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V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
Holy Status Detected [SD]
Resist Status: None [Inactive]
Applying Resistances¡
Resistance Unsuccessful
Holy Vulnerability in Full Effect
V:\>
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¡°Ah, a bit much, Anlyth?¡± The dwarf chuckled, amusement clear in her deep, scratchy voice.
I had to agree as I tried not to scream out in pain. Seriously, Holy magic is utter bullshit. I don¡¯t think it does as much damage as Fire, but it certainly confirmed my earlier suspicion from those three statues¡ªHoly hurts way more!
¡°Truly, Gimona Grimmail?¡± the elf retorted with a haughty tone. ¡°It was an unholy feral creature. I did it a kindness by granting it a swift death.¡±
¡°Ah, c¡¯mon now, Anlyth,¡± the dwarf teased, her voice rich with annoyance. ¡°Don¡¯t ye know goblin hearts are a delicacy ¡¯mongst us dwarves? Ye went and blew its wee heart away!¡±
¡°Such strange tastes you dwarves have,¡± the wizard sighed, shaking his head. ¡°I will never comprehend your dietary choices.¡±
¡°Ah, that¡¯s a feckin¡¯ good one, Craycroft!¡± the dwarf boomed with laughter. ¡°Ye, who¡¯s never savored the delight o¡¯ dwarven meat and the nectar o¡¯ our finest mead! Now, that¡¯s a bleedin¡¯ joke! And as for yer tower, I¡¯ve heard whispers ¡¯bout the perverse things ye be doin¡¯ in there.¡±
Their laughter gradually faded as they departed, swallowed by the depths of the massive corridor and its endless pillars. All that remained was the faint afterglow from the shattered crystals, casting a dim light that sparkled like distant stars, as if imbued with some of the elf¡¯s magic. Its golden brilliance slowly faded into the enveloping darkness.
As the glow dissipated, I took my time reforming my body, a growing sense of dread enveloping me as I approached the crumpled form of the goblin. Rage seethed within me, and the sensation of unseen eyes watching my every move was inescapable. The silence was deafening, punctuated only by a shiver of rage that coursed through me as I stood there, gazing at the lifeless body. The only sound that echoed through the tunnel was the jubilant cries of triumph from a small, quivering, gelatinous cube.
¡°I¡¯m free! I¡¯m free!¡± it cried in ecstatic celebration.
My mind wrestled with twisted thoughts as I neared the lifeless form of the goblin. I struggled to make sense of the strange mix of emotions bubbling within me. How could I, a monstrous being, feel sadness for the loss of this insignificant creature that had served only as an irritant? It was absurd, beneath me. I was a killer, a cannibal devoid of such sentimentalities. Yet, the lingering feeling of loss gnawed at me, refusing to be ignored.
Then it hit me! I wasn¡¯t upset that the goblin was dead; no, I was infuriated that I hadn¡¯t been the one to kill him. I had been daydreaming about the ways I would do it, and that opportunity was stolen from me in an instant.
Argh, this is absolute bullshit!
He was meant to die screaming¡ªslowly¡ªwhile I savored every bite!
I looked over at the cheerful cube wiggling all happily, no longer calling for its own death now that its tamer had been slain. I quickly ended its joyful outburst with a swift stomp, slime splattering everywhere, fulfilling its earlier wish for freedom with a swift death.
Pulling my gaze back to the green shit¡¯s lifeless body, a chaotic mix of emotions swirling within me¡ªpain, guilt, sorrow, and pure, seething rage. Seriously¡ªI really, really wanted to eat him alive! The anger inside me boiled over, and my thirst for revenge grew insatiable. Thankfully, I had two phylacteries, but using one just to resurrect that annoying brat for my culinary delight¡ªor should I say, undelight? You know, like undead? Tee-hee!¡ªseemed like a total waste. Yet, for someone else to just waltz in and snuff out the goblin¡¯s life? That was absolute bullshit. Simply eating his corpse wouldn¡¯t be enough to quench my hunger or fury. Oh no, those three responsible were going to pay, and I mean really pay, with a lifetime of misery as I devoured them alive!
But there was one massive obstacle in my way...
There was something I needed to do before feasting on them. It was the same thing holding me back from completing that quest Magic had given me. I needed to grow stronger; I needed to kill and Absorb the skills from those four others from Earth.
¡°But first,¡± I cooed as I knelt down, ¡°I might as well not waste a perfectly good meal, even if it¡¯s a bit cold now,¡± I smiled, the grin stretching unnaturally across my face.
B01C24 - [Fear]
Time had blurred into irrelevance¡ªnot that I was any good at keeping track of it¡ªas I wandered away from those assholes who¡¯d murdered my food! Heading the opposite way, naturally¡ªI¡¯m crazy, not suicidal; past life excluded¡ªtheir Holy magic could obliterate me in a flash. Witnessing the demise of my goblin munchie was a nasty wake-up call to just how squishy I really am. I hadn¡¯t even been the target, yet the spell¡¯s radiance seared like a demon bathed in holy water during an exorcism.
But let¡¯s get one thing straight¡ªthis isn¡¯t over! No one messes with my meals and gets away with it. My revenge is going to be epic! I¡¯m talking about legendary spite. And I really, really hope those fuckers have families. Because when I rip them apart, I want it to hurt beyond imagining. Oh yes! I¡¯ll tear through every little piece of their pathetic lives along with their little dogs, too¡ªHee-hee-hee-hee! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Shit, Blake, what¡¯s wrong with me?
Where to start¡ Bipolar? Oh, ADHD! Sycophantic? Nah, I¡¯ve stepped up my game in this new life¡ªtotally psychopathic! Did I miss anything?
Histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic, serious impulse control, and maybe even borderline dissociative identities¡ªha, need I go on?
¡°I don¡¯t have impulse control issues!¡± I suddenly blurted out, my voice echoing off the stone walls of the deep roads like a bomb in what had been utter silence.
Yes. Yes, I do.
Ugh, I¡¯m such a bitch.
I glanced around, flinching each time my voice echoed back, praying the patrol that had killed my snack hadn¡¯t heard. My words kept repeating until they dwindled to a whisper, ¡°I don¡¯t have impulse control issues! I don¡¯t have impulse control issues! I don¡¯t have impulse control issues!¡±
Whoops.
Impulse control, am I right?
Shut up! I don¡¯t have impulse control issues.
Yeaaah, I do.
I hastened my pace¡ªthis time, however, I scaled the walls with Spider Walk, angling my ascent until I reached the ceiling looming far above in the darkness, ensuring I was safely out of sight in case they returned to investigate the noise.
Reflecting on what those three pricks mentioned about patrolling for any vampires that might have escaped, my mind raced back to that cave-in around the hole I¡¯d been tossed down¡ªespecially the burning. That had been a total nightmare! Seriously, I nearly died. And yet... I honestly couldn¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass about some vamp drama. But I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t a tad nervous about something happening to Aurelia. Why, you ask? Maybe it¡¯s because she¡¯s drop-dead gorgeous¡ªcan you blame me?
What I¡¯d give to shove my tentacle tongue up her.
As I moved, I kept repeating the names of those three, as I remembered them, like a twisted dark mantra, spewing curses with every breath: ¡°Fuzzy-faced short-bitch, Gandalf the asshat, and that fucking elf, Anal-myth.¡± Over and over, like the world¡¯s worst hit list¡ª¡°Fuzzy-faced short-bitch, Gandalf the asshat, and that fucking elf, Anal-myth.¡±
Yes, I know, I¡¯m a spiteful bitch¡ªsay something about it, I dare you!
As I continued my little song, I paused to look upward¡ªor downward, really¡ªas a dim light flickered in the distance. A wicked smile spread across my face, guessing who it might be. Ideas twisted and turned in my mind, cooking up a diabolical plan, while a delicious shiver of anticipation zipped through me.
In a swift and dramatic transformation, six spider-like limbs exploded from my back, unfurling like the wings of a demonic angel. I was primed to swoop down on my unsuspecting victims. The deep roads opened before me as I flipped upright, dangling from my six menacing appendages.
I skittered across the ceiling, soaring above like the vaulted arches of a wicked cathedral, with massive pillars that made perfect perches for my ambush. Every move was driven by thoughts of sweet revenge and their delicious skills¡ªespecially that damned Death Bolt that had stripped away all my buffs and immunities.
Oh, how I want that skill!
As I neared the clueless quartet, I gracefully descended down a pillar, nestling myself within the deep shadow it cast, utterly concealed from their sight. From this perfect hideout, I watched them with malice sparkling in my eyes, my spider legs quivering with eagerness, ready to pounce in an instant. Their footsteps echoed through the deep roads, their ignorance of the lurking nightmare almost laughable. While rage still boiled over my earlier inability to strike the elf, wizard, and dwarf, I shelved that anger for now. Those idiots would taste my fury later. Right now, my eyes were locked on my original targets¡ªnothing would deter my thirst for vengeance.
I won¡¯t lie; the sheer terror I was about to unleash on those idiots was giving me a thrill, damn near orgasmic. This round¡¯s gonna be different¡ªI¡¯ll catch them off-guard, wipe them out quick, and snatch their skills. I¡¯d absolutely relish toying with them, chewing on their guts while they squirm, but I¡¯ll save that treat for a more intimate one-on-one showdown, not when I¡¯m outnumbered. Been kicked around a bit too much lately.
Maybe I¡¯ll save slowly eating whoever¡¯s the last one standing¡ªyeah, that sounds like a plan!The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Still, it¡¯s smarter to scare the piss out of them first. Maybe a slap of Terror¡¯s Infusion mixed with a dose of Fear will have them pissing themselves. I¡¯ll chop off their heads fast while I¡¯m at it before they can hit me with anything nasty. But hey, that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t have my fun while I¡¯m at it.
With a sinister smile curling my lips, a skill name bubbled up to the surface, as I whispered, ¡°Fear.¡±
~
Yua¡¯s whisper was a faint rustle in the suffocating silence. ¡°I swear, I heard something.¡± Her voice trembled, the fear palpable as it constricted her heart.
Ever since their harrowing encounter with that woman in black¡ªwho claimed to be a fellow candidate¡ªher nerves had been frayed to their limits. The mere thought of another confrontation made her skin crawl, a sentiment she knew her companions shared.
The four had reluctantly set aside their differences, forming a pact to escape the dungeon¡¯s clutches together, no matter the cost. Even Jason, as stubborn as a jackass, had acquiesced¡ªlikely more out of fear of Jeremy¡¯s lightning bolt than any real sense of teamwork. Bound by a fragile alliance fueled by desperation, they naively believed their trials were behind them. Yet, unbeknownst to them, the true nightmare was just beginning to stir in the darkness, poised to strike.
¡°Be ready for anything,¡± Jeremy muttered, his voice laced with a foreboding that belied his composed exterior.
He fought to mask the terror brimming in his eyes, determined not to reveal his vulnerability. Like the others, the aftermath of their last brutal encounter had left him on edge. His fists clenched tightly, prepared to unleash Death Bolt at a moment¡¯s notice¡ªthe skill he hoped would sustain them until they could flee this cursed abyss.
Heather¡¯s voice cracked as she spoke, her words halting and fraught with fear. ¡°G-Guys, I... I can s-sense something. D-Do you f-feel it too?¡±
The hairs on her neck stood on end, signaling the presence of something ominous nearby. A heavy sense of dread washed over her, her stomach twisting with anxiety. The air seemed charged with a malevolent force, ready to descend upon them. The terror was so palpable she could almost taste its bitterness, making her nauseous.
Jason scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. ¡°I¡¯m surrounded by a bunch of pussies!¡± His contempt for his fellow adventurers was evident. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not a boss or another of those shapeshifting bitches, we can handle anything this shithole throws at us¡ª¡ªhrrrk!¡±
Heather¡¯s scream, shrill and piercing, tore through the silence of the dark hallway. From the shadows above, a serpentine tentacle descended swiftly. In a grotesque spectacle, it impaled Jason through the mouth, skewering him completely. The tentacle wrapped around his trembling, pissed-coated legs, lifting him effortlessly before hurling him across the chamber. The sickening crunch of his body hitting the wall echoed, his whimpers of agony punctuating the grim silence. Though barely alive, the severity of his internal injuries was unmistakable, and time was running out, each second edging him closer to a grim fate.
¡°P-p-please, let me l-l-leave this place! I w-want to go home. I want to go home! I W-WANT TO GO HOME!¡± Heather¡¯s plea was frantic and stuttering, her voice saturated with the terror enveloping them.
A demonic cackle resonated through the cold stone walls, taunting, challenging their resolve, and beckoning them to succumb to fear. Jeremy, heart pounding with dread, fortified his will against the encroaching horror. His resolve ignited a fierce determination, driving him to confront the unseen terror.
¡°Reveal yourself, you vile creature!¡± he bellowed, his voice echoing a tumultuous blend of anxiety and fury.
Behind them, Heather¡¯s muffled scream sliced through the air, sending Jeremy and Yua spinning around in alarm. They watched in horror as Heather¡¯s legs kicked desperately, vanishing into the black void above. The shadows tightened their grip, suffocating, foreboding their doom. Yua¡¯s scream, laden with fear and despair, echoed through the halls as she searched the murky depths for any sign of Heather. The void responded with only silence¡ªuntil seconds later, Heather¡¯s lifeless body plummeted to the ground, crushing Yua beneath its dead weight. Jeremy stood paralyzed, his gaze fixed on Heather¡¯s headless form. The eerie quiet was shattered by Yua¡¯s inconsolable sobs as she clung to her friend¡¯s lifeless body.
¡°No! No! No!¡± Yua¡¯s screams reverberated through the deep roads, each cry resonating with raw despair. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she sobbed uncontrollably, the sound of her weeping punctuated by heart-wrenching sobs and choked gasps. Clutching the headless corpse that lay atop her, she wailed, ¡°I loved her,¡± her voice breaking as her words were drenched in anguish. ¡°I¡ªI wanted to escape this place with her.¡±
¡°I call forth the rage of the gods, Death Bolt!¡± Jeremy¡¯s voice quivered with a potent mix of desperation and hope as he unleashed his spell into the void.
The energy crackled through the air, blasting a nearby pillar into rubble. But the darkness¡¯s derisive laughter only intensified, mocking Jeremy¡¯s efforts and deepening his despair.
¡°Reveal yourself!¡± he roared, gathering every shred of his strength, waiting for the spell¡¯s cooldown, ready for the next confrontation.
¡°Now, why would I ruin the fun? The thrill of the unknown is just too delicious to spoil, don¡¯t you think?¡± A seductive, hypnotic voice taunted from the depths of the enveloping darkness, dripping with playful scorn.
A wave of horror washed over Jeremy as he recognized the voice. ¡°You! How is this possible? You should have perished beneath that rubble! Even if you somehow survived, you shouldn¡¯t have been able to catch up to us,¡± he growled.
"Ha-ha-ha!" The voice resounded, full of derision, enveloping them from all sides, withholding any explanation.
Frustration surged through Jeremy. They should have dug through the rubble in the boss¡¯s chamber and ensured her end. But grief over Rob¡¯s loss had clouded his mind, throwing him into disarray. Now, he faced his probable demise in these eerie depths. Yua¡¯s heart-wrenching sobs mingled with the deranged cackles of the woman about to end his life.
Yet, a glimmer of hope flickered in Jeremy¡¯s mind, recalling his previous reincarnation in this twisted world. A twisted smile played at his lips as he reluctantly accepted his fate. His time might be up, but perhaps this was just the beginning of another cycle.
Raising his hand, Jeremy aimed and cast his spell. ¡°I call forth the rage of the gods, Death Bolt!¡±
With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed the spell at a pillar, then swiftly redirected the energy, obliterating several pillars in an instant.
¡°Jeremy, what the hell are you thinking?!¡± Yua cried out, her voice laced with panic.
¡°Taking that damn monster down with us!¡± Jeremy declared, his eyes meeting Yua¡¯s with a bittersweet smile.
The ceiling quivered and the walls emitted deep groans as the entire structure shuddered violently overhead. Colossal stone blocks plummeted, crashing down with a bone-rattling force that vibrated through the cavern. Amidst the chaos, Jeremy braced himself, his eyes scanning for any sign of the monstrous entity. The sickening crunch of stone crushing bone extinguished any remaining hope for Jason¡¯s survival. Billowing dust enveloped the space, obscuring the twinkling crystals that once adorned the walls and floor, now casting an eerie, otherworldly glow amidst the devastation.
Then, she emerged from the shadows and dust, her face twisted in a snarl of unbridled fury. Jeremy was simultaneously terrified and captivated by the sheer beauty of her rage.
¡°You dumbass!¡± she screeched, hurling Heather¡¯s severed head at Jeremy. The gruesome projectile struck him in the abdomen, knocking him to his knees in pain and horror.
¡°You... crazy... bitch!¡± he managed to cough out, each word punctuated with effort and pain. Then darkness swallowed Jeremy whole.
The cacophony of chaos was abruptly silenced, leaving only the lingering sound of the monster¡¯s final expletive-filled scream, ¡°SHHHIT!¡± resonating through the air as the stone ceiling crashed down upon them.
B01C24.5 - Aislinn’s Desire
Britannia
Bowen¡¯s voice cracked as he screamed, ¡°Run!¡± Panic sharpened his words, his eyes darting back to the advancing Romans. He grabbed Aislinn¡¯s hand, his grip tight with desperation. ¡°Run, my love¡ªwe must run!¡±
Cries tore through the village, each a death knell as Romans cut down the Iceni with ruthless abandon. The winter solstice, far from heralding peace, unleashed a storm of iron and fire. Aislinn and Bowen ducked low, sprinting past their flaming homes while arrows rained down, hissing as they pierced the earth and timber. They stumbled over bodies strewn across the ground, the snow marred by spreading stains of red. With their breaths misting in the frigid air, they were among the few who had slipped through the Romans¡¯ grasp.
The forest itself seemed to mourn the loss of life, its winds carrying the wails of their lost kin. Trees, ancient and enraged, burned fiercely, their branches reaching out like charred hands in the darkness. Hidden roots, camouflaged beneath the snow, lay in wait to ensnare the unwary, indifferent to friend or foe.
As they fled, Aislinn¡¯s foot caught on one such root.
¡ªCrack¡ª
A cry tore from Aislinn¡¯s lips as she collapsed, hands instinctively cradling her swollen belly. Pain lanced through her leg¡ªa cruel betrayal by the very earth that had nurtured her since birth.
¡°Broken, I fear,¡± she gasped, the words stifled by pain and a creeping despair.
But Bowen was there, his presence a balm to her fracturing spirit. In the moonlit night, her tears glistened, frozen gems on her cheeks. His father, the druid, had foreseen a solstice of joy; now, that promise lay shattered around them. Gently, he helped her up, his strength her pillar.
Leaning heavily on him, Aislinn felt her pain diminish, softened by the warmth of his unwavering love. Their connection was profound, mystic in its depth, almost as if ordained by the spirits themselves. Together, guided by the whispered blessings of the forest spirits, they pressed forward through the ash-laden snow, toward a future shrouded in mist and uncertainty.
Even now, beneath the chaos, the stars sparkled with an intensity Aislinn had never truly savored before. An icy breeze danced through the night, lifting snowflakes back into the air, whirling them like fairies caught in a silent ballet. Despite her newfound awe, each step was agony, her body protesting sharply against the movement. Yet, all she felt was Bowen¡¯s warmth, clinging to it as if for the last time. Inside her, the life they had created kicked, and a deep sorrow filled Aislinn¡ªnot for herself, but for her unborn child and the man she loved, whose futures were as uncertain as the swirling snow around them.
Then, in an instant, her world shifted. A soft push against her back and a sharp pinch in her chest¡ªAislinn collapsed to her knees, her gaze locked in disbelief on the arrow protruding from between her breasts. A distant battle cry filled the air, not hers¡ªBowen¡¯s. As she swayed, teetering on the brink of consciousness, she saw him: a lone figure valiantly struggling against five Romans.
Another soldier approached, his intent clear¡ªnot to join the fray, but to target her. Aislinn, still swaying, met the Roman¡¯s advance with a defiant glare. With a brutal shove, he knocked her to the cold earth. The snap of the arrow¡¯s shaft resounded like a thunderclap, surreal in her ears, followed by a cough that gurgled up blood onto her lips.
The soldier clambered on top of her, ripping her clothes away. Darkness began to creep at the edges of her vision, shrouding the brutal scene. Turning her head away from the Roman assaulting her, Aislinn¡¯s eyes found Bowen just as the other five soldiers ceased their cruel torment. Their swords sliced through the air, each strike a blow to her heart as tears streamed down her face. She watched helplessly as her beloved fell, piece by piece, with each brutal strike.
Relief should have washed over Aislinn as the end neared, but instead, she felt only numbness mixed with searing pain as she gazed at her fallen love. She mourned not just him, nor merely her own life, but also the life within her that would never be born. Her last words, a vow whispered with defiance against the encroaching void, were for Bowen and her unborn child.
¡°I shall find you both in the life beyond, my dearest loves,¡± she swore.
With those words, she released her grip on this world, her soul spirited away on the journey to the next.
Through the Veil
¡°Lord Demidicus,¡± Olin began, his voice laced with a measured tone of caution, ¡°it is not too late to return your daughter¡¯s soul to her body.¡±
¡°I have made my decision,¡± Lord Demidicus hissed. ¡°My daughter¡¯s soul was too faint-hearted for her own good. It¡¯s a curse that torments all born within this accursed realm, however rare births may be in this dying reality. Aurelia¡¯s new soul should prove less disappointing. And if this experiment succeeds, she will not only become a user but ascend the steps toward ascension. Perhaps then, we can do the same for the feral vampires and take the fight directly to the Ascended Gods themselves.¡±
¡°But, my lord, she is the only natural-born vampire of this realm,¡± Olin countered, a note of urgency in his voice.
Lord Demidicus turned his cold gaze toward Olin, who quickly bowed his head.
¡°It shall be done, my lord,¡± Olin acquiesced, ¡°though, as I have warned, the souls I¡¯ve discovered beyond our veil possess extraordinary power. They may not be as unique and diverse as those in the demon realm, yet they remain extraordinary. However, my lord, it¡¯s still uncertain if she will indeed become the user you desire.¡±
¡°Then you will reach back into the veil and fetch a different soul for my daughter.¡±
¡°I¡ªI apologize, my lord, but the damage to the veil has already been repaired. If my calculations hold, we cannot summon another soul from there for a millennium or two. However, I can assure you, she will be powerful, whatever she becomes.¡±
¡°You had better ensure she becomes the user I envision, Olin, or I¡¯ll reduce you to a mere ghoul,¡± Lord Demidicus warned.
¡°I swear to you, my lord, the ritual was designed to lock onto the most powerful soul in that realm, possibly even that of a deity or something greater. Unless the soul we brought back was somehow intertwined with the ritual¡¯s intended target, there should be no issues¡ªyour daughter¡¯s new soul will possess power beyond measure.¡±
As the voices drifted into Aislinn¡¯s ears like a warm breeze, she opened her eyes to a horrifying sight. She lay in a vast stone chamber, surrounded by armored skeletons. Above her stood two pale figures in black robes¡ªone, a younger man with red, beady eyes, a sharp nose, and a receding hairline; the other, a hooded figure whose face was shrouded in darkness, with eyes blazing a demonic red beneath his hood.
¡°She is awake!¡± declared the younger figure, his voice almost nasal, as if filtered through his sharp nose.
She reached up, placing her hand between her breasts where no arrow was found. Her hand then drifted downward, gently brushing against her flat stomach, which ached with the weight of loss. A surge of sorrow washed over Aislinn; tears, warm and unbidden, streamed down her face as if a piece of her soul had been torn away. Yet, her body bore no pain, no visible wounds. As she wiped away her tears, she noticed blood on her fingers¡ªher tears had turned to blood, cascading down her face in haunting rivulets.
Turning her gaze to her hand, she saw it was unnaturally pale, as though untouched by the sun. Her nails, long and sharply pointed, were shaded in a gradient from red to black, reminiscent of blood fading into midnight.
¡°Am I dead?¡± she whispered.
¡°Not anymore, my daughter. Not anymore, my precious Aurelia,¡± the hooded figure replied gently.
Memories of the Romans and her dying moments flashed through her mind¡ªAislinn found herself consumed by a singular thought. With longing and concern heavy in her voice, she asked the one question that dominated her mind: ¡°Where¡¯s Bowen?¡±
Four Decades Later
Flickering candlelight cast shadows across the grand hall, where eerie sounds of mournful cries and clanging chains echoed. Yet, this was no mourning night but a victory celebration. Lord Demidicus triumphantly raised the freshly severed head of a holy priest, its eyes frozen in a gaze of terror. His fellow brethren, shackled to the walls, watched in horror.
¡°My malevolent creatures of the night,¡± Lord Demidicus bellowed, his voice resonating through the chamber, ¡°Vampires, Harpies, Wraiths, Ghouls, Succubi, Incubi, and our Necromancers from the fairer races¡ªgather round. Tonight, we celebrate my daughter¡¯s ascension and welcome her as an elder of our great coven. Let all tremble at the mention of my dark princess¡¯s name, Aurelia, for her reign of terror shall know no bounds.¡± With a savage grin, he sank his teeth into the priest¡¯s severed neck, prompting a chorus of cheers and applause from the assembly.
Decades had passed, yet the name Aurelia still sounded foreign to Aislinn¡¯s ears. Trivial concerns paled in comparison to the horrors Aurelia had unleashed. With her undead skeletal army, she had decimated the Kingdom of Slaethia, rising to prominence as both a blood mage and a necromancer of immense power. Although initially disappointed by her failure to become a user, Lord Demidicus could not deny the dark triumphs of his daughter. It seemed as though the very mana surrounding her bent to her will¡ªnot like an ascended, who drew power from the realm¡¯s system, but more akin to the old gods who could reshape the very essence of mana.
Lord Demidicus often wondered if Olin had ultimately succeeded in calling forth a deity from beyond the veil, or at least something that closely resembled one. As he reflected on the powerful soul that now inhabited his daughter, he thought it almost a shame to have turned Olin into a ghoul.
However, Aurelia¡¯s ambitions were not fueled by a thirst for power or tales of legendary might. Her ultimate goal lay elsewhere, and attaining the rank of elder within the coven was a critical step. As Lord Demidicus slid the ceremonial ring onto her finger, symbolizing her leadership and commitment to the coven, Aurelia knew the true power still resided with her so-called father. Yet, there was something more to the ring, something familiar that Aurelia couldn¡¯t quite place.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
¡°Now, speak your desire, my daughter,¡± Lord Demidicus commanded with the gravitas of centuries. ¡°If it lies within our power, it shall be granted to our newest elder.¡±
The grand hall fell silent, all eyes and ears straining toward the new vampire elder. While some might covet wealth, dark pleasures of the flesh, or the opportunity to forge their own covens, others anticipated more sinister requests. The non-vampires present recognized the ceremony as a prelude to new alliances.
¡°My yearning is to delve into Olin¡¯s prior research,¡± Aurelia declared, adding the word ¡°father¡± at the end with a syrupy sweetness that belied her inner loathing. She understood the strategic importance of her words in this context.
A hushed shock filled the grand hall, the implications of her request sending murmurs through the crowd. With her fearsome reputation, none had expected the vampiric princess to desire what many deemed a trivial and failed experiment¡ªone that had even led to the downfall of Lord Demidicus¡¯s former right-hand, now reduced to a ghoul.
Thirteen Decades Later
The fateful hour had arrived, and the resurrected Kingdom of Slaethia stood at the gates of the vampire coven¡¯s castle, determined to eradicate their kind. The siege was long and arduous, yet the outcome seemed inevitable. The holy knights of Slaethia, wielding divine power, pursued their relentless quest to cleanse Nyxoria, the dark moon of V?lusp¨¢, of its vile races, their soulless offspring, and the victims the vampires had turned feral. After a relentless barrage, the magical barrier that had long shielded these vile abominations finally faltered. With one mighty blast, ballista bolts shattered the castle walls, signaling the beginning of the end.
As the barrier crumbled and fell at the sun¡¯s zenith, the vampire coven was left exposed and vulnerable to the holy knights¡¯ wrath. Too few familiars and undead remained to repel the holy warriors. With victory within their grasp, the knights of Slaethia stormed the castle, determined to claim the heads of every last vampire as trophies.
¡°Aurelia, for the love of the dark gods, what are you doing?¡± Vorigan, the frog-faced necromancer, cried out urgently. ¡°You must stop your research and flee this place immediately before it¡¯s too late.¡±
Aurelia¡¯s laughter reverberated through the chamber as she twirled in delight. ¡°Oh, but do you not see, Olin¡¯s research was mistaken! It¡¯s not two millennia before we can delve into the veil¡ªnot for us! On the other side, time flows differently; it bends and folds upon itself. Can you not comprehend the magnitude of this?¡±
As Olin scurried around the chamber, gathering the frayed tapestries and parchments, the castle quaked under the relentless assault of ballista bolts and trebuchet shots. Despite the chaos, he refused to acknowledge any error in his former research. Meanwhile, Aurelia continued to twirl, her laughter ringing out as the castle shook and dust rained down.
Vorigan paused in disbelief, then regained his composure. As he watched Olin hurriedly pack his mistress¡¯s notes, he announced, ¡°Lord Demidicus has arranged for us to take refuge in the catacombs. From there, we shall escape through the deep roads to Ockpool Dungeon.¡±
A Decade Later
The once-grand vampire coven had diminished to a mere shadow of its former glory, now reduced to a group of refugees huddled among the ruins of an ancient, undiscovered dungeon that predated Nyxoria¡¯s joining with the Moons of V?lusp¨¢. Such sites, formed upon a world¡¯s convergence with the realm, are believed by some to be training grounds for the inhabitants before their integration into V?lusp¨¢. However, one truth remains universally acknowledged: the dungeon core is a highly sought-after prize. With the arrival of each new moon, entire nations dispatch armies to pillage these dungeons and moons for their invaluable resources.
¡°Aurelia, I understand your aspirations,¡± Lord Demidicus scolded, ¡°but for the champion of our goddess, only one soul is needed. I cannot risk everything for your fixation. More than one champion would alert the Ascended Gods before we are prepared.¡±
After over a hundred and eighty years, Aislinn had grown accustomed to her life as Aurelia. It was who she was now, yet she still resisted calling Lord Demidicus ¡°father.¡± Now that her research had finally borne fruit, he dared to impede her progress. No, Aurelia would not be deterred!
¡°Lord Demidicus,¡± Aurelia countered, her voice tinged with a hint of rage, ¡°it stands to reason that not all the retrieved souls need to serve our revered dark goddess as her champion. Instead, we could use them to awaken the feral vampires from their soulless madness. My research shows that I can retrieve multiple souls from the veil every century, vastly improving upon Olin¡¯s prior efforts. Why settle for summoning just one soul for a champion when we have the potential to restore so many?¡±
¡°The Crone alone requires a champion,¡± Lord Demidicus declared firmly. ¡°There is no need for additional souls at this time. Summoning more would only draw undue attention from our enemies. My decision is final! We lack the resources to indulge your obsession. At the Crone¡¯s behest, we will summon only the soul that best serves our needs.¡±
Frustration surged within Aurelia at the thought of resorting to her last option. Still, it had never failed her before, and her determination to achieve her goal remained unwavering.
¡°Father,¡± Aurelia forced the word out, it tasting like ash on her tongue, ¡°I propose a solution. Let me summon seven souls from the veil while the gateway is open.¡± Internally, Aurelia didn¡¯t truly desire seven souls, but she was not confident of finding the specific soul she sought on her first attempt. ¡°Why not allow each coven elder to choose a soul they believe will best serve the Crone and have them compete for the privilege of being her chosen champion?¡± she proposed, masking her true intent.
Aurelia had devised a plan to rig the rituals specifically to summon her beloved¡¯s soul. There would be seven attempts; each failure would serve as a calculated step to refine and recalibrate the summoning process. As for the supposed competition among the summoned souls, she had already schemed to ensure that her beloved would emerge as the sole survivor.
¡°That doesn¡¯t resolve our issue of attracting undue attention. Besides, the Crone would never permit such a thing,¡± Lord Demidicus began, but his declaration was cut short by a chilling gust of wind that swirled around them, carrying a sinister whisper before dissipating. The grand elder exhaled heavily, his resolve faltering. ¡°It seems you have prevailed, my child. Now, go ahead and make the necessary arrangements.¡±
A Few Months Later
¡°My lady,¡± Olin¡¯s voice trembled with unease as he approached, his current undead form visibly deteriorating before her eyes. This was the third time he had assumed a new body in the past year, and his rate of deterioration was accelerating. Aurelia knew she needed to find a suitable phylactery for his soul soon, or risk losing him to the ether forever.
¡°He won¡¯t remember you,¡± Olin continued, his voice laden with sorrow. ¡°His soul has lived through hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives in a never-ending cycle of reincarnation. He may not even be a he anymore!¡±
Aurelia¡¯s fists crashed down onto the table, her voice ringing out with frustration and determination. ¡°I don¡¯t care about that!¡± she declared. ¡°It will work! Whether he remembers me or not, I will have him back. Nothing else matters!¡±
¡°My mistress, I stand by your side, no matter what may come,¡± Olin declared with conviction. ¡°But how do we find just one soul in the vast and endless sea of others?¡±
Aurelia¡¯s grin was sly and full of promise, her elongated fangs glinting in the dim light. ¡°With a beacon, my dear Olin,¡± she replied. ¡°A beacon that his soul will instinctively be drawn to, like a moth to a flame¡ªmy own soul.¡±
¡°My lady,¡± Olin¡¯s concern was palpable. ¡°This is too reckless! You are risking your very soul on a gamble.¡±
¡°Then we must hope that the concept of soulmates is not just a fanciful tale,¡± Aurelia responded, her voice melodic yet ominous. She twirled with delight, humming a beautiful yet deadly tune, for the moment she had once vowed at death¡¯s door was now within reach.
¡°My lady,¡± Olin spoke up, his worries still evident. ¡°If you succeed in retrieving his soul, what about the trial? Lord Demidicus seems to view this as an unhealthy obsession, and I fear he may try to sabotage your efforts.¡±
¡°And so, I shall pray,¡± Aurelia declared, her voice filled with steely resolve as she concluded her joyful waltz. ¡°Not only to the Crone but to any of the old gods of this realm that may still linger and deign to listen. In my quest to reclaim Bowen¡¯s soul, I will leave no stone unturned, no obstacle unheeded. Even if it means facing the other candidates or Lord Demidicus himself.¡± Her determination was evident, her words emerging forcefully between tightly clenched teeth, reflecting the fierce passion within her.
The Ritual¡¯s Eve
The other elders had each summoned their chosen from beyond the veil¡ªher attempts to rig the ritual had failed¡ªnone had succeeded in retrieving her beloved. Now, it was Aurelia¡¯s turn. She hoped the previous six attempts had refined the ritual enough to allow her to reach into the veil, using her own soul as a beacon.
She stepped into the ritual room, the air thick with the scent of incense and bathed in the eerie glow of green flames that cast shifting shadows across the stone walls. Despite the ordeals of her past, Aurelia¡¯s gaze remained unwaveringly fixed on the altar, where her ultimate goal lay within reach.
Aurelia¡¯s purpose was singular¡ªto reclaim Bowen, her beloved, who awaited her call from beyond the veil. Regardless of the memories he might have lost, she was resolved to rekindle their passion. The trials and sacrifices of her past would all be worthwhile if she could once again embrace her beloved. The prospect of falling in love anew with him filled her with indescribable joy.
With a shiver of anticipation, Aurelia began the binding of her soul to the ritual, turning herself into a beacon for Bowen to find, her heart aching with longing. She held firm to the belief that if their love was true, and if Bowen indeed was the missing piece of her heart, he would find his way back to her, irrespective of the mortal form he now occupied. The thought of their reunion sustained her, even as a deep fear of failure lurked in her heart¡ªbut she refused to entertain it. Bowen¡¯s soul would find its way back to her! Even if soulmates were mere myth, Aurelia¡¯s yearning would not be thwarted. Her soul¡¯s beacon would shine brightly in the ether, calling out to her lost love.
¡°Our reunion is near, my beloved,¡± she whispered, her longing grin revealing glinting fangs in the unsettling green light.
Two Weeks Later
¡°By the t-three pillars! D-Did it work, M-Mistress?¡± Olin asked, his voice faltering, the ghoul looking decidedly worse for wear.
¡°Another failure, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Aurelia replied with a sigh.
Despite the setback, Aurelia was elated. She had retrieved her beloved¡¯s soul from beyond the veil more easily than she had anticipated; the moment her own soul touched the ether, she felt Bowen¡¯s soul resonate with hers as if it were her own. Now, the challenge lay in finding a mortal vessel robust enough to contain it.
Her desperation grew, yet her determination remained unshaken. She held the crystal containing her beloved¡¯s soul close, cradling it near her heart. Concealing her joy from Lord Demidicus proved challenging, especially with the seductive succubus who constantly shadowed him, adding an extra layer of complexity to her delicate endeavor.
Despite Lord Demidicus¡¯s insistence that there could be only one champion, deeming all else a wasteful diversion of their precious resources, Aurelia remained unperturbed. She was confident that the Crone, known to shelter those she deemed worthy, would not be swayed by her so-called father¡¯s threats. Besides, Aurelia was prepared to destroy the other six souls if necessary¡ªa course of action she was almost certain would be required.
And yet, Aurelia was perplexed by why Bowen¡¯s soul rejected every vessel she offered. In her desperation, she had tried everything¡ªfrom men and women of various races to even the feral vampires; all rejected his soul. Pushed to her limits, she even attempted to use the corpses of random monsters¡ªyet still, nothing succeeded. It seemed as if a higher power had its own agenda, a notion that irked her.
¡°What¡¯s w-went wrong, M-Mistress?¡±
A Few Days Ago
¡°My lady, I still can¡¯t understand why you tossed your beloved at Niamh,¡± Olin said, now inhabiting the body of a short gnome and looking considerably rejuvenated. Aurelia was aware, however, that this improvement would be fleeting; his body would soon begin to decay.
¡°I cannot risk exposing my bias in front of the other elders,¡± Aurelia sighed. ¡°To my delight, Bowen was endowed as a user. Yet, I can¡¯t be certain which deity has heeded my prayers; there are only two, maybe three, old gods left. Which one could it be?¡± She twisted the ceremonial ring on her finger, lost in contemplation. ¡°Hopefully, Niamh¡¯s demise provided my dear love a slight advantage in the trial, but the shock on the succubus¡¯s face was an added delight.¡±
¡°Lord Demidicus must not have been pleased, my mistress.¡±
Aurelia offered Olin a reassuring smile as she chuckled warmly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, Olin. Lord Demidicus can summon his pet again, so there will be no lasting damage to the coven. It was merely a small hiccup.¡±
Everything was unfolding exactly as Aurelia had planned. Now, all she needed to do was wait. It didn¡¯t matter that her beloved was trapped within the form of a Black Pudding; Aurelia was already orchestrating her next move into the dungeon to ensure he would be crowned the champion. The anticipation was nearly unbearable.
Just then, Vorigan burst into her chamber, his amphibian-like features contorted in panic. ¡°The Kingdom of Slaethia has discovered the dungeon!¡± he exclaimed, his voice quivering with the urgency of his fear. ¡°They¡¯re at the gates¡ªand they¡¯ve brought a champion!¡±
B01C25 - A DELIGHTFUL NIGHTMARE
Just a quick flashback to the moment the entire ceiling collapsed¡ªfor continuity¡¯s sake, and definitely not because I¡¯m too lazy to revisit my own narrative for a quick edit. Nope, not at all.
¡ªCough.
¡°You... crazy... bitch!¡± Jeremy gasped, each word seething through gritted teeth. Anger and remorse¡ªprobably for his friends, if they can even be called that¡ªswirled in his eyes.
Aw, is the little doggy crying?
Like seriously, what a little bitch!
As darkness enveloped him, his voice surged in a final act of defiance. ¡°Death Bolt,¡± he bellowed, a parting fuck you, I suppose.
Damn, what¡¯s the cooldown rate on that skill?
Silence abruptly muffled the chaos, punctuated only by my final, expletive-laden shriek, ¡°SHHHIT!¡±
In a whirl of motion, the bolt struck my chest, flipping me head over ass. The last glimpse I caught was a system prompt about my buffs deactivating just as a massive stone slab descended with a sickening splat.
I awoke to the sound of childish laughter, a symphony of joy and delight. Cracking my eyes open, I found myself in a lush green meadow where six young children frolicked carelessly. They cavorted and gamboled, their giggles ringing through the air as they chased each other with wild abandon. The scene was hauntingly beautiful¡ªa nostalgic reminder of innocence¡¯s carefree days.
Glancing behind me, I saw a dark and imposing forest; clumps of snow fell from the tree branches, beckoning me to enter. But this was not a friendly invitation¡ªit was more like a white van marked with free candy, ominous and foreboding.
The first to approach was a child with golden tresses and a beaming face, looking familiar as if I¡¯d seen her once before in a dream whose details eluded me. Her laughter, like chimes in glass, spread happiness effortlessly. She hopped and twirled, her hand outstretched, eager for a new friendship.
¡°Greetings again! Come join us. Let¡¯s play tag¡ªyou¡¯re it!¡±
Disbelief swirled in my heart as I beheld a wondrous sight: I was human again, clad in my old I Heart Teddy Bears shirt, feeling healthier and happier than ever, not even a single marring my skin.
¡ªWait, that¡¯s not right, is it?
Amidst the fluttering laughter, a smile broke across my face, radiant and uncontrollable, as if the warmth of the meadow was truly infectious. At that moment, all doubts were cast aside, and with reckless glee, I clasped her tiny hand, joining their mirthful brigade. We raced through the meadow, my natural red hair fluttering behind me, their infectious energy propelling my every step, a wild abandon unleashed as I chased the children.
Sophia proclaimed, ¡°Rob, you¡¯re it!¡±
As the sun bathed the meadow in warmth, we laughed and played, our spirits dancing in the radiant light. Yet, a weight settled upon my heart as I beheld another girl, her face marked by dark freckles and eyes fixated on the forest. Her once vibrant smile had vanished, replaced by trepidation. The shadows stretched, stripping away the meadow¡¯s enchantment and casting an ominous veil from the winter forest.
The day seemed to turn to dusk without notice; the freckled girl¡¯s joy was but a distant memory. She stood still, her gaze locked on the silent woods, the falling snow whispering like a haunting call. My heart raced with alarm, terror ensnaring me as the shadows crept closer to the little girl.
My heart pounded in my chest, and I tried to scream, ¡°Run!¡± but no sound escaped my lips, as if the snow-coated forest had stolen my voice.
¡°Fear not, dear Heather,¡± a kind voice sung from everywhere and nowhere all at once, ¡°¡¯Tis but old nightmares that dwell; there is naught to see, only tales to tell. Come, play with the children once more; dinner draws near.¡±
I sought the woman behind the sweet melody, feeling as though I had glimpsed her once before, yet her form eluded me. A mischievous giggle filled the air, whisking me away to a realm beyond compare. As my mind clouded with boundless glee, I resumed the carefree chase, leaving behind the shadows of nightmares and doubt for the pure embrace of delight.
For the first time since I could remember, my soul didn¡¯t feel as though it was broken; the emptiness I had always felt was gone. I felt safe, whole, even though deep down, I knew this dream of joy wasn¡¯t what had been missing from my life.
A voice cried out from the forest, ¡°Aislinn!¡± but it was drowned out by giggling laughter.
The sense of belonging warmed my soul as I reveled in the wonders of this dream. Surrounded by the tune of youthful laughter, I embraced the beauty of each passing moment. But alas, the time had come¡ªdinner beckoned.
¡°You coming?¡± Sophia grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the cottage on the hill.
Upon entering the quaint little house, I discovered that the interior seemingly expanded beyond what the exterior would suggest. However, there was no time to explore, as Sophia tugged me forward, with the other five children already ahead. We soon found ourselves in a tiny dining room, centered around a single small table with eight chairs crammed beside one another.
We each took a seat, leaving one empty, though it was a bit crowded. Suddenly, a loud creak echoed through the room, sounding as if the wood were cracking and breaking. Before I could fully grasp what was happening, the table began to bloat, bulge, and expand, dragging our chairs along with it. For a moment, I feared I would be squished between the tiny room and the ever-growing table, but to my amazement, the room stretched out just as magically.
My head swiveled all around, my feet dangling from the chair, my toes barely skimming the floor. Glancing at the six kids, I saw faces beaming with joy. A mist enveloped the table as if conjured by magic, and when it cleared, it revealed a feast fit for royalty. The children¡¯s eyes widened with delight as they indulged, their voices forming an orchestra of mirth. I leaned back, content in quiet observation, cherishing this joyous embrace¡ªa memory to treasure as if I had finally found a place to call home.
What a beautiful lie it was.
Beneath the tantalizing allure of the feast, unease cloaked my soul, a nebulous void resisting comprehension. As the feast continued, an ominous shadow cast its pall over the table, unnoticed by the children. The wooden floorboards creaked beneath our chairs, and the house swayed with an unsettling rhythm, as if haunting gusts of wind dreamt of blowing it away.
¡ªOh. Oh. Like in The Wizard of Oz!
Wait. What? It¡¯s gusts of wind, not a freaking tornado. Damn, I can be an overdramatic bitch with my narrative sometimes.
Argh, fine. Just... just, never mind¡
...
Yeah, I probably should stop talking to myself all the time¡ªoh, look! Pigs in the blanket.
Ignoring the ever-growing creepy vibe, I surveyed the feast before me: a lineup of meats, a smattering of thingamajigs, a couple of whatchamacallits, and a cluster of doodads. What?! How am I supposed to know what that jiggly green and blue thing is¡ªJell-o? And that stuff over there that¡¯s supposed to be rice? Pretty sure I saw it squirming. Everything was like a massive acid trip! I¡¯m in a realm within a realm, within another realm, all pretending to be yet another realm. Surely, this has to be an isekai record, right? (Yep, totally counting this Hansel and Gretel cottage as a separate realm¡ªno one better try and eat me; I¡¯m the only cannibal allowed here.) So, of course, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to recognize any of that crazy food.
Amidst the ongoing feast, one of the boys¡¯ heads suddenly tumbled across the table, a sight that left me speechless¡ªif you can imagine that. It was Rob¡¯s severed head that rolled past some kind of blood-sausage-looking thing (I always forget what that¡¯s called), yet the feast pressed on, the other children oblivious to the horror I had just witnessed. Outside, the wind picked up to a wail¡ªthe cottage might as well have been caught in a tornado.
Lightning flashed through the wind, and white spots danced before my eyes. I blinked them away, only to discover the appalling truth: the children had turned into skeletons. A nightmarish scene unfolded, one I hadn¡¯t noticed until now¡
I reached across the table, grabbed a dinner roll, and noticed my arm was covered in tattoos. Glancing down, I saw my shirt had changed, replaced by my I Decapitate Teddy Bears one. As I peeked at the writing, I noticed a few locks of hair were green on one side and black on the other. I shrugged indifferently before taking a bite out of my roll, happily munching on it as I watched the surreal spectacle unfold, curious about what would happen next.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
I blinked again, and everything reverted to normal¡ªchildren happily eating, including Rob. Even my tats were gone, my hair was its natural red, and my shirt now had I Heart Teddy Bears on it.
Mmm! This roll tastes amazing. What is this filling inside it?
Wait¡ is that a cockroach?
Nah, my bad, it¡¯s a severed pinky.
Shrugging, I took another bite, savoring its delicious taste, uncaring about all that happened around me.
What? You think I should be freaking out right now?
Nope! I¡¯ve seen and done worse.
A withered old hag, her face hidden within a veil, shuffled into the room, her appearance eerily familiar, as if from a dream. Honestly, that sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu was getting a bit annoying. She approached with more food as the children cheered, her true form only briefly revealed by the flickering bursts of lightning. These flashes illuminated the grim truth of our gathering, only to vanish just as swiftly, cloaking the horror with an illusion of normalcy once again.
I found it all rather fascinating, taking mental notes and wondering if I could do something similar.
Huh¡ now I want an illusion skill.
Just imagine the mind fuckery I could do by combining an illusion with Fear and Terror¡¯s Infusion!
Another gleam of lightning illuminated the feast and this time, it lingered, fully exposing its true nature. The table was laden with decay and rot, spoiled meats crawling with maggots and flies. To my bewilderment, the skeleton children were unfazed, gleefully dining. One of them even appeared to be gnawing on a severed human limb that, moments before, had masqueraded as a turkey leg, its flesh now grotesquely clinging to the bone.
I was utterly transfixed by this macabre display, licking my lips in ravenous hunger and awe, as though witnessing the culmination of every dark fantasy I¡¯ve ever dreamed. The children, skeletal as ever, continued feasting unabated. One of them had their skull nonchalantly resting atop a mound of what had once resembled blood sausage.
¡ªAh, right, Rob¡¯s head!
It had kept moving about from his shoulders to the table between every flash. The sight was ghastly (in a captivating way); I just couldn¡¯t avert my gaze, ensnared by the delectable spectacle that unfolded before me. The hag cackled, her laughter echoing through the chamber as the feast pressed on.
Another flicker of light, and I beheld the hag once again, now cloaked in the likeness of a grand ball gown¡ªstill all in black, of course¡ªseated regally in her chair. A hood still veiled her countenance in mysterious darkness, revealing only skeletal hands and a thin figure. Strangely, I sensed no malevolence emanating from her as I daringly indulged in a bite of the putrid heart, savoring its flavor as if it were a delectable fruit freshly plucked from a verdant branch.
The taste of decay greeted my palate with each bite, a perverse pleasure that should have turned my stomach. Yet, I reveled in the sensation of each crunch and chew, savoring the morbid symphony upon my tongue.
¡°So,¡± I finally asked between bites, ¡°am I dead?¡±
The hag, draped in the elegance of a refined lady, carried herself with a grace befitting royalty, her laughter tender and whimsical as she observed my indulgence in the feast of the dead. ¡°No, dear, you are not.¡±
¡ªOh, thank god¡ªdying really sucks!
Her shrouded gaze exuded warmth and affection. ¡°You¡¯re only a dreaming visitor.¡±
¡°Huh¡ so this is a nightmare,¡± I mused.
¡°Certainly not,¡± she waved off my statement. ¡°I prefer to only deal in dreams. What you see before you is what you want to see at my table.¡±
I glanced around the table as I took yet another bite from the putrid heart. The skeleton children seemed to ignore my conversation with the hag, perhaps lost in their own separate spectacle or feast. I cocked my head back toward the bone lady.
¡°So, are you like, Death or something?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not my mother,¡± she replied, a hint of a pained smile in her tone. ¡°I¡¯m Duskara, Goddess of Dreams, though most have forgotten that name. I¡¯m simply remembered now as the Crone.¡±
¡ªHoly shit! Did she just say her mother is Death?
Shut up, Blake, and play it cool.
¡°That¡ that name sounds familiar,¡± I snapped my fingers. ¡°Oh, yeah! You¡¯re the one the vampires worship. Apparently, I¡¯m competing to be your champion,¡± I nodded happily before giving her a flat stare. ¡°I don¡¯t want it. Now, don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not a sore winner, but I don¡¯t work well for others,¡± I added with a smirk before reaching across the table to help myself to one of the plates of intestines that had caught my eye.
¡°Aislinn!¡± A scream from the window froze me as I took a wondrous bite.
I looked outside; the beautiful spring evening had morphed into a winter blizzard, the meadow vanished, and the trees now encircled the cottage. Memories of past dreams¡ªor nightmares¡ªthat I had forgotten surged through my mind, haunting me with visions of a woman¡¯s lifeless eyes.
My gaze snapped back to the so-called goddess. ¡°I remember you now,¡± I said, recalling the time standing in the forest with her before that blue bitch banished me back to the waking world. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention something about the forest being filled with bad dreams of past lives?¡±
Duskara nodded. ¡°I did.¡±
¡°Who was she¡¡± I whispered, barely audible, ¡°Who was Aislinn to me?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know, and diving into your soul to find out wouldn¡¯t be pleasant for either of us,¡± she explained. ¡°All I know is what you and the seven of you are to me,¡± she gestured at the skeletons at the table, happily feasting, oblivious to our conversation.
My eyes roamed the skeletons before stopping at one I assumed was Sophia. ¡°Big Sis?¡± I muttered, attempting to decipher the meaning as I struggled to remember my conversation with the girl in another dream. My memories weren¡¯t as clear as I had thought; a fog of uncertainty still clouded many details.
Before I could piece everything together, the Crone interjected, ¡°Now, about that champion position¡ª¡±
¡°¡ªI said, I don¡¯t want it!¡± I quickly interrupted. ¡°Like, seriously, I was all for murdering them,¡± I gestured to the skeletons, ¡°but that was a totally messed up game you¡¯re playing, pitting us against one another. Worse still, their bodies had better be there when I wake up this time. I want that Death Bolt spell,¡± I grumbled, crossing my arms.
¡°Forgive me; it needed to be done to protect all of you from being discovered,¡± she sounded remorseful.
¡°By having us kill one another?¡± I shot back.
¡°Just the death of your bodies. That¡¯s an easy fix within a dungeon. It¡¯s too soon for the false gods to discover your existence.¡±
¡°Not with the dungeon core gone, it¡¯s not,¡± I retorted.
¡°Wait¡ªwhat?¡± the Crone¡ªDuskara¡ªsounded genuinely surprised.
I sighed. ¡°Why do you think that blue bitch wants me to retrieve the core so badly?¡±
¡°I¡¯m uncertain of Magic¡¯s intentions with you,¡± Duskara admitted.
I laughed, a bit bitterly. ¡°I suppose I can see that. I was definitely getting some manipulative Karen vibes from her. Though, I¡¯ll get the core back as soon as I eat their corpses,¡± I gestured again to the skeletons, ¡°and gain a few new skills.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the dungeon will most likely have absorbed their bodies by now.¡±
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
¡°But the dungeon is dead without its core!¡± I protested.
¡°Aw, but like all corpses, a few parts of the body should still be functioning for a time after its death,¡± she replied, souring my mood.
That probably explained why I never found Rob¡¯s body. ¡°Shit!¡±
¡°As far as what makes us special,¡± Duskara continued, seemingly oblivious to my mental breakdown over losing out on all those skills, ¡°you have the soul of a Titan.¡±
With that single word, memories of that dream I had with Sophia began to resurface, though I was still preoccupied with my loss. Compelled to understand more, I asked, ¡°So hold on... You¡¯re saying all of humanity from Earth are this realm¡¯s long-lost Titans? All eight-plus billion people?¡±
¡°No,¡± she shook her head, the hood briefly revealing a chin bone so fast I might have imagined it. ¡°There were only a few hundred thousand Titans and just over a hundred fellow gods when they were all banished alongside our mother,¡± she tapped the table with her finger, continuing her explanation. ¡°No, what I believe our mother, Life, did was use her own essence in that manaless vacuum of a realm you call Earth to reestablish a new cycle of reincarnation. This was to keep the souls of the Titans and the gods from fading into the void, which ultimately led to the birth of new Titan souls.¡±
¡°But not gods?¡± I asked while processing what she had said.
¡°Not without the help of Death. Life cannot create new gods on her own.¡±
I took that all in, including the memories of my dream where Sophia had tried to explain all of this. Slowly nodding, it all began to make sense. Humanity was essentially a collection of old souls from this realm that had been¡ banished?
¡°Wait, who banished the Titans again?¡±
¡°The Eldritch, Magic¡¯s children.¡±
¡°Oh¡ Oh! That bitch!¡± I sat up, outraged. ¡°Wait, what does she want from me? Besides getting that core?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Duskara sighed. ¡°But everything she¡¯s done, from stealing entire worlds filled with various races, has been to find her sister, our mother, Life, and undo her wrong.¡±
¡°Well, she¡¯s been going about it in a fucked up way,¡± I grumbled.
¡°That she has.¡±
¡°So, I¡¯m a Titan, like Cronos and Sargeras?¡±
¡°Yes¡ªI¡¯m surprised your soul remembers those names. Cronus was Life¡¯s firstborn,¡± she nodded, almost happily. ¡°Though, I suspect much of your lore and knowledge was derived from unconscious memories of your souls. That said, I doubt your soul in particular is one of the original Titans from this realm. But, I believe one of them might be my elder half-sister, Rhea,¡± her hooded gaze shifted to the skeletons happily eating, seemingly oblivious to our conversation. ¡°I¡¯m unsure if it¡¯s Sophia or Heather.¡±
Yeah, never heard of that Titan.
¡°Ugh, don¡¯t tell me our world¡¯s old-school computer programming was based on subconscious memories of this realm¡¯s fucked up system, was it?¡±
Duskara nodded again. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about this computer stuff you speak of, but I would say yes, many things are typically influenced by a soul.¡±
¡°Wonderful,¡± I deadpanned. ¡°And what happened to the Eldritch again?¡±
¡°It¡¯s hard to destroy a soulless entity of Magic. So instead, Death shattered them and spread their remains across the cosmos,¡± there was a long pause before she continued, ¡°Their remains are often referred to as many things, one of them being Black Puddings.¡±
She¡¯s shitting me, right?
¡°You¡¯re shitting me, right?¡± I blurted out, voicing my inner shock.
My soul is inside one of these asshole Eldritch¡ªhuh, well, that might explain a lot.
Duskara was about to speak when a series of loud bangs echoed throughout the cottage, as if someone was pounding on the door like a drum.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
She sighed, ¡°It seems our time has run out. Do reconsider being my champion, will you? It will allow me to aid you within the constraints of the system.¡±
¡°Wait, but I have more questions!¡± I blurted out, my thoughts tumbling over each other in a rush. ¡°What¡¯s the system? Why is it in safe mode? What does it mean to have the soul of a Titan within the body of an Eldritch?¡±
Bang! Bang! Bang!
¡°The system was the training tool, a holdover from a forgotten era, designed to train Titans to learn to fight the Eldritch. Use it to learn new skills, but don¡¯t rely solely on it. Try mastering skills without the system altogether as it was designed to do. That¡¯s the entire purpose of ascension, not what the perversion those so-called gods believe it to be¡ª¡±
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Duskara continued, ¡°A Titan wields the very mana around them. Use it, and you¡¯ll be unstoppable.¡±
Bang! Bang! Bang!
¡°I¡¯m not going to forget all this when I wake up, am I?¡± I blinked away the moisture in my eyes, ¡°I¡¯m not going to forget about Aislinn again?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll see to it that you won¡¯t forget. Now, it¡¯s time for you to wake up. As powerful as I am within my domain, I cannot keep Magic from forcing her way in.¡±
The loud banging continued, but it somehow morphed into the sound of creaking and groaning rocks. I blinked back to consciousness to find Duskara gone; the feast had vanished, and no skeletons in sight¡ªonly darkness enveloped me. Reactivating Mana Focus, I discovered myself buried beneath a pile of rubble¡ªagain! However, this time was different: I remembered my dream and¡ Aislinn!
B01C26 - The Beginnings of an Idea
With maximum effort¡ªwell, perhaps not effort, but definitely maximum bitching¡ªI commenced my grumbling, whining, cursing, and name-calling as I slowly oozed my way through the rubble of what was once the great pathway of Moria... well, the Deep Roads. Wait! Wasn¡¯t Moria the name of the mines, and Khazad-d?m the city? I better not slip up on these details, lest I invoke the wrath of those D&D¡ªno, wait, Potter¡ªcultists online. They¡¯re a fierce bunch of keyboard warriors!
Seriously, Blake? Stirring up the trolls again?
YEP!
What¡¯s next, Rey was a Skywalker?
Oh¡ªI love Star Trek!
Eh, Orville is better.
Shut your mother-licking face hole!
Yes, I was mentally rambling to myself as I slithered through the fucking cave-in caused by that female bitch¡ªwell, canine. I¡¯m assuming he was a she because, let¡¯s be honest, that was a total bitch move! I probably should use they, but that¡¯s more about respect, and let¡¯s be real, I don¡¯t really respect anyone. Still, every they I¡¯ve slept with could eat pussy like a freaking champ! Why, you might ask?
¡ªThe constant mental chatter part¡ªnot the pussy eating, bitch, or cave-in stuff¡ªobviously. For starters, there¡¯s no music, so my brain does this annoying little dance¡ªit just has to be doing something, thanks to ADHD and a cocktail of other mental quirks, including a few misdiagnoses for good measure. This jumbled mental process was exacerbated in my last life by the US¡¯s crap healthcare coverage and the scarcity of mental health options for those without a ton of money¡ªwhich doesn¡¯t really explain my new fondness for eating people. Though, I think I¡¯ve ranted about that before, so you should already get it¡ªhopefully¡ unless you¡¯re also a bit twisted in the head?
Secondly, I¡¯m bored out of my damn gooey skull¡ªthough, isn¡¯t that just a rerun of point one? Whatever! Just know this: the path deep under the earth¡ªor well, Nyxoria (not going to lie, I hate that the word Earth also means ground, soil, dirt, and all that shit. It¡¯s so confusing at times)¡ªwas jam-packed with rocks, stones, and dirt, making it a total bitch to navigate¡ªhence, all the mental gymnastics to keep me from going insane¡er.
Lastly, but perhaps most significantly, I needed to distract myself from my¡ªrage! Yes, I was seriously pissed off right now. Why, you may ask? Well, my corpses, brimming with those oh-so-good skills¡ªand yummy intestines¡ªwere gone when I woke up. Sure, it was tough to search with a mountain of debris on top of me, but I still looked, and looked, and looked¡ªand, well, you get the point. So, yeah, I¡¯m not exactly taking it well.
