《Path of Celestial Ascension - A LitRPG Adventure》 1.1 - GameShop Hero ¡°Hey, geek-breath!¡± Finn Callahan saw the fast-moving soda just a second before it slammed into the glass window in front of him. It had been aimed at him, but he¡¯d had just enough time to duck. The Styrofoam cup hit the large windowpane and exploded, fizzing all over the red beard and roaring face of Magnus Maxite, the Breaker of Worlds. Or rather, it splashed all over the window as the cardboard cut-out of Magnus Maxite was currently behind the window of the GameShop store where the twenty-two-year-old Finn worked. The Breaker of Worlds kept on snarling his cartoon-anime snarl, not appearing to mind the insult, but for Finn outside, it was the last straw. ¡°Hey!¡± He turned on his heel and saw the group of boys near the street, flipping him off and shouting abuse. Welcome to Elsport. Finn sighed as he felt one of his hands curl into a fist at his side, the other still holding the burrito that he¡¯d just bought for lunch¡ªthe soda-sogged, ruined burrito now. ¡°You got something to say? Come over here and say it!¡± Finn shouted and was met by another howl of laughter, along with the hot sting of shame. The largest of the boys mimicked his call, to be followed by more screeches and cackles. Finn knew that there were too many of them. He¡¯d been in tumbles and fights before in the foster homes and care homes he¡¯d grown up in¡ªit was unavoidable¡ªbut that had only ever escalated to one-on-one wrestling matches before a foster parent or group warden rushed in to break it up. This was one versus eight, with no warden to rush in and stop anyone from doing something they¡¯d all regret. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m much of a fighter anyway. Finn glared hard at the gang and knew he wasn¡¯t going to do anything. Another wave of shame ran up his spine, making his cheeks burn under his tangle of dark hair. ¡°Finn!¡± A new voice arrived in the bluster of cold wind that echoed down the Elsport side street. The voice came from Finn¡¯s boss and GameShop owner, Sam Robertson¡ªor Sam-uel, as he preferred to be called. Finn suppressed a sigh. ¡°What have I told you about antagonizing that lot? Just ignore them, damn it!¡± Samuel said in exasperation, his own portly features flushing red over the spiffy blue vest that he insisted all workers at the GameShop wear. The shirt sucks. Finn thought. And so does Sam-uel! ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault,¡± Finn said, holding up his drenched burrito as bits of jalapeno, hot sauce, and spinach leaf fell on the sidewalk. ¡°Ugh, gods!¡± The boss threw him a disgusted look. Samuel was a heavyset man, with glasses and a ponytail stretching the last bit of life from his receding hairline. You¡¯d have thought that a cool job like owning an independent video game store, stacked full of exciting things for people to play, would make you pretty chill. That wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°Just get all this cleaned up, and I don¡¯t want any more trouble!¡± Samuel hissed impatiently. ¡°I don¡¯t have to tell you how lucky you are that I took you on without any references!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Finn felt his embarrassment turn into hot anger, but Sam-uel just groaned once more, turned, and flounced back inside, where the customers were doing their best to not gawk at the proceedings outside. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Yeah, I know what it means,¡± Finn grumbled as he did his best to wrap the burrito back in its paper and shuffled toward the door as the catcalls from the group of boys followed. Finn was a foster kid. He and his sister Esther had spent their childhood in half a dozen private and group homes across Middle America before winding up in Elsport. Admittedly, that had been a few years ago, and they had managed to leave all that behind, for the most part. The small, coastal-nowhere town still felt temporary to him, though. Which is why I don¡¯t have any decent job references, Finn thought as he tramped into the shop, and why those kids outside are taking a keen interest in the new guy with dark hair and a love for Ramones t-shirts. Whatever. Finn had work to do, and right then that meant getting the mop and bucket, which he found in the small closet behind the register. He filled it with water from the tiny sink in the back stockroom. The GameShop itself was, admittedly, well-stocked¡ªif a bit out of date. The walls were filled with boxes of tabletop games of every kind imaginable¡ªclassic puzzles to Asian classical games, epic monster battles to nation builders, and even some of the latest indie favorites. Another wall held card games, figurines, and plush toys, while in the center of the store were three long tables with popular games displayed¡ªa fantasy battle game, a science fiction space Marine battle, and a large jigsaw-board fantasy game¡ªwith people¡¯s character boards laid out around it, ready for conquest. Usually, Finn was able to distract himself from his unpleasant past while he was in the store. It was a cool space, he had to admit. In addition to all the games and merchandise, the GameShop was filled with huge cardboard cut-outs of giant figures from geek lore. His favorites were a scantily-clad princess with her hair in side-buns, and a giant werewolf-man in mid-leap on the other side. There was even a little sofa and coffee table piled with the latest magazines¡ª And her. Finn froze, his whole body tingling as he managed to feel just about one hundred percent stupider than a single moment ago. He had no idea what her name was, but in all the excitement of the last five minutes, Finn had completely forgotten that it was Friday. Before closing. That was when she always came in¡ªthe cute girl with the mermaid blue-green hair, black clothing, and glasses who always brought in her latte, sat on the sofa, and read the magazines. Samuel, of course, hated her. He couldn¡¯t understand why she didn¡¯t buy anything apart from a couple gaming zines every now and again. Finn didn¡¯t mind. Of course he didn¡¯t mind. He had been waiting for his moment to speak to her but hadn¡¯t thought of anything clever enough to say yet, apart from ¡®Hi.¡¯ Damnit! Now I¡¯m standing here with a bucket of water in my hands and a big blob of salsa on my shoes. Finn wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole. Is this my life? Seriously? ¡°Finn, move it! Didn¡¯t I tell you to clean that crap off the windows?!¡± Sam-uel just had to choose that very moment to open his mouth hole, didn¡¯t he? Of course he would. Finn grumbled under his breath, trying his best to look cool as he shuffled the bucket of water past the girl on the sofa. He glanced up and time froze as he found that she had her eyes on him at that exact moment. It was a perfect moment of complete and utter shame for Finn. Like the epitome of Elsport, and his life so far, all rolled into one. And then, the moment shattered as Finn was once again thrust back into his normal life as a twenty-something dropout going nowhere. A nobody. He looked away and didn¡¯t say anything, instead shuffling outside with the bucket, silently cursing any gods that cared to listen. At least the degenerates are gone, Finn thought as he started slopping the water over the pane of glass that would surely have gotten rained on sometime soon anyway. Finn was fairly sure that Sam-uel was just making him do this to punish him for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or maybe for looking interesting enough to draw any attention at all. The wind was picking up, and the sky overhead was turning gray as Finn worked. It was getting late already, and there was a biting chill to the air. The streetlights were starting to come on. He had maybe forty-five minutes left in his shift, and it couldn¡¯t end soon enough. Brrring! It was at that very moment that Esther chose to ring. Finn fumbled his phone out of his pocket and answered it. ¡°Finn, thank God I reached you. It¡¯s a Pinocchio situation. This time it¡¯s bad, really bad,¡± the desperate, teary voice of his sister said, and a sudden shiver ran down Finn¡¯s spine. 1.2 - A Pinocchio Situation ¡°You don¡¯t understand¡ª¡± Finn tried to interrupt his boss. ¡°I don¡¯t care. If you leave now, that¡¯s it. You¡¯re done. Fired!¡± Sam-uel flung the words out, along with a spattering of saliva. It¡¯s, like, half an hour to closing, dude, Finn thought. How unbelievably petty are you? He wanted to scream. The fact of the matter was that his sister had called, and she needed his help. She had even used their code word, Pinocchio. The one word that meant it was serious. That they might not ever grow up to be real boys and girls¡­ Finn felt his throat tighten and his chest swell. How was he going to explain all of this to Sam-uel? That it had only ever been him and Esther since their deadbeat parents had up and vanished. That he had always been there to look after her, that they had only ever had each other, that¡­ Screw it. ¡°My sister needs me. I quit,¡± Finn growled, thumping the bucket on the floor and, for the first moment in a long time, feeling like he was actually in charge of something. He felt strong as he spun on his heel and strode to the door. ¡°What?¡± Samuel¡¯s voice followed him. His boss sounded stunned, and furious. ¡°You can¡¯t quit because I¡¯m firing you! And that¡¯s my shirt! I want it back!¡± ¡°Oh, bite me,¡± Finn growled as he exited the shop. He was sure that he heard a quiet chuckle from the cool girl on the sofa. When he threw her a glance, she was smirking as he rushed out the door. Yay, way to go me, Finn thought. He knew that he was just about to never see her again, now that he didn¡¯t work at GameShop anymore. There were some things more important than work-based crushes though, and he strode away without looking back. This is a Pinocchio situation, Finn thought as he broke into a jog, running down the length of the street as he fumbled for his phone once again. The wind was picking up, and the sky was darker than just a half-hour ago. The bright glare of neon lights reflected in the windows of the shops he passed, and somewhere in the distance was the rising wail of sirens. God, he hoped that wasn¡¯t Esther. ¡°Esther, where did you say you were? The old pier?!¡± He sent a quick voice message, noting that she was online, as he rushed down the empty road and headed for the seaside, past a line of old amusement arcades, their jack-in-the-box and whack-a-mole machines still cranking out their demented tunes. There was a side street, the one that led straight to the Front, as it was called. From there, it was up the street to where the road bent inland, and then the old pier with its small, tumbled-down steel warehouses. It would take him fifteen minutes to get there. Ten if he sprinted. The thing about a Pinocchio situation, Finn knew, was that his younger sister had only ever called it once before in her entire life. Esther led a much more interesting life than he did¡ª¡®interesting¡¯ in terms of ¡®things that would get you killed or arrested¡¯¡ªand she still had only ever called it once. That time, they had been separated by Child Services. She¡¯d managed to somehow track his number down and call him and let him know she needed to get out of her foster home, like, yesterday. It was one of the rare times that they had been separated, and it didn¡¯t happen again after Finn broke out of his own foster home and traveled across state lines to bust her out. Finn had only ever called Pinocchio once too, and that had been when they were both really young. With a blip, another voice message arrived, and there was Esther¡¯s voice at the end. ¡°Finn? It¡¯s Kano. I¡¯m at the north warehouse. Just come and get me, please!¡± She sounded upset. She sounded breathy, like she was whispering, so Finn tried to call her as he sprinted up the road as fast as his legs would carry him. The call went straight to voicemail, as did the second. ¡°Esther! Damn it!¡± Finn snarled, somehow finding an extra burst of speed to add to his legs as he saw the Front lights coming on as the sun set and darkness rolled in. The warehouses and the old pier were ahead of him. It was cold¡ªreally cold¡ªat the seaside, and the low concrete seawall to his right did nothing to stop the chilling winds. Amusement resort, my ass, Finn thought as he saw the large chain link fence ahead of him and the thin, dark finger of a moldering pier stretching out from behind the buildings, over the dirty, choppy gray water. The old pier itself had burned down numerous times, he knew, and some time a few decades back, they had decided to give up on the whole thing and just build a new one, leaving this skeleton behind. Finn hit the metal chain gates with speed, rattling them as he looked around for an entrance. Which way is north?! he wondered wildly, looking from one warehouse to another. And how do I get in?! He took a deep breath, about to shout his sister¡¯s name into the ruins, but something stopped him. A sudden sliver of panic in his belly. If this really was a Pinocchio situation, then screaming might not be wise. Following gut instincts that had kept them both alive for the last eighteen and twenty-two years respectfully. Finn kept his mouth shut and kept searching for a way in. There was always a way in. No ruin or building site was truly private, Finn knew from a life of being a runaway and unwanted. He jogged around the perimeter of the fence until he found it. Right where it met the old seawall on the far side, there was an old wooden ticket booth with its white paint peeling from so many years in the coastal gales. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Beside the booth, the fence was propped instead of bolted, leaving a wide gap underneath it. Finn scrabbled to get in, scooting under the cold metal to find himself inside, as he once again tried calling Esther. ¡°Esther, pick up!¡± he hissed, turning back and forth to once again try to figure out which one was the northern warehouse. And why on earth his sister would be in there anyway¡­ ¡°Esther!¡± There was still no response, but when he raised his head again, he thought he saw a flash of light from the broken windows of one of the furthest warehouses. ¡°Es!¡± he couldn¡¯t help but hiss as he jogged across the concrete lot, with the salty Atlantic winds battering him and tugging at his hair. The double-doors to the warehouse were open, and when Finn peered inside, he saw that it was dark and dingy. And full of monsters. Finn froze. ¡°Holy, sweet suffering¡ª¡± Then, he saw that it wasn¡¯t actual monsters. It was rows and rows of old Merry-Go-Round rides, peering out of the gloom at him. There was a giant, seemingly demonic duck looking about ready to pounce. Next to it was a fairly terrifying trio of horses. Finn saw eagle heads and strange, troll-like beings, and he could well see why they were put away into storage, rather than traumatizing the good¡ªboring¡ªcitizens of Elsport. ¡°Esther?¡± Finn hissed as he took a step into the dark, looking for where that flash of light might have come from. He couldn¡¯t see it, and he hoped that he hadn¡¯t just run into some drug-dealer¡¯s den or something. He took a cautious step forward¡­ ¡°Finn!¡± He was no more than three steps into the warehouse when he heard a hiss, and there was his sister, rushing out of the shadows of a giant King Cobra. She crashed into him and wrapped her arms around him. ¡°Oof! Hey, what¡¯s the problem?¡± Finn was sure he felt one of his ribs crack but chose good humor rather than the panic he¡¯d first felt at the name of a wooden puppet. ¡°Finn, I¡¯m¡ª I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± Esther pushed herself back, holding him at arm¡¯s length so he could see her. She was smaller than he was, though with the same ragged mop of dark hair, plus thick black eyeliner, a hoody, and jeans that looked as though they had seen better years. On the side of her face, just by her temple, was a deep yellowing bruise. Finn¡¯s blood ran cold. ¡°Who did this to you, Es?¡± ¡°Finn, it¡¯s bad. It was my own fault. I should¡¯ve¡ª¡± ¡°Esther. Who did this to you?¡± Finn felt his body start to shake with rage. He knew that his sister led a wild life. She was younger than he was, and she¡¯d taken it harder when their parents split. She¡¯d discovered alcohol in her early teens, and then she had discovered that she didn¡¯t have to pay for things in stores. While Finn¡¯s experiences had made him reserved, they had made Esther rebellious. She¡¯d had a string of run-ins with the law already, and she was only eighteen. ¡°Esther,¡± Finn pressed through gritted teeth, one singular thought in his mind. I¡¯m going to kill him! He saw his sisters eyes go wide as she relived whatever secret horror she was in. ¡°It was Kano,¡± she admitted, referring to her on-off boyfriend who, in Finn¡¯s eyes, was a real piece of work. He was older than both of them, drove a motorcycle, and Finn was sure he had a very questionable employment. He was also built like a proverbial brick house, but Finn didn¡¯t think about that just then. All he knew at that moment was that this Kano had hurt his little sister. ¡°Did you call the cops?¡± Finn growled. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± Esther broke free from him, and Finn could see that she was carrying a duffle bag, and she was fumbling at the zip. ¡°Esther, what¡¯s that?¡± She was already opening the bag to reveal what it contained. It looked to be a whole lot of rolled bills. ¡°Damn, Esther, that¡¯s a whole lot of money... Do I even want to know where you got that?¡± Finn asked as the whine of engines passed by on the road outside. Esther looked at him warily. ¡°It¡¯s Kano¡¯s money. He hit me, so I took it, and now¡­¡± There was another whine of an engine coming to a sputtering halt, and it was clear to Finn that it wasn¡¯t something passing by. It was stopping right outside. ¡°You stole his money?¡± Finn whispered. Lights suddenly shone through the open door, followed by shouting. ¡°Essie! Essie, get out here!¡± called the harsh, snarling, and unmistakable voice of Kano from outside, and he didn¡¯t sound like he was alone. ¡°Maybe stealing his stash wasn¡¯t such a good idea, Es,¡± Finn whispered, gesturing for her to move to the back of the warehouse. ¡°Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have hit me!¡± his sister said defiantly, which Finn definitely agreed with. ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll sneak out, then double-back. Call the cops¡ª¡± Finn said as they started to scamper up the aisle of the warehouse, just as the doors were kicked open with a howl. Light from several motorcycles flooded into the warehouse, perfectly illuminating both Finn and Esther. ¡°Essie! You and your dumbass brother are going to pay!¡± Kano screamed. Both groups suddenly broke into a run. ¡°Move it!¡± Finn hissed as his sister let out a little yelp of terror. It wasn¡¯t just Kano behind them, but also four or five others of his gang¡ªmen all dressed in fatigues and leathers, with shaved heads or short-cropped hair. Finn didn¡¯t have the time to work out exactly how many there were. There were definitely more than he and Esther could handle, and that was what mattered. And Finn was sure he¡¯d seen the glint of weapons in their hands. The siblings ran, chased through the warehouse, every footstep taking them closer and closer to their goal¡ªthe far doors. Esther was the quicker and got there the first. Finn saw her hit the doors with the full weight of her charge. They rocked and started to open, but then sprang back, their handles secured with a heavy chain. ¡°No!¡± Esther cried out, slamming her fists against their only chance at escape. ¡°Get down!¡± Finn said. ¡°I¡¯ll hold it open. You¡¯re small enough to squeeze through.¡± ¡°Finn? No!¡± Esther turned to shoot him a desperate, worried glance that said it all. There was a heartbeat of silent communication, and Esther just nodded. She dropped to her knees and squeezed through gap as Finn pushed with all his might. ¡°Move it, Es! Go! Run!¡± he urged her, seeing her shoes disappear between the doors just as Kano¡¯s first punch landed. It was a solid punch, right to Finn¡¯s ribs. It felt like he had just been kicked by a horse and he crumpled to the floor, gasping for air and feeling like he was going to be sick. ¡°Where is she?! Where is Essie?!¡± her idiotic not-boyfriend snarled. Finn couldn¡¯t see much of anything as he panted and scrambled to his hands and knees. Kano was older and bigger than Finn. He had a shaved head and wore fatigues and leathers, just like his lackies. From the look of his arms in the sleeveless shirt, he also hit the gym as a primary pastime. Other than hitting my sister, Finn thought. ¡°She really screwed up this time,¡± Kano snarled, leaning in so that his words could spit down on the injured Finn. ¡°Your Essie is a real character, isn¡¯t she?!¡± Finn felt his blood run hot. ¡°She runs off and leaves you, her big bad brother, right? Well, looks like you¡¯ll get what she¡¯s got coming to her!¡± Suddenly, Finn¡¯s pain vanished. He couldn¡¯t stand the way this bastard was standing there, talking about his little sister. ¡°Her name¡ª¡± Finn started to growl, his hand reaching out to grab the first thing he could find. His fingers wrapped around a broken pole, something that had been a part of the carousel monster parade. ¡°¡ªis Esther!¡± Finn stood up and swung in one movement¡­ ¡­just as everything went black.
[System Error! Celestial Engine Re-starting...] [Assimilation Complete]
1.3 - Some Psychedelic Government-Backed Covert Experiment, Right? Finn¡¯s arm swung, but there was no longer a broken pole in his hand. What?! He was so surprised by that, more than anything else, that he staggered to one side, over balanced and fell once more. This time, his knees hit something soft. Kano? He looked around frantically. It wasn¡¯t Kano. And neither was it any of the other motorcycle gang lackeys that had been hunting his sister. In fact, his knees hadn¡¯t even hit the concrete floor of the warehouse. Instead, Finn was kneeling in a patch of moss, and it appeared to be nighttime. Everything was gloomy and dark. ¡°Uh. What the¡ª?¡± Finn blinked, shook his head, and looked first one way, then the other. Something was very wrong. He was no longer in the warehouse at all. It appeared he was outside. On a mossy hillside. There were even some straggly trees to his right and left. He was on the downslope of a hill that was steeply sided and covered in tree roots, thick, dark blankets of a bluish-green moss, and the occasional boulder. Where am I?! Finn turned around, spinning to one side, then the other. There was no Kano. There was no gang. And there was clearly no Esther, either. ¡°Esther! Es!¡± he shouted. There was no answer whatsoever. Did Kano hit me really, really hard on the head?! That was Finn¡¯s next thought as he looked up and saw that the hill continued going upward behind him, and it descended before him until it broke into what looked like rocky cliffs. Yep, there was the sound of crashing water and the boom of the spray seen through the dark. As he looked, he saw that there was a darker strip of land cutting out across the water, with white frothy waves at its base. A low causeway, ending in a low island. ¡°Okay, so maybe I¡¯m having an aneurysm or something,¡± Finn thought aloud as he reached up to gingerly touch the back of his head. It appeared fine. ¡°Esther!¡± he called again. ¡°I don¡¯t know what is doing, but if you did this, I swear to God you will never, ever, get a birthday present from me again!¡± Still, no response.
[You have joined the Celestial Engine. Begin your Ascension.] Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
What?! There was a sudden flash of light across his vision and words appeared. They somehow scrolled directly over his surroundings but were also faintly transparent so he could still see past them. They were there, and then in the next moment, they faded until they disappeared. Okay. He was clearly losing his mind, Finn was totally sure of that. He reached out and swept his hands in the air where the words had been. Suddenly, a box¡ªif that was the word for it¡ªappeared in the air to overlay his vision once again in a faintly transparent way, just as before. This time, it hung for a little while longer, allowing him to read it before it started to fade.
Name: Finn Callahan Level: ??? [Calculating...] Profession: ??? [Calculating...] Health: 210 / 210 Mana: 210 / 210 Stamina: 210 / 210 Agility: 11 Charisma: 8 Durability: 10 Intelligence: 9 Strength: 10 Vitality: 11 Wisdom: 8 View: Inventory? Titles? Renown? Skills?
Are you kidding me?! What is this?! Finn stumbled back as he thrust one hand forward into the air. He succeeded in falling onto his butt, luckily hitting a heavy patch of moss and not one of the boulders. That was his name displayed with the list of stats. Did that mean that it was him, somehow? Finn shook his head, still not seeing what any of this had to do with Kano or his sister¡ªor even, why on earth someone had thought that he would have such a low Charisma. I¡¯m a likable guy. A really likable guy¡­unless you were some drug-running gangbanger like Kano, Finn thought. Apparently street smarts didn¡¯t count much for Intelligence or Wisdom, either.
[Celestial Engine Error!] [Advancement Failed...]
Before Finn could get back to his feet, he felt a sudden flare of what could only be electricity running through his body. He screamed, or he would have if his jaw hadn¡¯t been locked. Bolts of purple and white lightning appeared to run across the land, forming an electric threadwork as they jolted straight into him. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Suddenly, the lights went out. Now, he could scream, and he did. ¡°What in the heck was that?!¡± Finn gasped, feeling like his whole body had just been put through a meat grinder. He groaned, fell to one side, then lurched to his feet. Something was really, really wrong. That much was obvious. Maybe something had happened to just him, or maybe it had happened to the whole world. Finn had no idea, but whatever it was, it really wasn¡¯t good at all. I have to find Esther. I have to get back to the pier¡­ Finn knew that he wasn¡¯t exactly making much sense, but right then there wasn¡¯t much of anything that was making any sense. Maybe it was a massive hallucination? Hadn¡¯t he seen some documentary down some online rabbit hole, saying that this kind of stuff happened? Air-borne psychedelics were supposedly used to cover-up military experiments, or they were the first act of a land war. Yeah, that has to be it. This is all gonna wear off pretty soon and I will be back in the warehouse. Finn was sure. Which meant that he was probably still in the warehouse, and that crashing sea, rocky coastline was probably Elsport beach, right? ¡°Wait, that means that causeway and island over there¡­¡± Finn looked across the curve of dark land to where the small causeway connected their coast to the tiny island. That had to be the pier, didn¡¯t it? Seen through the eyes of some weird, chemical-induced, covert government experiment . . . ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it,¡± Finn said. He started limping in that direction. Esther would be at the pier, and she was probably terrified out of her wits. 1.4 - Monsters! There’s Freaking Monsters! The hallucination didn¡¯t wear off as Finn traipsed through the very wet, very boring woods. He was bruised and electrocuted¡ªhe still didn¡¯t have a theory for that¡ªas well as sodden and cold. Seriously. Couldn¡¯t his strange nervous breakdown or government experiment mean that he didn¡¯t have to feel cold? Finn had figured out that his ¡®character sheet¡¯ appeared every time he swiped his hands in from the bottom right. He had discovered this new tidbit of information when, several times, he had to quickly throw his hands to stop himself from falling down the steep, rocky slope.
Name: Finn Callahan Level: ??? [Calculating . . . ] Profession: ??? [Calculating . . . ] Health: 210 / 210 Mana: 210 / 210 Stamina: 210 / 210
Well, THAT is going to get annoying, he thought as he swiped the character sheet back into nothingness and tried to concentrate on what was ahead. The ground was starting to slope toward the causeway, but the trees were getting thicker. He grumbled, wishing he had more than his spiffy blue GameShop t-shirt on, as he took a step¡ª
[Celestial Engine Error!] [Advancement Failed . . . ]
¡°Ahhhh!¡± Once again, the purple lightning did that thing. Bolts of gleaming, shining purple raced across the moss. It doesn¡¯t seem to burn them at all, Finn managed to notice before they hit his ankles and shot up his spine. It wasn¡¯t as bad as the first time, he had to admit. The attack lasted for only a fraction of the time that the first one had, and somehow, the intensity seemed less, too. Maybe the first time had burned away his nerve endings or something. ¡°I really wish it would stop doing that!¡± Finn declared after the light vanished and he was left steaming and panting. Hey, at least I¡¯m not so cold anymore¡ª Finn¡¯s thoughts were cut short when he heard the first growl. * * * There was something lumbering toward him through the trees. Two somethings, to be precise. ¡°Hey! Who are you¡ª¡± Finn started to shout. One of the shapes suddenly grunted and turned in his direction. He could see them clearly through the gap in the trees, where the moonlight above illuminated them. The shapes were large and hulking compared to any regular human form. Their heads were larger and set a little deeper against their chest, with giant neck and shoulder muscles, barely constrained by the leather straps holding a ragged tunic to its body. Finn gasped. He was looking at monsters, real life monsters. But this can¡¯t be real. There was no way this could be real. But Finn knew precisely what monsters were. He worked in a shop that was stuffed full of them, after all. ¡°Fleshie!¡± the larger of the monsters cried out as they locked eyes. It raised its large, meaty arm to point in Finn¡¯s direction, and he could see that it was unmistakably holding a large, single-headed axe with notches all down one side. Wait, no, what?! Finn knew, immediately, what was about to happen as the second, smaller monster suddenly rose and roared. They both leapt in his direction. No, no, no, no . . . Finn did the only sensible thing that any sane person currently under the influence of a government-controlled, psychedelic experiment would do. He turned and ran. Or he would have, if that weird ground lightning thing hadn¡¯t happened at precisely that moment.
[Celestial Engine Error!]
¡°Ahhh!¡± Finn saw the ground erupt with those brilliant, purple-infused lightning bolts. They arced across the ground and plunged into his legs one more time. It hurt, but it still wasn¡¯t as bad as the first. If anything, it was like getting bitten by ants or something. It still drove him to one knee, however, as he gasped in pain.
[Advancement Accepted] You have been chosen as a Defender (Level 10). You have 45 points to split between your characteristics. You have 24 hours to allocate the experience, otherwise the Celestial Engine will allocate them for you. Level 10 indicates you have started walking your Ascension Path. Every stage along the path allows you access to the powers of the Asai themselves . . . Choose: Fire / Earth / Air / Water
¡°What?! What!¡± Finn struggled back to his feet. The sounds of the charging monsters behind him were only getting closer. I have no idea what any of this means! He had no idea what a Defender was, or an Ascension Path, or whoever the Asai were. At least not as it related to real life. There was no time to try to figure it out. He lurched back into a run, his limbs now feeling energized rather than pained. He dodged the first tree in his path and bounded over the next boulder. ¡°Fleshie! Glory for Trollheim!¡± one of the creatures raged behind him, howling with an obscene level of joy. Is this some kind of game?! Finn¡¯s panic spurred his limbs. Everything was way too real. Somehow, he had a load of attribute points already, which seemed like a good thing, but he was going to die any minute. What would help him win a fight? He had played enough tester games to know that you needed an awful lot of strength and stamina, right? ¡°Agility!¡± Finn cried out as he ran, hearing the monsters lumbering faster, getting closer, and he really wished he was very far away from here. ¡°I need strength and agility!¡± It took a little mental finagling, but then in blink of an eye, his attributes suddenly changed. His Strength and Agility jumped to 18 and 19. Finn wasn¡¯t exactly sure how Vitality or Durability worked, but he knew they were important, so he added points to them too. He held some attribute points back until he could learn more about what they all did. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Name: Finn Callahan Level: 10 Profession: Defender [Not Specialized] Health: 210 / 210 Mana: 210 / 210 Stamina: 210 / 210 Agility: 11 + 8 = 19 Charisma: 8 Durability: 10 + 8 = 18 Intelligence: 9 Strength: 10 + 8 = 18 Vitality: 11 + 8 = 19 Wisdom: 8 You have spent 32 points out of 45. You have 13 points left to spend.
Was it enough? Finn didn¡¯t have much time to answer, but he knew that having physical scores of eighteen or nineteen was usually pretty good in the fantasy roleplaying games they had in the GameShop. ¡°Rarkh!¡± The first monster was right behind him now as they raced through the forest. Finn had run out of time.
Choose Ascension Path: Fire / Earth / Air /Water
Finn heard the sudden crash of giant feet on the ground right next to him, and he felt a whistle of movement. He reacted, ducking as he jumped out of the way. He grabbed onto the branch of the nearest tree with one hand and used it to swing around the trunk. Suddenly, Finn was moving fast¡ªfaster than he had ever moved before. There was a crash as the first monster¡¯s battle-axe hit the far side of the tree and lodged in it. Finn spun around the tree faster than he could think, and suddenly, the creature was right in front of him. Its expression was confused and shocked as it tried to free its axe. He did the first thing that came to mind and kicked out as he finished his branch-swing. Finn¡¯s sneakers hit the monster squarely in the chest with all of his newly upgraded 18 Strength and sent the creature flying backward. The monster grunted in surprise as it tripped and fell backward down the steep, wooded incline, slamming its body against the mossy boulders and continuing to spin as it tumbled down. Crunch! The creature hit a large boulder with a sickening thud and broke its neck.
You have slain Level 8 Troll Warrior. Experience awarded.
What?! Finn skidded to a halt, his 19 Agility making it comparatively easy for his feet to dance over the tops of the mossy boulders and come to a halt. He had just slain his first monster¡ªa troll apparently¡ªand he was looking at the body below him in a kind of sickened awe, as his heart raced. He felt an exhilaration that he had never felt before¡ªthe power of life and death, literally in his hands (and feet). ¡°Bogrot!¡± There was an anguished cry as the other, slightly smaller monster rushed him, a wickedly-barbed short spear in the creature¡¯s hands. Finn turned just in time to avoid being completely disemboweled, twisting to one side. He felt the rush of pain across his ribs as the spear tore through his thin synthetic cotton GameShop shirt and his flesh underneath.
You have been wounded by the Level 8 Troll Warrior.
Finn screamed in pain as he stumbled back against the tree, his back banging against it to see that the troll was pulling back the short spear in both hands, ready to plunge it straight into him . . . Time slowed as he faced imminent death and his mind raced, trying to find a way to save his own life. There was the first monster¡¯s battle-axe, stuck in the tree above his head. There was also the Ascension Path thing, which apparently gave him magical powers. Finn blurted out the first element on the list and hoped it would help him not get killed. ¡°I choose Fire! Fire!¡± he yelled as the Troll Warrior lunged forward.
Ascension Path chosen: Fire. At Level 10, you have access to:
¡°Fire-Spark, Fire-Spark!¡± Finn yelled. Some impulse made him thrust his hands out before him and¡ª He felt power shoot through his body, rising from his core and down his hands. His palms glowed like molten gold, and a burst of flame suddenly exploded out of them. The spark only lasted a moment, but it engulfed the troll in a blaze of orange and red. The troll staggered back, dropping his short spear as it reached up to cover its eyes. Its leather shirt was ablaze. Finn felt a wave of exhaustion rush through him, but he thrust out his hands again and called on the power of Fire-Spark. Once more, he felt the rush of power erupt from his core and flood through his body, down his arms, as he lunged forward, pushing the spark of flame at the troll. The flames engulfed the monster once more and the creature staggered back, one hand thrashing in the air as the other clutched its burning face. Finn felt another tremble of exhaustion rush up through him, but the troll was still there, so he did it again. ¡°Die, why don¡¯t you!¡± he shouted.
You have used 12 Stamina and 150 Mana. You have slain Level 8 Troll. Experience awarded.
Finn collapsed to his knees as a wave of fatigue overwhelmed him, but his opponent fared a lot worse as it fell to the floor in a smoldering heap. ¡°Dear heavens!¡± Finn gagged at the terrible burning stench that came from the burning body, and he crab-crawled back to the tree, his heart racing as he gasped for air. He couldn¡¯t keep a grim smile from his face as he realized he had survived a confrontation with two creatures far more dangerous than anyone he had ever tangled with before. Another message appeared on his inner field of vision as Finn tried to gather his senses, and for a moment.
Loot the Level 8 Troll Warriors? Y/N
Finn was confused, but his mind had already accepted the absurdity of the new game-like world he found himself in. He mentally chose ¡®Yes¡¯ and was rewarded with a series of new messages.
You have looted Battle-axe (Grade D Weapon). You have looted 25 Celestial Coins. You have looted Gauntlets of Strength. You have looted Healing Unguent. You have looted 2 burning rags.
¡°Ugh!¡± Finn tossed aside the burning rags, but he was surprised to see that new items had appeared in a list at the edge of his vision. He swiped his inventory listing into the main part of his vision and examined it. There was his new axe, the Healing Unguent, and all the rest. Each one had a tiny image of the item itself available, and his hand moved to select the small, silver-white Celestial Coins. He was suddenly holding a large, very thin, silver-white coin that was delicately embossed with a design of inter-twirling ribbons, forming a knot. ¡°What is this?¡± He turned it over and saw ¡®1¡¯ and ¡®CC¡¯ engraved on the reverse side. And now I¡¯ve got some money, he thought, wondering how much one CC was really worth. He was only slightly aware that he was way, way past the idea of a secret government experiment. If anything, Finn felt too exhausted now to really question what was going on. His body felt too cold, too exhausted, and in too much pain for it to not be real. Oh yeah . . . pain. Finn looked down at the once-bright ultramarine blue of his GameShop shirt and saw that it was stained with a darker color. He sucked in a breath as he realized that it was his own blood. ¡°Oh frack, oh frack, oh frack!¡± Finn quickly lifted his shirt, feeling a stab of pain as he pulled it up past his ribs, and noticed two things. First, he had a long cut running across his ribs. Second, the rest of his chest was in fine shape. Like, super-fine shape. For a moment, he forgot about the sting of his wound as he realized that he had bulging pectorals and a six-pack. Finn blinked. How did I wind up looking like a bodybuilder? He¡¯d never had six-pack abs in his life. Every attempt to get ripped had ended with strained muscles and being unbearably hungry all the time. A smile crept across his lips. Oh right, the attribute upgrades? He suddenly remembered, realizing that he was now rocking a Strength 18, Agility 19 body. Throbbing pain reminded Finn it was still an injured body. He swiped across to get his statistics, and then again for his inventory and the small clay pot for the ¡®Healing Unguent¡¯. The small, brown clay pot with a wax seal instantly appeared in his hand. His nose crinkled at the musky odor of troll sweat that clung to the pot. ¡°Ugh!¡± He wasn¡¯t sure if the unguent was such a great idea after all, but he knew had a pretty serious cut and needed to do something if he was to ever get out of this and find Esther. The thought of his sister drove him to act. He broke the wax seal, and was rewarded with a bright, sharp scent vaguely like lavender, rose, and lemon. Finn dipped two fingers into the pot and scooped out a liberal amount of the strong-smelling ochre paste. He smeared it over the cut on his ribcage and immediately felt a strange, not entirely unpleasant fizzing sensation. When he looked down, he could see that the unguent was doing something to his actual body. It appeared to be bubbling a little and then evaporating. In its place was a puckered, slightly red scar.
Healing Unguent empty. 30 points of Health restored.
His side still hurt, he realized, and when he checked his stats, he saw that his Health was still down by a little bit, but he felt it was a number he could handle. The pot itself was empty, so he tossed it aside and inspected his other finds.
1 x Troll Battle-axe.
It was the same one that had lodged in the tree, and there was now a shiny new notch in its blade head. It felt heavy, solid enough, and Finn took a few experimental swings to get a feel for it. This will do, he thought. Or he hoped it would, anyway.
Gauntlets of Strength.
The last thing in his hand appeared to be what Finn could only describe as leather wrist warmers, the kind of thing you might see metal fans wearing. They had heavy brass buckles on the inside to tighten them, and a tooled design of multiple triangles running down their outside. He put them on and adjusted them, instantly feeling a rush of power flow through his arms. Okay, every little advantage helps . . . I hope. Finn turned his attention to the final strange thing. He had done magic! It was called an ¡®Ascension Path¡¯¡ªwhatever that was. When Finn looked at his statistics, he could see there was now a small logo of a flame inside a circle next to his name. When he focussed on that little logo, it suddenly blossomed with more information.
Path of Fire: This path is dedicated to the Asai of Fire, V¡¯Morai. It controls all forms of fire¡ªcleansing, purifying, and destroying. V¡¯Morai expects their adherents to be just as ruthless, powerful, and unforgiving as they are. Illumination Fire-Spark
¡°Uh . . . okay then . . .¡± Underneath that little bit of non-information, there was what looked to be a list of further installments, but darkened and blurred so Finn couldn¡¯t read what they were. ¡°So, as I increase on this path, or in my levels, I get other powers?¡± Finn thought that sounded pretty cool. Or it would, he was suddenly struck by a pang of guilt, if he had time for any of this stuff. None of that mattered unless I find Esther, he thought as he raised his head to look through the trees to where that small spit of a causeway stood, leading to the small, rocky atoll. There was a light coming from the tiny island now. It was purplish-white, like the lightning that had attacked him earlier, and it was illuminating what appeared to be some kind of structure. It looked like a temple, occupying the entire top of the land mass. ¡°Maybe Esther is there.¡± Finn pushed himself to his feet, He gripped his new axe tightly in as he started to jog down the slope.
1.5 - Flying Knives Finn arrived at the causeway and found giant boulders on either side of it, which barely contained the spray of the waves crashing against it. It looked a little like a pier, he had to admit, just one made of rock and packed, black earth that led to a small island out in the bay. Elsport has a bay, too, Finn thought as he took a step onto the causeway itself. The island ahead appeared to be little more than a bunch of rocks rising from the water with a ruined stone temple on top. It was lit by a glimmering purple-white glow from inside. My phone! Finn suddenly thought as he remembered that he had a phone on him. He reached into his pocket, finding his old apartment keys, the stub of his bus ticket, and the dark slate of his phone. ¡°Aha!¡± he exclaimed, holding it up in triumph. Finn excitedly mashed the power button. The phone¡¯s display remained stubbornly black, not doing anything at all. The battery was dead, Finn realized after pressing the power button several more times. Dammit, of course it isn¡¯t going to be easy, Finn growled, shoving the phone back into his pocket as he strode forward. Something flashed out of the dark in latest crashing sea spray. ¡°Huh?!¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± Finn let out a scream as something struck his cheek, and, rather horrifically, latched on.
You have been wounded by the Level 3 Batfish.
¡°What the¡ª¡± Finn panicked, tearing at his cheek. He grabbed the foul little thing that had attacked him and flung it to the ground then stomped on it with his knock-off sneakers. The creature with a silvery underside and dark leathery wings, crunched underfoot.
You have slain the Level 3 Batfish. Experience awarded.
It was an ugly thing. Very ugly, even compared to trolls. The dead creature was bigger than his hand and had leather wings and a scrunched-up face with a horrible set of teeth. It had two emaciated, curled-in legs that ended in barbed claws but no arms. The Batfish was a hideous little monster, and as Finn looked up at the long causeway ahead of him, he realized there were probably a lot more than just this one. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Finn¡®s stomached churned with apprehension.
Loot the Level 3 Batfish? Y/N
What the hell, Finn selected Yes, and he was rewarded with not very much at all.
You have looted a fishy smell.
¡°Wonderful, just wonderful.¡± Finn muttered as he reached up to touch his cheek. It was bleeding, but not very much. ¡°This place just keeps on giving, doesn¡¯t it?¡± he groaned. Finn pushed down his growing anxiety and stepped forward. Another dark shape flashed over the rocks in a spray from the waves. ¡°Ahhh!¡± This time, Finn was struck in the shoulder, and he felt teeth bite through his GameShop shirt and into the soft flesh beneath.
You have been wounded by the Batfish.
He yelped, tearing the thing off and stomping it like the first one. Then, the waves hit the other side of the causeway, and he caught a glimpse of two more flying monsters bursting out of the glistening white foam. They darted unerringly for him. They were silent, moving as fast a flung dart, and Finn was struck on the thigh as he jumped forward. With a horrified snarl, he flung the thing to the ground as he saw the other hit the stone and start hopping obscenely on its wings toward his foot. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t!¡± He crushed the first with his foot and smacked the other with his axe.
You have slain the Level 3 Batfish. Experience awarded. You have slain the Level 3 Batfish. Experience awarded. You have slain the Level 3 Batfish. Experience awarded.
His vision was momentarily filled with more of the strange notifications as he stumbled back, now realizing that he was bleeding from several places. If anything, he felt worse than when he¡¯d been stuck by the spear. There was still more of them, Finn realized, flying out ahead of the waves every time they crashed against the top of the rocks that bordered the causeway. Finn swung the axe, catching one midflight as he turned to stomp on the hopping form of another. His vision filled with more notifications about slain Batfish as he inched forward attacking and being attacked. He didn¡¯t know how many he had killed already, but it could have been dozens. The ones that were managing to latch onto him were starting to take a toll, though. He jumped to one side and avoided an attack, seeing that a horde of the terrible little creatures was now gathering between him and the mainland behind him. ¡°Fire-Spark!¡± Finn shouted, thrusting a hand forward. He imagined a good conflagration would sort them all out. But nothing happened, apart from a wave of exhaustion shuddering through him. Where¡¯s my magic? My amazing Ascension Path of Fire skills?! Finn felt no power, just tiredness. Had he used it all up already? Did he only get to use it once before running out of whatever powered it? He slammed his axe into more of the swooping things as he jumped back from the advancing wave of malevolence. Finn stumbled back, smacking more out of the air as he backed away, then turned and ran down the causeway as more flashed out of the night.
You have been wounded by the Batfish.
No kidding, he thought derisively as he ran. His Agility was good, but not good enough to avoid another strike as he raced as fast as he could up the causeway.
You have been wounded by the Batfish.
Finn tore the last one from his body as he reached the wide stone steps that led up to the glowing, ruined temple. Come on! He forced his legs to move faster as he lengthened his stride. His feet hit and skidded along the first of the stone steps before jumping to the second, out of the way of the wave-spray that appeared to be what the horrible little creatures were using to launch their bodies at him. He was safe by the third step, with the causeway now behind and below him. Above, the steps started to turn, leading straight up to a double line of pillars that led to the tall, open arch of the temple itself. Finn pushed on until he reached the top then collapsed, panting. He leaned against a stone pillar and wondered what would be thrown at him next. 2.1 - Finn Callahan, Gardener ¡°Knight-Defender! Where is the Knight-Defender!?¡± There was the cry of a young voice as a girl in grubby pants and jerkin threw herself over the low stone wall, her feet splashing in the mud on the far side of the ditch as she took a deep breath and hollered again. ¡°Knight-Defender! Finn!¡± The person in question, the Acting Military Commander and Knight-Defender of Blackwood, Finn Callahan, looked up from where he¡¯d been engrossed in the black soil. The cold morning light caught his eyes, and his hands were full of the thin leek stalks he had been carefully planting. Even heroes had to do the gardening, sometimes. Behind him stood the new, partially-built stone walls of his realm, Blackwood, still with the wooden scaffolding and the lithe, moving bodies of the reptilian Lamakai working on it. The tiny township realm had grown and was still growing. Its wooden buildings were mostly repaired now, and the wooden palisade walls were slowly being replaced with sturdy stone blocks, quarried from the hills to the northeast and carried downriver by barge. It was slow work, but Finn was proud of it. Blackwood¡ªthe realm that he had founded, the realm that by rights shouldn¡¯t have lasted longer than a fart in hurricane¡ªstill stood in the Games of Celestial Ascension. The green flag with a resplendent black tree hung over the gates, and there was a stylized red curl of fire at the heart of the tree. Out of fire and ruin, I grow. The words of the new Realm¡¯s mantra flashed through Finn¡¯s mind before he turned his attention to the youngest of the Blackwood Scouts, who was slipping over the black earth as she ran toward him. ¡°Miralda? What is it?¡± Finn called, his aching back and cold-bitten fingers immediately forgotten. It was spring in the New Zone, or Finn guessed it was, since who knew just how the seasons were going to work in this new world he had found himself in? He just knew he was out early in the morning, planting what supplies their tiny realm that now had five hundred souls in it. ¡°It¡¯s Laurie. Chief Marr, I mean. She says come to the river tower right away!¡± the young girl panted for breath as she splashed across the planting lines being carefully cultivated around the eastern side of the township. Something¡¯s wrong, Finn knew immediately. ¡°What is it?¡± Miralda either didn¡¯t know or was told not to say it in front of the other farmers and workers. With a quick word of thanks to the young scout, Finn took off toward the open gate. What could it be? Is it another attack? Finn¡¯s heart hammered as he crossed the half-built gatehouse and sprinted into the wide cobbled streets. With just a flicker of his eyes, he opened his inventory and quickly dove into the Hearthstone¡ªthe gem that was the powerhouse and beating heart of every realm. It had grown in power with Finn and was now at Level 20, just like he was.
