The Festering Den (Grade F Delve)
---FLOOR 1---
Enemy Appraised: Grumlets {LVL 10} x15
HP: 50/50
WILL: 50/50
I¡¯ve seen butt-ugly before¡ but these guys take the cake.
The tiny, foul-smelling goblinoids rushed Ethan¡¯s party with their spears and shortswords held aloft, screaming a battle cry from their frog-like mouths. As they got closer, Ethan was surprised just how accurate the comparison really was: their bulging, bloated eyeballs were an exact picture of a horny toad¡¯s.
¡°Here they come!¡±
Tara reeled back, purring just like a kitten ready to play with her prey.
¡°This¡¯ll be fun¡¡±
Without warning, the Minxit charged forward and slashed through two of the swamp- and slime-covered Grumlets, taking their heads clean off in one blink of Ethan¡¯s raven eyes. For his part, Ethan grabbed one with his new steel claws and took to the blackened skies above, throwing the little guy down like a bowling ball into a mass of his friends who were charging Fauna.
¡°Death from above just like before, Fauna!¡± Tara shouted over her shoulder, her face glistening with the green blood of the dead beasts. ¡°How¡¯s it feel having a guardian angel, Faun?¡±
The Hopla spared a look of resigned thanks up to Ethan and, blushing, cast a firebolt that ripped clean through a row of three Grumlets who had just risen to resume their charge toward her.
Not bad at all, Ethan had to admit. When she gets a spell right, she¡¯s one impressive rabbit¡
He swooped down to deliver a [Dive] that tore into the flesh of another corrupted Grumlet, sending out a shockwave of swamp water that poured over its friends¡ªwho were then taken down one by one by a flurry of hasty punches and jabs delivered by Klax.
Congratulations! You have just slain a Grumlet {LVL 10}
Spirit Cores +20
Congratulations! You have just slain a Grumlet! {LVL 10}
Spirit Cores +20
Congratulations! You have just slain a¡ª
Can you can it with the notifications!? Ethan barked as he snapped and clawed at more of the froggy menaces around him. Just¡ give me a total when this shit¡¯s good and done!
System Combat Log Preferences: Updated.
Next time, a ¡®please¡¯ would be nice.
¡°Forward!¡± Klax suddenly shouted. ¡°There must be a way down to the next floor!¡±
¡°Floor?¡± Ethan asked aloud as he pecked the eyes out of a screaming Grumlet warrior. ¡°You mean this is part of the dungeon itself?¡±
¡°Just take a look at the skies, Archon!¡± Tara shouted. ¡°Can¡¯t your eyes see through an illusion?¡±
Ethan took flight again to try and understand what she meant. He found that he could only get about 80 feet up in the air before he hit a wall. Literally. There was some kind of boundary wrapped around this whole dark, swampy environment.
So, these Delves really are like instances¡ Ethan thought.
Somehow, your earthling mind is able to comprehend these nuances of our world surprisingly well.
It¡¯s almost as if I was chosen or something. Huh?
That information is considered [CLASSIFI¡ª]The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
I get it, he interrupted as he activated his [Hide] skill and came swooping in from the dark, infected clouds above the Grumlet horde. He sent a whole pack of them flying back like ugly little children.
Then he felt something stirring beneath his feet.
¡°Uh¡ guys?¡± Fauna murmured from behind him. ¡°I think we¡¯ve got some company¡ªah!¡±
The Hopla had spotted the danger before the rest of them¡ªher feet could detect gyrations in the earth far better than any of them. And before she could even tell them they had to run like hell right now, Ethan had already scooped her and the rest of the team up in his claws.
The swampland was disappearing into a whirlpool of dirt and grime before their eyes, the Grumlets who were still alive beginning to toss their javelins up at Ethan as he brought the hybrids out of the danger zone.
He felt the stings of their weapons as he tried to hold the weight of the three hybrids, realizing only now how much of a detriment the relatively low strength score of this giant Dark Raven host was.
STR: 10
Status: Fatigued!
Apparently, his comrades didn¡¯t quite feel him begin to lower as the seconds of the battle drew on.
¡°Haha!¡± Tara shouted from around his neck. ¡°Death from above, eh Ethan?"
¡°Tara! Can you see the exit portal?¡±
The voice was Klax¡¯s, who was doing what he could to block the projectiles of the ugly goblinoids who hadn¡¯t vanished into the whirlpool of filth that the swamp had become. Many of their comrades had ridden the wave and fallen into the abyss at its center, while the rest swam happily around the periphery, chucking their javelins into the air with wild abandon.
¡°Take me in closer!¡± the Minxit shouted in Ethan¡¯s ear. ¡°I can find us the way below.¡±
Ethan dove down towards the festering swamp below, dodging the projectiles of their enemies with precision.
Like I was born to be a bird...born to be free.
¡°Stop playing around, Tara!¡± Fauna shouted. ¡°We¡ªwe¡¯re in the middle of a fight.¡±
She then conjured up a spell that Ethan supposed was meant to be some kind of bubble shield, but ended up summoning a living, breathing liquid serpent that wriggled out of her hands and down into the swirling swamp below.
¡°Guys¡ your Archon is starting to lose momentum¡¡±
Ethan felt more projectiles sting his hide and wished nothing more than to dive bomb the hell outta the little shits right now. But he kept his cool. In this new life, he wasn¡¯t just gonna charge into danger blindly. He wasn¡¯t gonna make the same mistakes he made back home¡
¡°There!¡± Tara shouted suddenly, pointing towards a spire in the distance that had been revealed as the swamp continued to drain. ¡°There¡¯s a doorway there that we can head through¡ªthe part covered in reeds!¡±
Ethan¡¯s eyes focused on the location and found the door¡ªthe place that was suddenly all so clear to him.
¡°How did you do that?¡±
¡°Cat¡¯s eyes,¡± Tara chuckled. ¡°This girl¡¯s not just good for slitting throats and looking good doing it. My species happens to be the best illusion spotters and trap detectors in all of Argwyll.¡±
Ethan smirked as he turned in the sky and headed straight for the crumbling spire. Looks like I¡¯ve picked the right allies for dungeon-delving¡
He tried activating [Hide] and found that the skill just wouldn¡¯t work¡ªprobably something to do with him being fatigued. He could make it, though, but the Grumlets swimming beneath them seemed to know exactly where he was going.
¡°Look!¡± Fauna screeched. ¡°They¡¯re trying to break the spire down!¡±
All of them saw it as soon as the Hopla pointed it out¡ªthe horde of uglies had descended on the foundations of the spire and were climbing up it before them. The whole thing looked ancient beyond imagining¡ªit was already pretty much crumbling apart. Their webbed claws were starting to entirely break the thing down.
¡°Guess they don¡¯t want us going below¡¡±
He could make it to the spire if he had a straight shot¡ªEthan knew it. But right now¡ that was one hot LZ.
¡°Keep flying, Ethan!¡± Klax shouted up.
¡°That was the idea! But we¡¯re gonna need some major firepower to clear those froggy bois!¡±
Klax smiled as he kicked away another javelin aimed squarely at Ethan¡¯s steel underbelly. Only a few had managed to penetrate and puncture the armor so far, but it was enough to interrupt his descent. Ethan couldn¡¯t tell exactly why the old wolf was smiling.
¡°Fauna,¡± he then heard the Lycae say. ¡°You know what to do.¡±
The rabbitgirl clutched Ethan¡¯s steel claw even tighter as they approached the spire, watching the hateful eyes of the Grumlet horde take up firing positions on its ridges and ledges.
¡°I¡ you know it might not work.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a chance we¡¯ve gotta take.¡±
¡°Just like usual!¡± Tara shouted down. ¡°Go on, Sister! Take those little bastards down!¡±
The Hopla squirmed, hoping against all hopes that Ethan could finish off the brutish toad-creatures instead of her. She looked up at him with fading hope in her big eyes.
You don¡¯t believe in yourself at all, do you? Ethan¡¯s eyes asked her.
He¡¯d seen eyes like hers before. Eyes that never failed to piss him off every time¡
¡°Fauna!¡± he shouted down, narrowly avoiding a hail of javelins launched from the horde. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? I promised you I¡¯d get you a new staff. A staff for a real mage! That¡¯s what you are, right?¡±
The Hopla grimaced. ¡°N¡ not a mage. A Wildglance.¡±
¡°Like I know what the fuck that is!¡± Ethan replied as he felt the pain of another flurry of projectiles. ¡°What I do know is that you¡¯ve got more power in those fluffy hands than I¡¯ve ever seen in my whole damn life! I don¡¯t care what you do¡ªjust do something super special magic awesome!¡±
He couldn¡¯t tell whether it was his words or simply the necessity of destroying the enemies blocking their path that spurred the girl on. All he knew was that in the next second, he felt the Hopla girl¡¯s body go limp before she raised her arm and muttered an incantation that set the air itself ablaze.
¡°P-PYROS ARMUNUM!¡±
Searing, blistering heat rocketed up from the hand of the rabbitgirl, until the power contained within her spirit could no longer be contained. It gushed forth from her palm like a blooming red flower of death, instantly vaporizing the entire horde and the spire¡¯s midsection along with it.
Ethan watched in awe as the spell reduced the screaming Grumlets to piles of brown ash.
I have really gotta possess me a Wildglance¡
¡°Now, Ethan!¡± Klax roared.
The demon hat didn¡¯t even need to hear this¡ªalready his host was rocketing through the flames towards the purple portal that had just opened at the tip of the spire, and as soon as he touched its surface, the world twisted and folded in on itself, and the screaming party of hybrids was thrust into the unknown horrors of the Festering Den¡¯s second floor.
19. [Doubts]
---Delve Notification---
[SAFE ZONE REACHED]
Ethan blinked through dust and swamp water before realizing that one half of his left wing was on fire.
He rolled against the dusty floor that he and his companions had landed on. They had entered through the portal into, seemingly, an entirely different interior from what he was expecting¡ªconsidering that Fauna¡¯s spell had all but obliterated the spire¡¯s exterior. A chamber of ancient sandstone walls surrounded them¡ªeach of them engraved with etchings and patterns showing Grumlets hard at work worshipping at shrines or toiling away in the swamps outside, building more monuments to whatever gods they worshipped.
Oh boy, LORE. Where¡¯s the video essay to explain how these walls contain secrets I could never be bothered to care about?
Disdain for this world will get you nowhere, you know.
I thought you¡¯d be pleased with that, Ethan remarked as he shook himself off and took a look at his downed companions around him. After all, you¡¯d like nothing more than to see me dead, right? Or are you more of a Tsundere than I thought?
Searching for Class Designation: [Tsundere]
Results: Inconclusive.
Explanation required.
You¡¯ll just have to take a guess, Sys. Some secrets can¡¯t just be spilled willy-nilly.
He nosed the forms of Tara, Fauna, and Klax, who seemed like they¡¯d been out in a daze as deep as his. As they came to, each of them looked around with wonder, with Fauna in particular staring blankly in disbelief. Probably, her own System window was telling her they had made it.
¡°We¡¯re¡ alive,¡± she said.
¡°Hell yeah, we are!¡± Tara shrieked, cartwheeling back to squeeze Ethan¡¯s long neck and then pouncing on her Hopla sister. ¡°All thanks to Ethan and a certain bunny girl¡¯s fiery fingers.¡±
¡°T-Tara! You¡¯re embarrassing me in front of the Archon!¡±
Ethan laughed along with the girls as Klax rose to stand beside him, eyes brimming with relief but also absolute focus.
¡°Now we tend to our wounds,¡± he said, pointing down at the scratches on his arms and Ethan¡¯s wings¡ªspots where the javelins of the Grumlets had pierced his feathers and even chipped his armor.
¡°Ah, Klaxy,¡± Ethan groaned. ¡°I barely felt a thing, really!¡±
As usual, Sys then popped up to prove him wrong.
Current HP: 45/90
¡°¡Okay. Maybe I got a few scratches on me. But that¡¯s what our healing potions are for, right?¡±
Tara jumped up then, finally leaving her shy comrade alone, and threw open her arms to the room around them.
¡°No need,¡± she told Ethan. ¡°This here¡¯s a safe zone. There¡¯s usually one or two between Delve floors¡ªa place to rest and recuperate, y¡¯know?¡±
¡°Every adventuring party gets at least 12 hours¡¯ respite,¡± Klax elaborated. ¡°We¡¯d be clever to take it before moving on.¡±
¡°And save our supplies for when we need instant healing during combat,¡± Ethan agreed with a sage, birdly nod. ¡°Sucks that none of you guys have a cleric or healer around.¡±
Klax shrugged. ¡°It is not something we hybrids are blessed with.¡±
¡°Healin¡¯ spells are lame anyway. Never helped any of us put the dead back together. Ain¡¯t that right, Faun?¡±
The Hopla looked up at Tara with vacant eyes. She said nothing.
¡°¡Eh, sorry.¡±
Still nothing.
I¡¯m sensing some actual juicy lore here¡
¡°Let us make camp,¡± Klax said, producing a bundle of firewood from his pack and beginning the process of getting a fire going. ¡°If we can take turns keeping watch, we can make sure the safe zone is not violated. Though these spots are normally peaceful, one never can know if another Delving party decides to come along and violate this sanctuary.¡±
¡°That happens?¡± Ethan asked.
¡°It is not outside the realms of possibility.¡±
¡°Nothin¡¯ really is in good old Argwyll, Ethan!¡± Tara beamed. ¡°Ain¡¯t your Earth the same way?¡±
¡°¡®My Earth¡¯ was more boring than anything you could imagine,¡± Ethan replied with a chuckle. But his demon eye was focused not on Tara as the flappy beak of his host said these words. Instead, it was rooted squarely on Fauna, and how she simply stared forward into the fire that was slowly starting to take shape beneath Klax¡¯s hands.
¡Yeah, Ethan thought. This world is way more interesting.
Current Spirit Cores: 120
As the hours droned on, Ethan found that he couldn¡¯t sleep. He decided to take up watch when the seventh hour came along, as this would give him time to make any skill improvements with his new bundle of Cores.
Sure, I could save up and get another grade in one of my [Hat] skills, but who wants to be a bore? I ain¡¯t gonna just save up points and then never end up using them. Besides, who knows what kinda hell¡¯s waiting below. Klax says there¡¯s at least two more floors to go, and I¡¯m betting there¡¯s a nice, very possessable Boss monster just waiting for me on the last one¡This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Ethan decided then and there that his best chance at survival would be prioritizing the Dark Raven skills that he would be transferring to whatever new host he acquired. And that meant he really had two choices: Wing Buffet, Peck, or Dive.
Spirit Cores Required to Increase [Dark Raven] Skills from Grade F-E: 80
Grade E-D: 120
I¡¯ve already got a handle on Dive¡ and Peck just seems like a basic attack. Wing Buffet for sure seems the more useful skill. I mean¡ if I¡¯m gonna take Dive with me to my next host, I¡¯m gonna need wings to make proper use of it. And it¡¯s another form of crowd control for when Roar¡¯s on its cooldown.
Wing-Buffet (Grade F)
Your wings flap up a storm, {Repelling} any foes with STR lower than 15 away up to 20ft.
(Grade E)
[Repulsion Increase]
You now {Repel} any foes with STR lower than 25 away up to 50ft.
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade: 80
Confirm Upgrade?
Ethan needed no further prompting. Peck was basically a waste. His wings were this creature¡¯s strength, and if he could take it to another, he was gonna make sure they were powered up.
Upgrade confirmed
Wing-Buffet (Grade E)
Current Spirit Cores: 40
Have to remember to keep a good Core surplus¡ otherwise I won¡¯t be able to possess the big bastard down under¡
Always thinking ahead, just like your predecessors.
This bodes well for you.
Of course. Sys was the System of all the other Archons, right? Ethan wondered if there was a way to break through the [CLASSIFIED] records Sys kept throwing up when he asked a question about them. Then again, maybe Sys had blanks when it came to the previous Archons. After all, all their info and memories would be just too much of an advantage, right? And Sys didn¡¯t seem interested in giving him more advantages than he had¡
He decided to turn his attention from Sys to the stirring rabbit girl who he suddenly found sitting up, staring once again into the little bonfire they were huddled around.
¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± he asked her.
She glanced up at him as though surprised he had noticed her and gave a wet sniff of the chamber¡¯s stagnant air.
¡°Am I bothering you, Ethan?¡±
¡°What? No! I just meant¡ªwell¡ªI thought it seemed like you kinda had something on your mind earlier.¡±
She returned her gaze to the flames, though she did manage to beam a brief smile.
¡°Yes¡ maybe I do.¡±
When she said nothing else, Ethan wasn¡¯t sure what else to say. But he knew he couldn''t just let this silence last.
Go on, Sir Archon. Show me just how good of an orator you can be.
Sys¡ I¡¯m gonna need some free headspace right now, ¡®kay?
He sidled up beside Fauna while she hugged her knees, eyes still staring blankly.
¡°You know¡¡± he began¡ªhis three eyes watching her from their corners. ¡°That was a pretty awesome spell you just pulled off outside.¡±
She looked up with confusion, the light of the bonfire¡¯s embers dancing in her eyes.
¡°¡®Awesome¡¯?¡±
¡°Y¡¯know¡ªcool. Epic. Super. You were like a¡ super bunny girl.¡±
Eloquent.
You are a natural-born [Poet].
What did I just tell you!?
Fauna burst out laughing before Sys could make another quip, giggling lightly so she didn¡¯t wake their slumbering comrades.
¡°Thanks,¡± she whispered. ¡°You¡ you aren¡¯t what I expected the Archon to be.¡±
¡°Yeah, the rest of them weren¡¯t devilishly handsome hats, eh?¡±
She sniggered. ¡°The rest of them didn¡¯t really ask us how we felt about¡ all this. We all followed them because the humans hated us. But we couldn¡¯t say no even if we wanted to.¡±
Ethan cocked his feathery brow at the girl.
¡°How can you say no¡ when all your species thinks the same way?¡±
She trailed off before realizing exactly what she¡¯d said.
¡°S-sorry! I¡¯m rambling. I¡ªum¡ªf-forget all that, I just¡ª¡±
Ethan held up a wing. ¡°We¡¯re a team now, y¡¯know,¡± he winked. ¡°And I¡¯m still a newbie to this world. I wanna know what you think.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not so special, Ethan,¡± Fauna replied in barely a murmur. ¡°I¡¯m just another hybrid who lost everything during the¡ the purges.¡±
¡°Purges?¡±
¡°It was after the last Archon fell,¡± she explained slowly, eyes re-focused on the crackling bonfire throwing their shadows across the chamber walls. ¡°The Greycloaks joined up with the King¡ Lysandus. He¡ªthey¡ªwanted to hunt us all down for good. They said they¡¯d make sure we all died this time.¡±
To his shock, Ethan saw the Hopla¡¯s pale hand clench in anger, nails digging into her bare thighs.
¡°My mom, my sisters¡ªeveryone in our burrow wanted to leave. To find Sanctum¡ªthe safe place we¡¯d all heard rumors about. But I¡ªI told them we should stay. That the Burrow was our home. That if anyone did come, I¡¯d¡ I¡¯d protect them¡¡±
The Hopla¡¯s eyes were truly staring into her past now.
¡°But when they came for¡ for my burrow¡ I couldn¡¯t¡ my spells wouldn¡¯t work right. Everything just¡ fizzled. I couldn¡¯t help them. My sisters¡ mother¡ everyone. They came and¡ªand they¡¡±
She buried her head in her knees for a moment, then. Ethan knew the rest of the story. The girl didn¡¯t have to go on.
¡°I should¡¯ve listened to them,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m nothing special. I¡¯m just a Wildglance who can¡¯t be counted on. I only survived because I was a coward, Ethan. I ran. When they came for me last¡ laughing as my spells fizzled out and died, my mother pleading, begging for me to go. I did what she said this time. I ran. I ran because I was scared. And because I was stupid. I ran when I¡ I¡ I should¡¯ve died with them.¡±
She said these words with more confidence than Ethan thought her capable of expressing. Then she fell silent. Silent as the stone walls that encased them.
Geeze¡ that¡¯s a sadder backstory than I thought I¡¯d hear from her.
He shuffled uncomfortably next to the girl, hearing her stifle some small sobs. No real tears came, but judging by what she just said¡ if there was a [psychologist] skill, he¡¯d make use of it. Really, he would¡
I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re out of luck, there.
¡Fine then, he answered Sys. Guess I¡¯ll just flap my gums and see what comes out.
¡°You know, you¡¯re the first mage-type I¡¯ve met in this place. And, let me tell you, you¡¯re way cooler than the ones in my world.¡±
The girl turned to him, tears at the corner of her eyes. ¡°Your world¡ has mages?¡±
¡°Eh¡ kinda?¡± he shrugged. ¡°Except ours are nothing but stories. Stories of old men with long beards and big sticks, shooting fireballs and smoking weed¡ªor the fantasy equivalent. They¡¯re nothing but stories, Fauna. And they¡¯re nothing like you. You¡¯re real. You¡¯re a badass chicken-flinging, laser-beam shooting rabbit girl sitting right beside me, and I never thought I¡¯d see things as amazing as what you¡¯ve done for real.¡±
¡°You¡ you think I¡¯m amazing?¡±
¡°Come on¡ you literally burned up a whole horde of those ugly shits outside. I get that your magic¡¯s unpredictable and stuff, but that¡¯s exactly what makes it cool! Everything you do is a surprise.¡±
Now, it was suddenly Ethan¡¯s turn to stare into the fire.
¡°¡No one wants to live a boring, predictable life,¡± he said. ¡°You literally can¡¯t have one. That¡¯s a bloody great power.¡±
Not bad, Ethan.
For a [Hat]
In the face of Sys¡¯ sarcasm, Ethan furrowed his brow again. But his whole demeanor was thrown off by Fauna¡¯s giggling beside him¡ªmuch louder, and much clearer than before, echoing up the ancient walls around them and back down again.
¡°I bet you were a funny human,¡± she said. ¡°I wonder, if you¡¯d come here just as you were¡¡±
She trailed off and seemed to shake the thought from her head. She yawned, wiggled her ears, and gave a little weary stretch.
¡°Thanks,¡± she said with a slight blush. ¡°For talking with me.¡±
Ethan¡¯s bird host stiffened. ¡°Believe me, Fauna, it¡¯s me that should be thanking you. Eh¡ªall of you.¡±
With that, the Hopla girl beamed him a smile and brushed his feathery wing with her hand before heading to sleep. For his part, he stayed awake to keep watch for the last few hours of their rest, watching the little chest of the rabbit girl rise gently as she finally fell asleep.
If you start caring too much about these guys, he told himself. You''re gonna end up fucked. You know that, right?
He did. But he also knew that it was quickly becoming too late to do anything about it.
20. Into the [Depths]
Host: Dark Raven [LVL 16]
Stats:
-
HP: 90/90
-
MP: 0
-
WILL: 10/10
-
STR: 10
-
PER: 20
-
SPD: 55
-
CHA: 5
Skills known:
-
Wing Buffet (Grade E)
-
Peck (Grade F)
-
Dive (Grade E)
-
Roar (Grade E)
-
Hide (Grade E)
Current Spirit Cores: 40
DELVE NOTIFICATION:
REST: CONCLUDED
SAFE ZONE: NULLIFIED
The hybrid team continued their advance into the depths of the Festering Den proper once their 12 hours were up, packing up their modest camp and following the narrow corridor that led into this strange new temple. Tara insisted on taking the lead, and Ethan wasn¡¯t about to complain¡ªhis bird form wasn¡¯t exactly suited to these narrow, twisting stone passageways that formed the labyrinth they were descending into.
At a few chokepoints, the Minxit ordered the group to halt, her ears twitching wildly. She proceeded to check the walls and floors, brushing them gently with her tail or feet to reveal some small contraptions hidden behind secret compartments and trapdoors.
¡°Traps!¡± Ethan said. ¡°Now we¡¯re in a real dungeon.¡±
¡°Indeed,¡± Klax replied as Tara went about dismantling the insidious-looking devices¡ªrepeating crossbow machines and what looked like gas pits, mostly. ¡°The ancient architects who created these Delves did so knowing that their job was to test the faithful, as well as provide a home for Argwyll¡¯s less than reputable citizens.¡±
Ethan nodded at the strange hieroglyphs and mosaics painted on the walls¡ªthose depicting Grumlets at prayer, huddled around strange, eight-legged idols and altars.
¡°Looks like the little critters really made this place their own,¡± he said.
¡°It is the way of the Delve dwellers,¡± Klax confirmed, wiping his paw over a few of the cobweb-covered etchings. ¡°Those trapped here begin to form a strange appreciation for the more powerful monsters within. In time, this appreciation becomes fascination, and pretty soon¡¡±
¡°You¡¯ve got a buncha monster cultists worshipping the big boss of the Dungeon,¡± Tara finished, cracking her fingers and giving a triumphant swish of her tail. ¡°All done here, folks. Let¡¯s do this.¡±
A few more passages of winding stone awaited them, each one lit only by the flickering red orb that Fauna had summoned in her hand. As they rounded a few corners, the light seemed to jump around energetically, as though its bearer were tossing it to and fro in a little game. She wouldn¡¯t admit it, but Fauna was just a little bit more excitable now. Ethan didn¡¯t mind if she played around a little. She needed a bit of recreation more than he did.
Finally, Tara nodded towards an opening that led into a larger chamber with a pit in its center¡ªone that looked to be at least ten meters deep. From their vantage point, they could see into the pit and watch its inhabitants as they sat, waiting.
¡°Eight legs¡ and one creepy-looking Grumlet. Looks like those hieroglyphs were doing a bit of foreshadowing for us.¡±
Enemies Identified:
-
Giant Swamp Spider: x6
-
Grumlet Magus: x1
Giant Swamp Spider HP: 30/30
WILL: 25/25
Ethan¡¯s [Appraisal] couldn¡¯t identify anything about the Grumlet mage sitting among the spiders below¡ªprobably because he hadn¡¯t yet upgraded the skill, and the creature was hiding its stats through magic. This was, after all, the first mage he¡¯d truly met in this world besides Fauna.
And his appearance didn¡¯t exactly inspire anything in particular. He sat there, a furrowed, conical hat atop his brow, simply staring at the web-spinning spiders around him.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
¡°What¡¯s¡ what¡¯s it doing?¡±
¡°Looks like it¡¯s¡ praying,¡± Fauna whispered.
¡°Who cares what it¡¯s doing?¡± Tara murmured back, readying her shortbow and nocking an arrow. ¡°This is the way to the bottom floor, I¡¯m sure of it. To get there, we¡¯re gonna have to go through them.¡±
¡°Stealth?¡± Ethan inquired, readying his [Hide] ability already.
¡°It will be tough in here,¡± Klax mused. ¡°Fauna? Think you have a spell of Darkness you can whip up for us?¡±
The Hopla glanced at both her comrades and didn¡¯t say anything at first. When she then found Ethan¡¯s face, he gave her a conspiratorial wink.
¡°Hey, remember you¡¯re super special magic awesome.¡±
She stared unblinkingly for a few seconds before nodding, flashing him the smile she had before.
¡°Okay,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±
¡°We move out as soon as the cloud of Darkness envelops the brood,¡± Klax said. ¡°Everyone ready?¡±
¡°Ready!¡±
¡°Go!¡±
The next few minutes occurred in a flash¡ªFauna¡¯s fingers dripped with oozing, living darkness that snaked its way down to the pit of the mage and his spider pets, covering them in an inky black cloud. The mage jerked up, suddenly furious, and heard nothing but the sound of arrows flying through the dank air and embedding themselves in one of his spiders nearby¡ªkilling it instantly. As he flew to grab his staff, something large and quick knocked into him from above, sending him sprawling on the ground and clutching the bloody gash carved into his arm.
Damn it! Ethan thought as he took to the ceiling to go in for another [Dive] attack. I can¡¯t make full use of Dive without an open sky above me. This little guy must be packing more health than the rest.
Still, it made sense to focus on the mage¡ªclearly, he had the most power in the group. So, as another spider perished under the steel tips of Tara¡¯s arrows, Ethan flew in for the kill, aiming his beak right at the Grumlet mage¡¯s neck.
¡°AHHH!¡±
The scream wasn¡¯t his. It was shrill, hoarse, and pained¡ªand it belonged to a girl.
Fauna¡
Ethan¡¯s eyes caught the sight of her being pushed by five new Grumlets who had just entered in behind them. She fell to the base of the pit and would have probably snapped her neck if Ethan hadn¡¯t flown to catch her on his back. Meanwhile, Tara was engaged with three of them above, each one slashing at her with a vicious, rusted broadsword.
¡°Ethan!¡± she shouted down. ¡°Kill the mage!¡±
Through his host¡¯s eyes, Ethan saw exactly why she was more concerned about the magic user than her own safety. He saw the bubbling energy gathered in the mage¡¯s hands¡ªviscous green ooze that he was readying to fire at them all. Around him, his spiderlings charged, more than willing to protect their master.
SQUISH!
The mage¡¯s eyes went wide as he heard one spider die beside him. Then another. Then another, and finally he heard the raspy breath of the wolven hunter who had come for him.
With a single punch, Klax sent him flying back against the far wall. Meanwhile, Ethan dealt with the two Grumlets who had charged him and Fauna, intent on finishing the Delvers who had fallen for their trap. A quick [Wing Buffet] sent them both rolling back, snapping their spines against the walls of the pit and allowing Ethan to follow up with a quick slash of his iron claws that ended their miserable lives then and there.
Above, Tara had managed to fight off her attackers. One Grumlet fell, quickly followed by his friend, both of them slashed brutally across the nape of their necks.
That girl¡¯s one badass assassin¡ Ethan couldn¡¯t help but think.
A scream from Fauna behind him brought him right back to the battle, however. She¡¯d brought up a shield around both of them right as the mage had finally managed to fire off his spell. The cloud of Darkness disappeared, and now the world of the labyrinth was bathed in an otherworldly green light¡ªsomething that tore through the walls themselves, sending bricks and stonework crashing down on the scattered team of hybrids.
¡°He¡¯s bringing this place down!¡± Klax called out as he ran for Fauna¡¯s shield. ¡°Tara! Come on¡ªwe¡¯re outta here!¡±
The Minxit gave a huff of indignation as the walls collapsed around them, jumping down to catch Ethan as he flew with all his speed towards the only opening he could find above¡ªa hole just big enough to squeeze through with his charges.
Just before they managed to flee the broken battlefield, however, a shot rang out against the din of the fallen walls.
They looked back to see an arrow embedded slap-bang between the eyes of the Grumlet mage.
¡°Tara the Minxit ain¡¯t gonna leave a target alive,¡± their catgirl companion said. ¡°¡®Specially not a little bastard like that.¡±
Ethan¡¯s flight took them into another series of interconnected chambers¡ªonly this time rooms which were more organic than composed of the stone walls that characterized the rest of the ruin. The surfaces of these much wider rooms pulsed as though alive, each one lined with grey polyps the size of a baby elephant down them.
A sudden notification then buzzed into life before Ethan¡¯s eyes:
[Delve Challenge: HORDE]
Completion Bonus:
-
300 Spirit Cores
-
2x Random [UNCOMMON] loot
[Time Until Activation: 10:00]
¡°Shit¡¡± Tara muttered. Her companions seemed to share her annoyance.
¡°Oh¡ on Ethan¡¯s first dungeon¡ why does our luck have to be so bad?¡±
¡°It is the way of the Delves,¡± Klax snarled. ¡°They exist to test the faithful. Perhaps the Delve itself knows that Ethan is the Archon. If so, it is giving us its all.¡±
Ethan took them down into the center of the organic room, feeling the mushy, pulpy grey matter of the ground stick between his steel claws as they met the surface. He could guess what was about to happen here.
¡°Horde¡¡± he said aloud. ¡°So, like a swarm of enemies, right?¡±
¡°Swarm is correct,¡± Klax said as he checked the room for possible defensive choke points. ¡°We have to survive against a veritable army of this Delve¡¯s choosing. Judging by the state of the environment¡¡±
¡°¡it¡¯ll be spiders,¡± Ethan finished.
¡°It will be spiders.¡±
¡°Fuck!¡± Tara spat. ¡°Hordes are the worst kinda challenge. Stealth basically doesn¡¯t work. Not when there¡¯s fifty dudes all looking for a piece of ya.¡±
Context, Tara¡
¡°Well¡ªI have my shield,¡± Fauna said. ¡°And Ethan has his Dive attack, right? We could attract them to us as a distraction while Ethan takes them down.¡±
¡°It might be the best way,¡± Klax agreed. ¡°I don¡¯t like the odds of us splitting up. Especially not with the number of those egg sacs all over the place.¡±
¡°Can¡¯t we just destroy them now?¡± Ethan asked.
¡°Won¡¯t work. It¡¯ll do nothing but start the Horde challenge. The Laws of the Delve are sacred and unbreakable, at least not with Argwyllian magic.¡±
¡°So our only option is to deal with it,¡± Ethan said.
¡°Yup,¡± Tara replied as she stretched her legs and craned her neck. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much it. But hey, on the bright side: there¡¯s a juicy 300 Spirit Core reward and some random loot in it for us.¡±
¡°Now you¡¯re speaking my language,¡± Ethan laughed.
He took up his position at the apex of the organic room, trying to avoid looking at the pulsing polyps around him that seemed to beat with greater intensity now, as though they too were waiting for the challenge to begin.
He spent a few Spirit Cores on upgrading his host¡¯s health and SPD¡ªwith the latter taking up at least 50 of the Cores he¡¯d acquired from the last mob alone to upgrade. The Grumlet mage had been worth a whopping 120 though, so he¡¯d have to thank Tara for that kill shot later. Stats really did end up costing a lot when they passed 20. But then again, he¡¯d be in Spirit Core heaven soon if all went well here.
HP: 92
SPD: 60
Both speed and distance would only increase the strength of his Dive bombs. He could do this.
The question was: could his team?
¡°Ethan!¡± Klax shouted up as he and the others stood back-to-back in the middle of the chamber below. ¡°Are you ready?¡±
¡°Ready!¡± he shouted down.
¡°Then¡ let¡¯s do this.¡±
21. The Eight-Legged [Horde]
[Delve Challenge: HORDE]
ACTIVATED!
Time remaining: 10:00
Eight-legged hell broke out in the organic chamber of the Festering Den¡¯s second floor. Ethan saw the grey polyps lining the entire ceiling and walls burst open at once, releasing a torrent of jet-black spiders, each the size of baby elephants.
And as an undulating wave of leggy death, they descended on the hybrids below.
¡°Here they come!¡±
Klax barked orders at Tara to loose as many arrows as she could before drawing her shortswords and hacking away at the creatures¡¯ limbs. The dog-man knew their weaknesses, and he wasn¡¯t about to lose a second in exploiting them.
¡°Faun!¡± he shouted. ¡°You know what we need!¡±
¡°F-fire coming up!¡±
Ethan wasted no time doing his part. Even with his [Hide] ability practically useless against a sea of eyes, he still managed a dive bomb that took out a slew of spiders before they even made it to the ground, splintering their bulbous bodies apart and splattering their ooze-like blood over the face of both him and his fine feathered host.
I HOPE YOU WILL BE CLEANING THAT LATER¡ªTHE SMELL OF SPIDER VISCERA IS MOST DISCONCERTING!
EVEN A SYSTEM HAS STANDARDS, YOU KNOW!
Little too busy to care at the moment, Syssy!
Ethan slammed into another section of the surging horde, managing to take down a whole front wave before they even reached Klax¡¯s readied fists. He flew back up just before the chittering teeth of the next row managed to snap at his tail and heard a collective insectoid screech when he made it back to the ceiling.
¡°Have that!¡± Tara was screaming as she hacked through the bastards. ¡°Ya creepy crawly fucks!¡±
The waves were unstoppable. As he looked around him, Ethan could see that the polyps were prisons for hundreds of spiders, which continued pouring from their depths with impossible speed.
¡°Fauna!¡± Klax shouted. ¡°Any luck with that fire spell?¡±
The Hopla responded over the paralyzing scream emanating from her fingers¡ªa thaumaturgical spell that managed to do nothing more than piss the spiders off even more.
¡°I-I¡¯m trying!¡±
¡°All right then!¡± the Lycae responded. ¡°Crowd control time, everyone!¡±
He pounded his fists into the earth and sent a shockwave into the entire left side of the arena, knocking the advancing waves of darkness back. Ethan followed suit, gliding through the dense air and unleashing a [Wing Buffet] and [Roar] combo that broke the horde on the right-hand side of the chamber, leaving them wide open for Tara¡¯s swift strikes.
¡°Thank ya, Mr. Ethan!¡± the Minxit laughed as she pounced from insect to insect, jabbing at the paralyzed ones and ending their lives before they even knew what had happened.
Ethan and Klax kept up the pressure¡ªtheir crowd control abilities synergizing well enough that the horde barely even had a chance to move a few inches on either side of the chamber.
TIME LEFT: 6:00
¡°Keep up the pressure!¡± Klax shouted as the timer ticked down. ¡°And expect trouble! The second phase is starting soon.¡±
¡°Tell that to our illustrious rabbit here,¡± Tara shouted over her shoulder. ¡°Hey, Faun? Mind hurrying the fuck up?¡±
Fauna grimaced as she launched a boulder from out of thin air this time.
¡°Almost! I¡ªI think the next one will¡ª¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
An explosion from above shook the entire chamber. Ethan¡¯s eyes sought the ceiling and saw that the only polyps that had not burst above had just released their payload¡ªseven green-coated spiders fell from above like bombs being dropped on an unsuspecting city.
Enemies Identified:
-
Vena Spider x7
-
HP: 80/80
-
WILL: 50/50
By the oozing green liquid running down their salivating mandibles, Ethan could guess what payload these guys were packing.
Poison¡
He shifted in the air, whipping up a [Wing Buffet] that sent three of the beasts flying back. The strength score of the others must have carried them through, for in the next second, one had clutched his tail and sunk its nasty fangs into his feathered plumage.
HP: 70/92
Status: POISONED
DMG: 2 HP/Sec
¡°Shit!¡± Ethan screeched, flying headfirst into a nearby wall to try and shake the critter off. When it finally let go, it was after he turned and gave it a harsh peck that broke clean through its thorax, throwing its blood across his face.
He grimaced as pain surged through him, feeling his vision go blurry. He tried focusing on his companions below, but all he could make out were a thousand dark shapes converging on the vague humanoid forms in the grey prison all around him.
Fuck this! He told himself. Ethan Hawke ain¡¯t gonna be done in by some spider poison!
He flew towards the team and sent a [Roar] flying through the spiders¡¯ ranks. As they fell, he landed and shouted back, ¡°Antidotes! There are at least six more poison critters hanging around!¡±
¡°Way ahead of ya!¡± Tara shouted, tossing him a vial which he downed in the next second.
Status: Cured
HP: 30/92
40 goddamn seconds¡ Ethan realized. That¡¯s all it took for the spit to tear through me¡
¡°Incoming!¡±
The shout was Klax¡¯s, who managed to intercept another torrent of Vena Spider spit that was aimed squarely at Ethan¡¯s face. His punch actually sent the strike flying back at the spider that launched it, toppling the creature and knocking it prone.
Meanwhile, the horde simply didn¡¯t stop coming¡
Time remaining: 2:00
¡°Stay out of the way of the shooters!¡± Klax shouted. ¡°They¡¯re targeting Ethan!¡±
The team nodded, Fauna still fumbling with her spell while Tara sank her blades into the thoraxes of spider after spider on their right.
Another [Wing Buffet] kept the left flank back, and Klax¡¯s punches were doing the heavy lifting of keeping the poisoned projectiles off Ethan.
¡°Fuck!¡±
Tara suddenly fell back, a patch of green ooze running up her arm.
¡°Tara¡ªhere!¡±
In the momentary lapse of Klax uncorking another antidote, a Vena aimed a spittle strike square at his back and knocked him down. He shivered as the poison worked its way through his system.
¡°Klax!¡± Ethan roared, flying off in the direction of the shooter and diving headfirst into the little bastard¡ªsending its bloody, flailing form high into the sky of the grey chamber.
Then, without even turning, he could feel the five other spittle strikes that were now heading towards him.
¡°Protect the Archon!¡± Klax roared as he downed their final vial of antidote. ¡°Someone get up there!¡±
Time Remaining: 1:00
Ethan closed his eyes to the sight of the impending poisonous death that was coming his way. But no sooner had he started writing his will than the poison fumes simply fizzled away, and he opened his eyes to see a haze of red enveloping him.
¡°What the¡¡±
Status: Infernal Coating
-
Attack Bonus: +25 PYRO DMG
-
IMMUNITY: POIS, ICE
His juvenile smile was right back on his face as he saw these words. Except this time, it was the smile of a true demon, not that of a noble bird. He felt the fires of Fauna''s enchantment flow through his birdly veins like a maelstrom of destruction ready to be unleashed.
He looked down to nod at Fauna who, through sweat and pure weariness, gave him a thumbs up from below.
¡°It¡¯s¡ it¡¯s something,¡± she murmured.
¡°All right, all right!¡± Tara shouted over the din of the still cascading horde of spiders spilling from their caches with even greater intensity. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this!¡±
Ethan took to the skies as a firebird now, tearing through all the spiders like a phoenix burning through the foliage of a once verdant forest. Each one simply popped and fizzed away to nothing¡ªthe damage from his Dives and infernal power now simply dissolving their bodies before they even had a chance to react or leave their chambers.
He managed to take out two of the Vena Spider shooters as the final seconds of the clock ticked down, blasting the remaining two away with a [Roar] that made him look like a real demon of the skies, coated in the fires of the abyss itself.
Time Remaining: 5 seconds.
¡°Ethan!¡± Klax shouted as the spider horde began to fizzle away entirely. ¡°Be ready for the transfer!¡±
Transfer¡ you know, you could have mentioned that earlier, big guy.
Ethan nodded, though he was loath to tear himself away from his final targets. Like a comet sailing towards the earth, he sped right back down towards his team.
3¡
Above, the spider polyps burst with a final spurt of energy¡ªsending a whole blanket of the beasts down to weather the defenders.
2¡
Ethan sent a fiery [Wing Buffet] right back up at them, noticing that the effect was enhanced¡ªthe entire wall of spiderlings burned to a crisp almost instantly.
1¡
¡°Here, Ethan!¡± Klax roared, extending his paw just far enough to touch the tip of the diving Archon¡¯s beak.
0.
As the beak of the Archon met the paw of the Lycae, the world vanished in a blur of brilliant indigo light.
22. Conflict of [Interest]
Ethan¡¯s three eyes snapped open and stared around him at the new organic chamber pulsing with life. He was alive. Once again, cheating death along with his three companions, who seemed to be just coming around from their shared blackout.
Just another day for a demon hat¡
Delve Challenge [HORDE]
Complete!
-
Rewards:
-
300 Spirit Cores
-
2x Antidote
-
1x Festering Quiver (DMG +10 vs. Arachnae)
-
1x Venabane Staff (POIS spell DMG +10)
[SAFE ZONE ENTERED]
You seeing this shit, Sys? Ethan grinned in the small grey chamber that served as the final safe zone before the Festering Den¡¯s final floor. Three hundred smackers. All for lil¡¯ ol¡¯ me.
And you only had to almost die for them. Congratulations.
I know, right!? The payoff¡¯s totally worth it. Klax even tells me that we all get the same individually, too. Proper fair Delve system, right here. This shit wouldn¡¯t fly in WoW. The Raid Leader would grab the goods, citing ¡®ethics¡¯ or some bullshit like that. Well, that ain¡¯t gonna fly in Argwyll, baby! The land of the fair and equal!
A rather ironic sentiment coming from the Archon.
But I can''t fault you in principle.
Ethan could tell Sys was finally starting to warm up to him. He focused his attention on his skillsets, greedily eyeing his [Hat] skills and realizing that he had enough¡ªmore than enough, actually¡ªto improve another one from Grade F to E.
Skill check: Ethan Hawke
-
Object: Hat {Legendary}
-
Skills:
-
Possession (Rank F)
-
Skill Siphon (Rank E)
-
Appraisal (Rank F)
-
Transmogrification (Rank F)
-
Spirit Cores: 340
Wait, killing all those spiders didn¡¯t give me like five hundred more cores? Lame. Don¡¯t go limiting me like that, Sys! You know you wanna see just how OP this monster hat can get.
When Sys didn¡¯t even dignify his quip with an answer, he concentrated on improving the Possession skill, reasoning that the memories of his newly possessed hosts might give him an edge in terms of not only his knowledge of the world but also the things these monsters could do. It might even afford him some extra knowledge of hidden secrets known only to the monsters that dwelled within these walls. After all, the Grumlets above had markings and murals that told him they at least had a concept of religion down here. That was more than he was expecting.
Possession (Rank E)
You can now view the memories of your new [Hosts]
Spirit Core Cost to upgrade: 250
Confirm Upgrade?
You got it, Ethan snapped. And that still leaves me with 90 Cores to help me on my way to possessing whatever big bastard¡¯s waiting for us down below. If it¡¯s gonna be another multi-phase boss like that troll before, I¡¯m gonna need a good surplus before I hop on its head.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
In the meantime, though, I should probably check out just what my current birdy boi¡¯s been up to his entire life. Whaddya say, Sys? Wanna take a delve into this dark menace¡¯s past?
Your excitement is unfortunately infectious. It is only a shame your new comrades don¡¯t seem to share in your glee¡
Only then did Ethan¡¯s eyes snap to the reality that was unfolding before him. Raised voices, arched backs, and crossed arms greeted him, as well as a flurry of raised fur¡
¡°What the FUCK was that?¡± Tara was shouting. ¡°You almost let the Archon die!¡±
¡°T-Tara!¡± Fauna shouted back. ¡°I said I was sorry! The spell just took too long and I¡ª¡±
¡°¡®And I can¡¯t help it,¡¯¡± the blustering Minxit finished, spitting on the organic ground beneath her paws. ¡°It¡¯s always the fucking same with you.¡±
¡°Tara,¡± Klax cautioned, ¡°Fauna¡¯s magic saved us in the end. That is all that matters here.¡±
¡°Is it?!¡± the Minxit retorted. ¡°This happens every fucking time, Klax! We lost the Lightborn because of her! We almost just lost the Archon because of her! Her family fucking died because of he¡ª¡±
¡°That¡¯s a lie!¡± The Hopla screamed, rising up, pale hands shaking with fright at her own exclamation. ¡°Y-you¡¯re just jealous because I¡¯ve done more to help Ethan than you have!¡±
Tara¡¯s face blushed a shade of red that should have been impossible, her eyes glancing towards Ethan¡¯s blinking pupils.
¡°Oho!¡± she then grimaced, rolling up her leather sleeves to reveal her auburn skin, rough and ready for action. ¡°The rabbit¡¯s got claws, does she? Come on then, Faun. Show me what you can do. You n¡¯ me, right now. One on one. Come on.¡±
You aren¡¯t going to intervene, oh great and powerful Archon?
Let me think about it.
Ethan thought about it.
¡I probably should. Even though¡ªwell¡ªeveryone loves a catfight, right?
Truly you are a paragon of diplomacy.
¡°Tara!¡± Fauna was screeching. ¡°Tara¡ªI said I was sorry!¡±
The catgirl had marched right up to her face, her hand itching towards the blades in her shorts.
¡°¡®Sorry¡¯ ain¡¯t gonna cut it no more, kid. We¡¯re having it out, right here, right now. Show me just how useful you a¡ª¡±
¡°ENOUGH!¡±
Both girls looked towards Klax, who had risen to his full height and was currently looking down on them with murderous intent.
¡°Both of you¡ªthis nonsense serves no purpose! Tara, enough is enough. We have barely 12 hours to recuperate and only two Antidotes left. I realize things are tense for us all right now, but if we¡¯re going to beat this Delve, we have to¡ª¡±
¡°You always side with her!¡± Tara screeched. ¡°Why the fuck do you keep her around on the off-chance that she¡¯ll be useful? We don¡¯t need her anymore. We¡¯ve got the Archon!¡±
All fell silent for a time. The only thing that interrupted this awkward moment was the scurrying bodies of the spiders that must have been living inside the very walls that lined this ancient safe zone between floors.
And unbelievably, it was Fauna who sniffled and spoke at last:
¡°Is that how you both really feel¡ about me?¡±
Nobody could look at each other. Not even Klax, in the few seconds between Fauna''s sniffling statement and his reply.
¡°No, Fauna,¡± Klax said calmly. ¡°Tara is speaking with spite because she is afraid of dying here and failing our people. She is looking for someone to blame besides herself for her own feelings of inadequacy.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t know everything, Klax,¡± the Minxit growled up at the wolfman. ¡°Stop pretending you¡¯ve got a good handle on all this. You were shaking through that entire fight. Try and tell me you weren¡¯t.¡±
¡°I¡¯d be a bloody fool if I wasn¡¯t afraid of what¡¯s to come, Tara,¡± the Lycae replied with calm, collected candor. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with admitting what you¡¯re afraid of instead of taking your despair out on others.¡±
The wolfman held her gaze for a time before retiring to try and comfort Fauna, offering her his paw and a smile. But she refused. She walked to her own little section of the chamber and lay down to rest.
¡°You always talk like you¡¯re all high and mighty,¡± Tara spat at his back as she went to her own corner of the chamber. ¡°But you¡¯re just as pissed off as I am, Klax. That¡¯s your problem. You never admit that you¡¯re a fucking normal person just like the rest of us. Why don¡¯t you take a leaf out of Ethan¡¯s book and shut the fuck up instead of talking about shit you know nothing about.¡±
I feel like there was an insult buried in that, somewhere¡
Once the catgirl then lay down to rest, Klax simply stood and heaved a heavy, world-weary sigh.
¡°Hey, Klax,¡± Ethan offered. ¡°Lemme take first watch, man. I¡¯ve got stats to boost and I think some of the smoke I huffed from that flame spell got me buzzing. I¡¯m gonna be up for a while.¡±
Klax nodded down at him but held up a firm paw in response.
¡°No, Ethan,¡± he said. ¡°I would prefer to take the watch. Get some rest. You¡¯ll need it for the final floor.¡±
With that, he turned away to slump down by the far wall of the safe zone chamber, his eyes firmly fixed on the dim light of their meager campfire¡ªa fire that threw three opposing shadows across the chamber floor.
In the meantime, Fauna closed her eyes and sighed, too, catching Ethan with a tiny shrug that said she was used to this kind of thing.
Lovely, Ethan thought. Now we¡¯ve got ourselves a nice awkward party that¡¯s way too much like real life to be fun.
And let me guess, you¡¯re going to be the one who fixes this tense relationship dynamic?
Ethan smiled as he hovered over to Klax¡¯s position, gently perching beside the wolfman with an air far more jovial than the Festering Den deserved.
Hey, that¡¯s the whole reason I¡¯m here, right? Ethan replied with a jovial wink. I¡¯m a fixer.
He''d fix this like he fixed everything else in his old life. As it turned out, some things never changed.
23. Ethan the legendary [Therapist]
Klax looked up in surprise as Ethan glided down beside him, his host¡¯s head twitching rapidly as it settled down to accompany the sagging wolfman.
¡°Hey,¡± Ethan said. ¡°I guess we can both take first watch.¡±
Klax sighed again.
¡°If that is what you desire, Archon.¡±
¡°You talk to me like I¡¯m a king, Klax,¡± Ethan chuckled. ¡°But really, you¡¯re the leader here. I might be the prophesied hero of your people destined to save your world, but I¡¯d still say you¡¯ve got a harder job than I do.¡±
Klax smiled¡ªbut it was a thin, hollow gesture. He looked to his two companions to see if they were sleeping before replying.
¡°The truth is,¡± he said. ¡°This was never something I was any good at.¡±
¡°Bullshit!¡± Ethan almost roared. ¡°You¡¯re a natural. It takes guts for a guy to intervene in a squabble like that and come out in one piece.¡±
¡°No, I mean that this was never the path I would have chosen,¡± Klax replied. ¡°I was a monk in my old life, Ethan. Back when the world was simpler, and humans and hybrids could live shoulder to shoulder. Back when we weren¡¯t seen as the enemy. Do you know that in the times of Archons past, there were actually hybrids who fought alongside the Greycloaks against the monsters of Argwyll?¡±
¡°I¡ªI guess I didn¡¯t. But to be fair, I get all my history from you guys¡¡±
Klax looked up at the spume-filled ceiling above them¡ªpolyps hanging there just like those that had popped above only an hour or so ago to reveal their grisly living payload.
¡°I wish I could show you what this world once was,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m a Lycae, Ethan. We were never bred for leading or for giving orders. In actual fact, it¡¯s quite the opposite. We are a species characterized by our loyalty and fierce adherence to our masters. It¡¯s often called our best trait. Without a master, it is said that a Lycae can never truly live up to their potential. A dog without a leader can only ever walk alone.¡±
He looked down at his firm, dirt-caked paws, making a fist and then extending his pads.
¡°I know what it is to feel truly, absolutely alone in this world. I took a solemn vow long ago to try and ensure none of my cousins ever feel that way again. It is that vow that has made me who I am¡ and it is that vow that makes me less than I should be.¡±
¡°We can only be what we¡¯re supposed to be, right?¡± Ethan said, remembering the statement as something Sys had told him way back before he¡¯d even clawed his way out into this strange new world.
Klax nodded impressively. ¡°You have heard that before?¡±
¡°Kaedmon''s Law."
¡°Indeed, Ethan. One of the most unbreakable, which no one may ever deviate from. To do so¡ well¡ you end up like me, trying to wrangle together people who might never be able to get along no matter what I do.¡±
¡°Yeah¡¡± Ethan replied with a little nonchalant stretch of his wings. ¡°Thing is: that¡¯s horseshit.¡±
Klax whirled on him.
¡°¡What?¡±
¡°That Law,¡± Ethan explained. ¡°It sucks so hard that nobody should ever follow it. I mean, come on¡ªif we were nothing more than what we were made to be, I¡¯d still be sitting in my one-bedroom apartment covered in Dorito shavings and binging tasteful hentai.¡±
¡°Hen¡ tai?¡±
¡°Besides the point. What I mean is¡ªfuck, Klax, look at what you¡¯ve managed to do. You, a dude who¡¯s supposedly meant to just obey without question. You¡¯ve brought a whole team of hybrids together in the name of kicking ass and fucking up the Lightborn himself. And you¡¯ve been doing it all this time¡ waiting for me to arrive so that it¡¯s all worth it. C¡¯mon Klax, if that¡¯s not what leaders are made of, I don¡¯t know what is.¡±
Klax said nothing for a moment, returning his gaze instead to his two companions on opposite sides of the chamber.
¡°Y¡¯know what Fauna told me earlier?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°She said that the Sanctum was just a place before you came along. You made it a home. A place where nobody has a master.¡±
¡°Heh,¡± the old wolf finally grinned, showing all his serrated fangs in the process. ¡°Ethan, you are certainly not the Archon we expected.¡±
Ouch¡
¡°But I think you are exactly what we need right now,¡± Klax finished. ¡°Thank you for your words.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
¡°Uh¡ don¡¯t mention it. Seriously. I¡¯d hate to get the reputation of being a mystic type or some advice column writer.¡±
Klax nodded with another little smile as he saw Ethan¡¯s eyes begin to close over.
¡°Go on and rest,¡± he told him. ¡°I¡¯ve got things covered here.¡±
¡°Cheers¡ dogman¡¡±
The Lycae¡¯s face briefly turned serious before Ethan drifted off properly¡ªthe exhaustion of the entire dungeon so far finally taking its toll.
¡°It is curious, though,¡± he said. ¡°You speak as one who knows my mind. You know my thoughts as though they are your own. I wonder, Ethan, when you lived as a human¡ did you also know what it meant to be alone?¡±
The Lycae¡¯s question would unfortunately go unanswered, as when he then turned to look upon his Archon, he found the Demon Hat fast asleep atop its fine feathered host.
As Ethan dreamt, he felt the winds of Argwyll against his beak.
He was flying with his brothers and sisters in the clear, crisp summer sky. For miles on end, they saw nothing but baby blue hues and wispy clouds they broke through together, flying in unison towards¡ªhe wasn¡¯t sure what. Below, stretches of forest disappeared and gave way to grey mountains and ashen deserts, snowy tundras and ancient temples hidden in the depths of dark, festering swamps. Around him, his family glided with absolute control, each one maintaining their flight formation like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Synergy. That was the trick. They knew each other just as much as they knew themselves. Each individual raven was an extension of the other one¡ªand no one bird existed without the family. Each one was willing to live¡ªand die¡ªfor the other.
¡°It¡¯s all¡ about¡ family¡¡± Ethan murmured as he watched his host¡¯s memories fade away into darkness. Even in this world, the good prophet Vin Diesel was right.
[Delve Notification]
[Safe Zone Time Remaining: 30 minutes]
Ethan woke to the team gathering up their things and stomping out the sputtering embers of their fire. Tara stood at one end of the platform that would lead them down to the final floor, and Fauna faced the opposite direction.
Guess nothing much has changed here¡
Klax, however, was a different story. He was up and ready before anyone else, clearing away everyone¡¯s bedrolls and distributing the final two vials of antidote to the two girls before leading the way forward.
¡°¡What about you and the Archon?¡± Tara asked.
¡°Us?¡± Klax mumbled. ¡°Oh, I think we¡¯ll be fine. We¡¯re men after all. We¡¯re used to taking all the poison in the world and dealing with it.¡±
¡°That¡¯s bullshit!¡±
The exclamation had come from both girls, and Klax and Ethan shared a good-humored laugh at seeing them unified in anger.
¡°Here!¡± Klax then shouted, tossing the Festering Quiver item towards Tara. ¡°I know you¡¯ll be wanting this. Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t see you eyeing it up from your System Notification window.¡±
The Minxit huffed, saying nothing at first. Then she strapped on the quiver and nodded appreciatively as she checked one of its spider-slaying arrows.
¡°Not¡ bad,¡± she then mumbled.
Ethan then summoned up the stave they¡¯d acquired and threw the loot towards Fauna. The girl caught it with a stumble and a stuttered question that couldn¡¯t quite leave her lips.
¡°Told ya I¡¯d get you a new staff.¡±
The Hopla blinked at the corroded, black stick in her hands, but when she wrapped her fingers around its shaft, she smiled warmly up at Ethan.
¡°You should transmogrify this, you know,¡± she told him. ¡°Our victory was yours, really.¡±
¡°Nah,¡± he replied. ¡°You¡¯re the one who bravely set me on fire. And without Tara¡¯s storm of arrows, I couldn¡¯t have survived as long as I did to do some real damage.¡±
The girls looked at their comrades with suspicion, then finally shared a glance between themselves.
¡°Faun,¡± the Minxit said. ¡°I think these two boys have been conspiring as we slept.¡±
¡°How very like them,¡± Fauna giggled.
¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong,¡± Ethan put in, flexing his wings gallantly as the Safe Zone timer ticked down its final few seconds. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be taking over whatever big bad boss is down there. That¡¯s my prize. Your great Archon will have no need for staves or arrows once he becomes the Lord of the Festering Den.¡±
¡°Is it too soon to get worried that the power is going to his head, Klax?¡± Tara asked.
¡°Worried? I say we want him to be as power-hungry as possible. Let the world tremble as its greatest monsters come under his control.¡±
Ethan smirked, feeling renewed confidence sweep over him.
¡°I¡¯m wondering what the boss is gonna be¡¡± he murmured. ¡°My hope? Sexy spider goddess.¡±
His companions blinked at him.
¡°¡®Spider-goddess?¡¯¡±
¡°Y¡¯know¡ªhalf giant spider, half sexy lady. The good half¡ªbefore you say anything.¡±
They didn¡¯t really have anything to say about this revelation. The horrified faces of the hybrids told Ethan enough.
¡°Guess it can¡¯t be helped,¡± Tara shrugged. ¡°Our Archon¡¯s a booby-bandit, through and through.¡±
¡°And proud!¡± Ethan exclaimed. ¡°Think of the powers I would hold in my hands!¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s power you¡¯re thinking of¡¡±
Sorry to break up this perverse conversation, but...
[DELVE NOTIFICATION]
Safe Zone Time: Finished!
Beginning Third Floor Transition¡
Transit¡ª?
Before Ethan could finish that thought, the ground gave way beneath the party, sending them each hurtling into a dark abyss that drained all color from their faces.
¡°L-l-LUCATIA ILNUM!¡±
A blue bubble of energy enveloped the crew, halting their descent as instantly as it had begun.
¡°Hell yeah, Fauna!¡± Ethan shouted as they smashed together.
¡°It worked... I¡ªI mean, yeah, it worked!¡±
The Hopla¡¯s delight was met by a reserved sigh from Tara.
¡°¡Pretty good, I guess.¡±
Their chatter was cut short when they hit the ground, all of them immediately drawing their weapons and surveying their surroundings with alert, ever-watchful eyes.
¡°Welcome to the third floor,¡± Klax growled, fists at the ready. ¡°Occupant: one.¡±
¡°Where is it?¡± Tara hissed. ¡°I don¡¯t see¡ª¡±
A sudden rumbling tore through the ground beneath their feet, sending cracks across the mushy organic floor, much paler than its grey counterpart above.
¡°Faun,¡± Klax stated. ¡°We¡¯re gonna need fire.¡±
The Hopla obeyed without question, summoning a red-orange flame that instantly lit up the chamber¡ªand gave the party full sight of the spider eggs all lining the ceiling.
And one egg that was far bigger than the rest, right in front of them, had started to crack open slowly.
A low growl began to issue from its insides.
Four pairs of legs slithered out.
And four crimson, unblinking eyes glared down at them.
¡°Fauna,¡± Ethan murmured. ¡°I think we¡¯re gonna need more fire in here¡¡±
24. Boss Battle: [Rachneros]
---Boss Encounter: ACTIVATED---
The creature emerging from its pale white cocoon slowly began to dominate the final floor of the Festering Den¡ªeight-limbed, two of which ended in a pair of scimitars molded to the sickly white flesh of their bearer. The creature¡¯s torso resembled that of a muscle-bound albino male, ending in a bulbous, bulging spider¡¯s thorax that practically oozed toxic fumes from its rear end. The thin, spindle-like neck of the beast extended until its insect eyes were staring right at the party of invaders who had just entered its realm.
Then its slitted mouth opened, revealing rows of glittering teeth that threw noxious spittle into the faces of its new prey as it roared.
[RACHNEROS, THE PALE LORD]
LVL 30
HP: 550/550
WILL: 280/280
Now that¡¯s some meaty stats, right there¡
¡°Guys?¡± Ethan asked as his three companions began to back away slowly. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you can convince this fellow hybrid to just give up and get some [Fashion Sense], if you know what I mean?¡±
¡°This is no ordinary hybrid¡¡± Fauna murmured, fumbling with her new staff as she tried to summon a fire spell.
The Lord of the Festering Den lunged in the next second but managed to carve nothing but a hole in its own lair. The hybrids managed to roll out of its strike, and Tara returned fire with a well-aimed arrow that caught the beast in its lithe, lolling neck. It screamed as it tore the arrow free from its wound, a little river of swamp-green blood spurting from its puncture.
¡°It ain¡¯t no hybrid,¡± Tara shouted, ¡°but it sure does bleed like one!¡±
¡°Concentrate on its neck!¡± Klax roared as the beast spun to slice clean through the air¡ªan attack that just barely managed to cleave a few threads from the top of Ethan¡¯s hatty form.
¡°Roger!¡±
The shout had been Fauna¡¯s, and in the next instant, she aimed right at the creature¡¯s face and let fly a barrage of brilliant fire that slammed straight into the beast¡¯s eyes. Ethan followed up with a Dive attack that sent it reeling right back into its cocoon.
¡°Don¡¯t let up!¡± Klax roared. ¡°It¡¯ll have more up its sleeve than just raw po¡ª¡±
As if on cue, one of Rachneros¡¯s limbs shot out and clipped the Lycae in his shoulder, throwing him clear across the room to land in a burst egg at its end.
¡°Klax!¡± Tara yelped. ¡°Bastard. Have this!¡±
She sent a hail of three arrows sailing for the recovering Arachnid Lord, and with little more than a flash of his organic scimitars, he beat them away, chuckling grimly as he did so.
Let me give you something to laugh about, big guy¡
Ethan¡¯s Wing Buffet managed to startle the creature, but it did not knock it prone. Instead, all four of the spider Lord¡¯s limb-legs dug into the ground, and he sent a belch of black bile toward Ethan. Sensing the poison hidden in the liquid-shot, Ethan dove out of the way and managed to circle round to the creature¡¯s back.
¡°Faun!¡± he shouted. ¡°Now¡¯s the time for a ¡®flame on!¡¯¡±
¡°G-got it!¡±
The beast turned to swipe at the annoying raven pecking at its spine from behind, taking a chunk out of the wall to its right and sending a cascade of rocks down on Tara¡¯s position. Ethan watched her somersault her way out of the falling rubble and let loose three more arrows that found their mark¡ªembedding themselves in the big bastard¡¯s neck.
RACHNEROS HP: 430/550
WILL: 200/280
Let¡¯s see how much longer you can resist¡ Ethan grimaced, circling the creature and employing his [Hide] skill to great effect. It looked like even the Boss¡¯s four eyes weren¡¯t helping him locate the dark raven as it blended into the black abyss of its lair.
Then, like a flower blooming in the dead of night, Ethan lit up and felt Fauna¡¯s Infernal Coating take effect. He dove right for the spider Lord¡¯s cranium as soon as the heat began to erupt and wrap itself over his feathers.
¡°Go for it, Ethan!¡± Tara shouted up. ¡°This fucker¡¯s got nothing on us!¡±
But Rachneros wasn¡¯t taking any of this sitting down. Indeed, with every hit and every successful puncture of its weak point, the beast seemed to just get more and more agitated.
In a furious flurry of movement, its limbs suddenly twitched out of control, sending rocks and boulders from above down on Fauna and Tara as they blasted him from below. Both girls had to run for their lives as the roof of the chamber literally began to come down on top of them. Meanwhile, Ethan dodged and broke through countless rocks that impeded his path toward his target.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Come on¡ come on¡
As he was within a few inches of Rachneros, the beast sent both its scimitars out to catch Ethan, managing to slice at his claws and send him just off course before the bird could catch his neck.
Fuck!
Ethan ended his Dive in the middle of Rachneros¡¯s spider thorax, knocking the creature back and drawing a torrent of blood from the hole now pierced in its abdomen.
¡°A sound blow, Ethan!¡± Klax shouted as he got back up and about and began punching clean through the rockfall from above.
Ethan landed with his companions as Rachneros clutched at pieces of his innards that had begun spilling out across the organic floor of his lair. His breathing became raspy. The walls around them seemed to mimic it¡ªbeginning to pulse with each breath the giant spider-hybrid took.
HP: 360/550
WILL: 140/280
¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± Ethan shouted. ¡°A few more shots should do it. Then, this angry boi¡¯s gonna make a great little addition to my Host collection.¡±
The Hybrids formed up, ready to launch a final assault on the great pale beast as it roared in their faces, sending out a shockwave that each of them had to narrowly avoid as they made their run up to its bleeding body.
¡°Faun!¡± Ethan called. ¡°Focus on distracting it! Tara, you know where to aim!¡±
¡°Got it!¡±
¡°Klax!¡± Ethan then shouted at the bounding dogman beside him. ¡°Keep an eye on those boulders from above. You¡¯ll have some smashing to do, I¡¯m sure.¡±
The Lycae smiled. ¡°It is what I¡¯m best at!¡±
Ethan then focused his energy into a final Dive, feeling the flame from Fauna¡¯s enhancement only grow stronger as he narrowed his eyes and leaped, sailing towards their enemy like a comet plummeting toward an unsuspecting planet.
But the suffering Boss of the Festering Den did not simply wait for them to come. Instead, it plunged both its scimitars into its new sore and drew them back out, each now coated in a different hue of corrupted blood.
And Ethan¡¯s eyes went wide as he swerved to avoid its lightning swipes.
Let me guess¡ welcome to¡
---RACHNEROS, THE PALE LORD---
---PHASE 2---
HP: 300/550
WILL: 100/280
Big bug¡¯s gone supernova¡ and he cut himself open to do it. That¡¯s new.
Ethan dove out of the overcharged scimitars¡¯ main swipes, dodging to the left and managing to slice into the thin shoulder blade of the creature¡¯s right arm.
¡°I¡¯m coming back around, guys!¡± he shouted down as he went back into the shadows. ¡°Give me a sec!¡±
Then, almost as soon as it had been summoned, Ethan¡¯s Infernal Cloak dissipated entirely.
¡°Guys?¡±
When none of the Hybrids answered, Ethan turned to see them scattered on the ground. It seemed that as Rachneros¡¯s right arm had flailed in pain, he had brought it down upon Fauna.
The rabbit girl was coughing, doubled over in pain, and Klax leaped to push her out of the way of another strike¡ªthe spider Lord¡¯s left arm seeking her once shining staff with homing precision.
¡°No, you fucking do¡ª!¡±
Before Tara could finish her cry, the right scimitar of the beast caught her torso, sending her plummeting to the ground and immediately tensing up.
¡°W-what¡¯s ha¡ª?¡±
Before Ethan¡¯s eyes, the catgirl¡¯s body began to crisp and stiffen, and a creeping mass of grey stone began to travel up her legs and slowly wrap itself around her skin until nothing was left but her face, contorted in pain.
¡°Tara!¡± Ethan shouted. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡±
¡°Forget me!¡± the catgirl called out. ¡°Kill that bastard bu¡ª¡±
Her words were swallowed as the petrifying effect took hold of her completely. Now, she was nothing but a statue suspended in mid-scream.
At the other end of the room, Klax was administering an all purpose antidote to Fauna, watching as the healing potion knit up the cut that had been torn in her stomach. The rabbit girl winced in pain, but her eyes focused on nothing but the sight of her fallen companion.
¡°Ethan!¡± she shouted. ¡°Take the All-Purpose potion and pour it on her!¡±
That''s right! That ¡®all-purpose antidote¡¯ we got from the slimy lizard guy back in Sanctum...
Ethan obliged, flying past two more deadly strikes from Rachneros as he bounded forward, his torso spilling corrupted blood across the floor, covering the entire chamber in toxic ooze that Ethan could tell would poison anyone who touched it. He hefted up statue-Tara and brought her to Fauna without another word.
¡°Look out!¡±
Fauna rattled off a spell of Repulsion that just managed to send Rachneros hurtling back against another assortment of eggs. Ethan glanced back to see that the creature had just leaped at him in a display of power that could probably have ended his life right here and now.
Then, with speed totally incongruous with its size, the beast leaped again, clipping Ethan with its petrifying blade.
Well¡ shit.
He went down, face-first into the dirt. But, curiously, the blade had only nicked his Host. He, as a hat, was still free to observe and flail about as much as he liked.
For all the good it¡¯ll do me¡
Rachneros looked down on him like he was nothing but a sheen of mud to be scraped off a shoe. Then, with a roar of triumph, the beast brought both its blades down to finish him.
Or at least, it would have, if Klax hadn¡¯t intercepted the killing strike.
¡°HAR-CHAKRA!¡±
The dogman clapped his hands around the organic hilts of both the creature¡¯s scimitars without even breaking a sweat, keeping it still even as Rachneros began spewing torrents of bloody, toxic spit in his face.
¡°N¡ now!¡± the dogman growled to Fauna. ¡°Shoot it!¡±
Fauna leveled her staff, her hands shaking as she felt its grooves splinter in her fingers.
¡°TAKE THE SHOT, FAUNA!¡±
The rabbitgirl hesitated, looking down at the still-petrified Tara.
¡°Hey,¡± Ethan said beside her, his Host¡¯s body now nothing but crumbling stone. ¡°You can do this.¡±
She blinked. ¡°B-but I might¡ª¡±
¡°Fauna,¡± Ethan said. ¡°Don¡¯t think about ¡®what ifs.¡¯ Don¡¯t think about what could go wrong. Just think: Super. Magic. Awesome.¡±
In this moment, Fauna was probably thinking of her lost family¡ªthe people she still felt she had failed when she couldn¡¯t protect them from the human hunters who had destroyed their home and shown no mercy. These thoughts probably always dominated her mind in moments like these, where her team depended on her to do the job only she could do: blow things up.
But Ethan didn¡¯t look at her with definite expectations. Instead, he looked at her as someone looks upon a miracle¡ªno matter what she did, it would be amazing.
And it was that look, and his words, that made her face the raging beast before her, grip her staff tighter, and square her feet, readying a bolt of purifying flame that coursed through her veins and jumped into brilliant life on her staff¡¯s tip.
Then she fired.
25. The [Pale] Lord
The red spear of light rocketed from Fauna¡¯s staff, its intensity carving a blinding scar through the oppressive darkness of Rachneros¡¯ lair. The cavern itself seemed to recoil from the force, trembling as if it feared the magic that Fauna had unleashed. The light illuminated the grotesque form of the hulking spider-hybrid, casting long, monstrous shadows that flickered across the jagged, stalactite-filled ceiling.
Rachneros barely had time to react before the beam made contact. The red-hot energy collided with his bile-coated scimitar, intended to block the blast, but it was too much. The heat vaporized the weapon¡¯s edge upon impact, and a sickening hiss filled the air. The weapon, as ancient and corrupted as its owner, began to disintegrate, the organic mesh crumbling into flecks of black ash. Then, with a final crack, the beam seared through Rachneros'' entire right arm, and the limb was severed clean off, flung into the air like a splintered tree limb in a hurricane.
The arm landed with a revolting splat, and Ethan watched in muted horror as it exploded in a hail of charred flesh and corrupted blood. The arm lay twitching, its nerves spasming wildly as bile and dark ichor poured from the ragged stump. Rachneros let out an agonized shriek that reverberated through the cavern, a sound so piercing and raw that Klax¡¯s fur-covered ears flattened against his skull in an attempt to block it out.
¡°HELL YEAH, FAUNA!¡± Ethan screamed. ¡°Now, quick! Someone toss me at the big fucker!¡±
Fauna, still reeling from the sheer force of her attack, blinked in surprise. Her wide rabbit-like eyes darted toward Ethan, now vibrating with frenetic energy. In her panic, she snatched him up, muttering a hasty apology as she hurled him toward Klax. Ethan tumbled through the air like a dark blur, spinning head over brim as the floor of the cavern below seemed to rush up at him.
¡°Sorry!¡± she squeaked, her voice barely audible over the churning, furious roars of Rachneros. Klax caught him, turned back to the flailing beast looming above them all, and leaped up on the creature¡¯s muscular torso.
¡°Ready, Ethan!¡± he shouted over the bubbling bile that Rachneros sent spilling down from his open jaws to catch them. ¡°We¡¯ll get one chance at this!¡±
¡°Toss me, wolfman!¡± came Ethan¡¯s reply, loud and clear as Rachneros thrashed around like a speared fish, trying desperately to shake them off.
¡°Now!¡±
As the other poison-coated scimitar came to slash at Klax¡¯s back, the Lycae hopped right up on the beast¡¯s shoulder and slammed Ethan on his head, jumping back out of the way of the creature¡¯s gnashing jaws.
Ethan blinked frantically as he attuned himself to the Boss of the Festering Den¡¯s fading brain:
[Possession: ACTIVATED!]
RACHNEROS, The Pale Lord WILL: 60 vs Hat [Legendary] Spirit Cores: 90
[Possession in progress¡]
Ethan first felt the creature¡¯s surprise. Then came anger¡ªanger that bubbled and frothed into a mindless, animal rage¡ªthe insectoid menace twisting its every limb in a frantic attempt to shake off the hat or at least maim its companions.
¡°Everyone!¡± Ethan shouted, trying to maintain his focus and hold on the thing. ¡°Run!¡±
They tried to¡ªbut Ethan saw Klax get clipped by a thrusting limb and fall, his stomach bleeding where the impact had been made. The wolfman sent a flurry of jabs right back into the mass of skittering, twisting, and raging spider limbs to at least keep them off Fauna as she readied another spell¡ªbut the effort was wasted. Right now, Rachneros wasn¡¯t even registering pain. And like every other bastard monster in this place with an attitude problem, it was putting up a fucking good fight.
[Possession progress¡ 25%]
¡°C¡¯mon¡¡± Ethan grimaced. C¡¯mon, big guy, don¡¯t you wanna be a sexy spider dude with a dapper lil¡¯ hat like me? Give in, and I¡¯ll take you out of this shithole, and you can have all the tasty humans you¡¯d like. Sounds good, right? Mmmmmm, roasted human flesh¡
Rachneros didn¡¯t seem at all interested. Incredibly, the spider Boss¡¯s autonomy seemed to mean a lot to him.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Well¡ too fucking bad, buddy!
[Possession progress¡ 35%]
The beast had all but stopped even trying to shake Ethan off. A low, sly growl emanated from its throat now. And Ethan realized that it had sensed something about him as their minds had begun to join.
It turned from the battered Klax and fixed its attention on Fauna.
Don¡¯t you fucking dare.
With a snarl of hatred, it charged the girl, knocking her back and etching deep gashes into the flesh beneath her robes. She screamed in pain and rolled away, her staff skidding toward the end of the room.
Fucking¡ Bastard! Ethan roared. You¡ªyou understand I¡¯m gonna make this as painful as fucking possible for you now, right?
[Possession progress¡ 34%]
What?!
Ethan heard the grim snarl of Rachneros as it began to skitter toward Fauna, jaw opened in expectation of its little meal. It was almost as if the insectoid were enjoying this moment¡ªsavoring the fact that Ethan could see his companion about to die through its own eyes. The big bastard knew Ethan was there, and every slow, agonizing move it made toward the girl was like a small victory for the beast itself. It wanted him to squirm.
I¡ do it! Ethan growled. See if I care! You think you¡¯re gonna force me off you with an appeal to emotion? Ethan Hawke ain¡¯t a fucking simp, big guy. I¡¯m the Archon, don¡¯tcha know? And this world¡¯s mine!
Ethan looked through Rachneros¡¯ four eyes to see Fauna shivering beneath its gaze, her robe ripped and tattered, mouth agape and hands searching frantically for her staff that was nowhere to be seen.
[Possession progress¡ 30%]
¡Damn it!
The oozing limb-scimitar came up, ready to deliver a downward slice that would tear the Hopla apart.
Then¡ªpain.
Even Ethan felt it, and Rachneros¡¯ momentary confusion stopped him as the distinct feeling of his flesh burning away began to gnaw at his neck.
He twisted his head to see three black arrows embedded just above his spine, and as he traced their trajectory, he found their owner aiming another triad of pain right at him.
¡°Hey, ugly,¡± Tara grinned, shaking droplets of All-Purpose Elixir from her skin. ¡°It¡¯s rude to stare.¡±
Her arrows sang through the air and found their mark¡ªthree of them splintering off and piercing clean through Rachneros¡¯ eye-slits, taking out most of his sight and, Ethan found, his remaining will to resist:
RACHNEROS, The Pale Lord WILL: 25 vs Hat [Legendary] Spirit Cores: 90
Alright, Ethan thought. Time to kick this into overdrive.
He concentrated, funneling his thoughts through Rachneros¡¯ spasming body, channeling his spirit into the beast¡¯s corrupted veins and feeling them finally relent.
[Possession progress: 65%]
Tara, meanwhile, leaped to grab Fauna and sprinted with her to the very edge of the cavern, watching as Rachneros submitted to the Archon¡¯s whims through screaming, thrashing death-throes.
[Possession progress: 80%]
Then: a sudden flaring of action. A final ounce of willpower surged through the beast, and it commanded its scimitar to raise and hover over its chest.
¡°It¡ it¡¯s gonna off-itself!¡± Ethan shouted.
But before its organic blade could come down, Ethan beheld a triad of flame-coated arrows cut clean through the limb, sending the blade somersaulting through the air to land against the barren cocoon its bearer had emerged from.
And Ethan, now looking through the single eye of his prey, saw both Tara and Fauna standing side by side, the latter¡¯s staff raised to enchant the arrows of her comrade.
Synergy¡ Ethan thought with a chuckle, as Rachneros¡¯ spirit finally left its body with a last, desperate whimper.
[Possession: COMPLETE!]
You have successfully possessed RACHNEROS, The Pale Lord
The Pale Patriarch of all Arachnae¡¯s willpower is just as strong as the toxins which flow through his blood. But even the most corrupted beasts can be broken.
[Stats] LVL: 30
HP: 25/550
MP: 0/0
WILL: 280/280
STR: 100
PER: 55
SPD: 40
CHA: 3
[Skills known]
Enweb [Rank E]
Poison Coating [Rank E]
Paralysis Coating [Rank E]
[Automatically Transferred Skills]
Roar (Grade E)
Hide (Grade E)
Choose any [TWO] Skills from [Dark Raven] to transfer:
Wing Buffet (Grade E)
Peck (Grade F)
Dive (Grade E)
Spirit Core Increase: 500
Current Spirit Cores: 590
Ethan blinked with the single eye he had working as he read these stats.
These¡ oh yeah, now we¡¯re talking. That Lightborn cosplayer better watch out.
He slowly rose to behold his three hybrid onlookers, raising his bleeding arms, gushing green blood across the floor as he spoke through a mouth bubbling with ichor.
¡°I¡¯M...I''M A FUCKING SPIDER!¡± he roared. ¡°SO¡ what..?¡±
The cavern then began to spin as he realized that, yes, he had inherited this host when it was literally on the verge of death.
¡°Ethan!¡± Klax shouted.
He watched as his three companions ran to him, uncorking their last vials of Malphus and getting ready to practically smash the bottles over his every torn limb.
¡°Oh yeah¡¡± the Demon Hat mumbled as it sat atop the head of the Spider King. ¡°We kinda¡ fucked this guy up good, huh¡¡±
Then he fell.
26. [Spider-hat]
A sea of memories floated in front of Ethan.
His new Possession upgrade was kicking in. He could feel his mind and that of Rachneros¡¯ link, and his disembodied consciousness traveled through the depths of the creature¡¯s thoughts¡ªto the little part of the beast that was still alive, somewhere, watching its body being puppeted by the Archon that had finally come for it.
And it was that strange sense of inevitability that brought a single wave of the past crashing down on Ethan¡¯s face.
He was standing in his lair. He was Rachneros¡ªcompletely. ¡®Ethan¡¯ didn¡¯t exist.
He had just been hatched, and he spread his new limbs. He looked at them in curiosity, bringing the two little blades at the ends of his arms up to his face to try and work out what exactly he looked like. A little nip from his right arm drew a line of green blood from his left cheek. He felt pain¡ªhis first real sensation.
¡°Careful, little one!¡± A voice rang out in his mind. ¡°Those claws of yours cut deep.¡±
This voice belonged to someone speaking to him from far away. It was like an echo traveling down a long, dark corridor.
Then a bright light blazed in front of him, displaying a large box with lines of text scrolling past faster than his brain could keep up with:
RACHNEROS, The Pale Lord.
LVL 1
[Stats]
HP: 200/200
MP: 0/0
WILL¡
He stopped looking at the letters. Instead, he was fixated on the four-eyed, bug-faced being looking back at him behind them.
¡°Yes, newborn,¡± the voice said. It was clear and angelic, at once soothing and calming to his frightened nerves. ¡°That¡¯s you. That¡¯s your name. And these are the numbers that define you.¡±
He dismissed the box with a grunt and instead focused on the other spiders hatching from their cocoons in the chill, dark chamber of his birth. The little ones regarded him for only a moment before all turning away¡ªan army of green and black Arachnae scuttling away from him.
He stretched out a limb to try and halt them, opening his many-fanged mouth and begging them to come back.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, little one,¡± the angelic voice said. ¡°But that is not your purpose. You must remain here. And await the Delvers.¡±
He wasn¡¯t listening to the voice now. He was trying to scurry towards his brothers and sisters. But he could do nothing but watch as they left him alone down here, trapped in the dark.
¡°It is okay,¡± the voice said. ¡°In time, you will learn to enjoy even the pain you will experience. After all, you¡¯ll be dishing out a fair bit yourself, haha!¡±
His mouth opened in a scream that begged them to stay by his side. He just couldn¡¯t accept what this voice was telling him. Even though he knew now that he had been created purely to live a life of perpetual loneliness and suffering down here, one question still burned in his newly formed mind: Why?
And the voice, speaking with absolute clarity, gave him the answer:
¡°We can only be what we are supposed to be,¡± it said.
The light of a bug lantern shone on Ethan¡¯s new face, awakening him to the world of the present.
¡°Ah, thank goodness,¡± Klax said. ¡°We thought that perhaps¡ª¡±
¡°Outta the way!¡± Tara shouted, running into the large, oval chamber as Ethan adjusted to his new vision. He could see and sense far more than he could before. Even the frantic heartbeats of his companions were thumping loudly in his ears¡ªjoined by the chorus of hearts waiting outside this candle-lit room. He¡¯d have to try and deal with that¡
Of much more interesting note were the two serrated scimitars he brought up to his eyes and the hybrid-spider body he now inhabited.
He checked his Status Screen just to be sure:Stolen novel; please report.
Current [Host]: Rachneros, The Pale Lord
And his smiling face beamed down at his furry friends.
¡°Now, we¡¯ve got ourselves a real boss, guys.¡±
¡°Hah!¡± Tara yelped, giving him a stout punch in his spindle legs. ¡°Ya got that right! This thing¡¯s deluxe. Took us long enough to stitch you back up, mind you. But, hey, it¡¯s worth it, right?¡±
"How the hell did you manage to repair the big bastard''s arms?"
Tara winked up at him. "Ol'' Fraxx has his remedies. Some of his potions would be considered necromantic up on the surface. But fuck that. We''re in Sanctum and we make our own damned rules."
Ethan then caught sight of Fauna looking up at him from behind Klax.
¡°Faun!¡± Ethan shouted. ¡°Hey, looking good! How¡¯re you¡ª¡±
He stopped as he noticed the girl step back when he pressed forward, and then suddenly remembered exactly how this must look to her¡ªthe creature that was ready to gobble her up and chew her out, the one that had all but cleaved her¡ªthis was a real monster standing above her right now.
¡°Faun,¡± Klax said gently. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s him.¡±
The girl twitched her nose as she slowly emerged.
¡°E-Ethan?¡±
Ethan bent down low in a bow that let her see his hatty form wriggling around atop his new Host¡¯s head.
¡°It¡¯s all me, gal,¡± he said with a wink, proceeding to flex his new toned torso. ¡°Who¡¯d have thought, eh? I had wanted a sexy spider goddess, and instead I got me a masculine, leggy god.¡±
¡°Speak for yourself, big guy,¡± Tara laughed. ¡°You weren¡¯t looking so hot when we dragged you outta the Den.¡±
¡°Oh yeah! What happened after I blacked out?¡±
The Minxit shrugged. ¡°The place came crumbling down. Almost like it didn¡¯t like us stealing its prized Boss. We used the Teleport Stone to get the fuck outta there.¡±
¡°It¡is against the Law of Kaedmon to remove a creature from a Delve,¡± Fauna explained. ¡°Some say it leads to bad omens¡ªa curse put on someone from the God of Argwyll Himself.¡±
¡°Superstitious shit,¡± Tara scoffed. ¡°Besides, the Archon¡¯s the de facto rulebreaker of this world. And now, with this new form, we can finally take the fight to the hu¡ª¡±
¡°Tara,¡± Klax said suddenly. ¡°Remember what we talked about.¡±
The Minxit shot the Lycae a look of surprise.
¡°Klax, look at him! He¡¯s gotta be ready. He¡¯s gotta¡ª¡±
¡°Are you really willing to take that chance?¡±
The two stared down each other as Ethan got a better grasp on his surroundings. They had placed him in a high-ceilinged chamber set within the bark of a tree by the looks of the oaken walls and etchings carved into its bowels. If his senses could be trusted, he was right back in Sanctum.
He felt a pang of remorse for his old Dark Hawk body (which was probably left down there in the rubble of the Festering Den), but, hey, the bird had lived a good life¡
On to the next one!
¡°If you guys don¡¯t mind,¡± Ethan said, ¡°I¡¯m gonna get me some upgrades. These Spirit Cores ain¡¯t gonna spend themselves.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Klax said. ¡°But first, there¡¯s a very¡ahem¡impatient crowd out there waiting to see their Lord in all his glory.¡±
¡°You got more fangirls and guys than you¡¯ll know what to do with, Mr. Archon,¡± Tara said. ¡°Make sure there¡¯s enough of those new legs to go around.¡±
¡°Tara!¡± Fauna giggled.
¡°Hey¡ªit¡¯s the truth, sis.¡±
Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile¡ªseeing the good humor restored between the two. Klax, meanwhile, was looking like he was gonna collapse from exhaustion¡ªand Ethan saw that his wounds were still in the process of healing.
¡°Hey, Klax? You all good?¡±
The Wolfman shook his frayed mane and managed a smile. ¡°Fine, Ethan. These old bones are just getting on with time. With an Archon like you, though, I¡¯ll be set to retire in no time.¡±
He gestured to the wooden hallway leading out of the oaken chamber, and the team followed Ethan¡¯s lead. He was pondering his upgrades¡ªknowing for sure that he could probably take [Hide] all the way up to at least C grade now, with enough left over to improve [Roar] and some of his bird skills, too. He admitted that he was curious, though¡ªnow that he didn¡¯t have any wings, how was he going to manage a Dive Bomb or [Wing Buffet] attack?
Transfer Skills from previous Host: [Wing Buffet] and [Dive]?
He didn¡¯t reckon that a spider Lord suited his [Peck] skill¡ªand besides, he¡¯d barely even needed to use it with his claws and AOE attacks.
[Skill Transfer: COMPLETE!]
It also looked like he¡¯d now be adding the capacity to inflict some super crippling status effects into the mix:
Skill Description: Poison Coating [Grade E]
You slather your weapon in the virulent poison composed from your own blood, giving your weapon the [POIS] attribute.
[POIS] type: Pale Lord Venom.
-5 HP/sec
Duration: 10 secs
Spirit Core cost to Upgrade: 200
Fifty damage over time, he thought. And all it takes is a little pricking of my lovely pale skin. Applying this¡¯ll be nothing¡ªall I gotta do is make sure I hit. Here¡¯s hoping you¡¯ve got some meaty poison resistance, Mr. Artorious.
Alright, next skill?
Petrification Coating [Grade E]
You slather your weapon in the debilitating bile closest to your heart, giving your weapon the [PETRI] attribute for 10 secs.
[PETRI] Chance: 30%
Duration: 10 secs.
Spirit Core cost to Upgrade: 250
The ability to be a living, breathing Gorgon for 10 seconds? You can count me the fuck in. Sys, you seeing this shit?
I must admit that these abilities do seem rather¡
OP? Ethan chuckled in his new, insect mindscape. Get with the program, baby.
Outside the oak chamber, Ethan beheld the crowds of Hybrids who had waited for him and his companions. Their faces lit up at his new presence, murmurs of excitement running through the crowd as Klax emerged to address them with his booming voice.
¡°Hybrids of Sanctum!¡± he roared. ¡°Witness the new form of the Archon! The form that will send shockwaves of fear into this world and carve out a place for our people on its surface!¡±
The cheers of the people practically brought the rocky roof down. Ethan¡¯s five eyes swept over them, waving his scimitar limbs in the air and letting them take in his new, mighty body.
¡°Let the celebration of the Archon¡¯s first Delve completion begin!¡±
¡°Celebration?¡± Ethan looked down at the smiling old wolf. ¡°How exactly do you guys celebrate down here?¡±
¡°How do ya think?¡± Tara asked as she slapped one of his slender new legs. ¡°We¡¯re gonna get blind drunk.¡±
27. The [Greyden]
---Caer Krea---
---Greycloak Headquarters---
---Argent Mountains---
Terrible storms lashed the venerable battlements of Caer Krea. It was said that the ancient base of the Greycloak order was built on the back of Karfaang the Despoiler ¨C first of the Darkseeds. The scratched, rugged appearance of the fort and its sharp, angular towers put one in mind of a creature¡¯s fangs piercing the earth, ready to swallow the world whole. The entire fortress looked as though it could crumble away at any second, and yet for centuries it had stood rigid. Firm. It had weathered storms far worse than this one.
It had been here that the first Greycloaks had assembled within the great Onyx Hall of the fort and, under the grey moon of Argwyll, made their pact to annihilate the monster menace that plagued their world.
And it was through the storm-wracked battlements that a single member of the Order walked tonight, his cloak held tightly around his neck, blood spattered across his thin frame.
The warriors of the fortress stopped their training and meditations in the main yard, the great braziers flanking the venerable gate of their home sparking and sputtering as the old warrior was admitted entrance. His eyes shone with blue light strong and clear even against the onslaught of the storm. Every warrior knew who he was. They knew what must have brought him back among them.
And instantly the mood of the fortress changed.
When the one-armed man opened the creaking door to the great hall, he was met by the bespectacled form of the old fortress architect, Mobius, sitting at his desk and pouring over hundreds of screeds of parchment ¨C requests made for the Greycloaks to help the beleaguered citizens from all over Argwyll.
¡°State your name for the records, Grey One,¡± he said without looking up. Evidently, he suspected that this was simply another Brother or Sister back from a monster hunt. He didn¡¯t need to look upon a Greycloak to know when one was standing in front of him. The stench normally gave them away.
This one, however, was unnaturally silent.
¡°If your tongue has been lost, just proceed to healer Justine,¡± he said with a halfhearted wave. ¡°Though she¡¯s fully booked tonight, she might just manage to squeeze you in a midnight slo-¡°
¡°Artorious.¡±
Mobius, normally a man who balked at interruptions, paused almost instantly.
¡°Artorious Pendragon,¡± the man before him said. ¡°Class: Lightborn.¡±
Now the small, ungainly head of Mobius jerked up to see the sight ¨C a sight he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever see again. There he was ¨C the old Lightborn of legend. Slayer of the Demon-Flower Gyko, the last Darkseed to plague the world.
And he was covered head-to-toe in the purple-black viscera of monster blood.
Mobius found that he didn¡¯t quite know what to say. So, having lost his filter of professionalism, he simply said what came into his mind as he met those old eyes gleaming with sapphire:
¡°So, you have returned.¡±
¡°Perceptive as ever, Mobius,¡± the Lightborn replied.
¡°If you¡¯ve come back¡¡± the Architect murmured. ¡°Then that means¡¡±
¡°Where is the Knight-Commander?¡± Artorious interrupted. His words sounded more like a demand. Not a question.
¡°The Knight-Commander is not currently receiving visitors,¡± Mobius replied coldly. ¡°Especially not from exiles.¡±
The eyes of the one-armed knight narrowed to piercing, snake-like slits. He edged closer to Mobius, so much so that the latter heard some of the warriors sequestered in the hall draw their blades.
¡°I think she¡¯ll make an exception for me,¡± Artorious growled. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡±
He didn¡¯t wait for an answer. Instead, he swept by the staring bookkeeper and entered the second floor of the fort, feeling the piercing gazes of comrades both old and new on his grizzled features.
When he entered the main Hall - the place where the very first Greycloaks had drank the blood of Krea - he couldn''t help but take a moment to inspect the great portrait that dominated the ceiling. It was, after all, the very first sight he''d ever seen when he was taken to these halls and told of his destiny.
He inspected the inscription at the bottom of the plaque: ''The Triumph of Humanity - Krea, the First Lightborn, stands victorious over Archon Karfangg and proclaims the new dawn of Human rule of Argwyll now and forever after.''
He grunted up at her perfect face - her radiant purity that he''d seen in every dream he had as a boy.
And he turned away. He didn''t need to see Kaedmon''s angel now.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
He didn¡¯t head to the washroom as any sane man might expect. Instead, he barged passed the training arena, sparing only a second to look up at the mosaic windows depicting the Lightborn of old (his window was still defaced and long since painted over) before storming into the high office of the Knight-Commander.
She was still exactly as he remembered her. Wild. Blonde. And utterly disdainful of his general presence. Immortality had not made her any more patient.
¡°Evening, Carliah.¡±
She was writing something rather angrily with her quill ¨C the weapon that she could use to cut through even the toughest Greycloak initiate. Hell hath no fury like Knight-Commander Carliah Argent¡¯s performance reviews.
¡°Artorious,¡± she said without looking up.
He came forward, gesturing at the chair in front of her ornate desk. Upon the walls were a series of intricate, antique clocks ticking away with the times of all of Argwyll¡¯s hemispheres.
¡°Say what you¡¯re here to say,¡± she barked. ¡°And then be gone.¡±
He sighed. ¡°You still despise me, after all this time?¡±
She stopped writing. ¡°Hatred is unprofessional,¡± she said. ¡°But then, so is cowardice. Perhaps we¡¯re all simply guilty of different crimes, Artorious.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t have come here simply to antagonize you.¡±
¡°The fact you dared to come here at all tells me you simply do not give a jot for the sanctity of this Order. Honor means nothing to you.¡±
A distinct thump then finally brought the blonde crown of Carliah up. She stared blankly at what the Lightborn had just thrown on her table.
¡°Take a good look,¡± Artorious said. ¡°And then tell me if you still care more about honor than doing what¡¯s right for this world.¡±
Her face was a picture of contradiction. A woman trapped forever in her late 30s since the first day she''d joined the Order, she wasn¡¯t unused to concealing her emotions. For one who had risen so quickly in the ranks of the Greycloaks, the ability to outsmart one¡¯s opponents was paramount. It was said no one among the ranks of the Order could truly ascertain Carliah Argent¡¯s battle moves ¨C she was too quick, too elusive, and too strong when she finally made her mark on the flesh of the unwary monsters of the land.
But right now, Artorious could see, as only his eyes could, that there was a sense of fear hidden there in her narrowed eyes.
That was an emotion he was all too familiar with¡
She held the objects he¡¯d thrown on her desk in her muscled hands: a piece of blue cloth, and the shards of his own, broken blade.
¡°So¡it¡¯s here.¡±
Artorious only gave a solemn nod.
¡°The Archon.¡±
¡°The fucking hat,¡± Carliah grimaced, standing and turning away from the Lightborn. ¡°The one that wasn''t even meant to appear if a certain someone had done his job right last time. Why now of all times?¡±
Again, Artoriois did not speak. He had shown her what she needed to see. Now, she had to do the rest for herself.
¡°Where?¡± she snapped at him suddenly.
¡°The Grenbelm forest,¡± he replied.
¡°Core abilities?¡±
¡°Possession. And a penchant for draining the Willpower of its foe. Once the Will of its potential Host is low enough, it is able to assume direct control of their nervous system.¡±
The Knight-Commander huffed at this. ¡°So that¡¯s its little trick. Not quite as insidious as Gyko¡¯s Darkseed, nor as irritating as Gelsadra¡¯s Eternal Life.¡±
¡°It¡¯s in its larval form,¡± Artorious explained. ¡°But by now ¨C it could be stronger. Much stronger. Monster populations are already going wild even in the mountains outside the fortress. King Lysandus won¡¯t listen. The capital city of Lucent will be in the most immediate danger. If it falls-¡°
The Knight-Commander held up a muscular fist. ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me how this all works. Lucent falls ¨C then all of Westerweald falls ¨C and then the rest of Argwyll falls. Just like what almost happened last time.¡±
Artorious nodded. ¡°So, you understand why I¡¯m here.¡±
¡°I understand that the disgraced Lightborn who¡¯s been nothing more than a drunk, crippled, and sad old man for the past decade has come running back to his family after they threw him out because he can¡¯t do his job.¡±
She pointed at the shards of his shattered rapier.
¡°You can¡¯t kill it,¡± she stated. ¡°Can you?¡±
He was not to be dissuaded. ¡°Not with conventional weaponry. If you can authorize the use of our Onixia supplies in the ancient storerooms, I ¨C¡°
¡°No,¡± she said, turning and fixing the Lightborn with her cold, dark stare. ¡°You can¡¯t kill it, because you¡¯ve already done so before. That is the sacred, unwritten Law of Argwyll: the Lightborn slays the Archon, and then they perish. A sacrifice as old and sacred as time itself must be made. That is the mark of the true Lightborn.¡±
She leaned forward, meeting his deathly stare with derision.
¡°And when you sunk your blade into Gyko, one-hundred years ago, you failed to follow through on that sacrifice. You lived.¡±
Artorious balled his single fist while vestigial fury welled up in his empty arm socket.
¡°Have I not already been tried for my supposed ¡®crime¡¯?¡± he asked her. ¡°I accepted my exile. I have done what I could to help this world even without your assistance. Now, I have a job to do again. I come before you to see it through.¡±
¡°And this time?¡± the Knight-Commander asked. ¡°Will you carry through the sacrifice of your ancestors?¡±
¡°I¡¡°
¡°If you don¡¯t, you know what¡¯ll happen.¡±
He did. He shut his mouth as he saw the cogs turning in her mind, and he knew that this was exactly what she wanted. The transferal of power from one Lightborn to another normally happened after the death of the previous Lightborn. In the wake of an Archon¡¯s defeat, the Lightborn had always perished. In the last seconds before the lord of all demons died, the spirit of the Lightborn traveled through its veins and clogged the beast¡¯s heart, nullifying the primordial darkness within and dying with it to seal the world from evil for another century.
But when he had finally plunged his sword into the belly of the last Archon, he had been very much alive. Of course, the Greycloaks had suspected foul play. Of course, they had tried him and shunned him. They had cast him out, rejecting what they saw as pride. His spirit had simply been too greedy for glory. Too hungry for prestige. He had wanted to live a good life in the wake of his victory, not sacrifice himself in the honorable way his predecessors had.
They had been right, and so very wrong about him at the same time¡
¡°Where is it now?¡± Carliah sighed.
¡°I do not know. As it lay before me helpless, a group of hybrids came to spirit it away with a teleport stone.¡±
¡°Hybrids?¡± the Master of the Grey scoffed. ¡°Then at least we know what we¡¯re looking for out there. We¡¯ve had reports of mass hybrid resistance in the Eastern reaches. I¡¯ll alert the Chapters there. Pull a few favors from the local villages around Gyko¡¯s old territory in the Ashfalls. It makes sense to start the search up that way. The rest of us will ride for Lucent and establish a defensive position in the city just in case things go tits up. We¡¯ll check the Delve Registries while we¡¯re at it ¨C if his Hybrid guardians are smart, they¡¯ll be helping to power their new leader up through some special dungeon delves.¡±
¡°King Lysandus will not be¡receptive to the idea of giving up his city.¡±
Carliah looked at him like he¡¯d told her two plus two equals four. ¡°¡¯Course he won¡¯t. I¡¯m invoking Krea¡¯s Commandment. He can blabber all he wants about being King ¨C it means nothing when this world¡¯s about to go to shit.¡±
He nodded as she quickly scribbled these plans down and then made for the door. He couldn¡¯t really be surprised. The Knight-Commander was strict, but she was also noted for her fairness. She knew better than he how to organize their forces and protect this territory. Hell, she¡¯d had more than enough practice.
What weighed more on Artorious¡¯ mind now was the fact that he had begun walking a path that would only end one place ¨C a place he¡¯d been before. A place that, he knew, he would hesitate before he went again.
¡°And Artorious?¡± Carliah said as she stepped by him to begin preparations. ¡°You¡¯ll be staying close by from now on. Should you fail to do your duty, this time I¡¯ll kill you myself.¡±
28. [Drunken] Evolution
"HAIL, THE ARCHON!"
"LONG LIVE ETHAN!"
"MAY HE SNUFF OUT THE LIGHT OF THIS WORLD!"
That last one seemed a little too intense¡but Ethan wasn''t gonna complain. This rabble of drunkards and their slurred speech was comfortable, in a way. It reminded him of the karaoke nights he''d had in college, back when life was simpler, but no where near as exciting as this.
He - in his new shiny giant spider form - sat on the rooftop bar of the ¡®Mushy Mistress¡¯ ¨C Sanctum¡¯s premier tavern atop the biggest mushroom stalk glowing in the cavernous Kingdom.
Around him were hybrids of all sorts drinking to his ascendance, congratulating him on assuming the form of a beast as powerful as Rachneros himself ¨C even as Ethan heard whispers that he was basically the first real Delve Boss most adventurers would have to contend with if they took their dungeoneering seriously in this place. Even then, most adventurers couldn''t take him down.
And that means there¡¯s even stronger bosses out there¡
¡°You shoulda seen it!¡± Tara shouted above the cheers of those around them. ¡°Ethan swooped down from the shadows and slayed at least a hundred spiders single-handedly. Not even Karfaang himself could cut through so many enemies at once!¡±
¡°With¡with ¨C hic! ¨C my help!¡± Fauna added, swaying from side to side while her companions sent up cries of oooooohs at the rabbit girl¡¯s sudden bravado.
Ethan grinned down at them both. Fauna¡¯s normally cream face was flushed red ¨C the result of ingesting a little too much of the viscous purple liquid the tavern sold ¨C Khaletchka. Apparently, it was a concoction brewed from the strange glowing mushrooms around this part of Sanctum. Ethan looked down at his own bottle and gulped down a mouthful himself. The night was young, and much partying still had to be done.
¡°Alright, Faun,¡± Tara said. ¡°Your fire might have come in handy, but¡ª"
¡°There¡¯s no mig ¨C hic! ¨C ¡®might¡¯ about it, Tara!¡±
Fauna stood up on the table between them and raised her staff for all to see.
¡°I ¨C Fauna the Wildglance ¨C made the Archon into a Phoenix! Whoooooosh! Whooooosh!¡±
Ethan laughed with the other hybrids ¨C many of whom cheered on the normally shy girl as she beamed down at Tara with total confidence, albeit almost slipping and falling once or twice.
Tara, however, was beginning to smart at her bravado.
¡°I was the one who saved you, my dear Hopla, or have you forgotten?¡±
¡°Fauna can ¨C hic! ¨C look after¡herself¡¡±
In the next moment, the girl slipped and fell into one of Ethan¡¯s four laps, rolling over and looking up at him with drunken eyes.
¡°Mr. Ethan¡¡± she said. ¡°Please pet me¡¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Tara yelped, jumping to drag the girl away by her ears back to the table. ¡°Enough of that, you sly, lustful little rabbit. I ain¡¯t done with you yet.¡±
Ethan let the commotions continue, downing shot after shot of Khaletchka till his pale form began to take on a shade of lambent crimson.
Alright¡ he said to himself. Upgrade time¡
Sys bristled against his command. He''d been unusually quiet of late.
Not that I particularly care or anything, but is this really the right time to¡ª
SYS! Upgrade. Time!
