《Lost Souls and a Demoness [A LitRPG Adventure] [Stubbing April 21st]》 Chapter 1 The beginning of the end of the world struck with no warning. The calm and quiet February night was just like any other. It was winter, and the frigid cold of southeast Michigan was difficult to escape. Jade Callian lay sleeping, bundled under multiple layers of warm blankets in her small apartment. She was tall for a woman, with angular features framed by shoulder length blonde hair and an athletic build. A gymnastics leotard lay in a heap at the foot of the bed, carelessly tossed aside. It was a stark contrast to the rest of the well organized and orderly room. The tranquil night was broken by a sudden, violent shaking. The 23 year old college student began to wake as the rattling of her bed intensified, punctuated by the sounds of her various possessions clattering to the floor. A heavy sleeper by nature, her first instinct was to roll over and go back to sleep. Then a book dropped off an overhead shelf and landed heavily on her chest. "Ow!" Jade groaned, rolling onto her side and sitting up, pushing the book off of her. Another tremor rocked her bed, and she belatedly came alert. What was happening? An earthquake? That wasn''t normal for the Detroit area, but it certainly felt like one. Either way, she had to get somewhere safe before she was hit by something heavier than a book. "Ally?!" She called to her roommate, standing up and staggering across the heaving floor towards the bathroom door. "Jade!" Ally''s muffled voice came through the wall beside her. "What''s happening?!" "I think it''s an Earthquake!" She shouted back. "Get under something!" She reached the bathroom doorway and slid into the threshold, bracing herself against the frame. Jade wasn''t experienced with earthquakes, but she remembered reading somewhere that one of the sturdiest parts of a building were the doorways. Fervently hoping that was true and not some imaginary figment her half asleep mind had dreamed up, the college student ducked her head beneath her arms, doing her best not to panic. The shaking intensified further, and a loud crash emanated from the bedroom as the mirror fell. It cracked as it hit the floor, scattering shards of glass everywhere. "Jade!" Ally''s frightened voice came from the next room. "This is bad!" "It''ll be ok!" She shouted back. "Almost over!" It had to be, right? As far as she knew, earthquakes weren''t protracted events. Something wasn''t right. Jade''s heart raced as the world continued to lurch. What was going on? This was far more intense than anything Michigan should be experiencing. Could it be some sort of industrial accident? An explosion? That made even less sense. "Just a normal earthquake." She reassured herself, breathing deep. There was nothing to do but wait it out. A blue glow began to shine in through the window. It started soft but quickly grew in intensity, like a giant spotlight had powered on right outside her bedroom. The bathroom was situated opposite the window, so the light was fixed directly on her. After only a few moments it was blindingly bright and painful to look at. Jade had to shield her eyes and turn away, the blazing light leaving spots in her vision. Sparks flew from a light fixture above her, and there was another crack, this time from the window. "Not a normal earthquake." She muttered, starting to panic. "Definitely not a normal earthquake!" Ally shouted something, but it was lost to the cacophonous racket of the heaving building. It felt as though the entire world was trying to shake itself apart. Jade was about to shout something back when a tremendous BANG shook the world accompanied by a blinding flash of light, as if a lightning bolt had struck right outside her room. She jerked in surprise, banging her head painfully against the doorframe. Then, as suddenly as it had all started, the violent tremors abruptly ceased. The blue light winked out, plunging her room into utter darkness. Everything fell still and quiet. No, not just quiet, but silent. "Ally¡­?" Jade said after a few moments, tentatively raising her head from the protection of her arms. There was no response. A few sparks sputtered from one of the overhead lights, illuminating a chaotic scene. Her mirror lay shattered on the floor, shards of glass strewn about the room. Practically every book had fallen off the shelves, accompanied by all the photos and other personal possessions she''d just finished arranging the week before. Typical. She was going to have to start all over again.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. At least she''d gotten her rental insurance all sorted prior to moving in. Actually, thinking on that, Ally hadn''t. That was probably going to suck, but she was hoping that the damage looked worse than it was. "Ally!" Jade called again. Still no response. She was starting to get a little worried. Had her friend been hurt? Time to check on her. She flipped the bathroom light switch, but nothing happened. The power was out, but that wasn''t surprising after the violence of the quake. Still, Jade was barefoot, and she wasn''t about to blindly walk through the minefield of glass between her and the bedroom door. It''d be better to get her phone first, and use that for light. The path to the bed took her away from the shattered mirror, but Jade was careful anyway. She emerged from the bathroom doorway with short, shuffling steps, feeling the ground in front of her carefully before moving forward. Despite her best efforts, she couldn''t avoid nicking her foot on an errant shard of glass. Jade grimaced in pain as her foot stung, but it wasn''t bad. She was used to far worse. After a few more careful steps, she reached the bedside table. Miraculously, her phone was where she''d left it, right on top of the book she''d been reading before falling asleep the previous night. Finally, a bit of luck. She clicked the screen on. The clock read 4:07am, which was earlier than she''d thought it was. Then she noticed her signal strength bar, which currently read ''searching''. After a few moments the display settled on ''No Service''. Frowning, Jade swiped open her phone and navigated to the data tab, double checking her connection. There was nothing, not even an emergency signal. A ominous feeling began prickling at the back of her neck. What was going on? So much for that luck. She thought bitterly. Had it been this bad everywhere else? Power to the apartment building was one thing, but she''d never experienced a disaster that knocked out the entire cell network. Weren''t modern phones able to make emergency calls using satellites these days? How could that have been affected? Something really was wrong. Jade clicked the flashlight on, bathing the room in a harsh white glow. She swallowed, her mouth dry, feeling a growing sense of unease she couldn''t quite place. Then it hit her. Shouldn''t there be sirens? Some sort of emergency response? Surely first responders would be out in force after a natural disaster like this. But there was nothing, nothing but an oppressive silence. How was that possible? She lived in a city filled with people, next to a busy street. It was never this quiet. Dread began to replace the unease, but Jade pushed it back. Everything is fine, you''re just shaken up. Which is perfectly normal. The first order of business was to check on Ally, everything else could wait. Jade threw on a t-shirt over her undergarments, grabbed a pair of tennis shoes from under her bed and pulled them on, then strode purposefully to the hallway door. "Ally, are you-?" Jade began as she opened the door. The words died on her lips. In front of her was not the connecting hallway that led to her and Ally''s shared living space and her friend''s room. Instead, her bedroom door had opened into a dark stone passageway, one lit by a line of torches that rested in wall sconces. The impossible hallway extended a good 100 feet before bending out of sight in the distance. Jade blinked, shaking her head and looking again. The passageway was still there. Where was her apartment? Hell, where was her apartment building? Let alone the street it had been sitting on. Was this a dream? She immediately checked her phone. It was now 4:10am. She turned off the screen, then checked it again. The clock still read 4:10am. Jade had gone through a brief period in her teenage years where she had been obsessed with learning to lucid dream. It had taken too much effort to keep up for long, but one trick she''d learned was that paying attention to numbers, especially clocks, was an easy reality check. In dreams, the mind rarely kept those consistent. In short, this probably wasn''t a dream. But does that mean it''s real? Jade thought, her heart rate was starting to pick up again. What alternatives are there? The air in this new place was warm and comfortable, nothing at all like the frigid weather they''d been getting in Ann Arbor for the past few weeks. "Ok¡­" She said to herself, slowly. "I''m sure there''s a perfectly reasonable explanation for this¡­" Maybe she''d sleepwalked somewhere? Underground? With my entire bedroom? She discounted that idea immediately. Baseless conjecture wasn''t helping. Jade was about to take a step forward into the hallway when something truly bizarre happened. There was a grinding noise, like stone shifting against stone. Then, right in front of her, a wooden signpost rose straight from the floor of the passageway. It seemed to be melded right into the ground itself, with no recess or slot that it could have emerged from. Jade gaped at it, both at its sudden appearance, and at what was written upon the sign. A small line of additional text lay beneath that bolded message, as if it had been hastily added at the last moment. Chapter 2 Jade stared at the sign for several long seconds, heart pounding in her chest. She didn''t know what was more unnerving, the ominous message on the sign, or the supernatural way it had simply phased through the stone floor to present itself to her. Had she hit her head? Could this all be the result of some sort of traumatic brain injury she''d suffered? Jade looked around again. Her bedroom lay in shambles behind her, books, clothing, and shards of glass strewn about the floor. In front of her, the stone hallway was dimly lit by sputtering torchlight. It was barren, other than the strange sign post. She didn''t even see any of the supposed golden arrows that the message was instructing her to follow. She had a strange feeling that all of this, inexplicably, was real. But why? It doesn''t feel surreal. She thought, glancing around again. There was no movement, no sound, only the dancing shadows cast by the flickering torches. On a whim, she pinched herself, hard. "Ow!" She winced, rubbing the tender spot on her thigh. That had hurt more than she''d expected it to. "Ok then¡­" She muttered to herself. "It feels real." That settled it for her, at least for the moment. If it looked and felt real, then all she could do was treat it as if it were. But that begged the question: How had it happened? Where was she? And, most importantly, what should she do? Her gaze found the sign again. The cryptic message was written in a foreboding black paint, paint that had yet to fully dry. Whatever this was, it had been created in a hurry. Whoever made it must know more about what''s going on than I do. She thought to herself, reading it again. I should find them. "Something less vague would be helpful." She said aloud. "This creepy, endless hallway thing isn''t doing it for me." No response came, and Jade sighed. Talking to herself wasn''t going to fix this, it was time to get to moving. A ''Sanctuary'' sounded like as good a place as any to go to. She had no idea who ''they'' were, or why they were ''coming for her'', but Jade''s intuition was that finding that out the hard way wouldn''t lead to anything good. She stepped into action, going back into her bedroom and grabbing a backpack. It was mostly empty, containing only a notebook, a few writing implements, a calculator, a phone charger, and a character sheet for a pen and paper role playing game. The sign may have instructed her to leave right away, but she wasn''t even wearing pants. Jade wasn''t about to run off into the depths of wherever the hell this was without at least some supplies. And clothes. She definitely wasn''t going anywhere without clothes. Jade pulled on a pair of jeans, then started throwing random clothes into the bag. Shirts, underwear, more pants, another pair of shoes, all went inside the main section of the bag. With a change of clothes taken care of, the college student looked around for anything else that could be helpful. She had chosen to view this as a survival situation: She was lost, not knowing where she was or when she would make it home. Treat it like being stranded in the wilderness. Be careful, find help. Jade knew that normally, the best thing you could do when lost was to stay put and wait for help. You didn''t want to wander off away from where any rescuers would be looking for you, after all. Then again mysterious signs with vague warnings of danger weren''t the norm either and, wherever this was, she hadn''t gotten here by any normal means. So the regular rules probably didn''t apply. Whatever was going on, Jade planned on being as well equipped for it as possible. She threw a pair of scissors into her backpack, as well as various hygiene products from the bathroom cabinet. Moving to her desk, she shoved a small flashlight in her pocket and grabbed her water bottle. She shook it, finding it to be empty. "Typical." Using the flashlight to guide her, she walked to the dark bathroom and tried to fill it using the sink. Predictably, nothing came out of the tap when she turned the faucet. All of the plumbing lines were severed. The toilet bowl still had water in it, though, and Jade tried to recall the last time she''d cleaned it. Yeah¡­ No. But¡­ Lifting the lid from the back of the toilet, she found the tank full as well. This would be marginally cleaner than the bowl, at least that''s what she hoped. She shined the light into the tank, inspecting it dubiously. It looked clean. "Famous last words." She sighed, dipping her water bottle into the tank and filling it. Jade resolved not to drink it unless there weren''t other options. She stepped back into the remnants of her room, now thoroughly looted. Her eyes fell on the blue and purple leotard lying at the foot of her bed. She took it on a whim, not entirely sure why she bothered. It was an echo of a past best forgotten, or so she told herself. But when it came down to it, she couldn''t abandon it. That was everything, right? She gave the remnants of her bedroom a quick once over. More clothes, a few piles of books, a handful of old pictures with newly cracked frames¡­ nothing she needed in the short term. Time to go. Flashlight in hand and backpack slung over her shoulder, Jade stepped out into the dimly lit passageway. As she did, a message popped up in front of her face, floating text glimmering in a translucent box in the upper middle of her vision. She heard the words in her mind as well, read with a perky, feminine voice that contained a mixture of enthusiasm and exasperation. What the hell?! Jade jerked in surprise. The message disappeared before Jade could fully process it, and was immediately replaced by another one. It popped into view just like the first, tracking to stay in place as she turned her head and tried to wave it away. It was ethereal, and her hand passed straight through it to no effect. That same feminine voice read the message aloud, even as she skimmed through it. This time, the voice had a more neutral tone. "A quest? Class selection? What enemies?" Jade asked aloud as the text faded from view. This was seriously bizarre. It was like the setup to a role playing game. She''d played her share of popular RPGs over the years, though mostly the analogue tabletop sort rather than the video game kind. Was this some kind of strange new game show? Yeah, right, a game show where they abduct you and throw you in a dungeon sounds totally legal. Besides, Jade was pretty sure she''d know if some sort of new augmented reality technology had been invented that involved displaying text in her vision without her wearing any detectable equipment. Her brother loved to talk to her about that kind of stuff. But that didn''t matter. This new strange phenomenon aside, she still had to get moving. Now that she had stepped out of her bedroom and onto the dark stone floor of the hallway, she took a better look at the environment her room was now in. The ceiling of the hallway was about 10 feet high and made of the same grey stone as the floor and walls. The stone was worked, not fully smooth, but enough to make it clear that this wasn''t a natural formation. The bedroom of her apartment had been deposited at a ''T'' junction between hallways. It sat squished between the walls, severed pipes leaking water on to the floor of the passageway. The walls were cut sheer, as if a giant laser had sliced straight through the brick, metal, and plaster to extract her room from the building it had been in. I''ve been transported somewhere. Jade concluded. She had no idea how or why, but that''s what the evidence pointed to. Somehow, her entire room had been¡­ what¡­? Teleported? It sounded crazy, just as crazy some sort of micro-AR technology, but she couldn''t deny what she was seeing. A sound echoed in the distance behind her and she turned around. It was a creepy, howl-like noise that sent a chill down her spine. Jade remembered the message on the sign, then the quest. Something had wanted her to know that it wasn''t safe here. There was some sort of Sanctuary she could seek refuge in, supposedly. But where? The ''T'' junction of the hallway led in three directions, and there didn''t seem to be any indication as to what lay down any particular path. The howls sounded again, distinctly louder this time. They were coming from the hallway behind the bulk of what was left of the apartment.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. That was enough for Jade. Whatever was making that noise, she had no desire to confront it. There would be time to figure this out later, when she was safe. Turning down the passageway that led away from the remains of her apartment and the approaching sounds, Jade took off at a run. The hallway had a smooth floor and was mostly straight, only occasionally twisting left and right in gentle curves. There weren''t any side passages, doors, or other exits immediately visible. More sounds came from behind Jade as she ran; a crash, followed by growling barks. Multiple overlapping sounds. Were there more than 1 of whatever that was? Jade prayed that she wouldn''t find out, picking up her pace. Torches flew by as the walls blurred past, the gymnast''s conditioning and strength lending her an endurance most would envy. Unfortunately, Jade had a problem. A lance of pain shot through her left ankle and she slowed to a limping jog, gasping in pain. "Not now!" She growled, forcing herself to keep going. Every step was more painful than the last, the old injury flaring anew. Jade had almost forgotten how bad it really was, she hadn''t pushed herself for months, not since her doctor had forced her to step down from any serious activity. ''There''s enough permanent damage already'', she''d said, ''You need to stay off it as much as you can.'' She''d promised to do so, then shown up at practice the next day with entirely predictable results. There was a new sound approaching now, also from behind. A rhythmic thumping sound growing that grew in volume with each pump of Jade''s racing heart. Half jogging, half hopping her way forward, she risked a glance backwards. Her eyes grew wide at the sight that confronted her. A monster, a literal monster was barreling down the passageway in pursuit of her. She didn''t know what else to call it, it was the only thing that fit. The beast had the general form of a hyena but with a line of vicious looking, 6 inch spines bristling from its back. A long, whip like tail arched up over its back like a scorpion, complete with a bulbous stinger. Up until this point Jade had been anxious, confused, even a little scared. Now, confronted with the sight of a nightmarish creature bearing down on her, she was terrified. The message popped up suddenly and without warning, floating in Jade''s vision again. This time, the feminine voice reading the message was more subdued and serious. The message disappeared quickly, replaced with another. The series of prompts appeared in rapid fire, one after the other. The last one lingered for several moments and was large enough to obscure Jade''s view. She cursed, barely processing any of the new information as she turned away from the monster and forced herself to increase her pace. The sharp pain in her left foot returned, lancing up her leg with every footfall as she dashed away from the pursuing monster. "Shit, shit!" The hallway taking a hard right turn just ahead, an abrupt change from the lazily winding corridor it had been up to this point. Jade would have to slow to navigate the corner, but she couldn''t afford to. Another glance back confirmed it, even her current breakneck pace wasn''t enough to outrun the beast. She''d have to try and push off the wall, losing as little momentum as possible. Jade gritted her teeth, tensing in anticipation of a hard impact as the wall rushed up to meet her. Wait! There, on the wall! A shimmering golden arrow burst into life as she drew near the corner. It hovered above the far wall she was preparing to slam into pointing, not in the direction the passageway shifted, but towards the opposite direction. Right at¡­ nothing? The blank stone wall of the hallway? No¡­ There was something there. A dark shadow¡­ A crack. It was narrow enough that Jade hadn''t been able to make it out at a distance but now, as she drew within a few dozen feet of the corner, she could see it with the help of the arrow. But did she go for it? Would she even fit? She didn''t have a choice, she couldn''t outrun this thing on open ground. If she stayed in the hallway, she was dead. There was no way the monster could squeeze into that gap. It was an opportunity to escape, but she''d have to be fast. The gymnast made a snap decision, changing course at the last moment and skidding to a halt at the corner. Her timing wasn''t perfect, she crashed against the far wall with a jarring impact, but she barely noticed. Shrugging her backpack off and holding it in one hand, Jade squeezed into the narrow crack in the stone. It was small enough that she had to step sideways to fit, arms held down at her side and her chin up. Hoping desperately that this actually led somewhere and wasn''t just a dead end she''d trapped herself in, she pushed herself further into the gap. It was dark, the torchlight doing little to illuminate the way forward or what lay at the end of it. The ground was rough and uneven, nothing like the smooth worked stone of the passageway outside. It made for poor footing and she stumbled, knocking her forehead painfully against the crevice. She moved with frantic, shuffling steps, digging her free hand into her pocket to retrieve the flashlight as she went. Before Jade could get it lit, there was a loud slam from right outside in the hallway. The beast was even more terrifying up close. Nearly the size of an adult human, it sported a ridge of needle sharp spines along its back, each of them looking capable of skewering a limb. The hybrid hyena-scorpion bared its teeth at Jade, vicious fangs glinting in the firelight as it growled menacingly. It tried to force its way into the gap to follow her but, as she''d hoped, it was just too large. Any relief she may have felt at that was suppressed by the unrelenting panic the monster evoked in her, however. The beast swiped at her with a claw and she screamed, closing her eyes and clenching her fists tightly. The claw scraped against the narrow stone walls, falling just inches short of Jade and showering her in a spray of dust and sparks. Heart thundering in her chest, Jade finally managed to turn the flashlight on as she continued to worm away from her pursuer. She forced herself to look away from it, to focus on where she was going, even as every instinct screamed at her to not take her eyes off of the death machine screeching and growling for her blood mere feet away. The light illuminated the remainder of the tiny path. It proceeded another 5 to 8 feet or so, then ended in a closed metal door. Shuffling towards it as quickly as the confines of the crack allowed, Jade continued to distance herself from the ravenous monster that still swiped and clawed at her from the passageway proper. It finally stopped as she reached the door, seeming to realize that it couldn''t reach her. Retracting its foreleg from its latest attempt to maul her, it stepped away, disappearing from view. A moment later its head returned, one large eye peering in at her as she edged her way to the door. There it waited, watching, its gaze sending a chill down Jade''s spine. It''s smart. She thought. It''s not just some dumb beast. Another golden arrow appeared in front of her as she reached the metal door, this one pointing directly at it. She''d never been especially religious, but Jade found herself praying that whatever this Sanctuary was, it would be protected from that thing. And that it was close. The door was incongruous with the crack she was traversing. It was clearly too wide for the space, the handle jammed up against the rough stone wall. It was like how objects in video games would sometimes clip through each other, not quite properly placed in the world. With effort, she managed to crank the handle up and shove the door open. It moved in short, grinding jerks, with the unpleasant screech of metal on stone. It took her a few tries to get it open enough for her to squeeze through. She slipped through the gap, emerging into a much larger space. Some sort of room? It was too dark to see much. Before she took a look around, Jade glanced back at the monster that had been chasing her. Only to find that it was gone. "That can''t be good¡­" I need to find that Sanctuary. Now. High above, lights flickered on. They bathed the room in a dull white glow, revealing a chaotic collection of industrial equipment and conveyer belts. The belts crisscrossed the room, some on the floor, but with more of them suspended at varying heights in the air. Large metal pieces rested atop them, components to some unknown machine. Large mechanical arms were anchored to the platforms at regular intervals and, as Jade watched, the whole system came to life. The half complete components jerked into motion, pulled along the conveyers as the articulating tools worked on them, whirring and sparking. There didn''t appear to be anyone or anything controlling the machinery, all of it was operating autonomously. The facility was both loud and enormous, and nothing at all like the hallway she had just entered from. The machinery and platforms here easily rose to more than 70 feet in height. It was a chaotic mess of catwalks, ladders, robotic arms, conveyer belts, and partially assembled machines. Something was strange about this place. It was as if someone who had heard stories of what factories were like, but never actually seen one, had created what they imagined it to be. The components, whatever they were, weren''t being assembled very well. One of the mechanical arms was just banging uselessly against each part as it passed by, making a discordant clanging sound as it pounded away to no visible effect. The entire system of conveyers was needlessly complex, rising high into the room in a convoluted tangle. There were no control panels, nor any sort of railing on the catwalks to prevent someone from plunging dozens of feet to the concrete floor. Jade didn''t know what, or where, this place was, but she knew it wasn''t in Michigan. She also didn''t much care, there would be time to worry about that when she was safe. A glowing arrow had appeared in front of one of the ladders that led up to the catwalks. She looked up, her gaze following the direction it indicated. There, at the very top of the chamber, was a shimmering golden door. The Sanctuary? She suspected it was, for it was the same color as the arrows. She swallowed, looking again at the sweeping mechanical arms and sparking equipment getting pulled along the conveyers. Getting up there without getting crushed or impaled by some wayward machine would take some planning. Focusing, Jade began plotting the safest path along the walkways. If she ascended the ladder here, then made her way over to the platform over there¡­ Smash! A door on the far end of the large room burst open. The monstrous hyena beast stalked into the room, its piercing gaze finding Jade in an instant. "Well¡­ fuck." She was out of time, it had found her. Chapter 3 Jade lunged for the nearest ladder, climbing with all the speed she could muster. On the other side of the room the monster growled, bounding towards her, dodging around various pieces of industrial machinery as it closed in. The climb wasn''t far, only about 10 feet up to a narrow catwalk that ran alongside one of the conveyers. Even so, she barely made it to the top before the beast was right below her. It leapt, snapping its sharp fangs up at her. They caught only empty air as it fell back to the ground, landing in a crouch. It gazed up at her with red eyes, tail swishing back and forth like a viper waiting to strike. A globule of liquid dripped from its barbed stinger, sizzling when it hit the floor. Jade didn''t hesitate, there were plenty of ramps in the form of other conveyer belts leading up to her. She was not about to wait for this creature to find another way to get to her. On the far side of the catwalk was another ladder, this one leading up to the second level of the assembly line. She navigated the catwalk as quickly as she dared. To her left a conveyer moved pieces of partially assembled components through a gauntlet of whirring and buzzing machines, and to her right was a 10 foot drop to the concrete floor and a waiting monster. The catwalk was only 3 feet wide, but Jade''s skills from her days as a gymnast allowed her to dart along its length at a speed most would''ve found frightening. Glancing up, she gauged the distance to the Sanctuary door. It was on the topmost of the 5 levels of equipment, 4 above where she stood at level 1. She could see a path along various catwalks and up a few other ladders that would take her there, she just had to- Wham! The ground shook violently beneath her causing Jade to lose her footing, sending her teetering dangerously close to the righthand edge of the catwalk. Below, the hyena monster fell back to the ground from another leap, having slammed its long stinger into the floor beneath Jade''s feet. Before she plunged to a horrible death, the gymnast threw herself in the other direction. She tumbled onto the conveyer belt, sprawling atop one of the strange metal components ferried along its length and banging her head against something hard. Stars burst across her vision and everything blurred, clearing just in time for Jade to see a large robotic drill bearing down on her. "Shit!" She rolled to the side and narrowly avoided being disemboweled by the machine as the whirring drill bored into a metal plate beside her. The conveyer jolted to a stop as the machines continued to work on this piece, the metal arm of the drill pressing tightly against her stomach and pinning her against the jagged metal surface. She managed to wiggle free after a few frantic moments, regaining her feet just as the belt jolted into motion again. Jade turned just in time to duck under a steel girder that nearly clotheslined her. She crouched on the conveyer, panting and covered in sweat, sweeping her gaze in every direction as she sought to identify further dangers. Finding herself safe for the moment, she searched for the monster that had nearly smashed her off the catwalk. It really is smart. Dangerously smart. She thought, frantically searching for it amidst the dimly lit assembly line. She needed to get to that damn door. There! It had found a route to clamber up to her level and was making its way across the various assembly lines towards her, hopping gaps and ducking around obstacles. It was time to go. Jade hopped off the conveyer back onto the catwalk just as it ferried her past another ladder, this one leading up to the third level of the factory. Sparks flew down from above as she clambered up as quickly as she could with her injured ankle, which had been throbbing painfully this entire time. Adrenaline kept the worst of it at bay for the moment, but that wouldn''t last long. She''d seen the X-Rays, and knew her foot could only handle so much abuse. "I''ll never complain about you again." She panted, hauling herself onto the next catwalk. "Just a little further!" Even amidst the chaos of this deadly chase, the gymnast recognized the weirdness of talking to her foot. That was strange, even for her. Probably a coping mechanism, she rationalized, to the absurdity of what was happening to her. It was better than panicking, at least she hoped it was. Jade hopped onto a conveyer, then jumped across a small gap to another walkway as she made her way towards another ladder. She was close now, just a little more! She- She wasn''t fast enough. With a mighty leap, the monster soared up from the level beneath Jade and landed heavily on the belt in front of her, snarling and snapping. Jade hopped backward, landing on a conveyer that was travelling away from the ladder she''d been aiming for. The beast stalked after her, stepping onto the belt and leaping atop a chunk of partially assembled machinery as it leered at her. Only about 10 feet separated them, the space filled with similar industrial parts. She searched frantically for an escape, backing away as the belt paused. But there wasn''t one, not another way up that she could get to from here. She''d been so close! Gritting her teeth, Jade reached down and grabbed a jagged piece of metal from the assembly line, clutching it before her like a baseball bat. "Get out of my way!" She yelled at the monster, setting her feet and raising the makeshift weapon as menacingly as she could manage. "You don''t want to try me!" Jade doubted whatever the hell this was would be so easily intimidated, but she found she didn''t care. Someone or something had pulled her out of her home, away from her friends and family, and thrust her into this mess. The fear, anxiety, and frustration that had been mixing inside her transformed, combining into fiery fury. This thing was standing between her and safety? Fine. If she had to, she''d just go straight through it. The beast leaped for her, bounding over the obstacles between them with frightening speed as it pounced. Jade swung her makeshift weapon with a solid, two handed grip, slamming it into the hyena-monster''s shoulder and knocking its lunge off course. She leaped out of the way, its wicked fangs snapping shut just to her side as it stumbled into her, knocking her off balance. Both of them fell, Jade onto the catwalk beside the belt and the beast back onto the conveyer itself. She found her feet quickly, spinning to face her foe as it rolled into a group of swinging mechanical arms. One of them slammed into the side of its head with a loud crack before it righted itself, leaping free of the hazard. It roared, blood pouring from a jagged head wound. The injury wasn''t enough to deter its attack, though, as it charged back towards her with reckless abandon. There was nowhere to go, to Jade''s right was open air, and to her left was machinery filled with deadly implements.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. In desperation the gymnast leaped off the catwalk and seized a long chain hanging from the ceiling. Her momentum carried her away from the beast, which spun to swipe its barbed tail at her as she swung away, dangling dozens of feet above the ground. It missed by inches, wind whipping against Jade''s face from the force of the blow. Years of acrobatics training helped her judge her distance and momentum, allowing her to let go at just the right moment to drop down onto another platform. It was a landing she could have easily stuck in her younger years, but her body failed her. Burdened by her backpack and improvised weapon she landed hard, her injured ankle screaming with sudden, piercing pain that sent an electric jolt through her entire leg. It finally had taken too much punishment, giving way under the pressure of the impact and sending her sprawling onto the hard metal. Jade cried out as she fell, gritting her teeth and using the club as a crutch to haul herself upright once more. She was about 15 feet away from the monster now, separated by a 3 story drop. The platform she stood upon was larger than the catwalks, a 10 foot square filled with various panels that held a wide array of levers and buttons. There was no time to investigate their functions, the monster was already crouched, preparing to leap the gap. Stumbling away at the fastest pace her injury would allow, Jade beelined for the nearest ladder. She had finally caught a lucky break, this one would take her to the topmost level not far from the glowing door. A pulsing arrow appeared on it, as if urging her towards safety. The ground shook beneath her as the monster continued its pursuit, landing heavily behind Jade and stalking after her. She hesitated upon reaching the ladder, knowing that she¡¯d be vulnerable while climbing. With the current state of her ankle there was no way she could clamber up to the top level quickly enough. Frustrated, Jade looked around for another path, edging slowly away from the monster. It was content to keep its distance for the moment, prowling towards her with its stinger raised. This new catwalk took her near a different belt system. Here, scrap metal was ferried to a large industrial presser that stamped down with tremendous force, crushing the metal into flat sheets. An idea formed in Jade''s mind. A stupid, crazy idea. "Go big or go home." She murmured to herself. The mantra that had propelled her athletic career into the national spotlight. The mindset that had led to her crashing and burning. Before she could think about the absurdity of what she was doing, she stepped onto the assembly line again. Its momentum carried her away from the beast, which followed suit, both of them approaching the large stamper that continued to thump away behind her. She risked a quick glance at it as her foe slowly approached, counting the number of scrap heaps between her and the device. Three more to go. She was counting on the beast being as reckless as she was. So far it had acted without much regard for its own safety, relentlessly pursuing her into this deathtrap of a factory. Jade didn''t know what malignant force drove this being, but it was something more than basic predatory instincts. Of that, she was certain. Thud. It was close now. Jade took a step backwards, up onto one of the metal piles. The vantage allowed her to look down on the beast as it approached. Its stinger twitched, another globule of something clear and sizzling spattering to the floor. The fear began to return, and she swallowed. Thud. The belt shook with the impact of the machine. She was almost there, just another few seconds. A pneumatic hiss filled her ears, the sound of a large machine in motion. A rush of air blew past her from behind, rippling across her hair and clothes. She clenched her fists around her weapon. Now! Jade pretended to stumble and the monster pounced. Immediately, the gymnast threw herself backwards. She leapt free of the pile of metal and hurled herself as far as she could down the belt. The gnashing teeth missed her once more, slashing nothing but air. Unfortunately, that wasn''t the beast''s only weapon. Its scorpion stinger slammed into her chest, barbed tip plunging deep. The impact sent her flying further than she''d meant, and Jade crashed to the moving belt in a heap, screaming at the burning pain that seared through her left side. Thud. In its single minded pursuit of her, the monster had lunged under the machinery just as Jade had gotten out of the way. The press slammed down again, crushing it in an instant. Its stinger flopped to the ground, severed, the only piece of the beast that had avoided being turned to paste. Jade lay back, relieved, clutching at the wound in her chest. It throbbed painfully, blood blossoming across her shirt. She rolled onto her side, gasping, raising her shirt to check how bad it was. A small but jagged hole had been punched into the right side of her chest, and Jade felt faint at the sight. Blood, her blood, was flowing freely from the wound. Far more of it than she was comfortable with. Taking a steadying breath, Jade steeled herself and rose to a crouch. Sharp jolts of pain arced through her shoulder and chest, enough to make her cry out again, but she was able to do it. The wound hurt, but it wasn''t debilitating. Not yet, at least. A new notification appeared in front of her. More notifications appeared, the same as before. She regained her focus as they flashed by, one after the other. This was no dream. Somehow, all of this was real. Jade didn''t understand how this had happened, but now she knew for certain. What was a ''Labyrinth Trial''? And what was with the ''quests''? It was like something out of a video game. Another window popped up in front of her, minimizing the others. Eyeing the ominous last line of the message, Jade rose to her feet. She surveyed the crushed remains of the monster as the conveyer belt ferried it past where she''d landed on the catwalk. ''Remains'' was being generous, the only identifiable part of the creature left was its dismembered stinger. Everything else had been reduced to a foul smelling red goo. She covered her mouth and nose at the stench, turning away. Have to get to that sanctuary¡­ She stumbled back to the ladder, favoring her good leg. Her abused ankle ached nearly as much as the stab wound did. Somehow, Jade managed to haul herself up to the highest level of the factory. A final arrow appeared, pointing directly at the glowing wooden door. It had an iron knocker and simple latch, looking completely out of place amidst the factory equipment surrounding her. She stumbled towards the door, missing the latch on her first attempt to open it. Jade''s limbs felt heavy, and a chill was starting to creep through her body. She shook her head, which had suddenly begun to grow cloudy. What was happening to her? Poison¡­ Stinger¡­ She managed to unlatch the door, practically falling across the threshold. Something soft cushioned her landing. Grass? That didn''t make any sense¡­ She blinked, looking around. She was in a forest clearing, sunlight filtering in through a canopy of leafy trees. How¡­? It didn''t make any sense, where had the factory gone? Before this latest message could fade, a shadow fell across her. Someone was standing over her, extending a hand towards her. Jade''s vision was going blurry, strength fading from her limbs. She looked up, seeing a well dressed older man in a tailored suit. "You are in quite a state, young Lady." He spoke with a refined accent, reminiscent of a British butler. "Do not fear, I am here to help." Chapter 4 "Wha¡­? Who are you?" Jade groaned, looking up at the man. A deep chill was spreading through her body, and she realized she was shivering. When had that started? She tried to stand up but was too weak, slumping back down to half sit, half lay on the grass. "My name is Damos." he said, crouching down beside her. In one hand he held an open book, which snapped shut as he tucked it away. "There will be time for proper introductions later." He frowned, as if the thought of delaying them was unpleasant. Damos touched her arm and his gaze unfocused, like he was looking at something Jade couldn''t see. "You''ve been poisoned by a venomhound." He said grimly. "I don''t have the ability to cure you. Not directly." "A what?" Jade asked, trying her best to ignore the throbbing pain in her side. "Wait¡­ that doesn''t¡­ matter right now. What¡­ Can I do?" Her breathing was labored and shallow, and talking was starting to hurt. She had to act fast, get to a hospital, or something. What had he meant by cure her? Was this man a doctor? He didn''t look like one. "There''s normally a lengthy explanation before this." Damos replied, taking a large diamond from an inside pocket of his jacket. "But there''s no time for that now. Take this, it will pull up a selection of races for you to pick from. We need to find one with poison resistance, and quickly." "Races¡­? What?" Jade remembered something in the message windows about that, but her head was growing foggy. "Upon entering the Labyrinth as a wayfarer, you''re given the option to change your form to that of another race, or species." He explained quickly. Despite the apparent urgency of the situation, Damos''s voice remained reassuring and calm. "We must choose one for you that will cure you of this affliction." "Transform¡­?" she asked, hardly believing what she was hearing. "Like, turn into something else? Like what? How¡­ How is that even¡­?" Jade couldn''t finish the sentence. It was getting hard to breathe. "Magic." He said simply. "Your world has very little of it, so that must be hard to believe. But time grows short, and we must proceed." A thousand questions flashed through Jade¡¯s mind. Magic? Transformation? Where the hell was she? What the hell was going on?! But she could feel the poison inside her spreading, sapping her strength. She didn¡¯t have time to interrogate this man. Jade nodded, unable to think of any alternatives. This man seemed to know what was going on, and she was clueless. Her legs were slowly losing feeling as everything else grew colder and colder. It hurt, and she was scared. She grasped at this chance like a drowning woman would cling to a drifting log. Reaching out, she took the proffered diamond in her hand. A new window appeared in front of her, much larger than the ones that had come before it. For the first time, Jade could interact with one of the windows. She found that she could tab through the various pages of the list, or focus on one to bring up more information. When she did so, a whole list of racial perquisites, abilities, and affinities filled her vision. There was even a 3D image, which was labeled as a preview of what she would look like as a member of that species. She tried to read through them, but it was just too much for her muddled mind to comprehend. "You don¡¯t have as many options as I¡¯d hoped..." Damos said, gaze unfocused once more. Jade realized he must be seeing his own window too. Did that mean hers was invisible to him? ¡°''Golemkin'' are immune to all types of poison, but it¡¯s not on your list. Well, I doubt you would¡¯ve wanted to turn into one of those in any case.¡± He paused, giving her an appraising look. "There is one you qualify for. It''s¡­ unconventional." "What¡­ Is it¡­?" Jade asked, lying back down on the ground as her strength faded. Damos hesitated again, the older man regarding her carefully. "The succubus." He said. Jade thought she heard disapproval in his voice, but she couldn''t be sure. "As a demon, is highly resistant to all poison-based effects. It''s rare for someone to meet the prerequisites for this specific race. I''ve only seen it available a handful of times, but have never witnessed anyone actually choose it. But in your case, it may well be the best option." "A demon¡­ Like, an actual demon?" Jade asked, incredulous despite her dire wounds. "Yes¡­ And no." He said. "It''s complicated, and we truly have run out of time young lady. We must act now, or the poison will finish working its way through you. I dislike rushing anyone on a decision this important, but I don''t see any alternatives. As a shapechanger, however, the succubus is a choice that would allow you to maintain your current form if you desire. You may abstain if you wish, of course, I will pressure you no further." Damos settled down on the ground beside her, brow creased in concern. He looked as though he wanted to say more, but couldn''t find the right words. "Why¡­ Why is this happening to me?" she asked weakly. A look of sadness crossed Damos''s aged face. "I wish I knew." He replied. The butler put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "But I will do what I can for you." Jade searched his face, finding only sincerity in his gaze. How odd that she could recognize in him, this man she had only just met, something that had been absent from her life for so long. She nodded slowly, turning her attention back to the window in front of her. After another moment of searching, Jade found the entry for the succubus. What followed was a lengthy list of prerequisites, followed by an even longer section that detailed various spells and abilities. Jade lacked the focus to parse all of it, it was getting harder and harder to concentrate. The surrounding forest darkened, everything beginning to fade. She mentally scrolled through the long list, quickly finding the line she was looking for. A ''Confirm Race Selection'' button blinked slowly in the bottom right corner of the window. Jade hesitated, looking back to Damos. "This¡­ will really¡­ transform me?" she asked laboriously. "Change me?" "It will." He replied softly. "It''s not an easy choice. I apologize for being the one to force it upon you." Jade searched her feelings, finding that she didn''t mind the idea of changing who she was nearly as much as she thought she should. She briefly wondered at that, but pushed aside those musings for the moment. "Will it¡­ heal me?"The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "Yes." He replied simply. "Then I''ll do it." she said, wincing at another spike of pain. "What¡­ do I do?" "Simply focus on the confirmation option with your mind." Damos instructed. "The interface will respond to your thoughts." Jade thought of her little brother, alone in the hospital. She''d promised to visit him this morning. Now she lay in some strange place with a ruined ankle and a hole in her chest, poison pumping through her veins. I''m coming back to you, Alan, as soon as I can. No matter what. She mentally clicked ''confirm''. A burst of intense heat rushed through Jade''s entire body, washing away all other sensations. It burned to the point of pain, but stopped just short of being debilitating. Still, Jade cried out, closing her eyes and clenching her fists as electric jolts lanced through her body. The pain seemed endless, pulsing with every beat of her heart. Just when Jade thought she couldn''t take another moment of it, the pain began to fade. Light burst from her skin in the same moment, shining as her form began to shift and change. The alterations were small at first: A more angular chin, a slightly glossy sheen to her skin, like light reflecting off water. Her hair lightened a shade, gaining a lustrous quality she''d never quite managed to instill in it herself. The wound in her chest began to itch terribly but, as she finally brought herself to look upon it, it closed before her eyes. Jade watched, fascinated, as the torn and punctured skin knit itself back together. After a few moments, no trace remained of the wound, neither scar nor blemish marring the perfect skin. The deepening chill working its way through her body began to recede as well, warmth returning to her. Her breaths came deep, no longer labored, and her vision sharpened. A sudden rush of energy flooded her body and Jade found herself clambering to her feet, practically buzzing with vigor, as if she hadn''t been lying half dead on the ground mere moments ago. "Wow!" she exclaimed, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. It was as if she''d downed a few too many caffeine heavy drinks, and then shot herself up with adrenaline. She felt alive. More alive than she''d ever been before. Ready to burst into motion. To run and leap her way through the surrounding forest¡­ Without warning, a pair of short dark horns sprouted from her forehead. Jade cried out, more from surprise than pain, the sudden weight an alien sensation. Just as she reached up to feel them, twin dark and leathery wings burst from her shoulder blades, shredding the tattered remains of her T-shirt. The sudden, unexpected change in her center of gravity toppled Jade right back to the ground. The wings cushioned her fall, splaying out to her sides as she landed on her back, eyes wide. A sudden rush of sensory information accompanied the transformation, a confusing awareness of her new limbs and everything they were touching. It was as bizarre as it was incredible. She lay there for a few moments, recovering and adjusting to the new feelings. It didn''t take long, as though her brain had been primed to accept the changes. That was¡­ disconcerting, but not wholly unwelcome. After several long moments, Jade felt ready for a little experimentation. She flexed one wingtip, then the next, her wings shifting beneath her as she did. Despite being brand new to her, it was as easy as moving any other part of her body. They were dark and sleek, both supple and strong, colored in hues of maroon and crimson. In spite of everything that had happened to her in the past hour or so, she was awed by them. By the sensation of the transformation. Can I fly with these? The thought was exhilarating. She rose to her feet again, realizing belatedly that her ankle was no longer aching. Unable to believe it, Jade bent down and probed her foot and leg. Nothing. It felt¡­ fine? No, better than fine. "How¡­?" She asked again, this time with reverence. Jade only had time to marvel at her injuries'' miraculous restoration for a brief moment before she felt a large buildup of pressure from her behind. She yelped again as a long crimson tail burst straight through her pants and flopped on the ground behind her. A host of new sensations assaulted her once more, she could feel the grass press against the tail as it lay on the ground. No, not ''the'' tail. Her tail. A soft breeze brushed against her wings, and she shivered. Jade suddenly had control over, and a distinct awareness of, whole new body parts that simply hadn''t been there moments earlier. This was going to take some getting used to¡­ She flapped her wings experimentally, then swished her tail. The motions came as naturally to her as walking or waving her arm. That was strange. Shouldn''t she have to learn this from the ground up? Form new neural connections, or something? But for whatever reason, she didn''t. Then again, she''d just literally transformed into a demon with wings and horns, apparently by magic. This was probably just another part of that. And speaking of magic¡­ She turned back to Damos. "This is incredible¡­" She breathed. "How¡­ How is this possible?" "Welcome to the world of magic, young lady." Damos said with a smile. "Magic¡­ It''s real?" Jade shook her head. "I mean, of course it is. I''m convinced now. But how? How does no one know about this?" "My understanding, though I am no expert, is that your world hardly has any. The universe is like that, some places are rich with magic, while others are not." "My world?" He''d said something like that earlier, hadn''t he? "Are you saying I''m not on Earth anymore?" "Not exactly. This place is called ''The Astral Labyrinth''. It is a world between worlds, you might say. An ever changing, eternally shifting maze of a realm that forges links between the many universes of the cosmos." "So, there are other worlds? And people who live there?" she asked, overwhelmed. This was a lot to take in at once. One part of her was skeptical of everything Damos was telling her. The other part was open to just about all of it, after experiencing the transformation she had just undergone. "Yes, there are. But there will be time to talk about that later. I have a limited time here with you right now. Soon, others will need my guidance as well." "Others? From Earth?" Damos nodded. "There''s more than just me here? In the¡­" What had he called it? "The Labyrinth?" She finished. "There are." He nodded again. "You were one of the first pulled into it. But it is forging a connection to the world you call Earth even as we speak. More will follow." "But why? What is this place? And why was I attacked? I¡­ I have a new body. And the quests? It''s like some sort of game¡­" She couldn''t stop the torrent of questions. Now that she was out of immediate danger, she wanted answers. "I''ll tell you what I have time to, and we can speak more later." Damos replied calmly, unperturbed by her outburst. "The Labyrinth is a realm of great magic. Those who venture here, or who are pulled into it as you have been, undertake what is known as the ''Labyrinth Trial''. They are given a series of tasks, quests, to complete, gaining power and prestige as they do. This is a land of wonders and dangers alike, and you must always be vigilant. To complete your trial, you must complete 100 of these quests. After that, you will be free to do whatever you wish, and will maintain the powers you might have gained during your journey." "Can I go home? Now?" Jade asked, her mind reeling. That explanation only gave her more questions. So many more. Damos frowned. "Not right this moment, no. You will have to find an exit. There are many, but they are not nearby." "Where can I find them?" "Throughout the Labyrinth, often at the landings between levels. You are on the 1st, and the safest." "Safest?" Jade asked incredulously. "You call that deathtrap I just escaped safe?" The butler''s frown deepened. "The first level is not usually so dangerous. Nor do people often get pulled into the Labyrinth as you have. Something is different, this time. It''s acting with unusual haste." Jade didn''t understand what Damos meant, but she didn''t much care at the moment. "Just tell me how I can find one of these exits." She said. "You''ll have to explore." He said. "Defeat the challenges ahead of you, gain power, and advance to further levels of the Labyrinth. To start, you must select a class." "A class? Like, in a video game?" Jade had played some RPGs in her day and knew that character creation was a staple in them. What she didn''t understand was why an actual world worked like that. "Why? And why does everything use game terms?" "The Labyrinth presents itself to new societies in a manner they can interpret." Damos explained patiently. "Apparently, for the people of your world, the easiest way for most of you to understand its systems and the magic it holds is in the form of these games." That¡­ made a sort of sense, Jade supposed. If she was going to accept magic, parallel worlds, and an interdimensional labyrinth that connected them, she wasn''t going to draw the line at its similarities to Earth video games. "As for why a class is necessary to begin with." Damos continued. "It is simply a structured way to introduce you to using magic. And believe me, that structure is an enormous boon. Now, like I said, I am short on time. I will help you select your class, then I must go and assist others." "O-ok¡­" Jade said. She shook her head, trying to focus. Everything was happening so fast. "Is there anything I should know first? Anything that can''t wait?" "Good question. Yes, two things. First, even after you leave the Labyrinth, its magic will call you back into it eventually. It will continue to bring you back until you''ve completed your trial, but you are allowed reprieves from it." "Great¡­ Just great." Jade muttered. "I''ve been kidnapped by a magic maze." Of course this would happen to her. Strangely, though, she didn''t feel that angry. Frustrated, yes, and a little scared, but not furious. It was her foot, she realized. The miraculous healing of what should have been a lifelong injury. It was hard to be mad when she¡¯d been given such a gift. Whole, and then some. She thought, shifting her new wings. "Second." Damos continued, clasping his hands behind his back. "Is that most creatures you encounter on this floor have been created by the Labyrinth. Monsters, whose purpose is to challenge you. Defeating them will help you grow stronger, but do not underestimate them." "You don''t have to worry about that¡­" Jade said, rubbing at her chest where the stinger had impaled her. Damos didn''t give her time to ask anything else, drawing forth another crystal like the last one and holding it out to her. Jade realized that she wasn''t holding the first one anymore. She had no recollection of what had happened to it. "It is time for you to select your class. Once you have chosen, your interface will fully activate, and you will be ready to begin your trial." Chapter 5 Jade took the second crystal and inspected it. Like the first, it was some sort of diamond. As she held it in her hand, it melted away, shifting into shimmering dust that melded into her skin. A tingle passed through her, and a new window appeared. Jade read through the window, eyeing the two recommended classes. This was all still a lot, but somehow she was starting to get used to the absurdity of it all. Maybe. "Classes will come with various basic abilities, talents, and spells that you can utilize. As you grow stronger, you''ll learn new capabilities through them. They are a framework to guide your growth as a Wayfarer." "Wayfarer?" "That is the title given to those who are undergoing the Labyrinth trial." Damos explained, clasping his hands behind his back again. The initial rush of energy that had accompanied her transformation had begun to fade, and Jade sat down in the shade of one of the large trees that ringed the forest clearing. The grass was soft and springy, making for a comfortable seat. She settled in to view the options presented to her. "Should I go with one of the recommended classes?" She asked, paging through the full list. "There are a lot of options. It would take forever to go through all of these." "The Labyrinth system usually does a good job of recommending classes that suit each individual." Damos said. "I would give them due consideration, at the very least." "Thanks¡­" She said, scrolling back to the first page and looking at the pair of recommended options again. Then she paused, glancing up at her immaculately dressed companion. "And¡­ I didn''t have the chance to say this before. Thank you for helping me. I don''t think I''d be here without you." Damos smiled warmly, the expression almost fatherly on his aged face. "It is my pleasure to serve, young Lady. I must say, you are adapting to these new circumstances remarkably well. Many have a very difficult time adjusting, and understandably so." "I''ve always had to be good at adapting." Jade shrugged. "Honestly, this is a lot. Apparently everything I thought I knew about the world was pretty damn wrong. But throwing a tantrum won''t help get me home." "That is an admirable mindset." Damos said. "I regret that it is necessary. Participation in the Labyrinth Trial is supposed to be more¡­ voluntary, than what was forced upon you." "How so? You mean this place doesn''t normally suck apartments into it like an alien vacuum cleaner?" "It isn''t supposed to." He confirmed. "The Labyrinth generally tries to avoid drawing anyone in who isn''t a volunteer." "A choice would have been nice." Jade agreed bitterly, returning her attention to the window before her. "Shadow Witch, and Blade Dancer¡­" She read aloud, looking at the two recommended classes. "Shadow Witch is a hybrid class incorporating rogue and mage features." Damos explained. "Are you familiar with those terms?" Jade nodded. "Yeah. In games I''ve played, rogues are sneaky, mages use magic." "That''s the long and short of it." He agreed. "That class will focus on stealth, trickery, and subterfuge, and will grant abilities that facilitate those methods. It would provide tools to help avoid direct confrontation, but that''s not to say it''s bad in a fight. Simply not specialized for combat, like some are." "And Blade Dancer?" "An acrobatic themed rogue class. That one is specialized for combat." Damos''s gaze unfocused as he read information on a window only he could see. "Movement abilities, close quarters skills, a skirmisher that can enter and leave a battle at will." "How important is being able to fight?" Jade asked, thinking about her confrontation with the venom hound. Was she going to have to battle creatures like that regularly? That¡­ was a terrifying thought. "Quite important, I''m afraid. There are many monsters that roam the labyrinth. But either of these choices will give you appropriate tools to confront them." "I''m leaning towards the Shadow Witch, then." Jade said, examining a more detailed view of what the class entailed in her window. "I''d rather have a lot of tricks up my sleeve than have to stab my way through everything that gets in my way." "I think that would pair well with your racial abilities." Damos offered, after Jade read the list aloud to him. "Racial abilities?" She asked. "I get something other than these wings? Oh, you mentioned shapeshifting, didn''t you?" "I did. Normally, we would have looked over that carefully before making any decisions. In your case, we didn''t have the time. Here, have a look." He waved a hand, and a new window appeared in front of her beside the first. The description it held was more detailed than the one she''d been presented with previously. Jade read through the list quickly, then crossed her arms and gave Damos a flat look. "What the hell are ''sex skills''?" Jade demanded, her face reddening. "What they sound like, I presume." Damos replied, unperturbed. "I doubt they will be relevant during the Trial. I''m more interested in your other affinities. More than one of them overlaps with what the ''Shadow Witch'' class gives you." "Is that good or bad?" She asked, still with her arms folded defensively. "If you want to be proficient in those areas, then quite good. Skill affinities are additive, which results in faster growth." He explained. "None of that is quantified by the system or your interface but, if you train them, you''ll find that your abilities in those fields will grow faster than they do in other areas." Jade already considered herself an expert acrobat, but the idea of getting even better was appealing. And given that her foot had been healed, she could hardly contain her excitement at the enticing freedom that path offered. "Stealth would mean sneaking around at the edge of fights, right? I think that''s more my style." She said. Jade considered for another moment, then grinned. "Also, if I''m accepting that magic is real, I have to try it." Damos gave her a slight smile in return. "A compelling argument, young lady. Compelling indeed." She quickly glanced through the Blade Dancer details just to be sure, but it was as she''d suspected. Focused on martial talents and sword fighting. The movement abilities would play to her strengths, but nothing else about the class appealed to her. Besides, it didn''t have any spells. "Alright, that''s my choice." She decided, confirming her selection. For a moment nothing happened, then the windows all winked out at once. A dark, shadow mist swirled into existence around her, spinning and twisting like tendrils of smoke. It was chill to the touch, and Jade gasped in surprise at its sudden appearance. As quickly as it appeared, the smoke vanished, flowing into her body and dissolving through her skin. New knowledge flooded Jade''s mind, a bizarre sensation akin to what she imagined downloading a Wikipedia article into her brain would feel like. She suddenly knew how to hold a dagger, the best form for striking an armored target, and how to move freely and unencumbered in armor. "Woah." She said, staggering back. Power buzzed inside her body, newly awakened magic settling into her¡­ soul? Was that where the power had settled, deep inside of her? She could feel it, waiting to be unleashed. "That was a hell of a rush¡­" It was possible to just instantly learn and process information like that? Jade''s head swam at the possibilities, although that may also have had to do with the growing ache in her head. Side effects? No surprise there. "I would''ve pulled far fewer all-nighter''s if I could have studied like that." She said, rubbing at her temple. "Magically imbued knowledge is certainly convenient." Damos agreed. "But it is never as effective as proper study and practice, young lady. You will have to work hard to make the most of that head start." She supposed that made sense. There was a big difference between knowing something, and putting that knowledge to use. That comforted her, she found that she didn''t like the idea that all the years practicing her gymnastics routines and acrobatic talents could have been replaced by a little burst of magical knowledge.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. More windows popped up, one after the other. She tried to wave them away, they were so large that they cluttered her vision, but they didn''t move. "Imagine them shrinking in size, moving out of the way. Focus on it, and your interface will respond." Damos advised from beside her. She did as he said, finding that she could control where everything appeared, moving it around her field of view. Jade imagined filing everything away for later, and the messages minimized to the corner of her vision. It looked like a Windows file, straight from her laptop computer. She wondered at that, remembering that Damos had said something about the Labyrinth presenting itself to people in a way they could understand. It was fascinating, as well as a little creepy. "Got it, thanks." She said, pulling the first message from the folder so she could take them one at a time. Jade mentally clicked away these first few windows quickly, then paused at the next. A progress bar appeared below this message, rapidly filling up. After a few seconds, it reached 100% and blinked away. There was a tingling sensation on the back of her hand. Startled, Jade examined it and found a glowing mark tattooed onto her skin. No, it wasn''t a tattoo, the mark was slowly moving, rotating around a central axis. It looked like a shifting maze, twisting and turning. Gingerly, she reached out a finger and prodded it. It felt like normal skin. "What is this?" She asked Damos. "That is your Wayfarer mark, proof that you are undertaking the Labyrinth Trial. You''ll usually be able to identify other Wayfarers using your interface, but the physical marks are another means of doing the same." The butler explained. "You may also use them to join with other Wayfarers, forming teams or parties that share information. Of course, you can work together unofficially as well, but linking marks comes with a few perks." "Ok." Jade said, shaking her head. "Yeah, sure. You know, at this point I''m just going along with it all. So, how do I use the interface? What is it?" "It''s primarily an identification power, meant to guide and assist you during your trial and time in the Labyrinth. Simply focus on someone or something, and you will glean insight." Jade focused on the finely dressed older man, squinting at him. Something tingled in the back of her mind, and a new window opened in front of her. Jade blinked at the message, then at the man she had taken for a human. "Labyrinth elemental? I''d assumed¡­" "I am human in appearance only, young lady." He explained. "Labyrinth elementals are spirits of this place, you might say. Caretakers, guides. It is our custom to take on a form newcomers can relate to and will feel comfortable with." "I¡­ Ok then." She had no idea what to say to that. Instead, she simply stared at him. Did that mean¡­ Was Damos an alien? Well, it''s not like I''m human anymore either. What a strange thought. Jade was suddenly acutely aware of her tail and wings again, parts of her body registering the normal sensations of the air and temperature, except in places utterly new to her. She could practically feel her brain rewiring under the constant barrage of new stimulus. "One last thing, before I must depart." Damos said, interrupting her thoughts. "Focus on yourself in the same manner, and you''ll be able to bring up your status window. Please wait here and study it, I''ll return as soon as I can. When I do, I will do my best to answer the rest of your questions." "Where are you going?" "To provide an introduction to others like you. A few are waiting in other Sanctuaries, and we weren''t ready to welcome so many newcomers at once." Damos frowned again. "The Labyrinth usually warns us. This is something I must look into." "Warns you? It can communicate?" Jade asked. "It is alive?" "In a manner of speaking. I apologize young lady, but now that you are out of danger, I must take my leave." Damos gave her a short bow. "I''ll be back to help you further as soon as possible. If you have need, food and drink await you in the clearing. You will be safe here, the dangers of the Labyrinth will not reach you." He gestured behind him to a small collection of tents in the far corner of the forest clearing. Jade had been so preoccupied that she hadn''t even noticed them. She opened her mouth to ask something else but, before she could, Damos waved a hand and disappeared. There was a flash of light and a burst of wind, and he was just¡­ gone. Once again Jade found herself gaping. She stared at the spot the man had been standing in a moment before, processing what she had just seen. "Holy shit." She finally said. Nothing else seemed appropriate. Magic¡­ It was real. She''d known that ever since her body had transformed, known it conclusively. But seeing a man¡­ what? Teleport? Right before her eyes was almost as big a shock. She revised her earlier assessment. It would take some time to get used to this. And on the topic of magic, apparently she had some for herself now. That realization broke her out of her stupor. Jade focused on herself and, after a moment, successfully pulled up her own status window. "Let''s see what all this is about¡­" The information was organized in the same manner as Damos''s had been, but on her own window it was only a header for a great deal more information. Jade wondered what those numbers actually represented, and scowled slightly at the ''5'' in intelligence. She was not happy that the system had placed her lowest score there. Jade raised her eyebrows at the new window. That was helpful. The interface responded to her thoughts, and was intuitive to navigate. She found she could pull up a detailed description of each characteristic, although the information in the more verbose summaries was basically the same. A note at the bottom of the window caught her eye. That was right, the racial menu had said something about stat effects depending on whether or not she was in her succubus form. Now that Jade focused on it, she did sense a greater power in her body than she was used to. She''d have to experiment with that later, get a handle on what she could do. That penalty to willpower was concerning, though. What did a 40% reduction in her mental focus or mental defenses mean? She didn''t feel less focused. She resolved to ask Damos about it later. In the meantime, there were more windows to explore. Jade gave the window a flat look. Was this thing giving her attitude? She mentally dismissed the prompt and pulled up the level up window. After that window blinked away, another took its place. Those abilities both seemed useful, although Jade was more interested in the spell. If she was going to be a part of this crazy new world, at least she would get to learn to use magic. She found an option to accept the rewards and mentally pressed it, which caused yet another window to come up. Interesting, she was going to have to be careful about how she allocated her stat points. It was clear that this system had some depth to it. Jade decided it would be best to wait to assign any of her new ability increases until after she had a chance to ask Damos more questions. And maybe someone else, as well. After all, she didn''t even know how reliable of a source of information the man was. She had been taking everything he had been saying as truth so far, but enough people had lied to her throughout her life that Jade wanted to verify what she could. He had helped her, and that was a promising start. But she shouldn''t let her guard down that easily. Jade closed the window, which turned out to finally be the last one. She was left sitting against a tree at the edge of the bright, sunlit clearing. For the first time since she''d arrived here, she finally had a chance to take it all in. The gently swaying grass, the soft breeze, the warm air. It was beautiful and serene, a stark contrast to the bloody conflict she had just escaped. The door she had entered via stood nearby. It was literally just a door, attached to nothing but the ground. A soft shimmer of golden light sparkled around its exterior frame, the same glow that it had possessed on the other side in the factory. Would it take her back there, if she opened it? She almost got up and opened it just to check, but decided it would be best to wait. First, there were a few things to take stock of. A growl from her stomach told Jade it was time to investigate the tents Damos had pointed out to her. The chaos of the past hour or two had drained her, and she now found herself famished and exhausted. She hauled herself to her feet, starting in the direction of the tents. As she walked, Jade inspected her new body. The first things she noticed was her chest, or rather, how much more there was to it now. "Ok." She said aloud, stopping. "That''s a little stereotypical." She had never been especially well endowed, something she''d been rather grateful for as a gymnast. But now she was at least a full cup size larger, at a glance, possibly more. She felt the change more than saw it, her bra uncomfortably tight across her chest. She also belatedly realized just how shredded her shirt was. Between the injuries she''d sustained in the battle with the venomhound, and her new wings tearing through the back, there was barely enough left to cover her. She flushed, realizing she''d been practically flashing Damos for their entire conversation. Pushing the thought out of her head, she looked the rest of herself over. Nothing else seemed to have changed too much, other than the obvious wings and tail. That, and the newfound luster of her skin and hair. She''d need to find a mirror before she could look at her face, but it felt the same. Refocusing on the new additions to her body, she experimentally flapped her wings. Try as she might, she wasn''t able to take to the sky with them. Jade fervently hoped that was something she could learn one day. Giving up her humanity was a tough pill to swallow, even if she didn''t really feel all that different. It''d be nice if she at least got the ability to fly out of it. They look badass. At least there''s that. She spread them wide, covering a wingspan of over six feet, then furled them around herself. They were warm and supple, with a smooth and soft texture. Jade couldn''t help but smile, Alan was going to think she was the coolest big sister ever when she got back. Thinking of her brother got her mind back in the present. Getting home was her priority, everything else was secondary. The first steps towards that were to get food and rest. She made it the rest of the way to the tents, finding wooden crates filled with various canned foods just outside of them, and bedrolls within. They looked like they''d come from an American grocery store. Had these been sucked up by the Labyrinth, just like she had? Another question for Damos. "I really hope succubus don''t have any weird dietary needs." Jade muttered to herself, popping open a can of fruit. "I really don''t want to live off human blood." She inspected the can suspiciously. After a few minutes without discovering anything unusual about it or its contents, she decided it was probably safe. No strange cravings overtook Jade as she began eating, and the canned pears tasted normal to her. She took that as a good sign. She finished her food and, satisfied for the moment, settled inside one of the tents to recover. There was a lot to process. Too much. First, she was going to get some rest. Jade hadn''t planned on sleeping right away but, as soon as she sat down on one of the soft bedrolls, a bone deep exhaustion weighed down on her. Jade lay back, closing her eyes. She''d just rest for a few minutes, then finish taking a look around. A few moments later, she was asleep. Chapter 6 Darkness had fallen over the pristine forest clearing by the time Jade woke. She yawned, sitting up and rubbing her eyes, trying to remember where she was. The faint glow of starlight filtered in through the tent flap, illuminating the forest clearing outside. Right. She''d been transported into this place, the Labyrinth, then chased by a monster, narrowly escaped death, and finally reached safety in this place. The question was¡­ Now what? "Damos?" She asked into the darkness. No response was forthcoming, the only sound the soft chirping of unseen insects, and Jade began to wonder just how long she''d slept. When she had arrived the sun had been high in the sky, but did that mean anything here? Apparently she wasn''t on Earth anymore, who knew how long it stayed ''day'' in this place. The question of what to do would have to wait, for right now Jade was faced with a more immediate need. Nature was calling, and it wouldn''t take no for an answer. Rising to her feet Jade made to leave the tent and promptly stepped on her own tail. She yelped in pain, stumbling forward through the tent flap. Unfortunately her wings were spread wide and, as she stepped outside, they got caught in the fabric. Her momentum carried her forward, pulling the entire tent down on top of her in a tangle of poles, canvas, and string. "Ow¡­" She groaned, facedown on the ground. Extricating herself from the mess was something of an ordeal in the dark, and she spent the time reflecting on the fact that having wings was a pretty large pain in the ass, especially if you couldn''t fly with them. There didn''t seem to be a bathroom in the sanctuary, though it was too dark to see far. Without any other options available, Jade found a quiet and discreet place to relieve herself a little removed from the clearing. Pale moonlight shone down from the sky, providing just enough illumination for her to get around. Between that and her flashlight, she found the backpack that she''d dropped when she''d first arrived. There were a few changes of clothes inside, and she began pulling them out. The shirt she wore was a lost cause, having practically been torn to ribbons, and her pants hadn''t fared much better. The question was, with her wings protruding through her shirt and her tail emerging through a hole in her pants¡­ How was she supposed to change? Or wear normal clothes at all? This whole body type seemed wildly impractical. Then again, she was apparently a shapechanger. If that did what it sounded like, it could be a solution. As if prompted by her thoughts, which Jade realized it probably was, a system window popped up to provide helpful details. Jade thought she could feel how the power was supposed to work. There was a newly awakened area in the back of her mind, a pool of potential that had emerged shortly after she had undergone her transformation. She reached into it, tapping into that new part of her with a thought. It was unruly at first, the feeling unnatural, but the more she concentrated the more natural it felt. Strangely, it felt more like rediscovering a part of herself that she had lost than actually learning something new. Focusing as hard as she could, Jade released the energy through her body, guiding it as it shaped her anew. Her entire body tingled as her wings and tail retracted, the horns on her forehead melting away. Mere moments later she stood in the forest clearing as her old self. As far as Jade could tell by touch and in the dim light, this new form was identical to her body prior to the transformation. As she came to terms with the strangeness of being able to change shape at will, Jade felt a small amount of strength leave her body. She checked her system windows to figure out what had happened and quickly discovered that had been the sensation of the stat boost she received in her ''demon'' form fading. It was accompanied by an odd, albeit fleeting, sense of loss. Strange, but not unpleasant. Jade spent the next quarter of an hour testing her transformative abilities, quickly determining several key pieces of information. Minor adjustments were relatively easy, she could change her skin color, general features, and even her height and weight to a limited degree. She could make her hair grow out, or even retract. For some reason that process felt especially unpleasant, like someone was pulling her hair out of her scalp, so she returned its normal length and left it alone for the moment. It was like having access to the character customization options in a video game, but infinitely more detailed and all present in her mind. All she required was a sufficient mental image of the form she wished to adopt, as well as a period of intense concentration. Larger changes were more complicated, however, and for the moment she wasn''t able to perform major alterations other than swapping between her demon and human bodies. Additionally, as the system information had said, she was limited to human looking forms. Any attempt to deviate too far from that simply caused nothing to happen. She entertained herself with experimentation for a while, quickly achieving a basic proficiency in shaping her body. Finally, she settled on an appearance that resembled her old self as closely as she could manage. That would do for now. Not only did it give her a sense of desperately needed normalcy, but it made changing into her clothes much easier since they were all sized for her to begin with. Jade pulled on a new t-shirt, resolving to come up with a way to transform into her winged form without destroying her clothes. If she didn''t master that soon, she could quickly run out of things to wear. While she figured that running around naked might not be entirely inappropriate for a succubus, it wasn''t the look she wanted. Now changed and transformed, Jade took stock of her equipment and surroundings. Currently in her possession was a backpack that contained a couple changes of clothes, a phone with no signal, an extra pair of tennis shoes, and a pair of scissors. There was also a flashlight and a bottle that contained water of questionable cleanliness. Fortunately, the supplies in the tents had included what proved to be containers of fresh water, so Jade took the opportunity to clean and refill her bottle. And that was it. Though she now had knowledge regarding the wielding of weapons and armor, she would have to actually acquire some for that to be of any use. "I don''t suppose there''s any useful equipment just, lying around?" She wondered aloud. There wasn''t enough light to easily search in, and the last thing she wanted was to waste the battery of the flashlight if she didn''t absolutely need it. Who knew when there''d be a chance to swap them out. Instead, she walked back to the strange, freestanding door. As she crossed the forest clearing, Jade noticed for the first time that there was more than just starlight illuminating the forest. Two moons shone down on the dimly lit clearing, one small and bright, the other large and dim. She stopped, gazing up at them, transfixed. Despite the many supernatural and downright crazy things that had happened to her in the past day, the sight of twin moons hanging in the sky above her forced Jade to confront the fact that, wherever she was, it wasn''t her home. This night sky was at once familiar and, at the same time, utterly alien. She wondered if one of those twinkling stars up there was her home, or if this new world even worked that way at all. Was this an actual sky above some foreign planet in another star system? Or was it a magical creation of some kind? The idea that she''d somehow stepped into another world entirely when she''d entered this sanctuary would have fit right in with many of the science fiction books she loved so much. It''s like Tunnel in the Sky. She thought to herself. Or Stargate, maybe¡­ Returning her attention to the task at hand, she examined the sanctuary door standing before her. It was attached to nothing but the ground, the wooden door bordered by a shimmering golden glow. The back side of it, the side she hadn''t exited through when she''d arrived, was a just a veil of glimmering light. Jade felt compelled to touch it but wasn''t sure if that would be safe, so she compromised by tossing a stick into the sheet of energy. It bounced off, unharmed, so she felt marginally more comfortable poking at it herself. The glimmering barrier of light was warm and solid, unyielding as stone under her touch. Was this some sort of portal? That seemed the most appropriate term to use. It looked right out of a videogame. She focused on it, pulling up a system message. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Well, that answered one question. Grasping the door handle, Jade cautiously opened the door. It opened inward, towards her, and she cracked it open just enough to peer through the gap. The sound of chugging machinery was enough to tell her that the doorway did, in fact, lead back to the assembly line she''d passed through to get here. Peering inside, she once again saw the multi-levelled conveyer belts and heavy machinery grinding away on the scrap metal working its way through the intricate system. The door to the Sanctuary led out onto the top level of the facility, affording her a good view of the entire large room. It was bizarre, to be standing here in a moonlit forest glade on one side of the door, and looking into a cavernous factory that couldn''t possibly be there on the other side of it. Two areas that didn''t belong together at all, connected through this single aperture. There didn''t seem to be any danger, so she pulled the door open the rest of the way. Light from the factory spilled out the doorway, bathing the clearing behind her in a dull orange glow and filling it with the sounds of industrial machinery. Jade closed the door again, feeling oddly guilty for disturbing the peace of this tranquil glade, and considered her next move. She didn''t know when Damos would be coming back, or even if he really would keep his word and return. She suspected he''d meant what he said, the mysterious butler had shown her nothing but kindness so far, but who knew if something outside his control would prevent him from coming back. She knew nothing about this place or how it worked, and had no way to contact anyone. Damos had implied that there were others like her, lost and stranded in the Labyrinth against their will, and that all of them would need the same assistance as her. If there weren''t enough people like Damos to see to all of them at once, Jade could be waiting for quite a long time for him to return. Well she wasn''t just going to sit here indefinitely, waiting for help to arrive. Jade was rested, recovered, and better equipped to avoid whatever dangers lurked on the other side of that door. She had never been prone to indecision, and quickly decided that she was going to take a quick look around the area near the sanctuary. If nothing else, there could be other people like her nearby. People who might need help, or who would be willing to work together to find a way back home. After she did some scouting, she''d come back to rest and check if Damos had returned in her absence. After that¡­ Well, after that she''d see. That was enough of a plan for now. Jade stepped through the door, crossing back into the noisy factory. She maintained her human form, feeling more comfortable with her normal body than that of the demonic form. The ability to shapeshift at will was freaking her out a little, as was the whole ''new body'' thing, but it was just another item on the very long list of crazy shit she was suddenly dealing with. Having the option to revert to a body that looked and felt identical to her old one went a long way towards helping her accept the changes she''d undergone. That, and the fact that she could walk, run, and jump normally again. Jade still marveled at her pain free steps, her unencumbered stride. Despite everything else, it felt liberating. Now that was more like it. Jade selected ''Yes'' and the message vanished. A moment later there was a soft flash of blue energy and a small leather bag materialized at her feet. She blinked in surprise, taking an instinctive step back. Magic was going to take a lot more getting used to. Upon inspection the bag contained a pair of simple daggers, what looked like a magic wand carved from a tree branch, three vials of red liquid that her interface labeled as ''healing potions'', and a belt complete with sheaths for the blades and wand. The daggers were well made, plain but sturdy, with sharp blades and good balance. The wand was, well, a stick. She didn''t know what to make of it. Jade picked it up, examining the intricate carvings that ran along its length. The influx of magic that had accompanied her class selection had included knowledge on how to wield wands when casting spells, something Jade had not been consciously aware of until she''d picked one up. Now that she was holding it, though, she had an instinctive understanding of how it was supposed to work. The wand helped her channel magic more precisely, directing and focusing any spells she cast. She wasn''t required to use one to cast her spells but, if she did, the magic would be more accurate and easier to direct. It was an odd sensation, accessing knowledge that she knew she couldn''t remember ever learning. A new quest window interrupted her thoughts. There''s a map? Before Jade could investigate, another window popped up. After the windows closed, Jade took a moment to pull up her interface. There was now a ''quest'' tab, as well as a ''map tab. The quest tab listed her two current quests in addition to the one she''d completed by reaching the Sanctuary. A header at the top of the page read: ''Labyrinth Trial Quest Progress: 1/100.'' The map tab was more interesting. It pulled up a dynamic, semitransparent navigational aid that, as best Jade could tell, tracked and revealed the world around her in real time. The header read: ''Level 1: Area #451,345, Industrial Zone, Factory Quadrant.'' That... was an absurdly large number. Just how big was this place...? She zoomed out, able to see the path she''d taken from her translocated apartment to the Sanctuary. Everything other than the room she was currently in was grayed out. It seemed to work just like the maps from the couple of RPGs she''d played or, more often, watched Alan play while she''d been working out. With a tool like this to help her navigate, she felt a great deal more comfortable doing some exploring. She''d be able to find her way back here easily, if nothing else. Before she got underway, Jade decided to use one of her daggers to make some modifications to her clothes. A few quick cuts later, and her shirt and pants had some conveniently placed slits to accommodate her wings and tail. She tested the alterations, shifting between her succubus form and her human appearance. It didn''t take long to get enough control over the transformation to guide her shapeshifting through the openings she''d made. Although Jade was more comfortable in the body she had spent her whole life in to-date, it would be important for her to have access to the boosts the demon form boasted if the need arose. Now she could use them without another wardrobe malfunction, or worse, injuring herself in the process of transforming. Finally ready to depart, Jade climbed down to the ground floor of the assembly line room, keeping a careful eye out for any other monsters. The map aptly named this place the ''factory quadrant'', which implied that there were four total components to this ''industrial zone''. The cavernous room was still well lit and noisy, but the clamor of the equipment didn''t seemed to have attracted any attention. After a quick inspection revealed nothing of note and no signs of danger, Jade walked towards a large metal door set into the wall of the factory, one of several exits leading from the vast space. She carefully cracked it open and peeked inside. The next chamber was considerably smaller than the one she stood in. It was darker inside, but a shaft of light from the assembly line room provided enough illumination to see by. The center of the room was dominated by a mountain of scrap metal, twisted pieces of junk piled atop each other so high that it practically reached the 40 foot ceiling. It looked to be the raw material that was being piped through the assembly line in the next room, though Jade still had no idea what any of it was for. A lot of the items in this pile were more intact, though, and she thought she recognized some of them. Was that the exterior frame of a jeep? It lay next to the bent and rusted remains of what was clearly a streetlight. Where had all of this come from? Had it been sucked into the Labyrinth like she had? There didn''t seem to be an immediate danger in the chamber, so Jade slipped inside. She left the factory door partially ajar for light, creeping quietly around the perimeter of the room. Now that she was inside, she could see some sort of dull orange glow emanating from the far side of the enormous junk pile. A few more moments of skirting the edge of the chamber brought her to a good vantage point. A pool of bubbling orange liquid dominated the far end of the chamber, recessed into the stone floor beside the junk heap. Jade could feel the heat even from her position across the room, at least 80 feet away from it. It was a pool of lava, just sitting in the middle of the room. There wasn''t even a railing or any sort of barrier to prevent someone from falling into it. Aside from the unnecessarily dangerous hazard in the middle of the chamber, this side of the room also featured another door. It was further down from where she stood, a pair of large metal doors set into the wall. Each door was set into a track on the wall and looked as though it slid to the side to open, rather than swinging in or out. More like the opening to a warehouse than a normal door. Maybe that''s what this place is? Jade wasn''t convinced. She was no expert, but lava pools didn''t seem like a standard component of a warehouse. Staying as far away from the bubbling magma as she could, Jade crept over towards the new door, sidestepping smaller junk piles as she did. As she approached, however, it slid open on its own. The metal door made an unnerving scraping sound as it ground against its rusted track, chips of stone and metal clattering down to the concrete floor as it moved. Jade jumped back, stumbling on a piece of debris, and found herself face to face with what looked like a robot made from bronze. The humanoid automaton was taller than she was, all clicking gears and whistling steam. Its telescope shaped head swung in her direction as it noticed her, dropping the pile of metal scrap it had been carrying to the floor with a clang. Its dark, singular lens of an eye turning an angry crimson and, with barely any hesitation, it rushed towards her. Chapter 7 Of course it''s killer robots¡­! Jade leaped backwards with a curse, dodging to the side as the bronze robot slammed a fist into the ground where she''d been standing. Dust and splinters of concrete sprayed into the air at the impact, pelting her. Heart pounding, Jade frantically looked for a place to hide. It was no good, the room was barren other than the mountain of junk and a few other smaller piles of scrap lying around it. Could she run back to the factory room? What good would that do her? Was she going to sit and hide in the Sanctuary forever? No, she wasn''t going to cower and wait for someone else to come and save her. That left only one alternative. Jade drew one of her daggers, holding it point first towards the construct as it turned to face her. It was about 6 feet tall and made of bronze, comprised of a smooth outer armored shell that encompassed a body made of interlocking gears and other clockwork parts. The robot looked like it had stepped right out of a steampunk novel, complete with pressure gauges and valves built into its chest. She focused on it, bringing up her system interface. She blinked away the menu, dissatisfied with the lack of actionable information. She''d have to figure this out for herself. Jade doubted that her dagger would be very effective against its armored body, taking it on in a head on fight would be a bad idea. It was time to use her first power. Slowly backing away from the monster as it clanked towards her, she mentally traced the new pathways that had been carved into her mind when she''d accepted her class. The power was there, waiting to be used, a font of potential hidden in a part of her mind that she''d never felt before today. She drew upon it on instinct, guiding it along one of those channels, and felt a burst of awareness and energy as she activated one of her powers for the first time. Jade focused the power on the creature before her. The magic responded to her will with surprising ease, enhancing her perception of her foe. A dull red glow began to emanate from the gaps between the automaton''s armor at its shoulder joints, as well as in the center of its telescopic eye. Now she had targets, that was progress. Now I just need to actually hit them without being crushed¡­ The robot swung again, a slow but powerful punch that wasn''t especially difficult for Jade to dodge. Once more its strike slammed into the ground with tremendous force, sending more shards of concrete spraying into the air. It paused in place briefly, taking a moment to recover before returning to an upright position and rotating towards her. Could that be an opening? The monster was clearly powerful, but it was also bulky and slow. If she could land strikes on it between its attacks, maybe she could fight it safely. To test her theory, Jade stepped a little closer to the robot and baited out another of its attacks. After she dodged that one as well, she darted in and jabbed her dagger straight into the unarmored gap at its shoulder joint. The creature let out an unnerving, metallic screech as her blade dug home, gouging its intricate gears and severing some of the thin wires that comprised its internal mechanisms. Jade jumped back before it could respond, getting out of its reach. She had never been in a real fight before, let alone fought with a dagger, but the basic knowledge her class had imprinted in her mind upon selecting it allowed her to make effective strikes. She was far from an expert, the blow feeling clumsy and imprecise even to her, but it was much better than she could have managed before. The automaton staggered, its damaged joint grinding and sparking. It resumed its chase, its movements halting and more lurching than before. Jade didn''t let her guard down, a single swing of the construct''s metal arm could easily crush her if she wasn''t careful. She was still afraid, but a little less so now that she''d gotten a clean hit in. This thing was slow and clumsy, as long as she was careful, it wouldn''t catch her. She continued her dance around the scrap heap, keeping her distance from the pool of bubbling magma. Periodically Jade would step forward, presenting herself as a target. The monster would swing and she would dodge, following up with another quick strike to one of its joints. First one arm was disabled, then one of its legs. A few minutes passed, Jade reactivating Vital Sight each time it expired, continuing to slice away at the pursuing monster. Several well placed strikes later and the creature was well and truly disabled, sparks crackling from every joint, barely able to move. Seizing her chance Jade charged forward, slamming the dagger clean through the lens in the center of its telescopic head. The whole construct jerked once, then collapsed into a heap of metallic pieces that joined the loose metal scrap on the floor. The notice popped up in her vision, followed by another. She dismissed the notifications with a thought, looking around warily for any other signs of danger. There was nothing, only the distant sounds of working machinery from the assembly line and the oppressive heat from the magma pool. Slowly, Jade''s heart rate calmed. That had been a fight. A real battle with her life on the line. If she didn''t count her desperate escape from the Venomhound as a fight, which she wasn''t inclined to, this was the first time she''d actually been in combat. She looked down at the knife in her hand, which was nicked and scratched in a few places now. She''d stabbed and slashed that monster with this dagger? A day ago she wouldn''t have believed herself capable of fighting like that. Now, compared to everything else that was going on, it hardly seemed remarkable. Jade knelt down to inspect the remains of her bested foe. As she touched one of the twisted metal components that had been its body, another window popped up. Loot¡­? Is this another game parallel? She didn''t quite know what to make of that, Jade could see all of the components of the monster scattered around her. Couldn''t she just pick them up and take them herself? With a mental shrug she clicked ''yes''. The monster''s body dissolved in a puff of smoke, a pile of unfamiliar coins clattering to the ground in its place. In addition, there was also a collection of what looked like small crystal shards colored the same bronze as the constructs. Jade blinked in surprise, then picked one of the coins up to inspect. The coin was in the shape of a crescent and was also made out of bronze, just like the robot had been. It had a maze-like pattern on one side, and was smooth on the other. There were 9 coins, all of them identical. When she tried to examine one with her interface, it merely listed the item as a ''Crescent Coin. Currency.'' So not only are monsters real, but you can punch money out of them like a pi?ata. She thought, amused. The system was just as unhelpful with the crystals. These weren''t actually made out of bronze, or at least they didn''t feel that way when Jade picked up the small handful that had appeared. The system simply named the collection ''Construct Effusion. Crafting Material.'' Jade reflected that, if this were a game, she would''ve had an inventory to put things in. As it was, after scooping up the coins and stowing them away, her pack was starting to feel more than a little heavy. It was difficult to move in combat while weighed down by her belongings, and she resolved to drop her pack before fighting again, if she came across any other hostile monsters. In the meantime, she was gaining a newfound appreciation for the ''bag of holding'' that was omnipresent in every RPG she''d ever played with friends. Would there be somewhere to spend these coins? Or did they have properties that made them directly useful to her? At least for now, Jade had no way of knowing. She added the question to the growing list of things she wanted to ask Damos, and got back to exploring. As Jade cautiously walked back towards the door she''d opened before she''d been attacked, she pulled up her character sheet. It turned out that 50xp was quite a lot, as the bar indicating her progress to level 2 was half way full already. Glancing over her stat points, she remembered that she still had two unassigned. At first she''d wanted to conserve them, in case the decision was important and couldn''t be undone later. Now, knowing that she''d probably be facing monsters again soon, she decided is was better to be as prepared as possible. She added 1 point to ''agility'' and 1 to ''fortitude''. The statistics window now read: Immediately, Jade felt lighter on her feet. It was a small change, but she could feel the difference. It was a simultaneously wonderful and bizarre feeling, as well as a little unnerving. If a person could just magically make themselves stronger, faster, or smarter, then did the improvements even have meaning anymore? As an athlete who had spent years honing her body to peak fitness, Jade wasn''t sure how she felt about that. But for now, all she could do was accept it. If taking a shortcut towards gaining strength meant she''d be better at surviving this place, then she''d happily partake in whatever enhancements she could get her hands on. Reaching the doorway, she pressed herself up against the wall and slowly peeked around the corner, remaining as quiet as possible. The door opened into a junkyard. It was outdoors, the sandy ground stacked high with aisles of scrap metal and broken machines. The sky was a dusty red, a bloated sun hanging low near the horizon. Jade couldn''t see far due to the tall piles of junk, but she was able to see another of the scrapyard automatons methodically collecting debris into its arms. If it behaved the same way as the previous one did, it would probably be heading her way as soon as it was fully loaded. She waited, watching it carefully from the shadows. Sure enough, after a couple of minutes the construct turned and began marching towards the door, seemingly unaware of her presence. She had already decided that she should continue to battle these monsters, so long as it was possible to engage them one at a time. They gave a good amount of experience, and levelling up was a high priority. Jade considered whether to try a new power or to stick with a method she was confident in. She''d read through their effects in detail earlier and was especially interested in her racial charm spell, ''Allure'', but it could only be used on living creatures. ''Kiss of Night'', her other racial spell, had a similar restriction and more besides. That left ''Clinging Darkness'', her blindness spell. She wasn''t entirely sure that it would work on construct monsters like these automatons, but felt that there was a better than even chance. The way they moved suggested that they ''saw'' out of the lens at the front of their telescopic head, but there was no way to know if they had different ways of perceiving the world around them. No, she''d already found a reliable enough method of dispatching these creatures, it would be better to stick with what she knew worked. Her tactics decided, she anxiously waited for the monster to approach. The second battle went just as well as the first. Once again, Jade managed to escape injury as she dispatched her foe. The robot''s slow, lumbering movements made avoiding its heavy strikes an easy proposition, and its protracted recovery period after each one provided ample opportunity for counterattacks. A short while later, it too was reduced to a pile of scrap. Jade looted the remains for a few more coins and blinked away the resulting notification, then gave a slight grin at the one that followed.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Now we''re talking." Jade murmured, clicking through the next level up options. She''d been expecting another class related ability, but that wasn''t what came up. Apparently her racial choice impacted what features were available to her as well as her selected class. Jade stared in disbelief at the options presented to her, then covered her face with a hand, red with embarrassment. "You''ve got to be kidding me." She groaned. These were the kind of abilities she was being offered?! She wanted a word with whoever or whatever was in charge of this place. Maybe Damos had a manager she could complain to. How was she supposed to make her way through a monster infested dungeon with sex powers? Putting aside how utterly ridiculous and embarrassing these powers were, they seemed wildly impractical to use in combat. Jade sighed, shaking her head. She was a succubus now, and some of the abilities this transformation came with seemed very nice to have. She supposed she''d just have to deal with the less useful, exotic capabilities of the race. The choice between the two options was pretty easy, either way. Jade selected ''Bondage Queen''. She could at least envision a scenario where she was fighting restrained enemies. Maybe caught in a trap, or affected by some sort of ensnaring spell, if such a thing existed. It was better than nothing. Barely. The stat points were more useful, and she decided to allocate them immediately. Jade increased her agility again, and put the second point into Intelligence this time. Even the very low mana cost of her Vital Strike talent had made a decent dent in her mana indicator during these past two fights. It refilled slowly, and having an increased capacity would come in handy once she started casting her other spells. I can increase most of my stats further by staying in my succubus form. She remembered. That would penalize her willpower score, which didn''t sound great, but having an increase to everything else would probably make up for that in a fight. She decided to give it a try and transformed, shifting back into her winged form. She checked her stats again, looking at the new ''adjusted'' values that took into her account her demon form''s bonuses. She winced at seeing the ''3'' in Willpower, but everything else was well improved. Now that Jade had experienced stat changes a few times and knew what to look for, she could feel the increased speed and power in her body. It was a mildly intoxicating sensation. It was difficult to gauge the effect of her reduced willpower, and she resolved to look into that when she could. In the meantime, it was time to keep exploring. The nearby scrapyard was free of additional robots, and the path was clear. Jade stepped outside into the warm and dusty air and, after looking around for a few moments, chose one of the aisles in the junkyard at random and continued exploring. She moved cautiously, staying alert for any other monsters. She''d only been walking for a few minutes when she heard something from around a bend in the path up ahead. It wasn''t the clanking steps of another robot, however, but voices. Jade stopped, then edged her way up to the next intersection and listened. "I don''t get why we have to come out here every day¡­" A gruff voice complained. "Cause we have to eat, idjit. If you don''t do the work, you don''t get a share." Another voice retorted, this one more feminine, higher in pitch. "If we only got food when we worked, Gurp woulda starved by now." The first voice complained. "Yeah, well, Gurp isn'' here, is he? You are. And I''m tellin'' the boss if''n ya don''t pull your weight." "We got two new humans." A third voice, another that sounded male, chimed in. "Why can''t we just make ¡®em do it?" "You heard the boss, they for workin¡¯ in the camp!" The female replied. "Don''t you two ever listen ta anythin''?" There was something off about the voices. Jade''s heartbeat quickened and she swallowed nervously. Steeling herself, she peeked around the corner into the next aisle of junk. Three short, green skinned humanoid figures were stooped beside a pile of scrap metal, rummaging around inside what looked like the burned-out remnants of a car. They were squat, with pudgy features and thick, bristly hair. Jade''s breath caught in her throat. Goblins. These were goblins. It was the only word she could use to describe them. They looked like they''d been taken right out of a fantasy game, right down to the simple loincloths and crude wooden clubs slung over their backs. How were goblins here? How were they real? How was any of this happening? For what felt like the hundredth time in the past day, Jade wondered if she''d lost her mind. While she was frozen in shock staring at the creatures, the largest of them lunged into the ruined car and grabbed at something. He withdrew a moment later holding a squeaking rat aloft. It struggled in his gnarled hands, twisting in his grip. "I got one!" He crowed, turning to show the others. "I told ya-!" He froze, staring right at Jade with mouth agape. She tried to duck back and hide around the corner, but it was too late. Her surprise had stunned her into inaction for a critical moment. "Ahhhh!" The goblin yelled, dropping the rat and pointing at her. "Monster! Monsterrrrrr!" The other two whirled around, scrambling for their clubs and turning to face her. Jade backed away as they approached, hands raised in a gesture of peace. "I''m not a monster." She protested. Her words had little effect on the suspicious, frightened creatures before her. She hadn''t seen her reflection yet, but it suddenly struck Jade that between her horns, wings, and tail, she probably looked rather malevolent. "Ya look like a monster." The female goblin growled, shaking her club. "We don¡¯t like takin¡¯ chances ¡®round here." Jade narrowed her eyes at the speaker. Her hand twitched, but she kept it from the hilt of her dagger. Destroying a robot was one thing, but these creatures were alive, intelligent. She had a strong aversion to fighting them, on many levels. Then again, they''d said something about having ''new'' humans¡­ Did that mean there were others nearby? Had these goblins done something to them? Before doing anything else, she pulled up the status window for the creature. That didn''t give her a lot of information, although she did note the distinction between the goblin''s origin being listed as ''Labyrinth-immigrant'' and that of Damos. His had read ''Labyrinth-born''. She turned her attention back on the three goblins, all of whom were glaring at her with various mixtures of hostility and fear. "We don''t need to fight." She said, standing her ground. "You said you had humans? Where are they?" "We ain''t telling outsiders nothin''." Spat one of the male goblins, the one who''d dropped the rat. It had used the distraction to scamper off, disappearing back into the junkyard scrap heap. "What do we do Mau?" "We can take her." The female goblin said, edging her way forward, club raised. This was not going well. It was time for plan B. Concentrating, she began drawing upon her magic, letting it flow through her. Jade tapped into another one of her new mental pathways, feeling the magic coalesce in her throat and mouth as she laced her next words with subtle, enticing power. Though she had never used this spell before it was effortless, as natural as walking or breathing. She felt a rush of endorphins, like she''d just placed first in a competition. It was like her body wanted to use this power. "We have nothing to fight over." She said, focusing on the one called Mau, her voice smooth as silk. "Take me to the other humans, there''s no reason we can''t work together." Maybe if she could talk her way into seeing them, she could find a way to help them without it coming to a fight. It was worth a try, especially since Jade wasn¡¯t confident in her martial prowess. A small notification popped up, followed by an updated spell description. Jade dismissed the prompts after a brief skim, unwilling to take her eyes off the three goblins. She''d read through her spell descriptions in advance, but her interface hadn''t included the ''C'' rank version of the spell when she''d been in her human form. The magic was more powerful now, that much she could feel without having to be told. The ability to cast her spells came with an innate understanding of how they worked, though, which made the change less of a surprise. The description helped to clarify exactly what her spell was doing, but it wasn''t completely necessary to use her powers effectively. In front of her, Mau stood still. The goblin''s eyes were unfocused, club now held loosely at her side. She shook her head, then looked at her two companions. Jade felt the magic take hold, settling in her target''s mind like an obscuring mist. A chill ran down her spine at the odd sensation, and she shivered. "We don''t need ta fight. Let''s go back to camp. Maybe we can help each other out." Mau said to her companions. The other two goblins stopped and stared at her, clearly confused by their leader¡¯s sudden change in demeanor. "Wha? Why would we do that?" The larger of the two males asked, his gruff voice incredulous. "''Cause I said so!" Mau snapped back. "Just do what she says, Rek." The other male goblin said. "At least dat means we get to go back now. I''m tired of crawlin¡¯ through this crap!" "I just want to meet the other humans at your camp." Jade said, thinking fast. "I know where food is, I could get some and we could trade." Maybe if she brought the goblins some of the food from the sanctuary supplies, she could trade that for whatever people they were holding at the camp. If not, maybe she could help them escape somehow. This was the first sign she''d found of any other people in here with her. Well, humans in here with her. Jade wasn''t sure what to make of the goblins, but she had a bad feeling about them. She wasn''t going to leave them in the hands of creatures like this. Besides, the more she learned about the Labyrinth, the more Jade realized that exploring it alone would be far too dangerous. "But-" Rek protested, gesturing at Jade emphatically. "Shaddup!" Mau snapped, smacking Rek on the head. "Come on, miss! Camp''s dis way." She said, pointing with her club down the lane of junk. She and the other goblin turned and started walking off while Rek leaned against the wall of scrap and grumbled, rubbing his head and glaring at Mau. Jade followed, keeping a wary eye on all of them and focusing on maintaining the spell¡¯s mana flow. She could feel its duration slowly ticking away but had a good sense of how long it would last. Magic¡­ She thought. I just cast a spell on someone¡­ A real spell¡­ Jade shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She had to stop marveling at the supernatural and come up with a plan. Jade''s charm spell only worked on one creature at a time. She''d chosen to use it on Mau since she looked like the leader of this group. Jade expected that the other goblins would follow her direction, which should keep her safe for the moment. Once they got to the camp, perhaps she could recast it on whoever was in charge there and have them keep the other goblins in line while she figured out what to do with the people they had. Unfortunately, the other goblins weren¡¯t so accommodating. ¡°Nah.¡± Rek grunted, turning to face Jade and raising his club. ¡°I don¡¯t like listenin¡¯ to ya Mau. I do things my way.¡± He lunged at her, sweeping his club in an overhand swing aimed at her chest. Jade cursed, dancing back and drawing a dagger from her belt. She managed to avoid most of the blow, but the club caught the edge of her blade and tore it from her hand, sending it clattering to the ground. Hand stinging in pain, Jade kicked the goblin in the chest. Rek stumbled back, wheezing. Jade turned to run, but the other two goblins were moving to cut off her escape. Belatedly, she realized that the mental flow of magic between her and Mau had been severed. Unpracticed with her new magic, she¡¯d lost focus on the spell when reacting to the sudden attack. ¡°She¡¯s usin¡¯ magic!¡± The female goblin growled angrily, rubbing her temple with a clawed hand. ¡°Get ¡®er!¡± The three goblins rushed her from all sides, so quickly that Jade didn¡¯t even have time to draw her second dagger. She dodged one swing, and then another, heart thundering in her chest as fear and adrenaline flooded her body. Jade punched and kicked at her foes with inexpert strikes, trying to find an opening to escape, or at least cast one of her spells. She was stronger than any one of the small creatures, but her inexperience in fighting and their superior numbers proved to be the deciding factor. Just as Jade managed to wrestle one of the clubs away from her assailants, something hard cracked against the back of her head. Pain burst through her like an exploding bomb, and the whole world turned white. When her vision resolved she found herself lying on the ground, dazed and disoriented, with no memory of having fallen. Jade tried to push herself to her feet, but her shaking limbs wouldn¡¯t listen to her. "Yea¡­" Rek grunted through bleeding lips, rubbing at a blackened eye. "My way is more fun." ¡°Let¡¯s get ¡®er back to camp.¡± Mau growled. ¡°Da boss¡¯ll wanna see ¡®er.¡± Jade never felt the blow that sent her spiraling into unconciousness. Chapter 8 Jade woke to an intense pounding coming from the back of her head. It pulsed like the beat of a drum, incessant and inescapable. She tried to massage the injury but found she couldn''t. Something rough and coarse held her hands in place above her, binding them together. Her mind felt strange and heavy, like she was pushing her thoughts through honey. Jade blinked several times, squinting against a bright light, the image of her surroundings slowly coming into focus as she regained conciousness. A disorganized camp sprawled out around her, filled with a mixture of tents and ramshackle lean-tos built out of salvaged metal from the junkyard. More than a dozen goblins lounged about variously socializing, eating, and arguing amongst themselves. The camp was situated in an open space created by a large intersection between four aisles of the junkyard and looked like it could house up to a hundred or so, although there weren''t that many people present at the moment. No one was paying any attention to Jade, so she turned her focus to her own situation. She was bound to a metal pole set in a corner of the encampment. She was standing, her wrists tied to the pole over her head, her ankles bound to it at the sandy ground. There was no shade, and the hot sun bore down on her unprotected skin. Shifting, Jade tested their strength and found them quite secure. She wondered how the short goblins had even tied her hands above her. She didn''t see a ladder anywhere, and they definitely couldn''t reach that high. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, and immediately regretted doing so as the motion caused her headache to flare. Lesson learned. She thought. Charming one person doesn''t make their friends like you. "Hey, amiga." A low voice called out. "You awake¡­?" Jade turned her head to the source of the sound. To her left there was a small metal cage sitting in the shadow of one of the larger tents. Two humans knelt inside, a Hispanic looking man and an Asian woman. The man was large and well built, with tan skin and short black hair. The woman was small and petite, with straight dark hair that almost reached her shoulders. She was pale, with a skinny frame. They looked to be roughly around Jade''s own age, and they were both staring at her from within crudely shaped bars. "Hello." Jade groaned. "¡­You the people I came here to rescue¡­?" "I sure hope so." The man said. "I also hope you have friends, ''cause you aren''t doing great so far." "Yeah, well, I was hoping for a better start myself." The pain was slowly starting to fade. Or maybe Jade was just starting to get used to it. She was accustomed to injury, having taken some bad falls in the gym on more than one occasion. Still, one of those health potions would be really nice right now. Speaking of health¡­ Jade pulled up her interface and checked her status page. The ''health'' section was a diagram of her body, not a simple health bar like one found in most video games. Most of the diagram was green, but the head was colored a dark orange. At the bottom of the display read ''60%''. She watched for a few moments, but the number didn''t change. Hopefully that meant her brain wasn''t bleeding, or anything like that. Jade was pretty sure that being knocked out, unlike what Hollywood had to say on the matter, was really bad for you. "You have a name?" The man asked. He was wearing street clothes, a t-shirt and some sort of heavy duty outdoor pants that looked like they''d seen their share of use. The woman was simply dressed in a blouse and tight pants. Both of their garments bore scuffs and tears in them, but neither looked like they''d suffered a real injury. "Jade." She grunted testing her bonds again. "You?" "Luis." He replied, then lay a hand on the girls shoulder. "This is Naomi." "Hi¡­" The young woman said hesitantly. She shifted forward to get a better look at Jade, peering at her through loose strands of her black hair. "So¡­" Luis said, eyeing Jade. "Don''t mean to be rude amiga. But what''s with the wings? And the tail? Are you from Earth?" Naomi shook her head, like she couldn''t believe that was a question that actually had to be asked. "Hey." Luis protested. "Just asking. All of this crazy shit is happening, we can''t assume anything!" "Keep it down!" Jade hissed, surreptitiously glancing at the nearest group of goblins. They hadn''t noticed the conversation, fortunately. "Yes. I am from Earth. I picked a new race when I chose my class." "Damn, really?" Luis said, this time in a quieter voice. "I mean, I thought about it, but that seemed like a big deal. Even with everything else happening." "What did you pick?" Naomi asked, stepping up to the bars of their cage and looking Jade over. "Can you help us get out of here?" "¡­Succubus¡­" Jade said. She wasn''t thrilled about revealing her nature but, given that her quite distinctive true form was already on full display, she didn''t see a realistic alternative. Naomi blinked in surprise. She exchanged a look with Luis, who shrugged. "Like¡­ a demon?" She asked, taking a step back and giving Jade a wary look. Jade wondered if she should''ve been more circumspect about her nature, but it was hard to think straight with the pounding pain behind her eye. "Yes." She said. "Long story. But I think some of the powers I get from it could help us get out of here." "What''s happening to us, anyway? This weird lady in the Sanctuary was talking about Labyrinths, monsters, quests¡­ I still don''t know how I got here." Luis asked, apparently unfazed by her strange nature. "Let''s focus on one thing at a time." Jade grunted, trying once more to twist her wrists free of the ropes that bound them. "If I can get us out, will you two be ready to fight?" "Fight¡­?" Naomi asked, sounding frightened. "Well, I don''t think they''re going to just let us walk out of here." Jade replied, looking back over the goblin camp. Most of the creatures carried clubs or small knives, and she knew from painful experience that they could use them. The back of her head throbbed again, and she had to shut her eyes for a moment to recover. "You ok?" Luis asked. "You don''t look so good." "I think I need one of those healing potions that came with my class gear¡­ Do you know where our stuff is?" "They put your stuff in that tent, with ours." Naomi said, pointing to the large tent that sat adjacent to their makeshift cage. "Ok¡­ Do you have weapons?" "I have a sword." Luis answered. "It''s almost as tall as I am. Once I get my hands on it, I think I can keep these little guys away from us." "I have a guitar." Naomi said, looking sheepish. Jade blinked, staring at her. "A what?" "Never mind¡­" She looked away, embarassed. "Look, just give me a moment to think." Jade said. She blinked, looking through her interface. There were a handful of system messages queued for her to read. She pulled up the first one. Hidden quests? Great, this just kept getting more complicated. Jade dismissed the message and inspected the next. Jade accepted the quest with a scowl. She could do without the messages making fun of her. She looked back through her character sheet, seeing a new active effect listed at the bottom of it: Bondage Queen. She opened the description, refreshing her memory of the new power. The system said it would boost the power of any talent or spell she used while restrained, with the boost proportional to how tightly she was bound. There was no indication of what the current bonus to spell power was, but Jade had an intuitive sense of the magical power flowing through her. It was slightly riled up, energized, raring to go. She closed her eyes and concentrated. First she focused on her ''Clinging Darkness'' spell, a ''D'' rank spell. Jade felt that if she were to cast it, the current bonus to her power would be just enough to push it over the threshold to ''C'' rank if she wanted it to. She also had a vague notion of what changes that would cause the spell to undergo, but the system didn''t offer up specific details. On the other hand, her ''Allure'' spell was already boosted to ''C'' rank from her demon form. The additional bonus from ''Bondage Queen'' did not feel like it would push the spell to the next threshold if she cast it now, though it seemed close to that border. Does that mean boosting from rank C to B takes more energy, or magic, than boosting from rank D to C? That was interesting to consider. Maybe it also meant that the higher ranking effects were disproportionately more powerful than the ones that came below. Jade quickly discovered that the pattern held true for all of her talents and spells. All of her ''D'' rank spells and talents felt as though she could boost them to ''C'' rank if used right now. However, none of her ''C'' rank effects felt quite powered up enough to reach the next level. The only difference now was that if she were to use them, it felt as though it would cost less of her magic to do so. And maybe that the effects would be harder to resist? That part she wasn''t so sure about. The levels were distinct plateaus in her minds eye, crackling borders of power that could more be felt than described. It was a strange feeling, but she was glad her new abilities were intuitive. In any case, boosting ''Allure'' to rank ''B'' seemed like her best bet. The difference between ''D'' rank and ''C'' rank had been pronounced. If her hunch was right and the increases in spell effects were larger with each increase in rank, it could mean the difference between getting out of here alive, or failing to escape.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Ok." Jade grunted, dismissing her system windows and looking back at Luis and Naomi. "I think I have a plan." "What is it?" Naomi asked, a mixture of nervousness and relief in her voice. "¡­It''s going to sound pretty stupid." Jade sighed.
Jade took a few minutes to ask about the abilities the others had, then quietly explain her plan to them. Following that, she spent a few more answering their incredulous questions about it. "This is crazy." Naomi whispered, holding her face in her hands. "There has to be a safer way to get out of here¡­" "I like it!" Luis said with a grin. He''d warmed up to the idea quickly. "They''ll never see it coming." "Keep it down." Jade hissed at Luis, who seemed utterly incapable of subtlety. "Don''t give it away." "You said we had to draw them over here." He pointed out. "Yeah, but-" Jade was interrupted by a gruff voice. "Well, look who''s awake¡­" A pair of goblins had noticed their conversation and were making their way towards the trio of prisoners. Jade recognized one of them as Rek, the large goblin that had knocked her out. The other one was a smaller and darker skinned sporting a long, chipped pair of fangs. "What''s a succubus doin'' lurkin'' around our camp, eh?" Rek said. "Didn''t think any demons were in these parts." "Yeah, well, you don''t look like the kind of guy who thinks much at all." Jade said, feeling braver than she probably should given her situation. But the goblin was clearly a bully, and she had never been able to stand those. In the moment, she was more angry than scared. Besides, riling them up was the point. She looked up and down the goblin''s large frame. "It''s clear where all the brainpower wen-." Rek punched her in the gut, cutting Jade off with a groaning gasp. The blow was more surprising than painful, and Jade managed to shake it off without too much difficulty. Glaring at them, she tugged hard against her bindings, nearly succeeding in slipping one of her wrists free before the other goblin scrabbled its way up the pole and yanked hard on the ropes, cinching them tighter again. "You ain''t goin'' nowhere missy." She said, leering down at her, uncomfortably close. "We''ve got a tricksy one here, Rek. Let''s make sure she stays put." Jade leaned away from the goblin''s foul breath, grimacing, and continued to struggle. She made a show of twisting and pulling on the bindings, making sure to show just how much she could still move despite them. The female goblin grunted in annoyance, drawing out another length of rope and used it to bind her tighter to the pole. The rough cord dug deep into her skin as she was roughly secured to the pole, stuck in an uncomfortable position with her arms stretched above her. By the time they were done Jade could hardly move anymore, bound to the pole by her wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. The pair had even tied her wings together behind her, which turned out to be decidedly uncomfortable. Finally finished, the goblins stepped back to leer at her. "Still feelin'' mouthy, demon?" The female goblin sneered at Jade. "Bet you''re regretting talkin'' back to us. You''d best learn your place fast." "Oh, I think I already have." Jade said, finally recovering her breath. She grinned at them. Combined with her curling horns and dark wings the effect was downright sinister, even considering her current state. Rek sneered at her, but his companion''s confidence paled before the succubus''s visage. She took an involuntary step away from her, the goblin suddenly filled with unease. Jade''s body buzzed with power as she shifted in her bindings. She had felt the moment her charm spell, already boosted to ''C'' rank by her demon form, had passed the threshold to ''B'' as she had been further restrained. The magic burned in mind, a wellspring of concentrated potential greater than anything she''d felt previously. It pulsed with her heartbeat, yearning to be unleashed. She released it, layering her next words with an entrancing appeal that captivated the two creatures before her. "You will do what I say." Jade said, the words coming out smooth and domineering. Even Naomi and Luis were captivated by her, unable to take their eyes off the scene unfolding before them. Jade''s headache suddenly intensified as magic left her in a rush, like floodgates in her mind had opened. Her mana bar plummeted, more than half of it falling away in an instant as her bolstered spell sapped her mental reserves. The pathways in her mind prickled uncomfortably, strained from the sheer volume of power that had suddenly been pushed through them. So far, every iteration of the ''Allure'' spell had a ''Medium'' mana cost, the ''B'' rank version cost a great deal more than it had at ''C'' rank. She blinked, momentarily stunned, and refocused on the goblins as the spell took hold on each of them. She''d been hoping the ''B'' rank version of the spell would allow her to charm groups of creatures at a time, and her instincts had been right. As long as her targets were all next to each other, the spell could do what she''d wanted. The duration is a lot longer. She noted. That could come in handy. With Jade''s magic boosted two full ranks, the weak minded goblins stood no chance of resisting her compulsion. They both nodded in unison as the magic ensnared their minds. "O-of course." "What da ya want us to do?" The pair of goblins were staring at Jade with glazed eyes, enraptured. Luis and Naomi looked at Jade, then them, then back to Jade. "Damn amiga, nice work." Luis said, giving an appreciative whistle. "How long can you keep that up for?" "Long enough." Jade murmured back, checking to make sure no other goblins were watching. Fortunately, none were nearby. "It doesn''t feel like they''ll break free, but it''s hard to tell for sure. I''m pretty new at this." "Could''ve fooled me." Luis said. "You''re a natural." "That was amazing." Naomi agreed, gripping the bars of the cage with both hands. "You''re kind of scary Jade. But, like, in a good way." Seeing how effective Jade''s magic had been on the goblins had boosted the woman''s confidence, and she looked ready to go. "I''ll take your word on that¡­" "Can you get us out?" Luis asked. "Let''s find out." Jade turned to look at her newly charmed companions. "Rek, right? Go open that cage. You." She turned to the female goblin. "Untie me from this pole. But make sure no one sees." "As ya say." "Right away." Rek retrieved the key to the cage from the tent it was next to, then used it to open the door. Meanwhile, the other goblin began cutting away at the thick ropes securing Jade to the pole. She kept a wary eye on the rest of the camp while she was freed, anxious about being discovered. About a dozen goblins were visible from the corner of the camp they kept prisoners in. Most of them were currently lazing around in the shade of pitched awnings to escape the heat of the oppressive sun. None of them were paying any attention to them at the moment, and Jade prayed that would continue for a few more minutes. Though the cage was now unlocked, Luis and Naomi kept the door shut and stayed inside to maintain the illusion that they were still trapped inside. They waited for Jade to be cut free, which turned out to be a more time intensive process than any of them had hoped. "What''s taking so long?" Jade hissed to the goblin behind her. "These ropes are thick." The goblin said, still sawing away at them. "And this knife is dull as Gurp." This Gurp guy isn''t very popular. Jade thought, gritting her teeth as she waited. "Uh oh." Naomi whispered. "I think a few of them are coming over here! Hurry!" Following her gaze, Jade saw a trio of goblins trotting over to their corner of the camp. "Rek, go over there and distract them!" She whispered urgently. The goblin looked at her blankly. "How?" "Uhh¡­ Tell them one of those robot, automaton things is coming to attack the camp!" "But there aren''t any attacking¡­ right?" Rek said, looking confused. "I don''t care." Jade hissed, frustrated at how slow these goblins were. Were all of them idiots, or was her charm spell messing with their heads? "Go tell them anyway!" Rek ran off, intercepting the approaching goblins. They were close enough that Jade could hear snippets of their conversation. "How the hell would you know that? You''ve been back here, idiot." The middle goblin demanded of Rek, who was mumbling something about marauding constructs and mass destruction. From the sound of it, he was taking quite a few liberties with Jade''s instructions. "I just knows it!" Rek said indignantly, pointing back at Jade. "The succubus told me!" Uh oh¡­ All of the goblins turned to look at Jade. In the same moment, her helper finally finished cutting away the rope from around her wrists. The bindings fell loose, falling to the sandy ground around her feet. "Rek, fight them!" Jade commanded. Turning to the other goblin behind her, she added. "And you, help him!" "Escape! The prison-!!!" One of the goblins began shouting, then cut off as Rek clubbed him overtop the head. The others snarled, drawing their own clubs and swinging at Rek, smashing him into the sandy ground. Then the other charmed goblin joined the fray, and the entire group devolved into a melee of biting, smashing, scratching, and flailing limbs. "Time to go." Luis said, slipping out of the cage. He grabbed Jade by the shoulder, wrenching her free from the last few ropes holding her to the pole. "Let''s grab our gear and get out of here!" Naomi and Jade didn''t have to be told twice. The three of them ducked into the tent, which was too low for any of them to stand upright in, and quickly found their pile of belongings. Jade swung her backpack over her shoulder and grabbed one of the three healing potions, popping the cork and downing it in a gulp. The red liquid was sweet and soothing, her aching head and other pains easing the instant she swallowed. A window popped up in front of her. Sure enough, over the next several moments the improvements continued. Various scrapes and bruises faded, her headache continuing to diminish. It would have fascinated Jade if it weren''t for their dire situation. Doing her best to ignore the miraculous healing effects of the potion, she drew a dagger in one hand and a wand in the other. Next to her, Luis had grabbed an enormous two handed sword. Naomi, on the other hand, had just slung an electric guitar over her shoulder. The instrument was colored a vivid blue and was decorated with drawings of roses, for some reason. Jade just stared at her, nonplussed. "What?!" She demanded, seeing Jade stare at her. "It came with my class¡­" There was no time for questions. The sounds of fighting outside the tent were intensifying, and pounding footfalls heralded the arrival of more goblins to the scene. "Out the back!" Jade hissed, and the three of them slipped out the back of the large tent back out into the camp. On the far side of it, they could hear a full on melee as goblins piled atop each other, others joining the fight without knowing or caring who had started it, or even what the sides were. The camp was quickly devolving into a state of chaos. It reminded Jade of the Lord of the Rings movies, how the orcs would fight one another for no better reason than that there was already someone fighting. For the moment, hidden behind the tent, they remained unnoticed, but Jade doubted that would last long. She pulled up her interface, checking the ''map'' tab again. They weren''t that far from where she''d entered the junkyard, which meant the sanctuary she''d met Damos in was relatively nearby as well. Based on what he''d told her earlier, they''d be safe from harm inside. "I know a safe place, come on." Jade whispered, leading the group away from the fighting. The camp was a disorganized mess of tents and shanties built out of material scrounged from the scrapyard. The layout was haphazard, with the buildings built practically on top of each other apart from a few main thoroughfares that divided the settlement. Because of this, there were many small alleys they could use to sneak away from the fighting. Using the map to guide them, Jade took them directly away from the conflict. The three of them moved as quietly as they could, including Luis. The large man was quite nimble, despite his bulky frame. For the first time since Jade had met him, the man looked serious. His hands gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as he surveyed their surroundings, keeping a wary eye out for signs of danger. He cut a strange sight, the large man bearing an even larger sword while dressed like he''d just stepped out of a construction site. "We''ll be ok." Naomi whispered, bringing up the rear of the group. She was still carrying the ridiculous looking guitar slung across her shoulders. "We''ll be ok. We''re almost out." "Quiet." Jade hissed at her. The smaller woman nodded and swallowed, looking about fearfully. Luis patted her gently on the shoulder, giving her another squeeze, not taking his eyes off their surroundings. A sudden scrabbling noise caught their attention, approaching from one of the other alleys. Jade had just begun looking around for a hiding place when a group of four goblins came around the corner on all fours. They skidded to a stop in front of the escaped prisoners, startled surprise registering on their monstrous faces. Jade knew they couldn''t let these creatures call for help, or alert the other goblins about their escape. She didn''t know for sure what these people would have done to her and her new companions, but she''d seen enough to know that it wasn''t anything good. Her fight or flight reflex kicked in, screaming at her to run, to escape these vicious monsters with their teeth and claws and clubs. But her mind said otherwise. They couldn''t outrun them all, not if they started in the middle of their camp. It was fight, or be beaten back into those cages. Jade was not about to let that happen. Steeling herself, she drew her dagger and charged. Chapter 9 Jade drew her blade with an instinctive motion that felt practiced, even though it wasn''t. The sensation was strange, her body making use of magically imprinted habits that hadn''t fully assimilated into muscle memory yet. But the class given weapon proficiency did its job, the gleaming dagger appearing in her hand as she closed with the nearest of the goblins. "Betray your allies!" She commanded the rearmost goblin as she thundered forward, projecting enchanting magic into the words. The goblin stiffened, his hand trembling as he seized the club from his belt. Then he shook his head, eyes refocusing on her in a hateful glare. "She''s usin'' magic!" He snarled in a shrill voice. "Beat ''em down!" Jade cursed as the magic failed to take hold. She was growing accustomed to the sensation of the clash of wills her charm magic elicited, but this was the first time it had failed entirely. The magic imbued into the spell fizzled out, wasted as her opponent''s mental fortitude proved too strong to overcome. The unexpected effect was disorienting and she stumbled, losing focus right as she reached the first of the goblins. The creature snarled at her, baring its teeth and glaring up at her as it swung a crude metal club fashioned from the scrapyard junk. There was no time to dodge, the blow was going to catch her right in the stomach-! Clang! Suddenly Luis was standing in front of her, greatsword held in a two handed grip as he slammed the club aside with a swing so strong it sent the goblin staggering into a nearby wall. "Chose the wrong group to mess with, mat¨®n." He said, levelling his sword at the group barring their way. "Want to do this the easy way, or the hard way?" Jade didn''t wait for them to respond. She drew again upon her magic, this time channeling it through her arm to coalesce in a shadowy orb that sputtered to life in the palm of her offhand. "Noctis!" She spoke the incantation without concious thought, instinctively understanding how to use the spell despite having never cast it before. The orb of darkness erupted from her hand, coalescing around the eyes of one of the goblins in front of her. She''d actually been aiming for the female goblin standing beside him, but had completely missed, hitting the other one by sheer luck. Jade felt the magic pumping through her body like blood, crackling with power. Every time she cast a spell she became more aware of its presence within her. It was abundantly clear that there was a lot more to controlling it than chanting incantations and pointing her hand, but learning anything more would have to wait. Fortunately, unlike her attempt to cast Allure, the blindness effect of the spell took hold. The afflicted goblin screeched, swinging his club around wildly with both hands as the world around him plunged into darkness. Jade prepared to cast the spell again, she had enough mana, but ran out of time. A pair of goblins had reached them, one in front of Luis, the other coming straight for Jade. Jade jumped back, avoiding a wild swing of the diminutive creature''s metal club. She stepped forward and slashed at him with her dagger with one of the basic strikes imprinted in her mind from her class proficiency. She had to actively think about the knowledge to utilize it properly, which was more than a little distracting in the heat of combat. Her body just wasn''t used to the motions involved in a knife fight. The goblin was quick, dancing out of the way of her strike before coming back in for another swing, this time aiming for her legs. Jade dodged back, but wasn''t as quick as her enemy. His club smashed into her knee, the small creature connecting with surprising force and sending her staggering backwards. She cried out, gritting her teeth and steadying herself just as he came at her again. Now she was mad. Without pausing to think about what she was doing, Jade lunged for the goblin and tackled him to the ground. She wasn''t an especially large woman, but the goblin was small, easily knocked over by her surprise rush. He snarled, scrabbling and biting at her with tooth and claw, gouging bloody streaks in her arms. Jade rolled, still grappling the goblin, kneeing him in the chest. He wheezed, momentarily stunned. Before he could recover, she slammed her dagger into his throat, burying it to the hilt. The goblin gave a gurgling cough, his eyes bulging. He grasped at the blade, trying to pull it free with motions that grew more feeble with each passing moment. Blood gushed from the wound, drenching both of them. Jade watched on in horror as the creature she''d just stabbed convulsed and died under her. She blinked, struck dumb, staring down at her bloody hands. Had she really¡­ just done that? "Jade! Naomi! A little help?!" Luis''s voice snapped Jade out of her trance. She looked up, seeing the remaining pair of goblins bashing away at the large man with their clubs as he flailed about with his greatsword, wielding it more like a giant version of the clubs the goblins were using than as a sword. The third goblin that had come for him was lying stunned at the base of one of the junk piles. He rolled around clutching his head, obviously out of the fight. The other two, a male and a female goblin, were giving him a harder time. One of them bashed his chest with a vicious swing of its club, eliciting a grunt of pain from Luis. He continued fighting as best he could, fending off the pair of attackers with wide, sweeping strikes from his sword. Naomi was still standing at the back of the group, shaking with fear. She clutched the guitar to her chest, eyes wide as she watched the carnage. Luis took another blow to the side, staggering back. He couldn''t fight both off at once, and Naomi wasn''t in any state to help. Cursing, Jade heaved herself to her feet. Her knee throbbed painfully, but it could take her weight. She took a tentative step, finding her leg still worked fine. She''d had worse injuries than this on the gym floor. Ignoring it, she instead focused on the female goblin assaulting Luis. "Attack your friend!" She commanded, attempting to charm it again. "Obey me!" Nothing happened. The magic didn''t flow. Belatedly, Jade realized her Allure spell was still on cooldown. She could feel it in her mind, the magical pathways of that ability still too raw and energized from recent use to be invoked again. Just trying caused a burst of intense pain to lance through her head. "Damnit!" She snarled, then focused her senses on the same goblin, drawing upon her magic in a different manner. Parts of her body flashed, glowing crimson. The throat, the heart, and the head. Jade dashed forward, disregarding her throbbing knee and slashed at the creature''s glowing neck. The goblin noticed her approach, dodging to the side, but she still caught her in the shoulder with the attack. She screeched in pain, clutching her bleeding arm and backing away from Jade, eyes wide in either fear or rage, she couldn''t tell which. Jade knew she should finish her off before she ran to get help from the others, but she hesitated. Blood poured from the wound she''d inflicted, spattering crimson upon the ground. Her dagger was slick with it. The sight made her sick. "Escape!" The goblin croaked, turning to run. "The prisoners are-!" Jade lunged, jamming the dagger through the back of the small humanoid''s neck, right in the center of the mark her ability identified as a weak spot. The goblin died instantly, dropping to the sandy ground with a wet thud. She felt ill as she withdrew her weapon, falling to her knees. The smell of blood and viscera was overwhelming, and Jade''s stomach churned with nausea. There was another thud and a cry of pain as Luis, now on the offensive again with only one opponent to deal with, successfully bashed the final goblin with the flat side of his enormous sword. The man panted, breathing heavily as he came to check on Jade. "You ok?" Jade opened her mouth to say something, but bile rose in her throat as she did. She clamped it shut, bending over to press her forehead against the ground as sweat beaded her brow. She couldn''t be sick now, they had to run. She had to get up and run before more came. With mechanical motions Jade rummaged in her backpack and withdrew another healing potion, nearly vomiting as she forced herself to gulp it down. "You did what you had to." Luis said, crouching next to her. "Come on, we have to go!" "Jade¡­?" Naomi had finally approached. The timid woman was looking down at the succubus with concern. The panic that had frozen her had passed. "Are you hurt?" "''m ok¡­" Jade managed, dropping the empty potion vial. She grasped Luis''s hand and he hauled her to her feet. Beside them, the two goblins Luis had incapacitated were starting to stir. If they didn''t leave now, they wouldn''t get another chance. "Time to go." She said, pulling herself together and checking her map again. "This way!" The three of them took off at a run, all attempts at stealth abandoned. They broke out of an alley at the far end of the encampment, making for one of the large lanes in the junkyard that lead back towards the factory Jade had come from earlier. Shouts rose from behind them. "They''re following us!" Naomi shouted, bringing up the rear as they pounded around a bend in the road. "Keep going!" Jade called back. "We''re almost-!" She cut off as one of the large scrapyard automatons stepped out from behind a junk pile, its singular eye glowing an angry red in its telescopic head. It was practically on top of her. Oh fuck! The robot made a deep, angry rumbling noise and swung at her with a large metal arm. She ducked, narrowly avoiding getting clotheslined as its arm whooshed over head and smashed into the junk pile, sending bits of metal raining down into the lane. Jade staggered, nearly falling over as she tried to keep her feet. A falling metal part bounced off her shoulder, stinging horribly, but she managed to stay upright. Behind her, Luis grabbed Naomi by the arm and pulled her out of the way as an enormous piece of machinery crashed to the ground where she''d been a moment before. Another piece of junk fell on the robot, almost knocking it over. It made another rumbling noise, but before it could strike again Naomi and Luis were past it, catching up to Jade and passing her at a sprint. "Left!" Jade called after them, following as fast as she could. The trio turned left at the next junction, running down the lane towards what looked like an enormous warehouse set with a large double door. Luis reached the door first, heaving it open and revealing the massive junk pile and lava pool room that Jade had passed through earlier. This time, fortunately, it was devoid of killer robots. Shouts and cries came from behind them as their goblin pursuers ran into the automaton, which didn''t distinguish between the separate groups roaming its domain. It attacked, smashing its way through their number with single minded efficiency. With the goblins thoroughly distracted, Jade was quickly able to lead Naomi and Luis back to the assembly line room. She pointed to the sanctuary door on the upper level, still glowing with a soft golden light. "Up there!" She said, pointing. Naomi balked at the tall ladders and narrow, railing free catwalks, shaking her head and taking a hesitant step away.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "No time to argue. Climb." Jade urged, taking the lead and clambering up the ladder as quickly as she could. Luis took up the rear, encouraging Naomi to follow her. She reluctantly did, slinging her guitar over a shoulder as she began to ascend, albeit much more slowly than Jade. The assembly line was still active, but without a venomhound chasing her the climb didn''t feel that dangerous. The catwalks were safe enough from the machinery, and as long as one moved carefully, there was little risk of falling. In short order, Jade was opening the door to the Sanctuary and ushering the other two inside. There was no sign of their goblin pursuers, and Jade hoped that the robot had scared them away. Somehow, she doubted she was that lucky. Another notification popped up, this one accompanied by a brief fanfare of triumphant music. The quest notification minimized to Jade''s journal. Pulling it open, she saw that the heading that listed her Wayfarer Trial progress had increased. Her number of completed quests had risen from 1/100, to 2/100. There was also an indicator for the number of hidden quests she had completed, which was currently at 1/3. According to the notices, if she completed 3 of them, they would count as a completed regular quest for the purposes of concluding her trial. Naomi and Luis had caught up to her, stepping inside the Sanctuary. Luis closed the door behind them and the noise from the factory abruptly cut off, which was as welcome as it was jarring. Jade was about to look at her other queued notifications when Naomi spoke. "Will¡­ we be safe in here?" She asked. "We should be. Shari said that no one can hurt you in a sanctuary, remember?" "You two were in a sanctuary too?" Jade asked, closing her menu and looking over at them. "Was it different than this one?" "Sure was." Luis nodded. "That''s where we met, right outside of it. I''d just been wandering around empty hallways wondering where the hell I was. Then I found a glowing doorway, and Naomi standing outside of it staring at it." "I was a little scared to open it¡­" She admitted. "I didn''t know what was happening, or where I was. Or how I''d gotten there. I thought I might be dreaming" Jade nodded. She''d thought much the same when she''d first appeared in the Labyrinth too. "Anyway." Luis continued, looking around. "We were in some sort of fancy manor, with a nice dining room and crazy high ceilings. It wasn''t anything like this. Did you meet Shari too?" "Who''s Shari?" Jade asked, shaking her head. "I met Damos here, said he was the sanctuary attendant." She looked around too, but didn''t see any sign of him. "I was hoping he''d be here." "Shari said she was a sanctuary attendant too." Naomi said. "She helped us pick our classes, and tried to explain what was happening. She¡­ didn''t do a very good job at that." "Is there a good way to explain magic, alternate dimensions, and rampaging monsters?" Luis asked. "There has to be a better way than grabbing my hand and teleporting me across the room." She shook her head. "I thought I was losing my mind." "We need to get away from here." Jade said, sitting down heavily against a tree. "But first, we should get some rest." "Thank you, Jade. For helping us. We owe you." Luis said quietly. He sighed, the tension easing out of his body with the breath. Naomi nodded her agreement, turning her gaze onto Jade. There was a wariness to her as she again took in Jade''s demonic appearance, but she didn''t speak on it. "I don''t want to think about what would have happened to us back there without you." "It was nothing¡­" Jade said, looking away. She had never felt comfortable receiving thanks, and felt embarassed. "I had to get myself out too, remember?" "But you still made sure to help us." Luis said. "Not very demonic of you, but I won''t complain." He grinned at her. Jade found herself grinning back. "Well, I''m new to the whole demon thing. I''ve learned how to do this, though." Jade concentrated on her body, transforming back into her human appearance. Her wings, tail, and horns all retracted, leaving no evidence that they''d ever been there. Naomi''s eyes went wide, but Luis just laughed. "Damn, that''s awesome." He said. "I knew I should''ve picked a different race." "Did that¡­ hurt?" Naomi asked Jade, sounding equal parts impressed and concerned. She shook her head. "Not really. Just feels a little weird." Jade took a deep breath of the refreshing forest air, then looked down at the shifting blue mark on the back of her hand. "Anyway." She said, changing the subject. "Damos, that''s the sanctuary attendant I met here, he said that I won''t be able to leave the Labyrinth until I complete enough quests. Did that Shari person tell you the same thing? Do you have these marks too?" She held up her hand to show them the wayfarer mark, and Naomi and Luis did the same. All of them had the maze-like tattoos on the back of the right hands. Naomi nodded. "She said something like that." She confirmed. "But said that we could go home, too, if we could find an exit. Just, that we wouldn''t be able to stay home until we were done with the trial." "I wonder how that works." Jade said. "Probably the same way I got here. One moment, I was takin'' a break and watching the game." Luis said, shaking his head. "The next second and bam! Flash of light, and my chair is in a weird, dark tunnel." "That''s pretty much what happened to me." Jade said, sitting down next to Luis and glancing at the portal they entered through. They were supposed to be safe in here, but she wasn''t going to let her guard down quite yet. "I still can''t believe any of this¡­" Naomi said, sinking to her knees in the grass in front of them. "I was supposed to have an audition today¡­" "I was supposed to go see my brother in the hospital¡­" Jade said. "I''m sorry¡­" Naomi looked embarassed. "That must make my problems seem small, to you." "Amiga, we all just got thrown into the video game dimension." Luis interjected. "Torn from our homes and family. We''re all in the same boat here. You''ve got nothing to be sorry about." Jade nodded in agreement. "All that matters is getting home. I want to find one of those exits that are supposed to be around." She paused, feeling a little uncomfortable. Jade had never liked asking for help, but she was in over her head. She couldn''t do this alone. "Want to team up?" She asked, a little tentatively. Naomi nodded vigorously. "Yes. Oh my God, yes. I do not want to be alone in here." "Of course we''re sticking together!" Luis nodded his agreement. "Did you see us back there? We make a badass team." "You two did." Naomi flushed, bowing her head. "I was useless. I''m sorry¡­" "Don''t beat yourself up." Luis consoled her, leaning forward and patting her arm. "This is new to all of us. We''ll learn. I was scared as all hell, myself, and I bet Jade was, too." "I was." Jade said. She didn''t like to admit it, but it was probably what Naomi needed to hear. Naomi may have frozen up when they''d gotten into the fight with the goblins, but she''d kept up with them on their desperate run for freedom. Moreover, Jade had seen how quickly she''d dodged through that raining debris when they''d gotten past the construct. She was probably doing better than many other people would have in the same circumstances. She seemed earnest enough and, once she got over the initial shock, Jade suspected that she''d be a good person to have at her back. "So, what now?" Naomi said, looking around the calm Sanctuary. "I guess an attendant isn''t meeting us¡­" "Let''s wait a while longer. Eat and rest." Jade said. "Maybe one of them will show up." "We should compare our stats and abilities." Luis suggested. "Come up with some plans for defending ourselves and working together." "Do you think we''ll be fighting a lot¡­?" Naomi asked, clearly not thrilled with the idea. "I''m not an ''action hero'' kind of girl¡­" "From what I''ve seen of this place, I''d put my money on ''yes''." Jade said. "It''s like you said, Luis, feels like we got thrown into a video game." Like a game, but much more real. Jade suddenly remembered the light going out of the dying goblin''s eyes as she''d stabbed him in the neck. Dark red goblin blood still stained her hands and shirt. She shuddered, closing her eyes, shying away from the memory. She wasn''t ready to deal with that yet. "Speaking of games, I just checked my notifications." Luis said. "Damn, I levelled up to 3 already." "Oh, I made it to 2." Naomi said, her eyes unfocusing as she gazed at her private status window. "Though I don''t really feel like I did anything¡­" "We all have a lot to get used to." Said Jade, pulling up her own status window. "We made it through. Next time, you''ll do better." Naomi nodded, her expression glum. The plain disappointment she felt in herself was enough to quell the part of Jade that was frustrated with how little help she''d been in the battle. She''d seen that look on her teammates before. If she was right, then Naomi was the sort of person who took failure seriously, and would be driven to overcome it. Naomi and Luis were looking through their own notifications and Jade followed suit, pulling up her message queue. Apparently this level didn''t come with any additional features, just stat points. Jade''s spells were still eating uncomfortably large portions of her mana reserves, so she opted to increase both her intelligence and her willpower by 1 point each. Intelligence raised her maximum mana, and willpower the rate at which it regenerated. Since her succubus form penalized her willpower she wasn''t sure how valuable it was to put points into the stat, but she had a feeling it would still be useful. If nothing else, she wouldn''t always be in that form. After the point allocation, her new base human-form stat scores were: Strength: 6 Agility: 10 Fortitude: 8 Intelligence: 7 Willpower: 7 Jade didn''t feel any different as the ability points ticked up. Her mana bar was already at the maximum value, and remained there. Hopefully it would help. Naomi and Luis had both been level 1, so it was their first time encountering the level up process. Jade did her best to walk them through it, explaining what she knew of the different stats and showing them how to find the tooltips. Naomi put a point into intelligence and one into fortitude. Luis also increased his intelligence, but opted to put his other point into strength. Both of them also received a racial benefit at level 2 just as Jade had, except their options were for humans rather than succubus. The choices were: Human Versatility: Learn a general talent. You must have an available talent slot to pick this option. Determination: Gain an additional 2 stat points. Since none of them knew what a ''general talent'' was, or how useful they would be, both Naomi and Luis opted for the additional stat points. Luis had levelled up twice bringing him up to 3, which meant he had an additional 2 points to allocate as well. After they were finished distributing them, the three wayfarers ventured over to the cluster of tents in search of food. As they crossed the clearing, Jade focused on Luis and brought up his status window for the first time. She was still getting used to being able to do that. The system didn''t provide much information when it came to people or creatures, but Jade resolved to get in the habit of checking status windows more often. If nothing else, it would be helpful to know the level of what she was facing. She examined Naomi next. Her window was much the same as Luis''s, except she was level 2 and her class was ''idol''. As in, the people in those k-pop groups? Or is it something religious? Judging from the guitar she was carrying, Jade was guessing it was more the former than the latter. It didn''t sound like the sort of class that would lend itself to many helpful abilities in their current situation, but she didn''t know enough about any of this to say for sure. She decided to reserve judgement. "Why did you choose those classes?" Jade asked as she showed them where the food was stored in the middle tent. It was mostly just canned goods and other non-perishables, but it wasn''t bad. "I always play the tank in every game I''ve ever played." Luis said, sitting down on a stool and cracking open a can of beef. "But I also wanted to use magic. When I told that to Shari, she said Spell Guardian was the best fit for that combo. Lots of defensive spells. I liked the sound of that. Want to keep people safe." That seemed like a pretty good focus to Jade, and complemented her own emerging skill set of damage and debuffs. She turned to Naomi, who shrugged. "I just picked the top suggested choice. It''s called ''idol'', the system says it''s a bard class." "So it''s music themed?" Jade asked, sitting down with them and grabbing some food for herself. "Yeah. I''ve performed for most of my life. Small time stuff, mostly, but I was supposed to be auditioning for a role in a pop group today." "Oh, which one?" Luis asked, leaning in. "Anything I''ve heard of." "Maybe? It''s a girl group, N-visible. I don''t know how big they are outside of the Philippines. That''s where I''m from, by the way." Jade had never heard of the group, but Luis nodded. "Think I''ve heard of them¡­ They''re the ones with those special reflective suits right? That can look see through? I always wondered how those worked" Naomi brightened. "Yeah! Isn''t it really cool? I love unique fashion, and I''ve followed them for a long time." Her shoulders slumped, the excitement draining from her as quickly as it had come. "Guess I won''t get the chance now, though." "When we get out of here, we''ll probably be famous." Luis said. "I mean, we''re in a whole other world now. Maybe they''ll give you another shot." "I hope so¡­" "If not, you''ll probably have enough magic powers to make them regret it." Jade pointed out, which prompted a snort from Luis and a wan smile from Naomi. The conversation lapsed as the three of them ate, considering their situation. Outside the tent, faint birdsong filtered in from the woodland treetops. Jade wondered where the birds had come from. Did they live their whole lives here in this Sanctuary? How large was it, anyway? If she just started walking away through the forest, where would she end up? She had so many questions, and once more wished Damos would return so she could ask them. "We should share what we can do. I think I can use these class powers to help keep us safe." Naomi eventually said, breaking into Jade''s thoughts. "I¡­ I won''t freeze up again, I promise." "Good. This isn''t a place where we can afford to make mistakes." Jade said. "We''re all scared and out of our depth here, but the monsters won''t care about that. If anything, they''ll use it." "I know¡­" Naomi said, bowing her head. She looked on the verge of tears. Jade suddenly felt guilty. She awkwardly reached out and patted her back. The gesture wasn''t natural to her, but it felt like the right thing to do. "Hey¡­" She said. "We''re learning. We''ll be a good team in no time." "Damn straight we will." Luis said, clapping his hands together and rising to his feet. He swung up his massive sword leaning it against his shoulder. "Now let''s talk some strategy." Chapter 10 The afternoon sun drifted towards evening, and birdsong was replaced by the chirping of insects as light began to fade in the tranquil forest clearing. Jade, Naomi, and Luis spent the hours all sharing their various class abilities, spells, and talents, as well as comparing stats and going over their experiences so far. Jade took the opportunity to explain the circumstances behind her transformation into a demon and why it had been necessary, which Luis and Naomi were both very interested to hear. She showed them the bloody remnants of the shirt she had been wearing when she entered the Labyrinth, and they accepted her story with only a few clarifying questions. After that, the discussion turned to the strange and unfamiliar mechanics of the world they now found themselves mired in. It turned out that, with a 10 in agility, Jade had the highest single ability score of the group. Exactly how big of a difference there was between each point in a score was something none of them knew yet, though that was on the list of things Jade wanted to ask Damos when next she saw him. Luis had chosen the ''Spell Guardian'' class, a tank class that specialized in defensive magic and melee combat. He currently had 1 spell and 1 talent. The talent ''Guardian Dash'' was simple, allowing him to increase his movement speed for a short duration, with an increased speed boost if he was moving towards an ally. Jade was new to fighting in general, but she was quickly learning that anything that let you get around the battlefield more quickly was a very good tool to have at your disposal. The spell he had was just as team oriented, making Jade wonder about the individual focus of her own abilities. His spell, called ''Shield Burst'', did not do what she initially expected when he told her the name. Jade first envisioned some sort of exploding shield that damaged enemies, but instead it conjured a shield around the caster as well as their nearby allies. The caster received full strength barrier, and their allies got a diminished shield with power proportional to how far away they were when the spell was cast. "That sounds great." Jade said, after Luis had finished explaining it to her. "Why didn''t you cast that when we were fighting the goblins?" He grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Ahh¡­ I forgot about it. Still new to all of this. Yesterday I was fixing cars in my uncle''s shop. Today I''m casting spells and fighting monsters in a crazy new dimension." "I can relate." Jade said, dryly. "Don''t games usually come with a way to carry all the stuff you find?" Naomi asked. "Because it''d be great if we could take all of this food and water with us. But I think we''d have a hard time walking with all of this¡­ let alone fighting." "You''re right." Luis said. "We need an inventory. Maybe there is one, and we just haven''t learned about it yet?" The three of them dug through their menus, exploring various options, but found no trace of any inventory or storage system. There was a ''party'' system, however. It allowed them to track each other on their maps, as well as pull up indicators of each member''s current status. They experimented, forming a party with the three of them. To trigger it, they each had to touch their Wayfarer marks together. After they''d all tapped the back of their hands together, a new section appeared in the corner of Jade''s vision listing her party members and some summarized information on them. "Huh¡­" Jade said, examining the status pages of her party members. This would make it a lot easier to keep track of each other. "This will be helpful." "I''d rather have a way to carry our stuff." Luis griped. "Whoever is running this place is cheaping out on us." "Maybe we''ll find a bag of holding somewhere." Jade suggested. "Bag of holding?" Naomi asked. "You know, bigger on the inside? Dungeons and Dragons?" "You didn''t seem like the DnD type to me." Luis said, giving Jade an appraising look. "More like the cheerleader type." "Maybe more of us would play those games if that wasn''t the response we always got." She said, giving him a flat look. "Hey, my bad." Luis said, holding up his hands. "I think it''s awesome. Anyway, I hope we do find one. We could really use it." "Do you think there are a lot of Sanctuaries?" Naomi asked, looking around at the darkening forest. "Maybe it won''t be a problem, if they all have food." "Maybe." Jade said. "There''s got to be some way to get food. We should look for more." "Just make sure you leave something for the rest of us." Naomi said to Luis. "How are you eating so much? Where does it go?" Luis had already made a noticeable dent in the Sanctuary''s food stores, despite only having discovered them about an hour ago. Jade had no idea where the man was putting the calories, he was tall, but not especially large. "Those goblins didn''t feed us." He protested, putting down another finished can of sausage. "Besides, this stuff is pretty good!" "I''m sure there''s plenty. It probably, like, regenerates or something." Jade said. "That''d be the least weird part of all this." Next, they moved on to discussing Naomi''s abilities. Her ''Idol'' class was actually a variant of the ''Bard'' class and, as Jade had surmised earlier, was music themed. She had started with three spells, the most out of any of them, and two of them were support oriented. "I have a spell that gives a little healing to everyone I choose nearby." She said timidly. "I don''t know how much use that will be in a fight, I think it''s pretty slow. And there''s a limit to the kinds of wounds it can help mend. But it could be useful for getting fixed up after a battle, and I can keep it going as long as I keep playing. And as long as I have mana." She patted the guitar for emphasis. "Anything that keeps us healthy is good." Jade said. "What else?" "There''s another song¡­ er¡­ spell, that I can cast. Or is it play? What do you call it for bards? Anyway, it says it gives everyone nearby a speed boost while I''m playing it." "Those both sound great for us." Luis said. "Do you have anything for you, though? Something that doesn''t need a friend nearby to work?" "Um.. Yeah¡­" Naomi said, staring off into space with an unfocused gaze that Jade was rapidly beginning to associate with reading the private system menus. "My last spell is Sonic Boom. It''s a blast of sound that does ''sonic damage'' and can knock enemies away¡­ It sounds scary¡­" She added. "There are a lot of scary things out there, too." Jade pointed out. "We need scary. Scary is good." "If that''s what we need, I''m glad I''m with you." Naomi said, looking Jade up and down. "Me?" Jade frowned. "You''re pretty intense, amiga." Luis confirmed, patting her on the back. "But don''t worry! That''s probably a good thing here. I like you." "Oh¡­" Jade didn''t know what to say to that. That wasn''t the image she''d thought she''d been giving off. Then she remembered. Images of ramming her dagger through the necks of goblins flashed before her eyes, and she suddenly felt cold. No, she couldn''t think about that, not yet. She didn''t want to process what was happening, or what she had done. I had to do it. They would have killed us. That was probably true, and it made dealing with her emotions a little easier. But it didn''t make them go away. Not entirely. "Next time, I''m going to be more like you." Naomi said quietly. She was biting her lip, and Jade could see her shaking. Was she afraid? Angry? She couldn''t tell. "I won''t be someone who needs to be protected." "With those spells, sounds like you''ll be protecting us." Luis said. "If RPGs are anything to go by, we have a good group here! A support." He pointed to Naomi. "A tank." He pointed at himself. "And a DPS." He gestured towards Jade. "That''s a pretty balanced party for three!" "I have no idea what you''re talking about." Naomi said. "But I''m glad you think I''ll be helpful." "I don''t think I''m a DPS." Jade said. "Not entirely, anyway." "You''re close enough." He said, waving her concerns away. "Your sexy succubus powers are just a bonus! Hey, when we get out, you''re probably going to have a fan club." "Or a one way ticket to a government black site." Jade muttered. "I''m literally a demon. People will probably call me the antichrist." "Don''t be so dramatic." Luis said. "We''ll work it out! You''ll see." He grinned at her. Jade just shook her head, bemused. "And what about you?" Naomi asked quietly. "What else can you do? Can you fly?" "Ugh. I wish." Jade groaned. "What''s the point of having wings if you can''t fly? I''m hoping I get to once I level up more. These keep getting in the way." She fluttered her wings, extending them and then folding them behind her. They kept getting caught on doorways, much to her chagrin. "That''d be great! I wish I could''ve picked your race¡­" Luis said. "Somehow, I don''t think you qualified for it." Jade said dryly. Jade went on to give the pair a brief description of her spells and abilities, starting with her racial features. Her transformation ability in particular required a lengthy explanation. "So, you can turn into anything?" Luis asked, fascinated. "It feels like it has limits, but I haven''t had time to experiment." Jade said. "It takes a lot of focus." "And you get faster and stronger in the demon form?" Naomi asked. Jade nodded. "Apparently. But my willpower takes a big hit." She really wanted to know how big of a deal that penalty was. The lowered mana regeneration would be a pain, but did having a lowered willpower come with other downsides? There was so much she didn''t know. "I can''t believe your spells get more powerful when you''re tied up." Naomi said, covering her mouth to hide a grin. It was the first time Jade had seen her smile.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. "I dunno." Luis said. "Sounds exactly like the kind of power a succubus would have, to me." "We could keep you tied up, and carry you around with us." Naomi suggested, eyes sparkling with mirth. Jade gave her a flat look, and Luis and Naomi laughed. "It works on enemies too." Jade said, defending the ability. She blushed, looking away from the pair. "But it is kind of ridiculous¡­" She admitted. "It helped free us from that camp." Luis pointed out. "So I''m not complaining." After the three of them were done sharing info on their abilities and skills, the discussion turned to what to do next. Naomi wanted to wait for one of the Labyrinth attendants to show up again, but Jade didn''t feel comfortable sitting idly. They had no idea if or when Damos or Shari would return, and sitting here wasn''t getting them any closer to escaping the Labyrinth. To her mild surprise, Luis sided with her. "We need to make sure those goblins didn''t follow us here." He said, uncharacteristically serious. "And if they did, we need to do something about it." "Do you think they''re waiting outside?" Jade asked. "We didn''t go that far. They live in that junkyard, they have to know about this place." "Then why didn''t they come in?" Naomi asked. "They probably can''t." Jade said. "Not while we''re in here. These Sanctuaries are clearly meant to be some sort of safe place." "What do we do if they are waiting out there?" Naomi asked, giving a concerned look to the magical door that stood at the edge of the forest clearing. Jade shared a look with Luis. "We persuade them to leave."
As it turned out, there were goblins waiting for them in the factory. Jade discovered this when she cracked the door open to peak outside. The high catwalk leading to the entrance was clear, but another overlooking walkway had a pair of goblins standing sentry. She caught sight of a few others on some of the lower levels as well, and then quickly closed the door before any of them noticed her looking outside. Jade cursed under her breath. She''d been hoping the goblins wouldn''t be so dedicated to pursuing them. As soon as she closed the door, a new notification appeared. "They''re out there. At least five or six." She said to the others. "One of them is a lot bigger than the rest, and has a big fancy sword. He''s probably some kind of leader. I just got a quest to either defeat them or escape from them." "I got that too." Luis said, dismissing his notifications. "If we defeat their leader, maybe the others will give up. Show them we''re too tough to mess with." "Good idea." Jade agreed. "I don''t think we''ll have an easy time getting past them without fighting. Not at the top of this factory place. The big guy was one level down, but it looked like he was heading up here. If we go out soon, we might be able to catch him while he''s on the ladder." "Can''t we just wait here?" Naomi asked, sounding frightened. "They can''t get in here, right?" "We can''t stay here forever, Naomi." Jade said. "I don''t want to do this either, but if we wait, they might just bring more backup. There are only a few out there right now, but there were a lot at that camp. We should get away from here while we have the chance." "Are we sure they''re here to fight? Maybe we can talk it out..." "I don''t want to hurt anyone either, but I''m pretty sure they were going to either eat us or enslave us." Luis said grimly. "Or enslave us, and then eat us. I''m not going to give them a chance to hurt anyone else. We need to get out of here, deal with them, then find somewhere safer." Naomi swallowed, then nodded. She took a deep breath and shouldered her guitar, strumming the strings once. She could adjust the guitar to be as loud or as quiet as she liked using a dial on one side of it. Right now it sounded as though it was being piped through an amp, except the sound came directly from the instrument. Jade had no idea how that worked, but it was pretty convenient. "O-ok. I''m ready." She didn''t sound especially ready, but the young woman had a determined look in her eyes. Jade nodded, turning to Luis. "So, go for the big one?" "Sounds like a plan. Should we check one more time?" "Let''s catch them by surprise. I don''t want them to notice that we''re watching." Luis nodded, drawing his greatsword. The weapon was enormous, even in the hands of such a large man. Jade spared a moment being impressed that he could handle it with relative ease. It couldn''t have been as easy as he made it look. "I''ll try to keep the small ones away from you." Naomi said, clutching her guitar in a white knuckled grip. "Thanks." Jade said. "If it goes south, we''ll run back in here and come up with a new plan." "We''ve got this." Luis said. He took a deep breath, then set his shoulders. "Now let''s go find a way home, yeah?" Jade and Naomi exchanged a glance, then nodded. None of them wanted to do this, but they weren''t left with any other options. After a moment''s thought, Jade shifted back into her demon form. If they were about to fight, she would need all the power she could get. Alan. Jade thought, squeezing the hilt of her dagger. I''m coming home. He''d been fighting his own battle for years. A grueling, thankless campaign filled with challenge and pain. Now it was Jade''s turn to fight. Luis counted down from three, flinging the door open and leaping out onto the catwalk as the count hit zero, sword in hand. Jade and Naomi stormed out behind him, weapons, and instruments, at the ready. The catwalk wasn''t quite wide enough to safely walk two abreast, much less fight side by side, so they stayed slightly behind him as he charged towards the ladder at the end of the platform. The large goblin that Jade had seen earlier had just reached the top of the ladder and was starting to pull himself up onto their level. He froze in surprise as the Sanctuary door burst open and the three humans charged directly at him but recovered quickly, managing to haul himself to his feet before they could close the distance. The large goblin, who Jade noted was almost as tall as she was, did not have time to draw the blade strapped to his back before Luis was on him, swinging his large greatsword in a wide arc. The goblin was still standing at the edge of the high catwalk. With nowhere to go he stepped into the strike, catching Luis''s blade on a forearm bracer and partially deflecting the blow. The impact was still enough to stagger the creature, and a spray of blood burst from a gash on his arm as he snarled, kicking Luis and sending him stumbling backward. "You''re going to regret that!" He growled at Luis, his voice much deeper and more menacing than that of his smaller kin. "Kill the other two! Leave that one to me." Yeah¡­ We definitely aren''t going to talk our way past this guy¡­ Jade counted five other goblins scattered across various catwalks and conveyer belts. Most of them were on lower levels, but two were up at the top with them on another platform. Before any of them could join the battle, she examined their leader. He''s a wayfarer too?! Jade didn''t like the sound of that, nor the fact that he was a higher level than any of them. She wasn''t entirely sure what the difference between a ''goblin'' and a ''hobgoblin'' was, but thought it had to do with why this creature was quite a bit larger. Jade didn''t have many options for ranged attacks, which left her in a tricky situation. She drew her wand and took aim at Groll, intending to fire a ''Clinging Darkness'' at him. But Luis was in between them, and the platform wasn''t wide enough for her to move to get a safer shot. Before she could line up her attack properly, an arrow clanged against the catwalk near her feet. The two goblins on the adjacent catwalk had equipped bows and were aiming in her direction. "Stay away from my friends!" Naomi shouted, strumming her guitar with surprising force. A blast of sound burst from the instrument in a cone in front of her, rippling through the intervening air and slamming into the pair of goblins. Jade could actually see the shockwave propagate through the air, and even though she wasn''t in its path it was loud. The wave of force sent the goblins stumbling backwards, only there wasn''t anywhere for them to go. They tumbled off the narrow catwalk, screeching in terror as they plummeted dozens of feet down to splatter across the concrete floor far below. Naomi stared down at ground level with wide eyes, mouth open in shock. The guitar fell from her hands to hang from its shoulder strap, still buzzing with residual energy. Holy shit. Jade thought, momentarily distracted. A loud clang drew her attention back to the main fight, Groll had managed to draw his sword and was now pressing Luis back across the catwalk towards them. "Great job Naomi!" Jade said, shaking her to get her attention. "Now we have to help Luis!" Naomi blinked, looking dazed, then shook her head. "Right. Right!" She said, returning to her senses. "I''ll help!" Satisfied that Naomi still had her head, Jade charged towards where Luis was being pushed back by the larger hobgoblin. There was no other option, she''d have to risk trying to slip past them to flank Groll. As she approached Luis dodged to avoid a swing, and Jade finally saw an opportunity to cast her spell. "Noctis!" A haze of dark smoke burst from the tip of the wand as Jade cast Clinging Darkness, lancing right into the creature''s chest. It curled up and around his eyes, flowing into his body as the spell took hold. After a few moments, though, the smoke simply fizzled away, leaving the warrior unaffected. "Ha!" The hobgoblin laughed, shoving Luis further down the catwalk. The large man stumbled back into Jade, who steadied him. She noticed with alarm that he had a large gash across his shoulder. Blood dripped from the wound, soaking his clothes. "Your weak magic holds no sway over me, demon whore!" For some reason, the insult sparked a burst of righteous fury in Jade that even her companion being wounded hadn''t elicited. "Drink a potion." She said to Luis, stepping in front of him. "I''ll take it from here." Jade dropped her backpack, an awkward motion that her wings kept getting in the way of. That just pissed her off even further. "Leave, now." Jade said coldly. "Or I will kill you." "You?" Groll sneered at her, hefting his large sword over his shoulder. It was almost as large as Luis''s. "Your head will decorate my throne." She didn''t bother to reply to the threat. Equal parts frightened, determined, and angry, Jade fell into a crouch, dagger extended towards her foe. Focusing on Groll, she opened her senses to his weaknesses and vulnerabilities, places she could strike for maximum effect. To her surprise, only a pair of red highlights appeared in her vision. One was at the base of his throat, the other towards the top left corner of his chest. Was that where his heart was? Jade didn''t know how goblin anatomy differed from that of humans. She also didn''t much care. Still, to her enhanced gaze Groll was tough. Another handful of goblins were climbing their way up the ladders to the higher platforms, navigating the tangle of catwalks and conveyer belts that led up to the highest levels of the assembly line. Jade was running out of time. She darted forward, brandishing her dagger as she closed the distance between them. The narrow catwalk would limit her ability to evade attacks like how she''d fought the automatons in the scrapyard. She''d have to get creative, or land a decisive hit early. Groll grinned wickedly as she approached, grasping his sword in both hands and swinging it in a wide arc at chest height. A spike of fear lanced through Jade as she saw the attack coming, but she didn''t stop. At the last moment she dropped into a slide, leg extended like a baseball player, leaning back as the blade whooshed over her head close enough for the wind to whip her hair. Heart thundering in her chest from the near miss Jade surged to her feet right in front of Groll, aiming a slash at his neck. The hobgoblin raised an arm, blocking the attack with a forearm and kicking her back a step. Her dagger bit into flesh, but not nearly as much as she''d expected it to. She didn''t let up, striking again and again, trying to get as many hits in as she could before her opponent could recover his stance. Thrust! Swipe! Stab! Jade fought to remain focused, the artificial knowledge implanted in her mind upon choosing her class guiding her strikes as she struggled to translate the knowledge into actual motion. Groll growled, slashing again at Jade, who nimbly ducked the blow. She was in too close for him to effectively use his long blade. He snarled again, dropping his sword and punching out at her with lightning speed. Jade spun to the side, evading the strike, but nearly stepping off the high platform in the process. She gasped, jerking herself back onto solid ground. Groll seized the opening, reaching out and grabbing her by the throat. He heaved, lifting Jade bodily off the platform. Jade coughed, choking, feet kicking a solid 6 inches off the ground. Groll''s face and arms were streaked with blood and small cuts. None of her attacks had been very effective individually, but they were adding up. "Nice try." He growled, squeezing his hand around her neck. "You-" Jade didn''t let him finish. The edges of her vision was already starting to go black. She couldn''t reach his body, held as she was. Instead, she raised the dagger and plunged it right into the arm he was using to hold her up. The effect was immediate. Groll roared in pain, dropping her and clutching at his arm. Unfortunately, he had been holding Jade halfway off the platform. She hit the edge as she was dropped, scrambled for purchase¡­ and missed. She screamed as she rolled off the platform, grasping wildly for anything she could reach. A hanging chain brushed against one of her flailing hands and she flung herself at it, grasping it as tightly as she could. She jerked to a halt as her arms wrapped around the chain, leaving her dangling with nothing but open air below her. "Jade!" Naomi yelled, panicked. She stood guard over Luis as he recovered with a potion. He leapt to his feet as she hung there, several feet below their platform, her only support a chain anchored to the ceiling of the chamber. Naomi and Luis ran towards her and Groll. Jade knew they wouldn''t make it in time. The hobgoblin chief stood at the edge of the catwalk, sword back in his hand, glaring at her with rage filled eyes. These fucking wings better let me fly¡­! Jade thought, pulse racing as desperately searched for anywhere she could go. Groll raised his weapon high, then swung. CRACK! The chain snapped, Jade''s stomach lurched, and she plummeted towards the ground. Chapter 11 Strength born of panic flooded Jade''s body as Groll hacked at the chain, the lifeline she clung to high above the concrete floor of the churning factory. She lurched, flinging herself to the side with all her might just as the harsh clang of snapping metal broke the air. Falling. She was falling. Wind rushed by in a fearsome stream as she plummeted earthward, limbs flailing. CRASH Jade''s fall was arrested by something cold and hard. A metal catwalk one level down from where she''d been fighting Groll. She had managed to half leap, half fall the distance, narrowly avoiding the 50 foot drop to the concrete floor far below. She gasped, rolling onto her side as stars clouded her vision. Everything hurt. Pain bloomed like fire along the entire right side of her body, and her lungs seemed to have forgotten how to breath. Jade blinked, vision clearing slowly, and fumbled for the potions in her backpack. They weren''t there. She had dropped her pack up above, before engaging Groll. Fuck¡­ Her thoughts were sluggish, the pain a thick fog that clouded her mind. She whimpered, clutching her side, eyes squeezed shut against the agony. Then, unexpectedly, something warm and light blossomed within her. The pain eased a little, more with each passing moment. Jade blinked, awareness returning to her. She could hear something in the distance, a lilting melody that cut through the crashing sounds of heavy machinery. "With soothing sound, let health abound!" That was Naomi''s voice, wafting down from the catwalk above her. She stood back from where Luis had rejoined in battle with Groll, strumming her guitar and singing down to where Jade lay stunned. A soft light surrounded the Idol, like a sourceless spotlight. Jade realized she was glowing too. It was pulsing with the tune, her pain easing with each beat of the rhythm. "Jade, get up, we need you! Don''t give up!" She continued to sing, faster and faster. The health status bars in the corner of Jade''s vision, most of which were in the red or orange, began to slowly fill. Some transitioned back to green, though most only made it to yellow. As the pain subsided, clarity returned to Jade''s thoughts. The healing spell''s effects were nothing short of miraculous, if a little slow, and she wasted precious moments marveling at her sudden restoration. Focus! You''re not out of this yet! She snapped out of it, leaping to her feet. Or rather, that was her intention. Jade managed more of a stiff scramble, one of her legs still aching and a little slow. It would have to do. She was standing on a narrow catwalk positioned directly above one of the many assembly lines that crisscrossed the air inside the factory. This one carried enormous gears of varying sizes, ferrying them through a number of mechanical arms and other apparatus that worked to shape them. Jade looked around, trying to find a way back up to rejoin the fight. That quickly proved wholly unnecessary. "Rraaaaghhhh!" Groll roared in a fury, having finally noticed that Jade hadn''t fallen to her death. "You don''t know when to quit!" Enraged, the hobgoblin completely ignored Luis even as he was slashed across the back by the warrior''s sword. Instead, blazing eyes set on Jade, he leapt off the high catwalk, plunging down towards her with his blade held high, screaming a battle cry. Jade dove out of the way, as surprised as she was frightened by the insane attack. The goblin chief hit the platform like a meteor, his blade cleaving clean through the corrugated metal where Jade had been standing as if it were paper. The platform shook violently under the impact, the entire section collapsing out from under their feet and spilling them down onto the assembly line below in a shower of sparks and debris. Oh fuck! Fuck fuck fuck! This guy is insane! Were some of the thoughts going through Jade''s head as she fell, again. This time the fall was much shorter, however. Years of gymnastics proved their worth as her instincts took over. Without concious thought Jade tucked her shoulder as she hit the moving belt, landing in a roll that softened the impact. The sudden stop still rattled her, the maneuver impeded by the presence of her wings, but she endured it. Debris and metal rained down from above as more of the walkway collapsed down around them. A metal bar slammed into the belt right in front of Jade, nearly skewering her. Mechanical arms and machinery whirred, swinging back and forth across the moving assembly line. Jade knew that if she didn''t get out of here soon, she wasn''t going to. Groll roared again, heaving a metal girder off his back and shoving it off the belt to fall with a crash to the factory floor far below. He rose to his feet, having fallen some 10 feet away from Jade, and started towards her. His steps were a little slower, his wounds finally beginning to catch up to him. The hobgoblin still had her dagger sticking out of his arm. He''d lost his sword in the fall, but Jade knew that this creature didn''t need a weapon to hurt her. She backed away, ducking under an articulating arm carrying a large drill, frantically searching for a path that would take her back up to her companions. "Noctis!" Jade''s head began to ache as her mana was drained further. The spell hit home but, once again, her foe resisted its effects. She cursed, continuing to back away and dodge machinery as an enraged Groll pursued her across the conveyer belt. "Hang on Jade! We''re coming!" She barely heard Naomi''s distant voice. Jade''s full focus was on the approaching enemy. There was nowhere left to go, this platform led to a dead end that dumped the finished gears into a large container below. She''d have to fight her way out. "Get. Out. Of. My. Way." She growled, glaring at her foe. His only response was a pained snarl. Rage burned behind the creature''s eyes. The hobgoblin had looked bestial before, but now Groll was truly monstrous. Without another word, he charged.
Naomi was on the verge of panicking. She stood high up on the topmost platform of the factory chamber, looking down on Jade and Groll as they battled it out a dozen or so feet below. Luis had said something about trying to jump the distance to join her, but it was just too far. And if he missed... Naomi remembered the visceral crunch the two goblins had made when she''d blasted them off the platform and shuddered. No, jumping wasn''t an option. Instead, Luis was scrambling down ladders, trying to find a better path to her. Naomi had never been especially athletic and she had little confidence in her ability to keep up with him. Despite his bulk, Luis was surprisingly agile. Instead, she focused on trying to keep her head. She had just successfully cast her first spells, channeling that strange new reserve of latent power from her mind through the notes she had sung. For something as esoteric as magic, it had been a lot more intuitive than she''d expected. Naomi had been singing and making music since she''d been a small girl, and the way her newfound magic manifested in the tones and notes of melody felt almost familiar, like she''d been doing it for years already. That sensation came with a small confidence boost, which was enough to keep her from fully freezing up like she had back in the goblin camp. That, and she''d made a promise to her companions. She wouldn''t let them down again. But what could she do? The handful of other goblins in the factory were far below her, still making their way up to the conflict. Naomi''s sonic boom spell had been horrifyingly effective at knocking some of them off the platforms earlier, but she had to be pretty close to do that. The healing spell that she had just cast on Jade had eaten a substantial chunk of her mana, forcing her to stop. That only left one spell. "I hope this helps¡­" She whispered, setting her fingers on the neck of her guitar and strumming a chord. The instrument buzzed with an energetic sound. To her ears it was eager, like it wanted to be played. As far as she could tell, there was no specific song or melody she had to sing or play to trigger her spells. It was the feel of it that mattered. For a spell like this, she would have to play something fast and with energy. Focusing on music helped calm her, and a grin tugged at the corner of Naomi''s lips. She knew just what to play. The first few chords were hard and loud, but not loud enough over the general mechanical clatter. Gritting her teeth, Naomi tapped into another one of her powers, the core ability her idol class had given her at first level. She had only briefly mentioned it to the others as it didn''t sound very impressive but Shari, their Labyrinth attendant, had gushed over it. It took her a few tries to get the ability to activate, but Naomi was a fast learner. Focusing on the music, she was able to will the sound levels higher and higher, until the chords of her song, Eye of the Tiger, blasted out through the entire factory. The threads of magic woven into the notes spread throughout the room, infusing Luis, Jade, and Naomi herself with the Fleetfoot spell. She felt herself grow light on her feet, filled with new reserves of energy as she continued to play. Yes. Yes! She could do this.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Down below, Jade was fighting for her life. A little ways away, Luis was climbing towards her as fast as he could. But now they were moving faster, more smoothly, bolstered by the spell. Naomi was still scared, she didn''t know what was going on or why she was here, but she did know one thing. She wasn''t going to let those two down again. Standing at the apex of the room, she played for all she was worth.