Hearthstone Realm: Blackwood (20) Mana: 541 / 541 Abilities: Shield. Dimensional Pocket: (20 slots) (Pyrrhic Blade, Gauntlets of Strength, Part-Plate of Azor, Token of Celestial Grace, Token of Blackwood, Celestial Coins ¨C 1230, Rubies ¨C 25, Dagger, Cloak)
Using its dimensional pocket, he quickly equipped himself as he ran, his form flickering with small flashes of light as the bronzed Part-Plate of Azor appeared on his shoulder and blazed across his chest, his stolen gauntlets with their stylized dragons burst onto his forearms, and the long, slender Pyrrhic Blade appeared in his hand, already flickering with a red sheen. There hadn¡¯t been any major attacks for three months¡ªby Old Earth reckoning¡ªsince the Liberation of Blackwood. There had been the odd monster incursion, of course¡ªstrange beasts the size of bulls, but with cat¡¯s heads that no one knew the name of¡ªbut the archers and Scouts had seen them off. But it¡¯s only a matter of time before someone from an Old Zone tries our strength, Finn thought as he crossed the main town square where the stall-makers were already setting up for the day of bartering. New-forged axe heads for repaired clothing. Healing ointments in return for food. In truth, Finn didn¡¯t know how long Blackwood could last like this. People had continued to straggle in, but no other settlements had been found or made themselves known. He knew that they would need more supplies, and soon. There was the town hall opposite the stone-built shrine. Between them sprouted the central Blackwood Tree, five large trunks growing from a broad base, now starting to drip with heavy, sticky black buds. ¡°Ho, Knight-Defender!¡± someone shouted. Finn saw the large form of Goreth, one of the original Blackwood residents before his town had been assimilated by the Asai¡¯s games of ascension. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and bald-headed, but with an impressive black beard. He was running in the same direction as Finn. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Laurie?¡± Finn asked, and Goreth nodded. They turned, heading for the Lamakai Quarter and the River Quarter on the other side of it. ¡°I have no idea what it is!¡± Goreth wheezed as his feet pounded. Neither of them said the obvious. Who¡¯s attacking us now? How bad is it going to be? Cold air blasted up from the river that skirted the edge of Blackwood, finding its way past the many tall warehouses built on stilts directly over the waters. The white stone river tower, the tallest building in the entire town, stood where the new wall met the water. ¡°Finn! Goreth!¡± There was a shout from above, and Finn saw the small form of Scoutmaster Laurie Marr¡ªdark-haired and forever-scowling¡ªleaning over the balcony and waving her hand. The Knight-Defender and the Guard Captain wasted no time in jumping into the wooden gondola at the base of the tower, grabbing the winches to haul themselves upward. Cantilevered weights fell on chains on the other side of the tower as they rose quickly, docking with the wide platform at the top. Laurie Marr wasn¡¯t much older than Finn, but she acted older. There was an air of authority about her that exuded from her every move as she beckoned them to the other side of the platform, where Sesuuk the Lamakai Prophet, and another woman and fellow Old Earther, the pink-haired, tall, willowy Rosa Lux, on the Air Ascension path. ¡°Look,¡± Laurie said, pointing at the horizon to where the line of wooded hills met the distant bend of the river. On the left was the green and orange haze of the marshlands, but there, where the marshes gave over to woodlands, was something strange and new. A ball of light hung high in the morning sky. Purple and shimmering and floating over the low haze of wooded hills. ¡°Purple?¡± Finn asked, immediately confused. ¡°Is this, uh, something that happened in your old world?¡± Laurie scowled. ¡°Not really. Tierra had normal, old, regular stars. And only at night. That¡¯s something different.¡± She said the word like she had just discovered a rattlesnake in her bed. Dangerous. Unpredictable. ¡°This is a test,¡± hissed the reptilian Sesuuk. The Lamakai turned to regard the others. The fine white and gray scales that covered his body caught in the morning light, glinting a little as he looked at them coolly with his orange, slitted eyes. ¡°The Asai, the gods, created the Celestial Engines, and they swallowed up entire worlds to test our souls. Nothing happens under the sun or moons which is not designed to challenge us.¡± ¡°Inspiring, Sesuuk.¡± Finn frowned, but he knew Sesuuk had to be right. Of everyone there, the reptilian had the most experience, coming from an Older Zone himself. ¡°Well, we could just ignore it,¡± Goreth suggested a little uneasily. ¡°No, we can¡¯t,¡± Finn heard himself say. There was a shift in the feeling of the group, as Finn had voiced what they all must have been thinking. We can¡¯t just sit here and wait for the next terrible thing to come to us. We need to be proactive. We need to defend ourselves first. ¡°But it reminds me of something . . .¡± Finn breathed as he stared at the glittering ball of purple light. What is it? ¡°It could be a threat to Blackwood,¡± Laurie said with a great sigh. ¡°You¡¯re right, Finn. We need to do something in response to it.¡± ¡°The Hearthstone!¡± Finn blurted out. With a snap of his hand, he summoned the glittering jewel that was the spiritual heart of Blackwood. It hovered over Finn¡¯s open hand, which also shone purple. ¡°When Blackwood was declared a realm, this gem appeared, didn¡¯t it? Do you think that out there¡­¡± Finn trailed off, looking up to see that the ball of light was a lot bigger than the comparatively tiny one over his hand. Ah. Finn winced. If that is a Hearthstone, then what size realm was just founded!? ¡°I do not know if that is a new realm, Knight-Defender,¡± Sesuuk hissed, reaching up to scratch at his scaly chin. ¡°It is true, realms are founded by the magic of the Hearthstones, and they can grow in power, but not even in my old realm did I see something like this. Perhaps it is a new type of shrine, or treasure, added to our New Zone?¡± The Lamakai¡¯s eyes glittered with what Finn was sure was greed. Finn¡¯s eyes flickered once more to the Scoutmaster. ¡°Laurie? Blackwood is your town. You¡¯re the leader. What do you want us to do?¡± The Scoutmaster narrowed her eyes as she stared at the star ahead for a long moment, and then she nodded. ¡°Knight-Defender Finn of Blackwood, I charge you with investigating it, with your choice of companions.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Finn nodded, and for a moment, he felt a flicker of excitement run through him. ¡°Rosa?¡± The young woman with the neon hair was quick to agree. ¡°Thought you¡¯d never ask. I could do with some more experience to catch up with you, Champion of Blackwood.¡± Rosa smiled, her fingers tapping on her carved silver quarterstaff. The weapon was her treasure from the Order of Celestial Grace¡ªthe Staff of the Aethers. ¡°No one else?¡± Goreth asked. Finn thought there was just a little bit of jealousy in his voice. Maybe the big man had had enough of gardening, too. ¡°Blackwood might need your axe, Goreth,¡± Finn explained, already turning back for the gondola as Rosa followed. ¡°Just be careful, Knight-Defender,¡± Sesuuk¡¯s words caught them as they turned. Hm. That¡¯s unlike you, Finn thought. He was used to the snake-person¡¯s scalding observations and delusions of grandeur as the Lamakai had shown themselves to be a haughty race who never stopped impressing upon the humans that they built pyramids in their own world. Finn turned back to see Sesuuk¡¯s eyes glittering. ¡°If this is a challenge sent by the Asai, then it will be matched to your level or beyond. That is the way of ascension. But if it is an Older Zone invading our world, then they will have only one goal: to capture, loot, and kill as much as possible. Even you, Champion of Blackwood.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t be the first to try.¡± Finn managed a dry laugh as he turned to hop into the gondola, but the Lamakai gestured for him to wait. ¡°Here.¡± The prophet withdrew something from his tunic. It was a gold medallion in a roughly triangular shape, set with a brilliant blue jewel in its center. ¡°My people once made these. It will allow us to communicate, despite the distances between us. When you know what we are facing, I will be able to advise.¡± He pulled back his tunic to show where an identical medallion hung against his chest. Gifts, too? Finn thought, accepting the medallion and looking over the reptilian¡¯s shoulder to where Laurie¡¯s face was set in stone.
You have received a Trine Medallion. Trine Medallions are prepared in batches, and each one is paired to the others they were made with. They allow the bearer to communicate telepathically with whomever is wearing a matched medallion. Cost per use: 100 Mana
100 Mana! Finn was shocked. That was not insubstantial. Just how much Mana did the Lamakai Prophet have at his disposal? ¡°I¡¯ll report anything we find.¡± He made sure to catch Laurie¡¯s eyes. There was some kind of power play going on here, Finn thought. Sesuuk, being Finn¡¯s patron, was used to acting like he was in charge, and he knew that didn¡¯t sit well with the Scoutmaster. ¡°Be sure that you do,¡± Laurie muttered heavily. At that, Finn and Rosa were winching themselves back down in the gondola, already thinking about the journey ahead. Maybe I¡¯ve been gardening for too long, he thought. 2.2 - Teleporting Magical Assassins ¡°There¡­ Do you hear that?¡± Rosa murmured as she guided the flat-bottomed boat toward the shallows of the wide river. ¡°Hear what?¡± Finn groaned. All he could hear was the rumbling of his distressed stomach and the distant calls of birds. Finn¡¯s current malaise was owing almost entirely to the fact that he had become painfully aware that while he might be a good fighter, he was certainly not a natural boatman. It also didn¡¯t help that Rosa kept on using her Air Path powers to propel their small vessel down the river like some kind of medieval jet ski. Finn had not been impressed. They had been traveling for the better part of the morning and into the afternoon, and for most of that time, Finn and Rosa had been surrounded by woodlands on their right and scrublands on the left. There was the occasional, strange shriek of some creature in the undergrowth, but nothing else. All signs of Blackwood were long gone. The purple star remained, hanging over the hills. It got just a little larger, and a little brighter, with every passing hour. Now, however, Rosa had put a halt to her magic as they rounded the latest bend in the river, and her keen eyes were scanning the wooded hills. She was a tall and athletic woman, her body hardened by battle. If he hadn¡¯t known she¡¯d been a gamer back on Old Earth, he would have guessed she¡¯d been a professional athlete¡ªa runner or a triathlon competitor, maybe. ¡°What is it?¡± Finn asked again, tilting his head. ¡°Listen, Finn! Don¡¯t you hear it!?¡± Rosa grumbled as the boat slid into a patch of muddy reeds, coming to a stop as the pink-haired woman stood on the prow and again started to weave her hands before her face. She murmured as she worked, shimmering blue trails crossing in front of her. ¡°Dear gods, please don¡¯t send us racing anywhere again¡ª¡± Finn managed to say. A blue haze formed in the air to their right, and an errant breeze, laced with Rosa¡¯s blue powers, suddenly swirled down to their boat.
Rosa Lux has cast Whispers of the Wind. You are affected.
Clash! Suddenly, the strange breeze brought with it the distant sound of metal on metal. And screams. ¡°Who is that!?¡± Finn was already attempting to stand, the Pyrrhic Blade flickering into his hand. Its blade flashed a warning red. He hadn¡¯t summoned its inner fires yet, but the Pyrrhic Blade was always ready. Someone is getting hurt. Someone is being killed. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but the wind tells me it is coming from just over that rise.¡± Rosa was already leaping from the boat, twirling her silver quarterstaff through the air before her. Finn was a bit slower in disembarking, his boots splashing in the muddy banks as he followed the gamer girl up the wooded bank. The trees around them were thin but closely clustered, and the rise itself was steep and dense with leaf litter as the Knight-Defender and Air Initiate raced forward. Blue energy crackled around Rosa with every movement of the Staff of the Aethers, and Finn¡¯s Part-Plate of Azor was flickering into existence across his shoulders and chest as he hurriedly equipped himself. ¡°AGH! Stop them!¡± It was only a few more paces before Finn didn¡¯t need the Whispers of the Wind to hear the sounds of battle. Whatever and whoever it was, it didn¡¯t sound like they were having a good time. Rosa was the first to reach the crest of the wooded ridge. ¡°Finn, I see them¡ª¡± She barely had a chance to speak before Finn saw a sudden explosion of leaf litter next to her, and Rosa was tumbling to the ground. ¡°Rosa!¡± What was that?! Finn charged forward, catching sight of a shimmer in the trees. A humanoid shape, somehow becoming more solid with every passing heartbeat, stood right next to where Rosa had been running. It was a person, wearing a heavy, dark-gray cloak and holding a savage, curved blade. Finn roared. He had never seen anyone appear out of thin air before, but his mind was full of rage at how they had dared to attack his friend. He leapt, his eyes flickering as he summoned his Fire Path abilities.
Ascension Path: Fire Strength +1 STR per 20 Mana Name: Finn Callahan Level: 20 (81, 525 / 84,000) Mana: 541 / 541 Strength: 44 (+2 Gauntlets of Strength) (+5 Pyrrhic Blade) = 51 A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Finn used sixty Mana immediately, giving him an active Strength of 54 as he brought the Pyrrhic Blade crashing down. The blade whistled harmlessly through the air and smashed into the nearest tree, bursting its bark and exploding the wood. Huh? One moment, the attacker had been there, and then the next, they hadn¡¯t. Finn had never seen anyone move so fast. He spun around on his heels. His assailant had been waiting for him when Finn turned, and Finn felt the cold slice of the man¡¯s blade skitter across his side.
You have been struck for 60 points of damage. Health Points deducted.
Finn saw the man up close for a moment. His face was strangely ashen, and his skin looked weird and uneven¡ªlike it was horribly scarred, perhaps. But it was a man, Finn was pretty sure of that. Even as he stumbled back, he was thinking that if they were facing men, that meant they could be killed. Finn allowed his heel to slide back as the gray-garbed man advanced on him. Finn saw the sudden sparkle of victory in the man¡¯s eyes as he raised his saber again, but then Finn was spinning and lashing out with the Pyrrhic Blade in a backward slash. His opponent¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and Finn saw the man¡¯s mouth open to mutter something. The edge of their form started to flicker and shift, appearing to fade from view, but it wasn¡¯t fast enough to stop what was coming.
You have struck the assailant for 124 points of damage.
The Pyrrhic Blade blazed an angry crimson as it struck, and the man was thrown back. He hit the ground in an explosion of leaf litter. Finn jumped forward in another attack, but the leaves exploded in another flurry of wind. His opponent once again disappeared, leaving behind a spatter of blood. ¡°Will you stop doing that!¡± Finn snarled at the empty space, feeling cheated of his victory.
Assailant has fled. You receive partial experience.
Well, at least it wasn¡¯t all for nothing. Finn growled as he looked up, scanning to see where Rosa was. She was already back on her feet, now further down the other side of the rise and engaged in battle with two more of the strange beings. Even further down the hill, Finn could see the battle they had initially heard going on between a group of short humanoids and more of the vanishing attackers. There were sparkles of red and green light, as one side or another used what magical powers their Ascension Path had given them, but he couldn¡¯t take time to watch and was already charging down the slope toward Rosa. She was spinning her silver quarterstaff in an arc that was keeping her assailants at bay. She moved almost as fast as they did, Finn thought in awe. He saw one of the figures fade and reappear on Rosa¡¯s other side while the first tried to keep her occupied, but Rosa was fast. She had the power of Air and if the winds were anything, they were fast. She spun and caught a blow before it could land, parrying it expertly and half-turning to slash out at the next attacker. Not even Rosa could move faster than people who could teleport, however. Finn was almost there when he saw her catch a blow from one of them men¡¯s gauntlets as he materialized and slammed his fist into Rosa¡¯s nose. ¡°No!¡± Finn roared in fury, becoming incandescent as, without thinking, he called his Ascension Path powers.
Fire-Strike (Ascension Path: Fire)
The assailant looming over Rosa didn¡¯t see Finn as he stabbed the air ahead of him with the Pyrrhic Blade. All of Finn¡¯s rage burned through the blade and exploded in a jet of fire straight into the man¡¯s back. Rosa¡¯s assailant was engulfed in flames. He screamed and staggered away from the battle, dropping their sword as they stumbled and swayed.
You have spent 150 Mana Points as damage. +50 base damage. Enemy is on fire. They will continue to receive 20 damage every five seconds.
Finn was already turning to the next attacker. This one solidified with an expression of both anger and fear. Once again, he noticed the strangely-textured, gray flesh. ¡°Who are you! What do you want!?¡± Finn demanded as he leveled the Pyrrhic Blade at this next attacker, meaning to do repeat his fiery attack if he had to, but he didn¡¯t get the chance. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough, Blackwood!¡± the man hissed with a heavy, guttural accent. The edges of his form began to fade, losing substance and solidity with every moment, until Finn was looking at nothing but thin air and a drift of leaf litter. ¡°Rosa! Rosa, are you alright?¡± Finn reached down to clasp Rosa¡¯s hand and haul her to her feet. She was shaking her head, spattering blood from a broken nose in the process. ¡°Dubbering Puk!¡± Rosa muttered in a thick voice, already pointing to the rest of the battle. ¡°De ubbers. Dub Dere!¡± Yeah, down there. Finn and Rosa turned to see that the battle wasn¡¯t going as well for other non-gray men as it had for Finn and Rosa. There were scattered bodies lying face down in the dirt, and very few of them appeared to belong to the gray-clad, teleporting attackers. Most of the bodies belonged to the smaller humanoids, with chestnut, brown, and auburn hair, usually tied in bundles at the back of their heads. A knot of those still living were trying to rally against a handful of the assassins. Even though their numbers were far larger, there was no way they could predict the next attack. Wait. I know them! Finn blinked in shock as he looked at the victims. They were a little smaller than the average human. They had long, pointed ears and large eyes. Their features were a little finer, sharper¡­ ¡°Verdans!¡± Finn exclaimed. ¡°What?¡± Rosa snapped. She was already twirling her staff above her head, summoning a blue vortex. ¡°Verdans. They are another people stranded in the New Zone, like us! My friend at the order was Verdan!¡± Finn said as he leapt forward, his Pyrrhic Blade flashing red through the trees. Finn didn¡¯t have a chance to reach the fight before Rosa released her tornado against the attackers. The use of elemental powers wasn¡¯t exactly a precise art, and Finn saw more than a few of the Verdans flung to the ground, but at least three of the attackers went down as well. ¡°Stand down!¡± Finn roared as he slid through the leaves, his blade bursting into flames before him. ¡°These people are under my protection! Stand down and give up your weapons immediately!¡± He hoped that the element of surprise might make them think twice, though he added a shimmer of fire sparks to the air to punctuate his point. Rosa kept up her vortex, directing it with a ballet of graceful movements¡ªdespite the blood sheeting down her face¡ªas she moved the gales against two more of the teleporting assassins. Will it be enough? Finn wasn¡¯t sure. These people could appear and disappear at will, but even they couldn¡¯t deny the science of numbers. There had to be at least twenty or more Verdans at Finn¡¯s back, and now there were two clearly well-trained Defenders too. There were only five assassins left. ¡°Enough!¡± one of them cried, gesturing with their sword as they started to fade out of existence. ¡°Who are you! Where do you come from!?¡± Finn shouted, starting forward with his blade raised high, but the mysterious beings were already disappearing. ¡°Dammit!¡± Finn swore. He was facing nothing but a faded memory. He had no idea who they were, why they were there, or if they had anything to do with that purple star. The one he¡¯d set aflame was dead, and the rest were now gone.
You have defeated the attacker. Experience awarded. Your attackers have fled. 50% experience awarded to all parties.
Finn looked around him, and one thing rang in his head, over and over again. They called me Blackwood. 2.3 - Old Friends, Almost As if teleporting assassins weren¡¯t enough, the New Zone had more surprises in store for Finn as he surveyed the battlefield around him. The forest dell was a mess. At least ten or more Verdans had been slain, and the forest floor was a litter of smoldering embers¡ªthanks to Finn, who was hurriedly attempting to stamp them out. ¡°Finn Callahan? Finn Callahan of Blackwood?¡± said a voice from behind him, and Finn turned with half a grimace already on his face. How does everyone know who I am around here? Standing behind him was an apparently young Verdan, dressed in a russet-green jerkin over a clean linen shirt and short pants that reached just past his knees. Like all of his kind, he had long ears that tapered delicately around his scalp, and large, dark eyes. He was looking intently at Finn. ¡°You¡¯re Finn of Callahan, of Blackwood, aren¡¯t you?¡± the young Verdan said, and the way they mangled the words made Finn think they were reciting some custom or script. Finn winced and bit back the urge to say, Who¡¯s asking? The fact that the phantom assassins had known where he¡¯d come from had put him on edge. But I know these people. Or one of them, at least. He took a deep breath and plastered an exhausted smile on his face. ¡°I am?¡± ¡°Seven Gems! Thank the Maker! My name is Loca El-manda V¡¯endoornath. I¡¯m Tobias El-sandro¡¯s third cousin! He sent me here, with those brave enough, to try and find Blackwood!¡± The Verdan¡¯s face split into a beaming grin, and much to Finn¡¯s surprise, the young man immediately rushed forward to grab him by the elbows in what must have been a welcoming gesture for this strange people. ¡°Tobias?¡± Finn spluttered. ¡°Tobias sent you?¡± Finn remembered the Verdan he had met at the Order of Celestial Grace, also a Defender, saying that he was in charge of his family since the Asai had assimilated their old realm. Just like they did Earth, the thought flickered darkly through Finn¡¯s mind. Finn could hardly believe that his friend, who had been an Earth Initiate and who¡¯d faced many of the same challenges that Finn had, could possibly be in charge of anything. Tobias El-sandro V¡¯endoornath had been wild, reckless, and barely looked older than a teenager. But then again, I¡¯m not exactly much older and now I¡¯ve founded a realm, Finn considered. This time, he smiled for real. Maybe things didn¡¯t always turn out for the worst in the Celestial Ascension. ¡°Where is he? Tobias, I mean. Is he nearby?¡± Loca¡¯s face faltered, and Finn had a terrible premonition. Oh no¡­ ¡°He¡¯s at Malvas, with the rest of the family,¡± the young Verdan said, but worry etched his brow into deep furrowed lines. ¡°He took the old and the infirm, but still didn¡¯t trust the invitation. That was when he told us about you, his great friend from the order, and how if we could find a way to Blackwood, that we would be welcomed.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Malvas? What¡¯s that? What invitation?¡± Finn asked. Just then, Rosa appeared next to him, her face grim. ¡°I searched the bodies of our attackers. They don¡¯t have anything, no supplies for a long campaign or anything, but they did have this.¡± She offered Finn a scrap of parchment, upon which was drawn a map. Oh, shoot me down. Finn immediately recognized the long curve of the river that seemed to bisect this part of the New Zone, the scrubby marshes, the distant coastline. The other half of the map was given over to woods and a line of hills. There was only one word on the map, near where the coast curved around to the top of the forests. Malvas. Finn¡¯s eyes went to the curl of hills, river, and wood where his home was. ¡°Blackwood isn¡¯t marked, but if they have the area already mapped, then it¡¯s only a matter of time before they find us,¡± Finn said. ¡°Did those people come from Malvas?¡± Rosa asked Loca. The Verdan shrugged. ¡°I have no idea. I have never seen the like of them before. Malvas looks to be a vast, ancient, crumbling city, all in ruins, on the coast. The people there didn¡¯t have the, uh¡­¡± Loca waved his hands in front of his face, indicating the textured, bark-like appearance of their attackers. ¡°And I don¡¯t see why we would get invited there, only for them to attack us?¡± Finn shared a glance with Rosa. ¡°I do,¡± Finn muttered. ¡°If they¡¯re from an Older Realm, maybe this is a good ploy to enslave a whole lot of people, but what¡¯s this about an invitation?¡± And why didn¡¯t Blackwood receive any? Loca nodded up at the sky through the trees, which was slowly turning to an umbral evening. ¡°The star. It appeared in the sky, and shortly after, we were found by a man on a horse. He said he was a refugee from his old world, just like we all are. He said that there were many folks gathering at this place called Malvas they had found, near the coast. It looks to be a ruin of a city when the New Zone was created. They¡¯re setting up a council of refugees from all the worlds added to the New Zone. They¡¯ve declared themselves the capital.¡± ¡°We have a capital city now?¡± Finn¡¯s eyes narrowed. He knew from Sesuuk that every time the Asai assimilated worlds into a New Zone, the first few years were a mess of bloodshed and turmoil as the survivors founded realms and fought each other, the monsters, and incursions by Older Zones. Maybe having a big and strong city is a good thing? he mused, but he couldn¡¯t trust it yet. ¡°I guess that explains the giant, shining purple Hearthstone in the sky, then,¡± Rosa muttered, and Finn murmured his agreement. ¡°They say that everyone is welcome in Malvas, and they are going to make a Council of All Assimilated Worlds to rule this one.¡± Loca flicked his ears anxiously. ¡°But Tobias still didn¡¯t trust it,¡± Finn pointed out. Loca nodded affirmatively. Finn looked at Rosa, and the exchanged glance said it all. What do we do? Laurie asked us to find out what the star meant. We now have a dang great city sitting just a couple days from our borders. What if it decides Blackwood is an enemy? These were the rules of the Celestial Ascension, after all, weren¡¯t they? To advance through conquering. To be challenged in battle and magic and strength. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to take a look,¡± Finn said. ¡°Best-case scenario, Malvas is everything it says it is, and Blackwood badly needs food, supplies, and a trading partner if it¡¯s going to survive.¡± ¡°Worst-case scenario?¡± Rosa asked. Finn shook his head. Not in front of Loca. He didn¡¯t want to admit that the worst-case scenario was probably that Tobias and the rest of the Verdans had already been enslaved or worse. ¡°Well, we can¡¯t go anywhere tonight.¡± Rosa nodded up at the sky, which was darkening quickly. ¡°I suggest we leave this place, strike a camp where we can, and in the morning, Loca and the others can use the map to get to Blackwood, just as Tobias suggested,¡± the pink-haired woman said. Finn could only agree. Blackwood would welcome the Verdans, and their way with crafts would be needed. It would then leave Finn and Rosa free to investigate further without any more unnecessary deaths. ¡°We won¡¯t have a map if we give it to them, though,¡± Finn pointed out the only hole that he could see in her otherwise sage plan. ¡°Hmph. Who needs a map when you got that ruddy great thing up there?¡± Rosa said wryly, gesturing with her staff where the giant purple ball of light¡ªthe declaration of what had to be the grandest realm yet seen in the New Zone¡ªshone through the trees. 2.4 - A Cold & Clammy Welcome ¡°It¡¯s a trap, right? It¡¯s got to be,¡± Finn grumbled as he and Rosa hunkered down at the foot of a windblown oak. Around them, the last straggling trees led back up the hills behind where they had said good-bye to Loca and his family of Verdans. Finn was sure that Blackwood would welcome the new refugees, as Laurie herself had said so through Sesuuk that morning when Finn had used the Lamakai Trine Medallion to tell them what had happened. ¡°Don¡¯t trust anyone. Not even those who appear as friends. Especially not even those,¡± the reptilian prophet had advised, which hadn¡¯t exactly filled Finn with a sense of cheery optimism. Laurie, however, had been just as suspicious but more pragmatic. ¡°Find out the numbers of these Malvans. Their size, their capacity. If they are looking to trade, we can supply good timber and the best carpenters in the New Zone.¡± And the best archers too, should it come to a fight, Finn had added to himself. Either way, whether Malvas would turn out to be a blessing or a curse, Finn and Rosa had found their way to the edge of the forest and now had a panoramic view of the coast by the time the sun was high in the sky. They could also see the ruined city over which hung the bright purple star, declaring the new realm. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly . . . small, is it?¡± Rosa grumbled, and Finn could only agree. Ahead of them, the coast broke from cliffs to roll down toward a river valley, eventually emptying itself into the sea. Where the river met the sea, there appeared to be endless gray stone buildings instead of fields or marshes or beaches. Streets, walls, squares, and entire districts of blocky, square buildings all huddled against each other. It made Finn think of an old Italian or Spanish design. He wondered what had happened to this city, or even where it had come from. Had it originally come from Laurie¡¯s world of Tierra? The Verdan old world? Or maybe it was from somewhere entirely new to all of them, and the process of assimilation had destroyed it? ¡°It¡¯s not in the best repair,¡± Finn pointed out. From where Finn sat, he couldn¡¯t see a single house or wall that didn¡¯t look ruined in some way. There were entire streets filled with rubble where walls had collapsed, and most of the buildings had great rents in their stonework, holes that looked as though it had been bombarded by some vengeful god. ¡°Well, they¡¯re going to need the timber, for sure,¡± Finn murmured as he scanned the horizon. There were small drifts of smoke coming from some of the larger, grander half-domes near the center. He wondered if that was where this ¡®council¡¯ had made their home. ¡°I can¡¯t see anyone moving down there,¡± Rosa said, half-rising from her crouch to peer more intently. Finn grunted. His conviction that this was indeed a trap only intensified. They still had no idea who had attacked them yesterday, and he didn¡¯t like feeling as though someone had gotten the best of him. ¡°Stay sharp,¡± Rosa murmured as she stepped out from their hiding place. ¡°You know what they say; Nothing ventured, nothing gained?¡± She threw a half-smile back at him. ¡°Who says that? People who clearly didn¡¯t wake up in an insane murder-game designed by even crazier gods, that¡¯s who!¡± Finn grumbled, but he still rose from his crouch and followed the Air Initiate. It didn¡¯t take long to reach the outskirts of the city¡ªa high, crumbling white stone wall that had been breached and broken all along its length. ¡°I guess we head for the star. It¡¯s hanging over the center,¡± Finn whispered as he started to climb the mound of rubble, pausing to scan the streets beyond and discovering that they were in fact deserted. ¡°Nothing. Nothing but more rubble.¡± Finn frowned, hopping down to the other side of the wall. The pair picked what appeared to be the most direct street heading toward the heart of the ruined city. The buildings around them were little more than stone skeletons reaching up toward the clear blue skies, with great holes and ruptures across their faces. Finn and Rosa walked between what they thought might have once been storehouses, now open and empty. Several times, they had to abandon their path to clamber over piles of rubble, their boots scattering stone chips as they scrambled. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°What was that?!¡± Finn suddenly halted after one such climb, certain that he had heard something. A hiss? He froze where he was crouched, looking carefully at everything around them. Nothing. No movement. ¡°Do you want me to summon Whispers of the Wind?¡± Rosa asked. ¡°But without knowing where the noise came from . . .¡± There was another hiss right then, coming from where the rubble had broken open one of the building walls. Finn growled and slid down to the cobbled street, summoning the Pyrrhic Blade to his hand as he did so. Rosa stayed in her crouch, but her silver quarterstaff was at the ready. ¡°I think it came from that building¡ªor what¡¯s left of it,¡± Finn said, eyes narrowing as he nodded at Rosa, and the two started moving toward it. Finn moved toward a still-standing doorway into the broken open building, while Rosa skirted across the top of the rubble. There was no question of not investigating, in either of their minds. Finn wondered when he had gotten so brave. ¡°Sssskt!¡± Finn had barely taken a step inside the building before he saw that the floor was partly ruined too, broken open and leading down to some sort of cellar or dungeon. Before he could investigate further, the hissing sound came again from behind him, out in the street. ¡°Rosa?!¡± Finn turned back to the street, but Rosa wasn¡¯t there. The rubble now effectively blocked them off from each other. ¡°Finn, there¡¯s something down here!¡± she called. There was an answering hiss from the rubble. Suddenly, something jumped at Finn from behind a ruined wall. It was smaller than he was, but it moved fast. Very fast. Finn caught sight of greenish, gangly limbs and large, fish-like eyes before a clawed hand was raking across his face.
You have been struck by Level 12 Ghoul. 42 Health Points deducted.
Ghoul?! Finn thought in horror as he felt a sudden wash of pain and stumbled back. He swung the Pyrrhic Blade in a wide, flaming arc.
You have struck Level 12 Ghoul for 95 points of damage.
There was a pained shriek as the creature fell, hitting the floor and immediately scampering back toward the rubble. ¡°Gah!¡± Finn felt the sudden weight of another ghoul as it leapt onto his back and sank its razor-sharp fangs into Finn¡¯s neck above where the Part-Plate of Azor ended.
You have been struck by Level 12 Ghoul for 38 points of damage. Surprise attack. 76 Health Points deducted.
¡°Don¡¯t bite me! That¡¯s rude!¡± Finn yelled in horror as he twisted and rolled his shoulders, unable to reach his passenger with his blade and instead opting to jam his back against the floor. He heard a terrible crunch and a gurgling whimper.
You have struck Level 12 Ghoul for 40 points of damage. You have slain the Level 12 Ghoul. Experience awarded.
Finn felt the ripple of pain run through him as he hit the floor, but he quickly rolled aside when he saw more ghouls emerging from the ruins. The wounded one was back, and it was hissing as it edged toward him. There was another one running at him full tilt, its hands curled into claws and fingers ending in blackened talons. He saw this one coming and lunged forward to strike through the air with his flaming Pyrrhic Blade. There was a flash of crimson, and the sudden smell of burning flesh as he tore the ghoul from its murderous leap.
You have slain the Level 12 Ghoul. Experience awarded.
No sooner had Finn completed his swing than he felt a shock of power running through his body. Tiny lines of burning purple lightning raced across the ground to leap into him. Finn cried out as the muscles in his legs locked up, driving him to his knees.
You have reached Level 21. As a Defender, you receive +2 Strength, +2 Intelligence, +5 free statistic points. Your Stamina advances 10 per level. Your Mana advances 10 per level. Your Health advances 10 per level.
You¡¯d think I¡¯d be used to this by now! Finn snarled as waves of cosmic power flooded his body. It wasn¡¯t entirely unlike getting electrocuted, if electrocution also brought with it feelings of godly might. He didn¡¯t have time to upgrade his statistics just then, though, as the wounded ghoul had taken advantage of Finn¡¯s momentary level ascension and leaping toward him. Finn felt cold, clammy hands seize his arms and pull at him with surprising strength, dragging him across the rubble. ¡°Finn?!¡± ¡°Get off!¡± Finn struggled as he heard Rosa¡¯s hurried shout. He slashed out with his blade just as he and the ghoul reached the low wall, and with a flash of flames, he had slain his third ghoul. Not that it helped much. From the other side of the wall came more hands reaching up to grab his arms and shoulders and bleeding neck. He felt the slap of moist palms with sharp claws against him as he raised his burning blade once more. Finn slashed down with the Pyrrhic Blade, but even as he heard screams, he felt his weight topple over the low wall as the bodies of half a dozen ghouls pulled him down into the dark hole beyond. ¡°FINN!¡± Rosa¡¯s scream was the last thing he heard before the world went dark. 2.5 - Fragrant Waters Finn roared as he tumbled down into the dark, clutched by monstrous hands he couldn¡¯t see. He swung the burning blade all around as best he was able.
You have slain the Level 12 Ghoul. Experience awarded.
Suddenly, one of the strongest grips around his neck lessened. And then he hit the bottom. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t solid. That was just about all that Finn could be thankful for, because it was wet and stunk like a sewer. Finn had plunged into black, brackish water, and the Pyrrhic Blade was instantly doused. He thrashed and struggled for a moment, barely remembering to hold his breath, and then his knees scraped the surface of something. He kicked back upward. He broke the surface of the dark water, heaving and gasping for air to find that he was in some kind of underground cavern. Dim light filtered down from the cityscape above. He got a moment to tread water before he realized that the bottom wasn¡¯t so far from his feet. The ground was uneven, filled with rubble, and stank to the stars with whatever foulness seeped through the ruined city. ¡°Finn?! FINN!¡± There was a shout from above, and the pink-haired head of Rosa appeared in the hole above. ¡°I¡¯m okay . . . I think!¡± Finn sputtered, struggling to the shallows. He then saw that the tunnel had a ledge running along either side of it, whilst its center was given over to the dark, putrid waterway. Oh. There was a sudden twitch of movement reflected from the ledges, and Finn realized that he was looking at the rest of the ghouls that had dragged him down the sewers. There had to at least be six or seven of them, and their dark eyes shone weirdly in the light from above. ¡°Okay . . .¡± Finn breathed. That was about all the time he got before the ghouls threw themselves into the foul river, heading straight for him. ¡°FINN!¡± Rosa shouted again. Finn raised his blade as fast as he could, dripping wet. The Pyrrhic Blade was one of the treasures that Finn had won from the Order of Celestial Grace, just like Rosa¡¯s Staff of the Aethers. Each treasure was more than just a magical object. Finn had been told that they each been fashioned by their relevant Elemental Asai. The blade had been made by the Asai of Fire, and the staff by the Asai of Air. As such, it was no mere mortal blade.
The Pyrrhic Blade (Grade C) Fire-Bolt Damage can be increased by infusing blade with Mana.
Finn¡¯s Mana had just gone up, so he threw a lot into the Fire-Bolt. He spent 400 points of Mana, knowing that he had at least equal that in the Hearthstone. Finn felt the surge of power explode outward through his chest, down his arm and into the blade. The metal burned white as ghoulish claws reached for him. A wave of burning fire shot out across the waters, exploding from the blade, and Finn could barely control it as he dragged it across every enemy reaching for him.
You have slain the Level 12 Ghoul. Experience awarded. You have slain the Level 12 Ghoul. Experience awarded. You have struck the Level 12 Ghoul for 50 damage. You have struck the Level 12 Ghoul for 50 damage.
The effect was immediate. Two ghouls were immediately slain and two more took significant damage. The monsters scattered in a heartbeat. A terrible keening sound filled the air as the surviving ghouls fled down the tunnel. ¡°Hey!¡± There was a shout from behind Finn, and he spun around just in time to see Rosa landing in the dank murk. She turned fast as she made a lancing strike with her Staff of Aethers at the back of one of the ghouls, sending a blue-laced blast of elemental power at it. There was a short, pained squeak and a splash as the foe was defeated. ¡°What have I told you about keeping all the experience for yourself!¡± Rosa spun around and snapped, making a face at more than just the smell. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°It wasn¡¯t exactly like I chose to fall into the sewer!¡± Finn pointed out. ¡°Hmph.¡± Rosa acted unconvinced, turning to look first one way up the tunnel and then the other. ¡°I reckon it¡¯s that way towards the center of the city,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope that the Malvans have at least worked out how to get hot running water and soap, yeah?¡± With that, Rosa led the way into the dark. * * * ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s not my fault I didn¡¯t bring any rope,¡± Finn said as the pair trudged through the dark under the city of Malvas. ¡°I would have thought that is, like, adventuring kit number one,¡± Rosa pointed out. ¡°You know, along with tinderbox and rations and healing potions and what have you . . .¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never climbed a rope,¡± Finn pointed out. ¡°I was terrible at athletics at school. I never guessed I would be any better now that I¡¯m in a different world.¡± Rosa groaned. So far, the pair had spent an hour or two trudging through the sewers, and without the light of the purple star to guide them, both were starting to wonder if they were hideously lost. ¡°And you didn¡¯t have to exactly jump down after me,¡± Finn bickered. ¡°You might have run off and got help or something.¡± ¡°Run off and got help?! What do you take me for, Lassie the helpful wonder dog or something?¡± Rosa grumbled. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean that. I¡ª¡± Finn was trying his best to apologize, his face lit by the small ball of fire he had summoned to float above them. A sound from up ahead silenced him. A hiss. Or another hiss, Finn thought. Both immediately went quiet, turning in place to peer into the dark, but it was no use. It was pitch-black down there. Without saying a word, Finn gestured with his tiny Fire-Spark. Rosa nodded and raised her staff as Finn flung the tiny spark forward. It flared down the wide corridor and illuminated the dark waters at their feet, the moss and lichen-covered blocks of the walls, and an immense, hunched figure they had just disturbed from its prey. ¡°Holy sh¡ª¡± Finn gasped. The creature was taller than either of them even hunkered down. Its skin was mottled, and what could only be described as two large, leathery bat wings extended from its back. It looked up in the sudden light, its grotesque face¡ªtwo tiny eyes and a large, open maw filled with needle-point teeth¡ªsnarling in surprise. Blood dripped from its mouth, and in its monstrous claws was the ruined form of a human. ¡°What the . . .¡± Rosa whispered, but then everything went dark as Finn¡¯s Fire-Spark hit the water. There was a sudden splash as they guessed the giant bat-creature dropped its prey. ¡°Finn! More light, please!¡± Rosa croaked, voice quivering. Finn flicked a few points of Mana into the Pyrrhic Blade, and the dewdrop steel suddenly blazed with orange fire. The returning light revealed that the man-bat was now only a few meters away, hurtling toward them with claws outstretched. Finn gasped and slashed out with the blade, but Rosa was faster. A sudden pulse of blue energy leapt from the sweep of her silver quarterstaff, striking the beast and flinging it back before it landed on them. ¡°What is it?!¡± Finn hissed, already jumping forward as the bat-thing hit the wall and spun, throwing itself over their heads with a quick flare of its dark wings. Finn snarled in pain as massive claws raked his side, skittering over the Part-Plate of Azor but still finding purchase near his hip.
You have been struck by Level 15 Vampire. 65 Health Points deducted.
He swung his blade at the creature again as it turned and lashed out at Rosa. She cried out in pain, but Finn felt his blade find its target at the same time.
You have struck the Level 15 Vampire. 70 points of damage dealt.
What?! That should have done more damage . . . The thought flashed through Finn¡¯s mind until he saw, by the flaming glow of his blade, that he had only sliced through one of the vampire¡¯s wings. The creature was fast, spinning at an almost impossible speed as it lashed out toward Rosa again. The Air Initiate jumped back, unleashing another sweep of blue power from her Staff of the Aethers. This forced the monster to stumble back and splash in the dark waters behind it. ¡°Don¡¯t give it a chance to recover!¡± Rosa shouted, twirling the magical staff over her head as she prepared another blast. The wave of blue energy swept across the dark waters toward the creature, but the vampire appeared to learn quickly. It leapt into the air over the rush of energy, awkwardly trying to fly with its damaged wing, but instead crashed into the wall and slid down right next to Finn. Finn lunged, but his blade skittered over bare rock as the creature twisted and was somehow behind them in an instant. What the . . . Finn felt the creature¡¯s legs rake his back and he was thrown forward, almost losing his blade as he fell to his knees in the dank water.
You have been struck by the Level 15 Vampire. 50 Health Points deducted.
¡°Back!¡± Rosa was shouting, leaping as she jackknifed in the air, spinning the staff down in a blazing blue arc that struck the vampire across the matted fur of its shoulders. There was another blaze of blue energy as her strike connected, but as Finn spun around, he was aware of altogether too much light in the tunnel. ¡°Ho, there!¡± There were shouting voices and people splashing through the sewer water with flaming torches and pale steel in their hands. Finn saw fury in their faces as they charged. The vampire hissed once again in fury as it stepped back from Rosa¡¯s rapid attacks to find the gang of people rushing it from behind. With a sudden snarl and a rough beat of its wings, it flung itself at them. Insanity! Finn thought as the creature let out an ear-splitting shriek, like a train whistle but even higher.
You have been struck by Fear of the Vampire.
Finn felt a wave of terror try to rise through his bones as the charging pack of men and women let out panicked sounds. No! Finn gritted his teeth and forced the fear down, making himself take a few steps forward¡ªonly to see that the bat-thing had already broken the ranks of those hunting it and was disappearing into the gloom beyond.
Your enemy has fled. 50% experience awarded to all parties.
