex of destruction. I called upon my Whirlwind Attack again, spinning with my ax extended. The strike sliced through their mobbed ranks, reducing four soldiers to rubble. Kevinar, seizing the moment, darted supernaturally fast between soldiers, his blades finding minute cracks in their armor.


    As the battle raged, I found myself cornered by a pair of soldiers. I reached into my pouch, withdrawing a healing potion. The liquid was cool and sweet, its magic sealing my wounds from the inside and restoring some of my health. Refreshed, I launched a Disarm attack, snatching a clay sword from a soldier''s grip with a flick of my wrist, and watching in amazement as the loss of the weapon caused the golem to crumble into dust.


    ¡°The weapons are their weakness!¡± I exclaimed, the guttural qualities of my demonic voice well rising above the din of battle. I felt Kevinar leap onto my back, his blades already back into his inventory, and with a lithe assassin¡¯s flip, he launched himself onto the shoulders of two of the clay soldiers, seizing both weapons simultaneously and ending their lives. A trio of soldiers struck at him, their ghastly herky-jerky movements a horror to behold, but he rolled beneath them, seizing another weapon on his way through.


    The clay soldiers were relentless, but they were no match for our combined might and the clever use of our abilities. I utilized my Swing ability, latching onto an overhead beam with a whip of energy, swinging across the room and booting the blades out of the hands of two more clay constructs. Taking just a few more wounds, I used my brute strength to wrest the weapons from the remaining soldiers.


    As the last of them fell, I felt a familiar rush as a bright light enveloped me, energy coursing through my veins and restoring all of my spent points. Kevinar nodded in approval, grinning, his eyes and teeth reflecting the light of the orb.


    LEVEL UP! Welcome to Level 7!


    But the thrill of the moment was short-lived. The ground beneath our feet began to tremble, a deep, resonant vibration that spoke of something large and powerful straining against the confines of the earth, and I knew that the real boss battle was about to begin.

 Chapter Twenty-Eight – Ascension of the Damned

    A massive red line spread across the top of my vision, the name plate naming this boss The Stormbringer. It was an elite level boss, and I was rather sure it was going to destroy us both.


    The floor cracked and heaved, stone tiles buckling as the Stormbringer¡¯s colossal form began to break through. The tremors grew more violent and dust cascaded from the high ceiling as a glittering behemoth of fulgurite crackling with electric magic tore itself from the earth. Its form was a grotesque tapestry of the temple''s motifs, its limbs carved with the very stories and pictures that had lined the temple¡¯s path to this chamber. The monster¡¯s eyes glowed with the same luminescence as the orb it protected.


    ¡°Well that¡¯s not good,¡± I muttered, just before a supernatural aura of fear flowed through me. I resisted it, standing my ground despite the instinct to flee gnawing at the edges of my being. This guardian, fully freed from its earthen base, was a colossus. Its roars echoed like thunder as it stomp both legs in the style of a sumo wrestler about to start his match. Each thump to the ground caused miniature quakes to rock the floor beneath us.


    Fixing its radiant gaze upon us, it charged, massive arms swinging with cyclonic force.


    Kevinar acted first, his blades a blur as he launched himself at the behemoth. His attacks were precise, aimed at the joints and seams of fulgurite that poked out of the Stormbringer¡¯s body. I followed, Frostchain in my hands crackling with pent-up fury. Striking out in a sweep, I smashed a line of crystals from its right leg, and noted that between Kevinar and myself, we¡¯d dropped its life force by 2%.


    The Stormbringer smashed back, slamming me with a disorienting jab and following with a powerful straight that blasted me off the floor and across the temple lobby into the wall. I looked up, dazed, seeing the cracks radiating out of my cartoonishly demon-shaped crater as I peeled myself out to rejoin combat. I was 30% down, so I kicked in my E-ranked healing and drank a healing potion as I went, watching Kevinar jump, dive, and somersault out of harm¡¯s way.


    Hard-pressed and on the defensive, he ducked and slid, unable to find time to attack. But his distraction of the monster was enough, and I charged, swinging Frostchain in a long and measured arc over my head as I did so. That attack would be a matter of timing, I knew, but as I sprinted forward, it seemed clear that I had judged the strike correctly.


    The glittering ax head came down into the monster¡¯s stony chest, cracking it open and exposing its inner electric turmoil to the surface for all to see.


    Another 5% down, the Stormbringer bellowed, stomping at the place where I stood. Sparkling ichor splashed out of its open wound as it sought to crush me into the temple''s ancient floors, sending electrified droplets smoking into the stone all around us. Dodging at the last breath, the monster¡¯s missed stomp cratered into the floor, sending a shower of stone splinters into the air.


    Kevinar, having had time to regroup, darted out from the shadows, both blades flashing purple as he leapt and slashed at patch of sparkling fulgurite on the monster¡¯s back. It reached back, catching him and throwing him in the same fashion its punch had thrown me.


    It looked bad for Kevinar, but it was the perfect opportunity. Summoning every ounce of my strength, I struck a critical blow to the Stormbringer''s leg. Ice from my ax crackled across its body, locking it into place while simultaneously crumbling chunks of it off into dry, lifeless earth.


    The guardian staggered, off-kilter and paralyzed, flailing comically as it crashed into the temple floor. I seized the opening, kicking off a Whirlwind attack and striking the boss in multiple places as I renewed the attack again and again. My stamina points dwindled, and I gasped as I noticed that the Stormbringer¡¯s HP were down to just the 50% line by the time I was done. In my peripheral that I¡¯d managed to unlock a Critical Combo set as I attacked, greatly multiplying the speed and damage of my strikes.


    I stared at the thing, knowing we were about out of specials and well-worried what would happen when we ran out.


    The Stormbringer began to vibrate, my Freeze debuff clearly fading, and I struck once more as I backed off, lashing against his opposite leg.


    To my absolute surprise, it sheared cleanly off.


    Its anguished roar was a sound of pain and fury intertwined, and as it swept its massive arms to ensnare us, Kevinar melted into the shadows, reappearing only to strike with lethal precision.


    Materializing like a specter of vengeance, Kevinar was a blur upon the Stormbringer''s back, his swords diving deep into the seams of pulsating magic. The creature''s roar turned to a pained screech, its movements growing sluggish and erratic.


    Watching the action unfold, I apparated two stamina potions, chugging them both down and revitalizing my energy reserves. Sprinting forward, I narrowly missed the flying figure of Kevinar as he was again tossed into the opposite side of the room, before engaging another whirlwind attack.


    Spinning in circles, this time a loud crackle of thunder reverberated through the chamber, fat long sparks of storm murder splashing about the chamber. Out of the side of my eye I noticed Kevinar somersault over several of them before turning a glare in my direction.


    He¡¯ll get over it, Jeldorain said, an undertone of malevolent humor flavoring his words.


    Get over it he did, leaping and bounding madly over the flashes and sparks as I finished my attacks. The Stormbringer was taking hit after hit, and his health was slowly receding, but he was still above 30%. It stomped its leg stump into the floor, and a second later another leg appeared in the place where I had shattered the previous one. Above, its health bar lengthened, and it was back to 35%.


    Kevinar leapt with otherworldly grace, rising up against the monster¡¯s chest, twin swords aglow with purple-auraed enchantments. Simultaneously, the Stormbringer ducked down, its arms reaching back as it heaved a cone of electric breath into my body. While Kevinar landed upon the monster¡¯s back, I staggered backwards, a variety of elemental resistances sparkling as they debuffed the attack.


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    Atop the Stormbringer, near the base of its neck, Kevinar plunged both of his blades into the creature¡¯s core, ending that bit that kept the monster alive. The red line of hit points were empty, and its reaction was immediate. Its roar, once a sound of thunderous fury, morphed into a screech of agony.


    It stumbled, groaned, and began to fall to pieces before our very eyes. Kevinar leapt off, coming to stand by my side as we watched. The outer pieces slapped to the ground, revealing a great deal of giant black orbs within.


    Kevinar and I shared a look. This didn¡¯t look good. As we watched, the orbs shivered, emitting a yellow glow before rising into the air and forming a smaller, more circular guardian.


    I growled, shaking my head. ¡°I hate bosses that don¡¯t die when they¡¯re supposed to.¡±


    Kevinar regarded me with a strange look, but simply nodded, raising his blades and presenting himself sideways towards the Stormbringer¡¯s second form. ¡°I¡¯ll kill this one as many times as it needs to take.¡±


    I charged, the new shape seemingly disoriented. Slashing at the new rounded arms of the monster, my ax carved into the stone at the elbow, severing the rest and sending it tumbling to the ground with a ground-shaking thud.


    Kevinar charged as well, leaping up before being slapped down into the dirt. He let out a long moan. Mustering the last vestiges of my stamina power, I executed my Swing ability. Frostchain¡¯s chain wound around the Stormbringer''s neck, and with a titan''s pull, the new head of the guardian separated from its body as well.


    But as I watched, as I saw that this boss was just as easy to assemble as it was to disassemble. Rolling along the temple floor, the balls bounding back up and into place in the spot where it had died. And above me, there still wasn¡¯t another boss hp bar.


    Smashing at it again, I took off its shoulder while its head came back to its body. A rounded fist struck me in my shoulder, spinning me in place. Striking at the center of its body, I scored a gash into the orb, a fissure of energy blazing forth to light the darkness. Emboldened, I drove Frostchain into the fissure, watching electricity blast forth and course over the monster again.


    The Stormbringer staggered, its movements slowing as the electrical energy coursed through it. Kevinar seized the moment, his blades finding their mark time and again. The Guardian''s roars became groans, the sound of stone grinding against stone.


    It lashed out, catching Kevinar with a glancing blow that sent him sprawling.


    Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw it¡ªthe altar. A plan, desperate and dangerous, formed in my mind. If the orb was the source of the Guardian''s power, then perhaps it was also its weakness.


    Dodging a wild swing of black orbed stone, I sprinted toward the altar. The Guardian roared and reached out to stop me. But it was too late. I touched the orb, and the world exploded in light.


    The light was blinding, a pure radiance that seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality. It enveloped me, warmth flooding through my veins as if the sun itself had taken residence within my chest. The Orb Guardian halted, its form shimmering uncertainly as the temple was bathed in the celestial glow.


    In that moment of divine clarity, I understood the orb''s purpose. It was not just a source of light; it was a keystone, the heart of the temple, and the anchor of the Guardian''s soul. As my fingers brushed its surface, I felt a connection, a whisper of ancient rites and forgotten languages coursing through my mind.


    The Guardian''s roar turned to a pained howl, its form beginning to fracture and crumble. I watched, heart pounding, as the once-mighty sentinel of the temple disintegrated before my eyes, its essence returning to the stone from which it had been born. The orb''s light dimmed, its task complete, and the temple fell silent but for the settling of dust and debris.


    Kevinar rose unsteadily to his feet, his gaze locked on the now inert orb. ¡°You did it,¡± he breathed, a note of awe in his voice. ¡°Well done.¡±


    We approached the altar together, examining the orb. It was smaller now, its surface cool and dark. The light had retreated into its core, a faint glow that pulsed like a heartbeat. I reached out, hesitant, and as my fingers made contact, the light flared once more, a soft luminescence that filled the room with a gentle radiance.


    ¡°It''s attuning to you,¡± Kevinar said. ¡°You''ve claimed the orb, and with it, the power of this place.¡±


    The energies of this place, I can remember their taste. Born of blood, cleansed and made pure, they are now ours to claim, Jeldorain stated, his voice humble.


    I could feel it, a new wellspring of energy within me, a reservoir of light that I could draw upon. It was also something new. An option was waiting here, burning a hole in my insides. I reached into the energy.


    A RELIC HAS BEEN ATTUNED.


    DRAIN THE EYE OF THE STORMBRINGER Y/N?


    I hesitated, entirely unsure what this might mean. Never had anything like this appeared in Lords of Chaos. Deep within my soul, I could feel Jeldorain quaking with anticipation. The sudden bare hunger that radiated from his body pushed me back from the message and I felt the urge to reject the orb, and to push the energy back into the Eye.


    Smashing through my mental barriers, howling with rage, Jeldorain knocked me aside and took over our body. I watched in horror as he accepted the energies of the relic, then felt tremendous pain as they flowed through our body¡¯s every cell, binding with us.


    LEVEL UP! LEVEL UP! LEVEL UP! WELCOME TO LEVEL 10! +1 TO ALL ABILITY SCORES. D Rank Spellcraft! Ball Lightning ¨C 20 mana, 6-36 damage on impact, 5-30 shock damage to all within 5 feet of target, subsequent 4-24 damage to all with 10 feet of target.


    Once per day ¨C SIZE OF A TEMPEST: Grow to a height of 100 feet with proportional body changes.


    Once per day ¨C CYCLONIC JOURNEY: Using a powerful field of cyclonic wind, travel up to a distance of 5 miles with the space of as many minutes.


    Gain +10 to all physical abilities. Damage multiplier X10.


    Visions of the Stormbinders'' glory filled my mind, voices whispering greedily, proclaiming the reemergence of demonic mastery over the world. I tried to fight back, pushing to knock Jeldorain out of his control over my body, but the whispers grew to shouts, and the wall between us grew thicker. Too thick to breach.


    Kevinar watched, his eyes wide with awe, as the transformation took hold. The runes on the walls blazed to life, their light reflecting in his gaze. ¡°What have you done?¡± he asked, his purple prose on retirement in the face of the chaos before him. ¡°What is happening?¡±


    The chamber shook with the force of Jeldorain¡¯s awakening.


    ¡°Ryan?¡± Kevinar asked, doubt creeping into his voice.


    The chamber''s tremors subsided. I watched through Jeldorain¡¯s eyes as he stared down at the dark elf. Arcs of lightning danced between his fingers.


    ¡°Ryan?!¡± Kevinar asked again, raising his arms and backing away slowly.


    A new shudder ran through the Labyrinth, and a chunk of heavy stone slapped down hard from the ceiling, cratering the floor beside us.


    ¡°Ryan¡¯s gone, Kevinar,¡± Jeldorain growled. ¡°And I know what you are up to. For your conspiracy, I sentence you to death. For the help you have given us, I leave you to the Labyrinth and stay my hand.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Nine – PVP Chaos

    The temple quaked, the maze beyond shaking, walls tumbling and electrical bursts exploding where they toppled. Cracks ran along the walls, ripping through frescoes eons old. Stone grated on stone, dust spraying into the air like geysers.


    In the center of it all, Jeldorain loomed, cackling and raising his clawed hands up in victory. I felt powerless, trapped behind his eyes and looking out, seeing Kevinar desperately shift his gaze this way and that, trying to find an avenue of escape. I shoved again against his consciousness, attempting to take control, only to be rebuffed hard and through to the spiritual limits of our shared body. Everything felt cold there, a desolate spiritual tundra, and I wound myself up, marching back against Jeldorain¡¯s power to the wall that guarded his seat of power.


    I couldn¡¯t retake control, but I would lay siege until I could.


    Waiting for an opening? That¡¯s your plan?! What a waste of champion you are, Ryan. You will go insane as the millennia go by, your inability to control anything as I retake this world for the infernals will make you desperate. You will plead and beg. But I will bring us the glory your foolishness would have denied us.


    I sighed. Though I was shut out from the conscious part of the body, I was close enough to feel uncertainty sluicing through our body. He was at least partially bluffing, and that made me confident that there would be many opportunities sooner than later.


    Jeldorain roared, a victorious bellow that quaked with power, and in our shared intellectual space I felt him activate one of our new power, Size of a Tempest. Our body began to morph, grinding and stretching, contorting and surging. Our equipment grew with him, I saw, the armor and weapon matching him as they too ballooned to incredible size. His head and shoulders smashed into the ceiling of the temple, tearing through rock and adding to the volatility of the earthquake that was tearing it asunder.


    Beneath us, Kevinar leapt at our ankle, grabbing hold just before Jeldorain kicked in the next power, Cyclonic Journey. Powerful winds formed around us, surging us upwards and ripping through rock, thundering the temple into assured death after its eons of existence. I tried to feel for Kevinar, for the sensation of him clinging to our body as we tore through the rock and out of the top of the hill into the sky, but we¡¯d lost him along the way.


    One traitor gone, Jeldorain exulted, bursting through the earth''s crust, a shockwave of snow and ice blanketed the surrounding area. The once familiar landscape at the temple''s entrance was now an alien terrain, covered in a white shroud. The sky was light-blue with morning, a friendly and fresh scent on the air in direct contrast to the situation unfolding underneath it.


    Peering down at the ground, both of us viewed battle on pause, an adventuring party of goblins and my own companions staring up at us from a ground now blanketed by snow.


    Hovering like some eldritch god, a behemoth of ice and storm, Jeldorain moved closer to them. ¡°Behold the dawn of a new era!¡± he bellowed, dropping the cyclone and landing near them. Unexpectedly his feet sank deep in the muddy mulch of the land, causing him to curse quite colorfully.


    The two parties glanced at each other and parted, regrouping a distance away from each other. As I watched, the professionally geared goblins took defensive positions on another hill as my own companions pulled back into the lip of deeper treeline.


    A single figure strode forward rather than retreating. Jeldorain stared at him, amazement coursing through his body, as Ike walked to where he was standing, and showed empty hands.


    ¡°So am I talking to Ryan, or am I talking to Jeldorain?¡± he asked. I watched him, admiring the fact that I saw no fear gleaming in his eyes and no run in his step. ¡°Because if I¡¯m talking to Jeldorain, well, I¡¯d like to hope that he understands we¡¯re all in this together.¡±


    ¡°Get out of here, Ike,¡± Jeldorain said, surprising me. ¡°We aren¡¯t enemies.¡± I felt his resolve falter, looking down at the tiny kobold with something that felt like hopeful friendship. A part of me thought to attack my consciousness now, but I hated to think what would happen if I did and I failed. I watched, wondering what would happen next.


    ¡°Jeldorain. I see. Well, I don¡¯t blame you. I¡¯d try to take my body back too if goblins stuffed some human into it. Is Ryan dead?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s in here,¡± Jeldorain answered, almost shyly, his mind a chaos of confused feelings and urges.


    Ike peered left and right. ¡°And Kevinar?¡±


    ¡°An agent sent by the goblins to tame us. I left him to his doom,¡± Jeldorain growled. Movement caught the corner of our eye, noticed by me but not by my host, and I noticed Schustak staring angrily in our direction, muttering the words to some magical ritual.


    No, I accidentally muttered. Jeldorain frowned.


    As the scene had unfolded, Schustak, the goblin swamp druid, materialized next to the towering Jeldorain. With a swift, fluid motion, he conjured his Bolt of Submission. A vivid, pulsating green energy crackled in his hand, intensifying into a brilliant bolt. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he released it, the bolt streaking through the air with a sizzling sound.


    ¡°Kneel before the might of the swamp!¡± Schustak declared, his voice a mix of confidence and command.


    The energy bolt struck Jeldorain squarely in the face. For a moment, it seemed as if the spell would take hold, the green energy spreading rapidly to envelop his entire body in a shroud of electric light. But then, with a roar of defiance, Jeldorain resisted the enforced submission. The energy dissipated harmlessly against his immense form, leaving him unbowed.


    ¡°You think such tricks can subdue me?¡± Jeldorain had bellowed, his voice thundering across the battlefield.


    Enraged by the audacity of the attack, Jeldorain lashed out at Schustak. Frostchain, motes of electrical ice storms swirling around it, descended towards the druid with frightening speed. Schustak stared at the attack, grimacing, and with a wave of one arm a dome of thorns grew over his location, blocking him from sight. The impact resonated with a thunderous clash.


    The attack acted as a catalyst. The other goblin adventurers ¨C a mage, a warrior, a rogue, and a cleric, judging by their gear, ¨C charged down from the hill with a battle cry. They moved with a unified purpose, their weapons and spells ready.


    ¡°We are here for you, druid!¡± called the warrior, leading the charge with his ax raised high.


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    From the periphery of my vision, I witnessed the formidable charge of Jon the Centaur, the dark wood and gleaming silver of the lance flashing in the light as he tore through snow and mud, the runes of it glowing brightly. Behind him ran Brandosyeus, much slower and well distant, but the determination etched on his face told me he wasn¡¯t out of the fight.


    A blast of flame exploded near Jon, setting his flank afire, and I traced the spell back to its origin, seeing the goblin mage weaving a circle of flame over his head. Jon dropped and rolled in the snow, getting back to his feet and altering the path of his charge in no time. It was a shocking thing to watch, seemingly almost impossible, and the goblin seemed to feel the same way as he dropped his spell in shock and ran back towards the rest of his group, screaming. But the centaur was too quick, and he pierced the mage through, leaving it to struggle on its end as he turned to fight the goblin party once again.


    What is happening? I asked Jeldorain, surprised. They were supposed to be fighting us, not each other.


    They are vermin. This is what vermin do. There is a reason the infernals ruled here. And a reason they should rule here again.


    I watched as hooves and feet pounded the snow-covered ground, stirring up flurries of white. The goblin warrior leaped an unnatural height, wrestling the lance from Jon¡¯s grasp, and the rogue tried to slide under him, angling to attack soft horse¡¯s belly. But the centaur ignored the loss of his lance, his fist growing ten times its normal size and smashing the rogue into the slushed mud before him.


    A new flash of movement caught my eyes. Ike was before us, a potion in each hand. ¡°Didn¡¯t want to have to do this, Jeldorain. Kinda respect free will. But you two, you¡¯ve got to learn to work together.¡± Both flasks smashed against our skin, sizzling, and for a moment I could feel weakness in Jeldorain. I seized the chance and pushed against him to reassert control.


    Around us the battlefield had become a maelstrom of action. The goblin mage was off the lance, and he wove spells, hurling bursts of arcane energy at Jon. The warrior stood in front of the centaur, swinging his ax back and forth with lethal precision, while the rogue had fallen back, stumbling, and was now equipped with a short bow. The cleric, chanting incantations, conjured shields of light to protect her allies.


    Brandosyeus sang, and a legion of snowmen rose from the ground, further complicating the battle.


    Within Jeldoratin, my soul wrestled with him, rolling through the chambers of his body, past the beating behemoth of his frozen heart, falling to the chilled stink of his bowels.


    Give me back my body! I screamed, tearing at him. We were both mercurial beings, wrapping and jabbing at each other with force of spirit alone. He swarmed over me, attempting to consume me, but I slid out and countered, swarming over the icy-sheen of his id.


    Mine! he bellowed. It¡¯s mine! Give it to me! Through his body rolled a foaming mess of emotion, a soup of guilt, anger and desperation. It was strange to fight him, knowing that as hard he was fighting, he felt bad about his betrayal.


    A crackle of green energy tore over our body, the energies of Schustak again compelling us to drop to our knees before him. Ike stood, his weapon ready, staring at us with eyes both wide and sympathetic.


    And Jeldorain bolted upwards, my own soul stuck to his as we both occupied the seat of consciousness together. Before I could understand what was happening, he activated Soul Sync and an electrical blizzard ripped through the land in every direction.


    ¡°I bow to no mortals!¡± Jeldorain cried, his being wracked with pain. I could feel the icy tingle of tears on his face, freezing a second after they formed, and I recoiled in horror at the reality of what the infernal must be going through.


    I¡¯m sorry, he said suddenly, his blazing eyes upon me. I have no choice.


    On the battlefield, everything was an opaque swirling mess of damage. I couldn¡¯t see further out than Ike, who lay huddled on the ground under a large tower shield that the man must have kept in his inventory. It was already covered in ice, and sparks crackled over its surface.


    I looked on the broken soul of Jeldorain, weaker than I¡¯d ever seen him, curled and weeping at the edge of our shared mind. In that moment I knew I could push him out, shove him hard and fast back into the depths of his own body to watch powerlessly as I piloted him about the world, a marionette dancing to the strings of a human.


    It was tempting. Visions of my wife danced before my eyes, my son and daughter beside her. Another set of visions flashed beside them, Jeldorain in his realm, a female infernal sitting lovingly beside him.


    Shocked, I reached out, lacing a tendril of my soul around him and pulling him into the center next to me. Letting go, we faced one another. My human form, fragile and small, stared up at his monstrous, towering self. His eyes blazed and his teeth were bared, but I could feel the emotional conflict radiating from his being.


    This is madness, I said, my voice quiet but resolute. We¡¯re tearing ourselves apart. We won¡¯t survive if we fight for control over this body.


    Jeldorain¡¯s gaze shifted, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his expression before he scowled, dismissing it. You think you can coexist with me? You think I want this partnership?


    Maybe not, I replied, meeting his gaze. But if we keep pushing each other down, we¡¯ll destroy ourselves. We¡¯ll never get back to our lives. If we¡¯re going to survive, it has to be together.


    He looked away, an icy silence falling between us, his form wavering uncertainly. You¡¯re a fool, Ryan. But maybe¡­ maybe there¡¯s wisdom in what you say.


    I extended a hand. A truce, then. We work together, and you get what you want without tearing us apart.


    Jeldorain¡¯s laugh was bitter, almost hollow. A truce. We both gain from our partnership. But don¡¯t expect me to be happy about our situation. He grasped my hand, staring at me, a million thoughts flashing through his crystal blue eyes. Deals with infernals are bound spiritually in a way that will destroy the one who breaks them. His head cocked, he turned and looked out at the dying magic of our soul-synched spiritual blast. I accept, oh great champion. The next chance we have, we will make a Devil¡¯s Bargain out of it and work together to fix what has been broken.


    Around us the crackling energy and risen winds dissipated, revealing cracked earth, tremendous snow mounds, and three unmoving bodies. One, I saw with horror, was equine in nature, lying next to the other two. Standing under a dome of fiery-red light, the cleric and the mage stared, their faces a mix of horror and disbelief. And stumbling in their direction was Schustak, his stumbling form frailer than I¡¯d ever even imagined it could be.


    [Achievement Unlocked: Fragging]


    +500 XP


    Objective: Kill a party member.


    Brandosyeus had reached Jon and was bent over the body frantically singing songs and slinging light into the centaur¡¯s flanks. While Ike was simply a frozen shield on the ground, a being both alive and dead as far as I could tell. We¡¯d have to pull that shield up and see what was underneath it. I felt a sad dread wash over me, and was surprised to realize it was a feeling shared by both of us.


    We must see, Jeldorain prompted. His arm reached forward under his will, and I watched silently as he tore the shield out from its icy casing, revealing the shivering and ill-looking form of the very much alive kobold.


    ¡°He-he-healing. Heat,¡± Ike pleaded through chattering teeth, his voice quiet and weak. As I knelt down, pouring one then another healing potion down his throat, notifications flashed in my sight.


    VICTORY! 6000 XP rewarded!


    LEVEL UP!


    I¡¯d have to deal with it later, I realized, as I saw that whatever debuff had taken hold of Ike wasn¡¯t allowing my potions to do their thing.


    ¡°Schustak!¡± I yelled as Jeldorain cast about, looking for some means by which to start a fire. ¡°Schustak!¡± I yelled again.


    The druid turned, his eyes hostile despite their fatigue. ¡°You win, infernal. We were wrong to think we could control you. I am leaving now, and when we meet again, it will be to put you down.¡±


    Having reached the other goblins, the mage opened a swirling portal of blue and white, and they stepped through, the portal snapping shut behind them.


    You were right, Jeldorain.


    I felt him affirm it without words as he marched over to where Brandosyeus worked his magic, carrying the dying form of our friend. Only one thing gave me any hope from the whole mess ¡ª the fragging achievement hadn¡¯t appeared when Kevinar disappeared, and that made me think he might still be alive.

 Chapter Thirty – Hellish Divinity

    Standing there amidst the snow-blanketed aftermath, my heart weighed heavily with the scenes of destruction around me. Jon lay motionless in the snow. His stillness was so different to the lively, spirited centaur I had known. It was a sobering and guilt-inducing sight.


    Beside him knelt Brandosyeus. Always smiling, always jestful, now he was a picture of despair.


    My gaze shifted to Ike, lying nearby, his body trembling from the cold and his injuries. Whatever debuff he was suffering, it was a deadly one. He needed attention now. I approached Brandosyeus, putting a clawed hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Brandosyeus,¡± I said, my voice softer than I intended, but loud enough to be heard. ¡°We need your help. Ike is hurt.¡±


    Jeldorian shifted inside of me. Not my fault, he muttered. I was right. They were in thrall.


    I simply stayed silent. What Schustak had said could be examined later. For now, one member of our group was dead and another was dying. Brandosyeus looked up, his eyes a window to the turmoil within. It took him a moment to register my words, and another moment for him to understand. Getting off the ground, he walked to the kobold woodenly, as if his true self were somewhere else.


    As Brandosyeus began to sing, his voice was a shadow of its usual self, pregnant with grief. The melody was haunting, and sad.


    ¡°O healer¡¯s hands, mend flesh and bone,


    Yet what can cure a heart of stone?


    For every life we strive to save,


    Another is taken by the grave.


    In this dance with death, we sway,


    Healing now, for another day.


    But in the end, what does it mend,


    When all roads lead to the same end?¡±


    Yet, as he channeled his healing magic, the warmth that radiated from his words was as vibrant as ever. It flowed into my body, soothing my guilt and giving me strength. In the corner of our shared mind Jeldorain sighed, taking in the magical bliss and simply giving himself over to it. A light glow enveloped Ike, and I watched, relieved, as the shivers subsided and his wounds began to heal.


    Once the song ended, Brandosyeus faced me, his eyes now robotic and empty. ¡°It is done,¡± he said, before turning and walking away through the churned and broken battlefield. I let him go, keeping watch over Ike near the bodies of the fallen. He needed his time, and Jeldorain and I needed ours as well.


    It¡¯s time to level up, I suggested to my infernal colleague. He nodded assent, joining me in looking over our character sheet.


    We had gained 5 levels since the start of the fight down below to now. We could raise one ability point and 5 skill levels. We had 220 hit points, 154 mana points, and 160 stamina points. And while I didn¡¯t understand the system thoroughly yet, I expected that with the two of us working together, the character sheet was going to have some other surprises as well.


    Jeldorain nodded, reading my thoughts as they floated past him. And what do you plan to do with these level ups?


    I considered it briefly. I want to improve Intelligence. That¡¯ll to give me a mana pool of 165. Then I can improve spell casting by 1 to C level.


    He nodded in approval. Well considered. I¡¯d also suggest that you use 1 to attain the clerical magic skill, then use 3 to improve it to B level. My infernal nature provides access to the Domain of the Infernal God Thrymheimr, oh great champion.


    Clerical magic, I asked, surprised at the suggestion. Won¡¯t that cause me problems with getting back home? I mean, binding myself to a god doesn¡¯t seem like a very good idea.


    My god would well reward you for gaining me my freedom. Our goals are the same. Getting a level of clerical magic and becoming his follower will give him limited access in helping us to secure my release, which is yours as well.


    I nodded, making my choices. A notification let me know that I could now cast Shadowmeld Invocation. I peered at the accompanying window, reading through its description:


    Shadowmeld Invocation: wrap yourself in shadows, enhancing stealth capabilities in low-light conditions. On activation, you are rendered nearly invisible when stationary. The spell''s effectiveness diminishes with movement or in bright light. The invisibility effect persists as long as you remain still in shadows. This spell consumes 10 mana upon casting and is instant, affecting only the caster.


    Why does the system choose for me? I asked.


    Only the gods know, Jeldorain answered. Clerical blessings are chosen, but with wizard spells you can purchase more spells at the market and attempt to learn them. Spell attainment, though, is random. And sometimes unique.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    I nodded within our mental space, cocking my translucent head as questions of divinity suddenly intruded upon my thoughts.


    What am I going to have to do as a priest of this Thrymheimr? Who even is he? I asked.


    Jeldorain latched onto my soul and we were in another world. His world, the hell of ice and snow. Here I stood in front of the king of the realm, Lord Thrynheimr, as he stood atop the peak of a mountain and contemplated his realm.


    His skin, a pale blue hue, resembled the eerie beauty of a glacier under a full moon. It was marked by darker veins, like cracks in ancient ice, crisscrossing his formidable physique. His eyes, devoid of any warmth, were bottomless black pools that absorbed the light around them, promising a final rest after the hopeless drudgery of heatless winter.


    Above his head, icicles formed a crown, each one sharp and pristine, glinting with a deadly allure. They framed his face, itself an embodiment of the merciless nature of his realm. His armor, crafted from the densest ice of the Abyss, shone with a ghostly light. Intricate runes etched across its surface whispered of ancient powers and long-forgotten spells of frost and wind.


    Standing before him, in the heart of his kingdom, I felt the full force of his dominion. The frozen wastelands stretched out endlessly, mountains of jagged ice and swirling blizzards encapsulating his realm. The air was thick with the howl of the icy winds, a storm battering this frozen hellscape. He was winter¡¯s darkest moments personified¡ªindifferent, unyielding, and all-consuming.


    One approached who is not infernal? And yet is? What strangeness the north winds blow on this day of days? Penitent and useful, I grant you four blessings, Ryan.


    Startled, I stuttered, suddenly aware that this was no mere vision but an actual astral projection of myself to this realm of the infernal god I suddenly owed loyalty to. He stared unendingly, forever patient as the winds of the storm whipped over his body.


    ¡°Uh, how do I address you?¡± I asked. It was a strange sensation, talking face to face with a god. I felt awkward not knowing what mannerisms were required.


    None of it matters. Choose your blessings quickly and make ritual every dawn to gain their access. I will call upon you someday for a favor, but for now, I simply wish you to leave me be.


    The idea that this might have been a trick of Jeldorain¡¯s passed briefly through my mind, but I could sense him there with me, sense his thoughts, and he felt genuine. Still, I wondered what such a favor would entail. That thought, however, here in the presence of Thrymheimr, felt paltry and unimportant. This god over Jeldorain and his ilk was staring and waiting, and I felt decisions rising before me, choices to be deliberated on carefully.


    There were a myriad of them, and Jeldorain rolled through them with me, discussing their import, until we had together weeded them down to just ten:


    Blessing of Winter Gale: This blessing grants the ability to sweep a column of enemies with frosty breath to a distance of 50 feet, dealing 5 ¨C 30 points of damage and a 10% chance of freezing enemies caught in the attack for 20 seconds. It costs 10 mana.


    Blessing of Frostbound Resilience: With this blessing, you exude an aura of extraordinary resistance to cold and environmental hazards to all allies within 30 feet. This resilience would extend to extreme conditions, enabling survival and even comfort in environments that would be lethal to others. It costs 15 mana.


    Blessing of Icy Barrage: This blessing endows you with the power to unleash a volley of ice shards at your foes. Each shard inflicts 3-15 points of piercing and frost damage, with a 5% chance of embedding in the target, causing additional 2-5 frost damage over 10 seconds. The attack can target multiple enemies within a 40-foot cone and consumes 12 mana.


    Blessing of the Glacial Shield: This blessing grants the ability to conjure a protective barrier of ice around yourself or an ally. The shield absorbs up to 50 points of damage from physical or magical attacks and lasts for 30 seconds or until shattered. Casting this protective shield consumes 8 mana.


    Blessing of Frostweave Healing: With this blessing, you gain the capability to envelop a figure in a cocoon of healing frost. The cocoon gradually restores 20-40 health points over 10 seconds and provides a temporary increase in cold resistance. This healing magic uses 10 mana per cast.


    Blessing of the Snowstrider: This blessing bestows upon you the ability to glide over snow and ice without hindrance. Your movement speed increases by 20% in such terrains, and you leave no tracks, making it ideal for stealthy travel in wintry landscapes. Activating this blessing costs 5 mana.


    Blessing of the Avalanche¡¯s Might: This blessing empowers you to summon a small avalanche to a targeted area within 60 feet. The avalanche deals 10-35 points of impact damage and has a 15% chance to knock down enemies for 5 seconds. The manifestation of this natural force consumes 20 mana.


    Blessing of the Winter''s Embrace: With this blessing, you can temporarily encase an enemy in ice, immobilizing them for up to 15 seconds. While encased, the target is invulnerable to damage but cannot take any action. This powerful stasis spell requires 18 mana to cast.


    Blessing of Frostfire Infusion: This unique blessing allows you to imbue your weapons with a frostfire enchantment. For 30 seconds, your attacks gain an additional 5-10 frost and fire damage, with a 10% chance to ignite or chill the target. Activating this dual-element enchantment costs 10 mana.


    Blessing of the Arctic Sentinel: With this blessing, once a day you may call forth a spectral wolf made of ice to aid you in battle. The wolf has its own health pool and deals 8-16 frost damage with its attacks. It remains by your side for the duration of battle or until defeated and requires 15 mana to summon.


    They were certainly the best options available, and it quickly became apparent that choosing the best combination of four blessings from the list would largely depend on my role in the team. Which, considering all that had just happened, might well just be me, myself, and I. Rolling through the options, I decided on a versatile approach that balanced offense, defense, support, and adaptability, so as to cover any eventuality.


    I chose Frostweave Healing, reasoning that the ability to heal allies quickly would be invaluable in prolonged battles, and that the added cold resistance might be useful in cold mountain bound places like where we were now. I followed with Glacial Shield. It would provide essential defensive capabilities, allowing me to protect myself or a key allies from significant damage.


    The attack focus of Winter Gale also appealed to me. It reminded me of our Soul Sync attack, but much more controlled in its capacity. Frostfire Infusion would also enhance my offensive capabilities significantly, since the added frost and fire damage would increase my overall damage output, and the chance to ignite or chill enemies added extra utility to the attack.


    I made my choices within the system, and the menu closed. Thrymheimr nodded, his eyes flashing like the sun glancing off a glacier.


    ¡°So be it. Use these blessings with the wisdom and strength befitting a priest of my realm.¡± His voice echoed as if we were inside a sparkling ice-laden cavern, both terrifying and awe-inspiring. I nodded, feeling a surge of power coursing through me as the blessings took hold, along with a cold so profound it transcended mere temperature, becoming a part of my very essence.


    Jeldorain howled in bliss as he fed on the essence of his birthplace, and then all at once we were back in my world, standing over the bodies of the fallen friend and foes.

 Chapter Thirty-One – Awakenings and Alliances

    Ike''s eyes fluttered open, his breaths shallow and ragged as he returned to consciousness. The afternoon sun glowed golden in the sky, bathing the devastated hills and surrounding forests in a warm, serene light that reflected off the muddied snow. It would have been beautiful if not for everything that had led us here.


    Brandosyeus, stood towering over Ike, his face etched with lines of worry and anger, his arms crossed in a defiance. He shot a quick glance into my direction¡ªa glare that spoke volumes of where I stood in his current estimation.


    Ike sat up, groaning, pushing his back against the rough bark of an ancient, splintered tree. He looked around, his gaze lingering on each of us, his expression a mix of confusion and realization. ¡°I . . . I remember now,¡± he began, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°It was like waking from a veil, a haze that clouded everything.¡±


    Brandosyeus nodded. ¡°Schustak. That little gobbo trashling was using us.¡±


    They both turned their eyes on me, and I felt myself shrink a little as I wondered what thoughts might be passing through their minds.


    ¡°Jeldorain was right.¡± I mused, and they regarded me curiously. ¡°He warned that something was going on¡ªeveryone was too trusting and accepting. Myself as well, apparently.¡±


    Ike smiled grimly. ¡°He is a smart being. Schustak was using us to equip you and train you. To level you up. We¡¯ve invested about all of our party pool, Ryan. And Jeldorain,¡± he added quickly in a way that suggested he¡¯d suddenly recalled the desperate rage of the demon just hours ago. ¡°Jeldorain''s attack,¡± he continued, ¡°it was powerful, more so than we anticipated. It drained Schustak completely, stripping away his charm that had ensnared us.¡±


    ¡°It comes from the armor. It¡¯s called Soul Sync and I get the feeling it is well over-powered.¡±


    Brandosyeus spat on the ground, a snarl on his face as he turned in the opposite direction. I reached out an arm, but Ike shook his head. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. We¡¯ll all deal with it as we can. But Soul Sync is not ever that powerful. A rare power maybe, but not one that does this. Something about the two of you melded together in that body has made this. And this isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. You are like something of the Tinkers from the Great Southern Continent. A walking explosion waiting to wipe out all around you. It¡¯s something that must be tempered and conquered to be useful.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°So, you were under enchantment when you attacked the caravan?¡± I asked, seeking confirmation.