Jade danced back, avoiding another one of Groll''s wild swings. Her side ached from where she''d landed on it earlier, and the goblin chief had landed a couple of solid hits on her, but she fought on. Naomi''s music energized her, making her agile and light. The sensation would have been thrilling if she weren''t fully occupied with fighting a bloodthirsty monster. As it was, her entire attention was on the battle. Their battle had raged from one platform to another, Groll pursuing her with unsettling fervor. She''d grabbed a jagged metal bar from one of the conveyer belts and was now using it to clobber the hobgoblin with hit after hit every time she dodged one of his strikes. The impacts were heavy enough to jar her arms, which were already burning from wielding such a heavy and poorly balanced weapon, but to her dismay they seemed to be having little effect on her foe. How much more¡­! She thought as she swung again, this time nailing Groll in the knee. Can this bastard take?! She suspected she would have to get a solid strike in at one of his vulnerable points to bring him down. Jade recast ''Vital Sight'', trying again to find an opening to land a decisive blow. But for all of Groll''s enraged punches and swipes, he was clearly a trained fighter. The warrior guarded himself well, never giving her the chance she sought. Even with Naomi''s boost, Jade was starting to grow fatigued. Her legs burned as she leaped atop a stack of stamped metal sheets, avoiding another attack. She lacked the stamina to do this forever. It was time to go on the offensive. Jade took a deep breath, clutching the pole tightly in her hands as Groll came at her again. The belt they were currently on was ferrying both of them up a ramp to the next level so, even crouched, she was looking down at the tall hobgoblin. Just as he came within reach, Jade cocked back her arm and threw the metal pole right at his head like a javelin. Groll flinched back, surprised, and raised his hands to bat the projectile away. Now! Jade lunged forward just as Groll deflected her attack. In his brief moment of distracted surprise, she seized the hilt of the dagger in his arm and yanked it free. Then, still hastened by the pounding music of Naomi''s spell, she rammed the blade hilt deep into Groll''s highlighted neck. The entire maneuver took less than a second. Jade danced back out of reach, almost falling off the lump of metal, charged with adrenaline. She expected him to fall lifelessly to the ground, or maybe to flail and fall off the edge of the belt. To her astonishment, Groll merely stumbled back a few steps, hands clutching at the weapon buried in his neck. He roared, or rather, tried to roar. Instead, it came out as a disgusting wet gurgling noise that sent a spike of nausea through Jade''s stomach. That just seemed to make him angrier. He lunged towards Jade, bloodshot eyes wide and crazed, slamming his fists down towards her in a reckless, leaping attack. Shocked that her foe could still even stand, let alone fight, she was only just barely able to dive back from the heavy blow. His fists dented the metal block where she''d been, the entire platform shuddering violently from the impact. Jade stumbled, crashing to the conveyer belt and landing painfully atop her wings. Groll was looming over her before she could recover. He snarled, wrenching the dagger free from his neck. Black blood showered down on her, warm and foul. "I''m a berserker." He growled, his words barely intelligible through his punctured windpipe. "You''ll never be able to kill me." He raised his foot to smash down on her. Jade rolled to the side, heart pounding wildly. She couldn''t-! Whoosh! A translucent bubble appeared around her, forming a barrier that intercepted the goblin chief''s attack. The magical shield shattered under his strength, but it was enough. Jade slipped away, surging to her feet just as Luis charged Groll from the rear, sword held high. The hobgoblin roared in rage, stumbling back from Jade as the shield burst. He grabbed the metal pole Jade had thrown at him and turned to face Luis. "Noctis!" Jade shouted, pointing at him as he turned away from her. She wasn''t using her wand, but she was so close that it didn''t matter. The bolt of darkness lanced out from her palm and struck Groll in the shoulder. This time, finally, it took hold. The dark shroud flowed up over his body, clouding his sight. Jade''s head pounded as she exhausted the last of her mana, but it had been worth it. For the next few moments, Groll was blind. Luis didn''t waste the opening. He ducked under a wild swing from the blinded goblin chief, then struck him with a powerful blow. "Haaaaa!!" The greatsword caught the hobgoblin in the shoulder, cleaving him across his entire torso. Blood sprayed into the air, splattering across both Jade and Luis as Groll screeched in pain and rage. Somehow, despite his grievous wounds, he was still standing. Jade was slowly growing accustomed to a world filled with the supernatural, but she could still hardly believe what she was seeing. The man¡­ creature¡­ should''ve been long dead. Blood poured from his wounds, pooling at his feat in congealing puddles. He tried to say something, but the hole in his throat prevented him from forming real words. Jade could only stare, horrified, as the monstrosity lurched towards her. How¡­? How is he¡­-? She never completed the thought. Before Groll could get to her, Luis was beside him. With one solid shove, he sent the blinded goblin chief tumbling off the edge of the platform. He didn''t scream, just plunged silently all the way to the ground. Jade didn''t hear the impact, the room was too loud. But looking down, she and Luis could see his remains. The large goblin''s broken body was bent in unnatural angles, blood seeping from his crushed and mangled form to stain the floor. He was dead. Finally dead. Jade realized her hands were shaking. She tried to get them to still, but they wouldn''t. "Thanks." She said to Luis. "Yeah." He replied solemnly, also looking down at the body. His usual cheer was nowhere to be found. The handful of goblins left were fleeing now that their leader was dead. The ones that had been climbing the conveyer system had turned around and were running for the exit back to the scrapyard. The ones that had been on the factory floor were already gone. More notifications flashed across Jade''s vision, but she pushed them aside for the moment. She looked closer at Luis. He was pale. "Are you ok?" "I''m fine." He nodded. "It''s just¡­" Jade knew what he meant. She felt it too. "That was a lot." She said. "Yeah¡­" He repeated. Then he gave her a weak smile. "Guess those wings of yours are just for show, huh?" Jade laughed. She couldn''t help it. There was a shrill note to it, but also genuine mirth. "You can say that again." She grumbled, giving them a flap. "It''s crap, isn''t it?" "Jade! Luis!" Another voice called. Jade looked up to see Naomi running towards them along the catwalk that lead towards the conveyer they were standing on. "Are you two alright?!" "We''re still kickin''." Luis said, slinging his sword over his back. It was so ridiculously long that it almost dragged along the ground. He clenched and unclenched his fists once, then forced a smile. ¡°Was that your speed spell? Damn amiga, I¡¯m gonna need more of that.¡± Jade nodded in agreement, and Naomi''s cheeks colored. "T-thanks¡­" She said, slowing to a stop next to them. She handed Jade her backpack, which she''d had the foresight to grab on her way down to meet them. "It was the only way I could think to help." ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could make it that loud.¡± Jade said, shouldering her pack. ¡°I thought we¡¯d have to be closer for it to work. That¡¯s pretty useful.¡± ¡°One of my abilities let¡¯s me amplify my music. I just figured out how to get it to work.¡± Naomi said. ¡°Did we¡­ get all of them?¡± She hesitated before saying ¡®get¡¯. Jade wondered at that. All of them seemed to be avoiding thinking about the fact that they¡¯d just killed several people. The goblins were acting enough like humans that she couldn¡¯t call them anything else, even to herself. Then again, they¡¯d all been trying to murder them. She found that she didn¡¯t feel that bad about it. That surprised her. But she hadn''t sought out that conflict, they''d been fighting to survive. If someone was going to try and hurt her or her friends, she would do whatever it took to stop them. If that means I''m not a good person, then I don''t care. She thought. "We should leave." Naomi was saying. "Before any more of them come looking for us." "I''m with you there." Luis said. "But where? We don''t know where we are, or where to go. Unless you do¡­?" He looked at Jade. She shook her head. "No. I started not far from here, and this is the first place I found." "Exploring it is then." Luis proclaimed, his usual cheer a little forced. "I always wanted to be an explorer. Let''s see if the next place we find is a little nicer, yeah?" "That''s a pretty low bar." Jade said. "Keep your expectations low. That way, if you''re surprised, it''ll be a good one. That''s what my Uncle Julio always said." "Sounds like a smart guy." Jade said, starting down the ladders and making her way to the ground floor. Luis came after her and Naomi brought up the rear, following quietly as the other two talked. "Oh he was great. Always had lots of wise words for me." "Oh yeah? Like what?" Jade wasn''t normally one for small talk, but Naomi was looking a little shell shocked. She wanted to distract her, if she could. "Definitely. He had another big saying. ''Just call all your mistakes "experiments". That''s what scientists do.''" Naomi snorted softly. "I don''t think your uncle knows much about science." "Maybe not. But he''s good at making people think he does. That''s the next best thing, yeah?" "¡­Sure." They reached the floor of the factory, which was cluttered with large machinery and support pillars. A few goblin bodies were strewn about, having been knocked off the walkways high above during the battle by Naomi and Luis. Naomi avoided looking at any of them. Jade was inclined to do the same, but knew it would be smarter to look through the remains. The goblin leader, at least, may have been carrying something useful. Besides, she needed to retrieve the dagger that had fallen with him. "Hang on." Jade said, starting towards Groll''s corpse. "Jade?" Luis asked. "Just taking a look." Jade gave Luis a glance, nodding to Naomi. He nodded in turn, stepping up beside her. The two of them hung back together as Jade searched through the disgusting, mangled remnants of the goblin boss''s body. It didn''t take long, his only clothes were a loose fitting torn shirt and a loincloth. She retrieved her dagger, which had somehow survived the drop undamaged, and found a pouch of crescent coins similar to the ones that she had looted from the monsters earlier. There was also a brass ring on his finger, etched with strange symbols that she couldn''t decipher. Jade took the pouch, which seemed to have a hundred or so coins in it, and then swiped the ring. She examined it. Jade shook her head at the description. She really wanted to know who, or what, was generating them. Another question for Damos, if they could find him. She tossed the ring to Luis, who caught it. "That''ll be good for you." She said. "It gives a +3 to strength." He took a look at it, then grinned. "Thanks. I''ll put this to good use." He slipped it on. "Woah." "Feel different?" "Feels good." "When people start bringing things like that back to Earth, it''s going to change the world." Naomi said after examining it herself, staring at the ring. "Not to mention magic in general." Jade added. "Or people that aren''t human." Jade had wanted to look through the other goblin remains, but found she didn''t have the stomach for it. Besides, it hadn''t looked like any of them were carrying anything more valuable than a crude club. The system didn''t seem to let them loot these creatures like it had the automatons earlier. Another mystery. She still had so much to learn about how this place worked. "Let''s go." Naomi said. "I never want to see this place again." Jade let Luis pick one of the several unexplored doors leading away from the large factory room, following him and Naomi to it. He opened it without fanfare, revealing a long, torch-lit stone hallway similar to the one Jade had first appeared in, although this one was made of darker stone. They stepped through the threshold together, leaving the factory behind. Chapter 12 The passageway leading from the factory seemed endless. It twisted and turned at random intervals, occasionally branching off into various smaller side corridors. Jade, Luis, and Naomi had started their journey with haste, hoping to evade any potential goblin pursuers. Through unspoken consensus they kept to the main thoroughfare, ignoring the branching paths in favor of broader hallway. After a couple of hours of on and off jogging, however, Luis and Naomi started to flag. Jade was starting to feel tired herself, and her two companions looked about ready to drop. She had gotten a good night''s rest in the Forest Sanctuary earlier, but Luis and Naomi probably hadn''t managed to get much rest in the goblin cage she''d found them in. "This should be far enough." Jade said, slowing to a walk. "You two look exhausted." "I can keep going." Naomi said, rubbing her face. She had dark circles under her eyes and, for the past several minutes, had started lagging a little behind Luis. "No." Luis said, stopping to wait for Naomi to catch up. "We should rest." Jade nodded, stopping as well. "We can''t keep going forever. But not yet. Let''s find somewhere safe while we still have the strength." "If there is anywhere safe." Naomi said with a grimace. She stopped next to Jade and Luis, looking around. "Maybe the next one of those side passages? This main one doesn''t seem to actually¡­ you know¡­ lead anywhere." She was right. They''d been travelling for hours and had seen no sign of whatever destination this passageway went towards. Luis shrugged. "I''ve been checking my map." He said, his eyes going unfocused as he pulled it up again. Jade was starting to get used to the sight of people interacting with their interfaces, and could easily tell when someone was tabbing through it now. "And that ''Industrial Zone'', that was it, right? That place only shows up if I zoom all the way out now. I can''t see anything else, other than those hallways we passed." Jade checked her own map, seeing that he was right. The hallway they were in twisted enough that they couldn''t see very far along its length. It was possible that they were almost to the end of it, if indeed it led anywhere in particular, but there was no way to know. "I arrived in a big hallway like this." Jade said. "But I took a smaller passage to get to the factory. My guess is those side halls lead to other areas." "We should go down one of them, then." Naomi said. "If there are other areas and zones down those passages, there might be other sanctuaries too." "And if not, maybe we can find somewhere better to camp." Jade agreed. Naomi didn''t look too happy about the idea of camping outside of a Sanctuary, but she didn''t object. Jade wasn''t too fond of the idea either, but rest was essential. Despite the healing potions she''d downed throughout the day her body was still sore and bruised. Jade was pretty sure the goblin who had knocked her out earlier in the day had given her a minor concussion. As wonderous as magical healing was turning out to be, it didn''t replace the need to rest. "Ok." Luis said, turning forward again. "We''ll take the next passage we find." It didn''t take them long to reach another branching path. This one was on the right side of the main hallway and broke off from it at an odd angle, not perpendicular to the passageway they were traversing. The three of them shared a look and Jade stepped forward, tentatively starting down this new path. The floor, walls, and ceiling were made of the same grey stone as the hallway proper, but the torches seemed to be brighter. It gave the hallway a more vibrant, warmer feel to it. Taking that as a good omen Jade pressed forward, occasionally glancing at her map. Luis and Naomi followed close behind, the large Hispanic man bringing up the rear and keeping an eye on the passage behind them. Before long, the group''s path onward was blocked by a large wooden door. It was unadorned and plain, simply made of thick planks, and took up the entire width of the passage. The three of them paused in front of it, looking it over. It was held shut by a simple latch. "Think this leads to a new area?" Naomi asked. "Only one way to find out." Luis said. He stepped forward, lifting the latch and pulling the door opened. The beam of sunlight that shone through the opening was bright enough that Jade had to shield her eyes with her arm and turn away. A gust of warm wind blew into the hall, bringing with it a sweet scent. "Woah." She heard Luis say, feeling him step across the threshold and into whatever lay beyond. Jade waited for a few moments while her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, blinking rapidly, then took another look. As her vision cleared and she made out what lay beyond the door, her eyes lit up in wonder. The door opened on what looked like the top of a ridge on one side of a lush jungle valley filled with colorful vegetation. The valley extended to the left and right as far as Jade could see, lit by the warm glow of a setting sun. A river broke through the thick trees on the opposite ridge, winding its way through the vegetation before ending in a magnificent waterfall that cascaded down a rocky cliff into a cerulean lagoon far below. A soft, warm breeze blew in through the open door, accompanied by melodious birdsong and a faint smell of citrus. "It''s beautiful¡­" Naomi whispered, stepping up beside Jade. Jade could only nod, momentarily struck dumb by the incredible vista splayed out before them. She took a step forward through the door, following Luis, and it felt like entering a fairytale. The warm jungle air caressed her face and played across her wings, a curious sensation that felt oddly liberating. Jade took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. The forest sanctuary had been peaceful and serene, but it hadn''t been nearly as visually striking. This was the kind of vista that adorned travel brochures of exotic tourist destinations. "It is", she finally said as Naomi stepped through the door after her, panning her gaze across the valley. "I don''t think we''re in Kansas anymore." "What?" She asked, giving Jade a confused look. "Nothing." Jade shook her head, still taking in the scene. "I used to hike a lot with my father, we found a lot of amazing views. But nothing like this." "It''s a lot better than that factory." Luis agreed, grinning. "Wouldn''t mind staying here a while. Not at all." "Should we rest here?" Naomi asked. "It seems safe enough." "Let''s take a look around first to be sure." Jade said. "If it''s as safe as it looks, we can find a comfortable place to settle down for a bit." The other two nodded in agreement. The valley slope was too steep to easily navigate, but it didn''t take long for Luis to find a path leading down it towards the lagoon. Since a source of water could only be helpful, the trio decided to head in that direction first. As they walked, Jade was again reminded of the hikes she and her father had taken when she was a girl. They would get up early and load camping equipment into his car, sometimes driving for hours to reach a particular trail that he had researched online. She didn''t have many especially fond memories of her childhood, but those days were precious to her. Days spent away from home, a house filled with tension and bitter arguments. Now, walking along a rough dirt trail, stepping over rocks and tree roots with a hefty backpack on her shoulders, Jade could almost imagine herself back on those hikes. She felt a little of the same sense of wonder she''d had as a girl, the wonder of discovering a new and beautiful part of the world. A little of the tension eased from Jade''s shoulders as she relaxed a little. For the first time in the past couple of days, things were looking up. A part of her knew it wouldn''t last, but she was determined to enjoy it while she could. The pulsing icon of her notification folder broke through Jade''s reminiscence. In their rush to escape the factory she had nearly forgotten about it. The winding trail leading into the valley wasn''t especially treacherous, so she decided to sort through the messages as they walked. Jade pulled the first one up. There were prompts to accept the class equipment, but Jade was hesitant about collecting anything while on the cliffside path. It would be best to wait until they found a safe place with surer footing in the valley, the last thing they needed was for some new piece of gear to go right over the edge because she fumbled it. The next message was different than others she''d seen before, with a red border. It was spoken in a more serious tone, absent of the humor and wisecracks she was growing accustomed to. Jade hadn''t even considered that some quests could involve killing other Wayfarers, and was filled with a simultaneous sense of retroactive anxiety and relief at the notice. The fact that it was apparently necessary to tell people not to kill each other in here was more than a little alarming, but it wasn''t much of a surprise. Not after their most recent battle with the goblins. "Wait, we killed a Wayfarer¡­?" Naomi asked from behind Jade on the trail, her voice sounding small. "Who¡­?" "It was that big goblin. The interface labeled him as one." "You don''t think he was from Earth, do you?" Luis asked from the front of the group? "Someone who chose a race change like you, Jade?" That was a horrifying thought, and for a moment Jade wasn''t sure what to think. Then she remembered another part of the goblin''s description and shook her head. "No, he was labeled as a ''Labyrinth immigrant''. We''re all listed as coming from ''Earth''."The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "We''ll have to remember that if we find others like us." Naomi said with a sigh of relief. "Just because someone doesn''t look human doesn''t mean they aren''t one of us." "Hopefully the next group of people we run into are from Earth." Luis said. "A bigger group is a safer one." Jade wasn''t sure she agreed with that, but she kept silent. The conversation lapsed, and they continued on their way. They were already almost halfway down to the valley floor, and Jade could now make out colorful birds flapping between the treetops. It really was picturesque. Before she could get too distracted, she returned her attention to her messages. The next one was what she had been hoping for. It looked like this level gave another class feature for her Shadow Witch class, rather than just stat points or a succubus feature. Jade was relieved, hopefully these options would be more¡­ normal? That was a strange way to think about magic, but she couldn''t think of another word for it. She clicked away the message, and another took its place. Jade read through the descriptions quickly and found herself torn. Both options seemed quite useful. Chains of Shadebloom would allow her to control the battlefield and potentially stop enemies from attacking effectively, while also leaving them vulnerable. Since the traps took a few moments before they were hidden, it was definitely the kind of ability that would require teamwork and good planning to make the best use of. Siphoning Strike, on the other hand, was simpler. An attack that drained mana from a target and refilled her own was very tempting. Between Vital Strike, Allure, and Clinging Darkness, Jade was already finding that her mana reserves dropped quickly during a fight. That was made worse by the fact that her demon form actively penalized her Willpower attribute, which in turn lowered her mana regeneration rate. Siphoning Strike could be used as a workaround to the downside of her demon form, allowing her to regain mana quicker despite the penalty. The talent wasn''t perfect, however. For one thing, it was a melee attack. The whole reason Jade had decided against the Blade Dancer class was because she''d wanted to have more approaches to conflict than stabbing enemies. It was also a very individually focused ability, providing no benefit to anyone but herself. She looked up from her window at Luis, who was continuing to lead them down the winding path to the valley floor. She wasn''t alone, and Jade had a feeling that success as a Wayfarer would revolve around teamwork and allies as much as it would individual ability. In the end, she chose Chains of Shadebloom. It had the potential for creative applications, and their burgeoning team lacked any substantial control effects. It also synergized well with her succubus feature ''Bondage Queen'', which allowed her to deal bonus damage to restrained enemies. Besides. Jade thought, reading over the system messages again. I can always pick Siphoning Strike at a later level if I need to. Having both would be ideal, and she resolved to keep that option in mind for the future. As she finalized her selection, another prompt came up. Jade frowned, she wasn''t a big fan of having a full spell list already. The messages had been indicating that her ''Intelligence'' score impacted how many spells she could learn, so she dug through the menus for more information. That wasn''t too complicated, and the level up presented a solution to Jade''s maxed out spell list. She allocated both of her level up stat points into ''Intelligence'', bringing it from 7 to 9. She double checked her character screen to make sure that had the effect she''d intended and found that her new spell list limit had indeed gone up one to ''3''. It also had the effect of increasing her maximum mana pool, which would expand her capability to cast spells in quick succession. The stat difference didn''t come with any sort of sensation, and it wasn''t something she could feel like an increased agility or strength, but she was satisfied with the result. "Hey amiga, you see that?" Jade closed her windows and looked up at Luis. He was pointing at something in the valley below. Now that they were near the bottom of the cliff, it was easier to make out details in the sprawling jungle. Jade followed his gesture, quickly finding what had caught his eye. Something shiny sparkled in one of the treetops near the lake, maybe a hundred yards from the base of the cliff they were traversing. It was difficult to make out exactly what it was at this distance, but the glimmering light stood out against the verdant foliage. "What is that?" Naomi asked. "Not sure, but we should check it out." Jade replied, squinting at the distant object. "Sure thing." Luis agreed. "But first, let''s find a place to sit. If it¡¯s a monster, I don''t want to fight it on an empty stomach." "An empty stomach?" Jade asked with a raised eyebrow. "I just watched you eat two cans of chicken." "What can I say? I''m a big guy." Luis looked back at her, flashing a grin. "All this walking is making me hungry." Jade just shook her head. "Fine, fine. We''ll break for lunch then." "It''s lunch?" Naomi asked. "I feel like it''s later than that. I haven''t slept in¡­ I don''t even know how long." "Lunch, dinner, whatever we call it, as long as we have it." Luis said, reaching the bottom of the trail and pausing to let the other two catch up. "Let''s find a place to sit, yeah?" "Yes." Jade said. "That quest reward gave us class equipment. I want to see what that is." "Oh, that''s right." Naomi said, perking up a little. "Let''s check it out." After a few minutes of exploration, Naomi discovered a hollow between several large trees that was both comfortable and afforded a good amount of concealment from any prying eyes. They settled in, cracking open a few more cans of their provisions from the sanctuary and digging in. "Who should start?" Jade asked, eating from a can of something that just said ''chicken''. There was nothing else, no brand label, no nutritional info, just the one word. It tasted normal, though, and Jade was long past the point of concerning herself with strange details like that. "Ladies first." Luis said, gesturing towards the two of them. Naomi and Jade looked at each other, and Jade gave her a nod. "Ok, let''s see what it is." Naomi said, poking at a spot in the air in front of her. There was sudden pop and a bundle appeared at her feet. She picked it up, shaking it out to reveal an outfit of padded leather armor. It was comprised of a padded jerkin and long fitted pants. The outfit was sleeveless, but there were a pair of bracers that looked like they were meant to strap on to the forearms. "Armor?" Jade asked, leaning in to inspect it. "That''ll be useful." "Yeah¡­" Naomi said distractedly, holding up the jerkin to her chest to check its fit. "Not really my style, but I suppose it''s still worth wearing if it''ll keep me in one piece. At least until I come across something better." "I don''t think we should be too worried about fashion right now." Jade said, amused. "We should always be concerned about fashion." Naomi sniffed, shooting Jade a disapproving look. "We''re going to find other people in here. When we do, we want to make a good impression." "That''s a good point." Luis said. "We kind of look like shit right now." Jade looked at her own outfit, noticing for the first time all the tears and bloodstains. She had a couple more changes of clothes in her pack, but she was going through them alarmingly fast. "Maybe you have a point." She conceded. "Think we got armor, too?" Luis asked. "I hope I get a suit of plate, like a knight. That would be awesome." Jade grunted a reply, accepting her quest reward as Naomi began to equip her new gear. The rest of the class equipment, as Luis had predicted, was armor. Jade received a set of leather armor and bracers similar to Naomi, although hers included shoulder pieces. The armor already had small gaps crafted into it to accommodate her tail and wings, which was a relief since Jade wasn''t sure she could have performed the alterations without damaging the equipment. Luis''s armor was somewhat heavier, not the full suit of plate he had hoped for but rather a sturdy metal breastplate accompanied by padded leather coverings for his extremities. All of the armor was unadorned but well made, the neat and clean equipment a stark contrast to the tattered remains of their clothing. The group ate a relaxed meal, undisturbed by other denizens of the jungle, then settled in for a short rest. After a brief discussion they decided to delay setting up camp for the night until they''d explored the strange light they''d seen on their way down into the valley, given that they still had a little daylight left. They did take the time to change into their new equipment, though. Jade and Naomi had little difficulty, only taking a few moments to pull on their leather armor over their existing clothes. Luis, with the heavier breastplate, required some assistance with the myriad buckles and straps. Before long, they were all freshly outfitted with protective equipment. Jade strapped her belt over her new armor, sliding her daggers and wand into their sheaths. She had an odd feeling, like by changing into this outfit she was stepping more fully into this new world. "Well." She said, inspecting herself. "We all look the part now." "The part of what?" Naomi asked, slinging her guitar over her shoulder. "I feel like I''m mixing some genres that really shouldn''t be thrown together." Jade had to admit that her instrument did clash with her medieval style armor, but the result was still striking. "You can pull it off, amiga." Luis said. "Just gotta own it." "That look has an attitude." Jade said, nodding. "I like it." "If you say so." Naomi said, brushing her hair out of her face. Jade wasn''t sure how she managed to look so shy while geared for battle, but she did. Naomi turned to Jade. "You look rather villainous, though." "Me?" Jade asked. She looked down at her armor. "Does it make that much of a difference?" "You look like you just stepped out of a fairytale." Naomi confirmed, then gave a slight wince. "And not as the heroine¡­" "But you definitely have that ''I''m going to kill you but we''ll both enjoy it so it''s ok'' look going on." Luis added, then shook his head. "Man, I''m still having a hard time believing all of this." "You and me both." Jade said. "Here, how about this?" She concentrated, shifting back into her human appearance. Her wings and tail retracted, followed by her horns, until she was practically indistinguishable from the woman she''d been before stepping into the Labyrinth, minus the weapons and armor. She was improving, the whole process only took a few seconds now. "Wow." Naomi said, eyes wide. "That will take some getting used to. You can do that whenever you want?" Jade nodded. "If there''s a limit, I haven''t found it." "Well, that''s a much more heroic look." Naomi said, inspecting her appearance. "I like it." "You don''t like the other one?" Jade asked. "Oh, I do. It''s a little sinister though, Luis is onto something. Probably not best for first impressions if we find someone else here." "I''ll keep that in mind." Jade said, remembering how the goblins had called her a monster when she''d first encountered them. "Ready to go?" The other two nodded. "To boldly go where no one has gone before." Luis said. "Let''s get to it." "Picard?" Jade asked. "I didn''t take you for a Star Trek fan." "That''s Picard?" Luis asked. "I thought that was Kirk." ¡°Trust me, I know the difference.¡± Jade muttered as they set off together. ¡°My brother made sure of that¡­¡± Chapter 13 Luis reached high into the air and stretched, releasing some of the tension that had been building up for the past couple of days. It felt good. For the first time since he''d arrived in this bizarre place, he felt like he could relax a little. "You look like a cat." Naomi commented, smiling. Luis responded by yawning, leaning his back against a tree and resting his head against the trunk. Naomi was about to say something else but was interrupted by a yawn of her own. She sighed, settling down onto the forest floor and looking up at the tall tree before them. "Do you think she''ll be alright?" She asked. "Jade? Pshhh." Luis said, waving a hand dismissively. "Think she''s more at home up there than down here." He peered up at the towering tree, following Jade''s progress as she climbed her way closer towards the mysterious glinting object at the top of it. The woman moved with incredible grace, lithely lifting herself from branch to branch in a series of movements so fluid that it almost looked rehearsed. If Luis hadn''t known better, he would have thought that she had practiced this climb several times before. "Is it just me, or is she really good at this?" He asked. Naomi shaded her eyes against the fading light of the setting sun, watching Jade''s progress. "No.¡­ She really is." She confirmed. "But does she have to go so fast? I hope she doesn''t fall¡­" "She''ll be fine." Luis assured her. "How do you know? We barely know her." "Just got a good feeling about her." He said, sliding down the tree he was resting against to sit with his back against it. "I wish I had your optimism." Naomi said. "I''m a little worried about the fact that she''s¡­ You know¡­" "That she''s what?" Luis asked, though he thought he knew where this was going. "A demon." Naomi said. "A succubus. Isn''t that a little¡­ worrying? You saw that charm power she has¡­" "She''s just a person." Luis said, shrugging. "Sure, she''s a little intense, but I think that''s just who she is. We all got thrown into this mess together. What she turned in to isn''t her fault. Now, mi abuela? That''s a woman you have to watch out for." The thought of family made him smile. He could almost smell the scent of his mother''s cooking wafting in from the kitchen, hear the sounds of his little sisters playing in the yard outside. "It doesn''t bother you?" "Not really." He shook his head. "And even if it did, what else can we do? Would it be better to abandon her here? That''s not my style. She helped us. She didn''t have to, but she did. To me? That makes her a good person. And a friend." "¡­You''re right." Naomi said, nodding. "Sorry¡­ I¡­ I was just raised in a pretty religious house." "Don''t sweat it amiga, we''re going through some crazy shit." Luis said with a laugh. "I''m pretty sure a lot of those religions are about to start gettin'' pretty revised, though." "Oh God, don''t tell that to my mother." Naomi said, covering her face with her hands. "She doesn''t even like different translations of the bible." "Sounds like some of my cousins. I stay away from that lot." Luis laughed. Then he raised his voice, calling up the tree. "Yo Jade! You doin'' ok up there?" "Yeah!" Her faint voice echoed down from above. "Almost there! It''s some sort of crystal ball thing! I''m going to try and touch it!" Luis and Naomi exchanged a look. "Are you sure that''s a good idea?" Naomi called up. "Maybe we shouldn''t mess with it!" "I didn''t climb all the way up here just to look at it!" Jade called back. "Besides, I just got a notification! I think this is one of those Labyrinth Nodes!" "Just be careful!" Naomi shouted. Then, at a more normal volume. "I wish I was as brave as her." "Hey, someone has to be the cautious one. Our voice of reason! You can keep us out of trouble." Luis said, patting her on the shoulder. Before she could respond, a notification popped up in Luis''s vision. "Now that''s what I''m talking about." Luis said, pulling up his map. Indeed, a large swath of the surrounding valley had been revealed on it. The jungle stretched on to the north and south, covering both the valley floor and the towering ridge looming over it. The uncovered area was greyed out in the same way as places he had visited but wasn''t currently in, but now there was a collection of icons labelling various parts of the area. Right next to where he stood was the symbol of an orb, which apparently represented the node Jade had just activated. A little ways down the valley was a ''?'' symbol and, in the other direction, was an icon of a hearth. A map key populated in the corner of the window identifying the latter symbol to be a Sanctuary, and the former a more generic ''point of interest''. "This''ll make things a lot easier." Luis said, closing the map. As he did, another notification appeared to replace it. The feminine voice that narrated the prompts sounded more triumphant than usual as the text was read aloud. "And that got us another quest too, damn. I''ve gotta step up my game, can''t let Jade do all the work." He said, collecting the pile of coins that appeared in front of him and Naomi. He peered back up the tree at Jade''s distant form, calling up to her. "Nice going! How''d you know that was a node?" "I didn''t!" She called back down, starting to descend. "Then why''d you insist on going up there?" Naomi asked, raising her voice so she could hear. "''Cause I wanted to climb this tree!" Luis took another look at the tree that held the node. It was tall, easily over a hundred feet in height. It had plenty of branches but, towards the top where the node was, they started to get pretty flimsy. A climb that high would be harrowing by itself, even with stable footing. Luis wasn''t sure he could have made it to the top, and he was a pretty athletic guy. "I don''t know if she''s badass or crazy." He said to Naomi. "But I''m glad we''ve got her." "I''d say both." Naomi said, waving away her own notifications. "But that''s probably what you need to be like to make it here. Unlike me." "Hey, don''t say that!" Luis chided, giving her a friendly slap on the back. "Voice of reason, remember?" She cracked a rare smile. "That''s right. I''ll do my best to talk you two out of anything too crazy." "And we''ll try to talk you into it. It''ll be great." Naomi rolled her eyes, then paused. "Didn''t Jade have that quest, too?" "I think so, why?" "Then where-?" "No! Damn it!" Jade''s voice came down from high above, followed by dozens of metallic clinking noises as a rain of crescent coins cascaded down from the top of the tree, bouncing from branch to branch and scattering themselves all across the jungle floor. Luis ducked, covering his head as stray coins thudded into the ground around them. One landed point first in the soft ground between his feet. He sighed, bending over to pick it up. "We really need that bag of holding¡­"
By the time Jade descended to the bottom of the tree, Naomi and Luis had gathered up the scattered coins. She swung herself down to the lowest branch, then hopped to the ground. Jade landed with a roll, absorbing the force of the short fall with an ease born from years of constant practice. Her heart sang with the joy of movement, of climbing and jumping. It had been so long since she''d been able to move like this. Her foot didn''t hurt at all, even after the extreme strain she''d been forced to put her body through over the past couple of days. The lingering resentment she had over losing her humanity, and transforming into a succubus, was starting to fade. Jade wasn''t exactly thrilled by the changes her body had undergone, and she had some serious reservations about the nature of her new powers, but it was worth it. By God, it was all worth it. She was free again. "You''ve got some moves, Jade." Luis said admiringly. "Where''d you learn to climb like that?" "A lifetime of gymnastics." Jade said, uncharacteristically exuberant. She was practically buzzing with energy, and part of her longed to spend the rest of the day reveling in the freedom of movement. But she knew it wasn''t the time for that. There was so much to do. "Gymnastics? I can see that." Naomi said. "Is that a hobby?" "I competed." Jade said, brushing a few leaves out of her hair. "College level, I was on the team at University. Got in on scholarship." Luis whistled appreciatively. "You two are makin'' me look bad. You were a college athlete, and Naomi was about to audition for that pop group." He said it in good humor, running a hand through his short hair. "When we get back, I need to get my shit straight." "You did compete? You don''t anymore?" Naomi asked. "I¡­ got injured. Injured myself, more like." Jade felt her smile slip off her face. "Wasn''t until I chose a new race here that I could move normally again. It healed me, somehow." She flexed her ankle as she spoke, rolling it. The motion was smooth and painless. That still surprised her. "Oh¡­" Naomi said, looking away awkwardly. "I''m sorry¡­ That must''ve been hard." Jade felt a twinge of annoyance. This was why she hated talking about her accident. She didn''t want pity, she didn''t want anyone to feel bad for her. It always felt like they were looking down on her. "It was fine." She said curtly, turning away. Get over it. She told herself. You''re better now anyway. It doesn''t matter. It especially didn''t, now that they were in the labyrinth. Her old concerns seemed so trivial compared to everything here. Or rather, that''s how she should have felt. But the bitterness was still there, as irrational as it was. Naomi had been preparing for a life changing audition. Jade knew exactly what that had felt like, considering the circumstances of her career ending injury. Images flashed through her mind. A huge, cheering crowd. Countless reporters all with flashing cameras. The sweet, intoxicating rush of adrenaline as she began her run towards the vault. And then, in one instant, everything changed. "Well, at least something good came of all of this!" Luis said, rescuing them from the suddenly gloomy mood. "Now all we have to do is get out of here. And with this map, maybe we can actually make some progress towards that, yeah?" The two women voiced their agreement, and Jade returned her attention to the present. She consulted her map, newly populated with helpful icons. There were a handful of icons, including one labeled ''boss'' at the far end of the valley. That was one she definitely wanted to avoid, at least until she learned more about what it meant. There were only two map icons that were relatively near their position, a ''?'' and the hearth that represented another Sanctuary. "We still have a little light left." Jade said, glancing up through the canopy. "Assuming this place has normal days and nights. Before we go to the Sanctuary, we should check out that mystery point."Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "What if it''s dangerous?" Naomi asked, sounding worried. "Then we''ll run to the sanctuary." Luis said. "But we''re right next to it, we can''t just walk away." "Yeah, we need to start getting a handle on how all of this works." Jade agreed. "Can''t we just ask the sanctuary attendants about that?" "We can, and we should." Jade said. "But we also need to find things out for ourselves. It doesn''t seem like the attendants are always around." Naomi looked a little unsure, but she gave her a nod. Luis made an enthusiastic thumbs up. "Maybe it''ll be treasure." He suggested, starting to lead the way in the general direction the map indicated the mystery point was. "I don''t think we''ll get that lucky." Jade said. "Maybe it''s another quest?" Naomi suggested. "The more we get, the faster we can get out of here, right?" "As long as they''re doable." Jade said. Then, realizing she was putting a damper on things, she added. "But that would be helpful." "How many do you have right now?" Luis asked from the front of the group. "Quests, I mean." Jade pulled up her menu to check. She had received ''Lay of the Land, Part 2'' after completing ''Lay of the Land''. It was another quest to discover and activate Labyrinth nodes, but now it required her to do so with 5 different ones. Fortunately, the one she had just activated counted for this one too, which left only another 4. "Just two." Jade said. "One to defeat 5 monsters, one to find more nodes." "Me too." Luis said. "Does everyone get the same ones, you think?" "I have the node one, but not the monster one." Naomi said. "My second quest is to cast my spells on 20 creatures." "So we can get different ones, huh." "Do you think that means something?" Jade took the lead as her companions conversed, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger. The jungle was vibrant and colorful, dominated by large trees and thick undergrowth that made traversing the environment a challenge. Other than a handful of tropical looking birds Jade had yet to see any animals, let alone monsters. Still, she wasn''t going to let her guard down, not after all the conflict she''d endured in the industrial zone. There were dangers out there somewhere, she was sure of it. A soft squelching sound coming from the far side of a nearby tree caught her attention, and Jade slowed to a stop. Cautiously, she stepped away from the direction they were travelling to investigate. "Jade?" Naomi asked. Jade held up a hand. Another, louder squelch emanated from right behind the tree in front of her. Moving carefully, she stepped around it, readying herself to jump back if whatever was making the sound turned out to be dangerous. Fortunately, it wasn''t. Jade blinked, looking down at the enormous snail that had attached itself to the back of the tree. It was easily two feet tall, its fleshy body protected by a mottled green shell that blended in well with the jungle foliage. The jumbo snail rotated its spindly eye stalks to look back at her, bulbous eyes wide. For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other. Then, without warning, the snail gave a panicked warbling ''Waaaaaaaaah'' sound and began to flee, oozing its way down the tree and away from Jade. "Ok." Jade laughed, beckoning towards Luis and Naomi. "You two have to see this." Her companions joined her in short order, the three of them watching together as the snail continued to make its protracted escape. At the rate it was travelling, it wasn''t going to get away from them anytime soon. "Wow." Luis said, looking simultaneously disgusted and fascinated. "I think we found the mother of all snails." "That is something I could''ve gone through my life without knowing existed¡­" Naomi said, wrinkling her nose and taking a step back. The snail was leaving a trail of greenish slime on the ground behind it, and it didn''t have the most pleasant of odors. "What are you talking about?" Jade asked. "It''s adorable!" Luis and Naomi stared at her. "What?" She said, defensively. "Look at its little eye stalks, they''re so cute!" The snail thing continued to undulate away from them, its eye stalks waving about from side to side in what looked to be a state of mild panic. "Jade¡­" Naomi said slowly. "Are you one of those people who think spiders and snakes are cute?" "Of course." She said, crossing her arms. "Spiders are the absolute cutest animal on the planet." Naomi shuddered, turning away from the snail. "Yeah. That¡­ That tracks." "One of my uncles has a bunch of pet spiders." Luis said, taking a drink of water from a bottle they''d taken from the Sanctuary. He was watching the snail disappear into the undergrowth with a look of morbid curiosity. "At least 10 of them, I think¡­" "Were they the big fuzzy kind?" Jade asked, curious. "Those are my favorite." "O-k!" Naomi said, clapping her hands once and turning away. "That''s enough spider talk. Don''t we have somewhere to be?" By that point the snail had vanished from sight, leaving behind a trail of green goop that bubbled and sizzled on the ground. Naomi got the group turned back in the right direction, taking the lead for the first time as they made their way towards the unknown point of interest. "Do you think that counts as a monster?" Luis asked Jade. "For our quest, I mean." "I don''t know. But we are not killing it to find out." Jade said. "I like it." "Whatever you say, amiga." Luis shook his head, amused. "We''ll find something else."
Although, according to the map, they were only a few hundred yards away from their destination, it still took Jade, Luis, and Naomi almost half an hour to traverse the distance. Thick jungle undergrowth, broken ground, and steep gullies were constant impediments, making every step of the journey a chore. Jade was seriously considering suggesting they turn back and just head to the sanctuary after all when, finally, the ground in front of her began to open up. There was a clearing ahead, a shaft of evening light filtering in through a small gap in the canopy high above. "Almost there¡­" Jade grunted, slipping between a bundle of twisting vines and hopping to a rock to avoid an ankle deep pool of murky water. Luis followed close behind, splashing through the shallow bog and simply shouldering aside obstacles as he went. Naomi brought up the rear, panting, her pants spattered with mud up to her knees. "Thank God." She said, shifting her guitar from one shoulder to the other. "You know? I''m starting to think maybe hiking isn''t my thing. I prefer stages. Nice, flat stages." "Anything is better than that junkyard." Luis said, reaching out a hand to help her through the vines. Jade held a cluster of the plants apart to help them through, then resumed her position at the head of the group. "Actually, I can think of some worse environments than this." Jade said, contemplating it. "Like, an arctic one would be bad. Oh, and a volcanic one would be pretty terrible too. Pools of lava, ash, toxic gasses¡­ Really, it would-." She stopped talking, noticing the looks Naomi and Luis were giving her. "You crazy, Jade?" Luis asked, aghast. "You never tempt fate like that." Naomi nodded in emphatic agreement. "On second thought, maybe we should just stay here." She said with a shudder. "Sorry." Jade said. She help up her hands. "Just thinking out loud." "The universe hears that sort of thing, Jade." Luis said. "Now we''ve gotta watch out." Jade reflected that here in the Labyrinth, Luis actually might have a solid point. Someone or something was generating their prompts and quests, which were certainly reacting to what they were doing. Would speculating on what they would encounter next influence their future here? That seemed ridiculous in the context of normal life, but so did everything else here. One step at a time. Jade thought. I can worry about that later. She was putting a lot of things on the ''later'' list, but it couldn''t be helped. Jade stepped between one last group of closely grown trees, emerging into a serene clearing. Unlike the rest of the jungle floor, the ground here was covered with smooth dark stone. A broad crack towards the center of the area was filled with water, forming a natural pool. The water was crystal clear, steam wafting into the air above it. As Jade approached, ever cautious for signs of danger, she could feel warmth emanating from it. Some sort of hot spring? Jade wondered, peering into the pool. A rustle of movement caught her eye at the far end of the clearing. Jade stopped, motioning for the others to do so as well. There was a bed of soft, mossy vines nestled against the base of a tree towards the far edge of the clearing. A woman was lying on it, her olive garb and copper skin making her hard to pick out against the background of the jungle. She stirred, sitting up and looking at the three newcomers in apparent surprise. At first, Jade thought she was human, but then she picked out the subtle differences in her appearance. The angular features, slanted eyes, and¡­ Pointed ears? She thought, staring at the woman, more surprised than alarmed. Is she¡­? "Hello?" The woman spoke cautiously. Her voice was melodious, like a light autumn breeze. Soft, but crisp. She sounded worried, and Jade noted that her eyes flicked to their weapons. "Um¡­ Hello." Said Jade, a little taken aback. A part of her found it oddly convenient that everyone she had encountered in the Labyrinth so far spoke English. Was that the work of another form of magic? Or was this woman another Wayfarer from Earth? She concentrated, pulling up her information. So she wasn''t from Earth. Also, she was indeed an elf. Jade wasn''t sure why she was so surprised. She had already encountered goblins here, and had literally transformed into a succubus. Was elves being real as well really that unusual? Jade kept her hands away from her weapons, not wanting to alarm the stranger. What was she doing here? Where had she come from? Before Jade could speak, Luis beat her to the punch. "Hey! We found someone!" He said, stepping into the clearing behind Jade. He gave the elven woman a smile. "I''m Luis, good to meet you." Siora looked taken aback by Luis''s amiable attitude, but it did seem to put her at ease. "I''m Siora." She replied, standing up from the bed of vines. Her hair was medium length and brown, so dark that it was almost black. It looked messy and unkempt, like she had been travelling for days. Or maybe the jungle just did that to hair, Jade knew she looked like a mess as well. Siora swept her gaze across the three of them, then brightened. "You''re wayfarers." It wasn''t a question. Had she pulled up their own status windows? Jade was suddenly struck by the wish that she''d always had that ability in her life. How many times had she embarassed herself by forgetting someone''s name? Being able to remind yourself at a glance was so convenient. Weird, but convenient. "We are." Jade said. "We''re¡­ ah¡­ New, to the Labyrinth. What about you?" "I''ve lived here my whole life." Siora said, cocking her head curiously. "Well, not here." She gestured to the ground at her feet. "In the Labyrinth, I mean. My home is one level higher, on the second floor." "You came down here from a higher floor?" Jade asked. "How?" "Unintentionally¡­" Siora said, chagrined. "A few days ago I stepped on a trap that dropped me down here¡­" "Oh." Naomi muttered. "There are traps. Great." "You really are new." Siora said, giving her a curious look. "How long ago did you enter? Where did you come from? Grasha, Emeris?" "No, we''re from Earth." Luis said. Then, apparently deciding that needed more explanation, he added. "That''s a planet." "We just got here a couple of days ago." Jade added, giving Luis a side eye. "''It''s a planet''? What else would it be?" "I dunno." He shrugged. "This place doesn''t seem like a planet. Maybe there are other kinds of worlds." "Earth¡­? And only a few days ago¡­?" Siora asked, looking confused. "I-" A warm breeze blew through the clearing, carrying with it a cluster of swirling, multicolored leaves. The collection of leaves coalesced beside Siora, blossoming into a feminine form. They melded together, transforming into a tall, slender woman with dark green skin and deep blue eyes. Her hair was a tangle of thorny vines that stretched down her back, spotted with budding flowers that contrasted sharply against her dark body. She glanced at the three wayfarers, who were all staring at her in amazement, then turned to the elf. "The Labyrinth has connected to a new world, Siora." The newcomer said. Her voice was soft and light, like a rustling of branches. She shifted her attention back to Jade and her companions. "They are new to our home, and know little about it." "Is that true?" Siora asked, looking at Jade. "It¡­ It is." She said, nodding. The strange woman''s sudden manifestation had caught her off guard, and she couldn''t stop looking at her. "Who are you?" She asked. The mysterious woman resembled no creature she was familiar with and almost looked to be more plant than person. Again, she pulled up her status window. A dryad? Isn''t that a nature spirit? Jade wasn''t sure whether she should be alarmed or not. She settled for the happy middle ground of general wariness, which was well within her comfort zone of emotions. "My name is Juniper." The dryad said, smiling at Jade as she watched her pull up her information. "I am the protector of this jungle, and this grove is home to my birth tree." She lay a hand on the massive tree that she and Siora stood at the base of. It was a true giant of the jungle, sturdy and strong. "Um¡­ Sorry for bothering you." Naomi was the first to reply. She, too, looked unsure of how to react to Juniper. "We were just exploring¡­" "There is no need to apologize." Juniper said, waving a hand dismissively. "You have been respectful to the forest and its inhabitants. If you had not, we would be having a different encounter." That sounded more than a little ominous. Jade made a mental note to be quite respectful to nature while she was here. Not that she had any desire to vandalize the jungle but, despite Juniper''s calm and kind demeanor, there was a power behind her eyes. One Jade did not want to tangle with. "You are journeying to the upper floors?" Juniper asked. Jade, Naomi, and Luis looked at each other. Naomi shrugged, and this time it was Luis that spoke up. "I guess so, yeah? We''re looking for a way back home." "You''ll have to complete your Wayfarer Trial before you''ll be able to do so." Juniper said. "And that trial will take you deeper within the Labyrinth than this. At least, that is my understanding." "If that is true, then yes." Jade said. "We will be ascending, once we find out how." "Then I have a request for you, Wayfarers." Juniper said, laying a hand on Siora''s shoulder. "This one was brought to my jungle against her will. She is far from home, separated from her kin. Would you take her with you on your journey, and help her find her way?" Siora blinked, looking between Juniper and Jade. "Miss Juniper, I don''t want to impose on anyone." She started, looking embarassed. "I''ve been preparing for the journey home myself, I''m sure I can make it." "Of course we will." Luis said, before Jade could say anything. "Siora, right? This isn''t the kind of place anyone should go through alone." He stepped forward, holding out his hand. "I''m Luis." "I¡­ Well¡­" Siora said. She was clearly surprised by his enthusiasm, but didn''t look displeased. "Thank you¡­" She finished, finally, shaking his hand. Jade wasn''t too thrilled with the idea, but she didn''t speak out against it. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to be helpful, but this Labyrinth was a dangerous place. Siora didn''t look like she was much of a fighter, and they didn''t even know how far her home was from here. She didn¡¯t want to get someone hurt, nor did she want to get sidetracked from completing their trials. Then again, she''s from here. Jade thought. She can probably tell us a lot about this world. That thought helped ease her concerns, and Jade stepped forward to introduce herself after Luis and Naomi. "Why do you want us to help her?" Jade asked Juniper, shaking Siora''s hand. "Because I cannot." Juniper says, simply. "I cannot travel far from my birth tree. I am this jungle''s protector, and it is my world." "That''s so sad." Naomi said. Jade gave her a look, thinking that might be a little insensitive to say to such a being, but the dryad just gave her a wan smile. "It is my nature." She said. "When Siora first arrived, she helped me find a cure for a sickness that had been afflicting some of the creatures who dwell here. I wish to return the favor." The dryad then looked towards the sky, and Jade followed her gaze. It was getting dark already. Their journey here had taken longer than Jade thought it would. It would soon be too dark to travel through the thick jungle to the Sanctuary. "You may stay the night here, if you wish. You will be safe here." Juniper offered. Jade looked at Luis and Naomi, who both gave her a nod. "Thanks." Jade said. "I think we''ll do that." Juniper didn¡¯t seem dangerous, at least not to them. Jade was wary about camping in an unfamiliar area, but the alternative was hiking through the nighttime jungle. That seemed even less appealing. As she voiced her agreement, a message popped up in her vision. Well, I guess we''re along for the ride now. Jade thought. She closed the window, then glanced at the elf. "Welcome aboard, Siora. Just so we know, how far is home?" "About that¡­" Siora gave a nervous laugh and scratched the back of her head with one hand. "I''ve never been to the first level before so¡­ No idea." She said, apologetically. Wonderful. Chapter 14 As exhausted as she was, Jade''s night was far from restful. She lay on the large bed of soft vines and moss that sprouted from the base of what Juniper had called her birth tree, surrounded by her new companions. It was surprisingly comfortable, not unlike an especially soft and squishy mattress. Although she lacked a blanket the jungle was pleasantly cool at night. Physically, she had no complaints. Comfort wasn''t the issue. Violence, blood, and death plagued Jade''s dreams. Her mind was assaulted by images of groups of ravenous goblins chasing her down dark, ominous passages, cornering her again and again. Each time they did, she fought her way out, stabbing them in the neck the same way she had slain that first goblin in the junkyard. Her twisted dreams put his face on every goblin she saw, and each made the same awful, nightmarish gurgle as she cut them down. This happened again and again, blood staining Jade''s clothes, her arms, her face, and everything else. When she looked down at herself, she saw not a woman, but a monster. A vicious demon with clawed hands and leathery wings, a creature of lust and death. It was too much, it-! "Jade¡­ Jade!" Jade started, her eyes snapping open. Someone had a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. The hand withdrew as she jerked, twisting over onto her side to see who was there. It was Naomi. The dark haired woman was staring at her with concern and¡­ wariness? It was hard to tell in the darkness. The only light came from a distant moon high above. It cast a strange orange glow upon the land, a not so subtle reminder of how far from home they truly were. Jade realized she was panting, her brow covered in a cold sweat. She took a deep breath, calming herself, her nightmares slipping away like water into sand as lucid thought returned to her. "Naomi¡­" She murmured, not wanting to disturb anyone who may still be asleep. "What¡­?" "You were thrashing in your sleep." She whispered back, kneeling next to her. "Are you¡­" "I''m fine." She said, cutting her off. Naomi sighed, frustrated. "No, you''re not." Her voice was quiet, but forceful. She crossed her arms. "None of us are. It would be scary if we were." "It was just a bad dream." Jade said, looking away. There was an anxious pit in her stomach, a tight knot that was making her nauseas. But she couldn''t voice it. She couldn''t expose her weakness. That just made it worse. "Me too." Naomi said, surprising Jade. "What?" She asked. Jade glanced back at her, noticing for the first time how pale Naomi looked. Even in the dim moonlight, she could see that her color was off. "I had a bad dream too. About¡­" Naomi shuddered, then tried again. "About the goblins I¡­ I killed. Was it the same for you?" Jade shrugged, unable to bring herself to lie, but equally unwilling to confide in her. Naomi seemed to take that as a yes anyway. "Jade, you don''t have to hide that you''re hurting, or scared." She said, still firm but slightly more gentle than before. She sank into a crouch beside Jade, settling beside her. "Yes, I do." She murmured. "It''s a weakness. If you show it, people will exploit it." "That''s bullshit." Naomi hissed, the softness evaporating from her words. Again, Jade was surprised. Her impression of Naomi was that of a soft spoken woman. Right now, though, her eyes were bright and fierce. Her gaze bore into her, pinning her in place. "We only just met, but right now we''re a team. Working together is the only way we''re going to get out of this, and teammates rely on each other. I can tell you''re a strong person, Jade, you''re adapting to this place a lot better than I am. But you can''t do it alone, and you don''t have to. That won''t do you any good, and it won''t do us any good." Jade opened her mouth to say something, but stopped. Naomi''s words had stirred a memory, dredging it up from the depths of her mind. Christina, the former captain of her gymnastics team, had said much the same to her when she''d made the cut at University. "You''re good, Jade. Really good." Christina had told her in the locker room, not long after the start of her first season. "But you act like you''re the only person on the floor. This is a team sport. You might do your set by yourself, but your score isn''t the only one that matters. When you nail it, the team will cheer for you. When you fuck up, the team will get you back on your feet. And you''ve got to do the same for them, or you don''t belong on my team." On that team, she''d found for the first time in her life a group of people she could rely on. A group of people who cared about her. Then, she''d lost it all. Jade closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Christina had been talking about a sport, where the stakes were whether or not you would take home the championship at an event. The Labyrinth was different. The stakes here were life and death. Naomi had a point. The same point Christina had hammered into her two years ago. Only now, it was more important than ever. "Look, I get it." Naomi said softly, continuing when Jade didn''t reply. "You''re a tough girl. That''s probably a good thing here. But let''s try supporting each other a little, ok?" Jade sighed. She glanced at the other end of the vine bed where Luis and Siora were both sound asleep, then back at the woman kneeling beside her. "Ok." She said, slightly ashamed of herself. "I''m¡­ Not good with people. Sorry."This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "Well, I am." Naomi said, shifting to sit down properly beside her. "I just don''t like dealing with them." Despite herself, Jade snorted in amusement. Naomi gave her a wry smile. "So? What''s bothering you?"
"So? What''s bothering you?" Naomi wasn''t sure exactly how to feel about Jade. Luis seemed to trust her, but she''d only just met the both of them. He was one thing, as straightforward a guy as she''d ever known, but Jade worried her a little. Setting aside the fact that she had been transformed into a demon, something Naomi was still having difficulty believing was a real thing, she had an array of rather insidious abilities that the bard wasn''t quite comfortable with. Even if she wasn''t the best at using them yet, that would surely change with time. The succubus''s attitude didn''t do much to allay her concerns either, Naomi had seen how brutal and unhesitating Jade could be in a fight. She seemed unfazed by the insanity unfolding around them. At least, that''s what she had thought. The woman in front of her now was sitting with her shoulders slumped, her head propped up on one arm. Even in the dim moonlight Naomi could see the sweat beading on Jade''s brow. For the first time since she''d met her, she looked anxious. "What isn''t¡­?" Jade sighed. She scooted away from their sleeping companions, keeping her voice low. "I just want to go home. To see my brother. To get away from this¡­" "Me too." Naomi said, settling next to her. "Are¡­ you scared too?" Jade gave her a dour glance. "What do you think?" "I think we all are." Naomi said. "But you just seem so calm about all of this." "I''m trying to be calm. Panicking won''t get us home safely. But yeah, I''m pretty far from ok." "I wish I was better at that." Now it was Naomi''s turn to sigh. "I''ve never been good at handling pressure." "I thought you were trying to join a pop group." Jade said. "Isn''t that all about performing under pressure?" "Yeah, well, I pretty much panic every time I get on stage." Naomi admitted, feeling embarassed. "But I keep doing it anyway, because I love it. Fighting, though? Not so much." Jade shrugged, leaning back against the Dryad''s birth tree. The conversation lapsed, and Naomi found herself awkwardly sitting next to her, unsure of what to say. She still had some uneasy feelings regarding the succubus, but knowing that Jade actually was struggling with all of this too helped her feel a little more at ease with her. A part of her had been worrying that her sudden transformation had affected how she''d thought, that maybe turning into a demon had flipped off some mental switch that regulated emotional processing. The more she spoke to her, though, the more Naomi was coming to realize that Luis was probably right. Jade was an intense person, but that didn''t have anything to do with the changes she''d recently undergone. "If you have something you want to ask me, just say it. I don''t bite." Jade said. Naomi realized she''d been staring at her intensely and looked away, embarrassed. "Not yet, at least. Maybe that''s another power I''ll get to choose." She added. Naomi couldn''t tell if that was a joke or not. She hesitated. Should she voice what was on her mind? Would Jade get offended? But no, if they were going to work together as a team, they had to trust each other. She took a deep breath, and plowed on ahead. "It''s your powers." She said finally. "Your powers to influence other people. I¡­ They''re a little scary, Jade." Jade crossed her arms, looking out across the forest. Naomi saw her in profile, the orange tinted moonlight illuminating half of her face. The light spilled across her hair, giving it a mesmerizing glitter. The effect was so pronounced that Naomi wondered if some sort of succubus racial feature affected how people perceived Jade, passively making her more appealing to the eye. That thought didn''t make her feel any better about her manipulative abilities. "I didn''t have much of a choice." Jade said after a lengthy pause. "They came with the race, and I was forced to pick it." "I know." Naomi said, looking away. Part of her felt guilty for interrogating a companion who, so far, had done nothing but help her. But the sooner they got this out of the way, the better. "Are you worried that I''ll use them on you?" Jade asked. "I don''t know." Naomi admitted. "I haven''t known you for very long, but I don''t think you''re the kind of person who would use that power casually." Jade grunted. "But it worries you anyway?" "Wouldn''t you be worried?" "Probably." Jade admitted. "But you were just talking about us being a team. We have to trust each other at some level. Especially if we''re going to fight together." "We do." Naomi agreed. She knew that there wasn''t a good solution to this. Jade was right, she hadn''t chosen her powers. None of them had, for the most part. "And you haven''t done anything to make me distrust you. I¡­ I just had to say it, I guess." Jade''s shoulders slumped. "Is this going to be the reaction I get from everyone, from now on?" Naomi didn''t have a good answer to that. The ability to influence people''s thoughts and behavior was simply unnerving. She was new to magic, but she had a feeling most people would view it similarly. "Look." Jade said, after Naomi failed to respond. "How about this. When we''re somewhere safe, I''ll use my power on you for a few moments, or at least try to. Then you''ll know how it feels. And hopefully, then you''ll be able to tell if similar powers are used on you in the future. Would that make you feel better?" She spent a few moments considering that. "Maybe¡­ Yeah¡­" She said, leaning against the tree beside Jade and giving her a thoughtful look. "I mean, I don''t like the thought of it. But, better the devil you know than the one you don''t, right?" "Or the demon you know, in this case." Now it was Naomi''s turn to snort. "Thanks, Jade. I think I feel better now." Jade shrugged, something that she seemed to do a lot of. "Yeah, well, thanks for talking to me about it. And not just judging me." "You''ve more than earned some benefit of the doubt." Naomi said, squeezing her shoulder gently. "I don''t think Luis and I would still be here, if not for you. I still have to pay you back for that." "I''m sure we''ll have plenty of chances to pay each other back before we''re through this." Jade said. "But thanks." "I''m sure." Naomi agreed. Weariness was starting to overtake her again. Her conversation with Jade had helped push her nightmares out of her mind, and she had alleviated some of her concerns. At least for the moment. Naomi shifted back into the vine bed, settling down to try and rest. "It was the same as yours." Jade said softly, still sitting with her back against the massive tree. "Huh?" Naomi asked, sleepily. "My dream." Jade clarified, looking up at the moon. "It was the same as yours. The killing." Naomi rolled over, looking back at her. Without a word, she reached out and lay a hand on Jade''s. It was a gesture of companionship, a reminder that she wasn''t alone. In Jade''s eyes, Naomi saw the same regret and fear she herself held deep within her. Together, they had been thrust into a world of madness and conflict. A world where magic and adventure mingled with death and danger. It was as terrifying as it was exhilarating. They had only just arrived in this land, and already Naomi had experienced pain and fear unlike anything she had ever known. What she saw in Jade''s face, in that moment, told her that it was the same for her. Naomi couldn''t think of anything that she could say to help. Instead, she simply squeezed her hand. A reassurance that they weren''t alone. That someone else understood. The pair settled down for the night, letting sleep take them once more. This time, it was free of nightmares. Chapter 15 Jade awoke to the sound of chirping birds, buzzing insects, and rustling leaves. A shaft of morning sunlight filtered through the jungle canopy, bathing her in a relaxing warmth. She yawned, shielding her eyes against the bright light, and rolled over on the soft bed of vines. It took her a few moments to remember where she was. The leafy foliage overhead was reminiscent of the camping trips she''d been on as a child, and for a heartbeat Jade half expected to see her father and brother sitting around a morning campfire. Then the memories returned, hitting her like a bucket of water. The Labyrinth, magic, monsters, and a world of danger and mystery. She sat up, brushing a tangle of messy, matted hair out of her face. Luis, Naomi, and Siora were already awake, the three of them sitting on small logs situated around a flat stone that served as a table. Jade got up, walking over as Luis waved for her to join them. A wooden bowl filled with nuts and berries sat on the table between them. At least, Jade assumed that''s what they were, she didn''t recognize any of the contents. "What''s that?" Jade asked, inspecting the bowl as Luis popped a green berry into his mouth. "Food." He grunted through a mouthful of the stuff. "I gathered that." Jade rolled her eyes, sitting down next to him. "Jade! Good morning." Naomi said, smiling at her. She seemed a little more at ease with Jade after the previous night''s conversation. That made Jade feel good, she just hoped it would last. "Morning." She said, stifling another yawn. Her body was still in the process of waking up, something that always seemed to take longer for her than it did for everyone else. Was there caffeine in the Labyrinth? Jade felt a jolt of mild panic, suddenly realizing that she may be cut off from her morning cup of coffee for the foreseeable future. One of the sanctuaries will have some. She assured herself. I''ll find some. "Juniper stopped by with this when we were getting up." Siora explained, gesturing to the bowl of food. "She said to help ourselves." "Stopped by?" Jade asked, turning to look at the elf. "Doesn''t she live here?" Jade was making an effort to avoid staring, but found her gaze repeatedly drawn to Siora''s pointed ears. They were larger than human ears, long and slender. For some reason, the act of casually sitting next to and conversing with a person of a different species than her blew her mind in a way that nothing else she''d experienced in the Labyrinth had yet. It was something so normal, sitting and talking over a meal, but also alien. The dichotomy made it stand out all the more. Siora smiled. The expression was cheerful and welcoming, as if the elf didn''t have a care in the world. It caught Jade off-guard, but not in an unwelcome way. "She doesn''t spend all her time here." She explained, pushing the bowl towards Jade. "I don''t know much about dryads, she''s the first one I''ve met. But I think that she tends to the jungle, imbuing it with her essence." She popped a berry into her mouth. "Something like that." Imbuing¡­? Her essence¡­? Jade wasn''t quite sure how to respond to that so she followed suit, picking out a nut and crunching into it. A moment later, her eyes widened in surprise. "This is good!" "That''s what I''ve been saying." Luis said, grabbing a handful of them from the bowl. "What did you say they were called, Siora?" "Lampa nuts." Siora said. "They''re pretty common near Lysara. Ah, that''s the town I''m from." She clarified, seeing their confused looks. "We''ve gotta get some of these back home." Luis said, inspecting one of the cashew shaped nuts with interest. "These would be huge." Jade was inclined to agree, eating another handful of them while they conversed. The nuts were an interesting mix of salty and sweet, possessing a nice crunch. The berries were less remarkable but still good, tasting nearly identical to blueberries. If they weren''t substantially larger, and green, Jade could''ve mistaken them for being from Earth. Together they made for a satisfying, and surprisingly filling, breakfast. "Save some for the rest of us." Naomi complained, batting Luis''s hand away from the bowl. He raised his hands innocently, leaning back away from the table. "Hey, a guy''s gotta eat." He said, patting his stomach. "I fight best on a full stomach." "We''re going to the sanctuary next." Jade reminded him. "There should be plenty of food there for all of us." "And there won''t be any fighting." Naomi added. "Sanctuaries are safe." "Don''t jinx it, amiga." Luis shook a finger at her. "We already had the tempting fate conversation yesterday." "That''s fair. I take it back. Eat as much as you want." "Nah." Luis said, gesturing towards Jade. "You''re right, can''t hog it all to myself." He sighed, looking at the rapidly diminishing quantity of food in the bowl with a comically forlorn expression. "Don''t worry, I know where to find more of these." Siora said with a smile. "Lampa nuts are a favorite of my brother''s, too. I can show you how to gather them." "That settles it." Luis announced to the group. "We''re keeping her."
The four of them finished breakfast and, to Jade''s immense relief, took the opportunity to have a much needed bath. Upon Luis''s insistence, the ladies went first. Jade and Naomi were each covered in sweat, grime, and more than a little dried blood. Siora was somewhat better off, she''d had the chance to wash in the dryad''s clearing during the days she''d been staying with Juniper, but the jungle humidity wasn''t doing her any favors. The pool of water in the stone clearing beside Juniper''s birth tree was a natural hot spring, although Jade wasn''t sure that the word ''natural'' was an apt descriptor for anything in this strange world. At this point, though, all that mattered to her was that the water was warm, clean, and plentiful. To avoid contaminating the spring they first stripped off their various armor and clothes, and then washed themselves as best as they could by scooping bowls of water out of the pool and pouring it over themselves. Jade found it interesting that, anatomically speaking, Siora was practically the same as a human woman. When she commented on that Siora just shrugged, saying that many different peoples from many different worlds shared similar body structures. It was clearly normal to her, which Jade took note of. "Have you ever met another human?" Naomi asked, filling another bowl from the spring. That was a question Jade hadn''t even thought of, but one that she was immediately very interested in hearing the answer to.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Yes, of course." Siora said, cocking her head curiously as water dripped down from wet hair onto her pale skin. "Your people are common in the larger cities." Jade and Naomi shared a look. "They''re from other worlds?" Jade asked. The question prompted a strange feeling: They were having a casual conversation about the existence of humans on other worlds in the universe. With an elf. While bathing in a dryad''s hot spring. How is this my life? Although, taking in Siora''s slender figure and glistening, exotic physique, Jade privately thought that things could be a lot worse. Stop it. She admonished herself, feeling her cheeks redden. Not the time. "Yes." The elf nodded, oblivious to her embarassment. "I asked if you were from Grasha or Emeris last night. Those are two human worlds that are connected to the Labyrinth, I think there''s a lot of travel between them through here. I''ve spent most of my life near Lysara, though, so I can''t tell you much more than that." "That''s¡­ Really interesting." Naomi said, sounding a little stunned. "Thanks." That explained why Siora hadn''t been surprised to see them. Jade wondered how many other reality shattering revelations about the universe she could take before she just became numb to them. Judging by her current feelings, she might already be close to that threshold. She had more questions for Siora, many more, but decided that right now she''d rather focus on getting clean. Without access to towels, soap, or anything especially well suited to scrubbing, there was only so much they could do to wash themselves. Even so, the difference was night and day. The act of bathing with other women was a new experience for Jade. She wasn''t an especially modest person, but she still felt twinges of embarassment at being so exposed around people she had only just met. Naomi and Siora, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by it. "Wow Jade¡­" Naomi said, staring at her body so intently that Jade had to fight the urge to cover herself. "What?" she asked, self conscious at being so openly scrutinized. "It''s just, you''re really fit." "Oh." She laughed, relaxing. "After all the years of training, I would hope so." "Were you a warrior, on your world?" Siora asked curiously, also taking in Jade''s physique. "Ah¡­ No." Jade said, her face flushing at the sudden attention. She focused on a spot of dirt on her skin, suddenly very interested in washing it clean. "I was an athlete." It turned out that Siora didn''t have much of a concept of sports. Jade and Naomi spent the next few minutes explaining the nature of athletic competition on Earth, touching on the various games and how they worked. The elf was fascinated by it, and had no shortage of questions for them. When Jade, Siora, and Naomi judged themselves clean enough, they clambered into the hot spring for a relaxing soak in the steamy water. Luis had tactfully left the clearing while the women washed, insisting that someone should keep an eye on the surrounding jungle in case some animal or other creature came snooping around. Jade appreciated having someone watch over them while they bathed, getting into a fight while naked and without their gear would be less than ideal. Although for all I know, some weird succubus power will involve fighting in the nude. Jade reflected, both exasperated and further embarassed at the idea. The passing thought reminded her that Siora must think she was human. She was still wearing the form that she had entered the Labyrinth in, her real body. Or rather, what used to be her real body. How would she react to learning that Jade was a succubus? That was sure to come up at some point, and it would be an important litmus test for understanding how other denizens of the Labyrinth might react to her true nature. I''ll have to find a good time to bring it up. She mused, sinking deeper into the hot spring until just her eyes remained above the water. She sighed, bubbles streaming from her mouth and floating to the surface. "Jade¡­ What are you doing?" Naomi asked, laughing as she looked over at her. "Nothing." Jade muttered, feeling silly. She lifted her head out of the water and reclined against the lip of the pool. "Just thinking. About everything." "I can''t imagine what you three must be going through." Siora shook her head sympathetically. "Suddenly being thrown into a new world? Separated from your families? I''m sorry¡­ It must be hard." "Thanks." Now it was Naomi''s turn to sigh. "We appreciate that." "Yeah." Jade agreed. "But you''ve been separated from your family, too." "Yes, but not by as great a distance." Siora said. "The Labyrinth probably hasn''t taken me too far away. Once we get to the second level, I''ll get my bearings." She sounded more hopeful than confident on that front, but Jade didn''t push Siora for more details. The fact was, all of them were far from home and out of their element. The exact degree to which that was true for each of them wasn''t important. The shared trial pulled them together, forming the kind of connection between them that Jade had so often struggled to maintain in her old life. Siora was an entirely different species that Jade knew next to nothing about, but they both had the same goal: To find a way home. Thinking about family reminded Jade of Alan. She''d missed his procedure. How had it gone? Would he be ok without her? She wondered what her friends thought had happened to her, and if they were looking for her. What about her parents? It had been a long time since she''d been on good terms with them, but even they would be worried that their daughter had simply vanished in the middle of the night. It doesn''t matter. She thought. Focus on the now. I can worry about that when I get back. Luis, Naomi, and Siora all had families of their own, too. Families that were likely worrying about them right now. They had all been avoiding the topic, as talking about it wouldn''t help. They didn''t have to. Jade could see it in the faces of her companions. Their worries and their home sickness. In that moment, something clicked into place inside of her. She cared about these people. Jade had only just met them, but already they were her friends. People who were important to her. Upon that realization, she made a promise to herself. She was going to get them home safely, all four of them. No matter how many monsters she had to cut down to see that done. "I swear it." Jade whispered the words quietly, a solemn vow. No one else heard, but that was ok. The oath was made, and that was enough.
In a distant, sequestered corner of the cosmos, another being was also swearing an oath. Lord Vastrozun of the Thousand Suns sat upon his obsidian throne, carefully considering what he had just been told. His large frame was wreathed in living shadow. What small portion of him one could behold gave the impression of a tall form, with a powerful build and a fierce, even brutish appearance. Some who entered his presence took that for a sign of dull intellect. The few who survived that misconception quickly revised their views. Leaning upon one arm of his throne, he beheld his most trusted advisor. "How certain are you of this?" His voice rumbled through the massive chamber. It was just the two of them, Lord Vastrozun, and the Lady Ira. She was beautiful, but her pleasing visage belied a cunning that rivaled even his own. That was good, for a ruler should surround himself with those who could see things he could not. He had no patience for fools or sycophants, and had long since stopped holding court for their like. "Quite certain, my Lord. Our scouts'' reports are agreed. The Labyrinth has connected to a new world, and its people possess what we have long been searching for." "Excellent." Lord Vastrozun sat back in his throne, the shadow growing to cover all but his glowing eyes. "You will devise a plan to take advantage of this opportunity, and personally oversee its execution. There is no room for error." "I understand, my Lord." Lady Ira bowed deeply, her posture conveying her delight at the honor of being entrusted with such a task. Her voice shook with repressed emotion as she fought to remain appropriately ceremonious in his presence. An unnecessary formality for one as trusted as she, but it was her preference. Lord Vastrozun respected that. "I swear upon my life and my soul." She continued. "I shall not fail you." "I know." He said gently, and smiled. It was an odd sensation, one that felt alien upon his lips. How long had it been since that expression had graced his shadowed face? "This world. What is it called?" The name hardly mattered, but he allowed himself to indulge in idle curiosity. It was a momentous day, and one to be savored. "The natives call it Earth, my Lord." "Earth¡­" Lord Vastrozun rolled the unfamiliar word around in his mouth. "Very well, Ira, proceed. Make whatever preparations you see fit. Be cautious. Long have we waited for this, we will not ruin it by acting with ill conceived haste." "Of course, Lord. It shall be as you say." Lady Ira exited the throne room, her steps alive with uncharacteristic excitement. Lord Vastrozun looked up at the vaulted ceiling as the door closed behind her. Crimson sunlight poured through the windows high above, bathing the room in a dull red glow. He recalled how much he used to hate that. Now he was so used to it that he barely spared it a thought. How strange that so much could change, while still staying the same. And soon, at long last, change would be upon them once more. He had always thought he would be excited, elated, even, when this day came. Instead, Lord Vastrozun found that he was simply tired. Countless years of waiting had stretched long, etching a deep seated weariness into his bones that was not so easily cast aside. It was of no consequence, his passion would return in time. That, he was sure of. "Patience." He told himself, speaking aloud to the empty, decrepit throne room. "Now, the real wait begins." Chapter 16 The three women happily monopolized the bath for the next quarter of an hour. Naomi and Siora chatted away, talking about the elf''s home village of Lysara and her time growing up in the Labyrinth. Siora, in turn, peppered them with questions about Earth, what living there was like, and how it was different than the Labyrinth. Jade mostly stayed out of the conversation, participating enough to be polite, instead opting to just relax for the first time in what felt like forever. Finally, and all too soon, it was time for them to give Luis a chance to wash as well. They dried themselves as best they could, getting dressed and equipping their various gear. Luis didn''t linger in the spring, and Jade felt a little bad that the three women had gotten to relax together while he was alone. If it bothered him, though, he didn''t say anything as he rejoined them, his dark hair wetted down and now mostly clean again. The four of them were nearly ready to depart when Juniper arrived. As she had the previous evening, the dryad manifested from a whirlwind of jungle leaves that combined to form her body. Jade watched, amazed by the process, wondering what that transformation felt like. "Good morning, wayfarers." Juniper said warmly. A bird swooped out of nearby tree and fluttered in front of the dryad, dancing around her. She held out a hand and the animal alighted on her finger, nuzzling her. She smiled at the small animal, then continued. "Was your night restful?" "Sure was. Thanks for givin'' us a place to crash." Luis said, watching the bird with interest. "Those vines are crazy soft! Best bed I¡¯ve ever slept in." Jade gave Luis the side eye. She didn''t understand how he was able to approach everything with such casual nonchalance. It didn''t seem to fit any of the events they found themselves mired in, and yet it seemed to put everyone at ease around him. Probably a good thing I fell in with him. Jade mused. It''ll be helpful to be with someone good at making friends. "What my friend meant." Naomi said, looking like she was resisting a temptation to roll her eyes. "Is thank you for the hospitality, Juniper. It was very welcome, our short time here has been frightening and dangerous. A safe place to rest was just what we needed." "You are very welcome." The dryad replied, smiling at them. She lifted her hand and the bird took to the sky, disappearing into the foliage. "I don''t get many visitors, unless you count the animals." Juniper''s last words carried a hint of loneliness. Jade couldn''t help but feel bad for her. She tried to imagine what life would be like if she were unable to travel far from where she were born, bound to wander the same familiar paths day after day. It didn''t sound pleasant at all. "Siora." She continued, a little hesitantly. "If you are able, would you visit me after you find your way home? I found your companionship delightful. I''ve not met many who share your passion for nature." "Of course!" The elf''s demeanor brightened. "I''d be happy to! I''ve learned a lot from you in just a few days, it''ll really help my alchemy." "Alchemy?" Jade asked. "Yes, I brew potions from herbs." She explained, turning to Jade. "Healing ointments, curative draughts, those sorts of things. There''s a lot of demand, both in the village and from travelers.¡± "That sounds useful." Jade said, reevaluating the utility Siora would bring to their team. Was that something she could do on the go? Being wounded or injured seemed to be an alarmingly common occurrence here, anything that could help with that would be more than welcome. Jade¡¯s back was still sore from her fall in the factory the previous day, despite Naomi¡¯s restorative magic. They really gloss over that part in all those epic fantasy stories. Jade reflected. How everyone must feel like crap all the time. "I would be happy to share my knowledge with you." Juniper said to Siora, pleased. ¡°Any time.¡± "Then I''ll stop by the node on my way out." Siora said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Do you know where it is?" "The node? We were there yesterday." Luis said. "We can show you." "Why do you need to see it?" Naomi asked. "Oh! I keep forgetting you''re so new here." Siora said. "Sorry, it''s easy to take a lot for granted. I know that the worlds outside the Labyrinth work very differently, but I''ve never actually been anywhere else. See, you can travel between nodes that you''ve been to. Just touch one, and the interface will let you pick one to teleport to. It''s one of the only practical ways to get around this place, outside of other transportation magic. If the trap that sent me down here hadn''t wiped my node history, getting home would''ve been easy." She gave a weary sigh. "Having to visit all of them again is very annoying." Jade blinked in surprise, stunned. That sounded incredibly useful. "Wait, teleport?" Naomi asked incredulously, beating Jade to the question. "Yeah." Siora cocked her head at her. "Don''t they have teleport spells on your world?" Jade, Luis, and Naomi just stared at the elf. Siora slowly blinked at them, looking from one to the other. Naomi and Siora''s brief conversation about Earth in the hot spring hadn''t gotten around to magic. "Um¡­ I''m guessing not, then?" "We don''t even have magic where we come from." Luis said, shaking his head in wonder. "This is all new to us." "No magic¡­?" Now it was Siora''s turn to be surprised. She looked at them wide eyed. "But¡­ How do you travel, then? Or make things? Or do¡­" She seemed to have trouble coming up with the right words. "Anything¡­?" "We have technology." Jade said. Then she realized that word might not mean anything to someone used to a world filled with magic. "Ah¡­ machines, that were designed to, well, do lots of things for us." She mentally cringed at her awkward explanation. She was distracted by thinking about the potential applications of teleportation magic. Would that be brought back to Earth? Fortunately, Siora seemed to understand what she meant. "Oh!" Siora nodded her head. "I''ve heard of that! I think the Tek''kalla came from a world like that, before they settled here. They say they have cities filled with devices that harness magic and can do just about anything." "Really?" Jade asked, intrigued. "How many people live here? In the Labyrinth, I mean." "I¡­" Siora looked to Juniper, then shrugged. "I don''t know. A lot? I''ve been to Estelhelm a few times, that¡¯s a city. But other than that, I¡¯ve never travelled far from Lysara. Well¡­ not until now." She amended, looking embarrassed. "But I know of the Katahlis Collective, The Free Cities Alliance, The Nomads of Falgran and, of course, smaller towns like ours are all over." Just how big is this place¡­? Siora shrugged again. "I don''t really know much about the other parts of the Labyrinth. There''s just way too much to keep track of. I''m sure you could learn more in any of the cities, or maybe a sanctuary attendant could help.¡± "Right." Naomi said, looking to Jade. "That''s where we''re going next." "We can take you by the node first, though." Luis said. "Really? Thanks!" Siora beamed at them. Her unabashed cheerful demeanor was as alien to Jade as the elf''s pointed ears. She didn''t have a lot of experience with people who were so¡­ enthusiastic¡­ all the time. But there was an endearing quality to her earnest mannerism, and Jade was finding that she liked Siora.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. "Be safe." Juniper said, watching as the four of them gathered their belongings. "The jungle holds predators and monsters that will test you. Especially you three." She finished, looking at Jade, Luis, and Naomi. "Us?" Naomi asked, pointing to herself questioningly. "Yes. It is said that the Labyrinth is always looking to challenge those undergoing the Trial of the Wayfarer.¡± She looked at the elf. ¡°Be careful, Siora, traveling with them will be different than what you are accustomed to." ¡°I¡¯ve heard the stories.¡± She replied. ¡°I¡¯m prepared.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Jade asked. She had a bad feeling about this. ¡°Just that wayfarers attract the attention of monsters. While a normal person may be able to pass unbothered through this valley, you will likely be confronted with battle.¡± "Great. Just what we needed." Naomi muttered. "I don''t suppose we can opt out?" Juniper just smiled at them, amused. "If you get into too much danger while you are in my jungle, I will do what I can to help." "That''s nice of you." Luis said. "Before we leave, is there anything else we can do for you?" "Actually." Juniper tilted her head, looking at the large man thoughtfully. "There might be. The trees have been whispering of a powerful monster that has recently taken up residence in the northern reaches of the valley. It is disrupting the balance of this place, feasting on the animals that live here. While I can defend myself, I am not a true warrior. I am not confident in my ability to drive this creature away on my own. If you are willing¡­¡± She finished, looking at them hopefully. ¡°Would you help me cleanse my home of its influence?" Jade remembered the ''boss'' symbol she''d seen on her map after activating the node. She pulled up her interface to check and, indeed, the symbol was situated at the northernmost part of the valley. She knew what would happen next and, right on cue, her interface pinged with a new notification. Annnnnd there it is. Jade thought, scanning the prompt. Judging from the looks Naomi and Luis were giving her, they''d just received the same quest. "Should we do it?" Naomi asked. "A boss sounds pretty tough¡­" "I''m not sure we''re ready for something like that¡­" Jade said, partly to Naomi and partly to Juniper. "I understand if you cannot." Juniper said, nodding. "But know that powerful creatures, what the Voice of the Labyrinth calls ''bosses'', often possess objects that allow one to ascend to higher levels of this world. Or so I am told by those who have passed through my domain in the past¡­" "It''s true." Siora said, crossing her arms. "I don''t know the details, I''m no wayfarer, but I know that''s one of the main ways to get access to the stairs between levels." "Are there other ways?" Jade asked. "I think so?" The elf made a noncommittal gesture. "I don''t know what they are, though. I travelled to the third floor once with a caravan, but that was through a stairway other wayfarers had already opened for us." "If we''re going to take Siora home, we''ll need to get up to the second floor somehow." Luis pointed out. "We might find a way back home on the higher levels too¡­" Jade said. She had a feeling that their journey would end up taking them beyond the first level of this place, regardless of what they wanted. She frowned, thinking. "We''d have to practice a lot more together before we could even think about it, though." "Let''s start with that." Naomi said, eager to latch on to any idea that didn''t involve immediately confronting a powerful foe. "We can always decide later." "Good point." Luis said, turning to Juniper. "We''ll do what we can." "That is all I can ask." She said. "I would not wish for any of you to be harmed on my account." "We''ll keep that in mind." Naomi said. "Thanks again, for letting us stay here." "We''ll come visit again sometime, too." Luis said. That seemed to make the dryad happy. She smiled, the flowers in her hair growing more vibrant and colorful. "I would like that." She said simply, giving them a soft smile.
Luis led the way back towards the node they''d discovered the previous day, pushing his way through an especially thick cluster of bushes and clearing a path for his companions. With Siora''s assistance, the trek back through the jungle was considerably easier than it had been earlier. The elven woman had a knack for navigating this type of environment, though even she couldn''t help them avoid every obstacle. First goblins, then demons and elves¡­ He thought. Maybe Aunt Maria isn''t so crazy after all¡­ What would they find next? At this point, Luis wasn''t even going to try and guess. All he could do was keep an open mind and be ready to be surprised. He grinned at that thought. The prospect of discovering more exotic places and magical creatures fed into his adventurous side, a side of himself that he''d never gotten much of an opportunity to nurture. Being in charge of taking care of his 4 younger sisters during most of childhood hadn''t left a lot of time for excitement. But that was ok, family was supposed to look out for each other. Maybe when he returned to Earth, he could bring with him some valuable relics from this crazy place. Something that he could use to help his family get ahead for once, to escape the ever present stress of juggling credit card payments and monthly bills. Focusing on that did a lot to keep the fear at bay. That was important, since he was feeling more and more out of his depth with each passing hour. "Siora¡­?" Jade''s voice came from behind him. She was bringing up the rear of the group, keeping watch for any dangerous animals or monsters that might be prowling about. Or maybe she was just looking for another one of those funny snails, Luis couldn''t be sure. "Yes?" The elf replied. "This might sound a little weird, but how do you understand us? There''s no way you speak English, right?" Siora laughed, a musical sound that brought to mind memories of simple, happy times. Hearing it lifted Luis''s spirits. Siora might not be human, but she was the kind of person that he''d always liked. Cheerful, helpful, caring. They''d only just met, but he knew a good person when he saw one. "En-glish?" She pronounced the word slowly. "This is the language you speak? No, I do not. I speak Thylmaran." "Then how¡­?" Naomi began. "The Labyrinth magically translates everything." She explained. "As long as you''re fluent in a language, any language, you''ll be able to communicate with anyone else who is too. Well, for spoken languages at least. I''ve heard of a race of fungal people who communicate with spores and scents? I''ve heard it starts to get a little weird in cases like that." "Wow." Naomi said, echoing Luis''s thoughts. He''d suspected something like that had to have been happening, but hearing Siora casually talking about magic so sophisticated that it permeated an entire world and everyone in it made his head spin. It also got him excited. What else could it do? Was there anything it couldn''t? "What if you leave the Labyrinth?" Jade asked. As usual, she was quick to recover from a surprise. "Like, if you and I went back to our world together?" "Then we wouldn''t be able to understand each other anymore." She said. "Not unless we had an item enchanted to translate for us. You can buy rings or pendants like that in some of the bigger cities, but you don''t need them in here." "Translation magic¡­" Jade said thoughtfully. "That would be convenient." Luis agreed, his mind running through the possibilities. Travel would be a lot easier, and so would finding a good job. At least, as long as everyone else didn''t have the same ability. And¡­ "Damn, I''ve gotta get one of those translators." Luis said, snapping his fingers as a thought popped into his head. "I''ve always wanted to watch anime without the subtitles." "Oh my God." Naomi said, rolling her eyes. "We just learned about magic that could let us communicate with anyone in the world, no, anyone in the universe, and that is where your mind goes?!" "Actually, that would be pretty nice¡­" Jade muttered. "You two are hopeless¡­" Naomi sighed. "Hopeless! Really, instead of-" "Did you hear that?" Siora asked suddenly, slowing to a stop and cocking her head curiously. Jade halted beside her, scanning the area around them with suspicion. "Hear what?" Luis asked, pausing and following her gaze. They had entered a denser part of the jungle where the trees grew thick and tall, the spaces between them filled with vines and leafy bushes. The four of them fell quiet, listening. At first there was nothing, the only sound a faint breeze that rustled through the verdant canopy high above. Earlier, there had been all manner of bird calls and chirping insects filtering through the jungle. Now, it was practically silent. That''s never a good sign¡­ Luis thought, swallowing. His mouth had suddenly gone dry. Then Luis heard it, a faint scratching noise, like someone scraping something sharp across a tabletop. He couldn''t tell where it was coming from, the thick trees made it impossible to track the sound to its source. "I have a bad feeling about this¡­" Jade said as she slowly turned in place, surveying their surroundings. "Should we¡­?" Naomi began, then stopped. The sound had vanished as quickly as it had begun. That just made Luis feel even more uneasy. He searched again, still not seeing anything out of the ordinary in the jungle around them. What was¡­? Wait¡­ Everyone was carefully looking around, peering into the jungle depths. But there was one direction no one had checked yet. Slowly, knowing he was going to regret it, he tilted his head back to look up. Just in time to see the pair of enormous spiders silently descending into their midst, each of them hanging from long strands of silk suspended from the treetops. As one, their large heads turned to stare right back at him, twin sets of 8 crimson eyes boring into him. Well¡­. Shit. Chapter 17 "Look out!" Luis called out a warning, leaping back towards the rest of the group and shoving Jade and Siora aside. He was just in time. The monstrous spiders, their ambush foiled, gave up on their stealthy approach and dropped heavily to the ground. The two beasts landed with heavy thuds that made the ground tremble, one of them coming to rest right where Jade and Siora had been standing a moment before. The good news was that Luis''s push had prevented them from being crushed. The bad news was he was now standing right in between the pair of monsters. Luis drew the greatsword from his back, guiding mana into a spell as quickly as he could. The process of accessing and shaping the magic in his mind was still novel, and it took precious seconds to achieve the level of focus needed to draw mana through the unfamiliar channels that now suffused his body. "Obstrego!" A shield burst to life around Luis, forming into a translucent bubble around him. He was just in time. Even before the bubble had fully expanded, an impact sent him staggering forward into one of the spiders. The one behind him had lanced out with one of its spindly legs, slamming it into his back. The magical shield crackled as it deflected the blow, a web of thin cracks surrounding the point that had been struck. Luis righted himself quickly, his pulse spiking as fear and adrenaline coursed through him. The spiders were terrifying. They were as large as small horses and were covered in coarse black hair that bristled like needles from their body. Each of their long legs ended in a sharp point, and Luis had no doubt that they were capable of skewering even someone of his size. Would his new breastplate be enough to deflect that sort of strike? He didn''t want to find out. That left one option: As Uncle Julio always said, ''the best offense is a better offense.'' "Haaa!" Luis shouted out something between a yell of fear and a battle cry, swinging his massive sword in a wide sweep around him. The spiders hissed as the blade bit into their flesh. They backed off, skittering away from him on their creepy, too long legs. Don''t give them a chance to recover! Luis was no expert at fighting, but he''d gotten into a few brawls in his years. One thing he did know was that you never wanted to have an opponent at your back. He had to get out from in the middle of them. Looking around, he took stock of the situation. Jade and Siora had recovered from Luis''s push. The elf was backing away from the fight, frantically searching for something in the satchel she carried slung over her shoulder. Jade was already charging at the spider closest to her, dagger out and looking more pissed off than afraid. Both were also protected by faintly glowing barriers, although ones that were visibly less potent than the shield surrounding Luis. He didn''t see Naomi, she had been further off to the side, out of the way of the spiders'' ambush. With a silent prayer that she was ok, Luis made a snap decision to join Jade in her assault on the closest of the beasts. That would leave the other one free to act but, if they could eliminate one of them quickly enough, that wouldn''t matter. Jade shouted an incantation just as Luis closed in to striking distance with the spider between them. A bolt of darkness shot out of her hand, striking the monster and causing a cloud of fog to coalesce in front of its many eyes. The beast shrieked with a horrific, screeching ''click-click'' sound, opening and closing its giant mandibles and flailing wildly as it suddenly went blind to the world. Luis fought down a spike of revulsion at the sound, bringing his greatsword up in a slash aimed at the spider''s bulbous head. The spasming creature, more by luck than design, jerked aside, causing his blow to slam into its thorax rather than its face. The blade bit in deep, sending a gout of black blood spattering to the ground. The monster staggered, shrieking again, just as Jade slashed through two of its legs from behind. With a mighty heave Luis pulled his blade free of the creature, bringing it back for another- WHAM! A sudden impact from behind shattered Luis''s barrier, sending him spinning to the ground. He hit hard, a dull ache reverberating through his back from the force of the blow. The other spider had caught up to him, clubbing him from behind with a massive foreleg. It attacked again before he could regain his feet, lunging in to chomp at him with mandibles the size of his forearms. "Down! Abajo! Bad spider!" Luis shouted, kicking out at the creature. His foot connected solidly with its face, sending it sliding backwards with a hiss. He swiped his sword in warding sweeps at it, an awkward motion while lying on his back, and scrambled away through the undergrowth. He had to get up, to get back in the fight-! A thunderclap of sound burst through the clearing, loud enough to send needles of pain stabbing into Luis''s ears. A shockwave passed over him, a wall of sound that slammed into the offending monster and sent it staggering back to crash hard into a tree. "Come on!" Naomi shouted. She was standing over him, feet planted in the ground and strumming her guitar. It crackled and hummed with arcane energy, steam rising from it in wispy curls. "Help Jade! Before it recovers!" He could barely hear her through the ringing in his ears, but her pointing finger was clear enough. Naomi gestured to where Jade fought the other, wounded spider. It was hobbling about, blood pouring from several wounds, two legs dragging uselessly behind it. Now was their chance. "Nice going!" Luis said, a little louder than he''d meant to. She offered him a hand and he accepted, letting her pull him back to his feet. "Give us a boost?" "You got it!" Naomi''s voice had a slight quaver to it. She looked scared but was doing an admirable job of holding it in check. Luis gave her a thumbs up. "Doin'' great, amiga! We''re counting on you!" She nodded, took a deep breath, and started strumming out a fast and heavy riff on her guitar. She began to glow faintly as the magic took hold of them, and Luis felt energy flow into his body. He suddenly felt light on his feet, agile and swift. "Stay away from that one!" He said, gesturing at the spider she had flung into the tree as he turned back towards Jade. "I''ll keep it occupied!" That was Siora. The elf had been crouched by a tree, doing something with a pair of vials. She held one up now, its contents bubbling and smoking. Luis didn''t have time to ask what she was planning to do. He just gave her a nod, then dashed towards the battle. He drew upon another reserve of magic as he did, further enhancing his speed beyond the boost Naomi''s spell granted. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.The jungle blurred around him as Luis''s legs propelled him forward with astonishing force. The stacking effect of the two buffs was greater than he''d anticipated, the enhanced speed more than a little difficult to control. He careened towards the battle between Jade and the wounded spider, trying to put on the brakes. Oh crap. Stop! Pare, pare! Too late. Luis slammed into the spider at a dead sprint.
If it hadn''t been for Luis''s shield spell Jade was pretty sure she would''ve already been eviscerated by one of the enormous spider''s forelegs. As it was, the barrier managed to absorb a total of 3 of its powerful strikes. She learned two lessons in quick succession. One: Luis''s spell provided a substantial level of protection and could deflect multiple heavy attacks from a monster. And two: While the spell barrier could absorb quite a bit of energy, it did not break the laws of physics. That was made apparent when the giant arachnid swung a leg at her like it was a baseball bat. Sure, the shield stopped her from being pulverized, but the impact still launched her into the air to slam painfully against a nearby tree. "Kinetic energy¡­" She groaned, pulling herself to her feet as the spider chittered angrily in her direction. "Still a thing¡­" The barrier was gone now, finally shattered by this latest blow. She had used its protection to good effect though, taking risks she never would have while vulnerable. Now the spider was moving much more slowly, dragging two lame legs behind it and bleeding from numerous other places where her blade had sliced its body. Jade grimaced, half from a stab of pain in her back as she turned to face it, half from the situation. She''d already used her blindness spell and, while she could still see the creature''s weak points via her Vital Sight talent, Jade wasn''t thrilled at the prospect of engaging such an agile creature at close range with only her leather armor for protection. But there was nothing else for it. The spider was coming for her again, albeit more slowly now that it was wounded. She had to finish it off quickly, before the other monster overwhelmed her companions. Raising her dagger with a snarl, Jade-- Started in surprise as Luis body slammed the monster in the side, so fast she didn''t even see him coming. CRUNCH The spider''s shriek mingled with Luis''s shout as he impacted, somehow managing to send it tumbling onto its back even as he crashed to the ground alongside it. In the same moment Jade felt the magic of Naomi''s lively tune sink into her body granting an unexpected, but welcome, burst of energy. She didn''t hesitate, dashing towards the upside-down monster with enhanced speed. The spider was fast, but it couldn''t compare to Jade''s lifetime of agility training combined with Naomi''s magical boost. Jade ducked under a swinging leg, darted between two more that tried to impale her and then leapt, twisting in midair to avoid its chomping mandibles. She planted her feet on the monster''s head, using it as a springboard to send her arcing through the air to land with a solid thud on its squishy underbelly. Immediately the monster began to twist and buck, trying to unseat its unwanted passenger as it squealed in outrage. Years of practice on the balance beam kept Jade''s feet steady as the monster rocked below her and, before it could recover, she plunged her dagger deep into what passed for the monster''s neck. The weak spot was helpfully highlighted by her talent as a vulnerable area, and her blade found its mark. With one vicious strike she tore a gaping hole in the spider''s throat, sending a gout of black ichor spraying into the air to cover her body with foul smelling gunk. The creature warbled a pained cry, jerked twice, and died. Before she could do anything else, a notification popped up. Holy shit. Her hand was trembling, breaths coming hard and fast. She dismissed the window, suddenly realizing how close she had just come to dying. Any one of its stabbing legs could have disemboweled her, armor or no. I did it¡­ But she hadn''t done it alone. Jade shook her head, mind snapping back to the present. "Luis!" She shouted, looking around for her friend. "M''ok! I''m ok" He grunted, staggering to his feet a short distance away. He leaned against a tree, using it to support himself, and gave Jade a weak grin and a thumbs up. "Meant to do that." "Uh-huh." Jade grunted, already turning to check on her other companions. Naomi was standing with her back to a nearby tree, still jamming away on her guitar. The magically enhanced chords blasted through the jungle like they were at a rock concert, each note buzzing with energy. Siora was next to her, a smoking green vial held in her hand. The other spider was facing them but, rather than advancing towards them, was slowly backing away from a wall of wispy green mist that had formed a barrier between them and the monster. Alchemy? Jade hopped off the spider''s corpse and jogged up to them, her body alive with the energy of Naomi''s song. The remaining monster was clearly hesitant to approach any closer, and Jade took the opportunity to finally examine it. "Rude." Jade grunted to herself, closing the window. It was equal to her in level, no wonder they were dangerous. "I have its attention." Siora said, waving the vial in a swishing motion in front of her. More smoke poured out the open end, adding to the swirling wall. Jade caught one whiff of whatever it was and immediately took 5 steps back, wrinkling her nose in disgust. The stench was unbearable; like something had died, and then spent several days rotting under a hot sun. "Fuck¡­! That reeks." She coughed, waving her hand in front of her nose to clear the air. Just a hint of the foul substance had been enough to make her eyes water. "Yup!" Siora said with, considering the topic, a disconcerting level of pride. "It''s my special recipe. Monster repellent stink bomb! Isn''t it great?" "Ahh¡­" Jade had no idea how to respond to that. Fortunately, she was saved from having to by the spider. The creature shrieked in anger, its clicking mandibles audible even over Naomi''s music. The sound drew everyone''s attention back to it. The monster was stalking back and forth in front of the barrier of putrid fog, hissing at them. It was clearly unwilling to approach the foul odor, staying about 30 feet away from them as it prowled from side to side. "That." Naomi said, making a face. "Is the most disgusting thing I''ve ever seen." "The stinky smoke?" Luis asked, catching up to them. "The spider!" "It''s not that bad." Jade muttered. "I kind of like it¡­" "You would." Naomi rolled her eyes, still strumming her instrument. "So, what now?" Luis asked, carefully keeping his distance from the putrid barrier. "I''m almost out of this." Siora warned, giving the vial another shake. "We can fight it." Jade said. "My blind spell is ready. You have your shield?" She asked Luis. "Almost." He said, with a glance at his interface. "Great. Use it when you can, then we''ll go in together." Jade decided, checking their surroundings to make sure there really was only one more of the monsters. "If we gang up on it, it shouldn''t-" Unfortunately, the spider wasn''t accommodating enough to wait for them to finish planning. Without warning the monster reared up on its hind legs, chittering angrily and presenting its bulbous underbelly to them. Jade recognized the danger a moment too late. Splat! Several globules of sticky webbing slammed into the four of them, enveloping them in strands of silk. Siora cried out in surprise, her now-empty vial falling to the jungle floor as Jade was thrown back against a broad tree. The webbing adhered to the bark, holding her in place as she struggled to pull free from its tight embrace. It was futile, most of Jade''s body from neck to waist was covered in spider silk. It was deceptively strong, barely yielding as she heaved against it. Her companions weren''t faring much better, each of them equally caught off guard by the unexpected attack. The spider clacked its mandibles in what Jade interpreted as triumph. The smoke between them was starting to clear. It took a few tentative steps forward, then hissed and skittered back. Jade had a feeling it wouldn''t be waiting much longer. My dagger¡­! It was still in her hand. She twisted her wrist, trying to saw through the threads pinning her arm against the tree. Too slow¡­ Naomi called something out, but it was muffled. Jade couldn''t make out what she''d said. Would one of her spells help? Perhaps her new binding enchantment, Chains of Shadebloom? No, she couldn''t reach the ground to place the rune. Her mind raced through possibilities even as fear twisted knots in her chest. Her breaths were coming fast and hard, hands shaking as she continued to slice at the webbing as quickly as she could. The spider was approaching now, chittering with satisfaction as it beheld its prey. Whatever she was going to do, it had to be fast¡­ Or their short time as wayfarers would come to a sudden, violent end. Chapter 18 The spider approached slowly. Jade strained with all her might, trying to heave her arm free from the webbing. A few of the silky strands snapped and the entire tangle of stringy goo stretched from the tree, but it held. Barely. She gritted her teeth, frustrated. This wasn''t how she''d wanted to reveal her nature to Siora, but there was no other way. Jade focused, drawing on the simmering power in the back of her mind, letting it flow through her. An instant later her horns and tail burst forth, followed by a pair of leathery demonic wings. The transformation was accompanied by the surge of energy that Jade was slowly becoming accustomed to as most of her stats leapt by 20%. It was joined by something new, though. This time the transition carried with it an undercurrent of emotion. Anger, disdain, and a lust for victory over her foe. The strange sensations caught Jade off guard, distracting her at a time she could least afford it. They faded quickly, however, receding to dark corner of her mind. She couldn''t waste time contemplating the unexpected urges. With her newly enhanced strength, Jade tried once more to wrench herself free. SNAP. Her right arm, the one holding her dagger, pulled clear of the restraining webs. Unfortunately, the rest of the sticky mass held firm. Jade immediately put the blade to use, sawing away at the remaining webbing. The spider was still coming, stalking closer. This was taking too long. Even with her arm free, she wasn''t going to make it. Nearby, her companions were also struggling to escape. She could see Luis trying to cut himself out with his sword, but the weapon was too large and unwieldy to be of much use. She needed to buy them some time. An idea came to her. A terrible idea that probably wouldn''t work. Jade''s original plan had been to use the enhanced strength of her demon form to break entirely free of the webbing, but in her position she just didn''t have enough leverage. With that off the table, bad ideas were all she had left. "Here spider spider¡­" She called out in a cutesy voice, lacing her words with the enchanting appeal inherent in her nature. The monster was only 10 feet away from her now, closing by the second. It paused, raising itself higher into the air on its many legs. It really was cute. Jade''s childhood pet, a tarantula named Fuzzy, had done the same thing all the time when it was confused. The sudden memory brought a smile to her face, despite the dire situation. To her surprise the charm magic seemed to react to her emotions. It became more focused, the mana channeling more smoothly through the mental conduits that traced patterns through her mind and body. Emboldened, she tried again, speaking more soothing words. "Aren''t you a cute little spidey widey." She cooed, directing the full might of her spell towards the arachnid''s primitive mind. Normally, Jade could cast the spell ''Allure'' at level D. One of her racial traits, however, boosted the rank of all charm spells she cast while in her demon form by one, raising it to ''C''. Her other racial ability, ''Bondage Queen'', further boosted the power of all spells she cast proportional to how restrained she was. In her current state mostly stuck to a tree by spider webbing that bonus was maxed out, raising the spell''s level all the way to ''B''. "Jade!" Naomi hissed to her from where she lay in a tangled heap on the ground. "Are you trying to seduce the spider?!" Jade ignored her, focusing on channeling the full strength of her magic. She still had a lot to learn about the exact nature of her powers, but she was starting to realize that there was more to her spells and talents than what the system presented in its descriptions. Recent introspection focused on the mental pathways her spells had carved into her mind had given Jade new insight into what was happening when she channeled mana. Because of that, she had an instinctive feeling that the ''Allure'' spell was not optimized for use against monsters or other non-sapient creatures. That aside, the spell relied a great deal on language and, moreover, her words being understood by the target. However, Jade suspected that the massively boosted rank of her spell would help it overcome those limitations. At least, she hoped that''s how it worked. The enhanced power gushed out of Jade''s body with such force that it was difficult for her to control, nearly bottoming out her remaining mana supply in one go. She didn''t yet possess the skill or mental fortitude to wield such potent magic effectively, and the overcharged spell sent a spike of pain through Jade''s head as she released it. The spider froze in place, tilting its head at her curiously. It''s 8 large eyes were all focused on her. Jade could feel the spell taking hold on the creature, warping its primitive perception of her into¡­ What? This creature had no concept of friends. Other than its own kind, creatures it encountered were put into one of two categories: Prey, and threat. The monster twitched, clearly confused as it tried to reconcile the mind-altering effect of the spell with how it viewed the world. Sensing this conflict, Jade attempted to imprint an alteration into the magic flowing through her, a series of impressions overlaying the normal spell. ''I am one of you'' the impression said. ''Not prey. Not predator.''If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Out of the corner of her eye Jade saw Luis extricating himself from the tangle of webbing. He gestured to himself, speaking softly. "Jade, toss me the knife." He had managed to free his legs and rise to his knees, but one arm was still pinned to his side. "I can take it out while you have it distracted." "I''ve got this." Jade said, focusing on the magic as she continued to saw away at the sticky threads holding her against the tree. She could do it. She was almost free. ''Almost'' wasn''t good enough. Jade''s tenuous hold on the spell was slipping fast. It just wasn''t effective against creatures like this. Jade''s clumsy attempt to modify her spell''s effect wasn''t meeting with much success. The main reason it was working at all was because of its greatly enhanced power. "Good spider¡­" She said to the monster, doing her best to keep the spell going. It couldn''t understand her, but the intonation of her words was calm and soothing. "Aren''t you a pretty monster?" She still wasn''t free; her legs were stuck more securely than she''d thought. In front of her, the spider growled. The guttural sound sent a chill down her spine. Faster. Faster! The spell shattered. With a hissing snarl the spider lunged towards it''s trapped prey, serrated mandibles open wide. Jade squeezed her eyes shut, paralyzed by fear. At any moment, she expected to feel the slicing pain of her chest being ripped apart by-! There was a whooshing sound and a sickening squelch, followed by the thud of something heavy thumping to the ground at her feet. The horrible pain never came. One second passed, then two. Heart nearly bursting from her chest, Jade took a peek. The spider''s body lay in a heap in front of her, its severed head lying on the ground beside it. Luis stood in front of her holding his massive sword in one hand. One of his arms was still stuck to his side, only half free of the spider silk. He turned to look at her, breathing hard. "Next time, listen to me. Yeah?" He said. There was no trace of his usual good cheer. The large man looked frustrated, almost angry. If Jade was reading the situation right, he had decapitated the spider with a single, one-armed swing of his sword. How¡­? Holy fuck we got lucky. No, not lucky. She''d messed up. If she''d just tossed Luis the damn dagger, he could''ve gotten there sooner. Instead, her arrogant assumption that she could do it all by herself had nearly gotten them all killed. "Sorry¡­" She said, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I was almost out. I thought I could do it." With a few more cuts, Jade extricated herself from the last of the webbing. She looked again at the spider''s gaping maw and shuddered. "It''s fine." Luis took a deep breath and, with obvious effort, relaxed a little. "All''s well that ends well." "Yeah, well, thanks. For saving me." "Couldn''t have done it without your distraction." He said with a shrug. "It never even saw me comin''." "That was a hell of a swing." "Ha!" This time, Luis couldn''t keep a grin off of his face. "You know, I think I''m gettin'' the hang of this." "That''s great and all!" Naomi called from where she was lying half tangled on the ground, partially obscured by a giant fern. "But how about some help getting us out of here?"
A few minutes later the four of them were finally free from the last of the spider webs. As it turned out, the material wasn''t very durable. By the time they got to Siora the sticky threads were already half dissolved. Jade committed that fact to memory. If they encountered more of these creatures, it would be good to know that their webbing only lasted for a few minutes. Although. Jade ruminated, waiting while the others collected the packs they''d dropped at the onset of the battle. A few minutes is a long time in a fight. Fortunately, they didn''t seem likely to encounter more of these creatures soon. The jungle around them was calm, with no sign of any additional threats. A few notifications blinked in the corner of her vision. They''d popped up during the battle but had been automatically minimized. Jade pulled up the first one and was immediately intrigued. So, her attempt to mentally communicate with the spider through the link her spell provided hadn''t been a complete failure? And now the spell was officially modified? Or rather, officially ''unofficially'' modified? The fact that the system recognized and codified the change was curious. That implied that other spells, and probably talents too, could also be adjusted. Jade closed the window, deciding that this warranted further experimentation. The second system message was noteworthy as well, in that it prompted Jade to break a personal record for how fast she could change her mind about something. Another, smaller box popped up on top of the first. For some reason the feminine voice reading these messages was more robotic and emotionless than usual. That fact hardly registered to Jade as she immediately clicked ''No'' on the new query. Ok¡­ She thought, suddenly feeling queasy. She read the listed potential ''side effects'' again. Don''t fuck with the spells. Good safety tip. That sounded like something that should have been mentioned earlier, and Jade reflected that the Labyrinth desperately needed a better ''wayfarer orientation'' program. With that warning in mind, Jade resolved to avoid trying to manipulate any of her spells further. At least for now. Her gaze lingered on the words ''magical theory''. Was that something she could study? Now that thought intrigued her. Jade dismissed the warning and glanced at the final notice. It was just a quest update for ''The Hunt Begins'', her monster hunting quest. After defeating the pair of spiders her tally was now at 4/5. Just one more until it was completed. Technically, Luis had defeated the second one, but apparently the system had given her credit as well. Her participation in the battle must have been enough to count for the quest. Distracted by the notifications, Jade didn''t notice Siora walking up to her until she spoke. "So¡­ Jade." Siora started, then paused. The elf looked down, not meeting her eyes. Something was clearly bothering her. "Um¡­" Oh. Right. Jade thought, closing the last of the notices. In the heat of the moment Jade had nearly forgotten that Siora thought she was human. Now she stood before her with horns, wings, and tail on full demonic display. There was no hiding what she was now. Not that she''d been planning on keeping Siora in the dark for long. Either way, it was time to get this conversation over with. Chapter 19 "Yes. I''m a succubus." Jade said deciding, as she usually did, that frank candidness was the best way to approach the situation. "A demon." "A succubus¡­" Siora breathed, eyes widening in surprise. The elf took a step back, reaching a hand inside the pouch at her waist. "Wait!" Jade hurriedly continued, raising her hands in peace. "It''s not what you think! I had to choose a new race when I became a wayfarer. This¡­ was my only option." Siora hesitated, glancing at Luis and Naomi before shifting her attention back to Jade. "You¡­ transformed when you gained your wayfarer mark?" Siora asked slowly, her eyes flitting over to inspect the mark on Jade''s raised hand. She stopped rummaging through her bag, although she remained tense. "I thought hardly anyone did that." Jade took a minute to explain her narrow escape from the venomhound that had chased her when she''d first arrived in the Labyrinth, and her subsequent dire wound. Siora nodded slowly, folding her arms across her chest. "So, you''re not a natural born demon?" she finally asked. "As in, a demon from birth? No." Jade shook her head. "I''ve only been like this for a couple of days." "Ok." Siora breathed out a long breath, relaxing ever so slightly. "That¡­ That''s ok. I was just¡­ surprised." "Is this a problem?" Jade asked. To say that Siora''s initial reaction had her concerned would be a massive understatement. Would everyone else she met here be just as hostile upon discovering her nature? She was already dreading having to explain this back on Earth. But what did being a demon even mean to the people of the Labyrinth? Or, for that matter, to people from other worlds? Nothing good, apparently, but surely whatever beliefs they held were wildly divergent from anything found on Earth. "Maybe¡­ I don''t know." Siora replied hesitantly. The elf still looked wary, but was growing less so as they conversed. Luis and Naomi were standing nearby, listening closely. "If you explain you''re a human who took a race change when you became a wayfarer, you¡­ might be ok." "Might?" Jade asked. She didn''t like the sound of that. "Demons don''t have a good reputation." Siora winced, glancing at the ground. "There aren''t many of them around these days. But when they do show up, bad things tend to happen. I mean, I''ve never met one before myself, that''s just what everyone says." The elf shrugged. "Some people might not mind, though. Their invasion was a long, long time ago." "Their what?" Naomi asked, echoing Jade''s tone. Jade covered her face with her hands, subconsciously drooping her wings and tail. Great. This was just what she needed. "Oh¡­ I keep forgetting how isolated your world was." Siora was frustrated, and at least a little rattled. She took a calming breath, then continued. "Ok, I''ll give you a quick history lesson. What I''m about to tell you, pretty much everyone in the cosmos learns about as a child. Are you ready?" Jade, Luis, and Naomi all nodded. Naomi looked overwhelmed, while Luis just looked interested. As for Jade, after the shock of almost dying a few minutes ago she wasn''t sure that she was capable of processing any of this right now. But it was important for her to know, so she listened as closely as she could. "Thousands of years ago there was a war, a really big war, that involved a lot of different worlds." Siora began. She examined Jade while she spoke, cautiously inspecting her demonic features. "I''ve heard people call it ''The Cinder Cataclysm'', but I think most just say ''The Cataclysm.'' Anyway, what matters is that the invaders were demons." The elf paused to take a breath. When no one else said anything, she continued. "Demons were¡­ are¡­ a group of many different kinds of creatures that all came from the same realm, a place known in legend as ''Tenebrian.''" Jade lowered herself to sit back against a tree. Her body needed to rest after the fight. The others joined her, sitting in a loose circle. They''d moved a little away from the scene of the battle. The jungle around them was tranquil, with no sign of other monsters. As she spoke, Siora picked up a small stick from the ground and used it to draw a group of circles in a patch of dirt. Then she began crossing them out one by one until only a few remained. "The demons invaded world after world, conquering their way across the universe. Back then the Labyrinth wasn''t anywhere near as large as it is now, so travelling between worlds required powerful dimensional magic that not many people knew how to use. They say the demon races were gifted with arcane talent and that they used that power to spread their dominion across the stars." The elf narrowed her eyes, her forehead scrunching in concentration. "I don''t remember many details, sorry, just the stories the lorekeeper told when I was a child. One day, long after the start of their invasion, the demon armies were confronted by a great alliance of many worlds that had joined together to stand against them. That lead to a massive battle centered on one planet, the latest place the demons had chosen to invade."If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Siora drew another circle, then several arrows pointing to it from every direction. "Almost nothing survived the fighting." she said quietly. "Not the armies, not the demon emperor, not even the world itself." She crossed out that circle too, then rubbed the ground with her hand to wipe it from the simple diagram entirely. "After that, their empire collapsed. Without their emperor, many of the demons turned on each other. The ones that survived disappeared, fleeing to the dark corners of the cosmos." Siora said, looking up at Jade again. "In the millennia since, they''ve become a rarity." Jade was having trouble envisioning conflict on the scale Siora was describing. Battles that consumed entire worlds? As in, many of them? She had studied both of Earth''s world wars in high school. If Siora''s story were true, those conflicts would have been just a battle in the cataclysm that had been the war against demonkind. No wonder everyone hates them. Jade thought, and then remembered that she was one of them now. No. I might share their form, but I am not one of their people. "Mostly, they''re spoken of in legend and religion these days." Siora finished, wiping away the rest of her drawing. "Every once in a while, you hear a story about one showing up somewhere, usually to cause trouble, but who knows if they''re true of not. Honestly, I didn''t even know the Labyrinth gave demon races as options to wayfarers. I''ve never heard of that." "Yeah.¡­"Jade muttered, staring at the ground. "The Voice of the Labyrinth¡­ That''s what you call the system that governs this place, right?" Siora nodded, brushing a lock of auburn hair out of her face. It was still covered in the remnants of sticky webbing, as was the rest of her flowing outfit. Given that she was covered in spider blood, Jade knew that she had to look even worse. "Well, the Voice didn''t tell me any of this before giving me the choice." Jade said bitterly. "Neither did Damos. Not that he really had the time¡­" She sighed heavily, then took a drink from her water bottle. The water was as warm as the hot jungle day. What she wouldn''t give for some ice... "But people won''t actually equate those ancient wars with me, will they?" She asked. "I mean, I''m not even a part of their people." "No." Siora shook her head. "No, I don''t think so. You''ll have to get used to explaining yourself, though. It won''t be fun, but it''ll¡­ probably be ok." ''Probably'' was doing a lot of work in that statement. Jade grunted, closing the bottle and setting it on the ground beside her. "Although¡­" Siora continued, embarassed. "Succubi are pretty infamous, even for demons. There are a lot of stories about their powers. How they get into people''s heads, twist their minds, make them do things¡­" Jade caught Naomi looking at her. The dark-haired girl looked away, biting her lower lip. Then, to Jade''s surprise, she set her shoulders and met her eyes again. "Well." Naomi said. "You''ll just have to let your actions speak for you, Jade. If you''re as good to everyone else as you have been to us, then I''m sure people will accept you." Jade detected more than a little forced optimism in her friend''s words, but she appreciated the vote of confidence, nonetheless. "Thanks, Naomi." "But don''t be too convincing." Luis said, raising a finger. "Or they might think you''re trying to enchant them into liking you, even if you''re not." Jade threw her water bottle at him. He ducked out of way, laughing. Jade found herself laughing too and, after a moment, Naomi and Siora followed suit. The tension, which had been growing since Siora had approached her, eased just a little. This whole situation was just so ridiculous. Demons and monsters and interdimensional wars. Ten minutes ago, she''d nearly been eaten alive by a giant spider. For all Jade knew, she wouldn''t live long enough for any of this to matter. Was that the healthiest way to look at her situation? Probably not, but Jade didn''t care. "It''ll be ok, Jade." Siora said, still smiling at Luis''s lame joke. "I''ll introduce you to everyone in Lysara. If I tell them you''re trustworthy, they''ll believe me." "Do you think that I''m trustworthy?" Jade asked, shuffling her wings anxiously. The elf didn''t answer immediately. She looked at the ground, twisting a blade of grass between her fingers. "Something tells me you are." she finally said. "Maybe that''s stupid of me. For all I know, you''re influencing me already. But¡­ I don''t think you''re doing that." "Is there any way I can prove it to you?" "Not here, but it''s fine." Siora said quietly. "I''m choosing to trust you. That''s what feels right to me. I''d rather look for the best in someone than live in fear." "Thanks, Siora¡­" Jade said, genuinely moved by her decision. "I¡­ appreciate that." "The three of you are helping me. That''s worth something." Jade could tell that Siora was struggling with the revelation, the elf would barely meet her eyes. But she was clearly making an effort to overcome her prejudices. If the circumstances were reversed, Jade didn''t know that she''d be as generous. The conversation lapsed, the four of them falling silent. Jade found herself reflecting on the strange onslaught of dark emotions she had felt when transforming in the heat of battle. Did that have to do with being a demon? Did her true form affect how she felt? Searching her feelings, Jade couldn''t find any trace of the anger and bloodlust that had flowed through her earlier. Even so it was an unpleasant thought, and she decided to shift back to her human form for the moment. "We should get goin'' while the goin''s good." Said Luis, standing up and tossing Jade back her water bottle. She deftly caught it, stowing it in her pack as her wings retracted. "We still heading to the node?" "Yes, please." Said Siora. "And then to the sanctuary?" "Definitely. I''ve had enough fighting for the day." Naomi agreed. "And year, for that matter. Actually, make it for life." "Sorry, Naomi." Siora said, putting a hand on the other woman''s arm. "I know the Labyrinth can be dangerous, but there''s a lot of wonderful things here too." She smiled at her. "I''ll try and show you the good parts." "That would be nice." Naomi gave her a half smile. Then she looked down at her sticky, blood spattered armor and sighed. "So much for that bath¡­" Jade shouldered her pack, thinking over what Siora had told them. She had so much to process and even more unanswered questions. Hopefully, Damos would be present in the sanctuary this time. She took a deep breath, savoring the sweet scent of the jungle. The valley was beautiful, filled with colorful plants and unblemished nature. Siora''s right. She thought, taking in the scenery. It''s not all bad. She fell into step with her new friends as they set off in the direction of the node, Naomi taking the lead. She said something, and Siora and Luis laughed. Jade found herself smiling with them. Not all of it. "Oh, wait!" Luis said, snapping his fingers and coming to a stop. Everyone paused, turning to look at him. "We forgot to loot the monsters!" He said, turning to hike back towards the scene of the battle. "Can''t leave without that!" Chapter 20 Siora watched as Luis tapped the dead monster, something Jade had called a spider, and looted it. It puffed away into smoke, leaving behind a pile of crescent coins to be gathered up. Was this a creature from their world? The elf hadn''t seen anything quite like it before. That wasn''t unusual, the Labyrinth was always borrowing creatures, concepts, and places from the worlds it linked to. She liked to think of it as the center of the cosmos, a vast land where all the scattered worlds of the multiverse mingled to form something truly unique. Siora refrained from asking about the spider beast, distracted as she was by the reveal of Jade''s true nature. A succubus? While she''d meant the assurances she''d given Jade, there was no denying the kernel of apprehension nestled in her stomach like a lead weight. Racial transformation or no, it was a off-putting to be so close to a creature she''d spent her whole life being told to be wary of. No. Siora calmed herself. I''m not going to treat her any differently. While she barely knew her three new companions, they had been nothing but kind and helpful to her so far. They had even agreed to escort her back to Lysara, something that could turn out to be quite a chore considering that the trap that had sent her tumbling down to the first floor had scrambled her node logs. Their trial had apparently given them their own incentives to do so, but they could''ve easily declined the quest had they wanted. In the end, Siora simply had a good feeling about them. The elf was self-aware enough to know that she tended to see the best in people, but was that such a bad thing? The universe had enough negativity as it was. Besides, Master Rhysten had taught her to trust her instincts. Not blindly, of course, but they were there to guide her. She had faith in them. Her only regret was that her new companions didn''t seem to realize what the Labyrinth coming to their world meant for it. Surely the sanctuary attendants had explained everything to them? She had almost asked more than once but couldn''t figure out a good way to do it. And, she admitted to herself, a part of her was frightened that if she were the bearer of ill tidings, that she would be blamed for them. Siora pulled up her interface, checking her character sheet. Unlike the prompts Jade, Luis, and Naomi received, which looked like videogame tooltips, Siora¡¯s interface displayed itself as a mesmerizing pattern of shifting stars. Spindly lines stretched between the shifting star field, forming constellations that coalesced into words. She noticed with a start that she was close to reaching level 5. When she''d last checked, she was barely at the halfway point. Like most people in Lysara she had avoided conflict with the monsters of the Labyrinth throughout her life, relying instead on the town''s protections and the relative safety of the region surrounding her home. Juniper had been right, now that she was travelling with wayfarers, all of that was going to change. Monsters wouldn''t be inclined to just ignore her the way she was used to. Would she perhaps reach level 6 before this was done? It would be nice to get to be gifted another Labyrinth boon. The thought excited her, and she started thinking through the possibilities. Maybe another alchemy spell would be¡­- Wait, no! She had gotten distracted. Again. Why did that always happen to her? Siora forced herself back on task, shifting the star field to the region she was interested in. There it was, in the ''Racial Effects'' constellation. There had never been a need for Siora to pay much attention to that aspect of her heritage before. Resistance to charming enchantments might be useful if one became a wayfarer or had dealings with fey, but in everyday life in a normal village it just never came up. Despite her gut telling her that Jade was trustworthy, the elf felt more comfortable around her new friends with the knowledge that she wasn''t helpless against a succubus''s infamous powers. "Ewww!" Naomi exclaimed, breaking Siora out of her internal reflection. She was pointing to a spot on the ground where the second spider had just dissolved into smoke. It had left behind a pile of¡­ something. The strange mass was red and goopy, comprised of hundreds of tiny gelatinous spheres. "Luis! What did you do?" "I looted it just like the other one!" The large man protested, holding up his hands in what Siora assumed was a gesture of innocence. "It wasn''t me!" "What is that?" Jade asked, stepping forward to inspect the strange substance. She had shifted back into her previous form, looking for all the world like a normal human again. Siora had to suppress a shiver, shape shifters were always a little unnerving. Pushing that thought aside, Siora joined Jade in inspecting the odd loot. It was a collection of sticky red spheres, each a little larger than her thumbnail. Something dark and indistinct was held inside the semi-transparent membrane of each one, though the elf couldn''t make out any details. "They''re eggs¡­" Jade said, her eyes glossing over as she read a system prompt. "Spider eggs!" "Nope." Naomi took three steps back. "Gross. I can''t deal with this. Someone else handle it." Next to the mass of eggs, there had to be hundreds of them, was a pile of fine green crystalline shards. The system labeled them as ''poison effusion''. Jade made to start scooping them into a small pouch attached to her bag, but Siora stopped her. "Use this." She said, handing Jade an empty vial and a cork. How could someone just dump loose, quality crafting materials into a bag without a proper container? Siora knew that Jade most likely didn''t have proper storage equipment, but she found the notion of storing potentially valuable alchemical reagents in such a haphazard manner to be even more disconcerting than the fact that her new friend was a literal demon. Does that make me weird? Siora reflected, cocking her head to one side. Nope. She decided after a moment. It doesn¡¯t. "What do we do with them?" Luis asked, giving the egg pile a dubious look. "If we collect some, I might be able to make some useful potions with them." Siora suggested, speaking slowly at first as she considered the possibilities. "I''m more knowledgeable about plant extracts and effusion crystals than monster-based ingredients, but I could make it work!" She finished excitedly.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Siora was already starting to feel self-conscious about her lack of fighting skills. She wanted to support the team, not be a liability. None of her spells or abilities were combat focused, but maybe she could supply the group with helpful alchemical creations. She pulled out a few more empty vials, then hesitated. The egg things were quivering slightly, and she wasn''t especially keen on touching them. Instead, she proffered the vials to Luis. "Here you go!" she said, shamelessly dumping the responsibility of collecting the ingredients onto him. Luis wasn''t having any of it. "Hey, it was your idea, friend!" He said, taking a step back. "I wouldn''t want to, uh¡­ ruin them. By handling them wrong." "Jade, you like spiders. You do it." Naomi said. She was avoiding even looking at the goopy egg pile now. Some of them had begun to pulsate gently, which did nothing to make them more appealing. "No way." Jade shook her head, stowing the container she''d just filled with poison effusion. She looked around and, after none of them volunteered, threw up her hands in defeat. "That''s it, we''re drawing straws."
"I hate you..." Naomi complained, using the shortest of the four sticks Jade had collected to try and sweep the disgusting mass of eggs into one of Siora''s small bottles. "I hate you all¡­" "You''re doing great!" Luis said, giving her a thumbs up. "You aren''t even watching!" She snapped, and then immediately regretted speaking up as she caught a whiff of the pungent odor wafting off the egg sacs. "Ughhhhwa¡­" She groaned, nearly gagging. There was a rustle of movement beside her, and Naomi turned to see Siora crouch down next to her. The elf was looking a little worse for wear, her flowing green clothes spattered with mud and sticky residue from webbing. She didn''t seem to care as she gave Naomi an apologetic smile, holding out her hand. "Here, I''ll help. It was my idea¡­" "Thanks." Naomi said gratefully, passing her a half-filled vial. "When one of these eggs hatches into a monster that tries to eat us, I''ll save you first." "I would very much appreciate that." Siora laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don''t worry, I''ll put these to good use." A few short minutes later, or long minutes as far as Naomi was concerned, they were done. Three vials of eggs disappeared into Siora''s satchel, the elf explaining that the enchanted containers would keep them as fresh as when they were first harvested. Naomi wiped her hands off on a large leafy bush, trying to get the icky feeling off her fingers. "Siora, I just realized." Jade said, walking up. "We haven''t added you to the party yet." She tapped her wayfarer mark with a finger, something they''d discovered let them manage their party interface. A moment later, a message popped up in Naomi''s vision. Siora''s eyes glossed over as she glanced at a spot in front of her, then cleared as she looked back up at Jade. "Really?" She asked, excited. "You want me in?" "We''re travelling together." Jade said, shrugging. "It can only help." "What she means," Naomi said with a reproachful look in Jade''s direction. "Is that we''d be delighted to have you join us." Naomi smiled, happy that the elf seemed so eager to be a part of their group. She thought she understood. No one wanted to be alone in a place like this. The sticky feeling on her hands wasn''t going away. Scowling, Naomi gave up on her attempts to clean them and returned to the group. Friends or not, they weren''t getting away with making her do that. "Next time, I get to pick who gathers the gross loot." she declared, glaring at her party members, daring anyone to disagree. To their credit, no one did.
The remainder of the day''s journey was uneventful. Using the map in her interface as a guide, Jade led the rest of the group back to the quadrant node that sat nestled in the high branches of the jungle canopy. It didn''t take long for Siora to make the climb to activate it, the nimble elf having little trouble with the ascent. "It''s going to take forever to build up my node list again." Siora said glumly when she was back on the ground. "How many had you been to?" Naomi asked. "Nineteen." She sighed. "Most of them were on the second floor, a couple on the third. The third-floor nodes will be the difficult ones, I''ll have to wait for an expedition." The elf''s expression brightened. "But at least I''m adding some on the first floor now. It''ll be worth it." That finished, the four of them were finally ready to proceed to the sanctuary. The jungle was calm and warm, filled with sounds of chirping insects and distant birdsong. Jade kept a careful eye out for any signs of monsters or other threats as they trudged through the dense undergrowth, but she needn''t have bothered. Whatever other dangers the jungle held; they didn''t seem to be nearby. She was mildly disappointed as it would''ve been nice to dispatch one last monster to finish her quest, but she had no doubt that there would be plenty of other opportunities soon. After about an hour of hiking through the uneven terrain they arrived at the sanctuary entrance. It was set on the shore of the large lagoon they had first seen when descending into the valley, taking the form of a shimmering golden doorway that was nestled between two large trees. The water of the lake was clear and pure, and they took the opportunity to refill their supply. Fortunately, Jade hadn''t been the only person with the foresight to bring a water bottle with her into the Labyrinth. Luis and Naomi both had an appropriate container as well, scavenged from what they''d had access to when they''d suddenly found themselves thrown into this strange land. From an earlier conversation Jade had learned that Naomi had also been pulled from her home, while Luis''s transition had happened while he was working in his uncle''s car shop. As for Siora, she carried a waterskin that looked to be woven from plant fibers. The strange container didn''t seem to have any sort of cap, but rather constricted and relaxed its shape as needed to allow consumption. Upon opening the sanctuary door, they were confronted with yet another change of scenery. Just as before, the doorway acted as a portal into a new environment. On the other side of the threshold lay a large room with a high, vaulted ceiling. The chamber had a rustic aesthetic with wooden floorboards and gas lamps providing illumination. It was also filled with rows of bookshelves that were laden with all manner of tomes, scrolls, and even some more modern looking paperback books. Jade stepped through the doorway, looking around with interest. As the others filed in behind her the succubus stepped up to the closest of the shelves, plucking a book at random. ''Historical Atlas of South Africa - 4th edition'' "Huh." She grunted, putting it back on the shelf. Beside it was a scroll that seemed to be some sort of treatise on the properties of magical fruit. Weird. Even stranger was that she could read the title at all. Surely such a scroll hadn''t been written in English? Did that mean the Labyrinth''s translation magic worked on the written word as well? "They''re all replicas conjured by the Labyrinth, unfortunately." A voice came from further inside the room. "If any are removed from the sanctuary, they''ll fade into smoke." Jade turned to see an immaculately dressed man standing at the far end of the line of shelves, hands clasped behind his back. He gave her a slight smile, turning and gesturing for them to enter. "It is good to see you again, young lady." Damos said. "Damos!" Relief swept through Jade, and she let out a breath that she hadn''t realized she''d been holding. "It''s good to see you, too. I have a lot of questions." "I would be surprised if you didn''t. My apologies for taking so long to return, I have been busier than expected." "Is that the attendant you met when you got here?" Naomi asked. "It is. Everyone, meet Damos." Jade said, going around and introducing each of her companions one by one. "What do you mean by busy? With other people from Earth?" "Yes." He said, leading the group into the center of what Jade was thinking of as a library. There was an open space in the middle of the chamber with a few tables and cushioned chairs arranged around them. "Please, sit." Damos continued, gesturing towards the open seats and getting right to the point. "It is past time for me to explain exactly what is happening to you, the true importance of the Wayfarer Trial, and what the Labyrinth''s arrival means for the future of your world." Jade was eager to finally get some real answers, although she had a sneaking suspicion that she very much wouldn''t like some of them. As it turned out, she was almost right. She liked none of them. Chapter 21 Jade picked a seat at the head of the table, settling into it with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. Beside her, Naomi lowered herself into a chair of her own, perching on its edge and looking as anxious as Jade felt. She wasn''t sure what to expect from Damos, the aged man had an inscrutable expression. Jade had to remind herself that, despite his appearance, he wasn''t actually human. Rather, Damos was somehow a part of the Labyrinth itself, a shape shifting creature the system labeled as a labyrinth elemental. Maybe it was foolish to even try and interpret his mannerisms, but Jade thought she could make out lines of tension creasing his brow. That didn''t fill her with confidence, and she was about to ask what he''d meant when he''d said, ''future of their world'', but Luis spoke before she had the chance. "Where is Shari?" he asked, dropping into the seat beside her and kicking his feet up onto the table. Or rather he tried to, but Naomi swatted them off with an exasperated whisper. Chagrined, Luis shifted to sit up straighter. "The two of you were met by her at your first sanctuary?" Damos asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Had Jade imagined his stress? Or was he simply skilled at masking it? "Yes. She was¡­ energetic." Naomi said. "But she didn''t explain much at all before she disappeared on us. Just walked us through picking our classes. Then she said something about having to help other people." "I liked her." Luis added with a grin. "I''m sure you''ll run into her soon." Damos assured him. Then, the butler turned to Siora. "I must confess, I am surprised that you found your way to a group of newly fledged wayfarers, miss Siora." "Yeah¡­" The elf said, rubbing the back of her head and looking embarassed. "I tripped a trap near my village, it dropped me down a floor and cleared out my node access. They''re helping me get back." Damos nodded in understanding, moving to stand at the head of the table opposite Jade and surveying their group. "Very well. I believe it would be best for you to hold any questions you have until after I finish the introduction that you normally would have received upon your arrival in the Labyrinth. It may answer some of them." Each of them nodded in response, and the atmosphere in the room became noticeably more tense. Jade and Naomi were focused on Damos intently, and even Luis was listening closely. Siora was also paying rapt attention to the conversation, despite not being from Earth herself. The elf looked apprehensive, which didn''t do anything to calm Jade''s nerves. "Let me start by again explaining what exactly the Astral Labyrinth is." Damos began, clasping his hands behind his back once more. "As I told miss Jade during our first meeting, you can think of it as the land that links the many worlds of the universe. One of the links, at least. The Labyrinth is always growing and, periodically, this expansion brings it into contact with a new reality. Most recently, it has connected to the world you call ''Earth''." Jade wanted to ask how the wayfarer trial worked into all of that. The Labyrinth clearly had a lot more to it than merely being a bridge between worlds. For the moment, though, she remained silent and let Damos continue. "When the Labyrinth forges a connection with a new land it begins a process of¡­" he hesitated for a moment, searching for the right word. "Sampling¡­ the new environment." "Sampling?" Naomi asked. For some reason, she shot Jade a glance as she spoke. "What do you mean?" "It retrieves small pieces of the world it has connected to, employing dimensional magic to shift them inside itself." Damos elaborated. "That, miss Naomi, is how the three of you were transported here so abruptly. While the Labyrinth tries to avoid drawing in locations that are inhabited, it isn''t always successful." "But why does it ''sample'' anything at all?" Jade asked. "What is it doing with what it takes?" "I apologize, young lady. While I do possess some knowledge as to ''what'' the Labyrinth is doing, my understanding does not extend to ''why'' it is doing it." Damos replied, turning to face Jade. He closed his eyes for a long moment. When the butler continued, his voice was subdued. "After these samples are examined by various magical means, The Labyrinth begins to extract resources from that world." "What¡­?" Jade breathed. That feeling of anxiety was quickly turning to dread. "How? What does it take?" A pained look crossed Damos''s face. Or at least, Jade thought that''s what it was. It was gone in a moment, his normal reserved expression returning. "Material resources are generally the primary harvest." He explained. "You would know them as rare elements, raw ore and mineral deposits, and some naturally occurring sources of magic." "So, you''re saying that the Labyrinth is strip mining our home?!" Naomi exclaimed, horrified. Jade felt her temper rising. She was standing up now, with no memory of when she''d risen to her feet. Forcing herself to remain calm, she asked the most important question she could think of. "How much does it take?" Damos didn''t reply immediately. That was confirmation enough for Jade. This was bad. "It depends." He sighed. "But often, it is enough to cause societal disruption on a large scale." As the butler replied he glanced at where Siora sat opposite Naomi. Jade followed his gaze, but the elf wouldn''t meet her eyes. "It came to Myrthrin, where my people are from, over two hundred years ago." Siora said quietly, looking at the floor. "The lorekeeper says that in the aftermath, the land was so bleak that our village was forced to migrate inside the Labyrinth to survive." "You knew¡­?" Jade asked her. Finally, the elf lifted her head to meet her gaze. Siora''s eyes, deep hazel pools with slanted pupils, were filled with sorrow. "I only know the stories. I didn''t know what you''d heard, what you''d been told¡­ and I didn''t want to get it wrong. I''m sorry." Her distress was so evident that Jade found she couldn''t be very upset with her. Damos, however, was another story. "Why?" She growled, shifting her ire back to the sanctuary attendant. "Why is this happening to us?! What right do you have to come and¡­ and¡­ harvest our planet?!" Anger boiled up within her, sudden and fierce. Something stirred in that dark corner of her mind, the one that had reacted when she''d transformed into her demon body during the fight earlier. It fed into her emotions, stoking the flames. "Jade¡­" She felt a hand on her arm. Naomi was looking up at her in concern. "Let him finish. I think there''s more." "How are you ok with this?!" Jade demanded, clenching her fists. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "I''m not!" She snapped fiercely, catching Jade off guard. She took a deep breath, trying to relax. The burning fury receded somewhat, but it didn''t fade completely. A part of her didn''t want to let go of it. It felt good, somehow. Natural. That¡­ That was concerning. "Jade." Naomi repeated, squeezing her arm. With effort she relaxed, sinking back into her seat with a thump. "There''s something we can do about it, isn''t there." Naomi said more calmly, returning her attention to Damos. It was voiced as a statement, not a question. "Something to do with this wayfarer trial? If all the Labyrinth wanted was resources, none of the rest of this would be necessary." "Well done, miss Naomi." Damos nodded in approval. "There is indeed something you can do to mitigate the Labyrinth¡¯s impact on your world." That got Jade''s attention. She crossed her arms, as if physically clamping down on her anger would help keep it in check. "So, what do we have to do?" Luis asked, speaking for the first time. A frown had replaced his usual laid-back expression, the only sign of whatever troubled thoughts these revelations had birthed. "Every wayfarer gains access to a certain spell upon reaching level 7." Damos continued, leaning forward to plant his gloved hands on the rough surface of the table. "The ''Pathfinder'' spell. When cast, this spell can be used to point you towards the closest active Labyrinth Core. These Cores are magical constructs woven into the mechanisms of this world. They are what provide the Labyrinth with the energy needed to extract materials across dimensional boundaries on a large scale. When a Core is destroyed, the rate of the harvest is diminished. When all Labyrinth Cores have both activated and been subsequently conquered, the Labyrinth ceases its collection entirely. At least, until it repairs itself and connects with a new, untouched land, and the cycle begins again." "How many of these ''Labyrinth Cores'' are there?" Jade asked, trying to wrap her around the situation. "Where are they?" "One hundred." Damos said, tapping a finger on the table as he listed them off. "Thirty each on levels three and four, twenty on five, and another ten each on levels six and seven. Each watched over by their guardians." "So many?" Naomi asked, her shoulders slumping as she contemplated the magnitude of the task. "Yes." Damos confirmed. "However, they have not yet been activated. The Labyrinth has been behaving oddly in this cycle. It began by taking far more samples than is usual, and across a much shorter time. Over eight thousand people from Earth have already been pulled into this world, an unprecedented number for before it establishes permanent gates. Normally, attendants such as I visit a newly connected realm to introduce the Labyrinth and what its trials entail. This allows the people of that land to prepare themselves, and to select their most skilled warriors, explorers, and sorcerers to become wayfarers. People who are unfit for the rigors of the trial, or unwilling to participate, are not forced into the test. Regrettably, that is not what happened this time. And it is a major complication indeed." "Why is that such a big problem?" Jade said, glancing at her companions. "Other than how much it sucks for the people like us that basically got abducted?" "It is a problem." Damos explained patiently. "Because the Labyrinth imposes a limit on how many people from a certain world can undertake the wayfarer trial at once. You may not have learned this yet, but only wayfarers can select a class. Them, and wayfarer apprentices, but that isn''t relevant right now. The important part is that full wayfarers are also the only ones to receive quests from The Voice of the Labyrinth. Seeing as quests are by far the most expedient method of gaining experience, teams of wayfarers are the only practical option for reaching Labyrinth Cores on the more challenging, higher floors in a reasonable amount of time. The other methods of advancement like monster slaying, node activation, and certain types of crafting, simply do not yield results quickly enough." Damos breathed a heavy sigh, bowing his head. "The Labyrinth will put a stop to its collection before any world is put in true danger from it, but allowing it to get to that point would be destabilizing to the civilizations of your planet. That outcome is¡­" He paused, searching for the best description. "Best avoided." There was another moment of silence as they all processed the sanctuary attendant''s explanation. Naomi was the first to speak, giving voice to the question that was foremost among their thoughts. "How many can undertake the trial at once?" ¡°Three thousand." Damos said at length, his words heavy with regret. "In light of these strange circumstances, however, that restriction has apparently been modified. Please understand that I am not privy to the inner workings of this world, I am but a small part of it. That said, the Voice of the Labyrinth has taken it upon itself to name all eight thousand four hundred and nine of the humans prematurely taken from Earth as wayfarers. This far exceeds the limit at which the Labyrinth allows new participants. No further prospective challengers will be allowed to undertake the trial. Not until a sufficient number of current wayfarers have completed the one hundred quests assigned to them¡­ Or perish in the attempt." Jade, Luis, and Naomi sat in stunned silence. Siora had a hand over her mouth, eyes wide in shock. She, more than any of them, knew what this meant. "Fortunately, the Labyrinth has maintained its restrictions on who is eligible to participate. All those under the age of twenty of your years, and those too physically or mentally unfit, were returned safely to your world. But rather than the highly skilled, well trained, and brave individuals who normally volunteer for this task, Earth''s champions will be the eight thousand people that were randomly pulled from its surface. Most of whom are wholly unprepared for what will be required of them." Damos shifted his gaze around the table, looking in turn at Luis, Naomi, and finally, Jade. "The three of you are now Earth''s protectors. And believe me when I say that you are off to a much better start than the majority of your comrades." Somewhere in the middle of these monumental revelations Jade''s brain had blown a fuse. She found herself fixated on a strange thought, something utterly inconsequential compared to the gravity of what they had just been told. I''m supposed to save the world¡­ The thought repeated, over and over. With demonic seduction powers? Maybe it''ll feel less ridiculous once it sinks in. It didn¡¯t. Chapter 22 Tik-tik-tik-tik-plonk. The stone skipped four times across the gently flowing surface of the lagoon before splashing down into the water, sending out a series of expanding ripples to lap against the sandy shore. Jade crouched down, searching for another rounded stone to toss. There. She picked it up, the small stone''s smooth surface warm to the touch after lying in the midday sun. It was a little heftier than the one she''d just thrown. Jade adjusted her grip to compensate, and then sent it skimming out across the water with a sidearm that was more forceful than was strictly necessary. Tik-tik-plonk. With a grunt of dissatisfaction she plopped onto the ground, pulling her knees up to her chest. Slowly, she tilted her head forward until her forehead was resting on her legs. "So¡­" Naomi said in a small voice. "What do we do?" The dark-haired woman was sitting nearby, leaning against a tree. She had a habit of staying in the shade, which Jade assumed had something to do with her fair complexion. After the news they''d just received, she was paler than ever. "What else can we do?" Jade said bitterly. "We have to try and stop it. Find those Cores as soon as we can¡­ and break them." The four of them: Jade, Naomi, Luis, and Siora, were sitting in a group outside the sanctuary, next to the beautiful lagoon that dominated the jungle valley. They had come back outside to reflect on everything they had just learned and, in Jade''s case, to blow off some steam. Intellectually, she understood that Damos himself wasn''t to blame for anything that was happening to them. Hell, he had saved her life just a couple of days ago. Emotionally, however, she was having a hard time separating him from what the Labyrinth was doing to them. And to Earth. After the revelation that several thousand random people would effectively be responsible for protecting Earth from the Labyrinth, Damos had gone on to give them a few more details. The first of the Labyrinth Cores, the devices that would power what Naomi had aptly described as the strip mining of their home planet, wouldn''t start coming online for the next 40 or so days. Around that same time, permanent gateways to the Labyrinth would begin popping up across the planet, allowing easy access to the dungeon from most parts of the world. Not that it''ll do us much good. Anyone who came into the Labyrinth from Earth now would just be a level 1 human. Damos had explained that, like Siora and other non-wayfarer residents of the Labyrinth, they would still be able to gain experience and level up via battling monsters and other ancillary activities like discovering nodes and crafting, but without access to quests progress would be painfully slow. Moreover, even when they did level up, the spells, abilities, and talents other humans from Earth would have access to would be limited to a rather generic set of ''universal'' and ''racial'' options. The butler had also mentioned apprentices, which seemed to be a limited way to impart a class to someone not participating in the trial, but hadn''t gone into details. Maybe some people who entered once the permanent gates were open would be able to gain levels quickly enough to help, from what Damos had said the whole ordeal could drag on for years, but Jade doubted that would be easy. As much as she wanted to believe the modern military forces of Earth could handle all of this themselves, the attendant had made it clear that the magical powers and rapid growth afforded to wayfarers were by far the most reliable way to protect their home. According to him, the Labyrinth had certain safeguards in place that prevented it from being invaded by large armed forces. "We''ve gotta do our part." Luis agreed with a shrug. "Not much else to it." "How can you be so relaxed about this?" Naomi demanded, throwing up her hands. She''d been calm during Damos''s explanation, but the stress of their situation was clearly starting to get to her. "We''re being told that we have to fight our way through several levels of an increasingly dangerous labyrinth, encountering who knows how many deadly monsters, in order to stop a bunch of magical machines from tearing apart the fucking planet." Naomi''s voice cracked as she finished, and she buried her face in her hands. "It''s too much¡­" She sobbed. "I just want¡­ I just want to go home." "Naomi¡­" Jade stood up and took a step towards her, then paused. What was she going to say? What could she say? She didn''t have any better solution to this. Siora, who was glumly lying in the grass nearby, caught Jade''s eye. She sat up, jerking her head towards Naomi and scooting towards her. "I''m sorry, Naomi." The elf said quietly. "But there are thousands of wayfarers from your home here. You don''t have to do it alone." That''s right. Jade thought. Sometimes, people just need comfort. Jade joined Siora beside Naomi, putting a hand on her shoulder. A moment later Luis was there too. The four of them huddled close, finding solace in companionship. "That''s right, amiga." Luis said softly. "We''ve been doing alright together so far, yeah? And we''re just getting started. It''ll get better." Jade was about to add some reassurances of her own when a strange sensation came over her. Emanating from Naomi was a¡­ scent? A taste? Some mixture of the two, felt more in mind than in body. It was sweet and sharp, a pleasantly alluring flavor that soothed Jade''s troubled thoughts. She found herself shifting closer to Naomi as her companions conversed, instinctively drawn to the pleasant aroma. What is this? Focusing on the feeling gave her some insight into its source. Jade missed what Luis said next, distracted by her introspection as she discovered that some of the magical pathways tracing patterns through her body were active. Not strongly so, not like when she cast a spell, but there was definitely a trickle of mana flowing through her. The paths were linked to a spell she hadn''t had cause to cast yet, one that she wasn''t sure she was entirely comfortable with. ''Kiss of Night'', the trademark ability of a succubus to drain life force with a simple kiss. Siora said something next. Whatever it was, it made Naomi smile and, strangely, the sweet scent drifting from her began to fade. For a moment Jade was even more confused, but then her instinctive understanding of her nature and powers kicked in. Clarity hit Jade like a splash of cold water, and a sudden wave of dread washed over her as she realized exactly what she was sensing. Fear. Naomi''s fear for herself and those she loved. Either Jade''s very nature as a succubus, the Kiss of Night spell she possessed, or possibly some combination of the two, allowed her to sense the strong emotions her friend was feeling. She could literally taste her fear. That was odd, but not alarming. What seriously concerned Jade was how good her fear tasted. An urge to drink it in welled up inside her, a desire to use her spell and suffuse herself with the sweetness of Naomi''s distress. It took more effort than Jade was comfortable with to pull away from her friends. The scent vanished, whether due to Jade physically shifting herself further from her or because Naomi had mastered her fear she didn''t know. "Remember, I''ll help too." Siora was saying. "I''m not going to forget what you''re doing for me. I might not be a warrior, but I''ll make whatever potions you need. If I can brew it, it''s yours." No one seemed to have noticed Jade''s brief internal struggle. The sensation had passed as quickly as it had come, leaving the succubus feeling oddly empty. Which was alarming in and of itself. "We''re going to get through this." Jade forced herself to say something that at least made it sound like she''d been paying attention to the conversation. "And we''re going to get home." "I¡­ Yeah¡­" Naomi sniffed, looking around at the three of them clustered about her. "Thanks."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. They all took a few minutes to collect themselves and finish processing what they''d learned. Or, at least, to start processing it. Jade used the time to try and convince herself that feeling other people''s emotions wasn''t a bad thing, and that it had just surprised her. She did her best to forget the urge to siphon said emotion, possibly alongside the life force of the friend it had belonged to. A few tentative experiments with her internal mana circuits failed to reveal any remaining palpable emotions, and Jade relaxed a little. So, she could detect strong feelings sometimes. That was ok. Compared to some of her other powers, it was downright mundane. Even so, it had been an unsettling experience. Jade was determined to learn how to control those impulses, because she was not going to feed on her friends'' feelings. None of them were truly ready to face the task ahead of them, but they had a deadline and could afford only so much self-indulgence. So, when Luis stood up to get back to work, Jade and Naomi joined him without hesitation. "Alright." the bard said, wiping her eyes with the palm of her hand. "We need a plan." "We need to get stronger." Jade said immediately. "And to level up as fast as possible. According to Damos, quests give more experience than just killing monsters. We''ll focus on those." "We''ve gotta practice together too." Luis added. "Come up with moves and formations and¡­" He waved a hand in a vague gesture. "Tactical stuff. Not just running around and hitting things." "Good idea." Jade nodded in agreement. "I''ve already been thinking of a few I''d like to try." "We should also plan out our level ups." Naomi said. "If we''re going to stick together for this, then we''ll want our abilities to complement each other''s." "I hit level four in that spider fight." Luis said. "I haven''t picked anything yet though." "I already chose a spell for level four." Jade admitted. "But it was the best option for teamwork. From now on I''ll wait to discuss any choices before I decide." "We are going to stick together, right?" Naomi said, looking between Jade and Luis. "Of course we are!" Luis said, throwing an arm around the shorter woman. "What, you want to go at it alone? Save the world by yourself?" "N-no!" Naomi said with a blush. "I¡­ Just wanted to make sure." She paused, looking away. "I know I haven''t been the most reliable." "Fuck that." Jade said. "I''d much rather have you at our back than not." "Besides, you''re the healer." Luis said with a grin. "Every party needs a healer." "Thanks¡­ That makes me feel better." She said, managing a weak smile. "By the way Jade¡­ Has anyone ever told you that you swear a lot?" "No fuckin'' way." Jade deadpanned, drawing a laugh from her companions. Despite everything, she felt herself crack a smile too. "No, seriously, you should''ve heard us in the locker room. Our coach gave us deductions for cursing on the floor. We usually had a lot of venting to do at the end of the day." "That''s not very feminine of you." Naomi teased. "Maybe not, but I have an excess of ''feminine wiles'' now." Jade sighed. "Have to balance them out somehow."
