《The Grand Game》 Chapter 001: A New Beginning CHAPTER 1: A NEW BEGINNING I fell, tumbling over and over through a seemingly endless void of darkness. My eyes stared out, but I saw nothing. My mouth was open, and my throat was raw and scraped. It felt as if I had been screaming for hours. Yet I heard nothing. Even worse, I remembered nothing. No, that wasn¡¯t quite true. I knew my name. I¡¯m Michael, I thought. I knew nothing else. Not where I lived. Not how old I was. Not where I was from, or even how I came to be falling through a void of nothingness. But I knew who I was. I¡¯m Michael, I repeated. It seemed a nearly negligible tidbit of knowledge, yet it gave me a measure of comfort, and I clung to it as I plummeted downwards. Hours passed, if not days, or weeks. I kept falling. And kept screaming. Eventually, it proved too much for my overwrought mind, and oblivion beckoned. Gratefully, I surrendered myself to unconsciousness, and waited for it all to end. ~~~ Hands shook at me. ¡°Wake up, boy. Don¡¯t keep the Master waiting.¡± I groaned. My body was riddled with pain. Not an inch of me felt free of aches and bruises, and I wanted nothing more than to return to the sweet nothingness of sleep. Shrugging away from the interloper¡¯s reaching touch, I rolled over. Escaping his attention was not so easy however. He tugged at me again. Stubbornly, I ignored him. That proved to be a poor decision. A brutal kick to my midriff followed and my world went white with agony. Involuntarily, I curled up in a ball. Vicious bastard, I swore. ¡°Easy Stayne,¡± someone else said. ¡°I may have need of him yet.¡± The words were mildly spoken, yet the timbre of command in the speaker¡¯s voice was unmistakable. ¡°Sorry, Master,¡± Stayne said. ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful, promise.¡± The pain in my center eased slightly, and I forced my eyes open. I was on the ground; the bare earth covered with only loose bits of rock and shale. My gaze drifted upwards. A dome of white light about twelve feet across surrounded me, but beyond that was only pitch black. The darkness was unrelieved by the slightest detail and gave no hint of what lay within it. I shivered as the memory of falling came rushing back. My eyes darted back to the hard ground. It seemed that my plunge through the void had finally come to an end. No wonder my body feels like one big mass of bruises. But then again, if I had fallen anywhere near as far as I suspected, it was a miracle I was even alive. Where am I? I still didn¡¯t remember how I came to be wherever I was, or any more of myself other than my name. Time enough to deal with the mystery later, Michael, I told myself. Right now, you have other matters to attend to. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. I rolled onto my back again, and found the two who had disturbed my sleep watching me intently. At the sight of the pair, a ripple of fear shuddered through my body. Both figures were disturbingly unnatural. The Master¡­ floated. My gaze flicked from his robed form to his booted heels hovering nearly a foot above the ground. My eyes widened at the sight. Still, it was not the only startling aspect of the man. What was equally disturbing was the Master¡¯s size. He was at least nine-feet-tall. I gulped and turned my gaze to the second figure, Stayne. My appetite for amazement had been sated, so I barely blinked as I took in his bleached-white bones. He is a bloody skeleton. A walking, talking skeleton. What the hell is going on here? I paused, struck by a ludicrous thought. Is this¡­ hell? I certainly seemed to have fallen enough. I chuckled grimly. Maybe it is, and maybe I deserve to be here. ¡°What are you cackling at human?¡± Stayne asked suspiciously. His empty orbs pulsed an ominous red. ¡°You find all this funny?¡± He took a threatening step forward. I scrambled backwards and out of his reach. Now, now, Michael, I chided myself. Wherever you are, you are in enough trouble already. Let¡¯s try not to ruffle the natives'' feathers anymore, shall we? ¡°Enough Stayne,¡± the Master snapped. ¡°Help the boy up.¡± The skeleton hung his head sheepishly and lowered the weapon in his bony hands. It was a double-bladed axe and I hadn¡¯t even noticed him draw the bloody thing. My eyes narrowed as I stared at the weapon. The axe head was formed from an obsidian metallic substance that I didn¡¯t recognize. Stayne stepped forward again. This time I didn¡¯t back away and only watched warily as he stuck out his arm. Cautiously, I took the offered hand and the skeleton heaved me to my feet. I tottered slightly, wincing as new aches made themselves known, before regaining my balance. Standing beside the skeleton, I immediately noticed our disparity in height. Stayne loomed over me. I judged his height to be around six-feet, which would put my own height at just under five and a half feet. So, I¡¯m short, I thought. I stared down at my pale brown arms. They lacked any muscle definition. And thin. ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± the Master said. I still couldn¡¯t see his face. His voluminous black robe covered him from head to toe. Only his steel-clad boots and leather gloves were visible. ¡°Welcome, Michael,¡± the Master said. My head jerked involuntarily at that. ¡°You know who I am?¡± I asked hopefully. The Master shook his head. ¡°No, Michael. I do not. Your memories were wiped when you were brought here. Only your name remains. You are a blank slate and free to write your story anew in whatever fashion you wish.¡± ¡°Brought here?¡± I asked sharply, dissatisfied by his response. ¡°Who brought me here? You?¡± ¡°Watch your tone, boy,¡± Stayne growled. The Master waved his servant to silence. ¡°No, it was not me. I do not have the power to perform such a feat. Yet.¡± He paused. ¡°It was the cosmos.¡± At my blank look, the Master continued, ¡°Still your thoughts and focus your attention inwards. Make of your mind a still and waiting pool, and perhaps things will become clearer.¡± I stared at the so-called Master in consternation, wondering if I should do as he bade. Focus my attention inwards? How was that going to help? My gaze darted from the Master to Stayne. Both were watching me expectantly. Just how crazy were these two? And me as well for contemplating doing what the Master asked. Still, it didn¡¯t look like I was going to get answers any other way. And besides, what could it hurt to try? With a sigh, I closed my eyes and did my best to quiet my mind. A second passed. Then another. Nothing happened. ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± I said, feeling foolish. ¡°Nothing is¡ª¡± I broke off as a strange and wholly unnatural sensation rippled through me. Something¡ªa foreign entity? an unfathomable consciousness?¡ªentered my mind, and words spilled across it. Welcome to the Forever Kingdom, Michael. You have been brought to this realm by the Forces of Light, Dark, and Shadow to participate in the Grand Game. Through your own deeds and actions in your past life, you have merited a place as a player in the Game. Rest assured, you made the choice to enter the Forever Kingdom willingly. To preserve your sanity and to allow you to forge your destiny afresh and unburdened by your past, your memories have been wiped clean. Good luck and may fortune favor your Game! My jaw dropped open and for long moments my mouth worked soundlessly. ¡°What was that?¡± I finally managed to ask. The Master laughed and even Stayne seemed to share in the amusement, snickering loudly. ¡°That, Michael,¡± the Master said, ¡°was the Adjudicator. And you, my dear boy, are the Game¡¯s newest participant.¡± Chapter 002: The Grand Game CHAPTER 2: THE GRAND GAME Confounded, I stared at the Master. ¡°What is the Grand Game?¡± ¡°All in good time, my boy,¡± the Master assured me. ¡°But come now, you were the last. The others are waiting.¡± ¡°Others? What others?¡± I asked. The Master ignored me. Turning around, he floated away. The small circle of light that had illuminated my surroundings moved with him. In fact, the light seemed to be centered on his figure, but I still could not make out its source. With the Master¡¯s departure, the encroaching darkness swallowed me, leaving me with only Stayne¡¯s glowing red eyes for company. ¡°Damnit,¡± I growled. If I didn¡¯t want to be stuck alone in the dark again, I had no other choice but to follow the Master¡ªas he likely very well knew. Cursing whatever fate brought me here, I hurried after his departing figure and the comforting globe of light surrounding him. ~~~ With Stayne by my side, and the Master floating before us, we traversed the darkness. I tried questioning the Master¡ªand even Stayne again¡ªbut both steadfastly ignored me. Left to myself, I turned my attention inwards and cautiously probed my mind, feeling again for the sense of the entity that had written in it before. But as hard as I tried, I caught no whiff of the mysterious being. Presently we came to a cast iron door set in a wall of grey stone blocks. The walls extended to my left and right beyond the circle of light the Master cast, and I could not tell how far it stretched. Stayne stepped forward and unbarred the door, and as silently as ever the master floated inside. I followed after. The room within was bare of furnishing but was thankfully well lit with torches set all along its four walls. The floor of the chamber was paved with the same grey stones as the wall, and the roof curved high overhead with its peaked center barely visible. Seated within the room were hundreds of people. Some were human. Many were not. I felt barely a flicker of surprise as my eyes roved over features that my mind identified as dwarven, elven, goblin, troll, orc, and many more. I knew with bone-deep certainty that besides my fellow humans, I had never encountered the likes of any of the other species in the room. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The thought was unexpectedly comforting. It seemed that even though my memories had been wiped, I retained some connection to who I was¡ªor had been. I am still me in some sense. It was reassuring to know that I was not wholly a blank slate, that some facet of who I was remained. At our entrance, the quiet hum of conversation that had filled the room died down and every gaze in the chamber turned our way. Immediately, I noticed an oddity. Everyone in the room was dressed in the same manner: in white cotton shorts and shirts. I glanced down at myself. I was dressed in the same clothes too. ¡°Who are these people?¡± I whispered. ¡°They are your fellow candidates,¡± the Master replied vaguely. ¡°Like you, they will be competing for the honor of joining my cause in the Game.¡± I glanced at him. ¡°Your cause?¡± Once more, he ignored me. Gliding through the air, the Master floated upwards as he made his way to the center of the room where he stopped, hovering high above us all. ¡°Gather around candidates,¡± the Master said, his voice as soft-spoken as ever, but somehow still reaching me from a few dozen yards away. ¡°The last of you have arrived and it is time to begin.¡± Moving quietly, I slipped further into the room and sank to the ground in a cross-legged stance next to a human woman. With her attention fixed on the Master, she did not so much as glance at me. The Master had fallen silent while he gathered his thoughts. ¡°As the Adjudicator himself has already told you,¡± he began after a moment, ¡°you¡¯ve been brought to the Forever Kingdom to become players in the Grand Game.¡± He paused. ¡°But you are not yet players. You are only candidates. Before you can fully participate in the Game, you must earn that right.¡± The Master spun a slow circle, surveying the hundreds of faces staring up at him. ¡°And that is why you are all here: to compete against each other for the honor of becoming players in my faction: the Awakened Dead, the preeminent faction in the Axis of Evil.¡± There was some muttering at that. Axis of Evil? I thought, feeling my own measure of concern. It didn¡¯t sound like anything good. Nor did the Master¡¯s faction: the Awakened Dead. I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to have anything to do with either. ¡°Silence,¡± Stayne thundered from where he lurked by the door. The Master chuckled, a grim humorless sound. ¡°I sense your unease and I can taste your fear candidates. Worried are you, that the Axis of Evil is not for you?¡± Some brave souls in the crowded room nodded. Instinctively, I held myself still and let no hint of my own thoughts slip. From behind, I felt Stayne¡¯s eyes sweep the room, and I had a feeling that those few who had let their own unease show would soon have cause to rue doing so. ¡°Make no mistake,¡± the Master continued, ¡°it is no accident that you have been reborn within the Grand Game in the very heart of the unholy alliance. Your memories may have been wiped, but it is your actions in your past life that brought you here.¡± He laughed again. ¡°Only the blackest of deeds would have brought you to me. Imagine the foulest thing you could do, and I assure you, you have done it already.¡± The Master paused and swept his gaze across the room again. ¡°Like it or not, candidates, you are well-suited to Darkness. It lives and breathes in your souls.¡± The Master¡¯s gaze crossed my own. ¡°Understand this: you are evil.¡± Chapter 003: The Epitome of Evil CHAPTER 3: THE EPITOME OF EVIL I bit at the inside of my lip, fighting hard not to despair at the Master¡¯s assertions. Was it true? Am I evil? What had I been in my previous life? A serial killer? A mass murderer? A rapist? Heavens forbid, I hope not. I searched deep within myself, yet could detect nothing within me that resonated with the Master¡¯s words. But the Master was still speaking, so I set aside my gnawing worry and listened to him again. I would have to think more on my origins later. ¡°Regardless, of how you may feel¡ªor think you feel¡ªon the matter,¡± the Master continued, ¡°if you candidates want to live, you have no choice now but to complete the task I have set before you.¡± The Master pointed to another barred door at the room¡¯s far end. ¡°When we are done here, you will proceed through that door. There you will choose your first Class.¡± Confused mutterings followed. The Master waved away the candidates¡¯ confusion. ¡°I see some of you have no idea about what I speak of. No matter. Your questions will be answered in due course. Those of you who have tried interacting with the Game will have found it unavailable. This is because I have blocked your access to the Adjudicator, but in the room beyond you will find the Game interfaces available again. It will tell you all you need to know about Classes.¡± I scratched at my chin, noting in passing that I had no beard. I knew what Classes were¡ªor thought I did. It is a gaming term. Now how did I know that? Had I played in the Grand Game before? ¡°Once you have chosen your first Class,¡± the Master said, ¡°you will move beyond the next room and into the dungeon.¡± My ears perked up at that. We were going into a dungeon? That didn¡¯t bode well. I glanced at my flimsy clothes. How will we survive without any gear? Seeming to read my thoughts, the Master addressed my concern. ¡°Do not fear, each of you will be provided with two pieces of equipment before you venture into the dungeon. Two pieces, mind, no more.¡± The Master chuckled. ¡°After all, where would the fun be in that? Additionally, I have a gift for each of you.¡± The floating black-robed figure raised his hands and muttered words under his breath that I failed to catch. My brows drew down. What was he doing? I got my answer a moment later, as from somewhere unseen, the drumming of wings filled the air, seemingly as if in answer to the Master¡¯s call. I glanced upwards at the shadowed ceiling. Sure enough, hundreds of tiny white flying forms were loping about in a furious circle. Where had the birds come from? Had the Master summoned the creatures? And how? I was certain they hadn¡¯t been in the room when we had entered. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The Master dropped his hands, and the birds dove downwards. Passing the black-robed figure, the flock split as individual creatures honed in on a different candidate. One hurtled directly towards me, seemingly on a collision course with my nose. Hurriedly, I shielded my face with my arm while I waited for the inevitable crash. It did not come. Lowering my arm, I peeked at the white form hovering in front of me. It was not a bird. It was a bat. A fleshless bat. ~~~ I stared in amazement at the skeletal creature in front me. No larger than my hand, the bat held itself stationary in the air with the flapping of its delicate wings. Its bones appeared too fragile to survive against any concerted attack¡ªor keep it airborne for that matter¡ªyet the creature still exuded a cold menace. As intently as I considered the bat, it studied me in return with the two glowing orbs of arctic light that I took for its eyes. ¡°Well? Aren¡¯t you going to say anything, human?¡± I blinked. The bat had spoken. Its words had echoed eerily though the gaping cavity that was its mouth and were barely understandable. Still, the creature had spoken. And why not? What¡¯s one more wonder to heap upon all the other strangeness I¡¯ve witnessed? ¡°Uhm, hi,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m Michael.¡± The bat snorted. ¡°I know that. Now do you accept the Pact?¡± I blinked again. ¡°Pact?¡± I asked stupidly. ¡°What Pact?¡± Before the small skeleton could answer, the Master resumed speaking. ¡°Before you candidates, you will find the familiar I provide each of you with. The creatures will guide and assist you in your journey through the dungeon. And in return for this: I ask nothing. I¡¯ve unblocked your access to the Adjudicator. Turn your focus inwards and query the Game. You will find the terms of the Pact just as I¡¯ve described. Read it and accept my generous offer.¡± I did as the Master asked and more words unfolded in my mind. Gnat, a level 20 skeletal bat offers you a Pact. If you accept the Pact, for the duration of your time together, Gnat will serve as your familiar and boost your death magic skill by +1 rank. Your familiar cannot participate in combat or defend you in any way. This Pact may be terminated at any time by either party. Do you accept Gnat¡¯s offer? Ignoring the strangeness of the Game speaking in my mind again, I chewed over the information it had provided. One particular aspect fascinated me beyond all else. Magic. The Game¡¯s message implied that in this world, I could cast spells. Despite my concern about entering a dungeon, or my worry that I was the blackest of souls indelibly tainted by evil, the thought that I had magic sparked a joy in me that I found hard to stem. Somehow, I knew that I had never wielded magic before and the thought of doing it in this world excited me no end. ¡°Magic,¡± I breathed to Gnat. ¡°Your Pact will let me cast spells?¡± The skeletal bobbed in the air. ¡°No, human. I cannot give you what you already have. I sense a deep well of mana at your spirit¡¯s center. You possess magic already. You only have to unlock it, and the Game will allow you do to that without my aid. What I offer through the Pact is the means to advance your necromancy skill beyond levels you could normally. Now do you accept my offer?¡± Struggling to contain my excitement, I considered the terms of the Pact again as carefully as I could. The wording seemed simple enough, and I could spot nothing suspicious, or anything that hinted at a hidden meaning. Finding no reason to do otherwise, I voiced my assent. ¡°I accept your bargain.¡± You have sealed a Pact with a level 20 skeletal bat. Gnat is now your familiar. You have gained the trait: undead familiar. This trait increases your necromancy skill cap by: +1 rank. Chapter 004: Gnat CHAPTER 4: GNAT On the tail end of my words, Gnat glided forward and alighted on my shoulder. Turning to study him, I asked. ¡°What now?¡± The bat shrugged its tiny wings. ¡°We wait for the others. Once they are done, the Master will give us further instruction.¡± Scanning the chamber, I saw that many of my fellow candidates were still conversing with the creatures that hovered before them. A few had already sealed their Pacts and like me were gazing about the room. I turned back to my familiar. ¡°What can you tell me about the Grand Game?¡± Gnat laughed. ¡°What can I not tell you? All that I know of the Game could fit a dozen books twice over. You will learn more soon enough. Be patient.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°At least tell me about the dungeon we are about to enter.¡± ¡°I know little of the how the dungeon has been configured,¡± Gnat said. ¡°No one does. Except for the Master, of course.¡± I sighed. ¡°There is one bit of advice I can give you though,¡± Gnat continued. ¡°What?¡± I asked eagerly. ¡°Don¡¯t die. You will not enjoy the experience,¡± he said with a snicker of amusement. I blew out a frustrated breath and turned away to consider the strange world I found myself in. If the Adjudicator was to be believed, I had chosen to enter the Forever Kingdom. Why did I do so? I wondered. And could I carve out a life for myself in this world? If so, what sort of life would it be? Bowing my head, I lost myself in contemplation of the future. It was a good few minutes before the murmur of conversation in the room died down again. When it did, I saw, that but for a handful of the candidates, everyone else had accepted the Pacts offered to them by their skeletal companions. ¡°Excellent,¡± the Master said, sounding pleased. ¡°Now as to the details of the task before you. It is simply this: find your way out to the world above. While you venture through the dungeon, you will come across further Class stones beyond the initial one you will obtain in the next room. Each of these will grant you a Class. To reveal the dungeon¡¯s exit portal, you will need to fill all three of your Class slots. If you are confused as to my meaning, ask your familiar after you¡¯ve chosen your primary Class.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! I frowned. If I understood the Master, as a player I would have three separate Classes. How to choose them though? And were there any synergies between the Classes that I could exploit? These thoughts ran through my mind of their own accord, leading me to believe that whoever I had been in my previous life, I was no novice player. Perhaps, I am more suited to this world and its Grand Game than I think. ¡°Our time together has come to an end,¡± the Master said. ¡°We will not see each other again, not unless you successfully navigate through the dungeon and graduate as players. One final word before I release you: there are no rules in the dungeon. I care not if you work together¡ªor against each other.¡± The Master chuckled. ¡°You may find that killing your fellow candidates will net you more experience than slaying the dungeon¡¯s inhabitants. So, murder whomever you please. It will be all the more amusing to watch. But wait until you enter the dungeon before you embark on your sprees of mayhem.¡± The Master¡¯s voice turned harsh. ¡°I will not tolerate any killings within my domain.¡± I shivered, not quite able to believe what the Master was encouraging us to do. Warily, I gazed to my left and right, and found my fellows likewise eyeing me suspiciously. Which amongst them will try to murder me? I wondered. And could I stomach attempting to kill them in turn? ¡°Now if you will,¡± the Master said, ¡°make your way to the next room and choose your primary Class. Good luck candidates, and may fortune favor your Game.¡± With his piece said, the Master rose in the air and vanished into the shadows concealing the chamber¡¯s roof. Setting aside my disquiet, I rose to my feet and studied the room again. The Master¡¯s parting words had created a renewed stir amongst the candidates, and all around me I saw people banding together as they sought safety in numbers. How long have the others been here? I wondered. Judging by some of the conversations floating around me, many of the candidates appeared very at ease with each other. Enough so that they were willing to trust their companions to guard their backs against the others. It was only I¡ªthe newcomer¡ªthat was a stranger to all. I grimaced. Alone, or in a group, I will survive, I vowed. Stepping around the still-forming parties, I joined the line leading to the room¡¯s far exit. As I did so, in the corner of my eye I noticed Stayne leaving his place by the entrance and moving into the chamber. Tilting my head slightly, I observed the skeleton. Moving unhurriedly, Stayne pulled a candidate out of the line. She was one of those who had rejected the Pact, I noted. Stayne herded the woman to a vacant spot near the chamber¡¯s entrance and left her standing there in confusion while he moved again to the line and gazed searchingly along its length. I studied the skeleton intently, watching to see what he would do, but I passed through the exit before I could see if he pulled anyone else from the line. Still, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Stayne was about. Chapter 005: The Masters Gifts Chapter 5: The Master''s Gifts The room beyond was as large as the first chamber, but unlike the one before, it was not empty of furnishings. Stalls lined nearly the entirety of the room. Each overflowed with items and was manned by a single unclothed skeleton. Before I could move further into the room to explore its depths, I was stopped at the door by another skeleton. ¡°Stop,¡± the figure commanded. Whereas the other undead in the room wore little in the way of clothes, the one who had intercepted me was fully dressed in shoes, pants, shirt, and cloak. Everything he wore was some shade of red, even the staff he twirled in his hands was crimson. As I turned his way, he beckoned me. ¡°Come here human.¡± Curiously, I stepped up to him. ¡°Hold out your hand,¡± he demanded. I stared at him, making no move to comply. ¡°Do it,¡± Gnat hissed. ¡°The gate keeper only means to issue you with the Master¡¯s tokens. You will need them to buy your Class stone and other items from the vendors.¡± I glanced from the bat on my shoulder to the stalls, having an inkling now as to what purpose they served. I held out my hand. Immediately the gate keeper dropped three chips of black glass into my outstretched palm. Curiously, I peered at the small polished bits of glass that I held. They looked to be made from obsidian and stamped in the center of each was what appeared to be a crow. I drew one up for closer inspection. The detail included in the crow was exquisite. Somehow the artist had managed¡ª ¡°Enough gawking!¡± the red-clothed figure snapped. ¡°Off with you now, you¡¯re holding up the line.¡± I clenched my fist around the tokens and glared at the gate keeper before moving away to drift amongst the stalls. The first stall I stopped at was laden with plate armor: legs, arms, gloves, helms, and breastplates. Each piece seemed to be formed from steel and appeared to be poorly made¡ªto my eye at least. I raised my gaze to the stall¡¯s vendor. His gleaming red eyes seemed to be bright with excitement. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Ah a customer,¡± the merchant said. ¡°What can I help you with, sir?¡± I waved my hands across the untidy heap of armor. ¡°How does all this work?¡± ¡°It''s simplicity itself,¡± the merchant said, rubbing his hands together. ¡°In exchange for one of the Master¡¯s tokens, you may take any one piece of armor.¡± In the act of picking up a helm for closer inspection, I paused. ¡°One piece only?¡± I asked disbelievingly. ¡°Not an entire set?¡± The skeleton chuckled. ¡°No, no, no. Of course not. For that you would need far more tokens.¡± I pulled back my hands and folded them behind my back. Considering that I only had three tokens, I was not going to waste any of them on a single armor piece. I glanced at the nearby stalls. Some were filled with weapons, others with shields, some with scrolls, and yet others with trinkets and jewelry. Walking away from the armor vendor, I headed towards a weapon merchant¡¯s stall, but was stopped as Gnat spoke up. ¡°Human, I would not purchase any items until you¡¯ve chosen your Class.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± I asked, coming to a halt. ¡°Items have skill prerequisites. While you may still equip an item without the required skill, you will not gain any of the item¡¯s benefits, nor will you be able to train the skill. And it is your Class that determines what skills you will have access to.¡± I nodded. I didn¡¯t have to ask Gnat what he meant by skills. Somehow, I understood what they were already. I really must have been a player in my previous life, I thought. ¡°How many skills do I get from my Class?¡± I asked. ¡°Classes come in three tiers: basic, advanced, and master,¡± Gnat said. ¡°Basic Classes give you access to three starting skills.¡± My brows rose in surprise. That number of skills appeared low. ¡°Only three?¡± I murmured. ¡°You said starting skills though. Can I get more eventually?¡± ¡°You can,¡± Gnat answered. ¡°Through skillbooks, you can add three additional skills to your Class.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I said. And I thought I did. The Class stones only started a player down a specific development path, it did not completely define him. Something else occurred to me. ¡°Do the other Class tiers grant more starting skills?¡± ¡°They do,¡± Gant confirmed. ¡°But for your primary Class you may only choose a basic Class.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± I mused, rubbing at my chin. Recalling the Master¡¯s words from earlier, I sought my familiar¡¯s confirmation, ¡°I can have three Classes, right?¡± ¡°That is correct, human,¡± Gnat said. ¡°Every player can have a primary, secondary, and tertiary Class.¡± ¡°Call me Michael,¡± I said absently. ¡°As you wish,¡± the skeletal bat replied. I closed my eyes, thinking. Seeing as how I would only enter the dungeon with a single Class, there was no need to deliberate on my choice of secondary and tertiary Classes right now, and I dismissed them from my thoughts. I would consider them later once I understood this world far better than I did now. What mattered now was that I would only have three skills available when I entered the dungeon. That more than anything else would determine the strategy I pursued. Gnat is right, I thought. Before purchasing any items, I needed to select my Class. I opened my eyes. ¡°Where is the Class vendor?¡± Chapter 006: Gamers Speak Chapter 6: Gamers Speak There was already a queue at the Class vendor when I got there. I got in line and waited patiently as it moved slowly forward. While I waited for my chance with the merchant, I turned to my familiar. It was time to find out more about what it meant to be a player in the Grand Game. ¡°So, Gnat,¡± I began, ¡°besides Classes and skills, what other characteristics do players have?¡± ¡°Attributes,¡± Gnat grunted. ¡°And before you ask me what they are, you can find out for yourself. Just ask your Adjudicator.¡± I tilted my head to the side while I considered the bat¡¯s response. Why not? I wondered. Turning my attention inwards, I blanked my mind and focused on a single thought: attributes. To my surprise, my efforts yielded a response and a window unfurled in my mind. Player Profile: Michael Level: 1. Rank: 0. Current Health: 100%. Stamina: 100%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%. Species: Human. Lives Remaining: 3. Classes: 0 of 3. Traits: undead familiar. Skills: none. Abilities: 0 of 0. Attributes Strength: 0. Constitution: 0. Dexterity: 0. Perception: 0. Mind: 0. Magic: 0. and Faith: 0. Every skill and ability is governed by one of the seven attributes. They in turn act as a cap on both your skills and the number of abilities you can learn. For every rank you invest in an attribute, you can advance your skill level by ten, and acquire one more ability. Strength is an attribute that primarily influences a player¡¯s ability with heavy and medium weapons. Each rank you invest in Strength also increases your carrying capacity by: +10kg. First and foremost, Dexterity determines a player¡¯s ability with light weapons and evasive combat maneuvers. Each rank in Dexterity also improves your speed by: +1. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Perception influences a player¡¯s accuracy with ranged weapons, as well as his ability to anticipate his opponents¡¯ moves and sense oddities in the surroundings. Constitution enables players to increase their physical damage resistance, while Mind determines a player¡¯s ability with psionic skills and abilities. Similarly, Magic influences the power of a player¡¯s elemental spells, and Faith the strength of a player''s light, dark, shadow, necromancy and life spells. I exhaled a troubled breath as I tried to absorb the small avalanche of information the Game had thrown my way. More surprisingly, despite all the jargon, I was able to make sense of the Adjudicator¡¯s message. It''s gamer speak, something told me. After I worked through the information, I turned to my familiar again. ¡°Gnat,¡± I said slowly, ¡°if I understand correctly, attributes limit skill growth. Correct?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the bat said. I frowned, puzzled. ¡°Then, even if my Class unlocks new skills, how do I increase them without any starting attributes? They¡¯re all zero!¡± Gnat chuckled. ¡°All basic Classes come with a trait that boosts one or more attributes.¡± I rubbed my chin, initial worry subsiding. For a moment, I had feared I was an irrevocably broken character. ¡°Do all players start with zero attributes?¡± I asked after a moment. ¡°They do,¡± my familiar confirmed. That at least seemed fair. ¡°Besides Class traits, how else can I earn attribute ranks?¡± I asked. ¡°At every new player level, you will gain one attribute point to spend as you desire,¡± Gnat said. I winced. ¡°Only one?¡± The skeletal bat nodded. That sounds harsh, I thought. It meant I would have to deliberate long and hard on how I invested my attribute points. I could not afford to waste any. ¡°Is there any other way to earn more attributes?¡± I asked. ¡°Attribute gems can be found in dungeons, and other places in the Forever Kingdom,¡± Gnat said. ¡°But don¡¯t count on finding any,¡± he warned. ¡°They are exceedingly rare.¡± Hmm. ¡°And what¡¯s this bit about ¡®remaining lives¡¯? What does it mean?¡± Gnat stared at me. ¡°Exactly what it says, human. You have only three chances to prove yourself.¡± I didn¡¯t like the sound of that ¡®only.¡¯ It implied that the dungeon would be exceedingly dangerous. ¡°So if I die, I will be reborn? Is that it?¡± Gnat nodded. ¡°You will. But as I said before, you will not enjoy the experience. It is said to be exceedingly painful.¡± ¡°And what happens after I die three times?¡± I asked. ¡°Then you''ll be dead¡ªpermanently,¡± Gnat said. ¡°And your spirit will belong to the Master to do with as he pleases. Our lord may choose to raise up your spirit anew as an undead.¡± The skeletal bat¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°Or gift it to one whom he favors.¡± I shuddered. Seeing the eager gleam in Gnat¡¯s eyes, I didn¡¯t ask what the one so-favored would do with my spirit. I suspected it would be nothing good. I glanced at the candidates in front of and behind me in the line. Some looked excited, others nervous, and a few downright terrified. ¡°How many of us can expect to emerge alive from the dungeon?¡± I asked Gnat soberly. I didn¡¯t think it would be a lot. ¡°No more than a handful,¡± Gnat said. ¡°And that is under the best of circumstances. Whatever happens in the coming days, the Master¡¯s servants will feed well.