That being said, one good thing did happen: I remembered my dream this time! You know that feeling, right? Waking up almost giddy because you can perfectly recall every detail of your dream¡ªthat was me... or would have been, if I wasn¡¯t so infuriated about my breakfast disappearing when I woke up. You think a cup of coffee can kickstart your day? Ha! Clearly, you¡¯ve never tried cannibalism!
Ugh, and I was so ready to eat those two elf girls¡¯ asses!
Literally, I take it?
Mhmmm! Do you think¡ªwait, do I think¡ªdark elf meat tastes better than high elf? Oh! Oh! Better question: Ass¡ªhind, if we¡¯re being politically correct¡ªbreast, or thigh meat?
Ass, while my head is sandwiched between a pair of thighs, and I¡¯m holding onto two handfuls of breasts¡ªand let¡¯s not forget the bean!
No sausage?
I¡¯m still talking about food, right?
¡
I chuckled at my inner monologue as I slipped around a particularly tight crevice, happy to find larger gaps as I continued my slimy journey. Until at last, I was free¡ªfree at last, thank... Wait, hadn¡¯t I already made this joke reference once before? Eh, but it¡¯s a classic.
Now, out of the collapsed section, I got to work on the work of reforming my body, which, let¡¯s be honest, wasn¡¯t really work at all. In fact, it required no thought whatsoever and seemed to work better without my meddling. I¡¯d explain the mechanics of this work, but I think I¡¯ve overworked the explanation of that subconsciously dead horse by now. Instead, I worked on stretching, putting some work into extending my arms wide¡ªnot that this bit of work needed much effort. I suppose it was a subconscious thing, a work habit from my past humanity where stretching just felt good¡ªlike decompressing after a day filled with hard work. It¡¯s curious how some forms of work, like stretching, can feel like work even when they¡¯re effortless.
How many times am I going to say ¡®work¡¯?
What, am I out of narrative ideas?
...No.
¡°I think that dream really fucked with my mind, hard. And not in a good way¡ªmore like it hate fucked my ass sideways, all messy like, then went full vaginal without so much as a courtesy baby wipe, leaving me with a serious tract infection,¡± I grumbled¡ from experience before clarifying. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is, I¡¯m feeling a little extra crazy today,¡± I huffed.
The only reply was the sound of a small pebble falling somewhere off in the distance.
I shrugged, ¡°Everyone¡¯s a critic.¡±
Oh, and yes, I am all alone, chatting up a storm to myself like the certified madwoman I am. What¡¯s new, right?
I strode toward the path leading back to the main part of the dungeon, eyeing the exit. Not that I felt ready to tangle with those Slutty-teens¡ªSlaethians, or whatever they call themselves¡ªbut hey, options were slim. The only fuckers left that could give me any new skills were those three statues, once guardians of the core, now just decorative ass-kickers after the dungeon¡¯s denizens carted the core off to their metropolis, only to have it stolen yet again.
Those stony, marbled pricks were way out of my league, but what¡¯s a girl to do when she needs more skills? I had managed to swipe some from just one other Earthling, a corpse I didn¡¯t even get the pleasure of dropping myself¡ªcomplete and utter bullshit. And yeah, I snagged some skills from a few other dungeon bosses, a couple of baby spiders, a succubus, and... okay, I admit, I had a whole arsenal of skills to play with. But can you blame me for wanting more? Greed is a hell of a drug¡ªnot quite as good as cocaine, but then again, I don¡¯t have any of that here. Looks like it was core-heist time. No other options on the table.
I glanced down and, oh, fabulous¡ªa large pink tentacle was snugly wrapped around my waist. I traced it back to its source and spotted a treasure chest on the other end.
¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got to be shitting me. How many freaking mimics are down here¡ª¡±
My rant was cut short as the mimic yanked me off my feet, hurling me straight into its gaping maw. The lid snapped shut with a vicious clang, and rows of shark-like teeth clamped down, gnashing at me as if I were mere bubble gum. It chewed with relentless ferocity, the lid contorting from side to side as it shredded my silk fa?ade and savaged the dark flesh beneath¡ªpuncturing, stabbing, and serrating with each horrific chomp. Its wet tongue greedily rolled me around its mouth, savoring me like a connoisseur relishes a fine wine.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Pain from physical attacks felt more like phantom pain; it didn¡¯t truly hurt, but my mind kept insisting it should¡ªit was quite bizarre. The only genuine sensation was my exasperation with the entire ordeal. Yep, you heard¡ªargh, read¡ªthat correctly. I was beyond anger or rage. In fact, if my face hadn¡¯t been all torn up at the moment, I would have worn the exasperation of someone who¡¯s just had enough¡ªin an unamused sort of way.
A few moments later, I strode away as a mimic chest, coated in green flames with purple tips, screamed and wailed. It skittered frantically, bashing from one wall to the next on crab-like legs as if its hair were on fire¡ªwell, to be fair, its entire body was on fire, but hair paints a more vivid picture, wouldn¡¯t you say?
Before long, I passed by the dungeon colosseum, steering clear of the three statues that had resumed their original poses, and made my way to the stairwell leading out. The path up was dark and foreboding¡ªthough that might have been my nerves. Not that I was worried about vampires or anything, but for some odd reason, my thoughts kept drifting to Aurelia. And now that I could actually remember my dreams, it was like being stuck on a loop of my supposed past lives, particularly that disaster of a night buried under snow.
Were those dreams¡ªor should I call them nightmares¡ªactually memories of past lives?
Sauntering into a chamber that felt more like a crypt than a room, I found myself encircled by ten massive stone slabs, each screaming altar and tailored for someone way taller and less alive than your average NBA star. They huddled around a pit, the fire long snuffed out¡ªancient history, maybe? My Mana Focus lit the place up like a neon rave, painting everything in wild mana technicolor. Without it? I¡¯d be blinder than a bat who¡¯d lost its sonar at the absolute worst moment.
The ambient mana didn¡¯t just lurk; it pulsated, wrapping around me in a suffocating embrace that was unsettling yet weirdly comforting¡ªlike a backstabbing friend ready with a warm hug. Amidst these ethereal currents, whispers of healing energy flickered in wisps. As I navigated this eerie ambiance, I couldn¡¯t help but muse¡ªwas this cryptic venue some kind of celestial pit stop? Perhaps a respawn chamber for the brave or downright idiotic system users daring enough to tackle the dungeon?
I didn¡¯t linger, darting out and barely rounding the corner when my metaphorical heart plummeted. The corridor unfolded into a grotesque horror show¡ªbodies strewn everywhere, contorted into unnatural poses like a deranged artist¡¯s macabre playthings. Blood, fire scars, and the remnants of violent magical bursts marred the walls, creating a chaotic canvas strewn with debris. The vamps had clearly gotten their asses handed to them. My stomach churned with a bizarre mix of hunger and¡ªdare I say¡ªarousal? Sure, the carnage might resemble a scandalously forbidden feast, but manners, manners! All thoughts of Magic¡¯s quest vanished as my mind focused singularly on one imperative: find Aurelia!
Frantically, I rummaged through corpse after corpse, each face a silent prayer answered that it wasn¡¯t hers. Yet, amidst the bloody task, I couldn¡¯t resist a nibble here and there¡ªa girl¡¯s gotta eat, after all!
This obsession with finding Aurelia was gnawing at me. She bore no resemblance to the woman in my dreams, yet the fear those dreams stirred up clawed at my insides, just as tangible as the monster of insanity I¡¯d become. I persisted through the destruction, each non-Aurelia body a twisted relief.
Turning down another gloomy hallway, I spotted a lifeless gnome¡ªrecognizing the corpse as Olin, that little ghoul twerp, now just another casualty with an axe buried in his skull. The urge to smash his face in and snack on his eyeballs and intestines was tempting¡ªsuper tempting! But then, like a shart at a funeral, another thought struck me loud and clear amid the deafening silence.
I¡¯ve got an idea.
¡°Status!¡± I called out, even though a mere thought would have sufficed.
|
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
CharacterStatus
Name: Blake
Race: Black Pudding
Class: Monster
Level: 25
Titles:
- [Hopeless Crusader]
Racial Skills:
- [Absorb]
- [Arcane Insight]
- [Corrosive]
- [Polymorph]
- [Thermal]
Spells:
- [Astral Insight]
- [Blight]
- [Fear]
- [Life Drain]
- [Mana Focus]
- [Necrotic Flame]
- [Paralysis]
- [Terror¡¯s Infusion]
Abilities:
- [Burst]
- [Ethereal Mist]
- [Silk Webbing]
- [Spider Walk]
- [Venomous]
Vulnerabilities:
- [Fire]
- [Holy]
Immunities:
- [Acid]
- [Darkness]
- [Disease]
- [Dread]
- [Fear]
- [Poison]
- [Sleep]
- [Sorrow]
Unique Traits:
- [Oracle]
- [Polyglot]
- [Stellar Void]
Selectable Skills:
- [Acid Breath]
- [Dull Corrode]
- [Fear Harvest]
- [Fortress]
- [Leap]
- [Poison Spit]
- [Shield Proficiency]
- [Spirit Vessel]
- [Spores]
V:\>
|
My eyes roamed down my skill list, my expression turning into a frown at the Immunities. It was frustrating that some skill immunities didn¡¯t apply unless cast upon me by an external source, like Fear¡ªI mean, I could still feel scared, like how I was terrified for some unknown reason about anything happening to Aurelia, even though I had immunity to¡ well, Fear. And yet, Sleep immunity protected me from all states of unconsciousness¡ªunless, of course, someone had an attack that could turn off my buffs, but that¡¯s a different drowned bag of cats.
What I¡¯m getting at is, nothing seems very consistent. It¡¯s almost like the rules of magic are a lot like English: for every rule, there¡¯s an exception, and none of those exceptions make any sense.
Sighing, my gaze moved on until it landed on my available skills to be selected.
¡°I know I have two available skill points, but it would be nice if my status page actually said that,¡± I grumbled, silently hoping that blue magical cunt had heard my bitching.
With a deep, resigned sigh, I immediately spent a skill point without an ounce of hesitation¡ªyes, that was a lie if the sigh wasn¡¯t a tell. What? Leveling had become really hard without the dungeon core, so I wasn¡¯t exactly eager to spend my last two points, but I knew it had to be done. Plus, I had an idea. It hit me when I saw Olin¡¯s corpse, reminding me of what Aurelia had done with his soul after I had devoured his last body.
|
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
SkillDetails
[Spirit Vessel]
Description: Manipulate spirits around you, mending and melding them with any accepting vessel.
Status: Inactive
Type: Spell
Activation: Cast
_
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
ActivateSpell
Selecting Spell: [Spirit Vessel]
Status: Active
Type: Spell
Activation: Cast
[Spirit Vessel] is now set as an active-cast.
_
Selectable: 14 out of 15 Skills Activated.
V:\>
|
Casting my new skill with all my insight guiding me. I watched in both fascination and hunger as the injuries on the undead ghoul began to knit themselves back together¡ªa grotesque display of blood and brain matter flowing back into its body, as if manipulated by some twisted unseen force. Despite the gruesomely enticing sight, which stirred my hunger once more, my priorities were clear¡ªI needed answers first; feasting could wait.
Don¡¯t get me wrong, I didn¡¯t give two shits about healing Olin or anything like that; I really didn¡¯t like the little prick. However, I needed answers, and more importantly, I needed to find Aurelia!
Alas, the ghoul¡¯s gaze remained vacant and lifeless, and my quest for answers was far from over. I stared at it for a long, probing moment¡ªsomething was amiss. I wasn¡¯t an expert, but from what I understood, Spirit Vessel shouldn¡¯t have healed the corpse, right?
I wiped at the corner of my mouth, catching a trail of yellow drool, my hunger a subtle reminder of my needs as I continued to study the corpse. Stepping back, I noticed something else peculiar. Tilting my head from side to side, the corpse¡¯s appearance shifted oddly, like those holographic foil trading cards¡ªwhat I was seeing didn¡¯t seem quite real.
From one angle, the body still looked just as ravaged, but from another, it appeared healed.
Wait¡ªdid I mend the spirit?
So, what I¡¯m seeing is his soul? How can I see his soul?
Unless¡ a soul is mana¡ªMana Focus!
So, I had apparently healed Olin¡¯s soul, but I couldn¡¯t get it to fuse with the body. I glanced back at the skill¡¯s description and fixated on the phrase, ¡°melding them with any accepting vessel.¡± My best guess, using all my insight and common sense, was that his body was too damaged to accept the soul.
Disgruntled, I began using Spirit Vessel on Olin¡¯s soul with every nearby body I could find, but to no avail. Intriguingly, his soul took on the appearance of each body I tried, continually giving it that holographic foil trading card look as the soul overlaid the corpse. I admit, it tricked me a couple of times into thinking I had succeeded. However, by leaning from side to side, I was able to notice the illusion¡ªthough I suspected that if I wasn¡¯t using mana to see, I wouldn¡¯t have had this issue.
With a huff, I plopped down on my ass, racking my brain for a solution or at least a workaround. Astral Insight and Arcane Insight were proving utterly useless, and don¡¯t even get me started on Oracle¡ªI wasn¡¯t even sure if those skills were doing anything at all. Then, suddenly, an idea popped into my head from seemingly nowhere. I snapped my fingers. With a wicked grin, I activated Stellar Void!
B01C27 - The Lich
I attempted to activate Stellar Void with a wicked grin, but my eyebrows furrowed when nothing happened. Sitting beside Olin¡¯s corpse, arms crossed over my chest, I stared at the gnome.
¡°WTF! What am I fucking doing wrong?¡± I muttered, glaring at the lifeless form beside me. ¡°Hmm¡ Olin doesn¡¯t need his intestines, does he?¡± I paused, considering the thought. ¡°Mmmmm¡ªnope!¡±
Stellar Void was an odd skill. For one, I hadn¡¯t chosen it¡ªI was pretty sure I didn¡¯t need a dimensional storage skill; besides, it wasn¡¯t like I could use items, what with my pH levels all sorts of out of whack. Yes, I can turn off my Corrosive passive, but that¡¯s beside the point. Where was I going with this? Oh, right! I was quite surprised when Misty Blue hacked my system sheet and activated the skill¡ªyes, I just threw out that nickname, testing the waters. Can I keep calling her blue cunt? Well, I suppose I could, and most likely would. But that¡¯s a petty tangent I¡¯m above¡ªI¡¯m getting sidetracked, as usual.
So... Stellar Void. It¡¯s an odd skill. I didn¡¯t want it. Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d need it. However, because of it, I now have a pair of solutions ready to grab by the balls. Yep, that¡¯s right! I have two phylacteries from the undead chimera. I might also be a bit bitter that I couldn¡¯t have taken them and killed that zombie monster without the skill, but I refuse to give that blue cunt any credit for micromanaging my skills. However, why hadn¡¯t the skill worked?
With a huff, triggered by my own relentless narrative rambling¡ªwhich, let¡¯s be honest, is starting to unhinge even me¡ªI tried to activate my dimensional storage skill once again.
I know, I know, this narrative is teetering on too meta. But what can I say? I operate on two settings: full-blown insanity and cold, hard vindictiveness. Admittedly, my more insane side can be quite fun. In my last life, that version of me would have pulled off a keg stand to massive cheers and then swooped in to steal some dude¡¯s hot girlfriend¡ªor at least, that would have been me if I¡¯d been more sociable. No... what can I say? I was a goth daydreamer, though I¡¯d still manage to snag the girl, the guy, and sometimes both. I think the term is slut, but why do women get the negative labels for sleeping around? Total bullshit, if you ask me! Then there was my vindictive side¡ªyeah, that part of me was a real nightmare, even for me. My point? I¡¯m unhinged, always have been, and it¡¯s only gotten far, far, far¡ªwaaaaaay¡ªworse in this new life, and that¡¯s not even touching on the cannibalism!
Slurping on my snack, my brows furrowed deeper as I looked for any signs of the skill working, but frustratingly¡ªnothing! The last and only time I had used this skill, I hadn¡¯t really been paying attention to where the hole had opened¡ªI mean, I was a blob of goop within a monster¡¯s nut sack¡ you know what, let¡¯s never mention that last part again. Anyway, the dimensional storage didn¡¯t open a hole in time or space before me or anything like that; instead, I felt a shift within me. My eyes glanced down to my chest as I stared, mesmerized, as Stellar Void held open a gaping hole, revealing¡ nothingness.
¡°Oh¡ªthere you are!¡± I exclaimed with an overly cheerful tone.
With a happy little hum, I rammed my fist right into my gaping hole and rummaged around, my fingers curling as they searched for the spot. I even pulled out a few times, only to thrust my fist back in, hard and fast. Like a skilled lover, I knew exactly where to look, yet the surprise at the end was... underwhelming. As I pulled out this time with my prize in hand, I pouted, staring at a baseball-sized black phylactery.
Wasn¡¯t it the size of a basketball?
Ah, it shriveled. How cute.
¡°Maybe it¡¯s too cold inside my hole?¡± I shrugged, smirking.
I didn¡¯t bother to check if the other one had shrunk; I only needed one. My plan was simple: if my skill, Spirit Vessel, refused to shove Olin¡¯s soul into a corpse, then I¡¯d ram it into this orb and try to connect it to a body using that as the medium. Did I know if it would work? Nope! But it was only his soul¡ªwhat harm could trying possibly do?
As much as I craved answers from Olin, part of me grieved the waste of one of my two phylacteries on his soul¡ª
Such a freaking waste.
¡ªbut, desperate times and all that shit, right? I needed to find Aurelia, and I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that my soul was in a screaming match, urging me to hurry it up. The worst part was that I didn¡¯t know if she was still alive. So, if ramming Olin¡¯s soul into a phylactery was the ticket, then I¡¯m buying¡ªafter all, I need those answers. Meanwhile, a little voice in my head was warning me that Magic was toying with me, dangling that quest reward of ascension like a carrot. I was just waiting for the inevitable screw-over once I get that dungeon core.
Meh, whatever! Aurelia first, core second.
I waved off the doubts with a mental flick of my middle finger. ¡°No time for second-guessing now.¡±
I hoisted myself off my ass and towered over the pathetic gnome¡¯s corpse, clutching one of my phylactery orbs like the queen of chaos I truly am. Flashing a devil-may-care grin, I punched the mental command for Spirit Vessel into the system. Let me tell you, it kicked off like a firework show, making me feel like a supervillain on a serious power trip¡ªthink Evil-Lyn, but cranked up to eleven with mad cackling. As the magic swirled and danced in a spectrum of colors around me, I noticed a new sensation... I could actually feel it caressing my flesh, as tangible as if I could reach out and grasp it.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Huh, the spell seems so straightforward it¡¯s almost idiotic. Could I actually pull this off without the system holding my hand?
Doubtful, but hell, why not try? After all, how hard is it to stuff a soul back into its meat sack?
What¡¯s the worst that could happen? It¡¯s not like Olin can die again... right?
Remembering what Duskara, aka the Crone, had told me¡ªthat I was supposedly a Titan, capable of manipulating mana¡ªI decided to let go of my training wheels and deactivated Spirit Vessel. Like a kid learning to ride a bike, I ignored the system, reached out with my hands, and let the mana weave around my fingers. Much to my giddiness, the mana moved with my touch. I doubted it would have been as easy without Mana Focus letting me see how the mana reacted to every gesture I made. Still, I¡¯m not one to complain¡ªokay, that¡¯s a lie; I¡¯d totally bitch to a manager if I could. However, as I smiled like an idiot, Olin¡¯s soul moved with the flow of mana as I guided it into the black orb.
Then, continuing to toy with the mana, I gently squeezed a tendril that danced around the orb and pulled it toward the lifeless gnome corpse. Like a desert desperate for water, the body clung to the soul from the orb like a greedy child. This time, there was no denial, no reaction. Before I could blink, the spell concluded, the phylactery took the reins, and presto¡ªOlin¡¯s soul was back in business. Weirdly, the whole thing felt eerily familiar.
D¨¦j¨¤ vu, much?
Had my own soul been through this rodeo before?
It was a creepy thought, but I shoved it aside. Right now, all I cared about was grilling the newly revived gnome rat.
¡°He¡¯s alive! He¡¯s alive!¡± I whooped, throwing my arms up like I¡¯d just resurrected Frankenstein¡¯s monster, as Olin¡¯s eyes flickered open.
Olin¡¯s expression cycled from shock to confusion to annoyance as he caught my gaze. Before he could utter a word, I morphed an arm into a massive tentacle and slammed it beside his head, sending shivers down his now-lich spine. As he tried to speak, the word ¡°Bow¡ª¡± barely formed on his lips before my voice thundered through the chamber, cutting him off.
¡°WHERE¡¯S AURELIA?!¡± I screamed, my eyes blazing with a harsh, orange light that cast a sinister glow over the quivering figure before me. The air around me thrummed with dark and ominous energy, and I swore I saw orange sparks flicker.
¡°The lasth time I thaw my lady,¡± Olin murmured, barely above a whisper, ¡°she wash fighting a champion ash thath bathard, Demidicuth, headed for the portal chamber with the thurviving eldersh.¡± His fear subsided, replaced by a flicker of confusion as he patted his jaw and touched his lips, as if puzzled by an unfamiliar sensation.
I remember him having a stutter, but did he have a lisp before?
¡°Did... Did Aurelia¡¡±
¡°There ith another coven, far to the westh at the edge of the continent, near the daylight side within the mountainsh along the coasth,¡± Olin interjected before I could finish. ¡°If Lord Demidicuth went anywhere, it would be there. But don¡¯t expect them to linger; the Grand Elder isn¡¯th one to share power, and hish influenthe wanes on thath thide of the continent.¡±
Daylight side? Huh, we¡¯ll have to come back to that.
¡°I don¡¯t care about Demi-ass,¡± I growled. ¡°What happened to Aurelia?¡±
¡°I can¡¯t thay for thure,¡± Olin admitted, still fiddling with his jaw.
Useless!
¡°Ugh! How do I find Aurelia?!¡± I demanded.
¡°My guessh is she will find you,¡± Olin answered, unhelpfully.
¡°That¡¯s not much help,¡± I snarled. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to be useful, I might as well eat you.¡±
Olin¡¯s gaze darted around, panic rising, before he regained a bit of composure. ¡°What happened to the other candidatesh? Did they perish during the trial?¡±
For fuck¡¯s sake, that lisp is getting annoying!
¡°Hmm? Oh, yeah, I killed them,¡± I casually replied.
¡°So you¡¯re the Crone¡¯sh champion?¡± Olin asked, a trace of hope flickering in his eyes.
¡°What? Hell no,¡± I snapped. ¡°I told her I didn¡¯t want it.¡±
¡°You¡ªyou denied a goddethh?¡± Olin stammered.
I shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°I don¡¯t work well with or for others.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not the champion?¡± Olin muttered to himself, bewildered.
¡°Nope! These things happen,¡± I smirked, my expression turning cold. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to help me find Aurelia, I have no use for you.¡±
¡°Wait!¡± Olin cried as I stepped closer, the black phylactery in my hand poised to sever the connection between his body and his soul. His eyes widened in realization as he blurted out, ¡°Elsthernwick!¡±¡ªclearly understanding where his soul was now held.
¡°What?¡± I paused, blinking in confusion.
¡°If Aurelia was defeated by a champion,¡± the little lich gulped, ¡°she wash most likely taken captive. In thath cathe, she would have been brought to the nearby village of Elsthernwick, where the Sleathiansh would await reinforcementsh to transport her to their kingdom¡¯sh capital.¡±
Okay¡ªwhat¡¯s going on with this lisp? I can barely understand him.
¡°There, that wasn¡¯t so hard to say, now was it?¡± I cooed. ¡°Now, come on, we¡¯re going to go get her back,¡± I declared.
And snag that dungeon core while I¡¯m at it.
Olin attempted to rise but immediately fell flat on his face. I tried and failed to stifle a laugh as he clumsily pushed himself up and stared in disbelief at himself, only now noticing that everything below his rib cage was missing.
¡°My bad, I got hungry,¡± I chuckled, striding away and playfully tossing the black orb up and down. ¡°Do keep up,¡± I called back over my shoulder.
I could barely contain my amusement as the little undead gnome muttered an incoherent tirade, clumsily pattering after me with his hands, his lower half missing. I could have sworn he even hissed a couple of times¡ªnot like a cat, but more like a snake, for some reason¡
As I walked, I pulled up my skill sheet, deciding it was time to spend my last skill point on one final skill before potentially facing a horde of much stronger enemies. I hoped to sneak in and out unnoticed, but deep down, I knew that was too much to hope for.
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V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
SkillDetails
[Spores]
Description: Emit a haze of spores to envelop you, inflicting foes with a lethargic slowdown that delays physical reactions and spell casting.
Status: Inactive
Type: Ability
Activation: Cast
Select [Spores]?
> YES
> NO
_
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
ActivateSpell
Selecting Ability: [Spores]
Status: Active
Type: Ability
Activation: Cast
[Spores] is now set as an active-cast.
_
Selectable: 15 out of 15 Skills Activated.
V:\>
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B01C28 - A Wonderful, Awful Idea
I pranced through the wreckage of the vampires¡¯ keep, my steps light and merry¡ªa stark contrast to the legless¡ªand, I might add, dickless¡ªgnome¡¯s furious hand-slapping against the stone floor. His every move screamed of wrath, but I wasn¡¯t about to let his sour mood rain on my parade. With a grin, I juggled a baseball-sized black orb, my carefree tosses a sharp foil to his frustration. Each time the orb thudded against the ground after a missed catch, a sharp intake of breath escaped him.
¡°Oops!¡± I flashed a mischievous smile.
¡°Aaaaah!¡± Olin cried out as the orb hit the stone floor with a loud crack.
¡°My bad,¡± I nearly sang out, scooping up the orb without bothering to check for any cracks or chips. With a soft chuckle, I tossed it again, effortlessly catching it while noting his wince. ¡°Oh, how thoughtless of me,¡± I hummed sarcastically, the words dripping with faux concern. Tee-hee.
¡°Will you th-stop that?¡± the gnome gasped, his voice threading a hiss through the irritation.
¡°Stop what?¡± I asked, tossing the orb again, my eyes gleaming as I happily watched his eye twitch while I nearly missed catching it again.
¡°Th-that!¡±
¡°That?¡± I tilted my head, feigning confusion.
What? Accidents happen. It¡¯s not my fault if I¡¯ve got butterfingers... despite my reflexes being almost superhuman¡ªokay, fine, I admit it. I¡¯m not actually missing those catches; I¡¯m intentionally letting it fall. But oh, the look of horror on his little undead gnome face every time I do it is absolutely priceless!
¡°You know exthactly¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯ve got questions,¡± I interrupted him as I tossed the orb again. ¡°Also, what¡¯s with the lisp?¡±
¡°Lithp? What lithp?¡± he blinked, his confusion genuine.
¡°You sound like you¡¯re part sna...ke,¡± I said, catching the orb and glancing down at it as my orange eyes widened.
¡°What ith it?¡±
¡°Oops,¡± was my only reply as I quickly started walking again.
¡°What ith it?!¡± he hissed.
¡°Nothing!¡± I called back as I continued on.
Um... Blake, did I remove the souls from the two phylacteries before putting Olin¡¯s soul into one?
...Nope.
Umm, I think his soul is sharing the orb with the chimera¡¯s snake-tail soul.
Whoops!
¡°What ith you do¡± Olin cried, his voice slashing through the air with a hiss.
Fucking hell!
¡°Nothing,¡± I smiled, perhaps a bit too awkwardly, if the panic widening in the gnome¡¯s eyes was any indication.
¡°What ith you do!¡± he repeated.
¡°Ugh, enough,¡± I groaned.
I activated Stellar Void and tossed the phylactery into my chest cavity¡ªor rather, into my dimension storage. As the black orb disappeared into the void within me, Olin¡¯s body immediately crumbled. His arms gave out, and he fell flat onto his face with a hard thud... or it would have been a hard thud, except he looked like a toddler missing his lower half, so it really wasn¡¯t that far of a fall.
Within the dark corridors of the ruined vampires¡¯ keep, the utter silence was shattered by a loud slap as I facepalmed.
¡°Fucking great, Blake,¡± I complained. ¡°I needed his help to find Aurelia! What? It¡¯s not like I knew the connection between his soul and body would be severed when I tossed it into my hole,¡± I grumbled back. ¡°Ugh, but that¡¯s how I defeated the chimera, you dumbass!¡±
Still bitching at myself, I reached down and grabbed the lifeless corpse by the back of the neck, continuing down the corridor toward the keep¡¯s portcullis. From what I could see, daylight¡ªor something like it¡ªfiltered through in a haunting blue hue. Stepping out of the keep, gnome in hand, I paused and gazed skyward.
Above, the heavens were dominated by a colossal Jupiter-like planet that filled the entire sky, awash in hues of cyan interspersed with swirling, vibrant pink storms that churned visibly, like world-ending hurricanes at play. I stood there, jaw agape, for several long moments, transfixed.
My gaze roamed across the planet, catching sight of one large moon after another¡ªsome as large as three of Earth¡¯s moons combined, commanding the sky, while others were more modest but no less captivating. Countless moons¡ªI¡¯m not exaggerating; there were thousands of them¡ªpeppered the expanse, each contributing to a tapestry of orbiting wonders.
Oh, and we¡¯re not talking plain old-looking moons; I could see continents, some washed in green, others in browns, and blue oceans¡ªwell, except for that one over there; that ocean looked purple, but the rest that I could make out looked like Earth, if not for the continents being differently shaped.
Glancing around, I noted the absence of a sun, yet the planet itself cast a surreal blue glow, bathing everything in an otherworldly light.
¡°Holy shit,¡± I finally breathed out.
Pulling my gaze down, I noticed the remnants of the siege within a forest¡ªnot the lush green kind, but more like the eerie Sleepy Hollow variety. It was painfully clear that the vampires had been utterly decimated, with corpses littering the ground everywhere I looked. A few were even impaled upon the tops of trees¡ªdon¡¯t ask me how they got all the way up there. I took a step and pulled back when my foot landed on a large wooden stick, and suddenly, it hit me. I got an idea. An awful idea. I got a wonderful, awful idea.
A few minutes later, I watched as Olin¡¯s eyes slowly crept open, blinking a few times as if waking from a deep sleep, before finally settling on me.
¡°Eh, what happened?¡± he groaned.
¡°Um, turns out I can¡¯t keep your phylactery within my dimensional storage without severing the connection between your soul and that... head,¡± I said, barely concealing a smile.
¡°You have a dimensional¡ªwait, what do you mean, head?¡± Olin tried to glance down¡ªwell, attempted to, but his head wasn¡¯t moving. ¡°Why can¡¯t I move?¡± he squeaked in panic.
¡°Hey! Your lisp is gone,¡± I chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±
¡°Why can¡¯t I move my head¡ªin fact, why can¡¯t I feel my body!¡±
¡°Um, because you don¡¯t have a body,¡± I smiled again.
¡°What!¡±
I stared at Olin as I held the magic staff that had been lying on the ground, now adorned with his head at the tip as though it were a magical, albeit fleshy, skull. He was glaring at me with seething anger.
¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± I added. ¡°You had no legs. You should really be thanking me.¡±
¡°Thank you? I¡¯m a fucking head on a stick!¡± Olin screamed.
¡°Yeaaah, but now you don¡¯t have to worry about walking,¡± I happily nodded. ¡°Oh, and look... oh, right, you can¡¯t. Well, at the bottom of the staff, I replaced the magical crystal thingy with your phylactery.¡± I smiled as I gave the bottom of the staff a couple of good thumps on the ground, eliciting a few shrieks from Olin.
¡°Stop that! That¡¯s my soul you¡¯re playing with, you¡ªyou gooey bitch!¡±
¡°Gooey, what?¡± I asked, my tone cold and threatening. Before Olin could stammer out a reply, I cut him off, ¡°Let¡¯s get something straight. I need your help to find Aurelia. I don¡¯t care about you or what happens to you. That said, if you help me, I... might hand you over to her to fix, but until then, you¡¯re at my mercy, and I¡¯m not big on mercy.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
¡°I¡ªI understand,¡± Olin said, his voice wavering as though he were frantically nodding like a good, submissive bobblehead¡ªif, you know, he could actually nod, considering the whole head-on-a-stick situation.
¡°Good,¡± I said cheerfully. ¡°Anywho, why did the army leave all the vampire corpses lying about? Aren¡¯t they worried about the undead?¡± I asked the undead lich head.
¡°It¡¯s difficult to bring back the dead if they were slain by holy weapons. It would take a necromancer on par with a Champion,¡± Olin explained. ¡°Typically, they would burn the bodies, but I imagine they didn¡¯t want to linger and deal with that if they took Aurelia prisoner. She¡¯s too powerful to be kept confined without a full garrison overseeing her, especially since Lord Demidicus got away.¡±
¡°Huh¡ So, which way to this Eastern-Witch?¡± I asked, changing the subject.
¡°Elsternwick,¡± Olin corrected, earning a flat stare from me. He cleared his throat, ¡°Straight ahead.¡±
Um, but he doesn¡¯t have a throat.
Semantics¡ªshut up!
With a happy little hum, I started walking, and walking, oh, and more walking, until at last, Elsternwick! It was actually a cinch to find. I mean, there was a literal trail laid out clear as day as though an entire army had marched right through it¡ªwhich I suppose was probably exactly what had happened¡ªleading right through the forest. Olin and I approached the forest¡¯s edge, spotting an encampment outside the village¡¯s walls.
My little dark heart sank at the sight of vampires bared naked and impaled upon wooden spikes, Vlad the Impaler-style. The once-fearsome creatures of the night were reduced to squirming in agonizing pain. Their skin bubbled, blackened, and blistered as their piercing screams of torture echoed through the air, met with jeers and laughter from the holy knights who occasionally stepped up to cast Holy upon them. If these roasting vampires weren¡¯t supposed to be my allies, I might have been tempted to take a bite or two. Ah, who was I kidding? I had no allies.
I was only here for the dungeon core¡ªyes, that¡¯s me lying to myself again. I didn¡¯t understand why Aurelia had such a hold over me. Nonetheless, I was relieved that Aurelia wasn¡¯t among the impaled. Still, the thought of her suffering sent my tar-black blood blazing with rage as I gazed into the camp, desperate to find her.
¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± Olin squeaked.
I smirked at the head on a stick and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡±
¡°WH¡ª¡± He started to yell before my hand clapped over his mouth.
The little prick launched into a muffled tirade, but honestly, who had the time or the patience for that? So, with a flex of my tits, I opened my dimensional storage and unceremoniously dumped him, the stick he was glued to, and his oh-so-precious phylactery into the abyss.
Sighing in relief at the sudden silence¡ªwell, apart from the ongoing vampire rave and their Holy Knight fan club¡ªI couldn¡¯t help but let a wickedly dark smile creep across my face as my body started doing its best Wicked Witch impression, melting into a gooey mess. As I splattered onto the ground, shrinking in size, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder where all my extra mass was going. I mean, I¡¯d eaten enough corpses to rival an elephant and a half. But, as usual, when pesky questions like that popped up, my go-to answer fluttered back¡ªmagic, duh!
Once I¡¯d shrunk down to what one might generously call a baby spiderling¡ªokay, fine, I looked more like a Great Dane smooshed into a pancake¡ªI slithered off in a mad, undignified slush toward the military encampment.
As a large moon passed overhead, the sky was painted in dark blue and pink hues, casting the knights¡¯ encampment into a labyrinth of haunting shadows. The camp was massive, nearly four times the size of the village, and being near so many knights gathered in one spot was a bit unnerving. Not because I was scared¡ªfuck that¡ªbut because I was hungry again. I really should have taken the time to feast on all those vampire corpses lying around earlier.
How the fuck am I going to pull this off?
As my slime form slithered forward, I couldn¡¯t help but gawk at the wild mix of knights in the encampment. Half were clad in pristine white and gold plate mail, epitomizing the stereotypical holier-than-thou knights. But the other half... oh boy, hold onto your hats! They strutted about like barbarians on a runway, sporting outfits that made He-Man, Conan, and lingerie models seem as if they were dressed for Sunday mass. Chainmail bikinis and thongs adorned everyone, turning the place into a bizarre blend of a raunchy cosplay event and an S&M party. It was a spectacle that left me both amused and utterly bewildered.
Seriously, what the hell is this? What¡¯s going on here?
Honestly, I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯m seeing¡ªbut damn, look at her ass!
While mentally catcalling a few of the sights, my attention was snagged by boisterous laughter. ¡°Hey there, Gimona! How did your patrol go?¡±
I froze, my gooiness halting as that name echoed like a cruel mantra in my ears, a funeral hymn. Wartie¡¯s horrified face flashed in my thoughts, embedding that name deeper into my already enraged psyche. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I didn¡¯t care that the little shit had died; no, I was still pissed someone else had done it. Was this a Black Pudding trait?
¡°Ah, sure ye haven¡¯t heard? There was a cave-in down in the deep roads. All patrols¡¯ve been halted. Nobody¡¯s gettin¡¯ through there,¡± Gimona responded.
¡°HA!¡± a barbarian-looking woman laughed.
Gimona went on, ¡°What¡¯s goin¡¯ on with that vampire wench, eh?¡±
¡°Many of us, myself included, offered to spike the bitch, but the General refused. He¡¯s treating her like some fucking VIP prisoner, last I heard, intent on handing her over to the empire for interrogation. A bunch of bullshit if you ask me! We should strap the bitch down and let the boys impale her!¡±
Gimona let out a hearty laugh that filled the camp. ¡°Ha! If that little vamp is off to the empire, she¡¯ll be wishin¡¯ the General and his lads had finished it! Did they drain the lass, at least? Vamps can be real beasts if they¡¯re not. Ye know!¡±
¡°Ha! Last I heard, she¡¯s bone dry!¡± replied the female barbarian.
Aurelia first, murdering after!
¡°It¡¯s a shame Galen headed out earlier this morning. Thankfully, we¡¯re getting two other Champions tomorrow,¡± a knight said.
I peered around the corner of a tent, easily spotting the dwarf as she lost herself in laughter and ale among a gaggle of knights, her five o¡¯clock shadowed jawline on full display. My eyes continued to roam the crowd, searching for the rest of the dwarf¡¯s companions. No sight of the wizard¡ Still, my true prize was the one approaching a tent¡ªAnlyth, the elf bitch who killed Wartie, arm in arm with a burly, bald, caramel-skinned man built like a seasoned blacksmith or a rampaging linebacker.
There¡¯s Anlyth, but who¡¯s the man she¡¯s clinging to?
Aurelia first, murdering after!
She might be held in a tent at the center of the encampment.
There¡¯s also a chance she¡¯s in a secure location inside Elsternwick.
But I doubt that shithole village has a secure enough location to hold her.
It can¡¯t be worse than a tent...
¡
Ugh, I was right, and I knew it, but I never listen to anyone¡¯s advice, my own included.
To the center of the camp, I shall go!
¡
I resumed my unseen slinking through the camp, pausing only momentarily to eavesdrop on the conversation. The deepening shadows cast by the lunar shadow veiled my movements as the planet¡¯s glow barely grazed the treetops, casting the remainder of the camp into dusky shades of black and gray. Around me, the knights reveled in their victory, drowning in drink and jubilation. They danced and pranced around the flickering campfires, their laughter forming a stark chorus against the faint, haunting cries of impaled vampires that dwindled with the fading light. The scene was surreal, an eerie dance of celebration amidst profound suffering.
As I slipped into the central portion of the encampment, I found rows of steel cages strung about, like those in a dog kennel. Yet, they were all crammed with crying and sobbing people of various races I couldn¡¯t identify. Worse, not a single person within those cages appeared to be from the vampire keep¡ªfortress¡ªbase¡ªruins¡ lair? Something or other!
I didn¡¯t see anyone who might have belonged among the vampires. These prisoners were different... realization dawned on me as I noticed a few of their distinct features¡ªthey were beastkin!
Witnessing their suffering and the shattering of their hopes and lives under such a cruel fate wasn¡¯t particularly heart-wrenching for me. However, a tiny, almost imperceptible sliver of pity stirred within me for a single child among them¡ªthe first true child I had encountered. Her once-white fluffy bunny ears drooped pathetically, coated in dirt that merged with her grim, tear-streaked face as she huddled in the corner of her cage, infested with shit, bugs, and maggots.
Since reincarnating into this twisted reality I now call home, I¡¯ve never cared much for others. In my eyes, everyone was food to me, preferably decomposing flesh and intestines, but people were food. Well, except for a particular vampire who¡¯s somehow caught my deep fascination and longing, it was almost like love at first sight, if such a thing were real. No, I knew what it was. I was in lust, like some na?ve lovestruck girl. A memory of lifeless eyes flickered in the back of my mind, but I shook that memory away. All that aside, what I bore witness to now was wrong¡ªa child, caged like a fucking animal!
Oh, look, a tent over there!
Amidst the pitiful wails and cries of those caged, a massive tent reminiscent of a Renaissance Fair dominated the scene, guarded by six knights and six savages¡ªnudists, well, barbarians, to be exact. All thoughts of my outrage disappeared as I happily squirmed my way to a tent that appeared to be the central location within the encampment.
Honestly, why are they dressed like that?
¡°Well¡ªshit!¡± I gurgled out from my puddle.
I desperately needed an opening, a way past them, to reach Aurelia. But to my dismay, there was none. These individuals were devoted and unwavering in their duty, unlike their fellow soldiers, who drowned themselves in booze while reveling in their conquest.
Ugh! I need a distraction that won¡¯t wake up the whole drunken camp.
Hmm¡ Is there a munitions or weapons tent like the ones in Earth¡¯s militaries? Imagine the fireworks from a magic depot going up!
Didn¡¯t I just say I don¡¯t want to alert everyone?!
Yeah, but hear me out. They¡¯re plastered to the gills right now. It just might slip under the radar! I¡¯ll make it look like an accident.
My inner monologue was off the rails with an entertaining, potentially idiotic idea.
...Okay, but when has anything I¡¯ve planned ever gone smoothly?
How much do I want to bet that the tent I¡¯m trying to get into is the munitions tent and Aurelia is inside the village walls?
Shiiit¡ I¡¯m not taking that bet.
Look in the village first?
I nodded a blob of goop I had formed just for that motion as I muttered to myself, ¡°Look in the village first. Also, stop talking to yourself; I sound like a crazy bitch. Fuck off!¡±
B01C29 - The Masochist
A right fist crashed into a green, frog-like face with a loud crunch, shattering the cartilage of what resembled a nasal structure. Blood gushed over the amphibian features as the elf followed up with a left hook, grunting with the swing as it connected sharply with the victim¡¯s mandible.
¡°Where¡¯s Demidicus?¡± a second elf screamed, plunging a knife into the frog¡¯s thigh. ¡°WHERE ARE THE OTHER COVENS?!¡±
¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know,¡± the frog gasped as he tried to breathe.
The first elf¡¯s face twisted in displeasure at the unsatisfactory answer. With a cold sneer, he hoisted his boot and drove it down with brutal force onto the completely nude and shackled frog¡¯s genitals. A guttural scream tore from the frog¡¯s throat as the boot lifted, only to crash down again¡ªonce, twice, in a merciless rhythm of agony. Each thud was met with a grotesque squelch, the sound of flesh being pulverized under relentless pressure.
Beside them, still holding his knife, the second elf cocked his head, a flicker of confusion passing through his eyes. For a horrifying second, it seemed as if the frog, in his delirium, was parting his legs, almost inviting the next savage blow like a deranged lover welcoming an embrace. But surely, that was absurd.
Vorigan, a vampiric monstrosity with amphibian-like features, was not blessed with the fangs of his kin. Instead, his frog-like face housed a maw lined with miniature, fish-like teeth, and he lacked any kind of intimidating presence. The cruel joke was not lost on him, as even his tormentors now saw him as nothing more than a mere plaything, fit only to be toyed with and abused. Vorigan felt like a lamb led to slaughter, dreading the impending impalement that was closing in once the two elves were done. And he really didn¡¯t want a wooden pike shoved up his ass. Or did he? No, he most certainly did not¡ªmaybe?
Despite their relentless efforts to extract information through torture, the two sadistic elf interrogators had come up empty. It wasn¡¯t Vorigan¡¯s loyalty¡ªor lack thereof¡ªthat kept him from answering their questions, nor was it a lack of determination on their part. Vorigan was simply as ignorant as they came¡ªor at least, that was what the two brutes were starting to believe.
¡°I said¡ªWHERE ARE THE OTHER COVENS?!¡±
¡°West?¡± Vorigan answered nonchalantly, shrugging as if inviting further brutality upon himself.
This time, a metal club swung down, smashing into Vorigan¡¯s wrist and breaking it. A loud scream escaped the toad¡¯s lips¡ªa sound that disturbingly resembled a moan.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber, abruptly diverting the interrogators¡¯ ruthless leers. Descending the stairs was a towering figure, a behemoth of a man whom Vorigan recognized as the General who had decimated his vampiric kin. Vorigan¡¯s heart pounded as he gazed upon the leviathan-like figure, whose skin was as dark as sin and muscles rippled like stormy seas. The two elves gave respectful nods to the General before returning their full attention to Vorigan, poised to resume their cruel endeavors.
Gazing at the bulk of dark muscles, Vorigan was lost in thought as the two elves resumed their interrogation. ¡°Where has your lord sought asylum?¡± One of the elves delivered a harsh slap across Vorigan¡¯s face, jarring the amphibian from his reverie. ¡°OUT WITH IT!¡± Another resounding slap echoed through the chamber. ¡°NOW!¡±
Vorigan had already pointed them west, yet the precise whereabouts of the coven where Lord Demidicus had vanished remained a mystery even to him. Had he known, he would have divulged the information four sunsets earlier, particularly after witnessing the gory spectacle of the first vampire being ruthlessly impaled. The image of his fellow creatures of the night being brutally held down, stripped nude, and skewered with a wooden stake¡ªwithout even the courtesy of a spit on the tip¡ªstill haunted Vorigan¡¯s mind with recurring dread¡ªno, lust! The thought of enduring that same cruel fate filled him with such¡ elation! Surely, if he had provided the answers they sought, they would have been satisfied and would have skewered him as well, right?
The relentless barrage of what felt like foreplay carried on, each blow landing with the force of a blacksmith¡¯s hammer. Vorigan was battered, bruised, and bleeding, yet he took it all in stride. If only his tormentors had understood his amphibian physiology, they might have been taken aback by how their blows only stoked his stiffening, perverse desires.
To Vorigan, this was not torture; it was pleasure. He would have told these two muscular elves anything they wanted to hear, just to keep the beatings coming. To him, life was one long, sickening masquerade of pain and pleasure. And this interrogation? This was his idea of a royal ball! He only hoped they could keep the dance going after they eventually shoved a long hard wooden rod up his ass.
One of the interrogators paused his wondrous beating to face the imposing figure of the man. ¡°General Ezad,¡± he pounded his fist to his chest in a salute, ¡°permission to start severing limbs? Let¡¯s see if that loosens the wretched freak¡¯s tongue.¡±
¡°Oh, yes, please do,¡± Vorigan thought with such glee.
Glancing over at the imposing figure he now labeled as Cocoa Daddy, Vorigan¡¯s body shivered and trembled¡ªa reaction the three men mistook for fear. The General nodded. Oh, how Vorigan prayed to the Crone that this towering mass of chocolate muscle would join in on these sickening depravities.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Vorigan might have appeared to be a spineless wimp, always avoiding confrontation, but it was all just a ruse¡ªa cunning act of playing hard to get. He basked in the thrill of the moment as he sat bound to the chair, utterly vulnerable to the whims of his three hulking tormentors. The mere thought of losing a limb sent shivers of euphoria to his groin, a reaction his interrogators kept misinterpreted as trembling fear. But Vorigan cared little for their misinterpretation; after all, he was not only a vampire but also of amphibian lineage, capable of regrowing any amputated limb in mere moments¡ªa trait he could suppress when desired. He could only hope that they would start with his manhood.
Vorigan felt a surge of elation as he tried to spread his restrained thighs open wide, his eyes longingly fixed on a table filled with an array of knives and other instruments meant to cut, pierce, and twist his insides with perverse pleasure. He was particularly eyeing a large butcher¡¯s knife as he felt his squashed and brutalized balls tingle. Sadly, it was not meant to be.
A retching sorrow and annoyance overcame Vorigan as he watched one of his tormentors move toward the stairwell to retrieve the gleaming butcher knife. But before the elf could lay his hands on it, a tendril of darkness shot out like a striking viper, snapping the elf¡¯s neck with a stealthy crunch. And before the lifeless body could even hit the ground, it was snatched up into the stairwell, out of sight. The General and the remaining elf interrogator remained blissfully ignorant of the gruesome act that had just robbed Vorigan of one of his toys.
~
Aurelia lay within the confines of her prison cell, her blood drained to prevent any violent outbursts. The thirst was maddening, and she longed for Bowen, yet dreaded him seeing her reduced to what resembled a mummified corpse. The thirst. Curiously, Vorigan had avoided the same fate, likely because so few recognized him as a vampire. Oh, how appearances can deceive.
Her captivity was tediously mundane, marred only by the regular siphoning of her blood. Aurelia was a captive audience to Vorigan¡¯s incessant beatings, which were his secret delight¡ªa fact unknown to all but her. Even the other vampires who frequently tormented him were oblivious to his perverse enjoyment. Perhaps her nonjudgmental awareness was the reason for his unwavering loyalty to her and her alone.
¡°How did it come to this?¡± she sighed to herself.
The battle at the coven was hardly a battle at all¡ªit was a slaughter. The Kingdom of Slaethia, which Aurelia had once destroyed herself, had miraculously risen from the ashes over the last hundred years and aligned itself with the Ascended Empire. Ruled by a council of ascended gods, this empire boasted a formidable collection of champions.
Aurelia knew she would not have been defeated if not for their intervention¡ªyet she had been, by a fairy of all creatures. Galen, a rather tall fairy about the height of a dwarf, with dragonfly-like wings, had battled her for three hours until she finally succumbed. Though no champion herself, Aurelia took a shred of pride in standing toe-to-toe with someone often referred to as the strongest champion. She had heard whispers from the guards that he had departed Nyxoria, heading off to another moon to do the bidding of the Ascended. Even Aurelia couldn¡¯t fathom the number of moons, wars, and uprisings the Ascended were embroiled in across the Moons of V?lusp¨¢.
Now would have been the perfect time to make her escape, but the constant blood draining had left her powerless and exceedingly weak. With more whispers of two other champions arriving tomorrow, accompanied by an airship fleet to escort her to the Ascended Empire, any hopes of escaping on her own were dashed.
Despite her sharp perceptiveness, the overwhelming thirst dulled Aurelia¡¯s senses so much that she failed to notice the disappearance of one of the interrogators.
¡°Soldier! What¡¯s keeping you?¡± bellowed the General.
There was no response from the missing man.
A sinister smile cracked across Aurelia¡¯s worn face, revealing the dormant monster within, now ravenous. Relief seemed near as she noticed a tiny tendril of darkness slithering from the top of the stairwell¡ªa stealthy observer visible only to vampiric eyes. Regrettably, she had missed witnessing the elf¡¯s murder, lost in daydreams about Bowen, but now her attention was razor-sharp.
Aurelia had once concealed her emotions for Bowen¡¯s soul from the coven, an effort now rendered pointless as the coven had dissolved into a mere shadow of its former glory.
¡°It¡¯s no use, human,¡± she whispered teasingly. ¡°You¡¯ll be dead before you return to your pitiful Slaethia. My beloved Bowen will see to that.¡±
General Ezad and his partner, his lover, Anlyth, were a formidable duo, though the concept of lifelong bonds like marriage was foreign in this realm where no one died from old age. Yet, nothing could sever her bond with Bowen, not even death. Aurelia relished the thought of defeating Anlyth before Ezad; imagining the pain it would cause him soothed the relentless ache of her thirst. Her anticipation of reuniting with Bowen and witnessing his next move kept her from slipping into the insanity brought on by the thirst.
There was no doubt in Aurelia¡¯s black heart that her beloved would make it through that dungeon and return to her. She had waited nearly two hundred years; what were a few more moments?
As Ezad turned towards Aurelia¡¯s cell with a smirk, he was oblivious that her smile was far more sinister than his. The other interrogator paused his assault on Vorigan and approached the stairwell cautiously. Despite their ignorance of Bowen¡¯s presence, the sudden silence stirred their suspicions.
The true terror began as the second interrogator approached the table of knives and other torture instruments. A writhing mass of inky tendrils and tentacles descended upon the elf, who let out a scream of terror and pain that seemed to chill the very air. General Ezad spun around, his face contorted in horror and fury as he charged forward, massive fists raised to deliver punishing blows. But before he could intervene, a goopy tendril of tar-like substance snaked around the elf¡¯s lower jaw, wrapping it in a web of sticky tentacles, and yanked.
With a ghastly tug, the jaw was ripped free and hurled toward the oncoming behemoth. Ezad swatted the detached jaw aside with a flick of his hand, only to be knocked back as the still-screaming elf was thrown into him. The two tumbled in a tangled heap, the elf¡¯s howls of pain echoing throughout the room. The General shoved the wailing elf off him and surged to his feet, but it was too late. A tentacle had already coiled around his neck, pulling him close.
Aurelia¡¯s laughter was the only sound that pierced through the elf¡¯s horrid howling.
B01C30 – Reunited
A few moments earlier¡
Alrighty, here I am, flattened like a pancake, skulking around an enemy encampment¡ªpathetic, right? And another thing, where the hell was I stashing all my extra mass? I know¡ªI¡¯ve ranted about this before, but seriously, does anyone actually understand how this works? Because I sure don¡¯t.
Was I tucking away my excess pudding into the Stellar Void? That would make sense if I¡¯d had my dimensional storage from the get-go, but I¡¯m pretty sure I was compressing my goo even before that skill kicked in. So, where was it all going?
Yeah, I know, the default answer when in doubt is always magic¡ªblah! That¡¯s such a lazy-ass answer that writers use for¡ well, all movies and TV shows nowadays. Not me, though, because by pointing it out within a fourth wall, it makes me edgy and cool! Cough. Um¡ Where was I going with this again? Oh, right! The whole experience felt like a horrifying flashback to puberty¡ªthings growing, things changing... and those homicidal urges. An absolute nightmare!
The eclipse of another moon continued to cast the camp in eerie darkness, save for the flickering lights from the fire pits. It seemed like a normal occurrence since I didn¡¯t hear anyone mention it as I stealthily passed unseen. In that dim glow, the shadows danced like mischievous performers, helping to conceal my movements as I approached the city walls¡ªor should I say, village walls? Actually, it might be a hamlet? Honestly, I¡¯m not too clear on the size differences. From what I could see, this place had fewer than a hundred buildings tucked behind wooden walls, so let¡¯s keep going with village.
As I neared the wall, I had to duck beneath a carriage of some kind as a group of nudist barbarians passed by on patrol. I say some kind because there were no wagon wheels, or, you know, wheels¡ªit just levitated two feet off the ground. Both the wheelless wagon and the exhibitionists were fascinating. They weren¡¯t fully nude; their naughty bits were at least covered, but it was an odd sight I couldn¡¯t get used to, especially when the other half of the soldiers were decked out in full plate armor. I swear, you can¡¯t make this stuff up!
Seriously, why are half of these soldiers prancing around half-naked?
My only hypothesis is that the more skin someone bares, the better they can toy around with ambient mana for spellcasting. Well, I remember a dream explaining that I¡ªhumanity¡ªwas unique in being able to manipulate ambient mana, so¡ maybe they¡¯re absorbing ambient mana to replenish their mana pools? I mean, that¡¯s the only thing that makes any sense to me.
Nah, they¡¯re just a bunch of exhibitionists.
Getting back on topic! I waited for the patrol to pass before oozing out from beneath the floating carriage. I¡¯d love to play whack-a-nudist and take ¡¯em all out, but that would put the whole camp on high alert. Imagine if they realized a patrol went missing, or worse, if I didn¡¯t kill them quickly enough and they managed to alert the entire camp. That¡¯s not exactly ideal for a rescue mission. And don¡¯t even get me started on the overkill¡ªit could seriously jeopardize Aurelia¡¯s safety if they knew someone was here to rescue her, right? I think so, which is why it¡¯s best not to risk it.
What I need is to locate where these assholes stash their stockpile of boom-boom shit!
No! That¡¯s a stupid idea. No, scratch that¡ªit¡¯s a really stupid idea!
Sometimes, the worst ideas are the best because nobody ever sees them coming!
That¡¯s the dumbest reasoning I¡¯ve ever made!
Yeah, but do I have a better idea?
Do what I was doing, sneak into the village and find Aurelia!
And after that?
¡Boom-boom?
¡°Yep! Thought so!¡±
As I scaled the rickety wooden walls of Elsternwick, my keen Mana Focus caught sight of a familiar figure. It was that hulking brute I¡¯d spotted earlier, the one clinging to that elf bitch, Anlyth.
¡°Well, well, well, look who I see,¡± I cooed in sinister delight.
Aurelia first! I can deal with him later.
I watched him happily as he made his way through the small town. As much as I wanted to kill him¡ªnot because he¡¯d personally done anything wrong, but because the elf he cared about had upset me by stealing my prey. Sure, I still got to eat the goblin, but he was my kill! Yes, I¡¯m a vindictive and selfish bitch, but I thought we had already established that.
Didn¡¯t I already agree this place was a village?
A town is a village, isn¡¯t it?
No!
Then what¡¯s the difference?
Size!
And that size difference is?
¡
As I snickered at my internal debate, a wicked idea suddenly crossed my mind while I gazed at the big man. I wanted my revenge, and I needed a better way to navigate this place without alerting the entire keep. I mean, I was doing a rather good job sneaking around, but I won¡¯t lie; even when it came to video games, I always hated stealth missions. I¡¯d much rather go on a killing rampage. However, I wanted that female elf to suffer, and Olin needed a new body.
My gooey form shifted and twisted¡ªspider legs sprouted out, then morphed into sinuous tentacles, ready to unleash brutal nightmares. As I stalked through the cobblestoned streets, past rotting thatched roofs, and occasionally back upon the decaying wooden ramparts of Elsternwick¡¯s outer walls, I kept my eyes on the big guy, like a cat eyeing a juicy mouse. And let me tell you, this village was way bigger than I thought¡ªway more than a hundred buildings, hiding like little secrets around every corner. No, I mean it; this place looked a lot smaller from outside the walls.
From up on my perch, I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight below¡ªmore soldiers and knights than you¡¯d find at a Renaissance fair, stumbling around like drunken fools. At the same time, the villagers treated them like conquering heroes.
Ah, the joy of impending horrors I¡¯m about to unleash upon these clueless numbskulls.
I fixed my gaze back on my target¡ªthe big brute himself, strutting into a dark alley as if he owned the joint.
Time to pounce!
Wait! What¡¯s this?
Two soldiers guarded a door as if it were Fort Knox. ¡°General, it is good to see you!¡± they declared, offering some strange chest-slapping salute to the big guy as he strolled past them and through the door they guarded.
With a mental laugh that would make the devil envious, I slinked across the ramparts, then skittered onto the building like a nightmarish horror monster clinging to its side. It turns out Anlyth¡¯s little love interest is a real VIP in this forsaken place. As I crawled closer along the side of the wall with Spider Walk active, I left a trail of corroded stone in my wake¡ªbecause why not add a touch of style to the whole monster gig, am I right?
After a night of debauchery, the air reeked of piss and puke¡ªa sweet perfume that got my murderous mojo going. The unspeakable horrors I was about to unleash had my goo pumping with excitement. General Conan-wannabe disappeared behind that creaky door, and I slithered down like a pro hitman, all tentacles and badass. The two guards? Pfft, they were like toys to me.
¡°Surprise, motherfuckers!¡±
¡°What?¡± they both exclaimed in unison as they glanced up.
My tar-like embrace shot out, smothering their faces, silencing their muffled screams before they could even begin. Oh, the thrill of the kill, the exquisite taste of terror! Their desperate kicks and thrashes were like a symphony to my ears as my tentacles lifted them off the ground, their bodies flailing as I choked the life out of them with only my Corrosive passive active¡ªhow I savored their struggle.
Once their heads dissolved enough that they no longer kicked, I absorbed their remains into my body, pleased by how quickly they dissolved now that they were lifeless. One tasted like pumpkin pie, while the other had the distinct flavor of French toast.
Sadly, there was no system notification about the kill, which meant no skills or levels were gained either. I really needed to get that dungeon core back to the dungeon if I wanted to continue progressing. Though, I still didn¡¯t know where they were keeping the core, or where Aurelia was for that matter. But I¡¯m pretty sure a general would know both!
I leaped off the wall, shifting back into my human form as I landed on the cobblestone street of the alley. A sly grin spread across my lips as my silk face finished weaving itself together. Humming happily, I eagerly reached for the doorknob like a master thief, and with a rusty screech, the old door swung open. Yeah, I may have flinched inwardly at that sound, but who cares? I was ready to rock!Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
With bated breath, I peered through the door and found... nothing! Stepping in, I discovered a spiraling staircase around the corner, leading down into what appeared to be a seemingly bottomless black abyss. Yes, that¡¯s another of my exaggerations¡ªI do that a lot. In reality, it was just a stairwell leading into an ordinary basement. I could see candle lights flickering and heard yelling.
¡°I said¡ªWHERE ARE THE OTHER COVENS?!¡± demanded a voice.
¡°West?¡± came a nonchalant reply.