While Siora went to inspect the local plant life for anything useful, the rest of them got to work reviewing their levels and abilities. After their first conference the previous day in the Tranquil Forest Sanctuary and their subsequent battles, the three of them already knew the basics of what they could each do. But now that Damos had explained the peril that threatened Earth, and their role in protecting their home, it was more important than ever that they worked well as a team. Jade went first, sharing the contents of her status pages. Looking back over her character sheet reminded Jade that she had yet to cast two of her spells. ''Kiss of Night'' was an attack spell that required her to, as the name implied, kiss someone. Unfortunately, it had several restrictions that made it difficult to use in battle. Foremost among them was that it only worked on living creatures that were capable of higher-level thinking and emotions. That seemed to rule out a lot of monsters right off the bat, and Jade hadn''t found a good opportunity to put it to use yet. Still, the spell had some powerful benefits, including healing her and giving bonus experience if she siphoned more life force than she needed. It could be a powerful tool to help her level if she could find eligible enemies, and if those enemies would let her get close enough. For some reason, though, Jade found the idea of killing someone with a kiss more uncomfortable than just stabbing them to death. ''Chains of Shadebloom'' was her most recent acquisition, a spell that allowed her to place a magical trap on the ground that would bind any creature that triggered it. Jade was especially looking forward to experimenting with that one as it had the potential for creative applications. While poring over her status screen she also found an option to toggle indicators to display progress towards the next rank for each spell and talent. This was something that she''d already been getting an instinctive feel for just by using her magic, but it was helpful to get a quantitative representation of her increasing mastery. The only question was, what happened what she reached 100% with a spell? Jade assumed that it advanced to the next level, but wasn''t sure. Fortunately, a help menu appeared to clear up her confusion. Jade read through the information with interest, then closed the menus. That was all good to know, and she shared her findings with her companions. Next, Luis shared his status window. The biggest difference between Jade and Luis''s stat scores were their primary attributes. Luis was focusing on strength so far, as opposed to agility, with fortitude and intelligence as secondary attributes. His strength was further boosted by the ring they''d taken from the goblin chief yesterday. The rest of his character sheet listed the spell ''Shield Burst'' and the talent ''Guardian Dash''. Finally, he also had an ability called ''Mana Shield'' that he explained allowed him to passively shift a portion of incoming damage to his mana instead of health. Apparently, that was a core feature of the ''Spell Guardian'' class. "If you get a high enough fortitude and intelligence to raise your health and mana." Jade said after Luis was done. "You''ll be able to shrug off hits from monsters with ease." Next, they went over his pending selection for level 4. Luis had already assigned his stat points, but still had a feature pending. Naomi and Jade helped him sort through the options, which for this level included 5 various spells and talents. After discussing the merits of each Luis eventually selected the spell ''Force Blade'', which allowed him to project waves of energy from his sword that could damage and stagger opponents. Finally, it was Naomi''s turn. She was still level 3, although the bard was on the cusp of levelling up to 4 as well. That would bring with it a new feature for her to choose from, which Naomi wanted as soon as possible. "If we''re going to be fighting, I need more options to choose from." She said to Jade as they went over her character sheet again. "We''ll get you there today." Jade assured her. "Once we''re done with this, it''s time to train." Except for strength, Naomi had been spreading out her stat points fairly evenly. For a spell focused bard class like ''Idol'', mana management was going to be important. That meant a high intelligence and willpower would come in handy. Fortunately, those were already two of her highest ability scores. Luis also suggested that it wouldn''t be a bad idea for her to put a point or two into strength at some point, just in case she needed it. Naomi was the only one of them to have zero talents. Instead, she had three spells and an ability. Her spells were ''Sonic Boom'', ''Fleetfoot'', and ''Hymn of Healing'', all of which she had been using to good effect so far. ''Superstar'', the ability that came with selecting the ''Idol'' class at level 1, was also interesting. It allowed her to amplify her voice and any music she was playing, giving her support spells greater power and reach. It also had a secondary effect, increasing the power and level of her spells when a sufficient number of people were watching her perform. Jade was having a hard time thinking of a scenario where that would come into play, but it had the potential to be very powerful under the right circumstances. When they had finally finished going over everything, Luis stood up and stretched. "Alright, that''s enough talkin''." he said, tapping the hilt of the giant sword strapped across his back. "There''s only one way we''re gonna get better." Luis flashed Jade a grin. "And that''s by doin''." He was right. They had gotten everything they were going to out of discussion. The clock was ticking for Earth, and there was no time to waste. "Ok." Jade said, checking the daggers in her belt. They were still in pretty good condition, strong and sharp. "Let''s find some monsters. It''s time to grind." Chapter 23 The next few days passed in a flurry of training, strategizing, and grinding experience. To Jade''s relief she didn''t again experience the unsettling feeling of sensing her friends'' emotions during this time, nor did the urge to consume them arise. She suspected the inconsistency had something to do with how her human mind was adjusting over time to the demonic body it now resided in. It would probably be a while before she fully understood how to use and interpret her new senses. There turned out to be a decent population of low-level monsters residing in the jungle near the sanctuary, mostly slow turtle-like creatures that snapped at them with powerful jaws but moved slowly enough to not pose much of a threat. They also encountered a few more of the giant spiders, although only one at a time, and they were somewhat smaller and weaker than the pair they had already fought. The would-be adventurers needed more than just the numerical points the system awarded for each slain monster and completed quest, they also needed to acclimate to the visceral experience of real combat. Each of them had an aversion to inflicting harm and, to some extent, being harmed themselves. While Jade had managed to overcome her hesitation to fight and kill during her first few battles, those had mostly been instinctual responses to life-or-death situations. Now that they were planning on questing in earnest, it was time to get more comfortable with the realities of close combat. If Jade couldn''t bring herself to cut down an enemy standing in front of her, it wouldn''t matter what level she was. Predictably, out of the three of them Naomi had the hardest time coming to terms with what fighting entailed. What Jade did find interesting was that only a very minor portion of her reluctance to fight seemed to stem from a fear of getting hurt. Rather, she was simply a gentle person who disliked causing pain. Fortunately, her primary contribution to most battles was healing and buffing Jade and Luis, a task that involved relatively little direct confrontation. When it came down to it, though, she proved herself quite capable of setting aside her reservations and dishing out punishment directly. Jade and Luis had a somewhat easier time adjusting. Neither of them liked the idea of killing their way through the Labyrinth, but it was a reality they just had to accept. Although in Jade''s case, that wasn''t quite true. Ever since she''d accepted the transformation that turned her into a demon, a swirling mix of latent emotions had been simmering in the back of her mind. Exactly what they were was hard to quantify, but as the days went by Jade found herself less bothered by the bloodshed than she felt she should be. Did her new body make her more susceptible to anger and destructive impulses? If so, were these emotional seeds just the beginning of a larger transformation that she was still undergoing? It was hard to tell, especially since she felt that she had plenty of perfectly legitimate reasons to be upset. Still, Jade didn''t like the idea that her new nature was changing who she was or how she thought. Since there wasn''t anything she could actually do about it, though, she did her best to push those worries from her mind. Her new nature as a succubus came with several powerful advantages that were sure to serve her well as they traversed the Labyrinth, and she didn''t regret her decision. "Arectus!" An arc of crackling blue energy flashed past Jade in a blur of motion, slamming into the turtle monster in front of her. The creature, which was about the size of a large dog, gurgled in anger as the force blade impacted. The magical projectile burst on contact, sending out a wave of pressure that knocked over the hapless monster leaving it lying on its lumpy shell. Jade didn''t wait to see if it could flip itself right-side-up again, darting in to slam her dagger into a weak spot highlighted by her ''Vital Sight'' talent, a now exposed fleshy region at the base of the monster''s stubby neck. It croaked, orange blood pouring from the wound to drench the jungle soil beneath it. Jade twisted the blade, wrenching it back along the creature''s fleshy underbelly in a savage slash. The monster spasmed, bloodshot eyes bulging, and then went limp. "Nice shot." Jade said, sliding the bloody blade out of the monster''s corpse and wiping it clean on a nearby fern. She looted it, something that was quickly becoming second nature, and added another handful of crescent coins to her pack. After the addition, there really wasn''t much room left for anything else. Coins, clothes, the tools she''d taken from her apartment, and makeshift containers for monster effusions rattled together in cumbersome mixture. "We really need to find a magical bag or something." she added, hefting it back over her shoulder. "Siora said something about a Labyrinth store earlier." Luis said, jogging over to her as he slung his sword across his back. "Maybe we''ll find one there." "We''d better." She complained. "Dragging around all of our stuff just isn''t practical, not when we might have to fight at any moment. Do you know how much of a pain it is to take off a backpack when you have wings?" "It doesn''t look easy." He commiserated. "It''s not!" A panicked yelp drew their attention to the bank of the lagoon. They turned to see Naomi hopping along the narrow beach kicking her foot frantically. A small river snapper, probably a juvenile of some kind, had its mouth clamped around her shoe. It hung on with grim determination, glaring at her with its beady eyes as her flailing sent it flopping around wildly. "Get off!" She yelled, bashing at the creature with the base of her guitar. "Off!" She connected with a solid thwack, knocking the turtle monster clean off of her foot and sending it flying into the lagoon. It splashed down a good dozen feet away, its lifeless body bobbing in the water. Naomi drew herself back upright, clutching her guitar to her chest and inspecting it for damage as Jade and Luis jogged over to join her. "I''m fine." she said sheepishly. "Everything''s fine." "How did it even get you?" Jade asked, confused. "We could out crawl these things." "Those little ones are quiet¡­ It snuck up on me." Jade suppressed an urge to sigh. They were going to need a lot more practice before they were ready to fight something actually dangerous. Unfortunately, time was something they didn''t have much of. Hopefully the stats and abilities that came with higher levels would balance out their relative inexperience on the battlefield. "That was a nice hit!" Luis said, slapping her on the back. "Maybe you should join me in the front." "I''m quite happy where I am in the back, thank you." she replied, a wry smile on her lips. "Let''s find another." Jade said, bringing her companions back on track. "Naomi, ready to try out your new spell?" She hesitated for just a moment, and then nodded. "Let''s do it." Not only was Jade determined to improve her physical ability to fight, like how to properly swing a dagger or aim a spell, she was also highly motivated to develop better combat tactics. Too many of her early encounters had involved desperate struggles and hardly any actual planning. That had to change. The reason Jade had chosen the ''Shadow Witch'' class over the combat focused ''Blade Dancer'' was so that she could employ tricks and subterfuge to tip the scales in her favor. That was a lot easier to do with appropriate preparation. Now that she was starting to acquire trap spells, it was time to shift how she approached fights. All of them had levelled up again within the first day of training. Jade and Luis were helped by completing their monster hunting quest, whereas Naomi finished her spell casting one. The experience rewarded for those was accompanied by the general influx of XP awarded from defeating monsters, a source that already had Jade closing in on level 6 after another day of grinding. Follow-up quests had been provided to all of them, allowing them to continue working towards completing them while training together.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Naomi had been given several spell and talent options for her 4th level. After a brief discussion with the team, she had elected to pick her first combat spell, Pyrotechnics, which launched bolts of sparkling fire. Although she already had three spells learned, a human racial ability allowed her to partially combine her talent and spell pools, letting her pick up a 4th spell. Her ''Idol'' class also had a passive feature that expanded her spell limit at the cost of decreasing her capacity for talents. Combined, that gave her a lot of flexibility when it came to acquiring new spells. Level 5 was somewhat less exciting for Jade and Luis, bringing with it only a pair of stat points for each of them. Jade split hers between intelligence and agility, which she was planning on being her strongest points. Boosts to intelligence didn''t come with much of a perceivable change, the stat mostly affected spell power and mana supply. Jade didn''t feel like she was getting any smarter, although she thought that her memory may be improving. It was difficult to tell. Agility increases, on the other hand, had much more tangible consequences to speed and finesse, each point bringing with it a minor but noticeable improvement. The three of them also spent some time coming up with distinct ''moves'' that they could fall back on, various combinations of their abilities that, through trial and error, were found to be especially effective in some situations. The simplest of them was what Luis decided to call ''echo'', an attack that started with him hitting an enemy with a force blade to knock them off balance and create an opening for Jade to slash at one of their vulnerabilities. They kept these combos short and easy to implement, quickly discovering that battles were just too chaotic to expect carefully orchestrated set piece tactics to work with any level of reliability. Since Naomi usually had the best view of the battlefield from where she stood at the back of a fight, she was given the primary responsibility of calling out when to employ these moves, although any of them could suggest one if they felt it suited the moment. Siora wasn''t idle while the other three trained. The elf kept busy gathering local alchemical ingredients and brewing potions, even travelling back to Juniper''s glade periodically to pick the dryad''s brain on the best way to utilize the available resources. After three days, she''d managed to develop a small collection of restorative brews to restock their dwindling supply, among some other creations. "I don''t have many tools to work with here." The alchemist explained one evening, sitting at one of the sanctuary tables with Jade and showing her a vial of bubbling red liquid. "But I''ve figured out how to prepare some basic healing draughts from one of the plants that grows in the valley." Jade took the proffered vial, examining it. "I have four of them so far." She continued, motioning for Jade to keep the potion when she tried to hand it back. "Let''s give one to everyone, and I''ll try to track down enough of the ingredients to prepare another batch. Just remember not to drink two in a row, potions don''t work well until the magic from any previous ones are out of your body." "I remember." Jade said, having been told this several times over the past few days. Apparently, there was no hard rule on how long you had to wait between potions, just a general spectrum of effectiveness that increased with time. "Also!" Siora continued, taking out another vial, this one green, from the pouch at her hip. "I made some progress with using the spider eggs as ingredients too. They have a strong affinity with speed. I''ve been trying to brew something that will enhance the agility stat." "Trying?" Jade asked, looking at the green liquid with a mixture of interest and disgust. Drinking something that had come from that pile of sticky eggs didn''t sound very appealing, but a faster reaction time would be useful¡­ "It hasn''t been going quite as planned." Siora admitted, handing it over. " See for yourself." Jade pulled up the potion''s information. "This is¡­ interesting." Jade said, trying to sound appreciative. Siora had been hard at work on these, and she didn''t want to come off as ungrateful. Still, she had a hard time thinking up a use case for the odd concoction. There was no way she was going to drink something that would likely make her sleepy in the middle of a battle. "I''m still working on the formula." Siora winced. "It''ll get better, I just need to find something that can neutralize the toxin." Referring to the ingredients as ¡®toxic¡¯ wasn¡¯t doing much to make Jade want to drink the next iteration either, but she kept that thought to herself. "I understand. Thanks." Jade said, sliding the potions into a pouch in her pack. "Is there a better way to keep these on hand? If I need to drink them, I don''t want to have to look through my bag to find it." "Hmm¡­" Siora tilted her head thoughtfully. "I''ve seen wayfarers that keep potions on belts. But I think they''re enchanted to protect potions from getting damaged." Jade grunted, another item to stay on the lookout for. She was about to get up to distribute the other healing draughts to her companions when she noticed Siora staring at her intently. "¡­Is something wrong?" "Oh! No¡­" The elf looked away, embarassed. "It''s just that¡­ You look just like a human." "Until a few days ago, I was one." The remark came off as more bitter than she''d intended, and she coughed awkwardly to cover it. "This is what I looked like before¡­ all of this." "How much can you change your appearance? If it''s ok for me to ask." Siora added quickly. "It''s just, shapeshifting is really interesting." Judging by Siora''s expression, the elf also found it a little unsettling. Jade wasn''t going to judge her for that, not when she''d feel the same way if their positions were reversed. "I haven''t had much time to experiment." Jade admitted. "But now that you mention it, I should figure out what my limits are." Since Naomi and Luis were still busy picking out an evening meal from the sanctuary''s rather bland supply of non-perishable canned food, Jade took the opportunity to practice. Transforming between her demon form and the body she had spent most of her life residing in was relatively intuitive, and her succubus form even had a variation that included claws instead of normal fingers. That was a little creepy to discover, but it was potentially useful. Jade quickly found out, however, that any deviation from those ''natural'' forms took quite a bit of focus to achieve. By the time her party members finished eating and joined them she had managed to master changing the length and color of her hair. It took a surprising amount of effort, and the results weren''t always what she intended. "Yo¡­ Jade." Luis said, walking up to their table. Wearing his breastplate and with his sword on his back, the already large man seemed to loom over them. "Why is your hair purple?" "And why is some of it missing?" Naomi added, joining them. "Damn it..." Jade cursed, frustrated. Focusing, she reverted her appearance back to her normal human visage. Her scalp itched as patches of hair regrew, its color morphing back to the dirty blonde she was accustomed to. "Just practicing. Does it look right now? This would be a lot easier with a mirror." "Wow." Naomi said, taking a step back. "That looked weird." "It''s normal again." Siora added helpfully, then peered closely at Jade. "I wonder if your horns have any alchemical properties¡­" She added thoughtfully. ¡°Can I take a sample?¡± Even though she was currently in her human form, without horns, Jade''s hands reflexively went up to cover her forehead. "I''m good." She said, scooting her chair a few inches away from the table. "I have a ''no experiments on my body parts'' policy." "But they''ve only been part of you for a couple of days." Siora pointed out. "And you''re a shape shifter! They''ll grow back¡­ Probably." "Probably?" Naomi asked, one eyebrow raised. "Well, I''m not an expert on demons." Siora admitted. "But it makes sense that they would, right?" "I''ll pass." Jade said, eager to put the discussion to rest. "So¡­" Luis said, rescuing Jade from the subject and sympathetically patting a crestfallen Siora on the shoulder. "What''s the plan for tomorrow? More practice?" "I think we should get moving." Jade said, standing up. "Every day we wait is one day closer to when the Cores activate." She finished grimly. "You still think we should fight the boss?" Naomi asked, clearly less than thrilled by the idea. "I think we have to." Jade said. "For the quest, for the experience, and to prepare ourselves for finding more of them." "Plus." Luis added. "We told Juniper that we''d do it." "She agreed to help us in the battle." Siora reminded them. "We won''t be doing it alone." "You''re planning on joining the fight?" Jade asked the elf, surprised. She hadn''t participated in much of their training, remaining focused on her alchemical creations instead. "I want to help." Siora confirmed, nodding. Her anxiety showed in her face, but her eyes had a determined glint to them. "I might not be much of a fighter, but I have some tricks of my own." She patted the satchel that held her potions. Jade considered that for a moment, then nodded. The elf''s alchemy could only help, and Juniper was a much higher level than any of them. With the dryad''s assistance here, they probably wouldn''t get a better first chance against a boss monster. She looked to Naomi who, after a moment, gave a somewhat hesitant assent as well. "Then it''s decided!" Luis said with a grin, clapping his hands twice. "Tomorrow, we scout the boss." Chapter 24 "Well, that looks pleasant." Jade said dryly, looking out at the landscape laid out before them. The four party members were standing at the top of a small ridge in the northern section of the ''Lush Valley'' quadrant. It was midafternoon, the bright sun shining down on them through a gap in the jungle canopy. That same gap gave them a view of what lay before them: A section of especially ancient trees that grew so close and tall that the entire area was shrouded in shadow despite the brilliant daytime sunlight. Thick, thorny bushes filled gaps between the trees, which had oddly jagged and sinister looking branches. No matter where she looked, there was no clear path through which they could easily enter the dense region of the jungle. That was a problem, because the ''boss'' icon on Jade''s map was squarely centered on the foreboding section of the valley. "I never knew trees could look so evil" Luis said, impressed. "Whatever lives there has really nailed the ''monster lair'' look." "If it matches its home, then I don''t want to meet it." Naomi shivered. "Is it too late to go home?" "That place is our ticket home." Jade noted grimly. "One of them. Come on." She led the group down the gently sloping ridge towards the ominous darkness of the shadowed jungle. The others followed close behind, although Naomi lagged a little as they approached. "What do you think is in there?" Siora asked, looking up at the tall trees in curiosity. "Whatever it is, today''s its last day." Jade declared, carefully picking her way through a tangle of thorny bushes. "Damn amiga." Luis said with a grin. "That was a good line. Been practicing?" "Oh shut up." she muttered, embarassed. The four of them had started their day back in the library sanctuary, where they had been lodging for the past few days. This sanctuary had come equipped with a small dormitory and actual beds, not to mention toilets, which were welcome changes from the sparse amenities of the first one she''d come across. After stocking up on the available supplies they had set out on their journey across the valley, hiking around the sparkling lagoon and travelling towards where her system map indicated the boss monster resided. What mattered now was slaying the boss, levelling up, and getting whatever key or item it dropped that would allow them to ascend to floor two of this world. Forty days. That was Damos''s estimate for how long they had before the magical Labyrinth Cores awakened to mine materials from Earth. How much time had passed since then? Three days? Damos had been intermittently present during their stay in the library sanctuary, and in one of his visits he had explained that not only did the Labyrinth ''day'' not match up one to one with an Earth day, but even individual zones of the Labyrinth often had different day/night cycles themselves. It would be difficult to keep track of how much time was passing without help. Jade had long since turned off her smartphone to conserve its battery, and none of them had a watch. "Juniper is going to join us, right?" Naomi asked, following the group as Luis led the way towards the foreboding stretch of gloom cloaked jungle. "She''ll be here when she''s needed." Siora reassured her. "Dryads can sense the happenings of their domain. She knows where we are." "Know a lot about Dryads?" Luis asked. "Only what Seldrin tells me." she said, lightly hopping over a pool of stagnant water. "My brother. He''s our expert on different kinds of monsters and magical creatures. He spends a lot of time researching and cataloging them." "That sounds useful." Jade said, thoughtfully. "Knowing something about a monster before we fight it would make our training a lot safer." "What?" Luis asked with a laugh. "You don''t like trial and error? Where''s your sense of adventure?" "I think it got killed by the spider that bit me in the gut yesterday." Jade grimaced, rubbing her stomach. Her leather armor, which she''d only just acquired the other day, was already starting to look a little worse for wear. "Would''ve been nice to know that the red ones can jump like that." "Good point." He conceded. "Maybe he can help us out when we get you home, yeah?" He said to Siora. "Of course!" A minute later, the four of them crossed the threshold into the shadowy depths of the denser jungle. The sweltering heat faded, replaced by a subtle chill that was more eerie than soothing. The darkened foliage was silent and still, with not even a faint breeze to stir the motionless boughs. Even the trees themselves looked different, with less flowing curves and more jagged lines. Jade felt as if they''d stepped into the forbidden forest of a fairy tale, and half expected a cunning hag or witch to emerge from the gloom and greet them. "I''m with Naomi¡­" Siora said, the elf''s normally chipper voice sounding oddly small in the still air. "I don''t like this place." "It looks like Mirkwood." Jade murmured. "What''s that?" Naomi and Siora asked simultaneously. "From Lord of the Rings." Luis explained. "It was that forest with all the¡­" His voice trailed off, and it took Jade a moment to realize why. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, her gaze found traces of hanging threads suspended between tree trunks. Webbing. It was thin in most places, easily avoided, but grew thicker towards the dark center of this strange place. A chill ran down Jade''s spine, both at the foreboding sight and the prophetic quality of her words. "Why?" Naomi groaned. "Why does it have to be spiders?" Jade didn¡¯t have an answer for her. As much as she liked them, she was not keen on fighting more of the giant variety. They were certainly the most dangerous of the monsters that inhabited this quadrant, even if none of them had given their party much trouble since the first pair they''d encountered.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "What''s that?" Luis asked, pointing to an especially thick patch of the sticky silk. Two large bundles hung suspended just off the ground, attached to a large web that stretched between three closely grouped trees. The group approached carefully, alert for any signs of danger. Jade put one hand on the hilt of her dagger, scanning their surroundings as she struggled to keep her anxiety in check. The bundles of webbing were still and inert, hanging motionless. No monsters crept out of the shadows or descended silently from the treetops. Jade swallowed, then stepped forward to investigate. A pit of dread formed in her stomach, part of her knowing what she would find even as she raised her dagger to slice open the web sac. She was right. "Mierda¡­" Luis breathed, taking a step back. Naomi covered her mouth, while Siora closed her eyes and turned away. A woman lay cocooned in the webbing, her shriveled skin drained of all color. She was obviously dead, reduced to a withered husk of a corpse that was dotted with bite marks. It was clear from the remains of her clothing and general features that this woman had come from Earth. Jade guessed she had probably been of Asian descent, but with the state of her body even that much was hard to tell for sure. Jade felt sick. Judging from how pale her companions'' faces were, she wasn''t the only one. She gritted her teeth, forcing down the wave of nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. The goblins she had killed were one thing, they had been attacking her and, for the most part, she hadn''t lingered near any of their corpses. This was different. The dead woman couldn''t have been much older than Jade, and seeing her body hammered home how truly dangerous the Labyrinth was in a way that none of the battles she''d fought in so far had quite managed to impart. Someone retched behind her, accompanied by a dull splattering sound. Jade didn''t turn to see who it was, fearing that the sight would make her follow suit. Instead, she forced herself to keep cutting with dagger until the dead woman was free of the cocoon. She lowered her to the ground, the corpse unnervingly cold to the touch. This could have been her. It had taken a desperate gamble for her to escape the venomhound that had chased her through the factory when she''d first arrived in this world. Had this woman even known what was happening to her? Or did she die drowning in a mixture of confusion and terror? Anger, fear, and revulsion twisted together in Jade''s stomach, forming a heavy pit. Mechanically, Jade rose to her feet. She turned to the other cocoon, cutting away at the binding threads. Or rather, she tried to. The dagger trembled in her grip, unable to find purchase. "Jade¡­" Luis''s voice was quiet and solemn. "Here." He offered his hand and Jade passed him the dagger. In that brief contact her magical senses prickled, catching a whiff of the turbulent emotions roiling beneath Luis¡¯s stoic expression. Recognizing the emotion was easy, for it mirrored her own. Luis¡¯s anger was hot and fierce, carrying a taste of burning, enticing spice. Again, the strong emotions carried an appeal that her body reacted to. She felt compulsion to breath it in, to draw closer to Luis and¡­ No. No, that wasn¡¯t right. Anger shouldn¡¯t feel that good, not even when it was justified. Yet something deep within her stirred in response to the emotional stimulation, awakening a distant hunger for more. Jade took a steadying breath and drew the second dagger from her belt, forcibly ignoring the distressingly attractive aura of latent fury hidden beneath Luis¡¯s controlled demeanor. The temptation was difficult to resist, and that just made her own anger all the fiercer. Biting her lower lip hard enough to taste blood, Jade helped him to cut open the other web sac. It too contained a corpse, an Asian man that looked to be about the same age as the woman. Together, they laid him beside the woman''s body. Then Jade stepped away, distancing herself from the alluring pull of Luis¡¯s mental energy. "This place is terrible." Jade breathed, once she was able to focus again. Her three companions looked at her. Siora opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it and cast her gaze to the ground. "It took us from our homes. It threw us into a land of conflict and death. And now it''s trying to tear our world apart." She continued, tightening her grip on the hilt of her dagger until her knuckles turned white. Anger continued to boil up from her core, urged on by that distant corner of her mind that shifted every time she transformed into her demonic body. Carried away by the heat of the moment, Jade stopped caring about where the feeling came from. It did feel right, and she could use it. "I''m going to stop it. I don''t care what I have to do." "I''ll have your back." Luis said grimly, staring down at the pair of corpses. Naomi nodded, wiping her mouth with a hand. "It''s not right." She agreed quietly. "It''s a cancer." Jade spat. "You heard Damos. The Labyrinth grows until it touches a world, then it strips it for parts. When it¡¯s done, it just does it all over again." And it took my humanity. She thought. Jade wasn''t especially bitter about her transformation, not after the way it had healed an injury that she had feared would haunt her forever, but she was still struggling to feel at home in her new body. Even when she wore her old form as she did now, it felt subtly different. Like a mask. Maybe that¡¯s what it is, now¡­ "It''s my home." Siora said softly. Jade turned to face the elf, stopping her rant. "The Labyrinth is the only world I''ve ever known." she continued, kneeling beside the corpses and closing their eyes with a hand. "But I don''t want what happened to the world my ancestors came from to be the fate of your ''Earth''. If I can help you, I will." Jade nodded in thanks. "I''m sorry, Siora." She said, taking a deep breath. "This isn''t your fault. I''m not angry at you. But what the Labyrinth is doing isn''t right. Someone needs to end this cycle. And if no one else can, then I will." "Geez, Jade." Naomi said, staring at her wide eyed. "You don''t think small, do you." "Go big or go home." Jade said quietly, a grim smile on her face. "Personally, I''d choose home. But I admire your ambition." "Whatever the plan is, we came here for a reason." Luis pointed out. "And now I really want to give a beatdown to whatever this boss is." A part of Jade recognized that going into battle while amped up on emotions was a bad idea, so she took a moment to try and calm herself. It wasn''t easy, her mind and body resisting the change. "It has to be some sort of spider monster." Jade said, somewhat more in control. She relaxed her grip on the dagger, sheathing both it and the one Luis had borrowed. "Obviously." Naomi said. "The question is, how do we beat it? If it''s called a ''boss'', then it has to be more dangerous than the ones we''ve been fighting. "Siora, do you know anything about bosses?" Jade asked, belatedly realizing that this was a conversation that they should have had before hiking all the way to the edge of the quadrant to confront one. "Not really, sorry." The elf shook her head. She was eyeing Jade closely, as if evaluating her. That didn''t bother Jade, she had simply spoken her mind. "Just that defeating them is how you advance to new levels of the Labyrinth. And¡­ That they''re dangerous, of course." "We already have good plans to take down those jungle spiders." Luis said. Indeed, over the past few days their party had slain several of the creatures. "We''ll just take it slow. With Juniper''s help, it won''t be a problem." "I hope you''re right¡­" Naomi said nervously. "I still think we should try and get a good look at it before we fight it." "We will if we can." Jade agreed. "First, we have to find it." "I think I know where it will be." Siora said. She pointed upwards, tilting her head back to gaze at the dark jungle foliage high above them. "That doesn''t look normal¡­" They all followed her gesture, peering up at the dimly illuminated treetops. High above, at least 60 feet in the air, was an especially dense section of jungle canopy filled with broad, crisscrossing, and interwoven branches. Upon closer inspection, Jade could make out thick strands of webbing stretched between small gaps in the boughs. The result was a sort of loose platform held high above the jungle floor, large enough to accommodate multiple of the monstrous spiders they''d become accustomed to battling. "Great." Jade sighed, thinking back to the precarious battles on the factory''s high catwalks. "Just what we needed: More heights." Chapter 25 Luis was not accustomed to feeling angry. He found it an unpleasant emotion, one that rarely resulted in any productive outcome, and so had spent much of his life practicing resisting falling into its throes. People were better off just letting life roll off their backs. There were too many things that one had no control over to waste time being upset about them. That was why when Luis had found himself suddenly pulled into what was basically a real-life video game dungeon with little more than the clothes on his back he had shrugged, decided that complaining about the situation wouldn''t help, and got right to figuring out how it all worked. Sometimes, though, even he had to admit that anger was a justified reaction. Not only that, but it could also be a powerful motivator. Letting anger drive your decisions was dangerous, he''d known more than one person who had thrown away their future with reckless actions taken in the heat of the moment, but in this instance, he embraced it. The monster of this darkened jungle, whatever it was, had mercilessly killed two people in what he imagined must have been a slow and terrifying death. When Luis thought about how easily one of his sisters could have been taken into this world rather than him, he was filled with an unfamiliar fury that told him to crush the creature that had done this. "Halfway there." Jade said from above, clambering to the next branch. The four of them were ascending one of the jungle giants, a task that was made possible by an overabundance of gnarled branches that twisted out from the trunk at regular intervals. Even so, clambering up more than 5 stories while equipped with their weapons and armor was no mean feat. Except for Jade, who made the task look trivial with how she lightly sprung from branch to branch. Actually, Siora looks at home up here too¡­ Was that an elf thing? It was probably an elf thing. Luis heaved himself up to the spot his companion had just vacated, then turned to offer a hand to Naomi. She took it, carefully stepping up beside him while pulling her guitar strap tight to stop it from bouncing around. "We''ve got this, chica." He said, forcing a half smile. "Be there in no time." Naomi simply nodded, not wasting breath on a reply. Her expression was grim, holding a mixture of fear and determination. Luis knew that combination well, but it was his responsibility to keep the party optimistic. It was a role he had played his whole life, caring for four younger siblings in a home that was constantly facing some sort of crisis. The people had changed, as had the dangers that faced them, but the need to stay positive hadn''t. Luis let her pass, shifting to climb behind Naomi so that he could help steady her if she lost her footing. Siora brought up the rear, a pensive expression on her normally cheerful face. "What was it that Naomi took from the bodies¡­?" Siora whispered from below Luis, quietly enough that no one else could hear. Luis glanced down at the elf, pausing to reply. "Their ID''s." He explained, taking a moment to catch his breath. "It tells us who they were." She nodded in understanding, and they resumed their ascent. Naomi had insisted on searching the deceased for any identifying documents, explaining that their families deserved to know what happened to them. She was a kind soul, one who shouldn''t have had to face the dangers of this world. That threatened to anger him as well but, for the moment, he kept it in check. They had nearly reached the elevated platform of interconnected branches that was their destination when the trunk of the tree they were climbing suddenly rippled, as if the bark had turned to water. Before Luis could do more than take an alarmed, shuffling step away along the broad branch he stood upon, a familiar figure emerged from the tree. As in, literally stepped out of it as if it weren''t there. Juniper straightened, the dryad''s emerald skin blended well into the dimly lit verdant foliage that surrounded them. Luis relaxed, only now realizing his entire body had tensed at her unexpected appearance. "Next time¡­" Luis breathed out. "Could you give us a warning before you do that? It''s pretty freaky if you don''t know it''s comin''." "Juniper!" Siora exclaimed, her expression brightening. She paused on the branch below Luis. "You made it!" "I meant to arrive earlier." The dryad said, her voice the sound of swirling leaves. "I apologize for being late. The presence of this monster has roused others in the valley, and there is much to tend to." "We''re just glad you''re here." Naomi said from above, looking extremely relieved. "I was getting worried Jade was going to have us fight the boss ourselves." "That wasn''t going to happen." Jade said, giving her a flat look. "I was about to suggest we stop to wait for her." They were nearly at the top now and would be able to mount the platform of branches with another minute or so of climbing. The five of them clustered onto a pair of adjacent tree limbs so they could talk more easily. Luis wasn''t an expert on trees, but he found it odd that the branches were still so thick this high above the ground. Some of them were nearly as broad as his shoulders. "Do you know what the monster is?" Jade asked Juniper. "We think it''s a big spider, like the ones near your tree." "I do not know for certain." Juniper said, tilting her head skyward. "But I can sense it. We are close. There is one large creature above us, and several others that are much smaller."Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. "It has friends?" Naomi asked. "That doesn''t sound good." "Maybe it''s like a video game." Luis offered. "Where the boss has some weak minions that distract you while you fight it." "What if I don''t want to be distracted?" Naomi asked, annoyed. "Do you know how hard it is to stay on rhythm while a monster is trying to bite you in half?" "We''ll keep them away from you." Jade assured her. "Juniper, Siora, if we focus on the main boss, could you keep the smaller monsters busy?" "My magic is well suited to that task." Juniper said. Siora nodded her agreement as well. "I have a few more potions I can use for that." "Then that''s the plan." Jade said. "I''ll go first and set my traps. If we can lead the boss into them, we''ll get an early advantage." Luis gave her a thumbs up. Knocking or leading monsters into Jade''s binding traps was one of the more successful strategies they''d been practicing recently. "Let''s get to it."
Jade pulled herself up the final few feet onto the network of crisscrossing tree limbs that formed a sort of platform high above the jungle ground, lithely swinging up to land in a crouch. She froze, scanning her surroundings for any sign that she''d been detected. There was nothing. No movement caught her eye, nor did any sound alert her to unseen danger. The twisting branches that formed the uneven floor were eerily still and quiet, without even a hint of a breeze to sway them. As they''d seen from the ground, the few gaps between the boughs were filled in with strands of thick, white webbing, intricately woven into mesmerizing geometric patterns. Tearing her gaze from the distracting sight, she focused on the task at hand. The platform itself was surprisingly sturdy, if lumpy and uneven. It wasn''t quite as dangerous as it had first looked from below, but navigating the rough surface with any speed would be difficult in the dim light. Still, she was glad that a simple misstep wouldn''t be enough to send one of them falling all the way to the ground. Jade didn''t wait for any enemies to show themselves, opting to take advantage of their absence to cast her spell without risk. "Ligaricto Manemm" She murmured, brushing her hand against the surface of the living floor in front of her. There was a pulse of violet light as mana flowed through her body and out her fingertips, coalescing into a collection of glowing arcane runes that formed a hovering circle just above the gnarled wood. After several seconds the light faded, the runes sinking down to phase into the branch. If Jade hadn''t just watched the process unfold, she would''ve been hard pressed to detect the telltale signs of the runic trap now that it was fully set. Unfortunately, the powerful spell came with drawbacks. Despite her ability to maintain three separate traps at once, she had to wait a full minute between each casting. Even if that weren''t the case, its mana cost was high enough to put a noticeable dent in her reserves. Jade was wary about using too much magical energy before a fight began, she hadn''t invested much into her willpower characteristic yet. As a result, she regained mana at a less than ideal rate at the best of times. Considering that she often fought in her true demon form, which cut that score by 40%, she had to be judicious in the use of mana. After a moment''s thought, Jade decided that she could afford one more. Creeping her way towards the center of the vaguely circular platform, still vigilant for signs of trouble, she searched for a good location to place the next rune. Behind her, some thirty feet away, the rest of her party had finished clambering up to join her. She had just invoked her spell again, priming a second trap, when a sound caught her attention. The scraping, pattering noise was a stark contrast to the stillness of this place and immediately set off alarm bells in her mind. Jade didn''t waste any time, backing away towards her companions before she even laid eyes on the approaching creature. The monster, which was indeed a spider, clambered around the side of one of the massive trees that stood at the edge of the arena-like platform, moving with a heavy, lumbering gait. The reason for its ponderous progress was immediately clear; most of the arachnid''s body was covered by some sort of chitinous exoskeleton. It clung to its form like the armor of a scorpion, overlapping plates providing protection to the outside of its many legs and a good portion of its body. Without warning it leapt from its perch, dropping to the floor with a heavy thud and a crack, its sharp legs piercing several inches into the wood beneath it. Jade reached her companions, resisting the urge to immediately shift into her succubus form as the monster turned to face them from the other end of the makeshift platform. It would be better if she could regenerate as much mana as possible before transforming. That and, as much as she was trying to ignore it, the spikes of anger and wild emotion that accompanied her demonic body were growing more and more disconcerting. Even in her human form, catching sight of the monster that had likely killed those two people below intensified the tumultuous fury that simmered in her core. Jade could sense much the same coming from Luis as the large man drew his even larger sword. She tasted his anger, sharp and fiery, as he glared across the open expanse at their foe. But her private misgivings weren''t enough to stop her, the power was too useful. When she needed the strength of her demonic body, she would use it without hesitation. The boss began to approach slowly, hunched low with its eight glowing red eyes locked on them. None of the monsters they''d faced so far had been this large or intimidating. Clad in its armored shell, the seven-foot-tall spider looked more like a tank than a creature. Jade glared back, forcing down a flutter of fear that gripped her stomach. She pulled up its information, which the Voice read in a more dramatic voice than usual. "Huh?" Jade blinked. Despite the tension and imminent onset of battle, the info box had distracted her. "But spiders don''t have queens¡­" "We have more important things to worry about, Jade!" Naomi hissed from behind her, incredulous. "Take it up with the Labyrinth later!" "Maybe I will¡­" she muttered, drawing her daggers and dropping into a crouch. Naomi and Luis stepped up beside her, with Juniper and Siora hanging slightly further back. "But first, it''s time for payback." Chapter 26 Naomi never had anything against spiders, on the whole. Sure, they were creepy and a little gross, but they ate even grosser bugs and mostly stayed put in their webs. They kept the house free of pests, and she left them alone. It was a good system. Now things were different. The spiders were the size of horses, they looked more horrifying than ever and, most importantly, they were trying to eat her. How did Jade talk me into this!? Naomi thought, trying not to panic as she watched the enormous, armored arachnid scuttle towards her along a tree branch large enough to be a boulevard. Never. Again. Well, there was nothing she could do about it now. The sooner they sent this thing back to whatever hellish abyss it had crawled from, the sooner she could try and forget it had ever existed. Readying her guitar, Naomi opened her body to the mana flowing through her mind. She strummed once to get a feel for the magic, the enhanced sound booming out as if from an unseen amp. The would-be idol glared at the approaching monster, standing her ground as Jade and Luis moved to intercept it, careful to avoid the succubus''s runic traps. This creature, which was even larger than any of the previous spiders they''d encountered in this quadrant, had probably killed two innocent people who had been taken from Earth. She carried their IDs in her pocket, the only evidence of their fate that she could preserve. As frightened as she was to face off against such a formidable, nightmarish foe, she was determined to stop it before it hurt anyone else. Taking in a breath, Naomi released her magic. She channeled it through her body and into her instrument as she played the first few notes of a lively tune. Casting the spell ''Fleetfoot'' came easily to her, the music springing from her guitar like it wanted to be played. She didn''t need to adhere to a certain melody for the spell, as long as the music was fast and energetic the speed enhancing effects of the magic took hold on herself and her allies. The bard stood back as her companions engaged the boss, Luis charging in from the front and activating his shield as Jade cut in from the side. Naomi''s magic enhanced their movement and finesse, allowing them to strike and dodge with greater speed and precision. Concentrating on maintaining the tune, she watched as Luis smashed aside one of the spider''s forelegs before following through with a powerful slice that caught it in its thorax. Jade was there a moment later, sprinting out of the gloom to slash her twin blades across its side while the beast stumbled back. It hissed, turning to snap at her with its serrated mandibles, but she had already leapt away. Luis took advantage of the opening to land another heavy blow, spreading cracks across one of its many armored plates. This strategy, Luis distracting a monster while Naomi boosted their agility and Jade danced in and out of reach, had quickly become their core combat tactic. That wasn''t the only result of their time practicing, however. They''d also developed several distinct moves, or combos as Luis had taken to calling them, that combined their fledgling team''s abilities. As the armored spider queen snarled, spinning in place to bring Luis back into its line of sight, Naomi saw the perfect opportunity to implement one of them. "Firecracker!" She shouted the signal, spotting an opening in the monster''s defenses as it reared back to swipe at Luis with a foreleg. Naomi shifted her grip on the guitar, splicing three climactic notes in a rapid sequence into her ¡®Fleetfoot¡¯ melody. A jet of crackling fire burst to life in the air before her, blasting towards the monster like a giant sparkler and sending a wave of heat washing over her. The magical missile impacted right beside the spider''s head with a flash of light, searing its armor and setting a small portion of it ablaze with sputtering flames. The enormous spider screeched as flames licked at its head, an unnerving sound that reminded Naomi of grinding metal. It took a stumbling step away, raising a leg to rub furiously at its burning shell. While it was occupied Jade dashed in to perform the move''s follow up, shifting into her demon form mid stride. She darted between two skittering legs and skillfully twisted around a third, bringing up her daggers to slash across the smoldering flames in a fluid motion that carried her away and out of reach of retaliation. The secondary effect of ''Pyrotechnics'' triggered a moment later, fire bursting from the wound to scorch the monster again. It staggered back, disoriented, just as Luis charged in to complete the combo. Raising his sword high in a two-handed grip, he brought it down in a mighty swing directly onto the boss''s head. "Haaa!" CRUNCH. "Scryaaaaaa!" The monstrous arachnid let out another ear-piercing screech, the chitinous armor on its head cracking with a snap loud enough to be heard even over Naomi''s booming chords. Luis pressed his advantage, swinging again with a savage slice that hammered one of its spindly legs. Unfortunately, the boss was quite a bit tougher than any of the enemies they''d faced so far and, while it was clearly taking damage, it had the fortitude to stand up to punishment that would have slain any of its smaller cousins. It recovered quickly, its heavily armored bulk making the monster difficult to knock off balance. It lashed out with an uninjured leg, smashing it into Luis''s protective barrier and sending him skidding backwards. His barrier cracked under the strain, then faded as its duration expired. "Back!" Jade shouted, circling towards Naomi. "Towards the traps!" Luis nodded, not taking his eyes off the monster as he maneuvered to place one of Jade''s rune traps between himself and the spider. It advanced on him, black blood staining the wood beneath its large bulk. As it moved into the middle of the arena-like-platform, Naomi finally got a good look at the monster. It was the size of a large pickup truck, covered in a mottled brown and green shell formed of overlapping plates. The armor covered almost everything except its belly, which was too low to the ground to easily target with attacks, and parts of its legs. She continued to trickle mana into her ''Fleetfoot'' melody, checking her indicator as she did. Good, she was still ok on reserves for the moment.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. A skittering sound from behind caught Naomi''s attention. She turned, just as Siora shouted a warning. "Look out!" Another spider, small and dark, had crawled up from a gap between two nearby branches and was skittering towards her with its mandibles chomping wildly. It looked like a juvenile version of the larger ones they''d fought in the jungle but was still the size of a medium dog. A spike of fear and revulsion shot through Naomi as it drew close, the emotions breaking through the wall of discipline she''d maintained so far. She jumped to the side, narrowly dodging a leaping attack. The melody faltered as Naomi fumbled a note, her fingers slipping along the strings. She steadied herself, concentrating on maintaining the buff even as she kicked the spider away. "Ampelosu!" Juniper''s voice rang out, the dryad thrusting forth a hand. The branch below her small assailant cracked, green vines reaching forth to wrap the beast in a vice grip. It squealed, flailing its many legs as the vines constricted around it, squeezing harder and harder. "We''ll take care of the little ones!" Siora called, uncorking a potion vial and spraying its contents in a wide arc at another pair of the creatures that were beginning to emerge from the edges of the platform. They shied away from her, dark sizzling fumes wafting from the branches around them. "Help your companions." Juniper agreed, serene as ever, waving her other hand and sending a burst of wind to scatter another cluster of the encroaching minions that continued to climb into the arena. Naomi nodded, moving closer to the main battle and away from the smaller monsters that had decided to join the fight. In the few moments her attention had been diverted the boss had triggered Jade''s trap, becoming enveloped in shadowy chains that stretched from a violet arcane circle beneath its feet. Her companions sliced away at its flanks, taking advantage of its immobility to go on the offensive. Despite its predicament, the spider queen was striking back. It stabbed at Jade and Luis with sharp legs, scoring their armor and keeping them at bay. Naomi increased the melody''s tempo, sending her fingers dancing skillfully along the singing strings. Her instrument hummed with power, emanating waves of invigorating energy that infused herself and her allies with speed. Jade and Luis circled the boss as it twisted in its bindings, their steps light and quick, staying away from its snapping jaws and continuing their assault. Luis struck with power, while Jade weaved her blades in precise, efficient cuts. SNAP. The armored spider flexed, shattering one of the umbral chains that held it in place. It surged towards Luis, straining with all its considerable strength. SNAP. SNAP. CRACK. The remaining restraints were torn apart in a cascading failure that broke the spell, leaving the boss free to lunge at an unprepared Luis. He dodged to the side, but it was too late. Her armored companion took a vicious bite right on his breastplate, the spider''s serrated mandibles cracking it like she would a crab shell. Luis cried out in pain, a faint bluish barrier shimmering to life around him as one of his abilities siphoned part of the damage to his mana supply. "No!" Naomi shouted, letting loose another blast of fire at the monster as Jade continued to slash at its rear. The sparkling column of flame impacted its side, failing to penetrate its armored flank but succeeding in diverting its attention away from her wounded companion. It spun to face her, unleashing a spray of webbing that she had to dive to avoid. She hit the uneven floor of the platform hard, pain blossoming from her knees and elbows as she pulled herself to her feet. The music faded and, along with it, the agility boost. Naomi suddenly felt slow and heavy, but there was no time to resume playing. The spider queen was approaching, its legs churning in a nightmarish flurry of motion that carried it towards her at an alarming speed. Shit. Shit! Naomi''s blood ran cold, terror coursing through her. She backpedaled as fast as she could without tripping, scanning the ground around her. Where was it? Where the hell was it?! There! Naomi darted back and to the right just as the boss pounced, forelegs extended to pierce her chest. WHOOSH. Jade''s second trap triggered, another cluster of magical chains blasting from the now glowing rune to ensnare the creature. Naomi''s heart leapt into her throat as its spear of a leg was pulled short a mere two feet from her. She didn''t wait for it to break free, dashing around the monster in a wide arc over to where Luis was pulling himself to his feet, his armor scored across its front and streaked with crimson. She swung her guitar at another of the smaller spiders that had gotten too close, knocking it away as she drew near him. "Sana''y di magmaliw" Naomi sang in Tagalog, heart still pounding, reaching a hand towards Luis. "ang dati kong araw!" A soft glow surrounded Naomi as she invoked the spell, thin wisps of light flowing from her hand to infuse Luis with radiant warmth. She''d found that no matter what she sang, the spell''s effect was the same so long as she could hold a tune. Somewhere during their practice, she''d fallen back on singing lullabies. Luis''s breathing eased a little as the spell took hold. He stood up straighter, flashing her a weak smile. "Thanks." He nodded towards the boss, which was straining against the binding spell as Jade continued to harry it from behind. "Nice moves." She nodded, still singing. Across the battlefield, Juniper and Siora were taking care of the last of the juvenile spiders. Meanwhile, the boss was starting to look substantially wounded. A few of its legs were bent at odd angles, not moving properly anymore. Black blood poured from numerous cuts and gashes along its body, but the armored beast was tough and angry. It still had fight in it. Jade backed off towards them as Naomi finished the spell, color returning to Luis''s face. Her demonic companion glanced over her shoulder, furling her leathery wings behind her back. She was covered in numerous scrapes and had a shallow cut running the length of her left forearm. Blood oozed from it, staining her padded sleeve. "Naomi!" She called. "Liftoff!" "Huh?!" Naomi blinked, staring at Jade in stunned surprise. "I thought we agreed that move was too dangerous!" "Its sides are too armored, getting through it is taking too long." Jade explained, speaking quickly and gesturing for her to join her closer to where the spider was struggling to free itself. "Hurry, before it breaks out!" "Jade-!" Naomi didn''t know what to say. She knew what her companion was trying to do, they''d practiced it, but¡­ "That''s crazy!" "Trust me." Jade grinned. With her face splattered with spider blood and framed by curling horns, the expression was downright¡­ well¡­ demonic. "I have a plan." CRACK. The first of the chains shattered. It was now or never. Naomi made a snap decision, running up to join Jade. "O-Ok! I hope you know you what you''re doing!" Jade crouched, twirling her daggers and spreading her wings as she faced their twisting, struggling foe. "Now!" Jade jumped, leaping as high as she could just as Naomi strummed once, channeling most of her remaining mana into a carefully aimed and powerful blast of sound. The wave of energy crashed into Jade''s back, flinging her up and out to soar in an arc. An arc that would take her right on top of the enormous boss. Naomi watched anxiously, clutching her instrument to her chest. I really hope I didn''t just get her killed. Chapter 27 Air whipped past Jade in a rushing stream as she flew across the battlefield, launched by Naomi''s spell. Her back stung from the force of the blast, but it wasn''t any worse than some of the falls she''d endured over the years. Jade gritted her teeth and focused, estimating where the arc of her flight path would take her. The enormous body of the restrained spider loomed large before her, gravity pulling her back towards the ground as her upward momentum was expended. She was going to overshoot it. Not by much, but the margin for error was small in a maneuver like this. Which was part of the reason they''d stopped practicing it on the first day of their training. Worse, because the spider''s back had been towards them when she''d blasted off, leapfrogging it would result in her smashing into the ground right in front of its gaping maw. Jade wasn''t about to let that happen. Just as she arced over the boss the succubus flared her wings wide, using them as an airbrake to bleed off speed. It worked. She dropped like a rock, slamming feet first into the creature''s armored back. For a heart stopping moment Jade''s momentum continued to drag her forward. She scrambled for purchase on the chitinous plates beneath her, dropping onto her backside and reaching for anything she could grasp before she tumbled down into the churning mass of trampling legs that were shattering the chains of her spell. At the last moment Jade slid over a small gap in its armor. She lunged for it, twisting onto her belly and reaching out with both hands to seize the makeshift handhold. One of her daggers went spinning off into the gloom, clattering down to the platform of interwoven branches below as she arrested her fall. She jerked to a halt dangling half off the monster, shoulders screaming in protest at the abuse. Gritting her teeth and curling her legs up to avoid them being caught in the chaotic windmill of stomping limbs below her, Jade managed to stab her remaining dagger deep into the gap between the armored plates. The spider shrieked in outrage, breaking free of the remnants of her binding spell just as she performed the world''s most terrifying pull-up, hauling herself to the relative safety of the monster''s slippery back. "Naomi, Luis!" She yelled, hanging on for dear life while the monster''s body rocked beneath her. It didn''t seem to be a fan of having a passenger. "Nail it!" Jade''s world lurched and spun with the spider''s wild movements. She braced her feet against a spiky protrusion of its armor, flattening her wings to hug the surface of the monster''s shell. If her companions could distract it for just a moment¡­! WHAM. An arc of crackling force energy smashed into one of the spider''s legs. It was followed closely by a searing bolt of fire that engulfed part of its belly in roiling flames. A wave of heat washed over Jade, banishing the chill that suffused the gloomy treetops. The monster stilled, hunkering down in a defensive crouch in response to the barrage. That was exactly what Jade had been waiting for. She lurched into motion, crawling along the arachnid''s sloping back as quickly as she could. A dull red glow shined from the spider''s head, emanating from the shattered armor plate that Luis had cracked open with his sword earlier. She hadn''t been able to score a hit on the spot her ¡®Vital Sight¡¯ talent had tagged as a vulnerability while contending with the creature''s snapping mandibles and stabbing legs, but from up here¡­ Jade heaved herself forward, heedless of the sharp armored plates that sliced gashes into her arms and legs. A potent mixture of fear and adrenaline coursed through her veins, lending her strength. Just as the monster stirred, ready to resume its offensive, Jade reversed her grip on the dagger and plunged it into the crack in its armored head, burying the blade to the hilt. The boss spasmed violently, letting out an unearthly shriek that clawed at Jade''s ears. She clung to its back with all the strength she could muster while the spider staggered sideways, trying to twist the blade deeper. A gout of flame erupted from the wound, the secondary effect of Naomi''s ''Pyrotechnics'' spell triggering a blast that nearly engulfed Jade''s head. She ducked back just in time to avoid the searing fire, looking up when she felt the spider slow to a halt. For a moment, Jade thought they had slain it. Blood poured from numerous wounds all over its body, and at least two of its legs were now dragging uselessly behind it. Charred pieces of armor and scorched skin added to its beleaguered appearance, but it wasn''t quite done yet. Chittering angrily, the spider reared up on its hind legs. Jade thought it was trying to launch a globule of webbing at her companions, who were rushing over to rejoin the fight with Luis in the lead. But no, it kept tilting its body further and further upright, until Jade was practically dangling from the dagger she''d stabbed into its head. "Oh, fuck!" She grunted, eyes widening as she finally recognized the danger. The spider had backed up to one of the trees at the edge of the platform that served as the arena for the battle. As it raised its body into the air, the tree trunk was rushing up behind her. It was trying to crush her!The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Jade twisted to the side, aided by a sudden burst of music as Naomi resumed her movement enhancing melody. The spider''s back crunched against the rough surface of the tree with tremendous force, peppering her with a hail of splinters and shattered bark. Her armor deflected the worst of it, but several pieces of wood sliced painfully across her face and arms. She clung to her dagger, which was still wedged firmly in its armored head, hanging a dozen feet in the air. How the hell was this thing still moving?! Fury welled up inside Jade like a rising storm, washing away her fear and pain. This creature had murdered at least two people. Now it was trying to kill both her and her friends. She wasn''t going to let that happen. Bolstered by Naomi''s spell and fueled by a rage whose source Jade wasn''t consciously aware of, she shifted to brace her legs against the trunk of the tree and kicked off hard, letting go of the dagger and launching herself out into open air. One of the spider''s massive forelegs was splayed out in front of her, the creature just beginning to tip back forward towards the ground. Grasping the leg with both hands as she passed under it, she swung from the limb like it was a gymnasium''s high bar. She timed her release perfectly, redirecting her momentum to send her arcing across the monster''s fleshy underside. Jade had let go of her dagger, she didn''t have a weapon. She didn''t need one. Her body knew what to do. Acting on instincts that were somehow both familiar and foreign, Jade let the magic of her shapechange feature ripple through her body. Her hands shifted, fingers extending into vicious claws just in time for her to rake them across the entire width of the spider''s unarmored belly, which it had exposed when it reared upright to crush her. Below, Luis struck it at the same time with a heavy slash that completely severed one of its remaining good legs. It was enough. The boss screeched in pain, limbs going limp as its body finally gave out. The spider slumped, beginning to topple over. Jade wasn''t out of danger yet. She had jumped from a height of at least ten feet and the wooden platform was approaching with frightening speed. Striking the boss had left her off kilter, and Jade twisted in the air to bring her feet back under her just in time. She landed hard, the impact sending a jolt of white-hot pain searing through her legs even as the former gymnast tucked into a roll, distributing the force of the fall across a larger area of her body. Unfortunately, she wasn''t yet used to having wings while performing this type of maneuver. They fouled up her roll, sending Jade into an uncontrolled tumble towards the edge of the arena. Disoriented by the chaotic motion and many sharp pains assaulting her body from all sides, she barely managed to get a grip on the edge of the last branch. Her claws dug into the wood, Jade struggling to keep herself from plummeting to the ground far below. The fear returned in a rush, her grip beginning to slip-! And then Luis was there, dashing up to her in a magically enhanced blur of motion. "Hang on!" He dove for her, one hand back to brace himself, his other arm outstretched. His hand clenched around Jade''s forearm just as she lost her grip. She clung to him tightly, unintentionally digging into his arm with her newfound claws. Luis winced in pain, heaving upward with all his strength. A moment later, one of Juniper''s vines emerged from a nearby branch, wrapping itself around Jade''s waist and helping lift her back to the safety of the platform. Jade let go of Luis, collapsing to a heap and gasping for breath. Everything hurt. Her legs ached from the fall, and she was bleeding from numerous cuts and scrapes. Jade groaned, rolling onto her back. A short distance away, the armored spider''s corpse finally crashed to the ground in a messy heap of blood and viscera. She didn''t even look at it, focusing on deep breaths to calm her racing heart. Naomi arrived a few seconds later, followed closely by Juniper and Siora. The bard stretched out her hand and cast her healing spell, a warm light enveloping Jade. The worst of the pain began to ebb away, with more receding as she channeled the spell. "Thanks." Jade moaned, feeling more like herself again. She sat up, the motion making her a little dizzy. "Well?" she asked Luis. "What?" he replied, pausing with a healing potion halfway to his mouth. "My score?" Jade prompted, gesturing towards the spider''s remains. The reckless insanity of her most recent stunt was beginning to dawn on her, and the fact that she''d survived it left her feeling oddly giddy. "Ha!" Luis laughed. He winced, clutching at his chest where his blood splattered armor had cracked. "Ahh¡­ Eight point five out of ten." He grunted, shaking his head with a bemused grin. "You didn''t stick the landing." "Fair." Jade lay back on the ground, wings splayed out to her sides. "I''ll get it right next time." "There had better not be a next time!" Naomi huffed, finishing her spell. "That was your plan? You''re crazy, Jade." "Yeah¡­ Let''s make that plan C, going forward. Maybe D." "You''re impossible." Naomi sighed, but Jade saw a hint of a smile cross her face. "Thanks for the catch." Jade said to Luis. "I owe you one. You too, Juniper." "No problem." Luis said, drinking one of Siora''s newly made healing potions. He sighed with relief as he finished it. "Damn chica, this is the good stuff." "I''m glad you like it." She said, and then cocked her head. "Is this what being a wayfarer is like? It''s a little much¡­" "You get used to it¡­" Jade grunted. Naomi gave her a skeptical look. "Jade, we''ve only been here for, like, four days." "Yeah." She agreed. "And if I keep telling myself that, maybe it''ll come true." Juniper, who had been serenely observing the conversation, finally spoke up. "Thank you for your help. Because of you, my home will be safe from this creature." She smiled at all of them. High above, the thick canopy shifted slightly, allowing a single ray of sunshine to bathe the platform in a pleasant, warm light. The dryad''s gaze lingered on Jade for a long moment, and she belatedly realized that she''d never explained to the nature spirit what her true race was. Either she had somehow already known, or she simply didn''t care, because Juniper turned away a moment later. "You are always welcome here." She continued. "If ever you need shelter or refuge, you know where to find me." Without another word, she dissolved into a flurry of autumn leaves. They fluttered away on a light breeze, vanishing into the jungle. "She''s really not the social type, is she¡­" Naomi said, crossing her arms. "Bye!" Siora called after her, waving. "I''ll visit soon!" Jade lay back, closing her eyes. The notification icon pulsed in the corner of her vision. She''d check them in a moment. First, she needed to catch her breath. "We did it." She said to everyone. "One down, and who the hell knows how many to go." Chapter 28 The party took several minutes to tend to their wounds and recuperate from the harrowing battle. Jade thought the fight had gone decently well, her close call with the edge of the arena aside. That was something she couldn''t fully blame on the boss anyway. What mattered most was that they had emerged victorious and without serious injury. Even after Naomi''s healing spells had closed Jade''s wounds and returned her health indicators back to green, though, she was left with some persistent aches and quite a bit of stiffness. Magical healing was incredible, but it couldn''t immediately restore someone back to one hundred percent from even minor wounds. At least, not the low-level spells they had access to. Finally, Jade forced herself to get up. No one else seemed to be motivated enough to rally the team, and if she didn''t do it then they were at risk of just lying here for the rest of the day. If they were going to rest, Jade would prefer that be done back at the sanctuary. As much as she didn''t want to hike all the way back across the quadrant, the last thing they needed was some normal monster wandering by while they were lounging in the treetops. Luis was lying on his back in the lone shaft of sunlight that still penetrated the thick canopy, arms and legs spread wide. Naomi sat beside him with Siora, carefully tuning her guitar while the elf fussed over her potion vials. None of them had escaped the battle unscathed, although Luis and Jade had been the only ones to take significant damage, and all of them looked as exhausted as Jade felt. Deciding that a couple more minutes to recover wouldn''t hurt, she decided to loot the boss before coaxing her companions back to their feet. The armored spider''s corpse, Jade refused to think of it by its official name of ''queen'' on principle, lay in a chaotic mess of shattered chitin, congealing blood, and tangled legs. The stench was atrocious, and Jade had to hold her breath to get close enough to tap one of its mangled legs. No one ever talks about the smell¡­ She reflected, thinking back to all the media she''d consumed over the years and instructing the system to loot the monster while her eyes watered from the pungent odor. The monster''s corpse melted away into smoke before her eyes, leaving the uneven platform of branches bare save for herself and her companions. It left behind a substantial pile of crescent coins and a small silver key. The system didn¡¯t have the decency to remove the copious amount of blood that had seeped out of the corpse before it had been looted, though, and Jade was forced to squelch her way through the disgusting mess to retrieve their rewards. She picked up the key first, examining it. It had a crescent handle that looked similar to the coins. Jade had barely finished reading the prompt when another window opened. The key didn''t look like a fragment to Jade, but that''s what the system labeled it as. She also wasn''t sure how her one item could be ''combined'' into something else. And what was this about rings? With a mental shrug she clicked ''Yes''. The silver key shimmered in her hand, glowing white and growing larger and heavier. A moment later and the process was complete, the light fading to reveal an ornate golden key with a crescent handle. Jade slipped the key into her bulging backpack, and then went about the rather gross business of picking up the sticky coins. "I have the key." Jade said wearily as she returned to the group. "Luis, you''re up next." "For what?" he asked, pushing himself up into a sitting position with a groan. "For gathering gross loot." Jade said, dropping the pile of bloody coins to the ground beside him. She had bundled them in one of her damaged shirts that wasn''t suitable for wearing any longer. "And you get to carry it." He lifted the bag, inspecting it dubiously. Congealed black blood slowly dripped from the bottom of it, pooling on the floor beside him. "Don''t they say money is the root of all evil?" he asked, holding the oozing bag at arm¡¯s length. "We should leave it behind. You know, before it corrupts us." "Nice try." Jade rolled her eyes. "Alright, everyone, if we don''t want to spend the night here then we need to get moving." Naomi stood up slowly, shouldering her bag and tucking the guitar under one arm. "We''re definitely not staying here." she declared, looking around with unease. "If we missed some of those little spiders, I''d rather not find out." The four of them agreed that their best option was to return to the sanctuary for the night before setting out again in the morning. Now that their business in the ''Lush Valley'' quadrant was done and they had a level key, they could begin making their way towards a stairway to the second floor. "Siora?" Jade asked as they carefully climbed back down towards the ground. "Do you know where we can find a stairway?" "Not exactly, but I know what direction we should travel in. The day before we met, when I was planning my own journey home, Juniper gave me some directions. I don''t have a compass with me, but I know which way is inward from here." "What do you mean by ''inward''?" Naomi asked. As they continued to climb down, Siora took some time to explain how people navigated the Labyrinth and how the dungeon was structured. Her explanation answered several questions Jade hadn''t yet had an opportunity to ask and, as always, led to even more. According to Siora, the Labyrinth was laid out as a series of concentric rings of incomprehensible size, with the outer most ring being the lowest level and each successive ring ''inward'' being the next floor ''up''. To travel to the second floor, they would have to navigate the width of their current ring to its inner wall. There, gates that were known as ''stairways'' served as passageways between levels. Now that they had a level key for this floor, all they had to do to ascend was find one of these gateways and open it. Travelling down to lower floors worked much the same, but in reverse. If one travelled ''outward'' to the outer edge of a floor''s ring they would find portals that would carry them down one level. Unlike when ascending, these gateways were not locked and could be used by anyone, but were only one way. That didn''t usually matter, however, since Labyrinth nodes could be used to travel between previously visited destinations, even across floors. Anyone descending could generally return to the higher level they''d come from with ease. Siora was an unusual exception, as the trap that had dropped her down a floor had also cleared her node log. Additionally, the elf explained that the outermost edge of the first ring, the one they were currently on, was where the gateways to the rest of the universe were situated. Damos had told them that the permanent portals to Earth wouldn''t be open for at least another month, but once they were established that was one way they would be able to exit the Labyrinth.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "I understand ''inward'' and ''outward'' as directions." Naomi said, dropping down to the jungle floor to join the rest of the party. "But why are the other two called ''spinward'' and ''trailward?'' Do the rings rotate?" "Yes!" Siora nodded, pleased that they understood. "Each ring spins, but at changing speeds, so where the stairways between levels lead sort of wobbles back and forth across the same few zones over time. Actually, the movement of the rings is what the Labyrinth calendar is based on." "This is too complicated." Luis complained, rubbing his temples. "Why can''t anything ever be simple?" "How does the calendar work?" Jade asked, ignoring Luis''s grumbling. "I''ve heard you talk in terms of days and years. Do people measure time based off the world they come from?" "No, that would be very confusing." Siora explained. "The cities on the higher floors are filled with people from all across the universe. A Labyrinth month is how long it takes for the stairs from ring two to lead to a new quadrant on ring three. There are ten months in a Labyrinth year, that''s how long it takes for those connections to get back to their starting quadrants." "Huh." Jade said, considering that. "Why are rings two and three used? Why not one and two?" "Not many people live on this ring, it changes too often. Even the days here are inconsistent. I''m pretty sure each day I''ve spent in this valley has been shorter than the last. The higher rings are more stable." After that exchange, Siora caught sight of a cluster of vibrant purple flowers and ran off to investigate them. Jade had to practically pry her away from the plants, and she still insisted on spending several minutes gathering samples before she was willing to leave. That settled, the group began trekking their way back towards the library sanctuary, staying alert for any wandering monsters. Naomi''s healing magic had worked wonders on Jade''s various wounds, but they hadn''t been able to eliminate them entirely. Every step she took sent a dull ache pulsing through her ankle. It was disconcertingly reminiscent of the injury she had entered the Labyrinth with, and Jade found herself stressing over the idea that her transformation into a succubus hadn''t completely healed her of it. It was a ridiculous concern, it would''ve been stranger if she didn''t have some aches after the fall she''d endured, but her worries weren''t so easily banished. When she wasn''t getting sidetracked by local flora, Siora continued to explain the Labyrinth''s strange calendar system as they walked. They eventually figured out that one Labyrinth year was roughly equivalent to one and a quarter Earth years, although Jade hoped that they would be out of this place before that particular piece of information became relevant to her. According to their elven companion, some unknown cosmic quirk had resulted in timekeeping concepts like ''hour'' and ''minute'' to be practically universal throughout the cosmos. That seemed suspiciously convenient to Jade, but the alternative would have been such a headache to deal with that she chose not to question it in the moment. After they exited the thick, gloomy section of jungle that had been home to the boss, Jade felt safe enough to pull up her notifications, trusting her companions to keep watch for her. She blinked in surprise, there were more than she''d expected. First up was the experience awarded for defeating the boss. That was well over ten times as much experience than any other single monster had given her. If they wanted to level up quickly, grinding bosses might be a good option. If they could find a way to do it safely. Jade dismissed the notice, pulling up the next. The air before Jade shimmered with blue light that coalesced into the shape of a small bag. She caught it before it dropped to the ground, inspecting the small pouch. It was made of a brown, leathery material and was about the size of a basketball. Could it be¡­? "Damn¡­" Jade muttered. "I was hoping it was a bag of holding." Everyone else was looking at her curiously, so Jade took a moment to explain the item''s effects and why she had received it. "I know what a dimensional bag is, but I''ve never heard of a bag of mystery." Siora said, poking it with a finger. "Wait, those actually exist?" Jade asked, eyes widening in surprise. "Where do I get one?" "Hmm¡­ You can probably find them in some of the cities on the third floor. Or maybe the Labyrinth store, if we can find an entrance." "What''re you waiting for?" Luis asked "You gonna try it out?" Still distracted by the thought of getting her hands on a real bag of holding, Jade shrugged and reached into the small pouch. Despite the container''s size, she couldn''t feel its sides or bottom. It was like sticking her arm into a well. "This is bizarre¡­" she muttered, sinking her arm elbow deep in bag''s opening. It struck her that she had no idea if this was safe or not. Well, I already started¡­ Something unseen settled into her grasping hand and, with effort, she pulled it free. A bundle of wooden slats and tangled rope emerged from the opening. It kept coming and coming, and Jade had to use both hands to finish pulling it free of the bag that appeared much too small to hold something of that volume. "It''s a¡­ ladder?" Naomi said, peering at the jumbled mess. Indeed, the strange item had deposited a somewhat weathered looking rope ladder into Jade''s hands. It was the sort of thing one might find hanging from a child''s treehouse, but far larger, easily forty feet long. For a few seconds they all just stared at it. "Well¡­" Jade said, lowering the bundle to the ground and looking back towards the distant treetops they had just descended from. "That would have been helpful half an hour ago." "What should we do with it?" Naomi asked. "Keep it!" Luis declared, scooping it up. "Every adventurer needs a ladder. Maybe next it will give us a ten foot pole." "¡­What?" Naomi asked, giving Luis a strange look. "Just ignore him." Jade suggested, inspecting her new magic bag. Apparently, she couldn''t use it for more than another day unless she shoveled valuables into it. "Who comes up with this stuff¡­?" "I like it." Siora said cheerfully. "Can I try it next?" They continued on their way, a bemused Jade assuring her companions that everyone could get a turn with the unusual item. Then, she returned her attention to her remaining prompts. After the incident with the node quest, Jade had figured out how to defer accepting quest rewards, so there wasn''t a cascade of coins spilling everywhere. She''d wait until they were safely back at the sanctuary to collect them. As with the monster hunting quest, the boss slaying one had a sequel. This time the Voice of the Labyrinth''s tone was more serious than usual. Before Jade could ask her companions if they''d received the quest as well, a smaller prompt came up. That intrigued her. They''d already discovered that their own quests didn''t match up one to one, but it was good to know that they had some level of control over the direction their Labyrinth Trial took. If she declined the quest, would her subsequent ones be easier? The system didn''t say, but that seemed logical. Before deciding, Jade explained the quest to the group. As it turned out, Luis and Naomi had indeed received the same one. "I think we should do it." Jade suggested. "Those rewards are much better than anything we''ve seen so far. Damos said the fastest way to gain levels was from questing, and it looks like the more challenging quests give the most benefits." Luis agreed readily, but Naomi took some convincing. In the end, they all accepted it. If their goal were to just complete one hundred quests so that they could leave the Labyrinth, Jade would''ve been in favor of declining and holding out for easier tasks. But they didn''t have that luxury, not with the danger Earth was in. Jade hadn''t forgotten her earlier promise. I''m going to break this place. To do that she would need power, and lots of it. The final two prompts brought a predatory smile to her lips. "One step at a time." Jade murmured to herself. She''d get there kill by kill if that''s what it took. Chapter 29 The evening sun hovered just over the lip of the valley, near where the waterfall cascaded down the rocky cliff to pour into the cerulean lagoon. Mist wafted skyward, tinted orange by the last rays of a dying day. Jade sat on the thin strip of sand that formed the boundary between lake and jungle, soaking her bare feet in the warm water. She was in her human form, hair free from her usual ponytail, and was taking a much needed moment to relax. The party had returned to the library sanctuary and were settling in for the night. Tomorrow, they would set their sights inward towards the stairways to the second level. Jade gazed out across the shimmering water, wondering how such beauty could exist in a world filled with bloodshed. Then again, another part of her pondered, was Earth so different in that respect? She had lived a privileged life in a developed country. Just because she had been isolated from the cruelties that plagued her world didn''t mean that they weren''t there. The Labyrinth was different, though. On Earth, violence and conflict were byproducts of other disputes. Political, economic, ideologic, they all had underlying causes. The Labyrinth seemed to function on violence. It was a fundamental aspect of this world. When you killed something, you got stronger. On a larger scale even the Labyrinth itself appeared to operate that way, consuming worlds as it continued to grow. What force birthed an environment like this? Why did it even exist? And why could she see such wonder in it, despite the terrors? Jade sighed, putting on her shoes, standing up and stretching. Philosophy wasn''t going to save Earth. "Well, not in the short term¡­" Jade finished her thought aloud. Introspection was all well and good, but it was time to get back to the business of being a wayfarer. Jade opened her status page, an action that had already become second nature, and started reviewing her updated character sheet. Everyone in the party had leveled up, although Jade was the only one to have done so twice. That made her level 7, Luis level 6, and Naomi and Siora both level 5. Jade and Luis had both received new class features to choose from, and they''d discussed their selections at length when they''d first returned to the sanctuary. With each new feature level reached more and more options were becoming available, which meant more time reading through them. Jade wasn''t about to complain about having too many choices, though. The more control they had over their development, the better. For her part, she was quite happy with her new talent. She finally had a good defensive option for close combat, something Jade had been wanting more and more as she gained practical fighting experience. A dash effect could have utility outside of a fight as well. Also, the ability just sounded cool. That wasn''t why she had chosen it, but it was a nice bonus. Now that she was level seven, the features would start being a little more spaced out. Between questions asked to Damos and searching through her system help menus, Jade had learned more about how progression worked in the Labyrinth. Starting at level six, class features came once every four levels, and beginning at eight, racial features came once every eight levels. That meant that she was about to get another succubus power the next time she leveled up. Jade was already preparing herself to face whatever weird options she was presented with this time. She tabbed over to her stat screen next, glancing over the revised summary. Two points had gone into to agility, one point to fortitude, and one point to willpower. As she gained more class features and fighting experience, Jade was starting to develop a distinct fighting style that fit the nature of her abilities. She fought with a mixture of debuff spells and precision strikes, darting in and out of combat to alternate between disrupting the enemy and dealing damage. That necessitated a high enough intelligence score to supply her with mana and bolster spell strength as well as fast enough reflexes to avoid incoming attacks. Everything else, while still important, was secondary. The door to the sanctuary opened behind her and Luis stepped outside, carrying a small plate of food. None of them had possessed the energy to try and cook with any of the provided supplies, so dinner was just another serving of canned vegetables and chicken. They still didn''t know where the Labyrinth was getting any of it, and all Siora had to say on the matter was: ''That''s just how sanctuaries work.'' "You should eat somethin''." Luis said, proffering the plate to her. "We had a crazy day." Luis was looking a lot better after a second round of healing magic and a quick rinse in the lagoon. He wore a simple t-shirt and shorts, having removed his armor to perform some makeshift repairs.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Jade closed her windows and accepted the plate, setting it on a nearby tree stump. "I will." She assured him. "Just want to try my new talent first. Want to watch?" "Sure thing." He grinned at her. His hair was still damp from his dip in the lake which, combined with his casual clothes, made him look more like a tourist on vacation than an adventuring warrior. He actually looked pretty cute, and¡­ And why am I thinking about this? Jade blinked, glancing away from her friend. What was getting into her? "Ahh¡­ great." she said a little awkwardly, stepping away to give herself some room. "Siora, Naomi, want to see my new talent in action?" She called out. The two women joined them, Naomi coming through the still-open door to the sanctuary and Siora from where she had been meditating between a cluster of trees a short distance away. Jade had noticed the elf doing that every evening near sunset, and she was curious if it was a cultural practice of Siora''s people, or just something that she did for herself. "Ok¡­" Jade said to herself, looking around for a good spot. "How does this work¡­?" She felt a new series of arcane circuits embedded within her. Unlike spells, whose paths she could primarily sense within her mind, the channels that formed talents were more distributed throughout her body. Jade focused on a nearby open patch of ground willing herself to move, but nothing happened. There was no incantation to serve as a catalyst for releasing the magic. This was different than her other talent, ''Vital Sight''. That one only changed her perception, not what her body was doing, and activating it was rather intuitive. All Jade had to do was look harder at her target. "Jade?" Naomi asked. "Everything alright?" "Give me a moment." Was that the difference? ''Mirage Step'' was a movement ability. When you moved you didn''t ''think'' about moving, you just did. Jade changed her approach, leaving the new magical pathways at the periphery of her perception and instead flexing her limbs. She started with her wrists, then her arms before shifting down to her quads and calves. As an athlete, she was intimately familiar with how the many parts of her body moved and felt. Jade knew every muscle, every reflex, every¡­ One of them was new. Something felt subtly different. There was a new power residing in her body, concentrated primarily in her legs. She flexed them, as she would a muscle, and¡­- WHOOSH. Air rushed by her in a thunderous stream and, for a split second, everything around her blurred. When the world snapped back into focus, Jade found herself standing a few yards away from where she''d started, with no sign of her having travelled the intervening distance. "Holy¡­" She whispered, stumbling back a step. The experience of suddenly being somewhere else was a little disorienting. "Woah." Luis said, blinking in surprise and looking back and forth between where she''d been and where she now stood. He wasn''t the only one. "The system seriously undersold this ability." Jade said, awed. "That was practically teleportation¡­" "No kidding." Naomi said. "But the strangest thing for me is that wasn''t the craziest thing I''ve seen today. What happened to my life¡­?" "We got magic powers!" Luis said, slapping her on the back. "That''s what. And they''re awesome." "Can''t argue with that¡­" Naomi shook her head in wonder. Jade felt a smile growing on her face. "I have to try that again." Her dinner forgotten, Jade spent the next half hour gleefully warping around the lagoon''s shoreline. She quickly figured out how to leave the illusion of herself in the space she vacated, although it only lasted for about half a second before winking out of existence. That was fine by her. Freedom of motion was one of the most joyous sensations Jade had ever known, and she had never felt it more clearly than now. A single impulse was all it took to leap anywhere nearby with impossible speed, without even breaking stride. Jade ran along the narrow beach as her friends watched, leaping up to land atop a small rock formation. Her feet had barely touched the ground when she blasted forward in a blur of motion, deftly reappearing suspended in the air just under a low hanging tree branch. She grabbed it as her momentum carried her forward, swinging under the bough and launching herself into an arcing backflip. She landed right in front of her spectators, sticking the landing without so much as stumble. Luis and Naomi clapped, with Siora joining them a moment later as she tried to mimic the gesture. Jade gave them a small bow, breathing hard and wiping away a streak of sweat from her forehead. "Phew¡­ That takes it out of you." She said, retrieving her water bottle and taking a drink. "But it''s worth it." "You move so gracefully¡­" Siora looked impressed. "Like a mantha beast on the prowl." "A what?" Jade asked. "It is a creature native to the forests near Lysara. Not Labyrinth-born of the spirits of this world, but a creature that migrated there. They are small and fierce and very quick on their feet." "Thank you?" "It is meant as a compliment." Siora reassured her with a light laugh. "You looked like you were having fun." Naomi said, smiling at her. "I¡­ was." Jade paused, considering that. "Is that wrong? With everything that''s happening, should I really be taking the time to run around and play like a kid?" "Of course you should." Luis declared. "We can''t be at our best if we don''t relax some. You want to get strong enough to help our home? Then you gotta take care of this." He tapped his head. "Just as much as this." He tapped his chest. "Is that something one of your uncles told you?" "Nope. I came up with that one myself." "That explains why it made sense." Naomi snorted. "He''s right, Jade. If we''re wound up tight, we''ll snap like a guitar string that''s been plucked one too many times." "You''re probably right." Jade admitted. She wanted them to be right. Joy was in short supply in the Labyrinth, the past few days had been filled with violence and death. Just this afternoon they had found two of their fallen kin, slain by the very monster they hunted. She could feel herself fraying at the edges, and nightmares plagued her dreams. She needed something other than anger to keep her going. A part of her rebelled against that idea. Jade recognized those feelings for what they were, new demonic instincts that favored violence over all else. She wasn''t going to give in to them, not unless they suited her needs. Her stomach growled, and Jade suddenly realized that she was famished. She moved to pick up the plate of food Luis had brought her, then frowned when she saw it was empty. "Sorry¡­" The big man said, chagrined. "I got hungry again." "Just how much can you eat¡­?" Jade asked. "We had a busy day." "We all did the same activities today." Siora pointed out. "But you are the only one of us who ate three times this evening." "I''m a big guy." Luis said with a modest shrug. "At first, I thought that was a human thing." Siora continued in her airy voice. "But now I have learned it is just a Luis thing." "I''ll go get you some more." Naomi offered, moving to re-enter the sanctuary. "It''s fine, I''m coming in for the night." Jade said, following her. The last of the sun''s evening rays had just faded beneath the horizon, plunging the valley into a rapidly darkening twilight. Moonlight sparkled on the still surface of the lake, the only sounds were the distant crash of the waterfall and the chirps of unseen insects stirring from their slumber. "We should get some rest. Tomorrow, we''re setting out for the second floor." Chapter 30 The four of them went to sleep in good spirits, proud of their victory over the boss and of the tangible progress they were finally starting to make. The Labyrinth held danger and death in abundance, but it also possessed wonders of magic and beauty that shone through the veil of violence. On that night, for the first time since the wayward humans had entered this strange new world, they slept well. A little too well in Jade''s case. The succubus woke to a comforting warmth enveloping her body. It was accompanied by a heightened, excited beat of her heart and an effervescent tingling. She mumbled something unintelligible, rolling over and hugging a pillow tightly to her chest as she tried to cling to the fading remnants of a half-forgotten dream. The motion brought her legs together which, for some reason, provoked a pleasant sensation to slowly spread through her body. Still half asleep, she squeezed a little tighter, enjoying the¡­ What¡­? Jade came fully awake, awareness returning in a rush. She buried her face in the pillow, deeply embarassed as she realized what she''d been doing. What the hell had that dream been about? She tried to recall it, grasping at details that slipped away like water between her fingers. Something about¡­ her ex-boyfriend? Yes, that was it, she had been dreaming about the trip they''d gone on in her sophomore year at university. And certain¡­ activities¡­ they had done together. What brought that on¡­? Jason hadn''t been that good. If he had, she might''ve actually stuck around¡­ Wait, why was she still thinking about this? Jade flopped onto her stomach, frustrated, willing the intrusive thoughts away. She couldn''t remember the last time she''d woken up in the middle of the night feeling like this, it probably hadn''t happened since puberty. Was this another succubus thing? It seemed to fit the bill, and she could imagine far worse potential side effects of her transformation, but still¡­ Was this really necessary? It was distinctly embarassing, especially since their party was sleeping in a shared dormitory. All attempts to banish the unwanted excitement from her body went nowhere. Jade rolled onto her back, frustrated, throwing off the thin sheet that covered her and squeezing her eyes shut. "Jade¡­" Naomi mumbled from a nearby bed. "Everything ok¡­?" "Fine!" She squeaked, turning away to face the wall. "Just¡­ um¡­ need to use the bathroom." Jade got up and wrapped herself in the bed sheet, quickly striding from the room. The movement helped, though it did nothing to allay her embarrassment. Now that she was up, though, she found that she really did need to relieve herself. After a quick trip to the sanctuary''s bathroom, thankfully it had a proper one, and a splash of cool water to her face, Jade was feeling pretty much back to normal. She returned to the dormitory, quietly passing between her resting companions. "Stupid body¡­" she muttered, climbing back into bed. She didn''t have time for silly distractions. Hoping that this experience was just an anomaly of her continuing adjustment to her new form, Jade slipped back to sleep.
Damos was present in the library when they woke up the next morning, dressed in his usual immaculate outfit and browsing an aged book. He looked up as Jade walked in with Siora, giving them a nod of greeting. "Congratulations on defeating your first boss, miss Jade." He said, closing the book and setting it on the table in front of him. "Thanks." Jade said curtly, moving to one of the room''s storage boxes and gathering some supplies for their upcoming journey. They''d each need to carry a few days¡¯ worth of food and water, in case it took them longer than they expected to find the next sanctuary. Her feelings regarding Damos were conflicted. He had helped her, saved her, even. But he was also a part of this place, party to what the Labyrinth was doing to her home. Jade didn''t hate him, but she also couldn''t bring herself to completely trust him. "We''re leaving today." Siora said to him, packing her satchel with as many supplies as she could fit. "Journeying to the second floor." "I wish you safe travels." He inclined his head. "Once you leave the first floor, I will not appear regularly in the sanctuaries that you visit." He spoke to Jade as the rest of the party filed into the room. "My primary task is guiding new wayfarers, and I will continue to attend to them. Should you have questions about the Labyrinth, however, you may call my name. I will come when I can." "Good to know." Jade nodded. That didn''t concern her, they had been running out of questions that Damos was able to answer. As long as they could still find him, they didn''t need him around all the time anymore. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and checked her gear. The bag of mystery now hung from her belt, positioned next to her wand holster. The jury was still out on whether it would be useful, but she was willing to give the odd item a try. "Ready?" She asked her party. "Ready." Naomi said. A few tassels hung from the shoulders of her leather armor, colored red and black. Jade had no idea where she had found them, but the simple addition added some flair to her outfit. Why that was a priority for her, though, Jade couldn''t fathom. Siora and Luis nodded, and Jade led the way outside. Damos watched them depart, a pensive expression on his aged face.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Jade." He spoke just as she opened the door. The succubus paused, glancing back. "Did the Level Key you received from the boss have anything engraved on it? A message?" Jade paused, one hand on the latch. "No, why?" She withdrew the key from her pack, inspecting it again. It certainly didn''t appear to contain a message of any sort. "I was merely curious, pay it no heed." Shrugging, she stowed the key. She had no intention of forgetting the cryptic question and filed it away to reflect on later. Jade opened the door, letting a ray of warm sunlight into the dim library. A fresh breeze blew through the opening, caressing her face and tousling her hair. Jade stepped through, emerging near the lakeside shore. It was a beautiful day, warm and windy, and she took a moment to tie her hair up in a tail to help keep it out of her face. "Thanks for the help, amigo." Luis said with a wave as they left. "See ya around." The sanctuary door closed behind them, leaving them standing at the boundary of jungle and water. Jade lifted her hand, examining her shifting wayfarer mark. She tapped it with a finger, and a small illusory arrow appeared floating above the symbol. It pointed towards the opposite side of the valley, in the general direction of the waterfall. "That ''Pathfinder'' spell we get at level seven comes with a compass function." Jade said, holding up her hand for everyone to see. "I read through it this morning." "That''s helpful." Naomi said. "Which way does it point?" "Inward." Jade replied, tapping her mark again to dismiss the arrow. "I suppose you don''t need the directions I got from Juniper, then." Siora sounded a little crestfallen. "Nothing wrong with a backup plan." Luis said. "Like my Uncle Carlos always said, ''always plan for your plan B to be your plan A''." Jade considered that for a moment. "You know¡­ I can''t argue with that one." She looked around, taking in the surrounding jungle. They''d stayed here for several days, and she had started getting used to it. "I might miss this place a little." "I won''t." Naomi shuddered. "Too many spiders." "The small ones weren''t so bad." Jade protested. "I liked them. They remind me of my childhood." "What kind of messed up childhood did you have?" Naomi muttered under her breath. "I heard that." Jade rolled her eyes. "I just really liked my pet, OK? There''s nothing wrong with that." She defended her long lost tarantula. "It''s ok." Siora consoled her. "We have creatures kind of like these ''spiders'' near my village! They build nests instead of webs, and have a few more legs, but I think you''ll like them." "Those sound awful!" Naomi looked horrified. "Oh, they''re very useful." Siora smiled obliviously. "Their mucus has many important alchemical properties." "¡­Are you sure you need to go home?" Jade couldn''t help but laugh. Grinning, she led the party around the lagoon, setting an inward course towards the next floor. The journey out of the valley was mostly uneventful, consisting of a few hours of walking and the occaisional brief battle with the resident river snappers, the turtle monsters that they had spent the past few days practicing their combat tactics on. By the time they found a trail up the cliff near the waterfall, Jade and Luis had finished part two of their monster hunting quest. The awarded experience pushed her a good amount of the way towards level eight, but she still had a ways to go. They also gained a couple hundred additional crescent coins, as well as another follow up quest. Jade was the first to reach the top of the path leading up the embankment beside the waterfall. The jungle continued here, sprawling out in every direction and bisected by a swiftly flowing river that cascaded over the cliff beside her, splashing down into the lagoon below. She had only taken a few steps away from the ledge when a new notification appeared. The rushing river wasn''t exactly what Jade would call ''serene'', but she kept the thought to herself as they pressed on. The jungle wasn''t quite as thick here, and progress was easy. The ''Pathfinder'' spell indicated that to travel inward they would have to find a way to cross the river at some point, so Jade kept the party close to the shore where they could keep an eye out for a good spot to try fording the waterway. Late morning shifted to afternoon without major incident. They did encounter a new type of monster, though, a type of large snake that had an annoying habit of dropping out of trees right into their midst. After the first jump scare, which involved a frightened Naomi bludgeoning one of the creatures to death with her guitar, they proceeded a little more cautiously. Fortunately, these monsters weren''t especially dangerous, attacking mainly by constricting their foes in their powerful coils. The process took long enough to start dealing real damage that the party dispatched them before much harm was done to anyone. They took a break for lunch and to rest for a while, and Jade took the opportunity to practice her shapeshifting skills. She was finally starting to really get the hang of it, a welcome change after the ''two steps forward, one step backward'' experience she''d been having. What helped the most was finding a spot on the riverbank where she could see her reflection in the water. The visual feedback allowed her to connect the feel of the power to its actual results and, by the time they were ready to resume trekking through the jungle, she was able to shift her appearance at will, albeit far from instantly. Her newfound proficiency meant that she could adopt any normal human female form, if she stayed within the fairly narrow limits that governed how much she could alter her weight. Her experiments attempting to adopt a male body ended in failure, although she wasn''t sure if that was due to a limitation of the power or her own inexperience with visualizing the appropriate physiology. With assistance from Siora she did manage to recreate something akin to an elven form, but she would need a little more practice on that front. When the sun began to set Siora used her superior skills in woodcraft to find them a good spot to camp for the night. A small clearing in a thicket of brambles proved to be the best place to settle down. It was dry, hidden from view, and large enough for the four of them. Without bedrolls or tents they were left sleeping on the ground using bunched up clothing as pillows, a far cry from the comfort they had enjoyed the past few nights. Unfortunately, their attempts to remove bedding linens from the library sanctuary hadn''t worked, the material dissolving to smoke upon exiting the portal. Jade found that she wasn''t overly bothered by the lack of comfort, it just seemed so trivial compared to the magnitude of their quest. If camping in the wilderness would be a common occurrence in the Labyrinth, though, they would need to equip themselves properly for it. Fighting monsters was a task best done after a good night''s sleep. It was relief enough just to take off her armor, the long day of hiking had left all of them sweaty and worn out. Jade settled against a tree, glad her skin could finally breathe again. She closed her eyes. Some time to relax would be nice. "Jade?" Naomi''s voice came from across the small clearing. Or not. "Yes?" she said wearily, opening her eyes again. "I know we''ve been busy, but I don''t want to put this off any longer." Naomi stepped in front of her. She paused briefly, and then continued. "I''m taking you up on your offer. I want to know what your enchantments feel like." Chapter 31 (A few moments earlier) Naomi finished a simple meal comprised of the various, bland canned foods that the library sanctuary had provided, setting the empty containers beside her. It felt wrong to just leave trash lying around, but it wasn''t like there were any waste bins in the Labyrinth. She took a sip of water and shot a glance at Jade. The succubus had her eyes closed and was leaning back against a broad tree, nestled between a cluster of roots. Her face was framed by locks of jet black hair, a result of her earlier shapeshifting experiments that she''d apparently decided to keep for a bit. Unarmored and wearing a normal, if somewhat dirty, t-shirt and pants, she looked just like any regular young woman. Was now the best time? Naomi was conflicted. Over the past few days, she had come to see Jade as a friend and someone she could rely on. She was the driving force behind the progress they''d made and had been instrumental in defeating the first boss monster they''d encountered. And yet a lingering unease persisted in the back of Naomi''s mind. It had receded, but not vanished. I have to be sure. She thought, biting her lower lip. "Jade?" She asked, standing up. "Yes?" "I know we''ve been busy, but I don''t want to put this off any longer." Naomi said, walking up to her. She hesitated, suddenly nervous. "I''m taking you up on your offer. I want to know what your enchantments feel like." She had to know what it felt like. The idea that some unknown force could manipulate her without her knowledge had been continuing to bother her. It was time to stop telling herself excuses and to get this over with. "Okay." Jade said, sitting upright. Her hair shifted back to its normal blonde. Naomi couldn''t tell what she was thinking, her expression was impossible to read. "Are you ready now?" Luis and Siora had been clearing some space for a sleeping area but, stopped to watch. "Yes." Naomi replied. She swallowed, her heartbeat rising in anticipation. Jade hesitated for a moment, and then spoke. "Come here." Nothing happened. Naomi waited a few moments, and then looked around. "Was I supposed to feel something? Did it work?" "It didn''t take." Jade frowned, her eyes glossing over as she pulled up her status screen. "That was just the D level version of the spell, the best I can do without being in my demon form. It compels a creature to view me as a friend." "I already think of you as a friend." Naomi pointed out. "Maybe that''s why it didn''t work?" "Maybe. Let''s try again at C level. It didn''t even go on cooldown, so I don''t have to wait." "Alright." Jade''s form shifted before her eyes, wings blossoming from her back to curl around her body. The tail and horns emerged a moment later, leaving her friend looking like she had just stepped off the set of a high fantasy movie. Naomi was slowly getting used to witnessing the change, but it still fascinated her. "How do you not destroy your shirts when you do that?" she asked, voicing something she''d been curious about. "I did wreck the first few." Jade sounded exasperated. "I cut long slits in the back of the ones I have left." "Like your armor? That makes sense." Naomi took a deep breath. "OK, I''m ready." Jade pointed a finger at her chest, speaking softly. "Come here¡­" The words echoed in Naomi''s mind, sweet and compelling. Jade''s figure shone in the fading shafts of evening light, her skin sparkling like sunshine reflected on shifting water. Naomi''s mind felt slightly fuzzy, like she''d had a little too much to drink. She was fixated on Jade, unable to tear her gaze away from her beautiful visage. She was standing next to her now, with no memory of having moved. "Is there anything I can do for you?" She found herself asking, the words leaving her lips without concious thought. What a strange sensation¡­ It felt like something that should alarm her, but for some reason it didn''t. Being near Jade just felt good and safe. There was no need to worry about anything. "Jade¡­" Luis said. He sounded concerned, but Naomi couldn''t figure out why. Everything was perfectly fine. Better than fine. This was the best she''d felt since entering this awful, scary new world.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "I''ll end it soon." Jade was saying to him. "She should have a chance to break free on her own." What were they talking about? Oh well, it must not be important. What mattered was making Jade happy. Something nagged at the back of her mind, though. Trailing thoughts that tugged for her attention. Had she forgotten something important? "Naomi." Jade was speaking to her again, and Naomi''s doubts drained away. "Yes?" "Go wash these in the river." Her friend said, handing her a small pile of clothes. "Of course, I''d be happy to." Naomi was glad that she could be helpful. She accepted the bundle from Jade and turned to leave, picking her way through the cluster of brambles that surrounded their makeshift camp. As she drew away, the nagging thoughts began to return. She had forgotten something, hadn''t she? But what was it¡­? Distracted, she stumbled on patch of vines and had to throw out a hand to steady herself. A line of stinging pain streaked across her forearm as a thorn bit into it. Naomi gasped in surprise, eyes watering and pressing a hand against the smarting scrape. "Ow!" She exclaimed, shaking her head. "Be careful coming through here, it''s¡­" She paused, confused, glancing down at the clothes she had dropped. "Wait¡­" She turned towards Jade. "Was that your charm?" "Congratulations. You broke it." Jade said, shifting back into her human appearance. "I did?" Naomi''s memory of the past minute was something of a haze. It was as if she''d been really zoned out, acting on autopilot. "That was¡­ weird¡­" She shuddered. What she could remember of the experience was unpleasant. Or rather, it had been too pleasant. Naomi remembered how the goblins in the scrapyard had stared adoringly at Jade after she''d charmed them. Now she understood. It was almost like a drug. "I''m sorry." Jade said quietly, looking at the ground. "I didn''t want to scare you." "I asked you to do it." Naomi reminded her. "I just had to know." "And?" Jade asked, meeting her gaze. "And I want to keep practicing." Naomi decided as she spoke. "I knew it was coming, and I still couldn''t stop it. Not until I got a shock." She rubbed her still-stinging arm. "I want to train myself to know when someone is doing that to me, and to fight it." Even if she trusted Jade, which she wanted to, surely there were others in the Labyrinth that wielded similar powers. Naomi had no intention of being helpless before them. One thing she did know, though, was that Jade had not used her charm magic on her before now. It had a distinctive feel to it, a lingering buzz that faded along with her influence. Maybe she wouldn''t have noticed it if she hadn''t been expecting the spell, but now that she knew what it felt like Naomi was fairly confident that it hadn''t been used on her before. That made her feel better, at least a little bit. "That, I can help you with." Jade turned to the rest of the group. "Since we''re already doing this, does anyone else want a try?" "Not me." Luis shook his head. "That was a little creepy, I''m good." "Naomi has a point." Jade insisted. "We should all try it sometime, if only as part of our training." Siora, who had been listening to the discussion curiously, suddenly stood up. The elf slowly turned in place, one of her tapered ears twitching. "Did you hear that?" she asked, cocking her head. "Hear what?" Naomi asked. They all fell silent, listening. Jade put a hand on the hilt of one of her daggers, and Naomi softly stepped to where her guitar was propped against a tree. For a few moments there was nothing, and then¡­ "What was that?" she asked, unsure if the faint sound was real or imagined. "Some kind of banging sound?" "And shouting." Siora said, eyes shut tight in concentration. "Something is happening upriver." "Let''s check it out." Jade said. She moved to exit the small clearing and then hesitated, looking back at her discarded armor. All of them were wearing their normal clothes, as they couldn¡¯t sleep well while geared for battle. "Should we gear up?" Naomi asked, conflicted. "Someone might need help." Luis said. "It might be too late if we wait. "I don''t have armor." Siora pointed out. "I can go ahead while you-" "No." Jade cut her off. "We''re staying together. Armor first, we have to look out for ourselves too." "I''m with Jade." Naomi agreed. That settled it. Jade and Naomi pulled on their padded coverings, then strapped on the thick leather cuirass overtop. Siora assisted Luis with the buckles of his damaged breastplate. He''d made what minor repairs he could, but they''d have to find a replacement for him soon. A few minutes later they were jogging through the dimly lit jungle, keeping to the relatively clear riverbank. Evening was slowly transitioning to twilight, and Naomi was concerned that they''d run out of daylight. Fortunately, the commotion wasn''t all that far away. As they rounded a bend in the waterway a bridge spanning the river came into sight. It was made of wood and looked to be in a state of disrepair. On the near shore beside the bridge and directly ahead of them sat a small hut comprised of thick stones. It had a sturdy looking door, though as they drew closer Naomi could see that its wooden surface was scarred and cracked. The source of the damage was clear. A large beast prowled the beach, a mixture of canine and feline features blending to form the body of a fearsome predator. Naomi''s eyes were drawn to the large stinger that arched over the monster''s back, its barbed tip glinting in the fading light. It turned to face them, growling. "Oh, shit¡­" Jade said, slowing down. Her face paled, and her hand came up to rub a spot on her chest. "This thing is dangerous. Watch out." "Is someone out there?" A distant voice called. It sounded like it was coming from the hut. "Please, help us!" They came to a stop some thirty yards from the beast, which continued to snarl at them. Long, quivering spines lined its back. It stood between them and the squat structure, stinger swishing back and forth like the tail of a cat ready to pounce. "Is that¡­?" Naomi started, watching the beast warily. "Yeah¡­ That''s what almost killed me on my first day." Jade said. "A venomhound." Naomi shifted her gaze to the monster, pulling up its info box. A spike of panic twisted Naomi''s stomach into knots as she saw the creature''s level. Before she could say anything, another window opened. "Yeah, that''s real freaking helpful." Naomi muttered, disgusted. She clenched her fingers into fists to stop her hands from trembling. It''s a good thing we put our armor back on. Chapter 32 Phantom pain burned in Jade''s healed wound as she laid eyes on the monster that had so savagely mauled her mere days before. No, it wasn''t the same creature, that one had been crushed by machinery in the factory, but it was the same type of monster. Jade hadn''t used the system to examine the first venomhound she''d encountered, it hadn''t been activated yet, but seeing the creature''s name displayed in her interface sent a shiver down her spine. "Siora, stay back. This thing is fast." Jade said, drawing her weapons. Dagger in one hand, wand in the other. Despite the many battles they''d been through over the past several days, the daggers were still in relatively good condition. "Then it''s a good thing I got that new spell." Luis said, eyes locked on the creature. The venomhound remained in place, watching them intently. "Are we really going to fight it?" Naomi hissed. "It''s level 15." "I don''t think it''ll let us get away." Jade replied, recalling how mercilessly the first venomhound had pursued her. "People are stuck in there." Luis added, glancing at the hut. The structure''s wooden door was cracked, as if the beast had been trying to break it down. The monster crouched lower and fell silent. It narrowed its eyes at them, tensing. "Get ready¡­" Jade murmured. She swallowed, knuckles turning white as she gripped her weapons tightly. It was going to strike at any moment. Before it could, Jade focused her senses on the monster, revealing a few small weak points. Her talent tagged the tail just below the stinger, its neck, and a spot on its belly, in red. In the same moment, as if it could sense her ability taking effect, the venomhound charged. Luis invoked his ''Shield Burst'' spell as the monster bounded towards them, enveloping the four of them in a protective shell of energy. Before it could close the distance, Jade took aim and fired off a spell, channeling the magic through her wand to increase its accuracy. A bolt of darkness leapt from her hand, flashing across the open ground between them in an instant. It struck the creature in the face, twisting into a cloud of shadow that obscured its vision. "Go!" Jade and Luis charged the monster while Naomi and Siora kept their distance. The bard immediately began to play a fast tune, sending waves of energetic music rolling across the riverbank. The venomhound stumbled, momentarily confused by its sudden blindness. Jade could already feel the spell''s mana fracturing, the monster''s resistances were too high for her ''Clinging Darkness'' spell to take full effect. But for a moment, it was vulnerable. Jade swung wide to pincer the monster, letting Luis get to it first. He slashed at it with a powerful lateral strike that carved a gash into the hyena''s flank, sending a shower of blood spraying into the air. Jade dashed in on its other side, aiming a strike at its vulnerable throat. It snarled in pain, twisting to blindly snap at Luis. The sudden motion threw off Jade''s aim, and her dagger scored only a glancing hit against its side. She struck again, plunging her blade into its hip just as the monster shrugged off her spell, regaining its sight. Its eyes snapped towards Jade, and she felt a flutter of panic as its stinger swung towards her. She rolled away from strike, forced to relinquish her grip on the blade still buried in the monster''s side. The barbed tail swiped harmlessly over her and Jade sprang back to her feet, landing a short distance away. Luis continued to engage the monster, trading blows and relying on his magical protections to shield him from its razor claws. With Jade momentarily out of the way, Naomi sent a blast of fire streaking in from the side. The monster evaded the spell but couldn''t fully avoid a follow up cut from Luis''s greatsword. Seeing that it was occupied, Jade took a chance and stooped low, running her hand across the ground. A soft flash of violet light signaled the activation of her trap spell, ''Chains of Shadebloom''. The spell took precious seconds to cast, but she thought it would be worth it. This creature was agile, and they needed a way to pin it down. The glow faded a few moments later, leaving only faint traces of the runic circle etched into the ground. "Tangle!" She called out, stepping to the side and using her wand to point out the trap to her allies while she drew her second dagger. Jade almost took the opportunity to shift into her demon form, but at the last second decided against it. They didn''t know who was in that hovel, and she didn''t want to carelessly reveal her nature unless it was absolutely necessary. Luis responded to her shout by maneuvering to the side and launching a force blade at the monster, trying to knock it back into Jade''s trap. The venomhound was too fast, leaping away and avoiding the attack entirely. The arc of energy crackled past Jade, slamming into a tree with enough force to send leaves and small sticks raining down around her.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Jade dashed back in to rejoin the fight, hoping to find a way to lead the monster into her trap. Their barriers had faded by this point, and now she only had her light armor and quick reflexes to protect her. The hybrid creature was pressing Luis back, swiping at him with its stinger and snapping with its mouth. Luis used the long reach of his weapon to keep it at bay, jabbing at the venomhound''s tail every time it poised to strike. He was fending it off well for the moment, but he couldn''t fight it alone for long. The monster turned as Jade approached it from behind, shifting targets and leaping towards her without warning. She channeled power into her body, activating her newest talent and warping several feet to the right just as the beast snapped its powerful jaws into where she had been a split second earlier. Its attack caught nothing but empty air and the fading illusory afterimage Jade had left behind. It skidded to a stop, claws digging furrows in the dirt, looking around in incomprehension. Its confusion lasted just long enough for Naomi to nail it with a crackling burst of fire, her ''Pyrotechnics'' spell catching it right on the rump. Howling in fury, the now-ablaze monster turned towards the bard with a snarl even as Jade dashed back in to slash at its side. It slapped her away with its bulky stinger, using it like a hammer to send Jade spinning to the ground. She rolled to her feet in an instant, her side aching from the blow, and saw the wounded monster charging towards their isolated support. "Oh no you don''t!" Luis called, stretching out an open palm. He shouted an incantation, summoning a tendril of icy energy that lanced from his hand to connect to the venomhound''s back as it bounded away. The frigid cord stuck to the beast, pulling taut and jerking it to a halt. Luis planted his feet and heaved, tugging the monster back towards him and away from Naomi. It stumbled backwards, off balance, and Naomi seized the opportunity to circle to the side, lining up a spell. Jade saw what she was planning to do and changed course, running towards her trap sigil. A blast of sound and a whine of pain announced Naomi unleashing her ''Sonic Boom'' spell, which slammed into the venomhound right after Luis''s ice tether faded away. The monster was sent reeling once again, this time right into Jade''s trap. Umbral chains burst from the ground, wrapping around the monster''s body, legs, and stinger. Jade didn''t waste any time, lunging in to slash at the weak spot highlighted on its tail. She severed the stinger in one clean cut, her damage amplified enough by both her ''Vital Sight'' talent and ''Bondage Queen'' ability to overcome the beast''s tough hide. It screeched in pain, crimson blood spewing from its severed stump of a tail while it struggled to free itself from the arcane bindings. Jade didn''t give it the chance, swooping in and drawing her dagger across the monster''s neck as it lay pinned and thrashing. It managed to rake her across the chest with a swiping claw before her blade found its target, but only succeeded in gouging a layer of her armor. After that it didn''t have the strength to fight, its lifeblood spilling from its throat and soaking the ground beneath it. She backed away, shaking from a mixture of fear and adrenaline. A certain satisfaction stirred within her as well. A distant hunger, one buried deep within her soul, had been sated by the brutal kill. "Jade!" Naomi ran up to her. "Are you alright?" She nodded, taking deep breaths to calm herself. "Yeah. Good job, you did well." Naomi gave her a weak smile. "Thanks. I don''t want to see another one of those." "Definitely. It''s a good thing we had it outnumbered." "Is it safe now?" Siora called out, poking her head out from around the tree she had been sheltering behind. "Yup, amiga. It''s all good now." Luis said, striding over to join them. "All¡­ good?" Siora looked confused. "Luis." Jade sighed. "Idioms don''t translate well, remember?" This was a problem they''d been having over the past few days. While the Labyrinth''s translation magic was incredible, it was also far from perfect. The more time they spent with Siora, the more they understood its limitations. "Right." he said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "It''s safe now!" "Hey, did you get this weird notification too?" Naomi asked. Jade turned her attention to her interface. Indeed, she did have a pending prompt. The air in front of Jade shimmered. A bronze coin the size of Jade''s fist appeared in front of her, dropping to the ground with a thud. Beside her, Naomi, Luis, and even Siora each had the same experience, their own coins falling next to Jade''s. She picked one up, looking it over curiously. The coin was embossed with a maze-like pattern that looked like their wayfarer marks. Text lining the rim read: "Making the Labyrinth of tomorrow, today!" "The hell¡­?" Jade muttered, reading it again. "I think that monster wasn''t supposed to be here¡­" Naomi said. Jade thought that over. She hadn''t gotten anything like this the last time she''d defeated a venomhound. Maybe an environment kill didn''t count, or maybe it was because her system hadn''t been fully active yet. Before they could discuss the topic further, the door to the small hut on the riverbank creaked slowly open. Jade turned to see a man peering out into the darkening evening, staring at them warily. After a moment, he opened the door fully and stepped outside. "Can you help us?" he asked cautiously. "Or are you one of them?" Chapter 33 "One of who?" Jade asked. She took a closer look at the man. He was human, in his middle years with a dark complexion. Judging by his appearance, she assumed he was from Earth. Ethnically, Jade guessed he was Indian. He had short black hair and was wearing a rather ragged looking dress shirt that had probably once been white but was now so stained with dirt and sweat that not much of the original color was left. Before he could reply, she pulled up his status screen. "Yesterday," he began, still regarding them with caution. "We were attacked by two people. A man and a woman who threatened to kill us if we didn''t give them everything useful we had." His expression darkened. "If you are with them, then you are wasting your time. We don''t have anything worth taking." "We are definitely not." Naomi said, crossing her arms. "Who would do something like that?" "Really, Naomi?" Jade asked. "You''re surprised that some people are selfish in a crisis?" Her friend didn''t seem to have a response to that. "How many are with you?" She asked the man, glancing at the hut''s open door. A dim light flickered inside. "What''s your name?" She had already gleaned his name from the status window, but it felt strange to just start calling someone by name without being introduced. "Harish." He replied. "There are two others here. One is wounded, and we don''t have the means to help her." "I''m Naomi. This is Jade, Luis, and that''s Siora." Naomi introduced them. "I might be able to help your friend, can we see her?" "I can help too." Siora added. "I have some healing ointments." Harish''s gaze lingered on Siora, eyes wide with surprise. "Yes, she''s not human." Jade said. She avoided mentioning that she wasn''t anymore, either. The man looked like he might already be cracking under the stress of their situation. Fortunately, her shape change power changed her label to ''human'' while disguised in this way. "We can talk about that later. Can we come in?" "Y-yes¡­ Yes." Harish said, beckoning them closer. "Please, help Marie." They followed him into the small structure. The hut was comprised of one circular room and was sparsely furnished, lit by a crackling hearth. It had a cobblestone floor, a small table, and two rickety cots pushed against the back wall. One of them was occupied by a slender young woman. She was topless save for her undergarments, and her torso was wrapped with multiple layers of improvised bandages that looked to have been made by cutting apart clothing. The dressings were soaked through with blood in some places, and her face was pale. The room''s other occupant, a fit young man, knelt at her side. He looked up as they came in. "Who are they?" "I don''t know." Harish said. "But they say they can help, and we need it." "Do they know what the hell is going on?" "Probably not any more than you do, if you''ve been to a sanctuary." Jade said, stepping aside so Naomi and Siora could get to the bed. "Oh, we''ve been." The man said darkly. "For all the good it did us." He did a double take as he caught sight of Siora, openly staring at her slender features and pointed ears. Under other circumstances, Jade would''ve found it comical. Right now, though, she was merely annoyed by the distraction. "Yes, she''s not human." She repeated. "Her name is Siora, she lives on the second floor. Now get out of the way so they can take a look at your friend." He reluctantly moved aside, letting go of the woman''s hand. She stirred, giving a soft whimper followed by a cough. Her eyes didn''t open. "What happened to her?" Naomi asked, crouching beside the bed. "A beast attacked us." Harish explained. "When we had to leave the sanctuary, we were trying to find somewhere safe to get our bearings. Before we found this place, we were attacked."Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "By the monster that was outside?" Jade asked. "No, that showed up later. First, we were set upon by a couple large lizards. Erik and I killed them, but not before one of them sliced up her side." He said, nodding towards the woman he had called Marie. "Can you help her?" Erik asked anxiously. "We gave her a potion after the fight, but before she could take another one those assholes showed up and robbed us of everything we had." He balled his fists in anger. "We should''ve fought back." He growled. "We were tired and injured." Harish said calmly. "If we had, they probably would have killed us." While they spoke, Siora gently removed the makeshift bandages. The elf''s fingers moved with delicate grace, exposing a nasty series of oozing cuts on the woman''s side. She frowned, inspecting the wounds. "Wait." The elf said, putting a hand on Naomi''s shoulder as the other woman began to chant her healing spell. "Not yet. It''s starting to blight, see?" She indicated the angry red border that surrounded the wounds. "Let me clean it first. Magical healing can be dangerous on older wounds if they''ve begun to fester. It can trap the decay in the body. I carry some herbs that can help, I''ll apply those first." The rest of them watched as Siora retrieved a collection of vials from her satchel and got to work mixing them. The elf ignored the attention, focusing on her task. "How about you tell us what happened, amigo." Luis said to Harish, once it became clear that Siora''s work would take some time. "From the start?" Jade listened as Erik and Harish took turns relating their story. They had all been pulled into the Labyrinth several days ago, around the same time as Jade herself. Harish had been taken from his home, while Marie and Erik had been transported together straight from the middle of a train car as they were crossing the German countryside. They had met each other outside the nearest sanctuary, just as Naomi and Luis had, in this very quadrant. After the Labyrinth attendant explained the nature of the wayfarer trial and what was happening to Earth, the three had elected to wait in the relative safety of the sanctuary in the hope that someone would come and help them. Unfortunately, it turned out that the Labyrinth had little patience for wayfarers that were hiding in safe rooms. After a few days spent in the safe zone, the system had informed them that their sanctuary access would be revoked if they did not begin completing quests. With no other choice, the three of them had emerged back into the Labyrinth proper. That is when they had been set upon by marauding monsters, and Marie was wounded. When they encountered another pair of human wayfarers in the jungle nearby, they thought they had finally found someone who could help. Unfortunately, as Erik described in a seething voice, the two had threatened to kill them if they didn''t hand over all of their class equipment and loot. With a wounded companion and aggressors that were unwilling to negotiate, they''d had no choice but to comply. "After that, we found our way here." Erik said. "We still have food and water from the sanctuary, but not much else." "To make things worse." Harish added grimly. "Marie told us yesterday that she''s been receiving system messages that monsters will be continually drawn to her until she begins making quest progress." "Harish and I have defeated some monsters, which we all have a quest for." Erik explained. "But she hasn''t done any fighting. I don''t know if she has it in her." Jade glanced at Naomi, who had reacted in a similar way when she''d first arrived. "She''ll have to learn." Jade said, crossing her arms. "None of us wanted this, but we have to adapt." "I hope she can." Harish said. "Not everyone is cut out for the stress of battle. I was in the Indian army reserves in my younger years. Some of my friends couldn''t even handle the training, let alone real fighting." "Who are these people that threatened you?" Luis asked, his expression grim. "I don''t know who they were. It was a man and a woman, both wearing armor and well equipped with weapons and supplies. I got the impression that we were only the latest of their victims." "Where did they go?" Jade asked, feeling a familiar fury beginning to grow once more inside her. If there was one kind of person she couldn''t stand, it was bullies who abused the power they held over others. "Across the bridge. That was yesterday." Erik said, pointing in the direction of the river. Jade and Luis exchanged glances. The large man gave her a curt nod. She could taste his anger through her demonic senses again, and the feeling only served to heighten her own. "I think we need to pay these people a visit." She was interrupted by a sudden gasp. The semi-concious woman shuddered as Siora poured a bubbling liquid over her wounds. She cried out in pain and Erik stepped closer, reaching out to stop Siora before Luis grabbed him and held him back. "She knows what she''s doing." Jade hoped that was true. Truthfully, she had no idea what medical knowledge Siora possessed, or if it was even applicable to humans. But the potions she had created worked well, which was at least something to go on. "Now heal her, Naomi." Siora said quietly, holding the woman''s hand as she continued to whimper. "I could use a potion, but we don''t have many left." Naomi began to sing softly, the soothing notes of her song filling the room with a sense of peace. Jade didn''t understand the words, for some reason the Labyrinth didn''t translate the foreign tongue the bard had decided to cast her spells in. Even still, the harmonious melody carried with it a tranquil feeling. Both Naomi and Marie glowed softly, and, before their eyes, the woman''s wounds began to knit themselves back together. "By Vishnu¡­" Harish breathed, stunned by the miraculous healing. "I still can''t believe this is real¡­" Luis released Erik when the spell was complete, and the man sank down next to Marie, resting a hand on her shoulder. She stirred, speaking in a voice too soft for Jade to hear. He said something back, squeezing her shoulder. "Are you really going to follow the people who robbed us?" Harish asked, visibly pulling himself together. "Yes." "What are you going to do when you find them?" Jade glanced at her companions. None of them spoke up, each looking back at her for an answer. She drew her lips to a line, steeling herself. As much as she didn''t like it, there was only one reasonable way to stop such people in the lawless world they now walked in. "If they really are doing what you say." She began coldly, curling her fingers into fists. "Then I''m going to kill them before they can do it to anyone else." Chapter 34 By the time Naomi finished healing Marie, night had fallen. The woman was far from completely cured, she was still in a good amount of pain, but Naomi and Siora''s ministrations had restored her to conciousness and healed the worst of her injuries. Following that, Jade and the rest of the party decided to remain with Harish and his group in the small hut for the night. It would be cramped and some of them would have to sleep on the floor, but that was preferable to trying to find their way back to their campsite in the dark. "We''ll have to get the rest of our gear in the morning." Luis pointed out as they settled in for the night. "Do you think it''ll be okay out there?" Naomi asked, concerned. They each had their weapons and armor, but had left some of their supplies behind in their rush to investigate the disturbance. "It''ll be fine." Siora reassured them. "It''s well hidden." Jade hoped she was right. She was already dangerously low on changes of clothes. The last thing she needed was to have nothing but her armor to wear, and even that was starting to get worn down by the constant fighting. The six of them, everyone except Marie, who still needed to rest, worked out a rotation for keeping watch through the night. They had the advantage of a sturdy structure to protect them, but nobody wanted a wandering monster to sneak up on them. After that was decided, the two groups mostly kept to themselves on different sides of the small room. Harish''s group seemed like decent people, but Jade was still wary of untested strangers. That was especially true after hearing the story of what had happened to them when they''d run across another pair of wayfarers. Jade didn''t know what their powers were, and none of them volunteered the information. The most she could glean were their classes, but that wasn''t much to go on. For her part, Jade kept her true race concealed, suspecting that nothing good would come of revealing her demonic nature. She took a few moments to examine each of the newcomers'' status summaries, grateful that her ''shapechange'' ability labeled her as ''human'' while she was disguised. Harish was the highest level of all of them at level 3, and the system didn''t have anything noteworthy to say about them. Satisfied that she had done her due diligence, Jade found a spot to rest for the night. Morning came without incident. The stone floor hadn''t been the most comfortable of surfaces, but Jade still managed to get a decent amount of sleep. More than anything, she was grateful that the previous night''s excitement hadn''t repeated. "You said they crossed the bridge?" She asked Harish while everyone else was getting up. "Yes, a day and a half ago. I don''t know how far they went, though." "I can track them." Siora offered. "I know my way around woodland." Harish just stared at the elf. He had been doing that all morning, to the point where Jade could tell it was making her feel uncomfortable. "How is any of this happening¡­" He said to no one in particular. "That''s what I said, amigo. But you''re gonna have to get used to it." "Luis is right. We''re in this at least until we can complete one hundred quests." "I have completed none so far, and without our equipment, I don''t know how we''ll make it." "After we deal with these vagabonds, we''ll bring back anything of yours that we can find." Naomi promised. Did she really just say ''vagabonds''? Harish bowed his head. "Thank you." "I want to go with you." Erik interjected. "I''m not going to roll over for them again."The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Jade had been afraid that one of them was going to say something like that. She opened her mouth to explain how they already had a team dynamic in the works, but Marie beat her to the punch. "Erik¡­" She said, voice still a little weak. "Please don''t leave me." "Marie." He turned back to her. "I just-" "We don''t know what we''re doing." She cut him off. She coughed, and then continued. "And I don''t want you to leave." "We''ll get this over with and come right back." Jade promised. She half expected a quest prompt to appear in front of her but, for some reason, none did. After that, Erik reluctantly agreed to remain behind to watch over Marie while she was recovering, along with Harish. The four of them left the riverside hut, journeying back along the bank to where they''d left their supplies the night before. Everything was still there, and they took a moment to eat a hurried breakfast before trekking back to the bridge. "Who built this, anyway?" Jade asked as they crossed the somewhat rickety construction that spanned the river. "Probably no one." Siora said, hopping lightly across a gap in the planks. "The Labyrinth likely copied it from one of the worlds it visited." "Copied? Or stole?" Naomi asked, bringing up the rear. Siora shrugged. "I''m not really sure how it works." When they reached the other side of the river, they began looking around for traces of anyone passing through the area. It didn''t take Siora long to find the trail of footprints, whoever had made them clearly hadn''t taken care to disguise their passage. "A little over a day old." She said, leading the way. The tracks took them away from the river, into a sparser section of jungle. Not having to constantly pick their way around bushes and trees made the journey easier, and Jade was grateful for the change. The next two hours passed with only a pair of monster encounters, just more of the ''jungle serpents'' that were easy to dispatch. Jade caught Naomi looking at her more than once, but the other woman always looked away. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but kept changing her mind. Finally, as the sun shone directly overhead and they day grew hot and muggy, Siora called a halt. "Do you see that?" she asked, pointing. Jade followed her gesture, picking out a faint trail of smoke curling up from the trees ahead. "A campfire?" Luis suggested. "Who would light a fire?" Naomi asked, wiping sweat from her brow. "It''s sweltering." "Let''s go find out." Jade said, striding in that direction. It was roughly the same way they had already been going, following the trail. The smoke was further away than it had initially looked, and it took them over half an hour to work their way to its source. Jade periodically stopped as they drew closer, placing down a trio of rune traps in their wake. She didn''t know if they would be necessary, but being over prepared was better than the alternative. Eventually, they finally caught sight of the source of the fire. It did turn out to be a campfire, and was set in the middle of a small jungle clearing. A couple of bedrolls were laid out nearby, unoccupied. A man sat on a log near the fire, fiddling with a sheathed sword of some kind that was lying across his lap. His hair was short, almost buzzed, and he was wearing a heavy breastplate similar to Luis''s. Jade didn''t see any reason for stealth. They had come here to confront this group, after all. She called out to the man. "Hello?" The man looked up, and then stood. He buckled the scabbard to his belt, turning to face them and shading his eyes against the bright sun. "Welcome!" He called back. "Are you wayfarers too? We''ve been trying to find others." He turned around, speaking over his shoulder. "Hey, Amy! Some people showed up!" "Yes, we are." Jade had to raise her voice to reply, their group was still a short distance away from the small camp. She slowed her approach, gesturing for the others to do the same. Something about this situation was making her uneasy, besides what Harish and his companions had relayed to them. A woman, Jade supposed she must be Amy, emerged from the far side of the clearing, walking up to join the man by the fire. Like Jade, she had a belt that held a pair of daggers and a wand. "Other wayfarers? Good, we could use the help. Want to team up?" She said, greeting them with a smile and beckoning for them to come over. Alarm bells sounded in Jade''s head. She stopped, not getting any closer. "Is something wrong?" Amy walked up to the edge of the clearing, speaking at a normal volume now that they were closer. She had a very average appearance: Fair skin, brown hair, and average height. Other than the light armor she wore, she looked like any number of people Jade had passed on the street countless times. "Did you steal equipment from a group of three people the other day?" Jade asked bluntly. "And threaten them if they didn''t give it to you?" "Very subtle..." Naomi sighed quietly from somewhere behind her. The woman looked surprised. She took a step back, her smile faltering. "What? No, you''re the first person we''ve seen since we got here." "Then why are you trying to get us to walk across that rune hidden in the dirt?" At the edge of the clearing, just in front of the suspicious woman, was a clear patch of earth with the faint but detectable markings of a magic circle. If Jade hadn''t possessed a spell that left similar marks, she might not have noticed it. The woman''s smile turned to a frown and, behind her, the man drew his sword. "Well¡­ You just had to make things difficult, didn''t you?" Chapter 35 Jade''s companions stiffened, reaching for their weapons. She drew a dagger, mirroring Amy as the other woman did the same. Before anyone could make another move, Jade examined her. "Don''t come any closer." The man said, brandishing his sword. A quick examination revealed that his name was Michael, and his class something called an ''Enforcer''. He was level six. "Why are you doing this?" Luis asked in a hard voice. He had drawn his greatsword, holding it point down. Not quite ready to attack, but still at the ready. "What does that circle do?" "How about you step on it and find out?" Amy replied coolly. "Maybe you will, who knows how many we have hidden around our camp?" "Siora, keep watch for any others." Jade murmured out of the corner of her mouth, not taking her eyes off the pair. She didn''t like the sound of the woman''s class one bit. The elf nodded, taking a few steps back into the jungle. "Answer the question." Luis said. The tip of his sword rose a few inches. This time, the man answered. "Why do you think?" Michael spat, glaring back at him. "You''ve gained a few levels, you should know how dangerous this shithole is." "We''ve already watched a friend get torn apart by monsters." Amy growled. "And I have no intention of joining him." "So, what?" Naomi asked angrily. "You attack and rob other people instead? How is that right?" "Right and wrong don''t come into it, little girl." She replied, pointing her dagger at Naomi. "Most of the people we''ve run across here won''t last a few weeks. Their gear is better used keeping people with potential alive." "Potential murderers, maybe." Naomi shot back. "We haven''t killed anyone." The man said. He glanced away when he spoke, though, and Jade knew he was lying. "No?" Jade said coldly. Her rising fury was growing harder to contain. "Even if that''s true, leaving them unarmed and undefended in a monster infested world is basically the same thing." "You think we like this?!" Amy demanded, face going red. "We didn''t ask to be taken here! But I have a family, and I want to see them again!" Luis snapped back at her, but Jade was barely listening anymore. For once, the vicious desires of her demonic instincts were completely aligned with her rational mind. She didn''t care what justifications they deluded themselves with, they were no better than murderers. "I think it''s just them." Siora whispered to Jade. She nodded, struggling to contain herself. Coming into this encounter, a part of Jade had been hoping that Harish''s tale had been wrong, or that it was somehow a grave misunderstanding and everything could be resolved without conflict. It was now clear that wasn''t the case. These people needed to be stopped. But could she really be the one to do it? Could she kill them herself? Yes, she realized with some surprise, she could. The constant fighting of the past several days had hardened her heart. But it wasn''t the right time to act yet, that trap was still in between them, and they were on high alert. "Look." The man was saying. He gestured with his sword. "You lot seem more competent than anyone else we''ve found. How about we start over? Maybe work together?" "Oh, now you want to cooperate?" Jade asked, rejoining the conversation and pacing back and forth. "Why''s that? Because we didn''t fall for your trap? Or because there are more of us?" "Kid, we could kick your ass." The woman laughed. "But there''s no need to fight. We''ve all proven we can make it in the Labyrinth. Killed some monsters, gained a few levels¡­ If we work together, maybe we could finish our one hundred quests a little faster." Jade didn¡¯t believe a word of what they were saying. The pair both had their weapons out and looked anything but friendly. Even if they were being sincere, she didn''t give a damn. "Oh?" She continued her pacing, pretending to consider the offer. "What quests do you have?" As she spoke, she focused on Amy, silently triggering her ''Vital Sight'' talent. Vulnerabilities, visible only to her, appeared in red over the woman''s body. "Jade?" Naomi glanced at her. Amy visibly relaxed. "How about we-" As soon as her pacing removed the trap from in-between them, Jade channeled mana into her legs, activating ''Mirage Step''. She disappeared in a blur of motion, reappearing directly in front Amy. The woman was just opening her mouth in stunned surprise when Jade buried her dagger in her throat, right in the center of one of her talent''s highlighted weak points. It was oddly easy, happening so fast that no one even had a chance to even react before Jade wrenched the blade free with a shower of blood. Amy fell to the ground with a gurgling scream, clutching at her neck. Blood continued to pour from the wound, staining the soil around her crimson as she thrashed wildly.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "Y-you bitch!" Michael roared in fury, charging at Jade with his sword held high. A green light pulsed in the blade as he activated some ability or talent, channeling power into the weapon. Jade turned to face her assailant feeling strangely detached, as if all of this were happening to someone else. She shifted into her demon form with practiced ease, holding out her hand palm forward. "Stop." The man stumbled to a halt, frozen in place. He stood mere feet from Jade, who regarded him with naked disdain. "Drop your weapon." Jade''s voice was cold and dispassionate. An icy fury coursed through her veins, pulsing with each beat of her heart, and numbing all other emotions. This time, she embraced it. Michael complied, his sword clattering to the ground. Its glow faded, the discarded weapon coming to rest between them like a piece of refuse. He gazed at her with eyes that had glazed over and a blank expression. A single vein pulsed in his neck, the only sign of his resistance to Jade''s boosted charm spell. Her companions were watching with various levels of shock and concern. Beside her, Amy continued to convulse on the ground, her movements growing feebler with each passing second. Jade ignored them all, focusing on the man before her. "I''ve come to realize something about my powers." the demon said, taking a step closer to him. She unfurled her leathery wings, displaying the full infernal nature of her appearance. "Many of them are not well suited to fighting the monsters of the Labyrinth." She continued, piercing him with a glare that could have frozen a lake. "Especially my racial powers. Masking my appearance doesn¡¯t matter to most monsters, they don¡¯t care what I look like. My charm magic hardly works on them, either. Not to mention my kiss, the one power I still haven''t even used. But now, I find there is one type they''re very effective against." She leaned in close, whispering in his ear. "Monsters like you." Michael was straining against her mental bindings, she could feel it. Even her enhanced charm spell couldn¡¯t completely block the fact that he was watching his companion bleed out on the ground in front of him. The spell was slowly starting to break, fracturing under the weight of his fear and rage. It didn''t matter, Jade was done indulging herself. Leaning a little closer, she kissed him softly on the cheek. Michael gasped in pain, shuddering. Crimson and violet wisps of light rose from his skin, pulled into Jade''s body. The color drained from his face, his skin growing pale and sickly as Jade drank in his vitality like nectar. She had tasted emotions before, but sensing them from a distance paled before the sensation of drawing them into her soul. The man''s anger and terror were sweet sustenance to her spirit, unlike anything she had ever experienced. It was intoxicating. Jade breathed it in, fury half-forgotten as her demonic instincts roared in delight at the feast. The man sagged as strength fled from his body in a wave, but Jade held him up as she continued to drain. She felt the moment that the light went out of his eyes as a spiritual crescendo that left her sated and energized. Jade gasped, face flushed, stepping away and letting Michael go. His body collapsed to the ground, cold and dead, falling beside Amy''s now-still corpse. She steadied herself against a nearby tree, taking a moment to process the unexpected sensory overload. It was over as quickly as it had begun, and Jade was left feeling an odd mixture of satisfaction and revulsion. She had just experienced one of the most wonderful sensations she had ever felt, and it had been while killing a man. "Jade¡­!" Naomi breathed, rushing up to her. "What¡­? Why did you?" The succubus turned to face her, shifting back into her human form. Jade was slowly starting to feel like herself again, the ever-present demonic hunger that so often accompanied her feeling oddly absent for the moment. "They were monsters." She said coolly, trying to act calmer than she felt while she looked Naomi straight in the eye. "We had to stop them." "I¡­ I know." Naomi said, flustered. "But, like that¡­? They never even¡­" "What would you prefer?" Jade interrupted her, starting to get irritated. The chaotic mixture of emotions she''d absorbed from Michael felt like they were rattling around in her brain. "That we fought them ''fair''? That they got a chance to hurt us back?" "I don''t know!" She exclaimed. "I just wasn''t expecting that." "She''s right, we came here to stop them." Luis said solemnly, stepping between them before Jade could snap back. "And that''s what Jade did. We don''t have to like it, but you heard them. Someone needed to do it." "I don''t like it." Jade said, struggling to keep her cool. "I was given these fucked up powers, Naomi. I didn''t ask for them, and I don''t fucking want them! But they''re what I have to work with. And if we''re going to make it to the higher floors, then we need to use every tool we have. Including against people who are sabotaging us from protecting our home." "I know¡­" Naomi hung her head. "I¡­ I''m going to have a look through their camp. See if I can find the gear they took." "I''ll come with you." Luis said, taking her by the arm. "And check to make sure that it was just the two of them. Siora?" He looked at the elf. "Stay with Jade?" Jade almost insisted on going with them, but Luis caught her eye and shook his head. She got the message. She was still wired from the brief but brutal fight. It would be best to calm down first. The pair moved off, and Siora sidled over to her. To Jade''s surprise, the elf lay a comforting hand on her shoulder. She normally wasn''t the ''touchy'' type. "Are you alright?" The elf asked, her hazel eyes filled with concern. Jade was struck by Siora''s kindness. She had expected the gentle elf to be horrified by what she''d done. But while there was worry in her gaze, there was no judgement. "I will be." Jade said, moving away from the bodies. She didn''t want to be near them. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to forget the squelch her dagger had made when it entered Amy''s neck. She dropped the weapon to the ground, only just then realizing that she had still been holding the bloody blade. Jade tried to speak, to ask a question, but her mouth had gone dry. It took three tries to get it out. "Did I do the right thing?" "I think that depends." Jade wasn''t sure what answer she''d been expecting, but that wasn''t it. "What do you mean?" "Well¡­ I''m a pretty simple and forgetful person. I''ve never been good with complicated things like this." Siora admitted, cocking her head. The elf played with a strand of her hair, twisting it around a finger. "But ask yourself this: Did you kill them because it was right? Or because you wanted to?" Jade took a long moment to consider before answering. It wasn''t the sort of question to answer flippantly. "Because it was right." Jade said at length, certain of it. "Well, there''s your answer." The elf gave her a sad smile. A short time later, Siora moved off to investigate some strange plants that had caught her eye, leaving Jade with her thoughts. It was true, she had killed them because, in her mind, it was the right thing to do. She was still sure of that. That hadn''t been the lie. The lie was denying that a small, dark part of her had liked the feeling of draining someone. Chapter 36 Investigating the camp took less than an hour. There was no sign that Michael and Amy had any additional party members, nor that anyone else had passed through here recently. Jade surmised that the camp had been a lure designed to trick unsuspecting wayfarers into investigating. A few similar runic traps had been scattered around the perimeter of the encampment and, though Jade didn''t know exactly what they did, she doubted it was anything pleasant. She wondered who these people had been that they would so quickly turn to violence against their own. Were other people doing the same elsewhere in the Labyrinth? It was an unsettling thought. "They were probably using this fire as a signal." Jade guessed, smothering the campfire. "To get people like us to investigate the smoke." "That is a perverted use of nature''s bounty." Siora said sourly. "The Oak Mother does not seed the forests with life for those sullied purposes." "The Oak Mother?" "The patron deity of my people." Siora explained. "The bringer of life and light. The priestesses say she watches over our homeland, Myrthrin. It is my brother''s greatest wish to travel there one day and see what has become of it since our departure." "You don''t know?" Jade asked, surprised. She was also curious about the elf''s religion. From the name, it sounded like their beliefs centered around a nature deity. "The gateways to Myrthrin are far from here. My ancestors had to travel a great distance to find a safe place to settle in the Labyrinth. A few of my people have sought answers in the centuries since, but none have yet returned." "I''m sorry." "Don''t be." Siora smiled. "Seldrin will find answers for us. Maybe I''ll even go with him, if he wants me along." "He''d be foolish to leave you behind. You may not be a warrior, but your other skills are just as valuable on the road." "On the road?" Siora cocked her head. Jade noticed that the elf did that a lot. "Ahh¡­ It means ''while travelling''." She explained, mentally kicking herself for forgetting to avoid using idioms when speaking to Siora. "Oh." The elf''s expression brightened. "Thank you." After that, it was time to go through the equipment they''d found in the camp. Luis had volunteered to search the two bodies, for which Jade was grateful. She was trying not to think about the fact that she had just killed two people in nearly as many moments. The fact that it had been necessary helped a little but, unlike when fighting the goblins in the factory, this time Jade had technically been the aggressor. That wasn''t the only thing that was bothering her, either. The wonderful feeling that had accompanied drinking Michael''s life force lingered in her memory. She couldn''t deny that she wanted to feel it again. Jade couldn''t even blame the temptation on her demonic instincts, for those had been somewhat subdued after her feeding. At least now she knew that those urges could be sated. By draining the life from someone. she thought bitterly, picking through the pile of gear with her companions. For now, she pushed those thoughts from her mind, compartmentalizing away her pain and doubt. Naomi had started separating out equipment that Harish had mentioned they''d lost, setting it aside to be returned to them. Their starting gear was pretty similar to what their own party had received, mostly simple weapons, armor, and a few restorative potions. That wasn''t all that Michael and Amy had collected, however. They had amassed a surprising amount of basic healing potions and various weapon and armor sets. Jade had no idea how they''d transported it all, or even why they had felt it would be useful, but maybe one of them had possessed a spell or talent that eased the logistics of travel. "Some of this armor is bloodied and torn." Naomi said, inspecting a piece of leather armor. "Do you think¡­?" "Probably." Luis said. "Good riddance." They couldn''t take it all, not even close, but all of them were able to at least replace some of their own damaged gear. Luis took Michael''s breastplate, which was practically undamaged. Jade and Naomi both found sets of leather armor that were in better condition than their own and appropriately sized, so they swapped those out too. They gave Siora Naomi''s old armor, which fit her well enough and was still in decent shape. The pair hadn''t had a great deal of crescent coins for some reason, but they also took a few pouches of them, adding to their growing total. Before they left, Jade also swiped the shortsword the man had been using, glad to finally have a weapon with more reach than a dagger. As she was already used to fighting with daggers she wasn''t planning on making the switch to the longer blade right away, but having another weapon to practice with would be helpful. She strapped it to her back, mimicking how Luis carried his larger weapon. "Won''t that get in the way of your wings?" he asked, watching her adjust the buckles. "¡­Damn it." If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
They elected not to drag back the gear that belonged to Harish, Erik, and Marie, there was simply too much of it to easily carry. They left it in a pile in the former camp, intending to escort the group of wayfarers to it as soon as possible. Since the trail that they had followed to Amy and Michael''s trap had been far from a straight line, Siora offered to lead them on a more direct route back to the river. They kept an eye out for monsters as they travelled, but there didn''t seem to be many of them in this part of the quadrant. Jade, Luis, and Naomi followed their elven companion as she led them through the jungle with hardly a pause. "Hey, Siora?" Luis asked, passing Jade as he jogged up alongside the alchemist. "Are you sure this is your first time here?" The elf blinked at him. "Of course it is." "Then how do you know which way to go so easily?" "It''s easy. I just listen to the trees." She explained, as if that made perfect sense. Getting away from the scene of her most recent battle helped Jade''s mood, and she was able to shove down the worst of her worries. It only took them about a half hour to reach the river, although they had travelled far enough upstream that the bridge wasn''t in sight. As they turned to head back down river, though, Jade noticed something glinting in the waterway. "What''s that?" she asked, shielding her eyes against the sun and pointing. "An island?" Naomi asked, following her gaze. It was the first thing she''d said to her since they left the camp, and Jade was starting to worry that the day''s events would leave a rift between them. "Yeah, but something is on it." She replied, doing her best to act normal and knowing that it was coming off as awkward. Jade hated managing relationships, she wasn''t any good at it. "I think that''s this quadrant''s node!" Siora said excitedly. Jade perked up, they had been keeping an eye out for that. Adding another node to their directory would give them more options to travel to in the future, not to mention how useful it would be to have the quadrant revealed on their maps. "We should activate it." She said, moving in that direction. "Wait." Luis stopped her with a raised hand. "Let''s get Harish and the others first. They have that quest to find a node. If they complete it, maybe the Labyrinth will give them a break." "Good idea." Jade said. "We''ll swing by here on the way back to the camp." "That''ll give us time to figure out how to get to it." Naomi said. "It doesn''t look like an easy swim." It took them another quarter of an hour to get back to the bridge. Jade kept to the shade of the trees as often as she could, but the humid jungle heat was impossible to escape. By the time they were back at the riverside hut, all four of them were sweating profusely. "Maybe we can cool off in the shallows later." Naomi said, looking longingly at the water. "I''m sure we smell horrid again." "I wouldn¡¯t recommend it." Harish said. He was sitting on a log in the shade of the hut, fashioning a long stick into a crude spear. Beside him lay the mangled corpse of one of the jungle serpents that inhabited the quadrant. "I saw a shadow of something big swimming around the bridge yesterday." "Of course there''s a river monster." Naomi sighed. "I should have known." "Well?" Harish asked, looking over the group. His gaze lingered on Luis''s new, undamaged breastplate. "Were you successful?" "Yes. We found the two you told us about." Jade said, grimacing as images of the brutal kills flashed in her mind''s eye. She continued in a cold, emotionless voice. "They won''t be bothering anyone again." "You were right." Luis added. "They had a lot of stuff, you weren''t the first group they robbed." "And if the state of some of the gear they had was anything to go by, not all of their victims walked away from the encounter." Harish closed his eyes and bowed his head. "That can''t have been easy. I am sorry that you suffered on our account." Jade didn''t know what to say to that. He was wrong, it had been easy. That was the problem. Who am I becoming? "Are you ready to go?" Naomi asked, eager to move on from the subject. "We can take you there." "But first." Luis raised a finger. "We have a stop to make."
The trek back to the node was uneventful, and mostly consisted of Marie asking Siora dozens of questions about her home and people. Now that she was at least partially healed, the woman was much livelier. She was clearly fascinated by the elf, which seemed to puzzle Siora. Jade also noted that, upon learning that whole societies lived in the Labyrinth, their new travelling companions seemed to grow a little less fearful of their circumstances. "That''s a node?" Erik said, when they arrived at the closest point on the riverbank to the small island that held the large crystal orb. "It doesn''t look like much." Luis took a moment to explain the utility of activating nodes, including the ''fast travel'' capabilities they possessed. Meanwhile, Naomi turned to Jade. "So, how are we going to get across?" The other woman wouldn''t meet her gaze. Jade was starting to get annoyed with how she was being treated, but did her best to push those feelings aside for the moment. The gap between the bank they stood on and the small island that held the node was only about eighty feet wide, but the fast-flowing water and numerous protruding rocks made Jade hesitate at the prospect of swimming the gap. "I could use ''Mirage Step'' to get part way across, and try to swim the rest of the way." Jade suggested unenthusiastically. She recalled that Marie had a water related class and was about to ask her if she had anything that could help, when Siora spoke up first. "Oh, can I try and pull something from your new bag, Jade?" The elf asked excitedly. "Maybe we''ll get something that can help us!" Jade had nearly forgotten about the bag of mystery. She removed it from her belt, handing it over. "Go ahead." She watched with trepidation, unsure of what to expect from the strange magic pouch. The elf wasted no time, taking the item and plunging her arm into the extradimensional space with surprising enthusiasm. "Oh, I think I have something!" She said, struggling to pull her arm free of the container. "It''s heavy¡­!" To everyone''s astonishment, Siora pulled forth an entire wooden raft from the bag''s small opening. Jade watched the whole process and still wasn''t sure how it happened. The raft thumped to the ground with heavy thud, apparently gaining weight only after it had fully emerged, and she had to hop back to avoid it landing on top of her. It was a simple construction, just a series of logs tied together in a square. For a moment, they all just gaped at it. "Where the hell did that come from?" Erik asked, incredulous. "My magic lottery bag." Jade said, recovering from her surprise and placing a foot on the rather rickety looking raft. "So, who wants to pilot this thing with me?" The log Jade''s foot was resting on broke free of the rest of the raft with a snap. They all watched it roll down the bank and splash into the river. It drifted a short distance before smashing into a rock, splintering into tiny pieces. Slowly, everyone turned back to look at Jade. She wasn¡¯t an expert at reading expressions, but they didn¡¯t look very confident. "¡­I¡¯m sure it doesn''t need that piece." She added helpfully. Chapter 37 Jade waited while Luis took some time to inspect the raft''s integrity. While no boat expert, with his background as a mechanic he was the best suited among their group to look it over and make adjustments. In the meantime, Jade and Harish took to gathering long branches that could be fashioned into oars, as the raft had not come equipped with any means of propulsion or steering. Eventually, Luis declared that the raft was ''probably good enough'' for making the short trip to the island. He volunteered to help Jade pilot it and they were joined by a somewhat reluctant Erik, as a member of Harish''s party had to be present for them to complete the node quest. Jade considered just adding them to their party temporarily but decided that just doing everything for them would only hurt their ability to look after themselves in the long run. "Please be careful." Marie said to Erik as they were pushing off into the current. Physically, she was looking much better today. But in her eyes, Jade saw the haunted look of someone still recovering from mental trauma. She understood that feeling, as she was still processing all the violence of recent days herself. Unlike Jade, though, Marie''s group hadn''t even seen that much battle yet. That didn''t seem to bode well for her ability to adjust to the harsh realities of the Labyrinth, but Jade remembered the rapid growth Naomi had been making and knew it would be premature to count her out yet. "Her class is Ocean Druid, right?" Jade asked Erik as the raft splashed down into the river, drifting downstream and picking up speed. They had launched it from a good distance up the river so they could simply use the current to reach the island. "Do you know what its focus is?" "The description said it¡¯s a healing and support class." Erik said, helping Jade punt them out into the middle of the river with their makeshift oars while Luis steered. "I chose my class, Duelist, so I could try and protect her. Well, that and because I did some fencing in university. You did find my saber, right?" "We did." Jade reassured him. She had lent him the shortsword she had taken from Michael for this little excursion, just in case it was needed. From Erik''s explanations, though, his weapon talents required a certain type of sword to use. That seemed restrictive to Jade, but maybe it came with benefits that outweighed the strict requirements. "We recently learned that the Labyrinth may take into account which quests you accept or decline when offering new ones." She said, paddling to keep them on course. "If you don''t think she''ll adjust well to the Trial, it might be a good idea to refuse all the challenging quests until it starts giving easier options." "Thanks for the tip." Erik sounded a little relieved. "I hope she gets a healing spell soon, though. The magic that friend of yours can use is pretty incredible." "We started gettin'' more options at levels four and six." Luis said. He was standing at the rear of the raft, using his oar to steer. "Once you level up a few times, it''ll get easier." "I hope you''re right¡­ Shit." The raft shuddered as it scraped against a barely submerged rock that had escaped their notice. One of the logs cracked, and the whole thing made an ominous groaning sound. "Are you sure this thing will hold together?" "It''ll be fine." Jade said, with a confidence she didn''t really feel. "We''re almost there." A minute later, the small craft ground to a halt on the shore of the island that held the node. It was small, barely fifty feet across at its widest point, and only had a pair of small trees growing on it. The node was situated on a stone pedestal that rose from the center of the island, which Jade noted was really more like a large sandbar. "This would be a pretty inconvenient place to appear, if you used the node network to travel here." Jade commented, walking up to the node and laying her hand on its surface. " "Maybe you don''t teleport right on top of it." Luis suggested. "That other one was up in a tree." The node looked just like the previous one she''d found, a many faceted sphere of semi-transparent crystal that was filled with a milky, swirling light. A notification appeared as she touched it. Jade pulled up her map while Erik took his turn at the node, looking over the newly revealed terrain. There weren''t many points of interest in this quadrant, nor was there a boss icon. Other than the sanctuary Harish had told them about, there was only one other symbol. It was a curved ''C'' shape, with two vertical lines passing through it. Jade checked the map legend, then suddenly got excited.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Finally!" "What?" Luis gave her a curious look. Jade closed the window and grinned. It was the first time she''d smiled since the battle earlier in the day. "I just found out that today, I get to introduce you to a girl''s best friend." Luis looked confused. "I know what chocolate is." Jade snorted. "Nice try. No, we''re about to go shopping."
Before they could head to the newly located Labyrinth Store, they first had to get back to shore. "There are some rocks downriver." Erik said, scanning the water and pointing out the hazards. "It''s not far, we''ll make it back before we get to them." Luis said, slapping him on the back. "And if we don''t, we''ll figure it out." "If we have to swim part of the way, we can." Jade said. She wanted to avoid that outcome if possible. The current in the center of the river was swifter than it had looked from the bank. But now that they were on the island, they had to get back somehow. "Be careful!" Naomi called from the shore, her voice carrying clearly across the water. "We''re always careful!" Luis called back. Jade was too far away to see for sure, but she practically felt Naomi roll her eyes. "She''s barely said a word to me since this morning." Jade said quietly to Luis as they shoved the raft back into the water and hopped aboard. "Did I go too far, earlier¡­?" Jade was starting to have some second thoughts about how she''d handled the encounter with Michael and Amy. She had killed two people, practically in the blink of an eye. Putting aside her body''s unsettling reaction to the deaths, which she couldn''t control, had that really been necessary? It was starting to feel like she had made a mistake, and a heavy lump was forming in her stomach. At the same time, she couldn''t think of any other reasonable solution. They had been killing people, either directly or indirectly. The idea of just letting them carry on with such destructive, evil selfishness felt as wrong to Jade as killing them herself did. "I''m not gonna lie." He said with a grunt, paddling them towards shore. "I didn''t like it. But sometimes the world is just messy, and there''s not always an easy answer. I''m sure Naomi understands that too, she''ll come ''round." He turned to face her, and his expression held no recrimination. "I can''t say if it was right or wrong, but let me put it like this. If you hadn''t done it, I would have." Erik must''ve overheard them, because he chimed in from the front of the raft. "As far as I''m concerned, we''re all better off now." He said grimly. "We''ll have enough trouble getting home without getting stabbed in the back by people we should be able to rely on. From what it sounds like, they tried to kill you too. I''m grateful for what you did for us, and it''s a sacrifice I won''t forget." "Thanks¡­" Jade murmured. Their words didn''t banish all her doubts, but they did ease them. "I just hope there''s a home to get back to, after this¡­" Jade nodded absently, lost in thought. I should doubt if killing people is right. She reflected. Questioning myself is better than the alternative. The demonic part of her had no such qualms, and simply wanted more. To Jade, that was all the more reason to analyze her actions carefully. She was coming to realize that the changes she was undergoing weren''t completely reshaping who she was. Her mind and thoughts were still her own, much to her relief. What her succubus nature had begun to shape, though, was the type and intensity of the emotions she felt. Resisting instinctual urges was a challenge, but not an impossibility. She hoped that was the case, at any rate. She would have to be very careful, going forward. "Shoot. More rocks." Erik grunted, snapping Jade''s attention back to the present. He was right. The river had narrowed, and the current was carrying them faster than they''d anticipated. Their path to the shore was already cut off by a cluster of mostly submerged rocks, it hadn''t looked like there''d been so many from the island. Jade thought it would be a bad idea to try and force their way through them. That would probably result in the raft smashing apart and them getting tossed around in the swiftly flowing river. "Should we try for the other shore?" she asked, raising her voice to be heard over the rushing water. The other side of the river, opposite their companions, was clear of impediments. Unfortunately, they''d already made a good amount of progress and backtracking would be an arduous task. "Maybe we should just swim for it." Erik said. "It''s not that far!" "Wait." Luis called, pointing down river. "The bridge is coming up. We can climb up it!" He was right. The river was rapidly pulling them downstream, and the old bridge next to the hut was coming into view. The bridge had pylons that reached down into the water and was low enough for them to clamber atop it. Assuming they didn''t shoot under it too quickly. "The bridge." Jade agreed. "But we have to slow down!" The three of them worked in concert, paddling against the flow as fast as they could. Jade''s arms burned from the exertion, unused to this type of exercise. On the shore, their companions were running to keep pace with them. They began to slow as the bridge drew near, and Luis steered them towards one of the support struts. Jade had just started to relax when a voice called out from the bank. "What?" She called back, trying to hear. The river was noisy, and water kept sloshing up onto the deck of the raft. "-hind you!" Harish bellowed, cupping his hands around his mouth. Behind them? Jade knew the bridge was behind them. That''s where they were going. "Um¡­ What''s that?" Luis gasped, still paddling as hard as he could. Jade followed his gaze, tracking it to a large dark spot in the water. At first, she thought it was another rock. But no, it was getting closer to them. What¡­? Too late, she remembered Harish''s comment about the creature he''d seen under the bridge. "To the shore! Fast!" Jade shouted, changing the direction of her paddling. "Forget the rocks!" The three of them paddled for all they were worth, heedless of the risk. The riverbank drew closer. Twenty-five feet. Twenty feet. Fifteen-. An explosion of water erupted behind them, and Jade turned to see a yard-long blue-grey claw swing down towards the raft like a hammer. Chapter 38 Luis shoved his oar against a protruding rock as hard as he could, jerking the raft to the side in the same moment as the monstrous claw came crashing down. An enormous fountain of water splashed over them as the attack missed, ploughing into the river beside them instead. His shove had sent them a surprising distance, Luis was still getting used to the enhanced strength that came from his recent level ups. The near miss was still forceful enough to violently rock the raft, threatening to send them overboard into the turbulent river. He grabbed ahold of Erik, pulling him back before the man toppled over. A moment later, the mist and spray cleared enough for them to get their first good look at the monster. The creature had a thick, blue-grey shell and a narrow head. Mandibles clacked in front of its mouth, which was surprisingly small for the size of its body. Two large claws flanked its elongated form, preceded by multiple pairs of whiskers that flailed about in all directions. Luis couldn¡¯t see the bottom half of the creature, it was still partially submerged, but he didn''t need to. "Is that a lobster?!" Erik shouted in alarm. "Yeah, a real fuckin'' big one!" Jade shouted back, still trying to paddle them to shore. For all her determination, she lacked the strength to make much progress on her own. She sounded more excited than scared, as if the prospect of being attacked by an enormous crustacean was a grand adventure. Actually, Luis couldn''t entirely disagree with that. "Keep rowing!" he shouted, dropping his oar and drawing his giant sword. "I''ll distract it!" The giant lobster turned towards them, swimming swiftly through the water in pursuit as the current continued to carry them downstream. The raft bounced off various rocks as they drew near the shore, each one accompanied by an alarming groaning sound that came from the wood under their feet. The monster didn''t bother trying to avoid the rocks, opting to barrel through them as if they weren''t there as it closed. Luis swung his sword, launching an arc of crackling force energy that crashed into its armored head and knocked it off course. It floundered, flailing as it tried to right itself. "Aha!" Luis crowed. "It''s not so tough!" Just then, the raft smashed into a large boulder. The poorly built vessel couldn''t take any more abuse. It splintered apart, sending the three of them splashing down into the water. The world suddenly transformed into a chaotic mix of motion, rushing sounds, and bubbles. Luis surfaced with a sputter, clinging onto his sword and trying to get his bearings. They were close to the shore, less than a dozen feet away. He struck out for it, grunting as the current swept him into a rock that banged painfully against his leg. Fortunately, they''d had the foresight to remove their armor before embarking, so it wasn''t too hard to swim the remaining distance to shore, a task that was made all the easier when the rushing water surrounding them suddenly stilled, becoming calm and tranquil. Luis pulled himself onto the bank with Jade and Erik, the three of them soaked and a little banged up, but otherwise alright. He looked up to see a panting Marie holding out a glowing hand towards the water, channeling a spell. She released it when they were safely out of the water, the current resuming its swift flow in an instant. "I got my spell to work!" She exclaimed, waving at Erik. "Did you see?!" "Yeah¡­" Erik coughed. "Great job." "We should have brought you with us, too." Luis said, turning to survey the water. The monster had vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "Where''d the lobster go?" "It went back under the bridge once you were out of the water." Harish said, out of breath from running to keep up with them. He pointed towards the bridge, which was only another fifty yards down the bank. "Damn." Jade grunted in annoyance, wincing as she got up. "I wanted that experience. I''m close to a level up." "I just wanted to cook it." Luis said. "Did you see the size of its claws? I bet that thing tastes great." "How can you be so casual about this?" Erik asked. The young man looked a little shell shocked. "We barely got away!" Luis and Jade exchanged glances. "That wasn''t so bad." "We''ve had it way worse than that, amigo." "You get used to it." Jade finished.
Luis wasn''t feeling quite as calm as his relaxed demeanor let on. Jade''s frontier vigilantism, no matter how justified it had been, had left him troubled. Still, he kept up his usual jokes and good cheer. The group all needed some positivity. So, that''s what he gave them. Following their escape from the killer lobster, the group elected to return to the hut for a mid-afternoon meal, seeing as they had already backtracked almost all the way there. They kept a careful eye on the river in case the beast decided to emerge for a second round, but it seemed content to ignore them now that they were out of the water. They set off again after a short break, this time for the former camp. The journey was uneventful, punctuated by Jade pausing every once in a while to remove the traps that she had set. By the time the sun was starting to drift lower in the sky, they arrived. Harish, Erik, and Marie all found their starting equipment, plus a few other useful pieces of gear and backups. Harish, it turned out, used a bow, while Erik was happy to get back his saber. He handed Jade back the sword she had lent him with thanks, before moving to help Marie put her armor on. "I saw the man''s body¡­ What happened to him?" Harish asked quietly, finding Luis at the edge of the clearing. He was carefully looking around for any more of the hidden rune traps that Amy had claimed they''d mined their camp site with. They must have begun fading upon her death, however, because few of them were left.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Before replying to the question, Luis took a few moments to carefully consider an answer. Jade had made it clear that she wanted to conceal her true nature, at least for the moment. He wasn''t sure that deceiving potential friends was a good foundation for a relationship, but he would respect her desire. "Oh, Jade has a drain spell." He said with a casual shrug. "She doesn''t use it much, I think it''s expensive to cast." "So, she killed both of them?" he asked, surprised. "Yeah¡­" Luis caught sight of Jade and Naomi across the clearing, standing apart from the rest of the group. They were conversing quietly, but it didn''t seem to be heated. That made him relax a little. "She''s a little intense, but we''re lucky to have her." "I can see that." He held out his hand to Luis. "I hope we can repay the favor to you, one day. What do you plan to do now?" Luis shook his hand and shrugged again. "Probably head to that Labyrinth shop, Jade''s been talking about it nonstop since we found the node. After that? Back to making our way to a stairway." "If it''s all the same to you, we''ll join you as far as the shop. It can''t hurt to stock up on supplies, though I doubt we''ll be able to afford much." "Happy to have you along." He said distractedly, keeping an eye on his two companions. "We definitely aren¡¯t ready to travel to a more challenging area, though." Harish sighed. "I just hope those kids can adjust." Across the clearing, Luis watched as Naomi and Jade stepped in close for a hug. He smiled, and this time it was genuine. "They will. As long as we have each other''s backs, things will turn out okay."
"Jade?" Jade paused organizing her bag, looking up as Naomi approached. Thinking about finally getting to see what this Labyrinth Shop was all about had put her in a good mood, but now she was on guard. She really wasn''t in the mood for a lecture. "I¡­" Naomi swallowed. "Wanted to apologize. For earlier." Jade blinked, unsure of how to respond. That wasn''t what she was expecting. "I was too harsh on you." She continued, clutching her guitar to her chest as if the instrument was giving her courage. "You took all the risk and burden of fighting and¡­ and killing." She managed to get the word out. "I didn''t have to do anything, because you handled it all yourself. And even though I knew we didn''t have a choice, I still complained about it. You didn''t deserve that." "Naomi¡­" Jade still didn''t know what to say. "You protected us today. I don''t get to benefit from the hard choices you''re making and also complain about them." She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Your powers scare me, Jade. But you''re right, we have to use whatever we can to win here. If I feel like you''re doing something wrong, I''m going to tell you. But I won''t just bitch at you because I''m unhappy with how things turn out." "If you think I''m making bad decisions, I do want to know." Jade said quietly. "I can do that." She smiled brightly at her. "Luis and I will help keep your head on straight." She stepped closer and gave her a hug. Jade accepted it, some of the day''s tension bleeding away as she remembered the comfort of friends. "Thanks." She murmured, surprised to find herself struggling to hold back tears. Jade suddenly felt very vulnerable. She mastered it quickly, composing herself. Naomi didn''t rush her, and gave her all the time she needed.
When they were done gathering everything useful from the camp, including a few hidden pouches of crescent coins that they''d missed earlier, it was time to head out. Much to Jade''s dismay, her suggestion of heading directly to the Labyrinth Store was thoroughly outvoted. Everyone was tired and wanted to rest, and the map indicated that the shop was a good couple of hours away on foot. Instead, they travelled back to the riverside hut, dispatching a small handful of salamander monsters along the way. With seven of them in the group, none of the local monsters posed any real threat, and Jade was content to stay back and let their three temporary companions start getting some battle experience. Harish and Erik looked to be adapting decently to the trials of the Labyrinth, but Marie still concerned her. The woman simply seemed incapable of harming anything and was utterly terrified of being hurt herself. Fortunately, the low-level spells she possessed were all ranged and support themed, so Jade hoped that she''d be able to grow into a back line role. They arrived back at the hut as night was falling. In short order the group devised a watch schedule and went to sleep, each of them exhausted from the long day. When the sun rose the next morning, Jade was the first up. She waited impatiently for everyone to get ready, and then led the way towards their destination at the far end of the quadrant. The Labyrinth Store took several hours of hiking to reach, interspersed with the occasional random monster fight and short breaks. The shop itself turned out to be another freestanding doorway portal, just like the sanctuaries were. Instead of the golden halo that surrounded sanctuary entrances, however, this portal had a shimmering silver border. Jade reached the door first, opening it to reveal a large room filled with an eclectic mix of item strewn shelves, racks of weapons and armor, and glass cases filled with scrolls and tomes. A light chime sounded as she stepped inside, the floorboards creaking beneath her feet. A pleasant breeze blew in through an open window, refreshing after so many days dealing with the jungle humidity. She looked around, spotting a counter at the far end of the room that looked like the sort of place a shopkeeper would stand to assist customers. Curious, Jade walked over to it, looking around for any sign of an attendant. Her hand brushed one of the shelves as she squeezed between them, and a purple barrier appeared around the crystals displayed atop it, preventing her from touching them. "Hello?" She called out, stopping at the unattended counter. An empty chair sat on its other side. There was no response, but she did spy a small door that looked to lead into a back room. A soft ''tink tink'' sound was coming from the other side. "Is anyone there?" Jade called as the rest of the group filtered into the shop, a little louder this time. A startled grunt from the other room preceded a loud clang, which was followed by a cacophonous crashing noise and heavy WHUMP. Thick, eye watering smoke billowed through the cracked door. Jade stepped away in alarm, covering her mouth as everyone else turned to see what the commotion was. The door opened to reveal a coughing, sputtering reptilian creature. Its body was covered in blue scales, and it stood on two short legs with a stubby tail that didn''t quite reach the ground. Its elongated head turned upward as it regarded Jade with dark, beady eyes. "Don''t distract me when I''m tinkerin''!" The creature yipped in a surprisingly high-pitched voice that didn''t at all match its bestial appearance. It waved a tool in her face with a clawed hand, some sort of wrench that was comically large compared to its small frame. "You coulda blown up da shop!" "Um¡­ Sorry?" Jade said, trying to keep a straight face. She was having a hard time taking the lizard man, his voice sounded masculine, seriously. He was wearing a belt that held several tools equally as large as the wrench, most of which were dragging on the floor behind him as he walked. "More of da humans from that new world, huh¡­" He grumbled as he walked over to the counter, climbing up to the chair. They waited while he got situated. "Where was it¡­" He grunted, rummaging through a drawer. Jade caught a glimpse of hundreds of folders haphazardly jammed inside. A moment later, the creature pulled out a piece of parchment from a folder simply labelled ''Earth'', and held it up, squinting at it. His next words were spoken in a monotone, as he clearly was reading from a script. "Welcome to da Labyrinth Store. My name is Skraag. What can I help ya with?" He set down the paper, twisting his toothy mouth into a bizarre, somewhat sinister expression that bared his fangs. For a moment, Jade thought he was threatening them, but then she realized that Skraag was attempting to smile. The expression didn''t quite work on his anatomy. For what felt like the thousandth time, Jade pondered how the hell her life had turned out like this. Chapter 39 Jade was rescued from having to form a reply by Naomi. "Wait." Naomi said, breaking into the conversation. "What do you mean by ''more humans''. Did others come here?" "Ya, we''ve been gettin'' more of you lot over the past few days." Skraag said, abandoning his rictus of a smile. "Just the other day I had two of ya in here pawning off all sorts of low tier gear." Jade felt a jolt go through her spine. "These people, can you describe them?" Skraag shrugged, reeling off a description that matched up quite well with what Jade had in mind. She shared a dark look with her companions. Now they knew why Michael and Amy and been attacking other wayfarers for their equipment. "No wonder we found so many coin pouches hidden in their bags¡­" Jade muttered. Before moving off to peruse what the shop had to offer, Jade took a moment to examine Skraag with the interface. So, he was Labyrinth-born too. That made Skraag like Damos, although he wasn''t a ''Labyrinth elemental'' like the sanctuary attendant was. According to Siora, Labyrinth-born creatures were created from entities called ''Labyrinth spirits'' that could take on a variety of forms. Those spirits were what created most of the monsters that roamed the Astral Labyrinth, and creatures like Skraag and Damos that saw to its administrative necessities. Jade felt that there was something wrong with the fact that the Labyrinth could just form intelligent creatures out of its spirits. Did the Labyrinth use intelligent creatures like it did monsters? As enemies they would have to cut down? She would have to ask Siora that soon, although she expected that she wouldn''t like the answer. The store itself had a lot to get excited about, and their group split up to examine its contents while Skraag lounged at the counter. Jade was immediately drawn to the section that contained magical bags, practically shoving Erik out of the way to get to them faster. She read the system description, then looked at her party members. "We''re getting this." she declared. "I don''t care how much it costs." After she explained what the item could do, no one even tried to argue. The ''Dimensional Pouch'' looked quite similar to her ''Bag of Mystery¡¯ but could store up to two hundred and fifty pounds of material. There were some size restrictions, but they were generous enough that she didn''t anticipate any problems. "This is going to make things so much easier." She sighed, handing over a rather large pile of coins to Skraag. The kobold grumbled while counting them up, reminding Jade of any number of unenthusiastic retail workers she had encountered in her old life. It was oddly comforting to find that some things were simply a constant in the wider universe. With their pockets considerably lighter, both figuratively and literally, they resumed browsing what the store had on display. There was a great deal of miscellaneous equipment like basic tools, camping gear, and rope, and they stocked up on some inexpensive essentials. Much to Luis''s disappointment, however, the inventory did not include a ten-foot pole. Both Jade and Naomi had been hoping to acquire some extra changes of clothes, but they found little in the way of apparel. Siora consoled them by promising that there would be plenty of outfits available to them upon reaching Lysara. They were all running out of things to wear at this point and were mostly making do with their armor. On the subject of armor, the shop had a supply of several varieties of enchanted defensive equipment. Warded armor, Skraag explained tersely, was enhanced with magical protections that could shield the wearer and absorb damage. To Jade, it sounded like a type of arcane force field like Luis''s ''Shield Burst'' spell. Anything that would make combat safer for them was a top priority, and they pooled the remainder of their money to buy enchanted versions of the armor they were currently wearing. Even better, warded armor was imbued with a limited ability to repair itself after being damaged. "What do you think?" Jade asked, inspecting her newly equipped D-rank arcane leather armor. "Very heroic." Naomi commented, pausing as she pulled on her own gear. "It looks a lot better without all the scrapes and gashes." Unfortunately, they couldn''t afford to equip Siora with enchanted armor as well, it was just too expensive for the moment. Since Jade, Luis, and Naomi were usually the ones in danger from monsters, they had elected to upgrade their defenses first. Since the elf was now wearing Naomi''s old light armor herself, though, they had all received a substantial upgrade. Skraag explained to them that the D-rank enchantments would likely only be able to stop a single solid hit from a monster before needing to recharge, a process that took long enough that it wasn''t likely to be useful multiple times in the same fight. Even that was an enormous boon, though, giving Jade and Luis especially a margin for error that they had lacked in their previous battles. Fortunately, the system was able to modify Jade''s armor to accommodate her demon form''s wings. The armor set she was provided with possessed the same slits that her original class-given equipment did. Overall, their new gear wasn''t very visually different, but the increase in capabilities would be a game changer. Basic enchanted weapons were available for purchase as well, but they turned out to cost even more than the armor. The group decided to prioritize their defenses first, and to begin saving up to acquire superior weapons at the earliest opportunity.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. For her part, Siora spent most of their time in the store perusing the spellbooks. Jade had heard her mention them before, but this was her first time seeing them. "I wish I''d had my spellbook on me when I fell down to this floor." Siora sighed, wistfully looking through the display case at the selection of tomes. Most of them were far outside of their price range. "It has a couple of useful spells for adventuring." "You have one of these?" Jade asked. "Oh yes, many people at least have an F or D level spellbook. It''s the easiest way for low level people to add a couple of spells we normally wouldn''t have room for." Siora explained. "Tome spells don''t count against your spell limit, just like talent tattoos don''t count against your talent limit." Siora pointed at another display case, this one filled with various tattoo designs. "How do they work?" Jade curiously looked at one of the thick tomes. Its cover was illustrated with a depiction of swirling wind. "You know how the spells we get from the Labyrinth are ''soul imprinted''?" "Yes, I''ve heard that." "That means the magical pathways are carved into your soul. So, you can cast the spell by channeling mana through yourself." "That makes sense." Jade was still coming to terms with the definitive existence of a soul, but the explanation was simple enough. "I just have a basic understanding." Siora continued. "But spellbooks give us ''soul-bonded'' spells. When you use one, you channel the magic through runes inscribed in the book rather than your own soul." "That sounds convenient. I imagine that something stops you from just carrying around a bunch of spellbooks so you have access to dozens of spells?" "Yes." Siora laughed. "That''s why it''s called ''bonded''. You can only link your soul to one tome at a time. You can change it, so some people do have more than one, but it''s a pretty slow process." "It really would be great to have some more options." Jade said, looking longingly at the pile of books. Unfortunately, after all the purchases they''d just made, she was completely broke. "They are very helpful." Siora agreed. "Someone like you can use a spellbook to gain some utility spells that you wouldn''t normally have room for, since you''re a combat class. And an alchemist like me could pick up a combat tome that gives me some options for emergencies." "Are you going to get one?" Jade asked. The elf was inspecting one of the less expensive options, a D-rank tome that contained some sort of ice magic. "Yes." She nodded. "It''s much more expensive than the one I bought in Estelhelm, and very inefficient since it only has one spell, but I''m tired of hiding in the back while my friends fight for me." Siora waved Skraag over, pointing to the book in question. "I''ve never been good at fighting, or liked it. But for the rest of the time I''m with you, I''m going to help."
Harish''s group ended up only purchasing a handful of potions, they couldn''t afford much else yet. Having access to the shop would be quite a boon to their advancement, however, seeing as they could turn their quest rewards and monster loot into whatever upgrades they needed on demand. Jade and her companions also took the opportunity to redeem their ''bronze compensation tokens'', which Skraag exchanged for one ''minor experience boost'' potion each. The potions would moderately increase their experience gain for one hour after consuming it. Jade wasn''t sure when the best time to use them would be, but there wasn''t a rush. It''s not like they expired. Before long, everyone had wrapped up their last purchases. Jade was rather impressed to see that Naomi had already transferred all the colorful tassels over to her new armor, giving her appearance a little flair. It still seemed a little silly to Jade to worry about fashion while they were fighting for their lives, but if it made it easier for Naomi to deal with their situation then she wouldn''t comment. "Before ya go." Skraag said, stopping them by the door. "I have a few personal, non-Labyrinth-generated items I''ve been workin'' on. Are any of ya interested in buyin'' some of my throwable bombs?" "No, we''re ok." Naomi said with a conciliatory smile. "Yes!" Luis interrupted. "It depends." Jade said, talking over them both. Marie laughed. "You three are quite the group." "What kind of bombs are we talking about?" Jade asked, ignoring the comment. "No! We don''t need any bombs, Jade." Naomi said before Skraag could reply. "We can''t know that until we hear what they do." She pointed out, and Luis nodded in agreement. "Well, they''re still in the experimental stage, so I''m willin'' to part with ''em for a discount if ya bring me back some feedback." Luis opened his mouth to reply, but Naomi clamped a hand over it before he could. She gave the kobold shopkeeper a strained smile. "We don''t need any prototype explosives, thanks." Jade actually thought that it wouldn''t be a bad idea to have some explosives to use in a pinch, but decided to give Naomi this one. Someone needed to think about safety. "Bye Skraag." Siora said with a wave. "Tell Kreshka that Siora says hello whenever you see her!" The seven of them exited the shop with their purchases, leaving behind a slightly disappointed looking kobold and emerging back in the jungle. "Who''s Kreshka?" Luis asked. "Oh, just the shopkeeper that I usually run into when I visit the Labyrinth Store. You usually get the same one, no matter which entrance you use. I think it depends on who opens the door, though." "There are multiple shopkeepers?" Naomi asked. Siora blinked at her. "There''s a whole clan of them. Entire cities of people live in the Labyrinth. It''d get pretty crowded if there was only one version of the store." "Magic¡­" Naomi said, shaking her head. The group walked the short distance back to the river and then stopped, turning to face each other. "Well, I think we''re going to head out now." Jade said. The sun was still high in the sky, and they had plenty of daylight left. "You intend on trying to reach the second floor?" Harish asked. "Yes, we already have a floor key. Someone has to get started breaking those Core things before they start mining Earth, or whatever it is they do." "You''re a lot braver than me." Marie said quietly. She was wearing armor and carrying a staff now. The look rather suited the woman. Jade thought that she looked a little more determined, now. Maybe she could face the ordeals of the trial, at least enough to complete it and get home. "Once we get stronger, we''ll try and follow." Erik said, holding out his hand. They all shook hands, taking some time to bid farewell. They hadn''t known each other long, but friendships were forged quickly in the fires of conflict. "If you run into trouble, follow the river to the waterfall. There''s a giant tree in the valley below where a Dryad lives. She can help you if you need it." Naomi said. "She''s very friendly." Siora agreed. "But watch out for the giant spiders." "Thanks for the tip." Erik nodded. Adjusting or not, their group looked a little alarmed at the idea of giant spiders. Jade still didn''t understand why they were such a big deal. "Next time, we''ll be the ones helping you." He finished. "Lookin'' forward to it." Luis grinned. The three of them set off back downriver, finally ready to explore the quadrant in earnest. Jade hoped it would work out for them. None of the monsters here were too dangerous. If they were careful, they''d be able to gain levels and strength. "Alright." Jade said, tapping her wayfarer mark to activate the ''Pathfinder'' spell. The illusory arrow shimmered to life above her hand, pointing into the depths of the jungle. "Let''s get you home, Siora." Chapter 40 Led by Jade''s spell, the four of them made good time through the dense jungle. The journey was considerably easier now that most of their supplies were being carried in their new dimensional pouch. By the end of a day''s travel, the jungle was starting to thin. Jade thought that they may be approaching the edge of the quadrant, and possibly the zone as well. Her hunch was confirmed by checking her map, which displayed their location as being near the edge of the area revealed by the node. When night fell, Siora once again located a suitable campsite that provided good shelter from both the elements and any prying eyes. They''d only encountered a handful of the local creatures during their trek, but no one wanted to wake up to a jungle serpent wrapping around their body. Camping was made more comfortable due to their new bedrolls, which Luis had purchased at the Labyrinth Store. After the long day of hiking none of them had much energy left for conversation, and they ate a leisurely dinner before bedding down for the night. Siora volunteered to take the first watch, and the rest of them went to sleep. The next day saw the terrain shift further. The jungle trees grew smaller and further apart, with far less underbrush getting in their way. This sped up the party''s progress considerably, and before too long Jade was greeted by a new system message. True to the system''s words, their surroundings were changing from humid jungle to mountain highlands. The temperature became cooler, a pleasant change after the constant heat of the jungle. For the first time since Jade had entered the Labyrinth, she found herself in a truly open area. Mountains rose from a bed of rugged hills, distant peaks piercing wispy clouds like grasping claws. The landscape extended in every direction, with no barrier or artificial impediment blocking their sight. If it weren''t for the unnaturally sudden change in biomes, they could have been standing in the wilderness somewhere on Earth. Jade had been imagining the Labyrinth as a series of small, sectioned off rooms or enclosed areas. Certainly, some of it seemed to be structured in that way, but this was more like an entire world. She had been struggling to envision how cities and civilizations could exist here, but now she began to understand. Guided by the Pathfinder spell Jade set their course towards a gap between two of the smaller peaks, and they struck out across the foothills. With the change in scenery came new monsters to contend with. This quadrant turned out to be populated with sinewy wild cats and small stone golems. The cats were rather large, some of them coming up to Luis''s waist, and were quite fast and aggressive. Fortunately, their new D-tier enchanted armor proved its worth many times over by deflecting attacks and absorbing significant damage. Jade quickly learned that she couldn''t rely on the protection exclusively, the magical barrier usually failed after a single hit, but it was a substantial improvement. The golems were easier to deal with. While they were sturdy and powerful, they were even slower than the automatons that Jade had fought in the factory. With her speed, she was easily able to outmaneuver them while Naomi chipped away at them from a safe distance and Luis delivered decisive strikes. Siora joined the fights as well, utilizing her new spellbook''s ice magic to good effect against the marauding monsters. It wasn''t an especially powerful spell, simply conjuring a ray of cold energy that the elf could fire at any nearby target, but it had a low cooldown, briefly slowed enemies, and proved to be a reliable source of damage. A nice side effect of her participation was that she began to gain experience at a somewhat faster rate as well. The next few days passed quickly. They hiked through the highlands during the day, fighting the occasional monster and generally making good progress inward across the Labyrinth''s expanse. In the evenings they trained, developing new tactics and refining their old ones. By the second night, all of them save Siora had levelled up, and even she was close. "I can''t believe these choices the Labyrinth keeps giving me for my racial powers." Jade complained after picking her 8th level ability. She had finally reached another racial level and was not impressed with the options she''d been presented with. "Is being able to actually use my wings too much to ask?" "I don''t know." Naomi said, sitting on the other side of a small campfire. Night had fallen, and the mountain foothills grew chilly after sunset. "Your new power might be really useful, depending on how potent it is. We''ll have to test it." Her companion was trying to hide a smirk, and not doing a very good job of it. "We are not testing it here. It''s way too cold." Jade protested, blushing. "Not to mention embarassing¡­" she added, glancing at Luis. The large man was focusing intently on his food, obviously trying to stay out of the conversation. She could tell he was amused as well, but at least he had the decency to pretend otherwise. With a sigh, she read through her new ability again. "Why does it have to depend on what I''m wearing?" Jade complained, closing the window. "Magical arrays can be delicate. Maybe being covered by something interferes with yours." Siora said thoughtfully. "Besides, it seems to suit a succubus. It would be hard to seduce an enemy while wearing lots of heavy armor, and you wouldn''t want to take that off if you weren''t protected in a different way." "I''m not planning on seducing my enemies." Jade pointed out. "I''d rather defeat them in a more¡­" She searched for the right word. "Conventional way." "If you''re so against it, why did you pick it?" Naomi asked. "What were the other options?" "I don''t want to talk about it." She muttered, reddening further.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. The system had seen fit to present her with another ''climax'' related ability, this time dealing with spell cooldown reduction. Not only did it sound wildly impractical to use, but Jade simply refused to take such an embarassing power on principle. She may be a succubus now, but she still had standards. Even if they were starting to slip¡­ "This warded armor is too useful to give up, anyway." Jade said, changing the subject. "I suppose that ability will be helpful if I ever get ambushed without it." "Like if you''re taking a bath." Siora added helpfully. "I''m sure that''ll come up all the time." Jade rolled her eyes. "I know exactly what you need." Luis said, finally joining the conversation. He had a glint in his eyes, and Jade had a feeling that she wouldn''t be a fan of whatever his idea was. "Siora, do warded armors come in other forms? Like clothing?" "They do." She nodded. "Mages don''t wear armor, but I''ve seen some with robes that have defensive enchantments. And I think some monks just wear bracers that do something similar, without any heavy equipment." "There you go!" Luis snapped his fingers. "We need to get you some ''MMO'' armor, Jade." "¡­What?" She blinked at him, nonplussed. "You know! Like the women in pretty much every fantasy game? Knights and crusaders wearing weirdly revealing armor? That sounds perfect. You could have the enchanted protections from the gear, and still get most of the damage resistance from your ability." Jade gaped at him. She knew what he was talking about, half of all mobile game ads seemed to feature heroine warriors in woefully impractical looking outfits. The mental image of running around a battlefield wearing anything of the sort was enough to make her bury her face in her hands. "Or she could just wear a chest wrapping." Naomi pointed out. "If there are enchanted robes, there must be clothes that do the same thing. Oh!" She perked up. "Maybe that means I could get something more fashionable than armor, too!" Jade''s head was starting to spin. "Why me?" she muttered. "We''ll have to test it." Naomi said, getting serious. "Jade, I know you don''t want to look ridiculous, but we keep going over this. We have to use everything we get. If you can suddenly take half the damage from attacks and still be protected by wards like our new armor gives us, we have to use that." "Definitely." Luis agreed. "That''s like my mana shield ability, except it doesn''t even cost you anything." "Other than my dignity." Jade sighed. "Fine¡­ we''ll test it later. But I''m using this armor for now, I just got it. Besides, I barely have anything else to change into at this point." "Anyway," Naomi said, finally changing the subject. "I''m curious about what that bonus to charisma means. The talent I picked up gives mine a temporary boost too." Jade had been wondering that. In most games she''d played, charisma was a characteristic that could be modified alongside attributes like strength and intelligence. The Labyrinth was structured like an RPG in many ways, but the lack of that stat had stood out to her from the start. They all turned to look at Siora, who seemed startled by the sudden attention. "I don''t know¡­" she said. "That''s not something I''m familiar with. What¡­?" The elf asked defensively as the rest of them continued to stare at her expectantly. "I don''t know everything!" "We''ll figure it out later." Jade said, eager to get away from the topic for now. "Let''s get some rest." It was getting late, and they were all tired from the day''s travel, so no one argued. Jade lay down to get some sleep, trying very hard not to think about how the other wayfarers from Earth would react if she showed up to an important battle looking like she''d just stepped out of some knockoff fantasy game.