    Ike nodded solemnly. ¡°Yes. We are rebels, true, but Schustak ambushed us. He twisted our minds, bending us to his will. We were on our way to ambush the caravan, but not of our own volition. Ryan . . . this was planned out well in advance. And I¡¯m not sure I understand all of the logic behind it. But whatever the reasoning, this puts the whole Shadowed Vanguard in danger,¡± he growled. ¡°We need to find Kevinar and depart immediately.¡±


    Brandosyeus turned back to us, his voice unnaturally stony and his fists clenched. ¡°We stay. Tonight I shall burn Jon and off his spirit to the Eternal Forest. It is our way, our sacred duty.¡±


    Ike, still weak, nodded reluctantly. ¡°I understand. I''ll go find Kevinar.¡± He pushed himself up, steadying himself against the tree before venturing out into the forest.


    As Ike disappeared amongst the trees, I turned to help Brandosyeus, but he refused to face me, walking off and beginning to collect wooden detritus for the night¡¯s pyre. I followed behind him, helping collect wood for the fire. The task was silent except for the occasional snap of twigs, and the crunch and mulching of feet stomping through snow and mud. Brandosyeus''s mood was sour, his actions brusque. Every so often, he''d shoot me a glare, his eyes like flint striking steel.


    I opened my mouth several times to speak, but closed it each time, no words proffered. I knew why he was upset, and I knew there was nothing I could do about it. The bard was enchanted no longer, so I didn¡¯t even know if he would accept my friendship. And given that Jeldorain was the one who¡¯d killed Jon, I knew I was lucky to still be a member of the group.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Probably I hadn¡¯t been drummed out simply because I would be useful in their upcoming attempt to warn the Shadowed Vanguard. Having a demon on your side with the kind of power I was sporting was surely better than a few bardic spells and an enchanted glaive.


    We continued our work in silence, the pile of wood growing steadily. The air was filled with the scent of pine and earth, but despite the pleasant smell my mind kept dwelling on the uncertain path that awaited us beyond the flames of the pyre.


    As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of crimson and orange, Ike reemerged from the dense forest, his figure accompanied by that of Kevinar. Kevinar''s appearance was strikingly disheveled - his clothes torn, his face smeared with dirt and streaked with sweat, yet his demeanor was oddly calm, almost nonchalant, as if being buried alive was an everyday inconvenience rather than a brush with death.


    ¡°Found him trying to dig his way out of a shallow grave,¡± Ike announced, his voice laced with a hint of dry humor as he helped Kevinar towards us.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I said, nodding my head to him. Within me, Jeldorain simply stayed quiet.


    ¡°Seems Jeldorain¡¯s paranoia wasn¡¯t entirely unfounded,¡± Kevinar chuckled, brushing off a bit of caked earth from his shoulders. ¡°It wasn¡¯t pleasant, but it was very useful. Indeed, I must admit, I never expected to be thanking someone for their distrust, but in this case I expect it might have saved my life.¡±


    Jeldorain smiled. I stared at his translucent image standing next to me, a giant grin on his face, and shook my head at what a sudden turn the demon had taken. One massive outburst and he was now pleasant.


    ¡°He tried to murder you,¡± Brandosyeus snapped. He had turned from his pyre arrangement, his brows furrowed and his face grim. ¡°There is a reason that the infernals and devils were put away in different lands than ours. They¡¯re too dangerous and too unpredictable.¡±


    Kevinar shook his head, his eyes meeting Brandosyeus¡¯s gaze squarely. ¡°Jeldorain was right to be suspicious. The veil lifted, you felt it. We were duped. As to the unpredictability of infernals; I can assure you that they are quite methodical and predictable in what they do.¡±


    Brandosyeus growled and turned back to his dead friend, adding sticks to the pile.


    There was a moment of silence, dusk falling all around them as Brandosyeus blew a brief tune from his panpipes, a small ball of flame arcing through the air to hit the pile. The fire from the pyre flickered to life, casting a warm, dancing light over the somber faces.


    Ike stepped forward, his expression solemn. ¡°Brandosyeus,¡± he began, his voice steady, ¡°we aren¡¯t many and given what we know now about Schustak, the rebellion is in great danger. We need Ryan and Jeldorain. Both of them are victims, and both of them have great reason to help us with our cause while we help them find a way to separate from one another and go back to where the came from.¡±


    ¡°Jon . . .¡± Brandosyseus uttered.


    ¡°In honoring Jon, you¡¯ve shown us the value of unity, of standing together against all odds. Let his memory be the star that guides us,¡± Kevinar said. Brandosyeus turned to look at the flame, and all at once words in the Sylvan language poured from his lips. Golden and beautiful, they swirled around us like the gusts of fresh-fallen leaves in the beginning of the autumn. I couldn¡¯t understand the words, but his subsequent hand waving and amplified muttering made it clear to me that he was now uttering the funeral rites that he had promised before. After making a full circle around the pyre, he apparated two gold coins to his hands and tossed them into the flames.


    ¡°Good-bye, old friend,¡± he said, turning and walking away from us into the darkness of the forests.


    Watching him until he disappeared from view, Ike turned to me. ¡°I think it goes without saying that you have first watch tonight. Have a talk with Jeldorain, make a demon¡¯s pact, and make sure that what happened today never happens again. Because if there is any other problem that occurs like this in this way, I will never again hesitate to put you down.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± I said, nodding. I stood, watching as Kevinar went into his trance against a tree and Ike rolled himself in furs, then slept. The flames of the pyre cast their flickering shadows across my face as I stared into them, lost in thought. I knew what I had to do, but the thought of making a pact with Jeldorain made me uneasy. He was peculiar and he certainly didn''t act like humans in his dealing with me. Now that the time was at hand, the idea of making a deal with him was daunting. But I also knew that it was necessary if I wanted to have a say over the body I inhabited, and have a chance at getting back home.


    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, reaching out with my senses to find Jeldorain. He was there, lurking on the edge of my mind, waiting for me to acknowledge him. I opened my eyes and spoke softly to the fire.


    ¡°Jeldorain, I know you''re there. I need to make a pact with you.¡±


    There was a moment of silence before he replied, his voice like a whisper in my ear.


    Is it time, oh great champion?


    ¡°Yes. Let''s make a deal that will keep us both alive,¡± I whispered.


    Alone and literally left to my own infernals, I turned into myself, ready to make our pact.

 Chapter Thirty-Two – Reflections in the Frost

    In the spectral twilight of our shared consciousness, I stood facing Jeldorain. The dreamscape around us was a forest, frost glittering from leafless trees under a sky of deep blue and purple, stars twinkling distant and beautiful. The air was clear and clean, like the snowcapped forests of my own hometown winters, and I felt a strong sense of yearning.


    Whether it came from Jeldorain or from myself, I couldn''t tell.


    I saw him sitting underneath the biggest oak I''d ever glimpsed, a mighty structure as wide as a castle tower that thrust into the air to an impossible height, its branches reaching skeletal fingers into the eternal night. His eyes glowed faintly, like distant lanterns in an otherworldly night.


    We were sharing a vision, I knew. But I wasn''t sure where it was or why he was sharing it. The place was one of importance, I could sense, and it was intimate and secret. He stared at me, full-bodied without any sense of spectral existence, and I strode over, hearing the crunch of ice-frosted snow under the bareness of my feet.


    That part shocked me and I looked down, seeing that I was full-bodied as well. And naked.


    Jeldorain laughed. ¡°I didn''t know what you''d want to wear,¡± he said, shrugging. I felt no cold as I walked over, instead just that yearning. And also awe, mixed well with a large dose of apprehension.


    ¡°What is this place?¡± I asked. I fought the urge to point¡ªhe knew what I meant. He nodded at my question, letting out a long sigh.


    ¡°This is where I was born.¡±


    Scanning the place, seeing the serenity of it, I frowned. ¡°You showed me the Icy Hell you came from before. Full of screaming and wailing, storms, iced lakes and rivers. Not this place.¡±


    He nodded again and grunted. As he grunted, a gust of icy wind swept through the forest, causing the trees to sway and groan, mirroring his turmoil. ¡°Is all your world, your original one, a great frosty forest like that came to mind when I brought you here?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°No, we have all sorts of spots. Beaches, deserts, jungles . . .¡±


    ¡°It is the same with the Hells. Not all of them are unpleasant for your kind. And to be honest, this place here has always been my favorite. I rose here of the snow, come from another infernal life before, or so my memories seem to tell me. Life is long and unending, the tormented souls will never have reprieve, and I don''t know that I understood that before our joining.¡±


    ¡°Is there a Hell where souls find peace, or is it all an endless cycle of torment?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Thrynheimer says that once all was us, and this, and that his greed and ours caused us to become what we are. That forever we shall suffer the torment of want. He has never spoken of the rest, of life and love. You humans want, but you also have. We have our bodies and our might, but somehow in your insignificance you have so much more.¡±


    His words left me pondering the vastness of his existence compared to our fleeting human lives. Eternity. The way he talked about it, his life wasn¡¯t much different from those that he tormented.


    Pausing in my stride, then hunching down before him, I let the silence reign for just a bit longer, enjoying the tranquility of this infernal forest. ¡°How much did you see?¡± I asked him. Part of me felt like maybe I should be outraged, but instead I felt pity. If he was as eternal as he said he was, experiencing my life had to have been a hell of an eye-opener.


    ¡°That it was,¡± he chuckled. ¡°You humans, you are so short-lived and yet so powerful. From your mind I have seen the steel of weapons forged into wagons and sent into the sky. Metal tubes that spit fire and explode mountains. Metal boxes that grind dirt and snow, plowing ahead to blast enemies in the hundreds and thousands. And yet, with the great powers of your hell, you manage to live and love and enjoy life in a way we never can.¡±


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    Staring at his face, I nodded. It was certainly a novel way to describe the humanity of earth.


    ¡°And how you all hunger. Power, greed, flesh, coin, they all have such a prominent place there. But that is just one side, isn''t it. There is your family, your pets, your land, home, town, friends. I am willing to help you get back to that.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Jeldorain,¡± I said, looking into his eyes. ¡°I haven''t been able to experience your life. What is it that you are going back to?¡±


    He laughed, a deep-throated chuckle that sounded like ice cracking and falling into a metal basin. ¡°My body. I am essentially a god, Ryan. I''m used to being all powerful, reigning over my own fiefdom of souls as I see fit, to the pleasure of myself.¡± He opened his mouth to say more, then abruptly closed it.


    ¡°What are your pleasures?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I ¡ª I don''t know anymore. I loved tormenting the souls of the damned. The many beings from the many worlds who sold us their eternal spirits in exchange for some short-lived luxury on their worlds in their times. But it feels so shallow now. We are what we''ve always been. Us infernals, we don''t evolve. It is no wonder we lost our place in this world. I have seen things I think maybe I was never supposed to see.¡±


    ¡°Who tells an infernal what he is supposed to see or not see?¡± I asked. ¡°Thrynheimer?¡±


    Jeldorain chuckled again, his laughter warmer and more genuine. ¡°Thrynheimer demands we follow the rules of the Pact, and gives us the Limitless Ice in which to hold land and pledge fealty. His will is not what keeps us down. It is our own natures. I''ve many things to think about, oh great champion. But, now, let us speak of the Infernal''s Pact between us.¡±


    I took a deep breath, feeling the odd sensation of air that wasn''t air filling my lungs. ¡°I''m not giving up my soul, just to be clear.¡±


    He grinned, jagged icy-teeth gleaming with some unknown spectral energy. ¡°Agreed. I doubt I could keep such a subject as yourself in my thrall for long anyways.¡±


    I smiled back. Things felt calmer now, all emotions winnowed down to a shared focal point of agreement. ¡°Alright, let''s lay down some ground rules. First, we need autonomy. Times when I lead, and times when you do. And when it''s someone''s turn, the other respects their control. Agreed?¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Jeldorain responded, his voice a low rumble. ¡°But with a condition¡ªabsolute honesty. No secrets in this shared space. We must be transparent with each other, for deceit will only lead us to ruin.¡±


    I nodded, surprised. ¡°Honesty being asked for from an infernal. Seems strange. But I''ve got it. What''s next?¡±


    ¡°Our paths,¡± Jeldorain began, his eyes reflecting a glacial resolve. ¡°Yours, your home and life back. Mine, my body and life back. We must align our actions so that each step forward benefits both causes. This alliance is not just about survival, but about purpose. Whatever the future deals us, those are our goals, the rest of it be damned.¡±


    I nodded solemnly. ¡°Purpose. Right. We''re in this together, for better or worse. But what about the endgame? When all this is over, what then?¡±


    Jeldorain¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°When the time comes, we part ways with respect. I will aid you in returning to your world, and you will help me regain mine. Until that moment, our fates are intertwined.¡±


    As we spoke, a tangible energy began to swirl around us, glowing snowflakes and motes of frost speckled with the breath of the tundra.


    ¡°We must also act within the bounds of society, Jeldorain. We don''t harm civilians.¡±


    Jeldorain grimaced. ¡°My urges are primal, of the lands of the eternal. But with all that is at stake, I accept your conditions. But, when my urges are great, and there will be no damage to anything but enemies or beasts, I will be given succor.¡±


    My mind played back the absolute desecration of the cave bear, and shivers lit over my bare flesh as I remembered both the grotesqueness of the act, and the thrilling joy of it.


    Shifting my weight, feeling the crunch of the frost beneath my feet, I was reminded of the surreal reality we inhabited. Jeldorain¡¯s gaze followed my movements, a silent acknowledgment of our shared experience together in this place of goblins and heroes.


    I extended my hand, a human gesture of agreement. Jeldorain looked at it, a flicker of curiosity in his icy gaze, before extending his own. Our hands met, not in a physical clasp, but in a meeting of essences. The energy around us peaked, sending ripples through the dreamscape.


    ¡°We are now allies in this strange journey,¡± Jeldorain declared. ¡°Let this pact guide us through the trials ahead.¡±


    I felt a renewed sense of purpose, a clarity that had been elusive since my arrival in this world. ¡°To new beginnings,¡± I said, a hint of a smile on my lips.


    ¡°Would you mind if I stayed here longer?¡± he asked, gesturing around. ¡°You may have the body to yourself while I think some things over.¡±


    I saluted him, and the dreamscape began to fade, the frost-laden trees dissolving into the ether. As my consciousness started to drift back to reality, Jeldorain''s distracted voice echoed in my mind. ¡°Such weak, short-lived, powerful beings. It is a wonder they have conquered us all.¡±


    Back to our shared body, I stared out over the campsite, without words and surprised to find that I also had some things to think over.

 Chapter Thirty-Three – The Journey Resumes

    The first light of dawn crept timidly over the horizon, spilling a gentle golden hue over our camp. I stood there feeling the familiar weight of the Titan-Ax-icearigama in my hand, looking over the smoldering pile of Jon and into the horizon. Somewhere out there was a means to give both Jeldorain and I our lives back, and I couldn¡¯t wait to get started.


    It seems to me that you might be missing a few steps, oh great champion, Jeldorain whispered, and I chuckled. Indeed, I had no idea what we were going to do after all that had happened.


    Around me, my companions were stirring, the clink of armor and the soft murmur of voices blending with the morning air. The weather was clearing, the fall squall of before giving way to a warm and sunny day, the snow slushing at our feet as the day kicked in and a modicum of heat rolled over us. Kevinar, the Drow Elf Assassin, moved with a silent grace, his dual blades out as he regarded me with a discerning eye.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see that you two didn¡¯t decide to kill us in the night,¡± he said, head-cocked and grinning.


    ¡°Same,¡± I answered.


    He chuckled, walking to the boundary of our camp and scenting the air. ¡°Something came by in the night. But it was either too weak to wander into our camp, or too smart to take on the thing that did all of this by itself,¡± he stated, motioning around at the still obvious ruin of Jeldorain¡¯s epic breakdown. Ike stumped over and nodded.


    ¡°Yeah. Whatever it was, it got lucky. Kevinar. Also, whoever was on watch when it came by, don¡¯t let it happen again. I¡¯d be pissed, but there¡¯s way too much going on now to even have time for it.¡±


    I nodded and Kevinar did the same. Brandosyeus was standing over the charred remains of his friend and gave no indication that he heard or that he cared. I noted that Ike¡¯s eyes lingered on the satyr, a long pause of silence that ended as abruptly as it had begun when he snapped his gaze over to Kevinar.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to run your Message ability, see if you can¡¯t contact the headquarters and get enough info in and back to let them know what happened and find out what we have to do next.¡±


    Kevinar nodded. ¡°If, indeed, they still exist.¡±


    He turned, tracing figures of ethereal light into the air, his head cocked sideways as a red-brown aura clouded out from his body. There was a flash as if someone had just taken a photo with their smartphone, and he turned.


    ¡°The camp is intact. They are surprised at the news and request that we return at once.¡±


    Ike flashed his weapons to his hands. ¡°Time to move,¡± he bellowed, his runty hands cupped over his mouth. Brandosyeus turned and marched our way. Then we set out, Kevinar in the lead, myself taking up the rear.


    In the hours that followed, we wandered deep into the thick forest, following a path that I couldn¡¯t see no matter how much I tried. The trees loomed, larger than any I¡¯d thus far experienced, and the underbrush was thick. It made me wary¡ªenemies could be hiding all around us and I wouldn¡¯t have a clue to the wiser.


    At about midday, I could feel the watchful eyes of the forest upon us, a sensation that set my nerves on edge. A successful perception check, no doubt. Or something to that effect. Somewhere ahead Kevinar moved with his uncanny quietude and I wondered what news he would bring back to us.


    Hopefully something you¡¯ll let me eat, Jeldorain groused.


    I smirked. When Jeldorain wasn¡¯t trying to shut me out of the body, or kill my compatriots, he was actually an enjoyable fellow. A hollow hunger threaded through me, and I took a great whiff of the pine-scented air.


    ¡°Shadow lurkers,¡± Kevinar cried, blasting into view with a backwards somersault. Amorphous slug shaped waves of darkness poured after him, rolling over the ground and through the bushes in our direction. As I watched, one of his purple-tinged blades sliced a portion of the shadow away from the rest. It plopped into reality, now a rubbery piece of octopus-like flesh that smoked slightly in the dappled sunlight.


    Ike cursed, dropping a fresh handful of forest debris from his taloned hand, and squinting at the shadows with narrowed eyes. ¡°Get back everyone. We¡¯re going to have to go around. The lurkers aren¡¯t something we can defeat. Not without a mage or cleric.¡±


    Cleric. The word slapped me, and Jeldorain snickered. Do your thing, champion.


    I thought of the blessing, and words spilled from my mouth. ¡°By the ice of Thrymheimr''s realm and the flames of the aurora, let the fury of the inferno and the chill of the glacier bind to my blade. Frostfire, awaken!¡±


    Both Ike and Kevinar stared, first at me and then at their blades as ten mana¡¯s worth of icy-burn curled over one weapon and then the other, coating them with the power of my pledged god. It was a delicate, icy blue, an ethereal frost that pulsed and ebbed.


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    Simultaneously, ghostly white and purple veins wove runes across the flats of their blades, winter sky flame pulsing underneath a cloud of icy motes.


    My weapon was last, but it all happened in a fraction of a second, and the sudden appearance of my magic stalled the shadow lurkers in their advance.


    ¡°Infernal!¡± Brandsyeus snarled in a voice so uncharacteristic of the satyr that we all turned to regard him. He was staring at me, murder in his eyes, but making no move in my direction. The shadow lurkers seized this opportunity to swarm forward again, and we turned our attention back to their mass, swirling blades and icearigama through the wisps of their existence.


    It was a massacre. Despite the relatively low damage potential of the spell, the combination of ice and fire damage spread out wherever they were struck.


    Shadow creatures suffer large debuffs against elemental attacks, Jeldorain informed me. This battle is already won.


    The shadow creatures were moving more slowly now, and trying to pull away from our strikes. Kevinar leapt into the middle of a mass, swirling a circle of icy-flame around him and ending it with a sizzling squeal. Ike pushed forward as well, darting and stabbing as he cut off their retreat.


    And I laid about as if playing a game of whack-a-mole, slapping sluglike mist into shattered, frozen ash, my strikes making a distinct clocking noise as the blades slapped through into the ground.


    [Achievement Unlocked: Defeat Creatures of the Shadow Realm]


    +75 XP


    Objective: Successfully defeat a group of shadow creatures.


    VICTORY! 75 XP rewarded!


    I stared at the dust of the enemy on the ground, wondering at the low XP reward and its juxtaposition with Ike¡¯s previous words to run.


    You beat them too quickly. Play with your opponents, lengthen the combat, make it more difficult when you wish to get more.


    I nodded my understanding, prodding about the forest floor.


    Loot Acquired!


    Shadow Essence x3


    Small, swirling vortexes of darkness, contained within transparent, orb-like casings.


    Mysterious Dark Cloth


    A cloth that is dark. What a mystery!


    Taking the items into my inventory, I turned to tell them all what I had found, and finally noticed my companions standing back, regarding me from a distance.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked. ¡°What did I do?¡±


    Kevinar narrowed his eyes. ¡°Thrymheimr is a name these lands have not bent knee to for millennia. The lands above and below, though, once trembled beneath his power.¡±


    ¡°Infernal,¡± Brandosyeus spat again.


    Ike cocked his head. ¡°Let me speak to Jeldorain,¡± he commanded, though his words were not harsh. I regarded my infernal companion in our shared space, and ushered him into my place of control.


    ¡°I am here, Ike,¡± Jeldorain said, lightly bowing his head.


    ¡°This is your god, Thrymheimer?¡± he asked. Jeldorain nodded. ¡°What designs does he have on this plane?¡±


    Jeldorain laughed heartily, and I tensed at the edge of the zone of control, ready to try and take it back if necessary.


    ¡°This world is nothing, Ike,¡± he responded, gesturing around to our surroundings as he spoke. ¡°Thrymheimr conquers dimensions, not worlds. His time playing in the sandbox of planets has well ended, forgotten in the same way as the temples of our kind.¡±


    A soft sense of yearning crinkled from Jeldorain¡¯s soul, and I caught another glimpse of those times when demons ruled terran lands as god-kings. But I could also sense truth wrapped up in the yearning, and I knew that he was not lying to my companions.


    ¡°The lord of eternal winter,¡± he continued, ¡°simply extends his grace to Ryan and I as a means to an end. His designs, you ask? Vast and intricate, like the snowy plains of the eternal tundra. But all he wishes is for me to go back to where I belong, and to allow Ryan to do the same. It is a boon that he has granted, and it is not one that should be questioned too closely. For as he has given of his power, so too can he take it away.¡±


    Ike turned his head, regarding Brandosyeus and Kevinar. Kevinar simply shrugged, sinking his blades back into his inventory. But Brandosyeus stared on, his face scarlet with rage.


    ¡°You tried to kill Kevinar. You killed Jon. And now you bring Thrymheimer to our realms?¡±


    He turned to face Ike and Kevinar, his face taking on a desperate sheen, his arms wide in pleading.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see?! Is he controlling you like Schustak controlled us? It¡¯s a trap, a wicked infernal trick! He has taken one of our ancient enemies and given him a breach through which to cross dimensions and hold us all in his thrall!¡±


    Jeldorain narrowed his eyes at the satyr. ¡°If the Lord of Snow and Ice wished to rule here, he would already be doing so.¡±


    Brandosyeus met his eyes with strained, grief-stricken rancor, fluid leaking from both as he did so. ¡°We defeated him, threw him out. I know the stories, Jeldorain. I know all it took to beat back the infernals from this world!¡±


    ¡°If I step out of line, if my lord falters in his promises, simply cast us out again. We are at an impasse, satyr. I ¡ª¡±


    Jeldorain stopped, stuttered, and I could feel a wave of tremendous uncertainty play through us, an emotion that confused him. As it rolled through us, I understood immediately.


    Guilt, Jeldorain. It is called guilt and you are feeling it because you know that you killed Jon and now you wish you hadn¡¯t.


    Jeldorain growled and snorted, causing Brandosyeus to back up a few paces.


    How do I fix it? he asked. It was strange to hear his spiritual voice suddenly timid and uncertain.


    There is no way to fix it. But to start, you apologize, and explain.


    The infernal cleared his throat, starting and stopping sentences several times. ¡°I ¨C I am sorry for what happened,¡± he apologized.


    More.


    ¡°I do not belong here. The goblins stole me, took my body, and I was fighting to break free. It was an accident that I killed Jon. I wish it could be otherwise, but his body is too broken and his soul has left to the greater lands of his deities.¡±


    Brandosyeus stood there, his face a twist of confusion and grief. He turned to Ike. ¡°Infernals lie,¡± he said, his voice weak and helpless. With a twist of his body, he set off into the forest.

 Chapter Thirty-Four – Uncertain Slumber

    The rest of the day¡¯s journey was a battle against thicker and increasingly alien forest, a place where vines slithered raspily against jagged tree bark, glowing faintly with an eerie bioluminescence that pulsed to an unheard beat. The occasional young sapling uprooted itself and slinked away from our approach.


    Occasionally I caught glimpses of Brandosyeus trailing our party, and I wondered at the possible meaning of it.


    Was he going to slip in while I slept and try to slit my throat?


    Jeldorain chuckled at the thought, replacing it with one of him braining the satyr with a giant meaty fist, then breaking his body against the trunks of razorwood that stood about us. I sent him my disapproval, and he surprised me with an ounce of guilt mixed in with his natural indignance.


    Continuing forward, Kevinar stopped us numerous times, redirecting our trail around unseen pitfalls and swampy holes of quicksand, or the rare den of carnivorous ambush predators. We tiptoed past, on irregular beamlike roots and arc and swirled over the increasingly mulchy ground, the moss on them soft like eiderdown.


    As darkness fell, we continued, following a faint glow in the distance. It was unlike anything I was used to¡ªpowerful like the glaring streetlights of my own world, but soft and friendly, beams that beckoned, rays that refracted around the deadly trunks of the forest to gently coax us forward.


    I knew it was a charm. It felt like the words of Brandosyeus in song. Pangs of guilt filtered through the thought from both of us as we caught his shadow in our distant rear.


    The light grew stronger and nearer, more singular. Kevinar paused, signaling us around one more great obstacle, before leading us out from the clutches of the forest and into a grassless, gravel-filled clearing. Here the air was thick with the scent of old magic, a scent like that of the temple.


    Across the clearing lay a small stone bridge, its architecture plain. But the lights it emitted were anything but. An aura of warmth and safety misted around it, flashing pastel colors from pink to white, the flits of tiny glowing fairies dancing within it.


    ¡°What is this place?¡± I asked. I sensed Jeldorain¡¯s spirit hover near, watching with unmasked rapture. I could understand it¡ªeven with the beauties of CGI, I¡¯d never seen anything quite like it.


    ¡°The Sylvaneth Arcanum Crossing,¡± Kevinar replied, staring into the light of it. ¡°An ancient construct, not visible to any until the illusion surrounding it has been successfully disbelieved¡ªor else someone is brought to it by another who can see it. At the cost of half of our mana, we can traverse from these darkened woods to the frosty heights of Dongol Mountain.¡±


    ¡°Does Schustak know about this?¡± I asked.


    Ike shook his head. ¡°The charm was relatively recent. So he¡¯d have to find this the old fashioned way. But he knows of its existence.¡±


    ¡°Is there anyway to shut it down?¡±


    ¡°Only in its destruction, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Kevinar answered.


    ¡°A good thing too,¡± Ike added, staring at the bridge, ¡°cuz I¡¯m not too big on climbing.¡±


    ¡°Is that a size joke?¡± I asked, narrowing my eyes.


    Ike shrugged. ¡°Only if it was funny!¡±


    We walked towards the bridge, the magical energies sighing around and through us, the tiny fairies giggling as the twirled in the midst of rapturous flying dance. Jeldorain watched them fly as a cat might watch a mouse scamper, small pans of hunger sliding through his veins. An imagined taste of strawberry scream filled my mouth and I growled.


    No eating the fairies, I commanded. His anger rose but just as quickly fell, replaced by confused guilt.


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    I¡¯m just looking, he sulked.


    We reached the foot of the structure and I peered around, seeing Brandosyeus hovered at our rear, Kevinar and Ike on my flanks. They apparated their weapons, I apparated mine, and we steps onto the bridge.


    The teleportation was cinematic, the spells laid here obviously meant to impress. The mist thickened, a kaleidoscope of lights strobing through as ghostly tendrils wrapped themselves around my wrists and elbows. There was an increasing tension to the mist as we walked, and just as it felt that we might not be able to stride forward any further, I felt the sensation of being yanked hard and flung.


    The fog dissipated, and I clubbed my head against the stony ceiling, the blow of it shoving me to my rear. As I rubbed my head I saw that we stood now in a narrow cave, the mouth of it peeking out into the dead of night. The floor was gravelly, sharp bits of which had dug lightly into my icy thighs, and it all smelled of mold.


    ¡°You okay there?¡± Ike asked.


    The lilt of Brandosyeus¡¯s angry chuckle echoed through our environs. ¡°Maybe this plane of existence isn¡¯t to your sensibilities, Infernal?¡±


    ¡°Maybe not,¡± I answered, the tang of guilt in my mouth. ¡°Not like either of us have any choice in the matter though.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ike said. ¡°Brandosyeus, they¡¯re both wronged by the goblins. You¡¯ve been too. Let¡¯s stick together and take them out, then fight about it all later.¡±


    Switching to infravision, the figures of Ike, Kevinar and Brandosyeus came to be in their red-orange glimmers. They stood facing the cave mouth, as I was, presumably pondering the craggy mountain slopes without.


    ¡°So now what?¡± I asked.


    Kevinar made a ticking noise with his tongue. ¡°I believe it would be best if we continued out to find camp envoys. But the mountainside is dangerous, and a single misstep could end us. I will scout the night, and see what I might find. The rest of you, it is paramount that you stay here and give me a place to retreat to should things be . . . undesirable.¡±


    We assented to the plan, and Kevinar left the cave, a brief glimpse of red-orange that was already dwindling in its signature. Putting my weapons back into my inventory, I swept the area of loose rock and made a space for myself to lie on and sleep.


    Closing my eyes, I heard low murmurs pass between Ike and Brandosyeus. Farther off, from outside of the cave mouth, came the clatter of rocks tumbling in a loose landslide. And from farther still I could just barely make out the startled squawk of some nighttime avian getting its comeuppance.


    I opened my eyes. That bird could well be me if I stayed in camp. The way Brandosyeus was acting was unnerving. I wasn¡¯t sure that he could kill me in my sleep¡ªafter all in a world with game physics we had hit points and the like. But I also wasn¡¯t sure that there didn¡¯t exist game mechanics against such helplessly unaware foes either. And despite Kevinar and Ike¡¯s seeming acceptance of everything, I also couldn¡¯t trust them right now. Not really. Not with everything that had happened.


    ¡°I¡¯m going out on patrol,¡± I announced, standing to a hunch. Ike and Brandosyeus hushed their chatter at once, a waiting pause filling the air, begging for me to add more to it. I obliged. ¡°I¡¯m not tired, I need experience points, and I¡¯d like to train my stealth, climbing, and whatever other skills might come into play.¡±


    ¡°No tricks,¡± Brandosyeus muttered. His voice was resigned now, an exhausted edge dragging along its underside.


    ¡°No tricks,¡± I promised, duck out the mouth of the cave and into the cold mountain night. Stars sparkled above, but the moon was less than before, an uncertain waxing gibbous that provided light decent enough formal normal vision. Scanning shadowed patches of snow and mud, I looked for something worth my while. In the distance I caught a brief spark of red-orange.


    ¡°Hey Ike, there is something out here,¡± I called over my shoulder. A few moments later, he was at my knee looking out over the gap between two mountains.


    ¡°It is in the direction of our headquarters. We have no way to reach it tonight, and no means to message it til morning.¡± He hesitated. ¡°Ryan, I know why you¡¯re out here. I¡¯d be out here too if it were me. But I want to assure you that you are safe with us. At least for now. Brandosyeus is grieving. I have made him swear that he will not seek any revenge at least until after we reach the Shadowed Vanguard and understand how the land now lies. Even then, he is a good person. I doubt he will challenge you, though if he does we have respected and honor bound ways by which to do so.¡±


    I grunted, though both my ids were trained in on his words.


    ¡°If he chooses to challenge you at the camp,¡± Ike continued, ¡°then what happens after is between the two of you. Kevinar and I will accept the result as binding. Until then, we need to work as a team. There is no telling what the future holds, and I bet that whatever it is ain¡¯t pretty. Hey?¡±


    Acting of his own volition, I felt Jeldorain cast Sense Motive on Brandosyeus.


    You couldn¡¯t have done that before? I asked him.


    His mind was in turmoil. Whatever motive he had might have been different minutes later. But his tone, his tiredness . . . He has come to a decision. And at this moment, if the spell has been successful, his decision is to work with us, then challenge us at the camp.


    I nodded. ¡°By your word,¡± I answered, turning and ducking back into the cave. Laying back in the place I had set for myself, my eyes closed and slumber claimed me.

 Chapter Thirty-Five – The Plot Thickens

    We woke at sunrise, the first light casting long shadows across our camp. The early morning chill felt good on my muscles as I rose, gazing into the glowing ros¨¦ that peeked out from behind the adjacent mountaintops. Around us, the land was silent, its rugged beauty enhanced by its seeming desolation. We gathered in silence, weapons apparating to our hands.


    With a look from Ike, Kevinar stepped away from the group, his face solemn. He traced figures of ethereal light through the air, his fingers weaving glowing runes as his head cocked sideways. It was just as amazing to watch now as it had been before. Though I knew it was a game skill, the look of deep concentration on his face made me wonder if things were as automatic to all who lived here as they were for me. Red-brown aura clouded over him, pulsing with energy.


    ¡°They answer,¡± Kevinar informed us, his voice cutting through the morning stillness as the last of the runes faded away. ¡°Safety is assured.¡±


    Ike nodded, and we moved out into the mountainous terrain. There was a trail heading out from the cave, invisible by night but now apparent in the rosy glow of dawn, and we ventured over it, myself in the rear as Brandosyeus took up the center with Ike, and Kevinar disappeared to our fore. I could see where a minor landslide had occurred the night before¡ªit was a smattering of smaller rocks now stuck in a drying mud overcropping, something that might well serve a tactical purpose later if we had to retreat. I took note of it even as we followed the path down to a sparely-treed ravine whose creek burbled along mostly barren riverbed.


    This would be a bad place to be caught in, I observed to Jeldorain as my eyes rolled over the steep and treacherous walls on our flanks.


    Indeed, he answered, and the excitement that followed his answer told me everything.


    As I cried out ¡°To arms!¡±, the once-quiet air erupted with the guttural war cries of orc marauders. They emerged like phantoms, their hulking figures materializing from the cleverly concealed, clay-caked crevices along the ravine''s walls. Each orc bore the savage markings of their tribe ¨C dark paint streaked across rugged faces and muscular arms, their eyes burning.


    Growling in response to Jeldorain¡¯s rising excitement, I gripped my Titan-Ax-icearigama tightly, feeling its cold power surge through my veins. I charged headlong into the fray, targeting a knot of five orcs. They were dressed in mismatched armor, almost certainly pieced together from previous battles and conquests and their weapons were crude but glinted with deadly, chiseled edges in the shadow dappled light.


    I engaged my Whirlwind Attack, my icearigama singing through the air. The first dozen orcs were slashed into wriggling halves, their bodies flopping down into squelching death.


    A movement caught my eye, and I glanced up, seeing Kevinar appear from the top of the ravine¡¯s edge. His blades, shimmering with their mystical purple aura, flashed and danced as he leapt down upon another group of orcs. He stabbed and slashed, clearing space around himself.


    ¡°We¡¯re coming!¡± Ike yelled from ahead. The ambush, it seemed, was isolated to my position and nowhere else.


    An orc tribesman ducked under the slash of my icearigama, stabbing a short blade into my thigh. I kicked him into the air, slashing the head off his body as it flew to eye level. Another two orcs stepped in, then another, stabbing at me from a horde of at least twenty.


    Past my own melee, the clash of steel rang out, echoing amidst the grunts and bellows of combat. I noticed that Kevinar had his own horde to deal with, and I wished him luck as I launched another Whirlwind, felling several of my enemies.


    As the orc tribesmen swarmed around me, I quickly scanned the ravine for anything I could use for my Swing ability ¡ª a protruding ledge, an overhead branch, anything that would give me a tactical edge. But the sparse, treacherous terrain offered nothing but steep, unyielding clifflike mud.


    Gritting my teeth, I went back to what I knew best and launched into another Whirlwind Attack. The ax spun with me, its blade a deadly arc cutting through the air, cleaving them apart even as they inflicted more and more damage upon me. Seven died and an eighth stumbled backwards, falling in screaming confusion.


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    But the orcs were relentless. More poured in; I wasn¡¯t sure from where. So I engaged my attack again and again. As I spun and slashed, subsequent ranks found holes in my defense, striking against my armor and body, draining my hit points to half their maximum.


    A debuff seared through me, nearly dropping me to my knees.


    Tremendous Pain


    Reduced Agility and Speed: Decrease by 15%, representing the difficulty in moving swiftly or dodging attacks due to pain.


    Decreased Attack Accuracy: Lower attack accuracy by 10%, as the pain makes it harder to focus and aim precisely.


    Increased Mana Cost for Spells: Spells cost 10% more mana to cast, as it''s more challenging to concentrate and channel magical energies.


    Diminished Critical Hit Chance: Reduce the chance of landing critical hits by 5%, reflecting the character''s hindered combat effectiveness.


    The orcs stumbled over the mounds of bodies, seeing me suddenly woozy and obviously trying to exploit my weakness. I was down to 60 exertion points, and dazedly wondered if I shouldn¡¯t have been casting spells all this time. Picking out a dead orc from the pile, I Summoned Skeleton Ally, then struck out with my icearigama. The targeted orc laughed as he jumped back, but his buddy didn¡¯t as my next attack struck him in the torso . . . and set off Chain Lightning.


    Jeldorain cackled, then roared as electricity crackled through them, bolts of lightning arcing outward and cooking flesh. Screams mixed with the sizzle and pop of grievous damage. I readied myself to strike again but found the enemy pulling back, a part of their number stuck convulsing in the mud.


    My new skeletal ally gleefully pounced on the quivering and stunned enemies while, past them, I saw Kevinar leaping out of his own mob, his body bloodied. And from my front came the welcoming battle cry of Ike, and the bardic music of Brandosyeus.


    As my companions came to my side, the orcs paused, forming up ranks and blocking the ravine, but no longer rushing forward. The ones who¡¯d been stunned by my attack and left in the mud got up, and fled to their tribal ranks.


    Crush them! Jeldorain exhorted. I could feel his battle frenzy, his want to use Size of a Tempest and trod forward, smashing them all.


    Not yet, I implored, sharing mental images of game battles where hordes of enemies had been the precursor to spectacular boss battles. He shook with rage, but backed off.


    ¡°Why is it that everywhere we go, you¡¯re all there waiting?¡± Ike asked, striding a few paces in front of us. A low wind whistled through the ravine, adding to the tension of the moment.


    There was a scuffle within the enemy ranks, and suddenly a goblin was pushed out in front of the others. Unlike the Warg Knights I¡¯d encountered before, this one was dressed in shiny links of stately chainmail that spoke more of sumptuous banquets and parades than actual combat. A blade at his side glowered with dark cloudlike aura, but his body sagged in a way that told me he was not a military threat.


    ¡°Bow before the great lordling Nollan of Locke, son of Brentar, and holder of the fabled Meske. Surrender yourselves or be destroyed.¡±


    It was impressive, watching the scene play out with the knowledge of my world. It essentially made me into a metagamer. His words were threatening, and I could feel an aura of intimidation exude from him. Yet I knew that he was not a threat, nor was his horde now that they were arrayed in front of us rather than in ambush.


    Jeldorain¡¯s soul nodded beside me. It is that blade he carries, as well as some other attributes I cannot ascertain. But it is the yapping of an insignificant. We should crush him.


    Ike, however, blanched and stepped back. I regarded my companions. Kevinar and Brandosyeus were equally skittish, their bodies quaking slightly and ready to run.


    Got any suggestions, I asked Jeldorain, my pain debuff fading out in the side of my sight.