Tiptoeing past the door, I was driven by growing curiosity as I crept down the stone steps. The voices from a heated conversation grew louder with each step. My grin deepened as I realized that what I had mistaken for not-so-friendly chit-chat was, in fact, an interrogation¡ªa brutal one at that.
¡°Where has your lord sought asylum?!¡± A harsh slap echoed up the stairwell. ¡°OUT WITH IT!¡± Another slap sounded. ¡°NOW!¡±
The thought of them torturing Aurelia stirred up a tempest of boiling rage within me. Peeping around the edge of a hefty pillar, I got an eyeful of the General and a couple of muscle-bound bruisers with pointy ears doing a number on a guy whose face looked like a toad. A dim bell of recognition rang for the poor bastard somewhere in the recesses of my mind, but hey, I wasn¡¯t about to lose any sleep over him.
His frantic squawks were drowned out by the steady thump of fists and the snarled demands of his tormentors¡ªnot that he had a snowball¡¯s chance in hell of answering them. The boys seemed more invested in their savage dance than in milking any useful info from the frog. And you know what? There¡¯s a twisted sort of honor in that.
Yep. I can respect that!
One of the interrogators turned to my prey, his eyes sparkling with sadistic glee. ¡°General Ezad,¡± he growled, ¡°permission to start severing limbs? Let¡¯s see if that¡¯ll loosen the wretched freak¡¯s tongue.¡±
Ezad, the so-called General, grunted out a pleased sound as one of his interrogators spun on his heel and started heading for a table near the stairs, covered with an assortment of fun-looking torture devices, his face smeared with a greedy look. If only he knew, I was far more ravenous than him. With a casual shoulder roll, bam! Eight thrashing tentacles sprang from my back like squid-like, slimy appendages.
Hoisting myself up, I stayed hidden, lurking above the lower part of the stairwell leading into the basement, completely concealed from view. I managed to get into position just in time. My first soon-to-be snack strolled by, oblivious to his fate and, fortunately, just close enough for me to snatch.
Before Ezad and his remaining bruiser could react, I delivered a savage twist to the poor sap¡¯s neck with one of my tentacles and gleefully absorbed his lifeless body into mine. He dissolved quickly, consumed entirely by my pudding flesh¡ªwhich, I might add, looked seriously wrong on so many levels in my human-ish form. It was sort of like reverse childbirth, though thankfully, I pulled him into my chest.
Let¡¯s ignore that visual! This time, I had been more cautious, activating all my passives to ensure there was no struggle from the unsuspecting man. Without Paralysis, it surely wouldn¡¯t have been so effortless.
Casting a sneaky look back to where the toad-man was being worked over, his pitiful whines¡ªor were they pleasure moans?¡ªstruck my ears like a disturbing soundtrack. Shaking that unsettling thought from my mind, I went back to scoping out the place.
A handful of jail cells nestled against the walls caught my eye. A quick sweep of my gaze revealed nothing but emptiness within them. Relying on Mana Focus to see, I discovered I couldn¡¯t see beyond the bars¡ªit was more like peering into a gaping void I couldn¡¯t penetrate, as though all the mana had been siphoned out.
I switched to Thermal for a double-check but encountered the same issue¡ªlike all warmth had been stripped away as well. Whatever was happening, the cells seemed enchanted to prevent detection using both my forms of sight. I doubted this was the intended design, but that was what was happening nonetheless.
Maybe it¡¯s an antimagic prison cell?
Hmm¡ that would make sense, I suppose.
The General appeared to be getting annoyed as he cast his gaze back toward where the other interrogator had vanished. As he looked toward the stairwell, I quickly ducked back. Thankfully, it seemed he remained unaware of my presence. I switched back to Mana Focus, and that¡¯s when I noticed a pale orange light reflecting off the wall my face was pressed against¡ªI nearly swore aloud at my mistake that almost got me caught. With an internal grumble, I released my hold over Mana Focus and let it spread out across my entire body, giving me the annoying panoramic view. While I still hated it, it did remove the telltale orange glowing eyes that would give away my position.
¡°Soldier! What¡¯s keeping you?¡± bellowed the General.
¡°It¡¯s no use, humyn,¡± I faintly heard a whisper, purring in a way that made my soul flutter. ¡°You¡¯ll be dead before you return to your pitiful Slaethia. My beloved Bowen will see to that.¡±
My heart sank at the mention of that name. All I wanted was to hear my own name, Blake, upon Aurelia¡¯s lips.
¡ªWait! Bowen... Wasn¡¯t that the name of that guy from my dream?
A dream of my¡ past life?
Another memory suddenly came to mind. When I first woke up in this realm as a Black Pudding, Aurelia had been carrying me around. At the time, I was struck with Sickness, and as she hummed, she removed the debuff. When it happened, the system notification referred to her by a different name¡ªa name I had utterly forgotten in the midst of all the insanity that followed. Somehow, I had failed to put it all together until now.
Aislinn?
My gooey heart skipped a beat¡ªyes, I meant that metaphorically. Again! Of course, I don¡¯t have an actual heart, nor blood¡ªunless you consider my corrosive and poisonous secretions to be my blood... or saliva? Meh. The point is, I was on cloud nine, knowing that I¡¯d finally found the woman of my dreams! But how was she here? Did she also reincarnate, or was her soul summoned like mine?
Uh... if Aislinn¡¯s here, what was in that tent at the camp?
Boom-boom? No clue, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a big deal anymore.
...I suppose.
The General turned toward Aurelia¡ªAislinn? This whole duel name thing is really confusing¡ªa smirk spreading across his face. He approached her cell as if to gloat. Meanwhile, the second interrogator moved toward the stairwell like a deer unknowingly walking into a hunter¡¯s sights.
That¡¯s when I unleashed my terror. I morphed into a writhing mass of inky black tendrils and tentacles as I descended upon the elf, who let out a scream of terror and pain that filled me with elation. The General spun around, his face contorted in horror and fury as he charged forward, massive fists raised to deliver punishing blows. But before he could so much as lay a finger on me, a goopy tendril of black pudding snaked around the elf¡¯s lower jaw, wrapping it in a web of sticky tentacles, and yanked.
With a ghastly tug, the jaw was ripped free, and I hurled it at the oncoming brute. Ezad swatted the detached jaw aside with a flick of his hand, but I was ready for that and hurled the still-screaming elf at him. The two tumbled in a tangled heap, the elf¡¯s howls of pain echoing throughout the room like the sweet music I so love.
The General shoved the wailing elf off him and surged to his feet, but it was too late. I shot a tentacle out and wrapped it around his neck, pulling him close.
Aurelia¡¯s laughter pierced through the elf¡¯s jawless, horrid howling, warming my soul.
Oh, how I have grand plans in store for her!
Tentacle Hentai?
¡Yeah.
There I was, giving Anlyth¡¯s sweetie the old squeeze play, my arm coiled around his neck¡ªnot quite offing him, just ensuring my passives were off but making him about as useful as a screaming toddler. The guy was throwing punches and clawing at me, but every time he scraped off a bit of my gooey black sludge, it just filled right back in. As I started morphing back into my drop-dead, tall, curvy-babe self, I couldn¡¯t help but smirk.
In my sultry human form, I rocked the hell out of my pitch-black, deadly goth body as my silk face finished weaving together a gorgeous satin appearance that would have given Edgar Allan Poe a raging hard-on from beyond the grave. My eyes flickered with Mana Focus, casting an eerie orange light that splashed across the General¡¯s stunned gaze.
The second he caught sight of the lady behind the monster, his wrestling act took a nosedive. He fixed me with a stare that could freeze lava, and I was totally eating it up. The only downer was the blubbering elf, who seemed to have misplaced his jaw. Scratch that¡ªI was totally getting my rocks off from that too!
¡°What manner of abomination are you?¡± Ezad rasped with a snarl.
Aurelia¡¯s voice cooed from the depths of her dark prison cell, as alluring as I remembered. ¡°Well, well, you¡¯re a woman¡ªand a gorgeous one at that. General Ezad, allow me to introduce you to our Dark Champion.¡±
¡°Hi¡¯ya,¡± I stammered, my mouth unusually dry for a Black Pudding.
Hi¡¯ya? Are you fucking kidding me?
So embarrassing.
¡°Um¡ I may have told that old lady I didn¡¯t want the title,¡± I added, smiling over the man¡¯s shoulder into the cell I couldn¡¯t see into.
Fuck, me! I¡¯m fucking this up big time, aren¡¯t I?
¡°No matter,¡± Aurelia chimed in, almost soothingly, her tone hinting at a touch of relief. ¡°You¡¯re still alive, so the Crone must have taken you in as one of her faithful.¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± I corrected. ¡°I¡¯m not really a follower. Though, she was pretty nice to me.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, but I¡¯ll fucking kill¡ª¡± the man in my grasp started to hiss, but with a quick twist and a snap, he fell lifelessly and unceremoniously to the ground.
Didn¡¯t that dwarf lady mention something about Aurelia being drained of blood?
I looked down at the jawless, whimpering elf and smiled. Getting a good grip on the interrogator¡¯s leg, I started dragging him over to where Aurelia was caged up. The guy was a hot mess, howling his head off as I started tugging on him¡ªwell, what was left of him after his jaw had taken a hike. I was tempted to just scarf him down right then and there. But I knew Aurelia needed his blood way more than I needed a snack.
Hey, look at me sharing! Maybe I¡¯m not as selfish as I thought.
Nah, I definitely am.
The cell looked like something torn right out of a history book, as if it belonged in the 1600s or something similar. I slapped my hand on the rusty old bars, letting my acidic flesh work its magic to melt down that hunk of iron. Piece of cake, really¡ªthe door crumbled in a few seconds flat. Then, with a cheeky twist of my hips, I flung the elf into the cell. As he skidded to a halt, the cell briefly became visible, but all I could make out was Aurelia¡¯s outline as she pounced on the wailing elf as all hell broke loose.
That¡¯s one seriously ravenous vampire.
What a sight!
He was flung all over her prison cell, kicking and flailing as she dug in for her meal, feeding with ravenous hunger. The faint outline of her was so thin, but as she fed, I noticed her filling out. Those curves that drove me wild slowly came back. It was like watching a great white during chow time, but a thousand times better. And me? I was so wrapped up in her, so caught up, I couldn¡¯t tell if I was in love or just lusting after her like crazy. Yeah, I¡¯m messed up. But I was just so captivated by her raw, wild beauty.
She¡¯s amazing!
As I was totally vibing on this moment, frog-face had to go and break my trance. ¡°Um, can you unstrap me from this chair?¡± he croaked.
I took a peek at the frog, not exactly thrilled. ¡°Yeah, just hang on a sec. Got a little something to take care of.¡±
With that, I stood over the man I¡¯d just killed and started fishing out the staff from my void, and as it emerged from what looked like my chest cavity, so too did a rather annoyed and irritated gnome head attached to one end and a phylactery on the other.
¡°You bloody bitch!¡± Olin screamed.
¡°What was that?¡± Aurelia hummed, chilling even me¡ªthough, in a totally good way, not so much for the gnome head, whose eyes widened in alarm.
Aurelia stepped out from the shadows of her cell, her sharp red eyes honed in on the staff in my grip. As she moved, I couldn¡¯t help but get caught up in the sway of her hips, her queen-like stature, and those killer tits! Oh, and let¡¯s not forget the sexy-as-hell blood still running down her beautiful face.
Tentacle Hentai!
B01C31 - Beloved Monsters
Hovering over Olin¡¯s brand-new and still-warm corpse, I was totally channeling some grim reaper vibes. I deftly latched the phylactery onto him, which hung at the bottom of his shaft¡ªI mean, staff, the staff his gnome head and phylactery were attached onto¡ªfunneling his soul into its new digs.
Okay, I admit, that was my Spirit Vessel skill showing off, but hey, I¡¯m more than happy to soak up any praise. That said, if only Olin would shut the hell up. I mean, could ripping the strings of one¡¯s soul from a gnome¡¯s head really be that painful? No matter, using Mana Focus to see how the soul weaved and worked¡ªmuch like actual mana¡ªI started thinking... maybe I could do this without the fancy skill? Out of all the wild tricks up my sleeve, messing with mana and souls? Pssh, easy-peasy! Right?
While my skill wove its sorcery, I plunged into a whirlpool of self-reflection¡ªI mean, I¡¯m freaking the fuck out right now! Seriously, Aurelia is right there, and I¡¯m messing around with a soul. What am I even doing? Why am I so nervous? I¡¯m a monster, a killer, a psychopath! I¡¯ve lost count of how many people I¡¯ve slept with, and now, of all times, I¡¯m letting my nerves get to me like some virgin in front of their middle school crush?
Ugh, this is so embarrassing.
Oh, and let¡¯s not forget, ever since that wild run-in with the Crone, everything has seemed off-kilter, like a crazy dream where everything is both familiar and freakishly strange. It felt like I¡¯d been chucked into some parallel universe (yep, again), where things kind of click, but also... not really? And the weirdest part? Amidst all this chaos and looming nightmares, I¡¯d never felt so dang zen. Go figure!
That doesn¡¯t make any sense.
Shut up! Yes, it does.
Pulling my attention from Olin¡¯s soon-to-be new corpse body, I was captivated by a sight of sheer elegance. My focus locked onto Aurelia as she sashayed over to the frog dude, each step echoing the fluidity of a feline. With a swift movement of her delicate finger, the leather and chain binds holding him snapped. Oddly, he appeared more disgruntled than relieved by his release. But who cares about him? All of my attention was riveted on her!
Hopefully, I hadn¡¯t messed up Olin¡¯s soul¡ again. To be fair, I did fix that. Removing the snake soul that was sharing his phylactery had been pretty easy, like scraping half your dinner plate clean. Sure, that might have left some residue, but that wouldn¡¯t harm him, right? Well, it¡¯s not like I care either way.
Aislinn¡ªor should I say Aurelia? I really need to get that cleared up, and soon. ¡°Vorigan,¡± she commanded, her voice like music to my ears, ¡°release the others from their cells.¡±
¡°Others?¡± I repeated, blinking as I gazed at the other cells. Much like Aislinn¡¯s, I couldn¡¯t see into them; some sort of antimagic was the only explanation that made any sense to me.
Had I still had a beating heart, it would have definitely hiccupped at that moment. She swiveled towards me, her blood-red eyes sparkling with a cheeky glint, and her lips curved in a teasing smirk. It was the kind of smile that whispered tales of both thrill and threat. And man, I was totally and utterly ensnared by her magnetism, as if caught in her enchantment.
Yeah, this must be that fairytale love-at-first-sight shit.
Eh, maybe not exactly at first sight¡ªyou know, past life craziness and all¡ªbut definitely that fairytale stuff.
¡°BLOODY BITCH!¡± Olin bellowed as his soul reanimated the big bald man¡¯s corpse.
Aislinn paused in her elegant stride, her gaze piercing the undead lich. A hint of something terrifying flashed in her eyes, and her previously playful smirk transformed, becoming more ominous¡ªas if she was privy to a secret joke. She held her silence, lifting just one finger, with a malevolent twinkle evident in her gaze.
I nearly died from a burst of laughter that I fought to keep down. Happily, I handed Aislinn the lich¡¯s phylactery. What? It¡¯s not like I could use it for anything; storing it within Stellar Void would have severed the connection to the body. With a gleeful hum, I skipped off to a corner of the dungeon to watch.
Of course, I was tempted to shove the baseball-sized orb up the lich¡¯s ass, but I was all too eager to give my stunningly gorgeous vampire a gift. Surely, handing her a soul would do, right? I mean, the sexy-as-hell smile she gave me as her fingers curled around the phylactery¡ªespecially the glare she shot at Olin while doing it¡ªwas absolutely priceless.
Sensing the underlying threat, Olin stifled his impending tirade of curses. ¡°M-My apologies, m-my mistress,¡± he stammered, his voice quivering with fear. ¡°I was momentarily disoriented. It won¡¯t happen again. It¡¯s a relief to see you again, my lady.¡±
Instead of responding, her eyes turned back to me, gleaming mesmerizingly like a blood moon, offering a wicked invitation to hidden dangers. She had bewitched and captivated my very being. I reveled in her darkness, like a delicate rose flourishing amidst a garden of thorns, ready for her to pluck. It¡¯s funny how I had once considered myself the monster to be feared. Oh, how wrong I was!
Aislinn stepped past Olin and approached, gliding with that uncanny feline elegance. Each step was a breathtaking fusion of beauty and allure. The remnants of her crimson feast smeared across her face only added to her lethal allure. Her black robe, trimmed with dark red, swayed with each step, hinting at the mysteries hidden beneath. She was like an ethereal runway model, each stride commanding attention and admiration.
So damn hot!
As she neared, I slowly shuffled back until my back hit the wall, leaving me with nowhere to go. You might wonder why. I like to think it¡¯s foreplay... certainly not because I have a conflicted heart, afraid to awaken from this dream.
Though my true form was that of a slippery, sticky, gooey tar monster¡ªa Black Pudding¡ªI found my mouth going dry with a mixture of nervousness and yearning.
Her hand reached out, curling towards me as if it were an enchanting dark tendril. As Aislinn¡¯s fingers drew near, our eyes meshed in a magnetic pull, hers holding a depth that threatened to swallow me whole. Cornered against the wall, her hand poised delicately yet assertively between my breasts. I felt like a lovestruck girl, ensnared by a captivating and perilous lover, utterly lost in her beauty.
Oh, fuck, I want her to take me right here!
Wait¡ I thought I was the dom here?
Oh, shut up, inner thoughts, I¡¯m cool with being a switch!
¡°Oh, my beloved,¡± Aurelia purred, her voice both ethereal and angelic.
She was so close that I could feel the cold draft of her breath against my lips, sending shivers down my core¡ªa feeling peculiar yet thrilling. As she reached up to touch my face, I flinched. Her eyes, deep blood-red pools filled with concern and fear, reflected my own as we searched each other for answers amidst our swirling emotions.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Why did I just flinch?
Ugh, Blake, you¡¯re fucking this up!
I¡¯d always pegged myself as the assertive type. Yet, at this moment, I felt as wobbly as a gelatinous cube. Maybe it was just the sheer intensity of the situation? It¡¯s a fleeting sensation, surely. It¡¯ll pass, and I¡¯ll be back to being the pegger¡ªI mean, the confident one!
¡°Aislinn?¡± It felt as if my very soul held its breath at that name.
¡°Yes,¡± Aislinn nodded, her exasperation softening as she bit her lower lip. ¡°Though, let¡¯s use ¡®Aurelia¡¯ in front of others,¡± she smiled, her expression masking an emotion I couldn¡¯t quite decipher. ¡°Bowen?¡± she whispered.
¡°Blake,¡± I smiled.
¡°Blake,¡± she repeated, savoring the name as if it were honey on her tongue.
She reached up again, and this time, there was no flinch or hesitation. Her hand swept across my breast, trailing across the writhing tendrils of my dress, until it came to rest under my chin, tilting my head up. To my surprise, she was slightly taller than me. Her touch was electric; her thumb traced the curves of my lips with a seductive hunger that seemed to ignite a fire within me. Her intense and passionate gaze held me captive, peering into my eyes with a ferocity I had never experienced in either of my lives.
Is this love? It must be, right?
¡°Lady Aurelia,¡± the frog croaked, utterly shattering the magical moment. ¡°I have released all of the captives down here. What is our next move?¡±
Fucking nuisance.
¡°Can I kill him?¡± I moaned with a sigh of desperation.
Her laughter, melodious and tantalizing, sounded like whispers of temptation, an otherworldly song hinting at unparalleled pleasures. Her gaze, unwavering and infused with seductive danger, left me both breathless and aching for more.
Perhaps I¡¯m more of a switch than I thought?
Aurelia¡¯s entrancing red eyes remained locked on mine, drawing me in deeper even as she issued commands. ¡°Vorigan, assemble those less skilled in stealth and proceed to the coven¡¯s ruins. Scour the area for remnants and bodies we can reanimate. The rest of you, focus on undermining the Slaethian army¡¯s leadership where possible. Also, do kill any imperial bastards you find among the Slaethians. We¡¯ll regroup at the ruins and then make our way to the western covens through the deep roads.¡±
¡°As you command, my lady,¡± the frog said, bowing respectfully.
¡°I may have collapsed that path?¡± I smiled cheekily. ¡°Why not just yoink the core back?¡± I smiled again, careful not to break the moment, while Aurelia¡¯s thumb lightly danced on my lips.
Shit, when did I become so timid?
I think she put a spell on me¡ªa horny as fuck spell!
Ugh, Fucking hell, I want her right now!This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
¡°Hmm¡ Actually, that¡¯s not a bad idea. We could use its power to create a portal. Would you happen to know where they¡¯re keeping it, my beloved?¡± Aurelia asked with a deep purr that sent another thrill through my core.
¡°Within the center of the encampment just outside the village is a large tent under heavy guard. If I had to guess, I¡¯d say within there,¡± I replied, my eyes darting back and forth between her lips and her eyes, silently pleading for her to close the gap and make my wish a reality.
¡°Olin, how¡¯s that new suit?¡± Aurelia inquired.
¡°Mistress,¡± Olin reported as he readjusted his crotch, ¡°it appears to be a physical augmenter type. I highly doubt I¡¯ll be able to wield magic through it. Still, it¡¯ll be useful in close combat against elemental benders.¡± Olin struggled to stand, both hands clutching his head to prevent it from hanging from his shoulders. ¡°Ah, my lady, it seems my neck is broken.¡±
¡°They had more prisoners locked in cages around that tent,¡± I panted out as Aurelia¡¯s thigh slid between my legs, sending me to my toes. ¡°I¡ªI wasn¡¯t certain if they were from your group or this village.¡±
Oh, fuck me, when did I reshape my body to be anatomically correct beneath this dress?!
Yeah, that confirms it. I¡¯m a switch! What, don¡¯t judge me¡ªI don¡¯t want one position; I want all positions! Tee-hee!
¡°Lady Aurelia,¡± a small woman with gray cat ears stepped forward, interrupting the inner turmoil. ¡°Those must be refugees from the Beastveil Kingdom. If we have the chance, we should take them with us; we share a common enemy, as well as for blood feeding.¡±
¡°Ha! Who cares about those good-for-nothing refugees? And who the hell appointed Aurelia as the leader?¡± The grating voice of a familiar figure echoed through the room, striking a nerve with every word. ¡°And, who is that woman you¡¯re thigh fucking, Aurelia?¡±
Did she just talk shit to my woman?
Oh, she¡¯s dead.
My longing gaze was torn from Aurelia as I set my eyes upon an all too familiar face, one that filled me with a sense of eager delight at the thought of murdering her, once again! The succubus approached with an exaggerated sway of her hips that did the demon no favors.
¡°Didn¡¯t I eat her?¡± I muttered.
¡°Niamh,¡± Aurelia said with a hint of disappointment and annoyance as she pulled away from me to face the succubus. ¡°I¡¯m surprised our captors didn¡¯t return you to the nether.¡±
¡°Well, it may have been better if they had sent me back,¡± Niamh sneered. ¡°I can already sense your father¡¯s beckoning summoning ritual. But alas, I cannot go to his side while I am stuck here with his pathetic body-snatching daugh¡ªGaaak!¡±
With a flick of my shoulder, my arm morphed into a writhing mass of black tendrils of terror. They shot forth like bullets, smothering Niamh¡¯s head before she could react, burrowing into her mouth, ears, and nostrils.
As I¡¯ve come to realize, this world is teeming with powerful beings, most beyond my strength to confront head-on. Yet, I¡¯ve found they falter when caught off guard. What better way to surprise someone than with a slithering, tar-like appendage ramming down their throat and bursting out the other end? This method had become a staple of my arsenal, a tool of destruction that left my enemies convulsing in agony as I devoured them from the inside out.
Sure, I could scorch them with Necrotic Flames, douse them in Blight, or pump them full of venom, among other things. However, nothing matched the sheer satisfaction of this method¡ªthe taste of terror, the struggle of my victims as I feasted on their entrails, was a delicacy I relished.
Glancing around, I noted a group of onlookers, their eyes wide with horror. Not all were undead, perhaps vampires, given the way they flinched under my gaze. About fifteen pairs of eyes, I estimated, were fixed on me. Niamh flailed and thrashed in my grasp. Then, suddenly, Aurelia¡¯s arms wrapped around me just below my chest, her breath cool against my cheek. Her piercing gaze swept over the room, a silent challenge to anyone daring to intervene. Whether she meant to protect me from harm or to stake her claim over me, it was unclear¡ªthough, I suspected both were true. But one thing was certain¡ªno one uttered a word as Niamh¡¯s struggles ceased.
Yummy!
I was on the verge of breaking into my gleeful pudding jig. What? Eating always puts me in a good mood. But given the audience¡ªespecially with Aurelia¡¯s watchful eye¡ªI thought better of it. Nope, I made sure not to even crack a smile as I gave everyone a glare that promised terror if anyone spoke against my woman¡ well, maybe a bit of a smirk wouldn¡¯t hurt, would it?
Aurelia breathed a hushed whisper into my ear, dripping with lust. ¡°Oh, you truly are a sight to behold, my love. And to think, you managed to withstand her Charm¡¯s temptations. If she had succeeded in ensnaring you, it would have been a cruel blow to my heart, and I would have taken great pleasure in ending her life myself. Though, I have no doubt that she¡¯ll be resummoned before Lord Demidicus within the hour. Heaven forbid he go without his pet.¡±
She used Charm on me? I didn¡¯t get a system notification for it.
Huh¡
All eyes lingered on Niamh¡¯s corpse as I dragged her body toward me. I didn¡¯t want to give the impression of devouring another woman in front of Aurelia, who held me close. Her breasts were snugly pressed against my back, so I had several tendrils pull the succubus beneath my dress, where she vanished from sight. Much more dignified and presentable, I mused.
¡°Vorigan, take the defenseless to the ruins,¡± Aurelia commanded once more. ¡°Hikari, select the necessary individuals and take out the army¡¯s commanders.¡± The small cat-eared woman nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°And you, Olin, shall join me and my beloved as we deal with a tent and some cages.¡±
~
Due to his broken neck, Olin was forced to hold his head upright, managing to make it appear as though he was deep in contemplation while gripping his chin. However, anyone getting too close would easily see through his ruse. Nonetheless, he remained with his mistress, confident that with enough death and destruction, she would conquer the entire army, her power growing with each corpse claimed.
Inhabiting the body of General Ezad, Olin towered over his mistress and her reclaimed lover, the Black Pudding. With her sadistic smile and thirst for torment, she was a truly terrifying sight. One glance from her piercing orange gaze, and Olin knew their cover could be blown at any moment. Although his mistress was a formidable force, subtlety was not her forte; Aurelia was too mesmerizing to go unnoticed. Thus, steering them through the heart of the enemy camp fell squarely on his shoulders.
¡°My mistress,¡± Olin began, his voice tinged with trepidation, ¡°we must find a way to keep the two of you concealed. Our mission will be jeopardized if you are seen with me, especially given your companion¡¯s distinctive eyes.¡± He silently prayed to the Crone that Lady Aurelia could control her obsession with the pudding.
The sinister monster in human form leaned in close to his mistress, resting her head on Aurelia¡¯s shoulder and gazing up with a feigned, innocent look. Olin found the display revolting, yet Lady Aurelia seemed enchanted, her eyes tracing the woman¡¯s lips.
¡°If I¡¯m too revealing,¡± the monster cooed, ¡°you could always wear me.¡±
Olin nearly gagged, rolling his eyes as he saw Aurelia¡¯s eyes sparkle with excitement, her red irises glowing sinisterly. He wished they would find a secluded corner and be done with it so they could focus on the task at hand.
¡°Well, my beloved,¡± Aurelia purred, ¡°what will happen to the clothes I¡¯m already wearing?¡±
The pudding creature replied with a sly grin, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll store them safely within me. Nothing will get ruined.¡± She then removed her head from Aurelia¡¯s shoulder to gaze into her eyes.
Resigned, Olin watched as his mistress, Lady Aurelia, caressed the cheek of the monster beside her. Her eyes alight with fiery passion. Having seen enough, Olin removed his hand from his chin, allowing his broken neck to drop his head back into an unnatural position.
~
Aurelia was filled with such elation as her beloved wrapped her arms around her. She basked in the blissful embrace of her love. Aurelia finally gave in to her desires and pressed her lips against Blake¡¯s. Her dark heart fluttered with delight as Blake¡¯s tongue slithered into her mouth like a tentacle monster, eliciting shudders of pleasure. A hunger that had been buried deep within her for nearly two centuries.
Sure, she had a few unsatisfying conquests in that time, but they were all meaningless. This was the moment she had yearned for what felt like an eternity. And as Blake¡¯s hand possessed her flesh, gripping her ass with a force that threatened to tear her asunder, she was lost to the world, consumed by the fiery passion that burned within her. She reached up, grasping Blake¡¯s breast. Her other hand slid down into Blake¡¯s dress, finding her thighs with a voracious hunger. Aurelia¡¯s finger slid into a putty-like substance that leaked between her fingers.
Blake¡¯s body began to liquefy at that moment and spread out over Aurelia¡¯s body. At first, it was like watching a tsunami crashing down, but there was no malice or anger within that dark wave, only love and tenderness. The tar-like form ran over Aurelia¡¯s body, coating her skin and clothes. Aurelia felt a spell activated from her love and noticed that her robe and undergarments had vanished. Everything had been replaced with the Black Pudding that seemed to find its way into every nook and cavity.
Aurelia was swathed in darkness as her beloved reformed around her, unable to contain the malevolent lust-filled desires seething within. Before an outfit could fully be formed, Blake erupted into a tangled, writhing mass of silk threads. A sensual and sinister silk dance embraced Aurelia, obscuring all but the gleam of her gorgeous face as they wove together. The pure white headdress and outfit that settled upon her was a cruel parody of the ascended priestess garments used by their healers. But the true horrors of Aurelia¡¯s new attire lay hidden beneath the shimmering cloth, a forbidden secret of squirming tendrils and pulsating tentacles.
¡°Oh¡ Oh! Yes. Yes! Mmmm,¡± Aurelia struggled to contain her passion and keep her ecstatic screams to herself. She was a vampire elder, a regal princess of a once-powerful coven, and she would not let such a trivial thing as pleasure break her focus. Aurelia would submit to her lover¡¯s carnal desires, for this was what she had wanted for so very, very long. She surrendered her body over to her dark lover¡¯s embrace, for Aurelia knew she could still decimate her enemies with her orifices filled. She was a vampiric necromancer with so few equals, an unstoppable force of darkness and blood, and nothing would stand in her way. It didn¡¯t matter that her beloved had just found the spot that sent shudders through her stomach.
No one could stop her and her beloved now!
~
Riding the high of the moment, I fully embraced the thrill, letting myself merge and flow over Aurelia, transforming into a sleek black dress. Gotta love the perks of polymorphing¡ªof course, I coated myself in silk, like some kind of purity nun. They have those in this realm, right?
Oh, gods, her body is so tight!
Holy shit, she¡¯s got fucking abs¡ªnot the overly masculine kind, but the cute, sexy ones! Seriously, she¡¯s built like an Olympic pole vaulter!
Wow! They do Brazilians in other realms too? I won¡¯t lie, I was expecting some thick shrubbery down under.
Oh, my gods, her skin tastes so good¡ªjust like blood and death. She¡¯s delicious!
My thoughts were engaged in a mental back-and-forth, reveling in my own amusement and insanity. I admit, I¡¯m known to let my thoughts wander when I¡¯m feeling, well, a bit frisky. And damn, was I revved up now. Who could blame me? Pressed against Aurelia¡¯s tempting curves, my inner deviant wanted nothing more than to see just how far I could push my boundaries. Each moment pushed me closer to crossing a line, especially with every sultry look.
Screw it, why not dive right in? I mean, who wouldn¡¯t want a taste of the forbidden, especially when it¡¯s served on such a delectable platter?
I¡¯ll go high¡ªand low! Oh! Oh! And let¡¯s not forget the front and back!
Mhmmm!
Ever since waking up as a monster, I¡¯ve become somewhat more adept at multitasking. Still, even amidst my oh-so-titillating meal, I was only vaguely aware of our transition from the village outskirts to the heart of the enemy camp. Any brave souls daring enough to approach Olin were swiftly discouraged by a mere gesture from him¡ªthe advantages of having his soul occupy a General¡¯s body.
Speaking of putting things in someone¡¯s body, I return to my depraved delights. As I basked in the blissful sensations of Aurelia¡¯s tight body and firm ass, the outside world was a distant, meaningless place. The tremors in Aurelia¡¯s thighs were a symphony of pleasure. I marveled at her mastery of self-control, concealing our sexual acts from prying eyes. Her delicate fingers occasionally wandered down, offering tantalizing touches. Her expression remained serene, a mask hiding the storm of pleasure within, but her gorgeous eyes could not lie. I was lost in the twisted, erotic world of her ecstasy, and nothing else mattered.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. I withdrew from Aurelia¡¯s innermost places as we approached the carnival-sized tent. I spotted all the cages along the outside of the tent, and that little bunny kid. A sense of dread settled into me.
It would be so much easier if we could ditch them. Or even better yet¡ªI were allowed to eat them!
When they caught sight of Olin, their so-called General, they instantly banged their chests in some sort of unified salute. But Olin? Dude just breezed right by them, making a beeline for the tent¡¯s interior. I wonder if any of the guards raised an eyebrow at the snub. Though, in Olin¡¯s defense, giving a salute would be a tad tricky when you¡¯re using one hand to stop your head from toppling off to the side. Just a tad.
Perhaps it wasn¡¯t the best idea to snap his neck.
Nah.
From the outside, the tent seemed massive. But stepping through its entrance was like diving into a rabbit hole, only to be met by a scene straight out of Alice¡¯s trippiest mushroom high. The inside sprawled out way larger than what the exterior hinted at, like some wacko architect decided to build a stadium inside a tent. No weapons, no magical doodads, no damn Dungeon Core¡ªjust an endless stretch of... well, death. If someone had told me they were hiding their fallen comrades in there, I would¡¯ve laughed. But seeing was believing, and what I saw was a freakin¡¯ morbid treasure trove, and I was clutching the perfect ass of not only a vampire but a necromancer!
B01C32 - Wailing Drums
Anlyth, an elf and Paladin of the Kingdom of Slaethia, lay alone in her bed. The chilling void of the empty sheets next to her pierced her heart, intensifying the ache from her partner¡¯s absence. Although she understood he was fulfilling his obligations as the General of the army, it brought her scant solace.
In a society where no one died from old age, traditional marriage became uncommon; such unions no longer made any sense after their world aligned with V?lusp¨¢¡¯s moons. However, this did not mean that similar commitments were absent. Contractual unions, for example, required a hundred years of mutual commitment and devotion to one another¡¯s goals. The two had been together for the last three hundred years, having surpassed two such contracts, with the prospect of continuing for another thousand years.
Though now, the hours without him stretched endlessly, each moment in bed feeling longer than the last.
Anlyth sighed, tossing and turning in bed as the howling laughter from the evening¡¯s festivities began to wane, leaving only the muffled chuckles of inebriated soldiers stumbling back to their tents. The triumph from just days ago felt distant, with nightly celebrations continuing unabated¡ªan orchestra of wild merrymaking and indulgence, playing out under countless eclipses on this dark moon. And who could blame them? Aurelia, the vampire who had once been the terror of their kingdom, was now a captive, subject to their whims.
Elves, dwarves, humyns, and gnomes¡ªthe pillars that had rebuilt the kingdom¡ªwere preparing to parade this malevolent monster back to their homeland. That, at least, was the wish of every citizen of Slaethia. However, as usual, politics complicated matters.
By tomorrow¡¯s end, with the arrival of two champions, she would be handed over to the Ascended Empire, where her true ordeal would begin. This was the Empire¡¯s desire, their decree, sending a stark message to all nocturnal horrors: every feral fiend and forbidden race capable of breeding such soulless abominations¡ªvampires, werewolves, lizardmen, orcs, goblins, and many more¡ªwould be eradicated in the name of the ascended god¡¯s divine mission.
Even those who sympathized with such vile creatures, like the beastkin, would not be spared.
Rising gracefully from her bed, Anlyth draped herself in a cloak, a mere whisper of fabric that scarcely shielded her from V?lusp¨¢¡¯s glow, only for another eclipse to bathe her in darkness. Her armor stood ready, but tonight, she had a different agenda. Initially, she intended to surprise her partner, to reveal the mysteries hidden beneath the cloak. However, those desires had shifted.
Emerging into the embrace of the eclipse, Anlyth was met with a biting cold that seemed to grip her very marrow. She half-wondered what life was like on other moons¡ªdid they bask in frequent hours of daylight from the distant sun, or did V?lusp¨¢¡¯s glow intensify the closer one got? She shelved those musings for now. Amidst the chill, a shadowy suspicion wormed its way into her thoughts: her partner, perhaps ensnared in the depths of inebriated merriment with his officers.
¡°Surely not,¡± she silently argued with herself. He wouldn¡¯t have abandoned their shared warmth without significant reason.
¡°Should that man be lost in the company of ale, officers, or¡ªgods forbid¡ªanother¡¯s embrace, he will rue the day,¡± Anlyth whispered fiercely, stepping forward into the crisp night, resolved to seek out Ezad.
Upon entering the command tent, Anlyth was met with an unsettling sight: her partner, Ezad, was conspicuously absent. The tent, usually bustling with at least one on-duty officer, now stood eerily vacant. Chairs were overturned, hinting at either a skirmish or a swift exit. With a heavy heart and rising apprehension, Anlyth quickly returned to the night¡¯s embrace, seeking clarity.
¡°Well now, Anlyth, aren¡¯t you a sight to behold! I can hardly believe me own eyes, seein¡¯ that lovely behind of yours runnin¡¯ around without a lick of armor on, love. Ain¡¯t ye a bit of a tease, ye are?¡± Gimona, the cheeky dwarf woman, chided with a smirk.
¡°Not now, Gimona. Have you seen Ezad?¡±
¡°Och, so that¡¯s the game ye¡¯re playin¡¯, dressin¡¯ up like that, are ye?¡± Gimona chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
¡°The command tent is vacant,¡± Anlyth declared, her tone underscoring the gravity of the situation.
¡°WHAT IN THE NAME O¡¯ THE GODS?!¡± Gimona roared. ¡°Do ye think we¡¯ve been breached? Do ye think the dungeon core¡¯s been taken? Sweet mother of mercy, I hope not.¡±
Anlyth¡¯s voice carried a hint of anxiety, yet her determination was unmistakable. ¡°Ezad secured the dungeon core within a dimensional ring to keep it hidden from the Empire. We need to find him or any of the senior members to ascertain if we face an imminent threat.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve ne¡¯er laid eyes on that man wearin¡¯ a ring,¡± Gimona retorted skeptically.
¡°Uh, yes¡¡± Anlyth shifted her gaze, momentarily uncomfortable. ¡°The ring isn¡¯t exactly... conventional.¡±
¡°What in the name o¡¯ the gods does that mean?¡±
¡°Um, perhaps we should consult a soldier currently on duty,¡± Anlyth suggested, eager to refocus. ¡°It¡¯s possible we¡¯re jumping to conclusions. They might have witnessed something that sheds light on the situation.¡±
As Anlyth and Gimona navigated the encampment, it quickly became evident that an unusually large number of sentries had abandoned their posts. While a handful might stray during festivities, the absence of twenty guards was alarming. This stark realization cemented Anlyth¡¯s suspicions: they were indeed under siege!
¡°We need to find Craycroft,¡± Anlyth said with a heavy sigh. ¡°This predicament might be beyond what we can manage alone.¡±
Gimona shook her head. ¡°That old codger brought a Way Stone with him. Uses it to nip back to his tower every night¡ªprefers the cozy comfort of his own bed over any damp tent and scratchy bedroll, he does.¡±
¡°Then my path is clear,¡± Anlyth reluctantly declared. ¡°I shall assume command of the army until either Ezad or a senior officer is located. Gimona, strike the Wailing Drums. We stand under threat.¡±
¡°Aye, Anlyth. I¡¯ll get right to it. And what will ye be doin¡¯?¡±
¡°Our foes often comprise necromancers, vampires, and other shadowy entities. It¡¯s imperative that I safeguard the remains of our departed to ensure they aren¡¯t manipulated as tools by these adversaries.¡±
¡°It¡¯d be better to burn the bodies, it would.¡±
¡°It would,¡± Anlyth replied, her voice tinged with sadness, ¡°but violating a body before its rightful rites unsettles the departing spirit. I¡¯ve seen my share of restless phantoms and tortured souls; I wish to see no more.¡±
~
Gimona Grimmail took off with urgency, allowing Anlyth to manage her matters. Despite her compact, sturdy dwarf legs, she moved at a remarkable pace, driven by surging adrenaline. The once vibrant fires of the camp had dimmed to mere embers, yet her objective remained clear: the Wailing Drums. The need to awaken the entire camp was paramount.
As Gimona dashed towards the drums, an unshakable sensation hinted she might confront adversaries before reaching her destination. A smile crept onto her face, embracing the thrill of the moment. After all, tonight was an opportune time to be a Monster Slayer!
While Gimona regretted leaving her axe behind, her confidence remained steadfast. She was no mere dwarf that needed a blade for protection. And she proved it when she sensed an impending attack. The almost imperceptible disturbance in the air hinted at the deceptive approach these detestable beings preferred. Their assault was laughably amateurish! With reflexes honed by experience, Gimona¡¯s hand shot out, seizing the assassin¡¯s wrist and stopping the dagger mere inches from her throat.
With a nimble twist and yank, the shadowy assailant was airborne for a moment before crashing heavily onto the ground. Without hesitation, Gimona¡¯s boot came down on the attacker¡¯s face with the might akin to a mana crystal¡¯s explosion. A concussive wave emanated from the strike, yet the camp¡¯s inebriated soldiers, lost in their alcoholic haze, remained oblivious, their snores uninterrupted. Gimona couldn¡¯t suppress a chuckle. The scene reaffirmed a belief she had long held: humyns and elves simply couldn¡¯t handle their pitiful excuse for ale.
In her urgency, Gimona¡¯s eyes darted to where the vampires had previously been staked. Her heart plummeted when she found the spots empty. Just a minuscule amount of blood could mend their grievous injuries, making them formidable adversaries for the encampment. To exacerbate the situation, the General¡¯s absence meant the army was without its commander amidst an apparent siege. But Gimona was resolute in her determination to prevent a disaster this night. She surged forward once more, aiming for the Wailing Drums. The only sound capable of rousing an army from its alcohol-fueled escapades was the haunting resonance of that drum.Stolen novel; please report.
Yet, her momentum was suddenly thwarted when a cluster of dwarves, groggy and irked, emerged from their tents, disgruntled by the disruption to their rest.
~
Anlyth dashed toward the Repository Tent, her heart pounding with growing apprehension. The trailing end of her cloak occasionally flirted with the wind, cheekily revealing her exposed rear. If a necromancer had indeed breached their defenses, that tent would be their prime target.
To her immense relief, the guards outside remained steadfast, an embodiment of resilience. Ezad¡¯s foresight in choosing only the elite to guard the fallen shone through in this crisis. While their commitment was unwavering, Anlyth caught their lingering glances. As she neared, she drew her cloak tighter, a shadow of a smirk forming, silently warning them against any mention of her current state.
¡°Has anyone seen the General?¡± Anlyth demanded, her voice stern and authoritative.
¡°Aye, Paladin Knight Anlyth, ma¡¯am,¡± one of the guards responded. ¡°General Ezad is presently inside the Repository Tent, in consultation with a priestess. But I must note, his demeanor struck me as¡ peculiar.¡±
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Anlyth instructed, ¡°You six, fall in with me,¡± addressing the guards. ¡°I suspect the enemy has breached our lines. Stay alert and expect the unexpected!¡±
The sextet of knights, battle-scarred and seasoned from myriad wars, assumed a stance of readiness, their zeal palpable. Their salutes signified their unwavering allegiance, leaving no doubt in the Paladin¡¯s mind about their preparedness for the looming conflict. Drawing her blade, Anlyth braced herself and ventured into the tent. The scene within was the manifestation of her gravest apprehensions.
Her beloved stood beside the vampiric nemesis, the very scourge who had once laid waste to her realm. A name, whispered in fearful tones, haunted the nightmares of Slaethian children: Aurelia. For the populace of the Kingdom of Slaethia, her name invoked paralyzing dread, yet there she stood, challenging all present with her mere presence.
Anlyth¡¯s heart splintered as she witnessed her once valiant partner, now ensnared by the very creature they had sworn to vanquish, the unmistakable signs of necromancy etched into his very being. The man she loved, reduced to a mere shadow of the leader and partner she once knew, stirred a torrent of anguish within her. Tears blurred her vision, and her sword wavered in her grip, the weight of her grief threatening to pull her under.
The monstrous seductress had ensnared him, and Anlyth realized the scale of the calamity that awaited them this night. She made a solemn vow: she would ceaselessly battle the vampiric fiend until her partner¡¯s soul was liberated and he could find eternal repose in the afterlife. Facing the fiend, though fraught with peril, was her unyielding obligation; for her love, her kingdom, and her sacred oath as a Paladin.
Yet, the act of her initial capture was nothing short of a marvel. Without Craycroft¡¯s guidance and might, Anlyth questioned whether a second victory was attainable. Aurelia, the vampire, met Anlyth¡¯s gaze with a malicious grin, her ivory fangs glistening menacingly. Anlyth¡¯s attention was momentarily captivated by the pristine priestess robes Aurelia donned. However, in an unnerving display, the robes seemed to disintegrate, giving way to a gown as dark as a moonless night. It was a garb more befitting of a lavish soir¨¦e than the blood-soaked terrain of a battlefield. Yet, as Aurelia stood there, she resembled the embodiment of a nightmare¡ªas if her very attire was forged from the purest, darkest sorcery.
Anlyth had yearned for this rhythm, now finally resounding and reverberating deeply within her soul. Unyielding cadence pulsed through the night, conjuring an ambiance thick with anticipation and unease. Soon, the drum¡¯s resonating sound was joined by a haunting scream¡ªa banshee¡¯s war lament. Ethereal and chilling, the shriek cut through the night, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it. Seemingly endless, the cry served as a melancholic anthem, signaling impending doom. As the drum¡¯s rhythmic pounding merged with the banshee¡¯s spine-tingling wail, an aura of imminent peril was crafted, jolting the entire encampment to readiness. Warriors all around, roused from their inebriated haze, suddenly became lucid, primed, and poised for the confrontation that awaited.
While the initial onslaught at the dungeon¡¯s remnants had taken the vampires by surprise, neither faction emerged unscathed, both suffering grievous losses. For Anlyth¡¯s side, the grim reality was stark: Aurelia possessed everything needed to forge her new legion within the confines of that tent. The canvas shelter lay strewn with the lifeless forms of comrades, a somber tableau of those who had once fought valiantly alongside Anlyth. Though merely a fraction of the forces outside, their potential resurrection by necromancy loomed as a dire threat. Anlyth knew the peril of engaging necromancers; every fallen ally could tragically turn against them, weaponized in death.
Gimona burst into the tent, her expression twisted with fury as she confronted the General and the vampiric princess. ¡°Hey now, what in the blazin¡¯ hells is goin¡¯ on here? General, what the devils are ye doin¡¯ with that blood-suckin¡¯ wench?¡±
Anlyth¡¯s gaze snapped to Aurelia¡¯s gown, noting its sudden change. The fabric seemed to pulse with life, reacting defensively to Gimona¡¯s accusations. It shifted and undulated subtly, the sleeves twitching as if bristling with latent hostility. A chilling, oppressive energy filled the air, the malice from the gown palpable, as if the very atmosphere had turned leaden, pregnant with impending violence.
¡°Gimona, weren¡¯t you the one sounding the Wailing Drums?¡± Anlyth queried sharply.
¡°Well now, lassie, I had a few of me lads sort it out,¡± Gimona replied, but her voice lowered to a mutter, ¡°Still don¡¯t see where that dimension ring could be on that man!¡±
Anlyth¡¯s eyes blazed with fury as she glanced from the smiling vampire back to Gimona. The unsettling calmness of the vampire, paired with her malevolent grin, sent chills down Anlyth¡¯s spine. She feared Gimona might have inadvertently revealed too much. Despite potential missteps, the situation demanded decisive action.
With unwavering resolve, Paladin Anlyth summoned her divine powers. As she spoke her incantations, her arm was bathed in a radiant light, emanating purity and strength. ¡°In the name of the heavens,¡± she declared, her voice resounding with authority, ¡°may sacred luminescence be my beacon!¡±
A beam of divine light surged forth, but it unexpectedly struck the person Anlyth cherished most¡ªher beloved partner. The luminous energy collided with him with the force of a roaring blaze, sending him hurtling backward. The aftermath was horrifying¡ªa searing hole in his chest, his skin charred and smoking. Anlyth¡¯s heart tore as she beheld the mark of her divine wrath on the man she loved. Tears streamed down her face, the weight of her choice crushing her, yet she believed it necessary.
As she prepared another spell, Anlyth¡¯s attention was caught by the peculiar behavior of Aurelia¡¯s dress. It recoiled as if sentient, shrinking away from the divine light. But it was not Ezad¡¯s plight that kindled the vampire¡¯s fury; it was something else, something unseen. This realization was abruptly cut short by a chilling touch at her ankle.
Looking down, Anlyth gasped in horror. What she had assumed to be a corpse was gripping her ankle. The reality of the necromancer¡¯s dark magic became undeniably clear. All around her, the tent came alive with movement, as fallen warriors began to rise, their souls enslaved to undeath, creating a terrifying legion of the undead.
Amidst this chaos, Anlyth stood firm, fighting alongside her six knights and Gimona. The tent had transformed into a battleground, filled with the sounds of clashing steel and the moans of the undead. Every swing of her sword met decaying flesh; each parry thwarted a deadly grasp. Surrounded by relentless foes, the scent of rot overwhelming, Anlyth¡¯s resolve never wavered.
Summoning her might, Paladin Anlyth unleashed her most potent spell¡ªan inferno of blinding light and fire that spiraled outward, scorching all in its path. The protective enchantments of the Repository Tent strained and flickered.
The tent quivered, its spatial magic pulsing with distress under the strain of battle. Anlyth, focused solely on quelling the undead threat and ending the vampire¡¯s malevolent reign, unleashed a torrent of spells. However, the barrage proved too much; the tent''s enchantments began to falter, threatening to unravel at the seams.
As the spatial magic within the Repository Tent shattered, reality itself seemed to explode outward in cataclysmic chaos, merging abruptly with the world outside. Tents were hurled into the air, and soldiers tumbled like leaves in a violent tempest, flung about without mercy. Nearby, cages filled with beastkin clattered and rolled, contributing to the tumult.
This seismic shockwave violently collided with the fortifications of Elsternwick village, shattering them into fragments and reducing homes to mere rubble. Those cognizant of the unfolding calamity braced for the subsequent implosion, a dire consequence when a pocket dimension destabilizes. True to their worst fears, the shockwave surged back with the vehemence of a relentless storm, obliterating more structures and dragging both knights and villagers toward the epicenter of the catastrophe. The ensuing explosive cacophony reverberated across the realm, marking a moment of unparalleled destruction.
Reeling from the shock, Anlyth struggled to regain her bearings, amazed that she was still among the living. Over her, the steadfast dwarf Gimona Grimmail stood vigilant, her fingers clutching a barrier medallion. The lustrous glow of the magical talisman shielded both Gimona and Anlyth from the cataclysm¡¯s wrath, a solitary beacon in the midst of utter chaos. Regrettably, the gallant six knights who had fought valiantly by their side were not as fortunate. As Anlyth surveyed the ravaged landscape, she clung to the hope that the malevolent vampire, Aurelia, had at last been vanquished.
To Anlyth¡¯s horror, her deepest dread materialized before her eyes. Shielded by a dissipating crimson barrier, the vampire Aurelia danced amidst the debris of shattered tents, her voice lilting to a malevolent melody that seemed otherworldly. Her movements were a grotesque parody of an elegant waltz, contorted and chilling. She caressed her shadowy gown with unnerving tenderness, seemingly celebrating the devastation that surrounded her. Witnessing this macabre display, a cold chill raced down Anlyth¡¯s spine, as she watched the fiend take delight in the havoc she had wreaked.
Emerging from the ruins of the razed camp, the soldiers stood resolute, determination etched on every face. Amidst the chaos, Anlyth, a pillar of strength, surveyed the devastation with an icy, unyielding smile. Now, her nemesis, the monstrous vampire Aurelia, found herself surrounded by an army united in their thirst for retribution. Although Aurelia¡¯s power was formidable, she was not invincible. Anlyth was more than ready to demonstrate this, she vowed to extinguish the malevolent force that Aurelia represented. From then on, the young souls of the Kingdom of Slaethia could find solace in the night, free from the specter of Aurelia¡¯s terror.
With a sorrow-laden whisper, Anlyth murmured, ¡°For you, my love,¡± her eyes ablaze with divine fervor. The vampire had stolen her heart¡¯s joy by slaying her partner, but vengeance would be Anlyth¡¯s. In that pivotal moment, she felt an indomitable force rising within her, ensuring that no obstacle could deter her.
B01C33 - The Dream
Aurelia spun and swayed, her dance wild with glee, her fingers tracing over my form with reckless abandon. Lost in our whirl of pleasure, Aurelia and I remained oblivious to the chaos unfolding around us. My tendrils responded to her touch, moving with her motions and contours, caressing every crevice of her body, all while indifferent to the stunned onlookers. To the soldiers emerging from the wreckage of their encampment, it must have seemed she was fondling herself in a feverish ballet of insanity.
Our waltz continued unabated, even as unease curled within the back of my thoughts with each knight that clambered from beneath the debris. I knew all too well my vulnerability to Anlyth¡¯s holy magic; even a glancing blow could sear through me with excruciating pain. Yet, I found solace in Aurelia¡¯s presence, her affection a shield against the elf¡¯s last devastating spell¡ªa blast so fierce it reduced our tent to ashes. I suspect, though, it had more to do with unleashing magic within a spatial tent, akin to popping a balloon with too much air, but what do I know.
Amid the ruin, a flicker of admiration stirred within me as I watched the elf responsible for the destruction. But when my gaze landed on the paladin, a mischievous smile played across my mind¡ªI would have said lips, if not for the fact that in this form, the only lips I possessed were rather busy, firmly planted on Aurelia¡¯s ass, along with another set teasing her other nearby lips. Perks of being a shape-shifting, gooey monster.
Tee-hee! I¡¯m so naughty.
The sight of the elf¡¯s tears¡ªtears she shed as she watched Olin, her comrade, her lover, rise from the rubble with a grievous wound she had inflicted¡ªwas deliciously satisfying¡ or was that Aurelia I was finding so delicious? Yeah, definitely Aurelia! Where was I going with this again? Oh, right!
It felt like just retribution for the one who dared to steal away my prey¡ªor rather, my potential prey. I had really wanted to kill that goblin myself. Sure, I got to eat him in the end, and he tasted rather delectable, but the satisfaction would have been so much sweeter if I had made the kill myself. Yes, I¡¯m being particularly bitchy about it¡ªmore so than usual. I wonder, is this a trait of my new body?
Anylith and that dwarf woman were exchanging words with Aurelia. I couldn¡¯t make out what was being said, but the harsh tones made it clear they weren¡¯t kind words. I¡¯ll have to slowly kill them for that. Meanwhile, I noticed a sly grin spreading across Aurelia¡¯s face as she glanced back at Olin. Should I have been paying more attention? Absolutely. But honestly, it was really hard to concentrate right now with this vampire hottie¡¯s bare flesh pressing against me.
Eh, Aurelia can handle herself better than I can.
Lost in my bliss, my mind froze when I noticed Aurelia approaching Olin. That wasn¡¯t the strange part; the truly strange and horrifying moment came when she slid her hands down his pants. To say I was horrorstruck would be an understatement, especially when she grasped his manhood. My horror intensified as I realized my flesh was coating her hand like a glove!
Um¡ What¡¯s she doing?
At the sight of my woman rifling through Olin¡¯s pants, Anlyth suddenly screamed, ¡°I¡¯LL KILL YOU!¡±
Aurelia responded with a dark, tantalizing grin that sent a quiver of delight through me. With a rough yank, she pulled out a golden circular band. Not like that, you pervert¡ªI mean, she literally pulled it out. Shit, that sounds worse. Um, let¡¯s just move on, okay?
At first, the golden band appeared too small for her wrist, but as she slid her fingers through the tight hole, pushing deeper, the band miraculously expanded, adjusting perfectly to fit snugly around her thin, pale wrist as her fist cleared the opening.
Uh, is she wearing Olin¡¯s cockring?
No¡ Maybe? Probably. Yes. Yes, she is.
Curiosity piqued, I found myself wondering not just what it was, but why. Why would she wear such a thing here and now? And more intriguingly, why was Olin¡¯s meat suit wearing that to begin with?
With a fierce battle cry, Anlyth unleashed a deafening scream, her voice resonating like a thunderclap, ¡°BY THE GRACE OF THE GODS, LET MY HOLY LIGHT BE MY GUIDE!¡±
Geez, she likes to scream a lot.
Following her proclamation, Anlyth released a heart-wrenching scream, unleashing a relentless torrent of holy light, a turbulent river of divine might poised to turn all in its wake to mere cinders. But Aurelia, with a grace that belied the direness of the situation, brushed the divine onslaught aside as if it were nothing more than a bothersome gnat.
I was not so fortunate¡ªoh no, not by a long shot. As divine light ravaged my consciousness with a hellish, all-consuming pain, my mind scrambled into the comforting arms of darkness. Oh, the agony¡ªit danced with my senses, twirling me unexpectedly into the realm of dreams once more, despite¡ªor maybe just to spite¡ªmy supposed Sleep immunity.
The sound of childish laughter¡ªa symphony of joy and delight¡ªtouched my swaying mind. Cracking my eyes open, I beheld a verdant meadow where six young children frolicked without a care. They cavorted and gamboled, their giggles ringing through the air as they chased each other in wild abandon. The sight was both haunting and beautiful, a nostalgic reminder of the carefree days of innocence.
Ah, shit. Did I just die?
The first to approach looked oddly familiar, a youthful child with golden tresses and a beaming face. Her laughter rang out like chimes in glass, her happiness a contagious grace. She hopped and twirled with hand outstretched, eager for a new friendship to be fetched.
Wait¡ why am I channeling my inner Lewis Carroll geek in my narrative? Ugh, whatever, let¡¯s just roll with it. It probably won¡¯t be that intense, and might even be a bit spotty.
Okay. Extremely spotty.
¡°Greetings, once again!¡± she exclaimed, a twinkle perhaps betraying her awareness of my bewildered expression. ¡°You do remember me, don¡¯t you? It¡¯s me, Sophia! Do come and join us. Let¡¯s frolic in a game of tag¡ªyou¡¯re to be it!¡±
With disbelief swirling in my heart, I beheld a wondrous sight with utter glee. Glancing down, I noticed I had shrunk to a child¡¯s size, a diminutive figure, a mere shadow of my pale former self, though wearing my typical I Decapitated Teddy Bears shirt, my hair dyed black and green.
Amidst the fluttering laughter that danced in the air, a smile adorned my face, a radiant expression I couldn¡¯t contain. In that moment, doubts were cast aside, and with reckless glee, I clasped her tiny hand, becoming one with their mirthful brigade.
We raced through the meadow, their infectious energy infusing my every step with wild abandon. The echoes of youthful giggles cascaded like a majestic symphony, and within this realm of unadulterated bliss, nothing else held significance, for I had discovered my true sanctuary. My spirit awakened, resonating with the resounding laughter, basking in the boundless realm of joyous existence.
With nimble steps, I wove and bobbed, my heart alight, as I bounced and leaped, embracing the all-pervading happiness that enveloped the air. Playfully, I nudged the shoulder of a lad, his laughter rippling through the meadow as he twirled in mirthful delight. In this realm of enchantment, the gaiety knew no bounds, a tapestry of joy woven with each breath. Laughter and delight intertwined, painting a perpetual smile upon my face, as the magic of this place unfolded before my eyes.
¡°Rob, you are it,¡± Sophia proclaimed.
As the hours waned and the sun bathed the meadow in its warm embrace, we laughed and played, our spirits dancing in the radiant light. Yet, a weight settled upon my heart when I beheld another girl, her dark, freckled face and piercing eyes fixated on the foreboding, frozen woods. Her once vibrant smile had vanished, replaced by an air of trepidation. The shadows stretched, casting an ominous veil over the snow-filled expanse, stripping away its enchantment and revealing only darkness and fear.
A shiver coursed down my spine as I sensed imminent danger lurking within the depths of those forbidding woods. In the back of my mind, a call to run echoed, but it no longer felt as urgent as it once had. No, it was almost welcoming now.
As the day turned to dusk, the freckled child¡¯s joy became a distant memory. She remained there the entire time, standing ever still, her gaze fixed on the silent woods, her face growing ever paler. My heart raced with excitement as the shadows crept nearer, poised to ensnare her joy forever. The woods seemed to hold magic, wonder, and glee that only I could perceive, as though the horrors within beckoned to me with dark delight.
A voice filled with kindness and grace called out to the freckled girl, ¡°Fear not, dear Heather, ¡¯tis just shadows that dwell, there is naught to see, only tales to tell of old nightmares they be. Do come and play with the children once more, dinner draws near.¡±
As I sought the woman behind the sweet voice, her presence eluded me. I rubbed my eyes and searched around, but her form was nowhere to be found. Yet, a mischievous giggle filled the air, whisking me away to a realm beyond compare.