¡± I gulped. My chances of surviving in this new world seemed slim at best, and I wondered anew what had possessed me to enter it. But there was no more time for further talk. I had reached the front of the line. I sucked in a deep breath. It was time to begin playing the Game and forging myself into a player. Whatever happened, I would not go quietly to my death. I will win free of this dungeon, I promised myself. Chapter 007: Class Selection Chapter 7: Class Selection The Class merchant did not bother to look at me when I stood in front of his table. Like the gate keeper, he was fully clothed too, but less garishly. His clothes were shaded in muted tones of grey and brown. A hood concealed his face and gloves hid his hands. I assumed that, like all the Master¡¯s other servants, he was an undead, but I couldn¡¯t be sure. With his head still bowed, the cowled figure reached into the bag hanging off his chair back and picked out three small objects. He placed them on the table and said, ¡°On the table before you, you will find three Class stones. Pick one. But before you do that, drop the Master¡¯s token into the chest on the right.¡± I glanced at the table. Arrayed on it were three gleaming marbles of solid bronze. They had to be the Class stones. Each marble was indistinguishable from the others and provided no indication of the Class it contained. I frowned. ¡°How am I to choose?¡± I asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Class each offers.¡± ¡°Query the Adjudicator,¡± the merchant said disinterestedly. ¡°Now hurry up, I have more customers waiting.¡± After a moment of frosty silence, I did as the merchant bade, and willed the Game to reveal more on the three objects before me. This time, I was unsurprised when it responded. This stone contains the path of: a warrior. The warrior is a basic Class that confers a player with three skills: a heavy weapon skill of the player¡¯s choice, an armour skill of the player¡¯s choice, and a shield skill of the player¡¯s choice. This Class also permanently boosts your Strength attribute by: +1, and your Constitution attribute by: +1. This stone contains the path of: a scout. The scout is a basic Class that confers a player with three skills: dodging, sneaking, and a light weapon skill of the player¡¯s choice. This Class also permanently boosts your Dexterity attribute by: +2. This stone contains the path of: a caster. The caster is a basic Class that confers a player with three skills: wands, necromancy, and fire magic. This Class also permanently boosts your Mind attribute by: +1, and your Faith attribute by: +1. ¡°Well,¡± I breathed. All three Classes were strangely familiar. I had seen them before or something very similar to them. The knowledge struck a chord within me and a nugget of information from my past revealed itself. ¡°I was a gamer,¡± I murmured. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Gnat asked, pinning me with his gaze. ¡°Nothing,¡± I muttered. Suddenly, I was certain that I had never been part of the Grand Game before, but from whichever world I had come from, I had spent countless hours playing in games of a similar nature. Perhaps that is why I chose to enter this world. A world itself that was a game? The very idea would have been intoxicating. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. While I was uncertain how much my former gaming knowledge would aid me, I knew to a large extent it already had, helping me understand the Adjudicator¡¯s, Gnat¡¯s and even the Master¡¯s explanations about the Forever Kingdom. I realised something else too. Even though I did not remember exactly where my knowledge of the Grand Game sprung from, I could¡ªand should¡ªtrust my instincts to guide me. I glanced back at the three Class stones. So what are your instincts telling you now, Michael? Naturally, my first inclination was to pick the path of a caster. Undeniably, magic appealed to me. Still, I could not be hasty. I could only have three Classes, and for better or worse, my choice now would likely determine my fate in the near-future. Closing my eyes, I quietened my mind, and let whatever knowledge that lurked deep in my subconscious rise to the fore. Casters are usually weak early game. The thought dropped into my consciousness with startling quickness, and I frowned as I considered it. It rang true. I took in the room again. I was still the only candidate not obviously part of a group. If I was going to venture into the dungeon alone¡ªwhich at this point seemed likely¡ªI could not afford to do so with a Class that hampered me further. I bit my lip. As much as I wanted magic, I knew with certainty that now was not the right time. Casters also depend heavily on their spells. And spells were something else I would lack early on. If I understood how abilities and attributes were related in this Game, if I chose the caster Class, until I gained more levels I would only have two spells at my disposal: one faith-based and the other magic-based. With a sigh, I quenched the urge to take up the caster Class stone and turned my attention to the other two marbles: the ones containing the path of the warrior and the scout. Neither particularly appealed to me. I glanced at the open bag hanging by the merchant¡¯s side and caught a glimpse of more bronze marbles within it. ¡°Why these Classes?¡± I asked abruptly. ¡°Are they the only basic Classes you have to offer?¡± ¡°What?¡± the merchant asked finally looking up. The skin on the merchant¡¯s face was pale, pockmarked, and¡­ rippled. He was not a skeleton, but he was undeniably undead. Looking closer, I saw that the open wounds on the undead¡¯s face was filled with wriggling maggots. Urgh. I bit back my revulsion and fought my instinctive desire to step back. Is he a ghoul? I wondered. ¡°What?¡± the merchant repeated, scowling at my poorly concealed disgust. Breaking off from my rapt study of the undead¡¯s rippling face, I pointed to his bag. ¡°Do those other stones contain different Classes?¡± ¡°They do,¡± the merchant replied. ¡°What of it?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d like to see some other options,¡± I said politely. The merchant spat, sending a glob of spit and wriggling maggots my way. I barely dodged the disgusting projectile in time. ¡°What was that for?¡± I asked with a scowl of my own. ¡°That was for you thinking I will entertain your foolish wishes. You will choose from the choices before you, or not at all!¡± My jaw dropped open. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s not as if I am asking you to¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up, mortal!¡± the merchant broke in. ¡°The Master only contracted me to provide you fleshlings with three choices. Having to deal with your kind is disgusting enough, I will not lower myself further to bargaining with you.¡± With every word he uttered, the merchant¡¯s voice rose an octave, and by now every gaze in the room was fixed on me and the irate undead. ¡°Now make your choice or begone!¡± the merchant hissed. Shaken by the unexpected confrontation, I looked unsteadily from the merchant to my fellow companions. Many were glaring at me in anger, and I heard not a few choice curses flung my way. Turning slowly on my heels, I walked away from the stall. ¡°Don¡¯t think if you come back, you will be offered a different choice!¡± the undead yelled after me. Ignoring him, I kept walking, wondering as I did what I was going to do now. Chapter 008: A Shrewd Strategy Chapter 8: A Shrewd Strategy I toured the rest of the room, drifting past the other stalls while I regained my mental equilibrium. The confrontation with the merchant had shocked me badly, and hinted at some deep-seated resentment on the undead¡¯s part. Was it only towards me that the merchant¡¯s anger was directed? Or all ¡®fleshlings¡¯ as he had referred to us? Whatever the case, I knew I could not afford to anger the Class vendor again. My walk through the room had confirmed he was the only one offering Class stones. There was no way I could enter the dungeon without skills of some kind. If I did that, I was sure I would die quickly and repeatedly. I sighed. One way or the other, I would have to return to the ghoulish merchant. But before I did that, I decided, I would take the time to study my fellow candidates and observe their choices first. The others moved together in groups as small as three to ones as large as twenty. Some were confident and strutted arrogantly, while others appeared nervous and indecisive. But as I perused the goods the many merchants had on offer, I noticed none of my fellows dared to question the Class vendor or refuse to make a Class choice. After selecting their Classes, the crowd of candidates moved to the equipment vendors, and began equipping themselves with sword, shields, axes, and wands. Much to my surprise, some of the groups pooled their tokens together and fully kitted only a single member¡ªusually in plate armor, and with the clear intention of making the chosen one the party¡¯s tank. I shook my head. It was a bold strategy, but I couldn¡¯t see myself placing that much trust in another, especially after all the Master¡¯s talk of player kills yielding more experience. Still, it was their folly to commit. Idly, I followed one such party as they made their way to the room¡¯s far end. It had been my initial plan to enter the dungeon as quickly as I could, to run ahead of the pack so to speak. But with me not having chosen a Class yet, that was no longer an option. And truth be told, as a solo player, I wasn¡¯t sure how wise that option would have been in the first place. Racing ahead of the other candidates might have given me the first stab at the best loot in the dungeon, but it also meant I would have been forced to face the dungeon¡¯s many perils first while also constantly being on the lookout for attacks from the rear from my ¡®fellows.¡¯ This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As I thought further on it, I decided that the much better strategy would be to stay at the back of the pack, especially considering how dangerous Gnat had hinted the dungeon was. From the rear, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being hunted from behind, and while those ahead might out-level me, I would at least be able to explore the dungeon at a slower and more cautious pace. Slow and steady is the wiser approach, I concluded. With my course decided, I watched the party of eight¡ªa clanking tank and, by the look of the wands the others carried, seven casters¡ªenter the dungeon through one of six open doors set in the far wall of the chamber. A shimmering curtain of white crackling energy hung within all the doorways. ¡°What is that inside those doors, Gnat?¡± I asked. ¡°Those are the portals to the dungeon section allocated for the Master¡¯s trial,¡± the skeletal bat replied. ¡°Portals?¡± I asked. The familiar nodded. ¡°The dungeon does not truly lie adjacent to the Master¡¯s domain. When you step through one of the doorways, you will be teleported to one of the Axis of Evil¡¯s sectors in the Endless Dungeon.¡± ¡°What is the Endless Dungeon?¡± I asked in confusion. ¡°The Forever Kingdom is formed of two realms,¡± Gnat answered. ¡°The aboveground world, loosely referred to as the Kingdoms and the subterranean world which we are in now, called the Netherworld. The Netherworld stretches nearly the breadth of the Forever Kingdom and is almost wholly made up of the Endless Dungeon, so named, because as yet, no one has been able to plumb its depths.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I said. ¡°And do all six doorways lead into the same area of the Endless Dungeon?¡± ¡°They will all lead to the same sector,¡± Gnat replied. ¡°But at different starting locations.¡± I nodded thoughtfully, and leaning against an adjacent wall where I had clear line of sight of the six doorways, I set myself to observe my fellows making their way into the dungeon, and in particular though which door each party ventured. ~~~ A good few hours later, I was still observing the stream of candidates making their way into the dungeon. Many threw me suspicious looks as they entered the dungeon, but I ignored their glares and kept as careful a tally as I could of which parties entered which doorway. As the time passed, my familiar got increasing upset with my inactivity. ¡°When will you enter the dungeon, human?¡± he inquired querulously. He had stopped calling me by name as his frustration grew. ¡°I assure you the Master will be most displeased if you fail to the attempt the trial he has set you.¡± ¡°Relax Gnat,¡± I said. ¡°I told you I will enter. Just not right yet.¡± ¡°When?¡± he demanded. ¡°After the last party of candidates goes through,¡± I repeated. And when I can be sure none of the others are waiting behind to ambush me. ¡°There are no more candidates in the room,¡± Gnat hissed. ¡°Soon the merchants will begin closing their stalls. You best hurry if you intend on entering the dungeon.¡± Turning around, I saw to my surprise that the skeletal bat was right. I had been so focused on watching the dungeon entrances, I had lost track of the state of the room behind me. I kicked off the wall. ¡°Alright Gnat, let¡¯s get shopping. Then we begin our dungeon crawl.¡± Chapter 009: Getting Ready Chapter 9: Getting Ready ¡°You again,¡± the ghoul muttered. ¡°Me again,¡± I agreed, standing in front of the Class vendor. The undead merchant looked at me suspiciously. ¡°So are you going to buy something this time, or just stand around and complain?¡± Rather than attempt to debate his unjust statement, I only nodded agreeably. ¡°I am ready to choose my Class.¡± The ghoul reached into his bag again. This time instead of placing the first bronze marbles he withdrew onto the table, he sniffed each carefully until the found the three particular stones he searched for. Once the merchant was satisfied, he arranged them in front of me. ¡°Choose then.¡± I inspected the three Class stones. Unsurprisingly, I saw they contained the same Classes I had rejected earlier, but I had already made my peace with that and was ready to choose. Given that I had already ruled out the caster Class as an option, my next inclination was to go with the path of a warrior. Fighters, I knew, were powerful early on, even if they were usually less so end-game when casters came into their own. But after giving the matter much thought, I had decided that becoming a warrior would be as much a mistake as picking the caster Class. Primarily, this was because a fighter was usually only as good as his gear, and seeing as how I would only be able to buy two pieces of equipment, I realized I would be exceptionally underdressed for my venture into the dungeon. On the other hand, a scout was far less dependent on equipment. As a scout, I would have the dodging and sneaking skills at my disposal. With those skills I would have a good chance at surviving most encounters¡ªwhen I wasn¡¯t able to avoid them altogether. Or so I hoped. The path of the scout was not ideal, and ordinarily I suspected I wouldn¡¯t have chosen it, but given the options in front of me, I thought it gave me the best chance of surviving until I could pick up a second Class. I would make sure, I assured myself, that my choice of secondary Class was one less constrained by necessity. ¡°Well?¡± the ghoul barked, interrupting my musing. I shook my head to clear it. Dropping one of the Master¡¯s obsidian glass chips into the merchant¡¯s coin chest, I picked up the bronze marble containing the path of the scout. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡± The merchant only grunted in response and began packing up his stall. I held the marble in my hand, wondering what came next. I was about to turn to Gnat for advice, when I felt the bronze stone turn warm. Glancing down, I saw the stone turn misshapen, before melting entirely to vanish beneath my skin. ¡°What in the world¡ª¡± I began. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. I broke off as the Adjudicator spoke in my mind again. You have acquired the scout Class. You have gained the trait: nimble. This trait increases your Dexterity by: +2 ranks. Your level cap for dexterity-based skills has increased to: 20. You have gained two basic skills: dodging and sneaking. Choose your light weapon skill from the list of those available. Following the Adjudicator¡¯s words, a long line of text scrolled through my mind: light weapon skills. All of them were familiar, and matched one or another of the weapons I had seen in the vendors¡¯ stalls. Curiously though, some of the skills were labelled as ¡®advanced.¡¯ ¡°Gnat, are their different grades of skills?¡± The skeletal bat nodded. ¡°Yes. As with Classes, skills can belong to any one of three tiers: basic, advanced, and master.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± I murmured. Just on principle, I was tempted to choose one of the advanced light weapon skills¡ªlike the one labelled kukri¡ªbut while the idea of having an advanced skill was nice, some instinct warned me that such skills were matched with weapons that were usually rare or hard to come by. I will be more likely to find a common dagger or short sword than a kukri in the dungeon, I thought. Considering that whatever choice I made would be my only weapon skill until I picked up another Class, I decided to go with my original choice of short swords. You have gained the basic skill: shortswords. Initial scout Class configuration complete. Remaining Class skill slots: 3. To gain further Class traits, advance your Class rank. Hmm, advance my Class¡­ That sounded interesting, but I left off further deliberation of the matter for later. Now that I had my Class, I was eager to begin my journey in the dungeon. Whistling contentedly, I strolled to the weapons vendor I had picked out earlier. ~~~ Even as I took my first steps as a scout, I sensed something different about myself. My stride was surer, my feet bounced lightly off the ground, and my body felt far more coordinated. Extraordinary, I thought. The effect, I knew, had to be a result of the two additional ranks in Dexterity that the Class had given me. On a whim, I tensed my haunches, and launched myself upwards into the air. And executed a perfect backflip. ¡°Wow,¡± I breathed in awe as I landed back on my feet. I was amazed that I had managed to pull off the maneuver. Adrenaline surged through me and my heart beat rapidly. It had been exhilarating. As dangerous as this Grand Game appears to be, perhaps, there will be aspects of it that I will come to enjoy. I turned my mind to the other ¡®gifts,¡¯ the Class had given me. Merely thinking about the three new skills was enough to trigger an avalanche of data into my mind. The information felt at once both foreign and familiar. Instinctively, I dropped into a crouch and padded forward stealthily. You have failed to conceal yourself from the nearby entities. You have failed to advance your sneaking: skills cannot be gained in this area. Despite my failure, I laughed. ¡°Incredible,¡± I chuckled. ¡°If you are done playing,¡± Gnat said acerbically. ¡°We''d best get moving before all the vendors leave.¡± I smiled at the skeletal bat. Not even my familiar¡¯s sour words could destroy my happy mood. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go,¡± I said. ~~~ You have acquired a basic steel shortsword. This item increases the damage you deal by: 10%. You have acquired a common thief¡¯s cloak. This item increases your sneaking skill by: +3 when in dark environments. I used my last two tokens from the Master to buy a basic weapon and the item of clothing that I felt would best suit my skill set. I secured the sword around my hip with the belt and scabbard that came with it, and draped the cloak over my shoulders. So equipped, I padded towards the dungeon¡¯s entrance. I was finally ready to enter its depths. Chapter 010: The Dungeon Chapter 10: The Dungeon I chose the portal that I had seen the lowest number of large groups go through, and stepped in front of its door. I studied the shimmering curtain of white in the doorway, suddenly nervous. ¡°Ready Gnat?¡± I asked. The skeletal bat snorted. ¡°Of course.¡± The familiar eyed me sideways. ¡°You on the other hand, don¡¯t appear to be so sure anymore.¡± I shifted from foot to foot. Gnat was right. Now that the moment had arrived, I felt fear stir within me at the thought of deliberately putting myself in a life and death situation. No doubt about it: I was scared. The fear is natural, I told myself. I would be a fool not to be scared. But even knowing all that to be true, I still couldn¡¯t force my feet forward. I squeezed my eyes shut. Thus far, I hadn¡¯t questioned too closely anything the Master had said, or the circumstances I found myself in. Mostly, because I was afraid I wouldn¡¯t like the answers. I had just kept moving forward because so much of what I had been asked to do seemed so familiar, and because it was easier to do as I was told rather than fight against the tide. But, I thought, if I survive what comes next, that has to change. I wasn¡¯t sure I trusted the Master. I had many unanswered questions about who he was and what he asked of us. Yet, here, in what appeared to be the heart of his domain, I didn¡¯t think I would find the answers I desired. But in the dungeon¡­ There, I would be out from under the Master¡¯s thumb, and perhaps I could forge my own path. Either way, whether to follow the Master¡¯s path or create my own, I have to enter the dungeon. I opened my eyes. Right. Enough delaying. Exhaling a heavy breath, I stepped forward through the portal. ~~~ You have entered sector 14,913 of the Endless Dungeon. This area has been previously explored and is presently under the control of the Axis of Evil. This sector is a closed region, cordoned off from the rest of the dungeon. It was last populated 8 hours ago by denizens of the Dark. Recommended player levels: 1 to 20. Recommended party size: 4 to 6. You have been allocated a new task: Escape the Dungeon. Your objective is to fill all 3 of your Class slots. Once you have done so, the way out will be revealed. Coming out of the portal, I dropped down into a crouch. A swift glance revealed I was in a small chamber. Moving quickly, I padded away from the entrance and into the room¡¯s darkest corner. You and your familiar are hidden. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Safely concealed, I took stock of my surroundings once more. Large cobwebs draped the room¡¯s ceiling and walls. Other than the still-glowing portal, there was no other light source in the chamber. The floor was paved with granite flagstones and the walls were formed from rough-cut bricks. There was an open door at the room¡¯s far end, and beyond it, I spied a long corridor extending away. Most gratifying of all, the room was empty. The tension in my shoulders eased as I realized this. Rising to my feet, I unwrapped my fingers from the hilt of my shortsword. I was safe. For now. I glanced at my familiar. All this time, he had not moved from his roost on my shoulder. He had kept his presence so still and small I had almost forgotten about him. Only belatedly did it occur to me to wonder if my sneaking skill would apply to Gnat, but it had worked to cloak his presence too¡ªwhich was a relief. My relief was short-lived though as another worrying thought occurred to me. ¡°Gnat, I used my sneaking skill to hide, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You did,¡± the bat confirmed. I frowned. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t my skill improve? Surely at my low level, even a single successful use should¡¯ve been enough to advance it?¡± ¡°Skills only advance in level when employed in combat, or when used in the presence of hostiles,¡± Gnat replied. ¡°Oh,¡± I said, my lips turning down. It had been in the back of my mind to try training my skills before engaging in combat, but that didn¡¯t seem possible. Seeing my disappointment, Gnat laughed. ¡°You didn¡¯t think levelling would be that easy, did you?¡± Ignoring my familiar¡¯s amusement, I returned my attention to the surroundings. I walked to the center of the room and spun in a slow circle. Nothing further of interest revealed itself. Alright then, I thought. Time to move beyond. Hunching down, I tiptoed to the room¡¯s only exit and peered cautiously around the doorway. The corridor extended for a hundred yards before ending at another wooden door, which appeared ajar, but from this distance, I couldn¡¯t be certain. The corridor itself appeared empty of threat. Firelight blazed golden from the torches affixed to the walls along both sides of the passage. I grimaced. As brightly lit as the corridor was, I doubted I would be able to conceal my presence once I stepped down its length. Even though the corridor appeared safe, at equidistant intervals between the torches, doorways gaped open. Anything could be in the rooms they led into. But the only way I was going to find out what lay inside them was by venturing down the passage. I shifted restlessly. Entering the corridor will be dangerous. I almost snorted in amusement at the thought. This is a dungeon, Michael. You didn¡¯t think it would be safe, did you? Alright, alright, I thought and shifted forward. Then paused, as a thought occurred to me. I glanced at my familiar. ¡°Gnat, how silent can you be?¡± I whispered. The skeletal bat eyed me suspiciously. ¡°Why?¡± I gestured to the first door on the right side of the corridor. It was less than ten yards ahead. ¡°Go scout that room.¡± My familiar stared at me for a long moment, seeming to search for a reason why he shouldn¡¯t or couldn¡¯t do as I asked. I waited. Eventually, Gnat rose wordlessly off my shoulder. Flapping hard, he winged his way to the ceiling before gliding silently along its length and into the room I had picked out. Clenching my sword hilt tightly, I counted off the doorways in the corridor while I waited for Gnat¡¯s report. There were thirteen in total. It did not take the bat long to emerge from the first room. Flying swiftly, Gnat shot out of the chamber, but instead of returning to my shoulder, he flew into the next doorway. A few seconds later, my familiar reappeared before disappearing again into another room. Understanding what Gnat was about, I waited patiently for him to be done. Shortly thereafter, the skeletal bat flew out the last of the passage¡¯s doorways and dropped onto my shoulder. ¡°They¡¯re all empty,¡± he reported laconically. I waited for him to go on, but when he didn¡¯t, I prompted, ¡°And?¡± ¡°And it looks like a few candidate parties have already been through the rooms,¡± Gnat answered. My eyes narrowed. ¡°How can you tell?¡± Gnat shrugged. ¡°Go see for yourself.¡± Frowning at my familiar¡¯s non-answer, I rose to my feet, intent on doing just that. Books on Kindle and a note on the next book...
Thank you for reading the Grand Game! For those who want to read ahead, you can find more of the story on my PATREON here (Book 8 posting atm). If you want to keep up with all things Grand Game, check out my website here: TomLitRPG.com If you''re enjoying the story, I''d appreciate it if you boosted the story on Top Web Fiction through this link.
Book 1 to 7 of the Grand Game is available at Amazon and Audible! If you''re interested, you can find them at the links below:
Book 1: The Grand Game ebook from Amazon audiobook from Audible
Book 2: Way of the Wolf ebook from Amazon audiobook from Audible
Book 3: World Nexus ebook from Amazon audiobook from Audible
Book 4: House Wolf ebook from Amazon audiobook from Audible
Book 5: Wolf in the Void ebook from Amazon audiobook from Audible
Book 6: A Scion''s Duty ebook from Amazon audiobook from Audible
Book 7: Ancient Debts ebook from Amazon (Releasing 1 September 2024) audiobook from Audible (Releasing 11 September 2024)
Book 8: The Lost Reclaimed ebook from Amazon (Releasing 1 February 2025)
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Happy Reading! Tom Chapter 497: Diverging Paths 73 Days Left for Brokering Peace in Sector 12,560 ¡°So, how do we run the stygians out of the sector?¡± Teresa asked. For a moment, I didn¡¯t say anything. It had been only a few hours since House Forerunners¡ªor was that the Forerunners faction? I still wasn¡¯t sure which we were yet¡ªhad made the momentous decision to reclaim sector 18,240. To try reclaiming it, I amended. Success was by no means guaranteed, especially with the sector playing home to a young void tree, four stygian overlords¡ªall Powers in their own right¡ªten thousand stygians, and a rift that could end up doubling all those numbers or worse. ¡°We don¡¯t have a plan yet,¡± I replied. ¡°A strategy perhaps, but until we know what forces we can muster, I can¡¯t answer you.¡± ¡°Alright, I get that,¡± Teresa allowed. ¡°But what are our next steps?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re here to decide,¡± I murmured, surveying the seven figures arrayed around me. Ghost, Adriel, Safyre, Anriq, Nyra, Terence, and Teresa each sat on their own pile of furs in what was quickly becoming the meeting hall of the Forerunners¡¯ inner council. Although, calling the igloo we sat in a hall was a stretch. The pack elders and Snow had left. With the House¡¯s goals decided and the wolves unlikely to be involved in the Forerunners¡¯ immediate plans, they had turned their attention to internal matters¡ªand readying the packs for war. ¡°You said earlier that we would have to leave the tundra,¡± Teresa said. ¡°What did you mean by that?¡± Not answering her, I glanced at Safyre. Correctly interpreting my look, the aetherist took over. ¡°Our immediate goals are twofold: gathering allies and getting stronger. Adriel, Michael, and I will see to the first part, leaving you three¡ªNyra, Teresa, and Terence¡ªfree to focus on acquiring your second Classes.¡± Terence frowned. ¡°What does that mean? Can¡¯t we just buy the Class stones we need?¡± ¡°You could do it that way if you wanted to,¡± I allowed, ¡°but don¡¯t forget what I said: the best Classes are always gained through dungeon dives.¡± ¡°Michael is right,¡± Adriel added. ¡°In my day, acquiring a Class was as much a rite of passage for young scions as attaining their Marks were. If you want to follow in the footsteps of the ancients, if you want to become the most powerful versions of yourselves possible, searching a dungeon for a Class is the way to do it.¡± The lich¡¯s words had the desired effect, and the twins¡¯ expressions turned gratifyingly determined. I smiled. ¡°If you¡¯re lucky, it may not be just your second Class you acquire, but your third as well.¡± ¡°So which dungeon are you sending us to?¡± Teresa asked eagerly. ¡°Not one anywhere close to Nexus,¡± I replied. ¡°For obvious reasons, those are too dangerous for you. But between them, Safyre and Adriel know of at least a dozen remote dungeons that may be suitable. Dungeons where three young players without any Force affiliations should go unnoticed.¡± ¡°But why can¡¯t we get what we need here?¡± Nyra asked, a trace of unease in her voice. ¡°Isn¡¯t the guardian tower a dungeon?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Safyre agreed. ¡°But the tower has only a single treasure chest, making it one of the worst dungeons for this sort of thing. Especially for a party of three.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Nyra said, her shoulders slumping. Unlike the twins, she appeared less enthused by the idea of entering an unknown dungeon, for which I didn¡¯t blame her. After growing up in Draven¡¯s Reach, she was understandably wary of dungeons. Still, it was important for both her own sake¡ªand the Forerunners¡ªthat she did not shrink from the task. Leaning forward, I held her gaze. ¡°If you mean to follow Wolf¡¯s path, it¡¯s important you gain a psi Class. Atiras¡¯ Mind Trials await, and ideally, we want to send you through the Rings before we take on the void tree. But the Trials are dangerous. And we can¡¯t risk you entering ill-prepared. If you¡¯re not ready¡­¡± Nyra¡¯s back stiffened. ¡°I¡¯ll be ready,¡± she said resolutely. ¡°What about me?¡± Anriq asked quietly. Pursing my lips, I turned his way. Given the glaring omission of his own role in the coming days Anriq had held his peace far longer than I expected. But matters were a bit more complicated when it came to the werewolf. ¡°You have three options,¡± I said softly. ¡°The first is to accompany the others in their dungeon delve. While your Class configuration is complete, both your skills and level can do with work.¡± ¡°Which is the second reason we¡¯re sending the twins and Nyra to a remote dungeon,¡± Safyre added. ¡°As a were-player, you will attract attention wherever you go, that is inevitable. But in a remote sector, you will suffer less¡­ scrutiny than you would in Nexus or any other major Force stronghold.¡± Anriq grimaced. ¡°I¡¯ll pass on option one, thanks. What are my other choices?¡± ¡°You can stay here with the packs,¡± I replied. ¡°Given your level, the tundra will not make for an ideal training ground, but much like Ghost has, you can still use it to raise your skills.¡± Anriq nodded slowly. ¡°That sounds more feasible.¡± ¡°The third option,¡± I went on, ¡°is that you accompany me when I go to Nexus and lead me to the saltmarsh dungeon, Sickening Ooze.¡± Anriq¡¯s face shuttered so quickly that no one failed to notice the change that came over him. ¡°How? I don¡¯t know where it is.¡± ¡°Uh-oh, he¡¯s lying,¡± Terence muttered. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Teresa nudged him. ¡°Shh! Let Michael handle it.¡± Ignoring the pair, I kept my gaze fixed on Anriq. ¡°Maybe you don¡¯t,¡± I said. The werewolf began to relax. ¡°But I¡¯m positive you know the people who do.¡± Anriq¡¯s shoulders hunched over again. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°The marshmen,¡± I said, cutting him off. This was too important a matter to let Anriq¡¯s evasions stand. ¡°They are from the saltmarsh dungeon, I¡¯m sure of it.¡± ¡°The marshmen are nobodies,¡± Anriq protested weakly. ¡°They¡¯re not,¡± Adriel contradicted. ¡°They are so,¡± Anriq insisted. ¡°It¡¯s like I told Michael, they¡¯re just primitive non-players.¡± The lich shook her head. ¡°The marshmen are not nobodies, and they are not primitives.¡± Anriq thrust out his chin. ¡°Yeah? So, who do you think they are?¡± ¡°Scions of House Pestilence,¡± Adriel replied evenly. Anriq¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Ridiculous!¡± he scoffed. ¡°There is no evidence to suggest that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s far from ridiculous, young man, and there is plenty of evidence.¡± Showing more patience than I credited her with, Adriel expounded further. ¡°For starters, the ¡®marshmen¡¯ inhabit the same region as Sickening Ooze, a dungeon, mind you, that has always been Pestilence¡¯s stronghold. ¡°Then there is the fact that the Nexus plague quarter¡ªand incidentally that was not the name it bore in my day¡ªis overrun with diseases and maladies of one sort or another, and it should come as no surprise to you that pestilence was and is Pestilence¡¯s most potent weapon. ¡°But most damning of all, is the fact that the Triumvirate co-opted werewolves¡ªPestilence¡¯s ancient enemy no less¡ªto keep the ¡®marshmen¡¯ at bay. Given all these things, it beggars belief that the ¡®marshmen¡¯ and House Pestilence are unrelated. They are either descendants of the House or Pestilence scions themselves.¡± Anriq paled. ¡°If you know so much, why don¡¯t you lead him¡ª¡± he jerked his thumb in my direction¡ª¡±to the dungeon yourself?