    He snickered. The blessings of Thrymheimr are many, great champion. Blast them with the holy might of his frost.


    Ike stuttered something, but I charged forward, calling upon The Blessing of the Winter Gale. Unholy frost and wind ripped through the orcish ranks, obscuring them in a cloud of subzero arctic. Inside of me, Jeldorain howled like a wolf, eagerly pushing me forward.


    I stepped back, instead, wary of becoming surrounded once more. Wounded and horrified cries sounded from the dissipating swirl of icy death, and a full two scores of enemy were revealed to be dead when it lifted.


    Including the goblin.


    ¡°That son of Thrynheimr bewitched us!¡± Ike yelled angrily as the effects of the magic left him. I cast an amused look in his direction, and he put his hands up in supplication. ¡°Son of Thrynheimr¡¯s dog,¡± he amended.


    Beyond the bodies we could see the retreating forms of a hundred or more orcs fleeing. We watched as they made their way back the way we¡¯d come from.


    Battle Completed. Party experience Gained: 2500XP


    ¡°Orcs working for goblins is a troubling development,¡± Kevinar mused, his brow furrowing above his shaded goggles. ¡°Normal for the cities, but not for the free tribes. Something big has happened. Something tremendously bad.¡±


    ¡°What does this mean for the camp?¡± Brandosyeus asked, his voice tired and worn.


    Ike growled. ¡°Nothing good. Everyone, drink your potions, get your health, exertion and mana back, and be ready for the worst. We¡¯re going to loot this mess here then force march to the Shadowed Vanguard camp, and I¡¯m hoping I¡¯m wrong, but I¡¯m guessing they¡¯re all dead now, and we¡¯re running ourselves into a trap.¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Six– A Camp Disheveled

    As we jogged over the forested mountainside, a blur of green and brown unfolded around us. We navigated loose rocks and forest litter, pushing through underbrush and past scrappy mountain oaks. Dappled shadows cast by the light filtering through the canopy created a mosaic of light and dark, dazzling my eyes and heightening my suspicion of another ambush. But things were urgent and we had to push forward. I had to help them with their camp and maybe find a way back home after everything was settled.


    Leaping over a veiny upturned root, I stomped large prints into the dirt, leading the charge. The others kept up, spread tactically, watching our flanks as we hastily made our way in the direction of the camp. The deceptive terrain played tricks on the eye. I once tripped, causing a slight drop in my Evasion skill, though not enough to lose any ranks.


    I glanced back often as I ran, making sure the party was keeping pace. Kevinar moved like a shadow, soundless and agile, nothing inconveniencing him in even the slightest. Ike was much the same; he was not as agile but being so close to the ground lent him a running stability that was enviable. Brandosyeus struggled though, and I had to slow down the pace to allow him to keep up.


    As we advanced, I thought of what might await us at the camp. It was definitely going to be a boss battle, probably more mobs. We¡¯d drunk our potions and regained our various lost points, but that left us empty on refills, a concept that weighed heavily on my mind. I couldn¡¯t be foolish about it, I¡¯d throw everything into this battle and not worry about the next. Because if I could shock and awe whatever the enemy had waiting for us, they flee to the high hills and leave us in peace for the night.


    Or so I hoped. Morale had definitely been a thing in Lords of Chaos. Given the retreat of the tribesmen from the previous battle, it seemed likely that a strong strike at the start could well run them off. I tightened my grip on my Titan-Ax-icearigama.


    What do you think, Jeldorain?


    My demonic companion shifted. I don¡¯t really do plans so much as break them. Chaos and carnage are always good, I support you oh great champion.


    Small woodland creatures ran from us as we crashed through their lands, stopping to regard us with shifty glinting eyes and the wind whispered through the leaves, carrying with it a pungent smell that I couldn¡¯t immediately identify.


    ¡°That¡¯s burning pitch,¡± Ike gasped, his breaths becoming labored from the strain of our relentless pace.


    ¡°The camp is another half-hour ahead,¡± Kevinar muttered. ¡°But I can make it in half the time.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ike gasped. ¡°Can¡¯t risk it. We move together.¡±


    The smell of flame and ruin became stronger as we neared. The sounds of war, of screaming, crying, metal clattering and men dying came first as a whisper then crescendos as we overcame the final ridge.


    There laying before us was the flaming wreckage of what appeared to have been a well-sized city in the middle of frosty forest-ridden nowhere. A capital for the movement of which I was now a part of. And it was immediately obvious that this capital had fallen.


    We¡¯d come too late. We couldn¡¯t save it.


    Throughout the flames and wreckage small bands battled on. In the far distance we saw wagons much like the one I had been in trundling off, obviously filled to the brim with prisoners from the camp. A dozen Warg Knights were finishing off those they hadn¡¯t bundled, and I snarled at them, remembering their arrogance and confident that I was ready to face them.


    Beside me, Kevinar and Ike traded glances.


    ¡°A dozen of the bastards. The rest of their army gone, but a dozen is all they need,¡± Ike growled. ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait them gone. There¡¯s nothing else to be done.¡±


    Brandosyeus looked down at the carnage blankly, before apparating his panpipes to his lips and beginning a song. It growled and rumbled, a sort of pre-historic heavy war metal tune, and I was astonished to feel magical anger weave around us.


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    ¡°Brandosyeus!¡± Ike cried.


    ¡°We kill them here and now, save all we can,¡± he said tonelessly, before moving back into the song.


    Hells yes, Jeldorain bellowed. I felt myself falling to the tune of the music, my stats rising around me, my anger becoming insurmountable.


    Rising from depths of anger and sorrow, the panpipes tore through the air, a ballad of war and vengeance. Rumbling through the air and shaking through the ground beneath us, the notes surged and crackled, each chord imbued with the raw energy of hate. On the ground beneath them, the Warg Knights turned from their gruesome tasks, staring up at our band even as we brandished our weapons and charged down the slope.


    It was killing time.


    From the bowels of the icy depths, we bring to you the wrath of the infernals, Jeldorain exulted.


    Without thinking I invoked Size of a Tempest, roaring like a mighty kaiju as I stomped down to meet the enemy. Around the knights, the remaining camp garrison screamed and fled, moving out of harm¡¯s way as the Warg Knights turned and counter-charged my assault.


    From my berserker-clouded mind, I marveled at their diminutive size as a number of them blasted an assortment of rays, lightning strikes, and glowing arrows at me. The spells struck, but did little damage. I roared again, kicking one off his mount and into a flaming pile of storehouse. Sweeping at another with my icearigama, it surprised me how nimbly the mount and warrior dodged my attack, scoring a running strike against the side of my leg.


    Behind me, Brandosyeus blew a furious crescendo and small rocks began to rain down from the sky, which itself was darkening to a furious red. Undaunted, the knights continued their assault on me despite the furious swarm that battered them.


    I leaped into their midst, engaging my whirlwind attack and sweeping them. Casements of energy flamed into being, deflecting the attack and flaring heat through my weapon. Gasping, I let go of the molten hot ax flail, watching it flying through the air into the center of the camp.


    Jeldorain roared in defiance, and I felt his voice tear out my own throat. I¡¯d broken one of the barriers in my attack, killing a Warg Knight¡¯s mount, but the others were well on me now, hacking and slashing at my legs and ankles with a variety of master-class weapons.


    Without warning, Kevinar appeared, his S-rank stealth rolling him into a brilliant backstab of the dismounted warrior. The goblin screamed out once, and fell to his knees, With his next move, Kevinar cut his feet from his legs before rolling out of the way of a charge by his companion.


    In came Ike screaming like a man on fire. Grabbing a fair-sized stone, he lobbed it against the side of a Warg Knight¡¯s helm, the clong it made resonating over the battlefield. Visibly woozy, the knight turned his mount and charged the kobold, who proceeded to slide under his mount at the last second and stab his two blades into its chest. Dragged along its underside, his legs wrapped in the knight¡¯s own stirrups, and his weapons driven into bone, Ike audibly gnawed at the beset mount, and it fell to its side squalling.


    Two companions came charging his way, and Ike snarled, tearing his blades out and turning to face them.


    Around me, my hitpoints ticked down as the majority of the knights harried my ankles. Kicking and stomping, I tried to deal with them, but they dodged and weaved, avoiding my attacks. The rage of Brandosyeus¡¯s spell was beginning to fade and I stared at the mess more lucidly, trying to think through a plan.


    Ike had been right about these guys. They were tough.


    Calling to my lips the Blessing of the Winter Gale, I briefly wondered if I should augment it with soul sync, like Jeldorain had outside of the temple. I caught glimpse of some of the camp survivors hiding in broken buildings, and thought of how badly Ike had been hurt, and decided against it.


    Some attacks were just too powerful.


    Even as one of the knights raised a hand and fired bolts of glade-green energy into my torso, I reared back and blasted the mob of them with glittering, freezing mist and tundra-force winds. While the energy blasts on my chest exploding into intensely painful fire, my body again falling into the stupor of Tremendous Pain, the ground chilled and froze beneath the enemy knights, frost freezing to their armor and mounts.


    The immediate effect was dramatic.


    The knights slowed drastically as the footing became slick and difficult to traverse. I stomped at one and felt him crunch under my attack. Lifting my foot and peering down, I saw the knight scurry away on all fours, evidently well-debuffed by the weight of my attack. His mount was twisted and broken, heaving but obviously well on its way out of life.


    I shifted, looking for more to kill, and noticed that in my woozy haze and pause, the other knights had raised their own hands. An onslaught of fire, energy bolts, and other tearing magics followed. The energies struck all at once, and I felt a sensation akin to falling, the brink of death looming over me. There was clinking and clanking, but I was so out of it that I couldn¡¯t even read my new debuffs or hitpoints.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered, images of Casey in my mind, of Jacob and Nicole beside here, crying over my dead body in a gaming hall so far away.


    Oh no you don¡¯t, Jeldorain groaned, straining against the debuffs that encased us. ASSERT he commanded. A wave of negative energy blasted out of us in all directions, and then I passed out.

 Chapter Thirty-Seven– Casus Belli

    I awoke to a world blurred at the edges, the sounds of battle echoing like distant thunder in my ears. For a moment, I lay there, disoriented, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory. The last thing I remembered was the overwhelming onslaught of magic from the Warg Knights, their spells crashing into me like waves against a cliff, and then... darkness.


    Checking my character sheet, I saw that I was at 230 hitpoints, a comfortable and confusing level of health digits that didn¡¯t make sense given everything that I remembered. I groggily lifted a hand to my face, realizing that in my slumber I¡¯d shrunk back down to size.


    What happened? I asked Jeldorain, whose spirit regarded me with a cocked head.


    Intense pain debuffs. Hovering on Death¡¯s Door debuff. Magical anarchy debuffs. A quick cast of ASSERT and Frostweave Healing. Honestly, champion, it might be better to ask what didn¡¯t happen. When you passed out, I took over and did what I could, fast, before I passed out as well.


    The fog in my head began to clarify and sharpen, and I thought about the battle. Jeldorain¡¯s ASSERT had been a tremendously successful Hail Mary. Cancelling out most of the spells and magical items in the vicinity, the knights would have been faced with a strange and uncertain battle with Ike and Kevinar, neither of whom was a slouch when it came to mano a mano.


    It was hard to imagine that they¡¯d won. But then again, I wasn¡¯t dead. I sighed, sitting up and peering around myself. The smell of burning pitch and charred wood still scented the destroyed camp, but it was lesser now, and older. Small fires still burned here and there, casting eerie shadows on the destroyed tents and scattered debris, and a few more bodies of Warg Knights lay near, their mounts slaughtered as well.


    Walking in my direction was Kevinar. The dark elf¡¯s goggles were dusted with light gray ash, a fact that apparently didn¡¯t concern him since he made no move to clean them. He came to my side and put a hand on me, grinning.


    ¡°Despite their well-earned reputation, it would seem that the much-exalted knights of the Goblin Empire could still use some work on their fighting skills. Without their enchantments, they really weren¡¯t much mightier than anyone else.¡±


    ¡°We won?¡± I asked stupidly, still unable to believe it.


    ¡°That demon power of yours did the trick. It killed one of my swords, but without their wards and with their spells out of play, our enemies were well easy to drive off.¡±


    I nodded, again surveying the field of battle. Ike was a few feet away, tending to his own numerous wounds and slumping against the ruin of a cart. Brandosyeus, though, was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Brandosyeus?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Alive. Scouring the camp for survivors to heal. I think he was disappointed that you made it.¡± Kevinar looked out over the camp pointedly. ¡°The camp is lost, and many have fallen. We need to regroup, assess our losses, and decide what to do next.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go heal Ike, then we should join with Brandosyeus in finding survivors.¡± A growl croaked through my body, a Hunger debuff flashing into my vision. ¡°Probably we should eat as well.¡±


    And find your weapon, oh great strategist. I swear, I will never understand the summoning that brought you to this realm.


    Standing up, I went over to Ike, tending to him while making small talk. The kobold was usually an earful, but now he was simply a heap of tired and broken, the fire in him quenched. I¡¯d do something about that after everything else was taken care of, but for the present I decided it was best to let him rest.


    I stomped off in the direction of where I¡¯d last seen my icearigama, and let out a tremendous sigh of relief when I found it. The ASSERT spell hadn¡¯t ended its charms, and I¡¯d grown attached to the weapon as well. It was powerful and I couldn¡¯t afford to lose it.


    I returned to Ike and joined up with Kevinar, then the two of us stepped into the heart of the camp. Small crackles of flames punctuated the mostly silent ruins, but as we searched, we found a person here and there, slowly forming up a ragged group of survivors and sending them back to Ike as we made our rounds. There was loot as well, though not much of it since the place had obviously been well searched through during its sack. Here and there, within the shredded and scorched tents, small stockpiles had been stashed away, found easily by Kevinar¡¯s clever eyes. We took it all as we came across it, vowing to go through it later when things were a lot less immediate.


    There was a lot of junk as well. The ground was littered with the remnants of what had been not just a base for rebels, but obviously a vibrant community: broken weapons and charred pieces of cloth lay mixed in with small figurines and children¡¯s toys. A vague sense of sorrow filled my soul as I spotted a cloth doll half-buried in the dirt, its head elsewhere.


    Kevinar whispered through the debris on my right, his expression grim. A plodding noise behind announced the arrival of Ike, looking much better than he had. He nodded at me as our eyes met, a somber look over his face as he bent to inspect a fallen banner in the dirt. I lifted it, examining the tattered and soiled fabric before letting it flutter back into the mud and soot.


    Moving around the sword-ripped fabric of a fluttering tent, we spotted Brandosyeus. He had just taken to setting a panpipe to his lips, a dozen refugees sitting in a circle around him and gazing hopefully at his hopeless face. Blowing his first notes, a small amount of calm and healing weaved around us and I smiled.


    Despite the horror scattered around us, the music still worked and still instilled hope.


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    He looked at me, looked into my eyes, and waved with his other hand, a motion that further raised my spirits. Despite the many rings of desperate resistance and broken barricades I¡¯d seen, filled with the bodies of those who dared fight, it made me realize that all was not lost.


    The Goblin Empire wouldn¡¯t get me and I would fight for these people. Even if there wasn¡¯t a portal at the end of it all.


    As I continued forward, my reverie was broken by a faint sound, a barely audible moan that came from beneath a collapsed wagon. Rushing over, I seized it up and tossed it to the side, looking into the dirt to find our next survivor.


    Lying amidst the wreckage, barely distinguishable from the debris surrounding her, was a high elf clad in a light armor breastplate over top leather armor and breeches. Though battered and bruised, she exuded other worldly beauty, a sort of glow that had to be magical. She was tall and slender, her silver hair lustrous despite its dirty tangles, framing a face that, while marred by bruises and grime, retained its noble grace. Her eyes were a deep shade of forest green, and her ears were larger than normal and pointed like a Vulcan.


    She gasped and panted, the weight off her body finally allowing her to breathe. Staring at me, her eyes widened, but she made no move. Kevinar knelt down by her side, offering his hand to her. She took it, sitting up and coughing hard.


    ¡°Are you friends?¡± she whispered hoarsely.


    ¡°Last I checked,¡± Ike said stumping into view. She smiled weakly, her eyes brightening. ¡°You¡¯re safe now, Seljin,¡± he continued, moving to her other flank.


    ¡°That¡¯s a relative word,¡± she said, her voice gaining strength. ¡°We were safe this morning.¡± Leaning against Kevinar and using his shoulder for assistance, she stood up. ¡°That cart ¡ª I thought I was a goner. The debuffs were piling up. It¡¯s going to take some time for them to disappear.¡±


    Ike apparated a flask of water from his inventory, uncapping it and offering her a swig. ¡°Not worth thinking about. We¡¯ve got to get everyone together and assess the situation. What exactly happened here, Seljin?¡±


    Seljin took a shaky breath. ¡°It was... it was a massacre,¡± she began. ¡°They came at dawn, a horde of goblins and their Warg Knights. We... we weren¡¯t prepared. They...¡± Her voice broke, and she paused to collect herself.


    ¡°There was so much chaos,¡± she continued. ¡°At first they surrounded us, then demanded our surrender. It didn¡¯t look so bad. There weren¡¯t that many. Then, when we refused, a goblin walked the perimeter, chanting words as he dug a line in the dirt with his sand.¡±


    Ike growled. ¡°I¡¯d bet gold against copper that was Schustak.¡± Seljin looked at him, her eyes confused and questioning. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Seljin, go ahead. I¡¯ll shut my maw.¡±


    ¡°When the circle was complete, everything around the camp was somewhere else. It was like the camp had transported into a great hall, a barracks room packed full of soldiers. The magic required to do something like that . . .¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t a spell. It is the function of an artifact,¡± Kevinar growled. ¡°One that was thought lost ages ago.¡±


    My mind began to spin as they talked. Teleportation? Powered by an artifact? My icy heart beat more quickly as Jeldorain cottoned on to my thoughts.


    Sure there is no way it can bring you back to your realm?


    No harm in asking, I responded. Meekly I put up a hand and the lot of them stared at it in surprise, their conversation halted.


    ¡°What is this artifact? And can it help me?¡±


    Seljin¡¯s pretty face scrunched into a frown. ¡°Who is this, and why is he interrupting our debriefing?¡± She coughed hard, obviously under the effects of multiple physical debuffs.¡±


    ¡°This is Ryan and Jeldorain. The goblins fused the two together and were using us to train them into a great warrior general for their ranks. Almost assuredly by the same mighty druid that you spotted using the artifact.¡±


    Seljin cocked her head, confusion even more evident on her face. Ike sighed.


    ¡°Look, it¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°It is the Orb of Nethershift,¡± Kevinar stated. ¡°Created by the Archmage Ilyandor during the Age of Shadows. Housed in the Great Temple of Ilotha, God over my people, for a thousand years. We used it to leave the surface, and to raid villages. The power of its teleportation is immense. It can reach anywhere, or so the clerics said.¡±


    My eyes flared wide, frost puffing from their edges. ¡°I could use it to go home?¡± I asked.


    A notification appeared before my eyes:


    Quest: Highway to Home


    Difficulty: Elite


    Objectives: Retrieve the Orb of Nethershift by any means available. Find a being powerful enough to use it. Go back to where you came from.


    Rewards: Return back from whence you came. 5000 XP.


    Penalties: Used improperly, the Orb can burst asunder, merging worlds or dimensions into one.


    A sob escaped my lips, and Seljin startled, scooted backwards in the dirt. I could go home! Beside me in my mindspace, Jeldorain patted me on my ethereal shoulder.


    Don¡¯t forget, champion, that there¡¯s something you need to do for me first.


    Quest: Free Jeldorain


    Difficulty: Elite


    Objectives: Find information on means by which to remove yourself from within Jeldorain¡¯s body. Utilize this information to make it so.


    Rewards: Freedom


    Penalties: If done without a suitable host to return to, your spirit will become a ghost, destined to haunt the environs in which you left your body.


    I will, I responded.


    Eyeing me closely, Seljin continued her tale. ¡°The hall¡¯s warriors fought us an hour before they broke through our defenses. We took to street fighting, fought back as best we could. At some point it all shifted back here, no mark to show it¡¯d ever been gone, but the soldiers already here, their wagons in tow, they came with. There were too many. They set fire to everything...¡± Her gaze drifted to the burning remnants of the camp, and she closed her eyes, letting out a stuttering sigh.


    Kevinar gently placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Did anyone else survive?¡± he asked.


    Seljin nodded slowly. ¡°Some were taken... prisoners. They¡¯re heading out, probably towards Gharag City,¡± she said, her voice laced with fear and despair.


    ¡°They¡¯re gone then,¡± Ike said. He stared in the direction they¡¯d headed, his toothy maw twisted and lips pursed.


    ¡°It¡¯s a big blow,¡± Kevinar added. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t have to be the end. Are we going to get them?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get them. I¡¯ll tear through their entire kingdom if I have to,¡± I stated, pictures of the orb dancing in my mind.


    Ike nodded. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll move. The staff is powerful, obviously, so that¡¯ll be part of the objective. Probably Ryan already has a quest for it, given the circumstances. We¡¯ll get Brandosyeus if he¡¯ll come, and as many volunteers from the survivors as we can. But this is going to take time. I want you all to listen to me on this. We can¡¯t just barrel into the capital and pretend its some dungeon quest. If we could do that, we¡¯d have done it a long time ago. We move forward as we can, we make allies, good will, and try to help those that need helping. I¡¯ve got a quest to save the prisoners, and I don¡¯t know that I¡¯ll be able to. But at the end of it all, what we need to do is clear. We need to make enough of a nuisance to draw out the Empire and keep it on its toes.¡±


    ¡°And then find Schustak and steal the orb?¡± Kevinar asked.


    ¡°Oh no, more than that. We¡¯re going to take the orb, help Jeldorain, save the prisoners, send Ryan home and kill the emperor. Be ready for hells, boys, because from here on out it¡¯s war.¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Eight– All Hail the Chief

    We found forty survivors through the day, and another sixteen came to us after dark. It was a fretful affair, one full of false starts and stops as we watched through the night, scavenged tents housing our refugees around a large campfire, a palisade of scavenged carts and wood offering up defensive protection against any enemies that might return.


    Brandosyeus strutted throughout the camp, playing his music and soothing everyone¡¯s minds and bodies, continuing into the night despite running out of mana. He nodded to me more than once, and I couldn¡¯t help but envy the strength he showed in doing so.


    Neither could Jeldorain, who shrank guiltily in a corner, confused, angry, and disoriented by his conflicting emotional states.


    Seljin went to the palisades as did a number of other folk. The people of the Shadowed Vanguard were quite stalwart, and the ones with adventuring classes were well eager to join us. I registered the volunteers, sending them in shifts to the palisades and reflecting on their addition to our group. We had elves, humans, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, orcs, a bugbear and a centaur sign up, 20 adventurers in all, and each of them was over 8<sup>th</sup> level¡ªa fact that I guessed had direct correlation with their survival overall. I was glad to have them, and their angry worn faces suggested they were glad to be had.


    The skill sets they offered were also quite valuable. The elves provided a ranger, a druid, an archer, and a variety of mage class supports while the humans were all martial; warriors, a thief, and a bonafide orange yi shaolin monk who I expected would be amazing to see in combat.


    The two dwarves were a warrior and, surprisingly, something called a battle mage. Lords of Chaos hadn¡¯t allowed dwarves anything but clerical magic, but the black robed long-bearded dwarf in front of me sparkled with mana, his eyes burning red like the forge, cinders circling the immensity of his beard.


    The halflings were a cleric and a healer, the orcs were barbarians, the gnomes were alchemists, and the centaur was something called a Forest Knight who could apparently pass through trees as if they weren¡¯t there three times a day.


    The last signee was a grumpy-looking bugbear who carried a club and wore tiny glasses. According to him, he was a sage. I took him aside and put him in charge of stockpiling our loot and inventory.


    When they were all tasked and taken care of, I went off to find Ike.


    As I approached Ike, he was perched on an old thick log near the edge of our makeshift camp, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames of our central fire and his legs dangling above the sloppy, broken ground. Despite the weariness etched on his face, there was an undeniable strength in his posture. Fully recovered, and ready for the next fight.


    ¡°Good evening, Ryan,¡± Ike greeted me, his voice tired and thoughtful. He patted the space next to him, inviting me to sit. ¡°That¡¯s an awesome job you¡¯ve been doing there. I¡¯ve been watching from the side, between setting people on patrol and into shifts. The goblins, they wanted you to lead their armies. Maybe there was a good reason for it?¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°I was great at gaming. Ran some wonderful parties, raids, was head of my own guild. I think, with the way this world works, the spell saw that and decided I was perfect for the role of warrior-general. But I can¡¯t say that I¡¯ve really done anything here to deserve the amount of energy put into that spell.¡±


    ¡°Yet,¡± Ike said, spitting into the dirt. ¡°Magic doesn¡¯t lie. Not unless you tell it to. I can¡¯t help but think that you are what the spell says you are. That group out there, they¡¯re toughies. Adventurers levelled up high enough to be a nuisance. The sort of people that would be dangerous in the hands of a leader.¡±


    My eyes narrowed. ¡°What in the hells are you talking about Ike?¡±


    ¡°Just saying that the magic doesn¡¯t lie. The leader of the Shadowed Vanguard is gone, Ryan. We found his body near the edge of the camp, a bunch of goblins next to him. He was a brilliant man. A great strategist. And with him gone, I¡¯m the one in charge now. Technically. But I¡¯m going to need a lot of help because, unlike him, I don¡¯t know much past ruins and party tactics.¡±


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    I frowned. It seemed so sudden, so soon, especially with everything that had happened. ¡°I seriously have done nothing that suggests I¡¯m good for the job.¡±


    Ike nodded. ¡°Not yet. But the magic don¡¯t lie. I want you to work under me, to learn the system and try out some of those gamer skills of yours. I¡¯ll be there to watch, maybe help or maybe learn depending on how right the spell was about you. But I look at you, and I see a good man and a desperate infernal who were brought about like an artifact to lead the armies of the goblin empire and I can¡¯t help thinking that maybe we should have you leading us instead.¡±


    He flicked his fingers, and a notification flashed before my eyes.


    You have been invited to share administrative rights over The Shadowed Vanguard. Do you accept?


    I thought my acceptance, watching in astonishment as a flurry of menus and pages were added to my character sheet.


    The notifications that followed were a swirl of colors and text, each menu and page popping up with a distinctive magical shimmer. I blinked in surprise as I sifted through the sudden influx of information now available to me. It was like diving into a deep, uncharted ocean, each page revealing more about the structure and inner workings of both The Shadowed Vanguard and the system itself. I saw a notification that my command was limited to the group here before us, and realized that Ike was playing things safe.


    I heartily approved, sifting through the pages and text.


    Vanguard Command Structure


    The Command structure allowed me to assign quests to members of the party. Rolling through the details of the system, I noticed that the group had a pool of Potential Experience that could be assigned as rewards to such quests, and that I could also add items from the Party Pool as rewards as well.


    Resource Management


    Pages and pages of the loot and litter that we had gathered were now itemized before me. The stockpile was impressive given all that had happened to us. Weapons, food supplies, medicinal herbs, food, water and more. It reminded me of the hospital inventory system back on Earth, but I suspected that unlike that one, this one was up to date and accurate. I poured over the numbers, realizing quickly that although there were a lot of varieties of stock, the amounts actually weren¡¯t all that good. We had enough rations for a week, weapons were mostly broken or low quality, and a lot of the potions list was simply empty vial waiting to be refilled.


    I sighed and turned to the next one.


    Recruitment and Training Programs


    Reading through the page, I saw that its importance had ended with the breakdown of the camp. A listing of various adventurers¡¯ training halls were listed, with a cost and time buy next to a variety of different skills and spells. There were even options for expanding ability scores, though the costs of them were incredibly prohibitive. Existing ability score times ten thousand gold told me that it was a rare occasion that this particular train up was used.


    And now that all of the structures were broken, every single one of the options was grayed out.


    ¡°Ike, this is... a lot,¡± I admitted, scrolling through the pages.


    He nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. ¡°It sure is. More than is good for me, that much is certain. You up for it?¡±


    ¡°Alright, Ike. I accept,¡± I said, my voice steady. ¡°Let¡¯s do this. Together.¡±


    He clapped me on the back, a grin spreading across his face. ¡°That''s the spirit. Why don¡¯t you go to your tent, take the night off, and start learning the system. If we¡¯re going to fight the Goblin Empire, we¡¯re going to need some strategy.¡±


    I thanked him, heading back to my tent past the roaring fire. The Goblin Empire, the way they all spoke of it, was so huge. This would be like the Greeks versus the Romans, or Napoleon after Russia. Enemy armies unspeakably large, without number really, and us trying desperately to stay alive and tear a line through to the capital. Ike was right when he said we couldn¡¯t rush it. We would need allies, numbers, all the magic we could muster.


    Plans started rolling through my head. We¡¯d assign people to go out and recruit people, others to find out the locations of ruins and dungeons for loot, experience points, and gear.


    The tribal orcs that fought us popped into my head and I realized that they might not be with the goblins, and that their fights might be for other reasons. Reasons that could be exploited.


    More and more thoughts turned in my head, and I checked the management tab, finding a page marked What We Know. In it were tavern tales, dated bits of espionage, various locations of ruins, supply dumps, friendly villages and rebel groups throughout the nation.


    I read it all, making sure I knew everything before I let myself sleep. Then, finally, I closed my eyes and fell into slumber.

 Chapter Thirty-Nine– Good ‘Ol Utopic Earth

    ¡°Rise and shine, Ryan!¡± Ike¡¯s voice was shrill and cheerful, well too dapper for early morning.


    I stirred, the cold edges of infernal dreams fleeing from my consciousness as I did so. Brief memories of screams and torture flashed through my head and I glimpsed Jeldorain¡¯s soul shrugging and smiling as I sat up and rubbed cold, icy eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s well past time to be up if you¡¯re gonna help me run the place,¡± he added cheerfully, popping through the ripped and frayed fabric of my makeshift home. I noticed he was wearing a fur cloak, faded brown but quite warm in appearance, and it made me realize how wonderful the day felt on my infernal skin.


    Still I hesitated, groaning softly, eager for just fifteen more minutes of rest. Ike cocked his head, then pulled out some jerky from his inventory, tossing it into my lap.


    MEAT! Jeldorain growled, adrenaline coursing through my body and dispelling all sense of weariness. I let him take the helm, watching as he scarfed down the red-brown strips of dried venison, then turned our eyes about our sleeping area, searching for more.


    Finding nothing, he ushered me back into place, his disappointment evident strong in my thoughts.


    No worries, Jeldorain. I¡¯ll find us more before the day is done, I consoled him. My mind was beginning to cycle now that I was moving, and the events of the previous day rolled through my mind as I made my way out of my tent and into the day.


    The vista was dazzling as always. The mid-morning sun was pale behind the hazy wispy streak of cloudy sky, its orb just the peak of distant mountains. The temperatures felt steady and cooler outside of my sleeping area, and I noticed some of the camp refugees wrapped up in ragged cloth blankets as they stumbled to their tasks.


    ¡°We need to get them better clothing,¡± I noted, pointing them out to Ike as we began to walk around the camp. ¡°And we¡¯re going to need to scavenge for food. There¡¯s not enough for more than a week.¡±


    Ike nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll have to craft the clothing from what we have. Surely some of the NPCs will have skills that can help with that.¡±


    I stopped in my step and stared. ¡°Non-Player Characters? Here in this world? That doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± I felt Jeldorain laughing in my head as Ike also stopped and stared back, cocking his head as he often did.


    ¡°What is a Non-Player Character?¡± he asked. ¡°Someone who watched games? I¡¯m talking about Naturally Pacifistic Citizens. Those who aren¡¯t born with the ability to gain experience points or level in any way beyond regular skill progression. People who can¡¯t adventure.¡±


    System slaves, Jeldorain added, an aura of pity floated over his words. We get a lot of them in the Hells. Their lack of class makes them easy pickings for sacrifices, and for infernal bargains.


    I growled. ¡°I see. Yes, let¡¯s sort the NPCs and find out their abilities then. There is a lot that needs to be done.¡±


    We started walking again, past the shattered morning afterlives of a dozen plus people, rooting through piled debris parked next to their own impromptu dwellings. Two broken carts made a triangle that was covered with torn tent canvas, and in front of it a little girl pulled a charred loaf of bread from out of it. I cast a surprised glance at Ike.


    ¡°These people ¡ª they don¡¯t have inventories?!¡±


    ¡°What a world you must have lived in,¡± he returned, ¡°in which all could adventure and have access to inventory. It really makes me wonder if when it comes time to send you home, I shouldn¡¯t join you.¡±


    I chuckled at the absurdity of it. ¡°No, it¡¯s not at all like that. Trust me, you wouldn¡¯t want to go there. There aren¡¯t any levels. No classes. Well, no adventuring classes anyways. And you, well . . . there isn¡¯t anything like you there. For starters, the whole planet is humans.¡±


    Ike raised a hairless eyebrow, a look of genuine screwed-up curiosity on his face. ¡°A whole planet of humans? No orcs, no elves, no goblins?¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Yeah, just humans. It''s... different. We have countries and cultures, sure, but no magic, no mana, no inventories or classes. Life there is more about... I guess, mundane things. Working, learning, building.¡±


    Jeldorain''s presence stirred in my mind. Sounds dreadfully boring, he mused.


    ¡°An entire world united. It sounds amazing. I have sometimes wondered what would happen with us kobolds if the other species weren¡¯t constantly killing us and raiding our homes. What it would be like to have a world of just kobolds.¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°Nothing like that. We just hate each other for having different languages or colors or holidays. Plenty of people get killed and raided.¡± I sighed.


    I felt Jeldorain rolling through my memories, news on the television and the internet, feeding on the chaos. I take back my previous comments, great champion. This is a world that I could well enjoy.


    Ignoring Jeldorain''s comment, I continued. ¡°It''s not all bad, though. We''ve got technology that might seem like magic to you. Machines that fly, devices that let us communicate across great distances instantly, carts that move faster than any horse.¡±


    Ike looked fascinated. ¡°Like the Gnomish Technomancy! Or what they want to be, anyways. A place of black smoke and rolling horseless carts, sticks of thunder that can take down a dragon from a mile away. I¡¯ve always thought it sounded like a land of wonders. How does anyone manage all that without magic?¡±


    ¡°Science and technology,¡± I replied. ¡°It''s a different kind of power. It''s about understanding the laws of nature and using them to our advantage.¡±


    Ike scratched his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Science and technology. Is that something we can do here? If the gnomes can do it, maybe we can too? Could science and technology defeat the goblins?¡±


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    Looking down at the girl gnawing on her hard, burnt bread, I imagined what someone else could have done here. Someone like Walter White, some brilliant chemist who understood all of those chemical interactions that made my world go.


    Seems to me that the magic maybe grabbed the wrong champion? Jeldorain suggested, chuckling.


    I chuckled as well, a bit embarrassed. ¡°I was a nurse, a soldier, and a gamer, among other things. I don¡¯t really know a lot about how to make the things that I lived with, or how to power them. In my spare time I played games. Games similar to this world, but... they were just games. For fun, for escape. Games that I was the best at. I never thought I''d end up living in something like them.¡±


    Ike grinned. ¡°Games that you were a champion at, yes? So, you living here, as you gain your feet . . . you will be a champion here as well! This is the reason the magic selected you! And if this was what you liked to do, to win at these games, this world must be like a genie¡¯s wish granted.¡±


    My family smiled at me from memory, and I shook my head. ¡°It isn¡¯t. Not without my family it isn¡¯t.¡±


    We began walking again, viewing more of the camp coming to life as exhausted people finally rose for the day. As we walked, Ike glanced at the refugees, his expression growing more solemn. ¡°What about these NPCs, as you call them? What happens to them in your world?¡±


    ¡°NPCs are in games only. In my world, everyone is just regular people,¡± I explained. ¡°They live their lives, work jobs, have families. Nobody has special leveling abilities so everyone is free to choose their own paths.¡±


    Ike nodded, looking back over his shoulder at the little girl with the charred loaf of bread. ¡°Sounds like a freedom they could only dream of here. Even if we didn¡¯t have classes and leveling, we still have to worry about coin. With enough coin, you are a king. Without it, you eat from the trash. Few of us really have choice in our world.¡±


    I coughed and choked on my own spit as I realized what he was saying. Tell him! Jeldorain enthused inside of me. Tell him about the power of money in your world, the beautiful sameness of the strife! Deciding against it, I finished our walk, winding us to the remains of the central firepit.


    Ike stopped his walk at the ashy rim of last night''s fire, stretching his arms wide, a series of pops emanating from his joints.


    ¡°If we can pull this off,¡± he stated, a wry smile on his face, ¡°We too can have a world of equals. There has to be a way.¡±


    I returned his smile weakly.


    ¡°Anyways, enough about all of that.¡± Ike clapped me on the back of my leg. ¡°We''ve got a big day ahead of us, Ryan. Time to make some tough decisions and start using that hero champion magic of yours in our favor. Did you get through the system stuff alright?¡±


    I nodded, stepping over to him. ¡°Yeah. It gave me some good ideas too.¡±


    Ike smiled. ¡°Go on.¡±


    My mind rolled through all of the data that had been contained within the pages, picking out the points that I rolled over again and again in my night of strategizing. Jeldorain rolled over them with me, smirking.


    It¡¯s a wild plan, champion. Chaotic, full of speculation. I like it.


    ¡°The orcs have a camp near here. You, Kevinar and I could check it out and see what is going on with these constant tribal raids. The goblin lord who was with them might have been their leader¡ªbut given what Schustak did to us, there¡¯s a decent chance the orcs aren¡¯t fighting for the goblins so willingly. The data in the system suggested that the tribals generally aren¡¯t interested in the Empire, and often raid them. So it seems like something we should check out.¡±


    Ike pursed his reptilian lips. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say I fancy heading into a camp of orcs after killing a bunch of them, but the magic didn¡¯t summon me into your demon body. Go on.¡±


    I cleared my throat, a billow of frost in the chilly mountain morning. ¡°There is a lot of information on dissident villages and small rebel groups. And of course other outposts of Shadowed Vanguard to contact. We need to take the other adventurers, partner them up, and send them as emissaries. See if we can¡¯t make ourselves an army.¡±


    Ike nodded. ¡°Yes. Definitely. What else do you have?¡±


    ¡°Well, we take the refugees with us and stow them somewhere safe before we get to the camp. Our group will be the strongest protection they can get, and the other adventurers will need to be free to move and hide. The real question is, how far will we be taking them?¡±


    Apparating a map into his scaly, taloned hands, Ike checked the legend on the side, scanned it over once, then handed it over to me. ¡°The closest orc encampment I have marked down is up north. Might be the one that attacked us. But might also not be, and might be that it doesn¡¯t matter. We can head in that direction for a day, encamp somewhere hidden, then head the rest of the way by ourselves in the morning.¡±


    I studied the map, tracing the path northwards ¡°Sounds like a solid start. How do we convince them to join us?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where your diplomacy comes in,¡± Ike said with a smirk. ¡°You got a way with words. I saw that when you talked down Jeldorain. Plus, they''ve all got bones to pick with the enemy. We just need to remind ''em of that.¡±


    You are a good talker, Ryan, Jeldorain said. And if your words don¡¯t sway them, we can always eat their leader.


    I took a deep breath to keep from laughing. Despite the weight of the task ahead, his words loosened me up, making me feel confident in the plan. Convincing the orcs to join us after we¡¯d been killing so many of them didn¡¯t feel like a good idea intrinsically. But there was absolutely something going on there. Some sort of blackmail or hostage situation. From what I understood of the orcs at the moment, none of it made sense otherwise. And it seemed that Ike was in absolute agreement.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get everyone together. I¡¯ll address the group, lay out our plan.¡±


    Ike nodded, and we called everyone near the ash of the last night''s fire. The survivors of The Shadowed Vanguard gathered around, their faces a mix of curiosity and apprehension. I could see the toll the recent events had taken on them, but there was also a spark of hope in their eyes.


    ¡°As you all know,¡± I began, my voice steady, ¡°we¡¯ve suffered a great loss. But we¡¯re not defeated. Not yet. Our enemy is strong, but we have something they don¡¯t ¨C unity and the will to fight for our freedom.¡±


    Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group.