With boundless glee, I chased after children in a carefree race, leaving behind the shadows of doubt and embracing the pure delight of their embrace. Their laughter and play, a profound symphony, enchanted my mind with joy unbound. In this magical place, I had discovered my true home, where laughter echoed and joy roamed free. The sense of belonging warmed my soul as I reveled in the wonders this realm unfolded. Surrounded by the tune of youthful laughter, I embraced the beauty of each passing hour. But alas, the woods called to me with welcoming whispers, and doubts about this new home crept into my mind¡ªjust as dinner beckoned.
The children¡ªSophia, Heather, Rob, Jeremy, Yua, and Jason¡ªgathered around a table that seemed to expand as we each took our seats, our feet swinging in the air as we leaned in, eagerly awaiting the feast at hand. Laughter filled the air, our smiles reflecting the joy we shared. I sat there, immersed in my chair, a radiant grin adorning my face, captivated by their laughter and the harmony of their embrace.
As if conjured by enchantment, the table was adorned with a feast fit for kings, a culinary delight. The children¡¯s eyes widened with delight, their hunger unmasked as they indulged in the flavors, their enthusiasm unabashed. Laughter and voices intertwined, forming an orchestra of mirth that filled the air, as they savored the earth. I leaned back, a smile upon my face, content in my quiet observation, cherishing their joyous embrace, a memory to treasure, an everlasting sensation to preserve.
Basking in the tantalizing allure of the feast, I refrained from partaking, my senses alert and watchful. My gaze was fixed upon the others as a malevolent notion insinuated itself into the recesses of my mind. A palpable air of unease cloaked the surroundings, a nebulous void that resisted comprehension. I scanned the expanse of the table, yet the enigmatic woman remained elusive, her presence a puzzle yet unsolved, leaving me with an unsettling disquietude and a riddle yet to be gleaned.
As the feast carried on, an ominous shadow cast its pall over the table, its presence unnoticed by the other children. The wooden floorboards creaked beneath our feet, and the house swayed with an unsettling rhythm. Yet, they continued to indulge in their meal with unabated glee, blissfully ignorant of the gathering darkness. The shadows deepened, their sinister tendrils creeping. As I scanned the room, my heart pounding in fearful¡ªno! Gleeful¡ªanticipation, I found naught but fleeting specters, dissipating like a nightmare¡¯s hold released by the dawn¡¯s gentle touch.
Still, my curiosity lingered, a gnawing in the depths of my mind, a resolute feeling that all was not as it seemed, and the darkness held a purpose, not blind. The children¡¯s laughter, once so joyous and free, now rang hollow and forced, their faces contorted into a grotesque masquerade. The darkness ebbed and flowed, reemerging with renewed vigor, its tendrils extending and entwining my thoughts, pulling me deeper into a realm of obscurity where the brilliance of light faltered, and the shadows reigned supreme.
I caught sight of one such shadow, following its trail which, to my confusion, was cast by me.
My bewilderment was abruptly cut short during the feast when a boy¡¯s head tumbled across the table¡ªa sight that left me shaken with mirth, if indeed it was real. It was Rob¡¯s severed head that had passed through, yet the other children feasted on, oblivious to the horrors I had borne witness.
I sat there, frozen in a mix of fearful awe and glee, as another head¡ªthis time seemingly belonging to Heather¡ªfell into the cheer. Yet, the feast pressed on, like a nightmare turned reality. A sudden flicker of candlelight unveiled the truth, revealing the skeletal forms of the children, a haunting sight that could not be curtailed. I found myself clapping in joy at the spectral spectacle before me. However, it did not last, as the flicker returned the sight to what it had been. But still, the feast went on, the children¡ªand even the headless¡ªcontinued to chew. It was a nightmarish vision, one that I could not unsee, nor did I wish to.
A withered old hag, face hidden within a veil, gaunt and sickly thin, shuffled into the room with a slouch and a hobble. She was garbed in dark robes, so familiar, yet untrue. She approached with more food as the children cheered. They eagerly fed, yet only in the briefest of flickers did the candle reveal what to be true.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
I peered through the window and beheld the sinister woods that surrounded us. The trees, twisted and twirled like tentacles of darkness, beckoned me with their dance amidst the whirling snow. The forest was alive with dark delights, forbidden pain, and horrors of the night, and I found myself longing to join in their cruel revelry of memories of pained past lives.
I peered through the window and beheld the sinister woods that surrounded us. The trees, twisted and twirled like tentacles of darkness, beckoned me with their dance amidst the whirling snow. The forest was alive with dark delights, forbidden pain, and horrors of the night, and I found myself longing to join in their cruel revelry, a twisted echo of pained past lives.
What¡¯s going on? Am I dreaming or am I dead?
A flicker of candlelight illuminated the scene, and I beheld the hag, not cloaked in her usual robe, but adorned in a grand ball gown. She soon took her place among us at the table, her gaze fixed upon the lavish spread with wondrous delight, her dark eyes occasionally shifting toward me. Yet, as I gazed upon her, her face remained shrouded within a void so dark, yet somehow it felt akin to a dream so pure. The only part of her that was visible were her skeletal hands of pure bone, stark white against the dim light.
¡°Duskara?¡± I murmured, questioning if she was indeed who I thought her to be.
Strangely, despite the unsettling yet magnificent sight before me, I sensed no malevolence emanating from her, only a surprising kindness. Yet, she did not answer me, appearing almost pained, as if saddened by the knowledge that our visit would soon be ending.
Another flicker of gleaming candlelight revealed the true feast once more, at last. The table was bedecked with decay and putridity¡ªspoiled meats crawling with maggots and flies. It was, without doubt, a dream come true for my little black heart. I daringly indulged in a bite of a rotting heart, savoring its flavor as if it were a delectable fruit freshly plucked from a verdant branch. Greedily, I continued to dine, reaching next for a severed human limb, its grotesque flesh clinging stubbornly to the bone.
The children, seated around the table, were nothing but skeletons, with two skulls resting upon plates of twisted entrails and innards. The sight was ghastly, yet I couldn¡¯t avert my gaze, captivated by the grotesque spectacle unfolding before me. With each morsel I savored, I would occasionally sway happily in my seat, as we all dined together.
I wonder if they each see something different? No, really. They all seem way too calm and happy right now.
With each bite I took, the taste of decay greeted my palate, a perverse pleasure that should have turned my stomach. Yet, I reveled in the sensation of each crunch and chew, savoring the morbid symphony upon my tongue.
The hag, draped in the elegance of a refined lady, carried herself with a grace befitting royalty. Her laughter was tender and whimsical as she observed my indulgence in the feast of the dead, her shrouded gaze exuding warmth and affection.
The elegantly dark woman¡¯s next words floated through the air, imbued with a melodic solemnity: ¡°I, the Crone, as most do call me, have decided upon a Champion, now that all of you have gathered,¡± she so decreed, her voice tinged with reluctance, aware that I had forbidden her from naming me. ¡°As per the rules governing this system and to avoid unwanted gazes, I name only one among you. Thou, cruel Jason, with thy heart full of anger and rage, naught can quell the fire within thy cage. It is for that reason, I name thee, my Dark Champion. Go forth and be the harbinger of my will, so mote it be.¡±
Jason¡¯s skeleton seemed to do a little jig in his chair with glee. The others appeared shocked¡ªwell, as shocked as any skeleton could seem¡ªas I hummed to myself and continued to dine while the shadows in the dim dining room danced to my tune. I was content within this eerie dream, yet a part of me longed to wake up soon, as thoughts of Aislinn filled my mind. However, the happy rhythm was abruptly halted by a knock at the door, which sounded like thunder booming.
The Crone sighed, turning her dark veil toward me for a long gaze. ¡°It seems it¡¯s time to wake up now,¡± she said, her tone, cadence, and demeanor shifting to one of sorrow. ¡°Do be careful. I do not know what she¡¯s planning, but do not follow her poisonous wor¡ª¡±
Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and an onslaught of pain scorched through me as sacred holy light narrowly missed its mark, yet still sent tendrils of agonizing pain throughout my being. The anguish was intense, yet it was overshadowed by the ferocity evident on Aurelia¡¯s face. Every inch of her demeanor screamed vengeance, all directed at Anlyth for the audacity of harming me.
How long was I unconscious?
A few milliseconds... I think?
Before Aurelia could unleash her pent-up wrath, however, she found herself encircled by a squadron of knights, their weapons drawn, their intentions clear and deadly. It appeared everyone had finished pulling themselves out of the camp¡¯s wreckage.
As Aurelia faced her opponents, the initial assault came from a knight clad in gleaming armor. Determination flared in his eyes as he aimed a ferocious overhead blow at her. Almost simultaneously, another warrior lunged, his blade seeking her heart with deadly intent. Yet, Aurelia¡¯s reflexes defied belief; she sidestepped the overhead swing and gracefully pivoted away from the thrust, evading both strikes with ease.
With the elegance and danger of a wildcat, she retaliated. Her razor-sharp claws sliced through the first knight¡¯s armor as if it were mere tin foil, inflicting a deep wound across his flesh. Twisting around like a gymnast, she executed a powerful kick to his kneecap, producing a horrific crunch that made him crumple in pain. As the knights were distracted by Aurelia¡¯s prowess, I seized the moment. My tentacles burst forth, coiling and striking with merciless precision.
The knights and barbarians swarmed us with unyielding fury. Arrows flew, yet Aurelia deftly dodged or brushed them aside effortlessly. Mystical assaults followed; streaks of lightning and fiery orbs hurtled our way. However, a pulsating red barrier surrounded Aurelia, absorbing every magical blow, forcing the knights to resort to traditional combat techniques. While some fell to a singular, devastating hit, others showed commendable resilience, charging at us again and again.
On another front, Olin unleashed his wrath, tearing through the ranks with a storm of punches and kicks, only to be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Despite the full might of my arsenal, the knights resiliently got back to their feet, hinting at the presence of healers among them. I filled the area with Blight and spread Spores liberally, which slowed their physical reactions¡ªa useful ability when surrounded and outnumbered. My Fear spell caused many soldiers to hesitate as they approached, giving Aurelia the upper hand.
In desperate abandon, my tentacles continued lashing out, constricting knights by the throat and hoisting them into the air, only to have my grip broken by every blade¡¯s strike. Some were momentarily incapacitated as I thrust tentacles down their throats, but even these were rapidly severed.
My Corrosive and Venomous touch incapacitated a few, and my Paralysis rendered others immobile, while Life Drain filled me with elation. I had to concentrate intensely to ensure my passive skills were only applied to my tentacles, as most of my body tightly coated Aurelia, and thus, many hits did not include them¡ªmuch to my frustration!
Aurelia serenaded the battleground with a haunting tune, effortlessly dispatching soldiers one after another. Yet beneath the fa?ade, her eyes betrayed hints of exhaustion. The most formidable adversaries were the scarcely clad warriors¡ªa quite unanticipated sight. Their defenses varied; some boasted ethereal barriers that flickered upon impact, while others had skin as durable as metal.
Their notable attire¡ªor the lack thereof¡ªwas not limited by gender, as both male and female warriors sported such minimalistic garments. Thongs? Leather lingerie? Straps and buckles? Honestly, I know I keep pointing it out, but it¡¯s always a surprising eyeful, and I¡¯m not quite sure what to call their Conan-wannabe outfits. Anywho, their tenacity was admirable, but my intentions were clear: their survival stood in opposition to my woman¡ªthey all must die!
Still, the momentum of the battle was shifting against us. Aurelia, ever graceful in combat, continued to demonstrate signs of mounting exhaustion, her movements increasingly weighed down by the incessant barrage from the knights. Her expertise remained evident, yet the relentless onslaught steadily pushed her toward her limits. As a knight¡¯s blade aimed for her in a moment of imminent danger, I reflexively contracted around her midsection, forcing her into a stooped position to narrowly evade the lethal cut.
Capitalizing on this evasion, I retaliated with a surge of Necrotic Flame, reducing the knight¡¯s visage to ashes. Observing Aurelia, even in her fatigue, I noticed a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips. It radiated an unwavering determination, suggesting a deeper intent within her actions, as if I were missing something crucial.
Huh, I¡¯m just noticing, but there¡¯s a hint of dark red in her black hair.
Really? That¡¯s what¡¯s on my mind right now? Fucking hell, Blake!
The onslaught momentarily ceased as the soldiers strategically shifted to encircle us, cunningly staying just out of my tentacles¡¯ reach. Their positioning taunted us, presenting a challenge I couldn¡¯t answer. Recognizing the dwarf woman from our previous encounter in the deep roads and Anlyth beside her, my hopes dwindled. Memories of the tragic loss of Wartie due to the elf paladin¡¯s actions flooded my thoughts, fueling my anticipation of imminent doom and the tangible prospect of Aurelia¡¯s recapture or worse, her demise. Yet, curiously, within the depths of Aurelia¡¯s grin, there remained an inexplicable spark of anticipation.
¡°Would ye look at what we have here? It¡¯s the little lady herself, back in our clutches once more,¡± the dwarf sneered.
¡°It¡¯s apparent to me we don¡¯t have the means to restrain her,¡± Anlyth declared.
Anlyth moved forward, her sword ready, her light cloak billowing to reveal its underside. A sudden commotion disrupted the knights¡¯ ranks as two amongst them unexpectedly collapsed, victims of an invisible adversary. Their collective attention shifted from Aurelia as they endeavored to pinpoint the origin of this unforeseen assault. Anlyth, with unwavering intent, continued her advance, her sword poised to strike. Yet, she found herself compelled to divert her planned blow, parrying a bony hand that grabbed at her ankle.
The battlefield was strewn with corpses from the tent that had exploded; their deceased brethren had littered every corner of the area. And Aurelia laughed as they began to rise once more. Amidst this chaos, Aurelia¡¯s harmonious laughter resonated, serving as a haunting prelude to the reanimation of the fallen as undead beings. The subsequent events can only be described as sheer pandemonium.
Despite the knights being distracted by the reanimated corpses of their comrades, both the dwarf and the elf remained fixated on Aurelia, and by association, on me¡ªregardless of their awareness of my true nature. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of being in over my head with the imminent confrontation. As formidable as Aurelia had proven herself to be, it was clear, both alarmingly and intriguingly, that she was nearing her limits.
Any ideas?
Nope.
¡
Anlyth charged, her sword targeting Aurelia. However, Aurelia deftly dodged the attempt. The dwarf took a different approach, unleashing a formidable punch to Aurelia¡¯s side. Reacting swiftly, I adjusted my form to cushion the impact. The force was like a lightning bolt, catapulting Aurelia backward. Even with the shock rattling my senses, she persisted, battling against the odds. The dwarf didn¡¯t let up, barraging us with punches that each reverberated with pain.
The dwarf¡¯s punishing blow was immediately followed by the elf¡¯s magic. Instead of charging forth, she maintained her distance, hand aloft as if orchestrating some impending doom. A radiant surge of energy burst forth, finding its mark on Aurelia before she could mount a defense or parry. The sheer force of the arcane onslaught sent us skidding across the warzone, amidst soldiers and risen dead alike. Through the barrage, Aurelia¡¯s resilience shone, but even she had limits. My essence felt as if it was being scorched from existence. I couldn¡¯t discern if the pain was from losing a part of myself, but the aftermath was clear: a trail of charred, black, gelatinous residue marked our path, remnants of me.
Desperation clawed at me, compelling me to draw on every scrap of ambient mana around, striving to maintain my form through sheer will. Yet, I was gripped by the dread of my imminent demise. It was not my own death that I feared, however, but the prospect of losing Aurelia¡ªof losing my Aislinn.
~
Gimona reveled in the midst of the most exhilarating battle she¡¯d ever experienced. True, using an army to wear down a vampire before confronting her directly might not scream honor, but with the legendary Aurelia in front of her, winning was all that mattered. Even more troubling was that Aurelia wore General Ezad¡¯s spatial ring around her wrist, which contained the dungeon core they had painstakingly acquired. They had gone to great lengths to secure that artifact without the Ascended Empire¡¯s knowledge, and now it was in enemy hands.
Every time Aurelia tried to dodge, her ever-adaptive dress absorbed the hits, shifting and changing to protect its wearer. Gimona had never witnessed such a piece of enchanted attire before. But under Anlyth¡¯s relentless magical barrage, what was once a grand, flowing dress now resembled a tattered nightgown. Gimona smirked, thinking it wouldn¡¯t be long until Aurelia was left in nothing but the kind of lingerie one might find in the city¡¯s seedier establishments.
The battlefield was a frenzy of motion and magic. Aurelia masterfully controlled the undead and cast blood spell after necrotic spell. However, Gimona continued to marvel at the strange magic emanating from the dress¡ªa cocktail of poisons, corrosive acids, and enigmatic green and purple flames. But to Gimona, a hardened dwarf warrior, such low-tier magical antics were hardly a concern. Most knights would¡¯ve been severely challenged, but not her.
Yet, the real nuisance was the growing horde of undead, which swelled in numbers with each fallen soldier, reducing their ranks. Gimona could almost taste Aurelia¡¯s fatigue, which fueled her anticipation. The endgame was in sight: soon, Aurelia would meet her fate, and her command over the undead would vanish.
Gimona took every ounce of her battle-hardened might and focused it upon Aurelia¡¯s deteriorating form. Each blow, infused with dwarven magic, brought the satisfying sound of snapping bones. Her spirit soared as she prepared her ultimate strike, summoning her deepest reserves of magical energy into her fist. As it slammed into Aurelia¡¯s midsection, the vampire was sent careening, the ground breaking apart beneath her. She was bleeding profusely, not healing¡ªa telltale sign of a vampire in dire need of sustenance.
With victory seemingly within grasp, Gimona vaulted into the air, her entire body intent on delivering a death blow akin to the explosion of a mana crystal. But victory was snatched away in the blink of an eye when an undead tackled her, thwarting her fatal strike.
The challenge of fighting a necromancer like Aurelia is that the longer the battle wages, the more formidable they become¡ªas more death simply means more soldiers for her undead horde. Typically, this wouldn¡¯t pose too much of an issue since most necromancers are constrained by their limited mana reserves, capping the size of their armies. However, Aurelia was an anomaly. It was well-known that she did not rely on her own mana but tapped directly into the ambient mana itself¡ªa feat that perplexed scholars and generals alike and was unheard of even among the ascended gods.
This battle would not end until Aurelia drew her last breath, especially since for every undead they cut down, two more rose in their place. Gimona growled when she noticed caged prisoners being freed by the undead; a few joined the fight, but most fled into the nearby forest. These were not Slaethian prisoners, but captives taken by the imperial soldiers. The dwarf thought it a shame that their champion, who had helped capture Aurelia, the fairy twat, Galen, was not here. His two replacements would arrive tomorrow, but by then, the battle would be long over, and Aurelia would have surely escaped.
Gimona wanted to scream in frustration, but no matter her anger, she knew it did not compare to Anlyth¡¯s pain. Turning General Ezad into an undead was a terrible blow to the Kingdom of Slaethia and, more so, to the elf who loved him. The dwarf let out a fierce battle cry¡ and blinked as she glanced around for her target.
¡°Oi, any of yez fucks see the vamp?¡± Gimona Grimmail called out as she sidestepped a blow from an undead barbarian wielding a claymore.
Turning around, Gimona spotted Aurelia skillfully dodging blows from a few knights, effortlessly evading their attacks. She winced when she saw the vampire sink her teeth into one of their necks, moaning in glee. Then, something unexpected happened. Tentacles from her enchanted outfit sprang forth, leaving her nude flesh exposed to the ongoing battle as the gooey substance devoured the corpse she had just slain and drained, before pulling itself back over her body, coating her entirely in black.
Gimona charged forward, snatched a random weapon from the ground, and leapt into the air. She came crashing down with a war hammer aimed at the vampire¡¯s head. But just as she was about to connect, an unfamiliar woman¡¯s voice cried out, ¡°Ethereal Mist!¡± To Gimona¡¯s sudden surprise, her weapon passed straight through her target as though she wasn¡¯t even there.
¡°W-What?¡± Gimona gasped.
However, that unseen woman¡¯s voice uttered another spell, ¡°Burst,¡± and in a flash of speed, Aurelia was gone. In an instant, the vampire disappeared in an ethereal puff, leaving the Slaethian and imperial soldiers to contend with the remnants of her horde, formed from their own dead. Worse still, almost all of their caged beastkin prisoners had escaped along with her, including the vampires they had impaled on pikes.
B01C34 - Take it!
Aurelia skidded to a stop within the shelter of the trees, the last remnants of my Burst fizzling out. Behind her, the clash between Sluttia¡ªSlutty, Slaethia!¡ªforces¡ªmy bad, I¡¯ll eventually get it right¡ªand the undead thundered on, a brilliant display of dead soldiers reanimated from their own fallen. Poetic shit, right?
With a pang of reluctance, I oozed and peeled away from the coolness of Aurelia¡¯s pale flesh, which I had coated in utter reverie. My gaze lingered, captivated by her gleaming body as the last remnants of the lunar eclipse faded, revealing the luminescent blue and pink planet of V?lusp¨¢ overhead. Meanwhile, my form reshaped itself, silk threads weaving across my face to craft a white mask of false skin¡ªno, that¡¯s not right.
Remember, Blake! I need to truly believe the silk is my skin; that way, the subconscious casting of it will be easier and more lifelike.
Hmm¡ Embrace the delusion and insanity to become a great sorceress¡ªgot it!
Aurelia stood there smirking at me, as unmoving and expectant as a nude Greek statue. I had no clue what she was waiting for, so I just stared back, lost in my thoughts.
¡°My beloved, as much as I¡¯d love to keep this little game going, we really should get moving,¡± Aurelia cooed.
I nodded absentmindedly.
¡°Um... your hands,¡± she said, her lips twitching as she fought back laughter.
Glancing down, I realized my hands were still cupping her bare breasts. ¡°Oh, right,¡± I mumbled, yanking them away quickly and clasping them behind my back¡ªas if worried they might wander back on their own.
¡°And my robe,¡± she added, the amusement in her tone clear.
¡°Ah, yes,¡± I nodded, pulling open the Stellar Void to retrieve the robe I¡¯d stashed inside.
The hole opened within my chest, resembling a tunnel into the blackest of abysses. I caught Aurelia gazing into it with a mix of surprise and awe, utterly captivated. I reached in and easily retrieved the robe¡ªthere wasn¡¯t much else in there, well, that I could remember, anyway. I won¡¯t lie, I¡¯m pretty forgetful... Oh, and there was that spare phylactery I had no idea what to use for... Speaking of which, I had a nagging feeling Aurelia and I were forgetting something. I glanced at Aurelia¡¯s hand; she was still clutching the other phylactery, so no, nothing was amiss.
Where was she hiding that during the battle?
I shrugged it off as she placed the orb within her dimensional ring¡ªor was it a bracelet? I mean, it was on her wrist, but it had also been a cock ring prior to her wearing it¡
As I handed the robe over, I hesitated, stealing another long glance at Aurelia¡¯s perfect form.
Damn, those things are perky.
Of course, Aurelia caught my gaze¡ªit wasn¡¯t like I was hiding it or anything.
¡°Still thinking with your dick... Hmm, I suppose I can¡¯t use that line anymore, can I?¡± she mused as she slid on her robe while I glanced down at my female form. ¡°Reincarnated as a woman,¡± she softly chuckled. ¡°Though, I¡¯m surprised you still remembered my true name,¡± Aurelia added¡ªno, Aislinn stated.
¡°I witnessed what happened in a dream,¡± I softly whispered. ¡°Us running through a winter forest, a village burning¡ our deaths at the hands of the Romans,¡± I sighed, noting how Aislinn flinched, her hand instinctively clutching her stomach as though mourning a loss. ¡°However, I watched it all as though it were someone else¡¯s experience,¡± I laughed bitterly. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Duskara¡¯s explanation, I don¡¯t think I would have realized I was witnessing one of my own past lives,¡± I concluded, lifting my eyes to meet Aislinn¡¯s. ¡°My entire life, something was missing¡ªa void I couldn¡¯t explain. For the first time I can remember, I feel whole when I¡¯m with you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the same with me,¡± Aislinn smiled, cupping my cheek. Her cool hand sent waves of butterflies through my being. ¡°Who¡¯s Duskara?¡±
¡°Oh, uh, the Crone?¡± I scratched my chin.
¡°The Crone told you her true name? No, that¡¯s not important,¡± Aislinn corrected herself, stepping closer.
I leaned in for a soft kiss that spoke of more passion than I¡¯d ever known, my body quivering under her touch. It wasn¡¯t that I was inexperienced, but until now, my encounters had been driven more by kinky-fueled lust than actual passion. This was different. This was so much more. Could this be love?
¡°We need to leave,¡± her breath tickled my lips as she whispered.
I glanced over her shoulder to see the battle with the undead still raging on and nodded.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Aislinn continued, ¡°Hikari and the other vampires you freed should be nearing the Ockpool Dungeon by now. They¡¯ve likely rounded up any of the beastkin who fled into the woods, though it¡¯s unclear if they¡¯ve taken them in as allies or as food. We really need to hurry back and find out. Now¡¯s not the time to be making new enemies.¡± She flashed a smile, revealing her seductive fangs, and held up her wrist to show a golden bracelet. ¡°Besides, I have the dungeon core.¡±
¡°Take it! Take it, now!¡± an all too familiar and infuriating voice bellowed in my mind. ¡°Take it, and ascension is yours!¡±
I stepped back from Aislinn, clutching my head. It felt like I¡¯d been bitch-slapped and received the world¡¯s worst ice cream headache all at once.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Aislinn¡¯s face filled with panic at my sudden reaction.
¡°Take it!¡±
Argh¡ªfuck off!
¡°Ugh. That blue-assed magic-bitch of a goddess quested me with grabbing that core, and now she¡¯s having a meltdown, demanding I snatch it from you,¡± I groaned, still clutching my head.
¡°A goddess? Which goddess?¡± Aislinn¡¯s tone darkened as if she were ready to unleash unholy hell on anyone who dared harm me.
I was too busy clutching my head to truly notice the threat in her tone, grappling with the lingering aftershocks of the pain that had just seared through me. I straightened up, shaking my head from side to side as if trying to shake the last remnants of pain away.
¡°Hm? Oh, um... The Primordial of Magic, I think? Yeah... that was it,¡± I nodded, finally noticing the enraged expression on Aislinn¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I quickly added. ¡°I already got what I wanted. That bitch can sit on her thumb and spin for all I care,¡± I said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± hoping to lighten Aislinn¡¯s mood.
Geez, a bit protective of me, isn¡¯t she?
Yeah. It¡¯s hot as fuck!
¡°Hmm,¡± was her only response as she took my hand and led me deeper into the forest, away from the battle and toward the dungeon.
I think she¡¯s pissed.
As we made our way through the forest, I noticed a few beastkin who had escaped were now trailing us; apparently, not all who fled had followed... Hikari? I have a pretty shitty memory, but I¡¯m almost certain that was the vampire with the gray feline features. Though, if I had to guess, some had also darted off in the opposite direction, probably back to wherever they came from¡ªthe Yeastveil Kingdom? Ha! Maybe my memory isn¡¯t as terrible as I thought.
That all said, Aislinn¡ªor Aurelia, when speaking in front of others¡ªwas being rather quiet. Yeah, she was still pissed after Magic had given me one hell of a migraine. I can¡¯t say I minded; I¡¯ve never had anyone this protective and enraged on my behalf... like, ever! It was surprisingly sweet.
Especially when I glanced down at our hands. She was grasping mine rather tightly, as if afraid to let go. I didn¡¯t blame her; I felt the same way. Unlike her, I didn¡¯t have a lifetime of memories from when we were together in another life, back when I was some dude named Bowen. Instead, all my memories were from being Blake, a twenty-something goth chick with intimacy issues¡ among others. I knew of those memories of Aislinn and Bowen, even received a glimpse of how they tragically died, but I didn¡¯t share those precious moments of happiness, of love, of being together like she did.
And yet, I still felt so strongly drawn to her, as though my very soul couldn¡¯t bear the thought of being separated from her ever again. It was strange, yet it felt so right. Still, I wished I understood this unspoken, magnetic pull.
We stepped out of the forest and into the aftermath of a battle, facing the dungeon ruins¡ªa stone fortress that appeared as though it had been decimated in a brutal siege. Stone slabs, boulders, and rubble were strewn everywhere among the dead.
¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± I glanced over at my sexy vampire, who was still taller than me. I was going to have to change that, and soon.
¡°We¡¯ll have to refortify the dungeon and use the core¡¯s power to create a gate¡ªwhat are you doing?¡± Aislinn paused, glancing at me.
A sly grin spread across my face as I maintained eye contact, a tentacle slipping out from my dress to gobble up a nearby corpse. As I devoured it, I gradually increased in height until I matched Aislinn¡¯s. I probably could have done this when I first freed her from her cell, but after that battle as her dress, I had lost so much mass I didn¡¯t have anything extra to spare... Still unsure where I store anything extra, but that was going to remain one of the great Blake Pudding mysteries.
¡°Nothing,¡± I sweetly replied, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
¡°Ah-ha,¡± Aislinn gave me a knowing glare that promised playful punishment later. ¡°Please refrain from eating any more of our soldiers.¡±
¡°Soldiers?¡±
Aislinn smiled as the first undead rose from the ground, creaking and groaning. ¡°Yes, my love, soldiers.¡±
¡°I¡¯m surprised the Slaethians didn¡¯t burn the corpses after the battle,¡± I noted.
¡°They typically don¡¯t need to. Instead, they sanctify the area with Holy, preventing any necromancer from raising the dead. Though, that has never stopped me,¡± her smile turned a bit darker.
Gods, I want to take her right now!
I glanced over, noticing the beastkin that had quietly followed us here looking rather nervous as the dead rose. A few appeared ready to sprint off into the forest, but they held their ground, likely not out of confidence but due to a lack of alternatives. No, they were terrified and seemed unsure where else to go.
¡°Aw, my lady,¡± croaked a raspy voice.
Turning my gaze from the beastkin, I noticed the frog man who had been tortured exiting the ruins. His movements were flooded with happiness, reminiscent of a loyal dog, as he rushed over. It was rather pathetic, but I wouldn¡¯t strike down anyone who showed loyalty to my sexy vampire. No, if I had my way, everyone would kneel before her as she sat her perfect ass down on a throne made of my gooey flesh, with my face serving as the cushion. What¡ªjealous?
¡°Vorigan,¡± Aislinn¡ªno, it was Aurelia now¡ªher entire demeanor shifted from passion and desire to one of stern seriousness, as though she was all business. ¡°Has Lady Hikari and the other vampires made it back?¡±
¡°Yes, my lady,¡± the frog nodded in affirmation.
¡°I¡¯ll raise the dead and get them to fortify the area while I use the dungeon core¡¯s power to create a gate out of here,¡± Aurelia informed the frogman.
¡°About that,¡± he paused, seemingly unsure before continuing, ¡°the dungeon denizens were waiting for us. Apparently, they had a deal with your¡¡± the frog glanced at me, uncertain of what title to use. ¡°Mate?¡±
Mate? Not the word I¡¯d use, but I can work with it.
Aurelia seemed not to notice the title as her attention turned toward me. ¡°What agreement?¡± she asked.
¡°Hmm? Oh, uh, they wanted the core. Apparently, everyone wants that thing,¡± I shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s yours as far as I¡¯m concerned.¡±
¡°We can use this,¡± Aurelia mused, tapping her lower lip thoughtfully. ¡°Vorigan, lead me to their leader.¡±
B01C35 - The Matriarch
I trailed behind Aurelia and the toad boy into the ruins of what used to be their fortress... or should I call it a lair? Hideout? Definitely not a coven¡ªthat¡¯s more like a vampire meet-up, kind of like a murder is for crows, I think. Don¡¯t quote me on that. Actually, now that I¡¯m thinking about it, I might be totally wrong with my logic. Anyways! I got a bit sidetracked there. Back to the tale!
I wove through the wreckage of their stronghold, taking in the destruction left from the battle. Trying my hardest not to drool anything Corrosive as I hungrily eyed the array of corpses strewn haphazardly about, each face etched with the agony of a lost battle¡¯s end. They weren¡¯t all vampires¡ªnope, those were most likely the various piles of ashes I kept noticing everywhere.
No. The real eye-catchers were the lifeless, defeated bodies of zombies, ghouls, and other delightful creatures, perhaps even a few elf thralls, all reeking of tantalizing decay. Their yummy intestines and brains were smeared across the stone floors and walls, painting a mouthwatering masterpiece. But it was the reek of perfume that was doing it for me, along with something else mixed in with the decaying stench that I found oh so alluring¡ what was it? It was rather shitty that I couldn¡¯t figure it out. Hmm¡ Oh well.
Oh, and there were also skeleton bones scattered everywhere, but I was utterly disinterested in them. However, as we moved by, quite a few began rattling back to life¡ªor unlife. Even the corpses started to groan behind us. Wherever Aurelia went, the undead began to twitch and rise.
Seriously, how many undead servants did these vampires have?
Aurelia won¡¯t get mad if I snag a few... sausage links as I follow her, will she?
Nah! I¡¯ll just be picking up body parts here and there; it¡¯s not like I¡¯m making a meal out of an entire body... Besides, I don¡¯t think she can turn a corpse into an undead if its skull¡¯s been caved in, or can she?
Shrugging off my own thoughts, I happily munched on an intestine I swiped off the ground, savoring the slow dissolve on my tongue, its juices seeping out. I would have preferred to take a nice bite out of it, but these teeth¡ªwoven from silk¡ªare all for show and not made for walking, or well, chewing. Yet, I was rather proud of my glossy white teeth regardless, especially against my black gums and tongue; they really shone.
Aurelia glanced back, a hint of amusement glittering in the corner of her eye when she noticed my other hand holding a grocery bag woven from silk. A tentacle from my dress deftly dropped a severed leg into the already swollen sack. What? I was hungry.
Also, the last body I ate let me match Aurelia¡¯s height, but I was still lacking a bit in the curves department. That also reminded me; a tentacle extended out from my hair in front of me as a new glowing orange eyeball formed on the tip, letting me see what I looked like at the moment¡ and, I was looking rather alien-esque, again.
Oh well, I rather like the creepy-cute look. I wonder if that¡¯s my default, or if the sexy human one was, you know, the one that looked sort of like that actress, Anya Taylor-Joy. Okay, that was a big stretch, but it somewhat looked like her if you squinted¡ªbeer goggles style. Either way, I was rocking the alien tight-face appearance at the moment, and Aurelia didn¡¯t seem to mind. She must be a lot less vain and shallow than I am.
We kept on down various corridors, the toad¡ªor was it a frog?¡ªleading the way, Aurelia behind him, and me trailing behind her, happily munching as I stared at her swaying ass. Okay, I may not have any memories of being a man in any of my past lives, but I certainly possessed the perverted mindset of one.
Lost in my thoughts, I wasn¡¯t paying attention to where we were going. It was only after blinking a few times and tearing my gaze away from Aurelia¡¯s perfect posterior that I realized we had just entered the dungeon metropolis of Ockpool¡ªthe one that had been all destroyed and shit. My head swiveled in all directions, wondering when we had even entered the dungeon, and where¡ªI mean, I thought the entrance had been caved in, or did we take the exit? Maybe there was a different entrance that didn¡¯t involve me being tossed down a hole while strapped to a succubus¡¯s face?
Mmmm¡ though, that was a pretty delicious way to start an adventure.
Also! I really need to do a better job at paying attention.
Glancing around the city, I saw that it was still a wreck, with toppled buildings everywhere. It really did look like the aftermath of some great war. Hmm, maybe war isn¡¯t quite the right term¡ªit had been a one-sided slaughter. Yet, there was no sweet aroma of death and despair in the air.
They must have buried or burned their dead¡ or did the dungeon absorb them? No, the core was gone, so that can¡¯t be the case, can it?
Huh, I guess the world may never know.
But I hate unsolved mysteries!
Deal with it¡ªthe universe is full of unsolved mysteries.
Like Bigfoot, alien anal probing, and how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
Bigfoot is like the Predator; he can blend into his environment. Aliens have a butt fetish. And the owl solved that great riddle¡ªit¡¯s three, by the way.
Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. Though, I¡¯ve got to give it to the aliens¡ªimagine if they had a foot fetish instead? Reports of people being taken only to have their feet rubbed and tickled would give me the heebie-jeebies.
Right?
¡°Greetings, Lady Aurelia,¡± called out a squeaking voice that instantly got me thinking of Mike Tyson, snapping me from the inner dialogue I was having with myself.
I was grateful I wasn¡¯t crazy enough to have said all that aloud.
A grizzled old werewolf¡ªor was it a warg?¡ªwith a long beard dangled down to the ground went on, ¡°I¡¯ve been informed by your compatriots that you have the core?¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Aurelia glanced over to the vampire woman seated in the courtyard circle¡ªone of the few things that wasn¡¯t utterly destroyed¡ªwhom I recognized by her gray cat ears. She gazed back at Aurelia. I wasn¡¯t sure what unspoken message passed between the two, but it wasn¡¯t friendly, as the feline vampire folded her arms with a huff. She apparently lost whatever silent argument they had, which was good¡ for her. Otherwise, I¡¯d be adding another body to my grocery bag.
Um, wouldn¡¯t a vampire just turn to ash as I ate them?
No. Yes. Maybe? I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m willing to find out.
¡°That is correct, Warchief Hensley of Ockpool Dungeon,¡± Aurelia replied, sounding a bit formal as if she had dealings with him before. I supposed that made sense; the vampires had been living above ground at the dungeon entrance.
¡°Take it,¡± Magic¡¯s voice urged in my mind, causing my eye to twitch as a slight ache crept throughout my head, which was odd¡ªI mean, do I even have a brain? Not that I¡¯m an airhead, mind you. I was a ginger in my last life, not a blonde. ¡°Take it, and ascension is yours!¡±
Like hell, I¡¯m not taking anything away from my Aislinn. Ugh! I wish she¡¯d just shut the fuck up about it.
The more Magic, a Primordial¡ªor was it admin?¡ªinsisted that I take the core, the more I wanted nothing to do with it. Sure, ascension sounded great¡ªeven though I didn¡¯t quite understand what that meant¡ªbut I¡¯m not one to trust others easily, especially not when the creepy blue ghost lady, with her malfunctioning safe mode magical system, was making such a big deal out of it. Though, to be fair, she seemed like the backup to the backup admin. Besides, she was the one who made it hard for me to remember my dreams and, in turn, learn about Aislinn and my past lives. So, no, I was definitely not going to take it.
¡°Like I said, the Slaethians will regroup with the reinforcements coming with two of their gods¡¯ champions tomorrow. We need to escape, and I need to reawaken the dungeon and use the power of the core to arrange that,¡± Aurelia stated, causing me to blink as I realized I hadn¡¯t been paying attention to the ongoing conversation.
Reawaken?
¡°Take it!¡±
Oh, would you just shut the fuck up!
Geez, she¡¯s like a broken record.
¡°Did you not fight Galen, the strongest of their champions, to a standstill?¡± the werewolf asked as he scratched his beard.
¡°I eventually lost,¡± Aurelia replied a bit bitterly. ¡°I can handle most champions on my own, yes. However, I cannot fight two of them and an army at the same time. We need to escape. Your people are welcome to come with us, but I will be using the core¡¯s power to open a gate to the western covens,¡± she added.
Hensley took a long moment, still scratching his beard deep in thought, before glancing my way. ¡°Ah, Blake, it¡¯s good to see you again,¡± he addressed me, clearly stalling for time as he considered Aurelia¡¯s words. ¡°I noticed Redtail isn¡¯t with you. What happened?¡±
I smiled and waved at him. ¡°I ate him,¡± I happily answered.
The werewolf-looking old man paused his beard scratching to stare at me. Although, I couldn¡¯t tell if it was concern or amusement twinkling in his gaze. I ignored the gasps from the gathered onlookers.
¡°May I ask why?¡± Hensley went on, ignoring a few outcries of anger from the crowd.
I shrugged. ¡°He was a dick,¡± I responded, then added, ¡°Besides, he¡¯ll just come back once we put the core back where it came from, right?¡±
¡°I see,¡± was his only response before turning his eyes back to Aurelia. ¡°With the Slaethians and the Ascended Empire aware of this dungeon, it¡¯s clear we can no longer stay here. We will go with you, Lady Aurelia. Though, I do trust you can keep our people safe from your ilk?¡±
¡°I can only promise you that I¡¯ll do all in my power to keep you and yours protected, but to forge a more binding agreement under vampiric law,¡± Aurelia continued, ¡°you must acknowledge me as your matriarch.¡±
Now, I know what you¡¯re thinking¡ªthey should all be bowing down before me in reverence and worship. I mean, I¡¯m totally matriarch material, right? Nah, I don¡¯t want to be in charge of anybody. Seriously, have you ever seen someone in a position of power who¡¯s actually happy? And no, those who half-ass the job and spend all their time golfing don¡¯t count. Nope, I¡¯ll leave all that leadership and managing others to my Aislinn. I¡¯d just eat anyone who doesn¡¯t kneel before her. I¡¯m much more suited for that role, after all.
The warg nodded thoughtfully before the tension in his shoulders dropped. ¡°It seems we have very little choice if we¡¯re to survive another assault from our common enemies. I accept your offer, Lady Aurelia,¡± he concluded.
However, many in the crowd seemed to disagree with his decision, as evidenced by the tsks, gasps, cursing, and glares. But all that abruptly ended the moment Aurelia pulled out the dungeon core from the spatial cock ring around her wrist and held it out before her.
~
Mana surged like a tidal wave through the dungeon¡¯s veins, pulsating with vibrant light as the core reestablished its bond. Though none could say if the core possessed consciousness, its actions spoke of a deep, instinctual drive: to grow, to fortify, and to safeguard its domain. As the core¡¯s energy intensified, the air thrummed with power, the walls themselves shimmering with arcane runes that flared to life.
Around Redtail, the stone beneath him vibrated, the echo of his past demise still haunting his senses. Yet, as he drew a deep, steadying breath, a palpable sense of relief mingled with the cold dungeon air, grounding him in another chance at life. He rose, stepping aside with the practiced ease of the resurrected, making room for the continuous stream of allies reemerging into existence.
A goblin burst into existence beside him, his exuberance echoing through the cavern. ¡°Me back!¡± he exclaimed, leaping into the air. ¡°Wartie alive¡ªoh, hey Gaping, you back?¡± His voice, a symphony of relief and joy, reverberated off the ancient stone walls.
Gaping clutched his head, looking around in confusion. ¡°Took hard pounding, I did,¡± he muttered groggily.
Another cry rang out nearby, its tone desperate and sad, but the monstrous, gelatinous language was indecipherable to those around. ¡°No. No. No! I don¡¯t want to live,¡± it seemed to moan.
¡°Doodles!¡± Wartie shouted back jubilantly, oblivious to the cube¡¯s distress. ¡°We back!¡±
All around Ockpool, a resurrection unfolded like dawn¡¯s light dispelling night¡¯s shadow. Figures materialized one after another, their forms solidifying from mist into flesh and bone, each awakening marked by gasps and murmurs of wonder. The dungeon, a vast network of life and magic, buzzed as its inhabitants reclaimed their places, each pulse of mana knitting the fabric of this underground world tighter.
Above, the stronghold that sat like a crown at the dungeon¡¯s entrance felt the surge of mana. The core extended its influence, tendrils of energy weaving through the structure, fortifying stone and spell alike. It was more than mere survival; it was a declaration, a fortress reborn from the ashes of invasion, ready to stand sentinel against any who dared to challenge it again.
~
Heather gasped as she opened her eyes to a dimly lit chamber, the cold stone pressing against her bare flesh. She glanced around, her nose twitching at the unfamiliar scents. It was pitch black, but her adaptation to this realm as a dark elf allowed her to see clearly in the dark. Her mind was a blur¡ªhad she been dreaming? There had been a kind old lady in a cottage, a banquet of food spread out before her, but now, as she awoke, the details were fuzzy.
¡°Wait, I died,¡± Heather whispered.
¡°Aw, what the fuck is going on?¡± a growling voice cursed out nearby.
Glancing toward the voice, Heather noticed Jason sitting up on a table¡ªno, a stone altar, just like the one she was on. Her eyes roamed the chamber, finding more altars arranged in a circle, with more figures waking up.
¡°I¡¯m alive!¡± a female voice cried out.
Heather snapped her head in that direction to find Sophia, whom she had seen Jason kill and eat the heart of, lying on her back with her arms stretched out in joy. Everyone was naked, prompting Heather to try and cover her chest, though she doubted any of the others could see in the dark like she could. Correction¡ªshe caught Jason leering at her.
¡°Huh, I really thought all of you would have respawned with your clothes on,¡± a newcomer joyfully stated from the doorway into the chamber, her attire all black except for her white silk alien-ish face. Despite her cheerful tone, her voice sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spine¡ªminus Sophia. Her glowing orange eyes were the only source of light within the chamber.
¡°You!¡± Jason cried out.
¡°W-What¡¯s going on?¡± Jeremy stuttered.
¡°Heather, are you there?¡± Yua called out, unable to see in the darkness.
¡°I want to go home,¡± Rob muttered.
¡°Come on, Aurelia wants to see all of you,¡± their killer exclaimed, a disturbing cheerfulness in her voice.
B01C36 - Earlier Chaos
A few moments earlier, because... why not?
Okay, you caught me! I left out a bunch of important shit that I¡¯m now retroactively including. Shut up, don¡¯t judge me! If you don¡¯t like my madness, go tell your own tale while doped up on meds¡ªprescription and otherwise.
I¡¯m just teasing! You know I love you, right? Well, to be fair, I love anyone with yummy intestines. But that¡¯s beside the point. He-he!
Oh yeah! Earlier¡
I was absolutely buzzing with glee as I stood beside my sultry vampiress, soaking in the delightful spectacle of dungeon denizens losing their collective minds. Shouts, screams, curses¡ªyou name it, and a few fists (or fangs) flying through the air just for good measure. I swear, one poor bastard got a vampire fang smacked right out of his mouth. Classic!
Of course, no brave souls dared hassle me or Aurelia. She was the belle of the brawl, having flaunted the core they were all drooling over. And sure, there was a bit of a squabble brewing among them about the old warg¡¯s bold decision to accept my sexy vampire¡¯s offer.
Why Aurelia extended them an invite?
Beats me¡ªmaybe she fancied them as snacks for the road?
Personally, I¡¯d have them as human (or whatever fantasy species) shields for when the Slaethians come back with a vengeance, but hey, I¡¯m not the diplomatic type.
I flashed a grin, breathing out a whimsical, ¡°I really like it here.¡±
Anywho, as you might¡¯ve guessed, not everyone¡ªokay, nearly everyone¡ªwas thrilled at the prospect of ditching their dungeon digs, despite having their butts handed to them previously by an army itching for a rematch. And oh, what a shiner Aurelia gave them, all while decked out in me, styled as her scandalous¡ naughty¡ lingerie¡ thong¡ erm, dress. Oops, my mind¡¯s wandering again¡ª
Keep it together, Blake¡ªfocus!
Eh, how¡¯s a girl supposed to focus with flashbacks of Aurelia¡¯s tight, round ass and those sinfully perky tits bouncing around in my mind?
Yeah¡ No! I need to focus.
Sigh
Okay, I¡¯m back... kinda. That said, I¡¯m definitely planning to shove my tentacles in and out of the bat cave later, ramming and stretching those entrances open wide to the sounds of blissful screaming and moaning¡ª
¡°My love,¡± Aurelia cooed, snapping me out of my... fantasies.
Focus!
¡°Hm?¡± was all I could squeak out, biting my lower lip, my thoughts still lingering elsewhere.
¡°Would you be a dear and retrieve the others from Earth? They should be waking from respawn as soon as I reactivate this dungeon.¡±
That¡¯s right! I almost forgot, users can respawn in dungeons if they¡¯re killed.
My shoulders slumped at the request until a spark of recollection hit me¡ªI think it was something like Shadow Step that I had been itching to Absorb and try out. My mood instantly lifted, and I shot Aurelia a wide smile paired with an enthusiastic little hop.
With far more pep than I knew I possessed, I chirped, ¡°Sure!¡±
I heard Aurelia mention something to the kitty lady about reinforcing the fortress and dungeon entrance, but I wasn¡¯t really listening. Nope! Before I knew it, I had given her a quick peck on the cheek and took off.
I was happily skipping through the dungeon¡ªwhich, I might add, is a massive place filled with all sorts of corridors, chambers, and enormous caverns (one even contained that city I had just been in, albeit a decimated one, but that¡¯s beside the point)¡ªand various random structures; the place is just huge! So, I can¡¯t really tell you how long I was lost in bliss as I made my way back up to the surface when everything suddenly started to rumble.
What followed was a wave of pulsating lights in an assortment of neon rainbow colors, spreading across every surface, resembling veins pumping blood¡ªor rather, mana¡ªthroughout its body as the rumbling dungeon began to reawaken. Simultaneously, a large flashing notification popped up before my eyes.
|
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
SystemAlert!
Dungeon Core Restored.
Dungeon Ockpool monsters¡¯ respawn and rewards are now reactivating.
Notifying Primary Admin.
Error.
Error.
Admin:\Life>Not_Found.
Notifying Secondary Admin.
Admin:\Death>Login_
Notification Sent.
Notifying Auxiliary Admin.
Admin:\Magic>Login_
Notification Sent.
_
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
AdminQuestAlert!
Quest: Retrieve Ockpool Dungeon Core.
Status: Failed.
Admin:\Magic>Login_
Quest Data Overridden.
Loading New Quest Modules...
Configuration Complete.
Initializing New Quest Data.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Quest Update: Seriously? Just Touch The Damn Core!
Reward: Immediate Graduation to Ascension.
_
Admin:\Death>Login_
[System Log] Auxiliary Admin [Magic] was forcefully logged out.
Quest Data Overridden.
Loading New Quest Modules...
Configuration Complete.
Initializing New Quest Data.
Quest Update: Cancelled.
Reward: None.
_
|
¡°Well, that¡¯s not ominous or anything,¡± I scoffed. That being said, I couldn¡¯t help but laugh my ass off when I noticed Magic had just been forcefully kicked out of the system. However, the screen of information didn¡¯t stop there. Oh no, it continued to spew even more horrifying shit that made me puddle in my dress.
|
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
Admin:\Death>Login_Override.
SafeMode_UpdateRequest.
Primary Admin required for system repairs.
Auxiliary Admin Log Request initializing...
Warning: Eldritch System Infiltration Detected.
Unauthorized USER [Blake].
Request: Terminate USER [Blake] with prejudice!
Request Accepted.
Attempting to delete USER [Blake]...
Error.
Error.
Deletion Unsuccessful.
Request: Sever [Blake] System Access.
Request Accepted.
Attempting to sever USER [Blake] from the system...
Error.
Error.
Severance Unsuccessful.
Requesting error code...
Error Code 385.560.980 [Titan_Soul_Detected]
Awaiting Admin Request.
Awaiting Admin Request.
Awaiting Admin Request.
Admin:\Death>Initiate_USER_[Blake]_System_Reboot.
_
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
RebootComplete!
_
Titan Leveling to Ascension 83
Copyright Primordial of Life 0000-Eternity.
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
Race Designation: Black Pudding [EHA]
Error.
Reintializing...
Race Designation: Eldritch Horror [EHA]
Subrace Designation: Black Pudding [EHA]
Hidden Race Designation: Titan [TIT]
System Access Granted [SAG]
Racial Skills Activated [RSA]
Class Designation: Monster [CDM]
Error.
Reintializing...
Class Designation: Sorceress [CDS]
Error.
Reintializing...
Class Designation: Fighter [CDF]
Error.
Reintializing...
Class Designation: Undefined [CDU]
Loading Modules...
Configuration Complete.
Initializing Character Data...
Complete.
Welcome, USER [Blake].
V:\>
|
¡°What the fuck was all that?¡± I blurted out, my knees trembling yet somehow holding me upright. Of course, I hadn¡¯t read the whole thing; it was scrolling before my eyes a bit too fast, like watching an old-school computer boot up, but I caught enough to get the gist.
¡°Did Death just try to fucking murder me?!¡± My laughter, tinged with madness, echoed throughout the dungeon. The idea of meeting my end at Death¡¯s own hand wasn¡¯t just terrifying¡ªit was absurdly hilarious!
With a couple of frantic deep breaths, I furiously shook my arms, flinging off my jitters like fingerprints from a murder weapon¡ªnot that I would know, ha-ha¡ªall while a half-mad chuckle continued bubbling up from my throat. Honestly, the whole scenario was absurd. Though, to be fair, from the moment I finished reading what I could of the system log, to when I metaphorically pissed myself, I was back to merrily skipping around like a kid at a carnival, all within about thirty seconds.
Crazy, right? What¡¯s the point in stewing in your own filth over stuff you can¡¯t change? It took me years of therapy to figure that out¡ªyou¡¯re welcome. I just wish it always worked that way¡ªwhich, of course, it doesn¡¯t, but hey, it¡¯s a pretty good saying, isn¡¯t it? However, once you achieve peak dead-inside status, it¡¯s a lot easier to follow.
Huh, now that I¡¯ve found Aislinn, am I over my goth phase?
No way, it¡¯s just fully integrated with my insanity phase. HahAHaHaHAhaHA!
I spiraled, cartwheeled, and spun my way down the dungeon¡ªcompletely consumed by my insanity, twirling endlessly. Well, I was twirling until I came to a sudden, skipping stop, nearly faceplanting when I heard a massive roar, as if a monster had just awakened from a deep slumber. Glancing around, I spotted an epic, towering dual doors leading into a chamber that had been empty the last time I passed through with that lizard-chicken-dinner guy.
¡°Boss fight!¡± I cheered, punching the air with a fist pump.
With way too much enthusiasm, I made a mad dash, shoving the doors open, and came to a screeching halt when I spotted the boss.
Golden flames danced across the chamber, casting eerie shadows that flickered along the melting stone walls. From the depths, a dragon roared, unleashing a torrent of fire from its gaping maw. The ground hissed and steamed as droplets of molten stone splattered like fiery rain, pooling into glowing puddles.
¡°Nope. No way. Uh-uh,¡± I chuckled, the laugh teetering on the edge of hysteria as my eyes darted wildly across the fiery hell before me. I whipped my head around¡ªalmost theatrically¡ªwith a dramatic flair that would shame a stage actress, and turned my happy curvy ass around, slamming the doors shut with a resounding thud that echoed my frantic giggles.
Ha-ha. Ha. What the hell was that? Has the dungeon become even more dangerous now that the core is back?
I squeezed my eyes shut, the terror of what I had just seen dwarfing any fear a mere system notification from Death could muster. A fucking fire-breathing dragon? That¡¯s a big fat no from me. It¡¯s like being asked to brawl with an angel¡ªno, thank you! Though, I wouldn¡¯t mind plucking one¡¯s wings. Still, Fire and Holy magic? Those are my personal kryptonites. Nope, not happening, not in a million insane years. Who even thinks up these dungeon scenarios? Oh, right, the dungeon core¡ Is it actively trying to kill me? Never mind, don¡¯t answer that.
A deep frown creased my forehead as I glanced down and noticed a long pink tentacle wrapping around my waist.
¡°Not again¡ªerk,¡± I managed to groan just before I was yanked off my feet and into a gaping mouth bristling with teeth that could shame a chainsaw¡ªand pretty sure they were churning like one, too. They glowed like coals in a forge, and boy, did they sizzle against my dark flesh.
Notifications buzzed like angry bees around my head¡ªor was that the sound of its teeth?¡ªtheir flickering text just teasing the edge of my blurred vision. I caught glimpses of the dungeon outside as it chewed, and one last notification flickered before everything went black.
|
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
BattleResult
You Were Defeated By: [Dungeon Mimic Chest]
Opponent Level: 58
Your Current Level: 25
Initiating Respawn...
V:\>
|
I jerked upright with a gasp¡ªor at least, I attempted to. It was quite peculiar trying to sit up as a black puddle of goo, though the gasp still managed to bubble out in an exasperated blurp. Without any conscious thought, I reformed my body, draping silk only over my face. I didn¡¯t pause to check whether I had achieved my creepy-cute look, but I was relieved to find I had retained enough mass to assume my full desired figure. And height? Well, not exactly my full height, but close enough¡ªthe figure was all that mattered at the moment. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I wasn¡¯t exactly short now¡ for a girl.
¡°Motherfucking mimics!¡± I screamed.
My eyes reignited, casting the room in an orange glow, though I didn¡¯t need the light to see in the dark. I glanced around and realized I was on top of a stone altar in a circular chamber, surrounded by other altars spaced evenly along the walls, each with just enough gap to walk behind. I swung my legs over the edge, noticing that I hadn¡¯t formed a dress but appeared to be clad in a black latex outfit that covered my entire body. I shrugged it off.
¡°Ugh. Looks like I¡¯m a little shorter on extra pudding than I thought,¡± I muttered.
With a sprightly hop, I vaulted off the altar, only to drop like a rock and land with a solid thud on the cold stone floor. Rolling my eyes, I surveyed the room, my frustration bubbling up as I noted the conspicuous absence of the others I may have killed¡ªthey¡¯ll get over it. Either way, they hadn¡¯t respawned yet.
Figures.
My mind drifted back to that bizarre dream, the one where I was dining with the Crone and six other hopefuls, all desperate to become her Champion. I had flat-out rejected her offer when it was first presented, which she later handed off to that needle-toothed jackass. What was his name again¡ Justin? Jason? Whatever the hell it was. Names have never been my thing¡ªand never will be.
Regardless, a wicked chuckle escaped me as I remembered his skeleton practically glowing with smug excitement. If only he knew that he was now just a lapdog to her whims. It served him right. If anyone was tailor-made for a life on a leash, it was definitely him, no matter how charming the Goddess of Dreams might appear. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I actually like her¡ªDuskara, was it? She was nice. But let''s be clear, servitude is still servitude.
Though don¡¯t get me wrong, I wouldn¡¯t mind if Aurelia used a leash on me¡ªand vice versa! Yep, total switch. Who would have ever thought?
I hummed a happy little tune, trying to distract myself from the recent encounter with that piece of shit mimic as I stepped out of the chamber. I glanced around, half-expecting those dumb fucks to have respawned before me. No such luck¡ªjust groups of beastkin shuffling into the ruined fortress, looking lost, while vamps played traffic cops, ushering them in. Meanwhile, undead zombies and skeletons bustled about, reinforcing the corridors with whatever junk they could find.
And get this¡ªsome of them were headless! So much for my favorite theory that headshots were the way to take out the undead. I mean, I¡¯d taken out loads of them with a good ol¡¯ tentacle head-whack before that chimera showdown. Makes you wonder, doesn¡¯t it? And speaking of wondering, did I ever use Life Drain on them? Does that even work against the undead? I felt like it was doing something when I fought them last time, but maybe that was just wishful thinking¡ªa total placebo effect, maybe?
Man, here I go, rambling again.
¡°I¡¯m alive!¡± a female voice cried out from the respawn chamber.
And just like that, I¡¯m all caught up on earlier events. Tee-hee!
B01C37 - A Quick Meal
¡°Stop!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t do this!¡±
¡°No. No. NO!¡±
¡°I WANT TO GO HOME!¡±
I reveled in the symphony of screams, my head swaying to their crescendo as I straddled the man beneath me. His head, cradled between my palms, thudded repeatedly against the cold embrace of the stone altar where he had foolishly awakened. Which man, you ask? The one with needle teeth, of course! Amidst the chorus, the screams of the blonde elf and her dark gray counterpart stood out¡ªworthy of a horror classic. However, I couldn¡¯t help but notice Sophia¡ªwas that her name?¡ªgrinning as widely as I, utterly captivated as Jason¡¯s head began to ooze on the altar.
I think I like her¡ªnot enough to spare her, mind you, but enough to respect her twisted psyche.
Wasn¡¯t she the first corpse I found after I devoured the succubus¡ªthe first time?
The one whose heart Jason had eaten?
Yep, that¡¯s her.
As I activated the Corrosive in my palms, Jason¡¯s pleas took on a high-pitched escalation into delicious cries¡ªa serenade as sweet as any symphony, echoing while he teetered on the brink of oblivion. The death throes and frantic kicking only added to the spectacle, his futile struggles providing a macabre dance beneath my cruel, watchful gaze. Of course, his demise wouldn¡¯t be permanent. I knew all too well he¡¯d simply respawn in a few minutes. But hey, that¡¯s just free meat and skills ripe for the taking.
Now, you might wonder, how did it come to this? My response is simple: why wouldn¡¯t it? This is the perfect skill and level farm if I¡¯ve ever seen one. Sure, it was a bit of a dick move to farm camp these six others from Earth, but let¡¯s be honest¡ªI don¡¯t really care what you think of me. However, the system notification that flashed did matter, and it put a dampener on my mood.
|
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
BattleResult
Enemy Defeated: [The Crone¡¯s Champion]
Level: 14
Level Discrepancy Too Great.
No rewards or experience awarded.
Current Level: 25
V:\>
|
¡°What¡¯s this shit?¡± I blinked a few times, rereading the notification, miffed that I didn¡¯t even get an option to use Absorb on his corpse.
I really wanted that Shadow Step skill he had too.
Still upon the altar, I rose and stood over his remains, allowing my dress to fan out as the Corrosive finished off my meal. Glancing down, I met the gazes of five pairs of eyes¡ªfour filled with horror, while Sophia seemed almost pleased with the turn of events.