The world blurred as Jade warped forward, appearing behind one of the two remaining stone golems. It began to turn towards her, raising one of its dense fists in preparation to strike. She didn''t give it the chance, slashing her dagger across a weak spot in the center of its back. Her blade scraped across the monster''s tough stony skin, causing large chunks to break off and sending the creature staggering away from her. The strike didn''t kill it, however, the cutting edge of her dagger simply not well suited to damaging such a creature. "Luis!" she shouted, flapping her wings as she leapt away from the creature, clearing a path for her companion to finish off the wounded monster. An arc of force energy sliced passed her a moment later, exploding on contact and sending pieces of stone and debris flying in every direction. Jade shielded her eyes, but her armor''s ward deflected most of the shrapnel. The dust cleared, revealing the broken body of the defeated monster. "One left!" Siora''s voice came from down the slope of the hill. "I''ve got this!" Naomi replied, continuing to play her song. The last golem was lumbering towards her, and Jade started running over to assist. She needn''t have bothered. As the monster drew near Naomi stopped her melody, twirling in place and giving the creature a playful wink. Sparkling lights burst from the idol''s body, surrounding her in a faintly shimmering cloud of mist that swirled around her before disappearing. The monster stopped in place, confused, pausing with its arm half raised in the beginning of an attack. Naomi didn''t wait for it to recover, dancing back and slamming out three quick notes on her instrument. "Whiplash!" Naomi launched a burst of fire at the golem, enveloping it in searing flames. Siora''s new spell, ''Grasping Frost'', followed close behind it, impacting in the same spot. The flames of Naomi''s spell winked out, replaced by crystals of ice that spread across the monster''s rock body. That, too, was short lived, as the secondary effect of ''Pyrotechnics'' triggered following the elf''s attack, sending a resurgence of searing flames to boil away the newly formed ice. The creature was left slowed by Siora''s ice spell and ablaze from Naomi''s. It was too much for the low-level monster, which crumbled away into small pieces. Jade slowed to a walk, inspecting her dagger before sheathing it. Unsurprisingly, the stone body of the monster had chipped it. They really needed to acquire some basic enchanted weapons to go with their armor, but for now their mundane gear would have to do. "Nice!" Naomi pumped a fist, grinning. "Good work, Siora! I like that move." "Thanks!" She smiled cheerfully. "I just like having a move now." "You look like you''re enjoying that new talent." Jade commented, walking up to them with Luis. "What was it called, again?" "Dazzle." Naomi spun in place again, winking at Jade this time. The talent didn''t trigger again, it was still on cooldown, but she didn''t seem to mind. "What''s not to love about stunning monsters with a cute twirl?" "Nothing." Jade agreed. "You just seem like you''re in a great mood." Indeed, Naomi had gained a subtle air of relaxed confidence about her. "I think it''s the charisma boost." Naomi said, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "It feels good. Too bad it doesn''t last." Is that going to happen to me when I take off my clothes, now? Jade wondered, trying to imagine what an increase in charisma would feel like. She hadn''t noticed much of a change since acquiring her new ability, maybe her increase was less dramatic due to the passive nature of her ability? She''d find out soon, one way or another. "Is it just me, or are these monsters getting easier?" Luis asked. "I think we''re just getting better." Jade answered. Not only were they getting used to fighting together, but their increased attributes were having a noticeable effect on their performance. Jade''s agility was now 14, without taking into account her 20% demon form boost, and she was pretty sure that her reflexes now eclipsed that of any normal human. How much would the Labyrinth enhance them? As much as she disliked this place, she couldn''t help but yearn for the power it granted. The battle done, they looted the remains and continued travelling inward through the highlands. The mountains themselves were starting to draw near, but they were making for a pass that cut between two of the smaller peaks. By midday, something began resolving in the distance, a pillar of white light emerging from the other side of the mountain range and reaching for the heavens. "That''s it!" Siora exclaimed excitedly, running ahead and pointing. "That''s what?" Luis asked. "The beacon that marks a stairway!" The elf turned to face them, clasping her hands behind her back. "We''re almost there." Chapter 41 The mountains looked closer than they were, and it took another day and a half of hiking to reach the valley that cut between the peaks. The ''mountain pass'' turned out to be its own zone and, with it, came a new type of monster to harass them. Jade quickly grew annoyed by the constant encounters with what amounted to large bats. It wasn''t that the monsters were strong, they fell easily to even simple attacks, but they were fast and annoying. She also had yet to acquire a talent or spell that gave her a reliable ranged attack, which made fighting flying enemies a frustrating experience. Despite the frequent harassment, the party made good time through the mountains. The pass itself was a lightly wooded valley, long and narrow. Chill mist clung to the ground, stubbornly refusing to be burned away by the daytime sun, giving the area a somewhat mystical air. Without any major obstacles to slow them down, Jade was able to lead the party fully through to the other side of the mountain range in a little less than a day''s travel. When she finally stepped out of the swirling mist and saw what lay beyond the mountains, she couldn''t help but stare in wonder. A beautiful vista was splayed out before them, their vantage point giving them a clear view all the way to the distant horizon. Rolling hills descended into flat plains that stretched to the left and right, but what caught Jade''s eye was the vast ocean beyond them. The azure expanse stretched out into the distance, evening sunlight glinting off its gently rippling surface. It was different than any ocean Jade had seen on Earth, more still. No swells rolled in towards the coast, nor did waves break against the distant shore. Not far from the rocky beach that formed the border between land and sea, a pillar of shimmering white light stretched skyward. Its origin was somewhat obscured by a patch of sparse woodland that sat nestled against the base of the mountain. She squinted, trying to get a better look at it. "It''s beautiful." Naomi said, taking in the view. "It''s the edge of the world." Siora said softly. "The end of this Ring." "What happens if you try to sail across it?" Luis asked, holding a hand up to shade his eyes. "I don''t know." Siora replied simply. "Just endless water, I think." "Is it the same on every floor?" Jade asked. "An ocean at the edges?" "As far as I know." The elf nodded. "And that is the stairway." She pointed towards the woodland where the light was emanating from. "When we reach it, you can use your key to take us to the second floor." "Is it just me, or is something moving down there?" Naomi asked. Jade took a closer look. They were far, probably at least a few miles away, but their elevation gave them a good vantage point. She couldn''t make out any movement in the area of the stairway but thought that she could see some smudges of white against the green leaves of the trees. "Are those tents?" She asked. "Maybe someone else got here first." Luis offered. "Other wayfarers from Earth, maybe?" Naomi suggested. "They might not have a key." "Let''s go find out." Jade said, starting down the slope.
They arrived at the stairway entrance to find that there were indeed people already there. However, it quickly became apparent that they were not from Earth. The doorway itself was quite similar in appearance to other Labyrinth portals, only this one had a white border surrounding it rather than the gold or silver of sanctuaries and shops. It stood in an open space amongst the sparse woodland that bordered the endless sea, cast in shifting shadows from the evening sunlight that filtered through the light foliage. Four tents had been erected in the general vicinity of the stairway, one larger and more extravagant than the others. A handful of people moved about the campsite, preparing for the night. One of them was tending to a pot that simmered over a campfire, from which a pleasant smell was wafting. Those activities ceased as Jade and her companions drew near, and the strangers turned to greet them. "Welcome, traveler." A handsome, well dressed young man said, stepping to the forefront of the small group. "What brings you to our humble camp?" The speaker was human, although some of his companions were not. Two of them were a race that Jade was only familiar with from her very brief interaction with the ''race selection'' menu. They were humanoid, and the system labelled them as ''Fellian''. Jade couldn''t help but be distracted by their unfamiliar features, which were vaguely feline in nature. While they looked mostly human, the Fellians'' arms ended in a hybrid between paws and hands, and possessed sharp claws. Both had lithe and wiry builds, slender but not weak, and had a pair of cat-like ears poking up through their hair. Slender tails trailed behind them, but not leathery like Jade''s when she was in her demon form. These appeared softer, more supple, and had a light coat of fur. Jade belatedly realized that she was staring and shifted her attention back to the man who had addressed them. "We are wayfarers." She said, unsure if that was the best way to introduce themselves. "We''re journeying to the second floor to continue our Trial."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. She pulled up his information as she replied. As she''d suspected, these people were Labyrinth dwellers like Siora. Verres had a much higher level than any of them, as well. Did that mean he was from a higher floor? "Wonderful. You must be new to the Labyrinth. It''s always a pleasure to meet outsiders." The man said. He spoke with a self-confident tone that bordered on conceit, and Jade was already starting to dislike him. Verres''s words were pleasant enough, but they held an undertone of condescension that was reinforced by his attire. While the rest of his group wore practical armor or, in the case of one woman, robes, Verres himself was dressed in an elegant doublet and fine pants. "My name is Lord Verres Ledkin, and I am leading an expedition from the city of Illysport. Have you heard of it?" Jade shook her head, but Siora spoke up. "I have visited Illysport." The elf said, looking closely at Verres. Or ''Lord Ledkin'', perhaps? "Are you related to Duke Amos Ledkin, the City Lord?" "I am his nephew." Verres smiled. "I see you''ve found a local guide already, how¡­ charming." He barely glanced at Siora as he spoke, hardly acknowledging her presence. His attitude was starting to annoy Jade, but she held her temper in check. This man sounded like he belonged to an important family, and they really didn''t have time for any complications. "When word reached the third floor that a new world was being integrated, the duke appointed me as the head of an expedition to learn about this new land." Verres continued. "Perhaps you would do me the courtesy of relaying what manner of place it is that you hail from? By your appearance I assume it is a human world?" "Yes, it is." Naomi replied. She glanced at her companions, and then shrugged. "I suppose we could spare some time to tell you about it." "Why do you want to know?" Jade asked. Verres raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Why, it is important to know what kind of people may soon be arriving on our doorstep." He explained. "Barbarians? People of culture? Warmongers? The cosmos is vast, and you may be surprised at how often those questions have disappointing answers. But a human world is a good start, perhaps there is some reason for optimism." Verres''s other companions seemed content to let him take the lead in the discussion, although that last comment sparked some shifting amongst the Fellians in the group. The woman next to him looked displeased about something as well. She was the one in the robe and looked to Jade like a mage or wizard. She took the opportunity to scan her, and was surprised to find out that, despite her appearance, she wasn''t human. The system labeled her as a ''half-elf''. Moreover, her info box had an additional line Jade had never seen before. Jade wasn''t exactly sure what that meant, but was interested in finding out. "I''m sure our people will want to have good relations with yours." Naomi said diplomatically, picking up the conversation while Jade was distracted by the unexpected prompt. "But we aren''t qualified to speak for them. Our entrance into this world was an¡­ accident." "The sanctuary attendants explained what''s going on." Luis added. "We''re travelling to the higher floors to destroy the cores." "So it is another full integration?" The mage woman asked. "I told you, Lord Ledkin. We should be taking this more seriously." "And I''ve told you, Aylin, this is the best place to find newcomers." Verres sniffed. He gestured at Naomi. "See? Here they are. What, do you want us to randomly wander the floor in search of them?" he sarcastically suggested. "We''ll find more of them, faster, if we travel to the outer edge of the ring." She argued. "Which you well know." "Well, we have three of them here now." He replied smoothly. "I am not traipsing through the wilderness for weeks on end when a little patience will net us the same results." "We can certainly answer some questions for you." Jade said, glancing between Aylin and Verres. She refused to think of him as a ''Lord''. "But we can''t linger long. The longer we wait, the more time the Labyrinth Cores will be active. I assume you know what that means for our home." "We do." One of the Fellians spoke up, nodding somberly. He was wearing what looked like half a suit of medieval plate armor and, judging by the scuffs and discoloration, it had seen no small amount of use. A helmet was tucked under one arm, revealing weathered features and a mess of shaggy brown hair that hung almost to his shoulders. "Of course, we will not keep you long." "Yes." Verres confirmed. "So long as you can afford passage, we would be happy to open this stairway for you once we have gone over some basic questions." "Afford?" Jade asked, exchanging confused looks with her friends. "No, we already have a floor key. We don''t need to buy one from you." "Ah¡­ you see¡­" Verres adopted what he probably thought was a pained look, but to Jade came across as more smug than anything else. "We have already cleared the area of monsters. That took no small amount of effort, but we wanted to ensure that any new wayfarers could safely travel to the next floor. I can give you a discount for using your own key, but I''m afraid I can''t allow free usage of this stairway after we''ve already put in so much work." Verres nodded to the other Fellian, a woman, and the warrior moved over to stand in front of the stairway door. Jade just stared at him in disbelief, struggling to comprehend the audacity of his declaration. She wasn''t alone, each of her companions were stunned, and Siora was positively glaring at him. Jade had rarely seen the calm and relaxed elf so out of sorts, but apparently the idea of charging for stairway access deeply offended her. "Lord Ledkin." The armored Fellian man said with a frown. "I don''t believe this is appropriate, nor do I think it is what your uncle had in mind when he sent us to gather information." "I''m afraid I must agree with Captain Mar." Aylin added. "This was not included in our instructions." "I was put in charge of this expedition." The nobleman snapped. "And it will proceed how I see fit. I come from a proud line of successful businessmen, and it is against my nature to provide free services. Doesn''t that make sense, Nia?" He finished, looking at the Fellian woman now standing guard in front of the door. "Makes perfect sense to me, Lord Ledkin." She replied with a tight smile. "Besides." Verres continued, looking back at Jade''s group. "We are only asking for four thousand crescent coins, barely a pittance. I''m sure you have that much to spare." He smiled, spreading his arms in a helpless gesture. The expression didn''t reach his eyes. Jade squeezed her hands into fists, a familiar anger boiling up from somewhere deep inside. Her destructive urges, which had mostly been quiet since she had drained the rogue wayfarer with her Kiss of Night spell, began flaring to life again. Chapter 42 Verres was feeling quite pleased with how he''d managed to turn this boring assignment into a potentially lucrative opportunity. The young woman before him, who seemed to be the leader of the fledgling wayfarers, looked far less happy. That was fine by him, though, who cared what the foreigners thought? Their home world would be busy dealing with the ramifications of being integrated into the Labyrinth for decades. "This is extortion." The blonde woman growled at him. "You know what is happening to our world, and you''re trying to profit from the desperation of our people? Well, that''s not going to happen." She took a step towards him, and the nobleman was momentarily taken aback by the fire and vitriol held within her eyes. One would think that he had just threatened to kill a baby. Certainly, Verres didn''t expect them to be thrilled by the situation, but it was only money. Everyone knew that Labyrinth quests provided lucrative rewards, and they should have plenty of it to spare. Even if they didn''t, he was in greater need of it than them due to recent, unfortunate events at an underground casino in Illysport. Events that had led his father into getting him sent out into the wilderness on this pain in the ass expedition. Just to be safe, Verres finally took the time to pull up the groups'' status windows. He relaxed upon seeing that none of them were even level 10 yet. This ''Jade'' was spirited, but she wasn''t a real threat to him. He realized that he''d placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and casually shifted it to his hip instead. "Jade..." The dark-haired woman grabbed her arm, tugging her back. She blinked, apparently only now realizing that she''d taken an aggressive step towards him. Well, at least one of them had some sense. If the prospect of earning a tidy sum hadn''t put him in such a good mood, he may have had her disciplined for such disrespect. The foreigners had to learn the proper order of things here, after all. "We''re leaving." The one the Voice of the Labyrinth labelled ''Naomi'' said to him, her voice cold as she pinned him with an impertinent glare of her own. "To discuss what we''re going to do next." "You''re not going anywhere until you answer some questions." Verres said, gesturing towards them and frowning as his good mood began to slip away. "Captain, detain them." He ordered, nodding to the fellian mercenary. The blonde woman stiffened, shaking free of her companion''s grasp and reaching for her weapons. Verres didn''t bother doing the same, confident his retainers would intervene if the foreigners decided to do anything rash. Actually, that wouldn''t be such a bad outcome, as then he would have an excuse to¡­- "No." Captain Mar grunted, the terse words accompanied by a baleful glare. "Excuse me?" Verres asked, turning an incredulous look on his supposed subordinate. "You heard me." "I am in charge of this expedition. You will obey my commands." Verres growled at the knight. His mood had truly soured now, replaced by an intense irritation at the whole situation. "The duke hired me to this team to protect you, Lord Ledkin, not to ''extort''" he glanced at Jade "travelers. If you are put in danger, I will do my duty and defend you. But the Onyx Shield does not exist to do your dirty work. I assume that''s why you brought these ''thugs''." He finished, jerking a thumb at the fellian warrior guarding the stairway door and another lightly armored human, both lackeys that he had recruited from the Ebon Eyes guild. Or rather, a part of him whispered, a pair that had been sent to keep an eye on him by the Matron, likely to ensure that he didn''t ''forget'' to hand over any wealth he happened across on his trip. "How dare you." Verres scowled at his bodyguard. "My uncle will hear about this!" "Yes, he will." Captain Mar replied. "From both me and Aylin as well." Aylin, who had remained silent during the discourse, nodded tersely in agreement. The mage was giving him a scornful look, which only served to heighten Verres''s frustration. "Fine." He snapped, turning back towards the leader of the other group and stepping towards her. He put his hand on the hilt of his sword, starting to draw it. "I''ll do it myse¡­" Verres trailed off, slowing to a stop as he met Jade''s furious glare. Something dark and frightening lay behind her eyes. Despite knowing that he was many levels higher than her and being sure of his ability to defeat her in battle, Verres found himself unwilling to put his conviction to the test. He swallowed, flushing slightly as he waved his hand brusquely at the group. "Fine. No matter." He grunted, trying to save face. "Not worth my time. If you don''t want to pay, then get out of here." They didn''t need to be told twice. Their male companion began ushering them away from the camp, saying something softly to Jade. The woman nodded, keeping her eyes locked on his as they left. Even as they disappeared through the trees, Verres could swear that he could still feel her watching him.
"Damn, Jade." Luis said as they stopped. "I thought you were going to attack him." Jade exhaled slowly, and some of the tension left her body. Siora had found a spot near the edge of the woodland where three hills formed a small valley. They rested there now, unsure of what to do next. "I had half a mind to." Jade replied tersely, understating how close she had been to drawing steel on the insufferable nobleman. If the man was as well connected as he seemed, though, that would have been a mistake. "Thanks for calming me down, Naomi." They had travelled to a whole different world and the people in power were still the same. Arrogant, self-serving, and generally deplorable. Jade wished she was surprised by the revelation.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "Another few moments, and I would''ve been right there with you." Her friend said darkly, eliciting surprised looks from the rest of them. "What?" Naomi protested, looking around. "You just don''t seem like the type to start a fight." Luis said with a raised eyebrow. "That''s more in Jade''s wheelhouse." "Hey." Jade gave him a flat look, causing Luis to hold up his hands in defense. "Before I came here, I''d never been in a fight in my life." "I might be a little reserved." Naomi crossed her arms and scowled. "But I''m not a saint. That ''Verres'' guy is asking for it. No decent person acts like that. I know the type. You know who preys on desperate people? Thugs. He may dress nicer than the ones back home, but they''re still the same." From the sound of it, Naomi''s life had been more challenging than Jade had imagined. None of them had spent much time talking about their homes or families since they''d started travelling together. Jade resolved to change that when the opportunity arose. They''d been together for almost two weeks now, and it was high time that they started getting to know basic details about the people they relied on. "I don''t think his own people like him, either." Siora said, perching cross-legged on a small boulder beside Jade. The elf had calmed somewhat, but clearly remained upset. "Duke Ledkin is very respected, I''ve never heard anyone speak ill of him or his family." "Looks like we got stuck with their black sheep." Jade said bitterly. "Just how important is this duke person, Siora?" Maybe they could get away with killing him, if even his own attendants were against what he was doing¡­ No. Stop. Jade shook her head, suddenly disgusted with herself. Was she really considering killing a man just because she found his actions detestable? Yes, it was a crisis, but that felt like a slippery slope to start down. She forced herself to take a few more deep breaths, trying to center herself. "Hmm¡­" The elf cocked her head, oblivious to Jade''s internal struggle as she thought. "He''s probably one of the most important people on the third floor. Illysport isn''t quite the largest city in these parts, but everyone passes through there. It''s the main trading hub for all goods coming to and from The Labyrinth." "Of course it is." Jade was finding it hard to stay calm. "Then it would be a bad idea to make enemies with them." "I wish I could disagree, but..." "Why can''t anything just be easy for once?" Naomi complained. "We fought our way across the entire floor to get here. Is it too much to ask that something actually goes our way?" "At least we got a quest out of this bullshit." Luis grunted, leaning back against the rock Siora was sitting on and looking uncharacteristically despondent. The three wayfarers had received a quest, ''Ascension: Part 1'', upon finding their path to the second floor impeded. It was a simple quest, requiring only that they reach the next level of the Labyrinth. She found it odd that it had taken so long for the Labyrinth to issue it, but that didn''t really matter right now. Jade didn''t interrupt their complaints. She knew the importance of venting frustrations from her days as an athlete. When something didn''t go your way, rushing right back into it all heated up and angry wasn''t helpful. It was best to get it all out first. Only then could you approach the problem with a clear head. I really should take my own advice. Jade reflected, self-aware enough to recognize that she was usually the reckless one. After a few minutes, everyone had calmed down enough to discuss actual solutions to their predicament. "Maybe we should just find another stairway." Luis suggested halfheartedly. "It could take days to reach one." Siora said glumly. "They aren''t flowers in a meadow." "They aren''t what?" Jade asked, confused. "Sorry¡­ I meant they aren''t common." The elf apologized, once again finding the limitation of the Labyrinth''s ability to translate idioms. "We are not running away from this." Naomi declared with a fierceness that surprised Jade. "Do you know what kind of impression that''d give them? Do we want them to think that people from Earth will just roll over and take whatever ridiculous demands they come up with?" That was an excellent point, and one that Jade hadn''t even considered. Not only did they need to avoid antagonizing a powerful faction, but it would be a mistake to appear weak before them as well. "Good thinking, Naomi." Jade gave her a nod. "That means we shouldn''t just pay them off, either. Even if we had the money to do it with." "Maybe we could wait for nightfall, and then try to sneak past them?" Siora suggested. "All we have to do is get through the door. It doesn''t take long to open." "I''d be shocked if they didn''t leave someone watching it. Verres''s underlings seemed happy enough to go along with this farce." "They''ll definitely have lookouts." Luis agreed. "Even we do that, and we''re brand new here." "I could try charming him." Jade suggested. "But that could make things a lot worse if it doesn''t work. Siora, how do you think they''d react if they saw my true body?" "I don''t know¡­" The elf hesitated, biting her lower lip. "I don''t think they''d attack you, but they''d probably be hostile." She''d been afraid of that. Whatever they did, transforming into her demon form would have to be a last resort. "My charm doesn''t work nearly as well while I''m disguised. With how high level they are, it might not even take." Jade sighed. "And fighting them is out of the question. Even if it wouldn''t have consequences, they''re far stronger than us." She briefly considered attempting to seduce the nobleman in some manner but quickly discounted the idea. Not only was it distasteful to contemplate, but Jade had little experience with sultry temptations. If she couldn''t rely on her charm magic, she doubted she''d find any success with that kind of approach. "We need to avoid a confrontation. What if we distract them?" Luis said thoughtfully. "Cause a commotion to lure them away?" "What could we do that would make all of them leave?" Naomi asked. "Maybe Jade''s magic bag has something that could help?" "It won''t be ready for a while longer." Jade reminded him. "You used it last night before dinner and got those weird seasonings, remember?" "Oh, right¡­ Those were actually pretty good." Jade had lent her lottery bag to Luis the previous evening after he''d expressed a desire to get ahold of some food that wasn''t the bland non-perishables the Labyrinth sanctuaries provided. Thinking about the vials of seasoning stirred a memory of another collection of ingredients they had, however, and the beginnings of an idea started to form in her mind. "Wait¡­" Jade started slowly. "Maybe we can use that¡­" "What? The seasoning? It wasn''t that good." Luis chuckled. "I don''t think we could pay them off with it." "No, not that. Well, sort of." Jade said, trying to put the concept in her mind into words. "We could combine some of these ideas. I''d need a distraction that occupies all of them for at least a few minutes." "What are you thinking?" Siora asked. "Well, they have that big pot cooking over the fire, and I bet they''re going to have dinner in the next hour or two." Jade started, the plan coming together as she spoke. "Siora, do you still have those agility potions you''ve been experimenting with?" "Huh?" The elf looked confused. "Yes, why?" "Do you think you could make some adjustments to them? Maybe increase that drowsy effect?" "That wouldn''t be hard, the sedative is a primary component of the spider egg extract. I''ve been working on neutralizing it, it''s much more potent in its natural form." "How long would it take you to prepare some?" "Not long at all. I already have plenty of unprocessed extract." The elf shrugged. "I think I see where this is going¡­" Naomi groaned. "And I don''t like it." "I do." Luis grinned, leaning forward. "But how do we pull it off?" "With Naomi''s help." Jade said, starting to sketch a diagram in the dirt with her knife. "Here''s what I have in mind¡­" Chapter 43 "There is no way this is going to work." Naomi muttered as she, Luis, and Siora approached the expedition campsite once again. The partial gloom of twilight enveloped the woodland, shrouding their surroundings in shadow. Though the ground was relatively flat, she and Luis had to carefully watch their steps to ensure they didn''t stumble on an unseen root or bush. Siora, as always, was unbothered by such things and moved gracefully alongside them. "Positive vibes, Naomi." Luis patted her on the back. "You''re gonna do great." "I thought you wanted to perform for people." Siora asked curiously. "This isn''t quite what I had in mind." Firelight flickered between the trees ahead. They were almost there. "Just remember how bad the backup plan is." Luis suggested helpfully. "This is way better." "Oh God, don''t remind me." A few minutes later, they reached the edge of the camp. One of humans, a man that Naomi judged to be one of the nobleman''s underlings, stopped them with a raised hand. "Lord Ledkin." He gruffly called over his shoulder. "Our visit''rs are back." Activity paused in the camp as everyone looked up. The young Lord stood from his seat near the fire, walking over to join them. From the looks of things, he had been relaxing and letting everyone else manage the work of preparing an evening meal and keeping the camp tidy. Naomi quickly surveyed the scene, relieved to discover that the pot of stew was still simmering over the fire. The robed woman, Aylin, had been setting out a line of bowls on a nearby bench. Now she stopped, moving with Verres to intercept them, a frown on her face. An intense wave of relief rose to mingle with her growing anxiety. They weren''t too late. Unfortunately, that also meant that she had to go through with this. "Back so soon?" The nobleman drawled. "I hope you''ve reconsidered my proposal." "Our first meeting got a little heated, but we don''t want any conflict between our peoples. So, we''ve come to negotiate a more friendly agreement." Luis said amiably, opening his arms in a friendly gesture. "Oh really?" Verres raised an eyebrow. "This will be entertaining. Very well then, what is your offer?" Siora casually stepped in front of Naomi, briefly shielding her from view while Luis kept everyone''s attention. She took the opportunity to shift in place and wink, flooding her body with a burst of magic and activating ''Dazzle''. Without a designated target to daze the talent''s visual effect was subdued, merely a momentary soft glow. What mattered to Naomi was the sudden burst of confidence and self-assuredness that accompanied the temporary charisma boost. "I''m going to put on a performance for you." Naomi said, slapping the neck of her guitar into her hand and smiling brightly at the lord. "In my world, I''m a musician, and this is one of our greatest instruments. How about I treat you to a few songs, we answer some of your questions about our home, and you give us a discount on the price for passage?" Naomi finished with a flourish, twirling around and strumming once on her guitar. The electric buzz of the chord resonated through the camp, an unfamiliar sound that caught everyone''s attention. The nobleman gave an amused look to his fellow expedition members, and then shrugged. "Why not? Some evening entertainment would be a nice change of pace. Perhaps I could be a little flexible with the fee for our services. What was your name?" "Naomi." She replied cheerfully, a far cry from the cool hostility she''d presented to him earlier. She strutted over to an open area between the trees that would serve as a good stage, and also put everyone''s back to the rest of the camp. Luis and Siora took out a pair of lanterns that they''d purchased from the Labyrinth Store, positioning them to illuminate her. "I''m sure I can impress you, my lord." Maybe it was the charisma boost, or maybe it was just the prospect of performing in front of an audience again at last, but Naomi felt her ''stage persona'' emerge. It was a fabrication, a mask that she had originally created to overcome stage fright and anxiety when she had started performing live as a teenager at school events and, later, local clubs. Over time, the persona had grown more versatile, coming out whenever Naomi faced challenges that required her to be brave. In a way, her alter ego was an idealized version of herself: Courageous, talented, and confident. Nothing like the shy and timid girl she actually was. Since entering the Labyrinth, her ''performance mode'' had been elusive, and Naomi had worried that she had lost it just when she needed strength the most. But now she understood. ''Star'' Naomi hadn¡¯t gone anywhere. She just needed some coaxing to emerge again, whether that be a little magic, or an audience. Even if that audience is primarily a prick of a nobleman. She thought, smiling at Verres even as she detested him. "We shall see." Verres said, gesturing to one of his men. "Fetch us some food, we shall listen while we eat." Naomi''s heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth to protest, but Luis beat her to the punch. "Wait!" he said, holding up his hands and looking aghast. "That would be a great insult to her!" "What are you talking about?" The nobleman scoffed, annoyed. "In our culture, it is taboo to have a meal while watching a performance." Luis lied with a straight face. Naomi played along, trying to look offended at the mere thought and covering her mouth in what she hoped was a horrified look. "It means you find her music so boring that you can''t be bothered to pay attention to it!" "You expect us to starve while we watch some outlander sing and dance about?" "It won''t take long." Naomi assured him. "Earth performances are short and powerful! The goal is to fit as much emotion into as little time as you can." She made up on the spot, taking a page from Luis''s playbook. "I''m sure the duke would prefer to have as good relations as possible with the newcomers, Lord Ledkin." The armored fellian captain said. "Perhaps we should humor them, if only to prevent further incident."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "Fine." Verres relented, seating himself on a log and gesturing for the others to join him. "Well? Are you going to begin?" "Where is your other friend?" The other fellian, a brutish looking woman, asked, not giving Naomi a chance to reply. "Jade?" Siora asked. "Oh, she''s watching our camp. She can be a little hot-headed, and we all thought it would be best if she had some time to calm down." The elf sounded so innocent that even Naomi almost believed her. Fortunately, no one questioned them further. You''d better hurry up Jade. Naomi thought as she plastered a smile onto her face and began to play a lively tune. I don''t know how long we can keep this up¡­
Jade shifted her feet on the branch, holding herself steady against the rough trunk. She was halfway up a tree, hidden both by the canopy of leaves and rapidly descending darkness as night enveloped the land. Firelight glimmered in the near distance, marking her goal. She had just finished counting to three hundred, the agreed-upon time she should wait before moving in towards the camp. She couldn''t hear anything from this distance but if her companions didn''t yet have everyone''s attention, they soon should. Focusing on the next tree over, the gymnast activated ''Mirage Step''. The world blurred as she warped across the short gap, reappearing slightly above her target branch. She dropped onto it, wobbling precariously before managing to steady herself. Even for a trained gymnast the maneuver was exceptionally tricky, and Jade wasn''t sure her reflexes would have been up to the task before the enhancements her level ups granted her. As quietly as she could Jade swung herself around to the other side of the tree, moving closer to the camp. Before embarking on this mission, Jade had tweaked her appearance with her ''Shapechange'' feature, shifting her hair and skin to an olive color that wouldn''t stand out against the trees. Her gear was also smeared with dirt and mud, every reflective buckle and shiny surface thoroughly obscured. Jade hoped that wouldn''t matter, if everything went according to plan no one should even be looking in her direction, but she really didn''t want to be spotted in such a precarious position. Jade warped to the next tree as soon as the cooldown on her talent reset, drawing closer to her destination. She could hear music emanating from the campsite now, something fast, loud, and energetic. It sounded like Naomi was performing a pop song, although it sounded a little strange without any of the accompaniment that such music normally had. Jade didn''t care if she was doing an interpretive dance, as long as she kept everyone''s attention for just a few more minutes. Before long, Jade made it to the broad tree that towered over the Labyrinth natives'' camp. She could see Naomi a short distance away, playing, dancing, and singing her heart out. The performer was in her element, drawing everyone''s eyes and keeping their rapt attention. Even Jade felt a compulsion to watch her performance, but her knowledge of Naomi''s attention grabbing ''Superstar'' passive ability combined with her racial resistance to charm effects allowed her to stay focused. Everyone''s backs were to her as they watched the idol, and Jade started crawling out along a branch that hung some twenty feet above the cookpot. She moved as quickly as she dared, an anxious pit sitting in her stomach like a lead weight. At any moment she expected someone to turn around and raise the alarm, but even the fellian woman guarding the stairway door was fully engrossed the show. It only took a few moments for Jade to shuffle into position over the pot. It simmered beneath her, smoke from the fire wafting into the air and stinging her eyes and nose. Gritting her teeth, Jade fished out the vials Siora had prepared and uncorked them. After doublechecking to ensure no one was watching, she carefully spilled their contents into the pot below. Some of the liquid missed, it was hard to be precise from this height, but most of it fell true. The viscous spider-egg extract splashed into the pot, unheard amidst the sounds of Naomi''s performance. Heart pounding like a jackhammer in her chest, Jade began crawling back to the relative safety of the more obscured tree trunk. Just then, a shifting breeze sent a thick cloud of smoke right into her face as she drew in a breath. Jade stifled a cough, the branch shaking beneath her as she shuddered. The fellian by the door glanced in her direction and she froze, one arm holding herself in place. Jade held her breath, not daring to move a muscle even as her arm began to tremble from the strain of keeping her in an awkward position. WHOOSH Pillars of sparkling fire burst from the ground around Naomi''s feet as she cast ''Pyrotechnics'', exploding in the air like fireworks around her. The fellian looked away, enthralled by the effect just as Jade''s strength failed her and she slumped down against the branch. She used the opening to slip away into the night, perspiration beading on her forehead in a sweaty sheen. Only after a pair of ''Mirage Steps'' carried her well away from the camp did she dare let out a shaky breath, relief flooding her. The strain of warping so many times was taking its toll on her stamina, so Jade dropped to the ground, slipping away into the twilit woodland on foot.
"Did you get it?" Luis asked as the three of them returned to the meeting point. Jade was already there, having reached it a quarter of an hour before her friends. "I did." She said, taking a swig from her water bottle. Her body was spent from the exertion, but that didn''t stop a triumphant grin from forming on her face. "Dumped all three vials into it." "Phew." Siora whistled. "They''re going to feel that in the morning." "Serves them right." Naomi said, slinging her guitar back over her shoulder. "We told that wannabe lord we''d have 3000 coins for him in the morning, after we finished a monster hunting quest." "They fell for it, then?" Jade asked. "No one was suspicious?" "The mage lookin'' chick gave us some weird looks." Luis said with a shrug. "But no one saw you. I think we''re good, amiga." "That was very stressful." Siora said, rubbing her forehead. "Can we please not do that again?" "I don''t know." Naomi said, surprising Jade. "I kind of liked getting to perform again. Everyone seemed to enjoy it." "Maybe when we get to a city, we can find you a tavern to play in." Luis suggested. "You can earn us some rooms for the night, classic adventurer style." "We''ll see." Naomi grinned, clearly exhilarated from the night''s events. "I still can''t believe we pulled that off¡­" "We''re not out of the woods yet." Jade said. "Siora, how long until it takes effect?" "Diluted like that, maybe about an hour?" "Good. Plenty of time for them to settle in for the night. Let''s rest for a bit, and then sneak back. With any luck, they won''t even know what happened."
Aylin sat cross-legged a short distance from the fading embers of the campfire, listening to her fellow expedition members snore heavily through the night. The mage wasn''t sure if she should be annoyed or impressed at the sheer audacity of the foreigners slipping a sedative into their evening meal. Given her personal dislike of their group''s appointed leader, she was leaning towards a mixture of impressed and mild amusement. Lord Ledkin wouldn''t be happy in the morning, but she expected the wayfarers to be long gone by then. Fortunately, she had long since learned a basic cleansing incantation. Given the many types of monsters that utilized poison, Aylin considered that type of magic an essential component of any foray into the wilderness. As soon as she''d felt the onset of sudden weariness, she''d cast it on herself and removed the affliction. The mage felt no need to do the same for her companions, however. Lord Ledkin could use a dose of humbling, and she had no affection for his brutish hirelings. Captain Mar was another matter, and Aylin was surprised that a member of the Onyx Shield had fallen so easily for such a ploy. Perhaps this would be a good wakeup call for him as well. It was easy to feel safe in the cities, and sometimes people forgot just how deadly the Labyrinth could truly be. Aylin waited for their guests to return, remaining at the edge of the flickering light and keeping an eye on the stairway door. As long as they meant their group no real harm she had no intention of impeding them, but something was bothering her. Her magical senses, which were solidly in C-rank, had tingled when she''d laid eyes on the apparent leader of their party, Jade. That by itself wasn''t strange, but the fact that she''d been unable to determine the type of magic was odd. The mage''s past experiences had taught her to trust her instincts, and she intended to investigate the matter. If they were hiding something, she would find out what it was. Chapter 44 Aylin didn''t have to wait long. Movement between the trees at the far side of their small camp caught her eye. It was the leader, Jade. She had managed to get surprisingly close without being spotted, but Aylin detected her when she drew near enough to observe the state of the expedition. A few other silhouettes shifted in the darkness behind her, the rest of their small party preparing to move to the stairway portal. As her eyes fell on the blonde woman, Aylin once again felt a subtle tingling in the back of her mind. Magical senses were an unreliable method of determining the precise nature of magic, but she had honed hers at least to the point of being able to detect nearby arcane effects. The woman emanated a very slight magical resonance, one that even Aylin had a difficult time discerning. That troubled her. The mage didn''t see any point in delaying and stood up, brushing the folds out of her robe. Jade started at the unexpected motion, darting behind a tree and disappearing into the shadows. "Don''t worry, they''re all quite asleep." Aylin called out. "Whatever you laced the stew with had a real kick. Your friend could play her music here all night and I doubt they''d even stir." There was no reply, just a quiet shifting in the darkness. Aylin sighed. "Come out, I just want to talk. If I was going to stop you I would have cleansed the others too. You''re lucky that your concoction doesn''t cause any real harm, or this would be a very different conversation." "It wasn''t luck." Jade said, stepping into the firelight and regarding her with caution. "Siora is an alchemist. She made sure her brew wouldn''t hurt anyone. All we want is to leave." Her three companions followed, emerging from the dark woodland to join Jade in the dim glow of the smoldering fire. "Not a bad plan, then." Aylin admitted. "You get to use the stairs without playing Verres''s ridiculous game or trying to fight your way past him. That wouldn''t have worked, by the way, and even if it had it just would have landed you in even more trouble." "We assumed as much." The bard Naomi replied. She was holding that curious foreign instrument tightly to her chest. Its music hadn''t quite been to Aylin''s tastes, but she had to admit that it left a powerful impression. "If you aren''t going to stop us, then what do you want?" Jade asked, getting right to the point, a trait that Aylin appreciated. "After how that lord guy treated us, we aren''t in much of a mood to answer questions." "Just to give you a word of warning." Aylin stated, stepping near the fire. "Verres is a vain man, and this will not make him happy. I imagine that he will hold a vendetta, even if he would be better served by using this as a learning experience." "If you don''t like him so much, why come with him?" Luis asked. "Because his uncle is the duke, and when the duke sends a request to the Mystic Order for them to dispatch a defensive specialist to accompany his nephew on an excursion, the person with the fewest political connections gets the job." Aylin replied with a roll of her eyes. "So, you''re saying that we should watch our backs?" Naomi asked. "Will he send people after us?" "What? No." Aylin shook her head, surprised by the question. "Not even Verres would be so foolish, especially after captain Mar and I bring this incident to the duke''s attention. He will not be pleased at his nephew''s conduct. But a young nobleman has various, perfectly legal means of making life difficult. All I''m saying is, if your journeys take you to Illysport, I''d keep a low profile." "We have nothing to worry about, then." Luis said, one corner of his mouth twitching up. "We''re as low profile as they come." "I''m sure¡­" Aylin said dryly, glancing at Naomi''s otherworldly instrument and Luis''s massive sword. "Let''s get going." Jade said, stepping towards the stairway door. "Before something else goes wrong." "Sorry about your dinner." The group''s elven member piped up, sounding genuinely apologetic as the small group moved towards the locked portal. Aylin wasn''t listening anymore, focusing instead on the subtle hint of arcane power radiating from the blonde woman. She still couldn''t tell exactly what it was but, as Jade drew closer, the mage managed to discern a sense of beguilement from her aura. Something wasn''t right. She shifted a few fingers, whispering a brief incantation as she cast a basic identification spell. It was a blatant breach of etiquette, but Aylin was a staunch proponent of the ''better safe than sorry'' school of thought. Jade''s head snapped towards her as the spell took hold, no doubt experiencing the hallmark discomfort of foreign magic forcefully rummaging through her aura. Her hand moved to her weapons, but Aylin hardly noticed. Information from the spell was feeding into her mind, and the results shocked her. A level 8 human had no business resisting a C-rank identification spell, but it was as if her magic had hit a solid wall. Aylin could easily enough determine that Jade had no active spells, but her magic returned absolutely nothing about her race. Something had blocked it. The mage could only conceive of two explanations: High level anti-divination magic, or an innate trait that confounded identification spells. The former didn''t make sense, Jade was too low level to have access to anything of the sort. Which left¡­Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. "Shapeshifter¡­" Aylin whispered, taking a step back. Jade froze, one hand on the hilt of her dagger. Her reaction was enough to confirm Aylin''s suspicions. "What''s going on?" Naomi asked hesitantly. Only a short distance separated their group from Aylin, who was between them and the stairway portal. "She cast something on me." Jade growled. "It felt like someone going through my pockets." "Identification magic." The elf said, turning a frown on Aylin. "That is very rude." "What are you?" Aylin said, drawing her wand and holding it at the ready. "I thought you were from a human world. No D-rank magic can shapeshift like this." She glanced at the other three. "Get away from her. She''s not what she seems." Rather than move away, Jade''s companions all gave their friend a concerned look. "I mean it." Aylin hissed. Then, turning her attention to Jade, she spoke sharply. "Reveal your true form." Jade took her hands off her weapons, holding them up in peace. "Look." She began. "I chose a new race when I became a wayfarer. I was forced to by circumstance." "If you have nothing to hide, then show me and your friends what you really are. If it''s not a problem, then you can go." Aylin said coolly, narrowing her eyes at the other woman. She had no intention of letting her get away until she knew what was going on. There were a handful of shapeshifting species in the cosmos, some far more nefarious than others. Aylin could think of no benign reason for this deception, but several unsavory ones came to mind. "Fine¡­" Jade grimaced. "Just don''t overreact." Her form began to shift. A pair of horns rose from her head, accompanied by large, leathery wings that unfurled behind her. A swishing, spade-tipped tail emerged as well, long and supple. Aylin inhaled sharply, immediately recognizing the demonic form of a succubus. Memories rose unbidden in her mind. Tolling bells, shouts of alarm, and a panicked rush to a scene that still haunted her dreams. She raised her wand on instinct, channeling an offensive spell before the transformation was even complete. "Stop!" Jade commanded, holding out a hand. "Let''s talk this through." Aylin had long trained to resist mental compulsions, and she felt the familiar tug of enchantment magic clouding her thoughts. It pushed against her will, turning her mind into a chaotic battleground of conflicting impulses. Her wand trembled, an incantation caught in her throat. The succubus''s entrancing words were too powerful, far stronger than any D-rank spell should be. She couldn''t fight it much longer, and the mage found herself captivated by the demon''s alluring visage. Just before the spell fully took hold, Aylin used her last dregs of fading willpower to drop her wand. In one swift motion, she grabbed her left ring finger and pulled it back hard. SNAP. Pain burst through Aylin''s hand like a lightning bolt, whiting out all other thoughts. Jade''s charm effect was washed away by the agony of the self-inflicted wound. The onlookers watched in stunned surprise as Aylin fell to her knees, gasping for air and cradling her hand against her chest. Her finger was bent in a very unnatural way, and it radiated waves of pain that rolled through her arm. Just the sight of it caused intense nausea to well up inside the mage, who was unused to such torments of the body. But I''ll be damned if I let a demon into my head. She thought, steeling herself. Aylin retrieved her wand, readying herself for an attack. To her surprise, none was forthcoming. She wasn''t going to complain about having extra time to prepare, though, and quickly cast a protective ward around herself. ''Mental Fortress'' would protect her from further influence, and Aylin kicked herself for getting lax with her daily wards. She had thought that nothing on the first floor would pose any threat to her. "Damn." Luis finally said, breaking the tense silence. "Are you alright?" "She''s a succubus." Aylin panted, pointing her wand at them again. "A demon. More dangerous than you can know. Get away from her." "We know what Jade is." Naomi said, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. "If you would''ve just listened for a second, you wouldn''t have had to do that." "I told you." The demon said, irritation creeping into her voice. "I was a human that took a race change. I''m not a natural-born demon. And even if I were, we haven''t done anything wrong." "I''ve never heard of demon races being options¡­" Aylin said, a little doubt creeping into her mind. Could this really be a misunderstanding? Or was she still being influenced somehow? The mage was completely off balance, unsure what to do. She couldn''t just let a demon wander up to the second floor unchecked, not after her experiences with them. There were towns and cities nearby. "Come with us to Estelhelm, the Mystic Order has mages and scribes who can verify your story." She continued. "I need to know that you aren''t a threat."
Jade was shocked at Aylin''s extreme reaction to her spell. She hadn''t imagined such a counter existed to charm magic, but it would be important to keep in mind. While she was grudgingly impressed with the mage''s quick thinking, though, she was getting irritated. They were so close to the stairway, and yet this woman insisted on stopping them. "How long will that take?" Naomi asked skeptically. "It''s a little over a week''s journey from the stairway exit. If what you''re saying is true, we can get this sorted out and have you on your way in a week or two." "You expect me to tag along with you for weeks? As what, your prisoner?" Jade demanded. "If you have a problem with the race I picked, take it up with the Labyrinth." "If it turns out that you''re telling the truth, then I will apologize. But I can''t risk letting a dangerous demon loose onto the second floor." "And if we say no?" Luis asked, raising an eyebrow. "There''s four of us, and one of you. We don''t want to hurt you, but maybe you''ve heard: Our world''s gotta deadline." Speak for yourself. Jade thought, as the idea of giving this woman a good punch was growing more appealing by the moment. But that wasn''t fair. She was literally a demon, and a quite insidious type at that. A member of a race that, if Siora was right, had once conquered half the universe. If she were in Aylin''s position, she might well feel the same. "This isn''t a request." Aylin said coolly, wind whipping around her. Jade could feel something in the air, a sense of power coming from the other woman. "I''m a C-rank abjurer. If I must, I will subdue you myself." "You aren''t taking Jade anywhere." Naomi retorted before Jade could reply, glaring at the other woman. "I''m not sure I trust your leadership to make good decisions." Luis and Siora both nodded their agreement, and Jade felt a surge of affection for her new friends. They were putting themselves at risk, for her. "Is it time for plan B?" Siora asked quietly. "I think we''re already at C or D." Luis grunted. "This is your last chance." Aylin said, raising her wand. "I cannot guarantee you won''t be injured if you resist." "Try not to hurt her." Jade said out of the corner of her mouth, more directed at herself than her companions. Anger and a desire to remove this annoyance from her path roiled in her mind, but she didn''t give in. She honestly admired the mage''s tenacity, as frustrating as it was. "We don''t want to make this any worse." Chapter 45 Jade drew her daggers and fell into a crouch, eyeing the other woman and looking for openings. Aylin shifted, putting one foot in front of the other and turning side-on towards them. It had the look of a practiced stance. Around Jade, her companions were readying themselves as well. Luis''s sword appeared in his hands, the edge glowing with arcane energy. Naomi readied her guitar, and Siora gripped her spellbook tightly in her hands. They were ready to stand with her, and¡­ And this was wrong. Jade didn''t know where the sudden thought came from, but it cut through her anger and frustration like a hot knife. Chaotic emotions swirled in her head, but they didn''t rule her. Everything seemed to slow to a crawl as Jade hesitated, her mind racing. What would fighting Aylin accomplish? Other than proving to the other woman that she was exactly the thing she feared. "No." Jade said quietly, relaxing her shoulders. In the same moment, Aylin fired a bolt of blue magical energy straight at her chest. She didn''t even try to dodge, taking the attack head on. The bolt of energy impacted her armor''s ward, shattering it and slamming into her. Jade gasped, staggering back a step. Even with the brunt of the attack absorbed by her defenses, it still felt like getting hit in the chest with a mallet. She gritted her teeth against the pain, forcing out her next words and tossing her daggers to the ground. "I''m not fighting you, Aylin." Nearly two weeks of constant battle had hardened Jade. In this moment of clarity, she realized it had also begun warping her perspective. Battle was not the only way to resolve conflict. "Jade?" Naomi asked uncertainly. Everyone stopped, staring at her. Aylin appeared surprised, as if she hadn''t expected her attack to be successful. The mage''s wand wavered. Jade used her hesitation to step forward, locking eyes with the other woman. "I''m not going to fight you, and I''m not being taken by you." She continued, walking slowly towards her uncertain foe. Her voice was thick with almost two weeks'' worth of pent-up emotion and frustration. Now, it all came rushing out. "I was thrown into this fucked up place against my will, forced to take this new body if I wanted a chance to live, and made to fight not only for my own survival, but for the safety of my home. A home where my family and friends live, who probably still have no idea what happened to me. Where my little brother is, sick and alone, relying on the society that this world is threatening just to stay alive. All I want is to get my friends and I home, and for that home to be safe. Everything I have done since arriving here was with that goal in mind." Jade was only a few steps away from Aylin now. The other woman looked conflicted, her wand still half-heartedly pointed in her direction. She looked like she wanted to say something, but Jade kept talking. "And do you know what I''ve gotten in return? Suspicion and hostility, nearly every step of the way. I had hoped that when we finally found people from the civilizations here, that they would be sympathetic to our plight. From what I''ve heard, all your worlds went through this same calamity. Instead, we found that lord of yours." Jade took one final step closer, pressing the tip of Aylin''s wand against her chest. She gave the mage a look filled with weariness. "Yes, I''m a demon now. I can''t change that. All I can do is use the powers I''ve been given to try and protect the people I care about. If that''s such a horrible crime, then go right ahead and stop me. But if that''s what you want, then you''d better be willing to kill me. Because otherwise I''m walking through that door, and I''m not stopping until I find these Labyrinth Cores and start smashing them." Steel glinted in Jade''s eyes as she finished. She curled her hand into a fist, raising it so that Aylin could plainly see her wayfarer sigil. A flutter of trepidation coiled in her gut, but she ignored it. Jade knew she was gambling with this approach, but convincing Aylin to see reason was the only way she could think of to avoid starting a conflict that, once born, could easily grow out of control. Moreover, she meant every word of it. She was tired of people judging her for what she was, rather than for who she was. The mage''s wand twitched, lowering a fraction. The demon in Jade sensed the opening, urging her to lean forward and drain the woman in her moment of weakness. She immediately crushed that impulse with all the will she could muster. No! I am in control. Aylin opened her mouth to say something but, before she could, another voice sounded from nearby. "Stand down, Aylin." Everyone started in surprise. Jade turned to find the fellian warrior, captain Mar, stepping out of a nearby tent. The grizzled cat-man was still wearing his armor and looked quite alert. Jade felt a strange pressure radiating from the man, a sense of power and presence that was impossible to ignore. It hadn''t been there earlier in the day, and she didn''t know what to make of it. "Siora¡­ Did your potion actually work on anyone?" Naomi muttered, sounding exasperated. Despite her tone, Jade saw her shoulders slump in relief now that it seemed battle had been avoided. "Oh, it worked." He said, amused. "But competent warriors have ways of dealing with poisons." Jade noticed him glance over at the nobleman''s extravagant tent when he said that. Despite the tension, one corner of her mouth twitched upward. Aylin finally lowered her wand, taking an uncertain step away from Jade. "You were awake this whole time?" she asked, relaxing ever so slightly as the tension in the air eased somewhat. "You could have helped." "I wanted to see what they''d do. I must say, I like your style. You impressed me." the warrior said, looking at Jade''s group as he strode to join Aylin. He turned his gaze on her and frowned. "But you, Aylin, did not. I thought you were more levelheaded than this. By the Lightkeeper''s grace, what prompted you to attack them?" "She''s a demon." Aylin said hesitantly. "I¡­ I didn''t mean to¡­" "Not all demons are bloodthirsty monsters." Captain Mar replied, crossing his arms. "And you heard her, she''s a wayfarer, not natural-born. I didn''t take you for the prejudiced type." The half-elf''s face flushed at that remark. "I''ve never heard of the Labyrinth giving demonic races as options for new wayfarers, and I''m well studied on the subject." The mage replied, sounding less sure of herself with each passing moment. "It does. One of our newest initiates, Li''rin, was given ''Imp'' as an option when she took her trial. She told me herself." That seemed to surprise Aylin.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. "That was never reported to the Order." "She asked me to keep it quiet." Captain Mar shrugged. "Wasn''t comfortable with word getting around. I think I can see why." "Why do you hate demons so much, anyway?" Luis asked. "Are all of them really that bad?" Aylin grimaced, closing her eyes. "My sister¡­ Was in Teflagon Square." Jade exchanged an uncertain look with her friends, but the captain explained before any of them could ask. "A few years ago¡­" He began solemnly. "A blood demon slipped into Illysport unnoticed. It transformed in a public square and attacked. There were more than fifty casualties. I only saw the aftermath myself, but it''s the kind of thing that sticks with you." The fellian lay a hand on her shoulder. "I''m sorry, Aylin. I didn''t know." The mage''s pained expression and clenched fists told Jade all she needed to know about her sister''s fate. "I''m sorry that happened to your sister." Jade said, finally shifting back into her human form. The change subdued the worst of the turbulent emotions still churning deep within her, helping her remain calm and focused. "But I haven''t done anything like that, and I''m not going to." "If they''d wanted to hurt us, there were plenty of better ways to go about it. Given the reception our ''fearless leader'' gave them." Captain Mar said, making his opinion of Verres more than clear with his tone. "And the pressures they must be under, their response was quite measured. You owe them the benefit of the doubt, and an apology." For a moment Jade thought Aylin was going to snap back and argue. The mage drew herself up to her full height, a fierce look in her eyes. But then, to her surprise, Aylin''s face suddenly fell, and she bowed her head. "You''re right, of course, Pri''lom." she said quietly to the captain. "Damn it all. I''ve made a fool of myself tonight, haven''t I." Aylin took a deep breath, turning to face Jade and her friends. "I apologize for my treatment of you this evening. I let my emotions blind me, even though I pride myself on pragmatism. If I had half the wisdom I thought I did, I would not have been so hasty. But I am not so foolish as to ignore evidence that challenges my prejudices. Pri''lom is right, you have shown more integrity than we." "Damn." Luis muttered. "I think just being able to say that makes you wiser than most of the people where we''re from." Jade nodded slowly, again impressed by this woman. She was still annoyed at how the night had progressed, not to mention the throbbing pain in her chest from where she''d been blasted, but how many people would so readily admit their mistakes? "I must confess, the idea of a demon freely roaming the Labyrinth still makes me uneasy." Aylin said. "But it was not my place to pass judgement." "I''ve been travelling with them for a while now." Siora said, stepping forward. The elf seemed a little hesitant to speak up in front of so many people, but she pressed on valiantly. "They are good people. They''re taking me home to Lysara, and they''ve been helping others in need along the way." "Why don''t you come with us?" Luis suddenly asked, snapping his fingers. "What?" Aylin blinked, surprised. She wasn''t the only one, everyone was looking at Luis with a similar expression. Save for the fellian warrior, who appeared thoughtful. "You can keep an eye on us for a little bit, see that we are what we say we are." Luis said, flashing a smile. "And if the second floor is more dangerous than this one, we could use the help." "That''s not a bad idea." Captain Mar said, swishing his tail back and forth. Jade wasn''t completely sold on the idea. One the one hand, she was starting to like the mage''s integrity and direct, to-the-point attitude. On the other, she had just shot Jade in the chest. "What about the expedition?" Aylin asked, confused. "The Mystic Order assigned me here on the duke''s request." "Bah." The captain waved a hand dismissively. "I''ll take responsibility. Haven''t you been talking our ears off about how the Labyrinth is behaving strangely lately? I thought that was one of the reasons you didn''t protest this assignment." "Well, yes." The mage nodded. "I can''t say that I was thrilled to come under these circumstances, but I had hoped to gather valuable data about the recurring anomalies. That is, until lord Ledkin decided to linger here indefinitely." "So, the Labyrinth has been messed up?" Jade asked, intrigued. "We''ve been getting that sense ourselves, but we''re so new that we don''t really know." "It has." Aylin nodded, suddenly serious. "New integrations always come with oddities, but something is different this time around. Monsters manifesting where they shouldn''t, persistent dimensional distortions, and what appears to be a greatly accelerated linking schedule. It has many of us at the Order concerned. One of my primary areas of study is the mechanisms of the Labyrinth, so I''ve been tasked with investigating the issue." "One of our sanctuary attendants shared some information about this trial that you might find very interesting, then." Naomi said, slinging her guitar over her back. She looked at Jade. "If she''s an expert on this place, I think I want her around." "Aylin has considerable sway at the Mystic Order." The fellian added, clapping the mage on the shoulder hard enough to make her stumble. "If she puts in a good word for you, I think you''ll find your time in the Labyrinth''s societies to be quite a bit easier." "I do not have considerable sway." Aylin protested. "I''m only a junior councilwoman in a local branch." "Yes, and the youngest one appointed in more than a generation." The captain grunted. Jade could tell her companions wanted another experienced party member, and the idea was growing on her. The second floor was bound to be more dangerous than the first, and Aylin''s high level alone would give them a better safety margin. On top of that, if she could make a good impression, perhaps she wouldn''t run into as many issues about her race in the future. They were about to find civilization, and Jade really didn''t want this scene to play out everywhere they went. Forgiving the mage went against her instincts, but Jade kept reminding herself that those were foreign as well. In the end, she was asking people to give her the benefit of the doubt. It was only right for her to do the same. "If you want to come, you''re welcome to join." Jade said, holding out her hand. Aylin hesitated for a moment, and then took it. She had a surprisingly strong grip. "Some real time in the field would be a nice change of pace." she said, nodding. "And I owe you for tonight. You''re going to Lysara?" "We are." "I''ll travel with you at least that far. It''s what, a week''s travel from this stairway?" She asked the captain, who nodded. Siora perked up at that, appearing pleased that they were so close. Until then, they''d been uncertain about exactly how far she had been flung from home. "That will give me a good amount of ground to cover." Aylin said. Then she frowned. "What will you tell lord Ledkin?" "The truth." He shrugged. "That I sent you off to do some research, on request of the Order. I''ll keep tonight''s meeting to myself." he added to Jade''s group, smiling wryly. "No one need know about your scheme. When you don''t come back, he''ll probably just assume you went looking for another stairway." "Thank you. And¡­ sorry for poisoning your dinner¡­" Jade said, feeling a little embarassed after how helpful the man was being. To her surprise, he chuckled. "I''m starting to like you kids. Remind me of my younger days..." He shook his head ruefully. "If they have a hangover in the morning, I''ll just tell them that Aylin was experimenting with a new herb she found. The least you can do is take the blame, since you''re leaving me saddled with lord lackwit for the rest of this trip." The mage sighed, shaking her head in defeat. "Fine." The dying embers of the campfire crackled as a log shifted, throwing off a spray of sparks. That brought Jade back to the present, and she fished the floor key out of her dimensional pouch. "We should get going." She said, turning towards the stairway portal. "Aylin, if you''re coming, grab whatever you need." The mage nodded, moving off to her tent. Jade expected her to enter it but, instead, she simply tapped it with her wand. The entire structure collapsed, folding in on itself until the fabric and poles lay in a neatly stacked pile at her feet. She picked them up, stuffing them into an obviously magical pouch she carried at her hip. The entire process took less than thirty seconds. "Ok." Naomi said seriously. "We need one of those." "One more thing." The captain, Pri''lom, said to Jade. She turned to face him. "You should visit Estelhelm while you''re on the second floor. Go to the temple of Yllestra. One of her priestesses is a natural-born demon. She''s one of the few I know of in the Free Cities, and she may have some advice for your situation." "The Lady of Redemption has a demon priestess?" Aylin asked as she returned, appearing shocked. "I''ve never heard that." "You need to get out of your study more." The fellian shook his head at her. "It''s a big world." "I will. Thank you." Jade said, equally surprised. It was a welcome revelation. Perhaps there were ways to fit in, after all. "Do you want any help with your hand?" Naomi asked as Jade took out her floor key and inserted it in the glowing door''s lock. "I know a healing spell." The key glowed white, and then disappeared in a flash of light. A loud ''click'' came from the doorway, which proceeded to simply vanish. There were no stairs through the threshold, only swirling eddies of blue-white light. "No." Aylin shook her head. "I''m going to let it heal on its own. A lesson of the consequences of acting before I think." The more Jade learned about this woman, the more she liked her. They''d had a rough start, but that wasn''t anything new. Maybe, just maybe, this would all work out. With that thought, she stepped through the portal, leaving the first floor behind. Chapter 46 The transition was instantaneous. One moment, Jade was standing at the border between woodland and sea. The next, she found herself at the edge of a large, circular pavilion. The center of the space was occupied by an ornate, carefully manicured garden brimming with colorful flowers, its edges rimmed by a wooden walkway. A stone pedestal rose from the center of the garden, topped with a bowl filled with translucent, multicolored fruit. What truly caught Jade''s attention, however, was the vista beyond the pavilion''s railing. The structure was floating amidst a sea of ethereal clouds, bathed in a source less light that seemed to come from everywhere at once. In the distance, just visible through the shifting mists, rose a massive tower of incomprehensible scale. Jade stepped up to the railing and craned her neck, trying to spot its top, but it vanished into the clouds high above. She did spot multiple offshoots from the central tower, stretching out in every direction. Twinkling lights sparkled along their length. "Isn''t it beautiful?" Siora asked, stepping up beside Jade. "What is it?" Jade asked, trying to gauge the scale of the structure. Without anything to compare it to, it was hard to tell how large it truly was. "The Astral Tree." The elf replied simply. "It has many names, like the ''World Tree'', or ''Lesreiza''. Some say that the Labyrinth itself grew from its roots. Others claim the tree formed afterwards, birthed from the cosmic power embodied in this world." "It''s the former, according to our most accurate records." Aylin said. The mage had just stepped through the open stairway portal and was now gazing out at the spectacle along with everyone else. "References to a ''world tree'', or similar concepts, appear in many cultures throughout the cosmos dating back millennia, long before the Labyrinth was discovered. Many forms of dimensional magic used it to traverse the multiverse, as it is said that each branch brushes a different world. Actually¡­" She turned to look at Jade. "That was the type of magic the demons used to propel their invasion, during the Cataclysm." Jade noted that the mage''s gaze still held a little wariness. She supposed it was too much to hope that all her suspicions would fade immediately. "Wait¡­" That was a lot of information for Jade to process. Every time she felt like she was getting a handle on how her new reality worked, the scale of it all shifted. "You''re saying that the Labyrinth wasn''t always here?" "No one knows." The half-elf shrugged. "It continues to grow with each passing century, reaching new worlds year after year. Early references are limited and scattered, likely because it was so much smaller in the beginning. It is believed that it uses the Astral Tree as a template to guide its growth, and help it find new lands. But where it truly came from is a mystery." "It''s like Yggdrasil." Naomi murmured, staring up at it in awe. "You know, from old Norse mythology?" "Huh¡­" Jade said, realizing she was right. She wasn''t an expert, but she was pretty sure that numerous Earth religions referenced a similar concept. Could that be a coincidence? Or had early civilizations somehow caught a glimpse of this cosmic realm? "Where are we, exactly?" "Between the floors." Aylin leaned over the railing, looking down into the churning mists. "The portal that will take us to the second floor will open soon. The clouds are too thick today but, sometimes, if you look closely, you can actually see part of the Labyrinth''s dimensional footprint in the distance." Jade followed her gaze, trying to spot any shapes other than the tree itself, but the fog was too thick. She was about to ask if that meant you could just climb your way up to the next level the long way when Luis spoke up. "What are these?" Luis asked. He had stepped into the garden and was now holding a bright purple fruit that looked somewhat like a pear. Apparently, the ethereal fruit in the bowl gained substance when you touched them. "The Labyrinth grants one fruit from the World Tree to each person who ascends its levels." Siora explained, stepping over to the bowl and taking one for herself. Jade watched the object materialize as her hand entered the bowl. "But only on your first time. I''ve never actually gone from the first floor to the second, I was born there, so it looks like it will let me take one as well." She finished with a smile, sniffing the glowing green fruit she now held. "What does it do?" Jade asked, joining them and taking one for herself. Before she even finished speaking, she heard a crunching noise beside her. Luis had already bitten into his fruit, and he finished devouring it as she turned an exasperated gaze on him. "''s good!" he said, closing his eyes and savoring it. "You should try it." "Go ahead." Aylin gestured with a slight smile. "It''s a special experience." Curious, Jade inspected hers. The orange fruit was lighter than it looked and oddly warm to the touch. She took a bite, and an explosion of sweetness filled her mouth, accompanied by a rush of vibrant energy that spread throughout her body. A prompt appeared. The aches and pains of the day''s trails ebbed away, leaving Jade feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. "Woah." She blinked, standing a little straighter. "Not bad." "''Not bad''?" Naomi rolled her eyes, having just finished her own. "Jade, if the universe ever elects a queen of understatement, you''d be a prime candidate." Jade gave her a flat look, not deigning to reply.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Every floor gives a different type of fruit from the tree, and they all have different effects." Aylin explained. "I don''t remember all of it myself, but the Order has documented many of them." She continued, explaining that she herself had already received the gifts from the first two floors, and was hoping to make her way to the third stairway at some point to obtain that one. Apparently, each floor beyond the second embodied a specific element of cosmic power, and that was reflected in the fruit the Labyrinth offered. On space between the first two floors all those elements were in equilibrium, so they were given the fruit of ''balance''. When it became clear that they had no idea what that meant, Aylin began listing them off, adopting the air of a professor lecturing to a class. "There are twelve fundamental forces in the cosmos, each represented in different levels of the Labyrinth. Order, chaos, light, dark, growth, deca-." She was cut off by a loud humming sound. Another portal shimmered to life in front of them, identical to the one they entered through. "Ah." Aylin said, gesturing towards the exit. "That''s our cue to leave." Jade wanted to learn more about these ''fundamental forces'', but it looked like that would have to wait. "Siora? Excited to get home?" she asked the elf, walking with her towards the portal. "Of course!" The elf clasped her hands behind her back, practically bouncing with enthusiasm. "You''re going to love Lysara, it''s peaceful and beautiful. I can''t wait to show you the wildflower fields. And there''s the canopy district! Oh! And all the food!" "We are on a mission." Jade reminded her gently. "Earth is in danger, we won''t have much time for sightseeing." "We can''t fight all the time, Jade." Naomi said. "Taking a day to relax every once in a while will do more to keep us in fighting shape than constant battle. It''s just like performing, you need some recovery time between shows. Besides, we don''t have to do it all ourselves. There are other wayfarers and, once the gates open on Earth, I''m sure all the world powers will be sending in their armies to try and deal with this." "Probably." Jade conceded, nodding. "But Damos said something about armies struggling in the Labyrinth, remember? Even setting aside the levelling challenges non-wayfarers have." "Your sanctuary attendant told you that?" Aylin asked, pausing. "He was right. The Labyrinth always mounts a strong response to large armed groups moving through it. Any who try will quickly find themselves swarmed by monsters, especially on the higher floors. There are some exceptions, and it¡¯s a sliding scale, but most who try to tackle the integration through sheer volume of arms end up regretting the decision." Jade reflected that, even if the full military might of Earth couldn''t be brought to bear on this challenge, their military industrial complex could and would. Would they soon be outfitted with the best technology and weapons that Earth could manufacture? How would those compare to the magic they could now wield? She was going to have a lot of questions for Aylin in the coming days. Luis insisted on taking one last look at the majestic tree, so they paused by the exit portal. While she waited, Jade finally turned her attention to her pulsing notification icon. She had a surprising number of them pending, and Jade quickly skimmed through them. There was a ''quest complete'' and a ''level up'', but she pushed those aside for a far more interesting one that caught her eye. No one had told her that new system functions would become available upon reaching higher floors. Intrigued, Jade was about to tab over to see what her new titles were when another prompt popped up. Advanced classes? Titles? It looked like she still had a lot to learn about how the Labyrinth worked. The prospect of getting powerful, truly powerful, was undeniably appealing, but Jade hadn''t forgotten the true nature of the Labyrinth, nor the promise she''d made. This realm was a blight on the universe, consuming world after world, shattering civilizations, and throwing entire peoples into chaos. It couldn''t be allowed to continue. She had no idea how to stop it yet, but Jade felt like she had just learned an important clue. This ''Astral Tree'' was somehow related to it, and perhaps held the key to its demise. She looked out at it one last time, tracing its branches as they disappeared into the clouds. How many of them had the Labyrinth followed to unsuspecting worlds, laying waste to them? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Did anyone even know? Demonic rage stirred in her heart, and this time Jade didn''t try to push it away. The Labyrinth had turned her into a monster, a creature of darkness and lust that was feared throughout the cosmos. It had wrenched her away from her life, her family, and her friends. Worst of all, it had taken her from Alan, in his time of need. And yet it also granted her power and continued to open new avenues for her to gain strength. So, Jade would play its games, complete its trials, and destroy these ''Cores'' to secure the safety of her home, accumulating power and mastery all the while. But she wouldn''t stop there. Not until she found a way to bring ruin to whatever malevolent force controlled this world. No matter how long it took. The question was, could she see this through without losing her humanity? And if becoming a monster was what it took to put an end to this misery, would it be worth it? I will do what must be done. She resolved, the last to step through the portal. Whatever the cost to myself.
The morning sun shone through the opening to Braston''s tent, stinging his eyes. The man grunted in pain, turning away and rubbing at his pounding head as he rummaged through a small trunk at the foot of his bedroll. Outside, he could hear raised voices as that idiot lordling and the self-righteous captain argued about the previous evening''s events and their current condition. Braston wasn''t all that happy himself, but he had a job to do. Whatever drug had been used to knock them out the previous night had been potent, but it hadn''t completely eliminated his awareness. He dimly recalled hearing a commotion and dragging himself to the mouth of his tent to quietly observe. It was hard to remember details with his mind still sluggish, but the important parts stood out. One of those new wayfarers was a demon. An actual succubus, and apparently one that wasn''t completely deranged like most demons were said to be. Braston had always hidden a shrewd mind beneath a veneer of thuggish ineptitude and knew that this presented an opportunity not only for the guild, but also for his own advancement. Finally, he found what he was looking for and pulled out the enchanted quill and parchment. The Matron would want to be made aware of this development. This ''Jade'' woman''s unique nature and talents could be an incredible boon to the Ebon Eye. She might also be able to help them deal with one or two challenges, if she could be brought into the fold. The guild lieutenant snorted as he began to write a message, the words magically transmitted back to the headquarters in Illysport. The Matron was excellent at convincing people to do what she liked. Braston would wager a year''s worth of his ill-gotten gains that Jade would likely end up receiving an offer soon. The sort that she would find quite hard to turn down. If he was lucky, maybe he''d even be there to see it. The End of Book 1
Book 1 Epilogue: Chapter 47 Second Floor: Moonlit Meadow Quadrant, Twilight Forest Zone. Near Lysara. Fenrin ducked behind a tree, narrowly avoiding the fountain of green, caustic liquid that sprayed past him. A single droplet landed on his leather greaves, hissing and sizzling as it ate away at the armor. "Sel, what do your notes say about these guys?" The half-elf archer called over his shoulder, risking a quick peek at the large centipede. The monster was scuttling towards him now, rapidly closing the distance between them. Acidic fluid dripped from its serrated mandibles, leaving a smoking trail behind the creature as it barreled through the undergrowth. "Ahhh¡­ Corrosipedes. Hang on!" Fenrin''s companion, Seldrin, rifled through a series of pages in his journal. The elf was a good way back from the fight, having retreated to the boughs of the trees when the monster emerged. "They spit acid and have a strong bite, so try and stay away from its front!" "That''s real helpful!" Fenrin rolled his eyes, notching another arrow. He dashed out from behind his cover, trying to circle around the side of the enormous bug while he pumped mana into his bow. The arrow began to glow, crackling with electricity. He let it fly just as the corrosipede turned to face him, its dozens of legs churning the ground and sending bits of earth soaring in every direction. The arrow struck the monster on the side of its body, penetrating deep into its soft flesh. Arcs of lightning burst from the wound, scorching its body and sending it crashing to the ground in a tangle of spasming limbs. Fenrin didn''t wait for it to recover, he knew that wouldn''t be enough to finish it off. It was level 15, two higher than himself. Monsters that strong rarely fell to a single attack. He continued to circle, peppering the creature with arrow after arrow and generally keeping to a safe distance, all the while keeping an eye out for any sign of additional threats. "Ah! Found it!" Seldrin''s voice came from above, triumphant. "It has an acid sac on the underside of its body, between the head and thorax. Piercing it should kill it!" "So, its neck?" Fenrin asked, sending another arrow into the monster''s side. It had finally righted itself and was turning towards him again, looking angrier than ever. Two large, compound eyes glinted in the evening sunlight, their red tint giving the monster a malevolent air. "Technically, insects don''t have ''necks''." Seldrin called down. "It''s called a ''cervix''." "This isn''t the time for a zoology lesson, Sel." "Good point. Ok, get it to spit again, I think I can nail it from up here." Of course, getting it to spit more acid would mean giving it a target. Fenrin sighed, skidding to stop between two trees and shouting at the monster. "Hey, ugly! Over here!" He let loose another arrow for good measure, slowly backing away as the monster rumbled towards him. Yes, he definitely had its attention now. Fenrin had no intention of being blasted by its caustic expulsion, however. There was a much better way to make it expose itself. "Mimi, now!" "Cacaw!" The piercing call of a bird of prey answered him. A moment later a feathered, multi-colored blur descended from the canopy like a missile. Mimi arced through the air, slashing at the corrosipede''s face with her vicious talons before flapping back towards the sky. The insect chittered in pain and rage, rearing up on its hind legs to snap at the bird with its mandibles. As it did, it exposed its belly, and the green sac hanging from its neck. Or cervix, Fenrin didn''t really care what it was called, just that it was in his sight. He and Seldrin fired simultaneously, twin arrows finding their marks in an explosion of caustic fluid. The monster hissed, collapsing to the ground. It twitched feebly for several long moments before finally falling still. After a quick glance at his surroundings to ensure the area was truly safe, Fenrin shouldered his bow and cautiously approached the monster. Seldrin dropped from a nearby tree, the wood elf landing lightly. He brushed some leaves from his tunic and gave Fenrin a tight smile. "Nice work." Mimi fluttered back down, perching atop the monster''s body and letting out a victorious squawk. Then she began pecking at it.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Mimi, no!" Fenrin beckoned towards his familiar. "That can''t be good for you." The bird chirped in protest, reluctantly fluttering over to alight on his shoulder. She shuffled her two sets of feathered wings, settling them one over the other. He reached up and patted her head affectionately. "The monsters really are getting bolder." Seldrin said, examining their fallen foe. "Something must have them riled up." "That''s why we''re here." Fenrin agreed. "Whatever it is, we need to put a stop to it before they start attacking the village." "I think we''re close." Seldrin said, closing his eyes. "The forest is getting quieter, lethargic. Like it''s sick, somehow." The olive-skinned elf pointed in the direction the monster had come from. "It feels stronger that way." "Let''s check it out, but be careful. I''d rather avoid any more fights until we know what we''re dealing with." "Agreed." The two of them continued through the forest, moving as quietly as they could. That was easier for Seldrin, with his innate connection to the woodland spirits. Fenrin, only a half-wood-elf, lacked the ability to sense the natural world as clearly as his friend, but he''d spent enough time in these woods to know how to navigate them with care. "This is around where Siora last was, right? Before she went missing?" Fenrin asked, a frown forming on his face. Seldrin''s sister had been gone for almost two weeks now, apparently. "That''s right." Seldrin said, sounding worried. "We''ve been looking every day, but no one has any idea what happened. It''s like she just vanished into thin air." "Do you think it has anything to do with the new integration?" "I don''t know." He shrugged. "She knows every inch of these woods, and everything in them. Nothing here could have hurt her." "I''ve always heard that the Labyrinth shifts and reorganizes itself when it connects to a new land." Fenrin offered. "Maybe she got caught in the shuffle, and ended up somewhere else?" "If so, I hope it wasn''t far¡­ Thanks for coming to help, by the way. Having a wayfarer looking too will make a big difference." Seldrin added, clambering over a fallen tree. They were speaking in low voices, to avoid attracting any attention. The care seemed unnecessary, though, as the woodland around them appeared to be completely deserted. Strangely so. "Of course, I came as soon as I heard about the integration. Everything is fine back home, and I wanted to make sure it was here, too." On his shoulder, Mimi cawed in agreement. "We''ll find her. Siora knows how to take care of herself." Fenrin continued, trying his best to stay optimistic. "But first, let''s figure out what''s going on with these monsters. It could be related."
It didn''t take long for the pair to find the source of the disturbance. Fenrin and Seldrin lay atop a ridge overlooking a shallow valley that was much more sparsely populated with trees than the rest of the forest. They were concealed amidst a collection of thick bushes, and Fenrin was careful not to make too much noise lest they attract attention. The half-elf wasn''t nearly as familiar with this region as his companion was, but even he knew that the large, stepped pyramid rising from the center of the valley hadn''t been there previously. Nor had the dozens of shambling figures that meandered around its base, walking in and out of various entrances. "A stronghold¡­" He murmured softly. "I think you''re right." Seldrin agreed solemnly. "Right on our doorstep¡­ This isn''t good." "It isn''t." Fenrin agreed, peering at the moving figures. "Those are undead, I''m certain." Seldrin cursed under his breath, and Mimi clucked her beak in trepidation. He raised a hand to stroke her head. "Go take a look for us, Mimi?" He asked, the mental link he shared with his familiar adding an additional layer to their discourse. The bird bobbed her head once and took to the sky, soaring out towards the new structure. The pyramid was comprised of several distinct levels, each ringed by green torches. It had to be at least a hundred feet tall, its peak rising higher even than the ridge they observed from. "The other monsters are fleeing. They''re being driven towards the village." Seldrin said. "And the undead will follow. I don''t know too much about strongholds, but even if Lysara isn''t fully in its territory, it must be at the border." "This quadrant has always been light on monster manifestations." Seldrin said, clenching his hands into fists. "That''s why we settled here. Why? Why did the Labyrinth have to generate one now?" "It has to be the integration. Everything is changing." Fenrin trailed off as a prompt appeared in front of him. It was a quest, a pair of quests, actually. One was to defeat the stronghold boss to protect Lysara, and the other was a more generic quest to successfully conquer any stronghold. He drew his lips to a line. "Unless your people want to completely relocate, we''re going to have to deal with this. And soon." "We don''t have enough warriors to take on a stronghold. We''re equipped to defend ourselves from wandering monsters, not to assault a fortress of the undead." Perhaps Master Rhysten would have guidance? Maybe he would be able to defeat the stronghold boss, despite his old injury. If not, the task could very well fall on Fenrin. As far as he knew, he was the only active wayfarer in the area. That was a task he had little confidence he could accomplish alone. "I know. We''re going to need some help." If there was time, he might be able to send word to Estelhelm to recruit other wayfarers or mercenaries to join them. Spoils from strongholds were said to be quite valuable, so it was possible that someone would answer the call. As long as they weren''t busy dealing with other aspects of the evolution the Labyrinth seemed to be undergoing. Either way, he wasn''t going to leave his father''s people to fend for themselves. It was the burden of the noble families to defend the common people from threats like this, and he wasn¡¯t going to shirk his duty. Even if he stood alone. Fortunately for him, although he didn''t know it yet, help was already on the way. Book 2 Prologue: Chapter 48 Book 2: The Demon Deception Prologue Third Floor - Tempest Zone, Wavecrest Lake Quadrant - Illysport The island city of Illysport was even livelier than usual. Crowds of people filled the cramped streets, all making their way to the festival square to enjoy an evening of merriment and celebration. It was the eve of Founding Day, a holiday that marked the Ledkin family''s first visit to the lone island that rested squarely in the center of the quadrant''s eponymous lake. More than a dozen different races were represented in the thronging masses, a diverse gathering even for the Labyrinth. Humans, elves, and fellians were the most numerous, but there were others, including kobolds and the amphibious rhyssits scattered amongst the crowds squeezed into narrow streets between the tall buildings. Malice moved gracefully against the flow of people, subtly applying her aura to split the crowd in front of her as she made her way towards the designated meeting point. She was wearing the form of a high elf tonight, with long brown hair and alabaster skin. Her clothing was a simple, modest dress. It was a far cry from her preferred attire, but standing out would go against her instructions. Malice generally wasn''t one to care about doing what she was told, but apparently they were actually moving forward with the plan. If she drew attention to herself and compromised all the effort that had gone into making preparations for it, even her elite status wouldn''t protect her. A pair of humans stepped in front of her, a well dressed man and woman. They appeared to be arguing, although she couldn''t make out the words over the general clamor of the crowd. Malice slipped between them, murmuring a soft apology to the man as she brushed against his chest. "Excuse me, my lord." The words were suffused with a hint of magic, and she made eye contact with the handsome man for the briefest of moments before bashfully looking away. She felt the man''s lustful gaze linger on her as she strode away into the night. A moment later, the woman''s raised voice could be heard even over the general din, berating him for his ''wandering eyes''. Malice allowed herself a slight smile as she tasted their ire, savoring it. Anger wasn''t quite her favorite emotion to feed on, but it had a way of making her heart flutter that she just adored. She continued on, cutting through an alleyway to a side street that was somewhat less packed with festivalgoers. Illysport was a maze of tight streets and buildings stacked atop each other, a rather predictable consequence of turning an island city into a bustling trade hub. The people here had long since run out of land to expand to, resorting instead to building up. Malice approved of the resulting disorganized chaos, as it made it easy to travel unnoticed. After another few minutes of walking she finally caught sight of the meeting point. It was an intersection between two alleyways, far enough removed from the lamp-lined streets as to be shrouded in shadow. The location was clearly selected to keep them away from prying eyes, although Malice was unimpressed. Such a suspicious looking alley would be the first place anyone would look for any sort of shady activity. Were all the Ebon Eye guild members so inept? Or just the amateur she had casually seduced to secure an in to their organization? It didn''t matter. In the end, Malice didn''t care if anyone overheard the conversation. She had already been planning on leaving town in the morning, and had only come here because her contact had sent her a message claiming that he had information she would want. "Hello?" She said timidly, pretending to look around nervously. Malice had pinpointed the man''s location with her magical senses before she had even walked into the alley, but she had a part to play. "I was starting to think you weren''t coming, Elise." A dark skinned man stepped out of the shadows, frowning at her. The young human was wearing a nondescript cloak and had few distinguishing features. "What took you so long?" "I only just got your message at sunset." Malice lied, bowing in contrition. "My apologies for keeping you waiting, Mr. Trent. The festival crowds slowed me down." In reality, Malice had been enjoying the company of some eager companions. Not enjoying them as much as she would have liked, she was expressly forbidden from leaving a trail of bodies that could blow her cover, but there were other ways to have fun. "Whatever." Trent grunted, crossing his arms. "I heard some news you''d be interested in." "Oh? What is it?" Malice asked. "It''s about a demon." Malice felt her heartbeat quicken. If anyone had been stupid enough to reveal themselves, she would get the blame. Her only consolation would be getting to tear apart the offender. "What about one?" She kept her voice casual, not even a hint of anxiety slipping through. "Why is a small time information broker like you so curious about them anyway?" Trent asked, ignoring her question. "What''s it to you?" "I''m just a middleman." Malice replied with a disarming shrug. "My clients don''t tell me why they want what they do, only what to gather for them." Trent grunted again. The man did that a lot, an inelegant trait Malice found quite annoying. She amused herself by imagining the gurgling sounds he would produce with his throat ripped open. That was much more pleasant.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. "Well, make sure you don''t mention you heard anything from me, got it? The Matron doesn''t like when we deal on the side." "Of course. I''ve never let you down, have I?" "I suppose not." The man relaxed slightly, then took a step closer. "A demon was spotted on the first level. A succubus. One of our agents sent word just this morning. She''s travelling with a group of wayfarers from that newly integrated world." "A succubus?" Malice asked, genuinely confused. "With outlanders? Why?" What could be going on? This wasn''t part of any plan she knew about. If that bastard Zertrolk had cut her out of the loop again, she would-. "Get this." Trent shook his head, cutting into her burgeoning ire. "She''s also a wayfarer. Apparently, some human took a race change and chose a demon race. She must be crazy." "I didn''t even know that was possible." Malice said, her mind racing. "Where is she now?" "I dunno. She was travelling with two humans and a wood-elf. That''s all we got. They went up the mountain zone stairway." Malice''s initial worry began to fade. If Trent was right, she had nothing to worry about. This newborn demon had nothing to do with them, and shouldn''t pose a risk. Unless¡­ She grimaced as a new thought hit her. If this resulted in people looking more closely for more people like her, that could be a problem. Maybe she did have to do something about this. What a pain. Malice thought, irritated. I was finally about to get to have some fun, too. That said, she couldn''t help but be a little curious about what kind of person would choose to transform into a demon, much less a succubus. Why had the Labyrinth even given her the choice? The more she thought about it, the more interested she became. Perhaps this had the potential to be entertaining after all. "Ahem." Trent coughed. He held out his hand. "Of course. Your payment, Mr. Trent." Malice said, fishing a small pouch of crescent coins from a pocket and handing them over. Trent weighed it in his palm, unimpressed. "Twice the usual fee." He grunted, sliding the coins into a satchel at his waist. "I''m not supposed to be selling info like this to unaffiliated brokers." "Doesn''t everyone do it?" Malice asked timidly, remaining in character. "Of course everyone does it." He snorted. "But it comes at a premium." "But¡­" She made a show of digging through her pockets. "I didn''t bring anything else. It''s unwise to travel with a heavy purse at night, especially for a lady¡­" "We have an arrangement, Elise. I expect you to honor it." Trent said, narrowing his eyes at her. "I''ve been more than generous this past month." More than generous my ass. Malice suppressed the urge to roll her eyes at the ridiculous claim. You charge twice what even the other Ebon Eye brokers do. Not that she really cared, it wasn''t like it was actually her money. That said, his increasing demands had been getting on her nerves lately. And, seeing as she was about to leave town on a new mission anyway, no one could fault her for having some fun first¡­ "Isn''t¡­ Isn''t there anything else I could do?" She asked, brushing her long hair out of her face and taking a half step closer. A barely contained hunger stirred deep within her heart. Malice flexed her fingers, and then forced her hands to relax. Not yet. She wanted to savor this. "What''re you offering?" He asked. His eyes were glued to her as she reached up, undoing the top lace of her dress. The front of her garment opened somewhat, exposing the beautiful skin of an elf in her prime. "Is this enough¡­?" It was such a simple tease, but Malice was well practiced in the art of seduction. More sophisticated techniques were wasted on men like this. You merely had to present an opportunity, and they fell right into the trap. Sure enough, Trent hardly hesitated. Malice found herself pressed against the dark wall of the alleyway, his lips pressed against hers. The man''s hands felt at her body, fumbling for the remaining ties on her dress. Malice could taste his lust on her lips, so sweet and delectable. Desire swelled in her soul, barely contained. She gave into the temptation, pulling him closer and holding tight as she drank it all in. Trent grunted in pain and surprise, trying to pull away. Malice didn''t let him, clinging tighter as she finally released the disguise she''d been masked in for far too many days. A pair of wings unfurled from her back, quickly joined by curling horns and a supple tail that twisted around the man''s waist. Trent''s eyes widened, the taste of fear bleeding into the lust that suffused the life force Malice continued to drain. So sweet¡­ The succubus thought, her mind clouded by the wonderous sensation. It was like drinking cool water after days of dehydration. It had been a while since she''d gone so long without a proper feeding. Too long. With some effort, Malice forced herself to stop just before the last of his life left his body. As tempting as it was to drain him completely, she had something else in mind. Ignoring Trent''s feeble struggles, she slowly raised a claw and casually dragged it across his throat. Malice released him, pushing the man away as blood blossomed from the wound. He clutched at his throat with both hands, eyes bulging, choking on incomprehensible words as he tried to speak. Malice closed her eyes, savoring the sound. It was even more delightful than she''d imagined. Trent''s body dropped to the ground with a heavy thud, his skin pallid and drained, crimson streaks staining the cobblestone in expanding rivulets. Malice stood over him, flushed and panting. She would have enjoyed taking that a little slower, but discovery was too much of a risk. She was bending her instructions a great deal already. "You should have just taken the coins." She said to his corpse, bending down to retrieve her purse from his bag. "But I''m grateful you didn''t." Zertrolk wouldn''t be happy when he found out about this, she really wasn''t supposed to be leaving corpses lying around. "It''s only one¡­" She complained aloud, as if he could hear her. "A girl has to have some fun." Somehow, she doubted he would be very understanding. Best make herself scarce for the time being. With any luck, her departure would prevent anyone from finding a link between her and the death. The only downside was now Malice had one fewer contact in the Ebon Eye, which she was supposed to stay involved with, but that was fine. If she needed to get inside, there were other options. For now, she had a new mission: Tracking down this mystery demon. Malice began to walk away, this time shifting into the form of a young human woman. She had already forgotten about the dead man, busy contemplating her next steps. What to do when she found this adopted sister of hers? Would she be a problem that had to be eliminated? Or could they use her somehow? The latter would be far more fun. What had she been told? This woman was travelling with a wood-elf? There''s a wood-elf settlement near the stairway they ascended, isn''t there? Well, it was as good a place to start her search as any. First, she''d send a report to Zertrolk. Then, she''d be off. The best part was, she wouldn''t have to worry about being discovered if she fed in the wilds. People went missing in the Labyrinth''s wilderness all the time. It was a dangerous world, after all. Of course, Malice was part of what made it so dangerous. Which was a special point of pride. Chapter 49 Second Floor - Winding Canyon Zone, Weathered Spire Quadrant "Keep your mind open. Feel how the mana flows around you, its eddies and currents. Relax. Breathe. Attune yourself to the energy of the world, but don''t force it. Just watch. Listen. Now tell me, where does it gather?" Jade sat on a small, flat rock in the dusty canyon, eyes closed in concentration. She felt Luis and Naomi stir beside her, all of them focusing on Aylin''s words. They had been at this for several days during breaks in their journey, and Jade thought she was finally starting to get a handle on what the half-elf called ''magical senses'' or ''soul sight''. She opened her mind to the currents of magic that swirled around them. It was warm and subtle, beginning with the curling wisps of invisible energy that surrounded her own body. Beyond that¡­ "It''s concentrated around us." Jade said, keeping her eyes closed. "You, me, and all of us." "It''s strongest near us and fades quickly." Naomi added. "But it doesn''t completely disappear. There''s¡­ a little bit everywhere." "Good." Aylin said, her serene voice sounding distant to Jade''s focused mind. "You are making progress. Mana is an intrinsic part of life. All living creatures possess it, even ones that cannot use any magic of their own. The more powerful a creature, the more mana will surround it. But all beings are a font of cosmic power, as that is what links the soul to the body. If you look closely, you can feel that connection itself." Jade did as instructed, examining Aylin''s aura of power. It was difficult to discern at first, but then something changed. The mage''s mana suddenly became transparent and easier to study, and Jade realized that Aylin had been doing something to her power to make it more opaque. Whatever that technique was, it had stopped. Now, her essence was laid bare for them. As the mage had said, there was a bright core of energy that coalesced in the center of her body, pulsing faintly as if it had a heartbeat. Looking closer, Jade felt like she could feel the mage''s mind at work. She was focused on them, guiding their senses. "Is that¡­ You?" Luis asked hesitantly. "It is." Aylin confirmed. "With proper focus, one may observe the bridge between a creature''s soul and their physical form. Everything we are comes from the soul, and it is possible to use this sense to inform you of a creature''s intentions. When you act, those impulses are sent from the soul and translated to the body. A careful observer can detect that. This technique has many applications, including combat, where even a moment''s forewarning of an opponent''s next action can be the difference between victory and defeat." Jade''s head was starting to hurt from the constant focus. They''d been at this for over an hour now, and she finally withdrew back to her body and opened her eyes. The five of them were sitting in the shadow of a sandy canyon wall, sheltered from the midday heat. Siora was nearby, quietly working on sorting through a collection of new herbs she''d collected over their days of travel on the second floor. The elf was already proficient with the basic functions of magical senses and didn''t need Aylin''s instruction. "That''s enough for now." The robed mage said, also opening her eyes. "You''re improving quickly. In a week or so, you should have the basics down." "Thank you for teaching us." Naomi said, getting up and stretching. "It''s pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it, but I never would have thought to open my mind like this. It feels¡­" "Like exposing yourself?" Jade asked. She had been feeling much the same. "Yeah." Naomi said, and Luis nodded in agreement. "Like I''m opening my heart for everyone to look in." "Right now, you are." Aylin said, standing and brushing off her robes. "But once you get the hang of the basics, we can work on how to maintain your defenses while keeping your senses open. You''ll get there. This is a path all wielders of magic walk, and it is well worn." "You''d think the Labyrinth would''ve given some more instructions on this." Luis commented. "Seems like an oversight." Aylin laughed. "That is a common complaint, Luis. The Voice of the Labyrinth is quick to give might and power, and there is no faster way to achieve strength in the cosmos than to become a wayfarer. But for newcomers to a world of magic, its gifts can be a crutch that prevents them from learning the fundamentals of how to control their mana and aura. Becoming truly adept with the powers you are learning will require more than levels and absorbed experience, but hard work and training as well." That was fine by Jade. She had long since learned that no amount of natural talent or head start could overcome dedication and effort. Her athletic career had required all that and more. Becoming a skilled warrior would be no different, regardless of what powers this world heaped upon them.
They spent the rest of their day continuing towards the Twilight Forest Zone, where the town of Lysara was situated. Upon emerging onto the second level of the Labyrinth Siora had immediately recognized the general area and, with a little help from Aylin, had begun leading the party back to her home. After several days of travel, interspersed with grinding on the various monsters that inhabited the quadrants they passed through, they were finally nearing their destination. In the distance Jade could see the tall, green treetops of an approaching forest. The woodland appeared oddly dim compared to the bright, sunlit day of the desert canyon they were currently traversing, but Siora had explained that her home generally experienced short days and long nights. How does that even work? Is one zone experiencing nighttime when the one right next to it is day? Jade thought, glancing up at the brilliant sun. She wasn''t sure how that could work, but one way or another she''d find out soon. As they travelled, Jade took the opportunity to pull up her notification history. The past few days, and the ascension from floor one to two of the Labyrinth especially, had come with some welcome rewards. Jade looked through her old notifications again, refreshing her memory. First, she looked through the two titles she had received.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. It had taken Jade a moment to recall what she had done to receive that. It had been when she had first met Luis and Naomi in the goblin camp. Her succubus form and ''Bondage Queen'' ability had compounded, boosting her ''Allure'' spell two full ranks all the way from ''D'' to ''B''. Apparently, that was something of a feat. She had asked Aylin what the system''s rather ominous warning about trying that again meant, but the mage told her not to worry about it. Jade was still ''D'' rank, which meant the quality of mana she was able to channel through her soul was limited. As she levelled up over time her body would adjust, becoming capable of using more refined forms of mana. That would start happening when she reached level 20, which Aylin said was the start of ''C'' rank, and as she gradually increased her individual spells and talents to ''C'' rank through training and use. For now, every time Jade used her abilities to artificially increase the rank of her magic, her body would be taxed beyond its usual limits. Aylin assured her that was fine, even good for her development, as long as she didn''t do it all the time. Her next title was something that she, Luis, and Naomi had all received at once. It was becoming clear that the Labyrinth rewarded risky behavior with boons and power, at least for wayfarers. Jade didn''t mind, as she held the mindset that the only way to get ahead in life was to take chances other people weren''t willing to. Apparently, titles were harder to come by for people like Aylin who only had apprentice marks, although still possible. They were also quite valuable, as ''upgrade points'' allowed you to increase the power of an ''ability'' you possessed, or instantly rank up one of your ''spells'' or ''talents'' to the next level. After some discussion with her friends, Jade had elected to spend her two upgrade points on her ''Shapeshifter'' ability and her ''Kiss of Night'' racial spell, respectively. Upgrading ''shapeshifter'' had come with two separate benefits, both quite welcome. First, and what Jade had been hoping for, was that the enhanced ability now shrouded her aura in a way that made it more difficult to detect she was magically altering her appearance. Ideally that would prevent a repeat of what had happened with Aylin when she''d discovered Jade''s subterfuge. The secondary benefit was that she now gained some, but not all, of the racial features of creatures she transformed into. Jade was still exploring what those were, but the initial tests were promising. The second upgrade point had been a harder decision. Eventually, Jade had decided to use it on ''Kiss of Night'' simply because that spell would be very difficult to grind to ''C'' rank through normal use. As it didn¡¯t work on normal monsters, she didn''t have many opportunities to cast it. Now that it was level ''C'' Jade wouldn''t be able to progress it any further until she hit level 20, but that wasn''t a problem. She already had plenty of other spells and talents to work on. ''Kiss of Night''s'' C rank effect turned out to be quite useful. In addition to dealing increased damage and providing extra healing, it also gave Jade a small chance to absorb a stat point from her target''s highest ability score when she drained them. She was limited to twenty points gained in this way, but that would still be equivalent to ten whole levels worth of additional stats once she was maxed out. The rest of her notifications had been more mundane. A couple of completed quests had awarded more experience and crescent coins. Two of them, the monster hunting quest and the quest to reach floor 2, had been replaced with another follow up. All three of the wayfarers had received enough experience from their various quests to push them over the threshold for their next level. This brought Jade up to level 9 and, after several days of grinding monsters during their travels, she was already closing in on 10. She swapped over to her stats page, examining her updated scores. Between the bonus provided by the astral fruit and her most recent level up, Jade was beginning to feel superhuman in some of her abilities. The change was most noticeable in her reflexes. As an athlete, she was intimately familiar with the limits of the human body. Apparently, a ''16'' in agility threw all that out the window. Never before had she felt so light on her feet, and she had a sneaking suspicion that there was more than one world record that she would be able to beat with ease at this point. The changes for all of them, Luis and Naomi alike, astounded Jade, and she couldn''t help but wonder just how much their bodies would be enhanced as they continued to level. Aylin stopped suddenly, a frown crossing her face. It was so abrupt that Jade nearly walked into her, having been preoccupied with her menus. She closed them, looking around. "What''s wrong?" They were almost at the edge of the forest now, its darkened border looking more cozy than ominous. Nothing like the part of Juniper''s jungle that had been the home of the giant spider boss. Beside her, the rest of her companions slowed to a stop as well. "Open your senses. Can you feel that?" The mage said, closely examining the tree line. Jade opened her mind to the flow of mana that surrounded them, letting it wash over her. Effectively interpreting any of the information it carried was still beyond her, and Jade was still having trouble filtering out the mana of her own aura from her perception. She could feel her companions'' presence beside her and the vibrant essence of the nearby trees, but not much else. "Nothing." She shook her head, glancing at her companions. They each replied with a shrug. "Wait¡­" At the very edge of what she could detect, something shifted. A darkness amidst the faint radiance of the forest''s life energy. It felt cold and unnerving, wrong in a way Jade couldn''t describe. She took an involuntary step away, reflexively reaching for her weapons. "What is that¡­?" Everyone tensed. They could all feel the ominous presence now. It was growing steadily closer, just out of sight in the trees. "If I had to guess: Undead." Aylin said grimly, drawing her wand. "There''ve never been any undead near here." Siora was alarmed. "Maybe it''s¡­-?" The elf was cut off by a distant scream. It cut through the tranquil evening like a gunshot, bringing Jade to full alert. Her soul sight wasn''t refined enough to detect any details at a distance yet, but she didn''t need them. Someone was in danger. Jade began running towards the edge of the forest, the rest of her party hot on her heels. "Be careful! There''s more than one!" Aylin called out from behind her. The mage was casting some sort of spell on herself, her wand weaving in a complex pattern. Jade dashed into the forest, daggers at the ready and alert for any sign of danger. It didn''t take long to find the source of the commotion. Ahead of her, amidst a loose group of thin trees, an elven woman lay wounded on the ground, a pool of blood growing around her. A man stood defensively over her, a small axe held shakily in one hand as he squared off against a group of humanoid, skeletal figures closing in on them. The monsters moved in jerky, unnatural lurches that made Jade''s blood run cold, but she didn''t hesitate. Before she could form second thoughts, the succubus charged into the fray. Chapter 50 The closest skeleton turned to face Jade as she closed the gap between them, raising a rusty sword and chittering angrily. The monster was all bones, to the point where she could see straight through it. It moved in short jerks, like a puppet controlled by invisible strings. Glowing red orbs shone from within empty eye sockets, flickering like dying flames. A flutter of fear twisted Jade''s stomach as she beheld its ghastly visage, but she was not so easily shaken anymore. Daggers at the ready, she focused on her foe with ''Vital Sight''. Red highlights appeared in her vision, overlaying the skeleton''s form with indicators of its weak points. The largest of them was the spinal column just below the neck, and Jade aimed her first strike to target that area. She ducked under a heavy slash from the monster''s chipped sword, slipping behind it and slashing her blade right into its back. The dagger bit deep into the bone, but it wasn''t quite enough to slay it. Jade cursed, following up with two more quick strikes before it could recover and shattering its spine, sending the skeleton''s form clattering to the ground in a loose pile of bones. Luis arrived a moment later, crashing through another pair of the monsters and cutting his way to where the elven man protected his wounded companion. He took up a defensive position as Siora rushed to the woman''s side, digging a vial out of her satchel and dropping to her knees. Weeks of practice and hard gained experience proved their worth as Jade and Luis engaged the remaining enemies together, barely exchanging a word. They focused on preventing the monsters from harassing Siora, giving her time to aid the fallen elf. Jade took on another pair of skeletons, assisted by arcane blasts from Aylin and a jet of fire from Naomi. She dodged around their clumsy sword strikes, countering with a quick jab or cut every chance she got before dancing out of range. The skeletons weren''t especially durable, but her daggers were poorly suited to cutting through bone. Jade quickly discovered that her attacks had to be aimed at the spine to do any real damage, as the monsters hardly seemed to notice slices to their arms or even chests. Aylin blasted one of them apart with a well-placed stone spike that erupted from the ground beneath its feet, freeing up Jade to focus her attention on the remaining creature. It lurched towards her, chattering and swinging its curved blade in an overhand strike. Instead of dodging, Jade crossed her daggers and caught the blow, deflecting it to the side. With a twist of her wrists, she sent the monster''s weapon clattering to the ground between them. The skeleton hissed, grasping at her with its claw-like hands, but Jade was faster. She spun to the side, slicing her blades through its arms and severing both of its hands in a single, fluid motion. The monster barely even reacted to the loss, shifting straight to trying to bludgeon Jade with its handless arms. Surprised, she took a heavy blow to her chest before slamming both of her daggers into its spine, shattering the creature. The ward around her armor absorbed most of the damage, although that single attack was enough to deplete most of its protective magic. A semi-translucent barrier flickered around her, crackling like a glitchy television screen. Nearby, Luis had just finished dispatching the last of his opponents, simply smashing the skeletons apart with the flat of his greatsword. It was surprisingly effective. "More are coming." Aylin said, pointing deeper into the forest. Sure enough, Jade could make out at least a dozen more figures approaching through the trees. Most looked identical to the handful of skeletons they had just defeated, shambling creatures of bone. To Jade''s newly awakened magical senses, they were warped distortions of mana, dark and devoid of life. She could taste no emotion from them whatsoever, and she instinctively knew her succubus powers would be useless against such creatures. That didn''t stop her demonic hunger from stirring at the carnage, however, and she found herself grinning a dangerous smile. "Luis, with me." She said, the thrill of battle pulsing through her veins. "Naomi, Siora, make sure they''re okay." "I''ll take the lead." Luis shouldered his massive sword, stepping in front of Jade. "We''ll fix them up. I''ll give you a boost." Naomi said, beginning to strum an energetic melody on her guitar. Beside her, Siora was carefully administering potions to the bleeding elf woman. She groaned, eyelids fluttering. A pair of arrows stuck out of her back. None of these had bows¡­ Jade realized, taking another look at the fallen enemies. That probably meant some of the next group would be able to attack them from afar. It was hard to think logically through the haze of her demon-born lust for bloodshed, but she managed to reign in those instincts long enough to analyze the situation. Once she unleashed her demon form, that wouldn''t be so easy. "What can I do?" The elven man asked in a shaky voice. He was still holding the axe, although it looked more like a tool than a real weapon. Now that she was closer, Jade could see numerous cuts and bloodstains on his clothes as well. "We''ll take it from here, just help keep them away from us." Naomi told him, speaking loudly as her music increased in volume. He nodded, obviously relieved. "They have a mage." Aylin said, eyes narrowed. "I''ll take care of that one while you handle the others."If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Can you beat it?" Jade asked, feeling her body come alive with the energy of Naomi''s ''Fleetfoot'' melody. She bounced on the balls of her feet, ready to go. "No bonehead is going to outcast me." Aylin sounded mildly offended at the question. "Don''t you worry." "Where did they come from?" Siora asked anxiously. "This isn''t normal." "Win first, questions later." Jade said. The second wave of enemies was drawing closer. "That should be our motto." Luis grinned.
Siora knelt beside Namys, hurriedly sorting through her collection of potion vials. She didn''t know the woman well, but the chestnut-haired elf had lived her whole life in Lysara alongside Siora. Under normal circumstances the alchemist would''ve been thrilled to see her, it meant that she was finally home. It was clear that all was not well, however, and her joy was tempered with uncertain trepidation. Where did these undead come from? She thought, glancing at the ongoing battle. Beside her, Naomi let loose a column of fire that practically vaporized one of the monsters as it lunged at Jade from behind. There shouldn''t be¡­ She shook her head sharply, refocusing on Namys. Siora couldn''t afford to let her mind wander, she had to help. Two arrows were firmly lodged in her back, having punched straight through the woman''s dress. They''d have to be removed before she could be safely healed. "Knife." Siora said tersely, holding out her hand to the other man. She didn''t know his name. Without taking his eyes off the surrounding battlefield, the injured man drew a small knife from his belt and dropped it into her waiting hand. Siora worked quickly, cutting open the dress so she could get a better look at the situation. What she found wasn''t encouraging. Angry black lines were spreading from the twin wounds, like branching lightning. Was it poison? Some sort of magical effect? All Siora knew was that she had made the right choice of Labyrinth boon when she''d finally levelled up to six a few days ago. She murmured the incantation to ''Nature''s Purity'', drawing power from the surrounding forest to purge the sickness from Namys''s body. The dark lines receded, and the elf took in a shuddering breath. "Almost there." Siora reassured her, trying to project an aura of calm amidst the surrounding chaos. The sounds of battle were drawing closer, but she trusted her friends to keep her safe. Namys had already lost too much blood, and she couldn''t afford to wait. With her wounds cleansed, it was a simple matter to remove the arrows and administer a healing potion. Namys groaned in pain as Siora worked, but the color was already returning to her face. Her eyes fluttered open. "Siora¡­?" She breathed weakly. "You were missing¡­" "I''m back." she said brightly. "And I''ve brought help." "They took Zentha." Namys continued through labored breaths. "Tried to take us¡­ too¡­ Have to find her¡­ And the others¡­" "Who took Zentha? And where?" "Look out!" The other man said, pointing. "That''s their leader!" Siora looked up in time to see a distant figure loose an arrow in her direction. The elf instinctively threw herself atop Namys, shielding the injured woman, but it hadn''t been aimed at her. Naomi gasped as the large arrow slammed into her side, catching her by surprise. The warning had come just in time for her to twist away from the shot, which had been aimed at her heart. The barrier surrounding her armor crackled and failed, bursting into shards of arcane energy as the arrow buried itself an inch into her flesh. "Ahh!" Naomi''s otherworldly instrument made an off-key ''twang'' as her fingers faltered. She fell to one knee, teeth gritted against the pain. The movement enhancing spell wavered, but the bard recovered just in time to save it. She regained her feet, a line of blood trickling from the shaft protruding from her side. Naomi ignored it, continuing to pound out her song. "Jade!"
Yet another skeleton fell by Jade''s hand, scattering into a pile of bones at her feet. She blinked sweat from her eyes, quickly wiping them clean with her forearm. How many of these things are there?! She turned at Naomi''s shout, spotting the new threat. Rage stirred in her heart as she glimpsed the arrow piercing Naomi''s body, and she squeezed the hilts of her daggers tight. The newcomer was standing farther back in the forest and held a bow that must''ve been at least six feet in height. The creature-It looked more like a withered corpse than a skeleton- notched another arrow, pointing it directly at Naomi. It''s targeting her on purpose! It knows she''s strengthening us. Whatever this was, it was more dangerous than the mindless skeletons they continued to cut down. "Luis, shield!" Luis shouted an incantation, not even taking his eyes off the trio of monsters he fought nearby. His ''Shield Burst'' formed around Jade like a translucent bubble. She took off at a run, nimbly weaving between another pair of skeletons just as the archer fired again. WHOOSH. Jade pumped energy into her legs, warping forward in a blur of motion. She appeared directly between the archer and Naomi, just in time to intercept the arrow on Luis''s barrier. CRACK. The projectile ricocheted off the shield, striking with surprising force and splintering into a dozen shards that went flying in every direction. Jade was pushed back a step by the impact, and she dug in her heels. "I don''t think so." Jade glared at the tall undead. It gazed back at her, face impassive. "If you want her, you need to get through me first." A quick thought was all it took to shift into her true form. Jade felt the surge of strength and power that accompanied the transformation, and her latent bloodlust intensified. That was fine by her. This thing had hurt her friend. For that, it had to die. Jade dashed closer, intent on closing the gap before the monster could ready another arrow. As she drew near, she took a moment to examine her foe. She knew from Aylin that ''elites'' occupied a middle ground between normal monsters and bosses. The mage was busy battling the undead caster nearby, their clashing spells illuminating the forest with flashes of light. With Luis and Naomi busy taking care of the last of the mass of normal skeletons, taking on this foe fell to her. Jade felt a grin creep across her face. The prospect of a challenging fight was exciting. It wasn''t until later that she reflected on when exactly she''d started to view life and death battles as ''fun''. Chapter 51 Jade flexed the magical conduits in her legs and blinked forward, instantly closing the distance between herself and the wight and stabbed her daggers towards its exposed throat. It was the same blitz attack she''d used to kill Amy on the first floor, except now she was even faster. The pale-skinned undead was not labelled ''elite'' for nothing, however, and it brought up an arm to intercept the attack with blinding speed. One of Jade''s daggers plunged into the monster''s forearm while the other was deflected down, scoring a gash into its armored torso. Her opponent didn''t even flinch. It continued to stare impassively at her, silent and emotionless. Jade ripped her dagger free, hacking and slashing in a rapid series of strikes, taking advantage of the fact that her opponent held only a bow. She tore gashes into its arms, legs, and even its torso, but it didn''t seem to care, focusing only on deflecting and dodging blows to its upper chest and head. Before she could find a way around its skilled guard the monster shoved her away with a powerful push, too fast to dodge. Staggering away, the succubus flared her wings and righted herself just in time to see the wight drop its bow and draw a wicked looking curved sword of dark metal, its length adorned with small runes. The blade glinted in the evening sunlight, pointed directly at Jade''s chest. One side of the blade was serrated with jagged teeth, while the other was smooth. She circled her foe carefully, wary of any stragglers that could sneak up behind her. She risked a glance towards the rest of the battlefield. Her friends were fighting well, but the sheer number of skeletons was pressuring them. If the wight joined the fray, they wouldn''t be able to protect Siora and the two wounded elves. I have to do this myself. This monster was too strong to take head on. It was time to get creative. Thrusting out her hand, Jade sent a bolt of darkness streaking towards the enemy. The wight tried to dodge, but the distance was too close. Her ''Clinging Darkness'' spell took hold, shrouding its sight. Rather than charging in to attack while it was blind, she knelt, quickly channeling mana into the ground and laying a runic trap. The arcane circle pulsed with violet light as the spell settled, the telltale flash going unseen by the blinded undead, or so she hoped. A moment later the trap faded from view, blending into the forest floor. Jade stepped away from the rune in the same moment as the wight broke free of its blindness. It had resisted the spell after less than half its duration, but it had still been long enough. Careful not to trigger her own trap, Jade approached the creature with her weapons ready. She darted in with a probing slash that the wight easily parried. It had a much longer blade and seemed to know how to use it, making it difficult for Jade to get within striking distance. Though it was fast, it couldn''t match her speed, not with it boosted by both Naomi''s buff and her demon form. She leapt away from its riposte, feeling a rush of wind against her cheek from the near miss. Jade landed with a calculated roll that carried her to the other side of the hidden trap, faking a stumble as she regained her footing. The monster took the bait, rushing forward with a powerful thrust-! That was immediately arrested as the rune trap triggered. A half dozen umbral chains manifested from shadow, wrapping around its waist and legs and rooting it in place. Got you! Jade closed the distance with a lunge, attacking with a series of quick slashes. Unable to move, the undead was forced into a defensive posture. It reacted with smooth, quick motions, skillfully defending its few vulnerable areas even as she scored several more hits on its unarmored limbs. Jade''s blows were precise and focused. She attacked with the strength of a demon, but not the reckless ferocity of one. For a fleeting moment she found balance, harnessing the dark power that suffused her body but not succumbing to it. Jade danced around her ensnared foe; every slice imbued with additional destructive power due to its bindings. At such close range her daggers held the advantage, there was no room for it to bring its longer sword into the fight. The wight suffered a dozen wounds in quick succession, her twin blades biting deep into its pallid flesh. None of the wounds bled, nor did the monster give any reaction to the injuries. It fought in complete, eerie silence, striking back with jabs and shoves as it weathered her assault. One of its punches finally managed to catch Jade in the chest and she gasped, forced back a step. Her already damaged ward cracked, fading away. The undead''s eyes flashed red. It swept its sword up, following up with a powerful overhead strike. Jade lurched to the side, still off-balance, bringing up her daggers to parry the attack. CLANG A series of blue runes blazed to life along the undead''s dark blade. Power blossomed from the weapon, blasting waves of concussive energy directly into Jade''s daggers and tearing them from her hands. The force of the strike sent her staggering back again, mostly unharmed but now weaponless. She was only disoriented for a split second, but it was long enough for the powerful monster to start slicing away at its arcane bindings. Oh no you don''t! There was no time to retrieve her weapons. She had to finish this now, before it broke free. Jade growled, long claws emerging from her fingertips, and charged back into the fray with a speed that bordered on the superhuman. The wight reacted immediately, smoothly shifting from slicing the dark chains to a powerful horizontal strike. The blade arced towards her neck, but Jade just grinned. It had fallen for it. She disappeared in a flash of motion, warping back several feet and leaving an illusory duplicate in her place. The wight''s weapon harmlessly phased through the replica, which burst into motes of light.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Nice try. Jade warped forward again, emerging from the dash right on top of her foe. Rapid use of her talent sapped her reserves at a prodigious rate, but it was worth it. The heavy, missed swing had left the wight wide open. Jade tore at it with her claws, slashing into its cold flesh and ripping its throat apart. Such a wound would have instantly killed any creature Jade had fought so far, but somehow the undead withstood it. The monster growled, the first sound she had heard it make, and slammed its sword into her side. The strike was hasty and awkward, lacking any real power, but it still managed to slice through her armor to kiss her flesh. Stinging pain burst through Jade''s side as cold steel bit into her. She twisted away, wrenching herself free from the weapon in a spray of blood. The tranquil balance she had found earlier in the fight shattered under the pain, leaving only rage. Acting purely on instinct, Jade grabbed the creature''s head in both hands and heaved with all her enhanced strength. There was a moment of resistance, and then- SCHIK The wight''s head, its entire head, pulled free from its neck with sickening snapping sound. The severed stump of the neck trailed fragments of bone and ligaments. A pair of cold, dark eyes stared sightlessly back at Jade, black smoke pouring forth to spill onto the ground. Jade dropped the head and stumbled away, feelings of triumph melding into disgust. The wight''s decapitated corpse collapsed to the ground beside it, falling limp as her binding spell dissipated. Notifications scrolled in her vision, but she dismissed them. "Fuck¡­" she said, looking down at her claw-like hands. Pieces of skin and muscle still clung to her fingers. She quickly shook her hands clean and retracted her claws. Retrieving her daggers, she looked around for the next enemy. To her surprise, there were only two left. A pair of skeletons stood a couple dozen yards away, on the opposite side of Siora and Naomi. Both had dropped their weapons and were clutching at their skulls with bony fingers. As she watched, Luis easily dispatched them both with a single swing from his massive sword. "Well, that''s one way to do it." Aylin said, striding over to Jade and examining her handiwork with a raised eyebrow. The half-elven mage was completely unharmed. A loose pile of dust lay behind her amidst the trees, the only remnant of the skeletal mage she had defeated. "Huh?" Jade said, distracted by the carnage surrounding them. The entire area was strewn with humanoid bones. Hundreds of them. Now that the fighting had stopped, she finally had a chance to realize how disturbing that was. "The wight." Aylin pointed at the headless corpse. "They''re supposed to be fairly resistant to low level magic and physical damage. But even they need a head." She scanned their surroundings as well, checking for any other monsters. There weren''t any. "It must''ve been controlling the others. As soon as you killed it, the rest of them froze." "Jade!" Luis called, jogging over. "Are you alright?" "I¡­ yeah." Jade pulled herself together. She shrugged. "I''m alright." "Holy shit." Naomi said, joining them. "Did you rip its head off¡­?" Was that the first time she''d ever heard Naomi curse? Jade couldn''t recall. Her head felt a little fuzzy. "It was trying to shoot you." For a moment Naomi looked horrified. And then, to Jade''s surprise, she cracked a slight smile. "Well¡­ I suppose that''s one way to say ''I care''." Jade snorted, unable to stop herself from laughing. It was inappropriate, surrounded by death and blood, and yet right then, humor was exactly what she needed. The anger and fury melted away, leaving her weary and relieved that the fight was over. She really is good with people¡­ She relaxed a little and was about to say something else when she winced. Her side still burned with pain. "Ahh¡­ can you help me with this?" "I''ve got it." Naomi channeled her healing spell, laying her hand on Jade''s shoulder. Warm light spread through her, easing the pain. It took a couple of tries to get the wound to cooperate, and it wasn''t until Siora cast her new cleansing spell on her that the restorative magic managed to get the wound to fully close. "I hate undead." Aylin muttered when they were done. She had looted the monsters while the rest of the team looked after Jade. Other than standard coins, the mage had yielded a circlet and the wight his dark longsword. "Necromancy is outlawed in most of the civilized world for a reason." "Most?" Luis asked, surprised. "There are places where creating monsters from the dead is okay?" "Let''s just say you should stay away from the city of Gremnegar. Its ruler is an allegedly immortal mage who most people know as ''The Blood Witch''." "How charming¡­" Naomi muttered. "The morality of necromancy aside." Aylin continued. "Powerful undead often inflict festering wounds like this. I''m glad you got that spell, Siora." "Me, too." The elf agreed, looking pale. She had used a lot of mana, considering her low level. "I didn''t think it would be useful so soon¡­ What''s going on?" All of them turned their attention to the other two elves. They were mostly patched up now, and the woman was on her feet. Jade was surprised to find that the elf was quite a bit taller than her. She hadn''t looked it when she''d been lying on the ground. "Lysara has been getting attacked by undead for days." The woman said, glancing at Siora before returning her gaze to Jade. "Thank you for helping us but¡­ Siora¡­ Who are they?" "These are my friends, they helped me get back home. " She said. She followed up with an abbreviated round of introductions, simply giving everyone''s name. "Where are they coming from?" Aylin asked. When the elves hesitated, she added. "I''m with the Mystic Order, a junior councilwoman of the Illysport branch." That seemed to set them at ease. The elves finally looked away from her, giving Aylin their attention. "Some of our people found their source." The man said. He had given his name as Ethren and was still gripping his hatchet tightly. "We heard it''s a stronghold." "Less than a day from the village." The woman, Namys, said, desperation evident in her voice. "They''ve been taking people. We were looking for my sister when¡­ When they found us. We didn''t know there would be so many." Aylin frowned, and Siora''s face went pale. "What''s a stronghold?" Luis asked. "A fortress occupied by monsters." Aylin explained, crossing her arms. "The Labyrinth generates them sometimes, especially during integrations. The monsters will keep coming until it¡¯s conquered. Although it is quite unusual for one to appear so near a settlement¡­ This bears investigating." "Master Rhysten and Lord Wilde are organizing a group to attack it." Ethren said, squeezing his hatchet tighter. "I think they were waiting for help from Estelhelm, but no one has come yet." "Jade¡­" Siora turned to look at her. Jade couldn''t recall seeing the elf frightened before. Not like this. "I know I shouldn''t ask¡­" "You don''t need to." Beside her, Luis and Naomi nodded their agreement. "You''re our friend." Luis said, as if that was all justification they needed to put their lives on the line. And maybe it is. She reflected. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like they didn''t get anything from it. Right on cue, a new quest appeared in front of her. Chapter 52 The quests didn''t remain in Jade''s vision for long. They blinked away, adding themselves to her journal. Apparently, the Voice was counting what she had said to Siora as tacit acceptance of the quests. She''d have to keep that in mind. It was fine in this case but could cause problems in the future. "The quest says ten people have been taken." Naomi said, confirming that she and Luis had received the same notifications. "But it sounds like we can save them." Luis added. He slung his sword over his back. "Let''s get to it. You said a group is gathering to take it on? Can we join up?" He asked Ethren. The elf nodded. "If you''re willing to help, I''m certain they would welcome it. Come, we''ll take you back to the village." "But, what about Zentha?" Namys asked, eyes pleading. "We can''t go back without my daughter." "These woods are too dangerous to search in." Aylin cut in. "I can feel more undead in the distance. They''re coming this way. We should leave, now." "But-!" "If the Voice has given a quest to rescue them, then they can be saved." The mage said, her expression softening. "It doesn''t issue impossible tasks." "We''ll find her." Jade said, hoping that she was telling the truth. "But first, we need to learn more about what''s really going on." "I can lead us home." Siora offered. The elf sounded shaken, but she was doing an admirable job of keeping her head. "It''s not far." They set off through the deepening gloom. Night was rapidly descending on the forest, and it was growing difficult to see. Jade was about to pull out a lantern from her dimensional pouch when she remembered her upgraded ''Shapeshifter'' ability. She eyed Siora and the other elves, who were navigating the darkening landscape with ease. Focusing, she shifted from her demon form into an elven one, maintaining her general appearance. She had been continuing to practice taking on different forms each night, and it was paying off. "Wow." Jade stopped, surprised by the sudden clarity. She hadn''t experimented with this form much yet and hadn''t realized how much better elven senses were. Her immediate surroundings were clearly visible again, albeit mostly in shades of grey. She pulled up her interface, checking what features she received. There were two: The ability to see in the dark, and a racial feature called ''mana-attuned mind'' that lowered spell mana costs. Interesting. She''d have to do more tests later. Jade expected Namys and Ethren to be suspicious of her now that they were out of danger, since they had seen her demon form on full display during the battle. To her surprise, they simply allowed Siora to explain her circumstances and accepted her story. The two elves even thanked Jade for helping rescue them, although they still looked a little uncomfortable being near her. It''s a start¡­ she thought, sighing internally. New plan. Introduce myself by rescuing people more often. According to Siora, the hike to the village would take a little less than a half hour. The two elves answered her questions about the state of their home as they walked, and Jade took the opportunity to scroll through her notifications. Jade grunted, dismissing the prompt. Technically, she''d been buffed by both Naomi''s speed boost and Luis''s shield for at least part of her battle with the Wight. Apparently, the system still counted it as ''single combat''. Was it because she was the only one that dealt damage to it? If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Jade just stared at the number ''10'' for a long moment. After weeks of fighting, and climbing to the second floor, she was barely 10% of the way done with this ''Labyrinth Trial''. Not to mention that they hadn''t even reached a Labyrinth Core yet, which wouldn''t even show up until the third floor. It was a poignant reminder of the long road ahead. The next notification was more exciting. Jade assigned another point to agility, and one to intelligence. She was planning to work on her other attributes soon, but those two were the most immediately impactful. Agility made her better at everything from dodging attacks to landing critical strikes with her daggers, and intelligence increased both her spell power and her mana pool. She was already finding that, the higher her intelligence went, the less frequently her spells were being resisted. It might''ve been her imagination, but she suspected her memory was improving as well. More importantly, this level came with a class feature. She pulled up the list of options, which had grown even longer since the last time she''d seen it at level 6. She scanned the new choices. "Damn¡­" "Somethin'' wrong?" Luis asked. He was holding a lantern now, lighting their way. Unlike Jade, he couldn''t see in the dark at will. "Just checking my spell and talent choices. I just hit ten." "Just when I thought I was catchin'' up." Luis shook his head good naturedly. "Gotta leave some experience for the rest of us." "From the sound of it, there''s about to be plenty to go around." Jade said. She paused, considering that. "But now that you mention it, I wonder how many of those undead I can take on at onc-Ow!" Naomi lightly smacked her on the back of her head. "Don''t get cocky, Jade." She rolled her eyes. "We already had the ''we''re a team'' talk. We work best together, remember?" "She''s right." Aylin added. The mage was examining the two items they''d looted from the skeleton group, the sword and the circlet. "It was risky enough that you took on an elite by yourself." "I didn''t have much of a choice, it was going to shoot Naomi." Jade protested. "Yes, this time it was the right decision." Aylin conceded. "But I suggest you don''t make a habit of it. They''re usually more dangerous than they look." "Telling Jade not to be reckless is like telling water not to be wet." Naomi sighed. "I''m not that bad¡­" "Yeah, you are." Luis said, slapping her on the back hard enough to make her stumble forward. He grinned at her. "But it''s part of your charm, amiga. We like you anyway." "Speaking of charm." Aylin raised the circlet, offering it to Jade. "You''ll make the best use of this." Jade accepted it from her, careful not to touch the mage''s wounded finger. She examined it. "This is incredible." Jade said, her eyebrows shooting up. "You''re¡­ giving this to me?" "I don''t know any charm or summoning spells. I''m a defensive specialist and a researcher. And we''re about to take on a stronghold together." Aylin shrugged, pragmatic as ever. Considering how they''d met, Jade would have expected the mage to be more hesitant about giving her the means to grow more powerful, but she had a point. She slipped the circlet onto her head without further protest. "That''s a nice look." Naomi said, nodding her approval. "I hope I get something pretty, soon. Aylin, do they make fashionable armor in Illysport?" "Most certainly. It''s quite popular, although it generally isn''t as effective as a purely functional design." "That''s fine. People underestimate the value of appearances." Jade wasn''t sure that applied to monsters, but she just shook her head and returned her attention to her level up window. She had been torn between two options, but this new item made her decision much easier. The choices that stood out to her were a ranged talent that revolved around throwing daggers and a charm spell that was meant for monsters rather than intelligent creatures. Jade was in desperate need of a reliable ranged attack, but between the automatic rank boost her succubus form gave to charm spells and the new circlet, the optimal choice was obvious. After a brief discussion with her party, she selected ''Charm Creature''. "I''ll have to pick up ''Hail Blade'' at level fourteen¡­" She muttered, closing the window. They ended up giving the wight''s sword to Luis, who had also levelled up during the battle, bringing him to ''9''. The weapon was a longsword, somewhat less destructive than his current greatsword, but it was enchanted with supernatural sharpness alongside a ''disarm'' ability that could knock an opponent''s weapons from their grasp. "Alright." Naomi said, crossing her arms. "I''m next in line for magical gear. What''re the chances one of these undead will have an enchanted guitar?" "Somehow, I doubt we''ll be that lucky." Jade said dryly. "You might be surprised." Aylin said, causing all of them to look at her. "What, there might really be zombie rockstars?" Luis asked. "Why do you sound so excited about that?" Jade gave him the side-eye. The large man responded with an incredulous look. "Because it would be awesome." Jade thought about that for a moment. "I¡­ actually have to give you that one." She conceded. "It would be." "I don''t know what a ''rockstar'' is, but that''s not what I meant." Aylin said, casually crushing their hopes. "But as dangerous as they are, strongholds are coveted prizes for those with the means to conquer them." "Why''s that?" Naomi asked. "Because the party that conquers it, which usually means defeating a powerful monster at its heart, are each granted an enchanted item by the Voice. One tailored to meet their needs. So, Naomi, if we succeed, you very well could end up with a magical instrument." The reserved half-elf gave her a slight smile. Naomi''s eyes lit up. She spun towards Jade, jabbing a finger at her. "That''s it Jade. We''re going to be the first ones in. I want that guitar." So much for being the timid one¡­ Jade thought, bemused. Before she could reply, Siora called back from the front of the group. She followed her pointing finger, just able to make out a collection of lights glistening amongst the trees. At long last, they''d reached Lysara. Chapter 53 Lysara was somehow both exactly what Jade had pictured, and yet quite different from her expectations. She tried not to gawk as Siora led them up a stairway into the network of platforms, buildings, and walkways that turned the forest canopy into a flowing town that seamlessly melded nature with civilization. Many of the buildings looked as though they''d been grown directly into the trees, as much a part of them as the leaves and branches. She could only imagine the magic involved in creating them. Their group had encountered some elven guards keeping watch at the edge of town, but as soon as they recognized Siora and the other two elves they were waved through with hardly any questions. All it took was explaining that the rest of their party were wayfarers or, in Aylin''s case, a mage of the mystic order, and that they intended to help with the stronghold. Jade was surprised at the lack of scrutiny over complete strangers, but in a close-knit community like this, being vouched for went a long way towards easing concerns. Of course, she hadn''t volunteered her nature as a demon just yet. Namys and Ethren already knew, but when no one brought it up, Jade decided there was no point in rocking the boat just yet. She''d wait for a better time. Lysara didn''t have what one would call an ''inn'' for travelers. Instead, guests stayed in dedicated houses that were set aside and maintained for visitors. That was where Siora was leading them now, while the town watch found the people responsible for organizing the response to the new stronghold and informed them of their arrival. "You never told us how awesome your home is, Siora." Luis said. Unlike Jade, he had no reservations about staring at everything as they ascended into the village proper. "Can I move in?" "I think you''d find it a little too quiet here." Siora laughed. She had relaxed upon finding the village unharmed, although she still looked a little tense. "It''s a season-less place, compared to the other cities." "Season-less?" Jade asked, confused. "You mean, the weather stays the same?" The elf frowned. "I don''t think that translated right. It means that nothing ever changes here. Or it used to be like that." "I could get used to the quiet life." Luis said, looking out over the village. They were high enough up in the trees to have a good vantage now, and the view was beautiful. Jade could make out hundreds of lanterns hanging above the platforms and elevated walkways. They faded in and out of view as they continued to climb, creating the illusion that they were blinking on and off. It reminded Jade of fireflies. This side of the town bordered a small cliff, and water trickled down its face in streaming rivulets to pool in a large pond at its base. The lantern light glinted off the various streams in a mesmerizing pattern of shifting sparkles. "Yeah¡­ It''s great¡­" Naomi said distractedly. The bard was bringing up the rear, reading through a multitude of level up options. The quest for returning Siora home had marked itself as complete as soon as they''d entered Lysara, and the influx of experience had been enough to push Naomi to level 8. Jade, now back in her human form, spent the rest of the short trip helping her choose a racial feature. By the time they were done, they had arrived at the guest quarters. The guest house was situated on one side of the middle level of the town, which Jade estimated to be some 50 feet off the ground. It was a small, two-story building that was grown directly into a broad, towering tree. The trunk bulged in a roughly spherical shape, creating enough space within for several cozy rooms. Jade followed Siora through the door, finding herself in a surprisingly spacious living room lit by the steady glow of several small lanterns. The room was carpeted with lush, springy moss, and was furnished with expertly carved wooden furniture. A spiral stairway led to a smaller second floor, presumably to sleeping quarters. Jade had never seen anything like it. "Luis, I think I''ll be moving here with you." "I''m glad you like it." Siora smiled. The room smelled of wood and pine needles. It was a comforting, relaxing scent. Jade had always enjoyed hiking and camping, and those trips were some of her fondest childhood memories. Not that there''s much competition. She thought bitterly. A twinge of phantom pain echoed through her ankle, and she grimaced. I wish Alan could see this place¡­ It was the first time she''d thought that about any of the sights in the Labyrinth. As fantastic as they were, the ever-present sense of danger dampened her ability to appreciate them. Lysara was different. The village was beautiful, filled with people simply going about their daily lives. Now that she was finally here, she could begin to understand Siora''s perspective on the Labyrinth. Lysara held peace and beauty, as well as a long and colorful history. Jade could sense as much from the time-worn buildings, the bustling markets, and the variety of architectural forms on display. This world had more to it than conflict and death. And yet even here, danger had come to them. Jade turned her attention back to the task at hand: The stronghold. She was about to ask Aylin for a more in-depth explanation of what they were about to face when there was a knock on the door frame. Turning, she saw two elven men standing just outside. They were out of breath, as if they''d been running. The shorter of the two immediately zeroed in on Siora. "Siora! Thank Elaria, you''re safe!" He said, relief evident in his voice. "Sel! Fenrin!" She said excitedly, stepping forward to embrace each of them. Jade could see the tension ease from her shoulders. "It''s good to see you. I''m alright!"If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "What happened? Where have you been?" "I got dropped down a floor, but my new friends helped me get home." She gestured towards Jade and the others. "That''s one less thing to worry about." The taller of the two said, turning to face Jade. He held out his hand. "I''m Fenrin, a friend of Siora''s. We''ve known each other since we were young." He was taller than Jade, nearly Luis''s height, with wavy hair and an athletic figure. Half of his hair was a light brown, nearly blonde, while the other half was much darker. It was striking, and she couldn''t tell if it was natural or dyed. Two other things also caught her attention: The large, multi-colored bird perched on his shoulder, and the glowing mark on the back of his hand. A single glance confirmed that it matched her own. "Jade." She said, shaking his hand. He had a strong grip. "You''re a wayfarer too? Are you from here?" "I am a wayfarer." He smiled. "Just started my journey. But no, I''m from Rimestead. My father was from here, though, so I visited often." The bird on his shoulder squawked. It shuffled its wings, revealing two different sets on each side of its body. It looked like a cross between a bird of prey and a dragonfly, except colored with rainbow hues and with a body that was over a foot long. "And this is Mirella." Fenrin continued, patting her on the head. "She doesn''t like it when she isn''t the center of attention." Mirella drew herself upright, preening. "I''m Seldrin." The other elf said, entering the conversation. He was shorter than Jade, with familiar hair and features. "Siora''s brother. Thanks for helping her get home." They continued with introductions, and Siora gave both a quick recap of how she''d ended up with Jade''s group and the story of their return. Jade wasn''t sure that the elf needed to put so much emphasis on the various new plants she''d discovered on their travels, but her audience just seemed relieved to be reunited. While she talked, Jade pulled up their status windows. Sure enough, Fenrin was labelled as having a ''Mark of the Wayfarer''. He was a level 13 ''Storm Sentinel'', which put him at three levels higher than her own. To her surprise, she also saw that she had been incorrect in assuming his race. Rather than being an elf, Fenrin was a half-elf like Aylin. On closer inspection his features were somewhat less angular than Siora''s, ears not quite as tapered. She wasn''t sure what a storm sentinel was, but Fenrin carried a bow slung over his shoulder. Seldrin''s status window was quite like Siora''s, which Jade supposed made sense. Finally, she took a closer look at the bird. The system labelled her as a ''flutterbeak'' and, like Jade, she was level 10. The bird had a hooked beak that ended in a sharp point, as well as a set of claws that looked more than capable of shredding monster hides. "It sounds like you''ve been through a lot." Fenrin said after Siora finished her recap. He turned toward Jade. "So, there really is a new integration happening? The rumors are true?" "If by that, you mean our world is new to the Labyrinth, then yes." "We thought as much, but it''s good to know for sure. In that case, we should be ready for more changes." "I''ll speak with your council later tonight." Aylin was sorting through a stack of notebooks, which she''d pulled from her dimensional pouch. The mage had been incessantly taking notes ever since she''d joined their party. "But you should be very cautious. For some reason we haven''t yet uncovered, the Labyrinth is acting more erratically than usual, even compared to other historical reorganizations. Powerful monsters appearing where they should not, unprecedented numbers of outlanders drawn into the Labyrinth against their will, and an unusually short gap between known integrations are just the start of the anomalies." "What a time to start my trial." Fenrin sighed. Then he straightened. "That fits with a stronghold appearing so close to town. I''ve never heard of that happening before." They all looked questioningly at Aylin, who shook her head. "As far as I know, they''re usually generated in remote, monster infested areas. Normally, the first challenge of conquering one is just getting to it. How close is it, exactly?" "Less than a day''s hike spinward." Seldrin said. "The first signs were more aggressive monsters. Mantha beasts growing bolder and attacking villagers. When we went to investigate, we found a huge pyramid filled with undead. They were displacing all the normal forest beasts and monsters, and now they''re spreading all through the forest." "Until it¡¯s been conquered, there probably won''t be an end to the undead emerging from it." Aylin said with a frown. "Small groups of them have been getting closer to the village." Fenrin said grimly. "They haven''t killed anyone yet, but there have been some close calls. And worse, they''ve started capturing people when they can. We think they''re taking them back to the pyramid, but no one knows why. I''ve been organizing a group to confront whatever is in there and get them back. I was told you might be willing to help?" Fenrin finished, looking at Jade and the rest of their group. "We''re in." Jade said. They''d already promised Siora they''d help. In addition, conquering the stronghold would complete two separate quests for all of them and, if Aylin was right, potentially yield enchanted equipment for each of them. Besides, Jade didn''t want to leave the captured people to whatever unpleasant fate awaited them in the hands of the undead. "Damn right." Luis said with a grin. "We just took down a big group of ''em, they weren''t too tough." The bird, Mirella, squawked twice in response, flapping her four wings and tilting her bobbing her head up and down as if in a nod. "She likes your enthusiasm." Fenrin chuckled. "Thank you. We''ll be in your debt. We already have about a dozen volunteers, but no one else is a wayfarer and their experience is limited. The council has been pulling together funds to hire guild mercenaries with, but we''re short on time. I''m sure they''d be willing to give you a cut for your trouble. This will be dangerous." "It''s not like we aren''t getting something for this." Jade shrugged. "We all have quests for it." "Jade¡­" Naomi said sweetly, giving her a strained smile. "I''m revoking your negotiation rights. You''re terrible at it." "Sorry¡­" Jade rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "We''re hardly expert warriors ourselves." Naomi continued. "But we''ll do what we can. Aylin, will you help us?" "Of course." The mage nodded. "I''ve been party to two stronghold incursions before. I wasn''t a primary combatant in either, but my experience should be helpful. Normally, I''d say that a second-floor stronghold shouldn''t hold anything too dangerous. With all of the anomalies of late, though, we''ll want to approach this carefully." "Well, Jade." Naomi shook her head solemnly. "That counts you out." Luis and Siora laughed. Jade gave Naomi a flat look. "Very funny." Naomi stuck her tongue out at her. Jade rolled her eyes, looking away. Inside, she was just happy that they had grown to the point where they could joke around about their circumstances. It wasn''t long ago that they were freezing up, unable to handle it. Other than a twinkle in her eye, Aylin remained all business. She flipped open a notebook to a blank page, quill in hand. Then, she looked at Fenrin and Seldrin. "It''s a new stronghold, so it shouldn''t be at full strength yet." The mage said, scribbling something down. "The sooner we do this, the easier it will be. Now, tell me everything you''ve learned about this place." Chapter 54 Fenrin spent the next hour or so answering Aylin''s questions about the new stronghold. There seemed to be no end to the mage''s inquiries. She asked about everything from the exact timing of its appearance to the rate at which monsters emerged from its halls, and even interrogated him regarding changes in local weather patterns and the general health of the forest. Jade wasn''t sure what she was getting out of the answers, but Aylin studiously noted down every response, often asking follow-up questions. It was a little comforting to have someone around who knew what she was doing, and Jade was again glad that Aylin had joined them. Siora and Seldrin left partway through the questioning, explaining that they had to let their parents know that Siora had safely returned home. They departed, with Siora promising to visit them in the morning. "This is an exciting opportunity." Aylin said, after her supply of questions had finally been exhausted. "What do you mean?" Naomi asked. "Strongholds are difficult to find, and we have little data on what goes on in their developmental stages." The half-elf explained, not looking up from her notebook. "This is a rare chance to gather information on the mechanisms behind their formation." "That''s all well and good." Fenrin said, rubbing his temples. He was sitting beside Jade now and looked exhausted. "But people are missing and in danger. Our first priority is rescuing them." "Of course." Aylin replied coolly, closing her notebook and looking up at last. "We should embark as soon as possible. Tomorrow afternoon at the latest. If my analysis is correct, the stronghold''s strength is already approaching ''C'' rank. It shouldn''t be possible for monsters or dungeons on the second floor to cross that threshold, but with all the anomalies that have been reported recently, we shouldn''t rule anything out." "What exactly is ''C rank''?" Luis asked. He was sipping on a bubbling orange drink. Jade had no idea where he''d gotten it from, but the man had a knack for tracking down anything edible. Whatever it was, it looked good. "I know it¡¯s some way of measuring the power of spells and all that, but what does it actually mean?" "Without getting into too many details, the different ranks are simply various thresholds of the quality and energy density of mana." Aylin explained. "The higher the rank, the better the mana quality, and the more power a given amount holds. People and monsters capable of channeling high grade mana can produce more potent magical effects, and are usually more dangerous." "The way the Labyrinth measures power, C-rank begins at level 20." Fenrin added, reiterating something Damos had once mentioned to them in one of their many talks. He turned his attention back to Aylin, brow creased in concern. "You really think it could get that powerful?" "We can''t rule anything out. The Mystic Order would gain much from studying the progression of this stronghold. Unfortunately, a ''wait and see'' approach would probably not end well for the people of this village." Aylin sighed heavily. "So it would be prudent to destroy it now, as much as it pains me to forego the opportunity." "Very generous of you." Fenrin said dryly, standing up. "Very well, I will make preparations and see to it that everyone is adequately equipped. We''ll meet at midday at the ground level." "We''ll be there." Luis said, draining his drink and giving him a thumbs up. "Before you go." Jade said, standing up as well. "There''s something you should know." "What''s that?" Everyone was looking at Jade now, which made her uncomfortable. You''d think all those years in the spotlight would''ve acclimated me to attention. Somehow, it never had. "I''m not what I look like." "I¡­ don''t know what you mean by that." Fenrin said, sounding confused. The bird on his shoulder, Mirella, cocked her head inquisitively. "Jade, don''t be cryptic." Naomi rolled her eyes. "It doesn''t suit you." "Yeah, you''re better at the ''brute force'' approach." Luis agreed. "I''m not sure I like the image everyone has of me¡­" "It''s part of your charm." Naomi grinned at her. "I''ll take your word for it." Jade said skeptically. But her friends were right, best to just rip off the band aid. She turned back to Fenrin, who was watching the exchange with some amusement. "I took a race change when I became a wayfarer." She explained. "We come from a human world, but I''m a demon now. I don''t want that to be a surprise." To emphasize her statement Jade shifted into her succubus form. She took a few moments to explain the circumstances of her transformation. To her surprise, Fenrin appeared unfazed. "I appreciate you telling me this, Jade." He said, curiously looking her new form up and down. "It''s a bit of a surprise, but I''ll make sure no one on the team gives you any trouble." That¡­ was a lot easier than Jade thought it was going to be. Her confusion must have shown on her face, because Fenrin smiled at her. "I''m used to not fitting in because of what I am and am not so foolish as to judge you on that alone." Fenrin gestured at his slightly tapered ears. They weren''t so pointed as those of elves, nor as round as a human''s. Out of the corner of her eye, Jade noticed Aylin look away, embarassed. "The measure of a person lies in what they do, not what they look like. You brought Siora home and offered to help with a dangerous mission to protect this town, that''s enough for me." Mirella chirped, flapping over and landing on one of Jade''s horns. The bird was surprisingly heavy.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. "See? Mimi approves too." "Mimi?" "Siora''s nickname for her." Fenrin sighed. "Despite my best efforts, it stuck." Mirella gave a triumphant chirp from atop Jade''s head. "Jade, you need a pet bird." Luis said, pointing with enthusiasm. "You even come with a built-in perch." "That- That''s not what these are for!" She protested. Mimi clucked in clear disapproval, flapping back to Fenrin''s shoulder. "Are you sure?" Naomi asked. "I''ve never seen you use them for anything else." "I''m thinking of another use for them right now." Jade grumbled, eyeing her traitorous friends. "Two of them." The long week of travel had taken its toll on all of them, and they retired for the night shortly after Fenrin took his leave. Aylin left as well, intending to visit the village''s leaders and inform them of what she''d learned. Jade didn''t know how she had the energy to do anything else and was happy to collapse into bed. The elven guest house''s accommodations were more luxurious than that of the spartan sanctuaries, and each of them got an entire room to themselves. Jade was out almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
"This is getting ridiculous..." Jade lay in the bed, staring up at the sweeping curves of the natural wood ceiling. It had been a frustrating night, and she was having a hard time appreciating the room''s beauty. Falling asleep hadn''t been an issue, but staying asleep was another story. It turned out that it was difficult to get a good night''s rest when assaulted by a variety of increasingly provocative dreams, each one more distracting than the last. Jade had managed to get some decent sleep in the end¡­ but only after taking matters into her own hands. This better not keep happening. Embarrassment aside, and she wasn''t ready to discount that, she really didn''t have time for this. Jade had been avoiding the reality of her transformation for too long. As much as she''d hoped the change was simply a cosmetic one that came with a few weird powers, she knew deep inside that there was more going on than that. It was time to get some answers about exactly what being a succubus entailed. With a suffering sigh she dragged herself out of bed. It took all the willpower she had to get up at such an early hour. Bleary eyed, Jade dug out her last good t-shirt from her dimensional pouch, threw it on, and went looking for Aylin.
"You want to know what it means to be a succubus?" Jade and Aylin stood together on a balcony overlooking Lysara. Shafts of morning sunlight streamed through gaps in the foliage high above, illuminating the multi-level village with warm radiance. Jade was surprised to see that Lysara was quite a bit larger than she''d thought the night before. She''d assumed that the village ended at the cliff face, but that wasn''t the case. Rather than a sheer drop, the cliff ascended in a series of broad ledges. The forest continued on them, spreading up the rock face in a rising wave of verdant foliage. More structures rose with the trees, making an already vertical town even more so. It was beautiful, but Jade was having a hard time appreciating the sights in her current mood. "That''s right." she said, leaning against the railing and looking out across the town. A gondola rose into view in the near distance, guided up the cliff by a suspended cable. A young boy within it caught sight of them and waved as he passed. Jade waved back. "I know I should''ve asked about this earlier, but¡­" There had just been so much going on. When they weren''t travelling or fighting, Jade had been training and planning. Those were just excuses, though, and she knew it. She could''ve made time for this conversation sooner, whether with Aylin or Damos. But avoidant behavior wasn''t anything new. Thanks, mother. "I''m just surprised your sanctuary attendant didn''t give you all the details. They usually do, although there''s much happening outside what I would consider ''normal'' these days." "It all happened very quickly." Jade shrugged. "In the moment, I didn''t have time to ask." "I''ll tell you what I know." The mage said, turning to face her, robes fluttering in the light breeze. "But I''d also recommend following captain Mar''s advice and seeking out that demon in Estelhelm. If anyone can answer your questions properly, it''s her." "I''m planning on it." "Very well." Aylin nodded. "You already know what succubi are known for, and the general powers associated with them. So, I assume your questions revolve around their physiological differences from humans, and their needs?" Jade nodded once. "I''ve been having these¡­ urges." She began, hesitantly. "Like, my body wants to be near people who are feeling strong emotions. I can feel them. Part of me wants to¡­ I don''t know. Drink them in? It''s hard to explain." Talking about it was hard, especially after weeks of doing her best to ignore that any of this was happening. Jade forced herself to go through with it. She needed to know. Part of her had been concerned that Aylin would be suspicious of her again after hearing that but, to Jade''s surprise, opening up to the other woman seemed to help her relax. "That''s normal, I think." She said slowly, pulling out a notebook and flipping through it. How many of those did she carry with her? "All demons can absorb the life force of other creatures. It''s how they subsist and grow stronger. My understanding is that, the longer you go without ''feeding'', the more intense your cravings will get." "That sounds awful." Jade crossed her arms. "I don''t want to have to do that to people, and my powers don''t work on most monsters." "No¡­" Aylin frowned. "Succubi are specialized at feeding on people, intelligent creatures, that is. That, combined with their other powers and the general lack of morals most demons possess are a large part of why they''re so feared. It''s why I reacted to you the way that I did¡­" The mage hesitated, and then continued, "Even if it wasn''t very fair to you." The half-elf clearly didn''t like Jade''s nature, but she was trying to give her a chance. She couldn''t really blame her; Jade was hardly thrilled by it herself. But the form came with its own advantages, and she was determined to make the most out of it. "Great." Jade muttered. "What happens if I just stop? Never drain anyone?" "You''ll weaken, over time. It won''t kill you, you can subsist off regular food like other races, but I don''t think it''ll feel great. And you''ll certainly be less combat effective." "Not a good option, then." Jade clenched a fist on the railing, squeezing her hand tight. She let out a deep breath, calming herself. "What do you recommend?" "I agree that abstaining entirely wouldn''t be practical." She flipped to another page in her journal. This one had a surprisingly accurate sketch of a succubus on one page, and lines of text on the other. "As I see it, you have two options to get the energy you need in an ethical manner." "And they are?" The mage ticked them off on her fingers as she listed them. "One: Hunt intelligent monsters that can supply you with the emotionally enriched life force you need. That, or Labyrinth-born humanoids. They aren''t as common as normal monsters, but the Labyrinth forms more than a few of them out of its spirits to use as challenges." "That sounds¡­ unpleasant." Jade said, remembering what it had felt like to kill Michael with her kiss. It had been simultaneously electrifying and horrifying, and she didn''t relish the idea of actively seeking out more people to kill in such an¡­ intimate manner, even if they were just fabrications of the Labyrinth. "Agreed. The other option is: Find volunteers." "Volunteers?" Jade asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. Aylin shrugged, a half-smile playing on her lips. "You don''t need to kill someone to get sustenance from them, Jade. Many succubi don''t, for various reasons." "Even so, who would willingly get some of their life sucked out of them by a demon?" "You can shapechange." Aylin looked Jade up and down, an amused expression on her face. "I''m sure you can find ways to make the process¡­ ah¡­ appealing." Jade felt her cheeks heating up. She covered her face with her hands, leaning against the railing. In the distance, below on the ground, a group of people were starting to gather. All of them were armed and well equipped for battle. "Or you could always pay them." Aylin said, turning to head back inside. Jade wasn''t looking at her, but she could hear the smile in her voice. "Although¡­ I imagine you''d be able to get them to pay you. Now come on." She gave her a conciliatory pat on the shoulder. "We have a stronghold to raid." Jade just groaned into her hands. "Why me¡­?" Chapter 55 Most of Lysara was held aloft in the branches of the forest canopy, but the ground level still had a few squat structures clustered around the spiraling ramps and stairs that led to the village proper. In the center of it all was a sort of ''town square'', which was really just a large grassy meadow that had been cleared of underbrush. An ornate fountain rose from the center of the space, craved in the shape of a flock of birds taking flight. A small crowd had already clustered around the fountain by the time Jade and her companions arrived, a few dozen elven men and women armed with a variety of simple weapons. Most of them bore some version of the same anxious expression, although there were a few exceptions. One woman, a short elf with strikingly vibrant auburn hair, was sitting on a bench a short distance away from the general gathering. She had an ornate wooden staff in one hand and was tracing a pattern across its length with a finger, which was emanating a thin jet of flame. As Jade watched, the woman completed searing a set of charred symbols into the tip of her staff, all while talking animatedly to the man beside her. Her companion bore a calmer demeanor, nodding in response as he meticulously sharpened a curved sword. "Jade, over here!" Siora emerged from the throng, waving them towards the main group. The elf was weighed down by a pair of satchels and clutched a messy looking notebook in one hand. As they approached, Jade saw that she was wearing a bandolier of potion vials over her armor. "Are you coming with us?" Naomi asked. "Of course." She nodded. Her tone held an undertone of anxiety, but the elf''s expression was determined. She hefted one of her satchels. "I had a lot of potions in my workshop, and I''m bringing them all! I''m pretty sure what they do is in here, somewhere." This time, she lifted the notebook. Before Jade could voice any concerns, Fenrin emerged from the crowd beside them. "Good, you''re here." He said, giving them a nod in greeting. "I was just working on assigning groups. From what Aylin told us last night, the stronghold will probably involve a lot of tight quarters. We''re following her suggestion to send only a small team inside." He gave the mage an appreciative nod. "What will everyone else be doing?" Luis asked. "Staying here to protect the town?" "Some of them, yes. The rest will come with the main group to the fortress. We''ve seen that large patrols periodically come and go, so part of the team will be tasked with guarding the entrance to make sure no returning force comes up behind them while they''re inside." "Good idea." Aylin agreed. "Exploring a dungeon is tricky enough without having to worry about getting attacked from the rooms you''ve already cleared." "Exactly." Fenrin nodded. He pointed to a small crowd that was clustered around the fountain and continued. "We''re also distributing hammers and maces to everyone who doesn''t already have one. They''re the best weapons to use against this type of monster. We should have enough of them, so make sure to grab some." Jade had never held a mace before, and she was pretty sure that the weapon knowledge her class had granted her didn''t extend to that type of armament. Even so, there was no denying that her daggers were ill-suited to fighting skeletal enemies. She decided to grab a small hammer before they set off, just in case it proved helpful. How hard could using a hammer be? Just swing and smash. On reflection, that sounded like a good way to work out some of her frustrations. Maybe I should have picked a barbarian class. "Where do you want us?" Jade asked, changing the subject. "In the main group?" They all had their quests to conquer the stronghold, and Jade wasn''t sure if it would count if they just waited outside of it while other people did the work. But she was happy to let Fenrin and the people of Lysara assign them to wherever they were needed. This was their home, after all. "Yes." Fenrin gestured around at the surrounding people. Everyone was looking over their equipment, but even Jade could tell that many of them didn''t seem very familiar with their weapons. "I know you''re new to this world, but you already have more battle experience than most of them. If you''re willing, that''s where we need you." Naomi swallowed nervously. "What will we find inside?" "Hidden traps, monsters, maybe some treasure, and a boss at the very end of it. We''ll probably have to solve a puzzle somewhere along the way too." Luis said confidently. "That''ll be your job, Aylin. I''ve never been good with puzzles." Fenrin glanced at him in surprise. "Have you conquered a stronghold before?" "Not personally, but all dungeons are pretty much the same, right?" That remark seemed to confuse everyone further. Sensing that the discussion was about to be derailed into an unnecessary explanation of Earth fantasy games and stories, Jade stepped in with a course correction. "Do we know what the boss is?" "There''s no way to be sure." Aylin replied. "But I''ve pieced together a few clues from the intelligence Fenrin and Seldrin gathered over the past few days. I''ll explain on the way." "Good idea, we should get moving. I''ll gather the teams." Fenrin moved off, organizing the elven warriors into their respective groups. It soon became clear that the largest of them was going to be the rear guard tasked with preventing reinforcements from entering the dungeon behind them. That confused Jade, as she''d expected they''d want to leave more people to defend the village while many of their warriors were away. "Shouldn''t they be leaving more people behind?" She asked Siora.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Master Rhysten will be staying here." The elf said, pointing to an elven man who stood alone in the meadow. He had a distinguished look and was the first elf Jade had seen that didn''t look entirely youthful. His face was wrinkled, and his brown hair showed signs of greying. Most striking, though, was the man''s twisted leg. It bent at an odd angle, making his right foot point out at a sharp angle from the rest of his body. If Jade hadn''t seen him standing, she would have assumed the injury¡­ if that''s what it was¡­ would have prevented him from walking at all. Apparently not. "Who is he?" The man had an intense presence, and Jade couldn¡¯t take her eyes off of him. How had she not noticed him earlier? She tentatively expanded her magical senses, probing curiously at his aura. The elderly elf''s eyes immediately snapped onto her, piercing her with a gaze so intense that it contained physical pressure. Jade was forced to look away. She felt herself flush with embarrassment, although she wasn''t entirely sure why. "That was rude, Jade." Aylin nudged her with an elbow. "Don''t go poking people with your aura. If you do it to the wrong person, they''ll poke back." "Sorry¡­" "Master Rhysten is one of Lysara''s council members." Siora explained. "He''s a former wayfarer who completed his trial a long time ago. With him standing guard, the town will be safe from any wandering monsters." "So, he''s powerful?" Jade asked. She was tempted to pull up his status window but knew from Aylin that people with highly developed soul sight could detect those intrusions as well. She refrained, not wanting to cause any further issues. "Very." Aylin said quietly. "I''ve heard of him. He has excellent control over his mana, but I got a glimpse of his power when he rebuffed you. He''s reached ''B'' rank, at least. Probably the upper reaches of it." "People come from all over to ask for his tutelage in the sword." Siora added. "But he hardly takes any apprentices these days." "Maybe I can convince him, after we''re done with this¡­" I need to learn how to fight properly. Real technique. Not just spells, talents and the basic moves my class gave me. "Well, it''s a good thing you made such a great first impression." Naomi said, patting Jade on the back.
"Soooo¡­. You''re a demon, huh?" Jade ducked under a low hanging branch, shooting a sidelong glance at the woman beside her. It was the elf with the staff she''d seen earlier by the fountain. The energetic woman had been staring so intensely at Jade ever since their group left Lysara that she could practically feel a hole being bored into the back of her head. Fenrin had introduced her as ''Nythis'', along with her calmer companion Vamir. Each of them bore glowing marks on the back of their hands, although they weren''t as intricate as Jade''s wayfarer sigil. These were apprentice marks, the same as Aylin possessed, which she had explained wayfarers could grant once they reached ''C'' rank. "I am, now." she said tersely. Jade had barely been a succubus for two weeks, and she was already tired of explaining herself over and over again. Maybe I should make cards to give to people. "I''ve never fought a demon before." Nythis continued, skipping ahead of Jade and turning around to walk backwards in front of her. She smiled broadly. "Want to fight?" Jade didn''t know how to reply to that. She paused, starting at the elf. Unlike most of the expedition, she wasn''t wearing any armor. Instead, Nythis wore a set of loose furs that looked well suited to take advantage of Jade''s ''Seducer''s Mantle'' ability, considering how revealing it was. They trailed at the rear of the group trekking through the forest, some two dozen warriors marching to confront the foe that threatened their home. "Nythis, don''t bother our guests. And we''re already on our way to battle, you should save your strength." That was Vamir, the other warrior from Lysara who had volunteered to delve into the bowels of the stronghold along with Fenrin and Jade''s group. He, too, was clad in unusual garb for battle, eschewing armor for a simple, loose-fitting robe. Vamir gave Jade a strained smile. "I apologize for her. Nythis has a fondness for testing herself against new sparring partners. But we shouldn''t be imposing on you any more than we already are." "Oh¡­ She means training?" Jade relaxed a little. "No, that''s alright. After this is done, I wouldn''t mind sparring with you. I have a lot to work on." "Great! See? She said she was okay with it." Nythis''s eyes lit up with excitement. She continued before Vamir could reply. "As soon as we get back, then! It''s a promise. Your friends can join, too!" With that, the odd elf bounded off to the front of the column. Vamir just shook his head and followed her, saying something about keeping her out of trouble. "What did I just get myself into¡­" Jade muttered. "Eh, it sounds fun." Luis waved a dismissive hand. "We should practice with other people when we can. Like my Uncle Marco always says, ''everyone has something to teach you, if you''re willin'' to listen''." "I never signed up for this." Naomi complained. "I know we have an important mission, but I''m not spending all of my time training. I need time for other important pursuits, like relaxing. And shopping!" "Shopping is an ''important pursuit''?" Jade asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "It is! I''m all out of normal clothes, Jade. All I have left is this armor, and I''ve been wearing it for days. Days! I don''t even want to think about how I smell¡­" "Oh, you''re not too bad." Siora said from the other side of their small group. Naomi turned a hopeful gaze on her. "Really?" "Not from upwind." The elf grinned, and Jade and Luis laughed. "Hey¡­ How are you so clean?" Naomi complained, scrutinizing her. Indeed, while Siora was still wearing Naomi''s old armor, she''d clearly found time to bathe since the previous night. "Oh, my house has a bath." She explained cheerfully. "I took one last night after getting home. The guest houses do too, they''re up on the third floor." "No one told me that!" It took all three of them, and several minutes, to convince Naomi not to turn around right then and there.