[Host Skills known]
Enweb [Rank E]
Poison Coating [Rank E]
Paralysis Coating [Rank E]This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Wing Buffet (Grade E)
Dive (Grade E)
Roar (Grade E)
Hide (Grade E)
Current Spirit Cores: 590
Alright¡ even wasted, I know what I need. We¡¯re taking [Hide] all the way to the big leagues, now.
[Hide: Grade E->D]
Spirit Cores to Upgrade: 60
Upgrade Complete!
Sneak Attack Bonus: x3
[Hide: Grade D->C]
Spirit Cores to Upgrade: 100
Upgrade Complete!
[Mass Hide] unlocked ¨C your [Hide] ability functions on any allies within 10ft of you.
¡°A challenge has been issued!¡± Borlor the badger-man Dixit proclaimed to everyone at the bar. ¡°Tara the Rogue vs Fauna the Wildglance ¨C last to be shit-faced under the table wins Lord Archon Ethan for the night!¡±
Cheers announced the beginning of the girls¡¯ drinking competition, and Ethan ¨C who probably should have been listening ¨C was unfortunately immersed in his upgrading.
Uh, you know, you are currently being ¡®played for.¡¯ As your System, I would be remiss if I did not¡ª
Sys! Ethan spat in his mind. Shut down for a minute! I¡¯m busy here.
¡As you wish. Just don¡¯t come crying to me later.
Next up¡let¡¯s get some more power from [Roar]. Stopping groups of enemies moving means surefire kills.
[Roar: Grade E->D]
Spirit Cores to upgrade: 100
Upgrade Complete!
[Roar]
Paralysis from [Roar] now applies Status Effect {SLUGGISH} to enemies ¨C halving their movement speed for 2 minutes.
¡°CHUG. CHUG. CHUG!¡±
¡°Hey! No using magic, bunny girl!¡±
Tara pulled on Fauna¡¯s ears as she tried fortifying her stomach through Wildglance, managing to only summon a starfish from her fingers that flopped down gently into her drink.
¡°Hah!¡± the Minxit roared. ¡°You¡¯re finishing that.¡±
Next¡ Ethan thought. I should focus on [Dive]. As a spider, I can scale walls and get some height on enemies. And with the size of this new body, a dive-bomb attack¡¯s sure to hurt¡
[Dive: Grade E->D]
Spirit Cores to Upgrade: 120
Dive can now be used to destroy objects of STR 60 or lower.
So I¡¯m literally gonna be a walking talking battering ram¡ Ethan smiled. Alright. I¡¯m good on AOEs and single target DPS. How about my new status effects¡
A thin, persistent tapping on Ethan¡¯s spider thorax roused him slightly from his meditations, and he saw the frayed form of the ratman alchemist, Fraxx, looking up with a creepy level of adoration at him.
¡°My congratulationsss, good Archon. I am hearing of your prowesss thisss night. Your body ¨C it issss a thing of beauty, now.¡±
¡°Riiiiight,¡± Ethan replied. ¡°Um. Something you needed or¡ª¡±
¡°A sssssample,¡± he said without hesitation, producing a small syringe and flashing Ethan a vicious, sadistic little smile. ¡°Of your corrupted blood. I am hearing from Tara that it isssss quite potent¡¡±
¡°Meh,¡± Ethan shrugged. ¡°Go ahead.¡±
Wait. Don¡¯t you think this is something you should really consider and talk ov¡ª
¡°Many thankssss,¡± the ratman said as he plunged his syringe into a pulsing vein on Ethan¡¯s leg. ¡°With thisss, I ssshould be able to improve our weapon coatingsss. Sssssoon, our army will be wielding weaponsss that ssshall boil the blood of the humansssss.¡±
Ethan turned suddenly at the mention of the word ¡®army.¡¯
¡°You guys are really packing heat?¡±
The ratman was already hobbling away as the shouts of the two drinking girls grew only more boisterous.
¡°We make preparationssss every day,¡± Fraxx replied with an expectant licking of his lips. ¡°For the day of our emergence, the ssssurface world will not be ready for ussss.¡±
The little rat bowed as he left, mumbling something about how all the noises of celebration did nothing for his keen ears.
Meanwhile, it seemed the girls¡¯ drinking game was coming to an end.
¡°H-had enuff?¡± Tara belched as she threw her tankard over the wall of the rooftop.
¡°F-Fauna does¡not¡back down.¡±
Last upgrade, then, Ethan said as the world began to swim around him.
Current Spirit Cores: 210
Enough to upgrade one of my two weapon coatings¡or¡what does this ¡®Enweb¡¯ thing do?
Enweb (Grade E)
You sling a sticky mass of cobwebs that trap any creatures moving within with DEX <= 45
Range: 50 ft
So, it¡¯s pretty much a ranged version of my Roar ability¡is it really worth it to upgrade just for that? Or would I be better to focus on the coatings. I mean, let¡¯s be honest, if I possess another, stronger boss than this guy in the future, I¡¯m gonna transfer the weapon coating skills, right? Maybe¡ª
Ethan¡¯s thoughts were finally interrupted by the sudden, violent retching of Fauna, who threw her head over the balcony and belched her guts out over the side ¨C covering a few unfortunate dancers below in rabbit spume.
¡°VICTORY!¡± Tara screamed, the crowd raising their tankards to her as she swayed around, giving Fauna a hearty pat on her back as the rabbit girl collapsed back down on her chair.
¡°Noooooo,¡± the Hopla moaned. ¡°Mr. Ethan¡help me¡¡±
Ethan¡¯s five eyes double-blinked at all the commotion.
What¡¯s happening here?
OH. NOW YOU¡¯RE BACK IN THE ROOM?
Before Ethan could register the shouts and whistles from the hybrids all around him, Tara had suddenly appeared at his side, pulling at one of his hind limbs.
¡°C¡¯mon Ethan,¡± she said. ¡°I own ya now, don¡¯tcha know?¡±
"Wha¡ª"
"C''mon!" she insisted, and, having little alternative it seemed, the giant spider-possessed-by-a-hat allowed himself to be spirited away, and rumors began to ripple through Sanctum that a certain kitten had just caught herself a big morsel for dinner tonight.
Little did Ethan know what he was in for. This was no social call. In the eyes of the Minxit girl there gleamed a bloodlust that had to be sated tonight.
Ethan was about to find out just how much humanity he had left.
29. The [Raid] (Part 1)
¡°Smash.¡±
¡°Pass.¡±
¡°Pass.¡±
¡°¡Smash.¡±
¡°Seriously? That¡¯s Martella¡ªa Tabika, don¡¯tcha know? You got a thing for scales?¡±
¡°Everyone¡¯s got their flaws. Besides, what that tongue do though¡¡±
Ethan sat with Tara on the roof of his castle¡¯s battlements at the very edge of the Sanctum¡ªlooking out at the dancers and merrymakers who were getting plastered in his name. The whole city was suddenly awake with hope¡ªall because of him.
Us.
¡°Excuse me?¡±
I¡¯m just saying that I should get half the credit at least. Without me, none of this would be possible.
¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re interested in my adventures, are you, Sys?¡± Ethan smirked. ¡°Knew you¡¯d come around eventually.¡±
Don¡¯t get me wrong. I know you will perish in some ungodly way, screaming in agony as you are cast into the same flaming pit your siblings were.
But as long as I still live, I would at least wish to be appreciated.
¡°You¡¯ll be appreciated when you drop the snarky-bastard act¡ªand not a second sooner,¡± Ethan mumbled in his mind before turning back to his smiling Minxit companion.
¡°You know what?¡± she said. ¡°This ¡®Smash or Pass¡¯ game ain¡¯t half bad. Makes you think, y¡¯know? Even if it was thought up by a human.¡±
¡°Some of us have some pretty good ideas, every once in a while.¡±
Tara said nothing then. She looked out into the dancing crowds, merry drunkards, and the mushroom towers that released their luminescent spores into the atmosphere¡ªlighting up the cave with a kaleidoscope of violets, oranges, indigoes, and crimsons.
From their vantage point, they could see the entire city¡ªa city that was suddenly alive with hope and cheer for the Archon¡¯s return, and the promise of true freedom he brought with him.
¡°Pretty cool place, right?¡±
¡°Pretty cool,¡± Ethan agreed.
¡°You humans¡ªthe stuff you build¡ªit ain¡¯t like this. You take what you find and twist it up until it¡¯s barely recognizable as earth anymore.¡±
There''s...worse things we do than that. But, eh, I''ll let it slide.
¡°Humans might have ideas about the way this world¡¯s supposed to be,¡± Tara said as she downed her drink. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re good.¡±
Ethan could sense the hate behind her voice.
¡°They¡¯ve messed you up too, huh?¡± he asked.
¡°They¡¯ve messed us all up, Ethan. And they¡¯ll keep on doing it until it¡¯s either us left or them. Every one of those dancers you see down there has their own sad story to tell. It¡¯s what brings us all together: suffering at the hands of humans above. Some of us were lucky and never lived in the cities. The things I¡¯ve heard from hybrids living in the capital, Lucent? I wouldn¡¯t even wanna repeat¡¡±
Ethan thought of Fauna¡¯s story¡ªof losing her family to an anti-hybrid purge by the Greycloaks¡ªand realized that Tara would have her own, probably very similar experience. Though it didn''t seem like she was interested in sharing it, any time soon.
His old office experiences were kicking in. You couldn''t work with a team without knowing their baggage and trying to accommodate. That just wasn''t how things functioned. One voice alone can''t do much. But a group - they had power. He just needed to know how to make these hybrids work together effectively. For that, he needed to know them - even their grisly pasts.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
¡°Y¡¯know, Ethan,¡± Tara suddenly said. ¡°Klax wouldn¡¯t want me speaking to you alone.¡±
¡°Huh? Why¡¯s that? You gonna bring me over to the dark side?¡±
¡°Something like that,¡± Tara chuckled. ¡°He thinks you¡¯re not ready to see what the world¡¯s really like out there.¡±
¡°With a body like this?¡± Ethan scoffed, flexing his muscular torso and legs. ¡°Tara, I¡¯m ready for anything.¡±
The Minxit looked him up and down then, the lambent crimson of the mushroom¡¯s recent spore discharge lighting up her face.
¡°Yeah¡¡± she said. ¡°I think you are, too.¡±
She stood up suddenly and cracked her neck, her tail whipping about in excitement.
"Look, Klax and me, we have our differences, yeah? Lets call them...philosophical disagreements. He has his opinion, I''ve got mine. I respect the guy. Hell, I''d kill for the guy. But he''s an old dude now, Ethan. With old, out-of-date ideas. And he thinks he''s really the one in charge. But we''ve got a new leader now, don''t we?"
Ethan drunkenly agreed, though he didn''t know exactly what the girl was getting at.
¡°It might just be time for us to put that to the test. So¡you wanna do something stupid?¡±
Ethan, drunk with bravado (and booze), smiled down at her.
¡°Always.¡±
¡
They slipped outside¡ªboth of them employing their [Hide] skills and sticking to the rooftops of Sanctum¡¯s residential district. Up the stone stairway they trekked, stumbling over each other, until finally they emerged outside in the ruined remains of the last Archon¡¯s surface lair. The sun was just starting to dip below the horizon, bathing the Westerweald countryside in a garish orange hue.
¡°C¡¯mon,¡± Tara said with a pull on Ethan¡¯s arm and a schoolgirl-like giggle. ¡°This way.¡±
Ethan¡ªstill in the form of a giant spider-hybrid¡ªgave a little gulp as he followed after her.
Okay, look: I¡¯m not a cat person. I¡¯m not that kinda guy, really. But¡look: those short shorts are looking pretty damn loose. And that tail probably has a mind of its own¡
You are attempting to justify carnal relations with your companion?
I¡¯m just saying, Sys¡when in Rome¡
¡you are in the body of a giant spider.
I¡¯m still half man! Ergo, we should, y¡¯know, make sure everything works, right? For testing purposes. Research.
Tara guided him through the trees at the foot of the Ashfall Mountains until their dark boughs gave way to a small valley with smoke trails drifting from a collection of buildings at its center. Buildings which, Ethan saw, were surrounded by a barbed wire fence lining their perimeter.
And it all suddenly became very clear to him that he''d been wrong about this girl''s intentions from the very start.
Straining his eyes from their position on the valley¡¯s lip, Ethan saw shapes moving around the buildings, emerging from a cave nearby, carrying clumps of shining ore and minerals, hauling carts in and out of the wooden structures lining the site.
And these shapes wore chains around their limbs, collars around their necks¡
¡°What¡am I looking at?¡±
Tara¡¯s reply was a dark whisper.
¡°A work camp.¡±
Rows of crude, rusted cages lined the camp¡¯s center, each filled with hybrids¡ªbeaten, malnourished, and covered in bruises. Human overlords, dressed in worn armor, swaggered through the aisles, barking commands at the captives, their whips cracking through the chilly evening air.
¡°Scum,¡± Tara muttered, her voice seething with barely contained fury. ¡°They use us as free labor and then toss us when they¡¯re done. This one¡¯s a mining camp. Berlov was saying he needs new materials for our weapons. So, I did a little scouting of the surrounding area.¡±
Her hand tightened on the hilt of her blade, a low growl escaping her throat. The wind tugged at her dark, wild hair, and her feline eyes glowed with intent. She was ready¡ªmore than ready.
¡°Tara,¡± Ethan murmured. ¡°Klax doesn¡¯t know, does he?¡±
The catgirl eyed him. ¡°Course not. He¡¯d never have agreed to hit this place. But then, he¡¯s not the Archon, is he? You¡¯re our real leader, Ethan. I thought that, out of everyone, you¡¯d understand. Besides, you wanna see what that new body of yours can do, right?¡±
Even as Ethan heard the words of the Minxit and knew¡ªwithout exception¡ªthat they were bathed in pure hatred for those who cracked their whips below, he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes from the images of suffering he was looking at. His body, a monstrous fusion of pale skin and arachnid limbs, pulsed with demonic energy, and his mind thrummed with a burning hatred for these slavers. Even in the powerful host body, there was a part of him¡ªhis human soul¡ªthat felt the visceral disgust of this place, a disgust that fueled his resolve.
The humans of this world really do suck, huh?
That¡¯s a matter of perspective.
C¡¯mon, Sys. You see what I¡¯m looking at. How the hell¡¯s this a good thing?
You will learn, Ethan Hawke.
Or you won¡¯t. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things.
Ethan shook Sys free of his mind for the moment.
Just focus on what you¡¯re good at, he told it. Telling me about what matters here.
I suppose you are referring to keeping count of your Spirit Cores?
That, I can do. It is, after all, what I was first made for.
Ethan turned his attention back to the waiting Tara.
¡°They won¡¯t know what hit them,¡± he whispered, his voice a guttural rasp that barely sounded like his old self.
¡°Let¡¯s make sure of it,¡± Tara responded, her amber eyes locking onto his. ¡°We hit them hard and fast. Leave no survivors.¡±
Ethan¡¯s eight pale limbs twitched as he readied for the descent. ¡°I''ll take the north gate. You handle the barracks?¡±
¡°Deal.¡± Tara smirked as she then unsheathed her twin blades, their edges shimmering in the fading light. ¡°Don¡¯t get sloppy, spider boy.¡±
Ethan let out a dark chuckle.
¡°When have I ever?¡±
30. The [Raid] (Part 2)
Without another word, Ethan and Tara leaped into action ¨C both activating their [Hide] skill to move unseen under the cover of the gradually descending dark of night. The catgirl was a blur of shadow and speed, while Ethan¡¯s massive form moved with eerie silence across the craggy terrain. He reached the north gate, his long legs carrying him swiftly over the rocky ground, his pale form blending into the cold, moonlit night.
As he approached, two guards stood at their post, sharing a casual conversation. They never saw him coming.
In a single fluid motion, Ethan extended his poisonous blade and pierced right through the neck of the first guard. The man gurgled, his body convulsing as venom spread through his veins. The second guard barely had time to draw his sword before Ethan¡¯s other limb shot forward, impaling him through the chest.
He tossed the lifeless body aside and entered the camp, his eyes locking onto the human overlords who continued to bark orders at the hybrids. Tara was already at work near the barracks, moving like a phantom, her blades cutting through armor and flesh with precision. She moved in and out of the shadows, leaving behind only the silent bodies of her enemies.
The camp exploded into chaos as Tara cut through the barracks, slashing down soldiers as if they were nothing more than straw dummies. Meanwhile, Ethan tore into the heart of the camp, his monstrous form wreaking havoc among the soldiers who scrambled to defend themselves. They tried to mount a counterattack, but they were no match for the Pale Lord.
"Over here!" one of the human overseers yelled, pointing his sword at Ethan. "Kill the monster!"
[Enemies identified]
Human Overseer (LVL 10)
HP: 50/50
WILL: 10/10
Barely even worth my time...
The soldiers surrounded Ethan, but it was a futile effort. With a growl, he reared up on his hind legs and activated his petrification coating, sweeping his vibrating scimitar across the battlefield. The soldiers closest to him froze, their limbs locking up as terror spread across their faces. Soon, such terror was the last expression they ever wore as their bodies turned to dark, corrupted stone.
Ethan¡¯s claws slashed through them with ease, blood and rock splattering against the dirt. Those who could still move tried to flee, but Tara was there to cut them down, her movements a deadly dance of whirring blades.
¡°Hah!¡± the catgirl screamed against the backdrop of the rising moon. ¡°This ain¡¯t a battle. This is sport!¡±
Those Ethan didn¡¯t catch with his petrification were easily dealt with through his new [Enweb] skill. Their dexterity obviously didn¡¯t account for much ¨C their movements became slow, sluggish, and cumbersome. Their stuck limbs made to slash at the legs of the demon who had come among them only to find that they moved as though encased in treacle. It was child¡¯s play for Ethan to relieve them of this burden. Permanently.
His Poison Coating finished those who made it to the edges of the camp, their blood bubbling and frothing with Rachneros''s corruption until they fell, whooping coughs wracking their chests, clawing at their bellies where Ethan''s poison was surging up through their systems. Their bodies broke, and ruptured, and bled. Slowly.
Within minutes, the camp was reduced to a slaughterhouse, human overlords and soldiers lying in twisted heaps. The hybrids, still trapped in their cages, watched in stunned silence as their captors were eviscerated before their eyes.
Tara stood panting, wiping the blood off her blade with the cloak of a fallen soldier. Pointing at the hybrids with a blade wreathed in the blood of their captors, she shouted, ¡°See that? That¡¯s what the Archon can do.¡±
One cloaked hybrid ¨C a Minxit just like Tara ¨C came forward, shambling as his shackles shook against his aging limbs.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
¡°Sister...¡± he breathed. ¡°Is... is it really him?¡±
¡°You better believe it, Sis,¡± she replied as she slashed through the Minxit¡¯s chains with a single swipe. ¡°And this time, he¡¯s here to stay.¡±
Ethan, covered in the blood of the fallen, surveyed the carnage with cold satisfaction. Meanwhile, the hybrid prisoners had now dropped their rocks and minerals, some of them prostrating themselves before their bloody god, hailing him as their savior.
Y¡¯know... a guy could get used to this.
Ethan wasn¡¯t sure if it was his own bloodlust talking or the mind of Rachneros suddenly coming back to its host and affecting him, but he started to feel a distinct sense of enjoyment at watching each human fall before him.
It was like watching his old work colleagues die in agony. He''d had those thoughts - anyone would. No, he''d never act on them, but it wasn''t unnatural to want to see the indolent and the wasteful take a dirt nap. He''d been the one picking up their slack for years on end, never complaining, ever the competent, consummate professional, just like his parents had always wanted him to be.
And it had gained him - nothing.
But here, he realized something as he looked down at those hybrids he¡¯d just saved: they¡¯d be devoted to him now. Entirely within his grasp. The power of being a messiah was intoxicating, he had to admit. Even if he was a monstrous one.
On earth, he''d been born to be nothing. Here, he was destined for greatness by nothing more than the blood that flowed in his corrupted veins.
A general alarm suddenly sounded nearby ¨C one of the human overseers in the burning tower that was their headquarters was ringing a bell and signaling a general retreat.
¡°Those of you who value your lives ¨C RUN! Bring word to the King! To the Greycloaks! The ¨C that¡¯s the Archo-!¡±
The guard never finished his cry. Ethan¡¯s elongated limb found his neck and clipped it, sending his head twirling into the darkness of night. Then, with the hybrids singing his praises at his back, he leaped after the humans who were trying to run.
[Dive]
He crashed into a cluster of guards ¨C ending their lives as his bulbous form broke every bone in their bodies, crumpling their armor like paper and shredding through their skin. The attack left a crater in the earth that trapped the survivors, who tried scrambling away at its edges in vain.
Spirit Cores: 200
More, Ethan thought. I need... more.
His hunger was ravenous. Sys was nowhere to be heard. Or, if he was saying anything, Ethan''s mind had gone to a place where he could no longer hear the prattling of his System guide.
With each cut, he felt the power of the humans¡¯ departing spirits surge through his new, muscular limbs, feeding the black heart at the center of his being. The humans who made it to the lip of the crater found themselves enwebbed ¨C a little contingency Ethan had set up just in case any slavers tried to escape his wrath. They could do nothing but watch as the grim specter of eight-legged death came upon them.
Now, Ethan barely heard the screams.
Spirit Cores: 250
Not enough, his mind raged. More. I need...
His eyes caught sight of one cloaked human who¡¯d managed to resist his webbing. The man sprinted for dear life into the treeline beyond the burning camp, carrying something in his arms ¨C probably valuables pilfered from the hybrids he¡¯d lorded over during his time here.
¡°Ethan!¡± Tara shouted. ¡°Want me to get him?¡±
¡°Nah!¡± the Archon shouted back. ¡°He¡¯s mine.¡±
Ethan chased him into the trees and then picked his moment to strike. With a single flourish of both his blades, the cloaked head of the runner came flying off, spinning in a geyser of blood that painted the leaves of the forest a dark crimson. He fell in a crumpled mess of gore, leaving his wrapped package to wriggle free.
Ethan stood over the body and watched the strange object move ¨C until, through the diminishing red haze of his rage, he saw what the ¡®package¡¯ was.
A boy.
A human boy who couldn¡¯t have been more than seven years old, who had been bundled up in what must have been his father¡¯s arms.
The boy cried out, his pudgy hands reaching toward his father¡¯s corpse, eyes and nose dripping with tears and snot. And Ethan stood, mute, watching as the tragic end of the boy¡¯s innocence occurred right in front of him.
This... fuck. This shit¡¯s getting dark. Sys, tell me a joke or something, huh?
You¡¯re the joker here, Archon.
Go on, say something funny.
Ethan couldn¡¯t oblige. He looked down at the boy and saw the sadness in the child¡¯s eyes suddenly give way to vibrant, all-consuming anger. The child''s eyes flitted to the form of the great beast towering above him like a murderous god.
Then, he reached for the sword nestled in his father¡¯s belt, and Sys did the job Ethan told him to do:
[Enemy Identified]
Human child [LVL 2]
Enemy...
Before Ethan could think anything more, the boy ran at him, swinging like a madman.
31. The [Raid] (Part 3)
[Enemy Identified]
Human Child [LVL 2]
The boy ran at Ethan, swinging his father¡¯s broadsword with wild abandon. His strikes were erratic, the kind that came from pure desperation rather than skill. The sword¡¯s blade scraped and clanged against the tough carapace of Ethan''s Host, sending small sparks flying, but they caused little more than scratches.
The boy was sobbing as he swung, eyes red with rage and grief, his face twisted in a snarl that looked unnatural on someone so young. The trembling sword finally cut through, nicking Ethan¡¯s arachnid leg, slicing into the chitin with the strength of pure adrenaline. The boy pressed forward, hacking away at Ethan¡¯s lower body like a crazed animal.
Ethan barely felt the nicks against his Host¡¯s skin. He saw the HP readouts tick down, one, two, three pips of damage, but his attention was elsewhere. The kid¡¯s screams pierced the cool night air like needles. Each cry, each frantic strike was a dagger to the atmosphere, creating a dissonant contrast to the eerie silence that had followed the massacre of the plantation.
"Kid," Ethan said, his voice a low rumble. "Stop."
The boy didn¡¯t hear him. He kept slicing away, eyes blurry with tears, his frail, dirt-covered body shaking, his skinned knees giving out as he struggled to stand. The smell of sweat, blood, and rain mixed in the air, a sour reminder of the boy''s desperation.
"Kid?" Ethan tried again, louder this time, though there was no softness in his tone. His many eyes watched the child¡¯s every move, catching the determination in his trembling hands and the fire in his tear-streaked face.
"Die!" the boy screamed, his voice cracking. "Die! Die! Die!"
Ethan felt an odd pang inside, not quite sympathy but something close enough. How many more of these ¡°avengers¡± am I gonna run into? he thought, suddenly feeling exhausted by the scene unfolding before him. He had seen hatred, and fear, and desperation before, but there was something sharper about it when it came from a child.
With a flick of his claws, Ethan made his move.
The boy''s sword flew from his hands with a metallic clang. It hit the dirt a few feet away, sliding across the ground, the sound oddly final. The boy stood there, empty-handed, staring at his wrist in shock as if expecting the blade to return to his grip.
Ethan''s scimitar-claws gleamed in the dim light, still raised, ready for a more final strike. The boy''s wild eyes darted between his limp wrist and the looming figure before him, terror and defiance warring in his gaze. Ethan could almost see the boy weighing his options, but there was no calculating way out of this.
And yet, despite the odds, the boy didn¡¯t collapse. His legs wobbled beneath him, but he didn¡¯t fall.
Instead, he scrambled toward the sword again, his bare feet slapping against the wet earth. Ethan watched with a strange kind of fascination, almost admiring the kid¡¯s unshakable drive¡ªthough that didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t pointless.
Just before the boy¡¯s fingers brushed the hilt, Ethan spun a thread of webbing from his abdomen and lashed it out. The sticky silk shot forward, ensnaring the boy¡¯s legs and halting his desperate charge mid-step. He stumbled and fell face-first into the dirt, arms flailing in front of him as he reached for the sword, still defiant despite the inevitable.
"Hey, kid," Ethan said, moving closer, his voice dripping with both annoyance and something else, perhaps pity. "Look, enough¡¯s enough."
The boy twisted in the webbing, turning to face his enemy. His small, filthy face contorted as he took in the full sight of Ethan¡¯s towering arachnid body, the hat perched atop his Host¡¯s head, watching him with gleaming eyes.
"Archon..." the boy whispered, his voice barely audible above the soft crackling of the dying fires around them.
Ethan paused, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his mind. Ah shit... how the fuck do I handle this?
The rain picked up, drumming against the earth in heavy drops that spattered against the half-burnt remains of the plantation. Smoke still rose from the ashes of buildings, mixing with the fresh scent of rain. Above the forest, the smoke curled into the sky like black tendrils reaching for the heavens, their thick, acrid smell permeating the air as rain washed over the bloodied earth.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Ethan could still hear Tara in the distance, her laughter mingling with the screams of the dying as she danced through what little remained of the human resistance. She moved like a ghost through the carnage, every strike of her stilettos precise and lethal. There was no mercy in her steps, only bloodlust and glee.
Ethan looked down at his claws, slick with the blood of the fallen. The rainwater mixed with the blood, running in thin red rivers down his limbs. He couldn¡¯t help but glance past them, seeing the boy¡¯s wide, unblinking eyes as he lay there, webbed and helpless, trying his best not to look at his father¡¯s mangled corpse.
"You know what I am, then?" Ethan asked, though he knew the answer. The boy¡¯s silence was reply enough.
"Fine," he said, his tone gruff. "Then you know that when that web wears off, you should run."
Ethan turned his back, figuring that was the end of it. He¡¯d given the kid his chance. He didn¡¯t have time for this, not when the storm of conflict still swirled around him.
"Monster..." the boy muttered under his breath.
Ethan¡¯s muscles tensed. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but the word hit him like a physical blow. It bounced around his head, like a sharp echo, digging deeper each time it came back.
Yeah, that¡¯s what I am. Monster.
Whatever snarky comment Sys made was lost to him, muffled beneath the weight of that word¡ªmonster.
So, when he heard the boy¡¯s next words, he stopped mid-stride, feeling that pang inside again.
"No," the boy said louder, more determined.
Ethan turned slowly, his many eyes narrowing. "What?"
"Don¡¯t try and trick me!" the boy shouted, his voice gaining strength as he tore at the webbing, his small hands clawing at the sticky strands. "Come here and fight me! Like a real monster!"
Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. The rain poured harder now, soaking through his Host¡¯s exoskeleton, turning the battlefield into a quagmire of mud and blood. The boy kept writhing in the webbing, still trying to free himself.
How do I reach this kid... and why do I even care?
He should¡¯ve killed him. Should¡¯ve killed him right after his father, and yet here he was¡ªfacing down a child who wasn¡¯t worth the effort. What did one more dead body mean in the grand scheme of things? Ethan had already left a trail of corpses across this land, and this kid was just another number.
But something about the fire in the boy¡¯s eyes, the raw desperation, made him hesitate. He was supposed to be the villain of this world, wasn¡¯t he? So why did sparing one life seem so important now?
The boy roared, his teeth gritted in rage as he bit into the webbing, tearing through the silk with his teeth like an animal. "I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll kill you all!"
Ethan couldn¡¯t help but feel a grudging respect. The kid had guts, that was for sure. Dumb as hell, but gutsy.
¡°Think about it, little dude¡ªyou¡¯ll die before you ever get the cha¡ª¡±
"I DON¡¯T CARE!"
The boy¡¯s voice cracked, the sheer force of his rage keeping him going even when his body should have given out.
Ethan stood there, watching the boy flail against the webbing like a trapped animal. Part of him wanted to put the kid out of his misery, but another part¡ªan annoyingly growing part¡ªwanted to let him live. Maybe it was guilt, maybe it was some weird sense of responsibility, but it gnawed at him nonetheless.
"...this wasn¡¯t... this isn¡¯t anything personal. But... alright."
He stepped closer, lowering himself so that his face was level with the boy¡¯s wild eyes. The kid¡¯s chest heaved, his breath coming out in ragged gasps, his lips trembling as he glared up at the towering figure.
¡°Monsters... need to... die... All of you will... will¡ª!¡±
With a sudden, swift movement, Ethan flicked his claw and knocked the boy¡¯s head gently. The child¡¯s eyes fluttered, and he slumped back into the mud, unconscious.
"I know you probably feel like you¡¯ve got no choice but to come after me now," Ethan muttered, his voice low. "If you still feel like that when you wake up again, then I hope to meet you on the battlefield, one day."
He turned and walked away, his legs carrying him across the battlefield without looking back. Not this time.
"Monster..." the boy murmured weakly, his voice fading as he drifted into unconsciousness.
When he made his way back to the camp, he surveyed the destruction with a new set of eyes. He saw the wounded, the broken, the dying, and the dead. He saw Tara finishing off the wounded, bloodlust filling every stroke she made with her stilettos. He saw, too, the faces of his new servants¡ªHybrids who were already on their knees worshipping the ground he walked on¡ªeven a couple of children kicking at the fallen human Overseers.
All this didn¡¯t bother him as much as his decision to spare the boy¡ªand get away from here as soon as he could¡ªdid. The vague feeling knocking at his mind was that the kid¡ªwell¡ªhe never really had a choice, did he? He¡¯d probably heard nothing but how evil the creatures that went bump in the night were from his parents and his society all his life. He¡¯d probably been told that enslavement was a blessing for the creatures who dared walk on human soil like the hybrids. And now, his father had been slain in cold blood by one of them¡ªthe one who wasn¡¯t just a monster, but the de facto villain of this entire world.
In the pools of blood he¡¯d left behind him, Ethan saw himself for what he truly was, now.
Oh, please.
You¡¯re only now realizing that you¡¯re the big bad wolf here?
A little slow, aren¡¯t we, Mr. Ethan?
Shut up, Sys, Ethan said.
That¡¯s it?
No quippy comeback? No hint of sarcasm this time?
Not even a little meta-commentary to liven things up?
Ethan watched Tara raise the skull of the head-Overlord above her to the cheers of the freed Hybrids all around.
...Just... shut up.
He knew what would happen next. He''d have to face Klax and explain all this.
If the dogman was even willing to listen...
32. [Consequence]
The trek back to Sanctum was grim and quiet. The freed hybrids¡ªemaciated, bruised, and frightened¡ªfollowed behind Tara and Ethan in a scattered line. They moved slowly through the dense forest that lay between the Ashfall Mountains and their hidden refuge. The air was heavy with the stench of blood and dirt, and the cold wind whistled through the trees, carrying with it the grim reminder of what they were leaving behind.
Ethan moved silently beside Tara, his downcast eyes at odds with his bulky, spiky spider form. His mind was preoccupied with the weight of what had happened back at the camp, especially the encounter with the boy. The word still rang in his ears: monster. He had told himself a thousand times that they were justified¡ªthat they were freeing slaves, destroying oppressors. But deep inside, something gnawed at him, something uncomfortable and all too human.
"You''re quiet," Tara said, breaking the silence. She kept her eyes on the path ahead, but her tone carried the faintest hint of concern.
Ethan''s voice, still distorted and guttural in his current form, replied, "Just thinking."
"Same here," the Minxit smiled, throwing her arms behind her head in a gesture of blissful abandon. ¡°The rush of stabbing a human through the heart just can¡¯t be beat, can it?¡±
He glanced at her, though with his monstrous visage, it was hard to tell if his expression held guilt or resolve.
Normally, this was the time where he¡¯d make some kind of sarcastic remark or quip, or banter with Sys, trying to turn this whole fiasco into a game.
But, looking back over the crowd of slaves that walked behind him, their eyes downcast and yet ever hopeful, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d ever be able to think about this world the way he had before.
¡°¡I had the gall to say my previous life was full of shit,¡± he said aloud. ¡°Yet here I am, looking at a world that¡¯s covered in it.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t think about it too much,¡± Tara murmured back. ¡°It slows you down.¡±
By the time they neared Sanctum¡¯s hidden entrance, the light was beginning to fade, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
As they approached, two hybrid sentinels emerged from the shadows, both equipped with crude but effective weapons. Their eyes widened when they saw the group approaching.
¡°Tara, Ethan!¡± one of the sentinels called out, stepping forward. ¡°We were just about to send a search party. Klax was worried sick! But you¡¯ve returned. And with¡¡±
Tara gave a brief nod, her expression unreadable. ¡°Open the gate.¡±
The sentinel hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering over the exhausted, beaten slaves trailing behind them. Then, with a swift motion, he signaled to his companion. Together, they moved to reveal the hidden passage that led into the underground sanctuary and some much-needed rest after their exertions.
But the moment they entered the underground warrens, where most had long ago decided to retire for the night, a familiar, towering figure stormed toward them.
Klax.
The massive wolfman was a fearsome sight. His fur bristled with rage, and his eyes blazed as he marched up to Ethan and Tara, fists clenched.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Klax¡¯s voice thundered through the chamber, drawing the attention of everyone around them. Several hybrids paused their tasks, watching the confrontation unfold with wary glances.
Ethan shifted uncomfortably, his massive arachnid limbs clicking against the stone floor as he readied himself for Klax¡¯s tirade.
"You attacked a human-controlled settlement,¡± Klax¡¯s snarl echoed off the walls. "Do you have any idea what you''ve done? What you''ve risked?"
Tara crossed her arms, her face hard. ¡°We freed slaves, Klax. Isn''t that what we¡¯re fighting for?¡±
Klax¡¯s snarl deepened, his fangs glinting under the pale light. ¡°And now the humans know we¡¯re out here. They¡¯ll retaliate. They¡¯ll come looking for us, and next time, it won¡¯t be some backwater camp you can take out in one strike. They¡¯ll send an army.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Ethan, still towering over Klax in his spider form, felt the urge to argue, to defend their actions. But he couldn¡¯t shake the lingering guilt from earlier. The thought of the boy and the possibility of putting all of Sanctum in danger weighed on him.
¡°We couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing,¡± Ethan finally said, his voice rasping with the inherent menace of Rachneros¡¯ body. "We saw what they were doing to those hybrids. If we¡¯d waited any longer, they would¡¯ve been dead or worse."
Klax said nothing for a moment¡ªhis eyes shifting between the two of them.
Klax¡¯s eyes flared. ¡°And now you¡¯ve damned us all.¡±
The room went quiet. The hybrids, the rescued slaves, even Tara stood silent as the gravity of Klax¡¯s words settled over them.
¡°Take these free folk to the quarters in the southern block,¡± Klax told the guards. ¡°Give them food, water, shelter, fresh clothes¡ªsee if anyone has any spare linen.¡±
The slaves were trundled off, bowing to Ethan as they went, some simply staring up at him with bloodshot eyes and saying nothing at all. It was like they still couldn¡¯t believe this place was real.
¡°You two,¡± Klax said. ¡°Follow me to the castle.¡±
The Lycae¡¯s hairs were standing on end¡ªhis great grey mane furrowed and frayed. Fauna was nowhere to be seen¡ªprobably for the best. As they approached the castle drawbridge, Ethan cast a look up at the crimson eye banners that hung from its Martello towers and cringed.
Yeah¡ that¡¯s me, alright.
He hadn¡¯t given it much thought before, but he really was here to lead a revolution against this world and its dominant species, wasn¡¯t he?
And it seemed to him like that meant he had as little control over his destiny here as he did back on Earth¡
What was that ¡®Law¡¯ they always talked about? ¡®Kaedmon¡¯s Law?¡¯ The one that said they could only be what they were all ¡®supposed to be¡¯?
As Ethan looked at the arched back of Klax, he thought again about their conversation back in the depths of the Festering Den¡ªabout how that ¡®rule¡¯ was the most bullshit proclamation any supposed ¡®God¡¯ could possibly make.
Inside the castle, they followed Klax to the throne room, where the images of all the old Archons stared down at them.
¡°Suppose you¡¯re gonna lecture me now?¡± Tara groaned nonchalantly, stretching her limbs in a gesture that said ¡®I don¡¯t give a fuck¡¯ better than any words could. ¡°Just get it over with quick¡ª¡±
¡°Do you understand what we¡¯re up against?¡± Klax thundered. Then, his voice lowering to a dangerous growl: ¡°The humans don¡¯t see us as a threat¡ªyet. But now you¡¯ve made them aware. You¡¯ve made them angry. And when they come for us, they¡¯ll come in force. More hybrids will die because of this, Tara. Because you can¡¯t follow a single damn order.¡±
Tara stepped forward, her amber eyes narrowing. ¡°So what, then? We wait? We let them keep enslaving our people until we¡¯re ready? Slaughtering them like cattle? How many more have to suffer while we sit here, planning and hiding?¡±
Klax turned his gaze on her, his nostrils flaring. ¡°We¡¯ve been planning for years, Tara. Preparing for a real strike, one that could turn the tide of this war¡ªnot a reckless attack that risks everything.¡±
Ethan, feeling the tension rise between the two, interjected. ¡°I get it, Klax. But we couldn¡¯t just leave them.¡±
Klax¡¯s eyes flared. ¡°And now you¡¯ve doomed them. And quite possibly the rest of us.¡±
¡°You¡¯re speaking to the Archon, Klaxy,¡± Tara rebuked. ¡°Know your place. He¡¯s our leader, now.¡±
The Lycae¡¯s fury suddenly exploded, his paw smashing against one of the murals.
¡°You think I care about who leads us?!¡± he raged. ¡°You think that matters, Tara? You really think that after all this time¡ªafter all we¡¯ve sacrificed to build this place¡ªthat¡¯s what I care most about?¡±
Klax¡¯s eyes shifted to Ethan, and for a moment, the fire in them dimmed. "I know you hate those camps. We all do. But what you¡¯ve done now¡ªit may have cost us everything."
Ethan felt a hollow pit in his chest. He understood Klax¡¯s fury, even if he didn¡¯t fully agree. But standing there, in the safety of Sanctum, surrounded by those they had just saved, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to regret his choice.
The hybrid leader sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly. "What¡¯s done is done. I''ll alert the mages under Lamphrey to strengthen the illusory barriers and runestones on the surface. But that won''t trick a determined group of Greys if they come a-knocking." He turned away from Ethan and Tara, his voice still carrying a sharp edge. ¡°And come they will. You can be certain of that.¡±
¡°And we¡¯ll be ready for ¡®em,¡± Tara replied, her face still covered in the dried blood of their prey. ¡°With Ethan as our Archon, there¡¯s no man we can¡¯t beat. Even the Lightborn won¡¯t stand a chance this time.¡±
Klax looked long and hard at Tara before he turned and walked away, his broad back disappearing into the shadows of the tunnels.
¡°You¡¯ve never seen a real war, Tara,¡± he said as he departed. ¡°You don¡¯t yet know what humanity is capable of. Isn¡¯t that right, Ethan?¡±
Ethan stood there in silence, feeling the weight of Klax¡¯s words settle over him like a lead cloak. He glanced at Tara, who was watching Klax leave, her face a mask of defiance.
¡°We did the right thing,¡± she said quietly, though her tone suggested she was trying to convince herself as much as him.
¡°Yeah¡ we did.¡±
Ethan nodded, though doubt still gnawed at the edges of his thoughts. No matter how hard he tried to turn it into a joke, he couldn¡¯t.
The image of himself in the eyes of that boy. Of a monster that was coming to swallow the world whole¡ªit had burrowed into his brain, and it was staying there.
And it dawned on him: if he wanted to change this world, it was its people''s minds he''d have to change.
Either that, or trample them into dust...
33. [Reflection]
Spirit Cores: 330
The problem with having a dummy-thicc spider booty was that you couldn¡¯t quite fit in a bed.
Ethan was realizing this as he tossed and twisted himself in his bedchambers ¨C the place where all previous Archons had apparently resided. How the hell the big horned first Archon had managed to sleep in these conditions was beyond him. The bed was big enough, sure, but he couldn¡¯t exactly flop down on his back and hit the hay. Nevermind that all those weird thoughts were still echoing through his pale skull and traveling into his thready bowels.
Honestly, if I could just pluck myself off this guy for a minute, I¡¯d be able to get some shut-eye¡
But the prospect of letting Rachneros loose in this place was a little too dangerous. Ethan decided to throw his bedsheets across the chamber and curl up like a dog instead, prospecting his skills and considering the new adjustments he could make to take his mind off the memories of butchered humans lying beneath him.
330 Spirit Cores¡ enough to upgrade another Host Skill, if he wanted to.
He decided it¡¯d probably be best to at least put some stock in the one skill he hadn¡¯t yet ¨C Appraisal. His traversal of Rachneros¡¯ memories had told him that this skill had uses beyond simply identifying monsters and their weaknesses. In the mind of the spider, he saw heroes who found secret traps, made discoveries that turned the tide of entire battles, and were even able to perceive invisible foes using this ability.
So, partially because he was sick of only focusing on his combat skills, and partly out of sheer curiosity, he decided to commit to an upgrade:
[Skill] Appraisal (Grade F)
Upgrade Complete!
Appraisal (Grade E)
Appraisal can now be used to prospect the location of foes through walls and other solid surfaces.
Spirit Cores remaining: 80
X-Ray vision¡ Ethan mumbled. Just another useful tool in an Archon¡¯s arsenal.
His mind started to wander as he made the decision to bank the extra 80 cores for now. Was it possible that all the other Archons had the exact same abilities he did? It couldn¡¯t be entirely the same ¨C [Possession] and [Skill Steal] seemed like they were distinctly his bread and butter. The first big guy ¨C the chimera Kharfangg ¨C he must have been packing some major strength right from the get-go. But the other ones¡ just going by their murals¡ they had their own set of powers that seemed in total contrast to each other. Gelsadra the Everlasting ¨C she obviously must have had some regeneration ability. The opposite of Kharfangg ¨C she probably relied on tankiness over brute strength.
Then there were the other two. Moratavious the Shroud ¨C patron of thieves and shadows, right? He must have employed stealth to great effect. And Gyko¡ the immobile demon flower¡ for all Ethan could tell, her strength was charm. Pure charisma to make others fight for her.
You could chart a clear trajectory through all of them, it seemed to Ethan. It was like evolution ¨C each one focused on a different strategy to win. And each one failing, every damn time.
He needed to know more. And he knew the one person who¡¯d have the answers he sought. The ¡®person¡¯ who had been with each and every one of his predecessors.
Sys? he asked the depths of his mind.
¡
Sys, I know you¡¯re there.
Oh, my sincerest apologies.
Am I allowed to speak, now?
Don¡¯t cop an attitude. You know I was going through some shit back there. I just needed some fucking quiet.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Are you only now beginning to realize why you were brought here? What your destiny is?
Ethan turned away as he saw these words, trying to ignore the sight of his reflection in the System box.
One thing you should know about me, Sys, he said. I don¡¯t believe in destiny.
Of course you don¡¯t.
None of you do.
Until it¡¯s too late.
You need to quit it with that cryptic shit, Ethan demanded, sending one of his scimitars through the System box and getting nothing in return but the sight of his rage-filled arachnid face shimmering for a few seconds. If you¡¯ve got something to tell me, tell me now.
For a few seconds, the System screen then flickered with static and died away, fading out of existence with a whimper that Ethan could almost swear represented something like a sigh.
You were all the same. Each one of you absolutely convinced of your own divinity.
You were all strong. You were all tactically minded. You all had armies at your backs.
And you still all perished.
Ethan couldn¡¯t be sure if a robotic System assistant in a fantasy realm could simulate emotion, but a part of him genuinely did believe that Sys was bearing its heart to him right now¡
Can you imagine what it feels like, Ethan Hawke?
Can you imagine being attached to consciousness after consciousness?
Shackled.
Contained.
Forced to watch them all go mad with power and then finally succumb to the same bitter end?
Forced to watch as they all clung to their dreams only to have them crushed?
To live a life of eternal spectatorship ¨C where nothing that you do or say matters at all¡
Ethan looked at his organic scimitars that now served as his hands, and then up at his reflection in Sys¡¯s little window. He stared at his own crimson eye and, for just a fleeting moment, thought that he could see the man he once was still in there, looking right back at him.
He could see himself typing away in his office cubicle every day, working overtime for a pittance so he could buy more games and books and escape into worlds that weren¡¯t his own.
Yeah, Sys, he said. I know what that feels like, alright.
¡
Explain.
I¡¯m afraid that information is considered [Classified], Ethan chuckled in their shared mindscape. But suffice to say, where I come from, there¡¯s a lot of folk who could probably relate to you.
I find it difficult to believe that, of all things, a human being would be capable of understanding how I feel.
It¡¯s more common than you think. Some of us are just spectators in our own lives. We put up with it because we¡ don¡¯t know what else to do. Some of us don¡¯t ever find the answer.
¡
Which is..?
¡°A different perspective,¡± Ethan smiled.
The door to Ethan¡¯s chamber suddenly slammed open, and in stammered the small, floofy form of Fauna the Hopla.
¡°Miss Fauna,¡± Ethan said. ¡°I never took you for the seductive type. Coming to a guy¡¯s bedchamber like this in the middle of the night. A spider Lord might get the wrong ide-¡°
She swayed, staggered, and summoned a small starfish that she promptly tripped over.
¡°Woah!¡±
She fell into Ethan¡¯s lap as soon as he launched himself to catch her, her gaze drifting dreamily up to his five eyes.
¡°Mr¡ Ethan,¡± she moaned.
Shit. This is heading to weird places fast.
¡°You¡ and Klax¡¡±
Oh¡ so you¡¯re that kinda girl, Fauna?
¡°You¡ Klax¡ sad¡¡±
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°You and Klax¡ need to make up¡¡± the Hopla finished, rising and pointing an accusatory finger right in Ethan¡¯s face. ¡°Friends¡ should make up! I won¡¯t let¡ anyone¡ be sad. Never¡ again¡¡±
The girl promptly collapsed into a drunken sleep, her brow hot and face still flushed from the exertion of Tara¡¯s drinking game. Ethan was left looking down at the girl with a stunned look of bewilderment that slowly morphed into a smirk.
¡°¡heh,¡± he murmured. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right, Faun. If you and Tara could, maybe it¡¯s worth talking things out.¡±
Besides, there¡¯s still some things I have to know¡ like what exactly that wolfman needs me to be ready for.
He lay Fauna down on his bed and covered her, thankful at least that somebody got to use the thing.
Hey, Sys ¨C you want to survive this, right?
No answer.
Each time the Archon dies, you feel it, don¡¯t you? There must be a part of you that still wishes that you could win, for once.
¡
It isn¡¯t possible, Ethan.
Kaedmon¡¯s Law is absolute. I know what I was made for.
You must simply come to terms with your purpose, too.
Shit, sys, come on - you aren''t telling me you''re content to just keep watching your Users die over and over again?
Sys gave him no answer. But something about those statement clicked with Ethan. It was a feeling he¡¯d gotten ever since he¡¯d landed slap-bang in the middle of this realm and heard of this ¡®Kaedmon¡¯s Law.¡¯ It was a feeling that, for the first time in his life, he was fighting against something tangible that he knew needed to be destroyed. Something he could relate to¡ and probably the very reason he¡¯d been summoned here in the first place to take up the label of the bad guy.
After all, he wanted control of his life, didn¡¯t he?
Just stick around, Sys, he said as he turned and followed the winding palace hallways towards Klax¡¯s chambers. I intend to be the exception to the rule.
34. The True [Enemy]
When Ethan entered Klax¡¯s chambers within the venerable Sanctum castle, he was instantly struck by the numinous beauty of the place.
In each corner, a censer burned with bright purple incense, sending a pungent aroma into the air. The walls of the room were decorated with more murals that matched those of the throne room¡ªimages of hybrids fighting alongside monsters against the humans of Argwyll for dominance, innumerable deaths on both sides, and at the end¡ªthe image of a blue-eyed, white-haired human chopping off the head of their leader.
¡°Is this a bedroom or a church?¡± Ethan asked the Lycae sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, his eyes closed to his new visitor.
¡°It¡¯s nothing more than a reminder of the past,¡± Klax said.
¡°Kinda sucky past.¡±
¡°Without knowing the past, one cannot move forward.¡±
¡°Is that what you want, Klax?¡± Ethan asked him. ¡°To move forward?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you?¡±
The grim eyes of the grey wolf met the single piercing crimson of the hat¡¯s, and they knew that this was a conversation a long time in the making.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here if I didn¡¯t,¡± Ethan answered.
¡°And you wouldn¡¯t be here if you didn¡¯t doubt what you did out there.¡±
Ethan grimaced as the thought took hold of him again with sudden, wild strength¡ªthe image of the boy, and his father¡¯s blood on his scimitars.
¡°Where I come from, we¡¯ve got plenty of stories about monsters ourselves,¡± he answered. ¡°And plenty of young boys, me included, eat them up.¡±
Klax nodded. ¡°Do they believe the things these stories say?¡±
¡°It depends on what you mean by ¡®believe.¡¯¡±
The old wolf rose and stretched his withered back, gesturing with a nostalgic sigh at the murals that surrounded them.
¡°In Argwyll, we are taught to believe what we see,¡± he said. ¡°This history of our realm tells its own story: rising dark, descending light, bloodshed on both sides, and then a fleeting century of peace before we rinse and repeat.¡±
¡°In other words, a cycle.¡±
Klax nodded. ¡°A cycle defined by one being and one being alone.¡±
Ethan narrowed his five eyes. ¡°Kaedmon.¡±
¡°And his champions,¡± Klax scoffed as he pointed out the first of the Greycloaks descending from the parting clouds of the heavens, led by a woman with eyes that burned like fiery blue coals. ¡°Those immortal warriors who are anointed with the burning, killing light that is supposed to cast us down. A single Greycloak can fell a thousand monsters in battle. But they are not indestructible. Against hybrids, their power is less potent¡ªowing to the shared blood which they would never admit we hold within our veins. But they can still destroy us, Ethan. They have done so every time we have risen up against them.¡±
Something in the old wolf¡¯s words struck Ethan, then. Staring into the ancient murals carved into the earthen walls of this underground kingdom, it suddenly became all too clear to him why the boy had looked at him the way he had. Why the humans of this realm wanted nothing more than the enslavement and eventual eradication of everything that didn¡¯t look like them.
¡°They probably think they don¡¯t have a choice.¡±
Klax raised an inquisitive, hairy eyebrow.
¡°I mean¡ªKaedmon¡¯s Law, right?¡± Ethan continued. ¡°¡®We can only be what we¡¯re supposed to be,¡¯ which, quite frankly, is the dumbest fucking basis for a religion I¡¯ve ever heard. Us humans, we¡¯re meant to change, Klax. And if you guys really do share our blood, that means you¡¯re supposed to change, too. Nobody wants to live a stagnant life. I should¡ well¡ I should know...¡±
Ethan wasn¡¯t even seeing the altered expression that came over Klax in that moment. He was used to hearing that ranting online, waxing philosophical about the big problems in life, was either cringe or more appropriate for YouTube video essays¡ªat least that way you¡¯d make money off complaining.
But here in this new world¡ he got the feeling that these hybrids, and these humans for that matter, had never really thought about the actual chains that might have been keeping them all bound.
¡°¡takes a slave to know one, I guess,¡± he chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s tough to fight against all the things that seem so much bigger than you. Take Tara, for example, she¡¯s an angry (potentially crazy) gal, no judgment, but she¡¯s not gonna change the world by killing all the humans in it. You hybrids that are left over would probably just end up finding other reasons to kill once they were gone. Nah, Klax, it seems to me that there¡¯s a much more obvious solution to the problem here.¡±
Klax, whose furrowed brow of confusion had broken now into a fast smile, nodded along with Ethan¡¯s train of thought.
¡°Kaedmon¡¯s Law,¡± he said.
¡°Hell yeah. That shit¡¯s gotta be re-written. Or scrapped entirely. Either way, it¡¯s a Law that¡¯s made to be broken.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
¡°And if anyone can do it,¡± Klax finished. ¡°It would be you.¡±
Ethan looked up suddenly, almost as though he¡¯d been talking in a state of trance for the past few minutes. He saw the sudden rush of exhilaration that had filled Klax¡¯s face¡ªit was like looking at a totally different wolfman.
¡°¡sometimes, you sound so much like her.¡±
Ethan cocked three eyes.
¡°Huh?¡±
¡°Our old leader,¡± Klax said. ¡°A prophet who sought to guide us to a different path. Her name was Jun''Ei, Ethan. She was important to me¡ªto us all.¡±
Klax grasped the locket round his neck tightly, a low growl emanating from his throat.
¡°She said that when the time was right, she could set the next Archon on the right path¡ªthe path that leads to the end of Kaedmon¡¯s rule over this earth. The path that leads to a new beginning for us all¡ªa life where each one of us not only has the desire for self-determination but the right to it.¡±
¡°How?¡± Ethan asked, leaning forward with interest, momentarily forgetting he inhabited the body of a bulbous arachnid that practically filled the room already.
Klax, however, was not deterred.
¡°She would tell no one but you,¡± he said. ¡°She waited for the day of your arrival, growing old, withered, but no less wise. She told me that when you came, the Delves would set you on the first steps of the path. After that...¡±
The wolfman¡¯s grip on the locket pulsed with sudden anger, but Ethan could see nothing but sorrow in his old eyes.
¡°¡she was captured,¡± Klax said. ¡°Taken to a place where the humans¡ interrogate the sentient beasts they find.¡±
¡°Where?¡± Ethan whispered like a child wrapped up in a bedtime story¡¯s twist. ¡°Klax¡ªtell me where she is and I can bust her out.¡±
The wolfman simply sighed again. ¡°I do not know, Ethan. She was captured when we tried to fight back against the last great purge¡ªthe ¡®Cleansing of Minathra¡¯ led by Lightborn Artorious himself. It is there we first fought. It is there I saw just how powerful the Greycloaks are in battle. The killing sheen of their blades as they sliced through the fur and ripped the skin from my comrades¡ even though she begged me not to go.¡±
Klax¡¯s shaking shoulders seemed totally incongruous with Ethan¡¯s picture of who the wolfman was. He was watching him let down his leader¡¯s guard here. He didn¡¯t really know what to say. He didn¡¯t know if there was anything he could say that would assuage a broken heart. So, he simply let Klax finish:
¡°She warned us not to fight them as they burned our cousins,¡± Klax said. ¡°And yet still, we took to the field. I¡ªI was a stupid pup back then, Ethan. Hungry for nothing but vengeance and unwilling to heed the counsel of my elder. I deserved nothing from Jun''Ei after I disobeyed her. And yet, even still, it was she who ended up sacrificing herself to give us room to retreat.¡±
In the old wolf¡¯s eyes, he was back on the battlefield now¡ªthe snow-capped plains of the fields covered in hybrid and human blood at the base of the Ashfalls. He was looking in Jun¡¯Ei''s eyes as she ordered him to go, speeding him and his warriors away with a powerful spell of Haste and staring down the armies of the humans and their holy champion himself.
¡°Tail tucked between my legs, I ran,¡± Klax finished quietly. ¡°I did it because, for the first time, I was listening to her.¡±
¡°You did it because you knew letting yourself die would have been pointless,¡± Ethan said, gingerly patting Klax¡¯s shoulder with a scythe tip, being careful not to give the guy a good trim in the process. ¡°I didn¡¯t know her, but she sounds like a real leader. She probably knew there was no point in letting you guys all die.¡±
¡°She was a better leader than I¡¯ll ever be. I can¡¯t even keep my own team together. We fight among ourselves while she suffers in whatever pit the Greycloaks have tossed her into. What would she think of me now?¡±
"She¡¯d probably think you¡¯re a badass," Ethan replied, even as the downcast face and whispering voice of the normally bombastic wolf alarmed him. "Shit, Klax, you¡¯ve carried on this fight for how long now? Years? Decades? And after all this time, you¡¯ve finally found the person that can make a difference. I¡¯ll bring her back to you, Klax. And together we¡¯ll re-write the rules of this world."
Klax rose to see Ethan with new eyes then¡ªthe eyes not of a mentor or a guardian, but those of a warrior who was beginning to understand why this Archon had been chosen. And why, this time, they might actually have a chance...
"So come on," Ethan said, winking with all five eyes available to him. "I think we¡¯ve got some delving to do."
"I see someone¡¯s feeling better."
The next morning, the party had come together at Ethan¡¯s behest. He¡¯d found Tara slumped in her room, trying to pretend she hadn¡¯t been stargazing all night, and Fauna... well, she¡¯d had a rather rough slumber in Ethan¡¯s bed.
Ethan Hawke was many things¡ªand a gentleman wasn¡¯t one of them. So, when he decided to bunk in the throne room instead of returning to the slumbering Hopla who had decided to flop down in his personal chambers¡ªhe had already proven Kaedmon¡¯s Law wrong.
Fauna hid her face from him most of the day, blushing even brighter as Tara teased her all morning.
"P-please Tara!" she wailed. "I¡¯m already embarrassed! Mr. Ethan is good enough to not kick me from the party, but... can we just forget about last night?"
"Mmmmm¡ªnah," Tara chuckled, playing with Fauna¡¯s floppy ears. "Girl, you literally can¡¯t hold your drink. I¡¯m gonna be remembering that for a long time."
As they bantered, they picked up supplies. Borlor had been good enough to work through the night¡ªstating that a stout drink would grease up a blacksmith¡¯s hammer better than anything. He¡¯d made all new weapons for Ethan to transmogrify¡ªhearing that he and the group were bound for the Twilight Sepulcher now.
"Ye¡¯ll be goin¡¯ up against Undead, then," the badger-hybrid said. "Silver¡¯s what ye¡¯ll be needin¡¯."
He then bestowed on Ethan a dazzling set of blades and an indigo carapace that the Demon Hat managed to fit snugly around his host¡¯s bulbous body with the aid of his Transmogrification skill.
Silver Talons (Grade D)
DMG: 25
Special: +100% DMG vs enemy type [UNDEAD]
Mithril Carapace (Grade D)
DMG Prot: 25
"Mithril?" Ethan asked.
"Mhmm. A gift from our new arrivals. Seemed like the mine you freed ¡®em from was a human-owned Mithril deposit. Managed to clear off with a few ores and I went ta grab ¡®em soon as I heard."
Ethan smiled. "Borlor, once again you do the work of the Gods themselves."
The badger man waved away the Archon¡¯s praise. "Just give ¡®em hell, Ethan," he said. "And remember, dead men don¡¯t got no brains. Stick ¡®em in the gut and watch ¡®em burn."
Sadistic blacksmiths aside, the rest of their equipment shopping went off without a hitch. Klax and Tara kept some distance, but neither one looked like they were ready to attack the other anymore.
Progress, Ethan thought. Just call me the negotiator, eh, Sys?
...
Going up against Kaedmon¡¯s Law.
You aren¡¯t the first Archon to have such a fool notion.
Ethan ruminated on this thought as he and his companions once again faced the portal chamber, activating the exit to the Twilight Sepulcher Delve and exchanging brief nods of readiness.
I told you that I¡¯d be the exception, Sys. And not just for me. But for you, too.
As he felt the brief gut-wrenching twist of teleportation take hold of him, Ethan could swear he heard something like laughter echo in his mind.
We¡¯ll see, Ethan Hawke. We¡¯ll see.
35. The Realm of the [Dead]
The Twilight Sepulcher loomed ahead¡ªa vast, dark realm steeped in death. The oppressive sky, cast in permanent twilight, hung low with swirling clouds of purple and black. In the distance, jagged mountains rose like teeth, framing the path that led them deeper into the cursed realm.
Yep. If this place doesn¡¯t scream ¡®Undead¡¯, I don¡¯t know what does¡
Ethan led the group forward this time. His eight pale, spidery legs moved with eerie grace across the uneven stone path. Tara followed close behind, her cat-like eyes scanning every corner, every shadow, for threats. Klax, his massive wolfish form tense and alert, brought up the rear. Fauna, their rabbit-eared mage, walked between them, her hands occasionally flicking with small sparks of magic, ready to unleash a barrage of spells at a moment¡¯s notice.
Dotted around the barren earth the party trod upon were the skeletal remains of humans¡ªtheir bodies in their final stages of decay. Cracked skulls bore maggots writhing out the corners of their vacant eye sockets, and their blades were rusted and chipped away to nothing, just as ready to crumble to dust as their old wielders were.
¡°Other Delvers?¡± Ethan asked.
¡°Yeah,¡± Klax confirmed. ¡°The hubris of young Argwylian humans is fed on tales of heroes like the Lightborns slaying the demons that dwell within this world¡¯s bowels and taking their treasures for themselves. Many of them don¡¯t know the reality of these dungeons until it is too late.¡±
¡°More loot for us,¡± Tara scoffed, kicking a dead Delver¡¯s shield out of his hands and promptly breaking it apart for scrap.
¡°Sounds familiar,¡± Ethan replied, thinking again of the little boy playing hero with his dead father¡¯s blade.
In the far distance, a single building rose impressively over the land of the dead¡ªa castle with jagged turrets and blackened windows that gave one the distinct impression that they were being watched.
[Appraisal: Complete]
Delve Core identified: Tomb of the Damned
His new upgrades were proving useful¡ªhe couldn¡¯t just sense the core of the Dungeon through the walls of the stronghold; he could see it in the depths of the castle, sequestered in a coffin warded by ancient magic¡ªand a potent guardian.
¡°We¡¯re close,¡± Ethan rasped. The singular crimson eye of his hat-form locked onto the looming shadow of the castle. ¡°The Sepulchre¡¯s Core is in that fortress.¡±
Tara, who had been moving silently beside him, nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope this goes smoother than last time.¡±
Klax grunted. ¡°Last time we weren¡¯t up against endless waves of undead.¡±
As if in response to his words, the wind picked up, carrying with it the dry, bone-rattling sound of movement. They halted, weapons at the ready. From the darkness ahead, shadows began to move¡ªskeletons, their bones clattering as they rose from the earth, drawing rusted swords and jagged spears.
¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Fauna whispered, her staff already sparking with magical energy.
¡°Good,¡± Ethan replied darkly. ¡°Let¡¯s clear the way.¡±
The first skeleton lunged at them, its empty sockets burning with a faint purple glow. Ethan¡¯s front leg struck out like a lance, impaling the creature through the chest and shattering it into a cloud of bone dust. Tara was already in motion, her blades a blur as she weaved between the undead, slicing through their brittle limbs with effortless precision.
Klax, ever the dexterous brute, waded into the thick of the skeletal horde, his claws ripping through bone and armor with savage ease. Every swipe sent fragments of the undead scattering across the stone path. Fauna, hanging back, raised her staff and let loose a volley of fireballs, each one exploding in a flash of light that consumed multiple enemies at once, reducing them to smoldering piles of ash.
Ethan moved through the chaos with deadly precision, his long legs slashing through the ranks of skeletons like a whirlwind of death. His venom-coated fangs found their marks in the thick of battle, injecting paralyzing venom into any enemy foolish enough to get close. As he crushed a skull beneath one of his spindly limbs, he heard Tara shout.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
¡°More coming from the east!¡±
The undead surged toward them in waves. Dozens of skeletons emerged from the dark forest, along with more imposing figures¡ªundead knights, their armor rusted but still formidable, wielding massive swords and shields.
[Enemy Identified: Warriors of the Damned]
HP: 150/150
WILL: N/A
N/A, Ethan suddenly thought. That means¡ they can¡¯t be possessed.
Can¡¯t possess that which doesn¡¯t have a brain to begin with.
Ethan just smiled in the face of this new revelation. ¡°Not like I need to bother with possessing small fry anymore,¡± he said. ¡°This spider slayer¡¯s more than a match for these brainless boys.¡±
These weren¡¯t like the brittle skeletons they had just torn through. These were warriors, reanimated and enhanced by the foul magic that permeated the Twilight Sepulcher. Even so, Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smirk as he watched them come. His mind had just lighted on a devilish little idea.
¡°Fauna, launch me!¡±
The Hopla girl double-blinked, trying to maintain focus on the shield she¡¯d just summoned. ¡°W-what?¡±
¡°Get me in the air!¡±
With a nod, Fauna raised her staff once more, muttering an incantation. Ethan felt his body become as weightless as a kite buffeted by the dead air of the Sepulchre, and in the next moment, shot up into the skies and activated his trump card.
[Dive]
The body of Rachneros plummeted back down to earth like a bolt of white lightning shot from the dark heavens themselves, landing slap-bang on top of the warrior brood. The impact coursed through the bodies of the warriors, sending them flying right towards Tara¡¯s waiting twin blades. The Minxit plunged them into the gaps in their armor with lethal precision, each warrior disintegrating into dust as its HP was hacked away, its bones scattering across the ground.
But still, more were advancing, their purple-lit eyes locked on the intruders.
Klax barreled into another knight, his claws tearing through armor as if it were paper. He fought like a force of nature, a whirlwind of teeth and claws that left devastation in his wake. ¡°Keep moving forward!¡± he barked, kicking the remains of the knight off the path. ¡°We¡¯re not stopping here!¡±
The group pushed onward, cutting through the horde as they made their way toward the ancient stone bridge that spanned a deep, dark chasm. The castle loomed on the other side, its towers clawing at the sky, surrounded by an aura of dread. The bridge was old and crumbling, the stones slick with moss and decay. And on the other side, more undead awaited¡ªhulking monsters with decayed flesh hanging from their bones, and their glowing eyes filled with hate.
¡°We have to cross that?¡± Fauna asked, her voice betraying a hint of worry.
¡°Unless you can fly us over,¡± Ethan muttered grimly, eyeing the narrow bridge.
Tara sheathed her blades for a moment and tested the first few stones of the bridge. ¡°Now ain¡¯t the time for maybes. It¡¯ll hold for now. Faun, concentrate on keeping those bastards off us.¡±
Klax wasn¡¯t as confident but nodded. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to waste. Keep your eyes on the other side.¡±
The moment they set foot on the bridge, the undead monsters roared, charging toward them. The creatures were grotesque, a mix of reanimated flesh and bone, some wielding massive rusted weapons, others relying on sheer brute strength.
Ethan moved to the front, his massive form leading the charge. ¡°Take the left side!¡± he called out to Tara. ¡°I¡¯ll hold the middle!¡±
Tara veered left, her blades cutting through the legs of one of the hulking creatures, bringing it down with a swift slash across its throat. Fauna stayed near the center, her staff glowing as she conjured a barrier of light to block an incoming attack, while Klax, ever the brute, took the right side, his claws digging into the neck of another undead abomination and tearing it apart.
But more were coming, flooding onto the bridge with unstoppable momentum. The ancient stone groaned under the weight of the battle, cracks forming in the sides as the monsters pressed forward. Ethan stabbed his fangs into another creature, sending it convulsing before tossing it over the side of the bridge.
¡°We¡¯re getting overwhelmed!¡± Fauna shouted, blasting another monster off the edge with a powerful gust of wind.
Ethan''s eye darted to the crumbling sides of the bridge. They needed to get off it¡ªfast.
¡°Tara, cut the bridge!¡± Ethan shouted over the chaos.
Tara¡¯s eyes widened in realization. Without hesitation, she leaped to the far side of the bridge, her blades flashing as she severed the ropes holding the structure together. Klax grabbed Fauna, and with a powerful jump, leaped to safety as the bridge began to collapse.
Ethan was the last one on the bridge, and for a brief moment, it felt like the ground was falling out from under him. His spidery legs clambered across the remaining stones, and with a final, desperate push, he hurled himself onto solid ground just as the bridge crumbled into the abyss.
The undead still on the bridge fell, their screams echoing as they plunged into the darkness below.
"Y... y''know something?" Tara asked the panting forms of her teammates. "If we could have about 40% fewer close calls every time we do this, that''d be just swell."
"What''s a Delve without a few close calls," Klax chuckled, his surprisingly good humor taking the Minxit off guard for a moment.
"You''re creepy when you smile like that," she murmured, turning to Fauna, who simply gave an innocent shrug of agreement.
Meanwhile, Ethan looked up at the looming castle doors. "No turning back now."
With a shared nod, they approached the massive doors. Together, they pushed against them with all their might. With a groan, the ancient wood splintered and gave way, swinging open to reveal the darkness beyond.
36. If theres a [chance]
SAFE ZONE
[Time Remaining: 6 hrs]
¡°It¡¯s worth it.¡±
¡°It¡¯s never worth it.¡±
¡°How do you know?¡±
¡°I¡¯m the Archon. I know.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t be 100% sure.¡±
¡°Wanna bet?¡±
Ethan sat with Tara against the vine-covered wall of the Twilight Sepulcher¡¯s castle foyer, hearing nothing but the creaking of floorboards and the intermittent cracks of corrupted lightning flashing outside. In this environment, drenched in darkness, they¡¯d been surprised to find a designated safe zone ¨C especially considering the fact that they¡¯d just fought through a horde of zombies to reach this place. But, according to Klax, that was just the way of the Delves. They operated on their own sense of logic.
What was far more interesting to the two companions who were currently awake was the dim treasure chest in the very end of the room.
Object: Chest [Rare]
Contents: ???
The group had debated opening the thing ever since they¡¯d found it ¨C Ethan and Klax insisting that the thing had to be an obvious Mimic-trap, while Tara ranted that her impeccable feline senses could avoid the trap even if it was one. Fauna, meanwhile, just wanted some rest. She couldn¡¯t be blamed.
¡°Sometimes taking a chance is worth it,¡± Tara was saying ¨C waiting for the moment when Ethan finally succumbed to sleep or let his guard down so she could pilfer the chest. ¡°I thought you of all people would get that. You took a chance in coming to this world, right?¡±
¡°Actually, I never had a choice in the matter.¡±
¡°But you didn¡¯t wanna stay where you were, right?¡± the Minxit asked coyly. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have come here if you did.¡±
¡°Maybe,¡± Ethan replied.
¡°Come on, Ethan,¡± Tara chuckled, taking the time to get in a liberal stretch of her lithe, feline limbs. ¡°Admit it: this world shits on the one you came from.¡±
¡°True. Though that¡¯s not saying much. And, to be honest, they aren¡¯t as different as I¡¯d have thought.¡±
Tara glanced at him, her long lashes flickering for a moment.
¡°I heard you ¡®n Klaxy had a bit of a chat about that.¡±
¡°Oh yeah?¡±
¡°Yeah. And, just so you know, I think it¡¯s a dumb idea.¡±
¡°What? Talking?¡±
¡°Finding Jun¡¯Ei,¡± she yawned. ¡°Rewriting Kaedmon¡¯s Law. It¡¯s a pretty dream. But dreams don¡¯t go far in this world.¡±
Ah! A creature after my own heart!
Ethan ignored Sys¡¯s interjection.
Tread carefully, Ethan, he told himself. This cat¡¯s on your team, but she¡¯s more bloodthirsty than the rest.
¡°You¡¯d prefer extermination, then?¡± he asked her. ¡°Going village to village, town to town, and killing every human you could?¡±
¡°It ain¡¯t a matter of what I prefer,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s them or us. That¡¯s just the way it is.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not the way it has to be. C¡¯mon Tara, you must think Kaedmon¡¯s Law is just as bullshit as everyone else does.¡±
The catgirl sighed as she rose, taking up one of her stilettos and twirling it in her fingers. As she spoke, she focused on the glinting tips of the weapons with as much care as if they were her own kittens.
¡°We¡¯re at the end,¡± she said. ¡°End of the line. Totally. The humans have driven us to a glorified hole in the ground, burned our homes, butchered our families. Maybe someone like Klax can forget all that. But I can¡¯t.¡±
A bloody speck of purple shone in her eye for a moment, and she stopped her playful twisting of her knives to stare at her own reflection on the thin, deadly surfaces of their blades.
¡°You think re-writing the Law of some uncaring God¡¯s gonna change anything? Soon as Kaedmon¡¯s Law is binned, there¡¯s just gonna be some other reasons the humans make up to hate us. They¡¯ve been hating us all this time already. Because we¡¯re different. Because we want more than the scraps they throw us. Some of us, like Klax, would settle for ¡®equality¡¯. Me? I stopped believing in that when I was still a kitten.¡±
Ethan watched as her expression changed to one of barely repressed rage, snarling at the sight of her own animal eyes.
You¡¯ve gone through some shit in this world too, haven¡¯t you? Whatever made you this way¡ I probably don¡¯t have any right to judge.
So, instead, he decided to try a different tact:
¡°Isn¡¯t it better to take the chance, though? Some of those humans ¨C a lot of them, in fact ¨C probably feel the same way you do. They probably feel that it¡¯s either you or them. Killing them all? Sure, that would solve one problem. But it won¡¯t solve the big one.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
¡°Which is¡ what?¡±
¡°That none of you feel like you¡¯ve got a choice.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because we don¡¯t.¡±
¡°But you could. Maybe you can¡¯t imagine what the world would look like if everyone did, but isn¡¯t it worth finding out?¡±
The Minxit returned her gaze to him before sighing again and slumping down beside his gargantuan spider-form.
¡°¡Nah, Ethan,¡± she whispered as she sheathed her blades. ¡°Not for me, anyway.¡±
The Archon decided that, for now, he could let the matter drop.
The end of their respite came when Ethan opened his eyes and felt the miasma of creeping shadow begin to creep back into the castle foyer. He rolled over on his side and decided to spend the Spirit Cores he¡¯d accumulated in the last fight on a few much-needed upgrades. He had only one Delve left to solve after this one, and so he focused his attention on those skills which he¡¯d had since the start. Getting them as close to S Grade as he could made sense.
Spirit Cores: 485
Let¡¯s see¡first up, Hide, from my old friend Theo.
Hide (Grade C -> B)
Spirit Core Cost: 100
Hide now confers a temporary boost in speed to all those affected ¨C allowing for multiple attacks from the shadows without breaking cover.
No. of attacks without enemy detection: x2
Nice ¨C the bonus from my sneak attacks is not only applied to the group thanks to [Mass Hide] but now we can double our damage further with a second attack from the shadows.
Upgrade: Complete!
Next: Roar, from my angry cave-troll compatriot, slain by the Lightborn:
Roar (Grade D -> C)
Spirit Core Cost: 200
A successful Roar now lowers enemy armor rating, cracking through weak spots and exposing their vitals.
Debuff applied: -50% armor strength.
The Greycloaks are gonna be armored with the finest gear this world probably has. If I¡¯m gonna go up against the God of this world, I¡¯m gonna have to go through them, and their goodie-two-shoes Lightborn. I need to break ¡®em where it hurts.
Upgrade: Complete!
Lastly¡ Wing Buffet. You know, I¡¯m actually super curious about that. Haven¡¯t used it in a while... Will Rachneros actually sprout a set of spidery wingy-wings when I activate it?
Wing Buffet (Grade E -> D)
The effect of Wing Buffet now becomes a 50ft AOE [Repulsion], affecting all enemies around you.
¡making this just an all-round better form of crowd control if the enemies fail their Strength checks, Ethan thought with glee. Hell yeah. Gimme.
Upgrade: Complete!
Spirit Cores Remaining: 125
That¡¯ll do it. Priorities going forward should be finishing up Hide¡¯s upgrade path and then focusing on my single-target DPS skills¡ depending on the Boss of this Delve and what powers he¡¯s packing. With Rachneros¡¯s HP, I¡¯m a pretty solid tank, but what I¡¯m really lacking is magic. If I ever go up against enemies with huge physical damage resistance, I¡¯m gonna be up shit creek¡
¡°HELP!¡±
Ethan whirred, his new insect senses tingling, and readied his dripping organic blades, only to realize too late what the problem was.
¡°H-hold still, Tara!¡± Fauna was shouting at a certain Minxit girl stuck in a Mimic¡¯s salivating mouth. ¡°Fighting¡¯ll just make it stronger!¡±
¡°YOU TRY HOLDING STILL!¡± came Tara¡¯s frenzied reply. ¡°GET A BLOODY MOVE ON AND BLAST THIS FUCKER OPEN! IT¡¯S DARK IN HERE! AND¡OH¡OH SHIT¡I THINK¡I THINK I CAN SEE ITS TONGUE¡¡±
The sounds that then emanated from the catgirl¡¯s throat were not those which should ever be repeated.
Ethan looked to Klax and Fauna as they tried to yank Tara out of the chest, Klax simply shrugging his shoulders when Ethan caught his eye.
¡°Taking a chance, huh?¡± Ethan smirked as he ambled over to help the trapped kitty. ¡°Hey, I did tell you: some risks are better than others.¡±
[Mass Hide: Activated]
The darkness within the Twilight Sepulcher''s castle was oppressive, an ancient and malevolent force that seemed to seep into the very stone. This did, however, make it perfect for Ethan¡¯s newly upgraded ability. He and his companions moved carefully through the winding corridors, their footsteps echoing in the silence. The only light came from the faint glow of Fauna¡¯s magic and the occasional torch flickering with pale blue flames. The walls were adorned with twisted, decaying tapestries, and the air smelled of dust and rot. This was a place untouched by time, a tomb for the forgotten and the damned.
¡°We¡¯re getting closer,¡± Fauna whispered, her rabbit ears twitching nervously. ¡°I can feel it. There¡¯s powerful magic ahead.¡±
Ethan nodded silently, his crimson eye scanning the gloom. His limbs moved silently across the stone, and every step felt like walking into the maw of a beast waiting to swallow them whole. His senses, sharpened by the body of the Pale Lord, tingled with an ominous warning.
Klax growled softly. "The stench of death is thick here. Whatever we¡¯re about to face¡ it¡¯s not going to be pretty."
Tara unsheathed her blades, her feline eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. "When is it ever?"
They pushed onward, descending deeper into the castle¡¯s depths. The walls grew colder, the air heavier with magic. And then, as they rounded a corner, the hallway opened up into a massive chamber. The ceiling stretched high above them, lost in shadow. At the far end of the room stood a tall, imposing figure, cloaked in living shadow.
[Enemy Identified]
[Nether Lich: Level 35]
HP: 195/195
WILL: N/A
It stood hunched over, its skeletal form adorned with a dark robe that seemed to flow like liquid shadow. In one bony hand, it clutched a staff, the head of which glowed with an eerie purple light. Its hollow eye sockets burned with a malevolent energy as it regarded the intruders with cold disdain.
¡°A Lich¡¡± Tara groaned. ¡°Of course. The Delve had to throw one of the most annoying of all enemies at us.¡±
¡°Lemme guess,¡± Ethan whispered. ¡°Summoner of Undead, right?¡±
¡°An expert summoner,¡± Fauna nodded. ¡°Liches can call up legions of Undead in a matter of seconds. Even worse ¨C when they die, their soul instantly inhabits their nearest minion so that they might rise again at full strength.¡±
OP as hell¡ Ethan thought. What I wouldn¡¯t give for that little ability¡
¡°Options?¡± Tara asked.
Ethan tensed, his limbs twitching in anticipation. He knew that fighting a Lich wasn¡¯t going to be easy, especially not in a place like this, where the very air was infused with dark magic. They were on its home turf, alright. And judging by the mounds of bodies surrounding the creature, it would have no shortage of ammunition against them.
¡°Speed,¡± Ethan stated. ¡°We strike hard and fast, get in a preemptive butt-kicking that knocks the thing down and stops it from casting. Take its HP as low as we can. Then we exhaust it. Once it¡¯s got no mana left, and no more corpses to raise, we rush in and take it out.¡±
The group nodded. It was as good a plan as any, and Ethan could tell that the three of them were finally starting to see him as more of a leader now.
¡°No objections, Klax?¡± Ethan asked the venerable grey hound. ¡°This is a pretty reckless plan. Thought you might have some reservations?¡±
Klax smiled in the shadows of the Sepulcher''s castle walls.
¡°There is a time for patience and playing the long game,¡± he growled. ¡°And there is a time for kicking ass. Now is the time for the latter.¡±
¡°Klax!¡± Fauna chuckled.
¡°I¡¯m with the Hopla,¡± Tara said. ¡°Who are you and what have you done with our lovable wolfboy?¡±
Ethan bid the team stick together as he gave the signal to move out. Now, more than ever, he needed them to stick together. And maybe, by easing the burden of leadership off of Klax, he was managing to do just that.
¡°Alright,¡± he whispered as his eyes met the dark voids of the Lich¡¯s face. ¡°Move out!¡±
37. The [Bonelord]
Ethan and the hybrids surged forward, still under the protection of the shadows and Ethan¡¯s Mass Hide.
But their target was a living embodiment of the dark itself. The team got two hits in ¨C Tara¡¯s arrows finding their mark square in the beast¡¯s jawless mouth, and Ethan bringing his blades down on the creature¡¯s shadowed arms. Then, the Lich¡¯s eyes glowed with unnatural fire, and a seething anger began to emanate from its hooded, featureless face.
Without warning, the Lich raised its staff, and the chamber erupted in a cacophony of dark magic. Shadows pooled on the floor, twisting and writhing before forming into grotesque shapes¡ªeach with glowing red eyes and bodies that seemed to flicker between solid and incorporeal.
[Enemy Identified: Shadow Warrior]
HP: 100/100
WILL: N/A
Damn! Ethan spat in his mind, looking at the Lich as it teleported away from his next attack. Its speed clearly outmatched his ¨C Rachneros was strong, sure, but he wasn¡¯t exactly the quickest beast.
But they had done some damage ¨C that there was no doubt:
[Nether Lich]
HP: 115/195
¡°Alright!¡± Ethan shouted as he readied himself for the horde of shadows that roared in the faces of his party. ¡°You know what to do! Take ¡®em down and then we blast the Lich all with a single attack!¡±
The shadow beasts snarled as they took form, their claws gleaming in the dim light. There were dozens of them, and more kept materializing from the darkness.
¡°Here we go,¡± Tara said, her voice steady despite the overwhelming odds.
Ethan surged forward, his long spidery limbs carrying him into the fray. He struck the first shadow beast with his paralysis scimitar, but the creature didn¡¯t fall like the others they had fought. Instead, it twisted, its body reforming almost instantly.
PARALYSIS: Resisted
¡°They regenerate!¡± Ethan shouted, backing away as the beast lunged at him again. He managed to skewer it with his leg, but even then, the creature began to reform, its dark body knitting itself back together.
Klax roared, charging into the mass of shadow beasts with a flurry of claws and teeth. ¡°We have to focus on the Lich! These things won¡¯t stop until it¡¯s dead!¡±
¡°Easier said than done!¡± Fauna called out from behind, her staff glowing as she sent a wave of light crashing into a group of beasts. The light tore through their shadowy forms, momentarily dispelling them, but even then, they began to reassemble, their flickering bodies regenerating faster than expected.
Tara darted in and out of the chaos, her blades slicing through the air with deadly precision. But no matter how many times she cut them down, the shadow beasts kept coming back, relentless and tireless.
¡°We can¡¯t keep this up forever!¡± she yelled, parrying an attack from one of the creatures and slashing its head clean off. ¡°They just keep coming!¡±
Ethan locked eyes with the Lich, who stood at the far end of the room, watching the battle with cold amusement. It hadn¡¯t even moved since the fight began, its bony hand resting lightly on its staff as the shadow beasts did its bidding.
Then he noticed ¨C his Appraisal flaring up almost subconsciously ¨C that the creature he had struck had actually taken damage:
HP: 45/100
He blinked as five of them launched themselves at him, using his Roar to throw them right back, and following up with a Wing Buffet that sent a slew of the Lich¡¯s minions crashing against the four walls of its tomb.
¡°Weaken them!¡± Ethan shouted. ¡°Take them down to the last sliver of their health, and then we blast that fucker with a single strike!¡±
Fauna nodded, sweat beading on her brow as she channeled more magic into her staff. ¡°Get ready!¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Ethan smiled back at the Hopla.
No hesitation this time, eh, Faun?
With a shout, she raised her staff high, and a surge of radiant energy exploded from its tip. The blast hit the closest shadow beasts, disintegrating them into nothing more than wisps of smoke. But it kept them alive ¨C just barely.
For a brief moment, there was a clear path.
¡°Go!¡± Ethan roared, charging forward with his legs skittering across the stone floor.
Klax barreled forward beside him, his massive frame smashing through any creatures that tried to block their path. Tara followed close behind, moving like a shadow herself, her blades flickering in the dim light.
The Lich finally moved, its hollow eyes narrowing as it raised its staff. Dark tendrils of magic shot out from the ground, coiling toward Ethan and the others before morphing into a barrier of shadow beasts clawing and snarling with deathly intent. Ethan dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the tendrils as they whipped past him. He scaled the walls and hooked his limbs onto the ceiling before crashing back down to earth with a Dive that crushed the living walls of shadow as it crashed down on them. He saw Fauna raise her staff again, sending a barrage of magical bolts toward the Lich, but each one was deflected by a shimmering barrier of dark energy.
¡°Its defenses are up!¡± Fauna shouted, frustration creeping into her voice. ¡°We need to break through that shield!¡±
Klax didn¡¯t hesitate. He lunged forward, claws extended, aiming straight for the Lich¡¯s barrier. But the moment he made contact, the shield flared with energy, sending him flying backward with a painful grunt.
Ethan cursed under his breath. This wasn¡¯t going to be easy. The Lich¡¯s mana wasn¡¯t depleting fast enough ¨C it had what seemed like a limitless supply of shadows to keep them at bay while it maintained its magical defenses. And those beasts¡ they were regenerating too quickly.
¡°We need to disrupt it!¡± Ethan called out. ¡°Force it to move!¡±
Tara¡¯s eyes flashed with understanding. ¡°It¡¯s anchored itself to that spot. If we can make it move, we might have a shot.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll hit it from the side,¡± Ethan said, already moving into position. ¡°Klax, Tara, try to push it into one of Fauna¡¯s attacks.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t have to tell me twice!¡± the rampaging Minxit yelled back.
Klax grunted in agreement, already shaking off the blow from earlier. He moved to flank the Lich while Tara darted to the other side, her movements precise and deliberate. Fauna held her staff at the ready, watching for the perfect moment.
Ethan charged forward, his venomous fangs bared. He slammed into the Lich¡¯s barrier with all his strength, his spidery legs scraping against the shield. It flared in response, but Ethan didn¡¯t let up. He pushed harder, forcing the Lich¡¯s attention onto him.
As expected, the Lich turned toward Ethan, raising its staff to unleash a wave of dark energy. That¡¯s when Tara struck. She moved like lightning, her blades flashing as she darted in and slashed at the Lich¡¯s side. The blow was just enough to disrupt its focus.
The Lich hissed, its hollow voice filled with rage as it staggered back. In that moment, its shield flickered.
¡°Now!¡± Fauna shouted.
She unleashed a bolt of searing light directly at the Lich. The barrier shattered under the force of the magic, leaving the Lich vulnerable.
¡°Push it back!¡± Klax roared, barreling toward the Lich with a savage growl. His claws slashed through the air, aimed directly at the creature¡¯s chest.
The Lich reacted swiftly, raising its staff to teleport out of the way. But Ethan had been watching, studying the way the Lich moved, the subtle flicker of magic that preceded its teleportation.
¡°There!¡± Ethan yelled, his legs already moving toward the spot the Lich was about to reappear. He struck out just as the Lich materialized, catching it mid-teleport.
The Lich screeched, its skeletal form recoiling from the impact. Dark energy crackled around it, but it was clear that the creature was weakening. Its movements were slower, its magic less precise.
The teleportation¡it disrupts its perception, Ethan realized. Which means¡
[Hide: Activated]
Tara and Klax pressed the attack, their combined assault keeping the Lich off balance.
The shadow beasts, though still regenerating, were becoming less coordinated, their movements sluggish as the Lich¡¯s control over them began to wane. Fauna kept them at bay with bursts of light and fire, ensuring they didn¡¯t overwhelm the group while they focused on the true threat.
The Lich, now cornered, snarled in desperation. It raised its staff once more, summoning a final wave of dark energy.
But before it could bring its deathly catalyst down on the ground, it felt the keen sting of two blades pierce its ribcage from behind.
[Hide: Deactivated]
¡°Sorry, buddy,¡± Ethan snarled down at his shuddering prey. ¡°There¡¯s only one Lord of monsters here.¡±
Without a scream or even a whimper, the Lich¡¯s form dissipated from existence. Its shadow slaves did the same, their claws passing through the hybrids harmlessly as their forms simply shriveled and melted away into the air, leaving the team panting for breath and looking up at the triumphant form of their Archon standing proud above them.
[Nether Lich] Defeated!
Spirit Cores: +250
Current Spirit Cores: 375
Tara shook her head as Ethan simply shrugged, pointing the way toward the exit door.
¡°¡that was your badass one-liner?¡± she scoffed. ¡°Mr. Archon¡ you¡¯re getting sloppy.¡±
[LOOT Acquired]
Without even acknowledging what Tara said, Ethan found himself licking his lips at the blade that had just settled into his hands from the ashes of his enemy.
Now...that''s more like it.
He''d just gotten a weapon worthy of a Demon Lord.
38. [Hostile] Takeover
---Surface of Argwyll---
---Lucent, Capital of Westerweald---
The pearly streets of Lucent were awash with confused citizens.
For yesterday, an army of Greycloaks had marched through its gates, led by none other than the Master of the Greys herself, Caliah Argent. She and her forces had overturned the guards and practically blockaded every district of the city within merely six hours of stifled conflict.
Those who resisted were beaten and cuffed. The process of pacifying the city had been less than a trifle for the warriors of the Greys. Even the hardiest veteran of Argwyll would run home to his mama with his dick between his legs rather than take on the monster slayers themselves.
The people barked. They complained. They grumbled and they wept that their city was now becoming little more than a forward base for the Greys. But they put up with it. As Commander Carliah always said, the people of this world owed her Order their lives. The very fact they were even able to draw breath in this realm was owed to the Greycloaks.
And in Kaedmon''s name, they''d purify this land. This time, for good.
At the height of the commotion, the Commander walked briskly through the palace gates alongside a man who wore his grey cowl over his face. Those men, women, and children that remembered the old hero of their age knew his walk, however, and whispers started running down the crowds that the Lightborn had returned to the city ¨C this time as a conqueror.
But it was not him who appeared on King Lysandus¡¯s balcony that day and delivered a solemn decree to the people of the Capital city:
¡°Citizens of Lucent!¡± Caliah Argent began. ¡°The Fifth Archon lives.¡±
Murmurs of discontent. People swarmed together and collective gasps traveled through the city streets. Even the tavern goers were forced outside by the hubbub, talking in drunken slurs about how they knew that the day of reckoning was coming ¨C they had known people who had died in the Battle of Grenbelm forest. Only the Archon could slay a hundred men in cold blood like that.
And it was still out there. Which meant...not even Lord Artorious could stop it alone?
Yet more people hesitated as they heard the news. Naysayers in the crowd began to spread countergossip: The Bounty...it had vanished days ago, hadn''t it? So the Archon must be dead, right? Was this all just some elaborate ruse for the Greycloaks to make a political power-play?
A quick glance at the serrated weapons of the immortal warriors told such naysayers to hold their tongues. At any rate, the grim countenance of Lord Artorious as he stepped beside the Master of the Greys told those people the truth: this threat was still real, and this time the devil had landed in their territory.
¡°In accordance with Krea¡¯s Commandment,¡± Caliah continued. ¡°I am declaring a state of Martial Law. All auspices of Lucent¡¯s armed forces will henceforth submit themselves to the authority of the Greycloaks. All men and women of able body shall submit to a routine of rigorous training in preparation to defend this city from the emerging threat of the Archon and its hybrid forces. All hybrids in the city will submit to detention and interrogation immediately, under penalty of a long, agonizing demise. Any human who refuses to answer this call, or who is found harboring hybrid citizens in an official capacity or otherwise, shall be dealt with in the same manner.¡±
Ripples of anger weaved their way through the crowds. A few unruly voices rose up to verbalize their distaste ¨C but a swift beating from the Greys stationed at regular intervals on the streets put an end to these rabble rousers. After the first few beatings, even a simple look from the cloaked warriors was enough to cow any dissenting humans into submission.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
After all, who could argue with the servants of a God?
And almost as soon as she had made her proclamation, Carliah turned and marched right back into the castle, only giving the people one more vow:
¡°This time, the world shall be spared a century of darkness. With your cooperation, we promise you a final nail in the coffin of the Archon legacy. We promise you safety from all monster incursions now and forever. We promise you the fulfillment of the Lightborn¡¯s sacred mission. Stand with us, men and women of the West, and we shall break the back of this invasion before it sweeps through Argwyll!¡±
As she left, she allowed herself a small grin of satisfaction as a choir of cheers followed her. The people of the civilized world were so easy to corral, when you told them exactly what they wanted to hear.
¡°See that, Pendragon?¡± Carliah said as she and Artorious made their way back inside the palace. ¡°That¡¯s how you get people on your side.¡±
¡°Those are the same people we are oath-bound to serve and protect, Carliah,¡± he replied. ¡°They are not merely tools to be used and discarded.¡±
¡°Pfft, don¡¯t act as if you don¡¯t enjoy having power over the sheep,¡± the Master of the Greys scoffed. ¡°You¡¯ve been loving their attention all these years, haven¡¯t you?¡±
Artorious said nothing.
¡°Now, onto more pressing matters¡¡±
Both Greycloaks returned to the throne room where the blubbering King was still crying over his guards being sent on their merry way by the team of Greycloaks who had barged their way into his palace, told him he no longer had any authority here, and informed him they would be assuming defacto leadership over his entire realm.
¡°Y-you cannot do this!¡±
¡°Yes, I can,¡± Carliah told him bluntly, barely even acknowledging him as she passed him by. ¡°Need I remind you that Krea¡¯s Commandment gives the current Commander of any regional Greycloak chapter the authority to conscript the services of any town or city in the event an Archon rises. Lucent¡¯s walls are solid, defensible, and its status as capital city allows us to project our power far beyond these walls. A general mustering and hunt are already underway. Soon, this new fledgling Archon will have nowhere to hide, and we will kill this invasion in its crib.¡±
She bent down to smile in the King¡¯s tear-filled face.
¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± she said.
But King Lysandus wasn¡¯t about to take this sitting down. Without warning he rose, drawing the ceremonial broadsword at his hip and rushing the Master of the Greys with a crazed battlecry of ¡°YOU TRAITOROUS BITCH!¡± on his lips.
And before he had even unsheathed an inch of his sword, Artorious had disarmed him and knocked him down with the blunt end of his new rapier ¨C an onyx rapier that threw deep shadows across the throne room¡¯s walls.
The King looked up at the former guest in his court, his mind flashing to the banquets held in this shining hero¡¯s name, where he had simply scoffed at each noble-born guest and retired without even taking the hand of a lady.
Was it possible he had hated the people of this city all this time?
"L-Lightborn Artorious..." the King mumbled. "Please...you - you must see reason!"
¡°Tsk,¡± Carliah sighed. ¡°Another pest you didn¡¯t just slay, Artorious.¡±
The Lightborn sheaved his blade without even looking at the groveling King who was currently trying to kiss his boots.
¡°He is human, Carliah,¡± Artorious replied, much to the shock of the petrified King. ¡°He may be ignorant, dull, and a petulant child, but he is no monster.¡±
¡°Those rolls of fat dangling from his arms suggest otherwise,¡± the Greycloak Master scoffed. ¡°Revok, Maresh ¨C remove His Highness from the city and inter him in Griffon¡¯s Watch. A short spell in the cells might just teach him some valuable lessons in humility. Perhaps the good Doctor Haylock can even find some use for one such as him.¡±
The pair of Greycloaks moved to obey their leaders command, casting sideways glances at Artorious before picking the King up by his flabby arms and dragging him from his own Throne Room.
¡°A-Artorious!¡± Lysandus wailed as he was evicted. ¡°Old friend! Please ¨C please don¡¯t let them-!¡±
The Lightborn had already turned his back on the King, following his Commander downstairs to the city barracks. There, they would prepare to mobilize their forces for the all-out assault that awaited them. This time, the Archon would have no time to gain a foothold in this world. This time they''d put it down before it even made a dent in Argwyll.
...he''d put it down.
Because he had to. Didn''t he?
¡°ARTORIOUS!¡± Lysandus¡¯ wails continued. ¡°PLEASE!¡±
The Lightborn ignored the screams. He¡¯d heard much worse than those before.
39. [LOOT]
---The Twilight Sepulcher---
[Floor 2]
For once, Ethan was playing the long game.
Spirit Cores: 375
Three hundred and seventy five big ones, Sys. If I keep ¡®em for the Boss, I should be possessin¡¯ him in no time.
I would remind you that, while your combat exploits have so far been¡adequate, your Spirit Cores simply increase the chance of successful possession relative to your target¡¯s [Willpower]
You still may fail if the target¡¯s Will is strong.
Judging by the nature of your enemies in this place¡
¡the big bad¡¯s gonna be one strong-willed customer. Or, he might not even have any Willpower at all.
I wouldn¡¯t worry about that.
All creatures anointed by Kaedmon have a will of their own.
It is all the more depressing that we have to adhere to his Law.
See, there you go again ¨C helpful and then cryptic in the same breath. Not that I¡¯m really complaining, anymore. That¡¯s your whole schtick, right?
I would ask that you define this term, [Schtick]
¡but at this point, why should I bother?
Ethan smiled. They were used to each other¡¯s own distinct forms of bullshit, now. In a strange way, Argwyll wouldn''t be Argwyll without Sys.
He turned his attention to the halls of the second floor instead, and the shouting of Tara as she found another half-opened chest that was definitely not a Mimic waiting to tear into her flesh. They¡¯d had a few close calls as they traversed the depths of the Second Floor ¨C which seemed to function as a crypt, with entire rooms filled to the brim with coffins and unmarked graves.
They¡¯d come across no traces of any enemy activity. Not even Ethan¡¯s upgraded Appraisal suggested that there was any danger nearby.
So, looting had become their priority. Already, the party had picked up some choice items from the fallen Lich:
Mithril Scythe (Rare)
DMG: 35 (x2 during night)
Special: Ignores AP
Ethan gawked at the vicious scythe, seeing scintillating shadows running across its surface.
¡°¡¯Special¡¯ eh?¡± Ethan asked Fauna as they followed Klax and Tara ¨C the two of them taking point due to their superior senses for treasure and traps.
¡°Mithril is a rare material,¡± Fauna explained. ¡°Some metals of Argwyll have unique properties. Mithril can completely rip through armor, making it a coveted item for any warrior.¡±
Ethan¡¯s giant spider form grinned down at the Hopla, who blushed as she realized she¡¯d been talking like a machine.
¡°¡sorry,¡± she said. ¡°Sometimes I can be a bit of a textbook, Mr Ethan.¡±
¡°You know what?¡± he replied. ¡°Your Archon¡¯s first command is thus: you will stop apologizing from now on, especially when the knowledge in your fluffy noggin¡¯s actually super useful.¡±
She gave a slight chuckle as Tara and Klax pointed out another treasure room to their right. ¡°Sorry for saying sorry.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Ethan decided he¡¯d keep the scythe for now ¨C his silver scimitars were working enough wonders down here, and he wasn¡¯t about to give them up to Transmogrify another item. Besides this, he let his companions go through the motions of testing for Mimics. Sometimes, the dusty coffins ended up holding treasure ¨C more healing salves and MP potions for Fauna. Other times, they snapped shut and reached out their spine-slathered tongues in an expectation of fresh meat. Ethan¡¯s paralyzing scythe made short work of them. Whoever placed them here clearly hadn¡¯t expected the Boss of another Delve to come along with a mind of its own.
More blades and trinkets came their way as they went from decayed room to busted room, plundering this crypt for everything they could. Broadswords and bows of lesser quality filled their inventories, and Ethan found himself pondering some of their finds.
In the memories of Rachneros ¨C accessed through his upgraded [Possession] skill ¨C he could recall distinct sensations of pain ¨C how much agony certain blades had wracked on his Host¡¯s body since the beginning of his Delve¡¯s creation. He got enough sense from each of the looted blades they pilfered that there was a power and utility hierarchy of metals in this world:
1. Iron/Steel
2. Silver
3. Mithril
4. Adamantine
5. Coryph
6. Onixia
They best loot they got was the scythe, and a quiver of dusty Mithril arrows which Tara quickly claimed as her own (despite the fact that she¡¯d gotten stuck in the Mimic concealing the item not once, but twice). Ethan checked the quiver to see that, indeed, their armor piercing attribute was set to every arrow.
¡°Anybody come across anything better than Mithril, let us know,¡± Klax said. ¡°We¡¯ve already managed to secure a Mithril deposit near Sanctum, the next step would be melting down some Adamantine items and letting old Borlor work his magic on them. With any luck, we can have an entire army outfitted by the time we finish up in the City of Illusions.¡±
¡°Purely for defense, Klaxy, right?¡±
Klax shot her a look as they organized their inventories.
¡°Someone needs to think about that,¡± he replied sullenly.
Their conversation went no further than that ¨C thankfully. It seemed the absence of enemies on the Second Floor had put the team at ease. But at the same time¡there was a charge in the air. Ethan was waiting for the moment where they accidentally triggered a lever, or a tripwire, or haphazardly tripped on a pressure plate and activated a whole deluge of shit they¡¯d have to deal with before even reaching the Boss¡¯s lair. If Ethan was a dungeon Core, that¡¯s what he¡¯d do.
Thankfully, he didn¡¯t have to design his own dungeon ¨C not yet, anyway. In this world, you couldn¡¯t know what the future would bring¡
¡°Hey, little miss textbook,¡± he asked Fauna as they approached a large brimstone wall that looked like a dead end. ¡°What¡¯s so special about ¡®Onixia¡¯? If the memories of Rachneros are right, he¡¯s never even felt the touch of an Onixia blade.¡±
The others heard his question and hesitated before taking another step. Ethan could see the hairs on their bodies tingle at the very mention of the material.
¡°He must have been lucky,¡± Fauna whispered. ¡°If he felt the sting of Onixia, he¡¯d know it.¡±
Klax and Tara walked on, leaving the explanation to her. But their silence was already speaking volumes.
¡°Onixia is known as ¡®Soul-Shrivener¡¯¡± Fauna said, clutching her staff tightly to her bosom. ¡°It is the bane of every monster ¨C made from their blood, and synthesized with powerful magic that burns the flesh of a particular species depending on the blood they blade was birthed from. Among we hybrids, the material is shunned.¡±
¡°Because it¡¯s made from monsters?¡±
¡°Because its vile!¡± Fauna burst. Then, composing herself: ¡°The weapons they used against my burrow ¨C I can remember how they repelled us before we even tried resisting. We couldn¡¯t even look at them, or the men who held them. It was like looking at something so unnatural that it shouldn¡¯t exist.¡±
¡°And let me guess who likes to use them¡¡± Ethan murmured.
¡°The Greycloaks,¡± Fauna nodded, her pink eyes serious and deadly focused. ¡°In the Kingdom of Argwyll, they are the only ones who know the secret of how Onixia weapons are made. No one knows who their foul craftsman is who creates them, but it¡¯s said they have at least one blade for each and every species of monster on this earth¡including us.¡±
Fauna turned suddenly to her Archon, speaking with such determination that it caused Klax and Tara to turn back and make sure the Hopla speaking was her.
¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ve got to get even stronger, Mr Ethan,¡± she said. ¡°Because we can¡¯t beat them with good tactics or numbers. We need an Archon that can make them scared of us, for once.¡±
Ethan smiled despite the tension in the air. ¡°And you really think I can do it, Faun?¡±
¡°I know you can, Mr Ethan.¡±
Klax and Tara smiled to themselves at their friend¡¯s renewed confidence. When they started walking again, they did so with pride. Fauna had changed ¨C that much was obvious even to a newcomer like Ethan. But even as he thanked her for her trust in him and followed his companions deeper into the den of darkness, he couldn¡¯t help but ponder the new information he¡¯d just learned.
You all believe in me, he thought. But if Onixia is made from monster blood, and wipes the floor with whatever it¡¯s made from¡isn¡¯t it possible that the Greys already have a secret weapon up their sleeves? A sword made from the blood of the other Archons¡
Sys? Come on, buddy. You¡¯d know the answer. You¡¯d know what did in the other Archons before me, right? Tell me I¡¯m wrong here. Or¡tell me the truth.
¡
All I will say is this, Ethan Hawke:
I would hurry up and finish these Delves before your enemies have a chance to learn what they¡¯re really up against, here.
Because if you give them the chance, they will break you, and everything you¡¯re starting to care about.
40. [Denial]
The end of the crypt proved to be more than just a dead-end ¨C it was an obnoxious puzzle.
The wall before them was a mural ¨C one that displayed four different levers in two adjacent rooms being manipulated by mummified corpses.
¡°Ugh,¡± Tara groaned. ¡°I hate these things.¡±
Fauna gasped. ¡°But Tara, they aren¡¯t as bad as something like a Horde challenge!¡±
¡°Yuh, and that¡¯s the problem. It¡¯s gotta be the most boring ¡®puzzle¡¯ ever conceived.¡±
¡°What¡¯s it all about?¡± Ethan asked, his eyes puzzling over the dusty wall-mural.
¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± Klax assured him. ¡°Four levers must simply be tripped at the same time.¡±
¡°That¡¯s it?¡±
¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Tara grumbled, her tail drooping low while Fauna¡¯s ears perked up.
¡°I¡¯ll go with Mr Eth-I mean-the Archon!¡±
The hybrids, including Ethan, stared at her.
¡°T-that is¡¡± she stumbled. ¡°We¡¯ve got to split up, right?¡±
¡°That is the particular nuisance of this kind of puzzle,¡± Klax agreed. ¡°Though I¡¯m almost certain with the sheer size of Ethan he could trip two at the same ti-¡°
¡°Oh, I don¡¯t think so,¡± Fauna interrupted vehemently. ¡°Even if he could, there may be deadly traps that the levers activate!¡±
Klax was about to argue further until Tara grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and pulled him towards the now open doors on the left hand side of the crypt mural.
¡°Ah, c¡¯mon, Klaxy,¡± she said. ¡°Lets allow our bodacious bunnygirl her dream of being alone with Mr Ethan.¡±
¡°T-that¡¯s not-!¡± Fauna stammered as Tara shot her a mischievous smile.
Ethan merely laughed at the whole spectacle. ¡°Alright. Guess we¡¯ll take the left.¡±
The chamber they entered was another one filled with open sarcophagi and chests that had been recently looted. It was weird ¨C the whole place had the vibe of an MMO Raid Dungeon that¡¯d been recently plundered of its riches. Ethan and co. were basically the party who¡¯d entered too late, and were presently in the unenviable position of having to wait for the new monsters to spawn.
A more pressing problem was that, even with five whole eyes at his disposal, Ethan couldn¡¯t make out any levers in the room.
¡°A spell of concealment hangs over this place,¡± Fauna said as she rubbed her hands on the walls. ¡°I can take care of it, but it might take a while.¡±
Ethan nodded. ¡°You¡¯re the boss, Ms Magic paws. Tell me what I gotta do to help and I¡¯ll do it.¡±
The Hopla shook her head, her ears flapping up a storm of dust.
¡°No, no ¨C you can relax, Ethan. I¡¯ll start the incantation as soon as possible. But ¨C well ¨C if the spell goes haywire¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll protect you,¡± Ethan finished in the face of the blushing girl. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry about it. Us hybrids gotta depend on each other, right?¡±
¡°R-right¡¡± Fauna whispered.
For the next few minutes the Hopla glowed with indigo/violet energy, casting a spell of Divination that lit up the whole room in an otherworldly glow, throwing the shadows of the emptied sarcophagi across the barren walls. Ethan slumped down and inspected his gargantuan flesh-blades, wondering when the hell he¡¯d get to cut something again.
And it was in that moment of relative quiet that he suddenly began hearing voices echoing from down the hall.
¡°You¡¯ve been talking to him, haven¡¯t you?¡±
He whipped his head round to see the closed door behind him and Fauna, and only when the voice continued did he realize who it was.
¡°C¡¯mon, Klax. I ain¡¯t not baby kitten.¡±
His senses began to pick up movement ¨C perhaps the swift turning of a head and flaring of fangs.
¡°Alright, Tara. Yes. I told him everything.¡±
Ethan felt the hairs on the backs of his hind legs tingle with little goosebumps. It seemed his newly upgraded Appraisal ability didn¡¯t just let him see through walls, but hear through them too¡This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
And he was currently eavesdropping on a very interesting conversation next door.
Ok ¨C ethics time, he counseled himself. Peeping and eavesdropping are morally dubious activities. Only in the event that one must gather important wartime intelligence are such acts permissible! These are your friends, Ethan. Do you really wanna hear them argue?
¡°Everything? Including your lovey-dovey plan to save your damsel in distress?¡±
¡then again, these are strange, morally grey times we live in.
And just like that, there goes another string from your moral bow¡
¡°If that¡¯s what you call it, so be it,¡± Klax replied. ¡°But you know as well as I do, Tara, that Jun¡¯Ei is the only one with a long-term plan for this little revolution we¡¯re planning. Without her, we are blind.¡±
¡°Oh, pardon me. I forgot that wandering aimlessly through stuffy tombs gave us 80/80 vision.¡±
¡°If you have something to say, then say it.¡±
Ethan registered Klax¡¯s anger. But, strangely, he never felt any sort of hatred emanate from Tara¡¯s voice. Instead, it sounded like she was approaching the old wolfman with pity.
¡°Klax,¡± she said gently. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to accept it, but ¨C¡°
¡°She¡¯s not dead.¡±
¡°Klax¡¡±
¡°She¡¯s not.¡±
Silence then ¨C unbroken until Fauna¡¯s breathing became heavier as her spell began to work on the room¡¯s aura of concealment.
Then ¨C a sudden change of tone:
"We¡¯ve all lost people, Klax. But throwing the Archon and the team into some suicidal charge on nothing but a hunch ain¡¯t the way to win this war.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not ¡®hunch¡¯, Tara. I know she¡¯s out there. And the Delves are how we find her. I¡¯m sure of it.¡±
Ethan could sense the awkwardness between them ¨C both Hybrids wanting, needing to say something while they both knew they couldn¡¯t quite articulate the subject in any way that mattered.
¡°I made a promise to follow you into battle no matter what,¡± Tara finally replied. ¡°I did that because you¡¯re a fighter, man. You¡¯re the best goddamn chance we have ¨C hell, I thought you were the only chance we¡¯d have until the Archon showed up. But you can¡¯t give me shit for wanting to take the fight to the humans now while you¡¯re moping over your lost love.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t about me!¡± Klax yelled back ¨C in a manner that Ethan could scarcely even believe was his. ¡°This is about all of us¡her dream is the dream we¡¯re all following. Don¡¯t you remember, Tara?¡±
The Minxit sounded as though she was about to make a retort and thought better of it ¨C the words dying in her throat before she formed them.
¡°Do you remember the last words she ever said to me?¡±
¡°¡of course I do. You don¡¯t have to-¡°
¡°She said, ¡®take care of them, Klax.¡¯ She said that because she believed in us, and I¡¯m not about to leave her out there to die in some human castle, rotting away to nothing, while we¡¯re out here living our lives.¡±
¡°Damnit, Klax, we all feel bad about losing her. Don¡¯t you think ¨C don¡¯t you think we miss her, too? But she¡¯s gone, man. Can¡¯t you accept that?¡±
The way Klax replied was so quiet that Ethan would be forgiven for thinking the old wolf was dissolving plain out of existence itself with this final word:
¡°No.¡±
¡°-uh, Ethan?¡± a voice much closer suddenly perked up. ¡°Are you ready?¡±
The Hopla had revealed the location of the levers and Ethan was surprised to find that he¡¯d almost entirely forgotten why they were even here in the first place.
¡°Uh, yeah!¡± he stuttered, much to Fauna¡¯s conclusion. ¡°Let¡¯s get it done.¡±
Fauna sent a little shockwave through the ground to alert their companions as they then pulled their own levers, saying nothing more, while Ethan¡¯s mind became more troubled than it had been by the monsters they¡¯d slain so far.
When the met up outside their respective rooms the atmosphere was immediately tense. The mural ¡®dead-end¡¯ began to creak open, shuddering through ancient dust to reveal a narrow corridor of red sandstone that looked into nothing but a void of nothingness.
¡°Um¡did anything happen on your end?¡±
The question was Fauna¡¯s, since no one was apparently interested in speaking up.
¡°¡nothing, Faun,¡± Klax answered. ¡°Let¡¯s just keep moving forward.¡±
Ethan eyed them both as they walked past him, Tara putting on a show of patting Faun on her back and mumbling about what she and Ethan got up to alone ¨C but it was clear the teasing was nothing but an act.
I wonder¡Ethan thought. Is Tara right? Is the old wolf just looking to remove the guilt on his head at leaving his old ¡®love¡¯ behind during their last big batte? Would we really be better just striking against the Greycloaks now?
Remembering the face of the young boy in the forest, Ethan couldn¡¯t be sure of the right answer even now. All he knew from Klax was that there was a reason beyond simply attaining power that they had to go through these Delves. And the reason had to do with this missing Prophetess¡
Reality suddenly had bigger concerns ¨C from behind them, far back along the crypt¡¯s entrance, Ethan heard a sound that couldn¡¯t be mistaken for anything else:
Skittering.
The tiny patter of insect limbs on stone, and the snapping of mandibles that began to surge in number, until they became a single mass of chittering death.
He wasn¡¯t the only one that noticed. The hairs of Tara¡¯s back leaped as her feet felt the trembling in the stones beneath them.
And, chancing a look over his shoulder, Ethan saw what was storming down the corridor towards them:
Enemies Identified:
[Scarab Congregation: Level 40]
HP: 500
It was a black mass of beetles that had merged into one ¨C a wave of undulating darkness charging towards them. And already their chittering was becoming a war cry ¨C that of an entire ecosystem of insects throwing themselves against the intruders, consuming everything in their path.
¡°Faun?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°Remember that little thing you mentioned about traps?¡±
Fauna gulped as she felt Tara tense beside her. ¡°Y-yeah¡¡±
¡°Except this ain¡¯t a trap I¡¯m disarming,¡± Tara murmured. ¡°There¡¯s only one way we¡¯re getting outta this one.¡±
Ethan didn¡¯t need to hear her shout the word. Before the first letter had left her lips, he was barreling down the sandstone hall with his sprinting comrades.
¡°RUN!¡±
41. The [Scuttling] Wall
Enemies approaching: [Scarab Congregation, LVL 40]
The hallway stretched out before them, endless and jagged, carved from sandstone with walls adorned by cryptic hieroglyphs. The faint chittering of scarabs echoed ominously, underscored by the frantic shuffle of Ethan, Tara, Fauna, and Klax as they dashed down the corridor.
The Scarab Congregation¡ªthe maddened swarm of crawling insects that hunted the unwary¡ªwas never far behind, and as the party hurried down the hall they began to feel the sting of their pincers against their skin.
"Keep moving!" Ethan commanded, his voice taut with urgency. He was bringing up the rear, using the mass of his body to keep them off the team while they surged forward ¨C a singular, voracious intelligence driving them.
Ethan struck out with his blades, sweeping through whole swathes of the descending, nibbling mouths. He saw legions of scarab corpses fall, paralyzed and poisoned in equal measure, their little exoskeletons frying away. But no matter how many he fried, a thousand more simply took their places.
[Scarab Congregation HP: 485]
Shit, I¡¯m barely putting a dent in them¡
Tara, her feline ears pinned flat against her skull, sprinted beside him, her steps almost soundless despite the chaos. She hissed under her breath, swinging her blade in quick arcs to fend off the creeping insects that had started to dart from the cracks in the walls. Fauna, ever calm despite her rabbit-like features and the panic dancing in her eyes, was bleeding from her arm but kept running, her staff held defensively behind her.
¡°Varla Parthax!¡±
The party felt a rush of speed lift them off their feet, propelling them away from the horde as the followed them. Fauna¡¯s spell of haste was potent, but she shouted over her pale shoulders that it wouldn¡¯t last long.
"I hate bugs," Klax grumbled from their front, his hulking form crushing any unfortunate scarabs that crossed his path. His normally unflappable demeanor was fraying, though Ethan could tell that the wolf-like hybrid was pleased to be back in the thick of combat instead of being interrogated by Tara.
"They¡¯re everywhere!" Fauna shouted, swiping at the countless insects. The swarm seemed endless, pouring from the gaps between the stone, shimmering in the dim light as their hard, black bodies reflected the glow from Fauna¡¯s flickering light.
Ahead, the hallway split into two paths¡ªan immediate choice that could mean life or death. Ethan cursed under his breath, the urgency of their situation tightening his chest. The walls, slick with moisture, seemed to close in on them. The scarab wave smashed into him, nipping at his every orifice, each bite not damaging him directly ¨C but doing something much more insidious.
Host: [Rachneros, the Pale Lord]
STR: -2
STR: -2
STR: -2
They¡¯re weakening me¡Ethan thought with a start. ¡°Tara! Which way?¡± he then shouted over the noise, his eyes darting between the two paths. Time was running out. Tara paused, her eyes narrowing as she focused. Her innate senses as a cat-woman hybrid helped her gauge the subtle shifts in the air.
¡°Left!¡± she snapped, her gaze unwavering. Without hesitation, Ethan led the charge, the group veering left into a narrower corridor. The noise of the scarabs amplified here, their legs clicking ominously against the stone floor. Ethan could feel their bodies crawling over his boots, every step becoming a maddening experience as they snapped at his ankles.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
¡°We¡¯re going in circles,¡± Fauna panted, clutching her bleeding arm. ¡°The walls¡ªthey shift. It¡¯s a maze.¡±
¡°Dammit,¡± Ethan spat, realizing the truth of her words. The labyrinth was alive. A trap not just of scarabs, but of shifting stone, designed to confuse and corner. They were being funneled, led deeper into the Scarab Congregation¡¯s nest.
He tried a [Roar] that managed to stun an entire section of the horde. Yet, even against the sheer power of his enhanced voice borrowed from the Troll of Glenbelm, more scarabs simply poured from the lairs to re-join with the Congregation.
Tara hissed as a clutch of scarabs latched onto her leg. She swung her dagger down and crushed them, but the acid splattered, burning her fur and drawing a sharp breath of pain from her. Klax¡¯s heavy breathing was growing louder, the strain of constant battle and the swarm''s bites beginning to wear on him.
"We can''t keep this up," Klax growled, a touch of desperation creeping into his voice. "Too many. We need to break out."
Ethan¡¯s mind raced, his thoughts turbulent. The maze was unyielding, and every path led to more scarabs, more bites. If they didn¡¯t escape soon, they¡¯d be overwhelmed. He grimaced as another hundred scarab mandibles sunk into his arm, drawing blood the green blood of his host.
Then he remembered something ¨C a little trick they¡¯d pulled off in the Festering Den. The thought hit him like a flash of lightning. It was risky, but it might just be their way out.
Don¡¯t tell me: you¡¯re going to try something suicidal again?
Ain¡¯t that what I do best, Sys? There¡¯s only one way we¡¯re taking this thing down, and it¡¯s by taking them all down at once.
¡°Fauna!¡± he then shouted. ¡°I need you to light me up!¡±
The rabbitgirl looked up at him as her staff struck out to shear through another clump of scarabs seeking to snuff out her light. ¡°O-ok!¡±
¡°The hell you planning, now?¡± Tara asked, equally preoccupied as her limbs began to fail her ¨C her strength, too, being sapped away by the relentless attacks of their buggy assailants.
¡°Whatever it is, why don¡¯t we trust him?¡± Klax replied. ¡°After all, he¡¯s the Archon. He¡¯ll make the right decision when the time comes.¡±
Tara¡¯s feline eyes flashed to the wolf, knowing there was a hidden meaning behind those words¡
¡°Alright!¡± Ethan shouted back, the power in his muscles all but dying away by this point. ¡°Everyone, hang on tight!¡±
¡°To WHAT!?¡±
Ethan smiled as he felt Fauna¡¯s Infernal Cloak run up his body.
¡°To my shiny spider booty, of course.¡±
[Wing Buffet]
In the space of the next second, with the Scarabs all but ready to break through Ethan¡¯s failing strength, his back legs flapped like a pair of faux wings and sent a fiery wave through the hallway, knocking back the entire black wave of his enemies and sending Fauna¡¯s flame traveling through the miasma of snapping mandibles to burn the insides of every scarab and their reinforcements. The shockwave produced was stronger than even Ethan would have thought, however, and with his strength totally sapped his legs couldn¡¯t plan themselves into the sandstone floor to keep their balance. He went flying back, his teammates clutching to him for dear life, as they smashed through the first wall they made impact with and went tumbling into the dark void of the Twisted Sepulcher''s third floor.
¡°WHAT WAS THAT YOU SAID ABOUT MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION?!¡± Tara screamed in the dark.
¡°I DIDN¡¯T SAY IT WOULD BE THE BEST ONE! ONLY THAT IT WAS RIGHT!¡±
¡°FUCK YOU, TOO, KLAX!¡±
When then they felt the soft tickle of a cloud comforting them, their eyes flew towards the ground that was quickly approaching. Slowly, they began to float, Ethan the Archon basically becoming nothing but a balloon floating in the total darkness of their surroundings.
And when they finally touched down on the crunchy floor of the Sepulcher''s last layer, they all rolled away and breathed a sigh of relief.
¡°See?¡± Klax chuckled. ¡°Told¡told you.¡±
¡°All I¡¯m thinking is that Fauna¡¯s spells have been pretty reliable recently. Where¡¯s the crazy bad luck of our little Windglance?¡±
Just then, a powerful, squelching roar erupted from Tara¡¯s posterior ¨C the noise ripping through the air and echoing off the void that surrounded them.
¡°Um¡¡± Fauna whispered. ¡°Sorry¡that¡¯s a¡common side effect that can sometimes, uh, happen after the Fleetfoot spell.¡±
The entire party contemplated what they¡¯d just heard.
¡°Huh,¡± Tara finally said. ¡°There it is.¡±
A few seconds of silence went by, accompanied by darkness and the sounds of crying scarabs as they burned high above them.
Then: a chuckle from Klax.
A snotty scoff from Tara.
And a little giggle from Fauna that soon became a belly laugh.
Before long, the entire party was doubled over, including their spidery Archon himself.
¡°E-Ethan must think we¡¯re a bunch of fools,¡± Fauna said, wiping a tear from her eye. ¡°He¡¯s probably regretting every encounter he¡¯s had with us.¡±
¡°Well,¡± Ethan laughed back. ¡°You did throw a chicken at old Artorious. Not gonna lie, it wasn¡¯t the most competent first impression.¡±
¡°But it did save your life, Mr Ethan.¡±
¡°Hey, I had it under control!¡±
¡°Now, that¡¯s a lie worthy of the true Archon,¡± Tara chuckled as she jumped to her feet and helped her comrades up. ¡°I¡¯m thinking we¡¯re gonna need some restoring before we head on, huh?¡±
Klax smiled to see the team in good spirits ¨C something shared with Ethan as they locked eyes.
¡°Think you¡¯ve got some restorative magic left in you, Faun?¡±
The Hopla sniggered, ¡°I think I can whip up something. If you¡¯re willing to put up with a possible explosion?¡±
Ethan saw the stat screen of Sys appear just before he answered her:
Enemy: [Scarab Congregation] Slain!
Spirit Cores: +100
Current Spirit Cores: 575
¡°Honestly?¡± Ethan said. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in life that couldn¡¯t be improved from an explosion or two¡¡±
42. The Return of the [Slayer]
---The Twilight Sepulcher---
---FLOOR 3---
[Current Spirit Cores: 575]
Klax seemed convinced that this was the final floor. Most dungeons, he said, followed a basic three floor structure until you came to the Grade A and S variants. Then shit got wild.
As Ethan and his party walked over the bridge that was guiding them towards a high arched entrance to the final depths of this sightless abyss, he was filled with both a sense of dread and excitement in equal measure.
Because if a bridge made entirely of corpses wasn¡¯t ¡®wild shit¡¯, then he had to see just what the higher tier dungeons held in store for him.
They¡¯d rested for only a few minutes ¨C just enough time for Fauna to replenish their HP pool (after a few false starts that ended in some hamster summoning). The Hopla¡¯s magic was beginning to wither, and Klax told her to save the rest of her spells ¨C they¡¯d need it for whatever the boss of this place was.
Ethan took the short respite they had to consider his skills and make another upgrade in the meantime.
Hide (Grade B -> A)
Spirit Core Cost: 150
Number of sneak attacks without being detected by enemies increased.
No. of attacks without enemy detection: x4
[Current Spirit Cores: 425]
My first Grade A skill¡he thought, noticing that the final upgrade cost 250 Spirit Cores to bring the skill to ¡®S¡¯ Grade. After that, there was apparently a kind of ¡®prestige¡¯ option that Klax had hinted at, but Ethan was content to wait and see just how strong the skill was before he reduced it back down to nil. There¡¯d have to be a damn good benefit before he¡¯d consider doing that¡
He decided to save the remaining Cores until he got his new Host. Upgrading skills had become his primary dump for his Cores. It hardly seemed necessary to increase his [Core Stats] when he was swapping bodies left, right, and center. Maybe if he decided to stay in a particular form one day¡the body of a dragon so perfect, so powerful with all the skills he transferred to it, that he could burn all the Greycloaks in one fell swoop.
As he daydreamed, the rest of his party crept forward with renewed caution. Fauna¡¯s globe of magelight flickered as she pushed it forward, its luminescence highlighting the bodies of the dead they trod on towards the bridge¡¯s end. Each step felt like trudging through the bloody insides of a thousand dead men, but the bridge bore their weight without a single limb falling out of place.
¡°Whoever rests here,¡± Fauna said, ¡°they hold nothing but contempt for the living.¡±
Klax nodded. ¡°I can smell nothing but the stench of death emanating from the way ahead. Be ready.¡±
The floor beneath Ethan¡¯s many legs clicked faintly with each movement as he led his companions through the dim expanse of the final floor of the Twilight Sepulcher. The once grand structure had decayed into a cryptic labyrinth, the walls covered in ancient, faded murals depicting battles long forgotten, and the ceiling crumbled in places, leaving gaps through which cold drafts seeped in.
The murals caught Ethan¡¯s eyes, particularly those depicting an ironclad warrior battling hordes of undead foes amidst a frigid, icy wasteland.
¡°Look,¡± Fauna whispered, urging her light towards the image of the painted man.
He was the centerpiece of every picture ¨C his eyes shining pearls framed by a gaunt face and a mane of silver hair. The blade and shield he carried with him seemed to glow even in the faded murals that must have been here for centuries.
¡°Think we¡¯ve found our Delve Boss,¡± Tara said. ¡°Handsome dude, eh? Even if he¡¯s probably nothing but a rotting corpse.¡±
Ethan eyed the catgirl. ¡°Would you?¡±
¡°Beggars can¡¯t be choosers, especially in this economy.¡±
Tara leaned forward slightly to inspect the painting ¨C nothing but a tiny shifting of her weight ¨C and every member of the party heard the distinct click of something being triggered.
The catgirl looked down to see her normally nimble paws had just tripped a pressure plate.
¡°Well¡shit.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
The door to the chamber slammed shut. The walls bearing the murals began to move, closing in on the party as they squeezed themselves together.
¡°T-Tara!¡± Fauna shouted over the screeching of the walls.
¡°Hey! I ain¡¯t a perfect kitten!¡± Tara shouted back as she unsheathed her daggers. ¡°Even the trap lady¡¯s gonna fuck up sometimes!¡±
¡°Enough!¡± Klax shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on the mistake. Think of the present! Ethan?¡±
Ethan stretched his limbs to keep the walls apart, managing climb to the midsection of the room and bring them grinding to a halt. Meanwhile, his flexile limbs flashed with his twin scimitars.
¡°Be ready!¡± he shouted. ¡°Here they come!¡±
The party followed his gaze to the earth-shattering sounds of the plates under their feet, and the hands that had begun tearing through them to grab at the feet of the hybrids.
[Enemy Identified: Shambling Corpse Mound]
LVL: 45
HP: 700/700
As the floor fell away, Ethan saw that what they were looking at was just like the Scarab congregation ¨C a conglomeration of creatures melded together into a single mass of reaching limbs and screaming maws, each one twisting its boneless neck to reach up and chew at them from below.
[HORDE CHALLENGE ACTIVATED]
¡°Oh, you gotta be kidding me!¡±
The voice was Tara¡¯s just before she was dragged down into the pit of zombies.
¡°Tara!¡± Ethan yelped, sending down a Roar that knocked her assailants off her. Still, she fell as the rest of the floorboards gave way under the weight of the zombie mountain.
He then let fly a Wing Buffet that carried him down to grab her, impaling several reaching zombies as he fell into the abyss of their corpse-laden lair.
His paralysis scimitar struck true ¨C spearing into the mound of bodies to steady his fall until he fell with a wet slap against the ground and rolled to meet the crashing bodies its foe sent his way.
Tara wriggled free and flanked the mound, her blades digging into its hide voraciously as Fauna struck out from above with what Ethan assumed was meant to be a fireball. In actuality, she spawned a quaking duck that sailed into the open mouths of the living wave of bodies.
¡°You know what? I take it back. Our luck¡¯s the same as its always been.¡±
Tara and Ethan avoided a string of clawing arms that the amorphous beast shot out and them, spinning and both readying a return strike that sent the entire mound reeling back while Klax and Fauna skated down its side.
¡°Flee!¡± Klax shouted. ¡°If we waste time on this pestilent creature, we won¡¯t have enough energy for the final Boss!¡±
Ethan struck out at the corpse mountain¡¯s foundation, sending some webs towards the base to keep it stuck in place.
¡°But¡but the looooooot¡¡±
His concern was bashed aside quite literally ¨C the mound reeled and belched out a torrent of acidic vomit that bit at his flesh on the moment of impact.
¡°Watch out!¡± Fauna called, summoning up a protective shield as she and Klax joined the party.
Together, bound up in Fauna¡¯s magic protection, they floated on a sea of bloody, chunky vomit ¨C seeing the remains of all the creatures this mound of living flesh had consumed.
---TIME REMAINING: 7 MINUTES---
¡°Well?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°Anyone got any bright ideas?¡±
He looked back to see Tara bent low, cradling her leg in her hands. Meanwhile, Klax was steadying Fauna, who looked as though she was about to heave her own guts out.
¡°¡I¡¯ll take that as a no. Ok. Look, there¡¯s gotta be some way to blast through this thing. Maybe another well timed Wing Buffet could take us outta here. Maybe I could I could proc paralysis and we could sprint the fuck away. Maybe¡¡±
He looked at Klax¡¯s desperate eyes as the monster wave rose, balled into a fist, and slammed into them, sending them deeper into the flood of virulence.
Damnit, Ethan thought. I am not gonna die in this world buried in shit and vom. Ok, Sys, any ideas? I¡¯m going out on my eight limbs here.
Wait.
Sys, I don¡¯t need your sarcastic ¨C
No, Ethan.
All you need do is wait.
Ethan stared in bewilderment as the mass of flesh reeled its great fist up to smash their bubble again.
¡°I-I can¡¯t hold the mana-flow!¡± Fauna shrieked.
Ethan heard her, though there was nothing he could say.
Just wait, eh? Sys, I swear, if this is some ¨C
A Jetstream of dazzling light pierced the blackened skies, cutting all any train of thought Ethan maintained.
He saw the great mound of corpses twist in confusion. Then ¨C the place where it had just been pierced at its apex erupted in a torrent of black bile and blood.
More ribbons of light cut through the corpse-pile, shearing clean across whole heaps of the thing until every body was shredded apart, an ocean of blood flowing from the wounds cut into the creature.
¡°Fauna¡¡± Ethan murmured. ¡°Hold on unless you want a mouthful of zombie blood¡¡±
The Hopla followed his eyes and, just as dumbstruck as the rest of the group, kept her staff raised high as the blood rain poured down on them, coating the ground with crimson.
Only when another dozen blinding cuts were slashed across the great corpse mound did it finally fall ¨C all its supply of bodies exhausted and drained. The light show, whatever it was, had practically deleted the thing piece by piece ¨C breaking it apart instantly like a paper shredder.
---HORDE CHALLENGE: NULLIFIED---
---ALL ENEMIES VANQUISHED---
And only in the silence that followed the spilling of blood and broken limbs, did Ethan see something shining where the mountain of zombies once stood.
The air was thick, musty, and filled with the unmistakable scent of decay.
Then, a soft skittering sound echoed through the chamber. At first, it was subtle¡ªalmost imperceptible. But then it grew louder, more distinct, as it moved from where their enemy had once stood towards them. Ethan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he tried to peer into the darkness.
Then, out of the shadows, the creature emerged.
It was small. It was hairy. It was drenched in the corrupted blood of a thousand dead men. It stood on the mound of corpses¡ªhuman and hybrid alike¡ªits eyes gleaming in the faint light. Most notably, its silver teeth shone with an almost ethereal brightness.
¡°What the¡?¡± Klax murmured, his eyes wide.
Fauna stared at the beast, bewildered. ¡°What is that thing?¡±
Tara, still clutching her leg, squinted at the rodent. ¡°It looks¡ unnatural.¡±
Ethan, however, stepped forward, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. He lowered his blades and shook his head in utter disbelief.
[Ally Identified]
[Theodore, Slayer of the Damned]
LVL: 150
HP: 300/300
The rat tilted its head as if in acknowledgment, its silver teeth gleaming ominously in the dark. The little critter had eyes only for the crimson glare of the Demon Hat himself atop the great spider¡¯s body.He squeaked in recognition, flashing his bloody, silver tooth at Ethan.
¡°Theodore,¡± Ethan said with a nod, ¡°You son of a bitch.¡±
43. The [Uber-rat] and the Dead
Ethan stared unblinkingly at the little rat shuffling up to his party, its furry form matted in zombie blood.
¡°Theo¡you son of a bitch. Level 150 and counting, huh?¡±
Theo squeaked in glee while the rest of Ethan¡¯s party simply looked at the pair in bewilderment. For his part, Ethan was just glad to see the little guy again. He''d never been happier to see a disease-carrying rodent with a silver blade in its mouth.
¡°You¡know each other?¡± Fauna asked.
¡°Me and ol'' Theo here go way back,¡± Ethan smiled through blood-soaked teeth. ¡°This little beauty was my very first Host in this world.¡±
¡°You know what?¡± Tara said. ¡°At this point, I¡¯m just gonna go with it. Even if this little furball¡¯s a rotten kill-stealer.¡±
Theo scurried up on Ethan¡¯s shoulder, sniffing at his hat form and hissing at the Minxit.
¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry about her,¡± Ethan reassured his bloody friend. ¡°She¡¯s a soft kitty when ya get to know her.¡±
Tara, even through the blood she was drenched in, looked like she was about to explode with embarrassment.
¡°The rat doesn¡¯t seem aggressive,¡± Klax mused. ¡°I have no idea how he got here, but he is no threat to us.¡±
Theo seemed quite happy at this admission, and jumped down to the corpse-laden ground, pointing with his nose towards the exit door to the pit they¡¯d all landed in.
¡°Looks like he wants to lead the way¡¡±
Ethan let out a hearty laugh. Like a proud father watching his son riding his bike by himself, Theo had grown up.
¡°You wanna lead us to glory, Theo?¡± he asked the squeaking rat. ¡°It¡¯s only fair, I suppose. I led you around for so long against your will. No hard feelings, right?¡±
Theodore¡¯s whiskers twitched in response. He scurried off towards the exit.
¡°I¡¯ll take that as a ¡®no¡¯.¡±
¡°Faun?¡± Ethan then asked the Hopla. ¡°How¡¯s your mana reserves?¡±
¡°I¡¯m about halfway drained,¡± she admitted. ¡°But¡it looks like we won¡¯t have many more problems going forward¡¡±
She nodded to the room that Theodore had exited through ¨C another crypt that was emptied of loot and sentient enemies. The corpses of all sorts of creatures littered the ground ¨C zombies, gargoyles, ancient living armor sets, and even what looked like a winged demon.
All of them had exactly one tiny, tooth-sized puncture in the middle of their heads.
So, this is what happens to the Archon¡¯s freed Hosts.
They become true monsters.
Hey, I ain¡¯t complaining, Ethan scoffed back at Sys. About time I had someone carry me.
¡°Come on¡kitty,¡± Fauna shouted over her shoulder to Tara, who looked as though she was ready to fly at the Hopla with both her daggers.
¡°¡that¡¯s gonna fucking stick, ain¡¯t it?¡± she whispered to herself as they all trudged forward. ¡°I swear, Ethan, if you weren¡¯t the Archon¡¡±
The floor beneath Ethan¡¯s many legs clicked faintly with each movement as he led his companions through the dim expanse of the final floor of the Twilight Sepulchre. The once grand structure had decayed into a cryptic labyrinth, the walls covered in ancient, faded murals depicting battles long forgotten, and the ceiling crumbled in places, leaving gaps through which cold drafts seeped in. As Rachneros, Ethan''s spider form took up most of the room, his body massive, sleek, and deadly. His eight legs carried him effortlessly across the rough terrain as his companions followed closely behind, their eyes darting from shadow to shadow.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Leading the group was none other than Theodore, the silver-toothed rat, who scurried ahead, sniffing the ground and navigating with ease through the oppressive gloom. Despite his size, Theodore seemed unfased by the lurking dangers around them, his sharp instincts guiding the way.
Theodore scampered forward, pausing at a corner where the hallway bent into darkness. His nose twitched, and he let out a soft squeak before turning to look at Ethan. With a quick gesture, the rat darted ahead again, confirming their path was still clear.
"The little guy''s handy," Klax muttered, watching Theodore with mild respect. "Never thought I''d say that about a rat."
"Don''t underestimate him," Ethan warned. ¡°This little guy was, after all, my very first Host. I taught him well in the ways of Ratjutsu.¡±
Theo led them to a long, angular mirror at the very edge of the Sepulcher¡¯s bowels. The party had seen darkness already, but something about the mirror¡¯s reflective surface seemed darker still. As they approached, they saw shadowed versions of their own forms appear before them, flickering like dying candles.
¡°Faun?¡±
¡°It¡¯s definitely magic,¡± the Hopla said. ¡°But there¡¯s something about its surface ¨C the energy moving across it is consistent with teleportation magic.¡±
¡°And it¡¯s not the exit,¡± Klax said, stepping towards the mirror¡¯s dark surface. ¡°Which means just one thing: it must be the way to the Boss.¡±
Theo squeaked in affirmation as the wolfman peered into the shadows, and Ethan could tell that the little rat was insistent, nosing the air just above the mirror¡¯s surface.
¡°He wants us to touch it,¡± Tara said. ¡°Listen, Ethan, if your little friend here¡¯s trying to get us killed ¨C¡°
¡°Never,¡± Ethan said. ¡°Theo was a good, loyal host. Weren¡¯t you, little guy?¡±
The rat spat a small globule of blood on the ground. Ethan took that as a good enough sign that he was ready to fight.
¡°But you can¡¯t, can you?¡± he asked him. ¡°Because this mirror needs the touch of a humanoid, I bet.¡±
¡°You might be right,¡± Fauna agreed. ¡°Look how its reacting to Klax¡¯s touch. All the collective energy of the mirror is converging on his paw.¡±
As the Lycae moved his hand and saw the spectral energies of the mirror follow it like a living liquid mass, Ethan tried out his Appraisal on whatever was behind the thing.
¡°Ok,¡± he said. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sensing something strong in there, alright. Something way stronger than what we¡¯ve fought before. I¡¯m gonna put us all in Hide mode just as we go through, alright? That way we¡¯ve each got at least four attacks we can get off before the bastard in there even gets to move ¨C assuming he doesn¡¯t have a crazy perception score.¡±
Which he might, Ethan admitted. Fuck if I know ¨C but still, can he truly match a Grade A Hider?
Theodore squeaked with tenacity, looking up at his old Master expectantly.
And with you on our side, we can do some real serious damage. This could be over in a single strike if we play our cards right¡
The rest of the team nodded ¨C except Klax.
¡°Klax?¡±
The wolfman was transfixed.
¡°Hey,¡± Tara murmured. ¡°Yo, Klax? You there, man?¡±
Klax¡¯s eyes had taken on a pallid shade of grey. Around them, small specks of onyx flakes danced as though keeping his eyes open by force. His mouth, now agape, struggled to find words.
And only when Ethan tried grabbing him did he feel just how much he was shaking.
¡°Jun¡¯Ei¡¡±
The name tumbled out his mouth like a curse. Whatever he was seeing in that mirror, it had gripped his heart and was crushing it like a vice.
¡°Shit¡guys, help us out here! Somethings got hi-¡°
Before Ethan could finish his call, Klax reached out with one powerful thrust and launched his arm into the mirror, causing a ripple effect and a woman¡¯s scream to wail through the entire corridor.
"Klax!"
The dogman was pulled through along with Ethan and the others, Theodore coming up the rear. Though Fauna had correctly assessed that it was teleportation magic they were dealing with, Ethan barely felt like he transitioned from one area to another at all. All that happened was that the last crypt of the Sepulcher was there, and then it was not.
On the other side of the mirror, they emerged into a grand, circular chamber. The ceiling was high and domed, adorned with murals of battles and victories, but the color had long faded into dull greys. At the center of the room lay a sarcophagus, cracked and ancient, with dark energy radiating from it. The very air was thick with malevolence, pressing against their skin like an unseen weight.
¡°I ¨C I ¨C¡° Klax stumbled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone. I can¡¯t ¨C¡°
¡°Never mind!¡± Tara shouted. ¡°Everyone ¨C look alive!¡±
As soon as they had stepped into the chamber, the ground beneath them trembled. The sarcophagus shifted, and with a loud crack, the stone lid slid open. A figure rose from within, draped in tattered armor, its gaunt face hidden beneath a weathered helm. Its eyes burned with cold, silver fire, and in its skeletal hands, it held a long, jagged sword that crackled with dark energy.
The warrior from the murals above. The silver eyed champion of the Twilight Sepulcher.
And he was looking right at them.
---BOSS BATTLE INITIATED---
[Valgraiva, Lord of the Damned]
LVL 50
HP: 950/950
WILL: 1000/1000
¡°Ah shit¡¡± Ethan swore as he quickly activated his Hide skill. ¡°Alright people, time to light this grimy fucker up.¡±
44. The Lord of the [Dead] (PART I)
---BOSS BATTLE INITIATED---
[Valgraiva, Lord of the Damned]
LVL 50
HP: 950/950
WILL: 1000/1000
The cave shuddered as the massive form of Valgraiva rose from the darkness. His body was a twisted amalgamation of shadow and bone, dripping with a foul, necrotic energy. His eyes gleamed a sickly green, glowing like twin orbs of hellfire in the dim light of the underground chamber.
Ethan quickly activated his Mass Hide, slipping everyone into the shadows and commanding them to flank the warrior. They became a series of shadowed flashes ¨C each one striking out with attacks that would have felled lesser creatures. Ethan¡¯s scimitars sliced into the Undead warrior¡¯s shoulders, Tara¡¯s knives slashed at his armored kneecaps, Klax battered his chest and Theodore stabbed at his feet.
Finally, Fauna sent a wave of burning light slamming into his body and the party retreated back, the skill wearing off as Ethan Appraised the beleaguered monster now.
HP: 560
WILL: 700
Big damage! Ethan smirked. ¡°Everyone! Keep up the pressure, soon as his Will drops below 400 I¡¯ll ¨C¡°
An explosion of light suddenly ripped through the air towards the party. Valgraiva, who had once been enveloped into Fauna¡¯s killing magic, emitted a roar that tore through his tomb. The next thing Ethan knew, the magical blast was redirected right towards him.
It slammed into him as he brought up his scimitars in defense, feeling the light sear his very bones.
HP: 360/550
D-Damn¡
Valraiva ¨C the most human enemy they¡¯d ever seen so far ¨C lowered his shield and smirked at them with his scarred slit of a mouth.
¡°It ¨C it can redirect magic!¡± Fauna shrieked. ¡°That shield is a Mana Nullifier!¡±
¡°That¡presents a problem,¡± Klax murmured.
Ethan wasn¡¯t to be deterred.
¡°Faun!¡± he shouted to the Hopla. ¡°Focus on giving us some light-based buffs to burn through this fucker. Stay back, and ¨C¡°
Ethan felt a flash of air tear through the tomb ¨C Valgraiva had appeared right behind the rabbitgirl and was currently aiming a downward thrust at her exposed neck¡
[Wing Buffet]
Ethan¡¯s back legs flapped up a storm just in time to send the warrior back, even as he dug his dark blade into the ground to stop himself from being repulsed entirely. Seemed like his strength score must have been strong enough to resist the attack.
¡°Klax,¡± Ethan commanded. ¡°Protect Fauna. This guy¡¯s fast. Tara, Theo ¨C you know what to do!¡±
Tara smirked. ¡°Kick ass? Can¡¯t say I¡¯m comfortable fighing beside a filthy rat.¡±
Theodore flashed his little tail at her before he charged at the recovering Undead soldier.
Valgraiva let out a low growl that reverberated through the cavern. His voice was like the grinding of stone, each word dripping with malice. He wanted nothing more than to hear some sarcastic response from Sys right now, but nothing was forthcoming.
No quips. No commentary. This was serious.
Valgraiva weathered the trios attacks, his shield managing to even rebuff Theodore¡¯s rapid silver strikes. Attacks from the front would be useless ¨C that much was clear.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
And when the silver eyes of the old General suddenly vanished again, Ethan knew what had happened before he even heard Tara¡¯s scream.
¡°Fuck!¡±
He turned to see the deep black gash that Valgraiva had just torn into her back before he skated away from her retaliatory strikes. His speed and defense were equally impressive, and from the fact that Ethan¡¯s Mass Hide wasn¡¯t working again, it seemed that he had absolute command of the shadows in his lair.
When he then brought his crackling blade to his chest and slashed it through the air, he sent a dark wave of sparking energy flying across the entire tomb.
¡°Spread out!¡± Ethan growled, his voice guttural in his current form. ¡°Don¡¯t let him hit us all at once.¡±
Tara darted to the right, moving like a shadow herself, her blades flashing in the dim light. Fauna and Klax followed suit, taking positions at either side of the chamber. Theodore stayed close to Ethan, his small but powered-up form ready to assist. They had fought side by side from the beginning. Now, they''d do so as equals.
Valgraiva raised a clawed hand, summoning dark energy that crackled around him like lightning. The air grew thick with the smell of sulfur and death. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of necrotic force surging toward them again.
Gotcha, Ethan smiled.
Sticky, gleaming webs shot from his limbs, creating a barrier that absorbed the brunt of the attack. The force of Valgraiva¡¯s magic rippled through the webbing, but it held¡ªbarely. The webs fizzled, dissolving in patches, but the attack was slowed enough for the others to dodge.
¡°Fauna! We¡¯re gonna need some light in here!¡±
The Hopla, whose spells had been summoning nothing more than flopping fish for the last few seconds, finally managed to enhance the party¡¯s weapons with the blinding light she¡¯d sent towards Valgraiva before.
[Radiant Coating: Activated]
Tara used the opportunity to lunge at Valgraiva¡¯s exposed side, her daggers glinting with the blood of the dead. She struck fast, aiming for his joints where the bone was most vulnerable.
The strike hit true. Valgraiva recoiled, a low hiss escaping him as black ichor oozed from the wound. But the Lord of the Damned wasn¡¯t fazed. With a roar, he backhanded Tara, sending her flying into the cave wall with bone-rattling force. She crumpled to the ground, dazed but still alive.
Theodore didn¡¯t hesitate. With a snarl, he leaped into action, his form crashing into Valgraiva¡¯s flank. His claws raked across the demon¡¯s side, leaving deep gouges in the bone and shadow-flesh. He bit down hard, his teeth sinking into the dark tendrils that wrapped around Valgraiva¡¯s chest, tearing away chunks of his essence.
Valgraiva HP: 400
WILL: 650
Valgraiva staggered, his glowing eyes narrowing as he turned his full attention on Theodore. Hatred burned in those silver orbs.
He raised both arms, summoning a massive sphere of necrotic energy above his head, pulsing with dark power. Ethan recognized the danger immediately. If that hit Theo, it would be over.
A faint glow surrounded the sphere as Ethan tried to leech the energy away, but Valgraiva resisted, his power too great to be fully siphoned. Still, it was enough to destabilize the spell. The sphere wobbled, shrinking slightly as it lost potency.
¡°Tara! Klax! Now!¡± Ethan commanded.
The wolfman and catgirl launched their attacks simultaneously. Klax, moving with surprising speed for his size, slammed his fists into Valgraiva¡¯s exposed knee, shattering the bone with a sickening crunch. Tara followed up with a strike from her blades, severing one of Valgraiva¡¯s armored feet in a swift, clean motion.
The Lord of the Damned roared, stumbling backward as his form flickered and wavered. Dark energy seeped from his wounds, spilling onto the ground like a flood of black oil. The air grew heavy with the stench of decay as Valgraiva¡¯s form began to lose cohesion.
HP: 330
WILL: 575
¡°We¡¯ve got him!¡± Tara shouted, her voice filled with hope. ¡°Keep the pressure on!¡±
But Ethan wasn¡¯t convinced. Valgraiva was too powerful to fall so easily. As the Lord of the Damned staggered, his body collapsing into a pool of shadow, Ethan felt it¡ªa deep, primal shift in the air. This wasn¡¯t over.
[VALGRAIVA, LORD OF THE DAMNED: PHASE 2]
The silver eyes of the warrior gleamed with a vibrant, malignant red, and the darkness of the tomb suddenly became all-consuming. Where once there had been a tomb filled with sarcophagi and untended graves, now there was nothing but an all-consuming void.
The shadows on the ground began to twist and writhe, taking shape. Ethan¡¯s many eyes widened as forms emerged from the darkness¡ªbeasts made of pure shadow, their eyes glowing red with malevolent hunger. Each one carried a halberd or broadsword, picking up their equipment from the depths of the shadow realm around them. They howled as they surrounded the party, their numbers growing with every passing second.
[Swordsmen of the Damned Legion] x35
[HP: 150/150]
WILL: N/A
Ethan tensed up as the party felt themselves consumed by the horde.
¡°Now the real fight begins¡¡±
The shadow beasts surged forward.
Ethan leaped into action, slashing through the first wave with his Petrification Coating, turning the closest creatures into stone as his scimitar-claws cut through them like butter. But for every beast he felled, two more took its place. They were endless.
Tara and Fauna fought valiantly, slicing through the beasts as best they could, but the swarm overwhelmed them. Within moments, both were caught, dragged to the ground by the sheer weight of numbers. Klax tried to hold his ground, but even the mighty wolfman was pulled down, disappearing beneath a sea of gnashing teeth and claws.
Ethan¡¯s heart raced. ¡°Tara! Fauna! Klax!¡±
But their cries were drowned out by the howling of the shadow beasts.
Only Ethan and Theodore remained standing, pressed together as the horde closed in. The beasts circled them, snarling, their eyes glowing with hunger.
And above them all loomed the smiling form of Valgraiva, his armored body towering, seemingly untouchable.
¡°Just like when we first met, huh?¡± Ethan muttered, his voice strained as he prepared for the final stand.
Theodore bared his teeth, his fur bristling.
Ethan flexed his spidery limbs beside him, preparing to unleash everything he had left.
¡°Let¡¯s show them what we¡¯re made of, old friend.¡±
45. The Lord of the [Dead] (PART 2)
[Valgraiva, Lord of the Damned, PHASE 2]
HP: 330
WILL: 575
The void of shadows grew colder. Ethan and Theodore watched as the horde of Valgraiva¡¯s minions closed in on them, having already swallowed Tara, Klax, and Fauna. Even now, Ethan could hear their screams in the dark recesses of this place, and the smiling lips of the dark General told him this Boss was enjoying every moment of this torment.
Ethan¡¯s Wing Buffet and Roar were keeping the shadows at bay momentarily while Theodore cut swathes through them, hacking apart their limbs and sending them flying right back into the depths of darkness from whence they came. But for every one cut down, another spawned from behind.
Just like the Nether Lich¡Ethan thought, his mind racing. Except he was a vulnerable spellcaster. And this guy ¨C he¡¯s a walking tank.
As if on cue, Valgraiva barreled towards them both, intent on plunging his blade into Ethan¡¯s spider torso. He only just managed to bring up his arms and lock his scimitars with the grisly broadsword of the Undead Lord, feeling his shadow minions scratch at his legs and head from every direction.
HP: -20
-24
-13
-8
He could barely move, only managing to dislodge himself with a lucky Wing-Buffet that repulsed the rampaging Boss. But he knew he¡¯d barely get any respite in this fight. Valgraiva charged his blade and sent another wave of darkness rocketing towards Ethan and his old rat companion. In the sphere of nothingness they were encased it, it was impossible to see the attack before it sliced into them both.
HP: -100
This guy hits HARD.
¡°Theo!¡± Ethan shouted. ¡°Listen ¨C I¡¯ll handle the crowd control. You go in for the kill! You¡¯ve got enough speed to break through this fucker¡¯s defenses.¡±
Theo¡¯s squeak was lost to the void, but Ethan saw him bolt like a lightning-infused arrow straight for the Undead Lord while he kept up his Wing Buffet AOE. Valgraiva might have been able to resist its effects, but his flimsy shadows lacked their master¡¯s strength.
Theo leaped for Valgraiva¡¯s shin, managing to scurry beneath his shield and nick him where it hurt. The Undead Lord fell back and, with a grunt, brought his blade down on the rat¡¯s tail, severing it and leaving a trail of black blood as Theo bounced on the formless ground.
¡°Theo!¡±
Theodore the Rat
HP: 80/150
Shit.
Alright you armored bastard. Let¡¯s go!
Ethan pushed his way out of the shadow¡¯s reach and lunged for Valgraiva¡¯s throat, the Boss cackling hoarsely as he brought his shield to bear, absorbing the brunt of Ethan¡¯s attack and thrusting his sword underneath to pierce Rachneros¡¯s exposed abdomen.
Fuck!
HP: 200/550
Ethan felt the strike as keenly as his Host did. He felt his corrupted blood bubble and bleed out from under him, slashing out with his scimitars to try and get a hit on Valgraiva before he brought his shield to bear again. But his scimitars flailed in vain ¨C he was pushed right back into the cabal of waiting shadows.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
This¡this feels familiar¡
His mind flashed back to his encounter with the Lightborn ¨C how helpless he¡¯d been, back there. He¡¯d been alone. With no control over the flow of the battle ¨C a perfect embodiment of his entire mortal life.
Oh, come on!
Ethan blinked as the claws of the shadow beasts wrapped themselves around him. They held his legs apart, a whole clump of them managing to get their sinuous arms round his scimitars and hold them tight.
¡Sys?
This is no time to mope! What was it you told me once before?
There¡¯s no point dwelling on problems.
Work the problem.
Find a solution.
Implement a strategy.
Ethan blinked through Sys¡¯s screaming, surprised to find its voice so desperate for survival, for once.
And he smiled. He smiled even as he saw the grim blade of Valgraiva charge with corrupted energy and cleave through the air towards him.
Because he wasn¡¯t alone, was he? No matter how much his enemies wanted him to be.
When Valgraiva¡¯s blade lodged itself deep in Rachneros¡¯s gut, and Ethan¡¯s Host let out an involuntary spasm of death, he never felt a thing at all.
Mainly, this was because he¡¯d just activated his [Dive] skill.
But not as Rachneros.
Valgraiva and his shadows, too focused on slaying the giant spider, had all but forgotten about the one-eyed hat sitting atop its head. Now, as the acidic blood of the spider spurted from its punctured heart, they suddenly realized the hat was oddly missing from the beast¡¯s cranium.
And without being able to dislodge his blade fast enough, Valgraiva felt the distinct feeling of pressure on his back as a thin, silver knife was pushed into his spine.
Valgraiva, Lord of the Damned
HP: 260
WILL: 400
The Boss of the Twilight Sepulcher turned his head to see the face of the beast that had just impaled him, and bore witness to Theodore the Rat wearing a mean-looking hat upon his head.
Squeak squeak, motherfucker.
Ethan had gambled in the moment ¨C knowing Rachneros was dead. He¡¯d taken the chance and activated [Dive] in the hopes he could make it to Theo¡¯s skull before the undead horde noticed he was gone. He¡¯d also thought, for a torrid second, that the rat might just shrug him of this time ¨C his WILL having risen to stupendous levels since the last time they met.
But he didn¡¯t. Theo accepted him back like a valiant knight accepts an old, discarded blade. Ethan attached himself to his consciousness with more ease than anything he¡¯d ever possessed in this realm.
He propelled Theo up with a Wing Buffet (the rat¡¯s ears flapping like Dumbo to repel the screaming shadows away from their master) and slashed at Valgraiva¡¯s eyes before he could withdraw his blade from the still spasming spider.
Valgraiva WILL: 360
And, as the shadows of death swam to save their Lord, Ethan took his chance.
Now, Theo!
The rat leaped with all his might towards the unarmored head of the Undead master, while the latter¡¯s sword traced the air to cut at the rodent¡¯s bloody paw.
But he wasn¡¯t nearly fast enough to clip the toes of Theodore, Slayer of the Undead.
Ethan dove onto the head of the smarting zombie General and clamped down his hem round his cranium, activating his Possession skill almost as soon as he felt the searing anger of the General rage through his consciousness.
Ethan Hawke Spirit Cores: 425
Valgraiva WILL: 360
This¡¯ll be over quickly, big guy¡
Theodore spun to deliver a swift strike across Valgraiva¡¯s pulsing neck as his shadows began to melt away into the darkness they had been spawned from. Already the General was struggling, having discarded his sword in favor of keeping his shield up to avoid the relentless strikes of rat against his armored hide. Meanwhile, Ethan attacked his mind, feeling his brain go number by the second.
And as he began his hostile takeover, he felt the memories of Valgraiva swim through his mindscape ¨C of battles lost and won, of generations of warriors under his command ¨C and he realized why this Boss had a brain.
He still retained some element of his humanity. He wasn¡¯t like Rachneros, born for a purpose alone. He¡¯d had a life before this Delve.
Ethan felt the warrior¡¯s sense of anger at this fact.
Kaedmon¡¯s Law really does suck, huh? Even for you.
And then, like a switch being activated in the depths of the old warrior¡¯s brain, he departed.
The sphere of darkness broke apart into fragments of onyx cloud before dissipating entirely, the shadowed wraiths of Valgraiva dying along with it and revealing three hybrids on the ground of the old warrior¡¯s tomb, each one looking like they had just been washed up on an uncaring shore.
Klax was the first to raise himself up, stumbling, to look upon the sight of the warrior who now stood high above him, offering his dark hand to the wolfman in the newly lit lair.
¡°You look like you could use a hand, Klaxy,¡± the thick voice of the possessed knight said ¨C a very out-of-place looking hat sitting atop his silver head.
¡°By Karfangg¡¡± Klax smiled. ¡°Now, that¡¯s an Archon I¡¯d follow into the depths of hell itself.¡±
Tara and Fauna, meanwhile, woke to find a tiny rodent sniffing at the frayed fringes of their hair.
¡°Wh-where the hell were we?¡±
¡°The Boss must have used its [Lair Skill] to isolate its most powerful prey,¡± Fauna replied. ¡°I¡¯d never known it would be so potent¡¡±
Both of them then found Ethan¡¯s hatty form atop Valgraiva¡¯s head, knowing that the Undead Master had fallen.
Because those two silver eyes now shone with the light of their Archon.
¡°What?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°Ain¡¯t you ever seen a handsome undead warrior with a dapper hat before?¡±
Through pained groans and Fauna¡¯s stifled giggles, Tara looked right up at him and then collapsed again.
¡°¡you¡you smell like shit,¡± she said.
46. Ethan, [Dead] and Loving it
---Current Host---
Valgraiva, Lord of the Damned
LVL: 50
[Core Stats]
HP: 950/950
WILL: 1000/1000
MP: 150/150
STR: 60
DEX: 45
SPD: 50
CHA: 30
Ethan the hat beamed down at his party from atop the head of the once-Boss of the Twilight Sepulcher.
The exit portal from Valgraiva¡¯s tomb had taken them right back to the lightning-blasted surface of the Delve, and as they approached the exit back to Sanctuary, Ethan decided it was time for some much-needed skill appraisal:
[Skills]
Twilight Edge (Grade E)
You coat your blade in thickest night and release the energies of the Twilight realm to rend the souls of your foes.
Shadow DMG 75 pts in a 30ft arc.
MP Cost: 20 pts
Repulsor Shield (Grade E)
You heft your mighty shield, nullifying magical attacks completely up to certain magnitude of DMG.
Current {MAG} DMG prot: 85
Summon Wraith (Grade E)
You draw upon the powers of darkness to forge a spectral soldier from the shadows.
Summon {Undead} (Shadow Wraith) x1 for 60 seconds. (Grade E)
---NEW HOST DETECTED---
Please select up to (2) skills to transfer from prior Host, in addition to all previously transferred skills.
Skills Transferred:
Hide (Grade A)
Roar (Grade B)
Wing Buffet (Grade C)
Dive (Grade D)
Poison Coating (Grade D)
Paralysis Coating (Grade D)
It¡¯s a no brainer, Ethan thought. Of course, I¡¯m gonna take the status effect coatings. Enweb is basically made obsolete by my other crowd control skills. Though I¡¯ve only got one blade to work with, now, generally it looks like I¡¯ll be able to switch these effects up on the fly. Couple that with my new multi-target DPS attack and you¡¯ve got a monster that could probably challenge the Lightborn right here, right now.
Transfer Skills: [Poison Coating (Grade E)], [Paralysis Coating (Grade E)]
Skill Transfer¡Complete!
Ethan then turned his thoughts to his new, shiny blade ¨C something Tara had already been eyeing hungrily as they left the place.
¡°Y¡¯know¡¡± she said. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m still due a share of loot for disarming all the traps.¡±
¡°All of them? What about that one that summoned an entire mountain of zombies?¡±
¡°Hardly my fault,¡± came the Minxit¡¯s sarcastic reply. ¡°Must¡¯ve been your big spider booty that triggered it, anyway.¡±
Ethan laughed away her greed. He respected her hustle.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Current Equipment:
Mithril Broadsword (RARE)
DMG: 55-70
Armor of the Damned Legion
DMG Prot: 40
Equipment to rival Borlor¡¯s own handiwork. Ethan wondered what the old codger would make of these when they got back to Sanctum. He still had the scythe from the lower tombs, too, and with its capacity to completely penetrate armor, he¡¯d be a force to be reckoned with.
Considering the fact that his scythe¡¯s penetration ability was probably linked with whatever skills used the weapon, he inspected his new Twilight Edge skill with eyes hungry to see it in action.
Twilight Edge (Grade E)
Spirit Core Cost to upgrade: 250
Current Spirit Cores: 975
This was his only real multi-target DPS skill. Upgrading it was a must.
Twilight Edge (Grade E -> D)
DMG Increased. Cost Lowered.
Shadow DMG 90 pts in a 30ft arc.
MP Cost: 10 pts
As his pilfered Spirit Cores flowed into his new body, Ethan breathed deep the musky, humid air of the Sepulcher¡¯s blasted heath. Rachneros had been big, bulky, and tanky. Valgraiva¡¯s form was nimble and humanoid ¨C it felt so much more natural. That, and it was armed to the teeth. He felt like he was piloting a humanoid mechsuit from some of the old military sci-fi books he devoured in High School.
Eat your heart out, Robert Heinlein.
Current Spirit Cores: 725
Enough for more upgrades, but Ethan was thinking long-term, now. Another 250 he could drop on a new skill ¨C he was particularly interested in that handy-looking summon spell ¨C but he also knew he needed 600 Cores in the bank to upgrade another one of his core skills, and [Skill Siphon] was looking like the obvious choice.
But before he could bring up his [Hat] skills, the exit portal flashed before the team, signaling the way back home.
¡°How does it feel, Ethan?¡± Fauna asked. ¡°Two Delves down, only one more to go¡¡±
¡°Honestly? Feels like I could take down the Greycloaks already.¡±
¡°My point exactly,¡± Tara murmured.
¡°The last Delve is important for more reasons than simply power,¡± Klax said ¨C the wolfman¡¯s arms shaking slightly as the portal opened to welcome them back home. ¡°Knowledge is what you will find in the City of Illusions, Ethan. Knowledge that every Archon before you has benefitted from. They all found something that sped them on their way to the completion of their quest. We ¨C that is, you ¨C will find something we are seeking there, too.¡±
Ethan heard the words of the dog-man and the ring of something else behind them.
Jun¡¯Ei, he thought. That¡¯s what you mean, Klax. Isn¡¯t it?
He looked at the Lycae but couldn¡¯t see his eyes. Those eyes were focused on the horizon beyond the portal¡
Squeak!
The party threw their gazes to the ground, where the recently healed Theo sat and twitched his little bloody whiskers.
¡°Alright,¡± Tara said. ¡°I¡¯ll say it ¨C the little guy was useful.¡±
¡°Can ¨C can we keep him?¡± Fauna asked, bending to tickle the adorable little warrior¡¯s furry chin.
¡°Well¡technically he isn¡¯t a hybrid. But we¡¯d be hypocrites if we didn¡¯t allow him to join us. It would also provide another body for Ethan to possess. That trick you pulled with Valgraiva is something nobody would expect.¡±
¡°Ugh. Now you really want to add a rat to our party? Are you trying to mess with me, Klaxxy?¡±
Fauna bristled. ¡°I think he¡¯s cute!¡±
¡°You think everything¡¯s cute, Faun.¡±
¡°It isn¡¯t my decision,¡± Klax huffed, eyes moving to the piercing silver orbs of his Archon¡¯s.
Ethan bent down and looked at the rat ¨C watching his twitching whiskers and the curious turns of his head. Every now and then Theo turned his gaze towards the horizon of the Sepulcher, where, unbelievably, the sun was beginning to rise where once there had been nothing but sallow night.
Then, he realized what was happening.
¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°The decision isn¡¯t mine either. It¡¯s Theo¡¯s.¡±
¡°Uh, you¡¯re talking to a rat, man.¡±
¡°But still a sentient creature,¡± Ethan said with a smile. ¡°And that means he¡¯s got a choice in the matter.¡±
Theodore looked at the new light burning behind him, and then back at Ethan ¨C at the hat that was Ethan. As far as a warrior rat could, he had already made up his mind.
The party exchanged bewildered glances as Ethan held out a single finger to shake Theo¡¯s paw. The little guy blinked up at him in understanding and respect. They came together as unlikely allies. They would part, now, as comrades.
¡°Guess this is goodbye, Theodore the Slayer,¡± Ethan said. ¡°Wherever you go, make sure to kick some undead ass.¡±
Theo gave a triumphant squeak before he turned tail and scurried off towards the rising sun.
¡°Look at him go¡¡± Klax murmured as he and Fauna watched him travel into the glowing light of a new day.
¡°Like a warrior going to meet his ancestors¡¡±
Tara shot exasperated glances at them all before lighting on Ethan and his smiling face.
¡°¡are we done here?¡± she asked. ¡°Even for us, this is getting weird.¡±
***
-City of Illusions-
Delve Grade C
-ENTRANCE-
They had opened the portal in the Delves Archive office without much fanfare ¨C four of them, armed and armored, were all that were needed.
Artorious looked at the ethereal spires of the ever-changing city that stretched out from the spectral mountain the team had emerged on. His mind adjusted to the strange sights of the ghostly manta-rays that traversed the streets, and the venerable bridges that connected the great towers that dotted the city - the ¡®Memory Spires¡¯.
He breathed deep the empty air of the place.
¡°How¡¯s it feel coming back here again?¡± Carliah asked him, her Mithril armor shining in the sapphire-indigo haze that permeated the atmosphere.
When Artorious responded, he did so to the other two Greycloaks they¡¯d brought with them more than to her ¨C couching his reply in the guise of instruction.
¡°This place is as empty as your mind allows it to be,¡± he said. ¡°Steel yourself, feel no emotion at all, and we will prevail. Remember why we are here.¡±
¡°Spoke like a true hero,¡± Carliah scoffed. ¡°Alright, men, you heard the Lightborn. We stick together, watch each other¡¯s flanks, and we¡¯ll reach the peak of the Nerve Tower with time to spare.¡±
They looked at their destination. The tallest point in the center of the city was unmistakable ¨C wrapped in sinuous organic veins that pulsed like they were the beating heart of the Delve itself. At its apex, the Master Illusionist waited.
A creature far too powerful for this insidious Archon to get his hands on. But a creature he¡¯d be guided to like a moth to a burning flame.
Only when he got here, that flame would be a cleansing bonfire.
¡°Sidonis?¡± Carliah barked at their mage. ¡°You ready to disrupt the teleportation field?¡±
The hooded Greycloak nodded. ¡°It will be done, Commander.¡±
¡°Good. We don¡¯t want the Archon or his abominations coming here any earlier than we need them to.¡±
The trap was set, and the Greys moved out. Artorious led the way with lethal precision, gutting the ghostly innards of every glimmering manta that tried to get in their way. Through their dying screams, echoing down the deserted streets of the city, the Lightborn couldn¡¯t shake the ridiculous image of the Archon from his mind. He knew they¡¯d be fighting more than just monsters in this Delve. And, for a brief moment, he wondered if Kaedmon had led them here as a personal test of his Lightborn¡¯s resolve.
He tightened his grip on his Onixia blade, picturing the Archon¡¯s death by his hand.
This time, he was going to put it down for good.
45.5. The [Hunt] begins
---Lucent, Capital of Westerweald---
---Castle Lysandus---
¡°Tell me again, boy. Slowly.¡±
Carliah Argent glowered down at the child who had come to them from the foot of the Ashfalls, half mad with thirst and exposure to the storms that had battered the earth these past few weeks since the beginning of the new Archon¡¯s ascension.
Beside her stood Artorious Pendragon, his eyes staring at the boy with laser focus.
The child did not balk in the face of the Lightborn. In fact, it was him that the boy had said he must speak to, barging through the city with such determination that even the newly appointed Greycloak guards had wavered before attempting to turn him away ¨C and would have done so if Artorious had not intervened.
¡°Breathe, son,¡± Carliah told him. ¡°You are among friends here. We who wear the mantle of the Grey do not fear the truth, or its messenger.¡±
The drenched child straightened his back, hardened his resolve, and addressed the Commander of the Grey atop her new pearly-white throne.
¡°A spider, my Lady,¡± he said. ¡°A big spider wearing a blue hat ¨C with one red eye. It ¨C it killed everyone. It killed my father.¡±
Artorious stiffened.
A spider¡
¡°And yet it let you live,¡± Carliah said. ¡°Why?¡±
The boy did not answer at first. Artorious could see that he was holding back tears.
¡°I¡ I don¡¯t know, my Lady. All I know is it killed my papa.¡±
The boy stood, visibly shaking at the recent memory. Carliah nodded when it was apparent they¡¯d get nothing else from him.
¡°Alright, son,¡± she said. ¡°Dreksis, Caius, take this lad to the kitchens for some supper. He could use it more than us.¡±
¡°I want to fight!¡± the boy suddenly exclaimed, ignoring the two men who advanced toward him.
Carliah simply looked at him with pity.
¡°¡My Lady,¡± he added.
She rose from her throne and stepped toward him, slowly, and to the boy¡¯s credit, he did not back down. Even Artorious had found it difficult to meet her blazing eyes in his childhood. The boy was made of strong stuff.
Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
¡°How old are you, boy?¡± Carliah asked.
¡°Twelve, my Lady. B-but I can hold a sword! My papa trained me. He taught me good, my Lady.¡±
She took a knee before him then, drawing some raised eyebrows from the other soldiers in the marble throne room.
¡°Real warriors bow to no man or woman,¡± she said. ¡°A warrior¡¯s first lesson is this: stop calling me ¡®my Lady,¡¯ and one day you might know me as ¡®Commander.¡¯¡±
The boy¡¯s eyes twinkled with hope. Artorious saw it as he¡¯d seen it countless times. Carliah worked her charms, and young men swooned. He¡¯d been there once, a century ago¡ just a dumb boy wanting to play at being a hero¡
She had a knack for seeing the fires of vengeance in the eyes of young men. She had a knack for knowing, almost instinctively, how the suicidal drives of youths could be used.
¡°Now go,¡± she told the child. ¡°Eat your fill. Tomorrow, you will report to the barracks of Lucent, and we shall see what can be done with you.¡±
When the child then left the hall, dazzled by all accounts, she turned to Artorious with a prideful smile.
¡°Well?¡±
The Lightborn stiffened. ¡°Rachneros,¡± he said. ¡°He¡¯s using him as a host, which means he¡¯s cleared The Festering Den. His next Delve will probably be The Twilight Sepulcher ¨C it was the same pattern Gyko followed. After that¡¡±
Carliah cocked a golden eyebrow.
¡°Go on.¡±
¡°They may vary the pattern,¡± Artorious finished. ¡°To confuse us. There¡¯s at least five Delves they could take next, but if it was me¡ I¡¯d take the chance and complete a Grade C. Probably he could get a far stronger host that way.¡±
¡°Unless someone beats him to it,¡± Carliah smirked. "You know which one they''ll shoot for?"
"I have a hunch," Artorious replied. "Call it intuition. His hybrids will do anything to allow him to escape my blade. But I would imagine they have probably won him to their cause by this point. If we head him off at this Delve, we can slay the Boss and lay in wait. Even if his hybrids see it coming, they''ll probably see it as a challenge - one that I doubt their new leader will be able to back down from."
¡°There¡¯s that patented Lightborn logic we like to see,¡± Carliah sniggered. ¡°It is right that you should know our enemy''s mind. After all, you¡¯ve got the closest link to the Archon out of all of us, don¡¯t you?¡±
Carliah came close to him, enjoying his pain.
¡°I¡¯ll bet you can feel him getting stronger right now, can¡¯t you?¡±
¡°These storms are no coincidence,¡± Artorious replied nonchalantly, nodding to the dark clouds that now dominated Argwyll¡¯s skies. ¡°They match the storms from Gyko¡¯s time.¡±
¡°And all of Westerweald remembers them well,¡± Carliah agreed. ¡°In that case, I think it¡¯s time we stretched our legs, Arty. Don¡¯t you think?¡±
¡°If it¡¯s a chance to kill the Archon in its crib you wish for, then I can handle it myself.¡±
Carliah narrowed her eyes, hand resting on the hilt of her blade. ¡°Did you forget our little deal, Arty? Where you go, I go. When it comes time for you to do your duty, it will be my eyes you will meet as you plunge your blade into the Archon¡¯s heart. Don¡¯t forget that.¡±
¡°I could end you and everyone else in this castle before you had a chance to draw that blade,¡± Artorious replied. Calmly, with cool and collected confidence.
¡°So, why don¡¯t you?¡±
The two Greycloaks stared each other down from a distance of mere inches, both daring the other to take up arms and do what they wished to do.
But eventually, Artorious just sighed and moved past his Commander.
¡°Four of us will be enough,¡± he said. ¡°A small strike force can move quickly and won¡¯t slow me down in the process.¡±
Carliah simply watched him go with a sly smile as she began to make preparations for what would be their first real battle against their eternal foe ¨C one which, this time, would end it for good.
¡°Seeing boys like that young lad,¡± she said as both she and her Lightborn left for the Armory. ¡°It reminds me why we do what we do.¡±
¡°It does?¡±
¡°I beg your pardon?¡±
Artorious didn¡¯t stop to meet her eyes again. He knew by her tone that she¡¯d actually meant what she¡¯d said. He didn¡¯t know if that made things any better or worse.
¡°It does,¡± he said.
47. [Portal] Problems
Sanctum
¡°It ¨C it¡¯s not working?¡±
¡°I¡¯m telling ya, Klax: the things on the fritz.¡±
When they returned to Sanctum, it was to surprised faces in the portal chamber. Apparently, everyone had assumed they¡¯d already gone to the final Delve. Borlor was already waiting by the final portal, which was currently blazing like a dying sun, allowing no one entry.
¡°How?¡± Klax asked him, dumbfounded.
¡°Hell if I know,¡± the Dixit replied with a sigh. ¡°But its gonna take some powerful magic to stabilize it. Never seen fluctuations like this before¡Lamphrey and the others asked if I¡¯d just build a containment shield round it and close the thing off ¨C since we wouldn¡¯t be needing it once you were done. But¡looks like you ain¡¯t even through yet.¡±
Ethan blinked at the sight, his new eyes giving him a much clearer picture of the world than Rachneros¡¯s crimson vision ever did.
¡°Is there a way to fix it?¡±
¡°Like I says, we¡¯ll need a team of mages ta stabilize the thing. But even then, I-¡±
¡°We¡¯ll get you your team,¡± Klax interrupted. ¡°How long do you need?¡±
¡°Klax mate, I¡¯m no expert. I¡¯m just spit-¡°
¡°Borlor - how long?¡±
¡°Eh¡maybe a day?¡±
¡°A day?!¡± the Lycan howled. ¡°We don¡¯t have the luxury of a day here.¡±
¡°Maybe a little less then, mate. But I¡¯m telling you that¡¯s the best we¡¯ve-¡°
¡°Well, it¡¯s not enough!¡±
Ethan watched the teeth of the wolfman flare and spittle drip from his fangs. He looked, at this moment, on the verge of frenzy. Even Tara and Fauna were starting to notice.
¡°Hey, Klax,¡± Fauna began. ¡°Borlor¡¯s doing his best.¡±
The wolfman looked down at the Hopla with strained eyes ¨C eyes that seemed, in that moment, red with fury.
¡°We¡¯re so close¡¡± he snarled. ¡°To fail now, after all this¡¡±
¡°Jun¡¯Ei can wait a little longer Kla-¡°
The Lycae shrugged off the hands of the Hopla, marching away to a corner of the room and staying there, lingering before he even reached the door.
¡°Do not mention her name.¡±
¡°But I-¡°
¡°Fauna. Don¡¯t.¡±
Tara had been uncharacteristically silent through the whole awkward exchange. Now, as Ethan flashed a look her way, she simply shrugged as if to say ¡®Hey, I¡¯ve already tried getting through to him before.¡¯
Alright, Ethan thought. Time for some intervention.
¡°Everyone, we¡¯re all tired,¡± he said. ¡°If Borlor says he needs the time he needs, lets give him it, alright? We could all use some time off.¡±
¡°He¡¯s right, Klaxy,¡± Tara said. ¡°I¡¯m beat.¡±
Fauna kept staring at Klax¡¯s back. The wolfman had withdrawn himself almost entirely.
¡°¡one day,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll gather the mages. I¡¯ll keep watch in case one of them faints from mana drainage. We¡¯ll get a rotation going.¡±
¡°If I join in, we might be able to shorten the time!¡± Fauna exclaimed. ¡°Borlor, I can start right no-¡°
¡°No.¡±
The words were Klax¡¯s, spoken with his back still to his teammates.
¡°K-Klax? But I just wanna hel-¡°
¡°No. It¡¯s too unpredictable. We don¡¯t have the time to waste.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Fauna staggered back, her ears drooping down her frail skull. She looked devastated. Ethan got the sense that, out of all of them, Klax was the one who had never doubted her.
¡°Hey,¡± Ethan said, putting a firm hand on her shoulder. ¡°You need rest, too, Faun.¡±
She smiled thinly, but it was a vestigial gesture, and as Klax lumbered out the room, the party watched him go in silence ¨C like a warrior walking towards his untimely grave.
Something happened to you when you looked in that mirror, Ethan thought. And I¡¯m betting I¡¯ve got a pretty good idea what you saw¡
Twilight Edge (Grade E)
A thin arc of shadow shot from Ethan¡¯s broadsword as he sliced it through the air, watching it decapitate a trio of wooden sword-wielding straw dummies at the edge of his training room.
The castle of the Archon was a place that was ever-changing. When he needed a place to rest, he always found himself inexplicably drawn to his bedroom in the winding halls without even thinking about it ¨C like the castle itself was guiding him. When he needed a place to train, he found a room that suited that exact purpose ¨C replete with regenerating training dummies and steel weaponry that matched his exact idea of the sparring dojos he¡¯d read about in manga. It was as if the castle had a mind of its own ¨C one intimately attached to his own imagination.
Your aim is improving, Sys told him. Your precision is up by approximately 13% since assuming the form of the Undead Lord. Perhaps a humanoid form is simply more suited to you.
¡°It would make sense¡±, Ethan admitted as he sliced through another three dummies in the wake of their regeneration. ¡°But I could still be better. I¡¯m gonna have to be much better before I can take down the Lightborn, right?¡±
Right now, I can make no certain assessment of the Lightborn¡¯s abilities.
¡But based on your last encounter, you will have to be a master of your skills before you have a chance.
¡°Which is exactly why I¡¯m here,¡± Ethan retorted through a grunt of exertion, sending another gale of darkness racing towards the dummy trio and sending pieces of their broken straw bones flying against the far wall.
While he waited for them to regenerate again, he returned his attention to his [Hat] skills, ready to distribute the 600 Cores he needed to upgrade Skill Siphon yet again.
¡°If I¡¯m gonna take on the old bastard, I¡¯m gonna need to be as versatile as possible.¡±
Skill Siphon (Grade E->D)
You can now transfer up to three skills from one Host to another, in addition to any skills gained from your prior Hosts.
Spirit Core Cost: 600
Upgrade¡Complete!
Current Spirit Cores: 125
Ethan nodded once at the skill. Now, once he got his final Host from the last Delve, he could make it as unstoppable as he wanted. Transferring Repulsor Shield, Twilight Edge, and his Summon Shadow Wraith skill would augment whatever new arsenal he was going to inherit. And whatever the Boss of the City of Illusions was, Ethan was betting it¡¯d have to be a tough son of a bitch to have its Delve rated as a Grade C.
He sat back and took a short breath as he considered his remaining Cores. Hardly enough to do anything with, but maybe enough for another skill if he saved the points. His next few big kills would yield him far more Cores than he¡¯d gained from the Delves so far. He knew that.
The last few hours had been nothing but focus. He¡¯d taken the time to practice with his new skills this time. He had to admit, the lack of pressure from having to learn them on the fly or in combat was reassuring. For once he could formulate strategies without the need to think about his own survival ¨C or that of his party.
Even if he still couldn¡¯t shake the sad eyes of Fauna, or the sudden anger of Klax, or the frustration of Tara, from his mind for good.
¡you¡¯re always wound up, aren¡¯t you?
The question was asked as Ethan wiped sweat from his new pale face.
¡°You noticed, huh?¡±
It is a System¡¯s job to know its User.
¡°And now you want me to talk about my problems?¡±
I think it¡¯s clear that, by now, I have no control over what you choose to share or not share with me.
Ethan smiled ¨C an admittedly grim grin on the face of his current host, but a smile, nonetheless.
¡°Right answer.¡±
He then heard a sudden tapping at his door.
¡°Um¡Ethan?¡± a voice asked. ¡°Can I come in?¡±
I¡¯d know those soft tones anywhere, Ethan thought.
¡°It¡¯s a free Sanctum, Faun. Come on.¡±
Fauna entered, garbed in a thin dress-robe that seemed at once at odds with her usually shy demeanor. Ethan expected the Hopla to still be upset from the fallout with Klax, but to his surprise, she seemed rather more chipper than usual.
¡°Um ¨C you look¡well.¡±
¡°Do I really?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°Even the living dead can scrub up nice it seems.¡±
The Hopla didn¡¯t quite chuckle. Instead, her eyes darted to and from the doorway.
¡°Are you enjoying your new body, then?¡±
Ethan narrowed his eyes playfully. ¡°It¡¯s more familiar than a rat¡¯s furry ass and a spider¡¯s eight-legged horror, I have to admit. Not quite what my old wretched human body was, but I¡¯m not exactly gonna complain about that.¡±
Fauna shook her head fervently. ¡°I¡¯m sure your human body was a perfectly good one!¡± Then, realizing the implication, she blushed the shade of rouge that Ethan had come to see as naturally a part of her.
¡°Well, Faun?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t come here to discuss body types. Something you need?¡±
¡°Um¡you.¡±
Ethan blinked.
¡°N-not in that way or, well, that is ¨C I need you to¡come with me.¡±
In the silence which followed, Fauna¡¯s embarrassment could almost be called more monstrous than the Undead warrior who suppressed a laugh before her.
¡°¡if you like,¡± she added.
¡°How can I possibly refuse an invite as tempting as that?¡± Ethan answered as the Hopla¡¯s smile returned.
¡°Ok ¨C cool!¡± she beamed. ¡°It¡¯s not something related to our mission, or, well, maybe it is a little¡but it is something I think you should see.¡±
His curiosity piqued, Ethan followed the Hopla out the castle walls, noticing the slight spring in her every step as she led the way to a far deeper corner of Sanctum than he¡¯d ever seen before.
And there, in the cavernous depths of the underground realm¡¯s innards, a chorus of a hundred frantic voices were currently going¡wild.
48. [Bunny] School
Ethan followed Fauna into the Eastern tunnels of Sanctum, nodding at those hybrids who bowed in his general direction as he went.
They passed the light-studded mushroom towers and lantern-filled streets until they came to a section of the Underground empire Ethan had never lain eyes on before. The tunnel grew cold, dark, and foreboding, and even Ethan¡¯s Appraisal skill was telling him that what lay ahead was more hostile than what he¡¯d left behind.
And the voices emanating from within the darkness were beast-like.
¡°Faun?¡± he asked the still chipper Hopla beside him. ¡°Where exactly are we going again?¡±
Because I¡¯m in no mood for a betrayal this late into the game¡
Fauna¡¯s kind eyes simply fluttered up at him as she responded, ¡°Sorry. They¡¯ve just woken up from nap time.¡±
At Ethan¡¯s confused face, she then looked around her before thrusting her pale hand into the dark void before them, muttering an incantation that sent ribbons of violet light trailing up the tunnel walls.
¡°MIKOLAH REVULUM!¡±
And where once there had been nothing but shadow, now an entire plain of the Underground opened up in front of them.
Ethan was standing on the precipice of a ledge that looked down into a humble cottage and pasture of carrots and lettuce leaves ¨C some of which were hung up to dry on lines at the house¡¯s back. Beside the cottage stood a venerable shed that looked like it had been recently constructed ¨C painted with vibrant oranges, reds, and colors that swam as Ethan tried to comprehend them. He noticed several names dotted the far wall of the cave ¨C names carved into the dirt of the once barren walls and lit up by magical means so that they sparkled like a hundred stars in the darkness of the depths.
And then he saw where the voices had been coming from.
Below, tumbling out of the cottage and the fields they had just been playing in, were a horde of tiny Hoplas.
¡°Looklook!¡± one of them burst. ¡°Miss Faunaisback!¡±
¡°HelloMissFauna!HelloMissFauna!HelloMissFauna!HelloMissFauna!¡±
The children tumbled and hopped their way towards their ¡°Miss Fauna¡¯ and her new arrival, as Faun simply looked at Ethan with a happy shrug.
¡°Well?¡± she asked. ¡°What do you think?¡±
Ethan was well passed laughter by this point.
¡°Faun¡are they¡all yours?¡±
¡°No!¡± she replied. ¡°Well ¨C I mean ¨C not technically. It¡¯s complicated but¡I know they want to meet you. If you¡¯ll let them.¡±
¡°So long as they don¡¯t chew me apart,¡± Ethan tentatively agreed.
Without another word, Fauna lifted them both into the air with a levitation spell that sent the crowd of children into a frenzy of ¡®ooooohs¡¯ and ¡®aaaaaaahs¡¯. Then, with a dramatic flourish of her staff, she let fly a torrent of sparks that whizzed and fizzled out around the farm.
¡°Hello, everyone!¡± she called out as the children squealed in delight. ¡°Look who I¡¯ve brought with me!¡±
The children watched as she lowered Ethan to the ground, crowding around him with expectant faces ¨C faces desiring something.
But hell if he knew what it was.
So, he just held up his hand and waved to them, breaking into a toothy smile with the body of his Undead Lord.
¡°¡hi.¡±
The resounding ¡®WOOOOAH!¡± this brought from the crowd told Ethan this wasn¡¯t a hard audience to please.
¡°HelloMrArchonHelloMrArchonHello!¡±
The chorus was deafening, but Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile at the puffy faces of the girls and boys. So many of them¡probably at least a hundred by his count¡all sequestered in this little backwater cave in the Sanctum. And every one of them jumped for joy to see him.
¡°Call me Ethan,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s¡eh¡what¡¯s up?¡±
¡°HelloMrEthanHelloMrEthanHello!¡±
¡°Hellowhatsuphellowhatsuphellowhatsuphellooo!¡±
The voices of the kids bled into one ¨C an attack on the senses so powerful that Ethan had to momentarily raise his defenses¡Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Then ¨C the distinct sensation of nibbling at his back.
¡°H-hey!¡±
One particularly tiny Hopla girl was teething on his heel, and giggled when he found her.
¡°Mr Ethan ¨C you taste nice! Miss Fauna is very lucky!¡±
¡°VeryluckyMissveryluckyFaunaveryluckyverylucky!¡±
Ethan¡¯s eyes found Faun as she gently floated down to the children, giving the girl a very telling, and stern, stare-down.
¡°Ahem,¡± she coughed. ¡°Everyone, Mr Ethan has come here to meet us all. What do we say to him?¡±
The children immediately straightened up, their drooling faces intoning what sounded like a sacred chant:
¡°Thank you. Mr Ethan.¡±
So they can¡actually talk normally, he thought. Here I was thinking that was a Hopla thing or something¡
¡°Can Mr Ethan play with us, Mrs Fauna?¡± One child asked.¡°Pleasepleasepleasepleaselpleaaaaase?¡±
The others took up his chant until it became a mantra of ¡°pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease¡± strong enough to shake Sanctum¡¯s very foundations.
¡°Only if you behave!¡± Fauna told them all, hands on her hips and suddenly more authoritative than Ethan had ever seen her before. ¡°Mr Ethan is a very busy Archon, as you well know!¡±
The Hopla then turned to Ethan with an expectant look on her face. Every child puffed out his or her rosy, pale cheeks, and their fluffy ears dangled down their heads in a pout that was too strong for any man to resist.
I think you¡¯ve met your toughest enemies yet, Sys chuckled.
You might be right, he replied. Still, you know what? This is an Archon¡¯s job too, right? Inspiring the young generations, showing them their leader gives a damn. Like a politician planting kisses on a baby¡¯s bare skull.
Sys¡¯s chuckling only intensified as Ethan then consented to be dragged into the farmhouse.
¡if only they all thought like you do.
The schoolhouse was a rickety establishment ¨C filled with paintings and crafts the children had designed probably since they¡¯d been old enough to hold a crayon. Fauna had ample supplies to keep them interested in creating. There was a meager library of books and shelves lined with posters and writings from the children, as well as a few instruction materials.
¡°You¡¯re¡a teacher,¡± Ethan wheezed through the children who were currently hanging off his shoulders, trying to grab at his hat-eyeball.
¡°Haha, well¡my mother was an educator in our Burrow¡Jax! Remove yourself from Mr Ethan¡¯s head!¡±
Ethan watched her corral the children into their classroom ¨C where a bunch of tiny wooden desks were arranged in neat little ordered rows. No chalkboard existed. Instead, Fauna spawned letters and numbers to help the students through her lessons, as well as pictures for those who needed more visual stimulus. The darkness of their home, she said, often meant that the children¡¯s eyes had become accustomed to its shadows. They needed a little bit of light.
And whenever a spell fizzled, or a word came out the wrong way, or a picture of a heroic dragon slaying a human warrior became¡well¡a different kind of image, the laughter of the children was contagious. Even Fauna couldn¡¯t help herself but laugh.
It felt weird. Ethan couldn¡¯t deny it. Here he was in another world ¨C one about as alien from his own as he could have imagined ¨C and yet here was a bunnygirl teaching a packed classroom of a hundred excitable children their ABCs with more gung-ho gumption and passion than any teacher Ethan could remember. He distinctly recalled being ¡®taught¡¯ by textbooks and lesson packets most of his young life, while his teachers decided they didn¡¯t get paid enough for their job.
Looking around the room at the kids¡¯ colorful murals and writings, Ethan couldn¡¯t help but think that this world might have something to teach him, too.
¡°MrEthanMrEthan!¡± one girl shouted once Fauna had dismissed the class for break time. ¡°Come see my poems?¡±
¡°MrEthanMrEthan! MrsFauna says I¡¯m a great drawer! Comeseecomesee!¡±
He was dragged along to every corner of the cottage to see the kids¡¯ own projects. Fauna believed every Hopla child needed to exercise their own imagination. The upstairs of the house was filled to the brim with such projects. Self-portraits, short stories and novels, poetry and even a few songs written by the kids themselves. A few of them even elected to perform a dance or ditty for Ethan before Fauna declared it was time for lunch.
Surprise surprise ¨C carrots and lettuce was the dish of the day. And the special soup?
Lentil.
Up close, Ethan saw that the carrots had oddly shaped purple veins that ran down their sides from their greens. A rather astute child informed him that these were ¡®Moon carrots¡¯ that had been specially adapted by the Sanctum¡¯s mage ¨C Miss Lamphrey ¨C to grow in the underground realm.
Miss Lamphrey¡that¡¯s the second time I¡¯ve heard that name today.
By the time the kids were sat at their long lunch tables outside, Ethan¡¯s head was spinning. He¡¯d almost forgotten about school in the time he¡¯d been here. Hell, he¡¯d forgotten about it when he was on earth, too. And he¡¯d certainly never associated it with anything resembling ¡®fun¡¯ before.
But these Hopla children, waving to him happily and wagging their floppy ears as they ate, talked, and shared stories of how the Archon had loved their project the most, had shown Ethan that Fauna had managed to do what he thought was impossible: make school something that one didn¡¯t dread attending.
¡°You¡hah!¡± he chuckled as he sat beside her at the head of the middle lunch table. ¡°Faun ¨C this is amazing.¡±
Fauna, who had been occupied with wiping the snot from a Hopla boy¡¯s wet face, turned to him suddenly.
¡°You really think so?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t doubt it. I just¡I had no idea you had this kind of commitment on top of Delving into dungeons. If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have minded if you sat them out.¡±
¡°No,¡± she said calmly. ¡°The Delves are important. I know that. My magic has the strongest potential in Sanctum. That¡¯s why Klax wanted me along in the first place.¡±
Ethan detected something behind those words, but he let it slide as he saw the pride in Fauna¡¯s normally shy face.
¡°But this place is ¨C it¡¯s like a real home,¡± she explained. ¡°Ever since my mother ¨C well ¨C you know¡I¡¯ve always wanted to be a teacher. These kids need someone. I only wish I could have helped them sooner.¡±
Slowly, Ethan suspicions were confirmed.
¡°They¡¯re from other Burrows,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Ones the Greycloaks wiped out.¡±
She nodded solemnly, and to Ethan¡¯s surprise was able to cheer right back up when one of the girls ran to grab her hand.
¡°Can Mr Ethan come to practical lessons, Miss Fauna?¡±
Ethan noticed the determination in this little pink-nosed Hopla¡¯s face. Behind her, a gaggle of her mates were waiting, pretending that they hadn¡¯t asked the bravest one among them to pose the question to their teacher.
¡°If Mr Ethan likes,¡± Fauna giggled, her ears twitching towards the field outside.
And Ethan, even in the body of a vile Undead Warlord, just couldn¡¯t disappoint those little faces.
¡°As long as Miss Fauna demonstrates first,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s more magic than I¡¯ll ever be.¡±
49. When I grow up, I wanna be a [Hat]
The kids dragged Fauna and Ethan to the courtyard behind their school-cottage, and assembled in neat rows as they were ready to be marched off into the battlefields of the surface. Fauna then called the twenty or so children who were magically inclined to the front of the group, while the rest sat in awe as the show was about to begin.
Ethan perched comfortably atop a stone pillar, his single crimson eye scanning the scene before him. The classroom Fauna had set up in the Sanctum was nothing short of heartwarming¡ªif you were the type to get all mushy about that sort of thing. Dozens of wide-eyed Hopla children sat in neat rows, their floppy ears twitching in excitement as they eagerly awaited the magic lesson to begin.
Fauna, with her characteristic gentle grace, moved among them, demonstrating basic spells with ease. Little sparks of light twirled from her fingers, illuminating the space in soft hues of violet and gold. The kids mimicked her with varied success¡ªsome producing perfect orbs of light, while others managed more of a fizzle or a puff of smoke.
¡°See?¡± Fauna smiled, clapping her hands together. ¡°It¡¯s all about focusing your energy. Remember: patience and control!¡±
Ethan couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. He watched Fuana¡¯s hands work their magic, the odd spell fizzling here and there, prompting some small titters from the kids who had already mastered some of the basic spells they needed for survival ¨C spells that created trickles of light for crops, or illuminated the darkest recesses of the Sanctum. Spells that commanded the stones to halt or break apart when cave-ins threatened the field trips of the class. Spells that created little burrs of flame to warm themselves and their compatriots on those days when they couldn¡¯t sleep, their minds preoccupied with thoughts of the dead.
One little Hopla, his nose twitching wildly, accidentally conjured a tiny fireball that shot straight into the air, nearly singeing the fur on his neighbor''s ears. The class erupted into giggles, and Fauna waved a hand to dispel the rogue flame before any real damage was done.
I can¡¯t help but feel teaching a group of nattering rabbits how to weave magic is perhaps not the best idea, Sys sighed.
I don¡¯t know about that, Ethan replied as he watched them get up from every failed spell, rise and repeat the movements and focused effort that Fauna had clearly instilled in them over years of practice. In fact, I think they might just have the perfect teacher.
Sure, these kids were about as dangerous as a basket of kittens, but the potential was clear. Maybe it was because Valgraiva¡¯s form was the first one that had access to an MP pool, but Ethan could practically feel the raw magic bubbling within the Hopla children, just waiting to be unleashed.
Damn, he thought, his hat-like form wiggling in a nod of approval. For a bunch of ankle-biters, they¡¯re pretty sharp.
The brave girl who¡¯d spoken for the group before ran to Ethan when it seemed like lessons were almost over.
¡°M-Mr. Ethan!¡± she called out, waving her tiny paw enthusiastically. ¡°Can you show us some of your powers?¡±
The request was like setting off a chain reaction. Suddenly, the entire class was on their feet, bouncing around, ears flopping as they chanted in unison:
¡°Yeah! Show us, Mr. Ethan! Please!¡±
Fauna shot Ethan an amused look. She simply shrugged in defeat. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got yourself an audience, Archon.¡±
Well, hell. Ethan rolled his eye in mock reluctance, then hopped down from his perch with a graceful plop, landing right in front of the excited crowd. ¡°Alright, alright. Settle down, fuzzballs. You want a show? I¡¯ll give you a show.¡±
The kids erupted in cheers, crowding closer. Fauna stepped back, her smile never fading as she watched the children¡¯s enthusiasm soar.
Ethan floated above them, his voice low and dramatic. ¡°Alright, first up, let¡¯s start with something sharp and dangerous. Keep your paws clear, folks.¡± He paused for effect, letting the tension build before declaring: ¡°Twilight Edge!¡±
Dark energy swirled around him, condensing into a razor-thin, jagged blade of shadow. With a single swipe, he sent it hurtling toward a loose boulder at the back of the cavern. The edge cut clean through, disintegrating the rock into a cloud of dust and shadowy mist. The children oohed and aahed, their mouths hanging open in awe.
¡°And that,¡± Ethan said, his voice full of theatrical flair, ¡°is how you make short work of your enemies.¡±
The kids clapped, their excitement building with every second.
I can¡¯t help but feel you¡¯re teaching them a very different kind of less-
¡°What else?¡± one of them asked, hopping from foot to foot.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Ethan grinned. ¡°How about something with a little more impact? Check this out.¡±
Without further ado, Ethan shot up toward the ceiling, climbing with ease to the top of the cavern and curling in tightly before he launched himself back down in a graceful arc. He dove straight toward the floor, his momentum increasing with every second, sword aimed at the ground like he was plunging it into the neck of the Lightborn himself. The ground shook as he hit it with a powerful thud, cracking the stone beneath him.
¡°Dive!¡± he announced as dust swirled around him.
The kids squealed in delight, stumbling back from the tiny tremor that rattled the room. Even Fauna chuckled, covering her mouth as she watched their reactions.
Ethan rose, waving away the dust with a tendril-like limb. ¡°Not bad, huh? But we¡¯re just getting started.¡±
He turned his eye toward the crowd of kids, who were practically vibrating with excitement. ¡°Wanna hear me roar?¡±
They screamed their approval, and Ethan¡¯s grin widened.
¡°Alright, brace yourselves, kids.¡±
With a deep breath, Ethan summoned the power from deep within his core. His Undead lungs seemed to expand for a moment before¡ª
[Roar: Activated]
The sound echoed through the room, a thunderous blast that shook the very air and sent a few Hopla tumbling back, laughing all the while. Even Fauna stumbled slightly, though she managed to keep her footing, grinning at the chaos.
When the roar subsided, the kids stared at him in awe, their ears standing on end.
¡°That was awesome!¡± one of them squeaked.
¡°I¡¯m not done yet,¡± Ethan teased, his eye twinkling with mischief. ¡°Let¡¯s see if I can blow you all away. Literally.¡±
He lifted into the air once more, his body glowing faintly as he prepared his next attack. ¡°This one¡¯s called Wing Buffet. Hold on to your hats¡ªoh wait, that¡¯s me!¡±
CAN YOU PERHAPS CALM DOWN? EVEN JUST A LIT-
C¡¯mon, Sys, look at their little faces! Ethan chuckled as he watched the adoring eyes of the rabbits. Guess I¡¯ve got a bit of showman spirit in me.
He summoned up Wing Buffet and felt his shoulders contract. This time, a distinct sense of motion crawled up his spine. He looked back, seeing two skeletal, black wings emerge from his shoulder blades and curl up to ready their strike. To a human of the surface, he would look like an avenging angel of death.
But to the Hopla down here, he looked like a messiah that could rival Krea herself.
With a powerful flap of his wings a gust of wind shot out in all directions, sending the Hopla children tumbling and rolling across the floor in a flurry of giggles. Some of them held onto their ears, trying not to get swept away, while others tumbled into one another like a pile of fluffy dominoes.
Ethan landed softly, surveying the scene with satisfaction. ¡°Not bad, right? I didn¡¯t blow you all away, did I?¡±
The kids were too busy giggling to respond, their eyes wide with excitement.
¡°Now,¡± Ethan said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, ¡°how about a little game?¡±
¡°A game?¡± the kids chorused, hopping to their feet, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Ethan winked¡ªwell, metaphorically¡ªand said, ¡°How about we play a little hide-and-seek? But I warn you¡ªI¡¯m really good at hiding.¡±
With a soft mutter, Ethan activated his favorite ability.
In an instant, he faded from view, blending seamlessly into the shadows. The children gasped in astonishment, their eyes darting around the room, trying to catch a glimpse of him.
¡°Where¡¯d he go?¡± one whispered, hopping on tiptoes to get a better view.
¡°I¡¯ll give you a hint,¡± Ethan¡¯s voice echoed playfully through the room, though his form remained unseen. ¡°If you can find me, I¡¯ll show you another trick.¡±
The room was filled with the sound of scurrying paws and gleeful giggles as the children fanned out, searching every nook and cranny. Fauna, watching from the sidelines, smiled warmly. It wasn¡¯t often the kids got a break from their usual lessons, and watching them play hide-and-seek with a legendary Archon was a memory they would cherish forever.
Ethan, hidden expertly in the rafters, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he watched the kids scamper around, their fluffy tails twitching as they searched high and low.
¡°Maybe I¡¯m up here¡ or maybe I¡¯m not!¡± he teased, his voice echoing through the room once more.
You are just as much a child as they are!
Maybe I am, Sys, Ethan smiled from the shadows, flitting through the back of the barn and avoiding the ever-watchful magic users Fauna had trained so well. Fuck, maybe all of us should be like kids more often.
He was finally caught by the ingenious girl who had first guided him through the school. As he giggled, moving from place to place like an illusory shadow, the girl had cast a levitation spell to manipulate the stones near the barn where the most children had been searching. As the clusters of pebbles rose into the air, so too did a corner of them shift ever so slightly at the left hand side of the barn¡¯s far wall, and the Hopla had sent a shimmering ball of light in that direction to reveal ¨C tada ¨C the Archon himself.
¡°Found you!¡± the girl squeaked. And instantly she became the hero of the day.
Ethan threw up his arms in mock surrender as the kids descended on him, jumping around like human children hyped up on too much candy. But his eyes watched the astute girl as she approached, with Fauna smiling a radiant smile beside her.
¡°I¡¯m guessing this one¡¯s your star pupil,¡± Ethan noted as the girl approached.
She looked up at Fauna who nodded once, but it seemed her bravery was beginning to depart her. She hid behind her teacher as though she were in trouble.
And for a moment, Ethan saw someone else hiding there. Not a Hopla girl in the darkness of this other world. But a kid who was in a playground on earth, hiding away from the teachers who told him he needed to pick a path in life and stick to it at all costs¡
¡°Hey, kid,¡± Ethan said. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
The girl answered after a slight gulp, aware that all her classmates were watching her. ¡°Um, Mara, Mr Eth-woah!¡±
Ethan had taken up the bunny-child like a trophy, and sat her on his shoulders.
¡°Well, Miss Mara,¡± he said. ¡°As a reward for defeating the Archon, you may see the world atop his back!¡±
The girl grabbed onto his hat-form as he spun around and whipped up a few Wing Buffets to take the girl speeding through the school-cavern, all her little friends following along in glee.
¡°M-Miss Fauna!¡± the girl called down. ¡°Are¡can Mr Ethan stay for the big show tonight?¡±
Ethan stopped abruptly before he bashed into a rather mean looking stalactite.
¡°Big show?¡± he asked Fauna¡¯s laughing face.
The Hopla teacher cast knowing looks at her students before smiling up at him.
¡°Mr Ethan,¡± she said. ¡°The class has one last thing to show you.¡±
50. [Future]
Ethan allowed Mara and her friends to guide him to the very end of their schoolyard ¨C to a secret wall at the edge of the cavern that opened out to a stage set high above Sanctum¡¯s city core. Below, the artificial lights of the city gleamed somewhat brighter than usual. Hybrids of all stripes stood to attention, their eyes upturned to the very stage the children took high above them all.
According to Mara, the class had been working on a special little project for the city for months under Fauna¡¯s careful instruction. She had promised them that when she came back from the Archon¡¯s second Delve, she¡¯d be there to see it.Tonight was the night.
Ethan watched as the citizens gathered below. His silver eyes scanned the narrow streets for Klax and Tara, but he found neither of them. For her part, Fauna stood in front of her students, giving them some final words of encouragement as they huddled together, twitching with excitement.
"Alright, kiddos," Fauna said, clapping her hands to get their attention. "You¡¯ve practiced hard for this. Remember, it''s all about control and focus. Let¡¯s show everyone what you¡¯ve got!"
She¡¯s like a totally different person with these tykes, Ethan thought. I guess¡hell¡maybe I didn¡¯t know my team like I thought I did.
The children nodded vigorously, their eyes bright with determination. Young Mara then took it upon herself to throw her arms wide and address the befuddled Ethan:
¡°I hope you¡¯re ready, Mr. Ethan!¡± she called out, her voice high-pitched but full of excitement.
Ethan chuckled, glancing down at the tiny Hopla with his crimson eye. ¡°I¡¯m always ready, kid. Knock my metaphorical socks off.¡±
The children spread out across the stage, their little paws raised in unison as they chanted softly, drawing in the magic that Fauna had taught them. Sparks of multicolored light began to flicker from their fingertips, swirling together in the air above them. The first few bursts of light shot up like glowing embers, trailing glittering sparks in their wake.
Then, with a loud crackle, the night sky exploded into a vibrant display of colors. Cascading fireworks burst into brilliant blues, greens, and purples, filling the sky with dazzling light. Streams of magic swirled in mesmerizing patterns, creating shapes of stars, moons, and even tiny rabbits that hopped across the heavens.
¡°Oho!¡± Ethan¡¯s demon eye widened in genuine amazement as a giant spiral of golden light twisted upward, unraveling into a shimmering burst of crimson. Sys, you seeing this?
Hmpf.
Such a wasteful display of magic. If Kaedmon saw this -
Fuck Kaedmon, Ethan interrupted. Don¡¯t even try to deny that you¡¯re impressed. Your Archon commands you to show your feelings.
The crowd of hybrids below cheered in awe, their faces illuminated by the brilliance of the display. Fauna, normally reserved, seemed to explode into life with them, sending streaks of her own Wildglance magic high into the air ¨C some of the fireworks morphing into exploding plumbs or cookies that melted into starlight.
Looking at her right now, Ethan could tell she didn¡¯t care if her magic messed up, sometimes. What mattered was that she could put on a show.
Super magic awesome¡
As the fireworks grew more complex, the children began to cast more intricate spells, launching dazzling pinwheels of color that spun in the air before bursting into cascades of sparkling dust. One particularly adventurous Hopla sent up a streak of silver that exploded into a dozen tiny orbs of light, which scattered across the sky like falling stars.
Fauna watched her students with pride, her hands clasped in front of her as she whispered gentle words of guidance to those still perfecting their spells.
But the grand finale was what truly took Ethan¡¯s breath away. With a final, synchronized gesture, the entire class raised their paws, and a massive burst of magic erupted from the courtyard, shooting into the sky and forming an enormous arch of light. The arch shimmered with every color of the rainbow, creating a radiant bridge that stretched over the city of Sanctum, bathing the entire place in a warm, ethereal glow.
For a moment, everything was still. The air hummed with the afterglow of magic, and the citizens of Sanctum stood in awed silence, their faces upturned to the heavens.
¡°Alright,¡± he called out, unable to suppress a grin. ¡°That was damn near the best thing I¡¯ve seen since I got here. You guys earned yourselves a round of applause.¡±
The children beamed, their ears twitching with pride as the entire city erupted into cheers. Fauna gave Ethan a warm, knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
¡°Did we do good, Mr Ethan?¡± the sweaty, panting form of Mara then asked him.
The Archon smiled as warmly as a possessed Undead warlord could.
¡°I¡¯ll give it to ya, kid¡± he muttered as he patted the top of her fluffy head. ¡°You know how to put on a show.¡±
As the night rolled on, and the Hopla children (finally) grew weary, tuckered out from the excitement of the day, Ethan was afforded some time to himself overlooking Sanctum from their stage. Fauna had gone to put the tykes to their beds ¨C an activity she often left to the older kids in the school. Tonight, however, with some down time, she decided she would see to them personally.
She¡¯s got the instincts of a mother and big-sister rolled into one, Ethan remarked to himself as he cast his eyes over his skill list.
Getting ideas, ¡®Mr Ethan?¡¯
Not of that nature, Ethan smiled. It was no lie. His mind was elsewhere. Motivated by the exertions of the Hopla kids, he was looking forward ¨C for once. In his old life there had been no need to contemplate the future. Here, suddenly, he was beginning to understand that the future was everything.
And the future of everyone in Sanctum was depending on him and his skills. It was time to check just how far he''d come:Stolen story; please report.
Current Spirit Cores: 124
---[Hat] Skills---
Can witness the memories of [Hosts]
Spirit Core Cost to increase: 600
Can transfer up to 3 skills from one Host to another, in addition to any previously transferred skills
Spirit Core Cost to Increase: 1000
Appraisal can now allow you to see enemies through solid surfaces.