¡± The lich smiled. ¡°I would, but in my day, the saltmarsh was but a thin strip along the coast bordering Nexus. From what Michael tells me, it has since swallowed up a good portion of the quarter, including it seems the entrance to Sickening Ooze. I doubt I would recognize the district as it is now, much less be able to find the dungeon portal.¡± Anriq¡¯s gaze swapped to me, looking for the all the world like a cornered animal. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you anything,¡± he gasped. Solemnly, I studied his anxious face, wild eyes, and trembling fingers. Anriq was conflicted. I had expected that. What I had not anticipated was the strength of battle raging in him. ¡°Did you swear a Pact to keep their secrets?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± he muttered, shying away from my gaze. I frowned at the vagueness of his response but decided not to push him further. ¡°What about relaying a message?¡± He raised his head. ¡°A message?¡± ¡°Yes. What if instead of leading me to the marshmen, you carry a message to them from me. Will the ties that bind you allow that much?¡± Anriq thought for a moment. ¡°What will the message say?¡± ¡°The truth, if only its barebones.¡± I ticked off points on my fingers. ¡°The bloodlines rise again. The Endless Dungeon is fading. The Guardian Draven has asked for our help. And finally, we seek allies. In exchange for the marshmen¡¯s help, we will provide them with a secure base away from the new Powers. It will say no more than that, though. If they wish to know more, they must agree to a meeting.¡± A relieved grin spread across the werewolf¡¯s face. ¡°Such a message I can carry.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I said, feeling no small measure of relief myself. ¡°Last thing: do you trust them?¡± Anriq¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°How do you mean?¡± I leaned forward. ¡°Do you trust them to let you go no matter what?¡± Anriq nodded firmly. ¡°Truly?¡± Safyre asked. ¡°Will they let you walk away even if they want no part of us and wish to stay isolated?¡± Again, the werewolf nodded. ¡°Even if they suspect it is Wolf, their ancient rival, who is making overtures?¡± Adriel asked. This time, Anriq¡¯s reply was slower in coming, nonetheless his response remained unchanged. ¡°I trust them.¡± I nodded, knowing I had no choice but to accept Anriq¡¯s judgment in the matter or else force him into making a choice he clearly did not wish to. ¡°Very well, then it¡¯s settled. You will accompany me to Nexus.¡± ¡°What about Adriel and Safyre?¡± Teresa asked. ¡°What will they be doing?¡± ¡°I will go to Death¡¯s home and recover my body,¡± Adriel replied before I could respond. ¡°But not immediately. First, I must inspect the Rings and determine if the possessed can be rehomed in the manner we hope.¡± ¡°I, too, must leave,¡± Safyre added. ¡°I will accompany Michael and Anriq to Nexus. But I will delay my departure to assist Adriel with her investigations.¡± She glanced at the lich. ¡°Assuming she finds that acceptable?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Adriel murmured. ¡°The help of an aetherist-elite will not go amiss.¡± ¡°Should Safyre be returning to Nexus?¡± Terence asked, looking alarmed at the notion. Safyre sighed. ¡°Kesh is one of the potential allies we must reach out to. But it is not only Kesh herself that is important. Her agents¡ªthe other forsworn like me who have taken shelter in the emporium¡ªare just as crucial to our cause. Michael may already have established a relationship with Kesh, the old tyrant may even like him, but for a sensitive matter like this, it¡¯s best my former fellows deal with someone who they¡¯ve known for decades.¡± She paused. ¡°That¡¯s why it will be me who approaches Kesh.¡± I stayed glumly silent, not liking the idea of Safyre returning to Nexus, but knowing she was right. If anyone could convince Kesh and her agents to join our cause it was Safyre. ¡°But you¡¯re forsworn yourself,¡± Terence protested, stating the obvious. ¡°How are you going to reach Kesh alive?¡± Safyre shrugged. ¡°I will resume my identity as¡ª¡± her eyes flitted to me¡ª¡±Cara, and become just another anonymous emporium agent for a time again.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Teresa began. ¡°Enough,¡± I said, cutting her off. ¡°Safyre knows what she is doing, as does Adriel.¡± ¡°What about Draven¡¯s Reach?¡± Nyra asked abruptly. I glanced at her. ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to reach out to those inside?¡± she asked, looking troubled. I hesitated, then shook my head. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it,¡± I admitted, ¡°but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea. The only way to get into the dungeon is to assault the blocking force the void fathers have placed around the Reach Portal¡ªwhich may have the unhappy consequence of causing them to increase their forces in sector 18,240 even more. Needless to say, that¡¯s something we don¡¯t want. It¡¯s best, in fact, if the stygians have no hint of what¡¯s coming. That gives us the best chance of success when we do eventually hit them.¡± Frowning, Nyra nodded in reluctant agreement. I rose to my feet. ¡°Right, now that everyone knows what¡¯s in store for us in the immediate future, Nyra, Terence and Teresa, you three better get some rest. We will be leaving at first light tomorrow.¡± Nyra blinked. ¡°We?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yes, I will be escorting the three of you to the dungeon.¡± ¡°Why would you do that?¡± Teresa asked with a frown. ¡°Well, for starters, to ensure you don¡¯t run into any trouble along the way,¡± I said, earning myself a trio of glares. I grinned. ¡°But also to make sure you three are well-stocked with any gear you need¡ªability tomes and skillbooks especially.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Terence said. ¡°I guess that¡¯s alright then.¡± I smiled but didn¡¯t voice the third reason. If the trio ran into any trouble in the dungeon, it would be me who would be doing the rescuing. Chapter 498: Netherness 72 Days Left for Brokering Peace in Sector 12,560 I rose early the next morning, a habit that had become deeply ingrained in me since my first year-long visit to the tundra. Untangling myself from the pile of furs I¡¯d buried myself beneath, I let my awareness expand. The rest of the ¡®human¡¯ den was still abed. Even most of the wolves in the surrounding igloos were asleep. ¡°Go back to bed, Prime,¡± Ghost said groggily. ¡°It¡¯s too early.¡± I grinned. The pyre wolf was in the adjacent igloo, sharing her warmth with the other wolves, yet her mind was too attuned to mine not to notice my rising. ¡°We have a busy day ahead of us,¡± I said, slipping out of my room. ¡°Every day is a busy day,¡± she complained. I chuckled. ¡°True enough.¡± Bracing myself for the cold, I strode out of the human compound and onto the tundra. It was snowing again. ¡°When is it not?¡± a voice demanded grumpily. Turning my head to the right, I spotted two shapes emerging through the curtain of white. The larger was a void of darkness on which the falling snow found no purchase¡ªGhost¡ªwhile the smaller was a near-indistinguishable smear of whiteness. ¡°Sulan,¡± I greeted the elder. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to get up.¡± She snorted. ¡°As if this one¡¯s restlessness left me any choice,¡± she said, nudging Ghost in the shoulder. Obligingly, my familiar danced sideways. It was not that Sulan could force the much stronger pyre wolf to move if she didn¡¯t want to, but Ghost was Sulan¡¯s pup in every sense of the word except the literal one, and I doubted she would ever seriously set herself at odds with the pack elder. ¡°You are leaving today?¡± Sulan asked. ¡°Only for a short time,¡± I replied. A spurt of sorrow, quickly suppressed, shot through the white wolf¡¯s mind. It was not for me, though. ¡°Ghost will be staying to continue her training,¡± I added. Sulan turned to glare at the other wolf. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me that,¡± she accused. Ghost ducked her head. ¡°I was going to surprise you.¡± ¡°Hmpf.¡± The elder¡¯s blue eyes found me again. ¡°Then why are we out here?¡± ¡°Two things,¡± I murmured. ¡°The first is seeing to Ghost¡¯s advancements.¡± ¡°I see. But you could¡¯ve done that just as easily inside¡ªwhere it¡¯s warmer,¡± Sulan said pointedly. That was true enough, but I wasn¡¯t about to let myself be drawn into an argument. ¡°Ready?¡± I asked, turning to Ghost. The pyre wolf bobbed her head. ¡°Yes, Prime.¡± Without further ado, I turned my focus inward and called up her Class upgrade interface. Assessing familiar¡¯s suitability for a Class upgrade... Class points available: 8. Familiar¡¯s rank: 6. Upgrade requirements met. Your familiar may advance her Class to rank 7 at this time by improving an existing Class benefit or by selecting a new one. Do you wish to proceed? Responding in the affirmative, I half-heartedly scanned through the scrolling Game text that followed like I had on prior occasions, but without really expecting anything to catch my eye. It was the existing benefits that I was interested in. Ghost and I had already agreed to upgrade her draining bite ability. Her death magic skill had reached tier two recently and was ready for advancement. Unfortunately, none of her other abilities were in a similar position. Otherwise, I would have had no hesitation in upgrading her class ability, manifest, again. ¡°It¡¯s like we discussed, Ghost,¡± I began. ¡°Draining bite is¡ª¡± I broke off. Ghost tensed. ¡°What is it?¡± I scanned the hovering Game message again, making sure I¡¯d not misread. I had not. ¡°One of the new benefits on offer is a skill,¡± I murmured. ¡°Oh. A skill,¡± Ghost said. ¡°I don¡¯t need another one of those, do I? Let¡¯s stick with upgrading draining bite.¡± ¡°Ordinarily, I¡¯d agree,¡± I replied, ¡°but this is no ordinary skill.¡± Focusing on the applicable Game text, I read it aloud for her Sulan and her. New benefit: nether manipulation. This skill allows Ghost to manipulate the nether. The Game¡¯s description of the skill was damnably short, which perhaps explained why I¡¯d almost failed to register its presence in the first place. But despite the Adjudicator¡¯s less-than-insightful explanation, I felt my interest piqued. This was the type of skill we¡¯d been looking for. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Something different. Something rare. Opening my eyes, I scanned the faces of the two wolves to see what they thought, but neither looked anywhere near as excited as I was. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Sulan asked eventually. ¡°That¡¯s all the Game has to say about the skill? It¡¯s for manipulating the nether? What¡¯s so good about that?¡± I chuckled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like much, I agree. But I¡¯ve only ever run across a handful of nether skills during my time in the Game¡ªnether wizardry and nether absorption amongst them. There¡¯s no two ways about it, nether skills are definitely rare¡ªand valuable.¡± ¡°It sounds like nether magic,¡± Ghost put in cautiously. ¡°It might be that,¡± I conceded. ¡°Or it might be a psi-based equivalent. There¡¯s no way to tell from the Game¡¯s description, but whichever it is, we can¡¯t afford to ignore it.¡± ¡°What about the ability you came out here to upgrade in the first place¡ªdraining bite?¡± Sulan asked. I brushed aside the question. ¡°Ghost has plenty of Class points. We¡¯ll improve draining bite after this.¡± I turned back to the pyre wolf. ¡°So, what¡¯ll it be? Do you want to learn the new skill?¡± Ghost hesitated. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we ask Adriel or Safyre what they think?¡± I shrugged. ¡°We could seek out their advice, but when it comes to the nether, their expertise is not any greater than our own.¡± I paused. ¡°There¡¯s one other consideration: jeweled pet and mage¡¯s surprise. Assuming nether manipulation is a mana-based skill like I hope, I will also be able to use whatever spells you acquire.¡± Ghost bobbed her head, finally convinced. ¡°Alright Prime, let¡¯s do it.¡± I smiled. ¡°Excellent,¡± I said and conveyed our choice to the Adjudicator. Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 7. Ghost¡¯s Class has advanced to rank 7. Ghost has gained the master skill: nether manipulation. Due to the substantial amount of stygian matter woven into her being, Ghost is in some respects akin to the void¡¯s creatures. As such, she is one of the few Game participants able to learn nether skills. Nether manipulation is a specialized school of nether wizardry, that focuses solely on manipulating free-floating nether. This includes dispelling, moving, modifying, and eventually creating nether. The skill itself does not provide your familiar with any immunity from the nether¡¯s touch, however abilities to this effect may be acquired. Note, as a familiar, Ghost may only manipulate nether that she is in direct contact with. She is unable to affect the deadly mists from afar. Ghost has no more skill slots remaining. ¡°Well, well,¡± I murmured. ¡°This sounds perfect¡ªespecially considering our plans for sector 18,240.¡± Just how perfect gave me momentary pause. Was Ghost¡¯s new benefit the Game¡¯s way of pushing its own agenda? ¡°You think so?¡± Sulan asked, distracting me from my musings. ¡°How is Ghost going to manipulate the nether if she has to immerse herself in it first?¡± ¡°That bit is unfortunate,¡± I admitted and, before the elder could grow more alarmed, added, ¡°But Ghost¡¯s ash armor already grants her a measure of nether resistance and that will only grow as she advances the skill further.¡± Sulan glanced meaningfully at the younger wolf. ¡°Then it¡¯s a good thing she is staying behind. I will have to intensify her training.¡± ¡°Aww, Prime, why did you have to tell her that?¡± Ghost asked on a whisper thin mental channel. ¡°I heard that,¡± Sulan snapped. Ghost ducked her head apologetically. Sulan rose to her feet, unimpressed. ¡°Come on then, pup. There¡¯s no time to waste. We will have to reorganize your training to focus on improving your ash armor.¡± I winced. There was only one way to advance an armor skill, and that was by taking hits, and I had a feeling Ghost was in for a world of pain in the coming days. ¡°Prime?¡± my familiar asked, looking at me hopefully. I shook my head, denying her implicit request. Even if I was willing to risk Sulan¡¯s wrath by rescuing my familiar, I wouldn¡¯t. The dire wolf elder was right, after all. Given Ghost¡¯s new skill, it made sense for her to focus exclusively on her armor training in the coming days. ¡°I¡¯ll finish up here without you,¡± I said. Technically, I didn¡¯t need Ghost¡¯s permission when choosing her upgrades and besides, I could still contact her from a distance if necessary. ¡°I¡¯ll advance draining bite like we discussed and also get you a nether manipulation ability if one appears.¡± And one was almost guaranteed to do so. The Game knew any magic skill was useless without an ability to train it, which would influence the new benefits it offered during Ghost¡¯s followup Class upgrades. Sighing heavily, Ghost slunk dejectedly after Sulan. Chuckling at the pyre wolf¡¯s antics, I sat down cross-legged in the naked snow and closed my eyes. I still had Ghost¡¯s progression to finish, and then my own to see to as well. ? ? ? Much to my relief, my supposition proved accurate, and on Ghost¡¯s very next upgrade, a nether manipulation ability appeared¡ªor rather, two did. 3 new Class benefits are available, and 2 of 6 existing benefits are upgradeable. New benefit: mist-taken. Your familiar can swallow a tiny portion of the surrounding nether, storing it for later use. New benefit: mist-thin. This spell lets Ghost reduce the concentration of nether in the immediate vicinity. New benefit: pinning paw. This ability allows Ghost to knock down her foe in a single hit. Existing benefits that may be upgraded: draining bite and born again II. Existing benefits not available for upgrade: manifest, astral bite, diresight, and direshield. ¡°Two abilities,¡± I muttered, rubbing hard at my jaw. It was not that I didn¡¯t relish the opportunity the choice provided, it was just that I was having a hard time deciding between them. It had not escaped my notice that nether manipulation had one hard limiting factor: it could only be used in a nether-infested sector. For all the skill¡¯s obvious benefits, it would be useless in an untainted sector. Mist-taken seemed to offer a solution in this regard, a partial one anyway. Ghost being able to carry around even a tiny vial¡¯s worth of free-floating mists elsewhere could be invaluable, especially considering my own nether immunity. Much, however, would depend on the exact mechanics of the ability and if she could simply eject the swallowed mist. On the other hand, mist-thin would undoubtedly be more useful while Ghost and I were in the nether. It would likely also be easier to train nether manipulation with mist-thin. And in the short term, raising the skill was what mattered most. ¡°Mist-thin it is,¡± I murmured. Ghost has gained the basic spell: mist-thin. This is a channeled ability that allows Ghost to reduce the toxicity of the free-floating nether in a 10 yard radius by 1 tier. Mist-thin has no verbal or somatic components. Its activation time is slow, it consumes mana, and it can be upgraded. Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 6. Ghost¡¯s Class has advanced to rank 8. ¡°Ah,¡± Ghost exclaimed from afar as the Adjudicator fed the new knowledge into her consciousness. ¡°What do you think of the spell?¡± I asked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel very useful.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± I conceded. ¡°Not yet anyway. But imagine what it will be like at tier five. I won¡¯t be surprised if you could thin the nether into nothingness by then.¡± ¡°Now that would be useful,¡± Ghost agreed. I grinned. It certainly would. Chapter 499: Setting Out You have upgraded Ghost¡¯s draining bite ability to improved draining bite. The second tier of this ability allows your familiar to leech 30% of the damage she inflicts from a single bite attack, restoring her own health in the process. You and Ghost have 59 of 65 Magic ability slots remaining. Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 5. Ghost¡¯s Class has advanced to rank 9. After advancing Ghost¡¯s death magic ability, I turned my attention to my own progression. The first order of business was spending the six attribute points I had accrued over the last few days. Your Dexterity has increased to rank 116. Other modifiers: +24 from items. Your Mind has increased to rank 126. Other modifiers: +12 from items. I split the points evenly between Mind and Dexterity, not-so-coincidentally increasing my available slots in each to fifteen¡ªthe exact number needed to advance a master-tiered ability to elite. So¡­ am I ready for more elite abilities? To answer the question, I called up the relevant extracts from my player profile. Status of Dexterity abilities (101 of 116 slots used) Elite abilities (not eligible for upgrade): backstab, vanish. Master abilities (not eligible for upgrade): whirlwind. Expert abilities: set trap. Advanced abilities: piercing strike, trap disarm, lockpicking. Basic abilities: crippling strike (can¡¯t be upgraded). Status of Mind abilities (111 of 126 slots used) Master abilities (not eligible for upgrade): windborne, enhanced reflexes, shadow blink, quick mend. Master abilities (eligible for upgrade): mass charm, astral shurikens, fortified mind. Basic abilities: stunning slap (can¡¯t be upgraded). I sighed. Sadly, my sole master-tiered Dexterity ability¡ªwhirlwind¡ªcouldn¡¯t be advanced, since its governing skill¡ªtwo weapon fighting¡ªhadn¡¯t reached tier five yet. Nonetheless, I had another Dexterity ability in urgent need of attention: set trap. The scoundrel wristband I¡¯d looted from the Blade Haiken was able to deploy tier four traps, something I myself was incapable of doing just yet. If I wanted to utilize the item properly, improving set trap was necessary. Taking an upgrade gem in hand, I did just that. You have upgraded your set trap ability to greater set trap. This ability allows you to deploy tier 4 traps. Additionally, it increases the effectiveness of your traps, enhancing their range, strength, and concealment. You and Ghost have 10 of 116 Dexterity ability slots remaining. That takes care of Dexterity. Turning my attention to Mind, I considered the three abilities ready for improvement: mass charm, astral shurikens, and fortified mind. Which to advance? Not mass charm, I decided immediately. Given my recent acquisition of blood puppet, I had an overabundance of mental domination abilities right now, which meant mass charm could wait. And as much as I wanted to upgrade astral shurikens, tending to my mental defenses had to be my first priority. Especially, considering that I would soon be facing a telepathic stygian Power in the form of a void tree. Crushing another upgrade gem in my hand, I saw to the ability¡¯s advancement. You have upgraded your fortified mind ability to impregnable mind, transforming your consciousness into a veritable fortress. The fifth tier of this spell is a passive variant that requires no active intervention on your part and ensures your consciousness is always protected, even when you are asleep. It consumes no psi except when repelling hostile attacks. You have 0 of 126 Mind ability slots remaining. A slow grin spread across my face as I felt the new spell take effect. It required no casting and felt less like a spell and more like a¡­ permanent buff. Impregnable mind is active. ¡°Excellent,¡± I murmured as I rose to my feet. I was ready as I could be for the next few weeks. It would not be easy, I knew. Not only would I be entering Nexus, the beating heart of the Game, but I¡¯d also be going up against five stygian Powers. If I succeed though¡­ If I succeeded, if I somehow managed to do everything needed¡ªwithout suffering any misadventures, I thought wryly¡ªthen the future of the Forerunners would be secured, and come what may, the faction¡¯s people, my people, would be safe. Swinging around, I turned my back on the tundra and headed into the den. It was time to rouse the others and get started. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ? ? ? You have lost a Blood Talisman and a small bag of hiding containing 100 possessed finger bones. A few hours later, my human companions, Ghost, and I were gathered at the portal to the nether-infested sector. The wolves had opted to stay at the den where it was warm, and I didn¡¯t blame them. I had made sure to leave the House¡¯s most prized possessions in their keeping as well. ¡°You three ready?¡± I asked. Nyra, Terence, and Teresa nodded, the latter two bouncing on their feet. Ignoring the twins¡¯ excitement, I performed one last check on the trio¡¯s gear. Nyra had the longbow quaker strapped across her back and the elite poisoning kit concealed somewhere about her person. Terence was in his old armor. Malikor¡¯s legendary armor was too distinctive to wear around other players, and the young swordsman had wisely left it behind. He had, however, seen fit to bring along the mirror shield. Teresa¡¯s garb was just as subdued as her brother¡¯s. She carried two rank six items on her person¡ªicefang and healer¡¯s friend¡ªbut I could see no sign of either. ¡°Perfect,¡± I pronounced. ¡°You three look like just about any other party of young players I¡¯ve come across.¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Safyre murmured, her gaze resting on quaker and the mirror shield. ¡°It¡¯ll be clear to anyone who thinks to look that you three have powerful backers, but that¡¯s not a bad thing.¡± Terence smirked. ¡°Little do they know how powerful.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s best you don¡¯t attract any undue attention,¡± Adriel warned. ¡°Most players are opportunistic by nature and absent benefactors¡ªno matter how powerful¡ªwill not stop them from taking advantage of any weakness they sense.¡± ¡°Adriel¡¯s advice is sound,¡± I added. ¡°Make sure you heed it.¡± The trio nodded again, more grimly this time. ¡°Good. Then there are just two last things to see to,¡± I said and waved Nyra forward. Looking puzzled, my apprentice approached slowly. ¡°I have one more gift for you,¡± I said by way of explanation as I laid my hand on her shoulder. Closing my eyes, I willed my intent to the Game. Commander ability triggered. Do you wish to pass on the blood puppet memory to your follower, Nyra? ¡°Yes,¡± I said aloud. Analyzing player¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Analysis complete. Nyra carries a major wolf bloodline strain that is as yet unawakened, and you may bequeath her with a less powerful variant of the blood memory. Do you still wish to proceed? Willing my answer to the Game¡¯s query, I waited. Nyra has been awarded the ability: enslave (lesser). As a weaker variant of blood puppet, this blood memory will allow your follower to permanently enslave a single non-player subject whose level is equal to or lower than her own. This spell will only remain active while your follower and the dominated subject remain in the same sector. Note, in the event that your follower binds herself to a bloodline other than Wolf, she will lose access to this blood memory. I released my apprentice¡¯s shoulder, and she staggered back, her eyes wide with shock. ¡°Use it wisely,¡± I replied in response to her look. ¡°The blood spell should benefit you greatly in the dungeon, especially if you dominate the right creature.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured. ¡°Now for the last thing,¡± I said. Retreating a few steps, I nodded jerkily in Adriel and Safyre¡¯s direction. ¡°Hit me.¡± Adriel¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to step further back than that.¡± ¡°Give him some space,¡± Safyre said, addressing the others. The rest of my companions backed away hastily. Adriel looked me questioningly. ¡°Ready?¡± I braced myself. ¡°Go for it.¡± The lich gestured to Safyre. ¡°You first.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to see how this works,¡± the aetherist murmured. Before I could reply, she flung up her wands then brought them crashing down. Safyre has cast furious storm. In response, the clouds roiled into sudden turmoil, the air crackled with static, and flashes of light rent the darkening sky. Then a bolt sizzled downward, striking the ground mere inches away. You have passed a magical resistance check! Safyre has failed to stun you. A lightning bolt has injured you. I flew backward, my limbs trembling, and my thoughts befuddled as a result of the violent charge coursing through me. The bolt, though, was only the first of many. A second, a third, and a fourth followed in its wake. Then dozens more. A lightning bolt has injured you. A lightning bolt has injured you. ¡­ Void thief triggered! You have acquired the area-of-effect spell furious storm (stolen) and will retain memory of it for the next 16 hours. Furious storm (stolen) is a tier 5 spell that rains down destruction in a circle 50 yards in diameter for 30 seconds. All entities in the target area will be randomly struck by lightning, and may be stunned, dazed, or killed outright. Void negate activated! You are immune to furious storm for the next 16 hours. Gingerly, I picked myself up, ignoring the lightning still falling all around me. ¡°Impressive,¡± Safyre murmured, watching me dusting myself off. ¡°Wild,¡± Terence yelled, his eyes shining. ¡°Wow,¡± Teresa exclaimed, for once at a loss for words. ¡°Psychotic,¡± Anriq murmured under his breath. ¡°That¡¯s what it is.¡± I threw them a lopsided grin. ¡°It¡¯s all that and more, but believe me, it still hurts. I feel like I¡¯ve been stomped on¡ªrepeatedly.¡± ¡°A small price to pay for such a powerful ability,¡± Adriel rejoined unsympathetically. I chuckled. ¡°Perhaps.¡± Adriel raised her arm. ¡°My turn.¡± I held up my hand. ¡°One second, let me secure the spell.¡± You have successfully stored the furious storm spell in the ring, mage¡¯s surprise. You have fully restored yourself with quick mend. I straightened. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± I barely got the words out before streams of black smoke spewed out of Adriel¡¯s mouth to envelope me in their dark embrace. A noxious vapors spell has injured you. You have failed a magical resistance check! You are rotting (health decaying at 10% per second). Duration: 5 seconds. ¡°Wow,¡± I muttered. I¡¯d suffered under the effect of the selfsame spell the first time Adriel and I had met. Only then, it had just grazed me. This time, the damage was much worse, and in no time at all, my mana pool shrank as it fought to protect me. Void thief triggered! You have acquired the channeled spell noxious vapors (stolen) and will retain memory of it for the next 16 hours. Noxious vapors (stolen) is a tier 6 spell that decays the flesh of all living entities to feel its touch. The health of every target subjected to the spell will decay at a rate of 10% per second for 5 seconds. Note, each subsequent touch from the vapors will increase the duration of the spell¡¯s debuff. Void negate activated! You are immune to noxious vapors for the next 16 hours. Stolen spell limit reached. You have lost knowledge of the tier 5 spell, furious storm. ¡°Well,¡± I remarked as nonchalantly as I could while still reeling on my feet. ¡°Now, I¡¯m ready.¡± Adriel rolled her eyes, not impressed by my bravado. ¡°Heal up and follow us through.¡± Marching forward, she entered the portal. Chapter 500: Dungeon Found You have entered sector 18,240 of the Forever Kingdom. The nether toxicity at your current location is at tier 4. Safyre has cast purifying dome. Duration: 30 minutes. You have entered a purifying field. All environmental ill-effects have been nullified. I stepped out of the portal, but not into the nether¡¯s familiar coils. Instead, I entered a space blessedly free of the void¡¯s mists and still bearing the electric tang of the spell used to clear it. ¡°That was fast,¡± I remarked, studying the purified span of space a hundred yards in diameter around the portal. Safyre threw me a quick smile over her shoulder. ¡°I had the spell prepped and ready to go.¡± ¡°Is the area clear?¡± Adriel asked, all business. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied, having already checked the surroundings. ¡°There are no stygians around for miles.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get started then,¡± the lich replied. Not waiting for my reply, she closed her eyes and began casting. I watched intently. Adriel was opening a portal¡ªor rather, she was trying to. She and Safyre had ranked the potential dungeons they¡¯d come up with from most to least favorable, and first on the list, was a location that had only been known to high-ranking members of House Death. Assuming the dungeon and the sector leading to it hadn¡¯t been rediscovered since, Nyra and the twins would have a long-abandoned dungeon all to themselves. An ideal scenario. Alas, it was not to be. The lich opened her eyes. ¡°The portal refuses to open,¡± she said tightly. Which meant the sector in question had been rediscovered, claimed, and was now shielded from unauthorized access. I sighed. I guess it was too much to hope for. I swung to face Safyre. ¡°Let¡¯s move on to option two.¡± Wordlessly, the aetherist began casting, but only a moment later, she too stopped. ¡°No go. The sector is shielded.¡± I forbore comment. Option two had been nearly as perfect as number one. Unfortunately, the alternatives were, for one reason or the other, significantly less so. Still, everything on the list fulfilled the basic criteria we¡¯d established and were all far outside the zones of control of the Game¡¯s most powerful factions. ¡°Run through the rest of the list until you find all those that work,¡± I instructed grimly. Turning to the others, I added. ¡°Best make yourselves comfortable. This may take a while.¡± ? ? ? Ghost has taken the form of a level 236 stygian pyre wolf. While I waited patiently for Adriel and Safyre to finish their investigations, the rest of my companions¡ªGhost, Nyra, Anriq, and the twins¡ªmade their way to the edge of the purifying dome to gaze upon the nether mist beyond. For two of them at least, this was their first opportunity to study the nether at leisure. ¡°Can I go past the dome?¡± Ghost asked. I glanced at her. ¡°You plan on trying your new skill?¡± She bobbed her head. ¡°Go on,¡± I said, smiling indulgently, ¡°but don¡¯t stray too far.¡± Bounding forward, the pyre wolf slipped beyond the edges of Safyre¡¯s spell and into the mists. Immediately, damage messages began scrolling across my vision. Ignoring them, I kept my gaze focused on my familiar as she wove mana. Ghost has cast mist-thin, reducing the nether toxicity of the nether around her in a 10 yard radius to tier 3. Duration: infinite. The debuff will remain in effect as long as your familiar continues channeling the spell. ¡°It works!¡± the pyre wolf exclaimed. I chuckled. ¡°Of course it does.¡± Narrowing my eyes, I studied the yellowish haze around Ghost as she raced along the outside of the purifying dome. The change was nearly imperceptible, but the mist around my familiar was definitely thinner. Ghost¡¯s nether manipulation has increased to level 2. Ghost¡¯s nether manipulation has increased to level 3. ¡­ ¡°Keep at it,¡± I murmured. ¡°You¡¯re doing well.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Ghost gone to?¡± Adriel asked. Swinging around, I found the lich and Safyre looking at me expectantly. Neither could see the pyre wolf in the mist, of course. ¡°Training her nether manipulation,¡± I replied. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I¡¯d told the pair about Ghost¡¯s new skill on the way over. Surprisingly, neither had heard of it before nor of anything similar. Still, they¡¯d both agreed with my assessment. Selecting it had been the right decision. Safyre arched one eyebrow. ¡°She¡¯s not wasting time, is she?¡± ¡°Time, I fear, is the one commodity we¡¯re always going to be short of,¡± I replied. Adriel laughed. ¡°True enough.¡± My gaze darted from one to the other. ¡°I take it you found an accessible dungeon?¡± ¡°We have,¡± Adriel said. I waited. ¡°Only number five and eight on the list are open for portal entry,¡± Safyre said. ¡°Five and eight,¡± I echoed, mentally running through what the pair had told me of the sectors in question. Neither was ideal. Worse yet, number eight was controlled by a Light faction. A minor one to be sure, but one not averse to selling dungeon access to ¡®neutral¡¯ players¡ªwhich was the only reason it was on the list in the first place. ¡°I guess it has to be five then,¡± I said heavily. Both women nodded solemnly. I looked at Safyre. Number five was one of her contributions to the list. ¡°Did you manage to glean anything of the sector¡¯s current conditions?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No, I let the spell unravel before the portal could fully form.¡± It was a justifiable precaution, and one I couldn¡¯t fault. I sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go tell the others the good news, then.¡± ? ? ? ¡°We¡¯ve found an accessible dungeon,¡± I said, when the rest of the party rejoined us at the portal. ¡°Which one is it?¡± Teresa asked excitedly. ¡°Number five,¡± I replied. ¡°Korg.¡± Terence frowned. ¡°Korg? But isn¡¯t that the sector with a one-way portal?