"There it is." Fenrin signaled a halt, pointing. Through a gap in the foliage, Jade could just make out a structure rising from a shallow valley. It reminded her of images she''d seen of Aztec pyramids, with stepped tiers that narrowed as they neared the monument''s peak. An enormous, green flame burned in a brazier at the stronghold''s pinnacle, which somehow cast an eerie light in the surrounding area even through the daytime sun. The sight sent a shiver down Jade''s spine. "Any patrols?" Aylin asked from beside her. Their party, which now included Fenrin, Vamir, and Nythis, had moved ahead of the rear guard to scout the stronghold. They had already encountered two roaming groups of undead, both of which had been dispatched easily. Now that she could see the ominous form of the stronghold itself, Jade had little hope that the rest of their mission would proceed as smoothly. "About a dozen guarding the entrance. More of those same monsters." Fenrin replied. He had his eyes closed now, using some sort of spell to get a literal bird''s eye view of the scene from his familiar. "Nothing else around." "Didn''t you say there were more of them last time you and Seldrin were here?" Luis asked. Siora and her brother were back with the rear guard, preparing to watch their backs with the rest of the reserve force. "I did¡­" Fenrin sounded troubled. "I don''t know where the rest of them are. Mirella hasn''t found any more of them, either." "Isn''t this the opportunity we were hoping for?" Naomi asked. "Having an easier time getting in is a good thing, right?" "As long as they aren''t all waiting for us inside." Aylin said. "Well, that''s a cheery thought." Jade said quietly. "It is, isn''t it?" Nythis said, so close to Jade that she practically jumped out of her skin. She hadn''t realized the elf was right behind her. "Don''t you just love a challenge¡­? I think we should go for it." "As much as I''d like to stake out the entrance and wait a while, I''m inclined to agree." Fenrin said, opening his eyes and turning to regard the group. "At least ten people are missing, and they''re probably in there. The longer we wait, the more danger they''re in." "So, what''s the plan?" Jade asked, putting her hand on the haft of her new hammer. The half-elf slid his bow off his shoulder and drew an arrow from his quiver. "The plan is to knock on the front door." He said with a grin. "And see if anyone''s home." That was a plan Jade could get behind. Chapter 56 Los Angeles, California Two years ago Absolute. Focus. That was Jade''s mental state as she stood at the end of the runway, staring intently at the vault that awaited her. The stadium was filled with the hushed murmur of a crowd trying to remain quiet. All eyes were on her, more than ten thousand people fixing their attention on the gymnasium floor. Spectators, other competitors, her teammates. She filtered all of it out, her heart and mind set on a single goal. Absolute. Focus. A twinkle of light glinted off a camera lens as a media crew adjusted their equipment, preparing to track her approach. It was almost time. Jade took a breath to calm her fluttering heart. There was no need to be nervous. She had done this dozens, no, hundreds of times in preparation for this moment. It had worked then; it would work now. The signal came. Jade took off down the runway like a missile, feet pounding the soft surface as they propelled her forward with explosive power. She reached full sprint in a pair of heartbeats, squeezing every little bit of speed she could out of her runup. The vault rushed closer. Three more steps. Two more. One! She jumped, springing forward onto her hands and flipping back to her feet in a half twist, letting her momentum carry her into a backflip. The world spun around her as Jade rose, her hands finding purchase on the vault and imparting a twist that sent her arcing high into the air in a series of spinning flips. One rotation. She reached the peak of her trajectory. Two rotations. The mat was rushing up to meet her. With precision timing born from months of training, Jade swept her feet under her just as she completed the final half rotation, planting them firmly on the landing pad with a solid ''whump!''. The impact sent a jolt through her legs and up her back, and she almost was forced to take a steadying step to the side, but she held her balance and remained firmly in place. Triumph blossomed in her heaving chest like a rising tide, and Jade flung her arms into the air, turning in place to present herself to the crowd. Sound returned to the world, as if someone had flipped a switch in her mind. The stadium was filled with cheers and applause, the crowd roaring their approval. She had done it. She had done it! Jade stepped off the pad, pumping a fist and turning towards her waiting teammates. They were way ahead of her, already rushing to greet her. Sarah got to her first, flinging her arms around her as the rest surrounded them, cheering and congratulating her. "That was amazing!" "I knew you could do it!" Jade grinned broadly, swept away in the thrill of the moment. Christina had tried to talk her out of picking the Amanar for her vault, but she''d won in the end. The risk had paid off. "Wait, the scores are going up!" Miko pointed, hushing them. They all fell still, turning to face the scoreboard. Jade watched with bated breath, heart thumping in her chest. The competition was tight, and she was the last to go. By Sarah''s count, they were a hair behind 1st place, but if she managed excellent marks¡­ A number blinked on the screen. ''9.97'' For a moment there was hushed silence, and then another round of cheers swept through her team, even more enthusiastic than the first. Jade didn''t join them. She was dumbstruck, staring in awe at the softly blinking numbers. It was the best score she''d ever received, and it had come when she''d needed it most. Blinking away tears of joy, she let herself be dragged off by her friends to wait for the official confirmation. The announcement didn''t take long: For the first time in over a decade, their school was taking home the championship. Later, while Jade was standing on the podium with the rest of her team and holding up their trophies for the cameras, she still could hardly believe it. It was the happiest she''d ever been. Yet even then, in her moment of greatest triumph, she couldn''t help but spare a glance at the seating reserved for friends and family, and the three empty seats in the front row.
Second Floor - Moonlit Meadow Quadrant, Twilight Forest Zone. Near Lysara. Present Day Fenrin let fly with a pair of arrows, skewering two of the remaining skeletons through the skull. They collapsed in a pile of bones at the base of the pyramid, leaving only a scattered few defenders left. "Almost there!" He called over the clamor of battle. "Stay together!" Their group, both the dungeon delving team and the rear guard, had launched a combined attack on the contingent of undead standing guard at the stronghold''s entrance. They had caught them by surprise, if indeed undead could feel the emotion, and were in the process of securing the area. The battle was going well, and they actually outnumbered the enemy, at least for the moment. Fenrin didn''t know where the rest of the monsters were, there certainly had been more of them the last time he and Seldrin had observed the area, and he hoped they wouldn''t find out. The archer looked around, quickly taking in the state of the battlefield. Jade and Luis were tearing through a small group of undead near the tree line, and most of the rear guard were spreading out to deal with stragglers. Nythis was blasting bolts of fire from her staff in every direction, each one setting another foe ablaze. The druid stifled a yawn, looking sleepy as she incinerated another enemy that was approaching her from behind without even turning to look at it.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Fenrin just shook his head, searching for any remaining threats. Despite training with Nythis every time he and his father had visited the village, he''d never come close to understanding the woman. One dense pocket of skeletal warriors remained, a group of about a half-dozen. They were shambling towards their flank, brandishing their rusty swords. He was about to order their group back together to confront them with a united front when a lone figure separated from their midst, dashing towards the approaching enemy. "Come on Taeres! We''ve got this!" The girl called, twirling a curved sword in one hand, and a broad hammer in the other. She was followed a moment later by another young elf, hot on her heels. Together, they raced to confront the enemy alone. "Tiahla! Taeres! Wait!" He called, running after them. They either didn''t hear him or didn''t listen, because the overly ambitious pair didn''t slow their assault. They crashed into the enemy group, hacking and slashing at their shambling foes with far more enthusiasm than skill. They took one down together, and then two, but quickly ended up surrounded by the rest. Fenrin cursed under his breath, still trying to catch up. There were too many people between them for a clear shot, so he channeled mana into the air around him, activating a talent. A powerful gust of wind blasted him skyward, sending him a good ten feet into the air. The wind swirled beneath him like a cushion, holding him aloft as he let loose an ''arc bolt''. The arrow zipped towards the surrounded duo, striking one of the skeletons in the back. Lightning burst from the monster, arcing to strike each of them in turn. It was enough to take down all but one of them, which Tiahla managed to finish off on her own. The magic faded, and Fenrin dropped to the ground. The battlefield was silent now, the last of the enemies having been dispatched. He jogged over to the pair of young elves. Taeras was leaning on his spear and catching his breath, while Tiahla was nursing a small gash on her shoulder. The two of them wilted under his hard look. "You know better than to run off alone." "We just want to prove ourselves!" Tiahla said, staring back at him defiantly. "Master Rhysten says we aren''t ready for our apprentice marks yet, but we are!" "That''s for him to decide, but I don''t think you''ll convince him like this." Fenrin nodded back towards the main group. "Now go see Kymil, he''ll get you patched up." The two of them muttered their assent, trudging back to see the priest. "We have to do something to stand out." "It''s okay, Tiahla, we''ll get our chance." "Stay out of trouble, you two. This isn''t a game." Fenrin sighed, forcing himself to relax. He''d never liked being a leader, which was ironic, considering his mother''s noble heritage. His upbringing had been filled with lessons about the duties and responsibilities of command and how to wield them properly. Fenrin thought he''d gotten away from all that when he started his wayfarer trial, at least for a time. But the very first thing he''d stumbled into was a crisis. Not being able to bring himself to abandon his father''s home, he''d reluctantly stepped up to organize a response. "Something wrong?" Luis asked, sidling up to him. Fenrin shook his head. "Just some overly ambitious trainees. Battle is always an adventure to the inexperienced." "Not sure about that." Luis sheathed his sword. "I thought it was pretty terrifying from the start." "Then you''re one of the smart ones. No, they want one of Master Rhysten''s apprentice marks. They''d get to gain a class, which would give them a big head start in learning any number of kinds of magic." "Couldn''t they just get a wayfarer mark?" Fenrin tried to not look too surprised at the question. He hadn''t met many outlanders before and kept having to remind himself that Luis and his companions didn''t know many things about the world he took for granted. "They could, but the trial isn''t something people take on a whim. It''s dangerous, and most people train for years before seeking it out. But I wouldn''t be surprised if that was their goal. Training with an apprentice mark is the first step for many, and just having one elevates your status." Luis nodded, looking thoughtful, and Fenrin took the opportunity to look more closely at the remains scattered around him. It was unlikely that they would yield much of value, but he was also the son of a renowned merchant. His father had taught him too well for him to pass up looting any monster he had the opportunity to. He touched the remains, triggering the process. As expected, each undead yielded only a handful of coins and some decay effusion. Fenrin pocketed the coins, then started back towards the main group. "Not going to take the rest?" He hadn''t noticed Jade walking up to join them. Fenrin paused, glancing back at the loose pile of effusion. "It''s not worth much. Decay effusion doesn''t have many uses, for enchanting or otherwise." She fell into step beside him. The woman was in her demon form, leathery wings folded behind her back. It gave her a striking, dangerous appearance, and she drew looks from some of the surrounding elves. No one said anything, though. Fenrin had given his word on that, and he had seen to it. "You know a lot about enchanting?" No, Jade''s unusual race didn''t bother him, but it did bring up uncomfortable memories of his own race selection process. He was still second guessing his decision to remain his birth race. Belatedly, Fenrin realized that he had been asked a question. "Ahh¡­ no." He shook his head, smiling wryly. "I just had a father who spent far too much time instructing me on the ins and outs of commerce." "Huh¡­" Jade rummaged around in her dimensional pouch, pulling out a handful of vials. "Are any of these worth anything?" "Well¡­ we can talk about my appraisal fee¡­" He laughed at the look on Jade''s face. "I can help you out after we''re done here, deal?" "Deal." she said, obviously relieved. A few minutes later, everyone was assembled in front of the stronghold entrance. There was no door at the base of the pyramid, just a yawning opening filled with inky darkness. High above the green flame at the pinnacle continued to burn. Mirella fluttered down from where she''d been circling high above, alighting on his shoulder. "Maybe you should stay here, Mimi. I don''t think you''ll like it in there." Mirella pecked his ear sharply, causing him to wince. "Okay¡­ Okay¡­ Sorry for suggesting it." He reached up to pat her head. She chirped, cocking her head. "No, I don''t think any of the monsters will make for good eating¡­" The bird''s head drooped sadly. Fenrin noted that everyone was looking at him for direction. He suppressed a weary sigh, doing his best to adopt a confident aura that he didn''t quite feel. "Priest Kymil, you''re in charge while we''re gone." Fenrin told the fatherly elf. "If any more of them show up, try to keep them from getting in behind us. But if there are too many of them, don''t stay and fight. Instead, try and lead them away." The priest nodded once. "Lady Elaria''s light guide you." Fenrin fervently hoped it would. He was starting to regret not being as devout as his father in his reverence of The Lady of Blossoms. He hoped she didn''t mind, wherever she was¡­ and that she wouldn¡¯t take offense to a literal demon fighting alongside him. Had her faith been involved in the cataclysm¡­? He couldn''t recall. Siora handed out a few final potions to them before they entered, murmuring some words of encouragement. When she was finished and had taken up a position outside with her brother, Fenrin turned to the rest of the group. "Ready?" He received a chorus of nods. Some tentative, others enthusiastic. Taking a few steps into the dark passage, Fenrin led the way into the stronghold. It was eerily quiet, the air still and chilly. Behind him, the rest of the party followed close behind. The hallway was broad enough for them to walk two abreast, and Luis moved alongside him. "I was kind of expecting a wall to slide down and seal us in, or something." He commented, glancing back at the shaft of daylight spilling through the entrance. "We''re off to a good start." "Why would you say something like that?" Naomi squeaked, glancing behind them worriedly. Fenrin couldn''t help but join her. Fortunately, the path outside remained unobstructed. "Some strongholds do work like that." Aylin said from the rear of the group. "But they''re normally on the higher floors." "That''s a shame." Nythis sighed, tapping the base of her staff against the stone floor with a ''click''. A sputtering flame ignited at its tip, filling the hall with flickering light and dancing shadows. "That would''ve been far more thrilling." "That''s one way to put it¡­" Jade muttered. Nythis giggled. "Be careful when wishing for adversity." Vamir advised sagely. "For you may well get what you ask for." "I''m glad one of us has a good feeling about this." Fenrin said quietly, creeping further into the bowels of the pyramid. On his shoulder, Mirella gave an insistent chirp. "You''re right, two of us." Chapter 57 Lanterns and the light of Nythis''s staff did little to banish the oppressive darkness of the stone passageway. A curve in the passage took them away from the remaining daylight, leaving Jade on edge. At any moment she expected them to be ambushed by more shambling monsters, or at least hear some sinister sound from deep within the structure. But there was nothing. Everything was silent and still. "Try to relax." Vamir murmured. "Alert is good, but tense will harm you more than it helps." The elf walked beside her, his posture projecting a sense of calm. Her first instinct was to snap that she knew what she was doing, but Jade held her tongue. Ignoring advice from teammates had cost her in the past, and she suspected Vamir had more experience in these situations than she. Instead, she took a deep breath, settling her nerves. Vamir gave her a reassuring nod, which she returned. He wasn''t wearing any armor, which Jade found curious. The elf was clad in loose fit flowing clothes that rippled when he moved. The only equipment he carried at all was a single sword belted to his waist. "Where are they?" she asked, keeping her voice low. "I thought this place would be filled with monsters." "I don''t know, but it''s a bit of a letdown." Nythis sighed, holding her staff up high to extend its illumination. "I''m getting bored." "I''m sure we''ll find them soon." Aylin said dryly. "If they don''t find us first." "Naomi, maybe keep things quiet for now." Jade suggested. "If whatever''s in here doesn''t know about us yet, we should keep it that way for as long as we can." "Good idea." The bard replied, shifting her guitar to hang across her back. She drew a shortsword from her waist, a recent requisition from the growing pile of random equipment Jade carried in her pouch. "Maybe I''ll give that new talent a whirl." Naomi swallowed nervously, and Jade guessed she was hoping that wouldn''t be necessary. "Stop." Fenrin held up a hand, halting in the middle of the passage. Everyone stopped behind him. He pointed ahead at something on the floor. "Does that look a little off to anyone else?" Deep shadows obscured whatever he was indicating. Jade leaned around him, retracting her wings as she shifted into an elven form. The darkness receded substantially, and she regretted not doing so earlier. This was much better, and the increased awareness of her surroundings helped lessen the pit of anxiety curdling in her stomach. Her vision enhanced, Jade took another look. There was a protrusion in the floor some twenty feet ahead of them. The worked floor tiles were quite even and uniform, which made the oddly elevated one stand out. Still, it was easy to miss in the gloom. "Some kind of trap?" She asked. The sight brought to mind some of the old Indiana Jones movies she''d watched as a kid. "Probably." "Should we disarm it?" Luis asked, taking a careful step closer and shining a lantern on the area. Fenrin looked back at the rest of the group. "Does anyone know how to disarm traps?" Everyone shook their heads. Well¡­ This was an oversight. "We can just walk around it." Jade suggested. The passage was more than wide enough to avoid the odd tile. "Let''s mark it first. That''s dungeon crawling basics. Don''t want to step on it on the way back." Luis said, digging around in his bag. "Anyone have some chalk? I knew I forgot something at the store¡­" Aylin produced a stick of chalk from her pouch, handing it over to Luis, who promptly passed it to Jade. "Why me?" She gave him a dubious look. "Because I''m big and clumsy, and you aren''t." She couldn''t argue with that. Jade cautiously approached the suspicious tile. A closer inspection revealed that it was attached to some sort of mechanism, which she had no doubt would trigger something unpleasant if stepped on. Having no desire to find out what form that unpleasantness took, Jade carefully drew a wide circle around it with the chalk. Then, for good measure, she added a few giant arrows pointing at it. "Happy?" He gave her a thumbs up. Everyone gave the pressure plate a wide birth, slipping past in single file. Once they were all on the other side, Fenrin resumed leading them deeper into the structure. They remained as quiet as possible, speaking only when necessary. For some reason, Jade found the continued lack of opposition more unnerving than actual monsters would have been. It didn''t take long for them to reach the end of the passageway. It opened into a larger room, equally as dark as the hall. As soon as Fenrin set foot in it, however, a series of torches in wall sconces burst to life, illuminating the space with flickering green flames. Jade tensed, ready for an attack, but again none came. After a moment, they advanced into the chamber. It appeared to be some sort of gallery. The walls were covered in faded mosaics that depicted disturbing scenes of death and gruesome rituals involving remains. To Jade''s surprise, the subjects were human. The center of the chamber was dominated by a large plinth atop which rested a strange object. It had a fractal shape and was comprised of some sort of dark crystal. Although the surface looked reflective, no light shimmered off its faceted surface. The strange crystal hovered above the pedastal, slowly rotating, orbited by smaller motes of the same material. The sight was unnerving, although Jade wasn''t sure why. "No one touch that." Aylin said, eyeing the crystal. Nythis, who had just stepped forward to take a closer look, made a pouting face and backed away. "That''s¡­ that''s elemental death energy." Aylin said this last part slowly, surprised. "What is it?" Naomi asked hesitantly.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Aylin''s warning was hardly required; The crystal was exuding a distasteful aura of chilling energy. Jade didn''t need her fledgling magical senses to detect it, the temperature of the room was noticeably lower than that of the hall. "It''s a divine splinter¡­" Aylin said slowly, taking a hesitant step closer and inspecting it. Divine¡­? "Are you sure?" Fenrin gave her a sharp look. "Certain, I''ve studied similar items in the guild vault. The aura imprint is unmistakable. This is a relic of Tharrezen, a tiny sliver of divine power." She took another look around the room. "Could this be a temple to him?" "Hold up." Jade raised her hand. "Divine? A temple? Are you saying that''s some sort of holy¡­" She searched for the right word. "Artifact?" Jade knew the wood elves worshipped some sort of nature goddess, and apparently there were more temples in the cities. With everything else going on, though, she hadn''t spent much time considering what that meant. Now, faced with the palpable power emanating from the relic, she was forced to revisit the idea. If magic is real¡­ Are gods? A month ago, the question would''ve been absurd. But now? Her understanding of the universe had undergone so many changes in the past few weeks that she was surprisingly open to the idea of divinity. "I assume you have religion on your world?" Aylin asked. "Lots of them." Luis shrugged. "Let me guess. Many of them are present from your earliest histories, and your cultures have fantastic stories and legends of divine miracles. But, in recent times, none have occurred?" Jade blinked in surprise. She exchanged looks with Naomi and Luis. "I¡­ suppose that''s not far off." "It''s the same everywhere." Aylin explained. "There are conflicting accounts, but it''s widely accepted that once, many gods reigned over the cosmos. Then, a couple thousand years ago, roughly around the time the cataclysm ended and the demon armies were defeated, divine beings, and their servants, disappeared." "What do you mean ''disappeared''?" Naomi asked. "They vanished. Or at least, their presence did from history. No more manifestations, no more miracles. The powers of the cosmos remain unchanged, but without wills behind them." That explanation raised more questions than answers, but this wasn''t the time for an in-depth discussion on the theological history of the universe. Fenrin must have reached the same conclusion, because he spoke up before Aylin could enter her full ''lecture'' mode. "We can go over details with them later." He said, gesturing towards a door set into the far side of the chamber. "But we still have a job to do." "Context is relevant." Aylin insisted. "This is a divine relic. The people and monsters present in this temple will likely wield related powers." "What was Tharre-what''sit''s domain?" Nythis asked, eyeing the crystal with distaste. "I''ve never heard of him." "It''s ''Tharrezen'', and his aspect was Death." Aylin replied. "I just want to know where the Labyrinth obtained a splinter of his power¡­ Could it be related to how strongholds are formed¡­?" "Does it change what we should expect to face here?" Jade asked, more interested in the practical impact of this development. "It might. Tharrezen was worshiped in several worlds, including a human one called ''Grasha''. The Labyrinth may have taken or replicated this temple from there. If it did, then it''s probably populated it with priests as well as undead." "You mean, living people?" Luis asked with a frown. "In a sense. All Labyrinth-born creations, monsters and people, are just manifestations of its spirits given form." Aylin spoke to everyone, not just Jade and her group. "Remember, they aren''t the same as us. The spirits are alive, but the forms they take are just that: Forms. They''re transient, ephemeral. The only purpose they have is what the Labyrinth imprinted on them on their creation. If they die, the Labyrinth will just reform the spirit somewhere else." Jade wasn''t sure how she felt about that, it was more than a little disturbing. It also didn''t matter. It didn''t change what they had to do. "Let''s keep moving." Fenrin said, approaching the closed door. "If our quests are right, the missing people are trapped in here. We need to save them." "Agreed." Aylin nodded. She took one last look at the divine relic, which continued to swirl with wisps of cold, dark energy. "I''ll take a closer look at this later." They moved to the door, which was made of heavy, dark wood. Fenrin took a moment to put his ear to the door, and then gave a small shake of his head. He quietly lifted the latch and opened the door, revealing another dark hallway. This one was shorter, covering only about thirty yards before opening into what looked like another, even larger chamber. While the passage itself lacked torches, more green light spilled into it from whatever room lay on the far side. It was hard to tell for certain, but Jade thought she could see shadows moving around in the distant chamber. The group made to move together down the hall, but Jade stopped them with a raised hand. "I''ll check it out first." She suggested. "We''re too loud as a group." Luis''s armor was an especially big offender, every step accompanied by a soft ''clank'' of creaking straps. Aylin, despite only wearing robes, wasn''t much better. If there were monsters ahead, Jade wanted to get a good look at them before they were noticed. No one protested, although Naomi did touch her on the arm. "Just a look. Don''t do anything crazy." "Just a look." She agreed. What kind of reputation have I built¡­? She slipped into the dark passage, creeping softly towards the next room. While she lacked any specific training in concealment, Jade knew how to stay light on her feet. Crossing the distance silently took only a couple of minutes and, as she drew near, she could make out clacking and scraping sounds coming from up ahead. The room the hall opened into was lined with large pillars. Jade ducked behind the closest of them, crouching in its shadow and peeking out to survey the area. The room was larger than she''d expected, with a high vaulted ceiling and passages extending from the center of each of the four walls that comprised the square chamber. A tall stone statue dominated the center of the space, lit by more eerie green torches. It depicted a man clad in flowing robes holding aloft a dark staff. The figure was mostly human but possessed four sets of twisting arms, which bent in strange, unnatural ways. More importantly, a group of figures were making their way across the far side of the room, heading towards the hallway opposite the one Jade had entered from. Four people garbed in similar robes as the statue led a quartet of frightened elven prisoners. The elves, a man, two women, and a younger looking boy, had their hands bound and were being pulled along by leads. A group of a dozen-odd skeletons shambled behind them, their bone feet clacking against the stone floor with every step. "You should be grateful." One of the robed individuals was saying. The voice was male, high pitched and raspy. "It is an honor for your lives and bodies to be dedicated to the eternal embrace of the Everlasting." Jade couldn''t make out the next few words, but she''d already heard enough. Part of her wanted to jump out and save these people right now, but she was greatly outnumbered. Holding her breath and praying that she wouldn''t be seen, Jade took a quiet step back in the direction of the hall to retrieve her companions. Before she could take another, one of the prisoners ruined everything. In retrospect, Jade couldn''t blame the man. In his position, faced with whatever unpleasant fate these creepy priests had in store for them, she would''ve fought back too, no matter how futile the gesture. But in the moment, as Jade watched him lunge at his captors, she cursed him for his terrible timing. One more minute, and her whole party could''ve ambushed them together. While the elven man had his hands bound, his target was facing away from him. He managed to land an impressive blow right to his captor''s head, knocking him to the ground. "Run!" He shouted at the others, kicking at one of the skeletons as the other robed figures whirled towards him, drawing wicked looking daggers. Jade could see their faces now, men and women with gaunt, sunken features and hollow eyes. There was no way any of them were going to escape, not surrounded like they were. They would either be recaptured or killed, and the latter was looking more likely by the moment. Still, Jade hesitated. What could she do against so many enemies? Die a quick and painful death, most likely. No, it would be best to¡­ Her gaze fell on the young boy, whose eyes were wide with terror. He tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. "Sorry Naomi¡­" Jade whispered. I can''t let this happen. Jade had no idea how dangerous the robed men and women were, and it was too late to examine them. With a silent curse she drew her blades, shifted into her demon form, and charged into the room. Chapter 58 Jade was halfway across the room before anyone even noticed her. She covered the distance in seconds, sprinting with her daggers poised to strike, tagging the closest of the creepy humans with ''Vital Sight''. The system labelled him as ''Tharrezen Cultist¡¯ and gave his level as 12. He was the first to spot her and froze in momentary surprise at the sight of a knife weilding demon charging towards him out of the shadows. His shock cost him his life. Jade lunged, burying one blade in the man''s unarmored chest and the other in his throat, and then ripped them free in a spray of blood, already slashing at the next closest cultist before his body even hit even hit the floor. "Get out of here!" Jade shouted to the prisoners, who were just as stunned as their captors. "Run!" Her next target recovered in time to avoid a killing blow, jumping away from Jade''s savage slash. She caught her in the arm, carving a jagged wound into her flesh. The cultist snarled in pain, turning her dagger on Jade and advancing. "No!" The tallest of the cultists snapped. "Start the ritual!" Their undead minions were moving in to surround them. Jade couldn''t defeat them all, but she didn''t need to. She lunged towards one of the shambling creatures, cutting it down with a wild flurry of slashes and blunt pommel strikes before it could bring its sword to bear on her. With that one down, there was an opening for the prisoners to escape through. "Go!" she shouted, raising her voice to ensure her allies would hear the commotion. The elves bolted. Two of them made it past Jade and out of the cordon of enemies, but one of the women and the boy weren''t so lucky. The tall cultist grabbed the woman by the shoulder, thrusting her towards his companion as she withdrew towards the passage the procession had been heading towards before Jade''s surprise attack. She was about to follow, when the other cultist grabbed the boy. No! "Let him go!" She commanded, locking eyes with the man and infusing the words with all the enchanting power she could muster while dodging between another two undead, trying to get to him. There were too many of them, and they were closing in. The sallow-faced man''s eyes glazed over as the charm magic took hold, and he released the boy with a jerk. "Fight for m-!" Jade started to command, then gasped as a sword slammed into her back. One of the skeletons had stepped behind her, unseen in the chaos. Her armor protected her, the ward shattering but absorbing the brunt of the attack. Jade lurched forward, disoriented, but managed to swipe a hand across the chest of another one of the monsters. She choked out an incantation, pouring mana through the newest of her mental pathways. "Sequiles!" The skeleton stiffened. Then it turned, striking a heavy slash into the one that had just attacked Jade. She rolled away from the melee, surging to her feet beside another of the monsters and quickly dispatching it. A quick glance confirmed the boy had used her distraction to escape the cluster of monsters. The woman hadn''t been so lucky. Too late, Jade spotted the female cultist drag her into the passageway and slam her palm against a button set into the wall. With a grinding crash, a stone door slammed down to block the entrance, sealing them away. Jade cursed, furious both at the enemy and her own failure. There was nothing else she could do; it was time to get away and regroup. The cultist and skeleton she had charmed were sowing confusion amongst the enemies, but not all of them had forgotten her. She ducked another swing from a skeleton, kicked a second, and then warped through the gap between them, breaking free of the melee and leaving an illusion behind to further increase the chaos. Just when she thought that she had miraculously escaped unscathed, a form emerged from her very own shadow. It coalesced in front of her, resolving into the form of the cultist who had been shouting commands. She barely avoided slamming headlong into him and was too surprised to block the dark knife that he plunged into her side.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. White hot pain exploded through Jade as the blade bit deep into her flesh. It seemed to sizzle and burn at her insides, an even worse sensation than the wound itself. She jerked free of his blade with a feral snarl, the pain eating away at the foundation of her focused mind, revealing the bloodlust that lay beneath the surface. She slashed back at him, pivoting around his follow up stroke and nicking him in the shoulder. She pulled away, splatters of blood coating the floor between them. The searing pain in her side intensified for a moment, and then began to fade. "Foolish girl." The cultist snarled. She could taste his fury at her interference. It was strangely¡­ satisfying. She wanted more of it. "You haven''t changed anything. We''ll just use you instead. Your demon blood will be a potent offering." She blinked away the combat log, clutching her side and opening the distance between them further. She was backing into a corner, but that was fine. His rage had awakened her hunger, and she no longer wanted to flee until it was sated. Besides¡­ "I think¡­" She managed a grin through gritted teeth. "They''ll have something to say about that." A multicolored blur of flapping wings and slashing claws streaked into the back of the cultist''s head as Mirella descended upon him, screeching. Her allies poured into the room, weapons at the ready.
Naomi rushed to keep up with the rest of the group as they ran down the passage. Jade had only been gone for a couple of minutes but, judging by the shouts and general clamor emanating from the room ahead of them, she''d already gotten into trouble. So much for just taking a look¡­ Jade was a magnet for trouble. It took them about thirty seconds from hearing the initial commotion to reach its source. Naomi was the last to enter the larger chamber and she skidded to a stop just inside, taking in the situation at a glance. The scene unfolding around her was rapidly devolving into chaos. A group of undead were chasing a trio of elves around a sinister-looking statue rising from the center of the room, Jade was being backed into a dark corner by a creepy, knife-wielding man in a dark robe, and another group of the enemies appeared to be fighting¡­ themselves? It was hard to tell, but she assumed that Jade had something to do with it. You were only gone for three minutes! Fenrin shouted for someone to help Jade as he and Vamir engaged the monsters chasing after the escaped prisoners, but his familiar was way ahead of him. Luis took off in her direction as well, preparing a spell. Nythis whooped upon seeing the main mass of confused undead, leaping towards them and blasting arcs of fire in their direction. Aylin joined her, supplementing her assault with earthen spikes that cracked through the stone floor, impaling the monsters and immobilizing them. Naomi had doubts that staying ''quiet'' was much of an option anymore and was about to sheath her sword and reach for her guitar when one of the skeletons caught sight of her. It hissed, although she wasn''t quite sure how, and shambled towards her with its weapon raised. There was no time to swap her gear, it was already too close. Naomi dodged the attack, swinging her shortsword in a horizontal slash that caught the monster right in the chest. The impact of steel on bone jarred her hand, and she nearly dropped her weapon. The blow didn''t seem to do any real damage to her opponent, but it did knock it back a step. Unlike Jade and Luis, her class hadn''t gifted her with any innate knowledge on how to hold or use any type of weapon, and she cursed herself for not spending more time practicing. Naomi gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to call for help. She was sick of needing to be protected, of letting fear get the better of her. Instead, the bard drew up her sword, channeling mana into her newly learned weapon talent. Red light pulsed along the length of her blade, coalescing at its tip. She unleashed her ''Spike Thrust'', the magic of the sword talent guiding her body through the lunging motion. Her blade pierced the skeleton''s spine, shattering it and sending its remains clattering to the floor. "That''s right." She said to herself. "I can take care of myself." "Watch out!" Aylin called from the center of the room. Naomi followed her gesture and saw another small group of robed men and women rush into the chamber from one of the other passages, uncomfortably close to her. As far as Naomi was concerned, that settled the matter of stealth, and she slammed her sword back into its scabbard as she ran to regroup with Jade and Luis. The number of monsters was dropping rapidly, but another pair of undead cut her off before she could reach them. Not good! She had her guitar in hand now and blasted one of them apart with a jet of flame. Before she could do the same to the other, Naomi heard footsteps running up behind her. She didn''t waste time turning to look at the new threat, spinning to the side with reflexes born from weeks of battle. Whoosh! A dagger flashed through the space she''d been standing in a moment before, slicing so close that it crackled against her protective ward. Naomi''s heart leapt into her throat, and she backpedaled hard, fingers dancing across her instrument as she strummed out another spell, aiming at the cloaked man right in front of- Click. A tile shifted under her boot, sinking into the floor. Naomi tried to take another step, but the ground wasn''t there anymore. The section of floor around her fell away, hinging down and dropping her, the robed cultist, and the remaining skeleton into a steeply sloping shaft that disappeared into darkness. Chapter 59 "Naomi!" A spike of alarm shot through Jade as she saw a pit open beneath her friend, dropping her into darkness. She dropped an empty healing potion, leaving Luis to fight the last few undead and sprinting towards the hole Naomi had just disappeared into. Or rather, that was her intention. "Stop him! Jade!" Aylin''s voice broke through the conflict. She immediately saw the problem. One of the cultists, the tall leader that had stabbed her in the side, was fleeing towards a nearby side hall. She was nearby, and the only one fast enough to intercept an opponent that kept disappearing in and out of shadows. If he returned with more reinforcements, they''d be in trouble. Still, she hesitated, freezing in place. She couldn''t abandon her friend¡­ "I''ll help her!" Nythis called, dashing towards the pit from the other side of the room. Smoke curled from the end of her smoldering staff, and her robes were covered in ash. "Go!" You don''t have to do it all yourself. Words she''d heard countless times over the years. Every time she''d ignored them, she''d regretted it in the end. Trust your team. Jade hesitated for a split second longer, and then made a snap decision. She spun, dashing after the escaping leader.
Naomi screamed as she slid down a steep incline, scrambling for purchase against the smooth stone. There was nothing to grab onto, nothing to arrest her fall, and she continued to slide at a terrifying speed. Images of spike-filled pits flashed through her mind, and she braced herself, expecting the worst. WHOOSH Naomi shot out of the slanted end of the shaft, dropping several feet onto a stone floor. She hit hard, the impact cracking her armor''s protection and knocking the wind out of her. Her momentum sent her sliding across the room and into the far wall. This second impact wasn''t cushioned by any protective enchantment and was far more painful. Naomi gasped, dazed and seeing stars. Everything hurt with a throbbing ache, from her feet to her head. It was dark, the only illumination coming from a small shaft of light filtering in through a hole partway up the far wall. The scattered remains of the skeleton that had fallen with her lay strewn around her. Naomi sat up with a groan, pushing them aside and searching through her bag. She retrieved a healing potion, one that was still intact, and gulped it down. The pain eased, her mind cleared, and suddenly, Naomi could see a little better. Well enough to notice the dark, hooded form stumbling towards her from the other side of the small box of a room she was stuck in. That sight brought her back to full alert. Naomi scrambled to her feet, reaching for her guitar- It wasn''t there. The strap had torn free from her shoulder in the fall. No, no, no! Her instrument was lying in the corner of the barren room, a short distance away. She ran for it, completely forgetting about the sword at her waist in her panic. The cultist lunged for her, slashing wildly with his short blade. She tried to dodge the attack, but there was nowhere to go. The dagger sliced her across the shoulder and arm, tearing through her armor and drawing blood. Naomi screamed again, this time as much in anger as fear, and lunged for her instrument. She scooped it up in both hands, spinning to face her assailant and hitting him with the fastest spell she had. WHAM The ''Sonic Boom'' erupted from her like a cannon, blasting the cloaked figure across the room and slamming him against the far wall. She was about to fire off another spell when a wave of dizziness overcame her. Naomi steadied herself against the wall and looked down to see the man''s knife sticking out of her chest. I''ve been stabbed¡­ She thought dumbly, staring in horror at the hilt protruding from her right breast. Only a portion of the keen blade had punched through her armor to pierce her flesh, but that did little to assuage the spike of nausea the sight elicited. Shouldn''t it hurt¡­? The pain came a moment later, rolling in with the inevitability of an oncoming tide. She coughed, and a few drops of blood splattered onto the ground in front of her. "Your friends can''t help you here." The man grunted, struggling to pull himself to his feet where Naomi had thrown him. "But the lord of death will preserve me." He was stumbling towards her now, hands balled into fists. Crackling, dark energy gathered around his fingers. Naomi fought back her fear, concentrating on pouring mana into her instrument as she forced her fingers to play a sequence of notes. She fumbled it once, the magic dissipating in a painful backlash. She winced, trying again.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Come on¡­! He was close now, near enough that she could see a line of blood dripping from his nose. The pain in her chest intensified. Naomi almost froze. She would have, had this been her first few days in the Labyrinth. But the trials of constant battle had hardened her against the effects of fear and pain. Though her mind was muddled and hazy, sheer repetition guided her fingers as she hammered out the notes to a spell. This time, it worked. A column of fire burst to life before her, shooting across the room and engulfing the cultist in dancing flames. He screamed, flailing in pain. It was a horrible, wailing sound that shocked Naomi out of her stupor. Monsters were one thing, but she''d never used ''Pyrotechnics'' on another person before. He collapsed to the ground, twitching in the wretched throes of death as wisps of smoke curled from his charred body. It''s just a Labyrinth spirit. She reminded herself. The same as the monsters. It didn''t feel like it. The pain was starting to catch up to her, spreading through her chest in growing waves. The pulsing fire in her chest and arms drew her back to the present. She could heal herself, but not with the dagger still inside her. With trembling fingers, she grasped the hilt of the weapon, grit her teeth and, trying not to think about what she was doing, yanked it free in one smooth motion. Naomi had thought she''d known pain before, but the explosion of agony that ripped through her body in that instant proved her wrong. The bard fell to her knees, sobbing, barely able to choke out the song of her ''Hymn of Healing''. Soothing warmth accompanied her words, dulling the pain and bringing it to a more tolerable level. Clarity returned to her, and she was finally able to examine her surroundings. She was standing in the corner of a dark, featureless stone cube of a room. The only break in the smooth floor, walls, and ceiling was the hole in the wall she had fallen through, which was opposite her and about 5 feet off the ground. A metal grate now covered the opening, which must have slammed shut following her descent. "Great¡­" She muttered, moving over to examine it. She gave the burned body a wide birth, intentionally not looking at it. Naomi gave the metal cover a hard tug, but it didn''t budge. "A little help?" She called up the hole. A small amount of light filtered through it, but it wasn''t angled properly for her to see all the way up. Her legs were a little unsteady, and she leaned against the grate for support. "I''m coming!" Nythis''s voice echoed down the shaft. "Hang on!" A sudden grinding noise made Naomi spin around. She watched in growing horror as the far wall of the chamber began sliding towards her, scraping across the smooth floor. "You''ve got to be kidding me!" She exclaimed, pulling against the metal bars with renewed vigor. "Shit, shit, fuck me! Hey! Can you hurry up?!"
Nythis lowered herself into the shaft using a conjured vine. One end of it was wrapped around her forearm, and the other was anchored to the floor at the lip of the hole. It had taken the druid a couple of tries to get the nature magic to take hold, this place was filled with uncomfortably high levels of ''death'' essence, which made it difficult for ''life'' based magic to function as intended. Difficult, but not impossible. She extended the vine, descending at an expeditious but controlled rate. The battle above had mostly concluded. The fight against the undead had been exciting, but the presence of humanoid Labyrinth monsters had soured the experience for Nythis. Defeating mindless monsters was fun, a thrill, even. But she took no joy in killing people, even if they were just manifestations of spirits. Naomi''s voice echoed from below, spouting a curious mixture of imperatives that the Nythis had a hard time parsing. Whatever her new companion meant, she understood that time was of the essence and accelerated her descent. A few moments later, the elf''s feet clanked against the metal grate. Naomi stood on the far side of it, preparing to blast it with a spell. "Sorry I''m late!" Nythis exclaimed, quickly taking in the situation. The far wall was closing in on her, but they still had a bit of time. She gave the bars an experimental kick, but the grating was firmly locked in place. "I think there''s a mechanism on your side." Naomi said. Her armor was streaked with blood, and her face was pale. "Can you-?" "Nah, take too long." Nythis cut her off. She preferred the direct approach to problem solving. "Stand back!" The druid muttered an incantation, and this time the spell took hold immediately. The stone floor beside Naomi cracked as a huge vine grew up from the tiles. The bard scrambled out of the way, keeping a wary eye on the approaching wall while Nythis directed the animated plant to wrap around the bars. She flexed her fingers, making it heave with all its tremendous strength. A few seconds later, a mighty CRACK resounded through the small chamber. The grating tore free from the wall, clattering to the floor and taking a large chunk of stone with it. "There!" Nythis beckoned to Naomi, beaming. Getting to break things always made her happy. "Ready to go?" "Definitely." She took the druid¡¯s proffered hand and, a moment later, they were off, pulled back up the shaft by Nythis''s long vine. "Why were you yelling for someone to¡­ ah¡­" Nythis was almost too embarassed to ask this, but her curiosity was too great for her to stay silent. "Sleep with you?" She used the most neutral euphemism she could think of. "Huh?" Naomi looked confused. "What do you mean?" "You were shouting about excrement, which I take it is an expletive among your people. But then you shouted for someone to ''mate'' with you, did you not? Oh!" She had a thought. "Is that some sort of human response to danger, to entice would-be-rescuers to come to your aid?" The Labyrinth''s translation magic was poorly suited to colloquialisms, and sometimes required creative interpretation. Nythis grinned, proud of herself for having figured it out in this instance. They reached the top of the shaft, and the two of them clambered back onto solid ground. The battle was over, the undead and cultists defeated. Some of them had received wounds, but none of them severe, including the three rescued prisoners. "What? No, it''s-" Naomi began, face reddening, but Nythis¡¯s imagination had already carried her away. "Hmm¡­" She gave the bard a discerning look. Cute, at least for a human. Well, when she wasn''t covered in blood. "Maybe¡­" She began, and then sighed and shook her head. "No¡­ I don''t think we''re each other''s type." The druid lay her hand on Naomi''s shoulder, cast a cleansing spell to rid her of the poison she sensed spreading through her veins, and sauntered off to rejoin the group. Naomi just stared after her, unsure whether she should be relieved or offended. Chapter 60 Ann Arbor, Michigan 1 and a half years ago Jade crashed to the padded mat with a heavy ''thud'', landing hard on her side with a grunt of pain. She slapped the floor in frustration, and then pulled herself back to her feet. Need a more powerful start. she thought, replaying the missed vault in her head. For what felt like the thousandth time she cursed her greater than average height, and the physics that made that work against her. "Let''s call it a day, Jade." Christina called from the corner of the gym. She had just stepped out of the locker room and emerged wearing her street clothes. The rest of the team had already left, leaving the large space oddly quiet and empty. "You go on ahead." she said distractedly. "I''m gonna give it another few tries." "Jade¡­" Christina''s tone caught her attention, and Jade resisted the urge to roll her eyes. What had she done this time? "What?" she asked, trying to keep the annoyance from her voice. "You''re running yourself ragged. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you''re going to get hurt." "I''ll be fine." "No, you won''t." She snapped, startling Jade. She finally turned to look at her friend, who had crossed her arms and was giving her a reproachful look. "That fall looked rough, you can''t tell me that didn''t hurt. Do you want a repeat of last month?" "That was a fluke, it won''t happen again." Jade shrugged. "You were out for two weeks!" Christina bit back whatever she was about to say next. After a short pause she continued in a quieter, soothing voice. "Look, Jade. I''m just saying this because I care about you. The team cares about you. Trust your team. If you keep pushing yourself too hard-" "I can''t stop." Jade cut her off. Her hands clenched into fists. "The trials are coming up soon. I have to be perfect." "You won''t even get to compete if you injure yourself again before they start. And I still think the Amanar is too dangerous for you. It''s a bad match for your height." "I did it at the finals last year, I can handle it." Jade snapped. The fact that something she couldn''t control mattered so much pissed her off. That her friends kept bringing it up didn''t help, nor did the fact that they were right. Christina sighed. "Just be careful. Please?" Her friend and longtime team leader implored. "I''m worried about you." "Just a few more months." Jade said. She knew she was being harsh on her friend, but she was so close. "I''ll slow down after the trials." "Okay¡­" Christina didn''t look entirely satisfied, but she seemed to accept that was the best she was going to get. "But at least call it a day, yeah?" Jade glanced at the clock. It was starting to get late. If she wanted to get her coursework done before midnight, she''d need to get started soon. "Alright." She relented, turning towards the locker room. I''ll get it right tomorrow. A twinge of pain prickled through her left ankle as she went to get changed. It wasn''t anything bad, but it was annoying. Jade resolved to do some extra stretches during the week to help loosen it up and pushed it out of her mind. She checked her phone on her way out of the gym and saw that she had a missed call from her mother, and two messages from Alan. She swiped them away, pulling up some music and putting in a pair of headphones. The walk home was a little more than twenty minutes, plenty of time to reflect on her routine. Maybe I can squeeze an extra session in this weekend. she thought, exiting onto the street. The big day was coming up, and she wouldn''t accept anything short of perfection.
Present Day Jade returned to the central chamber of the pyramid to find that the battle had ended, at least for the moment. She had successfully run down and dispatched the escaping cultist leader, partially because of a debilitating wound Luis had landed on him prior to his flight and partly because of her own absurd speed. Jade wasn''t sure if it was because she knew the creature was actually a manifestation of a Labyrinth spirit or because she was getting more accustomed to violence, but ''killing'' him hadn''t affected her as much as similar fights had in the past. Those thoughts faded away as, to her great relief, she saw Naomi safely emerge from the pit that had swallowed her. "Are you okay?" she asked, examining her friend. "You''re hurt." "You''re one to talk." Naomi replied with a concerned look at Jade''s side. "That''s a lot of blood." "I''ve had worse." "¡­Does that make it better?" Jade didn''t have a response to that. Naomi gave her a wry smile and chanted her healing song, and Jade felt some strength return to her. She had somewhat of a haunted look in her eyes, and Jade glanced at the still-open mouth of the trap. Hadn''t one of the cultists fallen in with her? From the look of things, only Naomi had come back. Before she could think of something comforting to say, Aylin approached them.Stolen novel; please report. "Did you get him?" "I- Yes. I did." Jade nodded. "I think he was running for help." "Then we should move quickly." "You do remember what I said about getting into trouble, right?" Naomi asked as they all regrouped. "Sorry¡­" Jade felt embarassed, but she stood her ground. "They were in trouble. There wasn''t time to get you." They all looked over at the group of three freed prisoners. Jade was relieved to see that, other than some superficial injuries, they appeared to be in good shape. "Just¡­ try and give us a warning next time." "We probably need to get through there." Aylin continued, turning her attention to the large, sealed stone door that the female cultist had escaped through. And the woman she took. Jade remembered bitterly. She had chosen to help the boy. Did that mean that, if anything happened to her, it was her fault? No. Thinking like that doesn''t help. That was easy to say to herself, but less so to feel. "The elves say that the rest of them were taken in there." Luis said, jogging over to join them. He stepped around one of the robed men that Aylin had taken alive. At least, Jade assumed it was her doing as the man was restrained by glowing bands of shimmering, blue magic. "Yeah, one of them closed the door on me before I could stop her. She took one of them with her." Jade grimaced, nodding in the direction of the freed prisoners. The boy was holding tightly to the man, who was watching them with a mixture of hope and wariness. "They said something about a ritual." "I captured one of them." Aylin pointed to the restrained man. "There''s a lot of potent necromantic energy coming from behind that door, and I want to know what it is. Can get answers from him?" The magical circuitry of Jade''s ''Allure'' spell was still raw from recent use, but she could feel that it was almost ready. A quick check of her interface gave her the exact timing. About two minutes to go. "I can soon." They kept a wary eye out for any new threats, but if there were other people or monsters in the stronghold, they didn''t come to investigate the battle. Once her spell''s cooldown had elapsed, Jade cast ''Allure'' on the captured cultist. "Soo¡­" Jade knelt in front of the bound man, doing her best to smile sweetly. "I''m in a little trouble here. Do you think you can help?" She spoke in her best approximation of a sultry voice, something she had little practice with. But experience had taught her the importance of the act, so she followed through. "I can make it up to you¡­" She finished, touching his shoulder. The spell took hold easily, her magic slipping into his mind with a subtlety she''d lacked in the past. Jade questioned him under Aylin''s direction, and the man was more than happy to provide answers. It turned out that the freed prisoners were right, the other six elves were being held captive in what was called the ''ritual chamber''. After a few more questions, Jade managed to help Aylin unravel exactly what it was the cultists were doing. "This is worse than I thought." Aylin''s grimace wouldn''t have been out of place on a gargoyle. "They''re trying to raise a bone titan." "What''s a bone titan?" Fenrin asked. "A giant of an undead, created by fusing the remains of dozens, or even hundreds of bodies. They''re infamous for their ability to assimilate slain foes into their form, which makes them larger and more powerful. I''ve heard of wayfarers encountering them on the eighth floor." "Eighth?!" Naomi exclaimed. "I can''t help but notice we''re on the second." "That''s why we need to stop this now. Before they complete their summoning." Aylin said grimly. The mage clenched her fists and shook her head. "The Labyrinth shouldn''t be doing this. Something is very wrong." Jade was getting tired of hearing that; it wasn''t especially helpful. They had to deal with what was happening, not what should be. "How do we get through this door?" Jade asked the charmed cultist. Aylin had dismissed the binding spell once Jade''s enchantment took hold, and the gaunt man was now sitting on the floor beside her, tending to a wound on his arm. He looked up at her with glazed eyes. "The bishop has a key." He said. The man had a surprisingly pleasant voice, considering his appearance. "Where is the bishop?" "In his quarters at the top of the pyramid. Do you want me to go get him?" "No! No, that''s okay." Jade said quickly, as the man got to his feet. "We don''t have time to go wandering through the rest of this dungeon." Aylin murmured to her. "Is there another way in?" Jade asked, as sweetly as she could manage. Putting on a seductive act was hard enough for her by itself. Trying to do so in a blood-stained room littered with corpses made achieving the right mindset even more challenging. "Well¡­" The man hesitated. Jade gave a massive, internal sigh, and ratchetted up the charm even further. "You can tell me anything, you know that, right?" She whispered, leaning close. "Come on, just between you and me? Please?" She gave him a playful wink. Judging by Naomi''s facepalm, it might not have been as cute as she''d intended. "You try it then." she muttered under her breath. "What was that?" The man asked, confused. "Nothing!" she said, clasping her hands behind her back and smiling brightly at him. "Soooo¡­ Can you help us?" Jade didn''t know why she associated ''sultry and charming'' with ''ditzy sorority girl'', but that''s what she was channeling. For some reason, it seemed to work. "Well¡­ I suppose¡­" The cultist said slowly. "Okay, but don''t tell anyone I told you." "Your secret is safe with me." Jade lied with a smile. "If you tap those three stones over there, top to bottom¡­" The man whispered, indicating some tiles near the door. "It''ll unlock the seal on the door without the key. The bishop thinks we don''t know, but we do." "Thanks! Now¡­ Uh¡­ Just stay here for a bit." Jade strode over to the door and tapped out the pattern. There was a soft ''click'', and a mechanism inside the door disengaged. Perfect. She rejoined the group, speaking softly. "Does anyone mind if I drain him?" She glanced at Aylin. "I have certain¡­ needs." "Go ahead." Aylin nodded. "We can''t leave him here." No one else protested, although some of them looked a little uncomfortable. Jade didn''t like it either, but she would do what she had to. "I''m sorry." Jade said to her captive. She could feel his mind straining against her charm spell. At this rate it wouldn''t hold much longer, but it was still in place. "For what?" He asked. She pulled him in for a kiss, breathing in sharply as she did. The pathways for ''Kiss of Night'' ignited in her veins, drawing in his life force and suffusing her with energy. The newly enhanced ''C'' rank version of the spell was far more potent than the old version, and Jade made it quick. A moment later, the man''s lifeless body dropped to the ground, even as she felt the rush from absorbing his essence. She was left with a sense of satisfied release. The man''s emotions had been muted, giving no great bounty for her instincts to latch onto, but it had been enough to take the edge off her growing hunger. "Let''s get going." Aylin said, forestalling any comments. Vamir was eyeing her carefully, but no one said anything else. Luis squeezed her shoulder, and Naomi touched her arm. Jade was grateful for their understanding. The three former captives were less charitable, looking at Jade with renewed suspicion. Nythis, on the other hand, was eyeing her with curious interest. "You three." Fenrin pointed down the passage they had entered from. "That''s the exit. You''ll find help outside. Be careful of traps on your way out, we marked them." "I''m not leaving without-." The man started, but Aylin cut him off. "We''ll get the others. In your state, you''d only get in the way. Leave it to us." The mage''s tone left no room for argument. He swallowed once, bowing his head, and left, taking the others with him. You''re welcome¡­ Jade thought. With Luis''s help, Nythis shoved open the heavy stone door. It revealed another dark passageway lined with more ethereal green torches. It was short, sloping down to another chamber. A cold, dark power emanated from the opening, growing steadily with each passing moment. It was accompanied by faint, distant chanting, the sound of which sent a shiver down Jade''s spine. "Time to put a stop to this." Fenrin said, and led the way in. Chapter 61 The ritual chamber was larger than Jade expected. They exited the short passage at a run, stealth abandoned in favor of putting a stop to the growing buildup of power emanating from just ahead. The room was circular, with a high ceiling and ringed with more giant pillars. Around a dozen robed cultists stood in a ring in the middle of the chamber, chanting arcane words with their hands raised high. Green tendrils of light snaked from their chests, coiling through the air before coalescing at a large emerald gemstone set high into the wall opposite them. More currents of light joined those of the robed figures, and Jade traced them back to a series of barred cells recessed into the walls of the room. They were occupied with the remaining elven prisoners, all of whom lay on the cold stone floor, stirring weakly as energy was siphoned from their bodies. Jade took all this in a moment. The cultists continued their ritual, not one of them turning to face the intruders despite their lack of caution. She hesitated, unsure how to proceed. "They aren''t done yet." Aylin hissed, keeping her voice low as she scanned the room. "Naomi, Nythis, heal the townspeople and help them. The rest of you, we have to stop the spell. Now!" "How do we stop them?" Luis asked. "The easy way." Aylin said grimly. She pointed her wand at the closest of the dozen ritualists, whispered an incantation, and blasted a beam of energy straight into her head. A barrier flickered into being just as the attack reached her, absorbing and dispersing the energy. The woman didn''t even flinch, continuing to chant as if nothing had happened. Aylin cursed under her breath and began casting another spell. "Go!" Jade didn''t need to be told again. They scattered, each making for a different ritualist. As soon as she was more than a few steps into the room, tendrils of green light began wafting from Jade''s body as well, forming into a wavy line that arced up towards the glowing gemstone. A wave of weariness washed over her, as if she''d been awake for a full day without rest. Jade blinked away the notice. She didn''t need to examine the status effect to know what it did, although the fact the system measured it in ''instances'' meant that it probably stacked. They really did need to hurry. She reached her first target, a tall, slender human woman with unnaturally pale skin and wispy hair. Her hood had fallen back, revealing a wrinkled face and glazed over eyes. She gave no reaction to Jade''s approach, nor to the dagger held in her hand. Despite the urgency of the situation, Jade hesitated for a moment. The woman was practically defenseless, and she spent precious seconds overcoming an innate aversion to slaying a helpless foe. This time her demonic instincts were a boon. Jade tapped into the ever-present anger and bloodlust, giving it reign to guide her hand as she struck. It took three attacks to break the woman''s shield, but the fourth one cut her down. She collapsed in a heap, blood spraying from her throat as she spasmed, still gurgling out the words to the ongoing chant as she died. Jade was more than a little disturbed, staring down at the twitching corpse. Was this really just a Labyrinth spirit? The look of conviction¡­ Of devotion in her eyes, it felt too real to be a conjuration. This is fucked up. But that wasn''t anything new, and she pushed the thought out of her mind. She moved on to the next cultist, repeating the process with him. Their team worked efficiently, going about their grim task with detached efficiency. Each ritualist that fell caused a noticeable weakening to the buildup of power in the gemstone above them, although the energy it had already absorbed didn''t seem to be diminishing. Bizarrely, not a single cultist reacted in any way to the slaughter. They each simply stood there, hands raised as if in supplication while they were cut down one by one. By the time the last one fell, the emerald was glowing like a bonfire. Contrary to Jade''s expectations, the wispy tendrils connecting them and the now-freed prisoners to the gem did not dissipate, although they did weaken even further. The feeling of fatigue lessened, but only partially. "What''s going on?" Fenrin asked, reconvening with Jade, Aylin, Luis, and Vamir in the middle of the room. "It hasn''t stopped." "It must have become self-sustaining." Aylin said quickly. She pointed up at the gemstone. "We have to break it." "Any ideas?" Luis asked, shading his eyes against the bright glare and peering up at the brilliant gem. "It''s pretty high up there." "I can lift someone." Aylin said, pointing to the floor directly under it. "Who-?" "I''ll do it." Jade interrupted, already jogging to the spot she indicated. Fenrin joined her. "Me too." "We''ll get them out of here." Luis said, nodding to where Naomi and Nythis were tending to the elves. They''d opened the cells, but most of them appeared too weak to stand. Vamir nodded, and the two of them left at a run.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Jade reached the wall under the gem. The drain effect didn''t seem to be damaging her, at least not directly, but she was growing short of breath. All she wanted to do was sit down and rest for a moment, but she knew that if she did, she wouldn''t be getting up. "You good?" Fenrin panted, wiping sweat from his face. "Peachy." She grunted. Blood dripped from her dagger to the floor. "I''m glad one of us is." "Hang on!" Aylin called over to them. The mage brushed her hand against the spellbook clipped to her belt, channeling the earth magic it contained. The ground rumbled beneath Jade and Fenrin''s feet, cracks spreading out around them. "To wha-!?" Fenrin yelped in surprise as a broad, circular pillar shot up from the floor, carrying him and Jade into the air. He grabbed onto Jade for support, who had little difficulty keeping her balance as they rode the column skyward. It stopped some twenty feet in the air, bringing them to eye level with the glowing gem. "Have you done that before?" Fenrin asked, letting go and looking a little embarassed. "Something like that." She examined the glowing emerald. It was emanating a deep chill, and her fatigue was intensifying with the increased proximity. The translucent tether connecting her to the gem pulsed. Now that she was closer, she could see that its faceted surface was etched with dozens of tiny runes. "What now?" "Smash it." He drew a dagger, reversed his grip on it, and cracked the pommel down hard on the emerald. There was a loud ''clack!'', and the gem flashed once, but it didn''t break. Jade gave it a try next, using the hammer she''d used against the undead. Again, the stone was unharmed. "Keep trying." Jade told him, stepping back and opening her dimensional pouch. "I''ll look for something better." She searched through their gear as Fenrin continued to hammer at the emerald, striking it repeatedly in the same spot. Jade knew little of gems, but this was clearly more resilient than any normal stone should be. It must be magically fortified¡­ What else could they try? She was having trouble thinking clearly through the fatigue. The green light intensified, starting to pulse faster and faster. Down below, Aylin was casting some sort of spell, trying to disrupt whatever was happening. It didn''t seem to be working. They were running out of time. Jade closed her pouch with a curse, reaching instead for the Bag of Mystery. It was time to roll the dice. With a silent prayer, she plunged her hand inside its folds. Her hand emerged clutching a scroll of aged parchment. A quick glance showed the system labelled it as ''Scroll of Invisibility - Consumable''. "Shit." Jade stuffed it into her pouch. "I can''t find anything!" "Help me with this, I have an idea!" Fenrin said. He had wedged the blade of his dagger into the crack between the wall and the gem and was trying to pry it free. "If we can''t break it, maybe we can get it out of here!" It was better than nothing. Jade joined him, jamming one of her own blades into the gap and heaving with him. The green glow grew brighter and the air around them grew colder. Jade braced herself against the wall, heaving as hard as she could, heedless of her precarious perch atop the narrow pillar. Cracks formed on the wall tiles, like branches of lightning. Come on! POP! The emerald snapped free of the wall, thumping to their feet with a loud THUD. Jade picked up the spherical gem, which was surprisingly light, and immediately regretted it. It was freezing cold to the touch, and immediately began leeching warmth from her body at an alarming rate. She dropped it on reflex, gasping and shivering. The gem rolled to the lip of the pillar and fell, crashing to the ground with enough force to crack the stone tiles. The emerald itself remained intact and undamaged, still drawing in energy. "What will it take to break this thing?!" Jade gasped, still shuddering from the lingering, deathly chill. "Aylin! Bring us down! We''ll get it out of here!" The mage lowered them back to the ground with a wave of her wand, still focused on whatever enchantment she was casting. The others were carrying the freed prisoners from the room, but it wasn''t going quickly. The light from the gem was now as bright as the sun, and Jade felt a pulse of power from it. It was about to unleash its energy, there was no way they could carry it anywhere useful in time. Not when they couldn''t even touch it. Jade hopped to the ground before the pillar had even lowered them to the halfway point, landing with a roll. She grabbed it again, this time wrapping her hands in the remains of an old shirt to prevent it from touching her skin. In a sudden burst of inspiration, she shoved the entire bundle into the mouth of the Bag of Mystery. An unseen force resisted her, as if the pouch itself were unwilling to accept the energized gem, but Jade ignored it. She pushed with all her strength, forcing the sphere into the bag. The blinding light vanished, and the frigid chill faded away over the next few moments. Jade hardly noticed, because now the bag was pulsing with the same sickly green energy. She dropped it to the ground, backing away. Before she could take more than a couple steps, a blast of green light emanated from the mouth of the pouch. It washed over the room in a chill wave before that too faded away, leaving the room still at last. Everyone was staring at the discarded bag, as if expecting it to explode. Smoke curled from its surface, which was blackened and charred. After several long moments, Jade cautiously approached it. She prodded it with her foot, and it flopped over, inert. Jade gingerly picked it up, ready to drop it if it proved dangerous. She immediately noticed that the ''question mark'' icon that had been stitched into the bag''s material was now a skull. Uh oh¡­ "Is it¡­ over?" Fenrin asked tentatively. The rest of the party was making their way towards them now, regrouping near the entrance. Jade caught Naomi giving her a look that said ''what did you do this time?'' Which, of course, was completely unwarranted. Before anyone could respond to Fenrin, the ground shook. Dust fell from the ceiling, and pebbles clattered down around them. Jade closed her eyes. "We''re never that lucky." The ground shook again, and a web of cracks appeared in the center of the chamber. The floor bowed upwards, forming a small hill. "If you''re going to adventure with us, amigo." Luis shook his head at Fenrin. "You have to learn not to say things like that." The dark energy filling the room had been greatly diminished when they''d dispatched the cultists, and again when Jade disposed of the gem, but it hadn''t disappeared entirely. Jade felt the remnant of it rush down, seeping into the stone in a vortex of power. For a long moment, everything was still. And then an enormous, bone white arm ripped through the floor in a shower of stone and dust. Chapter 62 The monstrous limb slammed down onto the floor, followed quickly by another arm. The ground rumbled, quaking and sending everyone staggering away. Jade managed to keep her feet, but most of her companions weren''t so fortunate. The two skeletal limbs heaved as if they were doing a push up and the ground cracked again, louder this time, debris flying in every direction as a massive form ripped itself free from beneath the floor. Jade dove to the side, narrowly avoiding a chunk of stone that went hurtling past her head. A loud CRASH echoed through the chamber, and she looked up just in time to see a large part of the far wall crumble, falling outward. Sunlight poured through the breach, banishing the shadows cast by the dancing green flames. The sudden brightness was so unexpected that Jade had to shield her eyes from it and blink away stars. By the time she''d regained her bearings, the monster was standing fully upright. As the dust began to clear, Jade got her first good look at it. The creature was, unsurprisingly, comprised of bone and had a humanoid form, but its similarities to the other skeletons ended there. What Jade had taken for a single, enormous forearm was actually comprised of hundreds, maybe thousands of smaller, human sized bones. All of them were fused together, interwoven to create a larger whole. Its entire body was formed in that manner, the melded remains of untold masses combined to create a single, terrifying, 20-foot-tall monstrosity. Level 24?! Aylin had mentioned this stronghold was unusually powerful for the second floor, but the mage had been confident that the monsters within wouldn''t be C rank. Apparently, she''d been mistaken. The one saving grace was that, true to its title, the monster appeared incomplete. Its left arm was missing a hand, merely ending at the wrist. Half of its ribs were missing, and even a large chunk of its skull-like face appeared to be absent. Even as Jade watched, a cascade of the monster''s constituent bones fell away in a white wave, clattering to the ground with a series of disturbing clicking sounds. "Are you sure we can fight this?!" Fenrin called. The half-elf was nearby, one of the few apart from Jade who hadn''t been knocked to the ground by the heaving floor. "We can!" Aylin replied, regaining her feet and smoothing out her robe. She cast a critical eye at their foe. "It''s weaker than it looks." "You know what they say¡­" Luis said, hefting his new enchanted sword. "The bigger they are¡­" Before Luis could finish, the monster brought one of its arms down in a heavy slam that shook the room again. Its large mouth opened, and black smoke billowed out, sweeping across the chamber in an expanding cloud that clung to the ground. Jade braced herself as the dark mist rushed past her, but all she felt was a slight chill. For a moment, she relaxed slightly. Perhaps it really was weaker than it looked, in its incomplete state. Movement caught the corner of her eye, and she turned to see one of the cultist''s bodies bubbling. She watched in growing horror as the corpse dissolved, leaving only a pile of bones that began to slide towards the enormous monster, pulled by some invisible force. A similar scene played out all around the room, every lifeless body the mist touched melted away and the remains drawn to the bone titan, assimilating into its form. Jade and her friends remained unaffected, as did most of the captured townspeople they''d come to save. Two of them, though, joined the cultists'' fate. Jade was pretty sure they''d already been dead, at the very least neither of them had moved during the rescue, but the sight was still profoundly disturbing. Aylin shouted a command and, before the newly collected bones were even fully assimilated into the titan''s body, they all began raining attacks on the monstrous undead. Blasts of fire and magical energy impacted its chest, and Fenrin''s arrows slammed into its head. Jade swallowed her fear and dashed forward, weapons at the ready. Vamir joined her, curved sword drawn. Her light hammer seemed wholly inadequate in the face of such a vast creature, but even the first volley of attacks was having a noticeable effect on their foe. It staggered back under the barrage, fractured bones raining down to splinter against the stone tiles. Aylin''s right. Jade realized as she closed with the monster. She had to be mindful of its footfalls, as they were likely powerful enough to crush her. It''s weak. We can take it! Weak was a relative term, but the monster''s ''incomplete'' status was obviously inhibiting it. Jade finally drew close enough to strike but had only just started hammering away at the creature when it did something completely unexpected. Rather than striking back, responding to their attacks with powerful swipes or more dark magic, the bone titan turned away from them. Moving with surprising speed considering its size, it crashed its way through the new gap in the chamber wall, exiting the hall and forcing its way outside the dungeon.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Jade skidded to a stop next to Vamir, confused into inaction at the sudden turn of events. Her heart was still pounding in anticipation of a climactic battle. Was it repositioning to a better place to strike them from? No, it really was leaving. Jade watched as the monster squeezed its way through the large gap, turned, and disappeared out of sight. She glanced around the chamber, seeing that everyone else looked just as confused as she did. "Hey! Come back here!" Nythis shouted, running after the monster. "I''m not done with you!" "Uhh¡­ Where''s it going?" Luis asked, sword still held at the ready. "I don''t know, but it''s far too dangerous to let it get away." Aylin said, making to follow the elven druid. "After it!" Before they made it more than a few steps, a chill wind swirled through the chamber. Violet light began coalescing above the dark puddles that were all that remained of the corpses the titan had harvested, quickly forming into a humanoid shape. One of them was only a dozen feet from Jade, the spectral form twisting and growling as it dragged itself up from the pool. "That doesn''t look good!" Naomi called, still running for the breach with Aylin. "Leave them!" The mage shouted. "If it can make more of them, we need to destroy it before it does!" "What if they go after the elves?!" Jade said, hesitating. She looked between the emerging form of the shade, her departing friends, and the tunnel through which they''d been escorting the rescued prisoners. Those people were weak, and none of them were in any shape to run, let alone fight spirits. Aylin slowed, cursing. Before she could reply, Vamir spoke. "I''ll stay." He said, changing course to intercept the closest of the newly risen monsters. "Go!" The elf''s curved blade flashed in a silver arc, a ripple of energy separating from the weapon and slicing into the specter. It exploded in a burst of purple light, leaving behind only an echoing wail. That was enough for Jade. She took off at a sprint, chasing after the fleeing boss monster with the rest of her party.
Luis didn''t know where the giant monster was going, but he doubted the undead monstrosity intended to live a life of peace. He was the first one to emerge from the newly created breach in the pyramid wall and was just in time to see the lumbering form of the bone titan disappear around the closest corner of the structure. "This way!" He pointed, running after it. He needn''t have bothered, the monster''s footfalls were sending noticeable tremors through the ground. None of them were in danger of losing track of it. "Are boss monsters usually this shy?" He asked Fenrin, who was right behind him, as they charged after their retreating foe. "Not in my experience!" He said, bow in hand. "Mimi, keep an eye on it!" The multicolored bird chirped once, launching from the half-elf''s shoulder and taking to the sky. "Was it something I said?" "Not the time, Luis." Jade panted, catching up to them. Her face bore a worried expression. "I think we''re at the back of the pyramid." "Yeah? So?" "It''s going towards the front." Fenrin''s eyes widened. "The reserve team!" Now Luis understood. He pumped his legs harder, speeding up to full on sprint as he rounded the corner of the massive structure. The giant was already most of the way to the front of the stronghold, and the gap wasn''t shrinking quickly. With such long strides, it was difficult to keep up with. He tried anyway, pulling away from the rest of the party as he fought to catch up. The hulking monster disappeared around the next corner, but Luis was hot on its tail. Just a little more! He didn''t have time to think about what would happen if this thing ran into the group of novices they''d left to watch their backs, but he knew it wouldn''t be good. They didn''t have enchanted armor, or a suite of combat spells and magical weapons. He rounded the corner seconds after his quarry, closely followed by his companions. Immediately, Luis noticed that the bone titan wasn''t making for the rear guard, most of whom were fearfully retreating from the unexpected arrival of the stronghold boss itself. Instead, it made a beeline for the battlefield in front of the fortress where they''d fought their way into the structure. It wasn''t until it slammed its fist down and summoned another cloud of black smoke that he finally realized what it was doing. It''s looking for more parts! Sure enough, the scattered bones of the defeated skeletons began sliding towards the creature, animated as soon as a tendril of necrotic mist brushed them. They clattered into place on its body, melding into the greater whole like pieces of a macabre puzzle coming together. Click clack click clack! Luis was simultaneously relieved the monster wasn''t massacring the people they''d left to watch the entrance and deeply worried at the rate at which it was assembling itself into a more complete form. Pulling up its status window as he ran, Luis saw that the percentage next to its name had increased to (61%). He had no intention of waiting to find out what happened when that number reached (100%). Now that the monster had stopped to do¡­ whatever creepy magic it was doing, the gap between them was closing quickly. Luis squeezed the hilt of his new enchanted weapon, steeling himself to charge into battle. It wasn''t something he could have done on his own, but he had trusted companions at his back. Before he could reach the creature, though, motion caught his eye. Two figures separated from the main body of the retreating group and were charging the bone titan. It was two of the younger elves, the pair that Luis had seen Fenrin get out of trouble during the initial clash. The woman brandished her hammer and shouted something at the boss, which had just finished assimilating the last of the scattered remains into its form. They rushed it, hacking at its legs with powerful blows that sent small, hairline cracks spreading across its lower body. "Get back!" Luis shouted, pumping mana into his legs and activating ''Guardian Burst''. He leapt forward in a sudden burst of speed, changing course to intercept the two reckless warriors. "Wait for us!" He was too slow. The bone titan turned its head to regard the pair of trainees with its dark, empty eye sockets. Then, with a speed that belied its great bulk, it lifted its foot, and sent it crashing down on them. Chapter 63 Tiahla was just as surprised as everyone else when the source of the loud, rhythmic thumping sound turned out to be an enormous undead behemoth. Kymil was quick to give the order to fall back, and the frightened group began slowly retreating from the approaching monster. Tiahla moved with them, staring at the creature with horrified fascination. At first, she had no idea where the creature had come from. That changed once she examined it. It''s the stronghold boss?! Had something horrible happened to Fenrin''s group? Is that why the boss had left the dungeon, and why it looked damaged? She focused again, seeing that the system labeled it as ''incomplete''. As she watched, the indicator began to rise. The monster was harvesting remains from the undead they''d defeated to restore itself! "Taeres, come on!" she urged, starting forward. "We can''t let it recover!" "Tiahla!" Her friend said, trying to pull her back. "We¡­ We can''t take that on." "We have to try while it''s still weak!" He hesitated for a split second longer, and then nodded. That was enough for her. Tiahla took off at a run, hoping to reach it before it finished whatever recovery ability it was channeling. Wherever it had come from, this boss was an unheard-of level 24. A creature like this could devastate their village, and Tiahla wasn''t about to let it get to full strength. They had a chance to stop it now, before it could hurt anyone! If she and Taeres could distract it for long enough, the others could chip away at it with arrows and spells. "Wait!" Kymil shouted from behind her. "We''ll distract it while you take it down!" The elf''s body trembled with suppressed fear, but determination overcame it. Heroes didn''t hesitate. Together, she and Taeres tore across the open space in front of the stronghold''s entrance, avoiding the clouds of dark mist the monster had summoned. They were already dissipating, and the two of them reached it before it finished assimilating the animated remains. Tiahla got the first strike in, bashing the monster''s leg with a two-handed blow from her hammer. Taeres followed suit a moment later, striking at the same spot. Cracks radiated from the impact, growing larger with each swing. Above, arrows began pelting the bone titan''s head and chest, splintering against its hardened body. It wavered under the assault, falling back a step and raising its arms defensively. "We can do this!" Tiahla said, backing away. She was still scared, but they were doing well. The monster was starting to move faster now, having finished channeling whatever restorative magic it had been using. Now it was time to back off, to keep its attention away from the others. "Keep moving!" "One more!" Her friend''s eyes were alight with purpose. The monster''s leg was badly cracked, the woven network of bones starting to come apart. One more good hit there¡­ "Taraes, no!" Her warning came too late. Before Taeres could swing again, the bone titan''s foot came off the ground. Even so, if he had dodged then, he might have been fast enough. Instead, the elf tried to swing up with an awkward lunge that left him off balance and exposed. The foot came down with all the force of an avalanche, and Taeres disappeared in an eruption of spraying blood. No¡­ It didn''t feel real. Tiahla just stood there, staring at where her friend had been standing a moment ago. That couldn''t have just happened. It couldn''t have. The enormous foot lifted back into the air and moved towards her. Tiahla didn''t even notice, her attention fixated on the bloody smear that, moments ago, had been her friend. A shadow passed over her, and she was dimly aware of someone shouting nearby. Part of her knew she should care, but the young elf couldn''t tear her gaze away from the grizzly scene. The bone titan brought its foot down on her. Tiahla closed her eyes- And was suddenly thrown to the side as something heavy slammed into her, knocking her to the ground. WHAM The ground heaved with the force of an impact so mighty, it threw her into the air. Tiahla landed hard, winded, and looked up to see a man, one of the human wayfarers who had joined them, standing under the bone titan''s enormous foot. His arms were up, holding it at bay even as he was driven to one knee. Luis''s muscles bulged, a conjured shield crackling and sparking as it fought to dampen the immense pressure bearing down on him.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Hraaaaaaah!" Luis roared, pushing with all his strength. Maybe the monster was off-balance, caught in an unstable position. Or maybe, being comprised only of bone, it wasn''t quite as heavy as it looked. All Tiahla knew was that somehow, in a contest of strength between a lone man and a giant monster born from her darkest nightmares, the man prevailed. Inch by inch, Luis regained his feet. His legs trembled with the strain, until with one final, mighty shove, he pushed the undead giant back. It staggered away, hissing, taking two faltering steps before crashing to the forest floor with all the force of a collapsing building.
Jade turned the corner of the stronghold just in time to see the giant''s foot come down on top of Luis. She stumbled, breath catching in her throat, until she realized that he hadn''t been crushed by the attack. Instead, he had caught it. She could hardly believe what she was seeing, a feeling that intensified when Luis threw the monster back, sending it toppling over. He collapsed a moment later, falling to the ground next to the elven woman he had saved. Perhaps the smart thing to do would have been rush to the downed enemy, striking it while it was vulnerable. Indeed, Jade''s demonic spirit urged her to do just that. The sight of a wounded, compromised foe was enough to send her blood pounding through her veins, drawing her like a shark to its prey. Her heart, however, beat to a different rhythm. Luis groaned, rolling onto his back and clutching at one leg, and she couldn''t bring herself to ignore him. Making a snap decision, she skidded to a stop next to her friend, leaving the others to take advantage of the situation. "Luis!" Jade dropped to her knees beside him. "Are you alright?!" She already had a healing potion in hand, unstoppering it and offering it to him. Luis''s armor was cracked, blue sparks emanating from the damage. One of his legs was bent at an odd angle, and he was cradling his left wrist to his chest. Even so, he managed a weak smile. "I''ve been worse." Jade relaxed slightly. If he could make jokes, he couldn''t be too bad. Although, that was just who he was. "Here. Drink." In the background, arrows, spells, and other projectiles were being launched at the bone titan, which was struggling back to its feet under the increasing barrage. Jade itched to join the fight, but it could wait another moment. Beside them, the elven woman was staring at the puddle of gore that was all that remained of her friend. Silent tears spilled down her face, the only outward sign of her anguish. Luis accepted the vial, quaffing it in a single gulp. Color began returning to his face, and he lowered his eyes. "I couldn''t¡­" "Later." Jade cut him off. They didn¡¯t have time for a discussion. He was okay. For now, that was all she could concern herself with. She stood, making to rejoin the battle with the stronghold boss, when a familiar hissing sound reached her ears. Violet light rose from the ground in the open area in front of the stronghold, coalescing into more spectral forms. It was the same as in the dungeon, each set of remains the bone titan assimilated left behind a monstrous apparition. "I''ll be fine." Luis managed to get to his knees, pointing to where the rest of their party was engaging the boss a short distance into the forest. "Go. Help them." Jade hesitated. Several of the specters, translucent, ghostly beings with glowing eyes and wicked claws, had been summoned nearby. Most turned towards the larger group of the rear guard, which had just noticed the new threat, but a couple were moving in their direction. "But-" "Go!" Jade spun to face the elf, noticing for the first time that she lacked the ''timeless'' quality that most of the others had. Her face was young, her eyes bright rather than deep. Right now, they were filled with sorrow. She didn''t know if that meant she was very young, or even what ''young'' meant for an elf. Right now, she didn''t care. "You! Keep him safe!" She commanded the stranger. The girl just looked back at her with a blank expression, tears still streaming down her face. "Keep him safe." She repeated, this time channeling the potent magic of her demonic heritage into the words. The elf''s eyes glazed over, her tears slowing. "Y-yes. Okay." That was good enough for Jade. She ignored the sharp look Luis gave her, taking off to rejoin her companions. It was then that she noticed the battle had stopped. Not because one side had emerged victorious, but because the bone titan had, once again, left. She easily caught up to Aylin and the others, all of them pursuing the enormous creature as it crashed through the forest like a giant bulldozer, blasting through trees and leaving a swathe of destruction in its wake. "Where the hell is this thing going?" Jade demanded, slowing to keep pace with them. She flicked her tail back and forth as she ran, using it to stay balanced as they navigated the rugged terrain. "I¡­ don''t¡­ know¡­" Aylin panted, already starting to run out of breath. The mage wasn''t the most athletic woman, and a sheen of perspiration coated her brow. "I think¡­ it''s trying¡­ to finish¡­ itself!" "So, it''s still looking for more bodies?" Fenrin asked. He was running alongside them, Mirella flapping over his head. "I think¡­ so!" "It''s headed towards Lysara!" Nythis called from right behind them. Jade ducked under a low hanging branch, confused. That didn''t make any sense to her. There were plenty of people for it to fight right here. Why would it go all the way to the village for it to complete itself? Unless¡­ Unless whatever force animated it compelled it to complete itself with the dead before it engaged with the living. "Is there a graveyard? A burial ground there?" Nythis nodded, her brow furrowed in concern. Somewhere along the way, she had lost her enthusiasm for this venture. Jade knew the feeling. "It must¡­ be able to¡­ sense it somehow." Aylin said, using as little air as possible. "We have to stop it!" Naomi said from the rear of the group. The bard didn''t look much better than Aylin. She launched a blast of fire into the fleeing monster''s back. It hit home with a sizzle, but it would take more than that to bring it down. Ahead, the bone titan continued to stampede through the forest. The thick underbrush posed little impediment to a creature of its size, unlike its pursuers. They weren''t going to catch it. Not like this. "Stay on it." Jade said, putting on a burst of speed and pulling ahead of the others. "I''ll slow it down." "Jade, what are you-?" Naomi started, but Jade was too far away to hear the rest. With the racial boost from her demon form, Jade''s agility was a formidable ''20'', and her fortitude wasn''t lacking either. Kicking her pace into high gear, she left the others in the dust. The monster before her drew nearer as her friends fell away, growing larger with each passing moment. Now, she just had to get its attention. Chapter 64 Trees and foliage flashed by in a blur as Jade continued her relentless pursuit. If she''d had a mind to consider it, the succubus would have been awed by the sheer speed her magically enhanced body was able to maintain. On open ground she would have been able to go even faster, but the forest floor was littered with impediments. Even so, Jade''s high agility score allowed her to navigate the complex terrain with superhuman finesse, leaping fallen trees and dancing through thickets with grace born from years of hard training. Step by step, she drew closer to her foe. The bone titan continued to smash its way through the forest, travelling in a direct line and simply charging through anything that got in its way. This was both a blessing and a curse. The monster''s progress was slowed each time it ploughed through a tree, but it also left a swath of debris that was no mean feat to navigate at speed. At least, that was the case for the rest of Jade''s companions. Step by step, she drew closer to her foe. Jade was near enough now to feel the ground vibrating with its heavy footfalls. The monster towered over her, nearly as tall as some of the shorter trees. It continued its mindless course, giving no indication that it knew or cared about her proximity. Jade wasn''t exactly sure how far away Lysara was, they''d taken something of a roundabout route to reach the stronghold, but she had a feeling that it wouldn''t take long to reach the elven village at this breakneck pace. Which meant she had to halt its advance now, before it reached the nearly undefended village. The giant undead crashed through another tree, sending a shower of splinters in every direction. The impact slowed it for just a moment, and Jade dipped into her dwindling reserves of energy to put on a burst of speed. With a final leap, she flung herself onto the bottom of one of the creature''s legs, clinging to one of the many protrusions extending from the amalgamation of bones that comprised its body. Jade''s chest heaved from the exertion of a prolonged sprint, her heart thundering in her ears, accompanying the pounding smash of the bone titan''s footfalls. She hung on for dear life as she was jerked back and forth by its swinging legs, immediately channeling mana into the quickest spell in her arsenal that had a chance to slow it down. "Noctis!" She gasped, pressing her palm against its leg. If she''d been trying to aim the spell at a sprint against a moving target, there was a better than even chance that it would''ve missed. Invoking the magic while touching her quarry eliminated that risk. A cloud of dark fog sprayed from Jade''s hand, swirling around the boss''s body and coalescing around its giant skull. The D rank ''Clinging Darkness'' spell was barely potent enough to affect such a powerful creature, but at these high speeds, it only needed to work for a moment. Just as Jade hoped, even a brief instance of blindness was enough. The bone titan clipped a sturdy tree with its shoulder, the impact sending it reeling into another one. This time it hit head-on, stopping dead in its tracks with a mighty crash that sent pieces of broken branches and bone showering down around them. Jade barely managed to maintain her grip on the creature, her feet slipping free from their perch and leaving her dangling by her fingertips. That get your attention? She thought with a savage grin. The thrill of battle welled up within her, but Jade refused to let it consume her. With a grunt, Jade swung herself back into place, glancing up at the towering boss. Before it could recover from the impact, she began scaling its body as she would a rock face, scrambling up as quickly as her limbs could carry her. Just like the weaker skeleton''s she''d fought, ''Vital Strike'' revealed a singular vulnerability on this monster: The top of its spine. Unfortunately, that wasn''t so easily reached on a creature the size a of small building. Jade''s enhanced stats made her nearly as fast a climber as she was a runner, and she was more than halfway up the bone titan''s back before it finally noticed her. It growled, a deep rumbling sound that reverberated through its form, and reached back with its fully formed arm to scrape her off. The monster''s enormous ribs provided ample footing for maneuvering, and Jade hopped to the side just in time to avoid being pierced by its grasping fingers, each of which were the length of a spear. It missed by inches, and Jade used the opening to scamper up the remaining distance to its neck, flicking her tail back and forth to maintain balance. Drawing her hammer, she got a firm grip on a handhold and brought the weapon down hard on the back of its neck. A resounding crack echoed through the forest, accompanied by a spiderweb of hairline fractures that spread across the monster''s spine. She struck again and again, slamming the vulnerable point repeatedly with the strongest blows she could muster from her awkward perch. A flash of movement caught her eye. It was the monster''s other arm, reaching back over its shoulder to smash her against its body. She noticed it too late to dodge. Acting purely on reflex, Jade moved in the only way she could to avoid being crushed. Leaping clear of the wounded boss, the succubus flung herself into open air. The monster''s limb swiped across where she''d been hanging just a moment before, and Jade grasped on to its enormous forearm, hanging precariously dozens of feet above the forest floor. She lost her grip on her hammer during the maneuver and it fell away, disappearing into the foliage beneath her. Before Jade could do anything more than adjust her grip, she found herself being swept around to the monster''s front. It raised its arm to bring her to eye level, the enormous empty sockets of its eyes boring into her with a palpable malevolence. The monster was terrifying to behold. Its oversized head was comprised of dozens, maybe hundreds of actual humanoid skulls, all interlocked together to form a macabre tapestry of death.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Jade''s heart fluttered in fear, her focus wavering as finally, the monster brought its full attention to bear on her. I can''t beat this thing¡­ Doubt wormed its way into her mind. Jade''s resolve faltered, her fingers slipping from her precarious perch. With no other options, Jade turned to the only source of strength she possessed that could overcome such overwhelming adversity. Gritting her teeth, she let loose the leash on her demonic fury. The monster''s other arm was rushing towards her, on course to swat her out of the air and send her crashing down to the ground far below. Jade tried to heave herself up and out of the way, but her hesitation had cost her precious moments. She wasn''t going to make it. Something small crackled past her with incredible speed, passing between her and the bone titan''s head. An arrow slammed into the monster''s onrushing arm, discharging a blast on lightning that crackled across its body. It flinched, and the impact was just enough to throw off its aim. Jade tucked her legs up to her chest as its strike flashed under her, narrowly missing. "We''re coming!" Fenrin''s voice shouted from the trees behind her, followed by another arrow. "Hang on!" A feral smile graced Jade''s lips. The sudden attack had distracted the monster, leaving it vulnerable. With one smooth motion Jade completed the pull up and swung herself on top of the monster''s enormous arm. The bumpy, rounded form of its forearm made for treacherous footing, but she rose to her feet with confidence. Hot fury coursed through her veins, igniting a fierce desire to not just defeat this monster, but to utterly destroy it. This creature dared to stand against her? It was time to teach it a lesson. Jade drew a dagger from her belt, sprinting down the length of its arm, wings flared for balance. The bone titan hissed, its eye sockets flashing with a burst of green flames. It swung its arm in a wide arc, dislodging Jade before she could reach its main body and flinging her towards a towering tree. She didn''t even have to think. Her body spun in the air, positioning her to land feet first against the massive trunk. Its other arm was already rushing towards her, but Jade didn''t lose in a contest of speed. With a burst of mana she blinked away, dashing up the trunk of the tree and leaving a glimmering illusion behind. SMASH The huge undead pulverized the tree where she''d landed a moment before, obliterating her duplicate and sending the top half of the tree toppling towards the ground. Jade ran along the trunk of the falling tree, skillfully keeping her footing as the world rotated around her. One! Two! Three quick steps on the plummeting trunk carried her to just the right spot, and Jade leapt again, this time arcing over the bone titan''s head. She twisted in the air, spinning to slash her dagger across its cracked and weakened neck. Damn it! She had overshot it. Not by much, but her momentum had carried her a hair too far. She swung anyway, lunging in midair in a desperate attempt to land a decisive blow. Jade willed the blade to reach her target, pushing as hard as she could. Something shifted around her. Jade''s aura, that nebulous shroud of mana that she was still growing accustomed to, rushed down her outstretched arm in a sudden wave. It crystalized around her blade, the mana responding to her will like a living part of her body. The result was a glowing lance of blue energy that wreathed her dagger, substantially extending her reach. There was no time to ponder the sudden manifestation. Bolstered with a surge of renewed strength, Jade swung for all she was worth as she dove past the bone titan''s head. She was still too far. The tip of her newly elongated blade scraped across the monster''s vulnerable spine, scoring only a shallow groove as she fell past it. Jade gritted her teeth in frustration, preparing for a hard landing. But she didn''t need to. A pillar of earth was rising to meet her, protruding from the ground as a rounded column that rocketed up to meet her as she began to fall. Trust your team. You don''t have to do it all by yourself. Christina''s words echoed through her mind. It broke through the haze of anger and frustration, and Jade smiled tightly. Thanks, Aylin. I''ll take it from here. Jade flipped in the air, landing feet first on the column of dirt. The impact was jarring, sending a lance of pain through her legs, but she held firm. The bone titan was starting to turn towards her, but it was too slow. The pillar was rising fast, and Jade jumped again, flinging herself back towards her foe. This time, she timed it perfectly. Soaring through the air with a roar, Jade plunged her glowing mana blade into the center of the creature''s spine. It penetrated easily, and she buried the dagger up to its hilt with a single, savage thrust. It was too much for the monster to take. Cracks rippled through its entire body as if it were made of glass and, a moment later, the entire creature came apart. Bones split and fragmented, cascading down in a massive wave that crashed to the forest floor. Jade rode the tide down as best she could. She hit the ground hard and went sprawling, rolling into a thicket of bushes that snagged and tugged at her wings. She finally came to a rest lying faceup in a patch of dirt, breathing hard. Her body ached all over, and several scratches and scrapes dripped with blood. She hardly noticed. Her aura shifted back to normal, the flickering blue blade dissolving into wisps of smoke. Numerous notifications flashed through her vision, but she pushed them aside for the moment. Jade took a deep breath, trying to slow her thundering heart. Holy shit. She''d done it. Her heart swelled with triumph, but something was tainting it. It took Jade several moments to parse exactly what she was feeling and, when she finally did, the discovery was unsettling. The thrill of victory and success wasn''t enough for her, not entirely. Her succubus instincts, which she had unleashed in the fight, were unsatisfied. There had been no emotion to drink from her unfeeling victim, nothing to sate the ever-present hunger. It was still there, twisting and yearning, a lust for power and dominance. Pounding footsteps approached. "Jade!" Naomi called out. "Are you okay?!" Jade forced away the unpleasant feelings. She''d fed recently enough that her hunger was still manageable, but the sensation was uncomfortable. It lingered in the back of her mind, subdued, but not dispersed. "Jade?" Fenrin called. "Here!" She finally answered, sitting up. "I''m alright." They''d won. For now, that was all that mattered. There''d be time to sort through the rest of it later. Chapter 65 All in all, seven of the ten captured villagers survived their incarceration at the hands of the undead to return to Lysara. Two of them had been so weakened by the draining magic the cultists inflicted on them that they''d been unable to recover, and another had been slain in an escape attempt before Jade and her companions even arrived. The two dozen members of the expedition fared better, losing only Taraes, the young elf who had tried to fight the bone titan along with his friend. According to Aylin, now that the boss monster of the stronghold had been defeated no more Labyrinth spirits would manifest within the dungeon, whether humanoid or undead. Unfortunately, that didn''t mean that all the monsters it had already created disappeared. The expedition spent the rest of the day clearing the stronghold chambers and the surrounding area of any stragglers, none of which posed any real threat to the large teams tasked with cleaning up. By the time Fenrin called a halt the sun was hanging low in the sky, plunging the land beneath the forest canopy into a world of dancing shadows. The expedition regrouped near the now-empty pyramid and, after a quick headcount, began the hike back to town. The long day of fighting had left Jade exhausted, but neither she nor her friends voiced any complaints. The last thing any of them wanted was to spend the night near the stronghold. So, they pushed on, breaking out lanterns and torches to light the way as evening shifted to twilight. Jade''s mood had finally stabilized, but it had taken hours for the latent lust for emotional energy to fade. She didn''t want to think about how much worse it would''ve been if she hadn''t fed so recently. The experience had her reconsidering the frequency at which she needed to drain people, whether they were volunteers, as Aylin suggested, or enemies. The group had only just set off for Lysara when Aylin approached Jade, moving to join her towards the back of the procession. "You took down that boss almost singlehandedly." The mage said without preamble. Jade couldn''t tell if the remark was meant as praise or a reproach and was too tired to care. "I got lucky." She replied with a shrug. "My plan was to slow it down so the rest of you could catch up." There hadn''t been much time to talk after the battle, Fenrin had roped everyone into securing the surrounding area after only the briefest of rests. It had been the right call, as the woods near the stronghold were teaming with monsters that, left to their own devices, would have been a lingering menace to the region. Aylin didn''t reply for several moments. When she finally did, her expression was thoughtful. "I''m not so sure." "What do you mean?" "I felt your aura during the fight. You manifested it, didn''t you?" Jade thought back to how her mana had solidified around her dagger, sheathing it in sizzling energy. She''d tried to replicate the effect a couple of times during the day, without success. "I''m not sure what that was." Jade admitted. Aylin was by far the most knowledgeable person she knew when it came to magic, so Jade took a minute to explain what had happened. Nearby, Luis, Naomi, and Fenrin listened with interest. "I thought so." Aylin said after Jade had finished. She shook her head slowly. "Less than a month of using magic, and you''re already manifesting aura blades¡­ What kind of life did you live on your world?" "What''s an aura blade?" Luis asked before Jade replied. "A term used for your aura, your personal mana field, given physical form and used as a weapon." Aylin explained, holding one of her hands palm up in front of them. She furrowed her brow in concentration, summoning a small sphere of crackling blue energy that hovered just above her hand. "It''s a relatively advanced technique in aura control. Raw mana of any grade has a very high energy density, which makes it quite destructive. They aren''t without their downsides, though. Manifesting your aura directly rapidly drains mana, and even the slightest lapse of focus will cause them to dissipate. Anyone can learn to do it, with enough practice, but it comes much easier to some people than others." "I haven''t been able to do it again." Jade admitted. "I''m not really sure how it happened to begin with." "I''m far from an expert in that field." Aylin shrugged. "Someone like Serrethis Rhysten would be a better source of information. You should talk to him before leaving town." Jade nodded. She''d already been planning on asking Lysara''s resident veteran wayfarer for some real combat instruction. The more battles she fought in, the more Jade realized that the basic weapon proficiencies and magical enhancements the Labyrinth granted were useless if you didn''t know how to employ them properly. "Still¡­" Aylin continued softly. "You must have an impressive level of unity in your mind and body to instinctively exert that kind of control over your aura." Naomi and Luis chimed in as well, complimenting her on her victory over the boss. Jade waved them away, embarrassed at the attention. ''Unity'' of body and mind, Aylin had said? That description resonated with Jade, who had spent the better part of the last decade training the ability to precisely control every aspect of her body, down to the smallest movements. Until last year¡­ she thought, bitterly. Memories of pain, frustration, and seething injustice flashed through her mind. Even now, weeks after her transformation had restored her ankle, the scars lingered. Jade would never regain the opportunity she''d lost. Despite everything that had happened to her since arriving in the Labyrinth, events that made her old life seem meaningless and mundane, that pain persisted. The conversation lapsed, and Jade finally turned her attention to the mass of notifications blinking in the corner of her vision. Judging by the focused looks on her companion''s faces, they were doing the same. The next notification was practically the same, as Jade also had a generic quest for conquering any stronghold. This second one came with more experience points and 1,000 crescent coins, which Jade scooped into her dimensional pouch. She helped Naomi and Luis gather their rewards too. Those rewards, combined with the coins the bone titan had yielded when she''d looted its remains to obtain the floor key, came to a tidy sum. Jade wasn''t quite sure how the economy worked in the Labyrinth but, judging by the prices she''d seen in Lysara, she suspected they''d just gone from destitute to being fairly well off in one fell swoop.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Adventuring is lucrative¡­ She mused, clicking past a follow-up quest to conquer another two strongholds. At least we get something for risking our lives. The floor key fragment she''d obtained was much the same as the one generated by the giant spider they''d fought on the first floor, with one noteworthy difference. The Voice of the Labyrinth now indicated that forging the key fragment into an actual floor key that could unlock a stairway to the third floor required two fragments, instead of the one the first floor required. That advancing further into the Labyrinth got progressively more difficult wasn''t especially surprising, but details were good. It looked like they''d have to defeat another boss before being able to proceed to the third floor. The next pair of notices concerned her Bag of Mystery, which she had gingerly collected after returning to the pyramid. Jade didn''t remember seeing that one. She must have dismissed it instinctively when rushing to try and dispose of the strange, glowing crystal. The message left her a little confused, though, since the bag had taken the item. The next message cleared up her misunderstanding. Jade looked suspiciously down at the blackened, skull-marked bag cinched to her belt alongside her dimensional pouch. Before proceeding through the rest of her notifications, she examined its properties. Once a creature has been summoned, this bag cannot be used again for the next 25 hours. Depositing corpses into the pouch may reduce this timer. Oops¡­ Jade thought, reading the description again. The Bag of Mystery had been entertaining, and she was sad to see it go. This new item could prove to be an asset, though, depending on the strength of the creatures it tended to summon. And if they would listen to her¡­ And if she could convince the rest of her companions to let her use it to begin with¡­ On further reflection, maybe it wasn''t so helpful. Jade still wasn''t sure what else she could''ve done with the ''Unstable Death Nexus'' though, so she considered this result preferable to all of their souls being absorbed into the necromantic gem, or whatever it had been about to do to them. With a mental shrug, she moved on to the next message. This one made her smile with satisfaction. Tabbing over to her ''title'' page, Jade quickly found the new entry. Jade had been hoping to obtain another title on this expedition. Now, she had three of the four required to progress her ''Path to Power'' quest, which would get her one step closer to obtaining an advanced class. Based on what Aylin had told her about the additional boons they offered, they were worth the effort to acquire. The next series of messages was also good news. Two more identical prompts followed the first, sending her level all the way to 13. Multiple completed quests, the numerous monsters they''d felled, and defeating such a high-level boss had resulted in a massive influx of experience. A quick check-in with Luis and Naomi revealed that her companions had each gained two levels themselves. Jade guessed the discrepancy had to do with the fact that she''d basically taken down the boss herself. As always, the Labyrinth rewarded those who took risks. Between the level ups and the bonus stat points, Jade was left with a bank of 8 unattributed points to assign. It was the most she''d ever obtained at once, and she was almost glad that none of the levels had come with any features to choose from. She already had enough to consider. After some discussion with her companions, she allocated one point each to strength, fortitude, and intelligence, two points to agility, and three points to her long-neglected willpower score. The sudden influx of power sent a jolt down Jade''s spine, and her entire body buzzed with newfound energy. After the assignments were complete, her new summary page read: Due to whatever background math the system used to factor in her racial bonuses and penalties when she transformed, the changes to her stats didn''t always match up one to one with the points she put into them. Jade was relieved to finally be raising her willpower stat, but it was going to take a lot of investment to overcome her 40% racial penalty. She didn''t think the cost would be worth putting a large focus on that score but knew it would be a bad idea to neglect it entirely. As usual, she didn¡¯t feel much of a difference in her mental acuity, but the increase in mana regeneration rate and heightened resistance to spell effects were certainly helpful. If the points also helped her decision-making abilities in any way, well, that would just be a bonus. The last notification was the one she''d been waiting for. After a moment''s hesitation, Jade clicked ''yes''. There was a soft flash of blue light, and a dagger materialized in the air in front of her. She snatched it before it could fall to the forest floor and held it up for a closer look in the deepening gloom. It was slightly longer than her current weapons, with an ornate hilt made of polished black metal. The blade was semi-translucent and surprisingly light, giving the elegant weapon an ethereal feel. The leather-wrapped grip fit perfectly in Jade''s palm. A weapon that enhanced her battlefield mobility and gave her a reliable ranged attack? Jade''s smile broadened. She slipped the blade into its accompanying sheath, affixing it to her belt. Beside her Luis and Naomi were both marveling at their newly acquired gear as well, but she was too preoccupied with the flood of options Phantom opened up for her to notice. The Labyrinth had its bizarre idiosyncrasies but this time, the system had come through for her. Time to hone my throwing skills. Chapter 66 The remainder of the journey back was uneventful, and the group reached Lysara shortly after nightfall. The town was just as they''d left it, save for the crowd of anxious citizens awaiting news of the expedition. Nervous families rushed forward seeking loved ones who''d gone missing, and the sight of several joyous reunions brought a smile to Jade''s face. Her satisfaction was tempered by the grieving of families who received more somber news. This including the mother and sister of Tieran, the only member of the expedition to fall in battle. Tiahla, the partner he had fought alongside, wept with them, apologizing repeatedly for her failure to safeguard her companion. Tears flowed freely down their faces as Jade excused herself from the throng, uncomfortable with intruding on private moments of intimate joy and grief. She found Fenrin at the edge of the town square watching the reunions from a remove and joined him. "You helped a lot of people today." he said softly, not taking his eyes off the crowd. "But not everyone." "Maybe not. But it''s important to remember our triumphs as well as our failures." Jade thought about that. Triumphs and failures. Her life had no shortage of either but, if she were being honest, she spent much more time dwelling on regrets. As if to punctuate the thought, a twinge of phantom pain passed through her ankle. It brought to mind a different failure, one that she had brought upon herself. "I know." she said quietly. "But I find that easier said than done." "If it helps, I couldn''t have done what you did today. Do you always run into danger like that?" "Only when I have to." "It was brave." Fenrin said. Jade was struck by the sincerity in his voice. She was starting to get used to suspicious looks, or at least a wary hesitance, from people who knew her race. Especially when she was in her demon form, as she was now. But nothing in Fenrin''s tone or expression even hinted at judgement. Only Luis had accepted her so readily. It was a welcome realization. "Thanks." She didn''t know what else to say and was too tired to be eloquent. "What''re your plans now?" "We still need to decide." Jade said with a shrug. She leaned back against a tree, relieved to finally have a moment to rest. "I''ve been told there''s someone I should meet in Estelhelm, so that''s on the list. We''ve also been talking about returning home once the gateways are open in a few weeks, at least for a few days. With our wayfarer marks we can''t stay long, but no one knows what happened to us." And we don''t know what''s happening on Earth¡­ For the sake of sanity Jade and her companions had refrained from speculating much on the fate of Earth, or from talking about their families. There simply wasn''t anything they could do about the situation that they weren''t already. Once the gateways opened and they could return, however, that would change. If nothing else, learning the truth would prevent her from endlessly worrying over the fate of her family and friends. Hopefully, her return would allay their fears as well. As much as the discovery that she''d turned into an erotic demon could, at any rate. Probably best to ease into that part¡­ Realizing that she''d trailed off, Jade finished answering. "With any luck, our leaders will be coordinating the effort to resolve the Labyrinth incursion, or whatever it''s going to be called." She continued. "Either way, after all of that we''ll probably want to get to the third floor and start looking for those cores." "That''s well thought out." Fenrin nodded. "It''s the best we can do for now." Jade shrugged. "But before we leave, I''d like to train. Siora tells me that I could learn a lot from Master Rhysten, and I''m coming to realize that I need all the instruction I can get." "Smart. There''s more to fighting monsters than slinging around spells and talents. The Labyrinth''s classes are a good head start, but that''s all it is." The nighttime darkness was too deep for Jade to see clearly, at least in her demon form, but there was enough ambient light from the scattered homes in the trees above for her to make out Fenrin''s body language. The young man looked hesitant about something. She could taste it too, his anxiety.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "What is it?" She asked. "I was going to ask later, but I suppose now works too. Would it be alright if I joined your group? There weren''t any wayfarers in Rimestead when I began my trial. Part of the reason I travelled to Lysara was to search for teammates. I think we worked well together today." Jade had already been considering asking him to join them. She wasn''t sure if Siora or Aylin would want to remain in their party, and having a trustworthy companion from this world was invaluable. That wasn''t even considering his obvious combat training and experience. "I''ll check with Naomi and Luis, but I think we''d be happy to have you." Mirella chirped insistently from her perch on Fenrin''s shoulder. "Yes, I''m sure they mean you too." Fenrin said, giving her a consoling pat on the head. "Of course." Jade said with a smile. It quickly turned into a yawn, which then spread to Fenrin. Judging from the dispersing crowd of the expedition, the day''s adventures were catching up to more than just them. "Time to rest." Fenrin said, stepping away. "I''m planning on helping with the cleanup over the next few days. If you need anything, I''ll be around." Jade nodded. "We''ll see you soon." He raised a hand in farewell, and then left for the upper levels of the village. Mirella''s head drooped against his, the familiar quickly succumbing to sleep. Knowing that she''d soon follow suit Jade sought out Naomi and Luis, returning to their guest quarters together. A short distance away, the crowd of townsfolk was still breaking up, returning to their homes now that the crisis had resolved. More than a few murmured words of thanks as they passed, although Jade also caught a few suspicious glances thrown her way. Too tired to care, she didn''t bother shifting out of her demon form as they navigated the hanging walkways suspended between the trees that made up the village. "This place is safe because of us." Luis said, taking in the nighttime view of the treetop village. "It feels good." Naomi said quietly. She hadn''t said much since the battle. Jade didn''t know exactly what had happened in that pit, but she did recall that Naomi and one of the cultists had entered it, and only the idol had left. She considered asking how she was doing but decided to wait for a better time. It was late, and they needed rest. "Let''s do the same for our home, next." She said, instead. The others nodded their agreement. They reached their guest house to find that Gwyn, the housekeeper, had drawn them each a warm bath. The elven woman bid them goodnight, leaving them to their rest. Washing away the sweat, blood, and dirt left Jade feeling like a brand new person, albeit no less weary. She resolved to discuss Fenrin''s request with her friends in the morning and, without another thought, passed out on the bed.
The next day was something of a novelty for them. For the first time since arriving in the Labyrinth Jade and her companions were in something that resembled normal civilization on a normal day. People went about their days working, shopping, and generally resuming mundane life. Other than most of the people being graceful elves blessed with supernatural beauty, and that the village was itself suspended amongst the forest boughs as if in a child''s fairy tale, it was quite a familiar sight. The experience gave Jade a new perspective on the Labyrinth and presented her with a side of it that didn''t include bloodshed and frantic battle. She, Luis, and Naomi spent the first part of the day relaxing and recovering from their recent trials. Her two companions each had new class features to choose from, and Jade had an upgrade point waiting to be assigned, but they decided to hold off for the moment in favor of enjoying some well-earned time away from the life of a wayfarer. "So?" Jade asked, sipping a fruity drink that Luis had just handed her. He had taken an early trip to the nearby market, returning with all manner of culinary supplies, fresh food, and cooking implements. "What''re you two planning on doing today?" "Isn''t it obvious?" Naomi asked, gesturing at her dirt-stained armor. "Shopping! Jade, they have clothes here. Clothes that haven''t been worn five times each or been shredded by monsters!" All three of them had been reduced to wearing their armor when out and about, just to cover the poor state of their other garments. It wasn''t a great look. "That''s not a bad idea. I''ll join you." "Aren''t we going to stop by Earth as soon as the gates open?" Luis asked. "We can just stock up there." Naomi gave him a flat look. "Luis, you do remember that''s still weeks away, right?" He set down the bundle of newly acquired supplies and began rummaging through his pack. "Ehh, I think I can make it." "This is the third day in a row that you''ve worn that shirt." Jade pointed out. "Yup!" Luis nodded. "And if I do the same with everything else, then I''ll have enough to get me through." The two women exchanged suffering looks. "Men¡­" Naomi muttered. "Yeah, no." Jade said, getting up. She gave Naomi a nod, and each of them took hold of one of Luis''s arms. "You''re coming with us." If we''re going clothes shopping. Jade thought as she and Naomi hauled a protesting Luis outside. Maybe I can finally find some enchanted armor that works with my newest racial ability. She mentally pulled it up again, skimming through the details. Jade wasn''t at all looking forward to running around the battlefield half-naked but, if it helped keep her alive, it would be worth it. Probably. Chapter 67 Elven fashion, it turned out, was comprised of long, flowing garments in natural colors. Jade stepped out of the small clothing store feeling more like she was cosplaying than properly dressed, but there was no denying it was an improvement over the tattered remains of her Earth wear. The shopkeeper, a grandmotherly elven woman who had not once stopped sewing during their time with her, refused any payment for the purchases and had even modified Jade''s garments to accommodate her succubus form. "See? That wasn''t so bad." Naomi said to Luis. "Speak for yourself." The large man grumbled, pulling on the front of his tunic. "I don''t think they make anything in my size." "Jade couldn''t find a perfect fit either, don''t complain." "Yeah, but she just shrank an inch so it didn''t matter!" They both turned to look at Jade, and she gave them her best innocent smile. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. I''ve always been this height." They continued exploring the marketplace in the upper levels of Lysara, crossing from tree to tree on magnificent bridges that seamlessly melded form and function. Some of the buildings and structures were so well integrated into the enormous trees that Jade had a hard time telling where nature ended and building began, if such a distinction even existed. Upon spotting a bookstore, Jade insisted on stopping to peruse the stock. "It''s been way too long since I''ve had anything to read." She complained, eyeing the rows of bookshelves with a hungry gaze. "That library sanctuary on the first floor was awful, I couldn''t take anything from it." Since none of the books were overly expensive, a fact that surprised Jade considering her admittedly limited knowledge of medieval printing costs, she purchased several with the intention of looking over them more closely later. Luis followed suit, acquiring a couple of books of his own. Their next destination was more practical: A shop that specialized in defensive equipment and armor. None of the available gear was any better than the ''D'' rank enchanted armor they already possessed, but Jade inquired about commissioning custom-made protective wear that could make use of her ''Seducer''s Mantle'' ability. It took some time, and no small amount of humiliation, to explain to the confused armorer why exactly she needed ''armor'' that barely covered any of her body, but Jade eventually managed to get the point across. At that point, the craftsman became oddly enthusiastic about the task, promising Jade it''d be his top priority and instructing her to return in a few days to collect it. His response confused Jade, and appeared to highly amuse Naomi, but she was just glad that she''d finally start getting some utility out of her most recent ridiculous racial power. After that, they made their way to the town''s only magic shop, where they found Aylin poring over a collection of scrolls. "Ah, good timing." The mage said distractedly, hardly taking her attention away from the topmost scroll. Jade peeked at its contents, but it was just a series of complicated symbols and diagrams that she didn''t understand. "I''ve been meaning to find you." "What for?" Luis asked. "I''ll be leaving soon, and I didn''t want to go without letting you know." "Where are you going?" Jade asked. "Back to Illysport, with the splinter of divine death energy we found in the stronghold. A connection between the Labyrinth and divine essences has long been hypothesized, but evidence is hard to come by. This needs to be studied. A better understanding of the Labyrinth''s underlying mechanisms may lead to an explanation for its recent, erratic behavior." "That sounds important." Naomi said. "Is there anything we can do to help?" This time, Aylin did look up. "No." She said, with a slight smile. "You''ve done more than enough already, thank you. You''re still going to Estelhelm, yes?" "Probably." Jade said, glancing at her companions. "I don''t think we have a set schedule." "I''d recommend it. It''s the best place to gear up before heading to the third floor, if that''s still your destination. It''s also something of a hub for wayfarers, you may find more of your own people there, or others looking to team up." "Thanks for the tip." Aylin placed a few coins on the countertop and started rolling up the scroll she''d been reading. When she was finished putting it away, she turned to face Jade. "I was wrong about you." she said bluntly. "Again, please forgive my actions when we first met. They were unbecoming of a member of my Order. I like to think that a life dedicated to learning makes me resistant to the trap of prejudice, but that very belief may make me more prone to it. You''ve done more to help these people than most would have."Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Jade was caught off-guard by Aylin''s straightforward sincerity. "Don''t worry about it." she said, a little awkwardly. "You''ve done a lot for us, too." "I''ll leave word with the Mystic Order''s branch in Estelhelm, endorsing you and your team. If anyone gives you any trouble, check in with councilman Merrik. He''ll help you." "Thanks, amiga!" Luis said, slapping her on the back. "And travelling with us helped you learn about this weird magic thing. I knew it''d all work out." It didn''t work out for the people who died. Jade thought, remembering the elves they hadn''t been able to save. Then she recalled what Fenrin had told her the night before and forced her cynicism down. We did what we could. "I spoke to Serrethis Rhysten when I was discussing the stronghold excursion with the council this morning." Aylin continued. "He knows you''ll be seeking his tutelage, Jade." "Do you have any advice?" "I knew him only by reputation before, but he''s very selective with his students. He''s a master swordsman, and I have no doubt he could teach you a great deal. Be genuine and respectful, and I think you''ll have a good chance." Aylin finished by inviting them to visit her in Illysport when they reached the third floor. She wasn''t leaving Lysara quite yet, Jade knew they''d probably see her around while she continued to study the stronghold, but it felt like a farewell. Despite getting off on the wrong foot they''d learned a lot from the mage, and Jade had come to like her practical, no-nonsense personality. "Well, if Fenrin joins like you said this morning, we''ll be at four now." Luis said, watching her go. "Five, if Siora still wants to tag along." Naomi added. "Do you think she will?" "She said something about wanting her node access back, so she''ll probably come along as far as Estelhelm." Jade replied. "It was nice having someone who knew what they were doing." Naomi sighed, watching Aylin leave. "And who understood magic." Jade added, nodding in agreement. "You know what this means?" Luis asked. The others turned questioning looks on him, and he grinned. "Now we''ve gotta find ourselves another mage."
Fourth Floor - Geothermal Chasm Quadrant, Windswept Caldera Zone. Tek''Kalla city-ship ''Intrepid'' Present Day "For the last time, Tara, nobody is looking for a mage these days." Tara''lynn Clan Kasta sat in the mess hall of the Expeditionary Taskforce Academy, arms crossed, staring defiantly across the table at the friend who was making yet another effort to change her mind. She had the violet skin and lithe frame common to all Tek''Kalla, her angular face framed by a pattern of bone that ran across her forehead and down along her cheeks. She shifted in her seat and brushed aside a loose strand of her long straight hair, stubbornly refusing to yield. Elyth''ven Clan Wurn sighed in exasperation, slumping back in her seat. Her skin was a shade darker than Tara''s, and her hair much shorter. Unlike Tara''s hair, which was predominantly white and streaked with strands of pale red, Elyth''s was a solid shade of light lavender. Tara had always admired the way it matched her complexion, although currently all she felt was frustration. They''d been over this. "I''ve made my intentions quite clear, and they haven''t changed." Tara announced, for what felt like the twelfth time this week. "The art of spellcraft is my vocation. When I receive my wayfarer mark, I will select a mage class. Nothing you or the instructors can say will change my mind." "Tara''lynn¡­" Elyth sounded more exasperated than upset. "Most of our classmates have already formed their teams. If you can''t be a little more flexible, you''re going to end up without anyone. We''ve been training with magitech weapons for years, our entire tactical playbook is structured around them. If you keep insisting on waving a staff around and taking the time to weave the magic yourself, no one will want to deal with you." "If no one in this academy can appreciate the distinct advantages traditional spellcraft holds over mass produced, talent restricting mana focuses, then I would be better off without them." "That''s the attitude that has everyone turning their backs on you¡­" Elyth sighed, letting her head fall forward to rest in her hands, elbows propped up on the table. She lowered her voice as another group of uniformed students passed, all wearing the same black-on-gold fatigues of Taskforce trainees. "Look, I know you want to continue your family''s legacy, that''s great! But there''s a middle ground here. Take a hybrid class, you''ll still be able to imprint a few spells yourself. I''ll talk to my team leader, we haven''t finalized the roster yet. I''m sure I can help smooth things over and get you onboard. As long as you at least use a pulsecaster, we can-" "Sorry Elyth." Tara cut her off, shaking her head. "I''ve made my decision." "What will your parents say?" "It''s not up to them. No one gets a say in class or team selection but the individual in question. Academy Handbook, section eighteen dash five." Elyth just stared blankly at her. "I checked." Tara added, helpfully. "But you don''t have a team." Elyth reminded her. "What are you going to do? Wander into the Labyrinth alone? You''re good, Tara, gods know none of us doubt your skill, but you can''t just take on your wayfarer trial by yourself." "Then I''ll find a team who appreciates my skills somewhere else." Judging by her expression, it took Elyth several moments to understand Tara''s intention. She drew a small amount of satisfaction from the look of surprise that crossed her face when she finally did. "You''re going to the lower floors?! Tara, you know the lowlanders really don''t like us, right?" "Their conflicts are with the Drakken Conclave. Our people barely ever head down there." Tara pointed out. "Maybe so¡­" Elyth sighed again, shoulders slumping in defeat. "But you should think this through a little more. I don''t think most of them know the difference..." Tara shrugged. She''d figure it out. This was the most logical course of action. Besides, if she was going to start her journey alone, then the lower floors were an objectively safer place to begin. The favored scion of the Lynn family had every confidence in her ability to navigate whatever obstacles lay before her. Barring that, there was always the fallback plan of blowing them up with a judicious application of her magical talent. Really, what was everyone so worried about? It didn¡¯t matter. It was time for Tara to remind her people what real spellcraft could do. Chapter 68 Jade exited the cluttered shop behind Luis and Naomi, the three of them emerging back into the sunlit thoroughfare. ''Thoroughfare'' wasn''t the best way to describe the chaotic network of bridges connecting the various shops of the treetop market district, but Jade couldn''t think of a word that encapsulated the bustling crowds better. She''d had no idea that the village had so many residents. From the outside, Lysara looked too small to be home to the hundreds of elves pushing past her on the narrow walkways, but the vertical nature of the town made it deceptively large. Each tree functioned as a natural high-rise, with several buildings worked into and around the trunk and branches at various levels. "Is it just me, or is magic really expensive?" Naomi asked, tucking away her newly purchased spellbook. "Did you expect it to be cheap?" Luis asked. He was also holding a spellbook, which looked quite a bit smaller in his hands than Naomi''s did in hers. "Not the impressive stuff, no." Naomi shook her head. "But my book only has a basic cleaning and short-range messaging spell. It''s only ''D'' rank, isn''t that as low as it gets?" "You don''t think the ability to clean a pile of clothes with a few words and a wave of your hand is impressive?" Jade asked, bemused. "It''s probably the most useful spell we have in our party." "I guess you have a point." Naomi conceded. "But it''s not very flashy." "It''ll save us a lot of time." Luis pointed out. "Definitely worth the cost." "Says the guy who was fine with not washing any of his clothes at all." Naomi rolled her eyes. "It''s a simple effort to reward ratio. When washing our clothes means spending hours scrubbing them in a river, and only getting them kind of clean in the end, why waste the time? Especially since we''ll just get them dirty again right away." "How about, because we''d smell better?" Jade suggested. "Also, I don''t recall you being the one washing our clothes." Naomi reminded him. Luis waved his hand, flashing one of his trademark grins. "That''s because I''m the team cook. Now that I have some proper supplies, we won''t have to live off bland sanctuary food anymore." Jade had to admit that sounded appealing. She glanced down at her own newly acquired spellbook. It was a small black tome will golden patterns threaded through the cover. The proprietor of the shop they''d just left, a rather bookish looking elven woman, had taken the time to help them ''link'' to their spell books, and now they were ready for use. Jade had seen Aylin and Siora use similar items to expand their magical repertoire, and planned to acquire more when she had the means. The ''soul-link'' required to use them turned out to be a simple process, requiring only that they place their hand on the tome in question and a few minutes of concentration. Other than having to touch the spellbook when channeling magic through them, casting the spells they contained was functionally identical to using the soul-imprinted ones granted by the Labyrinth system. Most ''D'' rank spellbooks were limited to one or two simple spells. Unlike Luis and Naomi, who had picked up basic utility enchantments that had few field applications, Jade had selected a tome that had some adventuring potential. It contained the spells ''Phantom Sound'', which allowed her to create a noise of her choice in a nearby area, and ''Static Image'', a versatile illusion power. The illusion couldn''t move, had strict size limitations, and wasn''t especially long range, but she was confident that the abilities would prove useful. Despite her propensity for engaging in close combat, Jade stood by her decision to select the ''Shadow Witch'' class over the more martial ''Blade Dancer'' class the Labyrinth had presented to her at the start of her journey. Fighting skill was important but having more than one way to approach a challenge felt like a safer bet. Selecting this spellbook over more combat-oriented ones that contained basic attack spells was an extension of this philosophy. Now I just need to stop charging into groups of enemies at the first opportunity¡­ Many of her powers were deceptive or coercive in nature, and it was time to start learning how to use them more effectively. As they explored the rest of the market together, Jade grew increasingly aware of the crowds around her. She''d never been a huge fan of large groups of people to begin with, but this was one of her first experiences in something akin to an urban environment since her transformation. The longer she spent near so many people, the more she sensed the sheer amount of emotional energy infusing the area. The majority of it was mundane, nothing that would normally catch the attention of her succubus hunger, which favored darker emotional energy like fear and anger. In this instance, however, there was just so much of it that it was growing hard to ignore. "Hey¡­ You alright?" It took Jade a moment to realize that Naomi''s question was directed to her. Her friend was looking at her in concern and¡­ amusement? "I''m fine. There''s a just a lot of emotion floating around." "You sure? You''re kind of¡­" She glanced down, and Jade suddenly realized that she''d been subconsciously shifting her hips together. Her face felt hot, and she was slightly out of breath. Embarassed, Jade shook her head to snap out of it, feeling her cheeks heat even further. "Maybe you should take some time off to¡­ ah¡­ relax." Naomi suggested, turning a little red herself. "Isn''t that what we''re doing?" Jade asked, desperately trying to think of a way to steer the conversation somewhere else. Literally anywhere else. They stopped on a broad bridge between two enormous trees, stepping to the side to allow a larger group to pass. She took a drink from her water bottle, more to buy time than anything else.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Not like this." Naomi rolled her eyes. She lowered her voice, leaning closer. "Maybe getting some action would help." She said, exasperated. Jade spit water over the side of the bridge, coughing and lowering her bottle. She stared at Naomi incredulously, noting a few passersby curiously glancing their way. "W-where is this coming from?" She hissed, flustered. Did they really have to be having this talk out in public? The general clamor was loud enough that she was pretty sure no one could overhear them, but still¡­ Beside Naomi, Luis had suddenly taken a great interest in the decorative carvings set in the bridge''s wooden handrail and was studiously avoiding looking at either of them. "Jade, I''ve been sleeping next to you most nights for the past couple weeks. I can tell when you''re getting ''bothered''." Jade slumped against the railing, hiding her face in her hands. "Can we talk about this later? Or, preferably, never again?" "Fine, fine." Naomi said, hiding a smile. "Just trying to help. Nothing wrong with blowing off some steam, though. You''re the one who said you had ''needs'' yesterday." Jade was saved from having to reply by Luis, who elbowed her and pointed. "Hey, isn''t that Nythis?" Sure enough, the elven druid was shouldering her way across the bridge against the flow of people. She saw Luis wave at her and changed course. "Hey you three!" she said cheerfully, bounding over to them. "Doing some shopping?" "Just finished up." Jade said, glad for the distraction. "You?" "Restocking on potions. I''m glad Siora is back! Nobody makes them like her." "That''s right!" Luis said, snapping his fingers. "We still need to stop by her shop." "I can show you the way!" Nythis said, grabbing Jade by the arm and leading them back the way she had come. "Do you know where I can find Master Rhysten?" Jade asked. It occurred to her that, despite multiple people suggesting she seek him out, she didn''t actually know where he lived. "I''d like to speak with him later." "Oh? Looking for training? Sure, I''ll show you!" The fur-clad elf bobbed her head. "You haven''t forgotten about your promise to spar together, right?" "Not at all. I need all the practice I can get." "That''s the spirit!
A short while later, Nythis was leading Jade to the upper levels of the forest village. After stopping by Siora''s alchemy shop, which turned out to be surprisingly organized, Luis and Naomi left to find Fenrin while Jade and Nythis sought out the retired wayfarer. The two of them made their way to a broad wooden platform where a gondola waited, hanging from a cable that extended to the top of the cliff that bordered the village. Jade followed the elf aboard, marveling at the view as the car lurched into motion, carrying them up the cliff. "We have vehicles like this in our world, but I''ve never ridden one." Jade said, leaning against the railing and looking out at the waterfall cascading down the rock face. "It''s a lot faster than walking up and down the cliff trails." Nythis said, pointing to a winding path that rose alongside the waterfall is a series of switchbacks. "More fun, too." "So, what''s at the top?" Jade asked, looking up. She could see a handful of buildings nestled amongst the trees at the top of the overlook but couldn''t make out details. "The council chambers, the theater, and a few more homes. Most people live closer to the village center, it''s more convenient." Now that they were out of the market, Jade had a better handle on her emotional senses. She hoped that she could learn to filter out the massed emotional energy of crowds without awakening instinctive responses. Being aroused by protracted exposure to tempting emotional energy was more embarassing than actively harmful, but it was still unwelcome. Jade caught Nythis glancing at her and met her gaze. "What is it?" "Oh, nothing." She said, a coy smile playing at her lips. "Just curious if you''re really looking to, what was it? ''Blow off some steam''?." Jade felt her face heating up again. "You heard that?" "Most of it." The elf winked, gesturing to her pointed ears. "We elves have sharp hearing, and it only gets better as we get closer to ''C'' rank." "Wonderful¡­" She groaned. "No need to feel embarassed." she said, sliding next to Jade at the railing and elbowing her playfully. "But I liked your moves yesterday. If you''d like to come over for dinner later tonight, my partner and I would be happy to have you." Startled, it took Jade a few moments to reply. She could taste the elf''s casual interest for what it was: A simple invitation. She sensed curiosity and playfulness from Nythis, but no anxiety. Apparently, this sort of proposition wasn''t a big deal to her. "Your partner?" Jade asked. "Travay, he''s my current-house-companion." Jade got the sense that the Labyrinth''s translation magic hitched at that last part, although she wasn''t sure why. Even so, she got the gist of it. "Wait, he''d be okay with that?" She asked. "Of course. Why wouldn''t he be?" She appeared genuinely confused, and Jade had to remind herself that she shouldn''t assume social norms from her world applied everywhere. For all she knew, Earth was some sexually repressed backwater compared to the rest of the universe. Wouldn''t that be funny. Jade was about to politely turn Nythis down out of habit, she''d always been too busy to engage in much casual intimacy, but then she stopped to consider the idea. Was there any real harm in experimenting? She still had a lot to learn about how her body worked and what exactly her new needs were. Could this be a good opportunity to explore ways to keep her recurring urges better satiated? Nythis was cute and high energy, which were appealing traits in anyone. For that matter, pretty much every elf she''d seen would be considered beautiful by any Earth standard, and she imagined her male companion wouldn''t be any different. The chance to study the elven male figure a little more closely wouldn''t be the worst thing in the world¡­ For academic reasons, of course. "You do remember that I''m a succubus, right?" She asked, uncharacteristically hesitant. "I drain life force by touch." "What''s life without a little risk?" Nythis grinned back, waving away her concern. "We know some healing spells." "Alright." Jade laughed. "If you''re sure, I''d be happy to visit tonight." The gondola came to a stop at the top of the cliff, and an elven attendant opened the door and ushered them onto a wooden platform. A short distance away, a broad stream poured over the precipice, cascading down to the pool at the bottom of the rise. The view was even better from up here, the entire village visible through the trees. "Great!" Nythis beamed at her. "I''ll come find you later, then. Master Rhysten''s home is just up the stream. It''s the only building on the forest floor, you can''t miss it." She pointed along a path that followed the course of the stream, and Jade nodded. "Thanks." "See you later!" She hopped back onto the gondola with a wave. Jade waved back, feeling a mixture of earnest anticipation and trepidation. Had she really just agreed to that on a whim? She reminded herself that it was just a dinner invitation. If it didn''t feel right, she could always excuse herself. Besides, learning more about her nature was important, and she''d have to explore this side of it sooner or later. That''s right, this was all about gathering data. It could even be considered a valuable cultural exchange. Who am I kidding¡­? As she set off down the path, Jade was relieved that she''d just updated her wardrobe with fresh clothes. The thought of showing up to Nythis''s home wearing what remained of her Earth attire made her shudder. But that would come later, and Jade refocused on the task at hand. It was time to meet this retired wayfarer she''d heard so much about. Chapter 69 Serrethis Rhysten was a man tired of battle. He had walked the road of adventure to its end and found it filled with triumph and wonder, and loss and despair, all in equal measure. The physical cost had been far from insubstantial, but experience had shown him the folly of believing that the worst pains one could experience were those of the flesh. Now, he stood witness to another student of life''s harsh truths, wishing he had done more to protect her. "I thought¡­ I thought if we could just buy some time, distract it, the others could defeat it." Tiahla sniffed, her eyes red and puffy. "I knew we couldn''t beat it, but we didn''t have to. But Taeras¡­" She stopped to compose herself. The youthful elf wore her armored vest and padded trousers, her spear slung over her shoulder. Serrethis got the sense that she hadn''t even changed to rest, if she had gotten any at all since returning the previous night. He recalled her companion''s eager enthusiasm for training, how the two of them had incessantly asked after the apprentice marks he held the power to bestow. "Taeres fell protecting our home." he said softly. "We can honor and mourn his passing even as we learn from it." Sunlight sparkled off the nearby stream, reflecting a rare shaft that penetrated the ever-shifting foliage. The two of them stood in a small, secluded glade, next to Serrethis''s humble home. It was a pretty place, serene and peaceful. "What should I have done?" Tiahla asked after she''d recovered. "How could I have stopped this?" "The ability to discern in an instant which battles should be fought and which should not is an essential skill for any warrior. Momentary decisions are all that separate victory from defeat, and life from death. " "So, we shouldn''t have fought?" Tiahla asked, her shoulders drooping. "Perhaps your actions delayed the monster before it could reach the village. By all accounts, you slowed it down. Risks are an inevitable part of battle, but knowing when to take them, and when not to, is a skill more important than any amount of martial prowess." "I-I want to learn. I''m not going to give up." Tiahla said. She squared her shoulders, looking him in the eye. "I never want to feel this way again." "The path of a warrior is not one of happiness and security." Serrethis explained, for what must have been the thousandth time. The faces changed, but the determined optimism of youth never did. "Determination and willpower are admirable traits but make for poor shields against the perils of battle, despite what stories proclaim." "That may be so." Tiahla wiped her eyes with the palm of her hand. When she next looked at Serrethis, a new light shone within them. "But I''m not giving up. Taeres would have¡­ He would have wanted me to keep going. I can''t honor his sacrifice if I run away and leave it to others to protect our home." "Take some time to reflect. If you still wish to train after coming to terms with this loss, I will be here. It takes a clear and calm mind to learn." The young elf looked like she wanted to argue. Serrethis could feel her dissatisfaction through her aura, which wavered under the weight of her emotions. Instead, she reined herself in. "I understand." She said, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice. "I''ll return another time."
Jade was about to enter the stream-side grove when a familiar elf stepped out onto the path in front of her. It took her a moment to place the girl, but it came back to her when they met eyes. This was the elf she had charmed during the battle outside the stronghold, commanding her to protect Luis while he was recovering. Jade tensed, expecting some sort of accusation, but the trainee just looked surprised. Her eyes were red, as though she''d been crying. "You''re Jade, right?" she asked, looking Jade up and down. She was in her human form today, mostly because the market crowds were hard enough to navigate without managing a set of expansive wings. No one had given her any real trouble regarding her new heritage since they''d returned from the expedition. "That''s right." Jade said. She waited for more, but the girl just kept staring at her. After an awkward pause, she asked. "¡­Can I help you?" "How do I get strong?" The question caught Jade off-guard. When she hesitated, the girl continued. "Everyone says you took down that monster practically by yourself." She took a step closer to her, an intense look in her eyes. "How do you do it?" "¡­I''m not the right person to ask. I''ve only been in this world for a few weeks. This¡­" Jade waved her arm in a vague, all-encompassing gesture. "Is all newer to me than it is to you." "But you did it." The trainee insisted. "What do I have to do to get there too?" Jade didn''t know what to tell her. She had no great insight into what made a good warrior, that''s what she was here to learn. Her victories came from a combination of the magic bestowed on her by the Labyrinth, a lifetime of athletics, a penchant for taking risks, and quite a bit of luck. There wasn''t anything special about her, other than her exotic race, and she was hardly about to recommend this woman follow her lead in that respect. "I''m sorry." Jade said, shaking her head. "I wish I could help." The girl''s shoulders slumped. "I''ll figure it out myself¡­" she muttered, resuming her trek back towards the falls. Jade watched her go, conflicted. She knew the frustration of giving your all to something and falling short. Hadn''t that girl''s friend died in the battle? No wonder she was so distraught. But what could she offer other than empty platitudes? Jade had received more than her fair share of those while recovering from her career-ending injury and knew how unhelpful they were. Before she could come up with anything helpful to say the girl disappeared around a bend in the trail, leaving Jade with her thoughts. As good with people as always. Great job.
Jade found the aging elf tending to a garden beside a small home grown into the base of a typically large tree, a short distance from the stream. While only a little removed from the village, the glade had a tranquil beauty to it that had been absent elsewhere. In Lysara, elven magic shaped nature into something more structured. Here, only small tweaks had been employed. The simple home and small, adjacent garden were surrounded by colorful wildflowers, buzzing insects, and the gently bubbling stream. Entering the glade with weapons strapped to her hip felt like an intrusion. After a moment of hesitation, Jade unbuckled her belt, gently laying her daggers beside the stream before approaching. This time, despite Aylin''s warning the previous day, she couldn''t refrain from pulling up his status window. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Jade''s heart skipped a beat as she skimmed the window. Aylin had said he was ''B'' rank, which started in the high 40s, but she hadn''t expected his level to be so much higher than that. How powerful was this man? What kind of stats did he have? Her eyes drifted back to his class. ''Blade Dancer'' was one of the options the Labyrinth had recommended to her, a class she''d passed over for the more deceit focused ''Shadow Witch''. "Why is it." The man began, not looking up from his work. He held a pair of small clippers in his hand, carefully pruning a patch of flowers. "That no one who seeks me out does so to learn my gardening techniques?" The elf''s words were tinged with sadness. Jade stopped a short distance away, and the man finally looked up at her. He wore his greying hair in a topknot which, combined with his flowing robe, gave him a distinguished appearance. When she didn''t immediately reply, he sighed. "I have many more years of experience as a gardener than a warrior, you know. But the craft of bringing life into the world has never been as valued as the art of excising it. An observation that has remained true across the many people I have encountered in my travels." "That isn''t a perspective I expected from such a renowned warrior." Jade said. She didn''t know what to make of this man, supposedly some master swordsman, and decided that a neutral reply would be her safest bet. "That which earned me the renown you speak of is what lead me to adopt my current values." "And what was that, if I may ask?" "Too many battles to count, the consequences of which still weigh upon my weary shoulders." Serrethis stood up, avoiding putting his weight on his twisted leg. He leaned against a fencepost, using it for support as he got his feet under him. Despite his disability, Jade detected power in his movements. His motions were carefully controlled and deliberate, without any uncertainty. He stood steadily on his feet, regarding her with a discerning gaze. "No amount of martial prowess can make the world a better place. The talent to fight can, at best, be a tool used to remove evil. It cannot add good. That is a truth that I took too long to learn." Jade considered his words. Was this some sort of test? A way to take her measure? Whether it was or not, all she could do was reply honestly. "A warrior can defend those who don''t have the strength to defend themselves." She pointed out. "In my world, we have many stories of good men and women who put themselves at risk, so that others don''t have to." "A noble ideal." Serrethis nodded. "Is that what you wish to be? A shield to the helpless?" Jade thought about what the Labyrinth was doing to Earth. She hadn''t seen any of it firsthand, at least not yet, but that uncertainty only made her more anxious about the true state of her home. Was her family safe? Her friends? When she did return, what would be waiting for her? "Yes." she said, locking eyes with him. "I want the power to protect my home. I never asked to be thrown into this world, or to be a champion for my people. But I''m here anyway, and my choices are to sit back, hide, and rely on other people to fix this, or." Jade balled her hands into fists. "Do it myself. I''ve already met several other people from my world who were put in the same position. Too many of them have proven unreliable for me to put my faith in the rest." Serrethis appeared to consider her words, narrowing his eyes. There was an intensity to his gaze that made it feel like he was looking at something deeper than her body, but Jade stood her ground. When he didn''t reply, she continued. "I have heard you possess knowledge and skills that could help me protect my home. Until a few weeks ago, I''d never held a weapon in my life. Now, I''m expected to fight for the survival of my people." She took a deep breath, releasing some of the tension coiling in her body. "Will you teach me?" Serrethis regarded her coolly for several long moments, his face impassive. "So." He said at length. "There truly has been a new integration?" "Yes." He fell silent again, a frown crossing his face. He''s going to refuse. She realized, her heart sinking. This was a man who wanted no more to do with battle. That much was obvious, even from their short conversation. "There is much that I could teach you." Serrethis said, interrupting her thoughts. "Whether or not I shall, remains to be seen." Jade blinked in surprise. "What makes you unsure?" "On the one hand, you are correct. Just because some tasks are distasteful does not mean the world doesn''t need people to do them. Your home is in danger, and some must rise to defend it." "And on the other?" "Your aura marks you as a woman of dedication, talent, and resolve." "That''s¡­ a bad thing?" Jade asked, hesitantly. "By itself? No." Serrethis shook his head slowly. "But there''s more to you than that. Pride. Anger. These emotions drive you." "I know I took a demon race when I started my trial, but-" "That is not my concern." Jade fell silent. Normally not one to be cowed by another''s presence, there was something in his voice that made her unwilling to argue. "Yes, I could tutor you in the ways of battle." He continued. "Many have stood before me, as you do now, asking me to do just that. You possess the aptitude I look for in a student, but not the temperament." "How can you be sure?" Jade asked, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. "Do you judge everyone so swiftly?" "It is not without cause." He replied with a grimace. "The Labyrinth makes great power easy to obtain, and all too easy to abuse. However." The elf held up a finger, forestalling a response. "I am already indebted to you. I know that you were part of the group that confronted the stronghold''s champion, and that you risked yourself to defeat it before it could bring harm to my home. In doing so, you have demonstrated bravery and honor. So, I will give you a chance to prove my judgement flawed." "What must I do?" Jade asked. She had no idea what sort of test or trial would allow her to prove her character. Whatever it was, she would do it. There was no denying that she was in desperate need of formal instruction. Aylin had been tutoring Naomi in mana control, and she knew Luis planned to spar with Fenrin. They''d had too many close calls in their short time in the Labyrinth, and it was time to learn from the experienced. Serrethis pointed in the direction the stream was flowing, deeper into the forest. "If you follow the stream, you will find a sapling sprouting from a small, shallow pool. It is a sacred place to our people, a shrine to The Lady of Blossoms, goddess of growth. The sapling grew from a cutting from a holy tree in our homeland, brought here by our ancestors in their exodus. The gods of the cosmos may have fallen silent long ago but in some places, their power lingers. Go there, and witness what she has to show you." "That''s it?" Jade asked, skeptically. That didn''t sound very difficult, nor did it make a lot of sense. Putting aside her personal religious beliefs, which had always been rather nebulous, how could a long-lost goddess ''show'' her anything? Was it some sort of metaphor? "When you are done, return here." The elf said, turning away and limping towards his small abode. "And we shall speak again."
Jade found the glade without difficulty. It was quiet and tranquil, filled with the beauty of undisturbed nature. As Serrethis had said, a small pool lay in the center of the clearing, filled with water so still, its surface had a mirror-like sheen. It perfectly reflected the image of the sapling, which rose from the water like a mangrove. The tree itself was small, barely taller than Jade, and covered in small, pink petals that rustled in the wind. It was a beautiful sight, and Jade stood transfixed for several moments, taking it in. "Very pretty." She murmured to herself. "But what am I supposed to do?" She regretted speaking, feeling oddly guilty for disturbing the peace of this place. A breeze brushed her cheek, flitting past her to buffet a slender branch of the small tree. A single petal fell from the branch, spiraling down to land in the still water of the pool. The air fell still, silence falling over the glade like a blanket. Curious, Jade approached. Despite the stillness of the water, the petal was drifting towards her across its surface. She glanced around, confirming that she was alone, and then knelt at the edge of the pool, watching the petal draw closer. It stopped right in front of her, just out of reach. Looking into the pool, Jade saw her reflection staring back at her. After the morning''s bath, her blonde hair was cleaner than it had been in weeks. Even in her human form, it was imbued with a luster she''d never been able to manage prior to her transformation. Perhaps her subconscious was affecting her power, tweaking parts of her into a more idealized appearance. Jade wondered what that said about her. The wind picked up again. This time, it swirled around her, sending ripples flowing across the pond. Her reflection changed before her eyes, transforming. When it resolved she was no longer wearing her new, elven attire, but a colorful leotard. The same one she still had stuffed in the bottom of her pack, taken on a whim before leaving her apartment to venture into this new world. Jade''s heartbeat quickened, both at the supernatural alteration, and at the memories the sight evoked. She hadn''t worn that since¡­ Not since¡­ Light shone from the pool, enveloping her in a radiant glow. The light burned with intense heat that stopped just short of being painful. It was familiar, somehow, although she couldn''t remember why. It was also lacking something, as if the power forming around her was somehow lesser than it should be. Jade didn''t know how she could tell this, but the knowledge was instinctive. Her surroundings faded, even as emotions surged from the deep recesses of her mind. Pain. Anger. Helplessness. Jade closed her eyes, trying to put it all away. She didn''t want to face it. She couldn''t. Two events in Jade''s life had changed her forever. One was when she''d stepped out of her apartment to find herself in a world of magic and danger, a world that forced her to discard her humanity for a form of dark passions. But that wasn''t the only experience that had left a profound mark on her soul. When she opened her eyes, Jade was there again, in the day that had changed her life. And shattered her dreams. Chapter 70 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania One year ago Jade jogged off the landing pad, smiling and waving to the smattering of spectators applauding her vault. Christina and Miko were waiting for her in the staging area, beckoning her over. She moved towards them, doing her best to ignore the growing twinge of pain in her ankle. That last landing had been a little rough, but she wasn''t too worried. She''d had far worse over the years. Stepping out of the way of another group of gymnasts preparing for their routine, Jade joined her friends. Unlike Jade, her university teammates were wearing normal street clothes, a sight that she wasn''t used to in this environment. But of their team, she was the only one competing today. "That was great!" Miko said excitedly, grabbing her hands. The shorter girl was practically vibrating with energy, a broad grin splitting her face. "You''re almost there!" Christina clapped her on the shoulder. "Just one more vault." They turned to face the scoreboard as it updated with her most recent jump, and Jade''s heart leapt with excitement. It was better than she''d expected, definitely one of the best of the day. "You''re going to make it!" Miko squeaked, squeezing Jade''s hand tighter. "Oh my God, Jade, I can''t believe it! I mean, not that I was doubting you, but the Olympics?! Our Jade?!" "I still have one more to go." Jade reminded her, trying to stay grounded. Nervous energy swirled in her stomach like a vortex, making it impossible to stand still. So many years of endless practice, competitions, and championships. The highs of victory and the lows of defeat. All of it had led to this day. High above them, a huge banner stretched across the width of the stadium. Jade glanced up at it yet again, reaffirming to herself yet again that it was real. That she had made it. ''2032 Summer Olympic Games United States Women''s Gymnastics Trials'' Part of her still couldn''t believe it, even months after she''d received the invitation to compete from the selection committee. But now that she was here, surrounded by the best competitors in the nation, it was finally starting to sink in. A smile broke across her face as she took it all in. "Hey." Christina punched her lightly in the shoulder. "Stay focused." Her friend''s expression grew a little concerned. "You were limping a little after that landing. Everything okay?" "I''m fine." Jade said, waving her concern away. "Just a little sore." "Want me to tape it up for you? There should be time." "Really, I''m okay." She flashed her a confident smile. She was on top of her game today, and nothing was going to stop her. Jade didn''t want to risk being late to her last routine, she needed time to get back into the right headspace. She started that process now, centering herself, finding that elusive state of clarity and focus where everything just seemed to fall into place. "Be careful." Christina said. She looked like she wanted to say more but held back, frowning instead. "Good luck!" Miko encouraged her. "You''ve got this!" Jade gave them a thumbs up, starting back towards the runway. One last vault. Only five of the dozens of competitors here would get the honor of being selected for the Olympic team. The decision was made by committee, but Jade knew that if she nailed this last jump, she had it in the bag. Her scores hadn''t quite been the best over the course of the two-day competition, but she was definitely in the top three. One more jump. A dull ache was growing in her left ankle. Jade did her best to push it from her mind and maintain focus. Just one more. She could give it all the rest it needed after one more jump. She''d been telling herself that for weeks, ignoring the growing pain, but this time she meant it. "Go big or go home." She whispered to herself. That singular mindset had carried her this far, to the precipice of greatness. As soon as Jade stepped onto the runway, her anxiety melted away. The clamor of the stadium faded, leaving her in an island of calm. This was her world, her element. Problems and pain were things of the outside world, and none of them mattered here. All that existed was her, the vault, and the watching panel of judges. In this moment, worries over her absent mother, detached father, and infirm brother couldn''t reach her. Here, in this one place, she was special. The signal came. Jade took off down the lane, thundering towards the launch pad. After hundreds of grueling repetitions, her body knew what to do. The motions were instinctive, requiring no concious thought. She flipped forward, launching herself off the vault into a graceful, spinning arc. It was a perfect jump, precisely controlled down to the smallest movement. Jade twisted through the air in a stunning display of peak athleticism, making an acrobatic feat that would be impossible for most appear utterly effortless. The final rotation brought her feet under her at just the right moment, and Jade thumped to the padded floor in a flawless landing. At least, that was how it appeared. Jade had always been tall for a gymnast, a fact that she hated being reminded of due to it being a factor beyond her control. This was made worse due to her being drawn to the sport specifically because, in her mind, it was an individual competition. She completed her routine alone, commanding every aspect of the performance. Success and failure were born from her efforts, and hers alone. For a woman coming from a fractured home and a family filled with issues she had no hope of fixing, the appeal of sport that empowered her to forge her own fate was immense. Unfortunately, Jade''s penchant for ignoring what she didn''t like had set her up for disaster. Each time she''d practiced her vaulting routine, strain accumulated in her body. The harsh landings carried a great deal of energy, all the more for Jade, whose long body acted as a lever that amplified the already significant force. But despite this disadvantage, she had trained her body to be strong. It dutifully weathered the abuse time after time, the good landings and the bad. Until, at long last, she pushed it one step too far. No sooner had Jade''s feet hit the ground when a sharp, white-hot lance of pain exploded in her left ankle. It buckled under the strain, twisting hard as she collapsed on the pad. She stifled a cry of pain, rolling onto her back and pulling her knee to her chest, holding her leg tightly. Her ankle was already starting to swell, and the throbbing pain was only growing in intensity. No, no, no! Despite the agony, Jade pulled herself to her feet. She had to walk it off, to show that she was fine. Had she remained upright long enough for the landing to count? The vault had been perfect, one the best she''d ever done. "Jade!" Christina was next to her now, Miko right behind her. They weren''t supposed to be here on the floor, but no one stopped them. They took her by the arm, supporting her. "I''m okay." Jade said, trying to walk on her own. "I-" The moment she put weight on her foot, it failed. She nearly went down again before her friends caught her, choking back another groan of pain. Tears stung at the corner of her eyes, both from the throbbing injury and the growing fear that this would put her out of the running. "Jade, stop!" Christina pleaded. This time, she was forced to let them help her away, half limping, half carried. They were soon met by the first aid team, who rushed her back to a medical room. Through the mounting pain and frustration, Jade was dimly aware of a hushed silence in the arena, and of the media crews tracking her as she was led away. Her mind was rapidly growing numb, unable to process the sudden change in circumstance. In what felt like no time at all, a medic was carefully probing her ankle while her friends watched. "It''s just a bad sprain." Jade muttered, semi-delirious from the pain. "I-I just need some rest." "Stay still." The medic told her, his tone firm but not unkind. He carefully applied pressure to various places along her foot and ankle. There was nothing, until- Jade cried out as intense pain flared through her leg, like something had just speared her through the ankle. There was a horrifyingly nauseating sensation of shifting, grinding bone in her foot, and she groaned, closing her eyes. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and she was starting to feel lightheaded. "Call an ambulance." The medic was saying to someone Jade couldn''t see. "At least one fracture, she needs imaging."You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. It''ll be okay. Jade told herself, lying back as her foot was propped up to provide elevation. Everyone gets injuries. It''ll be fine. Her performance at the trials had been stellar, she knew that. If she could recover, if it didn''t take too long, everything would be fine. The more she repeated that to herself, the closer she came to believing the lie.
The door closed behind the departing doctor, leaving Jade alone in the hospital room. The past week had been a blur of pain, triage, and meeting with too many doctors to remember. Her father had taken off work to drive her home, resulting in what felt like the longest road trip of Jade''s life, where every bump in the road sent stinging waves of pain through her leg. The injury hadn''t been quite bad enough to warrant emergency surgery, but it also wasn''t the sort of condition that could heal on its own. As soon as she''d returned home, she''d been taken straight to the hospital for the surgeon''s earliest availability. The first procedure had met with minor complications, requiring a second one only two days later. Now, fresh after the latest round of her ankle being reconstructed, Jade was exhausted. She lay back in the hospital bed, staring blankly at the paper her doctor had left with her. It listed her injury as a ''Trimalleolar Fracture'', which the surgeon had explained meant that three different parts of her ankle had broken simultaneously. It was an uncommon injury, likely the result of a gradual buildup of stress and microfractures over months, or even years, of hard training. According to the surgeon, this latest procedure had gone well. They had rebuilt her ankle, holding it together with screws in several places. She couldn''t see the scars through the splint strapped to her foot, but she knew they were there. If she followed through with physical therapy, her doctor was confident that she''d be able to recover enough to walk normally again, probably even endure light physical activity, at least for short periods. When she''d asked about returning to competitions, his expression had been answer enough. "With these injuries, it''s often hard to tell exactly what level of recovery is possible." The surgeon had said evasively, gesturing to a printout of her X-Rays. Jade lacked the expertise to interpret them in any meaningful way, but even she could see the large crack prominently featured in one of the bones. "In some cases, athletes like you do return to their sports. But keep in mind, that isn''t a quick process. It will require dedication to your prescribed physical therapy and, just as important: Rest. It''s paramount that the body be given time to heal properly, or the risk of reinjuring yourself is high." Months. She was looking at months, or even years, of recovery time. The Olympics were coming up in the summer, only a handful of months away. Even if she''d miraculously recovered in time, there was no way the selection committee would choose her for the team. She''d have to miss the training camp, the joint exercises, the routine planning¡­ The paper crumpled as Jade squeezed her hands into fists. She took a deep, calming breath, sitting up. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn''t as bad as they thought. If she started now, she might be able to rehab quicker than the doctors expected. They weren''t used to patients as fit and athletic as she was, nor with people who had her determination. Surely she could beat their expectations. Carefully swinging her legs off the side of the bed, Jade eyed the distance between her and the door to the bathroom. A quick test wouldn''t hurt, just to get a baseline for how she was feeling after the procedure. Gingerly rising to her feet, Jade found that her leg didn''t hurt any worse. Buoyed, she took a tentative step. The instant she put her weight on her injured foot, an explosion of pain erupted through her ankle like searing fire. Jade gasped, catching herself on the side of the bed before she collapsed to the ground. She knelt like that for several long moments, breathing hard, anger and frustration boiling through the walls she''d erected in her mind. It was over. She couldn''t delude herself anymore. Even if she did recover one day, it wouldn''t be in time. You didn''t bounce back from not being able to walk to completing Olympic vaults in a matter of weeks. Everything she had worked for, all the years of dedicated training, none of it mattered anymore. Finally, the tears came. All the anger, pain, and helplessness welled up at once, and Jade couldn''t hold it back any longer. She sobbed into the side of the bed, bunching the sheets as she squeezed her fists tight. Tears spilled from her cheeks, dripping to the floor. The cruelty of making it so close to her dream, only for it to be snatched away in the last instant, made it all the worse. "Jade¡­?" She hadn''t heard the door open. Jade sniffed, wiping her eyes. "Leave me alone." She muttered, not turning to face whoever it was. "I''m not leaving you like this." The voice finally registered. She blinked, looking towards the door. Her brother stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame for support. Gone was the energetic, youthful boy she remembered from childhood. In his place was a lanky, underweight teen, with a bald head and loose-fitting clothes. Alan''s eyes were still bright, though, shining from his tired face like vibrant beacons. He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "Alan¡­?" Jade asked, surprised to see him. "I thought you were¡­" She trailed off, trying to remember what his current treatment was. It had changed so many times, she realized that she didn¡¯t know. "I had an oncology appointment today." He said, kneeling next to her. "Dad dropped me off on his way to work. He wanted to stop by, but¡­ You know how it is." He gave her a sad smile. "Come on, let''s get you back in bed." "No, you shouldn''t be straining yourself." Jade said, using her arms to pull herself up. "Neither should you." Alan pointed out, lifting under her shoulders. Together, they got her back in bed, Jade wincing as the movement sent another pang of discomfort through her ankle. "I''m sorry this happened." Alan said, lowering himself into the bedside chair. "I was watching the stream¡­" "You were?" Jade asked, surprised. "Of course I was." He grinned at her. "You were incredible! No one else was even trying the moves you were." "Doesn''t matter now." Jade snapped, thumping her head back against the pillow. "It''s all over. All that time, all that effort, wasted." "You don''t mean that." Alan said with a frown. "You took home the national championship last year." "That was just a steppingstone." Jade countered. Part of her knew she was being unreasonable, but she was too frustrated to care. "All of it was for this! I¡­ I tried so hard¡­" Her voice broke and, though she tried to stop them, the tears began to flow again. "Why¡­?" She asked. "Why did it have to happen?! Why now?" She slammed her fist on the bedside table, knocking a pile of things to the floor. Why couldn''t her body have held together just a little longer? It isn''t fair¡­ Alan didn''t say anything. He just reached over and squeezed her shoulder, bowing his head. "And this stupid hospital!" Jade snapped, gesturing around at the room. Somewhere deep inside her, a floodgate had broken. All the frustration and anger of the past week came spilling out all at once. "How are you supposed to get any rest when you get interrupted every twenty minutes? Or with the constant beeping? It''s like they''re trying to drive me crazy!" "I know¡­" Alan said, patting her arm softly. "I know." Far too late, Jade realized what she was doing. She looked at her younger brother, seeing him for the first time since he''d arrived. Her righteous anger and resentment drained away as quickly as it had erupted from her, replaced by an intense sense of self-loathing. "Oh Alan¡­" She whispered, looking at him with wide eyes. "I''m so sorry¡­" "It''s fine." He said, giving her a sad smile. His understanding only made her feel worse. Here she was complaining about spending one night in a hospital for a foot injury to her brother, a boy who had been fighting for his life on and off for the past several years, practically living as in inpatient for weeks at a time. What the hell was she doing¡­? Yes, losing this chance was soul crushingly painful, but it paled in comparison to her brother''s battle. Jade looked away, cheeks burning with shame. What kind of sister was she? When had she become so self-centered and prideful that she didn''t even consider her own brother''s feelings? "Really, it''s okay." Alan reassured her. "I''m on the mend, remember? And so are you. We''ll be good as new in no time." She knew him well enough to pick out the forced optimism in his words. "Besides." He said, looking away. "It really does suck. The least I can do is listen, especially after I made mom lea-" "Never say that!" Jade snapped, turning a fierce gaze on her brother. He sat up straighter, a look of surprise crossing his face. "Never, ever say that." She continued, more gently. "Mom leaving wasn''t your fault." Jade had never forgiven her mother for walking out on their family. What kind of parent left their sick child because caring for them was too difficult? Not being there was bad enough, but what it did to them was even worse. "Hey¡­" He said, changing the subject. "Want me to bring you some books?" "I''ll be going home today, but thanks." She sighed, lying back on the bed. The depression was returning, like a thick cloud descending on her. Through the resentment and anger, though, it finally dawned on Jade what a miserable excuse of a sibling she''d been. Throwing herself into training and competition to escape a bleak family life might have helped her, but it had meant abandoning him. That he didn''t seem to hold it against her only made her feel more ashamed. Everything else might be broken now, but maybe she could still fix that one thing. If something good could come of this then maybe, just maybe, she wouldn''t lose herself completely.
Present Day Awareness of the quiet, still meadow slowly returned to Jade. Her body was trembling from the intense wave of emotions that had accompanied the memories, and she could still feel the throbbing pain in her foot. It was as if she had really been there, reliving it. How¡­ How was that possible? What kind of magic was at play here? And why? She closed her eyes, slowing her rapid breaths. The blinding light emanating from the pool was gone, but the intense heat it had filled her with was still fading. She could feel it swirling through the magical conduits in her body, ebbing like a receding tide. Jade got the sense that it was trying to show her something. Hesitantly, she followed it with her mind, letting it take her back through the memories the power had dredged up from the depths of her soul. After several long minutes of introspection, she finally began to understand. The visions had shown her a past failure. She had been too proud to listen to the advice from her friends and lashed out in anger at those closest to her when she''d fallen. What had Serrethis said? That this power was called ''growth''? Jade had interpreted that as some sort of life energy, maybe a kind of magic that imbued the forest with strength and vitality. But maybe that wasn''t all it was. The remnant magic inside her felt like it was trying to guide her. Could that be its nature, instead? Did he send her here to learn from this? If so, had he known what she would experience? Jade didn''t know, but one thing had been made clear to her. As much as she wanted to think that her recent emotional surges of pride and anger came from adapting to her new demonic nature, she was now forced to confront the fact that she''d always held those traits. Her succubus form might enhance them, or make them easier, but she couldn''t just give up and put all the blame on that. Moreover, if she did, she''d be leading herself to the same failures that had cost her everything in the past. Only this time, ''everything'' was far more all-encompassing. Jade didn''t understand this power, this place, or whatever lost deity had created it, but the message was clear: Get her head on straight or suffer the consequences. Chapter 71 It was early evening before Serrethis felt Jade''s presence approaching. This time, the elf rose from his position kneeling in the garden to properly greet her. His limbs were stiff after a long day of tending his plants with care, both his injured leg and centuries-old bones protesting at the shift. Even with the high physical stats he''d earned in his years as an adventuring wayfarer and the generous lifespan of his people, age eventually caught up to everyone. Jade''s aura was subdued as she re-entered the clearing, and he could feel her weariness. He waited in silence as she approached, studying her with interest. Despite what he''d told her earlier, Serrethis had no intention of turning this woman away without instruction, regardless of her disposition. Experience had taught him that someone with her potential would find their way to power with or without guidance in the world of the Labyrinth. There was little he could do to keep anyone from that journey, assuming he had any right to try. That didn''t mean that he wouldn''t make an effort to temper his students'' more problematic tendencies, however. Power was an insidious gift, one that grew more dangerous as its bearers grew more well-meaning. And it was his role to correct that. "I visited the shrine." Jade said at length, sounding tired. Serrethis knew the look of someone who had just been exposed to divine essence, and her haggard expression was enough to confirm his suspicions. The ''growth'' essence in the shrine had responded to her presence, just as he''d hoped. It was never a sure thing, for the actions of divine energy were impossible to predict. With no deities to shape them, their reactions always had an element of chance. "What did you see?" He asked. "I saw¡­" Jade rubbed her temple with the palm of her hand. "I saw memories. Felt them. It was like I was there again." She squeezed her eyes shut for a long moment, and then opened them to glower at him. "You could have warned me." "The goddess''s essence reacts differently to everyone." He replied simply. "I could not predict what your experience would be, nor even if you would have one." "Maybe, but you expected it." Jade hesitated. When she continued, she sounded less sure of herself. "That power¡­ It came from a deity? I felt¡­" She trailed off, but Serrethis understood. The first time he had experienced the true vastness of cosmic power, even just the echo of it that lay dormant in the shrine of Lady Elaria, he''d been unnerved too. It held a hint of something more, a connection to the infinite. Out of reach and out of sight, but still there. "That is believed, yes." "There was something missing from it." Jade furrowed her brow in concentration. "It felt like there should''ve been something¡­ more." "The goddess''s will." Serrethis provided. "All who touch the divine know of what you speak. When the gods departed and left the forces of the cosmos untethered, something was stripped from them." "That''s what I heard¡­ But feeling it is a different story." They were silent for several moments. Serrethis stooped to retrieve his clippers, returning them to their hook on the side of his house. Jade gazed into the stream, a distant look in her eyes. "The memories you saw." he asked once he had finished, returning to stand beside her. "What do they mean to you?" "They were a painful reminder." "Of what?" "Why do you care?" "Because this is an important part of your training." Jade sighed, sinking down to sit in the long grass beside the stream. She pulled her knees to her chest, watching the evening sunlight glint off the rippling water. "It was like you told me when we met." she said, twisting a blade of grass between her fingers. "I have an arrogant streak a mile wide, and I''ve already paid the price for it." The pain of her admission was evident through Jade''s aura, which rippled with waves of her resentment and shame. There was something else there, though, at its core. Determination and resolve. Serrethis suppressed a smile. He''d had some initial misgivings, but there was hope for her yet. Perhaps he had been too quick to judge. "Elaria''s domain has always been about guiding us to grow, both in strength, and as people. To step closer to that idealized version of ourselves that we can never reach but should always strive for." "My mother always told me that people can''t change, and that trying will only hurt you." "Do you believe that?" "No." Jade shook her head. "I''ve already changed. I''m just not sure it was for the better." This time, Serrethis did smile. "If you are questioning yourself, you''re likely doing better than you think." He turned away, slowly walking back towards his small home. His leg was starting to hurt, and it was time to rest. "Return here at first light." He said, not looking back at her. "For what?" The human-turned-demon asked, standing up. "To continue your training. Be ready to push yourself." "That." Jade said, confidence returning to her voice. "I can do."