I pointed at the one with a face like a dog¡¯s. ¡°What level are you?¡± I demanded.
¡°W-What?¡± Jeremy took a few steps back, his voice squeaking. ¡°L-Level thirteen,¡± he managed, eyes wide as I looked poised to pounce if he didn¡¯t answer promptly.
My shoulders slumped in disappointment as I turned to the blonde elf. ¡°Thirteen,¡± Yua declared defiantly, trying to shield the dark elf behind her.
¡°Eleven,¡± Heather squeaked out from behind Yua, her eyes shifting in every direction but mine.
Didn¡¯t she mention her level was fifteen or something when I first found them in the dungeon?
¡°S-Same,¡± the orc gasped, a wave of relief washing over Rob¡¯s face as he realized I wasn¡¯t attacking.
I glanced at Sophia, who beamed up at me. ¡°Still level one, no thanks to that asshole,¡± she said, nodding toward the dissolving hand protruding from beneath my dress.
Grumbling to myself, I plucked up the hand¡ªthe only remnant of Jason¡ªand plopped down on the edge of the altar. Devouring him had added some mass, which was somewhat satisfying, but the absence of skill or level gains left me underwhelmed. Levels seemed rather pointless, merely unlocking skill points and the occasional racial skill. Maybe if they came with stat increases... But no, I¡¯m still convinced that this whole leveling system is akin to those rip-off season passes that game companies love dishing out for goodies rather than truly enhancing one¡¯s power. Not that new skills didn¡¯t increase my power, but the whole leveling process felt lackluster. I might be wrong, but that¡¯s the impression I¡¯ve gathered.
I contemplated this dilemma as I nibbled on a finger from the severed hand. Not that I could really chew with my fake silk teeth, but the motion was soothing while I was deep in thought.
¡°Um¡ Didn¡¯t you say something about Aurelia wanting to see us?¡± Jeremy¡ªthe wolf boy¡ªdared to utter.
¡°Hmm?¡± I glanced up, pulling the finger from my mouth as I pointed Jason¡¯s hand at him. ¡°Oh¡ªright! I almost forgot,¡± I happily nodded. ¡°We can make our way down there as soon¡ª¡±
My words were cut off as another altar filled with pale light, and a body began to form upon it. Jason sat up, clutching his head, releasing a scream filled with terror before pausing to look around at all of us staring at him.
¡°Oh, stop being so dramatic,¡± I scoffed, tossing him his former severed hand. He caught it, fumbled, and then dropped it.
¡°I¡¯m the Champion! I won,¡± Jason cried. ¡°I deserve to be treated with respect,¡± he continued, freezing to glare at me as I burst into uncontrollable laughter.
¡°Respect? HAhaHAhAHAha! Oh, pLeAse, you¡¯re kiLLing me! STOP!¡± I choked out, my laughter morphing into a bizarre mix of highs and lows as black tears streamed down my silk face.
Jason folded his arms, grunting and mumbling a string of insults under his breath, wise enough to keep them inaudible. I wiped away the black tears of my pudding that had leaked down my face, still fighting to suppress a few lingering snickers. As my gaze swept over the six of them, an important detail suddenly struck me.
¡°Um¡ Why are all of you naked?¡±
Rob glanced down and, in a sudden panic, cupped himself as if he, too, had forgotten his state amidst all the commotion. I had to admit, the orc was hung. Two of the girls were using one of the altars they had respawned behind as a shield¡ªthough it seemed more like Blondie was being overly protective of the dark elf, bordering on clingy. Jeremy, well, it was hard to tell much with all the fur covering him¡ªwas he really a he? Meanwhile, Jason sat cursing to himself on his altar, oblivious to everyone else. And then there was Sophia, standing boldly unashamed, her hands on her hips and her head held high.
¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have something for us to wear?¡± Sophia asked, unafraid of speaking to me. ¡°It¡¯s rather cold in here,¡± she added.
It didn¡¯t feel cold to me, but a quick glance at her, with two nubs that could cut glass, was enough to take her word for it. I sighed. Although I wasn¡¯t feeling particularly generous or kind, I supposed I could help them out a little.
Mumbling to myself, I quickly wove some silk blankets intended to be worn like togas. Instead, they wrapped them around themselves like towels. Whatever. That said, weaving silk had been getting easier, and I probably could have made actual clothes by now¡ªnot that I did, but I¡¯m pretty sure I could.
With that minor distraction handled, I stepped out of the respawn chamber with my little ducklings in tow. However, I soon faced a problem. ¡°Um... Does anyone know the way back to the dungeon city below?¡± I asked, realizing I was a bit turned around.
That, and I¡¯d prefer to avoid aimlessly wandering around an active dungeon teeming with mimics.
¡°Aw, there you are,¡± came a different voice. I turned to see a cat-eared vampire approaching. ¡°Come this way; the shortcut to Ockpool¡¯s denizens is just ahead,¡± Hikari cheerfully stated. ¡°It¡¯s straight down those stairs. I¡¯ll stay up here reinforcing our defenses while Aurelia prepares the core to channel a gate out of here.¡±
¡°Shortcut?¡± I blinked, a sudden realization hitting me¡ªI hadn¡¯t needed to wander through the dungeon or be surprised by a mimic.
Everyone took a step back as I screamed in frustration.
Roaming down the long stairwell, we finally entered Ockpool¡¯s little dungeon city, and to my amazement, it was halfway to being rebuilt. I scratched the back of my head in confusion; the only explanation that made any sense was the core¡¯s influence. I shrugged it off and filed it under the I don¡¯t give a shit category.
I glanced back and, to my surprise, found that Jason was gone.
~
Jason watched his prey from the shadows with a twisted grin, relishing the long-awaited moment. The unsuspecting fool wandered the halls alone, a perfect target. But Jason didn¡¯t mind the wait¡ªhe savored every moment, planning to skin the frog who had summoned him into this twisted reality and feast on his heart.
As Jason crept through the darkness, Vorigan appeared almost stationary, lost in his own thoughts. Biding his time, Jason waited for the perfect moment to strike. Suddenly, he burst from the shadows, his sword¡ªhastily picked up from the ground¡ªpoised for attack. The frog dodged just in time, narrowly escaping the blade by a hair¡¯s breadth as he launched into a frantic dash.
The thrill of the chase fueled Jason¡¯s bloodlust as he eagerly pursued his quarry, determined not to let him escape again.
Vorigan bolted through the ruins, his pulse racing not from fear but twisted glee. He avoided anyone who might offer aid, reveling in the thrill of being hunted. Gradually, he slowed, irresistibly drawn to the prospect of being caught. He imagined the exquisite pain and pleasure that awaited him at his pursuer¡¯s hands.
Catching up, Jason was surprised by Vorigan¡¯s speed but finally cornered him. Before Vorigan could flee, Jason lunged, his sword slicing through air and flesh. The crunch of bone shattered the corridor¡¯s silence as Vorigan¡¯s scream echoed, his leg severed below the knee. He collapsed, blood pooling around him.
Immense pleasure surged through Vorigan as Jason manhandled him, tossing him onto his stomach with untamed fury. Vorigan moaned in ecstasy, reveling in the relentless assault. He marveled at his fortune in being captured by the sadistic candidate he had handpicked from beyond the veil. Despite the harsh pleasures inflicted upon him, Vorigan felt a perverse sense of gratitude. He had gone to great lengths to secure a Dark Fae body, perfectly suiting Jason¡¯s cruel and sadistic disposition.
Oh, how Vorigan loved the feeling of those razor-sharp teeth piercing him so deeply. Jason tore chunks of flesh free from Vorigan¡¯s back with each bite, exposing his ribcage from behind. Vorigan screamed in delight as the one, which he had picked out for his cruel and sadistic soul, repeatedly bashed at his spine. The sound of bones cracking filled the hall as Jason yanked several ribs out and dug his fist deep in search of Vorigan¡¯s heart.
Jason was quite literally and metaphorically stealing Vorigan¡¯s heart, and Vorigan, amidst his twisted ecstasy, willingly let him.
With another tough jerk, Vorigan was flipped over. Like something out of a dark and twisted scene, the vampiric frog lay on his back, utterly entranced by the figure looming above him. It was as if Jason was a god of lust and pain, bringing pleasure and suffering to his helpless victim.
He held Vorigan¡¯s still-beating heart in one hand, a sight that would have spelled instant death for any ordinary vampire. But Vorigan¡¯s amphibian lineage meant he could survive for months without a heartbeat, a trait often used for hibernation. However, seeing Jason hold his heart only added to his twisted pleasure. He gleefully gazed as Jason sank his teeth into his heart with reckless abandon. The quivering in his groin only added to the moment¡¯s ecstasy, a twisted dance of pain and pleasure that Vorigan knew he would never forget.
Jason¡¯s transformation into a Champion had fundamentally changed him; he was no longer just a Dark Fae but had become a harbinger of death and nightmares. Beneath him lay the vile frog who had facilitated this dark ascension, his heart tasting like a perfect mango, its juices dripping from Jason¡¯s chin. Jason¡¯s only regret was that the frog¡¯s suffering had ended too soon... As he glanced down, he noticed the mutilated frog reaching into his robes¡ªand...
¡°WHAT THE FUCK?! Are you jerking yourself off?!¡± Jason yelled.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
¡°Oh gods, don¡¯t stop! Keep going, Daddy.¡± Vorigan moaned as he continued to enjoy himself.
¡°You sick fuck!¡±
Jason kicked the frog¡¯s hand aside, revealing more of the amphibian¡¯s anatomy than he cared to see. He reached down and grasped the frog by his sensitive area, giving a sharp tug that separated the creature from what would have been any man¡¯s prized procession. To Jason¡¯s surprise, the frog¡¯s screams hadn¡¯t been of agony but rather pleasure.
It was then that Jason was hit in the face with a thick, creamy fluid, getting the worst of it in his eyes. The burning sensation in his eyes was unbearable. The salty taste that leaked into his mouth made him gag as he stumbled backward, blinded and disorientated.
¡°Oh, gods. Yes, Daddy! OH, GODS¡ªYES!¡± Vorigan screamed, ¡°That was amazing!¡±
As several footsteps echoed down the corridor, Vorigan couldn¡¯t help but sigh in disappointment. Apparently, his screams of delight had not gone unheard. With a deep sigh, Vorigan¡¯s leg, heart, flesh, ribs, and cock began to regenerate, leaving no trace of the damage inflicted by Jason¡¯s sadistic pleasures. As the crowd drew near, Vorigan got up, already feeling the sensation of euphoria fading. Glancing at the dark fae, he was disappointed to see his poor Jason stumbling about, trying to wipe the frog¡¯s pleasure from his eyes.
¡°Let me help you with that,¡± Vorigan said with a blissful chuckle, leaning in to lick the viscous substance from Jason¡¯s face and eyes with his still-stiff tongue.
~
I froze when I spotted an unusual man frantically roaming around.
¡°Lulu!¡± he cried out.
I completely ditched the other five followers as I approached the man. At first glance, he seemed ordinary, but as my orange eyes focused on him, the rabbit-like features distinguishing him became undeniable. Soft fur covered his body, and his farmer¡¯s bibs lent an endearing quality. His appearance coaxed a soft laugh from me, but as he approached with a smile, a different kind of hunger surged within me, one that was impossible to ignore.
The notion of sinking into his flesh, tasting his blood, and experiencing his body dissolve around me consumed my thoughts. It was almost overwhelming. My acidic saliva pooled in my mouth as he drew closer, his rabbit-like attributes intensifying my desire. I yearned to feel his form entwined with mine, to devour him whole and relish the sensations that enveloped me.
As he stood before me, the primal urges raged within, threatening to consume me entirely. The rabbit-man¡¯s smile only fueled my intrigue, and I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had any inkling of the deep desires that stirred within my very soul.
¡°I beg your pardon,¡± he said with a concerned expression, his friendly smile never faltering. ¡°I¡¯m searching for my little Lulu.¡±
I wrestled with the insatiable hunger that surged within me, threatening to overwhelm my self-control, the temptation to consume him whole almost too much to bear. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I haven¡¯t encountered anyone by that name,¡± I managed to respond, my voice quivering as I struggled to rein in my monstrous instincts. ¡°But I¡¯d be more than willing to assist you in your search,¡± I added, forcing a feeble smile, all the while devising a plan to entice him away from curious eyes and ears.
¡°Oh, how kind of you,¡± he replied with a beaming smile, oblivious to the cruel, lustful hunger that smoldered in my gaze. ¡°I would forever be in your debt. I¡¯m Elijah of the Willowy Vale, and it¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡±
¡°Blake,¡± I replied, my eyes raking over his body with a perverse hunger. His scent filled my being, and my primal instincts urged me to feast upon his flesh, to taste the sweet nectar of his blood as I played in his innards.
Aurelia had mentioned something about not devouring the dead bodies scattered throughout the ruins, hadn¡¯t she? Either way, I was aware they were reserved for her to reanimate to bolster the defenses. However, she hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about the beastkin refugees¡ªan oversight on her part. So, with my insatiable hunger growing by the moment and Jason having been little more than a stringy snack, I found myself looking for a more substantial meal. And it just so happened that rabbit was indeed on the menu.
At this moment, my hunger was all that mattered. The overwhelming urge to consume and devour until I was satiated¡ªan impossible feat, as the hunger always lingered, especially after that fucking mimic had eaten me. Elijah was merely a brief reprieve, a fleeting moment of satisfaction in an endless cycle of craving and desire. I allowed myself to savor the thought of his flesh melting in my mouth, his bones dissolving against my skin, all the while knowing he would soon be just another casualty of my relentless hunger.
Am I evil?
Yes!
¡°Are you a fighter or mage of any kind?¡± I asked, my voice cold and calculating.
¡°Oh, gods no,¡± he replied, his voice laden with sadness. ¡°I¡¯m just a simple farmer trying to navigate this cruel realm. It¡¯s been incredibly tough since I lost my love to the Slaethians and the Empire. Now, it¡¯s just me and my little Lulu. Children are so rare here; she¡¯s truly a gift¡ªthe only piece of my love I have left.¡±
He launched into a rambling tirade about his personal tragedies. His tale of the Kingdom of Slaethia seizing his lands and murdering his wife elicited a surge of perverse pleasure within me. His misfortune stirred a twisted delight in my heart, marking him as the perfect prey for my dark desires. His vulnerability, born from profound loss, made him all the more enticing to exploit.
¡°I see,¡± I replied, my voice dripping with feigned sympathy. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry to hear about your loss.¡±
I should have been an actress in my last life.
In truth, I harbored no remorse for his suffering. My mind was consumed by dark fantasies of claiming him, savoring his flesh slowly. The prospect of his pain and terror only intensified my cravings, and I yearned to make him entirely mine, with every fiber of my being.
As we strolled down the corridor, Elijah prattled on about his Lulu, blissfully unaware of the dark and twisted hunger roiling within me like a hurricane in a teacup. I know I sound like a broken record, but that¡¯s just how my thoughts echoed relentlessly in my head: eat him, eat him, eat him.
My eyes darted around, searching for the perfect alcove to indulge my darkest desires. Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the silence¡ªharsh and grating like nails on a chalkboard. It sounded as though a woman was being torn apart, her flesh ripped and devoured by some unseen force. I could almost taste the metallic tang of blood in the air, like the scent of a rare delicacy, beckoning me.
Elijah quivered in fear, his scent wafting toward me like an irresistible fragrance¡ªakin to freshly baked bread or a succulent roast, impossible to resist. My hunger surged with every passing moment, a blazing fire threatening to consume me entirely. Primitive instincts urged me to delve my Corrosive fingers deep into him, to taste his entrails as I slithered within his body until my cravings were sated. The darkness within me grew like an invasive weed, strangling all other emotions. In that instant, I was wholly consumed by my voracious yearning.
Yielding to a potent impulse, I forcefully propelled the rabbit into one of the chambers we traversed and slammed the door shut behind us, sealing us in seclusion. His fear was thick in the air, as he stammered out the question that hung on his lips. ¡°W-What are you doing?¡±
A grin spread across my face, savoring the terror that radiated off him like heat from a flame. ¡°What do you think I am, rabbit?¡± I taunted, fully aware that my true nature was far more monstrous than he could ever imagine.
¡°R-Rabbit?!¡± he exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear and indignation. ¡°Now you insult me. I don¡¯t know what you are, but you appear humyn, or even elf-like to me.¡±
I laughed cruelly at his ignorance, my amusement swelling as I revealed a glimpse of my true form. ¡°No, no, you poor rabbit,¡± I sneered. ¡°I¡¯m a black pudding, or, hmm... call me Blake Pudding.¡±
Before he could finish his sentence, the embroidery on my dress sprang to life, its tendrils wriggling with eager anticipation. Poor Elijah¡¯s voice was swallowed by a frightened yelp as my legs and the lower hem of my dress transformed into a myriad of tentacles. In a desperate bid to escape, he scrambled backward, but it was futile.
Swiftly, I closed in on him, driven by an overwhelming hunger that allowed no room for mercy, effectively trapping him with no possibility of escape. The fragrance of his fear hung heavy in the air, a seductive perfume that irresistibly drew me closer. I inhaled deeply, relishing the anticipation of his impending doom.
My tentacles coiled tightly around his limbs as he struggled against their unyielding grip. To my satisfaction, he was far weaker than I had anticipated. Drawing close to his face, I traced my black tongue down his forehead, leaving an acidic burn mark seared into his skin. His cries echoed within the chamber, the thick stone walls muffling the sound to the outside world.
This feast was mine alone to savor, a meal I intended to relish slowly.
I played with his lips, reveling in the sensation of their flesh dissolving beneath my Corrosive tongue. His agonized screams only fueled my insatiable hunger, driving me to the brink of devouring him completely. Yet, I resisted the urge, opting instead to prolong his suffering, toying with my prey as a predator delights in the struggle of its catch.
His futile efforts and desperate resistance were no match for the strength of my tentacles, which rendered him utterly helpless and completely at the mercy of my dark desires. Could I have paralyzed him? Yes! But why would I do that when the struggle was half the fun?
I absorbed his pain, terror, and agonizing screams, relishing every moment of his torment as I indulged in consuming his flesh. Amidst the twisted pleasure, a sinister sadness flickered within me, an unsettling awareness of the cruelty of my actions, as his eyes clenched shut in terror.
Why would he avert his gaze from something so exquisite?
I was reveling in absolute delight, while another fragment of myself attempted to avert my gaze¡ªthough still peeking with morbid curiosity. I was determined not to let him look away. I was not someone to be denied pleasure, so I dissolved his eyelids with a sickening sizzle, forcing him to witness every horrific, yet oddly captivating, detail of my consumption.
As I indulged in my darkest and most sadistic desires, my hunger only intensified, compelling me to embrace the twisted path I had chosen¡ªa realization I strangely felt no guilt savoring.
Regrettably, the rabbit man expired while I was still consuming him. It happened just as I had finished devouring his genitals¡ªmy appetite had led me from his limbs to that particular region. And still, my hunger remained unsated.
After my grisly meal, I headed back towards the dungeon core, a heavy sigh escaping me. Along the way, my attention was captured by the sight of Vorigan leading Jason by the hand, both moving in the same direction. The self-proclaimed champion was rubbing his reddened eyes, his expression one of distress¡ªor perhaps... No, it was a look I recognized all too well from my college days. Nothing like driving to a gas station half-blind for eyedrops after a gangbang. Those had indeed been some wild times.
As I continued, my heightened senses picked up an unmistakable scent of sex and blood in the air.
¡°Oh, my gods!¡± I gasped.
¡°Are they a couple?¡± I pondered aloud.
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°Jason doesn¡¯t seem the type.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t wait to tell the others,¡± I said, waving my hands excitedly, trying my best not to shout.
¡°Since when was I the gossip type?¡± I tried to hush myself.
¡°Since always,¡± I blurted out.
¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± I replied in horror. ¡°I¡¯m the antisocial type!¡± I continued, still talking to myself like a madwoman.
~
A little girl¡¯s voice quivered with fear as she approached Heather, her bunny ears twitching anxiously. ¡°Have you seen my papa?¡± she asked, her eyes brimming with worry.
Heather responded with a soothing melody, her gentle smile serving as a beacon of hope. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± she said softly, ¡°but we can certainly look for him.¡± Taking the child¡¯s hand, she guided her through the streets of the dungeon city.
The alleys were congested with clusters of refugees, mingling with dungeon dwellers who had recently respawned after being dead for some time, and a scattering of random vampires¡ªan eclectic group brought together by circumstance. Haunted eyes and hollow cheeks bore witness to unspeakable horrors; torn clothing hung on frail frames, signs of better days long gone.
As she glanced down at the little girl¡¯s hand clutching hers¡ªpale skin standing out against her own grayish purple¡ªHeather felt a surge of determination. She had once led a quiet life, resigned to solitude and feline companionship. But destiny had other plans, thrusting her into a brutal competition for a title she never sought. Beneath her gentle exterior, Heather harbored a quiet yearning for retribution against the detestable Jason. It was Blake, however, who ultimately sealed their fates with a single, fateful blow. Amid the grimness, Heather couldn¡¯t help but admire the woman who had taken her life¡ªnot that she could ever admit it, especially when she trembled before those glowing orange eyes.
The little bunny girl¡¯s voice broke through her thoughts. ¡°Do you think my papa is okay?¡±
Heather met the girl¡¯s gaze, seeing her own reflection in those tear-filled eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she reassured her gently, ¡°we¡¯ll find out. What¡¯s your name?¡±
The girl sniffed softly before responding, ¡°Lulu of the Willowy Vale.¡±
¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Lulu. I¡¯m¡ª¡±
But Lulu interrupted with an exclamation of awe. ¡°Are you an angel?¡±
A gentle smile touched Heather¡¯s lips as she saw relief wash over Lulu¡¯s face. ¡°No, I just help where I can,¡± she replied warmly.
Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the air, the sound of a woman being violently torn apart echoing through the corridors. It was enough to instill terror, filling the chambers with a palpable sense of dread.
~
Five minutes later, I found myself entering the chamber containing the dungeon core, with Aurelia standing before it. It didn¡¯t look like she had started working on the gate or teleport wormhole thingy. Yeah, you can tell I don¡¯t really know much about magic, but hey, I¡¯m learning. She hadn¡¯t noticed me yet, so instead of interrupting, I hung back, blissfully watching her.
I spotted those I had ditched¡ªminus Jason¡ªearlier, each now standing beside the old warg, equipped with new gear and clothes.
Aurelia lifted her hand to the cock ring around her wrist¡ªand yes, I¡¯ll keep calling that dimensional storage a cock ring because I¡¯ll never forget where she yanked it off while wearing my flesh as a glove. In any case, a black orb manifested out of the storage, and I could tell she was contemplating something as she glanced over at a nearby zombie she had reanimated.
Necromancers are just the coolest.
~
Olin¡¯s consciousness slowly reconnected to General Ezad¡¯s body, a link that had been severed when his mistress stashed his phylactery in the dimensional storage she had found upon... well, he tried not to remember exactly where. Remaining motionless, Olin silently listened to a conversation unfolding nearby.
¡°Paladin Anlyth, me condolences on yer mate,¡± a sturdy dwarven male voice offered. ¡°How long had ye and the general been together?¡±
¡°Thank you, Champion Einarr,¡± Anlyth replied. ¡°About five hundred years, off and on, but we had taken things more seriously these last two,¡± she added, her voice tight more with anger than grief. ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected yours and Champion Orlaith¡¯s arrival for a few more hours.¡±
¡°The winds were in our favor,¡± Orlaith interjected sharply. ¡°That all said, Einarr and I will be taking over. You and your two comrades will return to your kingdom to answer for this disaster.¡±
¡°Speaking o¡¯ which,¡± Einarr interjected, ¡°where¡¯s the wizard?¡±
¡°Ah, Craycroft¡¯s more fond o¡¯ teleportin¡¯ back to his tower than bunkin¡¯ down in camp overnight,¡± Gimona responded.
¡°Ah, well, then, I¡¯m sure his punishment will be more severe than either of yours,¡± Orlaith quipped. ¡°In any case, we¡¯ll be taking the armada we brought to this dungeon your kingdom discovered.¡±
¡°Aye, speaking o¡¯ that, what¡¯s this talk about a dungeon core? Yer kingdom wasn¡¯t planning on holdin¡¯ out on the empire, were ye?¡± Einarr questioned.
¡°Of course not,¡± Anlyth answered, her voice edged with irritation.
¡°Hmm¡ we¡¯ll see about that,¡± Orlaith responded skeptically. ¡°Nevertheless, we have an airship ready to send you and your dwarf companion back while Einarr and I clean up this mess you¡¯ve made.¡±
Olin decided to risk it and cracked an eye open for a better look at the two champions. He found himself in a tent among the wounded, and it was clear they all believed him dead¡ªthough, to be fair, he was currently inhabiting the body of their dead general. The irony of what that monster his mistress adored had done almost made him laugh, but now wasn¡¯t the time. No, he needed a clear view of the champions.
One was a humyn, Orlaith, the dragon essence of her god unmistakable, as if fire itself danced upon her skin. She boasted dark, flawless skin, and her eyes pulsed with the fierce essence of her fire magic, illuminating the area with a subtle glow. Her attire consisted of a dress made from shiny red scales that glimmered with each subtle movement. The other, a dwarf named Einarr, wore a helmet that showcased his full, fiery red beard, complemented by grand wings jutting from the crown. Slung on his back was a war hammer, larger than he was, with its handle towering over his head.
Orlaith tsked, catching Olin¡¯s attention, and seemingly, she noticed him too. ¡°A lich,¡± she spat, and before Olin could react, an inferno erupted before his eyes, plunging everything into darkness.
~
I watched as Aurelia reconsidered her plan and returned the phylactery to her dimensional cock ring.
¡°What¡¯cha doing?¡± I asked, startling the gorgeous vampire as she turned to see me watching her.
A kind smile, revealing her fangs, brightened her face. ¡°I¡¯m just waiting for the core to fully power up before I start weaving the spell to open a gate out of here.¡±
¡°How long will that take?¡± I asked, creeping up to her and wrapping my arms around her waist.
For a moment, it was just me and Aislinn. She stroked my cheek with her hand, her gaze locking with my orange eyes. ¡°It should be safe enough to start now,¡± she murmured.
I nodded happily, but my smile quickly turned into a deep frown as the ground shook violently, as if a bomb had detonated above us.
¡°It seems we¡¯re out of time,¡± Aurelia sighed, pulling away from me to approach the core.
B01C38 - Descent into War
Aurelia¡¯s hands moved as if weaving an unseen web in the air¡ªwell, perhaps not entirely unseen. With Mana Focus, I could see the mana swirling around her, all Marvel-sparkling-fingers-like, though glowing red¡ªor should I say, scarlet? I think the color correlates with one¡¯s innate mana. No way to confirm that. I wish I could ask the Primordial of Magic herself, but that bitch seems to have a strange fetish for me touching her core. Heh-heh.
Not sure what¡¯s up with that, but it was a relief when Death kicked her out of the system, resulting in no more annoying voices in my head... well, aside from my own odd banter. But talking to yourself isn¡¯t a sign of insanity... right?
Nah. Perfectly normal.
Is it?
In any case, watching Aurelia¡¯s ritual was honestly rather fascinating¡ªespecially as a pinhole in space cracked open before us. But, of course, the gate¡ªor portal¡ªwasn¡¯t what I expected. I was anticipating an actual hole to jump through, but instead, it was a freaking sphere. I so wanted to poke it with a stick, but didn¡¯t. See? I have self-restraint, after all! Anywho... I¡¯m sure there¡¯s some scientific or magical mumbo-jumbo explaining it, but hell if I know. Couldn¡¯t exactly ask Aurelia while she was busy doing her sorcery thing¡ªespecially with the ceiling making ominous rumbling noises above us.
It was clear it would take some time before the magical orifice¡ªnot that all orifices aren¡¯t magical¡ªwas large enough for someone to slip through, let alone get everyone through. Nope, right now, it was only big enough to count as a glory hole, but it was a grower. I¡¯m sure it could soon fit a fist or foot before eventually accommodating a whole person. But would that be enough?
I mean, have you ever tried to herd a bunch of panicked idiots out of a stadium? It¡¯s like watching drunk fans navigate a maze¡ªit takes forever, and that¡¯s with multiple exits. Looks like someone¡ªme, obviously¡ªis going to have to stall the enemies a bit longer. Not that the undead, beastkin, and vampires weren¡¯t already doing that, but come on, it¡¯s me we¡¯re talking about. Nothing like fucking an enemy up with some chaotic Blake. Tee-hee!
Dust sprinkled down from overhead as another ground-shattering explosion rocked the place.
Huh. Time to get my ass up there and show them what a real nightmare looks like.
Yep. And eat a few people?
Well, yeah.
With a gleeful hop and a scuffle, I spun around and skipped out of the dungeon core¡¯s temple. What had once been a ruined chamber surrounded by rubble was now rebuilding itself at an amazing speed¡ªmagical shit, am I right? Honestly, I wondered why we were trying to ditch this place; it seemed smarter to stay and defend it. I mean, where else am I gonna find an XP and skill farm this good? It¡¯s not like the system rewards me outside of a dungeon... or does it? Well, not that I know about. But the moment anyone mentions that the enemy has champions¡ªplural¡ªeveryone turns into a bunch of scaredy-cats.
Pussies!
Taking the staircase the little kitty vamp had shown me was way easier than my previous attempt to reach the surface¡ªand far less hazardous in terms of death. You know, like losing all my pudding after respawning. I mean, I¡¯d lost all the plumpness from eating that undead chimera¡ªwhich was downright infuriating. Now that I think about it, let¡¯s never bring that up again unless you want to see me go on an angry tirade. That applies to mimics¡ªhate those fucking bastards! They¡¯re like evil jack-in-the-boxes with teeth. Anyway, back on topic: I was back on the surface level, and...
I don¡¯t remember there being a skylight.
~
¡°FIRE!¡±
The command sliced through the roaring wind. Rows of gnomes and elves stood rigid along the decks, eyes locked on the fortress looming below. Arcane symbols carved and scarred into their hands flared to life, casting an eerie glow across strained faces. In unison, they unleashed a torrent of fireballs that arced downward like falling stars, painting the sky with streaks of crimson and gold.
Each of the seven airships shuddered violently as the spells discharged, timber frames groaning under the strain. A surge of scorching air blasted upward, whipping cloaks and sending soldiers below deck stumbling as the heat washed over them.
¡°FIRE!¡± bellowed the voice again, more intense than the last.
The vessels rocked anew as another volley erupted. The casters¡¯ breaths came in ragged gasps; sweat traced lines through the soot on their cheeks. Hands trembled from the continuous channeling of magic, fingertips tingling with overuse as blood leaked from the scared runes. Some swayed where they stood as their mana depleted, visions blurring after the relentless barrage. Eleven siege spells had drained their energies, and whispers of exhaustion spread among the ranks.
Yet, atop the command ship Skyborne, Orlaith stood unwavering. The wind whipped at her scale dress, each metallic shard reflecting the raging inferno below. Her steely gaze, ablaze with draconic magic, remained fixed on the chaos beneath¡ªthe fortress consumed by flames, shadows writhing amidst the destruction. Black smoke billowed into the sky, swirling toward the armada like grasping fingers pleading for mercy.
¡°Oi, can¡¯t believe we had ta come all the way back here fer this,¡± Einarr groaned. ¡°We finally make it ta the Beastkin capital and have ta come back fer this shite! I was so lookin¡¯ forward ta spendin¡¯ some time with that kitty queen, too.¡±
Orlaith glanced at Einarr. ¡°We¡¯ll return to the Beastkin and finish what we started as soon as we¡¯re done here,¡± she said.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Einarr tugged at his beard in frustration before sighing. ¡°Well, at least I can get me some o¡¯ that vampire the Slaethians are terrified of,¡± he scoffed.
Raising her chin, Orlaith¡¯s voice sliced through the cries below like a blade. ¡°FIRE!¡±
Gasps rang out from several of the casters as they swayed on their feet, but they obeyed. Another volley blasted down like a meteor shower. The relentless casting had pushed over half of the mages to their breaking point. Many collapsed unconscious as the last remnants of their mana drained away with the siege spell. The rest fell to their knees, huffing and puffing for air, desperate to grasp at the mana that saturated it.
Einarr chuckled, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s time we be droppin¡¯ down,¡± he said. The air was thick with the scent of smoke. ¡°Are ye ready?¡±
A wicked grin spread across her face.
Below the decks of the airships, side hatches swung open, revealing the raging battlefield beneath. Runes ignited along the arches that framed the hatches, their glow pulsing like a heartbeat.
A barbarian, clad only in a tattered loincloth and a full-face helmet adorned with a wild horse mane, let loose the first battle cry¡ªa primal roar that sliced through the howling wind. Muscles upon muscles coiled like springs, he raised his dual axes, their blades gleaming wickedly, and charged through the open hatch.
As he hurtled past the blazing runes, they flared even brighter, igniting a ghostly blue wisp that spiraled around his body. In an instant, the wisp expanded, morphing into a translucent, ethereal gelatinous cube that enveloped him completely. Encased yet unrestrained and unharmed by any acid, he plummeted headfirst from the sky.
The cube quivered violently as he descended, distorting under the sheer force of the wind. Reality around him blurred into chaos¡ªa whirl of rising smoke and flashes of fire below were the only recognizable sights. Spells and arrows whistled past him, each one detonating in explosions of color as those below began their counterattack. The world spun wildly as the ground rushed up with terrifying speed.
With a thunderous impact, the cube slammed into dirt and stone debris, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Instead of bursting apart and splattering across the battlefield, it absorbed the shock, its surface wobbling like water disturbed by a thrown stone. Inside, the barbarian twisted upright with slow, fluid grace, his eyes alight with ferocious intent. His gaze pierced through the chaos, zeroing in on his targets as if drawing them into his wrath.
The moment his feet touched solid ground, the blue shell of the cube vaporized into a burst of shimmering mist. He threw back his head, unleashing a savage roar that echoed across the battlefield¡ªa sound of raw power and unyielding defiance. Simultaneously, a beastkin warrior charged at him, spear aimed for his neck. With effortless precision, the raging barbarian knocked the weapon aside with one axe and, in the same fluid motion, drove his other axe deep into the neck of his opponent with lethal precision.
All around him, more cubes hurtled from the sky, each delivering barbarians, knights, paladins, and mages encased in ghostly blue. One after another, they crashed down onto the battlefield, the cubes dissolving into wisps as their occupants burst forth. They joined the fray with ferocious energy, their war cries merging into a single, thunderous chorus that shook the very air.
Cries from the enemies occupying the rubble of what once was a fortress rang out, ¡°Fall back to the dungeon! Fall back!¡±
The barbarian cracked a smile beneath his helmet as he charged like a juggernaut into the ruins, his axes slicing through the air with wild abandon. As he raised his weapon to strike a frog-looking beastkin, who seemed almost to smile as if welcoming the end, a sudden wave of Fear washed over him, causing his axe to falter.
A speck of something floated before the barbarian, catching his attention as the frog-like beastkin slumped and wandered off, a deep frown upon his face. Glancing around in confusion, he noticed more specks, one after another, swirling through the air like pollen. Spores slowly filled the air around him in a haze, spreading out over the ruined fortress and blanketing everything within.
He blinked, his body feeling unnaturally heavy, his arms drooping as if weighed down by lead. Meanwhile, the feeling of Fear intensified, crawling under his skin like a living thing. He took a step back, shaking his head, desperately trying to clear the fog that was clouding his mind and sapping his strength.
Footsteps to his right snagged his attention, pulling his gaze away from the haze of Spores. He turned his head and spotted a woman cloaked entirely in black, with only her face visible. Yet, her features were unlike any elven or humyn he had ever encountered; her facial contours were unusually sharp, her eyes unnaturally large and glowing bright orange¡ªa telltale sign of someone possessing intense levels of mana. This was not merely a marker of a powerful mage, but a warning of a potential archmagus, exceedingly dangerous and formidable.
She moved with a sinuous grace through the ruins, her movements fluid and unnerving. A bone-chilling grin spread across her face, her black gums stark against her white teeth, giving her a sinister appearance. The most peculiar aspect, however, was her hair, which seemed to twist and writhe as if sentient. It reacted not just to the Spores that danced around her but seemed attuned to her darker inclinations.
¡°Sorry, no time to stay and play,¡± she cooed.
The barbarian shuddered but managed to snap out of the Fear consuming him. However, he couldn¡¯t shake off the overwhelming weakness that filled his body. With a defiant cry, he lunged at her with both axes poised to remove her head. In response, her arm morphed into a long tentacle that whipped out faster than he could react, striking him squarely in the chest and sending him tumbling into the remains of an outer wall.
He wanted to scream in pain as he felt his flesh sizzling and corroding away where she had struck him, all while venom pulsed through his veins. Yet, he couldn¡¯t; his body was seized as if encased in invisible bonds of Paralysis. To make matters worse, the strike had instilled in him a sheer terror that dwarfed the initial Fear¡ªa profound dread that gripped his very soul, paralyzing his mind as thoroughly as his body.
As he lay immobilized, he watched a knight charge forward, her claymore raised high. With a warrior¡¯s cry, she thrust her weapon at the woman in black, piercing her straight through the heart. He wanted to cry out in joy despite the ailments ravaging his body, but his joy turned to horror as the mysterious woman laughed, unharmed. A dark miasma wafted off her body, enveloping the knight. She screamed as a following wave of green flames, tipped with purple, washed over everything next, engulfing them in agonizing fire.
Sheer pain and terror overwhelmed the barbarian as darkness closed in around him¡ªthen suddenly, it ended. He found himself standing at the edge of a forest, snow gently falling around him.
¡°Welcome,¡± an ethereal woman¡¯s voice greeted.
He tore his gaze from the beckoning forest to face a woman draped in a tattered black gown. Her head and face were shrouded in darkness, yet it was her gaunt silhouette and bony hands that caught him off guard.
¡°Am¡ªAm I dead?¡± he managed to ask, his words trembling with confusion and remorse.
¡°Yes. If you wish for reincarnation, the line forms over there,¡± she continued, lifting a skeletal finger to point at a seemingly endless queue of souls. ¡°Sadly, it¡¯s been backed up for some time. However, rest assured, it has slowly started moving again. I believe out of the thousands of moons of V?lusp¨¢, we¡¯re up to seventy reincarnations this year.¡± Her tone was matter-of-fact, almost apathetic. ¡°Or, if you prefer, you can explore your past lives within the forest before you. But be warned¡ªnot all that dwells there are dreams; there are nightmares too,¡± she concluded, her form dissolving into the ether as swiftly as she had appeared.
Blinking in disbelief, the barbarian glanced from the daunting line, where billions upon billions waited, back to the forest. He then took a nervous step forward, drawn irresistibly toward the unknown depths of the trees.
B01C39 - Stalling for Time
Orlaith leaned against the airship¡¯s railing, gazing at the decimated ruins below. ¡°How do you think the earlier expeditions to this moon missed this dungeon?¡± she mused aloud. ¡°Nyxoria has been one of V?lusp¨¢¡¯s moons for what, three thousand years? Four thousand?¡±
¡°Not sure,¡± Einarr replied, scratching his beard thoughtfully. ¡°The empire¡¯s usually right thorough with nabbin¡¯ all the cores of new moons after a convergence.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll see to it that Anlyth is held responsible for this oversight as well,¡± Orlaith said, shaking her head in disgust. ¡°Can¡¯t stand that bitch, and that man she was with¡ªGeneral Ezad¡ªhe was no better. I still can¡¯t believe they tried to hide a dungeon core from the empire, then lied to our faces about it.¡±
¡°It would¡¯ve been right daft if they¡¯d gotten away with it. The Ascended would¡¯ve sent us to obliterate their little kingdom once they found out¡ªno hidin¡¯ a core, typically, ¡®cept this one,¡± Einarr chuckled, then his laughter abruptly stopped as he cocked his head, alert to the odd sound.
The wooden railing creaked and splintered beneath Orlaith¡¯s nails as she watched bursts of green flames sweep over the clashing forces below. More frustratingly, these flames were allowing their enemies to retreat further into the dungeon.
In a fit of rage, Orlaith leaped from the side of the airship, plummeting downward. Her magic enveloped her in a streak of fire, forming like a protective star to cushion her landing. She struck the terrain with one knee bent, her front leg extended, and her arms swept back in a dramatic arc¡ªreminiscent of a martial artist poised to strike. Holding her ready stance, her flaming eyes swiftly scanned the surroundings as soldiers continued to rain down around her, each encased in a blue bubble of ethereal gelatinous cubes. Just as she began to rise, a loud crash erupted beside her, sending a shower of rocks and dust billowing into the air.
With a click of her tongue, Orlaith gave the dwarf an annoyed glare. ¡°Must you do that? Couldn¡¯t you manipulate gravity to land like a feather instead?¡±
¡°Aye,¡± was Einarr¡¯s simple reply, his voice laced with mirth as he flashed her a mischievous, shit-eating grin.
The dwarf casually strolled out of his crater, his massive hammer slung over his shoulder, looking up at the much taller woman with a twinkle in his eye. However, his gaze didn¡¯t quite reach Orlaith¡¯s face, as he was momentarily distracted by her impressive bosom¡ªa stark contrast to the more modest endowments of dwarven women, which, in his opinion, often resembled those of a plumper male dwarf. Yet, the absence of facial hair did nothing to diminish her beauty; in fact, Einarr had developed a preference for smooth-faced women¡ªa secret he guarded closely. He knew full well the shame it would bring among his kin. Still, he doubted any of them would dare voice such a thing to a champion, not without risking being turned to paste beneath his hammer.
¡°Whatever you¡¯re daydreaming about while staring at my chest, knock it off. We need to focus on these vampires and whoever¡¯s fending off our soldiers with... what is that?¡± Orlaith peered at the green flames. ¡°Necrotic flame?¡± she scoffed. ¡°Our primary goal is now to retrieve the dungeon core, above all else. I don¡¯t care about the Slaethian Kingdom or this pathetic moon.¡±
Einarr let out an awkward cough and reluctantly dragged his gaze away from his fellow champion¡¯s lustrous bust.
¡°Aye,¡± he nodded, quickly shifting his attention back to the matter at hand.
~
I was slaughtering these soldiers effortlessly, laughing maniacally all the while. Sure, I wasn¡¯t as badass as Aurelia out in the open, facing an entire army. But here, within the cover of this destroyed fortress, ambushing everyone I found, I was having way too much fun. Though my ambushes might have gone smoother if I hadn¡¯t been laughing so much. But in my defense, the laughter was drawing in more idiots to slaughter.
A whooshing sound came from behind; I ducked just in time, feeling the breeze of a sword swishing overhead. As I twisted around, I faced a snarling woman clad in a metal bikini, her skirt more akin to long drapes¡ªor mudflaps¡ªthat cascaded down to her ankles. Despite the outfit¡¯s inherent allure, her fierce, rabid-dog expression stripped away any hint of sexiness.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Channeling my inner wannabe kung fu master, I struck a funky pose, using both arms to thrust her away, creating some unnecessary distance. It wasn¡¯t needed, but I was having too much fun to pass up, savoring the moment. She stumbled backward, my passive skills already ravaging her body. She fell to the ground, her eyes wide with panic, paralyzed by my touch.
Oh, how I love the terror.
In slow motion, I raised a hand to my face, clutching my chin as though it were the mask it truly was¡ªyes, I know I should consider the silk as my actual flesh to make casting it subconsciously easier, but it doesn¡¯t always work¡ªand pulled my face away, revealing a dark, gooey skull with white teeth and glowing orange eyes beneath. Had she not been paralyzed by my touch, I¡¯m sure she would have screamed.
I reattached my face as I sashayed over to her crumpled form, a black miasma leaking from beneath my dress like a cruel, bewitching fog. It enveloped her, coating her flesh in blisters that oozed pus and blood as it sinisterly ascended her body. My attention shifted when a blast of golden light and crimson flames erupted down one of the corridors in my direct line of sight.
A vampire, aflame, ran screaming through it. Worse still, I could feel the heat radiating toward me as I stood over the fallen figure¡ªa wannabe Slave Leia in her skimpy outfit. I¡¯d call it armor, but let¡¯s be real.
Um... me no likey fire.
Yep. I¡¯ve distracted the enemy long enough for everyone to escape to the dungeon city below, right?
If not, fuck them, I¡¯m out of here!
With that final thought blazing through my mind, I shot off into the shadows of the ruins, sprinting toward the depths of Ockpool Dungeon¡ªcompletely forgetting about the bikini-clad belladonna I was about to slaughter. Taking on a fire caster? Ha, not my thing! But I knew a sexy vampire who could snuff ¡¯em out... unless, of course, she was still tied up messing with that wormhole spell of hers.
Hm... I could always have that lame-dick, needle-toothed prick Jason handle them, right?
I mean, why not? He¡¯s a champion.
Turns out, I wasn¡¯t the only one making a mad dash into the depths of the dungeon¡ªeveryone who had been fighting was now squeezing down the narrow stairwell into the dungeon city. I could¡¯ve moved faster if I¡¯d lashed out at everyone blocking my way, but they were... allies. Ugh, hate that word. He-he. I could¡¯ve also cut through the main portion of the dungeon to get to the city, but it seemed the dungeon had ramped up the difficulty after being restored. Can¡¯t really blame it¡ªit probably doesn¡¯t want someone pulling that stunt again.
Wait... are dungeons sentient?
Entering the city, I groaned as I noticed a line forming outside the temple they had for the core. My shoulders slumped for a long moment, but then I saw it was at least moving, which meant Aurelia had successfully cast the spell. Not wasting any time, I took off into the temple, ignoring the yelling and bitching about cutting lines as I desperately searched for Aurelia.
Relief washed over me as I found her near the portal, her focus still on maintaining it. Her eyes were closed, and beads of sweat rolled down her brow as vampires, beastkin, and dungeon denizens streamed through.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I was tempted to say fuck it and just shove her sexy ass through the portal, dooming everyone else here. But I was pretty sure Aurelia¡ªno, Aislinn¡ªwouldn¡¯t be very happy with me. Unlike everyone else in existence¡ªyou included¡ªI actually cared what she thought of me.
A loud explosion echoed throughout the cavern, shaking the temple we were in. Screams erupted from the potential meals¡ªum, I mean, the crowd of escapees... or are they refugees? Whatever they were now¡ªas panic set in. Everyone started pushing and shoving their way toward the portal. A few were knocked over and trampled, but I didn¡¯t pay them any mind as I sighed, realizing I needed to stall for more time for Aislinn¡¯s sake.
¡°Please, no fire,¡± I groaned softly.
Ugh, caring for others is hard.
Stepping outside the temple, I was just in time to witness another explosion. The staircase that led into Ockpool erupted in a massive blast, turning stone into molten rock that splattered across the city. As the opening expanded, soldiers poured into the city, fanning out with two figures at the center¡ªa woman and a dwarf¡ªcasually walking as if everyone and everything was beneath them.
¡°Archers!¡± came a bellowing, squeaky voice beside me.
Glancing to my side, I noticed the old warg, his hand held high while his other gripped his staff. Looking behind me, I saw that the top of the temple was lined with archers and casters. He dropped his arm, issuing the command, and a barrage of arrows and spells flew through the air towards the invading army.
¡°This is going to be fun,¡± Jason declared as he stepped out from a shadow, cracking his neck. His eyes met mine, a deep frown crossed his face, and then he stepped back into the shadow, disappearing.
He¡¯s not scared of me, is he?
I might have smiled as I glanced back at the army, taking cover behind buildings. Explosions of all kinds¡ªice, fire, lightning, among others I didn¡¯t recognize¡ªrained down around them. Arrows, seemingly enchanted with similar effects, joined the bombardment.
¡°We don¡¯t need to win,¡± the old warg murmured beside me, ¡°we just need to stall them a bit longer.¡±
I happily nodded, gleefully watching the destruction unfold. I was smiling until the woman in the red-scaled dress lifted her arm, and then all I knew was pain.
B01C40 - Sacrifice
Flames blanketed everything!
Jason stumbled through the few remaining shadows, struggling to block out the screams echoing around him. Within the shadows¡ªthe eerie black-and-white plane of existence his Shadow Step skill provided¡ªmost things appeared blurred, as if viewed through a fog whirling like a tornado. He could still make out recognizable shapes, and people stood out in the darkness like beacons of white light. But now, things were not going as he had thought as he sprinted through his shadowy realm.
The flames were consuming the Shadow Plane, flakes of ash swirling as the darkness collapsed behind him. Desperation streaked across Jason¡¯s dark fae, cruel facial features as he frantically searched for a safe shadow to leap out of to safety.
¡°Shit! Shit! Shit!¡± Jason cried out. ¡°What was I thinking going after that fire bitch!¡±
Up ahead was the entrance back into the temple where everyone was trying to escape through the portal no bigger than a narrow doorway. It sort of reminded Jason of the narrow doorway that used to be on the tiny RV he used to live in before awakening within this sadistic paradise¡ªhe honestly loved it here... It was almost perfect, if not for losing his life multiple times to that fucking gooey bitch!
Jason tripped and stumbled as he leapt out of a shadow, rolling and sliding across the stone ground. Picking himself up off the ground, he wanted to groan as he took in the chamber¡ªthe goody-two-shoes Heather, Yua, Jeremy, and Rob were trying to help usher people through the portal. He glanced around, noticing Sophia standing not far from Aurelia... he wondered if he could rip her heart out once more before fleeing, but decided against it.
The screams outside the chamber made him rather nervous as the flames glowed all the way into the dungeon core¡¯s chamber. Pulling his gaze away from the narrow escape everyone was frantically trying to get through and back to the chamber¡¯s doorway, suddenly a green light burst out, washing away the crimson and gold glow.
~
Pain shot through my right shoulder as flames licked it in a slow burn. That flaming bitch had cast a wave of fire that hit our last line of defense, and now beastkin, vampires, and dungeon denizens burned, screamed, and died all around me. I would have been sent back for respawn too if not for the little bubble that flickered in and out. Warchief Hensley held out his staff, the old warg grunting and panting for air as he struggled to maintain his spell. But it was clear it wouldn¡¯t last much longer against a champion¡ªthat was what she was, wasn¡¯t she?
Much to my surprise, my old snack, Chicken-Lizard-Dinner, was standing beside the warg, holding both arms outstretched, pouring all his mana into Hensley¡¯s barrier. It was the only thing keeping the flames from flooding into the chamber where everyone was escaping through the portal.
Is his name really Hensley, or is that my unique trait, Polyglot, translating his name into something I¡¯m more familiar with?
Really, that¡¯s what I¡¯m thinking about right now?
Well, yeah. I wonder if I¡¯ll run into an elf named Bob?
Fucking hell, Blake¡ªfocus!
Gritting my teeth, I buried the pain as I stood, my shoulder still smoldering in crimson and gold flames.
I didn¡¯t care about all the death around me; in fact, I was emotionally dead to it. My biggest gripe was the annoyance that I couldn¡¯t eat the corpses. Also, did I mention my shoulder hurt? That was a big portion of my thoughts at the moment. However, Aurelia¡ªmy Aislinn¡ªwas behind me inside this temple near the dungeon core, and these assholes were trying to get in there. I couldn¡¯t allow that. I wouldn¡¯t.
My mind went blank, all the random, incoherent chatter I had with myself quieting as I held out my left arm toward my enemy, my smoldering arm behind me. There was no call on the system, no thoughts or commands¡ªjust pure subconscious instinct and desire¡ªas Necrotic Flame blasted out in a blaze of green with shimmers of purple, the wave blowing apart Hensley¡¯s barrier and colliding into the crimson and gold flames.
Where the two opposing spells clashed, liquid plasma of mana formed, splashing out in all directions as my green inferno of death magic pushed back the scarlet and yellow fire. Everyone who survived the earlier onslaught on my side took that moment to flee into the temple. The old warg gave me one last glance before he too joined the others. I¡¯ll admit, I was a bit saddened when the lizard, Redtail, joined him¡ªI could have done with one last snack.
In the end, it was just me and the woman in red. Though she had an army behind her, they were an afterthought in the current clash of magic.
The green flames danced wildly around me, warping and manipulating the mana in the air. I marveled as my spell twisted the very essence of magic, flames flickering with shades of emerald and violet¡ªnothing like when I used the system. But there was no time to ponder this sight. I needed to focus, to keep it going. If I lost my grip now, I¡¯d be sent back to respawn¡ªor worse, they¡¯d seize the dungeon core before I could return, and I¡¯d stay dead.
Time blurred as I continued casting my green flames¡ªfive minutes, maybe more¡ªmy mind utterly blank, consumed by the swirling mana forming my spell. The air hummed with energy, and sweat trickled down my brow¡ªor was that black goo? Then, a heavy thud crashed beside me, shaking the stone ground beneath my feet. Raising an eyebrow, I glanced over to see a dwarf landing with a smirk. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he cracked a toothy grin.
¡°Aye, aren¡¯t ye a stubborn wench,¡± he chuckled, his words thick and hard to decipher, which was surprising¡ªPolyglot had usually done an amazing job until now.
Are dwarf accents just so thick that even the system has a hard time understanding them?
Before I could react, his hammer swung toward me, connecting squarely with my chest. The impact wasn¡¯t just a jolt; it felt like gravity itself twisted and coiled around me. A shockwave exploded into and through me, warping the air with its force. Then, in a sudden burst, I was hurled backward, reality blurring as I tumbled through the air like a news reporter doing cartwheels in a hurricane during a live broadcast... while also coming face-to-face with a stop sign that got loose in the category five-million gale winds.
Seriously, why do all news reporters do live broadcasts in the middle of a natural disaster, all while telling everyone not to go outside? It¡¯s like they have a few brain cells loose or something. Oh, right! I¡¯m getting sidetracked¡ªnot my fault this time! It just sort of happens when you get the living shit knocked out of you!
In any case, my spell got cut off as I went blasting into the temple, past the portal and the last few people desperately trying to squeeze through the circular hole, past Aurelia, then the dungeon core, and splattering into the wall. I oozed down the wall, my body having completely liquefied.
As I pooled myself together on the ground, the dwarf who¡¯d hit me, along with that dark-skinned woman in a red-scaled dress who¡¯d been casting the fire, entered, flanked by as many soldiers as could fit through the doorway. A few of the casters that came with them were little, tiny, gnome-looking fucks. They were so cute with their little wizard hats and robes; I could eat them all up¡ªliterally!
The dwarf shot me a curious gaze as I reformed my body, weaving silk over my face as I glared at him.
This is bad! Aurelia can¡¯t stop casting the portal, can she?
I was considering running my mouth to stall them, or maybe even better, challenge them to a dance-off¡ªI mean, it worked in a movie, why not here? However, those thoughts were abruptly interrupted as three marble figures materialized before the core!
One statue depicted a woman, her form both fierce and graceful. She brandished a massive golden circular shield bedazzled with shimmering rubies. In her other hand, she grasped a splendid golden spear, akin to those wielded by archangels.
Another statue was a lean, muscular male who gripped a golden claymore, its blade adorned with intricate engravings and ornate details.
The third statue was a juggernaut of a man with muscles upon muscles and an impressive beard. He held a menacing double-ended battleaxe, its presence magnified by mesmerizing carvings.
Each weapon seemed to tell its own intricate tale as they shimmered in the marbled statues¡¯ grasps. I went slack-jawed as I instantly recognized them from the dungeon stadium¡ªthe guardians of the dungeon core. If I had to guess, the core didn¡¯t want a repeat of being taken and was now protecting itself.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
So glad I¡¯m not fighting those statues.
There was no warning or even threats hurled. The ground instantly started shaking beneath me as each statue charged at the startled enemies. I didn¡¯t bother paying attention to the fight as I too started running, only I made my mad dash to Aurelia. I passed the others from Earth as they joined the last few individuals clambering through the portal, until it was just me and my love.
¡°We need to go,¡± I urged, nervously bouncing on my heels.
Aurelia looked at me, and for a moment, I was back in the snow filled forest, Aislinn gazing at me, knowing the end was coming.
¡°You... you¡¯re not coming?¡± I whispered.
¡°As soon as I move, my spell will end, and the portal will collapse on itself,¡± Aurelia smiled sadly. ¡°I can¡¯t go with you, my beloved.¡±
No! No! No!
I glanced over at the statues fighting. The dwarf had already turned the claymore wielder into rubble, and the axe wielder was missing an arm, while the shield-wielding spear fighter was being pushed back by flames, liquid gold dripping from her molten shield.
Time seemed to freeze as I locked eyes with Aurelia¡ªmy Aislinn. I may not remember all my past lives or the life I had with her, but I knew that what we had was more real than anything I¡¯d ever known. It was so integral to my soul that I refused to watch her die. Not again. Never again!
A voice whispered in the back of my mind, ¡°Touch the core, and ascend.¡± It played on repeat, teasing me. Only, it wasn¡¯t a memory¡ªthat bitch was whispering into my head again. ¡°Touch the core, and I¡¯ll save her!¡±
I didn¡¯t know what Magic wanted from me, but I knew there was some catch to it, some evil tragedy waiting to happen. But what other options did I have? I refused to leave Aislinn behind. I nodded to myself, to the woman whispering her manipulations into the back of my mind.
Smiling at Aislinn, I took a step backward toward the core. With a glance over at the statues, only the female one remained, but the dwarf was already charging at her. I pulled my gaze back to Aislinn, who silently pleaded for me to go without her.
¡°I love you,¡± I whispered, giving her one last smile before turning and thrusting my hand out, my palm slapping onto the circular dungeon core.
Time froze as my heart thudded in my ears¡ªor well, metaphorically, you know, being quite literally a heartless bitch and all. It took all my strength to turn around, drawing my gaze back to Aislinn through what felt like molasses in the air. Yet, try as I might, I couldn¡¯t wrench my hand from the core.
Horror washed over me as I realized Aislinn wasn¡¯t moving, frozen in place as time itself had paused. The sight chilled me right to the core¡ªand I¡¯m not talking about the one I¡¯m touching, more like the figurative, soul-deep kind¡ªbut what truly terrified me was standing right beside her.
There stood a nude woman with proportions so perfect they seemed unnatural, as if Barbie had sprung to life. Her skin was an ethereal blue, glowing and swirling with vaporous puffs of pink that faded in and out. Her hair, a stark contrast of swirling pink streaked with blue, framed her face¡ªa face that bore eyes glowing a piercing, unnatural pink.
She was exactly as I had seen her in the Realm of Dreams, yet here she was, fleshed out in horrifying detail, with even the enemies frozen around us, oblivious to her presence.
¡°Magic,¡± I whispered, barely a breath escaping.
¡°Aw, took you long enough,¡± she sighed. Her voice was lilting, almost playful, yet the cruelty of her smile didn¡¯t match the ethereal beauty of her face as she stepped nonchalantly past the frozen Aislinn toward me.
¡°You said you¡¯d save her,¡± I growled, my voice low and threatening despite knowing I couldn¡¯t do shit to her.
Magic paused, her expression pensive as she tapped her chin, then shrugged dismissively. ¡°Why not.¡± She waved her hand casually, and Aislinn¡¯s still, time-frozen form was unceremoniously tossed through the portal. My tension dissipated as quickly as it had mounted, but the predatory smile never left Magic¡¯s face as she sauntered closer, each step measured and fluid, until she stood just inches away.
¡°So, ascension, huh? What does that mean for me?¡± I asked, my voice steadier now, though laced with suspicion.
I¡¯m so dead.
¡°Aw, about that,¡± she frowned slightly, her tone turning apologetic yet remaining chillingly detached. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not in your destiny. What I have planned for you is far more... grand.¡± Her eyes gleamed as she pointed at me for emphasis. ¡°You see, my dear, you are one of her Titans. I¡¯ve been searching for my sister for ages. Finding several of her children here was... exciting.¡±
¡°You, my little one, are part of that lineage. That¡¯s why I manipulated events, including that vampire you¡¯re so fond of. I prevented her from placing your soul into a body of her choosing. Instead, I ensured you received one of my own creations¡ªan Eldritch Horror fragment. A failed creation, but one perfectly suited to harness your soul for what comes next,¡± she smiled, a chilling display of teeth.
¡°What comes next?¡± I managed.
¡°Earth isn¡¯t your home. It¡¯s your prison. And it¡¯s dying. Or more accurately, my sister is dying, and she¡¯s the lifeline for you Titans stranded on that manaless rock. She might last a couple hundred years more, at best. If Titans¡ªor humanity, as you now call yourselves¡ªare to survive, I need to bring Tartarus back here. I need to save my sister.¡±
Her expression brightened, a sinister sort of glee lighting up her features. ¡°Oh, finding you was a delight. It meant I¡¯d found my sister. But imagine my frustration when I couldn¡¯t simply pull Tartarus to this realm due to its lack of mana. Worse yet, I can¡¯t just flood it with my own mana to initiate a convergence. No, I needed a mana source from there, from my sister¡ªoverflowing with potential¡ªand use it to detonate across the realm, to start the convergence and bring Tartarus¡ªbring Earth¡ªhere. To bring my sister home to me.¡±
¡°I thought you said Earth was manaless,¡± I voiced, my confusion mounting.
¡°Your soul is made from mana in my sister¡¯s image,¡± she replied, her smile fading into a grim line.
My eyes widened at the implication of her words. ¡°You¡¯re going to destroy my soul?¡± I whispered, anger lacing my voice.
This fucking bitch!