    ¡°We need to strengthen our forces, and for that, we¡¯re going to seek allies. The orcs to the north and the goblins in the east are our first targets. They have their own reasons to despise the enemy, and with their help, we can turn the tide of this war.¡±


    I paused, letting my words sink in. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy. Trust is hard to come by in times like these. But we have to try. For the future of our land, for the memories of those we¡¯ve lost.¡±


    The group nodded, a sense of resolve settling over them.


    Ike stepped forward. ¡°Ryan, Kevinar and I will lead the diplomatic mission to the orcs, and we¡¯ll take the non-adventurers with us to keep them safe. The rest of you, we need teams ready to head out and find support from our other outposts, and from known empire dissidents. I¡¯ve given you a quest from the system menu. Head out when you feel ready, and don¡¯t get yourself killed.¡±


    With the meeting adjourned, everyone set about preparing for the tasks ahead. I rolled through the inventory, allotting potions and loot to anyone who needed them, making sure that all had 3 health potions, mana potions, and exertion potions on their person.


    As the sun climbed higher in the sky, I took one last look at the camp. The faces of The Shadowed Vanguard were determined, their spirits unbroken despite the hardships they¡¯d endured. It was good to see. As I stood there, Brandosyeus came to my side, geared for travel.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming with you,¡± he said. I nodded, lost for words of my own.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I stuttered.


    He nodded and smiled.


    With our packs slung over our shoulders and weapons at our sides, we set out. The journey would be long and fraught with danger, but I felt a surge of determination. I was going to save these people from the ones who did us all wrong, and then I was going to go home.

 Chapter Forty – Under Duress

    The journey northward through the mountainous terrain was reminiscent of the documentaries I¡¯d watch with Casey back home, some deep and curious voice speaking about the great specialness that created the place and the wondrous animals that lived there. Patches of densely forested landscape gave us targets to reach across the otherwise craggy frost-rimmed rocks and clay-laden rises and our path was marked by a series of steep ravines and declines. It was a challenge for the smaller beings among us, and I took to ferrying them by hand, one at a time, up the taller aspects of our way.


    As we navigated the rugged wilderness, I noticed that many of the NPCs were now wrapped in warm, albeit ragged, piecemeal clothing. Ike, walking beside me, noticed my gaze. ¡°They¡¯ve been sorting out the clothing issue on their own,¡± he said with a hint of pride. ¡°They might be NPCs, but they¡¯re Shadowed Vanguard NPCs and that counts for a lot. Plus it helps that we got a couple of good tailors among them. Crafters too.¡±


    I nodded, impressed. It was a small victory, seeing them able to do something that none of us adventurers here could do. It gave them a strength that I appreciated. It made sense in regard to Lords of Chaos as well. In the game we always had to go to town and to the NPCs to get the good things done. We were the battlers, but they were the ones who made the world. Looked like that was the case here as well.


    Jeldorain¡¯s presence in my mind stirred, his tone laced with amusement. Crafters and tailors, eh? In the Hells, they¡¯d be prime targets for a bit of fun. Here, they seem to be the backbone of your little army.


    Our progress was cautious yet steady, the sun reaching its zenith before slowly rolling down towards darkness. Sometime past noon we ran into our most dangerous part of the journey, coming upon a large chasm so deep that even with heat vision none of us could see the bottom. Skirting around it wasn¡¯t so bad, but the things that came out from there were certainly not anything I wanted our NPCs to have to tussle with.


    Jeldorain chuckled darkly as the creatures approached. Ah, now this is more like it. A bit of excitement to spice up the journey.


    Eyeless simians with lobster pincers for hands emerged, apish bodies rustling with plates of chitinous armors that creaked as they moved. They snorted the air with gorilla-like nostrils, clacking their hands in our direction and trundling forward after us. All of us readied for the attack, putting ourselves between them and our people, but they were hesitant as they got closer.


    I wondered if they could somehow sense our levels and the powers that we held. There were a full sixty of them, and they looked fierce, but after our people moved far enough away, they seemed to lose interest and went back to where they had come from


    I asked about what they were, but even Jeldorain hadn¡¯t a clue. It was as if the chasm was a portal to a new world.


    Then there were the howls that echoed through the mountains just as dusk began to envelop the sky. We were advancing up a slope, nearing a flat in the mountain that looked perfect for camp, when they echoed through the trees and coursed over us. The sound was eerie, a chorus of haunting wails that came from the East, and over us all swept the aura of fear, some NPC¡¯s moaning loudly.


    ¡°Direlings,¡± Kevinar whispered, his eyes scanning the darkening woods. ¡°Creatures of the deep mountain. Fear-aura attack. They try to shatter groups then take out those who break from the pack.¡±


    ¡°Everyone hold hands,¡± I bellowed. ¡°Anyone tries to leave, you knock them over. And stop moving. Let¡¯s see what happens when no one breaks ranks.¡± I looked to Kevinar and he nodded approvingly. Scanning our people, I saw that Ike had gone amongst a gaggle of children, herding them together towards the absolute center of our group.


    The howls grew louder, more frantic, glowing eyes peering out from the last line of trees in a thick patch of forest oak. More of our people moaned, and one woman screamed, only to be knocked to the dirt and dragged to the center by Ike.


    And then the music started. Stepped out from our group in the direction of the Direlings, Brandosyeus began to play, a melody that was both soothing as sad, The effect was immediate, waves of bravery rolling through us even as the howls began to soften, blending with the music, creating a symphony that was strangely harmonious. Brandosyeus continued to play, his fingers moving deftly over the pipes.


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    The Direlings stepped out of the forest, drawn to the music. Their bodies were sleek and covered in shimmering fur that twinkled like stars in the twilight. Their eyes continued to glow with their ethereal light as they circled around us, but the light was different now. Smoother and uninterested. They made no move to attack.


    As the last notes of the melody faded into the night, the Direlings retreated back into the darkness. The rest of us simply watched them go, then turned to the bard in our midst.


    ¡°That was incredible,¡± I said to Brandosyeus.


    ¡°Direlings are misunderstood creatures. Perhaps infernals are the same,¡± he responded, turning and moving back into the group.


    From there we continued on, moving onto our target camping site and breaking out all of our camping implements. Wood was chopped even as our tent city took shape and rose up around us, and I left with Kevinar and Ike to walk to the edge of the slope and look over the mountain onto the plateau that was our ultimate target. The orc camp was visible in the distance, its center marked by multiple small fires. I estimated there could be as many as a thousand orcs.


    That was either a really good number, or a really bad one. The next day would decide which.


    Kevinar, adjusting his shaded goggles, removed their tint and zoom-scoped them in. ¡°Take a look,¡± he offered, passing the goggles to me.


    Through the enhanced view, the camp details became clearer ¨C the arrangement of their cook fires, the movement of orcs, even the flap of their lips as they chatted with one another. ¡°Orc. Orc orc orc,¡± I could imagine them saying, and the idea made me chuckle.


    The layout of the tents struck my eye as wrong, though, as I glanced over the rest of the camp. They were haphazard and sloppy. The orcs in Lords of Chaos were chaotic on the battlefield, preferring to charge rather than stay in orderly ranks. But when it came to their camps and homes, they preferred disciplined and defensible rows.


    There was none of that here.


    Surveying more closely, I looked for other strange details that would indicate something was off. They moved about stiffly, glancing over shoulders and peering into darkened nooks and crannies as if worried and afraid of attack. In one area, a group of orcs were gathered around a fire, a jovial enough spot to commune. But their laughter seemed forced, their glances furtive. In another area, orcs sparred by a tall bonfire, but their movements were slow and lacking.


    ¡°They¡¯re going through the motions,¡± I muttered, handing the goggles back to Kevinar.


    He peered through again, then handed them to Ike. ¡°There is a tent in the North side of their camps that flies symbols of the Cult of Gharag.¡±


    I felt Jeldorain chill inside of me.


    ¡°The ones who infused us?¡± I asked.


    ¡°The very same,¡± Ike answered. ¡°There are other clan banners around it as well. Some of them aren¡¯t friendly, but here they are neighbors. And look at the perimeter guards. They¡¯re not just watching for random encounters. They keep glancing back at the camp, like they''re guarding against something inside.¡±


    Hostages, Jeldorain said. The Wars of the Hells do the same. Take the families of the nobles and hold them to force their armies to fight for you.


    I turned to my companions, relaying his thoughts.


    ¡°The Houses of the Dark do the same,¡± Kevinar said, pausing. ¡°To free a house from such bondage, one must simply rescue the hostages.¡±


    ¡°And then they¡¯ll help us out?¡± I asked.


    Ike grunted. ¡°They¡¯re orcs. You pull a fast one on them, and they¡¯ll chase you into the Icy Hells themselves to get their justice.¡±


    It¡¯s true, Jeldorain noted. In my head I saw images of a dark mage opening a gate to Jeldorain¡¯s realm and fleeing into it. Without any hesitation, a mob of angry orcs tore through the gates and chased after him, oblivious to the cold.


    I whistled, impressed. ¡°That¡¯s what we do then. Sneak around the camp and to the tents in the North. Scout the interior to make sure there are hostages. Rescue them and bring them back here to join our NPCs. And then return and open up dialog.¡±


    ¡°You make it sound so easy,¡± Ike said, scratching at his chin.


    ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m apparently a great talker,¡± I noted. Kevinar laughed.


    Quest Chain: The Orcs


    Quest 1: Investigate Orcish Sympathies


    Difficulty: Normal


    Objectives: Find information about the Orcs and why they are working with the Goblin Empire.


    Rewards: Possible Alliance. 1000 XP.


    Penalties: The Annihilation of your people


    The penalties aspect of the quest gave me pause, and I could see in the eyes of my companions that the effect on them had been the same. But I pushed it out of the way, determined that we move forward.


    ¡°Plans in place, then. We¡¯ll move out in the morning. Orcs are better at seeing in the night, mostly, so I¡¯d like to hit those tents by noon. Anyone got anything they need to do before we head out?¡± Ike asked.


    We shook our heads. Heading back to the camp, I saw that the NPCs had constructed a series of palisades at the edges of our camp, lining them to coincide with the start of the slope on all sides. I nodded and smiled at them. They were going to be very helpful in the months to come. I walked to my tent and lay down inside, closing my eyes and drifting off to the realm of dreams.

 Chapter Forty-One – Behind Enemy Lines

    Hungry, a voice whispered in my mind, a rippling sigh that rolled across the wrinkles in my infernal brain like clouds over the sky.


    I opened my eyes and sighed. It was the beginning of another doozy of a day, and there was a fairly good chance that I was going to get killed. I got up, rubbed my eyes, then made my way out.


    The chill of the early morning air rippled over my skin as I stepped out of my tent, Jeldorain sighing in devilish revelry. The camp was still, only the faintest hints of dawn peeking out over the horizon. A ticking, rasping noise came to my ears, and I looked about in confusion.


    Some idiot is trying to start a cook fire. Better stop it, oh great champion, before these NPCs become lunch.


    I quickly cast about, spotting a middle-aged man, his face doughy and tired, shivering under makeshift winter wear and putting flint to steel.


    ¡°No, no fires,¡± I said gently but firmly, dousing the flames with a handful of dirt. ¡°We need to stay hidden, remember? Any smoke could give us away.¡±


    The NPC stared at me with big, sad eyes. ¡°Alright, yer infernalship. Didn¡¯t mean to do nuthin. Just tryin to warm up,¡± he murmured.


    I nodded and reached out one turkey-sized hand to place it reassuringly upon his shoulder, but as his eyes went wide and he moaned in terror, I thought better of it and patted him on the head instead. ¡°I know, but we have to be careful. We''re close to the orc camp. Any sign of us, and we could all be in danger.¡±


    Turning, I addressed the rest of the NPCs, who were beginning to stir. ¡°Everyone, remember, you need to stay quiet and hidden while we are gone. No fires, no loud noises. We''re in enemy territory now.¡±


    I turned towards Ike¡¯s little tent, multicolored patch work affair of soot stained colors, just as he stuck his head out, glancing in my direction. ¡°Speak of the devil,¡± he chuckled. ¡°You woke up before I did.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Jeldorain¡¯s primal impulses make for a good alarm clock. Speaking of, when and where is breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Breakfast? Let''s see what we''ve got,¡± he said, rummaging through his inventory. He pulled out a small sack and handed it to me.


    ¡°Here and now.¡± Ike grinned. Come on, let¡¯s circle everyone together and hand out rations.


    We roused everyone who was still sleeping and moved them together into the center of the camp, pulling from our provisions and handing out a portion of dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and the king of the meal, chewing well-salted strips of venison jerky. Everyone took their share thankfully, but none more so than Jeldorain.


    The salt is sublime. Frozen flesh is decent. Raw, steaming flesh is sweet and juicy. But the salted and dried meats of this prime material plane are tremendous. When I am released back to the Hells, I will find a means to obtain and trade these there, and become the King of my own domain.


    I smiled, thinking of how he would react to the many, many jerky options available in my own world. The breakfast was good, and to wash it all down, we had flasks of cold water.


    Suitably refreshed and fed, Ike, Kevinar, and Brandosyeus formed up with me, preparing for our journey. The early morning light cast long shadows across their faces, showcasing their eager preparedness and, thankfully, a lack of hostility on the satyr bard¡¯s face.


    ¡°Are we good?¡± I asked him as we all prepped our weapons and readied ourselves for the journey.


    ¡°We are, Ryan,¡± he announced, and within me I felt a great sense of relief emanating from my infernal comrade.


    Kevinar nodded, his eyes scanning the surrounding forest. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s move out. Remember, stay alert and stick to the plan.¡±


    We left the camp in silence, moving swiftly but cautiously down the slope opposite the orc camp. The terrain was uneven, and we had to be mindful of every step to avoid making noise.


    Brandosyeus kept his panpipes at the ready, his eyes darting around as if expecting trouble at any moment. While Kevinar disappeared to our fore and Ike kept to the center. I rolled up the rear, my icearigama in hand in case things got crazy.


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    As we skirted around the edge of the orc camp, I felt a rush of adrenaline and surprise course through my body.


    +1/10 Perception


    I raised my weapon hand, watching in the direction that I was suddenly sure held danger, and Kevinar popped out of the bushes, a wide smile on his face.


    ¡°Good catch, Ryan. Surprised you saw me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, me too!¡± I exclaimed. My other two comrades turned and were heading back in our direction. We came together, ready for news.


    ¡°Two orcs on patrol,¡± Kevinar said. ¡°We can wait them out, but they are walking slow. I think it might be better if we skirt them.¡±


    ¡°With that elephant?¡± Ike asked, jabbing his pointy finger into my thigh.


    Kevinar shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s got some sneak. If he makes the check, he¡¯s golden.¡±


    Brandosyeus nodded. ¡°I can raise our stealth with a tune that will sound like bird song to their ears. Though if they make their saves or else resist by other means, it will instead sound like brazen insults against their families, and will almost certainly end in combat.¡±


    We all stared at him with our mouths open.


    ¡°It¡¯ll work,¡± he added.


    Signaling agreement. we crouched low push forward under what we hoped was a cover of birdsong. We duckwalked on the other side of trees and bushes, blending into the underbrush as the orcish patrolmen walked by, their conversation carrying through the air.


    Crouched in the shadows, we listened to two orcs, their gruff voices carrying a mix of discontent and worry as they talked in a broken common. We shared a glance; why weren¡¯t they speaking the same language?


    ¡°Me say, we go now,¡± grunted the first orc, his voice rough like gravel. ¡°No good, this fight. Goblins play us like drums in night. We dance, they laugh.¡±


    ¡°But chief families,¡± the other orc replied. ¡°Them gone if we run. Goblins mean, they find new chief, one who nods and grunts yes to all.¡±


    The first orc, frustration clear in his stance, scowled. ¡°Not fair, not orc way. We Iron Tusk fight hard, challenge chief for lead. Goblins not, they steal and lie. I want smashing. Now we bowing to green-skins.¡±


    The second orc growled. ¡°Tribe AxeCleave same. But we smash, they burn. All families dead. And we leave, tribe breaks like twig. Then who strong? We wait, find right time to strike. Kill wizards, save families.¡±


    The frustration was palpable in the Iron Tusk orc¡¯s grunt. ¡°Me hate waiting. Like sitting on sharp rock. But for chief, for family, for tribe, me wait.¡±


    They stopped walking, and we followed suit, waiting in tense silence to see if they had discovered us.


    The AxeCleave orc broke the silence. ¡°Keep ax ready. Time comes, we show goblins Iron Tusk fury.¡±


    ¡°Yes. When drum beats, we answer. We show them Iron Tusk strength.¡±


    The two orcs continued their patrol, and we shared a glance before continuing on past them, their conversation fading as they moved away, unaware of our presence.


    In my vision, 3 notifications appeared.


    +1/10 Perception


    Quest Complete: Investigate Orcish Sympathies


    Reward: +1000 XP


    and


    Quest Chain: The Orcs


    Quest 2: Learn the Layout


    Difficulty: Normal


    Objectives: Discover the location of potential hostages and formulate a plan to rescue them


    Rewards: Possible Alliance. 1000 XP


    Penalties: The Annihilation of your people


    After they¡¯d been gone a while, I turned to my companions. ¡°That was informative,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°It¡¯s as we guessed, but more so,¡± Ike said. ¡°It¡¯s not just the chiefs. It¡¯s all their NPCs as well. This isn¡¯t going to be easy. We¡¯re going to need to find out more about the layout and where everyone is at to have any hopes of springing them and freeing the orcs from the goblin command.¡±


    ¡°We might have to get the NPCs involved,¡± Brandosyeus muttered. Kevinar shook his head while Ike pahhed at the idea, and we continued forward.


    The descent down the mountain''s opposite slope was arduous. Thickets of dense undergrowth hid our approach, but also slowed us down, branches getting in the way more often than not. I found myself skirting around the clump of trees several times to avoid snapping wood or crackling through dead leaves. Above, the sun reached high noon, casting a golden hue over the rugged landscape. If we didn¡¯t hurry, we were going to get there well past our time table.


    Then, as we neared the northern edge of the camp, my foot caught on a hidden root. I stumbled, barely catching myself before I made a sound. My heart pounded in my chest, the close call reminding me of the deadliness of our situation.


    We reached a secluded spot with a clear view of the camp. The orcish siesta was underway, the camp quiet with only a few guards on duty.


    ¡°Now¡¯s our chance,¡± Kevinar whispered, peering through his modified goggles. The camp sprawled before us, a network of tents and fires, the orcs unaware of our presence.


    I nodded, ready to make our move. This was it, the moment where we would find out if our plan could succeed, if we could turn these orcs from foes to allies.


    Bunching together, we prepared to push forward and reconnoiter the place. But as we prepared to enter the camp, my foot snapped a twig. The sharp crack shattered the silence. An orc guard stopped, turning in our direction, his eyes narrowing and walking into the forest before us.


    Quick as could, I lunged forward, seizing him before he could raise the alarm. My hands clamped over his mouth, muffling any sound he might make.


    ¡°Perfect! Genius! We need to get out of here,¡± Ike hissed, his eyes darting around for any signs of other guards. ¡°We can interrogate him and find out everything we need to out in the thick!¡±


    We retreated into the forest, dragging the orc with us. Strangely, he did not struggle, his eyes rolling over us in a manner that simply suggested resignation and helplessness. Carrying him in my arms, we moved out into the forest.

 Chapter Forty-Two– Insider Information

    Far enough away that any cries for help would go unheard, I settled the orc into a nook of a large oak tree in a way that I hoped would be comfortable and would also win us rapport. Where we¡¯d stopped was quite thick, a leafy five foot drop with an edge crowded by berry bushes. Though they were nude of leaves and fruit in this late-fall weather, it was easily the most concealed spot in the forest. I released the orc and backed away, watching him closely as I did so.


    He stared, silently, watching us as we watched him. The warrior was a burly figure with deep-set eyes and a scowl that seemed etched into his face. His whole figure suggested someone used to battle, but his slouch and tiredness spoke volumes about his morale. As Ike apparated rope from his inventory into his hands, I waved him off, kneeling down in front of the warrior.


    ¡°We know of your predicament, of what the goblins have done to you. We are here to help your people. And for that, we need information,¡± I said, letting it all spill out at one go. ¡°We have to find out what¡¯s really going on in that camp. That way we can save your families and hopefully your leaders as well.¡±


    Kevinar raised an eyebrow. ¡°I have never experienced such a genial interrogation. An interesting technique. Whistle if you need me, I will go check to our perimeter and make sure no one else stumbles upon us.¡± He turned and disappeared into the forest.


    Brandosyeus, meanwhile, fiddled with his panpipes, a thoughtful look on his face. ¡°Music can soothe the savage beast,¡± he mused. ¡°Maybe it can loosen a tongue as well. I have ways of forcing the truth from many.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I warned. ¡°The orcs out here hate the goblins as much as you all do. But that¡¯s gonna change if we puppet them like the goblins have been. We¡¯re not going to play good cop, bad cop, here. We¡¯re going to talk. That¡¯s all.¡±


    I knelt in front of the orc, meeting his gaze. ¡°We¡¯re not here to harm you,¡± I said again, trying to convey sincerity through my words. It was hard, though, with Jeldorain chanting kill, kill, kill softly in the background.


    ¡°Good,¡± the orc spat, his command of the common tongue surprisingly smooth though his voice was rough like gravel. ¡°I am done fighting for meaningless things. They¡¯ve forced us into servitude. Threatened us with the death of our mates and children if we don¡¯t comply.¡±


    ¡°You speak common well,¡± Ike interjected. ¡°Care to explain?¡±


    I turned and regarded him, considering the question. It was definitely suspicious, given how the other orcs we¡¯d encountered had been talking.


    ¡°I am Harric, son of Othora and Han. My lineage is orc and human, and I was born in a human shantytown.¡±


    ¡°A half-orc?!¡± I asked, more out of surprise than actual curiosity. I regarded him more closely, taking in all of the clues that I hadn¡¯t seen before. At first glance, one might mistake him for a full-blooded orc with his towering stature and muscular build. But now that I knew, I could see it.


    His face, broad and flat like that of his orcish kin, carried a softer contour around the edges. His brow, though prominent, lacked the heavy ridges common to orcs, and his eyes, deep-set beneath, sparkled with a human-like expressiveness.


    I wondered if the human side made him more trustworthy . . . or less.


    ¡°We can get into the backstory later. The bottom line is that we can rescue them,¡± I said. ¡°We came here because orcs all over have been fighting us for the goblins. We¡¯ll save you from them, and help you with your revenge.¡±


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    His face smoothed, his brow unfurrowed. ¡°An infernal would do such things for us?¡±


    A strong breeze swayed the branches above us, sweeping with it a whorl of dead leaves and litter. Thrymheimr, Jeldorain whispered. It is the wind of fate. We are bound to this now, whatever the consequences.


    I simply nodded, allowing the moment to pass. In my silence, Ike stepped forward next to me, eye-level with the sitting orc warrior. ¡°The Shadowed Vanguard would,¡± Ike stated. ¡°Nothing we hate more the goblins. You all in the forests, you hate them too. Would be fun having you on our side.¡±


    Harric sighed. ¡°The Shadowed Vanguard. I know the name. They said your force was recently destroyed. They called themselves saviors. We had sent messengers, in the beginning. When they didn¡¯t return, we were told you had declared blood feud on our people. I didn¡¯t believe it, but others did.¡±


    Ike pointed two taloned fingers up to his eyes. ¡°You see any feud hate here? And no, they didn¡¯t wreck us. But they didn¡¯t do us no favors either. The whole lousy thing was a big cheat, and definitely a loss. But let me tell you, they kicked the hornet¡¯s nest on that one,¡± Ike said, his toothy maw breaking into a grin. ¡°Tell us what you know, and together we can break some goblins. Maybe even, if things go to plan, kill the emperor himself!¡±


    Harric nodded. ¡°We really have nothing to lose here. Alright, let me help you help us. The chiefs,¡± he began, his large hand sketching an invisible map in the air, ¡°they stay in the center, guarded. The families, they are under us, in the Dwarven Puppet Kingdom of Khazud-Tharik. There is a main gate along the eastern cliff, but I suspect there is another way in. One that is closer and more convenient for the goblins watching over us. I have seen the Khazud dwarves come through many times, with one climbing up the sides of the mountain to come there. As for the goblins... they come and go. Their numbers might be in the hundreds, but they are not always here. They have mages, and the mages kill those who offend them, keep us in fear.¡±


    Harric''s eyes, a piercing shade of emerald, scanned our faces, gauging our reactions. Ike nodded thoughtfully, his sharp mind already weaving the details into a strategy.


    ¡°The goblin forces, do they have any patterns? Times when they are fewer in number?¡± Ike asked.


    Harric grunted, scratching his jaw. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you. I¡¯m just a warrior. One who is on guard and will need to be back at his post soon with a story of pursuit in case my absence has been noted. One involving movement followed that ultimately ended up being a deer.¡±


    ¡°When will you be relieved from duty?¡± I asked, my voice laced with a sense of shared understanding. My mind wandered to my own days of service, the weight of the gear strapped to my body, the pressure of the bulletproof vest against my chest, and I realized there might be another reason the spell had brought me here. The average gamer wouldn¡¯t understand the strategies, tactics, and routines of army soldiers.


    ¡°At sunset someone else will take my place,¡± Harric answered. ¡°There are periodic checks by the warsargs, though. It¡¯s best for all of us that one of them did not come to find me.¡±


    Ike blew a raspberry. ¡°Tavern tales do you wild orcs no favors. You all sound like you know your stuff.¡±


    ¡°And could you usher us in, try to hide us, allow us to investigate the camp and pinpoint where everyone is during the rest of your patrol time?¡± I asked.


    He paused, thinking. ¡°Yes. One of you. The elf could do it. I can bring him in and, if he isn¡¯t caught, let him out.¡±


    Brandosyeus frowned. ¡°What if all of this is a trap? It¡¯s all too easy, isn¡¯t it? We barely know this orc.¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°Failure means our people get eliminated, right? So what do we have left to lose?¡± My wife and children flashed before my eyes, but I didn¡¯t mention them. They all knew what was on the line.


    As the sun climbed slightly higher in the sky, casting filtered light through the canopy of leaves above us, Kevinar arrived and our conversation concluded. They would head into the camp together, and we would wait for their return. If luck was on our side, this would be the beginning of something huge.


    And if not, it would be the end of something that had been promising.


    Bidding the two farewell, the three of sat down to wait, ready for the worst while hoping that we wouldn¡¯t have to wait long.

 Chapter Forty-Three – A Plan of Attack

    The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of dusky purple and orange, the three of us sitting about and stirring at each and every sound. The gentle rustling of leaves sent my icearigama to my hands. The soft plop of a pine cone had Ike up with blade in one hand and a pile of dirt in the other. On and on, our edginess grew.


    So it was quite the surprise that we failed to detect the arrival of Kevinar. He stepped from the shadows, emerging in legendary fashion as a dark cloaked figure detaching seamlessly from the dimming twilight. Kevinar moved swiftly and knelt down in the center of our party.


    ¡°The mission is done. I have information,¡± he said, speaking in a low, crouching voice.


    Ike snorted. ¡°¡¯Bout time. Didn¡¯t know we were going to be making this into a night mission.¡±


    ¡°Missions happen when they must,¡± Kevinar replied. ¡°Often, the mission is the one who chooses not just the where and when of their matter, but the who and what as well.¡±


    I nodded, not understanding at all what he was getting at. Jeldorain chortled in my head as he caught whiff of my confusion, but I ignored him.


    We closed in and gathered around the dark elf, air thick with anticipation. ¡°Kevinar, what news?¡± The words slipped out, accidentally and impatiently, but I wanted to cut past the chatter and start the mission. My family needed me.


    Kevinar, with a practiced ease, reached into the depths of his dark cloak, his fingers deftly finding what they sought. He withdrew a crumpled piece of parchment, its edges worn and slightly tattered. With deliberate care, he unfolded the parchment, revealing its creased and lined surface. It was a map, detailed and intricate, the product of a keen eye and a steady hand.


    ¡°I have much to report,¡± he announced, his voice carrying a calm intensity. He cast about, looking for somewhere to spread the map out. I apparated my shield and placed it on the ground. ¡°Thank you, Ryan,¡± he said, laying the map down and pushing it out flat.


    We came closer and huddled around, looking over the parchment. It was hard to see in the darkness, the angle of the setting sun casting a dance of shadows and dying rays across our faces and the map''s surface. But it was enough, and we examined the lines and symbols on the parchment, bringing the legend to bear and quickly understanding the lay of the land.


    Kevinar''s slender finger, pale against the dark ink, began to trace the routes and landmarks. ¡°The patrols are frequent, but predictable,¡± he explained, his finger gliding over the pathways marked on the map. ¡°Their mages are well-guarded, yet not invincible. I estimate them to be level 5s and 6s. Veterans in the field, but no one who has seen and survived major combat against a boss-type foe.¡±


    I leaned in, my eyes scanning the detailed sketch of the goblin encampment. ¡°And the families? The captives?¡± I asked.


    ¡°The kingdom in which they are kept is accessible from a main gate, as Harric stated, and also a secret entrance near the border of the camp here,¡± Kevinar said, stabbing his finger into the paper. We followed his motion, seeing the place marking with the symbol of a halfmoon.


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    ¡°That¡¯s going to make things difficult,¡± Ike observed. ¡°I was hoping the entrance to the kingdom would be closer to the chiefs and we could maybe save them, bring them with us, and get the families all before any ruckus got started. How are we supposed to save both the chiefs and the families?¡±


    My mind raced. I¡¯d done rescue missions before, in Lords of Chaos, and some of them were meant to be solved more diplomatically than special ops. The orcs in mind with Harric in the forefront, I imagined that the dwarves might well be in the same situation as the tribes were.


    ¡°How big is this kingdom?¡± I asked, suspicions rising.


    Kevinar cocked his head. ¡°It¡¯s a city-state, a single large city that dominates a tremendous cavern beneath us,¡± he answered, tracing the borders it on the map before us, before flipping the map to show a detailed subterranean one. Catching a glimpse of the map legend and the distance ratios used, I quickly measured the city to be 20 square miles in depth and length. Sizable and probably densely packed, but almost certainly a place small enough to be cowed by the current Goblin Empire presence.


    ¡°What if the dwarves are under the same sort of thrall that the orcs are?¡± I asked. ¡°Could we sneak in, meet with their leader, and save the families without word reaching the goblins above, giving us a chance to save the chieftains as well?¡±


    Kevinar ticked his tongue. ¡°Maybe.¡± His finger moved to a different section of the map, one marked with a series of small, clustered dots. ¡°A series of mystic sigils mark the camp land here, and within sit mages, their eyes closed in reverie. There were three when I saw them. I don¡¯t understand their purpose, but given their constant attention, it might have to do with this very idea of which you speak.¡±


    Brandosyeus peered more closely. ¡°It is indeed the right placement for displacement runes. Such a placement with the right amount of constantly concentrated mana could give them constant spell access to the kingdom. It is possible that they have hostages of their own within the dwarven kingdom.¡±


    I growled. ¡°Jeldorain says that such runes could give them access to all sorts of spells, depending on which minor runes are inscribed within them. Including clairvoyance. I think, for this to work, we¡¯ll have to form two rescue teams and save both the chieftains and the families simultaneously, while also putting the rune circles out of operation. How long do these things take to set up again if they are destroyed?¡±


    ¡°Thousands of gold coins, new fresh soil from the kingdom beneath us, and three days of intensely concentrated ritual,¡± Brandosyeus said, drawing internal assent from Jeldorain.


    ¡°So there it is. We find a way to wreck the runes, then have three days to rescue the chiefs and their families, while also talking to the dwarves and convincing them to let us free them.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to need more people,¡± Ike groused.


    The four of us shared a look.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t ask them,¡± Brandosyeus said, high voice rising angrily. ¡°They aren¡¯t heroes!¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°Nothing about being an NPC means they can¡¯t be heroes. Just because they don¡¯t have levels doesn¡¯t mean they can¡¯t contribute. But . . . maybe we can contact Harric again and see if there aren¡¯t orcs that might help us?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s risky,¡± Kevinar stated. ¡°But necessary. All of it is necessary.¡± He turned and glared at Brandosyeus, his last words challenging the satyr to say otherwise. ¡°If the NPCs stay where they are, and we fail, they will die. What is different if they die here, with us, or there, scared and unknowing. When things are desperate, it is better to be given the chance to leave this world with a blade in your hand than without, even if destiny never expected such things from you.¡±


    We all fell quiet, looking for Brandosyeus¡¯ response. He turned his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s not fair.¡±


    ¡°My wife is a monster, at the hand of my people and my god. Life is not fair,¡± Kevinar noted.


    ¡°Jon,¡± the satyr muttered sadly.


    ¡°We are all sad that he died. But isn¡¯t it better that he died fighting?¡± Kevinar pressed. Brandosyeus turned, glaring, and for a moment I felt that he might strike the dark elf. His face red and his eyes shining, the satyr turned away from them.


    ¡°I will bring the NPCs. The three of you contact Harric and find a way to break the runes. By the time that is finished, we should all be with you.¡±

 Chapter Forty-Four– An Inside Man

    As the first light of dawn seeped through the trees, casting long shadows over our makeshift fireless camp, I sat with Ike and Kevinar, tearing through jerky and hardtack. The morning air was slightly warm for a change, and Jeldorain whined inside of me, wishing for the cool of his home dimension.


    I scarfed down my food quickly and wiped the residue of crumbs and small sheen of grease from my ham-sized hands, before clearing my throat to break the silence. ¡°We need a solid plan to reach Harric without raising any alarms. Any ideas?¡±


    Smash and kill, Jeldorain suggested.


    Kevinar, his brow furrowed in concentration, leaned forward. ¡°Stealth is key. We can¡¯t afford to alert the goblin patrols. Or the orc patrols for that matter. Not until we have them on our side in this. Maybe we use the forest cover to our advantage, move now during the day while the sun is bright.¡±


    Ike nodded, chewing a wad of jerky slowly in the crook of his cheek. ¡°The patrols yesterday, at least one of them ran outside of the camp and through the forest. Could be that we listen in, grab a group that doesn¡¯t like goblins, and talk them up same as we did Harric?¡±


    I pondered for a moment. ¡°What about distractions? Could we create diversions to draw the goblins and orc patrols out? Maybe use that as a way to contact Harric?¡±


    Kevinar stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Possibly. I can set up a few magical traps that¡¯ll make noise or light in the opposite direction. But we¡¯ll have limited time once they¡¯re triggered.¡±


    My eyes shot to him, the mention of trap ability ringing in my ears. ¡°I think, if I¡¯m going to become the great general the magic says I¡¯m supposed to, I might need to get a list of all of the things everyone is capable of doing. It would really help things out a lot.¡±


    Ike smiled. ¡°Great idea. I should have thought of that myself.¡±


    We moved out and spent the rest of the morning preparing. Kevinar meticulously drew symbols in the dirt at various points around the camp, explaining their functions and how they would activate. Ike sharpened sticks and set up his own bevy of booby-traps, an apparent aspect of his Dirty Fighting skill. I watched as his blades carved branches into death, assessing the traps and determining that they were only 1 to 4 damage apiece, but they added hobbling debuffs depending on where they struck the enemy and how well the area was protected.


    As we moved, we snuck, and by the time to activate our plan came, the sun rising to its zenith in the sky, I had actually gained +3/10 to my Stealth skill. Our movement was so quiet, and so exacting, that the birds themselves chirped above our heads, unknowing of our presence.


    I apparated my armor to being, feeling its familiar weight. The Titan-Ax-Icearigama lay cold and heavy in my hands, its presence comforting, the feel of it setting Jeldorain on an excited edge. I looked at Ike and Kevinar, both ready, their faces set in grim determination.


    Kevinar nodded at us, his face a mask of focus. ¡°I¡¯ll lead. Follow my steps.¡±


    Ike scooped a handful of soil into his left hand, his blade ready in his right. ¡°I¡¯ll bring up the rear. Keep an eye out for my signals.¡±


    And with that, we slipped into the forest. As we moved through the forest, every rustle of leaves sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. Kevinar marked out enemy traps on our way forward, then stopped us as we neared the perimeter, in sight of the main pathway in and out. He turned and faced the direction we had come from.


    ¡°Haera,¡± he spoke. Immediately his magical traps, set far behind us, erupted into a cacophony of light and sound. A horn sounded from the camp as orcs and goblin rallied together, setting out in a horde not unlike the one we¡¯d fought back in the ravine.


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    ¡°Come on, Apes, do you wanna live forever?¡± I asked. My companions stared while Jeldorain, catching the reference streaming from my mind, laughed and laughed. ¡°Nevermind,¡± I said, scowling. ¡°Let¡¯s do this thing.¡±


    Skirting the edge of the forest, we made our way in the direction of where we¡¯d encountered Harric previously.


    Kevinar led the way, his movements silent as a shadow, while I tread carefully behind him, the Titan-Ax-icearigama clasped tightly. Ike constantly scanning his surroundings, ran up his rear.


    After half an hour, we reached the place we had met Harric before. Kevinar signaled us to stop, crouching low behind a bush. He turned to me, his voice barely a whisper, ¡°This is it. I¡¯ll check the perimeter. Wait for my signal.¡±


    As Kevinar disappeared ahead, moving into the camp. into the darkness, Ike and I huddled together, ready for combat. Minutes passed in silence before Kevinar reappeared, gesturing us forward. ¡°It¡¯s clear but stay alert. I¡¯ve talked with Harric. He is waiting for us just ahead.¡±


    We moved into the clearing, high noon lighting everything up equally over the scene. There, seated on a fallen log, was Harric, his eyes narrowed against the sun. He looked up as we approached, his expression wary.


    ¡°I talked with some of the others and suspected you might come to see me again. What is it that you are planning to do?¡±


    I took a deep breath, Kevinar stepping away and disappearing into our flanks, Ike turning to watch where we had come from. If Harric wasn¡¯t trustworthy, this is where we¡¯d find out about it.


    ¡°We¡¯ve found something in the camp that we think is going to get in the way of our rescue operations. We¡¯re going to have to save the chieftains and the families at the same time, but there is a circle of runes that we believe allows the goblins to cast spells over the dwarven kingdom, allowing them to be bullied and controlled just as you orcs have been. And definitely allowing them sight into the kingdom. If you and your people could break it, we would be able to sneak into the kingdom and save the people there, while another group of ours sneaks into the tents and gets your leaders out safely.¡±


    Ike pulled out his map, pointed to the circles. Harric leaned in, examining them. ¡°If I do this, my people will suffer. Likely I¡¯ll be killed.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°And if you don¡¯t, you and your tribes will be. From the way I see it, and from everything I know about the goblins, this blackmail situation they have you in isn¡¯t going to end well.¡±


    Harric was silent for a moment, his eyes flickering between us. Finally, he nodded slowly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it. Be sure that you succeed in your quest, Vanguard. It will have been oiled with my blood.¡±


    I stared, unsure of what to say. Jeldorain flicked my consciousness, and I stepped aside, letting him take control over our body.


    ¡°Your sacrifice is valiant and honorable, Harric. Your cause is just¡ªin the Hells, none ever lay down their own existence to save others. Here too, it seems rare. But no greater a sacrifice can be made. Truly, your gods shall reward you in the life after, and your tribes shall forever know your name.¡±


    Harric nodded, a small smile playing over his lips. ¡°That almost makes it worth it, infernal. I will gather my group. Don¡¯t fail.¡±


    Quest Complete: Learn the Layout


    Reward: +1000 XP


    Quest Chain: The Orcs


    Quest 3: Infiltrate the Dwarven Kingdom


    Difficulty: Hard


    Objectives: Enter the Dwarven Kingdom and secure the hostages in a safe place


    Rewards: Possible Alliance. 1000 XP


    Penalties: The Annihilation of your people


    He turned away from us, and we retreated from the camp. Assuming Harric¡¯s success, we¡¯d be able to penetrate into the subterranean kingdom of the dwarves and set up safety for the families within while Brandosyeus and the NPCs took care of the chiefs above, securing them and hopefully instigating a revolt by the orcs against their goblin rule.