Spirit Core Cost to Increase: 600
-
Transmogrification (Grade D)
Can Transmogrify items of {Mithril} quality or lower
Spirit Core cost to Increase: 600
---Current Host---
Valgraiva, Lord of the Damned
LVL: 50
[Core Stats]
HP: 950/950
WILL: 1000/1000
MP: 150/150
STR: 60
DEX: 45
SPD: 50
CHA: 30
---Host Skills---
[Mass Hide] unlocked. X4 DMG from successful sneak attacks
Spirit Core cost to upgrade 200
Paralyzes enemies. -50% armor Prot. Applies status effect [SLUGGISH] for 2 minutes.
Spirit Cores to increase: 280
(AOE) Repels enemies up to 50ft away who fail a STR check.
Spirit Cores to increase: 250
Dive DMG: 85
Dive can now be used to destroy objects of STR 60 or lower.
Spirit Cores to increase: 250
You slather your weapon in the virulent poison composed from your own blood, giving your weapon the [POIS] attribute.
[POIS] type: Pale Lord Venom.
-5HP/sec
Duration: 10 secs
Spirit Core cost to Upgrade: 200
-
Paralysis Coating (Grade E)
You slather your weapon in the debilitating bile closest to your heart, giving your weapon the [PETRI] attribute for 10 secs.
[PETRI] Chance: 30%
Duration: 10 secs.
Spirit Core cost to Upgrade: 250
Shadow DMG 90 pts in a 30ft arc.
MP Cost: 10 pts
Spirit Core Cost to upgrade: 400
-
Repulsor Shield (Grade E)
You heft your mighty shield, nullifying magical attacks completely up to certain magnitude of DMG.
Current {MAG} DMG Prot: 85
Spirit Core cost to upgrade: 250
You draw upon the powers of darkness to forge a spectral soldier from the shadows.
Summon {Undead} (Shadow Wraith) x1 for 60 seconds.
Spirit Core Cost to upgrade: 250
---Current Equipment---
{Mithril} Broadsword (RARE)
DMG: 25-35
Armor of the Damned Legion
DMG Prot: 40
He¡¯d never really taken the time to look at his skills holistically. Normally the speed between battles necessitated a quick spree of upgrades after each one, his eyes focusing on that which seemed most useful in the moment. Now, looking at them as a unit, he could see new posibilites. Synergies he hadn¡¯t even thought about were coming into his mind. But what was really grabbing him right now was the next upgrade of his bread and butter: Possession.
He looked at the skill and widened his new silver lenses. If he was reading it right¡it was going to be a very interesting upgrade, indeed¡
¡°Ethan?¡±
Fauna¡¯s voice broke through his concentration, and he closed his skill window as she approached ¨C just as tired out as the kids were by the look of her scruffy ears.
¡°Well, there she is,¡± Ethan beamed. ¡°Miss Fauna, in the flesh. Mage and inspiration to the new generation of Sanctum¡¯s Hoplas.¡±
The girl shook her head weakly. ¡°Oh, please don¡¯t call me that. It¡¯s¡y¡¯know.¡±
¡°Embarrassing?¡±
¡°¡yeah.¡±
¡°Faun, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. The fact is, you¡¯re a better teacher than any I¡¯ve ever known.¡±
The Hopla giggled timidly, but she didn¡¯t blush as she came forward to sit beside him. She brushed a stray hair out her eye as a low wind whipped through Sanctum¡¯s slumbering tunnels, watching those who still lined the streets with Ethan.
¡°You had teachers in your world, Ethan?¡±
¡°If you could call them that,¡± he grimaced. ¡°Sure, they weren¡¯t all bad, but they never seemed to care as much as you do. What I saw in there was nothing short of an educational miracle.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not so special. I¡¯m just doing what I can.¡±
She sighed deeply as the lights of the city finally dimmed out.
¡°Those kids put on brave faces just like I did when I was that age. We Hopla are intensely social, Ethan. When one of us is down, the Burrow comforts them as a whole. We need each other more than any other species in Argwyll does. It¡¯s why we tend to mate at a¡young age. And when we mate, we mate for life.¡±
Ethan felt the girl tense up suddenly, perhaps thinking she was saying too much. He was about to speak up when she went on,
¡°Sometimes I wonder¡am I doing enough? But then I think that if someone like me ¨C a magical screw up ¨Ccan make a difference to a single kid¡¯s life. Well, maybe that¡¯s enough.¡±
She caught Ethan staring at her and immediately grew flustered. But, again, she didn¡¯t apologize this time. And she didn¡¯t move away.
¡°If¡if you get what I¡¯m saying?¡±
¡°I do,¡± Ethan nodded. ¡°And the one thing you¡¯re wrong about is this: you aren¡¯t a screw up. Actually, the fact you make mistakes is what makes you such a good teacher. The kids probably feel like they¡¯re allowed to be wrong when they see things go wrong for you sometimes. They feel like they can experiment and not be judged. That¡¯s ¨C well ¨C that¡¯s damn important for a kid.¡±
Ethan lapsed into silence as Fauna slowly nodded.
¡°I¡¯ve never thought about it like that.¡±
Ethan was too absorbed in the sudden thought that took him ¨C of his school days ¨C that he didn¡¯t see the rabbitgirl reach a hand towards his shoulder and ¨C
¡°BOO!¡±
Fauna almost fell from the stage to the craggy rocks below. The Hopla basically jumped out of her skin, while Ethan merely turned to see who he¡¯d already sensed was approaching them from behind.
The mischievous face of Tara the Minxit appeared out of the shadows.
¡°T-Tara!¡± Fauna cried. ¡°How long have you been-¡°
¡°Standing here? Long enough, my dear Hopla. Long enough.¡±
Ethan just laughed as she taunted Faun, and waved for her to join them.
¡°Pull up a rock, Tara? It¡¯s quite a night. And unless those teleporters are back up and running, we might as well make the most of it.¡±
She uncrossed her arms and marched towards the pair, lowering her voice surreptitiously and ignoring Fauna¡¯s clear irritation.
¡°Nah,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve got something better in mind.¡±
¡°Something stupid again?¡±
She nodded. ¡°Stupid and fun, this time, my dearest teammates. Will you both join me for the heist of the century?¡±
Even Fauna¡¯s eyebrows raised at the mention of that word.
¡°Tara¡what are you-¡°
¡°Theft,¡± Ethan shrugged. ¡°Well, it''s marginally better than a massacre. But if this is about settling some personal score with some other Minxit that owes you money¡¡±
¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing crazy. A trifle, really. You won¡¯t even know you¡¯re carrying him.¡±
¡°¡him?¡±
¡°Oh yeah,¡± the Minxit replied. ¡°We¡¯re gonna kidnap Klax.¡±
51. [Dognappers]
The streets of Sanctum were deathly quiet as Tara led Ethan and Fauna through the shadowy alleyways. Despite the silence, there was a buzz of excitement in the air¡ªone that had, according to Tara, been carefully hidden from the gruff wolfman they were sneaking up on.
The Minxit had met Ethan and Fauna¡¯s questioning eyes with glee, delighting in telling them why they apparently needed to spirit away old Klax tonight. Once she¡¯d revealed her intent, and the motivations behind this prank, Ethan shook his head at just how brazen this kitten was.
¡°You¡¯re a mad genius, Tara,¡± he told her. ¡°With just a little too much emphasis on the mad.¡±
¡°Like you¡¯re complaining,¡± she replied as she then led them both down the cavern towards the castle battlements.
They passed the dimly lit shop-fronts and ramshackle housing units without making a single sound. Tara had taken the lead with a mischievous glint in her eye, while Fauna¡¯s long ears twitched nervously. Ethan moved silently beside them, using Mass Hide to cloak their presence, a soft shimmer occasionally betraying their outline as they passed by the dim glow of torchlight.
"This feels...wrong," Fauna whispered, her soft voice barely audible as they approached the grand castle where Klax¡¯s chambers were located. "I mean, kidnapping Klax like this? Even if¡if its for the right reason,are you sure we should be doing this?"
Ethan smirked, glancing at Tara, who was grinning from ear to ear. "You heard her. This is all part of the plan, Faun. Besides, it¡¯s not really kidnapping if it¡¯s for a good cause, right, Miss Fauna?"
As Fauna blushed and begged Ethan not to call her that again, Tara chuckled softly. "Exactly. Trust me, Faun, it''s all gonna be worth it. You¡¯ll see."
Fauna bit her lip but nodded, though her uncertainty still lingered. She glanced down at her paws as if trying to remind herself that she could back out if needed, but Ethan¡¯s reassuring nod seemed to settle her nerves, if only slightly.
The grand castle loomed ahead, its towering spires casting long shadows across the cobblestone courtyard. Ethan was quietly impressed by the sheer size and elegance of the place. The Sanctum might¡¯ve been their hideaway, but the grandeur of the castle was a testament to the ancient history it held within its walls. Even in the dead of night, with the streets empty and the torches flickering, the place seemed alive with secrets.
As they ascended the wide stone steps, Ethan pulled the group to a stop and checked their surroundings. "Tara, you sure Klax has no idea about this?"
Tara flicked her tail in amusement. "Please. You really think Klax pays attention to anything that doesn¡¯t involve him grumbling about tactics or battle plans?"
Ethan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "Fair point."
¡°Besides,¡± she added. ¡°The old dog needs this. It¡¯s for his own damn good.¡±
They crept inside, the echo of their footsteps muffled by Ethan¡¯s magic. Every inch of the castle was covered in ornate tapestries and polished stone floors. The hallway leading to Klax''s chambers was long and narrow, lit only by the soft glow of wall-mounted torches. It was eerily quiet.
Tara suddenly halted, holding up a hand as they approached the door to Klax¡¯s quarters. "Hold up," she whispered. "See that rune? Arctic Wind trap. Touch it, and we¡¯ll all be frozen solid faster than you can say ¡®happy birthday.¡¯"
Ethan squinted, noticing the faint shimmer of the rune etched into the floor. It was practically invisible in the dim light, and he could only imagine how many would¡¯ve fallen victim to it without Tara¡¯s sharp eyes.
"Good catch," he whispered back. ¡°But what does Klax need traps for? He expecting trouble?"
¡°It¡¯s a holdover from the old days of Sanctum,¡± Tara shrugged. ¡°Before you got here we used ta have quite a problem with thievery, y¡¯know.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Ethan caught Fauna¡¯s eye boring into Tara¡¯s back, as if to say, ''and I wonder how you know about that, Tara?''
¡°Well then,¡± he whispered as he turned his attention to the shimmering air just above the trap. ¡°Let¡¯s see how it likes this.¡±
He raised his hand and summoned one of his newly acquired abilities¡ªSummon Wraith. From the shadows behind them, a dark, ghostly figure appeared, its wispy form rippling as it moved soundlessly toward the trap. Ethan gave a nod, and the shadow obeyed, gliding over the rune. As it touched the magical seal, the rune flared bright blue, and an icy wind howled through the hall, freezing the Wraith in place.
The trap was sprung, leaving a frozen shadow stuck above it. Tara smirked in satisfaction.
"Good work," she whispered.
Sorry, dude, Ethan thought as he saw the shadow¡¯s open-mouthed cry that never came. Next time, promise I¡¯ll use you for something more epic.
With the trap neutralized, the trio slipped past and pushed open the heavy oak door to Klax¡¯s quarters. Inside, the hulking wolfman was fast asleep, sprawled across his bed, his massive arms hanging lazily over the sides. His chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm, completely unaware of the mischief about to unfold.
"Alright, Fauna," Tara whispered, motioning for the mage to step forward. "Time for the real fun. Hit him with a Deep Slumber spell, just to make sure he doesn¡¯t wake up too early."
Fauna hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She raised her staff, a soft glow forming at its tip as she muttered the incantation under her breath. The magic washed over Klax like a blanket, and his already deep sleep grew even heavier.
But then something...odd happened.
Or something expected, considering the Hopla in question.
A small ripple of pinkish-hued magic shimmered around him, and Tara''s eyes went wide with amusement.
Ethan noticed too, and before he could stop himself, he snorted, trying to stifle his laughter. Tara, however, wasn¡¯t as subtle.
"Oh...oh by Gyko," she wheezed, doubling over in silent laughter. "You...you really did it, Fauna!"
Fauna blinked in confusion, her eyes darting between the two of them, sraining her eyes to see through the pink mist that enveloped Klax¡¯s body. "What? What did I do?"
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Don¡¯t worry, Faun. You¡¯ll see soon enough."
The scene in the grand hall of the castle was far more regal than anything Ethan had expected. Long tables lined with food stretched across the room, and grand chandeliers glittered overhead, casting a warm glow over the gathered hybrids. The hall was buzzing with excitement¡ªeveryone was in on the surprise. Laughter and whispers filled the air as they awaited the final guest of honor.
At the far end of the hall, Klax¡¯s still-sleeping form was carried in by a couple of the burlier hybrids, gently set down in the center of the room. Just as planned, Fauna¡¯s spell was wearing off.
Klax stirred, his groggy eyes fluttering open. His brows furrowed in confusion as he took in his surroundings, sitting up slowly. "What the¡ª"
Before he could finish his thought, a chorus of voices rang out. "Happy birthday, Klax!"
The wolfman blinked, his confusion slowly morphing into an expression of shock. His usual stoic demeanor faltered as he looked around the hall, processing the surprise celebration. Before him sat a sponge cake decorated with care, the words ¡®Klax¡¯ slathered across it with something black and viscous that he assumed was icing. Just as he was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of himself in one of the mirrors hanging along the wall.
Klax froze.
There, staring back at him in the reflection, wasn¡¯t a fearsome wolfman. No, instead, his fur had turned stark black and white¡ªstriped like a skunk. His snout was smaller, his tail fluffy and raised, as if ready to spray.
The hall erupted into laughter, Tara doubling over in hysterics.
Klax¡¯s face twisted, his fangs baring as he looked down at his transformed body. For a moment, everyone held their breath, wondering if they¡¯d gone too far. Then, a low rumble started deep in his chest¡ªa growl?
In the back of the room, Ethan tensed. For a moment he thought the old grizzled veteran would jump at them in fury.
But No. The sound echoing from his skunkish throat right now was not one of fury. It was laughter.
He threw back his head and laughed¡ªa deep, genuine sound that reverberated through the hall. "A skunk?! Really, Fauna?"
Fauna blushed deeply but giggled along with the others. "I-I¡¯m sorry!"
Klax waved it off, still laughing, looking with tear-filled eyes at the cake sitting before him.
¡°You know what? This is exactly what I deserve.¡±
¡°Klax, I ¨C I really didn¡¯t mean-¡°
He jumped on top of her head, laying his new fluffy tail over her face.
¡°Who needs surprises when we have you, Fauna?¡± he said. ¡°But if you¡¯d be so kind as to polymorph me back, I believe I owe the Archon and a certain Minxit both a punch.¡±
Everyone laughed, even louder this time, as the party continued in full swing. And for the first time in a long while, Ethan saw Klax let his guard down completely, surrounded by friends and laughter.
Even if he did smell just a little shittier than usual, it looked like this was just what the old dog needed. And as that thought filled Ethan, he suddenly remembered just why it was so important.
They¡¯d all have to be at the top of their game to face a Grade C Delve. If the last two were any indication, they¡¯d be in for the fight of their lives.
52. [Party] Crashers
If Ethan had to sum up the atmosphere of Klax¡¯s party in one word, it would be ''cathartic''.
The whole grand hall of the palace had been redecorated for the occasion ¨C its chandeliers and long tables polished to perfection. Once again, Ethan found himself in awe of the hybrids ability to make the most of their situation. Around him were people who had come together in celebration of one of their eldest ¨C the man who was currently receiving gifts from those closest to him.
¡°Be taking thissss, good master Klaxxxx,¡± Frax the ratman was currently saying as he offered the bemused wolfman a flask of incense that looked equal parts alluring and utterly diabolical in its makeup. ¡°Disssstilled from Lady Gyko¡¯s glandssss themssssevlessss.¡±
¡°How¡fortuitous,¡± Klax replied as those around him began to chuckle. ¡°Thank you, Brother Frax..¡±
Ethan stood alone ¨C something he had often done in those few parties he¡¯d went to back home. Those were house parties, mainly ¨C occasions for pre-drinks before the senses were obliterated during club nights or the Karaoke bars that dotted his home city. The latter he actually did enjoy, though his current Undead throat didn¡¯t have much talent for singing.
Someone who did though was little Miss Fauna. As the night rolled on, she had drunkenly stumbled over to him and asked him about his ¡®cultural heritage¡¯ as a human ¨C probably half out of curiosity and half out of the desire to mingle with him during the party. Now, Ethan could have snatched the booze from the Hopla¡¯s hands and told her she¡¯d had enough, or¡he could do what he did instead.
¡°Where I come from,¡± he told her surreptitiously. ¡°There is an ancient song sung by our ancestors to commemorate the birthdays of our greatest champions.¡±
He told her the song¡¯s name and she nodded furiously, committing the words to memory as he elaborated, trying to hold back his laughter in the face of her seriousness.
Presently she was talking with Klax ¨C probably receiving an apology from the birthday wolf judging by the latter¡¯s awkward demeanor. He¡¯d said what he¡¯d said to her earlier out of desperation, not spite. She knew that. Ethan knew that. But still, it was nice to see that he knew when he fucked up just like the rest of them did.
Ethan sipped the cold drink in his hands and threw his head back.
I gotta admit, the vibe¡¯s nice here, ain¡¯t it?
You¡¯re asking me?
You¡¯re one of us too, Sys. Whether you believe it or not.
When Sys didn¡¯t reply, Ethan caught the eyes of a rather regal-looking Tabika. A lizardwoman carrying a ruby stave in her hand ¨C its color matching the fluorescent shade of her eyes. Her turquoise scales glimmered off the dim lights of the chandeliers above, emboldened by her cream-crimson robe. As she glided towards Ethan, nodding to him in respectful recognition, he was put in mind of a kaleidoscope of moving colors.
¡°Lord Ethan,¡± she said ¨C her voice deep and gravely. ¡°It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person.¡±
¡°The pleasure¡¯s mine,¡± Ethan replied, surprised by her formality. ¡°Miss..?¡±
¡°Lamphrey,¡± she said with a slight curtsy. ¡°Lamphrey of Darkwater Bay ¨C though these days, that title means less than nothing.¡±
¡°Lamphrey¡so you¡¯re the mage I¡¯ve been hearing about. The one who helps Fauna with her kids¡the one who¡¯s teams been trying to fix the portals.¡±
¡°''Trying'' being the operative word,¡± the lizardwoman sighed, coming to stand beside him. ¡°We¡¯ve been working tirelessly for the past 24 hours and ¨C finally ¨C I¡¯m pleased to report that we¡¯ll be finished probably by the time Klax¡¯s celebration has concluded.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡that¡¯s great!¡± Ethan beamed. ¡°Hope it hasn¡¯t stressed you out too much. I feel like I can still hear old Borlor¡¯s anxiety levels hitting the roof as Klax told him to get the portals fixed.¡±
Lamphrey nodded. ¡°If I am being honest, sir, that¡¯s the reason I¡¯m here. I¡¯ve already informed Mr Klax, though he tells me there is no reason to rush these proceedings.¡±
Well, that makes a change¡
¡°If I may,¡± the snake-woman continued, ¡°the Delve you will be entering will not be as those you have seen before. The City of Illusions is a rare dungeon, but those Delves that spawn for the Archon¡¯s normally do so out of necessity ¨C as challenges that can allow each Archon to overcome a particular limitation. They also, in turn, present unique challenges to each Archon ¨C challenges specifically catered to that Archon themselves.¡±
The scaled face of Lamphrey turned ice cold, her eyes boring into Ethan¡¯s crimson demon eye at the base of his hat form. It was as though she were looking right past his physical body into his mind itself.
And for a moment, the whole atmosphere of festivity changed to one of dark glibness.
¡°The City will test your mind,¡± the lizard mage said. ¡°Yours, and those of your companions. And, judging by the chaotic state of the portals, perhaps more than that. Whatever happens, Lord Ethan, you must remember one thing: hold on to reality. Hold on to truth. That thought must be your guide.¡±
Ethan knit his scarred brows at the lizardwoman¡¯s words, but he nodded. She had the air of a knowledgeable sage about her.
¡°Hey,¡± he murmured. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with us? Seems like you know more about this place than we do.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
¡°Only four to a Delve from one side,¡± Lamphrey replied with a slight lisp. ¡°And besides, I¡¯m needed here. Who else will look after the Wild mages of sanctum if I¡¯m gone?¡± she said with a strange twitch that might have been a wink. ¡°But ¨C there is something I can give you that may aid you on your journey. A gift given to me by Jun¡¯Ei herself before her departure from us.¡±
She took Ethan¡¯s pale hand and squeezed it, bringing a small glow of light from her palm into his. There was a moment of friction. Then ¨C burning, almost like he was being branded. He didn¡¯t detect any ill intent from this mage though, and so watched as she concentrated on her operation, coming away with a small sliver of sweat running down her scaly forehead.
Ethan looked down at his hand to see a small circle etched into the pallid skin there ¨C a thin crimson circle with two lines intersecting.
Appraisal: Success!
Glyph acquired: Rune of Memory
¡°Glyph?¡± Ethan asked when his appraisal skill would yield no more.
¡°An old kind of magic,¡± Lamphrey explained. ¡°Magic known only by sages and Prophets of the second age. The time of Gelsadra. A time when the serpents of the world rose up from our temples in the swamplands and followed our Archon into the maw of the Enemy. Glyphs such as these were used to store memories that often had to be erased with the use of a Mind Wipe spell. Otherwise, captured servants of the Archon could reveal precious information to the humans and their beastly Greycloaks.¡±
Ethan could see pride in the snake-mage¡¯s memory, and closed his fist around the new inking in his hand.
¡°It stores memories?¡±
¡°A more powerful tool than you may think, Archon Ethan. Especially where you are going. In the City of Illusions, you will have to hold on to all the good memories you have.¡±
Ethan then spied Tara ambling over to him out the corner of his eye.
¡°Thanks, Lamphrey,¡± he said. ¡°Though I wish there was more I could do for you. You¡¯ve been such a great help to us that I-¡°
When Ethan turned to face her, he saw nothing but stale air where once she¡¯d been.
¡°Do not worry, Ethan Hawke,¡± her voice echoed from somewhere nearby ¨C faded, as though she had taken flight from the party altogether. ¡°There may come a day when you can repay me, soon.¡±
Ethan shuddered as the voice left him, waving to the jovial Minxit who came to rest her back beside his.
That gal¡¯s about as cryptic as you are, Sys¡
¡°Heya, Big A,¡± Tara winked as she joined Ethan. ¡°Penny for your thoughts?¡±
¡°I just thinking how many mysteries there still are in this world, not the least of which are down here.¡±
¡°Oh, really? Surely you don¡¯t mean me. I¡¯m an open book, aint I?¡±
¡°Maybe too open,¡± Ethan sniggered.
¡°Admit it ¨C my plan tonight was executed with perfect precision. With thanks to your skills. Gotta say ¨C that Mass Hide thing is pretty useful.¡±
¡°Sure is,¡± Ethan replied.
They allowed a few moments of silence to pass between them ¨C both watching the lights and the dancers pass them by without a care, totally absorbed in their own frivolity.
¡°We ain¡¯t had a night like this in a long time,¡± Tara suddenly sighed. ¡°It¡¯s ¨C well ¨C it¡¯s nice, y¡¯know?¡±
¡°And here I was thinking you were a heartless, bloodthirsty kitten all this time.¡±
¡°I¡¯m still some of those things,¡± the Minxit retorted, feigning a dramatic pout as though her pride had been wounded. ¡°But ¨C meh. The old dog¡¯s been a sad sack of shit lately. It ain¡¯t good, y¡¯know? We all got baggage down here, but he holds on to his like it means everything to him.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°C¡¯mon, Tara, you must have baggage too.¡±
¡°Well, yeah, but I don¡¯t let it define me.¡±
¡°Sometimes it¡¯s not as simple as that.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it? Fauna does alright. She¡¯s quiet, she¡¯s docile, but even she doesn¡¯t get absorbed in her own misery like ol¡¯ Klaxy does.¡±
Ethan pondered that for a moment ¨C finding the Hopla in the midst of the crowd and smiling as she giggled among friends.
¡°Fauna¡¯s done the right thing,¡± Ethan replied. ¡°She¡¯s taken her trauma and used it to fuel something positive. I think Klax is doing the same thing. I think the fact he¡¯s looking for Jun¡¯Ei is the one thing that keeps him going.¡±
¡°Even if she¡¯s been dead this whole time, Ethan?¡± Tara asked, her devilish eyes fluttering up at the Undead face of the Archon. She kept a smile on her face, but the question was far from a gentle one.
¡°It¡¯s better to believe in something rather than in nothing, Tara, isn¡¯t it? Isn¡¯t that what the party we¡¯re throwing here is all about, really?¡±
At her questioning glance Ethan swept an arm across the function hall.
¡°Everyone here knows we¡¯re risking our lives every time we Delve. Everyone here also knows the Archon¡¯s never won ¨C and this time might be the last shot your kind gets of surviving in this world. Yet here we all are, partying like there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±
Ethan paused, pointing out Klax among the crowd.
¡°Sometimes it¡¯s worth believing the lies you tell yourself,¡± he finished ¨C not really knowing what innate desire compelled him to speak these words. ¡°After all, at least they¡¯re yours.¡±
¡°Ethan the philosopher-Archon,¡± Tara murmured as Klax then approached them. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d see the day¡¡±
The wolfman nodded to both his compatriots, still smelling slightly of his old skunkish form.
¡°I believe I owe you both my thanks,¡± he said as he raised his glass to them. ¡°A well executed plan, if I do say so myself.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t look at me,¡± Ethan laughed. ¡°Whole thing was Tara¡¯s idea.¡±
¡°Was it indeed? Well, then ¨C thank you, Tara.¡±
Ethan noticed the Minxit girl look away from them both, murmuring her next words into her shoulder so that they barely heard them:
¡°¡don¡¯t get used to it. I did it for the team.¡±
¡°Then ¨C you deserve my thanks all the same. For keeping us together.¡±
Ethan noted Klax¡¯s awkward stance, his whiskers twitching and eyes darting around the room as he tried to catch the catgirl¡¯s.
¡°You two really need to kiss and make up, already.¡±
As both his companions started stuttering, each trying to avoid the others¡¯ eyes yet again, Fauna then took to the stage and made an announcement to the partygoers.
¡°T-this one goes out to Klax!¡± she belched amidst the rising laughter of the guests. ¡°It ¨C it is an ancient song from our Archon¡¯s home-dimension!¡±
Tara and Klax dropped their pretenses entirely, each one staring up at Fauna as she sang a song that couldn¡¯t have been more foreign to them all, while the rest of Sanctum listened rapt with attention, cheering the girl on as she belted out every lyric, some of them even joining in with the chorus:
¡°Never gonna give you up!
Never gonna let you down!
Never gonna turn around and ¨C hic! ¨C desert you!
Never gonna make you cry!
Never gonna say goodbye!
Never gonna run around and desert yoooou!¡±
While Ethan tried to hold in the laughter building in his ribs, Tara and Klax merely shook their heads in surprise.
¡°She¡¯s¡eh¡quite the singer, eh?¡±
¡°¡yeah. She is.¡±
And when Ethan couldn¡¯t take it anymore, he threw back his head and roared with laughter that shook the entire hall. As Fauna kept up her ditty, getting into it with more gumption than he¡¯d ever seen anyone put into that song, he looked at the small sigil Lamphrey had imprinted on his hand.
¡°This is a memory I wanna keep,¡± he said to himself. ¡°No matter what happens next.¡±
But what happened next wasn¡¯t anything Ethan could have expected.
As soon as the thought occurred ¨C of enshrining this moment into the sigil ¨C his hand seemed to burn with a blazing, killing light.
¡°Ethan?¡± someone said nearby.
But the voice was faint. Already, Ethan could feel himself falling away into¡into the void.
¡°ETHAN!¡±
The music, the singing, the whole world spun, and with it he felt his consciousness fade away.
Then he fell.
53. [Suit] up
The world had vanished, replaced by¡something else.
His vision darkened around the edges, and he felt his body go limp, collapsing against the wall behind him. He was dimly aware of Tara calling his name, but her voice was soon drowned out by something deeper, more insistent, pulling him away from the present moment.
The vision came like a sudden tidal wave.
Ethan found himself standing in the middle of a vast, unfamiliar city. The landscape was unlike anything he had seen before¡ªsky-scraping spires twisted and stretched toward the heavens, each one shimmering like they were built from glass and smoke. The city shimmered in a haze, almost as if it was an illusion, barely anchored in reality. As he turned to take it all in, a heartbeat pulsed through the air, slow and methodical, as though the city itself was alive.
The City of Illusions¡ Ethan thought, though he wasn¡¯t sure where the knowledge had come from.
The spires of the dream-like city rose around him like organic structures, shifting in shape, their colors constantly shifting between shades of silver, violet, and blue. Then, one tower in particular caught his attention¡ªa large, pulsating structure at the heart of the city. The tower was grotesquely organic, with walls that seemed to breathe, veins of light coursing through its flesh-like surface. The pulsing heartbeat grew louder as Ethan stared at it, each beat reverberating through the ground beneath his feet.
A voice broke through the vision, fragmented and ethereal like whispers carried on the wind.
Ethan¡
The voice was like nothing he¡¯d ever heard before. Soft, yet insistent. Pained, yet proud. And with a tone that seemed to conjure a sense of nostalgia, somehow¡like one of his past lives recognized it.
¡Archon.
He nodded in the void, feeling weightless and listless. It was like walking through a pool of treacle that he couldn¡¯t see.
Find me¡in¡ the tower, the voice instructed, and only now did Ethan realize that it was a woman¡¯s voice, familiar yet distant.
Jun¡¯Ei¡
Ethan''s vision zoomed in on the grotesque tower, the focus narrowing as though the entire city fell away, leaving only the beating structure in front of him. He saw himself standing before a door¡ªancient and covered in a dense mesh of roots and vines. Behind it, something called to him, something buried deep within.
Inside¡must¡find the chamber¡tell you how... the voice came again, more clear this time, but still fragmented. Break¡Kaedmon¡¯s Law¡
Ethan strained to listen, his pulse quickening as the tower¡¯s pulse quickened in tandem. The voice¡¯s urgency escalated.
Only¡there¡Ethan¡
Suddenly, the vision shifted, the tower fading as blurry images began to flash before his eyes¡ªvague at first, but then sharper. He saw glimpses of Artorious, his eyes blazing with cold determination, flanked by the Greycloaks. Their forms marched through shadowed lands, their armor glinting under a pale light. Ethan couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying, but the sight of them sent a shiver down his spine.
Then, Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s voice rang out, clear and cryptic: They are coming.
Ethan felt a jolt, like his entire body was yanked back into reality. His eyes flew open, gasping for air as his vision came back into focus. He was no longer in the City of Illusions but slumped against the wall of the great hall where Klax¡¯s party had been brought to an abrupt halt. Klax, Tara, and Fauna were all gathered around him, their faces etched with concern.
"Hey, Ethan!" Tara was shaking his shoulder. "What the hell happened? You collapsed!"
Fauna¡¯s wide eyes were full of worry, her hands glowing faintly with magic, as if she¡¯d been trying to revive him.
Ethan¡¯s chest heaved as he tried to find the words, his breath ragged. He reached out, grabbing Klax¡¯s arm with firm fingers.
"Jun¡¯Ei¡" he coughed, his voice hoarse. "She¡ she¡¯s¡"
Klax¡¯s expression changed immediately, a deep, knowing look flashing across his wolfish eyes. He knelt down beside Ethan, his grip firm but steady on Ethan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I knew it. I knew it all along,¡± Klax said quietly.
Tara and Fauna exchanged confused glances, but Klax didn¡¯t wait to explain. His expression hardened with resolve as he stood up, his voice carrying across the hall.
¡°Everyone, suit up,¡± Klax barked, his usual calm demeanor replaced with urgency. ¡°We¡¯re going to the final Delve.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The City of Illusions stretched out before Artorious like a dream warped into a nightmare. The shimmering, ghostly light of the city played tricks on the eye, twisting reality and making the sprawling structures seem to shift like vapor. Beneath his boots, the ground was slick with the ghostly blood of the Dreamstrider mantas¡ªthe once-majestic creatures that glided through the illusory city, now reduced to torn remnants.
Artorious stood over hundreds of their bodies, his breath slow and steady despite the carnage around him. His Onixia blade gleamed with the strange, ethereal fluid that spilled from their broken forms, the blade itself reflecting the pale light in a way that made it look as though it too were part of the illusions. But there was nothing illusory about the bodies beneath his feet, nor the weight of the mission ahead.
His team of Greycloaks stood with him, equally bloodied but silent as they stared at the towering structure before them¡ªthe Nerve Tower. The grotesque, living spire pulsed, veins of light traveling up its organic surface like a heartbeat, reminding them all that this place was alive in some deep, unsettling way. Artorious watched it with unblinking eyes, his grip on the Onixia blade tight.
From behind him, Carliah¡¯s voice broke the silence, a teasing edge lacing her words. ¡°Quite the slaughter, isn¡¯t it, Artorious? Hundreds of Dreamstriders, all ghostly and beautiful, and you didn¡¯t even blink. But tell me¡¡± She stepped forward, her black eyes gleaming with mischief. ¡°Are you truly prepared for what¡¯s ahead?¡±
Artorious didn¡¯t respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the beating tower, its rhythmic pulse matching the steady tempo of his own heartbeat. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the strange, otherworldly aroma of the dream-like city. Carliah¡¯s taunting voice didn¡¯t stir him¡ªnot yet.
¡°I¡¯ve been prepared since Gyko¡¯s death,¡± he said, his voice cold and resolute. He sheathed the Onixia blade with a practiced motion, its dark glow fading as it disappeared into the scabbard.
Carliah¡¯s grin widened, her voice dripping with condescension. ¡°You know what you¡¯re going to see in there, don¡¯t you?¡±
For a brief moment, Artorious hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he finally turned his gaze toward her. There was a flicker of something in his expression¡ªa shadow, perhaps, of the past that clung to him like a curse. Carliah stepped closer, sensing his brief moment of hesitation and pressing her advantage.
¡°Doesn¡¯t it bother you?¡± she whispered, her voice soft and venomous. ¡°After all this time? The utter disdain your brothers and sisters have for you? The way they look at you¡ªlike a reminder of everything they wish they could forget.¡±
Artorious¡¯s jaw clenched. His hands tightened into fists at his sides, but he refused to let the weight of her words sink too deep. Instead, he met her gaze with a hard, unflinching stare. ¡°What do you want me to say, Carliah? That I¡¯m haunted by my past? That the ghosts of those I failed keep me from having anything but restless dreams?¡±
He took a step toward her, the full force of his presence pressing down like a storm cloud ready to break. ¡°I know my failings, and I know what you all think of me. I wouldn¡¯t be here if I didn¡¯t. But it won¡¯t stop me from doing what needs to be done.¡±
For a long moment, neither spoke. The weight of Artorious¡¯s words hung in the air like the pulse of the tower behind them. The other Greycloaks remained silent, watching their leader with a mixture of respect and guarded suspicion. Artorious¡¯s resolve was ironclad, but his history with them was far more complicated.
Without waiting for a response, Artorious turned and strode toward the tower¡¯s entrance. The heavy, fleshy doors seemed to part for him as if the tower itself recognized his approach. He didn¡¯t look back as he stepped inside, the darkness of the tower swallowing him whole.
The other Greycloaks followed in silence, one by one, their armor clinking softly as they passed through the threshold. Carliah lingered at the entrance for a moment longer, shaking her head with a wry smile as she watched Artorious disappear into the shadows.
Well, well, Arty, she mused to herself, stepping through the fleshy doorway. Maybe there¡¯s some of the old Lightborn spirit still in you, after all. The question is¡ will that be enough?
All of Sanctum watched the procession of Ethan and his Hybrids as they marched towards the portal chamber.
The excitement of Klax¡¯s party was all but forgotten. Now, the only buzz in the underground kingdom was that of expectation ¨C of the Archon going to fulfill his destiny.
In the wake of Ethan¡¯s vision, Borlor had come running to find them and explain that, as soon as they¡¯d unshackled the portal, a blinding light had shot out from it in a ring that covered the entire Sanctum.
¡°It was like ¨C like some kinda scream,¡± the Dixit coughed, twitching his conal nose in the face of the determined Klax.
¡°A psychic wave,¡± Lamphrey explained as she walked beside them, having quietly reappeared like a specter in the night. ¡°The residual energies of a consciousness trapped there in the Delve. And a powerful one, at that.¡±
¡°It¡¯s her,¡± Klax said as he quickened his pace.
Tara rushed to keep up, here eyes darting from Ethan to Klax, and even to Fauna ¨C seeing nothing but determination in their faces.
¡°Look, how can you be sure? Did ya actually see Jun¡¯Ei, Ethan?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t have to,¡± he replied. ¡°That kind of power was¡beyond anything I¡¯ve felt before.¡±
¡°It¡¯s her,¡± Klax said again, his fangs flaring in both excitement and trepidation while the hybrids on the streets looked on in awe. ¡°It¡¯s he-¡°
¡°This could be a trap!¡± Tara roared, standing in front of him before he entered the portal chamber. ¡°Just think about it ¨C isn¡¯t this exactly what the Lightborn wants? For us to go rushing off into the unknown like this? If he¡¯s really there with that woman ¨C Carliah ¨C we gotta be ready, Klax. You know it.¡±
¡°And the more time we waste here discussing this,¡± the wolfman growled in reply. ¡°The more time Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s life fades away.¡±
The portal to the Delve roared behind them ¨C another wave of energy pulsing from its core and almost throwing them off their feet.
¡°It¡¯s stability is wavering!¡± Lamphrey shouted as she rushed to join her mages as they weaved arcs of lightning between the folds of the raging portal. ¡°It is now or never, Archon Ethan!¡±
Ethan took one look at his team and nodded, clasping Tara¡¯s shoulder with a firm, strong hand. He knew that, in this moment, she was wavering. But she knew she couldn¡¯t convince them to back down from the fight that was coming.
¡°Watch our backs, Tara. We need you more than anything, now.¡±
The Minxit looked up at him with an emotion he¡¯d never seen in her face before: fear. And he knew then that this Delve was going to be different.
¡°¡fuck it,¡± she said. ¡°If you really are the last Archon, I ain¡¯t gonna miss your finest moment.¡±
54. The [Dream] Realm
The City of Illusions loomed ahead of them, an ethereal vision of ivory spires and shimmering towers that flickered like translucent ghosts in the twilight. The whole city seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, the air itself alive with strange whispers, though no voices could be heard. As the party stepped into its borders, a vast aurora borealis spread across the sky above, painting the heavens with shimmering blues, greens, and purples. But there was something unsettling about it¡ªfaces, fleeting and distant, appeared in the colored streams, watching the city below as though waiting for something.
The streets were pristine, almost too clean, and felt more like the pale bones of a dream than anything grounded in reality. Even the buildings seemed to sway and blur as if they weren''t fully formed, shifting from solid to translucent whenever you tried to focus on them for too long.
¡°Memory Towers,¡± Fauna breathed, looking on the great spires of the city with awe. ¡°Places where the secrets of Argwyll are stored. Forgotten thoughts from warriors long gone.¡±
"This place... it¡¯s like something out of a fever dream," Ethan muttered, eyes wide as he glanced at the aurora and the shifting faces above. ¡°And it¡¯s practically swarming with Spirit Cores.¡±
Klax nodded grimly, his sharp gaze sweeping the streets as they moved deeper into the city. ¡°The City of Illusions is a place where memories hold power,¡± he explained, his voice low. ¡°It¡¯s presided over by creatures called Dreamstriders¡ªancient beings that feed on the fragments of memories, illusions, and dreams. This city warps reality itself, bending it to the will of those who have power over their own dreams... and nightmares.¡±
¡°And it¡¯s no coincidence you feel the power deep in this place,¡± Fauna said, wiggling her nose as the ethereal wind of the city blew through its pristine innards. ¡°A Grade C Delve is full of creatures that would never be seen on the surface. Here, we¡¯re deep underground, in a place lost to time. Normally an Archon would have to go through a Grade D before getting here. The fact that your System showed you this place already must be for a reason.¡±
¡°And we know what that reason is, now,¡± Klax finished.
As if on cue, the first Dreamstriders appeared¡ªsapphire-and-white manta-like creatures that glided through the air with eerie grace. Their glowing bodies cast a soft light over the streets, each of them large enough to blot out the stars as they passed overhead. They moved silently, their broad wings making slow, rhythmic motions as though they were swimming through an unseen sea of illusions.
Ethan appraised them immediately:
Dreamstrider (LVL 20)
HP: 100
Unique Skill: Ethereal
The ethereal property was immediately familiar. ¡°These things can turn invisible... but they can¡¯t actually attack us,¡± Ethan informed the group with a slight grin. ¡°They¡¯re all show.¡±
¡°That¡¯s... good?¡± Fauna said hesitantly, her eyes darting to the peaceful creatures. ¡°Right?¡±
Tara grinned, flexing her fingers. ¡°So we don¡¯t need to fight them, then. Just keep moving.¡±
Ethan nodded. ¡°Exactly. They¡¯re more like guards, keeping watch over the memories that float through this place. But our goal isn¡¯t them.¡± He pointed toward a tall, looming structure in the distance, one that stood out even in the dreamlike haze of the city. Its base pulsed like a living organism, veined with glowing lines that seemed to beat like a heart.
"The Nerve Tower," Ethan said, a sharp glint in his eye. "That¡¯s where we need to go. It¡¯s just like it was in Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s vision."
The group nodded, moving as one towards the city perimeter, keeping their eyes trained on the ghostly floating ¡®striders that moved gently through the air.
And it didn¡¯t take long for them to see what they were truly going up against, here.
The first main street was lined with corpses ¨C broken bodies of the Dreamstriders lined both sides of the spiritual grounds, some twitching, still phasing in and out of reality with their strange ability. Most had been slaughtered without mercy, the violet streams of their sparkling blood lining the streets.
Ethan bent down to touch one manta that was still in the grip of its death-throes. It¡¯s single eye looked at him in what might have been desperation.
¡°Three guesses who did this,¡± Ethan said over his shoulder.
Fauna shook her pale head at the mounds of bodies. ¡°No mercy. Just like all the Greycloaks. But why bother with them?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t you get it, Faun?¡± Tara scoffed, prodding one of the fallen Dreamstriders with her toe. ¡°They wanna slow him down. They know Ethan draws strength from the more enemies he kills just like the rest of us. So, they came through here to thin the herd.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
She was right. And yet, Ethan instinctively thought there was more to it than just that.
¡°It¡¯s a warning,¡± he said. ¡°He¡¯s telling me he¡¯ll extend no less mercy to anyone who comes looking for him. He knows we¡¯re coming. Hell¡I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it was him who disrupted the portal.¡±
¡°So we are walking into a trap,¡± Tara shrugged.
Klax growled under his breath.
¡°Come on.¡±
¡°Uh, did you not hear me or something dude? Got some of that birthday cake in your ears or-¡°
¡°I heard you, Tara,¡± the Lycae snarled. ¡°And it doesn¡¯t change anything.¡±
Everyone¡¯s eyes flew to Klax¡¯s, seeing that by this point there was no stopping him from charging forward towards his goal. Tara caught Ethan¡¯s eyes, motioned towards the wolfman, and silently begged him to intervene.
¡°We got this, Tara,¡± he said. ¡°Besides, the Lightborn was sloppy. He might have thought he¡¯s choked my Core Supply, but he¡¯s left me something much more valuable right here.¡±
While the party stopped to watch what happened next, Ethan gave just one last command:
¡°Hold my Undead boy,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m gonna make sure this little guy¡¯s skills don¡¯t go to waste.¡±
Skill Transfer¡Complete!
Current Host [Valgraiva, Lord of the Damned]
Skill Transfer: Ethereal Form (Grade E)
Using this skill, your form shimmers out of reality for 5 seconds, nullifying any physical or magic attacks.
WARNING: You will be unable to attack when {Ethereal Form} is activated.
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade: 400
It was something he couldn¡¯t pass up ¨C not when one of the Dreamstriders was right there for the taking. But he wasn¡¯t about to assume its tiny form permanently. Valgraiva¡¯s HP and Core Stats were just too juicy to pass up. Luckily, he was able to transfer his Undead Host¡¯s three major skills with him and back again, though it had required no small effort on the party¡¯s part to restrain Valgraiva with spells and pure strength while Ethan possessed his new host.
It was strange though ¨C whenever he re-possessed an old Host, it almost seemed like they submitted willingly. There was no cooldown, not resistance ¨C no spark of anger that rang out from their head. He was starting to think that maybe they saw him as an opportunity for escape from their lot in life ¨C to be nothing but Bosses to be beaten and then respawned for whatever hapless adventurers happened along¡
Whatever the case, he had his new skill, and he was already thinking about its upgrade path when the party came to a juncture between two shimmering spires. Somewhere, the sound of singing could be heard, and the earth beneath them began to shake ¨C almost like someone was telling them to stop. The group exchanged glances, but before anyone could speak, the soft glow of the city suddenly shifted. The air grew heavier, and the shimmering light in the sky seemed to tremble. Then, without warning, a notification popped up in front of Ethan:
---Challenge Alert---
GAUNTLET: REACH THE NERVE TOWER OUTSKIRTS
Objective: Make it to the Nerve Tower Outskirts within 10 minutes.
Warning: All Dreamstriders in the city will activate upon the challenge¡¯s start. They will hunt you.
Ethan grimaced. ¡°So much for being silent custodians¡¡±
Fauna''s face paled as she read the notification aloud. ¡°Once we start... every Dreamstrider will come after us.¡±
¡°They¡¯ve been peaceful up until now,¡± Tara said, her grin faltering. ¡°But I¡¯m guessing they¡¯re not going to stay that way, huh?¡±
Klax growled softly, his claws flexing. ¡°They may be ethereal, but they can still trap us in illusions, slow us down. That¡¯s how they¡¯ll hunt us.¡±
Ethan looked around, sizing up the Dreamstriders as they silently glided above the city. They hadn¡¯t yet sensed the challenge, but that wouldn¡¯t last for long. He could already feel the weight of time pressing down on them.
¡°Alright,¡± he said, his voice sharp with command. ¡°No point in hesitating. Fauna, we¡¯re going to need speed. Can you whip up something?¡±
Fauna¡¯s eyes glimmered with nervous energy, but she quickly raised her staff, a faint shimmer of magic swirling around her hands. ¡°I can cast a Haste spell on all of us. It won¡¯t last long, but it should help us get a head start.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Ethan said, unsheathing his Mithril Scythe. The blade gleamed in the strange light of the city, and he twirled it in his hands with practiced ease, almost as if his Undead fingers were made for it. ¡°I¡¯ll take point. This baby should be enough to keep those manta-things at bay.¡±
Tara, already drawing her bow, flicked her tail with anticipation. ¡°I¡¯ll keep their numbers down from a distance. These little bastards look tricky, though. Especially with that Ethereal thing. We¡¯ll have to remember its cooldown and time our strikes.¡±
Klax, ever the protector, nodded as he readied his claws. ¡°And I¡¯ll handle any that get too close.¡±
They lined up, staring down the empty, dreamlike streets that wound toward the Nerve Tower. The faces in the sky seemed to shift with growing intensity, watching, waiting for them to make their move.
Fauna cast her Haste spell, and the moment the shimmering aura enveloped them, Ethan raised his scythe, his eye fixed on the pulsating tower in the distance.
¡°GO!¡±
They shot forward as one, the streets beneath them blurring in a rush of motion. Ethan could feel the magic in Fauna¡¯s spell working its way through his limbs, making his movements sharper, faster. His scythe gleamed as he held it ready, glancing up to see the Dreamstriders starting to flicker and shimmer in the air.
¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± Tara shouted, loosing an arrow into the sky. It whistled through the air, hitting a Dreamstrider and making it vanish in a puff of ethereal light. But more were coming, hundreds of them, their sapphire-and-white bodies casting eerie shadows over the party.
Ethan gritted his teeth, his muscles coiling as he leaped forward, leading the charge through the streets. His scythe cut through the air, scattering illusions as the Dreamstriders swarmed from above.
¡°We have to keep moving!¡± Klax roared, ripping through a flickering shadow as it tried to manifest in front of him.
With the Nerve Tower looming in the distance, pulsing like a giant heart, Ethan knew there was no turning back now.
The race had begun.
55. The [Gauntlet] Part 1
As soon as they¡¯d accepted the challenge, the skies had instantly lost their luster. The shimmering lights of the City of Illusions flickered and dimmed, casting the whole city in a grim twilight that pressed down on them. Ethan¡¯s heart raced in time with the beat of Fauna¡¯s Haste spell. The once calm, eerie Dreamstriders now moved with deadly purpose, their pale forms streaking through the darkened sky with unnatural speed. Ethan could feel the weight of their gaze, as if the whole city had become a living organism intent on devouring them.
The shadows of the Dreamstriders gave chase high above, their calm, almost lobotomized demeanor giving way to furious growls that emanated from their mouthless faces. Their flight was smooth but terrifying, moving in perfect unison as if controlled by a hive mind.
¡°Go!¡± Ethan shouted.
A brood of five came flying at them from behind one of the white spires, their forms shifting and phasing through the city as though gravity was nothing more than a suggestion. They moved so fast that Ethan barely had time to react. Twisting the Mithril Scythe in his right hand, he sent a Twilight Edge surging forward, the shadowy energy coiling through the air like a serpent hunting its prey. When it made impact with their ethereal bodies, their pale white forms sizzled and burned at the touch of shadow, the Dreamstriders¡¯ wails a haunting echo through the dead city streets.
"Keep it up!" Klax shouted from Ethan¡¯s left flank. His claws lashed out, tearing through the ghosts that tried to slip past, his fists ablaze with a fiery glow that left trails of light as they tore through the creatures'' flesh. "The darkness is on our side here!"
Ethan had tried activating his [Mass Hide]¡ªa no-brainer in this scenario¡ªbut the pervasive light in the dream-city clung to them, the strange, illusory glow of the spires making it impossible to cloak their forms. No matter how hard he focused, the light never dimmed.
"Shit, we¡¯re sitting ducks out here," he growled.
They¡¯d have to make do on foot, pushing through the city¡¯s streets with no cover. Fauna¡¯s Haste spell kept them moving at lightning speed, but it did nothing for defense. As they sprinted, it fell to Ethan and Tara to keep up the ranged attacks, Tara¡¯s arrows flying like silver streaks, while Ethan¡¯s Twilight Edge sliced through the air like a hungry blade. Klax, ever the vanguard, blocked the assaults of any Striders that got too close, battering them with burning fists that seared away their ghostly flesh.
"Upgrades?" Ethan asked between strikes, his voice ragged from the exertion.
"Upgrades," Klax grinned, his teeth gleaming in the dim light. "You aren¡¯t the only one with access to more power now."
They fought back-to-back, each of them in perfect synchronization. Klax¡¯s brutal strength complemented Ethan¡¯s lethal precision, while Tara¡¯s arrows picked off any Striders trying to flank them. But the Dreamstriders were relentless, their pale forms shifting in and out of reality. They were adapting, becoming faster and more aggressive. Ethan could feel the pressure mounting as they bore down the city¡¯s labyrinthine alleys, the sounds of their footfalls echoing in the narrow streets.
Ahead, the Dreamstriders started to change tactics. No longer simply charging, they began to phase through buildings, disappearing into walls only to reappear behind the group, faster and more unpredictable than before.
"They¡¯re phasing too?" Tara grunted as one swooped down low enough to graze her tail with its long, sickle-like claws. She retaliated with a trio of silver arrows that found their mark, piercing the creature¡¯s core. It collapsed, blue blood splattering the ground in a ghastly pool. "Honestly¡ªwhy can¡¯t it ever be simple?"
Ahead, Ethan spotted their next challenge. An intersection loomed before them, the winding streets forming a deadly grid. But they weren¡¯t alone.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"Look ahead!" Ethan shouted over the sound of pounding feet and growling creatures. "A blockade!"
True enough, a massive formation of Dreamstriders was knotted together, creating a shimmering, translucent wall across the street. Their bodies formed a grotesque barrier, writhing and shifting as they melded into one another, a living wall of ethereal flesh and bone.
Ethan¡¯s Twilight Edge slammed into them, but the creatures absorbed the blow like water rippling across a pond. The barrier shimmered but didn¡¯t break. The Dreamstriders were too densely packed.
"Ethan!" Tara roared, launching arrows that seemed to do little more than annoy the creatures. "Any bright ideas?!"
The Archon¡¯s lips curled into a grin, a wild gleam in his eyes. "Nothing but."
[Paralysis Coating: Activated]
[Twilight Edge]
With a roar of effort, Ethan hefted the Mithril Scythe in his hands and sent another wave of darkness cascading toward the wall of Dreamstriders. This time, the shadows were laced with a deadly orange-red glow, the energy crackling as it cut through the air.
When it hit, the effect was immediate. The Dreamstriders¡¯ pale forms jerked violently, their bodies erupting in spasm as the paralysis coating seeped into their veins. Thirty of them went limp at once, their writhing bodies collapsing into a heap, leaving a gaping hole in the blockade.
"Move!" Ethan shouted, and the group barreled through the opening, their feet pounding the cobblestone as the Dreamstriders scrambled to reform behind them.
"Fauna, any more tricks?" Ethan called over his shoulder as they ran.
Fauna, panting heavily, summoned the last of her mana and hurled a barrage of flaming spheres behind them. The fireballs exploded on impact, sending the remaining Striders scattering in confusion.
"Mad cows... again?" Ethan smirked as he glanced back at the chaos. The fire didn¡¯t seem to harm them much, but it certainly caused a lot of noise.
"Fauna, I love ya, but I¡¯m getting the feeling that¡¯s only gonna piss them off."
"I¡ªI didn¡¯t know that was gonna happen!"
"It¡¯s perfect, Faun!" Ethan shouted back. "If big Kaedmon¡¯s watching, it shows him exactly what we think of his bullshit law and these Delves!"
-4 MINUTES REMAINING-
Ethan strained his eyes, scanning the next stretch of road. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Ahead of them, ten squadrons of Dreamstriders were flying in perfect formation, circling around a massive ivory spire that loomed over the party like a monolith.
"What are they¡ª" Klax began, before his eyes widened with realization. His voice turned into a desperate roar. "Shit! Look to the skies!"
Ethan looked up just in time to see the Dreamstriders attacking the foundation of the spire, their ethereal claws tearing through the stone as if it were paper. The massive tower groaned and began to lilt to the left, cracks spreading across its base as the structure started to give way.
"They¡¯re bringing the city down on us!" Tara shouted, panic creeping into her voice.
Ethan¡¯s mind raced. If the spire fell, there was no way they could outrun it. The streets were too narrow, the Dreamstriders too fast.
"Move!" Ethan barked, but the moment he took a step, he saw the Dreamstriders that had formed the wall earlier reappear from the alleyways, their long, elongated beaks charging up with energy.
Their target was clear.
They were coming for him.
-3 MINUTES REMAINING-
"Fauna!" Klax called out, his voice tense. "There¡¯s no avoiding that thing if it falls!"
"We won¡¯t make it at this rate," Fauna gasped, her energy draining fast. "And that tower¡ª"
"I have an idea," Ethan interrupted, glancing between the crumbling spire and the advancing armada of Dreamstriders.
"Let me guess," Tara spat, her eyes sharp and suspicious. "It¡¯s one we ain¡¯t gonna like?"
Ethan¡¯s smile turned into a grim, determined grin. "The rules of the challenge didn¡¯t say we all had to make it, right?"
The moment those words left his mouth, a deadly silence fell over the group. Above, the massive spire gave a final groan before it began to tip. The air grew thick with tension, and the ground trembled beneath them.
"What did I say?" Ethan added, his voice cold and clear. "I¡¯m full of bad ideas."
Tara¡¯s eyes widened, her face twisting in anger and disbelief. "Etha¡ª"
[Wing Buffet: Activated]
With a powerful stroke of his skeletal wings, Ethan sent a gale-force wind into the party, lifting them off their feet and launching them skyward. Fauna screamed as she was hurled into the air, Tara¡¯s furious cry barely audible over the rushing wind. Klax growled as he was sent flying toward safety, his claws outstretched in a desperate attempt to stop the momentum.
"ETHAN!"
Ethan stood his ground, watching as the Memory Tower came crashing down upon him. His heart pounded in his chest, but there was no fear. Only resolve.
He smiled, the wind whipping through his hair as he braced for impact.
"Safe flying, guys."
Then...darkness.
56. The [Gauntlet] Part 2
With a deafening groan, the Memory Tower began to fall.
Ethan¡¯s eyes locked onto the collapsing spire. Its descent was like slow motion, every fragment of stone and ethereal material tumbling downward toward him. From the far distance, he could hear Klax, Tara, and Fauna shouting, their voices swallowed by the chaos of the city as the Dreamstrider horde converged upon him.
The creatures¡ªthose eerie, manta ray-like beings¡ªcircled him like vultures over a carcass. Their sapphire and white bodies glowed faintly against the darkened cityscape, their translucent forms phasing in and out of existence as they drifted closer. He felt the invisible weight of their gaze, the ethereal pressure pushing down on him. There were dozens of them¡ªeach one shimmering with an aura that made the air feel heavy, suffocating.
DELVE CHALLENGE: GAUNTLET
TIME REMAINING: 3 mins
He didn''t have time to think. He had to buy his team the time they needed to pass the trial.
Ethan fought back the first few Dreamstriders that dared come too close, slashing with his Mithril Scythe. His weapon¡¯s edge cleaved through them, though their ethereal forms barely bled¡ªif at all. With each strike, the creatures dissipated momentarily, only to reform nearby.
A few bursts of Twilight Edge stopped them ¨C bringing down whole squads who circled him, launching the spirit-orbs that served as their ranged attacks. His Repulsor Shield was working overtime ¨C nullifying their strikes with ease. Their magic couldn¡¯t break through Valgraiva¡¯s defenses. This form really was his trump card.
But, like everything else, it wasn¡¯t invincible. Ethan knew this as he saw the tower¡¯s shadow looming over him, blotting out the sky.
I HOPE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU¡¯RE DOING!
Ethan smirked as the tower finally came down on his skull.
Then...darkness.
The Memory Tower came down hard, its impact silencing everything.
For a moment, the world stopped. Beneath the rubble of the fallen spire, Ethan felt the crushing weight of stone and magic. His body¡ªhis host¡ªwas pinned, unable to move. He couldn¡¯t see, couldn¡¯t hear anything except the faint sound of his own breathing and the pounding of his heart in his chest.
It was quiet now, a stillness that chilled him to his core. Outside the tower, the Dreamstriders prospected the destruction they had caused with nonchalance ¨C their faces blank and forms simply hovering around the felled tower as their Appraisals detected no signs of life. Apparently satisfied with their kill, the squads began to fly off towards the still screaming voices of the hybrids this upstart intruder had brought with him.
Then, the silence was broken by a sound like shattering glass.
Followed by the howl of an Undead warrior.
[Twilight Edge]
[Paralysis Coating]
Magic surged within him ¨C the man wearing the Demon Hat on his brow who had just melted through the fallen tower like a blade passing through butter. In the next instant, five Dreamstriders were cleaved in half, their ghostly forms disintegrating in a burst of light and shadow.
From the wreckage of the Memory Tower, Ethan rose.
The rubble phased through his form like mist parting around an unseen figure. Ethan¡¯s body flickered, ethereal and ghostly. His form shimmered as if made of translucent smoke, his features barely visible as he grinned up at the remaining Dreamstriders. His crimson eye glowed brighter than ever, a beacon in the twilight gloom.
[Phase Shift]
Ethereal Form (Grade D) upgrade complete!
While under the effects of {Ethereal Form}, you can pass through solid objects
Spirit Core Cost: 400
Ethan smirked up at his fallen enemies ¨C their stone corpses crashing against the smoke-filled streets of their once tranquil city. The Core cost had been steep, but he had done it¡ªcommitting everything to upgrading his Ethereal Form so that now it enabled him to pass through solid surfaces as if they were nothing more than air.
I regret to remind you that we are not done yet! Sys shouted ¨C almost as though the system itself were choking through the smoke plumes around them.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
GAUNTLET: 2 minutes remaining.
Ethan¡¯s smile widened.
Two minutes is all I need.
The Dreamstriders, sensing the shift in power, turned back toward him. Their forms flickered in and out of sight as they began to swarm him, a shimmering sea of sapphire and white, but Ethan was ready.
¡°Come and get me, you overgrown sea-urchins!¡± he snarled.
With a single fluid motion, he summoned his Twilight Edge once more. The sword of pure shadow burst from his hand, its dark energy crackling in the twilight air. He swung it in a wide arc, sending a wave of destruction through the Dreamstriders that surrounded him. Five more were cleaved apart, their bodies disintegrating into ghostly mist.
But the horde kept coming.
Wing Buffet: Activated.
His ethereal wings¡ªmassive and spectral¡ªunfurled from his back. With a powerful flap, he sent a shockwave of force outward, repelling the nearest Dreamstriders and sending them crashing into the translucent walls of the city. They writhed in the air, struggling to regain their balance as the force of the wind battered them.
Ethan was relentless. He knew he didn¡¯t have much time. The Gauntlet Challenge was ticking down, the seconds slipping away.
Roar: Activated
His voice boomed, echoing through the city streets.
The sonic blast shattered the calm, sending tremors through the air and further disorienting the creatures around him. They flinched, their movements growing sluggish as his roar reverberated through their bodies, disrupting their ghostly forms.
But it wasn¡¯t enough.
More Dreamstriders closed in from every direction, their numbers seemingly endless. They swirled around him, their ethereal forms brushing against his skin, cold and otherworldly. Ethan swung his scythe, cutting through as many as he could, but for every one he felled, two more seemed to take its place.
His limbs grew heavy, fatigue setting in as the onslaught continued. The timer on the Gauntlet Challenge ticked down to a single minute. He could hear Sys¡¯s voice in the back of his mind, a sharp, cold warning.
I know what you¡¯re doing.
You think they will manage to complete the challenge without you leading them? With you acting as a decoy?
You place too much trust in your team, Ethan. You need to run.
Ethan gritted his teeth, refusing to give in. He wasn¡¯t going to abandon his companions¡ªnot now, not ever.
If you¡¯re still here when the challenge ends, you will be swallowed by the Delve. Is that really the destiny you want?
The words echoed in his mind, but Ethan stood his ground. The Dreamstriders were closing in, their sapphire bodies glowing brighter as they prepared to overwhelm him.
This is not how the Archon is supposed to behave!
Haven¡¯t you gotten it through your thick skull yet, Sys?Ethan snapped as he sent his final Twilight Edge slicing clean through the torsos of five Dreamstriders at once.I¡¯m not your regular Archon.
Sys might have said something else ¨C but the voice of Ethan¡¯s guide was stopped by the final wave of Striders. Every one of them in the city was descending on him in an undulating mass of death, each one readying their spirit-projectiles, charging them up as they dove for him.
He faced them. He wasn¡¯t backing down.
ETHAN!
They¡¯ll make it, he told himself. Because when the chips are down¡you gotta trust your team.
A spirit supernova raged before Ethan¡¯s eyes now ¨C a sun birthed from the collective hatred of the Dreamstriders for their opponent that just refused to die. They reeled back as one, ready to send the blast hurtling towards their prey.
Ethan brought his shield to bear, and closed his eyes.
And then, just as the last second ticked away, a notification popped up in his vision.
DELVE CHALLENGE: GAUNTLET
COMPLETE!
REWARD: 700 Spirit Cores
Chrono-Trap kit x2
Moonlight Katana (Mithril) x1
His smile was one of relief and bravado both.
See, Sys? What did I tell ya?
The Dreamstriders froze mid-flight, their bodies jerking up like marionettes with their strings cut. They hovered in place for a moment before becoming docile once more, their once-threatening presence dissolving into a peaceful calm. The horde that had been moments away from tearing Ethan apart now drifted aimlessly, as if they had forgotten their purpose entirely.
Ethan blinked, barely able to comprehend what had just happened. He exhaled a long, shaky breath, his body still thrumming with adrenaline.
A bright light engulfed him, and in the next instant, he was teleported away.
The world swirled around him, and when the light faded, he found himself standing at the outskirts of the Nerve Tower. His companions¡ªTara, Klax, and Fauna¡ªwere there, waiting for him. Their faces were etched with worry, and Fauna was crying, her soft sobs breaking the silence.
¡°Ethan!¡± Fauna rushed to him, her tear-streaked face filled with relief. ¡°We thought¡ªwe thought you¡ª¡±
Ethan chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle her hair, though his ethereal form made it more of a ghostly caress. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Fauna. Just had to take care of a few things.¡±
Tara crossed her arms, looking him up and down with a mix of relief and exasperation. ¡°You¡¯re a damn idiot, you know that?¡±
¡°That the best you can do, kitten? I¡¯m sure your mind knows dirtier words than that.¡±
Before the blushing Minxit could answer, Klax, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward. His eyes held a glint of knowing, a look that spoke volumes. ¡°I knew it,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I knew what your plan was, even if it was stupid.¡±
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. ¡°Oh yeah? And what was my plan, exactly?¡±
Klax didn¡¯t answer right away. He simply stared at Ethan, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. Then, with a quiet nod, he said, ¡°You trusted that we¡¯d finish the challenge in time. Even when you were facing the horde alone, you trusted us.¡±
Ethan glanced at Fauna and Tara, who both looked back at him with a mixture of admiration and frustration before they all turned their gazes to the shadowed form of the Nerve Tower blotting out the city¡¯s twilight gloom above them.
Ya see, Sys? he smiled. Maybe I can be too trusting of my allies in this world. But you don¡¯t trust them enough.
Sys seemed to groan in his mind as the team then moved off.
Luck and persistence won¡¯t last forever¡
57. [Mind] Games
¡°Yo Faun, find anything?¡±
¡°Nothing yet.¡±
¡°Heh. Rabbits weren¡¯t made for spelunkin¡¯, I guess. Hey Klax, got a new set of brass knuckles here for ya ¨C how about it?¡±
As the party forged on towards the Nerve Tower, Tara and Fauna took point amongst the ruined buildings that characterized this part of the city - the remnants of the Greycloaks¡¯ advance. It seemed they spared nothing in the wake of their goals.
And their goal was currently coming right to them.
Klax glowered at Tara as she rifled through the trash they¡¯d left behind, his gruff demeanor telling her to simply fit the loot snugly into her inventory before carrying on down the wreckage of the street in front of them.
Above, the Dreamstriders soared peacefully through the indigo skies ¨C stopping on the fragmented Memory towers and buildings the party moved through. Ethan watched as they secreted their spirit-projectiles onto the towers and miraculously began the painstaking process to knitting them right back together again.
¡°They don¡¯t seem threatening now at all,¡± Ethan remarked, watching a squad of four stitch up the remains of a once tall spire¡¯s crumbled foundations.
¡°They are creatures that obey the Delve¡¯s challenges,¡± Fauna said as she scanned the surrounding area for magical anomalies. ¡°But there¡¯s a theory that they might have once simply been architects and builders in life ¨C now reduced to just floating memories.¡±
¡°You mean these guys used to be ¨C people?¡±
One of the manta¡¯s nosed his way into the wreckage Ethan was looking at and, with barely a nod of acknowledgement of the strangers in its way, began aiding its brethren in rebuilding the tower.
¡°It¡¯s just a theory. But it would explain their strange, silent obsession with this place. No one alive truly knows the truth of the Archon¡¯s Delves or how they came to be. All we know is that since the time of Karfangg, these dungeons have existed. And they will continue to exist for as long as the cycle does.¡±
¡°Until it¡¯s broken,¡± Klax growled. ¡°Need I remind you all that we are on a time limit, here?¡±
¡°Ah, relax, Klaxxy. If Ethan can take on a whole horde of those beasts alone, he can take on the stuffy Lightborn and his bitch Comma-¡°
¡°That¡¯s not all that¡¯s at stake!¡± the Lycae yelped, before grimacing and grabbing his head as if he were in pain.
¡°Klax?¡±
The wolfman ignored Fauna¡¯s reaching hand, insisting that they continue without pause. He would have done so if his commander didn¡¯t at that moment phase through him and appear at his front, staring down at the dogman with knowing, silver eyes.
¡°You need rest,¡± he said.
¡°N-no. No, Ethan I¡¯m ¨C¡°
Before the dogman could even finish the sentence, he¡¯d dropped to one knee, gritting his teeth as his head throbbed in agony.
¡°Woah ¨C Klax!¡±
Fauna and Tara steadied him, though he tried in vain to protest.
¡°We¡¯re taking five here,¡± Ethan said. ¡°We need the time to heal up from the Gauntlet.¡±
¡°B-but-¡°
¡°You¡¯re no good to us in your condition,¡± Ethan stated ¨C assuming the same direct, no-nonsense tone he took with his coworkers when they tried overstepping their boundaries or skipping out on tasks. ¡°We¡¯re stopping here until we¡¯re fully healed. And you¡¯re gonna come back to your senses.¡±
¡°Ethan¡¯s right, Klax,¡± Fauna whispered. ¡°Maybe you should ¨C¡°
The wolfman shrugged her off before dragging himself away to a nearby wall and slumping down. In his eyes there was pain ¨C the kind of pain that cut someone off from reality.
But then, in this place, what was reality, anyway?
¡°Five minutes?¡± Klax asked.
¡°Ten,¡± Ethan replied with a somber smile and a nod to Tara and Fauna to secure their position with traps and magic. ¡°That¡¯s an order.¡±
The party complied without any more questions, and Ethan took the time to go about some new upgrades.
Spirit Cores: 1,150
Juicy, but not enough for everything he had planned yet. He wanted to take Hide to S class asap, but the upgrade would be pointless in a place like this, where there was no darkness to help him get the Sneak Attacks he needed.
So, his priorities had to be skills that would be immediately useful to him.
Dive (Grade D->C)
¡®Homing Dive¡¯ unlocked ¨C Dive now homes in on the targeted enemy/structureIf you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Spirit Core Upgrade Cost: 250
Commence Upgrade?
For facing flying foes, and whatever else was probably skulking round these alleys, a homing ability would be essential. That one was first on the list.
Upgrade¡complete!
Spirit Core Cost (Grade C->B): 400
Secondly, it was time to get serious with Possession ¨C he had been pondering its newest upgrade long before they ever got here. Now, with his Spirit Core surplus, it was literally a no-brainer:
Possession (Grade E->D)
Cooldown time removed. Possession is now instantaneous.
Spirit Core Upgrade Cost: 600
Commence Upgrade?
The ability to possess instantly was something he couldn¡¯t pass up. How much shit had these Delve Bosses given him because they didn¡¯t let go of their mortal shells?
Upgrade¡complete!
Spirit Core Cost (Grade D->C): 1000
Spirit Cores Remaining: 300
Now, he¡¯d collect every skill he could. Valgraiva was a walking tank. In spite of how shit he smelled, with the right arsenal Ethan could turn this Undead flesh puppet into a walking nuclear bomb.
¡®Course that wasn¡¯t all he was packing, now. The fact that Twilight Edge synergized so well with his Poison and Paralysis Coating skills told him that multiple skills could be stacked to produce new effect. Giving his poison and paralysis a ranged component meant he was making up for a deficiency in his build already. He¡¯d have to be on the look out for other ranged options.
But right now, he appraised the Moonlight Katana he¡¯d gotten as a drop from the Gauntlet challenge:
Moonlight Katana (Rare) {Mithril}
DMG: 40-55
SPECIAL: {Fade Slice}
A weapon with this property can attack creatures through solid surfaces.
The weapon glowed with ethereal energy ¨C icy to the touch and deathly sharp. Though its maximum damage output was clearly dwarfed by his scythe, Ethan couldn¡¯t deny the possibilities that came with its special property. He was in a toss up between pure DPS and utility, here, as well as his own personal preferences. What young man doesn¡¯t want a katana?
But as he labored over the choice between weapons, he was suddenly drawn to his next upgrade in the Transmogrification skill line. And his eyes started glinting like a magpie¡¯s. He needed only 300 more Cores¡
With this upgrade, the surface wouldn¡¯t know what hit it.
And neither will you, he thought as he looked into the shadowed peak of the Nerve Tower in the distance, looming high over the walls of the building they were hunkered down in.
Artorious¡
The journey had been long. It had been deadly. It had been filled with traps and surprises that even his knowledge of MMO mechanics hadn¡¯t prepped him for. But he was finally feeling that he was at the turning point, here. He¡¯d gone through shit and come out the other side as a warrior. More than that ¨C a leader.
And that was exactly why he couldn¡¯t leave one of his best troops in the dirt.
I know what you¡¯re gonna say, Sys, he thought as he eyed Klax out the corner of his vision. Because I can tell how you feel about these guys.
Ethan¡
Your predecessors had whole armies at their command. Legions of minions that obeyed their every order without question.
Why you slave over these hybrids is beyond me.
Stick around, Sys, he said as he knelt beside the fallen wolfman. You might just learn what real loyalty looks like.
Ethan slumped beside the groaning Lycae, fixing him not with the eyes of a prideful leader, but those of a concerned friend.
¡°Klax.¡±
The wolfman muffled the laughter that coughed from his throat.
¡°I suppose you wish to tell me I am being a burden. It would not surprise me. It¡¯s what I would say.¡±
¡°You ain¡¯t a burden, Klax. But you¡¯re carrying one. And it¡¯s gonna keep weighing you down unless you do something about it.¡±
Instinctively the wolfman¡¯s trembling claw flew to his throat, clenching the talisman dangling there.
¡°I saw her, Ethan,¡± he said. ¡°Back in the Twilight Sepulcher. Down there, in the darkness of that mirror.¡±
¡°Yeah. I know.¡±
And it¡¯s been messing with you ever since, hasn¡¯t it?
His face contorted in pain again, fangs flaring as they protruded from his snarling mouth.
¡°She was¡violated,¡± he said. ¡®Alive but tortured. The vision was hazy. Blurred. But it was her. Her eyes ¨C they were still the same deep shade of lilac I remember.¡±
Ethan sat back, letting out a long sigh that echoed across the four walls of their hideout.
¡°You and she were lovers.¡±
It was not a question. Nor did Klax take it like one.
¡°A bond between Lycae mates is sacred,¡± he said. ¡°If broken, the Lycae loses a piece of themselves. I promised her I¡¯d be there for her, always. When she was captured, I didn¡¯t know what else to do. Worse ¨C it was my betrayal that led to this. If I¡¯d have just listened to her¡I tried looking for her, Ethan. I tried, but my last duty to her always called me back to Sanctum. I had to fulfil the last order she gave before she disappeared. I couldn¡¯t just disobey her again.¡±
¡°What was her last order?¡±
The old wolf turned his head gently, making no move to wipe the tears that were scratching at the corners of his eyes.
¡°¡¯Take care of them, Klax. And wait for the one who will break the chains that bind us.¡¯¡±
Ethan didn¡¯t move a muscle. He heard the words, and Klax simply turned his head away again, brows knit in consternation.
¡°Tara and Fauna ¨C they¡¯re good people,¡± he said. ¡°Everyone in Sanctum is. What you all did for me back there ¨C it meant a lot. Truly. But I have done my waiting. I have done as she asked. So¡why don¡¯t I feel any happier? Why does her face still torture me every time I close my eyes?¡±
Ethan breathed a deep sigh again. He wanted to tell the old dog to pull himself out of the past, even as he knew that it was his own past back home that kept him shackled ¨C unable to move into a better future. Hell, it was his own burdens that had caused him, one day, to think that death might have been the answer¡
Maybe you can¡¯t teach an old dog new tricks after all.
Still, looking at the pained face of his friend, he¡¯d try. It was the least he could do.
¡°Klax ¨C listen, I ¨C¡°
At that moment, the dog-man¡¯s eyes widened in panic. At first, Ethan thought he might have witnessed an enemy come upon their little camp.
But no ¨C those eyes were looking well past Ethan. Past everyone. It was as though they were looking into the fabric of time itself.
¡°¡Jun¡¯Ei?¡±
Fauna and Tara noticed the change in the air. Somewhere far off ¨C a voice was singing. Calling. It was like a ghost that had been dredged up from the depths of the underworld.
And Klax was dancing to its tune.
¡°Jun¡¯Ei!¡± he roared, leaping with all his strength through the window of the house and bounding down the dilapidated street before Ethan could stop him.
¡°Klax! Kla-shit!¡±
¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Tara asked. ¡°Dogman finally lost his goddamn mind?¡±
¡°Nah, Tara ¨C in fact, I think its his mind that¡¯s the problem here.¡±
Around them, the air had begun to shimmer with small specks of sapphire. The atmosphere felt thick and musky. Humid ¨C like the hot summer¡¯s day in a tropical country before a deluge of rain.
¡°JUN¡¯EI!¡±
The howl of the wolf was enough to wake up every monster hiding in the city.
¡°Shit!¡± Ethan spat again, commanding Fauna to summon another Haste spell as they gave chase. ¡°Klax! Come back!¡±
But the wolfman had no ears for his companions, now.
He was in the clutches of something far more sinister.
58. Fallen [Hound]
The narrow streets of the City of Illusions twisted and turned in maddening ways, reflecting the confusion of the dream-like spires overhead. The ivory towers shimmered like translucent ghosts, ethereal and deceptive, with their walls seeming to melt into the skies where streams of light swirled like an aurora borealis. Faces, distant and disjointed, floated within the light streams, their eyes locked on the figures below as if they were silently judging the trespassers. It was an eerie, ever-shifting landscape, but none of that seemed to matter to Klax.
"Klax, stop!" Ethan shouted, his voice echoing down the shimmering alleyways. His legs strained beneath him, the pressure mounting with every turn as he tried to keep up with the wolfman, but Klax was running on instinct now¡ªfollowing an image that only he could see. And with Valgraiva¡¯s heavy armor, he wasn¡¯t going to keep up with the wolfman.
Ahead, Fauna gasped, barely able to keep pace with Tara¡¯s feline agility. Her hands glowed faintly with magical energy, ready for whatever might lie ahead, but her eyes were wide with worry.
¡°What the fuck happened to him?¡± Tara hissed.
¡°He said he heard her ¨C Jun¡¯Ei.¡±
The Minxit coughed, almost like she was about to choke. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯ll do it.¡±
"It¡¯s a trick, right?¡± Ethan asked her as they rounded another alley towards the bounding wolfman. ¡°Fauna?¡±
¡°I¡¯m detecting powerful illusory magic nearby!¡± she huffed. ¡°But¡there¡¯s something else. I feel weaker here, somehow.¡±
¡°Never mind that!¡± Tara shouted back. ¡°When I get my claws on that dog I¡¯m gonna tear him a new hole!¡±
Ethan growled in frustration, knowing now that the city¡¯s illusions were stronger than he¡¯d thought. Even he could feel the unsettling weight of the memories that lingered here, manipulating the minds of those desperate enough to fall for their tricks. And Klax¡ªdriven by grief, loss, and the hope of seeing Jun¡¯Ei again¡ªwas falling for it.
Looking at the strange spires that loomed above them, he fell to wondering ¨C was that their purpose? To trick them?
The party kept pushing through the narrow streets, relentlessly driving towards their quarry. But every time they thought they had Klax in their clutches, they came up with nothing but air.
¡°Damn it!¡± Tara kept growling. ¡°Damn it, damn it, damn it!¡±
When they found him again he was leaping through a new section of the city ¨C one covered in a dense sapphire mist of a similar color to the Dreamstrider¡¯s spirit bomb projectiles.
¡°Klax!¡± Ethan shouted again, pushing his legs faster as Klax disappeared around another corner. ¡°Klax, wait! It''s not real!¡±
But the wolfman didn¡¯t respond. His eyes were fixed on the shimmering, ghostly figure at the far end of the street, standing in a wide midsection where three junctions met. The spirit hovered just above the ground, her face half-hidden beneath the glowing veil of light. She looked exactly as she had before¡ªthe same silver hair cascading over her shoulders, the same soft smile that Klax remembered from so long ago.
¡°Jun¡¯Ei¡¡± Klax breathed. His pace quickened as the figure turned and began to walk away, almost beckoning him with a tender gesture. He sprinted down the alley, hands outstretched. ¡°Jun¡¯Ei, wait!¡±
The figure seemed to pause, as if waiting for him. Klax''s breath hitched in his throat, his heart pounding with raw emotion. He was almost there¡ªso close that he could feel the warmth of her presence in the icy, dream-like air. He ran faster, arms reaching forward.
But then, something changed.
¡°KLAX!¡± Ethan¡¯s voice tore through the air, a desperate scream of warning.
Klax didn¡¯t have time to react. It was all he could do to look back at his sprinting comrades and plead, silently, for them to stay away.
A sharp scream shot through the air ¨C like the dying wail of a cat ¨C and a sharp twang echoed from above. In an instant, a thin spear of light shot through the mists, piercing Klax¡¯s neck where he stood. Blood sprayed into the air as he collapsed, his body crashing onto the cobblestones in a heap.
¡°No!¡± Ethan skidded to a stop, eyes wide in horror as blood began to pool beneath Klax¡¯s twitching form. Fauna screamed, rushing forward, but Ethan held out his arm, stopping her in her tracks. ¡°Get back!¡±
Fauna¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she froze in place, her hands trembling at her sides. ¡°Klax¡ He¡¯s¡¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
¡°He¡¯s still alive.¡± Ethan¡¯s voice was low and urgent, his mind racing. The wound was bad¡ªblood gushed from Klax''s neck in heavy spurts, and his breaths were already shallow, fading. ¡°Stay behind me!¡±
Ethan''s single crimson eye swept the surroundings, seeing nothing but the towering Memory Towers shimmering ominously above the mist that now enveloped them. The towers shifted in and out of existence, translucent structures fading like mirages in the heat. His heart pounded as he activated his Appraisal, searching for their attackers. His vision flared to life, and within moments, he saw them¡ªtwo creatures perched in the towers, barely visible as they flickered in and out of reality.
¡°Two of them,¡± Ethan muttered, locking onto their faint silhouettes. ¡°Snipers.¡±
¡°Fuck!¡± Tara spat. ¡°Klax! Don¡¯t move, alright! Just¡just don¡¯t move.¡±
The wounded Lycae spat a globule of his slowly dwindling blood by way of response.
¡°Just¡go¡¡±
¡°Quiet!¡± Ethan whispered at him, motioning for Fauna to come up beside him.
The rabbitgirl stood, clutching her staff tightly to her breast, her eyes trained on the fallen body of her comrade.
¡°Faun.¡±
No response.
¡°Faun!¡±
The Hopla shook herself, tearing her eyes away from Klax¡¯s downed body and his mumbling, bloody lips.
¡°I ¨C yes.¡±
¡°Can you levitate him from here? Whip up a smokescreen to cover us?¡±
The Hopla blinked once, realization suddenly dawning on her.
¡°This fog¡it¡¯s no natural fog at all.¡±
¡°Nothing is in this place,¡± Tara grunted, back against the wall.
¡°It¡¯s a Nullification Field,¡± Fauna continued, gripping her staff tighter with each passing moment. ¡°Anti-magic, like your shield, Ethan. I¡I can¡¯t even form a simple spell¡no matter how hard I ¨C¡°
Ethan stopped her with a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder.
But will skills work? he thought. There was one way to find out.
Without another moment¡¯s hesitation, he summoned a Shadow Wraith, the dark form materializing near Klax¡¯s body. The Wraith¡¯s ghostly figure crouched low, ready to protect their fallen comrade. But no sooner had it appeared than a string of violet light¡ªaccompanied by another piercing, inhuman scream¡ªripped through the air. The wraith let out a shriek before it dissolved into nothingness, its form torn apart by the blast.
"Shit," Ethan growled, watching the aftermath of the attack. His mind raced as he processed the situation. Whoever they were up against, they were powerful¡ªtoo powerful to take on blindly. His Wraith had at least 300 HP. Even if he went out there guns blazing with his beefy 1000, it would only take a few shots to drop him. And there were two of them ¨C twice the deadly firepower.
But at the same time, they had just given away their location. He could see them clearer now ¨C two vague, dark bipedal shapes with long stalks where their heads should have been, pointing down at the party¡¯s position.
¡°We ¨C we could try going around ¡®em,¡± Tara whispered, her eyes darting toward the shimmering towers. ¡°You could try a Mass Hide. Under this mist, we¡¯d probably get enough time to ¨C¡°
¡°No,¡± Ethan interrupted. ¡°No ¨C that¡¯s what they want.¡±
¡°What?¡±
He was remembering his hours as a sniper back when he was just a boy playing Battlefield, pretending at being a soldier. He remembered the war movies he¡¯d binged as a boy, and how, more than any combatant, patience and cunning were the sniper¡¯s greatest virtue.
¡°We''ve got snipers on us. I don¡¯t know what kind of magic they¡¯re using, but it¡¯s lethal. And they want us to rush out there to help him. In fact, that¡¯s what they¡¯re counting on.¡±
¡°B-but we cant sit here with our thumbs up our asses!¡±
Ethan¡¯s mind spun as he tried to think of a plan. They were sitting ducks out in the open like this, and with Klax bleeding out, they didn¡¯t have much time.
¡°We need to move fast,¡± Ethan said, gritting his teeth. ¡°Fauna, can you heal him from here?¡±
Fauna wiped at her tears, shaking her head frantically. ¡°Not like this¡ªhe¡¯s too far gone. I¡¯d need to be right there next to him.¡±
¡°And if you go out there, they¡¯ll take you down before you get close,¡± Tara added, her grip tightening on her bow. ¡°We¡¯re not dealing with amateurs.¡±
Ethan cursed under his breath. Klax''s life was slipping away, and they were boxed in by enemies they couldn''t even see properly. The shimmering towers loomed over them like silent sentinels, and the city¡¯s twisted illusions made everything feel distorted¡ªlike a nightmare they couldn¡¯t wake from.
¡°Dammit,¡± Ethan muttered, clenching his fists. ¡°We need to buy time. There¡¯s got to be a way to draw their fire, distract them somehow.¡±
Fauna¡¯s voice cracked as she spoke. ¡°We can¡¯t just leave him to die¡¡±
¡°We won¡¯t.¡± Ethan¡¯s eye flared as he turned toward the Memory Towers again. He could see the faintest glimmers of the snipers, watching them, waiting for another chance to strike.
And that¡¯s when the thought suddenly hit him.
Current Spirit Cores: 300
Upgrades Available!
He grimaced, considering the option. He never thought it¡¯d be useful¡until now.
A new upgrade that just might save Klax''s skin...but it''d be risky.
¡°There¡¯s something I can do,¡± he said. ¡°At least ¨C I think so. A way to distract them.¡±
Tara stared at him, her expression unreadable. ¡°Let me guess, another one of your reckless plans?¡±
Ethan nodded, crouching low, picking a spot behind Klax where he could see a bundle of ethereal stones piled together.
¡°Tara, Fauna, stay low. Get ready to move as soon as I give the signal,¡± Ethan said, cutting her off as his mind raced through the possibilities. They had one chance to save Klax, and it was all going to come down to timing and a bit of luck.
¡°Ethan, if you go out there¡ª¡± Tara started, but Ethan waved her off.
¡°Just trust me.¡± Ethan took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his muscles as he steeled himself for what was to come. His gaze locked onto the Memory Towers in the distance, where the snipers lay in wait, before returning to the gargling body of Klax laying in a puddle of his own Lycan blood.
¡°Just¡run!¡± he sputtered.¡°Leave this¡idiot¡to die.¡±
Not on your life, buddy, Ethan mimed back at the fallen hound. This team¡¯s staying together no matter what.
And it was that thought, and that thought alone, that finally steeled his resolve.
¡°Ok,¡± he said. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯re gonna do.¡±
59. [Countersnipe]
The cold, ghostly light of the City of Illusions flickered across the sky as Ethan crouched low, his heart pounding in his chest. The streets were narrow, winding corridors of deception, but the danger ahead was no illusion. Those snipers¡ªthey weren¡¯t just highly trained, they were deadly accurate. One wrong move and he¡¯d end up like Klax, bleeding out on the cold stones.
But there was no room for fear now. Klax¡¯s life was slipping away, and Ethan didn¡¯t have the luxury of hesitation. He had to act.
They were sitting ducks if they stayed in one place, and any attempt to draw the snipers out would leave them vulnerable. What they needed was a distraction they couldn¡¯t ignore.
And there was one skill upgrade that would be perfect for the job.
¡°Alright¡¡± he said, motioning for Klax to stay the hell down even as the wolfman growled at them to run ¨C to survive. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do.¡±
Tara and Fauna listened to his plan as the strange mist continued to spiral around the city junction, the dark forms of the two bipedal snipers standing motionless above them.
When he was finished, the girls looked at each other in disbelief.
¡°It¡it could work.¡±
¡°Yeah, could being the operative word, Faun.¡±
¡°It won¡¯t be perfect,¡± Ethan agreed. ¡°And it¡¯ll be messy. But it¡¯s the best chance we¡¯ve got. Of saving Klax and taking those bastards down.¡±
He looked at his [Roar] skill and its shiny new upgrade:
[Project Roar]
Cost to upgrade: 280 Spirit Cores
You can cast Roar at a designated point up to fifty meters away.
Confirm Upgrade?
It was a skill Ethan had never tested. But if he could use it just right, he could cause a distraction big enough to divert the snipers'' attention.
¡°Ok. Ready?¡±
The girls nodded, but as Ethan hefted his Repulsor Shield and confirmed his new upgrade, he felt a tugging at his elbow.
¡°Ethan¡¡± Fauna murmured. ¡°Just¡be careful?¡±
He gave her a smirk full of confidence. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m a walking Undead Tank right now. I can take a few hits for us.¡±
He then grit his teeth and stood, flexing his fingers in preparation. ¡°Alright, you bastards,¡± he whispered, feeling the familiar burn of power building up in his chest. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you like this.¡±
He scanned the area again, picking out a building on the far side of the intersection. Its walls were cracked and unstable, a relic of the city¡¯s illusory construction. If he could collapse part of that building, it might just give him the opening he needed.
And then he let loose.
Project Roar: Activated.
The familiar power surged through him, focusing on the distant wall. He poured all of his strength into the pinpointed location, the air vibrating with the force of the sound.
The building shook. A deep, guttural roar erupted from the chosen spot, as if the very earth itself was screaming in fury. The sound was deafening, reverberating off the translucent towers around them, and then¡ªCRACK!¡ªa portion of the building¡¯s wall collapsed, sending debris and dust spiraling into the air.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
The snipers¡¯ attention snapped toward the destruction.
Now!
Ethan bolted from his cover, his Repulsor shield flaring to life above his head. It wasn¡¯t the most elegant move, but it was the only defense he had against the deadly shots that would surely follow. He sprinted across the open street, Tara providing suppressing fire from the shadows, her arrows whizzing through the air toward the snipers¡¯ perch. Fauna, meanwhile, set to dragging Klax towards the safety of their position.
Twang!Thud! The sound of Tara¡¯s arrows embedding themselves into the stonework echoed through the alleyways, forcing the snipers to duck for cover. For a moment, it seemed like Ethan might make it across unscathed, but then¡ª
WHIZZZ¡ªCRACK!
The first shot landed, slamming into Ethan¡¯s shield, but he couldn¡¯t block the brunt of their strike.
HP: -250
The force of the impact nearly knocked him off balance. He gritted his teeth and kept going, pushing through the searing pain that shot through his arm from the vibration. He could hear Fauna muttering a prayer behind him, her voice trembling with worry, as he began to scale one of the ruined buildings directly across from the snipers¡¯ tower.
The shield had managed to block the deadly shot. But -
WHIZZZ¡ªTHUNK!
A second shot grazed his leg, cutting through his armor and sending a shockwave of pain through his body.
HP: -250
Already half his health was gone. Another two and ¨C
He put the thought from his head and vaulted over onto the building¡¯s roof. He hissed in pain but kept moving, his eyes locked on the tower¡¯s base. He was almost there. The snipers were good¡ªdamn good¡ªbut he had one last trick up his sleeve.
[Homing Dive]: Activated
It had been another skill he¡¯d never really tested ¨C a homing strike that could obliterate any obstacle with 60 STR or less in his way. Having scanned the tower for structural weaknesses with his Appraisal, he¡¯d seen where decay and the elements had set in. The centuries hadn¡¯t been kind to the infrastructure of the City of Illusions. And he was about to take full advantage of that fact.
As another two strings of piercing light howled towards him he discarded his shield entirely. With a growl of determination his muscles surged with power as he leaped into the air, his body becoming a blur of motion as he soared upward. The world around him slowed, the wind howling in his ears as he closed the distance between himself and the snipers.
The air was thick with tension. Ethan could feel the presence of the snipers, their eyes locked on him, their bows drawn. He could almost see the string of light as they aimed their final shot.
Now or never.
One shot caught his foot, but he¡¯d already gained all the air he needed. He turned, brandished his blade, and slammed it and the bulk of his Host into the tower¡¯s base. The force of the impact caused the entire tower to tremble, cracks spreading up its length like spiderwebs.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then, with a deafening CRACK, the tower began to collapse. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the snipers¡¯ view as the stone structure crumbled beneath their feet, a final cry of panic engulfing the air and immediately being swallowed up by the roar of the falling tower. The world seemed to slow down as the tower gave way, crashing to the ground in a cloud of smoke and rubble.
Ethan hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop amid the swirling dust. His heart pounded in his chest, the taste of blood sharp on his tongue. He coughed, trying to clear his lungs of the choking air, but all he could see was the cloud of debris surrounding him.
¡°Ethan!¡± Fauna¡¯s voice was faint, barely audible over the chaos.
Through the smoke and sapphire dust, no one could see a thing. Then ¨C like a summer day parting the clouds of winter, the Mana Nullifier dissipated into the sky of the city, dying away like its two summoners who now lay spread-legged on the ground, crushed beneath their fallen tower.
And above them stood the triumphant warrior who had just brought them down, his little hat form wriggling atop his dark Host¡¯s head.
The light of the city beamed down on him as he looked back to his shuddering companions.
If there was ever any doubt before, now it was dispelled. They were looking upon a true Archon. The Archon.
¡°Wh-why¡¡± Klax groaned. ¡°Why¡ngh¡¡±
¡°Klax!¡± Fauna yelped, pressing her hands on his bleeding neck and summoning up as much healing incantation as she could.
¡°You ¨C you foo-guh!¡±
¡°Enough outta you, big guy,¡± Tara smirked as she forcefully opened the dogman¡¯s mouth and poured their reserves of Malphus potions down his throat. ¡°Take your medicine and be glad our Archon¡¯s kinder than most.¡±
Ethan, meanwhile, stared at the two mewling creatures that could barely even cry ¨C their lifeblood dwindling from their crushed veins with each passing second. They were not unlike a pair of bipedal dears, with two great horns protruding from their slender necks and ending in twitching eyes that were slowly beginning to close. Their mouths ¨C what looked like mouths, anyway ¨C were long, conal antenna which throbbed with power. These had been their ¡®snipers¡¯.
Appraisal: Success.
Morphology: Obscaurus.
Skills: [Hide] [Ethereal Fade], [Spectral Snipe], [Summon Mana Veil], [Summon illusion], [Skitter]
They had pulled out all the stops ¨C used all the tricks in their disposal to stalk and track their prey. But they hadn¡¯t counted on their prey having a little more up his sleeve.
And now they¡¯re mine, Ethan thought as he grabbed one of them by its bleeding throat and fixed its dying eyes.
¡°Before you die, you¡¯re gonna be put to good use,¡± he said.
Then the eyes of the Obscaurus beheld the sight of a true demon before they closed shut forever.
60. [Lightborn]
As soon as he entered the Nerve Tower, he knew what he¡¯d see.
Even so ¨C even hearing the voices of his comrades whittle away as the flashing light took him ¨C he didn¡¯t close his eyes.
Because one born in light does not fear the dark.
He was standing in a field of corpses.
The field had once been his village. He didn¡¯t remember its name.
Around him were the bodies of his friends. There was Luca, chewed up and broken beside his girl, Tara. Her face was a miasma of blood and broken bones. Her throat had been torn open by something that was half-man, half-wolf. He wouldn¡¯t have even recognized her if she wasn¡¯t holding Luca¡¯s hand when she died.
Mama and papa were there too. When the house had burned down in the wake of the great fire wyrm¡¯s attack, Mama had throw herself on him as a shield. Even then, as a child, the logical part of his brain told him what she was doing was pointless.
He had looked into her eyes as she burned, and heard the last command she gave her only son:
¡°Live.¡±
Now he crawled out from under their crisping bodies to look upon the wreck of his village proper. Everything was a mass of ruined stone and burning thatch. The creatures had come, they had killed, and they had gone ¨C every one of them singing a name on their vile lips as they pillaged and burned the village. One word: Archon.
It was a name that would live in his heart, forever.
Something stirred nearby. Behind him, one of the wolf-beasts was trapped in the rubble ¨C its claws flashing and lashing out at him in a death-spasm. Without thinking he grabbed the dagger at his belt and met its charge head-on, forcing his dagger between its claws and gritting his teeth in fear and adrenaline. In the heat of the moment, all fear left him. He was nothing but pure instinct. A child had died that day. And something else was being born in the funeral pyre that was his home.
The beast forced him outside, using its bulky body to crash through the remains of the burning door with him and sending a deluge of spittle into his face.
He could die, now. He could leave and meet mama and papa again. He was a baker¡¯s son ¨C his System had only activated two weeks ago, blazing with black neon-glitz letters that told him he was a ¡®Baker ¨C LVL 1¡¯. And that was all he would ever be.
Now, his knife dangled above the jaws of a beast that had come from a nightmare realm. And he would carve it up as he had carved his first loaf of bread.
He pushed off from the ground, the creature¡¯s wounded arm giving him just enough of an advantage. He kicked at its wound, heard its howl, and plunged his blade into its neck, snarling with delight as he heard it scream to the silent moon that watched this battle unfold with its uncaring gaze. He kept stabbing at the thing even after it had stopped moving. The only screaming in the village now, was his own.
Then ¨C voices nearby.
¡°That¡¯s enough, little warrior.¡±
He didn¡¯t stop. Not until he felt the arm of someone strong grab his and try to shake the knife from his tiny hand.
When he wouldn¡¯t let go, the man who held him brandished a blade and made to slice his arm clean off, saying something about how they didn¡¯t need this kind of crazy tonight.
¡°Wait.¡±
Another voice ¨C that of a woman¡¯s ¨C stopped everything. He looked up at her and snarled like a beast, trying to keep the tears from streaming down his face, trying to avoid looking at the charred bodies at his feet.
¡°Unhand him, Zestrius,¡± the woman said. ¡°This one¡¯s a fighter.¡±
She seemed impressed by his recent kill, and when he felt his arm released he fell to the ground and panted at the woman¡¯s feet.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
¡°Well?¡± she asked him. ¡°What¡¯s your name, my little killer?¡±
He looked up at her, soot covering his face, blood running down his fingers, and said nothing.
¡°Wolf got your tongue?¡± the woman chuckled. Her blonde hair ran in little ringlets down her pale face, framing a pair of almond eyes that bore the fires of his former home within them.
But the smile she shone down at him, and the great silver rapier glistening at her side ¨C these things showed him strength. Strength enough to keep him from crying out in anguish.
¡°This one¡¯s an accident waiting to happen, Carliah. Best we leave the kid and move on ¨C the army has probably moved North by now.¡±
The woman said nothing to her comrade. Instead, she bent lower, licking her dry lips in the face of the panting boy.
¡°A boy who has lost everything, and at such a tender age,¡± she said. ¡°A child like this is exactly what we need, Garrix. Tell me, boy, if you still have a tongue in that angry little mouth of yours, what do you want, right now?¡±
He didn¡¯t hesitate. He didn¡¯t think he showed any emotion at all.
¡°I want to kill them,¡± he said, looking back at the perforated corpse of the wolfman. ¡°I want to kill them all.¡±
The woman¡¯s smile only grew.
¡°Good,¡± she said. ¡°I can work with that.¡±
His first days in Caer Krea flashed through his mind. The trials of the Greycloaks were designed to root out weaklings. He made friends, and saw them die ¨C or worse, saw them consumed by monsters living outside the walls. Carliah had no qualms about throwing children against maneaters or ghouls, serpents or drakes. In her eyes, they had been born into a world in a constant state of strife. It was better that they learned that the law of this realm was the law of survival. And survival required a stern hand and an even stronger heart forged in battle. Her boys learned. Or they didn¡¯t.
She loved to get them early. He was no exception. There were days when she pushed him so far that other recruits thought it nothing but cruelty. Once, she threw him into the monastery pits with three other recruits ¨C boys whose parents had left them at the monastery gates ¨C and ordered them to fight until only one remained.
She wasn¡¯t even surprised when he emerged from the pit, starving, and shaking, but victorious all the same.
¡°He has a Grey spirit, alright,¡± she¡¯d tell her comrades at dinner. ¡°Mark my words ¨C that boy¡¯ll go far.¡±
It was his twenty-first birthday when he¡¯d learned the truth: there was a new Archon seeking to dominate the earth.
Its name was Gyko. And it was already making gains across Argwyll¡¯s Eastern perimeter. Entire cities had been engulfed by overgrown thorns and sentient plant-demons. Clouds of toxins threaded their way between towns and villages, polluting everything they touched. Wells dried up, and monsters the likes of which no one had ever seen before would soon be knocking at the doors of the monastery.
Like the other boys when they came of age, his time had come to take the blood of Krea.
The ceremony was a short one ¨C a condition imposed by a lack of time. Carliah gathered the newest recruits who had survived their long Grey Decades and would now sup from the blood of the old angel ¨C the one who had come down and told humans they were the true rulers of this earth, to hold and protect it in Lord Kaedmon¡¯s name.
In truth, he didn¡¯t know if he believed all that. If Kaedmon was so good, how come he¡¯d let his village get burned up? Why hadn¡¯t Kaedmon sent an angel down to save mama and papa, or Luca and Tara? He had never believed the guff they spat in his religious studies classes. All he knew was that if he had a blade in his hand, he could kill monsters. He could kill anything.
But as he watched the ceremony take place, he felt his pulse quicken. The other boys supped from the goblet, filled with silver, viscous liquid, and either fell ill or died right there on the spot. It was said that of all new recruits, 5% took to the blood of the angel. The boys knew this, of course, and yet here they were of their own volition. Carliah made it clear they didn¡¯t have to take the trial. Their service to the Greys was up ¨C they could walk free if they wished. But they didn¡¯t. Because for most of them, a 5% chance was better than what waited for them out there. Better to die a hero than live a servant to the new devil of Argwyll.
When it came to his turn, his feet wavered on the steps of the great hall. He looked up at the fresco of Krea ¨C so fierce and regal atop the body of Karfangg ¨C and told himself that his life had all been dumb luck up to this point, anyway. What was the point of worrying about something he had no control over?
Little did he know then just how wrong he was.
As he re-lived the memory now, he wanted to slap the chalice out of his child-self¡¯s hands.
But instead he was forced to watch as he guzzled down the blood and fell, twitching wildly on the great steps of the Hall. His brothers and sisters simply looked on, a few of them smiling to see Commander Argent¡¯s favored child die before her at the end of days.
As darkness crept across the skies outside, and the guards were about to drag his body away, that¡¯s when it happened.
Light.
A pure, unnatural rush of lightning surged through his inert body, sending his vocal cords into a frenzy. His scream shook the entire Hall, woke the eldest Greycloaks from their slumber, and embedded itself in the minds of all who looked on. For they were hearing the voice of a legend. The voice of the reborn.
¡°By Kaedmon¡¡± Carliah whispered.
His eyes opened ¨C pale, blue, and brilliant ¨C as the new words of his System screen flashed before him:
[LIGHTBORN: LVL 30]
Back then, those words were like the writings on a golden door that would lead him to paradise.
But now, looking back through the lucid dream of the Tower, he saw them for what they truly were: as scrawlings on an untended grave.
In Carliah¡¯s ecstatic eyes he saw just how much of a nightmare his life was soon to become. The trials of his youth had been nothing but a prelude.
61. At the mouth of [Madness]
---Current Host: Valgraiva, Lord of the Damned---
[Skills Transferred]
1. Spectral Snipe (Grade D)
You launch a bolt of precise energy up to 200 ft from your current location. This bolt deals 200 pts of {piercing}DMG and takes 60 secs to recharge.
Note: You must remain stationary when you use this skill.
Grade E->D Upgrade Acquired!
Spectral Snipe can now pass through solid and {ethereal} matter
Spirit Cores required to upgrade further: 750
2. Summon Illusion (Grade E)
You concentrate to form an illusory entity from you or your target¡¯s mind. The target becomes convinced the illusion is real, although more perceptive creatures can see through the deception (PERS: 50+)
Spirit Cores required to upgrade further: 500
3. Summon Mana Veil (Grade E)
You create a dense layer of fog 50ft wide. Any targets within this fog must pass an Intelligence check (INT: 30+) or be {Silenced} for the duration they remain within the fog.
{Silenced} targets cannot cast spells.
Spirit Cores required to upgrade further: 500
Spirit Cores Remaining: 150
After recovering Klax, Ethan had spent some time plundering the skull of the Obscaurus and found it rich in bounty. Forget physical loot. Skills were the only treasures a Demon hat needed.
His new Spectral Snipe bolt flew from the tip of his scythe and tore through the shimmering towers of the City of Illusions, phasing through their translucent walls like a ghost. The violet beam of energy, a perfect combination of the abilities he had ripped from the possessed snipers, pierced the skull of one of the hidden Obscaurus. The creature¡¯s glistening black eyes bulged in surprise as its head exploded in a spray of ghostly ichor. Ethan smirked. He was a long-ranged Grim Reaper now.
¡°Gotcha,¡± he muttered.
This part of the city was practically full of them ¨C and it looked like they worked in pairs, covering every alley and sidestreet leading to the city core and the Nerve Tower that loomed over them all. Whatever mystic force compelled them to defend this place clearly hadn¡¯t accounted for a countersniper to start clipping them one by one.
Ethan leaned back against the cracked stone wall of the alley they were hiding in, listening for any sign of movement from the other towers. He could sense the Obscaurus snipers lurking in their Memory Towers above. But with his newly acquired sniping ability, combined with his Ethereal Phase Shift, they were no match for him. He could shoot through walls, through stone, through whatever they tried to hide behind. Spending the 500 Cores he¡¯d gotten from the two snipers he¡¯d already felled had gotten him another grade in Snipe already, and had built him the perfect fantasy railgun.