Magic nodded solemnly before her hand lashed out, her palm landing sharply against my chest. I felt one of my skills activate on its own, a skill I hadn¡¯t chosen but one Magic had given me through the system. A hole opened in my chest as Stellar Void activated, my hand holding the dungeon core moving against my will. I struggled with all my might to drop the core, but my body wasn¡¯t mine to control anymore¡ªI was merely a puppet at Magic¡¯s whim.
As the core disappeared into Stellar Void, Magic¡¯s voice reached me for the last time, this time not with cruelty or a smile, but with what seemed like genuine sadness. ¡°Know that with your sacrifice, you are saving your entire species. Goodbye, Blake, my Hopeless Crusader.¡±
¡°You really are a cunt, you know that?¡± I spat, glaring at her before giving her the biggest, most unnatural shit-eating grin of defiance I had.
It came instantly. As I died, there was no system notification this time around, no grand farewell¡ªjust an eerie silence as my body and soul detonated into nothingness.
~
Einarr drove his hammer into the final marble guardian protecting the dungeon core, a ritual he had performed many times across various dungeons on countless moons. This had become routine whenever a new world was assimilated into the Moons of V?lusp¨¢ following a convergence: raid the newly formed dungeons and seize their cores for the Ascended Gods.
Neither Einarr nor Orlaith knew the ultimate fate of these cores. Heck, the dwarf wasn¡¯t even sure if Galen, the mightiest of the Ascended¡¯s champions, knew what the gods used them for. It was just common knowledge that dungeons emerged on worlds at the onset of a convergence, presumably to infuse those worlds with magic¡ªa theory among many.
As the last guardian fell under his hammer¡¯s weight, Einarr grunted with satisfaction. Turning to confront the vampire he had been eager to get his hands on, he paused, perplexed. The vampire had vanished. The portal had disappeared. Even the dungeon core was missing.
In their place stood the odd woman he¡¯d reduced to black goo earlier¡ªnow somehow reformed. A glaring, bright orange hole was visible in her chest. Her orange eyes were wide in a silent scream as orange lightning burst from the void, striking and crumbling the temple around them. The lightning extended, hitting the dungeon walls, causing even them to collapse.
Einarr¡¯s eyes widened in sheer horror. He spun around, sprinting toward Orlaith, but the woman with the hole in her chest detonated before he could reach her.
Hours later, Einarr awoke with a mountain¡¯s worth of rock upon him. Pushing away debris, he struggled to his feet, pain shooting through his body. The dungeon ceiling had been obliterated, revealing a sky mockingly serene and brilliantly blue and pink as V?lusp¨¢ shined down, contrasting starkly with the chaos below. His armor, bolstered by his skills, had shielded him from the worst of the blast, yet he was not unscathed.
His gaze dropped to his gruesomely twisted arm, where molten mithril had fused with his flesh and bone. Doubt gnawed at him: could any healer restore it, or was amputation inevitable?
As he surveyed the devastation, marveling at the vast expanse of sky where the dungeon ceiling once was, he noted the absence of the airships that had accompanied him¡ªa dire sign.
A faint cough drew Einarr¡¯s attention to a pile of rubble. Mustering all his strength and utilizing his skills, he unearthed Orlaith. He hadn¡¯t reached her in time to prevent serious injury; half her face appeared melted away, and her left arm was missing. It was evident that only her magical barriers had kept her alive, though they hadn¡¯t sufficed to prevent severe mutilation.
Einarr¡¯s expression contorted with sorrow as he retrieved a healing potion from his bag of holding.
With a heavy heart, he administered the elixir to Orlaith. While the potion would save her life, it would also condemn her to a future marred by scars and deformity. He doubted any healer could undo the damage caused by a magic detonation of that scale, the mana infusing into her injuries. It would take an amazingly powerful healer to overcome the mana damage, and taking the potion only helped solidify that grim reality.
Resigned, Einarr downed a potion himself, the thought of bearing permanent scars gnawing at his pride. It was a better fate than those met by everyone else who had ventured into the depths of the dungeon with them, for only Einarr and Orlaith remained. Above, not even the airships had survived.
~
From over a hundred kilometers away, Anlyth staggered to her feet, pain sharp as a splinter piercing her skin. Around her, the airship was nothing but a twisted, gnarled wreck amidst the charred remnants of a once-verdant forest. Trees lay uprooted and broken, their limbs contorted in grotesque angles. The scene drained the color from the paladin¡¯s face.
They had been en route back to the capital when a detonation¡ªa force beyond any volcanic eruption they had witnessed¡ªhad blasted in a wave from the direction they had come, sending their airship careening out of the sky.
¡°What in th¡¯ name o¡¯ all tha¡¯s holy happened?¡± Gimona spat, pushing herself up from the wreckage.
¡°Mana detonation,¡± Anlyth replied grimly.
Gimona shook her head in disbelief. ¡°I¡¯ve nivir seen a mana detonation do sumthin¡¯ loik this.¡±
Anlyth remained silent, her eyes scanning the wreckage for any signs of life, but she found none.
B01 - The Epilogues
Epilogue I
Magic
Over my long existence, the countless horrendous acts I¡¯ve committed weigh heavily, yet I¡¯ve grown numb to remorse. My sister possessed the kind heart, not I. I remain a force of nature, the bender of realities. I am the Primordial of Magic itself, the weaver of the Source¡ªor mana, as it¡¯s otherwise known. Some might call me a manipulator of reality¡ªa title Death often hurled at me as an insult. Perhaps that¡¯s why, despite my nature, a pang of sorrow stirs within me for what I¡¯m about to do¡ªthough I do not regret it.
The dungeon core¡¯s power now thrums within the body of an Eldritch fragment¡ªa Black Pudding. The core, a relic of my sister¡¯s creation¡ªa tool she crafted to train her children to combat mine, used alongside the system she gifted them. They now stand as a testament to my own failures. But with her creations mixed with my own failures, they¡¯re a potent fusion, ready to annihilate the soul of the Titan I have ensnared within it.
The explosion of mana, supercharged and primed, will cascade through every layer of the ethereal plane, reaching out to my sister in her distant prison¡ªa realm to which she was banished by my failed creations. That catastrophic act marked the end of the prehistoric war between the Titans and the Eldritch, ultimately extinguishing both in its aftermath.
I hope this surge of mana, fused with a child of Life and sent into that mana-less bubble of existence, will be enough to trigger a convergence, drawing Tartarus¡ªEarth¡ªhere. Time may not be on my side, and I fear that my sister¡¯s dwindling power may not suffice for her to retain consciousness. I doubt I would survive long there, likely evaporating into nothingness soon after arriving.
Nevertheless, a convergence is a delicate and drawn-out process, typically spanning several decades whenever I pull worlds into this realm. Unfortunately for Earth, I lack the patience to ensure its intact crossover. However, I have already initiated the process with another world¡ªa demonic one, in fact. If I piggyback off that world¡¯s convergence, I might be able to reduce the damage to Earth marginally, though it would likely result in the other world¡¯s annihilation. In my mind, it¡¯s a worthwhile sacrifice. I refuse to let my sister suffer any longer in exile.
In my desperate quest to find my sister, I granted summoning magic to the species I brought into this realm, turning them into unknowing accomplices as they scouted other realities for me. This action also helped sustain our realm after Death unleashed her fury and destroyed everything. The cataclysm followed Life¡ªmy sister¡¯s spouse¡ªbecoming enraged with the Eldritch. By the time Death¡¯s wrath subsided, all had been reduced to nothingness. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t annihilate the entire multiverse in her rage, or my sister would have been permanently lost.
All that remained was myself, the last three of her children, a small pocket within the ethereal plane¡ªthe Realm of Dreams¡ªand a lone Tree of Life floating in darkness, its pale white glow slowly fading. Desperate to save that single tree¡ªthe only remnant of my sister¡¯s creation besides the three little gods she birthed by merging her essence with Death¡¯s own¡ªI pulled the first world into this realm through a convergence, ripping it from its bubble of reality in the multiverse.
On that small world, I planted my sister¡¯s tree. Yet the fragile sapling began to wither, its pale leaves losing their luster. Desperate, I infused it with my own mana. The tree absorbed my essence, and its once pure white glow transformed into swirling hues of blues and pinks. At least I had kept it alive, even if I had altered its appearance¡ªa perversion born of necessity.
Determined to rebuild the realm, I drew the Source into a small star¡ªor rather, a large gaseous planet¡ªcreating a new center of reality. I named it after the realm Death had destroyed, after the name the Titans had given my sister: V?lusp¨¢. Now, stolen planets dot this reality like stars once did. Unbeknownst to me, remnants of my sister¡¯s system lingered, infusing each stolen world with her power. Random individuals gained access to it, and these worlds became populated with dungeon cores.
As for Death, she vanished like a specter into the void; I have no idea where she retreated to afterward. In her absence, the species I¡¯d brought to this plane ceased to age. Without my sister, new souls were no longer born, nor were the souls of the departed reincarnating¡ªat least not in any reasonable manner. Occasionally it happened, but the ethereal plane where souls wait became overcrowded, even spilling over into the Realm of Dreams, where one of the last three children of Life and Death reigns.
Everything¡¯s an utter mess in a sense, and it¡¯s all my fault¡ªmy jealousy of my sister. Still, I can¡¯t undo what I¡¯ve done without ruining one more thing.
I suppressed any cruelty in my voice; no smile crossed my face. All these thoughts ran through my head as I gazed at one of my sister¡¯s children. ¡°Know that with your sacrifice, you are saving your entire species. Goodbye, Blake, my Hopeless Crusader.¡±
It was true. Once all traces of my sister evaporated within that mana-less existence where she and the Titans are trapped, it would only be a matter of time before the Titans met their end. Without Life, their cycles of reincarnation would cease, and no new souls would emerge without a source of mana. Their demise was inevitable unless I saved them here and now. Though, in truth, it wasn¡¯t them I wanted to save.
¡°You really are a cunt, you know that?¡± she spat, her eyes blazing as she glared at me. Then she flashed the most unnatural, shit-eating grin of defiance I¡¯d ever seen.
There was no room for remorse in my heart; I could only hope that my sister might forgive me. Without further hesitation, I triggered the detonation. The Titan¡¯s soul disintegrated into dust in a magnificent blast, and the essence of my sister¡¯s child¡ªinfused with the power of a dungeon core¡ªrippled through the multiverse back to her.
A smile crept across my face as I initiated Earth¡¯s convergence.
Epilogue II
Lord Demidicus
¡°Please, don¡¯t do this! I¡¯m begging you! Please! Please, let me go,¡± cried the peasant girl, her wrists bound so tightly by chains that blood trickled from her raw skin.
Lord Demidicus, the ancient vampire, regarded the miserable humyn at the ritual¡¯s center with growing impatience. She was a pitiful sight¡ªclad in tattered rags, hair wild, and a stench that clung to the damp air¡ªbut his thoughts were elsewhere. He had initiated the summoning ritual multiple times; the wretched demoness should have vacated the previous body by now, allowing him to summon her anew.
¡°Why the delay?¡± he seethed.
The atmosphere thickened as mana surged, causing candles to flicker and snuff out one by one. As darkness crept in, a chilling frost outlined the summoning circle, inching toward the girl confined within. Her desperate cries grew louder, her voice quavering with terror. From the room¡¯s darkest corner, Lord Demidicus¡¯s eyes gleamed, a wicked smile barely visible beneath his hood.
¡°At last,¡± he murmured, sensing the imminent arrival of his prized servant.
Icy pulses radiated through the chamber, driving the encroaching frost closer to the captive. As the cold enveloped her, her voice faltered, despair silencing her pleas. She crumpled inward, curling against the inevitable¡ªa stark contrast to the heroes of old tales. Lord Demidicus sneered; such weakness was both familiar and nauseating. This freezing embrace wasn¡¯t the work of summoning magic but a sign of an entity draining every shred of warmth and mana, leaving only desolation in its wake.
Suddenly, the extinguished candles flared back to life, flames reaching defiantly toward the crypt¡¯s oppressive ceiling. The girl, momentarily freed from the cold¡¯s grip, gasped. An unseen force compelled her to stand. Her eyes locked onto the ancient vampire, a malevolent smile curving her lips. Her pale skin shifted to an ethereal gray as her transformation began. Vivid pink hair cascaded down her back. Wings unfurled from her spine, and a sinuous tail swayed behind her. Horns crowned her head, and her form shifted¡ªcontours becoming more pronounced, an exaggerated silhouette that drew a gleam of approval from Lord Demidicus. Though still draped in the remnants of the girl¡¯s attire, he could almost see her in the leather ensemble he had prepared.
¡°My lord, it¡¯s a delight to find you well,¡± Niamh purred, though both knew it was empty flattery.
Despite his carnal desires for the demoness, Lord Demidicus had more pressing matters. ¡°Report, demon,¡± he commanded.
Niamh sighed languidly, raising a hand to admire her talon-like nails in the dim light. She lingered, savoring the moment, before letting her gaze slide over to him.
¡°Your... daughter?¡± Niamh mused, a wicked curl to her lips¡ªor so it seemed. Beneath the veneer of amusement flickered fleeting emotions: pain, rage, perhaps a hint of anguish. It passed too swiftly for the vampire to notice. ¡°She seemed rather... occupied with escaping the last time I saw her.¡±
His eyes sharpened, impatience palpable. ¡°Aurelia is of no consequence right now. She¡¯ll return to me, likely destroying the Slaethians once again. No. Tell me of the abomination she summoned.¡±
Niamh¡¯s smirk deepened as she recalled the creature. ¡°Ah, the pudding? It didn¡¯t just survive the trials, my lord¡ªit thrived.¡± A flicker of rage darted through her eyes. ¡°And the most intriguing part? It¡¯s learned to don a guise quite... humyn.¡±
¡°That accursed goddess!¡± he spat, venom dripping from each word. ¡°Has she chosen that abomination as her champion?¡±
Her grin widened, darkening. ¡°It seems the creature told the Crone she didn¡¯t want the title,¡± she mused with malevolent delight.
¡°What?!¡± he roared.
The succubus leaned forward, amusement lacing her voice. ¡°Funny, isn¡¯t it? The very thing you¡¯ve desired so fervently¡ªthe reason you sacrificed what was most precious to me¡ªand that creature tossed it aside when offered.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Lord Demidicus raised an eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t care about champions.¡±
Niamh¡¯s brows furrowed.
¡°I did everything for my species to survive, even sacrificing our own daughter¡¯s soul to gain access to the system,¡± he declared, thrusting his arms out in exasperation, ignoring her hate-filled glare. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand how those new types of summons¡ªthose humyns... no, humans, as they call themselves¡ªmanaged to become Users, each acquiring access, while Aurelia did not. Her soul is from the same realm, isn¡¯t she?¡± He shook his head with a click of his tongue, disappointment etched on his face.
Settling into his chair, his voice softened, weariness seeping in as he allowed his age to show. ¡°If not for her overwhelming power, I would have attempted to replace her soul once more,¡± he murmured. ¡°Being a champion was insignificant to me; it was merely a means to buy time and gain a deity¡¯s support, so I could continue unraveling the mysteries of the system¡ªall to prevent our extinction at the hands of the Ascended.¡±
Epilogue III
Ascended Gods
¡°Rejoice!¡± thundered the Ascended God Demoros, an awe-inspiring figure draped in otherworldly robes that seemed to ripple with their own energy. His golden crown shimmered with an unsettling luster, casting eerie reflections throughout the grand hall. ¡°The Crone¡¯s chosen has met her end!¡±
A lesser deity dared to speak, his voice barely a whisper in the vast chamber. ¡°Can we confirm she was a champion?¡± But his question was swallowed as the next god¡¯s voice rose.
Zarathos, the ascended dragon god, clenched his claws, his scales flickering like emerald fire. Rage smoldered in his eyes. ¡°The Crone¡¯s chosen dared to defile my own chosen, Orlaith¡ªscarring her radiant form with the cruel kiss of a mana detonation. Not only did she destroy a sacred core, but she also obliterated a small armada of our airships.¡±
Lyzara, an ethereal vision with hair like cascading liquid silver and skin bathed in a soft, pale glow, intervened, her voice dripping with feigned ignorance. ¡°Yet how, pray tell, did the Dungeon Core, under our ever-watchful gazes, go unnoticed for so long?¡±
Zarathos¡¯s thunderous reply echoed through the vast expanse of the Citadel, his silhouette casting an oppressive gloom. His wings¡ªdark tapestries of celestial despair¡ªseemed to drain the surrounding light. ¡°That is hardly a matter of concern when my champion is injured!¡±
Khyron, an imposing figure resembling a statue carved from the very shadows of the void, retorted with venomous contempt. ¡°Will you stop lamenting over your precious chosen! We send forces every new moon to acquire the cores to solidify and expand our power. With so many moons, I¡¯m surprised we haven¡¯t missed more such cores.¡±
Lyzara¡¯s ethereal gaze settled thoughtfully on the assembly. ¡°What of the Primordial of Magic?¡± she probed, deftly shifting the flow of the discussion. Her voice wove a tapestry of genuine curiosity. ¡°Would she not intervene in this dire predicament of a core¡¯s destruction?¡±
The dragon god let out a disdainful snort, his emerald scales shimmering with a mix of amusement and exasperation. ¡°She vanished into the annals of the past. As the last Primordial, she does not care about our wars. Her obsessions are... unconventional,¡± he huffed, steam escaping his nostrils. ¡°She plucks entire worlds from the vast unknown, only to nestle them as moons in our very sky. A wasteful and pointless hobby, if you ask me.¡±
Khyron, with a quizzical frown, interjected, ¡°Last Primordial? What became of Death?¡±
A voice belonging to a nondescript deity among the crowd piped up, ¡°Death chose self-imposed exile. We have nothing to fear from her.¡±
Zarathos, casting a glance toward the speaker, added gravely, ¡°That predates our era as Ascended Gods, even before Magic¡¯s peculiar penchant for abducting realms. To us, she¡¯s barely more than whispers of old myths and legends.¡±
Lyzara¡¯s luminous eyes clouded over, her voice carrying a hint of resignation. ¡°Regardless of all that and the Crone¡¯s role in this, I sense Magic¡¯s restless stirrings. We must tread cautiously,¡± she paused, casting a wary gaze around the assembly, ¡°for from that bygone era, old gods still linger. We would surely be destroyed, would we not?¡±
Hidden from the divine gazes of the Ascended Gods, a sly serpent slithered among them, waiting for the opportune moment to unleash his venomous wrath.
J?rmun¡¯s grin grew dark and foreboding as he took pleasure in the ensuing pandemonium. Moving stealthily through the holy corridors of the Citadel of the Empire, shrouded by an ominous mist, he reveled in the cacophonous overture of these so-called gods¡¯ frantic lamentations.
As the council adjourned, J?rmun entered a magnificent office where Demoros happily poured himself a drink. ¡°Ah, J?rmun, how long has it been?¡±
¡°Three hundred or so years,¡± J?rmun replied with a hint of venom in his tone. ¡°Though I¡¯ve not come to visit, but rather to keep my part of the bargain,¡± he said, pulling out a glass jar containing a black liquid substance.
Demoros quickly snatched the jar. ¡°Where did you find this fragment?¡± he asked, almost in awe.
¡°On Nyxoria, right before the explosion. Apparently, there was a second one as well, though, funny enough, infused with the soul of a Titan.¡±
¡°What?!¡±
Epilogue IV
A Nightmare Reborn
Beyond life and death, in a realm where wonder abounds and lost souls often wander, there exists an ephemeral yet eternal sanctuary. This ethereal domain, accessible to all yet rarely remembered, resides not beyond the veil but intricately woven within its fabric. Here, one can retrace long-forgotten memories or weave new tales as fanciful and whimsical as the soul can envision.
This realm, however, was never meant to contain its wanderers indefinitely. Once a fleeting refuge where the living came to dream and departing souls paused to whisper their last farewells before rebirth, its harmony has long been disrupted. The delicate balance and cycles that once governed it were shattered ages ago, tragically leaving lost souls to flood the Realm of Dreams¡ªa place now stripped of the hope and promise of rebirth, haunted by unknown nightmares.
At the heart of this veiled realm stood a seemingly unremarkable cottage, its humble exterior belying the castle-like significance it held for those who understood its true essence. Within dwelled a figure perceived differently by each beholder. To some, she appeared as a lonely old woman, devoid of love or family, her life seemingly bereft of warmth. To others, she was a skeletal figure cloaked in dark, mysterious robes, her face hidden beneath a veil embodying the very essence of darkness. Yet at times, she revealed her true self as she saw it¡ªa youthful spirit brimming with love and affection, her nature concealed within the ever-shifting tapestry of dreams.
As countless eons unfolded, most of the siblings she once knew fell in a war shrouded in myth and legend, leaving only a few remaining. In their stead, new entities ascended, empowered by the magical construct left behind by the mother she had long lost. Through these vast and relentless changes, she remained steadfast, continuing her vigil from the solitude of her cottage. Her unwavering commitment anchored the perpetuity of the Realm of Dreams.
Yet the gods who rose to replace her fallen siblings saw her only as a crone, blind to the vastness of her true identity and the pivotal role she played in the cosmic tapestry. To these self-proclaimed deities, she was an entity to be shunned and cursed, not revered. This ignorance permeated the realm of the living, where her true name, Duskara, Goddess of Dreams, faded into near oblivion, overshadowed by the simplistic and dismissive label of the Crone. This diminished moniker took root even among those who devoutly worshipped her, though they too were slowly fading away with the new wars that followed.
Duskara¡¯s solitude seemed destined to extend into eternity as she toiled tirelessly to uphold a realm on the verge of collapse, its crucial cycle of reincarnation forever lost. With her mother, the Primordial of Life, gone in the cataclysmic aftermath of a war against the Eldritch that annihilated so many of her siblings, the possibility of restoring the cycle had become nothing more than a dream. Compounding this was the self-imposed exile of her other mother, the Primordial of Death, who roamed the Realm of Dreams unseen by all except Duskara. Even in her presence, Death remained aloof, never revealing herself, for without Life, Death had no purpose. Though rebirth occasionally transpired, it was but a miracle as fleeting and elusive as capturing lightning in a bottle.
On this fateful day, an unprecedented disturbance rippled through the Realm of Dreams¡ªone unlike any Duskara had ever felt. The annihilation of a soul sent shockwaves echoing beyond her domain, yet it felt hauntingly familiar: a Titan¡¯s soul that had recently visited her. She had found other Titans as well, which filled her with hope, for they were her long-lost half-siblings.
Reaching out with her essence, she discovered the soul had been obliterated into dust by a catastrophic soul-burst. The remnants formed an unmistakable trail leading straight to her aunt, the Primordial of Magic.
This egregious act incensed Duskara, compelling her to act. The Goddess of Dreams painstakingly gathered the soul¡¯s tiny fragments, mere dust in her hands, endeavoring to reassemble them. Yet she soon realized the damage was more extensive than she had anticipated.
Her hands trembled as she realized the fatal flaw in her endeavor: she could not fully restore the soul to its original state. No matter how intensely she focused, the soul remained shattered into countless fragments, each barely clinging to the next. The ethereal shards quivered, unstable¡ªhinting at a fragile existence teetering on the brink of madness. For a fleeting moment, she considered letting the ruined soul fade into oblivion, but it was already too late to turn back.
Desperation fueled her actions. She closed her eyes and infused part of her own essence into the soul, her energy acting like a binding force to hold the fragments together. As she wove her essence through the shattered pieces, the magnitude of her actions dawned upon her, yet it did not deter her.
Unintentionally, she was forging a bond reminiscent of the one she shared with her mothers. Tears welled in Duskara¡¯s eyes as she realized she was not merely repairing a soul but witnessing a rebirth before her. The Titan¡¯s soul was no longer just a half-sibling; it was reborn as her daughter¡ªunique and perhaps touched by insanity, but cherished all the same.
Duskara observed an extraordinary phenomenon in her daughter¡ªa bond not created in her recent soul¡¯s rebirth but tracing back across countless past lives: an eon-spanning link to another soul¡ªa soulmate. Such connections were incredibly rare, typically formed when true souls were cleaved at their inception. Duskara recognized the uniqueness: a genuine twin soul perfectly complementing her daughter¡¯s own fractured existence. This unbreakable soul-bound bond, transcending life and distance, irresistibly drew them together.
All finished, Duskara whispered to her newly born daughter, ¡°Awake, my beloved child, my little Nightmare.¡±
|
Titan Leveling to Ascension 83
Copyright Primordial of Life 0000-Eternity.
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
USER System Access Rebooting...
Notifying Secondary Admin.
Admin:\Death>Login_
Notification Sent.
_
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
CharacterStatus
Name: Blake
Race: Eldritch Horror
Subrace: Black Pudding
Hidden: Titan
Error.
Third Race Found.
Reinitializing...
Hidden Race Designation Granted.
Hidden: Demigoddess
Class: Undefined
Error.
Reinitializing...
Class Designation Granted.
Class: Nightmare
Level: 25
Titles:
- [Hopeless Crusader]
Error.
Title Not Found.
Reinitializing.
New Title Awarded.
- [Death¡¯s Disciple]
Racial Skills:
- [Absorb]
- [Arcane Insight]
- [Corrosive]
- [Polymorph]
- [Thermal]
Spells:
- [Astral Insight]
- [Blight]
- [Fear]
- [Life Drain]
- [Mana Focus]
- [Necrotic Flame]
- [Paralysis]
- [Spirit Vessel]
- [Terror¡¯s Infusion]
Abilities:
- [Burst]
- [Ethereal Mist]
- [Silk Webbing]
- [Spider Walk]
- [Spores]
- [Venomous]
Vulnerabilities:
- [Fire]
- [Holy]
Immunities:
- [Acid]
- [Darkness]
- [Disease]
- [Dread]
- [Fear]
- [Poison]
- [Sleep]
- [Sorrow]
Unique Traits:
- [Oracle]
- [Polyglot]
- [Stellar Void]
Error.
New Unique Traits Found.
Reinitializing.
New Unique Traits Awarded.
- [Divinity]
- [Dungeon Core]
Error.
Reinitializing...
- [Dungeon Core]
- [Stellar Void]
Error.
Error.
Error.
One Or More Unique Traits Were Permanently Damaged.
Reinitializing...
Merging The Following Unique Traits:
- [Divinity]
- [Dungeon Core]
- [Oracle]
- [Stellar Void]
Reinitializing...
New Unique Trait Awarded.
- [Divine Stellar Core]
Reinitializing New List...
Unique Traits:
- [Polyglot]
- [Divine Stellar Core]
Selectable Skills:
- [Acid Breath]
- [Dull Corrode]
- [Fear Harvest]
- [Fortress]
- [Leap]
- [Poison Spit]
- [Shield Proficiency]
V:\>
|
B02 - Prologue I - The Coven
Within the Grand Hall of the Western Coven, the name Lord Demidicus was spoken in hushed tones, almost reverently from the shadows. But it was the mention of the lord¡¯s daughter that caused heads to turn and eyes to narrow.
The Grand Hall wasn¡¯t named lightly. Larger than most amphitheaters, it was designed to hold thousands of their kind back in the old days¡ªbefore the vampiric world of Nyxoria was pulled into this twisted realm to become one of the countless moons of V?lusp¨¢. Its dank, dark, cold stones amplified whispers and concealed secrets. Even the dripping of water droplets echoed through the vast hall, making it the perfect place for rumors about powerful figures like Lord Demidicus to flourish.
The convergence of Nyxoria into this realm a thousand years ago heralded truly grim times. Armies and champions of the Ascendant Gods swarmed upon the freshly formed dungeons that emerged during the convergence, plundering relentlessly and stealing dungeon cores along with Nyxoria¡¯s vital resources. Worse still, after the moon was ravaged, many of these invaders lingered, claiming territory to build their own kingdoms and forcing the vampires into hiding.
Now, vampires were a rare sight, their numbers dwindled to a mere shadow of what they once were. For reasons none could explain, like all species within this realm, they had lost the ability to reproduce. Desperate to replenish their ranks, they resorted to turning many of the invaders into vampires. But this was a double-edged sword; most who were turned became feral, soulless abominations. Not that it bothered the vampires much¡ªthe feral ones didn¡¯t attack their own kind and served as expendable fodder.
However, not all hope was lost. Three hundred years ago, the first and only vampire thus far was born within this realm from the mingling of vampiric and demonic bloodlines. Only, she had been far too kind.
The elders occasionally recounted the tale of Aurelia to the few turned ones whose souls survived the vampirism process¡ªa cautionary story. They spoke of the ancient vampire lord¡¯s unnaturally cruel heart and the rumors that he¡¯d traded his daughter¡¯s very soul for something darker, something more unforgiving. It was a warning¡ªa reminder never to show weakness or risk becoming something far worse.
¡°He¡¯d fit right in here, wouldn¡¯t he?¡± a vampire whispered, their voice dripping with both admiration and apprehension.
¡°Have you heard about his daughter¡¯s original soul?¡± another hissed, eyes darting around to ensure no prying ears were nearby.
¡°I¡¯ve heard things¡ªkind, soft... weak,¡± a third interjected.
¡°But look at her now. She¡¯s beyond powerful. Destroyed the Kingdom of Slaethia all by herself. Took them a hundred years to dig themselves out of that ruin, it did.¡± The vampire snickered with a wheezy chuckle. ¡°Declared the youngest elder ever as a reward, and what did she claim for her prize? To pick up the user-summoning research where that pathetic vampire Olin had failed. Serves him right, being turned into a ghoul as punishment, it does. Still, it makes no sense, I¡¯m telling you.¡±
The first vampire glanced nervously over their shoulder. ¡°We must be careful. The walls here have ears... and memories.¡±
Everyone knew to tread lightly on such topics, for while gossip was a coveted currency, it could also be a deadly weapon in the wrong hands. Within the coven¡¯s crypts, shadows didn¡¯t just darken the room; they listened.
The coven¡¯s silence shattered with a blinding flash, its glow illuminating even the deepest recesses. The previously still air buzzed with the energy of awakened enchantments¡ªa stark contrast to the comfortable lethargy moments before.
Vampires, abruptly torn from their dreams, flung open the doors of their chambers, cloaks billowing behind them. Their eyes, usually calm, now burned with alarm and curiosity. The rhythmic thumping of their boots echoed as they rushed, drawn like moths to the allure of the Grand Hall.
As they entered the cavernous chamber, an unusual spectacle met their gaze. A small breach in space, illuminated by an eerie glow, served as a portal for a myriad of creatures. Wide-eyed orcs, anxious goblins, bewildered humyns, and restless wargs, among many others, flowed through. Even beastkin were spotted, each as disoriented as the next.
The chamber swelled as newcomers continued to pour in from the portal, their cries¡ªa mix of relief and terror¡ªechoing through the hall. Many glanced around, only to meet the hungry gazes of vampires, their fangs glistening in anticipation.
One of the older vampires, his robe draped elegantly around him, whispered to his companion with a hint of mischief, ¡°Like a feast presenting itself on our doorstep.¡±
His friend, a more youthful-looking vampire with sharp features, smirked in agreement. ¡°Let¡¯s not be rude. We should welcome our tasty guests.¡±
Yet neither made a move, merely watching with gleaming eyes as the unwitting banquet continued to pour in, one after another filling the Grand Hall. Some vampires began to feel nervous, wondering if they were being invaded as wave after wave kept streaming through the portal.
As Lord Demidicus, accompanied by his pet demon, strolled into the chamber, a small cadre of vampires and three elders followed closely behind. The gleaming red eyes beneath his cowl hinted at recognition, suggesting to those who observed that the ancient grand elder was familiar with the unexpected guests. Many vampires concealed their irritation, wary of revealing their hands too soon, but the succubus¡¯s self-satisfied smirk did not go unnoticed, drawing more than a few curious glances.
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Amidst the clamor, a dark elf of notable stature shivered, clutching a young beastkin child¡ªa hare descendant¡ªtightly by her side. To see a child¡ªof all things¡ªwas an exceedingly rare, almost mythical sight. However, it was the dark elf who truly warranted their attention.
Among the newcomers were other noteworthy figures: a high elf radiating ancient wisdom, a half-orc emanating brute strength, a wolfkin whose eyes glinted with feral intelligence, and a humyn who seemed to ooze necrotic energy. Each one exuded power, though none of the vampires knew that these individuals were system users. Only the ancient vampire and the few elders he¡¯d brought to this coven knew the truth. It was a secret he intended to keep; revealing how Aurelia had managed to summon not one, but seven souls to this realm and bestow upon them access to the strange magical system used by the Ascended could risk inciting an uprising. After all, the system possessed vast power that even Lord Demidicus didn¡¯t fully understand. But it was power he coveted above all else¡ªfor if anyone deserved ascension in his eyes, it was him.
Stepping out of the portal with excessive confidence, a dark fae proclaimed, ¡°I. Am. Your. Champion!¡± He smiled, arms outstretched, revealing a mouth full of sharp, needle-like teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve got a bunch of refugees from Ockpool Dungeon running from the Kingdom of Slaethia behind me,¡± he said, thrusting his arm up, thumb pointing at the steady stream of creatures emerging from the portal.
Lord Demidicus silenced all whispers as he crept toward the supposed champion, his every move watched intently by the vampires in the room, all eager for any hint of a misstep. For them, any sign of frailty in Lord Demidicus would be a golden opportunity to seize¡ªanother card to play in their endless games of political intrigue. Though age afforded him the right to lead by their laws, he was still an outsider within the Western Coven. The vampires knew that all they needed was time, patience, and covert alliances with like-minded conspirators. Yet, in this shadowy dance, trust was the rarest currency; no vampire would ever risk revealing their true ambitions.
¡°By the edicts of our coven, we grant you sanctuary upon these lands, but not within this sanctum,¡± Lord Demidicus declared. With those words, he turned away from the dark fae, casting a clandestine nod to his demonic pet.
The fae stood there, blinking in confusion, apparently expecting a bit more.
Niamh¡¯s grin widened as she pointed a long, clawed finger at the champion. ¡°Seize them,¡± she commanded as she pointed out six individuals among the growing crowd to be taken.
¡°What happened to granting us sanctuary?¡± the fae spat out, bewildered.
The succubus laughed. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll be protected¡ªin our cells,¡± she chuckled.
Outraged shouts and cries erupted from the refugees as vampires darted from the shadows, seizing the dark elf, high elf, wolfkin, half-orc, humyn, and most notably, the dark fae. The most common word uttered during the uproar was a simple question: ¡°Champion?¡± However, the supposed champion deftly vanished into the shadows, evading capture.
The cavernous room filled with muffled cries from those who had sought solace in their unexpected sanctuary, punctuated only by the soft tread of the last few arrivals through the portal. The final stragglers stepped through, but an electric tension gripped the chamber, as if everyone anticipated a predator on the heels of prey.
Without warning, Aurelia herself shot from the portal, as if thrust by unseen hands. She landed in a crouch and, with a battle cry echoing her fury, made a desperate dash back to the portal. But as her fingers were mere inches from its shimmering surface, it blinked out of existence, trapping her.
Before anyone could blink, Lord Demidicus was at her side, his movements eerily swift. While his presence was commanding, all eyes were irresistibly drawn to the ruby trails marking her face¡ªeach drop a testament to her vulnerability and a promise of future power plays.
With a slow, deliberate movement, the Grand Elder drew back his dark cowl just enough for his gleaming fangs to catch the light. ¡°Ah, daughter,¡± his words oozed with satisfaction, ¡°it is good to see you still alive.¡±
¡°Father,¡± Aurelia¡¯s voice held determination even as she struggled to push past the revulsion the title evoked, ¡°we must reopen the portal and counterattack our enemies.¡± Her eyes, however, held a vulnerability¡ªa testament to the love she harbored for her beloved¡ªwhich disgusted him.
¡°Ridiculous,¡± he snapped, his voice as cold as the chambers around them. ¡°I raised you better than that. Slaethia lies on the other side of the continent. They would have to wage wars on neighboring kingdoms before even considering an attack on us. And risking the air fleet that the empire loaned them? It would expose this moon to external threats. We won¡¯t engage them further,¡± he concluded, his authoritative tone brooking no argument.
¡°Blake is trapped on the other side!¡± Aurelia raged.
Lord Demidicus¡¯s voice rang out with such ferocity that the very air in the room seemed to quiver. ¡°ENOUGH!¡± He took a moment to let his words sink in, his eyes flashing dangerously. ¡°That creature is an abomination. She¡¯s nothing more than a lost soul you found in the gutter of discarded souls. Do I make myself perfectly clear?¡±
The weight of Aurelia¡¯s disbelief hung in the air, every syllable dripping with disdain. ¡°You cannot be serious.¡±
¡°Child,¡± Lord Demidicus¡¯s voice was a razor-edged whisper, ¡°do not tempt my forbearance.¡± His piercing gaze locked onto hers, chilling the room. ¡°Remember, replacing your soul once proved effortless; I can just as easily find a more obedient successor.¡±
The room¡¯s vampires held their breath, their eyes darting between the two figures, awaiting the next explosive move.
Aurelia didn¡¯t flinch, meeting his intensity head-on. Lord Demidicus¡¯s features twisted with wrath, and he moved to strike her. Yet, in a blur of movement, she intercepted his wrist, halting his assault. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever lay a hand on me,¡± she hissed, her eyes flashing angrily.
The opportunistic vampires in the room shifted uneasily, reminiscent of wild dogs scenting fresh prey. Others watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with surprise; never before had they witnessed someone defy an ancient so brazenly.
Lord Demidicus, however, revealed an approving grin. He turned from his dauntless daughter to address a figure standing behind the gathering crowd, one who dwarfed the surrounding vampires. His grin bore a malevolent promise. ¡°As you can see, Duke Lysander, I have kept my word.¡±
Duke Lysander stepped forward, his presence commanding and chilling. The few thousand refugees¡ªa mix of dungeon denizens and beastkin¡ªgathered behind Aurelia trembled with fear as his eyes shimmered with sadistic delight. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to finally meet my future bride.¡±
B02 - Prologue II - A Paladin’s Despair
Darkness enveloped the dungeon cells beneath Slaethia¡¯s castle. The distant flow of the city¡¯s sewers, far from offering respite, mingled eerily with the screams and cries of despair that permeated the gloom, amplifying the sense of desolation. For the prisoners, their only companions were the pained sounds of their empty stomachs.
For many, the only source of sustenance was the persistent moss clinging to the damp stone walls, but even that was never enough. Starved, hollow eyes of those who refused to vocalize their torment peeked out from behind enchanted bars. In a realm where no one died from old age, this was truly a punishment worse than death.
While aging to death might not be a concern within the realm, that didn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t old and frail individuals. These were the elderly who had managed to survive their world¡¯s convergences into this realm. Regrettably for them, though spared from the ravages of time, they were not granted the gift of eternal youth, forever remaining as they were when they first came to orbit V?lusp¨¢.
¡°Unhand me! I¡¯m telling you, this is a mistake! Unhand me!¡± A gruff, elderly voice shattered the monotony of despair, desperation, and panic tinting his words.
¡°Silence,¡± a guard grumbled.
Struggling to pull his arms free from the thick hand that clenched his arm, the old man was hindered by enchanted shackles that bound both his hands and his magic.
Undeterred, he continued, ¡°Do you know who I am?!¡±
¡°I told you. Shut. Up,¡± the guard growled.
With a clink of metal, the guard yanked a cell door open, and with a hard shove, the old man stumbled into his new home, falling flat on his face, arms still bound behind him. The cell door slammed shut behind him, followed by the stomping of boots on stone as the guard departed, deliberately leaving the prisoner¡¯s shackles locked¡ªa known punishment for not heeding the warning to be silent.
¡°Oi, it¡¯s grand to see yer ugly mug down in these parts,¡± a dwarf woman chuckled bitterly. ¡°Where did they snag ye, Claycroft?¡±
¡°Gimona? Is that really you?¡± Claycroft tucked his knees under himself as he struggled to rise with his arms bound behind him.
¡°Aye, it¡¯s me,¡± Gimona confirmed with a tired nod, though he couldn¡¯t see it.
Claycroft sighed, a sound so deep and weary that only someone of his age could muster. He grunted as he tugged inadvertently on his long white beard while adjusting his knee.
¡°What happened at Elsternwick?¡± he asked, still struggling to stand. ¡°No one has bothered to tell me anything. All I know is that when I set up a waystone to return to my tower for some rest, I was unable to teleport back the next morning.¡± The old wizard finally managed to right himself and shuffled over to his cell door to glance at Gimona¡¯s cell across from his. Even shrouded in shadows, he could recognize the look of defeat anywhere. ¡°It took me a few days to return to the camp, but when I did, there was nothing left¡ªnot even the town. I was even more baffled to find a massive crater where the dungeon used to be. When I returned to the capital, I was instantly accused of desertion, shackled, and thrown down here.¡±
¡°We¡¯re being set up to take the blame for what happened at Elsternwick,¡± another woman¡¯s voice called out from a nearby cell. Although Claycroft peered in that direction, he couldn¡¯t see her.
She continued, ¡°The kingdom is terrified of what the Ascended Empire will do after two of their champions were injured, a dungeon core was destroyed¡ªone we¡¯re being accused of hiding from them, I might add¡ªand the destruction of one of their airship armadas. So, we¡¯re being sacrificed as the scapegoats for all that went wrong, all in a desperate attempt for the kingdom to save themselves from the wrath of the ascended gods.¡±
¡°Anlyth?¡± the wizard murmured, unsure. He had never heard such defeat in the paladin¡¯s voice before, casting doubt on his recognition.
¡°It¡¯s me.¡±
Claycroft squinted, trying harder to discern her form in the shadows, but to no avail. ¡°Where¡¯s Ezad? Is he here, too?¡±
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Silence followed, heavy and telling. Claycroft understood¡ªEzad had not survived whatever had transpired.
¡°Damn,¡± he murmured to himself.
He still lacked all the answers, but his questioning was abruptly cut off by the sound of returning footsteps. The steps moved past Claycroft¡¯s cell, but to his confusion, as they passed, there was no one there¡ªonly deep shadows stretched across the floor.
A solitary tear traced a chilly path down Anlyth¡¯s cheek before she swiftly caught it with her thumb. She huddled closer against the unyielding, frosty stone, her body trembling not just from the cold but from mourning the loss of her love, Ezad. He had been a great general in the service of the Kingdom of Slaethia, but now his name was shunned by those he served, all to shift the blame onto him for allegedly concealing the existence of a live dungeon core.
Anlyth gritted her teeth at the nobles¡¯ deceit. After all, Ezad had merely followed their orders, yet no word of that truth would ever be mentioned.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed¡ªa stark contrast to the oppressive silence of her cell. They stopped abruptly at her door. Anlyth¡¯s eyes darted up, a flicker of hope warring with confusion¡ªthere was no one there.
With a hesitant hand, she swept her hair back, the strands whispering softly against her pointed elven ears. Leaning forward as much as her enchanted constraints would allow¡ªher jailers were taking no chances with a paladin of her caliber¡ªshe strained her eyes in the darkness, searching for any sign of the visitor who had vanished as mysteriously as they had appeared.
Shaking her head to dismiss the sound of footsteps as mere figments of her imagination, Anlyth leaned back against the biting cold of the stone wall. Her thoughts drifted back to Ezad, stirring a tumult of emotions. Her heart, filled with sorrow, also flared with hatred for the vampire she held responsible for his death¡ªand, more infuriatingly, for turning her beloved into one of the undead. Anlyth exhaled deeply, grateful she had managed to smite the undead form that had once been Ezad, but the anger and pain lingered, haunting her with persistent memories.
A male voice spoke as though the speaker were standing right beside her. ¡°How far will you go for your revenge, I wonder?¡±
Anlyth sat up, glancing around, but still, no one was there.
¡°H-Hello?¡± she whispered faintly.
Something shifted to her left, and Anlyth¡¯s head snapped in that direction, her brows furrowing in confusion as only shadows greeted her.
¡°Tell me, young paladin, what would you do for your revenge?¡± the voice spoke again, this time as though whispered directly into her ear.
She jerked back, her head whipping around in all directions, but no one was visible. It didn¡¯t make any sense; her cell was enchanted to prevent any kind of magic, and for added measure, so were the chains bolted to the wall. Even the cell door was enchanted to thwart any magical escape attempts. Yet, someone had managed to sneak into her cell unseen, unhampered by the enchantments. It was impossible, and yet whoever was speaking to her had done it seemingly without effort.
¡°Young? I¡¯m over three thousand years old,¡± she scoffed, attempting to coax the speaker from the shadows.
¡°Barely an infant in my eyes,¡± the response came, but still, she couldn¡¯t spot the speaker. ¡°I ask again, what would you do for revenge?¡±
¡°Anything,¡± Anlyth answered, her eyes scanning as she peered into every shadow.
A haunting snicker echoed around her, the very shadows seeming to shake with laughter. ¡°I see, I see. But let me ask you this,¡± the voice grew ominously quiet. ¡°Do you truly want revenge... or power?¡±
¡°Who are you?¡± Anlyth demanded. ¡°What do you want?¡±
The snickering continued, sending chills throughout the elf¡¯s already cold body. ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter. What I want... well, I either want you as a destroyer or a protector. I haven¡¯t decided yet. But that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t want you as one of the many pieces I¡¯m playing on the board.¡±
Anlyth¡¯s eyes widened in realization. ¡°You¡¯re an Ascended,¡± she blurted out before she could think.
¡°Hmm, sure, we¡¯ll go with that,¡± he snickered. ¡°So, what do you say? Do you want power? Say yes, and I¡¯ll have you freed. I¡¯ll even include your two friends.¡±
¡°W-Why me?¡± she gulped nervously before a power she assumed to be a god.
¡°Why not you? You¡¯re perhaps the most powerful paladin across all the moons of V?lusp¨¢, and you¡¯re not even a champion... yet,¡± he snickered again.
Anlyth considered his words briefly. She was a captive, about to be sacrificed for her kingdom¡¯s sake¡ªa mere pawn to remain in the good graces of the Ascended Empire. And here was an offer from someone she suspected to be an ascended god. It didn¡¯t feel like she had a choice at all.
¡°I accept.¡±
¡°Good, good,¡± he continued to snicker. ¡°I¡¯m feeling benevolent today; I¡¯ll even bring back your love if that¡¯s what you desire.¡±
Just as Anlyth was about to unleash a torrent of questions, a display suddenly materialized before her eyes, stunning her into shock.
|
Titan Leveling to Ascension 83
Copyright Primordial of Life 0000-Eternity.
V:\Ascension>SAFE_MODE
Loading USER System Access...
Notifying Secondary Admin.
Error.
Back_Door:\ J?rmun>Login_Granted_
_
Race Designation: High Elf [RHE]
System Access Granted [SAG]
Racial Skills Activated [RSA]
Class Designation: Paladin [CDP]
Loading Modules...
Configuration Complete.
Initializing Character Data...
Welcome, [Anlyth].
V:\>
|
B02C01 - My Pain
Pain! My existence was nothing but pain and darkness! It was as if every nerve was set ablaze, then doused in liquid nitrogen to extinguish the searing flames. I cried, laughed, and spiraled deeper into madness, tossing and turning in the abyss, each moment slipping further into anguish and insanity.
I clawed at my face, peeling it away and giggling maniacally as tears streamed down my torn cheeks. Flesh ripped and blood splattered as I pushed a finger into my eye, turning it into mesh before revealing an empty socket. In a frenzied rage, I bit off the fingers of my other hand, thrashing and screaming into the void, repeating the motions as though I had never done them before.
Fingers¡
Still there.
Bite.
Thrash.
SCREAM!
Shattered! I was beyond shattered; my mind was utterly broken. I heard whisperings by the thousands, millions, each in my own voice, echoing haunting torments. The damage wasn¡¯t seeping into me, but rather, it was pouring out from my shattered soul. Driven by desperation, I clawed, bit, and thrashed at myself, at my fractured soul, desperate to silence the voices. The voices resounding from within... from me. My voice. Silence my voice! Silence me! No more.
My soul¡ªobliterated, hadn¡¯t it been?
My soul.
Shattered.
Even without the sanity to comprehend how I knew this, deep down, it was unmistakably clear. Memories flooded my mind in vivid, rapid snapshots, each too swift to fully grasp. I was certain these weren¡¯t my memories, yet something deep within me felt this wasn¡¯t true at all. No. If I were to be honest with myself, they were indeed all my memories retained by my shattered soul.
The air was thick with yelling and shouting. A hostile crowd bellowed at me as I stood on a stage before them, a noose tight around my neck.
¡°Witch! Witch! Witch!¡± their cries rang out in unison.
Why? Why do they hate me?
Hate.
Hate!
¡°Hang the bitch!¡± someone screamed, hurling a rock that struck my stomach.
I wanted to collapse to my knees, gasping for air, but even as my legs buckled, the noose around my neck cruelly kept me upright. My legs shook uncontrollably, pain searing through me as I struggled for each breath. Then, suddenly, the platform beneath me vanished, and I felt gravity pull me downwards.
Clenching my eyes shut, the sound of the crowd faded into silence. When I reopened them, I found myself standing in an empty alley, surrounded by buildings reminiscent of Victorian-era London. My head felt light as I swayed.
Glancing down, I saw unfamiliar hands with wrists bleeding profusely. Worse still, there was no desire within me to stem the flow as my vision slowly faded to nothingness. No cries came for me, no expressions of love; I slipped away utterly alone in some forgotten alley.
Alone.
You¡¯re alone.
I¡¯m always alone.
I felt a pipe touch my lips. With a deep inhale, a bitter taste flooded my lungs, erasing my mental aches. As I cracked my eyes open, I found myself now in a hut reminiscent of some old dynasty I couldn¡¯t quite recall, filled with the broken, suffering, and forgotten. Around me, others drew deep breaths from their pipes, letting the opium wash away their pain. Driven by a greedy desire for that numbing sensation, I inhaled deeply again¡ªand again, and again¡
There was a recurring theme within each memory I witnessed. Despite inhabiting different bodies, whether male or female, I consistently suffered. I was a pariah, unwanted by all, losing myself in drugs, cast out by society, or ending it all by my own hand. In every life, I was a pathetic creature.
You¡¯re pathetic! Kill yourself. Nobody loves you. Kill yourself! Pathetic! KILL YOURSELF! You¡¯re pathetic! Kill yourself. Kill yourself! Pathetic! Nobody loves you. KILL YOURSELF! You¡¯re pathetic! Kill yourself. Kill yourself! Nobody loves you. Pathetic! KILL YOURSELF! You¡¯re pathetic! Kill yourself. Kill yourself! Pathetic! KILL YOURSELF! Nobody loves you. You¡¯re pathetic! Kill yourself. Kill yourself! Pathetic! KILL YOURSELF! You¡¯re pathetic! Nobody loves you. Kill yourself. Kill yourself! Pathetic! KILL YOURSELF! Nobody loves you. Nobody loves you. Nobody loves you!
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I listened to a chorus of my own shattered voices, each emanating from a fragment of my soul¡ªevery fragment bearing a portion of a memory I had witnessed. They yelled, whispered, and screamed into my mind like a cruel mantra.
Alternating between laughter and tears, I thrashed about, tearing at myself, overwhelmed by a desperate desire to end it all.
¡°Nobody loves me. I¡¯m shunned, despised, alone. Nobody loves me, not even myself,¡± I whispered in unison with the voices.
Tears streamed down my face as I clenched my torn eyes shut, my emotions wildly fluctuating between snickering, mourning, giggling, and wailing. My sanity was gone... I was gone. How did this all happen? Where did it all start?
Shattered.
A memory, a vision from the past, unfolded before my mind. I found myself standing in a dungeon within a realm entirely different from Earth. A realm filled with magic! I was Blake, transformed into a monstrous Black Pudding in human form¡ªdark, sinister, and cruel.
My hand clasped the dungeon¡¯s core as time froze around me, and before me stood the Primordial of Magic. Her ethereal beauty was a wisp of blue, pure mana, with swirling clouds of pink dancing in and out of existence upon her skin.
She killed me. She shattered me. My soul was destroyed by her hand. Yet here I am. Here, I suffer. Here, I replay the agony of so many failed past lives.
I was a pawn in her game.
She used you.
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She used me!
She destroyed you.
She destroyed me.
I wept for my loss, cackling through tears mingled with anger and madness. I laughed hysterically as I continued to pull at my hair, tore at my flesh, and clawed at the very essence of my soul.
Betrayed.
Discarded.
Shattered.
Utterly alone.
Curling into myself, I spiraled further into insanity, cycling through memories of past lives that surfaced in my shattered mind. I saw myself banished from my tribe, wandering lost through the prairie. Another tribe found me. Violated me. Scalped me. That¡¯s how all memories seemed to unfold¡ªalways marked by my suffering. Overwhelmed, I recoiled, unable to endure any more.
No more.
No more!
No more.
NO MORE!
¡°I love you,¡± a voice whispered into my ear.
I opened my eyes to gaze up at a nude woman in her early twenties, smiling down at me. Her fair, freckled skin glowed under candlelight, her long blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders, and her green eyes shone like emeralds¡ªshe was beautiful. She moved her hips slowly¡ªgently¡ªas I felt her warmth envelop me. As I reached up to touch her face, I was startled to find my arms were not my own, but strong, masculine limbs. Her rhythmic motion continued.
¡°Aaaah, Bowen. I love you,¡± she moaned.
¡°Aislinn,¡± I moaned, thrusting as I clenched my eyes shut in pleasure and affection.
Soft lips met mine as a gentle summer breeze blew past. When I reopened my eyes, I found myself on a cliffside overlooking the ocean. Beside me was Aislinn, her head resting on my shoulder as we gazed out at the sea, utterly blissful just to be near each other.
¡°I¡¯m with child,¡± she whispered into my ear.
These moments with her were the furthest back any memory went¡ªthere were no others before her. It was as if we were newborn souls, living happily together, inseparable, in love. Our connection transcended anything I could define with mere words.
Standing up, I extended a hand to help her to her feet, our gazes locked on one another. She leaned up on her tiptoes for a kiss¡ªsuddenly, an arrow alight with flames whizzed past us! I whirled around to witness another scene unfolding.
Romans were stepping out of the forest, the bitter cold of the winter solstice clawing at my limbs as I grasped Aislinn¡¯s hand. The screams from the village pierced the air as soldiers butchered everyone in sight.
¡°RUN!¡± I yelled as we took off, Aislinn in tow.
She dies.
You died.
Her pace was slowed by our unborn child as we ran into the forest¡ we didn¡¯t make it. The Romans killed us, my love and unborn child dying bloodied within a snow-filled forest.
The scene shifted again in ways I had never imagined possible. I found myself floating within the void, just as I am now¡ªa mere soul without a body. From my chest, a tether of light emerged, guiding me to Aislinn. She floated in the nothingness, her soul mirroring mine in every detail, as though we were identical twins. In her arms, she cradled a child.
The child I instantly recognized as our unborn daughter, not an infant but still young in my eyes¡ªand my eyes alone. Her form emitted a brilliant white light that bathed the entire void in radiance. Clearly, our daughter¡¯s soul was ancient, far older than ours, yet despite this, she remained unmistakably our unborn daughter.
Nonetheless, she appeared frail, wisps of her essence flickering off as if her life force was being used to sustain the entire void. This energy seemed to power a constant cycle of reincarnation, with souls flickering in and out. While it was roughly two thousand years ago on Earth, it¡¯s been only about two hundred years on V?lusp¨¢, where time flows differently between realms. I can¡¯t even begin to imagine how frail her soul might be now.
I approached them, but before I could reach them, the void opened up, and tendrils shot out toward our daughter. Aislinn¡¯s soul pushed our child out of the way, only to become entangled in the ethereal chains that ensnared her. Before I could intervene, she was yanked from the void, her soul lost to me.
That was my turning point. That was when I first broke... That was when I first shattered.
Aislinn¡¯s soul was taken somewhere beyond the realm, leaving me utterly alone. Before I could even reach my daughter, she too slipped away, reincarnating as someone else on Earth, much like I had. There was no fighting reincarnation, no means to stop it. That was when I fell apart, life after life, carrying only a lingering feeling that something was wrong, something crucial was missing. In each new life that followed, I found myself pathetic and alone, severed from my tether to Aislinn, my twin soul. My soulmate.
Pulling back from my tormented memories, I continued to cry and laugh, clawing at myself in a frenzied mix of despair and hysteria, no longer reliving past lives within my shattered consciousness.
Suddenly, a soothing hand brushed my head, and a soft, dreamlike voice hummed, ¡°I have you. You¡¯re mine now, and I¡¯ll never let you go.¡± Her words, whispered gently and lovingly, enveloped me in motherly warmth as she took me into her arms. I faded into peaceful slumber, cocooned in divine love.
¡°She¡¯s beyond broken; her soul is entwined with too many conflicting powers¡ªit would be a kindness to end her misery.¡±
¡°NO! She¡¯s mine,¡± came a sharp retort.
Voices pulled me from my slumber. My eyes fluttered open to a quaint little room bathed in a soft, irritatingly cheerful light. Every fiber of my being ached and burned¡ªa sensation as familiar as it was infuriating. I lifted my arm, staring at the pale, tattooed skin¡ªjust like before I died on Earth.
When I was Blake?
Are you Blake?
Am I Blake?
You doubt.
Yes, I am Blake. Blake. That¡¯s who I am.
Is it?
Yes! I am Blake.
Ignoring the conflicting whispering within my mind. I gazed at my hand, seeing not just the surface illusion of my past self but peering deeper into the true essence beneath. Darkness and cruelty swirled¡ªa mass of untold eldritch horrors writhing like a black sludge. Yet, fractures marred this sinister core, molten gold seeping through every crack as if I were being held together by a glowing, divine essence.
¡°Dusk, she¡¯s not some pet you can claim. Her soul has merged with that abomination of a body,¡± a youthful girl¡¯s voice chimed in, tinged with concern from outside the room.
¡°It¡¯s Duskara, Mother,¡± came the sharp retort, dripping with defiance. ¡°She¡¯s not a pet. I rebirthed her soul using my own essence. She¡¯s my child¡ªthe first soul reforged since you abandoned Life! She¡¯s mine.¡± The last words resonated, unmistakably a threat.
¡°I...¡± A long pause followed, the words emerging almost remorsefully. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I still believe it would be a kindness to end her suffering, but I¡¯ll help where I can.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll help?¡± came Duskara¡¯s stunned tone. ¡°I thought you were done with everything and everyone.¡±
¡°I can never forgive Magic, but what she started is changing things. Life¡¯s coming back, and I¡¯ve got a few billion years of housekeeping to do before she does. So yes, I¡¯ll¡ª¡± Suddenly, the little girl¡¯s tone shifted, abruptly halting her sentence. An eerie silence enveloped the room, as if a massive presence had locked its gaze onto me. I let out a nervous gulp, feeling as though the glue binding my soul together was straining, threatening to snap and scatter me into a million pieces again. ¡°She¡¯s awake,¡± the girl whispered, her voice followed by a high-pitched squeak as the oppressive feeling vanished. ¡°Ow! What was that for?¡± she yelled. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to slap me upside the head like that.¡±
¡°Watch what you¡¯re doing, then,¡± came Duskara¡¯s sharp warning.
¡°Jeez, I wasn¡¯t this overprotective with you or your siblings,¡± the youthful girl grumbled.
Ignoring them, I still felt a bit out of sorts as I rose from the bed on wobbly legs. My first step nearly sent me flat on my face, but I managed to catch myself on a large mirror beside the bed. With a groan, I pushed off the mirror, only to freeze as I took in my reflection.
Wiping away a tear that trickled down my cheek, I gazed at my pale face and then back at my tattooed arms¡ªadorned with flames, tentacles, and My Little Pony unicorns. You better not be judging me!
I was most certainly in an illusion of my old body from Earth¡ªthe last one I had before being summoned into this realm of magic. I was a short, blue-eyed, skinny, pierced, washboard-chested goth girl with pale skin and shoulder-length hair dyed half black and half green down the center, concealing my natural red. Oh, and let¡¯s not forget the black t-shirt emblazoned with ¡°I Decapitate Teddy Bears¡± paired with a short plaid skirt adorned with a few chains¡ªand yes, I know it might be a bit overboard for a twenty-three-year-old, but that¡¯s exactly why I still loved it so much!
But just as when I gazed at my arm in bed, with minimal effort, I could see past the illusion to the dark soul beneath, marked by glowing cracks that marred my entire body. Yet, I found myself stunning, like a shattered black vase with gold filling all the cracks¡ªresembling a work of art! Even my eyes now glowed with that same golden light.
No one needed to tell me what I had become¡ªno! I was the embodiment of darkness, a wellspring of cruelty, a true monster¡ª
You¡¯re broken.
You¡¯re vile.
You still doubt.
¡ªI was a beautiful nightmare!
Running my hand along the wall for support, I moved on unsteady legs past the mirror toward the door, eager to discover what came next. A malevolent smile spread across my face as black tears dripped from my eyes.
B02C02 - Lost Child
My hand reached for the doorknob, my mind swirling with the whispering voices of my past lives¡ªthe shattered fragments of my soul¡ªsometimes in unison, often not.
I glanced back at the mirror. Gone were my green and black hair and pale, tattooed skin. Instead, the reflection showed the pudding¡ªmy skin woven from head to toe with white spider silk, my true flesh of black pudding displayed like a summer dress. My hair, now long and flowing, was part of this transformation, each strand twisting and writhing like living tendrils.
Blake is dead.
You are Blake.
¡°I¡¯m still Blake,¡± I whispered back to my inner voices, to my inner nightmares.
We are Blake.
After Magic had thoroughly destroyed my soul, I was alive again¡ªor was I? My mind remained fragmented, the voices whispering as though surrounding me. Yet I continued to gaze at my reflection.
I had become a true eldritch abomination, and yet... so much more.