    Kevinar rolled up the map, a small smile playing on his lips. ¡°Of all the hopeless plans I¡¯ve been a part of, this one is the most disorganized.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes, that is the only way forward,¡± Ike observed. We left the camp and moved back into the wilderness, skirting its edge towards the secret entrance of the dwarven kingdom. The sun above us was now starting down its track, shadows edging back over the track as we pushed forward. Kevinar led the way, hidden as usual, while Ike took up a silent rearguard, his mind clearly working through the details of our plan.


    After some time, we stopped, and Kevinar took the opportunity to Message Brandosyeus, his mystical once a day weavings giving him the intelligence he needed to know before we entered.


    ¡°Brandosyeus has met approval and is marching with the NPCs into a hidden position within striking distance of the camp. They will strike when I give the word.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to get this done fast then,¡± I said. The others nodded, and we picked up our pace.

 Chapter Forty-Five– Opening the Back

    The sun was beginning to dip into the horizon, the sky hinting at the brilliant strokes of orange and red to come, when Kevinar appeared from the bushes, stopping us short of the secret entrance.


    ¡°There are two guards, hidden. Ryan, I need you to go invisible before we creep up. Then I¡¯ll point them out so that we might maximize our chances of surprise . . . and success.¡±


    The two of us nodded, and I cast Shadowmeld, blending in with the failing light before moving forward in a careful crawl. Reaching a small overlook, we surveyed the rocky face and small ledge before it, Kevinar pointing and guiding our gazes to a mere slit in the sheer face of the plateau. From there he pointed out two goblin guards, their hunched forms barely distinguishable from the dense underbrush in which they hid.


    The guards, oblivious to our presence, were engrossed in a low, grumbling conversation, their coarse voices a guttural rasp in the quiet of the evening. As they talked, Kevinar disappeared from our side, sliding around the enemy in a manner undetectable even by us. I looked to Ike, who motioned for me to slide around as well while he would maintain his vantage point, a rear guard in case of some unsuspecting patrol.


    I worked my way around, stopping only when I had good sight on the figures. One guard, squat and bulbous, with skin like mottled leather, lazily leaned against a boulder, his beady eyes barely open. His companion was taller but just as grotesque, some sort of infection riding his forearm and dotting it with whey-colored pustules, almost certainly a painful debuff. This second one fiddled with a crude dagger, tossing it just enough for its blade to catch the dying sunlight in brief glimmers. They were clad in mismatched armor, pieces cobbled together from different sets, likely scavenged from unfortunate victims.


    It was obvious to me that they were low level, and it was surprising that they¡¯d been given such a very important task.


    Beyond them I also had clearer sight on the entrance. It was a narrow crevice, barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through, hidden by an overhang of rock and shadowed by a thick canopy of leaves. I guess the leaves were unnatural, because the darkness of their green and their survival this far into the chilly fall made no sense otherwise. Images of plastic plants filtered through my mind, and I wondered if such a thing could exist in a magical world. Past the disguise, a faint, eerie glow emanated from within, suggesting the passage led to more than just a natural cave.


    From out of nowhere, Kevinar sprang forward, a ghostly figure in the dim light. He moved with the grace of a panther, his hand clamping over the guard¡¯s mouth just as his dagger found its mark. The guard''s eyes widened in shock, then dimmed as he slumped to the ground in a silent heap.


    I moved to help, but by the time I had made two steps forward, the second goblin lay headless and bloody on the ground beside his friend. Kevinar sighed, a troubled look riding over his face. ¡°That was too easy. Something feels amiss.¡±


    Ike hopped down to join us. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do about it. Harric is probably already dead, those runes broken, and Brandosyeus prepping our NPCs for an attack as soon as we can give them word. We push ahead and leave the overthinking to the sages in their libraries.¡±


    I opened my mouth to suggest caution but realized that he was right. It was like Star Wars 3, or 6, however you wanted to number them. Despite the Death Star being a trap, the rebels had to continue because there was no other choice. We were stuck, and we just had to hope that this easy dispatch had been a gift from lady luck.


    We turned our attention to the crevice. The glow from within pulsed gently, like the heartbeat of the plateau itself. It beckoned us, promising a quest fulfilled and people saved.


    Unfortunately, it was immediately obvious that I was well too big to fit. I shared a look with my comrades. ¡°Maybe I should go around?¡± I asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time. Get big and smash,¡± Ike suggested. Jeldorain perked up inside of me, his eagerness raising goosebumps along my arms.


    Kevinar shook his head. ¡°We need to do this in a way that keeps our stealth. A 100 foot tall infernal smashing a hole into the side of this plateau would not benefit us in the slightest. We must pool our thoughts ¡ª are there any other possible solutions to our dilemma?¡±


    I opened up my inventory, looking through the items within. Within the gridded boxes, there lay my potions, including my rare assembly from the marketplace so far back. Among the healing, mana, and exertion potions were an Elixir of Night Vision, Elixir of Elemental Resistance, Invisibility Tincture, and a Potion of Giant Strength.


    My eyes dwelled on the Potion of Giant Strength in my inventory, its presence like a burning ember. ¡°I have an idea,¡± I said, Jeldorain¡¯s excitement rising inside of me.


    Both Ike and Kevinar turned to me, curiosity etched on their faces. I pulled out the potion, the liquid inside swirling with a promise of untapped power. ¡°This might do the trick.¡±


    Kevinar''s eyebrows rose in surprise. ¡°It won¡¯t make you large, but it will make a lot of noise. Are you sure that this is a good idea?¡±


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    I nodded. ¡°It''s the only way.¡±


    With a deep breath, I uncorked the potion and downed its contents in one swift gulp. A warmth spread through my body, growing hotter and more intense with each passing second. I could feel my muscles swelling, my senses heightening, an overwhelming surge of power flooding my veins. My mind glazed over, wondering if this was what steroids felt like.


    The transformation was rapid. My body expanded, my pecs, biceps, and other major muscle groups quadrupling in size, covered over with large and grotesque veins. I flexed my hands and turned towards the tunnel entrance.


    ¡°Stand back,¡± I warned, my voice an even deeper rumble than usual.


    Ike and Kevinar retreated a few steps and I stepped forward, focused on the task at hand. I channeled the newfound strength into my arms. With a controlled but forceful push, I began to widen the tunnel, the rock giving way under my hands like brittle clay.


    The sound was a cacophony of cracking stone and grinding earth. I worked quickly, conscious of the potion''s time limit. Under my hands, the tunnel expanded, the walls pushed back to create a passage just wide enough for us to pass through.


    I continued forward, the potion''s strength coursing through me, turning what would have been an impossible task into a manageable one. The potion''s effect was like a dance of power and precision, a balance of brute force and careful control.


    As the potion''s effects began to wane, the cavern entrance came into view, a gaping maw in the heart of the plateau. I stepped back, feeling my muscles shrink back to their normal size, the last of the potion''s magic ebbing away.


    ¡°That did it,¡± I breathed, panting.


    Kevinar clapped a hand on my shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. ¡°Well done.¡±


    Ike nodded, his eyes scanning the cavern just beyond the newly formed passage. ¡°No guards here either. Looks like we¡¯re getting in just fine.¡±


    Both of them were tense, their stares disbelieving.


    You sense anything Jeldorain?


    Something magic, yes. But not mortal magic. Elemental, he responded.


    As we stepped into the cavern, the air turned still and humid, a light dripping of water echoing through the place from some unseen reservoir. In the far distance there were lights, though not of a brightness that my human eyes would have appreciated. It was a strange fire that lit them, purple laced with red, a variety of fungal stalks and rubbery violet tentacles lacing intricately over a strong wall built half of the way to the cavern roof above.


    And between here and there, a lot of stalactite-studded ground beckoned us on our way.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of places to hide,¡± Ike groused, surveying the scene before them. ¡°If I were a foul-mouthed Empire soldier, I¡¯d definitely be waiting behind one of those.¡±


    Kevinar smiled. ¡°If you were an Empire soldier, you¡¯d be hidden poorly, gambling with a fellow guard over the few coppers in his purse.¡±


    Jeldorain chortled inside me. If they were here, I have no doubt that I would sense them or that Kevinar would have noticed them. I suspect treachery. Lovely, delicious, ambush-style treachery.


    ¡°Jeldorain suggests caution,¡± I translated to his further amusement. I switched to infravision, but nothing glowed mortal in the dankness of these kingdom lands. ¡°So what we need to do is spread out to cover this cavern from all vantage points. There¡¯s no point in being quiet since anything that might be around would have heard me coming through the secret entrance.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely not a secret anymore,¡± Ike said, chuckling. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t doubt if that entrance is bigger than the main one now!¡±


    As if to emphasize the point, a loud crash signaled the end of the cave, leaving them without a point of exit.


    ¡°I hope that¡¯s true. I¡¯m out of potions of Giant Strength, and I don¡¯t feel like clubbing my way through any more stone if I can help it.¡±


    We fanned out, keeping in eyesight of each other, before picking our way forward over the rocky floor. The ground was a mix of gravel and sand, as if it had been tilled, dug, and filled with the loosest of detritus, making me wonder if the dwarves hadn¡¯t constructed this whole thing from scratch.


    Close, Jeldorain confided. From the feel of this place, an ancient magic was used to hollow it out. I can taste the residue of Earth and Ice. The magical energies involved must have been a sight to behold.


    We shared a vision of dwarven clerics in dun-colored vestments tearing holes through the mountain, their crackling magics sifting sand and blasted rock into the flat and easy to build upon terrain.


    Think they are still there? I asked him.


    He gave me a mental shrug. Beings of elemental and infernal might left the world, mostly, since the times of old. Were forced out. We went to places that better suited us.


    An irregularity in the cavern floor brought me out of our conversation, the glimpse of something not gravel, sand or stalactite. Staring, I crouched down, reaching out a hand and turning over the half-buried body of a humanoid sentry. It was hard to tell of what type, since his body had been thoroughly flattened, along with his armor.


    A loot box appeared, full of similarly flattened and broken items, and I backed away in alarm.


    ¡°Ike, Kevinar, I found something!¡±


    The two of them hurried over, and together we dug through the debris, unearthing six goblin bodies. Three of them had been flattened, but one had a look of frozen horror upon his face, stretched into the rictus of a scream, and the other two were entirely missing their heads. The scene was a chaotic sprawl of debris and rock, with signs of a struggle evident in the scuffed earth and splintered stone.


    Kevinar probed at the intact goblin, searching it for obvious wounds. ¡°Nothing ordinary to the worlds under us did this.¡±


    ¡°Jeldorain mentioned a feeling of elemental magic,¡± I confided.


    He nodded, standing up quickly. ¡°Something is moving. We must get to the walls of the city and get inside.¡±


    Ike and I looked at him, his eyes wide open and his face strained in a way we had never seen before.


    ¡°NOW!¡± he yelled, and as we bolted ahead a great sundering noise echoed through the chamber.


    As his words echoed in the cavern, a deep rumbling filled the air, growing louder and more menacing. From the shadows emerged a colossal boulder, a sphere behemoth made entirely of rock and earth. Three holes opened in its rockface that I quickly recognized as two eyes and a mouth, and all of them were filled with an eerie glow. A glow that quickly turned as bright as the floodlights in my garage as they blasted out over us.


    ¡°NO ESCAPE!¡± a voice bellowed, its words tearing through our minds and clawing at our souls.


    Hells yeah, Jeldorain cheered within, his attention ignited by the monstrosity. I ducked near a particularly tall stalactite, and prepared for combat.

 Chapter Forty-Six- Galedur

    The monster¡¯s roar reverberated through the cavern, a raspy grinding sound reminiscent of sandpaper stuck in a trash disposal.


    Ike ducked behind a stalactite, a blade in one hand and sand in the other. Looking down at both of them, then again at the monster threatening them, he sighed and dropped his sand. ¡°Knowing my luck, a bit of grit in its eyes would make it stronger,¡± he sighed.


    Kevinar nodded. ¡°It is a galebur, a native of the Earthen Hollows, a creature not of this world. They sometimes still dwell in this lower reaches, but one this high in the dark belows is very irregular. I suggest that the dwarves hide him here as a guard.¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯re going to wreck him and then ask for their help?¡± I asked. Jeldorain bellowed laughter within.


    Kevinar had his blade drawn, one of them still glowing with magic, the other dead metal, and he sighed. ¡°They are powerful beings. We might well be out of our level range here.¡±


    Let me in, Jeldorain roared. I could feel all of his focus on the galebur, and a sense that he was giddy about the challenge.


    ¡°Jeldorain is going to take over for this fight,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s part of our deal ¡ª I keep control most of the time so he doesn¡¯t destroy all life as we know it. And occasionally he gets to indulge in his demonic wants and needs.¡±


    Kevinar stared, his mouth agape. Ike shrugged. ¡°Seems fair to me.¡±


    I stepped back within myself, feeling the Titan-Ax-icearigama slip away from my hand and I recessed within, becoming grasped firmly by Jeldorain. A surge of adrenaline blazed through our shared body. But it was more than that. I felt familiar energy tearing through me, the stuff of legends. Watching through his eyes, I saw Jeldorain lock gazes with Ike and Kevinar, then turn to once again put the galebur in sight.


    It was time for Size of a Tempest.


    He roared, our shared muscles tensed, fibers knotting and expanding as our body began to grow. It was a maelstrom of sensation, every cell in my body expanding, stretching, becoming more than it was, our bones lengthening and sinew stretching. Our armor and the Titan-Ax-icearigama grew with us, morphing and adapting to our new form.


    We now towered over the earth elemental, our head just one Kevinar shy of the ceiling. Jeldorain laughed and stomped in for the quick kill, ignoring the stabby pain of stalactites as he mashed them into rubble, taking tiny pricks of damage on the way.


    So much for stealth, I groused. His spirit self gave me a knowing look and I chuckled like he often did. He could feel my excitement for this battle, the infernal lust rolling through us both.


    Beneath us, Ike and Kevinar stepped back, giving us space as we charged the enemy . . .


    Only to get knocked hard and painfully in the shin as the galebur struck first, deftly launching itself through the air to strike with the force of a fastball, the impact reverberating up our leg.


    ¡°Gah! Oh all the hells that stings!¡± Jeldorain cried out, a new debuff appearing in our sideview.


    Shintastically Disabled


    Effect: Reduces mobility and agility significantly due to severe pain in the shin area.


    Duration: 10 minutes


    Additional Impact: Minor decrease in attack speed and evasion ability.


    Jeldorain swung the icearigama with all his might, dead center on the galebur, but at the last second it spun out of the way, shooting towards where Kevinar and Ike watched the battle. The icearigama cratered the ground where it impacted, and I felt Jeldorain¡¯s humiliated fury swarm through us. Kicking out against the ground, a swarm of pebbles and a layer of sand pocked against the granite hide of the monster, and it spun around, glaring balefully.


    A moment later, those eyes blasted light, and waves of force poured through Jeldorain¡¯s soul, battering it senseless with the power of a hundred ninja warriors. He staggered, and I could see his vision was blurred and disoriented, his soul full of debuffs.


    And I wasn¡¯t. Shoving his reeling spirit aside, I took back control over our infernal body and swung the icearigama sideways, batting the galebur through the cavern and pitting it against a wall. Looking down at my companions, I saw that Kevinar and Ike were both reeling like Jeldorain had been and realized this fight was totally on me.


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    His psionics, Jeldorain moaned. They attack the soul, but only the one in possession it would seem. I¡¯ll recover as much as I can, so if you get hit I can take over. The hells-damnated monster won¡¯t have experienced that before!


    The galebur rolled out of a hole in the wall, pieces of itself cracking and sloughing off to join the floor beneath it. The absurd idea that the floor was just made of ground galebur¡¯s made me chuckle, and the elemental narrowed its eyes again. But instead of releasing light, it shot across the cavern, making way for my other shin.


    ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t,¡± I yelled.


    Still stumbling from the Shintastically Disabled debuff, I knew I had to rely on my remaining agility to keep just enough distance between us that I could react to its flying charges. Eyeing the galebur as it streaked towards me had shown me that it moved in straight lines when in flight.


    And that was something that could be taken advantage of.


    As it swung at me again, I dropped and rolled, taking a handful of stalactite damage as I reached up and tried to seize it in flight. The galebur slapped off of one hand and spiraled out into the distance, smashing into the city wall. Sighting it in, I realized that we had an audience watching.


    It must have as well, because the galebur advanced more slowly this time, rolling at a tactical speed and closing in. I swung the icearigama in circles to my side, watching for its inevitable charge. The monster instead stopped entirely, blasting me with foul psionic light.


    The psionic light from the galebur hit me hard, knocking me backward. It was one thing to see it happen to Jeldorain, and another to actually feel it. It was like being pummeled by a thousand tsunamis, each wave coming stronger and harder than the last. I could dimly sense Jeldorain pushing me aside and taking back control. Shivering in the corner of our shared mind, I tried to focus, watching Jeldorain continue to lie on the ground moaning in a way that told me he was feeling the damage as well.


    Confused, I stumbled forward to take back the position of control, stopping when he gave me a ghostly wink. The galebur leaped from the ground then shot forward on a collision course with our head, and all at once Jeldorain was rolling to the side and bounding to his feet. The earth elemental smashed into the ground and he pounced on it, his powerful hands find cracks and crevices, from which to tear off large sections of body.


    It sighed, the sound of sand whispering through an hour glass. The creature crumbled, its form collapsing into a heap of stone and dust. Silence fell over the cavern, broken only by our heavy breathing. Jeldorain pumped his fists in victory and bellowed hard into the cavern ceiling.


    That, he told me, his spirit gloating, is how infernals dispatch worthy opponents.


    A bright light enveloped me, energy coursing through my veins and rejuvenating me. When the light faded, I felt stronger and more powerful.


    LEVEL UP! LEVEL UP! Welcome to Level 13!


    Great, I said, looking at the evil number with cocked eyes. He turned just in time to glimpsed the fading sparkles of Kevinar and Ike, their weapons up and at the ready.


    ¡°You alright?¡± Ike asked, his kobold canines bared in a cautious grin.


    Jeldorain grunted, then shoved a hand down into the dirt just as his body began to shrink down. Warping and snapping, he came back to his normal large self just in time to lift a small chest from the broken debris of the galebur.


    Kevinar placed it on the ground, checking it for traps. ¡°It¡¯s clean. Shall I open it?¡±


    ¡°Bust that,¡± Ike grinned, scampering forward and throwing it open. Inside a hard nugget of mud glowed amber. Next to it were a set of gauntlets, flexible despite their stone-crafted origins.


    Care to take a look, champion? Jeldorain asked. I didn¡¯t have to ask him why; our shared soul gave us the ability to see each other¡¯s skills and abilities, and his INSIGHT was nowhere near as good as mine was. I took charge of the body, picking up and then the other before telling the party what I¡¯d divined.


    Elemental Earth Core (Medium):


    Type: Rare Magical Artifact


    Effect: Enhances elemental spells and abilities by 15%. Can be used to infuse weapons or armor with elemental properties.


    Special Ability: Once per day, allows the user to absorb an elemental attack, converting it into mana.


    Usage Limitation: Can only be used by characters with a minimum Intelligence of 16.


    Description: A shimmering core pulsating with raw elemental energy. It glows with a spectrum of colors, each hue representing a different elemental force. This core is a condensed essence of the elemental planes, coveted by mages and alchemists alike.


    Runed Stone Gauntlets:


    Type: Enchanted Armor (Gauntlets)


    Effect: Increases physical attack damage by 10%. Grants a 5% chance to reflect magical attacks back to the caster.


    Special Ability: Empowers the wearer with ''Runic Resilience'' - a passive ability that reduces incoming magical damage by 10%.


    Usage Limitation: Requires a Strength of at least 18 to wield effectively due to their enchanted weight.


    Description: These gauntlets are etched with ancient runes, glowing faintly with an arcane light. Crafted from a mysterious metal that is as durable as it is heavy, they are the perfect blend of offense and defense for a warrior who faces both physical and magical threats.


    ¡°The gauntlets might as well go to Ryan since he¡¯s got the strength for it,¡± Ike said.


    ¡°And if no one objects, I would like Ryan to fuse the Earth core with my blade. I expect it might come up with something magical to replace the loss of its previous abilities,¡± Kevinar added.


    ¡°And we might want to level up now,¡± I added, pointing my finger towards the city walls. My companions¡¯ eyes followed, watching as a before unseen gate swung open, and regiments of black-armored dwarves marched out to meet us.

 Chapter Forty-Seven– Lucky Level 13

    The soldiers marched slowly in their direction, with purpose but no haste. They were quite distant, but the crunch of their boots on our gravelly ground echoed around in a way that would be intimidating to any foe.


    ¡°How much time do you think we have?¡± I asked.


    ¡°To live? Or to level?¡± Kevinar asked.


    ¡°No time for goofing around,¡± Ike growled, pointing at the mob. ¡°Level now and fast. Might be that we¡¯re going to need it.¡±


    I entered into my level up screen, surveying over the being I was now before making my decision.


    Character Name: RYAN


    Attributes:


    Strength: 30


    Endurance: 30


    Agility: 26


    Wits: 10


    Intelligence: 15


    Luck: 6


    Level: 13


    Resource Pools:


    Hit Points: 390


    Mana Points: 195


    Exertion Points: 220


    Skills & Abilities:


    Titan-Ax-icearigama Mastery


    Raise Skeletal Ally


    Ranked Skills:


    S-Rank Skills:


    Whips and Scourges


    Whirlwind Attack: Attack all enemies in range in a circle around the user.


    Disarm: Attempt to snag and acquire a weapon from an enemy¡¯s hand.


    Swing: Snag a protruding overhead ledge or object and swing over the ground in a 180-degree arc.


    Weaponcraft


    Fuse: For 20 exertion.


    Upgrade: For 10 exertion.


    Repair: For 10 exertion.


    E-rank Spellcraft:


    Minor Healing ¨C Heal 1 hitpoint per second at the rate of 1 mana per hitpoint.


    Soul-Union Jeldorain-Ryan: Additional Abilities:


    Spells:


    ASSERT - 100 mana cast to contest the magical integrity of any spell of magical item within a 500m radius. Every magical spell and item in the radius of the attack has to make a save or lose their magical function.


    Clearsight - 20 mana cast to allow one being to see through any environmental obscurity with absolute species specific clarity from a fixed angle of their choice.


    Sense Motive -


    5 mana cast to allow a being, with the successful role of a wits check, to sense the intentions of another targeted being through the sense of smell


    Frost magic -


    When harnessed by Soul Sync, Jeldorain may manifest ice, frost, and snow in an offensive capacity.


    No Level Requirement on equipment


    Skills & Abilities:


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    Titan-Ax-icearigama Mastery


    Raise Skeletal Ally


    S-Rank Skills:


    Whips and Scourges


    Whirlwind Attack: Attack all enemies in range in a circle around the user.


    Disarm: Attempt to snag and acquire a weapon from an enemy¡¯s hand.


    Swing: Snag a protruding overhead ledge or object and swing over the ground in a 180-degree arc.


    Weaponcraft


    Fuse: For 20 exertion.


    Upgrade: For 10 exertion.


    Repair: For 10 exertion.


    C-rank Spellcraft:


    Minor Healing ¨C Heal 1 hitpoint per second at the rate of 1 mana per hitpoint.


    Spell of Shadowmeld Invocation: This spell wraps you in shadows, enhancing stealth capabilities in low-light conditions. On activation, it renders you nearly invisible when stationary, ideal for stealth operations or evading detection. The spell''s effectiveness diminishes with movement or in bright light. The invisibility effect persists as long as you remain still in shadows. This spell consumes 10 mana upon casting and is instant, affecting only the caster. Ideal for reconnaissance or surprise attacks, it allows strategic positioning without being seen.


    D Rank Spellcraft! Ball Lightning ¨C 20 mana, 6-36 damage on impact, 5-30 shock damage to all within 5 feet of target, subsequent 4-24 damage to all with 10 feet of target.


    B-rank Clerical Magic ¡°Thrymheimr, Lord of Eternal Winter¡±


    Frostweave Healing:


    With this blessing, you gain the capability to envelop an injured ally in a cocoon of healing frost. The cocoon gradually restores 20-40 health points over 10 seconds and provides a temporary increase in cold resistance. This healing magic uses 10 mana per cast.


    Glacial Shield:


    This blessing grants the ability to conjure a protective barrier of ice around yourself or an ally. The shield absorbs up to 50 points of damage from physical or magical attacks and lasts for 30 seconds or until shattered. Casting this protective shield consumes 8 mana.


    Winter Gale:


    This blessing grants the ability to sweep a column of enemies with frosty breath to a distance of 50 feet, dealing 5 ¨C 30 points of damage and a 10% chance of freezing enemies caught in the attack for 20 seconds. It costs 10 mana.


    Frostfire Infusion:


    This unique blessing allows you to imbue your weapons with a frostfire enchantment. For 30 seconds, your attacks gain an additional 5-10 frost and fire damage, with a 10% chance to ignite or chill the target. Activating this dual-element enchantment costs 10 mana.


    It was daunting, looking through the powers and abilities I had now and thinking about where they had been. I could choose two skills, and as far as I¡¯d ascertained, they could really be in anything. There were so many types of abilities, as many as could be imagined. And there wasn¡¯t much time to decide. Something sparked in my head, an idea that would make no sense for anyone else, a skill that wouldn¡¯t possibly exist unless we had some creative input in the physics of this world. Something that I couldn¡¯t even put to words.


    So I imagined a magic field around myself from which a soul could be made real. In my head, I separated from my infernal host, becoming my real fleshy self, clad in arms and armor. But it crackled and glitched, the vision sparking. So I tried again, this time envisioning Jeldorain¡¯s soul pushing out of me, becoming another solid infernal standing next to my own. Stars sparkled in my head and fireworks boomed as a new skill appeared.


    E-Rank Soul Divergence


    Skill Description:


    <ul>


    <li>Effect: Allows user to separate an intertwined soul from his soul and materialize it alongside himself. The two separate beings that can act independently in combat or other situations.</li>


    <li>Duration: Temporary; the duration is based on available mana.</li>


    <li>Mana Cost: High; At rank E this skill consumes 1 mana per second. Subsequent upgrades to this skill will substantially lessen this cost.</li>


    <li>Cooldown: This skill can only be used once per day.</li>


    <li>Additional Effects: While separated, both retain their individual skills and abilities, but when recombining, any damage done to the separated soul transfers to those of the user.</li>


    </ul>


    I gaped and Jeldorain pumped his fist. This sort of freedom will help us well, champion. And it may be part of the answer to our problem!


    I nodded, putting my next skill point into Soul Divergence and watching as the Mana Cost changed to one mana per ten seconds. It wasn¡¯t a lot, but the multiples would quite obviously stack if I kept raising my stat.


    And, looking at the soul of Jeldorain cavort and dance at this promise of daily temporary freedom, real-life solitude in a body of his own, I knew that even if it wasn¡¯t the best tactical decision, it was the right one.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± I whispered, a broad smile revealing the icy pillars of my infernal teeth as I stared at the oncoming army.


    ¡°Wazzat?¡± Ike asked, blearily coming to from his own leveling escapades.


    ¡°Nothing much,¡± I replied. The army was almost here, and as Kevinar came out of his level up, they stopped. A rough half-mile of distance separated us now, and I could see from their blobby heat signatures that they were indeed the short and stout warriors of Lords of Chaos lore. I also saw something else that was interesting ¡ª their beards radiated their own inner heat, well blazing in my vision. Like a cat and his tail, I thought, mesmerized by the idea that dwarven beard hair was an actual appendage.


    From the rank and file of the regiments before us, three dwarves moved out, picking their way across the graveled plains and not stopping until they¡¯d come close enough to warrant worry.


    The three dwarves from Khazud-Tharik halted a stone''s throw away, their figures shadowy in the glow of the fungal light and imposing against the backdrop of their massed army. The center figure stood like a sentinel, his chest broad and his thick exposed arms muscular. A braided chestnut beard covered his platemail armor, the warhammer he held was sigiled by runes that gave off the same murky glow as the lichen of his kingdom walls.


    Beside him stood a woman whose beard was as long as her hair, and whose shield hid the weapon she surely held in her other hand. The fiery red of her tightly woven braids glittered like stars, hinting at even more magic among this retinue. Her scale mail armor glinted dimly in the cavern light, while her emerald-green eyes scanned us with a warrior''s appraisal.


    The last dwarf was shorter than his companions. His hair and beard were a chaotic mix of graying black, metal, and ash. A leather tunic and tool-laden vest covered his chest, and my heart sped a little as I realized that he was a tinker class. In Lords of Chaos those guys could easily become a nightmare depending on how many craftables they kept upon their person.


    They were adventurers, through and through, no aspect of NPC about them. It made me realize that we were in incredibly dire straits.


    The first¡¯s voice broke the silence, his deep voice pounding through the cavern. ¡°You standing in the Kingdom of Khazud-Tharik. Who''re you? And what¡¯ve ya done to me monster, Rocky?¡±


    I stepped forward, their gazes upon. ¡°I am Ryan,¡± I said,


    ¡°The crusty fissure talks, ya ken? Where¡¯s my coins, Durgin?¡± the shield dwarf said, looking pointedly at the tinker. He sighed and loosened a pouch, tossing it to her.


    ¡°We are Ryan, Kevinar, and Ike,¡± I said. ¡°We killed your monster and we seek audience with your king. Secret audience was the plan, though it looks like probably the whole kingdom knows about it now.¡±


    The warrior dwarf hmphed, muttering into his beard. ¡°Yer secret enough. This side of the kingdom don¡¯t get visited much. Come along, you¡¯ll see our king. I suspect he has a lot he wishes to speak to you about.¡±

 Chapter Forty-Eight– A Royal Appointment

    The dwarven army was impressive. Three hundred of them, I counted, marching ten by ten in 3 regiments across. They were clad in resplendent armor, each piece different and suggesting a story, a crest upon their right breast. I wondered if those symbols were for their families or for themselves, since each of them differed from the next.


    Amidst the clanking of armor and the rhythmic thud of boots against the crunchy ground, they carried on in silence. It bothered me, and was not at all like what I was used to in Lords of Chaos. As dwarves I felt they should have been joking and speaking of pubs ahead, now that there was no threat in their sights.


    The heroes of their lot were a different story though. They had no sigils or badges, and now that we¡¯d all met, they didn¡¯t have any problems talking with us either. I listened closely as they spoke, taking in every detail and trying to get a sense of what lay ahead.


    Durgin''s eyes sparkled as he began. ¡°Ach, ya know, the real beauty of Khazud-Tharik is down below. This here, this is just the cap to the whole flask. An old place, ancient origins, no bells or steam in sight.¡± He looked up at the davern roof with distaste. ¡°All mined out, no reason for devices.¡±


    ¡°Thank the Forgers,¡± the shield maiden chimed in.


    ¡°The future is Steam, Mesta,¡± Durgin retorted, an emphasis on the word that was religious in nature.


    ¡°The Fiery Hells steam dwarves in their pits,¡± she chimed back. ¡°Black smoke and molten metal, it be the trade that pushes the top city. Tis the head of the body. Wouldn¡¯t be nothing more under if not for the top.¡±


    ¡°Aye, is good,¡± the dwarven warrior added.


    Durgin frowned. ¡°Ifn¡¯a King would listen, he¡¯d know that Steam can power the forges as well, Theor!¡±


    Theor snorted. ¡°They¡¯re good as they are.¡±


    ¡°Blessed flames,¡± Mesta added. Durgin rolled his eyes.


    ¡°We be a place of treasures.¡± Durgin said, rolling his eyes over us as we got closer to the city entrance. ¡°Not just in gold and gems. It''s the craftsmanship, the history. Every statue, every carving tells a story. Tis the tale of the clan.¡±


    Kevinar nodded. ¡°Your clan . . . they are far removed from the depths of my own homeland. Much more accessible. Tell me . . . how have you safeguarded them against those who would plunder your riches?¡±


    Durgin chuckled, ¡°Aye, that''s where Steam is our truest friend. Trust me . . . you don¡¯t wish to learn the answer.¡±


    Mesta nodded, her hand resting on her shield. ¡°Aye. And should any get past Durgin''s tricks, they''ll find me and my shield sisters and brothers ready. Our training is as rigorous as our forges are hot.¡±


    Ike, the Kobold Warrior, looked up curiously. ¡°And the goblins?¡±


    Theor frowned slightly, before allowing the folds of his face to smooth and his demeanor to go calm. I gained a +1/10 Perception and realized I had seen something the others had possibly not. He stroked his beard as if in deep thought. ¡°Diplomacy is as sturdy as the strongest armor. We''ve had our fair share of conflicts and friendships with the surface folk. It''s a delicate balance, like walking on a blade.¡±


    ¡°What matters is that the king¡¯s hold here be powerful,¡± Mesta said, her voice tinged with pride. ¡°Our kingdom stretches deep, woven into the very roots of the world. And should we need, we can retreat into our stronghold, defending and withdrawing through tunnels and fortresses that have stood the test of time.¡±


    Theor nodded in agreement. ¡°Each passage, each hall within our domain is a bastion, a ground we defend with our lives. Ai, retreat is not defeat, but a tactical withdrawal. Tis a maze for our enemies, should they dare venture into the heart of the world.¡±


    Now at the city wall, Mesta stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the massive doors that barred their way. The doors, carved from thick dark slabs of stone and reinforced with bands of dark steel, looked old and weathered despite their refuge hear from the winds without. Intricate runes, etched deep into their surface, glowed faintly in the dim light.


    The shield maiden raised her arms, her hands tracing patterns in the air. A soft, blue light emanated from her fingertips, weaving intricate glyphs that shimmered like stars against the darkness of the underground. The runes on the door responded, their glow intensifying, pulsing in rhythm with Mesta''s movements.


    Kevinar watched in silence, but something about the intensity of his gaze suggested that the man was learning the movements in case we¡¯d need them later. Ike also stared, but it seemed likely he was just impressed.


    The air around them thrummed with energy as Mesta''s incantation reached its crescendo. With a final, fluid motion, she completed the glyph, and the magical seal she had created hovered in the air, a masterpiece of light and energy.


    Then, with a deep, resonant groan that echoed through the corridors, the doors began to move. Massive gears, hidden within the walls, turned slowly, their movements synchronized with the pulsing runes.


    We stared into a wall of darkness, something that no eyes could penetrate. Without a word, the dwarves pushed forward and we followed them, the doors closing behind us with an authoritative thud.


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    Past the now open gate the march continued, the steady beat of dwarven boots echoing off the glowing lichen walls of the tunnels. Theor, looked us over and gestured wide. ¡°Ya thunk that the gate would open to the city, didn¡¯ya. No such luck for attackers. These tunnels spin, dip, and rise before they head to the proper. We are in miles and miles of tunnels, each with its own purpose and story. Tis a nightmare to attackers. Tis Khazud-Tharik.¡±


    Mesta''s eyes gleamed with pride. ¡°Our history is etched in these stone walls. Each chamber, each hall bears witness to our triumphs and struggles. The tapestries, the statues, they all speak of the sagas of our forebears. It''s not just a kingdom; it''s a living chronicle.¡±


    As they passed a particularly intricate doorway, Durgin couldn''t help but boast about his contributions. ¡°See these carvings here? They''re not just for show. Press the right sequence, and you might find yourself in a hidden chamber or even trigger a defensive mechanism. Our architecture is our fortress.¡±


    Kevinar peered about at each and every feature as they were pointed out to him. ¡°Such hidden chambers and secrets. . . Have they ever been used in times of war?¡±


    Theor nodded solemnly. ¡°Indeed, tis a truth. Many times. Battles aren¡¯t lost here. They are just lengthened.¡±


    Mesta added, ¡°And it''s not just about war. These chambers hold our most sacred relics and provide shelter in times of need. They¡¯re part of our survival.¡±


    We reached a last rise, coming into view of another gate. This one was all bars, and beyond it stood a company of crossbowmen, though not in any state of alert. The bearded watchmen were spending their time booting metallic spheres against the wall, cursing or celebrating as they won and lost. It was a game that I couldn¡¯t identify in any fashion, but I had to admit that it looked like a lot of fun.


    ¡°Open up, ya larders,¡± Theor yelled. A couple of the dwarves hopped up and pulled a lever. A puff of heated air sprayed into the passage, and a grinding noise sounded the rising of the inner gate, finally revealing the dwarven city beyond.


    We stepped through the threshold, and I was shocked by what I saw. The city was a marvel of light and architecture showcasing the dwarves'' mastery of stone and metal. Lanterns hung from vaulted ceilings, casting a warm, welcoming glow over streets lined with shops and homes, each meticulously crafted from a mix of various shades of stone and assembled in a way that was absolutely beautiful.


    Majestic arches crafted from polished stone spanned overhead, etched with intricate runes that shimmered in the dim light. Towering statues of legendary dwarven heroes stood sentinel at every corner, their stern gazes surveying the bustling streets below.


    The air was filled with the clangor of hammers on anvils and the rich aroma of spiced fungi roasting over open fires. Merchants hawked their wares from stalls overflowing with glittering jewels, finely wrought weapons, and luxurious fabrics. Dwarves of all ages, NPCs clad in sturdy outfits of leather, bartered and bantered, their voices gruff and angry. From one building spilled the flicker of a broad fireplace, an ornery shanty being sung in an unknown tongue from within.


    The cobblestones beneath them felt almost velvety after the rough gravel of the outside and the smooth stone of the tunnels. Both Jeldorain and I sighed in relief as we switched over the common luxury of avoiding splinters.


    Theor dismissed two of his reigments, and we proceeded into the city. But the further we ventured, the more the splendor gradually unraveled. The polished stone gave way to rough, unadorned rock. The statues became fewer and less grand, eventually disappearing altogether. The vibrant energy of the initial entrance faded into a somber quietude, broken only by the occasional cough or whisper.


    It bothered me. None of it felt right. I shared eyes with Kevinar, then Ike, and could see that they both thought the same thing.


    And what are you going to do about it? Jeldorain asked. Follow them. Keep your wits. That is all that can be done.


    Dimly lit alleys, barely wide enough for two dwarves to pass, were lined with cramped dwellings. Here, the dwellers wore threadbare clothes, their faces etched with the lines of hardship. Children played with makeshift toys in the shadows while sickly dwarves leaned against the walls, their eyes dull and distant.


    There was another market area here, but it looked desperate and strange. Makeshift stalls displayed meager wares - a few root vegetables, some dented utensils, scraps of cloth. The proud architecture of the wealthier areas was nowhere to be seen here. Instead, support beams, patched and repatched, held the weight of the mountain above.


    Why is there such a difference? I asked Jeldorain. The dwarves I know of would never treat their poor in this way.


    Jeldorain chuckled, but it felt forced. Those are the dwarves of a game. The dwarves I know, in the Frozen Hells, would treat their lessers even worse.


    We veered off the main thoroughfare, going onto a narrow, less-trodden path. This pinched up road wound through the worst section we¡¯d seen yet. The passageway was cramped and dimly lit, the only illumination coming from sparse patches of glowing fungi growing in the nooks and crannies of the rough-hewn wall sconces. The stone underfoot was uneven, worn down by the countless footsteps of those who had traversed this hidden artery of the kingdom. The air was cooler here, tinged with the musty scent of damp earth and the faint odor of sweat and toil.


    ¡°A servants¡¯ passage?¡± Kevinar asked our now silent hosts.


    ¡°You said you wanted to be secret,¡± Mesta said. In her eyes blazed an unpleasant glint, like the sun shining off the tip of a rifle.


    If they wanted to keep you secret, then why did they take you past so many markets? Jeldorain asked. He didn¡¯t laugh, and I understood immediately that our future wasn¡¯t going to be pleasant. I made to apparate my icearigama, but he stay me with a spectral hand. Wait for your chance. They don¡¯t know that you know.


    As we progressed, the passage twisted and turned, a labyrinth of sorts, revealing the less glamorous facets of dwarven society. The walls were bare, devoid of the ornate decorations that adorned the public areas. Pipes and conduits ran along the ceiling, a practical display of dwarven engineering, but lacking any aesthetic consideration.


    Here and there we encountered the servants of the road, all moving with a desperate scurry of purpose. Some, I noticed, were missing an ear, or some fingers. Their clothing was functional, made of coarser fabrics, and mended in several places. Their eyes, when they met those of the party, held dull fear mixed with the sharp blade of hare.