Finn came to a wheezing halt as he saw that the creature was gone, and that before him was a crowd of eight men and women¡ªwide-eyed, gasping, and trying to gather their wits about them. ¡°It¡¯s gone. We drove it away,¡± Finn said grimly, wondering for a moment whether he should go after it. ¡°We¡¯re wounded.¡± Rosa was at his side, seeming to read his thoughts. ¡°And we have no idea what else is down here,¡± she murmured. The gang of eight staggered to their feet and one of them¡ªa stocky woman with long, black hair¡ªlooked Finn and Rosa up and down. ¡°You came for the invitation? Welcome to Malvas,¡± she said grimly, wrinkling her nose at the disgusting smell that emanated from the water, from Finn and Rosa, and from everything down here. 3.0 - Prologue - Even Blackwood Has its Shadows Lamplight glittered across the snake-man¡¯s scales, giving Sesuuk of the Third Trine a silvery radiance that flashed and dimmed. He passed between shadow and light as he moved, sinuous and quick despite his many, many long years. The Lamakai Prophet, leader of the outcast trine of the snake-men, moved quickly and furtively as his taloned feet clicked on the stones of the winding steps. He passed under guttering torchlight, each one bursting into flame with a gesture of his clawed fingers. Sesuuk was trying to be quiet, for he knew that even here, deep in the Lamakai Quarter of the refugee city of Blackwood, there were going to be spies. He had spent three painstaking months constructing this place in the heart of his people¡¯s space and would not have his effort revealed so easily. The spies would be sent not just by the human/Tierran leaders of this place¡ªalways busying themselves with such ridiculous notions like Freedom! Democracy! Justice!¡ªbut also by the other, elder realms. The recently assimilated mortals of the New Zone still had so much to learn of the games of Celestial Ascension and the tyranny of the engines created by the Asai. Sesuuk scoffed to himself as his steps took him further down. There was no fairness to the Celestial Engines. There was no peace. No justice. There was only power. The ascension itself. The eternal progress that meant you drew power into your soul with every monster you killed, every enemy you defeated, every realm you conquered¡­ ¡°But they will learn¡­one day,¡± Sesuuk hissed to himself. He turned the corner to see the stout wooden door that he had placed himself, dragging it down with his own hands and setting the bolts and working the mortar until it fit perfectly. The Level 27 Prophet certainly had enough servants and followers amongst the Lamakai to do such tasks for him, but he dared not trust any with this task. If word got out amongst Blackwood of what he had down here, of what he had built¡­ Sesuuk paused before the door and chuckled with a voice that sounded more like the rasp of a sword coming out of a scabbard. If word got out, Laurie Marr, so-called Mayor of Blackwood, would come for him. So would Goreth Fell-axe, Blackwood¡¯s Guard Captain. But they were no match for him and he would cut them both down. They wouldn¡¯t be a true threat until they were much stronger. No, what Sesuuk was actually worried about was the Knight-Defender and Founder of Blackwood. The one who held the Hearthstone, the inner power of this growing, rebellious realm. Finn Callahan. The human who had, against all odds, survived his first year and become a Defender on the path toward ascension. If Sesuuk hadn¡¯t found and convinced Finn to accept him as a mentor and patron, Sesuuk was certain they would be on very different sides of the celestial war by now. He didn¡¯t question the whims of fate. Their partnership would either benefit him . . . or it wouldn¡¯t, and he would deal with it when the time came. It matters not right now. Sesuuk shook his smooth, scaled head as his eyes glittered in the torchlight. He had much more urgent matters to attend to. The large ruby amulet in his hand, encased with gold clasps, was throbbing with pulses of warmth. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Someone was calling him. The last time he had a signal like this, from that place, he¡¯d almost destroyed an entire realm. Sesuuk raised his long-fingered hand and spoke briefly in a language that few understood. This door was guarded by no mere locks, and there was a flare of red energy around it before it swung silently open. ¡°Who dares summon me, Prophet Sesuuk!?¡± he hissed as he strode into a small stone room, entirely dominated by what appeared to be a circular well. This well, however, did not draw water. Instead, above it hung a whirl of dark crimson and purple energy, shifting and smoky. Occasionally the eldritch flurries would part and reveal what appeared to be facets of a crystal¡ªa large, deep purple crystal¡­ ¡°Sesuuk!¡± A voice wavered from the depths of the crystal, and the energies rolled and crashed against itself before converging once again into the hazy form of a head, neck, and shoulders. Another Lamakai. Another snake-person. This one with the same pronounced brow ridges as Sesuuk but nowhere near as horned or ornate. ¡°Servant Keskul! What a disappointment.¡± Sesuuk sneered the name of his fellow Lamakai with all the scorn he could mutter. ¡°Prophet now, Sesuuk. I am Leader of the Second¡ª¡± Keskul began, his tone showing a flash of annoyance, before Sesuuk cut him off. ¡°Oh, they will promote anyone these days, won¡¯t they? Tell me, how is dear father? Do you see him often?¡± Sesuuk hissed, again not waiting for a response as he held up the burning medallion in his hand. ¡°What is the meaning of this? Do you think that you can summon me whenever Father has one of his rages? One of his insane schemes? Do you really have so little courage yourself to do what I did!?¡± ¡°What you attempted, brother Sesuuk,¡± the flame-made form of the face screwed up in anger and hurt. ¡°And no, I am not as foolish as you¡ª¡± ¡°But you called me for a reason! You call me because you know I am free! I and the Third Trine had left your life of servitude behind! My Lamakai serve only me now!¡± Sesuuk said defiantly, twirling the medallion in the air like he was about to let it fall to the floor. ¡°I should break this now for your impudence, for being bothered by one such as you, but I always had a soft spot for my youngest brother Keskul. You appeared perhaps even intelligent. Perhaps the time has come to finally let the family go¡ª¡± Sesuuk said calmly, quickly, and with absolute authority. Gone were the airs and graces that he used when talking to any others. This was the way that Lamakai spoke to each other, dominated each other, and ascended. ¡°Brother! Hear me out!¡± Keskul, although still angry, had a note of urgency in his voice. Almost of fear. Interesting, Sesuuk thought. If things were bad enough back there that he dared open the secret portal, they must be very bad indeed. No Lamakai would normally dare beg for¡­help. ¡°Speak quickly, Keskul. My patience is running thin,¡± Sesuuk snapped. There was a flicker of hesitation from the image as it broke apart and reformed once again. When it did, the face of his brother looked very grave. ¡°You must know what this is about, brother. It is the prism. It has cracked. Qlippothic energy is being released, and I fear the time has come! All of us will be in danger, not just this realm but all of them. We need you to come back! We need your help!¡± Keskul hissed. Sesuuk didn¡¯t move. He didn¡¯t betray any of the emotions that rippled through him. ¡°And does Father beg for my aid, too? Do you speak to me as his servant?¡± Sesuuk asked. There was a quiver of hesitation from the other end of the flaming portal, and that hesitation sealed Sesuuk¡¯s decision. Keskul was ashamed. Their father, the Prophet of the First Trine, had not sanctioned this. He would never have anything but contempt for his eldest son Sesuuk. ¡°No, but¡­ Father is stuck in his ways. He just doesn¡¯t understand yet¡ª¡± Keskul began. ¡°Then Father and all of you are still fools!¡± Sesuuk snapped. ¡°You will learn the error of your ways when the Lamakai Realm is burning, and your temples are ash and bones!¡± Sesuuk smashed the medallion against the stone floor. In an instant, the lurid crimson-and-purple face of his brother disintegrated, leaving the swirling arcane powers behind. The portal lived, but there was no way that anyone from that elder realm could ever contact them again. Prophet Sesuuk admired the shattered gemstone and laughed. 3.1 - Bleeding Green Fire Out of Your Hands isn’t Normal ¡°You sure you want to do this?¡± Finn Callahan, Knight-Defender of Blackwood, looked at his sister. Esther scrunched her nose in that exact same way she always did when she was about to tell him, in no certain terms, where he could shove it. The brother and sister pair were crouched by the outlook rocks, an outcrop of mossy-covered boulders in the depths of the North Woods a few hours out from Blackwood. The outlook was one of the wilder trails of the small proto-city and rising Realm of Blackwood, and the furthest out that Finn would have normally let any untested scout or ranger go. But you are nothing if not insistent, aren¡¯t you, Es? Finn sighed. His sister had always been . . . adventurous. The sun was high in the blue sky, and from their vantage point, they could see the gold and green display of the North Woods, reaching from there all the way to Wild Ridge and back to the walled city of Blackwood. Double-walled now, Finn thought as he cast a proud look back the way they¡¯d come. Blackwood had been literally ripped from one of the other assimilated worlds, Tierra, and its central space still looked like an old town market from that world. Further out, though, the different quarters had taken on their different qualities. The Lamakai had built with stone toward the river, creating a decidedly serpentine, alien neighborhood. The humans from Earth and human-like Tierrans preferred their wooden huts, while the elf-like Verdainians had stone halls and preferred their underground vaults¡­ Finn couldn¡¯t help but notice that the Verdainian people looked like elves from Earth fantasy novels but seemed to possess many of the traits of mythical dwarves. A stout wooden palisade wall surrounded the inner city, and after that were more small neighborhoods of houses, warehouses, and market gardens. Blackwood had been swelling with newcomers in the past few months as more survivors from the assimilation eventually found their way either to there or to their much bigger sister city of Malvas to the northwest. Around that was the second wall, which was barely up to Finn¡¯s sternum in most parts, but it had a good ditch beyond, kind of like a dry moat. It did well against the occasional beasts that the Celestial Engines sent against them. Which was why they were scouting. There had been reports of a band of the trolls nearby, and that could mean trouble. ¡°You¡¯re not paying attention. Over there, see?¡± Esther sighed in a way that told the world exactly how boring brothers could be. Finn looked, and for a moment only saw the moss, ground ivy, and thick trees¡­ There. His sister had been right. There was a place where the ivy was more flattened, the stems more broken than they normally should be. When Finn took a step closer, he saw something gleaming in the undergrowth. ¡°A troll buckle,¡± he said, picking it up and recognizing the rough-cast, large belt or weapon strap buckle that the imposing, seven-foot-tall brutes wore. It even had a few rudimentary scratch marks and swirls that was their angular, fang-like language. Concern flooded him at once. ¡°Right. That¡¯s it. We¡¯re getting you home now. Goreth can¡ª¡± Finn began. ¡°Oh, shut up! You said yourself I need the experience, right?¡± Esther stuck out her chin defiantly. ¡°I, like, need to ¡®level up,¡¯ right? After spending who knows how many months larping a frozen Han Solo¡­¡± She was rolling her eyes as she reached for the solid Blackwood staff at her side. She wasn¡¯t listening to him. She never listened. And that¡¯s why she was always in trouble! Finn complained internally. ¡°Esther, come on! It¡¯s not just your level! It¡¯s your path!¡± He tried to explain for the umpteenth time. She needs an Ascension Path. Earth, Air, Fire, Water, even Time or Shadow or whatever other weird one there is out there. Anything but¡ª Their argument was interrupted by a piercing whistle made by the same piece of bone and reed that all scouts and rangers from Blackwood were given. ¡°Goreth! We need to go!¡± Finn hissed, sprinting away from the outlook rocks and plunging into the dark woods. His feet had only taken him twenty or more paces when he heard a grunting, roaring sound and the rush of heavy feet. ¡°Finn, I¡¯m coming!¡± Esther cried out, tumbling and charging behind him, despite the fact that her level was far lower than his. ¡°Esther, stay back!¡± Finn shouted. Then, there was a roar, and creatures burst through the trees.
You are challenged by 3 Trollish Advanced Scouts
The creatures were trolls, that much was for sure, but they were unlike any trolls that Finn had fought so far. They still had the gray-and-green mottled skin, the large frames banded with muscle, the talons, and heavy jawlines filled with sharp teeth, but each one was sat upon what Finn could only describe as a mutant boar. The boar-creatures were almost the size of a small pony, with tusks as long as Finn¡¯s forearm, and thick, brindle fur. A bare cross of leather straps on their backs was all that each troll hung onto with one hand while the other bore their weapons. ¡°Esther, look out!¡± Finn shouted as the first, fastest troll threw their short spear with deadly force. Finn saw it flash through the air, heard the whistle of wind as it sought out his sister¡­ Esther had already leaped to one side, hitting the forest floor and rolling in a spray of leaf litter as the spear embedded itself into a tree. Finn ignored the other two boar-riders coming for him as he leaped to his sister¡¯s defense. Spectral flames rippled across his body, springing into existence and surging down his arms as he thrust a hand out toward Esther. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Finn Callahan Ascension Path: Fire Shield +1 Armor per 20 Mana Shield +10 Defense (200 Mana)
The red flames leaped the short distance from Finn¡¯s arm to entirely surround Esther in a ball of red light. Finn felt the thump of power run through him as his feet hit the forest floor and he skidded, turning around, one hand reaching for his Pyrrhic Blade.
You have been struck by the Level 15 Trollish Scout for 55 Health Points of damage.
Something crashed into Finn, and he was flung through the air as the giant, mutant boar hit him. He felt a moment of weightlessness, saw the disorientating flash of leaves and flickered light. Smash! He hit the ground and slid through the leaves.
You have been struck by the Ground for 15 Health Points of damage.
Esther! Where is Es!? Finn scrambled to his feet just in time to hear a thundering sound as another boar-riding troll burst through the leaf litter and swung their notched scimitar straight at him. Frack! Even surprised, Finn managed to spin out of the way¡ªbut just barely. The boar-rider skidded past, their blade whistling through the space where he had been. Finn¡¯s hands were on the pommel of his blade, drawing it as he saw the boar skid further through the forest, their little legs struggling and stamping as they turned, ready for another charge. ¡°Esther!¡± Finn shouted as he felt the magic of his blade¡ªhis reward from the Order of Celestial Grace¡ªburst into life. The Pyrrhic Blade looked like a shard of steel, serrated on one edge, and cast so that its eerie, blue steel appeared more like a flash of lightning than any straight blade. As soon as it was in Finn¡¯s hand, he felt it answer his call. Flames rippled across its surface.
The Pyrrhic Blade +5 STR, +2 Armor Fire-based attacks gain +10% strength. Can cast ¡®Fire-Bolt¡¯ at a cost of 50 Mana.
¡°Esther! Stay back!¡± Finn shouted as he took out the troll charging at him with one leaping strike. It was a simple blow, deadly fast, and flaring with a plume of flame behind it. Finn Callahan, Level 24 and Knight-Defender of Blackwood, was good at what he did. The troll rider was struck from his mutant steed and almost split in two as his boar kicked and squealed in panic. Without its rider, the creature snorted once and surged into the woods.
You have defeated the Level 15 Trollish Scout. Experience awarded.
Behind Finn, there were more grunts and cries. He spun around and saw that the other two trolls had cornered his sister. She had climbed the first few branches of a tree and was trying to thwart their laughing, lunging attacks with her staff. As Finn ran to save her, one of the trolls jumped off their strange beast and sunk their blackened claws onto the lower trunk, cruelly laughing even as Esther¡¯s blows hammered across his back and did nothing. His sister hadn¡¯t been able to advance the way that he and the others had since the New Zone had been assimilated. She¡¯d been kidnapped by the Qlippothi as soon as the Asai decided to seize Old Earth and add it to their murderous challenge. Finn didn¡¯t know what advancement level his sister was at, because every time he scanned her, all he saw was her name and nothing else¡ªnot like when he inspected anyone else. But Finn was sure that she wasn¡¯t advanced enough to even defeat a Level 15 Troll. ¡°Aargh! Finn!¡± There was a shout from behind him as Finn jumped toward his sister. Goreth. It has to be Goreth! He spared a look behind him to see that the large, bald, black-bearded Guard Captain of Blackwood was busy swinging his double-headed axe back and forth. He too was cornered by more of the boar-riding trolls. Blood flowed freely from one shoulder, where they had already managed to stab him with their spears. As loyal as he was, Finn was always going to be more loyal to his sister. She was his only family. She was vulnerable. He had looked after her ever since he was little¡­ And Goreth is far more capable of taking care of himself then Esther! Finn spun back toward his sister, just in time to see a sudden flash of lurid green energy. It was coming from Esther¡¯s hands. What!? It was the same power she had displayed against Kano, Finn¡¯s sworn Adversary¡ªand Esther¡¯s ex-boyfriend¡ªin the Celestial Engines. Esther¡¯s lips pulled back into a feral snarl as she reached down from her perch and slapped her hands around the climbing troll¡¯s head. Green energy burst from her palms. The troll gave a shrill scream of agony as Esther held on for a long moment before letting go. She leaned back to catch her balance, and the troll plummeted to the forest floor, his face scorched black. What the hell power IS that!? Finn skidded to a halt, his heart thumping in his throat as he watched in horror as his sister turned her attention to the second boar-rider, flinging out a hand and pointing at him. More of that green power burst from her fingertip, and this time, it spat across the distance between her and her target, growing in force and strength until it engulfed the stunned, terrified troll. The troll didn¡¯t stand a chance. The green flames blew him from his steed and appeared to stick to his flesh as he writhed and howled in agony. Thankfully, the damage was great, and the agony was short.
The Trollish Incursion has been defeated. Experience awarded. As Realm Founder, you receive an extra 15% of the total experience gained when your realm succeeds.
Finn ignored the upgrades and boosts that appeared across his inner vision as his eyes were fixed on his sister. ¡°Esther!¡± Finn cried out. His sister appeared to be in some kind of a trance as the green light leaped back up into her arms, racing along her form. Her head snapped toward him, and Finn could see that her eyes were glowing with that green fire. He watched in horror as her mouth again twisted in an angry scowl, and she raised a flame-filled hand toward him... ¡°Sister, stop it!¡± Finn gasped. He was certain she was going to fire that same deadly energy straight at him. ¡°Esther, it¡¯s me! Finn!¡± Esther blinked abruptly and shook her head. The green flames winked out in her eyes and off her hands just before she moaned softly and fainted. She fell from the tree and landed heavily on the forest floor. ¡°Esther!¡± Finn cried out in shock, running forward to crouch beside her. He turned her over to see that she was out cold. She¡¯d probably been unconscious before she even hit the ground. ¡°Finn!¡± There was a low grunt of alarm as he looked up to see Goreth limping toward him, holding his wounded arm across his chest as his other held his massive war axe, dragging it through the leaf mold behind him. He looked exhausted. He looked lucky to be alive, Finn thought. He saw the bodies of the two trolls and their steeds dead on the ground behind him. ¡°Goreth, thank the stars you¡¯re okay. My sister¡­¡± Finn began, gently putting his hands under her back and knees, using his 53 Strength to lift her easily. She was so light. Esther had always been slight, but this was ridiculous. Was she unwell? How would she ever survive this dangerous world!? ¡°We have to get her back to Blackwood. Something is wrong,¡± Finn said quickly. He was interrupted by an angry grunt from Goreth. ¡°Damn straight something is wrong.¡± His tone was full of reproach. Finn shot a glance at him and saw the Guard Captain glaring at the bodies of the trolls that Esther had killed. His face was a mixture of surprise and horror. For a moment, Finn felt anger surge through him. How DARE anyone question my sister!? However, in that same moment, he knew what Goreth must be feeling, because he knew that he felt it too. Shock. Fear. The energy that Esther displayed since Finn had broken her from the Qlippothic Realm was unlike anything that any of them had ever seen. She shouldn¡¯t have such power, should she? No one should. ¡°My sister is ill. I¡¯ve done a whole lot worse defending the ones I love,¡± Finn muttered angrily, turning toward Blackwood and breaking into a hurried jog. 3.2 - No Plants Will Heal This ¡°Sister Alharrow! Send for Sister Alharrow!¡± Finn shouted as soon as he was past the outer gates, still carrying his sister. The guards stopped what they were doing and looked up in alarm. Finn Callahan was a regular sight around the city. His status as the Realm Founder, the one who had claimed the Hearthstone of Blackwood, meant that any resident of the town was immediately aware of his presence. Often, he commanded respect, friendliness, and awe, but sometimes¡ªlike now¡ªFinn could feel worry flowing through the crowd at the sight of the blood-soaked Knight-Defender and Guard Captain Goreth. The Hearthstone! Finn realized. The magical crystal at the heart of the realm. That was also a store of defense and healing, wasn¡¯t it? He could allocate its resources to heal anyone he wished. Finn¡¯s eyes flickered, pulling up the Celestial Inventory even as he continued to hurry toward the vast set of wooden gates.
Realm: Blackwood (Level 24) Hearthstone: 690 / 690 Patron: Sesuuk of the Lamakai Third Trine
The Hearthstone appeared in the air before him¡ªa palm-sized, multifaceted purple crystal that shimmered as it spun. As Realm Founder, it was matched to Finn¡¯s Level and Mana. But I don¡¯t even know how much life Esther has lost! Finn thought in annoyance. His eyes flickered to his sister¡¯s pale face. Her eyes were still closed, and her breath came in rapid, sickly bursts.
You have taken 100 Mana from the Hearthstone. Converting to Health for a Blackwood citizen. [CELESTIAL ENGINE ERROR!] Unable to find citizen!
What!? Finn blinked. The Hearthstone¡¯s Mana jumped back up to 690 after it failed to connect to Esther. But Esther was a Blackwood citizen! She¡¯s my damn sister! Finn tried again, but it still didn¡¯t work. It had something to do with her special¡­status, didn¡¯t it? Something to do with her power, too. It was like his realm didn¡¯t even see her. ¡°Finn? What¡¯s wrong?¡± It was Goreth by his side, his voice heavy and strained. Finn shook his head. He wasn¡¯t going to go into it, not out here in front of the gathering townsfolk. He quickly flickered his eyes through his inventory, converting 150 of the Hearthstone¡¯s Mana into Health and giving it to Goreth instead. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. The Guard Captain visibly relaxed, exhaling a long breath as his back straightened and a soft purple light glowed around his arm. Goreth¡¯s face flushed with a healthier tone, and he stretched his wounded arm, now good as new. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to do that. It wasn¡¯t bad¡­¡± he muttered. His tone was lighter now, but there was still a note of suspicion in it. ¡°You should heal yourself now, too.¡± He said this to Finn, but his eyes were wary and watching Esther¡¯s unconscious form. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Finn shook his head and knew it was true. His healing was advanced at his level, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before he regained the health he¡¯d lost. 65 out of 686 was barely a scratch. ¡°Knight-Defender! Guard Captain!¡± There was a shout from the gate, and Finn raised his eyes to see that the smaller, inset door had been thrown open and there were people approaching. One of them was Laurie Marr, Blackwood¡¯s mayor and an original resident of the town before it had been assimilated into the New Zone. Laurie wasn¡¯t a tall woman, but she exuded authority in a way that few did. She had dark brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and her features were sharp. She didn¡¯t wear any chain of office or official regalia other than a small metal pin on her stiffened leather tunic. The tunic itself was a relic from the days when she had been a mere scout and woodswoman. The badge was a simple piece of embossed bronze, a token of Blackwood like Finn had in his inventory, shaped like a shield with a spreading tree and a stylized flame in its heart. Blackwood Stands. Through Fire and Darkness, Blackwood Stands, Finn recalled the motto of his realm. Here before him now were the leaders of Blackwood responding to his call. Beside Laurie was Rosa Lux, another Earther about Finn¡¯s age, tall and willowy with shocking pink hair and wearing wrap-like sarong that made her look exotic but also deadly. Her Staff of the Aethers¡ªa treasure from the Order of Celestial Grace like Finn¡¯s blade¡ªflickered into existence in her hand. It was dedicated to Rosa¡¯s Air Path just like Finn¡¯s weapon was to Fire. ¡°Finn? What¡¯s wrong with Esther?¡± Rosa was the first to ask and looked around like she was ready for battle. This wasn¡¯t a battle that could be won with a weapon, though. ¡°She needs a healer. Sister Alharrow of the Lycans is the best¡ª¡± Finn began, but he saw how Goreth shifted a little uncomfortably, as if he were about to say something. He also noted how Goreth and Laurie Marr shared a look. This isn¡¯t good. I can¡¯t have suspicion spreading through the realm! Finn thought angrily. ¡°We ran into Troll scouts, boar-riders, but the largest boars I¡¯ve ever seen. They had supplies for a long journey, but I don¡¯t think they were on their own. I think they were searching for something,¡± Goreth said. ¡°Searching for us?¡± Laurie asked. Finn grew more and more irate. Couldn¡¯t they see that his sister was ill? That she was unwell?! ¡°Get me Sister Alharrow!¡± Finn said loudly over their conversation. ¡°I heard your call and have already sent word to the Lycan Quarter,¡± Laurie told Finn in measured tones. It was the sort of thing that made her a good leader, Finn knew despite his own rising panic. There was a third citizen of Blackwood hurrying forward, and they certainly weren¡¯t the older shapeshifter woman. ¡°Bring her to the Lamakai Quarter. I know what this is, and I will be able to treat her,¡± hissed the words of the tall Lamakai Prophet, Sesuuk of the Third Trine. ¡°Prophet, the Lycans are the best healers we have. I¡¯ve never seen anyone so good with herbs as they¡ª¡± Laurie began, but Sesuuk¡¯s hissing, scratchy laugh interrupted her. ¡°No plant will fix what is wrong with Esther Callahan! Now, come! If you wish her to survive, bring her to my temple!¡± He turned on his heel, his white robe¡ªembroidered with gold and indigo¡ªflaring around him as he stalked away. Finn didn¡¯t hesitate. He followed Sesuuk, and the others followed him. 3.3 - The Enemy of All Life ¡°Leave us!¡± Sesuuk hissed at the younger snake-people who¡¯d hurried toward him as soon as he entered the quarter. The Lamakai Trine had been a roaming band before coming to Blackwood, and they were the first non-humans to join the small town. The original members¡ªsome sixty or so snake-people¡ªwere also refugees from an Older Zone, so they quickly became a powerful force and much-needed protection against the many incursions that the Celestial Engines threw at Blackwood. Still, even Finn had to admit that the Lamakai didn¡¯t exactly make themselves feel like a true part of the small city they had helped build. The entrances to their quarter were guarded by strange sculptures that could have been abstract Lamakai heroes or their terrible gods, Finn didn¡¯t know. They kept to themselves, and their way of life was completely different than any warm-blooded mammal. Sesuuk hurried them past one of their birthing temples. The Lamakai had a lot of temples. This particular one was built from stone and smoked constantly from the fires that burned night and day, keeping their eggs warm. Then there were the strange incenses of their bathhouses, and of course their raucous markets where small birds and smaller mammals¡ªvoles and mice, mostly¡ªwere kept in cages while other Lamakai selected which plump victim they would take home for a meal. But it wasn¡¯t just their way of life, it was their nature. The snake-people came across as naturally arrogant, oftentimes not even bothering to answer when a warm-blood spoke to them. Perhaps it was the fact that the older generation of Lamakai had all come from their own Elder Zone, so the anxieties and questions that a struggling new realm like Blackwood had must have seemed trivial to them. If their advanced knowledge helped to heal Esther, however, Finn didn¡¯t care at all for their strangeness or aloof behavior. ¡°This way.¡± Sesuuk led the small group¡ª Laurie Marr, Rosa, and Finn carrying Esther¡ªtoward a small stone building that Finn hadn¡¯t seen before. It was peaked and slated with a deep iridescent green type of rock. An open archway led into darkness, and heavy incense burners hanging on each side smoldered with a blue-and-purple smoke. As they approached, a pair of Lamakai in white robes came out. They saw Sesuuk and dipped their head in respect. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this place. Is this your personal temple?¡± Laurie asked lightly, although there was tension in her voice. As soon as they neared the structure, they could all feel a palpable wave of invisible eldritch power. It made the hairs on the back of Finn¡¯s neck stand up.
You have entered the Level 15 Shrine.
¡°You¡¯ve made a shrine!? How!?¡± Rosa whispered. Sesuuk made a hissing sound, apparently directed at Laurie. ¡°You don¡¯t know of this because you do not visit the Lamakai Quarter very often, Mayor,¡± he sneered before flicking his gaze to Finn and his unconscious charge. ¡°Well, that¡¯s resolved one thing. We know that she must be at least Level Fifteen.¡± He beckoned them to follow as he stepped into the dark. At least a Level 15, Finn thought. Shrines were usually generated or created by the Celestial Engines or some Asai, weren¡¯t they? Each was rated at a certain power level, and no soul under that level could enter. It¡¯s effectively a barrier, some small, distant part of his mind noted. No one under Level 15. He shook his head, ignoring that for now. Esther was the only thing he had time to worry about. He had to find a way to heal his sister. Inside the building was a small entrance parlor, with more incense burners and a bronze dish on a pedestal containing what looked like sand and appeared to be the focus of the Lamakai¡¯s devotions. Sesuuk led them past that to where another drape hid an archway and a steep set of stairs, leading down. ¡°How big is this place?¡± Laurie whispered. Sesuuk ignored her as he snapped his fingers, and a small orb of fire to materialized to light their way. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. I keep forgetting he¡¯s the same Ascension Path as me, Finn thought a little distractedly. It was one of the reasons he had accepted Sesuuk¡¯s offer of patronage, hoping it meant that he would learn more of his path¡¯s abilities. So far, they¡¯d had little time to meet and train, what with all the monster attacks and menacing warbands. The stairs twisted down, eventually stopping at a long, wide corridor where there were multiple sturdy wooden doors. Sesuuk moved to the last one and muttered something. A golden sigil flared into existence briefly, and the door swung open. On the other side was a large room lined with wooden racks on the walls that were full of gemstones, jars, mirrors, tubes of bubbling material, and old scrolls. But no one was paying attention to the walls. ¡°What the heck is that?¡± Rosa said, pointing to the glowing green circle on the floor. It pulsed softly with some internal light. ¡°It¡¯s a ritual circle, clearly. Really. How on the sands did you humans ever get anything done?¡± Sesuuk hissed, gesturing for Finn to lay Esther in the center of the circle. Each to their own, Finn thought, but he guessed he could understand Rosa¡¯s concern. In all the Earth movies, bad things always came from magic circles, especially ones that glowed with their own light and were decorated with incomprehensible markings¡­ and what looked like a few bones. Finn frowned and hesitated, glaring at Sesuuk. ¡°I need her healed, Sesuuk¡ª¡± The Lamakai hissed in exasperation and snapped, ¡°Yes! Indeed, she will be! This is called a Rite of Replenishment. It will restore her natural energies to her, but it will take time!¡± The prophet waved at the cold floor. When Finn hesitated again, Sesuuk grumbled and reached behind the door for an old woven blanket that he threw over the circle. ¡°There. Happy now? Or would you rather watch your sister wither away with all the qlippothic energies she contains within her?¡± Now, it was Laurie¡¯s turn to hiss. ¡°Qlippothic energies? Isn¡¯t that the enemy of creation!? It¡¯s dark and uncontrollable. Existing only to destroy life¡­ How is Esther even alive?!¡± she asked in horror. ¡°It was Kano, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Finn muttered fiercely. He settled Esther down on the blanket as gently as he could, brushing a lock of hair from her face. Her skin felt cold and clammy to the touch. ¡°When he held her in that realm I had to travel to, she was in some sort of pillar of green light. It did something to her!¡± ¡°Step back!¡± the Lamakai demanded as he began to prepare the circle. ¡°Yes, the qlippothic energy did something to your sister. How she is alive is a mystery even to me. The Qlippothic Realm is like our own¡ªpowered by celestial energies¡ªbut qlippothic energy is the opposite of our own. We believe that it was made by renegade Asai, or perhaps beings even older than our own Asai, beings just as powerful and who hate the Asai and their Celestial Engines¡­¡± Finn had heard some of this when he and Esther had cornered his Adversary. Kano was an Earther like Finn and Esther, but the same dumb luck that had chosen Finn to be a Defender had somehow worked the opposite for Kano. He had been selected as an Adversary, dedicated to those beings who wanted an end to the Celestial system itself. That much, I can understand, Finn thought distractedly as he watched Sesuuk throw pinches of something into the air. The dust or powder flashed a lurid green or red, and the magical circle throbbed again, more powerfully than before. The Asai and their games are all about fighting and surviving, aren¡¯t they? That was why Blackwood and Malvas were realms. Places were ranked and graded, and formed sanctuaries for those inside to train and grow stronger. Perhaps one day, if they lasted long enough, they¡¯d become an Older Zone. The celestial schemes were also why there was a constant stream of monster attacks against every realm. Just last week, they had encountered some rampaging, bull-like creatures whose flesh appeared made entirely of bronze. The creatures had assaulted the city with terrifying ferocity and were only barely repelled. These celestial games were also why so many people had died. So many Earthers. So many Tierrans. It was why the Older Zones congregated at the Termulain Trading Post, using it as a staging place to launch slaving campaigns into newer world. ¡°So the Qlippothi want to bring down the Celestial Engines. Why is that such a bad thing?¡± Finn asked out loud. ¡°And why do they want my sister!?¡± It was Laurie who answered, hot and fast. ¡°The Qlippothi won¡¯t just stop at the engines, Finn! They¡¯re worse than the Asai! They¡¯ll destroy everything we love. They¡¯ll enslave us all until we die poisoned, miserable deaths! It¡¯s like mixing fire and paper. Or oil and water! And who knows why they want your sister, or what they have done to her, but no being from our reality should even be able to survive in theirs!¡± ¡°And yet, here she is¡­¡± Sesuuk hissed under his breath, his tone neutral. He raised his hand, and green lines of light started playing around his fingers. ¡°This Adversary of yours, Knight-Defender, this Kano, must have their own patron. A Qlippothi so powerful that they have managed to find a way to meld the energies of our two worlds¡­¡± He sounded impressed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s clearly not working¡­ Look at her!¡± Rosa said. Finn was looking at her. This was his sister, his baby sister, and she was being used as a pawn in some celestial war of realities for reasons he couldn¡¯t even fathom. He hated the Asai, and he hated this new world with a fierce passion. ¡°STOP!¡± There was a shout from the door as it was pushed open and in stormed Sister Alharrow, flanked by two of her largest Lycans. ¡°Stop in the name of all that is good and holy! You¡¯ll kill her if you try this!¡± the Lycan declared. 3.4 - The Oldtree and Allies Sister Alharrow appeared, by all accounts, to be an old woman. Her dreadlocks had long since gone silver, and her skin was deeply tanned and wrinkled from a life spent moving from place to place with her shapeshifter pack. She a wore simple, heavy canvas cloak and sturdy hiking clothes; in her hand was her walking staff and at her neck was a necklace of carved wood twists. But for all her apparent age, there was great power inside her. She moved quickly to the very edge of the circle, hissing as she threw a handful of what looked to be dried plants across the threshold. ¡°No!¡± Sesuuk hissed, but the effect was already happening. As soon as the herbs crossed the glowing green lines, they flared a brilliant, shining white that pushed back the green glow. Wherever they hit the floor, the green lines of the circle sputtered and died, breaking the magical connection. Finally, the entire circle was fading to nothing but chalk lines. ¡°What have you done, old woman!¡± The Lamakai was incensed. ¡°Do you know how long it takes to prepare that!?¡± ¡°Long enough that you knew you would use it before Esther was overcome by it today, Prophet!¡± Sister Alharrow snapped, walking forward to lean over Esther speak gently. ¡°Holy Sage,¡± the wise woman said. ¡°It¡¯ll heal anything, given enough potency.¡± She gestured at the other Lycans behind her, who were drawing pouches of liquid and earthenware cups from their cloaks. ¡°Prepare the healing draught. We need to start administering it immediately.¡± ¡°You are a fool! This will do nothing to heal Esther of the qlippothic energy!¡± Sesuuk visibly shook with rage. Finn was silent during all of this, his eyes watching everyone in the room, but one thing stuck in his mind. ¡°This Rite of Replenishment. It takes time to prepare? You knew that Esther would come here, didn¡¯t you? You planned this, Sesuuk?¡± he asked, his brow furrowing as his fists started to clench. ¡°Of course I planned this! Please, do not make the mistake of being as foolish as this one is, Finn! I saw that your sister contained qlippothic energy, and so I have been working on a way to draw it out of her for some time. It took me moons to acquire the proper ingredients!¡± Sesuuk hissed in frustration, reaching up to massage his brow bridges as if they pained him. ¡°The rite will concentrate the qlippothic energy,¡± Sister Alharrow contradicted. ¡°It is used to enhance and harmonize energies, not get rid of them. What she needs is good, natural healing.¡± The Lycan took one of the cups and put it gently to Esther¡¯s lips. Finn saw his sister cough and splutter, but a little of the liquid went into her mouth. As soon as it did, she started to sweat. ¡°You will kill her if you are not careful, Alharrow! You cannot just fight the qlippothic energies. You have to balance them. They have already been held in her body for this long, we need to find a way for them to stand in balance with each other!¡± Sesuuk said. ¡°Rubbish,¡± Alharrow retorted. It was all too much for Finn. He didn¡¯t know which of them was right. ¡°Enough!¡± he shouted, and his voice echoed with such force that the vials on the shelving shook. There was immediate silence, because the anger of a Level 24 Knight-Defender was a powerful thing. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Who am I supposed to trust?1¡± Finn demanded. ¡°I want that energy out of my sister, so it has to be the Lycan¡¯s way. But you say to do that would kill her, Sesuuk. What am I supposed to say?¡± His voice broke. ¡°If my sister dies here, then that is it. I am out. I will take the Hearthstone and I will leave Blackwood for good. Forever!¡± The Lycan and the snake-man looked at each other with skepticism and scorn for a long moment. It was clear that Finn was beside himself with anger and despair, and he might just make good on his threat. He might actually abandon Blackwood if the worst happened, and without the Hearthstone, they would have no magical protection holding them together. Nothing at all. ¡°I suppose¡­ There might be a way,¡± Sister Alharrow said through pursed lips, ¡°but not the whole Rite of Replenishment. The prophet could use his powers to maintain Esther¡¯s current state, and I could also use our healing draughts to fight off the energy that is already inside her¡­ But it wouldn¡¯t be a cure. It would just prolong where she is right now¡­¡± ¡°I can do that,¡± Sesuuk hissed slowly, his eyes glittering. ¡°But it wouldn¡¯t be a cure,¡± Finn repeated. ¡°What would?¡± For a long moment, no one spoke, until Sister Alharrow¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°There is a legend that my people used to tell of a powerful shrine¡ªone devoted to the Asai of Earth and to healing. It is called the Oldtree. If anywhere in the entire engines can heal your sister, then the Oldtree can,¡± Alharrow said. ¡°Sesuuk?¡± Finn asked, his eyes darting towards the snake-person. The Lamakai nodded, but he did not look happy about it. ¡°It should be possible. My people have heard of the Oldtree, of course. It is imbued with the essential power of the Asai of Earth herself. The most powerful healing magic in the entire engine¡­¡± ¡°Where is it? How do we get there?¡± Finn asked urgently. ¡°We can¡¯t move her,¡± Sesuuk and Sister Alharrow said at the same time. They looked at each other with surprise. ¡°I see you can agree on something, at least,¡± Finn muttered, fighting to control his temper. ¡°Solutions. We need to find the Oldtree. Where is it?¡± ¡°I do not know where the Shrine of the Oldtree is, but the acolyte would,¡± Sesuuk hissed. Finn knew he was referring to the large, blue-skinned demi-god who had been in charge of Malvas before using Finn and the others to help his own ascension. ¡°Or the Asai of Shadow, as he is known now. You said he had libraries. Grimoires. My people have been traveling back and forth from Malvas to study them. He was keen on learning everything he could about the Celestial Engines, and all of the Older Zones and realms,¡± Sesuuk said. ¡°If there is any record of where the Oldtree is, it will be in his library.¡± Finn looked at Alharrow, who didn¡¯t appear to want to agree with the snake-man about anything, but she nodded all the same. ¡°Good. Malvas isn¡¯t far. And it¡¯s our twin city. We travel before dark,¡± Finn announced. ¡°Finn¡­¡± It was Laurie Marr, looking around the room. ¡°Those troll scouts you faced¡­ I¡¯d hazard they were from Termulain Trading Post. Maybe some new war boss. So far, we have been insulated from them because of the inner sea¡ªand the ridge and forests¡ªbut if they have found out where we are¡­¡± It will mean war. A large enough troll force to crush Blackwood. ¡°I¡¯ll get reinforcements from Malvas. They¡¯ll be happy to supply them.¡± Finn nodded. If Laurie was daring to suggest that he stay back to defend the realm, she had another thing coming. ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Rosa said immediately. She had appeared to become fond of Esther in these first few months they had known each other. Finn rather thought that Esther looked up to Rosa as a strong, independent woman. He nodded his thanks. Things would certainly be a lot easier with Rosa at his side. ¡°As will I. My people have the most legends of the Oldtree. I will be able to sniff it out when we are on the right track,¡± Sister Alharrow said defiantly. ¡°I will maintain your sister,¡± Sesuuk announced. Alharrow added immediately, ¡°And my Lycans will be allowed access to her, day and night, to ensure that she is getting the proper amounts of Holy Sage.¡± This earned another scowl from Sesuuk, but he opened his scaled hands as if it was no matter to him either way. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Everyone get your things together. We have no idea how long we will be gone for, but we will be traveling fast and light.¡± Finn looked around the group before he knelt at Esther¡¯s unconscious side. ¡°I will hurry back, Es. Just hang on in there, hang on!¡± 3.5 - Aegis Deer & Messing About on the River The sun was starting to cross to the last quarter of the sky by the time the band of adventurers had met by the river gate and set out on small boats up the Black River. Finn figured it would be much faster than traveling on foot. We¡¯ll have to cross the woods on foot either way, Finn thought a little dismally, hating the thought of even a second of delay. But the journey would take just a couple of days, not a week, so it was a compromise he was happy to make. By the time that everyone was there, he had Sister Alharrow, Rosa Lux, and the small Verdainian, Tobias El-sandro V¡¯endoornath (the Second). The old team back together again, Finn could almost hear his sister saying in his ear. He felt instantly guilty for allowing himself to enjoy their company, but it was true. Rosa and Tobias were his oldest companions in the New Zone, other than Laurie Marr. They had trained at the Order of Celestial Grace together, learning how to be Defenders. Finn regarded these two, alongside Laurie and Esther, to be his family. Laurie will understand, Finn thought, casting a look up as he rowed with powerful strokes. Blackwood had disappeared into the horizon, and there was just the suggestion of wood smoke rising over the trees where it was. ¡°We¡¯ll find this Oldtree,¡± Rosa whispered, as if reading Finn¡¯s thoughts. ¡°And we¡¯ll kill the ptermuloid who did this to Esther!¡± Tobias nearly growled, which surprised Finn. He¡¯d never particularly seen the Verdainian as bloodthirsty, although the race did have a certain¡­savagery to them. The Verdainians were smaller than humans, but that did not make them innocuous. They had long, tapering ears, and they usually wore their flaxen hair long down their backs, although a few of the younger, more rebellious Verdainians shaved their heads. Their eyes were large and wide, giving them a distinctly cat-like appearance. They were as quick as cats, too, for the most part¡ªconstantly busy as they worked from their underground holts, creating vast underground networks of halls and chambers. Finn was glad that the young Tobias had brought his people to join them in Blackwood, as their clever mechanical works¡ªeverything from pulley systems to water heating and automatic carts¡ªwere a marvel to behold and had vastly accelerated Blackwood¡¯s development. Yes, I am glad my friends are with me, Finn thought as he powered their boat forward. Together, they had faced half-giants and monsters and troll-ogres. They had ventured to the very edge of the Qlippothic Realm to save Esther. For a moment, Finn had the surprising feeling of hope, despite all of the terrible things happening around him. Surely, together, with Tobias¡¯s Earth Path, Rosa¡¯s Air, and Sister Alharrow¡¯s wisdom, they could achieve anything. Their afternoon passed quickly as the river moved them along, with the younger three taking turns on the oars to give them extra speed. Finn couldn¡¯t get there fast enough, and by late afternoon, they had already passed the last of the landing points. The river moved sluggishly now with dense forests on either side. ¡°Do you hear that?¡± Sister Alharrow suddenly looked up with alarm. In her old, wrinkled hands, she had been preparing what looked to be small bags of herbs, although she hadn¡¯t explained their use. Finn frowned. All he could hear was the soft gurgle of the river as it flowed around them. ¡°No¡­¡± he said doubtfully. Rosa and Tobias had similarly blank stares. ¡°Exactly,¡± the older woman said, shoving her work into one of her side bags and reaching for her short bow. ¡°What is it?¡± Finn whispered, alarm trickling through his bloodstream like ice water. ¡°We¡¯re in a forest. Where is the birdsong?¡± Alharrow asked, and now Finn was intensely aware of the quiet in the forest. They hadn¡¯t heard birdsong for a while now, but why not? He could still hear the waters of the stream, and the wind in the trees, but otherwise, it was eerily quiet. Well, quiet for the moment, anyway¡­ Finn was quick to hear it, but the Lycan was quicker, turning in her seat as she peered into the murky depths of the forest just as Finn heard the distant sound of¡­ rumbling. ¡°Is that thunder?¡± Finn asked. Tobias and Rosa reached for their weapons. The sound was growing louder with every passing second. It sounded like a storm breaking, but not overhead. It came from within the trees. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that is any storm¡­¡± Rosa¡ªbeing an Initiate of the Air Path¡ªsaid quickly, standing and peering toward the rising noise with her staff now in her hand. It sparkled with small lightning bolts along its length. ¡°No, I think that is¡ª¡± Sister Alharrow began, but she was interrupted by the sound of a lot of branches snapping and vegetation being torn from its roots. There was movement in the murk. Finn saw trees and bushes starting to shake. ¡°Weapons out! Get us to the riverbank!¡± he called out. The Pyrrhic Blade flashed into existence in Finn¡¯s hand as he crouched in the boat. Tobias tried his best to steer the boat toward the bank as Alharrow strung her bow. Finn watched the saplings tremble before they were torn aside by a herd of giant creatures with horns, gleaming white eyes, and flashing hooves charged straight toward them. What!? Finn had no time to really understand what was going on. He was looking at deer-like beasts, but each one was as tall as he was, and their shining antlers added a couple of feet on top of that. They were powerful, muscular beings and tore through the undergrowth, throwing their heads back and snorting. They weren¡¯t stopping. Their eyes were almost luminescent white, and their hooves under their brindle fur looked almost like actual silver. ¡°Brace!¡± Finn shouted, leveling the Pyrrhic Blade in one hand as he held up the other, summoning his fire magic¡ªthe only thing that could hope to stop the rushing horde.
Ascension Path: Fire Illumination Fire-Spark Shield +1 Armor per 20 Mana If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Strength +1 STR per 20 Mana Strike (INT base damage, every 2 Mana points = +1 damage)
Fire-Spark, Finn thought. Puffs of purple and crimson flame started to wreathe themselves around his hand. If I chuck a hundred, two hundred Mana into that, it¡¯ll create a wall of flame¡­ ¡°NO!¡± Sister Alharrow slapped his hand down moments before the monstrous herd of deer rushed straight to the river¡¯s edge.
You have been struck by a Level 17 Aegis Deer. You receive 56 points of damage.
Finn snarled in pain as the first of the giant Aegis Deer attempted to leap the river, its hooves flailing as they tucked their front legs underneath them¡ªbut not fast enough. Its sharp hoof struck his chest and threw him back. Ugh! Finn¡¯s foot slipped, and his heel caught the far lip of their boat. Suddenly, he slapped into the cold river. It engulfed him, and he lost his grip on his sword. Its flames instantly hissed out.
You lost 15 points of Stamina. Drowning. You will lose 10 points of Stamina and Health per second.
Finn flailed. He hadn¡¯t expected the river to be that deep, or this fast, as he was tumbled and turned. He reached out, expecting to feel the boat but instead feeling the slippery, algae-covered stones of the river¡¯s bed.
Drowning. You lose 10 Stamina and 10 Health.
Finn remembered to hold his breath, but he had already taken a lungful of water that was burning his chest and making him see stars. I need to push up!
Drowning. You lose 10 Stamina and 10 Health.
Finn had never been a strong swimmer. Something about being a foster care kid, he had never really enjoyed the group ¡®classes¡¯ at the local swimming pools. However, he found that his new and improved Celestial Ascension body was far fitter and more robust than his previous one. He jackknifed in the murky waters and kicked desperately as he toward the light.
Drowning. You lose 10 Stamina and 10 Health.
He broke the water¡¯s surface and saw utter chaos. The deer were leaping the river. Most of them had already made it across, but as Finn sputtered and gasped for air, he saw one of the smaller of the creatures¡ªstill the size of a pony¡ªmisjudge its leap. Its hooves slammed into the boat as it sprung once again. ¡°No!¡± Finn gasped as he floundered. The boat¡¯s wood shattered as it flipped, and the Aegis Deer found the bank while Tobias, Rosa, and Sister Alharrow were scattered into the turbulent waters. ¡°Rosa!¡± He kicked his feet and attempted to move his arms, but¡­
You have no Swim Skill. Agility -50%. All activities receive -50%.
Finn dropped beneath the waves. He struggled and floundered until he had broken the surface again. He was already several meters further than he had been as the currents carried him downriver. Smack.
You have been hit by the Wooden Boat for 15 points of damage.
One half of their wrecked boat smacked into his side. He rushed to grab on and cling to it as he felt it buoy him up to the surface. ¡°Rosa! Tobias!¡± he shouted, trying to look one way and then the other. He saw that he had already been taken away faster now that he was holding onto the wooden wreckage, turning quickly around a river bend. ¡°Alharrow! Tobias!¡± Did he hear something behind him? A voice crying out? Could the others swim, or were they just as bad as he was? Could Tobias, a being who had spent most of his life underground, swim!? Finn was swung around in the fast current, and all he could hear was the roar of the water. He had to find a way back to the others, somehow, but how far had he already traveled? A hundred meters? More? Get to the bank. Get to the bank and head back up the river, he thought as the waters threatened to turn his piece of wood over once again. He kicked again, but the only impact it had was to send him further into the middle of the river. He wished that he had spent any time at all listening to the lifeguards. Stars dammit! Finn swore, flailing in the water. I¡¯m a damn Knight-Defender! I can do this! He was disorientated, shocked, but he was nowhere near dead.
Health: 621 / 686 Mana: 630 / 690 Stamina: 475 / 542
No. He wasn¡¯t about to let his friends drown out here either, and he wasn¡¯t going to let Esther down. He leaned forward, putting his chest up and over the edge of the wooden board as he lifted his legs. Now, he was floating, being carried along by the water. The riverbanks passed in a blur. He was sure he was traveling faster now than before. Up ahead, he could see a misty haze and could hear approaching roar. No, c¡¯mon, that¡¯s just cheating¡­ Finn knew at once what it was. A waterfall. Abruptly, he remembered that the woods between Blackwood and Malvas were wild and hilly, with many ridges and outcroppings. The rivers here must have torn their way through the landscape, surging downward as they headed for the low-lying ruined city of Malvas and its coastline. Well, I¡¯m not going to hang about to get smashed to smithereens! Finn promised himself as the roar from the waterfall grew louder, and nearer, very quickly. He tried throwing his weight to one side, to angle the wood toward the rocky sides of the riverbank, but all that happened was he spun completely around, flailing as the splash of the raging river drenched him. No! He looked up and saw large boulders right on the edge of the white haze where the river plunged over some unseen gap. He knew he only had one chance to get it right. The river dragged him hungrily, flinging him toward his doom as Finn kicked, spinning his shoulders and turning the wooden boards at the last moment. SMACK!
You have been struck by the Rock for 20 points of damage.