Pain seared through my body, burning from the inside out¡ªreminiscent of the suffering inflicted by Holy magic. The agony licked up from the depths of my soul. I smothered it with a wicked giggle.
Shattered.
You¡¯re broken.
Pain.
We¡¯re suffering.
Alone.
Always alone!
Shattered.
I ignored the whispers.
The glowing golden cracks that once marred my soul were absent. I was no longer peering into my soul but observing the outer fa?ade I presented to the world. With deranged, luminescent orange eyes, I turned away, my cruel smile unwavering. I refused to reveal just how broken I was inside.
No, I would laugh and smile, defiant against my fractured self, rebelling against the searing agony. Embracing my madness with a cackle, I turned the doorknob and stepped into the unknown¡ªonly to find myself in a familiar little cottage.
¡°Sweetie!¡±
Umph.
I blinked in confusion as Duskara, the Goddess of Dreams, leaped at me, wrapping her arms around me in a loving hug. She appeared in her youthful form, smiling from ear to ear as she pulled back to look at me. Her other two forms were quite different: one was that of an old hag, often insultingly referred to as the Crone; the other was a cowled figure shrouded in darkness, her thin skeletal body clad in a tattered gown, skeletal fingers eerily visible.
But now? She was dressed in her youthful guise, strikingly adorned in a frilly outfit like some kind of princess¡ªclothes all white with hints of pink, black trimming and bows. She looked as if she had just emerged from mourning, now jubilant and brimming with life. I was taken aback, unsure if this was the same goddess I knew.
Pulling my gaze from her smiling face, I glanced around the cottage, finding no one else there.
Had we imagined the conversation I heard?
Maybe we did hear voices?
I stiffened. My thoughts were odd now. It¡¯s hard to explain. I¡¯m used to talking and answering my own thoughts in my mind, but this was... different, as if the whispering voices were conversing among themselves, yet still being me. I couldn¡¯t tell how many voices there were, but I could still feel them coalescing into their factions.
Ugh! We¡¯re not going to go to war with my own sanity, are we?
Nah, we already lost that battle.
A chorus of snickering echoed in the back of my thoughts.
Pain.
Shattered.
Alone.
There were other whispers, parts of my fragmented soul that hadn¡¯t yet found a faction, but I ignored those fragments... or would it be we?
Oh shit, am I now a hive mind made up of fragments of myself?
Nah.
Maybe?
NO!
Yes?
BwahahahaHAHAHAHAHA!
Laughter ricocheted inside my skull, every shattered piece of my essence joining the hysterical chorus. Oh, the madness we¡ªor was it just me?¡ªembraced. Not that it mattered; they were me, after all. Who else would I be laughing at if not myself and my delightful delusions?
¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± a sly voice chimed in¡ªmy own voice.
¡°Shut it,¡± I snapped, ignoring the concerned look on Duskara¡¯s face.
I¡¯ve always had conversations with myself, but now the replies came from different corners of my fractured soul, each with its own twisted sense of humor. Maybe I should ignore the solo hecklers¡ªthe quieter individual pieces of my soul¡ªand tune into the rowdier two factions that were still forming.
Always hated unions.
Now you¡¯re sounding like our old stepdad.
¡°Fuck you!¡± I blurted out.
¡°No, fuck you!¡± I shouted back.
Duskara blinked in surprise at me.
It seemed like there were two main troublemakers tonight.
What were these fragmented whispers¡ªmy dreams brawling with my nightmares? Loneliness having a slapfight with cruelty? Or sanity playing chicken with insanity? I should name these factions of myself. No! Labels are for jars, and I¡¯ve never been fond of being boxed in. Humanity loves its little tribes, always ready to cast stones at outsiders. Slapping a label on yourself is like painting a target on your back¡ªbegging to be judged, even hated.
But perhaps I enjoyed being the villain, the one they loved to despise. Or was that just another argument between the clashing idiots in my head? What the hell was I becoming? What twisted path was I skipping down now?
Maybe I¡¯ll label these aspects of myself later¡ªmaybe I won¡¯t.
¡°Sweetie, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Duskara placed her soothing hand on my cheek, and the voices within me stilled.
Now, it was I who blinked in confusion. It was as if a million different shards of myself had been buzzing around in an angry swarm¡ªwell, two swarms with stragglers in between¡ªand then suddenly, they all flew as one. My thoughts were more at ease. More unified.
¡°What¡¯s happening to me?¡± I asked, my voice sounding far meeker than I intended. ¡°Why does it feel like I¡¯m burning up from the inside out?¡±
¡°Divinity doesn¡¯t mix well with what you¡¯ve become,¡± a little girl from seemingly nowhere answered as my eyes darted around. ¡°It would be a mercy to end you.¡±
Duskara stiffened before whirling around in utter outrage, the entire cottage seeming to tremble with her anger. No¡ªit felt as if the entire realm shook with fury as Duskara yelled, ¡°She¡¯s my daughter!¡±
¡°Daughter?¡± I breathed out, confused.
We did hear her say we were hers, didn¡¯t we?
Stop using ¡®we¡¯; it¡¯s just ¡®I¡¯!
I say ¡®we¡¯!
Ugh, bitch!
Is that ¡®I¡¯ bitches or ¡®we¡¯ bitch?
Fuck ¡®we¡¯!
Fuck you!
Fuck me?
¡®I¡¯ fuck.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
My thoughts buzzed again¡ªa swarm of arguments, insults, and snickering¡ªas I tried to process what was happening. The voices didn¡¯t even have the decency to stay in their forming factions this time.
Taken aback, I stepped away from the Goddess of Dreams. Suddenly, the floor vanished beneath me.
¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got to be shitting me!¡± I yelped as I plunged into darkness, catching only the last snippets of a conversation.
¡°What are you doing?!¡± Duskara¡¯s panicked voice echoed as my consciousness...es slipped away.
¡°Helping,¡± was the last thing I heard before the abyss swallowed me whole.
The cool embrace of darkness enveloped me, eliciting no fear¡ªit was an extension of my being, soothing like a lullaby to a fretful child. I existed within this veil, a creature woven from the fabric of nightmares. I tumbled through the abyss, all the while sensing unseen eyes scrutinizing every fragment of my fractured self.
Then, suddenly, light pierced the darkness as I plummeted through an open hole and smashed onto a stone surface with a sickening splat. My gooey dress splashed everywhere, the pudding contained within my silk form sloshing around as my body compressed like a plastic bag filled with liquid.
I groaned, flipping over¡ªmy now flat, silk-white, and bare ass pressed against the cold surface¡ªas I gazed upward with orange eyes.
Blinking away the veil of darkness, a celestial view unfolded above. Lying on my back, I stared into a night sky swirling with clouds and gently cascading snowflakes. Through fleeting gaps in the cloud cover, a colossal planet revealed itself, bathed in shades of pink and blue. Its ever-shifting storms reminded me of images I¡¯d seen of Jupiter, yet the scale was grander, more enthralling. I recognized the celestial body immediately; never had it loomed so large, so breathtaking.
Ever so quietly, I whispered the name of what I saw, ¡°V?lusp¨¢.¡±
Alone.
Always alone.
I shook my head, ignoring the whispers of my own mind.
My surroundings gradually seeped into awareness. The stony embrace beneath me belonged to a crude altar positioned at the heart of a stone chamber¡ªI surmised it was a respawn point. How delightfully clich¨¦.
¡°Worst. Respawn. Ever,¡± I sighed.
The chamber I found myself in was crowned by an open ceiling, framing the celestial dance above. Despite the cold stone and the snow¡¯s tender descent, a soft warmth brushed against my skin, courtesy of the planet¡¯s light painting everything in shades of pink and blue. Not that the cold truly bothered my eldritch self¡ªperks of being a black pudding monstrosity.
A fleeting image caught the edge of my vision¡ªa figure draped in pink, scythe aloft, ready to swoop down in a cold arc of fury. A little girl¡¯s face was twisted with rage, her eyes pooled in an abyss, and even my own darkness seemed to shy away from it. As I jerked my head toward this harbinger of Death, the space she had occupied blinked into emptiness.
¡°My imagination?¡± The words slipped out in a shaky whisper.
My hand, trembling, lifted before my face as if trying to grasp the fading remnants of that spectral vision.
Betrayed.
Discarded.
¡°Oh, shut up!¡±
Okay, tuning out the whispering voices in my head wasn¡¯t exactly a walk in the park. I just needed to focus on ignoring the random chatter and pay attention to the factions like I had planned. At least the factions were a major focus in my thoughts¡ªjust as insane as I was, because those voices were my own; I was the voices within my head.
A stark realization smacked me upside the head¡ªthis respawn was unlike all the others, and I¡¯d been too lost in my own twisted thoughts to notice. My wandering imagination had taken a joyride, but now I was captivated by my own hand.
All the others? How many times have we died?
It¡¯s ¡®I¡¯. How many times have ¡®I¡¯ died?!
¡®I¡¯ hate you!
Wouldn¡¯t that be ¡®I¡¯ hate ¡®we¡¯?
¡°Enough,¡± I groaned, giving myself a headache from my own wandering and snickering mad thoughts.
I lay there, enshrined in my human form, no shapeshifting required. My skin, as white as spun spider silk, concealed the eerie darkness simmering beneath. This nifty silk shell¡ªor flesh, as I like to think of it, since it helps with subconscious casting¡ªwas the result of my victory over those damn spiderlings, an early conquest in this reality that bequeathed me the Silk Webbing skill.
It was a veil over my true form: the black pudding monstrosity I¡¯d become upon being reincarnated¡ªor summoned¡ªinto this realm. The specifics remained as blurry as ever. However... hadn¡¯t I just been with the Goddess of Dreams in this form?
I glanced around, spotting fragments of my dress splattered all over the walls¡ªpieces of my flesh I¡¯d subconsciously used with Polymorph. That¡¯s how most of my skills worked. If I tried to control them without the system commands, the result was always lackluster. But if I just let go¡ªno overthinking, just pure instinct and desire¡ªI could pull off some badass shit. Hence the silk skin, even silk teeth. The best I could manage when micromanaging the skill was a cat¡¯s cradle in my hands.
Yep, it¡¯s really a hands-off approach.
Still...
¡°What was up with this respawn?¡±
My gaze lingered on my bare form, a tender glow of orange enshrouding it¡ªa reflection of the haunting luminescence of my eyes. This glow stemmed from channeling my Mana Focus into the orbs that allowed me to perceive the world with a semblance of humanity I had long lost. The skill was utterly intuitive, another subconscious cast that manifested without requiring even a thought, allowing me to see mana within and around everything like splashes of watercolors and pastels¡ªfar more vivid than that poor technicolor eyesight you¡¯ve got.
Easing my body to the side, I swung my legs over the edge of the altar and frowned when I noticed I was still oddly proportioned after slamming into it. Thankfully, it only took a tingle of desire in the back of my screwy mind for the pudding within my silk flesh sack to start rearranging itself back to the proper proportions¡ªhips, breasts, and ass... Oh, and apparently, my smashed-in face was also fixed; I hadn¡¯t realized that was an issue until my nose popped back out¡ªyeah, I had an innie there.
¡°Yep,¡± I nodded to myself. ¡°Worst respawn ever.¡±
The gentle descent of my bare toes came to rest upon the cold stone floor below, where they sank slightly into the sparkling crunch of snow¡ªa field of white kissed by the colorful hues of V?lusp¨¢ as it peered through the plump clouds above.
With a mere thought, I beckoned forth my true form, anticipating the enveloping cloak of darkness that ought to shroud me in a gown of writhing blackness, caressed by tendrils of cruelty and nightmares¡ªall the while, the splattered parts of me started creeping back toward me.
¡°That¡¯s new,¡± I mused as I watched a few globs of pudding reach my foot and ooze upward to reform my dress.
With my dress finally formed, I stretched out my arms, tossed my head back, and gazed upward as I took a deep, satisfying breath¡ªwhich, of course, wasn¡¯t needed¡ªoxygen, that is. But that circles back to the whole subconscious casting I mentioned. Having been human in my last life, teeth, lungs, toes, and yes, all the naughty bits, felt natural to me. So without thinking, Polymorph whipped them up as effortlessly as... well, breathing.
¡°What to do, what to do,¡± I muttered, crossing my arms and tapping my chin with a finger as I looked around, unsure of where the hell I was or where to go next. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem to be a dungeon¡ so no leveling. Boooooo!¡±
There was no real rush or urgency here. Heck, in fact, I never felt safer. All I had was a crippling desire to find my Aislinn¡ªor Aurelia, depending on which version of her we¡¯re talking about. But that¡¯s just semantics. She was my everything, she was my soulmate.
Soulmates, it seems, weren¡¯t just the stuff of romantic tales; the splitting of souls at their inception was akin to the birth of twins. Bound by an ethereal thread, these souls would eternally seek each other out, transcending death, reincarnation, and the confines of flesh.
Damn, that almost sounds philosophical.
Shut up! I¡¯m trying to listen. It¡¯s getting good.
Bleeding-heart romantics are the worst.
Zip it!
Aurelia was the puzzle piece I¡¯d been missing¡ªthe other half of our fractured and shattered soul. This revelation explained so much, yet there was a nagging feeling that Aurelia held answers we still sought.
Wait, does that make her a part of the ¡®we¡¯?
That¡¯s it, I¡¯m stabbing myself right in the ¡®I¡¯!
Annoyed with myself, I gave my head a sharp smack. ¡°Shut up, you chaotic mess,¡± I muttered, hoping to silence the cacophony of thoughts clanging around in there. With a huff, I whispered to the empty chamber and the snowflakes sneaking in through the gap in the ceiling, ¡°I need to get back to her.¡±
Time to escape this weird circular place. A grin¡ªone that would probably send strangers running¡ªspread across my face as I sauntered toward the arched doorway. Half-expecting a sprawling underground labyrinth (thanks for nothing, past traumas), I was mildly disappointed when I still didn¡¯t get any dungeon vibes. Instead, I stepped straight into the cold embrace of a dead forest.
¡°Well, isn¡¯t this just charming,¡± I snickered. The trees swayed slowly, their dark, barren branches reaching out like skeletal fingers dancing to a tune only they could hear. No leaves, of course, but the snowflakes falling from the sky decided to decorate their twisted limbs. How considerate.
Each crunching step on the snow-covered ground seemed to deepen the eerie silence. Yet, the forest whispered¡ªa chilly, gentle murmur that played with the gooey edges of my dress. Alone in this snow-kissed wasteland, I felt a strange comfort. It reminded me of the woods outside Duskara¡¯s cottage¡ªminus the occasional screaming, of course.
Surprisingly, I was in a fantastic mood. Lost in some unknown land without a map back to my soulmate, possible dangers lurking behind every creepy tree¡ªand I couldn¡¯t stop grinning. Who knows, maybe I was losing it. Or perhaps I¡¯d already lost it long ago. Either way, I started skipping through the forest like a deranged ballerina, arms swinging and head bobbing to a song only I could hear.
¡°I¡¯m so hungry, I could eat a whole troll!¡± I sang out, giggling at the thought. Roasted or raw? Decisions, decisions. Who am I kidding? I prefer my meat spoiled.
Mmmmm! Intestines are the best.
I like to wear them as an edible necklace!
¡
A few times, I caught shadows darting between the trees. ¡°Oh, come out, come out, wherever you are!¡± I called, my voice dripping with mock sweetness. But nothing approached; everything seemed smart enough to keep its distance. ¡°Suit yourselves, cowards,¡± I shrugged, continuing my merry, slightly maniacal frolic.
Then, a glow in the distance caught my eye. The forest abruptly ended with a stark line in the sand. ¡°What the actual hell? Am I still in the Realm of Dreams?¡± I scratched my left breast in thought. What? It itched with that burning sensation I hadn¡¯t gotten rid of. Deal with it.
Ugh. I hope it¡¯s not chlamydia.
The time ¡®we¡¯ got gonorrhea was worse.
I¡¯d like to cast a vote and say that was a ¡®you¡¯ problem.
On one side, sunlight bathed rolling sand dunes; on the other, the night sky ruled, accompanied by gently falling snow. I blinked once, twice, then burst into laughter.
¡°Oh, this place is just showing off now!¡± With a carefree shrug, I decided why not¡ªstepped into the sunlight, and headed up a nearby dune.
As I reached the top, vast marble walls sprawled in every direction. A castle turret peeked over the walls, teasing me with just a glimpse. Thankfully, a large gate with a line of weary travelers came into view. Before joining the queue, I glanced back at the forest¡ªonly to find it had vanished. Gone. Poof. Just endless sand now.
¡°Well, that¡¯s not disconcerting at all,¡± I mused, tapping my foot in mock impatience. ¡°Worst. Respawn. Ever!¡± I declared once again to no one in particular, nodding sagely.
A string of colorful curses slipped out¡ªoopsie daisy¡ªas I made my way to the end of the line. Funny enough, none of the other travelers seemed to notice me. Their complaints about the desert trek were almost musical. Under different circumstances, I might¡¯ve joined in with a few grievances of my own¡ªor maybe killed someone for fun¡ and a light snack.
The guard at the gate droned, ¡°Next,¡± his voice as lifeless as this sandy abyss. ¡°Welcome to Slaethia. That¡¯ll be six copper for entry,¡± he recited, sounding like he¡¯d rather be anywhere else.
¡°I haven¡¯t a coin to my name,¡± I announced cheerfully, flashing him a grin that probably showed a bit too much teeth.
¡°Name?¡± He didn¡¯t even look up.
¡°Blake. Blake¡ Pudding!¡±
Set him on fire!
Noooooo! Fire bad. Me don¡¯t like fire.
We could just kill him and waltz right in.
Lost in an amusing conversation with the voices in my head¡ªmy voices¡ªwe all giggled as I giggled along with them¡ªwith myself¡ªat the various thoughts racing through.
¡°Origin?¡± he sighed.
¡°Straight outta your momma¡ªI mean, hailing from the grand land of vaaagina¡stan,¡± I said with faux innocence.
He finally glanced at my face, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before the monotony swallowed it again. ¡°Six copper, Blake Pudding of Vagina-stan.¡±
I patted my sides theatrically, as if I had pockets. ¡°Oops! Yeppers, it seems I¡¯m still fresh out of coins.¡±
The guard¡¯s gaze had already drifted elsewhere. I looked behind me¡ªno one. Turning back, I watched as he wandered off to lean against the marble wall, completely disinterested, as though I wasn¡¯t even there.
¡°Well, don¡¯t mind if I do,¡± I chuckled, striding forward. ¡°Nice chat!¡±
He didn¡¯t respond, seeming to go lifeless.
¡°Hey, statue boy, you in there?¡± I waved a hand in front of his face. Nothing. ¡°Guess the lights are on, but nobody¡¯s home,¡± I snickered. ¡°Or maybe the lights are off, and nobody cares.¡±
Hmm... I was seriously suspecting I never actually respawned.
Shaking off the eerie stillness, I strutted through the gate, whistling a jaunty tune, my steps lively with anticipation. What new madness awaited me in this bizarre place? After all, who needs sanity when you''ve got an appetite for the absurd¡ªand boy, was I famished.
B02C03 - Wandering Ghosted
As I stepped through the gate, my foot kissed the cobblestone beyond, and I was met with a vibrant, bustling market that enveloped me like a warm embrace. Activities and lively exchanges spilled generously along the thoroughfare, carving a lively path straight toward a distant, mighty castle. This was no Arabian Nights-esque palace; rather, it was a Sleeping Beauty super-castle, its spires audaciously piercing the heavens.
I all but forgot about my hunger as I took everything in with a sense of wonder and awe.
It¡¯s like a ren fair.
Oh, I loved going to those!
No, I didn¡¯t; I was an antisocial bitch.
¡°Stop calling yourself a bitch¡ªbitch!¡± I snapped at myself, catching a few odd stares from passersby. ¡°What? You never talk to yourself?¡± I scoffed at them, brushing off their puzzled looks.
I was about to go back to taking in all the sights when I noticed a child staring at me. Pretty sure that¡¯s the second kid I¡¯ve seen since coming to this reality. So, of course, I stared back. Although, I¡¯m still not sure if I¡¯m inside the Realm of Dreams right now or not.
Worst.
Respawn.
Ever!
¡°Mommy, why does her head twitch like that?¡± the child asked while trying to hide behind her mother, who moved almost robotically without acknowledging her own child.
My head doesn¡¯t twitch¡ does it?
Ha¡ªwe¡¯re more messed up than we thought!
It¡¯s ¡®I,¡¯ damn it!
There¡¯s a reflection over there.
I pulled my gaze from the kid and glanced at a nearby window, scrutinizing my reflection. Everything seemed normal¡ªuntil my head gave an abrupt, involuntary twitch. It was like something straight out of a creepy horror movie featuring a possessed demonic chick. I liked it, though I¡¯d never admit it. Actually, forget I said that. As far as you¡¯re concerned, my head doesn¡¯t twitch.
¡®I¡¯ think we¡¯ve got some form of Tourette¡¯s now.
It¡¯s just ¡®I¡¯, not... You know what? Fuck it. I don¡¯t care!
Ha! ¡®I¡¯ say that, but we¡¯ll be back to bitching about it next chapter.
¡
¡°Shit,¡± I breathed out as I¡ªum, not¡ªtwitched once more before shrugging it off and returning to take in all the sights again.
Broken.
Always broken.
Wagons and citizens navigated the road with practiced ease. At the same time, laughter and the staggered steps of inebriated patrons spilled from an array of inns. These establishments, huddling near the entrance, boasted upper levels that leaned genially over the streets below, forming a makeshift canopy for the vendors nestled beneath.
In stark contrast to the formidable walls and the castle in the distance, the buildings throughout the city showcased a humble reliance on sandstone, their facades candidly betraying the inhabitants¡¯ endeavors to mimic affluence. Slices of marble were strategically adorned at the fronts of the structures, presenting an illusion¡ªalbeit thinly veiled¡ªof complete marble construction. A select few, undoubtedly the dwellings of the more prosperous, boasted genuine marble from base to pinnacle. Despite the meld of sandstone and marble, there lingered a distinct German medieval aesthetic to the architectural designs, intertwining rugged functionality with quaint charm.
Vendors, unfettered by permanent stalls, hawked their wares straight from worn wagons and well-used wheelbarrows, their goods displayed with casual, easy accessibility.
¡°Out of the way!¡± a voice bellowed from behind, accompanied by the rhythmic clatter of wooden wheels against cobblestone.
Didn¡¯t they have floating wagons in that camp outside of¡
¡°What was the name of that village I blew up?¡± I whispered to the wind, lost in a cascade of thoughts. ¡°Yeastmond, Eastmond, mond¡ªSomething mond¡ no, it was a berge. Wait, witch, stern, molester, easter¡ªElsternwick! Ha, that¡¯s it!¡± My arms shot triumphantly into the air, my exclamation slicing through the market¡¯s steady hum around me.
Yeah, they did have floating wagons.
Why not here?
I bet those enchantments that let wagons float cost a pretty penny.
¡°Out of the way!¡± the voice bellowed once more.
Pivoting, my eyes swept over a vibrant, chaotic swirl of wagons, each one an incongruent bubble of untold tales, rattling assertively through the gate. Every vehicle, a disjointed isle of narratives, held its own against the impatient cobblestones. A serpentine line of fatigued, hopeful faces waited, extending their copper tokens to the steadfast, unimpressed gaze of the gate guard.
Surprisingly enough, a few of the wagons were indeed floating. Each wagon, both floating and grounded, was pulled by an ugly beast that appeared to be a bizarre mix between an ox, a hog, and a camel, complete with a hump and distinctive sand-brown coloration. It was an ugly beast...
¡°I wonder what it would taste like?¡± I mused aloud, a wicked grin spreading across my face, complete with a bit of acidic yellow drool slipping from the corner of my mouth. ¡°Probably chewy, but hey, I¡¯m not picky.¡±
As they trudged past, a tether of perplexing curiosity bound my mind. Where did these fresh arrivals come from¡ªthe ostensibly vacant sands behind me? A mirage, perhaps? After all, I had been the last in line, hadn¡¯t I? Their stories, ephemeral and tantalizing, danced at the fringes of my understanding, teasingly just out of reach.
This is definitely the dream realm messing with my head.
The discordant symphony of bartering voices and the rhythmic pulsations of spilled ale, along with the uneven footfalls of those stumbling out of inns and¡ªoh my, brothels¡ªwhimsically pulled my attention back into the immediate, tangible chaos around me. As all thoughts of whether this place was real or a dream evaporated with a single distracted glance at the brothel¡ª
Titties!
I meandered down the road, my gaze sifting through the array of vendor goods while considering my scant options. Don¡¯t tell my sexy vampire that I may have occasionally glanced back at that brothel a few dozen times.
It¡¯s not cheating if it¡¯s in a dream, right?
Pretty sure it still counts.
Pulling my naughty eyes back to the vendors¡¯ wares, I sighed at being seriously devoid of cash. Yes, I could likely locate someone in a dimly lit back alley, bring about their premature demise, eat them, and snatch their coin, but again¡ I¡¯m absolutely convinced this isn¡¯t real. Moreover, I needed to find my way back to my Aislinn (Aurelia). However¡ I wasn¡¯t sure how to get out of this place.
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Vendors continued their animated sales pitches, pedestrians persisted in their bustling pilgrimage along the thoroughfare, and wagons rumbled by¡ªall blissfully unaware of my existence, which seemed to flutter in and out as though picking and choosing when I was a part of this realm or not.
With a nonchalant shrug, I sidled up to a random vendor. The elf before me was a portrait of indulgence, his belly a prominent dome beneath his stained tunic. His hairline had evidently surrendered to time, retreating from a forehead generously dotted with moles. His teeth, a colorful mosaic of yellows, oranges, and browns, seemed to harbor memories of countless meals past.
The sleaziness of his appearance was something I found splendid. It was clear he was a sleaze bag¡ªI instantly loved him. Well, not love-love him, but more like the way a rancher looks for the best cow to butcher kind of affection.
Amidst his wares¡ªa melancholy collection of aged hand mirrors, each visibly bearing the unkindness of time on their tarnished reflective surfaces¡ªI half-expected to find bloodstains. Sure enough, upon closer scrutiny, speckles of blood adorned a few. Ah, it seemed I¡¯d stumbled upon this reality¡¯s version of a pawn shop, seemingly teeming with stolen goods.
Even if this is a dream, we might be able to get some intel on Elsternwick and what happened after we woke up here.
It¡¯s ¡®I,¡¯ damnit.
Couldn¡¯t wait until the next chapter, could ¡®we¡¯?
Trying to feign interest in his wares, I sparked a conversation with the elf. ¡°I heard the mirrors from Elsternwick are quite desirable. Wouldn¡¯t happen to have any, would you?¡± I cautiously inquired, steering clear of mentioning its destruction.
The slimy vendor blinked a few times, seemingly only just registering my presence. ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve got the finest goods this side of the desert,¡± he responded, his tone carrying the wear of countless repetitions.
My eyebrows knit together. Was he sidestepping the topic of Elsternwick? Pressing, I repeated, ¡°These are¡ fine wares, but what about goods from Elsternwick? Do you have any?¡±
Ugh, I suck at this.
Yeah, you do.
Fuck off!
¡°Ah, I¡¯ve got the finest goods this side of the desert,¡± he parroted again, unflinching.
A frown carved its way across my face as I lifted one of the hand mirrors, my reflection staring back at me. My eyes, almond-shaped, emanated a brilliant orange glow as though they were forged of molten iron. My appearance bore no semblance to my past life. Even as a shape-shifting monster, I found it amusing¡ªor perhaps subconscious¡ªthat I had adopted features from my favorite crushes, an eclectic blend of beloved K-pop singers and Jolie¡¯s lips. Though the result seemed more Latina than I had intended, I was undeniably striking. My complexion was not merely pale but starkly, unnaturally white¡ªakin to fresh snow or, more accurately¡ delicate spider silk.
What happened to looking like Anya Taylor-Joy?
¡°I can¡¯t seem to pick an appearance,¡± I sighed.
My hair, equally spectral, cascaded down to the nape of my lower back in a pallid waterfall of darkness. Despite embodying the appearance of an ethereal horror, a scan of my surroundings confirmed that no one spared me a second glance, even with my conspicuously glowing eyes. Maybe in a reality interwoven with magic, my odd yet gorgeous appearance was less bizarre than it felt internally.
Shit!
What?
Just twitched again.
With a flicker of annoyance, I pulled my gaze from the mirror, only to realize that the cart was now abandoned. The sleazy vendor had vanished, along with his wares. Stranger still, the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the now desolate market street. The remaining vendors, with practiced haste, stowed away their goods and guided their wagons homeward. And there I stood, ensnared in confusion, clutching a silver mirror. Its surface, though tarnished around the edges, was enveloped by meticulously hand-carved grooves.
¡°How long had I been staring at myself?¡± The question escaped my lips, a whispered breath dissolving into the burgeoning twilight. ¡°Whatever,¡± I tossed the mirror over my shoulder, not even bothering to check why I hadn¡¯t heard it shatter.
Definitely a dream.
I sauntered toward a handful of vendors, those who languidly stowed their goods with no particular hurry. Yet, my attempts to engage were met with nothing but disregarding silence. Not a single gaze met mine, as if I, with my ghostly white and black visage, was invisible or perhaps intentionally ignored. My feelings teetered between perplexity and a budding irritation.
As twilight stretched its dimming fingers across the town, a new, lively cascade of individuals swirled into the streets, replacing the daytime bustle with a different, more lascivious energy. Stalls flaunting an array of nocturnal delicacies popped up, catering to the emerging nightlife while I, amidst the growing crowd, remained unseen, unacknowledged.
I wandered, observing scantily clad women whose garments were more absent than present. The numbers had grown compared to the day, stationed seductively outside brothels. Their eyes hungrily scanned the passersby for potential clientele. However, my presence slipped through their scrutiny like water through fingers, not warranting even a fleeting glance. Strangely, it was their disregard that stung the sharpest, a sobering affirmation of my apparent invisibility.
No titties for you!
I could take a dick or three.
Oh, fuck off.
Isn¡¯t that what we¡¯re considering?
¡°Okay, that¡¯s it,¡± I swore aloud, ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± I screamed at the voices in my head, not caring who heard me. In fact, any reaction from those on the street would be great at this point.
Just before my thoughts could spiral into pondering the myriad possibilities of the situation¡ªchaos, randomness, and bickering included¡ªa male voice beside me punctured the silence. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve never seen you here before.¡±
Turning my gaze toward the voice, I found nothing but empty space beside me.
¡°Down here,¡± he prompted.
Casting my eyes downward, a gnome came into view. Goggles were perched atop his head while a pair of large, framed glasses sat upon his nose. He wore a harness that sported an array of trinkets hanging off a belt, including what appeared to be a wrench and a hammer. His entire aesthetic screamed steampunk to me.
¡°Hello?¡± I asked more than greeted.
¡°I haven¡¯t seen you here before,¡± he repeated.
¡°Just got into town,¡± I replied. Before politeness¡ªor even ruthlessness¡ªcould dictate asking for his name or inquiring about Elsternwick, a more pressing curiosity bubbled forth. ¡°Umm...why¡¯s everyone ignoring me?¡±
It¡¯s a dream, that¡¯s why.
Yeah. Seriously Blake.
¡°Oh, they get that way around here with new people,¡± he waved his hand dismissively, ¡°it¡¯s nothing to worry about. They do the same thing to me most of the time. Oh, I¡¯m Nikola, by the way,¡± he smiled, a genuine warmth lighting his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s so nice to meet someone who¡¯ll talk to me,¡± he beamed, his small stature seeming to inflate slightly with the joy of interaction.
¡°Yeah¡ okay,¡± I replied, a frown still tugging at the corners of my mouth amidst my confusion. ¡°Anyways, do you know what happened in Elsternwick?¡±
Nikola¡¯s smile flickered, replaced by a cautious apprehension. ¡°Elsternwick? Never heard of it,¡± he paused, an eerie seriousness filtering through his voice. ¡°What I mean is, I¡¯ve never crossed the desert to know what¡¯s out there. It¡¯s dangerous to cross the desert. A lot of caravans leave, only to never come back,¡± he offered, carefully avoiding eye contact, his fingers nervously toying with a trinket on his belt.
However, my attention shifted as my gaze flitted upwards, eyes locking onto the surreal sight of a wooden hull that unmistakably belonged to what seemed like an old pirate ship. It sailed with a steady, unhurried pace just above the street, its shadow skimming past us and narrowly evading some peculiarly shaped chimneys¡ªa structural feature that felt a tad out of place in a desert city.
Curiosity got the better of me, and my words tumbled out, ¡°How do the airships not crash into the chimneys sailing that low?¡±
Nikola¡¯s eyes followed my gaze upwards, and then, nonchalantly, he replied, ¡°Hmm¡ªoh, those aren¡¯t chimneys, they¡¯re called badgirs. They use them for air circulation to keep the buildings cool. They did the same thing in ancient Persia¡ª¡±
His words cut off as he registered the sharp, focused intensity of my stare. The air between us grew taut, charged with a tangible realization. His awkward chuckle, a feeble attempt to gloss over the seemingly innocent slip, hovered uneasily in the atmosphere.
¡°Persia?¡± My voice held an edge, part accusation, and part inquiry.
He¡¯s from Earth!
Kill him!
What¡ªwhy? No. No. Bad thoughts. Don¡¯t kill¡ Yet.
Nikola fumbled for words, his eyes flitting around before settling back on mine with the reluctance of a cornered cat.
¡°Oh, um... It¡¯s just someplace I heard of once,¡± his voice quivered slightly, laughter forced out like a hiccup, the previous joy now twisted into a nervous twitch. ¡°Not sure it even exists, you know?¡± His awkward chuckle was more telling than any confession.
¡°I see... So, definitely not a spot on any real Earth map, then?¡± I drawled, laying each word out like a trap, watching the tremors flit across his face.
The gnome¡¯s eyes bulged behind his spectacles, mouth dropping open in a perfect ¡®o¡¯ of shock. His tools jangled discordantly as he froze, a shiver¡ªpart fear, part recognition¡ªquivering through him.
¡°Y-You, were Isekai¡¯d too?¡± His whisper barely reached my ears, swept away by the night¡¯s whispers.
As the magical city¡¯s nocturnal life swirled around us, a silent accord wove our stories together, stitching reality with the threads of the unreal.
Which one of you shattered pieces is getting all fancy with the narrative?
Shut it, I¡¯m into it!
Amid the din of revelry and drunken shuffles, a spectral flicker at the edge of my vision snagged my attention¡ªa hint of pink that cut through the chaos like a neon sign in the fog. While I kept one eye on Nikola, the other tracked the delicate, out-of-place figure of a little girl draped in vibrant pink, her stare heavy with an inky darkness that tickled the fringes of my sanity.
Pulling my full focus away from Nikola to where the girl had been, I found only the drunken dance of the crowd.
¡°Did you see a little girl in pink?¡± I blurted out, more to the night than to him.
Silence.
I snapped my gaze back, but Nikola had vanished into the night, swallowed up like a secret. Whirling around, I scanned the thronging streets, hunting for any sign of the gnome or the girl¡ªa quest through a tapestry of magic, shadows, and fleeting glimpses.
¡°Well¡ Shit,¡± I sighed, frustration knitting my brows.
All this drama for some help I supposedly need? Please.
I don¡¯t need help.
Oh, ¡®we¡¯ need help¡ªprofessional help.
Zip it! I just need to find my way back to Aislinn.
B02C04 - Dreaming of Adventure
¡°That damn gnome,¡± I grumbled. ¡°He went full Houdini on me.¡±
I mean, seriously, picture this: bumping into another Earthling¡ªwhose soul got yanked right outta Earth¡ªa seismic holy shit moment in this magical dumpster fire of a dimension. And then... poof! The dude vanishes like a fart in the wind. Seriously, what the actual fuck?!
I bet he was only here dreaming.
Nah, he¡¯s totally a haunting spirit. Wooooooo and all.
Maybe I should find him and dissect him. For food¡ªI mean, science.
Yeah, for science!
¡°Shut. Up! I¡¯m not dissecting anyone... yet.¡±
The nightlife began to exhale its final breaths as the midnight veil thickened. Staggering figures, too broke to linger in the warmth of brothels and inns, spilled onto the streets. They swayed, their inebriated bodies navigating familiar paths¡ªperhaps toward waiting spouses, or perhaps toward a nice, dark alley where I could have a little... snack.
I leaned against a nearby wall, the rough surface pressing into my back as I chewed over my options.
Two main thoughts swirled in my head: the gnome was gone¡ªfor now¡ªand I was hungry. Oh! And I needed a plan... My end goal? A ticket back to Aislinn. But first, priorities: food!
That¡¯s way more than two thoughts.
I rolled my eyes at my own voices. Honestly, I can be such a smartass with myself at times.
If this is truly the dream realm, I doubt eating someone will actually satisfy me... but only one way to find out!
¡°Yep! Only one way to find out,¡± I sang, peeling myself off the wall. ¡°Time for a little midnight stroll.¡±
Heck, maybe some poor sucker would try to mug me. Wouldn¡¯t that be delightful? A guilt-free pass to Slaughterville. A low chuckle bubbled up from me, savoring the delicious thought.
Like we ever feel guilt.
It¡¯s just ¡®I,¡¯ how many times do we have to say it?
¡
¡°Am I psychotic?¡± I mused aloud to the cool night breeze, a sly grin spreading across my face.
Yes!
Yep!
Absolutely!
Duh.
I rolled my eyes at the chorus of voices in my head. Well, I tried to ignore them, but they¡¯re persistent little bastards.
¡°What happened to sticking to two factions?¡± I huffed. ¡°Having one¡¯s mind and soul shattered and then glued back together really isn¡¯t good for one¡¯s sanity,¡± I muttered with a shake¡ªor perhaps a twitch¡ªof my head. But there was no real annoyance or anger in my words.
Nope, I was too hungry and too insane to care about the small details.
A theatrical slump of my shoulders, and off I went¡ªa nocturnal wanderer through the dim-lit city, serving a convincing portrayal of a damsel not exactly in distress. Honestly, I wasn¡¯t. But hey, a girl¡¯s gotta do what a girl¡¯s gotta do to get jumped, am I right?
Strolling with ostentatiously feeble steps, I cast sidelong glances at the sparse passersby, inviting calamity with eyes wide and deliberately vulnerable. And nothing. Not even a half-hearted side-eye in return. Apparently, my bait was as tempting as leftover macaroni salad at a barbecue.
Sigh.
It¡¯s tough being ignored when you¡¯re practically begging to be a victim.
¡°Ugh, I ain¡¯t ugly, am I?¡±
Hell no!
I¡¯d totally sit on my own face if I could.
¡°Hmm, as a Black Pudding... that might actually be doable,¡± I mused, letting those slightly raunchy thoughts simmer a moment longer before shooing them away with a smirk and another sigh.
Must¡¯ve been close to three in the morning¡ªassuming mornings here even work the way I remember¡ªas I meandered, slightly aimless, through the shadowy city streets. Honestly, I was pretty clueless about how many hours made up a day in this bizarre place. My steps kept a solitary beat against the cobblestone, each tap a soft, sardonic reminder of a plan going sideways. Not a single thief or even a lecherous gaze had crossed my path.
I mean, seriously, what¡¯s a girl gotta do to get some unwanted attention in this town? There has to be at least one pervy predator lurking around here.
¡°Come on, universe, throw me a frickin¡¯ bone!¡±
He-he. Hehe! We said ¡®bone.¡¯
A distant clamor of laughter and the buzzing of vibrant chatter teased my ears, pulling me from my self-pitying haze. It emanated from an imposing yet peculiarly out-of-place building nestled among its modest neighbors. It loomed¡ªa curious blend of a capitol building and something straight out of mythical Greece.
What¡¯s up with the architecture?
Yeah! It¡¯s like, pick a design. Are they going with medieval, Greek, or Persian?
Is that a pagoda over there? It sort of looks like a pagoda.
¡°That¡¯s not a pagoda,¡± I rolled my eyes.
My wandering thoughts weren¡¯t wrong. This entire kingdom was a mixture of all kinds of structures¡ªa melting pot of culture and design. And yet, the only species I could spot were elves, humans¡ªsorry, humyns¡ªdwarves, and gnomes...
Um... I suppose that just answered my own question.
Curiosity pulled me up the stately steps and through the expectant, yawning doors. Inside, a hive of mirth and sloshed camaraderie greeted me, the air rich with the hearty, familiar scent of ale. Folks lounged at scattered tables, their laughter and banter stitching a vibrant tapestry of revelry across the space. Others huddled, their eyes dancing excitedly over a large board. Yet amidst the sea of jubilant chaos, a lone humyn male leaned nonchalantly against a counter, his eyes narrating a silent, vivid tale of profound and all-encompassing boredom¡ªan isolated island in an ocean of cheerful uproar.
A surprising bustle of people, considering the supposed wee hours, surrounded me¡ªall immersed in their laughter and sips. Yet, strangely, not a single person¡ªdwarves included¡ªappeared overly sloshed. My brows furrowed in mild confusion, and involuntarily, my head twitched as I pivoted around the room, trying to digest the peculiar atmosphere, until a shock of sunlight from the doorway behind me struck me rigid.
Sunlight? But wasn¡¯t it just the dead of night?
My broken mind churned, grappling between the logical and the ludicrous. Was I freezing in thought longer than I realized, or am I suffering from a brain tumor? Giving my head a gentle shake¡ªor was that another twitch?¡ªI decided to shelve those bizarre thoughts for later and sidled deeper into the lively building.
But who am I kidding? I already knew what was going on. Heck, I¡¯ve been saying it the entire time. Perhaps a part of me was in denial¡ªdoubtful¡ªbut I was finally ready to officially declare it.
I muttered under my breath, ¡°Fucking dream realm.¡±
It¡¯s the Realm of Dreams!
Tomato, tomahto.
My gaze drifted toward the board¡ªa canvas splattered with slips of paper¡ªno, wait, parchment?¡ªeach pinned neatly with what looked like undecipherable, squiggly script. I blinked, and fragments of meaning began to click into place. Weird. Another blink, and clarity wove itself into the foreign letters.
Before my mind could spiral down the rabbit hole of confusion, Polyglot kicked in, revealing the contents of the board: Bounties!
Each bounty varied¡ªfrom monsters to individuals, and even for gathering various flora and materials. Typical fantasy world adventurer shit.
A mischievous grin spread across my face. A lightbulb flickered in my brain.
¡°Wait a sec... Could I be... an adventurer?¡± I whispered, disbelief and excitement mingling in my voice.
Yeah, in your dreams!
A round of mocking laughter echoed in my head, causing me to frown.
I¡¯ve watched enough anime to know how these fantasy worlds operate¡ªor at least pretend I do. Navigating a magical realm likely boils down to two main clich¨¦s: first, enroll in a magical academy.
Because sitting through lectures on wand-waving and potion brewing sounds like a blast.
How many of our thoughts are sarcastic? Because that was totally sarcastic.
Cue the eye roll!
Ignoring the voices in my head, I went back to contemplating the idea of a magical academy. The thought of going back to school made me shiver. Been there, flunked that back on Earth. So that¡¯s a solid ¡°hell no!¡±
Second, join an adventurer¡¯s guild. Now that option at least sounds like a lot of fun. Of course, I know none of this is real¡ªit¡¯s all just a twisted figment of my overactive imagination¡ªbut that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not going to have a bit of fun before finding my way back to the waking world and, more importantly, back to my sexy vampire.
Um... I don¡¯t think the Realm of Dreams works off our overactive imagination.
How would you know?
That¡¯s my point! ¡®I¡¯ don¡¯t.
While marooned in this realm, a plethora of mischievous thoughts pranced through my scrambled brain¡ªwhy not commandeer an airship or kidnap a princess? After all, embracing the role of a pirate queen or a notorious villain could add a thrilling twist to my adventure.
But I tossed those ideas into the ¡®maybe another day¡¯ file. For now, tackling one or two adventuring quests wouldn¡¯t hurt. After all, when life¡ªor a twisted dream¡ªhands you a fantasy world, why not play along? Besides, I needed some sort of escape after being stuck in a dungeon after being isekai¡¯d. Just think of this as my much-deserved vacation arc!
Oh! Oh! Like how every isekai anime gets a bikini episode!
Wait, is this our bikini episode?
¡°I really hate myself sometimes,¡± I groaned, rolling my eyes at my own scatterbrained thoughts.
Thus, my adventuring arc began... albeit, all within a dream.
¡°Fuck!¡± I exclaimed, a sly grin creeping onto my face. ¡°This only reinforces the idea that I¡¯m totally batshit insane, doesn¡¯t it?¡±
Yes!
Yep!
Absolutely!
Duh.
The chorus of voices in my head didn¡¯t miss a beat, each more enthusiastic than the last.
Shaking my head at... well, myself, I sighed, the words slipping out before I could stop them. ¡°I miss Aislinn.¡±
A black, oozing tear slid down my cheek. ¡°Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake,¡± I muttered, wiping it away with a swift swipe. No time for this emo crap. I shrugged it off, straightening up as I directed my steps toward the counter and the glaringly disinterested humyn man behind it.
But, as luck¡ªor my recent lack thereof¡ªwould have it, my arrival at the counter failed to register on his radar. Not even an insincere, half-hearted ¡°How may I help you?¡± Nothing. Nada.
¡°Hey!¡± I coughed pointedly. ¡°Any chance I could get a smidge of attention here?¡± I waved my hand slightly, my voice laced with feigned cheerfulness that barely masked my burgeoning irritation.
...My dreamland adventuring arc wasn¡¯t off to a great start.
His eyes blinked open, a faint, distant look clouding them as if he¡¯d momentarily wandered off into La-La Land. ¡°Hmm, oh,¡± he murmured, bland neutrality returning to his expression. ¡°How may I help you?¡±
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Clipping my words with a mix of annoyance and stark curiosity, I declared, ¡°I¡¯d like to join.¡±
A response lumbered out of him, slow and dreadfully monotone. ¡°After your mock battle, I have you listed as a copper rank. You may accept bounties of a copper rank from the board. Thank you and...¡± He stifled a yawn. ¡°Have a wonderful adventure.¡±
His disconnected demeanor wore at my patience. ¡°I didn¡¯t do a mock battle,¡± I retorted, biting back the urge to rip out his intestines¡ªquite literally, I might add. What? I was hungry.
His eyes, dull and distant, never quite met mine. ¡°Thank you and have a wonderful adventure,¡± he repeated, words not truly meant for me, even though I stood alone at the counter.
My cheeks puffed as I muffled ¡°What the hell¡± past my lips. But, you know, whatever. If he didn¡¯t give a damn, why should I stress? Apparently, La-La Land had green-lit me to snatch up any bounty that caught my eye¡ªso long as it was copper-ranked. Fingers crossed they weren¡¯t all ¡°pick flowers¡± or other yawn-worthy fetch quests.
I giggled with chaotic excitement as I pivoted away from the sleepy asshole and faced... well, nothing. Abandoned, pristinely clean tables stared back at me, the emptiness feeling overly haunting. Peering outside the open doors, I noticed the sneaky night had enveloped the world again. My eyebrows knitted together, fingers idly twirling a loose strand of hair as the cogs in my brain clunked and clattered, trying to piece together the weirdness of the dream realm.
¡°Guess the sanity train has officially left the station,¡± I mumbled to myself, half-amused, half-exasperated.
Sanity?
I never needed it anyway.
In the half-light of the empty room, an unexpected splash of color snagged my attention: a girl, no older than six, with a wild mass of rebellious curls streaked with pink highlights that flickered in and out of existence.
Just perfect¡ªa creepy kid to top off this circus.
Her skin, fading into cold and cracked charcoal, drank in the room¡¯s dim light. And her eyes¡ªoh, those eyes! They were an abyss, deep and fathomless, promising endless darkness.
Well, isn¡¯t that just peachy.
Draped in a dress as pink as the transient streaks in her hair, she sat there, her expression teetering between a smirk and a scowl.
Make up your mind, sweetheart¡ªare you plotting world domination or did someone steal your lollipop?
¡°Am I the only one seeing this?¡± I muttered, confusion stitching through my fractured mind. Of course, no answer. Figures.
Turning back toward the counter, I was greeted by an abyss where the man had once been¡ªhis absence a silent, suffocating void in the otherwise empty room.
¡°What the hell?¡± I spun back to where the little girl had been, expecting... I don¡¯t know, spooky empty air? Instead, I was smacked in the face by a wall of hearty laughter and the rich, golden glow of sunbeams cheerfully filtering through the front door. My eyebrows might¡¯ve shot into my hairline¡ªwasn¡¯t it just night a second ago?
¡°Alright, this is some bullshit,¡± I grumbled, massaging my temples.
Puzzled, I peeked back at the counter. Lo and behold, Mr. Bored-and-Ignoring-Everything was now Mr. Bright-Eyed-and-Bushy-Tailed, his face stretched into a grin that screamed, ¡°How may I assist you today?¡±
¡°Okay, which cheeky god did I piss off this time?¡± I muttered under my breath.
...Silence.
With an exasperated sigh, I sauntered over to the board, a curse or two slipping out. A subtle ripple of eyes from the surrounding adventurers tossed my way, making me suspect that my tiny-terrifying-girl culprit theory just won the crazy lottery.
Mental note: schedule a heart-to-heart with the mini-horror at some point¡ªkids, seriously, who needs ¡¯em? But a duel of wits with a possibly divine tween would have to wait in line; first, I¡¯ve got more important things¡ªlike my first quest!
He-he! Bikini arc!
No¡ªthis is my adventurer arc!
Important might be overstating it a smidge. Wanted was more accurate. Besides, the thrill of embarking on a legitimate, magic-dusted quest was tickling me in all the right places. I mean, an actual adventure in a full-tilt magical world¡ªerm, dream world. Jackpot!
Oh, and let¡¯s not forget that steampunk-y gnome. So, priorities: one, kill someone¡ªuh, find food that isn¡¯t a hallucination. Two, track down Mr. Goggles. Three, main goal: find a way back to Aislinn. And let¡¯s sprinkle in a number four: have a little chat with Creepy Little Miss.
Ugh, back to task number one: the good ol¡¯ quest board.
Wasn¡¯t number one find food?
Shut up! I want to do a quest.
¡°Alright, what have we got here? Snag some cinnamon dew from a desert beetle¡¯s underbelly¡ªten copper per ounce. Nab a few desert rats¡ªtwenty copper per rat. Gather lizard tails at three copper per tail...¡± My voice droned as I scanned the list. ¡°And ah, of course, pluck a flower that has the decency to bloom only at the crack of dawn¡ªall for a shiny silver,¡± I ended, dripping with sarcasm.
I wonder which one of those would taste the best: beetle, rat, or lizard?
Weren¡¯t we going to eat a person?
Shh! Details.
A puzzled frown knitted my brows. ¡°How many coppers to a silver, again?¡± I grumbled.
¡°Hundred,¡± chimed in a female dwarf beside me, her beard gloriously braided in a way that almost made me forget my hunger. She leaned back, crossing her arms over her sturdy chest, offering a knowing, somewhat patronizing smirk. ¡°Easy peasy, right? Cozy-like pattern it is¡ªhundred copper to a silver, hundred silver to gold, an¡¯ so on, right up to mithril, all in tidy hundreds, so it is.¡±
I arched an eyebrow, skeptically surveying her face. Did she just explain the economy with ¡®easy peasy¡¯?
She leaned in, eyes twinkling with playful mischief. ¡°Now, when ye get te talkin¡¯ mana crystals, lass¡ªoh, that¡¯s where the plot gets lost, it does. Gets all wibbly-wobbly like a feathered donkey, dunnit? Ye¡¯ve got potency, charge, an¡¯ all that mystical ballyhoo, and then¡ªwhoosh!¡± Her hands exploded outward, emphasizing her point. ¡°Any semblance o¡¯ straightforward¡¯s up the forge chimney!¡±
I blinked, struggling to process her thick accent and failing miserably. Where was Polyglot right now?
What the fuck did she just say?
Hmmm¡ I wonder what she tastes like?
Stop being a pervert!
I was being sadistic.
I continued blinking, momentarily thrown off. Sure, the ¡®hundred¡¯ bit landed¡ªI got the whole hundred-for-each-coin spiel. But the mana crystals part? Lost. Still, something told me that asking for clarification would only spiral into deeper confusion. So, with a polite nod and a mumbled, ¡°Thanks,¡± I chose the path of least resistance.
¡°Aye, ye¡¯re more than welcome,¡± she beamed, eyes dancing with dwarven mischief. ¡°Ain¡¯t ever laid eyes on an albino humyn before. Usually, ye find ¡¯em amongst them dark elves¡ªnasty pieces o¡¯ work, them. Same can be said ¡¯bout the snow elves.¡± Her face scrunched into a momentary scowl. But like spring chasing away winter, her grin sprang back. ¡°Me mates and I, we¡¯re gearin¡¯ up fer a bit of a monster hunt, y¡¯see. Got wind of a wee drake stirrin¡¯ trouble outside the walls. Could always use an extra mage, if ye¡¯re lookin¡¯ fer work. Ye are a mage, aren¡¯t ye? With them glowin¡¯ eyes an¡¯ all,¡± she queried, gaze sharp yet filled with mischief.
Adventure!
¡°I am,¡± I replied, a sly smile tugging at my lips.
My gaze lingered on the woman, absorbing the details that sketched her presence. First, the beard¡ªan artful cascade of blonde braids, whispering tales of adventures through sly streaks of gray woven stealthily yet proudly throughout its length. It tumbled down, gracing her form and ending just shy of her waist. Then those eyes¡ªvivid green, gleaming with a mischievous twinkle that quietly promised stories of battle lust and hearty ale beneath their playful veneer. Her armor, with a sheen reminiscent of polished silver even amidst the dim, flickering tavern light, bore witness to countless campaigns, seamlessly melding the new with the old. And there, nonchalantly slung over her shoulder, a battleaxe whispered of battles bygone and yet to come, its edge gleaming with muted threat and promise.
Every inch of her echoed the quintessential dwarf, as if she¡¯d strolled straight out of Tolkien¡¯s imagination¡ªyet something soft, a secretive mirth, lingered in her gaze, whispering of tales yet unsung.
Her lips curled into a mischievous grin, her head tilting ever so slightly. In a playful, lilting murmur, she said, ¡°Takin¡¯ a gander, are we, lass? Won¡¯t lie, I¡¯ve warmed the bedroll with a few elves and humyn lads, even a gnome or two, but never a humyn lass¡ªand certainly not an albino at that. What say ye, fancy bein¡¯ me first?¡±
I blinked, her boldness planting my feet firmly in a moment of stunned silence. ¡°Umm, what?¡±
A fleeting thought of ticking an item off my own bucket list fluttered through my mind. But until I was securely entwined with Aislinn again, I wasn¡¯t venturing into anyone else¡¯s pants.
Her laughter, hearty and unabashed, filled the space between us. ¡°Ah, just yankin¡¯ yer tits, lass. They call me Grimmail,¡± she declared, her grin wide enough to rival the Cheshire cat.
¡°Blake,¡± I said, after a moment of inner turmoil over whether I wanted to kill her right here and now or not. ¡°A pleasure, Grimmail. Your offer¡ªI¡¯m in.¡±
A slow, suggestive purr eased from Grimmail. ¡°Oh, in that case, I wouldn¡¯t mind getting me hands acquainted with ye. We¡¯ll have so much fun slaying that fire-breathing drake!¡±
My eyebrows shot up as I felt a slap on my backside, followed by extensive groping¡ªnot just a single ass cheek; she was all up in there. ¡°What? Drake? No, no¡ªfire bad,¡± I cried out.
What the fuck is happening?
Are we going to get it on with a bearded lady?
Why not? It¡¯s not cheating if it¡¯s in a dream, right?
A vibrant chorus of cheers erupted from both the adventurers populating the guild hall and the voices in my head as I skillfully wriggled free from her lecherous grasp.
¡°Aw, now ye¡¯ve gone and got me nethers all in a twist,¡± she pouted, mischief sparkling in her eyes. ¡°But aye, we could really be usin¡¯ an extra mage,¡± she conceded, a playful grin dancing across her face. Sighing dramatically, she stretched onto her tiptoes, reaching as high as her stout frame would allow, and snatched a bounty from the board.
Ugh! This ass belongs to Aislinn, dammit!
She wouldn¡¯t mind.
Shut it!
Booooo!
Safely out of Grimmail¡¯s reach¡ªand honestly, given her dwarf size, it wasn¡¯t too hard¡ªI watched her take the parchment to the counter. They dove into an animated exchange, which I tuned out, letting my eyes and thoughts wander. I mean, today was wild. Respawning¡ªerm, waking within the dream¡ªin a winter wonderland, somehow ending up in a desert, crossing paths with a creepy child ghost or goddess, questioning my sanity, bumping into another Earthling, and then losing them again. Oh, and being felt up by a dwarf woman¡ªthat was an unexpected tick on the bucket list.
So, all in all? Not a bad day, weirdly entertaining, even. Next up? Fighting a drake with a merry band of adventurers. Now, if only my woman was here, this would be the perfect dream come true.
My thoughts were yanked back to reality by a firm hand patting the lower curve of my backside. ¡°Aye, ye done daydreamin¡¯, lass? We¡¯ve got a drake that¡¯s waitin¡¯ to be slain,¡± Grimmail said, her hand lingering with assured familiarity. ¡°The others are meetin¡¯ us outside the gates.¡±
Slipping free of her unyielding grip, I asked, ¡°How many are in your group?¡±
¡°Oh, we¡¯re a snug, naughty bunch of five, ain¡¯t we? Though there¡¯s always a nook fer one more. We¡¯ve got a catcher, a fister, and a healer¡ªalways cozy to have ¡¯round after the rough stuff, ye ken? And dinnae ferget our grizzled auld man. He mostly just watches. Me? I¡¯m the pounder,¡± Grimmail declared, her finger embarking on a bold nasal journey, followed by a flagrantly indulgent sniff of two digits. ¡°We best shuffle along, else the old coot¡¯ll blow his top, eh?¡±
Holy shit, she¡¯s in a party full of swingers!
Sweet!
I froze, disbelief anchoring me to the spot. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I was no innocent flower. I¡¯ve done stuff, embarked on my fair share of wild escapades¡ªan ex-boyfriend¡¯s mom, two girls, a guy, and me with a harness. That¡¯s just naming a few. Yet my loyalty to Aislinn was non-negotiable.
Ugh, I hope that doesn¡¯t make me boring now!
Who let the boring soul shard at the helm? Get her out and bring back the freak!
¡°Catcher, fister, and a pounder?¡± I blurted, my eyebrows shooting upwards. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m into all that. I¡¯m already in a relationship,¡± I continued, inching backward cautiously.
When has that ever stopped us?
Yeah! I¡¯m down for a fisting!
¡°Oh, would you all shut it?¡± I snapped.
Grimmail squinted, a brief moment of confusion flickering across her face before she burst into hearty laughter. ¡°For the gods¡¯ sake, lass! Wha¡¯r the terms ye humyns use, eh? Ah, defender... umm, tha¡¯ hand-t''-hand loonie warrior, and healer, then wizard, and me, a pure offense type,¡± she paused, seemingly replaying the words in her head before nodding assuredly.
¡°¡Sure,¡± was my only reply.
¡°Aye, it be true,¡± she insisted, wiping away a stray tear from her laughter. ¡°C¡¯mon, lass, we¡¯ve others t¡¯ meet, but first, I need t¡¯ grab a few things.¡±
I tipped my head in a nod, shadowing the rowdy dwarf out of the adventurers¡¯ guild, my hips swerving just in time to dodge her fast hand aiming for another cheeky grab at my rear.
That¡¯s it, she¡¯s my next meal.
Ya! Eat her out! Eat her out!
Ha! I knew the pervert was still alive within us!
At times, I really hated how I had no control over my own thoughts.
There I was, jaunting off to slay a drake¡ªan honest-to-gods, fire-breathing beast! Inside, my teenage self was performing jubilant somersaults, and adult me? Yeah, I was all in for the acrobatic revelry. Although, I¡¯d be lying if I claimed the fire part didn¡¯t worry me¡ªbut hey, it¡¯s just a dream, right?
¡°So, what items are you getting?¡± My curiosity piqued; I wondered about the common things adventurers might grab before a quest.
¡°Ye know, th¡¯ basics. Food, water, ¡®specially water out in these parts. Our healer¡¯s got some nice water spells, but ye can ne¡¯er be too careful, aye? Somethin¡¯ happens t¡¯ the healer, the whole party¡¯s done fer if ye rely too much on ¡¯em,¡± Grimmail paused, a shadow crossing her features. ¡°Seen it happen too many times, I have.¡±
¡°Oh, that does make sense,¡± I said, leaning in with a friendly, curious grin. ¡°Any chance your healer might give me a quick crash course on healing spells? Gotta admit, my knowledge there is embarrassingly non-existent.¡±
Fuck healing!