Jade returned to the guest house she was sharing with Naomi and Luis and told them the news. They still had to work out exactly how long she would stay to receive instruction, but she expected it to be a couple weeks at the absolute shortest. Whether training for a sport or combat, it simply took time for the body to properly internalize new techniques. Assuming the training Serrethis had in mind was physical in nature. After the events of the day, she wasn''t sure what to expect.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "So, it looks like we''ll be sticking around for a while longer." Jade said, sitting on a comfortable chair in their living area and picking through a pile of books they''d picked up at the market. "You won''t find me complaining about that." Naomi said. She was sitting on the couch opposite Jade, tuning the new enchanted guitar she''d received as stronghold loot. It was blue like her previous one, but instead of a rose pattern, this instrument had stylized shooting stars streaking across it. "This is the first nice place we''ve been to!" "Juniper''s grove wasn''t bad." Luis said, walking into the room with his new spellbook in hand. "It had that great hot spring." "It was still jungle. Hot, humid, and full of those giant spiders." Naomi shuddered. "I''m happy to stay here." "Don''t get too comfortable." Jade advised, looking up from the book she was flipping through. "As soon as we''re better prepared for this floor, we''re moving on." Naomi sighed but nodded in agreement. "I know¡­ Aylin has been teaching me better mana control. She says that if I train in the proper techniques, my songs will take less energy to keep active. Since she''ll be going home soon, I''m trying to learn as much as I can while I have the chance." "Fenrin and I are going to be practicing together, too." Luis chimed in. "He was telling me that his father trained him on sword forms and offered to teach me some of them." "That''s great." Jade nodded, glad that each of them were taking this seriously. "I''m not sure what Serrethis will be teaching me yet, but I saw his status page today. His level is in the sixties." Naomi sat up straighter. "Sixties?! Really?" "Damn." Luis whistled. "Yeah. So, I imagine he has a lot to share." Jade hadn''t yet told her friends about her visit to the shrine, or the memories it had shown her. She was still processing the experience and wasn''t ready to discuss it. As much as she wanted to avoid the topic, though, she knew that she had to broach it sooner rather than later. Not trusting her friends had burned her badly in the past. It had already almost gotten her killed multiple times in the Labyrinth so far, as well. She''d have to talk about it soon. The thought made her groan internally. It would be a difficult topic to discuss, and Jade hated feeling vulnerable. Part of her wanted to dismiss the magical visions entirely, to just learn from Serrethis and move on. But that would be a mistake. Although she didn''t understand, or entirely trust, the source of the magic that had shown her the past, the flaws it had highlighted were real. "I''m glad I finally found some books." Jade said, resuming her organization of them into piles. "I''ve missed reading¡­" "Do any of them look good?" she asked, peering at their covers. "That''s the one the owner got excited about, right?" Naomi added, pointing to the one Jade was holding. "Was she?" Jade looked at it more closely. The translation magic that allowed her to understand all languages while in the Labyrinth wasn''t quite as effective on the written word as it was with speech. It required more focus, but it still got the job done. This tome appeared to be a novel about a vampire lord and a half-demon prince each vying for the affection of an elven maiden. The interior was filled with illustrations of handsome men in various stages of undress. It wasn''t until Luis spoke from over her shoulder that she realized how long she''d been staring at them. "Huh, guess our worlds aren''t so different after all." Jade blushed, snapping the book shut. It slammed closed with more force than she''d intended, making a resounding ''clap'' sound. "I might give it a try¡­" she muttered, sliding the stack of books into her dimensional pouch. If the vampire book happened to end up on the top of that stack¡­ well, that was just a convenient coincidence. "I mean, since it comes recommended." "Uh-huh." Naomi snorted in amusement, returning her attention to her new guitar. "Are we going to do more charm resistance training tonight?" she asked, plucking a string and making adjustments. "I feel like I''m finally making some progress." As she''d requested on the first floor, Jade had continued casting her ''Allure'' spell on Naomi whenever they had downtime. So far, it had proved difficult for her to overcome, but she was slowly making progress. Luis left the room as they continued to converse, getting back to repairing their armor using his new spellbook. "I can''t tonight." Jade said, suddenly remembering a thought she''d had earlier. "Hey, have you cast that new laundry spell of yours on the clothes we got today? Did it work well?" "Sure did." Naomi nodded. "The new stuff is fresh and ready to go! Leave your laundry out on the balcony later, and I''ll get those too." "Thanks." Jade sighed with relief. "Wait, why the balcony?" "Because I don''t want it stinking up the house. Our Earth clothes are disgusting." "Good point¡­" All of them had already changed into their newly purchased elven clothing, which was in much better condition. That said, Jade had spent the day hiking around the city and traipsing through the nearby woodland, and she wasn''t as presentable as she''d prefer. She felt Naomi''s eyes on her as she retrieved her freshly treated clothes from where her friend had laid them out and started changing. "Going somewhere?" "Nythis invited me over for dinner." Jade admitted, studiously not meeting her eyes. "Ohhhh?" Naomi drew out the word, cocking her head and grinning at her. "Just the two of you? Why didn''t you say so?" "No, I mean-" Jade stammered, pulling the shirt over her shoulders to hide her face. "Her partner will be there too." She got the shirt over her head just in time to see Naomi''s eyes light up with mischief. "So, you took my advice! Good for you." Her grin broadened. "It''s not like¡­" Jade began before realizing that yes, it was like that. She felt her cheeks redden further. "Maybe you should start that book now?" Naomi suggested. "It might give you some fun ideas." "I don''t need help with ideas!" A knock at the front door interrupted them. Flustered, Jade finished pulling on a new skirt and ran over to the door. "Nythis! Sorry, I was just-" She stopped, recognizing the elf waiting outside. It wasn''t Nythis, but their new housekeeper, Myra. She was filling in for Gwyn, who had apparently taken ill. The elf was slender, with long brown hair, wearing simple clothes in the loose-fitting fashion favored in Lysara. In her hands was a steaming pot, from which an appealing smell wafted. "Oh. I was just bringing over some dinner¡­" She said, taking in Jade''s disheveled appearance. "Is it a bad time?" "Not at all!" Naomi chimed in from the living room. "Thanks Myra, come on in." Jade stepped aside to let her enter, closing the door behind her. Was this shirt supposed to sit on her like this? And how did this skirt fasten? This elven clothing was more complicated than it looked¡­ "Is everything alright, dear?" The elf asked with suppressed amusement, setting the pot down in the kitchen. "She just has a date tonight." Naomi confided in her. "Want some help with that?" She asked Jade. "I can get ready myself!" "You can." Naomi gave her an appraising look. "But¡­ You shouldn''t. Come here." She beckoned Jade over and she reluctantly acquiesced, giving up on the tangle of ties and fasteners. "How has no one here invented the button yet¡­" Myra and Naomi got her sorted in short order, ignoring her grumbling complaints. By the time they were done, Jade had to admit that she liked how the loose-fitting clothes looked and felt on her. They were both elegant and comfortable, the forest colors a good match for her eyes. "Have fun." Naomi said with a wink after Myra excused herself. She leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. "Let me know if you want any buffs." Jade gave her friend a dour look, refusing to dignify that with a response. "Just an idea." Naomi said innocently. "For all we know, it''s the norm here." She rolled her eyes and turned away. Part of her was glad Naomi could tease her about something like this. Just yesterday, they''d been fighting for their lives. People had died in front of them. In their first days in the Labyrinth, that would have been crippling. With each new conflict, they were growing more accustomed to this harsh new reality, getting better at dissociating the violence from the rest of life. Bit by bit, they were changing. Is that good for us? Whether it was or not, there was no denying it was necessary. Not anymore. Chapter 72 Quietly closing the door to Nythis''s home behind her, Jade stepped out into the crisp morning air. The first rays of sunlight were just starting to break through the forest canopy, shining glimmering spotlights on various areas of the treetop village. It was shaping up to be a chilly day, but Jade hardly noticed the cold. Her body buzzed with warm, vibrant energy that tingled through her veins, making her steps light and eyes bright. She felt good. Far better than she had any right to, after a night involving so little sleep and so much¡­ exertion. Okay¡­ she admitted to herself. Maybe this body has some perks after all. Based on her initial impression of the chaotic druid, Jade had expected Nythis''s home to be disorganized and cluttered. When she arrived with her the previous night, however, she had discovered it to be neat, tidy, and cozy. The elegant home was grown right into the side of a large tree, incorporating several of its long branches and connected to the rest of the village by a hanging bridge. Unsure of local social norms and expectations Jade had been a little nervous, but her hosts'' casual friendliness helped put her more at ease. Travay, Nythis''s partner, also turned out to be a practitioner of druidic magic. He was a handsome, athletic elf who seemed happy to do more listening than speaking, a trait Jade suspected served him well with Nythis as a companion. They shared a pleasant dinner, asking her many questions about Earth. The pair were fascinated by the idea of a society without magic, prompting Jade to give explanations of modern technology and how it was used. After dinner the pair invited her to spend the night with them, but Jade had been conflicted. A handful of factors had her hesitant to be intimate with anyone, let alone a couple she was still getting to know. Foremost among them was wariness over unintentionally hurting people with her drain power. While she could dial back the effect, stopping it completely wasn''t something she was sure she could do. Nythis waved away that particular concern, reminding her again that they each knew healing spells. The risk of accidentally siphoning the life out of her partners aside, Jade only had a limited amount of experience with casual flings. It wasn''t that she was averse to them but rather that, between university coursework, a part time job, and an unending obsession with achieving peak athletic performance, she''d never had much time for those pursuits. More than one relationship had ended with her partners realizing that they weren''t her first priority, or even in the top three. In the end, Jade decided to go through with it for three reasons: First, because she needed to learn more about how her transformation affected her ability to have intimate relationships in the future. Second, although she''d never willingly tell Naomi she was right, Jade really did need to find a better way to alleviate the distracting impulses that had been growing for the past couple of weeks. Finally, and certainly not least, because the pair were both fun and ridiculously attractive. Seriously, how is that fair? Jade thought, making her way through the quiet village towards the gondola that would take her to the top of the cliff. Body image issues were one area she''d never struggled with, but now she was starting to understand. No human physique could compete with the otherworldly elegance of elven physiology. Looks weren''t everything, but she''d dare anyone to spend an hour in Lysara and then tell her with a straight face that they weren''t a factor. Fortunately, Jade could cheat. She shifted back into her demon form with a thought, feeling her features shift to become more graceful. It was subtly different from the type of beauty the wood elves of Lysara possessed, sharper, and with a hint of danger, but she could live with that. She paused on the loading platform, waiting for the next gondola. It seemed word had gotten around regarding her involvement in the stronghold expedition, as none of the other early risers were giving her unusual appearance more than a curious glance. Jade found it hard to stand still while so full of energy, and she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. I have to do that again¡­ No demonic lust influenced that thought. For once, it was thoroughly sated. The results had been promising. Reining in most of her impulses to drain energy hadn''t been too challenging, they''d all enjoyed themselves, and she''d come out feeling ready to take on the world. "Who knew druidic magic was so versatile¡­" She mused as a gondola came to a halt in front of her. She stepped aboard, the operator closing the door behind her. "Those vines¡­" Maybe she could discreetly pick up another spellbook before they left town. It wasn''t until she was halfway up the cliff that Jade realized she''d voiced those thoughts next to the elf manning the loading platform. She groaned, covering her face with her hands. That wasn''t going to help her reputation¡­
Nythis lay sprawled atop a collection of soft pillows, auburn hair splayed around her in a tangled mess, gingerly rubbing her temples. Travay was sitting on the bed beside her, next to a pile of discarded clothes, stroking her hair. He looked almost fine, if a little tired, which was completely unfair. "Would you like me to go get you a recovery potion?" He asked sympathetically. "Only if you can do it without stopping." Nythis said, leaning into his hand. The dull headache she''d woken up with was slowly retreating under his gentle massage. She squinted up at him. "Can you heal me again?" "You aren''t injured, dear, it won''t help. You just need to rest."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Why do you look fine?" She complained, nestling deeper into the soft pillows. "Because I have a self-cleansing spell." Travay reminded her. He gave her a sidelong look. "And because one of us doesn''t know how to pace themselves." "Are you calling me impulsive?" "Yes, dear." "Can''t argue with that." Nythis grinned, and then winced. "I regret learning fire magic over recovery spells." She groaned. "You''re the one who invited a succubus over." Travay pointed out. "You can''t say I didn''t warn you." "I didn''t hear you object." "Of course I didn''t." he grinned back at her, scratching the top of her head. She closed her eyes, sighing in relief. "It was a wonderful idea, and she was a lovely guest. I just came better prepared." In lieu of replying, Nythis made a gesture and muttered an incantation. A supple green vine sprouted from the floor beside the bed, rising from the already cracked floorboards. She directed it to reach into the kitchen and wrap around a pitcher of water, knocking over half the items on the counter in the process. "If you want anything, I''m happy to get it for you." Travay said, sounding amused. "Stop scratching me, and I''m putting that fire magic to use." Nythis replied, shooting him a mock glare. "Yes, dear." Her lapse in focus resulted in the vine knocking a shelf of the wall. She winced, the noise sending another pang through her temples. "Whoops." Wisely, Travay continued to rub her and didn''t comment on the mishap. Shifting her attention back to the task at hand, Nythis manipulated the vine to pour water from the pitcher into a cup. The spell wasn''t very precise, so most of it missed and spilled onto the floor, but enough ended up where she needed it. Setting down the pitcher, the druid used the vine to retrieve the cup, careful not to spill any of its precious contents. She plucked it from the conjured plant, drinking deeply as she released the spell. "That''s better¡­" She sighed, closing her eyes. Maybe I''ll just stay in bed today¡­ They lay together for a while longer, the growing light of day slowly illuminating their bedroom. Eventually, as Nythis was finally starting to feel some improvement, her partner spoke. "So¡­ We''re inviting her over again, right?" She grinned. "Definitely."
Jade reached the swordsman''s clearing just as the sun became visible through the trees. The echo of the memory she had recently relived lingered in her mind, an unpleasant reminder of flaws she preferred to ignore. With her world hanging in the balance that wasn''t an option anymore, regardless of how her demonic instincts stoked those inclinations. An entertaining evening with new companions had been a pleasant distraction from the trials waiting for her but, now that her unruly supernatural urges were under control, it was time to focus on what mattered: Getting stronger. Serrethis was once again tending to his garden. The elf wore a cloth robe that reminded Jade of a Japanese yukata, tied about his waist with a simple sash. Jade stopped a short distance away, waiting as he pulled weeds from the soil. Seconds turned into minutes as the elf continued to work, giving no indication that he''d noticed her arrival. Patience had never been one of Jade''s strengths, and she soon found herself shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. Although she was sorely tempted to speak, her intuition told her that would be a mistake. She''d seen enough movies to recognize a ''test of self-restraint''. Gruff, seasoned teachers like this always started by demonstrating the value of patience to their young and impulsive students. The lesson would undoubtedly be a recurring theme during their training, and Jade was self-aware enough to realize that she needed the practice. With smug satisfaction at figuring out the old man''s game, Jade closed her eyes and started going through one of the basic meditation exercises Aylin had taught them to help control their auras. She opened her senses to the currents of mana surrounding her, swirling like flowing water. Clearing her mind, Jade brought them to a state of stillness, smoothing out the ripples in her aura. Maintaining a mindset appropriate for meditation soon proved challenging, however, as distracting memories of the previous night''s fun continually resurfaced to break her concentration. Jade''s mind began to wander, recalling how Travay had- "Oh! You''re here." Jade''s eyes snapped open to see a chagrined Serrethis looking at her. She flushed, realizing that her aura was a chaotic, turbulent mess, and quickly worked to calm it. "Sorry." He grumbled, favoring his good leg as he rose to his feet. "I can get absorbed in my work. Next time, say something." Wait¡­ That wasn''t a test? Sure enough, she could taste Serrethis''s embarrassment at leaving her waiting. Jade resisted the urge to drop her face into her hands. Outsmarting herself was not the most auspicious start. "Got it. I mean, I will." Jade hastily amended, not wanting to compound the issue by relying on the Labyrinth''s sketchy ability to translate colloquialisms. Even though it hadn''t been a test after all, she couldn''t shake the feeling that she''d failed one anyway. "Before we begin, I''d like to make something clear." Serrethis said, regaining his composure. "I do not waste time training people how to use a weapon or employ their magic. It isn''t worth the time, there are far more important things a warrior needs to succeed in the Labyrinth. Do you know what they are?" Jade gave the question some thought before venturing a guess. "Courage and Judgement?" "Half marks." Serrethis grunted. "Courage isn''t nearly as important as good judgement and proper aura mastery. Well trained aura senses can give you critical insights into your opponents, while denying them the same advantage. And that is only useful if you exercise good judgement on what to do with the information." "Are you saying skill with weapons and magic don''t matter?" Jade asked skeptically. "No, but you don''t need me to show you how to swing a sword. The Labyrinth imprinted those skills on you when you chose your class, all you need is enough practice to ingrain the knowledge into your body." The elf gave her an assessing look. "That Mystic Order woman tells me you can manifest aura blades already. For someone with a trained mind-body bond, realizing that martial knowledge won''t be an issue. Powers are even easier. They''re soul imprinted, so they''re ready to use from the moment you learn them. That makes how you use them the deciding factor in your success." That made some amount of sense, but it left Jade wondering what form their training would take. "Normally." Serrethis continued. "This type of training takes months and begins with extensive conditioning to train the mind to act in concert with the body, but you''ve already reached that state." "How long will the rest take?" Jade asked. "We can''t stay here for long, not with what the Labyrinth is doing to our home." "Three weeks." Serrethis declared, raising a matching number of fingers. "That is the minimum amount of time needed to achieve any true improvement. Even that will be pushing it." Three weeks would put them at just before when the permanent Labyrinth gates were supposed to open to Earth. It was longer than Jade had wanted to delay in Lysara, but it would give she, Luis, and Naomi the chance to venture straight home when they left, before embarking on the next leg of their journey. She''d need to run it by them and make sure her companions were satisfied with the training they were receiving here as well, but it could work. She said as much to Serrethis, who nodded. "Then let''s begin." Chapter 73 The next several days passed in a blur. Jade quickly fell into a new routine, starting the day at Serrethis''s home to work on aura training. The retired wayfarer dedicated an entire half of their time together to aura management. This included refining her magical senses, teaching her how to read enemy intent through their own aura, how to manipulate her personal mana-field to make her harder to read and finally, how to manifest her aura physically as she had done in the battle against the bone titan. A large part of this training was mental, with Serrethis guiding Jade through exploring her own inner magical pathways. An individual''s aura was best described as the cloak of personal mana they carried with them, refined by their own body, so a thorough understanding of that circuitry was required to properly control it. As she became more familiar with how that part of her body functioned, precisely managing her mana became more intuitive. It wasn''t until they entered the second part of their training that Jade fully understood why these techniques were so vital. "Our aura is a byproduct of the magical link between the body and soul." Serrethis explained in one of his early lessons. "Because of this, it is a reflection of who we are and what we think. Anyone with even basic magical training can sense them, and without proper control, it makes you very easy to read." He followed the explanation with a series of demonstrations, instructing Jade to watch his aura closely. She did so, noting it subtly shift into a more transparent state for the duration of the exercise. Serrethis then initiated a series of mock attacks against her, wielding a wooden sword. By carefully watching his aura, Jade found she was able to anticipate his strikes moments before they landed, allowing her to dodge almost before he began to move. The learning process was far from smooth, requiring Jade to integrate an entirely new type of perception into the rest of her senses, and in the beginning, it took so much focus that it proved to be more hinderance than help. She improved quickly, though, and by the end of the first week of training Jade found relying on her magical senses to be more and more natural. "Most of your opponents will have some level of training." Serrethis said during one of their breaks, standing in the middle of the clearing while Jade crouched, panting from exertion after a particularly vigorous exercise. Despite joining her in the training he didn''t even appear out of breath. "Even most monsters have an instinctive understanding of how to conceal their intent from aura observation." "I assume there''s a way around that, or it would make this whole exercise useless." Jade commented, pulling herself to her feet. She leaned against a tree, still trying to catch her breath. Her body ached from countless impacts, strikes she''d failed to dodge. "Even skilled enemies have lapses in focus. You should always be on the lookout for such moments and be ready to take advantage of them." The lessons continued, moving on from reading auras to masking her own, ensuring that monsters or other enemies couldn''t read Jade like an open book. On her request, she included Luis and Naomi in some of their sessions, pulling her companions away from their own training to participate. Serrethis acquiesced, building on the foundations Aylin had begun teaching them. It didn''t take long to reach a basic level of proficiency with the various aura techniques, but both Serrethis and Aylin impressed upon them how important regular training was. The more levels they gained the more potent their auras would be, and the greater level of control it would take to manage them. The second part of their training, and what Jade initially had in mind when seeking Serrethis out, was more specific to her suite of powers. She was aware that she was squandering her potential by constantly charging headfirst into battle, even if many of the situations she''d been thrust into since arriving in the Labyrinth hadn''t offered a chance for a more nuanced approach. Jade was starting to realize that it was on her to create alternatives, though, regardless of circumstance. "You''re wasting your potential." Serrethis said bluntly, after Jade finished explaining her collection of abilities and the circumstances that influenced her transformation. "Nythis and Vamir told me how the expedition went. In multiple instances, you took on stronger or more numerous enemies alone, without support." "That''s been a bad habit of mine since day one in the Labyrinth." Jade admitted, chagrined. "There never seems to be a better solution." "That''s because you aren''t looking for them." Serrethis grunted, crossing his arms. "Like I told you the day we met, you need to stop believing that you have to do everything yourself. That''s a mindset that will get you killed." Jade opened her mouth to reply but the elderly elf kept speaking, pointing a finger at her. "You were given an unusual set of powers from the start, with the changes you underwent after beginning your trial. Fortunately, you made a good decision and selected a class that complemented the powerful and unique racial abilities you now possess. You''ve even done a good job selecting new spells and talents, building yourself up to be a slippery disruptor, and even a finisher." Jade had received enough lectures from various coaches over the years to know that this string of compliments was not going to last. She braced for the ''but¡¯ and didn''t have to wait long. "Your problem." The former wayfarer continued with a frown. "Is that you''re acting like you chose a straightforward warrior class. Your role on a team isn''t to rush ahead and fight in the front. It''s to be a sneaky bastard." Jade couldn''t help but snort at that characterization. Serrethis glared at her, not sharing her amusement. "You think this is funny? I would''ve thought the stronghold expedition showed you how dangerous the Labyrinth is. When you¡¯re part of a team, they''re counting on you. That means playing your part." Embarassed, Jade muttered an apology. "I can''t teach you how to use your own powers." Serrethis continued with a sigh. "Only you can do that. What I can do, is give you a place to practice." After that, Serrethis arranged for Luis, Naomi, Jade, Fenrin, Nythis, and Vamir to join him for mock battles several times a week. Even Aylin participated a couple of times, taking a break from studying the divine relic that consumed most of her days. The retired wayfarer never participated himself, always remaining off to the side and shouting instructions into the fray. "Jade, get out of the melee! Let Luis take the front." "Keep your eyes open, Naomi! You''re the farthest back, it''s your job to watch for threats your teammates can''t see!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Vamir, don''t let them pin you down. Use your speed to your advantage!" Not even Aylin was spared, although the Mystic Order mage made fewer mistakes than the rest of them. They ''fought'' in a variety of situations and with different pairings, and Jade was forced to adapt her strategies in the face of fluid circumstances. After some early mistakes, she began to see the truth in Serrethis''s advice. Her powers lacked the punch that Luis''s and Fenrin''s had. Even Naomi had a more powerful offensive spell than any of Jade''s direct attacks. Fighting side by side with Luis in the middle of a melee was squandering her potential, especially now that Fenrin had joined the party. It was good to be prepared for a standup fight for when there was no other option, but there were usually better ways to contribute. Slinging charm spells from the fringes, darting in and out of the fight to deal a finishing blow, slipping out of sight to drop an unseen trap. Jade had employed all these tactics in the past to good effect, but only as adjuncts to actively participating in battles. Under Serrethis''s guidance she flipped that around, and quickly realized just how disruptive her spells could be with the proper timing. In the evenings Jade practiced with her new enchanted weapon. Phantom''s hilt fit in her palm as if it had been tailor made for her, and it quickly became an extension of her body. Thanks to the weapon proficiency imprinted by the Labyrinth, learning to throw the weapon accurately didn''t take long. After only a few days Jade could consistently hit a small target at reasonable ranges, and she was improving quickly. The capability she was most excited about did not disappoint. "Woah!" She gasped, recovering from the disorientation of teleportation. One moment Jade was standing on the balcony, aiming for a target she''d set up on the far side. An instant later she was standing beside the large board she was using for practice, weapon in hand, feeling a little queasy. Even after weeks of exposure to all sorts of magical phenomena, Jade found herself grinning with childlike glee. "That was awesome." "Please stop throwing knives around the house." Naomi called from inside the living room. "You''re going to break something!" Jade walked back inside to join her. "Naomi, it''s teleportation. Let me have my moment." "Let her have some fun." Luis said from the kitchen. Jade wasn''t sure what he was making, but the smell wafting from the woodfire stove was growing more enticing by the minute. "We''ve all been working our asses off." "I just don''t want her to hurt someone¡­" "It''ll be fine." Luis reassured her, carrying in plates of candied nuts and setting them on the table. "She only hit Mimi once." "She what?!" Naomi asked, aghast. On the other side of the room, Fenrin''s familiar gave a mournful chirp. "It was only a scratch." Fenrin said, reaching up to ruffle the bird''s feathers. "This is why we stay away while people are practicing with weapons, right?" He asked her. "Skraaa¡­" Mirella chirped, drooping her head. "She learned her lesson." Fenrin added. "I hope¡­" The half-elf had been spending more time with them since they''d welcomed him to the party. His strong sense of responsibility and earnest, straightforward demeanor reminded Jade a lot of her brother, although a little more mature. That was to be expected, given that Fenrin was in his thirties. Jade had been surprised to learn that particular fact, since the man looked fresh out of his teens. She''d since started wondering just how old some of the full-blooded elves they''d met were. "Maybe I do need to choose that new healing spell¡­" Naomi mused, her eyes going glossy as she returned her attention to a system screen only she could see. "Still can''t pick between the recovery and illusions spells?" Jade asked, dropping into the seat beside her. Both Naomi and Luis had passed level 10 in the stronghold expedition, with Luis advancing on to 11. As a result, each of them had to pick another class feature. Luis''s choice had been an easy one: He had finally been given a good offensive option. The weapon talent ''avalanche'' was a powerful attack that allowed him to spend any amount of mana on the strike, with the damage dealt increasing proportionally. It carried a stun chance and paired well with the enchanted shield he''d received from conquering the stronghold, which empowered his attacks after blocking incoming strikes. After a couple of sparring matches overseen by Serrethis, Jade was quickly coming to understand just how outclassed Luis had her in terms of direct, immediate damage. There hadn''t been much of a gap when all they had were a couple of low powered starting features, but that was changing fast. None of Naomi''s spell or talent choices were an obvious pick, though, and she''d been consulting with them on the best fit for the team. Other than an additional recovery spell, the bard had been talking about an illusion spell called ''Harmonic Echo'' that summoned phantom duplicates of a target to distract opponents. "And another offensive option." Naomi sighed, still seemingly staring off into space as she paged through menus. "I still only have one damaging spell." "With Fenrin on the team, we have damage pretty well covered." Jade noted, nodding to their newest companion. "You''re our only source of support abilities, it may be best to focus on getting those first." "That''s not a bad point¡­ ''Rejuvenate'' is an aura, so as long as you stay near me I can cast it on several people at once. And, since it''s a melody, I can cast my other healing song while I''m playing it¡­" "Didn''t you say it restores mana too? That''s a rare effect." Fenrin asked, plucking one of the nuts from the table. He went to pop it into his mouth, but Mirella snagged it from his hand, gobbling it up in a single bite. He sighed, reaching for another. "I struggle with mana regeneration, with my willpower penalty." Jade put in, suppressing a grin as she watched Fenrin scold his familiar, who didn''t look the least bit remorseful. "It''s your decision, but it has my vote." "Alright, you''ve convinced me." Naomi said, blinking away the menus and sitting up straight. "Another healing spell is on the books. Now you have to be extra nice to me." She finished with a bright smile. "Here you go." Luis said, passing her the plate. "Give it a try, Mimi seems to like them." Naomi accepted the offering, digging in. "Let me know if they''re good." He said, walking back to the kitchen. "Those looked like the edible ones I saw in that new book¡­" Jade burst out laughing at the look on Naomi''s face. "Look at it this way." She said, nudging her with an elbow. "If they turn out to be poisonous, you can try out your new spell right away." She grabbed a handful herself, giving them a try. They smelled too good to pass up on and, if it came down to it, she had her resistances.
Malice strolled through the darkening streets of Lysara, admiring the abundance of greenery. Before entering the Labyrinth a few years ago, the succubus had rarely seen such a display of verdant beauty. Even here in a world rich with life and magic, the elven village stood out as a place of elegance and splendor. The thought made her want to burn it down all the more. There was nothing sweeter than the shattered remains of tarnished perfection. Judging by the chatter around town, she''d almost been fortunate enough to witness such a defilement. Unfortunately, a group of young wayfarers had defeated the Labyrinth''s new stronghold before it could spread an interesting amount of anguish. The result was a city filled with the taste of relief and, even worse, hope, bitter emotions that threatened to sour her mood. But that was alright, she wasn''t here to indulge in her desires. Well, no more than she always did. What mattered was she had been right. One of the visiting wayfarers, a formerly human woman from the world they called ''Earth'', was the newly transformed succubus she''d heard about. Not only was a strong sense of personal curiosity driving her to meet this adopted sister of hers, but the encounter would help her advance multiple goals Zertrolk had forced on her. Whispers were already starting to spread of increased demon activity in this section of the Labyrinth, an unacceptable development at this stage of the operation. Confirming the presence of transformed demon wayfarers, and ensuring that knowledge spread to the right places, should lessen the risk of increased scrutiny. There were other reasons to meet this ''Jade'' as well, but Malice was growing tired of working. She''d start by having some fun. The succubus, in her disguise as the new elven housekeeper, strode up the steps to the treetop guesthouse. She knocked on the door, a wrapped bundle tucked under one arm. Her magical senses detected only one aura inside the home at the moment, making this the perfect opportunity for a proper introduction. She was quite curious to discover if this woman was worthy to share their less-than honorable heritage, and possessed the requisite ruthless cunning innate to true demons. If she did have some potential, maybe she could even show her the ropes. Chapter 74 The knock on the door came while Jade was finishing toweling off after a relaxing bath. It had been another long day of training, and the hot soak had done wonders for her aching muscles. Not wanting to leave whoever it was waiting, Jade opted to throw on a long shirt rather than get fully dressed. She made her way to the door, extending her still-developing senses to examine the visitor''s aura. It was the housekeeper, Myra, probably bringing fresh supplies for the week. Jade opened the door with a polite smile, ushering the elven woman into the home. "Sorry, I was just getting out of the bath." Jade apologized, holding the door open for her. "Not to worry." Myra said, carrying a bundle to the kitchen. "I hope I didn''t interrupt. Are your friends out?" "Yeah, they left with a team this morning. Making sure the last of the stronghold monsters really are gone. I wanted to go with them, but Serrethis wanted me to take it easy today." Jade frowned. "Apparently, I''ve been pushing myself too hard." Her recent experience at the shrine of Elaria had been a poignant reminder of the dangers of ignoring her limits, so Jade had reluctantly agreed to the suggestion. Her stiff, aching muscles were a strong indicator that it had been the right call. "We can''t have that." Myra said, shaking her head as she stowed items in a cabinet. "Rest is very important. All work and no play isn''t good for anyone, especially people like us." "People like us?" Jade furrowed her brow in confusion. "What do you mean?" "I''ve been wanting to meet you properly for some time, Jade." The elf said, ignoring her question and turning to face her. She smiled, but there was a shadow in her eyes that hadn''t been there before. "I''m so glad we finally have some time alone together." Alarm bells rang in the back of Jade''s mind. Her creepy words aside, the woman''s entire demeanor had just shifted on a dime. The elf stalked back into the main room, moving with the balanced poise of a predator. She stopped in front of the door, coolly regarding Jade as she slowly backed away. Her instincts told her this woman was dangerous, and it took Jade a moment to figure out why. Her aura had changed. Gone was the weak, calm shroud that surrounded regular people. It had been replaced by a keenly controlled cloak of power that Jade couldn''t begin to penetrate. What was happening? Myra had been visiting them for days, how had she missed this? It had to be some sort of aura disguise, the sort that accompanied certain powers like her¡­ Like her shapeshifting ability. "Who are you¡­?" Jade asked, stopping as she reached the far wall. She was right at the bottom of the stairs, prepared to bolt up them if the need arose. Her weapons were up in her room, as was the rest of her equipment, a fact she was suddenly keenly aware of. The woman''s features shifted, changing before her eyes. Dark, leathery wings unfurled from her back, joining a long, flexible tail. A pair of horns rose from her head, glistening in the lamplight. It was Jade''s first time seeing the transformation rather than experiencing it, and it took her startled mind precious moments to parse what was happening. A succubus! "My name is Malice." The demon said with a feral smile. Her posture was relaxed and disarming, completely at odds with her predatory, oppressive aura. "I''ve been looking forward to meeting you, sister." Instinctively, Jade pulled up her properties. The word ''restricted'' flickered and then vanished almost too quickly for Jade to see, leaving a blank space in the screen. She barely noticed. "¡­Why?" Jade asked, not taking her eyes off the creature in front of her. She mirrored the other woman''s transformation, shifting into her demon form with a thought. Whatever was about to happen, she wanted to be ready. As ready as she could be while dressed in a loose shirt over her underwear, at any rate. "Oh, a few reasons." Malice said lightly, taking a step closer. Jade tensed, prepared to spring into action. "First, you have something I want. But before we get to that, I have to know. Why did you decide to become one of us? I didn''t even know the Labyrinth could do that." "That''s what I keep hearing." Jade muttered, sweeping her magical senses to encompass as large an area as she could. It was no good, there wasn''t anybody else nearby. That probably wasn''t a coincidence. "Well?"This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "I was dying." She replied, seeing no reason to lie. "Poisoned by a monster. This was the first choice I found that would save me." "Ahh¡­ Happenstance, then." A slight frown crossed Malice''s face. It was replaced a moment later by another grin, the expression of someone in on a secret. "In that case, it''s time for a test." Jade resisted the urge to glance at the stairs beside her. She was trying to decide if she could make it to the top before Malice could react. Without knowing her level, the only insight Jade had into the demon''s power was the strength of her formidable aura. "What kind of test?" she asked, shifting her feet slightly. "It''s simple." Malice''s grin broadened. "If you survive, you pass." Wonderful. That was all Jade had time to think before the succubus dropped a clawed hand to her hip. In one smooth motion she drew a coiled whip from her belt and struck with lightning speed. Crack! Jade dove away from the stairs, narrowly avoiding the bite of the lash. Woodchips and splinters erupted from the wall she''d been standing in front of, the impact gouging a line into the wood. She rolled to her feet, instincts telling her to go on the offensive, to seize the opening and attack before Malice could strike again. But no, she was clearly too powerful. Jade knew next to nothing about her capabilities, but her aura and blinding reflexes told her everything she needed to know about her chances in a straight-up fight. Jade came to a stop behind a large chair, spinning back towards the stairs and blinking towards them in a rush of air and mana, leaving a shimmering illusion in her wake. She maintained her momentum, sprinting up the steps three at a time. If she could get to the balcony, then she could jump down to a walkway and- Stinging pain lanced through Jade''s bare leg as the whip struck her, the lasher coiling around her calf like it was a living creature with a mind of its own. Jade gasped in pain, red welts already forming on her skin. "Leaving already?" Malice asked from the bottom of the stairs, tone playful. "But we''re not done yet." She heaved back on the taut whip, sending Jade tumbling back down the stairs. Anger flooded Jade''s veins, searing through them like fire. She did not like being played with. Twisting as she fell, Jade planted her feet on the stairs and launched herself at Malice with a snarl. Claws extended from her hands as she pumped mana into her eyes, revealing the succubus''s vulnerabilities. Red glows began emanating from the woman''s throat and heart, guiding her strikes as she lunged towards her- And was swatted aside by an almost casual swipe of Malice''s clawed free hand. Jade fell to the floor with another gasp of pain, landing hard on her shoulder. She didn''t hesitate, rolling to the side to avoid another crack of the whip and flinging a spell at her assailant. "Noctus!" At such close range, the bolt of darkness couldn''t miss. The swirling shadows coalesced around Malice''s head as the spell took hold, stealing her vision. Jade didn''t waste time, brushing her hand against the floor and painting it with a rune trap as she sprang to her feet. The magic circle flashed violet, searing into the wood before fading away. "So, this is what you like?" Malice smirked, blindly slashing her whip in a wide arc. Jade was forced to dodge away from the main door to avoid the strike. The lasher kissed her side in a glancing blow, tearing a furrow through her shirt as another flash of pain blossomed across her skin. Jade seized the tear, using her claws to rip her shirt off in one smooth motion, leaving her in her undergarments. She felt the magic of her ''Seducer''s Mantle'' ability intensify as the clothing was discarded, fortifying her body in the place of armor. It would have to do. Malice raised a hand to her face, using some form of magic to wipe away Jade''s debuff. The succubus smiled at her, her own clothing shredded by her transformation into her true form. The scraps of fabric hanging from her left little to the imagination, creating an alluring distraction that was potent, Jade knew there had to be a supernatural element to the effect. "Well?" she asked, stepping forward. Jade was cornered in the kitchen, Malice blocking her retreat to both the upper floor and the front door. She slapped the haft of her whip against her palm, eyes alight with eager anticipation. "Don''t leave a girl waiting." She struck again, and this time there was nowhere to go. The whip slashed across Jade''s chest, scoring another line of angry welts into her skin. Her racial ability, now fully active, dampened the pain considerably, but it couldn''t eliminate it entirely. Jade ignored the stacking debuffs, vaulting the kitchen table and kicking Malice square in the stomach before she could pull her whip back. The invisible trap was just to her right, unseen. Jade tried to send her stumbling into it, but the succubus held firm, grunting as she absorbed the blow. She grabbed Jade by the leg, tossing her to the floor again. This time, Jade let herself be sent sprawling. She rolled with the impact, coming to rest near the main door. Jumping upright, Jade reached for the handle- And felt the whip wrap around her forearm, tugging her to a halt with another burst of searing stings. The lashes dug into Jade''s flesh, this time drawing blood. With each strike the pain intensified, but now there was another aspect to it. The pulsing pain was accompanied by a tingling, enticing warmth. The sensation crawled across her skin, spreading from the rune-inscribed whip like a distracting whisper in her ear. Jade paid it no heed, a fierce smile breaking across her lips. "Got you." Jade pivoted, grasping the taut whip with both hands and pulled with all her enhanced strength. Malice, though clearly stronger than Jade, was caught off guard. She stumbled closer, regaining her footing after only a couple of steps. A couple of steps was all Jade needed. Violet chains burst from the floor, wrapping around the surprised succubus''s arms, legs, and wings. She was pulled to her knees, the conjured restraints pulling taut and holding her to the ground. Malice moaned as the magic settled, a sultry sound that was far more distracting than it had any right to be. "Well¡­ Aren''t you fun." The succubus smirked, not appearing the least bit bothered by her situation. Jade held no illusions that the trap would hold her for long. It was t ime to get help. Again, she reached for the door- "Stop." The cool sound of Malice''s command wound around her like a leash, pulling her to a halt. Her mind was growing fuzzy. What¡­ What was it she was supposed to be doing? Jade struggled to recall, her will clashing against that of Malice''s. "Now, come here." The succubus smiled, still kneeling in the trap. "You have something I need." Chapter 75 Malice''s smile broadened as her charm magic took hold on the young succubus standing before her. Her people''s innate resilience against enchantment magic was tricky to overcome, but that was just one more reason to appreciate her whip, Dominance. The violet chains dug into her skin, holding her fast, but the demon didn''t mind things getting a little rough. The magic was steadily losing strength and, now that Jade was under her control, she would be able to subvert the effect. The charmed woman approached her with halting steps, a typical glazed look in her eyes. Even enchantment magic as powerful as Malice''s wouldn''t last long against another succubus, not when applied so bluntly, but she only needed a little time. A handful of uninterrupted seconds was all it took for Malice to slip free of the binding spell, leaving her standing before the other woman, whip in hand. Now that she finally had the chance to inspect her closely, the succubus was a little disappointed. Jade hadn''t made good use of her shapeshifting power, her body retaining a few minor imperfections that she should have corrected. She supposed the woman had put up a decent fight considering the awkward situation she''d been caught in and the disparity in their power, but Malice had been hoping for more. "Maybe I''ll drain you after all." she mused, unhooking a coil of rope from her belt. "But first, I need to take something from you. Now, hold still." The command was issued like the crack of her whip, leaving no room for resistance. Jade complied, remaining in place while Malice activated the enchantment on the rope, commanding it to bind her. Regardless of what came next, her immediate task required a rather delicate brand of magic. She couldn''t risk Jade breaking free of her influence and ruining the process. That, and Malice simply enjoyed exercising control. The rope coiled around Jade like a serpent, pulling her to the ground and binding her arms and legs together behind her, leaving her on her stomach. She grunted as the cords tightened, the magic flickering in her eyes as her will strained against the power oppressing it. Malice could taste the suppressed anger railing against her mental prison, a delicious cocktail of passion and frustration that begged to be savored. Unfortunately, there wasn''t time. The magic was already unravelling, finding little purchase in a mind so naturally attuned to subversive power. "This is a much better way to bind people, by the way." Malice explained with a smirk, sinking to one knee beside her. "Far more efficient than the mess of a spell you used. You need to practice." The succubus focused on Jade''s wayfarer sigil, blazing on the back of her right hand. She removed a small tool from her satchel, a two-pronged tuning fork etched with specialized arcane runes. The expensive device was fragile, and Zertrolk had instructed her to handle it with utmost care. While it went against her nature to do as she was told, even she wasn''t immune to the wrath of a greater demon. So, she reluctantly took great care as she activated the tool''s magic. Jade''s existence was a remarkable coincidence, a wayfarer from the newly integrated planet who happened to also be a succubus. Copying the navigation spell held in her wayfarer mark would normally require complex and time intensive translation rituals to make it compatible with her own physiology''s mana circuitry. As the magic was already properly formatted for her species, however, in this case Malice could simply transfer it directly. Malice adjusted the device, touching the tuning fork to the shifting wayfarer symbol. Immediately, a sigil appeared on the back of her own hand. It was similar, but not identical, to the one Jade possessed, glowing red rather than blue. She took a moment to admire it, reveling in the knowledge that she was almost certainly the first demon to succeed in this vital task. Lady Ira, one of the very few people whose opinion Malice cared about in any capacity, would be pleased. As Malice expected, the magical intrusion was too much for her strained charm spell. It shattered, returning Jade to her senses as the succubus finished copying the magic imprinted in her sigil. The red mark pulsed once on the back of her hand, and then faded away. Perfect. "What are you doing?!" Jade growled, struggling against her bindings. Malice watched her fruitless efforts with amusement, drinking deeply from the fountain of her growing frustration. "Oh, nothing you need to be concerned with." She smiled down at her. Malice had what she''d come for. Jade''s ''Pathfinder'' spell was safely imprinted in her, and she''d satisfied her curiosity regarding the unexpected addition to her family. Jade did have some fire in her, but she lacked the cunning and resourcefulness of a true demon. Subduing her had been a little too easy. You never would''ve made it out of the spawning pits¡­ Ah well. While she had been hoping for more, Malice hadn''t truly expected any better. Using her as a distraction for the upcoming operation would have been interesting, but the demon couldn''t stomach the idea of allowing someone as weak as her to wander the cosmos masquerading as one of their own. Succubi had a reputation to uphold, after all.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Malice leaned closer, preparing to drain her captive. Jade''s struggles intensified, the woman tugging ineffectually against her bindings. The display of resistance was as futile as it was entertaining. A font of power blossomed from Jade like a surging tide, her aura suddenly blazing with renewed energy. Malice jerked back in surprise and, before she could react, Jade met her eyes with a gaze as cold as a winter glacier. "Kneel."
The bindings restraining Jade hadn''t been quite restrictive enough to push her ''Allure'' spell over the ''B rank'' threshold, so she had to improvise. Several moments of frustration-empowered tugs, and a little bit of trial and error, got her the rest of the way there. Just in time, as Malice was already closing in on her. When her ''Bondage Queen'' ability triggered, power erupted in Jade like a breaking dam, flooding her aura with enhanced strength. She channeled all of it into her spell, enveloping the demon with the full force of her own enchantment. "Kneel." Being on the receiving end of a succubus''s charm herself had finally made something click for Jade. Malice hadn''t just told her what to do, she had commanded it. Jade had felt the arrogant willpower infused in the words directed at her, and how that emotion resonated with the enchantment. The ''Allure'' spell had more depth to it than simply issuing orders, you had to make them feel your power. Project your dominance. Your authority. So, that''s what Jade did. She laced her command with all the arrogant, self-centered pride she could muster, hitting Malice with the twice enhanced ''B rank'' spell. The magic encountered heavy resistance, breaking against the demon''s mind like water on rocks. But there were cracks in that armor, and the boosted power Jade commanded was enough to force them open. The spell took, a tenuous link forming between them. The enchantment wavered as the powerful demon''s mind thrashed against its prison, much as Jade''s own had moments earlier. But, for the moment, Malice was hers. The succubus rested back on her knees in front of Jade, a blank look on her previously scornful face. There was no time to celebrate. Jade''s mind raced through possibilities. She could order Malice to release her, but the spell would almost certainly break as soon as her bindings loosened and the enchantment lowered down to C-rank. She made a snap decision, following an instinct that told her something wasn''t right here. That there was some hidden purpose at play. "Why are you here?" She asked, in as commanding a way as one could when tightly bound on the floor. This was ridiculous, even for her. "To investigate you, and to copy the navigation spell from your wayfarer mark." Malice said mechanically. The demon''s eye twitched, and Jade could feel the enchantment slowly cracking. She didn''t have long. "What information?" "The location of the Labyrinth Cores powering the harvest of your world." "Why?" "Because¡­" Her eye twitched again. The spell began to fracture more quickly. "Because the rest of us, and the demons sent to your world¡­-" Jade desperately wanted to dig deeper, to learn more, but she couldn''t afford to let her break free. Not while she was in no position to fight. "Leave." she commanded. "Get out of here. Go far away." She was too late. The charm magic slipped out of her grasp like water through her fingers. Malice blinked once, rising and taking a step back, a look of stunned surprise on the succubus''s face. "You¡­" Jade flinched, expecting retaliation. She''d lost her chance, and now she was vulnerable. To her surprise, Malice burst out laughing. "Barely a month as one of us, and you''ve already mastered that power?" She laughed. "I take it back. You''re fun. There''s hope for you yet." Jade didn''t know what to say. She glared up at the demon, refusing to show any further weakness. "That was rude." Malice said, folding her arms across her chest. "No one¡¯s supposed to know that yet, and I¡¯ll get in trouble if anyone learns I¡¯ve been giving hints. But don''t worry, you''ll learn what''s going on soon." A smirk formed on her face. "Everyone will. And you may find that your decision to become what you are was an especially good one, in the end." "What-" "Hush." Malice said, placing a finger against Jade''s lips. Her tail swished and she cocked her head, as if listening to something Jade couldn''t hear. "Ah¡­ Your friends are almost back. Time for me to be going." Jade could feel them too, now. A group of familiar auras approaching the house. Relief swelled in her heart, and Malice grimaced in distaste. The expression only lasted a moment, soon replaced by her usual smirk. "See you around, Jade." She said with a wink. "Come visit me in Estelhelm, if you do want to learn more. It''s not far. In the meantime, you can think about the fun we had today." Without another word Malice left, moving to a nearby window and sliding through it. The demon''s wings flared, carrying her off into the night sky. Jade watched, filled with righteous indignation. Seriously?! She gets to fly? That was outrageous. Out of everything that just happened, for some reason that was what got to her the most. Jade grunted, trying once more to wriggle free. Her mind was spinning from suddenly meeting another demon and from what she''d said, but she hadn''t had time to process any of it yet. Demons? Sent to Earth? And what had Malice meant when she said Jade would be glad she¡¯d become one? Jade could have summoned an aura blade to slice through her bindings with ease but, now that she wasn''t in imminent danger, she was loathe to destroy a valuable item. A rope that could restrain enemies at-will paired too well with her powers to casually discard. Although¡­ she also didn''t much relish the idea of her companions finding her like this, either. Frustrated, she tried again to escape, meeting with just as little success as her previous attempts. All her violent thrashings accomplished was sending her toppling over onto her side. She landed with a thump just as the front door opened to admit Naomi, Luis, Fenrin, and Siora. They all stopped, staring at her in stunned surprise. She glared back at them, daring any of them to comment on her situation. No one said anything for several awkward moments, until Jade finally broke the silence. "Are you just going to stand there?¡± She huffed. ¡°Or is someone going to help me?" Chapter 76 The village guard executed a thorough search of Lysara and the surrounding woodland, but Malice had left no trace of her presence in the elven domain. It was also discovered that Gwyn, the caretaker who had first been attending to the guest houses, was missing, and efforts were made to locate her as well. Jade spent the rest of the night on high alert, suspicious of every rustling branch and creaking footfall. She was starting to understand why shapeshifters were distrusted, as their paranoia inducing powers went so easily undetected. The night passed uneventfully, despite her concerns. In the morning, Jade joined her companions in the living area. "I don''t understand." Naomi was saying, staring into a steaming cup of tea Siora had just given her. The elf had come over first thing in the morning to deliver the brew, which was having a welcome calming effect on their nerves. "Why would anyone but us want to know where the Labyrinth cores for Earth are?" They all turned to Aylin, the resident expert on all matters pertaining to the Labyrinth. The mage shook her head, her brow furrowed. "It shouldn''t matter to anyone, demon or otherwise. Only Earth wayfarers will be able to enter the core zones for their world. To everyone else, they''ll simply be inaccessible gateways." That wasn''t strictly true, since party members of Earth wayfarers would also be able to enter. Jade didn''t think that had anything to do with the actions of this ''Malice'', however. "Whatever it is, it won''t be good for us." Jade said grimly. She took a sip of her own tea, which had a pleasant, fruity taste. "From the sound of it, there''s a group of demons working together somewhere." Fenrin said. He was standing with his arms crossed, frowning. "Which can''t be good news." "Maybe she was lying?" Siora offered, cocking her head. "Just saying things to cause trouble? Succubi are known to do that. Ahh¡­" The elf shot Jade a guilty smile. "No offense." "I should take word to Estelhelm." Aylin said, standing. "She mentioned the city by name, Jade?" Jade nodded. "I''ll transit there via node. Countess Montrell, the Mystic Order, and the guilds should be informed. If there really is something going on there, they''ll get to the bottom of it. Once I deliver the message, I''ll return to escort you as well." "Weren''t you going to take that relic thing to the third floor?" Luis asked. "That can wait. This succubus seems interested in you, Jade. That''s not surprising, but if she comes looking for you again, it''ll be best if you have help." Great. Jade thought. Just what I needed. A demon stalker. "Thanks." She said aloud, touched by the show of support. Unfortunately, there was no easy way to discern a shapeshifter from a regular person. All shapeshifting powers included an aura masking effect, without which they would be mostly useless. She didn''t want to be surprised by Malice again, though, and Jade fully intended to find some detection spell, item, or other ability that would help. The conversation concluded soon after, most of them returning to their various training exercises. Before Jade followed suit, though, she had a special stop to make: She''d finally received word that her new armor was ready. After the events of the previous evening, Jade had a newfound appreciation for the idea of lightweight, minimalist armor she could wear without discomfort, even during downtime. That sentiment lasted right up until she saw it in person. "You have got to be kidding me." Jade held up the tangle of leather straps and buckles, unable to even tell what side was ''up''. What was patently obvious was that this outfit would leave very little to the imagination. A closer look revealed dark gemstones studded into the leather at regular intervals, each carved with intricate runes. The armorer explained that with so little material, the protective enchantments needed more magical capacity to take hold. The crystal structures of certain precious stones could hold much more magic than simple leather, so he had woven onyx gems into the outfit to fortify it. The elf sounded exhausted, as if he had barely rested since Jade had placed the order. With his help, she changed into the new ''armor''. Somehow, despite being about three percent of the material of her regular leather armor, it took almost as long to fasten the series of buckles that comprised this new equipment. The end result was a sort of crisscrossing mesh of thin leather straps ''covering'' her chest, with a couple of pieces of fabric added to preserve her modesty. What little that remained of it. The waist was little better, made up of a few additional strips of leather that encircled her hips and ran between her legs. Here the armorer had added the only decorative component to the outfit, short flaps of dark fabric that draped between her legs, helping cover her up in a way that didn''t obstruct her skin. The armor''s ridiculous appearance aside, it was actually quite well made. The design of the chest harness meant that, when properly tightened, it provided much better support than she would have expected. A pair of straps also connected the top half of the outfit to the bottom half, which did much to keep everything in place and was apparently required for the defensive enchantments to work properly. It was even surprisingly comfortable, at least in the relatively warm climate of the elven village. In short it was fully functional, accommodated her exotic anatomy, provided as strong a ward as her current equipment, and enabled the use of a powerful defensive ability she had been neglecting. And Jade could hardly stand the idea of wearing it. "What do you mean, you''re not going to use it?" Naomi asked later that night, exasperated. She, Luis, and Jade were clustered around the table having dinner in their temporary home. She was wearing the absurd garment on their insistence and was certain her face was redder than the tomato-like fruit they were eating. "You paid a lot of money for that!" "Actually, he gave me a good discount." Jade muttered, unwilling to meet her eyes. "Said it was a good challenge."Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "Are you going to let his hard work go to waste?" Naomi asked. "Come on, Jade. I know it''s silly, but it could be the difference between getting stabbed through the chest and being fine. Your ability is a lot better than our armor. We tested it, remember? And with this-" she made an all-encompassing gesture directed at Jade''s body. "The effect will compound!" "No one will be able to take me seriously!" Jade complained. "What if we team up with other Earth wayfarers? And if I try to walk around town like this, I''ll probably be arrested for breaking whatever decency laws they have." "Just throw something on over it." Naomi suggested, waving her concern away. "Really, it¡¯s no worse than a swim suit. People were those all the time. Don''t worry so much." "Easy for you to say. You''re not the one walking around looking like you just stepped out of a BDSM club." "Nah, amiga, this is genius!" Luis said, snapping his fingers and grinning. "You can distract the bad guys without even tryin''. Fenrin and I''ve been sparring. If someone''s even a little off-balance, they''re way easier to take down." The next day, Serrethis had even less patience for her griping. "Not every power is enjoyable to use." he said with a disapproving frown. "And I know of many that are far less palatable than yours. Are you going to willingly discard a potent battlefield advantage? I can assure you, your enemies will not do the same." "I want to use it. I''m just not sure I''ll be able to. Not without being so self-conscious that it isn''t worth it." "Then fix that. The fate of your world is in the balance, you don''t get to be selfish." The sword master was right, and Jade knew it. So it was that, under his direction, Jade spent her final two weeks in Lysara wearing nothing except her new gear, day in and day out. At first the embarrassment was crippling, so severe that it affected her performance in training bouts and monster hunts. It wasn''t her first time wearing revealing outfits, life as a gymnast had forced her to grow accustomed to such clothing, but there was a difference between putting on a team uniform for an event and casually wearing this absurd getup as normal streetwear. As time went on, however, Jade slowly adjusted to the strange feeling of her body being so exposed. Her mindset began to shift, accepting that much of her discomfort came from societal expectations of modesty and propriety. There wasn''t anything inherently wrong with the human, or in her case demon, body. Instead, her perception of what was normal was the true obstacle. That was a barrier that could only be worn down by persistence, and she attacked it with the same determination she directed at her training. Eventually, she began to adapt to the new normal, weathering the odd looks and glances her strange attire garnered with far less discomfort. It still felt a odd, but it was enough progress for now. Between their mock battles, aura training, and occasional excursions into the forest to help clear out remnant monsters, Jade advanced from level 13 to 15. Level 14 brought with it a new class feature, with numerous options to choose from. The standout choices were the talent ''Hail Blade'', the spell ''Vanish'', and the talent ''Spell Break''. ''Spell Break'' was exactly what it sounded like, a weapon talent that had a high chance of disrupting spells the target was focusing on. That and ''Hail Blade'' were the two offensive options Jade considered, with ''Vanish'' being the only utility power good enough to make the list. It was a simple, short term invisibility spell. While all the options were appealing in their own ways, it ended up being a simple decision. Having been desperate for a reliable ranged attack since the beginning of her journey, and now in the possession of an enchanted weapon that could make excellent use of the power, Jade selected ''Hail Blade''. The talent wasn''t flashy, but practice proved it to be a reliable source of ranged damage. It was a welcome addition to Jade''s arsenal, finally giving her a way to contribute to fights directly without throwing herself into the midst of the fray. Luis and Naomi each levelled up twice as well, growing commensurately more powerful. The training sessions made it clear that Jade would never be able to compete with Luis''s raw damage output, especially now that he had selected dedicated weapon talents. Fenrin could reliably out damage her as well, his bow capable of unleashing a constant stream of precision shots. While Jade''s strength still lay in her ability to disrupt enemies, her vulnerability to distant foes was too big a weakness to ignore. With that gap in her powerset filled, she could now focus on more specialized abilities in the future. After allocating her new statpoints, Jade''s current characteristic page read: More noteworthy was the change to her overall summary page, which had undergone a minor evolution. There was no explanation regarding what new capabilities had affected this change in assessment but, given that neither Luis nor Naomi had the same note on their status screens, Jade assumed her new ability to manifest aura blades was the culprit. Apparently, that single technique was roughly equivalent to two whole levels, although she wasn''t sure if that equivalency would hold true as she continued to grow more powerful. The most valuable result of her time spent training wasn''t the numerical growth, but rather the knowledge and experience shared by Serrethis. As the weeks passed, she grew more adept at identifying opportunities to put her powers to creative use, support her teammates, and set her opponents up for failure. She, Luis, and Naomi attacked their training sessions with vigor, working to integrate Fenrin into their team moves and creating entirely new ones. The world had just revealed itself to be even more dangerous than they''d thought. There were demons on the prowl, and at least one of them had her sights set on Jade. Next time, she would be ready.
The notice came while Jade was meditating in the clearing beside Serrethis''s home, practicing aura manifestation. A window appeared in front of her, the feminine Voice of the Labyrinth reading the message aloud with uncharacteristic solemnity. A second message popped up behind the first. Another notice appeared, this one a new quest. The objective was simple: Locate a Labyrinth Core zone. Jade minimized it, and the new quest was added to her journal. "What is it?" Nythis asked. The elf was sitting beside her, having joined her for the afternoon''s exercise. The two of them had struck up a friendship over the past few weeks, one that was separate from the several intimate nights spent together. She had just been telling Jade about an upcoming combat tournament that was held in Illysport every year, trying to convince her to participate in the next one, when her attention had been captured by the sudden updates. Jade let out a long breath, one that she''d been subconsciously holding for over a month now. "It''s finally started." Chapter 77 "We''ll try to be back in a few days." Jade told Fenrin, Aylin, and Siora. She was standing with Luis and Naomi, all of them clustered at the edge of the village. "But we don''t know for sure how long this will take." "Don''t take too long." Aylin advised. The mage had just returned from her trip to Estelhelm to warn the authorities about potential demon activity. "Your wayfarer trial is still underway. If you aren''t careful, the Labyrinth will pull you back in, ready or not." "How long will we have?" Naomi asked. "I''m not sure. Several days at least." The mage shrugged. "Your interface should tell you when you leave." "We won''t be long." Luis said confidently. "Check in with the family, let the government know what''s goin'' on, and bounce before anyone tries to put us in a lab. We''ll probably be done in a day." "Don''t even joke about that¡­" Jade muttered, shuddering at the thought of scientists poking and prodding at her to learn her secrets. That was not going to happen. "Be careful." Siora said, stepping up to give them each a hug. "We''re going to Estelhelm together when you get back, so you have to stay safe!" "We''ll be fine." Luis reassured her. "We made it through the first floor already, remember?" "You sure you don''t want company?" Fenrin asked. "I wouldn''t mind seeing what another world looks like." "It''s probably going to be pretty crazy there for a while." Jade said with a grimace. "I''m not sure how well people would react to any non-humans showing up." "And we wouldn''t be able to understand each other." Naomi pointed out. "We can only talk because of the Labyrinth." Aylin had mentioned that there were regular translation items available for sale in the larger cities, but they weren''t common. The Labyrinth handled all the logistics of communication within itself, so they were only necessary for world-hoppers. "Maybe next time." Luis slapped him on the back. "We''ll make a list of ''must-do''s'' for Earth!" "Oh! That''s a great idea!" Naomi said, her eyes lighting up. "We need to include some good concerts." "And movie screenings." Luis added. "All the classics." "Music and movies?" Jade asked, while the rest of their friends looked on in confusion. "That''s the best you can come up with for showing off our world?" They both turned quizzical expressions on her. "Sure, why not?" "What else does Earth have going for it?" Jade tried to think of something culturally significant to show visitors to Earth. Their technology was impressive, but magic served many of the same functions here. In the end, she was forced to admit that modern pop culture would likely be their biggest contribution to the larger cosmic community. She wasn''t sure how she felt about that. "Never mind¡­"
Jade and her companions exchanged a round of farewells with the people they''d gotten to know over the past few weeks. Nythis and Travay were the hardest for Jade to part with, as she''d grown to enjoy their companionship. Serrethis also made it clear that she still had a great deal to learn and made her promise to return for further instruction when she had the time. Jade was happy to agree, and hoped that this would be the first of many visits to the serene elven village. The cozy beauty and peace of the small town was difficult to leave, and Jade could tell that Luis and Naomi shared her feelings. But there were too many unanswered questions for them to linger. At long last, it was time to head home to Earth. They began their journey by activating the quadrant node near Lysara, which they''d taken a detour to unlock during their first week in the village. That node had been their fifth, which was enough to complete a quest for the three of them and to give them a follow up to discover yet more of the Labyrinth transit devices. This was Jade''s first time using the nodes for something other than revealing areas on her map so, when she reached out to touch the softly glowing crystal structure, the interface was new to her. A list of the other nodes Jade had visited appeared in front of her. There was no map or accompanying visual aid to assist with recalling which one went where, which Jade found a little odd. It wasn''t much of a problem yet, they only had visited a handful of nodes so far, but she could easily imagine such a list getting out of control for experienced wayfarers. "We''re going to Juniper''s quadrant, right?" Naomi asked, peering over Jade''s shoulder. Unlike most system screens this one was visible to everyone. It was projected from the node, rather than a part of their personal interfaces. "That''s right." Jade said, selecting the ''Verdant Jungle'' quadrant of the ''Lush Valley'' zone. "It''s the most ''outward'' of the nodes we have access to." A confirmation box appeared in front of them. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. "We should drop by and say hi." Luis said. "We promised her we would." "The node isn''t that close to her glade." Jade reminded him. "We shouldn''t waste time. I''m sure we''ll have a chance to visit her later." "And that forest is filled with giant spiders and creepy snails." Naomi added with a shudder. "No thanks." "Actually¡­ Sparing a few hours couldn''t hurt, right?" Jade said, perking up as she reconsidered the idea. "Not happening."
The process of travelling between nodes felt almost identical to Phantom''s teleportation ability, albeit more drawn out. There was just enough time to perceive a chaotic rushing sensation that gave the impression of moving at great speed before the world snapped back into focus, their surroundings completely different. A mild wave of nausea twisted Jade''s stomach, but she shook it off easily, having grown used to the odd feelings that accompanied dimensional transportation. Her companions had no such tolerance, and Jade waited for the two of them to recover enough to regain their feet. "Vaya, qu¨¦ mal." Luis groaned, helping Naomi up. "Let''s not do that again." "Unless you want to walk all the way back, we''ll have to." Jade said, slapping him on the back. "You get used to it." "Is that an option?" Jade gave him a flat look. "No." As they oriented themselves with their interface map and the ''Pathfinder'' skill, Jade idly wondered why the Labyrinth didn''t translate Luis''s occasional Spanish utterances. Maybe it was because she already understood most of them, and the magic only took affect when she didn''t. Or perhaps it was just another part of the world that was fraying, like so many other aspects of the Labyrinth seemed to be. Together, they set an outward course, charting a path into a part of Juniper''s jungle quadrant that they hadn''t visited before. A few monsters harassed them as they travelled, mostly the strange turtle-like creatures they''d spend days grinding a few weeks ago, but nothing here posed any threat to them anymore. The three wayfarers were faster, stronger, and, most importantly, more experienced. The teamwork and efficiency with which they now battled was a far cry from their first bumbling attempts. As Jade watched Naomi support Luis effortlessly tear through a small group of the River Snappers, she realized just how far they had come in a short amount of time. Before long, the three of them found an exit leading from the quadrant. Unlike the majority of the Labyrinth the outermost rim of the first floor was comprised of blank, featureless hallways that seemed to extend infinitely into the distance. The transition was jarring. One moment, the trio was hiking through jungle, travelling in the direction indicated by their mapping abilities. The next, they stepped through a shimmering doorway and found themselves back in the dungeon-like corridors, lit only by flickering torches spaced at regular intervals. "It''s so different than the rest of this world." Naomi observed, pausing to look both ways down the trackless expanse of stone. "It almost looks¡­" "Unfinished?" Jade supplied. "Yeah¡­" "Maybe it is." Luis offered. "Maybe once the cores extract enough material, this place will turn into a new zone?" "Let''s not wait and find out." Jade said. She didn''t want to think about what the Labyrinth could be doing to their home at this very moment. "Come on." The ''Pathfinder'' spell, which manifested as an arrow that projected itself above their wayfarer marks, indicated which direction they needed to travel. They set off down the passageway, footsteps echoing on the stone floor. "Jade?" Naomi asked after a while. "Are you going to change before we get back?" "Huh? Oh!" It took Jade a moment to realize what Naomi was talking about. She''d gotten so accustomed to wearing her new armor over the previous weeks that she''d almost forgotten how much it would stand out on Earth. "Thanks for the reminder. I''ll change before we get back. Actually¡­" Jade hesitated, grimacing. With a thought, she retracted her wings, horns, and tail, adopting her human appearance. "Let''s not tell anyone about my race change. Not at first. I don''t think people would react well to hearing I''ve turned into a literal demon." "Good idea." Naomi said, and Luis nodded in agreement. "I wonder how many people chose to change their race?" He asked. "I thought about it." "Really? What were you going to pick?" "Elf." He said with a shrug. "They''re basically humans, but better, right?" Jade snorted in amusement. "Why didn''t you?" "I don''t know¡­" He shrugged. "I didn''t think any of it was real, you know? I figured I''d hit my head in my uncle''s shop. Was waiting to wake up in a hospital." "Is that why you were pinching your nose when I found you?" Naomi asked. "I was wondering about that." "Yeah! I thought if I stopped breathing, I''d wake up." "I thought you were a crazy person." Naomi laughed. "He is a crazy person." Jade assured her, giving Luis a slight grin. "But that''s why we love him." They continued walking, Jade recalling the various tests she''d done when she''d first entered the Labyrinth herself. She''d tried pinching herself, looked for inconsistencies, and had generally been freaking the hell out. It had only been a little over a month ago, perhaps five or six weeks, and already this world felt normal. Was that common? Or were some people having a harder time adapting? We''ll find out soon. Zooming out, Jade spotted something interesting on her interface map. It was an intersection of hallways that comprised one of the edges of the area she''d explored on this floor. That was where she''d started her journey, when she was first summoned. Was her apartment still there, resting off-kilter on the dungeon floor? Had anyone else found and looted it, or were all of her belongings just sitting there, abandoned? She briefly contemplated going back to check, but quickly disregarded the idea. Jade had taken everything useful from the place, and there was nothing of sentimental value stored there. Returning would be a waste of time and could even bring them back into contact with the goblins they''d fought to escape from. It wasn''t worth the risk, even if they were all much stronger now. To Jade''s surprise, it didn''t take much effort to find an exit portal. She''d expected them to be hidden away, maybe guarded by some powerful creature. Instead, after about an hour of walking towards the outer reaches of the Labyrinth''s bottom floor, the hallway came to an abrupt end. A glowing portal shimmered in the air in front of the dead end, emanating a sapphire hue. It looked like the sanctuary and shop portals, the only difference being the color. They stopped about a dozen feet away, and Jade examined it. "Here we are." Naomi said, gazing longingly at the portal. "I thought it would be harder to find." "I think the hard part is finishing the one hundred quests we have to complete to be allowed to leave for good." Jade pointed out. She checked her status screen. "It''s been almost a month and a half, and I''m only at fourteen finished." Even assuming the quests didn''t get more challenging as they progressed through their Trial, a bet Jade wouldn''t make, it was still going to take them over a year just to complete it. And that wasn''t even considering how long it would take to destroy the cores. "''You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave''?" Luis said. "Something like that." Jade took a deep breath, and then stepped forward. "Shall we?" She had already taken the few moments needed to change into her enchanted leather armor, like her friends were wearing, so there was no reason to wait. They nodded and, to Jade''s surprise, both reached out to take her by the hand. She could feel the tension in their grip, mirroring the anxiety curdling in the pit of her stomach. None of them knew what they would find on the other side of that portal. If the Labyrinth really had only just activated its cores and begun the extraction process, then perhaps nothing had happened yet. Based on what Jade knew, that was the most likely scenario. But they didn''t know for sure, and she was glad to have her friends by her side. "Let''s go home." Chapter 78 The transition through the dimensional gate left Luis''s body tingling, as if a powerful electric field had swept over him. There was a flash of light, a brief moment of disorientation, and then a sensation of falling. "Woah!" Splash! Luis landed in waist deep, chilly water. He staggered from the unexpected impact, steadying himself before he toppled into the¡­ wherever it was he''d ended up. Sunlight beat down on him from on high, the blazing daytime light far brighter than the dimly lit hallway they''d been in a moment earlier. Before he could get his bearings, something hard hit him from behind with a grunt. It was Jade, shoved against him by a forceful swell. Were they in the sea? The smell of salt and brine hung in the air. It was warm, although the water was cold. Luis grabbed onto Jade''s arm, steadying her, his eyes finally adjusting to the new environment. Ocean extended towards the horizon, the sun hanging low in the sky. A shimmering blue portal hovered just above the water beside them, hissing as sea spray splashed against it. "There!" Naomi said, pointing behind them. Luis turned to see a shoreline nearby, some twenty yards distant. The beach was more rock than sand, gently sloping towards a series of tree-covered, rolling hills beyond. "Where are we?" Jade asked, wading towards the beach. "Do you think we''re really back?" Naomi asked, following her and peering at the shoreline. "How would we know, for sure?" "People would be a good start." Luis pointed out. "Our interface is gone." Jade said, surprised. "No, wait¡­" Luis noticed it at the same time. His health indicators, mana bar, and quest tracker were all missing from his peripheral vision. After weeks in the Labyrinth their absence left him feeling like he was exposed. Which was odd, since he''d lived most of his life without any of that information and been just fine. Then again, things hadn''t been regularly trying to kill him for most of that time. There was still one blinking icon tucked away in the corner of his vision, however. He pulled it up with a thought. "Damn, sounds like someone cheaped out on our plan. Do you think we can upgrade?" Luis said, eliciting a snort from Jade. "Probably, if we pay like a zillion coins." Naomi said, rolling her eyes. There was more. "So, what?" Naomi asked as they read through the prompts together. "If we''re still away when the timer runs out, we just get pulled back into the Labyrinth again like we did the first time?" "Sounds like it." Jade said. "Let''s try and avoid that." They were almost to the beach now, the water down to their ankles. Luis glanced back, seeing the shimmering doorway floating above the rolling swells. It was a bizarre sight, the magical portal just hovering a few feet above the sea. Was this happening everywhere? How many entrances were there? He hoped people would be smart enough to not just wander into them. Then he remembered that these were people he was thinking about. Of course some of them would see a magical door and want to walk through it. He probably would have. "Okay, really. Where are we?" Jade asked, leading the way onto the beach. It was covered in large stones, rounded from years of exposure to wind and sea. Luis didn''t see any distinguishing landmarks, but the wording of the system messages had given him an idea. He borrowed Jade''s dimensional pouch digging through it until he found what he was looking for. "Let''s try finding out the normal way." he said, holding up his battered phone. Jade looked at the cracked, dented, and warped frame of his smartphone skeptically. "There''s no way that still works." They''d all turned their phones off weeks ago, dumping them into their dimensional pouch once they''d acquired one. Before that, though, their devices had suffered no small amount of incidental abuse as their owners were variously stabbed, slashed, and bludgeoned by the monsters of the Labyrinth. "Nah, they build these things like tanks these days." Luis said, pressing the power button. To Jade and Naomi''s surprise the screen lit up, beginning to boot process.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "Damn. You should sell that back to their marketing team." Jade said, shaking her head. "Mine died ages ago." "Have anything?" Naomi asked, peering over his shoulder. It took a minute, but eventually Luis''s phone was able to pick up a weak signal. It was just enough to load some data onto his map app, revealing their location. "Argentina." He said, studying the screen. "Near somewhere called¡­ Claromeco?" He shrugged, pointing up the coast. "It''s up that way." That was as good a destination as any, and they started hiking up the nearby hill. The sun was slowly rising higher in the sky, the day warming further as they reached the top of the rise. From this vantage Luis could see some sort of resort nestled into a sandy cove on a beach below, small groups of people clustered around umbrellas sticking out of the sand. "That looks nice." He observed. "Anyone down for a break?" Jade immediately ruined his burgeoning daydreams of a peaceful, pleasant siesta by the sea. "I don''t think we''re getting one." Jade said, pointing back the way they''d come. Her grim expression caught Luis''s attention and he spun, quickly spotting the danger. A handful of long, sinewy shapes were emerging from the portal they''d transited from just a few minutes earlier, dropping into the sea. It was impossible to make out details from such a distance, but the creatures had feline forms and moved with speed. And they were heading right towards them.
"Really?!" Naomi yelped as they barreled down the hill at a sprint, Luis leading the way towards the villa. "The monsters are following us here?!" "Are you really surprised?" Jade asked, hopping off a rocky ledge and sliding down an embankment to land next to Luis. "When have things ever gone our way?" "I thought we were due!" "That''s what my uncle Rio says every time he goes to the casino." Luis said, glancing back at her. "Don''t be like Uncle Rio!" "Yeah, but the world isn''t rigged against us!" "That''s debatable." Jade muttered. They made it down to the beach before the group of pursuing monsters crested the hill behind them, startling a group of tourists. Some of them looked like locals, and several more appeared to be Americans. The resort was small, and only a dozen or so guests were on the beach at this early hour of the morning. "Get inside!" Jade shouted, skidding to a stop and spinning around to face the hill. "Hurry! It''s not safe!" A portion of the group was already backing away, apparently fearful of the trio of armed and armored men and women that suddenly sprinted into their midst. None of them ran for the shelter of the villa, however, many just staring at them in stunned surprise. A few of them had pulled out their phones, starting to record them. Luis was already so used to the Labyrinth''s universal translation ability that it took him precious moments to realize that most of these people probably didn''t speak much English. "Hide!" He shouted in Spanish, gesturing towards the forested hill. Dark shapes were gathering at its peak, prowling back and forth and surveying the beach with calculated hesitation. "Those are monsters! They''re about to attack!" Luis wasn''t sure if it was his words, the approaching feline monsters, or the huge sword he was carrying that clued them into the danger. Whatever it was, it was enough. The dozen men and women ran for the relative shelter of the villa, with several of the stupider ones pausing to gather belongings. "Go!" The beasts were advancing quickly, loping down the hill with lethal grace. They were close enough for Luis to make out details now. The creatures had black hair, and their backs were covered with plates of chitinous armor. Panther-like heads protruded from powerful shoulders, wicked fangs slicing down from their upper lips. Clear fluid dripped from their mouths, sizzling as it hit the sand beneath their feet. That doesn''t look good¡­ The three of them moved without speaking, their weeks of training proving its worth. Luis stepped to the front of the group and raised his shield, readying his curved blade. Naomi hung back, the first notes rising from her speed-enhancing spell as she swung her guitar into place. Jade dropped a rune trap in front of Luis and then fell back and to the side, positioning herself between the villa and the approaching monsters. Before they engaged Luis focused on one of them, pulling up the creature''s status window. There was no time to wonder where these creatures came from, or how often monsters would be able to cross over into Earth using the new gates. All Luis cared about was that they were lower level than him. That meant he could take them head-on. He charged into their midst, intercepting them before they reached the fleeing crowd. Rather than making the first strike he raised his shield, slamming it against the snarling fangs of the monstrous cat. CLANG He deflected the blow, bright runes flaring to life along the rim of his enchanted shield. It pulsed, channeling the force of the strike through his body and into his sword, which came alight with flickering energy. The impact drove him back a step but sent his attacker reeling, leaving it open. "Haa!" He channeled more power into his blazing sword, raising it high and activating his newest talent. ''Avalanche'' was a low cooldown skill that packed as much punch as he poured mana into it, and Luis didn''t hold back. His blade fell with the force of a thunderbolt, easily splitting the thick armor plating on the monster''s back and penetrating deep into its body. "Skchaaa!" Black blood sprayed into the air and the beast collapsed, spasming. Planting his foot on the large creature''s back he wrenched his blade free, finishing it off with a quick chop to the neck. "Bad kitty." He grunted, quickly surveying the battlefield. One of the monsters was caught in a bundle of glowing chains nearby, snarling and pulling against Jade''s rune trap. The other two were currently fighting each other, and Luis realized Jade must''ve gotten to one of them with her enchantments. She danced around the periphery of the battlefield as they fought, peppering the more wounded of the two creatures with daggers from afar. Luis rushed to join her, boosted by Naomi''s movement-enhancing melody. Her spell was affecting the tourists too, lending speed to their flight as they retreated up the boardwalk towards the resort. He spared them only a glance before returning his focus to the chaotic melee in front of him. Just before he reached the fight, he incanted another spell, summoning his bubble shield around him. The extra protection let him charge right into the midst of the tangle of claws and teeth, heedless of injury. He ignored the one Jade had charmed, he couldn''t risk breaking the effect by antagonizing it. She wasn''t in her succubus form, so he knew her hold on the creature would be tenuous at best. Instead, he teamed up with it on the wounded one. Between him, Jade, and her new pet monster, they had little difficulty pinning it down and cutting it apart. Luis slew it with a clean strike, spearing it through the chest with a well-timed thrust. "Look out!" Luis spun in time to see the last of the hostile prowlers finally break free of Jade''s binding spell. Rather than rush towards them, though, it started running away. Naomi''s frantic cry drew his attention to a collection of boxes piled between umbrellas on the beach. A girl was huddled behind them, no older than twelve, watching in terror as the horrific monster barreled towards her. The world blurred around him as he activated his movement power, his speed boosted further by Naomi''s enhancement. He tore across the sand like a whirlwind, launching a crackling blade of force at the monster''s back. It went wide, the nimble beast too fast to easily hit at any real distance. He cursed, pumping his legs faster. He wasn''t going to make- BOOM Naomi was closer. She blasted the monster to the side with a powerful shockwave that sent a geyser of sand fountaining into the air. The beast tumbled into the surf, more disoriented than hurt, but giving Luis and Jade the critical moments they needed to close the distance. By the time it was back on its feet they were on it. The monsters were fast and agile, their claws and teeth sharp, but their only real defense was their armored backs. The three of them made quick work of the beast, tearing it apart with savage efficiency. Luis planted his sword in the sand when it fell, wiping blood from a tear in his armor. Minor injuries barely hurt anymore. He didn''t know if that was a function of his increased fortitude, or if he was simply getting numb to the effects of battle on his body. Even if he was, the warmth of Naomi''s healing magic spreading through him was always welcome. He gave her a nod and a grin, then turned to the girl. "Are you okay?" he asked, extending his hand towards the cowering child. He guessed that she was around ten, with tan skin and long black hair. "Where''s your family?" She just stared at him, eyes wide. Suddenly, and without a word, she scrambled away, running up the beach towards the villa. Luis just stood there, hand outstretched, feeling a little hurt. He cast a concerned look at the others. "Is it something I said¡­?" Chapter 79 The local authorities arrived shortly after the ocean-front battle concluded, right after Jade dispatched the sole remaining charmed monster, at least a dozen police officers swarming the scene. Without Luis''s ability to communicate effectively in Spanish, and a few helpful words of support from the people they''d rescued, Jade thought things could have gone quite a bit worse. Apparently, a group of armed people suddenly appearing in a foreign country with no documentation or passports was cause for concern, especially when they''d displayed supernatural abilities. Fortunately, it soon became clear that they weren''t the first of those who had been taken by the Labyrinth to return, so Luis''s outlandish explanation of portals and monsters was met with suspicion rather than outright disbelief. Excuse or no, they were instructed in no uncertain terms to follow a group of officers to what turned out to be a local police station, where they were made to wait in a lobby while watched by several gruff-looking men in uniform. "What are they saying?" Jade hissed to Luis, unable to understand any of the conversations around her. She missed the Labyrinth''s translation power already. Nearby, a woman in a suit was talking quickly into a phone, shooting furtive glances their way. "They keep talking about ''other groups'' like us." Luis said quietly. "We definitely aren''t the first ones back." "Hopefully that means we don''t have to explain everything from the beginning." Naomi said. She looked anxious and was biting her fingernails. "I really don''t want to go through the whole ''you''re all crazy'' routine and get locked up." "I''m pretty sure we could easily break out of any cell they tried to put us in." Jade pointed out. Naomi shot her a sidelong glance. "Maybe don''t say that until we get things straightened out. I don''t think they like us very much." Indeed, none of the officers watching over them had anything resembling a friendly expression. There was a ''click'' as the woman hung up her handset, Jade couldn''t remember the last time she''d seen an actual wired landline phone, and headed their way. "Wait here." She said in accented English. "Someone coming soon for you." She left before they could ask any further questions. "You think they mean someone from our government?" Jade asked Luis. "I think so. Maybe she was on a call with the embassy." "I doubt it''ll be someone from my government." Naomi said with a grimace. "Did you tell them I''m not from the US?" "Nah, I left that out." Luis said sheepishly. "This is complicated enough already." "Great." They fell silent, anxiously waiting for whatever was coming next. Jade took out her phone too and tried to turn it on but, as she''d already discovered, it was dead. She wanted to check in with her family, to check the news, and to get any information on what was happening in the world. Judging from what they''d seen so far things weren''t too bad, but for all she knew, it was different in other places. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. A door opened, and in walked a sandy-haired man wearing a ruffled, button-down shirt that was only half tucked into his pants. He had a harried, sleep-deprived look to him, with dark circles under his eyes. Beside him was the woman from earlier, ushering him into the room. "-weren''t they brought to me at once?" he was asking, sounding irate. "You have no right to detain-" "A group of armed strangers appeared on a beach." The woman said coolly. "We responded accordingly, and you were informed as soon as we learned their identities." The man glowered at her a moment longer, and then turned to face Jade and her companions. "You came back? From the other world?" he asked, looking them up and down cautiously. He seemed taken-aback by their well armored, battle-ready appearance. "That''s right." Jade nodded. "What do you know about it?" "Not enough. You''re US citizens, yes?" "We are." Luis indicated himself and Jade. "And she''s with us." He nodded to Naomi. "Who are you?" Jade asked. "I''m Jeffrey Caine, I work for the US consulate." The man finished tucking his shirt in, trying to smooth out its wrinkles. "The past few days have seen hundreds of people popping up like you, all over the world. I can get you back stateside. The Response Force will want to debrief you." "Response Force?" "The Labyrinth Response Force." Jeffrey clarified. "It was formed around three weeks ago, right after the heralds started appearing." "What heralds?" Luis asked. "What''s been happening? We''ve been gone for weeks." The ambassador waved them to silence, cutting off Jade before she could voice her own follow up questions. "I''ll explain everything I can, but we should get moving. I''ll have a jet ready for you two within the hour." He was already typing out a message on his phone. "The two of us?" Jade asked, narrowing her eyes. The ambassador glanced up at her, distracted. "I don''t have any authority over non-citizens. Where are you from?" He said, looking Naomi up and down. "Um¡­ The Philippines." She said, giving Jade a worried look. "Mmm." He grunted. "Well, I can let your-" "She''s coming with us." Jade said, taking Naomi by the arm. There was no way they were splitting up and leaving her behind in a far-off country, especially without knowing what state the world was in. "Look, I want to help, but-" "What''s the average level of people coming back from the Labyrinth?" Now it was Jade''s turn to cut him off. She fixed the man with a glare. "Well? Do you know?" "Uhh¡­ Well¡­" He had to think for a moment. "Five or six, I think. From what I''ve been hearing." From their experience on the first floor, that''s about what Jade had been expecting. Given most wayfarers had been randomly plucked from Earth, she imagined most of them were hiding out in sanctuaries and doing the bare minimum to keep the Voice of the Labyrinth off their backs. Not everyone was as willing to throw themselves into the fight. "Exactly. I''m already level seventeen." She said, choosing to use the Labyrinth''s estimate of her true power because it was a higher number. "And they''re both right behind me. We''re already on the second floor. So, you''re going to do whatever it takes to get her." Jade nodded at Naomi. "On that plane with us."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. She let a hint of charm magic sink into her words, locking eyes with the other man. She felt his surprise, tasting it as he processed her statement. "She''s our teammate, amigo." Luis said, crossing his arms. "You want our help? It''s all or nothing." "I¡­" He swallowed, eyeing them with newfound respect. There was something else there too. Wariness? The ambassador dialed a number into his phone, holding up a hand in a gesture for them to wait. "Give me a minute." "Thanks." Naomi whispered, squeezing Jade''s hand and giving Luis a pat on the arm. "We''re a team." Jade said. "We stick together." "Besides, you have that laundry spell." Luis pointed out. "I can''t go back to- Ow!" Jade had to suppress a laugh as an affronted Naomi punched him. Judging from how he spent the next minute gingerly rubbing his arm, she''d put a few points into strength recently.
True to the ambassador''s words, Jade and her companions were in the air within the hour. She had no idea how they had a private jet idling for them in a rural, local airfield, and she didn''t much care. What mattered was that Naomi had been approved to come with them. "We''re flying straight to DC." The ambassador said, taking a seat across from Luis in the small passenger cabin as the plane taxied to the runway. "Director Holston wants to speak with you." "Who?" Luis asked, raising his voice to be heard over the sound of the engines as they roared to life, propelling the plane down the runway. "Director of L-ReF, the group responsible for protecting us against the Labyrinth." he explained. "Similar organizations are being set up in countries all over the world." Prompted by yet more questions, Jeffrey went on to explain what had been happening on Earth in the weeks following their disappearance. Starting about five weeks earlier, around the time Jade had been plucked from her apartment building, similar incidents had started popping up all over the world. Small sections of land simply vanished, taking with them whatever and whoever was there during the event. Most of these occurrences took place in rural, unpopulated areas, some going days without being noticed. Jade''s case hadn''t been the only urban event, though, and their frequency had only increased in the time since she''d been taken. About three weeks ago, people calling themselves representatives from the ''Labyrinth'' had emerged from many of these incident zones. Much like Damos had explained to Jade, they had begun disseminating information around the world on the nature of the Labyrinth, the trial, the cores, and the resource extraction that would occur until the Labyrinth was conquered. Unsurprisingly, this information did little to assuage global panic. In the past two weeks the dimensional extractions, as they had been coined, had been slowly increasing in size and frequency. As promised, the vast majority of these events were taking place in the wilderness, away from civilization. That wasn''t to say everyone was safe, however. While a large-scale event in a major city had yet to take place anywhere in the world, smaller towns and villages were increasingly effected, whether from loss of infrastructure or even people being caught in translocation occurrences, pulled into the Labyrinth much as Jade, Luis, and Naomi had been. "In short." The ambassador finished, rubbing fatigue from his eyes. "People are panicking. Governments around the world are struggling to maintain order against a threat they can''t defend against. Populations are fleeing rural areas into the perceived safety of cities, straining already taxed infrastructure. If these ''heralds'' are to be believed, then this is only the beginning." Jade nodded solemnly. The first of the Labyrinth cores were on the third floor, and she doubted anyone had made it that high yet. The entire run of cores spanned all the way to the eighth floor of the Labyrinth. From what she''d been told by Damos, Serrethis, and the others, reaching the level of power needed to defeat the obstacles found in those reaches of the Labyrinth could take years. This crisis was only just beginning. The flight to Washington DC took several hours, and they took the opportunity to try and get some rest. Jade found it impossible to relax, her mind filled with anxiety over how her family and friends were faring. These feelings, which she had actively suppressed while fighting her way through the Labyrinth, all came crashing back now that she was on Earth again. Was Alan okay? Her parents? Her friends at school? As a succubus, emotional regulation was hard enough for her in the best of times. In her current situation, she was a tightly wound ball of stress. Am I even enrolled in school anymore? The thought suddenly struck her. Even if she hadn''t been declared dead, she''d missed over a month of classes. Had they kicked her out? It was such a minor concern in the face of all the other problems confronting her, and yet she couldn''t stop thinking about the possibility. She''d worked hard to get into her program, achieving a highly coveted athletic scholarship that went a long way towards easing the financial pressure their family faced in light of Alan''s expensive treatments. That the Labyrinth may have taken that accomplishment from her as well was yet another blow. After what felt like the longest flight of Jade''s life, and indeed, she reflected, it actually had been, they touched down. Jade had expected to arrive at a local airport but when they stepped off the plane it was to find themselves at a military airfield. An unmarked, black SUV was waiting for them, along with an escort of two armed guards in army fatigues. "Mister Caine." The taller of the two men said, stepping forward while his companion opened the door to the car. His uniform had a patch on it that read ''Mendoza. S.'' "We''ll take it from here." He turned to face Jade. "Right this way, please." Jade felt his eyes linger on their armor. They''d stowed their weapons in Jade''s dimensional pouch, much to the astonishment of the flight crew, but had decided to remain dressed in their combat equipment. Jade wanted to be taken seriously, and the obviously enchanted gear made quite an impression. "Where are we going?" She asked. "L-Ref headquarters. Director Holston wants to see you." "That''s the group in charge of responding to the Labyrinth?" Luis asked. "That''s right. We''re hoping you have a lot to share." "Oh, I don''t think we''ll disappoint." Naomi said with a tight smile. "What about our families?" Jade asked, crossing her arms. "We want to speak to them." "We''ll arrange for that as soon as possible." The army officer said, tapping something into his phone. "But first, we need to debrief you." Jade exchanged glances with Luis and Naomi. They shrugged, and she replied with a nod. Information on what was going on inside the Labyrinth was almost certainly sparse. If they could help by shedding light on the truth, then that had to be their top priority. Jade could accept that, so long as this group didn''t make them wait too long. "We''ll get word to your families that you''re safe, and that they''ll hear from you soon." The soldier said, getting into the shotgun seat of the car as the other man took the wheel. Jade, Luis, and Naomi ended up in the back, with Luis''s hulking, armored form taking up a good half of the room. It was a tight fit, but the three of them managed to squeeze in together. "How long is the drive?" Jade grunted, shifting to find a more comfortable position. Her options were to be squeezed against the car door, or against the sharp edges of Luis''s breastplate. She chose the door. "Less than an hour." Mendoza said, punching an address into the onboard GPS system. "Sorry for the tight fit, resources are stretched thin right now." "Did you three really go to another world?" The driver, a younger man, cut in, glancing back at them as he pulled off the airstrip and onto an access road. "What was it like?" "Awesome." Luis said, just as Naomi replied. "Terrifying." "Yeah, that about covers it." Jade agreed, the corner of her mouth curling up in a grin as her friends began arguing with each other. "Oh, yeah!" Luis cut in, perking up. "Any chance we can pick up something to eat?" "Luis¡­" Jade shook her head. "What?" He asked, shrugging. "We''ve been living off canned sanctuary food for weeks! I''m ready for something real!" Jade couldn''t argue with that. The three of them looked at the driver, who glanced at Mendoza, who shrugged. "As long as it''s quick." They set off down the road towards the city, Luis going into detail on all the good Earth food he''d been missing. Jade only half listened, watching the countryside roll by. The modern world looked alien to her, after weeks of fighting through the wilderness and living in Lysara. Even so, it was home, and the relief she felt at being back was surprisingly intense. The Labyrinth hadn''t given them time to be homesick. Strangely, it was only after getting back that she realized how much she''d missed her world. The question was, did she belong here now? She wasn''t even human anymore, a fact that was impossible to ignore. She could feel the tension radiating from the soldiers in the car, and even caught snippets of emotion from others they drove past. Not only that, but all of them had returned to Earth with powers that had never been seen before. What was that going to mean for them? Not all the changes were internal, either. The outside world held subtle differences from what she remembered. Despite their proximity to a major metropolitan area the roads were almost empty, and the few people she saw on the streets moved with quick, anxious steps. Many businesses were vacant, ''Closed'' signs hanging over darkened doors. A significant number of intersections were occupied by military vehicles and soldiers, who waved them through as they drove by. The world she''d returned to wasn''t the one she''d left. Just like her, it was changing. Chapter 80 The building that housed the Labyrinth Response Force, or L-ReF as everyone was calling it, was not especially impressive. As they walked up the steps led by an aide and flanked by the two soldiers who had driven them here, Jade thought that she could''ve mistaken it for any of the hundreds of non-descript office buildings that grew from city centers like weeds in a garden. At least, if it hadn''t been for the barbed-wire fences, temporary barricades, armed guards, and an entire motor pool of armored vehicles surrounding it on all sides. "Sorry about the mess!" The aide, a young man wearing a suit, called over the sound of construction. "We just relocated here a few days ago!" "Why''s that?" Naomi asked, sidestepping a group of men carrying what looked like half of a rotary cannon down the steps. She gave it a skeptical look. "The first permanent door to the Labyrinth that appeared in the states showed up a few blocks over." He explained, leading them inside. "The director wanted quick access to it, in case that proved helpful." "What''s with all the weapons?" Luis asked. "Have monsters been coming out of this portal too?" "A few, yes. But the number has been steadily increasing, and they''re starting to show up in groups. Most entrances emerged in or near urban areas. LA, Miami, Chicago. We''re fortifying them as quickly as we can. These are populated cities, so any creatures that slip out of the security cordon are a major public safety hazard." That''s one way to put it. The prevalence of monster incursions was a little confusing to Jade. Damos hadn''t said anything like that would happen when the Labyrinth finished integrating with Earth. She supposed it wasn''t unusual that the odd monster would happen to wander out through a portal, but these incursions seemed to be on a different scale. Was this another manifestation of the myriad problems the Labyrinth was experiencing? Jade grimaced, following the aide up a flight of stairs. Was it too much to ask that the potentially world-ending mega-dungeon invading their world at least abide by its own rules? They soon ended up in what had probably once been a nice office but now was so cluttered by document folders, construction equipment, and haphazardly placed furniture that there was hardly anywhere to stand. A tall woman sat behind the room''s only desk, her eyes scanning one laptop screen while her fingers danced across the keyboard of a different computer. The dark-haired woman glanced up as they entered, returning her attention to her work a moment later. "Ah¡­ Director Holston." The aide said. "Yes?" The woman said, without looking at him. "The three wayfarers that emerged in Argentina arrived. Director, this is Jade Callian, Luis Espanoza, and Naomi Rosales. Everyone, this is Director Irene Holston, the head of L-Ref." "A pleasure." she said curtly. She stopped typing long enough to pull a document from a folder and flip through it. "Please, sit." There didn''t appear to be any available surface to take a seat on in the room. Jade met eyes with Luis, who just shrugged. They waited for several long moments, but the director didn''t address them again. When the silence started getting awkward, Jade spoke up. "You¡­ wanted to see us, Director?" "What? Ah, yes, my apologies." She finally closed the laptop, turning to face them. Director Holston looked to be in her mid-forties, with a face that both still held onto the beauty of youth while starting to show signs of age. She had a very ''no nonsense'' look about her, and Jade could immediately tell this was not a woman who played games. "I have an enormous amount on my plate right now. Resource allocation, Labyrinth exploration, recommendations for military response. I''m expected to be the expert opinion on new legislation, to have a solution to every danger the Labyrinth represents and, most importantly." she rolled her eyes. "to ''ensure that the new resources and opportunities afforded by this new land are predominantly used to further American interests.''" That last part had the sound of a direct quote. Jade could taste the director''s stress and irritation, neatly packaged and contained behind a strong wall of professional stoicism. "That sounds like a job for more than one person." Luis observed. "It does, doesn''t it?" Director Holston graced him with a tight smile. "What can we do for you, director?" Jade asked cautiously. "I''ve arranged a meeting with a few of my colleagues at the top of the hour." she said, turning her attention to Jade. "We''d appreciate if you could share some of your experiences. I hear you made it to the second floor? And met some of the Labyrinth''s inhabitants?" "That''s right." "Then we''ll be very interested to hear what you have to say."
A short time later, Jade and her companions found themselves seated in a conference room opposite director Holston and two men: A uniformed military officer wearing a rank insignia Jade didn''t recognize, and a handsome younger man who was incongruously dressed in a floral pattern Hawaiian shirt. The latter was introduced as deputy director Sam Wilson, and the former as General Bennet, military liaison to the US Labyrinth Response Force. The general got straight to the point, wasting no time on pleasantries. He immediately began the discussion by asking detailed questions about their experiences in the Labyrinth. Jade, Luis, and Naomi alternated relating their journey, what they had learned about how the Labyrinth functioned, and the types of creatures they encountered. General Bennet was most interested in the power and threat of the monsters that resided within, grilling them with focused questions on the strengths and weaknesses of the creatures they''d fought. In contrast, director Holston was curious to learn more about the elves of Lysara and the other civilizations in the Labyrinth. "If we''re going to be successful." she said, leaning forward on the table during a lull in the discussion. "We''re going to need allies. You did well to help protect this village against the creatures threatening it, that will help us establish a good relationship with them."If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "That''s all well and good, director." Deputy director Wilson spoke up. "But our main focus has to be the cores. While our home is being harvested, everything else is a secondary priority. The President continues to insist we prepare an array of contingency plans, including a nuclear respon-" "That''s enough of that." the director cut him off with a sharp jerk of her hand, before shooting Jade and her companions a not-so-subtle look. "I will handle the President. Appropriate measures are being taken." Nuclear¡­? Jade thought, gears turning in her head. What kind of plans are they making? Given the immense power of the Labyrinth, and its many rules, she had a feeling that any overt attempt to subvert its mechanisms would not end well for anyone. Damos had been quite clear on that front. "I agree that we need to remain focused on the primary objective: Stopping the Labyrinth." General Bennet said, crossing his arms. "Your experiences confirm our initial analysis. Our troops can foray into the Labyrinth, but without the benefits of being a wayfarer, progress will be slow. It will take time to develop and implement proper tactics to use against¡­ otherworldly." Jade noticed he avoided using the word ''magical'' "creatures. We have powerful weapons that are already proving effective against these beings, but we''re experiencing more difficulties the deeper our forces explore into the Labyrinth." "That''s only on the first floor." Jade said, grimacing. "They get stronger on the second, and we''ve been told it only gets worse the higher you go." "Exactly." The general frowned. "Initial experiments show that the enhancements those bearing wayfarer marks receive are also available to anyone who fights in this new world, but progress is far slower for normal people. This ''experience'' is gained only by battle, and it appears the entity referred to as the ''Voice of the Labyrinth'' applies a penalty to any battle fought using modern weapons." That was news to Jade. She exchanged a concerned look with her companions. "So, no rolling into the Labyrinth with a tank and blasting through everything that gets in your way?" Luis asked, disappointed. "There may be a time and place for that, we aren''t ruling anything out. But that approach won''t make our people stronger." "And if what you''re telling us is true." Director Holston added. "We need as many strong fighters as we can get." "What can we do to help?" Naomi asked. "Our current plan is to train as many soldiers, and struggling wayfarers, as possible in the lower levels of the Labyrinth, and seeing how strong we can get them." The director continued. "According to the heralds, any force larger than a small group will attract negative attention, so we''ll be limiting our initial experiments to squad sizes. While we''re working on that, and keeping things under control here, we''ll need assistance in two main areas." "The first is that, given what we''ve heard about how this place works, we''ll need floor keys." General Bennet said, taking over the conversation. "Eventually, we''ll need to get our people up to where the cores are. If the initial groups of wayfarers turning up are anything to go by, we shouldn''t be relying on you to take care of this for us." "Is it that bad?" Jade asked. "You''re the second-highest level wayfarer we''ve heard of, since people started coming back. And you two aren''t far behind." The other man said, sipping from a coffee cup. "Granted, we don''t know too much yet, but from what we''ve gathered¡­" "Most people aren''t trying to fight." Director Holston explained. "The majority seem to be trying to get home. On that note, we''re facilitating communication between successful wayfarers like you. I strongly recommend you network with some of them while you''re here." "You''re adjusting to this quickly." Luis piped up. "I thought we''d find more denial and panic. Maybe riots? Lawlessness?" "There was a lot of that in the first couple of weeks." Deputy director Wilson said grimly. "In some parts of the world, there still is. People are fleeing to the cities, worried about the dimensional events. Having everything you know about the world change overnight is a lot to deal with, but we don''t have the luxury of panicking." "I know the feeling." Jade muttered. She was having a hard time paying attention to the conversation. Sam, the deputy director, was annoyingly attractive. Jade was getting better at resisting her base urges, but something about the guy was making it difficult to focus on what he was saying. Pull it together. She chided herself. What''s wrong with you? "Our armed forces are being used to keep the peace." Bennet picked up the conversation, glowering across the table at them. "The other thing we need is help locating the ''cores'' we need to destroy. I''m told that only people like you can find them." Jade glanced down at her wayfarer mark, faintly glowing on her hand. "That''s right. We have a¡­ an ability, to find them." For some reason, she couldn''t bring herself to use the word ''spell''. Now that they were back on Earth the idea of magic, enchantments, and levels seemed¡­ silly. It felt like she wouldn''t be taken seriously. Which was an odd thing to get hung up on, since they were sitting in a conference room wearing magical medieval armor, but Jade couldn''t help how she felt. The conversation continued for some time, with several more questions being asked about their journey in the Labyrinth. They confirmed their intention to continue progressing deeper into the dungeon, which obviously relieved the three L-ReF members. Finally, as the meeting was winding down, Jade and her companions were presented with a collection of documents. "Filling these out will grant you the status of defense contractors." The general explained. "While the world might be going to shit, we still need to keep some semblance of order in how we do things. If you want help equipping yourselves with whatever we can get our hands on, we can do that through official channels." "What, like weapons? Bombs?" Luis asked, perking up. He started scanning the papers, paging through them. "Am I even allowed to do this¡­?" Naomi asked, picking up a stack as well. "Considering the circumstances, I wouldn''t worry about that." Director Holston said. "If the three of you are going to keep fighting, I imagine any help would be welcome. "I''ll definitely take a look." Jade agreed, taking her stack and stowing it in her bag. She was too worn out from a very long day to read through anything right now and was ready to finally get some rest. First, though¡­ "If we''re done for now, does anyone have a phone I can use?" Jade asked, standing up. "I want to make some calls." She was anxious to talk to her brother and father. To let them know she really was okay, and that she was back. "Of course." The deputy director said, standing up as well. "You can use-" A distant, warbling alarm sounded, interrupting him. The noise was muted by the conference room walls, but Jade could tell it was coming from outside. "What''s that?" Naomi asked, getting to her feet and looking around in concern. "Incursion alert." The deputy director said, standing. He pulled out a radio, which crackled to life in his hand. "What''s going on?" he barked into it without preamble. Jade couldn''t hear the reply, it came over an earpiece. Wilson frowned, holding one hand to his ear and listening closely. Everyone else waited in a tense silence. Outside, Jade could hear pounding footfalls and muffled shouts. Further away, the popping sounds of distant gunfire filtered through the walls. "A group of hostile creatures just emerged from the aperture." The deputy director explained. "The security force has it under control." "We can help." Jade said, standing. The response was automatic after over a month of venturing through the Labyrinth, fighting their way through every monster that happened upon them. It didn''t even cross her mind that this was a task best left to others. Naomi and Luis nodded in agreement, moving to join her, although Naomi looked hesitant. "Our people are equipped to handle it." The general said dismissively. "There''s no need to-" "I''m not sure they are." Director Holston cut him off, pointing out the window. Jade followed her gesture to see large, winged shapes spreading through the sky above the city. "This is new." she added with a frown. Whatever cordon had been set up around the Labyrinth entrance apparently wasn''t equipped to contain airborne monsters. That settled the issue for Jade. She wasn''t about to stand by while people got hurt, not when she had the power to do something about it. Besides, it would be a waste of experience. "We''re going." She, Luis, and Naomi exited the room at a run, not waiting for a response. Chapter 81 Corporal James Ruiz popped up from behind the car he was taking cover behind, frantically squeezing the trigger of his rifle and sending a barrage of bullets into the charging¡­ thing¡­ rampaging towards him. The dinosaur, that was the only way the stocky young man could think to describe it, shrieked as its body was shredded, purple blood spewing into the air. It collapsed to the ground, the two-legged, man-sized creature spasming, its long tail thrashing wildly. "I got one!" He called out, slamming a new magazine into his rifle. Adrenaline pounded in his veins, his heart pumping wildly as he looked for a new target. There was no shortage of them. More of the creatures were approaching from down the street, stampeding over abandoned cars and plowing through hastily erected barricades. "Good! Now do it again!" Sergeant Colter barked from beside him. He was firing in short, controlled bursts, calmly dispatching monster after monster. The sight reminded James that he had a limited number of rounds. More of the screeching, green-scaled creatures were pouring out of the shimmering portal. He''d have to be more conservative if he wanted his ammunition to last. "What the fuck are these things, sarge?!" Another member of the security detail called, an undercurrent of panic in his voice. Three fireteams had been guarding the portal when the incursion began, and they were quickly being forced back by the growing number of invaders. Backup was on the way, but James didn''t know if it''d arrive in time to stop the ravenous dinosaurs from slipping past them and outside the security zone. If they got into the populated areas of the city¡­ "The army issued you a rifle, Cooper!" Sergeant Colter snapped, reloading his rifle with practiced efficiency. "Not an encyclopedia! That was a de-li-ber-ate decision! Now get some rounds down range! Don''t let these overgrown lizards down those side streets!" "Sergeant!" Private Wilson called from where she was kneeling beside a radio. "Command says air support is en route! One minute!" "About damn time!" James felt a surge of relief. He dispatched another of the creatures. They were getting closer, this one had made it within fifty feet of him. But they only had to hold out for another minute. Just sixty more seconds. The gunships kept on standby would make quick work of this mindless horde. All they had to do was- "Look out!" A shadow swept over them. James looked up just in time to see a huge, winged creature swoop past them, raking its talons across two of his squad members. They went down screaming, blood spraying into the air as the monster flapped skyward. James turned, firing wildly after the wyvern-like beast. It looked like a cross between a pterodactyl and a bird of prey, with large, barbed talons hanging under leathery wings. "Man down!" Someone called, dropping out of line to grab their wounded companions, struggling to drag them to the relative safety of a nearby alley. More fliers swooped in, sending their fireteam into disarray as Sergeant Colter fought to organize a fighting retreat, trying his best to maintain some semblance of order. James'' hands were shaking in fear. He turned his weapon towards another one of the charging dinosaurs, firing wildly- Click His weapon fell silent, out of ammo. There was no time to reload, and the private stood paralyzed by fear as the monster bore down on him, its vicious maw snapping towards his chest. WHOOSH A translucent barrier of energy snapped into existence around him, shaping into a bubble that intercepted the monster''s lunging bite. James was knocked off his feet, landing hard on his back beside the Sergeant as the dinosaur bounced off the force field. It fell with a snarl, struggling to regain its feet, only to die in a fountain of blood as a huge sword cleaved it in two. James stared, awestruck, as the armored man pulled his weapon free from the carcass. He swept his sword through the air, launching an arc of crackling energy skyward to slam into one of the fliers, severing its wing clean from its body. It fell with a shriek, plummeting like a stone and smashing through the window of one of the adjacent buildings. "Damn." The large man said, turning to extend a hand towards where James still lay sprawled on the ground. "Think they have monster insurance?"
Naomi wasn''t as fast as Jade or Luis. She sprinted down the road after them, running towards the sound of gunfire, cursing her friends'' long legs. Part of her couldn''t believe that she was intentionally making her way right into the thick of what sounded like a war zone. A couple of months ago the very idea that she would do anything other than run away from such a situation would have been laughable. Yet here she was, charging past military jeeps and armored vehicles, going towards a combat zone. Holding nothing but a guitar. How is this my life? She still felt fear and anxiety when preparing for battle, but hard earned experience had taught Naomi how to clamp down on it. It didn''t paralyze her like it had in her early days in the Labyrinth. Now, it kept her alert, ready to react to danger. She charged around a bend in the road, hopping over a security barrier and dashing past two very surprised looking soldiers. Neither of them tried to stop her, either because they were too distracted by the conflict or because someone had radioed ahead to inform them they were coming. The battle soon came into view, Naomi arriving just in time to see Luis snag an enormous, winged monster out of the sky with a cord of ice energy, heaving it down and slamming it into the pavement a short distance away. More than a dozen soldiers manned sandbag barricades around him, firing automatic weapons into a swarm of dinosaur monsters that filled the street further afield. Naomi was struck by how loud real firearms were. Even outdoors at a remove, the noise was deafening.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Her eyes fell on a group of uniformed men and women lying slumped against a nearby wall, blood stains standing out starkly against the camo patterns of their outfits. She changed course, rushing to join them. "You shouldn''t be here¡­" A woman groaned. She was cradling one of her arms, a damaged rifle laying across her legs. "It''s not safe for civilians." "Ma''am, you need to leave the security cordon." Another soldier said, stepping up to her. He sounded a little unsure of himself, perhaps taken aback by her archaic armor and the sword hanging from her hip. "Wayfarer. I''m here to help." she said, flashing the glowing sigil on the back of her hand. Naomi had no idea if that meant anything to him, and she didn''t much care. It sounded official, and that was often all it took to get people to back down. Without waiting for a response, Naomi began channeling mana into her guitar. She played a soothing tune. It was soft, yet it somehow still carried clearly over the cacophony coming from the main street. ''Rejuvenate'' was her latest spell, a melody that restored health and mana to everyone nearby. The effect was immediate. Few of the wounded soldiers had serious injuries, and they all stirred as the magic took hold. Wounds closed, bleeding stopped, and fractured bones began slowly knitting themselves back together. "Just a little more. You''ll be okay." Naomi assured them. She glanced over her shoulder at where Jade and Luis were helping the soldiers stem the tide of monsters. "We''re going to-" A sudden, completely unexpected wave of immense power swept through Naomi like a tidal wave. She staggered, bracing herself against the wall as her vision swam. The strange surge of strength dissipated as quickly as it manifested, leaving the idol swaying on her feet. "Ma''am!" The young soldier reached out to steady her. "Are you okay?!" What the hell was that¡­? "I''m fi-" The words died in her throat as she caught sight of the wounded men and women. They were all getting to their feet, looking themselves over in disbelief. Naomi was just as shocked as they were. Her healing magic was only of minor strength, and the area spells especially took time to be effective. Yet somehow, her magic had restored the dozen people around her in nearly an instant. How¡­? A nearby explosion shook her out of her stupor. This was no time to question good fortune. "Get back out there and help!" She called, charging back into the street. The bard was already playing a new tune, an energetic melody that swept across the battlefield, bolstering everyone it touched. She poured mana into her ''fleetfoot'' spell, the sound amplified several times over by her ''Superstar'' ability. "Now we''re talkin''!" Luis shouted, sidestepping a snarling lizard monster and severing its head with a single powerful slash. "Keep it coming!"
Jade moved like a shadow, dropping rune traps as she flit between monsters, charming random creatures as she darted in and out of the battlefield. How many of these damn dinosaurs were there? Dozens of corpses littered the street, and just as many were still milling about. Worse were the several flying monsters flapping overhead, which her interface labelled as ''mountain wyverns''. Now that they''d taken the pressure off the security force, hopefully they would be easy pickings for soldiers equipped with modern rifles. The tide was slowly turning in their favor when Jade heard the rhythmic ''thump thump thump'' sound of approaching helicopters. A pair of military gunships swooped overhead, door-mounted guns opening up on the remaining packs of monsters. Soldiers shouted to clear the area, and Jade didn''t need to be told twice. She fell back with Luis, the newly arrived media crews, and the squad they''d come to assist. An unexpected surge of enhanced speed and agility swept over Jade, so intense that it felt like time slowed around her. The effect only lasted a moment, prompting exclamations of surprise from the men and women surrounding her. What the hell was going on with Naomi''s spell? This was the third time her magic had suddenly spiked in power. The enhanced effects were incredible, but their unpredictable nature was making her boost almost more of a liability than a boon. She shot a concerned look towards Naomi, who was continuing to pound out her melody a safe distance behind the main security force. "Take up defensive positions!" One of the soldiers shouted, gesturing to a line of barriers blocking the street. "Be ready to pick off any stragglers!" Jade hung back as the squad spread out, taking a moment to catch her breath. The battle had been short but intense. The helicopters were making short work of the remaining monsters, which had finally stopped pouring out of the portal. All they had to do now was make sure none slipped by. Another wave of power swept across the battlefield, Naomi''s magic again bolstered to a level beyond anything Jade had felt before. This time, the effect lasted several seconds, long enough for her to try and pull up her combat log to see if she could finally figure out what the hell was happening. It didn''t work, of course. That portion of her interface wasn''t available outside the Labyrinth. After checking to make sure she wasn''t in imminent danger, Jade gave Naomi a closer look. She appeared completely normal, if as surprised as the rest of them by the wild swings in the potency of her spell. What could be¡­- Jade''s eyes fell on the media crew. They were a short way back from the defensive line, a trio of men and women wearing armored vests with the words ''PRESS'' emblazoned across their chests. One of them had a large, shoulder-mounted camera, and was sweeping it across the battlefield as a woman talked into a mic. The camera! Jade blinked over to them, covering the distance instantly and startling the reporter into silence. "Point your camera at her!" she shouted, fighting to be heard over Naomi''s pounding music and the roar of helicopter-mounted machine-gun fire. "What?" "Just do it!" Jade grabbed the cameraman by the shoulder, imbuing enchantment into her words. He blinked once, shaking his head slightly as her magic took hold, and then complied. The reporter looked like she wanted to complain, but one look at Jade''s bloodstained armor and glowing, enchanted dagger shut her up. Jade held her breath, waiting to see if she was right. What was that ability of Naomi''s again¡­? ''Superstar''? The camera panned back to Naomi, bringing her into frame. The effect was as dramatic as it was instantaneous. The strength of her aura surged, as did the effect of her spell. Again, the world seemed to slow around Jade, her speed and agility enhanced to the level of a videogame powerup. It wasn''t just her. Luis, the soldiers, even the reporters next to her all moved with the same incredible grace and finesse. Every shot fired suddenly found its target, every force blade from Luis''s sword slicing through multiple of the rapidly dwindling monsters. And this time, the enhancement held. Incredible¡­ "Jade!" Luis''s warning dragged her attention back to the battle. Almost all the monsters were dead now, Naomi''s boost having been the final push needed to sweep the area clean. There was just one problem. Jade followed Luis''s pointing sword, catching sight of one of the helicopters hovering over the battlefield. Two of the flying monsters had latched onto its landing skids, clawing and snapping at the vehicle and wildly flapping their wings. The helicopter was spiraling out of control, smoke billowing from a section of its tail as it careened downward. Heading right towards them. Chapter 82 Three things were immediately apparent. The floundering helicopter was going to crash if the monsters clinging to it didn''t let go, the monsters had no intention of letting it go, and there was nothing the crew could do about it. Jade was running towards Luis before she''d even finished processing the situation. The soldiers were scattering, trying to get out of the potential crash zone, and here she was running towards an out of control aircraft. A small, rational part of Jade, hidden away in the back of her mind and suppressed by general demonic impulsiveness, was mourning the fact that natural selection had failed her. But she couldn''t run, not when there was a chance she could help. The helicopter could easily take out a building or two when it impacted, and some of the nearby structures were clearly still in use. "Luis! Slingshot!" Her companion paused, a wounded soldier''s arm draped over his shoulder as he dragged the man to safety. Naomi''s music still blasted through the street, bolstering her with incredible speed and agility. Jade needed every drop of the magic, they were running out of time. Luis gave her an incredulous look, his eyes flicking between her and the spiraling vehicle. He knew what she had in mind. To his credit, he didn''t try to argue. They either did this now, or it would be too late. With a gesture, Luis conjured a long tether of icy blue energy, flinging it across the street to wrap around Jade''s arm. A deep chill washed over her as the ''Frost Hook'' took hold, adhering to her armor. She accelerated, pouring on speed and dashing away from her friend, pulling the line taut. "Now!" The instant the tether ran out of slack Luis heaved with all his might. Jade launched herself off the ground in the same instant, springing off a tipped over car and using the magical cord as leverage to send herself arcing high into the air. It was a maneuver made possible only by their greatly enhanced strength, and she made it more than forty feet up before she began to level out. Jade''s trajectory was taking her right towards the smooth wall of a tall office building, and she was still far below the careening vehicle, but that wasn''t a problem: She had more tricks up her sleeve. The instant her feet impacted the surface of the building Jade channeled a burst of mana through her legs, launching herself skyward along the wall with ''Mirage Step''. She used it three times in rapid succession, draining her magical reserves at a prodigious rate as she propelled herself higher and higher. ZAP. ZAP. ZAP. Jade surged up the wall like a bolt of lightning, flickering in and out of sight as her magic carried her towards her target. The third blink took her high enough, the smoking vehicle spinning wildly in the sky just above her. There was no time to think about the insanity of the stunt she was attempting. Just like her days on the gym floor she gave in to her body, letting it guide her. Trusting in it. She kicked off the wall, launching herself into open air and drawing Phantom in one smooth motion. The pair of wyverns were clinging to the landing skids of the helicopter, clawing and tearing at the craft with brutal savagery. They were large targets and, at this distance, impossible to miss. Jade flung her enchanted blade straight into the back of the closer of the pair.
"I can''t control her!" Specialist Dave Renner heard the pilot''s strained shout over the myriad alarms, beeps, and a deeply disturbing mechanical groaning sound that he was pretty sure no aircraft was ever supposed to make. He was manning the door-mounted cannon and had been happily mowing down monsters when two of the flying dragon-things had snuck up on them from below. For the third time he tried to bring his sights to bear on the writhing mass of scales and claws attached to the bottom of the vehicle, but the damn gun wasn''t designed to aim straight down. "I''m trying to get it! It''s too close!" He shouted back, trying to adjust the mount to give the weapon a larger range of motion. It was no good, the deck of the aircraft itself was in the way. Apparently, the designers had never anticipated a need to shoot through the floor. "Hang on!" The pilot called back, her hands flying over the flight controls. "I''ll try and scrape them off using a building!" "Are you fucking crazy?!" That may have been the stupidest idea Dave had ever heard. There was no way the rotor blades would give them the clearance needed to perform a stunt like that, not without turning the helicopter on its side. And helicopters did not fly sideways. The pilot was surely even more aware of that fact than he, but they were out of options. The ground was coming up fast, and they were coming in hard. "Screw this." He said, pulling out his sidearm and flicking the safety off. "I''ll do this the hard way!" He slammed the release mechanism for his seat harness, hooking one arm through a handhold and leaning precariously out over the dizzying drop. In training, he specifically recalled being told to never do this. Unfortunately, the army hadn''t drilled them on the proper procedure for fending off giant winged lizards that were hitching a ride. So, he had to improvise. The wildly swinging deck of the helicopter didn''t make it easy to aim, but the monsters were so close that hardly mattered. Dave squeezed the trigger, rapidly dumping his service pistol''s magazine into the belly of the lizard-thing. It screeched in pain, black blood spraying from its scaled body as he pumped round after round into it at point-blank range. "Yeah! Take-" Dave was interrupted as a long, barbed tail whipped across his chest, nearly pulling him from the doorway. His weapon went flying as he lunged for the handhold, hanging on for dear life, feet flailing over a hundred feet above the city streets below. "Oh shit! Shit!" He cursed, trying to heave himself back in. The helicopter was spinning now, the rotation pulling him out and away from safety. Just as his fingers were slipping free from the bar, he felt a hand grab the back of his vest.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "In you go!" Dave only caught sight of a flutter of blonde hair and the glint of a glowing knife before he was bodily flung back inside the passenger bay.
Jade dropped down from the helicopter''s door, landing back on the belly of the spasming wyvern. Its claws seemed to be stuck in the underside of the helicopter, locking it in place while it flailed around wildly with its wings and tail. The other monster was faring little better, tangled up in its companion''s wings. This was no time for half measures. Clinging to a protruding spine and holding herself in place with her enhanced strength, Jade shifted into her demon form. The enhanced physical stats immediately eased the strain of hanging on, but that wasn''t the point. The succubus brushed her hand against the wing of the unharmed wyvern, channeling her enhanced ''charm creature'' spell into its body. The ''C'' rank spell took effect immediately and it unlatched itself from the bottom of the plummeting aircraft, flapping away with a shriek. Or rather, it tried to. The instant the monster slipped out from under the vehicle the rotor blades sliced through its head like a guillotine, completely severing it and showering her with a deluge of black blood. More screeching alarms joined the ones already present in the cockpit and the aircraft began to shudder alarmingly as it continued to drop ever lower. Oops. Jade winced. Well, that was one down. One more to go. The ground was coming up quickly. Seventy feet. Sixty feet. Jade summoned an aura blade, twisting away from the creature''s snapping jaws and slicing through its forelegs. Two quick slashes were enough to sever its limbs, freeing it from the vehicle. Grabbing tightly onto one of the creature''s many long spines she kicked off hard, propelling them away from the doomed aircraft. There was a heart stopping moment where the two of them fell straight towards the concrete street below, and Jade felt a flutter of panic, worried she''d miscalculated. Then, the beast spread its wings, their fall turning into a glide as the creature fought to right itself. Jade rode the wounded beast down, shifting back into her human form and preparing to bail the instant they were low enough. A triumphant, exhilarated grin spread across her face. She''d done it. All that was left was sticking the landing.
Dave was disoriented. He''d cracked his helmet against something hard in the process of re-entering the helicopter. His training kicked in, getting him back in the gunnery seat before his vision had even cleared. The pilot was saying something he couldn''t hear, but he could feel the aircraft start to level out. They were still falling, but it was more controlled now. They''d be okay, as long as¡­ A flash of scales zipped passed the door, another of the winged creatures flapping downward, struggling to remain airborne. Dave swung the door-mounted cannon around and fired on reflex, his body reacting to the threat before his mind registered the woman clinging to the creature''s back.
Jade heard the cannon spool up, but it was too late. She was still turning to face the danger when the door-mounted gun of the helicopter roared to life, spewing a hail of destruction at the incredible rate of 3,000 rounds per minute. The fire stitched across the wyvern''s body, shredding it as if it had flown through a giant, invisible chainsaw. Even with her high agility and Naomi''s amped-up speed enhancing song, Jade barely had time to twist aside. She couldn¡¯t avoid it all, and a quartet of minigun rounds found her chest. The first two were deflected by her armor''s enchanted defenses, shattering them. The third merely grazed her, scoring a groove through her armor. The fourth punched straight through her chest, sending a lightning bolt of searing pain through her body. Wounded, disoriented, and no longer held aloft, Jade dropped the final fifteen feet to the pavement like a rock.
"Well?" Director Irene Holston asked as Sam entered the room. He was still wearing that ridiculously colorful shirt, and she had to resist the urge to scold him. Even after only a few weeks of working with her deputy director, she knew him well enough to know that it wouldn''t do any good. "She''ll be fine." He said, moving a pile of documents off the chair opposite her office desk and lowering himself into it. "Jade''s already up and about." "What¡­?" Irene shook her head in wonder. She''d heard accounts of the incredible fortitude of wayfarers, but details were still sketchy. "She took a cannon round to the chest at, what, twenty feet? She should be a smear mark on the pavement." "I think it''s safe to say that the enhancements given by the Labyrinth are the real deal, Irene." Sam said, shaking his head in wonder. "Don''t get me wrong, she was pretty roughed up before that Naomi got to her, but a couple of those healing spells later and she was practically good as new." "Incredible¡­" Irene stood up, moving to look out the window and survey the city skyline. Curling smoke rose from behind buildings a few blocks away, where the battle had taken place. After the day''s incursion, the security force was being doubled. "Casualties?" "Several injuries, no fatalities. We were lucky." "Lucky that they were here. Sam, it''s only been a few weeks. What''s going to happen when people start coming back from the Labyrinth with powers they''ve grown over months of training? Or after years of practice?" Irene suddenly felt very, very tired. "The world is never going to be the same." "Let''s worry about one crisis at a time." The deputy director said, joining her at the window. "First, we need to ensure that there''s still a world here at the end of this." "True enough. What''s that you have there?" She nodded at a folder held in his hand. He opened it, revealing a sheaf of what she took to be X-Ray printouts. "The medics looked over Jade after her friend took care of her. These are the images they took." Irene took the papers, glancing over them. It looked like a series of chest X-Rays. "I''m not a physician Sam, what am I looking at?" "I''m not sure." The casually dressed man pointed to the center of the image. "But the doctor tells me that this is not normal." She peered closer, examining the image carefully. There was a small, fist-sized lump of¡­ something, beside what was labeled as the heart, right behind the sternum. "What is this?" "We don''t know. No one else has anything like this." Sam shrugged. "A few of the wayfarers came back different, changed by the Labyrinth into different kinds of creatures. Maybe she was too." "If so, she''s hiding it for some reason." Irene put the papers down on the desk with a sigh. "Should we pressure her for answers?" "No." Irene shook her head emphatically. "At least, not yet. Sam, we''re going to need these people. It''s imperative we stay on their good side. If wayfarers can keep growing in power as quickly as they already are, we''re going to have a hard time exerting authority on them sooner rather than later. Get our staff looking into these three, I want everything we have on them." The deputy director didn''t appear to be listening. He was holding one of the images, studying it curiously. "Sam?" "Ah, of course." He said, nodding and making for the door. "I''ll have our preliminary findings delivered by the morning." Irene watched him go, sinking back into the seat behind her desk. In some respects, he was right. They had to focus on the dangers at-hand. And yet¡­ Someone had to consider what the aftermath of this crisis would look like. The director was well studied in what happened to most people when they were given great, unchecked power. The idea of thousands of people returning to Earth with abilities far beyond what Jade and her companions had displayed today was a frightening prospect. And one whose implications had to be considered before it was too late to do anything about it. Chapter 83 After a night''s rest in accommodations provided by the L-ReF taskforce, plus a healthy dose of Naomi''s healing magic, Jade was feeling much better. Taking a cannon round through the chest was a new experience for her, and one she wasn''t eager to repeat. Fortunately, the Labyrinth''s enhancements to her fortitude had ensured that it wasn''t her last experience. As it was, Jade marveled at the strength and recovery rate of her new body. A burst of minigun rounds and a two story drop onto hard concrete would have killed any normal person twice over, but she was already up and about not even one day later. In her human form, Jade''s fortitude was only an ''11'', a mere 4 points higher than she''d begun her journey with. Despite the modest improvements, she''d found any score in the double digits to easily place one in the ''superhuman'' range, at least for the physical stats. Jade wondered what it would be like at higher levels as she increased her physical stats into the twenties and thirties. Would normal attacks even be able to harm her anymore? Maybe Serrethis could tell her what to expect. One good thing had come from the incident. The leadership of L-Ref made it clear that they didn''t want to push her while she was recovering from a serious injury, so they had offered to transport her, Luis, and Naomi to visit their families on government expense. In return, they were expected to come back after a couple of days to continue sharing information on the Labyrinth and to coordinate with other wayfarers that were currently on Earth. That would also give them time to complete the veritable mountain of paperwork foisted upon them by various L-Ref functionaries. Jade and her companions happily accepted the deal, eager to be reunited with their loved ones. "Seriously?" Jade asked, flipping through an L-ReF binder and scanning the contents as she and her companions waited for aircraft to be prepped for them. The three of them were back at the military airfield, preparing to separate for the first time since they''d joined forces on the first floor of the Labyrinth. It would only be for a short period of time, but it was still an odd feeling. "Do we really need to complete a form that attests that we won''t ''use any Labyrinth materials, items, or enhancements to subvert the authority of any legitimate Earth government, up to and including aiding in the pursuit of world domination''?" Jade sighed, snapping the binder shut and rolling her eyes. "Sounds reasonable to me." Luis said, munching on a bag of chips beside her. The man had been eating almost nonstop since their return, and she was growing envious of his seeming ability to consume endless calories without any impact to his physique. Maybe it''s his high strength and fortitude scores¡­ Jade mused. I should make those a higher priority. The throbbing ache in her chest, and the newly formed scar in the center of it, were another reminder of the importance of high defenses. Jade wondered how she would have fared if she''d been wearing her new armor and in her succubus form, rather than disguised as a human. If she was going to be fighting on Earth, it might be best to find a way to reveal her nature to the authorities after all. She hadn''t expected the disadvantages of remaining disguised to manifest so quickly. "No one who was going to try and overthrow the government will look at this document and say ''damn, they got me. Well, I guess I can''t do it now." Jade complained. A noise of surprise came from Jade''s other side, drawing her attention. Naomi was staring at a phone she''d been issued by L-ReF to ensure they could stay in touch, her eyes wide. "What is it?" Jade asked, leaning in to look over her shoulder. "You know how I said I was auditioning for a spot with that pop group?" She asked, sounding a little woozy. "Yeah, why?" "I had¡­ Well, still have, I guess, a YouTube channel. I''d upload some music and songs, just indie stuff in my spare time, when I wasn''t busy with school or work. I was hoping it''d help me get my foot in the door, if I could build a following. Never really made much progress. I''d only hit about 25k subscribers after a year of working on it." "What, did more people find it while you were gone?" Luis asked, sliding over to join them. Naomi held up her phone screen without a word. It showed a YouTube page with her face as the profile picture. Under it¡­ "Five hundred thousand?" Jade asked, incredulously. "Someone connected the news broadcast yesterday with my account." Naomi said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Nice!" Luis said, slapping her on the back enthusiastically. "You''re famous now! When we''re done with all this, I bet you''ll be able to land a spot in whatever group you want." "Or start your own." Jade added. "I bet magic concerts would be popular." "If only I could livestream our fights¡­" Naomi sighed. "That boost I got yesterday was incredible! Would be nice to have that on demand." "Maybe L-ReF can figure something out for that, once they''re done making sure the country doesn''t fall apart." Jade said thoughtfully. Naomi''s ability allowed her to boost her spells and talents up to two ranks higher, if enough people were watching her. Yesterday''s fight showed just how big a difference that could make. It was worth investigating, although she had no idea how that would work across different dimensions. They were interrupted by the door to the tarmac opening. A soldier waved to get their attention, calling them over. It was time to go. "See you in a few days?" Jade said, getting to her feet. "Yeah. This feels weird, after all the time we''ve spent together." Naomi said. Jade was just as bad at good-byes as she was with people. She hesitated awkwardly, unsure if there was something else she should say. Unable to think of anything better, she held out her hand. Instead of shaking it, Luis grabbed her arm and pulled her and Naomi into a hug. "Ow!" Jade winced. "Easy. I just got shot, remember?" "You''re fine. Naomi healed you!" "Don''t do anything crazy, Jade, okay? I mean it this time." Naomi said, hugging them back. "At least wait until we''re back together." "Hey, it''s me." Jade smiled, embracing her friends as well. "You''ve got nothing to worry about." "That is what I¡¯m worried about."
"I understand, Madame President. I''ll have an update for you tonight." Irene Holston killed the call, dropping her cell phone onto her desk and sinking back in her chair. She hunched over, rubbing at her temples in an attempt to banish a rapidly growing headache. "Is something wrong, director?" Sam was standing in the door to her office, a pair of steaming cups of coffee in his hands. He held one up, raising an eyebrow. "The President is insisting on an immediate solution to the crisis." Irene sighed, shifting to sit upright and accepting the offered mug with a grateful nod. "She doesn''t seem to understand that if I could magically fix this by waving my hand, I''d have done that weeks ago." "She doesn''t like the idea of working our way through the Cores one floor at a time?" "None of us like the idea of that, Sam." Irene replied tersely. "Especially not when we''re relying on a few thousand civilians to clear the way for us. But what choice do we have? Did you see the report from the platoon we sent through the Seattle gateway two days ago?" "I did, yes." Sam nodded, his grim expression at odds with his cheerful, colorful shirt. As a test, the military had sent in a fifty-man strong infantry platoon to explore the other side of a Labyrinth gateway. Unlike with smaller forces, the larger group was immediately set upon by a ceaseless swarm of monsters. They''d been forced back out of the portal in less than two hours, with more than half the force wounded. "Brute forcing our way through this isn''t an option." Irene said, drinking deeply from the warm, life-giving coffee. "What a mess¡­" Sam placed his hands against the back of the chair opposite her, leaning against it. "Irene, I think we have to seriously consider alternative solutions to this problem." "Like what?" Irene asked wearily, although she already knew where this was going. General Bennet had broached the same topic with her that very morning. "If our conventional forces can''t eliminate the Labyrinth Cores in a reasonable amount of time, and if we can''t rely on a substantial portion of the wayfarers who are supposed to be seeing to this task, then we have to consider deploying strategic assets." "Sam, the damn Labyrinth responds to a few dozen soldiers grouped together with overwhelming force. How do you think it will retaliate against weapons of mass destruction being lobbed at it?" "Would that retaliation be worse than allowing its mechanisms to strip our world bare of resources? Destroy our infrastructure? Displace untold millions of people?" "I don''t think anyone can know that. But once we go down that road, we can''t go back." "I''m not advocating for us to immediately jump to drastic measures." Sam placated her with a raised hand. "But we should be prepared to implement them should they prove necessary." Irene had always been a cautious woman. That trait was one of the reasons why she''d been placed in the senior levels of the Central Intelligence Agency until the current crisis had prompted her reassignment. The idea of tossing nuclear weapons at a problem they were only starting to understand without any idea of the consequences was foolhardy. The Labyrinth''s response aside, there were entire civilizations reportedly living inside that world. People of unknown disposition and capability that they were now neighbors with. And yet¡­ Perhaps her deputy director had a point. He was being earnest and genuine, and his advice had already proven to be sound on other matters. There was no harm in at least considering alternatives. "Work with General Bennet to draft some contingency plans." Irene relented, leaning back in her seat. "This is a last resort, but you''re right. We should be prepared for the worst." No doubt China and Russia would be considering similar responses. Emergency sessions were currently underway at the UN, and Irene fervently hoped that cooler heads would prevail. It was too soon to be taking such dramatic steps. Some wayfarers were performing well, exceptionally so, considering the circumstances. With the proper support, they could be turned into a vanguard that cleared the way for teams that could take on the Labyrinth''s challenge. "Of course, Director." Sam nodded, a tight smile on his face. "I''ll see to it." He departed, closing the door to her office behind him and leaving Irene to ponder her troubled thoughts. Chapter 84 Jade''s father was waiting for her at the airport. He rushed forward as soon as she left the security area, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing tightly. "Jade!" He gasped, emotion choking his voice. "You''re okay! You''re really okay." "I am¡­ I''m back, Dad." Jade was surprised to feel tears welling up, and quickly wiped them away. No matter the difficulties their family had faced over the years, this was still a homecoming for her. The thick walls she''d hastily erected around her heart in response to being torn away from her life had always held cracks in them. Now, at last, they began to buckle. "I''m okay¡­" She sniffed, pressing her forehead into his shoulder. Her father didn''t say anything, but she felt his arms tighten around her. When was the last time they''d embraced like this? She¡­ she couldn''t recall. Jade took several deep breaths, calming herself. Finally, she stepped back, getting her first good look at her father. He was a tall man, slender, with a slightly receding hairline. Dark circles clung to his eyes, as if he''d barely slept in weeks. Even so, he managed a warm smile, holding her by the shoulders and looking her up and down. "How much did they tell you?" Jade asked, struggling to keep her emotions at bay. The crowded terminal wasn''t helping. Even keeping a tight leash on her demonic senses, she could taste the stress of countless harried travelers pressing in on all sides. It was making it hard to truly relax. "Everything, I think." He said, his smile fading a little. Her father glanced at the glowing sigil on the back of her hand. "You''re really one of them? Those people that have been on the news?" Jade had no idea what sort of news reports were being run on wayfarers, but she was glad that she didn''t have to explain the entire situation from the ground up. "Probably, yeah. Can we talk somewhere else? It''s¡­" She gestured at the people flowing around them. They were causing something of a traffic jam at the terminal exit, and people were starting to stare. A few were whispering, pointing at Jade. "Of course." He nodded. "Let''s get you home. Your brother''s waiting." It only took a few minutes to get to the car, and Jade felt immediate relief upon getting away from the throng of people. She rubbed at her temples, trying to banish her growing headache. I need to get better at managing crowds¡­ It was about a half-hour drive back to the family house, nestled in a quiet suburb between Ann Arbor and Detroit proper. Winter was in full swing, a characteristic February sleet storm sweeping across the city. Jade watched the dark city streets roll by in silence, entranced by the glistening urban lights. It was so different from the untamed wilderness of the Labyrinth, yet so familiar. "The lady with the government¡­" Her father said at length, not taking his eyes off the road. "She said that you won''t be staying long." It was a statement, not a question. Jade could taste her father''s concern and uncertainty. It was unnerving, especially considering he had always seemed so in control. The man who had always had an answer to their family''s many issues didn''t know what to do, now. Or maybe it had always been that way, and he had just been that good at pretending. Now, the illusion was revealed. It felt like an invasion of privacy, and yet again Jade wished she could shut off that aspect of her powers. "That''s right." she sighed. "It''s complicated, but L-Ref¡­ Do you know what that is?" he nodded, so she continued. "They need help from people like me." "It''s dangerous, isn''t it." Again, it wasn''t a question. "Yes." Jade said, looking away. "But I''ve met some good friends. We''re watching out for each other." Her words felt empty even to her. Jade didn''t know exactly what her father knew about the Labyrinth, but the public was clearly better informed than she''d assumed they would be. But what could she say? Going back wasn''t optional, not until she completed her trial. And even if she could abandon it, she wasn''t sure she''d be able to bring herself to do so. Not with the Labyrinth chipping away at the foundation of their planet. Again, they fell into silence. This, at least, Jade was familiar with. How long had it been since she''d had a real conversation with her father? She''d barely seen the man in years. Jade was self-aware enough to recognize the resentment she harbored towards him for his near-total absence from her life was completely unfair, but that didn''t stop her from feeling it. Alan''s illness was exorbitantly expensive to treat, and her father had been required to work long hours to finance his round-the-clock care. That sort of life didn''t leave much time for family. Because Jade had long since cut her mother out of her life, she had been left to look after herself. School events, athletic meets, holidays, Jade had endured most of them alone. At this point, she wasn''t even sure how to interact with her father normally. The man had poured everything into providing for his children and, somehow, he had succeeded. All it had cost them was their father. Jade had a chance to change that, now. L-ReF needed them, needed her, to help with this crisis. She was going to make sure that, in exchange, her family was taken care of.
It was too late to cook a proper meal by the time they reached the house. Jade''s father dropped her off in the driveway, promising to hurry back with some takeout. Apparently, not everything was closed. "Go in and see your brother." He urged, gesturing for her to get out of the pelting sleet. The weather had taken a turn for the worse, and Jade had to hold up an arm to shield her face from the biting wind. "I''ll be back soon." Jade nodded, one hand still on the open car door. Part of her wanted to say something, but she couldn''t find the right words. Repeatedly facing down death had given her a new perspective on her family situation. Problems that had seemed insurmountable mere months ago now felt almost trivial. Maybe it was time to try again.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. But no matter how much she yearned for it, the words wouldn''t come out. In the end she just nodded, gave her father a tight smile, and shut the door. The car backed out of the driveway, tires crunching on frosty pavement as Jade trudged up to the front door. Why? Why was it so hard to just open up to her family? Because we haven''t been a family in years. She thought sourly, keying the access code into the smart lock and opening the door. Maybe that was okay. She couldn''t just sweep a half-dozen years of familial isolation under the rug and pretend it hadn''t happened. Even if she could, it probably wouldn''t be healthy. That lost time wasn''t coming back, but that didn''t mean they couldn''t make something new. Though none of the lights were on, Jade''s enhanced senses had no difficulty piercing the gloom. Not that she needed them here, she could have navigated the whole house with her eyes closed. She made her way towards the stairs, where a single shaft of light was filtering down from above. Jade hesitated on the first step, not sure what to expect. Her brother was home, that had to be a good sign, right? She should have asked for more details on the drive home. Hell, her father should have just told her any news. Beep. A soft chime sounded in Jade''s mind, accompanied by a blinking icon in what remained of her Labyrinth interface. The timer had just rolled past the ''7 day'' mark, continuing to tick away what little time she had here. No time to waste. Jade took a deep breath and climbed the stairs. As she expected, the light was coming from her brother''s room. The door was cracked open, leaving a gap just wide enough for a shaft of light to illuminate the stairway. She paused outside, knocking three times. "Hey, anyone home?" The door swung inward under the force of her knocks, opening to reveal her brother''s bedroom. The shelves were lined with an eclectic collection of youth baseball trophies, videogames, and books, alongside piles of poorly organized medical supplies. It was a sight Jade was all too familiar with. Her gaze glossed over it, coming to rest on the lanky teen sitting at the room''s only desk. Alan was on his computer, scrolling through what looked like a newsfeed. He stopped at the sound of her knocks, spinning his chair around to face the door. "Hey champ." she grinned, stepping inside. "How''re you doing?" "Jay!" Alan jumped to his feet and then stopped, throwing out a hand to brace himself against his desk. "Easy." Jade said, her smile slipping a little. "You okay?" "Just stood up too fast." he brushed off her concern. "Don''t worry about me. I''m not the one whose apartment exploded in the middle of the night." "It didn''t explode." Jade corrected him, trying to help him back into his seat. "It just got sucked into another dimension." He ignored her attempts to get him to sit back down, pulling her into a hug instead. "It''s true, then?" he asked. "You really got pulled into that other world? It''s all over the Internet." "I don''t know what they''re saying but yeah. And the truth is probably crazier than whatever people are posting." He eyed her skeptically. "There''s some pretty crazy stuff online." "Well, I made it back." She released him, taking a step away. "And I''m better than ever." He looked her up and down, eyes going wide in surprise. "You''re walking normally! Is your foot-?" "It''s doing better." Her brother smiled, finally sinking back into his chair. He looked frail, more so than she remembered, although Jade wasn''t sure if that was just because it had been so long since she''d seen him. His eyes still held a vibrant energy, though, glimmering with that spark that had always made him the center of every group. "Will you tell me about it?" he asked, leaning forward eagerly. "Definitely." She sat down on the edge of the bed, instinctively finding her familiar spot. How many weeks had she spent here while recovering from her injury? Time spent reconnecting with her brother, being introduced to his favorite games and shows. Who knew that experience would prove to be so practical in the game-like world of the Labyrinth. Before diving into a summary of her experiences, Jade got fully up to date on her brother''s health. There wasn''t much of a change. He was still in and out of the hospital, his condition fluctuating on a monthly basis, and mostly was having to keep up with schoolwork digitally. He had always hidden it well, but her new succubus senses let her feel the pain he kept walled in behind his cheerful exterior. It hadn''t been until Jade had suffered from a condition of her own that she began to understand how incredible her brother''s boundless optimism was, and now she could see the truth of his struggle. After that, at his insistence, she related an abridged version of her time in the Labyrinth. She chose to focus on the more magical aspects of the world, painting it as a place of wonder and magic rather than of death and fear. Her own complicated feelings about the current crisis aside she wanted, no, needed, this night to be a happy one. As she had with everyone else on Earth, Jade kept her transformed nature to herself, although for a different reason. She trusted Alan implicitly and had no doubt that he would think that her transformation into a demonic entity was more badass than anything else. Instead, she was worried the knowledge would make him want to enter the Labyrinth to seek his own transformation. If such an event had cured her injury, could it repair his body as well? Jade had no idea, and no way to find out. Unfortunately, it wasn''t possible. Damos had been quite clear that no more Earth wayfarers would be accepted, not until the current pool completed their trials. She couldn''t bear to tell him that salvation could be so close, but unachievable. At some point she would have to come clean, but now wasn''t the right time. That didn''t mean she couldn''t offer some hope, though. "I''ve seen some incredible things, Alan." Jade said a while later, holding up her hand and showing her brother a flicker of her manifested aura. The blueish-pink energy flickered and danced in her hand, entrancing him. "And not all magic is about fighting. I can''t promise anything, I don''t know how any of it works, but there are people with healing powers. One of my new friends, Siora, is an alchemist who specializes in restorative potions. I talked to her about it, and she said she''d help me find something I could bring back for you. Something that might be able to help you get better." Jade expected him to be excited, or at least intrigued by the idea, so she was surprised when he deflated at her words. "Aren''t you-" He waved his hand. "All of you ''wayfarers'', I mean, supposed to be helping protect our home? I can''t ask you to get distracted from that just for me." "Don''t worry about that. Naomi and Luis, the friends I was telling you about? They''re always saying I need to slow down, that we need to take time to rest and recover. We can''t fight all the time. If there''s anything that can help, I''ll find it." she took his hand. "I''ll bring it back." "Can you bring me back a badass magic sword?" "I''ll see what I can do." Jade laughed. The sound of the front door opening caught her attention. Their father was home, and it smelled like he''d delivered on his promise of good food. "Jay?" Alan asked as they got up to head downstairs. She took his arm, helping him stay up. This time, he didn''t protest. "Yeah?" "I''m glad you''re okay. I was worried about you. The whole family was." His sincerity washed over her like a wave. Even after several weeks she wasn''t fully used to feeling other people''s emotions. It was a powerful sensation. Unfortunately, the sense being demonic in origin gave it an unpleasant twist. The care, concern, and joy her brother felt at their reunion tasted acrid and bitter to her mind, as if the emotions were anathema to her nature. Jade struggled to hide a grimace, balling her free hand into a fist and feeling her nails dig into her palm. You aren''t taking this from me. She thought, frustrated. Love is not a weakness. That other demon, Malice, would probably disagree. Jade didn''t give a damn. Other demons could bask in the perverse pleasure of negative emotions if they wanted to, but she wasn''t going to give into it. "Thanks." She said, keeping her inner turmoil hidden. "It''s good to be home." Jade didn''t have much time here. There was a lot to do before they were ready to dive back into the Labyrinth, and they were on a literal clock. But tonight, she was going to put all that aside. Tonight was for family. Chapter 85 The next few days were an emotional whirlwind. During her battles for survival across the first two floors of the Labyrinth, Jade''s mind hadn''t allowed itself to process much of the trauma she''d been put through. Numerous near-death experiences, killing for the first time, and the general shock of being torn away from home were just some of the pressures building up inside her. Even in the relative safety of Lysara, Jade had kept herself too busy to really think things through. Back in her childhood home with no real obligations, and much less danger, her inner walls began to crack. Since she was separated from the only people who could relate to what she''d been through, Jade didn''t open up to anyone about her inner turmoil. Being with her brother and father again was a soothing experience that gave her a much-needed sense of normalcy. It was obvious that she had a lot to work through, but no one pressed her for explanations. In typical Callian family fashion Jade''s father simply told her he was willing to listen to anything she felt she had to share and left it at that. For her part, Jade tried her best to enjoy what short time she had with them. After this is over, I''m going to come home and work things through properly. She told herself, laying back on Alan''s bed and watching him play a puzzle game she vaguely recognized. We can fix this. Become a proper family again. If Jade used whatever influence being a wayfarer gave her properly, she could ensure her family didn''t have money issues ever again. That alone would go a long way towards easing the strain that had been hanging over them for years. First, though, she had to make sure there was a stable world to come back to. Outside of recuperating at home and reconnecting with family, Jade saw to a handful of other matters while in town. One of the first things she did was check in on Ally, the friend she''d shared an apartment with before her bedroom had been eaten by a dimensional rift. To her immense relief her friend was perfectly fine, other than having developed a minor anxiety issue. "Jade! I''m so glad you''re okay!" Ally exclaimed, flinging her arms around Jade in a wild hug in the coffee shop they''d decided to meet up in. "I thought the building was coming down on us! And then I stepped out into the hallway and¡­ and¡­ your room was just gone! Literally, I could see into our neighbor''s apartment!" "I was worried about you, too." Jade said softly while patting her on the back, cognizant of the fact that they were starting to draw attention from other customers. She guided the shorter woman to a corner table, away from potential eavesdroppers. "What happened afterwards?" "The police made everyone leave the building." Ally said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Then they questioned me for hours, even though I had no idea what was going on. We still haven''t been allowed back in. I''ve been staying with my sister so I''m doing okay, but not everyone had a place to go. And now all these people are coming into the city¡­" she trailed off, shaking her head. Jade was just glad the whole floor hadn''t collapsed, seeing as buildings weren''t designed to have giant holes scooped out of them. "Glad you''re doing okay." she said, and then she cocked her head. "Hey, I saw my car was in the garage at my dad''s house. Did you have something to do with that?" "Oh!" Ally bobbed her head, bouncing her brown curls. "Well, it was like the thing at our place kicked it all off. Similar things started happening all over the world, and then it came out the people caught in them were just being moved somewhere else and not, you know¡­" she swallowed, taking a moment to compose herself. "Anyway, I wanted to do what I could for you. Remember my cousin Jeff? The one who works at a repo center? He taught me a couple of things a while back. I managed to get your car running and drove it over the other week. It wasn''t safe in the lot, not with all the unrest¡­" Jade just stared at her friend. She''d always viewed Ally as strait-laced, even a little timid. But apparently she''d¡­ what? Hotwired her car and taken it across town? First the housekeeper who turned out to be a demon, now this¡­ Am I just terrible at reading people? She added that to the list of things she planned to work on, right after ''stop the Labyrinth cores from destroying the world'' and ''find a way to cure her brother''. Yeah, she probably wasn''t getting to that anytime soon. True to Ally''s words, the area was much more crowded than Jade remembered. Even a good forty-five minutes away from the actual city, the suburbs were crowded with refugees from rural areas. Everyone was fleeing the remote parts of the country, heading towards the perceived safety of more densely populated areas that were less affected by the Labyrinth''s translocation events. The fact that no such events had happened within three hundred miles since Jade''s apartment was taken didn''t seem to deter anyone from assuming the worst. The general atmosphere was tense, a feeling that wasn''t helped by the presence of law enforcement and the national guard patrolling the streets in force. While the mood was grim, the situation wasn''t as bad as Jade had feared it would be. For the moment, order prevailed. She just hoped it would last. Other than connecting with Ally, Jade also had brief conversations with some of her other friends and classmates. All of them were relieved to hear that she''d returned safely, and all of them bombarded her with questions about what the other world was like. She avoided giving anything more than vague answers, falling back on some lines provided by L-ReF officials about how information on the Labyrinth was confidential. Another piece of news she received came in the form of a letter from the University of Michigan. It informed Jade that, due to certain ''extenuating circumstances of ambiguous duration'', she had been placed on an indefinite leave of absence from her studies. The letter informed her that she could notify the University staff whenever she was ready to resume classes. Jade tried to imagine what returning to school to finish her marketing degree would be like with the otherworldly, superhuman abilities she now possessed. It was an amusing mental image. "Maybe Naomi will let me join her magic pop group when this is done¡­" she muttered, sliding the letter into a desk drawer in her room. At least one good thing had come from the Labyrinth. She didn''t have to deal with group projects anymore.
After a couple of days of rest, Jade was feeling physically and mentally refreshed. With her injuries fully healed and the fabric of society visibly fraying around the edges, she was ready to get back to work. The hardest part was leaving Alan, but she promised she''d speak to him again before returning to the Labyrinth. Knowing that they''d now be able to visit Earth periodically also helped, although she suspected they''d be far too busy to do so with any regularity. "I''ll be back soon." Jade said, giving her brother a hug. "Promise safe, not soon." She opened her mouth to reply, but the words died in her throat. Her heart clenched as images of blood, pain, and death flashed through her mind. Any such promise would be a lie, and Jade couldn''t bring herself to tell it. The flight from Detroit to DC took a little over two hours, and Jade arrived to find that she was the first of her group back in L-ReF territory. It was the evening of her fourth day back on Earth, and she was growing increasingly aware of the timer ticking down in the submenu of her interface. She was assigned a hotel room and asked, well, more like politely instructed, to report to the headquarters first thing in the morning. After that, Jade was left alone in her room. It felt odd to not be around anyone. The last time she had truly been alone was immediately following her summoning into the Labyrinth. Those memories rose unbidden from the depths of her mind as she sat on the bed, staring out the window at the empty streets below. Her desperate flight, the brutal conflict, and the shroud of fear. That fear had never gone away. She''d just gotten better at bottling it up.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Jade spent the rest of the night practicing some of Aylin and Serrethis''s meditation techniques, focusing on calming her aura. She combined them with some of the old methods she''d used to combat nerves in her competitions. It helped, at least a little, and she woke the next morning feeling, if not calm, then well enough to project the aura of confidence that she needed. She arrived at L-ReF headquarters just after sunrise and was greeted by an aide who escorted her to a conference room. This wasn''t the same one they''d met with the director in, but a larger, grander space that was more of a ballroom with some scattered tables and chairs. Luis and Naomi were already there, seated at one of the tables and speaking quietly with each other. There were a few other small groups clustered about the room, although Jade didn''t recognize anyone else. Their wayfarer status was immediately apparent, however, both from the glowing sigils on the backs of their hands, and due to the presence of a couple of non-humans in their mix. "What is this?" Jade asked the aide, pausing at the threshold of the room. "We''re facilitating meetings between wayfarers." he explained, noting something on a clipboard. "Part of our effort to pool resources and information. Please, feel free to mingle." Her gaze lingered on the armed guards stationed in the corners of the room. Were they just being cautious? Or had some of their previous guests proved to be rowdy? No doubt part of their purpose was to observe their interactions in case they could glean any useful nuggets of information about the Labyrinth as well. That was fine by Jade. She wasn''t sure she trusted this organization yet, but she was glad that someone was trying to organize a response to this crisis. She''d give them the benefit of the doubt, at least for now. After another moment of hesitation, she moved to join her friends. "Welcome back." Luis said, waving her over and patting the seat beside him. Jade took it, exchanging greetings with her friends. "What a cheerful group they''ve got here." Jade murmured, glancing around the room. Everyone was clustered in small, isolated groups like they were, talking quietly amongst themselves. "It''s high school cliques all over again." Naomi said, crossing her arms. They''d all been messaging each other over the past few days, so Jade knew that Naomi and Luis''s families were safe. Her friends looked refreshed and recharged and were wearing fresh clothes. If nothing else, coming back to Earth had been excellent for restocking their wardrobes. "Everyone''s tense." Jade said. She could taste the mingling apprehension and suspicion in the air. "Maybe we weren''t the only ones to meet some rogue wayfarers in the wilderness." "Well, someone has to start this off." Luis said, getting to his feet. He made his way over to the closest group of people, which was comprised of two men and a woman. "Yo." he raised his hand in greeting. "So, how''d you end up in this mess?" As usual, Luis''s disarming attitude was effective at defusing tension. With his help they circled the room, introducing themselves and making connections. Jade let Luis and Naomi do most of the talking, more interested in listening for any useful information than in making new friends. According to her interface, most of these people were under level ten. However, a few stood out from the rest. "I thought I''d lost my mind when I woke up to find a giant snake slithering towards me." A large, muscular man said. He''d introduced himself as Parker, and he was the only person in the room other than the L-ReF members wearing a military uniform. "And by big, I mean the bastard was twenty feet long." "I found him bashing its head in with a rock." A slender woman said with a snort. "It was an¡­ interesting¡­ first impression." These two, Parker and Ellie, were the most noteworthy to Jade. The man was level 17, the highest she''d seen, and had led his group to the second floor around the same time Jade had gotten there. Unlike the vast majority of people who had suddenly found themselves stranded in the Labyrinth, both of them had previous combat experience. Parker was a US army ranger and Ellie, who was level 14, had worked in law enforcement for over a decade. If we''d gotten to choose our wayfarers like we were supposed to, they''re probably the kind of people who would have been picked. Jade realized. Certainly, neither she nor any of her friends would have been considered. As much as she wished things had worked out differently, though, a part of her couldn''t deny that she was glad she had been granted the power to control her own fate in this mess. Waiting helplessly at home while the world collapsed around her sounded even worse than being the one tasked with fixing it. Another group had not one, but two members who had opted to change their race upon receiving their wayfarer marks. "I was dropped in this mountainy area with lots of sheer cliffs and giant trees." A fellian woman said, her cat-like tail swishing back and forth as she spoke. "I would''ve never made it out without the climbing skills this race gives me." It was the first time Jade had seen a female fellian, and she suspected that anime fans around the world would go crazy upon learning that ''cat-girls'' were a reality. Jade almost felt bad for her, until she remembered that, as a literal succubus, she''d probably have it even worse. At least I can pretend to be human, still. She reminded herself. I got lucky. "Are there any downsides?" Naomi asked curiously. "As far as I can tell? Not really!" The woman, whose name was Lyn, said with a grin. "I''m faster, can see in the dark, and can climb just about anything. It was weird at first, but I''m used to it now. Having a tail is pretty fun!" That must be nice. Her companion, a man named Ian, had chosen the half-elven race. Just like Jade and Lyn, the decision had been for purely practical reasons. Extremely near-sighted and caught without his glasses when the transition had occurred, picking a race with superior vision was an obvious choice. "I''m not sure my change even counts, really." he said sheepishly. "It doesn''t feel different. The spell affinity pairs well with the mage class I picked, though." No one in the room had much information that was new to Jade. Unlike them, few others had found their way to a settlement. Siora, and later Aylin and the inhabitants of Lysara, had imparted a vast wealth of knowledge about the Labyrinth in general, and magic in particular. They weren''t the only ones who had met at least some locals, however, and many of the other Earth wayfarers had heard of the cities of Estelhelm and, on the third floor, Illysport. The latter was something of a target destination for several of the groups, as it was known to be a hub for trade and goods of all kinds. The information confirmed something Jade had already suspected: That the Earth wayfarers had all been dropped in a relatively small region of the Labyrinth, the part that bordered their home. It seemed likely, then, that the Labyrinth cores would be similarly grouped together on their various floors. Tentative plans were already being made for the various frontrunner groups to meet in Illysport with the goal of teaming up to find the first of the magical constructs. L-ReF had made it clear that they wanted the wayfarers to wait for backup before attempting to destroy a core, but Jade was inclined to agree with the others. Waiting would be a mistake. The longer they took to do this, the worse the damage would be. With that in mind, they began to devise some rough plans.
The exciting part came later that day. It was late afternoon, and Jade was feeling drained from hours of forced socialization. She was slowly getting better at blocking out the ambient emotions of crowded environments, but a room filled with newly returned wayfarers was an especially charged environment. To make matters worse, her hunger was starting to stir again. Her rendezvous with Nythis and Travay had more than kept it sated while they trained in Lysara, but now it had been several days since she''d last fed. Every time she felt a strong emotion coming from someone nearby Jade had to resist the urge to stare. There was no shortage of monsters to drain in the Labyrinth, but Earth was another matter. This was a problem she hadn''t anticipated, and solving it was yet another headache she didn''t have time for. If she wanted to stay on Earth for more than a few days at a time, though, she''d have to come up with something. "Welcome to the armory." The quartermaster said, drawing Jade''s attention back to the present. She, Luis, and Naomi were in the basement of L-ReF headquarters. They''d finally completed the stacks of forms that had been issued to them and were now clear to requisition gear from the organization. Jade was a little suspicious about the legality of Naomi working as a defense contractor for a foreign country but, given the crisis, no one seemed to be worrying about details like that. "Here, you''ll find all the equipment we''ve determined might be useful to wayfarers in the Labyrinth. Survival gear, communications equipment, a variety of weapons-" The officer gestured around to the fully stocked shelves filling the warehouse-sized room. "Is there anything you''re looking for?" "Radios." Jade said immediately. Thanks to Naomi''s spellbook they now had access to simple messaging magic, but its range was very limited. Access to communication technology was something they''d been sorely missing. The magical weapons they''d acquired in the Labyrinth were superior to anything they could find on Earth, at least for the close quarters conflicts they usually found themselves in, but there were plenty of other useful gadgets to add to their equipment pool. They were just wrapping up when Jade found a crate in the back of the room covered in red warning labels. "What''s in there?" she asked, bending over to read the text. "Ah, that''s been a popular pick." The quartermaster said, lifting the lid of the box to reveal stacks of small grey bricks wrapped in a tape-like material. "We have a supply of plastic explosives we''re authorized to distribute, although you''ll have to complete a training course before we can release any." Jade was hardly listening. Her face had broken out into a wide grin. "Now we''re talking." "Oh no." Naomi was shaking her head. "You''ve got that crazy look in your eyes again, Jade." "How much can you carry?" the officer asked. "The better question is: How many crates do you have?" Jade asked, reaching for her dimensional pouch. This, she could work with. Chapter 86 "You wanted to see me, miss Callian?" "Yes, director." Jade said, shifting uncomfortably in front of Irene''s desk. "But please, just call me Jade." The two of them were alone in the director''s office. As usual there was nowhere to sit in the cluttered room, so Jade was standing in one of the only open spaces she could find. It was in an awkward place, forcing her to lean around a large computer monitor if she wanted to be seen. The hour was late, the window behind the desk darkened by night. Jade and her companions were set to journey back into the Labyrinth the following morning, so this was her last chance to speak with any L-ReF officials for a while. "What can I do for you?" Director Holston asked, her fingers clicking in a steady rhythm against her keyboard. "First¡­" Jade pulled two small, plastic cards out of a pocket. She carefully stepped over a pile of documents and laid them on the desk. "We found a couple of people right after this started. I''d almost forgotten, with everything that''s happened since, but they had IDs on them." Irene paused, glancing down at the cards. They were covered in Chinese characters and bore the portraits of a young man and woman. "Monsters got to them, before we found them." Jade explained, remembering the spider-filled forest near Juniper''s grove. "Can you get these to their families?" There was nothing she could have done to help those people, they had probably been dead before they''d even reached the quadrant. But the IDs were a grim reminder of how easy it would be to join them. How many wayfarers have already died? Jade wondered, staring at the woman''s smiling picture. How many more will, before this is over? As far as she''d heard, fewer than a thousand wayfarers had returned since the permanent doors had opened to Earth. Supposedly, there were several times that many scattered around the Labyrinth. Whatever they were doing, Jade hoped they were getting stronger. They''d need to. "I''ll see to it." The older woman said, scooping the cards into a folder and scrawling a note on it. "Thank you. With everything else going on here, it can be easy to forget the sacrifices people like you are making in the other world. I''m sure their families will appreciate the closure." Jade felt her lips tighten into a line. Sacrifices? That implied they''d volunteered for this. Those two certainly hadn''t. They''d probably been attacked by monsters before they even realized what was happening to them. That wasn''t a sacrifice, that was a slaughter. She held her tongue, though, despite her instinct to lash out. Jade was getting better at recognizing the belligerent influence her demonic nature had on her emotions, and refused to let them control her. "There''s something else." She said, finally getting to the real reason she''d requested this meeting. Jade glanced back at the door, making sure it was shut. "What is it?" Irene must have picked up on the shift in her mood because she finally paused her work, turning her full attention on Jade. "You need to be careful." Jade said. She''d carefully rehearsed this exchange several times over the past couple of days, deciding what she should reveal, and what was best kept to herself. "When we were in the Labyrinth, on the second floor, we encountered a type of creature called a demon." "A demon?" Irene raised a skeptical eyebrow. Then she shrugged, gesturing for Jade to continue. "You know what, never mind. Go on." Jade briefly related her encounter with the succubus Malice in Lysara. None of them had spoken about it since returning to Earth, they''d glossed over that part of their adventures during the initial debriefing at Jade''s request. She''d wanted time to consider how much she wanted to share about her own nature before broaching the topic. Now that they were about to leave, though, she had to say something. She left out a few details, like Malice''s interest in Jade''s own demonic nature. Instead, she framed the demon''s objectives as being exclusively about the knowledge she could extract from her wayfarer mark. The demon had wanted location data on the Labyrinth Cores for Earth. Jade had no idea what they could do with that knowledge, but she had a strong feeling that it wouldn''t be to the benefit of her home. There was also the matter of Malice''s comment about demons already sent to Earth, which was even more ominous.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. "I don''t know what they want, director, but if this ''Malice'' is anything to go by, it won''t be anything good." Jade finished, crossing her arms. "My team and I have kept this to ourselves so far. We weren''t sure what to do with this information. I''m hoping you can make better use of it." "Wonderful." Irene sighed, holding her head in her hands and slumping forward to rest her elbows against the desk. "Just what we needed. Infiltrators from another world." "Sorry." Jade said with a grimace. "Not the news you were looking for." "No, thank you. We''re lucky to know about this at all, it seems." The director straightened in her chair, regaining her composure. "Your team displayed good instincts by not sharing this with anyone else. Continue to keep it to yourselves for now. I''ll do some covert investigation here while you''re gone. If you can, try and find out anything you can about these ''demons'' while you''re in the Labyrinth." "I intend to." Jade said, balling her hands into fists. "Malice caught me by surprise. Next time, I''ll be ready for her tricks." "Be careful." Irene cautioned. "Your team is one of our best assets, Jade. Don''t take any unnecessary risks." Jade nodded curtly, although she was rolling her eyes internally. Unnecessary risks? No one on Earth understood how the Labyrinth really worked. Risks were exactly what it rewarded. The entire system seemed specifically designed to reward reckless behavior. The more outrageous your accomplishments, the more power it showered you with. "I''ll do my best." She said, choosing to be diplomatic. "But be careful, these creatures can disguise themselves well." Jade hesitated, and then decided that it was better to show Irene the truth behind her words. She concentrated, shifting her appearance. Her hair melted from blonde to black, skin darkening several shades, and she grew a few inches taller. After a few moments, Jade stood before her looking like an entirely different person. She held up her hands to forestall comments from the shocked director, speaking first. "My class is ''Shadow Witch''. It focuses on powers that misdirect enemies and came with a shapeshifting ability that seems similar to what some of these demons can do." The lie preserved the secret of her race while still showing the full scope of the threat. Fortunately, no one had seen her transform on the battlefield the other day. Jade knew it was only a matter of time before she''d be revealed, too many people in the Labyrinth knew her real nature for it to stay hidden forever, but she''d rather delay that particular discussion. "This ''magic'' thing is taking a lot of time to adjust to." Irene said, looking Jade up and down. "Welcome to the club." Jade shifted back to her ''normal'' human appearance with a thought. She spent a little more time explaining the powers of persuasion that some demons held, and how Malice''s charm magic had felt to Jade. Unfortunately, she had little to offer in way of advice on how to identify or resist such effects. That was something she intended to look into. Perhaps L-ReF could acquire some items that enhanced mental defenses or equip themselves with similar magic. That was something they''d have to work out for themselves. "I think that''s everything, director." Jade finally finished. "Oh? That''s all?" Irene smiled wryly. "No other bombshells to drop on me before you leave?" "It wouldn''t be fair to keep all the adventures to myself, director." Jade replied, the corner of her lip pulling up in a smirk. "¡­Next time, please feel free to do so." she sighed, leaning back in her chair. Then, she gave Jade a tight smile. "Good luck out there."
There was neither the time nor resources for Jade, Luis, or Naomi to return home to see their families once more before departing, so they had to make do with phone calls. The majority of civilian transportation infrastructure, including air travel, were rapidly being requisitioned by the government to ensure personnel and supplies could be routed where they were needed. Global mass migration was causing more of a strain on the economy and critical supplies than the Labyrinth itself. Despite her brother''s urging, Jade didn''t so much as send her mother a text. That was a can of worms that she couldn''t bring herself to open, not when she needed to be in top form. Reconnecting with the family she cared about was emotional enough as it was, and she couldn''t afford further distractions. "They grew up so fast!" Luis was saying as they strode towards the shimmering portal. The street around it had been cleared of dinosaur corpses, although blood stains and rubble were still present in copious amounts. Jade wondered what had been done with the remains, she hadn''t seen anyone carting them off. "Little Ellie was so mature, helping take care of mi abuela while I was gone." "Grew up?" Jade blinked, giving Luis the side eye. "We were gone for six weeks, not six months. Aren''t your sisters teenagers? They can''t have changed that much." A pair of soldiers opened the newly constructed security gate, rolling it aside to provide access to the glimmering portal. It flickered, crackling with blue energy. According to L-ReF scouts, this one led to a highland valley region and wasn''t far from a node. "They really stepped up to help the family." Luis grinned. "Even volunteered to share rooms to help house a family of refugees. I''m proud of them." "I''m glad they''re taking this well." Jade said, pausing in front of the portal. "Ready?" "Ready." Naomi nodded, tightening the strap of her guitar. They were back in their enchanted armor, although Jade was still wearing the old version that provided some protection against the winter chill. "Let''s get back to our friends and get on our way." Luis said, giving her a thumbs up. "First Lysara, then Estelhelm." Jade agreed. "After that, we can set our sights on the third floor." Where the real fight begins. When last they¡¯d entered the Labyrinth, they had each done so alone. This time, when they traversed the rift between worlds, they did so together. Chapter 87 Jade dismissed the notice, taking in her surroundings. As promised, the portal had deposited them in a lush valley filled with bushes, tall grass, and scattered trees. A bright sun hung overhead, bathing the land in pleasant warmth. Before she could do more than ascertain that there were no immediate threats nearby, another message popped up. "Hey! I levelled." Naomi said, perking up. "Me too." Jade said. "Guess that dinosaur fight paid off." Naomi, as it turned out, had levelled up twice, bringing her to level 14. She had also gained the same title Jade possessed, ''Limit Breaker'', awarded for casting spells that had been boosted two full ranks above their baseline. That granted her a coveted upgrade point along with the four stat points and additional class feature the levels provided. Luis, like Jade, levelled up once, bringing him to 14 as well. This left all of them with some choices to make as they started hiking towards the closest node, following the directions included in maps L-ReF had made of the local area. With some trepidation, Jade pulled up the window containing her new feature options. What ridiculous powers will the system try and force on me this time? Jade ignored the Voice of the Labyrinth''s color commentary and skimmed over the old options she''d skipped over in the past, which were mostly ''climax'' related powers that she had no intention of picking. A new one was available to choose from now, as was typical of her racial options. This was the first one that read like it might be legitimately useful, although the other was intriguing as well. Using this power will not change the nature or strength of the charm effect. Jade was immediately enamored by the ability. The short duration of her charm spells was one of their major downsides. A dramatic increase to that value would open up new options on how to use those capabilities, both in and out of a battle. That wasn''t the only important part, though. It wasn''t explicitly written in the ability text, but Jade had an innate sense that altering the bond she held with a charmed creature in this manner would allow her to recast her charm spells without ending the previous effects. That would truly be a game changer. Or it would be, so long as the hit to her maximum mana wasn''t too severe. Without choosing the option she had no way to know how much of her magic would be required to maintain the effect on a creature of similar power level to herself. Those were the types of beings her charm powers were most useful on, after all, as she encountered them regularly and her magic could reliably take hold on them. Jade thought it over while she read through the second option. Jade was so distracted by the absurdity of the ability that she nearly walked into a tree. Naomi pulled her aside just in time, scolding her. "Hey, watch where you''re going." "Sorry." Jade muttered, flushing a little. "Thanks." "Everything okay?" Naomi asked, looking at her curiously. "I think the Labyrinth is screwing with me." Naomi appeared confused for a moment, and then understanding dawned on her face.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Sixteen is a racial feature level." she said, hiding her smirk with a hand. "Right." Blessedly, she didn''t inquire further. Jade resumed following Luis up the hill, embarassed, returning her attention to her interface. It really did feel like the Labyrinth was messing with her, continually improving the offerings of its more ridiculous abilities until she was forced to take one of them. If the 15% stat boost compounded with the increase her demon form provided, which Jade sensed that it did, then it would be a potent increase indeed. Especially considering that the effect would grow more pronounced as she grew in strength. The ability had major shortcomings, however. That the stat boosts decayed so quickly made it less desirable. Also, setting aside the embarassing nature of the power, it shared the flaw the other ''climax'' powers did: Namely, it was just too impractical to make effective use of. What was she supposed to do? Back away every time they ran across a monster to find a private place and take care of business? Ridiculous. Jade thought, covering her face with her hands. The enhancement to her charm powers was the obvious choice. She''d just have to hope that the mana cost was manageable. Jade glanced over the abilities one more time. If the stat boost''s duration were something like twelve hours, it might''ve been worth it. As it was, her decision wasn''t difficult. She confirmed her pick, selecting ''Enduring Temptation''. If the orgasm powers keep getting better at this rate, I might have to pick one eventually¡­ Jade thought with a mental groan. Naomi teased her enough as it was. She didn''t need more ammunition. "Get anything good?" Luis asked, reaching down to help Jade up a steep embankment. "I just picked up a new tank talent. It was an easy choice." "Maybe." Jade said, grabbing his hand and pulling herself up to join him. They''d finally reached the top of the hill, revealing a sprawling landscape of lush highlands surrounding them on all sides. Something glinted in the distance, reflecting the sun''s light. The node was right where they''d been told to expect it. "I''ll have to test it first. Hey, Naomi?" "Yeah?" "Ready for another round of charm resistance training? I have something I need to try." "It''s not anything weird, is it?" she asked suspiciously. "Not that you know of." Now it was Jade''s turn to hide a grin. Naomi gave her a flat look. "No." Jade relented. "But it could be a big help to us."