He slammed into the boulders on the very edge of the waterfall, and his vision went white with the froth and spray of the river¡¯s anger. He held on with grim determination, feeling his fingers slip and the wood splinter, but he was wedged firm. The water pounded across his chest and legs, but he was still here. Move it, Finn! Finn didn¡¯t think he was going to make it, not with that 50% modifier emblazoned across his inner vision, but somehow, he got one knee onto the wooden board. He dared to look back. Big mistake! He saw the mist, and the distant rock pools below. A long way below. It looked to easily be ten or fifteen meters down. A moment later, there was a crack from beneath him as the boards started to give way to the intense pressure from the river. Oh, crap. He saw the nearest edge just a few meters away. There was another shuddering creak from underneath him as he scrabbled his legs onto the rocks and kicked out, launching himself across as the boat boards snapped and went spinning into the crevasse. He slammed into the rocky ledge and felt an awful moment of panic as his hands slipped on the stones¡­ ¡­but then he grabbed a fistful of roots and was dragged himself forward, away from the roar and away from the wet. He collapsed, gasping, under the roots of some ancient, twisting tree.
You have survived the Black River. Experience awarded.
Finn gave himself a moment to breath, to feel solid ground beneath him, before he shoved himself back to his feet. He leaned against the tree for support and dared to look around. What if I saw Tobias or Sister Alharrow suddenly thrown off the waterfall? What would I do!? Panic clutched at him, but he didn¡¯t let it freeze him. He would do something. He had managed to clamber out onto the far side of the bank¡ªthe same side the Aegis Deer had been running from, he thought. ¡°My blade!¡± He suddenly swore, wishing he¡¯d sent the weapon back into his inventory before falling into the water and ultimatley dropping it. His sword was still however many hundreds of meters back up the river. As were his friends. Looking around, he spied a long, sturdy branch that looked thick enough for a person to hold onto. With one stomp, he severed it from the tree it had grown from. He took off through the woods, along the sides of the river. ¡°I¡¯ll use this to fish them out,¡± he was telling himself as he held the improvised quarterstaff, moving as fast as he dared whilst keeping one eye on the water. He almost didn¡¯t see the sudden burst of viridian, leaf-green energy in the depths of the woods to his left, its color instantly darkening and collapsing in on itself in a way that he knew well. ¡°That was Tobias¡¯s Earth Shield!¡± Finn gasped. Tobias was alive. And from the shouts and growls out there in the forest, he appeared to be fighting something. Hells! Finn¡ªarmed with nothing but a dagger, his magic, and a lump of wood¡ªran to the aid of his friend. 3.6 - Ug’ Smash! Finn sprinted toward the sounds of the fight, his ad-hoc weapon raised as he tore through the surrounding forest. Not that he thought a tree branch would do much good against whatever had scared the Aegis Deer. ¡°FLESHIES!¡± There was a monstrous roar as Finn burst past the last of the vines and into a clearing. There was Tobias El-Sandro, holding his large stone slab of a kite shield, which glowed green as a large troll warrior hammered on it with a rusty cleaver. Trolls. What are trolls doing this far from Termulain!? On the far side of the clearing was Sister Alharrow, aiming her bow at another group of monsters in the center of the clearing, which was what had clearly terrified the Aegis Deer. Sister, that small bow isn¡¯t going to do jack¡ª Finn thought when he saw what she was aiming at. It was an ogre. It wasn¡¯t a troll-ogre, but it was still at least twelve feet tall and had mottled skin as well as forearms and tusks the size of Finn¡¯s forearms. Even hunched over, it was still double Finn¡¯s height, and on its back there appeared to be a platform of woven wood and dented bits of shield cobbled together. This platform held three small trolls, one holding chains attached to a collar around the ogre¡¯s neck. A blur of blue-and-white energy flashed around the base of the ¡®ogre carriage.¡¯ It was Rosa, backflipping as she darted away from a sweep of one of the ogre¡¯s massive arms. A moment later, Finn saw just what made the ogre a good form of transport. The creature wasn¡¯t slow. It swiveled and jumped after the blur that was Rosa, leaping almost the entire length of the clearing as the trolls on its back whooped and hollered in bloodthirsty victory. Finn heard a short, pained yell as the ogre smashed a knee through a tree, and there was a blur of blue spectral energy from the far side as Rosa was thrown through the undergrowth. ¡°ROSA!¡± Finn shouted, not hesitating as he leaped forwards, one hand snatching at the air beside him.
Celestial Inventory [empty]
Dammit! He had forgotten that his magical blade was now lying at the bottom of that river. I guess I¡¯ve got to make do with what I¡¯ve got, then. Finn saw the giant ogre turn in his direction, pulling its knee out of the splintered trees as Finn reached for his magic. Who needs a magic sword when you¡¯re a Level 24?
Ascension Path: Fire Strength +1 STR per 20 Mana
Finn still had over 600 Mana. He sunk 300 into his magic as swirling, red flames burst across his shoulders and back, surging down his arms as he hefted his makeshift weapon. He hurled it, splintered end first, at the ogre. It burst with crimson energy, turning into a fireball as it flew across the small distance and hit the ogre as the creature¡¯s full weight bore down on him.
Strength: 55 (+15) = 70 You have struck the Ogre for 275 points of damage.
The flaming spear was incandescent when it smashed into the monster¡¯s chest, sending it to one side with a roar. One heavy knee slammed into the dirt, and one of the three trolls atop its back was flung to the forest floor then subsequently crushed to death by the stumbling ogre.
You have defeated the Troll Warrior. 1900 Experience awarded. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
There was a terrible sharp, short crunch as the troll died instantly, but Finn saw that even his powerful attack hadn¡¯t finished off the larger monster. The ogre still lived. His staff-turned-spear was now just a blackened shard embedded in the creature¡¯s chest, and the ogre howled in fury, pushing itself up to its full, hulking size once again. One of the Lycan¡¯s arrows flew through the air and hit the beast¡¯s shoulder, but it did nothing as far as Finn could see. The creature didn¡¯t even register it as it flexed its legs and leaped toward Finn. Finn dove to one side as the ogre smashed the space where he had been. The impact was so strong that he felt the shockwave hit his back and send him surging through the air, slamming into the leaf litter and rolling head over heels before finally sliding to a halt.
You have been hit by the Ground for 25 points of damage. You are Stunned, -25% to all activities until recovered.
Finn¡¯s ears were ringing, and he felt dizzy and sick. What? It must have been some special ability of the ogre¡¯s, he thought as he staggered to one side. He heard a bellowing roar almost on top of him, and then there was someone else¡¯s alarmed shout, ¡°Finn!¡± A flash of green energy surged past his face and struck the beast towering over him, and a less-dazed part of him knew that had to be Tobias¡¯s magic. Then there was a vicious shout and a flare of blue light. A fierce, localized hurricane blast hit the ogre¡¯s other side. That had to be her Staff of the Aethers. Finn heard another grunt, a shift of thumping feet, and he looked up in confusion to see that the ogre was still standing somehow, even as green ichor bled from multiple wounds. Let¡¯s finish this! He gripped the only blade he had left¡ªhis long dagger. It flashed to life in his hands, surrounded by the red aura of his enhanced strength as he darted forward, slashing at the creature¡¯s leg.
You have struck the Ogre for 150 points of damage.
¡°Finn. Watch out!¡± He dropped to one knee a moment before something impossibly large swept over head, and he was once again being thrown aside. His friends tried to distract the brute from stomping on its prey! ¡°Hey, ugly!¡± ¡°Take that!¡± ¡°Hoi!¡± Finn threw himself right back into the fight, his long dagger now held in both hands as he flung himself as high as he could. He felt the blade sink deep into ogre flesh, and the weight of his body pressed it in. The creature staggered back, and Finn dropped to the ground. It teetered as the remaining troll bellowed in alarm just moments before the entire beast crashed with a thump that threw them all off their feet.
You have defeated the Level 30 Ogre. Experience awarded to all parties.
¡°Oh, dear stars¡­¡± Finn groaned. His ears finally stopped ringing, but his head still hurt in the aftermath of the ogre¡¯s Stun ability. ¡°Is everyone alright?¡± He was amazed that he wasn¡¯t more damaged. In fact, his only statistic that seemed to have taken a hit was his Stamina, which probably explained just how and why he felt this way.
Health: 576 / 686 Mana: 330 /690 Stamina: 255 / 542
¡°Ugh. Can someone please stop those trollish from, like, getting any bigger now!?¡± Tobias groaned as he got to his feet. Rosa hissed in pain, but she was otherwise mobile and seemingly not badly injured. ¡°Friends?¡± There was a low hiss of alarm from the other side of the dead ogre, and they looked to see Sister Alharrow, her small bow held taut, with a black arrow pointed at a struggling figure. It was the last troll warrior, the one who had been driving the beast. He¡¯d been thrown from its back when it fell, but he was clearly so broken that he wouldn¡¯t last long. ¡°Let him die,¡± Rosa spat, ¡°or put him out of his misery quickly.¡± Sister Alharrow nodded once and drew her bowstring. ¡°Wait!¡± A thought suddenly occurred to Finn. He stumbled next to where the troll warrior had managed to turn himself over, gurgling and looking wild-eyed at them. Rather obscenely, the creature started to hiss with laughter as it looked up at Finn. ¡°Troll-slayer!¡± The creature¡¯s voice was raw, coming in fits and starts, full of hatred and scorn. ¡°I have died a worthy death if I almost got you, Troll-slayer.¡± ¡°Hm. Nice to have made an impression, I suppose.¡± Finn glared down at the troll. ¡°Tell me why you are here. How many of you there are? You are a long, long ways from the Trading Post, greenskin!¡± He still had his long dagger in his hands, dripping green with ogre blood, but he didn¡¯t think he would need it to defend himself. ¡°Oh¡­ Your time is up, Troll-slayer. We been searching for you ever since Termulain, and now we got you. We know where you are!¡± Finn¡¯s blood ran cold. They know where Blackwood is? Imagine the terror and carnage just one of these ogres could do if it attacked the city!? The dying troll saw Finn¡¯s alarm and cackled even harder. ¡°We got a new war boss. Big boss. Straight from the Elder Zone. He¡¯s gonna mess you up, Troll-slayer.¡± ¡°Others have tried,¡± Finn muttered. He hefted his blade in his hands. It was almost worth it. ¡°You ain¡¯t seen nothing yet, Troll-slayer. You and your high stone walls won¡¯t do donalspit against our weapons!¡± The troll turned its head to the left, as if looking hungrily at something. ¡°High stone walls?¡± Finn heard Tobias murmur, clearly as confused as Finn. Blackwood didn¡¯t have ¡®high¡¯ stone walls. It had a bare hedge wall on the outside that didn¡¯t even come up to Tobias¡¯s breastbone. ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± Finn began, but the troll¡ªstill leering toward the northwest¡ªgave one long, satisfied rattle before its body shuddered into a final stillness. ¡°Well, that was weird.¡± Tobias shrugged it off, making a disgusted face at the creature at their feet as their experience once again updated. ¡°I¡¯m guessing his brains were addled when he was thrown?¡± Finn shook his head. ¡°No. The way that he looked that way¡ªnorthwest, isn¡¯t it? The way he talked about high stone walls¡­¡± Finn crouched to clean his blade on the dead troll¡¯s tunic. There was only one place to the northwest with high stone walls, wasn¡¯t there? He looked up, aghast, at his friends. ¡°Malvas. This new war boss hasn¡¯t found Blackwood. They¡¯ve found Malvas!¡± 3.7 - Esther and Sesuuk, Part I Something is chasing Esther. She attempts to run, but the virulent green fire that is all around her won¡¯t let her go. She is trapped. She can¡¯t move. She¡ª Esther cried out as she woke up, sitting up and gasping for air. She wasn¡¯t trapped in the Qlippothic Realm. She wasn¡¯t trapped in that pillar of burning, green light¡­but that same light was still glowing all around her. She realized she was in some kind of¡­ ¡°Magic circle?¡± she whispered, seeing the interconnecting lines and circles, the geometric patterns. It all throbbed with a lurid, green light. The same light. The same energy Kano had trapped her in. Esther drew a long, ragged breath as panic tore through her. She remembered the troll attack in the woods. She remembered her brother carrying her out¡ªor fragments of it, anyway. She remembered voices murmuring over her. But where was she now? Had she been captured once again by Kano and his foul, cruel master? What did they want with her? When were they going to be through¡­ ¡°Esther Callahan, shush! You are fine!¡± a voice hissed from a dark corner of the room. In truth, Esther wasn¡¯t sure if the sight of the six-foot-tall snake-man with gleaming eyes made her predicament better or worse. ¡°Sesuuk?!¡± Esther stammered, her scream aborted, but her heart still thumped. ¡°Where am I? What is going on? Where¡¯s Finn?!¡± She moved into a crouch as she looked at the glowing lines. Something instinctively told her not to cross them. ¡°Child, everything is fine. You are fine. You are being healed, with your brother¡¯s blessing,¡± Sesuuk said, stepping closer to the light. His eyes looked over her hungrily, as if inspecting her. ¡°Finn agreed to this?¡± Esther¡¯s voice was small. She couldn¡¯t quite see her brother agreeing to put her back in a similar situation to one that she had only just managed to get out of. She had been kidnapped by Kano and held in a burning pillar of green light for months, perhaps even longer, and all she remembered were hazy visions of terror and pain. Maybe he doesn¡¯t trust me now. Panic spiked through her. He had seen what she¡¯d done to Kano, and what she had done to that troll. Esther remembered his look of shock at the power that spilled out of her¡­ ¡°Yes, he did. But you are no prisoner, child,¡± Sesuuk said, waving a hand for his blackened claws to scatter green energy from them. The circle slowly started to fade until it disappeared with small puffs of steam. Esther remained exactly where she was for a long moment before she picked up the courage to speak. ¡°You say this was healing me?¡± she asked doubtfully. ¡°Yes, yes. All agreed by the best minds in Blackwood.¡± Sesuuk had already turned to the heavy wooden benches at one side, where he was pouring bubbling contents from one vial into another before adding a few drops of something else. ¡°You contain, as you know, qlippothic energy¡ªa form of dangerous magic, if you will¡ªand we have devised a method to keep you safe, to heal you of this energy.¡± Sesuuk beamed at her as he offered the bubbling draught to the human woman. It was quite disconcerting when a human-sized snake smiled at you, Esther thought. She hopped gingerly out of the circle, feeling a little stiff but otherwise fine. Taking the vial, she hesitated and looked at it dubiously. ¡°This is going to help? It looks like Alka-Seltzer on steroids.¡± Sesuuk smiled and nodded. ¡°I have no idea what potion from your old world that was, but I am sure that it was powerful! Now, yes, drink up. This will make you feel stronger.¡± After another moment, Esther took a sip.
Health restored. Stamina restored. Mana restored.
Instantly, Esther felt a surge of energy run through her body. She swore that her vision even became sharper, and she could feel an electric strength humming through her brain. ¡°Okay. Way more powerful than Alka-Seltzer.¡± She whistled appreciatively. ¡°You will need more. Keep drinking!¡± Sesuuk encouraged her, turning back to start tidying away his things. He prepared small sachets of what looked to be green crystals and sorted them into wooden boxes on the shelves. Esther did take another sip, and once again felt a surge of power run through her, and with it, the feeling that almost anything might be possible. ¡°My brother¡­ Where is he? Do you know what is happening to me?¡± Esther asked. ¡°He has traveled to our sister city of Malvas. You have never been to Malvas, have you?¡± Sesuuk asked. ¡°No, but I want to. Maybe I should follow him¡­ Tell him that I¡¯m fine now, see if I can help. He is always telling me that I need more experience in this weird world¡­¡± Esther frowned and blinked. She brought up her inner Celestial Inventory and focused on her personal stats, like Finn had taught her.
Esther Callahan Level: UNKNOWN Profession: UNKNOWN Renown: High (non-local)
It still didn¡¯t make any sense to her. ¡°How can I say I have high Renown when I don¡¯t even have a level or a profession?!¡± she asked Sesuuk, taking another sip of the healing draught and groaning appreciatively. Sesuuk shot her a quick glance over his shoulder. ¡°Sometimes, the Celestial Engines are like that. They take time to update, to assess your skills and abilities. Perhaps it was being taken into the Qlippothic Realm so quickly when your old world was assimilated¡­ It might have¡­ confused the engines,¡± Sesuuk said, his forked tongue licking at the air before turning back with a satisfied smile on his scaled lips. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry about it too much. Your stats and abilities will become apparent the healthier and stronger you feel. However, I strongly advise you not follow your brother to Malvas. This is still early days for your treatment, and it would very unwise to travel out into the wilds on your own.¡± Esther winced. She didn¡¯t like the idea of being so far removed from Finn again. They had only just found each other. What would make him take off to Malvas and leave her here after she had collapsed? ¡°But why did he go? Was it something important?¡± Sesuuk¡¯s forked tongue flickered out again. ¡°Very. He was very¡­upset over the qlippothic energies inside your body, and he decided to go to Malvas to speak to others who might have more experience of them.¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Esther felt a shard of ice creep into her heart. She suddenly saw her brother¡¯s aghast face again, looking at her in horror as green fire spilled from her hands. ¡°He¡­ He is worried about me? About what I contain?¡± He thinks I am dangerous a threat to everything he has built here. Sesuuk¡¯s tone was gentler when he spoke, but it was still as cold-blooded as he was, ¡°Yes. He is worried, Esther. But you must understand that he is a Realm Founder now. He has many great responsibilities to his people here.¡± His people, not ¡®our¡¯ people? Esther felt a chasm open in her chest. Did Sesuuk think that she was a danger too? Was everyone in Blackwood scared of her? ¡°Rosa. Did she go too?¡± Esther asked, looking up to see that the prophet¡¯s eyes were on her, sharp and glittering. ¡°Yes, she did. As did the Verdainian and Sister Alharrow. That group in particular have been through much. They are a strong unit,¡± the snake-man said. You mean they all think I am a menace to society? Esther¡¯s earlier confidence was shattered. She just wanted to go home, back to the wooden chalet that the Blackwood mayor had donated to her. Laurie Marr, Esther thought as an idea struck her. The Tierran woman was stern, but she had always appeared fair to Esther, even kind. It was clear that she and Finn had a deep respect for each other. Maybe more? Esther didn¡¯t know, but she did know that Laurie would tell her completely straight how people felt about her in this large town, and she wouldn¡¯t be cruel about it. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t trust Sesuuk, but there was something about the Lamakai that made her feel a little uneasy. It felt like he was always planning several steps ahead but not telling anyone what those plans were. She hoped she wasn¡¯t just being bigoted about the fact he had scaly skin and cold blood. ¡°I should go home, but thank you, Sesuuk. Thank you for helping me,¡± Esther said. Sesuuk nodded and gestured to the door. ¡°Of course you are free to go. You should be much stronger now, but if you can come back in the morning, I will have another healing brew for you, as well as a few more little enchantments and restorative magics that will help you recover completely,¡± he said. Esther nodded and promised she would be back. She would do anything to rid herself of whatever evil Kano had put into her veins. Her thoughts heavy and heart troubled, she found her way out of the shrine. She passed two Lamakai guards in the entrance foyer, who slid their eerie eyes toward her and tasted the air with their tongues. ¡°Er¡­hi?¡± she said, but neither snake-person said anything or challenged her as she hurried outside. She found that evening had already come and gone, and there was a full night of stars hanging overhead. How long was I down there for? Esther had no idea. She couldn¡¯t gauge how tired she was, because the healing draught had completely wiped out any fatigue. If she hadn¡¯t been worried that Sesuuk was right¡ªthat she might need more potion or that Finn didn¡¯t want her coming after him to Malvas¡ªthen she felt like she might even have enough energy to take to the roads herself. No, Laurie first, she promised herself. She let her feet wind their way through the generally quiet Lamakai quarter¡ªwith its weird stone sculptures and creepy little chapels¡ªas she headed for the town center. There was a glow coming from ahead of her, and she figured there would still be people in the town hall, and probably Laurie herself. The woman was a hard worker, a very hard worker, and that was something that Esther could admire. Just like Finn, in a way, she thought. Esther had always been the first to lose her temper out of the two, while Finn brooded and bided his time. The upshot was generally that Esther¡¯s tantrums were usually loud, volatile, and vanished quickly, while Finn¡¯s were deeper and had far more impact. How many homes did we have to leave because Finn finally lost it with the host foster caregivers? Esther allowed herself to smile a little as she remembered her brave older brother, even when they were young¡­ Her steps had taken her out of the Lamakai Quarter, and she was making her way back around the edge of the River District when she heard something. Probably a rat scurrying in the alleyways created by the tall stone-and-wood buildings. After a moment, she heard the noise again. This time, it came as a group of noises, such as a whole gang of rats or some feral cats or¡­ Esther felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. Suddenly, she felt like she wasn¡¯t alone out here in the dark, and it scared her. I don¡¯t know if Blackwood has muggers, but they¡¯ll have another thing coming if they try ME! She grimaced as she spun around, her hand moving to her belt. Drat. She didn¡¯t have her knife on her. Finn must have removed it when she had fallen ill. She clearly didn¡¯t have her quarterstaff, either. It didn¡¯t matter. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time she had shown some useless guy the business end of her boots, would it? She glared at the dark alleyways around her, daring any would-be thief to try their luck. There was no one behind her. No one was lurking in the shadows back there, and she held her chin up as she turned back to her path. ¡°Oh!¡± There was suddenly a figure standing before her, standing motionless like a statue. It was too dark for Esther to make out their features. ¡°Hello? What do you want?!¡± she asked imperiously. Despite that she¡¯d been told that Blackwood didn¡¯t have a criminal problem, and everyone there knew each other and worked for the good of all, Esther thought that every large town would end up having its fair share of people who preyed on others. Or who tried to. And Esther, having spent as much of her life on the streets as in foster homes, knew how to deal with them. She knew that you couldn¡¯t show any fear. You had to show a front of total strength. ¡°Who are you!¡± she demanded, striding forward and ignoring the anxiety that threatened to weaken her knees. The figure before her wore a dark cloak, looking like a pillar of shadow, but as they raised their head, Esther caught the gleam of their eyes within the hood. ¡°Esther? Esther Founders-Sister?¡± The voice sounded male and a little strange to her ears. She wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d heard that accent ever before. ¡°Who are you?!¡± she repeated. Esther didn¡¯t answer their question. They already knew who she was, which meant that they had sought her out. Maybe even followed her. She wondered how far it was to run to the lighted part of the city. Not far. She could do it. ¡°You are she,¡± the figure said, then they were moving, standing up a little straighter so they reached a full but narrow 6¡¯5¡±. Their hood fell back to reveal pale, pastel-blue skin. I¡¯ve never seen this race in Blackwood before, Esther thought. What did that mean? Did these people come from Malvas? Did they come from that Termulain place everyone here was so worried about? ¡°It¡¯s rude to not introduce yourself!¡± Esther narrowed her eyes. ¡°If you don¡¯t get out of my way, I¡¯ll go through you,¡± she said severely, forcing herself to take another step. There was a metallic hiss and a glint of steel as the man drew a curved, wicked-looking dagger. ¡°Esther Founders-Sister. You pose a terrible danger to this realm, and all realms. I have been sent to put a stop to that,¡± the man said. ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing, threatening me?!¡± Esther snarled, freezing where she stood and starting to edge one of her feet back. She might be able to run back to the Lamakai Quarter, to Sesuuk. He was a powerful prophet, wasn¡¯t he? Level twenty-something, maybe thirty, right? ¡°You stay back! I¡¯m not any kind of danger to anyone!¡± The blue-skinned man took a slow step forward. ¡°Oh, but you are, Esther. I know what you are. I am sure there are some here who are starting to guess exactly what you are. A threat. A curse. A sickness that must be cut out!¡± The man lunged forward faster than Esther could have thought possible. As he moved, his entire arm and the dagger itself appeared to shimmer. Powers. The man has powers. Esther desperately tried to duck, but she was too slow. She was sure that she was about to feel the cold, hard steel plunge into her body, but instead, she felt the sudden thump of a strong arm as her blue-skinned attacker reached out to grab her and drag her toward him. ¡°You will die, Esther Founders-Sister, and then we will all be free!¡± the man hissed into her ear, raising the knife as Esther felt anger and terror mingling in her gut. ¡°Hoi! What¡¯s going on there!¡± There was a shout from down one of the alleys, followed by a sudden glow and running, booted feet. Esther saw two members of the Blackwood Guard racing toward her, their lanterns held high in one hand as the other struggled to pull their clubs. ¡°Let her go now!¡± ¡°Drop your weapon!¡± The man holding Esther hissed and half-turned. Esther grabbed his wrist and bit down hard. This was another skill that she had acquired back on Old Earth. The man yelped as she leaped away, all of her fear now blooming into anger.
You have struck your attacker for 26 points of damage.
¡°You must kill her!¡± the blue-skinned man shrieked as blood ran down his wrist. ¡°Drop your knife!¡± a guard shouted. Esther turned on her heel. How dare he?! How dare he touch me? Attack me?! Fury controlled her as Esther reacted, howling in rage as she stomped forward and thrust her hands out in an instinctive gesture. Green-and-crimson fire, toxic and burning, raced down her arms and burst out of her palms, engulfing the street all around her¡­ ¡­as well as the two guards as they looked up in alarm and horror. For a split-second, Esther enjoyed seeing the two bodies turn black and writhe, but in the very next moment, she was horrified. The fire suddenly left her and she staggered back, panting and exhausted.
You have defeated a Level 10 Blackwood Guard. Experience awarded. You have defeated a Level 10 Blackwood Guard. Experience awarded.
¡°I don¡¯t want the damn experience!¡± Esther hissed. There is a skitter from the rooftops, and she looked up to see the flap of a dark cloak. Her assassin was somehow fleeing the scene over the roofs. Esther had no anger or energy left to go after him. Before her were two dead bodies of Blackwood¡¯s finest. Esther looked at them and then at her hands. What have I done? WHAT HAVE I DONE?! She stared in dim panic for a moment. She knew no one would believe her. No one would forgive her. She was a danger. She was a threat. Esther Callahan, Founders-Sister, turned and ran. 3.8 - Fleet of Durzog Finn, Rosa, Tobias, and Sister Alharrow hurried through the wilds, racing to get to Malvas before the dangers of Termulain could. Even though they traveled quickly with their higher Stamina and Durability, they still tired and were forced to pitch camp long before they could see the fabled stone walls of the ancient city. It was deep night when they finally stopped, and the two moons¡ªone red and the other blue¡ªwere riding high in the sky, as if chasing each other. I wonder what happened to our own moon, Finn thought as he sat by the fire, half-dozing as he listened to Alharrow¡¯s rough snores and Tobias¡¯s gentle twittering. Rosa was awake, keeping watch. Her form emerged in the firelight, the flames lighting up her electric pink hair although her face was pale. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Finn whispered tensely. His hand went to the blade on the ground beside him. Despite their lack of time, the others had forced Finn to go back so that they could search for the Pyrrhic Blade, which they¡¯d found when it glowed red under the water in answer to Finn¡¯s call. He was glad to have it again. The blade felt like it was a part of him, not just a means of slaying monsters. Is it something to do with the fact that it was a treasure dedicated to the Asai of Fire? ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Rosa crouched by the fire, looking at it glumly for a moment before standing back up. ¡°Come see for yourself.¡± Finn wordlessly got to his feet and followed her out of the clearing then down the side of the gentle hill toward a rise that overlooked the wilds and river valleys. Rosa was tense, and that was unlike her. ¡°There.¡± Rosa stopped and pointed at a few glimmering lights in the valley below. ¡°They started up a little while ago, so I kept my eyes on them, but they haven¡¯t moved.¡± ¡°Campfires?¡± Finn hazarded a guess. There had to be less than a dozen flickering lights, but he couldn¡¯t see their sizes from where he stood. He guessed it could be a camp of this War Boss Durzog¡¯s forces, but if that was all they were, there wouldn¡¯t be enough to defeat Blackwood, let alone Malvas. ¡°That¡¯s not all. Look,¡± Rosa said, pointing to the sky. At first, Finn didn¡¯t see anything, but then he saw what had Rosa alarmed¡ªa shadow gliding through the dark, black against black, and heading toward the lights. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that is?¡± he whispered, even as he recalled the dying troll¡¯s words. Durzog¡¯s weapons? ¡°Well, we¡¯ve faced trolls before, and trollics, and ogres, and troll-ogres¡­ They¡¯re brutes, but they can be brought down. I¡¯m not seeing anything that we can¡¯t face¡­¡± There was a snap of twigs behind them. It was Tobias and Sister Alharrow. Rosa pointed out the strange shadows in the sky and the flicker of lights on the ground. ¡°We should check it out,¡± Tobias said, and the others murmured in agreement. They already had their weapons, so they returned briefly to stamp out their fire. But Sister Alharrow suddenly looked up into the trees and snarled. They were in the middle of damping the coals when there were heavy thuds from the forest behind them. Too irregular to be just a branch or a twig falling. ¡°What is that?!¡± Finn hissed. There was a flicker in the darkness between the trees.
You have been struck by the Zephyr¡¯s Crossbow for 65 points of damage.
Finn was thrown back when something struck him. The pain was so sudden that he went down, snarling as he tore the bolt from where it had snagged in his arm. In a moment, the clearing was filled with the hissing of bolts being fired from the treetops. Looking up, he saw them¡ªthe winged, beaked zephyrs, who were the sky pirates living on the distant Storm Ridge and trading with the port city of Termulain. He saw one of the bird-people open its beak to hiss a savagely victorious, rasping cry as they raised their short crossbow in his direction once again. Finn rolled out the way, the bolt sweeping overhead, and rose with one fluid motion into a sprint toward the base of the tree where the shooter was holed up. ¡°In the trees! Look up!¡± Tobias shouted with a sudden boom as he summoned his treasure into his hands. He smashed the great slab of rock into the ground and sent a surge of living green energy up into one of the tree branches, snapping it and sending one the zephyr flying. That was what those dark shapes in the sky were¡ªzephyr ships! Finn snarled as watched the zephyr hop from the tree and fly deeper into the forest. But what are the zephyr doing out here? They¡¯re sky pirates. Slavers. Not a war-band! ¡°Not just in the trees!¡± Rosa shouted as she spun around, sweeping with her staff in a wide arc and sending a wave of blue hurricane energy crashing into two zephyr who were run-flying along the ground. The magical blow flung them back. Finn realized in a moment that those thuds must have been these bird-people dropping from their ship. ¡°Oh, no¡­¡± Finn looked up just in time to see a large black shadow eclipse their clearing, cutting off the stars beyond like some angry god pulling a blanket over hope. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°They¡¯re all around us! Toward Malvas!¡± Finn shouted, knowing that if they scattered after their enemy into the woods, they would surely get picked off and kidnapped, shot by poison darts and carried off like they had before. Poison darts! A wave of dizziness rushed over him.
You have been affected by Monk¡¯s Poison. -25% to all activities until the poison effects wear off.
Dammit! Not again! Finn gasped and struggled to reach the nearest tree. He sheltered underneath it as the airship sailed overhead. He dared a look to see where the others were and saw a flash of green energy at the other side of the clearing as Tobias fought two more zephyrs. ¡°Tobias! Make for Malvas! Everyone make for Malvas!¡± Finn hollered, even as a wave of sickness and pain in his head washed over him. A zephyr shrieked as it ran toward him, swinging a scimitar. One zephyr, even if it was from an Older Zone and was at least Level 15 or more, was an easy kill for Finn¡ªeven in his poisoned state. He dropped his shoulder as the creature swung, flicking the Pyrrhic Blade to his other hand as he added a few points of Strength. The shimmering red blade cut through the zephyr with ease, even as Finn staggered after the sweep. There was another shriek, and another winged pirate ran at him. Finn managed to backhand the scimitar out of the way and out of the zephyr¡¯s clawed hands. On the return stroke, he cut them down too.
You have defeated a Level 16 Zephyr Slaver. Experience added. You have defeated a Level 16 Zephyr Slaver. Experience added.
As soon as the second bird-person was down, Finn saw a greater threat. There was a line of four more stalking into the clearing. In their hands, they each had their nasty, black crossbows. ¡°Bring him down!¡± one shrieked. Nope. Finn tried to throw himself back behind the tree, but he was still affected by the Monk¡¯s Poison. He tripped, ending up sprawled out neither beside nor behind the tree. Two bolts surged harmlessly past, but Finn wasn¡¯t so lucky with the other two.
You have been struck by a Zephyr Bolt for 26 points of damage. You have been struck by a Zephyr Bolt for 26 points of damage. You have been affected by Monk¡¯s Poison. -50% to all abilities. Total Poison Effect: -75% until the effects wear off.
Finn felt waves of tiredness and pain roll through him. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have let the zephyrs capture him again?! ¡°Finn!¡± He turned his head and blearily saw that Sister Alharrow had transformed into her wolf form, her face elongating into a long, gray-haired snout and her arms extending, rippling with silver fur and ending in vicious talons as she fought off two more zephyrs. She was trying to pull Tobias back from the firing line. The firing line which¡­is reloading¡­ Finn thought sluggishly. He had a minute or two, maybe no more than that, to do something to save himself and his friends. But what could he do at -75% to all abilities? He could probably still kill them in one-on-one combat but taking on an entire airship?! Taking on an entire airship. The thought was absurd and clearly insane, and Finn was probably only thinking about it because he was half-delusional from the poison. But it would sure prove a distraction, right? Finn didn¡¯t have the skills or the ability to bring down an entire airship¡ªnot by himself, and certainly not when poisoned. Then again, he had something up his sleeve, didn¡¯t he? Or rather, something in his Celestial Inventory. The Hearthstone of Blackwood. As Realm Founder, it was always in his possession unless he purposefully gave it up, and it acted as a storehouse for Mana equal to his own level. Mana that I can put into my own magic¡­ As the zephyr warriors reloaded their crossbows and brought them back up to surely bring down Finn the Realm Founder, the Troll-slayer, Finn swept his Pyrrhic Blade upward in a gleaming crimson arc, spilling flames behind it. All of his own Mana had come back from his fight against the ogre. He had no idea how much damage it would require to punch a hole through a wooden galleon currently flying through the damn air, but he guessed it would be a lot. ¡°Fire bless me!¡± he hissed as he used the Fire-Bolt ability of the Pyrrhic. A flaming ball of rage burst from the blade, sweeping upward as Finn committed a further 100 of his own Mana into the blast to increase the power, and then 600 Mana from the Hearthstone. Blackwood is going to be pretty unprotected until it recharges, he thought. But then again, if he died here, someone else would just claim the Hearthstone anyway and Blackwood would likely be doomed. He just had to hope that Blackwood would be fine tonight, but either way, it was done now and couldn¡¯t be taken back.
You have hit the Air Galleon for 1000 points of damage.
There was a deafening boom as flames engulfed the bottom of the galleon, and the grounded zephyrs shrieked. Black smoke billowed everywhere, and there was this terrible grinding sound¡­ Finn saw the ruddy, burning hull start to tilt and roll as it began to fall, and that was about the time he realized another aspect he hadn¡¯t thought through. What that thing crashed, it was going to be big. ¡°Finn, you damn beautiful idiot!¡± Rosa shouted as the black smoke was pushed back by a wall of blue force. Rosa appeared a moment later with a slower, slightly confused-looking Sister Alharrow at her side. ¡°Get up! Here, we have to run!¡± Rosa grabbed one of Finn¡¯s arms and one of Sister Alharrow¡¯s, rushing them away from the forest clearing where the ship was going to crash. Tobias emerged from the woods running toward them. They all ran, and Finn felt sick with weakness. He was barely holding himself up, but he felt the quake and saw the splash of light in the dark trees. The air galleon had crashed, and Finn¡¯s vision lit up with more updates and advancements than he¡¯d seen since the second battle for Blackwood.
You have defeated a Level 30 Zephyr Air Galleon! Experience awarded. You have defeated a Level 15 Zephyr Warrior. Experience awarded. You have defeated a Level 15 Zephyr Warrior. Experience awarded. You have defeated a Level 15 Zephyr Warrior. Experience awarded. You have defeated a Level 19 Zephyr Captain. Experience awarded. You have defeated a Level 17 Zephyr Navigator. Experience awarded.
The updates kept coming, and with them, the inevitable flare of purple lightning surged up from the ground and across his body.
Congratulations! You have reached Level 25. Congratulations! You have reached Level 26.
Finn couldn¡¯t believe the surge within his body as new power pathways and capabilities opened to him, along with a lot more points to spend on his personal stats. Despite all this, he didn¡¯t even think about all this new power he had acquired. All he thought about was the fact they had just defeated one zephyr airship out of what could have been ten or twenty. Somehow, this Trollish War Boss Durzog from Termulain had united his people and the zephyrs, and he had a fleet heading for Malvas at the same time as Finn and his friend. 3.9 - Blackwood & the Suspicions of Guard Captain Goreth Somehow, the upstart realm of Blackwood had grown to be home to almost twenty thousand people. Somehow, it had survived and was still standing. It was even expanding. And changing. Guard Captain Goreth had changed at least as much as the town he called home. He had recovered from being infected by the Lycan but had been irrevocably changed. The transformation wasn¡¯t outwardly obvious, but he possessed a power that he hadn¡¯t before. And of course, he could transform into a giant wolf, though he vowed to never do that, afraid that would mean truly giving up his humanity. These thoughts flitted through Guard Captain Goreth¡¯s mind as he leaned against the wall of the newly renovated Blackwood Guard House. It had actually been a storage barn when Blackwood had been on its home planet of Tierra, and that was why it had been chosen for its current function. Aside from the chapel and town hall, it was one of the few original buildings that had stone walls. Goreth puffed on his pipe as he watched nighttime fall over the town. He wasn¡¯t quite sure if it was a large town or a small city at this point. All he knew was that Blackwood had achieved the unbelievable. It had survived the celestial assimilation into this New Zone, and alongside Malvas, it was even becoming a powerhouse in the region. Every day, more refugees arrived at the town¡¯s outer walls. It was amazing that Termulain hadn¡¯t discovered their location. Yet. A shadow flitted over the moon, and there was the lonesome cry of some strange bird. Goreth looked up, his hand automatically moving to his belt where his great axe hung, always ready to be used. War was coming. He could feel it. Termulain was the bridgehead for the Older Zones, such as the Elder Realms that all the trollish races and the Lamakai, among others, had come from. They were all looking hungrily toward this latest New Zone and sharpening their weapons. What better way to head toward ascension than to defeat those weaker souls down here? To claim a few cities and thousands of slaves? Will we be ready when the war comes? Goreth didn¡¯t know, and he was annoyed that some of their most-advanced heroes¡ªFinn, Rosa, and Tobias¡ªhad left Blackwood on this errand for Finn¡¯s sister. Finn is our Realm Founder, for Ascension¡¯s sake. He belongs here! He allowed himself to feel annoyed for a long moment. He could never stay angry at Finn for too long, but there were certain things about the Earther that just irked him. Finn, for all of his skill and power and advancement, was still young. Early twenties, maybe? Not that you¡¯d guess that from how athletic and powerful he looked after advancing twenty-plus levels. Goreth was certain that Finn didn¡¯t realize just how his home town felt when he wasn¡¯t in it, taking the Hearthstone with him. There was a sense of tension. A feeling of being on your own against the vast night when the Realm Founder wasn¡¯t actively walking and protecting these streets. ¡°Guard Captain?¡± There was the softest of movements from behind him, and Goreth startled, spinning around to see a figure standing in the courtyard that had been made after creating a long barracks hall out of the old granary. The figure was inside the courtyard, inside the Blackwood Guard House, which was gated to the outside. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. They also wore a large, heavy cloak with the hood drawn over their face. ¡°Who are you? A messenger? What do you want?¡± Goreth demanded, settling his hand on the pommel of his axe. Quite frankly, this figure gave him the creeps. ¡°I am a messenger, Captain Goreth. I come bearing news of a very great evil in your midst, one that will bring your realm down in flames and blood if you do not do something about it,¡± they said. Their voice was cultured and mellifluous. It wasn¡¯t one that Goreth recognized from the scouts and messengers that Mayor Marr had appointed, but then again, there were a lot of new people everyday, weren¡¯t there? ¡°Who sent you?¡± Goreth grumbled. He wasn¡¯t particularly a fan of vague warnings of impending doom. The cloaked figure shifted a little, as if shrugging. ¡°That is of no matter. Associates. People who are regarding Blackwood with great care. What matters is the warning¡­¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Goreth squinted. He didn¡¯t have time for people who wouldn¡¯t say who they were or where they were from. ¡°Raise your concern with the day sergeant tomorrow morning or tell the night sergeant if there is an immediate threat to someone¡¯s life. They¡¯ll have a team sent out right away.¡± Goreth was about to turn back to his pipe and his contemplations, but something made him pause. He didn¡¯t want to turn his back on this man. ¡°Fool! This is indeed a life-threatening situation, Guard Captain. It threatens every life in this New Zone!¡± the figure hissed, stalking forward as barely controlled rage oozed from their voice. Their hood fell away, and Goreth saw that their skin and eyes were a pale blue, and their face was twisted with contempt. They¡¯re not a citizen of Blackwood. Goreth was sure of that. He also didn¡¯t appreciate the aggressive stance. ¡°What¡¯s your name?! Who sent you?!¡± Goreth snarled, straightening his shoulders. Was this just a fear-monger or an actual threat? ¡°Esther Callahan,¡± the strange, blue-skinned man said. ¡°Esther Founders-Sister. You know who I mean. She is a threat to the entire New Zone!¡± Goreth blinked at his audacity. ¡°I see you know precisely what I am speaking of. You must have seen it, or sensed it, too? That power she has. It is cursed. It means the death not just of you and your realm, but all of us!¡± the blue-skinned messenger said. Goreth felt a shadow of doubt run through him. He had seen what Esther was capable of. He had seen that lurid, toxic green power swirl out of her, consuming the trolls. It had seemed like it consumed her and was out of her conscious control. The Guard Captain knew only a little of what had happened to her¡ªthat she had been kidnapped by some powerful Adversary in the early days of the assimilation, and that Finn had damn near torn apart the world to get her back again¡­ ¡°You know it! You have to kill her, immediately, if you wish to save yourselves!¡± Even with his concerns, that was going way too far. Goreth stared in horror. Kill her? Kill Finn¡¯s sister?! He shook his head. His loyalty to Finn swept aside his doubts. ¡°Guards! Seize him!¡± Goreth roared, lunging at the strange doom-monger¡­ ¡­who was suddenly not there. They had backflipped with a skill and a grace that Goreth had only seen in Rosa Lux. ¡°Hey!¡± he shouted, hearing the answering calls from around the Guard House. The cloaked figure was leaping again, clinging onto a window ledge as booted feet ran into the courtyard. ¡°There!¡± Goreth shouted, but the mysterious blue-skinned creature was already on the move again. They had flipped themselves to the roof¡¯s edge and ran across the tiles, disappearing over the apex of the Guard House as quick as a bird. ¡°Get him!¡± Goreth called as he started for the courtyard gate, two of his burly guards running toward him. Their faces were full of worry and alarm, looking between Goreth and the empty roof. ¡°Does this have to do with the attack, sir?¡± one of the guards, the slightly younger and smaller one, asked. ¡°The attack? I wasn¡¯t attacked!¡± Goreth snapped. The two guards looked confused. ¡°No, sir, the attack near the River District. We¡¯ve just come to tell you. Two guards have been¡­well, roasted, sir, or poisoned. They were found just a little while ago.¡± ¡°Roasted and poisoned?¡± Goreth suddenly pulled back his lips in disgust. He didn¡¯t want to imagine it, but somehow, he could¡­and that was because he had seen it before, hadn¡¯t he? Bodies that were horribly twisted by some terrible spasm, their skin burnt and melted but somehow still solid. Esther¡¯s magic. It was Esther¡¯s qlippothic powers, wasn¡¯t it? Fear pierced Goreth¡¯s heart. He ordered one of the guards to take him there and the other to awaken the rest of the night shift reserve immediately. 3.10 - Like Malvas Rats ¡°Holy smokes¡­¡± Rosa whispered. To Finn¡¯s eyes, at least, that wasn¡¯t too far off from what he was seeing before him. They had traveled through the night as the fires of the downed airship raged behind them, and other zephyr airships had raced to the downed vessel. Finn¡¯s group had run when they could, walked when they were tired, and jogged with stitches piercing their sides. Finn had been tending a wild hope that perhaps he had managed to divert the main attack against Malvas, perhaps bought them enough time to warn the city¡­ I failed, he thought as he looked out over the churned-up fields and high, stone-wrought walls of Malvas as the city was attacked by yet more airships. There was also a sea of burly bodies near the base of the walls. The tattered flags Finn guessed were Durzog¡¯s forces. ¡°There has to be thousands of them there!¡± Tobias said in alarm, and Finn could only agree. The thing that Finn had come to realize about the trollish races was that they were very good at war. It appeared to be their entire society¡¯s purpose, sending out war-bands to other zones to conquer, take slaves, and gain experience. They were savage, and they had the numbers. Finn could see lines of trolls weaving their way to the front of the force, as well as the lumbering step of the ¡®ogre caravans¡¯ as they appeared to form shock troops. There were even large acres of tents and landing areas already being assembled, with several more of the zephyr airships moored on the ground. ¡°They¡¯re not attacking with their full force yet,¡± Finn murmured. They only had three airships near the walls, moving slow enough to fire volleys of their guns¡ªactual cannons!¡ªthat bellowed with thunderous smoke. ¡°Why are they holding back?¡± Tobias asked. Rosa answered, ¡°They¡¯re still assembling. There is another handful, maybe ten or more, airships behind us. These ships are just testing the forces, seeing if the city will be easy to take¡­¡± She¡¯s right, Finn thought miserably. The worst of it was that, apart from the occasional gleam of magic from the city walls and the short flocks of arrows fired at the airships, he couldn¡¯t make out just how the city of Malvas would repel the air fleet when it finally did attack in full. ¡°But the walls are strong,¡± Finn muttered, trying his best to bolster his friends¡¯ courage, but he was sure everyone could hear his doubt. The walls weren¡¯t tall enough to keep airships out. Even so, the walls of Blackwood¡¯s sister city were strong. Finn had never seen the like of them, except on history shows back on Old Earth. The walls were some twenty or thirty meters high, thick as houses at the base, and reinforced in some sections. Malvas would not fall easily¡ªat least, he hoped he was right about that assessment. He also just had to hope they¡¯d taken his advice to create and keep up with the training of their soldiers so they could protect it now. ¡°Well, I guess we don¡¯t have to warn them now, do we?¡± Rosa grumbled. Finn was trying to think it all through pragmatically. There was no way they were going to make it through the main gates. There were other gates into the city¡ªfrom the north and from the sea¡ªbut it would take a while to work their way around. Especially if they had to avoid enemy scouts. They needed to get in quicker than that, and then he realized the answer. ¡°The tunnels. You remember Malvas¡¯s old tunnels?¡± He pointed to where the river came rushing into the near side of the city, where there was a spread of smaller buildings¡ªthe ruins of some older suburb that the city didn¡¯t have the resources to restore. ¡°Didn¡¯t the Council Chairwoman, Diane, say that the old tunnels extend all the way to there?¡± ¡°You want us to sneak into Malvas like rats. I remember the tunnels being full of ghouls.¡± Rosa made a face. ¡°Ghouls! Gah!¡± Sister Alharrow spat on the ground. ¡°I hate the dead. We Lycans have always hated the dead.¡± Finn didn¡¯t think that the strange, mutant, hairless predatory creatures essentially counted as ¡®the dead,¡¯ but he let it slide. He was several more levels above them now. ¡°They won¡¯t pose a problem,¡± he said as he nodded in the direction of the ruined suburb. ¡°We make for the tunnels and use them to get into the city. From there, I guess we come up with a plan to search the libraries as well as save Malvas.¡± ¡°All in a day¡¯s work, right?¡± Tobias murmured. Finn shot the Verdainian a look but saw that he wasn¡¯t being ironic. Verdainians are always so damn optimistic, Finn thought as he led them forward. * * * They marched the short distance down the slopes, keeping to the farthest edges of the ruined meadowlands and out of sight of Durzog¡¯s forces. A dusty, smokey pall was rising in the air above the assembled forces, and Finn could hear the distant low murmur of noise as feet tramped and thousands of guttural voices shouted at each other. But for all the threat around them, Finn felt energized by his new levels. I¡¯m going to need the upgrades, he thought as he opened his personal stats and reviewed the level up notifications.