¡± ¡°It is,¡± I replied. The one-way dungeon portal was the primary reason sector 65,231¡ªotherwise known as Korg¡ªwas as low down on the list as it was. The dungeon itself, Korg¡¯s Deep, was an ideal fit for the trio, but unfortunately its exit portal was in a sector that neither Safyre nor Adriel had visited before. That was the bad news. The good news was that both the entrance and exit nether portals from Korg¡¯s Deep were located in the safe zone of their respective sectors. The dungeoneering trio would therefore only be at risk while they were in the Deep itself. ¡°You¡¯ve been to Korg, Saf,¡± Teresa said. ¡°What can you tell us about it?¡± Safyre¡¯s lips turned down. ¡°Nothing more than what I¡¯ve already shared, I¡¯m afraid. I visited Korg exactly once, and briefly at that. Then Korg Minor¡ªthe sector you¡¯ll be entering through¡ªwas owned by a small faction, I forget the name.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t enter the dungeon?¡± Terence asked. Safyre shook her head. ¡°I was in Korg for another reason. But I remember the dungeon¡¯s description well. The Deep is designed for a party of tier two players and is seed with mostly non-magical creatures. It shouldn¡¯t be especially hard for you three to run through.¡± ¡°But how will we get back when we¡¯re done?¡± Nyra asked worriedly. It was the question on everyone¡¯s minds. ¡°It should not be too complicated,¡± Safyre remarked. ¡°Korg Major¡ªthe sector with the dungeon exit portal¡ªsits adjacent to Korg Minor, after all. If for whatever reason you can¡¯t teleport out directly from Korg Major you should return to sector 65,231 and leave from there.¡± She bit her lip. ¡°Although, I¡¯ll admit that may be easier said than done.¡± I nodded. Much would depend on the current conditions in the respective sectors¡ªof which we knew nothing. Nor would further speculation help. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out once we¡¯re in Korg,¡± I pronounced. Teresa bounced on her feet. ¡°So, we¡¯re still going ahead?¡± ¡°We are.¡± I paused. ¡°Assuming you three are comfortable with the risks, of course.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± the twins exclaimed in unison. I glanced at Nyra who nodded firmly. ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Good. I guess we are a go, then.¡± Removing the Cloak of the Reach, I handed it to Adriel who accepted it without comment. Kneeling, I ruffled the pyre wolf¡¯s coat. ¡°Take care, Ghost.¡± ¡°You, too, Prime.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be gone long,¡± I assured her. ¡°Focus on your ash armor training with Sulan in the meantime, and perhaps Adriel will bring you back here sometimes so you can work on nether manipulation too.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± Ghost said. I glanced at Adriel who nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll bring her,¡± she agreed. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said aloud as I rose to my feet. Turning to Anriq, I handed him the Sylvanain eye. ¡°You remember what to search for?¡± ¡°I do,¡± he replied. ¡°Don¡¯t go scouting in person,¡± I warned. ¡°Use the eye.¡± I grimaced apologetically. ¡°It¡¯ll be tedious work, I know, but finding a¡ª¡± The werewolf waved aside my words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I understand the importance of the task you¡¯ve set me. I¡¯ll find what we need.¡± I clasped his hand, glad that I could depend on him. Turning around, I faced Safyre who returned my look. ¡°No need for goodbyes,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll see each other soon enough.¡± Inclining my head in rueful agreement, I saw to my final preparations. You have cast mimic, transforming your visage into that of Actus, a level 101 human brawler and concealing your Powerful Initiate Mark. Duration: 10 hours. You have activated the simple mode enchantment of the belt of the chameleon. Your armor and weapons are now hidden. Feeling out my new face¡ªthat of a player I¡¯d run across in Nexus¡ªI checked my clothing. Camouflaged by the chameleon belt, they were as non-descript as I expected. If anything, I wanted to attract even less attention than my younger companions. ¡°Right, final check. Does everyone have their farspeaker bracelets equipped?¡± Solemnly, the trio raised their arms, baring the gold bracelet on their wrists. I wore the last one. For this mission, we would be taking all four of Safyre¡¯s farspeaker artifacts, they being essential for the four of us to communicate easily with each other in Korg. I glanced at Adriel and Safyre. ¡°I¡¯ll head directly to the wolves¡¯ valley after seeing our dungeon team settled,¡± I told them. ¡°So, don¡¯t expect me to return for at least a few days yet.¡± ¡°Give Saya my regards,¡± Safyre replied. ¡°And bring her back if you can,¡± Terence blurted. Declining to reply, I nodded at Safyre. ¡°Open it.¡± Safyre has cast supreme portal, creating a protected ley line to sector 65,231. ¡°Protected ley line?¡± I asked, my gaze flitting between the aetherist and the curtain of light that had materialized before her. ¡°It¡¯s exactly what it sounds like¡ªa shielded portal,¡± she explained. ¡°No one will be able to pass through without my permission.¡± ¡°Useful,¡± I murmured. ¡°You four better go,¡± Safyre instructed, waving me forward. ¡°The longer the portal is open the more attention it will attract.¡± I nodded in agreement. The time had come to put our plans in motion. Inhaling deeply, I ducked through the waiting gateway. Transfer through portal commencing¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Passage completed! Leaving sector 18,240 of the Forever Kingdom. Chapter 501: Korg You have entered sector 65,231 of the Forever Kingdom, an open sector forming part of the region known as Korg. This sector is under the control of the Silach. The following restrictions apply to this sector: only silachens may purchase new buildings in the safe zone and only silachen civilians may trade in the safe zone. Note, a shield generator is in place around the sector, preventing portals from opening anywhere except in the designated teleportation areas. You have entered a safe zone. I stepped out from the portal and into a brightly lit world. The sun shone down from up high, the sky was deep cerulean, and the breeze had a salty tang to it. Wet white sand lay beneath my feet and from behind, I heard waves rippling gently in and out. In front of me were more sand dunes, palm trees, and what appeared to be a prosperous village. Whatever else Korg Minor was, it was an idyllic-looking sector. Island, I corrected. Korg Minor is an island. Turning around slowly, I confirmed what my senses were telling me. I was standing on a south-facing beach. According to Safyre, the safe zone encompassed the entire island, which made Korg Minor a player-only sector. Unless, of course, the surrounding ocean is home to an aquatic species. Which admittedly was not far outside the realm of possibilities. The gate behind me burped and three more figures spilled out before it winked out of existence. My companions¡¯ tension was palpable. Bunching together behind me, they eyed the surroundings nervously. ¡°Is this the place?¡± Terence whispered. ¡°Of course, it is!¡± Teresa snapped back in a low voice. ¡°Didn¡¯t you read the Adjudicator¡¯s message?¡± ¡°Should we draw our weapons?¡± Nyra asked, fixing her gaze on me. I shook my head. ¡°This is a safe zone. There is no need for that.¡± I paused, then projected my words through the farspeaker bracelet. ¡°That is not to say the island will be threat-free. There is almost certainly danger here. But it won¡¯t be of the physical kind. Stay on guard, and don¡¯t utter anything revealing aloud. Who knows who may be listening.¡± The trio nodded in grim understanding. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said. ¡°Whoever runs this place is probably in the village.¡± ? ? ? The village was heavily populated. However, the residents were not what I expected. Green-scaled and blue-gilled, they had webbing fanning out from behind their heads and a thick muscular tail in place of legs. ¡°Merefolk,¡± Teresa muttered. I tore my gaze away from the players sliding across the sand like upright snails to glance at the twins. The merefolk were everywhere, slipping in and out of the buildings, but seemed disinterested in us. ¡°You¡¯ve come across them before?¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± Terence said. ¡°We had a run-in with a mereman early on in our Game. He was a new entrant like us.¡± ¡°He was also rude, curt, and standoffish,¡± Teresa added bitingly. ¡°But a great fighter nonetheless,¡± Terence said. Teresa nodded reluctantly. ¡°I see,¡± I said noncommittally. The twins¡¯ remarks were hardly useful, nor did it explain the merefolk¡¯s presence on the island. Safyre had not mentioned them either, and I could only assume that was because they hadn¡¯t been here during her own visit. The amphibious nature of the sector¡¯s residents would¡¯ve surely stuck in her memory otherwise. What did it mean for our plans? ¡°Hail, two-legs.¡± Facing forward again, I saw that a large mereman wielding a harpoon had placed himself before us. He wore no armor, nor any clothing of any kind, but was draped in jewelry aplenty, each bearing the telltale spark of magic. ¡°Welcome to Korg,¡± the mereman continued, seeing that he had our attention. ¡°What brings you to our little corner of the world?¡± ¡°Greetings¡­?¡± I began, pointedly not using his name though I knew it already. ¡°Wylton,¡± he supplied easily, ¡°silachen protector and resident of Korg.¡± I inclined my head. ¡°Well met, Wylton. I¡¯m Actus, and this is Nyra, Terence, and Teresa.¡± ¡°What brings you to Korg?¡± Wylton asked again. ¡°It is not often we get visitors of the two-legged variety.¡± ¡°I confess I¡¯ve never been to Korg before,¡± I replied, ¡°nor for that matter have I heard of the silachen.¡± Wylton laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. We are a new faction.¡± I let my surprise show. ¡°Then Korg is a recent¡­ acquisition?¡± ¡°Relatively,¡± he allowed. ¡°Silach claimed both islands a decade ago.¡± Hmm. So, they own Korg Major as well. ¡°That explains it.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Wylton tilted his head to the side. ¡°Explains what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been many years since our friend, the one who directed us here, last visited the island,¡± I said. ¡°Ah,¡± Wylton remarked. ¡°You were expecting a different sort of reception.¡± I smiled. ¡°Actually, we had no idea what to expect. Our coming here was something of a gamble.¡± I dipped my head again. ¡°One which hasn¡¯t paid off it seems. Please accept my apology for the intrusion. We¡¯ll take our leave now.¡± Not waiting for his response, I swung around. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± I drew to a halt. I¡¯d been hoping we could make our escape without suffering further questioning. For all of the mereman¡¯s apparent affability, he was a rank nineteen player. And while not all the other players in the village were of comparable level, enough of them were to leave me in no doubt that Silach was a powerful faction. One, I did not want to trifle with. Especially not with three under-leveled companions at my back, and especially not on their home turf. But I did not mistake the protector¡¯s words for anything but what they were: an order. Sighing, I turned back around. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You did not answer my question,¡± Wylton said mildly. I feigned ignorance. ¡°Which one?¡± The mereman chuckled, not fooled. ¡°The only one that matters: what brings you to Korg?¡± There was no point in denying the truth. ¡°We came for the dungeon,¡± I admitted. ¡°Korg¡¯s Deep.¡± Wylton¡¯s gaze flitted from me to the others, studying our gear critically. ¡°What Force are you affiliated with?¡± ¡°None yet,¡± I replied, ¡°as I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already noticed.¡± Wylton¡¯s lips turned down. ¡°Which Power then?¡± ¡°One who prefers to remain anonymous,¡± I replied calmly. The mereman frowned but didn¡¯t push the issue. I stepped back. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve answered your questions, we¡¯ll take our leave.¡± ¡°The dungeon is open to non-faction members,¡± he declared abruptly. My brows rose in surprise. ¡°Really?¡± He nodded. ¡°There will be a cost, though.¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± I murmured. ¡°How much?¡± Wylton shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s for the dungeon keeper to say. You will find him at the islands¡¯ northern beach, in the tower housing the nether portal.¡± I hesitated. Wylton had displayed no sign of hostility, yet I remained wary of staying longer. The silachen appeared to be in absolute control of the sector, and the same likely applied to Korg Major. Then there was the strength of the protector¡¯s Marks. The mereman was steeped in Shadow as were many of the village¡¯s residents. Wylton had not said so, but I was certain Silach was a Shadow faction. Did I really want to leave my young companions at their mercy? But what other choice did I have? Right now, it was either this or a dungeon under the control of a Light faction. ¡°We should do it,¡± Teresa said. I glanced at her sideways. ¡°They¡¯re a Shadow faction.¡± ¡°So?¡± she demanded caustically. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make them any more¡ªor less¡ªdangerous than a Dark or Light one.¡± Because of Loken I viewed Shadow with more trepidation than I did Dark and Light, but Teresa was right, there was no objective difference between the three. Shadow factions could be as benign as Light or Dark ones¡ªor just as brutal. ¡°That may be true,¡± I admitted, ¡°but there¡¯s no denying they¡¯re a Force faction, and likely one with a Power nearby. Are you three sure you want to enter a dungeon controlled by them?¡± ¡°We should at least investigate further,¡± Nyra replied. ¡°I agree,¡± Terence added. I sighed. ¡°Very well.¡± Turning my attention outward again, I bestowed Wylton with another smile. ¡°Thank you for the directions. We¡¯ll head that way now.¡± ? ? ? We made our way through the village without incident. None of the players we passed¡ªall merefolk¡ªattempted to approach us, and while I spotted more than one shopkeeper, I kept my distance as well. As the only land bound players on the island we were already too memorable, and the last thing I wanted was to create more of a stir. Exiting the village, I spotted a blurred shape to the north. ¡°Korg Major,¡± I murmured. ¡°Where?¡± Teresa asked. ¡°There,¡± I said, pointing out the large landmass on the horizon. ¡°It looks huge.¡± Terence squinted at the island. ¡°Well, at least we now know which direction to swim in if we have to.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you want to do that,¡± I said, picking out a deceptively small shape breaking through the surface in the far distance. ¡°The ocean is not empty, and somehow I don¡¯t think the wildlife is going to be friendly.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Terence said, deflating. ¡°That must be the tower Wylton spoke of,¡± Nyra said, drawing my attention. Looking where she pointed, I spotted a squat wooden tower partially obscured by the surrounding palm trees. Changing course, I headed towards it. ? ? ? The tower¡¯s ground floor was crowded by heavily armored and armed merefolk. Dungeon teams, I thought, readying for their dive. It was not only merefolk filling the room, though. Looking carefully, I spotted a handful of tratins, sirens, and even a few sea hags. The sea hags gave me pause. Our one prior meeting had not ended well, but even though our entrance had attracted the attention of everyone in the room, I sensed no animosity in any of the staring faces, hags included. ¡°Is there a line?¡± Terence asked worriedly. ¡°Because if we have to wait for all these people to go through first, it¡¯s going to be days before we enter the dungeon.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so impatient,¡± Teresa retorted. ¡°You¡¯re calling me impatient?¡± Terence demanded incredulously. I almost smiled at the pair¡¯s banter, but the approach of a slim merewoman distracted me. ¡°You can head on down,¡± she said peremptorily. I blinked. ¡°Down?¡± She nodded. ¡°Wylton told us you were coming. Dungeon Keeper Quartz is waiting.¡± ¡°What about all of them?¡± Terence asked, looking pointedly into the crowded room. The merewoman shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re freeloaders. You¡¯re paying customers. You get preference.¡± Terence straightened proudly. ¡°How about that.¡± Rolling her eyes, Teresa brushed past him and down the nearby stairs. Nyra and Terence glanced at me. ¡°I guess we best follow her,¡± I replied in response to their looks. Chapter 502: Revisiting Old Haunts Except for a hulking and bearded mereman, the tower¡¯s basement was empty. But that was not to say I did not have cause for renewed surprise. In place of a single nether portal, I found ten¡ªall shimmering and all active. ¡°Damn,¡± Terence remarked, echoing my own sentiments. ¡°Welcome,¡± Quartz, the dungeon keeper, said, smiling genially. ¡°I take it from your expressions that this is your first visit to the Deeps?¡± I nodded. ¡°We were expecting, uhm, one dungeon.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not wrong,¡± he said. ¡°Korg¡¯s Deeps is a single dungeon.¡± I frowned. ¡°One dungeon, ten levels,¡± he explained. ¡°What you see here are the one-way portals to each level.¡± I rubbed my chin. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So, we can start at the last level?¡± Terence asked eagerly. The mereman chuckled. ¡°There is no last level, young man. Granted, there was such in the dungeon¡¯s original configuration. But we¡¯ve changed all that. Each level now provides a separate and individual challenge. I lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Korg¡¯s Deeps is an owned dungeon?¡± ¡°It is indeed.¡± Quartz rubbed his hands together. ¡°And with ten levels to pick from, you four will be spoiled for choice.¡± ¡°Three,¡± I corrected him. ¡°I will not be entering the dungeon.¡± The mereman didn¡¯t bat even an eye. ¡°A party of three, very good. But before we get into the details, there is the matter of the entrance fee to settle.¡± ¡°How much is it going to cost?¡± I asked. ¡°One thousand gold,¡± he pronounced. ¡°Each.¡± My companions¡¯ eyes bulged. Quartz¡¯s smile vanished as he sensed their hesitancy. ¡°The price is non-negotiable.¡± I sighed. ¡°Of course, it is. But setting aside the matter of cost for the moment, where are the exits?¡± The mereman turned my way. ¡°There is a matching tower in the center of Korg Major. Your friends will emerge from the portal there.¡± I nodded. ¡°And where can I get its coordinates?¡± ¡°I can open a portal to it right now if you like,¡± he offered. ¡°Assuming we conclude our transaction, that is.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± I murmured noncommittally despite my pleasure at Quartz¡¯s offer. It simplified things greatly on my end and dealt with one of my major concerns, but we were bargaining I knew, and so I maintained a disinterested air. ¡°What does that enormous entrance fee get my companions?¡± The smile slid back onto the mereman¡¯s face. ¡°Enormous? I wouldn¡¯t call it that. One thousand gold buys your friends two days in any level of their choice and guaranteed privacy. No one will be allowed to enter the level until their time is up or they slay its sector boss. And the best thing? They get to keep any loot they recover.¡± ¡°Two days? One level? Those are ridiculous restrictions!¡± I scoffed. Turning around, I headed for the stairs. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As anticipated, I didn¡¯t get far. ¡°Wait!¡± Quartz barked. ¡°Three days, then.¡± Ha! So much for ¡®non-negotiable.¡¯ I turned around. ¡°Five,¡± I countered, ¡°and as many levels as they want.¡± The merman glared. ¡°That will be impossible to schedule. Four days. Two levels.¡± I pretended to think. ¡°That would be acceptable if¡­ you guarantee their privacy until they exit. No one must be allowed to enter a level until they leave it.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Quartz muttered, ¡°but any time they waste between killing a sector boss and exiting counts towards their four days.¡± I nodded. ¡°That¡¯s agreeable.¡± I turned back to my companions. ¡°The decision is yours,¡± I stated bluntly. ¡°Do you wish to proceed?¡± ¡°Can we afford the fee?¡± Nyra asked. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied simply. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s safe?¡± Terence asked cautiously. I didn¡¯t laugh. ¡°No dungeon dive will ever be safe. But I think your question was directed more towards the Silach, yes?¡± He nodded almost imperceptibly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go so far as to say they¡¯re trustworthy. Motivated by self-interest? Maybe. Willing to cheat us out of every penny we have? Definitely. But out to get us specifically? I don¡¯t think so.¡± I grimaced. ¡°If you ask me, the threats here are the everyday ones all players live with in the Game.¡± And as much as I wanted to protect them from such, it was not my place to do so. ¡°Let¡¯s do it,¡± Teresa said firmly, and I glanced at the other two. ¡°I agree,¡± Terence replied. ¡°Me too,¡± Nyra added. Swinging back to the dungeon keeper, I found him grinning again. ¡°Excellent decision!¡± he said and held out a bank keystone. ¡°That will be three thousand gold if you please.¡± Ignoring the keystone, I stretched out my own arm to reveal a purse and another item. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Quartz asked. ¡°Three thousand gold, just like you asked.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only a thousand coins in your hand, friend,¡± he stated flatly. ¡°And a legendary item worth much more than the two thousand outstanding,¡± I added. ¡°We can pay the fee.¡± The mereman chewed on his lip for a moment, then with a shrug, moved to relieve me of the items. I closed my fist. ¡°Not so fast. Let¡¯s finish up our dealings first.¡± He scowled. ¡°The negotiations are over.¡± I nodded. ¡°So, they are. But you promised to open a portal to Korg Major, and there is also the small matter of the ¡®details¡¯ you mentioned earlier. Let¡¯s get all that out of the way before we conclude.¡± Quartz¡¯s scowl deepened. ¡°Very well. Have it your way.¡± Pointedly turning away from me, he scrutinized my three companions. ¡°Which levels do you wish to enter?¡± Before they could answer, he added, ¡°Given your levels, Class, and gear, I suggest attempting level one and four.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. My brows rose in mute surprise, but I refrained from commenting. I¡¯d done my bit, and it was time for the trio to take charge of matters. ¡°You said we¡¯d have ten levels to choose from,¡± Teresa pointed out when it became apparent I wouldn¡¯t speak. ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± the mereman temporized. ¡°There are ten levels. But three are currently occupied, four are fully submerged, and the other has been designed for tier four players. That leaves only level one and four. Both of which will become available tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Terence demanded, his voice rising. ¡°Tomorrow,¡± the dungeon keeper repeated, unruffled. ¡°But if you prefer, you can wait another two days for level three and eight to become available. Both those are also suitable for air-breathers of your ranks.¡± ¡°Want to change your minds?¡± I asked the trio softly. Teresa glared at me. ¡°No.¡± Swinging back to the mereman, she said, ¡°Tell us everything you can about level one and four.¡± ? ? ? You have entered the safe zone of sector 65,232 of the Forever Kingdom. An hour later, after our discussions with Quartz concluded, my companions and I entered Korg Major. Since the trio couldn¡¯t immediately start their dungeon dive, they¡¯d managed to convince the dungeon keeper to waive payment of the fee until tomorrow morning¡ªwhen they would actually enter the Deeps. Quartz had then¡ªwith a not insignificant amount of grumbling¡ªacceded to opening a gateway to Korg Major for all four of us. Like its sister sector, Korg Major was protected by a shield generator and owned by the Silach. Neither of those things bothered me, though. As mercenary as the silachen appeared when it came to money, they didn¡¯t seem to care much about non-faction members wandering their domain, and as far as I could tell, the travel restrictions were minimal. Korg Major itself was an eye-opener. It was many times larger and more cosmopolitan than Korg Minor. In my first few minutes alone in the sector, I saw dozens of ¡®two-legs¡¯ walking about unconcernedly. ¡°We don¡¯t stand out as much here,¡± Nyra said, noticing the same thing. ¡°And there are plenty of shops around too,¡± I said, coming to stop in front of a tavern. ¡°You three should make your purchases here before returning to Korg Minor.¡± ¡°With what money?¡± Terence groused. ¡°Hold out your hands,¡± I instructed. The three did as I asked, and I dropped an item apiece in each¡¯s palm. You have lost 3 x miscellaneous legendary items. ¡°Where did you get these from?¡± Teresa asked, looking down at the legendary artifact I¡¯d given her in shock. ¡°Put them away before someone notices,¡± I said gently. ¡°And as for where I got them, I looted them from the Devil Riders in the Eastern Marches.¡± ¡°What should we do with them?¡± Terence asked, taking another quick peek at his own item. I smiled. ¡°Sell them. I can¡¯t tell you their value because I don¡¯t know myself. Ask around¡ªcarefully. At a guess, I¡¯d say each artifact is worth at least ten thousand gold.¡± Their eyes widened. And no wonder, I¡¯d just handed them a small fortune. But if the trio were going to succeed, they needed every advantage I could reasonably afford them. I chuckled. ¡°Use the proceeds from the sale for Quartz¡¯s entrance fee, a portal back to Korg Minor, and whatever gear you require. The rest you can store in a bank.¡± Nyra frowned. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°I am.¡± Concern replaced astonishment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you three have got this.¡± I gestured to the tavern. ¡°We¡¯ll meet back here in four days. By then, you should be done with your dungeon run.¡± I glanced around. ¡°And whatever you do, don¡¯t leave the safe zone with the artifacts still in your possession or carrying anything valuable for that matter. Hmm, better yet, don¡¯t leave the safe zone at all.¡± Unlike in Korg Minor, a whole city lay outside the Korg¡¯s Major safe zone¡ªone I was sure the trio were tempted to explore. ¡°We won¡¯t venture into the city,¡± Nyra promised. I nodded. ¡°See that you don¡¯t.¡± Clasping their hands in turn, I bid them farewell and strode steadfastly away. ? ? ? After disappearing from the somewhat-forlorn trio¡¯s sight, I spent a few minutes walking around Korg Major¡¯s safe zone, trying to get a feel of the place¡ªbut if I was being honest, mostly wondering if I¡¯d done the right thing. Nyra, Terence, and Teresa would be alright, I had to believe that. Korg was as good a place as any for the trio to learn to deal with other players on their own, something none of the three had any real experience with. But they weren¡¯t alone. They had each other. And for now, they had to suffice. Setting aside further thoughts of my companions, I considered my next move. No walls separate Korg Major¡¯s safe zone from the city beyond, and for a split-second, I felt the urge to do what I had expressly forbidden my companions to do¡ªgo exploring. But I reined in the temptation. I had too much to do, and I couldn¡¯t afford to become embroiled in another misadventure. It was time to move on to the next leg of my journey: wolves¡¯ valley. Ducking into an empty alley, I dropped into a crouch and wrapped myself in shadow. Then, I focused on the bracelet around my right wrist. You have etched an aetherstone with the aether coordinates of the safe zone of sector 12,560. Aetherstone bracelet activated. Connection to the ley line network formed. Transfer commencing¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Passage completed! ? ? ? You have entered the safe zone of sector 12,560. This area is part of the Forever Kingdom¡¯s wild borderlands. It is currently neutral territory, unclaimed by any faction or Force. No additional restrictions apply to this region. Aetherstone bracelet deactivated. Remaining stored locations: 1. Charged and unetched gems: 2. Uncharged gems: 2. I emerged in the southern end of the safe zone, within the shadows of Mariga¡¯s log cabin, which even after all this time remained abandoned. Staying put, I considered the sector welcome message. The wolves¡¯ valley was still unclaimed. That pleased me. Despite the shift in my focus from sector 12,560 to the nether-infested one, I still wanted to see matters in the valley settled if I could. Although, for the foreseeable future it was pretty much a secondary concern. Rising smoothly to my feet, I took a long look around. And spotted smoke. Lots of smoke. It surrounded the village on all sides. Raising my head, I sniffed the air, and got the whiff of a familiar acrid tang. The smoke was close enough to smell, if barely. War had broken out in the valley again. The last time I¡¯d been in the sector, Tartar, Muriel, Loken¡ªand a host of smaller factions¡ªhad armies encamped in the valley but outside of a few skirmishes things had been relatively calm. Has all that changed? The smoke seemed to imply that it had. I bit my lip. A lot could have gone wrong in the two months since I¡¯d been away, and it seemed that at least some things had. Thankfully, though, I¡¯d evacuated the dire wolf pack. There was still Saya and Shael to worry about, of course. But both players were stationed in the sector¡¯s safe zone, and there was no reason to fear that the chaos raging in the valley would touch them. Nonetheless, I needed to check on the pair. Turning my attention inward, I checked the status of my disguise. My ¡®Actus¡¯ face was firmly in place and would remain so for a good while yet. There was no reason to delay. Leaving the safety of the cabin¡¯s shadows, I headed for Wyvern¡¯s Roost. ? ? ? In stark contrast to two months ago, the village¡¯s streets were empty, as were the surrounding ¡®barracks.¡¯ It was another ominous sign of how hotly the war had to be raging that even the factions¡¯ reserves from the safe zone had been pulled in. According to my mindsight, many of the shops were deserted as well. Even some of the merchants had left. Just like rats abandoning a ship before it sinks. Merchants would only leave if they believed the sector was in imminent danger of falling, I knew. My dread rising, I hurried my steps. Turning a corner, I spotted the tavern ahead. It was unchanged from the last time I¡¯d seen it, a brick and mortar building six stories tall. Sharp relief sang through me at the sight of the Wyvern¡¯s Roost. Why, I couldn¡¯t explain. Maybe it was because the tavern and Saya were inexplicably linked in my mind. If the tavern still stood, it meant the gnome was safe. Not caring anymore who was watching, I dashed down the street. Bursting through the tavern doors, I drew to a stop. The Wyvern¡¯s Roost was empty. Or nearly so. A lone figure sat with his head resting on a dusty table in the center of the common room. Shael. At my entrance, the red bard raised his head and blinked owlishly. ¡°Go away,¡± he slurred. ¡°We¡¯re closed.¡± My eyes drifted from the bard to the many empty bottles scattered around the table. Shael was drunk. My lips tightened. ¡°Where¡¯s Saya?¡± Shael threw back his head and brayed, the sound disturbingly discordant. ¡°Saya? Saya¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Gone where?¡± I asked, my eyes narrowing. Shael¡¯s laughter cut off abruptly. ¡°Where? Why nowhere, of course. She¡¯s gone gone.¡± My face blanked. ¡°That¡¯s right, fellow,¡± the bard hissed. ¡°Saya¡¯s dead.¡± Chapter 503: Old Nightmares Rekindled For an unaccountable time, I stared unseeing at Shael. Saya dead? Impossible. ¡°That can¡¯t be right,¡± I said inanely. The bard cackled bitterly. ¡°Ah, I wish it were so, friend, but it¡¯s true.¡± He made a shooing gesture with his hands. ¡°So run along and find somewhere else to stay tonight. Because the rooms in this here tavern of death are all full up tonight.¡± Rising to his feet and uncaring of the chair that fell flat behind him, Shael staggered up to the bar and rifled through the contents. Searching for another bottle, I suspected. ¡°Tell me how it happened, Shael,¡± I ordered woodenly. Maybe it was my use of his name or something in my voice, because the next moment, the bard jerked upright, bottles forgotten. ¡°Do I know you?¡± he asked, squinting at me. ¡°It¡¯s Michael,¡± I said softly. The bard¡¯s reaction was not what I expected. ¡°Again?¡± he scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re trying this again? What the hell is wrong with you!¡± My brows furrowed. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡± Moving with surprising quickness, Shael picked up an empty bottle off the bar counter and flung it at me. I ducked the projectile easily enough, but that didn¡¯t stop a message from the Adjudicator unfurling in my mind. Violation of safe zone protocols detected. The player Shael has taken hostile action against you. Do you wish him punished? Ignoring the Game alert, I glared at the bard. ¡°Damnit, Shael, stop!¡± ¡°Go away, witch!¡± he roared. ¡°Haven¡¯t you done enough already? Just leave me alone!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t bloody know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± I roared back. ¡°Now, are you going to shut up and explain, or do I need to beat some sense into you first?¡± Shael picked up another bottle. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I warned. ¡°It really is me¡ªMichael.¡± The bard hesitated. ¡°You don¡¯t look like him.¡± ¡°Nor do I sound like me,¡± I agreed. ¡°But I¡¯m a deception player. Hells, you are one too. And you know as well as I do, faces are malleable.¡± Shael lowered the bottle. ¡°Prove it. Prove you¡¯re Michael.¡± ¡°How?¡± The bard thought for a moment. ¡°Where did we first meet?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy. At the feet of the Adjudicator in Nexus.¡± Shael relaxed fractionally. ¡°What¡¯s the first thing you paid me to do?¡± ¡°That¡¯s trickier,¡± I allowed. ¡°Do you mean the message I asked you to carry to the Shadow Quarter? Or the information I purchased from you about Nexus¡¯ dungeons.¡± The half-elf dropped the bottle. ¡°It is you,¡± he breathed. I nodded grimly. ¡°It is. Now, sit down and tell me where the hell Saya is.¡± ? ? ? ¡°I told you,¡± Shael said softly when we¡¯d seated ourselves at one of the tables. ¡°Saya¡¯s dead.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that.¡± ¡°Believe it,¡± he said bitterly. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes.¡± I stared at him searchingly. There was no denying Shael was a mess. There were bags under his eyes, his hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn, and he stank worse than a sewer. Worse yet, the minstrel¡¯s most prized possession¡ªhis flute¡ªwas nowhere to be seen. All signs pointing to someone lost to the bottle. Or in the throes of grief. I closed my eyes. No, it can¡¯t be. ¡°Tell me,¡± I demanded. Shael shrugged despondently, his hands opening and closing as if searching for the comfort of a bottle. ¡°There¡¯s not much to tell. You showed up here, convinced Saya and I to leave the safe zone with you, then killed her.¡± He shuddered. ¡°Over and over.¡± ¡°I showed up?¡± Shael nodded. ¡°Someone wearing your face anyhow.¡± He fell silent for so long I didn¡¯t think he would continue. ¡°It was the envoy,¡± the bard said finally. ¡°Whose envoy?