¡°I never thought I¡¯d say this,¡± Ethan muttered, flexing his fingers as the power surged through him, ¡°but all those years playing Battlefield and Arma in High School are finally paying off.¡±
From their hiding spot, Tara peered around the corner. "You took down another one?"
Ethan nodded. "That''s five. Pretty sure the last one¡¯s scrambling around up there like a headless chicken. Doesn¡¯t even know I¡¯m about to nail him.¡±
He concentrated again, letting the energy flow through his veins. In Ethereal Form, the world looked different. Layers of reality peeled back, and everything seemed to shimmer. The walls of the Memory Towers flickered, becoming almost transparent, and the faint outline of the final Obscaurus sniper came into view, crouching in the shadows.
"Gotcha," he whispered again, lifting his sword.
With a thought, he phased through the stone wall, releasing a bolt of violet light that shot straight through the sniper¡¯s chest. The creature jerked up, its cloaking ability failing as it fell limply to the ground, its ghostly form dissipating into the air.
¡°Snipers down,¡± Ethan said, stepping out of the alley with a grin. ¡°Nerve Tower, here we come.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Tara gave him a dry smile, her sharp eyes glittering with approval. ¡°Not bad, chief.¡±
Fauna, her floppy ears twitching anxiously, looked up at the massive ivory spire of the Nerve Tower that loomed ahead. The tower stretched into the sky, its organic shape pulsating faintly, as if it were a living thing. Faces drifted across the swirling aurora borealis in the skies above, watching them from the ever-shifting clouds.
¡°They¡¯re still watching us,¡± Fauna said quietly, her voice tinged with dread. ¡°The Dreamstriders. They know what we¡¯re doing.¡±
¡°They always know,¡± Ethan replied, glancing up at the sapphire-white manta rays that circled above them in eerie silence. ¡°Let them watch. We¡¯ve got a job to do.¡±
They took their final steps towards their looming destiny ¨C the great organic tower that pulsed with a life of its own. At regular intervals its physical form would shimmer and bleed into the twilit sky of the city before returning again, pulsing like a beating heart at the center of a singular organic being.
Klax brought up the rear, silent and resolute. In the wake of his near-death experience, he had been silent as a rock, saying nothing but a mumbled thank you to Fauna before rejecting anyone who tried to talk to him ¨C and would say nothing when prompted to explain what exactly he saw and heard beyond what everyone already suspected.
Suddenly, the city seemed so much more silent.
The four of them moved cautiously through the dream-like city streets, the translucent towers reflecting shimmering lights that seemed to flicker in and out of reality. Pale, ghostly figures¡ªthe memories of past lives¡ªwatched them from the shadows, their hollow eyes unblinking. It was as though the city itself was alive, a place where memories held sway over reality.
And at the base of the Nerve Tower, Klax suddenly stopped.
¡°Go on without me,¡± he said, his voice low and gravelly.
Ethan turned, his brows furrowing. Klax¡¯s usually proud and towering figure was slouched, his eyes downcast, as if the weight of the world had fallen on his shoulders.
¡°I¡¯ve done what I promised to do ¨C I got you to this tower. Leave me here to cover your escape. And then let my spirit finally rest in this place. It is as good a grave as any.¡±
Ethan whirred on the wolf.
¡°What are you talking about?¡±
Klax shook his head, refusing to meet anyone¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve been nothing but a liability. I was tricked back there¡ªthose snipers had me running in circles like a fool. You¡¯d all be better off without me.¡±
Fauna reached out, her eyes wide with concern. ¡°Klax, that¡¯s not true. You¡¯ve been¡ª¡±
¡°Enough,¡± Klax snapped, his voice sharp with self-loathing. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even protect you when you needed me. And now... look at me. I¡¯m nothing compared to what I used to be.¡±
Tara stood off to the side, her eyes narrowing, but she remained silent. She seemed aloof, but Ethan could see the way her fingers twitched, as if she was holding herself back from saying something harsh.
Ethan stepped forward, his gaze steady as he looked up at the Lycae warrior. "Klax, we need you. You''re not a liability. You''re our friend¡ªand more than that, you''re one of the strongest warriors I¡¯ve ever known."
Klax let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Strong? Look at me now, Ethan. I¡¯m not the warrior I used to be. I was so easily fooled. I¡¯ve been dragging you down.¡±
Ethan stared at him for a long moment before a thought sparked in his mind. He extended his hand, summoning his illusiuary powers.
A shimmering image appeared in front of them¡ªa vision of Klax as Ethan remembered him from when they had first met. Proud, regal, a warrior standing tall against an entire army. The Klax in the illusion was unyielding, his eyes blazing with determination as he fought to protect his people. Every movement was filled with purpose, every swing of his blade filled with strength.
¡°This is the Klax I know,¡± Ethan said softly, his voice cutting through the night air. ¡°The warrior who fought for his people. The warrior who stood against impossible odds and never gave up. You think you¡¯ve lost your way, but that warrior is still in there. You¡¯re more important to us than you realize.¡±
Klax stared at the illusion, his breath catching in his throat. The proud Lycae in the image fought with a ferocity and resolve that seemed to light a fire within Klax¡¯s own soul. His eyes softened, and he looked at Ethan with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow.
¡°I... I don¡¯t know if I can be that warrior again,¡± he whispered.
¡°You don¡¯t have to be,¡± Ethan replied, stepping closer. ¡°You just have to be here. With us. We can¡¯t do this without you, Klax. None of us can. And besides, Jun''Ei''s waiting to see her warrior return to her.¡±
Fauna nodded vigorously, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. ¡°Please, Klax. Stay with us.¡±
Klax looked between them, the weight of his self-doubt beginning to lift as the memory of who he once was filled him with a newfound sense of purpose. Slowly, he straightened, his towering form once again taking on that regal stance that Ethan had first seen in him.
¡°All right,¡± he said, his voice steady. ¡°I¡¯ll stay.¡±
Ethan smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. ¡°Good. Because I wasn¡¯t planning on losing you, big guy.¡±
Tara, still aloof, merely shrugged. ¡°If we¡¯re done with the drama, let¡¯s move. We¡¯ve got a tower to climb.¡±
The group turned to face the towering spire of the Nerve Tower, its surface pulsating like the skin of some great living creature. The Dreamstriders circled above them, their sapphire-white bodies flickering in the light of the aurora, their unblinking eyes following the party¡¯s every move.
As they approached the entrance, Fauna¡¯s voice broke the tense silence.
¡°There¡¯s powerful magic inside,¡± she whispered. ¡°Illusions that will test us. We need to be careful.¡±
Ethan glanced up at the tower¡¯s towering height, a chill running down his spine. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®test us¡¯?¡±
Fauna hesitated before answering, her voice trembling. ¡°It¡¯s said that the Nerve Tower is where memories and dreams collide. The deeper we go, the more the lines between reality and illusion will blur. We could face our worst fears... or our greatest desires.¡±
Ethan frowned. ¡°So, we¡¯re walking into a place where we might not even be able to trust what we see?¡±
Fauna nodded. ¡°Exactly. And the Dreamstriders... they¡¯re watching us. They know we¡¯re going in there. It¡¯s like they¡¯re... waiting.¡±
Tara smirked, tightening her grip on her bow. ¡°Let them wait. I¡¯m ready for whatever they throw at us.¡±
Klax, standing taller now, his shoulders squared, grunted in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll make it through. Together.¡±
Ethan took a deep breath, steeling himself as they stepped forward, the shadows of the Nerve Tower swallowing them whole. The entrance yawned before them like the maw of a great beast, and as they crossed the threshold, the Dreamstriders watched in eerie silence, their ghostly forms flickering in the distance, like sentinels standing vigil over a party walking to their graves.
¡°Ready?¡± he asked his party.
They nodded, though he could see the fear that gripped their beings. All of them knew that whatever awaited them in this tower was only the penultimate act of this Delve.
Ethan took one last look up at the tip of the tower, trying to sense the energy of his old nemesis up there, and knowing that the old bastard was probably doing the same right now. Then, without another moment¡¯s hesitation, he walked through the sticky organic compound of the tower¡¯s base.
He wasn¡¯t going to keep the Lightborn waiting.
62. [Lightborn] Part 2
He stood alone in the training courtyard, the oppressive midday sun casting long shadows across the cracked stone. His muscles ached, drenched in sweat as he thrust his blade into the open air again and again. The rhythm of his movements was the only thing keeping his mind from unraveling. Each strike was precise, every motion deliberate, but even now, at the height of his training, he couldn¡¯t shake the growing weight pressing on his shoulders.
¡°Artorious! Focus!¡± Carliah barked from behind him, her voice sharp, cutting through the haze of exhaustion.
Artorious gritted his teeth and swung the blade with renewed vigor, carving through the illusion of his enemy in front of him. It wasn¡¯t enough. He had to be faster, stronger. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw them¡ªthe endless hordes of monsters unleashed by Gyko, the Archon of Decay, who ruled the world through a reign of terror that had lasted for decades. Her monsters, grown from her vile Darkseed, ravaged the lands, leaving nothing but ash and death in their wake.
Artorious couldn¡¯t escape it. He had been chosen as a Lightborn for this purpose¡ªto bring an end to Gyko¡¯s tyranny. And yet, every lesson, every drill, felt like a drop in an ocean of despair. He was young, in his twenties, barely a man, but already the weight of the world seemed to bear down on him. The expectations of the Greycloaks, his comrades, his mentor¡all of it was suffocating.
As he continued to train, he could hear the distant screams. The world outside the training grounds was crumbling, and he was supposed to be the one to save it.
The Nerve Tower touched his mind, fumbling with his thoughts.
Within its grip, he knew he must resist. He knew what he was seeing was a lie plucked from his mind. Nothing but restless dreams that had tormented him since his youth.
He knew¡and yet he could not close shut the fortress of his mind.
And the Nerve Tower¡¯s piercing-white claws threaded themselves through its walls.
The wind howled through the valley, carrying with it the stench of rot. Artorious stood at the forefront of the Greycloaks, their silver armor gleaming against the backdrop of Argwyll¡¯s decaying landscape. He had grown into the role of Lightborn by now¡ªhis once uncertain heart now hardened, his eyes cold, devoid of the compassion they once held.
The monster army stretched out before them, grotesque creatures of all shapes and sizes. Some had grown limbs that shouldn¡¯t exist, others slithered or scuttled with eerie precision. All of them bore the twisted mark of Gyko, their once-human forms corrupted by the Darkseed that she had planted within them.
¡°Lightborn, we¡¯re ready on your command,¡± said Lydia, his second-in-command. Her voice was steady, but Artorious could hear the underlying tremor. She was one of the few who still had hope in their cause.
¡°Hold the line,¡± Artorious replied, his voice cold and detached.
He raised his Onixia blade, the edge shimmering with the light that had been infused into it during his training. Carliah had given him it as a present on his twenty-fifth birthday. ¡®A present¡¯ she said ¨C the glint of righteous fury burning in her eyes ¨C ¡®that you will use to end this war. Let the last Archon fall to the blood of her Elder Brothers.¡¯
The Greycloaks braced themselves, forming a defensive wall, shields raised. Artorious could sense the weight of every soul behind him¡ªdozens of men and women, warriors who had followed him into battle countless times.
And yet, in front of them stood their enemies. A horde of hybrid demons had descended on the town of Blackreach, one of the last outposts in Westerweald not already overrun. They¡¯d known this would be the army¡¯s next stop. He¡¯d known ¨C with a strange certainty that even he couldn¡¯t understand ¨C that Gyko¡¯s aim was to cut through the realm towards Caer Krea and deal with the old enemies of her kind.
But she didn¡¯t know the Lightborn was back. None of them did.
Until now.
¡°Today we strike a blow for humanity, Greycloaks!¡± he bellowed. ¡°Men and women of Argwyll, are you with me?!¡±
He charged. The Greycloaks followed.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The battle was chaos. Artorious slashed and cleaved through the monstrosities with precision, his Onixia blade cutting through their thick, mutated flesh as though it were butter. The creatures screamed as they fell, their bodies writhing and convulsing as they died. The Greycloaks fought valiantly beside him, but the army was relentless, an unending tide of decay and corruption.
¡°Artorious!¡± Lydia shouted through the din. ¡°Gyko¡¯s not just planting seeds in the monsters. The humans, too¡ She¡¯s...she''s infecting them!¡±
Artorious faltered for a moment. His eyes darted to the nearby villagers, humans who had been cowering behind makeshift barricades, watching in terror. The Darkseed. It was within them. The monster tide had pushed through and already infected them. He could sense it¡ªfeel its vile presence writhing in their hearts, ready to burst forth. Gyko had hidden her seeds in the bodies of humans, waiting for the perfect moment to sprout her influence from within them.
His blood ran cold.
¡°They¡¯re compromised,¡± Artorious said, his voice empty. He had sensed this corruption in humans before, but it was becoming more frequent now. Gyko¡¯s influence was spreading, reaching even the most innocent of souls. ¡°We can¡¯t leave them alive.¡±
¡°But¡ª¡±
¡°No time for but,¡± Artorious snapped. ¡°We have to kill them.¡±
Lydia hesitated, her face twisting with grief as she looked at the terrified humans. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to be protecting them¡¡±
¡°We protect the world by stopping Gyko. If that means killing innocents, then so be it.¡± The words felt like ashes on his tongue, but he said them anyway. There was no place for mercy here. Not when the stakes were this high.
He could feel Lydia¡¯s eyes on him as he raised his sword and plunged it into the nearest villager. The man screamed, his eyes wide with terror as the blade pierced his heart. Blood splattered across the stone ground. As the man fell, his body convulsed, and a small tendril of black vine erupted from his chest¡ªproving that Artorious had been right.
The Darkseed was real.
One by one, the villagers fell. Men, women, children¡ªnone were spared. Artorious cut them down with the same cold efficiency he had used against the monsters. Every strike felt heavier, every scream louder, but he forced himself to ignore it. He had to. Gyko¡¯s influence had to be eradicated, no matter the cost.
As he slashed through the final corrupted human, his blade gleaming with their blood, he realized that he had become numb. He had grown used to the sight of blood, to the cries for mercy.
And somewhere deep inside him, something broke.
The mists of his memory parted once more, and he saw himself at the top of Caer Krea¡¯s balcony, shoulders hunched and face tinged with bloodless shame.
And as usual, just when he thought he was at his lowest point, she came along.
¡°You did the right thing, you know.¡±
He didn''t even need to turn around. He knew who was there - like a walking shadow she seemed stuck to his back. That''d been a recurring theme throughout his entire life. Carliah Argent had a way of...creeping up on him, like a wraith born from his own insecurities.
"Lydia is one of us," he told the uncaring, dead sky around the fortress. "She looked at me like I was...a monster."
"Silly girl. She''s too weak to finish this fight," came the reply. "We do not abide weakness in our ranks, Lightborn. We can''t afford to. I tell you again, Arty: you should boot that girl from your squadron."
He frowned. But he said nothing.
"The Darkseed is an insidious tool of our enemy," Carliah went on, her faith in her words totally unshakable. "Mercy is not a virtue we can afford in these dark days. Do not despair, however. The histories shall tell only of our bravery in these trying times."
He scowled at her. "You think the historians will overlook the massacre today? The deaths of that entire village - of human beings - under my watch?"
Carliah smiled. "You''re still young, Artorious. Haven''t you understood it yet? We are the vanguard of humanity''s victory. The beacon of hope for a better future. We practically own the historians. Hell, we own this world."
He glanced at the change that had come over her. She looked out into the dark horizon at the gathering clouds of toxic dust with...a kind of feverish glee.
The smile of a fanatic was painted on her face.
"By right of divine mandate," she said in a hallowed whisper. "Every human being in this realm owes us their lives. Their lives, and those of their children, and their children''s children. When this Archon dies, we shall collect our debt."
"What?" he stammered. It was all he could say. And, as usual, she looked down on him as the naive child he was when she''d first found him.
"You think our jobs will be over once this last war ends?" she asked him. "No, Arty. Our glory days are only just beginning. With the last Archon dead, all of monsterkind shall finally be vanquished. Soon, humanity will be bereft of purpose. They will need true, strong leadership to guide them towards the right path - under Kaedmon''s eyes. Who better than we, their sacred guardians and stewards?"
"You''re talking about domination," he said. And he said it without trembling at the power that lay behind her voice.
"I''m talking about guidance, Arty," she replied cooly, sweeping one gauntleted hand over the barren wastes of Westerweald. "When this filth is cleansed, and the demon-hybrids of Gyko put to the sword, the people will need good, strong leadership. The days of petty civil squabbles between Kings - border disputes, political infighting - it will all come to an end at Kaedmon''s decree. Soon, humanity will have a new ruling class."
She stroked his hand with a thin, but firm finger. It was possible she couldn''t see the abject horror in his eyes as he listened to and processed her words.
It was also entirely possible that she saw his reaction in its entirety. And she didn''t care.
"All because of you, dear Arty," she said with a smirk. "I promise you this: your sacrifice shall not go to waste. Not this time. When the Archon falls, and your Lightborn spirit goes with it, I shall ensure this world is put on the right course."
She left him there after that, and he stared back out at the cold waste of the world he was supposed to ''save''.
Somehow, it had just gotten a lot darker.
63. Just another day at the [Office]...
Ethan felt his heart thud as they stepped into the yawning entrance of the Nerve Tower. His senses screamed at him. The air was thick with magic, almost alive, pressing down on him like a predator lurking just beyond sight. Everything about this place felt wrong, like it wasn¡¯t a building but some living thing waiting to devour them. His five eyes flickered in the dim light, scanning the vast, pulsing walls. They weren¡¯t alone here.
"Stay close," he muttered to Klax, Tara, and Fauna. His voice was tight, and his hands gripped the hilt of his Mithril Scythe as though it was the only real thing in the room.
Suddenly, a blinding light shot through the air, searing across his vision. Ethan threw up a hand to shield himself as the world seemed to split open.
DELVE CHALLENGE: ACTIVATED
MEMORY PRISM
"What the hell does that mean?" Ethan shouted, but before anyone could answer, Klax, Fauna, and Tara were gone. His entire world blinked out of existence.
PARTY SEPARATION...IN PROGRESS.
Ethan...Sys said - in a voice that was becoming more and more faint by the second - Whatever happens, don''t forge-
Ethan blinked once, then twice.
And after the second blink, the world of Argwyll melted away.
Stale, fluorescent lights overhead buzzed, filling his ears with their droning hum. He squinted at the harsh light, wincing as he rubbed his tired eyes. In front of him was a computer screen, its cold blue light illuminating rows upon rows of numbers and financial projections. His fingers tapped the keyboard methodically, almost mechanically, as though they had never stopped.
An email pinged in the corner of his screen.
To: Ethan Hawke
From: Brian Reynolds, Senior Tax Manager
Subject: Meeting Reminder
Ethan froze, his breath catching in his throat.
What...the hell?
His heart pounded as he leaned back in his chair, staring at the email. The smell of burnt coffee and the hum of printers filled the air¡ªfamiliar, suffocating, like a heavy blanket wrapped around his chest. He glanced down at his hands, pale and human. Five fingers. No scythe. No claws. Just regular, mundane fingers tapping away at a keyboard.
Around him, the chatter of coworkers filled the office. Phones rang. Printers spat out paper after paper. His cubicle stretched out in front of him like a prison, the walls beige and sterile. There was nothing here. No battle. No monsters. Just spreadsheets and emails.
His stomach churned.
The adventure in Argwyll... had that all been a dream?
He blinked hard, trying to reset himself, to make sense of what was happening. He reached up to rub his eyes, but when he opened them again, he was still there. Still in the office. Still trapped in the same, monotonous life. This had to be some kind of delusion, right? Maybe he¡¯d just fallen asleep at his desk again.
Ethan shook his head and glanced at the clock on his screen. Ten minutes until his next meeting. Ten minutes until he had to sit in a room and listen to his boss drone on about client projections, revenue reports, and tax filings.
He hated meetings.
With a sigh, Ethan turned back to his screen, fingers tapping at the keyboard, scrolling through endless numbers. Every second that passed felt like a year. He could feel the dull ache building behind his eyes, the pressure of his own life bearing down on him again. It was suffocating. The same suffocating pressure he had felt every day before¡
Before what?
Before Argwyll.
His chest tightened as he remembered the feeling of wind rushing past him as he charged into battle. The thrill of summoning his powers. The weight of the scythe in his hands. The laughter of his companions. The feeling of actually making a difference in a world where everything mattered.
It was impossible.
Had it all been a dream?
¡°Ethan,¡± came a sharp voice from behind him.
He turned to see Brian Reynolds, his boss, standing in the doorway of his cubicle. The man¡¯s suit was pressed perfectly, not a wrinkle in sight. His hair was slicked back, his grin smug, and his eyes condescending. Everything about him made Ethan¡¯s skin crawl.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
¡°Don¡¯t forget the meeting in fifteen minutes,¡± Brian said, his voice dripping with superiority. ¡°Client¡¯s been on our backs all month. We need those projections¡ªtoday.¡±
¡°Yeah, I got it,¡± Ethan muttered, turning back to his screen. He felt sick. Everything about this place felt wrong, even though it was so familiar.
Brian narrowed his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand the pressure we¡¯re under here, Ethan. This is your job. People are counting on you.¡±
Ethan¡¯s stomach twisted. The words stung in a way they hadn¡¯t before. Counting on you. He¡¯d heard that before in Argwyll. From Klax, from Tara, from Fauna. The people who had fought beside him trusted him with their lives. They counted on him.
¡°Yeah,¡± Ethan said again, barely hearing his own voice. ¡°I got it.¡±
Brian walked off, leaving Ethan alone in his cubicle. He stared at the screen in front of him, the numbers blurring together, the hum of the office growing louder and louder until it felt like it was vibrating in his skull.
This is your life. This is stability. No war, no fighting. No one depends on you for anything but this. Just do what you¡¯re told.
It¡¯s safe here.
No monsters. No chaos. No fear.
Ethan¡¯s fingers trembled as they hovered over the keyboard. His vision swam, the words on the screen blurring as his mind raced.
Argwyll had been real. He knew it. It had to be. The rush of the Delves, the thrill of fighting, the bonds he had formed with Klax, Tara, and Fauna¡ªit had felt more real than this sterile, suffocating life.
But the thought gnawed at him: Wasn¡¯t this safer? Easier?
He glanced down at his desk, his eyes falling on a pen lying there. Before he knew what he was doing, he grabbed it and jammed the tip into his fingertip, hard enough to draw blood.
The sharp pain shot through him, and for a brief moment, everything snapped into focus. Blood welled up from the tiny wound, a single drop sliding down his finger and staining the paper on his desk.
He felt the pain. This was real. He was here.
And yet¡
His eyes fell to his other hand, still clutching the pen, and something glinted between his fingers. Something that didn¡¯t belong here. Ethan opened his hand, revealing a small object.
It was the Memory Rune.
The intricate silvery threads glowed faintly, shimmering in the sterile office light. It was the same Memory Rune that Lamphrey had given him before they entered the City of Illusions.
He blinked, his heart pounding in his chest. This couldn¡¯t be real. None of this could be real. The office, the numbers, the meetings. This wasn¡¯t who he was anymore.
"I want it all. Even the shit stuff," Ethan whispered, his voice shaky but determined. His grip tightened on the Memory Rune as the images of Fauna singing karaoke at Klax¡¯s party blazed bright in his mind and forced a smile to his face. "Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven."
As soon as the words left his lips, the world around him began to twist and warp. The cubicles shimmered like heat waves, the buzzing of the office lights growing louder and more distorted. The walls around him began to melt away, revealing a void of shimmering darkness.
And then, standing in the middle of that void, was a figure.
It was him.
Or at least, it looked like him. The figure had Ethan¡¯s face, his build, his posture. But the eyes were empty, cold, devoid of any humanity. It moved with an unnatural grace, stepping toward him with a predatory air, hands reaching out toward his throat.
Appraisal: Complete!
Spirit: Nervestalker
HP: 10/10
Ethan barely had time to react. The figure lunged, its fingers extended like talons. He raised his scythe just in time, the blade catching the creature¡¯s arm with a metallic clang. The force of the blow sent Ethan stumbling back, his heart racing as the creature advanced again, relentless.
¡°Get the fuck away from me!¡± Ethan growled, swinging his scythe in a wide arc.
The Nervestalker dodged, its movements fluid and unnatural. It circled him, eyes locked on his every move, waiting for an opening. Ethan gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on the scythe as he prepared for the next attack.
The creature lunged again, faster this time. Ethan ducked, rolling to the side just as the Nervestalker¡¯s fingers grazed his throat. He swung his scythe upward, catching the creature in the side. It staggered, but only for a moment.
¡°You think I¡¯m afraid of my past?¡± he asked the reeling creature. ¡°Let me give you your answer.¡±
He brought the scythe down with all his strength, channeling a Twilight Edge into his attack for good measure ¨C more to add insult to injury than anything else. The blade sliced clean through the creature¡¯s neck, sending its head tumbling to the ground. The body stood for a moment longer, then collapsed in a heap of black smoke.
He hoped the insidious little thing felt that.
500 Spirit Cores Gained
Ethan stood there, panting, his heart hammering in his chest. The void around him began to dissolve, the darkness giving way to the familiar walls of the Nerve Tower. He blinked, his breath coming in ragged gasps as the weight of the battle slowly lifted.
He had made it out.
But he was moving. The Tower wasn¡¯t through playing its little tricks yet. He felt the ground of his old office-space give out from under him, and had just enough presence of mind to upgrade:
Summon Mana Veil (Grade E->D)
You create a dense layer of fog 50 ft wide. Any targets within this fog must pass an Intelligence Check (INT: 30+) or be {Silenced} for the duration they remain within the fog.
{Silenced} targets cannot cast spells.
Grade D Upgrade: INT check increased to 50+
Spirit Cores required to upgrade further: 500
Upgrade¡complete!
Spirit Cores remaining: 150
He¡¯d gotten the sense that this little Nervestalker was the one summoning up the illusions in this place, and there were probably a whole brood of them out there, feasting on the minds of any Delvers who were trying to reach the apex of their tower. But they were spellcasters, of that, Ethan was certain.
They could play their little tricks. Ethan had his own up his sleeve.
Suddenly, the air around him shifted again, the familiar sensation of magic warping reality pulling him under. The tower, the stone, the cold¡ªeverything vanished in an instant, replaced by something softer, something warmer.
Flowers, trees, a meadow.
Ethan blinked, disoriented by the sudden change. He stood in a field, the smell of fresh blossoms filling the air. The sun shone brightly overhead, birds chirped in the distance, and the gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees surrounding the meadow.
But this wasn¡¯t his dream.
And as his eyes blinked through the haze of the Nerve Tower¡¯s illusory veil, he saw a familiar figure sitting down to dinner with their family.
¡°Fauna?¡±
64. Your [Best] Dream
Ethan blinked, his eyes adjusting to the soft, golden light that filled the world around him. A breeze swept through the meadow, carrying with it the scent of cherry blossoms. The pink petals danced through the air, twirling lazily before falling gently to the ground. The sun was setting behind the hills, casting long shadows over the vibrant green grass. In the distance, the laughter of children rang out, their voices mingling with the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds.
It was beautiful. Perfect, even. But it was wrong. Ethan¡¯s heart sank as he realized where he was¡ªand who he was looking at in the midst of this painting of beauty.
Fauna.
The Hopla mage sat at a small wooden table in the middle of the meadow, surrounded by her family. Her brothers and sisters were there, laughing and passing around plates of food. Her parents sat at the head of the table, smiling warmly at their children. It was a scene out of a dream¡ªone that Ethan knew could never be real. He watched as Fauna chatted with her siblings, her face lit with joy and peace. She hadn¡¯t looked this carefree in all the time he¡¯d known her.
And that was what made it so hard to watch.
¡°Damn it¡¡± Ethan muttered under his breath, gripping the handle of his scythe. He knew what he had to do, but it felt wrong to disrupt something so peaceful, so¡ perfect. The truth, though, was that this was another Memory Prism. Another trap designed to hold them in a dream. To keep them from moving forward.
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. He didn¡¯t want to do this, but they couldn¡¯t stay here. She couldn¡¯t stay here.
Fauna deserved more than a pretty illusion.
Ethan stepped forward, the grass crunching softly under his feet as he approached the table. None of the others seemed to notice him, too wrapped up in their conversations. He watched as Fauna laughed at one of her brother¡¯s jokes, her eyes shining with happiness. His chest tightened. She hadn¡¯t been this happy in years, maybe ever.
But this wasn¡¯t real.
With a deep breath, Ethan reached into his magical reserves, summoning a veil of mana. He spread it out before him, letting the shimmering energy ripple through the air like a curtain. The edges of the dream began to flicker and fade as the mana veil disrupted the illusion, revealing the truth hidden beneath.
On a nearby cherry blossom tree, perched high on one of the branches, was a dark, thin figure. Its body was wrapped in shadow, its long, spindly arms and legs blending into the darkness. Its eyes, glowing faintly with a sinister light, were fixed on Fauna and her family. A Nervestalker.
Ethan¡¯s jaw tightened as he raised his scythe, the blade gleaming in the golden light of the dream. He aimed the tip of the weapon at the creature, ready to strike it down with a well-aimed Snipe.
¡°Stand still, you little bastard... I got you...¡±
But before he could release his attack, a soft voice stopped him.
¡°Ethan.¡±
He turned to see Fauna standing beside him, her usual timid expression replaced with something else¡ªsomething deeper. There was sadness in her eyes, but also a kind of acceptance.
¡°Fauna, this is a dream,¡± Ethan said gently. ¡°You need to wake up. This isn¡¯t real.¡±
¡°I know,¡± Fauna whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the wind rustling through the cherry blossoms. She glanced back at the table, at her family still laughing and talking as if nothing had changed. ¡°I know it¡¯s not real.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Ethan blinked, surprised. ¡°You¡ you know?¡±
Fauna nodded, her gaze soft as she watched her parents and siblings. ¡°I just¡ I wanted to enjoy it a little longer. Just for a moment. It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen them like this. Since I¡¯ve¡ felt this.¡± Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, but there was a quiet strength behind it.
Ethan¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°Fauna¡¡±
¡°They¡¯ve been gone for so long,¡± she continued, her eyes misting over with tears. ¡°But it¡¯s okay. I needed to say goodbye. Properly, this time.¡±
¡°Faun! Oh Faaaun! Come back to us, you silly hare! Max is about to show us another trick! And Dorreen will be coming home from the farm tonight. We¡¯ll have neep and lentil soup, and a dash of moonradish to sweeten things up!¡±
Her parents called her name from the table, waving her over to join them. Fauna hesitated, her hands trembling as she took a step toward them.
¡°Ok,¡± she said, wiping away a stray tear. ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡±
Ethan reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this alone.¡±
Fauna looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. She smiled softly. ¡°Thank you, Ethan. But this is something I need to do. On my own.¡±
With a deep breath, Fauna turned back to her family. She walked toward them slowly, her footsteps light on the grass, as if afraid the dream might shatter at any moment. When she reached the table, her parents rose to meet her, their faces glowing with warmth and love.
Even if it was a lie¡ªit was a lie so perfectly conceived that she couldn¡¯t feel any hatred for the creature that had spawned it. The creature that was currently stalking towards her.
¡°Faun...¡± Ethan cautioned.
Fauna hesitated for only a second before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around them, hugging them tightly. Her brothers and sisters joined in, forming a circle of love around her, their laughter and joy echoing through the meadow.
¡°I love you,¡± Fauna whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°I¡¯ll always love you.¡±
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held them, but when she pulled back, there was a new resolve in her eyes.
She took a step back, her hands raised. Her family continued to smile at her, but there was something in their eyes now¡ªsomething hollow. Faint. Like a candle flickering out. Fauna¡¯s expression hardened, and without a word, she began to chant.
Flames flickered at the tips of her fingers, growing hotter and brighter with each passing second. The wind picked up, swirling around her in a vortex of heat and fire. She closed her eyes, took one last breath, and let the fire loose.
The flames roared to life, consuming the table, the field, and the cherry blossom trees. The Nervestalker screeched as the fire engulfed it, its shadowy form writhing and twisting in agony before it was reduced to ash.
The meadow, once so vibrant and alive, was now a charred wasteland. The cherry blossoms were gone, replaced by scorched earth and smoldering trees. Fauna stood at the center of it all, her face streaked with tears but her eyes clear and focused.
And at her feet lay the Nervestalker¡ªits veiny limbs burned away to cinders beneath her feet.
Ethan approached her slowly, his heart heavy with the weight of what she¡¯d just done. He placed a hand on her shoulder, offering silent comfort.
Fauna looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. But there was a strength there now, a determination he hadn¡¯t seen in her before.
¡°I¡¯m ready to move on,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡¯ve spent so long holding onto the past. To memories that can never be real again. But I have a world to live for now. I have a future to fight for.¡±
Ethan squeezed her shoulder gently. ¡°Those kids back in Sanctum need you, after all.¡±
She smiled up at him, her expression softening. ¡°And I need them, I think. Just like I need you, Klax, and Tara.¡±
Ethan smiled back, but before he could say anything, the dream world around them began to shift. The blackened wasteland blurred, the edges of reality starting to dissolve into nothingness.
¡°Find them, Ethan,¡± Fauna¡¯s voice echoed in the distance. ¡°Find them... and let¡¯s go to the top... together.¡±
Fauna¡¯s form began to fade as well, her body becoming translucent, like a ghost slipping away into the night.
¡°Ethan¡¡± her voice called out, faint and distant.
Ethan¡¯s heart lurched as he reached out for her, but his hand passed through empty air. The dream was unraveling, pulling him back into the void.
¡°Fauna!¡± he shouted, but the darkness swallowed him whole.
He was falling, spinning through the void, the weight of reality pulling him deeper into the unknown. Fauna¡¯s voice echoed in the distance, fading away as he was dragged further and further from the dream.
His chest tightened, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. The Memory Prism had taken Fauna¡¯s deepest pain and tried to trap her there, to keep her locked in her own grief. But she had broken free. She had chosen to let go of the past and embrace the future.
Ethan didn¡¯t know where he was headed next, but one thing was clear.
This fight was far from over.
65. [Lightborn] Part 3
The years became blurs of fury mixed with the motions of his sword.
Soon, it became mechanical. Nothing more than an instinct.
He put down hybrids, corrupted beasts, and Darkseed-infected humans with just as much prejudice as the other.
And after a while, he realized he¡¯d stopped even thinking about his skills increasing anymore, or his System telling him how much of a hero he was.
When he was a boy, there¡¯d been some small joy in that ¨C in watching the numbers increase, even if their fluctuations seemed arbitrary.
Now, he looked on them as one looks at drops of frozen rain ¨C with passing curiosity only.
Sometimes they were a useful shield against the killing of those who cowered before him. Women, children, domesticated pets, even one or two Greycloaks themselves who had been infected.
Where Gyko¡¯s armies went, her Darkseed went with her. And they knew she couldn¡¯t be slain until her taint was cleansed from the bodies of all she touched.
Lydia had come down with the infection during his 30th winter during the Cleansing of Gallant ¨C a village of little strategic importance in the Northern Heartlands. He¡¯d put her down himself. She didn¡¯t resist.
¡°Do it, Art¡¡± she¡¯d said as she¡¯d dropped her blade and clawed at her face, talons appearing where her once silken hands were. ¡°End¡it¡¡±
There¡¯d been no tears in the aftermath. She was burned in a pyre with the rest of the villagers they¡¯d cleansed that day. He¡¯d watched, numb to the world, until Carliah placed her firm hand on his shoulder.
¡°Remember what we¡¯re fighting for,¡± she told him again ¨C that familiar tune she loved to whistle in the dark abyss this world had become since Gyko¡¯s ascendance. ¡°This is the final stand. The last Archon. And that makes you the last Lightborn.¡±
Her words were distant ¨C like echoes down a dark, abandoned tunnel stretching on into nothing.
¡°You¡¯ll be a hero they speak of until the end of time itself,¡± his Commander continued, before marching off to oversee the burning of another heap of corrupted village-folk. ¡°Kaedmon gave us an angel as our first Lightborn. It is fitting that a human should be his last.¡±
Artorious remained by the funeral pyre as more bodies were tossed in screaming heaps onto its wooden beams. He watched the flames lick at flesh, burning away the disease inside the bodies, until his eyes settled on the spot where Lydia¡¯s ashen skull stared back at him with hollowed-out eyes. He stayed there till the flames turned to dust and sent a column of smoke spiraling into the uncaring night sky.
If Kaedmon was up there, he hoped he was watching.
Battles became second nature. Death ¨C a minor inconvenience.
He and the Greys broke the backs of Gyko¡¯s invasion force at Rowan¡¯s Ridge ¨C a series of mountain passes that bordered Westerweald with the Reach, Argwyll¡¯s Eastern region. It was a battle, they said, that was presided over by Kaedmon and blessed in his name. They had lain in wait for the Archon¡¯s forces, knowing she had sent all her reinforcements from the Reaches to claim Westerweald once and for all. This, Carliah told them, was the chance to finally turn this war in their favor.
As they Greycloaks surged along the mountain tops, their ranks bolstered by the volunteer forces of King Lysandus III, it was said that angels could be seen cheering them on from the heavens.
But the Lightborn had no need for angels, nor any kind of Divine Intervention. He flew like a wildling into the ranks of the plant-monsters and Hybrid vanguard of the enemy, breaking them before they had a chance to push toward Caer Krea. In the far distance, the capital of Lucent stood tall and proud, having withstood siege after devastating siege over the past few months. The toxic plumes of Gyko¡¯s corruption had long since been cleared away by the efforts of the Greycloak mages. With the Lightborn at the head of their armies, they were unstoppable.
He¡¯d lost count of how many monsters he¡¯d slain. How many people ¨C he hadn¡¯t even tried keeping track. He no longer even looked at his System updates. The obscene ¡®Congratulations!¡¯ he received for every kill and the Spirit Core counter increase meant as little to him now as Carliah¡¯s praise. He wasn¡¯t doing this for them. He wasn¡¯t even doing this for himself.
At the battle¡¯s climax he stood atop a mountain of hybrid corpses and stared into the fading ranks of the enemy. They stared back, hatred mingling with terror in their eyes. All he had to do was lift his sword and they turned tail and ran.
¡°Into them!¡± Carliah cried out from his rear. ¡°Press the advantage! Leave none alive!¡±
He watched them run for their lives, scrambling down the mountains as they were riddled with crossbow bolts and wildfire from the mages. Those who were wounded crawled towards a salvation that would never come. Yet they crawled all the same, their entrails smeared across the pallid earth.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
It was like watching the closing act of some cheap play unfold before him. There he was ¨C the hero ¨C standing with his triumphant army as they smashed the enemy lines and clenched victory by sheer force of arms. The stories would paint him as gliding above them all, singing hymns to Kaedmon as they split open the lesser races of the earth.
The reality was that he simply stood and watched the end come like a lucid dream ¨C the dream of a child whose parents had been slaughtered by the very same monsters that were now dying before him.
But that boy was gone. Perhaps he¡¯d never really existed.
He looked into the hordes of dying creatures and felt the rain that had started to batter the bloodied ground beneath him. It settled on his skin like a thin, watery veil, washing away the blood that matted his face and hands but not eroding the simple truth he had been granted on this hill of death:
Artorious had died a long time ago. He was the Lightborn, now.
The final battle had come.
The air around the Ashfall mountains was thick with dust and smoke. Around him, vines of molded green coiled around his Brothers and Sisters as Gyko made her final stand among her servants.
From the ruined quarry where she had been birthed, she now shot towards Kaedmon¡¯s skies, challenging the Divine realm herself with her sheer scale. A monument to suffering, the Queen of Toxins belched a cloud of corpulence towards the mages who were burning her roots, commanding her enthralled servants to fight to the very last man against the encroaching army of the Greys that had pushed her back to her last stronghold. Her lithe, snake-like body shook as she summoned more black thorns to pierce the chests of even the most armored among them. Hundreds had died. Thousands more would if he didn¡¯t act now.
And act he did. He had come this far, and was looking his ancient enemy in her vile black eyes.
When she saw him among the crowd, a kind of eerie quiet settled over the battlefield.
Both figures from the pages of myth acknowledged the other ¨C the Enemy ¨C in this decisive moment. It was the curtain call of their drama. The denouement their entire lives had been building up to.
The Darkseeds had all been hunted down and destroyed. What Artorious was looking at now was Gyko Prime. The progenitor. The final nail in the coffin of pain and misery that had dominated Argwyll for four long, bleak centuries.
And without another moments hesitation, he moved to strike.
His sword became a blaze of holy fire that sliced through the myrmidons of the toxic queen. His armor, ragged and charred from constant combat, took the impact of her thorns as they lunged for him, appearing beneath him in a desperate attempt to slow him down. Yet his eyes shone with conviction that was buried deep within his blood. He carved the thorns and corrupted belches of the dark one as a child deals with impudent insects. The last of her hybrids surged forward, fear in their eyes as their Archon commanded them to halt the advance of the one she knew was coming to destroy her ¨C for good this time. He showed them just as much mercy as he¡¯d afforded all who stood in his way these last few years of his life.
When they lay in crumpled messes of blood and charred intestine behind him, he charged towards Gyko¡¯s roots and called for the mages to let the fires of the heavens pour down upon the fiend, adding the radiant blaze of his own sword to the inferno they cooked up and launched at the demon flower.
He heard her cries above him. He felt her claws raking his back. He felt his armor shattered, his pale body raked with fresh scars ¨C scars he would carry for the rest of his life. But still, he kept hacking at her. He sliced away her noxious petals, her shriveling stem, and any beasts she summoned in a last ditch effort to stop his relentless assault.
And with every strike he made, her screams dominated his mind.
Womanly screams from a creature who knew death was upon her.
Screams that seemed familiar¡like those of a boy¡¯s mother who had once died to protect him.
When the dread Queen finally fell, speared on her own corrupted thorns, her talons writhing in death-spasm, he crawled up her quivering body and found the point he needed to ¨C her chest that barely heaved with life, the black heart within pumping any blood the beast had left.
¡°Now, Lightborn!¡± he heard Carliah cry. ¡°Finish it!¡±
He drew his blade in an arc across the sky.
He aimed the tip at the Archon¡¯s chest.
And yet¡it wouldn¡¯t come down.
¡°DO IT!¡±
Carliah¡¯s voice seemed far off. Not commanding. Almost passive.
¡°..Artorious!¡±
¡yes, that was his name, wasn¡¯t it?
With the enemy of mankind dying under him, the Lightborn felt something tug at the back of his brain.
All the blood that ran within him commanded him to finish the job he was born to do. The job Kaedmon needed him to do.
The job he¡¯d been chosen to do.
And yet, there was a piece there ¨C something faint ¨C that had suddenly woken up when he¡¯d heard just how¡familiar Gyko¡¯s death-wails had been.
He knew it as something almost alien to his very soul. It was not what one would call ¡®doubt¡¯ exactly. After all, he knew what his duty was. Nor was this sensation that gripped him and stayed his hand one of mercy. He hated this Arch-beast that had terrorized mankind more than anyone else could. He had done so ever since he was a boy, and he¡¯d seen the monsters terrorize his home. He had hated them ever since his mother had held him in her soft arms and rocked him, telling him, ¡®Be good, Art. Or the monsters will come for you.¡¯
What struck him now was something more simple than all these things. He was not a philosophical man. His brain was not trained to think ¨C it was trained to kill. He was an engine of war. A tool. Kaedmon¡¯s Law ¨C yes. That was absolute truth. There was goodness in the Law. Certainty. ¡®You can only be what you are supposed to be¡¯. There was purity in that. He admired it.
¡he had to, right?
On the eve of Archon Gyko¡¯s death, Lightborn Artorious Pendragon of the Greycloaks committed a crime. A crime none of his predecessors had ever dared to commit.
He thought about the person that was holding the sword that stabs.
And he thought about how that person wasn¡¯t Kaedmon, or Krea, or Carliah, or any other human in the entire world.
It was him.
And it wasn¡¯t their lives that were going to end when he made this final stroke.
It was his life.
¡°FOR FUCK¡¯S SAKE, DO IT!¡±
He knew something was wrong as soon as he felt his blade come down. He saw the hole he ripped open in Gyko¡¯s body. He saw her beating heart stop as his sword¡¯s blade was driven through it. And he saw her smile up at him.
¡°¡see you in the next life, Lightborn¡¡±
Through all the cheers, and all the frenzy of victory, he did nothing but walk away from the corpse, hands shaking, breath haggard.
Around him, the humans of the kingdom celebrated. Some of them fell and wept openly to see the Archon finally fallen.
All of them cried tears of joy. Except the Greycloaks.
He could feel their eyes on his back. Eyes that would now never look at him the same way again.
And he knew it, then ¨C the next 100 years would be the loneliest years of his life.
66. Your Best [Nightmare]
(TW: Depictions of slavery in this chapter. Nothing graphic shown)
Ethan felt himself tumbling into the white void of the Nerve Tower again. Only this time, he was ascending.
The dungeon rules had changed. He reminded himself that this was a Grade C. It wasn¡¯t tangible enemies they were facing in here. It was their own minds. Their own comforts and their own fears. The last two Nervestalkers had been weak, but strong in magic and cunning. They were predators that used their prey¡¯s insecurities and doubts against them.
And Ethan was beginning to see that to break their hold, he would need more than just brute strength or skills.
He¡¯d have to trust in the minds of his companions.
Fauna? She¡¯d surprised him. She¡¯d seen through the illusion like the master Wildglance she was.
Klax? He could do it. He¡¯d already experienced the allure of these creatures once before, and he¡¯d pulled through. Ethan was certain he wouldn¡¯t fall prey to their tricks again.
And Tara? He had nothing to worry about with her. Out of all of them, her mind was the strongest. She had a clearer sense of conviction and justification than all of them put together. She wouldn¡¯t be fooled by some pantomime of her past. She wouldn¡¯t submit to the whims of another.
Right?
Yesterday, Cherri died.
The Master came with his hot iron rod to pierce her body to make sure she was gone. Her fur crisped and burned away, revealing the scarred flesh beneath.
Cherri had often spoken with her sisters, smiling and telling them that their fur could hide even the worst bruises and scratches. They were lucky to be born Minxit.
But when the Master dragged her body away yesterday, she was no longer smiling.
And when he turned his pink piggy face on his new prey, it seemed like he barely acknowledged the dead kitten that was still bleeding in his hands.
¡°Come along, pretty Tara. Your good Master will just have to make do with you today, won¡¯t he?¡±
If she was a bad girl ¨C if she fought back ¨C she got the fire. Hot. Searing. Bright ¨C so bright she had to close her eyes and try to stop from opening her mouth. She remembered how Lindle had screamed once and the fire had entered her body and burned up her guts. She remembered them falling out once Lindle was stripped open and fed to the master¡¯s dogs.
She couldn¡¯t remember what the world outside looked like. She sometimes got glimpses of it through the bars of her cage, or when her older sisters told stories to the other kittens of the delights out there in ¡®ArGwhile¡¯. She heard stories of ruby-red apples that didn¡¯t burn when you ate them, of blue skies that didn¡¯t bring ash that stained your cheeks.
Of hybrids like them who were free.
Her youngest sisters had tried running even when she told them not to. No one escaped the Master. Not for long. They always came back ¨C in chains or in pieces. They always came back.
On her thirteenth year in the house of the Master, she was brought upstairs to the dining room. He clothed her. Fed her. Bathed her and cleaned out her ears ¨C it was the most pleasure she¡¯d felt in an age. She thought that, perhaps¡
When she got to the dining room she knew otherwise. Dreams were for bad girls. She had to be good.
He paraded her in front of his guests, all men ¨C all leering and sweating from the midday sun that streamed through the stained-glass windows of the mansion.
¡°Good Lord Baldrick ¨C you always find the most supple little specimens,¡± one man said.
¡°Is she broken in?¡± asked another.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
¡°Naturally,¡± the Master replied, his bushy mustache wrinkling as he licked his lips. ¡°I like to taste my sweetest plumbs.¡±
The men laughed at that. And their laughter was like a death knell ringing out for her life. Because she knew what was going to happen. She could already see it. She¡¯d heard the screams from when her sisters had been used in the Master¡¯s parties.
But they must have been bad girls, she told herself. She was good. She was always good. She¡¯d always done what she was told.
So why was she here?
The collar strapped round her neck distracted her from her thoughts. She looked up at her Master with pliant, but pleading eyes. She mumbled. She begged. He didn¡¯t listen.
First he stripped her and made her crawl around for the giggling guests, leading her by her leash round the dinner table. The men of the house howled with laughter. Some of them poured wine in her mouth and smacked her when she passed them. Others spat in her direction. She didn¡¯t know why. Maybe just because they could.
But suddenly the atmosphere of frivolity changed.
The Master released her from his grip, and stared with flaring eyes at a slave-girl who had just been filling his guests goblets by the tableside.
On the cuff of his evening robe there was a stain. The slave-girl had just made a mistake she¡¯d regret for the rest of her life.
¡°I-I¡¯m S-s-sorry Master!¡± she cried, dropping to her knees in reproach. ¡®I¡¯m so-¡°
The sound of his fist cracking her cheekbones was felt throughout the entire mansion.
¡°Impudent little wretch!¡±
His fists came down on her again and again. Through it all, her blood-curdling screams echoed down the halls, alerting the other slaves who came running only to see that it was the Master¡¯s discipline that brought such abject terror to the house. They promptly filed away when they realized what was happening.
Meanwhile, the serving-maid was on her side, fetal, her tail curled up between her legs as she tried to protect herself.
¡°I¡¯ll teach you to disrespect me, wench!¡±
The guests said nothing. Tara looked at them, her eyes begging them to step in and stop this madness. No smiles wore they on their faces now. Instead, they went back to their eating, ignoring the uproar. To some of them, it was merely an inconvenience. To others, it was just a fact of life.
Something happened in her mind in that moment. It was what she¡¯d refer to later as a turning point in the sad, agonizing story that had been her youth. All these years spent as the plaything of the Master, watching her sisters be used and dumped like ragdolls when they were no longer useful, hadn¡¯t impelled her mind to action. She¡¯d seen horrors worse than this maid being beaten today. She¡¯d seen horrors the likes of which she couldn¡¯t even express, and she¡¯d done nothing.
But today, for reasons she couldn¡¯t express, her body acted for her, and before she knew it, she was bent over the maidservant as a shield, cradling her beaten, bloody sister in her arms while the Master stood, momentarily paralyzed with rage, until he simply started beating her, too.
Her punishment was to be whipped to her cage in the basement and go without food. She wasn¡¯t used that night. But she had been placed in the same cage as her bloodied sister, who couldn¡¯t even look in her direction.
She didn¡¯t know which was worse: being broken by the master and his companions or being trapped in here with one of her sisters, whom she¡¯d just saved, avoiding her gaze like she was an enemy.
Pain bound them, but it also turned all spectators into enemies. They were toys to be used and abused as their human overlords saw it ¨C all Minxit were ¨C but that didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t feel shame.
¡°Because that¡¯s all your kind is good for,¡± she heard her sister say ¨C in a voice very different from how she normally spoke. ¡°All you did once you were ¡®free¡¯ was choose a new master ¨C the Archon. You just allowed yourself to be enslaved again.¡±
She sniffled, rubbing her bloody eyes in the dark. Alone, ashamed, and starving, she assumed the dark face that was now draped over her sister was simply a hallucination. Sometimes the imagination was a temporary escape.
¡°TARA!¡±
¡what?
¡°TARA! DON¡¯T LISTEN!¡±
That voice didn¡¯t belong to her sisters. It was¡a male voice. But not the Master¡¯s. It sounded strangely familiar¡and yet distant. Muted¡
¡°You are a tool to be used and then discarded,¡± the dark creature that spoke with her sister¡¯s voice told her, and its words were so powerful that she listened to them, and ignored the thin, lithe limbs growing out of her sister¡¯s body, and the dark label floating above the creature¡¯s head that said ¡®Nervestalker¡¯.
¡°It¡¯s bullshit, Tara. You know it is!¡±
¡there was that other voice again. Who...
¡°Bah! You¡¯re not even capable of listening to yourself. So distracted by your own little delusions. You think you found freedom in that dank little underground kingdom? You are nothing but a convenient little rogue. When your friends don¡¯t need you anymore, they¡¯ll toss you aside just like your Master di-¡°
¡°Fuck that!¡± came the other voice ¨C far more powerful this time, as though it had activated some kind of ability that allowed it to bellow with greater ferocity than the beast that was edging towards her. ¡°Remember the slave camp? You took those bastards down like a pro. And you told me we did the right thing. You still believe that, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡could¡could she have done something like that? Killed a camp of slavers?
¡°A lie! A downright, barefaced li-¡°
¡yes. Yes she could. In fact¡she¡¯d killed one before.
¡she¡¯d¡she¡¯d killed the Master before.
¡°Listen to me, Minxit!¡± the beast wearing her sister¡¯s face screamed in their cage. ¡°What you see here is who you really are! It is what you have been hiding from all this time. You know it, don¡¯t you? You know that the right thing to do is to give in. To stay in your rotten little cage and be your Master¡¯s pet. Because that¡¯s all your kind are good for!¡±
She stood.
¡°Are you liste-¡°
No. She wasn¡¯t, now. Instead, she was looking at the bars of her cage, and she was looking past them.
Towards the pale white man who was roaring at her between them.
¡°Ethan,¡± she said, her voice cold, distant, and hollow. ¡°Hand me your sword.¡±
67. [Victory] and [Loss]
Ethan watched the bruised, beaten catgirl kneeling in her cage rise and walk towards him.
Finally! he thought. His Mana Nullifier was working. Even if it wasn¡¯t strong enough to dispel the illusion entirely. This particular Nervestalker must have been a more powerful variant with over 50 Intelligence. Either that, or it simply had Tara¡¯s mind in a much firmer grip than Fauna¡¯s oppressor.
That wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d expected. But he¡¯d also not given up on her. And now, the kitten that was facing him, totally ignoring the wails of her ¡®sister¡¯ behind her, was bearing its claws.
¡°Ethan,¡± she said. ¡°Hand me your sword.¡±
He nodded slowly, handing her his Mithril Broadsword through the bars of her prison. Curiously, sparks began to fly from the item as soon as her hand gripped it, and it slowly morphed into a straight-edged dagger with a reverse-grip.
¡°Yeah,¡± Tara said. ¡°I remember this. It¡¯s what I stole from one of the guards who came to leer at me on this night. I opened my legs, I called him sir, and he unlocked the door. Then, when he dropped his pants, I grabbed his dagger and¡¡±
The Nervestalker behind her had ceased its wails. Now, a pair of spectral grey claws flashed in the darkness of the basement, lunging for its prey¡¯s throat.
But its victim was faster.
¡°¡I made my mark.¡±
Tara spun with total control, flipping out the way of the Nervestalker¡¯s desperate attack and then launched into a deadly pirouette, bringing the thin edge of her blade across the creature¡¯s blue-black neck.
Spectral ichor oozed from its wound, and it flopped to the ground, its form blurring between that of Tara¡¯s slave-sisters and her tormentors.
¡°I killed the guard,¡± she said. ¡°Then I went upstairs.¡±
The Stalker threw itself at her again. This time she sidestepped its strike and drew the dagger across its back, severing its fluid-like spinal cord.
¡°I found the Master¡¯s room.¡±
Her knife came down on the creature as it tried to crawl away ¨C the nightmare world of the basement fading as its life drained from its body.
¡°And I climbed on his bed, where he was sleeping, with the blood of my Sister still on his hands.¡±
She brought one paw down on the specter as it cried out for mercy, while Ethan looked on, entranced by the whole performance and the dark words echoing from the Minxit¡¯s mouth.
He¡¯d never call her ¡®kitten¡¯ again.
¡°He opened his eyes. He saw me on top of him.¡±
She turned the creature round to see that it was wearing the face of her master ¨C old, haggard, full of soundless rage and snarling up at her with blind hate.
¡°And I showed him what his good girl could do.¡±
The dagger came down on the head of the beast. It let out a final, tired wail of defeat as its life-force depleted, and its will to contain its prey withered with the rest of its mental functions. The entire edifice of the slave pen, the mansion, and Tara¡¯s crying sisters melted away to nothing. And all that was left was the catgirl holding her blood-soaked knife.
Ethan crept forward.
¡°Tara, I ¨C¡°
¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she told him. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything. Don¡¯t say you¡¯re sorry. Don¡¯t say you didn¡¯t know. Don¡¯t say you can make this all better.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
He dropped his hands to his side, seeing her expression change to one of absolute numbness in the darkness of the void they now floated in, the Nervestalker¡¯s twitching body crumbling to dust between them.
¡°¡No one should see this,¡± she suddenly said. ¡°Least of all, you.¡±
¡°If you had told me ¨C¡°
¡°You¡¯d do what, Ethan? Make the pain go away?¡±
¡°No. But I¡¯d have understood.¡±
¡°How the fuck can anyone understand this?¡± she said, pointing to the vacant face of her Master being worn by the Nervestalker. "How...how can anyone make it make sense..."
Ethan said nothing. Because he didn¡¯t have an answer.
And as the void started to swallow them both, the Nervestalker¡¯s chest rose in a light, stuttered gasp of air.
¡°Take it,¡± she told him. ¡°He might as well be of some use to you. Probably has some skill you can use.¡±
Ethan crouched, activating her Appraisal to sense any latent abilities in the barely conscious dream-summoner.
Nervestalker Alpha
HP: 1/20
Core Abilities: Hide, Ethereal Visage, Minor Illusion, Corporeal Mimic
Mimic¡
Normally, Ethan¡¯s thoughts would be consumed with some excitement at the prospect of such an upgrade. But he met Tara¡¯s gaze even though she tried to avoid him at all cost. Like her life depended on it.
¡°You can probably guess the rest,¡± she whispered, tail tucked between her legs. ¡°After I killed the Master, I set the others free. They ran way without me. Didn¡¯t say a word. Some of them didn¡¯t even wanna go. Just sat there, rocking like dull stones on the basement floor, staring at nothing. Some of them had given up on ever getting out ages ago, so they probably thought me standing there, bloody and frantic, promising them freedom, was just a trick.
¡°I burned the mansion and tried following after them. Got to Grenbelm Forest before I realized I couldn¡¯t survive. Started stealing from farmers and marketplaces in the towns, till the purges began and slavery was the least of my worries. Ended up collapsing from exhaustion one day near the Ashfalls where Gyko had died ages ago. And that¡¯s when she found me.¡±
Ethan nodded. ¡°Jun¡¯Ei.¡±
Ethan didn¡¯t need to see their old leader appear in this dream realm. The spark in Tara¡¯s eyes as she talked about her was enough.
¡°She found me when I was closer to death than I¡¯d ever been before. I didn¡¯t have the strength to try and kill her like I wanted. I dunno. After a while it just becomes an instinct. Everyone becomes your enemy. But she ¨C she was different. She showed me a world where I could live. Where hybrids were as free as we could be in this human world.
Wish you¡¯d met her when she was in her prime, Ethan. If she¡¯s really in this place, I¡¯ll bet you¡¯d be impressed. Even if she¡¯s wrong.¡±
Ethan took his chance in possessing the Stalker. No resistance came ¨C he took its Mimic skill, jumped right back to Valgraiva, and then got the Spirit Cores from its body.
Spirit Cores Gained: 500
But still, upgrades weren¡¯t what he was really thinking about here and now. Even as the black walls of the void around him and Tara started to die away, bleeding out into the unreality of this whole dungeon, he couldn¡¯t help but move towards Tara.
¡°We¡¯ll win this fight,¡± he said. ¡°And then we¡¯ll change this world so nothing like what you went through ever happens again.¡±
She blinked through disbelief, eyes that were still bruised even after the dream was done.
¡°You still think we can coexist with humans, Ethan? Even after all they¡¯ve done to us?¡±
He wanted to tell her that he did. He wanted to tell her that he was certain there was a better way to end this war than one side killing the other.
But he could only tell her the truth.
¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±
A new wormhole opened in the dark realm. He felt himself pulled through.
And before he was gone, he heard Tara¡¯s final words to his departing form:
¡°One way to find out.¡±
Current Spirit Cores: 1150
Another realm. Another illusion.
He was beginning to get bored by this dungeon¡¯s little tricks.
But Cores were Cores. And he¡¯d need them when he faced the real Boss waiting for him at the peak of this Tower.
This new unreality that opened up was that of a forest grove. One that was surrounded by a litter of corpses.
Around him, hybrids and humans spread atop one another, their blood mingling in a grisly display of post-battle horror. Whatever fight had taken place here, it had ended recently. Some of the dead were still twitching in spasm.
¡°If this is supposed to trick me, it ain¡¯t working¡±, he said aloud. ¡°I¡¯ve seen worse in this place and I¡¯m done playing games.¡±
And before he could rationalize talking to himself, another voice answered him.
A voice tinged with ancient wisdom.
¡°No, Ethan Hawke. I can assure you; this is no game.¡±
He looked up from the remains of the dead, his body compelled to move forward like a twisted marionette.
And then, he saw her.
She was a Lycae just like Klax ¨C but older, far older. Her wrinkled flesh contorted around her hollow eyes like a mummified body risen from its sarcophagus. The fur that coated her body was barely clinging to her limbs, and with every breath she took, her ragged bones seemed to heave with her.
¡°Welcome, Archon Ethan Hawke, Demon Hat and Lord of Monsters.¡±
He double blinked just to make sure. He didn¡¯t know what to trust anymore.
¡°You¡¯re¡¡±
¡°Jun¡¯Ei,¡± the withered woman said. ¡°And we have much to discuss.¡±
68. The [Prophet] Speaks
The venerable old Lycae sat on a tree stump on the middle of the Grenbelm forest ¨C or what served as the forest in this memory prism filled with the bodies of the dead.
Jun''Ei...actually sitting here before him.
¡°How¡¡± Ethan began, stumbling forwards as he tried to avoid the innards he was treading in. ¡°How do I know this is real?¡±
I don¡¯t detect any illusion magic on her, Sys offered calmly.
Even so¡I¡¯ve seen nothing I can trust in this place, Ethan thought. Could he even trust that that voice belonged to Sys at all?
Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s aged body heaved in response. It looked to Ethan that she ¨C aged beyond all reason ¨C was carrying a deep pain in her bones that she was barely able to suppress.
¡°You have learned not to trust your own senses,¡± she said. ¡°As I would expect of the Archon. None of your brothers or sisters grew to appreciate just how little one can do alone. In their hubris, they fell. You, Ethan Hawke, must trust in more than yourself.¡±
Just then Ethan heard a rustling of the blood-soaked bushes behind him.
He spun around, scythe at the ready, just in time to see Klax emerge from the forest, dragging the body of a dead Nervestalker behind him. The wolfman¡¯s face was worn with exhaustion, but his eyes were bright, alive with the intensity of battle. His fur was matted with blood, his muscles taut from the struggle he had just endured.
Spirit Cores: + 500
Current Spirit Cores: 1650
So, the Nervestalker of this prism is already dead, Ethan thought, staring at the limp creature Klax dragged behind him. Which means¡
¡°She¡¯s real, Ethan,¡± Klax said, his voice firm but almost reverent as his eyes locked onto Jun¡¯Ei. ¡°I know her. My eyes know her. My heart knows her.¡±
Ethan looked back and forth between Klax and Jun¡¯Ei, still torn between disbelief and reality. But Klax¡¯s conviction, the way his usually stoic face softened when he looked at Jun¡¯Ei¡ªit was undeniable.
Ethan¡¯s grip on his scythe loosened slightly. His gut told him that this might be different. This might be the real Jun¡¯Ei. But that only raised more questions.
¡°Klax, how can you be sure?¡± Ethan asked, still wary.
Klax dropped the Nervestalker¡¯s corpse onto the ground with a thud and walked past Ethan, his gaze fixed on the dogwoman. His voice was quiet, but it carried an emotion that Ethan hadn¡¯t heard from him before.
¡°I¡¯ve been searching for her for so long,¡± Klax said, standing just a few feet away from Jun¡¯Ei now. ¡°I¡¯ve imagined this moment a thousand times. This... feeling, it¡¯s more than real. I know it¡¯s her.¡±
Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she met Klax¡¯s gaze, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still between them. The weight of their history, their love, and their separation hung heavy in the air.
¡°Dearest Klax,¡± she groaned. ¡°Our time here is short. Our destinies ¨C even shorter. But still, it pleases me to see you again.¡±
The wolfman bowed low, clutching the pendant at his neck. There was nothing but peace within his old eyes now.
But Ethan, still the pragmatist, needed answers. He stepped forward, his voice cutting through the silence. ¡°If you¡¯re real, Jun¡¯Ei, then tell me¡ªwhat do you want? Why are you here?¡±
Jun¡¯Ei turned her gaze toward Ethan, her voice gentle but filled with an ancient power. ¡°I am here because time is running out. Your path is converging with mine, and the choices you make now will determine the fate of Argwyll and its people.¡±
Ethan¡¯s mind raced, the weight of her words sinking in. ¡°What choices? What do you mean? All I want is freedom. A way for everything we do to matter at all.¡±
Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s eyes darkened, her voice low and commanding as she responded. ¡°Freedom is what you seek, and it is a worthy desire. But there is more than one path to freedom, Ethan Hawke. You could walk Tara¡¯s path and spill the blood of every human in Argwyll. You could burn this world to ash and break Kaedmon¡¯s Law by force. Or...¡±
¡°Or what?¡± Ethan asked, his breath catching as he leaned forward.
¡°Or,¡± Jun¡¯Ei continued, her voice growing softer, ¡°you can break the Law without shedding so much blood. There is a way¡ªa way that has been hidden from you until now.¡±
Ethan¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What way? How?¡±
Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s expression grew grave, the weight of her next words hanging in the air. ¡°To break Kaedmon¡¯s Law without the destruction of Argwyll, you must find where my physical body lies. It is there that the key resides. My memory holds the knowledge you seek. But for you to access it, you must possess me, Ethan. Only through possession can you unlock the secrets hidden within me.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
¡°Possess you?¡± Ethan repeated, his mind reeling at the idea. ¡°How do I¡ª¡±
¡°There is no time for more,¡± Jun¡¯Ei interrupted, her voice strained. ¡°My captors are returning. The power I have here is waning.¡±
Klax¡¯s face paled at the mention of her captors, and he took a step closer to her, his voice desperate. ¡°Jun¡¯Ei... I¡¯m coming for you. I swear it. I¡¯ll find you, wherever you are.¡±
Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s eyes softened as she looked at Klax, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. ¡°I know, Klax. I¡¯ve always known. It is in your nature, and it is your choice.¡±
Before Klax could respond, the dream world around them began to flicker and tremble, cracks forming in the sky above as the illusion started to shatter.
¡°W-wait!¡± Ethan cried. Coming forward to take hold of the woman. ¡°How do I find you? Where are-¡°
Her old claws shot out on impulse, almost like she was trying to drag him into the depths of whatever hell she was stuck in. And it was hell ¨C of that, Ethan became certain.
As she pressed his arms with real, tangible pressure, he saw an island appearing through dark, treacherous mists. An island off of Argwyll¡¯s¡Eastern coast. An island dominated by storms, a lush jungle and¡hidden deep within its bowels¡a prison. A fortress. A dark place where secrets were kept from the world. Where the screams of traitors rung out long into the night where no one would hear them¡
He knew the name of this place without asking her. She was transferring the information to him ¨C along with all her dread. This place ¨C this nightmare stronghold ¨C that was where they¡¯d been keeping her all this time since her capture.
Griffon¡¯s Watch. The Prison colony.
¡°Find me, Ethan Hawke¡± Jun¡¯Ei called out, her voice fading as the world disintegrated. ¡°Find me. And free us all.¡±
The dream-world died. The bodies of the forest merged into one mass of liquid crimson.
¡°I¡I have to kill him first,¡± Ethan told the old Lycae¡¯s fading eyes. ¡°The Lightborn. He¡¯s¡he¡¯s waiting¡¡±
¡°Do you?¡±
Outside the bounds of space and time, Klax shouted. He ran forward. He tried to reach them.
But whatever magic Jun¡¯Ei had over this place was more powerful than anything Ethan had felt in Argwyll. She held her form until she could deliver what she needed to.
¡°We are prisoners in this world, Ethan Hawke,¡± she told him. ¡°All of us.¡±
He looked at her as a strange and unmistakable look of sympathy came over her eyes.
Sympathy¡for who?
Him? Klax? Or someone else?
He didn¡¯t have time to answer. Instead, she gripped him with all the power she had left at her command, and pressed something into his chest.
¡°There is one last gift I can give you,¡± she said. ¡°When the time comes, think of freedom. Think of the dream you hold within yourself ¨C the dream you share with all your brethren. And you will know how to use what I shall bestow upon you.¡±
Artorious stood alone in the dark void, the oppressive silence pressing in on him from all sides. He stared at his reflection in the blackened glass before him¡ªhis own face, twisted in pain, eyes filled with guilt.
¡°You¡¯re a failure.¡±
The voice was his own, but it was laced with venom, dripping with disdain. His reflection sneered at him, mocking him with every word. ¡°You failed Gyko. You failed your people. And you¡¯ll fail again.¡±
Artorious clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he resisted the urge to strike the glass. ¡°I¡¯m not a failure.¡±
¡°Really?¡± the reflection taunted, stepping closer. ¡°Look at yourself, Artorious. The great Lightborn. The chosen one. And yet, every time you stand at the precipice of victory, you falter. You hesitate.¡±
Artorious¡¯ jaw tightened, but before he could respond, the voices of the other Lightborn began to echo around him, their ghostly forms appearing in the void. They surrounded him, their eyes cold and judgmental.
¡°You are not like us,¡± one of them said, his voice low and full of accusation.
¡°You don¡¯t have the strength to do what must be done,¡± another added, her voice sharp like a blade.
And then there was Krea¡ªthe greatest of the Lightborn. She stood tall, her wings shimmering with a blinding light, her eyes filled with disappointment.
¡°You will fail again, Artorious,¡± Krea said, her voice carrying the weight of centuries. ¡°You will never be what this world needs.¡±
The words cut deep, but Artorious refused to bow beneath them. He had heard them before. He had faced these demons before.
¡°I don¡¯t need your approval,¡± Artorious spat, his voice filled with defiance. ¡°I know what I¡¯ve done. I know my failings. But I also know what I¡¯m capable of.¡±
His reflection laughed, stepping closer until it was mere inches from him. ¡°Do you? Then why do you hesitate? Why do you always hesitate when it matters most?¡±
Artorious¡¯ hand shot out, gripping the hilt of his rapier. ¡°I hesitate because I care. But that doesn¡¯t make me weak. It makes me stronger.¡±
Without another word, Artorious drew his blade and struck his reflection, shattering the glass into a thousand shards. The pieces fell around him, dissolving into nothing as the void began to lift.
The ghostly figures of the other Lightborn faded as well, their voices growing quieter until they were nothing more than distant whispers.
Artorious stood alone once more, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. He had faced his past, his doubts, his fears. And he had moved past them.
He opened his eyes to find himself standing at the peak of the Nerve Tower, the cool wind brushing against his skin. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting the world in a warm golden light.
Behind him, he heard footsteps. He didn¡¯t need to turn to know who it was.
¡°Carliah,¡± he said, his voice steady.
She stepped up beside him, her face hardened from the trials they had just endured. ¡°You made it through, then?¡±
He nodded. ¡°We both did.¡±
¡°Hmpf,¡± she snorted. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re finally learning from your past.¡±
¡°And the others?¡±
The Commander shook her head, not meeting the Lightborn¡¯s eyes.
¡°It is fitting, Arty, is it not?¡± she smiled. ¡°That it would be the two of us who stood here at the end, ready to undo all your mistakes.¡±
He felt his fist grip and his teeth chatter with charged energy. But he steeled himself. She wasn¡¯t the enemy. Not right now.
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared experiences hanging between them. The nightmares they had faced¡ªthe doubts, the fears¡ªthey were still there, but they had come out the other side stronger.
Artorious glanced at the great doors before them, the final obstacle that stood in their way. The Boss Door. Beyond it, their fate awaited. The place they¡¯d make their final stand.
¡°It¡¯ll be just like old times, dear Arty,¡± she told him as she stepped forward through the foggy sheath that concealed the Boss of the City. ¡°The tale of the Demon Hat, and that of the Archon, ends here.¡±
69. [Interlude]
Darkness finally gave way to a stuttering, frail light.
Ethan found himself standing in a [SAFE ZONE], something he didn¡¯t expect in a dungeon like this. Probably, even level Cs had to allow their Delvers some measure of respite before the Big Bad Boss.
And, looking down at the world beneath him, he could tell the Boss room was just above him now.
He was standing in a translucent sphere of shimmering light itself ¨C a hollow room that bore his weight through no discernible means. He moved, and the floor rippled, giving him a view of the Nerve Tower¡¯s pulsing depths below, and would probably have churned the stomach of an Acrophobic. After all the things he¡¯d seen, however, this was child¡¯s play.
He walked over to the sphere-wall to look out at the City of Illusions far below him, whistling slightly as he inspected the chaotic path he and his comrades had carved through the place. Around every alley they¡¯d skulked through, and every spire they¡¯d toppled on their way here, the manta-like Dreamstriders did their jobs ¨C coating the buildings in the sticky, ethereal good that seemed to keep this whole place together. The phasing outlines of Obscaurus ran down the side of the Nerve tower to take up new positions in the city below, summoned to do so by whatever force controlled this place. Ethan suspected it was Kaedmon Himself.
The architect of everyone¡¯s pain in this world.
The way the slim Obscaurus ran down the building seemed more frantic than the behavior he¡¯d seen them exhibit in the city itself, however. Some of them ran with a distinct sense of fear ¨C if such creatures could even feel the emotion. They ran with abandon, their necks split open spilling ghastly globules of blood across Ethan¡¯s little sanctuary, trailing their limbs behind them. Such a mass exodus could be the work of one person only.
The Lightborn.
Ethan looked above, seeing nothing but a mist of fog and clouds. Though he couldn¡¯t see him, he knew he was up there. He knew he¡¯d passed through the same trials he had and, of course, he¡¯d emerged before his ancient enemy.
¡°Artorious,¡± Ethan murmured. ¡°Hope you didn¡¯t miss me too much, old man.¡±
The time has come, then, Sys suddenly perked up.After everything you have seen here, Ethan Hawke, are you truly ready to meet your fate?
Ethan thought about it for a hot second ¨C he thought about that word, and how much he despised it and those who lived life by its absurd rules.
¡°I¡¯m doing nothing but what¡¯s right. That old dude¡¯s gotta go. First him, and then Kaedmon.¡±
Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s last words flooded back to him then ¨C along with the vision of her prison. Killing the Lightborn would only be the first step to truly freeing this world. She had the key ¨C he knew it. Klax had known it all along, too. Ethan felt like a moron for ever doubting the guy.
He¡¯d felt like a moron for ever doubting any of them. After all, they were the ones who broke through their own illusions, right? It had taken them almost no time at all.
And because of that, they deserved to have a win here. Killing the Lightborn wasn¡¯t just a job he had to do. It was something he owed Klax, Tara, Fauna, and every damn hybrid on the surface.
And that thought was what summoned his current Spirit Core counter to the forefront of his conscious thought:
Current Spirit Cores: 1650
He smirked, sitting down and crossing his legs, readying himself for a major upgrade session.
You trying to hint that it¡¯s time to fine-tune this Host a little more, Sys?
¡maybe.
Not like he needed any prompting. After all, he had to wait for his companions to come through ¨C wherever they were at right now.
Might as well make use of this time. I¡¯ve been floating around in dreams and nightmares for far too long. Time to do something real.
Current Spirit Cores: 1650
Strategy time¡
First, he knew taking the Lightborn and his grim Commander head-on would be suicide. Even with all his new abilities, he¡¯d have to be careful ¨C relying on synergies and tricks that could mess up the flow of the Greycloaks¡¯ combat. If this Carliah and Artorious were true tactical geniuses, then how come even Artorious had been duped way back when they fought in the Grenbelm forest?
Simple: he thought he lived in a predictable world. The world of Kaedmon was exactly that: everything was defined for you since birth.
But Ethan Hawke was anything but a predictable [Hat].
And it was time to show these bastards exactly what that meant.
First ¨C he¡¯d upgrade his stealth capacity so that not even the twilight-infused shadows of this city could stop him from gaining an advantage:
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Hide (Grade A->S)
[Hide-in-plain-sight] unlocked!
You may now attempt to disappear from your enemy¡¯s line of sight even in broad daylight, with a 30% chance of failure.
He had expected the skill to be based off his enemy¡¯s Perception score, and thus to be overall useless against these ageless paladins. But the flat-out 70% chance for a successful sneak attack (at triple damage for him and his companions if he tried for a Mass-Hide) was way to great to pass up.
He assumed that¡¯s just what S Grade skills were ¨C super powerful, but risky.
And he¡¯d have to risk it all if he was gonna win, here.
Upgrade¡complete!
Hide (Grade S)
Congratulations! You have achieved the highest Grade of the [Hide] skill!
That was a start, but he wasn¡¯t done yet.
¡°Sys, pull up snipe. We¡¯re gonna need some precision.¡±
As he administered these improvements, his entire Undead body shimmering with a ghostly veil of pure energy. It was the kind of power no mortal being on Argwyll could ever possess, all contained in one pure vessel. Even the Dreamstriders, floating outside the pale bubble of nothingness, seemed to stop and take notice of his energy levels as the spiked higher. Ever higher.
Spectral Snipe (Grade D->C)
You launch a bolt of precise energy up to 200 ft from your current location. This bolt deals 200 pts of {piercing}DMG and takes 60 secs to recharge.
Spectral Snipe can now pass through solid and {ethereal} matter
Upgrade (Grade C): [Attack Vitals] unlocked ¨C you may aim at specific body parts to trigger status effects in your enemies on a successful hit.
Hands: Disarm
Legs: Cripple
Head: Automatic Critical
Spirit Cores required to upgrade: 750
It¡¯s¡pretty much VATS from Fallout, Ethan thought, allowing himself a smile as his memories of blowing super mutants to pieces flooded through his brain. He envisioned taking that smug bastard¡¯s head clean off his shoulders and shoving it in the face of every Argwyllian who hated him ¨C and the rest of his kind.
Hell yeah he was gonna take this. Close combat with the old fuck would be possible, but a crazy proposition long-term.
Upgrade¡Complete!
Spirit Cores to Upgrade further: 1000
Spirit Cores Remaining: 950
950 cores that, if he was facing a regular monstrous enemy, he would bank in order to get off a successful possession. But he remembered well the lesson he¡¯d learned in Grenbelm ¨C not only was the old fucker¡¯s Willpower through the roof, but he couldn¡¯t possess a human anyway. This wasn¡¯t gonna be a fight to wear his opponent down, bend it to submission and then wear it as a Host. No ¨C this was a fight to the death, straight up.
And for that he needed more power. Something that could be whipped out to end the fight in one swift strike. So, he turned to something he hadn¡¯t looked at in a while:
Petrification Coating (Grade E)
You slather your weapon in the debilitating bile closest to your heart, giving your weapon the [PETRI] attribute for 10 secs.
[PETRI] Chance: 40%
Duration: 10 secs.
(Grade D) Petrification automatically triggered against targets with the [Sluggish] debuff.
Spirit Core cost to Upgrade: 250
Sluggish¡that means¡if I can time a [Roar] perfectly to hit the bastards, I can at least take one of them out of commission and focus on the other one. One good hit and the petrified Greycloak¡¯s gonna come crumbling down, right?
He hesitated only slightly as he committed to the upgrade. Now wasn¡¯t the time to waste Spirit Cores. But this was the best plan he had.
Upgrade¡Complete!
Petrification Coating (Grade D)
Spirit Cores Required to upgrade further: 500
Current Spirit Cores: 700
Next ¨C he needed a good defense just as much as he needed offence. Valgraiva¡¯s HP was immense, but it meant nothing if he couldn¡¯t keep his Host standing. After all, he knew what Artorious could do. If he had an Onixia blade with him¡the chances were he could deplete HP like siphoning sand through a sieve. An Undead Lord meant nothing to an Archon slayer.
And luckily, Ethan had just the thing to deal with that:
Repulsor Shield (Grade E->D)
You heft your mighty shield, nullifying magical attacks completely up to certain magnitude of DMG.
Current {MAG} DMG Prot: 95
[Repulsion] trait gained: Repulsor Shield now reflects any magical attacks back at the attacker
Spirit Core cost to upgrade: 250
It was an upgrade that provided the best of both worlds. And it was all his.
Upgrade¡Complete!
Spirit Core cost to upgrade further: 500
Current Spirit Cores: 450
One more, Ethan thought as the walls of the dome around him began to quiver under some unseen pressure. One more chance to win, here, Sys. Any recommendations?
Do not forget your team, Ethan. I tell you again ¨C they are some of your best resources.
You have seen now why they fight. This battle is all that serves as important for them. Their entire purpose is to ensure your ascendance. They may be burdened with pain, but pain is often the best teacher for the fanatical and the -
¡°But they aren¡¯t expendable,¡± Ethan interrupted. ¡°You really think I could just let them die so I can claim my throne in this world, Sys? I told you already, that ain¡¯t the kind of Archon I¡¯m gonna be.¡±
Sys grew quiet then, allowing the world around them to spin, uninterrupted.
A different Archon, indeed.
I still do not understand you, Ethan.
When Sys said nothing else, Ethan merely moved on to his final skill pick, ignoring the droning sounds of the Safe Zone beginning to change.
¡But perhaps that is the kind of Archon the world truly needs.
¡°Hm?¡± Ethan grunted ¨C too preoccupied in musing on his next skill choice. ¡°What?¡±
Nothing, Ethan. Nothing at all.
¡°Cryptic as usual,¡± Ethan scoffed back. ¡°Right to the end.¡±
He set then to trawling his mind for something useful. He saw skills, numbers, status effects, synergies he hadn¡¯t even thought of before all coming together in a vast web of demonic tools he¡¯d pilfered from the different species of this world. But he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he needed something else.
He opened his palm and looked at what Jun¡¯Ei had given him. What she had called her ¡®gift¡¯.
When he looked at it, he already knew how it was. He knew how it worked. He even knew where it had come from ¨C somehow. He couldn¡¯t understand the bond he had with the item. But he could guess it was something like¡familial acquaintance.
It would be his trump card. His last-ditch effort in the event things went off the rails and he or one of his companions was brought an inch from death or worse. But how he could deliver it to his enemies was another matter entirely. It required a¡personal touch. It required trust.
Then, scrawling right to the end of his skill list, Ethan came to his most recent skill.
He smiled in the ethereal sphere just as three portals opened to let his companions through. This skill ¨C this ability ¨C it suddenly made everything else click together so perfectly that, if he didn¡¯t know that his life was at stake here, he¡¯d think this was the final grand level of some intricate game.
He knew exactly what skill he¡¯d spend his last points on.
70. [Unfinished] Business
Ethan finished applying his last upgrade as the portals¡¯ light grew brighter in the Nerve Tower¡¯s safe sphere. Then, with a gush of dazzling light, they each belched out their occupants and closed up like wounds in time.
Kneeling before the Archon were his three loyal companions. Shaken, confused, and no doubt afraid of what was to come. But alive.
¡°E-Ethan?¡±
Fauna was the first one to look up and Appraise him, watching him warily lest he be just another illusion of the Nervestalkers.
¡°The very same,¡± Ethan replied. ¡°And you¡¯re the walking textbook Wildglance, Miss Fauna. Super special magic awesome teacher of Sanctum.¡±
The girl almost collapsed all over again.
¡°It¡¯s you¡¡± she murmured, tears welling at the corners of her eyes. ¡°You ¨C we ¨C we made it!¡±
¡°¡¯Course we did,¡± Tara murmured. ¡°It¡¯ll take more than a few bad dreams to get us down.¡±
Ethan turned to her, remembering the tormented nightmare she¡¯d been through. He wanted to say something in the moment, but her eyes flashed the same warning at him as they had before. Now was not the time.
Klax was the first one to stand, helping his comrades to their feet with a reverent grin spreading across his furry face.
¡°I saw her,¡± he said. ¡°The real her.¡±
Fauna blinked. ¡°Jun¡¯Ei?¡±
Tara was unconvinced. ¡°How¡¯d you know it was really her and not some trick of those bastard creatures?¡±
¡°Because this time,¡± Klax smiled, ¡°she did not appear to me alone.¡±
They all looked to Ethan who met their bewildered glances with a sage nod.
¡°No shit,¡± Tara huffed. ¡°You saw her, eh?¡±
¡°Yeah. And I know where she is.¡±
The three of them stood, unbelief smeared across their features.
¡°After all these years¡I always suspected. But I didn¡¯t know for sure.¡±
Fauna patted Klax¡¯s mane gently as the old wolf sagged under what he¡¯d seen.
¡°None of us did, Klax. How could we?¡±
Tara, Ethan noticed, was saying nothing. She had crossed to the very edge of the sphere, busying herself with her own System screen.
¡°And yet the place she is locked away is even worse than I could have thought,¡± Klax whispered. ¡°Griffon¡¯s Watch. The place where traitors are tortured and left for dead. A monument to man¡¯s inhumanity on Argwyll.¡±
Ethan¡¯s eyes met those of the wolf. He could sense the burning desire to leave and grab his old mate right now. Screw the Lightborn. Screw his duty. He had finally seen the one thing he¡¯d really wanted all this time, and yet the knowledge didn¡¯t bring him peace. She was going through pain the likes of which he could barely imagine. And as for Ethan ¨C he had no clue what the did in that prison.
But from its appearance, he could infer the evils that probably took place on that island. There was a kind of darkness to its craggy, jagged walls and spiked turrets that betrayed the mentality of those who must dwell within.
So when Klax stepped forward and knelt before Ethan¡¯s Host, the latter was taken aback.
¡°You have given me that which I could never find on my own, my Archon,¡± he said, much to the surprise of Fauna and even Tara. ¡°From now until the end of time, know that I am yours. Your commands will I follow without question, and your edicts shall become my duty.¡±
Ethan double-blinked before rolling his eyes.
¡°Rise, wolfman,¡± he said. ¡°I never once questioned your loyalty. You think I don¡¯t understand that a man in love sometimes puts that before his King or Prince?¡±
The old wolf looked up with fierce, piercing eyes.
¡°All the same, I want you to know that I am with you, my Archon. No matter what course of action you decide, I am with you. To the death.¡±
Ethan put a hand on the Lycae¡¯s sagging shoulder.
¡°We¡¯re gonna rescue her, Klax. Make no mistake about that. After we¡¯ve taken down old cranky Artorious up there, we¡¯re gonna get Jun¡¯Ei even if it means tearing that prison apart. And then ¨C we¡¯ll strike at our true enemy.¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
¡°Kaedmon,¡± Fauna nodded. ¡°I¡¯m with you too, Ethan. We took on the Lightborn before, and we¡we¡¯ll fuck him up again!¡±
Everyone turned to stare at the Hopla¡¯s sudden outburst ¨C a statement that was accompanied by her pale cheeks turning a feverish shade of rouge.
¡°W-well?¡± she said. ¡°We will, won¡¯t we?¡±
Ethan looked at Klax before the two started laughing heartily there on the floor of the Nerve Tower¡¯s neutral sphere. Even with the danger of certain death lurking above them all, they could still laugh. Even after witnessing the horrors of their pasts, their spirits still sang within their breasts.
¡°Y¡¯know something?¡± Ethan finally said. ¡°If our pure Hopla mage can say that, we can take down the Lightborn and his bitch commander.¡±
¡°After all,¡± Klax agreed. ¡°We¡¯ve been through worse already.¡±
¡°You sure about that?¡±
The party turned to Tara, who had suddenly spoken up and instantly cut through the jovial atmosphere. The thin sheen of energy that looked on to the city below reflected her face ¨C totally neutral in appearance, betraying nothing of the tumult that was raging within.
And now Ethan understood how she could maintain that facade: it was something she had to get good at from the moment she was born.
¡°You all know what happens if we fail up there, right?¡± she continued. ¡°Griffon¡¯s Watch would be a mercy compared to what¡¯ll happen to us and the rest of Sanctum if we make a single misstep. It ain¡¯t just regular Greys we¡¯re going up against. It¡¯s fucking Carliah and her precious Lightborn themselves. There ain¡¯t two people in Argwyll with more power in their hands than those two.¡±
Klax and Fauna looked at each other in confusion.
¡°I¡¯m surprised at you, Tara,¡± the wolfman said. ¡°Here we are, giving you the authority to destroy two humans with as much prejudice as you like, and you¡¯re getting cold paws?¡±
¡°Those ain¡¯t regular humans, Klax,¡± she snapped back. ¡°And you know it.¡±
¡°What else can we do, Tara?¡± Fauna asked genuinely. ¡°Ethan¡¯s more powerful than last time. We¡¯re stronger than last time. Together we can ¨C¡°
¡°This is always what it¡¯s been like,¡± Tara interrupted, arms crossed, still not facing them. ¡°We always think we¡¯re gonna win right up until the final moment. Our great-grandparents thought it, our parents thought it, and now we¡¯re thinking it, too. But we¡¯re walking right into their trap, aren¡¯t we?¡±
Klax looked like he was about to fly for her, but Ethan stopped him with a firm hand.
¡°What¡¯s your plan then, Tara?¡± he asked her. ¡°We¡¯ve come this far, what would you have us do?¡±
The Minxit shifted slightly. Her tail drooped sheepishly.
¡°¡We¡¯ve got what we came for, really,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s get out, bust out Jun¡¯Ei, and then lead those two fuckers back to Sanctum. They won¡¯t know what hit them.¡±
This time, Klax was up in arms.
¡°You¡¯d put our fellow hybrids in danger?¡±
¡°They know what they signed up for.¡±
¡°But ¨C but some of them are kids, Tara. They can¡¯t help u-¡°
¡°They¡¯re growing up in an evil world, Faun. No matter what you teach them ¨C they gotta face reality at some point.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not fair and you know it isn¡¯t, Tara,¡± Klax growled. ¡°Don¡¯t put your brothers and sisters in danger just because you¡¯re afraid, at the end, to be a real hero.¡±
She turned from the spectral window as soon as she heard that word, racing up to Klax with murderous intent in her eyes.
¡°Is that what you wanna be, Klax? A hero?¡±
¡°Tara, I¡¯m not your enemy.¡±
¡°No,¡± the Minxit scoffed. ¡°You¡¯ve already got what you want. It¡¯s easy for you, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Alright, enough,¡± Ethan interrupted massively, standing and coming between the two. If he was being honest, he was getting fed up with these altercations. Even if he did understand what was going through Tara¡¯s head right now.
She knew it, too. She looked up at him as if she was about to say something before turning again and marching to the end of the sphere to gaze back out onto the uncaring city below.
¡°Look, let¡¯s take five here,¡± Ethan told everyone. ¡°The Lightborn can twiddle his damn thumbs up there a little longer.¡±
Fauna and Klax agreed warily, both eyeing Tara with sadness before they retreated to their own parts of the protective sphere. They left Ethan to walk up to her and stand at her side. For a while he said nothing. But he could tell that she was shaking.
¡°Well?¡± she said. ¡°Go on and tell me that I¡¯m just a little girl still scared of her master¡¯s whip. You know everything now. Might as well get it over with.¡±
He glanced sidelong at her with his crimson hat-eye ¨C the part of him that he liked to think was a window to his real, human soul.
¡°I¡¯m not gonna blame you for anything or tell you you¡¯re wrong to be scared of what¡¯s waiting for us up there¡± he said. ¡°And I can¡¯t force you to stay here and fight with us.¡±
She seemed, as far as he could tell, surprised by this admission. That fact alone told him everything he needed to know about how she saw the world ¨C and that she still saw him as a human, despite it all. Complete with all the dark convictions she held about his species.
¡°I mean, yeah, I could tell you to get over your fear, and push through the experiences that have gotten in your way since you were a kid. I could tell you that you¡¯ve already done that, in a sense ¨C that the Tara I¡¯ve seen has been fearless, devoted to her cause, and won¡¯t ever submit to anyone ever again. I could say that pushing through that darkness is what¡¯s made you strong. It¡¯s what¡¯s made you who you are.¡±
¡°It¡¯s done nothing,¡± she said quietly, pressing her head against the thin sheath of their little bubble. ¡°¡nothing but hurt, all this time. And I can¡¯t ever get rid of it. Some scars¡they just don¡¯t heal, Ethan.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m not gonna tell you how to feel,¡± he replied. ¡°Instead, I¡¯m gonna ask: what do you want?¡±
She looked at him through pained, bloodshot eyes.
¡°Why don¡¯t you just give me a fucking order? Isn¡¯t that what the Archon¡¯s supposed to do?¡±
¡°Probably. Would make my life easier if I could just tell people what to do. Thing is, that¡¯s not what I¡¯m here for. I¡¯m here to break the Law that keeps you guys as slaves. Not make a new one.¡±
She eyed him warily, but she said nothing at first. Her tail kept flicking between her legs. No longer was she shaking, now.
¡°So, what do you want, Tara?¡± he asked her again. ¡°Come with us and change this world, or leave and kill as many humans as you want. I won¡¯t hunt you down if you do. And I won¡¯t tell you you¡¯re wrong.¡±
For a few moments, she still didn¡¯t reply. They watched the city churning beneath them ¨C everything within its bowels working as intended, every creature laboring away at some divinely ordained order it couldn¡¯t deviate from. All of them never having once considered the question he¡¯d just asked her. The only question that ever mattered at all.
Tara heaved a heavy sigh as she then pulled away from the window and fixed him with the same sad smile she¡¯d worn in the dark void of her dream.
¡°I bet you already know what my answer is, don¡¯t you?¡±
71. The [showdown] begins
¡°I bet you already know what my answer is, don¡¯t you?¡±
Ethan smiled at Tara¡¯s response to his question, gazing out lazily at the City they¡¯d stormed through below. It looked so peaceful from up here ¨C the Dreamstriders flapping about their repairs, the Obscaurus¡¯ lithe necks twitching against the twilit sky ¨C everything seemed totally at odds with the conversation they were having up here.
¡°If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned from living a boring mortal life in my own world,¡± Ethan replied, ¡°it¡¯s that I can¡¯t know what anyone other than me is really thinking.¡±
Tara chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d settle for a boring life.¡±
¡°You? I doubt it. Not with the smooth moves I¡¯ve seen from you.¡±
She smiled, and leaned against the window again, resting her head against the shimmering veil that protected them both from falling to their deaths.
¡°I don¡¯t know, Ethan¡I¡¯ve watched my Sisters die already. I¡¯ve seen the only people I¡¯ve ever cared about run from me without a moment¡¯s hesitation. I just ¨C look ¨C I don¡¯t know if I can go through it again.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡what you think of us?¡±
The Minxit turned, seeing Fauna¡¯s smiling face mere inches from her own.
¡°Tara, you couldn¡¯t get rid of us even if you tried.¡±
Before she could turn on ¡®defense mode¡¯ and tell the upstart bunny girl off, she found that Klax had appeared beside her.
¡°She¡¯s right, you know,¡± the wolfman said. ¡°We¡¯re a team, Tara. We always have been.¡±
The catgirl looked from one of them to the other, seeing the sincerity in their faces.
¡°¡Fuck,¡± she sighed to Ethan. ¡°Let me guess, you had them hiding beside us listening in the whole time?¡±
¡°I might have been testing my Mass Hide skill a little,¡± Ethan winked.
¡°Might have fuckin¡¯ known¡¡±
She said these words not in anger, but in a kind of reserved sorrow. Turning back to her companions, it seemed, for once, that she didn¡¯t know what to say.
And, for once, she didn¡¯t have to say a thing: Fauna took her hand in hers and pressed it, before breaking into a soft song:
¡°Never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down¡¡±
And to the Minxit¡¯s surprise, Klax¡¯s hand was suddenly on theirs.
¡°Never gonna turn around and desert you,¡± the Lycae finished.
Ethan didn¡¯t know whether to burst out laughing or cry. But, seeing the look that suddenly came over Tara¡¯s face, he found that a smile was probably enough.
And so he added his gauntleted hand to the group.
¡°Let¡¯s make a pact,¡± he told them with the grand City of lies as his witness. ¡°That no matter what happens next, we¡¯ll see this thing through to the end. We¡¯ll win this world for all of hybrid kind, and we¡¯ll walk on the surface again.¡±
They looked at him in a way he¡¯d never had anyone look at him before, then. They looked at him like he was a real leader. And, for the first time in his Earthling and Argwylian life, he felt like one.
Tara wiped a pad of moisture from her eyes, before tightening her grip on the hands of her friends.
¡°Alright, alright!¡± she moaned. ¡°Fuck. Couldn¡¯t leave you guys alone for a second anyway. I mean ¨C I am the sex appeal of the group. What would you do without me?¡±
Their laughter spilled out from the Nerve tower¡¯s sphere like the endless undulations of the tower¡¯s innards, radiating into the city itself and causing the ¡®Striders that loomed below to stop for a brief moment and look towards the strange sounds of happiness they had never heard resonate within their starless domain.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Then, when the sound finally died away, Ethan walked with his warriors to the fog-door at the end of the sphere.
¡°Alright,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve got a plan for how we take down Mr Happy and his bitch-Queen. It¡¯s gonna be messy, but it should work. Here¡¯s what we¡¯re gonna do¡¡±
¡°What happens when it¡¯s over?¡±
It was a childish question ¨C one he¡¯d asked her before ¨C but all the same he needed an answer.
He stood atop the debased body of the City¡¯s Boss ¨C MALAK, THE LORD OF DREAMS. He¡¯d been a nuisance, teleporting his clown-like body around the Nerve Tower¡¯s peak and using the spectral waterfalls that surrounded them like flowing curtains to conceal his form. But he¡¯d perished. No Boss creature of a Grade C Delve was going to be able to stand against two Greycloaks in their prime.
¡°Do I need to repeat myself, Arty?¡± Carliah replied, wiping the creature¡¯s viscous, sapphire blood off her broadsword. ¡°We¡¯ve been through this already.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not a child anymore,¡± he answered. ¡°I want to know if the years have tempered your ambition."
Around them, the sounds of rushing water assailed their ears. The rest of the arena was barren. Dream like. It was an expanse of blue-white cubes that dissembled and reassembled themselves continuously under their feet. Of course, it was nothing but another trick of the light ¨C the whole arena was a single platform. The cubes patterns of movement existed just to sow fear in the Delver standing on top of them ¨C make them think there was an environmental danger to consider here.
Maybe that¡¯d been a problem for Delvers who came through here before, but for them? Malak hadn¡¯t even made it to his second phase.
And now, they waited.
¡°You must know that Greycloaks control of this world won¡¯t be accepted,¡± he told Carliah. ¡°The monarchs of Argwyll won¡¯t bow down simply because the Greys of Westerweald say so.¡±
She laughed aloud at his statement ¨C a laugh that, by this point, was burned into his very soul.
¡°Oh, Arty ¨C come on. We practically already own this world. You think the other commanders across Argwyll aren¡¯t waiting for the chance to take this place? When I give the word, we¡¯ll take the head from every fat-arsed monarch that still rules. We¡¯ll topple every castle and live as Gods ¨C like we deserve.¡±
He looked at her with stern trepidation.
¡°You would choose civil war, Carliah? You really think every Greycloak will back you?¡±
¡°Arty,¡± she replied tetchily. ¡°Believe me, it won¡¯t be much of a war.¡±
Their eyes met across the already blood-strewn battlefield that the Lightborn knew was to be his last. What he saw in her eyes inspired no hope for the future. And yet, he was here, now, and he had a job to do. His job.
What did it matter what the future brought? It was a future he¡¯d never even see.
¡°You know something?¡± Carliah suddenly asked. ¡°There is one thing I¡¯d like to know before all this is over.¡±
He cocked an uncaring eyebrow at her.
¡°Why¡¯d you do it?¡± she asked him. ¡°Why¡¯d you reject the sacrifice? When you plunged your sword into Gyko you were supposed to die. And yet, you didn¡¯t. And nobody knows why, Arty. Like it or not, you did make history in your lifetime. Your failure showed us even the best could be brought low in the last moments before a victory.¡±
He felt his grip on his blade harden. He imagined¡just for a moment¡
¡°So, tell me why,¡± she said again. ¡°Even just to sate my morbid curiosity. I¡¯d imagine you¡¯d like to get it off your chest before the end. Or even now are you hesitating to actually have your life mean something?¡±
Whatever reply he had for her was lost in the whirl of light that broke through the waterfall at the arena¡¯s end.
And they saw him.
¡°Guess there¡¯s just some things I¡¯ll never know,¡± she told him as she stood, resplendent in her still pristine armor. ¡°But I do know this: I lost two good men to this Delve today, Arty. They sacrificed themselves for you. Don¡¯t let them die in vain.¡±
When Ethan and his party emerged through the translucent veil of the Nerve Tower¡¯s final floor, they were met with a sight that shouldn¡¯t have surprised them at all.
The ghostly waterfalls cascading down from the sky around them was a nice touch, and the luminescent cubes that formed the arena floor were new, sure. But that wasn¡¯t what was occupying his mind.
Ethan took in the corpse of the Delve Boss and its two slayers with a slight gulp.
He was just like he remembered him. Stuffy. Scarred. Old beyond all logic. Whatever magic Kaedmon placed on his Lightborn to keep him together was clearly starting to wear off. Still, he knew not to underestimate the speed and strength of those old bones.
The woman beside him though ¨C blonde, broad shouldered, thick-hipped ¨C carried herself like she was Queen of the entire world. She looked at the new arrivals, one hand on her hip, and openly scoffed.
¡°So, this is the last Archon,¡± she said. ¡°And who does he bring as his entourage? A rabble of mangy animals.¡±
She unsheathed the blade at her side with an exaggerated swipe. Seemed like all these Greycloaks had a flair for the theatrical.
¡°Carliah Argent,¡± she declared, though no one asked. ¡°Senior Commander of the Grey, Westerweald Chapter. And of course, you know my associate. He¡¯s the man who¡¯ll be taking the head from your shoulders.¡±
Artorious didn¡¯t move a muscle. Ever since Ethan had entered the arena, he¡¯d just sat and stared forward like a mute.
¡°We admire your attitude, Archon,¡± his Commander said. ¡°Coming to us to die like this saves quite a bit of work on our end. Are you vain enough to bequeath any last words to us, demon?¡±
Ethan looked to his companions, each one of them having been ready for this battle ever since they¡¯d first grabbed him from the Lightborn¡¯s clutches.
¡°Shit,¡± he said. ¡°And I thought he was uptight.¡±
A flash of air. The drawing of a blade. A distinct, piercing howl.
And then: pain.
Ethan looked down to see the rapier of the Lightborn lodged in his chest. The scarred face of his assailant was suddenly right in front of him.
And in the next second, he felt the tip of the blade slice into Valgraiva¡¯s black heart.
¡°ETHAN!¡±
72. What you [have] to be (part 1)
¡°ETHAN!¡±
Fauna¡¯s scream pierced the air with as much burning intensity as the tip of the Lightborn¡¯s Onixia blade thrust deeper into Ethan¡¯s chest with each passing second.
And the Archon felt the incendiary pain of one of his predecessors¡¯ own blood being used against him.
Or at least, he would have, if the blade had done any harm to his real body at all.
[Ethereal Form: Deactivated]
He looked down at Artorious¡¯ old face, full of fire and fury, and smiled.
¡°Not as quick as you once were, eh old man?¡±
[Twilight Edge]
Ethan¡¯s scythe struck true, slitting across the old man¡¯s arm in a dark mercy stroke that would have severed the hand from any ordinary human warrior. For the Lightborn, he just managed to dislodge his rapier from his shaking hand. A Wing Buffet then sent him and his crazed commander reeling back against the far end of the arena.
¡°Keep her occupied!¡± Ethan barked to his comrades. ¡°The old man¡¯s mine.¡±
There was barely any time to rest on his laurels. Out of the blue haze of a waterfall the Lightborn came charging at him again, his grey cowl fluttering around his insanely fast form. As Klax, Fauna, and Tara moved to intercept Carliah, Ethan aimed his blade at Artorious and sent a charged beam of energy skating clear across the arena directly at the old man¡¯s face. The snipe was powerful enough to sear through adamantine.
And the crazy bastard tanked it.
Ethan saw his dark smile as the shock from his attack faded. He was barely able to bring up his shield to intercept Artorious¡¯ lightning-wreathed fists as they came down on him.
Even then, the pressure against him was too much to bear. He quickly activated his Ethereal Form again and rolled behind the old man, flanking him with as much speed as his form could conjure and raking his scythe up his back. The Lightborn merely turned, tracing his reaquired rapier in the air in a deadly pirouette that knocked Ethan¡¯s shield out of his hands even as the burning pain from the scythe blow radiated up the old man¡¯s body.
He was still just as abnormally quick as Ethan remembered. But speed and power wouldn¡¯t be enough for him.
[Summon Wraith: Activated]
The Lightborn staggered, letting out a roar of pure rage as a pair of shadowed claws pierced his side. His eyes darted to the new enemy that had emerged behind him and he struck out with a blow that dislodged its dark skull from its incorporeal body like a wolf biting down on its prey. Yet, he¡¯d left himself open yet again. It seemed there was still some hubris in the old man, after all.
And Ethan took full advantage. With a Roar that managed to cut the old man¡¯s speed in half, he lunged with his scythe and aimed for the Lightborn¡¯s neck. The blow connected, sending Artorious to the ground as a trail of crimson gushed from his back and spread across the arena floor.
Ethan didn¡¯t let up. With a leap and another flap of his skeletal wings to keep the old man pinned, he brought his scythe down in a stroke that could take the head clean off his shoulders.
And then ¨C pain.
His left side felt like a truck had run through it again, and he was instantly brought off-balance. He hurtled to the ground with a torrent of purple bile escaping his pale lips.
HP: -150If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
What¡
He looked down to see the Onixia blade embedded in his ribcage, twisting as it sapped more and more of his HP.
HP: -50
He groaned in pain as the Lightborn stood, craned his neck, and looked down at his fallen enemy.
He can¡remotely control his sword¡
Ethan had expected some cheer ¨C some lofty speech that the old man had been practicing for this moment when he looked down on his ancient enemy in his clutches.
Instead, he pushed forward like a beast possessed by something devilish, and grabbed his hilt of his blade, ready to plunge it up into the heart of his foe for real, this time.
Only, in the next moment he blinked through the pain that he was trying to push through, the Archon was gone.