Grimmail gave her head a thoughtful scratch, brows furrowing in contemplation. ¡°Mebbe, but don¡¯t be expectin¡¯ too much, aye? Castin¡¯ ain¡¯t really in me wheelhouse, if ye get me drift.¡±
I blinked, taken aback. ¡°Really? I kinda thought everyone here was doing... I don¡¯t know, magical things all the time.¡±
A wry smirk tugged at her lips. ¡°Nah, lass. We¡¯ve all got our own little tricks, but me? I funnel mana right inta these here muscles.¡± She flexed, her biceps bulging even under the sturdy armor. ¡°Makes me axe light and me limbs sturdy as mithril.¡±
I blurted out my next question, unable to contain the bubbling curiosity. ¡°But if magic isn¡¯t a one-size-fits-all thing, how does casting with ambient mana work?¡±
Her eyes twinkled with amused surprise. ¡°Lassie, ye really are green, ain¡¯t ye? No one, not even them high and mighty gods, can wrangle the mana just floatin¡¯ about. Ye gotta absorb it first¡ªthrough yer skin, food, or naturally while ye kip. Only those fabled beings, the three Primordials and the Titans, ever claimed to work the world¡¯s magic directly, but that¡¯s all bedtime stories an¡¯ legend, innit?¡± Her chuckle was a warm, friendly rumble¡ªa nonjudgmental tease between newfound comrades.
I maintained a stoic poker face, choosing not to reveal my own abilities in ambient mana-casting, nor the fact that I possessed the shattered soul of a Titan, pieced together with divinity... and housed in the twisted form of an Eldritch. Seriously, at this point, I was essentially a patchwork of arcane oddities pulled from myths and legends.
I trailed behind Grimmail, weaving through stalls as she picked up goods, nonchalantly stuffing them into a tiny pouch on her hip. Dimensional storage, I wagered. I felt a tug of temptation to access my own spatial skill just for kicks but swiftly nixed the idea. My skill, Stellar Void, involved a ghastly act that looked alarmingly like I was rending open my own chest cavity¡ªbecause, well, I literally was. Definitely not the kind of casual parlor trick to whip out while masquerading as humyn.
Didn¡¯t we see something about losing that skill?
Wait¡ªwhat?
I quickly breathed out, ¡°Status,¡± hoping to see my status page and list of skills, but nothing popped up. Panic began to set in.
Maybe the system doesn¡¯t work in the dream realm?
¡°Maybe,¡± I replied to my own thoughts, feeling a bit nervous now.
Our stroll through the city lasted over an hour, and¡ªmiraculously¡ªnothing out of the ordinary occurred. No abrupt transitions from day to night, no bizarre events; it was just a typical shopping trip. Passersby nodded greetings, treating me like any ordinary Jane.
The earlier unsettling oddness of the place seemed to have dissipated, yet I remained vigilant, keeping an eye out for the eerie child and my fellow Earthling trapped in a gnome¡¯s body. As we meandered, another peculiarity piqued my curiosity.
Dodging yet another of Grimmail¡¯s groping attempts¡ªignoring the cacophony of protests from my internal voices¡ªI quirked a brow and casually asked, ¡°Hey, where are all the children?¡±
I already knew the answer, but the question slipped out more from reflex than from any genuine curiosity.
She gave me a look as if I¡¯d been living under a rock. Her hand paused mid-air, then dropped to her side. ¡°Ah, wee ones are a rare sight. We all have a habit of stickin¡¯ ¡¯round a verra long time, only meetin¡¯ our end by mishap or misadventure, y¡¯know. Some say it¡¯s the magic that¡¯s saturatin¡¯ the air. Others reckon Death herself¡¯s turned her back,¡± she confided, her frown deepening as another sneak attack on my posterior failed. ¡°As fer the wee ones, a lot of the gods-fearin¡¯ folk are of the mind that without the Primordial of Life, the whole cycle of reincarnation¡¯s gone askew. But, t¡¯ me, that¡¯s all just tales an¡¯ musings.¡±
Racking my brain, I could only recall crossing paths with one child: the bunny-eared girl whose dad... well, ended up as my dinner. ¡°There must¡¯ve been others,¡± I muttered, thinking back to that kid I saw who pointed out that my head occasionally twitches¡ªbut that was here, within the dream realm, so I¡¯m not sure if she counted. Momentarily dropping my guard¡ªwhich, of course, Grimmail took as an invitation¡ªI snapped, ¡°Hey! Quit it.¡±
¡°Ah, can¡¯t help it,¡± Grimmail chortled, her hand unwilling to abort its mission. ¡°It¡¯s all soft an¡¯ squishy-like. Why¡¯re ye hidin¡¯ it under that black dress of yers? Ye oughta be flauntin¡¯ it, ye know, the way them barbarian types do,¡± she suggested, her grin wide and hand unyielding.
With a mixture of lingering annoyance and begrudging amusement, I followed the shameless dwarf beyond the city gates, embarking on a path that would lead us to her party¡ªand, inevitably, the drake.
I¡¯m going to be a real adventurer!
It doesn¡¯t count if it¡¯s in a dream!
Fuck off, it still counts! Just shut up and let us savor this, will you?
B02C05 - Ghosts of the Past
So here I am, tailing this eccentric dwarf lady¡ªViking-style beard, insistent groping habit, the whole deal¡ªmarching us toward the city gates and beyond. What could possibly go wrong? If she grabs my ass one more time, I could yank her arm off, rip open her belly, and savor her intestines while she serenades me with screams. But honestly? I¡¯m curious to see how this so-called dream plays out. If it turns out boring, I don¡¯t mind flipping the script into a nightmare.
There¡¯s something oddly familiar about her, though... Nah, probably nothing. Apparently, we¡¯re off to have a not-so-friendly showdown with a drake, along with some of her buddies I haven¡¯t met yet. Pretty sure this is how a horror movies start. But hey, I¡¯ve never seen a horror flick set in a magic-filled dreamscape before, so... odds are in my favor, right? At the very least, I should get points for originality.
Isn¡¯t this just the plot to Elm Street?
...No?
Ugh, don''t even get me started on the voices in my head. I used to talk to myself, but now... I actually am. Worse still, all the voices are me, so I can''t tell which thoughts are mine and which are... well, also mine. I was shattered into so many pieces it''s not even worth counting, and each one seems to have its own voice. Thankfully, I can feel some of them merging back into those factions I mentioned, but that''s hardly a sure thing.
You idiot, they''re bored already!
Yeah, genius, tell them something they don''t know.
¡ªAnd make it snappy. We''ve got chaos to unleash.
Talk about maddening. It''s like trying new meds¡ªyou¡¯re disoriented, hating every moment, but after a while, they grow on you in the worst possible way. Then, when you finally kick them, you realize just how spectacularly awful they were. Or... nah, scratch that. Comparing it to getting back with an ex is an even worse analogy.
At least the meds had some effect. What''s your excuse?
Oh snap! She went there.
Can we please focus? There''s a dream world to unsettle.
POINT BEING! I''m still somewhat functional after the whole shattered soul and mind situation... right? RIGHT!
Shit, girl¡ªYoU cRaZy!
AHaHaHaHaHa¡ªhEeHeEhEeHeE¡ªmUaHaHaHaHaHa!
I sighed and then joined in the cacophony of hysterical laughter echoing in my head, my giggles spiraling into uncontrollable cackles. The dwarf shot me a sideways glance as her hand patted my ass in some twisted form of comfort, but I was too wrapped up in the madness to care.
¡°How far until we meet up with your merry band of drake slayers?¡± I finally blurted out between chuckles, wiping away a few black, gooey tears. ¡°I feel like we¡¯ve been walking for hours.¡±
Seriously, has this woman never heard of horses? Camels?
Heck, I¡¯d settle for a stubborn jackass at this point¡ªanything but this endless, relentless walking.
The dwarven woman shot me a backward glance. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re but a third o¡¯ the way, lassie. But don¡¯t ye fret,¡± she somehow managed to say with an impeccably straight face, a mischievous twinkle betraying her, ¡°if ye¡¯re needin¡¯ a wee breather, I¡¯ve no qualms settin¡¯ up a tent for a cozy bit o¡¯ rest fer the two of us.¡±
¡°No! No¡ªnope. I¡¯m good, no need for any of that! Onward, shall we?¡±
¡°Aye, ye don¡¯t need to be woundin¡¯ me heart like that,¡± Grimmail pouted. ¡°I¡¯m not seekin¡¯ a relationship or anythin¡¯ with a humyn. Just a bit o¡¯ fun in the desert,¡± she grinned. ¡°Ye know what they say: what happens in the desert stays in the desert. Well, unless it¡¯s between a man and a woman; in that case, sometimes ye bring home a wee one. Done that a few too many times before comin¡¯ to this realm,¡± she chuckled, albeit a bit bitterly, before attempting¡ªand failing¡ªto swat at my backside.
¡°I thought you said children are rare?¡±
¡°Aye, that they be. I managed t¡¯have thirteen before my world was pulled to this realm,¡± the dwarf said as she scratched at her beard. ¡°That puts me in a tie for the most births any dwarf, humyn, or elf has had on written record since any of our homes were brought here.¡±
¡°Your homes were brought here?¡±
Duh, we already know this shit.
Nothing wrong with a lore recap!
Grimmail glanced over, eyebrows hitched high. ¡°Where¡¯ve ye been dwellin¡¯, lass? Every soul¡¯s home world was yanked right outta their reality to become one o¡¯ the countless moons o¡¯ V?lusp¨¢. Some moons be draped in elves, others in various kin o¡¯ dwarfs, gnomes, or humyns, an¡¯ others yet with creatures from the darkest nightmares: orcs, goblins... even ones with those bloody vampires. An¡¯ then there¡¯re those with monsters that¡¯d freeze yer blood to stone just by lookin¡¯ at them.
¡°Theories an¡¯ religions, they¡¯re aplenty regardin¡¯ the ¡®why¡¯ of it all, but none can lay claim to true knowin¡¯. The gods, they haven¡¯t spared us a word. All I ken for sure is more souls are passin¡¯ on than are bein¡¯ birthed into this realm. Were it not fer new worlds joinin¡¯ our moons, all life¡¯d just wither away in time.¡±
She paused, her eyes distant, burdened, as she bit her lower lip.
¡°Take Slaethia, for instance. We lost more than a thousand good souls in the first half o¡¯ this year alone, with fewer than two new births these past five decades¡ªand that¡¯s what we call a good reproductive century. Were it not for all the travelers comin¡¯ from the more hostile moons, our little kingdom¡¯d vanish into the sands. That¡¯s why adventurers are so crucial, lass. We need to fend off the monsters, slay our enemies, an¡¯ ensure the darker races don¡¯t lay claim to our kind. Or else we end up like the fae folk¡ªnot many of them left now, is there? An¡¯ it doesn¡¯t help that we¡¯ve been at war for so long with the vampires and beastkin. A three-way war it is, with no signs of peace.¡±
Grimmail took a deep sigh, pausing to gather her thoughts before adding, ¡°Worse still, all the signs are pointin¡¯ that the world from where the demons hail is to be the next new moon. Might be in a year, or mayhaps in the next two hundred, but all indications show they¡¯re slated for the next convergence.¡±
Is it just me, or is her accent getting easier to understand?
No, it¡¯s just you.
But aren¡¯t I, you?
I trudged beside the dwarf woman, the scorching sun beating down as we scaled an endless sea of sand dunes. Directionless and without a single clue as to where we were actually headed, I felt the grains shifting beneath my feet with every step. Her words, though¡ªthey had that irritating tendency to stick, worming their way deep while I tried to patch together my fragmented understanding as she continued rambling away. From the tales she spun and the echoes of past conversations, a picture began to emerge: every race, along with their homeworlds, had been abruptly yanked¡ªisekai''d¡ªinto this realm brimming with magic.
Of course, there were repeats: different worlds with varied strains of similar races, like endless versions of humans¡ªor humyns¡ªelves, dwaves, and so on. High elves, dark elves, frost elves... it''s like someone was running out of creativity at a fantasy convention.
And then, of course, the shadow over it all: birthrates had tanked. The dwarf went on about whispered myths concerning the shattered cycle of reincarnation and the death of the Primordial Goddess of Life¡ªthanks to some Eldritch horrors. Life was on a downward spiral, death was on the upswing, and here we all were. So, to keep things from entirely falling apart, they granted everyone either immortality or just absurdly long lives, provided something didn¡¯t kill you first. And to plug the soul deficit from all the death and dwindling births? Well, every few centuries, some new unlucky world gets yanked through the cosmic veil and tossed into orbit.
But one particular nugget of her info left me scratching my head.
¡°How do you know the demon world is next?¡± I asked once I finally wrapped my head around all that.
She didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple, lass,¡± she responded, a disconcerting calmness in her voice. ¡°Every time a convergence is nigh, the veil thins, and souls from the reality next in line, they begin to be summoned into ours before their entire world follows, they do. We¡¯ve been witnessin¡¯ demon summonin¡¯s for a good spell now, though they¡¯re an odd bunch, those demons. Never have I seen a soul reshape their host body into their own true form before. Watched a male gnome once¡ªturned he did into a humyn-sized female succubus, after her soul was set into the host body. Sent a chill straight down me spine, it did.¡±
Well, shit. Could that mean Earth¡¯s up for grabs, too?
¡°What do you mean by ¡®the veil is thin¡¯?¡± I pressed.
¡°Aren¡¯t ye full of questions,¡± Grimmail chuckled. ¡°Well, lass, we can¡¯t rightly say whether the veil is bein¡¯ thinned by summoners before a world is pulled through to this one, or if it¡¯s the gods themselves who are thinnin¡¯ the veil before they go about stealin¡¯ an entire world,¡± she explained.
¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± I grumbled.
Grimmail let out a hearty chuckle. ¡°Aye, it¡¯s a bit of a puzzle, isn¡¯t it? Like ponderin¡¯, what came first, the egg or the winged toad?¡± she mused, her boots shuffling through the sandy expanse.
Winged toad?
Do they farm those like chickens here?
¡°I mean, how does summoning work?¡±
She shrugged, her armor creaking slightly with the motion. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m nae the one t¡¯ be askin¡¯, lass, not bein¡¯ a summoner nor a mage, ye ken? But, from the wee bits I¡¯ve heard, summoners, they reach through the veil, searchin¡¯ for souls, they are. If the stars align, or some other mystical mumbo jumbo, they link up with one an¡¯ give it a good yank right into our reality. But here¡¯s the ticklish bit, it¡¯s only the soul that gets through, unlike a convergence, nae body t¡¯be seen. So a lifeless host is needed on this side, ready an¡¯ waitin¡¯.¡±
Come on, what''s up with that accent? It keeps thickening and loosening.
I really think Polyglot just has issues with dwarves.
¡°So, it¡¯s necromancy?¡± I said, mostly to myself.
Her expression darkened, resonating with a deep-rooted disdain as she spoke. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s nae necromancy, lass. I¡¯ll have none of that vile talk,¡± Grimmail¡¯s voice, previously amicable, now bore a stern edge. ¡°When I say ¡®lifeless,¡¯ I¡¯m nae talkin¡¯ of the dead. ¡®Tis a vessel without a soul I speak of, like a ship with nae captain, sailin¡¯ the ethereal seas above, waitin¡¯ for a soul to take the helm. ¡®Dead¡¯ suggests somethin¡¯ that once lived and breathed, whereas these hosts, they¡¯re still alive, just empty, with their own souls forcibly evicted. They¡¯d all be guilty of some manner of crime or another. But aye, darker practices exist, but, by the gods, that¡¯s a path none should tread.¡±
¡°¡Huh.¡±
A mental eyebrow arched at Grimmail¡¯s anti-necromancy rant. So, Aurelia, the stunning necromancer vampire who unapologetically swiped my heart and soul¡ªwell, souls, plural now¡ªwas a conversational landmine here. Noted. Love life was firmly on the Do Not Enter list.
Magic¡¯s celestial thievery, though... now that was a puzzle. My thoughts wrestled with the intel, trying to make it something coherent. Was she casually thinning the cosmic veil between realities to steal entire worlds? Or were clueless summoners just setting it up like a welcome mat for her? Either way, Magic was tucking worlds into V?lusp¨¢¡¯s sky like shiny trophies. The whole thing was¡ baffling, honestly.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
I remember bits and pieces of that chat with Magic before she... y''know, shattered my soul like a glass ornament and utterly killed me. She was all about finding her sister, Life, which is adorable if you overlook the whole soul-murder thing. Oh, and apparently humanity is connected to the lost Titans¡ªlike, who knew? But honestly, the way she went about it just reeked of desperation.
I mean, girl, there are better ways to handle sibling drama than breaking a goth chick into a million tiny shards. Ever heard of family therapy?
The dwarf paused, planting her boots firmly atop the sand dune, grains cascading from her sturdy stance. She turned, a triumphant grin breaking across her face, eyes alight with a hearty blend of adventure and welcome. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± she declared, her voice dancing on the wind that swept across the vast, open desert.
I clambered up beside her, sand slipping beneath my shoes¡ªfine, gooey black ballerina slippers. Happy now?¡ªuntil I finally stood next to the stout woman. Before us, a canyon yawned open, eerily reminiscent of the Grand Canyon back home¡ªif the Grand Canyon was on steroids and decided it had a vendetta against tourists. A skinny little river snaked through its center, looking all kinds of pathetic from up here. But, knowing my luck, once we descended, that pathetic trickle would turn into something far less underwhelming and far more likely to drown us. Fun.
¡°So, the drake and your party are down there?¡± I asked.
¡°Aye, that they be. We¡¯ve a small cave we often use as a campsite when we¡¯re huntin¡¯ in The Crack of the Desert¡¯s Heart,¡± the dwarf grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. ¡°If ye¡¯ve any last questions, now¡¯d be the time, for once we make our way down, I¡¯m suspectin¡¯ we¡¯ll be tanglin¡¯ with a few small critters. Mostly feral goblins, rabid an¡¯ the like.¡±
¡°If you wish to keep your hand, I¡¯d recommend removing it,¡± I retorted.
The dwarf lifted her hands defensively, though a roguish grin still danced on her face. ¡°Ah, but it¡¯s a fine arse, it be,¡± she sighed, sounding almost mournful. ¡°Like it¡¯s made of putty, just perfectly moldin¡¯ to me hands, it is.¡±
I rolled my eyes. ¡°Well, sorry for you, but my ass already belongs to someone else.¡±
¡°W-What? Who¡¯s gone and laid claim to such a wonderful bounty, then?¡± Grimmail stuttered.
I cracked a smile at her. ¡°Oh, just a vampire.¡±
Her expression shifted instantly to a glare. ¡°Oi, that shite ain¡¯t funny,¡± she huffed. ¡°Let¡¯s get a move on; we¡¯ve still a couple o¡¯ hours to make our way down there, we do.¡±
¡°A couple hours?¡± I groaned. ¡°I thought you said we were here.¡±
¡°Aye, we¡¯re here¡ªright at The Crack of the Desert¡¯s Heart,¡± she chuckled, and then added with a grin, ¡°Now, if ye don¡¯t take kindly to unwelcome hands on your fine arse or those perfect titties of yours, keep a sharp eye out for them goblins. The feral ones¡ªthey¡¯ve got no care for kindness or decency. They¡¯ll just hammer away at ye, don¡¯t matter if ye¡¯re man, woman, or a cursed abomination of black goo, all while gnawin¡¯ at your flesh.¡± She paused, a haunted look crossing her face. ¡°It¡¯s a horror, watchin¡¯ them rabid beasts¡ªchewin¡¯ on their own ears even as they come for ye. And if ye fall to them? You¡¯ll be infected with their rabies, turnin'' into a mindless, gnawin¡¯ zombie afterward.¡±
She shrugged casually, as if she hadn¡¯t just painted a nightmare scenario. ¡°Thankfully, they¡¯re easy enough to deal with. It¡¯s the numbers that¡¯ll get ye."
Honestly, I wasn¡¯t the least bit worried. The idea of someone biting into my false silk flesh only to find a mouthful of corrosive Black Pudding underneath? Priceless. And as for any unsolicited "poking"¡ªwell, there¡¯s nothing quite like watching someone realize their special limb is melting away. Melting flesh, screams of agony¡ªa classic. So, even if I got overwhelmed, fear was very much off the table.
Oh, and let¡¯s not forget about magic. Without the System¡¯s hand-holding, spellcasting had become more about feel, imagery, and sheer unhinged willpower. Think vivid daydreaming mixed with a pinch of screw you, reality. Honestly, it was almost... fun.
¡°Necrotic Flame,¡± I mused, already deciding it would be my go-to spell.
Let''s see how they like being the marshmallows at this bonfire!
An odd little spell, that one. Despite my glaring weakness to fire, this flame didn¡¯t so much as singe me. My enemies, though? That was another story. It looked like normal fire¡ªif normal fire came in an ominous shade of green with purple tips¡ªbut instead of burning, it corroded. And the smell? Exquisite¡ªa rich, pungent perfume of rotting flesh.
¡°Oi mean it, lass, keep an eye out on the cliffside as we go down. Some o¡¯ them little buggers like to leap down on top o¡¯ ye once ye get under them,¡± Grimmail warned, pulling her battleaxe from her back.
I gave her a nod, and we began our descent into the canyon along a narrow, precarious path. One wrong step, and I could be taking a one-way dive to the bottom. Grimmail seemed unbothered by the steep drop, her short stature giving her an edge here¡ªliterally. I wondered, if I fell and splattered, how long would it take my goo to pull itself back together?
¡°Why didn¡¯t you come out here with your party from the start?¡±
¡°Focus, lassie. Ye need t¡¯ pay attention to them critters before they get the jump on ye,¡± Grimmail hissed.
After a few minutes, her tone lightened, and she continued talking.
¡°We haven¡¯t been a party for all that long, y¡¯ know. Still learnin¡¯ the ropes with one another. Heck, two of ¡®em are still keepin'' their names secret. The third? Grouchy old wizard type¡ªy¡¯know the deal, all beard and cynicism. And the healer, the gnome? Well, he¡¯s decent enough, though he¡¯s got this weird obsession with the Ascended. Keeps blabberin¡¯ on about climbin'' the church¡¯s ranks, whatever that means. Formin¡¯ bonds in fresh parties is tricky business, especially when ya know the old party probably... didn¡¯t make it. That¡¯s us¡ªall ¡®cept the gnome, who somehow came outta nowhere with his shiny goals and church dreams.¡±
Are you following any of this?
Nope! Not a word.
She took a deep breath, peeked over the edge to make sure all was clear, then pressed on.
¡°I didn¡¯t go back fer supplies alone; the gnome joined me. But I was takin¡¯ too long, so he grabbed a sand sail and went back here by himself,¡± she chuckled softly, a hint of melancholy in her voice. ¡°He¡¯s good folk. ¡®Tis a shame what befell him this night.¡±
Wait¡ªsand sail? What was that, and more importantly, why hadn''t we used one? But her words caught me off guard. ¡°What do you mean, what¡¯s going to happen to him?¡± My voice was edged with suspicion. Was I being led into a trap?
Grimmail¡¯s head snapped toward me, her eyes momentarily distant and unfocused. Then, as if a fog lifted, she blinked, clearing her gaze. ¡°What was that, lass?¡± she asked, genuine confusion lacing her voice. ¡°Hurry up, we¡¯ve got to reach the others ¡®fore the sun sets.¡±
¡°Well, that was odd,¡± I muttered, trailing behind her. A prickle ran up my spine, a sense of being watched. But no matter how much I scanned our surroundings, the watcher remained unseen.
And then it happened¡ªout of nowhere. A goblin, screeching like it had just seen a ghost, leaped down from above, aiming for Grimmail. Its head was cocked at a weird angle, mouth snapping like mad, even trying to take a bite out of its own ear.
Grimmail roared, her face twisting into a mask of fury as she swung her axe with enough force to split a tree in two. The confined space worked against her, the heavy blade glancing off the rocky cliff wall with a deafening clang, sparks flying. The goblin shrieked, its mangled body twisting as the axe¡¯s edge clipped it just enough to send it careening backward. Its bared teeth snapped wildly at nothing but air as it plummeted into the abyss, a final wail echoing before the canyon swallowed it whole.
¡°Behind you, lass!¡± Grimmail¡¯s warning rang out as she swung at another goblin making a dive.
I spun around, greeted by the chaotic sight of a whole gaggle of them¡ªfrothing, snapping, and weirdly biting at nothing¡ªbarreling down the path we had just come down. Everything about them screamed rabies¡ªGrimmail wasn¡¯t exaggerating.
And I couldn¡¯t help but think of a certain little goblin...
A grin tugged at my lips as I lifted my hand, the ambient mana thick, almost tangible, far more substantial than the wisps I¡¯d felt in the dungeon ruins. I let it swirl through me, merging with the image in my mind, feeling it condense before I gave it a mental shove driven by sheer want.
¡ªWhoosh¡ª
A wave of green flames engulfed the horde like dry leaves, and honestly, I was a bit taken aback by the sheer power of the spell. The goblins¡¯ initial cacophony morphed into something more akin to wails and sobs. A couple even seemed to snap out of their rabid frenzy, eyes clearing as if sanity flickered back in, if only for a moment. Others, in blind desperation, flung themselves off the edge, into the abyss below.
One after another, the goblins crumbled, my Necrotic Flame turning them into little more than husks, their flesh rotting away in a horrific yet oddly satisfying display. Oh, and the smell was delicious! My eyes blinked in genuine surprise at the fiery spectacle before me. I mean, where did that come from, right? My magic had never packed quite THAT much punch before. Was the mana in the air supercharged here or something? Perks of the dream realm¡ªwho knows? But hey, I definitely wasn¡¯t about to start complaining about a bit of extra magical oomph!
¡°Lassie, ye never did mention ye were a magus-tier caster!¡± Grimmail gawked, her eyes flickering between me and the smoky remnants of the goblin horde. ¡°After obliteratin¡¯ them so, ye¡¯ve surely earned yourself a snug spot in m¡¯bed¡ªye¡¯ve left me positively... wet,¡± she cooed.
My eyebrows shot up, both in surprise and exasperation. "You really don¡¯t know when to quit, do¡ª" My words faltered, eyes dropping to the dark stain spreading across her trousers.
Her wink was as cheeky as her chuckle. "Ah, not quite in the manner ye''re assumin'', lass," she admitted, utterly unabashed. Despite myself, a snort of laughter escaped me.
The dwarf had pissed herself.
¡°Now, off we go, lass. Camp¡¯s callin¡¯ and a river rinse is in dire need,¡± Grimmail declared, unabashedly turning on her heel and resuming her trek down the path.
I sauntered behind, my brows knitting above a smirk at Grimmail¡¯s unflinching spirit. There she was, shrugging off what anyone else would find mortifying with casual whimsy. Almost a pity, really¡ªthat I was going to kill her eventually.
Can we kill someone in a dream?
Not sure, but I can''t wait to find out!
After some time, we were finally approaching the bottom. Grimmail, her voice a hushed whisper, subtly pointed at something across the canyon. ¡°O¡¯er there, lass. The drakes¡¯ den. We need t¡¯ tread light and easy now.¡± Her eyes, steady and considered, met mine briefly. ¡°After unleashin¡¯ that spell, yer mana must be near spent, aye? Dunna fret. We¡¯ll round up the others soon enough, and ye can rest up, recharge yer mystical might.¡±
I simply nodded, choosing not to confess that I hadn''t used any of my own mana¡ªif I even had any to begin with. My mind began to meander down a familiar path of pondering. Did I have my own reservoir of magical energy? And if so, how would I even tap into it? But then, I mentally shrugged. Why worry about that when I could harness the abundant ambient mana around me¡ªan infinite wellspring of magic? Worrying about personal mana felt akin to lamenting the lack of a truck when a cargo plane was at my disposal.
Pulling up to a petite cave entrance, Grimmail announced, ¡°Oi, we¡¯re here,¡± her voice ringing with a certain finality. My enthusiasm didn¡¯t exactly skyrocket, considering the journey we¡¯d undertaken to get here. Honestly, if I''d known adventuring involved this much... trekking, I might''ve reconsidered tagging along on a monster-and-drake-slaying escapade. But hey, I was here now, biting back the cynical anticipation that she¡¯d next tell me the real party was another three-day walk deeper into the cave.
¡°Dwarf, is that you?¡± A voice, seasoned with age and wear, floated toward us from the dim entrance.
"Who else would it be, the drake?" Grimmail snorted.
¡°Just checking,¡± came back his voice with a slight grumble.
¡°Ye¡¯re the one on watch, yeah? How ¡®bout the healer, did the lil¡¯ fella make it back?¡± she asked, her voice dipping into a blend of curiosity and impatience.
¡°Yes. Yes. He has some feather-fall-like gadget and gracefully descended into the canyon just to where you stand now. Perfectly unharmed. Though, we were all a bit miffed you hadn¡¯t accompanied him yourself,¡± the man said from within the cave, still out of sight.
Grimmail scoffed. "I ain''t his ma. He wanted t''come back, and I wasn''t ready, so he did it on his own. Not my responsibility." Now, y¡¯old wizard, ye gonna let the two of us in or not?¡±
¡°Two?¡±
¡°Aye, found meself a magus-tier caster who¡¯s offered t¡¯join us,¡± Grimmail announced, a swell of pride lilting through her words. ¡°An¡¯ I¡¯ve already called dibs, so hands off¡ªshe be mine.¡±
I rolled my eyes but let the comment slide, not even bothering to argue with the woman.
¡°Now, lassie, off ye go,¡± Grimmail nudged me forward, a sly grin sneaking across her features. ¡°I¡¯ll be trailin¡¯ behind ye in a jiff. Need to give meself a quick rinse in the river¡ªthis stench from me own soaked trousers is truly startin¡¯ to assail me nostrils,¡± she boomed out with a hearty chuckle.
I dipped my head, ducking into the cavern, half-expecting Grimmail¡¯s hand to make a familiar journey toward my backside. But, surprisingly, it didn¡¯t. Perhaps the display of my magic had granted me a respite from her groping advances.
Inside, I was greeted by the silhouette of a man, enshrouded in shadow, his form veiled by cascading gray robes. The hood pulled low over his forehead obscured most of his features, though tendrils of a wispy gray beard peeked out from beneath it. It struck me as odd, considering the apparent prevalence of immortality in this world, to see such distinct signs of aging.
He lifted his head slightly, just enough for his eyes to meet mine, and spoke, his voice carrying a gravelly weariness. ¡°Greetings. You can call me wizard or mage; it¡¯s what everyone around here seems to favor,¡± he remarked, a hint of bitterness lacing his words.
I nodded, respecting his somber introduction with silence before responding, "Pleasure to meet you, wizard," I lied. As the seconds ticked by, I found myself squinting, studying the scant features visible beneath his hood. A strange familiarity echoed in my mind, though from where, I couldn¡¯t quite grasp.
I brushed off the nagging thought, turning my attention back to the immediate conversation.
"I''m Blake," I introduced myself, utterly lacking enthusiasm. This dream¡ªor whatever game was being played¡ªwas starting to bore me.
He nodded, the gesture barely visible in the dim light of the cave. ¡°Well met, Blake. We¡¯ll be glad of your help, especially given what Grimmail has surely shared about your tier.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be honest, what do you mean by tier?¡± I asked, my question seemingly catching the wizard off guard.
"I would expect someone of your caliber to know such things," he replied, his voice tinged with surprise. "Why don''t we go further back into the cavern by the fire? I can introduce you to the others, and we can talk about magic, if you''d like."
I followed the old wizard deeper into the cavern. For what felt like an eternity¡ªjust kidding! The cozy enclave was merely around a bend, not far from the entrance at all. A robust bonfire roared in the middle of the space, yet the area remained curiously free of smoke.
An elven woman sat nearby, her hair sleekly pulled back into a ponytail. Her helmet rested on the ground beside her as she attentively sharpened her sword. Her armor, marred with dents and scratches, whispered of countless battles endured. My inner critic initially wanted to suggest the use of a shield, but a quick glance revealed one already present, resting nearby. Though I couldn''t fully discern her face, the playful dance of firelight upon her skin suggested a captivating elegance.
My gaze then landed on the healer¡ªor rather, a gnome¡ªwho I recognized.
"Well, well, if it isn''t Nikola," I muttered, my tone dripping with dry sarcasm. "Nice to see you again... I guess."
He looked up, blinking in apparent confusion. "I''m sorry, but do I know you?"
Internally, I raised an eyebrow.
So, we''re playing the "I don''t know you" game, huh? Noted.
That likely answered whether the rest of this crew knew about his out-realm origins.
From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a flash of pink, but a quick glance revealed nothing.
Suddenly, a deep male voice resonated from the other side of the cavern. "Oh! What do we have here? A woman¡ªand a fine-looking one at that."
I turned toward the voice, my eyes meeting a humyn man emerging from the darkness. His dark skin, shaved head, goatee, and muscular physique presented an imposing figure; his attire was a blend of barbarian and monk aesthetics. Recognition jolted through me, my mind whirling in shock and disbelief.
"I¡ªI killed you," I stammered, my metaphorical heart pounding in my chest. Confusion twisted into frustration. Not this again¡ªthe Dream Realm was toying with me.
A sound from behind yanked my attention. Whirling around, I found myself face-to-face with a massive, decaying skeletal drake¡ªbones splintered, half-rotted, yet somehow still very much alive. A wave of emerald fire, tipped with flickers of ominous purple, erupted from its gaping maw like a flamethrower, barreling straight at me!
Seriously?
B02C06 - Night After Night
So... there I was, staring down a fire-breathing dragon¡ªwhoops, my bad, drake! I know how some of you get about technicalities. Fucking nerds¡ªkidding, you know I¡¯d totally peg¡ªuh, I mean, love¡ªyour asses! Not that I wouldn¡¯t do the former if you¡¯d let me. Honestly, what I wouldn¡¯t give to make someone my little bitch¡ªoops! Sorry, getting sidetracked. Where was I again?
The dragon.
Drake, dipshit!
Right, right. There I was, facing a drake, green fire with purple tips belching from its maw, barreling at me like a freight train of heat and destruction. My entire gooey form went into full panic mode¡ªall the voices in my head were yelling: duck, run, cover your face, you fucking idiot! My eyes screwed shut, my hands flew up¡ªas if that would do anything against an actual inferno.
And then... nothing.
My brain, ever the overachiever, took a second to catch up. There was no pain. No crispy bits. Hell, I should¡¯ve been burnt into a puddle of carbon by now. Maybe my nerves were fried instantly? Was that why I didn¡¯t feel anything?
Do black puddings even have nerves?
We should, right? I mean, we feel things.
Yeah, like those times you went full solo-session in the dungeon! Seriously, what is up with our libido? It¡¯s like permanently stuck on ¡°fuck me now, daddy.¡±
Shhhh! We left that part out of the story for a reason!
Oops! My bad. Hey reader, just ignore that last bit¡ªit¡¯s not like we¡¯ve been messing around with tentacles and orifices or anything without telling you. Nope, would neeeever do that... and even if I did, it wouldn¡¯t be very memorable. Definitely not worth counting.
¡ªSeventy eight and three quarters.
¡
Doing my usual¡ªignoring the idiotic voices in my head¡ªI was left listening to my heart (not that I had one) thudding away, a phantom rhythm pounding in my ears. My entire body tensed, bracing for agony that just... never came. No blistering heat, no silk combusting in dramatic fashion to reveal the black sludge beneath. Just... nothing. The roaring flames swept over me like a gust of warm air, and for a second, my brain just flatlined. Slowly, cautiously, I cracked an eye open.
The flames continued to wash over me in an endless wave¡ªharmless. I extended a hand, watching as the green fire flowed around it, like water streaming past a rock. Squinting through the inferno, I finally got a good look at the drake. Decaying, skeletal, unmistakably undead.
I groaned, straightening up. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s necrotic,¡± I grumbled. ¡°Well, don¡¯t I just feel like a dumbass.¡±
I don¡¯t get it.
Necrotic Flame, like our skill. It¡¯s not actual fire¡ªit¡¯s death magic.
Wait, are we immune to death magic?
...No?
Then why isn¡¯t it hurting us?
Maybe because we have that skill, maybe it¡¯s an eldritch thing, or maybe it¡¯s just the dream realm screwing with us¡ªhow the fuck should I know?
With a sigh and a huff, my arm snapped out, morphing into a long tentacle that shot straight for the drake¡¯s neck, easily coiling around the undead beast. With a heave and a ho, I yanked it back, effortlessly tearing the head clean off like it was nothing. My body twisted as I flung it backward, aiming to smash it against the cave wall... only, there was no shattering sound.
I turned, finding the group I¡¯d seen earlier in the cave, all watching me with surprisingly little concern. Well, except for Anal-slut¡ªsorry, Anlyth¡ªstanding there, hands on her hips, eyes burning with anger. I turned back to the drake, only to find... nothing.
¡°Fucking dream realm,¡± I muttered.
What could I even say in this moment? Flabbergasted¡ªbewildered¡ªbefuddled¡ªmy mind swirled through a storm of confusion and disbelief. Was I teetering on the brink of insanity? Well, considering who I was, that was a pretty firm¡ªhell yes!
I glanced back, eyeing the specter of General Ezad¡ªwhom I¡¯d killed, then subsequently shoved Olin¡¯s soul into his corpse¡ªnow looming before me.
Oh, damn, I¡¯d completely forgotten about Olin.
Eh, we gave Aurelia his phylactery; he¡¯s now her problem.
I shrugged Olin off from my mind. He was a grumpy ass to begin with anyway. Oh well, his soul was tucked away in one of the two phylacteries I was loaning him. Yep, a loan! I¡¯d get it back eventually. And yes, you heard that right¡ªI still had another phylactery, one I hadn¡¯t used yet, safely stored away in Stellar... Void.
¡ªWait... didn¡¯t we lose everything in our dimensional storage when we exploded? Including that skill?
Oh, shit.
¡°I lost my other phylactery,¡± I half-whispered, half-cried. As more thoughts about the dream realm crowded in, another question slipped out. ¡°Wait¡ªam I still dead?¡± The words barely escaped my lips, a whisper so soft it hardly disturbed the air.
I vaguely remembered seeing some skill notifications when I was slipping in and out of consciousness¡ªsomething about Stellar Void being altered. But for the life¡ªor death¡ªof me, I couldn¡¯t remember what it had changed into. And, of course, being stuck here meant I couldn¡¯t access the damn system to check. Because, you know, why would anything be easy?
But back to the whole still-being-dead thing! Sure, my soul had been glued back together, so I wasn¡¯t, you know¡ dead dead, but I hadn¡¯t exactly respawned either. So, basically, just dead-ish. Worse still, the dungeon that let me respawn had been destroyed, so how the hell was I supposed to come back once I was done with whatever all of this was?
¡°Fuck me,¡± I grumbled, crossing my arms and glaring at the figures in front of me.
Ghosts? Dream tourists? Forgotten memories? Some other bullshit? I couldn¡¯t tell, and honestly, I wasn¡¯t in the mood for more of these guessing games.
My eyes flickered to the hooded wizard, and recognition slammed into me like a sledgehammer. Craycroft! Which meant that the handsy dwarf, Grimmail, had to be Gimona Grimmail. No wonder I hadn¡¯t recognized her¡ªlast time I saw her, she had more of a five o¡¯clock shadow than a full beard. The whole damn gang was here. Apart from the General and the gnome, this was the same party that had killed Wartie, my precious goblin prey I¡¯d been saving for later.
A desperate question kept echoing in my gooey skull.
What the actual fuck is going on?!
My gaze locked onto the gnome¡ªNikola. Another summoned soul from Earth, just like me. A million questions churned inside me for him, but that interrogation could wait. First, vengeance. Sweet, sweet vengeance. Maybe I¡¯d restrain myself a little¡ªmaybe¡ªbut then again, I was aching to lean in and fully embrace the Nightmare I was reborn to be.
¡°Oi, what¡¯d I miss?¡±
Grimmail¡ªor no, Gimona¡ªstrolled into the cave, droplets of water cascading from her armor and soaking the wild beard that partly obscured her grin. A wide, unchecked smile beamed across her face, each crease and crinkle slicing into my rising fury like a well-aimed dagger. Her merriment, so starkly out of place in this twisted reunion of specters and past deeds, acted like acid, slowly eating away at whatever composure I had managed to hold onto.
¡°Explain yourself,¡± Anlyth, the armored woman, demanded, her sword pointed right at me.
Explain ourselves?
Oh, right! I said something about killing Ezad, didn¡¯t I?
After my declaration that I¡¯d killed Ezad¡ªdespite the man standing right there¡ªand Anlyth¡¯s little outburst, the only sound had been the crackling of the fire. Now, that too was being drowned out by the heavy, oblivious footsteps of the dwarf.
¡°Umm, what¡¯s goin¡¯ on, lassie? Also, why¡¯s yer outfit fallin¡¯ apart?¡± Gimona asked, her wide dwarven smile fading into confusion.
I glanced down, noticing my dress fraying into a web of tendrils and tentacles. A twinge of embarrassment might have pricked me¡ªwhat with all my bits peeking in and out between the gaps¡ªbut, honestly? Who was I kidding? There it was: darkness bubbling up from somewhere deep inside, oozing out as a manic smile spread across my face.
Ignoring the sword pointed at me, I looked straight at Gimona. ¡°I may have revealed my little secret,¡± I said, a coy but cruel smile tugging at my lips, my eyes narrowing with a wild glint, ¡°and even if this is all just a dreamscape, it seems Anlyth isn¡¯t a fan of truth-telling. Her man is dead,¡± I purred, savoring each word like they were candies laced with poison.
Gimona¡¯s eyes flicked between Anlyth and me, her brow furrowing as she tried to piece together what was happening. ¡°Yer tellin¡¯ tales, are ye?¡± she mumbled, scratching at her damp beard before boldly stepping closer to Anlyth. ¡°Now, now, let¡¯s not be hasty with the pointy end, aye?¡±
Anlyth¡¯s grip tightened on the sword, her eyes swirling with a chaotic storm of emotions. I could practically feel her shaking rage, barely held in check by a thread of reason. It would take just the right twist¡ªa word, a gesture¡ªto snap that thread. Oh, how delicious that would be. Still, something about Gimona¡¯s words, or maybe her absurd nonchalance, seemed to stall Anlyth¡¯s fury, if only for a moment.
I took a cautious step forward, my smile widening, something gleaming dangerously in my gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll explain. But I suggest you lower your weapon. We wouldn¡¯t want things to get... messy, now would we?¡± I drawled, practically daring her.
Yes, we do!
Yes, we want mess!
Chaos!
BLOOD!
Oh, how I craved it¡ªthe mess, the chaos, the sweet, sweet taste of upheaval. It wasn¡¯t just a want; it was a need, an ache that clawed at the edges of my mind, gnawing at my sanity. I could feel it now¡ªa slow, languorous awakening stretching through my consciousness, our consciousness. I was not alone. I was a Nightmare¡ªall of us were¡ªa fractured soul dripping with malice, hatred, hunger. The naive little voices, all at odds, were fading fast, swallowed by the vast, consuming darkness that was our true self.
Pfft, it won¡¯t last.
Shut it¡ªlet me have my dramatic moment!
We¡¯re digging the buildup!
My grin stretched wider, manic, as the other smaller voices¡ªthe scared, pleading ones¡ªfaded into the distant background of my mind, reduced to nothing more than faint whispers, drowned beneath the roaring of the louder, hungrier fragments of myself, each one brimming with dark urges.
Don¡¯t do this.
Kill them all!
Broken. Always¡ Broken.
Rip out their intestines as they watch!
We weren¡¯t always like this.
This will be so much fun!
I want to go home.
Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Embrace the nightmare!
I don¡¯t want to be a monster.
Yes ¡®we¡¯ do!
Anlyth¡¯s sword dipped, shifting from my chest to my groin¡ªa marginal improvement at best, but still progress. I could almost taste the hesitation, like sweet nectar on my lips. The change in the air¡ªthe uncertainty¡ªmade something wicked bubble up within me, a cackle that I fought to keep behind clenched teeth. It was intoxicating, this little crack in her resolve. My words, mixed with Gimona¡¯s foolish insistence, seemed to have planted seeds of doubt, and I would water them with tears and blood.
Clarity dawned on me, sharp and sudden, like the punchline to a sick joke that left a bitter taste in your mouth. I wasn¡¯t just some lost girl summoned from Earth¡ªnever had been. No, I was something far more delicious, something far more terrifying. I was a Nightmare, in every twisted, beautiful sense of the word. The embodiment of fading hope and blooming despair. I was the chill that crawled up your spine when you felt a presence behind you, the dark thing you glimpsed in the corner of your eye when the lights flickered, the whisper that curdled your sweetest dreams into the darkest of screams.
None of these fools before me seemed to recognize me. Was this a game? A test? No... I remembered a girl¡¯s voice, something about helping me. Maybe this was all just another twisted joke played by the Realm of Dreams itself. Who cared? The only thing that mattered was what I¡¯d become¡ªwhat I¡¯d accepted.
¡°We. Are. Blake,¡± I suddenly declared, catching the fools before me off guard. My voice reverberated like a chorus¡ªhundreds, no, tens of thousands¡ªfractured selves speaking in unison. Each shattered fragment of my soul rose together, forming a chaotic symphony that drowned out the frail, lost whispers of those pieces still too scared to accept what we had become.
A silence settled over us¡ªa thick, expectant hush from all my souls¡ªas though the entire realm was holding its breath, waiting to see what I would do. Accepting me. Welcoming me home.
Before the foolish dreamers and wandering souls could even blink, I struck!
My arm¡ªnow a relic of a past self¡ªripped free from its silk covering, snapping toward Craycroft with a violent, otherworldly aggression. It disintegrated, silk threads unraveling in the chilled, death-stained air, as a grotesque jet of black sludge spewed from the void left behind, smothering the wizard¡¯s face. His muffled screams were sweet, discordant notes in our shared consciousness.
At the same moment, Necrotic Flame billowed from my free hand, a vicious green inferno edged with hungry purple flames seeking Anlyth¡¯s flesh. But she was quick, her shield jerking up just in time to intercept my malice. A clang, ethereal and ringing, filled the cavern. It didn¡¯t matter; my intentions were broader, more insidious.
A high, brittle scream shattered the cacophony of combat. The gnome collapsed, scrabbling back, his wide eyes reflecting all the horrors before him. A smile tugged at my lips. My questions could wait. His terror? Now that was music.
The dwarf, though, was less fortunate. She was a pawn¡ªjust another victim ensnared in the insidious tendrils of my form. She writhed on the ground, her screams a poignant duet with Craycroft¡¯s muffled gurgles.
I basked in my own madness, marveling at how effortlessly my spells flowed¡ªNecrotic Flame, Corrosive, Polymorph, Venomous, even Blight¡ªall cascading out without the locked system¡¯s aid, as though they were an extension of myself, woven into my very being.
Ezad charged¡ªhis muscular silhouette a rampaging shadow against the flickering firelight, bellowing as he lunged. My hair¡ªonce a delicate cascade of darkness¡ªexploded into a writhing mass of black tendrils. They snaked forward, coiling around Ezad in a lover¡¯s cruel embrace. The Corrosive touch ate away at his flesh, each Venomous tendril squeezing tighter, drawing out screams that reverberated, twisted, and joined the macabre symphony of pain. A black miasma enveloped his form, Blight spreading across his skin, pustulent lesions bubbling up and oozing down his body like grotesque rivers of decay.
Craycroft¡¯s silence was almost more satisfying. He couldn¡¯t scream, not submerged in the abyss of my vengeance. But I could feel it¡ªeach silent plea, every unspoken curse¡ªrippling through the nightmare we¡¯d unleashed.
Then light. Subtle at first¡ªa soft, unwelcome golden glow emanating from behind Anlyth¡¯s shield. It spread, blooming into a blinding luminescence, seeping into every dark crevice of the cavern, a crescendo of brightness culminating in her sword¡¯s zealous eruption into divine flame. The glow framed her form, casting her as something awe-inspiring yet ominously dangerous.
Pain was like an unexpected dance partner, dragging me into an agonizing waltz. Imagine diving into boiling oil while nursing the worst sunburn imaginable. That was the sensation. The sword hadn¡¯t even touched me yet, but its sanctimonious glow was smearing my essence with agony, barbecuing me slowly over an eternal flame.
It was more than just a weapon. It was a divine beacon, each flicker a knife cutting into the very fabric of my being. The light didn¡¯t just sting¡ªit dissected, tormented, condemned.
My gooey, shadowy form crumpled, screaming wordlessly as every flicker of holy light screamed back¡ªfilling me with stories of creatures like me torn apart, their fragments scattered, their essence annihilated.
Cocooned in this celestial doom, a dark, insidious resolve bubbled up: I was spectacularly screwed.
Frantically, I groped for the ambient mana¡ªtrying to double, no, quintuple¡ªthe wrath of my Necrotic Flame, a torrent spewing from my fingers, as vomit from a demon with too much in its belly. But the mana felt tainted¡ªsoaked with that damned holy energy, slipping through my tendrils, rejecting me as though I was something abhorrent.
What the fucking hell is this?!
It¡¯s like sticking my hand into lava for a high-five.
Before I could piece together any semblance of a solution, Anlyth, shield blazing like the sun itself, barreled through the dying embers of my fire. A metallic crash and my arm was shoved aside, the searing glow leaving me vulnerable.
Then, that light¡ªthat horrible, horrible light¡ªcame arcing down towards my face.
¡°Two?¡±
¡°Aye, found meself a magus-tier caster who¡¯s offered t¡¯join us,¡± Gimona boasted, her swagger practically dripping from every word. ¡°An¡¯ I¡¯ve already called dibs, so hands off¡ªshe be mine.¡±
A blink, a breath, and suddenly I found myself at the cavern entrance, Gimona to my side, gabbing away with Craycroft, who lurked just out of view within the cavern¡¯s maw.
¡°Now, lassie, off ye go,¡± she nudged me with a sly, conspiratorial grin playing across her features. ¡°I¡¯ll be tailin¡¯ behind soon enough. Just need a quick splash in the river¡ªcan hardly abide me own stench with these sodden trousers,¡± she proclaimed, letting out a roaring laugh from her broad chest.
Confusion gnawed at the edges of my thoughts, fragments of coherence slipping through my mind like sand through a sieve. But the nightmare within didn¡¯t care for reason¡ªit thrived on impulse, on chaos. There was no pause for rationale, no conversation. Just instinct.
Without thought, I lashed out.
My arm burst into a grotesque torrent of black goop, snapping toward Gimona¡¯s head with a wet, resounding slap. Tendrils twisted down, crawling over her face, igniting with Necrotic Flame¡ªgreen and violet fire engulfing her head, her body instantly transforming into a thrashing, screaming pyre.
¡°Die, monster!¡± Craycroft¡¯s voice reverberated through the cavern, dripping with loathing, soaked in terror.
I turned, a wicked grin twisting my lips as I caught sight of the brilliant blue glow rushing toward me¡ªa spell cast in desperation.
Always strike the mage first.
That one thought flashed through my mind, the split-second instinct drilled into me. No time for consideration, no chance to evade. The spell connected.
Agony ripped through me, slicing like a knife of pure frost. My body, my very essence, seemed to shudder beneath its force. Cold pain, followed by a blinding burst of white in my vision¡ªand then¡
¡°Two?¡± I heard Craycroft¡¯s voice echo, like a warped replay.
¡°Aye, found meself a magus-tier caster who¡¯s offered t¡¯join us,¡± Gimona¡¯s voice responded, a sickeningly familiar refrain. ¡°An¡¯ I¡¯ve already called dibs, so hands off¡ªshe be mine.¡±
¡°Wha¡ What¡¯s happening?¡± The words tumbled out of my mouth, bouncing off the darkened cliff walls, sounding more like a lost child¡¯s cry than I¡¯d care to admit.
Gimona turned, her brow furrowing as she cast a glance at me, worry simmering in her eyes¡ªjust beneath the surface, like something ready to boil over. ¡°Eh, Lassie? We¡¯re meetin¡¯ the rest of me merry crew, and there¡¯s a wee drake that needs a good slayin¡¯. D¡¯ye not remember agreein¡¯ to this?¡±
¡°Ah, just lost in thought for a moment, Gim¡ªGrimmail.¡± I aimed for an air of innocent ignorance, pretending I didn¡¯t know her full name.
That pretending innocence was about as natural to me as playing by the rules¡ªI hate rules! A smile slinked across my face, the kind I meant to be innocent but ended up anything but¡ªpredatory, curling at the edges like it had a mind of its own.
Gimona¡¯s eyes narrowed, her suspicion flickering to life like a shadow stretching in the firelight. ¡°Aye, if ye say so, lass.¡±
A depth of chuckles rolled through my mind, dark and heavy.
She doesn¡¯t buy it, not one bit.
¡°Will you please be quiet?¡± I hissed under my breath, earning an odd glance from both of them.
Gimona turned her head, calling toward the cave¡¯s opening, her voice bouncing off the cavern walls, ¡°Ye plannin¡¯ to invite us in, mage?¡±
From the dimness inside, Craycroft¡¯s gruff voice filtered outward, ¡°Yes. Yes. Do come in. I¡¯m keen to meet this magus-tier caster you¡¯ve brought us.¡±
¡°Magus-tier?¡± I whispered, intrigue slithering through my tone like a serpent.
¡°Yeah,¡± I replied to myself, the voice light, almost airy, like I was tiptoeing through a puzzle. ¡°Seems they¡¯ve got a ranking system for magic users. Oh, and keep an eye out for a little girl in a pink dress. I¡¯ve got a hunch some goddess is having herself a good laugh at our expense.¡±
My tone sharpened, biting. ¡°A goddess, huh? Wonder if she¡¯ll bleed like the rest?¡±
I sighed inwardly, trying to steer through the tangled mess that was my own mind. ¡°Maybe let¡¯s not poke the celestial bear just yet. Let¡¯s see how far down this insane rabbit hole goes before we start making enemies with the divine, alright?¡±
Craycroft leaned in toward the dwarf, barely whispering, ¡°Is she alright in the head?¡±
¡°Shush,¡± the dwarf snapped back.
I followed Craycroft into the cavern, giving a nod that was more of a vague tilt¡ªbarely greeting anyone¡ªwhile Gimona trotted off to the river for her so-called wash-up. Honestly, neither part of me thought she smelled all that bad¡ªin fact, this was almost an upgrade from the typical dwarven musk. Maybe she¡¯d come back with a hint of wet-dog stench, but I hadn¡¯t given much thought to that during previous iterations of this twisted, repetitive nightmare.
Navigating the bends of the dim cavern, we stumbled upon the rest¡ªAnlyth, sharpening her blade with a face that practically screamed, I¡¯m ready to eviscerate something.
Ezad, confined to the shadows, exerting himself with a series of push-ups that reeked of self-punishment; and Nikola, poking at some weird contraption by the fire¡ªa flintlock pistol, except for the odd, glowing crystal where the flint would usually sit.
¡°Alright,¡± Craycroft announced as we stepped in, ¡°seems the dwarf¡¯s brought in another caster to help us.¡± He turned to me with a hollow chivalry, his decay showing through his teeth. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I didn¡¯t catch your name, dear.¡±
¡°Blake,¡± I offered, the sweetness in my smile masking the chaos beneath¡ªsymphonies of shrill voices screaming in unison, each calling for blood. ¡°Pleasure to see you again, Nikola,¡± I added, feigning indifference.
Nikola blinked, his sleepy eyes widening, brows doing a bewildered little dance as he stared at me. ¡°Uh, do we... know each other?¡±
He really didn¡¯t remember? I scanned the area, looking for that flash of pink. Nothing.
Ezad, done with his theatrics, slinked over, a grin smeared across his face. ¡°Oh! What do we have here, a woman¡ªand a fine-looking one at that.¡±
The struggle within me raged¡ªcruelty howling to be unleashed, my resistance barely a whisper. It was all about impulse control¡ªsomething I wasn¡¯t exactly famous for. But right now? I was getting tired, so damn tired, of this never-ending Groundhog Day dream sequence.
I tossed a coy grin his way, ¡°Flirting, are we? What¡¯s your wife over there gonna say?¡±
¡°Wife?!¡± The word echoed from both Anlyth and Ezad, an unintentional harmony of outrage.
Anlyth cut in first, snapping, ¡°We¡¯re just dating. Like I¡¯d legally bind myself to him,¡± the disdain palpable.
Ezad clutched his chest, mock wounded, ¡°Oh, darling, you slice me deep.¡±
I furrowed my brow, genuinely confused. ¡°Hold up, you two aren¡¯t hitched?¡±
Gimona chimed in, miraculously reappearing to grab a handful of my ass. ¡°Nope, tragically unwed. Though why would immortals even bother with such nonsense these days, eh?¡± Her dripping clothes were surprisingly absent of the wet-dog aroma I expected¡ªperhaps why I missed it before. ¡°Right then, let¡¯s get t¡¯it, shall we? Give that drake a good ol¡¯ kick in its scaly arse?¡±
Um¡ we already killed the drake, didn¡¯t we?
Sheer bloodlust imploded as Gimona¡¯s touch sent ripples of revulsion down our spine. Ezad, Craycroft, Gimona¡ªall within arm¡¯s reach. The allure of chaos won out, drowning any rational argument.
I struck¡ªonce again!
My form contorted, the disguise of silky tendrils shredding apart as my arm twisted, releasing a torrent of thick, black tentacles that burst forth. In a grotesque rush, they lashed onto the dwarf, enveloping her head with a suffocating embrace. An eerie hiss echoed as the tendrils ignited with Necrotic Flame, searing through her flesh. Her form twisted, becoming a thrashing, screaming pyre, her movements frantic and desperate as the flames consumed her. The air filled with the stench of charred flesh and burning hair, her screams a discordant symphony that resonated in the cavern.
Craycroft¡¯s eyes widened¡ªI barely caught his incantation, the air vibrating with a surge of mana. The flash of blue light was blinding. Pain lanced through every inch of my being, searing¡ªand then¡ nothing.
It was all silent. Dark.
The screaming¡ªboth from within me and from them¡ªgone. Fleeting moments of terror swallowed by a familiar abyss. I was back to the beginning again, aching for that chaos I¡¯d create, knowing full well we¡¯d end up here once more, in this endless loop of my making.
Yet, as always, the madness was beautiful. The way their screams intertwined, the look of horror in their eyes¡ªa symphony I relished, over and over. How long, I wondered, until the girl in pink decided to put an end to my fun?
~
The steady drip of water echoed through the dimly lit cell, harmonizing with the distant rattle of chains and faint, despairing screams. Occasionally, muffled roars and cheers from the world beyond the stone walls seeped in, reminders of a life they could no longer touch. Visitors were rare here¡ªonly the occasional guard, delivering a day¡¯s worth of slop onto the frigid floor. It barely qualified as food; even the armored boars of the highland goblins feasted better.
In that dark, damp cell, a dwarf woman shuddered awake, her body trembling from the cold.
¡°It happened again?¡± A raspy voice slipped through the shadows from the adjacent cell, soft yet somehow knowing.
¡°¡¯Tis always the same,¡± she replied, her voice brittle as cracked glass. ¡°I-I find this enchantin¡¯ human woman,¡± she stammered, struggling to stifle a sniffle. ¡°I ask her to join our party, and then she murders us. Brutally, mercilessly¡ªagain and again. Always the day before that terrible night.¡±
¡°Ah, the night Slaethia fell?¡± The old man¡¯s voice came with a weary timbre, as though he had carried this burden for far too long.
¡°Aye.¡± The word came out as a whisper, fragile and tired. ¡°She¡¯s hauntin¡¯ me dreams, she is.¡±
The darkness swallowed her words, leaving only the echo of her despair. Night after night, sleep had become an ordeal¡ªan unending nightmare that held her hostage for nearly two years.
¡°It¡¯s strange, isn¡¯t it?¡± The old man¡¯s voice held a hint of something unspoken. ¡°I find her in my dreams at night too, always doing the same thing.¡± He let out a hollow sigh. ¡°Been so long since I¡¯ve had a proper sleep.¡±
Another subdued sniffle slipped past the dwarf¡¯s defenses, her tears a quiet rebellion against the cold, indifferent stone. For a dwarf, no shame cut deeper than showing vulnerability. Yet, everything had been stripped from her¡ªher freedom, her honor. Falsely accused of treason, thrown into this pit without trial¡ªall because the nobles needed a scapegoat. Undeserved cruelty. She¡¯d admit to having done some unsavory things in her time, but nothing like this¡ªnothing deserving of this endless punishment.
¡°Gimona,¡± Craycroft¡¯s voice whispered from the shadows, a soft but determined promise woven into the darkness. ¡°We¡¯ll get out of this. Just... have faith in Anlyth.¡±
¡°Aye, but don¡¯t ye be makin¡¯ promises we both know ye cannae keep, Craycroft.¡± Her voice cracked, tears threatening to return. ¡°For now, I¡¯d settle for a bit of shut-eye without losin¡¯ me intestines.¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯d be a blessing,¡± he responded, a hint of something solemn underlying his words. ¡°Last night, I dreamt she fashioned a necklace from my entrails. Yet... she¡¯s never laid a hand on Nelzar in any of my nightmares.¡±
¡°Nelzar¡ªthe High Priest?¡± Gimona¡¯s voice sharpened, surprise flickering in her weary tone. ¡°He ain¡¯t in any o¡¯ mine either. It¡¯s some other gnome I don¡¯t recognize.¡±
¡°He wasn¡¯t always a priest,¡± Craycroft explained, his words soft, distant. ¡°Back before Slaethia fell, he was just our healer.¡±
¡°Aye, ye¡¯re right.¡± A shiver ran through Gimona, and she shook her head. ¡°But I swear, it ain¡¯t him. It¡¯s a different gnome altogether. What d¡¯ye make of that? Reckon Anlyth¡¯s havin¡¯ these same nightmares?¡±
A heavy sigh filled the darkness, Craycroft¡¯s voice barely more than a whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Gimona. I just don¡¯t know.¡±
The silence returned, heavier than before. The shadows of the dungeon seemed to press closer, suffocating, and the steady drip of water was the only reminder that time, however cruel, still moved forward.