¡± I asked sharply, but I knew already. Deceit and trickery had been employed in the attack, and only one Power in the valley was known for that. ¡°Loken¡¯s,¡± Shael said in damning confirmation. I rocked back in my chair, keeping a tight rein on the rage, anger, and grief boiling inside me. If I let it go¡­ No, I can¡¯t do that. Exhaling slowly, I reviewed what I knew of Loken¡¯s envoy, which was little enough. Other than knowing she was likely a woman and a deception player, I knew naught else. The one time we¡¯d met¡ªafter she¡¯d laid a compulsion on the dire wolves¡ªthe envoy had managed to hide nearly everything about herself, including her Marks, face, and level. I needed to know more. Much more. ¡°Explain,¡± I rasped. The bard raised eyes, bloodshot and swimming with guilt, to meet mine. ¡°Haven¡¯t I done so already?¡± he demanded. ¡°Loken¡¯s envoy tricked us. And I, like a gullible fool, fell for it. What else can you possibly want to know?¡± I leaned forward. ¡°I want to know the details. For instance, how do you know it was Loken¡¯s envoy who lured you and Saya out of the safe zone?¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Because that¡¯s what she named herself!¡± But what¡¯s to say she was telling the truth? I wanted to ask but didn¡¯t. Letting the issue lie, I moved on. ¡°You said Loken¡¯s envoy killed Saya¡ª¡± I swallowed around the sudden lump in my throat¡ª¡±¡®over and over.¡¯ That was the exact phrase you used. How did she manage that?¡± After her first death, Saya would¡¯ve been reborn in the safe zone, and I knew the gnome was smart enough not to fall for the same trick twice. ¡°She did it by taking us elsewhere,¡± Shael said, his shoulders sagging. ¡°The moment we crossed the safe zone¡¯s boundary, the envoy revealed herself and teleported us to another sector¡ªone controlled by Shadow.¡± That would do it. Still, I refused to believe. ¡°You said ¡®we¡¯? Does that mean you were captured as well?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then why are you here?¡± I asked softly. ¡°Did you escape?¡± Shael laughed. ¡°Escape? Hardly. I¡¯m only here because the envoy needed someone to bear witness and carry her message.¡± I stiffened. ¡°What message?¡± Reaching into his pocket, Shael pulled out a thin slip of paper and laid it on the table between us. Looking down, I read what it said. The tavern keeper is not dead, but she will be soon. If you want her back, meet me where you and she first met. The note was unsigned. But I knew who it was from. Loken¡¯s envoy. Or the trickster himself. ¡°It¡¯s all lies,¡± Shael said stonily. I raised my eyes to meet his. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°I told you. I saw Saya die. Five times over.¡± Hope rekindled. ¡°Five times? You¡¯re sure about that?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure,¡± Shael retorted, looking outraged. ¡°Do you think I would ever forget something like that?¡± ¡°There is no way Saya had five lives remaining,¡± I murmured, ignoring his own question. Shael¡¯s brows drew down. ¡°What do you¡ª¡± He broke off, his eyes widening. ¡°Are you saying it was all an illusion? More deception at play?¡± ¡°It must have been,¡± I muttered. It had to be, because if it wasn¡¯t, I wasn¡¯t sure what I would do. ¡°But why?¡± Shael demanded, the momentary glimmer of hope in his eyes fading. ¡°It makes no sense. Why convince me Saya is dead, then send a note saying she is alive?¡± ¡°When does any of the trickster¡¯s actions ever seem to make sense?¡± I asked morosely. ¡°Loken could be simply toying with us or trying to force my hand.¡± And get me to act irrationally. Which admittedly I was on the verge of doing. And that was the damnable thing about Loken¡¯s ploy. Even knowing what he was about, I was finding it hard to pull back from the precipice, from dashing after the envoy to rescue¡ªor revenge¡ªSaya and damn the consequences. Shael stared at me tight-lipped for a moment. ¡°Then you think this is Loken¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± I allowed. ¡°Or it could be his envoy acting alone.¡± Weirdly enough, I found myself hoping it was Loken who was orchestrating affairs. The trickster would not kill Saya, I was fairly sure of that, and it was not because I didn¡¯t think he was capable of cold-blooded murder. Loken was certainly capable of such. No, it was because, in my experience, the shadow Power was always one to leave the door open. Killing Saya was too¡­ final. There would be no hope of reconciliation between me and Loken after that. And the Power knew me well enough to know that would be the case. Feigning Saya¡¯s death on the other hand¡­ leaving me tied in knots and wondering if she was alive or dead, that was Loken through and through. However, when it came to the trickster¡¯s envoy, I did not know enough to guess at her motivations. The woman was certainly ruthless, cruel even. Was she capable of killing Saya out of spite? Definitely. Had she done that? I didn¡¯t know. And at this stage, I could only hope she hadn¡¯t. I inhaled deeply to calm myself again. ¡°What I don¡¯t know,¡± I went on, ¡°is why Loken or his envoy would do something like this.¡± While matters between me and the trickster were tense, we had an understanding of sorts. More importantly, he needed me. Unless I was completely misreading the situation, Loken would not upset the status quo until after I stole Paya¡¯s damn chalice for him¡ªor he learned the truth of my bloodline, and there was nothing to say he had. I had also made a deal with Loken¡¯s envoy to broker peace in the valley, and she, likewise, had no reason to capture or kill Saya either. Then again¡­ I had no concrete evidence that it was Loken or his envoy behind matters¡ªmy gaze shifted to Shael¡ªnothing beyond what the bard himself had seen and heard, and I, of all people, knew only too well how truth and reality could be twisted. I studied the bard anew. As befuddled by grief and besotted by drink as Shael was, he was far from a reliable witness. And that assumes he is truly what he appears. ¡°Did the envoy say anything?¡± I asked. ¡°She said plenty,¡± he replied morosely. ¡°And asked plenty too.¡± Then he was interrogated too. My eyes narrowed. A confused person was easier to question. Had the envoy only pretended to kill Saya to weaken Shael¡¯s resolve? It seemed plausible, but I was reaching, I knew¡ªsearching for reasons to believe the gnome alive despite everything. ¡°When did this all happen?¡± I asked. ¡°A month ago.¡± A month. A month ago, I was still stuck in Draven¡¯s Reach. But according to the deal Loken¡¯s envoy and I had struck, she¡¯d given me four months to resolve matters in the valley. Why had she reneged on our bargain so quickly? ¡°What changed a month ago?¡± I wondered aloud. ¡°The war resumed,¡± Shael said flatly. I looked at him. ¡°No one knows who struck the first blow, but one day the Light and Dark armies were camped in the center of the valley at relative peace with each other, except for the occasional skirmish, and the next day, they were trying to obliterate one another.¡± Shael sighed. ¡°It was soon after that that Loken¡¯s envoy turned up at the tavern. She came twice, in fact.¡± I stared at him. ¡°She came in person?¡± That was out of character for the mysterious envoy. He nodded. ¡°The envoy came cloaked of course, so no one got a peek at her face, but she came asking after you.¡± ¡°Then what happened?¡± I asked intently. ¡°Saya spoke to her¡ªon both occasions¡ªand informed her that we had no idea as to your whereabouts. The envoy didn¡¯t believe her and got angry.¡± He barked a laugh. ¡°That¡¯s an understatement. She was so furious I thought she¡¯d attack Saya there and then. Instead, she started spouting nonsense about wolves, and went on about how since they were gone, it was Saya she would hold responsible.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I said hollowly. And I did. Loken¡¯s envoy must have feared I¡¯d betrayed her somehow, and with the pack absent there was no one for her to take out her anger on. No one except Saya. ¡°I admit the envoy¡¯s words confused me,¡± Shael said. He stared hard at me, the dull look in his gaze disappearing. ¡°But I can tell they come as no surprise to you. What¡¯s going on Michael?¡± I sighed. ¡°I will tell you everything, but first I need to know two things.¡± Shael¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Do you want to be part of this?¡± I asked bluntly. ¡°You can walk away now, and we need never see each other again. Honestly, it will be better for you if you do. You won¡¯t walk away empty-handed either. I will recompense you handsomely for your time and¡­ suffering.¡± The bard¡¯s face twisted in disgust. ¡°Recompense me? By the Powers, no! Whatever is going on, I want in. I may not have known Saya as long as you did, but she was my friend. I cannot¡ªwill not¡ª walk away!¡± My own expression did not shift. ¡°Even if it means tangling with Loken?¡± ¡°Even then,¡± he retorted, glaring at me. I inclined my head. ¡°I had to ask.¡± Shael¡¯s anger did not abate. ¡°What¡¯s the second thing?¡± he demanded. ¡°How many lives do you have remaining?¡± Consternation flickered across the bard¡¯s face. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Answer me,¡± I said, nothing bothering to explain further. ¡°Three,¡± he replied, ¡°but what does¡ª¡± I didn¡¯t let him finish. Recalling the waiting Game alert, I replied in the affirmative to the Adjudicator. Your response has been noted. The player Shael will be punished for violating the safe zone protocols. A split-second later, the bard sitting across me exploded, splattering me and everything else nearby. Shael has died. Chapter 504: A Testing Time Eight hours later, I was at the rebirth well. Waiting. I didn¡¯t search the village. I didn¡¯t explore the valley beyond. I didn¡¯t do anything except sit and stew. Over what I had to do next. What I needed to do next. And Wolf forgive me, what I couldn¡¯t do next. Around and around my thoughts circled, going over all the permutations, possibilities, false trails, ploys, and potential treacheries in store for me. Sadly, too much was uncertain, too much was unknown. And as much as I wanted to rush things, I knew I couldn¡¯t. I would have to move carefully, with each step measured and thought out, else Loken and his envoy would get the better of me. And that would not only be to my detriment but that of all the Forerunners. First, though, there was the matter of Shael to deal with. Which was why I was sitting where I was. Waiting. Exactly on the eight-hour mark, the rebirth well came to life. It was the first confirmation I needed. The second was seeing minstrel¡¯s face as he surged out of the water. Shael looked exactly how I remembered him. But the bard¡¯s eyes remained glazed over, his mind still foggy after his gruesome death. Reaching out with my will, I inspected him. The target is Shael, a level 121 half-elf red minstrel. He bears a Mark of Moderate Shadow. It was the final confirmation I needed. Shael was who he said he was. Saying nothing, I waited patiently for him to recover. A minute later, the bard¡¯s face cleared. ¡°You killed me!¡± ¡°Technically the Adjudicator did,¡± I murmured. ¡°But you could¡¯ve stopped him!¡± he accused as he exited the well in a pair of white newbie shorts and shirt. ¡°I could have,¡± I agreed. ¡°So, why didn¡¯t you?¡± he demanded. ¡°No spell survives death,¡± I replied softly. Shael blinked furiously as he processed that. ¡°You didn¡¯t think I was me?¡± he asked at last. I shook my head. ¡°Not quite. I worried that you weren¡¯t. If the envoy could impersonate me, she can do the same with you, and who was to say, you weren¡¯t part of whatever elaborate plot she cooked up?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­. dastardly.¡± I shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s the Game. Especially the way Loken and his people play it. And if you are truly going to utilize your own deception skills, it¡¯s the way you¡¯re going to have to learn to play it too.¡± ¡°But did you have to kill me?¡± ¡°I did,¡± I said unapologetically. ¡°I needed to see your face free of any misleading spells and witness how long you took to resurrect.¡± Shael crossed his arms over his chest. ¡°And what if I hadn¡¯t thrown that bottle at you earlier?¡± ¡°Then I would have taken you outside the safe zone and killed you all the same,¡± I said implacably. ¡°Hells,¡± Shael muttered. ¡°It was necessary.¡± The bard shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you for killing me this time, but don¡¯t you dare do it again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try not to,¡± I replied solemnly. ¡°So, now that I¡¯ve passed your test, will you tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t.¡± Shael frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t passed my tests, not all of them anyway, just the first one.¡± The bard¡¯s eyes widened. A small smile stole onto my face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the second one won¡¯t require any dying.¡± He scowled. ¡°Then what will it require?¡± ¡°A visit to Nexus,¡± I said, rising to my feet and putting the package I held in his hands. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Shael asked, looking down. ¡°Clothes,¡± I replied. ¡°I doubt most of the stuff on your corpse is salvageable.¡± I looked at him questioningly. ¡°Unless you have something else to wear?¡± He shook his head, looking lost. ¡°Then these will have to do until we reach Nexus.¡± ¡°Nexus,¡± Shael repeated, still baffled. ¡°Why would we go there? Loken¡¯s envoy is here.¡± ¡°The second test is there.¡± ¡°Which is what exactly?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± I said, not elaborating further. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head back to the tavern and get what remains of your stuff.¡± ¡°But what about Saya?¡± he asked, hurrying to catch up after he shrugged on the blue mage¡¯s robes I¡¯d given him. ¡°The note said¡ª¡± ¡°Soon,¡± I finished for him. ¡°I know. But by your own admission, you received the note a month ago. It is already too late for ¡®soon.¡¯ At this stage, waiting a few more days won¡¯t matter.¡± My lips thinned into a grim line. ¡°In fact, if we don¡¯t want to fall prey to the trap the envoy no doubt has waiting, we damned well better do this carefully.¡± Shael had no response to that. Marching through the still open doors of the tavern, I seated myself at a table free of gore. ¡°There¡¯s something else you need to do before we leave for Nexus.¡± ¡°Oh, what¡¯s that?¡± Shael asked, seating himself across from me. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. I leaned forward. ¡°Finish your tale. Start from when you last saw me and leave nothing out. I want to know everything that has happened in the sector since.¡± ? ? ? Shael¡¯s tale was not a short one. He kept talking well into the night. It turned out that Loken¡¯s envoy had kept her word, at least initially. The marauders that had been troubling Wyvern¡¯s Roost up to that point vanished, leaving the tavern to prosper in their absence. Then, a month ago, something happened. What, Shael didn¡¯t know, but whatever it was, it was enough to cause the simmering tensions between the Light, Shadow, and Dark armies in the valley to boil over into a full-scale war. So intense had the fighting been that the safe zone had been claimed thrice already. No one, though, had managed to hold onto it. This was when the merchants had begun leaving. Most feared what would happen once the sector became finally owned, and rightfully so. There would be no place for non-aligned merchants then, and rather than stay and risk suffering further losses, most had moved on to other ventures. The factions¡¯ barracks had also emptied during this time. Despite the security and convenience offered by the safe zone, it was too risky for the factions to house their soldiers in the area where the fighting was the hottest. This had led to the current status quo: a deserted safe zone and a valley ripped asunder by war. ¡°Tell me again,¡± I said. ¡°How did the envoy manage to lure Saya out?¡± ¡°I told you, she was wearing your face. She went on¡ªor rather you did¡ªabout some rare wyvern you¡¯d found and killed, and how you trusted only Saya to harvest the ingredients.¡± I frowned. It was a plausible lie, if not one that accounted for my prolonged disappearance. ¡°Did neither of you think to ask where I¡¯d been?¡± ¡°Of course we did,¡± Shael scoffed, ¡°but Saya was not surprised when you held off explaining.¡± He looked down his nose at me. ¡°It seems keeping secrets is something you do often.¡± I winced. The jibe was all too accurate. ¡°That¡¯s all of it,¡± Shael said, stifling a yawn. ¡°Now, you know everything that I do.¡± I nodded slowly. I had a lot to think about and even more to do. ¡°Use one of the rooms upstairs and get some rest,¡± I instructed. ¡°We¡¯re not going to Nexus?¡± he asked in surprise. ¡°We are,¡± I said, rising to my feet myself. ¡°But not tonight. We can both do with some sleep. We¡¯ll leave at first light tomorrow.¡± ? ? ? I met Shael in the common room the next morning. I had slept fitfully and had contemplated ducking back to the tundra to report to the others several times over the course of the night. But in the end, I decided the wiser course was to wait. If I was careful, I would be in no danger in the Nexus safe zone, and it was imperative I didn¡¯t do anything to jeopardize the secret of the nether-infested sector nor that of the Forerunners¡¯ existence. Which returning prematurely to the tundra might just do. ¡°Sleep well?¡± I asked Shael. ¡°Better than I have in weeks,¡± the bard admitted, which I could tell just by looking at him. Some of the shadows beneath his eyes had disappeared, and his face was no longer as guilt-ridden. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± I said, removing an item from my backpack. ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± he asked, eyeing the parchment in my hand. ¡°A portal scroll,¡± I replied. ¡°Huh. I was wondering how you planned on getting us to Nexus.¡± He tugged at the robe I¡¯d given him. ¡°This almost made me think you¡¯d become a mage.¡± I smiled. ¡°Not quite.¡± ¡°What about your face?¡± he asked. I touched my cheek. ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to go to Nexus looking like that?¡± He gestured at my false visage. ¡°Who are you supposed to be anyway?¡± ¡°Actus,¡± I replied. ¡°Someone of no consequences. And yes, I do intend on wearing this face while in Nexus.¡± He tilted his head to the side. ¡°You won¡¯t get past the Triumvirate knights at the gates of the safe zone looking like that,¡± he predicted. ¡°There is some strong magic woven into Nexus¡¯ walls. They¡¯ll stripe you of your enchantments in seconds and alert every guard around.¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m aware, but I don¡¯t intend on leaving the safe zone.¡± This time. ¡°Nor will it take us long to conclude our business in Nexus before we depart the sector.¡± He sighed. ¡°You¡¯re still not going to tell me what this second test of yours is?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I said. Cracking open the portal scroll, I drew on my magic and released its enchantment. Item consumed. You have opened a greater portal to sector 1. The scroll vanished from my hands, and a moment later, a luminous white doorway appeared before me. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said and ducked through without hesitation. Transfer through portal commencing¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Leaving sector 12,560. Entering Nexus! ? ? ? You have entered the safe zone of sector 1. A shield generator is in place around the city, preventing portals from opening anywhere except in the designated teleportation zones. My re-entry into Nexus was almost a replica of my first foray into the giant city. Emerging in a world of noise on the raised stone dais that served the city as its primary teleportation point, I wasted no time in shoving my way past other travelers and getting off the platform. This time, given the alacrity of my movements, none of the watching Triumvirate knights paid me any heed. Shael, appearing behind me, quickly followed suit, and we were soon lost in the surging crowd at the platform¡¯s base. ¡°Where to?¡± the bard yelled in my ear, having to shout to make himself heard. Not responding, I cut a path toward our destination. The bard fell back, muttering under his breath about secretive fools when he realized I wasn¡¯t going to answer him. We traveled that way for the next few minutes. While we did, I scanned the passing buildings. Nexus looked no different than it did during my first visit, unchanged and perhaps unchanging. Uncaring mansions lined the streets, and rich players hurried to and fro. I was glad for it. In Nexus¡¯ multitudes, Shael and I were just two more insignificant specks, anonymous players and unworthy of attention. Finally, the south gate to the plague quarter came into view and I slowed my steps. ¡°I thought you said we¡¯re not leaving the safe zone?¡± Shael asked, finally breaking his silence. ¡°We¡¯re not,¡± I replied, as I veered left and towards the water-logged building sitting there. Shael stopped short. ¡°We¡¯re going to a bank?¡± ¡°Yes. The Albion Bank specifically.¡± I would have preferred using another bank, but the Bank owned by the Power Viviane was the only one whose layout I was familiar with and now was not the time to slip up by crossing paths with unexpected wards or spells. ¡°Come on,¡± I said, waving Shael forward. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Not waiting for his response, I strode across the thin stone bridge leading to the Bank¡¯s entrance. You have entered a dampening field. Your mana, psi, and stamina abilities have been inhibited. The Game alert did not give me pause. I had not forgotten the dampening field from my previous visit. I also knew it wouldn¡¯t strip away my existing spells. And with my true face concealed by mimic, there was little danger of anyone inside recognizing me. Strolling confidently into the bank¡¯s interior, I came to a stop in the middle of the marble foyer, and while I waited for Shael to catch up, I took a slow, long look around. Everything was exactly as I remembered. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± the bard hissed as he drew to a stop beside me. ¡°We are not doing anything,¡± I replied in a low voice. ¡°You on the other hand¡­¡± I pointed out the rune-inscribed rectangular frames at the far end of the rooms. ¡°You see those?¡± Shael looked where I gestured. ¡°The Watchers, what about them?¡± ¡°Walk through one,¡± I instructed. He waited for me to go on, and when I didn¡¯t, he threw me an incredulous look. ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s your test?¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll explain in a bit. Now, go.¡± Looking perplexed, but complying nonetheless, Shael strode through the nearest watcher under my watchful gaze. No alarms triggered. No hidden doors opened. Nothing at all happened except for one of the tellers behind the counter glancing curiously in Shael¡¯s direction. The tension in my shoulders eased further. Looping back to me, Shael drew to a stop before me. ¡°Now what?¡± I spun on my heel. ¡°Now, we leave.¡± Chapter 505: A or B 71 Days Left for Brokering Peace in Sector 12,560 Shael didn¡¯t say anything until we exited the building. He didn¡¯t stay silent for long, though. ¡°What was all that about?¡± he demanded once we were on the street again. ¡°That was me making sure Loken or his envoy didn¡¯t lay any spells on you.¡± ¡°Why would they do¡­¡± he began before running aground. ¡°Right, stupid question. But what made you suspect something like that?¡± I smiled thinly. ¡°Because that¡¯s what the trickster did to me. After our first meeting, Loken set a tracking spell on me¡ªone that the Albion Bank¡¯s Watchers immediately picked up on. After that experience, it seemed prudent to check you after your own encounter.¡± ¡°Huh¡­ I guess.¡± He paused. ¡°So, does that mean I¡¯ve passed your test?¡± ¡°You have.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Shael pronounced. He waited a beat. ¡°Well, go on then. Tell me what all this is about.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just yet,¡± I murmured. ¡°There¡¯s another one you have to undergo first.¡± ¡°Another one?¡± Shael glared at me. ¡°Just how many damn tests do you plan on subjecting me to?¡± he hissed. ¡°Just one more,¡± I replied mildly. The bard put his hands on his hips. ¡°So, let¡¯s get to it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do that in a bit,¡± I replied. Taking my bearings, I crossed the street. ¡°To get to the next test we¡¯ll have to leave Nexus, and before we do that, I have a short stop to make.¡± ¡°And what stop is¡ª¡± He broke off. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me. Let me guess: I¡¯ll see.¡± I smiled. ¡°Now, you¡¯re getting the hang of things.¡± ? ? ? We didn¡¯t have far to go. Just one street over in fact. ¡°The Emporium,¡± Shael murmured as he caught sight of our destination. ¡°You¡¯re going shopping?¡± I laughed, somewhat darkly. ¡°Believe it or not, this is no idle side trip. We wouldn¡¯t be here if the need wasn¡¯t dire.¡± Shael sighed, but he didn¡¯t say anything further as I drew to a halt before the gates of the walled compound. Two familiar giants stood guard over it. ¡°Lake. Ent,¡± I greeted before either could get a word out. Ent squinted at me. ¡°Do we know you?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said lightly, ¡°but I know you.¡± Pulling out the Emporium access card, I flipped it Lake¡¯s way. ¡°And before you think to get rid of me, have a look at that.¡± After a moment of silent inspection, the giant berserker grunted. ¡°It¡¯s the real thing.¡± Not questioning his companion, Ent swung back the gate, and I stepped through. ¡°Come on, Shael,¡± I called over my shoulder. ¡°Not so fast,¡± Lake said, stepping in front of the half-elf before he could follow me in. ¡°Where¡¯s his card?¡± I sighed. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have one,¡± I said honestly. ¡°He¡¯s my guest.¡± Ent shook his head. ¡°No guests allowed,¡± he said adamantly. I glared at the giant. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Shael said. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here.¡± I glanced at him. ¡°You sure?¡± He nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t wander off,¡± I warned. ¡°I won¡¯t be long.¡± I turned my gaze on the giants. ¡°And you two, you better keep an eye on him.¡± ¡°Yessir,¡± Lake drawled. ¡°Whatever you wish.¡± Waving me on, he shut the gate behind me. ? ? ? Like every other time I¡¯d been in the emporium, I was met by a red-robed and hooded woman, one of Safyre¡¯s former colleagues. Ideally it should have been the aetherist standing here, going to meet Kesh, not me. But matters in the wolves¡¯ valley had forced me to change plans. And it was not just the matter of Saya¡¯s capture-murder that accounted for the unwanted change. Originally, I¡¯d intended to obtain Safyre¡¯s red robes from the emporium agent in the wolves¡¯ valley. But, unsurprisingly, given the breakout of hostilities, the agent was long gone, necessitating this visit. ¡°How can I help you today?¡± the agent asked. ¡°You can direct me to Kesh,¡± I replied politely. The woman shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Kesh is unavailable.¡± It was the same response I¡¯d received the first time I¡¯d come here. Then, I¡¯d used Viviane¡¯s token to get past Kesh¡¯s gatekeepers. This time, though, I hoped not to draw more attention than strictly necessary. I smiled. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve heard that line before,¡± I murmured and before she could respond, added, ¡°Tell Kesh, Cara¡¯s friend is here.¡± No one else in the emporium but Kesh knew the name I¡¯d bestowed on Safyre when she still worked for the old merchant. Even Kesh had only heard me use the name once. Hopefully, it stuck in her mind. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. For a moment, the agent said nothing. ¡°Go on,¡± I urged gently. ¡°I¡¯ll wait.¡± Coming to a decision, the hooded woman bowed low and silently departed. ? ? ? A few minutes later, I was standing in Kesh¡¯s office. The old merchant was ensconced behind her desk as always. At my entrance she looked up. Kesh hadn¡¯t changed in the intervening time. Her face was just as seamed, her hands as wrinkled, and her eyes as sharp as ever. ¡°Michael?¡± she demanded bluntly, not fooled for a moment by the face I wore. Not answering, I looked pointedly at the closed door at my back, then at the surrounding walls. She snorted. ¡°This room is better shielded than any bank. No one will overhear anything you say here.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s good,¡± I said, relaxing. Letting the spell woven about my face dissipate, I sat in the chair opposite the old woman. Kesh studied me in silence for a moment. ¡°Do I even want to know what trouble you¡¯ve gotten into this time?¡± she asked at last. I shrugged. ¡°Probably not.¡± ¡°Hmpf. Where¡¯s Cara? Is she¡­?¡± ¡°Safyre is safe,¡± I replied, deliberately using her real name. Kesh sat back, some of her own tension easing. ¡°So, it is not about her that you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°It is,¡± I allowed. ¡°But not wholly.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s about the valley,¡± Kesh guessed. My gaze sharpened. ¡°You know what¡¯s happened?¡± Kesh shook her head. ¡°I know war has broken out, and I know Saya¡¯s disappeared.¡± She threw me an apologetic look. ¡°I am trying to find out what happened, but I haven¡¯t managed to uncover a single clue.¡± She sighed, looking disheartened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Michael, I know how much she means to you, but I don¡¯t know where Saya is.¡± I inclined my head. ¡°I don¡¯t hold you accountable. What¡¯s happened is not your fault.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not done yet,¡± Kesh said grimly. ¡°I won¡¯t give up on Saya; my people are still looking. But I don¡¯t want you to get your hopes up. After this long¡­¡± I shook my head. ¡°I appreciate the effort, but it¡¯s not necessary. I know what¡¯s happened.¡± Kesh¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You do? Tell me.¡± I hesitated. ¡°Tell me,¡± she demanded. ¡°Whatever it is, I want to know.¡± ¡°This may be one of the things you¡¯re better off not knowing,¡± I suggested delicately. ¡°No,¡± Kesh refuted, glaring at me. ¡°Saya and I may not have met, but we¡¯ve corresponded for months, and I consider the young lady one of my own. She is as much mine to protect as any of the emporium¡¯s agents. Do you understand?¡± I exhaled heavily. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then go on,¡± she said peremptorily. ¡°Tell me.¡± I slid the note Shael had given me across the table. ¡°That was sent a month ago,¡± I said softly. Picking up the slip of paper, Kesh read the short message inscribed within. ¡°Who is this from?¡± ¡°Loken¡¯s envoy.¡± Kesh inhaled sharply. ¡°Loken. What interest does he have in Saya?¡± I shifted uncomfortably. ¡°You remember the marauders?¡± ¡°Yes, Kalin¡¯s people who blockaded the tavern,¡± she said impatiently. ¡°What about them?¡± ¡°I may have struck a bargain with Loken¡¯s envoy to get them to stop.¡± Bowing her head, Kesh pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°Foolish boy,¡± she muttered. ¡°It is never wise to trifle with the Powers, especially not one of Loken¡¯s caliber.¡± ¡°Be that as it may, I had no choice in the matter,¡± I said stiffly. ¡°And for reasons I can¡¯t go into right now, the attention of the Powers is not something I¡¯m ever likely to escape.¡± Kesh sighed but didn¡¯t pursue the subject further. ¡°What deal did you strike with Loken¡¯s envoy, and when did you break it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t break my bargain with the envoy.¡± I grimaced. ¡°But circumstances in the valley changed while I was¡­ away.¡± ¡°The war happened, you mean,¡± Kesh guessed. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m not sure who or what started it, but Loken¡¯s envoy may have taken it as a sign I was reneging on our bargain.¡± Kesh pursed her lips. ¡°Then this is all a misunderstanding?¡± I breathed out heavily. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Either way, I can¡¯t let things stand as they are.¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Kesh said primly. ¡°And Saya? Do you know if she is still¡­¡± ¡°Alive?¡± I completed for her. Kesh nodded. I barked a laugh. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I confessed. ¡°She may be. Or she may not be. With the trickster one can never be sure.¡± The merchant did not refute my statement. ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± ¡°Two actually.¡± Kesh leaned across the table. ¡°Go on. Tell me.¡± ¡°Are you sure you want to involve yourself in this?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said simply. I did not demur again. ¡°Plan A is to sneak into the envoy¡¯s base and rescue Saya.¡± A low guttural growl escaped my throat. ¡°And after I¡¯ve seen her safe, I will burn Loken¡¯s envoy¡¯s house down around her and purge the valley of Shadow¡¯s minions.¡± ¡°A noble aspiration,¡± Kesh said acerbically, ¡°if somewhat unrealistic.¡± I didn¡¯t argue. Kesh was right. Going to war with Loken¡ªeven if it was not him directly that I attacked¡ªwas madness. But it was the kind of madness I would not shrink from if it meant seeing Saya safe. ¡°Let¡¯s set aside Plan A for now,¡± Kesh continued. ¡°What¡¯s Plan B?¡± For a long moment, I didn¡¯t say anything. Plan B was something I was still mulling over. It was risky and daring, but admittedly had more chance of success than going scorched earth on Shadow. ¡°Michael?¡± Kesh prompted. I sighed. ¡°Plan B is reaching out to Loken.¡± Kesh searched my face. ¡°You think that will work?¡± she asked skeptically. ¡°It might. I suspect his envoy is acting without his blessing.¡± I grimaced. ¡°So why the hesitation?¡± I grimaced. ¡°Well, for one there is no way of telling if my suspicions are correct. Asking Loken won¡¯t help us any. The trickster will certainly have no issue disavowing his envoy¡¯s action if it suits him.¡± ¡°But if it gets Saya back, who cares?¡± ¡°There¡¯s that,¡± I allowed. ¡°But there is also the fact that meeting Loken is dangerous.¡± Kesh did not laugh as many likely would¡¯ve in her place. Coming face to face with a Power like Loken was never safe. ¡°Dangerous in what way specifically?¡± ¡°If he manages to analyze me, it will be disastrous,¡± I said obliquely. ¡°Not only for me but for everyone else I know¡ªSaya and Safyre included.¡± ¡°We can arrange for the meeting to happen in a shielded room, one with a dampening field,¡± Kesh suggested. I nodded. ¡°That was my idea too. But even so, the risk will not be completely eliminated.¡± Kesh stared at me. ¡°You¡¯re that worried?¡± I laughed. ¡°No need to be polite about it. I¡¯m not worried, I¡¯m afraid.¡± But it was not for myself that I feared. It was those who depended on me that concerned me. Endangering their lives was not as easy as risking my own. Kesh drummed her fingers on the desk. ¡°Plan B is still your best option,¡± she said, gently nudging me in the right direction. I sighed. ¡°I know that. It¡¯s a large part of why I¡¯ve come here.¡± ¡°Shall I arrange the meeting then?¡± I nodded. ¡°Do that. Use the Wanderer¡¯s Delight.¡± ¡°The hotel is a good choice,¡± Kesh agreed. She paused. ¡°Should I share any details in the invitation to Loken?