    In some sections, the corridor opened up into small chambers used for storage or brief rests. Here, we observed simple wooden benches, and shelves cluttered with tools and supplies. These humble alcoves, a sharp contrast to the luxurious lounges of the upper echelons, were marked by a quiet efficiency and a sense of resignation.


    Going to a doorway built at an angle into the ground, Mesta again opened it with her magic, revealing a tall but narrow tunnel lit by lichen and large sets of runes lit by every color. She ushered us inside while Theor ordered the rest of his army to return to their barracks.


    Now or never, champion, Jeldorain opined.


    I caught eyes with Kevinar and Ike, but Ike shook his head. The message was clear. We¡¯d roll through this mess as diplomatically as we could.

 Chapter Forty-Nine– Lord of the Flies

    As the party ventured deeper into the heart of the dwarven kingdom, they found themselves within a tunnel unlike any they had traversed before. The passage was lined with runes that glowed with multiple shades of ethereal light, casting a spectral illumination on the ancient stone walls. These runes, etched with meticulous care, pulsed gently, their light ebbing and flowing like the quiet breath of the earth itself. Between them, patches of lichen clung to the rock, emitting a soft, bioluminescent glow that added to the otherworldly ambiance of the tunnel.


    We moved in silence, their footsteps muffled by patches of velvety moss that carpeted the tunnel floor. The only sound was the distant drip of water, and the soft whispers of their breathing. The silence was oppressive, each of us knowing the other knew something was about to go down. It was expectant, like all of those times I''d been waiting to start a speedrun, my heart paused for the click of a button.


    I found my thoughts drifting to the legends and lore of the dwarves. They''d been some of my favorite beings in Lords of Chaos, and I wondered about the stories these runes could tell. In the game they often offered hints and secrets if you had the ability to decipher them. I reached out, my fingers hovering just above the glowing symbols.


    Runes of many levels, from many schools of magic, Jeldorain informed me. This whole structure is very old. It might have once been a temple to my kind, though an infernal of all the elements is something I do not recall from any of my past lives.


    Beside me, Ike, grunted and coughed. ¡°These runes,¡± he began, his voice a hushed whisper, ¡°what stories do they hold? What magic powers them?¡±


    The dwarven heroes, who had been leading the way in stoic silence, paused. Mesta turned. ¡°We do nah speak here,¡± she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°The chamber is of other times.¡±


    Her words hung in the air, mixing with the paranoia of the moment. I wondered if this wasn¡¯t akin to some anti-PVP zone, where we¡¯d get fried for attempting any hostilities. Assuming we were allowed to engage in them at all. I looked back over my should to where we¡¯d come from. If that were the case, it made sense for them to let the army go.


    Jeldorain laughed. You are stuck in their city, surrounded on all sides. There are many reasons it makes sense that they let their soldiers go. Especially if this is a trap.


    We continued on, our progress slow and deliberate. The glowing runes guided us forward, flickering at times, flashing at others.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this,¡± Ike whispered.


    ¡°Shush it,¡± Mesta said, her voice an angry whisper. ¡°We aren¡¯t far now.¡±


    As we moved further, the tunnel began to widen, revealing small rooms and chambers that branched off from the main path. In these areas stood statues of various unrecognizable beings, infernal in nature. Jeldorain stirred within me, eagerly assessing the figures as they came into sight. The infernals were large and strong, stony faces etched with the pride and strength of a bygone era. Their eyes, carved from dark stone, seemed to follow us as we past.


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    ¡°Infernals,¡± Kevinar breathed.


    Mesta nodded, but shushed us again. ¡°Legend says they are trapped here, and that those are not statues. We best be quiet.¡±


    The tunnel continued to unfold before them, an endless tapestry of light and shadow. The air grew warmer now, and the moss underfoot disappeared into a more manufactured enlacing of stone cobble. I could hear low chatter now ahead, guttural voices speaking in what I recognized as common, though I couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying.


    The passageway turned sharply then suddenly broadened into a large, dimly lit dungeon that starkly contrasted with the otherworldly beauty of the tunnel. This place was obviously dwarf-made, in the same way that it was obviously a dungeon. Iron bars and stone walls faced us on all other sides, cells big and small, but the one opposite the tunnel entrance. The doors there looked stout but manmade, and I had no doubt it led up to the king and his court.


    The question is, Jelodrain asked, interrupting my thoughts, will they take us through them?


    As we entered, I checked our surroundings more thoroughly. In the cells, a variety of orcs and dwarves were confined together, each of them now sullen and quiet as they peered out at our group. The orcs were tribals, almost certainly from above, while the dwarves were obviously people of the kingdom. I turned to gaze at Theor even as he turned to gaze at me.


    ¡°Ye stand in the threshold of the king of Khazud-Tharik, last of the Infernulgar. Infernal ye be, by proof of your tongue. Only ye shall pass. Here we must stable yer followers til audience has been met.¡±


    I felt Jeldorain slap himself on his glowing spiritual forehead. The Infernulgar! They worshipped us all in the good times. But I¡¯d thought they¡¯d all gone extinct. Yes. Yes! We should go to their king!


    ¡°You said you would take us to the King,¡± Kevinar growled. ¡°Us, not one. Do the rules of hospitality not extend to the Infernulgar?¡±


    Theor growled back. ¡°We be a cautious and hard people, elf. The lands that we have, we held against many. Our infernals, the lot of them, they were made vicious and mindless, wrecked in mind til we froze them in stone. But a return of the greater beings, this is something that must be discussed between ourselves. Decisions must be made. These are things to which thralls of the Infernal Lord Ryan should not be privy to. Ye ken?¡±


    ¡°Diplomatic, Ryan.¡± Ike said. ¡°Go with them. We¡¯ll be alright here.¡±


    Kevinar shook his head and muttered. ¡°Ike, I don¡¯t like this. Ryan¡¯s strong, but the world of the deep is not one worth trusting. We need to be by his side when things go wrong.¡±


    We can talk to them. Convince them. Stand up, great leader. Take charge! Jeldorain asserted.


    ¡°If any trouble rises up, I¡¯ll handle it,¡± I said, though doubt swarmed through me. I had a lot of power, a ton of abilities, but if I ran down my specials, mana, and exertion, I¡¯d be as vulnerable as the next hero. Still, Ike was right. We wanted these guys on our side.


    Kevinar stared, then nodded.


    ¡°Ye¡¯ll be handing over your inventories, of course,¡± Mesta declated. The dwarves moved forward towards my companions.


    ¡°They stay equipped and ready,¡± I warned, apparating my icechuke for good measure. Mesta glanced over at Theor, who nodded. Muttering arcane words, the doors of an empty cell opened to my friends, who walked in quietly. The door disappeared after.


    ¡°Follow, Lord Infernal,¡± Theor said, turning on his heel. ¡°The king has much to discuss.¡±

 Chapter Fifty - Challenge Accepted

    After traversing a number of strangely tall corridors and stairwells, I was standing at the lip of the throne room to the King of Khazud-Tharik, his court gaping. The throne room was bathed in incredibly bright light cast by spheres that hung from the ceiling, illuminating the grandeur of the court. Around me, magnificent columns, carved from the very heart of the mountain, rose up to support the massive stone ceiling, each one etched with the sagas of dwarven history. Intricate tapestries, depicting battles and legendary moments of the kingdom, adorned the walls, their colors vibrant against the stone.


    Within stood a diverse array of dwarves, each reflecting the prosperity and prestige of the kingdom''s heart. Unlike those I had seen in the outer tunnels and chambers, the dwarves here were adorned in finery that spoke of their status and roles within the kingdom.


    Noble dwarves stood out with their richly embroidered garments, boasting deep hues of crimson and emerald, interwoven with threads of gold and silver. Their clothes were accented with precious stones and intricate metalwork, symbols of their wealth and lineage. The nobility carried themselves with a dignified air, their beards and hair meticulously groomed and braided, often decorated with small jewels or golden rings.


    Warriors of the royal guard were in ceremonial armor, polished to a brilliant shine. The armor was masterfully crafted, etched with intricate designs that told stories of valor and bravery. They stood tall and proud, their axes and hammers sheathed but ever-present.


    Among them were scholars and advisors, easily identifiable by their less ostentatious but equally elegant robes. They bore the marks of wisdom, with scrolls or tomes in hand or tucked into their belts. Their beards were often long and unkempt, signifying a life devoted more to study and counsel than to physical pursuits.


    Artisans and master craftsmen, responsible for the kingdom''s renowned works, were also present. They wore simpler garments, but each bore some element ¨C whether a brooch, a belt, or a cap ¨C that showcased their skill. A jeweler might have a magnificently crafted gemstone pendant, while a blacksmith could have an exceptionally wrought metal belt.


    The air in the throne room was thick with the scent of fine oils and polished metal, mixed with the subtle fragrance of the luxurious fabrics worn by the courtiers. The overall atmosphere was one of regal opulence, a stark contrast to the hardships of the people without. I could see a lot of the world I came from within these people. There was so much outside that they undoubtedly had the power to fix and chose not to.


    It made me wary.


    Jeldorain frowned. Might is right to all the infernals and their true believers. These people understand the power of merit.


    Was it meritorious, what you did to Jon? I asked. After all, he fell to your power.


    A sense of shame exuded from the infernal, and he quieted as Theor and his compatriots ushered me in.


    I stepped through the massive entry way, the tall ceiling and apertures now understandable in light of these peoples¡¯ history. The eyes of the Infernulgar were upon me. I could feel their silent scrutiny as I stepped to a place halfway between the entrance and the king. My compatriot knelt, and I almost did the same, but declined after a sharp mental rebuke from Jeldorain.


    ¡°Welcome to the chamber of King Thorano, Ruler of the Khazud-Tharik,


    King Thorano watched from his throne. In the light of this place I could see that all of them sported a naturally skin, much like the soil of the cavern from which I¡¯d come. Their eyes were many colors, but in the strong light of this place I realized that these colors were somehow more. Some blazed with a flicker of ancestral elemental power, waves crashing in the eyes of one, gales blowing in the eyes of another. Others eyes were the color of precious stones, and they glittered complete with facets as they stared at the entirety of my being.


    My heart pounded in my chest, surely echoing the rhythmic pistons that I¡¯d been told functioned below. The court stared and judged, a myriad of thoughts and emotions swirling around them,


    King Thorano stood from his throne, taking a step forward. He looked impressive, black beard under eyes of diamond within which blazed tiny fires. His body was obviously fit, large muscles bulging underneath a tunic of fine soft leather, his shoulders cloaked over with a cloak of midnight blue.


    ¡°Be it true? Can it be? Ha¡¯ the deed of my crown brought back the infernals?¡± he asked. The air broke into whispers and muttering. Jeldorain giggled in my mind, sounding so much like a fan girl at a K-Pop concert.


    What¡¯s up with you? I asked him.


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    These guys are absolute suckers, he said between giggles. We are in a position that is best described by your world¡¯s history. We are Spanish conquistadors, landing as gods in the land of the Aztecs!


    My eyes widened and I took them all in, corner to corner, the strange dwarves of this place who had no counterpart in my games of old. I didn¡¯t need a successful Perception check to see what he was talking about. It was all in their facial expression and body statures. They were just begging to worship me.


    I wondered in that moment what they would do if I stepped forward and knocked the King¡¯s head from his body. Jeldorain roared with laughter, his emotions pushing me to do this very thing.


    No, I told him. We will try diplomacy first. This is the way of non-infernals. You agreed that I would be in charge of it.


    I felt him back off, but could sense his desire still swarming through me. I¡¯d have one shot at this, I figured, before it got too much for him.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± I said, my voice echoing booming through the chamber, ¡°I have traveled from far away to come to you in this time and tell you that the time of the Goblins has ended.¡±


    That Majesty stuff is a bit much, Jeldorain snarled. Be easier to smash him and be done with it.


    Keeping my face plain and unreactive, I told Jeldorain off while waiting for the King¡¯s reply. He remained silent, his expression unreadable, yet his eyes never left my face. The courtiers continued to whisper among themselves, their voices the only thing filling the stretching lack of response.


    ¡°Uh. I have seen the greatness of your people,¡± I added, my gaze sweeping across the assembly to hopefully add to my gravitas. ¡°The present craftsmanship, the honor, the resilience of the surviving Infernulgar are such that we of the other planes¡ª¡±


    Hells, Jeldorain rasped.


    ¡°¡ª hells,¡± I corrected, ¡°we desire to see you rise beyond your status as goblin thralls and reestablish your place in the surface world as well as below, becoming again a true kingdom in your own right. To this end, I and my thralls have come here to convince you to raise your banner, to ally with the enemies of the goblins, and to break their empire and attain your independence.¡±


    Jelodorain nodded. Perhaps your golden tongue can save this day, great champion.


    The king leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. ¡°I understand that you are called Ryan. That is not a name of the infernals. Yet, clearly you are an infernal, and one that has not turned to monstrosity. How is it that you were named such?¡±


    I felt the presence of Jeldorain within me stir. ¡°I am both infernal and human. Within me resides the spirit of Jeldorain, ice infernal and lord of the Frozen Hells. He is a guide, a guardian, and a friend.¡±


    Jeldorain blew a raspberry at the last word and I grinned.


    King Thorano nodded slowly, his gaze contemplative. The court fell silent, hanging on the king¡¯s every gesture, every expression. Finally he spoke, his voice breaking the silence, deep and resonant.


    ¡°A human,¡± he began, his tone measured. ¡°A human?!¡± he asked again, his voice rising. ¡°An enemy of the kingdom of Khazud-Tharik, one of the beings who sealed off our infernal lords from the hells eternal and drove them mad with their magics?!! YOUR UNION IS BLASPHEMY!¡±


    I stuttered, taken by surprise at the vehemence of his words. ¡°I ¡ª¡±


    Around me, angry murmurs rippled through the court. I felt pressure on my soul, the abrupt seizure of my essence, and suddenly I was buckled away into Jeldorain¡¯s body as he took over and bottled me into the back side of our consciousness.


    ¡°DO YOU WISH TO SEE BLASPHEMY, INFERNULGAR? LOOK AT YOUR PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A PEOPLE! YOU SNIVEL AND WHINE TO THE RACES OF THE GODS, FORGETTING THE WARS OF THE INFERNAL AND THE DIVINE, SCRAPING YOUR BEARDS IN THE DIRT AT THEIR PRESENCE. YOU DARE QUESTION A UNION OF INFERNAL AND HUMAN. THE INFERNAL WILL OF YOUR BETTERS?¡±


    I watched as Jeldorain stepped us forward, and the king apparating a massive claymore to his hands. It sparked and whizzed, full of a variety of elemental magics.


    ¡°The infernal speaks. But is he a lord? Or is he just the slave of a human?¡±


    Jeldorain bared his icy maw, mist spraying out in a cloud.


    ¡°The human brings to you words of peace. But I would sooner smash you to paste, dwarf, and take your kingdom for my own. Shall I have my own way?¡±


    King Thorano stared. ¡°Jeldorain, you may kill me. But the others would slay you. It might take a thousand of my men, but you would die. I propose something different. A means by which to test your worth. Fight in our arena against the greatest of our monsters, and if you win victory, you may have our allegiance.¡±


    I could feel Jeldorain¡¯s murderous attention upon King Thorano switch to elation, visions of him feasting upon the living flesh of powerful foes, cheered on by the ashen-skinned dwarves of the deep, and I sighed. This meeting really was his realm to shine. He¡¯d been right to take control.


    ¡°I will rend your monsters asunder, then lead you out from under the foot of the goblins. This is my vow.¡±


    Excited chatter erupted from every corner of the court. The King turned, disapparating his weapon and raising his arms to all.


    ¡°A diplomacy by arms! To the arena, all. The battle of our century awaits.¡±


    The dwarves cheered, moving out of the room as quickly as they could. I realized it would take hours, certainly, before the fight happened. The word would go out that an infernal was returned to fight for a place in the leadership, and all who could fit into their arena would surely come to see it. I hoped that such arena battles were common, and from what I¡¯d seen it seemed likely.


    These dwarves were absolutely not good beings, so murderous warfare for entertainment was almost certainly a semi-weekly event.


    Another thing bothered me immensely about this all, though. It didn¡¯t at all seem like these dwarves were actually in the thrall of the goblins other than in a treaty sense. There wasn¡¯t the grumbling and hatred for the goblins that we¡¯d seen from the orcs.


    I wondered how that fact might affect the outcome of this trial by combat, however the fight actually turned out.


    As Jeldorain pumped a fist, following the directions of a courtier to the kingdom¡¯s battle arena, I lay back in reserve and began to plan. Whatever happened with the king and the monsters at the arena, we would get their support.

 Chapter Fifty-One – Mortal Combat

    The anticipation in the air was electric as Jeldorain was escorted through the labyrinthine corridors of Khazud-Tharik. The path to the arena was a departure from the opulence of the throne room, leading instead through stark, towering passageways that seemed to pulse with the lifeblood of the kingdom. I could hear the distant clanging of metal, the resonant sounds of preparation echoing off the stone walls.


    As we approached the arena, the corridors widened, opening up to a massive underground coliseum. Carved directly into the heart of the mountain, the arena was old and covered in runes like those we¡¯d seen on our way into the king¡¯s castle. Magical orbs jutted out from the walls and hung from the high ceiling on incredibly long chains, casting a fierce, flickering light that danced across the jagged stone and the faces of the eager crowd.


    The arena itself was a vast pit, surrounded by rising tiers of seats carved from the living rock. Thousands of dwarves were already filling the stands, their voices merging into a deafening roar of excitement. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, ale, and the earthy scent of stone. Everywhere I looked, there were banners and symbols representing various clans and factions of the kingdom, their colors vibrant in the artificial light.


    The entrance to the arena floor was like stepping into another world. The noise of the crowd hit me like a physical force, a wave of sound that washed over me, filling me with a mix of exhilaration and apprehension. I glanced around, taking in the faces of the spectators ¨C it was eerie to see their faces. The vast bulk of them were cruel, screaming for blood and death as they sucked down their tankards.


    And from a barred prison built into the side of the fighting area, I caught sight of Kevinar and Ike, flanked by guards and other prisoners. They watched from the sidelines, their faces plain and stoic. Ike was leaning forward, his eyes never leaving me, while Kevinar¡¯s gaze darted around, taking in the layout and the crowd.


    Jeldorain was brought into a chamber and allowed some privacy for the time before the fight began. It was impressive how quickly the word had spread and how many were already in the stands. I wondered if the wait would be nearly as long as I had expected.


    As I waited for the impending battle in the arena of Khazud-Tharik, I found myself deep in conversation with Jeldorain, my internal companion and guide. The challenge set before us by King Thoranos was clear - a test of endurance against monstrous foes. Such a scenario wasn''t unfamiliar to me; it mirrored the grueling battles I had faced in Lords of Chaos. Yet, this was no game. The stakes were real, and survival depended on our strategic acumen.


    ¡°Jeldorain, we have to approach this with precision,¡± I began, staring eye to eye with his soul, my voice echoing in the confines of our shared consciousness. ¡°King Thoranos mentioned monsters, which screams endurance match. We need to be careful with our resources.¡±


    Jeldorain¡¯s voice rolled over me. ¡°Indeed, Ryan. My ASSERT spell shouldn¡¯t be used unless it is absolutely necessary. We should reserve it for neutralizing any magical threats we encounter.


    I nodded to myself, considering his advice. ¡°Unless something is basically invincibly magical. Right. If we face a horde of small mobs, frost magic is perfect for crowd control. We can slow them down, maybe even create barriers.¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Jeldorain agreed. ¡°Minor Healing might be good to engage after the first wound as well. It¡¯s a steady drain on mana, yes, but will be crucial for maintaining health.¡±


    I paused, a sudden thought gripping me.


    ¡°Put me back in charge. That way I can summon you to combat if I need to, maybe surprise the biggest baddie and take him out hard and fast.¡±


    Jeldorain¡¯s face twisted into surprise. ¡°Not a bad idea, though I want to be put back in charge when it comes time to eat them.¡±


    I chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d also like you to do that.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± he responded. ¡°When the monsters first come out, Sense Motive might not be a bad idea. It''s low-cost and could provide foresight, keeping us a step ahead of the monsters¡¯ tactics.¡±


    Thinking of my combat skills, I added, ¡°My S-rank in Whips and Scourges should come in handy. Whirlwind Attack for multiple enemies and Swing for evasion and positioning. I think I can manage to snag one of those lights hanging down from the ceiling.¡±


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    ¡°Shadowmeld if we need to reposition,¡± Jeldorain said, stroking his chin.¡±


    I contemplated the strategic use of my spells. ¡°Ball Lightning?¡± I asked.


    Joldorain shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s a heavy mana cost. Do as much damage as possible with your smaller abilities. The arena itself is part of the battle, so use its layout to your advantage, and don¡¯t hesitate to make tactical retreats for better positioning. This is an arena built by infernals to award the merit of smart fighters. There will be many opportunities.¡±


    ¡°And what about Raise Skeletal Ally and Size of a Tempest?¡± I questioned. ¡°They¡¯re powerful, but one-off abilities.¡±


    ¡°Summon the skeletal ally early on,¡± he suggested. ¡°It¡¯ll give us insight into the strength of our opponents. Save the Size of a Tempest for a critical moment, where its overwhelming power could decisively shift the battle in our favor.¡±


    I nodded internally. ¡°We¡¯re going to need to be adaptable, Jeldorain. You see anything, get any ideas, let me know.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Ryan,¡± Jeldorain affirmed. ¡°Together, your great champion ingenuity and my demonic prowess make us a formidable team. We will be unstoppable.¡±


    At that moment, the announcer¡¯s voice boomed through the arena, the result of a series of brilliant angles and hollows being carved into the ceiling to amplify all of the sound within the fighting pit as well as that of the man standing on the announcing platform. Doors opened on the side of my chamber, a pair of dwarves standing ready to lead me into the arena. I moved into the command position inside our shared body, then followed them out into the roar of the arena.


    Walking through the long corridor, I could hear chants and screams rising, the words, ¡°Infernal,¡± being chanted on repeat. Jeldorain grinned, watching over by metaphysical shoulder as we stepped out into the packed dirt of the arena proper.


    I don¡¯t know what I expected. Perhaps a lifetime of watching the WWF had given me ideas on how these things were supposed to start, or how they should be done. But here there weren¡¯t the twenty minutes of bikini girls walking around, waving to the crowd. There wasn¡¯t a meeting of the contestants for a friendly paw to paw send off to our corners of the place.


    Here it was just like in the game. Once I walked in, the gates closed behind me, and the audience simmered down, their noise dropping in obvious expectation of what was going to come next.


    I turned my attention to the entrance gates opposite me, where the monstrous combatants would soon emerge. Each gate was adorned with runic carvings and symbols, hinting at the horrors they held within. My frozen heart raced and Jeldorain nearly crooned in bloodlust.


    I clenched my fists against the sudden salty wash of blood on my tongue, flooding down my throat to satiate a starving belly. It was coming soon, and my limbs were near shaking for want of it. As the first monster gate creaked open, I steadied myself rolling through our talk on strategy.


    To my surprise, even before the first monstrous opponent had a chance to lumber into the arena, the second gate was opening.


    They¡¯re setting them free all at once! Jeldorain exulted. I took a moment to observe my surroundings, seeing not just the grandeur of this colossal structure, but the sectioning of it as well. As I¡¯d expected, there was a large overhanging box at the head of the arena, where I had no doubts sat the king of the place alongside his closest of courtiers and advisers. Switching to the battlefield itself, I was that we¡¯d be fighting in a vast circular pit, but one that carried the outlines of pit traps, humps of hills for cover, and even a long deep trench that ran down through the center of it all. The magical orbs that hung from above bathed it all in a harsh, flickering light that swayed and flickered to give the space an almost ravish sputtering glow.


    As a third gate opened, but the monsters of the first still hesitated to leave, I examined the seating tiers. They were hewn directly from the rock and filled to capacity with dwarves from all walks of life. The lower tiers were occupied by the nobility and distinguished guests, their rich garments and shiny armors reflecting the light in a dazzling display of color and opulence. Higher up, the common folk stood on their seats, eagerly watching for first blood.


    Finally the first beast left its gate, even as a fourth was opening. To my side I saw that Kevinar and Ike were here, watching with tense expressions amidst a mob of other prisoners from behind a series of prison bars, a covered cage in a rounded formation, standing in manacles and chains to see both the fight, and the fate that awaited them.


    I turned from them, my arms and armor ready for the fight. Twirling my icearigama in my hand, I walked over to the closest hill, ready to use it to dodge any missile attacks that might come my way.


    As I crouched beside it, I finally caught a good look of the first gate¡¯s denizen. The creature was a massive beast, its form a terrifying amalgamation of rock and flesh. It moved with a ponderous, deliberate grace, its huge and bloodshot. It sniffed the air, letting out a fearsome bellow and stalking outward on all six of its massively wide legs.


    A fifth gate began to clink and clank, rolling itself open, and I stared in disbelief. They weren¡¯t just throwing some monsters at me. They were gonna throw them all at me.


    Inside of my body, Jeldorain let out a massive, bloodthirsty laugh.


    Let them come. Tonight, we dine red, thick with the blood of our enemies.

 Chapter Fifty-Two – On the Rocks

    As I stood there, facing this behemoth, I could feel Jeldorain''s presence within me, his demonic essence stirring with eagerness for the battle. I took a deep breath, steadying myself for the confrontation.


    Why so nervous, oh great champion? This will be a spectacle for the ages, a battle that will be etched in the annals of Khazud-Tharik''s history forever.


    I nodded, though I wasn¡¯t so sure any of it was true. It seemed likely that these things out here were going to kick the crap out of us. Up in the stands the dwarves were all standing now, doing some sort of ritualistic dance-chant that involved them stomping their heavy boots three times then clapping. The sound echoed eerily, standing in for the din and cheer that any other normal crowd might have provided.


    The rock-flesh beast roared and snarled, loping around the left side of my cover, while the other beasts eyed each other hungrily.


    Do you know what we¡¯re facing? I asked Jeldorain. He directed my eyes, explaining them quickly as we scanned them.


    That rock-flesh beast, it¡¯s a Garrup, the sort of monster that you don¡¯t find in the wild but you can find them slinking out from other dimensions in places full of old magic. Probably it got caught as a pup ¡ª they¡¯re tamable. It¡¯s strong with a lot of hitpoints, basically a walking fortress. It¡¯s immune to physical damage unless it comes from specials, but the same living stone that protects its skin from regular attacks also makes it very weak against cold and water-based attacks.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± I murmured aloud, watching as the rest of the beasts began to turn on each other. It looked like I¡¯d be mono on mono with the Garrup while the rest ripped into each other. That made me feel a lot better about the upcoming fight.


    They¡¯re stupid and slow, but unless you can think of some tricks, you¡¯ll have to magic him, Jeldorain advised. Sweeping a ghostlike hand through our shared mind space, stats on the rest flowed into my side bar. Shoulda done that in the first place, Jeldorain cracked, giving me a wink.


    Shadow Warrior


    Strength: 14 (Deceptively strong, capable of overpowering an unprepared foe)


    Endurance: 10 (Moderately resilient, relies on stealth rather than toughness)


    Agility: 20 (Incredibly fast, moves like a wisp of smoke)


    Wits: 12 (Cunning and deceptive, masters of ambush)


    Intelligence: 15 (Intelligent enough to set traps and lay in wait)


    Description: A humanoid creature of the dark, its form is barely discernible, like a shifting shadow. Its eyes gleam with malevolence, and its movements are eerily silent.


    Flame-Tongued Serpent


    Strength: 16 (Strong enough to constrict and overpower large prey)


    Endurance: 14 (Resilient, especially against heat and fire)


    Agility: 18 (Quick and sinuous, strikes like lightning)


    Wits: 10 (Instinct-driven, but not without a cunning plan)


    Intelligence: 11 (Shows a surprising level of problem-solving)


    Description: A serpentine monster with scales that glisten like molten lava. Its hiss is a prelude to a fiery death, and its gaze is as mesmerizing as the flames it wields.


    Frostwing Harpy


    Strength: 12 (Agile and strong enough to carry off small creatures)


    Endurance: 8 (Vulnerable when caught, relies on flight)


    Agility: 22 (Fast and nimble in the air)


    Wits: 9 (More instinctual than intelligent)


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    Intelligence: 7 (Limited by animalistic instincts)


    Description: A bird-like creature with icy-blue feathers and a piercing shriek. It soars through the cold skies, its talons ready to snatch unsuspecting prey.


    Ghastly Wraith


    Strength: 10 (Can phase through objects, using its ethereal form to its advantage)


    Endurance: 15 (Difficult to harm with conventional weapons due to its spectral nature)


    Agility: 17 (Moves fluidly, almost gliding across surfaces)


    Wits: 14 (Clever and manipulative, often employing psychological warfare)


    Intelligence: 16 (Understands complex tactics and employs them effectively)


    Description: A haunting figure draped in tattered robes, its face obscured by darkness. Its presence is accompanied by a chilling cold, and its touch is the very essence of dread.


    Ironhide Boar


    Strength: 18 (Powerful enough to uproot trees and shatter rocks with its charge)


    Endurance: 20 (Its iron-like hide makes it resistant to physical attacks)


    Agility: 8 (Not particularly fast, but its charge is devastating)


    Wits: 6 (Largely driven by primal instincts)


    Intelligence: 4 (Simple-minded aggression)


    Description: A massive boar with a hide that resembles overlapping plates of iron. Its tusks are like curved swords, and its eyes burn with a primal fury.


    Crystal Golem


    Strength: 25 (Incredibly strong, capable of crushing stone with its grip)


    Endurance: 27 (Its crystalline body is nearly impervious to conventional weapons)


    Agility: 5 (Slow and lumbering, relies on its durability in battle)


    Wits: 8 (Limited intelligence, follows simple commands)


    Intelligence: 7 (Not capable of complex thought, acts on basic instructions)


    Description: A towering figure made of shimmering crystals, each movement creates a symphony of light. Its form is both beautiful and terrifying, an amalgamation of nature''s artistry and raw power.


    Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex)


    Strength: 30 (Its jaw strength alone can crush bones and metal alike)


    Endurance: 28 (Extremely tough, capable of withstanding heavy blows)


    Agility: 12 (Surprisingly quick for its size, with powerful strides)


    Wits: 7 (Driven by predatory instincts rather than intelligence)


    Intelligence: 6 (Basic problem-solving skills, primarily driven by hunger and territorial aggression)


    Description: A colossal predator, the T-Rex is the epitome of prehistoric terror. Its massive body is topped with a gigantic head filled with razor-sharp teeth, capable of devouring creatures whole. Its thunderous steps shake the earth, and its presence sends a primal fear through the hearts of even the bravest warriors. Despite its size, it moves with startling speed, making it a formidable and terrifying opponent in any battle.


    I frowned. And not just because I was slated to fight a Tyrannosaurus Rex. That¡¯s so much technical data. You¡¯ll have to give me that stuff later, at night, so I can study up on it. But for now just help coach me through the combat. Thanks, though, Jeldorain.


    His ghostly form colored, and the infernal stuttered. Uh, yeah, sure. Welcome, he managed, shying back.


    The Garrup slunk fully around my defensive mound, baring stalactite teeth in my direction. I clanged my icearigama against my aegis, baring my own icy fangs at the monster. It was surprisingly brave in the face of my frost motes, and I wondered what surprises it might be hiding.


    Hey Jeldorain, what special does this thing have? I asked just a second too late.


    Before Jeldorain could respond, the Garrup''s massive foot stamped down, sending a shockwave through the ground. The arena floor rippled like a disturbed pond, and I stumbled, struggling to maintain my footing. I smashed my face into the ground, losing thirty hit points and gaining a debuff.


    Bloody Nose


    Effect: Reduced Concentration


    Duration: 10 minutes (or until treated)


    Additional Impact: 10% decrease in accuracy, slower spell casting time, slight increase in spell mana costs.


    ¡°Fantastic,¡± I muttered, my voice strange and muffled.


    The tremors disoriented me, blurring my vision as cracks spread across the arena. I barely registered the Garrup lunging forward, its colossal maw agape. Instinctively, I raised my Aegis, the shield''s runes glowing with protective energy.


    The Garrup''s jaws clamped down, the force of the bite a cataclysmic collision against my shield. The Aegis held, its enchantment absorbing the brunt of the impact, but the sheer power behind the attack sent me skidding backwards. Pain lanced through my arm, the shockwave of the bite resonating through the shield.


    I gritted my teeth, pushing against the force, my icearigama raised for a counterstrike. The Garrup''s breath, smelling of ancient earth and petrified bone, washed over me as we stood locked in struggle.


    And as we pushed against each other, a thought struck me. Jeldorain, does this world have opposing effects? Like if I cast healing on a zombie, does that hurt it?


    The demon nodded, his face suddenly scrunched in thought. Frostweave Healing? he asked. I nodded, firing off the spell for 12 mana, the casting taking an extra five seconds before it snaked forth, a dizzying spray of frost and snow that engulfed the creature before me. Its eyes widened and it released my aegis, but the move was too late and quickly it was trapped within an icy tomb.


    ¡°Twenty to forty damage over the next ten seconds should do it in,¡± I said, smiling as I turned away to face the rest of the assembled monsters. A snap and crackle alarmed me to the fact that I had spoken too soon, though, and I turned to face the hobbled and shrunked form of a dying Garrup.


    One that was determined to make its last stand.


    It loped clumsily forward, pieces of it falling off like dandruff from my brother¡¯s scalp, littering the ground as it desperately tried to seize me in its now feeble jaws.


    I walloped it hard across the side of the head, watching it explode into flesh, sand, and rock, for the first time hearing cheers from the stands. Some ancient tradition had been observed, I guess, looking to the stands and seeing the dwarves finally screaming and waving their stubby but brawny arms. I hefted my icearigama into the sky, then stepped atop the mound to observe the rest of my opponents.

 Chapter Fifty-Three – Gotta Protect that Rear

    Standing tall upon the mound that had been my cover, I watched as the monstrous gladiators battled, scanning the data that Jeldorain had given me before as I did so.


    First, the Shadow Warrior and the Frostwing Harpy clashed. The harpy, with its icy-blue feathers, darted through the air like a spectral arrow. But the Shadow Warrior was a master of the unseen, blending into the darkness with uncanny ease. It moved like a whisper, a mere flicker in the corner of one''s eye. The two were a blur of motion and shadows, the harpy''s chilling screams piercing the air, met with the sinister hiss of the warrior''s blades.


    Nearby, the Flame-Tongued Serpent, a magnificent creature with scales that shimmered like flowing lava, faced off against the Ironhide Boar. The serpent coiled and struck with the speed of lightning, flames licking from its maw. In contrast, the boar, armored in its natural plate of iron-like hide, charged with the unstoppable force of a living siege engine. The ground shook with each collision, fire and brute force in a spectacular and terrifying display.


    In a different corner, the Ghastly Wraith, a haunting figure of tattered robes and darkness, drifted towards the Crystal Golem. The golem, towering and resplendent with its shimmering crystalline form, seemed an immovable object, an unyielding fortress of nature''s making. The wraith''s ethereal form phased through the golem''s attacks, its chilling touch seeking the life essence within the stone.


    And then there was the T-Rex. Its thunderous roar silenced the din of battle momentarily. It was fighting against some flying beast that I hadn¡¯t seen leave the gates. A blue wyvern of some sort.


    A sort that looked tremendously powerful. Its leathery skin crackled with electrical crackles and lightning as it swooped and dove.


    Uh, Jeldorain, what is that thing?


    Monster: Azure Lightning Wyvern


    Strength: 28 (Capable of tearing through most armors and obstacles with its powerful claws and jaws)


    Endurance: 26 (Resilient to physical attacks, its scales are like natural armor)


    Agility: 24 (Swift and agile in the air, capable of quick, darting movements)


    Wits: 15 (Cunning hunter, known for its strategic approach in battles)


    Intelligence: 14 (Displays problem-solving abilities and can adapt to different combat situations)


    Description: The Azure Lightning Wyvern is a majestic but fearsome creature, with iridescent blue scales that shimmer with electric energy. Its wingspan is immense, casting a shadow that chills the hearts of those below. Known for its control over the storms, it can summon lightning and is equally formidable in the air and on the ground.


    ¡°Great,¡± I said, letting out a gigantic sigh. As I watched, the Wyvern landed, its immense wings stirring up a powerful gale that whipped up dust and debris. The T-Rex staggered against the wind attack, then charged with earth-shaking steps, its massive jaws agape, ready to clamp down on its enemy. The Wyvern reared back, its serpentine neck coiling, and then unleashed a concentrated blast of lightning that streaked across the arena with a deafening crack.


    The bolt struck the T-Rex, arcs of electricity dancing along its massive frame. The mighty predator was stunned, its roar turning into a pained bellow.


    The Wyvern took to the air again, its powerful wings beating a tempest, as it circled above the T-Rex, looking for another opening. It dove, lightning crackling in its maw, but the T-Rex was ready this time. With surprising agility, it leapt to the side, avoiding the brunt of the attack, and swiped at the Wyvern with its colossal tail.


    The tail hit the Wyvern mid-dive, sending it crashing into the arena wall. The impact shook the entire coliseum, eliciting blood-thirsty cheers from the audience. The Wyvern, dazed but not defeated, quickly recovered and took back to the sky.


    This battle shall be great, champion, Jeldorain exulted as I stared. I decided I¡¯d wait for one of them to come to me, let them grind each other down.


    From behind my barrier, I watched as the arena became a maelstrom of violence and elemental fury. The Azure Lightning Wyvern soared overhead, its electric breath lighting up the sky, while the T-Rex roared below, its every step causing the earth to tremble. The other monsters, each formidable in their own right, added to the chaos with their unique abilities and instincts.


    The Shadow Warrior and the Frostwing Harpy were engaged in a deadly aerial dance, the harpy''s ice shrieks clashing with the warrior''s shadowy maneuvers. The Frostwing Harpy swooped and darted, trying to catch the elusive Shadow Warrior, who melded into the shadows only to reappear moments later for a swift strike.


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    Nearby, the Flame-Tongued Serpent and the Ironhide Boar continued their fiery confrontation. The serpent, agile and quick, spat flames at the boar, who charged through the fire, its iron-like hide glowing red but seemingly unharmed. Each charge of the boar was met with a swift, fiery counterattack from the serpent, turning their battle area into a blazing inferno.


    The Ghastly Wraith, meanwhile, drifted ominously towards the Crystal Golem. The golem''s prism beams shot through the arena, refracting off the walls and illuminating the wraith''s ghostly form. The wraith attempted to drain the golem''s energy, but its spectral hands passed through the crystalline body without effect.


    As I observed, calculating my next move, I noticed a change in the Ghastly Wraith''s demeanor. It had become aware of my presence behind the barrier, and for whatever reason, it couldn¡¯t take its eyes off of me. With a sudden shift, it turned from its engagement with the Crystal Golem and floated towards me, its tattered robes billowing in an unseen wind. Its face, obscured in darkness, seemed to fixate on me with a chilling intent.


    Chilling, Jeldorain said, staring at me through our spiritual haze. You think of the word as if it is a bad thing. Besides, there is no surprise in its intent. It can sense our double life force, and that makes it hungry.


    Hungry. That was something that spoke of desperation. Hunger would make the creature impatient, I guessed, watching it float towards me. Part of me wondered if maybe the Crystal Golem would go after it, but the construct seemed to be automated, going after the nearest target.


    In this case the Flame-Tongued Serpent, turning that particular battle into a three-way.


    Still, Jeldorain¡¯s bestiary that he¡¯d given me said that the creature was intelligent, so that meant I would have to sly in my plans and traps if I was going to make this work in my favor. My mind went back to the last monster. The same trick would almost certainly work here, since it was a healing spell, and it might even work better since it was also a cold spell. In Lords of Chaos the undead certainly didn¡¯t appreciate frost unless they were specialized to it.


    I stepped back out as the wraith fluttered down silently from above, and I hit it with my Frostweave Healing, watching in thud to the ground in a cocoon of positive damage.


    Well done champion, Jeldorain exclaimed. Who do we battle next?


    With the Ghastly Wraith defeated, I turned my attention back to the ongoing battle among the remaining monsters. Lightning crackled, flame blasted, and teeth chomped and gnawed as I watched them.