You have reached Level 25. You have reached Level 26. As a Defender, you receive +2 Strength, +2 Intelligence, +5 Free characteristic points every level. Your Stamina advances 10 per level + current Vitality. Your Mana advances 10 per level + current Intelligence. Your Health advances 10 per level + current Durability.
Finn nodded in satisfaction. This was going to be a sizeable increase. His Strength had already jumped up to 57 before any of his item modifiers, and his Intelligence was at 46. That gives me some impressive Mana upgrades, he thought. He now had 800 Mana points, both personally and in the Hearthstone, but he still had to refill the Hearthstone. It had been regenerating its Mana at its slowest rate because he was outside of Blackwood. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Mana: 800 / 800 Realm: Blackwood (Level 26) Hearthstone: 100 / 800 Patron: Sesuuk of the Lamakai Third Trine
Finn frowned at that, but he guessed Blackwood would just have to make do for now. He still had the amulet of communication that allowed him to talk to Sesuuk, but neither of them had used it yet. Just look after them, keep them safe, he mentally asked his patron. Sesuuk came across as pragmatic, if not flat out ruthless, but Finn reassured himself that the snake-man knew which side his jam was spread. The prophet would look after Blackwood because that meant he would continue to get experience and the other advantages for being its patron. There was no reason for the snake-man to want Blackwood to fail, and every reason for him to want the town to succeed. Heaven alone knew what level Sesuuk was up to now. Finn shook his head, nowhere near naive enough to believe that the prophet didn¡¯t have something up his sleeve related to his personal ascension. Anyway¡­ Finn still had his own ascension to worry about. He had ten free characteristic points to spend, and so far, his statistics were looking pretty good. Well, apart from his Charisma¡ªbut who cared about Charisma anyway? He wasn¡¯t a bard. He did know that if he was going into battle again a war band with airships, he was going to need to be tougher. It was a familiar feeling. He needed to be the biggest, baddest, and toughest he could be to stand against what was coming for his realm down the line. This Durzog is just the start, Finn thought. The older realms would continue to test their strength against his, so he needed strength, speed, and magic. He started with +5 Agility, because he hadn¡¯t liked how quick the zephyrs had been. Then he added another +2 Strength and +2 Durability, because the battle would require it, and then, because his Vitality was still a lowly 22, he used the last of his points to add one.
Agility: 40 + 5 = 45 Charisma: 19 Durability: 40 (+5 Part-Plate of Azor) +2 = 47 Intelligence: 46 Strength: 57 (+2 for Gauntlets of Strength) (+5 for Phyrric Blade) + 2 = 66 Vitality: 22 + 1 = 23 Wisdom: 27
¡°Okay, maybe a little lopsided!¡± His Wisdom, Vitality, and Charisma were definitely lagging¡ªwhy do I need to charm people? I¡¯m a Defender!¡ªbut he had to prioritize his current situation when assigning points. Finn had a teasing feeling that he might need to at least up his Wisdom if he is going to regularly be dealing with the Elder Realms. The things that Sesuuk knew and was magically capable of were unbelievable. But that wasn¡¯t all, apparently. There was a purple light flashing over his realm information.
Congratulations. As you passed Level 25, you have achieved Realm Holder status. Realm Holder This is an advanced enough soul who has now progressed to near legendary status within their own zone or realm. They are expected to maintain their provinces from harm and create zones that can carry forward their legacy.
What? Finn saw that the small replica of the Hearthstone in his inventory had increased in size and complexity, now sparkling with flashes of gold light. ¡°Of course I¡¯m going to try and keep Blackwood safe!¡± Finn muttered a little angrily, but then he instantly felt bad because he wasn¡¯t there now¡­ and he had also threatened to leave, but he¡¯d just been upset. He guessed that he should at least put something into his Charisma and grudgingly added one point, turning a 19 into a 20. He sunk the other three points into his Wisdom and turned to the most intriguing reward, the apparent ability to add a new Ascension Path.
Ascension Paths All souls migrate through the games of Celestial Ascension under the care of an Ascension Path, whose power ultimately reaches their pinnacle in the forms of the Asai.
Finn knew that much already. Below it was a section on each of the available paths: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
Earth This path is dedicated to the Asai of Earth and covers all growing and healing things. It is rooted in strength, durability, stamina, and allows its followers to use the natural world to their advantage.
He flickered his eyes into the Earth powers and saw many of the abilities that he had noticed Tobias using, from increasing his strength and creating armor out of natural rock to creating magical shields or throwing green forcefields. There were also more interesting abilities.
Earthspeak Communicate with any non-intelligent animal. Camouflage The practitioner can draw on moss, rocks, vines, trees, or any other natural form to hide their presence.
Wow, cool! That would have really helped them sneak into the city. ¡°But I have to think as a party,¡± he mumbled to himself. Tobias was already on the Earth Path, and Rosa was on Air. He wasn¡¯t sure what Sister Alharrow was on, but he guessed it was something earth-like. So, I guess that means¡­Water? A wave of nausea instantly rolled through him at the mere thought of it, and when he selected the option, it was grayed-out.
You have already chosen the Fire Path. This is incompatible with Water.
Finn sighed. Water was out of the question, as were Earth and Air for the sake of balance, but there were more options at the bottom of the list.
Shadow Prosperity Feasts Combat Wu
There were some more grayed-out options underneath those too, but they were so hazy that he couldn¡¯t read them. He blinked when he saw Shadow as a path, as it had been the Acolyte Lord See who had used Malvas as a giant battery to suck up experience, allowing him to ascend to become the Asai of Shadow. There was a certain poetry to that, but Finn remembered how the Asai of Shadow had reformed himself. By melding with the First Vampire. Nah, that can¡¯t be a good thing, can it? He grimaced, seeing that Prosperity was, quite obviously, all about generating wealth and reinforcing your Realm, while Feasts appeared to be all Charisma based, with the ability to charm, seduce, befuddle, and generally throw outrageous parties. Fun, but perhaps not the time. Finn turned to the last two.
Wu The Path of Wu is dedicated to the principles of non-violence and the flow of creation. Those who study it strive to do no harm and ascend in a way that preserves all life.
¡°How is that supposed to work with these games of ascension¡­¡± Finn shook his head. Something primitive in him, that part which was fiery and hot-blooded and devoted to the Path of Fire, recoiled at the mere idea. Maybe it would be something for Rosa, who had that Shaolin thing going on.
Combat The Path of Combat enhances all forms of physical challenge and conflict. From increasing damage to increased resistance, the Path of Combat leads you to your ascension through physical struggle.
¡°Now that is more like it!¡± It sounded like what he needed and a natural complement to his Fire Path. He selected it and instantly, a new set of powers updated in his inventory.
Speed of the Warrior Costs 150 Mana. When activated, the next strike receives Surprise bonus resulting in a +50% damage increase. Enhanced Block Costs 100 Mana. When activated, you are impossible to hit by any physical weapon during the next attack. Morale Costs 75 Mana. For the duration of current battle, you can raise the morale of any who fight alongside you, removing Fear and/or Terror conditions. Sword-Ally Costs 75 Mana. When activated, a designated ally receives half of your available Strength, Agility, and Durability in their next move, whether attacking or defending.
There appeared to be more powers below that, but they were grayed out and probably required a higher level. He was happy enough with what he had just gotten for now. ¡°Finn, you done?¡± Rosa asked, standing beside the ruined buildings at the edge of the old suburb. ¡°You¡¯ve been lighting up like a damn Christmas tree. Can¡¯t you do your ascending with any decency?¡± Then she nodded to where the nearest alley was half filled with rubble and trash before opening into a wider road. ¡°The entrance to the tunnels, if I¡¯m right, is that way.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it,¡± Finn protested, though he couldn¡¯t keep the smile off his face. Rosa and the others were already turning. It didn¡¯t matter. He was pleased with his progress, and was now a Level 26 Defender, and they would need that for what came next. 3.11 - Fire in the Dark ¡°Heads up,¡± Rosa said as she shoved aside some of the broken timbers in order to reveal the fetid, smelly hole beyond. ¡°Ah, all the old memories.¡± Finn almost gagged. ¡°I guess Malvas didn¡¯t sort out their irrigation system yet.¡± He remembered the last time he was down there¡ªjust as smelly, just as bad. The last time, the place had been infested with ghouls, after all, who had crept up from the depths and underground crypts every night in order to attack the inhabitants. ¡°You humans. You never cease to disappoint me. If you just lived in the woods, then we wouldn¡¯t have this mess,¡± Sister Alharrow said, grunting as she pushed her way ahead of the group and descended the set of stairs beyond. A part of Finn rather thought she was right, but then again, the fact that Malvas was Blackwood¡¯s ally meant they received an awful lot of experience in the Celestial System. That was how it worked, after all. Grow bigger. Become stronger. The tunnels below were dark and dank, but at least they were safe this time. Hopefully. Finn summoned a ball of flame to light their way. He saw the dirty stone steps leading down and meeting a much wider passageway with two walkways on either side of a deep culvert that ran through the middle, half-filled with sludgy, brackish water. Finn didn¡¯t have to tell them to keep their eyes peeled. Everyone fell into a tense readiness as they followed Sister Alharrow and the light that hung a few feet over her head. Finn watched as the Lycan paused, raising her head to sniff at the air a few times, then moved quickly in one direction. ¡°The city is this way,¡± she muttered, although Finn had no idea how she knew. God, I hate tunnels. Finn groaned to himself. For some reason, it was one of the absolute essential experiences of the Celestial Engines. As they walked, he allowed his mind to wander to thoughts of Esther, and Blackwood, and leveling. What¡¯s wrong with her? What did Kano do to her? Kano had claimed that he was the chosen Adversary of a renegade Asai, one of the Qlippothi, and that they meant to use his sister as a weapon. The thought alone made Finn¡¯s lips curl with barely controlled fury. How dare they play with lives like that! In the same moment, he remembered his entrance to the Celestial Engines. He remembered how he had been raised by ¡®the Warden,¡¯ an Asai who had elevated him all the way up to Level 10 out of nowhere, because he apparently saw something in Finn. The Warden was a Renegade too, wasn¡¯t he? But unlike the Qlippothi, the Warden had appeared kind and compassionate. He seemed to want to protect life, not¡ª Sister Alharrow abruptly pulled up short, looking around and sniffing the air. ¡°What is it?¡± Finn asked quietly, but then he saw it too. There were lights ahead, deeper in the tunnel. Winking in and out. ¡°Who is that?¡± Finn whispered. He could hear scuttling, and the slight whisper of the winds down here, but there were an awful lot of rats in this place¡­and wind. ¡°The Malvanites say that you can still see the spirits of the dead down here, trapped in their catacombs,¡± Rosa murmured as her hand moved to summon her staff. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of any ghost,¡± Finn said, stepping in front of Sister Alharrow and holding up his Pyrrhic Blade. He sent flames bursting along its length, and crimson light filled the tunnel. It revealed the old, tiled walls, the scattering rats¡­ ¡­and the gleam of sharp eyes, sharp teeth, and even sharper knives. ¡°Trollics!¡± Finn shouted as the creatures that had been advancing down the tunnel turned and hissed, scattering into adjoining passageways. The trollics were smaller and faster than full-sized trolls. Each one had the same nearly bare heads¡ªa few had tufty topknots, but not many¡ªand mottled green-gray skin. Their tusks were small and protruded from a mouth full of sharpened teeth, and they wore tight, dark leathers. Are these assassins sent to infiltrate the city?! Finn leaped forward, his red blade flaming as he charged after them. Sister Alharrow growled as fur erupted along her form. She, Rosa, and Tobias followed close behind Finn, but the trollics were fast. They had already turned down two different passageways on either side once Finn got there. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Split up!¡± Finn turned to shout¡ªjust as Tobias cried out in alarm. There was a snarl, and more of the creatures were leaping at them from behind. Where had they come from?! Maybe they were being followed all along. He saw the flare of green Earth energy as Tobias sent two trollics flying, and he heard a sharp squeal as the snap of Rosa¡¯s weapon took out a third. But Finn couldn¡¯t get past the narrow ledge to engage with combat too. ¡°How many?!¡± he cried out, before he felt plain lancing into his lower calf.
You have been struck by the Trollic Saboteur for 36 points of damage.
¡°Ach!¡± Finn spun in place, his flaming blade slicing through the air to neatly sever the trollic¡¯s head. It plopped into the fetid water with a splash.
You have slain the Level 10 Trollic. Experience awarded.
There were others right behind them, spilling from the tunnel toward Finn as he kicked one in the chest.
You have struck the Level 10 Trollic for 75 points of damage.
He swept the blade around again, taking out two more, but he was now surrounded. ¡°Finn!¡± Alharrow shouted, but Finn was too busy dodging the attacks of their sharp little daggers. Or mostly dodging.
You have been struck by the Level 10 Trollic Saboteur for 30 points of damage.
His Part-Plate of Azor¡ªstolen armor from a slain troll chief¡ªflickered into existence, but some of the attacks still got through. He took out another, but they seemed to be everywhere. One grabbed the back of his legs, forcing him to stumble. My new powers! Finn growled and summoned something from his new Ascension Path: Enhanced Block. He wasn¡¯t sure if it would even work right now, given he was about to be smothered by his enemies¡­ But somehow, amazingly, it did. The creature clutching his leg slipped to one side as Finn quickly side-stepped out of their grasp. The trollics all tried to stab or bite him, but every time they tried, his body wasn¡¯t there. He sidestepped and turned, leaped and jumped, until he was clear of them. There was now a wide circle of dazed and confused trollics. Perfect.
Speed of the Warrior. Costs 150 Mana, and all your attacks receive +50% damage.
His Mana was mostly recovered from earlier, and Finn was feeling extravagant.
Strength. +1 STR for every 20 Mana cost.
He used another hundred Mana points and added +5 to his Strength as he twirled, holding his blade in both hands as he swung it in a wide arc. ¡°Finn, wait!¡± There was a shout of alarm from behind him, but Finn was already too far committed. His Speed of the Warrior had propelled him too fast. His blade went through the first trollic body, and then the one after it, as red fire and green ichor flared past him in a great arc.
You have hit the Trollic Horde for 155 points of damage. Speed of the Warrior + 78 points of damage. You have hit the Trollic Horde for 233 points of damage.
It wasn¡¯t enough to kill them all, but at least four fell around him, including one wearing what appeared to be a large, wooden backpack¡­ ¡­which exploded the second Finn¡¯s blade tore into it. A fireball slammed into Finn and lifted him off his feet, throwing him into the wall. His vision filled with red and orange, and then black. All sound disappeared into a high-pitched whine as he slumped over.
You have been hit for 300 points of damage. Devotee of Fire. You receive half the damage from fire-based attacks. You receive 150 points of damage.
Finn groaned as his inventory started to light up with updates.
You have slain 6 Level 10 Trollic Saboteurs. Experience awarded.
¡°What was that?¡± he muttered. There were hands pulling him up, and he smelled the acrid scent of burnt hair. Not hair¡­ Fur. ¡°Come on, get up, you great big fool!¡± It was Sister Alharrow, still in her bipedal wolf shape, as she dragged Finn to his feet. ¡°Can¡¯t you hear the ceiling? I told you to stop!¡± Finn heard the dull rumble from the walls around them. This entire secondary tunnel was now a blackened, scorched mess. He realized the trollics must have been carrying those barrels of flammable oils to try and bring down the walls or gates. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there! Run!¡± Alharrow demanded. Rosa and Tobias were at the mouth of the side tunnel and already running as the ceiling groaned and shook, dislodging tiles and rock fragments. Frack! Still a little dazed, Finn broke into a sprint. They ran around the corner and threw themselves down the main avenue that led to the city. Alharrow leaped ahead of him on all-fours, and Finn had barely gone twenty leaping steps when there was a sudden boom and a roar from behind them. The ceiling of both the side tunnel and the main tunnel collapsed behind them, and Finn was thrown to his knees by the force. For a moment, he could only see dust and haze. ¡°Everyone alright?¡± He coughed and gasped. Rosa summoned a blue radiant light to beat back the darkness, revealing herself standing, panting, and completely covered in grime. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re alive, which is good. And at least we¡¯ve just closed the only sneak-point into the city,¡± she murmured. ¡°The only sneak-point out of the city, as well,¡± Sister Alharrow said darkly as she staggered to her feet, back in her elder woman shape and also covered in dust¡ªwith several singed dreadlocks, Finn noticed. ¡°Well, I suppose the only path forward is into Malvas,¡± Tobias said. He looked brighter, more capable and alert, down here in his natural underground habitat. ¡°The city isn¡¯t far, I can tell. I think we passed the walls and should be nearing one of the main market squares soon¡­¡± Finn grumbled his agreement as he pushed himself to his feet. At the same time, his stomach plummeted. If we can¡¯t sneak out, how are we going to go back and get Esther to take her to this Oldtree Shrine?! They were trapped in the warring city of Malvas now, and the only way out was to win. 3.12 - Esther and Sesuuk, Part II ¡°Esther¡­ Esther, you must wake up now and drink,¡± the Lamakai Prophet hissed softly in her ear. Esther shook herself, spluttered, and was suddenly struck by overwhelming fatigue. ¡°Where am I?¡± she groaned, reaching up to rub her eyes against the green glow all around her. And then she remembered what had happened. I stumbled back to the shrine last night, didn¡¯t I? She wondered how long she had slept. Esther had a hazy memory of being brought down there and cold, scaled hands holding her as they brought her into the lurid green glow¡­ I¡¯m back in the circle again, aren¡¯t I? She saw Sesuuk flicking his hands through the air, casting the unlocking cantrips that brought the green glow down to a low ebb before finally disappearing. In its place, he was eagerly leaning forward with more of that strange, frothing potion. With the state Esther was in, she downed it in just a few gulps. ¡°Yes! Good! I will make you another. It is clear that your activities last night drained you considerably. But that will change. Your capacity will only grow¡­¡± Sesuuk was saying as Esther shook her head once more. Then, she actually remembered just what the events of last night actually were. Oh my god! She remembered the blackened, twisted bodies burning with a poison fire that somehow shed no heat at all. She remembered their stern, courageous faces as the Blackwood guards ran to her aid, and then their gasps as terror replaced nobility. ¡°What did I do?! I didn¡¯t mean to! How could I?!¡± she whispered in horror. ¡°Shush. That was unfortunate, and serious, yes, but it is not the end of the world, Esther Callahan. You are unable to control your powers as yet because you haven¡¯t trained with them. You know nothing about them! But my potions will help you find balance. They will help you be master of your own self¡­¡± Sesuuk said as Esther shook in horror. ¡°Unfortunately, however, not everyone shares the same opinion as I.¡± Esther shot him a frightened look. ¡°My brother? Is he back yet?!¡± ¡°No, no, your brother has not returned. I fear that the answers he seeks are buried deep, or might be more complicated than the way that I have proposed,¡± Sesuuk said. Esther was beside herself. Did the rest of Blackwood know that it was her who had killed those two guards? Were they going to arrest her, or worse, drive her from the realm?! Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Our esteemed Guard Captain Goreth and Mayor Laurie Marr have put the entire realm on high alert,¡± Sesuuk continued in a measured tone. ¡°They have asked for anyone with knowledge of your whereabouts to come forward and, for the moment, they say that they just wish to talk with you about last night¡¯s incident¡­¡± ¡°So they know¡­¡± Esther collapsed against the wooden bench. This was it, wasn¡¯t it? Her living safely here in Blackwood was over¡­ ¡°They haven¡¯t announced that you are responsible, but Blackwood is a small place. Rumors are spreading that you were involved¡­¡± Sesuuk hissed softly. Esther shot to her feet. ¡°I have to go. It¡¯s the only answer. I have to leave this place. I¡¯ll travel to Malvas. I¡¯ll find Finn¡ª¡± ¡°And take our Realm Founder from us?¡± Sesuuk pointed out. Esther stammered at the sudden implications. How long would Blackwood stand without its founder? Would someone else step in, like Laurie Marr or Sesuuk? Or was that not how it worked? ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll¡­¡± Esther stammered, searching for an answer. All she knew was that she had to leave, for the good of her brother and the safety of everyone around her. Sesuuk pressed another of the bubbling draughts into her hands and urged her to drink. She was slower this time, but every sip made her feel clearer, more capable, more like herself again. ¡°I have a way to help you. One that the others rejected when you were unconscious, because perhaps they were¡­ more scared of your powers than I am,¡± Sesuuk said. ¡°Tell me more. I will do anything,¡± Esther said quickly. The Lamakai hissed and drew himself up to his full height. ¡°Back in my realm, there is a shrine. A very holy place. It is holy because the Asai of Fire themselves left a piece of their essence there for safekeeping, called the Prism of Fire.¡± Esther wasn¡¯t sure what this had to do with her, but right then, she was willing to listen to anything that might help her control her powers. ¡°One of the many miraculous abilities of the prism is that it is so powerful it can purify anything. I believe that if you were to direct your powers at it, it will take them away from you. For good,¡± Sesuuk said. Esther was already interested, but she wasn¡¯t stupid. ¡°What¡¯s the catch? Why didn¡¯t the others agree to taking me there?¡± The prophet¡¯s forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air. ¡°Because it is dangerous. The Prism of Fire is protected by liches and the undead. They were afraid that you too weak to face them, but I have faith in you and in your abilities.¡± Too weak? Esther scowled. It was just the sort of thing that her dumb-ass brother would say about her, too, trying to be all ¡®protective.¡¯ ¡°And this Prism of Fire will cure me? Purify me?¡± she asked hopefully, even though she hated the thought of leaving Blackwood without getting the chance to speak to Finn herself. But if I have a way to cure myself, then no one can complain, can they? ¡°I assure you. You will be cleansed of the Qlippothi entirely.¡± Sesuuk¡¯s eyes glittered. Esther wavered for a moment. She didn¡¯t want to leave Blackwood, but what other choice did she have? She also didn¡¯t want to leave Finn, but he wasn¡¯t there anyway. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. Take me to your realm, Sesuuk,¡± Esther said grimly. 3.13 - The First Battle for Malvas ¡°Knight-Defender!¡± Finn heard a rousing shout ahead of his cohort as they moved quickly through the city. Since arriving, they had already amassed a small group of hopeful citizens who¡¯d seen them and recognized the hero of Blackwood for what he was. I guess it helps that I liberated this place not that long ago, he thought as he saw that the crowd had taken them to the walls, looming over the ancient stone buildings and warehouses. A rickety wooden lift was accelerating down, and from its side, there was a woman waving at them. Diane of Malvas had been, in her former life on Old Earth, a librarian in Washington. The stocky, short-haired woman certainly had a learned air and a sharp intelligence, which was probably why the other refugees and people who called Malvas their home accepted her as their Council Chairwoman and Realm Founder. Her already dark skin had turned an even deeper umber since the last time he¡¯d seen her, giving evidence to the fact that she had spent many hours outside making sure Malvas¡¯s defenses had been rebuilt. There was a hardness to her as well, more so now than when they first met months ago. She wore part-plate over a dark undershirt, and at her side was a large battle-mace covered with spikes and swirling energy. You got yourself a treasure too, Diane? Good for you. It was, after all, relatively easy to acquire experience when you were a Realm Founder¡ªor easier, anyway, since you received additional experience based on the successes of your entire realm. Yes, Diane from Washington appeared to fit into this place of crumbling spires and crooked streets, this white-and-gray tumbled-down city that could surely house fifty thousand more people if they were out there. As yet, Malvas was only occupied in the center and the near edge¡ªthe exact place where the battle was going to hit the hardest. The lift thumped to the ground, and Diane immediately marched out with her close cohort of similarly attired lieutenants and captains. ¡°I am so glad you came, although I don¡¯t know how you knew we were in trouble!¡± she said. As if to emphasize her point, there was dull thump followed by a quake as something very large and very heavy hit the city walls. ¡°Those damn airships and the bird-men they have. They can just fly past us, picking off our wall guards, and pound the stones as much as they want, any time they want!¡± There was a distant cry as the Malvas archers returning fire. ¡°In truth we didn¡¯t even know the horde was coming for you, we only learned on the way,¡± Finn said, hurriedly filling her in on their own misadventures. He was about to leave the most painful part out, but then, reconsidered. Ultimately, honor forced him to admit it. ¡°I fear that they are here because of me. I escaped Termulain a few moons ago, and it was enough for them to know that someone of my level was here in the New Zone.¡± ¡°Your level¡­¡± Diane rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up with you yet, Troll-Slayer!¡± That caused a ripple of amusement, and Diane asked if they had fed and rested since arriving. They had eaten, at least a little bit, as the citizens who found them had given them all food and the meagher healing draughts they had. ¡°I think we could do with a long sleep, but from the sounds of it, I am not sure Durzog will wait,¡± Finn said. ¡°I can show you the battlefield from the walls. I am sure just seeing you will bolster morale,¡± Diane said somberly. Sister Alharrow cleared her throat. ¡°We have other business here too, however, Realm Founder.¡± Finn looked a little chagrined. He hadn¡¯t wanted to admit that he was here for himself, for his family, and not solely for the good of Malvas. How can I leave them now? Obviously, with Durzog¡¯s horde between them and the outside world, the answer was that he couldn¡¯t, anyway. ¡°Anything. Our home is your home,¡± Diane said immediately. ¡°My sister is¡­unwell. We believe that there might be an answer to her malady in the old records and libraries of Lord See,¡± Finn explained. Diane nodded at once, although she shivered a little at the mere mention of the demi-god who had them all eating out of his hand like hapless devotees before he abandoned them to ascend. ¡°His chambers still stand. We have left them entirely alone, and no one dares go near them. I know that it is an issue we will have to address sometime, and sooner is probably better than later,¡± Diane said. ¡°Good. Well, Tobias and I will examine the books,¡± Sister Alharrow said. ¡°As we are both on the Earth Path, I believe that we will have an affinity for finding clues of the Oldtree.¡± Clearing up that little mystery, Finn thought as he looked at Rosa, who nodded at the walls. ¡°We are Defenders. Let¡¯s see what we can do,¡± she said. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Finn and Rosa quickly got into one of the lifts, and Finn had a chance to see the clever system of counterbalances and winches. The ¡®drivers¡¯ pulled on ropes, and the entire structure would accelerate up the side of the wall at near breakneck speed. The higher they rose, the louder the sounds of battle. WHAM! The wall shook, and the Pyrrhic Blade jumped into Finn¡¯s hands as he saw bits of the internal blocks shutter and fall. ¡°That wasn¡¯t even close!¡± Diane shouted, pointing further along to where men and women in Malvas blues were running along the wall. ¡°They started the cannons just before first light. I think it¡¯s so they can keep us occupied while this Durzog assembles his horde!¡± The lift clanked to the top and they heard the distant sounds of thousands of marching feet and snarling voices. The lift opened out into a squat stone hut atop the wall. Finn could immediately see that the wall itself was wide enough for three or four people to walk abreast. The crenellations on the exterior were short, only reaching up to his chest, and it looked as though they were long out of repair. ¡°Loose!¡± A line of Malvanite archers fired a storm of arrows high into the air. Their necks craned as they watched the bolts arc across the battlefield and hammer into one of the airships. Finn was sure he heard a distant scream and saw a small shape fall off the side, but even a never-ending storm of arrows would do little against an entire air galleon. They are just wasting their arrows, Finn knew. ¡°Fire,¡± he said, turning to look at Rosa. ¡°Wind,¡± she repied just as quickly. The pair locked eyes for a moment then both nodded. A plan was formed, but there was another smash against the wall. It was much closer than the first. Finn felt the stones shift and the entire wall shook as he scrambled to the ramparts. ¡°There! Another airship!¡± he called, pointing to where the second of the three had flown below the height of the wall and skimmed along its length, firing cannons as it did so. ¡°Archer second group!¡± Diane called, snatching up a yellow flag and waving it. In response, a team of forty or so people ran up from the further hut along the wall, each with bows. Finn saw immediately that they weren¡¯t going to get there in time. And their bows are next to useless. ¡°Rosa! It has to be now!¡± he said, jogging along the wall toward where the airship was rising and coming toward them. ¡°The first attack was a distraction!¡± Diane snarled as this second airship started to disgorge zephyrs, who leaped toward the wall. ¡°Draw swords! Form up!¡± Diane shouted to the soldiers coming from the other side. ¡°Finn, I¡¯m ready!¡± Rosa was a step behind him, leaping and twisting as she ran, like a ballet dancer. With every spin, streamers of silver-blue energy appeared to gather and swirl around her, concentrating into a whirlwind. Finn jumped atop the battlements and swung his blade in a flaming arc. ¡°NOW!¡±
Fire-Bolt. Convert Mana to Damage.
Finn put 250 Mana into the strike, and the sweep of his blade released a fireball that was almost larger than he was. It flew like a comet straight at the rising airship. An instant later, he felt a burst of power beside him when Rosa landed, sliding into position as she twirled her staff and slammed it forward. It released all of that gathered Air energy straight at Finn¡¯s fireball. The result was incandescent as the sharp blast of hurricane winds slammed into the fire and expanded it exponentially, turning a fireball into a flaming inferno cloud that struck the ship¡¯s top deck.
You have struck the Level 30 Zephyr Airship for 625 points of damage.
The firestorm engulfed the front of the airship and knocked it to one side as flames washed over the decks and sails. Wood had been blown away from its prow, and it tumbling toward the battlefield. ¡°It¡¯ll hit Durzog¡¯s troops!¡± Rosa cried in excitement, but it was not to be. Some quirk of aerodynamics or the insanely brave last actions of the zephyr pilot meant the air galleon sliced away through the air, crumpling into the distant fields before it plowed through several more, spilling fire, wood, and bird-men as it went.
You have defeated a Level 15 Zephyr Warrior. Experience awarded. You have defeated a Level 17 Zephyr Navigator. Experience awarded. You have defeated¡­
Finn and Rosa blinked as their updates and experience stormed into their bodies. There were more messages than Finn could count. He saw the purple celestial light shine from Rosa¡¯s eyes and crackle over her body as she started to ascend. Finn laughed savagely, but there was no time for celebration. They might have gotten rid of one of the airships, but Diane had run past them to deal with the zephyrs on her walls. ¡°Rosa!¡± Finn said, leaping from one battlement to the next. The zephyrs on the wall now had no way back, knowing that to flee was certain death from the archers, and were fighting for their lives instead of for conquest. The first zephyr swooped at him, and Finn sliced off a good chunk of their flesh as he knocked them over the edge. The next was equally easy to dispatch in Finn¡¯s heightened state. ¡°A Level 15 Zephyr?! That¡¯s all you got?!¡± Finn could feel the roar of success and power thrum through him. Beside him on the wall, Diane charged ahead. Her mace glowed a dull blue with every strike. They were winning, they were pressing through, when suddenly Finn felt a whirr of wind by his head.
You have been struck by the Level 15 Zephyr Warrior for 65 points of damage.
This zephyr must have flown around him, but it wasn¡¯t the damage that bothered Finn. It was the fact he was overbalancing and starting to flail toward the edge of the thirty-meter-high wall¡­ ¡°Land-legs!¡± the zephyr crowed in victory, their wings beating as they raised their own taloned feet to strike Finn again and knock him from the edge. Even if at Level 26, a fall like that would likely to be enough to kill him. ¡°Finn!¡± The zephyr exploded as blue energy from the Staff of the Aethers smashed them aside. Rosa rose on her own personal storm, her eyes sparking with celestial power as she flew toward Finn. She held the staff out to him, and he grabbed it so she could drag him back to safety.
You have saved the Walls. Experience awarded.
But there is still a huge army down there¡­ Finn gasped as he thanked Rosa, and Diane was congratulating her troops while also tending to the wounded. Finn thumped himself against the battlements and peered across the sea of brutish forces in heavy armor. There appeared to be one figure, larger than the rest, standing before his forces. He was a troll, but he was of a size that Finn had never seen before. Almost half-ogre perhaps, with long, thick, black dreadlocks hanging around his bare shoulders like a defiant flag. That¡¯s him, isn¡¯t it? That¡¯s Durzog. 3.14 - The Acolyte’s Library The library walls shook as the city took another pounding, and it made Sister Alharrow nervous. Lycans weren¡¯t the sort to be in the middle of wars. Wolf-shifters were meant to be out there, in the wilds, constantly traveling from place to place, realm to realm. They specialized in stealth and sneak attacks, not direct conflict. It was a marvel that they had even decided to settle in Blackwood, actually. But we were lost. At our wits¡¯ end. Only a fraction of the original pack¡­ Another problem was just how much Lycans were hated by almost every older realm. Their infection changed a soul¡¯s path, their allegiance, and for this, they were driven out wherever they were found. ¡°Sister?¡± Tobias sniffed at the musty air and blinked. He was clearly overwhelmed, and for good reason, because the room was full of racks of scrolls and leatherbound books. There tens of thousands, if not hundreds of tomes. ¡°Where do we even start?!¡± Now look at me, in HERE, surrounded by all these¡­WORDS! ¡°You people have libraries, don¡¯t you?¡± Alharrow snapped, and the Verdainian flinched a little. Even though he had to be easily over level twenty, it seemed it was easy for Alharrow to intimidate someone. ¡°I came prepared,¡± she said sourly, fishing into her pockets and drawing out a scrap of colorful clothing, torn from Esther¡¯s tunic. ¡°Now, clear your mind, Tobias El-Sandro.¡± ¡°El-sandro V''endoornath the Second. Everyone forgets that bit.¡± Tobias puffed up a little. It was so annoying that these other realmers had no idea how to talk properly. Sister Alharrow ignored him, placing the scrap of Esther¡¯s tunic in his right hand and making an indent in his left with one long nail. She murmured, ¡°We¡¯re both of the Earth Path, so this should work. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. She bagan to chant. ¡°Spirit of Earth, the life that binds all things together, all things as one, join these creatures, by the life that flows through all¡­¡± Green energy started to swirl around Sister Alharrow¡¯s finger, sinking into Tobias¡¯s skin.
Do you accept Sister Alharrow (Level 23) as your patron?
Tobias blinked and accepted.
Sister Alharrow has shared Hunter¡¯s Nose with you.
Tobias felt a surge of power, and his eyesight. . . changed. He could see a rising green energy swirling around the scrap of Esther¡¯s tunic, but it wasn¡¯t the healthy deep green of the Earth Path. This one was lighter, lurid, and toxic. ¡°What happened? What is that?¡± he murmured. His senses seemed sharper. His nose could pick out the delicate vanilla and musty decay of the books, the layers of old wood varnish, and underneath that, a cold, damp, and mineral taste that he knew instantly was the stone blocks. ¡°Concentrate on Esther¡¯s scent¡ªor more specifically, the qlippothic scent. Now, the real work begins. If there is anything in this library that deals with that same energy, that even talks about it, then you will be able to find it. But that is only half of the hunt. We have to use our minds as well as our noses to find the scrolls that not only talk about the Qlippothi but also their cure,¡± Sister Alharrow explained. ¡°The Oldtree Shrine,¡± Tobias whispered. ¡°Yes.¡± Sister Alharrow nodded then turned and started to sniff around the room leaving Tobias to marvel at his new senses. She concentrated and could make out thin, almost invisible lines of that same lurid green dotting into the distance and disappearing into the shelves. She was vaguely aware that Tobias eventually did the same. ¡°I¡¯ve got something!¡± he exclaimed a short time later. ¡°Yes, good. You take that side of the library. I will search this one,¡± Alharrow said pragmatically, just before there was another, powerful shake of the walls. Dust drifted down from the ceiling. ¡°And we had better pray that we are quick, as who knows when that war will find its way here!¡± 3.15 - The Second Battle for Malvas ¡°North wall!¡± Diane shouted as the walls shook with the thunder of giant boulders being thrown at them. They have catapults. Of course they have catapults! Finn snarled in fury as he turned to race along the top of the wall, sword in his hand. Rosa leaped ahead of him. The pair had barely had a couple of hours to recoup, gather their senses, and survey what was happening on the field below before the next wave of the siege had begun. Durzog had split his army and brought up his ¡®ogre-carriages¡¯ through the gaps. In addition to the small teams of riders on their backs, the ogres were dragging rudimentary catapults behind them. They¡¯d clearly been constructed out beyond the tree line. There were so many of them, they had a seemingly endless amount of labor. Finn grimaced as he saw a large, dark shape arc high into the air¡ªvery high, he thought as he watched the boulder come down. ¡°Clear! Everyone back!¡± Diane shouted, but it was too late. The boulder slammed into the top of the wall with an explosion that ripped the battlements apart and took a line of fleeing Malvanite guards with it. ¡°No!¡± Diane screamed. Those who had managed to escape staggered to hug the walls in terror. ¡°Finn! We have to do something!¡± Rosa skidded to a halt, looking down over the walls. ¡°Careful!¡± Finn grabbed the back of Rosa¡¯s shirt and dragged her back as short, ugly arrows flew over the battlements. The walls were high, but the trolls were strong¡ªand they had longbows. Rosa growled in frustration as they waited for the hammer and crack of the arrows to fade. There were screams and shouts from their side as a few of the defenders on the walls were struck. ¡°Get them to a healer!¡± someone shouted. Finn looked up and down the line of huddled Malvanites. They were scared. They had never been in a battle like this before. The monsters thrown at them by the Celestial Engines had met the walls and been easily dispatched. They lacked the experience, and Finn said as much. ¡°They¡¯re going to get it now,¡± Rosa said, although her voice was full of the same misgivings. ¡°They have an entire city, walls the like of which I¡¯ve never seen. They have a good chance of surviving¡­if we can just even the odds,¡± Rosa said, waiting for the last arrows to hiss past. She twirled her staff to gather Air energy, waiting for the next of the catapults to fire. Finn realized what Rosa had seen. Durzog was shifting his means of pummeling the walls. This is a game of attrition, isn¡¯t it? Durzog just had to keep them busy and wait them out. There was a loud thwap from beneath as the next two boulders were sent flying, but Rosa was ready. She leaped into the air, higher than any normal human could ever leap, and twisted her body as she swept her magical staff before her. She sent a burst of fierce blue energy surging toward the rising boulders, her magical storm catching them and flinging them to one side. One hit the wall where it was thicker, while the other struck the battlefield itself, ploughing through a line of five or six trolls. Rosa landed with a gasp, her eyes gleaming from all of the experience she was amassing, Finn was glad for her, but he feared the worst. She can¡¯t keep this up for long. Neither of us can!
Name: Finn Callahan Level: 26 Health: 576 / 776 Mana: 480 / 800 Stamina: 375 / 604
¡°Finn! Take out the catapults, as many as you can!¡± Diane shouted. What choice do I have? Finn jumped up, activating his blade to send another Fire-bolt at the line of catapults, but this time being as careful as he could with his powers.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. You have struck the Level 17 Troll Catapult for 200 points of damage.
The flame struck the first of the giant wooden constructions, engulfing it. Finn grunted as he flicked his blade with both hands, sending a surge at the next in line. The inferno continued to engulf the first, spattering over the ogres and the troll machinists before bursting over the next in line. The first catapult exploded under the onslaught, while the second was turned into a towering bonfire.
You have destroyed the Level 17 Troll Catapult. Experience awarded. You have slain the Level 15 Troll Gunner. Experience awarded.
The messages continued coming as more Trolls and Catapults fell to the flames, and Finn could see that his experience was shooting toward the next level. He wouldn¡¯t make it now, but he would advance soon. His Mana was dropping fast, though. He only had one powerful attack left, maybe two, but then he would have to take time to recover. Something nagged at the back of Finn¡¯s mind. He could almost see the solution, but didn¡¯t quite grasp it. Stars of Ascension, why didn¡¯t I play more war games back on Earth! He had never had enough time, but just then, he sorely wished he had put the hours in when he had the chance. I would be leveling up a lot faster. Everyone would. Being higher leveled made them stronger and gave them more abilities, but without rest, they would still not gain the amount of Mana needed for the big attacks. ¡°Diane! Does Malvas have catapults of its own?¡± Finn turned and asked as cheers and cries of victory spread along the walls. The raging fires below continued to burn and chase attackers away from the wall. ¡°Simple ones, much smaller,¡± Diane replied, nodding toward the south wall, where guards were using what appeared to be braided rope to fling what bits of masonry they had. ¡°But they¡¯re designed for when they¡¯re at the base of the walls. We don¡¯t have anything long distance, save for our bows and our magic.¡± Our magic¡­ Finn blinked. Of course. Malvas had to have a pretty impressive Hearthstone, didn¡¯t it? ¡°How much Mana does your Hearthstone have? You have thousands of people here. Surely the stones capacity is large?!¡± Finn demanded. Diane made a face. ¡°Much of the Malvas Hearthstone is already committed to wall defense. Any attacker attempting to destroy our walls has to already fight through a pretty impressive shield, but with all of this bombardment, it¡¯s going down rapidly! And the rest I am using as a health store for the guards!¡± Finn nodded. It was a good stragegy, holding reserves back for a long siege like this, but it didn¡¯t satisfy the fiery soul within him. He wanted large, destructive magic so he could slap Durzog¡¯s horde so hard they decided to turn tail and run back to Termulain¡­ Back to Termulain¡­ A thought poked at the back of his mind. There was something there, a weakness, wasn¡¯t there? ¡°Durzog is a long way from home,¡± Finn murmured out loud. The defenders had to scuttle to hide from another rain of arrows that struck sparks around them. Finn knew that both sides would get bored of this eventually. Durzog must know he couldn¡¯t break the walls with arrows alone. He must be buying time, but for what? Finn shook his head. Rosa and Diane crouched on either side of him. ¡°They have a far larger army than we do,¡± Diane said. ¡°But you have the supplies to outlast him, right?¡± Rosa asked. Diane shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. They have the entire forests and fields behind them. They can restock their troops at any time.¡± ¡°No, they can¡¯t,¡± Finn said firmly. Both women looked at him. ¡°He¡¯s a long way from the Termulain Trading Post, which is the marketplace for the Elder Realms in our own zone, right?¡± Finn placed his thoughts in order, one after the other, until they made sense. ¡°I don¡¯t know how the politics work, but with Blackwood, we faced random war-band and horde attacks as various chiefs and bosses were sent out by their realms. I think they had to be brave, or already heroes, or chosen for the task.¡± ¡°So Durzog was chosen to lead the trollish invasion of the New Zone?¡± Diane said. That much was probably obvious, but it was more than that. Finn could feel the beginnings of an idea forming. ¡°Yes. I hope so. He managed to unify the zephyrs as well. He thinks he¡¯ll take me, and he¡¯ll take the largest realms here in the New Zone¡­ But he might be overreaching, right? He¡¯s a long way from Termulain, and an even longer way from his original home realm. That makes him vulnerable.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, some few thousand vulnerable, by the looks of it.¡± Diane made another face as she peered between the battlements at the armies below. ¡°Okay, he¡¯s strong, I will admit that, but strategically, they¡¯re vulnerable. They¡¯ve come a long way to get here, and they must either have brought enough supplies to get them going or be scavenging in the forests. If we can disrupt that, then we¡¯re looking at an enemy desperate to feed itself¡­¡± Woo hoo! Some of that European Medieval History paid off after all! ¡°Well, how do you propose we do that?¡± Diane asked. Finn scanned the battlefield. He could see seas of armor-clad trolls waiting for their turn to attack the walls. They were organized in columns with thick, malformed snakes that Finn guessed must be hiding ladders, or else trolls were really expert climbers. There were cracks in the outer walls, and now there were several places where the top layer of blockwork had been entirely removed. There were at least two places where they had to create wooden walkways to replace the gaps¡­ But the walls of Malvas were still standing, at the very least. They wouldn¡¯t fall any time soon, Finn thought. That meant Durzog would have to bring in his troops for a troll-to-man attack, which would be a bloodbath and put them at a severe disadvantage. He saw the small groups of the ogres being loaded up with supplies to take to the front. Supplies! Where was the food coming from? He tried to follow the lines of fast-moving trollics bearing crates and barrels back and forth, until he saw the tents at the back, right next to where the rest of the airships were moored. ¡°The airships,¡± Finn said. ¡°They must be the ones ferrying supplies back and forth from Termulain. If we can take them out¡­¡± ¡°Those airships, you mean?!¡± Diane asked in horror as the two more of the available five rose to join the one circling the battlefield. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯ll be heading east and southeast, I bet you. They¡¯ll be heading back to Termulain, a journey I guess will take them a day or so¡­¡± Finn said. The three airships banked and turned¡­then swept straight toward Malvas. 3.16 - Fire in the Streets ¡°What are they doing!¡± Rosa shouted as she leaped to her feet and swirled her Staff of the Aethers. Even as she gathered her magic, Finn could see how she was visibly tiring. No¡­ Finn saw the three ships flying in a tight triangle formation, with one at the lowest point and the other two at the upper right and left. They were flying fast. Very fast. No, no, no¡­ ¡°They can¡¯t be!¡± Finn whispered. Seeing the trajectory of their attack, he shouted, ¡°The gates!¡± Were they going to fire everything they had at the gates, hoping to take out the massive wooden doors? They were moving too fast even for that, though, weren¡¯t they? Fear leaped up into his heart as he realized just what the three airships must be intending to do. The lowest of them dropped lower and raced faster. ¡°Take out the lowest! Take it out!¡± He jumped up and started to run toward where the North Wall met the main East Gate. The front line of Durzog¡¯s horde started to peel back and flee the front entirely. Because maybe they¡¯ve just been told what they¡¯re about to do! Finn whipped his blade through the air. He still had one good Fire-bolt left in his Mana. It might be enough to bring down the airship. It has to be! he declared silently. ¡°Rosa! I need one hell of a storm!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a lot left in me!¡± she said, but she was nonetheless twirling and twisting, making small stabbing movements into the air, creating sparks of silver and blue as a rising wind started to gather around her. ¡°Push it away! As far as possible!¡± Finn shouted as he threw his Mana into his blade. The lowest of the airships was now screaming toward the gates, and Finn could see the tiny, swooping bodies of the zephyrs as they abandoned their ships. Finn had no time to wonder if what he was doing was going to work. He threw his arm forward, pointing at the lowest airship as he bellowed with rage. A bolt of flame erupted from the Pyrrhic Blade and shot down from the walls. It hit the side of the ship and burst across the hull moments before Rosa¡¯s air blast also hit and flung the ship aside. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
You have defeated the Level 30 Zephyr Airship. Experience awarded.