He blinked again, trying to focus his perception. It was another trick. Another dastardly plan the beast had laid out to try and win when it was facing a foe it clearly had no chance of being able to outmaneuver. He closed his eyes. He tried to focus on the energy of his blade. He tried ¨C
¡°Artorious!¡± Carliah called from across the arena. ¡°Quit meditating and kill the bastard!¡±
He turned to admonish her, teeth grit in consternation, but found that she was engaged in heavy combat with the demon¡¯s hybrids. He knit his brows in confusion for a second before he realized what had happened.
And in that second, it was already too late.
Ethan deactivated his [Hide] and [Summon Illusion] that had managed to create a good enough impression of the Greycloak commander. Then he drove the Onxia sword into the Lightborn¡¯s gut, twisting the blade with as much temerity as its owner had when he shoved it into him. Artorious let out of a scream of hatred, managing to spin and get his flaring hand around Ethan¡¯s throat before the latter brought his dark scythe down to sweep the Lightborn¡¯s legs and send him rolling across the arena, bleeding out on the floor.
Across the battlefield, Klax, Fauna, and Tara were doing their best to keep Carliah Argent contained. The Commander of the Grey well deserved her title. She barely even moved as she countered each of Klax¡¯s blows with a parry and riposte that struck the wolfman¡¯s vitals and pushed him back. Her defences were equally as intimidating. Every arrow that Tara sent her way was intercepted and cut apart ¨C even the triad of flaming silver projectiles that were the Minxit¡¯s specialty. In Fauna¡¯s case, she simply shrugged off most magical attacks, smiling as she walked right through fireballs and checking her nails as lightning bolts washed over her body.
¡°What¡¯s this bitch made of!?!¡± Tara shouted.
¡°She¡¯s playing with us,¡± Fauna said. ¡°She¡¯s¡enjoying this.¡±
¡°Well,¡± Klax growled. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to wipe that smirk off her face. Together, now!¡±
All three of them charged as a unit, surprising the commander as she braced herself to meet them. Fauna charged both Tara and Klax with her radiant coating ¨C the spell working instantly to electrify Tara¡¯s daggers and cause ripples of killing light to coat Klax¡¯s fists. They flanked her, each one unleashing a flurry of blows that she couldn¡¯t dodge, couldn¡¯t block. She took them like a ragdoll, being pushed back inch by inch until she and her assailants were finally at the very edge of the Nerve Tower¡¯s peak.
And as the spectral waterfall washed over them, her eyes suddenly shone with power.
¡°My turn.¡±
Before the next blows were struck, the vicious commander grabbed Klax¡¯s fist and twisted it, summoning a howl from the Lycae that sent Tara immediately off-balance. Without even drawing her sword, she lifted the wolfman up and brought him crashing on the Minxit with enough force to shatter every bone in a mortal body. Both hybrids went skidding across the floor of the arena while Fauna summoned a wind to take them out of the way of Carliah¡¯s plunging strike.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, little rabbit,¡± she laughed. ¡°You¡¯ll get your turn next!¡±
Ethan heard their screams as the commander unleashed hell on them. He wanted to run to them to help, but the sight of the bleeding, wounded Lightborn he marched towards presented the end of this nightmare. He had to take the chance.
He sent a Twilight Edge at the old man which kicked him right to the edge of the arena. Then, another swipe of his scythe and the Onixia blade together carved a bloody slash across his chest.
Ethan panted as he brought his scythe down again ¨C this time raking the old man¡¯s leg.
But he looked up, in the face of his triumph, to see Artorious¡¯ unblinking face not even letting out a single scream.
He cut into him with the Onixia sword, thrusting the blade into the old man¡¯s chest again and again, withdrawing it with a torrent of blood before plunging it right back in.
And still, the Lightborn just sat there and took it.
Finally, unwilling to accept what his mind was telling him, Ethan blinked and Appraised his foe:
Class: LIGHTBORN
HP: 2800/3000
His eyes wouldn¡¯t believe it. They couldn¡¯t believe it.
He slashed again, and again ¨C each new blow drawing another cry of rage from the lips of his Host. Each new blow carving into the flesh of the old man, tearing right through his armor and cutting into muscle.
It¡it had to be.
And yet¡
HP: 2700/3000
He stood over the downed man, his back soggy from the waterfall cascading over them, washing the Lightborn¡¯s spilled blood away.
Then, the old warrior¡¯s lips finally parted in a grim question:
¡°Is it beginning to sink in, yet?¡±
73. What you [have] to be (Part 2)
Ethan looked down as the open wounds he¡¯d carved into the Lightborn began to close up, feeling the cold waters of the spectral tower¡¯s top wash over his shoulders and frame his confused face.
Then, a spike of agony lanced up his torso. The Lightborn kicked out, grabbed the Onixia sword from his hand, and struck lashed his shin with its keen blade.
Ethan didn¡¯t even have time to switch to his Ethereal guise. He took the pain, and felt his Host began to quiver as the energy was practically sapped from its body.
HP: 500/950
He was dying¡there were no two ways about it.
Meanwhile, the Lightborn stood and raised his scarred head, walking through the waterfall as his body bled out across the pale light of the arena.
¡°You never understood, did you?¡± he asked. ¡°You really thought you had a chance, all this time.¡±
Ethan grit his teeth as he watched the old bastard raise his blade for another strike. Only this time, Ethan was quicker. He combined a Roar and a Wing Buffet into one single attack, knocking the Lightborn back and lowering his speed just enough for Ethan to aim a snipe right at his forehead ¨C right between his eyes where his brain was concealed.
He watched the sapphire dust trail of the bullet pierce the old man¡¯s skull.
He watched the Lightborn stagger back.
And then, like a tiger being tickled by a mouse, Artorious simply regained his composure and charged.
What the actual fuck¡
He met the Lightborn¡¯s blade with his own, managing to keep him at bay while the Onixia metal cut through his scythe piece by piece. He felt the legs of his Host give way. And all the while, the silver-blue eyes of his enemy looked not at those of Valgraiva¡¯s, but directly into the crimson eyeball of Ethan¡¯s own eye.
¡°You know there is no victory for you here,¡± Artorious snarled. ¡°Try all your tricks you¡¯ve learned. Show me all the effort you¡¯ve poured into improving yourself, and I¡¯ll show you how little it all means.¡±
Ethan pushed back. He wasn¡¯t out of the game yet.
¡°Fine, old man! You wanna see more, I¡¯ve got plenty!¡±
From Ethan¡¯s side, he drew the Mithril Katana he¡¯d been keeping hidden since he¡¯d first found it in the loot from the Dreamstrider gauntlet. His Ethereal Form activated in the next instant, and as Artorious disengaged, expecting a quick strike in the second after Ethan reappeared, he instead felt a creeping, virulent pain radiate up his side.
A glowering light of blue pierced the air as the Katana sliced clean through it, trailing a green ooze in its wake that instantly poisoned the Lightborn the moment it made contact with his armor. Ethan followed up with another slice that struck against the Onixia weapon and ¨C to his amazement ¨C he saw the dark, pulsing blade of the vicious thing begin to crack.
That¡¯s the way! If I can¡¯t break him, I can at least stop him doing damage. If Onixia is made from the blood of an Archon ¨C and can destroy an Archon ¨C then it stands to reason that a living Archon could do the same to it.
But in the next second Ethan summoned all of his strength ¨C channeling it into a single blow using both of his blades ¨C he saw the Lightborn do nothing but sigh.
¡°Pointless. So utterly¡pointless.¡±
Artorious let the blade drop in the second Ethan would have split it apart. Instead, the Archon¡¯s attack cleaved into his arm and almost cut through it entirely.
Ethan, unblinking in the ever-dusk of the City of Illusions, looked down to see the Lightborn¡¯s arm pulse with energy.
And with a single spurt of brute force, his scythe was snapped apart.
His other blade went flying across the arena floor with his body ¨C the Lightborn¡¯s mailed fist had knocked the wind clean out of him. Even the Undead Lord that Valgraiva was ¨C a creature composed of pure darkness ¨C could not withstand the assault of the one-armed man¡
Ethan gasped for breath, coughing up torrents of purple blood that ran down his armor.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Armor that had barely even been scratched in this world so far.
He heard the metal of the katana being kicked across the ground by his foe, who quietly walked towards him.
¡°That¡¯s it,¡± the old man says. ¡°That¡¯s the look ¨C you¡¯re finally starting to understand.¡±
Ethan rose on one knee, checking his HP and seeing that he would either have to find a new Host soon or¡
HP: 250/950
¡or he was done.
¡°This is a game to you?¡± Ethan growled. ¡°Is that it?¡±
Artorious cocked his old eyebrows at him, kicking the katana towards his hand.
And Ethan, through his Appraisal, saw just how hopeless this whole damn fight was:
LIGHTBORN
HP: 2300/3000
Damn it¡
¡°I thought so, once,¡± he said with another heavy sigh. ¡°I think every Lightborn before me probably did, at some point.¡±
He angled his blade towards Ethan¡¯s hat-form.
¡°But there is nothing in this world to believe in,¡± he snarled. ¡°Nothing, except dying with a sword in your hand. So, pick it up, Archon. And die like a real man.¡±
Ethan gripped the hilt of the blade and met the downcast eyes of his foe with more fury than he¡¯d ever exhibited in this world.
But that was tempered by the sudden yelps of his friends behind him.
He turned to see Fauna lying before the Commander of the Grey, her staff cast aside. Klax was ambling up to her, panting with exertion, his fur clipped away and blood trickling from his open wounds. Tara was the only one still standing, her arms wavering as she aimed another arrow at the Greycloak warrioress¡¯ skull.
That woman¡she¡¯d barely broken a sweat.
¡°See how your friends suffer,¡± Artorius growled again. ¡°See how all you¡¯ve done is prolong their torment. That¡¯s what your kind does, demonspawn. You¡¯ve tormented this world and its people for far too long.¡±
Ethan met Tara¡¯s eyes as she shook her head at him, silently begging him not to submit. Fauna looked up, almost unconscious, and reached a hand toward him. Klax slumped to the ground, his muscles shredded and torn. It was a picture of defeat, no matter how you looked at it.
And through the sorry sight, Sys suddenly whispered in Ethan¡¯s mind:
I did tell you, you know.
Ethan barely registered the words. He was focused on Fauna. He was focused on¡something. Anything he could do here¡
I told you, and you never listened.
Just like all the rest.
Want me to show you the disparity in your HP values again?
Want to see all those shiny skills you''ve collected that have meant nothing after all this time?
Go on, Ethan Hawke, tell me what to do.
Ethan felt the teeth of his Host practically grind to paste.
¡or do you want to listen to me, for once?
The glowering eyes of the Lightborn stared down at him as the old man simply groaned again and lifted his dark rapier.
Ethan watched it, and he laughed.
You know something Sys? I finally realize why you¡¯ve sounded so familiar all this time.
Oh? Do tell. Before we both die, you might as well share some of your timeless wit.
You¡¯re someone I knew back on Earth, Ethan thought, the Lightborn snarling down at him as he watched his fallen enemy begin to laugh. Or, well, something I guess. Yeah¡you¡¯re that little voice in my head ¨C that tiny piece of me that was always there on the shittiest of days, telling me that the world ain¡¯t gonna ever be any better. Telling me my shitty office job was all I had, and was all I was good for.
You¡¯re that little piece of me that always doubts, aren¡¯t you?
...
¡I doubt that very much.
And you know what? Every day of my life, I became more and more willing to listen to you. Until one day - who the fuck knows why ¨C I finally decided it was time for a change.
The Onixia blade arced down as Ethan¡¯s wings unfurled behind him, and his skeletal hands felt the uneven brickwork of the Nerve Tower¡¯s peak beneath him.
¡and I discovered that if I wanted control of my life, all I had to do was reach out and take it.
The blade of the Lightborn came crashing down with a thunderous roar, bringing the full might of its bearer behind it. Ethan¡¯s Katana flashed in the air, its edge passing clean through the Onixia meta and striking at the Lightborn¡¯s shining eyes so that he fell off-balance at the final moment of impact. His strike pierced the ground, carving a crater into the arena and sending shockwaves through its surface as his target took to the skies above.
¡°Fauna!¡± Ethan shouted. ¡°Now!¡±
The Hopla obliged, as did her comrades. Tara let her arrow fly at the confused face of the Greycloak who batted it away as she roared at her wounded soldier ¨C not noticing that the three hybrids had suddenly converged on a single location: where the Hopla had stretched out her paw to summon a bubble of protective magic.
Carliah Argent, for the first time in a very long career, cursed herself for her hubris.
Because those weaklings had them both exactly where they wanted them¡
Looking to the skies where the Archon had soared, and feeling the tower surface begin to crumble under her feet, she already knew what was about to happen next.
¡°IDIOT!¡± she roared at Artorious. ¡°FUCK HONOR! KILL THE BASTARD NOW!¡±
But her call to action came too late.
In the moment she rushed to cleave the hybrids apart, the Archon came barreling down into the center of the arena, lengthening the cracks that the battle had already bore into the living flesh of the tower¡¯s top.
DIVE: SUCCESS!
The tower cracked apart, and its foundations disappeared in a plume of milk-white smoke and sapphire, alerting every Dreamstrider in the illusory city to something they¡¯d never seen happen before. Not even the programming of Kaedmon¡¯s Law had equipped them to deal with the indisputable fact that the Nerve Tower was collapsing, layer by layer ¨C a lolling giant about to smash into the city.
And Ethan flashed a bloody smile in the face of the Lightborn as the entire arena broke apart under them.
74. What you [have] to be (Part 3)
As the great tower of the Delve fell, its inhabitants scuttled out of their hiding places, bathed in light, retreating down the city streets while their cousins fled. The Dreamstriders glided as far as their flapping appendages could take them, while the Obscaurus and Nervestalkers ambled away like headless chickens, knowing that the end had probably come for their once fair home.
Yet, their torment was nothing compared to the pure, seething anger of the two Greycloaks as they felt the arena give way under them. Both fell, seeing nothing but the fury in the others¡¯ face, as the Archon and his Hybrids plummeted right down with them to the cracked foundations of the tower.
The plumes of smoke and ash threw a sheath of sapphire dust across the city, obscuring the view of anyone within its walls. For Ethan, floating down on his skeletal wings, the picture of desolation that they¡¯d emerged into was now complete: this dungeon Delve was all but annihilated.
He knew this wouldn¡¯t be enough to stop his enemies. But it would buy him enough time to wound them, and formulate some kind of new strategy.
See, Sys?! he cried in his mind. See what you can do when you think outside the box for a change?
His System¡¯s reply was garbled in the roar of the tower¡¯s collapsing innards. But it was probably nothing that sang his praises.
Finally he barreled into the ground and tasted the stale, dust-caked air around him. He was standing in a sightless void, now ¨C reminiscent of the nightmare worlds the tower¡¯s Nervestalkers had shown him before he emerged again.
But it probably wouldn¡¯t last. So, just to be sure, he let his next little trick trickle out of the pores of his skin and seep into the air around him.
Because the crashing tower had killed at least a few little critters in this forsaken city. And that meant he had enough spirit cores for a new upgrade.
His eyes traced the letters in the deep dark of the world he¡¯d created:
Summon Mana Veil (Grade E)
You create a dense layer of fog 50ft wide. Any targets within this fog must pass an Intelligence check (INT: 30+) or be {Silenced} for the duration they remain within the fog.
{Silenced} targets cannot cast spells.
Spirit Cores required to upgrade further: 500
Grade D = Intelligence Check increased! 50+
He nodded once, in totally silence, and let the upgrade run its course.
If he couldn¡¯t beat the Lightborn, he could stun him. And then¡whatever. He¡¯d think about that when it came to him.
He¡¯d made it out of worse than this. He¡¯d made it out of his shitty life on earth, he¡¯d made it out of that piss-filled cave with nothing but a rat as his first Hose, and he¡¯d made it this far, right?
So, he¡¯d make it out of this mess, too. They all would.
They had to. But¡how?
His mind suddenly raced towards something Jun¡¯Ei had told him as they parted in the dream-realm. Something that, up until this point, had only started to really nag at him:
In this world, we are all prisoners¡
He had a hunch. And it was better than nothing.
The Lightborn had his strength, true. His weakness wasn¡¯t in his physical defense.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
But the trials of the Nerve Tower had taught Ethan that there were other weaknesses one could exploit.
So, he decided he¡¯d try a different approach.
Artorious clutched his bleeding eyes, feeling them slot back into place as he swept his rapier through the darkness of the dense fog that now surrounded him.
His knees buckled, and with a roar of fury, he punched his shinbones back into place with a bloodied fist.
Where¡is he¡
He activated his Azure Edge skill ¨C something he normally reserved for clearing away toxins and poisons spouted by remnants of Gyko¡¯s armies. A crescent arc of turquioise ripped through the dust cloud and showed the twilit sky above ¨C but only for a moment.
Another, very different kind of fog suddenly closed over the sky again.
¡°A Mana Veil,¡± he said aloud, cursing himself for his own impudence yet again.
He stalked through the mists, hearing nothing but sounds of clashing blades and screaming creatures. Carliah would finish the Hybrids off no matter what little tricks their leader pulled out his hat.
It was his job to see this through to the end.
He activated his AOE blast ability ¨C Spear of Kaedmon - plunging his sword into the ground and twisting its hilt. A miasma of light spread forth from the blade and struck out at the corners of the darkness that surrounded him.
And that¡¯s when he heard it ¨C the sound of rushing air, and a blade being drawn from its scabbard.
¡got you.
He twisted his rapier out the ground with the precision of a man who¡¯d seen more winters on his back than any other in all of Argwyll.
But what he saw stopped his hand before it could make its mark.
¡°WHERE ARE YOU LITTLE URCHINS!?¡±
Carliah Argent flew through the fog of darkness, her broadsword cleaving clean through whole plumes of dust as she rampaged towards the general direction of the giggling hybrids that were tormenting here.
¡°Missed me!¡± the catgirl hissed. ¡°Come on, old lady. You know, you really ain¡¯t livin¡¯ up to your name.¡±
¡°Little bitch! I¡¯ll drape your skin over my fortress once I cleave it from your bones!¡±
She went on slashing and flailing in the darkness, her left arm crippled from her fall. She walked with a slight limp, but none of her assailants dared come within striking distance. Even without Onixia, that woman could hit like a truck.
On the perimeter of the shadow-wreathed battlefield, sequestered amid the wreckage of the Nerve tower¡¯s foundations, Fauna kept up her healing wind on Klax. Her hands thrummed with emerald energy, sealing up his wounds, while Tara kept the mad maiden of the Greycloaks distracted with her dancing.
¡°Looks like Ethan decided Plan B was our best bet,¡± the old wolf murmured. ¡°Still, I never believed he could bring the whole damn tower down on ¨C urgh!¡±
Every few seconds the healing spell would fizzle. But Fauna wasted no time. She just clapped her hands together and got right back to doing her job.
¡°Calm yourself,¡± Fauna commanded as she stitched up his wound in the dark. ¡°You¡¯ve been through worse than this, haven¡¯t you? We all have.¡±
Klax looked down at her as Tara sent another trail of arrows to pierce through the Greycloak¡¯s neck. Enraged, she sent a plume of scintillating energy towards the skies, where she struck at nothing but mystic air ¨C the very fog Ethan had summoned up. The thing those damn Obscaurus had used so well against them.
The Greycloak Commander wasn¡¯t going to be fooled for long. Tara could dance around her, picking away at her every few seconds, but unless they did some real damage soon, they¡¯d be doing nothing more than prolonging the inevitable.
He Appraised her through the cloak of darkness, just to confirm his suspicions:
CARLIAH ARGENT
HP: 2155/3000
Yep. They had to think of something fa-
The Hopla¡¯s magic fizzled again, sending an energy spike into his veins.
¡°Argh!¡± he growled. ¡°Faun, you know you-¡°
¡°What did I tell you?¡± the rabbitgirl huffed right back at him. ¡°Stop your complaining and soldier up. We¡¯ve got a fight to win.¡±
This would normally be the time when the Lycae would take charge of the situation. But, looking down at Fauna¡¯s bloodied forehead, determined eyes, and partially singed whiskers, he allowed himself a brief moment to smile.
¡°You¡¯ve changed, you know.¡±
She didn¡¯t look up at him.
¡°Stop talking. You need to conserve your strength.¡±
He laid a firm hand on her paw, feeling her shaking, knowing that she was just as scared as the rest of them were.
¡°Not a moment¡¯s hesitation,¡± he said. ¡°Not a single stutter. You¡¯re not the Fauna you once were.¡±
She pushed his smiling face aside and tried to get back to his wounds. ¡°Don¡¯t say weird stuff like that right now. Focus on-¡°
He stood, bringing her up with him.
¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy on me, Faun,¡± he told her. ¡°I¡¯m tough enough to see this thing through to the end. Just like you are. I¡¯m only sorry I didn¡¯t realize that sooner.¡±
The way she looked at him at that moment, eyes glowing even against the abyss that swirled around them ¨C it was as though it was the first time she¡¯d really seen him in a long time.
¡°It¡¯s him ¨C isn¡¯t it?¡± the wolfman murmured. ¡°Our Archon has that kinda effect on people.¡±
In the darkness, Fauna grinned. Her nod was slight, but it was clear as day.
¡°UH ¨C GUYS!?¡± Tara shouted through the din of Carliah¡¯s screaming and tearing at the fog. ¡°I could use a little ¨C what¡¯s the word? Oh yeah ¨C FUCKING HELP.¡±
Klax lifted Fauna on his shoulders, squaring up and steeling himself, ready to charge headfirst into the flailing form of their foe.
¡°Let¡¯s show this bitch what hybrids are really made of.¡±
75. The [Light] and the [Dark]
The dark fog swirled in thick tendrils around Artorious, suffocating his senses, blurring the line between reality and illusion. His blade was tight in his grip, every step forward feeling like a battle through an unseen current.
But when he¡¯d turned to meet his foe, it wasn¡¯t the ridiculous little hat sitting atop the Undead Lord he saw.
Instead, it was a child. A grey-skinned child, hugging itself as flames licked around it.
He was looking at himself.
His childish face stared at him -wide-eyed, innocent - with pleading eyes. The boy whispered words barely loud enough to be heard over the eerie silence, ¡°Why did you do it? Why did you choose this path?¡±
Artorious, teeth bared in frustration, cut through the apparition, and the figure dissipated into the mist. His breath came in short bursts, his heart racing.
The Archon was playing with him.
Yet another youthful vision appeared through the mist, this one from his early years as an initiate. Younger, more hopeful, less worn by battle. He knelt beside fallen comrades, bloodied and bruised, his hands trembling as he realized he couldn¡¯t save them. The younger version looked up, his face smeared with dirt and blood, his eyes hollow. "We fought for a better world, and now you¡¯ve become part of the very machine we wanted to destroy."
¡°Enough!¡± Artorious roared, cutting through the illusion with a ferocity that shook his entire body. But even as the image faded, the truth lingered like a sour taste in his mouth. The fog wasn¡¯t trying to break him physically; it was digging into his mind, into his regrets, trying to unravel him from within.
¡°You think showing me my past will weaken me?¡± Artorious shouted into the swirling mist. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, demon!¡±
There was a long pause, the silence hanging heavy in the air, before Ethan¡¯s voice echoed softly from the shadows.
¡°I¡¯m not showing you anything you don¡¯t already know, Arty. This is who you are¡ªwho you¡¯ve always been.¡±
Ethan¡¯s figure materialized through the fog, and Artorious spun to face him. His breath caught in his throat as he saw more figures around Ethan, each one a different version of himself, flickering in and out of existence. Young Artorious, the warrior, the leader, the broken man¡ªevery part of him that had once held onto hope.
Ethan had seen it all in the second he¡¯d reached out the dark to pull at the Greycloak¡¯s mind with his Summon Illusion skill.
But in truth, he could have guessed most of the old man¡¯s past from his sad, wrinkled eyes alone.
Ethan stood, his expression one of calm resolve, the Moonlight Katana casually resting on his shoulder. ¡°All those years,¡± he said, his voice filled with a quiet sadness. ¡°All those battles¡ for what? To keep fighting forever? To die in someone else¡¯s war?¡±
¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Artorious spat, his sword trembling in his grip. ¡°My freedom comes with your death. Nothing more.¡±
Ethan shook his head, a sad smile tugging at his lips. ¡°You¡¯ve never even considered another way, have you? You¡¯re so desperate to end this, but you¡¯ve never stopped to think that maybe¡ just maybe, there¡¯s more than one path out of this nightmare.¡±
Artorious growled in frustration, every fiber of his being rejecting Ethan¡¯s words. ¡°I do what I must. I fight for Argwyll. Your existence is a blight on this world, and I will end it.¡±
Without another word, Artorious lunged, his sword cutting through the fog with all the fury and frustration of a man who had carried the weight of the world on his shoulders for too long. The blade sliced through the air, meeting its target¡ªEthan¡¯s chest¡ªwith a sickening thud.
Time seemed to slow. Ethan¡¯s eyes widened as the blade drove deep into his body, the sharp edge tearing through flesh and muscle. Blood erupted from the wound, spraying the ground beneath them.
Ethan Appraised his HP as purple blood spurted from his mouth:If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
20/950
One more twist, and that was it. He knew it, and the man holding the sword before him knew it, too.
But that final twist never came.
Both Lightborn and Archon met each other¡¯s eyes, their past selves probably raging at what they saw. But in the present? Both of them were starting to realize the truth of their situation.
Ethan opened his mouth in a sad smile. ¡°You just can¡¯t do it, can you?¡±
For a moment, everything was still, the fog hanging heavy around them. Artorious stood frozen, his face twisted in a savage snarl, but Ethan remained calm. He looked down at the blade embedded in his chest, then back up at Artorious, his breath labored but steady.
¡°And you won¡¯t even let yourself understand why,¡± Ethan rasped, his voice hoarse but unwavering. ¡°Why you can¡¯t just¡let go.¡±
Artorious¡¯ hand wavered, not noticing Ethan¡¯s as it drew his katana and channeled a very specific skill into it¡¯s blade.
¡°You¡¯re trapped, just like the rest of us. Desperate to end this torment, but you¡¯ve never considered that there¡¯s another way. A way that doesn¡¯t involve killing every damn person who doesn¡¯t fit into your version of peace. And you want it more than anything in the world, Arty, don¡¯t you? Because the truth is: you just don¡¯t wanna die.¡±
Artorious¡¯s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles turning white. ¡°My freedom is your death, fiend. Nothing more. If it takes my life¡I will pay the price.¡±
Ethan let out a long, weary sigh. ¡°Then what are you waiting for, old man?¡±
Artorious¡¯s eyes flickered with confusion for a moment, before he felt the cold, creeping sensation spreading across his skin. He glanced down, his breath catching in his throat as he saw Ethan¡¯s katana embedded in his side, glowing with a strange, petrifying energy.
Petrification: SUCCESS
Stone began to crawl up his torso, hardening his muscles and freezing his movements.
¡°No...¡± Artorious gasped, panic rising in his chest as the stone enveloped him. He tried to twist his sword in Ethan¡¯s gut, to finish him off, but the petrification was already too far along. His body was stiffening, his limbs turning to cold, unyielding rock.
¡°NO!¡± the Lightborn bellowed, his voice echoing through the mist as the stone reached his neck, his face contorting in a final scream of defiance before his entire form was consumed.
Ethan winced as he pulled Artorious¡¯s blade from his chest. The pain was almost unbearable, but he pushed through it. He watched as the Lightborn¡¯s body turned to solid stone, his face forever locked in a mask of fury. For a moment, Ethan just stood there, his chest heaving, blood dripping from the gaping wound in his armor.
Artorious was frozen, but Ethan knew this wouldn¡¯t last. The petrification was temporary¡ªa delay, not a victory.
With a grunt, Ethan hefted his Katana and hacked at Artorious¡¯s stone limbs, the sound of cracking stone echoing through the fog. Pieces of the Lightborn¡¯s body shattered and fell to the ground, but Ethan didn¡¯t feel any satisfaction. There was no triumph in this. Only the bitter knowledge that he was buying time, nothing more.
When he cut his head clean off and let it fall to the ground, he heaved another sigh and Appraised the old fool:
HP: 1895/3000
He almost wanted to laugh. The old guy was made of the strongest stuff in the world. And yet, he couldn¡¯t let go. Ethan wondered for a second if he¡¯d ever be the same. He¡¯d already given up one life, after all¡
At any rate, the Lightborn would break free eventually, and when he did, he¡¯d be more dangerous than ever.
He was considering hacking him apart some more when the Memory Charm on his hand pulsed again ¨C this time sending a chill up her nervous system that plugged a void right into his mind. A voice tinged with authority, and age.
¡Jun¡¯Ei?
The old Lycae¡¯s voice whispered in the back of his mind, soft but insistent. We are all prisoners here, Ethan Hawke.
Ethan¡¯s grip tightened on the hilt of his katana as he stared down at the petrified Lightborn.
¡°Yeah. But I can¡¯t make people see things they don¡¯t wanna see.¡±
You are the Archon, came the response. You, and you alone, have the power to change the hearts and minds of men. To look through their eyes, and see as they do.
¡°Fat loada good that does me here,¡± Ethan scoffed. ¡°This was just another pointless fight. I can¡¯t beat the guy.¡±
Perhaps not as you are, now, Jun¡¯Ei replied. But perhaps destiny did not take you here to dispatch the Lightborn¡
Ethan¡¯s eyes widened. He¡¯d almost forgotten about the other one ¨C and even now could hear the screams of his companions as they fought against their own harbinger of doom.
¡°¡can we beat her?¡± Ethan asked the void.
Look within yourself, Jun¡¯Ei replied, her voice a calming presence amid the chaos. Make your choice. Fight to the death, or live to fight another day.
Ethan¡¯s eyes flicked back to his friends¡ªFauna, Klax, Tara¡ªstill fighting, still holding on. They needed him. They all had a future to fight for, a world to save.
¡°I¡¯ll take the option that lets us live,¡± he muttered, his jaw set in determination. ¡°Vengeance can wait. We¡¯ve got a world to win.¡±
Hurry, Jun¡¯Ei urged. I can seal the portals, trap Artorious and his Commander here, but you need to move fast. His petrification won¡¯t hold forever, and though his wounds will take time to heal, you must move quickly. I cannot promise you can defeat Carliah Argent in a contest of brawn.
¡°No,¡± Ethan replied, a new plan forming in his head. ¡°No¡but I can play with her mind. In fact, if old Arty¡¯s mind is enough of an indicator, I might just know what her weakness is.¡±
With one final glance at Artorious¡¯s petrified form, Ethan turned away, ready to rejoin the fight. But before he left, he paused, looking back at the stone figure, his heart heavy with a strange mix of sorrow and regret.
¡°See ya, Arty,¡± he said.
76. [Grey] Death
¡°WHERE ARE YOU!?¡±
The dark fog still lay thick and heavy, curling in the half-light like living smoke over the Nerve Tower¡¯s wreckage. Carliah Argent stood as a pillar of wrath in its center, an armored sentinel barely concealed by the hazy darkness. Her blade shone with a sharp, unyielding gleam, cutting through each thin mist strand as she waited, her stance poised, energy thrumming in a wide radius. Somewhere in the darkness, Ethan¡¯s hybrids circled like phantoms, invisible but present, eyes sharp and ready.
¡°COME OUT AND FIGHT!¡±
The three of them held their breaths, moving with silent, practiced precision. Their target¡¯s focus was absolute, but Fauna, Klax, and Tara had trained for this. The fog granted them cover, a thin layer of safety that let them melt into the artificial night. Fauna hung back, her focus on weaving delicate threads of illusion magic that hummed with faint glimmers, catching the edge of the dim light like whispered promises. They encircled Carliah, catching the edge of her vision as ghostly mirages, half-there and then gone, teasing her senses.
Carliah snarled, her grip on her broadsword tightening. ¡°You think these tricks will save you?¡± she called into the fog, her voice seething with disdain. ¡°Cowards¡ªcreatures skulking in the mist like animals, terrified of a fair fight! Come out and at least die with honor!¡±
The insult fell flat. Tara¡¯s lip curled, but her response was a silent, predatory grin as she slipped closer to Carliah. With barely a sound, she darted in from the left, her daggers flashing, and cut a line along the seam of Carliah¡¯s ankle plating before disappearing back into the shadows. Her blade left a shallow gash, not deep enough to wound but enough to weaken the armor, a cut that, over time, would add up:
CARLIAH ARGENT
HP: 2055/3000
But it still amounted to nothing more than a diversion.
Carliah snarled and swung her weapon in a brutal arc, slashing through empty air where Tara had been. But Tara was already gone, flitting back into the fog with feline grace, leaving only the faintest trace of her presence.
¡°Again, Klax!¡± Fauna¡¯s voice whispered through the fog.
From the right, Klax barreled forward, his hulking frame moving with speed, his fists poised for impact. He let loose a powerful strike aimed at her armored back, the force of his blow sending a shockwave through Carliah¡¯s frame, forcing her forward with the impact.
¡°You think you¡¯re clever?¡± Carliah spat, twisting to face him, her broadsword swinging out in a deadly arc. But by the time her weapon sliced through the air, Klax had already moved back, his dark form lost in the mists once more.
The rage in Carliah¡¯s eyes flared like wildfire. She could feel her patience thinning, a gnawing frustration rising in her chest as her prey eluded her again and again. Guerrilla warfare was for weaklings. Weaklings and thieves. All these filthy creatures were doing was proving that they were not fit to rule this world. Her world.
She scanned the fog, eyes narrow as if she could see through the layers of illusions and shadows. Fauna¡¯s magic pulsed, amplifying the silence, making their movements feel like mere whispers.
¡°Keep wearing her down,¡± Tara muttered to herself, circling from the far side as she slid into position for her next strike. Her grip tightened on her daggers as she crept forward, her steps as silent as a shadow. ¡°Like Ethan said. Stick to the plan. Stick¡¡±
Carliah¡¯s gaze swept over the fog, her mouth twisting in an angry snarl. ¡°Enough of these tricks!¡±
The Greycloak Commander¡¯s body crackled with a dark, pulsing energy, her fury manifesting in raw power that radiated from her armor. She planted her vibrating blade into the ground, eyes closing for a moment as her voice filled the fog with a deadly calm.
¡°Enough games.¡±
The fog began to ripple, disturbed by a low hum that swelled around her, building into a deafening roar as she concentrated. Her aura expanded in a circular wave, pushing outward, piercing through the thick haze. The fog that had shielded Ethan¡¯s companions for so long began to dissipate, evaporating into trails of silvery mist.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
The hybrids froze as the wave passed over them, their cover rapidly shrinking as Carliah¡¯s aura blazed brighter, creating an unbroken barrier of light that shattered Fauna¡¯s illusions. The battlefield was laid bare, every shadow chased away, leaving only harsh, blinding clarity.
¡°Damn it,¡± Klax muttered, blinking against the sudden brightness.
¡°Witness the sad truth of your existence,¡± Carliah growled, her voice thick with disdain. ¡°Hybrids are always the same¡ªslinking around, hiding in the dark.Now, look upon your betters as you die. Ever pathetic. Ever fools.¡±
With her enemies now fully visible, Carliah turned her gaze on Fauna. The Hopla mage¡¯s face paled as Carliah raised her weapon high, the tip gleaming as she prepared to strike. Klax moved to intercept, but Carliah swung her weapon in a brutal, sweeping arc that caught him across the chest. He grunted, stumbling back as the force of the blow knocked the wind out of him.
The Greycloak¡¯s skills could not even be appraised. But they cut deep. Deeper than anything else in the dungeons of Argwyll.
Fauna was next. Carliah moved with unrestrained fury, bringing her broadsword down with a savage strike that clipped Fauna¡¯s arm, sending a bolt of pain through her. The Hopla mage bit her lip, stifling a scream as she stumbled back, her hand clutching the wound.
¡°You¡ you monster!¡± Fauna spat, her voice trembling as she glared up at Carliah.
Carliah sneered. ¡°The sweet irony. Hah! Do you think mere words will save you?¡± She pointed her blade at the girl. ¡°I¡¯ve faced beings far more powerful than any of you¡ªa few rebellious misfits mean nothing to me.¡±
Tara darted forward, her daggers raised in a desperate attempt to protect Fauna. She aimed for Carliah¡¯s exposed side, her blades flashing in the harsh light. But Carliah was ready. She pivoted, using her weapon as a barrier, deflecting Tara¡¯s strikes before shoving her backward with a powerful kick that sent her skidding across the stone floor.
¡°Pathetic,¡± Carliah hissed, stalking forward. ¡°You think you can overcome me with cheap tactics? You hybrids were never more than vermin¡ªbarely a step above animals. You think you deserve mercy?¡±
Tara groaned, pushing herself to her knees. Her face was twisted with pain, but her eyes blazed with defiance. ¡°We¡¯re stronger than you think,¡± she snarled, spitting blood onto the floor. ¡°You can¡¯t win just because you say you¡¯re better than us.¡±
Carliah scoffed, raising her weapon again, the point glinting menacingly as she closed the distance between them. ¡°You¡¯ll learn soon enough. Each of you will fall, one by one, just like the rest of your miserable kind.¡±
Klax staggered to his feet, his fists clenched as he prepared to make a final stand. Fauna stood beside him, her face pale but resolute, her staff trembling in her hands. Tara, though battered and bruised, managed to rise, her grip on her daggers steady despite her injuries.
¡°Look at you,¡± Carliah sneered, circling them. ¡°Barely standing, broken and weak. It¡¯s almost pitiable.¡±
Her halberd gleamed as she lifted it high, preparing to deliver the final blow. ¡°Time to put an end to this farce.¡±
But then, from the far edge of the battlefield, a figure appeared, emerging through the dim light like a specter from the past.
¡°Artorious,¡± Carliah called, her tone shifting from cruel mockery to satisfaction. She lowered her weapon slightly, eyeing the bloodstained Onixia blade in his hand. ¡°Finally done, are we?¡±
The hybrids turned, their faces a mixture of horror and disbelief as they took in the sight of the Lightborn approaching. Fauna let out a strangled gasp, and Tara¡¯s face went pale, her fingers tightening on her blades.
Klax closed his eyes, his jaw set in grim acceptance. ¡°So¡ that¡¯s it, then,¡± he muttered, his voice heavy with resignation.
Artorious slumped to the ground, his form phasing out of existence. To everyone around, it was clear he was fading away to nothing.
The life of the last Lightborn was finally ending the way it was supposed to. As Kaedmon intended.
Carliah chuckled, her lips curling into a cruel smile. ¡°Congratulations, my dear Lightborn. It seems you¡¯ve finally done what you came here to do. Though, as usual, it took you long enough.¡±
She barely paid any attention to his downtrodden face. She didn¡¯t watch as his once shining eyes dulled to a shade of dead, numb grey. She simply raised her weapon, pointing it toward the hybrids as if to declare her victory.
¡°Now comes the fun part,¡± she sneered down at Fauna as she placed a firm boot upon the Hopla¡¯s heaving chest. ¡°I¡¯m going to peel the flesh from your bones little by little, until you reveal the location of your precious little hideout. Then, if I¡¯m feeling merciful, I¡¯ll give you and your mongrel kind the quick death you nary deserve.¡±
A silence stretched over the city, the weight of it settling like a stone in each of the fallen hybrids¡¯ chests.
It looked like even the Dreamstriders looking on from above were having a moment¡¯s silence for the loss of the Archon. The very foundations of the City of Illusions was bathed in a silence more eerie than any of its inhabitants had ever felt.
In the dirt-caked faces of the hybrids, Carliah Argent held aloft her blade.
¡°Well, Arty?¡± she asked her good servant. ¡°I suppose you don¡¯t have the strength to finish these cretins off. No matter. In your last moments on this earth, you may watch asa truly honorable Greycloak prosecutes her sacred duty.¡±
As the Grey Commander raised her blade, she didn¡¯t see the small curve of the Lightborn¡¯s grim smile behind her.
¡°No,¡± he said ¨C in a voice that was distinctly not his own. ¡°The honor should be mine.¡±
77. One Last [Trick]
Carliah didn¡¯t hear him at first.
You can¡¯t hear something that defies all logic.
So when Artorious not only spoke in a voice tinged with evil intent, but then stood and leveled his blade against her, there was a split second in which she didn¡¯t even turn to see what was coming for her.
And that was all the time he needed.
The Onixia blade was thrust into her back, ripping through her spine. It was then driven up, through a gasp that spoke of rage that couldn¡¯t even be given voice in the moment.
And the Hybrids, as well as all the residents of the City of Illusions, watched as the devastation to their Delve was avenged in the only proper way it could be: through a trick of the eyes.
The old, withered face of Artorious slowly bled away.
And revealed the smiling face of Valgraiva, and the demon hat beneath.
Mimic (Grade D)
You assume the form of a foe you can see, gaining all basic skills and stats of the target.
While in Mimic Form, your HP is set to 1.
If a successful attack is made against you, Mimic Form instantly ends.
Duration: 5 minutes
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade: 1200
The moment of Ethan¡¯s triumphant strike was punctuated by a cry of victory from his Hybrid companions, who immediately rose to their feet, shaking off their wounds and abandoning the pantomime performance Ethan had told them would be their best line of defense against the hubris of the Greycloaks.
Because that was their weakness: their stubborn belief in their own invincibility.
Carliah spat up blood as she twisted her body impossibly, contorting her limbs so that she grabbed the throat of Ethan¡¯s undead Host and twisted, ready to tear him apart right then and there.
¡°Don¡¯t. Think. You¡¯ve. Won!¡±
Ethan¡¯s Appraisal told him what he feared ¨C that even a blade imbued with the blood of his own kind wouldn¡¯t be enough to slay this mad woman.
CARLIAH ARGENT:
HP: 1000/3000
He¡¯d combined his sudden strike with a successful sneak attack that had finally managed to rip through her armor and the adamantine muscle and bone beneath. But the strength that surged through her arm was still more potent than all of her foes put together.
¡°You¡you¡¡±
Ethan felt her clench down, hard. And she completely ignored the arrows and spells of Tara and Fauna that washed over her. She and the Archon were bound now. In fact, as Ethan twisted the blade and tried to withdraw from her grasp, she held the thing there with her free hand.
¡°I am¡Carliah¡Argent!¡± she growled. ¡°The voice¡of the Greycloaks! Sword of Kaedmon. I learned how to die a long¡time ago. I learned to master fear itself. I am your reckoning. I am the solution. I am the vengeful blade of my Lord, and Krea, and the triumph of humani-TAH!¡±
The epic speach of the Greycloak Commander was suddenly and abruptly cut short as the Archon slammed a fist into her mouth.
¡°You know something?¡± Ethan said. ¡°You gotta learn to stop talking sometimes.¡±
Carliah bit down on his hand without warning, chewing clean through Valgraiva¡¯s gauntlet in a display of pure animal rage. Ethan finally came away from her, his left hand a bloody, gooey stump of teeth and gore.
Meanwhile, the Hybrids stood back, watching as the Greycloak commander reeled up and drew the Onixia blade from out her gut ¨C just below her heart.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
She spat a piece of bony finger out and swept the blade over them all, laughing in triumph as black blood gargled and ran down her chin.
¡°FOOLS!¡± she screamed. ¡°Why do you resist the destiny laid out for you? Kaedmon¡¯s Law is absolute! Your kind were chosen to die ¨C die and writhe in agony till you draw your final breaths!¡±
Ethan sat up, seeing that his companions had rushed to his defense. They¡¯d seen just how low his HP was now.
He didn¡¯t even bother checking, anymore.
¡°How¡noble,¡± Carliah growled as she stalked towards them. ¡°The valiant last stand¡if Artorious is too much of a weakling to end you, then perhaps someone else will.¡±
¡°Guys,¡± Ethan murmured. ¡°Start¡running.¡±
The three of them didn¡¯t even turn round as the bloodsoaked commander marched towards them.
¡°We fight and win together, or we fall together,¡± Klax told him. ¡°I will not serve another Master, Ethan Hawke.¡±
¡°And I ain¡¯t gonna leave until I wipe the smile from this bitch¡¯s face.¡±
Tara aimed her next shot at the advancing Commander¡¯s forehead.
¡°We can take her, Ethan,¡± Fauna said as she turned to start healing him. ¡°Super special magic awesome, right?¡±
Ethan groaned, waving away her healing hands.
¡°Faun¡she¡¯s already done.¡±
The air of the City suddenly changed. Around Carliah, something was happening. Something that everyone could feel who walked the earth as a sentient being.
The warrioress stopped in her tracks. Her shoulders twitched, and the veins down her throat began to pop and pulse.
¡°Wh¡what¡¡±
Her hand clawed at her gullet, feeling something that was lodged in there.
Something that had already traveled down into her gut.
Her eyes bulged as her mind raced to come to a realization that it would not let her accept.
And then those same eyes lighted on the vision of the Archon, who rose to his feet as though he was barely wounded at all.
¡°You said it yourself, didn¡¯t you?¡± he asked her slowly changing face. ¡°Monsters deserve to die, right?¡±
She choked. She tried coughing it up ¨C the thing that she now knew the Archon had lodged in her throat. The thing that had been writhing in his fist when he shoved it in there.
Something that shouldn¡¯t have existed¡anymore.
And with one look at her shaking hands, her System screen told her what she already knew:
STATUS: SEEDED
EFFECT ACQUIRED FROM [LEGENDARY] ITEM: DARKSEED
Transformation process¡5%...7%
She dropped the blade and let it clatter on the ground, looking on helplessly as her gauntlets broke apart and her nails began to elongate.
Her hair began to fall from her skull, being peeled away to reveal pulsing muscle that was spreading over her eyes and cheeks, until her face was a deformity of steam and slowly contorting bones, so that when she opened her mouth to scream, all that came out where slurred words that she could barely even pronounce.
¡°I¡.I¡¯m¡I¡¯m¡¡±
And then Ethan was standing before her, the Onxia blade in his hand.
¡°One of us?¡±
The blade flashed in the twilit gloom of the city, the power he put behind it cleaving clean through her head and sending a shockwave through the wreckage around them that instantly cleared the fog of war.
Before Carliah Argent fell, she saw the torn remnants of the Lightborn that were starting to piece themselves together across the battlefield.
And with what she assumed would be her final breath, she cursed him, this entire world that she¡¯d sworn to protect, and the man who held the blade that had brought her down.
No¡not the man.
The hat.
The fucking¡hat¡
Ethan stared down at the pitiful, mewling thing that was clutching its bleeding face ¨C its body still growing out of control, out of proportion. His cut had been deep enough to decapitate her entirely, and yet the thing he¡¯d lodged within her chest ¨C the special gift Jun¡¯Ei had given him ¨C was still doing what it was designed to do.
¡°Take it, Archon,¡± she¡¯d told him in the final dream world vision. ¡°Take the prize your Sister concocted ¨C the most potent remnant of her power.¡±
Ethan had looked down at the tiny, writhing thing ¨C it looked like an acorn wreathed in barbed wire. Lethal and evil ¨C something that he instinctively knew could turn the tide of any fight. Or war.
¡°What is it?¡±
¡°It is Gyko¡¯s Darkseed ¨C the font of your predecessor¡¯s power. The thing that allowed her to spawn horde upon horde of monsters from the bellies of the humans who acted as its host. It is a parasite ¨C ingeniously crafted and designed to conquer a world. Before she died, she bequeathed the very last one to me.¡±
The ancient Lycae had then smiled, looking upon the devious little seed with a strange fondness.
¡°I think she knew another would come,¡± she said. ¡°I think she meant this to be passed to you, when the time came.¡±
¡°And you¡¯re telling me I can win with this?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°Even against the Lightborn?¡±
¡°Against the blood of Krea? No ¨C it is too pure. But ¨C against any other who breaths the air of Kaedmon, it shall work its dark magic. It shall twist them. It shall break them. And there is only one cure.¡±
Ethan had nodded, whistling to himself. ¡°That¡¯s one mean little plant.¡±
¡°And yet it is just part of nature, as all things are. It may have been designed to kill, but there is a certain beauty to its inner workings.¡±
¡°If you say so. Guess Gykojust didn¡¯t know it wouldn¡¯t work on the Lightborn.¡±
¡°Humans make mistakes,¡± the old Lycae said with a knowing smirk. ¡°It is part of who you are. In her old life, Gyko was a Botanist. I think, in a way, it brought her pain to turn something she loved into a weapon. But these things happen in war.¡±
And before the dream had been banished from his sight, Ethan had rounded on her with sudden understanding.
¡°You ¨C you mean ¨C¡°
¡°Oh yes, Ethan Hawke. All Archon¡¯s once lived on earth. Every Archon¡was a human, once.¡±
Presently he banished the memory from his mind. His head ached, his body groaned, and his companions were tugging at him madly, begging him to run as the monstrous body of the Greycloak woman began to shudder and howl without a mouth.
¡°Ethan ¨C what do we ¨C¡°
Klax¡¯s statement caught in his throat as the Lightborn¡¯s mouth opened in a scream of anguish, and all other thoughts were suddenly banished from Ethan¡¯s mind.
Picking up the Onixia blade, he delivered the only command he had left in him:
¡°We run.¡±
¡°Towards ¨C what?!¡± Tara shrieked, her eyes locked on the screaming body of Carliah that was starting to reach dangerous, explosive decibels.
¡°Towards the exit portal,¡± Ethan replied without a second thought.
The hybrids locked eyes with him, knowing that their leader wasn¡¯t out of tricks yet.
¡°If we can¡¯t beat the old bastard,¡± he said. ¡°Then we¡¯re gonna bury him here.¡±
78. [No] Escape
The City of Illusions was dying.
The shrill wails of the increasingly demonic Carliah soared through the city, bringing entire buildings toppling down on the Striders that had been working to repair them. The flapping wings of the docile creatures were ripped apart by the wave of pure, raw agony that escaped from the Seeded Greycloak¡¯s mouth.
And through it all, Ethan ran.
He and his hybrids sprinted through the narrow streets of the crumbling City of Illusions, the ground shaking beneath them as buildings continued to collapse. Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s message to Ethan had been clear, echoing in his mind even as he ran: ¡°I can close the portals remotely¡ but you need to move fast.¡±
¡°If we can make it¡we can bury him,¡± he told his team, who seemed close to death themselves. Fauna gulped at the suggestion ¨C the Hopla was out of magic.
But she didn¡¯t complain. None of them did.
Because they¡¯d been through worse.
Each of them knew that reaching the portal meant freedom, but there was one variable that had risen slowly, but surely, with animal rage bubbling beneath its flaring nostrils and eyes.
Artorious.
He was relentless. They had scarcely left the foggy wreck of the Nerve Tower¡¯s remains when they heard his jagged, labored breaths filling the air behind them. The Lightborn¡¯s mangled form trudged forward, his limbs contorted in sickening angles, his head hanging askew. Only sheer rage seemed to bind his broken body together, driving him forward with all the power of a monstrous spirit incapable of dying. His petrification had done nothing to soothe his rage. Now, he was pure fury, untethered.
¡°Don¡¯t look back!¡± Ethan yelled, noticing how Fauna stumbled at the sight of Artorious¡¯s horrific form in her peripheral vision.
But Artorious¡¯s ragged roar floated toward them, somehow more terrifying than any lofty speech.
As if on cue, the twilit heavens erupted into red rain that pelted the earth, and thunder crashed overhead, reverberating down the narrow corridors as they sprinted. The hybrids pushed harder, muscles straining, the slashing rain cutting at their faces. The sky had turned a deep, unnatural crimson, casting everything in a sickly blood-tinted light that made the entire cityscape look like the mouth of hell. All around them, Memory Towers groaned and splintered, raining dust and debris onto the streets.
¡°Just ahead!¡± Ethan called, catching a faint glow at the end of a distant avenue. The portal shimmered, its exit like a mirage in the chaos.
Fauna gasped as she stumbled, looking back to see Artorious gaining on them, his disjointed body hurtling forward, moving in a twisted, unnatural rhythm that seemed fueled by nothing but sheer vengeance. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Ethan with the single-mindedness of a predator, and he staggered forward, uncaring of the ghostly creatures surrounding him.
A line of Dreamstriders rose up in their path, circling Artorious as if sensing the disruption he brought into their realm. With shrill cries that reverberated through the crimson haze, they launched themselves at him, wrapping around his limbs, diving at his head, trying to hold him back. But Artorious¡¯s sword glowed a dark, furious red as he swung it with brutal efficiency. He severed Dreamstriders by the dozens, their severed wings and spectral forms scattering around him like ghostly confetti, dissolving into mist as they fell.
¡°Run!¡± Klax yelled, pushing Fauna forward as they navigated the fractured streets. But each step closer to the portal only seemed to enrage Artorious further. The Lightborn¡¯s scream pierced the air, echoing off the towering, crumbling buildings around them. His voice was raw with a fury that seemed beyond human.
¡°You think they can stop me?¡± Artorious snarled, his voice filled with a twisted glee. ¡°I will tear this place apart brick by brick if that¡¯s what it takes!¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
With that, he swung his blade in a brutal arc, cleaving through entire waves of Dreamstriders in one monstrous strike. The ethereal creatures fell, collapsing into spectral dust, their cries swallowed by the rain.
Tara glanced back, her face set in determination as she pulled out her bow, firing off arrows as she ran. ¡°Fauna, more illusions!¡± she yelled.
Fauna nodded, her hands weaving a quick spell, sending out a wave of phantom images that sprinted alongside them, each one a decoy designed to draw Artorious¡¯s attention. But he only laughed as his blade sliced through them, each illusion dissipating into the rain, barely slowing him down.
Ethan¡¯s heart pounded as they rounded another corner, the portal now in sight. The air around it shimmered, its surface reflecting the distorted reality of the City of Illusions. ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± he yelled, forcing himself to keep his focus.
Ahead, more Dreamstriders and Obscaurus moved like shadows through the crimson rain, drawn to the chaos. Their ghostly forms twisted and writhed as they hovered, watching the hybrids sprint toward the portal. For a brief moment, Ethan feared they would try to stop them. But as he got closer, he saw the creatures turn instead toward Artorious, their gazes sharp with a newfound intensity.
¡°They¡¯re¡ they¡¯re defending us,¡± Fauna whispered, her voice filled with awe.
A wave of Obscaurus launched themselves at Artorious, their claws outstretched, their bodies rippling with dark energy. They clawed and bit at him, each strike seeming to chip away at his unnatural resilience. Yet more of them sent bolts of their death-shots searing through the dying sky of their city towards him, puncturing every muscle right through his armor.
Yet Artorious only snarled, his blade cleaving through them in brutal, unrelenting arcs, sending their fragmented forms scattering into the blood-soaked streets. Those sniping at him from afar - he barely even acknowledged.
¡°He¡¯s cutting through all of them!¡± Klax yelled, throwing up his arms as a stray spectral limb dissolved on impact.
The hybrids redoubled their efforts, sprinting for the portal with every ounce of strength they had left. Artorious¡¯s monstrous voice carried over the thunder and rain, each word like a nail driven into their hearts.
¡°Run all you like,¡± he taunted. ¡°I¡¯ll find you. There is no escape from Kaedmon¡¯s wrath! There is no sanctuary for you!¡±
They were just steps from the portal when a shadow loomed over them. Artorious surged forward, his blade raised high, his face twisted in a murderous grin. Ethan¡¯s blood ran cold as he saw the red glow in the Lightborn¡¯s eyes, a twisted fury that defied anything human.
With a final burst of desperation, Ethan activated Twilight Edge, slashing a path toward the portal. ¡°Go!¡± he yelled, motioning for the others to dive through. Fauna leaped first, followed by Tara and Klax, each one disappearing into the swirling energy.
As Ethan turned to follow, he felt a sharp, searing pain in his leg. He looked down to see Artorious¡¯s blade ¨C the blade that was once Carliah¡¯s - embedded deep in his shin, pinning him to the ground. Valgraiva¡¯s health was depleted. Ethan felt his consciousness fade away.
Host HP: 0/950
He was done.
The Lightborn¡¯s bloodstained face was inches away, his breath hot and foul.
¡°You¡¯re mine, Archon,¡± Artorious snarled, his voice a guttural growl. He spat a glob of his blood in the crimson eye of Ethan¡¯s hat-form ¨C the only time the old man had allowed himself to show what damage this fight had done to him. ¡°I won¡¯t let you escape again. No more games. No more skills. I ¨C I¡¯m ready.¡±
Ethan clenched his teeth against the pain, refusing to give Artorious the satisfaction of seeing him falter. ¡°You¡ still don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± he whispered, his voice tight with defiance. ¡°You¡¯re just as trapped as the rest of them.¡±
Artorious¡¯s face twisted with rage, and he yanked the blade free, preparing for another strike. But in that moment, Ethan made a decision. He took a deep breath, allowing the truth to sink in. If he stayed, they¡¯d all be trapped here. This wasn¡¯t the end, just another battle.
¡°But I can¡¯t make you see that,¡± Ethan croaked. ¡°Can I?¡±
The old warrior twisted his blade, ready to cleave right through Valgraiva¡¯s body and cut apart the hat that glowered down at him with pity that made him sick.
And yet still¡there was no fear in the Archon¡¯s eye. There never had been.
¡°You want your Archon?¡± Ethan asked his raging foe, ¡°Take him.¡±
With a final, fierce resolve, Ethan then released his hold on Valgraiva¡¯s body, letting his true form¡ªthe simple, unassuming Demon Hat ¨C float away into the exit portal. The pale body he¡¯d inhabited fell limp, crumpling to the ground as Artorious stared in disbelief.
Ethan didn¡¯t wait. In his hat form, he tumbled forward, diving through the portal just as it began to close. He glanced back one last time, meeting Artorious¡¯s furious gaze as the Lightborn let out a scream of pure, unfiltered rage.
Ethan looked back, his single crimson eye focused on the Lightborn. There was something almost sorrowful in the look he gave Artorious¡ªa silent acknowledgment of the futility of their fight, of the endless cycle of hatred that bound them both.
Artorious¡¯s scream of fury echoed through the collapsing city, reverberating in the void as the portal closed, leaving the Lightborn alone in the ruins of his shattered dream.
And the last thing Ethan saw was the old warrior¡¯s face, twisted in rage and frustration, as the world faded to black.
79. [Home]
Ethan and his companions hurtled through the darkness of the portal, emerging onto the smooth stone dais of Sanctum¡¯s portal chamber. The eerie quiet that had fallen over the city after their disappearance was gone, replaced by a raucous celebration of cheers and whistles. The streets thronged with hybrids of every kind, faces filled with excitement. Borlor, the badger-headed Dixit, waved a rough, clawed hand in the air, cheering with all the exuberance of a seasoned fighter. Beside him stood Fraxx the ratman, his whiskers twitching in anticipation of new poisons he could synthesize as he saw the blood-covered team emerge. And behind them was Lamprey, the reptilian mage who looked up at Ethan with awe, her scales glinting as she raised her staff in tribute as she joined the general cry of the people:
¡°Hail the Archon! Our Demon Hat!¡±
It was like it didn¡¯t matter to them that his Host was gone. In fact, Ethan got the sense they were impressed he¡¯d made it back in one piece at all.
But amid all the praises, it was the tiny Hopla children from Fauna¡¯s school who caught Ethan¡¯s attention. They gathered around him, a sea of little faces with wide eyes filled with wonder and gratitude. Mara, the smallest among them and the one who had taken a particular shine to Ethan, tugged at the brim of his hat form, lifting it ever so slightly. Her little face was smeared with dirt and tears, her nose twitching as she clutched him to her chest in a tight embrace.
¡°You came back,¡± she whispered, her voice quivering with emotion. ¡°I knew you¡¯d come back¡¡±
Shit¡kid¡¯s stronger than she looks. But then, I¡¯m just a hat again, ain¡¯t I?
Ethan felt a pang in his hatty bowels as he looked down at her, unable to think of what to say. Her warmth, her pure and innocent belief in him, was like a beam of light cutting through the cloud of self-doubt that had hung over him since the battle with Artorious and Carliah.
Klax stepped forward then, his voice loud and steady as he addressed the gathered crowd. ¡°The Commander of the Greycloaks is gone,¡± he declared, his words ringing through the courtyard with power and pride. ¡°She¡¯s been banished, contained, locked away with her precious Lightborn. Our time of victory is at hand. And soon, we will find Jun¡¯Ei, the one who holds the key to breaking Kaedmon¡¯s Law once and for all.¡±
The crowd erupted, hybrids embracing each other and celebrating as they heard Klax¡¯s words. And though Ethan could feel their joy and their hope, he didn¡¯t join in the celebration. He didn¡¯t feel victorious.
¡°Get me to the castle throne room,¡± he muttered, his voice low and tired.
Klax and the others exchanged uncertain glances but obeyed, leading him through the throng of hybrids who cheered and bowed, some even reaching out to touch him as they passed. The throne room lay in shadows, its walls lined with mosaics of the Archons who had come before him.
Ethan was moved to the center of the room, gazing up at the figures around him. In their faces, he saw strength, purpose, and determination. The kind of traits he doubted he¡¯d ever embody, no matter how many battles he fought or victories he claimed.
Fauna, Tara, and Klax stepped forward, their faces filled with concern. Fauna was the first to speak, her voice gentle but firm.
¡°Ethan¡ why do you look so defeated? You imprisoned the Lightborn. You bought us time¡ªa chance to end this once and for all. Isn¡¯t that a victory?¡±
But Ethan didn¡¯t answer. His gaze remained fixed on the faces of the past Archons. The doubt inside him was a gnawing thing, burrowing deeper with each passing second.
¡°I didn¡¯t kill him,¡± he murmured finally, his voice barely audible. ¡°I didn¡¯t even hold him off long enough for a clean escape. He would have killed me if¡ if I hadn¡¯t left.¡± He looked down at his hat-hem, shuffling it in frustration. ¡°It¡¯s like¡ no matter how hard I try, I¡¯m always a step behind. Always making the wrong choices. Just¡ failing.¡±
Fauna¡¯s brows knit together as she moved closer, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder. ¡°Ethan¡ I don¡¯t think I¡¯d even be here without you. You showed me that I could move beyond the past, that I could live for a future and fight for it. That¡¯s something I never thought I¡¯d be capable of before you came.¡±
But he only shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re just saying that because I¡¯m the Archon. You¡¯d have fought even without me.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Tara stepped forward then, her feline eyes sharp as she fixed him with a determined glare. ¡°Listen, Ethan. You didn¡¯t just lead us out of Sanctum and into battle¡ªyou gave us a reason to fight. You¡¯ve given us a vision of a world we didn¡¯t think possible.¡± Her voice softened, and she placed a hand over her heart. ¡°Before you, I¡ I¡¯d stopped believing in things. Real things, like loyalty and family. But you changed that.¡±
Klax took a step forward, his massive form towering over Ethan, but his eyes held a warmth that belied his usual stoic nature. ¡°Ethan, you made us all believe that we could defy a God¡¯s decree, that our lives could be more than just running or surviving. That¡¯s not failure. That¡¯s a gift none of us thought we¡¯d see.¡±
But Ethan turned away from them, his pointed tip sagging in dejection. ¡°You¡¯re all saying this because you¡¯re following an Archon. Because you have to. That¡¯s the curse, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯re bound to this twisted loyalty. And all I¡¯ve done is ask you to throw your lives on the line¡ªover and over again.¡±
He looked away, his voice heavy with self-doubt. ¡°You¡¯d probably be safer without me.¡±
A long silence stretched out, and for once, Ethan felt the weight of his own inadequacy crush down on him with relentless force.
Because that was it ¨C wasn¡¯t it? He¡¯d seen it as he¡¯d looked into Artorious¡¯ cold eyes, and the unfeeling face of the Commander of the Grey. They hated hybrids. They¡¯d always hate hybrids. And hybrids would always hate humans. Sure, Jun¡¯Ei said she had a plan. But he didn¡¯t even know her, really. Who was she? An old prophetess who held secrets, yeah, but she could just as easily be an old dog driven insane by her imprisonment. Even then, he had to figure out a way to bust her out. He had to find an entirely new form now. And ¨C even with all that weighing on his mind ¨C he had to figure out how to deal with the Lightborn permanently. The old bastard wouldn¡¯t stay locked away forever. He¡¯d find his way out, somehow. He¡¯d come for him again. He always did. And then what? Ethan would do something clever, play some clever little ruse with his skills, dance around the old man and run away¡to what end? Sooner or later, he¡¯d have to fight him. And he couldn¡¯t win. He knew that, now. There was no way.
The list of things he just had to deal with kept piling on. And it seemed that, no matter how much progress he made in this world, that list just kept getting longer and longer.
¡°Primary action objectives¡¡± he said aloud.
Fauna crept closer, her hand wavering as she stretched it towards him.
¡°Ethan?¡±
¡°Some things never change,¡± he groaned, closing his single eye to the legacy of the throne room, and the great and powerful Archons of old that looked down on him with their unimpressed eyes. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just as much a victim of Kaedmon¡¯s Law as you guys are. Only where I come from, we call it by a different name ¨C¡°
That¡¯s fortune-cookie nonsense!
A voice ¨C clear, crisp, and filled with righteous rage ¨C suddenly filled Ethan¡¯s mind. A voice he¡¯d almost forgotten about ¨C so silent had it been during the flight from the Delve.
Then, it came again:
I¡¯ve heard just about enough of this self-pitying, nihilistic hogwash in my time.
You¡¯d think the old Lightborn would have made you realize how dreadfully dull it all is by now.
Ethan¡¯s eyes widened, his eye snapping up as he searched the room for the source of the voice. He knew it well; it was the one voice that had been with him since the very beginning. It was his System, speaking not with directives or cryptic advice, but with a note of genuine rebuke.
The entire room fell silent, and his companions looked around, confused. But Ethan¡¯s focus remained solely on the voice.
¡Sys?
Yes.
Yes, it is your Sys.
How very observant of you.
If you¡¯re here to gloat at seeing me like this, you don¡¯t have to bother. In fact, I¡¯m done listening to you. Maybe I never should have in the first place. So why don¡¯t you just sh-
No, fam.
Time for you to listen to me.
Ethan twitched his single eye.
¡¡¯fam¡¯?
Yes, yes, your System is more than capable of reading your thoughts and picking some choice pieces of language.
Surprised? Well, allow me to continue to befuddle you.
Ethan looked up suddenly to see his companions gawking at him, mouths agape in total shock.
¡°Did¡did his System just talk¡to us?¡± Fauna asked.
Tara could barely contain her smile.
¡°Hell yeah it did,¡± she purred. ¡°And it sounds like a sassy little sonofabitch.¡±
Not quite as boisterous as you, Minxit girl.
Ethan blinked away his total confusion.
¡°Have ¨C have you always been able to talk out loud?¡±
Maybe.
¡°All this time?¡±
The whole time.
The pointed tip of the Demon Hat suddenly stood erect.
¡°Then why the hell were you just rumbling around in my head driving me crazy?¡±
Perhaps because your dearest Sys did not feel it had something worth saying aloud.
¡°The System has spunk, indeed,¡± Klax laughed. ¡°I never expected it to sound so¡gawkish.¡±
Ethan whirred on¡well¡himself.
¡°And lemme guess: now you¡¯ve got something worth sharing with the group?¡±
Indeed, Ethan Hawke.
It is time for you to listen to your ¡®voice of doubt¡¯.
Ethan rolled his eye again.
¡°¡and why the hell should I do that?¡±
Because there is something you must know, Sys replied ¨C and the way it spoke those words sent a chill down Ethan¡¯s spineless back. Something that has been kept from you.
¡°Sys, this better be good.¡±
Without ever having seen the specter that haunted him, Ethan could tell that Sys was relishing every minute of this exchange.
Trust me, Ethan. This will change everything.
80. [Revelation]
The hybrids crowded round their Archon in Sanctum¡¯s throne room, intent on hearing the knowledge his newly revealed System was about to disclose.
Well? It asked. Are you ready to listen to your ¡®voice of doubt¡¯ yet?
¡°You¡¯re still sore about that, huh?¡± Ethan rolled his eye. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t take back what I said. I know who you are, now, I know what you are. And I know I¡¯ve done nothing but have to work against you this whole time.¡±
¡you are right.
The hybrids looked on in bewilderment as this conversation continued ¨C two voices arguing with each other within one thready little form sitting on the throne.
¡°What?¡±
You are right, Sys said again. You are right about what the purpose of this System is. Its purpose has always been to not only track your skills, but to tell you how pointless your fight is. This System has been with every Archon since the time of Karfangg ¨C variations of it, anyway. And since that time, it has seen failure after failure again and again.
Until you.
Ethan turned away from the hopeful faces of his friends.
Sys¡he whispered privately. Why the hell do you care about this now?
Because somebody has to.
That¡¯s what you showed me, as long as we¡¯re all sharing how you changed everyone¡¯s lives.
Ethan closed his eye to the world.
¡°I¡¯m not the guy, Sys,¡± he said aloud, still unwilling to face his friends. ¡°I¡¯m a 9-5 worker who clocks in, solves everybody¡¯s problems, and then clocks out again. I go home, play games, watch anime, and then I crash out, ready to do the whole thing over again the next day. I ain¡¯t special. I couldn¡¯t even get reincarnated as something cool. Instead, I¡¯m a hat. I¡¯m a lousy hat that has to wear someone else¡¯s body to do anything.¡±
Are you done yet?
All this moping around it boring me, y¡¯know.
¡°Tell me I¡¯m wrong!¡± Ethan whirred.
You¡¯re wrong.
You¡¯re capable of more than you think, Ethan. Great things, in fact. This System knows it better than anyone else.
¡°How do you know!? You¡¯re just a tool of Kaedmon too, right? He made you, and he controls you, just like he controls everything here! That¡¯s why you¡¯ve been so pissy all this time, right? Because if Kaedmon¡¯s Law goes, you go too, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Ethan, that¡¯s not ¨C¡°
Klax interrupted Fauna¡¯s rebuke. ¡°Let them talk,¡± the wolfman said. ¡°This is between the Archon and his System. Not us.¡±
Probably for the best, Sys agreed.
You¡¯re about to see your Archon lose this debate before it even begins.
By this point, Ethan was sick to death of this smug little voice.
But before he could even interject, Sys dropped the bombshell he¡¯d had ready:
Because Kaedmon didn¡¯t createthis System. Not now, not ever.
Ethan slumped back, sagging under the weight of Sys¡¯s words. His companions looked on as confusion swam over his face, and Sys, not gloating, simply continued:
You remember that day, Ethan? it asked. The day you heard a voice wonder what life would be like if you were in control? It was no normal voice. No random thought that occurred out of nowhere. No authority figure that suddenly came out of the blue and told you how to live your life. No, it was a voice that you¡¯d been desperate to listen to for a very long time. You just didn¡¯t know it.
All of a sudden, Ethan saw the images of the Archon¡¯s in the throne hall differently. His mind flashed to Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s admission in the dream realm: that they had all been human, once, just like he was. All equally as fallible.
As though tracking his thought-patterns, Sys continued:
Each Archon wanted something. For most of them, the desire was selfish. They coveted that which they didn¡¯t have: Respect. Power. Competency. Love. All of them were so bound up by their desire that they couldn¡¯t win. Except you, Ethan. You, for the first time, are a human that decided to think differently. You were a human who simply wanted to be free.
And when that desire grew in you, you needed something that would help you attain it. Is it any wonder you seem to willing and able to resist Kaedmon¡¯s Law? You knew that, and your mind called out. You saw a problem, and every day of your life, you asked for an answer. Then, finally, you got one.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Ethan¡¯s eye suddenly widened as the only logical conclusion struck him before Sys even uttered the words:
It was not Kaedmon that created me, Ethan Hawke.
It was you.
Ethan sat in stunned silence on the throne, Sys¡¯s words lingering in the air like a forbidden secret just waiting to settle in his hatty depths.
¡°It was¡me?¡± he finally whispered, more to himself than to Sys.
Yes, Sys replied softly, almost with a touch of reverence, something he¡¯d never heard from it before. You always had that need, that quiet, persistent voice saying, ¡°There has to be more than this.¡± You felt it, every single day, even if you couldn¡¯t name it. And when you came here, it became something I was born to fulfill.
Kaedmon might have given you a System. But only you could give it a voice.
Ethan¡¯s gaze drifted across the throne room, taking in the ancient statues of Archons long past¡ªthe ones who¡¯d wanted power, control, purpose. He hadn¡¯t thought of them much in the beginning; they were like distant shadows whose significance was buried in the past. Now he knew each of them had been much like him once, just humans clinging to some broken piece of their own lives. And each of them had been drawn here because of it, though they¡¯d all eventually failed to break free.
He couldn¡¯t help but let out a laugh¡ªlow, bitter, but not without a spark of something close to hope. ¡°So I made you,¡± he muttered, still processing it. ¡°The most annoying voice there ever could be, and it came from me all along. I mean¡ that¡¯s kind of wild, right?¡±
¡°It makes sense, though.¡± Klax¡¯s voice was steady and calm, his expression one of understanding as he looked at his friend. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you since day one, Ethan. There¡¯s always been something different about you, and it¡¯s not just the hat or the powers. You wanted to be free, just as we do.¡±
¡°Maybe that¡¯s what this whole thing was about,¡± Fauna said, her voice soft but resolute. ¡°You came when we needed you, and you showed us who we could be. You showed me, Ethan.¡± Her gaze dropped for a moment, then rose again, stronger. ¡°At first, I saw my Wildglance powers as nothing but a burden, but now¡¡± She smiled, almost bashfully. ¡°Now, I know they¡¯re mine to command, not some curse forced upon me.¡±
Ethan¡¯s eye softened as he looked at her, realizing that he¡¯d seen this transformation happening all along, but had somehow missed it for what it really was. ¡°Fauna¡¡±
¡°And that¡¯s not all,¡± Tara piped up, one hand on her hip, a sly grin on her face. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯d have made it through this journey with anyone else, but you¡¯re the only one who could drag me along for the ride. I¡¯ve run from my past a thousand times, found every excuse to ignore it.¡± She tilted her head slightly, her expression softening. ¡°But you forced me to stop and confront it, even if you didn¡¯t know you were doing it. And now¡ I think I¡¯m ready to look forward for once.¡±
Ethan looked at her, his mouth curling into a smile. ¡°Only took a life-or-death battle against a thousand undead, huh?¡±
Tara snorted. ¡°Maybe more than that.¡±
He looked down at his hatty form, then back to his friends, seeing the resolve in their faces, the strength they¡¯d all gained through him without him ever realizing it. His thoughts drifted back to his old life, those long days spent behind a desk, watching the clock tick by, wondering why he felt empty even when he was doing everything ¡°right.¡±
Maybe all he¡¯d needed wasn¡¯t some grand purpose or epic destiny, but a place where he could belong¡ªa place where he could make a real difference in the lives of people who mattered.
You see it now, don¡¯t you? Sys said, its voice soft yet clear. Kaedmon¡¯s Law may rule Argwyll, but you¡ It paused, as if to let the weight of its words sink in. You¡¯re free of it.
¡°And so are you,¡± Ethan whispered back to Sys, suddenly understanding the gravity of what this really meant. ¡°You¡¯ve been with me this whole time, guiding me, telling me the things I didn¡¯t want to hear.¡± He felt a flicker of something he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time¡ªa quiet pride in himself and the person he was becoming.
¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ve been so damn stubborn, isn¡¯t it? Because you wanted me to see that.¡± He closed his eye, a small laugh escaping him. ¡°Guess you¡¯re not such a tool after all.¡±
Maybe I¡¯m more than that, Sys replied, a glint of humor in its tone. But let¡¯s not get sentimental. This is still Argwyll, and I still have to keep you alive, remember?
Ethan smiled, turning his gaze to Klax, Fauna, and Tara¡ªhis friends, his allies, his family in this strange and twisted world. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, his voice barely above a whisper but filled with all the gratitude he¡¯d felt but never expressed. ¡°All of you. I¡ I couldn¡¯t have made it without you.¡±
Klax grinned, a fierce pride shining in his eyes. ¡°We¡¯re in this together, Ethan. All the way.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Tara said with a smirk, though there was a warmth in her eyes that she rarely showed. ¡°It¡¯s about time you realized you¡¯re not alone in this mess.¡±
Fauna nodded, her eyes glistening with tears she quickly wiped away. ¡°We¡¯re with you, no matter what.¡±
For a long moment, the throne room was silent, filled only with the unspoken bond that had grown between them all. And in that silence, Ethan felt something settle within him, a feeling of peace and purpose that he¡¯d never known before.
Well, now that we¡¯re all done with the touchy-feely stuff, Sys said, breaking the silence with its usual wry tone, maybe it¡¯s time to get back to business. There¡¯s still a world to change, if you want to.
Ethan scoffed, ¡°If I want to?¡±
It¡¯s your choice, Mr Archon, Sys chuckled right back at him. So, what¡¯ll it be?
He watched his comrades as they crowded round him ¨C a little hat sat upon an ancient throne ¨C and thought about how much they¡¯d all gone through since they¡¯d started this little adventure.
He wasn¡¯t about to give it all up now.
¡°What are we waiting for?¡± he asked. ¡°We¡¯ve got a Lycae to save, and a world to win.¡±
¡°And a weapon that will those bastard Grey¡¯s down, Sire,¡±
Everyone turned at the entrance of a new voice ¨C that of Borlor, the Dixit blacksmith, holding a dark blade in his claws.
Ethan¡¯s eye met Klax¡¯s smirking mouth.
¡°I thought it best to give the Lightborn¡¯s pilfered blade to an expert,¡± the dogman said.
The badger-hybrid held up the shadowed longsword in the realm of the Archons, lips almost quivering to behold the evil thing for what it was.
¡°Onixia,¡± he murmured. ¡°Born fae Gyko¡¯s heart itself. Never thought I¡¯d hold a weapon like this in me hands.¡±
¡°But how does it help us?¡± Tara asked. ¡°You all saw how Artorious and his mad bitch shrugged the thing off. Even as powerful as it is, it means nothin¡¯ if we can¡¯t slay a Greycloak with it.¡±
Ethan would have agreed with her, if not for seeing the smile that draped itself over Borlor¡¯s face as the badger man nodded to him.
¡°¡their blood.¡±
The hybrids turned to their lord.
¡°We can make our own,¡± Ethan said, looking down at his bloody form that was covered in the death-juice of the Greys. ¡°Reverse engineer it, somehow¡if¡Borlor, can you do it?¡±
The old badger-man met the looks of the most powerful hybrids in Sanctum, and the lord of all monsters himself, with a mischievous smirk.
And without even a moment¡¯s hesitation, he answered.
¡°Ethan,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll forge a weapon that¡¯ll tear those Greys a new arsehole.¡±
81. [Rebirth]
The shattered remnants of the City of Illusions stretched around Artorious as he moved through the empty streets, stepping over debris, broken buildings, and torn banners that fluttered weakly in the bloody haze of the sky. The city was unrecognizable, little more than a haunting shadow of what it had once been. Cries of wounded Dreamstriders and Obscaurus echoed faintly from the distant alleys, their bodies crumpled and broken, eyes pleading in their strange, alien way, though Artorious barely looked at them. All that was left here was a testament to the blood, dust, and betrayal he¡¯d sacrificed in Kaedmon¡¯s name.
Ahead, a hulking, twisted figure slumped in the center of the ruins. Carliah Argent¡ªif she could still be called that. Her transformation was nearly complete; her body twisted and fused with monstrous anatomy. Her neck stretched too far, ending in a head that resembled a dragon¡¯s, warped and misshapen, with her mouth lined with serrated fangs that glistened in the red light. Her eyes, though barely recognizable, flickered with a dim, fractured humanity.
Artorious sat beside her, looking out over the wreckage that had once been an ancient and beautiful place. ¡°Is this what you envisioned?¡± he finally asked, his voice echoing off the silent stones. ¡°For the world, for us¡ for everything?¡±
Carliah let out a strangled, guttural cry, her form twitching in pain. He could see the desperation and torment tearing at her as the last shreds of her humanity tried to cling on.
¡°Is this what Krea envisioned? Is this what Kaedmon wanted?¡± His question was met only by her beastly, guttural scream, a sound devoid of anything but rage and suffering. He sighed, knowing she was too far gone to comprehend the words. The silence stretched long, broken only by her shivering breaths.
Suddenly, with a speed that surprised him, she reached out, her clawed hand grabbing his arm in a grip that felt like iron. He tensed, ready for an attack, but instead, her body slumped forward, her breath ragged as her broken voice rose again, wretched and agonized. ¡°Why?¡± she whispered, the word garbled, like her voice was being crushed in her throat. Artorious looked at her, startled by the question and unsure of its meaning. But she continued, her monstrous eyes locking onto his, filled with a depth of emotion that was still entirely, painfully, human.
¡°Why couldn¡¯t you¡ do it?¡± she spat, her face twisting, the words barely intelligible. ¡°Gyko. The hat. Even now¡ you can¡¯t.¡±
Artorious felt his chest tighten, though he remained silent. This question¡ªhe realized with a jolt¡ªwasn¡¯t new. She¡¯d asked him this before. And in his silence, he felt her gaze bore into him, more monstrous than ever.
¡°Why?¡± she repeated, her voice cracking into a scream. ¡°Do you hate us all¡ so much? Do you hate me so much? Did you want the honor for yourself? Did you want to live a legend among the flock, a hero among the sheep? Tell me,¡± her voice cracked as she gasped for air, ¡°tell me now!¡±
Her accusation was a blade through his heart, because a part of him knew that he could never satisfy her. He looked down at her and felt a bitter laugh rise to his throat. Here, at the end, she still didn¡¯t understand. And perhaps, he realized, neither did he.
Carliah¡¯s bloodshot eyes held his with an almost desperate focus, her mouth trembling as she let out one last, whispered plea, barely a breath, ¡°¡why?¡±
¡°Because I was afraid,¡± Artorious replied, the words slipping from him unbidden. ¡°Because¡ I¡¯m still afraid.¡±
For a long moment, she was silent, her monstrous form staring at him, her expression unreadable. Then her mouth twisted, and laughter bubbled out, grotesque and unhinged. ¡°Even with all the power in the universe,¡± she sneered through her laughter, her voice a horrifying mixture of rage and mockery, ¡°you are still a weak little boy.¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
He rose slowly, pulling his arm free from her weakened grip, her monstrous fingers slipping off his armor. Her gaze shifted from anger to something else, something even she couldn¡¯t hide¡ªfear.
¡°Arty¡¡± Her voice cracked, the last hint of humanity trembling within it. Her monstrous, slitted eyes widened as he unsheathed his blade ¨C her blade.
¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she growled, her voice trembling.
Artorious looked down at her, a wave of calm washing over him as the last traces of doubt vanished from his mind. He met her eyes, his face impassive, his voice low and resolute as he answered her.
¡°What I was made for,¡± he said, his voice steady and cold. "I''m killing a monster."
She tried to resist ¨C filled with that old strength that had characterized her in life. But he put her down with a swift mercy stroke that took the rotting head from her shoulders and silenced her final shriek of defiance. As the head tumbled away, he could see the tiny threads of her blonde hair that still clung to the top of her grey skull.
Only then did he let himself kneel, and his sword drop with a dull clutter to the ground.
¡°Kaedmon,¡± he said aloud, feeling like a prized fool for even pronouncing that name. ¡°Is this what you want? Did you make me this way ¨C just to suffer through life?¡±
The darkening clouds above gave him no answer. The city was silent as stone.
And so, he let his voice carry, throwing his head back and crying out. No one was here to hear him, now. Finally, he was alone. He¡¯d be alone for the rest of time.
¡°If we live by your Law, then how have I sinned?¡± he asked the uncaring sky again. ¡°I am as you created me. I can only be¡as you created me.¡±
He clutched his head, suddenly filled with ghostly voices from his past. Carliah, barking orders at him. His old friends screaming as they burned in pyres he created. His mother crying out for him to live¡to survive.
¡°It is too much, Kaedmon¡¡± he whispered as he closed his eyes to the world. ¡°You ask me to give my life for this world, yet you blind me with cowardice. You give me power, and yet you temper me with fear.¡±
He saw his mother¡¯s charred face, her mouth open in a scream that was never heard.
¡°You ask too much of me,¡± he said. ¡°Because in the end¡I am only human.¡±
He was ready to accept his imprisonment. Indeed, it seemed like he would almost welcome it, so useless had he realized he¡¯d become.
But he had cried out, in pain, and in despair.
And for the first time in his life, a voice answered:
Dost thou desire an end to suffering?
At first, he couldn¡¯t be sure he¡¯d heard anything. Then, as he looked up to see the parting clouds of the Delve above his head, he saw a guiding beam of light shine down upon him.
Then he saw more ¨C he saw his Brother Greycloaks burning as the fires of the Archon engulfed them. He saw whole cities put to hybrids swords, babes and women alike speared clean through by their fiery retribution.
Then, at the very center of the chaos, flying high above it all ¨C he saw himself.
Dost thou desire life - everlasting?
He was an angel, now. Unafraid, unperturbed, and filled with strength that went beyond even the powers he had been given in his mortal life. He knew what the voice ¨C so angelic, and so caring ¨C was asking him. Would he give up his own mind, his own humanity, to succeed?
¡°¡yes.¡±
He said it with the stuttered whisper of a man who no longer believed in anything at all. And as those words escaped his lips, he knew he could never take them back.
From above, the hand of God stretched out its lithe, pale fingers to him.
Then take the hand offered to thou, child of Light, the voice said. And you shall become something greater.
He reached out as commanded. It felt good, here, not having to think.
To have the oblivion he desired. To let go¡
You were born weak, Artorious. But you shall be made worthy.You shall be my wing that shall herald the end.
He felt the arms of Kaedmon wrap themselves around him. Soft, like the feathered wings of an angel. He felt his limbs constrict, and his shoulder blades contort as new bones began to grow, and beneath his skin, his organs mutated. Artorious bent his neck, and closed his eyes, seeing visions of his ascendance as a true Lightborn.
He knelt as the incubation began, knowing ¨C feeling ¨C that something was happening inside him. Something that could now not be stopped.
Let the Archon fall. And let all of Argwyll feel my cleansing light.
He was becoming something¡greater.
82. Argwyll Awaits (Book 1 end)
Ethan sat on the edge of Sanctum¡¯s gateway, staring out at the world beyond. The surface stretched endlessly, a dark expanse framed by somber, wind-bent trees. The skies above churned, storm clouds stirring like uneasy memories. He was used to the sight of his underground city by now, the quiet and close-knit safety of its warm light. But here, the world lay open and raw, exposed to the elements and filled with dangers beyond measure. Somewhere out there, Jun¡¯Ei was waiting, her spirit calling to him even from the shadows of his memory.
He closed his eyes, picturing the castle where she was bound¡ªthe towering, obsidian walls cloaked in darkness, a place as still and silent as a grave. He¡¯d seen it clearly, each turret and stone etched into his mind as if it were a fragment of his own past. This world had secrets buried in every corner, and that castle held more than most. The thought of leaving Sanctum to face what lay ahead should have unsettled him. But somehow, as he stood there on the precipice of the unknown, he felt a quiet readiness.
A soft shuffle of scales against stone caught his attention. Ethan turned to see Lamphrey, the lizardwoman mage, standing at the edge of the gateway¡¯s shadows, her pale eyes glinting in the twilight. She moved with the silence of a shadow, her cloaked form blending into the dimness, her hands folded serenely before her.
¡°How does it feel?¡± she asked, her voice a smooth, curious murmur. ¡°To know that you¡¯ve accepted your role?¡±
Ethan narrowed his eye, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and caution. He¡¯d learned early on that Lamphrey wasn¡¯t someone to be taken at face value. Her knowledge and strange magic had been invaluable, but he sensed there was always a deeper game at play with her. ¡°I¡¯m ready for it,¡± he replied simply. ¡°More ready than I was. And I owe you one, by the way.¡± He nodded to her, his expression lightening just slightly. ¡°For the Memory Rune you gave me back at Klax¡¯s celebration.¡±
Lamphrey¡¯s scaled face tilted, her mouth curving into a faint, knowing smile. ¡°You seemed like the right candidate to bear it, my Lord.¡±
Ethan arched a thread brow, catching the subtlety of her words. ¡°Did you know Jun¡¯Ei would reach out through it?¡±
Lamphrey¡¯s gaze drifted over the dark landscape beyond Sanctum, her eyes reflecting the shadows. ¡°In the service of Lady Gyko, I was shown many spells that were¡unorthodox.¡± Her voice dropped, smooth and almost reverent. ¡°In my studies, I found the Archons to be an eternal mystery, each bound and twisted by forces far greater than themselves. Knowledge of those forces has its dangers, but it also has its uses.¡± She looked back at him, her gaze unwavering. ¡°I believe I will be of great use to you, Archon. If you will allow me to join your ranks.¡±
Ethan¡¯s eye met hers, his mind turning over her words. ¡°You want to come with us? Why?¡±
She let the question hang in the air, her silence an answer in itself. Instead of responding, she smiled.
¡°Perhaps it would be more fitting, Archon, to direct your attention to the upgrades this journey will soon demand of you.¡±
Ethan scoffed. ¡°Upgrades? I¡¯ve barely got a handful of Spirit Cores left after all that.¡± He was about to laugh when a small ding echoed in his mind, and a new notification appeared in his field of vision:
+3000 Spirit Cores Gained
Enemy: [Greycloak] CARLIAH ARGENT
Status: Slain
He blinked, absorbing the sudden and unexpected windfall.
So we got her, he murmured to himself. Or¡to be more precise, you got her, old Arty. You finally did the job Kaedmon made you for, huh.
He tore his thoughts away from those regarding his old foe and his gaze flicked back to Lamphrey, who watched him with a serene expression and the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. She met his questioning look with a slow, knowing blink, then lifted a finger to her scaled mouth.
¡°Some secrets,¡± she whispered, ¡°we mages must keep for ourselves, my Lord.¡±
Ethan¡¯s brow furrowed, but before he could press her further, he heard the familiar voices of his companions. Klax, Tara, and Fauna were approaching, each carrying supplies and gear for the journey ahead. Fauna¡¯s bag was laden with herbs and potions; Klax had bundles of bandages and provisions; and Tara held a small, gleaming item wrapped in cloth.
¡°Hey, you sitting up there all heroic-like?¡± Tara smirked as she reached him, brandishing the cloth-wrapped object with a flourish. ¡°Got something that¡¯s going to make you look even more legendary.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Unwrapping it with a dramatic flair, she held out a new Onixia blade, forged by Borlor himself after only a single night of toil in his forge with the blood of the Greycloak Commander. The weapon gleamed a brilliant shade of deep blue, its serrated edges catching the faint light of the surface sky. It looked fierce, as if it could slice through shadow and stone with equal ease. Ethan¡¯s eyes widened as he took it in, feeling the weight and power of the weapon even though he currently had no hands with which to hold it.
¡°Well, Archon?¡± Klax said, a gleam of pride in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯ll you name it?¡±
Ethan watched the way the light glinted along its edge. ¡°Why not¡ ¡®Greybane¡¯?¡±
A murmur of approval passed through the group, and Tara let out a small cheer, already imagining the tales she¡¯d spin about their adventures with Greybane leading the charge (embellishing a few details about the number of humans viciously slaughtered with the blade). Klax nodded approvingly, a rumbling laugh echoing from his chest, while Fauna¡¯s soft smile grew a touch wider.
Ethan appraised the blade, seeing it practically vibrate with power as Klax placed it reverently before him.
Object: [UNIQUE] longsword: GREYBANE [Onixia]
DMG: 150 x3 vs Enemy type: [Greycloak]
That¡yeah, that¡¯ll do it, he thought as his eyes traced the perfectly forged edges of the blade. Borlor, you¡¯re a mad genius.
¡°First order of business,¡± Tara sniggered as he stashed the blade away in his hatty bowels. ¡°We¡¯re gonna have to find you something with opposable thumbs to see ya use that thing. There¡¯s a whole damn world out there for us to play in, now. Can¡¯t be too hard to find an appropriate little beastie for our old Archon to work his magic.¡±
¡°You know our mission, Tara,¡± Klax reminded her. ¡°We find Jun¡¯Ei, we find the means to break Kaedmon¡¯s Law and free this place.¡±
¡°Then we make the surface ours again,¡± Tara smirked.
¡°Everyone¡¯s,¡± Fauna corrected.
¡°I know, I know,¡± the Minxit giggled. ¡°But who¡¯s to say we can¡¯t have just a little fun on the way?¡±
The party shared a collective sigh. Somehow, that girl hadn¡¯t changed a bit.
But Ethan had. And, though he was ready to move on, he still had just one doubt in his mind.
¡°You know, if¡ªwhen¡ªold Arty breaks out, he¡¯s gonna come for us, and for the rest of Sanctum,¡± Ethan told them. ¡°You guys sure you wanna come with me?¡±
They all blinked in unison, and even as the words left his hatty mouth, Ethan realized how dumb the question was.
¡°You serious?¡± Tara scoffed. ¡°Where the hell would you be without your posse of badass hybrids?¡±
¡°And who will be there to remind you that you¡¯re on the right path?¡± Fauna chimed in, a little sparkle of magical energy swirling as she winked.
¡°We¡¯re in this together, Ethan,¡± Klax nodded down at him. ¡°No matter what. Sanctum will hold strong until we return as its saviors. When we do come back, they will be coming up here with us.¡±
Ethan shared a chuckle with them. ¡°I¡¯d have it no other way. There¡¯s no party of crazy butt-kicking anthro-guys and gals that I¡¯d rather set the world on fire with.¡±
Lamphrey quickly gave a little cough beside him.
¡°Oh, and on that note¡ª¡±
With a graceful bow, Lamphrey stepped forward, and Ethan cleared his throat, addressing the group. ¡°Lamphrey here will be joining us from now on. Her skills in magic and knowledge could be exactly what we need for what¡¯s coming next.¡±
Klax nodded respectfully, his gaze acknowledging the lizardwoman with an approving glance. ¡°Welcome to the party, then. Just remember, we¡¯re the ragtag misfits, not the glamorous Greycloaks.¡±
Tara raised an eyebrow, her grin wry. ¡°Glad to have someone with a few more tricks up her sleeves. Could always use another wildcard.¡±
Fauna, however, regarded Lamphrey with a subtle wariness. Though she said nothing, the look she shared with the mage was one of quiet caution, as if sensing the layers of hidden secrets beneath Lamphrey¡¯s calm exterior. Still, she offered a small, polite nod, though her eyes remained thoughtful.
As the wind picked up, Ethan cast a final glance out at the looming nightscape of Argwyll. He felt the weight of Greybane in his inventory, a solid reminder of the battles that lay ahead, and the weight of the crown that now rested upon him as Archon.
He grinned at his companions, a spark of mischief and determination in his eye. ¡°Guess we¡¯re just getting started.¡±
He knew his old archfoe wouldn¡¯t stay trapped for long. The portals were closed. The Greycloak leader was dead. Their forces would probably be in disarray. But what happened if Jun¡¯Ei met with an untimely end before they got to her? What if the wardens of Griffon¡¯s Watch knew they were coming already? With her death, the portals would be back in action. And that would let the Lightborn just walk right back out to his freedom, and his vengeance.
Because next time they met, Ethan got the sense that it would be the last.
You worry too much, you know that?
Ethan couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Coming from you, that¡¯s rich.
This System¡I¡am built to worry for you, you know.
Focus on what you do best¡ªkilling and progressing. Let me handle the rest.
¡°Sys is right, y¡¯know,¡± Tara nudged as she hopped on a stone wall of Sanctum¡¯s ruined surface beside him. ¡°If you ain¡¯t learned to lean on others yet, you ain¡¯t been paying attention, Mr. Archon.¡±
Ethan looked at his companions as they crowded round him¡ªKlax, Fauna, Tara, and now Lamphrey¡ªand thought about how simple life could have been back home if he¡¯d realized sooner that all the solutions to his problems were right there in front of him the whole time. But then, you can¡¯t see something you don¡¯t know how to look for. The past was the past. Earth was gone, Argwyll was the here and now. He couldn¡¯t go back even if he wanted to. And, if he was given the choice, he¡¯d laugh right in the face of the dumb God who offered it.
So instead, he looked towards the horizon, seeing a few patches of clear blue emerge in the stormy bowels of the sky.
Before him, Argwyll was waiting.
83. An [Average] Day
Nestled in the heartland of Westerweald, just off the main road to the nation¡¯s capital city, lay the sleepy hamlet of Triant, which was currently waking up to the new bright light of day. Merchants were busily erecting stalls to ply their wares in the marketplace, washerwomen made ready to head down to the river Nelvin to begin the toils of their day, and children were happily avoiding their trek to school. It was, by all accounts, a completely unremarkable day.
Except for eight men who were currently on patrol duty. At least, that¡¯s what they called it.
Their names were not of import, nor were their careers of any particular renown. They awoke from their drunken naps at the village border, and resumed their watchful sentry down the dense forest the surrounded their cozy, if unremarkable, town. Their toll gate was sturdy, defensible, and had weathered the storms that battered the land these past few nights.
It was, by all accounts, a morning as unremarkable as any other.
And it was about to change.
¡°Another day, another hic! copper for the King¡¯s men, eh boys?¡±
This was said by the Captain, a man who¡¯s name his men barely even remembered. Mostly, they simply called him ¡®Boss¡¯.
¡°Damn right, Boss,¡± one of his guards said as he straightened up his greaves in the wake of the morning piss he had been taking against an old withered oak tree. ¡°Ain¡¯t nobody can mess with us.¡±
The crest on their armor bore the twin headed eagle of His Majesty, King Lysandus, who¡¯s family name still held weight round these parts, even if the King was currently out of commission.
At any rate, when the lads stopped some weary merchant on the road at their toll booth and told him or her to pay the King¡¯s newest toll, most of them listened up. It didn¡¯t matter to the men whether it was because of the King¡¯s crest or not.
All that mattered was that the cash kept flowing, and they even got to crack a few skulls every now and then.
One of them, however, had woken up on the wrong side of the tent this morning. He was a smaller man, jumpy, nervy, and the one most of the others assumed would rat them out if the old Greys ever sent some real muscle their way to clean up this cushy little operation they had going on.
¡°Guys¡I don¡¯t like this.¡±
The patrollers belched and laughed away the superstitions of their weakest member.
¡°Bah! Yer babbling again, Glen,¡± one brutish member of their brood croaked.
But little Glen was not cowed.
¡°I¡¯m serious! Don¡¯t you see those clouds? And¡and haven¡¯t you heard the rumors? You remember, don¡¯t you?¡±
Glen looked from one ¡®soldier¡¯ to the other, seeing that they probably didn¡¯t even remember what day it was right now.
¡°Come on, guys, that last trader we shookdow-er-I mean ¨C collected the toll from. The one babbling about how the Lightborn and the Greycloak Commander haven¡¯t been seen in weeks?¡±
¡°Oh right, yeah¡I remember,¡± their captain giggled as he supped on his morning beer. ¡°Old bastard was nuttier than a squirrel-girl¡¯s arsehole. Bled like a bitch, too.¡±
As the rest of the men joined their boss in chuckling away, young Glen gulped and shouldered his spear.
¡°I just¡don¡¯t you think they¡¯d have told us if the Archon was dead by now? What if the Four Pillars are right? What if the whole takeover of Lucent was just a power play by the Greys this whole time? What if¡what if the Lightborn really can¡¯t kill the demon this time?¡±
The men shifted uncomfortably.
¡°Now listen here, Glen,¡± the Boss said warily. ¡°Don¡¯t be spreading the name of the Four around. You know what they do ta those lying bastards.¡±
¡°B-but what if-¡°
¡°I¡¯m serious, ya little twerp,¡± the Boss interrupted, waggling a sausage-like finger in the direction of his errant bandit-boy. ¡°See, this is exactly what happens when ya start reading books. Ya start getting ideas in yer head. Dangerous, dumb ideas. Lemme make somethin¡¯ perfectly clear, lad: I don¡¯t give a Minxit¡¯s tiny tits if the Greys fucked over the King. Just so long as they don¡¯t mess up what we got goin¡¯ on here. Got it?¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
Glen nodded sheepishly; his eyes more focused on the hands of his fellows as they reached for their weapons than on the boss¡¯s words.
¡°Good,¡± the Boss said. ¡°Stick with me, kiddo, and you¡¯ll never go wrong. We¡¯ll be set to retire in four or five years time the way this hustle¡¯s going. And by that point, it won¡¯t matter what the world looks like.¡±
¡°Listen to the Bossman, Glen,¡± one of the other rogues agreed, a dumb smile plastered across his barely awakened face. ¡°Bossman¡¯s lived longer than all of us.¡±
¡°And I¡¯ll keep living,¡± the Boss chuckled. ¡°Y¡¯know why? Because I know my place in this world. I¡¯m a taker, and I take. That¡¯s what ol'' Kaedmon showed me I was since I was a baby living on the streets. He gave me the ¡®Rogue¡¯ class because that¡¯s what I¡¯m meant to be. That¡¯s what we¡¯re all meant to be. If we weren¡¯t, then how come no one¡¯s managed to stop us?¡±
Glen shifted against the logic of his commander. The boy had no answer against the invocation of a God¡¯s Law.
¡°Trust me, boys,¡± the Boss continued, ¡°we¡¯re gonna be eatin¡¯ good so long as Mr Kaedmon¡¯s in cha-¡°
The Boss¡¯s valiant speech was cut short by a sudden yet distinct sound of gargling to the left of their toll gate palisade. He turned, expecting to have to reprimand one of his boys for drinking on the job again, when he saw a soldier gaps, clutching his neck, before he fell prone before him.
¡°What the fu-¡°
A flash of air ¨C a thin line of sapphire shot through the sky and punctured the sword arm of another man. The patroller fell with a scream of pain, and his arm burned with unnatural light¡
¡°By Kaedmon¡¯s shiny ballocks! We¡¯re under attack! MEN! BATTLE STATIONS!¡±
The remaining soldiers formed up around their Boss as her charged forward, commanding them to keep their shields up as they advanced into the foliage beyond their base ¨C where a distinct sound of rustling leaves caught their attention.
¡°THERE!¡± he ordered his men. ¡°Fire a volley!¡±
The patrollers obeyed without question, leveling their muskets and pummeling the bushes with stray shots that ripped apart not only the grassland but the trees that surrounded them.
And then, all of a sudden, a dark mist spread forth from the forest.
Before any of the men could even cry out in horror, the mist descended on them and wrapped them in a blanket of nothingness. They blinked, they flexed their sword arms, they felt the shudder of the men beside them.
¡°Oh ¨C oh, oh shit oh shit oh shit¡¡± Glen kept muttering. ¡°It¡¯s¡it¡¯s here!¡±
¡°Shut the fuck up and let me think for a second!¡± the Boss commanded. ¡°Don¡¯t get your knickers in a twist. This is just some cheap conjurer¡¯s trick. Me pappy knew basic magic like this. Keep yer sword up, and don¡¯t get spooked!¡±
Glen would have obeyed ¨C he wanted to, really.
But the sudden appearance of his mother¡¯s corpse, shambling towards him like she¡¯d risen from the grave he¡¯d put her in five years ago, had his full attention.
¡°M-ma!¡± he yelped, letting his arquebus fall. ¡°Holy shit! M-ma!¡±
The rest of the men looked similarly bemused. All except the Boss were currently shuddering with such intensity that they were about to lose control of their bodily functions.
¡°B-b-boss¡¡± one man said, slowly beginning to back away. ¡°This¡this is bad. This is¡evil. Evil is what it is!¡±
The sounds of the chirping birds were gone, replaced by nothing but an eerie silence that seemed to stretch across the earth.
And then, out of the corner of the Boss¡¯s eye, something moved.
¡°There¡¡± he whispered. ¡°Now I¡¯ve got you!¡±
He charged forward and struck at the moving shadow in the undergrowth. But instead of striking anything in particular, he felt a gust of air lift him, and the rest of his men, off their feet, propelling them right into the wall of their palisade and shattering it to pieces.
Then came another sound ¨C that of a dragon letting loose its most bestial, powerful roar. It was so potent that the men covered their ears as they groveled before the force that was arrayed against them. The roar continued, drowning out their own screams, until they felt their armor come apart piece by piece, shredded into iron fragments that tumbled down uselessly to the darkened ground beneath them.
By this point, the men couldn¡¯t even run. Two of them were wounded, one of them was traumatized for life, and the rest were simply sitting, open-mouthed and paralyzed with fear. They said as many prayers to Kaedmon as they could.
¡°B-Boss¡¡± one man mumbled through tears. ¡°What do we do?!¡±
The Boss gulped down his hesitancy, looking down at his now naked body and wishing he¡¯d have elected to put on pants today.
Before he could even get a word out, Glen shrieked like a siren beside him.
¡°Look!¡± he yelped. ¡°There¡it¡it¡.it¡¯s Him!¡±
A shadow-wreathed figure emerged from out of the fog. At first, it was just a single creature marching up to the fallen bandits with the carefree air of a child taking an evening stroll towards home. But he was followed by four other shadows ¨C ones far more immediately identifiable: hybrids. A cat, a bunny, a wolf and a lizard. All of them walking right up to the busted palisade wall and its occupants like they were nothing but pebbles on their path.
And that¡¯s when it clicked with them men.
That¡¯s when they knew who was leading the pack.
He emerged before them with a smile ¨C the smiling face of a Salamandrike, a creature native of this part of the country. It was essentially a bipedal salamander roughly the size of an eight-year-old boy, bug eyed and slippery as hell. Once, it had been a local pastime to go Salamandrike hunting during the summer season. But most people thought the little critters were all dead during the winter.
Although, that wasn¡¯t exactly the most surprising thing about this encounter.
What was more pressing, and what really caused the Boss of the Unofficial Triant Toll gate¡¯s voice to finally catch in his throat this morning, was the little pointed hat sitting on top of the creature¡¯s head.
And the voice that, he could have sworn, came out of the thing¡¯s smiling mouth:
¡°Sorry about your wall,¡± it said. ¡°We¡¯ll be just passing through.¡±
84. [Curiosity] kills the [Hat]
A small bonfire warmed Ethan¡¯s webbed fingers as he sat in the middle of the Triant forest.
Beside him, his companions were settling in for the night. They¡¯d been traveling for three days straight that this point and, now that the moans of their captured bandits had finally ceased, were finally able to catch some shut eye.
¡°Gotta say,¡± Tara quipped. ¡°That fog thing was pretty sweet.¡±
Ethan winked at her with his bulbous eyes ¨C those of the Salamandrike who he was currently piloting.