A short time later Jade, Luis and Naomi entered the outskirts of Lysara, approaching the town from the top of the ridge the forest village was built along. The vantage afforded them a beautiful view of the treetop homes, all linked together by sculpted walkways of vines and branches. The seamless manner in which the wood elves integrated their homes into nature stood out all the more after visiting Earth, and Jade found herself wishing that her people had taken better care of their own natural world. Luis led the way into town while Jade reflected on the results of her experimentation. Naomi''s training was starting to bear fruit. Even in her succubus form, it had taken Jade two tries to get her ''Allure'' spell to take hold on her. Once it had, she had been pleased to discover that her new ability only consumed about 35% of her maximum mana pool when used on a level 14 wayfarer. That was less than she''d feared, but more than she''d hoped for. Jade didn''t know if that would hold true for monsters of a similar level, but it was a promising start. The prospect of being able to charm multiple enemy combatants at once opened new tactical options in battle, and they were already discussing how to best implement her new capability. With Luis picking up a tank-related talent and Naomi learning a debuff-removing spell, their team was stronger than ever. Especially now that Fenrin would be joining them for the foreseeable future. They found Siora and Fenrin in the elf''s alchemy shop in the upper levels of the village. Siora''s shop was a cozy, one room affair that was surprisingly spacious considering it was grown into the side of a tree dozens of yards above the ground. "You could be charging more for these recovery potions." Fenrin was saying as they entered the dimly lit store. The half-elf was pointing at an array of crimson vials lining one of the many shelves. "Wyrmvine is a rare ingredient." "I know." Siora shrugged. "But I can''t bring myself to charge sick people more than I absolutely need to. It just¡­ doesn''t feel right." "You''re too good for the world of commerce." Fenrin gave her a wry smile. Then, catching sight of their arrival, he turned to greet them. "You made it back! That didn''t take too long." "We didn''t run into much trouble." Luis said, clapping him on the shoulder. "For once." Jade muttered. "Not much trouble?" Naomi gave them a skeptical look. "We fought a herd of dinosaurs in downtown Washington!" Jade and Luis exchanged a glance. "Yeah, but we actually had help." She pointed out. "That was an improvement." "Is your world okay?" Siora asked, stepping out from behind the counter to join them. Jade could feel the genuine concern behind the elf''s words. "What did you find?" The three of them brought their new friends up to speed on the situation on Earth, taking turns relating their experiences. It didn''t take long to catch them up. "Overall, it''s not great." Jade finished with a shrug. "But it could be worse. All we can do is keep going, reach the third floor, and get started." "Still interested in joining us?" Luis asked. "I am." Fenrin nodded. "As long as that''s okay." "We could definitely use your help." Naomi said gratefully. "But be warned, trouble follows this one like a magnet." She nodded to Jade. "Hey." Jade protested. "I don''t cause problems. I solve them." "Uh-huh." "It''s alright." Fenrin smiled. "I have my own reasons to get to the higher floors." Jade recalled the story Fenrin had told her about his father, who had gone missing on a merchant expedition to the fourth floor. Their journey would take them there, once they were done with the third-floor cores. "If you''re still going to Estelhelm, I''d like to come along too." Siora piped up. "I still need to get my node access back. There are some supplies in the city I can''t get anywhere else." "That''s the plan." Jade nodded. "When will you be ready to leave? And where''s Aylin?" "We''ve been ready for a couple of days." Fenrin said, patting the back he carried slung over one shoulder. "Aylin''s down at the stronghold. She said something about putting a seal around that divine artifact to make it safe for transport." "She''s been spending almost all her time there." Siora added. "It must be pretty important." "Well, let''s find out if she''s done." Jade said, nodding at her friends. Before they left, she took one last look around Siora''s store. The elf specialized in healing and cleansing potions, and Jade had experienced the quality of her work firsthand. But nothing here was powerful enough to cure a disease as complicated as the one her brother battled. Even magic, it turned out, was not all powerful. "I did some research while you were gone." Siora said softly, pausing by the door as the others filed out. "I know what ingredients to look for, now." "Will you be able to find them?" Jade asked, swallowing around the newly formed lump in her throat. "If not in Estelhelm, then in Illysport." she nodded. "They may¡­ be expensive, though. I don''t know." "Thanks, Siora." Jade squeezed her arm gratefully. "I appreciate it." One way or another, I''ll find something for you. Jade thought, following the others outside. Hang on, Alan. Their break was over. Now, it was time for the next step of their Labyrinth journey. In Estelhelm Jade had a possibly friendly demon to meet, ingredients to find, and a decidedly unfriendly demon to investigate. With any luck, they''d find other Earth wayfarers to coordinate with, and maybe even a new party member to round out their number. Once that was done, the real work would begin. Unfortunately, Jade had forgotten one simple thing. In the Labyrinth, nothing was ever that easy. Chapter 88 Second Floor - Estelhelm "It would be in your best interests to reconsider. I promise, you will not find a more talented mage of my level within three zones of here!" Tara''lynn Clan Kasta stood with her hands planted on the surface of the table, leaning towards her audience. The three wayfarers she was speaking to, a tan fellian woman and two human men, exchanged looks. "None of us doubt your ability, miss." One of the men said, raising a placating hand. "But Tek''Kalla don''t have the best reputation in these parts." "A Tek''Kalla raiding party just attacked a village near Illysport." The woman piped up, crossing her arms. "I heard about it this morning." "Tek''Kalla raiders are part of the Drakken Conclave." Tara said for what must have been the hundredth time since she''d arrived in town. "I''m of clan Kasta, a member of the Elorinth Conclave. We war with the Drakken even more than your people do, and do not condone their actions." "Maybe, maybe not." The third man shrugged. "Look, you seem like a nice enough girl-" "I am in my twentieth cycle." Tara snapped, rapidly losing what little patience she had left. "I''m level fifteen, and I already possess two C-rank offensive spells! I''m not a ''girl''." "What Darrath is trying to say." The first man cut in smoothly, making a calming motion. "Is that you aren''t the best fit for our team. We already have a mage." he nodded to the side where an elven woman was sitting a short distance away. The black-haired elf was slumped over, passed out on the table, surrounded by empty mugs. Tara raised a skeptical eyebrow. "She''s getting there¡­" The fellian woman said. "Fine. Your loss." The Tek''Kalla huffed, straightening up. She brushed a strand of white hair from her face and stalked out of the tavern, emerging onto the cobblestone street. Rain fell in sheets upon the city of Estelhelm, carrying with it an unpleasant chill. Tara grumbled, contemplating heading back into the bar, but she was already half-way across the street and soaked to the bone. She was too proud to slink back inside, especially after all three groups of wayfarers there had just rejected her. Maybe I should have listened to Elyth. Tara thought, searching for an alcove or overhang and weaving a minor heating enchantment into her armor. I had no idea the lowlanders hated us this much¡­ It was all the Drakken Conclave''s fault. They were little better than bandits, always sending teams down to pillage and steal whatever they could. Cowards. They were a disgrace to the Tek''Kalla, preying on the lower-level zones of the Labyrinth and never risking themselves against foes who could truly threaten them. It went against the ethos of their entire people. Tara angrily kicked at a loose stone, sending it bouncing into a shadowed alley. It was heavier than it looked, the action sending a sharp pain shooting through her big toe. She swore under her breath, lifting it off the ground and awkwardly hopping to lean against the wall. Huddling against the corner of the alleyway, she was finally able to escape the worst of the downpour. Tara shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. Even in her academy training expeditions, she''d never felt so alone. There had always been teammates to watch her back, a sense of camaraderie that persisted even through her insistence on using traditional magic over magitech weapons. Tara had thought she''d known the cold embrace of isolation, but now she realized that had been nothing but the melodramatic complaints of an angsty teen. Here, two entire floors away from the city-ship she called home, she truly was alone. I should go back¡­ Tara bowed her head, hands clenching into fists as she contemplated, for the first time, giving up. She was right. She knew she was right. The decision to cast aside the wonders of the arcane to embrace the rigidity of magical technology was as foolish as it was shortsighted. All she wanted was to prove that traditional spellcraft still held value. No one would even give her a chance. Lightning flashed high in the sky, arcing between roiling clouds. Something deeper in the alley glinted in the bright flash, catching Tara''s eye. Curious, she focused her attention on the area. Darkness returned, shrouding the depths of the alley in gloom, but she could sense a glimmer of magic from the area. It was faint, whatever it was, but the form wasn''t one she recognized. Intrigued, Tara shuffled deeper into the alley, hugging the wall to stay out of the rain. Just enough light filtered past her from the street to illuminate her path. She stepped over a large puddle, catching sight of a small brown bag lying tipped over in pool of water. Motes of amethyst dust spilled from the open mouth of the pouch, which was no larger than her palm. They drifted in the water, sparking with tiny bursts of magical energy. The sight was enough to make it click for Tara, she was well studied on the many forms of magical effusion. This was a pouch of ''dimension effusion'', one of the rarest forms of the magical material. The Tek''Kalla furrowed her brow, glancing around in concern. Even a small pouch of the substance was worth a fortune. So, what was it doing lying discarded in a storm swept alleyway? Should she tell someone? Snag a sample for herself? She expanded her senses, searching for any signs of nearby creatures. The instant she did, Tara detected two small auras approaching rapidly from the other end of the alley. She ducked back behind a nearby crate, instinctively retracting her aura to diminish her presence. "Ya dropped one, Zra!" A raspy voice hissed from the shadows. It came from above and was accompanied by the sound of flapping wings. The noise was barely audible over the pounding rain, which Tara suddenly found herself grateful for. "I didn''t drop nothin''!" Another voice, equally raspy but somewhat higher in pitch. "It came through the portal that way!" "Tell that to Malice. Now we have to explain why half of this one is missing." "Here, take some from the others and pour it in. If we spread it out, no one will be able to tell." Silence for a few moments, followed by a rustling of cloth. "Not here, idiot! The rain is ruining it! Do it at the safehouse, or are you trying to blow our cover?"If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The other creature grumbled a reply that Tara couldn''t make out, and then the sounds of flapping wings began receding into the distance. She risked a glance around the corner of her hiding place, catching sight of two small, winged creatures hauling away the pouch. They were humanoid, less than two feet tall, and covered in leathery skin. She focused on one, syncing the Labyrinth''s data to a display strapped to the inside of her wrist. Ducking back behind her cover, she skimmed the digital display integrated to her left bracer. Tara keyed the magitech display, saving a snapshot of the data to a storage crystal embedded in the device. Demons?! Here, in the city? How had they gotten inside? She''d had to submit to a magical inspection before being allowed entry into Estelhelm. There was no way the city guard would allow demons to wander the city. And where had they gotten the dimension effusion? Something strange was going on. Tara hesitated, unsure what to do. The imp auras were almost at the limit of her senses, moving away at a steady rate. Should she tell someone? Who would listen to a Tek''Kalla? No, better to do some poking around herself. If she could find something concrete, then she could bring that information to the authorities. Maybe then she''d finally get some respect. Drawing her wand, Tara wove an enchantment around herself. She didn''t know any true illusion spells, but one of her offensive spells was primarily based on light. A quick and dirty modification to the weave was all it took to shroud her in invisibility. Try doing that with your fancy pulsecasters. Tara thought smugly, slipping deeper into the alley in pursuit of the retreating demons. Finally, a chance to show off her talents.
Second Floor - Subterranean Depths Zone, Volcanic Cavern Quadrant The large, undulating body of the lava slug reared as Jade''s dagger sunk into the glowing weak spot on its back. The patch of dark skin looked identical to every other part of the strange creature, but she''d learned to trust her ''Vital Strike'' talent''s assessments. Phantom blinked back to her hand in a puff of mist and she spun away, leaping clear of the falling monster. It collapsed like a falling tree, slamming into the ground with a wet squelch. That was the last of them. Jade wiped her blade clean against a patch of moss, then slid it into her sheath. She looted the creature, dumping the coins and effusion into her pouch, and then rejoined her companions in the center of the path. Their journey from Lysara to Estelhelm was taking them through an underground region of the Labyrinth. The current quadrant took the form of a network of large caverns that were filled with abyssal pits, waterfalls of lava, and a veritable forest of tree-sized mushrooms. Fenrin and Aylin had both come through this quadrant before and assured them the area was safer than it looked, but Jade wasn''t so sure. "At least they aren''t made of lava." Luis said, looting another one of the large black slugs. "No, they only spit it. That''s so much better." Naomi said, casting a healing spell on herself. Her armor bore several recent burn marks, although none of the hits had been serious. "At least your armor covers your body." Jade said, sighing as she regarded her own outfit. She was back in the new, minimalist gear she''d acquired in Lysara. Her ''Seducer''s Mantle'' ability was highly effective with this little coverage to impede its effect, but Jade was still working on getting over the mental block of taking hits to her bare skin, no matter how magically fortified it was. She was interrupted by the ping of a notification. A box popped up in her vision. Jade quickly skimmed it, then grinned. "What is it?" Fenrin asked, shouldering his bow. "Completed another quest?" "Better." Jade grinned. "Talent rank up." Jade wasted no time pulling up the updated version. Jade grunted in satisfaction. That was a solid upgrade. A shorter cooldown, a bleed effect, and a movement speed penalty weren''t flashy effects, but they were welcome improvements. Being able to tag multiple enemies with her ability at once would be especially helpful now that she had a reliable ranged attack, as well. "We should get to the city in another day or so." Aylin said, returning her wand to its holster. The divine shard hung from her other hip, the splinter of jagged crystal emanating a dark aura. The mage had assured them the sealing runes she''d conjured around it would prevent any ill-effects from the potent source of death essence, but Jade was keeping her distance anyway. "Are you sure we can''t put that in a dimensional pouch?" Jade asked, eyeing the shard warily. The way it warped light around it was a little creepy. "I don''t want to risk it." Aylin shook her head. "Any interaction with dimensional forces could damage this relic, it was on the verge of breaking down when we found it in the stronghold." No node travel and no storage magic, then. Well, Jade would just have to assume Aylin knew what she was talking about. "Ready to keep going?" Luis asked, looking around. "Wait, where''s Siora?" "I''m here!" The elf''s voice came from behind the stalk of one of the giant mushrooms. She had a vial in one hand and appeared to be collecting fluid from the fungus. "Siora, that looks disgusting." Jade said, striding over and inspecting the goopy substance. "Oh, it is." She agreed cheerfully, popping a cork in the vial and stowing it in her pack. She stood up, following Jade back to the group. "But Titangill goo is a potent fertility enhancer!" "You''re kidding. Please tell me you don''t have to drink it." "Oh no. It''s usually applied directly in the-" "Okay! That''s enough." Jade raised her hands. "I''m sorry I asked."
The group was back on the road a short time later. There was a road through this quadrant, a worn-down path of smooth stone surrounded by the rougher, more jagged environment of the cavern. Jade assumed the trail was an artifact of the Labyrinth rather than something anyone had taken the time to build, but she was grateful for it nonetheless. She was about to ask Aylin what exactly she was hoping the Mystic Order could discover from the strange relic when the mage abruptly came to a stop. Jade felt it too, a subtle flicker of magic in the gloom. The only illumination in the immediate area came from clusters of glowing amber crystals, which did little to banish the darkness of the cavern. Jade''s demon eyes couldn''t pierce the shadows, but those weren''t her only senses. She pulsed her aura, letting it wash over the area. There! Two people were hidden in the darkness nearby, observing them. Their auras had been retracted, their presence concealed by enchantments. Not well enough. "Oh dear, it looks like they found us, Richter." A feminine voice emerged from the shadows. It had a playful, lilting quality to it. Jade tensed, her hands finding the hilts of her weapons. Her companions followed suit, looking around warily. "Quiet." Hissed a deeper, powerful voice. "Oh hush. They already know we''re here. Come on, let''s not be rude." A figure emerged from the darkness, lithe and beautiful. Jade initially took her for human, but even without the Voice of the Labyrinth''s guidance that assumption only lasted a moment. The blonde woman''s skin was too pale, her nails too claw-like. Most telling were the eyes, glowing crimson orbs that locked onto Aylin. "Now, mage." She said cheerfully, a man joining her side. He was tall, with a powerful build and the same, ominous red eyes. "Hand over the relic. I''d hate to have to hurt you." Jade skimmed the system box, inhaling sharply through her teeth. Her eyes snapped back to the pair of newcomers, examining them with increased wariness. The vampire smiled, sharp fangs glinting in the soft, amber light, and extended her clawed hand towards them. Chapter 89 The level 22 vampire beckoned at Aylin insistently, curling her claws. "Come now, mage." she insisted, as the half-elf readied her wand. Aylin''s free hand dropped to her waist, cupping the divine relic protectively. "Convincing Richter here to try the diplomatic approach wasn''t easy. Don''t let all that work go to waste." "You have something that Queen Solenix desires." The large man growled in a deep, menacing voice. He clutched a double-bladed battle-axe in a two handed grip, its dark surface glimmering in the amber glow of the cavern. "Hand it over." "This relic is newly born." Aylin said cautiously, not taking her eyes off the pair. "How did the blood witch find it?" "You really think she would miss such a powerful source of death essence?" the female vampire, who the system labelled as ''Clara'', laughed. "I thought Mystic Order mages were smart, Richter." "If they were smart, she would have already handed it over." Richter levelled a cool glare at them. "We won''t ask again. Aylin hadn''t shared much about the relic, only that its power could be gravely misused in the wrong hands. She''d mentioned this ''blood witch'' before, calling her a powerful necromancer and practitioner of dark magic. Jade suspected that she was high on the list of people who shouldn''t possess such an artifact. She stepped forward, matching glares with the taller vampire. "I''ve got a counterproposal for you." she said, flaring her wings and drawing a pair of daggers. Phantom shimmered in her hand, looking almost ethereal in the gloom. "Fuck off." Clara''s eyes snapped to Jade. She expected her to sneer in derision, or possibly even back down at the challenge. Instead, bizarrely, the vampire appeared confused. "Wait¡­ What?" she said, looking at Jade for the first time. She glanced uncertainly at Richter, who was also hesitating. "Why are you here?" "What?" Jade asked, equally confused. She caught Aylin''s eye, and the mage gave a slight shrug. "Zertrolk didn''t say anything about¡­ Oh!" Clara''s eyes narrowed, focusing on Jade''s wayfarer mark. She slapped herself on the forehead. "You''re from that new world¡­ Chose a demon race, did you? How daring." "Who is Zertrolk?" Jade asked. Was that another demon? "We''re not here to answer questions, filth." Richter sneered. He took a menacing step forward. "We gave them their chance. Now, we do it my way." "Fine." Clara rolled her eyes. She flexed her fingers, extending her wicked claws further. She gave them an apologetic smile. "Sorry for what comes next. I tried." Around her, Jade''s companions readied their weapons. The two groups stared each other down for several long moments, sizing each other up. The system tagged Richter as being one level higher than his companion. They''d be tough opponents, but there were only two of them. Jade''s group numbered six. Unless vampires were especially strong for their level, they should have the advantage, unless¡­ Jade expanded her senses, sweeping the area once more. Were there others lying in wait while these two distracted them? She focused, searching- She was too late. Movement caught the corner of Jade''s eye. She spun just in time to see a figure form in the shadows behind them, lunging for Aylin. "Luis!" It all happened in an instant. A flash of red hair, the rustle of dark cloth, and the ''clink'' of steel on steel. The newcomer slashed the sealed crystaline relic free from the harness holding it to Aylin''s belt, deftly catching it in her hand. She pivoted, slashing her blade across the mage''s back just as she was starting to turn- Only to have her strike be intercepted by an expanding bubble shield as Luis cast his spell. The impact sent Aylin stumbling one way and the thief the other. Jade was already moving, running towards the unknown assailant. The dark-clad woman was off-balance. One hand clutched the relic to her chest, the dark crystal still shielded by Aylin''s binding enchantment. Her other arm was flung wide for balance, with a wicked dagger held in her clawed hand. Jade saw the opening and seized it, blinking forward with ''Mirage Step'' and emerging right in front of the thief. She thrust with Phantom, going straight for the kill. SCHING The crimson-haired woman moved with supernatural speed, twisting around Jade''s strike and parrying with expert skill. Jade struck again with her offhand, scoring a hit against her side. It didn''t draw blood, instead absorbed by wards imbued into her dark robes. And then she was past her, dashing into the darkness like a bolt of shadow. "Don''t let her get away!" Aylin cried, regaining her balance just as the other two vampires struck. The man surged forward, charging to meet Luis blade to blade. Clara stayed in the rear, raising her hands and chanting. She dodged spells from Naomi and Siora as umbral energy swirled around her outstretched arms, dispersing in a shockwave that sank into the ground around her feet. Clawed hands burst from the earth a moment later, spectral corpses heaving themselves to their feet and shambling towards them. Jade and Fenrin were already chasing the thief. She was fast enough to keep up, but he wasn''t. Instead, the half-elf was loosing arrow after arrow at the retreating vampire, forcing her to duck and weave between crystal outcroppings and giant fungi. Most missed, but one electrically charged shot found its mark. The arrow buried itself in the small of her back, lightning crackling across her body and causing her to stumble. "I''ll get her!" Jade shouted, glancing back at the melee between the rest of their party and the undead. "Help them!" The specters didn''t look strong. They were just a distraction to help their accomplice escape with the relic. Jade wasn''t falling for it, but she also didn''t want to leave her friends with too little support. "We''ll take care of them." Fenrin said, skidding to a stop and turning his bow on Clara. The blonde vampire was giggling, watching the battle unfold with a delighted expression. He whistled, and a multicolored streak of feathers burst from the darkness, talons poised to strike as he readied an arrow. "Be careful!" Trusting her friends to take care of themselves, Jade tore off in pursuit of the escaping thief.
The thief moved like a shadow, flitting through the dark cavern with uncanny speed. Jade only caught glimpses of her through the encroaching gloom, broken only by the scattered glowing geodes that emerged from the rocky ground in clusters. The terrain was rougher off the road, forcing them to navigate uneven ground and treacherous drops in near total darkness. The only advantage Jade had was Fenrin''s arrow, which still sparked with crackling lightning. It burst to life every few seconds, illuminating her target and slowing her down. During one of these flashes, Jade was finally able to pull up her status page. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The level difference was concerning, but Jade didn''t necessarily have to defeat her. She just had to swipe the relic back, or at least find out where she was going. She activated ''Vital Sight'', overlaying her foe with the highlighted weak points her newly enhanced talent provided. Then, mid-sprint, she hurled Phantom with all the deadly precision her weeks of training had pounded into her. The blade split as it spun through the air, manifesting a pair of duplicates as Jade channeled the essence of another talent through the strike. They bracketed Ves, one of them slicing into her shoulder as she dodged to the side. "I was hoping someone would come after me." The vampire called over her shoulder, dancing through a collection of stalagmites that rose from the ground like a field of spears. She had a disconcerting voice. Sweet, but with a underlying hunger. "I was disappointed that I didn''t get to kill the mage. A demon will be a nice consolation prize." "You''re welcome to try." Jade shot back, putting on a burst of speed. Phantom blinked back to her hand after each throw. Most missed their mark, but some of the attacks sliced across the vampire''s back and shoulders, leaving lines of blood. "You chose the wrong group to mess with." She didn''t imbue any enchantment into her words. Not yet. The vampire was too far away. One thing Jade had learned from her experience with Malice was how much of a power boost charm spells got from eye contact. The closer, the better. "What group?" Ves laughed, changing course. An expanse of darkness covered the land in front of her, deeper than in the rest of the cavern. "I don''t see anyone with you." It was a chasm. An enormous rift in the land that stretched into the distance. Jade could make it out better as she drew near, hot on her heels. Large pillars of stone rose from the shadowy depths in a jagged line, forming a perilous bridge across the yawning abyss. Ves reached the edge and leaped, her form shifting into a bolt of shadow that skipped across the darkness like a stone across a pond. She reformed three pillars deep on the path, stopping and turning to look back at Jade. Moss grew across the large platforms, emanating an eerie green glow and providing just enough illumination for Jade to see her knowing smirk. She''s got something up her sleeve. Jade leaped the gap between the edge of the chasm and the first pillar, landing lightly. She threw Phantom in mid-air, flinging it towards Ves before her feet even hit the ground. The instant her boots brushed stone she blinked forward, phasing between the first and second pillars in a heartbeat. Ves leaned to the side, casually avoiding the thrown blade as it whipped past her. With one hand she still held the sealed relic. Ves raised the other, snapping her clawed fingers. BOOM Runes flashed, and a violent explosion of shadowy energy ripped across the first two pillars, cracking them down the middle. Pieces fell away into the dark abyss, smashing their way down into whatever lay in its depths. But Jade wasn''t there. The succubus lunged for Ves from behind, Phantom back in her hand. The blade was still flickering with dimensional energy, having transported her to it the instant it pierced the mound of moss behind her foe. She was swift and silent, making no more noise than the faint scuff of boot against stone as she aimed a vicious slash at the back of Ves''s neck. Even that was enough to give her away. The vampire spun, fast as flowing smoke, throwing off Jade''s aim. The surprise attack had caught her off guard, though, and she wasn''t able to avoid it completely. Another spray of blood, this one from the side of her neck. Missed! It hadn''t hit her vulnerable throat. Jade swiped again, daggers in both hands, aiming to keep her higher-level foe on the defensive. Ves darted away, elusive, retreating to the edge of the pillar. It was twenty feet across, a small arena that didn''t give much room to maneuver. Jade gave chase, keeping pressure on her, and then gasped as several sharp impacts pierced her in the back. "Aghh!" Jade reacted instinctively, twisting aside and avoiding the second barrage of needle-thin projectiles. They were crimson droplets, small and sharp. Blood. "That''s the thing about fighting vampires." Ves said lightly, stalking closer to where Jade waited, weapons at the ready. "Wounds just give us more tools to play with." She held up a clawed hand, tendrils of blood swirling around it. They twisted and writhed like the lashes of sanguine whips, ending in wicked tips. Jade''s back throbbed from where it had been pelted, but her defenses had held well enough. She was still in good shape. "You''re an insightful fighter, demon. I''m impressed." Ves continued. A cruel smile twisted her lips, revealing twin fangs. "But it won''t be enough. I''m glad you gave chase. I''ve always wanted to taste demon blood." "We''ll see about that." Jade growled, resuming her offensive. The tendrils of twisting blood erupted towards Jade, striking like writhing serpents. She darted between two, blinked through a third, and struck for the hand holding the relic. Ves reacted with speed and skill, sidestepping her strike and sending another pair of blood lances at Jade''s chest. She rolled to the side, dodging one, but the other punched straight through her wing. Jade snarled, slicing through the crystalline tendril and flinging Phantom at her in one smooth motion. The blade split once more, a fan of projectiles that even the vampire couldn''t avoid at this range. Ves grunted as two caught her in the chest, wrenching them free and drawing the spray of blood into another pair of sanguine spears. The battle was short and furious, made all the more brutal by the small confines of the pillar. It quickly became apparent that Jade was at a disadvantage. While she matched her hit for hit Ves had spoken the truth. Every drop of blood Jade spilled was turned against her as another wicked weapon, striking at her from all sides. None of the attacks were individually strong, but in aggregate they were quickly adding up. For her part, the vampire was calm and confident, completely in control. Jade could taste her eager anticipation for victory. She thought she''d already won. Just what Jade had been waiting for. A crimson spear sliced across Jade''s stomach, sharp pain blossoming from the wound like fire. She dropped to one knee, clutching her chest. Ves''s grin broadened, stretching across her face. In the glowing green light of the moss, she cut a sinister figure. Pale, beautiful, wreathed in black robes and swirling blood. Numerous wounds covered her body, but she paid them no mind as she stalked up to Jade, baring her fangs. "Done already?" She shook her head sadly. "I thought demons were supposed to be strong. And the Queen barely ever lets me have any real fun." Blood seeped from the gash in Jade''s chest, leaking between her fingers. She was tough. Far tougher than she looked, but even her enhanced succubus defenses had limits. Jade felt Ves''s clawed fingers grip her face, lifting her head and exposing her neck. "Now to see what all the fuss is about..." The vampire said, bending closer. Jade looked up at her face, matching her grin. She could taste Ves''s arrogant confidence in her own superiority. It had been palpable from their first clash, when the difference in raw strength became apparent. But a succubus''s true power lay in a different realm. Their eyes met. "I have a better idea." Jade said, pouring all the magic she could muster into her words. "Hand over the relic, and I''ll give you a firsthand experience with a demon''s kiss." Jade channeled the arrogant authority Malice had used when charming her. Perhaps Ves had been confident in the strength of her willpower, or believed that the level disparity would protect her from the succubus''s most notorious ability. If so, she was wrong. Jade''s commanding presence imbued her words with power and left no room for disobedience. The magic took hold, freezing the vampire in place. Jade could feel her foe raging against the mental bindings that held her will, her furious assault already sending cracks through the spell and tingling pain through Jade''s head. Ves''s level wasn''t just for show, and she knew she couldn''t hold her for long. Jade didn''t wait for the vampire to comply, if indeed she would. Instead, she grabbed her by the arm and heaved her off balance, sending the robed woman stumbling across the platform with a kick. Ves reeled, staggering right into the rune trap Jade had dropped with a whisper the instant she teleported to the pillar. The magic circle flashed violet, dark chains surging from the ground to bind her in place. The arcane restraints jerked her to a sudden stop, tearing the relic from her grasp. It landed hard on the stone ground, Aylin''s sealing spell shattering under the impact, the magical barrier dissipating as the dark crystal shard bounced. An aura of deep shadow enveloped the divine relic and the temperature plunged, frost crystalizing on the ground around it. It rolled towards the edge of the pillar, its momentum carrying it to the edge of the abyss. "Shit!" Jade lunged for the relic, dropping her weapons and diving for the priceless artifact before it slipped off the edge and was lost forever in the depths of the chasm. If she''d had time to think, she might have remembered Aylin''s warning back in the stronghold about touching the unshielded divine splinter. As it was, she acted purely on reflex, moving to preserve the artifact that the mage thought may hold answers on the Labyrinth''s strange behavior. Jade''s fingers closed around the fragmented relic just as it bounced over the lip of the chasm. She jerked herself away before she followed it over the edge, sprawling onto her back, wings splayed to her sides. The instant she came to stop, power pulsed through her body, travelling up her arm and through the rest of her form like a frigid wave. Pain. Blistering, searing pain. Jade screamed as pure cosmic energy rushed into her body, dropping the relic and writhing on the ground. Images flashed through her mind one after the other, too fast to take in. Lights in the sky, millions of them, going out one by one. She could feel it, the death sweeping across the cosmos, countless souls of the departed slipping into the astral. Flash! A tall figure wreathed in living shadow strode at the vanguard of an endless army filled with rage. Flash! The powers of the cosmos coming together, directing their wills against this odious entity who, even against the combined might of the universe, stood his ground. Flash! Sadness. Pain. A long, hard-fought battle that raged across the stars. Flash! Resolve. An understanding. And then¡­ Nothing. The will was gone, and only the power remained. The power, and the figure in shadow. He had been stopped, but not destroyed. Jade could feel his wrath, the righteous anger of one who had been wronged. The sensation faded as the visions melted away, leaving her gasping and shuddering on the ground, her body filled to the brim with a power it was never meant to channel. And it had nowhere to go. Chapter 90 Frigid energy coursed through Jade''s veins, spreading through her entire body. Frost crystalized on her skin, stinging and burning as unfiltered death energy sought to find an escape from the improper vessel it had become trapped in. In the moment Jade''s fingers brushed the fragment she had only absorbed the tiniest splinter of its essence, but even that miniscule amount of cosmic power was a potent toxin to the mortal coil. Jade cried out, writhing on the ground. Every exhalation, every utterance was accompanied by a puff of umbral energy. Black smoke rose from her skin in thin, curling wisps, the energy filtering out through her body like sieve. It wasn''t dissipating fast enough. She could feel it burning her out, searing through the magical pathways that were woven through her body. They were still new and untested, nowhere near the strength required to contain such vast power. Gritting her teeth, Jade forced herself to focus through the pain. If she didn''t do something, this power would consume her. There had to be a way to expel it faster. She just needed a way to channel it. Distracted, she didn''t notice the approaching footfalls until Ves was already on top of her. The vampire had slipped free of her control in the chaos, cutting herself free from the binding magic while Jade lay insensate on the rocky ground of the pillar. She gave her a cruel grin, placing her hands on her hips as she inspected Jade''s form. "Fool." she sneered. "The living have no hope of handling the essence of death. That is our nature." She placed her clawed hands on her shoulder, leaning closer. "You should thank me. I''m doing you a favor." Baring her fangs, the vampire bit down on Jade. New pain, sharp and focused, shot through Jade''s neck like a hot poker had been jabbed into her flesh. She snarled, reduced to her base demonic instincts, shoving Ves away with all of her might. Ves was flung backwards, staggering away and clutching her face with her clawed hands. Black smoke billowed from her lips, slipping between her fingers and leaving her cheeks marred with blackened veins that stood out starkly against her sallow skin. "You were saying?" Jade gasped, forcing herself to her feet and glaring at the vampire with a look of such vitriol she flinched, taking another step back. That was all the opening Jade needed. She channeled mana through her legs, blinking forward to appear right in front of her surprised foe. She slashed with clawed hands, ignoring the sudden burst of intense pain that accompanied overloading her magical pathways while they were already buzzing with barely contained power. Jade sliced through Ves''s robes, tearing jagged gashes into her flesh that left the other woman reeling. Power bled from Jade''s hands, a small amount flowing into her body with every strike. Despite the vampire''s assertion, the death essence seemed to have nearly as strong an effect on her as it did on Jade. Its potent, unrefined power was as anathema to the living dead as it was to the living. But it still wasn''t enough. Each strike only imparted a small amount of the essence. It was still burning away at Jade''s core, and she was getting lightheaded. Her vision blurred, more bursts of pain accompanying the vampire''s counters as she tore into her attacker, snarling with anger. Everything started to grow dark, the pain and power clouding Jade''s mind. But there was something else, too. Sweet, sweet rage, so close, already within reach. She could taste it on her lips, feel it rolling from Ves in waves. The sensation anchored her, giving her something to latch onto. In a flash of insight, Jade knew what she had to do. The one way she could eject the power filling her all at once. Vision blurring, Jade ignored her numerous wounds and Ves''s slashing claws, grabbing her by the shoulders. She pulled her close, bringing their lips together before the shocked vampire could do more than growl in surprise, burying her claws in Jade''s arms. She barely felt the impact, drawing in a breath and draining the woman''s essence. The life force of a vampire was like nothing she''d ever tasted before. It was dark and bitter, carrying an unpleasant, almost tainted flavor. ''Kiss of Night'' was only meant to work on the living, but a vampire was a creature that occupied the strange twilight realm that existed between the truly living and dead. Ves''s body carried a spark of light, faint but vibrant. That was all Jade needed. Her wounds began to heal as Ves stiffened, gasping in pain. Jade pulled her closer, draining faster. No longer charmed, the ''C'' rank spell had only a limited effect on her. It was painful, but not truly deadly. That wasn''t the point. Jade wasn''t trying to defeat her with the spell, she just needed to give the power trapped inside her somewhere to go. Using her aura as a guide Jade pushed, shoving the cosmic energy through the network that made up her ''kiss of night'' spell and blasting it straight into Ves''s body. The form of a succubus was a poor vessel for the essence and, given access to a marginally better suited container, it flowed easily between them. It left Jade''s body in an instant, leaving her woozy and disoriented. She had just enough wherewithal to step away, breaking the connection between them before she accidentally sucked any of it back. The vampire screamed, black veins spreading through her body. It didn''t look quite as harmful to her as it had been to Jade, but the experience appeared far from pleasant. The distraction was more than enough to draw Ves''s attention away from Jade long enough for her to seize Phantom from where she''d dropped it, step forward, and plunge the enchanted blade straight through her heart. SCHIK "Guh" Ves stared dumbly down at the dagger protruding from her chest, and then looked up at Jade, eyes narrow. "You''ll¡­ pay¡­" was all she got out. A moment later her body dissolved into smoke, leaving her empty robe to crumple to the ground in a bloody heap.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The last of Jade''s strength left her body and she fell to her knees in the center of the pillar, gasping for breath. Her entire body ached. It felt like an especially bad case of the flu, the kind that had left her bedridden as a teenager for over a week, too weak to even sit up. A strange tingling passed through her body, and blinking notifications fought for her attention in the corner of her vision. She was too weak and tired to care. Slumping over on the rough stone, darkness took her.
Jade woke to a pleasant warmth spreading through her body. She blinked, awareness slowly returning as the bone deep chill permeating her being began to recede. When her vision came into focus the first thing she saw was Naomi kneeling over her, humming a soft tune, glowing hand on her shoulder. "Easy." she said, gently pushing Jade down as she tried to sit up. "You were in rough shape when we got here. Take it slow." "The vampires¡­?" Jade asked. Her voice came out raw and raspy. She coughed, accepting water from Naomi and drinking slowly. "Ran off real quick like." Fenrin said, lowering himself to kneel beside them. The elf had blood on his face, but whatever wound had caused it was already healed. "They didn''t stick around long after their friend ran off with the relic." Jade could see Aylin, Siora, and Luis, all of them clustered around the divine fragment a short distance away. The mage was weaving a spell around the relic while the others kept a lookout. Knowing that everyone was safe helped her relax and she lay back, no longer trying to push past Naomi to get up. "What happened?" Naomi asked. "I had to cast my new cleanse on you three times before the healing spells even started to work." "I¡­ may have accidentally touched the relic." "Accidentally?" Naomi raised a skeptical eyebrow. "It was about to roll into the chasm." Jade briefly summarized the chase and battle with the vampire, Ves. When she finished, Fenrin whistled. "You killed a level 25 vampire by yourself? That''s impressive." "Wouldn''t have gotten her without the arrow you put in her back." Jade said, giving him an appreciative nod. "Nice shot." "It''s a lot easier when they aren''t trying to hit you back." "She''s not dead." Aylin interjected, striding over to them. The mage stopped beside Jade, looming over her with a disapproving frown. "And you shouldn''t have touched the relic. You''re lucky to be alive." "I didn''t mean to. It just-" "I heard." Aylin sighed, extending a hand to help Jade to her feet. She rose, feeling weak and dizzy but otherwise okay. "Thanks for saving it. I just wish doing so hadn''t almost killed you." "I''ll be more careful next time." "Is there going to be a next time?" Siora asked, concerned. "I''d rather not get ambushed by vampires again." "You took care of one of them." Luis said, patting Jade lightly on the arm. "That''s a good start." "I doubt she''s dead." Aylin repeated with a grimace. Everyone turned questioning looks on her. Luis pointed to the pile of ash that was all that remained of the woman''s corpse. "Jade vaporized her, chica. I don''t think people come back from that." "Vampires do." Fenrin''s brow furrowed in thought, and he cursed under his breath. "Sunlight." He explained in answer to Jade''s questioning look. "I''ve heard it said that vampires have to be slain in sunlight to truly be vanquished. I thought it was just a story. Explains why they ambushed us here." "Lesser vampires are easier to kill, but those three were true living dead." Aylin confirmed with a grimace. "I don''t know how word of this relic reached the Blood Queen so quickly, but it clearly has. We should make haste for Estelhelm before she sends more of her minions after us." "So, what." Naomi said, collecting her things. All of them were gathered on the broad pillar Jade and Ves had fought on, which was starting to get a little crowded. "She just reappeared somewhere else?" "I pumped her full of energy from that relic." Jade said, pointing at the dark crystal. It was hanging from the mage''s belt again, a new runic seal hovering around it. This one looked less intricate than the previous, and Jade got the sense that it was a quick and dirty version of the same magic. "She can come back from that?" "Possibly." Aylin shrugged. "I''m not an expert, but vampires have a strong affinity for death essence. She''s probably back in the blood witch''s palace on the third floor by now." The mage''s lips curled up in a slight smile. "With a hell of a hangover, after what you did to her." "I''ll take it." Jade grunted. "Who exactly is the blood witch?" Luis asked. "Some sort of super vampire? You''ve mentioned her before." "She''s a powerful necromancer who rules the city of Gremnegar on the third floor. Few know exactly what takes place within its dark walls, but that cursed city is filled with undead, dark magic, and creatures like this." Aylin said, kicking the pile of robes and ash that remained of Ves. "Delightful." Jade muttered. She had a sneaking suspicion that this vampire, if she still lived, wasn''t going to take this defeat lying down. They''d have to be even more careful, from now on. "I can explain more on the road." Aylin said, turning back towards the edge of the chasm. The other pillars leading to it were cracked and scorched from Ves''s trap, but still intact. "Let''s move on. They may have friends, and if they know what they''re looking for, this relic is hard to hide." "There''s a sanctuary at the edge of the quadrant." Fenrin said, pointing in the direction they''d been travelling. "We can rest there and reach the city by tomorrow night." Jade grunted an assent, following the others back to the road. She did make sure to snag Ves''s dark blade first, though, finding it wedged in a small crack on the pillar beside her remains. Jade slid it into her pouch, resolving to examine it when she had a moment. First, she had something more important to do. She caught Naomi by the arm, pulling her aside. "Just wanted to say¡­ thanks." she said, shuffling her wings awkwardly. "You saved me again." "That''s the job." Naomi gave her a wry smile. "I should be thanking you." "Why''s that?" "These healing quests would be taking me way longer if you didn''t get beat to shit all the time." Jade laughed, then winced, holding the side of her chest. Not completely back to normal, then. "Glad I can help." Naomi''s expression turned serious. "But really, Jade. There''s one thing you should keep in mind." "What''s that?" "It''s okay to lose, sometimes." Jade cocked her head, confused. "We don''t have to win every fight. If it gets too tough, too dangerous, it''s okay to fall back and regroup. We can''t help our home if we don''t live long enough to see this through." She had a good point. The relic, while important, wasn''t directly related to their quest to save Earth. Risks were a necessary part of being a wayfarer, but not every gamble was worth it. "It worked out this time." Jade said, but then she nodded. "But I understand what you''re saying. You have a point." Naomi gave her hand a soft squeeze, then let go. Together, they rejoined the group, trekking further into the depths of the dark, gloomy cavern. Left with troubled thoughts, and memories of a strange vision to sort through, Jade turned her attention to the stack of notifications that awaited her. Some of them were quite interesting. Chapter 91 The first queued notification had to do with Jade''s accidental, and quite literal, brush with death. System Warning: System Warning: Jade grunted. Apparently, the cosmic essence she had absorbed could also be used as mana to fuel her spells. Did that mean that divine shards could be used as magical batteries? Was that why people were interested in them? The power seemed far too volatile for that to be safe. She was lucky to be alive, and all she''d done was touch the damn thing. That wasn''t to say there weren''t benefits to almost dying, as the next message conveyed. Jade sucked in a breath, quickly checking her quest log. This was title number four, which meant¡­ The influx of experience was enough to push Jade over the threshold for level 17, but she hardly noticed. She was already searching for an ''advanced class'' menu in her interface. Nothing was there, and she soon discovered why. It can never be that easy. Jade grumbled to herself. Still, level 20 was only three levels away. It wouldn''t be long now. Luis caught sight of her grin and raised a questioning eyebrow. "I got my fourth title." Jade explained. "Once I hit level twenty, I''ll have my advanced class." Aylin looked over her shoulder to regard Jade with interest. "You have four titles already?" The mage asked, impressed. "Of those who seek their advanced classes, most don''t obtain that many until they''re well into C rank. How did you pick which titles to aim for?" Jade blinked at her, confused. "I¡­ Just got them." "You acquired that many without knowing what any of the requirements were?" Now it was Aylin''s turn to look surprised. "Most are quite difficult. The Mystic Order keeps a list of them, and most target the easier ones. ''Easy'' being a relative term, of course." "Jade does a lot of crazy shit." Naomi piped up. "I think the Voice of the Labyrinth likes her." "If it does, it has a funny way of showing it." Jade muttered, thinking about the options she kept being given for her racial levels. "In any case, congratulations are in order." Aylin continued. "Many wayfarers eventually unlock their advanced classes, but it usually takes far longer. Once you hit level twenty, you''ll have a good head start on the rest." "Will I get to pick one, or will it be assigned to me?" "You should be presented with a few options. They''ll be based on your skills and the magic you''re best with. An advanced class generally gives you access to more potent versions of abilities you already possess. You''ll get stronger, but don''t expect it to shore up any of your weaknesses." "Good to know. Thanks."The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. She glanced at her map. The sanctuary was showing up on the edge of it now. Exhaustion weighed down on her like a physical burden, making her feet drag and her steps heavy. Aftershocks of lingering pain tingled through her body like arcing currents of electricity, faint but noticeable. Aylin had said something about how her internal magical conduits had been overcharged, possibly damaged, by the infusion of power that had run through them. She''d advised Jade to stay away from using magic for a day or two until she healed, advice that Jade was all too happy to take. The last time she''d ignored medical advice from people who knew what they were talking about, she''d screwed up her ankle for life. Only happenstance had given her a reprieve on that front, and she wasn''t going to make the same mistake again. Returning her attention to her queued messages, Jade saw that there were only two left. One was a level up notification. Level 17 didn''t come with any features, only two stat points, so Jade dismissed that one. The other was more interesting. After reaching ''C'' rank, ''Kiss of Night'' had gained a chance to drain a stat point, but this was the first time the effect had triggered. Jade hadn''t noticed a difference when casting the spell, but she''d been a little preoccupied with not dying. After she allocated her two new ability points from the level up, plus the additional one granted by her newest title, her new stat array was: Even after her ordeal the infusion of four stat points in such a short amount of time gave Jade a welcome rush of energy. She smiled, closing out the last of the windows. There was still an upgrade point to spend, but she wanted to save that one. Once she hit level 20 she''d be able to use it to boost one of her spells or talents towards ''B'' rank. All that left was the dagger she had swiped from Ves''s corpse, or rather the pile of dust that was all that remained of it. She held up the dark blade, examining it. "Wow." Luis whistled, stepping beside Jade and looking over the weapon with her. "That''s a creepy weapon." Jade couldn''t disagree. The dark metal blade was set into a polished bone handle, one edge serrated with curved teeth. It looked unnecessarily vicious, as if inflicting pain were a higher priority than effectively wounding a foe. "Useful, though." Jade commented, sliding the weapon into one of her belt sheaths. It wasn''t a perfect fit, but it would do for now. The weapon was simple but effective, although she''d need to gauge the strength of its restorative power before she made a final judgement. "A little on the nose for a vampire, don''t you think?" Luis snorted in amusement. His armor bore a few new scratches, but otherwise he had made it through their most recent battle unscathed. The ambush could have gone much worse, and Jade had no intention of letting another group sneak up on them. Now that she was finished sifting through her notifications she expanded her senses once again, monitoring their surroundings for other threats. Around her the others were doing the same, keeping a watchful eye out while Fenrin''s familiar scouted ahead of their path. A short while later, after ascending an especially steep slope of loose rock that had them half-walking, half-climbing, they caught sight of the sanctuary door. "About time." Naomi said, relieved. "I need to sleep." Jade felt as tired as Naomi looked, but she wasn''t ready to end the day yet. Memories of the strange visions she''d experienced continued to drift through her mind like half-remembered dreams. The emotions stuck out more than the images. The loss, pain, and determination connected to the relic lingering in her thoughts. "Aylin?" She asked, following the rest of them through the portal. "I''d like a word."
The mage listened closely as Jade explained the visions she''d experienced. She didn''t remember all the details, and felt like she wasn''t doing a great job of describing what she did recall, but she did her best. This sanctuary took the form of a small tropical island, complete with palm trees and sandy shores. It was night time, and a series of round huts provided shelter and sleeping quarters. The remainder of the group was settling in to get some rest. Jade wanted to join them but she was worried that if she didn''t get this out now, she wouldn''t be able to remember it later. "It sounds like you had visions of the cataclysm." Aylin said, looking at Jade thoughtfully. She took the relic off her belt and examined it through the arcane seal encapsulating it, which took the form of a faintly shimmering screen of translucent energy. "That was the war against the demons, right?" "Correct." The mage gently set the crystal aside, returning her attention to Jade. "I''ve never heard of anyone having that experience when exposed to divine relics." "You''ve come across others?" Jade asked. "Not personally, but I''ve read accounts. I''m not aware of any as stable as this one." The mage pointed at the death fragment. "But it''s far from unique." "If that one is stable, I''d hate to see what ''unstable'' looks like." Jade muttered. Her body still buzzed with lingering pain, although it was continuing to fade as the hours slipped by. "According to legend, the deities that once drove the forces of the cosmos disappeared after the war. No one knows what happened to them, only that they destroyed the demon armies." "Do you think that''s what I felt?" Jade asked, her mouth suddenly dry. "The will of a¡­ of a god?" Was that even possible? "I''m not sure anyone can say for certain." Aylin shrugged. "These are uncharted waters. But what you described lines up with what I''ve read of those events." One aspect of the visions stood out from the rest. The self-righteous wrath of the shadow-clad figure, with eyes like burning coals. Jade shuddered. "I don''t think as many of the demons were destroyed as your records say." Jade said, shaking her head. Despite the tropical warmth of the moonlit island, she felt cold. "I saw¡­" She didn''t know how to describe it. Couldn''t. How did you put a rush of feelings, sensations, sights, and confusing sounds into words? Even if she tried, it would be a pale imitation of what she''d witnessed. "I don''t know, Aylin. But I don¡¯t like this." "Something happened to the demon armies." Aylin pointed out. "But there is something strange going on. First that succubus in Lysara, now a vampire acting like she was almost expecting you¡­" She grimaced. "And the Labyrinth has been acting unusual for months. I feel like I''m missing the piece that puts it all together." "What should we do?" Jade asked, watching Fenrin help Luis get out of his heavier armor. "You found out there are demons in Estelhelm. We''ll be there tomorrow. We can start with some digging there. If there''s some sort of demonic plot to uncover, that''s the best place to start." Malice had found Jade in Lysara. Demons were on the move in the Labyrinth, and apparently on Earth, although she''d seen no sign of them herself. Now these visions, on top of everything else. Jade''s eyes fell on the relic, resting in the sand beside Aylin. If she touched it again, would it show her more? Stop it. She admonished herself. It almost killed you the first time. If they wanted to learn more, it''d have to be in the city. Jade felt a flash of irritation at the mess they found themselves in. The Labyrinth was a problem of Earth shaking magnitude on its own, the last thing they needed was to get involved in another crisis. But she couldn''t help but feel that the two issues were somehow related. Jade couldn''t explain the inkling, it was just there in the back of her mind, nagging at her. "Fine." she grunted, wearily rising to her feet. "We''ll see what we can find there." But first, it was time to sleep. Fatigue pulled at Jade''s limbs like physical weights. Even her enhanced body couldn''t just shake off the trauma it had been put through today without rest. She found that Luis had prepared some food from a combination of the sanctuary''s usual non-perishables and supplies he''d brought from Lysara. Jade joined her friends for the meal, content to listen to the usual evening banter. Afterwards, Naomi shooed her away when she tried to help pack away their gear for the night, insisting that she needed to recover. Too tired to argue, Jade found the closest shack and dropped onto the waiting cot. Sleep took her the instant her head hit the pillow. Chapter 92 The city of Estelhelm looked as though it had been plucked out of a fantasy tale. It came into view as Jade crested a steep hill behind Luis, wading through the fields of waist-high grass that covered the savannah-like quadrant. An enormous sandstone plateau rose from the grassland right where two rivers diverged, as if it were a rock in a stream parting the water. Marble buildings clustered atop the broad pinnacle, spilling down the plateau''s sides on various ledges that wound their way down its steep cliffs. Numerous switchbacks were carved into the dusty stone, forming stairs that led between the city proper and the ground far below. "It''s huge." Jade said, stopping at the top of the hill. She''d expected the city to be maybe twice the size of Lysara, with all the trappings of a normal medieval town. This was something else entirely. A closer look revealed large, elevating platforms making their way up and down the cliff face, bringing people and goods to the city center. Were those magically powered elevators? This was easily the size of a small American city. While the architecture was unfamiliar, this was no primitive settlement. "Wait until you see Illysport." Aylin said, stepping up beside her. "It''s easily twice as large." "Maybe hold off on my hometown." Fenrin added with a slight grin. "After this, Rimestead is a bit of a disappointment." Jade was impressed that such a large population, she wouldn''t be surprised if the city had more than one hundred thousand residents, could exist in a place as dangerous as the Labyrinth. The rest of their trek to the base of the plateau took them through sprawling farmland, which occupied the majority of the fertile delta between the two forking rivers. "You should stay disguised until I get things straightened out with the Order." Aylin murmured as they approached one of the moving platforms, queuing up with a small group of other people seeking entry. "Wouldn''t want to cause a panic." Jade grunted an assent. She was already tired of having to hide herself like this everywhere she went, but it was a necessary evil. Hopefully Aylin''s good word would forestall any difficulties. I should''ve told the director the truth. she thought, waiting impatiently behind a group of merchants carrying boxes of goods. They people were mostly human, although Jade did spot a fair number of elves and fellians as well. The longer I put it off, the harder it''ll be to come clean. Her plan had been to prove herself as helpful before revealing potentially damaging information about herself to the authorities. That by itself wasn''t an issue, but the longer she waited the more it would look like she was trying to pull one over on L-Ref. Naomi had mentioned that sentiment during their journey to the gate to Earth, and Jade wished she''d listened. I''ll do it next time we''re back. The platform ground to a halt in front of them, disgorging a group of humans and fellians that were guiding a cart down the ramp and onto the road. The cart was pulled by a large animal that reminded her of an ox, except it was covered in scales and had an arrow shaped head. She watched it pass, stepping aside and craning her neck as the strange beast trundled away. Before long, it was their turn to board the lift. Aylin pointed out the arcane gemstones powering the contraption, each infused with glowing mana. She joined Fenrin at the railing, leaning out to get a good view as the ground dropped away beneath them. "I didn''t realize so many people lived here." Jade commented. Rolling farmland stretched into the distance as far as the eye could see, dotted with small homesteads. "How do they deal with monsters?" "Most cities, including Estelhelm, were founded in low density quadrants." Fenrin explained. "No one is sure why, but some parts of the Labyrinth have far smaller monster populations than others. There aren''t many nearby, and the ones that do wander in can be guarded against by the militia. When they do show up in numbers, wayfarers or guild members are usually contracted to handle them." "Guild members?" "Mercenary outfits. There are a few of them around these parts, mostly made up of retired wayfarers and other warriors. The Onyx Shield is the most well known in Estelhelm, they have a good reputation." "I met a member on the first floor." Jade commented, remembering the fellian captain that had accompanied lord Ledkin''s expedition. "Captain Mar. He was the one who told me to come here to meet the demon priestess of one of the temples here." "Really? I''m surprised. There usually isn''t much of a reason to go down to the first level." "It was part of some group from Illysport. Some young nobleman tried to extort us to let us through the stairway portal." Jade grinned. "That didn''t go so well for him." "I can imagine." Fenrin said with a slight smile. "Hopefully that doesn''t cause us too many problems when get up there." Jade sighed. "One thing at a time. We''ll need another key fragment before we can ascend, remember? That means buying one, or fighting another boss." "Are key fragments often sold?" Jade asked, surprised. "Sure." Fenrin shrugged. "There''s a lot of demand for them, but they can be expensive." "We''ll want to fight another boss anyway." Luis said, joining them at the railing. "Those Labyrinth Cores aren''t just going to let us break them, right? That''s not how these things usually go." "Usually go?" Jade smirked. "You''re an expert on this?" "We''ve been here long enough to know how it works." He shrugged. "We''ll have to run a gauntlet of monsters and traps just to get to the core, and then there''ll be some kaiju thing waiting for us right on top of it." "You''re probably right." Jade sighed. "I hope they at least give good experience."
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. It didn''t take them long to get into the city proper. With Aylin''s Mystic Order membership, the pair of bored-looking guards watching the gate barely even spoke to them. Apparently, her status as a junior councilwoman in the Illysport branch afforded her special privileges, some of which were extended to her travelling companions. Shortly thereafter Aylin brought them into the city''s outer district, leading them through orderly streets filled with chaotic mix of carts and foot traffic. "Is it always so busy?" Naomi asked, clinging to Jade''s arm so as to not get lost in the thronging crowds as they pushed their way towards the center of the city. "It''s the end of the day." Fenrin said. The half-elf was bringing up the rear, unbothered by the hubbub. "People are heading home from their work or schooling, or going out for the night." Fantasy rush hour. Jade snorted. She caught sight of a young man and an older woman having a heated discussion nearby, apparently arguing over a collision between their two carts. Imagine that. The city was at once familiar and alien. Oil streetlamps flickered to life as the evening sky darkened towards twilight, illuminating the cobblestone roads. Densely packed buildings lined the thoroughfare, from tenements to shops and artisan workshops. There were bars and taverns, inns and cafes, and even a few stores that looked like they dealt in enchanted goods. If it weren''t for the variety of species on display, Jade may have been able to imagine herself as being in some distant, exotic city on Earth. Humans, elves, and fellians were the most plentiful people in the streets, but there were others Jade hadn''t seen before. A pair of squat, bipedal toad-like creatures trundled right through their group, forcing her to step aside or be bowled over. "''Scuse me, miss." The larger of the two rotund creatures said, turning to squeeze between her and Fenrin. His, she thought it was a he, voice was surprisingly cultured. She watched them disappear into the crowd, bemused. "Never seen a rhyssit before?" Fenrin asked. "Friendly folk. Will eat you out of house and home, though." Jade just shook her head, following Aylin through the streets. The outer buildings had mostly been residences, but more shops were popping up as they continued deeper into town. Despite the density of the city, none of the buildings were more than two or three stories tall. She wondered if there was a practical reason for that, or if it was just some local preference. "Weapons! Enchanted weapons! Get the best arms in the city here!" One finely dressed man in front of a storefront was shouting out into the throng. He was human, with short brown hair and a finely sculpted beard, and was holding aloft a gleaming sword that sparkled with obvious enchantment. "Protect yourself from the new integration! Prepare for the increased monster populations!" "Potions! Recovery and enhancement potions!" A fellian woman called out from further down the street, her ears twitching back and forth enthusiastically. "Best prices in the outer ward!" "Don''t bother." Aylin said, grabbing Luis''s arm as he made to step towards the weapon shop. "You won''t find anything good in this part of town. If you want to shop, do it in the Amber Marketplace." Jade noticed Siora was lagging a little behind them. She reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer so she didn''t get lost in the crowd. "You okay?" "Huh? Oh! Yes, sorry." The elf smiled sheepishly, looking a little overwhelmed. "I''m not used to crowds." That didn''t surprise Jade. Lysara''s treetop walkways and bridges were serene and peaceful, and even the canopy district marketplace was a tranquil environment compared to this chaos. She empathized, as the abundance of closely packed people, and the turbulent emotional mess projecting from them, was already starting to give her a headache. Jade was slowly getting better at shielding herself from the effects of crowds, but it was a skill that only improved with exposure. "We''ll be out of it soon." Aylin assured them. "Let''s get Jade sorted out at the Mystic Order first. Estelhelm''s branch is in the Emerald Ward." "You''re sure they''re not going to try anything funny, right?" Jade asked. Aylin hadn''t taken long to come around, and Jade trusted her, but she hadn''t forgotten her initial reaction to learning her identity. If her colleagues reacted the same way, there could be trouble. "They won''t, I have enough sway to see to that." She promised. The mage grimaced, cupping one hand over the bulge in her robes where the sealed relic was tucked away out of sight. "If anything, I''ll be the one getting in trouble for walking around with something like this out in the open." "Was there a better way to get it here?" Luis asked. "No, but that won''t stop them from telling me I should have come up with one." "Sounds about right."
"I''m telling you, I saw them!" Tara''lynn pounded her fist on the sturdy wooden desk in frustration. "What do you mean they aren''t there?" The tek''kalla mage stood before two of the Silver Shield, the order of guards kept on retainer by Countess Montrell of Estelhelm. The uniformed men exchanged exasperated glances, and the taller of the two crossed his arms. "Calm yourself, miss." The man said. He had the rugged appearance of a working man, which was at odds with the finely pressed dark uniform and polished broadsword hanging from his hip. "We sent a team to investigate the area you brought to our attention. It looked like smugglers may have used the place as a hideout in the past, but there were no signs of recent use. Rest assured, we''re investigating the matter." "But the demons-" "There were no signs of any demons." The other man snapped, annoyed. "I went there myself, spent four hours going through that warehouse. That''s a night I''m never going to get back." "You may have mistook what you saw." The first man cut in, raising a placating hand. "There''ve been rumors of demonic activity in the city for weeks, but nothing has come of it. People hear tales and the next thing you know, they''re seeing evidence of it themselves. You see what you expect to see. This isn''t the first time things like this have happened." "Or maybe, people are reporting demon sightings because there are demons in the city." The tek''kalla pressed. "Have you thought of that?" How could they be so blind? She''d led them right to the building the imps she''d been tailing had slipped into. The guard had gotten there less than an hour later! Incompetents. The lot of them. No, she knew the real reason no one was taking her seriously. Because she was a mistrusted tek''kalla, stirring up trouble. They just wanted her gone, to be someone else''s problem. "We have the city under control." the brusque guardsman said, gesturing towards the door. "Now go on, get going." "Fine." Tara snapped, pushing off the desk. Fuming, she stomped towards the door, exiting back onto the quiet streets of the upper-class Emerald District. Part of her wanted to truly speak her mind and rail against the city''s useless protectors, but the last thing she needed was to end up arrested for causing trouble. Given the general hostility towards her kind in the city, it wouldn''t take much for someone to find an excuse to throw her in the stockade. Tara almost wished they''d try. She was in one of her moods again, the sort that only improved after she blew something up. The mage stalked across the street, slumping onto a bench in a small park. It was late evening, twilight enveloping the sky in its soft embrace. The pristine streets of the wealthy district were mostly vacant, much quieter than the rest of the city was at this time of night. She preferred this calm, orderly environment to the unregulated chaos of the lower wards. How could anyone live with so little structure? "Why am I even trying¡­" Tara groaned, cupping her head in her hands. All she''d wanted was to find a group to join up with so she didn''t have to face her wayfarer trial alone. It didn''t matter, no one here would even listen to her, let alone want to team up. Who cared what a group of demons were doing here? If the people of Estelhelm wanted to bury their heads in the sand and ignore her, she should let them. But Tara had studied history extensively in the expeditionary academy. She was familiar with accounts of the damage lone demons could do, let alone groups of them. If there really was an organized operation of some sort happening here, could she really just walk away? "Ugh." She grunted in disgust, getting to her feet. "I''ll just have to take care of it myself. Like everything else." First, she''d get some rest. Tomorrow, she would start digging. Once this was over, the people of this city had better be grateful to her. Like that''s ever going to happen. Chapter 93 By the time they exited the Arcaneum, the imposing structure that housed the Mystic Order''s Estelhelm branch, it was well into night. Jade followed a fuming Aylin as she stalked down the sweeping marble steps leading to the quiet street, her dark robe swishing fiercely. "Can you believe it?" She demanded to no one in particular. "I turn up with the first divine relic in years and they treat me like that? Not even a thank you." The mage continued, saving Jade from having to come up with a reply. "Criticism. That''s all the Estelhelm council is. ''You should have called in support from the local branch.'' And ''don''t be so reckless.'' As if I should trot around the Labyrinth shouting the news at the top of my lungs. We were already ambushed by vampires on the road here. By the lost gods, imagine the trouble we''d have run across if news had already spread?" Aylin finally ran out of steam, sinking onto a street side bench and sighing. The rest of them stopped beside her, waiting for the mage to compose herself. Only Aylin had been taken into the inner sanctum of the Order''s headquarters, everyone else had been relegated to waiting in the foyer. Jade had expected the Order to be more curious about the newly integrated world, but apparently the appearance of a divine relic superseded anyone''s interest in them. Aylin had been gone for almost two hours and had returned more out of sorts than Jade had seen her since the night they met. "I thought you were on the council?" Naomi asked, lowering herself to sit beside her. "Doesn''t that count for something?" "I''m part of the Illysport branch, and I''m only a junior councilwoman. That doesn''t mean much down here." The mage cast her gaze over to Jade and gave her a slight smile. "I did get this for you, though." Aylin drew a scroll of parchment from her satchel and handed over to Jade, who inspected it curiously. It was a writ of approval from the Mystic Order, and had her name at the bottom. "How''d you get this if they were so upset with you?" Jade asked, tucking it safely away in her dimensional pouch. "I told them that I''d take the relic to my branch in Illysport if they didn''t support you." Aylin''s grin broadened. "The looks on their faces were quite satisfying, I must admit." "They didn''t want to see me, first?" Jade asked. No one had so much as spoken to her in the Arcaneum. "You''re a wayfarer." Aylin shrugged. "There''s no way to fake that, and Captain Mar was right. You aren''t the first person to take a demon race. I was informed that there have been a handful of similar occurrences recently, all within the past year." "Really?" Jade asked, intrigued. "The same as me, or different demon races?" "They wouldn''t tell me." Aylin huffed. "Inter-branch rivalries have always been strong, and knowledge is hoarded. It''s a waste. We could learn so much more about the Labyrinth, and magic in general, if people cooperated. But no, every mage in the Free Cities jealously hoards their knowledge and resources." "That sounds familiar." Naomi muttered under her breath. "I won''t let that happen with the relic, though." Aylin continued. "They can''t hide it from the other branches, not when I''m the one who brought it here." "So, that''s one mission complete and one problem solved." Luis said. "What now?" "Now we find a place to stay for the night." Fenrin said. He was feeding his familiar small morsels of food from a pouch at his hip. Mirella perched on his arm, pecking voraciously at his open palm. "I know a few of the inns in the Amber Marketplace. Will you be joining us, Aylin?" "No." The mage shook her head. "I''ll be hard at work helping organize a joint research project focused on the relic. Jade should be safe in the city now, the Silver Shield and the Countess will have copies of the Mystic Order''s endorsement by morning." She stood up, extending her hand to Jade. Aylin often had the look of someone lost in deep thought. Right now, though, a wry smile played across her lips. "We had a bit of a rough start, mostly due to me." The mage said quietly. "But I''ve grown to enjoy travelling with the lot of you. I''ll be here in the city for the next few weeks. If you need anything, ask for me at the Arcaneum. If I can help you with your trial, I will." Jade shook her hand, feeling an odd sense of loss. She''d grown used to the mage''s companionship and guidance. They were all still so new to a world of magic. Not having Aylin around to answer their questions or casually explain some strange phenomenon would be a blow. That aside, Jade liked her straightforward and no-nonsense demeanor. "Thanks for all the help." "I''m sure we''ll visit soon." Luis said, giving her a pat on the back. "Someone will have to explain how to get us out of the next mess." "How do you know there''ll be another mess?" Siora asked, cocking her head curiously. "Undead strongholds, monsters in your homeland, a vampire ambush¡­ I think you''re due for some good fortune." "That''s what I said." Naomi smiled wanly. "But you know Jade¡­ at the first sign of trouble, she runs right towards it." Jade opened her mouth to defend herself, and then stopped. She had to admit that Naomi had a point. "Yeah, well¡­" She shrugged. "Trouble is where the experience is."
Fenrin took the lead in securing them lodging at an inn near the city bazaar. Apparently, he was acquainted with an artificer of some renown in this part of town, but they arrived too late in the evening to visit his shop. Jade was hoping they could make time to visit soon, as they''d acquired a good amount of loot since they''d last had an opportunity to trade. While the streets of the Emerald Ward were quiet and empty at the late hour, the marketplace was still bustling with activity. Laughter and singing filtered out open windows of taverns, vendors packed up their goods for the night, and other travelers sought to find a place to bed for the night.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "I didn''t expect the city to be this crowded." Fenrin said, pushing through the thinning crowd to the third inn of the evening. "There''s normally plenty of vacancies." "Is something going on?" Naomi asked. "What changed?" "Probably the integration." Fenrin said with a frown. "People are worried and taking shelter in the cities. There hasn''t been one in these parts in decades." "Is that why everyone''s so tense?" Luis asked. "We''re getting a lot of looks, and they aren''t the friendliest." "Are you sure? It feels normal to me." Siora piped up. "No, he''s right." Jade said quietly. She could feel the taut tension and suspicion mingling in the air around them. Everyone was on edge, even as they tried to hide it behind a mask of revelry. Moreover, many who noticed their wayfarer marks were shooting them wary looks. Not hostile¡­ but certainly nothing Jade would describe as welcoming. She thought she understood why. Upon entry into the city, they''d had to sign documentation stating that they would stay within the walls no longer than seven days. That wasn''t a restriction for all visitors, only for wayfarers. People undergoing the Labyrinth Trial began attracting monsters to them if they went too long without making progress on their quests, something Jade had learned from Harish on the first floor. "They probably are worried we''ll bring danger to them." Jade finished. "I''m not sure I can blame them." Naomi gave Jade a sidelong look. "When''s the last time we went a whole day without something trying to kill us?" "That''s out in the wilds. The Silver Shield do an excellent job of keeping the city safe, they have a branch in my hometown." Fenrin reassured them. They''d finally reached the entrance of the inn, a squat, two story wooden building that had seen better days. The door was painted a garish shade of red, over which hung a sign that read ''The Green Door Inn''. Jade blinked, looking at it again. "I think my translation power is acting up." "It''s not you¡­" Fenrin said, hesitating with his hand on the latch. He looked like he was having second thoughts about this place. Now that they were closer Jade could see cracks in the wooden walls, peeling paint, and a general shoddiness to the whole building. "Maybe we should look somewhere else." "We''re already here." Luis said, opening the door and stepping inside. "See? Doesn''t look too crowded. I bet they have rooms here." "Yeah, and I bet I know why¡­" Jade heard Naomi mutter quietly to herself as they peered into the dingy interior of the roadhouse. She hid a smile, following the group inside. They''d spent enough nights camping in damp woodland and cold mountain valleys over the past month that the prospect of a roof over her head, any roof, was welcome. Unlike most of the other establishments they''d visited that night, the Green Door Inn had a relatively quiet atmosphere. A few groups of people, mostly humans and fellians, sat clustered around a few of the tables in the dining area, and Jade spotted a group of older men playing a card game in the back corner. A large, burly fellian woman was standing behind the bar cleaning a mug with a rag. She had long black hair and was the first of her kind that Jade had encountered that could match Luis''s physique. While Fenrin and Luis walked over to the bar to inquire about rooms Jade continued to survey the room. This place was oddly fascinating. It was nothing like a modern hotel on Earth, and yet it also wasn''t exactly the medieval environment the word ''fantasy'' conjured. Jade had been subconsciously envisioning the people who lived in the Labyrinth as ''low-tech'' due to their use of medieval weapons and the rustic nature of Lysara. Here in Estelhelm, though, she was forced to revise her appraisal. Even a rundown establishment like this had magically powered lamps, arcane heaters warming the room, and, yes, that was a sink with running water behind the bar. A woman caught Jade''s attention. She hadn''t seen the rather unique-looking figure until now because she was in the far corner of the room, obscured by shadow. The woman had violet skin and long, moon-white hair streaked with pale red strands that hung straight down her back and across one side of her face. Lines of boney ridges framed her face, and her garb was strange. More modern in appearance than most of the others Jade had met in the Labyrinth, all hard lines and subdued colors. Their eyes met, and Jade was struck by the intensity of her gaze. "Who is that?" she murmured to Siora, turning away. Jade had no intention of staring down random strangers, the last thing she wanted was to start an altercation. "I haven''t seen anyone like that before." "Oh!" Siora blinked in surprise, glancing in the direction Jade indicated. She breathed in sharply. "That''s a tek''kalla!" she whispered back. "They almost never come down to the second floor. Not peacefully, anyway." "They cause trouble?" "I''ve heard they send raiding parties to steal resources. Hijack caravans, invade remote mines, that sort of thing." "Wonderful." Naomi said, crossing her arms. "Let''s stay away from her. We''re in enough trouble as it is." "Yeah¡­" Jade said slowly. There was something about the woman that intrigued her¡­ She was about to examine her status window when Luis and Fenrin returned, Mimi chirping triumphantly on his shoulder. "Two rooms secured." Luis said, holding up a pair of keys. "And one mystery solved." Fenrin added. The half-elf ran a hand through his hair, half dark, half light, and jerked a thumb towards the door with a bemused expression. "The guy who built the place was colorblind." Jade accepted one of the proffered keys and they began making their way towards the stairs in the corner of the dining area, which a sign mounted on the wall indicated led up to the guest rooms. "Not much of a carpenter either, I take it." Jade said, stepping over a gap in the floorboards large enough to put her foot through. "Mind the gap." "Actually, he was a brewer." Luis said. "You learned a lot about this guy in the thirty seconds you were gone." Naomi gave the two men a strange look. Luis and Fenrin exchanged glances and shrugged. "There''s a plaque on the bar." Fenrin snorted. "Guess the innkeeper got tired of people asking her about it." "How much did the rooms cost?" Jade asked. "You don''t want to know." Fenrin grunted. "That much?" Jade raised a skeptical eyebrow. "No. That little." "Oh, great." Naomi sighed. "It''s going to be one of those nights."
Tara''lynn watched the group of wayfarers traipse up the stairs, disappearing from sight. She sighed, lowering her mug and pulling her hand back on top of the table. After so many poor encounters with other wayfarers, she was growing nervous about showing her mark to them. Don''t be ridiculous. She scolded herself. You should have talked to them. But it was hard to find motivation after so many rejections. No, better to stay focused on her current objective: Finding the demons hiding in Estelhelm. She''d visited the warehouse the imps had flown into the other night, the one the Silver Shield had searched after she''d tipped them off. Tara had been ready to label them all incompetent and fully expected to discover the truth of the matter herself, but she''d been forced to admit that their skepticism hadn''t been undue. Two hours of scouring every part of the warehouse, both magically and technologically, had revealed no trace of any creatures, demonic or otherwise. Nor had she uncovered any strange magical signatures, the dimension effusion, or any other unusual phenomenon. So, what was she missing? The tek''kalla shook her head in disgust, taking another drink from her mug. The ale here was bitter, with an unpleasant aftertaste. Wasn''t this stuff supposed to make her problems go away? That''s what everyone always said about drinking these lowlander brews, but the only effect it was having on her was to give her a headache. Maybe my scanner is busted. The damn thing claimed the drink was compatible with her physiology, but she was growing skeptical. Fuck it. She drained the rest of it. It didn''t help. Tara groaned, dropping her forehead to the surface of the table. One more day. She''d give her search one more day before giving up. She''d heard some of the local wayfarers talking about a well-known local artificer. Perhaps he would have something she could use to finally locate these demons. They were here somewhere, she could feel it. Chapter 94 For their first night in Estelhelm Jade, Naomi, and Siora spent the night in a shared room at the Green Door Inn. It wasn''t the most comfortable place she''d ever stayed, but it also wasn''t the worst. That dubious honor went to a shady interstate motel she''d been forced to stay at during a gymnastics meet in high school after their team''s original plans had been cancelled. While the cramped room had a stiff draft and the beds were small and hard, there were at least enough for the three of them. It beat camping in the woods. The next day the five of them met in front of the inn, refreshed and ready to go. "We''re only allowed in the city for a short time." Fenrin reminded them "So, we should try and get through our list of things to do as quickly as possible." "I''m not in a big hurry." Siora said, the only non-wayfarer in their current group. They''d already activated the node nearest the city, which meant that the elf had completed her primary objective in coming here. "There''s some ingredients I''d like to pick up at the market, but I''ll stick with you all. I''m not good with crowds." "Me either." Jade said. "I''d like to stay away from big groups if we can. They give me headaches." "Headaches?" Naomi asked. "Too many emotions at once." "During the day it shouldn''t be too bad." Fenrin reassured her. "Last night was more crowded than usual. If we swing by the markets while most people are working, there won''t be many people." "Do we need to shop?" Luis asked. "Between what we picked up on Earth and in Lysara, we have plenty of food and supplies." "The weapons you received from the stronghold boss in Lysara all have upgrade slots, don''t they?" Fenrin asked. He gestured to Jade and she handed him her dimensional pouch, allowing him to retrieve the bow he''d received as his own reward. Unlike in most games and movies, people in real life frowned when you wandered around their city streets armed to the teeth. They had stowed their weapons and armor in the dimensional pouch for the duration of their stay in the city, although they could be quickly retrieved if needed. Fenrin pointed to a smooth patch of wood near the center of the bow shaft. Three circular indentations were cut into the turquoise stave, as if they were slots for something to be placed in. "Some of the market shops probably sell enchantment runes. It might be a good idea to upgrade our gear while we can." "I need to visit one of the temples here." Jade added. "I''ve heard there''s a demon priestess of¡­ what was it." She struggled to recall what captain Mar had told her on the first floor. "The goddess of redemption, I think." They all looked at Fenrin, who had the most experience with the city. "That''ll be in the Emerald District, where we were yesterday. Not sure about that deity, but all the temples are near each other." "Are there a lot of them?" Naomi asked. "At least a dozen. I''ve never bothered much with the faiths." Fenrin shrugged. "My hometown isn''t very religious, and if the gods are all gone anyway¡­" Mirella, perched on his shoulder as usual, squawked, pecking his ear. "Ow!" He winced, brushing her aside. "No, I won''t say that when I''m there, Mimi. I''m not tactless." Mirella clicked her beak, turning away in a huff, and Jade wondered just how intelligent the familiar was. She could obviously understand their conversations. Was that because of the special bond between Fenrin and the familiar? Or was that type of bird naturally so bright? She suspected it was the former. The other items on their to-do list were connecting with any Earth wayfarers in the area and searching for signs of demon activity in the city. Aylin had sent a warning ahead weeks ago, and she had inquired about the situation at the Arcaneum the previous evening. As far as the mage could tell, there was no indication any demons were in the city other than the priestess they already knew about. And now Jade. Had Malice been lying to her? She hadn''t been under Jade''s spell when she''d told Jade to visit her in the city, and she supposed it was possible that the succubus''s words had been misdirection. Her gut told her otherwise. She was here somewhere. She didn''t know how, but she knew it. As they were already nearby and there wasn''t much of a crowd, they decided to start with the marketplace. Fenrin guided them through numerous stalls and storefronts stocked with everything from fresh fruit and other produce to jewelry, armor, travel supplies, and more oddities than Jade could identify. Before they arrived at the enchantment store, though, Naomi pointed. "Hey, look." she said, perking up. The bard was gesturing towards a man and woman, both human, who had just emerged from a blacksmith. Jade immediately understood their significance. Unlike the tunics and cottons dresses everyone else in town was wearing, these two were dressed in the contemporary Earth fashion. The man was even wearing jeans. They''re from Earth! Luis stepped forward, flagging them down. "Howdy friends." He said with a smile, letting a little more of his Texas drawl slip through than usual. "Nice to see some familiar faces." It took Jade a moment to realize that Luis had intentionally used a southern colloquialism as a means of identifying them. None of them were wearing Earth clothes, and their group included non-humans. That was something Jade wouldn''t have thought of, but she noticed how it put the pair immediately at ease. "Another Earth group?" The man said, extending his hand. "Glad we''re finally starting to run into more of you. I''m Ray." They quickly introduced themselves, moving out of the thoroughfare and onto a side street to avoid blocking the road. Ray was a tall, well-groomed man, wearing the sort of rugged pants and boots that you''d expect to see on a hiking trail. His companion, Jenny, was a slender woman with a face full of freckles. She greeted them with far more enthusiasm than Jade was ready for, vigorously shaking each of their hands. "The rest of our team is out questing in the delta." Jenny said. "Want to join us? We''ll be heading back to check on Earth afterwards." "We just got back from Earth." Jade explained, a revalations that prompted numerous questions. They took a few minutes to answer the most pressing ones, going over the current state of their home. "Not great, but not terrible." Ray concluded, crossing his arms. "Do you still want to go back?" Jenny asked him. "It sounds like we''re more useful here." "We should still go. Mark and Chengxi have families to see." "Good point. Besides, I need to tell my asshole boss I quit." Jenny grinned. "Hey, are there any laws against using our powers on people back home yet?"The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Not that I know of¡­" Jade said slowly. "Great!" "Jenny¡­" Ray sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder. "What? I won''t hurt anyone¡­ Permanently." "Sorry about her." Ray told the rest of them. His gaze swept over Fenrin and Siora curiously, but he didn''t address them. "Getting pulled into the Labyrinth got her out of a bad situation." "I''m glad some good came of it." Naomi said. "There''s enough pain going around." "The people we''ve talked to are planning on meeting in Illysport on the third floor." Jade said, gesturing skyward in the universal way of indicating the higher levels. "If your team is ready, you should head there next. We''ll be organizing a way to scout out these cores." "We''ll talk it over." Ray said, although he sounded hesitant. No doubt he''d been hoping for a stronger, more immediate response from Earth. When they got back, they''d understand. Any support they were going to get wouldn''t be coming quickly. The pair had a team to meet, so they soon bid farewell and departed. Jade watched them go, mulling over the encounter. So, some people hadn''t left for home the instant they could. Their levels were in the low teens, so they weren''t yet ready to head to the third floor. It was better than nothing, however. If there were enough groups like theirs, methodically grinding their way through quests as they climbed the Labyrinth, maybe they could do this faster than she''d been assuming. "Are we really going after the cores ourselves?" Naomi asked. "L-Ref told us to wait for their help." "Every day we wait, things get worse." Jade said grimly. "We have to at least try." "She''s right." Luis nodded. "Besides, can you imagine all the countries back home working together on this? It''s going to be a magical arms race." "Aren''t you two just rays of sunshine." Naomi sighed. "Hey, I''m happy to be wrong." Luis shrugged. "But I''ve read a lot of sci-fi books. When aliens come to Earth, everyone expects that we''d all band together and be united. But it never works out that way." "Real life isn''t fiction." "No." Jade agreed, gesturing for them to move on. "It''s way stranger."
"I thought it was around here somewhere¡­" Fenrin mused, looking around the market side street. It was still mid-morning, and only a few small groups of people were in the area. Many of the businesses in this section of the market hadn''t opened for business yet, with shutters closed over windows. "Mimi?" The familiar took to the sky with a squawk, her two sets of rainbow wings spread wide. She flapped skyward, circling them once, and then descended back to perch on Fenrin''s shoulder, chirping insistently. "Ah. One street over." he said, guiding them down an alley. "Sorry, haven''t spent much time here." "Doin'' better than any of us would, amigo." Luis said. "I still can''t find my way around half the streets in the city I lived in. And that was where I grew up." It took Jade a moment to notice that he''d said ''lived'', not ''live''. Some six weeks into their trial, and they were already beginning to separate themselves from their past lives. It was really sinking in now. No matter what happened, they wouldn''t ever be going back to their pre-Labyrinth existences. It only took another minute before they arrived at their destination. The store was in a two-story marble building, aged but not in disrepair. Glass windows provided a view into a somewhat chaotic interior, with shelves and counters haphazardly strewn around the main room. Every surface looked to be covered in a variety of strange items, from vials of multi-colored powder to crystals, weapons, and a random assortment of mostly unfashionable apparel. The sign over the door read ''Runes and Relics''. "Here we go." Fenrin said, pushing his way inside. He looked around. "A little bigger than I remember it." The rest of them followed him inside, a soft chime sounding as they crossed the threshold. "Be with you in a moment!" An energetic, male voice called from somewhere deeper inside the store. Jade couldn''t see the source, the shelves were piled high with all manner of enchanted items. She extended her aura, detecting countless sources of magic surrounding her in a confusing maelstrom, and immediately retracted it, rubbing her head. No wonder it was a bad idea to try and equip more than a few pieces of magical gear at a time¡­ The enchantments here were interfering with each other, and they weren''t even being used. "Is that an invisibility cloak?" Luis asked, his eyes lighting up. "We have to get this!" Jade turned to inspect the silvery cloak hanging from a hook in a nearby glass case. It shimmered in a shaft of sunlight filtering in from a nearby window, sparkling. According to the system''s description, it was indeed a cloak that rendered the wearer invisible, at least for a certain amount of time. Jade had to admit that was awesome. The price tag, however, was not. "Yeah, no." Jade snorted. "We''re not going into debt." "You could buy a house for that price." Fenrin whistled softly. "And it''d be a nice one." "Maybe, but¡­" Luis gestured to the precious item. "Invisibility. Cloak." Before they could continue, a rather disheveled looking human woman emerged from behind a nearby shelf. She had long, dark hair, and was wearing a stained apron over a bright dress. "Can I help you?" She asked, approaching them. "I''m Ashar''s assistant, Yulie." She had a quick, hurried way of speaking, as if seconds were a precious commodity that shouldn''t be aimlessly spent. "We''re just looking for some upgrade runes. For weapons." Fenrin explained. "And armor." Luis added, as he''d received a shield from the stronghold boss. His comment reminded Jade that her commissioned ''minimalist'' armor also had upgrade slots, not only her enchanted dagger. It would be nice if she could afford to improve both at once, although after seeing some of the prices on the shelves, she wasn''t optimistic. "Of course." Yulie bobbed her head. "Our rune selection is in the back. Follow me." She set off in a half jog, half walk that left them scrambling to keep up. As they maneuvered through more shelves of items, Jade began to hear a muffled conversation. "No, I don''t want to fight them. I want to find them." A refined, and somewhat haughty, feminine voice was saying. "A detection enchantment, then?" This was the male voice from earlier, cheerful and smooth. "I''m sure I''ve got something like that lying around here, somewhere." Jade followed Yulie to the rear of the store where it appeared there was an entire wall dedicated to item upgrade runes. They were roughly the size and shape of a quarter, and came in a variety of colors. Esoteric carvings covered their surfaces, like hieroglyphics. "The index is there." The assistant said, pointing to a thick tome on a plinth in front of the wall. She was already walking off, talking over her shoulder at them. "Have to get back to the enchanting table, give me a shout if you need anything!" She disappeared through a curtain of beads into a back room, from which was emanating a strange array of sizzling and popping sounds. "Ah! Here it is! Just what you''re looking for." The male voice said. They could see the store counter now. A tall, handsome man stood behind it, smiling triumphantly as he presented a silver amulet to the violet-skinned woman leaning towards him. She realized with a start that it was her. The tek''kalla from the inn. "That''ll be four thousand." The man said, holding up the item. He had a tan complexion and short, dark hair styled to the side. He smiled brightly, showing straight, white teeth. "Four thousand?!" The woman exclaimed incredulously. "It''s just a simple divination charm!" "Attuned to a very unusual source." He countered, holding up a finger. "That sort of expertise isn''t found just anywhere." The tek''kalla looked like she wanted to argue but restrained herself at the last moment. "Do you take Conclave credits¡­?" she asked, visibly deflating. "Not usually¡­ But." The shopkeeper lowered his finger. "If you let me spend an hour examining that pulsecaster, I could make an exception." he finished, gesturing to a holstered item hanging from her hip. Jade had only been half listening to the conversation while she and Fenrin perused the index of item upgrades, making notes of the affordable runes. When the alien woman produced what she could as a science-fiction ray gun, however, the pair suddenly had her full attention. The woman set the pistol-shaped device on the counter and scooped up the amulet, hanging it around her neck over her dark shirt. "I''ve always wanted to take a close look at one of these¡­" the shopkeeper said, cautiously picking up the strange, white and gold device. Jade squinted. Was that a digital display on it? "It''s nothing special." she sniffed, tapping the amulet once. It flashed with an amber light, the medallion buzzing in her hand. "Hey, enchanter, your item is broken." the woman complained irately, glaring at him. "My name is Ashar, and it''s perfectly functional!" he protested, frowning back at her. "I created that one myself." "But it''s picking up¡­" Jade''s only warning was the sharp taste of alarmed surprise. Before she could react the tek''kalla grabbed the ''pulsecaster'' back from the shopkeeper and whirled towards Jade''s group, levelling the device at her in one fluid motion. Or rather, that''s what she tried to do. In her haste she tripped over her own feet, stumbled into a shelf, and promptly crashed to the floor in a shower of large, multi-colored crystals. "Demon!" the tek''kalla shouted, still pointing the object in her hands at Jade as she lay sprawled back on the floor. She scrambled back to her feet. "Get back, she''s a-!" THUNK The frantic woman''s head connected solidly with the underside of the thick, wooden shelf. She dropped like a rock, out cold before she even hit the floor. For a long moment, they all just stared at her in stunned surprise. Finally, Naomi broke the silence. "Um¡­ Do you think she''s okay?" Chapter 95 "No, we already have more than we need." Malice said into the crystal sphere, squeezing her clawed fingers around the device with enough force to scratch shallow grooves into the priceless device. "There''s no reason to expend more effort here. Do you know how tedious this is?" The center of the orb held the likeness of Zertrolk, commander of the demon forces assigned to Labyrinth operations. The pain demon was humanoid, with midnight black skin and cold, icy eyes that glimmered with azure energy. The succubus could almost feel his frigid aura emanating from the farseeing orb as he glared at her with such intensity that a chill ran down her spine. "I care not for what you do and don''t like, Malice." He said in a cool, unfeeling voice. "All that matters is we have enough for the rituals." "I assure you, Lady Ira will be satisfied." "If she isn''t, it will be your flesh her talons rend." Zertrolk grunted, crossing his large, muscular arms. "Why she put an unreliable thrill seeker like you in charge of a critical task, I''ll never know." "Because unlike you, I can be subtle." Malice retorted, sneering. "No one in the city has realized that three quarters of the palatial vaults have been emptied. The dimension effusion will be in your hands by tomorrow night." It would have been sooner if Estelhelm''s city walls weren''t warded against teleportation. Their team had the expertise to safely transport even something as unstable as dimension effusion via magical means, but there was simply no way to get around the protective enchantments. That was why, in the large basement chamber of the abandoned warehouse they were using as a temporary base, four carts were being loaded with their freshly obtained spoils. Malice could hear the imps and bruzaks, demon brutes, hard at work outside the dilapidated storage room she''d appropriated as an office. Already she tired of this tedium. The succubus needed to kill someone. Or screw someone. She didn''t much care which. "Are you even listening to me?" Her commander demanded, a hint of frustration finally slipping into his words. Malice''s claws clenched harder, a crack appearing on the orb. "Yes." She lied, giving him her best coy smile. "Raiya has gotten everything out of the palace vaults that she can. Any more, and even she won''t be able to hide the thefts any longer. It''s time for us to leave." Zertrolk fell silent, staring at her intently through the farseeing orb. Finally, he spoke. "Very well. I''ll be waiting for you." The connection severed and the crystal sphere went blank, filling with fog. Malice was tempted to smash it, crush it, or order one of her subordinates to devour the damn thing, but resisted the impulse. She just had to tolerate this for a little longer. Once the initial ritual was complete they''d have more manpower, and she could take a break. It would all be worth it, in the end. She was the one who had obtained the core location data from the new wayfarers, she had even located the proper site on the third floor for a ritual herself. Lord Vastrozun would surely reward her, when this was done. She just had to ensure that they seized the Earth artifacts too. Malice strode from the small chamber, entering the larger portion of the warehouse basement where several carts were being loaded with crates of effusion. Large, burly demons did most of the heavy lifting, the dark-skinned humanoid creatures barely able to pass as human even while wrapped in thick cloaks. Smuggling them into the city had been a pain. Fortunately, getting them out was a much simpler proposition. Not that their lives mattered to the succubus. If the carts made it out, she couldn''t care less what happened to the demons and imps in this room. They knew that as well as she did, but no one complained. They knew their place. "Kellak." She said, approaching the only other high caste demon in the group. "Join the gate guard. We''ll need a distraction to slip free of the city tonight." The blood demon smiled, an expression that made even Malice cringe. That pale skin, the too-wide mouth, and those hungry eyes¡­ These creatures were always a disconcerting sight, and that was when they were disguised in human form. Something none of them ever managed to get quite right, for some reason. "It will be my pleasure." Kellak rasped, chewing the words like pieces of meat before spitting them out. "I''ll take of their places in the next shift." "Just make sure no one finds the body." Malice glowered at him. "If this goes wrong, I''m not taking the blame." "Yes, you are." The dark-haired demon grinned back at her, and then waved his hand dismissively. "But you have nothing to worry about. There won''t be any." "Mistakes?" "No." his grin broadened, revealing rows of wicked, needle-like teeth. "Bodies."
"Hey." Jade shook the strange woman by the shoulder. "You okay?" Naomi had just channeled one of her healing spells into the unconcious lady, who Jade''s interface identified as ''Tara''lynn''. She was a wayfarer with a class called ''elementalist'', and her level was strange. Her Labyrinth granted level was only ''eight'', but the estimation of her total strength and ability was an enormous ''twenty-three''. That was one of the largest disparities Jade had seen so far. From what Aylin and Master Rhysten had explained, that meant she had probably been a student of magic outside of the framework of the Labyrinth. A path that not many people bothered with, considering all the extra time and studying it took to reach proficiency the ''long'' way. The tek''kalla groaned, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal bright, amethyst pools. She focused on Jade and opened her mouth to speak, but Jade stopped her with a raised hand.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "Yes, I''m a demon. No, I''m not with whatever group of them is in the city. We''re looking for them too. I''m a wayfarer, from the newly integrated world. I took a race change when I gained my mark." Jade rotated her hand to show the shifting, maze-like pattern of twisting lines and sigils that comprised all wayfarer marks. "Seems like you''re looking into this too, amiga." Luis said, extending a hand to Tara''lynn. "Maybe we could work together?" "Luis, she just tried to blast us with a magic gun." Naomi pointed out. "Nah, she was only trying to hit Jade." "That makes it better?" "It was just a misunderstanding." Jade said, not taking her eyes off the slender tek''kalla woman. "Right?" Tara''lynn hesitated, her eyes flicking between Jade''s human face and the glowing mark on her hand. Then, slowly, she nodded, accepting Luis''s proffered hand and allowing him to pull her to her feet. The violet-skinned woman grimaced, rubbing the back of her head. "You''re really a wayfarer?" She shook her head. "No, you can''t fake a trial mark. But¡­" Tara''lynn narrowed her eyes at Jade. "I''ve never heard of someone taking a demon race before. That wasn''t an option for me." "It''s starting to happen more and more." The shopkeeper, Ashar, said, stepping out from behind the counter. He frowned at the collapsed shelf, broken containers, and shattered crystals. "A good number of wayfarers pass through my store. I''ve heard more than one talking about it." The enchanter pulled a wand from a hip holster and twirled it with a flourish, sending the shelf sliding back into place on the wall. The crystals followed, sorting themselves back into newly formed bowls with a rapid series of ''clinks''. Jade had to duck as one whizzed over her, settling on the top of the pile with a final clatter. "Now, what''s this about demons in the city?" Jade took a few minutes to summarize, again, her encounter with Malice in Lysara, and the operation she had hinted at here in Estelhelm. The tek''kalla still looked suspicious of her, but her head snapped up when she heard the succubus''s name. "I ran across a couple of imps smuggling dimension effusion to a warehouse in the city outskirts." She said, finally holstering the strange magical firearm she carried. "One of them said her name." "Dimension effusion?" Siora asked. The elf was poking through a supply of bottled alchemical reagents and had hardly reacted to the commotion. "It''s an extremely valuable crafting material." Fenrin supplied. Like Jade, he was still keeping a wary eye on Tara''lynn. "But it''s volatile and unstable if not prepared properly. Even if it is, you have to handle it carefully. It''s a lot of what we mine in Rimestead." "It''s all stored in the royal vaults." Ashar said, leaning back against the store counter. He twirled his wand around in his fingers, spinning it with impressive finesse. "How would they have gotten to it? I hear they''re quite well guarded." "Malice is a succubus, like me." Jade said, shifting into her demon form and unfurling her wings, spreading them wide. "If she wants to get something, she has all the tools she needs." Tara''lynn stared at Jade, wide-eyed. Apparently, expressions of shock were somewhat universal. "You chose to be a succubus? Why?" "I didn''t have much of a choice." Jade grunted, crossing her arms. "If you found demons in the city, why didn''t you go to the Silver Shield?" Ashar asked. "There''ve been rumors for weeks. Isn''t there a reward posted?" "I did tell them." Tara''lynn grimaced. Although she was speaking to Ashar, she didn''t take her eyes off Jade. "They sent a few people to look around, but they didn''t find anything. After that, they ignored me." She sighed, running a hand through her long hair in frustration. "I took a look myself, last night. It''s empty. But I know that I saw them go inside. That''s why I wanted this." Tara''lynn held up the amulet, still looped around her neck. "They''re hiding in there somewhere. I''ve read about demons. I know how cunning they are. I need to do something about this, they''re too dangerous to be in the city." As the tek''kalla didn''t seem to be directing her concern at Jade, at least not directly, she chose not to take offence at that. "I want to help." Naomi surprised Jade by speaking up. "If what Malice told you is true, Jade, then these demons might have something to do with what''s happening on Earth. We could learn something about it." "They''re a danger to the city, too." Fenrin said. "They could be doing much more than just stealing, and no one knows yet." "Stealing dimension effusion is bad enough." Ashar nodded. "You''re right, it could be used in any number of unpleasant ways, in unsavory hands." Fenrin agreed grimly. "Oh." Ashar blinked. "I meant that additional scarcity would make prices shoot through the roof. It''s hard enough to get a supply for enchanting as it is." Fenrin gave him an exasperated look. "But yeah, yeah¡­" he nodded quickly. "Safety first." A loud clattering sound emanated from the back room, quickly followed by a billowing cloud of black smoke that filtered through the bead curtain. Yulie, the assistant, stumbled through it a moment later, waving a hand in front of her face and coughing. "Ashar!" She called, wiping her eyes. "You told me you fixed the mana modulator!" "I did!" He protested. "I opened it up and replaced all the charging crystals." Yulie glowered at him, gesturing to the cloud of smoke. "Did you read the instructions that came with it first?" "I mean¡­" He began, in the tone of a man who was choosing his next words carefully. "Well, you know. I''m an experienced artificer, I thought I''d try out some upgrades." "You¡­" Yulie crossed her arms indignantly, but Ashar raised a hand. "Sorry, Yulie!" He told his assistant. "We just found out about an emergency. It''s an emergency, right?" He glanced at the rest of them. "Have to go help take care of a demon problem. Civic duty, what can you do?" "Demons? Your workshop is on fire!" The assistant finally noticed Jade''s new form and froze, staring at her in surprise. Ashar ignored her and poked his head through the bead curtain, waving away the thinning smoke. "Ahh, it''s just mana combustion, looks worse than it is. You can handle it." Jade ignored their antics, turning back to Tara''lynn. "We want to find these demons. One of them has attacked us before, and they''re planning something to do with our world. I''m going to find out what." "Want to join up?" Luis asked with a grin. Tara''lynn blinked in surprise, finally taking her eyes off Jade. "You''d work with a tek''kalla?" "Sure." Luis shrugged. "Why not?" "You''re Elorinth Conclave, right?" Fenrin asked, examining her closely. "Some of your other clans give your people a bad reputation down here, but my father took me on trade expeditions to Elorinth outposts. Good people." "I¡­" she straightened, standing upright. "Yes." Tara''lynn said, extending her hand to Luis. "Let''s do it." Then she shot Jade a warning look. "Just so you know, I have plenty of charm defenses." "If you''re working with us, no complaints about her." Naomi replied before Jade could speak. "Give her a chance." The tek''kalla hesitated for a long moment, and then nodded. She shook Jade''s hand. Her fingers were slender and delicate, feeling almost fragile in her grip. "I''m Tara''lynn clan Kasta, of the Elorinth Conclave. But you can just call me Tara." "Jade." She let go, stepping back. The smoke had mostly cleared now, although an acrid odor hung in the air. "You can take us to the warehouse you mentioned?" Tara nodded. She tapped on flat crystal embedded on a forearm bracer and, to Jade''s surprise, a map appeared on it. Is that magic? Or technology? "It''s right here." she said, pointing. "On the opposite side of the city." Jade looked around, checking on her companions. Naomi and Fenrin gave her nods, and Luis a thumbs up. Mimi chirped once from her perch on Fenrin''s shoulder, shuffling her rainbow wings and clacking her beak aggressively. Siora looked worried but, after a moment, she nodded as well. "Lead the way." Chapter 96 "Remind me again why you''re coming along?" Jade asked, giving Ashar a sidelong glance as they moved at a brisk pace through the streets of Estelhelm. Tara led the way, referencing the device strapped to her wrist as she cut through alleyways, crossed streets, and guided them through a confusing network of roads. The city of Estelhelm was a densely crowded place, no doubt due to the strict space limitations being constructed atop a plateau imposed. "How could I miss an adventure?" The enchanter flashed a grin at her. "Demons in the city? A dose of midnight espionage? How about a chance to field test some of my latest creations?" He tugged at a bandolier he wore slung over one shoulder, which was laden with a variety of crystals, contraptions, and vials. "''Midnight espionage''" Naomi eyed him skeptically. "It''s midday." "With any luck, the hour will be more appropriately dramatic by the time our venture comes to a head." "Do you take anything seriously?" Jade asked him, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. His Labyrinth level was thirteen but, like Tara, that didn''t tell the whole story. According to the interface the sum of his external magical abilities was estimated at level twenty-two, the highest of any in their current group. If that, and the quality of the wares in his shop, was anything to go by, he would be an asset. If he can focus for more than ten seconds. "Of course. But most of that is taken up by my projects. It wouldn''t be healthy to burden myself with a mantle of grim determination every moment of the day." "Now you''re speaking my language." Luis said, clapping Ashar on the back hard enough to make him stumble. "The most important time to focus on the good parts of life are when it''s bad. That''s when you need it most." "That almost sounded wise." Jade said. Despite herself, she felt a smile pulling at the corner of her lips. "We''re almost there." Tara interrupted, gesturing for them to stop. She had halted at the mouth of an alley, peering out at a row of warehouses that ran along the spinward rim of the circular city. The tek''kalla pressed her back against the wall, keeping to the shadows. Her efforts at discretion were mostly undone by her stark white robes and the bright, midday sun shining down on them. "Yeah, Tara?" Luis said, stepping up beside her. "You''re going to draw more attention to us like that." Luis wasn''t wrong. A couple of passersby in the street threw curious glances their way, although if that was because of Tara''s strange behavior or was simply due to the motley nature of their group, Jade couldn''t be sure. None of the emotions she could taste included suspicion, so she ignored them. "There might be demons keeping watch." Tara hissed, hunched against the wall. "We should stay out of sight." "There are plenty of people around." Siora pointed out. The elf was bringing up the rear of the group, and still had an anxious air about her. She forced a smile. "If we act natural, we''ll fit in." Tara reluctantly joined them as they stepped out into the broad thoroughfare. It wasn''t exactly teeming with people, this was an industrial part of the city, but there was enough variety in the foot traffic that their group didn''t stand out too much. "You said you checked this place out before?" Jade asked quietly, moving beside the tek''kalla. "How did you get in?" The warehouse in question was a large, three-story tall structure. Its footprint was about the size of a football field, maybe a little wider. The dark stone building was old, with broken windows and cracks running along the side facing the street. None of the windows Jade could see were close to the ground, however, and the large doors were closed. "I blasted through a door in the back." Tara muttered, gesturing down a side street. "Up against the city wall. I waited until no one was around." "Subtle¡­" Fenrin sighed. Tara flushed, which shifted her complexion from violet to plum. It was a little cute, but the glare she shot back at them was anything but. "I didn''t have a lot of options. No one would listen to me, so I had to figure it out myself." "Are we really going to break into a building?" Naomi asked, keeping her voice low as they passed a group of the amphibious rhyssits. They turned down a side street, rounding the side of the large warehouse. Away from the main thoroughfare there were fewer people around. Jade wished they weren''t out in the open, but there was nowhere to hide in the streets surrounding the structure. The alternative would be to wait until nightfall, but sneaking around here would be even more suspicious after dark. "We just got here. Aren''t we supposed to be building good relationships with people in the Labyrinth?" "I''m sure they''ll cut us some slack if we solve a demon problem for them" Luis reassured her. "Besides, we''ve got Fenrin! You''re some sort of noble, aren''t you?" "I''m the grandson of the baroness of a small town two quadrants away from here." Fenrin frowned, absently scratching his familiar''s head. "I wouldn''t count on my name to keep us out of trouble." "You''re not doing much to make me feel better." Naomi sighed. "We''re doing this for Earth, too." Jade reminded her. They''d finally made it to the back of the warehouse. A quick look around, and a soft pulse of her aura, confirmed that no one was nearby. "If we have a chance to find out why demons are interested in Earth, we have to take it. Even if it means taking some risks." "I''m not so keen on them being in the city, myself." Ashar said. He pointed at a small, rusted metal door set into the back wall of the warehouse. "Is that where you got in?" Tara nodded, leading them to the rear entrance. The back of the building abutted the outer wall of the city, and there was barely enough space for them to walk two abreast as they cautiously moved closer. As they drew near, Jade could see scorch marks burned into the door. A small piece of the stone was missing near the latch, blasted away.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. She really did blow it open. "I tried to make it look better when I left." Tara said, not looking at any of them. "But¡­ I''m a little better at breaking things than fixing them." "Wait." Ashar said, holding up his hand. His eyes, normally alight with a mischievous sparkle, had suddenly narrowed. He pulled a small diamond from a pouch on the bandolier he wore slung over his robes. It pulsed softly with faint, blue light, although it stopped as he held it up to his eye. "There''s a detection spell here." "There is?" Tara took her wand and muttered an incantation to no obvious effect. "I don''t see anything." The threshold appeared completely mundane to Jade as well. Her magical senses were getting sharper every day, but she couldn''t detect so much as a hint of any enchantments. "It''s weak and subtle." Ashar said slowly, panning the gem across the door as if it were a magnifying glass. "Probably a divination spell, or an alarm." "Nothing happened when I came through here last time." "Could be why you didn''t find anything." Fenrin said, glancing around and making sure they were still alone. "We shouldn''t stay out here." "I can disable the spell." Ashar offered, digging through another pouch at his waist. "Just give me a moment." The enchanter sprinkled a vial of red powder across the length of the threshold, which settled into a loose line on the ground. Then he squeezed a drop of liquid from a vial, dropping it right in the middle of the doorway. There was a ''pop'' and a small flash, and then nothing. "All done." He said, stowing his supplies. "Let''s get inside." Taking him at his word, Jade followed Ashar into the dark interior of the warehouse. She was surprised to find that the door opened directly into a large, cavernous space, and not a smaller room or utility hall. A pair of skylights let in a small amount of sunlight, allowing her to see clear across the entire length of the structure to the giant doors that opened onto the main street. Large crates, boxes, and the remains of other storage containers littered the interior of the building, many of which were broken or decayed. "What now?" Naomi asked, quietly closing the door behind them as they slipped inside. "Let''s get geared up." Jade said, opening the mouth of her dimensional bag and starting to distribute equipment. "Fenrin, tell Mimi to keep an eye out for us." Sophisticated detection spells were a strong indicator that something unusual was going on here, to say the least. That wasn''t the sort of thing that fit such an obviously abandoned and dilapidated warehouse. "We''re just going to find that they''re here, then go to the Silver Shield, right?" "That''s the plan." "Then why are we putting our armor on?" Jade glanced back at where the detection spell had lain hidden. "Because we aren''t the only ones who make plans." Naomi sighed but accepted her enchanted armor from Jade and started pulling it on. She shared her concerns, but Tara had already tried to bring this to the attention of the local authorities. If the demons were here, they surely knew they were being investigated. Even with the foiled spell, they could already know they were here. Best to be ready for a fight. "That''s¡­ unconventional." Ashar said, staring openly at Jade as she finished donning her own, unique armor. That she only flushed a little at his attention was a testament to her prior training in Lysara. "Is there a reason for it?" "Yes." she said curtly, tightening the last of the buckles. Jade had taken the time to modify her minimalist armor to at least cover her chest a little better, utilizing Naomi''s skills as a tailor to grant her a tad more modesty on the battlefield, but she still looked like she''s stepped out of one of those ubiquitous ads for shady mobile games. "The magic is quite impressive." He said thoughtfully, casting a critical eye over the intricately carved runes woven into the leather straps that comprised her ''armor''. "This is elven design, isn''t it? How does it-?" "Later." Jade hissed, nodding deeper into the warehouse. "Focus." Luis and Tara were the last to finish gearing up. Where Luis wore a heavy breastplate, Tara''s combat attire was¡­ unusual. The tek''kalla had donned a multi-layered set of armor, first pulling on a form-fitting black under suit and then, with a few taps to the device on her wrist, conjuring angled white panels of composite material to cover her torso and legs. The white-on-black design was sleek and futuristic to Jade''s eyes, although perhaps too striking to be well suited to covert action. Tara slid a clear visor down over her eyes, leaving the rest of her head bare. "Ready." she said, keeping her wand up. The strange device she''d brandished at Jade in Ashar''s shop remained holstered at her hip. A few moments of quiet discussion were all it took to form a loose plan. Ashar''s array of enchanted items had proved more effective at detecting whatever magic was at play here than any of their senses, so he would guide them while the rest kept a close lookout for any signs of trouble. The twin skylights did little to banish the oppressive gloom of the abandoned structure, and Jade was tempted to shift into an elven form to give her a better view. Instead, she opted to adopt her demon shape, trusting in its enhanced attributes. The next twenty minutes passed slowly, tension building with each new area they investigated. A collection of small offices yielded no secrets, nor did any of the large containers, intact or otherwise. As large as it was, the warehouse was mostly empty space. There weren''t many places for a group of conspirators to hide. Jade could taste the group''s anxiety and apprehension grow with each passing minute, the turbulent emotions mingling with her own. As with all negative emotions they were pleasing to her demonic form, and she had to fight to avoid getting distracted. Preoccupied, she nearly walked into Ashar as he suddenly stopped, holding his wand. The enchanter had affixed the diamond from earlier to a slot on his focus and had been waving it around. Now he stood still, frowning at it. "What''s wrong?" Fenrin asked. The half-elf had his bow out. Not quite at the ready, but able to be brought quickly to bear on any threats that presented themselves. "There''s nothing here." He replied, not taking his eyes off the implement. "Isn''t that a good thing?" "No, I mean, here." Jade followed Ashar''s gesture as he indicated a loose pile of rubble and debris. "My detection gem isn''t returning anything at all. It''s like it doesn''t exist." "Illusion?" Jade asked, cautiously probing the area with her foot. It felt solid enough to her. Clunk. She expected the floor in the area to be the same, rough stone as it was in the rest of the buildings. Instead, as she nudged aside a few pieces of broken rock and slats of wood, her foot hit a perfectly smooth, dark surface. What is this? Together, they carefully cleared the area to reveal a three-foot square panel set into the floor. Ashar nodded slowly, pointing his wand at it. "Lead." he said softly. "It''s blocking the spell. And our senses." That was news to Jade. She filed the information away for future reference. Refocusing on the task at hand, she studied the lead square beneath her feet. There was a latch. A trapdoor? "This is old." Fenrin whispered, kneeling to inspect the trapdoor. "If demons are here, they didn''t make this." "Doesn''t mean they couldn''t be putting it to use." Jade replied, crouching beside him. "Let''s take a look." "Shouldn''t we go back and report what we found?" Naomi asked, giving the hatch a nervous look. Her guitar was in her hands now, held at the ready. "We don''t know anything yet. For all we know, this is just a cellar." Jade didn''t believe that any more than the rest of them did. Her gut told her that they''d uncovered something important here. It felt wrong to just walk away. She felt an urge to act, an impulse to delve deeper. It was her nature. But she hesitated. Too many times, she''d forged on ahead heedless of the consequences. Maybe, this time¡­ Creak. Without warning, the hatch lifted from the floor, shoved from below. A dark, hooded head emerged from the floor, one dark arm still holding up the trapdoor as it clambered free of a ladder. "That''s right." It said in a raspy voice, looking down into the hole. "I''ll check it ou-" The creature finally noticed the group surrounding it and froze, half in, half out of the hatch. The sudden stop caused its hood to fall back, revealing dark skin, angular features, and curling horns. Its eyes went wide. "Wha-" Jade was the first to recover from her surprise, and she didn''t hesitate. Ripping her daggers free of their sheaths, she lunged straight for the demon''s throat. Chapter 97 Jade didn''t need the interface to tell her what this creature was, but she pulled it up anyway as she struck with blinding speed. ''Bruzak - Demon'' was all she registered before Phantom''s tip sank into his neck, cutting off the shout of alarm already starting to emerge from his throat. The pulsing weak spot highlighted by ''Vital Strike'' did its job, and her blade sank to hilt with a violent spray of black blood. "Guuhhghh¡­" The humanoid demon slumped, flickering flames dying in his hands as whatever magic he''d been about to summon flickered and failed along with the body of its host. The creature sagged, losing his grip on the narrow ladder he''d climbed to reach the trapdoor. Jade grabbed at his arms in an attempt to hold him up, Luis and Fenrin dashing over to help, but it was too late. He was too heavy, and the body slipped from her grasp to crash down into the tunnel-like-chamber below with a ''thud''. "Garzvog!" A raspy voice hissed from below. Whether it was a name or a curse, Jade couldn''t tell. "Intruders! Send word to the lady! We need to leave!" Jade spared a fraction of a moment to glance at her friends. Fenrin and Luis were beside her now, weapons out. Tara had her wand at the ready, running closer. Ashar''s smile was gone. He held his gem-studded wand in one hand, and a small vial in the other. Naomi caught her eye, face pale, and gave the slightest of nods. There wasn''t time to think or deliberate. If the demons fled, they might never find them again. They did this now, or they gave up their best chance at finding answers. "Siora, watch our backs." Jade hissed. "Better yet, go get the guard." Fenrin countermanded. "Tell them what we''ve found." That was a better idea. Who knew what was waiting for them down below. Jade leapt down the shaft without waiting for an acknowledgement, pursuing the rapidly receding footfalls. They had to act now, while they still held the advantage of surprise.
Malice was having a frustrating day. First, her idiot subordinates had dropped an entire crate of dimension effusion while trying to load it into one of the carts, scattering pouches and vials everywhere. Killing the two responsible had made her feel better but hadn''t done much to improve productivity. It had all gone downhill from there. Nothing but delays, excuses, and a room full of cowardly demons who wouldn''t even meet her eyes. "If we aren''t ready to leave by tonight." Malice growled, stalking the length of the room, tail swishing in time with her lash. "Then I''ll-" A distant, echoing clatter reached her ears, along with raised voices. The sounds were coming from the tunnel leading to the abandoned warehouse, and she turned just in time to see a bloodied, wounded bruzak stagger out of the passage. He collapsed with a gurgle, two arrows protruding from his back. A powerful aura pulse was all it took for Malice to locate and identify the intruders, and a smile stretched across her face. Finally. Something interesting. "You lot!" She growled at a group of bruzaks who had been busying themselves preparing the last of the crates. "Go slow down the intruders. The rest of you! Get the door open. We''re leaving, now." "But the rest of the effusion¡­?" One of the imps asked, flapping over to her. "Lord Zertrolk demanded-" A single slice of her clawed hands rent the pathetic creature in two, sending both halves of its small body splattering to the ground in front of her. "We have more than enough loaded already." She snapped, irritated. What was it going to take to get her own subordinates to listen to her. "Get moving!" The collection of weak auras belonging to Jade and her friends weren''t enough to defeat all of them, Malice wasn''t worried about that. A large conflict next to the valuable, fully loaded wagons could, however, damage or destroy the goods she''d worked so hard to obtain. Better to move up the schedule and get underway now rather than risk a confrontation here. She strode towards the passage at the rear of the rest of the group she''d commanded to intercept them, heels clicking on the stone floor with each step. That didn''t mean she couldn''t enjoy herself a little before they had to leave. It would take a few minutes to open the smuggler''s hatch that led onto the street, and the animals had to be hitched to the wagons. That left time for her to play with her new sister again. Maybe this day wasn''t going so poorly after all.
Jade hadn''t been sure what to expect, but a complex of tight tunnels under the warehouse wasn''t it. The small passages were low enough that even she had to stoop to avoid hitting her head and were barely broad enough to stand two abreast. This made fighting difficult, especially for someone who relied as much on mobility as she did. Luis and Fenrin took the lead, the two men better suited to direct confrontation than she. The snap of Fenrin''s bow was accompanied by a burst of electricity and a gurgling choke, followed by a heavy thump. "Got one." He grunted, sliding another arrow from his quiver. "See any others?" Jade asked, unable to view much of the winding tunnel past the bulk of her two companions. The area had fallen silent, although at least two of the demonic creatures had escaped into the network of passages. The rest had fought, slashing at them with sharp claws and flinging balls of crackling fire. They had been quickly dispatched, the ferocious ''bruzaks'' showing no regard for their own safety. "Nothing." Luis said, taking the lead and pressing forward. "Looks like a bigger room ahead."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Good. Let''s get out of these tunnels." As they pressed forward, they had to step over a couple of demonic corpses. The bruzaks were vaguely humanoid with dark skin, protruding bone ridges from their extremities, and vicious claws extending from their fingers. They were taller than Jade, and each wore an obscuring robe that hid most of their features but offered little in the way of protection. "Did we have to kill them¡­?" Naomi asked, looking back at one of the corpses. Dark blood was pooling around its crumpled form, crimson eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling. "Yes." Tara said from the middle of their group. The tek''kalla still had her wand at the ready, although she hadn''t used it to cast any spells yet. Her angular face was set in a scowl. "Demons are a plague that bring death and delight in the torment of their victims. Do not feel for them." Gee. Thanks. "Some people say the same about your people." Fenrin said, shooting her a glance over his shoulder. "It''s dangerous to condemn entire peoples with sweeping generalizations." "If you lack the will to fight, then get out of the way so that I may." Fenrin hesitated, and then shook his head. "No. This group is too big a threat to the city. We can''t let them get away." They''d been attacked on sight by every bruzak they''d encountered in the tunnels, most of which had ferociously thrown themselves at Luis and Fenrin with reckless abandon. According to Ashar, this type of demon feasted on humanoid flesh. Jade had no qualms about killing them. "Let''s just¡­ be careful." Naomi said quietly as they passed through an opening and, finally, emerged into a larger space. This new room wasn''t enormous, but the ceiling was high enough for them all to stand upright. Like the rest of the underground complex the walls were formed from worked grey stone, the area lit by flickering torches. Several alcoves were carved into the walls in the sides of the room, most of which were barred. Jade thought they were prison cells at first, but the barred doors didn''t appear to have any locks on them. There were signs that they''d been used as storage vaults, instead. Indeed, twin tracks reminiscent of railway lines disappeared through more tunnels on the far side of the room, and there was even a few mine carts resting inert on the closest of them. No sooner had she finished her brief inspection of the room when another, larger group of the brutish demons burst into the chamber from the opposite passages. None of them bore weapons other than their clawed hands and conjured fire, and all were garbed in the same nondescript robes. That didn''t mean they weren''t dangerous, however. The demons all had Labyrinth estimated levels in the mid-teens and, while none were quite as quick of their feet as Jade, each were strong and tough. Fenrin, Luis, Jade, and Naomi were used to fighting as a unit now, and the strength of their teamwork proved to be the deciding factor in the short but brutal fight. None of the demons fought with any coordination, instead throwing themselves into the fray with more ferocity than intent. Luis took the brunt of their attacks on his shield, focusing on keeping their attention away from Naomi and Fenrin as the bard buffed their speed and the half-elf fired electrically charged arrows with lethal precision. Jade shifted through the shadows, flitting in and out of the edges of battle. Laying traps, finishing off wounded combatants, and disappearing into shadows as soon as she drew attention proved an effective means of disrupting the initial fury of the demons'' assault, keeping them confused and off-balance. Despite never having worked with any of them before, Tara''lynn proved to be an adaptable fighter. Perhaps realizing that she could easily break the cohesion of an established team, she held back to the rear of the fight, blasting bursts of fire and light energy into the thickest clusters of the dozen or more demons that engaged them. Her spells were well placed, never too near an ally and often blindsiding her targets, leaving them open for other attacks. Ashar, for his part, stayed in the tunnel behind them, making sure no further enemies were moving to flank their rear. The battle was turning decidedly in their favor when Jade''s expanded senses prickled. There was a crack and a whistling, and she threw herself to the side. Too slow. The whip caught her in the hip, sparking against her defensive barrier and slicing through to gouge a shallow cut on her exposed skin. The wound stung, although her enhanced fortitude was enough to prevent it from being more than a superficial injury. She spun, crouched, blades at the ready, her gaze landing on the newest of the combatants. Her lips drew into a line as she recognized the slender figure, long dark hair, and wicked grin. "Malice¡­" She growled. "Hello, little sister." The succubus said in a lilting tone. The battle was nearly over, Jade''s friends mopping up the last of the ravenous demons behind her. If Malice cared about the fate of her allies, neither her face nor aura betrayed her feelings. The demon''s attention was fixed on Jade, and there was an amused glint in her eyes. "What are you doing here?" Jade demanded, stalking closer to the succubus. She was clad in black leather, a supple, form fitting outfit that accentuated her curves. Red runes pulsed in spiraling patterns across the torso in a mesmerizing display. "What did you mean when you said demons were sent to Earth?" Malice''s grin broadened. Jade hadn''t really expected an answer, but the demon''s derisive chuckle pissed her off all the same. "Why don''t you come with me and find out, Jade?" She smirked, glancing at her bloodstained daggers. "I see you''re quickly becoming accustomed to our ways. Don''t deny that you enjoy the thrill of the fight, sister, I can taste that you do." Anger spiked through Jade''s mind. She''d always hated being talked down to, and this creature had already humiliated her enough. "I''ll enjoy getting answers out of you." She shot back. "I''m not unarmed and alone this time." Jade twitched her wrist in a practiced motion, flinging phantom towards the demon. As expected, Malice easily twisted aside, deftly dodging the blow. The blade sank into a wooden support beam behind her and Jade teleported, appearing on her other side and ripping the blade free before it had even finished sinking into the wood. She slashed at Malice''s back- Only for the demon to whirl on her with lightning reflexes, catching her by the wrist and sweeping Jade''s legs out from under her. She crashed to the ground with enough force to shatter the remnants of her protective barrier, pain blossoming through her shoulder and side. That wasn''t enough to stop Jade, however, and she flung herself to the side, narrowly avoiding Malice''s heeled boot from stomping into her back. A double slash with her blades caught the succubus across the knees, drawing blood and making her leap away with a snarl. "You''re getting better." The succubus grinned, dragging a clawed finger across the gash in her leg and raising it to her mouth, tasting the blood. The disturbing sight sent an involuntary shudder running down Jade''s spine as she rolled to her feet. "And I like the new armor¡­ I should get some like that." Jade ignored the comment. Her friends had defeated the remaining demons and were rushing across the room to help. Even the demon''s higher level wouldn''t protect her from a combined assault. "This should be long enough." Malice said, casting a critical eye across the pile of dead demons littering the chamber. "I appreciate the help, the carts didn''t have room for all of them." Did this creature care about anything? The complete apathy towards the bloody massacre surrounding them was unsettling in an entirely new way. "You-" Too late. Malice''s form sank into the shadows, dissolving into a line of smoke that streaked back down the passage she''d emerged from. That''s new¡­ "Was that her?" Naomi asked, breathless. "The succubus?" "It was." Jade growled, taking off down the tunnel at a sprint. "And we aren''t letting her get away!" She didn''t wait for her friends to reply. Jade had a score to settle with this demon, and she had no intention of letting her slip away again, not without some real answers. There was too much at stake. Chapter 98 Jade navigated the short complex of dimly lit tunnels at a sprint, homing in on the muffled sounds of shouts and grinding machinery coming from up ahead. She burst into a large open space, surprised to see a shaft of daylight streaming in through a set of large doors at the far end of the room. Weren''t they underground? She shook the thought from her head, focusing instead on the five wagons that were lined up in front of the door, all of which were loaded with crates and barrels, each pulled by a pair of the lizard creatures she''d seen in the city above. She arrived just in time to see Malice seize a stack of papers from a table and leap into the foremost cart, shouting at the driver, another one of the bruzak demons, to get underway. The succubus spared a glance back at Jade, giving her a wink and a wave. Even at this distance, there was no missing the self-satisfied smirk that stretched across the demon''s face. Not this time. Jade didn''t break stride, veering towards the rearmost of the five vehicles as they lurched into motion. The animals, which Fenrin had called ''strix'', were pulling them up a ramp that looked as though it led to a concealed hatch at street level. How anyone had hidden the construction of a passage large enough to drive wagons through Jade had no idea, but that didn''t matter. The ramp was only wide enough for one wagon to fit through at a time and, although they had a good head start, she was just able to catch up to the last of the vehicles before it picked up speed. The demon holding the reins slumped over with a gurgle, Jade''s dagger protruding from his neck. She leapt aboard the moving wagon kicking the struggling demon onto the ground and summoning Phantom back to her hand as she spun to confront the two enemies amidst the crates behind her. Like the other bruzaks these creatures carried no weapons, but in such close quarters that wasn''t much of a disadvantage. Two pairs of claws slashed out at Jade, forcing her to the edge of the driver''s bench as she struggled to dodge in such confined quarters and the unstable footing of the bouncing wagon, which was veering to the side now that the driver had dropped the reins. Before she could mount a counterattack, an arc of force energy slammed into one of their backs, knocking the demon over. In the same moment, two arrows slammed into the other one''s shoulder, sparking with electricity and sending him tumbling over the edge of the wagon to join his fallen companion. Jade wasted no time vaulting into the wagon and stabbing down with her twin daggers, finishing off the bruzak Luis''s attack had stunned. A part of her mind spared a moment to wonder when she''d grown so carefree about killing as she wrenched her bloody blades free from its neck, black ichor splattering against her skin. The demonic part of her reveled in the carnage, but that had always been true. The human side, the part that had always shrunk away from battle and violence, wasn''t reacting as strongly as it once had. It was as if she were becoming numb to the dealing of death. The thought made her uncomfortable, but one look at the vicious fangs and razor-sharp claws of the corpse beneath her feet grounded her. This wasn''t a normal person she''d slain, but a ravenous monster that had been trying to tear her to pieces. The fact that it looked vaguely humanoid was unsettling, but she could sort through that later. "Shit." she cursed, looking up to see the last of the four other wagons disappearing up the ramp and onto the streets. "We were too slow." The two strix pulling the vehicle had stopped now that no one was guiding them, appearing confused. Jade had no idea what to do with the tangle of straps and reins piled on the bench beside her. They didn''t have much time to figure it out, as she had no illusions about catching up to the others on foot. Even fully loaded with whatever supplies the demons were carting off, the beasts were pulling them away at an impressive speed. "Everyone on!" Fenrin shouted, hauling himself onto the bench beside Jade. He took the reins. "Do you know how to drive this?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. "I''ve done it a few times." the half-elf replied, searching for a specific strap and yanking on it hard. The motion pulled the strix''s heads down. One of the lizards hissed in annoyance but, a moment later, they both resumed trundling along, hauling the wagon up the ramp behind them. A quick look over her shoulder confirmed that Luis, Ashar, Naomi, and Tara had joined them in the back of the cart, which was rapidly running out of space. Wooden crates filled most of the storage space, some stacked three high and held down by tight straps. The giant lizards were strong enough to pull the load but, with six of them adding to the weight, they weren''t moving as quickly as the others. "These are filled with dimension effusion¡­" Ashar said, lifting the top of one of the crates. His voice was a mixture of awe and surprise. "How did they get so much of it?" "Ditch it." Jade said, scooting to the side to give Fenrin the center spot on the bench. "We''re too heavy." They emerged from the ramp into an alleyway on the opposite side of the street from the abandoned warehouse. A large panel of cobblestone had shifted to the side, creating an opening just wide enough for the cart to squeeze through. Jade ducked under the low overhang, hearing the grinding sound of wood on stone as the wagon scraped through the narrow gap. Then they were through, driving out onto the street. A few passersby gaped at them, pointing and staring, shocked at the sudden appearance of the strange procession. "We can''t just dump it!" Ashar said, aghast. "Do you have any idea how valuable this is? Without careful handling, it could be destroyed!" "Do you want a group of demons to get their hands on it?" Tara snapped. The tek''kalla was already using a dagger to cut the straps securing the cargo. "If the other carts have the same load, we can''t let them get away with it!" "How can they get it out of the city?" Luis asked, helping Tara slice through the straps. "Won''t they be stopped?" "Something tells me they thought of that." Jade grunted, pointing at the approaching intersection. "Fenrin, left!" "I see them." The four wagons had a decent lead on them and were pulling further away with each passing moment. Jade could probably catch up to them at a sprint, but she doubted any of her companions could match the feat. Each of the carts had two or three bruzaks, plus Malice at the forefront. There was no way she could take them all on her own. CRASH Luis shoved one of the crates over the side of the wagon, which splintered immediately upon striking the street. Purple and amethyst powder plumed into the air in a discordant cloud of sparking, shimmering energy that crackled and popped with unstable power. The cart lurched forward, moving faster. "Uh, I''m with Jade." Naomi said, staring back at the minor explosion they''d left in their wake. It had cracked the cobblestone street, marring the stone with a blackened scorch mark. "I don''t want that in here with us." "Fine¡­" The four of them worked quickly, cutting and dumping the cargo behind them while Fenrin drove the cart and Jade kept watch on the demons ahead of them. One of the bruzaks in the rearmost cart finally noticed they were being followed and shouted to his companions. Here it comes. They were gaining now, only about fifty feet back from the closest wagon. Fortunately, the industrial part of the city was mostly free of foot traffic, and the few people they encountered were wise enough to dive for cover as several wagons blasted by at reckless speeds. One of the demons thrust out an open palm, sending a blast of fire searing across the gap between them. Jade ducked on reflex, but Fenrin managed to maneuver out of the way at the last moment. Heat washed over her as the crackling orb of fire whooshed passed. This was going too slowly. Malice was in the lead cart, they weren''t going to have time to fight their way through the three intervening ones between them, not before they reached the edge of the city. Jade was certain that the demons had allies waiting for them outside, or some other means of escape prepared. She had to act now. "Keep them busy." Jade said to the group, climbing up to balance on the side rail. They were approaching a sharp corner, the wagons ahead of them slowing to navigate it. This was her chance. "I''m going after Malice." "Jade!" Naomi said, shocked. She was strumming her guitar now, buffing them with her speed enhancing melody. "You can''t fight her on your own!" "I don''t need to." Alarm bells were tolling now, a discordant clanging coming from deeper in the city. "I just need to slow her down." Without waiting for a reply Jade leapt from the cart. She rotated in mid-air, planting her feet on the stone fa?ade of the building they were passing. The instant the soles of her boots struck the surface she blinked forward, warping past the line of carts blocking them, and heading straight for the succubus. Chapter 99 Tara''lynn watched in disbelief as her demonic ally threw herself out of the speeding wagon and activated some kind of movement talent, blurring away down the broad boulevard. And people called her a loose cannon. Who just ran off on their own in the middle of a fight, leaving behind their team? "Why did she do that?" she demanded, stepping up to take Jade''s place on the driver''s bench beside the half-elf. His familiar had caught up to them, the strange bird flapping overheard and keeping pace with them as they pursued the fleeing demons. "Oh, she does that." The broad-shouldered human, Luis, said, sending an arc of energy smashing into the rear of the rearmost wagon. It swerved violently from the impact, allowing them to pull up alongside it. "That''s not how a team should operate!" "We''ve had the team talk." Naomi said, still playing her otherwordly instrument. Tara''lynn had never heard such energetic music before. The tune filled her with energy, amping her up, more than just by the magic infused into the notes. This, she could get used to. "I think it''s time for another." "Later!" Luis shouted, turning to face the wagon beside them. Two bruzak''s stood in the bed of the cart along with one imp, which perched atop a rather precarious stack of barrels. "Heads up!" The colloquialism was new to the tek''kalla, but the meaning was clear from context. Leaving the enemies ahead of them to Ashar and Fenrin, she and Luis turned to face the closest threat. She was aware of the townspeople crowding the street, frantically getting out of their path. They''d alerted the attention of the guard as well, but so far none of the city''s defenders had managed to catch up to them. That''d change when they reached the gate, but that wasn''t her concern now. Right now, she had to prevent as much collateral damage as possible. Fortunately, the academy had trained her for urban combat and knew how to fight defensively. Tara''lynn flipped her visor down, covering her eyes with the translucent crystalline display of her combat suit. Status indicators populated the corners of her vision, but her attention was focused on something else. The real-time mana analysis her suit was compiling on her foes. Each of the demons in front of her, separated only by a short gap between their speeding vehicles as they careened down the street, was summoning power. She could feel the gathering magic as they cast their spells, crackling energy beginning to grow in the palms of their hands. Her visor updated, identifying two of the spells as fire based and one as lightning based. The mage''s wand moved in a blur, weaving a complex pattern in the air as she channeled her own power. Not complete spells, there wasn''t time. Instead, Tara''lynn simply introduced confounding elements into the still-gathering magic of her foes'' spells. Water essence for the fire spells, and earth essence for the lightning. She was just in time. All three spells flickered out, discharging harmlessly as she disrupted the flow of magic underpinning them. One of the demons snarled a curse at her, reaching out with its claws, only to be knocked free of the wagon by another blast of energy from Luis. "Not bad!" He gave her a thumbs up. "You''re picking this up quick!" "I''ve been training for this." The large human did a double take, stopping mid sword swing. "You''ve been training to fight demons from the back of a speeding wagon?!" "What? No!" Tara''lynn rolled her eyes, beginning to cast one of her fire-based spells. Nothing too destructive, a targeted burst. "Wayfarer training!" The floor beneath her lurched right as she began the incantation, interrupting her spell and sending her toppling into Naomi. They collapsed in a heap on top of each other, the cart swerving wildly. "Sorry!" Fenrin called over his shoulder. "This isn''t the friendliest bunch!" The tek''kalla groaned, extricating herself from the smaller human with a muttered apology. This was impossible. She couldn''t construct delicate spellwork from such an unstable platform. That only left her soul imprinted Labyrinth spells, and the relevant ones were all broad area attacks that were too dangerous for urban fighting. That left¡­ "Ugh. Fine." Tara''lynn stood, holstered her wand, and drew her pulsecaster. The magitech weapon hummed to life in her hand, automatically syncing targeting data with her visor. She pumped mana into the device, casually pointed it at the closest demon, and squeezed the trigger. A blast of blue-white energy left from the pistol-shaped weapon, striking the imp straight in the chest. It screeched, writhing as the concentrated mana bored a hole straight through its chest, dropping it lifelessly to the ground where it was promptly crushed under a heavy wheel. The mage grimaced in distaste. "How uncultured."
Jade had spent most of her life training to precisely control every motion of her body. Before, that had meant performing acrobatic feats in front of hushed crowds. Now, those same skills were put to use to twist away from a half dozen bolts of flaming energy as she rushed to intercept her quarry. She warped forward from the wall of the building she was dashing across, leaping free just before the masonry behind her erupted in a blast of heat. Jade landed with a roll, tucking her wings in close and pushing off the ground like an uncoiling spring. Her momentum was just enough to carry her to the back of the second cart, the one just behind where Malice rode at the front of the short column.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. A quick glance behind her confirmed that her friends were handling themselves well against the other demons, but that was all she could spare. She was hanging from the rear railing of the rocking wagon, still pulled by a pair of frantic strix. The giant lizards were spooked by the commotion, jerking and pulling against the reins while their bruzak driver struggled to keep them under control. One of the demons in the wagon bed noticed their unwanted passenger. She, it had a vaguely feminine form to Jade''s eye, snarled, swiping down at her. Jade twisted away from the attack, managing to catch the demon by the arm. With a heave she pulled the creature out of the cart, using her as leverage to flip up and over the railing and onto one of the piles of boxes. The screeching demon fell to the ground behind them, immediately trampled by the following vehicles. There were two other demons in this wagon, but Jade couldn''t waste time with them. She could see the outer wall of the city quickly approaching. They were in the final stretch now, and she didn''t want to wait and see what happened when they got outside. She had to get to Malice, now. Jade was on the move before the other demons could mount an attack. Running along the top of the supplies, she threw herself forward towards the lead wagon. Malice, seated on the driver''s bench, had only just noticed the commotion behind her. She turned just in time to see Jade hurtling across the gap, hand outstretched, Phantom flashing through the intervening space between them like a bolt of silver lightning. It was a perfect throw, dead center on the demon''s chest. Jade channeled the item''s magic, drawing herself towards the dagger- CRACK Malice swiped her whip with blinding speed, lashing the blade from the air. Deflected, Phantom flew wide, clattering to the cobblestones below. Shit! She could only teleport if the blade hit a target. With a miss, Jade was left to land heavily on the rear of Malice''s wagon, teetering precariously on the rear shelf. Phantom reformed in her hand with a thought, and she slammed it down into one of the crates to steady herself. Panting, heart racing, she glared across at Malice and pulled herself to her feet. "You must''ve really missed me." The succubus smirked, swishing her whip back and forth. This wagon was unoccupied save for her and a single driver, who remained focused on guiding the cart towards the large gate that had just come into view. "Tell me what your people are planning to do with Earth." Jade said, ignoring her taunt. She locked eyes with the demon, imbuing each of her words with all the alluring charm her succubus form could channel. The powerful spell slammed into Malice''s mental defenses as if they were a concrete wall, finding no purchase nor gaps. "Nice try." The succubus laughed. But you still have a ways to-" Jade leapt into motion. Malice had dropped her guard slightly on resisting her spell. That was never going to work, not when she could only cast it at C rank. But it did draw her attention. She pulled an item from her belt, a long length of braided rope, and threw it at the succubus. It animated in midair, wrapping around the surprised demon''s limbs like a serpent, trying to bind them together as she struggled to break free. It was the same enchanted rope Malice had used on her during their first encounter and, while it wasn''t nearly as effective against an actively resisting target, it proved to be an excellent distraction. Sliding over the stacks of supplies, Jade aimed a kick at the partially ensnared demon. She wasn''t trying to kill Malice, the succubus had too many questions to answer, but if she could knock her to the street, they might be able to subdue her. Guards, Jade assumed they were part of the Silver Shield, were pouring into the street behind them, and several of them were already arrayed in front of the quickly approaching gate, impeding their progress. Jade didn''t need to defeat her, just slow her down enough for the city''s defenders to subdue her. And convince them I''m not one of them¡­ She reminded herself, ducking as an errant crossbow bolt whizzed overhead. Unfortunately, Malice was strong enough to stand firm against Jade''s kick. She tore herself free of the rope entangling her, but not before Jade landed a double slash with her blades against her chest. The strikes tore deep grooves into her dark armor, eliciting a pained growl. Again, she kept her footing, if only just. Before Jade could continue her offensive, she struck back with a vengeance. They exchanged a quick and brutal series of strikes, Malice tearing with fearsome claws, Jade with enchanted blades. The wayfarer came away worse for wear, enchanted armor sparking and scored in numerous places, dark blood seeping from multiple minor wounds. I can''t take her. Naomi was right. Jade had bet on a surprise attack, but that hadn''t worked. "Lady." The demon driving the wagon growled over his shoulder. "They''re blocking the gate." "I don''t care." Malice said coolly, not taking her eyes off where Jade crouched amidst the collected crates of effusion. "They''re in the way, and the gate''s closed!" "Keep. Going." There was something in her eyes, and Jade caught a flicker of eager anticipation from the succubus. Something was about to happen. She was out of time. "Noctis!" Jade changed tactics, blasting Malice with the full force of her blindness spell. At such close range, even her impressive reflexes weren''t enough to evade the magic. Just as in their last meeting the spell took hold, occluding her vision with an obscuring cloud of darkness. It would only last a moment; the demon was already reaching up to rip the enchantment free of herself with a look of annoyance. It wasn''t enough to give Jade a major edge, but it did create an opening. She lunged forward, dropping Phantom and seizing a cluster of parchment the succubus had stuffed into a strap at her hip. The same documents she''d grabbed from the underground hideout before their escape. The blindness spell broke, and it only took the demon a split second to realize what had happened. She growled again, this time with genuine anger, and made to grab Jade with her clawed hands. But she was already gone, having thrown herself down onto the street below. Jade hit the ground with a roll and a spike of sharp pain, tumbling into a stack of fruit barrels that stood beside a market stall. People scattered, shouting in alarm as a winged demon fell into their midst. Jade paid them little heed, forcing herself to her feet and ignoring her aching limbs. She stuffed the documents into her dimensional pouch, hoping that whatever she''d taken would prove useful. It was the best she could do. "Wayfarer business." She grunted at the shocked, cowering group, holding up the glowing back of her hand. "Get out of here if you can, stay down if you can''t." And then she was gone, dashing into the street to intercept the wagon that held her party. She took the opportunity to resummon Phantom to her hand and shift into her human form, hoping to avoid any possibility of friendly fire by local authorities. "Luis! Give me a lift!" A tether of ice essence lanced out from Luis''s palm, snagging Jade in the chest. She jumped, letting him heave her aboard as Fenrin drove them past. There was no sign of the demon-driven wagon that had been beside them earlier. "Everyone okay?" she asked, swinging back into the front seat beside the half-elf. "Jade, you''re covered in blood!" Naomi exclaimed. She stopped channeling her melody, switching to a healing tune. "I''m fine." She barely noticed the pain. There were three carts ahead of them, all bearing down on the large city gates. They loomed overhead, guarded by hastily arrayed ranks of Silver Shield guards. "Be careful, I think something''s about to-" Without warning, the large portcullis exploded in a violent eruption of flame and smoke. Chapter 100 Jade held on to the side of the bench to keep from falling off the cart as Fenrin fought to slow down, struggling to control the panicking strix. Fiery debris and twisted pieces of metal and stone rained down around them, pelting the street and nearby buildings and sending civilians running for cover. Malice and her three wagons drove straight through the billowing smoke and reeling guardsmen, most of whom had been blasted off their feet by the sudden detonation. Jade watched the wagons disappear through the twisted remains of the gate, each of the vehicles now glowing with a pulsing blue light. "Dimension magic!" Ashar said grimly, following her gaze. "Once they''re outside the city''s wards-!" Before he could finish, each of the three remaining demon-driven carts flashed with a brilliant cerulean light and vanished, melting away in a burst of magic strong enough to leave tangible ripples in Jade''s arcane senses. "They got away." She growled, clenching her hands into fists and slumping back on the bench. That she''d anticipated this outcome didn''t make it any less bitter. At least she''d stolen the papers Malice had tried to keep out of their hands. "Worry later." Luis said, giving her a firm shake on the shoulder. He vaulted over the side of the wagon, landing heavily on the debris-strewn street. "That blast hurt a lot of people. They need help!" Jade shook herself back to the present. Luis was right, the explosion had thrown people, guardsman and townsfolk alike, to the ground. Many of them had burns, or even shrapnel sticking out of them. A swirling mixture of pain and fear hung in the air, clouding her senses like a sweet fog. Jade had been so distracted by Malice''s escape that it took Luis''s words for her to realize that she''d been inadvertently enjoying the misery of the wounded, tasting it as she would a fine wine. Feeling sick, she immediately rejected the cloying cloud of negative emotions she was instinctually drawn to. Fenrin finally pulled the cart to a halt and the rest of them joined Luis, running to the aid of the dozens of wounded men and women scattered near the gate. Almost all of the Silver Shield guards were down, most of whom had been lined up in front of the portcullis to intercept the demon convoy. No doubt more would arrive any minute, but for now they were the only people in any state to help. "Over here!" Fenrin said, assisting Jade as she pulled an armored guard to his feet. His leg was blackened and burned. "Naomi-" "On it!" The bard began strumming a calming melody, suffusing the area with healing magic. Her area of effect healing spell wasn''t as potent as her individually targeted one but, with so many wounded, it was the best option. Some of the pained groans began to ease as the magic took hold, beginning the slow process of closing wounds and restoring energy. "We have to get them out of here!" Jade said, leaving the man to Fenrin and running back to dig a groaning woman out from a loose pile of debris from the gate. She had a large gash on her head, but stirred as Jade reached her. A crash came from nearby as more masonry fell from the unstable, damaged arch above the gate. For all Jade knew, the whole thing was about to collapse. She finally got the woman, a fellian civilian, free and helped her to her feet. She could walk, so Jade sent her over to Naomi to check on. Then, she resumed searching for anyone else that was trapped with the rest of her party. Another guard stumbled through the smoke nearby, moving away. "Hey!" Jade called to him, beckoning. "Are you okay? Can you help us?" The silhouetted figure changed course, making its way towards her. Belatedly, Jade remembered that she could use her aura senses to locate other survivors in need of help. She extended her presence, sweeping the area in search of more wounded. The strength of the guard¡¯s own aura didn''t surprise her, the intense bloodlust she tasted from his mind did. The guard lunged, reaching for her with long, curled hands. Razor sharp claws exploded from the tips of his fingers as he tried to rake across her seemingly unprotected chest. Even Jade''s incredible reflexes and a moment''s warning weren''t enough to evade the blindingly fast strike. Her armor, in combination of the defense boost her ''Seducer''s Mantle'' ability gave her, saved her. The protective ward covering her body shattered, blunting the force of the man''s¡­ creature''s? Blow. It still scored against her skin, but her flesh was far more fortified than it had once been. A slash that would have eviscerated any normal human merely left a trio of ragged scratches across her stomach. Jade let out a gasp of pain, but her training with master Rhysten paid off. Before her mind had even processed the attack she''d already leapt away, drawing her weapons and dropping into a defensive stance. She locked eyes with her assailant and immediately could tell that this was no city guardsman. He wore the armor of the Silver Shield, but his face was wrong. It was unnaturally pale, skin stretched too tight across his cheeks. Crimson eyes burned like glowing embers from sunken sockets, and a too-wide mouth grinned with malevolent intent as the creature returned her gaze. "So¡­ much¡­ blood." The creature rasped, its creepy grin stretching wider to reveal jagged rows of sharp teeth. "So much wonderful blood." The deranged words sent a chill down Jade''s spine. She didn''t need to pull up the creature''s status window to know that this was something they needed to kill. She did it anyway. Jade blinked the window away, calling her companions over to help. This creature had clearly played a part in the death and destruction surrounding them, and her anger spiked as she beheld its bloody lips. "Feed..." It croaked, rushing Jade with supernatural speed. The demon''s claws flashed like striking lightning. Jade barely avoided one, only to run straight into the other. A burst of magic deflected the attack at the last moment, Luis''s bubble shield forming around her as her friends arrived to help. "What the hell is that?" Naomi asked, skidding to a stop at the rear of the group. "Blood demon." Fenrin hissed, eyes hard. "Don''t let it get away." "I''m not going anywhere." Kellak cackled, taking a hopping step back and throwing his arms out wide. The demon moved in jerky, unnatural motions. It was as if Jade were watching a recording that was missing random frames, causing the subject to jerk chaotically from one position to the next. "Not when there''s so much to feast upon¡­"This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The demon sucked in a breath, lines of blood rising into the air from nearby corpses. They formed into swirling rivers that twisted and spun, spiraling into his body, which began to grow in size. A series of loud pops and cracks accompanied the creature''s armor bursting off his form, like a second skin that he had outgrown. What remained was a twisted, dark mass of leathery flesh in a vaguely humanoid shape, covered with black bristles that looked more like spikes than hair. The entire transformation took less than a second. When it was done, the blood demon''s smile widened. Jade watched in horror as its face split along a horizontal and vertical axis, skin peeling back into four leaves that flapped open to reveal a large, circular maw where its face had been a moment before. The mouth was ringed with rows of teeth that undulated as the abomination spoke. "Malice wants you alive." It said to Jade, the words barely comprehensible spoken through its alien face. "But I¡­ need to feed." It rushed them with a gurgling screech.
Luis stepped forward to intercept the monstrosity''s charge with his shield raised, but no attack came. The demon spun around him in a blur of motion, deftly sidestepping him before slipping between Jade and Fenrin to dive straight onto an unprepared Naomi. "No!" A surge of fear and anger erupted from Luis''s soul. He had suppressed it so far, pushing down the emotions that the sight of so much death and suffering brought upon him. His team needed him to keep a clear head, no matter how bad the situation became. The sight of the blood demon tackling his friend to the ground and tearing at her with razor claws and snapping teeth was enough to crack the dam, letting his pent-up emotions spill through his body. He was the first to react, raising his sword and casting ''Frost Hook'', tethering the demon with a cord of ice energy. Luis heaved it away from Naomi, pulling it towards him and leaving her coughing and groaning on the ground. The demon didn''t skip a beat. It was already breathing in another stream of blood, this one coming from a jagged wound on Naomi''s torso. The creature''s steps were getting faster, its form growing stronger and more muscular with every new drop of blood that it consumed. They had to end this now, before it grew too powerful. Luis yanked the creature towards him and swung a mighty strike with his sword. It flashed through empty air, the tether between them dissipating as the demon pulled free and leapt skyward. The leap sent it arcing over him and he stumbled as impacts slammed into his back. Before it landed, twin spikes of ice slammed into the demon''s side, knocking it off course and giving him time to bring up his shield to deflect the next attack. Tara stood nearby, weaving her wand in a complex pattern and summoning more foot-long icicles to fling at their elusive foe. Jade was on the blood demon before it could recover, warping in to strike it from behind with a flash of blonde hair and silver steel. Despite her incredible speed, she only managed to land one solid blow on Kellak''s back before the demon whirled on her, throwing itself onto her as it had with Naomi, grasping arms seeking to pin her to the ground so its clover mouth could tear into her flesh. Not this time! Empowered by ''Guardian Dash'', Luis charged forward and crashed into the demon''s side, knocking it to the cobblestones. He followed up with another powerful strike but, again, his foe was too quick. Jade pulled herself to her feet beside him, stepping back and dropping to one knee to plant one of her traps. Luis gave her a shallow nod, gaze not leaving the demon as it turned its attention towards Ashar and Fenrin, who were harassing it with bolts of arcane energy and electrified arrows. Jade was right, they needed to slow it down. The trap flashed, armed. Now they just had to lure it in. Tara went down next, unable to evade the demon''s raking claws. The mage gasped, ice magic sputtering away as she dropped to her knees, but somehow managed to maintain enough focus to send one of the projectiles straight into the monster''s chest. The demon hissed, enraged, the icicle sticking out of its body like a spear. Before it could finish her off, Fenrin grabbed her and leapt away, propelled by a burst of wind that carried them to safety. Capitalizing on the distraction, Ashar threw a handful of glimmering powder over the creature. Luis couldn''t make out exactly what it was, the battlefield was still covered in burning debris and a haze of smoke, but there was a purple flash. The demon immediately slowed, its movements becoming lethargic. "Get it!" The enchanter called, using his wand to send another blast of energy into its side while scrambling away from its grasping claws. Luis didn''t wait for an engraved invitation. He charged forward, finally landing a solid hit on the creature''s flank and used his shield to bash it towards Jade''s trap. She joined him a moment later, appearing out of the fog like a deadly phantom, slashing and hacking at its other side. For a moment, Luis thought their momentum would be enough to force the blood demon into the trap. Then Ashar''s magic faded, the slow effect melting away as quickly as it had manifested. The demon''s form fuzzed into a blur of motion and the next thing Luis knew; he and Jade were lying on their backs several yards away. Blood seeped from a rent in his breastplate, and he found it hard to breathe. His mana shield crackled and flickered around him, the ability unable to keep up with such a rapid succession of powerful hits. How¡­ strong is this thing? He tried to struggle to his feet. His team needed him. It was his job to stand between them and the dangers of this world. His legs weren''t working properly. They felt weak, sluggish. Using his sword for support, he slowly hauled himself back upright. The demon was standing over them, hissing, drinking in a stream of his and Jade''s blood as it regarded them with eyes like burning coal. Shouts rose from nearby, pounding footsteps approached from outside the cloud of smoke. Reinforcements? The city guard? They wouldn''t make it in time. Luis could barely raise his sword. Notifications flashed before his eyes, alerting him that a strength and fortitude draining debuff was stacking as his blood was consumed. Even still, he stepped in front of where Jade lay clutching her side, interposing his body between his friend and the enemy that was bent on destroying her. "You''re not¡­" he growled, all traces of levity gone from his voice. "Getting past me." "Then I''ll go through you." The creature hissed. It took one step closer, raising its wicked claws. Luis blocked the first blow with his shield but was too weak to intercept the second. It caught him in the side, scoring another wound through his depleted armor. More pain. Another line of blood for the demon to consume. His strength was fading faster, but he remained on his feet. With sheer willpower, he thrust at the demon, forcing it back. One of Fenrin''s arrows flashed past him, but the demon deftly dodged. It came back in at Luis. He gritted his teeth, prepared to feel it rip him apart. A blast of sound surged past Luis, so loud that it momentarily deafened him. The sonic boom caught the demon by surprise, flinging it off its feet and sending it sprawling. It landed right on Jade''s trap, which erupted in glowing chains that wrapped around its struggling arms and legs, binding it to the ground. Naomi swayed on her feet nearby, blood streaming from multiple tears in her armor. Her face was pale, but her eyes were bright and firm. "Go!" Luis staggered forward, slowly regaining strength as the first notes of Naomi''s healing melody reached him. He made it to the edge of the trap, raising his sword. The demon hissed and snarled, tearing the chains apart one by one. It was too strong to be held captive by this type of magic for long, but that didn''t matter to Luis. All he needed was a single, perfect, strike. Sword held high, he activated ''Avalanche''. It was a simple weapon talent. One, high damage attack with a hefty mana cost. The more mana he pumped into it, the more damage it did. He used it all. Luis''s longsword fell with the force of a stick of dynamite, crashing into the blood demon''s head. The attack didn''t sever the monster''s head so much as obliterate it, leaving nothing but wet paste marring the scorched cobblestones beneath his feet. He gasped, finally letting himself feel the pain wracking his body, stumbling back and falling to his knees. "Thanks¡­" Jade groaned from behind him. She was on her knees now, greedily drinking a potion. She tossed him one, which he barely caught. "I owe you one." "Nah, we''re a team." Luis grunted, chugging the healing elixir. Warmth flooded his body, the magic combining with Naomi''s gentle melody to provide blessed relief. He glanced at the mangled, disgusting corpse of the blood demon. So much death. So much pain. Luis''s emotions almost overwhelmed him. In that moment, all he wanted was to be back home with his family. To see his sisters again. To go back to how things were. But that wasn''t his role. Everyone else was suffering just as much, if not more, than he. Luis''s job was to ground them. To ensure they didn''t get mired in the murky depths of hopelessness and pain. He''d done it when his family was faced with poverty and hardship, and he did it again now for his team, in the face of a different kind of pain. He forced a grin, giving Jade a shrug. "Damn amiga, I''m glad you didn''t turn into one of those." Jade followed his gaze and snorted a laugh. Her eyes, so dark a moment before, appeared to lighten a shade. A little of the tension bled away. "No kidding." Chapter 101 The rest of the day was a flurry of questions, demands for explanations, and various expressions of gratitude and condemnation, often in the same utterance. Everyone wanted a thorough accounting of the day''s events, how Jade''s group was involved in them, and how exactly so many demons had slipped into the city. Neither Jade nor any of her friends had an answer to that last question, but they answered the others as honestly as they could. After all, as far as Jade was concerned, they had done the city of Estelhelm a favor by flushing out a cell of demonic operatives that had been stealing large portions of the palace''s stock of dimension effusion, one of the most valuable substances in this region of the Labyrinth. Countess Montrell''s agents had even managed to recover some of what the demons hadn''t escaped with, thanks to their efforts. Despite that, there had been no small amount of collateral damage during the frantic chase and running battle. No civilians had died during the battle, fortunately, although there were many injuries. Around a dozen people had perished when the demons destroyed the gate with explosive magic, although it soon became clear that the sabotage had been in place before Jade''s team, or rather Tara''lynn, had discovered the demon plot. All of this combined led to the city officials: The Silver Shield captain, the magistrate, the Mystic Order, and the countess herself, being annoyed with their group. Fortunately, that ire was tempered by the fact that they''d not only forced the demons out of the city, but had even slain a powerful blood demon before it could wreak havoc within the walls. In the end, Aylin was sent to the local guardhouse where their group was being¡­ hosted. Nobody had specifically told Jade that her group was confined to the small stone building, but the stern-faced guards and some terse instructions from the city officials clued her in that trying to slip away would be a bad idea. That all changed when a very exasperated and familiar mage arrived. "I''m gone for less than a day, and this is what you get into?" The half-elf asked with a sigh, long robes swishing behind her as she strode into the sparsely appointed room they were waiting in. Siora was with them now, having volunteered that she was a member of their group after the incident had resolved. Jade wasn''t sure if that admission had been the smartest move from the elf, but she appreciated the show of solidarity. "Aylin?" Luis said, rising from the bench he''d been resting on. "What''re you doing here?" "I was sent to deliver Countess Montrell''s decision as to what''s to be done with you, after the day''s events." Jade didn''t taste any alarm or concern in the woman''s emotions, so she wasn''t worried. Instead, she asked. "Why you? You''re not associated with the city, are you?" "No, I''m very much not." Aylin gave her a flat look. "But apparently, it''s been decided that since you lot arrived with me, you''re my issue to deal with." "Issue?" Tara piped up. The tek''kalla was frowning at the mage. "We solved a demon crisis that the local authorities clearly couldn''t handle. They should be thanking us." One of the Silver Shield guards standing at the door of the room grunted, glowering at her. Naomi nudged her. "Hey, maybe don''t antagonize the people in charge here." Tara flushed slightly, dipping her head and sitting back on the bench. "New friend?" Aylin asked. "She helped us find the demon hideout." Jade explained. Their other new addition, Ashar, had slipped away after the fighting had finished. He hadn''t been taken in with the rest of them, and she wasn''t sure what had happened to the enchanter. "Regardless." Aylin said, crossing her arms. "The city officials are grateful for your assistance. Grudgingly." "We did cause a bit of a mess¡­" Naomi conceded. "In light of the day''s events, I''m supposed to express their gratitude for expelling the demon influence from Estelhelm, and also kindly ask you to leave the city." "And if we wanted to stick around for another day or two?" Jade asked. She still hadn''t met the demon priestess captain Mar had mentioned on the first floor, nor had they purchased equipment upgrades from Ashar''s shop. "Then the city guard will ask you firmly." Aylin said. She was trying to look stern, but Jade could see a hint of amusement in her expression. "The countess is very interested in learning more about your homeland, but I think she''s decided to get answers from less¡­ controversial guests." Jade sighed. That was disappointing, but she was self-aware enough to realize they''d gotten off easy. Best to take the win and get out before anyone in power had second thoughts. Maybe they could return later, once tensions had died down. And they could always buy upgrades from the Labyrinth store directly, if needed. The rest of her companions must''ve felt the same, because no one objected as they were ushered out into the street. The smell of smoke lingered in the air, and debris still littered the area near the gate. "How many people were hurt?" Fenrin asked, surveying the wreckage in the light of the setting sun. "A few dozen. Only a handful died, all of them thanks to the blood demon." Aylin replied, stopping in front of them. She turned to face them, an odd look on her face. "You lot were crazy to take one on alone. But it''s the reason you''re not in any real trouble. If it had gotten loose in the city¡­" Jade recalled the story Aylin had told her when they''d first met. A blood demon had killed her sister and massacred several dozen people in a similar incident when she was younger. "It could have been a lot worse." Aylin finished. "Thank you for what you did here."