The flaming ship rolled through the air as it broke apart, hitting the battlefield instead of the gates and skidding sideways to plow through a group of fleeing trolls.
You have slain a Level 15 Troll Warrior. Experience awarded. You have slain¡­
Energy flooded into Finn as the notifications overwhelmed him. He felt the exultation and saw the purple flickers of celestial energy all around him as he ascended another level. The force was so great that it drove him to his knees, but he willed his eyes open. . . and watched as he saw, in horror, that it had been a ruse. There had been three airships, flying in formation. The lowest had been taken out, but the nearest one now dropped into the previous one¡¯s position. Its zephyrs fled its decks just as the first crew had. The third airship pulled up at an insane angle, rising until it skimmed over the top of the East Gate moments before its fellow slammed into the gates beneath it. ¡°No!¡± Finn shouted. The gates erupted into a ball of flame. Had the zephyrs already planned this? There was a deep, sonorous boom that forced everyone on the walls to their knees, and a towering pyre of black smoke belched up from the gate. ¡°No! No, it can¡¯t be. It can¡¯t be!¡± Diane was already back on her feet, despite the ringing that must surely be in everyone¡¯s ears. Finn remembered scanning the trollics running back and forth with their barrels and leather sacks. Had they loaded the airships with flammable materials, explosives, in order to do just this? And had Durzog been counting on the fact my Mana couldn¡¯t take out two at once?! Finn snarled, pushing himself to his feet to run after Diane. ¡°East Gate! Reinforce! Be ready!¡± Finn shouted as he ran. But there were just as many of the Malvanite guards running away from the attack as flames jumped through the tumble of wooden beams and bits of airship. Flames are good, Finn thought. Flames will keep the invaders away as well as us! ¡°Don¡¯t put the inferno out! Tell your people to be ready with reinforcements¡ªcarts, tree trunks, beams, tables, anything they have!¡± Finn skidded to a halt near the edge of the North Wall, seeing the pillar of black smoke engulfing everything ahead of them. There was another thudding sound, and for an awful moment, Finn thought it was more incendiaries going off inside the burning ship, but it wasn¡¯t. It was too rhythmic. It was the sound of war drums being beaten. Finn, heedless of the smoke and the Malvanites fleeing on either side of him, walked to the edge of the battlements and looked out. There was the giant wreckage of the previous downed airship out on the battlefield, but Durzog hadn¡¯t brought his forces forward. In fact, they were marching backward, further up the churned meadows to where the remaining tents and airships were camped. ¡°They¡¯re going to wait it out,¡± Finn muttered to Diane at his side, who coughed as she held a hand over her lower face. ¡°Durzog and his forces are going to wait out the bonfire we have below, and when it¡¯s out, he will move his forces through. It will be a grind. A pinch point.¡± Thousands of trained trolls against barely militia-level soldiers. Finn¡¯s mind raced. How could they possibly win against that?!
You have reached Level 27.
3.17 - The Trail ¡°Here, I¡¯ve got something¡­¡± Tobias said as he pored over the latest grimoire with the toxic green energy hanging around it. At first, Tobias thought he wouldn¡¯t be able to read anything in the room, but it appeared that the old acolyte had placed enchantment on his library so anyone entering the library would find the texts translated to something they could understand. Either that or the Celestial Engines had done it. ¡°This appears to be a treatise on the Qlippothic Realm itself, its powers, everything,¡± he said as he brought the book over to a large table and laid it out in front of them. ¡°The Qlippothi were once Asai but Asai of an older order of the universe. They were gods, but then the newer, younger Asai turned up and overthrew them¡­¡± ¡°Out of chaos came light,¡± Sister Alharrow said darkly. ¡°Just as in every creation myth, but go on.¡± ¡°And, well, those original ¡®qlippothic Asai¡¯ were all defeated, and it says that their soul-stuff was used to make the Celestial Engines themselves and give the Asai their power!¡± ¡°No wonder they¡¯re pretty annoyed¡­¡± Alharrow commented. ¡°Indeed. But not them, as they¡¯re dead¡ªif you can ever really kill a god, I suppose¡ªbut that¡¯s the whole point. This qlippothic energy runs through the engines, and so, over the eons, some had tried to use that energy like ju-ju juice,¡± Tobias said. ¡°I have no idea what that is.¡± The Lycan frowned. ¡°It¡¯s a purple berry we had back on Verda, very sweet and makes you feel so strong and drunk that you usually end up in very stupid situations with fewer of your clothes than you had before,¡± Tobias said. ¡°Ah, I see, yes. We Lycans know of¡ªand occasionally use¡ªa mushroom that does something similar.¡± ¡°Those Asai and their servants who found this hidden current of qlippothic energy and used it to ascend became Qlippothi themselves, you see. They formed a breakaway faction, hoping to reinstate the original realm of the qlippothic gods with them in charge. But here¡¯s the thing¡­¡± Tobias leaned forward. ¡°The qlippothic energy is like that juice in the celestial system. It tears it up, gives it tremendous power, but is likely to explode, eat away at everything it touches. Only the most powerful, or the least wise, would ever dare to use it.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°And why Finn had to have enchantments to even travel to the Qlippothic Realm to save his sister.¡± Alharrow nodded. Tobias also nodded, but his expression suggested he felt like there was something no one was getting here. ¡°It states here that the qlippothic energy is in the system. It is in the hearts of the Asai. It says that some of our Asai have to be corrupted by it!¡± Sister Alharrow snarled at the mere suggestion. Maybe that was why the Celestial Engines were so predicated on struggle and bloodshed. But what could they do about it? They couldn¡¯t very well go around interrogating and accusing the gods of the system. What if her own powers were based on the Qlippothi in some way? Was there any way of knowing? ¡°This is very severe business, and it may change the entire way we think about how we deal with Esther, but for now, I have found this.¡± She brought forth her own stack of scrolls and unwound the largest one. It appeared to show concentric circles across a large space, stacking to form a strange, wobbled column. ¡°That looks like the symbol of the engines themselves?¡± Tobias said, and Alharrow nodded. ¡°They do not have names, but I believe these to be the Elder Realms. This must be more of a plan than a living document, as a New Zone is surely added to the bottom.¡± She tapped to the bottom oval. Her finger moved to small squiggles of symbols, some matching, going up and down through the realms. Some were elemental signs. ¡°I think that the acolyte was mapping out the most powerful elemental shrines, which is why he came to be here in the first place¡ªto steal the soul stuff of the First Vampire.¡± Her finger moved from waving lines of water to a spiral of air, a stylized flame, and finally to a solid square. ¡°Earth,¡± Tobias and Sister Alharrow said immediately. She traced her finger up all the Earth Shrines, where they appeared in the different circles. ¡°Each of these shrines almost form a ladder, you see. And this one¡­¡± She tapped one that was several planes above theirs. When Tobias squinted at it, he could see that there was even a little stylized tree. ¡°This has to be the Oldtree. I believe that if we can make it our Earth Shrine in this New Zone, then there will be a portal or a way to ascend to the next, and the next.¡± The Lycan walked her finger up the shrines until it got to the Oldtree. They had found it. The best chance to heal Esther of the qlippothic power. 3.18 - The Strike Night had fallen on the embattled city of Malvas, and the fire at the gates still burned. Chief Diane had ordered the fire not be extinguished but fed as the night drew in, so an inferno existed between the people of Malvas and Durzog¡¯s waiting horde. The horde preparing for invasion, Finn thought as he hunkered by the side of the wall, looking back at the dark sea of bodies. The enemy army had been organized into blocks, each two or three hundred trolls deep, with small cook fires running down one side of each block. Durzog was waiting, just as the Malvanites were. For a time, everything was quiet. ¡°Ready?¡± Rosa whispered. They stood on the far end of the North Wall, almost as far as they could get from the battlefront and Northeast Gates. ¡°Ready.¡± Finn nodded, grabbing the rope firmly. Tobias, looking spooked beside him with his own rope, nodded too. The Verdainian had joined them for this mission after their find in the library, telling them that Sister Alharrow believed she knew the location of the Oldtree. Finn¡¯s eyes were on Rosa, who had drawn her bow and was scanning the dark fields with her sharp eyes. ¡°Then what are we waiting for?¡± she hissed, and Finn moved. He¡¯d put an extra two points into his Agility for this kind of thing and hoped it was enough. He leaned out over the battlements, the thick hemp rope firmly in his gloved hands, and jumped. Finn hissed at the gut-wrenching feeling of weightlessness for a moment before the rope pulled sharply at his arms and shoulders. With a thump, his booted feet hit the wall and he was holding on for dear life. Oh, crap. Oh, crap. Oh¡­ ¡°You good?¡± Tobias whispered from above, and Finn murmured he was. He thought he was, at least. The idea of walking backward down a six-story stone wall wasn¡¯t exactly what he had in mind when he¡¯d woken up yesterday, but then again, he hadn¡¯t thought he would be trying to defeat an entire army either. At least the wall itself wasn¡¯t a sheer drop. It curved very slightly, making it thicker at the base. Finn took a breath, felt the power of his 68 Strength, and started to slowly rappel down the wall. There was another hiss of breath beside him, and then a dark shape was flinging themselves out from the wall top as well. Tobias was as silent as a ghost, and his light form meant he took the sudden thud against the wall better than Finn had. The smaller man quickly made his way downward. ¡°You¡¯re clear! Go!¡± Rosa hissed. Finn quickly started descending, pushing out with his knees as he hopped himself down the wall again, and again, after the quicker Verdainian. Thump. Finn¡¯s feet hit the wall. A third of the way down. Halfway. Thump. They were making good time, and so far, there hadn¡¯t been any sudden shouts of alarms or whistles to suggest they¡¯d been noticed. We¡¯re going to make it! Finn thought as he kicked and jumped, loosened his grip on the rope, felt the suck of gravity at his back, and then the thump of his feet against the wall again. Just a little further, I think¡­ He didn¡¯t dare turn his head, just in case it would imbalance him. His arms and shoulders were starting to ache. Finn wished that they¡¯d had more time to rest. A quick pass by a healer and a draught of one of Malvas¡¯s precious stock of healing potions was all that any of the trio had allowed themselves to use in preparation for this. Finn prayed it would be enough. ¡°Last jump!¡± Finn heard Tobias whisper just a little behind him¡­ Suddenly, there was the hiss of arrows from above. Finn saw a flicker of silver. Rosa must have shot at someone out there. A troll scout?! There was a gurgle and two thumps from somewhere behind them. They had chosen this far edge of the wall for just this reason¡ªto stay out of the prying eyes of the enemy. Finn reacted, kicking out as he heard Tobias scrabbling with his rope, hissing in annoyance before it was released. Have we been discovered? Have we been found out?! If they had, it was all over. The entire plan. Everything. They would be stuck on this side of the wall with an entire troll horde between them and safety¡­ Thump. Finn¡¯s feet hit the wall, and he turned. Pulling on the release line, he kicked out again, feeling the weightlessness before he stumbled to the ground and rolled. He skidded into a crouch as he drew a dagger¡ªchoosing it over his magic blade in the interest of stealth. It was mostly dark around them. The ground was less churned up there, and there was a low stone wall further out, marking the start of the pasture land around the city. There were two bodies on the ground. From the size, they had to be trollics. Rosa was clearly a good shot. Tobias took out his small bow and crouched beside Finn, and there was the muted thump as Rosa raced down the wall. None of them had used their powers yet, because the blasts of colorful energy would draw the horde toward them. ¡°We won¡¯t have long before they find the bodies,¡± Rosa whispered. Finn looked at the corpses and wondered for a second if they could hide them, but he shook his head. Let the two just go missing, and then let Durzog wait for them, and then wonder while a search party out was sent out. All of this would add to the confusion they needed. ¡°There¡¯s no time to worry about them. Let¡¯s go.¡± He loped forward into the night, away from the city¡¯s wall. Finn Callahan felt the night surround him like a blanket, and he was a hunter within it. He knew that his body was tired, he only had a fraction of the Mana or Stamina he would have wanted, but he still felt invigorated as adrenaline ran through his body. I¡¯m not sitting behind walls, waiting for the enemy to come to me. I am the hunter, and I am coming for my enemy¡­ The three shapes ghosted along the low meadow wall. The dull roar and glow of the inferno at the gates continued. When Finn shot a glance at it, it looked like the mouth of hell. ¡°Okay, we¡¯re almost in place,¡± Rosa whispered when they reached the crook of the low wall where it met another. There was a patch of trees that stretched out toward the back of Durzog¡¯s horde. ¡°We¡¯ll use these, just as we planned.¡± Finn stopped only to take out the pot of black gunk that Sister Alharrow had quickly cooked up for them. He liberally applied it to his cheeks and wherever he might need it, and then he pulled his hood tight over his head. ¡°Tobias?¡± he whispered. The Verdainian, similarly smeared with camouflaging goop, nodded and stepped in front of them before clearing his throat and closing his eyes. He started to murmur under his breath. A moment later, his long-fingered hands came up, and a fine trace of green light spilled from them as he wove his Earth Path enchantment. The green is too bright! Finn thought in alarm, looking to where there were the vast collections of sleeping and waiting bodies. They had two meadow enclosures between them, but still. Surely this light was as noticeable as any of their guttering oil torches¡­ But there were no shouts or angry cries. He didn¡¯t know if Tobias¡¯s magic did that or the horde just didn¡¯t notice. Either way, he was relieved. He watched the green energy float in between them and softly settled on him and Rosa, disappearing into their bodies.
Earth Path Camouflage has been cast upon you. Do you accept the enchantment?
Finn accepted the enchantment and saw the slightest blur around the edges of his vision before that faded, too. ¡°Nothing¡¯s happened!¡± he muttered, seeing that Tobias must have already gone on ahead while Finn worked out what to do. ¡°Tobias, come back!¡± he began, but then the darkness in front of him moved. It was like looking at one of those magic eye pictures as the leaf shadow, fragments of the stone wall, and glitter of the star light reformed and into his friend Tobias, although all his edges appeared blurred. ¡°I haven¡¯t gone anywhere yet, Finn. It¡¯s the spell. Look at yourself!¡± Tobias said with a small smile. Finn looked down in amazement to see that the same thing had happened to him. His legs appeared fuzzy with grass green and shadow, while his boots were no more than a collection of rocks. The edges of his arms appeared to dissolve and fragment to match whatever piece of nature he stood next to. At the moment, the right side of his body had entirely dissolved into the half-stone wall. ¡°Incredible!¡± he said. ¡°Maybe I should have gone for Earth Path, after all.¡± ¡°Fire was pretty useful up on the wall,¡± Rosa whispered, stepping out of the shadows and branches to grin at them. ¡°As was Air,¡± Finn agreed, before turning his attention back to the tree line. ¡°Come on.¡± The trio loped forward, their forms disappearing into flickers of greenery and stone. * * * ¡°We¡¯re getting close.¡± Tobias paused at the edge of the trees, dropping to his knees. There was one last standing oak, because the rest of the line had been cut down to stumps. There was a line of stumps stretching up the hillside to the dark forest proper. Finn felt a dull anger at that wanton destruction. Whether Durzog had wanted wood for his war machines or just to spite the Malvanites, Finn couldn¡¯t tell, but he could see the supply tents and the moored airships beyond it. Finn crouched beside Tobias as they looked toward the nearest tent. It was a fair distance from their current spot, but there didn¡¯t appear to be any guards here at the back of the horde. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. How arrogant Durzog is¡­ Alright, the war-boss had many thousands of warriors right there¡ªwhich probably did wonders for his confidence¡ªbut Finn¡¯s face slowly cracked into a savage grin. ¡°You won¡¯t expect a thing!¡± he promised. He and Tobias broke ranks first, flitting to the next splintered tree stump, and then the next. Their shadows fractured and flowed, then recombined as Tobias¡¯s spell kept melding them with their surroundings. Halfway. The large tents loomed ahead. Finn could see their dirty, stretched canvas. Just ten meters to go¡­ Finn and Tobias hopped from stump to stump, crouching a little every time until their camouflage field melded and then moved again. There was a sudden hiss from somewhere up ahead, and Finn turned to see a shape emerging from between two of the largest tents. It was a trollic, holding a guttering torch and looking in their direction, clearly confused and blinking at the flicker of shadows in the dark. Something cut the air past Tobias¡¯s shoulder, and the trollic went down with one of Rosa¡¯s arrows through the neck. ¡°Move!¡± Finn hissed, his dagger appearing in his hand as he leaped forward. The trollic¡¯s body hit the ground with a gurgle, but there was no cry of alarm¡ªnot yet, anyway. That wasn¡¯t the problem. The torch had hit the edge of the adjacent tent and slid to its base. Uh-oh¡­ Finn reached the edge of the tent just as the flames started to ribbon up the side of the canvas, running in crimson-and-orange fingers as they ate greedily at the dry material. ¡°Oh hells!¡± Tobias breathed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I couldn¡¯t give them a chance to sound the alarm,¡± Rosa said, her form flickering from the shadows as she arrived a moment later. When Finn turned to her, he could disconcertingly see that the camouflage spell had turned her nearest side into a shimmer of flames. ¡°No time. Maybe this will work in our favor!¡± Finn said, turning to run down the avenue made by the tents as the fire grew. Tobias and Rosa followed, and in moments, they were among Durzog¡¯s horde and running out of time. The giant tents formed a block or neighborhood of sorts, Finn saw as he skidded out of the alley. There were two more lines of them, each one large enough to house several carts. Are their supplies in there? Maybe the dropped torch had been a good thing, after all. Without thinking too much about it, he turned back and pointed at the bottom corner of the nearest tent.
Fire-Spark. Create a ball of fire with size and brightness equal to Mana spent. You have spent 20 Mana.
It wasn¡¯t a lot of Mana, but the sudden illumination that burst from his bare hand still seemed far too bright in the darkness. He held the floating ball along the bottom edge of the tent and pulled it back as the fire started to spread. He added another 20 Mana and sending it flying low through the air across the ¡®street¡¯ to the next tent. ¡°Finn, what are we doing? I thought we were going for¡ª¡± Tobias began just before there was a whoosh of flame from two more tents. ¡°Thinking on our feet!¡± Finn responded. At the sound of a startled hiss, the trio spun around to see two more trollics emerging from a tent. One had a torch, and another had a bell. ¡°Oh hell,¡± Finn whispered, doing the only thing that came to mind. Finn threw his dagger and it slammed into the first trollic¡¯s throat. Everything was in slow motion as the trollic gurgled and fell back. Their bell flew away, letting out a clear chime as it hit the ground. The torch flames joined the rest of the flames. ¡°Fleshies!¡± the second trollic shouted. This one didn¡¯t have a torch, but they had a bell in one hand and a curving short blade in the other. Maybe the rest of the horde is asleep. No one will hear one voice or one chime! Finn thought as he threw himself into a run at the snarling trollic. There was another ripple through the air and then the monster fell with an arrow in their neck. ¡°Damn, Rosa! Just how good are you with that thing?!¡± Finn skidded to a halt, ignoring the notification that his stats updated with the shared experience from the lowly trollic guard. It was hardly worth noticing. ¡°Been practicing.¡± She shrugged. Finn stooped to gather his long dagger, and as he straightened up, he heard the unmistakable chime of another bell from the other side of the tents. And then another. ¡°Is that for us or the fires?¡± Tobias hissed as he ran to where they were. ¡°Not sure. There¡¯s a mighty big something else for them to be alarmed about right there.¡± Finn nodded back toward the three tents half-consumed with flames. The clamor and alarm bells were coming closer. ¡°Quickly now! This is perfect!¡± he hissed, looking ahead as he threw a small ball of flame at the nearest tent and broke into a run. Up ahead, the airships rose into the air. ¡°Fire! FIRE!¡± They could hear the shouts of the trollics and the deeper, guttural snarls from the larger trolls as they ran toward their real goal. They were almost at the end of the tents, moving as quickly and as quietly as they could. ¡°Finn! Tobias! Prepare the oils!¡± Rosa hissed as she slid to a stop behind them, nocking another arrow. Finn grabbed one of the full leather casks of lamp oil from his belt and hoped that it would be enough. They all had several such heavy leather pouches with easily broken stoppers. He raced toward the nearest airship, looking for any place where the flame might easily take. There was a sudden shriek of fury as shapes flung themselves off the airship deck. Zephyr guards! Of course the ships are guarded as well¡­ Finn and Tobias ran forward, and Finn threw his pouch of oil anyway. It sailed over the ship¡¯s railing and slapped wetly somewhere above. The first guards were swooping down on Tobias. ¡°Dammit!¡± Finn growled, interrupting his next throw, and jumped forward, slashing his long dagger between his friend and the zephyr.
You have struck the Zephyr for 80 points of damage.
The bird-man snarled and staggered back before they had even had a chance to land. Finn was already spinning around, slashing to catch them before they could right themselves.
You have slain the Level 12 Zephyr Guard. Experience awarded.
There was another rush of an arrow as Rosa took out the next, and Finn was free to throw his second oil pouch. He flung a Fire-Spark after it. For a second, there was nothing, and then there was a dull whumpf and a glow. ¡°The wingless! Humans!¡± There was a sharp screech from deeper in the moored ships. Finn hissed in annoyance as he¡¯d wanted more time to douse as many ships as possible before having the change plans. ¡°Plan B!¡± he snapped. ¡°What¡¯s Plan B?!¡± Rosa asked hurriedly as Finn led them up the length of the burning airship¡¯s hull and toward the next, where there was already the magical glow of lights starting to awaken as the zephyr searched for the infiltrators. ¡°Plan B? We haven¡¯t done Plan A yet!¡± Tobias exclaimed as Finn stopped in front of the airship and changed his dagger for the Pyrrhic Blade. There was a whoosh of crimson as his jagged teardrop blade burst into life, and he pointed it up at the prow of the next airship. ¡°Oh. That¡¯s Plan B,¡± Tobias grumbled as Finn fired.
Fire-Bolt. Convert Mana to Damage.
Finn gritted his teeth, this time dropping 100 Mana into the strike. There was a burst of blue energy from behind him as Rosa added her wind powers, feeding the flame and sending the inferno up to the dark sails and mast. ¡°Right. You guys do what you do, and I¡¯ll see what I can do with these!¡± Tobias said, snatching up two of the oil pouches and running between the ships. He threw what he could to douse as many as possible. ¡°Next!¡± Rosa yelled, but they had barely crossed in front of the burning prow when there was another snarl of voices and shapes swooped toward them. The first zephyr shrieked and brandished its spear as Finn leaped forward. The monster went down to the sweep of his sword, and Rosa took out the second just as quickly. There was another shriek from the deck above them. Finn turned and fired another Fire-Bolt at the sails. The flames took hold quickly, and Finn realized that Tobias must have already hit this ship. Another zephyr flung themselves from the side of the airship, throwing their spear. Finn tried to dodge out of the way, but he didn¡¯t have time. He succeeded in half-twisting, slicing his blade through the air so that the spear tip caught his gauntlet and elbow rather than his chest.
You have been struck for 75 points of damage.
Finn swore, ducking from the swing of the zephyr¡¯s scimitar. Rosa was already leaping into the air to battle the next closest zephyr. She had exchanged her bow for her Staff of the Aethers, and the result was flaring sparks of blue energy. ¡°Here! Wingless, HERE!¡± the bird-man screeched. Finn gritted his teeth in annoyance. He couldn¡¯t have this. There were already more chimes starting up around them as the rest of Durzog¡¯s horde awoke to the fact that their supply tents and almost half of their airships were going up in flames. Finn swept the Pyrrhic Blade toward the zephyr¡¯s head, knowing how his enemy would respond. With a cry, they flapped their wings to propel themselves back from the strike. Finn reversed his grip at the last moment, lunging forward with both hands on the blade in a powerful, overhead strike. The blow connected with devastating effect.
You have slain the Level 12 Zephyr Guard. Experience awarded.
¡°Come on, we have to go!¡± Finn shouted as another plume of fire burst from the furthest airship, which must have been Tobias¡¯s work. His small friend appeared a moment later, glee on his face. ¡°Where to? The ropes?¡± Rosa landed, gasping for air. Finn spied two more airships and at least three more supply tents. He frowned. ¡°Yes! Back to the ropes, go!¡±
You have destroyed the Level 25 Zephyr Airship. Experience awarded to all parties.
Finn felt the surge of power run through him as their first target succumbed to the inferno. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the other three would as well. ¡°Finn? Come on!¡± Rosa and Tobias had already run past him in the flaming, chiming, screeching mayhem. ¡°RUN!¡± Finn bellowed, seeing how difficult their escape was going to be. He turned back and raised his magical blade high in the air. ¡°Finn! What are you doing?!¡± Rosa stopped and screamed at him. There was a pained grunt as Tobias dispatched two trollics who had found them. ¡°Buying us some time. Now go!¡± Finn shouted as he twirled the Pyrrhic Blade in both hands, throwing the last of his Mana into it and flinging the firestorm at the remaining, untouched airships and any guard who dared to come for them.
Fire-Bolt. INT Base damage (48) + 200 Mana. You have struck the Level 25 Airship for 124 points of damage. You have struck the Level 25 Airship for 124 points of damage.
The firestorm was powerful, but Finn knew it wasn¡¯t enough to destroy either airship outright. Hopefully it would be enough to keep them grounded for a while. Finn suddenly dropped to his knees as exhaustion gripped him. The flames were taking quickly, thanks to Tobias¡¯s oil-throwing, but Finn knew that such a flamboyant attack wouldn¡¯t just be about the damage. It¡¯s a declaration. He forced himself to his feet when he heard a roar and the thunder of feet. A shadow burst through the wall of flame and charged straight at him. A troll-ogre! These weren¡¯t the largest of the trollish species, as that dubious accolade belonged to ogre proper, but they were close. Eight feet tall with mottled pink-and-gray skin. They had enough intelligence that they could wield weapons and fight in units. Finn had no idea if this one had been on guard or ordered into the fiery maelstrom. ¡°Found the fleshie!¡± the troll-ogre roared, their topknot flailing behind them as they jumped forward with a metal club the size of a regular quarterstaff in their hand. Finn managed to leap out of the way of the first swipe, hitting the ground and rolling before he scrambled up to his knees almost underneath one of the burning hulls. ¡°Ugly little human. You done gone and made Durzog ANGRY!¡± the troll-ogre yelled, jumping at Finn again. This time, Finn was ready. He had no where to go behind him, but he could go forward. He had to go forward. The Pyrrhic Blade slashed upwards as it struck flesh and studded leather armor.
You have struck the Level 22 Troll-Ogre for 128 points of damage.
The strike was nowhere near enough to kill the creature, but that hadn¡¯t been Finn¡¯s goal. He heard a sharp snap and a growl as the troll-ogre stumbled, half-sliding to one side as they spun around. Finn pulled an oil pouch from his pack and flung it straight at the troll-ogre. It was an easy throw, since there were only a few meters between them. The pouch splattered all over the mighty creature, hitting their chest and face, making them sneeze and splutter. ¡°What?! What is this?!¡± The troll-ogre swung their tusked head in confusion. Finn jumped forward and kicked them in the chest, sending them back into the burning hull. Thanks to the creature¡¯s weight and the already damaged beams, the wooden planks cracked on impact and were engulfed in flames. Finn jumped away, turning toward the only direction where there didn¡¯t seem to be chiming bells and shouting¡ªthe forest. He staggered and ran as fast as he could toward the dark, hoping he had bought at least enough time for his friends to get back to the wall ropes before they were tracked. Finn was rewarded with notifications of destruction as he ran.
You have destroyed the Level 25 Zephyr Airship. Experience awarded to all parties. You have destroyed the Level 25 Zephyr Airship. Experience awarded to all parties. You have destroyed...
3.19 - Blackwood and Esther’s Choices BANG-BANG-BANG! The cramped corridors of the Lamakai shrine echoed with the sounds of hammering on the single wooden door upstairs. Esther looked at the prophet in alarm and saw the silver-scaled snake-man look up in disdain. His long, forked tongue flicked out to taste the air. ¡°Sesuuk! Is that them?!¡± Esther frowned, wondering whether this was a good idea at all. She had spent the last day or more gathering her strength, resting, eating, and drinking an awful lot of that weird bubbling potion the Lamakai kept in constant supply for her. Which, it has to be said, tastes pretty good, she thought as she considered taking another sip from the flask at her side. No. That had to last her the next day¡¯s travel. At least that was what Sesuuk had told her. Over the course of that day, Sesuuk had also brought her other items that he said would be invaluable for their journey¡ªtwo changes of light, almost gossamer shifts and sturdy leather over-jerkins and greaves. ¡®I have no idea how the heat of my realm will affect you, but I promise you this is the best material, even if it has little armor value,¡¯ Sesuuk had assured her. There were rations too¡ªalthough Esther never felt hungry after drinking the potion¡ªas well as a long knife, boots, and a replacement staff shod with metal at both ends. ¡®I believe a polearm will be your best weapon. However, you won¡¯t need it with your abilities!¡¯ It had taken a while to gather all of the necessary items because it seemed that the topside realm had lost its collective mind again, according to what Sesuuk had told her. Blackwood was in uproar over the two dead guards, and now a full-scale search for Esther had been initiated by Mayor Marr and Captain Goreth. Now, however, the search had come here. ¡°We will have to move quickly. The portal takes a little time to open,¡± Sesuuk said, picking up his own small pouch and slinging it across his shoulders as he strapped his long scimitar to his hip. Its scabbard was white leather, but there were strange, angular symbols stamped down its length that made Esther¡¯s eyes hurt when she looked at them. ¡°The portal, right. Jumping through a portal. This is normal,¡± Esther grumbled, part of her still wondering if all of this could still be some really intense hallucination. She took another sip of the potion and instantly felt a surge of confidence and power. At least the hallucination had really top-notch consumables. ¡°This way. The door at the end.¡± Sesuuk walked out of the small room and into the corridor underneath the temple. A voice shouted through the door, ¡°Sesuuk! This is Laurie Marr! We have reason to believe that you have Esther down there, and we need to talk to her NOW. If you don¡¯t open this door for us, we will break it down!¡± The thing was, Esther had always kind of respected Laurie Marr and found the woman to be more or less friendly. She was a strong, resilient woman who knew her own mind and put her people first. She was fair but wouldn¡¯t take any rubbish from anyone. And that included the sister of the city¡¯s patron. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Feeling bad about how Laurie might feel about her paled in comparison to the idea that the mayor would probably throw her in chains, and that was the least bad option she had, right. Esther didn¡¯t blame the mayor or the guard captain for chasing her, but she wasn¡¯t going to turn herself in until she was cleansed of the dark magic that had made her kill the guards. ¡°Do not worry, my child,¡± Sesuuk began. ¡°Less of that ¡®my child¡¯ talk, if you don¡¯t mind. It makes you sound creepy and weird,¡± Esther snapped. The Lamakai prophet frowned a little, but then he shook his head as if it were nothing. ¡°The shrine has a Level Fifteen field, so that reduces the amount of goons that she can have with her. I presume that it¡¯s just her and Goreth and a handful of others!¡± He tilted his head. ¡°I could tell my guards to resist them, of course¡­¡± The prophet seemed to be considering the idea very seriously, Esther thought in mild horror, even if it meant bloodshed on the stones of his shrine with Blackwood citizens fighting other Blackwood citizens. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else to get hurt,¡± she insisted. ¡°No, that would be a bad idea, I suppose. No need to make enemies, is there?¡± The snake man flashed a sidelong look at Esther and made a strange hissing noise, which Esther had come to believe was his form of laughing. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m getting the impression that you and I make enemies too easily anyway,¡± Esther grumbled. Sesuuk laughed again, even as the banging on the door above continued. ¡°Yes! Yes, quite true. Now, come quickly.¡± The Lamakai hurried them both to the end of the corridor where there was a room with what looked to be a low stone well in its center. Above that was a swirling sphere of purple-and-pink energy. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Esther could feel the power of it as soon as she entered the room, like a wave hitting her and then receding. ¡°I guess that wibbly-wobbly thing is the portal?¡± She stared at the glowing orb with furrowed brows. ¡°What? Wibbly-wobbly?! Pfft!¡± Sesuuk appeared annoyed. Esther could see that the orb was, in fact, made of several circles of bright celestial energy, but they were forming and reforming so quickly that they created an amorphous orb. ¡°Close the door behind you. We don¡¯t want just anyone stumbling into my home realm, now do we? It would be dangerous for them,¡± Sesuuk said. As soon as Esther had closed it, the door¡¯s gleamed with a strong, crimson glow. ¡°My people do not exactly have the kindest disposition to interlopers.¡± Sesuuk busied himself around the portal room, turning to the low stone tables and gathering objects that Esther couldn¡¯t see. This is it. This is me leaving Blackwood¡­ the entire realm, really. Esther thought. She was only doing it in order to find a cure for the qlippothic energy. She was doing this so she could return here and to her brother fully healed. Then everyone would accept her, wouldn¡¯t they? When they saw that she had gotten rid of the curse that was inside her, they would have to forgive her for her actions. Esther took another sip of Sesuuk¡¯s potion and felt her veins sing with power. She instantly felt a lot more confident. The Lamakai was mumbling and making gestures before the portal, appearing to paw at it in mid-air. It expanded until it covered the entire well and was tall enough to walk into. ¡°Well? No time like the present, is there?¡± Sesuuk said, extending a hand toward Esther. She got the impression that wasn¡¯t the phrase he had wanted to use, but her brain had translated it to the closest human equivalent. His native words felt a little less benign. She looked nervously at the well behind the curtain of celestial energy. ¡°It¡¯s quite alright, look!¡± Sesuuk took one step forward until he was halfway into the portal. ¡°See? Now do you want to be healed of this terrible burden or do you not? What position will you be putting Finn in when he returns if you haven¡¯t attempted to cure yourself?¡± His words slapped Esther in the face. The Lamakai was right of course, but she still felt a surge of anger. Her brother would defend her, just as he always had, no matter what. Wouldn¡¯t he? For an awful moment, Esther wondered just what the new and improved Finn would do if he came back and discovered that she had killed two innocent people. Would he defend her against this realm he had helped create? Or would he have to side with them, the ones he had spilled blood for over the last year and a half? Esther couldn¡¯t bear the thought of him having to make that choice. She took another swig of Sesuuk¡¯s potion and, feeling suitably emboldened, strode forward into the portal to the Elder Realm of the Lamakai. She didn¡¯t even look back. 3.20 - We Need Bigger Allies or Bigger Guns Finn¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at the distance between him and the walls of Malvas. It wasn¡¯t exactly far. He had managed to double-back through the forests and lose¡ªor kill¡ªthe boar-riders that had pursued him. It had helped that all of the mayhem he¡¯d caused the previous night had bumped him up another level, giving him a small increase of Mana and Health. It wasn¡¯t a lot, but it should be enough to make the difference. Finn was exhausted, and dawn¡¯s early light had found him hunkered by the forest¡¯s edge about as far from the battle as he could be and still make it to the walls. How long had it been since he had last slept? He didn¡¯t know. He thought it might be two days. He needed rest, not to mention a healing potion. He needed some way of recouping his spent attributes, otherwise he was going to die out there sooner or later. The trolls had set up many more patrols around their armies with a constant rotation of boar-riders and scouts circling the perimeter. There was also a lot more activity near the smoking ruins of the airships. They¡¯d destroyed six in total, and only one was still in the sky¡ªthe same one that had been in the air the night before, presumably too scared to land. ¡°They¡¯ve only got one ship to attack with and one ship to resupply with,¡± Finn said, feeling a small vindictive surge of pleasure. That would really mess with Durzog¡¯s plans. He had to find enough food and water for several thousand people soon, or risk losing his ability to besiege Malvas. Already, there were teams of trolls and zephyrs heading back into the woods, and Finn wondered if they were going to be sent to any nearby settlements or small realms. He didn¡¯t know, and he felt guilty about that. Yet at the same time, it bought Malvas breathing room. So far today, there had been no attacks against the walls. Finn peered at the walls, trying to spy a way in. There was none, as far as he could see. The tunnels he had used before had collapsed¡­and he¡¯d collapse before he got all the way back there, anyway. Then there was the front gate, which was still burning because the Malvas defenders had continuing piling e furniture and other flammables into it. There was an army to sneak through before he even got to that, too. ¡°Pretty soon, the trolls might decide there¡¯s more food inside the city than out,¡± Finn thought aloud. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good thing or a bad, as it would force the trolls to try and storm the burning barricade, and they would lose a lot of warriors. However, they had a lot of warriors to lose¡­ Finn winced. He didn¡¯t know how this battle was going to end. He couldn¡¯t see an easy way forward. All he could hope was that the trolls would start to desert once they didn¡¯t get their food or started to run out of equipment, armor, and weapons. ¡°But how long can Malvas last in a siege?¡± Finn muttered, forcing his weary legs to take him to the line of trees that led back to the low stone wall. He wished that he still had Tobias¡¯s camouflage magic. Maybe Malvas would fall to its own starvation before the trolls did, Finn thought glumly as he hurried forward, staying low. No one shouted at him. There were no alarms or zephyr shrieks. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. They needed a breakthrough. Malvas had a port on its far side, but apparently, the seas were full of monsters. No boat had yet managed to leave and come back or successfully make port somewhere else. They needed a miracle¡­ There was a sudden hiss through the air, and Finn dropped to the ground, expecting trollic arrows or zephyr crossbow bolts to hammer into the ground nearby. They didn¡¯t. But he did hear murmurs and distant shouts. Finn pushed himself up, looking in the direction of the noise, and saw that there was something going on near the gate. As he watched, another cloud of black-fletched arrows burst from the Malvas walls, looking like birds against the gray skies. There was a flare of blue about them, and they sparkled with blue Air energy. ¡°Rosa?¡± It couldn¡¯t be her, though. She couldn¡¯t have that much power left, could she? The arrows flew further and faster than they would have normally, and even though Durzog had placed his front line out of range of any normal arrow, these projectiles started to fall amongst the waiting huddles of troll warriors. There were distant shouts and roars, and Finn started to laugh. He didn¡¯t know how they had gotten the Mana to do that, but it was funny. They would only reach the first two lines, which was a drop in the bucket compared to entire army, but it was a poke. An insult. Then, there was a flicker of something bright¡ªa flash of color in the opposite direction¡ªnear him! Finn spun on his heel to see that something had been thrown from the side of the wall. It was a rope, and at its end was a collection of brilliant red flags. ¡°It¡¯s a sign,¡± Finn said, suddenly stumbling to his feet. He started toward it, hearing another scream of the magically enhanced arrows flying from the walls. It was more than a sign; it was a distraction! Finn started jogging toward the rope. He was sure he heard sounds from far behind him, and when he turned, he could see that three groups of the mutant boar-riders were racing across the churned-up meadow toward him. Durzog had seen the sign too and recognized the arrows for what they were. There were people on the top of the walls, and Finn thought he could make out Diane and Tobias. The boar-riders were gaining on him fast, but Finn was closer to the rope. He forced his wheezing, pained body to run faster until he reached the base of the wall. He heard the trolls roaring behind him. The rope was right there in front of him. He grabbed it, seeing that its end had been tied into loops he could slip over his waist or hands. He did so, and then he was abruptly being hauled into the air. Finn was sure that his pursuers would start firing at him, but they didn¡¯t. He was quickly hauled upward by what must have been a whole team of people, reaching the top with his sides aching and bruised, but at least he was safe. He was alive. ¡°You made it!¡± It was Diane, grabbing Finn as soon as he had reached the battlements and dragging him into the arms of Tobias, Sister Alharrow, and a dozen other Malvanites. ¡°It was Sister Alharrow¡¯s idea. I gave some of Malvas¡¯s Hearthstone Mana to Rosa, and she found a way to distract the army,¡± Diane said, looking as haggard as Finn felt. Then, her face fell. ¡°But the Hearthstone is lighter now. We do not know how long it will defend us when Durzog really attacks.¡± When he really attacks¡­ Finn heard the words and felt his heart sink. Yes, because all of this has just been leading up to the main siege of the city. Finn turned to look back over the battlefield and saw the vast numbers arrayed against them. How were they ever going to defeat them? ¡°But you bought us some time. It will take them days to sort out their supply route again, if they even can,¡± Sister Alharrow said. Finn nodded. He was thankful that she didn¡¯t say the obvious thing¡ªthat they knew where the Oldtree Shrine was and could make for it in that window of opportunity. But that wasn¡¯t really an option, not with an entire city hanging in the balance. ¡°We¡¯re going to need allies. Or bigger guns. Or allies with bigger guns,¡± Finn murmured, frowning as he looked speculatively across the battlefield. ¡°If only we knew where there was a ready-made army of highly trained and fighters,¡± he muttered to himself. Then he froze and blinked with a sudden realization. ¡°Oh¡­¡± It was a longshot, but it turned out that Finn knew exactly where an extremely powerful fighting force was stationed¡ªif he could convince them to fight for him. 3.21 - Esther and Sesuuk, Part III ¡°Well, I can see why you left,¡± Esther said as another gust of super-heated desert air tore at her robes and hair. ¡°Ow!¡± The desert winds also brought stinging sand and grit, causing Esther to shrug deeper into her hood. The girl and the Lamakai were sheltering by the edge of ruined gray stone walls, with what looked like miles of orange sand all around them. In the far distance rose the dark triangles of mountains under the blazing, almost white sun. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the weather that made me leave, girl,¡± Sesuuk hissed from behind her as he appeared to be inspecting the ruins around them. Esther frowned, casting an eye at the snake-man, tall and thin, wearing the long white-and-gold robes of his position, with a curving scimitar at his hip. He scratched his taloned feet along the ground several times. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± she asked. The ruins were little more than three remaining walls that might have once been a tower, with another series of lower, interconnected walls snaking around it. The perimeter walls marginally stopped the great gusts of sand washing up against the tower itself, so they looked more like sunken avenues. ¡°It should be here somewhere, curse it! I know this place. It was once a great temple, of sorts,¡± Sesuuk said. ¡°Is that where this prism thing of yours is?¡± she asked dryly. ¡°No, it should be where we can find water and other supplies. This was once an outpost of my Trine¡ªwhat we call our groupings. When I was last here, I left a supply of weapons and materials I knew I would need if I were ever to come back,¡± the snake-person said, before loudly exclaiming as his foot caught the edge of something. He stooped down to reveal a round slab of stone with an iron ring in its center. ¡°Found it!¡± the reptilian hissed jubilantly. ¡°What materials?¡± Esther asked, a little bored. She was already tired and a little weary. They had arrived in Sesuuk¡¯s home realm some hours before, in another shrine, and they had immediately set off at a punishing pace across the desert. If it weren¡¯t for the potion he kept supplying her, she was sure she would have collapsed already. ¡°Some weapons, some supplies, some specific items that I require¡­¡± Sesuuk grabbed the iron ring and pulled. There was a grinding noise, and Esther was sure that the thin snake-man wasn¡¯t going to be strong enough, but she saw the muscles knot along his arms and his neck. The stone pulled away, revealing narrow steps. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡­which were occupied. Shapes burst out from the tunnel, too many for Esther to count. She saw the flash of scales and gray, soiled rags about their bodies.
You have been struck by the Level 16 Undead Lamakai for 65 points of damage.
Esther screamed and stumbled back as one of the undead snake-men slashed at her with a rusty dagger. Their scales were patchy with yellowing bone showing through in places, but that didn¡¯t stop the creature. Sesuuk snarled in surprise, and the undead Lamakai took another swing at Esther. She jumped back just in time, but her boots slid in the sand, and she stumbled into the wall. Sesuuk was already surrounded by three of the creatures, and Esther barely had any time at all to bring up her quarterstaff before her attacker swiped at her with their blade. A jolt of pain ran down her arms. The undead grabbed the staff with their free hand and pulled. The creature slowly but surely was pulling it from her. ¡°I thought the undead were supposed to be slow and dumb!¡± Esther exclaimed. She couldn¡¯t hold on. The staff was being dragged out of her hands, and the monster was pulling the blade in their other hand back for another strike. No! Esther felt a kick of something in her belly, like an uncoiling serpent. Uncontrolled power raced through her as she released the staff and slapped the undead Lamakai¡¯s face.
[CELESTIAL ENGINE ERROR!] You have struck the Level 16 Undead Lamakai for 400 points of damage.
There was an explosion of green light from under Esther¡¯s hand, and the snake-man was instantly obliterated.
You have slain the Level 16 Undead Lamakai. Experience awarded.
Esther had no idea how she did it, she didn¡¯t even realize what she had done, but it was the same power she¡¯d had ever since escaping the Qlippothic Realm. This time was different, though. Esther didn¡¯t feel exhausted or in pain afterward, like she had before. She felt in control. If anything, she felt energized. There were flashes of brilliant white, red, and blue light as Sesuuk spun and slashed with his scimitar. His first blow took the head off one of the undead, then his second split another in two. The third now had the advantage, however. They swung their serrated blade straight at Sesuuk¡¯s turning back. Then, abruptly, the last undead wasn¡¯t there. Something like a short spear but with a longer blade had flown through the air, slammed into the creature¡¯s head, and drove it to the floor. The undead creature was now truly dead. Esther gasped, then turned to see that they were not alone with their enemies. Standing atop one of the low walls and arrayed in a long line had to be almost two dozen Lamakai warriors, each holding scimitars or throwing spears. They all stood rigidly. ¡°Sesuuk of the Third Trine! What a pleasant surprise. You are under arrest for disloyalty to the prophet-king, your father!¡± the largest and meanest Lamakai hissed. 3.22 - Tokens It was a longshot, Finn thought as his eyes flickered to Rosa and Tobias, who were standing with him in the main council chamber of Malvas, but they had to try. ¡°Ready?¡± Finn whispered, reaching into his tunic for the small token that still hung on its braided cord. It looked like nothing more than a small piece of gray slate crafted into the shape of a kite shield, but it had a stylized whip of flame carved on it. Rosa¡¯s had the symbol for wind, and Tobias¡¯s had the square of Earth. Each token possessed the ability to return them to the Order of Celestial Grace whenever they chose. ¡°I¡¯m all good.¡± Rosa nodded, although she looked very tired. So did Tobias, his usual grin now replaced with a flat line. Finn always forgot that the small Verdainian and prince of his people had much to lose too. It wasn¡¯t just his adopted home of Blackwood but also that of his tribe who had made their home there. If Malvas fell, how long would it be before Durzog moved on to Blackwood? ¡°A stone in the ground,¡± Tobias whispered. Finn assumed that was a Verdainian saying for ¡®yes.¡¯ Outside, he could hear the distant sounds of a city at war. People hauled carts up to the front, laden with barricade materials, food, and medical supplies. Chief Diane, who was standing in an outer circle around the three Defenders alongside Sister Alharrow and several of the captains of Malvas, was trying to keep the inferno blazing for as long as possible. Finn knew the city only had about two days¡¯ worth of material left to burn. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. It was clear what they had to do. Finn stepped back, as did Rosa and Tobias, and each held up their tokens. At their feet, the checkered floor stretched around them to the amphitheater of wooden benches that would normally have been filled with the many managers of the city. At the moment, they were all busy fighting and preparing. Over their heads hung the Hearthstone of Malvas, a large crystal that was longer at the top and bottom than the sides, just like Finn¡¯s smaller Hearthstone that he kept in his inventory. It spilled a shifting, eldritch light over their faces, and Finn was sure that it was smaller than it had been before the war. Two days to find an army of Celestial Defenders and bring them back before some four thousand hungry trolls descend on the city. Two days before Diane had to start pumping out Mana from the Malvas Hearthstone to keep them defended. Finn knew that wouldn¡¯t even be close to enough to save the city. He focused on the token in his hand.