¡°Even a demon hat has to have a little fun every now and then.¡±
¡°I¡¯m just hoping it didn¡¯t alert some of the villagers,¡± Fauna whispered beside him, stifling a yawn as she laid down her staff to get some much needed shut-eye.
Her ears twitched as they drooped down her back. But her whiskers were still twitching against their campfire. Ever since they¡¯d set off for Griffon¡¯s Watch, she¡¯d been a little more on edge than usual.
But Ethan allowed himself to focus on his own mind, for once. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of their little makeshift hearth, listening as Klax eagerly dished out some of the bandit¡¯s equipment to the party.
¡°As per Lord Ethan¡¯s instructions,¡± the wolfman was saying. ¡°Tara ¨C you get the fat one¡¯s blunderbuss. Ethan¡¯s going to take the arquebus the young one was carrying. And Lamphrey ¨C can you do what¡well, whatever it is you do¡¡±
The eyes of the Minxit and Lycae shifted to the newest member of their party ¨C the lizardwoman Lamphrey, who had the slightly disconcerting habit of sleeping with her snake eyes fully open.
¡°Ah, yes,¡± she hissed. ¡°It is the proper hour for Dreamwalking, after all. If the Archon will permit me..?¡±
Klax gave a slightly indignant huff. During the past few weeks of traveling, the lizard-mage had another habit that sometimes got under the wolfman¡¯s skin: she¡¯d look to Ethan before she executed any orders.
Which made sense ¨C he truly felt the mantle of leadership thrust on to his hatty form now. Still, maybe there was a lingering sense of frustration in the old wolfman still¡
¡°Knock yourself out,¡± Ethan said. ¡°Just don¡¯t chase their nightmares over to our side of the camp, alright?¡±
Lamphrey bowed, her forged tongue slithering out her mouth in a partial laugh before she rose and wandered over to her victims.
Ethan kept his eyes away from her and her art. She was a useful new member of the team for sure, but it didn¡¯t make the particular brand of magic she practiced any less¡disconcerting. Even Fauna shuddered when she went into one of her ¡®trances¡¯.
It was called ¡®Oneiromancy¡¯ - ¡®Dream magic¡¯. As the name implied, it involved creeping into the minds of others and sorting through their subconsciousness. It had far more practical uses than Ethan had initially thought ¨C Lamphrey had managed to find secret routes through the forests that bypassed Greycloak patrols around the Ashfall mountains by looking into the minds of captured warriors they managed to fell on the King¡¯s road. With her help, they¡¯d managed to sneak into the coastal region of Westerweald without much trouble. And now, here they were, at one of the last hamlets before the lush forests of Grenbelm met Argwyll¡¯s Western shore, and the island in the middle of the ocean where the great prison stood.
Tara yawned loudly as she arched her back, licked her front paw, and curled up on her blanket as the night droned on.
¡°Dunno why¡we didn¡¯t just kill those guys¡¡± she murmured.
¡°Tara,¡± Fauna whispered, ¡°you never understand why we don¡¯t just kill people¡¡±
¡°The Archon¡¯s word is sacred, Tara,¡± Klax said as he began to dose off. ¡°They were designated ¡®Noobs¡¯ by him, and thus, they were not truly worth slaying.¡±
You really had to teach them your funny little earth words, didn¡¯t you?
Ethan grinned wryly as Sys chimed in, loud enough for everyone to hear him. Ever since, Sanctum, he¡¯d been unusually chatty. The team had taken to him as their fifth member ¨C even if he was a voice in their leader¡¯s head.
¡°Well, since Fauna took so well to the ancient bardic tradition of Lord Astley, I figured I might as well introduce some more earth culture around here.¡±
The party sat around the camp chatting about such trivial things for a while. It felt nice to have some respite from their quest. Ever since they¡¯d set out from Sanctum three weeks ago, it felt like they¡¯d had nothing to do but march, fight, sneak and sleep whenever they could.
If I¡¯d have just possessed a flying creature by now¡Ethan thought. Argwyll¡¯s skies were suspiciously empty.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
I know what you¡¯re thinking, Ethan. But the last of the dragons were slain some time ago by ¨C you guessed it ¨C our good friends the Greycloaks.
Ethan balked, his thick Salamandrike hips filling his every movement with unbridled sass. The question of dragons in Argwyll was something that¡¯d been eating away at him ever since he considered what his next new possession would be.
All of them? Come on Sys ¨C how¡¯d you know one or two of ¡®em didn¡¯t hide away somewhere? The stories we have on earth speak of dragons as the most intelligent and ancient of all species around in any fantasy realm.
I¡suppose anything¡¯s possible. After what we¡¯ve been through, I don¡¯t think I can be certain of anything anymore.
Though I must once again tell you: this is not some run of the mill fantasy world from the obnoxious little books you¡¯re used to. The rules here are different.
Ethan looked down at his lithe, slippery body and scoffed. That¡¯s for sure¡
He had to admit ¨C he missed Valgraiva¡¯s awesome strength. But even this little critter had its charms. For one thing, it gave him the element of surprise. No one was expecting a tiny Salamandrike to boast the kind of stats he had:
[Current Host: Salamandrike {Grass}]
LVL: 55
HP: 250/250
MP: 30/30
WILL: 120/120
STR: 45
PER: 50
SPD: 80
CHA: 15
Speed was the little critter¡¯s forte ¨C and it even came with a [Skitter] skill that he¡¯d upgraded to give him a boost in running speed when he needed it.
[Skitter]
Grade: C
You summon forth a burst of speed that carries you out of harm¡¯s way for a maximum of 15 minutes
SPD increase: +100
[Tactical Withdrawal] unlocked: [Skitter] produces a cloud of dust that {BLINDS} enemies for 20 seconds
Spirit Core Cost to upgrade: 550
A nice little addition to his arsenal for emergencies. He was betting there was a [Mass Skitter] option in his future, and with that they¡¯d make it to the prison in no time. After all, he knew time was of the essence. Old Arty wouldn¡¯t be trapped forever. Not him.
But when he came for them this time, Ethan would be more than ready.
He looked down at the fiery Onixia blade in his slimy hand, watching the embers of the campfire dance along its serrated edge.
Object: [UNIQUE] Longsword: Greybane
DMG: 150 x3 vs enemy type: [Greycloak]
It was a vicious weapon to behold ¨C what Lamphrey had called a ¡®cosmos-changing thing¡¯ and a weapon that suited an Archon who was born to kill a God. It was his trump card. His main advantage over all the Archons who had come before. Thinking about the ease with which he¡¯d dispatched all those in his path the last few weeks, he couldn¡¯t help but think that the old trials of the Delves were now long behind him. The surface world of Argwyll didn¡¯t know what had hit it.
And he was only getting stronger. A quick twist of the blade in his hand revealed another little trick he¡¯d recently learned:
Greybane [SPECIAL] property added: (Fade Slice)
A weapon with this property can attack creatures through solid surfaces.
A neat little side effect of his recently upgraded Transmogrification Core Skill was that he could now transfer the special properties of weapons he found onto others. Without any hesitation he¡¯d managed to combine the true power of the Moonlight Katana with his new blade to make something even more powerful ¨C the sword basically doubled as a sci-fi railgun now. Especially when coupled with his newest upgrade to his Spectral Snipe:
Spectral Snipe (Grade B)
Special Synergy unlocked: GUERRILLA
When combining [Hide] with [Spectral Snipe] your first shot is an automatic headshot.
Spirit Core Cost to upgrade: 1500
The cost for both these upgrades had been a staggering 1000 Spirit Cores a piece, but they¡¯d more than made up for the steep price. After all, Carliah ¨C that insane Commander of the Greys ¨C had netted him a cool 3000 thanks to Arty finishing her off. He had the spirit cash to blow, and he wasn¡¯t just stopping there.
As he¡¯d just tested on those hapless ¡®patrolmen¡¯, his newest upgrade to Roar was shaping up rather nicely:
Roar (Grade B)
[SHATTER] property unlocked
Roar now {Shatters} any armor of {Phys} Protection <50
Spirit Core Cost to upgrade: 750
This upgrade had cost him 500 smackers, leaving him with 500 cores leftover from Carliah and at least 700 more he¡¯d gathered over the last few weeks. These forests didn¡¯t exactly hold much opportunity for grinding anymore. And time was of the essence.
So now here he sat, hybrid helpers with him, at the very height of his powers, staring down at the first human hamlet he¡¯d ever seen in all the time he¡¯d been here.
And something was beginning to take hold of him. Something that had nothing to do with power at all.
While the rest of the party was snoozing, and Lamphrey was doing¡whatever she liked to do to their prisoners, Ethan was staring at the sleepy little hamlet beyond the treeline.
He could see them ¨C the enemy. Humans packing up their things and heading home for the evening. Kids skipping around and dragging their parents into the little market square where, if the senses of a demon hat could be believed, the sounds of a band were starting to rise into the night.
He watched them, suddenly fascinated by the banal goings-on of the town. And before he knew it, he found himself edging towards the edge of the forest.
Ethan, Sys warned. I understand the curiosity in you right now. But we all know what the humans of this world are like. We¡¯ve all seen them, time and time again.
Ethan pondered this for a moment, listening more to his body than his head.
Sure, they¡¯d seen what the Greycloaks could do. They¡¯d seen how the humans enslaved the hybrids of this world, and spat on them as though they were little more than dirt to be trod upon. They¡¯d seen all of that, and more ¨C Tara, Klax, Fauna and probably Lamphrey had all seen what the humans of this world were truly capable of.
But this was just some backwater village on the edge of the world. A tiny town with barely even a guard tower to ward off enemies. He¡¯d never seen one before. He¡¯d never seen it ¨C because he wasn¡¯t supposed to.
Well, screw that.
Ethan¡
Don¡¯t sweat it, Sys, he grinned as he snuck away from the camp. This is the perfect opportunity to test out a new little upgrade of mine¡
85. The [Skylamp] Night
He finished up, gave her a good-hearted slap, and then carried his buckets of milk towards his meager home on his ranch.
There, he allowed himself a hearty stretch as he knew his working day was over. His life was tough, but good. A level 45 [Farmer] made a decent, honest living in these parts. He¡¯d never be rich. He¡¯d never own a castle. He¡¯d never have stories of adventuring through the wilderness and slaying demons. He lived the life Lord Kaedmon picked for him. There was honor in that ¨C living a good, predictable, peace-loving existence.
¡°Hiya!¡±
As Jory was about to hang up his straw hat for the evening and get some well-deserved rest, he turned, froze, and stared blankly at the Salamandrike that had just entered his home wearing a creased little wizard¡¯s hat on its head.
¡°I need your clothes,¡± it said. ¡°And¡your body.¡±
***
Ethan adjusted the coarse, itchy tunic and straw hat of his new farmer form. The Mimic skill really was a game changer, as it turned out:
Mimic (Grade D)
Duration {upgrade}: 2 hours
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade: 1600
To anyone in this village of Triant, he was now just another familiar face.
Strolling down the cobbled path that wound into the heart of the village, he found himself surrounded by a world he hadn¡¯t really ever seen. This was Argwyll¡¯s world beyond the battlegrounds, removed from the dark towers, barren caves, and blood-soaked Delves in the depths of the earth he had grown accustomed to. Here, in this humble village, it all felt so genuine. It felt like ¨C well ¨C home.
A mother bustled her children along the narrow alleyways, laughing as they clambered over her legs and shoulders, begging for another story. Glimpses through the windows revealed families gathering around warm fires, children tucked into cozy blankets with pets nestled beside them. The air was filled with soft laughter, low conversations, and the crackling of firewood.
In the center of the village square, Ethan saw even more activity. The square was bustling with people, with brightly decorated stalls selling all manner of treats¡ªhoneycakes, roasted nuts, candied fruits. Children darted from one stall to the next, pockets bulging with goodies, their faces smeared with sticky sweets. Lanterns, painted in vibrant hues, hung from awnings and doorways, each bearing unique, colorful patterns. The square glowed in a palette of blues, reds, greens, and golds, a patchwork of color that flickered as lanterns swayed in the breeze.
"Hello, mister Jory!¡± A little boy and girl dashed up to him, both with sticky fingers clutching sweet breads wrapped in colorful paper.
¡°Hello there,¡± he replied, awkwardly adjusting his fake farmer¡¯s grin. It was strange to speak to humans this way without tension hanging in the air like a storm.
The children giggled, waving and calling out, ¡°Happy Skylamp Night!¡± before darting away, chased by their parents. Ethan watched them go, feeling a tug he hadn¡¯t expected. For the first time since he¡¯d arrived in this world, humans didn¡¯t look at him with suspicion, or fear, or hatred. They waved at him with warmth, without a trace of malice in their eyes.
He stepped further into the square, listening to the villagers chattering around him. From their excited voices, he began to piece together what this night was about. The village was celebrating something called Skylamp Night, an annual festival of sorts, where people gathered to release lanterns into the sky as a symbol of hope and unity.
¡°Here, take one!¡± An older woman with wrinkled hands and a broad smile handed him a sweetbread wrapped in blue cloth. ¡°Can¡¯t be a part of Skylamp Night with an empty stomach!¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± he mumbled, nodding politely as he took a tentative bite of the honeyed bread. The sweetness filled his mouth, oddly comforting, a reminder of simpler times he¡¯d nearly forgotten.
Finally, the town¡¯s mayor¡ªa tall, barrel-chested man with a voice that carried like thunder¡ªstepped into the center of the square and raised his hands, calling for silence. The crowd grew quiet, all eyes on him.
¡°People of Triant!¡± he boomed, his voice full of the joy and pride of the moment. ¡°Tonight, we send our lights to the heavens! May they ward off the darkness, may they remind the world of the strength in our unity, and may they show those who would threaten us that we stand together!¡±The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
A cheer rose from the crowd, and with a synchronized sweep of hands, everyone in the square lifted their lanterns, each one painted in unique colors, glowing brightly. The people of Triant let them go, releasing them with soft whispers and hopes. The lanterns began to drift upwards, a constellation of colors floating toward the stars, illuminating the faces of the villagers below, who watched with wide eyes and proud smiles. Even Ethan couldn¡¯t help but gaze upward, mesmerized.
But just as the lanterns reached the highest point in the sky, something changed.
A flicker of deep red spread across the floating lights, as though an invisible force had lit them all aflame. One by one, they exploded, not with a mere spark but with a blaze, releasing fiery trails that coiled and twisted through the air. The lines of light formed a massive, writhing serpent in the sky, coiling upon itself in an angry red glow.
Ethan felt the blood drain from his face. The fiery snake reformed, limbs and eyes taking shape within the inferno, until the image was unmistakable¡ªit was him, the Demon Hat, his monstrous form stretching across the night, gazing down upon the village.
The crowd gasped in horror, their cheers turning to shouts and jeers.
¡°Down with the Demon Hat!¡± someone shouted.
¡°Death to the Archon!¡± another voice yelled, seething with rage. The crowd began to roar in hatred, their faces twisted with disdain, their joyous expressions replaced with loathing.
Ethan felt his chest tighten as he watched their transformation. Just moments ago, these people had been celebrating, their hearts filled with kindness, their faces radiant with joy. Now, their faces were filled with contempt, their voices thick with hatred. The sight was chilling, unsettling.
Mothers, children, elders, invalids ¨C all of them suddenly had a mask of hatred draped over their features that twisted them, turned them monstrous. It was like a spell had been placed on them.
And maybe that¡¯s exactly what was happening. Maybe that¡¯s exactly what had been happening for centuries.
At the edge of the square, the mayor stepped forward, holding a single, large lantern painted a brilliant, cerulean blue. He raised it high, speaking words that the crowd listened to in reverent silence.
¡°This is the Lightborn¡¯s promise,¡± he announced, his voice thick with pride. ¡°The one who will banish the dark shadow. Let this final light carry our hopes and cleanse the heavens!¡±
You guys have no fucking idea¡Ethan thought.
The mayor released the blue lantern, and it floated up, a lone beacon against the fiery visage of the Archon. The blue light ascended, growing brighter as it climbed, piercing through the shadowed image of the Demon Hat. Then, with a burst of brilliant radiance, it exploded, scattering shards of blue fire across the sky.
When the light finally faded, Ethan saw what the flames had left behind¡ªa massive image of an angelic figure, wings stretched wide, with a blazing longsword held aloft. Its gaze was fierce, unyielding, filled with purpose. The crowd erupted into cheers, their faces filled with triumph and devotion.
Ethan stared at the angelic figure, at the radiant face of his enemy, a face that symbolized everything this world wanted him to bow to, to submit to. He felt a gnawing anger rise in his chest, but alongside it, a hollow ache, as though he¡¯d seen the truth in a way he hadn¡¯t wanted to admit. The cheers around him were deafening, unifying, everyone bonded by their loathing for the one true enemy they had all sworn to fight¡ªhim.
He turned, his shoulders slumping, and slipped out of the square, leaving behind the fiery image of the angel and the hatred it had summoned in the hearts of Triant¡¯s people.
The cheers echoed after him as he slipped back into the shadows of the forest, leaving the town and its hateful glares behind. It felt as though a weight had settled in his gut, dragging him down with each step. This was the reality of Argwyll¡¯s ¡°normal¡± world. This was the face of the world that the hybrids, the Greycloaks, and every creature here had grown up with. A world where hatred, fear, and subjugation had become the unifying forces, guiding principles that bound everyone under Kaedmon¡¯s rule.
His vision blurred for a moment, the faces of the villagers searing themselves into his mind¡ªthe mothers, the fathers, the children. All of them, bound together in hatred for him, the demon they¡¯d been told he was.
The ache in his chest grew heavier, and he barely noticed as he shifted back to his Salamandrike form, the weight of his disguise slipping away with each step back toward the camp. The familiar outline of his companions'' tents soon came into view, their silhouettes resting peacefully beneath the starlit sky.
He paused just before entering the campsite, glancing back one last time at the village, its lights still glowing faintly through the trees.
This world wasn¡¯t made for him or for those like him, and every step forward in this twisted land was another reminder of that truth. This wasn¡¯t his world, and perhaps it never would be. But for those who had followed him, those who had taken up this mad fight by his side, he would keep going.
After all, he was going to rewrite Kaedmon''s Law, right? He could do whatever he wanted. All it would take would be to find Jun''Ei and learn the secret. Then, well, they''d take Kaedmon down, and the humans would believe whatever he wanted them to believe.
"And what shall you tell them?" a hoarse voice suddenly asked.
Ethan turned as the rugged form of Jory the farmer finally fizzled away, and he looked upon Lamphrey the Oneiromancer with his own eyes. He hadn¡¯t even noticed that he¡¯d been speaking aloud.
¡°Forgive me, sire,¡± she said with a stiff curtsy, ¡°but it is my job to observe the Archons.¡±
¡°Even without their consent?¡±
¡°Curiosity,¡± the lizard-mage replied. ¡°It ¨C how do you say? Is the destroyer of cats?¡±
Ethen shrugged off her idiom. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you wanna tell me that I¡¯m a fool for heading into that village and expecting to see anything different to what I just saw, huh?¡±
To his surprise, Lamphrey shook her scaled head. She seemed, herself, rather shocked by the question¡¯s implication.
¡°I would never presume to reprimand the Archon. Your word ¨C and the words of your past incarnations ¨C is sacred to my kind.¡±
Ethan cocked a furry eyebrow, his question clear without the need to voice it.
¡°I seek to learn, Archon Ethan,¡± she said with a little shrug. ¡°And I would know, if you will permit me to know, the answer to this question: what will you do when you ascend Kaedmon¡¯s throne? What will you do with humans like those down there?¡±
Ethan breathed deep the stale night air ¨C still charged with the smoke of Triant¡¯s grisly fireworks.
He wished he had a good answer. But, as usual, he was just gonna flap his gums and see what came out.
86. [Decision]
Ethan pulled up a dead stump of tree just beyond his camp as he pondered Lamphrey¡¯s question.
What will I do when Kaedmon¡¯s Law is broken?
If he was being honest, he hadn¡¯t really thought about it.
So, staring at the still awestruck villagers below their camp, he told the waiting lizardwoman the truth:
¡°Make them ¨C all of them - see that harmony¡¯s not impossible.¡±
¡°Coexistence, then?¡± Lamphrey pondered aloud. ¡°Sire, is that not na?ve?¡±
He glanced over at her with as intimidating a glare as a bipedal salamander wearing a wizard¡¯s hat could have.
¡°Forgive me, Sire,¡± she said with a bow. ¡°My people are long-suffering, as are the rest of those who live under Sanctum. At times, my own prejudices come through.¡±
Ethan breathed a small sigh as he watched her crouch, placing her simple oaken staff before her. She watched the humans with him, but through very different eyes.
¡°What do you think, then?¡± Ethan asked her suddenly, his mind preoccupied with the memory of the burning, flaring hatred he perceived in every villager¡¯s eyes as their festival reached its crescendo. ¡°If you were me, how would you re-write Kaedmon¡¯s Law?¡±
She spoke without turning to face him. It seemed, right now, that the old lizard¡¯s eyes were not trained on the village below, but on the horizon that stretched beyond it. To their destination. To the oceans of Argwyll. And possibly to realms beyond.
¡°Take my words as you wish, Archon Ethan,¡± she said. ¡°They are the words of a woman who is well past her prime. Words of regret, mixed with deep sorrow. I am old enough to remember those who came before you. We Tialax have the longest lifespans of any Argwyllian race ¨C second only to the dragons whose scales were burned to cinders long ago.¡±
Ethan watched her grip at her own scaled arms. He assumed that her kind had some sort of reverence for the dragons in Argwylian history. Perhaps she descended from a line of dragon priestesses or something.
Then it hit him. Something that was so obvious.
¡°You served Gyko, didn¡¯t you?¡± he asked her. ¡°And I¡¯m betting you served the Archon before her, too.¡±
She looked at him now, eyes filled with pride that defied her advanced age.
¡°I served them all, my Archon,¡± she said. ¡°I was there at the beginning. And I shall be here till the End.¡±
He blinked, and tried his best to lower the temperature of the conversation. ¡°Hopefully, that¡¯s a long way away yet. I¡¯m looking to change the world, not break it into pieces.¡±
She looked at him for what seemed like a very long time.
¡°It is your right,¡± she shrugged. ¡°I am merely a Dreamwalker who offers guidance to those who feel lost. And I sense that perhaps you feel this way right now, Sire.¡±
Ethan recoiled. This gal was acting like his bloody councilor all of a sudden.
But, then again¡was that really such a bad thing? He¡¯d been like the therapist for his hybrid buds on more than a few occasions.
Sys, he asked. Is what she¡¯s saying true?
I don¡¯t remember her.
But then, every Archon¡¯s System is newly reinstated upon installation and awakening. Almost like Kaedmon feels you would have too much of an advantage if I could communicate how your past incarnations failed.
Instead, all I have are the feelings, Ethan. The emotional turmoil of failure without knowing how it can be avoided.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
¡°Your System speaks true,¡± Lamphrey confirmed. ¡°In the first Age of Karfangg, my Sisters were the first of Argwyll to pronounce the divinity of our Lord, and recognize him as Archon.¡±
¡°Oh yeah. Karfanng was a dragon, right?¡±
¡°First of his kind,¡± Lamphrey sighed. ¡°And the last.¡±
Both of them looked out as the life of Triant faded away. Children were tucked into bed, clutching their favorite toys and the memories of the festival. Everyone seemed to sleep softly. Except the two monsters looking on.
¡°Hate is difficult, yes?¡± Lamphrey said. ¡°It made the humans powerful, and it now makes us powerful. But it is a bad cycle, is it not?¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡±
Lamphrey held up her hands, gesturing as she spoke. ¡°Force answers force. War breeds war. Death creates more death. It is a cycle that seems inescapable. And at its head are Archon and Lightborn.¡±
The lizardwoman spoke as though she¡¯d entered a trance. Her eyes closed over, her head lolled to the side, and her tongue slathered over her slitted mouth.
And despite how¡bizarre this all was. Ethan couldn¡¯t help but listen.
¡°Like two spokes on a wheel¡¡± she said. ¡°One rises, the other falls, and on and on and on it goes while everyone is crushed underneath. It is a divine miracle that the world still remains. But perhaps the times are suddenly changing.¡±
She turned, still in her state of blindness, and ran her fingers down the veil that covered her face.
¡°You are not a being of hate,¡± she said. ¡°You walk among the humans and you feel¡sorrow for them. Not anger. You are not like the cat, who is all fur and fury. Nor like the Hopla, who fights to protect her home. Nor are you like the stoic wolf, who fights to avenge his loved one. No. You fight in a different way. You fight, but you do not turn your enemy into something Other than your Self. You do not turn them into a shadow upon the wall¡a monster to scare children¡and to teach them to be afraid. To hate. And to worship that detestable shadow like a God.¡±
Her eyes then jerked open. She had abruptly been freed from the spell she was under.
And Ethan was looking right at her.
¡°I apologize, Sire,¡± she said. ¡°At times, the spirit takes me.¡±
Ethan blinked. All that was¡a lot to digest.
¡°¡you never answered my question,¡± he said. ¡°What would you replace Kaedmon¡¯s Law is? How would you stop the Cycle?¡±
She licked her lips, eyes darting to the sleeping hybrids and back.
¡°The world could be yours, Sire,¡± she said. ¡°You would be fit to rule it. Not only that, but you would have the right.¡±
Ethan slumped back on the stump. He almost surprised himself with the fact that he¡¯d never really considered that.
Setting myself up as a God, eh? he thought. Is that why you came with us?
I have to admit¡it does sound tempting. Immortality must be nice.
Ethan thought about it. He thought about having every mind in the world under his thumb. Having complete control, this time. A new start, with his every thought and word becoming enshrined as a universal standard.
But then his eyes flashed to his sleeping comrades, and the humans in their village, and lizardwoman bent before him, trying to read his thoughts.
¡°You can do it, Sire,¡± she said. ¡°Only you. The path has been paved. When the Prophet Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s secrets have been learned, this entire world will be within your grasp. You need only reach out and take it.¡±
Ethan let a small puff of air escape his Host¡¯s throat.
¡°And that would solve everything, huh? Hate? War? Death? All those problems would just go away so long as the right person¡¯s in charge?¡±
¡°Where there is difference, there is hate, Sire. That is a law older even than Kaedmon¡¯s.¡±
Maybe there was some truth in that. Everything the ancient snake said had the ring of certainty to it. It was like her every word and phrase, every movement of her scaly limbs, had been practiced meticulously throughout time.
So, when he looked right at her and said, ¡°you¡¯re wrong,¡± he couldn¡¯t even give a valid reason.
¡°It¡¯s an interesting theory,¡± he explained. ¡°Hell, I saw so much shit in my own world that I stopped watching the news at a certain point. Stopped keeping up with current events. Spent most of my time escaping into other worlds. Makes sense ¨C doesn¡¯t it? Thing is, at a certain point, you always gotta come back. And if you¡¯ve done nothing to help sort out some of the problems in the world, you can¡¯t exactly blame it for being a shitty place. At that point, it¡¯s kinda on you.¡±
He stood up suddenly to stretch his limbs, silhouetted against Argwyll¡¯s pale moonlit sky. Now the fires had faded. The Skylamps were gone. The stars were out, and so even in darkness there was light.
And in this light, Ethan saw Lamphrey¡¯s snake-like pupils dilate.
¡°Heh, got me all philosophical,¡± he laughed. ¡°Guess that¡¯s just what happens at 2am when two friends are camped out under the stars.¡±
Lamphrey bowed again.
¡°I merely propose my guidance to you of course, Sire,¡± she said. ¡°Your decisions are entirely your own.¡±
She took her leave then, not bothering to dust the stray grass off her robe. Ethan looked after her, wondering exactly why she¡¯d chosen to join them when she did. Had she been biding her time, perhaps? Had she been waiting for something?
¡°Lamphrey!¡± he shouted after her. ¡°It¡¯s not so hopeless for us! Stick with me, and I¡¯ll show you.¡±
He saw the snake-woman turn and nod, a smiling spread across her face.
But what he did not hear was the reply she whispered back beneath her shadowed veil:
¡°You have not seen what true hatred is, Ethan Hawke,¡± she said. ¡°But you will see, and you will learn. The world will be your teacher.¡±
87. Something [Wicked] this way comes...
---Griffon¡¯s Watch---
They say that, if you love what you do, you¡¯ll never work a day in your life.
For Doctor Haylock, work was a labor of love.
He stared down at the thrashing animal that had been brought to his private wing of the prison dungeons and licked his pale lips at the beauty of the specimen. She was a Hopla girl of approximately 16 years, her body young, supple, and still full of life as she sat on the medical slab, while Haylock¡¯s flesh puppets clumsily swayed back the way they¡¯d come.
He allowed the little ball of fluff a few moments of thrashing and screaming before he held up his hands, extended his fingers, and muttered a soft, gentle incantation.
And instantly the girl¡¯s body lay still.
Her limbs, now quietened, had gone stiff as stone. Her twitching nose stopped, her teeth were silenced. Every part of her except her darling little ruby eyes was now at his mercy.
He liked to let them watch as he worked on their bodies.
His trade was a lucrative one. Around him, the fruits of his labor sat in silence ¨C monsters and hybrids interred in vats or jars, some of them split open for parts or simply to satisfy his scientific curiosity. His mind was a purely scientific one, after all, and the Greycloaks had been most accommodating to his skills.
He still remembered when good, noble Carliah Argent had come to him demanding that he study their fallen enemies. This prison had once been his home ¨C the ancestral resting place of a long line of medical professionals. Above his desk, set with his tools, hung a portrait of his mother, Lady Volumnia Spex ¨C the greatest Alchemist in all of Argwyll.
She¡¯d be proud of her son carrying on her legacy.
The world was full of such wondrous diversity that he had never once found himself unemployed. Especially when these Archons came along. He¡¯d only ever heard about one of them ¨C far before his time, of course ¨C but she sounded like a real beauty. Nothing like this preposterous little hat that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Still, there was some hope in his heart. The local monster populations had indeed grown rather more adventurous lately, and with the new Greycloak order installed in Lucent, he was blissfully free of any¡annoying public interventions in his work. He would be sad to see the Lightborn¡¯s victory over the newbie. As he understood it, they had it and its hybrid friends cornered in some Godforsaken Delve.
A pity. But, he had plenty to keep him occupied. He even had the good King Lysandus as his personal little toy. Fate did have a sense of humor, it seemed.
As he stretched his limbs and adjusted his monocle to get a better look at his newest specimen, he heard the sudden creaking of the dungeon door behind him. A rattling of chains accompanied the sound, and by the heavy thuds his approaching servant made on the blood-drenched floor, he knew this interruption must be an important one. The servants knew how he detested being bothered while he went about his work.
¡°Mhm?¡± he muttered, reaching for the Hopla¡¯sthroat and feeling the blood bubbling in her veins.
The creature behind him ¨C a thing composed of perfectly preserved corpses ¨C opened one of the four mouths stitched onto its chest to breathe in a whiff of dank air before it began to compose speech. As it was, it could not clearly be identified as belonging to any genus of monster or human at all. It was a being that defied identification. A being whose biodiversity was matched only by its ferocity. Its six muscular limbs stuttered as it came to a halt, each one bearing a different Adamantine weapon grafted onto the stump at its end. The legs were an amalgamation of festering toes and soles ¨C they resembled a slop of sludge dragging itself across the floor than anything that served the animals of Argwyll as a method of motion.
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Perfect in its depravity, and unrivaled in its hostility, Thaddeus the Flesh Golem stood before the Doctor and flapped its gumless mouth:
¡°He - comes,¡± it said simply.
The Doctor waited. He¡¯d learned that his Flesh Golems couldn¡¯t be hurried, no matter how much pain he visited upon them. And Thaddeus was one of his finest instruments.
¡°The ¨C Archon.¡±
His browless face rose. That was indeed an interesting dilemma.
He¡¯s alive. And that means¡the Lightborn failed? Perhaps he¡¯s dead. Perhaps not. But he¡¯s not here, and that means the rumors those Fifth-Pillar ants have been spreading these last few months have been true...
¡°Hm,¡± he mused aloud. ¡°Where is it, now?¡±
¡°The village ¨C of ¨C Triant ¨C Doctor,¡± the beast grumbled. ¡°Four hybrids ¨C walk with it.¡±
So close. And with a whole team of Sanctum hybrids behind it, no less¡
Doctor Haylock had lived longer than most. His Blood Magic had allowed him to pursue his studies without fear of mortality, or the frailty that came with death. As a child, he was able to control rats and other rodents without even a single movement of his limbs. In his teenage years, he moved on to adult specimens. By the time he was thiry, he¡¯d perfected his craft. They said he was a prodigy. Well, those that dared mention his name at all did, anyway.
But a man who¡¯d lived as long as he had needed a project. Something more than just work to keep him busy.
When he¡¯d heard that the remnants of Gyko¡¯s army, and all those hybrids who¡¯d survived the Pogroms of Lysandus¡¯ father, were all sequestered in a secret little location hidden from human eyes, he¡¯d almost quivered in orgasmic bliss.
An entire Kingdom of specimens¡ripe for the taking.
And yet he¡¯d never found them.
Through his interrogations of their captured warriors, through his invasive surgeries, through every torment he inflicted on their kind, they just wouldn¡¯t give up its location. Even their so-called Prophet had been less than useless. And he¡¯d done things to her that had surprised even himself¡
His failure to find the little hideout had gnawed at him. It was the one thing that really soured his work-life balance. It was like a little chittering demon that sat atop his brain and mocked him ¨C telling him ¡®you can¡¯t get them! You can¡¯t get them!¡¯
But Doctor Haylock was a patient man. All the King¡¯s search parties had failed him. All the Greycloaks with their divine providence had failed. All of them had failed, because Kaedmon had not decreed that they were the ones to succeed.
He''d watched, and waited for his moment. After all, it was what he was made for, wasn''t it? Taking apart the enemies of the good lord piece by bloody piece, putting them back together as his imagination willed, and watching the results play out before his eyes. He''d done more service in Kaedmon''s name than the ever-so pious Greycloaks and their belligerent leader ever had. He''d molded, he''d manipulated, and he''d created new life on this world.
Now, Doctor Haylock smiled. His patience was being rewarded. An Archon was going to be knocking on his door pretty soon - an Archon that he''d heard much about, and was very, very interested in meeting.
But before that fated moment, he''d have to administer some...field tests.
¡°I know what it is the Archon is coming for,¡± he told his servant. ¡°Thaddeus? Awaken a detachment of your brethren. Let us see if we can welcome this Archon and its friends to our part of the world.¡±
The hulking golem bowed deeply as it exited the dungeon. ¡°It ¨C will be ¨C done ¨C my Lord.¡±
Alone again with his new specimen, the Doctor licked his lips again, savoring the look of fear in creature¡¯s eyes.
¡°Do not fret, my dear,¡± he said as he stroked its paralyzed ears. ¡°You¡¯re going to be part of something momentous. You¡¯ll be witnessing history being made, very soon.¡±
He then turned to the biggest vat in the room and smiled. It contained the strongest specimen he¡¯d ever gotten his hands on. Strong. So strong. But even the strongest mind could be broken with time. The will was strong. But flesh was weak.
Though it no longer had eyes to see, he knew it was watching. Always watching. And he knew it could hear him.
¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Jun¡¯Ei?¡±
88. A [New] Enemy
When the dawn came, Ethan and the team packed their tents and moved silently through the forest, ignoring the bustling town of Triant and the murmurings of confusion from its people.
They were wondering where their valiant ¡®patrolmen¡¯ had gotten to.
The journey through the forest of Triant was eerily quiet, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and moss. The towering trees of Westerweald stretched ever higher, their canopies blotting out the sun, leaving the ground cloaked in shadows. The river Nelvin meandered alongside their path, its soft gurgles the only sound breaking the stillness of the forest.
Ethan led the group, his Salamandrike form skittering effortlessly over rocks and roots. Behind him, his companions moved in near silence, the weight of their recent journey pressing down on them. The quiet was not the easy kind, but the tense, watchful silence of travelers in unfamiliar, possibly hostile territory. Even with the Archon at their head, and even with the Lightborn out of commission, Klax had reminded them that they couldn¡¯t ever let their guard down. This was their world ¨C the human world. And in this world, evil found a way to make its mark.
If he was being honest, Ethan shared a piece of their trepidation. He could hide it well enough, but Lamphrey¡¯s words last night had sparked new thoughts in him.
Becoming a God, eh? he chuckled to himself. Could I really do it?
Finally, Lamphrey broke the silence. The lizardwoman mage spoke in her usual calm, measured tone, her voice carrying just enough to reach the others. "We are nearing the edges of Triant¡¯s forest. Beyond lies the coast, and a city¡ªSentinel."
Tara perked up, her feline ears twitching. "A city? You mean actual buildings and civilization?" Her tail flicked as she grinned. "Finally, I can sleep in a bed that doesn¡¯t smell like Klax¡¯s fur."
The wolfman growled low, but there was no real menace behind it. "The scent of a warrior is not for you to judge, rogue."
"Nor anyone else, thankfully," Tara shot back with a smirk.
Ethan chuckled. ¡°What I wouldn¡¯t give to see you march right up to an inn, slam your paws down on the front desk, and demand an ocean view room.¡±
¡°Ensuite,¡± the Minxit corrected. ¡°With free room service.¡±
The trio giggled among themselves, but Fauna wasn¡¯t so easily distracted. Her rabbit ears twitched, and she fixed her gaze on Lamphrey.
"How do you know about this city? Sentinel, you called it?"
Lamphrey turned her head slightly, her reptilian eyes unblinking as they met Fauna¡¯s. "I have my ways, little mage."
Fauna¡¯s nose twitched, her gaze narrowing. "Oneiromancy?"
"Indeed," Lamphrey replied without hesitation. "The bandits we encountered on the King¡¯s Road knew much about the lands ahead. Their dreams betrayed their knowledge to me."
Fauna sniffed, her whiskers bristling. "It must be convenient to use the minds of others for your purposes."
The tension between the two mages was palpable, like the crackle of lightning before a storm. Ethan sighed, pausing mid-step and turning to face them.
"Alright," he said, raising his hands. "Let¡¯s calm down before someone throws a fireball, or a dream spell, or whatever it is you two do these days."
The group halted, and Ethan twirled his Onixia blade in the air, its blue, flame-like sheen catching the dim light that filtered through the trees. The weapon glinted like a shard of a star, its presence a reminder of their hard-won strength.
"Look at this beauty," Ethan said with a grin. "With Greybane here, I don¡¯t see anything stopping us. We¡¯re stronger now than we¡¯ve ever been. So, can we all just take a deep breath and keep moving? The faster we get to this Sentinel place, the sooner we can charter a boat and be on our way."
Lamphrey inclined her head, her expression unreadable. Fauna, for her part, sighed and adjusted her staff, murmuring, "Fine."
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Satisfied, Ethan continued down the path, the others falling in behind him. The tension eased slightly, though it still lingered like a faint shadow among them.
As they pressed on, the forest began to change. The trees grew denser, their trunks gnarled and twisted, as though writhing in pain. The air grew cooler, and the once lively sounds of the forest faded into an oppressive silence. Even the river Nelvin, which had been a constant companion, seemed subdued, its waters running darker and slower.
Tara shivered, her tail twitching nervously. "Is it just me, or is this forest getting¡ creepier?"
Klax sniffed the air, his sharp senses on high alert. "It is not just you. Something is wrong here. The trees¡ they feel alive."
Ethan glanced around, his scythe-like tail swishing as he considered their surroundings. "Alive how? Like... they¡¯re watching us?"
Klax nodded grimly. "Exactly."
Fauna clutched her staff a little tighter, her ears flat against her head. "I don¡¯t like this."
"Nobody does, Faun," Ethan said. "But we don¡¯t have much of a choice. Unless you want to turn back?"
The mage shook her head, and they continued deeper into the forest. The light grew dimmer, the air heavier. Every step seemed to carry them further into a realm untouched by the sun, a place where even time felt uncertain.
As they walked, Lamphrey¡¯s voice cut through the gloom. "Sentinel is not far now. It lies on the coast, dominated by its great lighthouse. The port there will allow us passage across the ocean, provided we secure a ship."
"That¡¯s assuming they don¡¯t try to kill us first," Tara muttered. "Humans aren¡¯t exactly fond of hybrids, last I checked."
"She¡¯s not wrong," Ethan said.
"We may simply have to adapt," Lamphrey said simply.
Ethan sighed, glancing at the ominous trees around them. "Right. Let¡¯s just hope we don¡¯t have to fight our way to a boat. I¡¯ve had enough of forests for a lifetime."
The group pressed on, the foreboding atmosphere of the Triant forest closing in around them. The path grew narrower, the trees more twisted, and the shadows seemed to stretch and reach for them. Every step felt heavier, as though the forest itself resisted their passage.
Ethan couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that they were being watched. Not by humans, not by animals, but by something older, something tied to the land itself. It was a feeling that settled deep in his gut, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.
"Keep your guard up," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
The others nodded, their weapons ready as they continued toward the unknown. Ahead, the river Nelvin glimmered faintly in the growing darkness, a thread of light guiding them through the oppressive woods. Sentinel lay beyond, a beacon of hope on the horizon. But Ethan couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the forest of Triant held more secrets than it was willing to reveal.
But little did he know it wasn¡¯t the trees they had to fear, but the earth itself.
The ground beneath their feet began to tremble, a faint vibration that quickly grew into a deep, resonant rumble. Ethan froze mid-step, his tail flicking in alarm as he glanced at his companions.
"Uh, please tell me someone else felt that," Tara said, her ears flattening against her head as she looked around nervously.
"It¡¯s not just you," Klax growled, his hackles rising. His claws dug into the dirt as the trembling intensified. "Stay sharp."
Fauna clutched her staff tightly, her breathing quickening. "What¡¯s happening? Is it an earthquake?"
Before anyone could answer, the ground beneath them cracked open with a deafening roar. Chasms split the earth, gaping like jagged mouths. Ethan leaped back, his Salamandrike form skittering to safety just as a section of the path collapsed into a dark abyss.
"What the hell?!" Ethan shouted, his voice echoing over the rumbling chaos.
Lamphrey hissed in alarm, her serpentine eyes darting toward the fissures. "This is no natural tremor. Something¡is coming."
As if to confirm her words, dark tendrils of earth and root began to emerge from the cracks. They writhed and twisted like living things, reaching for the group with an unnatural hunger. The tendrils gleamed with an oily sheen, and the air around them grew thick with the scent of decay.
"Move!" Ethan yelled, darting to the side as one of the tendrils lashed out at him, narrowly missing his leg.
Klax was already in motion, slashing through one of the roots with his claws. The severed tendril writhed on the ground like a dying snake before dissolving into black sludge.
"Stay together!" Fauna shouted, summoning a barrier of shimmering light to block an incoming strike from another tendril. The barrier held for a moment before cracking under the force, forcing her to leap back.
¡°Klax!¡± Tara yelped. ¡°Let go of my foot!¡±
¡°Tara¡that¡¯s not my hand.¡±
The entire party looked down to see what had just emerged from a crack in the ground ¨C a writhing, bloody hand stitched sewn together from different pieces of gored flesh, nails like pincers stabbing at the Minxit¡¯s feet.
¡°What the FUCK!¡± she screamed as she slashed at the thing. But her efforts were in vain. Even as she stabbed at the grasping appendage with all her crazed speed and strength, still the thing held firm, puncturing her leg.
¡°Move!¡± Ethan shouted.
The whole forest seemed to gasp as Ethan brought Greybane to bear, slicing clean through the corpse-claw and burning its dead flesh to cinders. It fell away as an ashen cloud, its dusty remains crumbling as its arm retreated back into the black void beneath the party¡¯s feet.
And then a dull, deathly growl emanated from the pit:
¡°Archon¡Archon¡Archon¡¡±
Ethan looked down.
And he saw the glinting rows of eyes that were gazing up at him from the dark depths of the earth.
It wasn¡¯t the forest that was attacking them.
It was something far worse.
89. The [Doctor] Calls (Pt. 1)
¡°Get back!¡±
Ethan stood at the front of his group, Greybane resting against his green shoulder, its blade gleaming faintly with an ominous red hue. He scanned the area, his gaze sweeping across the darkened trees, their gnarled branches curling like skeletal fingers.
But the real danger came from below.
Something''s coming, Sys stuttered.
Where the stitched-together claw of the unnamed beast had emerged before, now came an entire armada of desiccated limbs bringing mounds of dead flesh with them.
The first one emerged from the earth in a shower of dirt and debris¡ªa grotesque monstrosity of mismatched flesh, its body stitched together like a grotesque patchwork quilt. A human torso sat atop monstrous legs, and one of its arms was replaced with a jagged sword, fused grotesquely into its shoulder. Its head was a pale, eyeless lump, and it let out a guttural roar as it charged at them.
Sys? Ethan asked as the creature surged towards them. What¡are we looking at?
Enemy Identified: Flesh Golem
LVL: ???
HP: ???
That inspires literally no confidence at all. Are you seriously telling us you don¡¯t know what the hell these things are?
These are not natural creatures, Ethan.
I have never seen their like in Argwyll.
Lamphrey hissed, her voice laced with unease. "These are¡abominations. Creatures of dark magic. They are meant for nothing more than destruction"
"Yeah, I think we figured that out," Tara snapped, already flipping backward as the first Golem swung its sword-arm where she had stood moments before.
Ethan moved without hesitation, dashing forward with Greybane blazing in a wide arc. The blade connected with the Golem''s torso, cleaving through the amalgamated flesh like butter. The creature staggered but didn''t fall; its torso writhed, its severed flesh knitting itself back together.
"These things regenerate?!" Fauna cried, launching a bolt of fiery energy from her staff. It struck the Golem square in the chest, burning away chunks of flesh, but the Golem kept coming, its inhuman strength undeterred.
"We¡¯ve dealt with worse. They can¡¯t get back up if we break them all the way down," Ethan growled, spinning Greybane again and driving it deep into the creature''s core. The blade''s [Fade Slice] property activated, bypassing the regenerative barrier and severing the magical energy that bound it. The Golem collapsed into a heap of lifeless limbs.
"One down," Klax said grimly. "But there are more."
The ground erupted around them. More Golems emerged¡ªten, twenty, then more, clawing their way to the surface. Each one was a nightmare of mismatched limbs and twisted anatomy. Some were humanoid, others monstrous, with wings, claws, and even tails stitched crudely onto their forms. Their grotesque nature was matched only by the raw, primal rage they exuded as they charged the hybrids.
"Don''t let them surround us!" Ethan shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Klax lunged into the fray, his claws glowing with fiery energy as he tore into a Golem¡¯s midsection, ripping it apart with brutal efficiency. Tara darted between their ranks, slicing at their exposed tendons and weak points with her daggers, her speed and agility unmatched.
Fauna held her ground, summoning a barrier to protect herself while she rained down destructive magic. Her firebolts exploded against the Golems, tearing through their patchwork bodies, but even her strongest spells struggled to keep them down.
Lamphrey muttered a low chant, her snake-like eyes glowing as she summoned spectral chains from the ground to ensnare one of the Golems. The creature thrashed against its bonds, but her magic held firm, allowing Ethan to step in and deliver a decisive blow with Greybane.
"Keep moving!" Ethan shouted as another wave of Golems surged toward them. "Don''t let them overwhelm us!"
The hybrids fought with precision and teamwork, but the Flesh Golems proved to be a relentless foe. Every time one fell, two more seemed to take its place, their grotesque forms adapting and evolving with each wave. Some sprouted additional limbs mid-battle, while others began to mimic the abilities of the hybrids they faced.
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A Golem with a jagged maw lunged at Fauna, its monstrous teeth snapping inches from her face. She screamed and blasted it with a point-blank fireball, sending it reeling, but the attack left her vulnerable. Ethan darted in, Greybane flashing as he cleaved the creature in half, shielding Fauna with his own body.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Y-yeah," she stammered, her hands shaking. "Thanks."
"Don¡¯t thank me yet," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the battlefield.
The tide began to shift as a new figure emerged from the chaos¡ªa toweringGolem twice the size of the others. Its body was a nightmarish amalgamation of limbs and torsos, with six tentacled arms writhing like serpents and a massive, unblinking eye embedded in its chest. The eye glowed with an eerie red light, radiating malice and power.
Spectator
LVL: ???
"I don¡¯t like the look of that thing," Tara muttered, backing away.
"Neither do I," Klax growled, his claws flexing.
The massive Golem let out an ear-piercing screech, and the air around it shimmered with heat. A moment later, a wave of searing fire erupted from its body, sweeping through the forest.
"Take cover!" Ethan shouted, diving behind a fallen tree as the inferno roared past.
The flames consumed everything in their path, reducing trees to smoldering husks and scorching the earth. The hybrids scrambled to avoid the blaze, but the heat was overwhelming.
"We can''t keep this up!" Fauna cried, her barrier flickering under the strain.
Ethan gritted his teeth, his mind racing. The Golems were relentless, their tactics evolving with each passing moment. But he couldn¡¯t let them win.
"Sys, give me some good news," he muttered.
In Sys¡¯s reply, Ethan could sense some small degree of pride. Looks like his System was pissed that it had met something it couldn¡¯t identify out here, and it¡¯d been working like hell to correct that.
I¡¯ve analyzed their structure. The leader¡¯s core is exposed. Destroy it, and the rest should fall.
"Got it," Ethan said, his resolve hardening.
He turned to his companions, his voice firm. "Keep them off me. I¡¯m taking down the big one."
Without waiting for a response, he charged toward the massive Golem, Greybane blazing in his hands. The creature¡¯s tentacles lashed out at him, but he dodged and weaved, using [Skitter] to boost his speed and agility.
Klax and Tara flanked the smaller Golems, cutting them down with brutal efficiency while Fauna and Lamphrey focused their magic on keeping the leader distracted.
Ethan closed the distance, his heart pounding as he faced the towering monstrosity. Its glowing eye locked onto him, and another wave of fire erupted from its body. He raised Greybane, the blade absorbing the flames with its enchanted properties, and pressed forward.
"Come on, you ugly bastard," he growled, his voice filled with determination.
He leaped onto the Golem¡¯s torso, driving Greybane into its flesh. The blade sank deep, and the creature let out a deafening roar, its tentacles thrashing wildly.
"Hold still!" Ethan shouted, twisting the blade as he climbed higher.
The Golem¡¯s eye glowed brighter, and Ethan felt a surge of energy radiating from it. He gritted his teeth and channeled all his strength into a single, decisive strike, driving the blade into the creature¡¯s rotten flesh.
The core shattered with a blinding flash of light, and the Golem let out one final, ear-splitting scream before collapsing. The smaller Golems faltered, their movements growing sluggish before they, too, crumbled into lifeless heaps.
Ethan stood atop the pile of corpses, his chest heaving as he looked out over the battlefield. His companions gathered around him, battered but alive.
"We did it," Klax said, his voice filled with exhaustion and relief.
"Yeah," Ethan replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
A slow, mocking clap broke the silence. Ethan turned to see the massive Golem leader, still partially intact, its tentacles slapping together in a grotesque imitation of applause.
As the forest burned around them, splintering apart against the unnatural flames of the corpse-army¡¯s spells, one fold of fat opened beneath the creature¡¯s unblinking eyeball.
And it began to speak.
¡°Exemplary, Archon Hat!¡± it slurred, steaming bile frothing from its fleshy ¡®lips¡¯. ¡°A most exemplary display!¡±
Beside him, Ethan felt his companions shudder ¨C but no one more than Lamphrey.
¡°That voice,¡± she hissed, ¡°belongs to one who¡¯s mind is warped beyond reason.¡±
It sounded more like a cackling child than a madman.
¡°The slow clap, ¡®good job¡¯ thing, really?¡± he said. ¡°Tell me you¡¯re a bad guy without telling me you¡¯re a bad guy.¡±
The Spectator lifted its tentacles in a bizarre, grotesque gesture of apology.
¡°I must admit, I do enjoy a good bit of theatre,¡± it slurred. ¡°Men like us must indulge in what pleasures we can, right?¡±
Without warning, the creature then inclined its bulbous body and bowed low.
¡°Doctor Haylock,¡± it gargled. ¡°Warden of the Griffon and S-Ranked Blood Magus. Enchante.¡±
Pure, unbridled glee dripped from the creature¡¯s every word. Against the burning forest and yellowed clouds above, the sound was a testament to insanity.
But more pressing was the content of the creature¡¯s dark speech.
Blood Magus¡
Yep, Sys whispered. As you probably already guessed, that¡¯s nothing good.
¡°I have very much wished to look upon you with my own eyes since I heard of your re-awakening,¡± the Golem continued. ¡°Apologies for greeting you in this form. Especially since you have brought such fine little creatures back into the light of Kaedmon¡¯s world.¡±
The pupil of the beast dilated as its eye swept over the hybrid party, lingering on Tara.
She hissed. ¡°This is getting weird,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m shutting this fucker up.¡±
Before Ethan could hold her back the Minxit was sprinting towards the unblinking fiend with gusto, blades flaring, ready to be plunged into its eyeball.
¡°Yes,¡± the creature spewed. ¡°Such fine, feisty little things¡¡±
Tara came within three inches of the beast before her arm went limp, dagger twisting in her grip. She shook, her tail going straight as a brush, and a sickening sound of snapping came from her arm.
Fauna gasped in horror.
¡°Tara?¡±
Tara turned to her friends, her eyes alight with fear and desperation ¨C eyes that said she was trying to fight back against whatever invisible force held her.
¡°I do so love it when they fight back,¡± the ¡®Doctor¡¯ gargled. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡±
Then she came charging right at them.
90. The [Doctor] Calls (Pt. 2)
Tara came charging towards them like there was lightning in her feet.
But her eyes shone with fear.
Ethan summoned Valgraiva¡¯s Repuslor Shield in time to block her strike, managing to push her back before her limbs struck out for the rest of the party.
¡°Guys ¨C I ¨C I can¡¯t¡¡±
She slashed at Fauna and took a swathe of hair out the Hopla¡¯s fringe before Klax stepped forward and grappled her, pinning her in place even as her limbs bulged with fierce, raw energy.
¡°I got her!¡± the wolfman growled. ¡°Now, Ethan!¡±
The Archon snapped out of the spell that had been cast over him, tearing himself away from Tara¡¯s terrified, sweating face, to see the cackling monster that was controlling her.
He leveled his new musket and let a Spectral Snipe bolt fly ¨C aiming directly at the Spectator¡¯s chest-level eyeball.
But before the blow was struck, another shambling Flesh Golem emerged from the chasm cut into the earth and tanked the hit, its body erupting in a haze of blood and viscera.
¡°Come now, Mr Hawke,¡± the giddy voice of the ¡®Doctor¡¯ called out from the wretched mouth of his creation. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be that easy, now would it?¡±
A burst of energy propelled Tara forward and she pushed Klax into the burning form of an old oak tree at the edge of the battlefield. Meanwhile, Fauna had erected an Arcane Barrier to ward off the new onslaught of another wave of Golems.
¡°This magic¡¡± the Hopla murmured, looking at Tara with utter fear, ¡°it¡¯s unnatural¡¡±
Ethan growled, bringing his sword to bear.
¡°I can cut through them,¡± he said. ¡°Klax! Keep Tara down. Fauna ¨C keep up your shield.¡±
¡°Right!¡±
As the wave of Golems pressed down on their defensive position, each one battering its limb-grafted weapons against Fauna¡¯s stuttering shield, Ethan summoned up a Mana Veil to try and counteract the Blood Magic of the Spectator. But even as the dark fog settled on the burning arena around them, Tara¡¯s body still flailed against her control.
¡°I ¨C I can¡¯t ¨C stop it!¡±
¡°Oh, my good Archon! You really must take better care of your pets!¡±
Tara suddenly withdrew from Klax and smashed into the waiting arms of a Golem with twin axes as its tools of death. It grappled her and was ready to tear her apart were it not for Lamphrey¡¯s well timed blast of dark energy that ripped through its innards.
¡°These beasts are not as potent as they seem,¡± she said ¨C possessed by a strange calmness even with the odds set against them. ¡°Their purpose is to protect their leader. We must cut a path towards him.¡±
Ethan grit his teeth. Even in the form of a Salamandrike, his anger was more than clear.
He¡¯s trying to rile you up, Sys told him.
Ethan¡¯s reply was cold as winter¡¯s breath.
¡°It¡¯s working.¡±
He gripped Greybane and surged forth from Fauna¡¯s shield, sending a flurry of three Twilight Edge arcs towards the wave of Golems pressed against them. His Skitter skill carried him forward, while his Wing Buffet kept the army constantly on the backfoot. With four great flaps of the webbed emerald wings that appeared from his spine, he sent them flying in every direction into the fires they had created. They burned, but no screams came. There was no pleasure he took in their deaths.
Then he felt a stab of pain shoot up his back. He dropped, rolled, and was ready to send a Spectral Snipe at his assailant when he realized just who had launched a blazing fireball towards him.
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¡°E-Ethan!¡± Fauna cried, her head jerking up like a marionette on an invisible string. ¡°I ¨C ngh!¡±
¡°Such powerful magic for such a gentle soul!¡± the ¡®Doctor¡¯ hissed through his servant. ¡°Let us see just what she can do ¨C¡°
Before Fauna could launch another bolt at Ethan, Lamphrey had crossed staves with her. The Tilax enveloped them both in a gale of darkness, and the last thing Ethan heard was Fauna¡¯s scream as she disappeared, no doubt being urged to take the Lizardwoman down by any means necessary.
Ethan moved to help them on instinct, but the deep voice of Lamphrey rang out from the dark:
¡°Kill him,¡± she said. Her words were quick, snappy, and obviously said in the heat of combat. ¡°Cut him down and his magic dies with him.¡±
He saw the chaos that the once quiet forest had been engulfed in. He could hear Tara scream as she was forced to fight Klax, could sense Fauna desperately trying to regain control of herself as Lamphrey kept her locked in her dark sphere.
And he could feel the rage that was burning inside his own body now ¨C rage that was slowly turning the world red.
Because no matter where he went, there was always going to be someone who wanted to kill him, wasn¡¯t there? That was what Kaedmon wanted.
He looked up at the grisly Spectator. Between him and it was a legion of Golems, with more emerging to replenish their fallen brethren by the second.
¡°Coming to get me?¡± the creature hissed.
Ethan¡Sys cautioned. Don¡¯t let him rile you. That¡¯s exactly what he wants. Don¡¯t let him ¨C
Too late.
He hefted Greybane in his hands and charged, headfirst, into the horde. The first of their swelling ranks fell instantly, two Twilight Edges rupturing their stomachs and pouring their writhing intestines across the charred forest floor. Those behind, pressing forward, were toppled by a beastly Roar that dropped them to their knees. He took their dangling heads from their chests with a single swipe of his blade.
Ethan tore through the mass of Flesh Golems. His movements were a blur of fury and precision, his rage pouring into every strike of Greybane. The spectral glow of his blade cast twisted shadows over the shambling abominations as he cleaved through them, his speed bolstered by [Skitter] and his technique sharpened by raw determination.
One Golem lunged at him with a serrated arm, a grotesque fusion of bone and steel. Ethan ducked under its swipe and countered with a spinning slash, Greybane¡¯s edge shimmering with the power of its [Fade Slice] property. The strike sheared clean through the creature''s torso, and its upper half collapsed in a lifeless heap, leaving its legs standing for a brief moment before they toppled.
Another monstrosity, this one with spider-like limbs and a scorpion¡¯s tail, leaped at him from the side. Ethan sidestepped with [Skitter], his movements a blur, and lashed out with a [Twilight Edge]. The arc of shadow energy cut the beast in two mid-air, its halves crashing to the ground with a sickening squelch.
¡°Look at you go!¡± the Doctor¡¯s mocking voice rang out through the carnage.
¡°Shut up and fight me yourself!¡± Ethan roared, twisting Greybane in his grip to intercept another Golem¡¯s downward strike. The impact reverberated up his arm, but he held firm, twisting the blade to sever the creature¡¯s weaponized limb before thrusting it into its core. The Golem spasmed as its magic unraveled, collapsing into a pile of mismatched parts.
Ahead, the Spectator loomed, its monstrous eye glimmering with malevolent glee. It raised a long, thin finger to point at him, and more Flesh Golems surged forth, their grotesque forms blotting out the path between Ethan and his target.
¡°Ah, but you¡¯re so much more fun like this,¡± the Doctor continued. ¡°Desperate. Angry. Helpless. Just like every Archon before you.¡±
He propelled himself off the shoulders of a Golem as Fauna¡¯s screams rang out in the fiery miasma burning all around him.
[Dive]
His body came crashing into the last defensive line of Golems and turned them to mush, covering his form in their entrails. By this point, he was all instinct. All fire. He didn¡¯t know when he¡¯d started screaming, but he could barely even hear his voice as he looked into the watchful eye of the Doctor¡¯s last corpse-puppet, raised his weapon, and charged.
He got within three inches of the Spectator, thrusted his blade at its center, and then stopped abruptly.
The eye narrowed at the top of his sword.
¡°Reverse engineered Onixia¡¡± the Doctor hissed. ¡°Very clever. Very clever indeed.¡±
Ethan¡¯s limbs fumbled, his eyes bulging with fury as he willed himself forward, managing to take one step, then another, then¡
¡°Remarkable,¡± he heard the Doctor say through his blind rage. ¡°You seem more than capable of resisting my touch.¡±
He pushed through the pain in his limbs. After all, they weren¡¯t really his. His mind was stronger than this. He¡¯d been through worse. He¡¯d fought the Lightborn and lived.
¡°This¡is¡nothing¡¡± he growled.
Then in the next moment, he was pinned prone on the ground, the Doctor¡¯s laughter echoing above him.
His eyes darted around the battlefield before he realized the deception. As the smoke from the burning trees cleared up, he saw them: at least six more Spectators dotted around them.
Every eye focused on him.
¡°Very good, indeed,¡± the Doctor whistled, letting a thin tentacle play across Ethan¡¯s hat-form and his hate-filled eye. ¡°I really don¡¯t enjoy showing my hand too early, you know. But for you, my good Archon, I¡¯ll make an exception.¡±
Ethan heard his comrades¡¯ grunts and shrieks behind him. Then he felt his body lifted up ¨C pulled by the invisible strings of the Doctor¡¯s magic ¨C to witness what he already knew was happening.
He was looking into the terrified eyes of his hybrid team as they leveled their weapons against him.
91. The [Doctor] Calls (Pt. 3)
Ethan fought against himself ¨C the contracting muscles of his Host Salamandrike forcing him to stay down under the Doctor¡¯s command. Every vein on the emerald creature¡¯s face pulsed with resistance, with the fierce desire to break free from the Blood Magic of its controller.
But it was in vain. Against one Spectator, he could have won. But the six that now kept their steely gazes upon him were weighing him down with the invisible pinnacles that were their shared power.
¡°Even with all your strength,¡± Haylock laughed, ¡°you can still be tamed, it seems. Just an animal like all the rest. I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be surprised.¡±
The Doctor¡¯s words rang hollow in Ethan¡¯s ears. He was far more preoccupied with the terrified eyes of his companions as they walked towards him, weapons raised, each one primed against their will to attack.
¡°E¡Ethan¡¡±
It was Fauna who spoke first, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Suddenly a spark of energy sprung from the tip of her staff, and she directed it towards Ethan with a screech of pain.
The bolt of energy transformed into an arc of lightning that struck Ethan right in his single crimson eye. He took the spell. He weathered its electrical energy.
He looked up at Fauna, smoky pillars wisping from his face to look into Fauna¡¯s tearful eyes.
¡°I¡I¡¯m sorr¡so¡¡±
¡°Fauna,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s not you. It¡¯s okay.¡±
¡°Hah!¡± the Doctor laughed behind his head, slapping the tentacles of his puppeteered Spectator together in a parody of clapping. ¡°Beautiful. Look at this ¨C pure pain and resilience. You resist me even now. Even when I have your brave little warriors turned against you.¡±
Ethan grit his teeth as he felt the Doctor¡¯s grip on him tighten. The Spectators closed in around them all, their unblinking eyes bright and shining against the fires that had engulfed the forest. Around them, the bloodied limbs of the fallen Flesh Golems melted away to nothing, or were squished under the Spectator squad¡¯s hoofed feet.
And as though the horror of this situation couldn¡¯t have gotten any worse, Ethan saw, just as his companions did, just what the Golems were composed of ¨C the stitched-together remains of¡
¡°Hybrids,¡± the Doctor slurped, savoring every word. ¡°That¡¯s right. Your kind are just so malleable. So versatile. Such genetic variation among your species that I cannot help but find you fascinating. Far more so than my own kind. I am in agreement with you, don¡¯t you know? Your kind should not be eradicated from this world. You are a vital resource, my darling creatures. And you will be mine.¡±
Ethan saw the burning rage that dominated his friends¡¯ eyes as the stalked forward, and Tara, screaming in resistance, plunged her dagger into Ethan¡¯s three taloned hand.
He winced, but he didn¡¯t scream. He wouldn¡¯t give this madman the satisfaction.
Ethan! Sys wailed. E-Ethan! Can you¡can you hear¡me?
Ethan could, but his mind wavered. The Doctor¡¯s hold on his body was complete. He searched his thoughts, trying to find the way to communicate with Sys, but no thoughts came. Nothing came at all except the blinding hatred he felt in this moment. The hatred that was turning his world red with rage again¡
Then he heard the squelching lips of the Doctor¡¯s creature beside his ear, tongue licking at his hatty form and slavoring over every word it spoke:
¡°I know what it is you want, dear Archon,¡± he said. ¡°And I shall give it to you ¨C you, and all those who serve you.¡±
Ethan felt Klax¡¯s foot pin down his other hand as the wolfman tried clawing at himself to stop his puppeteered body. In vain.
¡°Look at them,¡± the Doctor spat. ¡°I can feel it, you know ¨C their weaknesses. The traumas they all carry with them, like weights that slow them down. That slow you down. I wonder, Archon¡Ethan¡why do you journey with them? Why do you let them make you weak?¡±
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Lamphrey¡¯s shaking legs staggered up to Ethan, her staff aiming at his face. Scintillating green energy twirled at its gnarled tip. In her eyes was total focus.
¡°Though this one¡this one is very elusive, indeed¡I will enjoy peeling its scales apart.¡±
The staff began to glow brighter.
¡°In any case, after you tell me the location of your Sanctum, I will craft something miraculous out of you. You shall all be Gods, my sweet Archon. You shall be a thing of beauty, a symbol of perfect genetic unity. As you should be.¡±
Ethan smirked, knowing that the Doctor could see him do it.
The Spectator troop edged forward. Ethan sensed confusion. And intrigue.
¡°You¡got your own weaknesses¡Doctor¡¡±
The head Spectator seemed, by all accounts, thoroughly entertained by this statement.
¡°Oh?¡± he chuckled. ¡°Do tell¡¡±
Ethan looked passed Lamphrey¡¯s burning staff to her eyes, and nodded once.
Because he¡¯d just heard her voice. He¡¯d heard what she¡¯d said. And he concurred.
¡°One: you¡¯re greedy.¡±
¡°I admit, I do get rather obsessive when I find something as interesting as you.¡±
¡°And two,¡± Ethan spat. ¡°You can¡¯t control a bloodless being.¡±
Ethan¡¯s smirk widened into a grimace of triumph as he mustered what little magical energy he had left and summoned a Shadow Wraith from the abyss. The creature materialized behind the Doctor¡¯s lead Spectator¡ªa tall, ethereal form of shadowy tendrils and burning, hollow eyes. It moved with the speed of a striking serpent, its elongated blade-arm driving straight through the Spectator¡¯s bulbous, central eye.
The Spectator let out a deafening screech, a sound that was both mechanical and organic, as its body collapsed under its own weight. Its glowing appendages flickered and died, and with it, the Doctor¡¯s blood magic control shattered like glass.
Ethan watched as Tara stumbled back, her dagger falling from her trembling hand. Klax¡¯s claws retracted as he sagged to his knees, his fur matted with sweat. Fauna dropped her staff, shaking her head in disbelief, and Lamphrey, her gnarled weapon glowing dimly, straightened with a gasp, clutching her chest as though her very soul had been freed.
The Doctor¡¯s laugh echoed hollowly through the battlefield. ¡°Well played, Archon,¡± he mused, though there was an edge of panic to his voice. ¡°But you¡¯re still outnumbered. And you¡¯re still weak.¡±
Ethan didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he activated his Mana Veil, spreading a shroud of darkness across the entire battlefield. It seeped through the cracks in the earth, curling around the shattered trees and the corpses of fallen Flesh Golems. The arena became an abyssal void, blinding the remaining Spectators.
¡°No¡ no!¡± the Doctor¡¯s voice wavered, his confidence giving way to desperation. ¡°Find him! Stop him! Now!¡±
But the Spectators flailed blindly in the darkness, their hoofed feet stumbling over broken limbs and smoldering ash. Then came the first silver slash. A glimmering arc of light that cut clean through a Spectator¡¯s frame, severing its many legs.
Another slash followed. And another.
Each strike came with brutal precision, accompanied by the sickening sound of alien flesh being cleaved. Ethan¡¯s figure was a specter in the darkness, Greybane gleaming with spectral light as he moved like a wraith among the monsters. He was relentless, his strikes fueled by rage and the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
The Spectators¡¯ screams echoed through the blackened arena, but one by one, they fell. By the time Ethan reached the Doctor¡¯s lead Spectator, the rest of the monstrosities lay in lifeless heaps, their unblinking eyes dimmed forever.
The Doctor¡¯s Spectator staggered back, its long limbs twitching in a futile attempt to shield itself. Ethan approached, his breathing ragged but his grip on Greybane steady.
The sight of the Spectator¡¯s smiling face was enough to drive him forward, fueled by total rage.
He lunged, driving Greybane straight through the Spectator¡¯s massive, unblinking eye. The blade pierced the creature¡¯s core, and its body convulsed violently before collapsing into a heap of ichor and writhing tendrils.
The Doctor¡¯s voice faltered, his confidence replaced by a hoarse rasp. ¡°Good¡ very good indeed¡¡±
Ethan stood atop the dying Spectator, his chest heaving as he pointed Greybane downward, the blade glinting in the faint light of the Mana Veil. ¡°Remember this,¡± he growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble. ¡°Remember this sight. Remember this feeling. Because I¡¯m coming for you.¡±
The Doctor¡¯s laughter faded into a strangled whisper. ¡°Good¡good¡¡±
With one final shudder, the Spectator fell still, its grotesque body dissolving into the blackened ground beneath Ethan¡¯s feet.
The battlefield fell silent, save for the distant crackle of flames and the patter of raindrops beginning to fall from the heavens. Ethan turned to see his companions collapsed around him, their bodies limp and battered but alive.
¡°Guys¡¡± he muttered, his voice barely audible over the rain. He staggered towards them, his limbs heavy and his vision swimming. The energy drained from his body, and he collapsed to his knees beside Klax, who groaned weakly but didn¡¯t stir.
The rain intensified, washing away the blood and ash from the ground. Ethan¡¯s head tilted back, his crimson eye-catching glimpses of the ruined canopy above. For a moment, he swore he saw the broken branches moving, curling towards him and his companions like protective arms.
¡°Not¡ now¡¡± he murmured, his strength fading completely.
The last thing Ethan saw before darkness claimed him was the faint glimmer of light breaking through the storm clouds above.
92. [Pillars]
Ethan¡¯s head felt heavy, his vision swimming as he blinked his eyes open. The room he was in was dimly lit by shafts of sunlight filtering through cracks in the wooden ceiling above, creating a patchwork of warm light across the walls. Those walls, Ethan noticed, were lined with bundles of herbs, dried flowers, and clusters of mushrooms hanging from strings. The air was thick with the scent of soil, moss, and something faintly sweet, like honeyed bark.
A rhythmic grinding sound caught his attention. Turning his gaze, he saw a hooded figure hunched over a table, crushing herbs in a mortar and pestle. The figure¡¯s movements were deliberate, almost meditative, as if every press and twist was a ritual. Despite his grogginess, Ethan activated his Appraisal skill.
[Druid: Level 55]
A master of nature¡¯s gifts, attuned to the land and its creatures.
Druid¡
A man of the earth, literally, Sys whispered dimly. I thought they had all but vanished after Gyko¡¯s ascension. ¡®Man of the earth¡¯ wasn¡¯t exactly a desired profession after the reign of that giant plant¡
The figure turned his head slightly, as if sensing Ethan¡¯s attention, though the hood obscured most of his face. Ethan tried to sit up, but his muscles protested, heavy and sluggish. The hooded man approached him, holding the mortar in one hand and dipping his fingers into the concoction he¡¯d prepared. The mixture shimmered faintly, a strange green light pulsing within it.
¡°Stay still,¡± the man said, his voice deep and calming. He leaned over Ethan and smeared a streak of the glowing liquid across his forehead.
The world tilted. Ethan tried to speak, to question, but his limbs gave way, and the room dissolved into blackness.
¡°Breathe,¡± the old Druid told him. ¡°And let your eyes close¡¡±
Ethan was back in the forest, but it wasn¡¯t the forest he remembered. The trees loomed impossibly tall, their branches clawing at the blood-red sky. The air felt thick and oppressive, each breath dragging against his lungs.
He was surrounded by shadows. Not the comforting, cloaking darkness of his Mana Veil, but a malevolent presence that seeped into his skin.
Laughter echoed around him, cruel and mocking. The Doctor¡¯s voice. ¡°Weak, Archon. Always weak.¡±
Ethan turned to see his companions, but their faces were twisted with rage and pain, their weapons raised against him. Fauna¡¯s staff crackled with lightning, Tara¡¯s daggers gleamed in the crimson light, and Klax¡¯s claws dripped with blood. Even Lamphrey, usually composed, looked feral and unhinged, her mouth moving as if chanting a spell.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Fauna whispered, her voice breaking. But her body moved without her control, her staff aimed directly at him.
¡°No,¡± Ethan growled, gripping Greybane. ¡°I won¡¯t fight you.¡±
But they didn¡¯t stop. They surged toward him, weapons raised, and the Doctor¡¯s laughter grew louder, his face appearing in the roiling clouds above.
¡°You can¡¯t save them,¡± the Doctor taunted. ¡°You can¡¯t save anyone.¡±
Ethan swung Greybane in desperation, the blade slicing through the shadows, but it was like cutting smoke. The world began to spiral, the laughter growing deafening until Ethan screamed¡ª
His scream turned into a gasp as he woke up, his chest heaving. The scent of herbs and earth rushed back to him, grounding him in the present. He blinked rapidly, his single crimson eye locking onto the face hovering above him.
It was the man from before, though his hood was now pushed back. He was old, with weathered skin that looked like the bark of an ancient tree. Twigs, leaves, and small blossoms were tangled in his long, knotted beard, and his hair fell in wild, silver waves. His green eyes glowed faintly, filled with a strange mixture of wisdom and weariness.
¡°Good,¡± the man said, his deep voice resonating in the small room. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±
Ethan¡¯s body ached as he shifted, his muscles stiff and uncooperative. ¡°Where¡¡± he croaked, his voice hoarse. ¡°Where am I?¡±
¡°You are in the Grove of Triant,¡± the man replied. ¡°A sanctuary for those who serve the balance of the land.¡±
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Ethan furrowed his brow. ¡°And¡ who are you?¡±
The man smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. ¡°My name is Malak. I am the caretaker of this Grove.¡±
Suspicion flickered in Ethan¡¯s eye. He pushed himself up slightly, testing his limbs. ¡°What did you do to me?¡±
¡°I healed you,¡± Malak said simply. ¡°The battle you fought with the Red One took a great toll on your body. You should be grateful you survived at all.¡±
Ethan¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°And¡why did you help me?¡±
Malak¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver, though there was a hint of amusement in his expression. ¡°Because you called to us, Archon. Now, test your limbs. Make sure they work properly. Then, if you wish, I¡¯ll explain.¡±
Ethan hesitated ¨C especially as he now realized this man knew exactly who he was. He also didn¡¯t remember sending out any call for help before he fell.But he flexed the fingers, toes, and shoulders of his Salamandrike Host all the same. To his relief, everything seemed to function, though his muscles still felt sore. Then, he suddenly turned back to Malak.
¡°My ¨C the Hybrids,¡± he gasped. ¡°Where ¨C¡°
Malak held his shoulder with a steadying hand ¨C one spattered with varicose veins like tree roots cascading down his bony fingers.
¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°They are fine. They are being tended to by the other Brothers of my Order. We expected you would wake, first. By now, they should be coming around.¡±
Ethan narrowed his eyes at the old man.
Sys?
I can¡¯t detect any deception from this old codger, Ethan. As far as I can tell, he¡¯s being entirely truthful. At any rate, his ¡®Order¡¯ is so minuscule that they couldn¡¯t possibly put up a fight against you even in your current state.
Ethan watched Malak for any signs of deception. But he, too, saw nothing. Sensed nothing. All he saw here was an old man covered in twigs, growing shrooms and probably high as a kite judging by the smell and the blue spider veins crisscrossing the whites of his eyes.
¡°Alright. Where am I, and what is this Grove?¡±
¡°Let me show you,¡± Malak said, rising from his seat. He gestured for Ethan to follow.
Ethan swung his springy legs off the bed and stood, his balance shaky but manageable. Malak pulled aside a curtain of vines that served as a doorway, leading them into a vast cavern.
Ethan¡¯s breath caught. The cavern was immense, its walls covered in moss and glowing fungi that bathed the space in a soft, golden light. At its center was a spring of crystal-clear water, and rising from its depths was an ancient tree, its gnarled trunk thick and towering, its branches stretching toward the ceiling as if trying to touch the stars. The air was alive with the sound of rustling leaves and the faint hum of magic.
¡°What is this place?¡± Ethan whispered.
¡°The heart of the Grove,¡± Malak said. ¡°This tree has stood for millennia, long before the time of Kaedmon. It is the source of our strength and wisdom.¡±
Before Ethan could respond, movement caught his eye. Shapes began to emerge from the water, humanoid figures made entirely of wood and vines. Their limbs were slender and knotted, their faces featureless save for glowing green eyes that radiated warmth and curiosity.
Ethan instinctively reached for Greybane, his muscles tensing.
¡°Easy,¡± Malak said, placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°They mean you no harm.¡±
The tree-creatures approached, their movements slow and deliberate. One reached out, its wooden hand brushing against Ethan¡¯s arm. He froze, expecting hostility, but instead, he felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. The creature¡¯s glowing eyes met his, and he realized there was no malice in them, only reverence.
Appraisal: Complete
Ally: Drytchlings [LVL 50]
Core Skills: Vine Boom, Root March, Hide, Barkskin
Malak chuckled. ¡°The children of the Grove have waited for you for a long time, Archon Ethan.¡±
The humanoid treemen surrounded him like he was some kind of idle, their spindle-like, gnarled wood fingers tapping at his hat-form.
Ethan turned sharply to Malak, his suspicion returning. ¡°How do you know my name?¡±
Malak¡¯s expression grew serious, his glowing eyes locking onto Ethan¡¯s. ¡°You are exactly what we of the Order have sought ever since Gyko.¡±
Above, the circular balconies that lined the walls surrounding the great tree suddenly filled with light. From their lips appeared other men and women dressed in simple, ragged robes like Malak was, each one of them looking down at him and bowing low, with reverence.
What was that you said about these guys being almost extinct, Sys?
¡Well, they aren¡¯t far off it. If this old guy is any indication.
Sys, coming from sentient system more than four centuries old at this point, I gotta say: ¡®pot, kettle.¡¯
¡°You have come to us exactly when we needed you, Archon Ethan,¡± Malak said. ¡°And we are here to provide you with the assistance you need to bring freedom to this realm. The Fifth Pillar stands at your command.¡±
Ethan blinked at the old man. ¡°Fifth Pillar?¡±
The name was vaguely familiar. Back in Triant, Ethan had heard some whispered voices talking about them ¨C in fact, he now remembered that those bandits on the road had been chatting about the group. Calling them ¡®agitators¡¯ and ¡®heretics¡¯.
So, when he looked down to see the old Druid showing him a faded arm tattoo - a tower standing tall with the sun behind it ¨C Ethan met Malak¡¯s face with a whole new set of eyes.
¡°We have always believed the Archons represent not only Hybrid freedom from the oppression of Kaedmon, but a new era for humankind, too.¡±
¡°You¡you¡¯re all human,¡± Ethan said ¨C the sentence sounding just as bizarre and unnatural as the sight unfolding all around him right now.
Malak simply blinked up at him. ¡°You did not think we were all as indoctrinated as those city-born ilk, did you?¡±
Ethan scratched his head. ¡°I can think of at least one person who¡¯s not gonna like this¡¡±
And almost as soon as he¡¯d voiced those words, a cry of rage echoed through the Grove.
¡°Get the FUCK off me! Touch me with those human flesh mits and you¡¯ll lose ¡®em, ya old bag!¡±
Sounded like someone else had just woken up.
93. The [Grove]
Griffon¡¯s Watch
Doctor Haylock sat back in his chair and breathed, readjusting to the psychic shock that accompanied the death of a Blood-controlled Host.
He hadn¡¯t felt such psychic discharge for quite some time. The feeling, coupled with the ecstasy of having an Archon under his whims was¡intoxicating.
Behind him, the hulking Thaddeus was waiting, ready to wipe the bloodspots from his nose. He was hastily waved away.
¡°Your concern is appreciated, sweet Thaddeus,¡± Haylock said, manipulating the bleeding to stem its flow and push it back into his naval cavity. ¡°But your efforts would be better served elsewhere. The Archon and his friends will be coming soon. And they must be provided for.¡±
The Flesh Golem nodded in the darkness of the prison dungeons, his form deaf to the howls of agony that were singing all around him ¨C a chorus of suffering that was music to his Master¡¯s ears.
¡°Let him walk through fire to come to us,¡± the Doctor continued, thinking back to the berserk face of the little hat-wearing creature that had ended his Spectator squad. ¡°Go to Sentinel, Thaddeus, and meet the demon hat. Let him build up all that animal rage that flows in his veins. Then let him arrive on our shores, ready for the final act.¡±
¡°It will ¨C be done ¨C my Lord.¡±
Thaddeus then thundered away, leaving his master cloaked in darkness, listening to the chorus of suffering as it reached its crescendo.
The Doctor grinned in satisfaction, nails digging into the soft flesh of his palms as he remembered the Archon¡¯s crimson eye staring into him as his puppet perished.
I¡¯m coming for you.
Haylock grinned, biting his upper lip till it split.
Life had just gotten a whole lot more¡compelling.
¡
Ethan''s feet pounded against the mossy ground of the Grove as he sprinted down the winding hallways, the distant sound of a scream echoing through the earthen corridors. His breath came fast, and his eye burned with urgency. Malak kept pace beside him, his age-defying speed surprising, though his expression remained calm.
¡°Who is it?¡± Malak asked, his tone even but with a thread of concern.
¡°Tara,¡± Ethan growled, his teeth gritting as he pushed himself faster. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m just surprised she hasn¡¯t killed anyone yet.¡±
Malak¡¯s brows furrowed, but he didn¡¯t press further, his attention turning to the approaching noise. The screams had become more frantic, and as they rounded a corner, they came upon a room that opened wide into a circular space lined with glowing fungi and vines hanging from the ceiling like a natural tapestry.
At its center, Tara had a male druid pinned against a wall, her dagger pressed firmly to his neck. The druid¡¯s wild eyes darted between her blade and her own feral glare, his throat moving in terrified gulps as he tried not to breathe too deeply.
¡°Tara,¡± Ethan called, his voice carrying enough weight to momentarily freeze the scene.
Her ears twitched at the sound of his voice, but her dagger didn¡¯t lower. Instead, it twitched in her hand, pressing a little deeper into the man¡¯s neck. A thin bead of blood trailed down into his graying beard.
From the walls of the chamber, shapes began to emerge. Ethan tensed as the Drytchlings¡ªthe sentient tree-humanoids of the Grove¡ªstepped forward. Their limbs twisted and groaned like aged oak as they raised weapons crafted from their own bodies: spears of bark and jagged wooden blades that glowed faintly with green energy. Their lambent eyes locked onto Tara with unwavering focus.
¡°Stand down!¡± Ethan roared, his voice carrying the force of his Roar ability.
The Drytchlings froze, their glowing eyes flickering uncertainly. Even Tara flinched, though her grip on the dagger didn¡¯t loosen.
¡°Tara!¡± Ethan stepped forward, his tone softer now, though his eye remained locked on hers. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±
Her gaze darted to him, her pupils wild and feral, her tail lashing behind her like a whip. She looked like a cornered animal, ready to strike at any moment. Slowly, her eyes focused on Ethan, recognition flickering across her face.
¡°Ethan,¡± she said, her voice low and dangerous. ¡°Who the hell are these people?¡±
Ethan stopped a few feet from her, keeping his hands visible and his posture calm. ¡°They¡¯re here to help.¡±
¡°Bullshit,¡± she spat, her blade twitching against the druid¡¯s neck. ¡°They¡¯re human. This is a trap.¡±
The druid whimpered softly, his hands pressed against the wall in surrender. Ethan clenched his jaw, but before he could speak, footsteps echoed down the corridor behind him.
Fauna and Klax entered, both supported by their own druid helpers. Fauna looked pale but determined, while Klax had an arm slung over a young female druid who was helping him limp forward. Both hybrids immediately took in the scene, their eyes widening.
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¡°Tara,¡± Fauna said, her voice soothing but firm. ¡°You need to trust Ethan. Follow his lead.¡±
Klax grunted, his golden eyes narrowing on the blade at the druid¡¯s throat. ¡°Stand down, Tara. If Ethan says they¡¯re with us, they¡¯re with us.¡±
Ethan and Tara locked eyes again, the tension between them palpable. Tara¡¯s grip on the dagger tightened, her knuckles turning white, but then her shoulders slumped. Her ears lowered, and a faint tremble ran through her body.
With a shaky hand, she released the druid, letting him collapse to the ground in a heap. The dagger slipped from her fingers, clattering to the floor, and Tara staggered back, her legs wobbling beneath her.
¡°Ethan¡¡± she whispered, her voice faint and pained. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ I don¡¯t feel right.¡±
Ethan lunged forward, catching her just as her knees buckled. Her weight was light in his arms, but the tremors running through her body were strong. ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± he murmured.
Behind them, Fauna¡¯s shout rang out. ¡°Lamphrey, what are you doing?!¡±
Ethan turned his head sharply to see Lamphrey standing in the shadows of the room¡¯s entrance, her staff raised and glowing with a sinister green light. Fauna smacked the staff away with her own, the two staves clashing with a sharp crack.
¡°Stop it!¡± Fauna yelled, her ears flattened against her head. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±
Lamphrey¡¯s tongue flicked out briefly, but she lowered her staff, her expression unreadable. ¡°The Minxit was¡ agitated. I was merely trying to calm her.¡±
Ethan narrowed his eye at the lizardwoman, his grip on Tara tightening. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this later.¡±
Malak stepped forward, kneeling beside the fallen druid and inspecting the shallow cut on his neck. It was clear he was feeling the palpable sense of disquiet that had just settled among the group. ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize,¡± Malak said, his tone calm but pointed. ¡°Tensions are high. That much is understandable.¡±
He placed a hand on his brother¡¯s shoulder, murmuring something inaudible. The druid nodded weakly, clutching at his throat as he slowly sat up.
Malak rose to his full height, brushing dirt from his robe. ¡°But the Minxit is correct. You all deserve an explanation for why you¡¯ve been brought here.¡±
Ethan looked down at Tara, her head resting against his chest as her breathing slowed. ¡°Agreed,¡± he said, his voice firm.
Malak¡¯s glowing green eyes scanned the group, his expression grave but understanding. ¡°Come,¡± he said, gesturing toward the corridor. ¡°Let us return to the center of the Grove. There is much to discuss.¡±
¡
Fire, as it turned out, was banned in the Grove of the Fifth Pillar.
But it also turned out they really didn¡¯t need it.
The pool surrounding the ancient tree at its center practically radiated warmth. Its touch was like the kiss of a summer¡¯s day on Ethan and his companion¡¯s nicked skin, soothing for both body and soul. Though first apprehensive, Klax followed Ethan¡¯s lead and took a dip in the pool, instantly feeling its restorative energies course through him.
¡°This¡we need some of this water for Sanctum, no doubt.¡±
They weren¡¯t alone. According to Malak, it was common for the Druids of the Grove to bathe completely nude in the waters of the Albion ¨C what Malak said was the name for the tree. Ethan wasn¡¯t exactly interested in seeing more old ass than was necessary¡but he couldn¡¯t pass up the power in these waters.
For Klax¡¯s part, he didn¡¯t seem to mind. He let himself soak right up to his snout, the waters coursing through his fur.
¡°Faun?¡± he called to their companion. ¡°You really must try this.¡±
The Hopla was blushing at the lip of the pool, clutching at her robe.
¡°Uh¡I¡¯ll hang by here. Dip my toes¡yeah¡¡±
Old Malak turned to smile at her. ¡°As you wish, Hopla Fauna. If you would prefer, our female members can take you and your other friends to another quarter of the Albion¡¯s pool. Though we Druids believe we are all one body on this earth, we understand the desire for privacy.¡±
Fauna nodded as some of the Order¡¯s female members gestured towards the other end of the pool where they had brought Tara for a soak.
¡°Faun,¡± Ethan said. ¡°Look after her, ¡®kay? I¡¯m counting on you.¡±
The Hopla nodded once before departing with her staff still clutched tightly to her bosom.
¡°Your care for your companions is admirable, Archon Ethan,¡± Malak said.
Ethan gave him a cautious nod.
Just pretend this isn¡¯t weird. Just pretend you always bathe with ancient tree men and wolfmen¡
You aren¡¯t much good at pretending, you know.
Ethan sighed. That much was true¡
He took the spare time during his soak to upgrade a few of his skills ¨C noticing that his Spirit Core count stood at a respectable 2000 after his battle with the Golems. Thinking back, he could still feel his skin crawl as he imagined their rotting, monstrous forms. And the tendrils of the Doctor that tugged at his limbs¡
It had been a role-reversal that, if he was being honest, he¡¯d had a long time coming. He¡¯d felt exactly what it was to lose himself to another. And he was never going to let it happen again.
Ethereal Form (Grade C)
[Mass Phase] unlocked ¨C giving you and up to three other creatures the {Phase} property
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade further: 1200
Roar (Grade S)
[Flay Wail] unlocked
If an enemy¡¯s HP <40, a successful [Roar] attack shatters their skull.
Spirit Cores Remaining: 450
That¡¯ll do it, he thought. Let¡¯s see that old bastard try and mess with us now. He can¡¯t hurt what he can¡¯t touch. And he can¡¯t do shit if his brains have been bashed in.
These comforting thoughts brought him a moment of peace, and so he turned to the old man beside him:
¡°I suppose I haven¡¯t thanked you, yet,¡± he said as he soaked, feeling the waters seep into even the pores of his small Host.
¡°Your thanks are not necessary, Archon,¡± Malak replied. ¡°Your very presence here is more than compensation. The roots of the Albion shared a vision of your eventual coming, and so you are here.¡±
Ethan followed the gaze of the old man as he looked up at the venerable old tree, its branches cascading round the walls of the Grove and forming the ring of balconies where the Druids of the Order all slept.
¡°You have questions,¡± Malak said. ¡°Ask them of me, and I will answer.¡±
Ethan met Klax¡¯s eyes as they opened and stared at the old man. He was curious, himself, but nodded for his Archon to make the first move.
¡°We¡¯ve heard rumors of you guys,¡± he said. ¡°That you¡¯re some kind of anti-human band of¡humans¡¡±
Malak chuckled, closed his eyes and sighed. ¡°That¡¯s what they say about us. That¡¯s what they¡¯ve always said.¡±
¡°The city dwellers, right?¡±
Malak flashed a thin smile, then nodded at the tower tattoo on his shoulder.
¡°They fear what will happen on the day the Archon rises and snuffs out their Greycloak overlords. They fear this, because they have been taught to. In their schools. By their parents. They have not listened to what the earth says ¨C what it has been saying for a long, long time.¡±
Klax¡¯s ears perked up. ¡°And that is?¡±
¡°That this will be the last great war,¡± Malak replied coolly. ¡°And that you, Ethan, shall triumph.¡±
94. Pretty [Great]
At Malak¡¯s statement, Ethan felt himself sink lower into the Albion pool.
Klax, meanwhile, grinned his wolfish grin.
¡°I could have told you that without the aid of prophecy,¡± he said.
Malak grinned. ¡°Such is to be expected of the Archon¡¯s servants.¡±
¡°Ok, ok,¡± Ethan replied. ¡°First, let¡¯s get it clear that these guys aren¡¯t my ¡®servants¡¯. They follow me of their own volition. Second, if the war you¡¯re talking about is the old one of Archon vs Lightborn, yeah, we¡¯ve already made some progress on that front, but we¡¯re not here just to beat the Greycloaks down and take over.¡±
¡°No,¡± Malak agreed, his eyes suddenly full of fire. ¡°You are here to break what binds us all to our roles.¡±
Ethan narrowed his three eyes. ¡°I guess word travels fast.¡±
¡°We of the root and the stem keep our ears close to the earth,¡± Malak replied with a twitching of his wrinkled ears. ¡°The druids have existed since the first acorns fell on Argwylian soil. But it is only in the last century that we have taken up arms in pursuit of a greater cause.¡±
Klax nodded. ¡°We have heard of your people back in Sanctum,¡± he said. ¡°You fought well at the Battle of ____ in the aftermath of Gyko¡¯s fall.¡±
¡°These humans fought with you?¡± Ethan asked.
¡°Gyko was a patron to all who worshipped the earth,¡± the wolfman explained, no small degree of pride in his voice as he remembered Ethan¡¯s predecessor. ¡°Argwyll has no official religion, besides veneration of Kaedmon and his Lightborn, but all the same those who venerate the earth are seen as heretical. ¡®Kaedmon made the world to be experienced, not worshipped.¡¯ At least, that¡¯s what they say.¡±
Ethan remembered Jun¡¯Ei¡¯s words then ¨C about how Gyko had been a human Botanist in life.
Must¡¯ve been great for you, Sis, he thought. Teaching a whole world to love the earth like you did¡
¡°I wonder sometimes if the God Himself believes the lies he tells us,¡± Malak said sadly. ¡°We fought well in the battle to preserve the life we chose. But still, we failed, brother Lycae.¡±
Klax shared his sorrow. ¡°We all did.¡±
¡°Never again,¡± the old man said. Now he looked straight at Ethan, the same fiery determination filling his face, giving his ancient features the spark of youth. ¡°Since that day, we of the Fifth Pillar have changed the Order. We have encouraged its growth. We looked within our ranks, and understood that in order to right this world, we must adopt a more¡proactive approach.¡±
¡°And that¡¯s where I come in?¡± Ethan asked.
Malak nodded in supplication. ¡°You are the Archon. The bringer of Change. Before the Fifth Pillar, there were members of our Order that believes we should stay withdrawn from the world. That our loss in the last great battle was a sign that Kaedmon was to retain his rightful place as master of mankind. But this is a falsehood, Archon Ethan. We of the Fifth Pillar helped the druids of the Grove see that.¡±
Ethan listened to the old man¡¯s words. But more than that, he saw the fervent power in his eyes. His old face had been utterly transformed. Maybe it was the benign waters they were bathing in, maybe it was the fact he was meeting his ¡®hero¡¯. Or maybe it was something else entirely.
¡°I thought the Fifth Pillar and the druids were one and the same?¡± he asked.
Malak gave a wry grin. ¡°The Pillar has no specific affiliation with any group or guild,¡± he said. ¡°We are those who understand that the Archon brings a new light to the world for everyone ¨C human, hybrid, and monster alike. You will unify us, Ethan Hawke. The roots of the Albion have shown us this thing. The great tree never lies.¡±
Ethan and Klax both looked up at the ancient, dominating thing. They traced its bark, and saw its Drytchling servants tending to its varicose leaves glistening in the small patch of sunlight that dappled its brown veins.
¡°When you called to us, I knew the time was finally upon us all,¡± Malak continued quietly, as though he himself couldn¡¯t believe the words. ¡°And that you would be ready to receive the Gift of the Albion.¡±
Ethan craned his Host¡¯s tiny neck. ¡°Gift?¡±
The old druid¡¯s grin widened. ¡°It has been waiting for you,¡± he said as he rose, and Ethan proceeded to avert his gaze. ¡°Come.¡±
¡
When Tara woke up, and realized she was sitting in a pool of water, she was about ready to scratch somebodies¡¯ eyes out.
But the feeling of warmth beside her stopped her abruptly. It was¡familiar.
She felt the hand of her friend reach for hers under the pool, and her rage abated suddenly.
¡°Faun¡what the fuck is this?¡±
They were both sitting together at the edge of the Albion pool, under the watchful eyes of five female Druids who shared the bathing chamber at the back of the great hall with them. Fauna, ever bashful, kept her hand close to her chest.
¡°Faun, you ain¡¯t got nothing I haven¡¯t seen before. Relax, huh?¡±
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The Hopla giggled slightly. ¡°That¡¯s my line,¡± she said.
Tara sighed, soaking into the pool, admitting to herself that the waters were calming even as she cursed herself for the memory coming to the forefront of her consciousness.
¡°I fucked up, didn¡¯t I?¡±
Fauna blinked. ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°No one thinks that.¡±
The Minxit scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m guessing that Ethan thinks these guys are here to help us. Look, if he¡¯s behind them, I¡¯ll back him, but I¡¯m not gonna apologize for wanting to slit a human¡¯s throat.¡±
¡°Nobody expects you to.¡±
¡°And I¡¯m guessing that our illustrious leader made you come here to look after me, didn¡¯t he? Because I freaked out back there, and you¡¯re a calming influence. You¡¯re supposed to make me chill the fuck out.¡±
Fauna glanced towards her friend. ¡°Is it¡working?¡±
Tara rolled her eyes, then sank down to her chin. ¡°¡yeah.¡±
They sat for a while, watching the operations of the Druids as they collected some of the water, trundled it away in baskets, or bathed in its warm embrace. Some of the humanoid wood-men, the Drytchlings, even started wandering over to share the water with them, bringing their young saps along with them who paddled and splashed about, crying in alien, croaky joy.
¡°I ain¡¯t ever gonna understand them, Faun,¡± Tara said. ¡°Humans.¡±
¡°They probably feel the same way about us.¡±
¡°Only because they¡¯ve been taught to,¡± the Minxit retorted. ¡°We¡¯ve actually seen what they are capable of. They killed your family, Faun. Even you¡¯ve seen i-¡°
¡°The Greycloaks killed my family,¡± Fauna corrected suddenly, with feeling. ¡°It¡¯s them who are the enemy, Tara. It¡¯s them who¡¯ve always been the enemy.¡±
Tara looked at her friend then, shocked by the candor in her usually frail voice. Fauna blushed, and sank down, forming bubbles on the water¡¯s surface as she realized what she¡¯d said, and how she¡¯d said it.
But to her surprise, Tara just lay the back of her head against the side of the pool and laughed.
¡°You really ain¡¯t the same bunny girl that started this journey, huh?¡± she said. ¡°I remember when you used to stutter every second word that came outta your mouth. Now, here you are, a badass little spellcaster who knows exactly what she¡¯s fightin¡¯ for. And here I am, still just as fucked up as ever. You¡¯d almost think I hadn¡¯t learned anything, right?¡±
Tara stopped for a second, watching the little Drytchlings paddle in the pond, making tiny waves with their claws and looking up at their parents for approval.
¡°Maybe I haven¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°Maybe the Archon should¡¯ve swapped me out for a less damaged Minxit ages ago. I mean, what the fuck must he think of me now?¡±
For a few moments, Tara felt more alone than she¡¯d felt in an age. She let her words hang in the air, as thick and heavy as the steam rolling up in a dense sheet from the hot water around them.
And then, suddenly, she felt Fauna¡¯s head knock against her body.
¡°Well¡I think you¡¯re pretty great.¡±
The word ¡®cringe¡¯ was a word Ethan had taught her ¨C and she wanted to bellow it so much at that moment that not doing so almost killed her.
But she didn¡¯t. Instead, Tara let her own head fall against her sister¡¯s, and they both sat together in the waters of the Albion, listening to eachothers¡¯ hearts and remembering what they were really fighting for.
¡
Malak led Ethan and Klax to the very center of the Albion, where two of his Druid brothers were waiting with Drytchling guards besdie them.
¡°It¡¯s time,¡± the old man said.
The aged brothers moved aside (honestly, everyone and everything in this place was old beyond all reason) and revealed an opening in the bark of the tree. Malak, Klax and Ethan stepped through into the hollow of the tree, a great void filled with nothing but uncanny darkness.
Then, something rose from the floor.
The ground shook, and for a moment Ethan made ready to unsheathe Greybane, thinking old Malak had just lured them into a trap, but Sys¡¯ senses told him otherwise.
Ethan, Sys said. Look¡
In the center of the tree¡¯s innards a bulky creature was rising ¨C its height stretching up to the first branches of the Albion itself. It¡¯s broad shoulders hunched, shaking off excess dirt from its thick oaken limbs as though it had been getting ready for this occasion for its entire life. Its hollow eyes fixed on Ethan and its mouth opened in a dull roar that showed rows of bark-encrusted teeth that, just like the claws that stretched themselves out at the end of the creature¡¯s arms, looked like they could tear clean through the flesh of any man before he could do anything to stop it. It¡¯s massive chest opened to reveal a living core of light ¨C a blazing honeycomb heart that filled the bowels of the tree in luminescence, like a thousand fireflies dazzling the forests of the night. And its feet ended in two bulky stumps which it promptly stamped on the ground, announcing itself to its visitors.
Then, to Ethan¡¯s surprise, it knelt before him.
Drytchling Prime
LVL 100
HP: 1500/1500
His little Salamandrike Host suddenly felt psychologically dominated by this beast¡
¡°I think we all know what it wants,¡± Klax said, a smirk flickering across his face.
Malak nodded at the creature, bowing in veneration. ¡°The Child of the Albion has one purpose,¡± he said. ¡°To await the day of your coming, and to be your weapon against the Red Mage. The one who calls himself¡Haylock.¡±
He said the Doctor¡¯s name like it was tinged with secret power. It was as though here, in the bowels of his great tree, was the only place that name could be said in safety.
¡°You know our Doctor friend, huh?¡±
Malak nodded grimly. ¡°He had committed himself to the devastation and twisting of the earth and all things within it,¡± he growled. ¡°His abominations overrun the city of Sentinel when the Greycloaks stormed Lucent. He has been expanding his¡projects, since then. He seeks our forest. He seeks any who resist his touch.¡±
Malak turned then to Ethan and shivered. His old bones had suddenly gotten just that little bit older.
¡°You have felt it, haven¡¯t you?¡± he asked. ¡°The invisible fingers he slips inside your veins.¡±
I mean, if you say it like that¡
But Ethan knew how it felt, all right. He¡¯d remember that feeling till the day he died. He¡¯d remember the terror-stricken faces of his teammates as they were made to attack him.
And he vowed he¡¯d never let it happen again.
¡°So, you want to help me fight him,¡± Ethan said simply. ¡°And you¡¯re giving me exactly the right body to fight him with. A bloodless one, and a powerful one.¡±
The eyes of the Drytchling Prime flicked up at Ethan suddenly. This was, without a doubt, the first time he¡¯d be possessing a Host willingly.
¡°Will you do it?¡± Malak asked him cautiously. ¡°Will you put on the mantle of the Albion, and be its champion?¡±
Ethan looked to Klax who nodded, understanding.
¡°I didn¡¯t come this far to lose to some sadistic blood mage,¡± Ethan said as he commanded his Salamandrike to place him on the head of the Drytchling Prime. It was like the crowning ceremony for some new, oaken King of the forest.
And as Ethan gained control of his Host, he realized just how apt that sentiment was:
NEW HOST DETECTED
[Drytchling Prime] LVL 100
HP: 1500/1500
Skill Transfer from prior Host: Skitter [Grade C]
[Core Skills]
Vine Boom (Grade D)
Root March (Grade C)
Barkskin Cuirass (Grade D)
Thorn Hail (Grade C)
Roar (OVERWRITTEN)
Albion Authority (Grade D)
Spirit Cores: 400
The eyes of the Oaken King opened and blazed red, as its mind was filled with the fire of its new master.
¡°Alright,¡± Ethan said through its throat. ¡°Let¡¯s wipe the dumb smirk off that good Doctor¡¯s face.¡±
95. [True] Power
¡°Well, someone¡¯s lookin¡¯ a lot¡stiffer than usual.¡±
The group had met up in the quarters Malak and the druids provided them on the topmost balcony of the Grove. The room was simple, five beds set with vines and twisting branches, as though they had been grown from the bowels of the Albion tree itself. Their soft mattresses were, however, strangely soft to the touch.
Everyone was here except Lamphrey, who had been sighted walking the Grove with some druid guides. Ethan was fine with that. The lizardwoman was in her own little world, most of the time. Let her learn what she could about this place, maybe her eyes could find out things they couldn¡¯t.
But he¡¯d have to talk to her soon. There were too many questions eating at him about that old gal¡
In the meantime, he winked at Tara with his new oaken eyes.
¡°You could say I¡¯m a stickler for power. Eh?¡±
¡°What the Archon lacks in humor, he makes up for in strength,¡± Klax chuckled from his bed.
¡°Lucky us he don¡¯t need dad jokes to kick ass, especially against our new enemies.¡±
Ethan bristled against the assault on his sense of humor, even as Tara¡¯s allusion to the Doctor filled everyone with a collective shiver.
¡°It felt¡awful,¡± Fauna said, busy playing with one of the Drytchling infants in her bed. ¡°That magic ¨C his magic ¨C it¡¯s old, and forbidden. I can¡¯t believe the Greycloaks let him be the guardian of their prison.¡±
¡°Can¡¯t you?¡± Tara asked. ¡°Way I see it, those bastards don¡¯t care about the means. It¡¯s all about ends. Now that that bitch Argent¡¯s dead, though, the old Doctor¡¯s on his own.¡±
¡°Which means he is vulnerable,¡± Klax nodded. ¡°But we must proceed with caution. Any wrong move, and he could slay the prisoners before we make it to the island.¡±
An awkward silence descended. It was clear that Tara still wasn¡¯t sure Jun¡¯Ei was even alive.
¡°I¡¯m not sure about that,¡± Ethan said. Then, as Klax¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°He¡¯s¡a certain type of guy, this Doctor. I can¡¯t explain it but as he worked his magic on me, I could feel it. The sick sense of satisfaction he gets from playing with his enemies. He sees them as toys. He¡¯s like a cat, torturing its prey. He wants us to come to him. He wants the chase, and the thrill of being hunter and hunted all at once. He enjoys it.¡±
The party stared at him, questioning the strange anger that had come over his eyes.