"So, you made it out okay?" Ashar asked. He was leaning by the gate as they left the city, emerging at the edge of the plateau overlooking the river delta far below. The tan, dark-haired man bit into a large green fruit, as if he didn''t have a care in the world. "I put in a few good words for you, hope it helped." "We did." Jade said, stopping just outside the city gates. "What happened to you?" "I can''t help but notice that you weren''t being questioned with us." Naomi added, crossing her arms.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "Getting taken in would''ve been bad for business." He replied with a nonchalant shrug. "Speaking of, would any of you like to purchase those upgrades you were looking at? I have a lot of costs to recoup from the day." "Unfortunately, we just got kicked out." Jade said wryly. "Maybe another time." "Ah well, I guess that can be my altruistic deed for the week." "One per week? That''s not a high quota." "Altruism is also bad for business." he said with a wink. "But I can make an exception for a chance to be heroic. And for intriguing women, of course. You''ll be fighting those demons again, won''t you?" "Probably." Jade nodded, distracted. She''d suddenly remembered the bundle of papers she''d taken from the succubus. There hadn''t been a chance to look through them during the questioning, and she itched to read through them. "Then take this." Ashar said, tossing her a necklace. "Maybe it''ll come in handy." She caught it. It was the same detection necklace Tara had been about to buy from him before the day had spiraled out of control. The one that had revealed her nature to the tek''kalla. This''ll come in handy¡­ "How much?" "Don''t worry about it." He said, turning away with a wave and walking back inside the city. "If you make your way to Illysport, stop in at my shop! Have one there, too." And then he was gone, through the gate and into the darkening city. Jade held up the necklace, looking at it thoughtfully. "Didn''t think he''d be the type to give up something like this for free." "Jade." Naomi took her by the arm, leading her towards the lift that would take them down to the ground and shaking her head. "He was flirting with you." "Wait, really?" Luis, Fenrin, and Tara all nodded in agreement. Even Siora bobbed her head. "For someone who can supposedly feel people''s emotions, you can be a little dense sometimes." "I¡­ I was distracted." She said, feeling her cheeks heating up a little. "Don''t blame you." Luis said, patting her on the back. "That''s a pretty good lookin'' guy." "That''s not what I meant!" Fortunately for Jade, most of the group was now looking at Luis. He shrugged disarmingly. "I''m confident in my masculinity. I know a handsome man when I see one." "Eh¡­" Tara sniffed, shrugging. "His mana capacity is a little low." "That''s¡­ part of the equation?" Fenrin asked, giving the tek''kalla a bemused look. "Of course." They boarded the large platform that would convey them down to the plains beyond the city. The sun was starting to set, the river delta below darkening as the plateau of the city cast a long shadow that stretched across the numerous settlements and farmsteads clustered amongst the fertile hills. They were joined by a dozen other people, mostly humans, but with a few fellians mixed in. No one paid them much mind, although Jade did catch a few distrusting looks thrown Tara''s way. After experiencing her own share of discrimination these past weeks, that annoyed her. "So, what are you going to do now?" Jade asked, moving to stand beside Tara, looking out at the sparkling rivers below. "Why were you so interested in finding those demons, anyway?" "I¡­" The tek''kalla sighed, lowering her head to hold it in her hands, elbows propped against the railing of the platform. The woman had maintained a confident, self-assured air all day. Now, she seemed to deflate. A breeze blew her long white hair into her face, and she didn''t bother brushing it aside. "I came to Estelhelm to find a wayfarer party to join." she said at length, not looking at Jade. The rest of their group quieted, letting her speak. After several long moments, she continued. "My people, my clan, have left the arcane arts behind, turning instead to artifice." she said, patting her holstered pulsecaster. "When I made it clear that I intended to be a mage, that I still saw value in spellcraft, none of my peers wanted to accompany me on my trial." "Your spells worked pretty well today." Luis pointed out. "What''s their problem with it?" "It''s old fashioned. Slower. More prone to failure." Tara shrugged. "Mastering spells, at least those not gifted as Labyrinth boons, takes years of study. Letting manufactured devices like this do the hard work for you is less flexible, but easier." "If we only ever did what was easy, then we''d never accomplish anything." Jade said, thinking back to her days as a gymnast. The long hours of training, how close she''d come to giving up, the satisfaction of mastering each new level of skill. She never had to do that. She''d done it because she wanted to. Because she loved it. "Sometimes, we have to follow our passion." "That''s right." Naomi nodded, patting her guitar affectionately. "Don''t let anyone tell you what you can or can''t do. If you think you''ve found a better way, prove them wrong." "I''d love to." Tara sighed. "When I discovered the demons in the city, I thought I had that chance to prove myself. But I''m a tek''kalla, and no one here wants anything to do with my people. Too many of our kind are hostile to lowlanders. I should''ve known that I couldn''t change their minds on my own." "How about you travel with us?" Luis asked, looking at the rest of them for confirmation. Fenrin and Naomi nodded, and Jade shrugged. Siora, as usual, was a short distance away, distracted, and not listening to the conversation. "We could use someone who knows a thing or two about spells." "Wait, really?" Tara straightened, turning to regard them with bright eyes. Jade tasted hope in her mind, bubbling out of her as she latched onto Luis''s words. Like all positive emotions, it had a bitter flavor to her succubus senses. Jade hid a grimace, feeling yet another spike of frustration at how such a wonderful emotion was tainted by her nature. She fought it, refusing to accept her inclination to view hope as a weakness. Distracted, she missed the next few moments of the conversation. "-thought you would be after the cores connected to your home world." Tara was saying. "Do you really want an outsider joining in?" "We''ll take all the help we can get." Luis laughed. "You handled yourself well in a fight." Jade added. "And you know a lot more about magic than any of us. That can only be a good thing." "And that armor has a great color scheme." Naomi piped up. "White on black is striking! Where can I get something like that?" The bard tugged at her leather armor, an annoyed expression on her face. "This dull brown isn''t doing it for me." "Naomi." Jade sighed, rolling her eyes. "We aren''t adding people to our group because of their fashion sense." "Obviously." Naomi suppressed a giggle, giving Jade''s ''armor'' a pointed look. She rolled her eyes, pulling the cloak she was wearing over the revealing attire a little tighter. "Oh shut up." she grumbled. "If you want my help, I''ll give it!" Tara said enthusiastically. "An opportunity to learn about a newly integrated world? To test my spellcraft in live combat environments with a team to support me? That''s what I''ve been looking for." "Welcome aboard." Fenrin said, extending his hand. She shook it eagerly, starting in surprise as Mimi fluttered down to land on the handshake with a triumphant chirp. "She approves of you. Good." "Is that one of the requirements for joining?" Tara asked, smiling slightly. "Definitely." The tek''kalla let go, then threw a curious look at Jade. She was in her human form again, but the tek''kalla''s eyes seemed to bore through her, scrutinizing her. "I''d also be interested in learning more about you." She mused, inspecting her as a scholar might study a particularly interesting specimen. "A demon wayfarer¡­? There are so many tests-" "No tests." Jade said, crossing her arms. "What is it with mages and alchemists wanting to test me?" "I think that enchanter had a few experiments in mind as well." Naomi said with a wink. "But I imagine he had some different ones in mind." Jade didn''t grace that with a response. Instead, she turned to the papers she''d stolen from Malice during their confrontation. A couple of notifications blinked in the corner of her vision, including a level up notice, but those could wait. She wanted to glance through what she''d taken before the last of the daylight faded. Please be worth the trouble we went through to get you. She thought, retrieving the documents and scanning through them. They weren''t in English, of course, but the Labyrinth''s translation magic sorted that issue. It only took her a few minutes of reading to grow very, very concerned. "This isn''t good." she muttered, not taking her eyes off the pages. Jade turned one over, scanning its back. "We have to get to the third floor as soon as possible." "Why?" Luis asked. "What''s that?" "Something I took from Malice during the fight." "What does it say?" Fenrin asked, stepping beside her to read over her shoulder. Jade''s lips drew into a line. "They''re going for the cores. The ones connected to Earth." Jade had no idea why the demons would be interested in the Labyrinth cores that were powering the mining of her home. There was only one thing she was certain of: It wouldn''t be good for them. Not at all. Chapter 102 "So¡­" Luis asked, sitting next to Jade by the campfire. "What exactly do those documents say?" Jade frowned, shuffling through the loose collection of pages she''d managed to steal from Malice during their running battle. She must not have grabbed everything, there were clearly missing pages and details. The information she did have, though, was enough to shed some light on the demons'' plans. "Like I said when we left the city." Jade began, nodding to Tara. Their newest party member returned the gesture, she''d gone over the information with Jade while they travelled, using her knowledge of the arcane to explain some of the more technical aspects of the plans she''d recovered. "This group of demons is planning on doing something to at least one of the Labyrinth Core''s connected to Earth, on the third floor. One that''s close to where we are now, only up one level." "Something?" Naomi asked. Their group was camped in a lush gully between a cluster of hills a good distance from Estelhelm, although still in the same quadrant. Since monster density was famously low in this region it was safe enough to camp in the open, as long as they kept a lookout. "Do we know what they actually want?" "This doesn''t say." Jade sighed, setting the parchment down on the grass and lying back. Despite the warmth of the fire, she couldn¡¯t shake the cold feeling that had settled deep in her core. Anxiety over what the demons were planning, how it could affect her home, and the destruction the blood demon had caused in the city still weighed heavily on her. "The notes reference ''reinforcements'', Earth, and detail some kind of magic ritual centered on the core." "The ritual uses the dimension effusion they stole." Tara added. The tek''kalla was still paging through some of the captured notes, studying them intently. "Dimensional magic isn''t my area of expertise, I can''t tell exactly what it''s supposed to do. Whatever they''re doing, it involves a dangerous amount of power." "If that core is connected to what the Labyrinth is doing to Earth, could their ritual affect our home somehow?" Luis asked, concerned. "Anything is possible." Tara shrugged. "I don''t think the ritual is targeted at your home world. But now that it¡¯s active, all the cores in this region of the Labyrinth are connected to your world. It''s impossible to say what other effects manipulating them like this could have." "I thought only Earth wayfarers would be able to get to the cores." Naomi said, looking between Jade and Luis. "Isn''t that why we can''t just pay a lot of high-level wayfarers from the upper floors to shut down all the cores for us?" "When I first encountered her, Malice did something to my wayfarer mark. She said she ''copied'' information from it." Jade said with a grimace, turning her hand over to inspect the glowing sigil on the back of her hand. "Maybe that was to solve that problem." Tara and Fenrin had explained that Labyrinth cores were kept in dimensional spaces that were generally only accessible to wayfarers from the planet they were linked to. But there were no absolutes when it came to magic. "Should we go to Aylin for help?" Fenrin asked, striding out of the gloom and into the firelight. The half-elf made a habit of circling camp sites once they were established, checking for any signs of danger. With his familiar keeping watch from above, they were safe to converse as a group. "She might be able to learn more about the ritual from those notes you recovered." "I don''t think they''ll let us back in the city." Jade sighed. "Besides, the demons got away with a lot of what they stole. They might already be on their way to the core." "Then we need to stop them." Luis said, as if that were the easiest thing in the world. He stood up, like he intended to march off to do just that. "That''s our next stop!" "We barely survived against a fight with one blood demon, Luis." Naomi said, grabbing his arm and gently tugging him back down. "I''m not sure we''re ready for that kind of confrontation." "Is there anyone else who can do it?" Jade asked. "No one else knows about it. If we take time to find people, convince them of this, and recruit them to help, it might be too late." "She''s right." Luis said. "And it''d be hard to convince anyone to help us if we don''t even know what they''re trying to do. This is up to us." "At the very least, we have to follow them and learn what this ritual is for." Jade nodded in agreement. "If it turns out to be dangerous, we can try and put a stop to it." "They''re demons." Tara said absently, still paging through notes. "Of course it''ll be dangerous." "You''re right, though, Naomi." Jade said. She slid herself over to her friend, putting a hand on her shoulder. She could sense her anxiety, clinging to her like a hazy cloud. "This won''t be safe, and it might be a stupid idea to try and do it ourselves. I''m not going to ask anyone to come with me who doesn''t want to." "I''m going." Fenrin said immediately, his shoulder set. "Those demons killed at least a dozen people this morning. I can''t walk away knowing they''re planning something bigger." "Me too." Luis nodded. "The Expeditionary Taskforce lists an unmonitored demon as a tier-2 threat." Tara said, finally putting down the pages and turning her full attention to Jade. "A group of several demons working together is tier-1 priority. These are the kinds of missions I''ve spent my life training for, I''m not going to back down." Jade was struck by the resolve evident in the tek''kalla''s gaze. Her initial impression of Tara had been colored by the amusing way in which they''d met, but this wasn''t a woman to underestimate. There was steel in those light eyes of hers. Jade gave her a nod and turned her attention to the bard.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Naomi?" "I¡­" Naomi paused to close her eyes and take a deep breath. When she opened them again, they were steady. "I''ll do it. We''ve gotten this far together, we can do this too." The words weren''t exactly filled with confidence, but Jade felt a sense of pride and admiration at how far her friend had come. Less than two months ago simply confronting a monster had been enough to make her freeze. Now, she was willing to join them in a quest to track down powerful demons, just to protect others. After that, the group settled down for the night. It had been a long day, and they could discuss next steps in the morning. Now, it was time to rest. The night was calm and clear, perfect for camping out. As her companions laid out their bedrolls and prepared to turn in, Jade finally turned her attention to her interface. Defeating the demons hadn''t caused her to progress in any quests, fighting non-Labyrinth generated monsters never did, but they did still grant experience. This most recent battle had pushed her across the next threshold. Level 18. Just two more until she reached ''C'' rank and unlocked her advanced class. Jade still wasn''t sure how impactful having an advanced class would be, but any additional abilities could only be a good thing, especially if they''d soon be confronting Malice again. She had to find a way to gain at least two more levels before they caught up to the demons. For now, she focused on the three new options. As with prior level ups, all her previous unselected options were still available to be chosen. The ''C rank'' next to invisibility immediately stood out to Jade, and she asked Fenrin about it. He replied that, even though she wasn''t level 20 yet, the system sometimes elected to offer ''C'' rank spells and talents to people that were close to that threshold, usually for abilities that had no lower-level equivalent. Indeed, when Jade examined the ''Invisibility'' spell, there was no ''D'' rank version. Indefinite invisibility? That was a potent power indeed. The gulf in power between ''C'' rank and ''D'' rank was growing more evident as Jade discovered what more of her powers did as they reached that level. From the very beginning her ability to enhance the ''Allure'' spell to ''C'' or even ''B'' rank had proved invaluable, but the ability to learn spells at this higher tier from the start was a massive boon. Jade suspected that the mana costs associated with ongoing invisibility would force her to be judicious in its use, but it sounded too useful to pass up on. Before deciding, she made sure to read over the other new options. ''Thread the Needle'' was a short duration, short cooldown talent that greatly enhanced her accuracy with ranged attacks. It looked useful, but her only attack of that type was a thrown dagger. ''Siphon Strength'' was more interesting. It was another debuff spell that weakened a creature she afflicted with it, draining its strength stat and temporarily boosting her own. If the effect compounded with the boost to strength her succubus race gave her, that could be a formidable tool to have in her arsenal. Despite the obvious appeal, Jade decided to pass on that one as well. More strength would be nice, but her fighting style relied more on agility and intelligence. She had teammates that brought power to the table, and her recent experience reliving memories in the grove at Lysara had reminded Jade of the need to trust and rely on her friends. She didn''t have to be the best at everything. After a brief discussion with her friends, she decided to select ''Invisibility''. As the only ''C'' rank option, it was the obvious choice. Once she reached level 20, she could begin leveling it up to ''B'' right away. That done, she assigned her two stat points. One went into willpower, and the other into intelligence. With this new spell, Jade had the feeling that she''d need all the mana she could get. Her summary page updated: A list of her spells and talents followed, most of them closing in on ''C'' rank through constant use. Jade still had a pair of upgrade points banked from previous titles that she could use to get them there immediately, but both Aylin and Serrethis had advised her to save them for ''C'' rank. Advancement from ''C'' to ''B'' was a far more arduous process, and the shortcut would be more worthwhile there. Finally done, she lay down with the rest of her companions. Exhaustion overtook her and, despite the many worries filling her thoughts, she quickly slipped into a deep sleep.
The next morning arrived in what felt like the blink of an eye. Jade roused herself at first light despite a bone deep desire to just lie there and remain huddled under her blanket. But she was a wayfarer now, and there was too much to do. She groggily accepted a cup of stew from Luis, letting its warmth fill her and restore her focus. The large man had taken to cooking for them each day, displaying an uncanny ability to mix the bland sanctuary granted Earth food and local Labyrinth ingredients that he and Siora foraged for daily. Jade wasn''t sure how he managed it, but the result was good enough that she didn''t question it. "What''s our next step?" Luis asked, handing out more cups as everyone gathered around. "If we''re chasing the demons to the core we need to get to the third floor, yeah?" "We''ll need another floor key." Jade said. She pulled out the fragment she had looted from the giant undead they''d defeated at the stronghold. To move on from floor 2, they''d need two key fragments. That meant¡­ "So, another boss." Naomi sighed. "Great." "And another few levels." Fenrin added. "The third floor is where the monsters start getting really dangerous. Even if we don''t end up fighting a group of demons, we''ll want to be ready." "Wait, these monsters haven''t been dangerous?" Naomi asked with an incredulous expression. She clutched her guitar close to her chest, as if the instrument were a protective charm. "Of course not." Tara said. She was using a wrist mounted device to scan the contents of the soup cup. Apparently satisfied, she took a tentative sip. "Hardly any of the Labyrinth-born monsters on the second floor even cast spells. That''s why I came down here to train." Naomi gave Jade a look that said, ''if anything happens, remember that this was your idea.'' "The three of us can''t even get to the third floor without a key." Jade reminded them. "So, before anything else, we need to find a boss." Chapter 103 Darkness pressed in around Jade like a physical force, squeezing her from all sides. In this case, it really was. No enchantment of umbral magic ensnared her, but rather the squishy, disconcertingly warm and sticky flesh of the giant toad monster they were currently battling. The very same boss monster that had just snagged her with a surprisingly agile tongue and reeled her into its enormous maw. I am not- Jade thought with a grunt, twisting around to get better leverage with her dagger in the tight confines of the creature''s mouth. Getting swallowed by- She finally wrenched one arm free from being pinned behind her back. The toad''s mouth had looked a lot bigger when she''d been outside of it. Now, she felt like she was being slowly squeezed to death. An overgrown frog! Jade stabbed both daggers into the creature''s flesh. She was completely blind, no light penetrated its thick skin, and the world around her kept shaking and wobbling as the beast hopped about, continuing to battle her companions. She had no idea where any of its vital points were and, in the moment, she couldn''t care less. What mattered was that, from such a position, she couldn''t possibly miss hitting something. "Skrrrraaaaaagghhh!" Both of her enchanted blades, Phantom and Fang, easily penetrated the monster''s fleshy interior, piercing the membrane of gross, stinging mucus that coated its mouth, and biting deep into sinew and cartilage. The monster roared in pain, shuddering violently. One strike from within must have been enough to teach the creature the error of its ways because, before Jade could repeat the feat, it vomited her back out into the muddy bog. Squelch. Disoriented and blinded by the sudden light of day, Jade flopped unceremoniously into a large pool of thigh-deep muck, splashing down face first. The experience was better for her body than her dignity, as the soft surface cushioned her fall. She surfaced a moment later, coughing and sputtering, and was hauled back to dry land by Luis. Wiping a streak of mud from her eyes, Jade muttered a thanks to her friend and turned a fiery glare on the monster that had subjected her to such an embarassing ordeal. "That''s it." She growled, picking up one of the daggers she''d dropped and regaining her stance. "No more playing around." "It was your idea to practice new moves on a boss, Jade!" Naomi reminded her, stepping beside her and humming a healing melody. A wave of soothing warmth swept over the succubus, her burns and scrapes beginning to reknit themselves. "Not my best suggestion." She admitted, sighing in relief as the magic took hold. Jade refocused on the creature before her, which was finally recovering from being sliced open from the inside. The ''Bog Toad Monarch'', as the Labyrinth named it, was a creature fitting of the title. It stood, or rather squatted, nearly ten feet tall, and was nearly as wide. A bulbous head and pair of enormous eyes rested atop a muscular, coiled body, supported by powerful legs that could send the creature leaping a dozen feet into the air. It had brown, slimy skin, which melded perfectly into the swamp they were fighting it in. Which was, of course, how it had managed to get the drop on them even while they''d been searching for it. "It''s getting ready to jump!" Fenrin called from a short distance away. He''d been peppering the monster with arrow after arrow since the fight began, but only now was it finally starting to show signs of wearing down. "Tara, you still okay?" An explosion of fire and smoke sent a geyser of mud spewing into the air a short distance away, accompanied by the smell of sulfur. The latest collection of mud elementals, which continued to coalesce from the swamp as the fight dragged on, were vaporized. "This would be more satisfying if they stayed dead when I blew them up!" "I don''t think they''ll stop coming until we defeat the big guy." Naomi observed, switching to her restorative aura and keeping a wary eye out. More elementals were already rising from the mud, taking on squat, featureless humanoid shapes. "Then let''s take it down."
A short time later Jade lay back on the soft, muddy ground, panting. The large, perforated corpse of the level 19 ''Bog Toad Monarch'' lay crumpled nearby, Luis''s curved longsword protruding from the roof of its elongated mouth. Defeating the creature hadn''t been difficult so much as it had been tedious and exhausting. Each time they dealt a serious wound to the monster it had disappeared into the swamp to recover while they fought off the unending tide of weak but regenerating mud elementals. It wasn''t until Jade had finally caught the surprisingly agile monster in one of her rune traps that they managed to lock it down and finish it off for good. Other than nearly getting swallowed by the toad, an experience Jade was all too eager to wipe from her mind, the battle had resolved without major incident. Naomi tended to some minor acid burns on Fenrin''s arm while the rest of them took some time to recover their strength. None of them had levelled up, either from the boss battle or grinding their way through the more mundane creatures that inhabited the swamp quadrant one zone inward of Estelhelm. Jade was finally starting to understand what Damos had told them all those weeks ago, when they''d first entered the Labyrinth. After the first few levels, the experience gained by battling monsters fell to a trickle. Completing quests was the primary method of power advancement, and none of them would make much progress until they finished more of those.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. She checked her tracker, trying to figure out which of her quests would be the easiest to complete. Level twenty was drawing near, and if it was at all possible Jade wanted to reach it before her next confrontation with Malice. One quest did deal with defeating boss monsters, but she still had two more to go before that one could be marked off. Rereading the list reminded her that both reaching the third floor of the Labyrinth and entering a Labyrinth Core space would complete quests for her, however. She''d have to hope that would be enough to push her past the threshold. A whooshing sound emanated from nearby, accompanied by a foul odor as Luis looted the boss monster. The usual pile of coins dropped to the mud, along with the key fragment. He brought them over, along with a pair of enchanted bracers the Labyrinth had generated with the rest of the loot. "How does killing a giant frog give us armor?" Naomi asked, eyeing the bracers skeptically as Luis handed them to Fenrin. "Does that make any less sense than a world that constantly generates monsters for us to fight?" Jade asked, pulling herself to her feet and inspecting the new item. They were ''bracers of alacrity'', which reduced talent cooldowns by a minor amount each time you made an attack. Luis''s intuition was right, they''d be best on Fenrin. "I imagine our world must seem extraordinarily strange to outsiders." Fenrin nodded, thanking Luis and pulling them on. "But to us, it''s just how the Labyrinth works." "Labyrinth monsters are magical constructs animated by spirits." Tara explained. She was sitting on a nearby rock, keeping out of the worst of the muck. Somehow, the tek''kalla had avoided becoming covered in mud like the rest of them. "If they''re powerful enough, the looting process transmutes that energy into equipment like that. The Labyrinth tends to create items that are useful to one of the people who defeated the monster, too. That''s one reason my people send so many expeditions to the upper floors. If you survive the dangers, the rewards are worth it." "It has to have a purpose though, right?" Naomi asked. "A place like this, so different than the rest of the universe, doesn''t just appear on its own." "People have been investigating that for centuries." Fenrin shrugged. He gave her a wry smile. "Let me know if you figure it out." "Cosmic mysteries later." Jade said, taking the key fragment from Luis. She withdrew the one she''d looted from the bone titan, pulling up the interface and combining them. The two shards, which looked like two small keys, glowed with a radiant energy. They drifted together, hovering above Jade''s hand, and fused. When the glow faded, an ornately engraved silver key dropped into Jade''s waiting palm. "Perfect." Jade said, placing the key into her dimensional pouch. "Ready to go?" The others indicated their agreement. They set off, resuming their journey to the inward edge of the second ring of the Labyrinth. There, they would find stairway portals that would take them to the third floor and, Jade hoped, to find answers. "If we''re lucky, we''ll come across a Labyrinth store before we reach the third floor." Fenrin said, still examining his new bracers. They were made of dark leather and matched his armor well. "We didn''t get any equipment upgrades in the city, and we''ll want them before we take on third floor monsters." "We''ll check the nodes as we go." Luis suggested. "If there''s one nearby, that''ll show us where it is." "If you''re okay waiting for a few minutes, I can gather some ingredients here." Siora piped up. The alchemist hadn''t participated in the battle, as most of her talents lay outside of combat. She''d been continuing to supply their group with a helpful array of potions and elixirs as they travelled, however, which was possibly more useful than another combatant would''ve been. "I think I saw some witherroot growing back there!" That didn''t sound like the sort of plant Jade wanted used in creating potions she was drinking, but she''d learned to trust Siora''s expertise. They gave their elven companion a few minutes to gather what she could before resuming their journey. Jade spent the time pondering on their newest companions. Tara was adapting to their group tactics quickly, bringing a wide collection of powerful and damaging spells to the table. Her destructive magic shored up one of their group¡¯s last remaining major weaknesses. Once they trained together more and truly became a team, their group would become a force to be reckoned with. Tara, despite her occasional bout of standoffish behavior, Jade understood. She was surprised to find a kinship with the alien woman, but her obvious desire to prove herself to her people, and herself, resonated with Jade''s own experiences. It was Fenrin that she didn''t understand, despite having spent more time with the half-elf. What would prompt a man like him, born into a noble family and given the means to get ahead in life, to leave it all behind and brave the dangers of the Labyrinth wilds? He didn''t feel like what Jade expected from someone of noble heritage. Indeed, he was nothing like the pompous and cruel man lord Verres was. She''d need to find time to talk with him. Jade had made the mistake of ignoring her teammates in the past, focusing only on herself. This time, she wasn''t going to make the same mistake. Siora returned with vials full of murky sap, humming a cheerful tune. That done, they set off once more, striking an inward course across the bog, guided by Fenrin''s pathfinder spell and his familiar. With each step, they were drawing closer to the third floor. All that was left was to get some upgrades first. The thought of going shopping brought to mind a recurring wish. One that had been surfacing more frequently ever since her encounter with Malice. I wonder if there are any items that will let me fly with these wings¡­ Chapter 104 As it happened, the very first node they found after leaving the quadrant with the toad boss was close enough to a Labyrinth shop to display it on their map. Jade grunted in satisfaction as she engaged the crystaline sphere, this one set in a forested valley in what the system called the ''Enduring Woodland'' quadrant. "Finally, a bit of luck." She said, showing everyone else the updated interface. "It''s pretty much on the way inward, too." Fenrin said, shifting his pack on his shoulders. He surveyed the light forest ahead of them, glancing up at the setting sun. "We can make it before nightfall." Naomi and Luis expressed their agreement, while Tara remained silent. Jade found that unusual, as she had quickly learned that the tek''kalla mage was not one to withhold her opinions. They let Fenrin lead the way, leveraging his skill in woodcraft to speed their journey through the forested environment. As they hiked up an incline steep enough to almost be considered climbing, Siora fell in beside Jade. "So¡­" The elf began, impressing Jade by not being the slightest bit out of breath despite the challenging path. "I''ve searching everywhere I can, these past few days, but I haven''t found anything." "Anything?" Jade asked, a little confused. She used a tree root to haul herself to an area with a gentler slope, extending a hand to help her friend. "I''ve seen you picking all sorts of plants for your alchemy." "Those are just for healing potions and some experiments." The elf shook her head, accepting Jade''s help and joining her. Together, they began hiking out of the valley, following Fenrin and Mimi. "I meant for your brother, and his illness." "Oh¡­" Jade''s heart sank. Despite the conflicts of the past few days, and the potential urgency of their current mission, her mind kept shifting back to Alan. Her brother was alone in their house, while she was out here seeing the wonders of the Universe. Rationally, Jade knew that he was in a much safer position than she. One battle that turned bad could be the end of her, and she didn''t wish that upon him. But she knew that he would want to experience this too. To discover the world of magic that existed beyond their world. Realizing that she''d let the silence grow to an awkward length, Jade coughed and continued her thought. "¡­Is there anywhere else you can look?" "The markets in Illysport, up on the third floor, will definitely have the ingredients I''d need to make a curative elixir." Siora nodded. "But¡­ they''ll probably be expensive." "I''ll pay whatever the price is." Jade said immediately. "Just tell me what to get." "Okay. And¡­ I was thinking¡­" Siora wound a strand of hair around her finger, a nervous habit that she''d been doing more and more lately. "Yes?" Jade prompted, when she didn''t continue. "When we get to the third floor, I was thinking I''d head to Illysport right away." She said, eyes downcast. "I''m not a warrior. If you''re going up against demons, I''d only hold the team back." Jade opened her mouth to disagree, to insist that the elf should stay with them, and that her assistance was vital. For once, she paused to consider what she was about to say. Siora''s tranquil presence was a stabilizing element that Jade had grown used to, and her supply of potions were the only reason they''d been able to push so hard so quickly the past few days. But it was true that she wasn''t keeping up in the fights, and it wouldn''t be fair to ask her to follow them into even greater danger. "That''s a good idea." she said, touching the elf''s arm. Siora looked up, a relieved expression on her face. "Think you could look for some of what my brother needs while we''re dealing with this? If it goes well, we could be coming back with some valuable loot. Maybe it''ll be enough to buy what we need." "I will!" Siora nodded her head enthusiastically. "You can count on me." "Thanks, Siora." Jade said with a sigh, relaxing slightly. "And thanks for doing this for me." "You helped me, and my home." The elf gave her a radiant smile. "And you''re even taking me up to the third floor to get my node access back! Anything you and your friends need that I can help with, I will."
They found the shop without incident, arriving just before nightfall. The cluttered shelves and worn interior of the Labyrinth Store were just as Jade remembered, as was the scaly, blue kobold that trundled out of a back room to greet them. "Skraag!" Luis said, grinning at the reptilian shopkeeper. "It''s been a while! How''s business." "Booming." The kobold grunted, waving a cloud of smoke that had followed him into the room out of his face. "I bet." Tara said, giving Skraag an appraising once-over. "A new integration must mean lots of business." "Not that." Skraag said, holding up a hand- well, claw. On closer inspection, Jade saw it was merely part of a claw. "Still working on my explosives experiments." "Oh¡­" Tara said, staring dumbly at the blackened stump of two missing claws at the end of his hand. The rest of them were doing the same, and an awkward silence filled the room. "I''m¡­ sorry." Naomi said gingerly. "Wha- for?" The kobold asked, cocking his head at her. "Dey work great." "I¡­ I can see that." Jade nodded her head, exchanging a concerned look with Naomi. "Das right. Do ya want some?" A part of Jade really was interested¡­ but she could feel Naomi''s glare boring a hole in the side of her skull. She dutifully shook her head. "No¡­ we''re¡­ we''re okay on explosives for now." She assured him, thinking of the crate of plastic explosives she''d loaded into her bag during their stop on Earth. Probably best to stick with something reliable. "Suit yerself." Skraag shrugged, pulling himself up onto the stool behind the counter, the large tools hanging from his loose belt swinging wildly as he did. "What are ya lookin'' for?"Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Jade took some time to explore the updated inventory of the store, which had some new contents. Thanks to Siora''s efforts they had no shortage of potions, so they focused on upgrade runes and new gear. There were some interesting looking new pieces of armor, but none that were anywhere near their price range. Most of the new options wouldn''t have been a good fit for Jade anyway, who needed to maintain what she was starting to think of as an anime level of skin-to-coverage ratio to best utilize her racial features. The collection of upgrade runes was more promising. While not as extensive as Ashar''s, nor as affordable, the loot they''d acquired from the recent boss was enough to allow each of them to purchase at least one. Of the runes that could be applied to weapons, most were simple damage boosts. If the enhancement were replaceable, Jade would have been tempted to go with the cheapest option and return to the question when they had more funds. Unfortunately, the system interface explained that upgrade applications were permanent. Her dagger, Phantom, had three upgrade slots and, once they were filled, they stayed that way. With that in mind, she gave the options a good deal of thought. There were three promising candidates that suited her weapon: A rune that increased thrown-weapon accuracy, one that added frost damage with the potential to slow enemies, and a fire-based damage upgrade. The fire enhancement added the most damage but had no secondary effect. Jade discarded that idea first, reminding herself of Serrethis''s lessons. Her role on the team was to be a disrupter, sometimes even a finisher, but not as a primary source of damage. With that in mind, she chose the frost damage rune. The damage increase was mild, but the slow effect would stack with the ''C'' rank version of the ''Vital Strike'' talent. Between stacking slows and her rune traps, she was starting to build up an arsenal of movement impairing effects. When they were finished handing over the distressingly large pile of crescent coins to Skraag, Jade took stock of their purchases. Fenrin had also opted for a damage upgrade, adding a lightning rune to his elemental bow that would enhance his special attacks. Luis''s upgradable item, the one he''d gotten from conquering the stronghold, was his shield, and he''d chosen a simple but effective bonus to defensive strength. Naomi''s purchase was the most expensive of them all, a rune that reduced spell mana cost, but the entire party agreed that no expense was too great when it came to supporting the healer. "I could get used to this." Naomi said with a grin, sliding a giant pile of coins to the kobold and retrieving the upgrade rune from the counter. It took the form of a circular stone engraved with a golden, shimmering pair of crossed lightning bolts. "Please don''t." Jade groaned, digging through her dimensional pouch and pulling out a small purse. She opened it, revealing it to be mostly empty. "This is all we have left." "You didn''t have to get something for me." Tara said, glancing away. Jade thought the tek''kalla looked embarassed, although she reminded herself that body language cues weren''t reliable across species. But still¡­ was that a blush? It was hard to tell on her lavender complexion, but it certainly seemed like one. How did so many different species end up so¡­ similar? Jade mused. It was a recurring thought that she couldn''t shake from her mind. "Of course we did!" Luis announced, slinging his newly enhanced shield over his back. "You''re part of the team now." "Anything that helps you, helps us." Naomi added. Tara didn''t have an upgradeable item, she hadn''t been present at the stronghold battle, but the team had pitched in to purchase an enchanted ring for her. The simple item reduced the mana cost of elemental spells. It wasn''t quite as potent as the all-encompassing spell cost reduction upgrade Naomi had acquired but, given Tara''s role as a blaster, it was still a considerable improvement. "I only just joined up." The tek''kalla protested, although Jade noticed that she hadn''t hesitated in slipping the ring onto her finger. "We''re chasing down demons together." Jade reminded her, gathering up her gear. Phantom''s blade, newly improved, now shimmered with a sheen of white-blue frost. "We''ll need all the help we can get." "You''re not filling me with confidence, Jade." Naomi muttered. "Hey, Skraag." Fenrin called over to the kobold. Apparently, he was the same shopkeeper that manned the store near Fenrin''s village of Rimestead. Jade didn''t understand how that could work, but she''d long since given up trying to make sense of the Labyrinth''s absurdities. "Have anything that works well on demons?" "Huh." Luis said thoughtfully. "Maybe we should have asked that before we spent all of our money." "Demons, haa¡­" Skraag said, his stubby tail whipping back and forth behind him. "Some o'' my bigger bomba bombs would work well against demon hide. Wanna to try one out?" Before any of them could reply, the kobold hopped off his short stool and reached under the counter. A moment later he presented a large, bulbous metal sphere about the size of a grapefruit, complete with a long wick that Jade could only assume was a fuse. Skraag fumbled the device, dropping it onto the counter with an alarming ''thump''. Jade darted forward, narrowly catching the explosive before it rolled off the table and smashed against the floor. "Woah!" She said, gently setting the ''bomba bomb'' back on the counter. Grateful that it hadn''t given her fingers to match Skraag''s, and silently admonishing herself for leaping towards a potentially unstable explosive, she took advantage of the fact she was already holding it to examine the item. As usual, the voice of the Labyrinth read aloud the description, although in a more amused tone than usual. -Bomba bomb! -This device is the latest innovation in improvised explosives! After lighting the fuse, you have five seconds until the fireworks start. Erupts in a burst of fire and shrapnel in a highly variable radius with inconsistent intensity. To catch enemies off-guard, and for added user excitement, the ''bomba bomb!'' detonates a second time, five seconds after the first explosion. Premature detonation chance: Moderate. Her eyes lingering on the words ''premature detonation'', Jade took several steps away and closed the window. She gave the kobold shopkeeper her best smile. "Maybe next time, once it''s gone through a few¡­ more iterations." Although¡­ But no. Naomi would never be okay with her carrying one of these around. "I only hab so many fingers." The kobold grumbled, to Jade''s mild horror. He shooed them off, telling them to get on with their day if they weren''t going to buy anything else. Siora purchased a few last-second alchemy supplies and, a few minutes later, they were back in the night time forest of the Labyrinth depths. "Forget something?" Luis asked as Jade rejoined the group, having lingered a moment in the store. "Yeah." She hefted her pack. "But we''re all good now." "Is everything in the Labyrinth so¡­" Naomi started, giving Fenrin and Tara a strained look. "Bizarre?" Fenrin asked, starting to set up camp. "You don''t know the half of it." "Didn''t you grow up here?" Luis asked, dropping his pack. "Thought you''d be used to it." "It may be normal to me, but you never get used to it." "Oh, good." Naomi smiled wanly. "It''s not just me." The group continued chatting as they prepared their camp for the night, joking and laughing together. There was an air of tension, as there always was. The Labyrinth was a dangerous place. But it was also one filled with wonder. As Jade discovered more of it, she was finally beginning to understand Siora''s perspective, and the perspectives of everyone who lived within this strange world. Maybe once they fixed the current crisis, she''d be able to enjoy more of it. Maybe.
It took three days of travel to reach the stairway to the third floor. The forested quadrants quickly melded into open plains, followed by two uncomfortable days of hiking through rugged, dusty badlands. They encountered various groups of monsters, none of which posed a serious threat to their battle-hardened group. Tara continued to integrate herself into the group''s tactics, and they adjusted a few more of their set moves to incorporate her wide area spells. Everything was progressing well and, when Jade finally caught sight of the pillar of radiant light that marked the stairway portal, she was surprised to find herself feeling optimistic. In just a short hike they''d be on to the third floor. With Malice''s notes, they knew the rough location of the Labyrinth node they were manipulating and were hot on their trail. They''d find out what was really going on and, hopefully, destroy the node in the process, bringing Earth one step closer to being safe. Things were finally starting to come together. Looking back on those thoughts later, Jade kicked herself for so blatantly tempting fate. Chapter 105 The stairway was identical to the one Jade had passed through to reach the second floor, a freestanding door with an ethereal, white border that slowly pulsed with dimensional energy. Unlike on the first floor, the ocean that marked the inward edge of the level wasn''t visible from it. Instead, the door was situated at the foot of a tall cliff, under a rocky overhang that cast the entire area into shadow. "Once we''re on the third floor, we''ll be able to use our pathfinder spell to locate the closest Labyrinth Cores, right?" Jade asked, stepping into the gloom at the base of the cliff. This quadrant, a rocky scrubland, was filled with crab-like monsters that preferred to disguise themselves as stones, ready to ambush anyone who wandered too close. Fortunately, there didn''t seem to be any near the stairway itself. "That''s how it''s supposed to work." Tara confirmed, following her towards the portal. "Of course, the pathfinder spells Fenrin and I have will only point us inward, no matter what floor we''re on. Our marks aren''t linked to the cores attached to your world." "Aren''t the cores in some other dimension?" Naomi asked, echoing something Aylin had told them about how the core zones worked. "You''ll be able to come with us if we go inside, right?" "As long as you open the portal with your mark, anyone can go in." Fenrin reassured them. Mimi, who had just returned from a regular scouting flight, chirped in agreement. The bird tilted her head at Jade and clacked her beak twice, as if telling her to get a move on. "There is a limit to the number of outsiders who can enter a core space." Tara corrected, holding up a finger. "The academy library has extensive documentation on how wayfarer trials work. All outside wayfarers have to be in a party with eligible wayfarers to enter a core space, and more than half of that party must be native to the proper world. Since the number of parties themselves are limited, you can''t bring many outsiders in." "You know a lot about this, amiga." Luis said, looking impressed. "Was all this taught in that academy of yours? Do they prep new wayfarers, or something?" "They do!" Tara beamed, pleased with herself. "It''s a prestigious institution among my people, even outside of the Elorinth enclave. But, no, most of the lessons there are more practical than trivia about Labyrinth mechanisms we''re unlikely to encounter." "Then how did you learn it?" Siora asked, cocking her head curiously. "I¡­" Tara''s enthusiasm deflated slightly. "I spent a lot of time in the library. Not many of my classmates wanted to spend time with a dedicated mage." Privately, Jade thought that Tara''s isolation might have had more to do with the blunt way with which she approached conversations rather than her chosen specialty, but she held her tongue. After all, she could hardly condemn the tek''kalla for a habit that she shared. "Their loss is our gain." She said, instead, giving Tara a tight smile. "Now, let''s get this door open." Luis said, striding forward towards the portal. "I want to see what''s on the third floor."
Everything was going exactly how Jade expected it to right up until the moment she inserted the key into the stairway door. The key disappeared in a familiar flash of light just as it had on the first floor. This time, though, that flash was accompanied by a quite unfamiliar jolt of painful energy that ran up Jade''s arm. She cursed, stepping back in surprise as dark, shimmering chains wrapped themselves around the portal, holding the door closed. "What?" Fenrin asked, the others making similar exclamations as the arcane bindings continued to slither around the portal, entwining it like some dark serpent. Before they could do anything more than exchange concerned looks a pillar of dark smoke rose from the ground directly in front of the door, and right in front of Jade. She took another step back, hands going to the hilts of her daggers. The smoke only lasted a few moments before it fell away to reveal a hooded figure in dark robes. The features Jade could see suggested he was human, but enough of his pale face was shadowed that it was hard to tell at a glance. The aged man was skinny, almost frail, and clutched a gnarled wooden staff in one hand. His eyes glowed with a soft yellow light, shining from within his dark hood. "The way forward¡­" He began, words slow and steady, as if each one were carefully considered. "Is closed." The man gestured with his staff and the chains ceased swirling around the door. They halted with a heavy ''clink'', settling into place. A notification popped into her view a moment later. "Oh, you''ve got to be fucking kidding me." Jade groaned, giving Fenrin and Siora a look filled with frustration. She minimized the quest prompt, setting it aside for the moment. "I thought stairways didn''t have guardians." "They usually don''t." Siora said, staring back at her with wide eyes. "There are no absolutes in the Labyrinth." Fenrin sighed. He turned his attention on the mysterious man, setting his jaw. "Who are you?" Part of Jade, mostly the demonic aspect, wanted to stab this man before he could do anything to them, and then beat down the door until it fell open. The more rational part of her mind warned her that blatant hostility would probably have consequences, so she allowed the stranger to live. For the moment. We really can''t afford a delay. She thought, not taking her hands from her daggers. "I" The figure drew himself up to his full height, raising his staff. Despite his elderly frame, the fluttering robes and glowing eyes made for an intimidating visage. "Am The Gatekeeper. I appear before groups such as yours on the threshold of advancing towards your goals. I bar the way, and offer a challenge. To accept and succeed is to gain power. Power that may help you on your quest." "That sounds pretty good." Luis commented. "What if we fail?" Jade asked, more skeptical. The figure''s mouth was the only part of its face not obscured by the dark hood. His lips drew up in a smile. "Those who prove both ambitious and unworthy are cursed to live in darkness, afflicted with magic that steals their ability to see the goal they crave. If your mind cannot see the proper way, than neither shall your eyes." "So, this challenge of yours. It''s a test of the mind?" "Indeed. A riddle. Should you succeed at answering it correctly, the door shall be opened. Yet should you choose to continue the challenge, you may earn a greater reward. But, if you believe yourselves unable to best me in a game of wits, you may leave to find another way." "Um¡­" Naomi began tentatively. She swallowed. "Do we get our key back if we leave?" The Gatekeeper''s smile broadened. "Typical." Jade groaned. "I don''t suppose blowing you up opens the door." Tara asked. The tek''kalla was holding her wand, twirling it around her fingers. Jade had been wondering the same thing, and the demonic hunger within urged her to do just that. With focus she was able to ignore it, a task made easier when she noticed how concerned Fenrin and Naomi looked at the very idea. "I''m afraid not." The gatekeeper chuckled. "That would be the same as walking away, so long as you have not yet accepted my challenge." "Siora." Jade moved beside the elf, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Can you brew a potion that removes a blindness curse." The elf took an uncharacteristically long amount of time to answer Jade''s question, which didn''t fill her with confidence. "Yes¡­" Siora nodded slowly. "I''m pretty sure." "How sure?" "Nearly positive." The elf bobbed her head confidently. "But¡­ Not with anything I have here. I''d need ingredients from back home. Or another city." Take a chance now and risk a major setback, or guarantee a smaller setback? It was a difficult decision. While Jade was considering their options, Naomi asked a brilliant question that she''d completely missed. "Riddles often rely on wordplay." The bard narrowed her eyes at the gatekeeper. "In our experience, the Labyrinth''s translation powers don''t handle that well." "An astute observation." Jade thought she saw the figure''s head nod slightly in Naomi''s direction. "If whoever accepts the challenge wishes it, the riddles will be given in their native language." "We don''t all have to accept?" "No. This trial is attempted alone." Was that some sort of challenge before the challenge? Jade thought, a shudder of anxiety washing through her. You can''t ever let your guard down here. A lesson that had been pounded into her again and again. The tip of her tail swished back and forth as she contemplated their next step. They couldn''t afford to let the demons get any further ahead of them. Losing their key and having to fight multiple floor two bosses just to forge another one would take far too long. For all they knew Malice was already at the core, doing who knew what to a powerful magical artifact that was linked to Earth. Jade''s mind drifted to stories and myths she''d read as a child, or more recently in the books and games Alan had shared with her. Adventuring heroes of stories often faced riddles and tests like this on their journeys. Challenges that they usually overcame by tricking their opponent. If only she had a way to¡­ Jade blinked, and then a grin spread across her face. "What do you think?" Naomi was asking the group quietly. "We should just blast him." Tara muttered, eyeing the gatekeeper. Jade was hardly listening, focusing on pulling up his stats. Gatekeeper Level 35. Jade thought, mind racing through several quick calculations. That''s still in ''C'' Rank¡­ "Don''t kill him, Tara!" Naomi hissed. "He said that''d be the same as walking away!" "If we''re going to leave anyway, we may as well kill him. He might drop something valuable." "Tara!" Naomi looked at the tek''kalla aghast. "What? He''s a Labyrinth spirit, he''ll just reform somewhere else." She shot him a simmering glare. "And he''s pissing me off." "If we work together, maybe we can do it." Fenrin cut in. "There aren''t any rules against discussing the riddle with each other." "If we get it wrong, one of us would still get cursed." Luis shook his head. "That would suck." "I could fix it." Siora chimed in helpfully, then hesitated. "¡­Probably." "What do you think, Jade? You''re being- uh-oh¡­" Naomi paused, looking intently at Jade. "You''ve got that look in your eyes again¡­" "Trust me." Jade said to her, doing her best to project confidence. She stepped away from the group and faced The Gatekeeper head on. "I accept your challenge. If I answer your riddle, you''ll open the door?" "That is correct." The man''s creepy smile was back on his face, and his eyes flashed gold. Jade felt a spike of uncertainty. Was this the right thing to do? The notification came and went in the blink of an eye. No going back now. "One riddle will open the door and grant you a minor boon." The Gatekeeper explained, pacing back and forth in front of the door. "Two riddles defeated will grant you a larger reward and three¡­ Three will see you given a substantial gift indeed." "Just to be clear, these gifts will benefit us, right?" Jade asked, suddenly wary of being tricked. Naomi''s question about languages earlier had her feeling paranoid. "That''s right. You have nothing to fear from the rewards bestowed by the Labyrinth, wayfarer." "Great. In that case." The grin was back on her face. Jade couldn''t resist spreading her wings dramatically as she continued. "Give me all three." "Jade!" Naomi hissed. "What are you doing?" In lieu of replying Jade knelt, brushing the ground with her fingers and whispering an incantation. She gave Naomi a quick wink and, before anyone could say anything else, promptly stepped into her own rune trap. Chapter 106 Immediately, Jade felt the cold grasp of umbral chains wrapping around her arms and legs. Even though she''d been expecting it, she couldn¡¯t keep down an instinctive gasp. It was a purely physiological reaction to having her limbs moved against her will, and she was forced into a kneeling position as the arcane bindings pulled taut. Jade''s friends watched with varying looks of confusion and horror. Tara in particular had an expression on her face that made it clear she was having second thoughts about having joined up with their party. Even the Gatekeeper, an astral being formed from an ancient spirit of the Labyrinth, held a posture that indicated surprise. "Do you¡­" For the first time, the mysterious robed being seemed to be at a loss for words. "Require assistance before we proceed?" "No, I''m okay." Jade said, trying, and failing to hold back a tight smile. "I''m ready when you are." Silently, she was urging him to get on with it. Her spell didn''t last very long, although she could feed it additional mana to extend its duration to an extent. That was inefficient, though, and her reserves had limits. "Um, Jade?" Now it was Luis''s turn to question her sanity. The large man knelt beside her, speaking quietly. "I sure hope you know what you''re doing." Before she could reply Naomi leaned into whisper something into his ear. Jade couldn''t hear what she said, but there was a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. Had she caught on? "Ahem. Very well." The Gatekeeper cleared his throat. "You will have five minutes to provide your answer. You may discuss as you like with your companions, but you must be the one to speak the reply." "I understand." Jade shifted impatiently in her bindings. She had tested the spell on herself before, but not recently. She''d forgotten how uncomfortable it was. The shadowy chains were icy cold, and they dug into the skin her ''armor'' left exposed. The robed figure nodded once, and then delivered the first riddle in a careful, deliberate voice. After returning to Earth, and the re-entering the Labyrinth, Jade was able to tell when the Labyrinth was translating for her and when someone really was speaking English. The difference was subtle, so minor that she had to focus to pick up on the effect, but she could tell the Gatekeeper had switched to her native tongue. "It is alone, with no substance or form. Immortal, it persists, never wrong. A source of both strength and weakness. Twistable, malleable, painful may it be yet, at its core, it never wavers." Jade and her companions listened closely. From the looks on their faces, her friends were already doing their best to reason through the riddle. Jade, on the other hand, was just impatiently waiting for him to finish. "Great." She said, sitting up as best she could in the center of her glowing rune trap. "Now-" Just as she began reaching for her magic, Jade suddenly discovered a minor problem with her brilliant plan. She intended to use ''Allure'' to charm this creature into simply telling her what the answers were, sidestepping the challenge entirely. However, such a creature undoubtedly had strong mental defenses. Just the other night, ''Allure'' had finally risen to ''C'' rank during one of Jade and Naomi''s routine charm resistance training sessions. Being in her succubus form boosted it to ''B'' rank, but even though the gatekeeper''s level put him in ''C'' rank himself, she wasn''t willing to risk some hidden resistances she was unaware of defeating her boosted spell. That left her other ability, ''bondage queen''. Several weeks ago, when she''d been taken captive by the goblins on the first floor, she''d used her restraints to her advantage, elevating the power of her spell all the way from ''D'' rank to ''B'' rank. Jade''s intention had been to do the same here, increasing the level of her spell from its new baseline of ''C'' rank all the way to a mighty ''A'' rank effect. That left the problem she only discovered upon actually trying to cast the spell. The difference in power between ''C'' and ''B'' was much smaller than the difference between ''B'' and ''A''. The strictness of restraints needed to cross the former gap were inadequate for conquering the latter. Shit¡­ Jade thought, twisting in her bindings. The chains clinked, snapping taut. She could feel the power in her mind. All of her lower-level spells and talents were bursting with potential, all ready to be used at a higher tier. All except Allure, which stubbornly teetered on the threshold between ''B'' and ''A. It was almost there, but her current situation just wasn''t restrictive enough. Her mind raced through options. Should she try and use the spell anyway? At ''B'' rank there was a good chance the spell would still take hold. Something in her gut warned her that this challenge wouldn''t be so easily subverted. The Labyrinth seemed to be big on ''fairness'', and Jade''s plan was just plain cheating. That left¡­ "Naomi!" Jade hissed, aware that time was slipping away. She was already having to divert additional mana to keep her spell intact. "I need your help!" "What?" she asked in a worried tone, crouching beside her. Naomi continued in a whisper. "Aren''t you going to do your thing?" "Needs to be tighter!" Jade whispered back. "It''s not enough." Her friend blinked once, then gave her an incredulous look. "¡­Are you serious?" "Would I be joking at a time like this?" Naomi didn''t reply. Instead, she turned to Fenrin. "Give me all your rope." "Huh?" Both he and Tara looked at Naomi as if she''d lost her mind, although Luis and Siora seemed to understand. "Just do it!" Before long, Naomi was binding lengths of rope around Jade''s body. With each addition, Jade felt her spell inch closer towards the threshold. She did her best to ignore the concerned looks from her party members, instead willing her ability to just freaking do its job.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. This is ridiculous¡­ Jade didn''t know what more her ability wanted from her. She was already rooted to the ground, rendered immobile by her own spell and Naomi''s handiwork. With a growl she leaned forward, straining against the bindings, feeling them pull against her. That sensation, the tactile reinforcement of her situation, finally did the trick. Jade felt the potential of her spell cross into ''A'' rank in a rush of energy that ran down her spine like a lightning bolt. Power blossomed in her core, so intense that she nearly lost focus on maintaining her extended binding spell. "Finally." She growled, lifting her head. Glimmering light shone in her emerald eyes, reservoirs of barely contained power. The Gatekeeper was still staring at her in bewilderment, and she locked gazes with him. "Tell me what the answer to your riddle is." Jade commanded in a cool, even tone. She tried to adopt a posture of superiority, but that proved impossible in her current predicament. The raw power of the spell would have to be enough. The hooded figure stiffened as Jade''s words rolled over him, sinking into his mind. At the same time a massive wave of fatigue washed over Jade, making her head spin and her vision waver. The mana indicator in the corner of her vision, already slightly depleted from maintaining her spell, plummeted, coming to rest at around the 5% mark. It was the most mana Jade had ever used at once, and the strain nearly caused her to pass out. Only the chains of her spell kept her upright as she swayed, but never once did she take her eyes off her target. "I¡­ This isn''t¡­" The spell had taken hold, Jade could feel it. But the creature''s mental defenses were even tougher than she''d anticipated, and he was fighting the charm effect with everything he had. "Tell me." Jade didn''t raise her voice. The chains around her faded as she cut the mana feed, although Naomi''s additions remained wrapped around her arms and legs in various places. "Now." Neither shouting nor cajoling were the way to make this spell work. She''d learned that from Malice. You couldn''t force an air of authority. You had to believe it. Several long moments passed without anyone speaking, or even moving. Finally, he spoke. "Truth." He rasped, his glowing eyes pulsing as he replied. "The answer is truth." Jade took a moment to recall the riddle and then nodded. "Great. Then that''s my answer to your riddle. Truth." "Very well. You¡­ have passed the first test." He twitched once. Then, finally, the magic fully took hold. The robed figure visibly relaxed, shoulder dropping, and the light in his eyes dimmed noticeable. "Are you ready for the second?" "Yes." Jade gave her companions a tired smile. "I am."
"I''m just saying, I could''ve gotten those." Luis asserted, helping Naomi and Tara remove the last of Jade''s bindings. "The riddles weren''t that hard!" "Are you kidding?" Fenrin asked, still keeping a wary eye on the spot the gatekeeper had been standing in a few moments before. He had disappeared almost immediately after Jade answered the third riddle, only lingering long enough to bestow her gift. Jade had felt the new power enter her body, although she hadn''t checked her interface yet to see what it was. "Who would have ever guessed ''the strong nuclear force''? I don''t even know what that is." The half-elf shook his head, bewildered. "That?" Tara asked, helping Jade to her feet. "It''s one of the five fundamental forces. I learned about them in my magical theory classes." "Yeah." Luis nodded. "They teach that stuff in school back home too. We-." He paused, giving the tek''kalla a confused look. "Wait, five?" Personally, Jade thought that ''pineapple'' was the answer she wouldn''t have gotten, but that was the whole point of stacking the deck. She tuned out their conversation, too worn out to parse Tara''s surprisingly enthusiastic explanations of quantom-electromagical interactions. Or whatever it was she talking about. "That was reckless." Naomi said quietly, her expression disapproving. "You should''ve told us your plan first." "I wanted to. But I couldn''t give him time to do something about it." "There''s always a reason." Naomi crossed her arms, glowering at her. "Hey, it worked." Jade said, surprised at her friend''s reaction. Hadn''t this solved their problem? She''d even come out of it with an upgrade. "It did. And I''m glad." Naomi said in a tone that didn''t at all sound happy. "But Jade, you can''t count on us to help you if we don''t know what''s going on. You''re lucky I caught on so fast." "I¡­" Naomi was right. It had been reckless. Going for all three of the tests hadn''t been necessary. The stairway portal was open now, filled with swirling, sparkling mist. She could''ve achieved that with just one riddle. "I''m sorry." Jade muttered, looking away. "I got carried away." Damn it, she was supposed to be changing! Trusting her friends. Not running off on her own. And she had been, little by little. It''s easy to say, harder to do. And she''d have to do better. "It''s okay." Naomi sighed, giving her a wan smile. "It worked out this time. But¡­" Her expression grew more serious. "If we end up in a fight against those demons¡­ You can''t run off like you did last time. Not without telling us." "I won''t." Jade promised. She shifted to her human form, feeling the odd but familiar sensation of her wings retracting into her back. With the wisdom penalty gone, her mana began accumulating noticeably faster. Using an ''A'' rank spell had drained so much of it that it was going to be a while before she was back to full strength. Jade rubbed the back of her head, trying to banish the lingering headache that often accompanied mana depletion. "Ready to go?" Fenrin asked, gesturing to the stairway. "This was not how I thought we''d be getting to the third floor." Tara said, cutting off her explanation of cosmic law to Luis and turning back to the group. "You have some strange powers." Jade blushed. She was growing less sensitive to the embarassing nature of her abilities, but that tolerance hadn''t yet reached ''immunity'' levels. She wasn''t sure that she wanted it to, either. "That just means no one will expect them." Luis chimed in. He pointed to the shifting, ethereal portal. "Let''s get goin''. We have demons to catch." "Investigate." Naomi corrected. "We''re not getting into a fight unless there''s no other choice." "That''s right." Jade nodded in agreement. "We need to see what we''re dealing with before making any rash decisions." A couple of notifications blinked in the corner of her vision, but she''d have to check them on the go. They''d already lost time here. Hopefully, the boon she¡¯d received would be worth it. But what about Aylin? Not for the first time, Jade wished they''d spent more time considering getting word to her. Naomi was right, she was making too many decisions too quickly. That was something she''d have to fix before it was too late. Without another word, the six of them filed through the portal. Jade was the last one through. She paused in front of it for just a moment, setting her shoulders. As much as she''d like to think they could resolve this next step safely, Jade was too familiar with how this new world worked to truly pin her hopes on a peaceful resolution. One way or another, the real fight was about to start. Chapter 107 The pavilion between floors two and three was nearly identical to the one Jade had visited upon ascending from the Labyrinth''s first floor. The endless expanse of shifting clouds beyond the low railing was the same, as was the faint silhouette of the massive tree in the distance, stretching up towards the heavens. As with the previous transition, there was a bowl of ethereal fruit in the middle of a small flower garden in the center of the structure. Fenrin and Siora had already partaken of this Astral Fruit, but Jade and the others stepped forward to claim their reward for conquering another floor. The warm feeling that spread through Jade''s body as she ate the fruit reminded her of the radiance that had washed over her at the shrine in Lysara. That glade had been dedicated to a goddess of growth. Did that mean¡­ Did this fruit contain the power of that deity? The effect was different, but the feeling was the same. It evoked memories that she didn''t want to recall but could no longer ignore. Still, Jade didn''t allow herself to get lost in thought. She had a decision to make. After tabbing through her list of spells and talents she eventually decided to assign the growth boost to what was likely her most powerful spell: Allure. With her ability to boost its power, the faster she could get it to B rank the better off she''d be. As much as she wanted to stay and take in the breathtaking view, they didn''t have time to linger. As soon as the portal on the far side of the pavilion opened Jade pushed herself away from the railing, bidding her companions to follow as she passed through the gateway. There was the familiar rushing sensation that accompanied dimensional travel, and then Jade found herself blinking in the bright light of a blazing sun. Her boots scuffed against soft sand, and a wave of oppressive heat made her immediately remove her cloak. "I thought you said this stairway took us near Illysport." Jade said to Fenrin as he emerged behind her. "We''re in the middle of a desert." According to her interface, this quadrant was called the ''Sunswept Wastes'', which fit the surrounding landscape more accurately than Jade would''ve liked. "It is." The half-elf reassured her, shading his eyes against the light. "We''re near the edge of the quadrant. There should be a road a short hike spinward from here. That''ll lead right to the city." "Should be?" "I''ve only been up here once or twice, with my father." Fenrin admitted, using the Pathfinder spell to get his bearings. "But I think it''s that way." Though his face didn''t betray it, Jade tasted a sense of pain when Fenrin mentioned his father. She knew from earlier conversations that he was missing, but the half-elf rarely spoke of the matter. If they weren''t so pressed for time, Jade might''ve asked if he wanted to share the whole story. As it was, she couldn''t afford to lose focus. "Yeah, there we go." Fenrin gestured to Jade''s left, using the arcane arrow of his Pathfinder spell to orient himself. Seeing that magic reminded her that here on the third floor, her version of the spell had an additional use. Not only could it show her what direction was inward, but it would also indicate where the closest Labyrinth Core was. She immediately tested it, conjuring the same arrow above her wayfarer mark as the rest of her companions gathered around. "There." Jade turned to face the direction her spell revealed, a bearing about thirty degrees clockwise from where Fenrin claimed Illysport was. "That''s where the core is." Luis immediately followed suit, casting the spell as well. His indicator matched Jade''s, pointing towards a nearby sand dune that obscured their view of the distance. "So, that''s where the demons are?" Naomi asked. Jade thought she could hear a hint of anxiety in her friend''s voice, but when she glanced at her, there was no trace of it in her determined expression. "Unless their plans changed." Jade nodded. The contents of the documents she''d stolen from Malice had been light on details, but there''d been enough to make it clear that the core the demons were interested in was close to Illysport. Cores weren''t supposed to be near each other, so there was a high chance that this was the right one. "Only one way to find out." Luis said, flashing them his characteristic smile. "Let''s go crash the party."
Tara''lynn did not like the heat. She burned easily, sweated profusely, and hated the way it made her combat suit grow sticky and gross. Up until the moment she crossed the threshold onto the third floor she had been all fired up to go fight some demons. And then she''d emerged into what she could only think of as a blast furnace. As ridiculous as Jade''s armor was, in this moment Tara was more than a little envious of its lack of coverage. That, and the way the woman had been able to give herself a dark tan with a few moments of concentration. Who knew succubi had such practical abilities¡­ Despite Luis''s enthusiasm, they weren''t heading straight to the core. Not quite. First, they had to make sure Siora arrived safely at the city. Although the elf protested that she could find her way to Illysport without help, the entire party refused to allow her to wander off into the desert alone. "Are you crazy?" Tara asked in disbelief. "Even if it''s a low monster region, no one should be on their own up here." "Didn''t you travel on your own from the fourth floor to the second?" Fenrin asked, raising an amused eyebrow.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "Y-yeah, well, I never said that was a good idea." "Of course it was a good idea." Luis said, throwing his arm around her and slapping her shoulder. "It led you to us!" Tara squeaked in surprise, flinching at the unfamiliar contact. "I suppose¡­" She replied, distracted by suddenly being so close to someone. "Luis, you''re bothering her." Naomi said with a sigh, pulling him away by the arm. "You shouldn''t just grab people out of nowhere." "Huh? But you just grabbed me." "No, it''s okay!" Tara interjected, hoping that she didn''t look as flustered as she felt. "It''s not that I have a problem with it, I''m just not used to being touched a lot." "Do your people not show much physical affection?" Fenrin asked. "Hugging friends, pats on the back? Things like that?" "Yeah! Or wrestling, or that thing where you sneak up behind your buddies and tackle them." "Are you sure those are friends, Luis?" Jade asked with a soft snort. "Ahh it''s just a guy thing." He waved away her concern. "You don''t do that, Tara? Sorry." Luis finished, rubbing the back of his head. It was a gesture he did fairly often, and she was still trying to figure out exactly what it meant. Human body language was strange. "No¡­ that isn''t unusual with my people either. I just¡­" Tara hesitated, unsure of what to say. This was something she''d never given much thought to. Or¡­ It was something that she''d made sure she didn''t think about. "I didn''t have the chance to do much of it myself." She said it neutrally, trying to think of a natural way to change the subject. Before she could, Naomi spoke up. "I feel like you just said something really sad." A spike of annoyance shot through Tara and she turned a glare on Naomi¡­ Only to find her extending an open hand. Her smile was bright enough to banish those feelings, replacing them with something warmer. Cautiously, Tara took her hand in her own. "Let''s get you caught up on it." She gave Tara''s hand a soft squeeze, stoking the embers of that inner warmth. Behind Naomi, Luis was grinning. The rest of them nodded, and Mimi flapped over from Fenrin''s shoulder to land on her own with a soft thump. Tara felt herself smile. It was a self-conscious expression, but it didn''t feel bad. "That¡­ would be nice." After that, she found that the heat didn''t feel quite so oppressive anymore.
True to Fenrin''s word, it only took an hour and a half to reach the edge of the desert quadrant and find the road that led to Illysport. From what the half-elf remembered, it was another three hours to the city from this area. Jade was concerned about Siora''s safety and offered to accompany her all the way to the gates, but the elf declined with one of her airy smiles. "You have an important job to do, and so do I." The elf said, taking one of Jade''s hands in both of hers. "You''re the one I''m worried about." "We''ll be okay." Jade promised. "We aren''t going to fight if we don''t have to. There''s a good chance that we''ll be back here in the city in a day or two to get some help once we figure out what''s really going on." "Yeah, I''m sure it''ll work out that way." Naomi didn''t roll her eyes, but the obvious effort that took had the same effect. "These Core Zones are supposed to have powerful guardians, right?" Luis asked. "If the demons find a way inside, maybe it''ll kick their asses for us." Now it was Jade''s turn to give Luis a skeptical look. "We''re never that lucky." "A guy can dream, yeah?" "Anyway, Siora." she said, turning back to her friend. "Be safe, okay? We''ll find you as soon as we can." "You too. And when you do, I''ll have some leads on that cure for your brother." "Thanks." Jade hesitated for a moment and then pulled her into a hug. It was a little awkward, she''d never been much of a hugger, but this time it was right. "Thank you." All the feelings that she had such a hard time putting into words were infused within that contact. The worry, the hope, the gratitude, the desire for this all to be over. It only lasted for a few moments, but it was enough. When they pulled apart, the elf was smiling. Then she jumped, reaching into her satchel. "Oh! I nearly forgot, I made this for you." A small bottle of sky-blue liquid lay in her palm, glinting in the evening sunlight. Curious, Jade examined it. "Sorry I couldn''t make it last longer, I only have my travel kit with me." "It''s amazing." Jade breathed, gently picking up the vial and inspecting it. "I just wish I had more." Realizing how ungrateful that must''ve sounded, she shook herself out of her reverie. "Really, thanks. I''m sure that''ll come in handy." She shared its effects with the rest of the group. They were all impressed, but none so much as Tara. "You made this on the road? With just those travel tools?" The tek''kalla asked, amazed. "It took a few tries¡­" The elf admitted, shuffling her feet. "I wasted a lot of ingredients getting it right." "Even still¡­" They finished their goodbyes under the light of the slowly setting sun before setting off in different directions: Siora along the road towards Illysport, and Jade and her companions across the open flatlands that bordered the desert. They pushed on through twilight, pulling out lanterns to light the way as Jade shifted into an elven form to give herself better night vision. The transformations were second nature to her now, effortless adjustments to give herself whatever tools she needed at the time. She had grown to appreciate more the benefits of her new nature, even if the unsettling cravings that accompanied it still disturbed her. They were always there in the back of her mind. A hunger that slowly grew with each passing day since she last fed. It was starting to come back again, manifesting as urges to linger near her companions, breathing in their emotions like smelling a meal before taking a bite. Worse was how sweet the anxiety of her companions tasted to her mind. Only the importance of their current mission could keep Jade focused on the task at hand. To distract herself as they travelled, Jade looked through her most recent notifications. She had completed a couple of quests, Ascension Part 2 for reaching the third floor as well as The Gatekeeper, both of which granted a hefty amount of experience and crescent coins. The experience was enough to push her up to level 19 as well as a good portion of the way to 20. She assigned her stat points and then reviewed the most important notice: The reward for defeating The Gatekeeper. The Voice of the Labyrinth sounded a little amused to Jade''s ear. And¡­ was this the first time she''d heard it refer to itself in the first person? Before she could ponder the implications of that, another box appeared. "Score¡­" Jade breathed, heart pumping in excitement. A 50% boost was enormous. If what Tara said were true, the enemies on this floor would start having more magical abilities, so it was a timely upgrade. And that wasn''t even considering the demons they were about to face, all of whom Jade assumed could use some type of magic. "Please don''t use this as a reason to take more crazy risks in the future." Was Naomi''s response after Jade told the group about her new ability. "But¡­ it is pretty badass." "That''s a crazy boon." Fenrin added, his eyes wide. "I''ve heard of people getting it, but it''s usually only given out on the higher floors. I guess the Voice likes you." "If it does, it has a funny way of showing it." Jade muttered, thinking about the options the system presented to her for her succubus features. In her opinion, she was owed a good turn or two at this point. One thing she did know was that the next time she and Malice met, one of them was going to get an unpleasant surprise. Chapter 108 Fenrin soared through the sky on agile wings. Air rushed past him in a cool caress, granting a sense of incredible speed. Far below, a colorful landscape stretched out in every direction. Rolling hills dotted with sparse trees, green and orange grasses swaying in windswept fields and, in the distance, a placid river that wound through the landscape like an azure serpent, sunlight glistening off its shimmering surface. The experience was no less breathtaking for the number of times he''d done this, and it required a great deal of focus to force himself to stay on task. It only took a few moments of searching to locate his objective. Directly in front of him, not far from where his companions waited in a copse of trees, was the gateway to the Labyrinth Core. He''d never seen one himself before, but everyone who grew up in the Labyrinth knew the stories. Large archways of obsidian that often stood in remote wilderness, or deep in the bowels of dungeons. Monuments to the immense, latent power hidden within the arcane mechanisms of this strange world between worlds. They stood empty, bereft of power, awaiting the day that a chosen wayfarer arrived to challenge the force that had brought the Labyrinth to their world. Except that''s not how this one appeared. Even from this distance, high in the orange-tinged sky, Fenrin could see a swirling vortex of amethyst light crackling within the boundaries of the archway. This was no dormant gateway, but an active portal. Stranger still was the intricate glowing ritual circle that surrounded the portal, pulsing in rhythm with its shifting mists. Curiosity and concern mixing within him, Fenrin willed himself to drift closer. His sharp eyes picked out a pair of humanoid figures keeping watch just beyond the border of the inscribed sigil, their features concealed by hooded cloaks. It was much the same garb as the bruzaks had worn in Estelhelm, and the bulky stature of the pair left him with little doubt as to their identity. That was enough for him, getting any closer would risk discovery. A mental command was all it took to sever the psychic connection and a moment later, Fenrin found himself back in his own body. A few steady breathes were enough to banish the customary disorientation that accompanied shifting his senses from his familiar to himself, and after a few moments he had regained his bearings. He was seated in a small hollow in the midst of a cluster of trees, surrounded by his friends and companions. "You back with us?" Luis asked. The large man was seated on a fallen log, cleaning his sword with an oiled rag. "I''m back." Fenrin nodded, feeling a familiar pang of loss as the sensation of flight and freedom faded. "Mirella''s on her way back, too." "Did you find them?" Everyone had gathered around, waiting to hear his report. "I found the portal the Core. It''s active, and there''s some sort of ritual magic inscribed around it. Looks like the portal is being forced open, somehow." "That''s not supposed to happen, right?" Naomi asked. She had a handful of potion vials lined up in front of her and was carefully sliding them into slots in a belt she wore over her armor. "No." Fenrin shook his head. "The right wayfarer could open the portal with a touch, it shouldn''t need anything else. There shouldn''t even be another way inside." He took a moment to summarize what he''d seen in more detail, including the two guards that appeared to be keeping watch outside. As he finished, a streak of color descended from the treetops to alight on his shoulder. Mimi clucked in greeting, nudging his cheek with a wing. He stroked her head with a finger, sending a sense of appreciation over their bond. "Demons are masters of dimensional magic." Tara reminded them. Her eyes were glossed over, a sign that she was checking her private interface. "If anyone could find a way to break into a Core zone, it''s them." "What should we do?" Luis asked. "We found them, but we still don''t have a plan." "There are only two of them, right?" Jade asked. "We should interrogate them." The light of day was quickly fading. Under the canopy of leaves, everything was cast in deep shadow. The effect made Jade, who was wearing her usual cloak over the strange armor she had commissioned, look rather sinister. It had taken Fenrin a while to reconcile the harshly beautiful demonic appearance of her true form with its soft curves and wicked horns, with the often curt but kind-hearted woman she was. Even so, Jade had her moments. The word ''interrogate'', said in such a coolly calculating manner, with her leathery wings stretched behind her, sent a chill down his spine. "You mean, find out what they''re doing inside?" "Exactly. We shouldn''t go in without knowing what to expect." "I''m not sure we should go inside at all." Naomi finished collecting her gear and stood up, walking over to join them. "We aren''t that far from that city, right? It''s not too late to go for help." "We can make that decision after we question the demons outside." Fenrin pointed out. "The next step might be obvious once we know more." "Good point." Tara blinked, probably closing her status screens. "But how will we get them to talk? They won¡¯t be friendly." "Oh, I can get them to talk." Jade said, a tight smile pulling at the corners of her lips. "Don''t worry about that." "Right." the tek''kalla shook her head. "Enchantment magic." The way she said it made her thoughts on that realm of magic clear. "What''s wrong with charm magic?" Jade asked defensively. "Nothing." Tara shrugged. "I just prefer a more direct approach to problem solving." "Like blowing things up?" Luis asked. "You seem to be good at that." "Precisely." "There''s nothing wrong with a bit of finesse." Jade crossed her arms, frowning. "Don''t give us that, Jade." Naomi rolled her eyes. "Weren''t you the one who put a crate of explosives in our bag when we were on Earth?" "Oh yeah¡­ I should find a use for that." "No! No you should not. We don''t need to go looking for an excuse to blow something up." "Those are the alchemical bombs you showed us the other day?" Fenrin asked, recalling the foreign devices. They were like nothing he''d ever seen, and he''d met people with dozens of worlds. "I need to hear more about the magic-free relics the artificers of your world craft, they sound fascinating." He''d seen a few of them already. They''d trained with devices that allowed them to communicate across great distances, although they hadn''t needed to use them much yet. How curious that Jade and her friends were constantly amazed with all forms of magic and yet carried with them devices of equal mystery. "That''s right!" Luis gave him a thumbs up. "We''ll have to take you to Earth sometime so you can see for yourself." "Are explosives a specialty of your people?" He asked, recalling Jade and Luis''s interest in the bombs the kobold shopkeeper had offered. "No, I wouldn''t¡­" Jade began and then trailed off. "Actually¡­ I guess they kind of are." She finished slowly with an odd expression, as if she''d never considered it before.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "I''ve always maintained that the majority of problems can be solved with an explosion of sufficient size." Tara offered. "If it doesn''t, it either wasn''t big enough, or it wasn''t in the right place." Everyone turned to look at their tek''kalla companion. She shrugged. "I wrote a paper on the topic for a class at the academy." "Did you pass the class¡­?" Jade asked. "Hey, shouldn''t we be moving?" Tara asked, changing the subject with lightning speed. "Fate of your world, and all that?" Fenrin wanted to hear more about this paper, and what possible class it could''ve been written for, but she was right. They had rushed here for a reason. He mentally chided himself for letting the group get so distracted. All his life he''d been trained to be a leader. Just because he didn''t want the responsibility of being one didn''t mean that he should waste the valuable education he''d been given. "Good point." Fenrin said, reluctantly bailing Tara out. "Mimi, take one more look, just to be sure there''s only two of them." His familiar clacked her beak twice and took off, launching herself skyward with hardly a sound. Be safe. Don''t get too close. "I''ll lead the way." He said. "Ready to go?" "Ready." Jade said, and the rest of them nodded. "That paper sounds fun." Luis nudged Tara with an elbow. "Tell us about it after, yeah?" She turned away, and Fenrin thought he saw her cheeks flush. "Fine." Tara muttered. "But be ready to be blown away."
With the aid of Jade''s newest spell, ambushing the two lookouts proved trivial. Cloaking herself in a shroud of shadows that rendered her invisible made the act of sneaking up on the two demons almost too easy, and Jade had them on the ground and disoriented before they even knew she was there. Despite achieving total surprise, the bruzaks proved difficult to subdue. As creatures that fought primarily with claws and magic, there was no easy way to disarm them without killing them. Jade successfully enthralled one of them, a burly male with dark skin and bone ridges covering his forearms, and Luis and Fenrin eventually managed to wrestle his companion to the ground before she could recover from Jade''s sneak attack. Following the quick plan they''d worked up on the way here, Naomi and Tara force fed the demon woman one of the newer potions Siora had concocted for them, a powerful sleeping draught. It did the trick, knocking the snarling and hissing demon unconcious and ending the fight. They were left standing together in front of the flickering portal, which bathed the surrounding scrubland in an eerie, unsteady pink light. "I''ll make sure there aren''t any more of them." Fenrin said, scooping up his bow and recalling Mimi to his shoulder. "Luis, keep an eye on the portal." "You got it, amigo." "Jade?" Naomi asked, looking around for her. "Here." She said, cutting her invisibility. Her form resolved from the rapidly darkening landscape right beside Naomi, making her jump in surprise. "Gah! Don''t do that!" Naomi hissed, holding a hand to her chest. "Sorry." Jade winced. Surprising her heavily armed friends wasn''t the best idea right after a fight. Invisibility might not be as straightforward as I thought. They hadn''t had much time to practice with Jade''s newest power, and none of them were used to it yet. Until that changed, she''d need to be careful with it. Naomi breathed out, long and slow. "Ready to do your thing?" "Yeah." Jade turned to face the charmed demon. Like the others they''d encountered, he was wearing a brown cloak. The hood had fallen back, revealing an angular face covered with intricate red tattoos that formed swirling patterns across his forehead. His hair was short and black, and two stubby horns poked up from the crown of his head. "You." Jade stepped right in front of him. He was taller than she was, so she had to look up to meet his eyes. For some reason she didn''t fully understand that little fact bothered her. "What are you doing here?" Tara, who was keeping an eye on the sleeping prisoner, listened carefully along with Naomi while the others kept watch for signs of danger. The demon took several moments to respond, which only served to heighten Jade''s frustration. She wanted to get this over with quickly, they were too exposed here. "We were keeping watch for Lady Malice." The demon growled. His voice sounded like gravel being ground together. "She took the main force inside the Core zone." He continued, pointing to the portal. "What is she doing inside?" "Readying the ritual." Even with magic coercing him to be cooperative, his tone was unfriendly. Annoyed with his terse answers, Jade resisted the urge to shake the creature and instead phrased her next question to be more specific. "What does the ritual do?" "I¡­" He hesitated. "I''m not supposed to say." "You can trust me." Jade reassured him smoothly. She took a half step closer, spreading her wings and gracing him with a seductive smile that even she could tell was a little awkward. "See? I''m a succubus, just like Malice. I was sent here to help her. I just need to understand what the plan is." She tried to ignore Naomi''s poor attempt to cover up her amusement at her antics. "R-right." The demon relaxed slightly, the spell finding deeper purchase in his mind. "The ritual. It uses some of the materials she stole from the city. By combining our magic, the dimension effusion, the power of the Labyrinth Core, and its affinity for our home, we can summon reinforcements." Reinforcements? Their home? What''s going on? Jade forgot all about her embarassment. Could this not have anything to do with Earth after all? That was the most important question, as far as Jade was concerned. "Will this ritual affect Earth? The newly integrated planet?" "I don''t know." The demon shrugged. "I''m not one of the ritualists, those are the ones she brought inside. The portal would only let a few of us through. But once we have the numbers we need, that''s where we''ll be going." An icy chill ran through Jade''s body. Behind her, she heard Naomi stifle a gasp. "Why are you going to Earth?" She asked coolly, feeling her grip tighten around the hilts of her daggers. "What do y-, what do we want with the human world?" The demon''s eye began to twitch. Jade frowned, probing the connection her spell forged between them. It was in good shape; he wasn''t even close to breaking free. What was happening? "The Earth artifact." He said, wavering on his feet. "We need it for the final¡­" "The final what?!" Jade demanded. "What artifact?" "The final ritual¡­" He gasped, a line of blood trickling from his lower lip. "Freedom¡­ vengeance¡­ At long last¡­ Our rightful place!" The demon spasmed mid-sentence, collapsing to the ground with a spray of blood. Jade took a reflexive step back, shocked, watching as blood poured out of his eyes and mouth. The mental connection they shared abruptly shattered as the creature twitched once on the ground and died at her feet. Tara was the first to move. The tek''kalla knelt beside the fresh corpse, holding her wand over the body. She looked up at Jade with a frown, the amethyst light of the portal shimmering on her glossy white hair. "A geas. Some kind of compulsion magic." She said, rising. "Someone doesn''t want them to talk." "We''ve heard enough." Familiar anger roiled in Jade''s soul. Whatever their ultimate plan was, these creatures were planning on going to Earth in force. They had to be stopped. After moving the bodies, one deceased, one still sleeping, the group gathered a short distance from the glowing portal. Night had fallen, and the open scrubland was covered in a thick darkness broken only by faint starlight. Jade shared what she''d learned in short, clipped sentences. Even in the gloom, she could see the resolve in Luis and Naomi''s faces. There weren''t any more doubts. They had to put a stop to this. "This portal is only a couple of days from Illysport." Fenrin said grimly when Jade had finished her explanation. "This ritual they''re setting up, whatever it is, won''t take long. If it did, someone would find them." "So, we don''t have much time." Jade grimaced. She looked at the portal, sparking and flickering in the middle of the runic circle inscribed into the dirt around the base of the obsidian arch. It pulsed, beating like a heart. "I''m going in there." "Jade, think about this." Naomi urged. "We have to do something, but that doesn''t mean we have to rush in there blindly. There could be anything on the other side of that." "She''s right, chica." Luis lay a hand on her shoulder. "We need a plan." Jade bit back the instinctive desire to snap at them. How dare they try to stop her from doing what had to be done? What right did they have to tell her what- But¡­ no. That wasn''t it. She could taste her companion''s emotions. The fiery anger, the steely determination, and¡­ the concern. For me. The situation had her riled up, but it wasn''t just that. The demonic aspect of her heart was urging her to fight. It hated waiting, hated being told what to do. Even when that was exactly what she needed. She''d promised to listen to her friends and to be more careful. Now was the time to show them that she''d meant it. With effort, Jade forced herself to shift back into her human form. The familiar strength of her demonic body faded, but so did the oppressive penalty to her will. As it lifted, clarity of thought returned to her mind like a bucket of ice water crashing over her. She nodded slowly, doing her best to conceal the mental struggle. "You''re right¡­ We should do this right." "Any ideas?" Luis asked. "I could go inside with Mimi." Fenrin suggested, patting his familiar. "We could scout and report back." "Too dangerous." Jade said, shaking her head. "What if there''s another group of them right inside the portal?" "Maybe you could charm that one, like you did her friend?" Naomi said, nudging the still-unconcious demon lady with her foot. "She''ll be waking up soon. You could tell her to go in and get information for us." "If the spell broke while she was away, we''d be in trouble." Tara pointed out. "The charm effect isn''t perfect, either. It''s not mind control. Not completely." Jade mused. "Although¡­ That does give me another idea¡­" It took a few minutes, but after some experimentation, Jade managed to adopt a new form. A convincing visage of the female bruzak still asleep at their feet. She took the large cloak off the demon, draping it around her broad shoulders and pulling the hood up. "Now we can do some recon." Chapter 109 Primordial Jungle Core Space, Earth Core #7 "What''s taking so long?" Malice growled at the new lead ritualist, a bruzak whose name she didn''t know. It''s not that she had forgotten it, she just hadn''t bothered to learn it. "We''ve been here for hours and nothing is happening!" "My lady¡­" The squat, flat-faced demon stammered, wilting under her icy glare. "T-the Core Guardian was only defeated an hour ago, and the other monsters in the area are causing delays-" "I don''t want excuses, I want results." Malice took a menacing step towards the cowering demon, grabbing a fistful of her dark robes. The stinging pain crisscrossing the succubus''s back had cut her notoriously short temper to a hair trigger, and she was well past the point of tolerating anything but perfection from her subordinates. "We''re already behind schedule. The assault force is waiting. If we miss the transfer window and not all of them get through, you are going to be the one standing in front of Zertrolk explaining what went wrong." "We''ll get it done, my lady!" She squeaked, crimson eyes wide as she glanced at the rent, still bleeding corpse of her predecessor. "I''ll get the arcanists started right away!" Malice made a disgusted noise and released her, shoving away the terrified demon. The pathetic creature slipped, nearly losing her footing and plunging to her death in the chasm beside them. Unfortunately, she managed to catch herself before stumbling over the precipice and falling into the dark jungle far below. Too bad, at least that would have been entertaining. Still, the spike of terror Malice tasted from her was a sweet distraction from the enormous headache this entire operation had turned into. Tight timetables, an accelerated schedule due to the Labyrinth''s recent abnormalities, and worst of all- "Is there a problem, Malice?" The cold, emotionless voice cut through her like a dagger, making the fresh wounds in her back ripple with fiery pain. The succubus turned, adopting an expression of contempt as she folded her wings behind her. "Of course not, Zertrolk. Merely¡­" She nudged the ritualist''s corpse with her foot, sliding it over the edge of the cliff to tumble out of sight. "Addressing one of my subordinate''s concerns." She forced a playful smile onto her lips even as the frigid aura of the Ice Demon settled around her. Zertrolk''s form resolved from the shadow of the nearby ruins, overgrown with jungle vines. He was tall and muscular, with midnight skin and equally dark armor adorned with curved spikes. The demon carried a crimson blade in one hand, its tip dragging along the ancient, cracked cobblestones beneath their feet. His mere presence felt like being crushed by an avalanche, freezing pressure squeezing her from all sides. Even Malice''s impressive aura strength was not enough to keep the sensation fully at bay, although she was loath to admit it. "Good." His blank expression didn''t change, nor did the unnervingly emotionless void that was his mind. "Because there''s been a change of plans." "What change?" Malice snapped, annoyed at being kept out of the loop. It was difficult enough to see the plan to its completion without the details constantly changing behind her back. "What is it this time?" Zertrolk''s eyes narrowed. It was a slight gesture, hardly noticeable. But for him, it spoke volumes. "My lord." Malice hastened to add, inclining her head even as her claws dug into her own palms with enough force to draw blood. "The Lady Ira will be joining the assault force and taking command of the operation to seize the Earth artifact." "Lady Ira?" Malice''s heart skipped a beat, and a deeper chill ran through her body, completely unrelated to Zertrolk''s oppressive aura. "Indeed. And it wouldn''t do for her to be¡­ displeased." "No¡­ Not at all." Malice said, barely managing to suppress a shudder. For the briefest of moments, the succubus tasted something within the utter emptiness of her commander''s mind. The sweet, lively taste of anxiety was unmistakable. Knowing that even Zertrolk was shaken by the imminent arrival of Lord Vastrozun''s right-hand woman did nothing to set Malice at ease, but it did give her a minor sense of satisfaction. "I''m leaving." The other demon said curtly. He turned to face the glow of the distant Core, a jagged, diamond shaped floating crystal about the size of a two-story building. The top of the enormous blue gemstone was just visible through the jungle foliage and crumbling ruins at the edge of the cliff. "Preparations for the unification rituals on the fourth floor have been interrupted. I''m going to set them back on track before Lady Ira arrives." You just don''t want to be here when she comes through. Malice thought bitterly, knowing that if anything went wrong and Zertrolk wasn''t present, she would feel the sting of the commander''s displeasure. "Do you have a problem with that?" He must have caught a subtle change in her expression, and she reprimanded herself for letting anything show on her face. "My vanguard already destroyed the guardian of this place. Do you lack confidence in your ability to oversee a small group of researchers?" "I''m more than capable." Malice snapped, unable to hold in her temper any longer. "But there''s still a swarm of monsters in the jungle, and those idiots keep getting themselves killed. I can''t be everywhere at once, and the entry portal we forced open only allowed so many warriors in here to guard them with." "Yes, monsters." Zertrolk''s lips curled upwards in a smile. He glanced at the bloodied ground where the corpse of the researcher she''d eviscerated had been lying. "I''m sure that''s the problem. Fine, I''ll leave one of my enforcers with you. Any more, and the zone restrictions could compromise the connection. Forcing this many of ours inside it already has it growing unstable." "Very well." Malice growled. She spun on her heels, marching back towards the faintly glimmering core. "I expect this transition to go smoothly, Malice." Zertrolk didn''t raise his voice as she stalked away. He didn''t need to. "Your loss of the dimension effusion was an unacceptable failure. Be grateful that I am the one in command here. Not all would have given you a second chance." She stopped in her tracks. "We didn''t need all of it." Malice growled, fists clenching tighter. She imagined them closing around Zertrolk''s neck, slowly squeezing the life out of his cold, damnable eyes. The dream remained a fantasy. At least, for now. "And I will not forget the humiliation of your lesson." "Good." Zertrolk said flatly, his voice as emotionless as ever. "Pain is a powerful motivator. Now, see to your task." Oh, it is a powerful motivator. She thought as she walked away. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Somehow, she didn''t think that the goal she had in mind was the one he had intended to push her towards, however. But that was okay. Zertrolk may be able to best her in a direct confrontation, but that wasn''t the only way to get to someone. Once they were done here¡­ Malice''s growing smile faded, her thoughts returning to the presence. For all the burning hatred she felt towards their passionless demon commander, he was right about one thing. There were those who were far less tolerant of failure than he, perceived or genuine. And the fearsome woman who numbered first on that list was about to arrive.
Jade emerged from the swirling vortex of energy on full alert, wary of danger. She minimized the system window and took in her surroundings, extending her aura to search for any nearby creatures or monsters. Nothing registered to her senses, magical or otherwise, but she didn''t allow herself to relax. The portal had deposited her in the midst of a thick jungle filled with tall trees and broad bushes that came up to her shoulder. The undergrowth was cleared away in a small radius around the portal arch, but other than a small trail immediately in front of her, the dense plant growth appeared nearly impassable. Small gaps in the canopy let in rays of orange-tinted sunlight, but the foliage was thick enough to plunge the jungle floor in deep shadow. Nothing emerged from the jungle to attack her, nor did any demons arrive to challenge her arrival. Other than the faint chirping of birds and buzzing of insects, she appeared to be alone. Not taking anything for granted, Jade spent a few minutes scouting around the portal to make sure there weren''t any hidden enemies lying in wait, as well as to get her bearings. Her bruzak form was bulkier than she was accustomed to, and she disliked how clumsy she felt wearing it. Still, the strength boost the form offered helped her push through the thick undergrowth with surprising ease, and it didn¡¯t take long for her to confirm that the area was safe enough, at least for the moment. As she cautiously explored, Jade realized that this was the first time she''d been alone in over a week. Monster hunting with a party and camping together in hostile wilderness didn''t lead to many private moments. Normally, that wouldn''t have mattered, but Jade had recently been battling a growing personal need that was becoming harder to ignore with each passing day. As much as it annoyed her, she couldn''t escape the reality of being a succubus. After so long without release, a moment of privacy was all it took to flood her mind with the most indecent of thoughts. "Not the time, Jade!" She told herself forcefully, trying to banish a variety of images from her mind. "I knew I should''ve taken care of this in the city¡­" Jade pulsed her aura again, confirming that she was alone. Once more there was nothing, and Jade''s eyes were drawn to a bed of moss growing between a cluster of rocks, mostly hidden from view. She stopped, conflicted. This was a terrible idea, but so was potentially going into battle as distracted and uncomfortable as she was. This had all been manageable before she''d pulled that stunt with her rune trap the other day. And now that she was thinking about it again, it was getting even harder to push from her mind¡­ "Fuck it." Jade grunted, slipping between the rocks and shifting into her succubus form. As she did, the nagging intrusive thoughts flared into burning need. She lay atop her cloak on the soft moss and retrieved the vampire novel she''d started reading in Lysara from her dimension pouch, as well as a few select items she''d discretely picked up while in the city¡­
A few minutes later a somewhat breathless and newly energized Jade, now back in her bruzak disguise, resumed her cautious exploration of the area with a spring in her step. Her skin tingled, body buzzing with a power more intense than she was accustomed to. Part of her wondered at that, even as she tried to cleanse the embarassing lapse of self-control from her memory. The Voice of the Labyrinth helpfully presented the answer to her in the form of a notification. There was a distinct note of amusement in the Voice of the Labyrinth''s tone, which Jade could''ve done without. Are you serious¡­ Hadn''t she turned down a similar racial power? That one had been much more potent, but apparently the release of a succubi''s desires could be potent enough to manifest physically, even without specific powers. "Well¡­ No one said saving the world couldn''t be fun¡­" Jade muttered to herself, deciding that she may as well embrace the absurdity of her life. She took a moment to adjust her armor, having just learned that it had a hidden benefit: Not needing to be removed before... Enough! She shook herself, feeling her cheeks burn hotter. Okay, okay¡­ back to work. Now imbued with a somewhat distressing level of mental clarity, Jade investigated the path leading from the portal entrance. It led to a thinner section of jungle that abruptly ended in a broad chasm that extended down at least two hundred feet, with more shadowed jungle in its depths. Twisting paths along the cliff walls provided clear, if treacherous, routes into the valley, but that wasn''t the only way to the other side. Spanning the hundred-or-more foot gap was an ancient stone bridge supported by spindly pillars rising from the valley below. The narrow path lacked any form of railing or barrier that would prevent a careless step from resulting in a deadly plunge, and even Jade''s stomach lurched as she took in what had to be the sketchiest causeway she''d ever seen. It was even worse than the deathtrap of a factory she''d started her adventure in. Those catwalks had at least been sturdy, and the drop potentially survivable. But that was all secondary to Jade, as her focus was immediately drawn to the enormous crystal rising from the overgrown, crumbing ruins on the other side of the chasm. It emanated a soft, blue light and, even from this distance, she could see the swirling energy crackling within its many facets. That''s where Malice will be. She thought, scanning the other side of the gap for any signs of life. And whatever demons she brought with her. Moments after laying eyes on what had to be the Labyrinth Core, a notification popped up in her vision. It was a completed quest for entering a Core Space and was accompanied by a deluge of experience. After blinking away the update Jade was met with several more. New Quest: Conqueror The Voice of the Labyrinth read the message in her characteristically chipper tone, which was completely at odds with the gravity of the situation. Indeed, Jade felt a growing anger at the reminder of how little regard the system gave to the true nature and consequences of this ''integration''. She took a deep breath and calmed herself before reading the next one. Her eyes immediately lit up with excitement. "Finally!" This was immediately followed by another quest complete notification for ''Path to Power: Part 2'' which yielded yet more experience and, more importantly, another notice. As excited as she was, Jade knew that this wasn''t the time to pore through however many status windows examining her choices would take. The area near the portal seemed safe enough, she could bring her companions in before making her selection and venturing further afield. No sooner had she thought that than another notification popped up in her vision. Jade paused, the portal just visible between the trees. Did that mean the Labyrinth was fighting back against the demons? "That could be helpful¡­" She said aloud. A rustling sound to her left caught her attention. Jade spun towards the noise, daggers appearing in her hands as her body moved with well-honed combat instincts. She reacted in time to avoid the black blur that streaked past, slamming into a tree behind her. Jade backed away, weapons at the ready, manifesting her aura blades around her daggers. She immediately recognized the wolf-like creature crouched before her, its long, curved stinger retracting to hover over its head, poised to strike again. "Or be an enormous pain in the ass¡­" Jade said, an icy chill running down her spine. The venomhound didn''t wait for her to finish the thought. Chapter 110 Jade''s first few clashes with the venomhound revealed that it was both faster and stronger than she was. Her defensive barrier already sparking from multiple glancing blows, Jade made a snap decision. The system tagged this creature as level 27, alarmingly higher than her own. She had no choice but to throw off her cloak and shift back into her true form, wings bursting from her back as the canine monster leapt for her again, its jaws snapping for her throat. The sudden surge of strength that accompanied the transformation came just in time, and Jade narrowly avoided the attack by rolling to the side. She caught the monster in the flank with an aura-enhanced slash sending a spray of dark blood into the air. It howled, dancing back, even as its stinger flashed towards her chest. Fear. Icy, bone chilling fear. Memories flashed through Jade''s mind: Lost and alone. A desperate escape. Being cornered. And finally, searing, white hot pain. She was distracted for merely an instant, but it nearly cost Jade her life. The barbed stinger scraped the exposed skin on her side as she belatedly twisted away from the attack, feeling a familiar flash of burning heat erupt from the wound. Jade growled, allowing the demonic rage full reign, letting it wash away the pain and fear in a rising tide of fury. She was stronger than before. Two venomhounds had tried to kill her on the first floor, and the third was going to meet the same bloody fate as its brethren. It came at her again, and this time she didn''t hesitate. Jade blinked forward in a rush, brushing her wing against the monster''s flank and channeling her Charm Creature spell into its mind. The ''C'' rank effect nearly took hold, but the venomhound''s high level defenses held firm. It was on her again before she could react and Jade was forced to fight defensively, warding away its swiping claws and thrusting stinger with sweeps of her aura blades. In the fury she''d allowed to take over, Jade didn''t think to create distance and attack it from range. No, she didn''t just want this monster dead, she wanted to tear it apart with her own claws. A whispered incantation cloaked her in a shroud of darkness, concealing her from view. The invisibility spell caught the monster off guard and suddenly, Jade was on the offensive. One strike. Two. Three! Her aura blades had dissipated from lack of focus, but Phantom and Fang were more than up to the task of carving into the venomhound''s hide. Jade''s form flickered in and out of existence as she struck from all sides, targeting the vital points along its body. Her upgraded dagger and talent applied stacking slow effects with every successful hit, and it didn''t take long for the monster to flag. Now! Jade seized her opening, blinking forward with Mirage Step and severing the monster''s stinger with a heavy slash. It screeched in pain and rage, rounding on her just in time for her other dagger to slam into its neck. Jade tackled the venomhound to the jungle floor, twisting Fang before wrenching it to slash across its throat. Blood erupted from the wound, spattering her face and chest, but she didn''t care. She continued to violently thrust her blades into the twitching body until finally, the notification appeared. Jade sat atop the monster''s corpse panting for breath, blood dripping from several minor injuries. Her anger drained away, the demonic bloodlust sated for the moment, and she was left feeling cold. The severed stinger lay on the ground beside her, and Jade felt her hands clench into fists at the sight of it. What was wrong with her? She had fought countless monsters over the past couple of months, but seeing a simple stinger was enough to make her freeze? Wasn''t she over that? She popped the cork off a vial and gulped down the healing elixir, then threw the empty container aside to shatter against a tree. Even after the wounds were gone, Jade could still feel the burning pain in her side. It was accompanied by a phantom twinge in her ankle, which she purposefully ignored as she looted the monster. That done, Jade took a final look around the area to make sure nothing had been attracted by the brief battle before striding back through the portal to fetch her friends.
"Are you sure you''re okay?" Naomi asked, giving Jade''s blood splattered body a concerned once over. The five of them were concealed in the jungle a short distance away from the portal, as the last thing they wanted was to be discovered by any random demon that happened to be on their way out. They''d given the remaining demon outside another dose of Siora''s sleeping potion, enough to leave her out cold for hours. Jade sighed, wiping her face clean with a rag. "I''m okay, I promise." Jade reassured her truthfully. The cold feeling of dread that had manifested upon battling the venomhound had dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, and she was back to normal. Better than normal, in fact, as she still felt a bit of a glow from her temporary stat boost¡­ or possibly the activity that had led to it. "Really?" Naomi cocked her head. "You look a little flushed, Jade." "Really!" Jade said emphatically, turning away so her friend wouldn''t see her blush. "A-anyway, Fenrin, has Mimi found anything yet?" "There''s definitely some activity near the core." The half-elf said, eyes closed in concentration. "Getting a better look without being noticed will be tricky, it''ll take a bit." "Didn''t you say you hit level 20, amiga?" Luis asked. "Does that mean you get to pick your advanced class?" "Oh, right!" Jade pulled up her status window, searching for the notification. "Yeah¡­ I can pick it any time." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "We need every edge we can get." Tara added. "What''re your options?" "Time to find out." Jade''s eyes widened as she read through the options available to her. Based on her current array of spells and talents, and the way she fought, she''d expected to get at least one assassin themed and one enchantment themed option. In the lead up to finally reaching level twenty she''d given those potential paths a great deal of thought and had discussed the matter with her companions. As an assassin''s toolkit would round out some of her remaining weaknesses in combat Jade had opened the system window fully expecting to make that selection, assuming the option was presented to her. The alternative offered by the Labyrinth, however, gave her pause. Refining my charm powers into better combat tools¡­ what would that look like? There was no preview of what specific abilities the two different paths would provide down the line. Jade only had the brief descriptions provided by the system with which to make her decision. "Well?" Luis prompted, plopping down next to her as she read over the text again. "What''ve you got?" Jade summarized the options for her companions. Other than Fenrin, who was keeping tabs on his familiar and making sure no monsters were approaching, they''d all joined her. "The second one fits the abilities you already have much better." Naomi pointed out, adjusting something on her guitar. "That one makes more sense to me." "Do I want to specialize that much, though?" Jade asked. "If I focus too much on my charm powers, I''ll have big weaknesses elsewhere." "That''s why people form teams." Tara reminded her. "No one can make it through the Labyrinth on their own, and you can''t be good at everything. If you try, you just end up compromising what you''re best at." The two paths before Jade were thematically opposed. The Umbral Assassin class focused on stealth and deception and would likely grant enhancements to her invisibility power. Glamourblade, on the other hand, appeared to be the opposite. Attention drawing. Flashy. Her combat style had incorporated both approaches in the past. Even in her old life she''d never been able to settle on one of those paths. Part of her had been an athlete rising into the national spotlight, while the other side of her remained alone and aloof. If she had to decide which she liked more, she knew the answer. "Eh, I''m sure whatever you pick will work out." Luis shrugged. "It''s not like your current powers will change, right? Anything else you get is just a bonus." Her friends fell silent, waiting for her decision. "Glamourblade it is, then." Jade said at length. She took a deep breath and then made the selection. "Time to see how far I can push these racial powers." She may have been forced into this body, but it was past time she embraced its strengths. The windows vanished and Jade''s skin began to glow. Warmth filled her, and a sudden burst of power flowed through her body like an electric current. As the sensation faded, new notifications appeared. Eight level intervals? That meant it was like her racial features, only offset from them. Between new class features every four levels, her racial features every eight, and now her advanced class options, that meant she''d be gaining new abilities every other level. That felt like a lot, but Jade had already noticed the levels were starting to come more slowly. The next windows gave insight into her new powers. "Holy shit¡­" Jade breathed, reading through the ability again. It seemed incredibly powerful, albeit limited by the number of creatures she could affect with her charm spells. A limitation that was greatly eased by the new spell detailed in the second window. The B rank version of the spell, which Jade currently had access to due to her succubus form, added a temporary stat penalty to creatures that resisted or shook off the charm. The two new additions to her arcane arsenal were clearly designed to complement each other, and Jade couldn''t wait to test them out. Then she remembered why they were here and the urgency of their situation and felt her enthusiasm fade. The fate of her world could be hanging in the balance, and here she was getting excited about playing with some new spells. She finished by assigning her stat points and relaying her new abilities to her companions. Normally, they trained extensively with powers before deploying them in real combat, but they didn''t have the luxury of waiting any longer. She''d need to be careful with Enrapture, as its high mana cost could quickly drain her reserves if she didn''t watch them. Her magic circlet could mitigate part of that issue, but without practice it was impossible to know by how much. They were still going over potential strategies when Fenrin broke into the conversation, his lips drawn to a line. "I found them. They''re all grouped around the core crystal, with a huge ritual circle carved around it." "Does it look finished?" Jade asked, standing up. "How long do we have?" She was cut off by a rumbling quake that rippled through the dimensional space, causing branches and leaves to fall around them. Jade flared her wings to help keep her footing, even as the intense shaking caused her friends to stumble and fall. "I think that''s your answer." Luis said, picking himself up from the ground and helping Tara back to her feet. He flashed her a grin. "Let''s see what your new class can do." Chapter 111 "Jade, this plan is crazy. Even for us!" Jade didn''t immediately reply to Naomi''s outburst. After all, she was right. The five of them were moving through the jungle towards the Labyrinth Core, and the ravine that separated them from it. After a hasty planning session, the best idea they had been able to come up with was¡­ less than ideal. "It''s the only way to have a chance at stopping them without fighting all of them at once." She expected another protest. Instead, her friend''s shoulders slumped forward. "We have to do this, don''t we." Naomi''s mind was a turbulent mix of anxiety, anticipation, and fear. It was buried deep, hidden away behind a wall of discipline that was still being shored up, but it was there. Of course she was afraid. All of them were. "We do." Jade said softly, taking her hand. "I wish we didn''t, but we do." "Then I''ll do my part." It only took a few more minutes to reach the edge of the ravine. The cliff here wasn''t as sheer as Jade had first thought, with several paths winding down into the jungle below. The narrow bridge was a short distance away, supported by a couple of cracked and spindly pillars that rose from the bottom of the valley. "This could work." Luis said, surveying the area for the first time. "It is pretty crazy, but the good kind." "There''s a good kind of crazy?" Fenrin asked. "I like to think of it as ''bold''." Jade said with a slight grin. "I would just like to point out." Tara began, crouching down behind a thicket. "That this plan reinforces my theory about problem solving." "You may be onto something¡­" Jade fished in the dimensional pouch for the gear they''d need, handing it out. The five of them fitted on earpieces with integrated short range radios, although it took a few tries for Fenrin to get his on. Apparently, the manufacturers hadn''t included half elven anatomy in their design considerations. "You say these are common on your world?" Fenrin asked, finally getting the receiver in place. "Communication magic is rare and expensive here in the Labyrinth." "You have no idea." Naomi said with a hint of a smile. They''d practiced with these a couple of times during their training, but not extensively. There just hadn''t been a need for long range communication when hunting monsters. Since the current plan involved Jade splitting up from the team, though, they needed a way to keep in touch. After a quick test to ensure the equipment was working properly Jade removed a few more items from her pouch, slipped them into the satchel at her hip, and then tossed the dimensional bag to Luis. "You remember how to do it?" "Sure do. I''ve played enough videogames to know how this works." "Luis¡­ I''m counting on you here. Seriously." The large man adopted a rare, serious expression. He lay a hand on her shoulder. "I got you Jade. Don''t worry." "Just, uh, give us a warning first." Naomi added. Jade nodded, shifting back into the female bruzak form. Her body became bulkier, thick and tough, with shorter horns, darker skin, and coarse hair. She threw the cloak back on, obscuring the her unorthodox armor and, hopefully, any features that she hadn''t gotten quite right. "Be careful." Jade said, glancing down into the ravine. Her voice, which usually didn''t change with her shapes, was deeper in this form. It felt strange. "We don''t know what''s down there." "You be careful." Fenrin said, looking over his shoulder at her as he set off down one of the narrow trails that wound its way down the cliff. "We do know what''s across that bridge." "I will be." It was a lie, and they all knew it. If they were going to be careful none of them would have come into this core space to begin with. They were far past ''careful''. But it was one of those things people said to each other. Jade understood that now, as she hadn''t before. Maybe I am getting better with people. She hoped that was true.
The walk across the bridge wasn''t quite as harrowing as Jade expected. The span was solid underfoot, and as long as she avoided the gaps where sections of the stone structure had fallen away, it was safe enough. Still, it was a vertigo-inducing stroll, and even someone as experienced with heights and precarious footing as Jade felt a few twinges in her stomach as she crossed the ravine. She moved slowly, making sure her companions had plenty of time to get everything into place. "Everything okay down there?" Jade asked, one hand to her earpiece. "Ran into a few monsters, but we''re fine." Naomi answered a moment later. "A venomhound and some kind of creepy, giant centipedes." Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. There was still no sign of movement on the far side of the chasm. The demons must all be near the core, which was further into the jungle. She could see it clearly now, the top half of the enormous crystal breaching the foliage like the head of some great beast. "Damn, I''m missing the fun." "You have a strange idea of fun. But, knowing you, you''d probably say they''re cute." "Take some pictures for me." "You wish. Almost there?" "Almost." "Great." Tara said, joining the conversation. "Only two pillars left. You know, this would be a lot easier if I could use my area spells." "That would definitely alert the demons that something is going on." Fenrin reminded her. "And probably burn down the jungle." Luis added helpfully. "I know, I know." It didn''t take much longer for Jade to reach the far side of the bridge. She received confirmation that the rest of the preparations were complete just as she re-entered the jungle, following the signs of heavy foot traffic towards the glowing light of the core. Her heart was beating faster now, and despite her efforts to remain calm, a cold sweat beaded across her forehead. Disguise or no, she was walking into the lion''s den alone. Yes, she was confident that her various spells and talents could get her out should she be discovered, but that knowledge didn''t make approaching the core any easier. Keep it together¡­ You don''t have to be here long. It only took another minute of walking for Jade to detect movement. Two muscular bruzak demons stepped out from behind a tall tree, arms raised aggressively. Fire crackled along their claws and Jade tensed, ready to spring into action. Then the flames winked out and the creatures visibly relaxed. "Thought you were another one of those centipedes." The taller of the two said gruffly. "What''re you doing here, Gravga? Have something to report?" Jade nodded once and grunted in what she hoped came across as an affirmative. She didn''t want to rely on the Labyrinth translating for her unless she absolutely had to. If someone was paying close attention to her words, they''d be able to tell that she wasn''t speaking in whatever tongue the demons spoke to each other in. "Malice is back towards the Core." The other one said, already losing interest in Jade. He turned his attention back to the jungle behind her and gestured over his shoulder. "Go on, you''re lucky you made it here in one piece. The monsters are nasty." Indeed, Jade could hear the distant crackle of magic and some sort of beastly screeches coming from somewhere to her left. She gave another nod of thanks and quickly passed the two sentries, making sure not to get too close. If either of them thought it strange that she kept her hood up, they didn''t comment on it. I thought they''d have cleared out this area by now. If the Labyrinth was giving them trouble, then maybe they still had some time before the ritual to summon more demons would be complete. The Core was close now, and Jade could hear movement and conversation from up ahead. She clambered over a large, oblong boulder and slid down the other side, finally catching sight of the large crystal in its entirety. The two-story tall gemstone hovered about ten feet off the ground and was completely surrounded by the largest ritual circle Jade had ever seen, not that that was saying much. Still, she doubted that one-hundred-foot diameter circles worked on by a dozen arcanists was a common sight anywhere. Jade continued to approach, forcing herself to move at a casual pace. Her eyes were drawn to the Core and she felt an overwhelming temptation to destroy it, to blow it up, to put an end to all of this right now. But no, even if it worked, that would be suicide. They had a plan, and she needed to stick to it. There. Malice was standing in the middle of a group of three of the ritualists a short distance away. The succubus was clad in the same dark leathers she had worn in Estelhelm. They clung to her skin, glistening with an alluring sheen. The group seemed to be in the midst of an argument. One of the demons, a slender creature with spiral horns that Jade didn''t recognize, kept making animated gestures towards the Core. The crystal itself was generating a loud, pulsing, thrumming noise that made it difficult to hear, so Jade couldn''t tell what was being said, but the succubus''s expression was not a pleased one. She got closer, maneuvering around another pile of rocks that¡­ Wait¡­ that looked¡­ Despite herself, Jade did a double take as she passed the obstruction. What she had originally taken for a cluster of stone and boulders was actually the body of an enormous golem. The construct lay on its back, unmoving, with large gouges carved into nearly every segment of its massive body. Jade caught sight of its face, cracked, with a large part of it caved in. If it had been upright the creature must have been nearly thirty feet tall. Jade swallowed, feeling another spike of anxiety. Now they knew what happened to the Core Guardian. "We need more time!" The slender demon said in a curt, feminine voice. She stood tall, glaring at Malice while her two companions shrank back from the succubus''s burning glare. "Not all of the dimension effusion has been properly attuned yet. It isn''t a process you can rush." "We either engage the link tonight or it isn''t going to happen." Malice replied, raising her voice to be heard over the constant, crackling hum of the slowly rotating gemstone. "The timing was set in advance by Lady Ira herself. We can''t delay or it won''t work!" Jade stopped a short distance away, listening closely. Another demon, one of the bruzaks, was crouched over a portion of the magic circle nearby. "It also won''t work if we don''t make the right preparations, my lady. The homeland is held in a state of dimensional flux. If we don''t proceed with care, we could cause severe damage to it, and the force waiting to pass through!" "Our world is a prison." Malice spat with derision. She pointed a clawed finger at the offending demon, pressing it against her throat. "We don''t care what happens to it because we are never. Going. Back. " "But the soldiers-" "Will be replaced as needed. There is no shortage to the legions waiting for their turn. And soon, they will all have their chance." "Y-yes, my lady." The ritualist swallowed, taking a half step back. "Six hours. Give us six hours." Jade didn''t catch the response. Her mind was reeling. Prison? Legions? She''d have to wait until later to think about what that meant. Now, it was time to do what she came here for. Slipping a hand into her pouch, Jade''s fingers tightened around the softball-sized sphere she''d taken from the dimensional bag earlier. She used her thumb to press one of the three buttons spread around its circumference. The original plan had been to ''accidentally'' get discovered attempting to sabotage the ritual, but Jade had a better idea. She tapped the demon ritualist beside her on the shoulder, meeting his gaze as he gave her a questioning look. "Give this to Malice." Jade said, layering her words thick with enchantment. "Quickly! It''s important." Click, click. She drew the device from her pouch, sliding her thumb over the other two buttons as she handed it over to the newly charmed demon. Time to go! Jade quickly started retracing her steps, moving as fast as she could without drawing- "You!" The voice cut through the clearing like a cracking whip. Jade glanced back to see Malice, whip in hand, striding after her with narrowed eyes. Then the charmed demon stepped in front of her, offering up the metallic device. The succubus glanced at it just as the orb- Fizzled, sparked, and then let out an impotent puff of smoke. God damnit Skraag! Jade''s heart leapt into her throat and she turned to run, her wings and tail bursting from her back as she shifted into her true form and discarded her disguise. "I knew I shoudn''t hav-" BOOM The bomba bomb erupted in a violent explosion, tossing them all to the ground. Chapter 112 The improvised explosive Jade had secretly purchased from the Labyrinth Store held a great deal more firepower than its small casing suggested. She was nearly fifty feet away when the bomb detonated, and the wave of heat and pressure threw her to the ground as if a giant fist slammed into her back. Her armor''s defensive barrier flickered and sparked as shrapnel pelted the area, shards of wood and metal whizzing past at frightening speeds. Jade groaned, disoriented, and pushed herself back onto her hands and knees. Her ears were ringing, and the ground wouldn''t stay still. She blinked several times in rapid succession, trying to clear her blurred vision. As she did, Jade caught sight of the group of demons behind her. All the nearby ritualists, some ten or so demons with various humanoid forms, had been knocked to the ground. It didn''t appear that the blast had killed any of them, but the closest few were burned and only weakly stirring. For her part, Malice remained standing. A barrier shimmered around her armor, cracked in several places but still intact. The remains of the bomb lay at her feet, a misshaped lump of glowing metal that sizzled on the ground. Malice was shouting something, but Jade couldn''t make out what it was. The world was oddly muffled, like she was underwater. Most of the demons were picking themselves off the ground. They looked around in confusion, unsure what had happened. A few backed away towards the core while others started towards Malice. One, a large, red-skinned demon bearing a massive sword, turned his gaze on Jade just as Malice extended a hand towards the large, glimmering Core. A bolt of purple energy lanced from her palm, striking the enormous gemstone. The magic circle beneath it began to slowly pulse. She had to run. The whole point had been to grab their attention, and she certainly had it now. In seconds the confusion would clear, and they would be on her. Jade almost hauled herself back to her feet but then her addled mind recalled the bomba bomb''s description. Even as the first few demons started towards her, she threw herself back onto the- BOOM The second blast wasn''t quite as large as the first one, but it still packed a punch. Another wave of heat, more raining shrapnel. There was a loud CRACK as Jade''s barrier popped and she felt a lance of pain in her side as something hard slammed into her. Jade grunted, already leaping to her feet and ignoring the pings of experience notifications scrolling by in the corner of her vision. The ground felt unsteady, but she was able to stand, staggering away from the blast site. Her steps grew surer with each passing second and Jade picked up speed, not daring to waste time surveying the carnage. Time to get out of here! As if to punctuate the thought a blazing orb of fire sailed over her shoulder, slamming into a nearby tree and erupting in a burst of flames. Searing heat scorched Jade''s skin and she grunted in pain, but the attack didn''t do any real damage. With her cloak discarded her only attire was her annoyingly revealing armor, which meant her racial damage reduction was in full effect. More projectiles whizzed past, and Jade didn''t stick around to see if the demons'' aim improved. She blinked forward with Mirage Step once, vaulted over a fallen tree, and then triggered the talent again. Foliage blurred as she pounded back the way she''d come, double checking her route on her interface''s map to make sure she was heading in the right direction. It was hard to tell exactly how many of the enemies were following her, but she could hear shouts and sounds of pursuit behind her. She just hoped it would be enough. "Luis, go!" She said as she ran, holding one hand to her earpiece. "They''re after me!" "Ach! Jade, don''t shout into this!" Luis''s voice came back over the radio in a pained grunt. "You okay?" The ringing in her ears had subsided but he still sounded muffled. A distracted part of her mind considered that movies and games did not do justice to how truly loud explosions were. "We heard a blast." Naomi''s voice came through next. "What did you do?" "Why do you think it was me?" Jade asked innocently, kicking off a boulder and sliding down a shallow embankment. She checked her map. Still a ways to go. "Do I have to answer that?" "If you needed something blown up you should have brought me." Tara interjected. "We had to dispatch the monsters down there quietly. Quiet is not my specialty." "You''ll have a chance to use your specialty real soon, Tara. I''m almost at the bridge. Is everything ready?" "All set, amiga." "You sure you don''t want one of us to hang back and help?" Fenrin asked, a note of concern in his voice. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "No, I''m sure some of them stayed behind. I think Malice started the ritual, she did something to the Core. Go! I''ll keep this lot busy." A splash of evening sunlight cut through the thinning canopy, revealing the approaching chasm. Jade nimbly darted through a thick cluster of bushes, leaping into the air and kicking off a series of three trees to dash overhead before landing with a roll at the edge of the jungle. Another tree erupted in flames behind her, but it seemed she was out of range of her pursuer''s spells for the moment. That would change once she was in the open. There was nothing she could do but trust in her speed and resilience. Jade pushed herself, reaching the bridge at a dead sprint and pounding her way across the treacherous span. She hopped over a gap in the stones just as a group of demons burst from the jungle behind her in hot pursuit. Jade risked a single glance over her shoulder and instantly regretted it as she nearly tripped on an uneven flagstone. Shit! She managed to right herself before she went tumbling into the ravine. With her heart pounding a frantic rhythm that was only partly due to her exertion, she continued to tear across the expanse. At least ten of the demons were after her, the majority of the ones who had been at the Core. Perfect. Now she just had to get across and- WHAM Something slammed into Jade from behind, knocking her to the bridge with enough force to make her bounce a foot back into the air. She landed with a pained grunt, tumbling to a stop and leaving a bloody skid mark on the uneven stone. Before she could roll to her feet a dark shadow streaked towards her, resolving into the form of Malice. The succubus furled her wings and pounced atop Jade, pinning her to the ground with a snarl. "You!" She growled, trying to wrap her claws around Jade''s throat. She twisted, grappling with her assailant. "You''ve caused enough problems, sister. Playing with you was entertaining, but you''re too much trouble to put up with." Jade felt footsteps pounding on stone as the rest of the demons approached. They''d be on her in seconds, swarming her. She clawed at Malice even as the other succubus''s talons raked her chest leaving bloody gashes. Such an attack would have eviscerated a normal human, and even Jade''s reinforced demonic fortitude wouldn''t be able to withstand that kind of repeated punishment. Come on¡­ She through, focusing on holding Malice at bay. It''s been a couple of minutes now¡­ The runes on her vestments began flickering, their defensive magic finally recharging after being depleted by the earlier explosion. This was her chance. Jade kneed Malice hard in the chest just as the demon slashed at her again. The blow rocked her back giving Jade just enough of an opening to slip out from under the succubus''s clutches. Malice snarled, lunging for her with talons extended. Right on cue, the defensive barrier of Jade''s armor shimmered back to life just in time to intercept the attack. Jade rolled with the force of the blow, using it to help her open some distance as her newly reformed shield crackled and stuttered, already mostly depleted. That was okay. It had given her the time she needed. "You had your fun, Malice." Jade said, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She clutched a small transmitter in her hand and, with a thumb, flicked open the plastic cover. A green light blinked, then held steady. She gave the other succubus a tight smile. "Now it''s my turn." There was no time to call Luis and make sure the rest of the party was clear; she''d have to trust that they were following the plan. Jade clicked the button just as the group of demons caught up to the snarling succubus, rushing towards her and summoning fire and lightning in their open palms. Rage glinted in Malice''s eyes as she slashed her whip at Jade, but it was too late. A violent tremor rocked the bridge as, far below, a dozen explosive charges detonated against the support pillars, blasting straight through the old, cracked stone. Jade didn''t stick around to see what happened next. The plan had been for her to be off the bridge before she blew it to hell, but she hadn''t counted on how quickly an enraged succubus could catch up to her. She had barely taken five steps when the entire world tilted, the section of bridge she stood upon skewing wildly to the side and rotating. The world was suddenly filled with loud, grinding snaps as the structure fractured into dozens of pieces, unable to support itself without the pillars holding it aloft. "Oh fuck, fuck!" Jade grunted, sprinting up the rapidly tilting section of stone and transitioning to its side as it rotated, working her legs like pistons as she reached the end of the fragment just as it tore away from the rest of the structure. She jumped for it, pouring all her enhanced strength into a leap that sent her sailing a good fifteen feet into the air. There was a sickening moment when she hung there in open space, nothing below her but a several hundred foot drop into the valley, and then she cleared the gap. Jade landed with a roll and was up and running before her mind had even started processing what was happening. There was no time to think, the rest of the bridge was fracturing, and she was still a good fifty feet from the far side. There was a flash of light a short way in front of her and one the bruzaks suddenly appeared in her path, a puff of magic emanating around her muscular form. She turned as Jade approached, opting to fire a blast of lightning at Jade rather than run to safety. Jade cursed, taking the blast full on the chest as she jumped another gap in the collapsing bridge. She didn''t have time for this. She drew and released Phantom in one smooth motion, sending the dagger flashing across the distance between them. Jade blinked to the demon in a flash of magic as the weapon sank into her shoulder, ripping it free and kicking her over the edge before she even knew what was happening. "Thanks for the lift." Jade grunted, pushing aside the pain from the new burns that scorched her midriff. Another few seconds of running, plus a timely blink with Mirage Step as another chunk of stone dropped away beneath her, left Jade gasping for breath on the far side of the valley. She hunched over, hands on her knees, looking back just as the last of the structure fell away into the canyon. That was insane¡­ Even for me. Part of her was glad Naomi hadn''t been there to see that. There was no sign of the pursuing demons, and another slew of experience notifications confirmed what she suspected. "Luis?" She gasped, holding one hand to her ear. "This group is down." She paused for a moment. "Literally¡­" "Good work amiga. We''re almost to the core." "I see a few more of them up ahead." Fenrin added. "But not many. We can take them." "I''m sensing some powerful magical pulses." Tara said, a note of concern in her usually confident voice. "Something big is happening." "Put a stop to it." Jade said. "And be careful." "What about you? Are you okay?" Naomi asked. She, too, sounded out of breath. Jade finished checking the notifications and grimaced. As she expected, one was missing. "I''m fine." She said, ignoring the throbbing pain in her stomach. The wounds were bleeding, but not profusely. "Malice got away. I''ll run interference." There. Jade could make out a small, winged form in the distance, flying back towards the far side of the ravine where the core was. She reached into a belt pouch and took out the potion of flying Siora had given to her. Her eyes fell on the other pouch hanging from her hip, one marked with an ominous skull. She had yet to try using the Bag of Death the strange necromantic gemstone had transformed her Bag of Mystery into, but she''d taken it with her just in case. Hopefully she wouldn''t need to try her luck with whatever dwelled within it. Jade gulped down the potion, feeling herself lift slightly off the ground as the magic took effect. A one-minute timer appeared in the corner of her vision alongside the potion countdown. Healing would have to wait. Can''t have you crashing the party, Malice. Jade thought grimly, launching herself into the air and angling towards her quarry. And then. I really should have used this before I blew up the bridge. Chapter 113 The hike up the far side of the ravine had Tara out of breath. Then, when Fenrin said they had to dash to the core, she nearly fell to the ground and gave up on the spot. Mages weren''t supposed to have to run! They were supposed to stand in the back and blast everything from a distance! But this wasn''t a normal fight, and the enemy wasn¡¯t coming to them. Jade was luring the demons away from the Core, and they had to strike while it was vulnerable. The journey through the jungle only took a couple of minutes. The enormous gemstone hovering over the trees made it easy to navigate, and their group opted for speed over stealth. The enemy already knew something was happening, and they had to get there before they regrouped. Tara''s visor highlighted the threat an instant before her magical senses detected a spike of elemental power. One of the hooded demon mages was stepping out from behind a large boulder. He clutched a crackling orb of fire in his hand and- It blew up in his face with a single swipe of Tara''s wand. The creature howled, falling backwards, clutching at his head. Twin arrows from Fenrin''s bow silenced the creature, but it didn''t matter. The brief exchange had been loud enough to alert anyone nearby that they were coming. "Keep going!" Luis called from the front of the group. "Almost there!" They charged forward, ignoring a pair of giant centipedes and a few other scattered monsters. A few chittered at them as they passed, but none moved to attack. Part of Tara found that unusual, but this wasn''t the time to ponder over minor mysteries. The four of them burst into the clearing with the Core less than a minute after the muffled explosions of Jade''s distraction thundered through the jungle. The area was dominated by an enormous ritual circle that shone with pulsing, vibrant light. The entire clearing was bathed in an azure glow that emanated from the hovering gemstone, and Tara had to retract her magical senses before the sheer power of the Labyrinth artifact blinded her. It wasn''t just the power of the Core, either. Something was channeling that essence, transforming it. Tendrils of magic arced and twisted through the air, invisible to the naked eye, drawn into the intricate sigil. She''d never seen anything like it, not on this scale. "What in the lost gods¡­?" Tara''s focus on the strange magic nearly killed her. A bolt of lightning slammed into her chest, flinging her off her feet and sending her crashing to the ground. That single attack had taken down her barrier and cracked the composite panel of her conjured armor. Sparks erupted from the fractures even as her mana drained, repairing the breach. "Watch out!" A bubble shield burst to life around Tara and the rest of her companions as Luis slammed his sword and shield together. The renewed cover gave her the chance to roll to her feet and aim a blast of radiant energy at the closest of the demon researchers, punching a hole straight through her before she could ready another spell. "Tara, how do we stop this?!" Naomi asked, blasting an invigorating tune through the clearing with her foreign instrument. Fenrin and Luis were engaging the remaining pair of demons, giving them a moment''s breathing room. "It''s drawing power from the Core!" she said quickly. Her magical senses were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the dimensional forces coalescing around them, but her suit''s visor had filters that partially compensated for the overload. She eye-clicked to activate the proper function, bringing up lines of information that barely made any sense. "If-" She was interrupted by a bout of sudden and severe nausea. The world around her seemed to slide, as if everything had been shifted a foot to the right and then snapped back into place. For a moment it felt as if she existed in two places at once. Two Taras, standing side by side. The event was over as quickly as it had begun, leaving the tek''kalla with a splitting headache to accompany her upset stomach. Judging by how Naomi was hunched over, she wasn''t the only one to experience the bizarre phenomenon. "What the -- was that?" Naomi gasped. The Labyrinth''s translation magic hitched at whatever combination of expletives the normally mild-mannered woman had used, but Tara got the gist of it. "Nothing good." Tara was tempted to simply blast the sigil with as much power as she could muster. The problem with that idea was the sheer amount of dimensional magic flowing into the magic circle. If it was released all at once, the only thing that would be left of this entire jungle would be a smoking crater. Yeah¡­ That''s a last resort. Destroying the Core itself would stop the power flow without compromising the integrity of the sigil''s containment. Tara swiped her wand again, conjuring a concentrated blast of fire into the bottom of the hovering gemstone. PING Her magic ricocheted off the Labyrinth Core, reflected back towards them. Naomi yelped, ducking as the bolt flew over their heads. "I don''t think we can destroy it quickly enough!" Tara shouted over the growing hum. Sparks were arcing from the bottom of Core into the sigil now, each one accompanied by a sound like a thunderclap. It was far stronger than she''d anticipated. Whatever magic the demons were using had to be fortifying the crystal. Nearby, Luis and Fenrin were dispatching the last of the demon guardians while Naomi focused on enhancing them. None of that would matter if she couldn''t figure out how to stop this. You''re a mage, Tara! A proper student of the arcane! She had spent her entire life justifying her decision to forego reliance on magitech and laboriously learn the fundamental mechanisms behind the power she channeled. If her suit couldn''t make out what this damned sigil was doing, then she would have to figure out how to stop it the old-fashioned way. It was time to prove that effort had been worth it. "Tara, where are you going?!" Naomi called after her as she sprinted into the arcane circle. The vortex of power flowing into it was probably incredibly dangerous to approach, but she needed to get a good look at the runes set into the ground. They were formed from the prismatic powder of dimension essence and were alight with power, which at least made them easy to read. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. No¡­ not this part. Not this part either¡­ She skimmed the magical inscriptions as quickly as she could, praying that a stray burst of magic wasn''t about to vaporize her. She stopped abruptly, her gaze snapping back to a section of the circle that modulated power flow. Could this- WHAM Something hard cracked into her back. Again, the mage went flying and again she crashed painfully to the ground, gasping for breath. "Tara!" She barely heard Luis''s call as she rolled onto her back and looked up at the large, red-skinned demon looming over her. On reflex, she pulled up his info box. Tara''s blood ran cold as she skimmed his race designation. Rage demons were said to be among the strongest direct combatants within the infernal ranks. What they lacked in subterfuge they made up for in power. The muscular demon raised a sword that was larger than Tara''s own body. He snorted with derision and brought it down on her with lightning speed.
It only took Jade a few moments to get the hang of the flight power granted by the potion. That was good, since the effect only lasted a minute. She zipped back across the ravine as quickly as her magically empowered movement allowed, homing in on the retreating form of Malice. The loud crash of the last pieces of the bridge collapsing echoed through the jungle, shaking the trees and sending up a plume of dust that Jade swerved to avoid. It didn''t look like any of the other demons chasing her had escaped, and she felt a grim sense of satisfaction at the victory. But it was too soon to celebrate. Those weren''t the only demons in the core space, although she was hoping they''d been the majority. She was sure Luis and the rest of the party could handle a few stragglers, and now she just had to stop Malice from joining the fight. The succubus landed on the edge of the cliff near a cluster of ancient stone ruins overgrown with jungle foliage. Jade pushed the magic harder, willing herself to speed up as she tore across the gap in pursuit. The rush of air and freedom of flight would have been exhilarating under any other circumstances, it was what she had been wanting from her wings ever since she''d transformed. She didn''t even spare it a thought as she dropped in behind Malice, landing with a soft thump, although a part of her did note that magically imbued flight was quite a bit faster than the racial power Malice employed. "Stop!" Jade hadn''t really expected the command to work and was caught off guard when Malice, who had been just about to disappear into the jungle on the other side of a ruined courtyard, slowed to a halt. The demon turned to face her, the glossy surface of her dark armor glinting in the blue radiance that shone through the jungle like an unsteady spotlight. It backlit her, making her appear more like a silhouette than a person. The effect made her already sinister visage downright menacing. "You." Malice growled, one hand curling around the haft of her whip. "Are a dead woman." Gone was the playful lilt to her voice, and the look she levelled at Jade could have burned a hole through steel. It was accompanied by the overwhelming pressure of the demon''s aura crashing down on her like a physical weight. Jade gritted her teeth and stood her ground. She couldn''t allow herself to be intimidated. "Give up!" Jade commanded, clenching her hands into fists to stop them from shaking. "The bomb I set off disrupted your ritual! It isn''t going to work." "Nice try." Malice laughed. It was a harsh sound, filled with scorn. "You''re very persistent, sister. Chasing me every step of the way. And you don''t even know why, do you." "You''re sending demons to my home." Jade growled. "That''s more than enough reason to stop you." "Do you really think we care about your pathetic rock of a planet? No. You simply have something we need. And once we have it, our people will be free." "Free from what?" Jade asked, trying to keep her talking. She drew her daggers, holding them in a low-ready stance, but made no move to attack. She held no illusions that she could defeat this creature in battle, and her friends needed as much time as she could give them to disrupt the ritual. "Free from the pathetic prison the gods trapped us in!" Malice spat, her eyes flashing red. Jade grunted as the aura around her pulsed, squeezing her. She could feel the demon''s pent-up fury raging against her like roaring flames. "But your time is up. We''ve been close to getting out for a long time and it''s finally happening. It''s already in motion. Even if you stop us here today, which you won¡¯t, it will just delay the inevitable." Something clicked in Jade''s mind, pieces beginning to come together. Ever since she''d entered the Labyrinth she''d wondered what its purpose was. It was such a bizarre place, operating on rules that were nothing like the rest of the Universe. But there was clear purpose to it, even if no one had been able to parse it. Everything fit together too well, was too intricately designed, for it to be a cosmic accident. The constant expansion. The monsters. The powers. She recalled something Aylin had said weeks ago. ''Nobody makes it higher than the 10th floor''. Something about the monsters being too strong. "The Labyrinth is a prison." Jade breathed, realization dawning on her. "Not just part of it. The entire world." "Finally, someone realizes it." Malice snorted derisively. "It only took a dozen hints. But that''s not entirely fair seeing as we''ve been killing anyone whose come close to the truth for centuries." "The highest levels have the strongest monsters. Impossibly strong." Jade said, barely listening. "And your people what¡­ fight them? Try to break free? You push out, slowly gaining ground. But¡­" "But the Labyrinth keeps expanding. Drawing on the magic and resources of the new worlds it¡¯s forging connections to. Using them to rebuild anything we break down. But now we''ve finally found a way around that little problem." There were still so many unanswered questions. Who had made this place? Was it really the gods? And why was it so impossibly large? "Why are you telling me all of this?" Jade asked, reeling from the revelations. This had to get out. They had to tell the people of the Labyrinth. The people of Earth. Everyone. "Why now?" A ripple swept through the jungle, a pulse of magical power that twisted Jade''s stomach in knots and caused her vision to blur. "Because when the vanguard arrives, you''ll be dead." Malice grunted. The succubus looked just as queasy as Jade. "Today, we open a door. Next, it will be a floodgate. There are more of us than you could possibly imagine." The demon''s cruel grin returned. "I''d say you''ll see for yourself soon, but somehow, I don''t think you will." Jade was still too surprised to be affected by the threat. Keep her talking. Find out as much as you can. "What is it you need? Why are you going to Earth?!" Malice laughed again. The sound cut through the growing hum that was filling the jungle, causing the ground to vibrate. "It''s cute how you think you''re stalling me, sister." Jade''s blood ran cold. She tensed, tightening her grip on her daggers. "What?" "You think you''re keeping me here. Away from your friends that are surely trying to destroy the Core and put an end to this. What you don''t know is that we have a rage demon standing guard over the ritual site. You probably don''t know what that is but rest assured, he is more than capable of putting down whatever band you came here with." A self-satisfied smirk played across the demon''s face. "Especially with me keeping you asking questions." "Luis!" Jade hissed, putting a hand to her ear. "Luis, what''s going on over there?!" Crackling static was her only response. Either they were too busy fighting, or¡­ Anger surged through Jade''s thoughts before she even considered the possibility. It swept away fear and hesitation, and even the mind-numbing shock that accompanied the avalanche of revelations. An overwhelming desire to cut down this monster welled up inside her like a surging storm, fueled by the latent demonic instincts nestled in her soul. She attacked. Chapter 114 Fenrin''s lightning arrow hit the rage demon''s arm as he brought his massive sword down on Tara''s crumpled figure. The shot flew true but failed to penetrate the creature''s skin. Instead, the arrow splintered into shards of wood and metal, barely leaving a mark. Fortunately, the elemental energy proved marginally more effective. The hulking monster flinched at the eruption of lightning and his strike went wide, making a small crater in the ground beside Tara and sending up a plume of dirt and sparking, magical essence. The wounded tek''kalla had the wherewithal to roll away as Luis and Fenrin charged to help her, bolstered by Naomi''s Fleetfoot melody. Luis got there first, exchanging a series of blows with the demon while Fenrin placed himself between him and Tara, continuing to launch elementally charged arrows one after the other. "I''m working out how to stop this!" Tara said, raising her voice to be heard over the crackling hum of the Core. The sound was growing louder, and the bolts of energy it was launching into the sigil more frequent. That can''t be good. "We''ll keep him away from you!" Fenrin said that with all the conviction he could muster, but the demon was already overwhelming Luis. The monster''s sword strokes held none of the technique or finesse he was accustomed to seeing in powerful swordsmen. This creature''s strength didn''t come from mastery, but rather from the sheer speed and power of his strikes. Kra''lyx struck again, his arm blurring as a trio of strikes smashed into Luis''s guard. He deflected one on his shield, absorbed another with his bubble-like barrier, and was sent tumbling away by the third. Fenrin growled, circling around to draw it away from Tara while firing another pair of arrows straight for its head. Kra''lyx didn''t even bother dodging, simply intercepting the arrows by raising his bare forearm. "Is this all you can do?" The demon spoke for the first time. His voice was deep and powerful, like grinding stone. "Pathetic. Reducing your worlds to ash will be a mercy." He charged Fenrin, closing the distance in a flash. "We''ll see about that!" Fenrin channeled his Ride the Wind talent, launching himself skyward on a column of air and sending another lightning enhanced arrow straight into the crown of the demon''s head at point-blank range. This one elicited a roar and Kra''lyx pivoted, leaping after Fenrin and swinging a blow that would''ve bisected him if he hadn''t shaped the wind again, blasting himself to the side. Naomi''s speed boost saved him, but even with the buff Fenrin still took a glancing blow. He spun out of control and crashed to the ground, air rushing from his lungs in a single ''oomph''. The rage demon landed heavily beside him, impacting with enough force to shake the ground. Luis was on him before he could continue the attack, and the brief clash of steel on steel bought Fenrin time to scramble to his feet. He''d lost his bow in the fall but there was no time to search, Luis was already being overwhelmed. His family''s training was all that allowed him to push through the paralyzing fear and draw his shortsword. He charged back into the fray to aid his friend, accompanied by a series of flaming projectiles launched by Naomi. They struck home to no visible effect just as the demon kicked Luis to the ground again. He turned, but not in time to prevent Fenrin from ramming his energized blade straight through his back. Or rather, that''s what he intended to do. SNAP Fenrin froze. He couldn''t help it. He stared numbly at the broken half of the sword he still held in both hands, unable to process how it had happened. The last of the lightning imbued along its length fizzled and faded as the shattered remains of the rest of the sword fell to the ground between them. The fragmented tip of the blade remained lodged in Kra''lyx''s side, penetrating a mere inch into his steely flesh. "How amusing." The demon ground out. His form blurred again and, suddenly, Fenrin found himself lying on his back in the grassy clearing, staring up at a sky dominated by the floating, crackling Core. What¡­? He stared at his left arm. It was surrounded by a rapidly expanding pool of blood. It also, he belatedly realized, wasn''t attached to his body anymore. How strange¡­ it barely even hurt, like his body hadn''t realized it yet. The demon was standing over him, preparing to strike again. Naomi and Luis were running towards him, but they wouldn''t get there in time. He fumbled with his remaining hand for a dagger, a knife, anything- A multicolored blur streaked from the sky, flying straight into the rage demon''s face. He grunted, swatting at Mirella as the flutterbeak clawed and pecked at his eyes, screeching her fury as she continued her assault. "Enough!" Kra''lyx swatted Mimi out of the air with an open palm, slapping her to the ground with enough force to make her bounce. He raised a boot, wiping blood from one eye. "No!" Fenrin scrambled towards his familiar, an arrow clutched in his hand. He flung himself forward- And was too late. CRUNCH. The demon''s boot smashed down on Mirella''s frail, feathered body with a sickening squelch. The mental connection he shared with her, something that had been with him for his entire adult life, snapped. The last thing he felt through it, before the link faded into oblivion, was a sense of mournful satisfaction. She had protected him. She had protected her best friend. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The sense of loss bit soul deep. It was worse than losing a limb. It was losing part of himself. Rage the likes of which Fenrin had never felt burned through his veins like lava. He surged to his feet just as the demon turned to face Luis and Naomi, an arrow still clutched in his fist. Lightning crackled along its length, coalescing at its tip as he poured the last of his mana into the talent Discharge. He leapt for the monster and stabbed the arrow with all his might. His aim was true. The shaft plunged directly into his already wounded eye, lightning arcing through his head as Fenrin drove it deep. "Graaaaahh!!" Kra''lyx roared in pain and fury, dropping his sword. It fell to the ground with a heavy thud as his mighty fist grasped the arrow and wrenched it free in a spray of blood. His other fist flashed and, the next Fenrin knew, he was flying through the air. The last thing he saw was Mirella''s broken corpse, reduced to a smear of blood and feathers. Then he smashed into a tree, and all went black.
Luis didn''t recover in time to stop the demon from ravaging Fenrin and he felt a pang of hurt and anger in his gut as he noticed the crushed remains of Mimi''s corpse. He picked himself up, charging back in with all the speed his powers could lend him. Grieving could come later. He still had friends to protect. The demon knelt to pick up his sword and turned towards Tara, who was manipulating the runic sigils inscribed in the magic circle with rapid motions of her wand. The greatsword glinted in the blue light of the Core as Kra''lyx raised it again, bringing it down in a flash. Only for it to meet Luis''s shield. The blow drove Luis to his knees, smashing him hard enough to sink him several inches into the soft ground. Tara stumbled away, staggered by the near miss as energy coursed from Luis''s enchanted shield into his sword. The shield, which he had received for conquering the stronghold near Lysara, channeled the energy of blocked attacks into his own weapon, empowering it for a mighty counterattack. On his knees and off-balance Luis was poorly positioned to strike, and the slash he aimed at the demon''s thigh was weak compared to his normal attacks. It didn''t matter, not when his sword pulsed red with converted essence. The attack unleashed a blast of energy that sent Kra''lyx staggering back and sprayed black blood over the ground. It sizzled when it met the carved magic circle, crackling and hissing as power continued to accumulate. "Almost there!" Tara said, wiping blood from her mouth as resuming her work. "I''m figuring it out!" A flash momentarily blinded Luis as a bolt of arcane lightning pierced the ground right between them, leaving a sizzling crater that belched black smoke. "Is it safe here?!" He asked, rising to his feet and sparing her a concerned look. "Not at all! This ritual was terribly designed!" "Are-" "Just keep him off me! I can do this!" Luis hadn''t known Tara for long, but he trusted her. With a nod he was off, charging the near-invincible foe as he slashed at Naomi. She narrowly dodged the strike and it hit a tree beside her, cleaving it in two and sending the trunk crashing down between them. A sonic boom pushed the demon back several feet, giving her time to get away. "Luis!" She shouted, eyes panicked. "I don''t think we can-" "We got this, chica." He said, forcing a grin. He couldn''t show the fear he felt. Not in front of his team. They needed reassurance. Hope. "What do we do?" She asked, still tense. But he could sense the fear receding somewhat. They were in this together. Luis felt his smile grow a little more genuine. It was time to pull out all the stops. "Double tap." "You got it." Naomi switched her tune from the energetic beat of Fleetfoot to a calmer, more soothing melody. Luis felt the magic sink into his body, easing his aches and, more importantly, restoring his mana. A great deal of it had already been burned by his mana shield, and for this next part he''d need every ounce of magical essence he could scrape together. Kra''lyx was coming for them again, and Luis stepped between the charging demon and Naomi. Fenrin was lying at the base of a tree nearby, unmoving. Luis couldn''t tell if he was merely unconcious or dead, but the slowly expanding pool of blood flowing from his missing arm made for a grim sight. He set his jaw, determined. "Come here!" He called, glaring at the snarling demon. He pointed his sword directly at him, taking strength from the simmering anger pent up deep inside. "?Te tengo algo, hijo de la chingada!" The demon roared in rage at the insult, slamming his massive weapon down in a crushing blow. Luis raised his shield again and met the attack with as much force as he could muster. Pain blasted through his arm as the sword smashed home, cracking his enchanted shield and sending sparks flying as something splintered in Luis''s arm. This time, Luis kept his feet. He ignored the wound, channeling the power of the blocked blow into his sword and chopping in an overhead swing as he activated Avalanche, the most powerful weapon talent in his arsenal. The enhanced ability, imbued with compounding boosts that filled his sword with so much energy that it physically buzzed with barely contained power, was the single strongest attack Luis had ever unleashed. It hit right between neck and shoulder and sank more than half a foot into his chest. The demon roared in pain and fury, eyes flashing with murderous intent, but Luis wasn''t done yet. He wrenched his curved blade free in a shower of blood just as Naomi pressed her palm against his back. "Encore!" Power flooded him, flowing from her enchanted guitar and into his soul. The ability reset the cooldown of Avalanche and greatly enhanced its power for the next few moments. Before the demon could recover he slashed down again, flooding the attack with all the might he could muster. It crashed into the same wound he had just carved into the demon''s impossibly tough body, gouging deeper, carving another foot through his form. Sinew snapped, bones cracked, and blood gushed from the jagged wound like water from a hose. Luis sagged, completely spent. His head pounded with a low mana headache, and he staggered back, held up by Naomi. Somehow, Kra''lyx was still standing. Half of his torso was sliced through in a gash so complete Luis could actually see a slice of green jungle foliage through the demons torn body. The wound went straight through where a human''s heart would have been, but the monster didn''t fall. "Your best wasn''t enough, human." He spat, blood bubbling from his lips to drip down his chin. "Now, you die." A powerful kick sent Luis crashing into Naomi. They both fell to the ground in a heap, the bard''s melody abruptly cut off as he collapsed atop her. Kra''lyx lurched towards them, swaying on his feet, dragging his mighty sword behind him. He was three steps away. Two. Luis met his eyes defiantly. He raised his bloody sword in a shaking hand, unwilling to give in. He would fight to his last moment. Even if he fell, Tara could still- A blast of blinding, blue lightning struck Kra''lyx in the back. He howled, clutching at his chest and spun, turning to face the Core. Tara stood there, one hand stretched towards the demon, the other drawing power from the ritual circle itself. Chaotic dimensional energy erupted up from one of the sigils, entering Tara''s hand and flowing through her body to gather in her other palm as she charged it up for another attack. Even from this distance, Luis could see the charred, blackened skin of her hand as she continued to siphon the violent, dangerous energy. "For the record¡­" She said in a strained voice that was barely audible over the crackling hum of the Core. "This counts as an explosion." The blast of magical energy struck the rage demon directly in his open wound. His red body pulsed, flashing with blue energy as Tara pumped a stream of raw dimensional power into him. The demon screamed, light pouring from his eyes and mouth until, finally, he blew apart. Chapter 115 Jade ducked behind a crumbling pillar in the shadowy confines of one of the half-collapsed structures that dotted the ruins, clutching her bleeding side. The place where Malice had raked her with her wicked claws was leaking blood at an alarming rate, seeping through her fingers to splatter on the mossy cobblestones beneath her feet. She was about to draw a healing potion from her belt when the scuff of boots on stone caught her attention. Jade whirled, ducking a slash from one of the pair of bruzaks that rushed into the room after her. It wasn''t enough that she was fighting a demon far more powerful than herself. No, Malice had called in support from her underlings. Although, Jade thought as she danced between her two assailants, slashing with her gleaming blades, the situation had its advantages. Summoning power through the new pathways etched into her soul, she spoke an incantation and cast Enrapture for the first time. Immediately, golden light began shining from her body in a radiant aura that stopped the two demons in their tracks. They both just stood there, staring at her with expressions that bordered on awe. A jolt of warmth flooded Jade, making her feel unexpectedly vibrant and alive, though the pain in her side didn''t diminish. The wound grounded her, keeping her focused as she darted up to the first demon and kissed him, breathing in sharply. The creature''s vitality flowed into her in an unexpectedly powerful burst. The boosts from her Heartbreaker ability and the charm enhancement of her Kiss of Night spell compounded, resulting in a rapid influx of strength and energy accompanied by alluringly sweet, turbulent emotions. The demon dropped to the ground after only a few moments, drained of life. Jade sighed in relief as her wound reknit itself, the pain diminishing as the drained life force restored her. She knew she should be recoiling from how good the act of draining a creature to death felt, but her current circumstances didn''t allow for distracting thoughts. She dismissed her reservations and repeated the process on the other bruzak, leaving her dead husk to drop to the ground as she darted back outside to engage Malice. The succubus was nowhere to be seen when Jade emerged back into the courtyard, although she did spot the mangled corpse of the giant centipede she''d charmed into attacking the demon. Expanding her magical senses, Jade detected Malice just in time to avoid being crushed under her feet as she dove down from a nearby pillar, slamming into the ground with enough force to crack the stones as Jade rolled away. "You can''t beat me." Malice said, flicking the tip of her whip back and forth as she stalked towards Jade. Her boots clicked on the uneven cobblestones, a steady rhythm that she could hear even over the growing hum that was starting to send tremors through the ground. "And you''re running out of tricks." The succubus bore a few minor wounds that dripped with blood, but none were critical. For every hit she landed on the demon, Malice gave her back two more. If she had been seriously injured by the bomba bomb, her foe had already healed herself before this confrontation. "Maybe, but I''m not out of them yet." Jade blinked to the side in the same moment Malice struck, her whip uncoiling like a striking serpent as it flashed towards her at incredible speed. Even with Mirage Step''s near instantaneous movement she only barely evaded the lash. It struck the stone where she''d been instead, the crack of the whip accompanied by an explosion of stone splinters. What the hell is that thing made of?! "Noctis!" A bolt of darkness erupted from Jade''s hand, spiraling through the air towards the succubus. Phantom quickly followed in its wake, the dagger duplicating multiple times as it spun through the air, leaving a wake of frosty mist. Using all these spells and talents in such rapid succession was draining Jade''s mana stores, but she didn''t have a choice. Malice could match her speed and exceed her strength. She needed an edge. The succubus raised a hand and caught the magical darkness, casually dispersing the spell''s energy. She noticed the trio of daggers spinning towards her a moment later, but there was no time to dodge. Two caught her in the chest and she stumbled back a step, snarling at Jade even as she summoned Phantom back to her hand to fling it again. She rounded the courtyard at a sprint, throwing dagger after dagger, triggering Hail Blade as often as the cooldown and her dwindling mana supply allowed. Malice struck back with rapid whip strikes, forcing Jade to focus more on evasion than accuracy. She ran up fallen pillars, dashed along walls, and blinked between half-collapsed terraces, trying to confuse her opponent. Jade deployed hidden rune traps and used her invisibility spell in short bursts to further misdirect her, desperately reaching for any opportunity to land a decisive hit. It didn''t work. Malice kept pace with her, lunging after her with powerful flaps of her leathery wings. More hits cracked against Jade''s arms and sides, glancing blows that didn''t deal any real damage. That wasn''t the point of them. There was another snap and Jade gasped in pain, the lash leaving a thin line of red on her side. Another notification blinked into view. The demon''s whip carried an insidious power. Every strike applied another stack of the debuff, and Jade had a good idea what Malice''s plan was. She continued to dodge through the ruins, harrying Malice with a rapid barrage of thrown blades while her mind raced. The succubus hadn''t used any charm spells yet. Jade had an innate resistance to that type of magic, but if her willpower took a high enough hit¡­ Shit! Finally, she made a mistake. Jade''s foot slipped on a slick patch of moss, and she lost her footing, tumbling off the edge of a balcony and out into open space. Even wounded and disoriented, her body knew what to do in a fall. Jade twisted in the air, somehow managing to land on her feet and tuck into a roll. Another jolt of pain shot through her legs at the impact, even her enhanced fortitude couldn''t completely shake off a twenty-foot drop, but she managed to come up running. Too slow. WHAM "Ahh!" Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Jade cried in pain as Malice slammed into her back, kicking her into a nearby stone wall. There was a loud crunch as she struck, and for a moment everything went dark. Jade''s vision returned slowly, like an old television set tuning into a channel. She was lying on the mossy ground, one arm bent at an awkward, unnatural angle. She was sure that it had to be hurting, but her entire body ached so much that it was hard to tell. Malice stalked towards her, an arrogant smile twisting her lips. "I told you." She said, shaking her head in mock sympathy. "Maybe if you''d listened to me, we-" Jade didn''t wait for her to finish. She sat up, ignoring the pounding in her head, and reached for a bag on her belt. She''d given the dimensional pouch to Luis for this mission, but that wasn''t the only one she carried. There was another that Jade kept on her at all times, one that even she had been hesitant to try. Before Malice could stop her, she plunged her hand into the skull-marked Bag of Death and pulled. A dark cloud of smoke burst from the pouch, filling the space between them as a sensation of icy cold gripped Jade''s arm. She felt a powerful tug, as if something within the void of the bag''s opening was trying to pull her inside. She resisted with all her might, gritting her teeth and wrenching her arm free of the pouch with a heave that sent her rocking back on the stone, causing her head to crack painfully against the wall behind her. Pain flashed through her once again and her vision blurred for a moment, but Jade retained enough awareness to see a large shape forming amid the cloud of smoke. Its silhouette grew in size until it stood eight feet tall with a skeletal body and a bulky frame. A heavy axe thudded to the ground beside it, and it swung its bestial skull towards her, crimson light flickering in its empty eye sockets. A new notification popped up in the corner of Jade''s vision. It took the form of a spinning wheel with multiple colored slices on it, like something one would see on a game show. The wheel began spinning rapidly, slowing down quickly as the options ticked by. Most of the slices were green, but a fifth of them were an angry shade of red. Tickticktick Jade hauled herself upright, leaning against the wall for support. Her entire body ached, and she numbly noticed that she''d left a streak of blood smeared against the wall. Her blood. Tick¡­tick¡­tick. The wheel continued to slow. The entire process only lasted a couple of seconds, but to Jade, it felt far longer. Tick¡­ The wheel hovered on one of the red spaces before finally coming to rest on one of the green. Relief welled up inside Jade. She pointed at the creature. "Attack the succubus¡­!" She gasped, still winded. "The other succubus!" She quickly amended. The skeletal monster snorted, which Jade found strange considering it lacked lungs, and turned away from her, lumbering through the rapidly dispersing cloud. Malice''s form resolved a moment later, stalking through the smoke and glaring at Jade, only to blink in surprise at the sudden appearance of the large undead monster standing before her. The minotaur skeleton screeched, swinging its huge axe in a wide arc and forcing the demon to dodge away as the ground beneath her was transformed into a small crater. She snarled, casting a spell that summoned thick chains from the ground. They wrapped around the skeletal creature, pulling it to the ground as it fought to free itself. Jade ducked behind a low wall, quaffing her last healing elixir and breathing a sigh of relief as her newest pains eased. One of her wings still wasn''t moving quite right, but seeing as the stupid thing didn''t help her fly it wasn''t a high priority to deal with. She readied her weapons, preparing to leap back into the fight. And then what? Jade hesitated; sensing Malice toss another spell at her beleaguered summon. Even with the monster backing her up, she couldn''t defeat the succubus. She was already critically low on mana and had no more potions to heal herself with. Malice wasn''t looking so great herself, but Jade had no doubt the stronger demon could still take her in a head-on fight. I''m doing it again. She was trying to do it all herself. Jade took a deep breath, remembering all the times her teammates had scolded her for being reckless. For not waiting for them. For assuming she was the only one who was up to the challenge. She recalled the shrine of growth, and the vision she''d received in that tranquil glade. It remained etched in her mind, a painful memory that she could no longer discard. "Guys." She said, holding a hand to her earpiece. "What''s going on over there? Are you okay?" "Jade!" Naomi''s voice came over the radio immediately. The connection was distorted and filled with static, but she could still make out her friend''s words. "The others are pretty banged up, but Tara is working on disabling the ritual. What''s going on?" She sounded as stressed as Jade felt. There was a loud crash nearby as the minotaur smashed something with its axe. Jade''s magical senses detected Malice flitting through the ruins, making for her position. Her breather was about to end. "I¡­" she took a deep breath. "I need help."
Naomi was kneeling beside Fenrin when the call came. The half-elf was unconcious, not dead, much to the bard''s relief. She had just wrapped up a healing melody that ensured he would stay that way when Jade''s voice crackled over her earpiece. Naomi listened for several moments, asked a few questions, and then turned her gaze to Luis. The large man was standing guard over Tara, his left arm hanging limp at his side. He''d removed the splintered remains of his magical shield, revealing the bloody mess beneath. Naomi had been about to heal him next, but he shook his head. "Go!" He shouted. "I''ll stay and keep watch!" There were no signs of other demons in the area, nor had any of the core space''s monsters approached from the jungle. Maybe the rapid sequence of striking lightning bolts arcing from the Core to the ritual circle were keeping them away. Naomi certainly didn''t want to get anywhere near it. Fortunately, it seemed Tara had done something to the circle to prevent any more of the dangerous emanations from getting near them. She made a snap decision. Naomi had done all she could to help here. Now, Jade was the one in danger. More importantly¡­ She''s asking for help. Naomi had been telling her friend that she needed to open up since they''d met all those weeks ago. Now that she finally had, she wasn''t going to let her down. "Jade, I''m coming." She said, pulling up her map and quickly plotting a path to her party member''s location. "Hold on." Tara and Luis were wounded, but both had potions and were still in fighting shape. They could look after Fenrin. Naomi had done all she could for him already. Without wasting anymore time she took off, dashing through the thick jungle. The sun had finally set but the light emanating from the Core was bright enough to illuminate the entire jungle, albeit in a strange azure glow. It was enough to guide her passage as she sprinted with supernatural endurance ducking under branches, leaping bushes, and sliding down slopes. Almost there! The ruins next to the bridge were only a few minutes from the Core. She pushed herself harder, a plan forming in her mind. Jade was facing Malice, and Naomi had already spent time considering the best ways to engage the succubus, were they to face her again. She was nearly there when a powerful pulse of heat radiated through the jungle, blinding her magical senses entirely. Another wave of nausea nearly caused her to fall over, but she pressed on, ignoring the dimensional distortion effect as best she could. What she couldn''t ignore were the dozens of indistinct figures slowly resolving out of the gloom around her. Most were humanoid, but many had more monstrous proportions. They started as shadows but were developing features far more quickly than Naomi was comfortable with. More pulses echoed through the jungle, coming at an increasing rate. Come on Tara¡­ Naomi prayed. You can do this! It was up to the tek''kalla mage at this point. Naomi knew little of magic and certainly didn''t possess the raw firepower needed to disrupt the Core. She chose to believe in Luis and Tara and to focus on what she could do. Help her friend. Chapter 116 Naomi heard the fight before she saw it. A shrieking, nails-on-chalkboard sound of metal grinding on stone was audible even over the thrumming pulses reverberating through the jungle from the Core, as were a series of loud smashing sounds that she had trouble imagining as coming from either of the battling succubi. The source of the noise didn''t remain a mystery for long. Emerging from the trees, Naomi found herself face to face with a large skeletal monster weilding an axe with a head the size of her body. She yelped, jumping behind a crumbling wall at the edge of the ruins and almost ran over Jade. "Woah!" She skidded to a stop, clutching onto her friend to stop both of them from falling to the ground. Her hands came away slick with blood. "Jade, you''re hurt!" The comment sounded dumb even to her. Of course she was wounded, she was fighting a powerful demon and had asked for help. Without waiting for a reply she immediately started a healing melody, singing softly and laying a hand of Jade''s shoulder. Warm light flowed down her arm and into her friend, mending the worst of her wounds. "Thanks for coming." Jade said, peeking around the low wall. Naomi followed suit and caught a glimpse of motion on the other side of the cracked courtyard. A large chain erupted from the ground, flailing like a tentacle. It smashed into the skeletal creature with enough force to crack several bones. The monster crashed to the ground, disappearing in a cloud of dust. "What is that thing?" Naomi asked, finishing her spell and ducking back behind cover. "New friend." Jade patted the magical pouch on her hip. "I don''t think he''s going to last much longer, though." "And Malice? Is she alone?" "She is now. She''s hurt, but not badly. I''m out of potions and barely have any mana-" A shadow swooped overhead, dipping sharply to land behind them. Before Naomi could react, her armor''s barrier shattered, a dark whip carving through it as if it were paper. The force of the attack threw her back into the wall, and she hit hard. Naomi had the wherewithal to roll off it, springing to the side to avoid a follow up attack. She was just in time. A length of chain the width of her arm smashed into the stone where she''d been standing a moment before, punching straight through the foot-thick wall and sending shards of masonry flying in every direction. "Another friend?" Malice laughed, wielding her whip in one hand and controlling conjured chains with the other. It was enough to keep both of them at bay, forcing them to stay on the defensive. "Bring as many as you like, sister. Keep struggling." Another crack. This time Naomi deflected the chain with a blast of sonic energy from her guitar. It arced away, smashing into one of the buildings next to the courtyard. The entire structure collapsed in a cloud of dust and debris. "I can taste your fear." Malice purred, stalking closer to Naomi. She ducked behind a pillar, looking around for Jade. Where was she? "It''s sweet. The perfect appetizer." Naomi shuddered involuntarily. The demon''s aura was oppressive, laden with malevolent intent. But she refused to be cowed by it. "I may be afraid." she called out, hoping to draw the demon''s attention. "But it doesn''t rule me. Not anymore!" The skeleton, now pinned to the ground and wrapped in black chains, screeched as it tried to wrench itself free. Malice ignored it, stalking closer to Naomi''s hiding place. "It will." She said, and Naomi could hear the malicious smile in her voice. "Before the end, it will." "Now!" Naomi spun out from behind the pillar, guitar up, and launched another Sonic Boom with a single, powerful strum. The blast of energy sent Malice reeling back towards the rune trap Jade had just lay behind the demon. It was a tactic they''d practiced dozens of times against normal monsters, one that had served them well from the beginning. It almost worked. Malice flared her wings, launching herself skyward just before she tripped the trap. The succubus was fast, moving like a shadow through the gloom. Naomi pivoted, launching a barrage of fire blasts towards her just as Jade threw a cloud of daggers. Some hit, but it didn''t slow the demon down. She landed between them and sent another barrage of summoned chains whipping around the courtyard. One caught Naomi right in the chest and sent her crashing to the ground. Something inside her cracked and she cried out, cradling her ribs as she rolled to a stop. Another chain flashed towards her before she could recover but it missed as the entire ground shook with a violent quake, sending all of them reeling. A cacophonous tearing sound ripped through the ruins and Naomi was forced to dive to safety as the section of ground beneath her fell away into the ravine, taking a good portion of the ruins with them. Heart thumping wildly in her chest, Naomi brought herself to her knees and poured mana into Pyrotechnics, launching another streak of fire at Malice as she engaged Jade claw to dagger. The two combatants moved in a blur of motions, slashing and twirling around each other in a deadly dance of blood and steel. Naomi focused, guiding her magic through sheer force of will. There was no hesitation in the attack, no self-doubt. She was no longer the scared girl who hid behind her friends when the monsters came for them. She was the one who took down the monsters. The jet of fire passed mere inches over Jade''s outstretched wing before nailing Malice squarely in the head. She staggered, screaming in pain and rage. Jade didn''t let the opening go to waste, plunging both blades into the demon''s chest as she staggered, perilously close to the rapidly expanding cliff edge. Naomi was forced to keep moving as more of the ruins fell away into darkness, taking with it the still-chained undead summon. It screeched as in plummeted out of sight, vanishing into the gloom. CRACK Jade fell to the ground with a cry of pain and a spray of blood as Malice''s claws raked across her face. Naomi rushed in to help, her stomach dropping as she saw her friend rolling on the ground, clutching her eye. Malice stood over her, panting, swaying on her feet. The smirk was finally gone from her face, replaced by a rage that twisted her beautiful face into something that more resembled the monster she was. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "That''s enough!" Malice coughed, blood spraying from her mouth. "You thought you could be heroes, did you? Thought you could stand against the might of Lord Vastrozun? Well, this is what happens to heroes!" Malice kicked Jade in the stomach, sending the woman crumpling back to the ground as she tried to get up. Naomi heard something crunch at the impact. She stopped a short distance away, channeling a healing spell into her friend. The demon laughed, not trying to stop her. "You''re too late. Far too late." Malice said, gesturing around them. "It has already begun." Shadowy figures began manifesting in the gloom around them. They were just like the ones Naomi had seen in the jungle. Indistinct shapes that slowly gained form and substance as the ritual neared completion. Despair began to creep into her mind, dark and cloying. But there was something else, too. Naomi felt a small twinge in her magic, a familiar reaction. It couldn''t be¡­ Could it? It was. An idea sprang into her mind, bringing with it an odd sense of clarity. "You''re right!" Naomi said, finishing her spell and speaking loud enough to be heard over the continuing rumbling. "You''ve won! We surrender." She just needed to keep Malice talking for a few moments longer. Jade stirred on the ground, shifting in a small pool of blood. The figures surrounding them continued to grow in both clarity and number. Naomi could already make out a few of their features. Tara, please¡­ She prayed again. But not quite yet! "No." Malice spat. "You don''t get to surrender. First, I''m going to make you kill your friend. Then, I''m going to drain every last drop of life from your body. Slowly." She could see their eyes, now. The summoned demons were all turning to regard them, watching the confrontation. They were still insubstantial, not fully here, but they were getting closer. "Not going to happen." Naomi said, hefting her guitar. It was time to- "You don''t have a choice." Malice said with a smile, taking a step closer to her. The demon''s words were layered with alluring magic. It pulled Naomi in, wrapping itself around her mind, setting her at ease¡­ And she had felt this before. Time and time again, Jade had weaved her charm magic on Naomi, helping her train her resistance. That, combined with her high willpower, was enough to form a crack in Malice''s enchantment. The spell was powerful, absurdly so, but with Naomi''s training, that small crack was all she needed. "Yeah, I don''t think so." Naomi growled, snapping out of the trance before the magic fully took hold. Malice stopped, a look of surprise crossing her face. "You''re not my type." Before the demon could react, Naomi shifted her grip on her guitar and began to play a series of fast, energetic notes. The growing well of power that had been accumulating in her soul as more and more demons turned their attention onto her poured into her Fleetfoot spell, enhancing it all the way to the next rank. As its base level was ''C'' the boost was enough to bring it back up to ''B'' rank, just like when she''d fought the wave of monsters on live television on Earth. The sudden burst of speed and energy that enveloped her was so potent that the entire world slowed around her. "Jade!" She shouted, backpedaling away as Malice lunged for her with bloodied claws. "Fuck her up!"
Jade''s body didn''t want to move. She was covered in scrapes, gashes, and bruises, and more than one limb wasn''t moving the way it should. Her left eye still seared with pain, and she couldn''t seem to see out of it properly. But when Naomi called out her name, she reacted. Jade dragged herself to her feet with a snarl, bolstered by the surprisingly potent wave of magical music that filled the cliffside ruins. Naomi''s spell didn''t truly impart energy, it didn''t give Jade stamina or restore her, but it did enhance her movements. Even her sluggish, labored dash towards Malice''s back was transformed into a lightning quick ambush. With no time to retrieve her weapons Jade crashed into the demon with slashing claws, knocking her back towards the edge of the cliff. Malice screeched in rage. It was an inhuman, soul shaking sound of primal anger. The wounded succubus turned on Jade with murder in her eyes, sliding to a stop and raising a hand shrouded with dark magic. Only for the rune trap under her feet to trigger. Conjured chains of spectral energy burst from the sigil, wrapping around the demon''s legs. Even wounded, even caught completely off guard, Malice was fast. She shifted away with a speed Jade could barely match even while bolstered by Naomi''s spell. Still, it wasn''t quite enough. One leg remained trapped by the arcane bindings, rooting the demon in place. It wouldn''t hold her for long, but it did create an opening. One Jade had been waiting for. Phantom blinked back to her hand as she lunged, using the last of her focus and mana to conjure a flickering aura blade around it. She didn''t hesitate, going straight for the kill. Even rooted, wounded, and bleeding from a dozen wounds, Malice wasn''t done fighting. She pivoted, bringing up her claws in a savage counter. The super-human speed imparted by Naomi''s magic was just enough to allow Jade to twist around the attack, but the dodge threw off her aim ever-so-slightly. "Aaach!" Malice screamed in pain and fury as her severed wing fell to the ground, the wound smoking and charred by Jade''s aura blade. Jade spun into her with another attack, this one a true finisher, but Malice caught her in the chest with a powerful kick that sent her crashing to the ground perilously close to the edge of the cliff. Jade twisted, stabbing her aura blade into the cobblestone to prevent her from plunging into the yawning abyss behind her, scoring a groove into the ground. She came to a stop right on the edge, her feet dangling over the cliff. An incorporeal figure loomed over her, the form of a blood demon slowly resolving into focus as more waves of magical energy pulsed through the jungle. It looked down at her, cocking its head curiously. Malice was coming for her, staggering closer with lurching steps, claws extended. Jade tried once again to pull herself to her feet, only to find that her body was spent. The aura blade winked out and she sagged, barely able to rise to her knees. She had given everything she had. Naomi had said Tara was still trying to stop the ritual. Maybe the tek''kalla could still succeed, maybe she couldn''t. In this moment, faced with imminent death, Jade was surprised to find she didn''t care. Not about the world, the demon invasion, or any other large affairs. She just hoped her friends would be safe. Malice said something Jade couldn''t hear. The hum of the core had grown louder still. She was close now, only a few feet away. "Sorry, Alan¡­" Jade whispered. "I-" "I don''t think so, bitch." A battered, bruised, and very pissed off looking Naomi stepped straight through one of the resolving forms of an insubstantial demon and, before Malice could do more than turn a hate-filled look on the bard, blasted her straight off the cliff. The empowered Sonic Boom was so strong that a large chunk of the ground was sheared away, nearly taking Jade with it. She rolled to the side as Naomi grabbed her, pulling her to safety. Jade caught one final glimpse of Malice, short one wing, falling away into the inky darkness of the void, her shriek of fear and fury diminishing with each passing moment. A second later she was gone, leaving the two of them huddled together beside a crumbling wall. Dozens, maybe hundreds of spectral demons surrounded them, more appearing every minute. Jade couldn''t keep track of them all, and they were growing more real by the moment. That fact should have terrified her, but instead she was numb. The battle with Malice had taken everything she had. "It''s up to Tara, now." Naomi said, pulling Jade close and casting another healing spell. The warmth brought a little life back into her, and Jade looked up at her friend. "Thanks for coming for me." Despite the desperate battle, their dire wounds, and the very real possibility that they were soon to be torn apart by a horde of demons, Naomi gave her a genuine smile. "Just remember, Jade." She said, her healing spell petering out as, finally, her mana was exhausted. "All you have to do is ask."