Defender Token. Cost: 1 Mana.
Finn pushed just a drop of Mana into the item, and the swirl of carved flame flared with red light. Rosa and Tobias did the same, their token sigils glowing blue and green respectively. The light brightened until the tokens became colored stars in their hands, and then¡ªa moment later¡ªhe wasn¡¯t in Malvas. The trio suddenly stood along a deeply wooded ridge lined with ancient trees and twisting branches dripping moss all around them. Through the gap in the trees, Finn could see the thin stone bridge leaping up through the sky to meet the giant floating mountain topped with the citadel of the order. Only now, it was smoking. ¡°What happened?!¡± Finn whispered in shock. 3.23 - Old Friends. New Enemies ¡°Where are the guards?¡± Tobias asked the question on all their minds when they reached the bridge that connected the ridge to the floating rock ziggurat over the chasm. The Order of Celestial Grace was an arcane marvel. Finn had only ever seen the like of it one other time, and that was the magic of the Qlippothic Realm. Like that terrible and dark place, the order was a pocket realm, separated from the rest of the Celestial Engines by the Asai of Time. ¡°The guards should be here¡­¡± Finn agreed, remembering the knights that stood at the entrance to the four bridges who were impossible to defeat in combat¡ªor had been back then, anyway. ¡°This place is supposed to be neutral in the celestial ascension, a place of training only.¡± Finn frowned at the smoke rising from several places among the white stone walls and spires of the floating citadel. There was a derisive snort from Rosa. ¡°Yeah, we were there for that lecture too. Instructor Lem wasn¡¯t exactly very impartial though, was he?¡± No, he wasn¡¯t¡ªhadn¡¯t been, rather, as he was now dead. The Elemental Lodge Premiers had done so when they discovered his treachery. The publicly professed fantasy still remained, though, Finn thought. They kept the Celestial Register there, after all, which recorded every soul trapped in the engines. The Asai of Time provided this sanctuary so that Defenders¡ªa necessary part of the realms¡¯ evolution¡ªcould be trained, just as presumably there were pocket realms dedicated to training Adversaries. ¡°Well, it looks like someone¡¯s chosen to start a war with them,¡± Tobias said. If the guards weren¡¯t here, that meant the citadel itself was undefended, didn¡¯t it? ¡°Fat lot of good it will do asking them to help in our war if they¡¯ve already got one going on of their own!¡± Rosa muttered angrily, setting off over the bridge as Finn and Tobias followed. Within moments, they broke into a jog when they heard sounds coming from the open doors of the citadel at the far side. Metal clashing and people shouting. The sounds of battle. ¡°Defenders!¡± Finn hissed. He summoned the Pyrrhic Blade to his hand as he put on extra speed. He hoped that whatever it was wouldn¡¯t be too strong, because he¡¯d barely had time to upgrade his statistics and recoup any of his Health and Mana before coming here.
Name: Finn Callahan Level: 28 Profession: Knight-Defender Renown: High (local) Health: 327 / 848 Mana: 169 / 861 Stamina: 275 / 736
The giant double-doors of the citadel, each one almost as high as the walls of Malvas, stood open. One had collapsed onto its side with its wood deeply splintered, as if it had been battered by giant fists. ¡°Hold! Hold the line!¡± ¡°Flee! They¡¯re too strong!¡± The sounds of alarm and cries of pain echoed from the wide courtyard beyond as Finn and the others rushed in to see a group of Defenders being forced back by¡ªit appeared¡ªother Defenders¡­ Dead ones. Finn could see there were two with the wooden training shields who were attempting to hold a line, with another two behind them. One of the shield-bearers had blue skin, the other was a Lamakai, and the two behind were a young man with a orange-red topknot and a woman dressed in white robes and steel greaves. The woman threw an air blast at the lurching undead. It knocked one to the ground, only for them to stagger back to their feet. There were eight undead arrayed against the four living Defenders, and half of the courtyard had smashed walls, as if some mighty battle had already raged through here. ¡°Go! Attack the sides!¡± Finn shouted as he leaped forward, swinging his blade. He activated his Speed of the Warrior, giving him +50% damage to his magical weapon¡¯s strike.
Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. You have struck the Level 15 Undead Defender for 185 points of damage.
His blade darted through their chest and out the back. He flung them into the rubble, and then spun and struck the next.
You have struck the Level 15 Undead Defender for 165 points of damage.
Neither blows were strong enough to kill outright, but they were enough to make any regular soul seriously consider departing from battle. As Finn pulled himself up after the next strike, there was a blur of blue as Rosa jumped forward, ramming her staff through the head of the next undead. Tobias slammed his shield into a fourth. In their first attack, they had halved the forces menacing their fellow Defenders, who were pulling back with looks of amazement at the speed and ferocity of Finn and the others. ¡°Regroup!¡± Finn yelled, turning as the other four undead came at them. The first staggered with their sword thrust so that it was almost a feint. Finn had expected the sword to land on his shoulder, but instead, it struck his lower leg.
You have been struck by the Level 15 Undead Defender for 55 points of damage.
Finn hissed in pain, hoping that the blade wasn¡¯t rusted or poisoned. These undead had terribly pale skin and lifeless eyes, but he didn¡¯t see that they were particularly¡­ well, rotting. They appeared to be the freshly killed, if anything.
Name: Finn Callahan Health: 272 / 848
He didn¡¯t have as much health as he would have liked. Nowhere near enough, in fact. ¡°Get off!¡± He kicked the undead creature back as the one beside it swiped at Rosa, but she was too fast, dodging the blow with ease. ¡°Pull back!¡± the Defender with the red topknot shouted. He looked youngish, barely older than Finn. Pull back? What are you doing?! Finn blinked in confusion. What was his problem? They had them on the run! There was a flash of movement, but Finn saw it coming and sidestepped the next undead swipe. As Finn turned around, however, he saw just what the red-haired Defender was shouting about. The four that they had just cast aside with terrible injuries were now getting up and advancing on them again, attempting to surround them. Finn, Rosa, and Tobias were facing eight undead creatures now instead of just four. Not eight, seven. Finn counted quickly. The one that Rosa had put her metal quarterstaff through was down for good.
You have been struck by the Level 17 Undead Defender for 65 points of damage.
¡°Dammit!¡± Finn growled as the same undead he¡¯d just kicked almost ran him through. He was disorientated, and his Mana was down to 19. But hang on, that noseless creep was only a Level 15 a moment ago¡­ Finn thought as he swung his blade in a near-perfect strike and cut his attacker¡¯s head off.
You have slain the Level 17 Undead Defender. Experience awarded.
¡°Ah! They¡¯re ascended levels!¡± Rosa shouted, moving to trip one as she danced out of the way of another. The undead creatures seemed to be everywhere, moving far faster than they should have been able to. Even as Finn slashed and hacked them down, they just got back up again. They appeared to have ascended a further two levels. They get stronger when they come back to life, Finn thought, but not all of them were coming back. He realized this when he saw that the one he had decapacitated had stayed dead, as was Rosa¡¯s original combatant. There came a shout from Tobias as he slammed his shield against the ground, sending a not-very-strong green wave out to strike two of the available six, where they staggered and fell over the cracked masonry. Decapitated. Head wound. Finn remembered every zombie movie he¡¯d ever seen. ¡°Headshots!¡± he called, darting forward to slide his blade through an enemy¡¯s cranium.
You have slain the Level 17 Undead. Experience awarded.
Rosa quickly dispatched another, and Tobias slammed his shield into the skull of a third, but there was no panic amongst the dead. They simply kept coming. A moment later, Rosa yelled in pain as one scored a deep strike down her arm. She hissed and staggered back as a second menaced Finn, driving him apart from the others. We were already tired from two days of fighting before we even got here, Finn thought in alarm as he saw Rosa stagger behind Tobias¡¯s shield. They were only Level 15 enemies when they started but had already advanced to Level 19 or even 21 now¡­ There were only three undead left to fight, and three Defenders, but even Finn was starting to think that not all of them might make it out of this alive. If only he had more Mana! But he was down to 19, and the Hearthstone was still empty. He looked to the other four living student Defenders to see if they could help, but they were nowhere to be found. They had scattered into the ruins or through the broken windows, leaving Finn and his friends to their fate. ¡°What?! They¡¯re supposed to be celestial Defenders! This is what they are supposed to do!¡± Finn snapped in rage, stumbling to one side to avoid being slashed. There was a certain wildness to their attacks, but they weren¡¯t the shuffling, slow zombies of classic horror movies. They had almost as much speed as they might have had in life, just a little less coordination. There was a crash of something in the ruined courtyard, and Finn was certain that it came from the other side, but he didn¡¯t have time for mysteries. He darted behind a cracked pillar. The undead followed him, and he turned quickly to kick them in the knee. They staggered against the pillar, and then he slammed the pommel of his blade into their skull. ¡°Rosa! Tobias!¡± He turned to his companions just in time to see a ball of fire erupt, engulfing the two undead menacing Tobias¡¯s shield with Rosa behind him. The undead writhed and staggered before finally ending. Oh, so fire is good as well, Finn thought as he gasped for air. A figure walked through the rising smoke. It must have been the one who had cast the Fire-bolt, since it hadn¡¯t been Finn. The figure was shorter than Finn but not as small as Tobias. They had a short mohawk of wiry hair, which completely changed their usually babyish appearance to something sterner and harsher. Silver scars had been added to the side of their dark face. In one hand, they still held the shining red flame they had just summoned to destroy the two undead. ¡°Daros?!¡± Finn asked in surprise, and the mute Fire Lodge Defender nodded and smiled at him.
You have defeated the Undead Horde. Experience awarded to all parties.
3.24 - Daros and the Undead ¡°Level Twenty-eight, are you serious, Finn? Maybe I should have joined you on the outside,¡± Daros said mentally with a gentle touch on Finn¡¯s upturned wrist. Finn¡¯s old Fire Lodge friend had led them away from the streets of the citadel and through the open doors of one of the many hallways. Everything was smashed and broken. There were scorch marks where fires had raged and radiating cracks that Tobias assured them were strikes of Earth power. ¡°Well, we could have used you on the outside, for sure,¡± Finn said with a weary grin. His head was still singing with tiredness. When was he ever going to get some sleep?! ¡°But where is Premier Sasha?¡± Daros was mute, having had his vocal cords burnt out by Instructor Lem. They were resistant to healing, but he had the ability to transfer his words by touch. Finn had never thought that was much consolation, but it was something. He touched Finn¡¯s arm again. ¡°Sasha has¡­fallen,¡± he said. Finn gasped and came up short in the middle of the cracked hallway. ¡°But¡­ How?!¡± He remembered the stocky, blonde leader of the Fire Lodge as stalwart and unstoppable. He remembered her dismantling him with ease on the one occasion when he¡¯d been stupid enough to challenge her. With a start, however, he remembered that she had been a Level 26 back then. He was a higher level now than she was then. Daros looked warily through the broken windows and a dark look came over his face. He shook his head. ¡°We must go. It is unwise to be out during the day.¡± Finn relayed that to the others. Rosa looked confused. ¡°Surely it¡¯s better than to fight the undead at night?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what prowls during the day here,¡± Daros said. He climbed over some rubble and turned into the gallery beside the open-air courtyard, leading them to a stack of smashed wooden chairs and doors. He heaved them aside with ease, showing a crack in the paving slabs that led into a dark tunnel. Finn remembered the tunnels. The entire citadel was a spire of bedrock suspended magically by the Asai of Time, and tunnels wove throughout the entire base. Daros said no more as they climbed downward. This tunnel had paved floors and arched, reinforced walls that Finn guessed must be some kind of warehouse route. The Fire Lodge Defender waited for them all to come through, and then he resealed the entrance. The tunnel plunged into total darkness before Daros summoned a ball of fiery light to illuminate their way. It was only when they had crossed several other tunnels and made several turns on their downward track that he reached out to continue the conversation. ¡°It happened suddenly. All of the premiers sensed it and said something was coming and then¡­it came.¡± ¡°What was it?¡± Daros looked up warily again, but Finn could only see rock. ¡°Death comes on dry wings,¡± Daros began cryptically. ¡°An immense monster appeared, seemingly from nowhere, and attacked the citadel. The four premiers could not defeat it, though they did drive it away. Even so, the Fire and Air Premiers fell in the process.¡± Finn didn¡¯t know what to say, and Rosa was also visibly shocked after Finn relayed what he¡¯d been told. It just seemed too impossible to be true. ¡°But that wasn¡¯t even the worst. That came later. All of the people that the monster had slain¡­came back,¡± Daros continued. ¡°The monster¡¯s breath could kill but it also left that terrible curse on its victims, and every time they are cut down, they return but stronger.¡± Daros shook his head in disgust. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. It was like a twisted version of the game of celestial ascension itself, only instead of ascending by defeating enemies, the undead advanced through dying. ¡°How many survive from the original lodges?¡± Tobias asked as they trudged through the darkness. Daros winced. ¡°All of the lodges still stand, but they are like you saw them earlier. Without their premiers, they are lost. They will not band together, and they are constantly under attack by the undead. I fear that the citadel is falling, and there is nothing we can do about it.¡± ¡°Well, stuff that,¡± Finn said immediately. He had been through too much to consider defeat. Not now. But are there enough to help Malvas? They were trained Defenders. They all had powers and had to be at least between Level 12 and 18. It should be enough to make a difference. ¡°The Citadel Guards?¡± Rosa asked. ¡°Once the premiers fell, the guards returned to the Tower of Time, which is sealed, and they haven¡¯t come out since,¡± Daros said, shrugging and pausing. ¡°We fear that the Asai of Time either doesn¡¯t know what is happening or has abandoned us.¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± Rosa said. ¡°The Asai of Time sees everything, so there¡¯s no way they aren¡¯t aware of what¡¯s happening here¡­¡± The alternative, however, was not a happy one. ¡°They must either be unable to intervene, or they see this as a challenge,¡± Finn said, remembering his encounter with that deity. They had been eager to punish those they deemed to have broken the rules of the Celestial Engines, but it would not intervene in anything else that happened. ¡°The problem isn¡¯t the Asai of Time. The problem is Vheti,¡± Daros explained as they turned a corner. There was lamplight and hushed voices at the end of the corridor. ¡°The refugees from the other lodges. I have been doing my best to protect them here.¡± Daros led the small group through the tunnel into a wider hall with pillars supporting the ceiling and many archways leading into smaller, alcove-like rooms. The place was full of people. There had to be fifty, maybe even a hundred, and they came from every race of the celestial ascension that Finn had yet seen. There were scaled Lamakai and small Verdainians, the blue-skinned race that Finn didn¡¯t know, and many human types that Finn guessed were from Tierra, Old Earth, or some other human-standard world. He saw gray, tusked trolls and winged zephyrs and others with bony, crown-like growths on their heads. ¡°The order grew while we were gone,¡± Finn commented as Daros was greeted with cheers and grateful voices. Finn¡¯s friend, who had once been considered the lowest of the Fire Lodge, was now regarded as a hero. Finn was pleased for him. Food and water were put into their hands, and there were flares of gentle green energies as they were healed. This was unlike anything that Finn remembered from the Celestial Order, where every day was one of rigorous training and challenges. This was kindness and courage.
You have received 150 Health. You have received 150 Mana.
Finn found himself surrounded by other Defenders¡ªfrom all four elemental lodges¡ªwho appeared eager to know where he and his friends were from and how they¡¯d come to be here, but cold silence and avoidant looks met him whenever her tried to talk about the ¡®death with dry wings.¡¯ While Rosa and Tobias enjoyed this small respite, Finn sought out Daros again. ¡°You said the problem was this Vheti. Is that the monster? Who are they?¡± he asked, hunkering down on a blanket next to his mute ally as the other Defenders hurriedly got up and left. Daros looked at Finn with his big, serious eyes. ¡°Vheti calls himself the leader of the Fire Lodge now, although he is no premier soul. You saw him earlier, with the red topknot?¡± Finn nodded. He remembered the coward who had led his forces away rather than help fight the undead. ¡°He has taken in some of the others, those who begged enough or abandoned their own lodges, but he refuses to help the others unless they acknowledge him as the new instructor.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Finn was surprised. Surely only the Asai of Time could appoint an instructor. ¡°Indeed. So, all the lodges are under attack by the undead, and no one will help each other. Their numbers are getting whittled away and adding to the undead when they could be working together,¡± Daros said sadly. Finn glared into the middle distance. Why was it that those on the Fire Ascension Path so easily turned out to be bullies? ¡°Then I¡¯ll just have to convince him to help, won¡¯t I?¡± Finn said. 3.25 - Premier Martial Supreme Leader Instructor Vheti ¡°There it is, up ahead,¡± Daros said, pointing up the stairs to where there was a small sliver of fading afternoon light. ¡°Are you sure that this is a good idea?¡± Tobias was right there behind him. None of them were back to their full statistics yet, but they¡¯d at least had a few uninterrupted hours of rest plus what healing the refugees could offer. ¡°What choice do we have?¡± Finn replied, seeing the Verdainian¡¯s eyes bright and wide in the dark behind him, with Rosa¡¯s tense face behind that, and then Daros. They only had a couple of days to save Malvas. To do that, they would need to convince the Defenders to leave the citadel and, if Finn could manage it, convince the guards to come with them too. That would be a fighting force capable of holding the walls of Malvas. Tobias nodded, but he was clearly unhappy about it. Ahead, Finn could see the familiar steps leading up to the Fire Lodge¡¯s double-doors, with the wide square before it filled with cracked stone pillars. ¡°Why is everyone being so wary? We¡¯ve got a right to be here. I¡¯ve got a right to go in that building!¡± Finn said, feeling anger as he turned and strode forward. It was still daylight, but only just. It was giving over to evening fast, and Finn wanted to get this done before the warring of a new day began. He stepped into the square and saw that it was empty. ¡°Hoi! Fire meets fire!¡± he yelled at the top of his lungs as he made his way to the doors. There was a change in the air somehow, and there was the slightest movement in the high windows. Finn knew he was being watched. ¡°I am Knight-Defender Finn Callahan, graduate of the Fire Lodge, holder of the Pyrrhic Blade, Troll-slayer, and Realm Founder. I demand entry to this place!¡± he shouted as he walked toward the steps. Suddenly, there was a flicker of red from one of the windows. There was a figure silhouetted up there, and Finn was sure that it was the young man with the topknot. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, Finn Callahan. Why don¡¯t you strut back off to the New Zone while the grownups deal with serious business!¡± Vheti shouted down. ¡°If you have come here thinking you will be welcomed, then you are mistaken! The Fire Lodge is closed to applicants at this time. We have no need for strangers and busybodies!¡± He leaned forward a little, his sharp, aquiline features clear now in the fading light. Finn stopped at the foot of the steps and looked up. ¡°I take it you are the one called Vheti?¡± The figure crossed his arms over his chest. ¡°My fame, unlike yours, precedes me.¡± ¡°I demand entry to this lodge house, as I have a right to do as set down since this place was built and the Celestial Engines were started!¡± Finn cried out with surety, even though he¡¯d made up that last bit since it made sense and sounded impressive. Vheti was quiet for a moment, and then a slow, evil smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Request denied, Finn Callahan. Times have changed around here since you graduated, and we do not suffer fools!¡± He flung his hand out. ¡°Now!¡± Suddenly, there were multiple crashes around the square. Wooden doors leading to servant halls and other parts of the Fire Quarter fell open, revealing what they had been hiding all along. It was a horde of the undead, who had been at the walls of the lodge, searching for their next victims. ¡°Run away home, Finn Callahan, oh-so-great Realm Founder! We have enough problems of our own!¡± Vheti slammed the window shut as the undead closed in on the square from three sides. ¡°Defenders!¡± Rosa shouted as she jumped forward on a plume of Air magic. She hadn¡¯t recovered fully yet either, but Finn saw that she was expending what she had as she twirled through the air, raising a storm. Finn snarled in fury, and the Pyrrhic Blade appeared in his hand, flames lighting up its length. I¡¯ve got enough for a Fire-Bolt, but I want them closer, much closer¡­ ¡°Bring them to me!¡± Finn yelled as Tobias joined the fray. He slammed his stone shield against the ground, sending a green blast that knocked one gang of undead toward Finn. Finn cut through the first stumbling undead and hewed the next. He needed them close, all around him, but he had to have room to swing.
You have struck the Level 17 Undead for 151 points of damage.
There had to be five on either side as Finn spun and slashed. Every time his flaming blade struck, an Undead fell, but there were more to take their place. They staggered to their feet and reached for him with outstretched, fetid claws¡­ ¡°Hai!¡± Rosa hit the floor, a whirlpool of blue energy suddenly discharging as she spun her metal rod about her. The shockwave smacked into the crowd, sending a dozen reeling off their feet while forcing others into the center of the square. This Vheti hasn¡¯t seen anything yet. Finn snarled as he jumped into the available space that Rosa and Tobias had created, whirling his magical blade about him. It left a trail of flames in a glowing arc.
Fire-Bolt. Convert Mana to Damage.
Finn threw almost all of his regained Mana¡ªabout 400¡ªinto the strike, swinging the blade as Rosa and Tobias continued to push the undead back with their magic. He felt the fiery rage, the need for violence, welling up through his body from the ground itself, and he roared as he forced almost all of it into the blade. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
You have struck the Undead Pack for 460 points of damage.
The blast sent the pack of Undead flying as Rosa and Tobias dropped to the ground. Bodies nearest to him were simply obliterated in the explosion, and the ones at the back were flung backward. Everything went white and red for a moment, and then Finn was blinking and coughing as smoke and flames covered the square. Despite how they were all nearing exhaustion, again, the three of them fought hard and fought as a team¡ªfire, air, and earth blended with blades, staves, and shields¡ªuntil every undead was now truly-dead. They had too much counting on them. We need to save Malvas, was Finn¡¯s thought, and I need to save Esther¡­from herself.
You have defeated the Undead Pack. Experience awarded to all parties.
Beside Finn, the purple lightning of celestial energy was erupting around Tobias as he fell to his knees, gasping for air. Good, Finn thought, although he wished that had been enough experience for him to go up a level too. Still, he was glad that those watching would be able to see what he and his friends could do together. He gasped for air as he turned back to the doors. There were other faces in the windows now¡ªthe remains of the Fire Lodge¡ªlooking down in horrified awe. ¡°That is what just us three can do. Imagine what we can achieve together,¡± he shouted. ¡°I do not deny that times are harsh, and that there is much danger about us. I do not deny the law of ascension¡ªthat we must struggle to survive, to become stronger¡ªbut look at what we have achieved! We could rid this place of the undead if we all came together, and there would be more experience for all of us!¡± There was a peal of thunder from somewhere out over the citadel, but Finn ignored it, glaring at the windows of the Fire Lodge. ¡°Vheti, come to your senses! This is what Defenders are meant to do¡ªto fight monsters! To defend each other! Now is the time for us to show the Asai just how strong we are!¡± Finn wanted his words to be inspiring, but they didn¡¯t seem to be working. ¡°Damn, I really should have upped my Charisma after all,¡± Finn muttered as he looked at the nervous, distrustful faces above. There was another clap of thunder behind him, sharp as a snapping sail. ¡°Come on! Open the doors! You can¡¯t leave him out there,¡± one of the watchers shouted at someone behind them. Finn guessed they were talking to Vheti, but he didn¡¯t quite understand the sudden panic. BOOM! Another slap of thunder. Suddenly, Daros jumped out of his tunnel and was running across the square, grabbing for the three of them. ¡°We have to run. Now!¡± ¡°What?¡± Finn shook his head in confusion. ¡°I know I¡¯m low on Mana, but I still don¡¯t think there¡¯s any in that lodge that can beat me¡­¡± Those inside weren¡¯t even looking at him, however. They were pointing at the shadow racing along the skyline toward them. ¡°Open the doors, Vheti! We¡¯re not murderers!¡± another voice shouted from within. It wasn¡¯t thunder at all coming for them, was it? It wasn¡¯t thunder that had been attracted by the sudden outpouring of magic. It was a vast shape that soon became visible, paler than the shadow with skin an ugly, ill-looking hue between orange and yellow. It had no front arms. Instead, two long, tattered wings extended from its scaled shoulders. Finn watched as two powerful legs curled underneath it, ending in talons that had to be the size of Finn¡¯s torso as they clamped down on one of the taller citadel towers. BOOM! What Finn had mistaken for thunder was actually the beating of this creature¡¯s wings. ¡°It¡¯s a wyvern. It¡¯s a fracking wyvern!¡± Finn hissed in horror. The creature¡¯s neck was long, ending in a crocodilian head. Finn saw a flash of yellow, and a tail that had to be several meters long smashed through the roof. ¡°It¡¯s the monster! Death on dry wings!¡± someone inside the building shouted as they began to flee from the windows. ¡°The lodge will hold! It is protected, remember?! The lodge will hold!¡± Vheti had appeared at the windows, grabbing shutters and slamming them shut. ¡°You can¡¯t leave them out there!¡± Finn stared at the creature in both awe and horror. It was massive. Every flap of its wings was a sonorous smack of thunder. It raised its head and released a guttural, crackling shriek, spewing toxic, yellow-green mist over the tops of buildings, along the stone slates, and against all remaining window panes. ¡°Finn! You have awoken it! We have to get under ground now!¡± Daros said urgently, his voice loud in Finn¡¯s mind, but Finn couldn¡¯t look away from the wyvern. It was too big to kill, wasn¡¯t it? The creature leaped into the air again and circled high overhead, then it turned toward the square. Abruptly, one of the lodge doors banged open and a team of pale Defenders appeared within, looking up at the monster in terror. ¡°Come quickly!¡± one of them called, and Finn blinked. Maybe Vheti wasn¡¯t a murderer after all, or maybe others in the lodge had reminded him of what the entire point of the Order of Celestial Grace was in the first place. ¡°Rosa, Tobias, go!¡± Finn shouted, pushing them forward as the wyvern surged toward them, inhaling deeply for what Finn was sure would be another burst of toxic mist¡­ ¡°Daros!¡± Finn called, but his friend was shaking his head and stumbling back to the hole in the ground. He didn¡¯t have the chance to say ¡®my people,¡¯ but Finn knew that was exactly what he meant. Daros was a true Defender, and a true Realm Founder at heart. Finn turned and dashed toward the open doors, scrambling inside for the doors to slam shut behind him. Finn was suddenly surrounded by wary, wide-eyed faces. There were more initiates here than Daros had, and they all had that resilient, unkempt look of people who had been living through a siege for a lot longer than Malvas had. ¡°The lodge will protect us! It always has. The Beast cannot penetrate any of the lodges!¡± Vheti was shouting, his lanky form stalking through the crowd as he slammed the last iron bar across the door and yelled at them all to get back. Finn¡¯s head rang with exhaustion. He more fell than sat by the old stairs that wound up to the rooms, Rosa and Tobias beside him. There were Defenders lining the inner balcony and filling the feasting hall. Finn barely had time to think about how strange this was, compared to when he was last here. Vheti was in his element, demanding that pathways be cleared and for people to get out of the way. Finn could see how he had taken power so quickly. He was charismatic, magnetic, and a bully. People jumped to his command as he slapped them out of the way. ¡°Are you sure that little old door will hold, Finn?¡± Tobias whispered, and Finn had to admit that he wasn¡¯t convinced at all. He had seen the size of the wyvern, and by his reckoning, it could tear through that door with one swipe of its tail. BOOM! There was a mighty crash from outside that shook the building. Finn saw Vheti standing in the middle of the hall, hands curled into fists as he glared at the door, treating it and the monster behind it with the same disdain he had shown Finn. A red glow flickered along the base of the outer wall, and there was another crash as well as a shriek of contempt and rage that split the air. ¡°You see? I told you the lodge will hold. The lodges always hold. We just have to remember to not be so stupid as to wander outside¡ªunlike some!¡± Vheti snapped, his eyes finding the three newcomers. All eyes were on Finn. Do we have to do this right now? Can¡¯t it wait until the morning? Finn groaned, but he was a Defender. He was a Realm Founder, Troll-slayer, holder of the Pyrrhic Blade. He struggled to his feet, wavering where he stood. ¡°You threw those undead against my people,¡± Finn said as sternly as he could muster. Vheti looked at him for a moment, then barked a single, horrid laugh. ¡°As you keep saying, we are Defenders. This place is built on challenge. If it wasn¡¯t for the weaker livers in this room with me, I would have left you out there with the Beast, too!¡± Vheti promised. Fine, have it your way. Finn sighed. Rosa looked up at him with concern as Finn raised his weary head to focus on Vheti. It was a glare that had seen the depths of the Qlippothic Realm. It was a glare that had stared into the face of more than one Asai and lived to tell the tale. ¡°Then I challenge you, Vheti of the Fire Lodge, to premiership of this place. As is our custom, and the way of celestial ascension itself, I find you unfit to lead, and I will beat you in any fair challenge you care to name,¡± Finn said, before adding, ¡°but I think I am going to need some rest and breakfast first.¡± 3.26 - Esther and Sesuuk IV ¡°Are you sure you can¡¯t take them? If I understand how this crazy thing works, then you must be, like, a level twenty-something-or-another, right?¡± Esther hissed at the prophet as she trudged alongside him over the golden sands. Their captors had taken them out of the deep deserts¡ªso there was that at least, Esther thought¡ªand into what appeared to be rocky scrubland in the foothills. Stone crags rose on either side of them, and the ground had gone from a dry orange to white, brown, and even green. There were short grasses, desiccated bushes, and dwarf trees. More boulders than Esther could conceivably count lay through the gorges and riverbeds they walked through. Sesuuk bristled as he stalked beside her. Their guards trudged around them and were mostly silent, save for occasional hissed word or hand gesture that Esther caught Sesuuk watching intently. These snake-people didn¡¯t seem to want to waste any energy as they marched through the burning desert. The land was still dry, but at least it wasn¡¯t the desert. ¡°I am not going to tell you my level, and you would be wise to refrain from asking!¡± he rebuked her. ¡°Why? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a secret, is it? This whole celestial scam is all about levels and achievements and¡ª¡± ¡°Silence!¡± Sesuuk quickly turned to grab her elbow with one of his bound hands. ¡°You would do well to not remind people of your status, my girl!¡± Sesuuk murmured, and Esther felt a jolt of fear run down her back like ice water. Oh, yeah. She was supposed to have something called a ¡®celestial inventory¡¯ that appeared on her inner vision and updated her about experience, but it only seemed to work sporadically. Sure, she got experience upgrades when she managed to defeat a monster, but it didn¡¯t mean anything since she couldn¡¯t see what she was supposed to have¡ªlike levels, statistics, skills, or even an Ascension Path! She tried to see if maybe it worked better in a different realm.
[CELESTIAL ENGINE ERROR!]
No luck. She figured it was because of her time incarcerated in that Qlippothic Realm. She still had no idea what Kano or his Asai master had done to her, only that she was different than everyone else now. She could pour green fire out of her hands, which was seemingly not done in this new world. It was, seemingly, just too different from the magic that others¡ªlike her brother and his friends¡ªused. She knew that her status, or lack thereof, freaked people out as well. Just like Blackwood wants to imprison or kill me, don¡¯t they? She felt a pang of regret at that. She couldn¡¯t control her powers. She had no idea what she was doing or how she was doing it. Not that it mattered. Sesuuk cleared his throat and checked that their guards weren¡¯t paying them any extra attention. He continued, ¡°There are twenty-four of them. As impressive as your or my skills are, I could not promise that one of us wouldn¡¯t be seriously injured¡­ And sometimes, you will learn that it pays off to be underestimated by your enemy.¡± Esther¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh. You let them capture you¡­ Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± He shot her an angry look, but there was a sudden hiss from up ahead, and their train of people came to a halt. They were at a turn in the gorge, with high rocks walls on either side. The largest of the snake-people, the one with the most pronounced eye ridges, turned to them and thumped their bladed staff on the ground. ¡°Bring the prisoners forward! We are home!¡± ¡°Home?¡± Esther whispered as scaley, cool hands grabbed her and Sesuuk, shoving them forward. ¡°You will see, Esther Callahan. Say nothing and follow my lead,¡± Sesuuk hissed before they were shoved in front of the group¡¯s ¡®captain,¡¯ who looked Esther over before disregarding and focusing on Sesuuk instead. ¡°You. If you try anything, then know that I will shove my blade right through your foul, treacherous heart, do you understand?¡± Sesuuk, Lamakai Prophet of the Third Trine, merely smiled. ¡°Oh, my poor Kessiva, is father not giving you enough attention? Is it lonely being the heel of the prophet-king? Has he not rewarded you with your own trine yet?¡± Sesuuk¡¯s tone was mocking. In response, the captain¡ªKessiva¡ªstepped forward as fast as lightning and backhanded Sesuuk across the face. ¡°Hey!¡± Esther stepped forward as she felt her anger uncurl in her belly, but the other guards grabbed her. Sesuuk didn¡¯t even appear to mind being hit. He stood a little straighter and smiled into Kessiva¡¯s snarling face. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°You know that there is no Third Trine, Sesuuk! And you are no prophet!¡± Kessiva hissed. ¡°Our father willed that the Third Trine be obliterated from the records when you decided to try and overthrow him, so now there is just the First and the Second!¡± ¡°And Keskul is still in charge of the Second Trine, I take it, meaning there is no place for you, is there, little brother, as father controls the First with an iron fist!¡± Sesuuk said. So¡­ Sesuuk and Kessiva¡ªand this Keskul¡ªwere all brothers and children of the king? The king and two children were leaders of a trine, but Kessiva was left out and clearly not happy about it. Kessiva opened his mouth to argue, but then abruptly turned and marched ahead. ¡°Bring him!¡± he barked, and once again, Sesuuk and Esther were being pushed forward. What is he playing at? Why is he trying to make them mad? Esther wondered until all other thoughts were wiped from her mind when she came around the corner to see what could only be described as a ziggurat. Or half a ziggurat, to be precise. Half of the large edifice was built into the mountain itself, and Esther saw layers of blocks reaching toward them, broken only by a long ramp that cut through the tiers of rock. There were no pennants, no flags, and it almost looked like the seven-story structure was empty. After a moment, there was a grating sound, and the hiss of many claws on stone as a line of Lamakai jogged out from the distant gate at the head of the ramp. They wore simple brown tabards and ran in two lines, one on either side of the ramp. They held the same metal rods as the others. ¡°Er¡­ What¡¯s going on, Sesuuk?¡± Esther whispered. The two lines drew nearer, their steps growing louder, until they came to a stop and stamped their staves on the stone. Esther waited and watched. Nothing happened for a long moment until there was the piercing cry of a horn. ¡°Ah,¡± Sesuuk hissed. A cart began down the ramp. The sun reflected off the vehicle, and it was so bright that it was almost impossible for Esther to look at. When it drew closer, she could see that it was a chariot seemingly made of pure gold. It was being hauled by huge, burly Lamakai. From the iron collars around their necks, she assumed they were slaves. As the chariot passed each pair of guards, they would slam their metal rods into the ground again, creating a threatening heartbeat sound. Soon she could see a figure seated in the chariot, under an awning of turquoise silk. The creature was clearly a Lamakai, but their body was bloated, and the proportions were wrong. The torso was far longer, and the arms were stubbier. ¡°Sesuuk?¡± Esther hissed urgently. ¡°That¡¯s my father,¡± Sesuuk whispered as the vehicle approached. The creature in the chariot leaned forward to peer at Sesuuk, and Esther could feel the waves of power radiating from him. ¡°Sesuuk, my child, welcome home,¡± the prophet-king said. The creature was so close that Esther could see his eyes were an opaque, milky white and she realized he was blind. Sesuuk stiffened but didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°You tried to kill me, my son. You led the Third Trine away from this place. Did you build a realm? Did you come back here for revenge? No. You came back here with your scales about to shed!¡± The voice of the prophet-king was metallic and croaky, laden with such venom that Esther could feel the hatred reserved for his son. So that is how you came to the New Zone, she thought, watching the interaction carefully. ¡°Perhaps you got your Trine killed in the New Zone and have sought to sneak back here to see if I will take you back? Allow you to build your Trine again! Is that it? Well, you are wrong, son of mine! You will face nothing but your own death!¡± the prophet-king stated. ¡°That is not why I am here, Father,¡± Sesuuk finally hissed. ¡°Prophet-King! You will call me by my proper title!¡± the aging serpent-man roared, and Esther wondered precisely how old he was. He looked as though he could be centuries old, although she was no expert on the aging process of snake people. ¡°Then, Prophet-King, look to my side¡ª Oh, sorry, I forgot you cannot¡­¡± Sesuuk started to hiss with laughter, and Esther almost kicked him. What did he think he was doing? Why was he trying to make things worse?! The prophet-king moved his head, as if groping in the dark in Esther¡¯s direction, and then he suddenly, unerringly fixated upon her. Esther felt something wash over her, but she couldn¡¯t say what it was. It felt like the static in the air before a thunderstorm. ¡°What¡­¡± the prophet-king started in wonder. ¡°I bring you a weapon, Prophet-King, a great weapon, and one filled with such destructive powers that we can use her to challenge any Elder or New Realm that we so desire. We shall never again have to hide in our halls. No one will dare challenge us again. Even the Asai themselves will be terrified of us! We will use her to claim the Shard of Time!¡± Sesuuk declared loudly. ¡°What?!¡± Esther turned to Sesuuk, but abruptly, there were blades pointing at her neck and body. She was pushed roughly to the floor, her face hitting the sand. ¡°Sesuuk! What are you doing?!¡± She could feel the rise of that dreadful qlippothic power within her. ¡°Do not resist, Esther, or you will never see your brother again! I am the only way back to him, remember,¡± Sesuuk snapped. Esther gritted her teeth, trying to control the energy, but she wondered what would happen if she unleashed it. Would it be enough to kill everyone here? Probably not. And then she would be stuck there, abandoned in yet another realm far away from her brother. There was a moment of silence, and then a low, dry chuckle came from the golden chariot. ¡°I see that you are just as loyal to your new friends as you were to me, my son¡­ I am pleased with this gift. She will be of use to me, I have no doubt, but you, I am not so sure, not yet anyway. You know that we Lamakai never forget. Never.¡± The prophet-king clapped his hands, and the slaves started to pull the golden chariot back up the ramp. ¡°Father? What do you mean?!¡± Sesuuk hissed. ¡°Throw them both in the lowest dungeons! Place upon them every enchantment to keep them secure!¡± the prophet-king cackled. Esther snarled in frustration from her place in the sand. ¡°You see, Sesuuk?! If you can¡¯t be trusted, no one will trust you!¡± Hands seized her and dragged her to her feet. Screw this, she thought, closing her eyes and reaching for the green energy inside her¡­ But before she could, a cloth was pressed over her nose and mouth. She gagged and gasped. When she managed to breathe in, she got a lungful of a strangely aromatic, fine dust. ¡°Let me go! Get off me!¡± Esther tried to scream and thrash, but the effects of the dust were almost immediate.
You are affected by Dreamers¡¯ Sand. Your combined Wisdom and Durability is [UNKNOWN]. You have failed to resist Dreamers¡¯ Sand. You will be unconscious until such a time as your Stamina recovers¡­
No! Esther tried to shout, but it was already too late. A black cloud enveloped her mind, and she fell silent. 3.27 - The Fire Premier ¡°The rules of the game will be simple enough so even an out-planer can understand them,¡± the current Premier of the Celestial Fire Lodge, the flame-haired Vheti, announced to all those assembled in the central lobby. It was the next day. Finn, Rosa, and Tobias had been given a corner and a scrap of blanket along with a bowl of something like stew to eat. The Fire Lodge looked much different from when Finn had last been here. There were still the wide marble stairs that climbed to a second-floor gallery, and there were the many stout wooden doors that led to the simple cell-like rooms that Finn himself had stayed in while he had trained. It was the lobby below, where once they had eaten great banquets provided by the seemingly never-ending supply of servants, that was now a mess. The vast wooden tables were pushed aside, half of them occupied with items being created or repaired. Blankets and tapestries had been dumped in a corner, and another side of the room had a rudimentary fire with a series of bubbling pots watched by worried initiates. The air was no longer fresh from the sweet herbs hung by invisible hands in the past. Now it was thick with smoke and grease. ¡°Looks like they don¡¯t have access to the kitchens,¡± Tobias murmured. Finn could only not in agreement. It looked more like a refugee encampment than an academy now. He supposed the fact that they had survived at all was a testament to their skills, but as Finn¡¯s gaze rose to meet their so-called leader¡¯s, he wondered at what cost. ¡°A race. Just like the old days. A race to the Tower of Time, and the first person there will be the recognized Premier Martial of Fire.¡± Vheti grinned, and from the snickers around the room, Finn could see that there was far more to this challenge than a simple race. Vheti looked to be roughly Finn¡¯s age, with faintly tanned skin that was drawn tight around his cheekbones and eyes, but there was no way to know his real age. The man wore simple black-and-red clothes, but they were finely spun and fitted his slight frame well. They were clearly better quality than the clothes of anyone else here. Finn didn¡¯t think this Vheti was from Earth, but he couldn¡¯t place what world he did come from. ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± Rosa murmured. Finn shrugged, keeping his glare on Vheti. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I will still win.¡± ¡°Or are you out-planers too scared to run the streets and levels of the citadel, now that you have seen what we face here? Now is your only chance to back down, I am warning you!¡± Vheti returned Finn¡¯s look. Finn felt a wash of sudden fatigue, bordering on indifference. He had a city to liberate and a sister to save. ¡°When do we start?¡± he said with a bored air, earning scattered applause from some of the more impressionable initiates. ¡°Immediately! Around here, we don¡¯t have to dose up on healing potions and make speeches!¡± Vheti said scornfully, which Finn thought was pretty rich, considering Vheti was the one doing all the talking. Finn did have one thing to say, however. ¡°I have one condition,¡± he called as Vheti was about to leap off the table he was standing on. His eyes lit up. ¡°Aha! I knew it! You need a blanket? A companion? Something that will make your life so much easier?!¡± This was all a part of the act, Finn could see. Vheti had created a culture of arrogance inside the Fire Lodge, which perhaps wasn¡¯t the hardest thing to do, given that those on the Ascension Path of Fire were already fairly unpredictable. It was Vheti¡¯s key to his control. He had made those inside these protected walls feel like they were better than every other lodge and every other ¡®plane¡¯ outside. That pride was the only thing that kept them inside here rather than attempting to flee or join anyone else. ¡°When I win, I will be seeking an alliance with the other lodges, and I am offering everyone a chance to return with me to the New Zone, where they will help me liberate a city,¡± Finn announced boldly. ¡°It will be dangerous work, but arguably less dangerous than your lives here. Anyone can try their chances in the New Zone, where there are plenty of opportunities to ascend. My condition is that you do not prevent anyone from making the choice.¡± There was a moment of silence, and then a throng of voices as people debated this new opportunity. Some appeared interested at the chance of escape. Vheti, however, clearly was not. ¡°I knew it! This entire challenge is a trap by some out-planer to weaken us! To drag us into one of their filthy realm wars!¡± Tobias stiffened next to Finn. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve already got a realm war of your own going on here, friend.¡± The Verdainian said the word ¡®friend¡¯ in a low, gravelly tone. Almost like a threat. ¡°You see what I mean about the outer realms! You cannot trust them! That is why we must stay here, at the citadel! Where we will be safe and strong!¡± Vheti shouted, but Finn and his friends could see that at least some of the crowd looked a little incredulous. Clearly, Vheti¡¯s definition of ¡®safe¡¯ was not the same as everyone else¡¯s. ¡°Here, when the other lodges eventually bow to us, we will become the masters of this place! We will be our own instructors! There is nothing that will poison or hurt us, I swear!¡± ¡°I see what¡¯s going on. Daros was right. Vheti wants to become the next instructor by default, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Rosa whispered. The notion that a guy like Vheti could be in charge of the entire Order of Celestial Grace, in charge of the Celestial Register itself and appointed by the Asai of Time, was clearly ridiculous. Wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Even here, the ascension continues,¡± Finn growled. ¡°This place is meant to train Defenders for the games outside, but it still has its conflicts, challenges, and opportunities. This is my offer, take it or leave it. I win, I become the premier, and I leave this place with any who¡¯ll come with me,¡± Finn announced. As soon as he said it, he saw Vheti¡¯s eyes glimmer brightly, and he smiled. He must realize that I¡¯ll leave afterward anyways. For Vheti, it was a no-brainer. As long as he didn¡¯t die, he would still be able to conduct his power-mongering schemes. ¡°You offer is¡­noted, and I accept your condition, but I know that you remain beneath me. Beneath us. I know that you cannot win here, in my house!¡± Vheti said. The responding cheer was ragged, at best, although it was hard to tell just how much legitimate support Vheti did or didn¡¯t have. It didn¡¯t matter at that moment, though, since Finn first had a race to win. Once they moved to start the race, there was a more enthusiastic outcry, despite the dangers ahead. Those of the Fire Lodge had always been a bloodthirsty lot. The contestants made their way through the many corridors and past many doors, including the very large set of back doors, which had been barricaded multiple times. By the time they reached the small final door, there was barely room for everyone. Finn could hear the jostle of bodies behind him. ¡°We race to the Tower of Time. If there are the undead in our way, we kill them,¡± Vheti said casually. ¡°Any path?¡± Rosa asked shrewdly. Vheti turned and offered her a large smile. ¡°Any path.¡± Seems simple enough. Finn nodded, and Vheti¡¯s burly lieutenants grabbed the door and dragged it open, checking the courtyard outside before nodding. They were off. Vheti was the first out of the door, not waiting for a sign from the lieutenants before he grabbed the doorframe and threw himself forward. You little¡ª Finn almost swore, but he threw himself after Vheti a fraction of a second later. He didn¡¯t have time to be surprised or angry now. He lunged into the small courtyard, where it was edged with open galleries held up by stone pillars. He vaguely remembered it as a place for weapons training, and he remembered how hard the cobbled floor was¡­
You have been struck by Fire-Spark for 70 points of damage. Fire Ascension Path: You receive 50% less damage from fire-based attacks. You receive 35 points of points of damage.