    The Azure Lightning Wyvern was now locked in with the Frostwing Harpy. The Wyvern''s electric breath crackled against the cold air, creating brilliant flashes of light as it clashed with the Harpy''s icy shrieks. The sky above the arena was like a thunderstorm, the Wyvern swooping and diving in and out of a growing assortment of dark crackling clouds, trying to catch the agile Harpy in its electrifying grasp.


    On the ground, the T-Rex was going toe-to-toe with the Crystal Golem, the two battering at each other with solid thumps as they struck with fist or tail.


    Nearby, the Flame-Tongued Serpent and the Ironhide Boar were still engaged in a heated confrontation. The serpent''s flames licked at the boar''s iron hide, creating bursts of sparks. In return, the boar charged relentlessly, its tusks aiming to pierce the serpent''s fiery scales.


    And the Shadow Warrior was nowhere to be seen at all. I shifted back behind my mound, contemplating its absence.


    Is this another undead? Is it possibly coming after us?


    They aren¡¯t undead, oh brave hero,¡± he said, his spectral face thoughtful. The Shadow Warrior is something else entirely ¨C a creature born of magical darkness. Its form is humanoid, but it''s steeped in the art of shadows. It''s as if the very essence of stealth and ambush were given flesh and bone. This warrior moves with a speed and agility that''s almost unnatural.


    I pondered his words. Solid darkness then. Can it be hurt by light?


    Yes. In fact, I would say that light is its greatest weakness. Though it is darkness made solid, battering it physically takes a long time to destroy it since it has no vital organs or life fluid.


    I heard the sound of a whisper behind me, and then felt the stab of a blade. Turning, I saw the malevolent darkness glare triumph even as a hot burning sensation tore through my veins.


    Shadow Stab


    Effect: Severe Vulnerability


    Duration: 5 minutes


    Additional Impact: One hit point a minute poison damage and a lingering curse that makes you highly susceptible to damage (1-100% extra damage for each attack that scores a hit).


    I staggered forward, the pain sharp and disorienting. I could feel the debuff¡¯s heating working its horrors, making my body feel unnaturally fragile and brittle as if even a gentle breeze could shatter my bones. My joints ground in their sockets and every movement was pain.


    ¡°Hells that hurts!¡± I yelled.


    Despite the overwhelming pain, I knew I had to act fast. Turning, I counterattacked the creature with Ball Lightning. The spell crackled through the air, illuminating the arena with its blinding light and striking the spot where the Shadow Warrior was already pulling itself back into invisibility.


    The Ball Lightning did its work; and the shadow figure that was briefly illuminated in the electric glow writhed in pain, getting noticeably smaller with each tear of light across its body. It was easy to see the damage was substantial, the lightning disrupting the magical darkness that cloaked the Shadow Warrior. But it was a fleeting victory ¨C the warrior, resilient and cunning, quickly faded out, once again hidden under its invisibility magic.


    And it had certainly gotten me better than I had gotten it. The blade alone had done sixty-three points of damage and inflicted a debuff that threatened to do another three hundred over the next five minutes. Plus I was highly vulnerable to additional damage now.


    Aware that it might well set me up for catastrophic attack, I cast Glacial Shield upon myself, waited a bit for poison damage to accumulate, then spent the next twenty seconds basking in 2 cast spells of Frostweave Healing, letting the icy swirls knit my flesh and repair the poison damage even as it burned through me. When the shield fell down, I was at full health, but still had 270 damage to look forward to. I¡¯d have to keep an eye on it, drinking my healing potions and using mana to keep it topped up. The battle was grinding down, but there was still quite a bit of fighting to be done.

 Chapter Fifty-Four — Victory

    Coming out from my icy cocoon, I took in the scene before me, scanning the scarred stones and obstacles of the area, eyeing the banners of Khazud-Tharik as they flapped with the wind of magical battle, their gold and crimson hues dancing to a mana-swept beat. Lightning forked across the darkened sky, illuminating the arena in brief, stark flashes, casting long, menacing shadows that seemed to dance in anticipation of the battle to come.


    In other words, things looked wildly dangerous. Nursing my wounds and keeping my hit points up, I stood back and watched the fight continue. Jeldorain raged inside of me, wanting to join the fights, but it felt silly to do so when I could instead just let them kill each other.


    Especially since I didn¡¯t know where the Shadow Warrior had melted off to.


    Instead I kept myself standing ready in a warrior¡¯s stance, watching the combatants as they fought their battles and waiting for the next challenger to come my way.


    My attention was drawn to the sky, the crackling of ice and lightning by far the most interesting matchup in the area. The Azure Lightning Wyvern and the Frostwing Harpy circled and spat, the Wyvern unleashing torrents of electric breath into the cold air, each bolt illuminating the dark, crackling clouds that had gathered above. I could see that the Harpy was listing, smoke trailing from her feathered side, and felt a bit of sympathy for her as she darted and weaved through the storm, her ice-blue feathers shimmering in the erratic light.


    Another bolt of light struck her in the chest, and she cried out, responding with a gust of hail-laced wind. Continuing her dips and swings, the Harpy''s agile maneuvers in the air were a dance of survival, narrowly evading the Wyvern''s electrifying assaults.


    I could see that it wouldn¡¯t matter though. The Wyvern was relentless, its massive wings stirring the foggy battle clouds of steam and ice into a frenzy, its eyes locked onto the Harpy with predatory precision. Both dove and swooped, striking out again and again.


    Are those attacks using mana? I asked Jeldorain.


    They are, Jeldorain responded cheerfully. It will win this battle, only to be devoured by us.


    Swinging out and up, the Wyvern shot forward with a strategic burst of speed, tucking into a sudden dive as a cloud of electric mayhem rose out and shrouded its form. The desperate Harpy unleashed a torrent of icy magic, but the Wyvern easily pierced through the barrage, its talons outstretched for the capture.


    The Wyvern''s talons found their mark, gripping the Harpy about its shoulders and squeezing as hard as it could. A surge of electricity coursed through the Harpy''s body, its ice-based defenses shattering under the overwhelming power, followed by the detachment of its arms from its body, a sparkling froth of sub-zero blood spraying down over their fellow combatants. The Harpy flew away a hundred yards before it dropped like a stone into hardpacked dirt of the arena floor.


    The wyvern roared, turning towards me . . . and then began its own death wail as the Shadow Warrior appeared on its back, striking it through the spine and finishing it in one fell swoop.


    What a show! Jeldorain cheered.


    Meanwhile, as the Wyvern¡¯s body dropped to the dust, the Flame-Tongued Serpent and the Ironhide Boar continued their fight. Both of the beasts bore heavy wounds, but torn gaps in the Boar¡¯s almost impenetrable hide showed quite clearly who the winner would be. The serpent, agile and deadly, coiled and struck quickly from this angle and that, while the boar attempted to maneuver out of the way of each of the strikes. When it could, it would charge at the serpent¡¯s immense body, tearing bloody holes into its thick muscled flesh.


    A slap of the serpent¡¯s tail sent the boar rolling to the ground. Rearing up to arch over its prone enemy, the serpent hissed before unleashing a torrent of fire that enveloped the boar. The boar''s iron hide, though resistant, could not fend off the intensity of the flames forever. It rolled back to its feet and charged, tusks aimed with lethal precision. As it ran at the serpent, a circle of light rose from the ground, immobilizing it before exploding the air around it. Bawling, trapped in writhing, coiling flame, the Ironhide Boar dropped into a smoldering heap.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The serpent, hissing loudly, turned towards the T-Rex fight just in time to be splattered by dinosaur brains, the golem¡¯s fist driving them across the arena and its unexpecting face. The serpent slithered forward, then dropped to the dirt as the Shadow Warrior revealed itself atop its skull, a shimmering black blade of night driven all the way through to the roof of the mouth.


    That monster there, it knows the score, Jeldorain enthused. I hope it wins.


    We¡¯re in this too, you know, I said. Jeldorain shrugged.


    Seems like we¡¯re kinda boring, just sitting here and watching. I like monsters who fight.


    I grinned. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. Standing here isn¡¯t winning us any accolades after the fight. Let¡¯s step back in and finish this thing.¡±


    Facing the Crystal Golem, I stepped forward. As I did so, I called to mind SIZE OF A TEMPEST. As my form began to swell, towering above the arena, a collective gasp rose from the crowd. The moment of stunned silence was quickly broken by a thunderous cheer, echoing off the arena''s walls. Faces that were moments ago tense with anticipation now glowed with excitement, their bearded chins frothy with spilled bear, their drunken screams a vibrant tapestry of enthusiastic cursing that filled the air with palpable energy


    The Crystal Golem stopped, staring up at me with uncomprehending eyes while the ground beneath my feet vibrated with the steps and I moved in on my prey to snatch him off the ground, and dash him hard against the arena floor. The golem had been a towering mass of shimmering crystal, but now I was well taller than he was, well stronger as well, and his body cracked as it slapped into stone and dirt.


    Hells yes! Joldorain cried inside me. I could feel Jeldorain''s excitement radiate through me, sweeping me along with its fervor, some Metallica playing in my head as I blocked a feeble attack and rag dolled the golem once again, snapping off some crystal in the process.


    ¡°I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY!¡± I bellowed, kicking the golem into a wall.


    This time the golem got up and bellowed, a barrage of laser beams shooting towards me. I raised my shield, the runes etched upon it glowing, absorbing the impact and redirecting the energy back towards the golem. The beams refracted, creating a dazzling light show that momentarily blinded me.


    Sensing that this was the perfect moment for the Shadow Warrior to attack, I jumped back and channeled my mana into the air in front of me in a Ball Lightning attack. Sure enough, the shadowy monster appeared suddenly, arching with the volts until, with a shudder, it crackled into non-existence.


    Without pausing, I attacked the Crystal Golem with Winter Gale, blasting frost towards it. The crystal under its feet crackled and groaned, the cold seeping into its structure, creating fractures.


    With each spell cast, I felt a surge of energy coursing through my veins, a tingling sensation that was both exhilarating and draining. The weight of Frostchain in my hands felt more pronounced, its icy surface pleasantly chilling my skin.


    Play time was over. It was time to finish this.


    With a final, powerful swing of Frostchain, I swung my gargantuan weapon with all of my might, striking the golem with a resonant crack and shattering its body into fragments that flew a wide arc through the air.


    Victorious, I stood amidst the wreckage, the cheers of the crowd a distant roar in my ears. Jeldorain''s laughter echoed in my mind, a note of triumph in the cacophony of battle.


    Notifications rolled over my sight.


    VICTORY! 10000 XP rewarded!


    [Achievement Unlocked: Gladiator Supreme]


    +1 level


    Objective: Win a Battle Royale versus multiple high-level monsters.


    Level Up! Welcome to Level 14


    Well done, champion, he praised, and I couldn''t help but agree. I was almost tempted to gloat, standing there in front of them configuring my new level up choices and making them wait, but instead I stomped over to the King of Khazud-Tharik, to Jeldorain¡¯s obvious dismay, and bowed. ¡°I have passed your test of arms, oh lord of the dwarves. Now may we free the families and have your pledge of allegiance?¡±


    The king stood and he bowed. ¡°We shall have a meeting in the morning, Infernulgar. Tonight you and your companions may rest. On the morrow, we shall discuss terms of alliance.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± I said. ¡°But first I feast.¡±


    With that I gave Jeldorain control over his body and lay back as he gorged himself on the remains of monsters, to the absolute delight of the dwarven crowd.

 Chapter Fifty-Five —Metamorphosis

    I walked through the halls of the castle, pleasantly awed by its tall ceilings and archways. There was no doubt that these floors had seen other infernals walk their tiles underneath the painted ceilings of multi-dimensional frescoes, each of a different plane in the cosmos. My dwarven guards marched in front of and beside me, talking excitedly of the battle and the return of the holy ones. Jeldorain reclined in our headspace, lapping up the praise with glee as we stepped to our assigned residence.


    And what a residence it was! The grandeur of its architecture struck me, a home inside a home. The double doors that opened to it were made of levelled and shined granite, sparkling an almost amber-red due to the tiny lesser gems encrusted into its surface. The handles were almost certainly platinum, and upon opening the doors, I saw that they opened into a grand meeting room, complete with thick, purple carpeting, a throne at its end, and lounge sofas all along both sides of the room. A number of other doors led out, indicating that the entire residence was quite large. I cast a curious eye to the dwarf nearest me.


    ¡°Is this a throne room?¡± I asked.


    ¡°This residence is for visiting royalty, champion,¡± he growled cheerfully. I¡¯d already noticed that it was hard to tell when they were angry or not, since most of them spoke as if their lungs were full of gravel. ¡°It is a great honor to have you stay here.¡±


    As if those words were some cue, they all brought one fist to their chest plates, the thunk of the motion echoing through the chamber despite the muffling of their thick beards. With one movement, they turned and departed, closing the doors on their way out.


    Kevinar stood up from one of the lounge sofas, his sharp elven eyes catching mine with a nod of acknowledgment. ¡°Ryan,¡± he greeted, a rare smile on his face. ¡°I half-expected that we were done. That was a well-fought battle.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I said. ¡°It was Jeldorain and I, really. Couldn¡¯t have done it without him.¡±


    Aw shucks, Jeldorain said, grinning.


    Ike bounded over, grinning as well. ¡°Took you long enough! Thought you might''ve gotten lost in one of those grand hallways.¡± The little kobold gestured around them, pointing at the grandeur of the place. ¡°They gave us this and all our gear back too. I think you might have criticalled your diplomacy on this one.


    I chuckled. ¡°Yeah, maybe. It¡¯s not so hard to do when all they respect is battle and you have the ability to become a 100 foot tall super monster.¡±


    Together we opened all of the doors, checking the place out before settling in for the night. There were ornate bedrooms, one actually sized perfectly for Jeldorain and I, promising a very relaxed and gentle sleep for a change. There was a kitchen, a larder stocked with dried goods, a garderobe, a feasting hall, and lastly a great library filled with dusty tomes and a beautiful hearth at its end, wooden logs already set and ready for the flame. As Kevinar and Ike set about getting that started, I wandered idly through the library, checking the titles.


    As I approached them, I could smell the age of them, a scent that was part dust, part aged parchment, and part incense. The shelves raised to the ceiling, and I knew I wouldn¡¯t see a tenth of what was here even if I spent all night checking it.


    To me, that suggested a secret. Running my fingers across the titles, muttering them to myself beneath my breath, I checked book after book, pulling out the ones whose words interested me. Jeldorain watched with me, sharing the cockpit of our mind and helping suggest titles to take into inventory.


    By the time that the fire was going and Kevinar and Ike were calling me over, I¡¯d taken three thick tomes, each of which Jeldorain said held the promise of a skill level up or spell.


    The first of these was titled, ¡°The Alchemists'' Legacy,¡± its cover a tapestry of celestial patterns. The second was called, ¡°Chronicles of the Etheric Realms,¡± bound in leather that shimmered with an ethereal glow. And the last was named, ¡°Veils of Illusion and the Art of Seeing,¡± featuring an eye on its cover that actively examined me as I held it up in front of me.Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Let me get just one more,¡± I called back over my shoulder. Tracing my fingers against the spine of each book, something flickered out of the corner of my eye.


    Jackpot, Jelorain exclaimed, his spirit grinning icicle teeth in my direction.


    I turned towards where I¡¯d seen the flash, dropping to my knees to scan the section it had come from. There, it flickered again, a tome entitled ¡°Whispers of the Elemental Ancients.¡± Its placement didn¡¯t make any sense, its spine jutting through that of its neighbor in a way not unlike a video game object glitching through a wall.


    I reached out to give it a gentle tug, but instead of grabbing a hold of something solid, I felt an electric shock roll through my body and gave out a surprised yelp despite taking no damage.


    ¡°Hey, Ryan, you alright over there?¡± Ike called.


    ¡°Yeah, just fine,¡± I yelled back, staring at the now vacant square cubby where there had been three shelves worth of books before. I pushed my head forward to the edge of its darkness, peering into its furthest reaches and spying the rolled up parchment of a single scroll, its edges lightly singed.


    ¡°I just found a secret!¡± I called over to my companions.


    ¡°Is it a sword?¡± Kevinar shot back.


    ¡°It¡¯s a scroll.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m not interested,¡± Kevinar responded and I could hear the echo of Ike¡¯s chuckle reverberate through the room. I reached in and grabbed it, pulling it out without incident.


    Now what? Should I open it? I asked Jeldorain, as if his wide-eyed stare wasn¡¯t an answer in itself.


    Now please, oh great master strategist.


    Unraveling the scroll, we bunched together and watched as it revealed a series of spell glyphs. ¡°Ember''s Grasp,¡± I translated, as Jeldorain gasped.


    That is a power of the flaming hells, he said, his voice confused and uncharacteristally nervous. I shouldn¡¯t be able to read it, or even be able to touch the paper it is written on. This sort of magic is forbidden to my kind.


    We read on, getting the details of the magic. The spell allowed the caster to summon and control flames with the finesse of a puppeteer. The incantation, written in a script that flickered on the parchment like living fire, promised mastery over one of the primal forces of nature.


    Ember¡¯s Grasp: Summon a swirling vortex of flames that can be manipulated and controlled with precise movements of your hands. Engulfing a target into the summoned inferno causes 8-32 points of fire damage, with a 1% chance of immolation.


    The spell''s effectiveness diminishes with movement and can be quenched by magical water or ice. This spell consumes 30 mana upon casting and lasts for 5 minutes, requiring the caster to stay immobile and to avoid taking any damage as it is active.


    This spell is a mastery spell, considered a skill for the purposes of its flame-based capacities. Upon successful reading of its runes, a C-rank will be conferred upon those who use the scroll, and the scroll will collapse to dust. Further rankings will confer the following abilities:


    Flame Puppeteer: The caster can shape the flames into simple forms such as animals, weapons, or walls, using them to intimidate, distract, or shield allies from harm.


    Heatwave: Once during the spell''s duration, the caster can choose to expand the flames in a sudden burst, doubling the damage for that turn but ending the spell immediately after.


    Double Damage: All damage inflicted by this spell¡¯s effects are doubled.


    ¡°Give me one more second!¡± I called over to the hearth. Holding the scroll before me, I thought of studying it and understanding it, and watching as the scroll crinkled into ashy motes before me, disappearing into the air. A second later, I felt heat enter my body, a lancing torrent of lava tearing through my veins. I screamed, and I could vaguely hear the echoing footsteps of my companions on their way over to me.


    When they got to me, though, I was done. The pain was gone, and I stood up to regard my companions. Both of them stared, their mouths wide, no words to say.


    ¡°All better now,¡± I said, smirking.


    ¡°Your eyes!¡± Ike exclaimed. ¡°They¡¯ve turned orange.¡±


    Glancing over at Jeldorain, I gasped, seeing the same change reflected in himself.


    How are you feeling, Jeldorain?


    Steaming. Smoking. All-powerful. He laughed, a full-hearted chortle that echoed through our body. I think the fact that you are not an ice infernal meant that you could infuse yourself with an aspect of a flame infernal, and that has transferred to me. I am now a very unique being in this universe, Ryan.


    I smiled. ¡°Jeldorain says everything¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s head over to the hearth and start talking about tomorrow.¡±


    No, Ryan, you don¡¯t understand. This is amazing! I have so much I want to talk about!


    ¡°He also says that he has a bunch he wants to talk to me about, but he¡¯ll respectfully wait to do it until after we¡¯re done having our own conversation.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good, Jeldorain,¡± Ike said cheerfully, turning to head back to the fire. Kevinar cast me a suspicious but friendly glance, while inside me Jeldorain left our cockpit of control to go sulk in the corner.


    We¡¯ll talk, Jeldorain. Just now¡¯s not the time. Right now, we need to talk diplomatic strategy.

 Chapter Fifty-Six - Revelations

    I made my way over and joined Ike and Kevinar, gathering around the hearth. Usually such heat was uncomfortable for me, the ice infernal body responding negatively to the baking warmth of the fire. But now it was comfortable, more again to a light skin massage. I sighed, glad for the return of such a small comfort, and Ike and Kevinar leaned back, Ike examined his blades while Kevinar stared into the fire.


    ¡°The dwarves, they worship the infernals,¡± Kevinar mused, ¡°in the same way my people worship the abyssal spiders. I was surprised they didn¡¯t immediately take to your words, Ryan-Jeldorain. It suggests my reckoning of these Khazud-Tharik is very incomplete.¡±


    Ike sent his blades back to his inventory. ¡°Not worth trusting, that¡¯s for sure. But it¡¯s not like we gotta a choice.¡±


    We could devour the king and his people. Ike is wrong. There is always a choice.


    ¡°I think he distrusts us because of how strange our situation is. Imagine the power that it took to put me inside an infernal. Now we just happen to show up with an infernal, their most blessed sort of being, and claim that we need them to ally with us against the goblins? If I were a king, I¡¯d be suspicious. It all seems too convenient.¡±


    Kevinar nodded, clearly impressed. ¡°That is a good assessment of the situation. I can feel the possibility inside it. It is not unlike the deviled trials of the Arachne, when rogue driders break free of their possession and attempt to flee for exile and refuge. Sometimes it is legitimate, but more often it is a ruse by the Spider Queen to judge us, and to mete out punishment if we fail in her ruling. It is a trick that has made my people paranoid and vicious, always against each other in total obedience to her will and the will of her pantheon.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°So the focus of our diplomacy, then, is to somehow convince the king and his court that we really are what we say we are. And that there is no goblin punishment waiting for them at the end of a partnership.¡±


    You all think too much like mortals. What you need to do is convince them that the punishment we can mete out is greater than what the goblins can, Jeldorain advised. I paused, thinking through his logic.


    ¡°I can see that look on yer face, the one that makes it seem like you are ready to lay down one big ol¡¯ frozen crap right here in front of us. What¡¯s Jeldorain saying?¡± Ike asked.


    I stood up and paced a little, thinking through his words before answering. ¡°He says that for this negotiation, we just have to be the scarier alternative. If the dwarves are more afraid of not helping us than they are of a goblin trap, then there¡¯ll be no question of who they will side with.¡±


    The way I said it was better, Jeldorain grumped.


    ¡°He also said that I am an accomplished speaker, and that he is happy that I am here to translate his gibberish into amazing insights.¡±


    Jeldorain stared through our spiritual cockpit, his eyes stern, and then he bent back, howling with laughter. If we can¡¯t accomplish a separation, Ryan, I think it wouldn¡¯t be such a bad thing. It gets boring in this body by myself over the uninterrupted course of many millennia.


    ¡°We need to be more than intimidating,¡± I said, Jeldorain¡¯s observation sparking an idea in my brain. ¡°We need to also be relatable. Give them some element that they want to be around. Something that would suggest to them that, given time, we can all be friends.¡±


    Ike snorted. ¡°Becoming relatable to people whose whole culture centers around the worship of infernals. Yeah, that should be easy.¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°Our stories, our experiences... they''re powerful. You two have been directly enslaved by one of their number, and we¡¯ve all been through combat with their kind. Surely that¡¯s some common ground between us.¡±


    ¡°Unless they volunteered for it all, and our assumptions about how all of this has been operating are wrong,¡± Kevinar stated.


    We were quiet for a moment.


    ¡°Brandosyeus could do it,¡± Ike said, slapping his knee. ¡°That bugger would make up some song about infernal love and they¡¯d all fall apart.¡±


    As they should, Jeldorain said, sighing. Infernal women of all the planes are incredibly sexy, with tight bods and amazing hoohahs.


    I, um, what? I asked, my mind suddenly pulled to the figures drawn in a million teenage boys¡¯ notebooks all over my former world.


    Yes, like that, Jeldorain replied wistfully. If we do get separated, I¡¯ll introduce you to one of them. The encounter will inevitably be lethal, but I guarantee it will be worth it.


    ¡°Jeldorain thinks that talking of infernal women might not be a bad idea,¡± I said, my mouth twisting as I said it. The whole idea of going into the diplomatic meeting to do a bunch of locker room talk just seemed so wrong. It certainly wasn¡¯t ever an option in any of the Lord of Chaos dialogue menus. But the way he spoke of them; it was possible they were the last bit of common ground we¡¯d need to get things rolling.


    After some more light chit chat, we finally rose from the dwindling fire, a silent anxious tiredness that had our eyes wide and our mouths yawning. Bidding everyone a good sleep, we walked through the long shadows cast across the room and made our ways to our prospective quarters.


    I walked to mine, laying down in the large infernal-sized bed provided us, and pulled up my character sheet, ready to run my level up. I was level 14, with 420 hit points, 210 mana points, 250 stamina points and I knew what to do with my new skill up. I rolled through my abilities, finding Ember¡¯s Grasp and raising it to B-rank. Lava coursed through my veins briefly as a prompt popped before my eyes.


    Growing a greater affinity for the elements of flame, the infernal heat imbues your body with another ability:


    Flame Puppeteer: You are an artist, the flames your canvas. Fashion and shape flames into simple forms such as animals, weapons, or walls, using them to intimidate, distract, or shield allies from harm.


    That done, I let myself stare at the ceiling, thoughts bouncing through my mind.


    Jeldorain, you mentioned female infernals. Does that mean you all have families?


    Jeldorain''s presence within me shifted, as if he were settling in for a long, thoughtful conversation. Families... Yes, in a manner of speaking. Infernals do form bonds, though not always in the way mortals understand them. Our connections are often forged through power, alliances, and sometimes, genuine affection.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Images of a surprisingly attractive she-devil appeared in my mind, about her swirls of frost and snow smoking through the sky.


    Who was she? I asked, genuinely surprised.


    A being of another life. This was a time before the elemental wars, the legions of the earths, waters, winds, and flames smashing at each other and vassalizing the lesser planes in a bid for total domination. It was before the beginning of this particular plane, before the Treaty of the Nexus forced all of us who survived to agree to an eternal truce. I have reason to question the narrative, but at the time we were shown a vast new universe filled with worlds and wonder. Many of them were barren, but a few were living, filled with animals and sapient beings. And in an infinite universe, a few might as well be infinity as well. We were told that our struggle created this, that our elemental energies smashing together and annihilating one another had combined, blasting into existence a space where none had been before, filled with new gods and new beings. We were told that they were our children, and that they would serve us and give us purpose.


    I stared across our mind, locking my eyes with his own. That¡¯s genuinely interesting. And informative. But you didn¡¯t answer my question.


    He sighed. She was an object of my affection.


    I turned over in the bed, intrigued. Affection? I wouldn''t have taken infernals for the affectionate type. How does that work?


    Jeldorain chuckled. There is a godly complexity that all of you lesser species put upon us. The truth is, we aren¡¯t these horrid beings devoid of passion. We¡¯re the opposite of that. We are horrid because we feel so hard. I don¡¯t get hungry. I hunger. I don¡¯t feel horny. I lust. For infernals, we stay away from each other for the most part nowadays because when we get angry, we kill, and when we love, it is forever.


    Images of the she-devil flowed through my mind once again, but this time it was a montage of scenes, one after another, a barely traceable zip of incredibly raw emotion that started with a handsome blue-skinned man-demon named Jeldorain, not at all recognizable as the form he was now, and the she-devil named Jezebel.


    It began with a challenge. Standing atop icy peaks outcroppings across from one another, a vast chasm between them underneath the swirling chaos of a winter maelstrom, they glared at one another. Both obviously young, staking claims for themselves in the Icy Hells, they come to a place where their borders overlapped.


    No words were exchanged as the two narrowed their eyes at the other, jumping straight into a duel of epic proportions. Ice and wind blasted through the air, snow and stone scattering with each magical blast of the other¡¯s might. The storm above intensified, lightning crackling through the air, whole sheets of ice slapping down in a meteoric mockery of hail.


    And then, all at once, the landscape was silent. Dazed and weary, the two combatants stood just one arm¡¯s length from the other, panting.


    ¡°You fight well for a youngling,¡± she said, her voice sultry and echoed like frosted caverns in winter.


    ¡°You as well,¡± Jeldorain said, cocking his head and grinning. He stepped forward just as she did, each mirroring the other¡¯s movements until they were locked in a romantic embrace, their lips meeting the suddenly powerful howling of the wind.


    Dating isn¡¯t very complicated in the infernal world, is it? I asked, staring at the images as he froze them into place.


    Jeldorain grinned. When lonely beings of power meet and learn to respect one another as equals, the foundations have been laid. What sense is there in stretching it out?


    The scenes began to play out again, Jeldorain and Jezebel in a tavern that looked suspiciously like an overlarge igloo, blue-skinned beings of small, dwarvish stature with beards of ice and frost muttering over cups or serving chilled fare as the two matched each other cup for cup over giant mugs of local lager.


    In the next, Jezebel was laughing, belting Jeldorain in the stomach before getting grabbed and pile-driven into the floor. Panting, they locked lips, their hands moving over each other before, suddenly, I saw them in their own cavern, a gaggle of NPC frost dwarves crafting and fashioning goods for their abode.


    A home? I asked.


    He froze the scene and nodded. The open, blowing wilds are a wondrous place. But not for a child.


    My eyes widened. You ¨C You¡¯re a father?!


    He shook his head to the negative. The scene zoomed out, and I was treated to the flashed of combat, the explosions of fire in the land of frost. Magma dwarves, fiery infernals of every shape and size, lava imps, a full on bestiary of creatures marched through the Icy Hells, laying charred waste to all they beheld. It was chaotic as I saw young Jeldorain marching alongside his lover, part of a legion that itself was part of an infinite mass assembled to defend their homeland.


    In the skies above, dragons and wyverns of pure elemental composition fought one another, their ashes and wetness dripping to the land beneath them.


    Marching into combat, ice met lava and flame, squelching heat as it fell into slushy waste. All over the infinity of each of the icy hells, they fought, cities of ice and snow crashing into nothing, leaving bare rock where they had once stood. I watched as the legions grew fewer, as the battles became less frequent, as Jezebel¡¯s stomach grew and her battle candor waned.


    ¡°No more,¡± Jeldorain snarled, thicker and larger now, jagged bits of ice crackling out from patches of his blue skin. ¡°You must stay in the cavern. We can still win and I can¡¯t lose you!¡± he said, Jezebel¡¯s face a rictus of anger.


    ¡°No! They are winning, Jeldorain. We need every fighter on the line. This is for us, for the Frozen Hells. We will not be slaves to the Flaming Abyss!¡±


    The images froze, and I heard a sobbing snort. Looking away from the pictures, I saw that Jeldorain was crying.


    I ¡ª I didn¡¯t realize. You were such a dick when I met you. I thought infernals were just like that.


    Oh, it isn¡¯t your fault, Jeldorain said, attempting a smile. We are like that to lesser beings. I didn¡¯t realize it until recently. You have taught me a lot, Ryan.


    He waved a hand and the images played again. I watched as his homeland smoked and scorched, falling to the invaders one after another infinitesimally large block at a time.


    How much¡ª


    A million of your Earths, Ryan. That many beings as well.


    I saw Jeldorain and Jezebel¡¯s unit collapse, the two of them rushing back for their cavern still days away from the advancing hordes.


    ¡°We can leave the planes! We can go to the Watery Abyss!¡± Jeldorain screamed frantically as he carried his partner through the howling gales. But I noticed that she didn¡¯t respond. She couldn¡¯t respond. Her eyes were closed and her body was leaking away, her skin slush, her baby bump already gone to the wind.


    I¡¯m so sorry, I gasped. Images of my own wife and family popped before us, crying at the feet of my dead body on the floor of the gaming convention, and Jeldorain nodded.


    The images ticked forward, a messy and chaotic blur. I saw Jeldorain wailing into the sky followed by a host of ice infernals and dwarves standing before the massive figure of a flaming humanoid behemoth, opposite of who stood the ice god Thrymheimr. Words swirled in the air before them, and Thrynheimr bent his knee in obeisance, all of the other denizens following suit.


    All but Jeldorain, who slunk away from the gathering to march into the deepest depths of the Icy Hells, to a place of frozen lakes and mountains, away from all the others and bathed in the tormented screams of a billion souls.


    Does that answer your question, Ryan? Jeldorain asked, his voice subdued and tired.


    Yes. Thank you for sharing that with me, Jeldorain. It couldn¡¯t have been easy.


    Easier than having your body taken away from you forcibly and given to that of a lesser being? Jeldorain asked. I glanced over sharply, afraid I had offended him, but a sad grin on his devilish lips told me he was joking, and I forced a chuckle.


    Point taken.


    Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I wish to be alone for a while. Perhaps it is a good idea to sleep. It has been a long and exciting day.


    I nodded. I think you infernals maybe got a bum rap. I¡¯m glad to have met you Jeldorain.


    He snorted. If we hadn¡¯t met, you¡¯d still be with your family and I¡¯d still be wandering the hells in exile. But, I¡¯m glad that of all the beings in the multiverse that the spell could have taken, it chose you. I don¡¯t know if you are truly that great of a master strategist, but maybe the spell doesn¡¯t work like that. Maybe it choses the people who, deep down, are most alike. Now, go away. I wish to lament and ponder.


    I smiled. Goodnight Jeldorain.


    He snorted and moved out of our mind, leaving me alone in our headspace. I closed my eyes, and I was soon asleep.

 Chapter Fifty-Seven – Surprise Awakenings

    When I awoke, it was to Jeldorain shaking me, jostling me from my slumber even as he piloted our shared body from out of the bed.


    Danger is approaching, Ryan. We must be ready, and we must warn the others.


    I watched from the side as he walked us out into the common room, the orange-red embers of the fire deceptively peaceful in light of his warning. Part of me protested, wanting to get back to bed and slumber, but I could feel it too. Something was wrong, almost like the air had changed and gone wrong.


    A side door opened, and Kevinar entered the room, his blades drawn. He saw me and nodded, before disappearing into the shadows.


    Should we go wake Ike? I asked.


    Jeldorain shook his head. I have no doubt that Kevinar is taking care of that as we speak. No, I have a different plan for this encounter. I sense a great many approaching, though the garments they wear shield them from heat vision. I am going to activate Soul Divergence to even the odds.


    Soul Divergence. I had thought of it as a means for us both to be free of each other during less dangerous days when combat was unexpected, and the thought honestly frightened me. Wouldn¡¯t I appear as a human gamer, level 0, with no abilities to my name?


    Jeldorain watched my thoughts flit by and chuckled. It is possible, but highly unlikely. Your physics don¡¯t fit with this world. Universes and dimensions force those who enter them to adapt to the new physics of the domain. Unless of course they are powerful enough to resist them. In my home plane my abilities are a hundred times what they are here. I was reduced to fit the system. You . . . I don¡¯t know what you will be, Ryan. But you will have 14 levels of it.


    I shook my head slowly. Or maybe I¡¯ll be an NPC.


    Jeldorain rolled his eyes. The first information this system had on you was that you were an infernal named Thorack. My guess is that when you separate, you¡¯ll be another copy of me. Just a different name.


    I thought about it briefly, watching through his eyes, catching the most subtle of movements. These would-be assassins saw us standing in the dark, and they were encircling us, no doubt ready to spring as soon as we made any sort of move. Two infernals of ice, that would certainly even the odds.


    Assuming Jeldorain was right.


    Alright, I¡¯m in. Back to back?


    Of course, Thorack responded with a huge, frosty grin.


    The first assassin emerged from the shadows, a flicker of movement, but Kevinar was faster. Appearing from nowhere, his dual blades slashed left and right, bloodying two unseen opponents as the assassin raised his hands in defense¡ªjust in time to take a dagger in his kidneys.


    ¡°Thought you could take us by surprise, did ya?¡± Ike asked incredulously. His other dagger parried a blow, and he countered with a vicious riposte.


    Jeldorain thought the words, and a blast of light enveloped the room, showing two-dozen or so dwarves wrapped in deep blue cloth, carrying short swords and crossbows. As they shielded their eyes, I stepped from his body, another ice infernal holding the same weapons and gear, a copy of my host in every way.


    ¡°Back to back is off the table. You ready, handsome?¡± Jeldorain asked. I nodded, and together we charged into battle.


    The dwarves howled, a guttural scream as they attempted to mob us, but with Jeldorain and I running headlong into their masses, swiping Frostchain left and right between us, a number were slung sideways to crunch into the walls.


    Reaching a wall, we turned to see that Kevinar and Ike were still back where they¡¯d been, fighting a defensive battle against a handful of the attackers. But the majority of our enemies were closing in on us, and the ones we¡¯d swept aside were back on their feet, ready for vengeance.


    ¡°First to ten?¡± Jeldorain asked, eyeing the incoming horde.


    I smiled. ¡°Ten kills? Yeah, I¡¯m down. Let¡¯s do it!¡±


    With our backs to the wall, we stood, letting the eager dwarvish assassins rush our way. The first to charge was a dwarf with a long gray beard, his short sword raised high, almost certainly aiming to slash one of us in our ankles or knees. I parried with Frostchain, the clash of metal ringing loud like the toll of a bell. Utilizing my agility, I sidestepped and swung Frostchain with precision, its frosty swing-blade catching him off-guard and sending him sprawling into his comrades.


    Next to me, Jeldorain shot me a predatory grin, then leapt forward into the mass of them, unleashing his Whirlwind Attack. Spinning with lethal grace, his weapon became a horrid electric blizzard as Chain Lightning activated, tearing untold havoc through the shoulder-to-shoulder enemies.


    ¡°Maybe I didn¡¯t need your help after all,¡± Jeldorain chortled, kicking a dead dwarf and vaulting his body into the door of our former bedroom.


    Snarling, I activated Flame Puppeteer, calling on the embers of the fire to take form. Concentrating hard, I summoned the ethereal flames to light, a blaze roaring to life casting orange light over the battle.


    Concentrating on the fire, I began to twist them, willing them into different shapes and forms. Thinking hard, I recalled the battle of the arena, pushing those monsters into the mold of the spell, and compelling them into existence.


    First, there emerged the likeness of a colossal bear, its form made entirely of dancing flames, roaring silently into the dimly lit room. Its massive paws scraped the stone floor, leaving behind trails of smoldering heat.


    Following the bear, a serpent of fire slithered into being, its long, undulating body encircling the room as it chased screaming dwarves, the illusion always just barely missing its prey.


    Then, from the swirling chaos of fire, a mighty wyvern took shape, wings unfurling with a grace that filled the room with a sweltering heat. Its maw opened to release a silent roar, a cascade of sparks falling like rain.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    As I watched, the dwarves panicked, all morale broken by the sudden appearance of such a clearly infernal horde. They scurried, dodged, and bolted, while Jeldorain, Kevinar, and Ike smote, stabbed and slashed.


    A few stood their ground. I saw one turn to thrust his short sword into Kevinar¡¯s side, only to find Kevinar¡¯s blade through his windpipe. Another attempt to blast Ike with a crossbow, only for the agile kobold to parry the device from his hands before stabbing him through his armpit.


    In the end, it was just a small handful that made it out through the double-doored entrance. As they exited, I let my spell ability die, the flaming illusions sparking to nothing in an instant. We stared at the door a second, panting in a singular post-battle moment as we adjusted ourselves to the new reality of the situation.


    ¡°Did anyone get hit?¡± I asked, trying to think the battle through. It¡¯d started and ended incredibly quickly.


    ¡°I took a nick to the shoulder,¡± Ike called.


    No one else spoke up, and a thrill built up inside me. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to go back into Jeldorain. And then I think it¡¯s time we go have a talk with the king.¡±


    Thinking the word MERGE I found myself drawn back into Jeldorain¡¯s body, another powerfully bright even that forced the others to shield their eyes. Then, everyone ready to go, we headed out into the corridor.


    I won, Jeldorain informed me.


    I chuckled. Yeah, you did. Well done buddy.


    He was quiet for a bit, even as the three of us stomped over stone tiles and under arches made for infernals on our way through a hostile palace. Staring at me with an indiscernible look in his eyes.


    I think maybe you should go back in charge of our body, he said, his face sheepish. I was the greater warrior, but your actions . . . you were the better leader and strategist. I just wanted to smash and maim. You actually thought about the battle, and because of it you defeated an enemy many times larger than us in a tiny amount of time.


    I beamed, though I tried not to. It was the first time he¡¯d alluded to me being good at strategy unironically, and it meant a lot.


    Thanks Jeldorain. I¡¯ll take over for now, but I¡¯ll need you to keep watching and advising me. We¡¯re a team, and I can¡¯t do this without you.