¡± I shook my head. ¡°No. No need to forewarn him. I want to see Loken¡¯s face when I tell him the news.¡± While trying to figure out if the trickster was lying or not was likely an exercise in futility, I might still be able to gain some insight into his thinking. Kesh nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll see it done.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I said. ¡°Now for the next matter.¡± ¡°Safyre,¡± Kesh stated. ¡°Yes,¡± I agreed. ¡°It¡¯s time we discuss Safyre.¡± Chapter 506: A Robe for a Friend ¡°Tell me,¡± Kesh said. Gathering my thoughts, I wondered how to phrase my request, then realized it was best to just come out and say it. ¡°Safyre needs her robes back.¡± Kesh¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°She wants to rejoin the emporium?¡± I shook my head. ¡°No. She wants to borrow a set.¡± The old merchant frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not the way it works.¡± ¡°I know and, more importantly, Safyre does too. She doesn¡¯t need the robes permanently. Only long enough for a quick visit to Nexus.¡± The red robes of the emporium¡¯s agents weren¡¯t just ordinary pieces of cloth as I¡¯d learned when I¡¯d first met Safyre. They were high-tiered artifacts crafted by the Triumvirate. While Safyre wore the robes, her forsworn Mark would be concealed, letting her safely enter Nexus. ¡°Why would Safyre need to come here?¡± Kesh asked sternly. ¡°To speak to you in person.¡± I paused, wondering how much to share. ¡°And to speak with the other forsworn.¡± Kesh stiffened. ¡°Yes,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Safyre told me all about them. I know there are more like her within the emporium¡¯s ranks.¡± ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have told you that,¡± Kesh said tightly. I shrugged. ¡°Perhaps. But she did. And you have my word I will not share the secret with anyone.¡± The old merchant stared at me in silence for a moment. ¡°Why does she want to speak with the others?¡± she asked eventually. ¡°To make them an offer,¡± I replied. ¡°What offer?¡± ¡°A life free of persecution.¡± Kesh laughed hollowly. ¡°Such does not exist,¡± she scoffed. ¡°Not for the likes of them. The Game and its players are everywhere. No sector is truly safe for a forsworn.¡± I inclined my head. ¡°That may be true. But how about a faction that needs the forsworn as much as they need it? How about a Power who is willing to take them on as followers and who promises to protect them?¡± ¡°Bah! More foolishness. No Power will ever consider binding themselves to someone who has already forsworn their oaths. If they¡¯ve done so once already, what¡¯s to stop them doing the same again?¡± She shook her head sadly. ¡°That¡¯s how the Powers think, anyway. Few will even acknowledge that the fault may lie with the commander and not the commanded, that they themselves may have been the unjust ones, that what was asked was too onerous, and that the forsworn had little choice except to disobey.¡± I stared at Kesh thoughtfully for a moment. There was an ever-so-slight tremor to her voice that bespoke a deep-seated passion. The topic of the forsworn was clearly an emotionally charged one for her. ¡°Do you know what I am?¡± I asked softly. ¡°Trouble,¡± she muttered. ¡°Trouble I should have chased from my door the day our paths first crossed.¡± Unfazed, I tried again. ¡°I was watching you carefully earlier, you know. When I told you that I didn¡¯t want Loken analyzing me, you didn¡¯t so much as bat an eyelid.¡± The merchant raised her chin. ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°How old are you, Kesh?¡± She blinked at the apparent non-sequitur. ¡°Again, what does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°Old enough to remember the ancients?¡± I asked quietly. Kesh¡¯s face blanked. ¡°We¡¯ve drifted far enough afield,¡± she warned. ¡°You don¡¯t want to go down this path. Let¡¯s return to the matter at hand.¡± I shook my head. Kesh¡¯s response only confirmed what my intuition was telling me. ¡°I think you suspect what I am,¡± I went on. ¡°I think you have for a long time.¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Kesh barked. I was taking a dangerous risk, I knew. But the way matters were going my bloodline would not stay secret much longer, and if I was going to be revealed, it was better for it to happen in pursuit of allies rather than when someone like Loken inevitably figured out the truth. ¡°I am a Power, Kesh,¡± I whispered. ¡°One willing to bind even forsworn to his cause. But I¡¯m not just any Power, I¡¯m one who will do everything I can to shield my Pack. If the forsworn join me, I promise you I will go to the same lengths to protect them that I do for Saya.¡± Kesh froze. ¡°Wolf,¡± she breathed. ¡°Yes,¡± I said simply. A riot of emotions flickered across the old woman¡¯s face, too many and too fast to decipher. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Because I think you care. Someone who has done what you have to protect so many forsworn women cannot but care.¡± Kesh laughed¡ªbitterly I thought. ¡°You think I care? That¡¯s a slim thread on which to hang your life on. If you only knew of the hundreds I failed to help. Or the deals I had to make to survive.¡± ¡°That does not negate what you¡¯ve done for those you¡¯ve saved,¡± I countered. ¡°Each of us can only do so much.¡± I thought of Adriel. ¡°And we¡¯ve all done things we rather not have.¡± Kesh¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°The Triumvirate will pay a fortune for the information you¡¯ve just handed me. What¡¯s stopping me from turning you in?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Kesh waited for me to go on, but when I didn¡¯t, she rasped, ¡°That¡¯s all you have to say? You¡¯re not going to even try and convince me not to? I shrugged. ¡°If I fall, others will take my place. Safyre amongst them.¡± Her gaze narrowed. ¡°Then she knows about¡­?¡± ¡°My bloodline? Yes, she does. She knows that I intend on becoming Wolf Prime. She knows that I plan on raising the ancient Houses again. She knows I will not stand idly by and let the new Powers destroy what¡¯s left of the Kingdom.¡± Kesh flinched at my bald statements, and despite her earlier professed confidence in the wards about the room, her gaze flitted left and right as if trying to spot any would-be eavesdroppers. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re mad or simply stupid,¡± she muttered. ¡°Neither,¡± I said gravely. ¡°Some things need to be said no matter the risk so there is no ambiguity.¡± I leaned forward. ¡°And I have a plan. We have a plan¡ªSafyre and the others who have joined my cause, I mean. It may seem far-fetched at the moment, but I assure you it¡¯s perfectly achievable.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Let me guess you¡¯re going to take over Nexus. No, wait, you¡¯re going to defeat the combined might of the Forces.¡± She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s all been tried before. Many times. No one has come close to succeeding.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°It¡¯s nothing so grand as all of that,¡± I replied mildly. ¡°What we intend on doing is claiming a sector and holding it.¡± She snorted. ¡°Once the new Powers learn the truth of what you are, and they will, they will come banging on your doors. How do you plan on holding your sector then?¡± I smiled. ¡°Simple. With an Aether Cloaking Device.¡± Kesh¡¯s mouth snapped close. Still smiling, I watched her working through the implications of my startling statement. I¡¯d gotten the idea from the Awakened Dead, of all people. A cloaking device was the exact same artifact Ishita had used to hide the wolves¡¯ valley¡¯s coordinates from the rest of the Game¡ªand that included Powers like Loken. For a newly discovered sector, it was the perfect solution. ¡°The sector you have in mind¡­ It can¡¯t be the wolves¡¯ valley,¡± she said at last, a hint of a question in her tone. ¡°Its coordinates are known far and wide already.¡± ¡°It is not sector 12,560,¡± I agreed. She blinked owlishly at me. ¡°Then you have found another hidden sector?¡± I nodded. ¡°One that is also closed off?¡± Again, I nodded. ¡°Have you claimed it yet?¡± she asked sharply. I shook my head. ¡°Regretfully not. There is a minor problem.¡± Or perhaps a not-so-minor one. ¡°What problem?¡± Kesh demanded when I didn¡¯t go on. My lips twitched. ¡°Does this mean you¡¯re in? You will help us?¡± Kesh scowled. ¡°Well, I certainly don¡¯t intend on letting Safyre suffer for whatever idiocy you¡¯ve planned.¡± I laughed. It was not the most glowing of endorsements, but I was not fooled by the old woman¡¯s irascible response. Kesh had just committed herself. And if we were going to succeed, her help would be invaluable. ? ? ? ¡°Don¡¯t tell me any of the details,¡± Kesh said a little later. ¡°I don¡¯t want to know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s safer if you don¡¯t know,¡± I agreed. For both her and us. She met my gaze, her own steely. ¡°But I will need to know the broad strokes if I am to help.¡± I inclined my head. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s start with the basics. Earlier, you claimed to be a Power, is that true?¡± ¡°Technically, I¡¯m not one yet,¡± I conceded. ¡°I¡¯m a Powerful Initiate.¡± She nodded. ¡°Good enough, I suppose. You¡¯ve already formed a faction then?¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°What about your blood?¡± she asked suddenly. ¡°Have you awakened it?¡± If Kesh had thought to catch me off-guard, she failed. ¡°I have,¡± I said evenly. ¡°What is your House rank?¡± I raised one eyebrow, only mildly surprised by the question and the breadth of understanding it implied. If Kesh was as old as I suspected, then her knowledge of the ancients had likely been obtained firsthand. ¡°House Elite,¡± I replied. Something akin to respect flashed across Kesh¡¯s gaze. ¡°Then you have managed to accomplish more than the others that have come before you,¡± she murmured. ¡°Perhaps your fate will be different from theirs.¡± It was an intriguing aside, but staying focused on the matter at hand, I didn¡¯t pursue it. Kesh planted her elbows on the table. ¡°Back to this sector you¡¯ve found. Tell me, why haven¡¯t you claimed it yet?¡± I sighed. ¡°It¡¯s been overrun by the void.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Is that the reason you were so desperate to purchase the nether absorption skillbook all those months ago?¡± I nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve been planning this for a long time then?¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°And no one but you and your faction know the whereabouts of the sector?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Then why risk telling me about it now?¡± I sighed. ¡°Because unfortunately, given the strength of the void¡¯s forces in the sector, we cannot fight them off alone. We need allies.¡± She steepled her fingers. ¡°I see. And that¡¯s why you need the Aether Cloaking Device.¡± ¡°Yes. The device is the only way we can keep the sector¡¯s coordinates hidden from any allies we teleport in.¡± ¡°Procuring the device will not be easy,¡± Kesh warned. ¡°Nor cheap. Shield generators are sector-tiered artifacts.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. But I can afford it.¡± Kesh¡¯s brows rose in surprise, but she refrained from commenting further. ¡°The device is only part of what I need.¡± I laid a parchment down on the table between us. ¡°I need these things too or as many of them as you can get.¡± Personal Equipment wayfarer legendary armor pieces, rank 4 Perception & Mind rings, tiamaten legendary armor pieces, rank 6 spellhold artifact. General items farspeaker bracelets (set of 20), 10 x upgrade gems, 10 x greater portal scrolls, 100 x blank faction tokens, 20 x rank 5 nether crystals, 40 x miscellaneous tomes, 1 x steel door, 20 x beds, 20 x storage chests, 2 x cooking stoves, 100 x stores of preserved¡­ Once again, my shopping list was not as comprehensive as it could be, and I¡¯d only included ¡®must-haves.¡¯ Assuming Nicola upheld his end of the deal we¡¯d struck, I wouldn¡¯t need to be as circumspect in my purchase in future. But until then¡­ ¡°Tiamaten,¡± Kesh muttered to herself, as head bent, she worked her way through the list. ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡± But despite the comment, she didn¡¯t look up until she got to the general terms. ¡°Faction tokens?¡± she asked, her brows rising. ¡°And by that, do you mean what I think you do?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of stamped coins manufactured from unbound soulbound material, then yes.¡± Kesh pursed her lips. ¡°I take it, you already know how expensive and rare such items are?¡± I nodded. ¡°I do. I must have them nonetheless.¡± Soulbound items could not be created. They could only be found. And there was really only one dependable source of the artifacts: the Game. Typically, the Adjudicator only gifted players with soulbound items after they performed an extraordinary feat in a dungeon. Which accounted for their rareness. Soulbound items could be repurposed, though. Adriel had done just that when she¡¯d created the Cloak of the Reach from the Magister¡¯s Cloak and Sunfury¡¯s feather. But by far the most common means of reutilizing soulbound items was in the creation of tokens. Tokens like the ones I¡¯d received from Viviane and Tartar. While not exactly commonplace, the tokens were a simple, if effective, means of negating the deception skill. Unlike spirit signatures, they could not be forged, and all the major guilds and factions used them to verify their members. ¡°You have someone trustworthy who can work the tokens?¡± Kesh asked. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied simply. While soulbound tokens could not be counterfeited, their designs could be duplicated¡ªbut only by their original maker. It was their one weakness¡ªand the primary reason why the identity of a faction¡¯s token makers was one of its most closely guarded secrets. ¡°And you¡¯re certain you can pay for all this?¡± Kesh asked doubtfully. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure? The money remaining in the tavern¡¯s accounts will not be nearly enough to cover everything.¡± ¡°How much is there?¡± I asked curiously. ¡°Twenty thousand and three hundred.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± I murmured. Saya had clearly gotten the tavern back on track before the untimely war. ¡°But to answer your questions, yes, I¡¯m fairly certain I will be able to pay for the items.¡± Assuming Nicola comes through. Kesh slipped the scribbled note into one of her pockets. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll begin the process of acquiring them.¡± She shook her head. ¡°But some of these items, I warn you¡­¡± ¡°I understand, they¡¯ll be hard to come by.¡± She nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡± She studied me for a moment. ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯ve found a player willing to sell his wayfarer item. His asking price is well above the market rate, though.¡± ¡°Which piece does he have?¡± I asked eagerly. ¡°And how much does he want for it?¡± ¡°The pants¡ªfor forty thousand gold.¡± I winced. That was a lot of money, but even at the exorbitant asking price, I was not about to pass up the opportunity to add to my own set. ¡°Get it.¡± ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll make the trade,¡± Kesh said, looking unsurprised. ¡°In the meantime, can I offer you some advice?¡± ¡°Please. Go ahead.¡± ¡°You mentioned coming to Nexus to find allies.¡± I opened my mouth, but she held up her hand, forestalling me. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me. I don¡¯t want to know who you will be approaching. But if I can make a suggestion: speak to the brotherhood.¡± The stygian brotherhood was already on my list of potential allies, but wanting to hear Kesh¡¯s own reasoning, I made no mention of that. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Every nether-infested sector is of interest to them, and like it or not, they are amongst those best equipped to fight the void¡¯s creatures. If nothing else, they will have the gear others you recruit require.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good point,¡± I allowed. ¡°I will consider visiting them.¡± ¡°Good. Now back to the matter of Safyre¡¯s robe.¡± Reaching beneath the table, she extracted a slim package. ¡°Here you go.¡± Chapter 507: Blind Drop I stared at the garment sitting on the table but made no move to take it, admittedly more than a little surprised by how easily Kesh was offering up one of the emporium¡¯s famed red robes. ¡°That¡¯s it? You¡¯re just giving it to me? With no strings attached?¡± ¡°I trust Safyre to use it wisely,¡± Kesh said simply. ¡°She understands the danger, not just to me, but her fellows in the emporium if she misuses them.¡± She paused. ¡°Besides, the robes come with their own ¡®strings,¡¯ so to speak.¡± I frowned. ¡°What does that mean?¡± She gestured at the package on the table. ¡°Go on, take it. I¡¯ve unshielded the robes¡¯ properties so you can see for yourself.¡± Still frowning, I stretched out my hand. You have acquired a set of emporium robes. This item is a rank 12 artifact created by the Power Herat and has been designed to shield its user from attacks and conceal their identity. It has no minimum requirements to equip. Warning: a location beacon has been concealed in this artifact. It will automatically activate if the user suffers any damage or on request by the item¡¯s creator. I pursed my lips. ¡°Urgh. It has a locator beacon.¡± ¡°Yes, that strictly limits the item¡¯s use.¡± Kesh paused. ¡°It should not bear mentioning but I¡¯ll say it anyway: don¡¯t take the robes to your hidden base.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± I murmured, still unhappily studying the robes in my hands. ¡°Safyre didn¡¯t mention the beacon.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know about it.¡± I looked up in surprise. ¡°None of my agents do,¡± Kesh continued. She smiled thinly. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m fairly certain that the Triumvirate never intended I find out either.¡± I blinked. ¡°Then how¡­?¡± She laughed. ¡°Like you said, I¡¯ve lived a long life. Not all of it has been spent frivolously. I¡¯ve managed to acquire a few tricks of my own along the way.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Turning back to the robes, I wondered how to factor this latest wrinkle into my plans. I couldn¡¯t take the thing back to the nether-infested sector. I would have to store it elsewhere, somewhere that wouldn¡¯t surprise the Triumvirate¡ªif they ever thought to look¡ªand somewhere Safyre could easily reach. ¡°Tell Safyre not to return to Nexus,¡± Kesh said. My brows furrowed. ¡°You don¡¯t want her to come here?¡± I raised the robes. ¡°Then why give me this?¡± ¡°Safyre will need it to visit the emporium vaults. Don¡¯t ask me where that is, the location is secret, but Safyre knows. I will arrange for the other forsworn to rotate through the vaults in the coming days so she can speak to them there. Safyre can also collect your purchases while she¡¯s there.¡± She glanced at me sidelong. ¡°Assuming you¡¯ve managed to arrange payment before then, of course.¡± I nodded in understanding. Kesh might be willing to help us, but she still had a business to run. ¡°You¡¯ll have your money,¡± I promised. I paused, struck by another thought. ¡°In fact, I can fetch it right now if you allow me to wear the robes.¡± Kesh frowned. ¡°Just this one time,¡± I added hastily. ¡°And only to get past the safe zone¡¯s wards.¡± If the robes could hide Safyre¡¯s forsworn Mark, they would just as easily conceal my Power Mark from the detection spells the Triumvirate had placed around the safe zone walls and gatehouses. The old merchant sighed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make an exception.¡± She threw me a stern look. ¡°But just this once.¡± I bowed my head. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be taking your companion with you?¡± She meant Shael. ¡°Yes¡­¡± As tempting as the idea of leaving him behind was, that wouldn¡¯t do. For all his faults, the bard was a savvy operator and knew his way around the Game and its players, more so than most of my other companions. If he was going to be a full-fledged member of the Forerunners, I had to use every opportunity to learn his strengths¡ªand weaknesses. Kesh nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll reach out to Loken in the interim. It should not take long to get an answer.¡± I rose to my feet. ¡°Then I best be on my way.¡± ? ? ? You have equipped a set of the emporium robes, concealing your identity. Before exiting Kesh¡¯s office, I put on the red garment, transforming myself into just one another faceless emporium agent, and as I left the compound, none of Kesh¡¯s employees gave me a second glance, not even the two at the gate. ¡°Come with me, Shael,¡± I whispered to the bard slouched against the compound¡¯s outer wall as I strode past. ¡°Thanks for the offer, friend,¡± he began. ¡°But I¡¯m¡ª¡± Breaking off, he threw me a sharp look, no doubt finally recognizing my voice, before his gaze flicked to the two giants watching us. ¡°Whatever you wish, friend,¡± he said, starting again. Keeping pace beside me, he waited until we were out of earshot before speaking again. ¡°Michael?¡± ¡°The one and the same,¡± I whispered back. ¡°How did you get those robes?¡± he hissed. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me you stole them.¡± ¡°Of course, I didn¡¯t steal them. And the how is unimportant.¡± ¡°Alright, what about the why?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got to leave the safe zone, and I prefer my identity not to be revealed,¡± I replied. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Which was true enough. I was fairly certain that the spells embedded in the safe zone exits¡ªlike those in the banks¡ªwere powerful enough to see through my mimic spell and detect my Power Mark. And while I was not a criminal in Nexus¡ªyet¡ªI wanted to avoid the attention my Mark¡¯s revelation would bring. ¡°Worried about Loken, are you?¡± Shael asked, throwing me a shrewd look. ¡°You could say that,¡± I murmured. The half-elf sighed. ¡°Are we still on your¡ªwhat did you call it? ¡ª¡®short stop?¡¯¡± ¡°No,¡± I admitted. ¡°This is another detour, but it¡¯s the last one, I promise. We just need to fetch something.¡± Shael didn¡¯t say anything, but I could sense his unhappiness. Still, I only needed him to be patient for a little longer, then he¡¯d learn the truth about everything. ? ? ? You have left a safe zone. We passed through the south gate with only a cursory nod from the Triumvirate knights on guard for my red robes. ¡°Where to?¡± Shael asked. I glanced around, searching the streets of the plague quarter for a likely alley. I was uncomfortably aware that my every movement was potentially being tracked¡ªnot that I thought the Triumvirate would bother with such without real cause¡ªand had to be doubly careful of my movements. ¡°There first,¡± I replied, pointing out a narrow and heavily shadowed street that my mindsight reported as empty. ¡°Wait at the entrance.¡± Not commenting, Shael watched as I ducked into the alley¡¯s depths and drew the shadows around me. You have unequipped a set of the emporium¡¯s robes. You have cast mimic, renewing your Actus visage. Remaining duration: 10 hours. Stuffing Kesh¡¯s robes into an empty bag, I buried them in the trash and rubble littering the alley. Leaving the garment behind was a risk, but not as large a one as taking it to Nicola¡¯s drop point. And besides, I didn¡¯t intend on being gone long. My disguise in place, I strode out of the alley, and with Shael close on my heels, headed deeper into Nexus¡¯ poorest quarter. ? ? ? Heading due south, Shael and I cut a wide arc through the plague quarter. As we did, my gaze idly drifted to the Triumvirate citadel dominating the skyline, and I wondered which emporium agent had replaced Safyre in the knights¡¯ castle. Was it another forsworn? ¡°What are we doing here?¡± Shael muttered. ¡°A rift could open at any moment.¡± I glanced at him sideways. The bard¡¯s gaze rove restlessly, darting from the pockmarked cobblestone streets to the dilapidated buildings, and from the wary residents to the heavily armored groups of passing players. ¡°You haven¡¯t spent much time in the plague quarter much, have you?¡± I guessed. ¡°No.¡± My brows rose at the curtness of his response. ¡°Have you been here at all before?¡± Tight-lipped, he said nothing. His silence was answer enough. Taking pity on him, I attempted to set him at ease. ¡°Rifts aren¡¯t that common here. Yes, they appear, but not every day, and not in multiple locations at once. Although,¡± I added in fond reminiscence, ¡°after my first day here, I had a somewhat different picture of the plague quarter.¡± Despite himself, Shael looked intrigued. ¡°What happened?¡± I laughed. ¡°I ran into a rift. Quite literally.¡± Shael¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°But in hindsight, it was probably for the better.¡± My thoughts drifted as, not for the first time, I wondered what things would be like if I had not run into Simone¡¯s party that day. Would I have still entered the guardian tower? Would I have still discovered the nether-infested sector, survived my next brush with the stygians, and met Draven, Adriel and the others? Possibly not. ¡°I have been to the plague quarter before,¡± Shael volunteered finally, ¡°but never this deep.¡± I nodded, unsurprised. ¡°Then, you¡¯ll need this,¡± I said, handing him a small crystal. You have lost a crystal of rank 4 disease protection. Withdrawing another crystal from my belt, I crushed it in a closed fist. You have activated a single-use enchantment, casting a ward of disease protection around yourself. For the next 4 hours, you will be shielded from tier 4 and lower infections. Silently copying me, Shael did the same. ¡°Good, now we¡¯re ready,¡± I said. ¡°For what?¡± he wondered. ¡°For the saltmarsh,¡± I replied. ? ? ? Nicola¡¯s drop point was not in the saltmarsh proper. Rather, it was in one of the many abandoned houses along its edge. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± I said softly as we rounded a corner and the building in question came into sight. ¡°Here?¡± Shael asked, looking around in confusion. ¡°Here, where? All I see are¡ª¡± Yanking the half-elf back, I cut him off. ¡°Wha¡ª¡± ¡°Shh,¡± I hissed. Drawing the shadows around me, I edged up to the closest building. On my prior visits to the plague quarter, I¡¯d always found its southeastern section¡ªthe region overrun by the saltmarsh¡ªto be vacant. Few players ever ventured here. It was why Nicola and I had chosen the faded yellow house on the rim of the saltmarsh as our drop point. Unfortunately, the region was no longer empty. Mindsight reported twenty players ahead, and not just ahead, but in the very same yellow house where I hoped my money was. It could not be a coincidence, of course. Has Nicola betrayed me? Sadly, that seemed like a distinct possibility. But I couldn¡¯t let the thought distract me. I had more important things to worry about at the moment. Moving slowly, I peered around the corner. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. My second look at the north side of the yellow house was no more revealing than my first short glimpse. None of the players that my mindsight reported as being inside were visible from this distance. Drawing back from the corner, I closed my eyes and refocused on the mindglows I could sense. The players were lying motionless all along the edge of the building, and at a guess, I¡¯d say the nearest six were peering out of the second floor¡¯s dirt-stained north-facing windows. Lookouts, I concluded. It was a good bet, too, that the other fourteen were watching the western and eastern approaches, and perhaps even the southern one from the saltmarsh. More and more, this was looking like an ambush. But whether of Nicola¡¯s making or someone else¡¯s, I couldn¡¯t say for certain yet. Did they see me? I couldn¡¯t tell that either. The yellow house was about two hundred yards away, placing the players at the very limit of my mindsight range. Shael and I hadn¡¯t been in direct line of sight for long, a couple of seconds at worst. And importantly, none of the players had altered position since I¡¯d spotted them. ¡°Michael,¡± Shael whispered. ¡°Talk to me. What¡¯s going on?¡± I glanced his way. The bard had dropped into a crouch¡ªunconsciously, I thought¡ªbut he hadn¡¯t faded into the shadows like I had. ¡°There are at least twenty players lying in wait inside the house at the end of the street,¡± I replied, not willing to conclude yet that I¡¯d accounted for all the ambushers. Shael¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Lying in wait for whom? Us?¡± ¡°Not us. Me.¡± ¡°How do you figure that?¡± he asked. ¡°Because they¡¯re sitting right on top of where I need to go.¡± The bard licked his lips. ¡°I guess we better withdraw then and get a party together. I know more than a few players who are quite capable in a fight, and I daresay many of them are still in Nexus.¡± ¡°Retreat?¡± I smiled bleakly. ¡°I¡¯ve no intention of doing that.¡± Chapter 508: The Yellow House The bard stared at me. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious? You can¡¯t really expect the two of us to take on twenty players by ourselves!¡± ¡°I said at least twenty. There may be more,¡± I murmured. ¡°And it¡¯s better if I did this alone.¡± ¡°Saya was right, you are crazy,¡± Shael muttered under his breath. In a louder voice, he added, ¡°I¡¯m not letting you do this on your own.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m serious. It¡¯s better if you stick this one out. I¡¯m no stranger to this sort of fight.¡± ¡°I can help,¡± he insisted stubbornly. I ran my gaze over the bard. He wasn¡¯t in newbie clothes anymore, but he lacked both armor and weapons. ¡°How?¡± Shael shifted. ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Can you sneak?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t, but I have Shadow magic.¡± That sounded promising at least. ¡°What rank is your skill at?¡± ¡°Tier three,¡± he replied. I grunted. ¡°Not bad. What else?¡± ¡°I have deception, thieving, and even some fire and life magic¡ªall at tier two. It¡¯s music, though, that¡¯s my strongest asset.¡± His fingers twitched as if searching for something. ¡°But I¡¯m ashamed to say that I¡¯ve lost my flute. Without it¡­¡± I pursed my lips. ¡°And you still want to help?¡± He nodded firmly. ¡°Yes.¡± I sighed. ¡°Tell me about your abilities.¡± The bard straightened. ¡°Then, you¡¯ll let me help?¡± he asked hopefully. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± I replied noncommittally. ¡°But go on, describe your abilities and leave nothing out. I need a detailed breakdown.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Shael acknowledged. He breathed in deeply. ¡°Alright. For starters, there¡¯s guile, which you already know about. It¡¯s a deception ability which¡­¡± ? ? ? It turned out that Shael¡¯s Class¡ªred minstrel¡ªwas an unusual one. It was a thief-caster hybrid, but with one important distinction. Nearly all of Shael¡¯s magic¡ªboth offensive and defensive¡ªhad to be cast through his flute. Meaning that without his instrument Shael was effectively powerless. Minstrels, it seemed, were prevented from adopting any psi skills and nearly all physical skills. The bard couldn¡¯t even use a wand, nor acquire a simple weapon skill, like daggers, or a basic defensive one, like light armor. All of which, in Shael¡¯s own words from long ago, made the half-elf ¡®not particularly combat-efficient.¡¯ On a positive note, most of Shael¡¯s abilities were of the rare and exotic variety. And he did have dodge. And he could use my old trapper¡¯s armband. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, when Shael was done. ¡°I think we can make a half-decent support caster out of you¡ª¡± I paused¡ª¡°after you¡¯ve regained your instrument.¡± Shael nodded vigorously. ¡°I agree, which is why our best recourse is to retreat and find a merchant. We wouldn¡¯t even need to visit the emporium, any old merchant from the knights¡¯ citadel will do.¡± I shook my head. ¡°If we leave the area, we¡¯ll give our would-be ambushers a chance to reposition.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know if they saw us,¡± Shael pointed out. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± I conceded. ¡°But I also don¡¯t want to risk that they might have. And besides, like I said, I can do this without you.¡± Shael sighed. ¡°Alright. Alright. I¡¯ll just sit here and watch then.¡± I eyed him speculatively. ¡°Well, there is one role you could fulfill, if you really wanted to. It will make things easier.¡± The half-elf perked up. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I grinned. ¡°Bait.¡± ? ? ? You have lost a veteran¡¯s trapper¡¯s wristband. You have cast mimic, transforming your visage into that of Henry, a level 132 human scout. You have cast enhanced reflexes, load controller, vanish, and trigger-cast quick mend. A short while later, we were ready. I had used the intervening time to cast my buffs and change my face. While doing so wasn¡¯t strictly necessary, I didn¡¯t want anyone attempting to trace Actus¡¯ movements¡ªhowever hard that would be. Shael, meanwhile, had repositioned and trapped a derelict warehouse. If everything went according to plan, the building would serve as our killing ground. Nestled in the shadow of a broken-down shop west of the yellow house, I watched the minstrel stroll closer. I¡¯d already scouted the surroundings and was certain that it was only the yellow house that our ambushers occupied. Their true numbers, though, remained a mystery. Whistling a meaningless, if cheerful, ditty, Shael passed me by. Blades at the ready, I waited to see what the enemy would do. We were still some hundred yards distant from the yellow house¡ªI wasn¡¯t about to let my unarmed companion get any closer¡ªbut even so, striding down the middle of the street, Shael was in plain sight. Unmissable, really. But the ambushers did not react. I cursed softly. Either the players in the yellow house bore Shael and I no ill-will¡ªunlikely¡ªor they really had spotted us earlier and smelled a trap. Staying where I was, I watched Shael loop back to the abandoned warehouse. We¡¯d planned for this eventuality, even if neither of us had truly believed it necessary. The bard disappeared from view, and I rose to my feet. Shael would wait out the rest of the encounter in the trapped building. If things took a turn for the worse, I would retreat to him. But if they didn¡¯t, my own mission would be simple. Search and destroy. Padding forward, I crept towards the yellow house. It was time for a closer look. ? ? ? Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Fifty yards from my target, I paused. None of the twenty players I¡¯d detected earlier had moved. Nor were they talking. Or if they were, their words were too soft to carry to even my wolf-sharpened senses. Raising my left hand, I rubbed at the side of my head. You have activated a sorcerer¡¯s coif. You have detected a hostile spell! The target is a tier 4 ward: proximity warning. This working will notify the caster in the event that a physical object crosses the spelled boundary. Hmm. The ward¡¯s presence was another sign that the players inside the yellow building were up to no good. They almost certainly had to be here for me or the loot. Or both. How do I do this? One option was tripping the alarm. Another was trying to circumvent the ward altogether. Doing so wouldn¡¯t be hard either. The spell only stretched nine yards in height. With windborne, I could easily evade the ward and reach the second floor of the yellow house. That, though, would put me in the enemy¡¯s midst without a full understanding of their numbers or capabilities. The twenty players I could see were all between rank fifteen and nineteen¡ªhigh leveled enough to pose a real threat, especially if there were more of them than I anticipated. I¡¯ll trip the spell, I decided. Shael had failed to draw the players out, but perhaps breaking the ward would do the trick. Picking up a loose stone, I flung it directly into the ward. You have triggered a proximity warning! Tense and crouched, I waited. But no response was forthcoming, not even after a full minute. Frowning, I released the hilt of my blades. The Adjudicator¡¯s message made clear that the alarm had sounded, even if there had been no audible indication of such. Those inside had to know I was close, yet they were choosing to remain where they were. Why? Either to draw me in. Or because they were too smart to fall for my ploy. Well, there¡¯s more than one way to skin a cat. Marshaling my will, I sent strands of psi reaching into the mind of one of the twenty players. You have charmed Hugo, a level 170 human priest. Despite his level, Hugo¡¯s mental defenses were not up to the task of repelling my casting, and he quickly fell under my spell. I could¡¯ve attempted to charm more of the players in the yellow house, of course, but one minion or ten, it made no difference for what I had in mind. Sending my consciousness into the priest, I spent a precious few seconds trying to gain a better sense of his position. Mindsight told me where Hugo was and who was nearby, but it did not tell me what lay around him. Nor, sadly, did the charm spell let me see through my minion¡¯s eyes. ¡°Stand,¡± I ordered. A shadow crossed a window. Hugo was pressed up against one of the second-floor windows, and before his bespelling had likely been staring directly in my direction, I judged. Listening intently, I waited. A second passed. Five more, then ten. Finally, someone spoke. ¡°Hugo, you fool! What¡¯s wrong with you? Sit down and answer Sintar on the farspeaker link.¡± My eyes narrowed. Farspeaker bracelets would explain the players¡¯ silence, but the artifacts were not cheap and meant the enemy was well-equipped. ¡°Hugo!¡± the unknown speaker barked again. ¡°I said get down! The marks will see you!¡± Hugo, of course, did not do as ordered. ¡°God damnit, Hugo!¡± someone else hissed. For a moment I contemplated letting the priest do as his fellows wished, but only for a moment. Instead, I shouted, ¡°Jump!¡± Obedient to my will, Hugo flung himself against the glass pane he had so recently been looking out of and threw himself out of the second floor. You have taken hostile action against your minion and have lost control of him! The hapless priest landed in a tangle of limbs. The fall was far from fatal, though, and a second later, he rose to his feet, dazed and angry. A face peered out of the broken window, and Hugo¡¯s head jerked upward¡ªperhaps in response to a telepathic query. I gave him no chance to inform his companions about what had happened, though. You have cast slaysight. You have successfully terrified Hugo. Dread suffused the priest¡¯s face as my spell took hold, and ignoring the cries of his fellows, he bolted heedlessly south, in the direction of the saltmarsh. Smiling, I rose into a half¨Ccrouch and followed after. ? ? ? Hugo is no longer terrified. I caught up with the hapless priest not long after he became mired in the swamp. I didn¡¯t go to his rescue immediately though. Letting Hugo flail helplessly, I watched our rear. But no pursuit followed. Which was not altogether surprising given the enemy¡¯s seeming determination to stay entrenched in the yellow house. Shrugging, I strode toward Hugo. It was time to get some answers. Too caught up in his struggles to free himself, the priest didn¡¯t notice my approach. Not that he would¡¯ve, anyway. My stealth was too good. Catching hold of Hugo by the scruff of the neck, I tugged hard, pulling him off balance. The priest fell flat on his back. ¡°Wha¡ª?¡± Hugo¡¯s outraged scream was cut short as my blood came alive. You have cast enslave. In a manner reminiscent of a casting performed by my void armor, spell weaves rippled into being. Yet this time the spell was not being recreated from stolen knowledge but rather long dormant memories. Memories residing within me. Memories whose echoes reverberated across my spirit, blurring the lines between me and my distant forbearers. Memories that tasted of Wolf. It was my first blood casting, and through it, I felt a spirit-deep connection to the Primes that came before¡ªto Atiras, to Zumen, and to¡­ Ole? Or was that Ordor? But the name of the distant Prime in question escaped me as my connection to the past snapped and my blood spell took shape. You have successfully dominated Hugo, a level 170 human priest. Duration: permanent until death. Hugo is now tied to by bonds of blood that are unbreakable as long as he lives. As your creature, Hugo is compelled to obey your every command, no matter how unreasonable or onerous. While under your spell, Hugo¡¯s ties with all other entities have been disabled, and you will not be able to command them through him. On death¡ªyours or Hugo¡¯s¡ªthe blood ties between you and him will be severed, restoring his autonomy and wiping his mind of all memories of his time under your spell. Enslave is not a telepathic spell, however. No weave of psi has been laid upon Hugo to bespell his thoughts. Instead, you have imposed your will on him through ties of blood. As such, Hugo retains full control of his mental faculties, and for all purposes, including dungeoneering, will be accounted a full-fledged player. Note, too, that if an enslaved player enters a safe zone, they will be automatically freed. As the spell completed, a wave of dizziness passed over me, and I almost fell atop the prone priest. Catching myself, I staggered back and let my gaze drift downward to my new¡­ minion. But calling him that was wrong. He was more than that, but less too. The priest still lay flat on his back in the mud. Beyond that, though, I could tell nearly nothing of his condition. Unlike when I employed charm, no mental connection had formed between me and Hugo. He was under my influence, I knew that much. The Game¡¯s report made that much clear. Still, to be certain, I analyzed him again. The target is Hugo, a level 170 human priest. His health is at 73%, and he is currently suffering under the dominated debuff. I rubbed my chin, admittedly surprised by the manner in which the blood spell had manifested. I could sense no connection¡ªof any sort¡ªbetween me and the priest. On the one hand that would make relaying commands to him problematic, but on the other, it meant my influence over Hugo would be more difficult for others to sense. After all, it would take a successful tier five analyze to reveal the priest¡¯s dominated state. And even amongst elites, such an ability would be rare. Of course, it did also make me wonder how blood puppet would work on a non-sentient creature. How would I, or Nyra for that matter, be able to command them? Hugo¡¯s eyes opened, cutting short my ruminations. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked, staring straight at me. ¡°You¡¯ve been enslaved,¡± I replied as I helped him up. The priest¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°By you? Is that why I can¡¯t attack you?¡± I lifted one eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯ve tried?¡± He nodded. ¡°Well, don¡¯t bother trying again,¡± I ordered calmly. ¡°The spell will stop you from doing me any harm.¡± After a second¡¯s thought, I added, ¡°You will not tell anyone what has befallen you nor warn your companions either.¡± Hugo¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°You can hear them?¡± I guessed. He nodded reluctantly. ¡°They¡¯re shouting at me over the farspeaker link, demanding to know what¡¯s happened.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t answer,¡± I instructed. He shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t now that you¡¯ve ordered me not to.¡± He frowned again. ¡°What spell did you use on me? I¡¯ve never heard of any that works like this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unimportant,¡± I said, waving aside his question. Hugo¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Who are you? And why have you done this to me?¡± ¡°Also unimportant.¡± Swinging back around, I headed out of the saltmarsh. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Hugo asked, scrambling to obey. ¡°Somewhere we can continue this conversation in more privacy.¡± Chapter 509: Follow the Money Five minutes later, Hugo and I entered the building where Shael waited. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± the bard demanded, shooting to his feet. ¡°My minion,¡± I replied laconically. ¡°Your minion¡ª?¡± Shael¡¯s mouth snapped closed and a moment later, a Game message dropped open in my mind. Your blood-bound slave has been analyzed. Now that¡¯s interesting. While I could perceive no connection between Hugo and myself, the Adjudicator clearly deemed that we were linked and was sending me Hugo-related Game alerts. ¡°He¡¯s no ordinary minion,¡± Shael commented, his eyes narrowing. ¡°He¡¯s a player too.¡± ¡°An astute observation,¡± I said with a straight face. The bard glared at me. ¡°What else did your analyze tell you?¡± I asked, forestalling his retort. ¡°Nothing. Just his Class and level. Why?¡± ¡°Oh, no reason,¡± I said, concealing my delight. My earlier conjecture had proved correct, and even Shael¡ªa player with both deception and insight¡ªcouldn¡¯t ¡®see¡¯ Hugo¡¯s dominated debuff. The bard¡¯s scowl deepened at my evasion. ¡°Are you going to tell me who he is?¡± he demanded. ¡°Or why have you¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m Hugo,¡± the priest growled through clenched teeth, ¡°and you can stop talking about me as if I¡¯m not here.¡± Shael¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°He can talk?¡± ¡°Of course I can talk!¡± Hugo snapped. ¡°What sort of idiot are you?¡± I chuckled. ¡°Hugo is no ordinary minion, Shael. My hold on his mind is light and he retains full control of his faculties.¡± The half elf pursed his lips. I could see my words alarmed him, but perhaps constrained by the priest¡¯s presence, he did not give further voice to his concerns. ¡°I see,¡± was all he said in the end. ¡°And why is Hugo here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I want to know too,¡± the priest put in grumpily. Shael eyed him sideways but didn¡¯t comment on his interjection. ¡°Hugo is from the yellow house.¡± I smiled. ¡°And he is here to tell us all about the ambush his friends have prepared.¡± ? ? ? The enslaved priest frowned. ¡°They¡¯re not my friends.¡± ¡°Companions, then,¡± I said, acknowledging his point. ¡°But I have surmised accurately, haven¡¯t I? It was an ambush?¡± Hugo nodded curtly. ¡°Yes.¡± I leaned forward. ¡°For me specifically, correct?¡± This time the priest¡¯s response was more ambivalent. ¡°That I can¡¯t say. You don¡¯t look like him.¡± I tilted my head to the side. ¡°Like who?¡± ¡°Like the one we were told to watch out for,¡± Hugo replied. My fingers tightened into fists. The ambushers had my description, and they¡¯d know where to find me. All of that pointed to one person only: Nicola. Things were not looking good for the under-dweller. ¡°Told by whom?¡± I asked softly. ¡°Dinara.¡± I stiffened, surprise warring with relief¡ªNicola had not betrayed me. Maybe. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Den chief Dinara,¡± Hugo expounded. Folding my arms, I rocked back on my heels while I thought through the priest¡¯s answer. I didn¡¯t doubt his words. Hugo might have retained all his mental faculties, but just like he couldn¡¯t attack me, he couldn¡¯t lie to me either. The blood spell would not allow it. ¡°Who is Dinara?¡± Shael wondered aloud. ¡°The underworld¡¯s representative in Nexus,¡± I murmured. ¡°The thieves guild?¡± Shael asked. ¡°How did you get mixed up with them?¡± That the red bard knew about the underworld did not surprise me. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± I replied absently, ¡°and one for another time.¡± Lowering my head, I began pacing the floor. ¡°Dinara,¡± I muttered. I¡¯d never met the man, and only knew of him through Nicola. So, why had he sent his people to ambush me? There could be multiple answers to that question, but only one obvious one. Money. Given the amounts involved, anyone would be tempted, much less a self-proclaimed thief. No, that Dinara was trying to rob me didn¡¯t surprise me. What did, though, was how he knew about the drop point in the first place. There was no reason for Nicola to tell him about it. Unless, of course, the under-dweller was in on the scheme too. But that made no sense either. If Nicola wanted to steal my money, all he had to do was keep it. There was no need for an elaborate charade like this. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Perhaps this is the under-dweller¡¯s famed honor at play. Perhaps, Nicola feels honor-bound to keep his word. If only the letter of it, and not the spirit. My lips turned down unhappily. It made sense¡ªin a twisted sort of way. Still, if that was really what was going on here, it meant I¡¯d read the under-dweller merchant all wrong. Drawing to a halt, I rounded on Hugo again. I had to be certain. ¡°How did Dinara find out about the drop point?¡± The priest looked at me in confusion. ¡°What drop point?¡± My own brows furrowed. ¡°The one in the yellow house.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about a drop point.¡± I bit my lip. ¡°So why were you in that house?¡± ¡°To capture the merchant¡¯s accomplice.¡± My gaze sharpened. ¡°What merchant?¡± Hugo shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Some under-dweller.¡± ¡°The under-dwellers are mixed up in this too?¡± Shael muttered. ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡± Ignoring him, I stayed focused on Hugo. Whatever was going on, matters didn¡¯t appear as straightforward as I first assumed. ¡°Start at the beginning and leave nothing out: what led you and the others to the yellow house?¡± Hugo shrugged. ¡°There is not much to tell. Five days ago, an under-dweller merchant came into the Crooked Man, a tavern not too far from here. He was looking for the den chief. Anyhow, the two spent some time talking¡ªabout what, I don¡¯t know¡ªbut after the merchant left, Dinara rushed to our gang¡¯s table. I was there so I overheard everything. Dinara¡¯s instructions were quite clear. We were to track the under-dweller and capture anyone he met with.¡± ¡°Capture, not kill?¡± I asked. Hugo nodded. ¡°And then what happened?¡± Hugo shrugged. ¡°Nothing. Nicola came here, went into the house we¡¯re holed up in, spent a few minutes inside, then returned to the safe zone and left Nexus. With nothing else to go on, Sintar¡ªthat¡¯s our gang boss¡ªdecided to sit on the house in the hopes that someone would turn up.¡± He met my gaze. ¡°We were just about to give up when you showed up.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I murmured. On the face of it, it seemed Nicola had not betrayed me. ¡°So, you don¡¯t know about the money?¡± Hugo¡¯s confused look was answer enough. ¡°What money? Shael asked loudly. I shifted in his direction. ¡°The money I came here to collect.¡± Shael¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You thought the thieves were trying to rob you,¡± he guessed. I nodded. ¡°But now it appears they know nothing about the money.¡± The bard frowned. ¡°Then, what is it that they want?¡± I turned back to Hugo, a thoughtful look on my face. ¡°That is the question, isn¡¯t it?¡± ? ? ? I spent the next few minutes interrogating Hugo about everything he knew about his fellows and their abilities. Sintar¡¯s gang was one of the larger and more experienced bands of thieves in Nexus, and Sintar himself was someone Dinara often turned to when it came to fulfilling many of his more sensitive commissions. But something else Hugo¡¯s information made clear was that despite the gang¡¯s undoubted expertise at thievery, they were somewhat lacking in combat abilities, and I was confident of being able to take them down. ¡°Tell me again, why do we have to do this?¡± Shael asked. ¡°And why right now? We should come back after they¡¯re left. If you believe the priest, all we have to do is wait them out.¡± ¡°I believe Hugo,¡± I replied, ¡°and unfortunately we can¡¯t afford to wait.¡± I held his gaze. ¡°Or have you forgotten about Saya?¡± ¡°Of course I haven¡¯t forgotten about her,¡± Shael retorted crossly. ¡°But what if¡ª¡± ¡°Besides which,¡± I said, speaking over him, ¡°it¡¯s equally important I find out what Dinara is up to.¡± ¡°How will ambushing Sintar¡¯s men help do that?¡± Shael demanded. ¡°Hugo has already told you everything they know.¡± ¡°Sintar may know more,¡± Hugo interjected. ¡°He might,¡± I allowed, ¡°but I am not depending on him. I have a plan.¡± ¡°Of course, you do,¡± Shael muttered. ¡°And let me guess, it begins with killing everyone?¡± I grinned unrepentantly. ¡°Actually, it does.¡± Seeing my look, Shael groaned. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this over with.¡± ? ? ? Five minutes later, I was inside the yellow house. Sintar¡¯s men had not reset the wards around the building, and thanks to Hugo, I knew why that was the case. The player who¡¯d laid the spell had done so using a scroll and had not thought to bring more. As specialist thieves, the gang had no true mages. That lack would make things easier. However, it was about the only good news Hugo delivered. The bad news was that there were thirty gang members, not twenty. The other ten had mind shields. Hugo was convinced too, that at the first sign they were outmatched, the gang would flee. They were thieves after all, not fighters, and a stand-up fight was something they were very much averse to. Complicating things further was the farspeaker link. All thirty thieves were connected to it. Unfortunately, if my plan was to work, I couldn¡¯t allow any of the gang¡¯s members to escape. Which was why I was going to do things as quietly and stealthily as possible. And why, I¡¯d decided not to involve Hugo and Shael directly. You have cast vanish. You are invisible. Duration: 5 minutes. My final buff in place, I focused my senses on the room directly atop me. Hugo had given me the layout of the second floor, and I knew that four players waited inside, two of whom were mind shielded. For obvious reasons, they were the biggest threat in the room and I would have to deal with them first. Drawing ebonheart, I shadow blinked. You have teleported into Cari¡¯s shadow. You are hidden. I emerged from the aether in a heavily shadowed room. Before me was the broad back of the player whose mindglow I¡¯d used to teleport. She was exposed. Vulnerable. Easy prey. Nevertheless, I did not lunge forward. Staying stock still, I swept the room with my gaze. The two shielded players were less than three yards away, sitting on the floor with their backs to a wall and with their eyes closed. They were not asleep though. The pair were speaking, but not in an ordinary way. You have passed a Perception check! Mental sendings detected. Narq and Agtor are communicating telepathically. No sooner did the Game message unfurl in my mind than a faint buzzing began in my ears. It was no true sound though, but rather a telepathic spillover from the pair¡¯s conversation, and interesting enough, it wasn¡¯t just random noise I was hearing. Concentrating on the not-noise, I sensed an almost-familiar pattern buried beneath. Intrigued, I focused harder. You have passed a Mind check! You have successfully eavesdropped on Narq and Agtor¡¯s conversation. A moment later, the buzzing resolved itself into words¡ªthe very words spoken by Narq and Agtor mind-to-mind. Shamelessly, I listened in. You have passed a mental resistance check! Your mental intrusion has gone undetected. ¡°¡­ Hugo?¡± ¡°Bah! Hugo was an idiot. Good riddance, I say.¡± ¡°Still, you have to admit it¡¯s concerning. What the hell happened to him?¡± ¡°Like I said, who cares. I just want to get back to my¡­¡± Frowning thoughtfully, I dropped out of the pair¡¯s mental link. Narq and Agtor were not speaking over the gang¡¯s farspeaker link. I knew this for certain because I was wearing Hugo¡¯s own bracelet¡ªand right now all was quiet on that link. Which was all to the good and meant the pair¡¯s abrupt cessation of chatter would go unnoticed. Blade in hand, I crept closer to Narq. It was time to clear the room. Chapter 510: The Invisible Man There was no easy way to deal with Narq and Agtor. Killing the pair would be simple enough but slaying them before they could cry out in warning¡ªwhether verbally or through the farspeaker link¡ªwas going to be a little trickier. I would have to rely heavily on both my stealth and speed. The other two players in the room were not an issue though. Reaching out with my mind, I sent psi delving into their minds. You have cast slaysight. You have paralyzed 2 of 2 targets for 60 seconds. I smiled in satisfaction. That¡¯ll keep them out of the fight. Crouched on my haunches in front of Narq, I refocused on the thief. Despite my proximity¡ªI was close enough to reach out and strangle him¡ªNarq was blissfully unaware of my presence. As was Agtor who was immediately beside him. Moving with deliberate care, I drew faithful. Two targets. Two blows. I would have to strike cleanly and fast, killing instantly with each attack. Fortunately for me, Narq and Agtor were close enough to each other to make that possible. Sliding soundlessly along the floor, I shifted position until I was between the pair, then took a moment to plan my attack, picturing the arc of my blades and the exact spot I needed to land each hit. And when I was certain, I moved. Uncoiling as fast as a striking viper, I rocked forward half a step and struck¡ªfirst with ebonheart, then with faithful. A split-second, that was all the time my targets had to react and save themselves. But neither player sensed death rushing down on them, and my swords crashed home without resistance. You have killed Narq with a fatal blow. You have killed Agtor with a fatal blow. Blood spurted as I ripped open the thieves¡¯ throats, coloring my hands and blades red. I paid the mess little heed, though. Frozen in position, I listened intently. All remained quiet on the farspeaker link. Perfect, I thought. As messy as the killings had been, they¡¯d gone unnoticed and that was all that mattered. Wrenching free my swords, I rose to my feet and swiveled around. My work was not yet done. Dripping blades in hand, I advanced on the paralyzed thieves. ? ? ? You have killed Cari and Inaya. There were six rooms on the second floor of the yellow house, and one long corridor joining them all. There were traps aplenty too, but thanks to Hugo, I knew where they were and how to bypass them, and slaying the gang members in chambers two to four went as smoothly as killing those in the first one. However, as I was about to teleport into room five, a new wrinkle presented itself. ¡°Everyone, report in,¡± a voice¡ªSintar¡¯s, I guessed¡ªbarked through the farspeaker bracelet. ¡°Still here, boss,¡± someone else replied lazily. ¡°Where else would we be?¡± another quipped. ¡°Cut that shit out,¡± Sintar snarled. ¡°Or have you clowns already forgotten about Hugo and the player that killed him? I doubt he just upped and left. The bastard must still be nearby.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± someone said contritely. ¡°You think Hugo¡¯s dead, boss?¡± another asked worriedly. ¡°I said report in, not pester me with pointless questions,¡± Sintar retorted sharply. ¡°Narq, Chez, how are things on your end? Any sign of the mark yet?¡± I grimaced. My presence was about to be uncovered, and I still had fifteen gang members to deal with. Room five held four thieves, and room six¡ªthe large central chamber which I was leaving for last¡ªhoused Sintar himself and the gang¡¯s reserve, a full squad of ten. ¡°Damnit, Chez. Stop ignoring me!¡± Sintar growled. ¡°What¡¯s going on there?¡± Chez had been one of the players in room two and, being dead, couldn¡¯t answer, of course. Time to move, I decided. Weaving psi, I shadow blinked. You have teleported into Lyle¡¯s shadow. I emerged from the aether behind a rail-thin thief who appeared more interested in inspecting his nails than watching the street below. Knowing things were about to get loud soon, I didn¡¯t hesitate. Lunging forward, I drove ebonheart straight through his heart. You have killed Lyle with a fatal blow. Three hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Chez, I¡¯m warning you¡­ if you¡¯re toying with me, I¡¯ll have your head! Now, report in, you whoreson!¡± Retracting ebonheart, I spun around to find the room¡¯s other three occupants staring in horror at their lifeless companion. Grim-faced, I advanced on the closest. ¡°Chez¡ª¡± ¡°The intruder is here, boss!¡± a thief named Khamalin shouted. A pregnant pause. ¡°What did you say, Kham?¡± ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Khamalin shrieked again. ¡°The bastard has just killed Lyle and¡ª¡± Khamalin¡¯s warning was cut short as I sliced open his throat. ¡°Kham?¡± ¡°Kham¡¯s dead!¡± Orly, one of the two remaining thieves yelled at the top of his lungs. ¡°The mark killed him! Help!¡± Turning away from the corpse, I faced the surviving pair. Standing back-to-back, they were scanning the room fearfully. They couldn¡¯t see me, of course, which, no doubt, accounted for a large part of their terror. On the farspeaker link, Sintar was still speaking, alternating between issuing orders and demanding answers. Ignoring him, I rushed forward to deal with the room¡¯s remaining threats. A task that was altogether too easy. Orly was weaving his sword around in a misguided attempt to keep me at bay. Unfortunately for him, the arcs he moved his blade through were too large and too wild. Ducking beneath the swinging blade, I ripped open Orly¡¯s gut with ebonheart. You have critically injured Orly. Shouting incoherently, the large man clamped his hands to his sides to keep his innards from spilling out. It was no use, of course. Death was inevitable. Flowing past, I struck at the last thief, plunging faithful through the nape of his neck before he could react to my assault on Orly. You have killed Menzo with a fatal blow. And that quickly it was over. The room was clear¡ªor nearly so. Leaving Orly to his noisy struggles, I exited the room. ? ? ? ¡°They¡¯re all dead, boss, they must be,¡± I heard someone whisper as I crept toward the last room. ¡°We should flee!¡± another hissed. ¡°No!¡± Sintar declared. ¡°There¡¯s eleven of us. Even if that bastard somehow managed to kill all the others, there¡¯s no way¡ª¡± The gang leader broke off as I stepped through the door and strangely enough, his eyes darted to my exact location. I paused, too, surprised that the gang leader had sensed me¡ªand that he had I was sure of, the man was staring straight at me! But I had not been dispelled and both vanish and my stealth were still active. Nor had there been a ward on the door, none that I could detect anyway. ¡°What is it boss? What are you staring at?¡± Following Sintar¡¯s gaze, the other thieves in the room turned to face the doorway. Yet, still failed to see me. Ten hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden. Ten, not eleven, I mused. The Game message was revealing in what it had not said and could only mean that the eleventh player¡ªSintar¡ªhad detected me. ¡°Run,¡± Sintar whispered, his face pale as a sheet. ¡°What¡¯s that, boss?¡± ¡°Run!¡± the gang leader repeated more loudly. ¡°The bastard is invisible.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Invisible. How can he¡ª¡± Sintar¡¯s face devolved into a scowl. ¡°Fools! Heed me or not, but on your heads be it!¡± Tucking tail himself, the gang leader raced toward the closest window. ¡°Not so fast, Sintar,¡± I said lazily over the farspeaker link. The gang leader missed a step and almost stumbled, but he managed to keep his balance. and if anything, he ran even faster. Sighing, I drew psi. You have teleported 9 yards. I stepped out of the aether on Sintar¡¯s left flank, with my right hand fully outstretched and ebonheart cutting a wide backward arc. Blade met neck. And tore through. You have killed Sintar with a fatal blow. ¡°Goddamn!¡± a thief shrieked as the gang leader¡¯s head went flying. ¡°Did you see¡­?¡± ¡°What did that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the intruder! Sintar said he was invisible.¡± ¡°Run! Flee! Warn the chief.¡± I chuckled softly. ¡°No one is going anywhere,¡± I said with deliberate menace. ¡°This is where you die.¡± Unleashing the spells I held ready, I got to work. ? ? ? You have paralyzed 8 of 10 targets for 60 seconds. You have cast windborne. You have killed 10 hostile players. You and Ghost have reached level 237! Despite the thieves¡¯ best efforts to flee, it did not take me long to chase down and finish them. After I was done, I leaned out the closest window and gave Shael and Hugo the all-clear. I had tasked the pair with watching the building from afar in case any of the thieves made it out. An unnecessary precaution, it turned out. Returning my attention to the blood-spattered room, I picked out Sintar¡¯s body. As eagerly as I wanted to check out Nicola¡¯s stash, I was admittedly just as curious about the gang leader. Somehow¡ªeither through an ability or item¡ªhe¡¯d managed to see through my invisibility, and I wanted to know how. Bending over the headless corpse, I rifled through Sintar¡¯s gear until I found what I was looking for. You have acquired the rank 5 ring: true-seer. This item allows the wearer to pierce illusion and concealment spells of tier 5 and below. It requires a minimum Perception of 20 to use. I sighed as I read the ring¡¯s properties. Of course. Truesight was the obvious counter to invisibility, and I¡¯d known that sooner or later I¡¯d run into a foe equipped with the ability, or in this case, one with an item that granted a lesser variant of it. Removing Hugo¡¯s farspeaker bracelet¡ªI didn¡¯t need it anymore¡ªI equipped Sintar¡¯s ring in its place. Hopefully, the artifact would serve me better than it had the gang leader. You have equipped the ring, true-seer, gaining the true-seeing ability. Equipped items: 27 / 30. Next, I turned my attention to the rest of the gang leader¡¯s gear. But sadly, except for a pair of rank five daggers, the thief had little else of note. And unfortunately, as nice as the daggers were, they were of no use to me. Still, I can sell them, I thought, pocketing the items. Or maybe Nyra will find them handy. You have acquired a cache of miscellaneous items. You have acquired the rank 5 dagger: snake bite. This item increases the physical damage you deal by 50% and bears the enchantment, weaken, which slows your opponent on every successful hit. This item requires a minimum Dexterity of 20 to wield. You have acquired the rank 5 dagger: ghoul-maker. This item increases the physical damage you deal by 50% and causes any wound you inflict to become infected and the surrounding flesh to rot. This item requires a minimum Dexterity of 20 to wield. Rising to my feet, I moved to the next corpse. Nicola¡¯s stash could wait a little longer. For now, it was better to get the more laborious¡ªand messy¡ªchore of looting out of the way first. Chapter 511: Asking Difficult Questions You have acquired a cache of 28 miscellaneous items. You have acquired all 30 farspeaker bracelets that form part of the matching set named: Sintar¡¯s link. Looting the corpses was as unappealing and tedious as I expected. Some of the equipment the thieves carried was intriguing, but ultimately nothing I looted was superior to my own gear. In fact, the most interesting items I found were the farspeaker bracelets. My encounter with Sintar¡¯s gang had made apparent something I¡¯d not given much thought to before this: the vulnerabilities within the farspeaker bracelets. That the bracelets were not keyed for use by specific players meant that any enemy who got their hands on one could use it to eavesdrop on the entire network¡ªjust like I had. Understandably, this realization made me less enthused than I otherwise would¡¯ve been about my find. I can¡¯t use the bracelets, I decided despondently, not unless Safyre and Adriel can come up with an enchantment to protect them from being misused. I wasn¡¯t sure how it could be done, but in my mind, I was imagining something like the Sworn-locked items I¡¯d found in the Eastern Marches. Something like a set of faction-locked bracelets. ¡°Now those would be ideal,¡± I murmured. ¡°Or even better, maybe we could¡ª¡± ¡°Yikes!¡± someone exclaimed. Turning around, I spotted Shael and Hugo entering the room. ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding,¡± the bard said, his face devoid of color. I frowned. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I thought it an idle boast. A prideful jest.¡± Shael shook his head. ¡°Never did I imagine¡­¡± ¡°How is it that you¡¯re capable of all this?¡± Hugo whispered. Bemused, I let my gaze drift from the shocked pair to where they looked. Was it the lurid streaks of red painting the room that had caught their interest? Or the floor full of corpses? Probably both. ¡°Ah that,¡± I said. ¡°That¡¯s just combat. Walk any battlefield and you¡¯ll see the same.¡± Shael shook his head, whether in disbelief or disagreement, I couldn¡¯t tell. Hugo was more forthright in his response. ¡°What level are you?¡± he demanded bluntly. I raised one eyebrow. ¡°Come now,¡± the priest chided. ¡°After all this, you can¡¯t truly expect me to believe you are ¡®Henry,¡¯ a level one hundred and thirty-two scout. No mere scout could have slain this many so easily, and certainly not one at rank thirteen! Tell me your level.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you can work that out for yourself,¡± I replied evenly. He tilted his head to the side. ¡°You¡¯re an elite?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± I said, rising to my feet. Hugo nodded. ¡°I thought so. It¡¯s the only explanation for whatever charm spell you used on me. Only an elite would have an ability that powerful.¡± Shael eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re an elite? Truly?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Like I said, maybe.¡± Not wanting to discuss the matter further, I changed the topic. ¡°What do you know of this?¡± I asked Hugo, showing him true-seer. The priest¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s Sintar¡¯s ring.¡± His eyes darted to the headless corpse. ¡°That him?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I replied shortly. ¡°So, you know about the ring. Why didn¡¯t you tell me about it?¡± It was the priest¡¯s turn to shrug. ¡°You only asked me about their abilities,¡± he said, gesturing at the dead players, ¡°not their equipment.¡± My eyes narrowed. What Hugo said was true enough. I had not thought to question him directly about the gang¡¯s gear¡ªan oversight on my part. It was a timely reminder that as cooperative as the priest appeared at times, he was not a trusted companion. It was only the blood-binding that forced his compliance. He would obey me, but only to the letter of my instructions. And no further. ¡°Why would Sintar need such an item?