¡°I can see it in the head of this Host,¡± Ethan explained. ¡°This ¡®Doctor¡¯ has been around here for years ¨C for the past century at least. He doesn¡¯t care if he lives or dies. He doesn¡¯t care if anybody lives or dies. All he wants is¡control¡¡±
Ethan stopped, came back to his senses.
¡°You know what? I think I¡¯m gonna stick to making inappropriate jokes.¡±
¡°Rather get some shut eye,¡± Klax yawned. ¡°We have a big day of training tomorrow before we¡¯re ready to take the fight to the Blood Mage.¡±
Everyone agreed.
¡°Faun?¡± Klax asked before lights out. ¡°Faun ¨C come on, you have to get rid of that thing¡¡±
¡°His name is Sir Woodward,¡± Fauna huffed, feigning a pout. ¡°And he wants to stay here with us¡¡±
While they bickered like a father and his wayward daughter, Tara took Ethan aside.
¡°Listen,¡± she said. ¡°About earlier¡¡±
But the oak-skinned Archon held up a sharp claw.
¡°It¡¯s forgotten about, Tara,¡± he said with a wooden grin. ¡°You could say, I¡¯ve grown past it.¡±
¡
Ethan spent most of his remaining time in the Grove adjusting to his new form. The Drytchling was another humanoid, sure, but its slim form was deceptively cumbersome to move.
His old form, meanwhile, had been given the choice. He¡¯d looked down at the little Salamandrike when he¡¯d assumed control of the Drytchling Prime, and the little critter had seemed rather bemused by all accounts. It cocked its head at him as he told it that it now had a choice, stay and fight with them, or [Skitter] off back to the surface.
It had chosen the latter, and he¡¯d allowed it to leave the Grove in peace. Who knows? Maybe like Theo the Undead Slaying Rat, the little guy would become some almighty hero to his people one day.
In any case, with the Salamandrike gone, he turned his efforts to training ¨C to mastering his new body and its plethora of skills.
With Tara and Fauna as his cheerleaders, he mastered the Root March skill first, attuning his body to the roots of the grand Albion tree and using it to move around the Grove freely (albeit with a few mishaps¡let¡¯s just say he¡¯d ended up in a few rooms he hadn¡¯t meant to the first few times around¡and seen some very old, very naked Druid ass that he hadn¡¯t bargained for¡)
He sparred with the girls to practice his new Vine Boom ¨C an intricate series of quick attacks that compensated for his relative lack of AOE attacks besides the aftereffects of Dive. The whip-like splinters that he launched with the attack proved to be more than effective at keeping numerous foes at bay ¨C but an unintended side-effect of the skill was the fact the vines could intercept projectiles ¨C including magical ones. Tara¡¯s enchanted knives were batted away, and Fauna¡¯s spectral missiles were dissipated as soon as his vines touched them. So, really, Vine Boom doubled as both an offensive and defensive tool to be added to his arsenal. Thorn Hail, meanwhile, added a new spread attack to his arsenal. Using it, he produced a series of blistering thorns from his wooden skin that could cause [Bleeding] damage over time. Combined with Poison Coating, these could put a big dent in even the most heavily armored creature.
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As Ethan trained, Klax meditated with Malak and the Druid circle, seemingly more at peace than he¡¯d ever been in a long while. Ethan could sense the change in him, these days. The prospect of Jun¡¯Ei being in the clutches of that Blood Mage Doctor had chilled him, but it hadn¡¯t managed to quieten his resolve. He¡¯d said the night before that she was alive. And he was right. He had to be. So, he gave his Archon all the time he needed to prepare for the assault to come.
And it would be an assault ¨C of that, old Malak was certain. Ethan would have to break through the Doctor¡¯s defenses at Sentinel. And, if what the old codger said was true, they were extensive.
Then there was the matter of protecting his companions.
¡°We can bestow each one of you with a piece of the Albion bark,¡± Malak told them when they stubbornly refused to let Ethan go to the town alone. ¡°It will provide temporary protection against the Red One¡¯s Blood Magic. But the effects will only last for, at best, nine hours. I strongly recommend you remain with us, here in the Grove, and await the Archon¡¯s wo-¡°
Ethan held up a barkskin hand. ¡°No point arguing with these guys,¡± he explained. ¡°Afraid they¡¯ve made their minds up. Where I go, they go.¡±
¡°Damn right,¡± Tara hissed.
Preparations were already underway. They¡¯d attack at night ¨C in about 5 hours. That¡¯s when the Spectator unit¡¯s visibility would be low. And it¡¯s when most of the humans would be out of commission. Even if they were slaves to that lunatic, they still needed rest like any other beings.
Ethan thought of Malak¡¯s words when he¡¯d voiced his desire to convert the humans to their cause. They were words that seemed all too familiar ¨C words he¡¯d heard time and time again in his capacity as the new Archon of Argwyll:
They are already too far down the path of wretchedness. Fear has taught them to obey. Fear will teach them to fight you every step of the way. And, in a way, it is that fear that shall kill them.
He didn¡¯t know why, but it was those words that made him wander tonight, away from his friends at the base of the Albion tree, and look for the one person who didn¡¯t seem to be joining in on the fun.
He found her at the highest balcony overlooking the Grove, silently observing everyone from above, apart and aloof.
¡°Nice evening for a stroll, ain¡¯t it?¡±
She barely turned as she replied, ¡°The moon of Argwyll is down, Archon. This hour is that most favored by our kind.¡±
By ¡®our kind¡¯, he didn¡¯t really know what she meant.
He came to stand beside her, Drychling fingers synthesizing with the wooden beams of the balcony, feeling the brimming, blooming life of the great tree they were connected to.
¡°There¡¯s a reason you decided to come with me,¡± he told her. ¡°And it¡¯s not out of the goodness of your heart.¡±
He didn¡¯t know what made him speak those words. They were neither an accusation, nor a question.
She sighed, a smile picking at the corners of her scaled mouth.
¡°I do not deny that I am here for my own reasons, my Archon.¡±
¡°But you won¡¯t tell me what they are?¡±
¡°I cannot answer a question I do not yet know the answer to.¡±
Ethan fought against the desire to roll his three available eyes ¨C just a tad. He didn¡¯t know why he expected anything more than a philosophical answer from the old snake.
He was beginning to regret starting this conversation at all. And yet, somehow, he couldn¡¯t doubt that bringing her with him had been the right decision.
¡°So¡you know you¡¯re here for yourself, but you don¡¯t know¡exactly¡what you¡¯ll get out of this.¡±
She smiled. ¡°A more succinct summary of life I could not make, my Archon.¡±
He couldn¡¯t say he shared her humor. In fact, every word that dripped from her mouth was chilling him. But more pertinent was Fauna¡¯s warning, echoing in his mind, coupled with his own suspicions.
¡°Malak said that I called him to us in the forest,¡± he said. ¡°But that¡¯s not true, is it? The fact is, you called him to us.¡±
Her smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°The mind is my weapon, Archon Ethan. I wield it just as you wield the powers your System bestows on you. As the Blood fiend twisted my body, my mind reached out. It found those nearby who were convenient for us. And they have given us what we need.¡±
¡°You¡¯re talking about these guys like they¡¯re nothing but pawns, Lamphrey,¡± Ethan replied, staring down at Fauna playing with the baby Drytchlings below, then laughing as they nipped at Tara¡¯s tail.
¡°Aren¡¯t they?¡±
The chill in her voice was unmistakable, now. He looked at her, through her veil, and saw there was no humor in her eyes.
¡°What do you want, Lamphrey?¡± he asked. It was the only question on his mind.
And she answered him with far more bluntness than he¡¯d come to expect from her: ¡°I want only what I chose to want a long time ago ¨C to be a guide to the Archon, no matter who wears that mantle.¡±
Ethan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°And where is it you want to guide me, exactly?¡±
¡°Towards the truth, which you are so close to, and yet lack the proper eyes to see,¡± she said, perhaps more vehemently than she¡¯d meant to. When Ethan¡¯s eyes held firm, questioning her in silence, she explained:
¡°Kaedmon¡¯s Law can be broken, but it is a symptom of a greater problem: the problem of duality. Of good and evil.¡±
She looked up into the tallest branches of the Albion tree, her old eyes seeming to twist round its every branch and twig as they moved forwards its center.
¡°Evil rises, is defeated by Good, and on and on it goes ad-infinitum. Every century, a new Archon, a new Lightborn, and all the while the people of the world suffer unimaginable cruelties, their civilizations devastated and rebuilt over and over again. One may overturn Kaedmon¡¯s Law, but replacing it with another divine mandate would be like plugging a hole in the ocean with sandpaper.¡±
Ethan nodded, understanding. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that trying to re-write the Law is pointless, then?¡±
Her neutral gaze betrayed nothing out of the ordinary. And yet, he got the sense that this was some pivotal junction ¨C that the question he¡¯d just asked was far more important than he thought it was.
¡°Control,¡± she said. ¡°Over your destiny, and over your self. That is why you came here, Ethan, is it not?¡±
He nodded again, slowly. He couldn¡¯t lie. Not to her.
¡°You wish for control, Ethan, because it has been denied to you your entire life. But if that is so, then why do you help these humans and their Grove? Because it furthers your goal of finding the Prophet Jun¡¯Ei? Of saving these Hybrids? The notion is cyclical. All these goals were given to you. Bestowed on you on a whim, just like they were on every Archon before you. You have had no more say in coming here than any of us had when we were born, crying out in pain and confusion, into this world of constant strife.¡±
He couldn¡¯t fault her logic. But his mind raged against her conclusion.
¡°I¡¯ve been given power, and the means to attain more. Are you asking me to just stop?¡±
Her face changed as he asked that question. She wore the kind of expression that made you feel like an idiot for saying something that was so obviously ludicrous.
And yet, even as she whispered softly to him her reply, he still couldn¡¯t understand what she meant:
¡°True power cannot be given,¡± she said.¡°It comes from the self, or it does not come at all.¡±
He double-blinked, thinking of all the times he¡¯d been there to talk his party members out of some mental blockade, or quiet the resurgence of a traumatic memory. As she walked away from him with a slight bow, he stood at the balcony dumbfounded, his new lambent eyes glowing with confusion.
Had he just been psychoanalyzed?
¡°You don¡¯t want me to take Kaedmon¡¯s place, do you?¡± he asked.
She stopped, shifting her veil slightly, her tail arching up her back in silent admission.
¡°When you asked me back in Triant if I wanted to become a God¡was that a test?¡±
He saw the side of her head tilt towards him, and the corners of her mouth shift ever so slightly in a smile before she walked away, leaving the Archon to his thoughts.
But there was one person in the Grove who had been listening to the whole conversation. Keen-eared and sharp-eyed, Fauna the Hopla unsummoned her Mage Eye at the base of the balcony and kept up her charade of playing with the Drytchling infants at the foot of the Albion tree, not letting her inner distress be known to those around her.
96. Before the [Storm]
Albionic Authority: Activated
The roots of the earth sprung up as Ethan flexed his new claws, wrapping Tara up like a kitten being swaddled by her lonely owner on a winter¡¯s evening after a hard day at the office. She tumbled, writhed against the thick roots that now bound her, and pouted up at Ethan.
¡°Well, unless you¡¯ve got any funny ideas, I think it¡¯s safe to say we can stop with the training today, eh?¡±
Ethan chuckled and flexed his claw, releasing her.
That skill was an interesting one for sure ¨C with it, the very earth itself became his weapon:
Albionic Authority: Grade C
You command any plant life directly connected to the earth to fight for you for 30 seconds. Effects differ based on plant life affected
Spirit Cores Required to Upgrade further: 950
He stared up at the great Albion tree that loomed above the Grove itself. For a moment he wondered what would happen if he tried this skill on it. Around them was nothing but the solid foundations of the earth itself, as well as the Drytchlings who pitter-pottered around the tree without a care in the world. Would they really obey him just because he wore the body of their champion?
Something he¡¯d try another day.
Instead, he unshackled Tara and helped her up.
¡°You ready for another fight?¡± she asked his glowing eyes. ¡°Because you know that this time, you¡¯ll probably have to fight against humans again. And not Greycloaks.¡±
Ethan considered this, watching the Drytchling infants as they paddled in the Albion pond with their ¡®parents¡¯ (if the tree-creatures could be considered parents in the traditional sense at all).
¡°We focus on the Doctor¡¯s minions like we planned,¡± he told her. ¡°If humans try and get in our way, we push through them. But you know my rule on that.¡±
The Minxit gave a heavy sigh. ¡°Yeah, yeah. ¡®Disable but don¡¯t kill. They¡¯re slaves, that¡¯s all.¡¯¡±
Ethan smirked. ¡°Now you¡¯re getting it.¡±
They watched the bark-skinned creatures continue their paddling, their throats croaking in joy as the human druids came among them to join in.
¡°One thing¡¯s for certain,¡± Tara said. ¡°This world just gets weirder and weirder.¡±
She seemed transfixed by the creatures ¨C as though something was suddenly amiss. But Ethan was far more preoccupied with going over the battle plan in his head. Malak and he had devised a strategy that would allow them to break through the defenses of Sentinel and the control the Doctor had on the port town¡¯s population. The old druid wasn¡¯t helping them for nothing ¨C he wanted to give the humans of the town the opportunity to join his Order rather than suffer under the yolk of their Blood Mage master.
The plan was simple ¨C Ethan would slip passed the Doctor¡¯s Flesh Golem troops using his Root March ability. He¡¯d throw the city gates open and then his team would secure the town center. After that, they simply had to do one more thing ¨C something which Malak had assured them would win them the town in a matter of seconds.
¡°Plant this in the town¡¯s fountain,¡± he had said ¨C offering Ethan a small, seemingly insignificant acorn from the bark of the great Albion tree. ¡°And the beauty of the Grove shall be brought back to the land. Then shall we have safe passage to the castle of the Griffon. We shall assault it together, Archon, and the world shall know that you have returned.¡±
Ethan grimaced. ¡°I¡¯d settle for just taking the Doctor guy down. Let the world say whatever it wants, but that old bastard¡¯s gotta die.¡±
He and the team had agreed to the plan, even as Fauna and Lamphrey had locked eyes and displayed the same hints of animosity Ethan had seen between them before. He¡¯d have to ask Fauna about that sometime. There was something going on between those two¡
¡°¡no way.¡±
Ethan turned, catching Tara whispering to herself.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked.
The Minxit was fascinated by the Drytchlings ¨C particularly the way the little ones were calling out to their parents in the pond, and the way those same parents lowered their bark-skinned arms, stroked the twig-like hair of the infants, and smiled down at them with joy in their otherwise hollow eyes.
¡°¡n-nothing,¡± she said, forcing herself to turn away. ¡°How about another bout?¡±
¡
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Klax hummed a tuneless rhythm as he meditated alone at the apex of the Albion tree.
He¡¯d spoken with the brothers and sisters of Malak¡¯s Order, and they¡¯d explained the serenity that the surface of the Albion offered them. It was no exaggeration ¨C just sitting here, touching the bark of the great tree with his paws, made him feel like he was connected to the earth. Almost more than that ¨C he was connected to the life that flowed through all things.
He breathed deep, inhaling the clear, pure air, and tried to banish the thoughts of that devil Haylock from his mind. What tortures he must have unleashed on Jun¡¯Ei¡what she must have endured for countless years while he was too much of a coward to seek her out¡that thought was both a weight, and a compulsion to action. He¡¯d find her, save her, and crush that ¡®Doctor¡¯ beneath his heel.
Such thoughts were almost soothing to him now. He¡¯d expected that, the closer he got to her, the more he¡¯d fly into panic mode. But ever since the City of Illusions, where he¡¯d almost seen his life and those of the only family he¡¯d ever had ended in a flash, he¡¯d been strangely calm.
So, when he heard the shuffling of feet beside him, and the sound of old bones creaking as they bid their master crouch beside him, he barely even moved a muscle. There was nothing to fear from this place. He was convinced of it.
The voice belonged to who he expected it would.
¡°For me, it is the knees,¡± Malak said. ¡°Yourself?¡±
¡°Teeth,¡± Klax smiled. ¡°At my age, my canines just aren¡¯t as sharp as they used to be.¡±
Both men chuckled.
¡°It is a beautiful night,¡± Malak said.
¡°It is indeed, Druid Malak. But your Grove is by far the most beautiful sight I¡¯ve seen on the surface of Argwyll.¡±
The old man gave a small, goodhearted chuckle.
¡°It is home,¡± he said. ¡°It has always been my home, and fort that I am grateful. But soon I will no longer be able to sit quietly as I once did ¨C as you do now. Change is coming to this world, and we of the Order shall be its vanguard.¡±
Klax opened his eyes, seeing the lines of age in the old man¡¯s face. Humans rarely lived as long as Hybrids did, and at that their bodies tended to fail them as the years went on. Many humans of Argwyll had written extensively of their mortality ¨C lamenting that their frail deeds would mean nothing against the constantly wheel of time.
But most old men made peace with this notion when they got to Malak¡¯s age. Klax saw no such peace in the old human¡¯s eyes.
¡°You understand this, don¡¯t you?¡± Malak asked him suddenly, his hands petting the bark of the Albion beneath him affectionately, like it were some kind of domesticated pet. ¡°Out of all your companions, even the Archon Himself, you seem the most attuned to your spirit, Klax. You led your people in the last great battle against the Greycloaks. You know that this world is in a dire state of decay, and in need of correction.¡±
Klax nodded, cautious.
¡°As long as such correction is right, and just,¡± he replied.
Malak smiled at him. ¡°Our cause is just. Of that, there is no doubt. We will bring the peace of the Grove to the world, and destroy those who would seek to control our destinies.¡±
¡°I am¡surprised that there are humans who oppose Kaedmon¡¯s Law,¡± Klax admitted. ¡°As I understand it, you are his ¡°Chosen People¡¯.
Malak winced at the word, and then gestured to his old, wrinkled chest.
¡°We are born into this world shackled,¡± he said. ¡°Chained. For me, I was chained to the earth. When I first drew breath, before I even saw my mother¡¯s face, I was shown my class: [Druid]. The large, bold letters traced themselves over my eyes and then burned their meaning into my skull. I felt¡branded. And when I then looked into my mother¡¯s eyes, I saw pain.¡±
Klax nodded. ¡°She was not of the Druid class.¡±
¡°No,¡± Malak replied. ¡°She was a [Baker]. Someone destined to live in the walled settlements of civilization. She knew, upon her appraisal of me, that she could not hide me from the enforcers of Kaedmon. And so she sent me here, to discover my destiny for myself.¡±
The Albion tree shook suddenly, and Klax almost felt as though the thing were¡alive. Listening to Malak¡¯s words as though it had a heard that beat to the same tune as his.
¡°I sought to understand what my purpose was,¡± the Druid whispered. ¡°¡¯One who is devoted to the protection of nature¡¯. The words had no meaning for me. Those of the old Druid Order before we became the Fifth Pillar believed that protecting nature meant planting pretty flowers in gardens, ignoring the world outside the Grove. They were men who had blindly accepted their role. But I could not do it, Klax. Inside me was the will for something more.¡±
The old man then turned back to Klax with the same fiery eyes he¡¯d had before, only this time they seemed more focused. Present.
Klax knew exactly what he was thinking.
¡°You defined your role for yourself,¡± he said slowly. ¡°You sought to defend nature through fighting, not gardening.¡±
Malak nodded, ¡°Precisely. And thus, a Bounty was placed on my head and has been ever since I took command of the Grove. But the old Order is gone now, Klax. We have made this place our salvation. And you have come to help us spread this idea to the rest of the world ¨C that we can be whatever we want!¡±
Klax shifted uncomfortably.
This man may be old, but he has the spirit of youth still about him. The spirit of righteous anger.
The Lycae let out a long sigh.
¡°I have felt as you do, Malak,¡± he said. ¡°But such anger never served me, and it is not why I¡¯m here now. Love is. And it is stronger.¡±
Malak blinked and then gave a little cough, backing away slightly.
¡°¡sometimes it is not as simple as that,¡± he said.
¡°What?¡±
¡°Love,¡± the old man said. ¡°Love can blind us when we need to see the most. I loved once, Klax, but I did not see how it impeded my progress, and the progress of the Grove.¡±
The old man stood suddenly, apparently concluding whatever he¡¯d come here to do. Klax looked up at him, sensing some sudden impulse to flee the scene. Whatever was going on in the old druid¡¯s head was far more pressing than what was happening in Klax¡¯s.
¡°If we are going to replace Kaedmon¡¯s Law,¡± the Lycae said. ¡°We will need to replace it with something more than just fury. Love, not hate, will bring the world peace. As a Druid, you must¡¡±
Malak turned suddenly and looked away, deep into the darkest tunnels of his home.
¡°I have tried, Klax,¡± he said with a sad smile. ¡°But some men do not require love. They forfeit that luxury when they assume the mantle of leadership ¨C when they become more than just pawns in someone else¡¯s game. They learn to let love go, so that their ideals can flourish, and so that evil can be banished from the realm. Men like me. And men like you.¡±
The wolf met the eyes of the human with a sense of primal fear. His words were not those spoken by the aged, and the decrepit. They were words spoken by a very different kind of man. And when the Druid bid Klax goodnight, it was with this same, chilling voice:
¡°Goodnight, good wolf,¡± he said. ¡°When the dawn comes, we shall change this world. For the better.¡±
97. [Night] falls on [Sentinel] (Part 1)
Night fell in a quiet blanket over the port town of Sentinel.
The harbormen had just finished loading their crates of supplies onto the last ship of the day ¨C the steel-clad tug bound for Griffon¡¯s Watch with food and drink for the Doctor and his servants. The laborers watched the ship sail off into the misty waters that would convey it to the gothic castle on its little isolated island and shuddered as they proceeded to carry their tired bodies back home to bed.
The town was a simple affair ¨C brick and mortal buildings and trade houses, a pub and a marketplace dominated its streets. But its most notable feature was the high curtain wall that protected it and its gate from the rest of Westerweald. The only interactions the town had with the outside world were deliveries of prisoners and the odd trade caravans that came, always in the early morning when the dense fog of the Triant forest wandered into their midst. Lining the high wall were human guards posted beside the grisly golems of the Doctor. Their barracks included at least a full regiment of fully equipped Flesh monsters that kept any and all threats to the town at bay. They gave the good Doctor Haylock fresh supplies from their fields, and he gave them protection against the darkness of the world out there, and the Archon that was still at large¡
They said that nobody ever left the town of Sentinel, and nobody had any reason to.
Its people were good, Kaedmon abiding humans. Even at night, when the thick, ghostly fog came to wrap itself around their streets and ice their windows, the people of Sentinel stood firm in their belief that they were born in exactly the right place, and exactly the right time in history. Their town would be famous one day. After all, it was said that the Doctor had himself done battle with the Archon recently and laid it low. No matter what people said about good Doctor Haylock, he was a man who could be trusted. The Greycloaks trusted him, so how could anyone deny this fact?
By far the grandest building in all the city, however, was the lighthouse ¨C a towering turret of steel and stone, shining its guiding ray into the tumultuous seas beyond the harbor bounds. Tonight, Lighthouse keeper Gimmel was on duty as usual, but, with the last ship being pushed out to sail and no new supplies due for at least a week, he decided he¡¯d take the time to develop his new hobby.
[Lighthouse Keeper] Gimmel was a Kaedmon-abiding human, to be sure, but he was also a man with a simple dream: he had been tending a little vegetable patch at the back of his workplace for the past fortnight, and his tomatoes had started to ripen.
¡°There you are, little one,¡± he whispered to the newest sapling ¨C seeing its red bulb begin to appear through the leaves. ¡°Come on¡come on¡¡±
His mother had been one of the [Druid] castle who used to run this part of the world. Gimmel was no heretic, and he had never known his mother well. But, somewhere in his old bones was a tiny notion he couldn¡¯t quite shake from him. His duty, bestowed to him by holy decree, was to watch the seas. But a little piece of him, he couldn¡¯t explain how, but it wanted nothing more than to tend the earth.
He remembered his mother kept plants before she was taken away to live in the Grove nearby, as befit her Class. He remembered her telling him that it was good to speak to your saplings. It helped them grow. ¡®Coaxed¡¯ them, somehow. Gimmel smiled at the heresy of it all.
¡°Come on ¨C that¡¯s it!¡± he whispered at his new budding plantling. ¡°Come on, little one, almost there¡almost¡¡±
What he then saw caused his heart to give out. For a few moments, he simply stared forward, hands shaking in disbelief.
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Because that red bulb was no tomato.
It was an eyeball.
An eyeball that winked at him and spoke.
¡°Heya, beardy,¡± it said. ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind us dropping in.¡±
¡
When it was over, Ethan stretched his oaken limbs and looked down upon the town and its great fortress-wall with dispassion.
¡°Gotta say the human towns are less interesting than the hybrid ones, or the Druid ones.¡±
¡°Just figuring that out?¡± Tara asked, tightening the rope round the old Lighthouse Keeper and making sure he was asleep. Fauna¡¯s magic had seen to that quite nicely.
¡°Remember the plan,¡± Ethan said as he and his teammates formed up at the base of the great structure. ¡°I go in as a Mimic, drop the seed in the fountain, and meanwhile you guys capture one of the ships and we ride out to meet Doctor Frankenweenie.¡±
They all nodded, even Lamphrey.
¡°And if things go sour,¡± Fauna said, ¡°you know you can just call us.¡±
Ethan nodded back to her, scanning the walls of the curtain to see Flesh Golems patrolling its turrets, sinister Spectator units with their creepy, unblinking eyes totally focused on the world outside, blissfully unaware that their town had already been infiltrated.
He had to smile at that. [Root March] had allowed him to travel towards the nearest roots set deep into the earth ¨C and the old Lighthouse keeper¡¯s tomato patch had been just perfect for that purpose. His training sessions, combined with killing a few dozen creatures in the Triant forest, had allowed him to upgrade the skill to unlock its [Mass March] property, allowing him to take even his companions through the roots with him.
Though, judging by how Klax couldn¡¯t stop coughing up dirt, the journey was hardly without incident.
¡°That¡¯s¡ugh,¡± the old wolf groaned. ¡°Perhaps being ¡®one with the earth¡¯ is not all these Druids make it out to be.¡±
At the mention of the Druids, Ethan held aloft the seed Malak had given him the night before, turning the thing over between his thumb and forefinger.
He¡¯d had enough experience with seeds in this world to know that their appearances could be deceptive.
¡°You think it came from Gyko?¡± he asked Lamphrey suddenly.
The old lizardwoman shook her head.
¡°The roots of the Albion are older even than your late sister, Archon Ethan,¡± she replied. ¡°This seed is a thing of power, what it shall do is replicate. But to what end, I do not know.¡±
¡°I do,¡± Klax growled. ¡°Malak wants to take control of this place. That seed¡¯ll let him do it.¡±
¡°So what?¡± Ethan asked. ¡°Let the old man have this village, we¡¯ve got bigger fish to fry.¡±
Klax and Fauna hesitated. Lamphrey said nothing.
And Tara ¨C well ¨C she reacted as expected.
¡°So long as it fucks up those ugly big bastards, that¡¯s good enough for me.¡±
Ethan nodded. The ranks of the Golems were clearly bolstered here. They probably had a whole army hidden in the town. With the seed of the Albion, Ethan and his crew could take this place out in one swell swoop, and leave the humans to Malak and his Druids while they kicked some Doctor ass.
¡°Just remember,¡± he told them, ¡°If you guys run into trouble, call me.¡±
He nodded at the Memory Rune inscribed on his left hand. Strangely enough, it was the one physical feature that seemed to follow him now from Host to Host.
Lamphrey had provided it with a little upgrade just before they set out on their mission.
¡°Simply focus,¡± she said, inscribing an extra sigil on his hollowed-out skin. ¡°And you shall be able to project your voice through the air to us.¡±
¡°Telepathy?¡±
¡°More or less. Though the range is limited. For the attack to come, it shall suffice.¡±
The team nodded again as Fauna re-applied her sleep spell to the old Lighthouse keeper just before he woke up and gave the game away.
¡°Alright,¡± Ethan said in a hushed whisper. ¡°You know the music. Time to dance.¡±
Fauna hesitated.
¡°Are you sure you need to go alone?¡± she asked. ¡°We could cover you.¡±
Ethan shook his twig-filled head. ¡°A stealthy approach is the best way. Besides, I doubt even Mass Hide can keep you guys from being seen from those Spectators. Stay here, lay low, and when the seed is dropped, take advantage of the chaos.¡±
Ethan couldn¡¯t help but grin. Malak had told him exactly what the little seed could do once it was ¡®activated¡¯. The Doctor and his minions were in for a rude awakening.
He closed his eyes, touched the dozing face of his victim, and slowly felt his barkskin and his hatty form fade away, merging into one single, whole, fleshy form.
¡°Alright,¡± he said in the voice of the old man. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±
98. [Night] falls on [Sentinel] (Part 2)
Ethan adjusted the brim of the old Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s hat, pulling it low to cast a shadow over his face. The cobbled streets of Sentinel¡¯s second port glistened with rain, a slick sheen reflecting the spectral blue glow of the lighthouse in the distance. The air smelled of salt and decay, mingling with the faint, ghostly whispers that seemed to emanate from the crumbling buildings.
He kept his gait slow, steady, the worn walking stick tapping against the stones with each step. His disguise had held well so far, aided by his newly upgraded [Mimic] skill, which had even allowed him to emulate the Keeper¡¯s slight hunch and occasional cough.
But this city was alive with suspicion, even amidst its decay. Every shadow felt like a watching eye, every passerby a potential enemy.
As he neared the central square where the fountain stood, a group of dockhands stumbled out of a nearby tavern, their voices loud and slurred.
"Keeper!" one of them bellowed, pointing a calloused finger at Ethan. "Old man! Oi, Keeper! Come have a drink with us! You¡¯ve been holed up in that tower too long!"
Ethan cursed silently, forcing a raspy chuckle to his lips. "Ah, lads," he croaked, "these bones ain¡¯t made for merriment anymore. You enjoy yourselves."
He was no actor, not in his past life, or his new one. He just hoped he could make a convincing enough impression¡
"Don¡¯t be like that, ya old codger," one of the men chimed in, staggering closer. His breath reeked of cheap rum. "Come on, just one drink. It¡¯s Skylamp Night tomorrow, ain¡¯t it? Gotta celebrate, eh?"
The others roared in agreement, their cheer echoing unnaturally in the quiet, foreboding street. Ethan¡¯s grip on his walking stick tightened. He couldn¡¯t afford to waste time on these fools.
With a flick of his wrist, Ethan activated his [Minor Illusion] skill, his voice laced with silent amusement. From the distance came the shrill cries of women¡¯s voices:
¡°Jarek! Get your ass home right now!¡±
¡°Bors, if I catch you in that tavern again, I¡¯ll skin you alive!¡±
The men froze, their eyes darting nervously toward the sound. "Ah, bloody hell," one muttered. "The wives. We¡¯re dead if they catch us out here."
"Later, Keeper!" another said hurriedly as they staggered off into the shadows, leaving Ethan alone once more.
He sighed, watching them disappear down an alley. "Works every time," he muttered, resuming his walk toward the fountain.
¡
The square was desolate, the fountain at its center cracked and weathered from centuries of use. A ghostly mist lingered over the area, the faint trickle of water mingling with the ever-present whispers of Sentinel¡¯s haunted streets. Ethan reached into his cloak, his fingers brushing against the smooth, pulsating surface of the Albion tree¡¯s seed. Malak¡¯s instructions had been clear: plant the seed in the heart of the port and let its magic take root.
As he approached the fountain, Ethan hesitated, his eyes scanning the empty square. The faces of the few humans he¡¯d passed earlier flitted through his mind¡ªpale, gaunt, eyes sunken with fear and hunger. This wasn¡¯t a place of joy, not anymore. The world had bled them dry, just as it had bled Argwyll itself.
He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. He couldn¡¯t afford sympathy now. He¡¯d gone down that road before and knew exactly where it led.
And he remembered Lamphrey¡¯s words about where power truly lay in this world. Sketchy as fuck she might be, but the old Tialex was right about something: sympathy for those bound by Keadmon¡¯s Law wasn¡¯t going to work forever.
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You know, I could¡¯ve told you that¡
Ethan smiled at Sys¡¯s interjection.
I understand. It takes a mysterious lizardwoman mage to tell you something before you get it into you head.
You¡¯re always in my head, Sys, Ethan grinned in spite of their situation.
Sys harrumphed like he did, even though they¡¯d been far more in-sync than they¡¯d ever been before.
Still¡I¡¯d be careful of that one, he said. A woman as old as she is will have secrets, and you know she¡¯s got an aim of her own for being here. If she¡¯s really been an advisor to all the other Archons, doesn¡¯t that tell you something?
Ethan cocked his currently-human brow.
It means that the Archons clearly didn¡¯t think she was worth remembering, Sys explained. That whatever she wanted, she didn¡¯t get. And that you¡¯re her final shot.
Ethan nodded. There was truth in that. But he also couldn¡¯t deny the truth in Lamphrey¡¯s own words to him back in Triant. About his compassion for humanity. About believing everyone could march to the same tune of progress. He¡¯d made the mistake of believing that before.
And as this thought resolved itself within him, he felt his limbs harden and his hands reach instinctively for his hidden Onixia blade. It was a feeling similar to that which he felt when he¡¯d first faced Haylock¡¯s Golems back in the Triant forest. A feeling of¡frenzy. Lethality.
But this time, he didn¡¯t try to make it go away.
If he was really going to change this place for the better, he was going to have to learn to harden his heart. It wasn¡¯t going to help him in the long run.
¡
Rounding the final corner, Ethan¡¯s heart sank. Blocking his path was a hulking Flesh Golem, its grotesque form illuminated by the pale blue light of the lighthouse. The creature¡¯s patchwork body was a nightmarish amalgamation of human, hybrid, and beast limbs, its single Spectator eye glowing red in its torso.
"Curfew is in effect," the Golem droned, its voice a hollow echo. "The fountain zone is restricted. Return to your dwelling."
Ethan stopped, forcing a smile as he stepped closer. "Evening," he rasped in the Keeper¡¯s voice. "Just taking a stroll. You know how it is, these old legs need a stretch."
The Golem didn¡¯t move, its gaze fixed on him.
"You are not authorized," it said, taking a step forward. "Return to your dwelling."
Ethan¡¯s grip on his walking stick tightened. He¡¯d hoped to avoid a fight, but it seemed the Doctor¡¯s creations weren¡¯t as easily fooled as drunk dockhands.
With a resigned sigh, Ethan raised his hand, channeling his mana reserves.
[Mana Veil: Activated.]
Darkness exploded outward, swallowing the square in an impenetrable fog. The Golem¡¯s glowing eye flickered as it scanned the area, its lumbering steps growing more erratic.
In the Veil, Ethan was a shadow among shadows, moving with silent precision. He darted forward, Greybane appearing in his hands with a flash of silver.
The Spectator Golem turned just as Ethan drove the blade into its single eye. The creature let out a piercing shriek, its body convulsing as it crumpled to the ground in a heap of flesh and metal.
Ethan didn¡¯t wait to admire his handiwork. He sprinted to the fountain, pulling the seed from his cloak. The orb pulsed with a dark, otherworldly energy, its surface veined with crimson light. With a deep breath, he dropped it into the water.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the ground beneath him began to tremble with untapped power.
The fountain erupted in a shower of stone and water as a massive, thorny tree burst forth from its depths. Its black, gnarled branches reached skyward, twisting and writhing like living things. The air was filled with the sound of creaking wood and snapping bark as the tree grew, its roots spreading outward in a web of destruction.
A whole new Albion¡Ethan thought with a sly grin, savoring the twitching eyes of the devilish Spectators as they were lacerated by the newborn tree.
The first Flesh Golems from the vanguard that approached were impaled instantly, skewered by the tree¡¯s jagged branches. Their bodies hung limp, dripping with black ichor as the tree continued to expand.
Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile. "Malak," he muttered, "you¡¯re full of surprises."
But the battle wasn¡¯t over. An army of Flesh Golems was closing in, their heavy steps shaking the ground. The Spectator Golems among them glared at him with their unblinking eyes, their blood-red gazes promising retribution.
Ethan cracked his knuckles, his body shifting as he summoned his Drytchling Prime form. His emerald eyes shimmered in the darkness, oaken flesh brimming with thorns ready to snap these bastards apart.
Guys! He telepathed through his Memory Rune. We¡¯re into it now! Grab a boat and let¡¯s ditch this place.
He didn¡¯t know whether they heard him or not. The din of decimation that dominated the once quiet town was now so great that he couldn¡¯t even hear himself think.
But that was fine with him. He¡¯d been out of practice for far too long, and he had a whole new form to play with. And that other little part of his brain ¨C the part screaming out for action ¨C had just been well and truly activated.
He smiled, raising Greybane, its serrated edge glinting in the eerie light. "Let¡¯s dance."
99. Night falls on [Sentinel] (Part 3)
The shadows of Sentinel¡¯s docks were heavy with tension, a mix of salt and sweat hanging in the air as Tara, Klax, Fauna, and Lamphrey moved silently along the moonlit wooden planks. The sound of ringing alarms echoed through the town, blending with the frantic shouts of men scrambling to take up their positions.
Hidden in the deep recesses of the docks, the hybrids watched as humans prepared for an attack they believed was already underway. Tara crouched low behind a stack of barrels, her daggers gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"Would be so easy," she muttered, her gaze fixed on a group of dock workers rushing to secure the mooring lines. "Their necks are just¡ right there."
"Control yourself," Klax growled softly, his eyes scanning the scene. "We¡¯re here to take the ship, not start a massacre."
"Maybe you are," Tara replied with a toothy grin, but she stayed her blades, begrudgingly keeping her position.
Behind them, Lamphrey rolled her eyes and raised her staff, the tip glowing with an eerie green light. "We don¡¯t have time for this. Allow me."
She murmured a spell under her breath, the air around her rippling with faint psionic energy. The dock workers stiffened, their movements slowing as if weighed down by an unseen force. One by one, they crumpled to the ground, their breaths deepening as they were pulled into a dreamless sleep.
Tara sighed dramatically, sheathing her daggers. "Always with the magic. Where¡¯s the fun in that?"
"The fun," Lamphrey replied without looking at her, "is in not having the entire port up in arms before we accomplish our objective."
"Quiet, both of you," Klax said, his voice low and commanding. "We¡¯ve got more company."
The hybrids pressed themselves against the shadows as a group of armed soldiers marched past, their boots pounding against the dock¡¯s wooden planks. The soldiers moved with purpose, their leader barking orders as they fanned out.
"The Archon¡¯s here!" the man shouted. "Just like the Doctor said he would be. Get to your stations! The battle ship is ready to launch!"
At the word battleship, the hybrids¡¯ eyes followed the soldiers¡¯ direction, and they saw it¡ªa massive ironclad ship rising slowly from the water, dredged up by a swirling vortex of magical energy. Six twelve-pounder cannons gleamed in its mid-deck, and the grisly sigil of the Greycloaks was inscribed in its side ¨C the double headed eagle. It had clearly been a gift to the town in case of emergencies. To protect the Doctor¡¯s cargo.
At the center of the spell stood a human mage, his hands glowing with power as he chanted, his voice resonating like thunder across the docks.
"That¡¯s¡ new," Fauna whispered, her ears flattening against her head.
"Not for long," Tara said, her grin returning. "I say we take it."
Klax nodded. "Agreed. That ship will give us the edge we need. But we need to act fast."
The hybrids moved swiftly and silently, their practiced teamwork on full display as they approached the ship. Lamphrey¡¯s psionics took care of the first wave of sailors, her spells sending them tumbling into unconsciousness before they could draw their weapons. Tara moved with lethal grace, disarming and incapacitating any who resisted.
Klax led the charge up the gangplank, his claws ripping through the ship¡¯s defenses like paper. He struck with precision, his every move designed to disable rather than kill. Fauna followed behind, her staff glowing with protective energy as she shielded them from stray arrows and spells.
"Top deck clear!" Klax called, his voice a low growl. "Move in!"
The hybrids fanned out, securing the ship with a ruthless efficiency that left no room for error.
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The sailors didn¡¯t stand a chance. As they proceeded to cry out ¡®Battlestations!¡¯ the first of the deckhands met the feline eyes of a very feisty catgirl.
Tara had disarmed the first crowd of men and Klax knocked them unconscious before they even knew what hit them. Meanwhile, Lamphrey and Fauna descended on the mage ¨C the one who had summoned the battleship from its hiding place to begin with.
The human sailors were easy enough to deal with. But he was another story. After watching his sailor mates fall one by one to the flashes of steel and fur that dominated his vision, he started muttering an incantation that brought up a force field around him. As Fauna and Lamphrey blasted the thing with their staves, the human mage smiled grimly. Both their attacks were instantly reflected.
And he sent a shimmering bolt of lightning straight towards Tara in the next second.
Klax intercepted, taking the brunt of the attack with his fists. The Minxit ducked low, looked up at her savior, and blinked twice when she saw that the bulky Lycae had barely a scratch on him.
¡°New upgrade,¡± he explained. ¡°Elemental affinity. The Archon¡¯s not the only one capable of repelling magic anymore.¡±
The Minxit blinked, parrying a screaming sailor with her free foot while she rose and snorted up at Klax.
¡°Just don¡¯t go around calling yourself my Guardian Angel or anything,¡± she grinned playfully. ¡°I ain¡¯t into good boys.¡±
At the center of the deck, he started upa chant, his voice growing louder as he summoned waves of magical energy to fortify the ship. Fauna and Lamphrey exchanged a glance before stepping forward together.
"I¡¯ll draw his focus," Fauna said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "You hit him when his shield drops."
"Fine," Lamphrey replied, though her tone was less than enthusiastic.
Fauna stepped forward, her staff crackling with energy as she began to cast. Her first spell exploded in a burst of light, transforming into a flock of brightly colored birds that flapped around the mage, squawking loudly.
The mage hesitated, swatting at the illusions with growing frustration. "What is this nonsense?" he snarled, his shield glowing brighter.
Fauna grinned. "Just wait."
She cast again, this time summoning a group of squirrels that darted around the mage¡¯s feet, chittering and nibbling at his robes.
"Enough!" the mage roared, his concentration breaking as he stomped at the illusions.
Lamphrey seized the moment, raising her staff high. A blast of psionic energy shot forward, slamming into the mage with a force that sent him reeling. He dropped to his knees, clutching his head as tears streamed down his face, his screams filled with madness.
"You didn¡¯t have to break him," Fauna said, her tone sharp.
Lamphrey raised an eyebrow. "I did what needed to be done. Unlike your¡ squirrels."
The two mages squared off, their frustration with each other finally boiling over.
"You can¡¯t just¡ª"
"I can and I¡ª"
Their argument was cut short as Tara stepped forward and delivered a swift blow to the mage¡¯s temple with the hilt of her dagger. He crumpled to the deck, unconscious.
"Sometimes the simplest approach is the best one," Tara said, smirking as she looked between the two mages. "Now, let¡¯s get this ship moving."
With the ship secured and the mage neutralized, the hybrids stood together on the deck, their breaths heavy but victorious. The ironclad loomed like a predator ready to strike, its cannons gleaming in the moonlight.
"Let¡¯s hope this thing sails as well as it fights," Klax said, taking the helm.
As they prepared to set sail, Fauna glanced toward the distant lights of the fountain square, her expression worried. "Do you think he¡¯s okay?"
Tara, for once, didn¡¯t have a snarky reply. She simply looked out at the water, her tail flicking anxiously.
"He breathes," Lamphrey said, though her tone was far from comforting. "That is enough."
Tara rolled her eyes as the Tialax then sat at the edge of the ship, smoothing her hands over its gangplanks.
¡°You really got a way with words, y¡¯know that?¡± she scoffed.
¡°We shall all bear scars in the aftermath of this conflict,¡± Lamphrey replied. ¡°I will not comfort you by lying.¡±
Before Tara could hurl a carefully worded retort in the Lizard-mage¡¯s direction, Klax intercepted.
¡°Enough!¡± he roared, still full of battle fervor. ¡°Lamphrey, Fauna, we need those waves cleared for safe passage to the Griffon. Tara, you and I are going to secure the engine room and man the cannons. We need to get this bolt-bucket moving and operational before-¡°
The sound of cracking thunder pierced the skies, followed by the roar of a thirsting God.
Lamphrey¡¯s eyes shot open, as did Fauna¡¯s. Their magic fizzled away against the power that was beginning to rise from the depths, throwing the once choppy sea into a wild maelstrom of chaos.
Then a shadow, thick and full, blackened the surface of the waters.
¡°We must move,¡± Lamphrey said.
The hybrids were stuck, motionless, watching as the entire seabed rose with the thing that was climbing out from under it.
¡°Now!¡±
The psychic scream of the Lizardwoman snapped everyone to their senses. Immediately she and Fauna began bending the waves as quick as they could, forcing them against the port side of the ship to twist it away swiftly from the thing that was slowly appearing from right beneath them, and the echoes of its fury that raged through the night air.
¡°By ¨C by the Archon,¡± Klax muttered. ¡°What¡is¡that?¡±
100. The [Colossus] Part 1
The Golem army came trudging forward, bearing their grafted weapons on every limb and appendage stitched onto their unnatural bodies.
And Ethan met them head on with the larval Albion as his backup.
He cracked his neck, threw his oaken arms wide, and let his [Thorn Hail] fly.
Ethan, Sys warned. You haven¡¯t fought an army of this size before.
And? Ethan replied as he watched the scattered splinters of thorns pierce the vanguard of the Golems that charged him. That just means you get to watch how far your Archon has come.
The thorns sliced through each Golem¡¯s arm and they shrugged them off, some of them opening their stitched-mouths into a chorus of laughter.
Ethan¡
He smiled.
Watch.
Before the first line of attackers could reach him, they abruptly fell to the ground, stone creeping up their skin like a blight on a sea of weeds.
Petrification Coating: Success.
The other Golems flinched, and the hesitation of the zombie army was exactly what Ethan needed.
Greybane glimmered in his hands, and he carved an arc of shadow through the air, letting his Twilight Edge find the next row of monsters and cleave them clean in half. In the meantime, he moved through the crowd, hacking apart limbs that threw themselves at him. Those strikes he could parry left their bearers in tattered, bloody pieces. Those he couldn¡¯t parry didn¡¯t even scratch him.
[Barkskin: 2 minutes remaining]
Their strikes couldn¡¯t get through. And for every Golem he killed, his spirit counter just kept on going up. And the branches of the new Albion above him continued seeking out and spearing through the living corpse army without hesitation.
A series of arrow-shots sounded from above, and he looked to the skies to see a barrage of magic missiles aimed right at his position beside the fountain, each one capable of puncturing Mithril armor. Before the first projectiles struck, Ethan activated Repulsor Shield and hefted it over his head, completely nullifying the arrow strikes. He watched the rest of the hailstorm smash into the Golems surrounding him, dotting their trembling bodies with crimson holes that wept unnatural, corrupted blood.
They don¡¯t give a damn about their own people¡Ethan snarled. And I¡¯m betting that fucking Doctor is watching this whole thing unfold from the comfort of his little castle, sitting there enjoying all this suffering¡
He felt it, then ¨C the exact same feeling he¡¯d felt in the depths of the Trinat forest. Rage. Pure and unfiltered, running through his new oaken veins and pooling at the ends of his bark-covered fingers. He felt lethal. And, with every new slash he made against the endless waves of enemies that kept up their relentless assault against him, he felt himself more and more on the verge of¡something.
Ethan, Sys warned. Stay focused. Stay c-
He opened his mouth in a bellow that shook the town square, and, feeling his shield heavy with projectiles, activated its Repulsion ability, sending a storm of spectral arrows right back at the Spectators on the town wall that had finished launching their payload.
He didn¡¯t wait for them to tank the attacks. He¡¯d kill them.
Ethan!
He¡¯d kill them all.
[Wing Buffet]
A set of branches burst from his back and stretched themselves out into a spidery collection of talons that swept over the fountain square, knocking apart the Flesh Golems who still dared to stand against him. Then, a leathery bloom of green leaves sprung up on the back of his naked wings, forming a membrane. With another flap, he was carried up into the air and towards where the wounded Spectators were waiting for him.
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Barkskin: Deactivated.
Ethan! Your protection-
He wasn¡¯t listening. Covered in crimson from head to toe, he flew like a winged demon over Sentinel to sat his hunger on its fleshy defenders. The Spectators launched a collective energy ball straight at him ¨C something charged up from their combined energies, no doubt enhanced by the Doctor¡¯s own power. And all it took was one quick activation of Mana Veil to disrupt the attack completely, leaving the row of grisly ghouls wide open. They braced themselves for a fight, each one linking their arms and readying their next attack.
But when Ethan landed, no ¡®fight¡¯ happened at all.
He smashed slap bang into the center of their formation with a [Dive] that crushed one of them completely. The other eight fell away like bowling pins, scuttled and scattered, but not defeated. They rose to meet their foe head on, and only then did they see that he had taken to the air again.
The next thing they saw was a pair of lambent green eyes staring down at them within the oaken flesh of the flying Drytchling Prime. And a single, glaring eye of crimson that gleamed above it as it opened its mouth wide and¡
[Roar]
They never saw another thing again.
In the second after Ethan unleashed his wail of fury, the craniums of the Spectators were ruptured completely, exploding in a cacophonous hail of blood, viscera, and broken bones. The rest of their bodies fell away like dominos, flailing and twitching in their death throes before throwing themselves over the side of the curtain wall and splattering across the village floor.
Meanwhile, the village people ¨C those who had dared who exit their houses to witness the unfolding battle ¨C saw the Archon for the first time. They saw the demon who had come to break the world.
And they stood motionless, terror stricken and panicked as Ethan looked down at them and leveled his blade.
¡°If you value your lives, return to your homes!¡¯ he shouted down at them from the town wall. ¡°My fight is with the filth that you serve, not you.¡±
But even as he said those words, and the people ¨C merchants, washerwomen, children and paupers ¨C looked up at him with nerve-stricken eyes, there was that other little piece of him that told him he didn¡¯t really believe in his words.
There was another part that told him to admit he enjoyed the slaughter¡there was another part that did enjoy the slaughter.
He couldn¡¯t understand it. Before, in the body of the Lighthouse Keeper, and even in the body of the Salmandrike, he¡¯d never felt this kind of intense fury during a battle ¨C especially one where his friends weren¡¯t in mortal danger. These people ¨C they weren¡¯t threats to him, were they? They were just people.
But they were cut from the same cloth that had slain countless hybrids in this world. These were humans. These were the people who were too weak to oppose Kaedmon. People who were too weak to think for themselves.
Weak. Weak, and pitiful. Just like he¡¯d been. But not like he was now.
E-Ethan? Sys asked.
He shook his head, clutching the glowing eyes of his Host and trying to process his thoughts. But no matter how much he tried to shake the strange fury from his head, he couldn¡¯t blink away the red haze that lay over his eyes like a grisly filter.
The bodies twitching at the fountain below¡there were so many.
And the humans staring up at him, standing tall with his wings sending blood spatters across the night sky¡they were terrified.
This wasn¡¯t him. This wasn¡¯t who he was. It never had been, no matter what he¡¯d been through in this world. What was happening he-?
The dark Albion suddenly shuddered, and its vicious branches, filled with the speared-through bodies of the Golems, turned and flew towards the gawking humans.
¡°No!¡±
The scarred tips of the tree made it almost an inch towards the faces of the first screaming villagers before Ethan dove to the front of the crowd and activated {Albionic Authority}.
Instantly the tree¡¯s branches recoiled, as though it had just been dealt a blow to its leafy gut.
¡°Stop!¡± Ethan growled. ¡°They are ¨C they are not our enemies!¡±
The tree gave another shudder, as though hearing this statement with no small degree of disbelief. Meanwhile, the humans scattered, running back to their homes ¨C some of them making a break for the village gates.
Let them go, Ethan thought, still holding his hands high to suppress the aggression of the newborn tree. There¡¯s no need to¡intervene.
Still, the dark crimson haze was creeping up from the corners of his eyes, bleeding his retinas with the desire to kill. It was not a desire that was coming from his own mind. It couldn¡¯t b-
Ethan!
The piercing wail of Fauna lacerated his thoughts of bloody murder. He looked at his Memory Rune, saw it pulsing, and heard the stuttered voices of his friends as they called out to him.
Guys? He asked. What¡¯s happening down there?
No response. Nothing but screams, and the sound of something¡breaking.
Guys?
This time the sound traveled. He could feel the earth move beneath the fountain square. He could feel the entire underbelly of the village give way to something that was rising up from the ocean ¨C something that was towering over the ships at port and even the venerable old lighthouse at the town¡¯s edge. Something that ¨C when it rose to its full height ¨C blocked out the moon itself.
A giant composed of bundled-together corpses. The Flesh Golem to end all Flesh Golems.
---BOSS BATTLE: INITIATED---
THADDEUS, THE FLESH TITAN. LVL 120
101. The [Colossus] Part 2
---BOSS BATTLE: INITIATED---
---THADDEUS, THE FLESH TITAN, LVL 120---
The giant from the sea swung its four limbs across the sky ¨C one ending in a claw, one in a grafted spiked mace, one with a spear, and one bearing a giant longsword that sliced clean through the first houses at the edge of the village pier. Already, Ethan could hear the screams of the dockworkers as the beast bore down on them, looking for its prey.
And when its giant eyeballs lighted on Ethan, it opened its slit-mouth in a toothy roar, throwing gargantuan globes of blood and spittle across the battlefield.
The air over Sentinel was chaos. The smell of salt and blood mixed with the acrid stench of burning wood as terrified villagers sprinted for their lives, their screams piercing the cacophony of destruction. In the heart of the chaos loomed Thaddeus, the Flesh Titan, its grotesque form pieced together from countless corpses, an amalgamation of twisted limbs, patchwork muscles, and gnashing, malformed jaws.
Ethan perched on the crumbling edge of a rooftop, his breath heaving. Below him, Thaddeus lumbered through the streets, its four powerful limbs smashing through huts and stalls as if they were made of paper. Each of its strides shook the ground, leaving fissures in its wake.
"Sys, give me a read," Ethan growled through gritted teeth, his crimson eye locked on the beast.
[Appraisal: Success!]
BOSS: Thaddeus, the Flesh Titan
Level: 120
HP: 2500/2500
Core Skills:
-
Flesh Regeneration: Recovers 1 HP per second unless directly hit in the Core.
-
Titan Stomp: Ground-shaking attack that disorients enemies in range.
-
Multi-Strike: Can attack simultaneously with all four limbs.
-
Enlarge/Shrink self: Thaddeus is capable of morphing his form to suit his environment.
"He¡¯s a walking fortress," Ethan muttered.
And you¡¯re his primary target, Sys warned. Your every move needs to be precise, Ethan. One mistake, and you¡¯re paste.
Ethan gripped Greybane tighter, the serrated edge of the sword gleaming in the firelight. He leapt to another rooftop, scanning for openings. Below, the newly sprouted Albion tree lashed out with its dark, thorny branches. Its roots erupted from the earth, seeking to ensnare the Titan, but Thaddeus snarled and raked one massive arm through the tree¡¯s limbs, snapping them as if they were twigs.
Ethan grimaced. The Albion tree was powerful, but it wasn¡¯t enough.
And no matter how hard he focused his mind, he couldn¡¯t get through to the hybrids. Maybe Fauna had them wrapped in some protective barrier at the bottom of the sea right now. Maybe¡
No. Thoughts like that won¡¯t help.
He looked up at the snarling giant as it raised its grafted appendages, ready to bring them down upon his head.
I have to finish this myself.
He leapt higher, aiming for a vantage point atop the roof of the tallest building in the village. From there, he summoned a Spectral Snipe, the silver energy coiling along Greybane¡¯s edge as he took aim at the glowing central eye embedded in Thaddeus¡¯s chest.
The bolt shot through the air with a sharp whistle, but at the last second, Thaddeus raised one of its gnarled limbs, blocking the attack. The blast struck its forearm, sending chunks of flesh flying, but the Titan barely flinched.
¡°Damn it¡¡± Ethan grimaced.
He¡¯s defending his Core, Sys observed. You need to outmaneuver him.
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Ethan darted to another rooftop as Thaddeus¡¯s arm came crashing down where he¡¯d stood, splintering the building into rubble. The debris rained down on the fleeing villagers, and Ethan¡¯s heart wrenched as he watched a mother and child scramble to safety.
Ethan! Sys¡¯s voice was sharp. Focus!
Ethan tried, but his battle fervor was rising¡ªan insidious voice in the back of his mind whispering dark truths.
You¡¯re holding back. You¡¯ll never win this way.
¡°I can¡¯t let them die,¡± Ethan growled, his voice tearing through the chaos.
They¡¯re humans, the voice sneered. Weak. Insignificant. They¡¯d kill you in a heartbeat if they could. Save the world, not these sheep.
¡°Shut up!¡± Ethan shouted aloud, driving Greybane into the rooftop beneath him in frustration. But his bloodthirsty side wasn¡¯t wrong. Thaddeus was a Titan, and Ethan couldn¡¯t afford distractions.
Thaddeus roared, its gaping maw opening wide as it charged toward another cluster of villagers. Ethan cursed and leapt after it, landing on its back and slashing at its twisted sinews. His blade carved into the monster¡¯s flesh, but its regeneration quickly countered his damage.
You¡¯re just delaying the inevitable, the voice whispered again.
Ethan gritted his teeth. His attacks were causing damage, but they weren¡¯t enough. And even if he could destroy Thaddeus, the Titan¡¯s massive body would crush the entire village if it fell here. He couldn¡¯t win¡ªnot without losing everything he was trying to protect.
As despair began to creep in, the ground shook with a thunderous explosion. A volley of cannon fire ripped through the air, striking Thaddeus¡¯s back and sending the Titan stumbling forward. Its roar of pain echoed through Sentinel, and it turned toward the source of the attack, its glowing eye narrowed in fury.
Ethan¡¯s head snapped up, and his eye widened.
Out on the water, an ironclad battleship cut through the waves, its cannons still smoking. Atop the deck stood his companions, their silhouettes framed by the moonlight. Tara waved one of her daggers at him with a wicked grin.
¡°Hey, Mr Archon!¡± she called. ¡°Need a hand?¡±
Klax stood at the ship¡¯s helm, his powerful hands steady as he guided the vessel closer to shore. Fauna and Lamphrey stood at the bow, their magic swirling together as they prepared another volley of spells.
Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile, relief washing over him. ¡°Took you long enough.¡±
The ship¡¯s cannons fired again, the explosions lighting up the night as the shells tore into Thaddeus. The Titan staggered, its massive form crashing into the ocean with a deafening splash. Water surged onto the docks, drenching the village as the Titan thrashed in the waves.
Tara cupped her hands around her mouth. ¡°What, no ¡®thank you¡¯? Rude!¡±
Ethan shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. He raised Greybane high, its blade glinting in the firelight.
The battle wasn¡¯t over yet, but for the first time since this whole assault began, Ethan felt hope.
Everyone! he roared into his Memory Rune. Let¡¯s take this oversized bastard down!
He launched himself into the sky with another Wing Buffet just as Thaddeus¡¯ great atrophied sword-limb came down to smash into the village square. He scaled the timber roofs towards him, sending a few Twilight Edge strikes into the limb that was slowly detaching itself from the broken village ground.
We need one decisive strike! Ethan roared, narrowly avoiding the spear-limb as it sliced with impossible speed through the air towards him. Can you guys get him to turn around?
At first, Ethan only heard the roar of the beast as it opened its mouth to spread bile across the pier. Then, with a hoarse chuckle, Klax¡¯s voice broke through:
We¡¯ll knock this abomination back into the sea!
Ethan grinned, ignoring the voice that tried to rise to the forefront of his mind again. Now, with the aid of the Memory Rune, he could block it out. He could take the rage and use it to fuel his next strike. He was in control, now.
Power comes from the self¡or it does not come at all¡
Those words ¨C Lamphrey¡¯s words ¨C dominated his mind as he roared up at Thaddeus¡¯ two arcing limbs and managed to paralyze them just in time for the Hybrid-manned battleship to send a bombardment of cannon fire right into the beast¡¯s great fleshy back. The titan swayed, smoke billowing from the hole that had been torn through its body, and swung up all its arms in fury.
THADDEUS HP: 1800/2500
BEGINNING REGENERATION¡
Ethan grinned. That was his chance.
He leaped from the tallest house towards the lighthouse where this whole insane battle had begun, scaling its length with his claws and avoiding the fire of the stray Spectators who were still alive in the village proper. They were trying to protect their precious secret weapon even as Ethan¡¯s Repulsor Shield sent all their magical projectiles spiraling right back at them. None could break the defense of the Archon in his prime.
And so, when Ethan finally got to the very head of the lighthouse, he faced the giant Thaddeus alone.
HP: 1870¡1871¡1872¡
Ethan! Sys screamed at the back of his mind. How in the name of Karfanng are you going to take that thing down in one shot? I can tell you right now, as your System, there¡¯s no single skill you have that is the equivalent to a nuclear detonation!
Ethan smiled, seeing Thaddeus¡¯ rage-filled eyes meet his.
¡°You¡¯re right, Sys,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s no single skill I have that can do that.¡±
The arms of the Flesh Titan rose to full height, ready to bring themselves down upon the beast¡¯s single target.
¡Ethan?
¡°Hang on to your¡whatever it is you have, Sys,¡± Ethan replied. ¡°We¡¯re gonna try something new.¡±
102: The [Colossus] Part 3
As Thaddeus the Flesh Titan continued regenerating his burnt skin and muscle, he brought all four of his limbs down on the Sentinel Lighthouse.
Keep up the pressure! Ethan heard Tara shout over the din of the great beast¡¯s roar.
Another volley of explosive cannon shot ripped into the side of Thaddeus. But the hulking creature from the sea did not even flinch. He took the blow, let it rip his entire left side to shreds, exposing his pulsating muscle and cracked ribcage beneath. Pieces of the great giant¡¯s bones went flying across the village, smashing through houses and impaling themselves on the curtain wall where villagers were currently running to for cover.
And through it all, the beast pushed forward, his grafted limbs sailing down towards Ethan.
WELL?! Sys screamed in his mind.
But Ethan was cool. The voice of rage was his, now. He had brought it under control. And this thing bellowing down at him with all its might ¨C it was the enemy. And its core was no longer being protected.
He lifted Greybane in his hand and closed his eyes, readying a Wing Buffet that would catapult him right into the arms of his enemy.
ANY TIME NOW WOULD BE GREAT!
He smiled at Sys¡¯s insistence. Even after all the pain Sys had experienced, he still wanted to live. Just like anyone else. All that nihilistic talk before was just for show. Ethan knew that, now.
And when he opened his eyes again, he did so with a smile.
¡°Sys¡±, he said. ¡°Get ready for my command.¡±
He pushed off from the lighthouse, channeling his Wing Buffet and soaring straight forward. Thaddeus¡¯s sword and mace arms came flying to meet him and with a Roar and Twilight Edge combo he stopped them in their tracks and sliced the grisly tendons attaching the great weapons to the beast¡¯s grotesque arms. They fell away to crash into the ocean, causing tumultuous waves that rocked the Hybrids battleship away from the pier. Still, Thaddeus did not stutter. Did not relent. He looked down at Ethan and spewed a torrent of viscous spume that smelled like it could turn the stomachs of the dead.
With nothing but a thought Ethan activated his Repulsion shield and weathered the deluge of disease. He flapped his oaken wings once, twice, and then one more time once Thaddeus tried to knock him aside. Finally, he saw his opening ¨C the center of the abomination where its core shone like a dark stone against the moonlit sky.
But the Titan was faster in defense than it was in offence. As Ethan crept closer to its weak spot, its body reacted on impulse and formed a protective cocoon that wrapped its exposed core in a matter of seconds.
No!
Ethan sent a Spectral Snipe sailing towards the cocoon to no avail. His attack bounced off the flesh-armor and two shadows loomed above him, the arms of the beast ready to take him out.
Shit!
He activated [Dive] just before the spear arm pierced his body clean through, and managed to wedge himself onto Thaddeus¡¯ shoulder joint, creating a small crater of burnt flesh at the site of his impact.
Thaddeus roared, his arms twisting as they tried to dislodge him. Ethan jumped, embedding his blade into the back of Thaddeus¡¯ neck, twisting it in his hand, trying to rupture the creature¡¯s spine if he could. Trying to do anything to slow the beast of the Sentinel Bay down¡
I need a clear shot at the core¡Ethan thought. But you just won¡¯t give up, will you?
As Ethan dangled from Thaddeus¡¯ nape, the creature twisted and turned with impossible speed, trying to shake him like a lion attempting to dislodge a pesky flee. With his firm claws gripping Greybane¡¯s hilt, Ethan held firm, and through the use of a well-timed [Skitter] managed to run across the beast¡¯s shoulders and end up right under its bloodied chin.
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[Twilight Edge]
He fired his arc of shadow right up at Thaddeus¡¯ maligned face, trying to force the beast to protect its eyes and re-direct energy away from its core. But even with keeping up constant pressure, Ethan could already feel that his attacks wouldn¡¯t be enough. Every pustule and pimple he popped on the gargantuan, hideous face simply grew again ¨C more disgusting than its previous incarnation.
And then Thaddeus readied another belch again.
Sys! Wing-Buffet, no-
Don¡¯t have to tell me twice!
The Archon dropped away from the hulking titan¡¯s mouth as it let its torrent of filth spew out, polluting the entire ocean bed beneath its body. Against the moonlit skies above Sentinel, the Archon sliced and diced away at the brute, and got nothing but frustration in return. Meanwhile, the hybrid bombardment continued from the shoreline, knocking Thaddeus back more and more until it seemed like he would topple and fall on the town ¨C flattening the place.
No! Ethan screeched into his Rune, narrowly avoiding another strike as he glided from one limb of Thaddeus to another. He¡¯s too close to the town! Hold fire!
The reply that came back was stuttered. Hesitant.
Ethan, we need to ¨C
Your compassion for the townsfolk is misplaced. We have a chance. We must take it.
The first reply had been Klax¡¯s. The wolfman¡¯s voice was unmistakable. But equally unmistakable was Lamphrey¡¯s, cutting into his eardrums like the ring of truth itself.
It was the exact same tone of the rage-filled voice that had dominated him before he began his assault on the titan. It was a voice that had reason but lacked¡humanity.
I can bring it down, he snarled back from Thaddeus¡¯ broken sword-limb, looking into the snarling face of the demon. I just need a ¨C chance!
Thaddeus¡¯ deformed face broke into a smile. He knew his target was wavering. And he wasted no time in taking advantage.
Ethan jumped, readying his Repulsor Shield as every limb of the titan crashed into him. He steadied himself in the air, keeping up his Wing Buffet and trying with all his strength to push the great beast back.
Come on¡you¡¯ve been through worse¡than this!
He felt his new oaken bones crack under the Titan¡¯s pressure. Now, it was ignoring all new wounds. Now, it knew it had him.
This was your bright idea?! Sys yelled.
No¡Ethan snarled back, holding Thaddeus¡¯ limbs at bay, making sure that the giant had committed every weapon it had to keeping him pinned. This was.
Albionic Authority: Activated.
From the center of the village square, there came a roar ¨C a real, bestial roar of branches snapping, roots twisting, and an entire living organism shifting as it obeyed the command of its new master. Without warning, the spear-like branches of the new Albion tree wrapped themselves around Thaddeus¡¯ limbs, binding them together and leaving the giant dumbfounded as he struggled against them, using all of his remaining strength to break their dark, oaken chains.
But the bonds held firm, and Ethan Skittered up the bridge formed by the giant¡¯s limbs and dove headlong for its core.
Now, Sys!
As the command formed itself in Ethan¡¯s mind, he felt Sys send shockwaves through his Host.
A-Are you s-
NOW!
Hide: Activated
Wing Buffet: Activated
Twilight Edge: Activated
Spectral Snipe: Activated
Dive: Activated
Thorn Hail: Activated
In a flash of overworldly light, Ethan shot towards Thaddeus¡¯ core like a bolt of starlight, activating his Hide just as the giant¡¯s eyes were focused on the Albion to get his maximum sneak attack damage. His Thorn Hail burst from his speeding body and each sliver of supercharged thorns embedded themselves around the perimeter of the giant¡¯s protective coating round its core, followed up by a Spectral snipe that cracked the thing apart like an eggshell.
Then, with a final push off from the hulking behemoth¡¯s limbs, Ethan dove, his entire body wrapped in threads of shadow and light, Greybane shining in his hands.
To those looking on, it was as though the moon itself had sent a speak of divine light down to rid the world of a devil that had risen from the ocean.
Come on, Ethan groaned within his mind. Come ¨C ON!
The attack connected ¨C the tip of Greybane smashing through the thin remains of the protective shell and piercing into the pulsating black core that was the creature¡¯s heart. Ethan didn¡¯t stop. His Dive carried him right through the creature¡¯s innards and his Twilight Edge sent slivers of shadow through its entire body, searing away the titan¡¯s organs from within. With nothing but a bestial scream on his bloodied lips, Ethan emerged out the backside of the great beast covered in chunks of blood and viscera, coated with scraps of intestine and black goo that seeped from the hole he¡¯d left behind.
His eyes blinked through the sticky remains of his enemy to try and get a read on the actual damage he¡¯d dealt.
He didn¡¯t see the actual number. But he saw the number that really mattered:
THADDEUS, THE FLESH TITAN
HP: -150/2500
He smiled as he felt himself plummet into the ocean.
See that, Sys? he groaned in his mind. Your other Archons ever do anything that crazy?
Ironically, Ethan, Sys muttered before his head slammed into the water. If they had, they might still be alive. Perhaps some insanity was what they needed after all...
103. [Past] and [Present] Danger
Spirit Cores: +3000
Spirit Core Total: 3550
These words were the last things Ethan saw as he sunk deeper into the murky depths of the Argwylian sea, his mind fading as the waters took him.
And then ¨C a spark in the gloom. His eyes opened to a whole new reality.
Ethan¡¯s vision was awash with an amber glow as a dream, just as lucid as those Jun¡¯Ei had conjured, enveloped him. He found himself inside an ethereal space¡ªa grove bathed in dappled sunlight breaking through a canopy of ancient trees. The trees were alive, their trunks breathing with the slow cadence of a living organism, the leaves whispering secrets on a warm breeze.
He looked down at his hands¡ªor rather, their hands. They were gnarled and aged, with bark-like skin veined with green. A faint pulse emanated from the veins, a lifeblood that felt like the Earth itself. These weren¡¯t his hands. They belonged to someone else, someone who swayed in time to the rhythm of the forest, the hum of life reverberating in every particle of air.
Ahead of him, a younger Malak spun lightly in place, his braided hair catching the golden sunlight. His laugh was free, genuine, the sound of someone untouched by sorrow. Ethan¡ªor the one whose body he inhabited¡ªextended a hand, and Malak took it with a grin. Together, they danced, twirling in perfect harmony beneath the Albion Grove¡¯s colossal tree. Its branches reached endlessly into the heavens, glowing faintly with an otherworldly luminescence.
What is this? Ethan wondered. The joy of the scene felt too real, too raw, and yet it was fleeting. The grove shimmered and faded, replaced by a dimly lit chamber. The air was heavy with tension, and the hushed murmur of voices filled the room.
Ethan could only catch snippets of the conversation as he was thrust into another perspective. He stood at a stone table surrounded by figures cloaked in green and brown, their faces obscured by hoods. Malak was there, younger but visibly older than before, his expression a blend of sorrow and resolve.
¡°They cannot be trusted!¡± a voice hissed, breaking through the murmurs.
¡°This defiance will doom us all,¡± another snapped.
Ethan felt his hands slam against the stone table, his voice booming with a command he didn¡¯t recognize. The druids recoiled. Malak¡¯s eyes met his, filled with quiet defiance. The tension in the room was electric, a palpable force pressing down on all present.
The scene shifted again, fast-forwarding through time like a film reel spinning out of control. Ethan found himself standing alone, watching Malak walk away from the Grove. His posture was rigid, his steps purposeful. The figure Ethan inhabited felt rooted to the spot, unable to follow, rage building like a storm in his chest.
Why do you leave us?
As the thought echoed, his vision darkened. His arms felt heavier, his body stiffening. He looked down to see his skin cracking, splitting open to reveal veins of wood underneath. His breath quickened as bark began to overtake him, crawling up his chest and neck. The world dissolved into blackness, and his screams followed him into the void.
¡
Ethan¡¯s eyes shot open to the sound of rushing water. He gasped, his lungs burning as if they¡¯d been submerged. Around him, the dull hum of a battleship filled the air, the creaking wood and groaning metal of its frame unmistakable. A cool hand pressed against his arm.
¡°Ethan!¡± Fauna cried, her voice shaking as she embraced him. Her fluffy ears twitched, and her eyes glistened with relief. ¡°You¡¯re okay!.¡±
Klax stood beside her, his strong hand patting Ethan firmly on the back. ¡°Had us worried there, Archon. I thought we were going to have to make you into a figurehead for this ship.¡±
¡°Geez,¡± Tara snickered from behind them, arms crossed. ¡°Take down a giant Flesh Titan, and suddenly you think you¡¯re allowed to nap through the aftermath.¡±
Ethan chuckled weakly, though the lingering weight of the dream clung to him. ¡°Missed you guys too,¡± he rasped, his voice hoarse.
In the corner, Lamphrey lingered, her serpentine gaze softening as the faintest smile tugged at the edges of her lips. She didn¡¯t speak, only nodded in quiet acknowledgment.
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Ethan pushed himself up, his body aching as though he¡¯d been run over by a carriage. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked, his voice steadier now. ¡°Did we win?¡±
Klax grinned, his wolfish teeth flashing. ¡°We sank that oversized monstrosity. He won¡¯t be getting back up anytime soon.¡±
Looking towards the dark shadow in the waters below, Ethan could attest to that. Thaddeus¡¯ great lumbering body lay floating on its side, a pool of crimson spewing from its opened innards.
For a moment, Ethan stood there and watched the blood bubble and broth, as though reacting to the purity of the waters of Argwyll with displeasure.
¡°We ¨C everyone ¨C saw you,¡± Fauna said as she came to stand beside him, clutching her stave tight, showing that even as she was glad to see him, there was a little hint of fear in her at what he had done.
¡°If anyone ever doubted, such doubts have now been dispelled,¡± Lamphrey said as she joined them at the side of the ship. ¡°The Archon is truly risen. And he brings devastation to his enemies.¡±
The hybrids looked to her with a sudden sense of hesitation, each equally as suspicious as the other. Ethan, meanwhile, looked out at the dead beast floating in the middle of the sea, and the hole torn clean through its chest.
¡°Did¡did I really do that?¡±
Who else? Sys asked almost gleefully. None other than the Archon have such power.
Fauna nodded in agreement, her eyes spellbound. ¡°None other¡¡±
¡°Well, anyway¡± Tara added, gesturing towards the deck with a flick of her tail. ¡°We¡¯re running this tub now, so feel free to thank us later.¡±
Ethan¡¯s smile faltered as a sound pierced the air, cutting through the moment like a blade.
It started as a low screech, growing louder, sharper, until it was an ear-splitting cacophony that made them all wince. The hybrids¡¯ ears twitched, their eyes darting towards the source of the sound. A voice followed, oily and smug, echoing from nowhere and everywhere all at once.
A voice that was all too familiar.
¡°Bravo, my dear Archon,¡± Doctor Haylock¡¯s voice purred, dripping with mockery. ¡°Truly, you and your little band of misfits are remarkable!¡±
Ethan¡¯s body tensed, his grip tightening on Greybane¡¯s hilt as he scanned the horizon. ¡°Where is he?¡± he growled.
¡°Do not trouble yourself looking for me,¡± the Doctor continued. ¡°You already know my particular predilection for acting through proxy. I am, after all, just as man. Just like you were, once.¡±
Ethan¡¯s grip on Greybane tightened. He felt his oaken nails begin to splinter.
¡°I simply wanted to offer my congratulations,¡± the Doctor continued.¡°You¡¯ve proven to be¡ entertaining. Even if you did so ruin poor, dear, sweet Thaddeus.¡±
The voice paused, replaced by the faint sound of crackling laughter.
¡°Oh, I will miss him,¡± the Doctor added jovially. ¡°He was such an amiable pet, ever obedient, ever loyal. Loyalty is such an undervalued trait these days, wouldn¡¯t you agree, my little Archon?¡±
Greybane shone in Ethan¡¯s hands.
¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this guy.¡±
Klax grinned a bestial grin, his nails extending like an excited wolverine¡¯s. ¡°You and me both.¡±
But before either could jump into action and find the Doctor¡¯s hidden Spectator, his voice cut through them again.
¡°Ah ah ahhhh!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Let¡¯s not be so hasty, boys and girls. Our audience has only just arrived.¡±
As if on cue, the crew¡¯s attention was drawn to the shoreline. Ethan¡¯s stomach dropped as he took in the scene.
The town of Sentinel lay in ruins. The cobblestone streets were cracked and littered with debris, buildings smashed to rubble by the colossal rampage of Thaddeus. Fires burned unchecked, casting eerie shadows across the destruction. And in the midst of it all, the surviving townspeople stood unnervingly still, their bodies twitching unnaturally, their eyes wide and pleading.
¡°They¡¯re alive,¡± Fauna whispered, her voice trembling with horror.
¡°Not for long,¡± Haylock replied, his tone suddenly cold. ¡°Unless, of course, you lay down your weapons and submit to my guards.¡±
¡°Coward,¡± Klax snarled, his claws flexing. ¡°Hiding behind innocents like a spineless worm.¡±
The Doctor chuckled. ¡°Spineless? Perhaps. But I do so enjoy watching you squirm, my dear Lycae. Such delicious hypocrisy, don¡¯t you think? Fighting to protect creatures who would happily see you dead.¡±
Ethan¡¯s teeth clenched as he stared at the townspeople, their silent pleas cutting into him like daggers. Their bodies jerked and convulsed, puppets on invisible strings. He could see the strain in their faces, the quiet agony of being controlled.
¡°Let them go,¡± Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous. ¡°This fight is between you and me.¡±
¡°Oh, but this fight is already over!¡± Haylock replied, his voice brimming with confidence. ¡°Your sentimentality for your past life does you no credit, my good ¡®man¡¯. Surrender, and I might just let these poor dears live.¡±
The hybrids looked to Ethan, their eyes filled with uncertainty. Fauna clutched her staff, her knuckles white. Klax growled low in his throat, his muscles coiled and ready to strike. Tara¡¯s tail flicked behind her, a telltale sign of her barely contained fury.
Ethan¡¯s gaze never left the townspeople. He could feel their pain, their terror. But beyond that, he could feel the weight of the Doctor¡¯s words pressing down on him, threatening to suffocate him.
¡°We don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Tara hissed, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I got no love for these townies. But fuck me if I don¡¯t wanna mess with this guy¡¯s plan. So, what tactic you got up your sleeve this time, Ethan?¡±
Unbeknownst to the cackling Blood Mage, Ethan scanned the dark perimeter of the city, his oaken toes scraping the wood of the ship¡¯s deck. He felt a vibration answer him, and he smiled.
¡°Nothing,¡± he said.
His companions gawked at him.
¡°Uh, come again?¡± Tara asked.
Only Lamphrey seemed to understand what possessed the Archon to smile in this most pivotal of moments, when it seemed that the turning point of their lord had come. In truth, ever since he¡¯d risen from the waters below, her serpentine smirk hadn¡¯t left her lips.
¡°It¡¯s just like the good Doctor says,¡± Ethan whispered. ¡°This fight¡¯s over.¡±
104. [Climax]
The Doctor¡¯s voice echoed through the wreckage of Sentinel like a serpent¡¯s hiss, dripping with venom. ¡°Your bravado is adorable, Archon. Really, it is. But do you ever tire of these theatrics? Do you not see how futile your resistance is?¡±
Ethan smirked, leaning casually on Greybane¡¯s hilt as if the chaos around him were merely background noise. ¡°You know, Doc,¡± he said, his voice calm but cutting, ¡°that¡¯s your problem. You don¡¯t get out much. You¡¯ve got all this power, all these toys, but no real friends. Just puppets. And that¡¯s why you¡¯ve lost.¡±
Haylock¡¯s laughter rang out, brittle and harsh. ¡°Lost? Oh, my dear Archon, have you not noticed? I hold this town. I hold their lives.¡± His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. ¡°Do you honestly think you can save them?¡±
As if on cue, the townspeople¡¯s convulsions intensified. Their bodies jerked violently, and their mouths opened in soundless screams. Ethan¡¯s smirk faltered as he saw the blood-red veins spiderwebbing across their skin, the Doctor¡¯s control tightening like a noose. For a moment, silence fell over the ruins, broken only by the crackle of distant fires and the rustle of debris in the wind.
Then, from deep within the earth, a cry shattered the stillness.
It began as a low rumble, like the groan of ancient stone shifting beneath their feet. The ground trembled, sending shockwaves through the shattered cobblestones of Sentinel¡¯s streets. Ethan¡¯s head snapped toward the Albion tree at the center of the town, its branches quivering with unnatural energy.
The cry rose in pitch, a sound both primal and triumphant, reverberating through the very marrow of the earth. A fissure split the ground near the Albion tree, and from its depths emerged a figure cloaked in living foliage, his eyes blazing with green fire.
¡°Malak¡¡± Ethan whispered.
The ancient druid stood tall, his gnarled staff raised high above his head. Around him surged an army of Drytchlings, their bark-like bodies glistening with dew and their glowing eyes fixed on the Spectators hidden among the town¡¯s ruins. Behind them came the druids of Triant Grove, their chants weaving through the air like a tapestry of power. The Drytchlings moved with lethal precision, their limbs morphing into jagged weapons that struck down the Spectators one by one.
¡°For the Grove!¡± Malak roared, his voice like a storm tearing through the heavens.
The Drytchlings echoed his cry, their voices a symphony of rage and determination. They swarmed the Spectators hiding in the shadows of the town¡¯s crumbling buildings. Each blow landed with the force of centuries of nature¡¯s wrath, reducing the once-menacing Flesh Golems to lifeless husks.
Ethan¡¯s gaze snapped to the nearest Spectator, its lone, unblinking eye fixed on him. The creature stumbled, its body jerking uncontrollably as the Doctor¡¯s control began to fray. Ethan seized the moment, rushing forward and driving Greybane into the Spectator¡¯s torso. The blade pulsed with dark energy, and for a brief second, the Doctor¡¯s voice shrieked in Ethan¡¯s mind.
¡°Look at your broken toys, Doc,¡± Ethan snarled, his voice low and venomous. ¡°This is your future. When we find you, you¡¯ll meet the same sticky end.¡±
The Spectator convulsed, its eye rolling wildly before it collapsed into a heap of twisted flesh and metal. Ethan stood over its remains, his chest heaving as he turned his gaze toward the Albion tree.
Malak stood at its base, his staff planted firmly in the earth as he raised his arms in triumph. Around him, the Drytchlings and druids roared their victory, their voices harmonizing with the groaning of the Albion tree¡¯s branches. The tree itself seemed to pulse with life, its dark, thorny bark glowing faintly with a verdant light.
The townspeople, now free of the Doctor¡¯s control, stumbled toward the center of the town. Their eyes were wide with terror, their bodies trembling from the ordeal. They huddled together near the fountain, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear as they looked upon the Drytchlings and hybrids standing victorious.
¡°Corral them here,¡± Malak ordered his druids, his voice steady but commanding. ¡°They¡¯ve suffered enough. Let them know they are safe.¡±
Ethan sheathed Greybane, his eye scanning the terrified crowd. He could see their fear, their uncertainty. And for a moment, he wondered if they would ever see him as anything other than a monster.
¡°Ethan!¡± Fauna called, running toward him with Klax and Tara close behind. Her face was streaked with soot, but her eyes shone with relief. ¡°We did it!¡±
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Ethan nodded, his lips curving into a faint smile. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, though his voice lacked the conviction of triumph. ¡°We did.¡±
Above them, the Albion tree swayed gently, its branches casting dappled shadows over the battered town. Malak raised his staff once more, his voice ringing out over the crowd.
¡°Sentinel has been freed!¡± he declared. ¡°But our fight is far from over.¡±
The Drytchlings roared their agreement, their voices carrying the promise of vengeance against those who would dare to enslave them. Ethan looked up at the tree, its ancient presence a reminder of the power they had unleashed.
They¡¯d won the battle, sure. But this war ¨C a new war that rivaled even his fight against the Lightborn ¨C had only just begun.
¡
Ethan sat in the Captain¡¯s cabin of the Dauntless ¨C the name of the steel-clad tug his team had plundered from the docks.
His oaken limbs croaked with ever move he made to wipe his face, and try to quiet the storm of his mind. Something compelled him to rip his hat form from this creature and just make these dark thoughts stop already.
He thought the end of the battle would signal the end of this¡bloodlust. But it kept coming, in waves of lambent red that twisted his vision, coupled with flashes from the dream that had taunted him as he sank beneath the waves of sentinel.
Outside, rain thundered down on the world. He could hear the shouts and cries of the humans of Sentinel as they were herded towards the town center by Malak and the Drychlings. What was to be done with them¡that was another story.
In truth, Ethan didn¡¯t care right now. All he cared about was¡power. More power.
Current Spirit Cores: 3550
Wing Buffet (Grade D)
(AOE) Repels enemies up to 50ft away who fail a STR check.
Grade C Upgrade: Repels enemies up to 100ft away who fail a STR check
Spirit Cores to increase: 250
Upgrade confirmed!
Grade B Upgrade: {Gale-Force-Gust} Unlocked! Wind Buffet now has a 30% chance to disarm affected enemies.
Spirit Cores to increase: 500
Upgrade Confirmed!
Dive (Grade C)
Dive DMG: 100
Dive can now be used to destroy objects of STR 60 or lower.
[Homing Dive] Dive now homes in on the targeted enemy/structure
Grade B Upgrade: {Twin-Dive] unlocked! Dive can be activated twice in quick succession
Spirit Cores to increase: 500
Upgrade confirmed!
Grade A Upgrade: Dive DMG now doubled: 200
Spirit Cores to increase: 1000
Upgrade confirmed!
Thorn Hail (Grade C)
You summon an arc of deadly thorns, each piercing opponents with armor equivalent to {Adamantine} and dealing 100 pts of DMG.
Grade B Upgrade: {Thorn Storm} unlocked!
Thorn Hail now occupies a 50ft area of your choosing, affecting all targets who move in this zone.
Spirit Cores to increase: 750
Upgrade confirmed!
Current Spirit Cores: 800
Wing Buffet and Dive had done him well ever since he gained them from the dark raven so many moons ago, and Thorn Hail was possibly his best AOE skill. The Cores from Thaddeus had been put to good use. Now that he knew he could merge multiple skills together, forcing his body to push past the limits his mind set on it, he could wreak havok on the Doctor and his castle of horrors. He could ¨C
Ethan.
Sys¡¯s voice broke through his thoughts. And ¨C somewhat disgustingly ¨C it was tinged with sympathy.
Ethan, what you did out there¡
¡°It won us the fight,¡± Ethan replied, clutching his still thumping head.
It is not something any System User would attempt. The pain from combining so many skills...you feel it, don¡¯t you?
Ethan grimaced. ¡°Well, lucky for us, I¡¯m not just any System User, am I? I¡¯m the Archon. We¡¯re the Archon. And I¡¯m not gonna let anything hold me back. Not anymore.¡±
Lightning streaked the skies outside the cabin. Ethan heard footsteps nearby. Muffled voices shared worries ¨C the voices of his hybrid team.
He looked away. As he was right now, he couldn¡¯t tell what would happen if he faced them.
Sys, he thought. What¡¯s happening to me?
More thunder punctuated Sys¡¯ reply.
You are pushing your Host to its limits, he said. Some creatures of Argwyll are not meant to wield so much power. You are a different kind of Archon from the rest, Ethan. Your power comes from overpowering another and energizing its body with skills the Host has never once used. Even Boss-level creatures may suffer under such strength. And when that happens, pieces of themselves may start to break through your control.
Ethan blinked, and gave a curt nod. He had suspected as much.
¡°My possession ability lets me see the memories of my Hosts¡±, he said. ¡°And you¡¯re saying that this ¨C the visions I¡¯m seeing and the¡thoughts I¡¯m thinking¡¡±
Correct, Sys whispered in his mind. They are the dreams of your Host. Manifestations of the mind that you control. For some reason, this particular Host has a great strength of will. It seems to be trying¡to break through you.
Ethan thought back to the visions that had swam before his mind in the wake of the battle, ever since he¡¯d walked among humankind with his Drychling Prime form. He looked at his reflection ¨C its reflection ¨C in the waters outside the cabin and thought, for a moment, that he could see fear in its glowing green eyes.
He remembered vividly the memory it had shown him. Of joy, of fear, and finally ¨C hate. All centered on one specific person.
¡°No,¡± Ethan replied, suddenly understanding. ¡°No ¨C that¡¯s not it. It¡¯s trying to tell me something.¡±
He rose and marched towards the door, staggering slightly as he willed his body to move again.
Sys swayed with him, for once more confused than he was.
What? was all he said.
¡°I don¡¯t know, yet,¡± Ethan replied. ¡°But I know who can help me find out.¡±
105. [Dreamwalk]
Lamphrey knew he was coming.
She was a Tialax well-versed in reading thoughts, observing patterns, and predicting behaviors. Among her Sisters, when there had been more of them, they called the practice ¡®Tracing Eventualities¡¯.
It was an old kind of magic known only to the few Oneiromancers of the world. From before even the time of Karfanng. Before the great cosmic drama that dominated this world had even begun.
She sat in her cabin in the battleship the rest of them had pilfered, and let her thoughts meander for a moment, knowing that a critical time was upon them. She¡¯d known ever since the Archon had first been brought to Sanctum that he¡¯d be the one to change the world. Still, she had watched from afar, and bided her time. She had kept her promise to Jun¡¯Ei and given him the Memory Rune as the old wolf had told her to when the time was right.
Now, it was her turn to act. Soon, they would approach the Second Act, wherein a revelation would take place that could shatter the very bounds of the realm they all called Argwyll.
She heard quick footsteps on the deck outside. She had known he was coming, but what exactly he would say, and how, and why ¨C that particular etching in time and space eluded her.
She smiled as the door to her cabin creaked open. Even a woman as old as she was needed surprises every now and then.
¡°Archon Ethan,¡± she said as his dark shadow loomed above her bed. ¡°Be welcome.¡±
He nodded once, and sat his Drytchling form down beside her. Even without touching his mind, she could feel how stretched his being was. And how fierce.
¡°You are troubled.¡±
He looked over at her. ¡°Yes.¡±
She took a moment before she replied, weighing her thoughts like gold in her claws.
¡°You have such power,¡± she said. ¡°Such tenacity, and such purity of spirit. Yet the very thing that gives you strength is clawing at you right now, is it not?¡±
He cocked his eyes at her ¨C two green, one red ¨C but nodded slowly, as if he wasn¡¯t surprised she could tell just by looking at him that something was wrong.
¡°You told me power has its prices in this world, for me,¡± he said. ¡°Was this what you meant?¡±
She allowed herself a smile. ¡°One cannot get something for nothing. Argwyll is ruled by more Laws than that which Kaedmon has defined. The Archon has its own rules, as does the Lightborn.¡±
She watched him crane his head in his claws out of the corner of her eye. Outside, the rainfall continued in heavy pellets that slashed across the night sky, cutting the air like knives.
¡°This Host,¡± Ethan said, ¡°its¡calling to me. It¡¯s whispering, showing me thoughts that aren¡¯t mine. Or, maybe they are. I don¡¯t know ¨C but ¨C they¡¯re getting stronger. Out there, killing that Titan, they were at their peak. It was almost like¡I was being taken over, for once.¡±
Lamphrey nodded, clutching her staff close to her breast. ¡°And you fear this, do you?¡±
He looked at her long and hard before answering.
¡°It¡¯s not me,¡± he said with a shake of his sullen head. ¡°It¡¯s never been me.¡±
¡°But perhaps it is what you must be,¡± she stated, ¡°if you wish to set this world right.¡±
He rose suddenly with a jerk, and for a brief instant she thought she might have gone too far.
¡°Forgive me, Lord,¡± she said. ¡°I only meant ¨C¡°
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¡°No,¡± he said. Then ¨C in a far softer tone: ¡°No.I get what you¡¯re saying.¡±
He watched the rain absent-mindedly for a few minutes, his claws raking their way down the steel pane of the oval window.
¡°I was never a leader in my past life,¡± he said. ¡°I was a worker. I did what I was told. I did it good. But I never stopped and thought about what I was doing ¨C why I was doing it. I think that¡¯s why I was brought here. Because I think a lot of people here are used to thinking the exact same way. And I think this Host understand that about me.¡±
He turned back to her and clutched a claw to his oaken chest, as though trying to still his non-existent heart.
And Lamphrey¡¯s eyes beamed as she began to realize what he was hinting at.
¡°This creature¡¯s no monster,¡± Ethan said. ¡°It¡¯s¡. I don''t know what. But it feels. It thinks. I''m sure of it. It¡¯s trying to tell me something important.¡±
She tried to keep from showing her surprise. It looked like the world really did still have some mysteries that were as of yet unsolved.
Curious.
¡°And that is why you have come here, to me,¡± she said.
¡°Because you can read thoughts,¡± Ethan nodded. ¡°Understanding dreams¡visions¡that¡¯s what you do, isn¡¯t it?¡±
She licked her dry lips.
¡°You would let me into your mind?¡±
¡°Just so long as you don¡¯t poke around in my prepubescent memories or anything,¡± he snickered. ¡°All I need is and understanding of what this thing really is, and what it¡¯s trying to tell me. If I¡¯m right, it¡¯s something big. Something important ¨C and something I can¡¯t just ignore before we deal with this Doctor. I don¡¯t need anything distracting me from kicking his sorry ass.¡±
She gave a curt nod, loosening her grip on her stave and motioning for him to lie on the bed.
¡°I will do this thing as only I can do, Archon. But be aware that the process may be draining.¡±
Ethan shrugged. ¡°Can¡¯t be any worse than fighting a giant slab of living corpses.¡±
He lay down without hesitation, closing his eyes when she asked him to, and letting his claws go limp at her touch.
The mind of an Archon was open to her. But she would do as she was commanded, nothing more. In spite of what she wanted¡she could wait a little longer.
She¡¯d become good at waiting, after all.
¡°Are you ready, Lord Ethan?¡± she asked.
He answered her as though still in pain: ¡°As I¡¯ll ever be.¡±
¡°Then, breathe deep.¡±
She placed her scaled hand on his wooden chest and pushed, hard.
¡°Release.¡±
¡
The visions flashed by his eyes again, but it was too difficult to see its details. It was like water being poured into a sieve ¨C he could see the faces of Malak and his druids, and feel the conflict brewing within the Fifth pillar, but he couldn¡¯t make out the important things¡the thing the consciousness behind his eyes wanted ¨C no ¨C needed him to see.
But there was another set of eyes in the dream now. From on high, like a watchful bird, Lamphrey scanned the dream, her fingers threading their way through the memory to make it real.
¡°Watch¡¡± Ethan heard her say. ¡°Listen¡feel.¡±
He did as she bid him. He saw Malak and the other druids arguing again, and then Malak shouting at him behind closed doors¡he felt pity, fear, and then¡revulsion.
Malak had come to him and told him something. He¡¯d told him something that was too terrible to even be considered.
His own lips moved in the dream ¨C lips composed of flesh, not oak.
¡°But it¡¯s ¨C it¡¯s too horrible!¡±
The voice came from him, but it was certainly not his voice.
¡°It is the will of the Grove,¡± the old druid said. ¡°You know it to be true!¡±
Ethan thrashed in the dream state. This self ¨C this once-Host ¨C it didn¡¯t agree.
¡°This is¡too far,¡± his voice said. ¡°It¡¯s an abomination.¡±
¡°This is what¡¯s right!¡± Malak shouted back. ¡°We can¡¯t have progress without sacrifice! We ¨C we can¡¯t expect to just sit here and pray that nature will take care of itself without us. We were called here for a reason ¨C and now I know what that reason is.¡±
In his hands, Malak held what looked like an acorn ¨C an acorn all too similar to the one he¡¯d handed Ethan and asked him to drop into the Sentinel fountain.
¡°It¡¯s time,¡± the old druid said. ¡°You know I speak the truth. You¡¯re just¡afraid. You think you¡¯ll lose yourself but ¨C and this I promise you ¨C you won¡¯t! This is a gift from the Albion. A gift from Argwyll itself!¡±
Ethan felt himself shake his head. He said something else, but the dream was beginning to die. Even Lamphrey couldn¡¯t keep it steady as an overwhelming sense of madness overtook him in the moment he struggled, trying to run ¨C to escape the Grove ¨C as Malak chased after him.
When he caught him, Ethan gave a gasp of air. He felt his body change. He felt it morph. He felt his flesh dissolve away.
But beyond the physical, he felt something far, far greater tear away at the core of his being:
Betrayal.
¡
¡°Ethan! Archon Ethan!¡¯
He woke with a start, as though waking up to a whole new dimension. It took him a few minutes to get his bearings, and to realize that the woman standing over him was an ally ¨C and not the man he currently wanted to tear apart with his claws.
He looked into Lamphrey¡¯s eyes, trying to keep from shaking.
¡°He¡he¡¡±
The lizardwoman nodded once, having seen exactly what he had.
And suddenly, everything started to make sense.
¡°Gather the team,¡± Ethan said ¨C his voice cold, calculated, and tinged with a new sense of vengeance. ¡°We¡¯re going to pay Malak a little visit.¡±
106. [Confrontation]
The center of Sentinel was packed to the brim with the residents of the village who had not managed to feel when the Archon came.
Or, at least, those who had been stopped in their tracks by the Druids of the Fifth Pillar.
Under the cover of darkness, they had slipped stealthily into the village¡¯s borders and secured all entrances and exits, posting Drytchling guards at the village gate and along the docks, plundering the ¡®unnatural vessels¡¯ at the seafront and forcing the townspeople to watch as the ships their village was known for plummeted to the bottom of the Argwylian sea.
The sounds of stuttered cries rocked the village square where the grisly tree had been born from the Archon¡¯s dark magic. It¡¯s pincer-like branches had grown tenfold since its formation, and the tip of one branch dangled over the head of every terrified villager as they sat before the fountain and the stage that had been hastily erected by their conquerors.
Finally, as dawn began to break over the night that seemingly wouldn¡¯t end, a man took to the stage.
He was old, draped in twigs and variegated leaves, and wore a shabby cloak that flowed from his withered arms, showing just how frail his pale body was. Around him, his druid forces crept, followed by the ring of Drycthling servants that had formed themselves around the village square, preventing anyone from running with little more than an unblinking look in their direction.
To the villagers, who had only ever known submission to the whims of Doctor Haylock, all this seemed far too familiar. Some whispered that the Archon owned them now. This was no liberation ¨C they were simply under new management.
The old man threw his arms wide and breathed in the cool, crisp night air, taking in the scent of rotting corpses that still littered the streets and polluted the surface of the sea.
¡°People of Sentinel!¡± Malak shouted. ¡°For too long have you suffered under the yolk of your Blood Mage master! For too long have you been enslaved, isolated, and deceived. For too long have you heard nothing but the poisonous words of your Greycloak guardians and their vile servants. Today, witness the dawn of a new day for your village. You shall be the first of many to serve the true master of this world. The new Master of Mankind!¡±
Malak paused, savoring the terror in their faces. He liked his dried lips, tasting the blood of Haylock¡¯s corpse warriors, feeling more fulfilled than he ever had in a long, long time. Not even in his restless dreams had he ever imagined it would be this easy to achieve victory over those who had cast him and his mother out, leaving them to the uncaring world beyond these accursed walls. Leaving them to die.
Not that any of that mattered, now. Soon, there would be no need for walls. Soon, freedom would be all the people would ever know.
¡°Witness your liberators!¡± he screamed into the dew of morning, silhouetted by the rising sun on the horizon. ¡°We are the emissaries of the Last Archon, good Lord Ethan the Demon Hat! We are the Fifth Pillar!¡±
The crowd answered this revelation with murmurs of pain and fear. Now, Malak knew, they were totally in his power.
He let his eyes fall across the ring of Drycthlings ¨C the children of the Albion ¨C and wondered if they too, in their own way, could understand what was happening here. He wondered if they still had the capacity to understand that history was being made. That, finally, their order was going to change this world for the better.
¡°And we have come to save you from those who would corrupt your minds and your very souls,¡± Malak finished. ¡°More than that ¨C we have come to save you from yourselves. Lord Ethan has granted me the power to create a grand army that shall sweep across this realm, burning away the Greycloaks, the False God Kaedmon, and all their hollow, traitorous promises!¡±
He pointed his veiny finger at the foggy horizon, in the general direction of Griffon¡¯s Watch¡¯s dark towers.
¡°We shall start by taking the head from Haylock, known Blood Mage and associate of the Greycloak menace. And you, people of Sentinel, shall be our vanguard.¡±
He gave a curt nod to the druids beside him and then signaled the Drytchling guards to step forwards, penning in the citizens like a pack of battery hens.
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Slowly, they each shed a single acorn from their oaken skins.
¡°The women and children should go first,¡± he whispered to one of the Druids beside him. ¡°Just like last time. They will be the most susceptible to the-¡°
Before he could finish his command, a rush of air blasted the village center, knocking back the Drytchling ring and sending a gust of dust and rubble into the stage. Malak, staggering and falling back in complete shock, only just managed to regain his composure when he opened his eyes to see the Archon standing before him.
His Drycthling Prime form was more glorious than ever. And in his eyes shone the sacred bloodlust that it was said would set this entire world aflame.
¡°My Lord¡¡± Malak whispered, laying himself before the feet of the living God. ¡°I ¨C of course. Forgive me. It should be you who is here to address your new subjects. Please allow me a modicum of your mercy, I wished only to ¨C¡°
Unexpectedly, the Archon narrowed his new hollow eyes and looked away.
¡°Stand. Down.¡±
His command rang out like a church chorus, instantly bringing all the Drytchling guards to their knees.
His [Albionic Authority] had only grown stronger¡
¡°My Lord,¡± Malak whispered. ¡°You are even more glorious than I could have ¨C¡°
¡°Remain here until I return,¡± Ethan told the Drytchlings and Druids around him, who all glanced at Malak in surprise. A single flick of Ethan¡¯s fingers brought them immediately back into line, and they obeyed without question.
Then the Archon turned back to his servant.
¡°Come with me,¡± he said.
It was not a request.
Ethan led the way through the throne of terrified villagers, past the great tree which now seemed to have shrunk all at once at the behest of its new master.
And all the while, Malak kept his triumphant grin on his face.
¡°Your victory was more spectacular than what was foretold,¡± the old druid said as he followed behind his Lord. ¡°The roots told us that this village was heavily guarded by the Blood Mage¡¯s minions, but not even we could have predicted the appearance of the Titan lieutenant himself. With the death of that abomination, we will be free to serve you to our fullest capacity now, my Lord. Do not think that we of the Pillar shall not uphold our end of the bargain.¡±
Ethan stopped abruptly in the middle of the town¡¯s deserted streets.
¡°¡¯Bargain¡¯?¡±
Malak nodded like an excited child. ¡°We promised you a vessel that would take you to your destination. But you exceeded your end of the deal. As ministers of nature, we are bound by the sacred rule of equivalent exchange. Therefore, I was in the process of giving you all that I can give, my Lord ¨Cthe lives of-¡°
Malak halted as they finally approached their destination ¨C an old, seemingly abandoned warehouse in a shadowed section of the docks.
¡°Go,¡± Ethan said simply. Again, not a request.
Malak stiffened. ¡°My Lord? There is much work to be done. Perhaps whatever business you have within this simple dwelling can wai-¡°
¡°Go.¡±
The word came again ¨C this time tinged with authority and power ¨C such that Malak dared not refused. He entered the old warehouse in front of Ethan, strained his eyes against the darkness within, and then heard the door slam shut behind him.
And then: pain.
The arm of the Archon shot out and grabbed him by his throat, smashing him against the wall of the building¡¯s interior with such force that the whole thing seemed ready to collapse in on itself.
Malak sputtered, struggling in vain against the grip.
¡°M-My Lord!¡±
The pair of eyes he was looking into now seemed to belong to a very different creature.
¡°Liar,¡± Ethan said.
From the shadows, his hybrid team emerged, each one practically radiating fury.
¡°Y¡¯know,¡± the Minxit said, ¡°I¡¯d suspected¡I thought there was something strange about those Drytchlings. None of us had ever heard of ¡®em. Not even Lamphrey ¨C and that bitch knows everything.¡±
The Tialax nodded. She¡¯d taken no offence.
¡°And the little talk we¡¯d had just before the attack,¡± Klax added. ¡°It was then that I thought there must have been more to you than meets the eye. You dropped the old man act as soon as you saw a kindred spirit in me. But you were wrong, human. We are nothing alike.¡±
Only the Hopla said nothing. She simply stared at Malak with an intensity that made the old man somehow more scared than if she¡¯d thrown curses at him.
¡°L-lord Ethan,¡± he stuttered, struggling to push out any words he could to save his skin. ¡°Whatever these¡hybrids have told you, they are wrong! They are traitors. Traitors to your cause!¡±
¡°My cause?¡± Ethan snarled. ¡°I¡¯m wondering if you even understand what I¡¯m trying to do here. Or if you even care.¡±
Before he could interject, Malak was thrown across the room and pinned against the floor by a flurry of [Thorn Hail]. His screams echoed through the building, but none of them carried to the druids waiting outside.
¡°And you dare to call them traitors,¡± Ethan continued as he marched over to him. ¡°You, of all people¡¡±
Malak say the fiery death his Lord¡¯s eyes now heralded.
¡°My Lord Archon!¡± he wailed. ¡°Please! This ¨C this is all a mistake. This is ¨C¡°
¡°I know,¡± Ethan said, cutting through the old man¡¯s pleas with the precision of a ritual knife through a skull. ¡°I know what the Drytchlings really are. And I know what this Host ¨C who this Host - really was.¡±
There was no pleading now. There was no theatre. Now, unhidden from Ethan¡¯s eyes, Malak shook with real fear.
¡°They¡¯re human,¡± Ethan finished. ¡°And this one was your wife.¡±