    He nodded. Honor has been forsaken in this realm, Jeldorain said, his voice echoing through the depths of our mind with a sudden increased amplitude. And in the past I would have found that hilarious, because I thought the lesser species were like chimpanzees in robes and wigs. But you aren¡¯t lesser. Your struggles are just as real as those I faced in my realm. Let¡¯s do this right.


    I took the helm, continuing to trot unopposed with Ike on my left flank and Kevinar on my right. The corridors of the castle stretched before us, an intricate and brilliant construction whose walls were laid out with tapestries lit by strategically placed glowing fungi, showing off at least a millennium of imperial rule. But they were tattered and faded as well, and I wondered for how long the kingdom had been in its decline.


    My ruminations came to a halt, though, as we turned the next corner. There stood an actual phalanx of guards, five wide and five deep, each of them wielding wicked looking halberds and interlocking shields. We skittered to a stop before them.


    ¡°Surrender yourselves! Your actions are an affront to the king!¡± one voice cried.


    Kevinar smiled, a wicked grin with no mercy or remorse behind it. ¡°Your king just tried to have us killed. If I were you, I would leave. What do you have? Twenty-five soldiers who have probably never seen war? Youth being told to come and slow us down. To die to a man so that some other, bigger force can be assembled to fight us?¡±


    He paused, and I narrowed my eyes, seeing that indeed they looked shiny and young, full of fear and inexperience.


    He leaned forward slightly, and a few of the youthful guards jumped. ¡°Do you know what we have? We have a 25<sup>th</sup> level assassin-warrior of the Deeps, a 27<sup>th</sup> level dirty fighter who doesn¡¯t give a damn, and a hells-drawn actual Infernal.¡±


    The unit shared terrified glances, clearly unsure of what to do.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? RUN!¡± Kevinar yelled, and the dwarven guards clattered together in a mess, dropping weapons and shields as they scrambled to get out of their way.


    ¡°Kevinar, that was brilliant!¡± I exclaimed.


    ¡°No,¡± he shook his head. ¡°It was wise. We¡¯ll need them later when we sort out this king and ally with the kingdom. Learn the difference, leader.¡±


    Jeldorain gaped inside of me. Perhaps I should have been infused with Kevinar.


    I nodded, as impressed with the elf as he was.


    We continued forward, a blur of halls and doors. As we moved, we saw other piles of abandoned weaponry, spots where there¡¯d obviously been guards not so long before. Kevinar¡¯s words had spread, and the signs spoke a clear message. The dwarves weren¡¯t loyal to the king. Not the common ones, anyways.


    Finally we moved into the main hall, approaching the towering doors that led to the throne room. A thin line of defenders had gathered here, but none of the cloaked survivors we¡¯d fought in our room, nor any of the youth we¡¯d encountered on our way. Instead, the dwarves we faced here were obviously elite, well-groomed to exactly this moment. Their armor gleamed, ringed in glowing sigils the color of muddy earth, the little bit of observable skin crisscrossed with scars and the leftovers of battle or adventures they¡¯d undertaken in the past.


    They looked intimidating, and I wondered what bonuses that armor gave them. They wielded axes that blazed fire, and I knew that they¡¯d wreck me if I got close. Behind them stood a mage who held a staff that pulsed with an inner light, its top adorned with a crystal that seemed to contain a swirling galaxy. Even as we watched, a bright and electric dome of power covered the lot of them, reminding me of starship shields on TV.


    Beside the mage was a priest, but one that looked more of a warhammer sort, with massive shoulders and chest underneath flame-red mail that somehow form-clung to his body, showing off every contour. He held a mighty, fiery staff, and around his neck blazed a symbol, one that left Jeldorain gasping and bewildered.


    That is an infernal god! Pyrathos, the Ember Sovereign. He is the one who forced us to bend the knee! He killed Jezebel!


    In my mind we were both suddenly standing side-by-side, watching as a towering figure of flame and magma rose up a single hand, blasting a mountain of ice and snow into a volcano. Ash and glittering globs of molten earth coalesced, falling and steaming into the land around it. Ranks of frozen beings were obliterated in an instant, their essence snuffed to liquid in an instant. The god looked on, his coal-burnt eyes glittering before blasting gouts of flame into the already broken army standing before him. I saw young Jeldorain among them, throwing Jezebel into the snow before shielding her with his body.


    But it was too late . . . already the bright orange-red of oblivion had taken root, their almost-born baby sizzling before breaking, her stomach deflating to nothing. Jeldorain took her up and carried her off, loping past the dying and wounded. Behind him, a ragtag group of infernals, ranging from young and human-looking through stages of age to the point that Jeldorain looked like today, charged the titanic behemoth of fire. He peered at them as if curious, before destroying them in a single smote of blown plasma.


    The scene broke, Jeldorain standing before me.


    I will destroy them. Give me back control.


    I shook my head. Remember what Kevinar said. We have to talk to them. They can join our cause!


    He sighed, his spirit reaching out as if to embrace me, before seizing me and throwing it out of our zone of control.


    I toppled at the edge, barriers suddenly erected. Jeldorain! No! You¡¯re breaking our compact! You said there¡¯d be real consequences if you did it! Don¡¯t do this!


    He looked at me sadly through the thick energy barriers of his mind. Ryan, you don¡¯t understand. These infernals . . . they took everything. I will have my vengeance.


    Even at the cost of your life?! I asked, surprised and bewildered. You said that a Devil¡¯s Bargain will destroy any who break it!


    They already took my life, he responded, turning to the controls.


    A prompt appeared before me:


    An infernal being has broken the pact of your Devil¡¯s Bargain. Do you wish to enforce terms? Y/N


    I shook my head. No, hells damn you. Do not kill Jeldorain.


    The prompt slid away. In its wake, I watched as Jeldorain raised Frostchain, and charged.

 Chapter Fifty-Eight – The King’s Guard

    Jeldorain bellowed, Frostchain swinging in an arc over his head. To our side, I noticed Kevinar level a hand crossbow and fire, its twang unheard as its bolt popped forward to shatter against the wizard¡¯s dome.


    Above us, the air crackled with the tension of an impending storm. Dark storm clouds swarmed together, the sudden crack of deafening thunder booming through the hallway. A droplet of liquid flame dripped down, sizzling as it scorched the stone beneath us. It was followed by another, and another.


    ¡°Damned be all mages,¡± yelled Ike as he charged forward past us, launching himself at the right flank of the dwarven formation and plunging through the barrier of the shield. A dwarven fighter moved to meet him, swinging his ax in a wide arc, but Ike ducked under it, dropping bodily to the floor and using his impetus to slide through the warrior¡¯s legs. As he did so, he plunged one of his daggers into the dwarf''s Achilles heel. A scream, raw and laden with anguish, filled the air as the dwarf crumbled, his ability to stand ruined by the precise, debilitating strike.


    Continuing on with his attack, one hand now free, Ike scrabbled at the earth as he slid, gathering a handful of dirt and gravel. Bounding up with incredible agility, the kobold leapt to his feet and, with a flick of his wrist, he cast his gathered detritus into the eyes of a second fighter. Cursing and blinded, the dwarf lashed out in desperation, his strike landing not on Ike, but on one of his own, knocking the third dwarf back into a fourth one.


    The disturbance caught the attention of the mage, and the energy shield broke as he turned to face the crazed kobold. Raising his arms, an arcane chant echoing unnaturally from his lips, crackling energy formed in both of his upturned hands . . . only for two blades to push through his back. A booted foot kicked the mage forward, knocking him to his knees, and Kevinar emerged from the shadows. The dark elf stomped on the back of the wizard¡¯s head, ending him even as he raised dual blades to block the overhead chop of a fifth fighter.


    Ike turned towards this new opponent and threw his dagger, lodging it in the same dwarf¡¯s eye. The dwarf bellowed and kicked out, booting Kevinar backwards, but Ike ran forward and dropped, bowling into the unsteady warrior¡¯s knees and knocking him down to the ground before popping up, weaponless, to face the next warrior beyond him.


    Meanwhile Jeldorain tore into the ranks of the already disoriented dwarves, engaging his Whirlwind Attack almost off-handedly as he stared at the hated cleric. The raining flame of the storm had gained strength and volume, fat pearl-sized droplets all homing in on us, steaming into our icy skin and scorching craters into our hide.


    The priest narrowed his eyes, making contact with our own. Snarling, he clapped his hands together and a massive bolt of electric lava tore out from the storm above, seeming to suck the energy out of the storm as it lanced into us. I watched in horror as it ripped bodily through us before exploding, throwing everyone but the cleric sideways to skitter against the walls.


    ¡°Begone, foul infernal of the frosts. Your kind are slaves, not worthy of our king,¡± he bellowed.


    Jeldorain tried to rise, but I could see a litany of heavy debuffs imprinted on his soul. His spirit staggered. ¡°Jezebel,¡± he whispered, confused.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Hey there, buddy, I said reassuringly, grabbing his spirit by its shoulder. Let me take over from here. At least until the debuffs are over.


    Jezebel, he moaned again, incoherent. I pushed him over to the side, then took over our body, feeling the sudden pain of having a bloody hole torn through me. I groaned, but pushed myself up, now seeing firsthand the wet liquid insides of Jeldorain spilled over the floor before me.


    I stood, my eyes wide and unbelieving as I saw that my hit points were in the single digits. The cleric . . . that spell . . . he¡¯d almost ended us in an instant.


    I¡¯d have to do something clever. And I¡¯d have to do it quickly.


    Jeldorain, I called. Cast ASSERT, now!


    Moaning and confused, Jeldorain¡¯s spirit raised a hand up and the chill of icy mana swirled within us, cycling outward in a blasting shockwave that exploded outward, slapping against all of the magic around us.


    The cleric''s eyes widened in alarm as his incantations stuttered to a halt. The dwindled storm above faltered, the liquid flames and electric lava dissipated, and all but one of the dwarves¡¯ armored suits lost the glow that gleamed from their runes.


    The cleric, though surprised, was quick to recover. His lips moved in silent fury, but his spells found no purchase in the disrupted magical field. Around us, the sounds of battle resumed, steel clashing with steel, but I could see that our enemies were faltering, their morale about done.


    I glanced at Frostchain, making sure its magic was still intact. With the knowledge that it was, I charged, casting Minor Healing on my way.


    The cleric stumbled back, his mouth agape as he struggled to comprehend his sudden impotence, his hands weaving meaninglessly through the air. ¡°My magic! You took my magic!¡±


    ¡°No, Jeldorain did that. Scion of Thrymheimr. Behold the might of the frost infernals,¡± I growled, pissed at what this man¡¯s god had done to Jerldorain¡¯s people. Roaring, I swung my shield out in a downward arc, smashing it into the top of his skull. The cleric collapsed, muttering confusedly in a sudden and obvious swarm of debuffs.


    He tried to rise, but I smashed him again, a satisfying crack echoing as he crumpled to the ground. Unthinking, a sudden and boiling rage coursing through my body, I swung Frostchain into him repeatedly. The cleric screamed once, before falling silent.


    I wasn¡¯t sure when that silence started, but I knew I¡¯d been pounding the body for some time when the combined hands of Ike and Kevinar brought me back to the present. I peered dazedly around the battlefield, seeing that the dwarven warriors had fled, leaving their dead comrades behind.


    ¡°Take it easy, Jeldorain,¡± Ike said gently. ¡°The fight is over.¡±


    ¡°Jeldorain¡¯s on the outs,¡± I replied, coming to my senses. ¡°I¡¯m back in the driver¡¯s seat.¡±


    Kevinar cocked his head, his eyes unreadable. ¡°Beware this shared soul of yours. It might be that the both of you are drifting together and becoming one.¡±


    I growled. ¡°Maybe. But I don¡¯t think so. You don¡¯t know Jeldorain¡¯s story. This man and what he represents . . . I just gave him what he deserved.¡±


    Kevinar nodded and turned to face the gate to the chamber room. ¡°Whatever the case, it would seem that we are now at our objective. Sadly, I am entirely without magical weapons now.¡± He held up his blades, and I noticed their lack of aura and sparkle. ¡°Can you assure me that your vengeance has been meted, and that we are going to approach the king with a measure of strategy?¡±


    Sighing, I held up a finger, signaling them to wait, while I turned to Jeldorain¡¯s soul for consultation. Is everything alright over there? I asked.


    Vengeance has been meted, oh great champion. I will stay here for a while and rest. Today has been . . . emotional.


    ¡°Jeldorain says everything is as it should be and we¡¯ll proceed strategically,¡± I translated. The infernal hmphed and grinned sadly, before turning away and retreating deeper into our body.


    ¡°Strategic, eh?¡± Ike said, grinning. ¡°Sounds like it might be a good time to loot these bodies.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch,¡± Kevinar added. A moment later, he was nowhere to be seen.

 Chapter Fifty-Nine – Critical Fusion

    Together, the two of us bent over the body of the cleric, placing hands on the liquid mess of his smashed and broken body. A shared party inventory screen appeared before us and we investigated his belongings.


    The first was the priest¡¯s armor. The aptly named Mail of the Flame Infernal that had once adorned the cleric was a handsome vestment, I had to admit. Crafted from a metal shimmered flame red under my gaze, the mail shifted slowly, its color changing to a deep, molten red that moved and flowed as if alive. Each link was meticulously forged, small yet incredibly durable, interlocked in a pattern that spoke of ancient, magical, craftsmanship; almost certainly the work of infernals. The mail clung to his formidable frame, obviously crafted to his exact proportions.


    Sadly, though, the armor seemed depleted now, the multiple strikes from Frostchain showing in multiple tears and holes in the disheveled interweaving. It actually crackled in places, like a shorted computer terminal, smoke rising up as its color began to fade and drain away.


    ¡°Damn. Ryan, can you fuse that with something before it dies on us?¡± Ike asked.


    I shook my head, about to explain that I¡¯d need coins, before my eyes settled on a pouch in the inventory screen. With the armor growing noticeably cooler, I hurried to take it out of the screen and into my hands, my large fingers fumbling with its strings as I pulled it open to see what was inside.


    With a swift, final tug, I opened the pouch, tipping its contents onto the cold stone floor of the chamber. Seventy-five golden coins, two mana potions, two health potions, and a small, bejeweled letter opened clattered before us.


    I quaffed the potions immediately as Ike scanned the pile, mesmerized. ¡°I guess it¡¯s good to serve the king,¡± he quipped, reaching down to lift the letter opener. It looked impressive and it was the size of a dragon¡¯s tooth.


    I eyed it, examining every nook and cranny of the item with my infernal eyes. The letter opener was crafted from what appeared to be a single, flawlessly preserved dragon''s tooth, its surface polished to a gleaming white. The handle was wrapped in a fine, dark leather that met the base of the tooth with a band of gold at its grip. Set into this gold band were small rubies and sapphires, set into an artistic pattern that mimicked a land of flames and tormented souls, their screaming stick figure bodies bowed in eternal pain. The tip of the tooth was fabulously sharp, and I briefly wondered if it couldn¡¯t be a weapon in its own right.


    My vision swam and suddenly a notification screen popped into view.


    IDENTIFIED!


    Bejeweled Dragon''s Tooth Letter Opener:


    Effect: Enhances the user''s precision in mundane tasks (like opening letters) and magical tasks (like precise ingredient slicing for potions) when held. Additionally, when used in ritual magic, it can slightly amplify the power of fire and water spells.


    Usual Cost: 550 gold pieces, given its dual utility and the rarity of materials.


    Color: The tooth itself is a pristine white, with the jewels set into the gold band adding flashes of fiery red and deep ocean blue to the piece.


    ¡°That¡¯ll do,¡± I announced, snatching the item from Ike¡¯s grasp. ¡°Give me one of your blades, a dagger or a short sword.¡±


    Ike grinned, his canines showing large and wicked. Apparating a short sword to his hand, he gave it over and I pulled the dying armor from the inventory window. With the short sword and armor in hand, I sacrificed the letter opening in a flash of light, feeling its energy race through me to fuel my Fuse ability. Imagining the items becoming one, I placed them before me, and both of us stepped back to see its transformation.


    The air shimmered with heat, the crackling essence of the armor boiling under the strain of its low durability as my ability worked its charms. Cracking apart into wisps of fire and metal, the released energy wound itself around Ike¡¯s sword.


    As we watched, the blade seemed to awaken. The metal hummed, and flames danced along the blade, wrapping around it in an intimate embrace. Around us, shadows gathered in as well, wound into the fusion as it reached out to find more items of value to work with.


    Finally, it was finished.


    Flameforged Shadowblade. Epic. Forged in a ritual of sacrifice and power, this weapon marries the elusive essence of shadows with the untamed fury of flames. It grants the wielder the ability to cloak themselves in darkness while wreathing the blade in unquenchable fire that does not harm the user but is devastating to foes. Strikes with the Flameforged Shadowblade have a chance to ignite the enemy, dealing additional fire damage over time, or envelop them in shadows, disorienting them and reducing their accuracy for a short duration.


    I examined the newly created Flameforged Shadowblade in awe. The blade itself was a work of art, the steel infused with a gradient of blacks and deep reds that seemed to pulse with an inner light. It was as if the weapon contained a heartbeat, a rhythm of darkness and fire. The hilt was encased in dark, almost ethereal metal, adorned with runes that glimmered with a fiery light, suggesting a grip that promised both control and power. Strangely, the weapon''s balance felt perfect, as if it were an extension of my own arm, a seamless blend of magic and steel that resonated with my very essence.


    Flameforged Shadowblade, Damage 5 to 40 (+15), Weight 3, Speed Very Fast, Specials: Ignite (15% chance, dealing 5-10 fire damage over 5 seconds), Shadow Cloak (10% chance to reduce enemy accuracy by 20% for 10 seconds), Attunement Level 1 - Flame''s Embrace (Using the weapon increases resistance to fire damage by 10%).


    The fusion had ended, leaving me with a weapon that seemed to defy the natural laws of magic and craftsmanship. I beamed as I handed it over to the wide-eyed kobold, watching its aura flicker red and black over the blade.


    ¡°I hope this makes up for all the money I¡¯ve spent adventuring with you.¡±


    Ike burst out laughing. ¡°I believe it does, Ryan. I really believe it does.¡±


    He weighed it in his hand, marveling at the flames that did not burn, at the shadows that spun out from the blade only to be lassoed back in to repeat the process repeatedly.


    As he admired his new blade, I dove back into the inventory, hopeful that I¡¯d find things to fund a fusion with Kevinar¡¯s blades as well. I found Fire Opal Cufflinks, crafted from fine gold and set with opals. Not magical anymore, at any rate. The craftsmanship was superb, but my identification suggested that they were worth just 200 gold pieces.


    The next bit of loot was titled ¡®Enchanted Charcoal¡¯ and it didn¡¯t impress me at all. However my appraisal said it was worth 50 gold pieces, and that it would ignite on command, so I put it in my inventory. It could prove useful later on.


    Moving along, I found a Phoenix Feather Quill that my identification said would never break or run out of ink, suggesting it was worth 300 gold pieces.


    Next to that was an Ember Stone, pulsing gently with warmth. Valued at 50 gold pieces, it was apparently used to heat things on command and was worth 50 gold.


    I looked at his cleric¡¯s pendant, labeled ¡®Heart of Flame¡¯. The silver and ruby pendant was shaped like a licking flame with a ruby at its core, and it granted an additional 50 mana to worshippers of Pyrathos. It was worth 350 gold.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Finally I appraised his Staff of Command, its now dark wood splintered, the crystal atop it cracked and sputtering. My appraisal suggested that it was trash, and I left it with the now armorless corpse, turning to check the mage instead.


    Stepping over to his pierced and broken body, I knelt down and opened his inventory window. There weren¡¯t nearly as many goodies, I saw, but they were still worth my perusal. The first item was a Crystal Wand of Arcane Precision. I selected it, looking over its offerings eagerly despite the absolute lack of a wizard in our present party. I¡¯d be good for one of the other adventurers in our growing movement. However, I was disappointed as the stats rolled out before me. The item increased the accuracy of spells, reduced the chance of misfire and ensured spells hit their intended target more often. But the effects were minimal, and I felt that with a 400 gold piece value attached to it, the item would make good fodder for the Fuse cost on one of Kevinar¡¯s blades instead.


    The next item was equally unimpressive, despite the cool name. Robes of the Etherweaver promised a moderate boost to mana regeneration and a tiny reduction to the cooldown of spells. It had a 300 gold piece value, which also put it firmly in the Fuse cost camp.


    I nearly groaned when I checked the Ring of the Arcanist. 250 gold piece value, with a +1 increase in spell damage and a -1 decrease to damage caused by spells upon the wearer. I¡¯d been expecting more.


    Past this I found a pouch containing 50 gold pieces, and a formerly-sealed letter, its wax signet broken. I pocketed the money in my inventory and opened the letter, scanning its contents.


    Have the infernal and his kin taken care of. Secretly. Capture the infernal, do what you must with the others. The goblins will give us great things for this. When it is done, I shall inform them we have captured the wanted one and negotiate a more equal footing with the Empire.


    <ul>


    <li>King Thorano</li>


    </ul>


    I growled. We¡¯d all been sold out. No doubt all of the goblin vassals and tributaries had been given word to take Jeldorain and I in if we showed in their realm. I turned to call Ike over, but saw that while I had been busy with looting, Kevinar had taken his place. Some distance away, I could barely make out the kobold dirty fighter in hiding, taking watch for enemies, and I smirked.


    He¡¯d certainly either failed his check, or I¡¯d succeeded in mine. Either way, it looked silly to see him sticking out so much while hunkered down with confidence that he had succeeded.


    I turned back to Kevinar, only to find him gone.


    ¡°What have you found there, Ryan,¡± he asked from behind me, giving me a brief start. I turned, shocked as always at the sheer power of his stealth, and he reached out a hand to take the note from me. Briefly reading its contents, he handed it back. ¡°This is good,¡± he said, giving the large doors to the throne room an appraising glance. ¡°It means that beyond the palace military, no one knows of our purpose, nor the Goblin Empire¡¯s desires for you and Jeldorain.¡±


    I cocked my head. ¡°Yeah?¡± I asked, scanning the letter a second time. It took me a second, but I realized he was right. The king had said to do it secretly. I thought of the reverence the people here had shown us, for our infernal heritage and for our prowess in the arena, and it made sense. The king couldn¡¯t actively be seen betraying a being that his people worshipped as holy.


    It would have been like a Catholic back home turning the Virgin Mary over to the Devil. It¡¯d create a tremendous uproar . . . possibly even end his kingship if his forces couldn¡¯t prevail.


    And the people here looked to be strong. I realized that my entire time here I had never once been able to differentiate their common heroes from their NPCs. I had no idea which ones could fight and level. Which meant that they were all a force to be reckoned with.


    ¡°Kevinar, you¡¯re a smart guy. Do you think we should use this information to blackmail King Thorano?¡±


    He smiled. ¡°I accept your compliment, but I can¡¯t say I know. A blackmailed being, whether they be man or monster, looks more for escape than for logical collaboration. This king, on our side, would bring legions and heroes. But he¡¯d always be looking for a means by which to end us.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. ¡°I have an idea, but I want your counsel on it. Let¡¯s say we go in, face the king who will surely beg and tell us lies about how he didn¡¯t know and all of that. Let¡¯s say we kill him, loot his body, destroy any council he might have with him who would surely have been in on this plan to turn us over.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Kevinar stated.


    ¡°Alright, so we do all of that, and then I take the crown.¡±


    I don¡¯t know what I expected. A snort, or a sigh, perhaps. But Kevinar looked into my eyes, his own glossy with surprise. ¡°You would be king of the dark dwarves? Is it as easy as that?¡±


    ¡°They worship the infernals,¡± I said excitedly, the words now spilling out of my mouth. ¡°If your god or one of his avatars came before you and said he was your king, would you accept him?¡±


    He paused, looking out towards Ike. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. Only because I¡¯ve experienced enough gods and their avatars to know their selfish avarice. But maybe if it were you, and I knew you as I know you now, I would.¡± He smiled, looking back at me. ¡°If a dragon came, one of the metallic ones of old, the so-called Noble Lords of Light, Ike would bend his knee in a heartbeat. If the dragonlords of the kobolds, where they still exist, weren¡¯t so cruel, he would almost certainly be serving them. A knight to their kingdom. But he¡¯s a noble fellow. There aren¡¯t many like him in this world.¡±


    ¡°Do you think this kingdom of, as you say, dark dwarves would bend the knee for a greater cause?¡±


    Kevinar humphed. ¡°Such infernal-worshippers are called dark for a reason. Their avarice is well-known throughout the world, above and below.¡±


    ¡°And kobolds are evil, selfish pests that steal and kill, right? I remember the Monsterpedia from Lords of Chaos. But now that I¡¯m here, with everything that I¡¯ve experienced, I wonder how many of those random encounters I fought online were simply against orcs going out for a walk, or goblins assembled for a picnic. I think the dwarves here will follow me, and that we will find noble hearts among them as well.¡±


    Kevinar smiled. ¡°Well sifted. Dark elves are slavers and killers. Except when they¡¯re not,¡± he said, chuckling and putting a thumb into his chest. ¡°Alright, then. I overheard something about giving me new swords?¡±


    We placed his blades down on the ground before us, and I readied my Fuse ability. First I had to choose 1000 gold pieces worth of items, so I went ahead and after reluctantly chose the Fire Opal Cufflinks, Phoenix Feather Quill, the Heart of Flame Pendant, Enchanted Charcoal, and Ember Stone, and sighed as I watched them disappear into nothing.


    Then I placed the Crystal Wand of Arcane Precision and the Robes of the Etherweaver, watching as they dissolved into a cascade of sparkling light that sank into the blades. The metal absorbed the arcane energy, both now humming and glowing with a light-blue aura reminiscent of the morning sky.


    Mesmerized, I knelt down and picked them up, letting the stats of the new weapons roll over my sight.


    Edge of Arcane Precision. Very Rare. Forged in the heart of a forgotten epoch, where the melding of arcane arts and martial prowess reached its zenith, and enchanted items were commonplace, this sword was a reliable regular for those who studied both blade and sorcery.


    I inspected the sword, noticing that while the blade stayed the same shape, the hilt had changed drastically, becoming encased in the material that had formerly composed the wand. The hilt slithered under my grasp, perfectly form-fitting my grip, while the crossguard itself hummed faintly, a crackle that made my inner mana tingle in my blood.


    Edge of Arcane Precision. Damage: 4 to 42, Weight: 2, Speed: Very Fast, Specials: Grants one rank in casting. Spell Accuracy (increases spell hit chance by 15%), Spell Damage Boost (increases spell damage by 10%), Critical Hit Chance Increase (increases critical hit chance by 5%). Mana increase 10%. 0% chance of fumbling with this weapon.


    I nodded at Kevinar, handing it over and watching his eyes widen in delight as he took possession and checked out its stats. I turned to the other weapon, and peered into its inner workings.


    Weaver''s Blade. Rare. During the War of the Seven Orders, when NPCs came to bear arms against those who oppressed them, they prayed for a weapon that could defend them against the tyranny of the levelled elite. These blades were the answer.


    I gave the sword a good once over, noting that past its aura, the steel of the blade looked exceptional, its sharp edges gleaming. The hilt was wrapped in a dark, durable leather that provided it a firm grip, and its crossguard was minimalistic and simple. Overall, it looked like a an exceptional blade for the uninitiated, and quite good for those who knew what they were doing as well. The pommel was a simple leather wrap, slightly fuzzy like the edges of the magical robe that was used to create it.


    Weaver¡¯s Blade. Damage: 3 to 36, Weight: 3, Speed: Fast, Specials: No level Requirement, Stamina/Energy Regeneration Boost (regenerates 5% of max energy per minute), Reduced Cooldown on Abilities (reduces ability cooldowns by 10%), Protective Aura (absorbs the first 10 points of magical damage that occurs in 1 minute¡¯s time).


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if they aren¡¯t as good as the weapons you had,¡± I said, handing over the other sword.


    Kevinar shook his head as he took it.


    ¡°No, Ryan. I am thankful that you have given me something I didn¡¯t have before. These are good weapons and they will serve us well in the trials to come.¡±


    I smiled and thanked him, then turned to the door.


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve waited long enough, I guess. Ike, get your super-easy-to-see self over here. It¡¯s time that we head in and take down a king.¡±


    <ol>


    <li> </li>


    </ol>

 Chapter Sixty – A Reckoning

    With Kevinar on my right and Ike on my left, I approached the garish double doors to the throne room, giving it a once over for any indication of traps. Kevinar shook his head, and I proceeded to shove forward, expecting the doors to swing in easily.


    My expectation was mistaken. Instead, I felt a small give before the unmistakable resistance of a wooden bar ended my attempt. Growling, eager for this to be over, I waved my companions away.


    Hulk smash? Jeldorain asked, rising up from where he had retreated before.


    I smirked. Yeah, something like that.


    Rearing back one thick, frosty leg, I kicked out hard, hearing the wood splinter even as one of the door doors tore off its hinges and flipped into the throne room interior. Looking inside, all I could see was blackness.


    ¡°A darkness aura,¡± Kevinar said, returning to my side. ¡°Not a rare magic, but an annoying one. We¡¯ll have to keep our ears open and listen for movement.¡±


    ¡°Maybe Ryan and Jeldorain could just dispel it?¡± Ike asked, blinking.


    ¡°And lose our magical items? Again?¡± Kevinar shook his head. ¡°No, this is doable. We just have to pay attention and be vigilant. There is no need to hit a nail with a warhammer, as they say.¡±


    I stared into the darkness that greeted us, marveling at just how thick it was. I couldn¡¯t see even a foot into the chamber, so powerful was the enchantment. It simply swallowed all light. Thinking quickly, I tried to switch to infravision, but saw that here too I simply couldn¡¯t see anything.


    Jeldorain, do you remember back when I first got here? That spell you cast that let me see everything perfectly despite the dark? Would that work here?


    The infernal chuckled. This magic is of the deep earth, a clan who frost and ice infernals have often had grievances against. They like to hide, and to attack from behind or beneath. It is an opposed magic, but I believe I can pierce it.


    ¡°Jeldorain says that maybe I can see it, if the magic doesn¡¯t make its save,¡± I translated. Jeldorain grunted, as usual, focusing on the mystic arts of his Clearsight spell.


    I closed my eyes and looked over the chamber, noting with surprise that the two spells seemed to be actively battling one another as I viewed them. From an angle just above the double doors, I looked over the throne room, watching swirls of darkness twist through the air, hiding this section or that even as it was swallowed and dissolved in another. It was a chaotic scene, with dark tendrils reaching out like smoke wherever the darkness rose, only to be encircled and annihilated by twists of shimmering, golden threads of light.


    And in the mess of it all, I spotted the king, his crown off-kilter as he hid in the corner of the room nearest to where we stood, evidently waiting for us to enter so that he could escape. Next to him crouched two burly warriors, their beards gray, their armor a black-enameled plate, and their weapons riddled with glowing runes.


    ¡°I can see you,¡± I announced, turning pointedly in his direction. A swirl of darkness arose before him, to be quenched by the sparkle of Jeldorain¡¯s Clearsight.


    ¡°How?¡± Ike asked, bobbing his head to and fro to peek through the darkness. Kevinar glanced at me, his eyes meeting mine, and he nodded.


    ¡°The power of the infernals is great,¡± he explained, holding his empowered blades before him.


    I stared at the king, watching his face blanch as he himself peered through the spell and caught my eyes directly on him.


    ¡°Leave my kingdom,¡± he screamed. ¡°You¡¯ve no place here, ye cursed hybrid. The goblins rule now. I¡¯ve already told them about you. They¡¯re coming even as we speak.¡±


    I took a step forward. ¡°No, you haven¡¯t said a word. No one is coming. Most of your guards have fled. And the ones that didn¡¯t, well, we took care of them. All but the two at your sides,¡± I said. The guards shifted their gazes wildly, attempting to find me in impenetrable murk.


    I laughed.


    ¡°I see that in your cowardice you have taken away the ability of your most loyal to see who they fight.¡±


    The dwarf king scowled, apparating a heavy battle-ax to his hands. It was massive, easily the size of the dwarf himself, and I marveled at his ability to hold it. His legs took on a wider stance, and his brow furrowed.


    ¡°You threaten my people by being here. I¡¯m simply doing what¡¯s best for them.¡±


    Now inside the chamber, I took another step in his direction.


    ¡°You gave up on the welfare of your people long ago, signing away their freedom to the goblins, didn¡¯t you? What did they give you? Why would you bow to them, when you have so many here so eager to fight.¡±


    As I talked, I watched the faces of his guards, seeing the confusion that gripped them.


    ¡°We work for the goblins?¡± one of them asked.


    The king snarled. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, guard. Times are hard. Decisions had to be made.¡±


    Kevinar stepped forward, his voice powerful and proud. ¡°King Thorano,¡± he began, staring blindly into the room, ¡°I''ve seen leaders make pacts with great evil in the name of salvation. More often, I¡¯ve seen them make pacts for greed and power. You are not fit to wear the crown that is on your head. Those beside you . . . if you could, you would have them die at our hands while you ran to the surface to tell the goblins about us, to give away the only chance your people have to be free and to make their own way. Even before I made my way to the surface world, I saw all kinds of kings and lords throw away those they vowed to protect in exchance for a fleeting moment of peace, prosperity, or power.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    He paused, a brief flicker of emotion rolling over his face. ¡°In my homeland, I watched as dark pacts swallowed whole people whole; as they turned my family into monsters, and enslaved whole villages of peaceful beings.¡±


    The king shook his head. ¡°Is there a point to all of this? Do you think I care?¡±


    Kevinar smiled. ¡°There is a point. To you who guard the king; leave these chambers. There is no reason for you to obey any vows you have made. He doesn¡¯t deserve your loyalty.¡±


    ¡°They serve me because it is their duty to do so. I warn you, if you don¡¯t leave my kingdom now, you will regret it. And I will savor every scream that comes from your body, dark elf, as the goblins peel your skin from your still-living body.¡±


    One of the guards turned to the king, though he couldn¡¯t see him. ¡°The blessed infernal won the challenge. All of them won the right to parley, to negotiation. My liege, what are we doing?¡± he asked.


    King Thorano growled before, in a flurry of action, turning and driving the butt of his ax into the dwarven guard¡¯s face. ¡°Traitors! Everyone traitors! You will obey me!¡± he ranted. In unison, the guards reached out, grabbing the king and wrestling him to the ground.


    A moment later, the magical darkness lifted. Kevinar, Ike, and the guards blinked at the sudden intrusion of glimmering light from the magical spheres that hung suspended above them, and King Thorano took that opportunity to slip the grasp of his guards and run past the column and grandeur of the room to take cover behind his throne.


    ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± Ike growled, shaking his head.


    Take him out, Jeldorain said. Now. Just us. It¡¯ll increase our claim to their throne.


    I strode forward, Frostchain swaying dangerously with each measured step. I wasn¡¯t going to charge headlong into what might be a trap. This was going to be slow and strategic. I would draw it out and show the guards my might, as well as my honorable defeat of their leader.


    Kevinar and Ike started forward as well, but I waved them back. ¡°This has to be me, alone,¡± I said. Ike muttered something, but Kevinar put a hand on his shoulder and nodded at me. I continued forward.


    ¡°My kingdom! My people!¡± the dwarven king screamed from behind his throne. ¡°Go away!¡±


    I sense a light stain of magic on his soul, Jeldorain observed as we moved. I believe that he has been cursed with a failed charm spell. It would explain his behavior.


    Are you saying that I shouldn¡¯t kill him? I asked.


    Jeldorain laughed. These are the dark dwarves. Whether his actions were magically influenced or not doesn¡¯t matter. You kill him now in a contest of might, they will bow to you. And then, just maybe, we can beat the goblins and get my body back.


    And my family, I added.


    Whatever, he responded with a sly grin.


    I stopped at the foot of his throne and gave it a strong boot, toppling it backward and watching as the shrieking king dodged out of the way, letting it crash to the floor beside him.


    ¡°You are not fit to be leader. I, Jeldorain Ryan Thorack, challenge you to the rights of the throne, as observed by witnesses of the kingdom,¡± I announced, gesturing Frostchain at the two guards who¡¯d before restrained him. ¡°If you win, I will leave this kingdom and not return. But, be warned, I won¡¯t lose.¡±


    The dwarf king stood up, his heavy battle-ax clutched in stout hands, an amber aura now flaring from his ceremonial robes and his adamantine plate underneath.


    ¡°My kingdom,¡± he muttered. ¡°Mine! I accept your challenge.¡±


    Without warning, the air around the king shimmered, and from his hands sprang chains of dark energy, reaching out to ensnare me with their cursed touch. I thrust my shield into the path of them, surprised when the powerful impact of the spell tore it from my hand sending it careening into one mighty pillar. Undeterred, I thought Disarm and swung out at the pole of his mighty ax. The chains wrapped around it and I pulled but was again surprised at the fierce strength of the king, who counter-pulled and almost disarmed me instead.


    Flicking my wrist, I unhooked Frostchain from the ax handle and paced sideways. The air again shimmered, and the king threw another mess of dark, sinister chains in my direction. I cast Glacial Shield and watched as icy sheets rose before me. The chains met the frosty barrier, their advance halted, sizzling as the cold consumed them.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t run, infernal, I will kill you,¡± King Thorano spat. He began chanting again, and beneath my feet, the ground trembled. A spike shot out, stabbing through my foot and I bellowed in agony. More spikes stabbed upwards, and those that didn¡¯t meet flesh burst out of the stone to zero in on my armored back and chest.


    I snarled. ¡°All you are doing is pissing me off,¡± I shouted back.


    Grappling with the excruciating pain from the spikes, I tore my feet out and cast Minor Healing. The king again threw a mess of chains at me, and I reinforced the Glacial Shield, watching the spells annihilate each other and steam away into nothing.


    Stepping over the melted mess, I invoked Winter Gale, arching my back forward and blasting the king with a sweeping, chilling frost that elicited a frightened gasp and cry. I noted that he was temporarily frozen, so I took a quick second to imbue Frostchain with Frostfire Infusion, watching an extra layer of sparkling hellish ice roll over my weapon, subdued sparks of lightning flashing underneath.


    King Thorano shook off the ice encasing him and bellowed, then charged. I watched as he came, noticing a red cloudy aura that grew brighter and more definite with each stubby-legged step, and I instinctively knew this was some sort of charging buff. Most probably a massive multiplier. Possibly something that could take me down in one shot.


    Glancing up, I thought Swing, and Frostchain slapped upwards, catching the jagged relief of an ancient arch and hopping me over my suddenly impotent foe. He skidded and turned, all hint of red magic gone as I flicked my wrist and unhooked my weapon from its perch.


    Swinging, I caught the king in his shoulder, then the chest, then a bloody slap to the face. He tried to block the strikes, then tried to move close enough to return with his own, but my melee reach was far superior and soon he was a bloody and gasping mess, struggling to stay on his feet.


    ¡°My kingdom,¡± he moaned.


    ¡°Surrender now, and I¡¯ll release you from the dungeons when it is all over. Not as king, but as a citizen of my kingdom,¡± I informed him, pausing in my onslaught.


    He nodded and dropped his ax. I moved forward to take and bind him. As I approached, though, Thorano¡¯s aura flared, a massive hand of earth punching out from the ground and knocking me into the ceiling.


    Oh, I better be a good guy and give him a chance to live. Otherwise I¡¯m as bad as he is, boohoo. Champion, if it wasn¡¯t my body that was being knocked around right now, I¡¯d say you deserve what just happened to you. Learn from it.


    Slapping off the ceiling and falling back down towards the open embrace of the malignant hand, I again swung out Frostchain, catching a piece of column and using it to angle myself towards the dwarf. He raised his ax and chopped as I fell, and I took a staggering quarter of my hitpoints in damage as his ax head rent a hole in my armor and embedded itself in my chest.


    I reached out, snarled, and grabbed a hold of his head.


    Do it! Jeldorain cried. Show him no mercy! Become the king!


    Shoving all of my might in my motions, I twisted hard in a circular motion, corkscrewing his head from his shoulders and tossing it to land at the feet of his former guards.


    ¡°Long live the king,¡± one of them said, bowing, as the other punted the head to a far corner. ¡°May his reign be long and prosperous.¡±