Finn snarled at the sudden burst of fire across his vision. He skidded, feeling the murderous desire to fire back. Since he had rested, he had restored all of his Mana, Health, and Stamina, and he knew that his powers could incinerate the upstart¡­ That wasn¡¯t how this game was played, he reminded himself. You were allowed to get injured, and you might die in the process, but you weren¡¯t supposed to purposefully kill another initiate¡­unless the rules had changed. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. A moment later, he saw that it had been a distraction. Vheti was disappearing into the far corner of the courtyard, where a piece of the gallery and adjoining wall had been broken down. With a roar, Finn snapped a hand forward all the same.
Ascension Path: Fire. Strike (INT base damage, every Mana = +1 damage).
He sunk a mere 70 Mana points, the same that Vheti had spent, but it was boosted by his Intelligence of 51. The bolt of flame shot forward and slammed into the opening that Vheti had just gone through.
You have struck your opponent for 121 points of damage.
¡°Let¡¯s see how you like that.¡± Finn grinned when he heard a yelp of pain. He knew that Vheti would have the Fire Ascension advantage of only suffering half of that damage, but there was something petty and pleasing about inflicting 60 when his opponent had only inflicted 35. Despite losing on the exchange of blows, Vheti¡¯s plan had succeeded. He had taken the lead. ¡°We¡¯ll see¡­¡± Finn put on an extra spurt of energy, lengthening his stride as he crossed the courtyard, leaped atop the rubble, and scrabbled to the far side. There, it opened into a narrow alley between the buildings. Where was Vheti? The street went right and left, but not ahead. The white stone walls were too tall for him to see the Tower of Time, but a quick mental check told him that he should be heading right if he wanted to get to the center of the citadel. Suddenly, a vast bell rang from that same direction. ¡°Huh?¡± Finn had a vague recollection of small shrines dotted throughout the citadel that the servants used to try to appease the Asai of Time, but he had no idea who was ringing a bell now, unless¡­ Finn charged down the street and around a curve that opened into a tiny square with a stone pedestal and giant brass bell in its center. As he arrived, Vheti was leaping down with a malicious laugh. He bolted toward the nearest building as shapes started to appear from every corner. That was when Finn realized how much of a treacherous a-hole Vheti was. The bell had summoned the undead. Zombies of all races, sizes, and conditions came lurching toward the noise. ¡°Dammit!¡± Finn roared, seeing that he could not get to the same building that Vheti had in time. The undead were pouring into the square. He knew he could take them, but it would take time. If he wanted to win, he didn¡¯t have that time to spare. The open air provided Finn with a view of the skyline. There were high walls that separated the different quarters of the citadel, and in the distance was the giant, domed tower with its gleaming crystal roof. He had no time to consider options. He quickly chose one of the other exits on the nearest side and raced toward it. The streets there had clearly suffered from the wyvern¡¯s attacks. The walls were blackened, and there were other marks that Finn was sure were dried blood. Stone from the walls and roof tiles lay strewn across the streets. Finn jumped them, seeing a tight turn at the end of the tunnel. He followed it to the right as he heard the undead in pursuit. He picked up the pace, realizing that these weren¡¯t the slow zombies. Up ahead was a T-junction. If he went right, it must lead back to the courtyard? Or possibly to the same route that Vheti had taken. Finn knew his Agility was good, but not great. His Stamina and Strength had to be greater than Vheti¡¯s, though. He might even be able to make it out ahead of him¡­ He ran for the end of the junction, skidding at the end to turn right. There was a shrieking cry just as he turned. Something grabbed his shoulders. Something with cracked fingernails like claws. Finn spun, the Pyrrhic Blade flickering into his hands as he spun, raising the blade to see another gaggle of zombies, a pack that had been on their own journey toward the noise. He lashed out with his blade, cutting straight through the neck of the zombie that had been grabbed him.
You have defeated the Level 14 Zombie. Experience awarded.
Just as he was finishing his swing and the first body was falling, another took its place and slashed at Finn¡¯s exposed arm with its rusted axe. Finn saw the half-destroyed face and gray flesh. The eyes looked feverish and bright with green, toxic energy.
You have been struck by the Level 15 Zombie for 55 points of damage.
Finn took the hit, seeing sparks as the axe struck his leather-and-chain Gauntlets of Strength, taking much of the damage, but the blow still hurt. He returned the favor, stepping forward and chopping down in one overhead sweep that buried the flaming, magical blade into the zombie¡¯s head before he kicked it in the chest and sent it into one behind it. He saw that the first wave of the zombies behind him were starting to catch up. They were turning the corner and began to move faster once they saw him. With a muttered curse, he turned and ran down the lefthand path. Every second he fought was one where Vheti could be running. Finn was losing time, and even though he was more advanced, he knew he couldn¡¯t afford any more distractions. This street curved around a high wall on his left as he ran, and Finn saw that it appeared to reach a wide promenade, five or six times the size of this street. He saw taller stone buildings, most of which were ruined and crumbled. Oh¡­ He suddenly remembered where he was. This was one of the main streets of the fire quarter. There used to be shops and craftsmen living there, working and selling their wares to initiates or servants. No such activity was present. Unable to run back, he continued forward. He remembered this as a very busy place¡­ His feet skidded across the cobbles and flagstones, nimbly jumping over larger bits of masonry. He panted, looking up and down the main street. There stood the old bakery, its quaint wooden front just a pile of burnt splinters now. Further ahead was the watchmaker, whose glass frontage had been completely smashed. The fabulous bronze-and-steel objects he created were smashed and scattered across the street. Everywhere Finn turned, he saw destruction. Almost all of the buildings had their glass completely destroyed, and their doors had been ripped from their hinges. Awnings were now just ragged tatters floating in the wind. Where are all the people now? Finn saw a flash of red out of the corner of his eye and dove forward into a roll just before Vheti¡¯s bolt of fire slammed into the ground near where Finn had been. The Troll-Slayer growled as he got back on his feet. He¡¯d had enough of this. If Vheti wanted a fight, Finn he would give it to him. He wouldn¡¯t kill him, just show him that he was no match for a Defender of Finn¡¯s level. The burst of flame was behind him, but Finn spied the fast-moving figure above him. Above?! Looking up, he could see one of the building¡¯s larger walls running through this part of the citadel. It snaked into something like an aqueduct before arching up to a higher level¡ªone closer to the Tower of Time itself. In effect, Vheti was on a super highway straight to the next level of the entire citadel! As the street filled with hissing, snarling zombies, Finn saw his opportunity further ahead. One of the shops had been almost entirely demolished, forming a large drift of rubble that he could use to scrabble up to the flat roof of the next shop. From there, it was an easy jump onto the wall. Finn sprinted ahead, seeing zombies lurching out of the streets and shops all around him, but he was moving fast, and his blade was held high in his hands. Flash! Vheti was ahead, but he spun to release another flaming shot toward Finn. Finn spun out of the way and laughed. It was an easy dodge. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do better than that!¡± Exhilaration surged through him. The first pack of zombies was cutting across his path to the ruined buildings. The first had a spear, which it thrust at Finn¡¯s belly, but Finn saw it coming. He slammed his blade down, breaking the spear in half before bringing his blade up into the zombie¡¯s face.
You have successfully defeated the Level 14 Zombie. Experience awarded.
¡°Level Fourteen?! Come on!¡± Finn felt the burning sense of success start to flood through his system. He was made for this. His long months out there in the ¡®out-planes,¡¯ as Vheti so derisively called them, had only made him stronger. He had faced armies of trolls and ogres and monsters, while Vheti had been insulated here. Another downward slash, and another zombie fell. But then, he felt pain sear up his arm.
You have been struck by the Level 16 Zombie for 65 points of damage.
It wasn¡¯t a life-threatening attack at all, but it was annoying. It became horrifying when he felt the weight of the zombie grabbing his arm and biting his shoulder. With a disgusted cry, Finn slammed the Pyrrhic Blade into the creature¡¯s chest and sent a burst of fire along it so that it engulfed the undead. It staggered as flames took control of its body. Finn spun back, saw that the way was clear, and leaped for the rubble. This time, he made the jump badly, scraping his knees against the stone as he put his blade back into his inventory.
You have been struck by the rubble for 25 points of damage.
Pain shot through his knees and palms as he climbed, the rocky debris shifting and starting to slide as he dragged himself upward as fast as he could. One of the zombies jumped forward in a wild, reckless leap that no sane or living person would ever dream of doing, but it paid off. An almost-skeletal hand grabbed his lower ankle, and its jagged nails bit into his flesh. ¡°What is it with you people!¡± Finn kicked back, feeling the crunch of bone, but the zombie stubbornly hung on. He kicked again, felt another crack, and then was free to continue up, reaching the roof of the nearest building and pulling himself onto it. There was a flash of red from up ahead, and he flinched, but this time, no flaming arrow sought him out. Another flash, and he saw that Vheti had reached the bridge section of the wall and must have been in a battle with his own undead. That will slow him down, Finn thought grimly as he scrambled to his feet and ran forward. His anger was replaced with grim determination. As much as his opponent was trying to kill him for his own path to glory, Finn realized that he didn¡¯t want the man to die. Not at the hands of the undead. Not at anyone¡¯s hands, in fact. Even Vheti was a person, another initiate of the Fire Path, and he had to be taught a lesson¡­but not a fatal one. Finn took a deep breath and ran toward the back wall, lengthening his stride as he took one lunging step after another, until he kicked off the edge. ¡°Oof!¡± He grunted as he grabbed the ledge of the wall bridge, feeling pain down his back as his arms took his weight, then he hauled himself up and over. He thumped to the top, breathing heavily as his head swam from the effort. He was losing Stamina in this race, but he had enough to finish it. Reach Vheti. Save him from the zombies and then maybe all this will be over. He¡¯ll see that I am the better candidate for the premier. ¡°Vheti! Enough of this!¡± Finn shouted as he got to his feet, his blade once again flickering into his hands as he ran toward where the wall bridge started to arch up to the next level. He could see Vheti¡¯s figure already at the apex of the bridge, and patches of flame formed a barrier along the arch. Oh. So maybe there hadn¡¯t been any zombies at all, and this had merely been another ploy to slow him down. Finn groaned and kept running. The flames were rising, growing in intensity to form a vivid orange blur of heat. He felt the stone underfoot start to rise as he climbed, the views of the different quarters of the citadel visible on either side in a panorama of ruined buildings and rubble-filled streets. ¡°Vheti, stop!¡± Finn cried again as he felt the heat of the flames right ahead of him. He would leap them. It would be easy, and he might not even get hurt¡­ He jumped through the fire. He felt it closing in on him for one terrible moment before he was free, his feet skidding over stone as smoke swirled around him, and then it wasn¡¯t stone but something else. This part of the bridge wasn¡¯t made of stone. Finn saw it all suddenly¡ªthe reason for the fire and why Vheti had led him up here. The middle section of the wall bridge had been destroyed, presumably by the wyvern. Instead, a series of wooden boards reached across the gap, with the rest of the citadel below. And the wooden planks were burning. Finn managed a strangled cough of rage as he desperately lunged, his boots finding purchase on the planks. He leaned forward, trying to run as fast as he could before. Crack. Too late. The burning planks broke, and Finn fell. 3.28 - The Race
You have been struck by the ground for 125 points of damage.
Finn¡¯s first thought was that it was amazing how many times he had been told that in his short, dangerous, and illustrious career as a Defender. ¡°Still, 125 Health isn¡¯t too bad, is it?¡± he groaned, looking around to see that he was surrounded by rock dust and soot. The burning planks had fallen with him into the ruins of the building, and the air was heavy with smoke. It was mostly dark, with a few shafts of light shining down. ¡°Great. Just wonderful. Just absolutely wonderful.¡± Finn coughed and pushed himself up. He appeared to be on top of a pile of rubble. Whenever the bridge originally fell, it must have taken out this building with it¡ªor most of it anyway. He could see the darker shape of an archway at the bottom of the rubble slide. Finn refused to think about failure. How long had he been lying here? He didn¡¯t know. It could have been moments or hours, for all he knew. Did that mean Vheti had already won, and he and the others were now exiled from the Celestial Order? Finn even wondered whether he should just turn around and head back to the lodge, but he shook his head. No. For all he knew, Vheti could also have fallen. The undead were everywhere. He had to push on. For the sake of Malvas, for the sake of Esther. He checked his statistics briefly and found them still passable. Still good enough against any Level 14 zombie, anyway.
Name: Finn Callahan Health: 532 / 848 Mana: 659 / 861 Stamina: 736 / 736
Failure could not be an option. He hissed in irritation as his sore limbs woke up. ¡°I guess I¡¯m lucky I didn¡¯t break my neck,¡± he muttered, summoning a small orb of flame to light his way forward. Surely that archway would lead to something that led up to the next level of the citadel. Unfortunately, the fire illuminated more than just rubble and dust. It showed him the rising, terrible heads of the undead, glaring and alive with a toxic green energy. ¡°Oh, crap,¡± Finn swore. There was a sizeable group of them down here. Ten? More? He could handle that, right? Finn saw their hungry faces and reaching hands as they grabbed the nearest blocks and started to climb. It didn¡¯t really seem he had a choice. He launched himself down the pile, kicking the first zombie in the head as he slashed his blade at the next. A twist of his hips and he was driving his blade through the next zombie on his other side. Suddenly, he had a moment of space as the undead fell back. His feet crunched on the snarling form of one underfoot at the bottom of the collapsed roof. He slashed and hacked from one side to the next, trying to clear as much room around him as possible.
You have slain the Level 12 Zombie. Experience awarded. Stolen novel; please report. You have slain¡­
Finn ignored the messages that constantly blinked updates as he hacked and kicked at the undead. He was more than a match for any of them on their own, he knew, but that didn¡¯t mean he could stop every strike or sweeping claw.
You have been struck by the Level 13 Zombie for 25 points of damage.
With a roar, Finn ran his blade through his attacker. It flailed as it fell, and its blackened claws raked across his face. He yelled in horror and fury. Enough of this!
Fire-Bolt. Convert Mana to Damage.
Vivid flames burst along the blade as he swept it around, pulling it through the impaled zombie and the two that blocked his way. He sunk 120 Mana into the attack, and there was a sheet of explosive flame that sent zombies flying backward.
You have slain the Level 12 zombie. Experience awarded.
Finn jumped through the gap in the horde, his feet skidding on the far side, and then he saw the dark archway and ran for it as the dead burned behind him. There was movement, a snarl in the darkness and green flaming eyes, as one of the creatures rose toward him. He struck out at it, spinning past as his flaming blade illuminated the way ahead. He found himself in one of the many tunnels that snaked through the citadel, linking the various levels and lodges to form an entire under-city of storerooms, workshops, and lodgings. The tunnel turned to the right, opening into a wide room whose roof was held up by pillars. Waiting for him there, of course, was more undead. Finn saw them staggering to their feet, pushing away from the wall as he tore forward. His blade struck out at any that dared get too close as he ran for the steps at the far side.
You have been struck by the Level 14 zombie for 35 points of damage.
Hands and weapons struck out at him, but he safely reached the steps. There was a larger archway straight ahead, leading into darkness. It was moving up, so that had to be the right direction¡­ Finn ran into it, aware of the growing clamor behind him. He just needed to get to higher ground. He needed to get to the tower level, the highest point of the entire citadel. He was in another tunnel, wider this time. He passed dim doorways on either side and could see broken chairs and ruined scraps of paper. This had to be some sort of underground library, he thought as he heard the scrape of feet chasing him. How far do I have to go? There was a hiss from his right, and Finn¡¯s blade slashed through the reaching arm of yet another zombie. Another sweep from his left came from a zombie that had clearly been one of the librarians or clerks, still wearing torn and ragged white robes. The tunnel turned, and there, right up ahead, was a large wooden door. ¡°Come on, come on, come on¡­¡± Finn struck it, grabbing the handle to find that it was stuck. He heaved at it with one arm, feeling it creak and move just a few inches, groaning in protest. The sounds of his pursuit grew louder, and he glanced back and saw the horde filling the passageway. Even from there, he could see the toxic green of their eyes. There were more of them now, since the first group had undoubtedly gathered the undead from the rooms they passed. Growling, he grabbed the door handle with both hands.
Ascension Path: Fire Strength +1 STR for every 20 Mana.
The door wasn¡¯t opening under his normal strength, and Finn was sure that there must be something blocking it from the other side. He poured 100 Mana into his Strength, giving himself a boost of five as the horde grew closer. With a grunt of effort, Finn threw his shoulder against it. There was a crash, and he was suddenly spilling into the darkened room beyond. He surged to his feet, seizing the door and slamming it shut. He pulled up the thing that had been blocking it¡ªwhat looked to be a wooden bookcase, still half filled with grimoires and scrolls. He slid it in front of the door right as there was the thump from the other side, followed by another, and another, and another. ¡°How long is that going to hold?!¡± Finn whispered to himself as he backed away from the shuttering door. He almost tripped down stairs behind him. ¡°Whoa, sh¡ª¡± He caught himself before he fell, turning to stumble down the steps as he got the sense he was in some vast chamber, but it was almost pitch-black. He could feel air against his skin, but it was musty. He summoned a tiny ball of flame to cast dim light around himself. He was halfway down the steps, and before him were aisles and aisles of a library, stretching on for what looked like forever. ¡°Oh, great,¡± Finn said. There was another thump from the doors behind him, and now a creak as the wood started to give under the weight of all the undead bodies pressing against it. This wasn¡¯t a higher level, and it just might be a literal dead end. He had to find some way forward or admit that he had already lost the race. Not to mention possibly being eaten by zombies. The idea of failing Malvas, and failing his sister, was something that he could not and would not bear. He would push on. He hadn¡¯t come this far in the Celestial Ascension just to be pushed back so easily. The door shook behind him, and the Defender could hear the hissing voices of the dead now. They must have managed to open it just a crack. ¡°I can¡¯t wait around here,¡± he breathed. Finn started forward, but then his ball of flame was abruptly snuffed out. ¡°No¡­ No, you can¡¯t,¡± a deep, baritone voice said. 3.29 - Old Friends, Old Enemies ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Flames burst around him as Finn equipped the Pyrrhic Blade, but somehow the sparking red dulled as soon as he had swept it before him. Huh?! ¡°Don¡¯t you remember me, Finn Callahan?¡± the voice purred from the dark. It was deep, and rich, and every time it spoke, Finn felt a wave of power wash over him. He had heard a voice like that before, hadn¡¯t he? It hadn¡¯t been laden with power, though. ¡°Here¡­ Let me¡­enlighten you.¡± The voice chuckled as the dark appeared to lighten, quiver, and then Finn watched scintillating shades of deep, arcane purple lace through it, rushing together to combine into a spinning form. The purple flashed and flexed, sometimes rippling with brilliant celestial energy, and darkening at others. The light was forming a humanoid shape, but one that was taller than Finn¡ªeven where he was standing several steps up from the library floor. ¡°Uh, very impressive, but I¡¯m not really seeing the resemblance¡­¡± Finn managed to say, even as waves of power rushed over him. He knew that he stood in the presence of a very powerful being, possibly a demi-god or higher spirit, but he couldn¡¯t remember ever seeing a being like it before. ¡°Oh, really? I¡¯m hurt. Perhaps this will help,¡± the creature said. Its form flushed blue, and then Finn was looking at a man-giant with a perfectly sculpted torso and a face that was humanoid, save for its glowing blue skin and eyes like burning diamonds. ¡°Lord See!¡± Finn gasped. Only it wasn¡¯t Lord See anymore, was it? It was the demi-god being that had lured countless souls to Malvas in order to reap their experience and ascend, merging with the entrapped First Vampire to become¡­ The Asai of Shadow. ¡°I would rather you call me by my correct title¡ªHighness, Lordship, Your Greatness¡ªbut I do remember when I had such a small name,¡± the Asai said. Its skin started to change into a deeper blue. ¡°As I remember you, Finn Callahan, Defender and Realm Founder of Blackwood. I recall how you helped me to ascend, and for that, I am grateful.¡± The being took a step, turning slowly. Its brilliant eyes illuminated the space around them. ¡°Rather dreary surroundings, don¡¯t you think? I expected nothing less from Time, of course.¡± He¡¯s talking about the Asai of Time, Finn realized. They were the one who created this pocket realm, who was supposed to be in charge of it, guarding it. Somehow, Finn couldn¡¯t imagine the Asai of Time ever allowing the Asai of Shadow into his sacred domain. ¡°How are you even here? I mean, have you forged an alliance with Time?¡± Finn asked, astonished. ¡°An alliance? Engines forbid, no!¡± the Asai of Shadow laughed. The nearest bookshelves shook, and Finn struggled to stay standing. ¡°My purpose and Time¡¯s are quite at odds with each other, I¡¯m afraid. If he were still in charge here, he would never allow it! But the Asai of Time is weakened¡ªinjured, you might say¡ªand that is why this place is infected...¡± Shadow said, flicking a hand toward one of the shelves. A grimoire floated off it and flicked open before his giant form, like he was reading it. With a disgusted snort a moment later, the Asai gestured again, and the book rotted into a pile of dust. Finn gulped. If he was so powerful that he could do that, what could he do to Finn¡¯s body? Or, hopefully, to the zombies? ¡°Your, uh, Asai-ship? I don¡¯t want to seem rude, but I¡¯m in kind of a tight spot at the moment¡­¡± Finn said, throwing a look behind him to where the thumping and creaking continued. ¡°Oh, them? Puppets, nothing more.¡± The Asai of Shadow waved his hand, and a darkness so total fell behind him that it was like looking at death itself. All sound of Finn¡¯s pursuers instantly stopped. ¡°They will not bother us. They might bother you afterward, but that depends on how our little conversation goes now, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Finn muttered something not very nice under his breath. This was precisely the sort of posturing that he hated from highly ascended beings. He did his best not to glower at the being that could probably destroy him in a heartbeat. ¡°You want something. From me.¡± There was another deep, resonating chuckle from the blue-skinned giant. ¡°Oh, my dear Finn, I want nothing from you at all. But I can offer you something that would be mutually beneficial to both of us.¡± Finn could see the catch here. ¡°Beneficial to you if I do it, but if I don¡¯t, then I guess I¡¯m going to get torn apart by zombies?¡± ¡°Staying alive is beneficial to you, is it not?¡± the Asai countered. Finn gritted his teeth and balled his fists. If only he were stronger, then he wouldn¡¯t get stuck in these games with beings who thought they were gods! Or maybe they were gods. He didn¡¯t know the difference. But Malvas needed him. Esther needed him. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it, so long as it doesn¡¯t harm any of my people,¡± Finn snarled. The Asai of Shadow threw his head back, laughing so loud that the very floor shook. Finn was forced to crouch as waves of power buffeted him. ¡°Oh, honestly, I never tire of dealing with mortals.¡± After a moment, he collected himself and turned to face Finn directly. His tone lowered, and somehow, his eyes grew brighter. ¡°The last time we spoke, you asked for a simple boon, which I gave to you. The location of your sister Esther. Now you are perhaps ready to hear the rest of the puzzle¡­¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. What?! Finn didn¡¯t trust the Asai. Who would trust someone who was the incarnation of darkness and subterfuge? ¡°I know that she was imbued with qlippothic energy by some renegade Asai, but I will heal her. We won¡¯t be pawns in anyone¡¯s game anymore¡­¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you, Finn Callahan of Blackwood?¡± The Asai stepped closer, raising one hand with a ball of glistening, roiling black in his palm. ¡°When you were elevated into the Celestial Engines, a Renegade broke the rules. He broke the system, just a little, but it was enough for the qlippothic powers to take notice and to take advantage. Your sister has become a super-weapon, capable of delivering qlippothic energy straight into the Celestial Engine or any celestial creature. In this way, that other realm wishes to infect, and ultimately bring down, the system itself.¡± Finn felt his stomach lurch, but he nodded grimly, refusing to show how appalled he was that they would use his sister that way. ¡°That infection is already spreading out, reaching through all of the realms. Why do you think that the Asai of Time couldn¡¯t be here? That this place is infected with the undead? It is another shadow of the Qlippothi, reaching even here. Especially here.¡± Finn¡¯s mind raced. ¡°The Celestial Register. The register of all souls in the Celestial Engines. Is that what you are talking about? Why this place is infected?¡± The blue-skinned giant appeared to shrug, as if this chatter was beneath him. ¡°Clearly. The Celestial Register is one of the key pieces of the engines. It is what we call a prism, a node of Time¡¯s power, which every Asai of Time that has ever ascended keeps. If the Qlippothi seized it, or destroyed it, then think of the damage that would cause to the entire system.¡± Finn tried to. The location of every soul would be unknown to the Asai. There would be no more scheming from the gods with the lives of the lesser ascended mortals¡­ Perhaps it would even affect their levels?! ¡°So, in return for your life, you will inject a portion of my essence instead into the Celestial Register. That will keep it safe.¡± The Asai of Shadow gestured with the ball of black, glistening energy. I don¡¯t believe that for a second, Finn thought. ¡°But what of Time himself? You say the register is a¡­a prism? A shard of his power? What will this do to him?¡± Finn asked. ¡°As if you could care! Time wanted you destroyed, remember?¡± Shadow scoffed, once again offering the ball of glistening black energy. ¡°This is the only way that you survive this realm, Finn Callahan of Blackwood. It is the only way that you run back to Malvas, and to your sister.¡± Finn looked at the glistening, oily orb. He could feel the weight of it in the air, and he wondered about what devastating power it contained. He was full of doubts. Why was Shadow apparently seeking to help Time by securing the register? Finn tried to fathom it, but he couldn¡¯t. Maybe he isn¡¯t helping Time at all. Maybe this is another powerplay, and Shadow wants this realm for himself?! That seemed like the more likely scenario. The Asai seemed to straighten his shoulders just a little. ¡°I see you have your doubts and questions, of course you do, but this is the truth. You and your sister are pawns. Every soul is a pawn of the Asai or the Qlippothi¡­ or both. You can either accept that your ascension ends here, torn apart by the undead, or you can play your part and maybe someday ascend yourself.¡± Finn had never been very good at being given orders. He bristled as a fiery rage started to run through him. Even though he could feel the waves of power beating against his body, he forced himself to stand with a grunt. There was a flicker of light from the eyes of the Asai of Shadow, as if not even a being of his power had expected that. Finn stared at the Asai, and the orb, and he thought of his sister. What did it matter what games of superiority the Asai were playing with each other? Maybe Shadow would use this to weaken, even defeat, Time¡­but all Finn cared about was Esther, Blackwood, and Malvas. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it. Just promise me that me and my people will be safe.¡± ¡°Oh, there are no promises in the games of ascension, but I can guarantee you that none of my powers will bring you or yours harm. They will strengthen you. All you have to do is deliver it to the Celestial Register, and then you may leave,¡± the Asai said. Finn nodded and reached out to touch the edge of the glistening black ball.
[CELESTIAL ENGINE ERROR!]
Finn was thrown back as if swatted by a giant hand. He must have hit the stone steps, but he didn¡¯t feel any pain¡ªor any sensation at all¡ªas darkness surrounded him.
[CELESTIAL ENGINE OVERWRITE¡­] [The Prism of Shadow has been added to your inventory.]
¡°Huh, what?!¡± Finn thrashed, but he didn¡¯t know where he was. He didn¡¯t even know if he was anymore. All around him was darkness, and it was inside of him as well, a ball of shadow power that he could feel running through his mind and body.
Temporary Prism: +5 to all Attributes Temporary Mana Limit Set: Your Mana has temporarily increased by 500. Temporary Ascension Path Set: Ascension Path: Shadow. Shadow-Step: Mana Cost: 50+ You may use shadows as portals, as long as you know the exact location where you are stepping out from. Camouflage: Mana Cost: 50 You may hide your actions and movements. Shadow-Strike: Mana Cost: variable Mana + INT base damage Confound: Mana Cost: 75 You may confound your enemy with wreaths of darkness.
¡°What, but¡­I don¡¯t understand!¡± Finn said. Then, the darkness appeared to recede, replaced with the dim ruddy glow of his blade where it lay on the floor beside him. He was still in the library, but the Asai of Shadow was gone. Finn was alive, which was perhaps the most surprising thing of all. He gasped for air and sat up. A moment later, he heard the scratching and creaking above him. The red glow of his sword illuminated both the steps and the bookcase being shoved out of the way. ¡°Looks like the Asai of Shadow wasn¡¯t going to help me that much!¡± Finn muttered. He scrambled to his feet, snatched up his sword, and backed further into the library. Then again, maybe he had, Finn realized as the door burst open and spilled undead bodies onto the landing. There was more than a dozen of them. The tunnel beyond was completely filled. The Asai of Shadow had given him new powers, albeit temporarily. ¡°All I need is a shadow, right?¡± Finn saw the nearest gap between two aisles, and he thought of the shadows he had seen inside the Tower of Time, under the stairs that led to the instructor¡¯s private chambers. Finn grasped for his new power as the zombies lunged.
Ascension Path: Shadow Shadow-Step
3.30 - The Tower of Time Finn gasped as a terrible cold rushed through his body, and he was again surrounded by darkness. For an awful moment, he was sure that the Asai of Shadow had tricked him, and these powers were traps¡­ But then, just as suddenly, he was stumbling into the light and skidding across a marble floor carved into a fractal mosaic pattern in a circular room. Good, healthy sunlight streamed in through the open doors, and Finn could see the wall-top avenue beyond with the ruined domes and spires in the distance. ¡°I made it! This is the Tower of Time!¡± Finn laughed, feeling giddy with how quick and easy that had been. If only he¡¯d had this power at the start of the race! The truth of where he was hit home a moment later. He was in the Tower of Time, the very center of the Order of Celestial Grace¡¯s power, and what should have been the home of the instructor, the Chief Acolyte of Time. The doors were open. Instructor Lem was long gone, destroyed by the other premiers. There was no one there, and the large chamber was bare. Finn slowly turned around and saw the stone stairwell that led up to the laboratories. His gaze returned to the center of this room, where all the marble tiles met. There was a giant, carved design of interlocking circles there¡ªthe insignia of the Celestial Engines. The last time he had been here, the Celestial Register had erupted from the center of the room by an unseen mechanism. Was it really so simple as to just walk toward it? ¡°You!¡± There was a murderous, scandalized shout from the door, and Finn looked up to see Vheti¡ªthe would-be Fire Lodge Premier, would-be instructor¡ªlimping through the open doors. Oh yeah, the race, Finn remembered. ¡°You¡¯re too late. I got here first, Vheti,¡± Finn announced, but from the look on his opponent¡¯s face, there was no way he was going to back down now. ¡°Trickery! I should have won!¡± Vheti roared, a curving sword appearing in one hand with a flicker of red flame. ¡°Now, Vheti, fair and square, I¡¯m here first. There¡¯s no need¡­¡± Finn began, but the other man was incensed. He threw a hand forward, sending a bolt of fiery energy straight at Finn. All of attributes are temporarily increased, thanks to the Asai of Shadow! The thought flashed through Finn¡¯s mind as he leaped to one side, hitting the stone floor and rolling. He came up into a crouch. His Agility was very high¡­ and then he thought of the Prism of Shadow. His attributes weren¡¯t the only thing that had been increased. He also had an extra 500 Mana and could probably obliterate Vheti any time he wanted to. ¡°Vheti, stop!¡± Finn shouted as he threw up his fists, fire blazing around them defensively. He knew that he had already won, especially with his new powers. There was no need for more death¡­ Vheti did not appear to agree, and he didn¡¯t relent. The crazed man charged into the Tower of Time, leaping into the air as flames curled up his body, around his arm, and down to his blade. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. With a grunt, Finn equipped the Pyrrhic Blade and brought it up with both hands to parry the younger Defender¡¯s blow. Finn¡¯s blow was so strong that it knocked Vheti¡¯s arm wide, possibly breaking it in the process. With a cry of pain, the man released his blade and it clattered to the floor. ¡°Vheti, I won. Stop this madness!¡± Finn shouted. But Vheti was incensed. As Finn spoke, his challenger threw both fists forward in a double punch, and red energy exploded from them.
You have been struck by the Level 19 Defender for 220 points of damage. You receive 50% less damage from fire-based attacks. You receive 110 points of damage.
Finn felt pain flare through him as he was thrown backward, one foot sliding across the stone. Vheti must have thrown everything he had into that strike. It had hurt, and it stoked the fire Finn always felt. Vheti wasn¡¯t going to give up. He had wanted Finn to die in the race, and he had sabotaged the bridge to do it. People like Vheti are never going to give up, Finn thought, with resignation. He moved lithely around the tower, moving back and forth like a boxer as Vheti advanced. ¡°You are what¡¯s wrong with all of this. All of everything!¡± Vheti spat. ¡°We could have been safe here in the Celestial Order, if everyone had listened to me. If the other lodges just gave up, realized we were the strongest¡­¡± ¡°If they accepted you as the new instructor?¡± Finn asked, side-stepping a high kick. Finn returned his blade to his inventory so they were both bare-fisted. He could tell that Vheti was probably more skilled in hand-to-hand, but Finn had the speed, the strength, and the Mana. ¡°Yes!¡± Vheti shouted in outrage as they circled each other. ¡°I would never lead anyone out there into the realms. The New Zone equals death! Everyone knows that.¡± He¡¯s got a point, Finn had to agree, but he could also feel the shadow prism inside him and what it meant. Past Vheti¡¯s shoulder, he could see the haze of smoke and destruction across the citadel. ¡°The outer realms have already come here, Vheti. You know that. Time has abandoned this place, and you¡¯re on your own. I can provide some hope. A new direction. Better that then to wait for this place to get inundated with more undead or some new invader¡­¡± Finn said. Vheti charged and threw a punch, which Finn dodged. The man tried to knee Finn in the midsection, Finn easily dodged that too. The enraged, wannabe Premier tried a spinning, backward fist¡­ Finn caught the attack on his forearm, then stepped in to grab Vheti¡¯s shirt and shove him roughly back, his increased Strength launching the man backward. Vheti skidded to the door and through it, falling to the floor as Finn advanced on him. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Finn said angrily. ¡°You¡¯ve lost. We¡¯re supposed to be Defenders, that is what we chose when we reached Level Ten, and that is what this place is for, damn it! We¡¯re supposed to go out into the realms and defend people against the monsters! That is what I am going to ask the Fire Lodge and any who¡¯ll come with me to do!¡± Finn loomed over Vheti, his fists starting to spark with crimson energy. Finn glowered at the other Defender and saw doubt creep into the man¡¯s face. His mouth wobbled, and his eyes grew large. In that moment, Finn knew he had won. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re not going to kill me?¡± Vheti asked in a small voice. ¡°Of course not! Why should I? You¡¯re a Defender, Vheti, just like me. That must mean there is at least some part of you that wants to be a hero. Wants to be a good person. And from what I¡¯ve seen on the outside, we need every good person we can get out there. We need good fighters like you.¡± Finn offered a hand to his fallen enemy¡­ Just as there was the slightest shift in the air at his back. A foul smell. Vheti¡¯s eyes went from large to saucer plates, and his face flushed. Finn saw that he was looking directly over his shoulder at something. Then, there was the gun-crack snap of thunder. Oh no. It wasn¡¯t thunder at all, though. It was the coming of the wyvern. 3.31 - The Wyvern ¡°It¡¯s the Beast! It¡¯s here!¡± Vheti shrieked as Finn spun around to see that, yes, he was unfortunately correct. The creature must have been attracted by their fight. It was rising over the Tower of Time, hovering with vast, tattered, yellow-green wings. Its long, alligator-like head peered down at them. ¡°We have to run! We cannot fight it!¡± Vheti was leaping to his feet, about to run back down the wall-top avenue. Finn saw that the creature was already inhaling, its gullet swelling as it prepared to loose its poison breath at them. ¡°No! Into the tower!¡± Finn shouted, but it was already too late. Vheti ran, desperate and terrified, back the way he had come. Finn dove through the doorway. He felt the impact wave pass his shoulder as he hit the floor and rolled into the Tower of Time, spinning to his side to see a lurid green cloud smash into the avenue. It was completely engulfed, and Vheti was driven off the stones. One moment, he was there, and the next, he was gone. Vheti wouldn¡¯t become a zombie, as far as Finn knew, since he was probably incinerated from the full force of the monster¡¯s breath. ¡°NO!¡± Finn shouted in despair. It shouldn¡¯t have happened like this. Vheti could have been redeemed. He could have become a better person. As the last of the green cloud died down and fell from the edge of the wall, a shadow eclipsed the tower. Finn saw the two giant back legs of the creature slamming into the wall, and there was another deafening crack of wing-thunder. The Beast had landed on the bridge, and its scales were shifting as it turned toward the tower. Was the Tower of Time magically defended, like the lodges were? Finn had no idea. It would be absurd if it wasn¡¯t, but he had no time to think about it as the creature¡¯s head leaned toward the open doorway. The shadows! Finn jumped for the shadow under the stairs.
You have activated Shadow-Step.
He felt a moment of absolute cold as he was plunged into darkness, and then he was spilling out under the stairs of the Fire Lodge, spluttering and coughing as he heard alarmed shouts all around him. Finn raised his head to see the assembled initiates along with Tobias and Rosa. ¡°Finn?! How did you do that?!¡± ¡°You look like crap!¡± Rosa was more poetic. Finn was still gathering his bearings. He took in the tables, the makeshift cookfire, and the rising bodies of the Fire Lodge Defenders. He gasped. ¡°It¡¯s the wyvern. It¡¯s at the tower. It killed Vheti,¡± he said quickly, but then a second thought struck him. He needed to go back. He had just been telling Vheti how they needed to be better than they thought they could be. They were here to kill monsters, weren¡¯t they? ¡°Finn? I don¡¯t understand. How are you able to teleport now?¡± Rosa was saying, keeping a cool head as the initiates all shouted in dismay and surprise. ¡°I can¡¯t explain right now, but I¡¯m going to kill it. I¡¯m going to end this!¡± Finn promised, turning back and diving into the shadow under the stairs. There was another disorientating moment of void and cold, and then Finn was gasping as he staggered back into the Tower of Time. There were now pockets of green, toxic fire slowly fading from where the Beast had attempted to kill him. The creature filled the doorway. Finn could see one muscular leg, with green-and-yellow scales the size of dinner plates. He could see the underside of its belly and the edge of a leathery wing. Its talons alone were as long as Finn¡¯s forearms. He got the sense that it was turning around, looking over its shoulder for where the mysterious human had disappeared to. ¡°Surprise!¡± Finn had an idea as he darted toward the open door, the Pyrrhic Blade appearing in his hands.
Ascension Path: Combat. Speed of the Warrior. 150 Mana Cost. +50% Damage. The Pyrrhic Blade. Fire-Bolt. Convert Mana into damage.
Finn¡¯s focused on his stats and attributes as he felt power surge through him. Suddenly, his limbs were imbued with incredible speed as his form appeared to blur. The wyvern was directly over him as he leaped, flames bursting along the blade as he stabbed upward. He sunk 200 Mana into the Fire-Bolt and felt the explosion as his blade struck the winged monster and bit deep.
You have struck the Level 40 Wyvern, Avatar of Corruption, for 315 points of damage. Speed of the Warrior +50% damage. You have struck the Level 40 Wyvern for 458 points of damage.
There was a tremendous scream of pain, and the creature was shifting, but Finn was already diving for the shadow cast by its wing and leg. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Shadow-Step.
Everything blinked into darkness, and then back into dazzling light as he staggered out from under the tower¡¯s stairs. The creature thrashed and struck the building with its clawed wings. There were thick spatters of blue ichor across the stone walls. The wound Finn had inflicted was clearly severe, but it wasn¡¯t enough. There was a deafening crash against the wall as the creature struck again, and Finn was thrown from his feet. Somewhere, there was the sound of glass exploding, and Finn saw heavy slabs of rock falling to the floor. ¡°It¡¯s going to bring down the whole tower!¡± Finn gasped in horrified awe. How strong was the Avatar of Corruption? And, much more worryingly, would the Celestial Register survive if the Tower did not? Another scrape that sounded more like a scream, and Finn knew he had to do something more. He had to attack again. Edging around the side of the room toward the door, he suspected the wyvern hadn¡¯t yet realized that the strike had come from him. He leaned out to see that the creature was wobbling, dripping blood as it raised and flexed its wings. There wasn¡¯t much shadow underneath it this time, but Finn didn¡¯t need much. A single shadow would do. He waited for the wyvern to stagger toward the tower once again. ¡°My new Shadow powers, there must be something more¡­¡± Finn reviewed his new skills and settled on Shadow-Strike. Would the Celestial Engines even let him combine magic like that? He had no idea, but as the enraged beast hit the Tower of Time and more blocks started to fall, Finn knew he had no choice. He darted out.
Fire-Bolt. Convert Mana to damage. Shadow-Strike INT base damage. Convert Mana to damage.
Finn slashed up with his blade and again activated its incendiary abilities, pouring another 300 Mana into the blow this time. At the same time, he activated the prism. He could feel the warring energies of hot and cold, dark and light, within him. The Pyrrhic Blade was a burning star inside a wreath of terrible black flames as he hit, and his blade bit deep once more. Too deep. The wyvern writhed in agony, and Finn was hauled from his feet. He still clutched the blade as the creature thrashed, and he was sent flying. The Defender felt a moment of utter weightlessness before he struck the side of the tower and slumped to the floor.
You have been struck for 100 points of damage. You have struck the Level 40 Wyvern, Avatar of Corruption, for 420 points of damage. Shadow-Strike: Mana already expended. INT base damage. You have struck the Level 40 Wyvern for 471 points of damage. You are Stunned. -50% to all actions for one minute.
Finn groaned. His head swam with stars, and his entire body felt like the wyvern had just sat on him. He tried to push himself up but staggered to one side, having to hold onto the stone wall for support. The stone wall of the outside of the Tower of Time, Finn slowly realized. ¡°No!¡± He spun around, feeling dizzy and nauseous. He saw that the wyvern had backed up, shaking its head and trying to curl its neck over a terrible gash in its thorax. ¡°My blade. Where is my blade?¡± Finn blearily realized that he had dropped it in the fight. He tried to look for it, but his vision was doubled. He had fallen almost two stories, he realized. There. It was a little way on the cracked stones, but before he could stumble toward it, the Beast spotted him. It lowered its long snout and lurched toward Finn.
Confound
Finn was too far from his blade, but he flung one hand out and a wreath of black, oily tentacles burst into the air, turning into drapes of a sticky smoke-like substance that encircled the wyvern¡¯s head. The creature tossed its neck, trying to dislodge the dark shapes with one wing. The strike missed Finn by meters, but the force of its wings was so strong that he was still driven to his knees. ¡°How much darn health do you have?!¡± he growled as he reached his blade. He snatched it up and rolled over to a crouch, holding the blade up as the creature thrashed its wings again. The wreaths of darkness were still holding onto its head, and the creature couldn¡¯t shake them off. Finn had no idea how long the power would last, but he also knew that he had no time to spare.
Finn Callahan Mana: 289 / 861
He had just enough Mana left for another Speed of the Warrior, but he thought that it probably wasn¡¯t worth it. Not when his Fire-Bolt was so strong. But if I use up all my Mana, I¡¯m finished¡­ The worry raced through him as he staggered to his feet. The screams of the wyvern rose around him. He quickly checked if the Confound spell was still in place, and it was, but the black mists were starting to disintegrate. Every violent twist of the creature¡¯s head cleared another shred of darkness until he could see the creature¡¯s snout. It wouldn¡¯t last much longer. There was nothing for it. Finn ran, straight for the Level 40 creature, as the thing roared and screeched its fury. One pounding step. Two. Screaming, Finn leaped as high as he could. He slashed down with all his might and his blade sunk into the creature¡¯s head. He threw his Mana into his weapon at the same time, as much as he dared, and prayed it would be enough. His body hit the Beast, and his blade sliced through scales and sinews. Flames burst all around him. He heard a terrible death screech as he fell to the floor, one wing slapping him into the ground with as much force as an ogre¡¯s hammer.
You have been struck for 125 points of damage.
Everything went black for a moment, and Finn felt something heavy weighing on him. For a wild, disoriented moment, he wondered if he had actually used his Shadow powers, but this darkness was different from that darkness. For one, it wasn¡¯t cold. Oh, right, the thing¡¯s on top of me¡­ He realized that the creature must be lying with at least one of its wings entirely smothering him. It wasn¡¯t all bad news, though.
You have slain the Level 40 Wyvern, Avatar of Corruption. Experience awarded.
Finn almost wouldn¡¯t have believed it, if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that the creature¡¯s dead body was on top of him. He struggled and fought against the heavy wing, thinking that he might die after all. Then, however, there was a sudden flare of glorious daylight. ¡°Finn! What the hell did you just do?!¡± It was Rosa and Tobias, reaching under the wing to grab him by the arms and drag him out. He collapsed again next to the body of the fallen monster. No sooner had they done this when purple lightning raced across the cobbles and into Finn¡¯s body. This time, his ascension was a powerful one. Finn felt a surge of wild, savage joy as strength and vitality flooded his ailing limbs.
You have reached Level 29. You have reached Level 30. +4 STR, +4 INT, and +10 free points to spent.
¡°Sheesh! Stand back!¡± the pink-haired Rosa gasped as the celestial energy surged through him, remade him, and left him panting for air. ¡°I went up two levels,¡± Finn said through gritted teeth while somehow still smiling. ¡°Well, I should hope so too if you just singlehandedly killed that!¡± the Verdainian said, offering Finn his hands once the celestial energies had done their work. ¡°Congratulations.¡± Tobias grinned, nodding to the body of the giant beast sprawled across the bridge, one wing draped over the side. ¡°Yeah, I, uh, I think?¡± Finn¡¯s body was still wracked with pain despite his ascension, and he knew that he would need to rest and healing before he fought any more battles. He wasn¡¯t about to die, though, which was always nice. ¡°But how did you kill it? And how did you suddenly learn how to teleport?¡± Rosa asked with narrowed eyes. She was a shrewd one, and Finn felt vaguely guilty for the help he¡¯d gotten. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, I promise, but not right now. There¡¯s something else I have to do. Can you¡­stay out here?¡± Finn fixed his eyes on the ruined archway to the Tower of Time. Rubble was halfway across it, but he could still get by it to reach the Celestial Register¡­ ¡°What do you mean, wait out here? What¡¯s happening, Finn? What have you done?¡± Rosa somehow managed to squint even more. ¡°I made a promise. One that helped me defeat that thing,¡± Finn said wearily as he staggered over the rubble and into the Tower of Time, this time making straight for the center of the room.