¡± I asked, deciding not to pursue the matter further. Hugo smirked. ¡°Sintar was a thief. We all were, and in our line of work true-seeing is a necessity. You wouldn¡¯t believe how many marks think it wise to use illusions to conceal their valuables.¡± I nodded slowly. That also made sense. ¡°And besides, there¡¯s also our fellow thieves to consider,¡± Hugo went on. ¡°If the gang ever came into possession of a valuable enough prize, no denizen of the underworld would hesitate before robbing us. Under the right circumstances, we are all of us marks. Sintar trusted no one completely, not even Chief Dinara.¡± I grimaced. I¡¯d had a somewhat rosier picture of the underworld and had¡ªnaively, it turned out¡ªimagined most of them to be like Nicola. There¡¯s truly no honor amongst thieves, it seems. ¡°How would a true-seeing ring be of any use to Sintar against the den chief?¡± Shael asked in a puzzled tone. Hugo ignored the question. ¡°Answer him,¡± I ordered sharply. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Dinara is a master of stealth,¡± the priest replied easily and as if nothing untoward had happened. ¡°Some say he can turn completely invisible too, though I¡¯ve not witnessed him do so myself.¡± I stiffened. ¡°Turn invisible¡­ you¡¯re sure about that?¡± ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m not,¡± Hugo replied. ¡°But Sintar believed the rumors.¡± Frowning, I bowed my head. I had not questioned Hugo about Dinara earlier, deeming it more prudent to focus on the immediate threat that the gang represented¡ªanother oversight¡ªand now it seemed my plans were in danger of unraveling. I¡¯d intended on using Hugo to lure Dinara here, then to enslave him like I had the priest. Now, though¡­ that appeared too risky. ¡°What is it, Mi¡ª¡± Shael broke off and quickly corrected. ¡°Henry, I mean. What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Dinara is an elite,¡± I pronounced. Raising my head, I looked straight at Hugo. ¡°Isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°He is,¡± the priest confirmed. ¡°What level?¡± I asked softly. ¡°Two hundred and forty-seven,¡± Hugo answered. ¡°According to the rumor mill, he¡¯s been at that level for decades.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± I murmured as the priest confirmed my fears. Shael¡¯s eyes fixed on me waiting for me to explain the source of my unhappiness, but when I stayed silent, he turned to Hugo again. ¡°That sounds decidedly odd. Why would he stop leveling like that?¡± This time the priest didn¡¯t wait for me to force him to answer. ¡°Who knows? The den chief doesn¡¯t venture out much these days. Most believe he¡¯s retired.¡± ¡°Again, that makes no sense,¡± the bard said. ¡°Why retire when you¡¯re so close to tier six?¡± I was keeping quiet, but I knew why, of course. At level two hundred and fifty, Dinara would earn the Powerful Initiate Mark whether he wanted to or not, and I was guessing the den chief very much didn¡¯t want that. After all, why would he risk his comfortable existence for a life on the run, and with Powers for hunters, no less? ¡°No idea,¡± Hugo replied, unaware of my musings. ¡°Again, everything I told you is just gossip. No one but Dinara knows why he does what he does.¡± ¡°Which Power has Dinara sworn himself to?¡± I asked, rejoining the conversation. ¡°No Power,¡± Hugo said confidently. ¡°Dinara is beholden to no one.¡± My brows drew down. ¡°What makes you so sure?¡± Hugo shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not strictly speaking a requirement, but most of those who join the underworld are what you call¡­ independent-minded. There¡¯s no way someone like Dinara would have risen as far as he has in the underworld if he had any allegiances outside of it.¡± Shael nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve heard much the same thing.¡± I glanced at him questioningly. ¡°Not about the den chief, per se,¡± he explained. ¡°But about the underworld¡¯s denizens in general. They have a reputation for being aloof. Many of them scorn the Powers, even going so far as refusing to join their factions.¡± He paused. ¡°It¡¯s partly why the thieves guild is more poorly treated than say¡­ the bounty hunters guild.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I murmured. That Dinara was not a Sworn was at least one thing to be thankful for. However I dealt with him, I need not fear repercussions from an angry Power. Shael looked at me expectantly. ¡°So, what does all this mean for us?¡± I sighed. ¡°At the very least it means I have to rethink our plans.¡± I couldn¡¯t blood-bind Dinara anymore. Even if I did manage to lure the den chief away from his base, enslave wouldn¡¯t work on him. He was too high leveled. ¡°If Dinara is an elite and hunting you¡­¡± The bard trailed off, leaving unsaid the rest, but I knew what he was thinking: we should leave Nexus post-haste. ¡°Soon,¡± I promised, responding to his unspoken suggestion. There were a few odds and ends to tie up first, though¡ªlike Hugo. The priest had outlived his usefulness, and it was time to deal with him. ? ? ? You have killed Hugo. You have acquired a cache of miscellaneous items. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Shael asked quietly. The bard had sat still, watching in a kind of stunned silence as I dispassionately slew then looted the priest. I shrugged. ¡°I was going to kill him eventually, and sooner was better. This way there¡¯s still a good chance the rest of the gang won¡¯t realize how long he¡¯s been under my spell. And the less they figure out about that the better.¡± Shael studied me with a serious expression. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me what spell you used on him. Nor how you managed to become an elite in such a short span of time.¡± I met his gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything, but first¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªI have to pass your tests,¡± he finished for me, his expression twisting. ¡°But how am I going to do that if you keep delaying our departure from Nexus?¡± I didn¡¯t say anything for a moment. Shael had a point. I hadn¡¯t intended on being in Nexus this long, and the way things were going, it was conceivable my departure would be delayed even further. And I could already sense that the bard¡¯s patience was waning. I can¡¯t keep holding him at arm¡¯s length, I realized. At this point, it was either cut Shael loose or trust him. ¡°We¡¯ll do it here,¡± I said at last. The half-elf frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll conduct your final test right here and now.¡± ¡°But I thought you said we had to leave Nexus for that!¡± ¡°Things have changed,¡± I replied, not explaining further. ¡°How?¡± Shael demanded. ¡°Hugo happened for one,¡± I said bluntly. ¡°His example taught me that I can force my minions to be truthful.¡± Shael¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°How did you not know that before?¡± I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could answer, the bard threw up his hands. ¡°Never mind, don¡¯t tell me. I don¡¯t want to know.¡± He glared at me as the rest of what I said caught up with him. ¡°So, you think I¡¯ve been lying to you all this time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± I replied honestly. ¡°But given the circumstances, I have to be certain that you haven¡¯t been.¡± ¡°And to achieve this¡­ certainty you seek, you want to interrogate me, is that it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I replied candidly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Shael, but I can¡¯t let you in on any of my secrets until I know how far I can trust you.¡± For a drawn-out moment, Shael stared at me, his expression opaque. ¡°How will you do it?¡± he asked finally. ¡°I will bewitch you the same way I did Hugo.¡± ¡°What if I refuse to be bespelled?¡± Shael demanded. ¡°Then we part ways,¡± I replied evenly. ¡°Here and now.¡± The half-elf exhaled unhappily. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let you conduct your bloody test. Go on, get it over with.¡± I held up my hand. ¡°Hold on. There¡¯s a catch, something you should be aware of before we start.¡± The bard looked at me sharply. ¡°You¡¯re going to hurt me, aren¡¯t you? Stick me with needles or something.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Nothing like that. I¡¯m going to question you, nothing more.¡± I paused. ¡°But you¡¯ll remember none of it.¡± Consternation flickered across Shael¡¯s face. ¡°The spell I¡¯ll be using will wipe your mind when it¡¯s done. You won¡¯t remember anything of the time you spend bewitched.¡± My explanation did nothing to assure the bard and if anything, his expression grew more baffled. ¡°I promise it won¡¯t hurt,¡± I added. Shael still looked unconvinced, but he waved me on anyway. ¡°I understand¡­ I think. Do what you must.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered. Stepping forward, I placed my hand on his shoulder. ¡°Just relax. This will all be over before you know it¡­¡± Chapter 512: Interrogation You have successfully dominated Shael, a level 121 half-elf red minstrel. Duration: permanent until death. Warning: you have cast enslave twice in one day and cannot recast it again today. The blood memory requires a full sleep cycle to recharge. Releasing my grip on Shael¡¯s shoulders, I staggered back and nearly fell. The dizziness from casting enslave was much worse this time around, and if the Game message was anything to go by, it was the blood memory itself that was responsible for my momentary wave of weakness. This is not a spell I want to cast in the midst of battle, I thought. ¡°Did it work?¡± Shael asked. Rubbing at my temples as I regained my equilibrium, I focused on the bard once more. ¡°You tell me. Try attacking me.¡± A second ticked by. The bard bit his lips. ¡°I can¡¯t. My limbs won¡¯t obey.¡± I smiled. ¡°Then I guess the spell¡¯s working. How does it feel?¡± ¡°Not like I imagined it would,¡± Shael conceded. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any different.¡± He paused. ¡°Except when I think of hurting you.¡± I laughed. ¡°Well, don¡¯t think that!¡± The bard smiled, but his amusement was short-lived. He was too anxious for that. ¡°So now what?¡± ¡°I ask you a few questions, none of which you will remember after we¡¯re done,¡± I replied calmly. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± I assured him. ¡°Are you ready to begin?¡± He nodded nervously. ¡°Good. First question: did you kill Saya?¡± Shael rocked back on his heels, his expression equal parts shock and outrage. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Did you play any part in her capture or death?¡± I asked, ignoring his reaction. ¡°No,¡± the bard growled from between gritted teeth. ¡°Do you know who took Saya?¡± A momentary pause. ¡°I thought it was Loken¡¯s envoy, but after everything we¡¯ve discussed, I can¡¯t be certain anymore.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Have you met Loken?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Do you work for him?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Are you Loken?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± My expression did not shift or otherwise change. ¡°Answer the question.¡± The bard stared at me disbelievingly. ¡°That was a serious question? Truly?¡± I nodded curtly. ¡°You can rest easy then. I¡¯m not Loken!¡± ¡°Good to know,¡± I said, not easing up. ¡°Are you working for any other Power or envoy?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Have you ever worked for one before?¡± Shael shifted. ¡°Well, that depends.¡± My eyes narrowed. ¡°On what?¡± ¡°On how you define ¡®work,¡¯¡± he replied. ¡°Explain.¡± The bard sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve performed in the safe zone mansions on multiple occasions. I didn¡¯t always know who my clients were, but I¡¯m sure that at least some were Powers or envoys.¡± I pursed my lips. ¡°By perform, you mean musically?¡± He nodded. ¡°What about outside of your musical performances? Did you do any other sort of work for a Power?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shael rubbed his chin. ¡°I did bring that message back to you from the Shadow Keep that one time. I suppose that could be considered¡ª¡± I waved dismissively. ¡°Forget that, that was at my behest. Anything else?¡± Shael shook his head. ¡°No.¡± I nodded, relaxing fractionally. Things were going well, and thus far, Shael was everything he said he was. However, now it was time to venture into murkier territory. ¡°Will you risk your life to save Saya¡¯s?¡± I asked after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°Without hesitation,¡± the half-elf said. ¡°What about a lifetime spent on the run? Being hunted forevermore by Loken and his kind. Would you risk that?¡± ¡°I would,¡± Shael replied just as firmly. I inhaled. That established how far Shael was willing to go for Saya, but what about rebelling against the established order? Would he risk that? ¡°What do you know of the ancients?¡± I asked. The bard¡¯s face creased in confusion. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡± ¡°Have you heard of the Primes?¡± Shael cocked his head to the side. ¡°That¡¯s not a title I¡¯m familiar with.¡± ¡°What about the Houses, the bloodlines, scions, or the guardians? Heard of any of them?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No. I have absolutely no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± I exhaled. So far so good. ¡°What if I told you that the new Powers didn¡¯t always stand ascendant in the Kingdom, that before them, the ancients¡ªled by their Primes¡ªwere the ones who ruled? What if I told you that I and those allied with me are determined to break the hold Loken and his kind have on the world?¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. To my surprise, the bard laughed. ¡°Well, for starters, I¡¯d say you got your hands on the good stuff.¡± He chuckled again. ¡°But if by some huge stretch, you¡¯re not hallucinating, joking, or otherwise, pulling my leg. If you¡¯re asking what I think you are, then yes.¡± His expression turned grave. ¡°I¡¯d join your cause if it means saving Saya.¡± I eyed him speculatively. ¡°And that would be the only reason?¡± Shael hesitated as he gave the matter more serious thought. Patiently, I waited. ¡°I¡¯m not one for grand causes,¡± he said eventually. ¡°Living in Nexus for as many years as I have, I¡¯ve seen lots that is¡­ wrong with the ways things are. But I¡¯ve never felt it my place to fix things.¡± His gaze rose to mine. ¡°I suspect however that¡¯s not the answer you were looking for. I¡¯m sorry.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Don¡¯t be. Your perspective is no different from most other players in the Game. Indeed, I felt much the same way when I first started.¡± ¡°What changed you?¡± Shael asked quietly. I shrugged. ¡°Circumstances. Power.¡± I smiled. ¡°Or perhaps I¡¯m just more contrary than you are. It sticks in my craw to submit to the likes of Loken and his fellows.¡± Shael grinned. ¡°That I can understand.¡± I glanced at him. ¡°Would you follow me?¡± Shael opened his mouth to reply, but I held up my hand forestalling him. ¡°Would you follow me even after we rescue Saya and knowing I plan on overthrowing the new Powers?¡± This time the half-elf did not hesitate. ¡°Yes.¡± The last of my tension eased. ¡°Then I guess we¡¯ll not be parting ways, after all.¡± ? ? ? My interrogation did not end there, of course. I plied Shael with many more questions, but they all revolved around the same topics, and in the end the bard proved to be exactly what I always thought he was: a dependable, sincere sort trying to make his own way through the Game. ¡°I think we¡¯re done here,¡± I said, rising to my feet. Shael studied me, a thoughtful look on his face. ¡°That was easier than I expected.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Really? Were you expecting me to break out the torture-kit or something?¡± He smiled. ¡°When you put it like that it does sound foolish, but I¡¯ll admit I was anticipating some degree of pain. This was¡­ effortless.¡± His amusement faded. ¡°What happens now?¡± ¡°I release you, and we go back to doing what we were before.¡± ¡°And I won¡¯t remember anything from this conversation?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± I confirmed. ¡°But you¡¯ll tell me everything?¡± he asked worriedly. ¡°About your allies¡ª¡± his voice dropped to a whisper¡ª¡°the Primes, the ancients, and all that?¡± ¡°I will,¡± I assured him. ¡°But not here. Once we get to a secure location, I¡¯ll share all the details with you.¡± I¡¯d taken a minor risk in mentioning the ancients and the Primes during my questioning. If anyone had been listening in, they would have everything they needed to brand me both a rebel and criminal. But they would have no more than that. I¡¯d shared no specifics with Shael and wouldn¡¯t do so until we returned to the tundra. ¡°The important thing,¡± I went on, ¡°is that I now know I can trust you.¡± I squeezed the bard¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You ready to proceed?¡± Shael squeezed his eyes shut. ¡°Do it.¡± Doing as he bade, I reached within myself and severed the blood ties keeping the half-elf bound to my will. ? ? ? You have freed Shael from enslavement. He is no longer dominated. The bard¡¯s eyes flickered, then opened. ¡°Well, what are you waiting for?¡± he asked, throwing me a puzzled look. ¡°Go on, charm me or do whatever it is you intend.¡± I grinned. ¡°It¡¯s already done.¡± Shael frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± I replied. ¡°You were bespelled for about an hour. The interrogation is done.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really,¡± I confirmed. Still looking dubious, Shael glanced downward and began patting himself down. ¡°You passed, by the way. Congratulations.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Shael muttered, not looking up. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I asked curiously. ¡°Looking for dagger holes,¡± he replied, only half-jokingly. I laughed. ¡°Well, when you¡¯re done with that, join me. I¡¯ve a chest to find.¡± Shael looked up. ¡°A chest?¡± ¡°Remember the money I told you about? Nicola has stashed it somewhere in this building. All I have to do is locate it.¡± ¡°Nicola,¡± Shael repeated. ¡°He¡¯s the under-dweller merchant Hugo mentioned?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Pulling out the key card Nicola had given me, I held it up in the air. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Shael asked, slipping closer to inspect the item. ¡°A soulbound key card,¡± I explained. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to warn me when I¡¯m close to the chest. Nicola would have hidden it well.¡± I glanced at the corpses on the floor. ¡°To prevent any would-be thieves from stealing its contents.¡± ¡°Nice,¡± the bard remarked, looking impressed. ¡°Your merchant friend seems quite the professional.¡± I nodded. ¡°I got the feeling this is not his first blind drop. More like his hundredth.¡± Waving the card before me, I began circling the room. Shael shot me a quick look as he kept step beside me. ¡°You¡¯re being surprisingly free with your explanations all of a sudden.¡± I glanced at him. ¡°You prefer I stay closed mouth?¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°Please no!¡± My lips twitched, but only a moment later, I grew serious again. ¡°I told you, you passed the last test,¡± I said softly. ¡°I will not withhold anything from you now.¡± Shael nodded slowly. ¡°I see that.¡± Finishing my circuit of the room, I drew to a halt. ¡°Well, wherever the chest is, it¡¯s not here.¡± The key card had remained steadfastly inert in my hands the entire time. ¡°The next room, maybe?¡± Shael suggested. ¡°Maybe,¡± I agreed. Striding out the door, I made my way down the corridor. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go find this thing.¡± ? ? ? Thirty minutes later, the card in my hand finally buzzed. ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± I declared. ¡°Where?¡± Shael asked, scanning the surroundings. We were in the half-collapsed basement of the yellow house¡ªand the very last place I¡¯d thought to check. Under pressure of the adjacent saltmarsh, the south-facing wall had caved in, letting in its semi-liquid sludge. Gingerly picking my way through the room, I kept my focus on the key card in my hand and did my best to ignore the ankle-high muck I was wading through. The card¡¯s buzzing reached a crescendo. I drew to a halt. ¡°It¡¯s in there,¡± I said, pointing. Shael¡¯s gaze darted from me to the sludge heap I stood in front of. ¡°You¡¯re joking. Why would your merchant friend bury the chest in there?¡± I didn¡¯t blame the bard for his reaction. The heap in question looked truly revolting, and even I had a hard time stomaching the smell wafting off the delightful pile of excrement, rotting corpses and other filth that had washed in with the marsh. ¡°I suppose because it¡¯s the last place anyone would want to look,¡± I murmured. Shael shook his head in disgust. ¡°I take back what I said earlier. That under-dweller of yours is entirely too professional for my liking.¡± I chuckled. ¡°He could have been less¡­ thorough,¡± I allowed. Opening my backpack, I retrieved my shovel. Shael¡¯s eyes fell on the implement in my hands. ¡°Well, you seem to have matters under control here. I should go up and keep watch.¡± I smiled. ¡°You do that. I¡¯ll join you soon.¡± Bending down, I got to digging. ? ? ? It took me far longer than I would¡¯ve liked to find Nicola¡¯s chest, but eventually, after an hour of back-breaking work, I pulled a heavy metal box out of the muck. Prudently deciding not to open the chest in the filthy basement, I dragged the box upstairs. ¡°You found it?¡± Shael asked from where he lay stretched out on the floor. ¡°No thanks to you,¡± I muttered, feeling far less charitable towards the bard now than I had earlier. ¡°But you only had one shovel,¡± Shael protested innocently. Not deigning to dignify his statement with a response, I set the chest down and began cleaning myself. ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± Shael asked, chuckling unrepentantly at my lack of reaction. ¡°A whole lot of money,¡± I muttered. ¡°Or so I hope, anyway.¡± Shael scratched his head. ¡°All of this seems like an extraordinary amount of effort to go through simply for collecting a payment. Was there a reason you and the merchant chose not to use a bank instead?¡± I nodded as I finished wiping off the worst of the basement¡¯s muck. ¡°Banks can¡¯t be fully trusted, and given the amounts of money involved, the transaction would undoubtedly have been flagged by someone for a deeper look.¡± The bard cocked his head to the side. ¡°How much are we talking about here?¡± ¡°A million,¡± I said casually as I kneeled before the sealed chest. Shael¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock. ¡°A m-million?¡± he gasped when he finally got it working again. ¡°What in hells did you do to earn that much?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe me if I told you,¡± I said with a smile. Placing the key card against the chest, I flipped it open, eager to see what lay inside. Chapter 513: Stash You have unlocked an unmarked chest with a key card. The chest didn¡¯t hold one million. Studying the paltry contents, I could immediately tell it was less than that¡ªa lot less. ¡°Two bags,¡± I muttered. Why in hells are there only two? ¡°What¡¯s in the pouches?¡± Shael asked, peering over my shoulder. ¡°Stygian powder,¡± I murmured, staring despondently at the mostly empty chest. ¡°Nether dust?¡± Shael asked curiously. Leaning forward, he inspected the pouches with analyze. ¡°There¡¯s two kilograms of the stuff in here!¡± he exclaimed a moment later. ¡°That¡¯s more dust than I¡¯ve ever seen in one place before! Each pouch must be worth thousands!¡± He paused. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be right. Tens of thousands!¡± ¡°Almost correct. All told, the two bags are worth two hundred thousand gold.¡± Shael blinked, taken aback by the astronomical amount. ¡°Then why the long face?¡± ¡°It¡¯s less than I was expecting,¡± I replied glumly. His eyes widened incredulously. ¡°Really?¡± I nodded. ¡°Alrrright¡­ but it¡¯s still two hundred thousand gold! That¡¯s a fortune by anyone¡¯s reckoning, Michael. You¡¯re rich!¡± ¡°Not rich enough,¡± I muttered. Shael¡¯s delight waned as he sensed the depths of my frustration. ¡°There¡¯s a note,¡± he pointed out helpfully. ¡°Two of them actually. Perhaps one of them has an explanation?¡± Peering into the steel box again, I saw that he was right. A thin slip of paper had been tucked beneath each bag. Reaching into the chest, I retrieved bags and parchment both. You have acquired 2kg of stygian powder. You have acquired an underworld promissory note for 200,000 gold. You have acquired a penned missive. Ignoring the stygian powder and promissory note for now, I opened the letter and began to read. Jasiah (or whoever you really are), I have bad news. No doubt, you¡¯ve already counted the pouches in the chest and noticed their lack. I apologize for failing to live up to my end of the bargain, but unfortunately, I¡¯ve run into a few problems. The biggest one being Mammon. Yes, the Power himself contacted me, and let me tell you, he was not happy (an understatement if there ever was one)! His people informed him that I refused to sell them back their gear on day zero. As you can imagine, Mammon had some choice words for me and a few not-so-subtle threats. He didn¡¯t threaten my person, but he did strongly suggest my days as a merchant were numbered. But don¡¯t worry on my behalf, I don¡¯t fear Mammon. At the end of the day, he is only a minor Power, and his threats are just so much hot air. However, Mammon does have an iron grip over his people. And unfortunately, the Devil Riders are enough of a force in the Eastern Marches that they¡¯ve managed to block the sale of your items. Worse yet, they¡¯re also refusing to buy back their own Sworn locked items. It¡¯s a petty sort of revenge, seeing as they¡¯re hurting only themselves by not reacquiring their gear, but in the short term their strategy is proving¡­. effective. To cut a long story short, I¡¯ve only managed to sell a third of your loot so far (the least valuable items), the proceeds of which are in this chest. Do not despair, though. The Riders will come around eventually. I¡¯m hoping their current stalling is just a bargaining tactic to drive the prices down when they do concede to the inevitable and buy back their Sworn-locked items. Beware, though, the final sum may be less than you expect. I didn¡¯t want you to think I betrayed you, hence the partial payment. Make sure to keep this drop point secure, and once I have the second half of your payment, I¡¯ll put it in the selfsame chest. But if you feel the need to change the drop point, contact me through Dinara. Regards, Nicola. P.S I almost forgot. Tyelin handed over his promissory note without fuss. I admit that surprised me. Anyway, you will find it in the chest too. I know that doesn¡¯t make up for the shortfall, but perhaps it will help tide you over until I can sell the rest of your stuff. My brows furrowed unhappily, I read the note again. But my impression the second time around was no different from the first: Nicola¡¯s words appeared heartfelt. I could sense no trace of deception in them, and the problems he described were entirely too believable. In hindsight, I realized I should have foreseen something like this happening. ¡°What is it?¡± Shael prompted. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Further delays,¡± I replied obliquely. ¡°Nicola needs more time to gather the rest of my money.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Shael remarked and left it at that, for which I was grateful. ¡°So, what does that mean for us?¡± he asked, shifting focus to the present. I pursed my lips as I pondered the question. On one hand, I was now two hundred thousand richer¡ªfour hundred, if you counted Tyelin¡¯s note, but I was not sure I could depend on cashing it in anymore. On the other hand, I was still short of the sum I required to procure the Aether Cloaking Device. By Safyre¡¯s estimate, the artifact would set us back half a million. The shield generator was a must-have item, though. So, how to get it? Tyelin¡¯s money would make up a good deal of the shortfall, but collecting on it meant visiting Dinara. And for whatever reason the den chief was trying to capture or kill me¡ªI wasn¡¯t sure which yet. I also hadn¡¯t failed to notice that Nicola¡¯s note had not alluded to why that would be the case. Either the merchant was pretending innocence, or he was truly ignorant of whatever machinations the den chief was involved in. ¡°Michael?¡± Shael prompted. I rose to my feet. ¡°We have another stop to make in the plague quarter.¡± ¡°Where to this time?¡± Shael asked, appearing resigned to the fact of more delays. ¡°The Crooked Man,¡± I replied. ¡°It¡¯s time to pay Den Chief Dinara a visit.¡± ? ? ? Before heading to the tavern, we stopped by the Triumvirate citadel to purchase Shael some gear. We were on a time schedule¡ªideally, I wanted to deal with the den chief before Sintar and his gang revived and warned him¡ªbut it was not a severe one, and we could afford a short detour to re-equip the minstrel. ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡± I asked Shael as we drew closer to the knights¡¯ main stronghold in the plague quarter. ¡°A few times,¡± he admitted, having to shout to make himself heard. The square around the citadel was always crowded and hundreds of players were dashing to and fro. ¡°Are we going to enter the keep itself?¡± I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s better we avoid unnecessary scrutiny,¡± I replied, recalling the all-too-perceptive constable and the knights standing guard over the entrance to the inner citadel. ¡°Agreed,¡± Shael said. ¡°We should find something suitable amongst the merchants in the bailey.¡± Nodding wordlessly, I fell silent as we joined the long line of players waiting to enter the citadel. ? ? ? You have sold 30 x miscellaneous caches of items for 3,100 gold. You have lost: 2,000 gold, 5 silvers, and 3 coppers. Total money carried: 3,223 gold. Our visit to the citadel courtyard passed without incident. I sold all the gear I¡¯d looted from Sintar¡¯s gang¡ªexcept for the tier five daggers, of course¡ªand while the merchants¡¯ rates were less desirable than I wanted, I still managed to make a profit after outfitting Shael. Killing players was certainly profitable. ¡°We¡¯re done?¡± I asked, glancing sideways at the bard. Shael tore his eyes away from his new flute. He hadn¡¯t been able to keep his fingers away from the thing since he¡¯d purchased it. The instrument had cost a thousand gold on its own, fully half the money I¡¯d given the half-elf but judging by the bard¡¯s smile and firm step since, I judged the flute well worth the price. ¡°We are,¡± he said emphatically. ¡°And thank you again. I doubt I¡¯ll ever be able to repay you.¡± I waved aside his protest. ¡°You will,¡± I replied. ¡°If not in gold then in deeds.¡± I paused. ¡°Don¡¯t forget where we¡¯re going and what we¡¯re about to do.¡± Shael straightened. ¡°Of course. This time around you¡¯ll find me a more useful companion, I promise.¡± I smiled. ¡°I¡¯m counting on it.¡± ? ? ? The Crooked Man was on the west side of the plague quarter. I¡¯d visited the area before¡ªboth the entrance to the scorching dunes and haunted catacombs were in the same vicinity¡ªyet that did not mean the tavern was easy to find. Unusually, for the type of establishment it purported to be, there were no signposts leading the way nor bright lights. Nor any rowdy music to follow. The Crooked Man was clearly an establishment that chose not to announce itself to the world, but then again, given the nature of some of its patrons, that was only to be expected. In fact, according to Hugo, there were two sides to the Crooked Man. The public facing tavern¡ªa true den of iniquity that catered to every vice known to both players and non-players¡ªand the private club beneath¡ªthe beating heart of the underworld¡¯s Nexus branch. There were two entrances, too. The tavern¡¯s front doors, usable by anyone, and the thieves-only backdoor. But finding the second, even with Hugo¡¯s explicit instructions to guide me, proved troublesome. And in the end, it was only the pair of thugs idling outside the rusted steel door at the end of a darkened alley¡ªwhere neither they nor it had any purpose in being¡ªthat gave away the second entrance. Invisible, and crouched in the shadows as an added precaution, I studied the pair thoughtfully from the mouth of said alley. The target is Ince, a level 160 half-orc brawler. The target is Hagfyr, a level 171 dwarven scoundrel. Both dwarf and orc had wrapped themselves in shadow, but their stealth was insufficient to hide them from my keen sight. Nor did the alley¡¯s darkness do anything to conceal the door itself. This must be it, I thought. The back entrance to the Nexus underworld. I could see nothing of the Crooked Man¡¯s interior from the outside but that was of little consequence. Courtesy of Hugo, I had a detailed description of its internal layout. Unfortunately, I also couldn¡¯t pick out the mindglows of any of the tavern¡¯s undoubtedly many patrons either. Both the building¡¯s lower and upper floors were obviously shielded. And given that this was a thieves¡¯ hideout, I knew to expect traps aplenty. I sighed. Breaking in through the backdoor was going to be too risky. That left only one other option. Retreating from the alley, I crept back to where I¡¯d left Shael waiting. ? ? ? ¡°I¡¯ve found it,¡± I said without preamble as I emerged from the shadows in front of the bard. Shael did not startle, obviously getting used to my abrupt comings and goings. ¡°Where?¡± he asked, straightening from his slouched posture. ¡°Five blocks away and tucked away deep inside an alley,¡± I replied. The bard frowned. ¡°Can we use it?¡± I shook my head. ¡°We can¡¯t. Like I suspected, breaking in is not an option. We¡¯re going to have to go with plan B. You¡¯ll enter through the front, and I¡¯ll bluff my way through the back.¡± Shael grimaced. ¡°Then you¡¯re still determined to go ahead with your madcap plan?¡± ¡°I need that money,¡± I said stiffly. ¡°And I need to know why Dinara is so eager to find me.¡± Shael raised his hands palms up. ¡°I¡¯m not arguing. I¡¯ll do my part. It¡¯s you that I¡¯m worried about. You¡¯re going to be alone down there, and if you get into trouble, there¡¯s not much I can do from upstairs.¡± I sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. Just keep watch for my signal. When you hear it, don¡¯t hesitate or improvise. Do your bit and get out.¡± Shael nodded. ¡°Then we¡¯re a go?¡± ¡°We are,¡± I said, drawing psi. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± Chapter 514: Playing the Fool You have cast mimic, transforming your visage into that of Jasiah, a level 152 human duelist. Duration: 10 hours. You have cast enhanced reflexes, load controller, and trigger-cast quick mend. I returned to the alley wearing Jasiah¡¯s face. All my buffs¡ªexcept vanish¡ªwere cast, and I strode down the center of the narrow street, making no attempt to conceal either myself or my gear. The two thugs noticed me immediately, but they didn¡¯t break cover until I closed to within five yards of the tavern¡¯s entrance. Then the first crept through the shadows toward me. Pretending to be oblivious, I let him come¡ªright up until he circled around me and tried to put a knife to my throat. Sidestepping the maneuver, I let the thug stagger past. You have evaded Ince¡¯s attack! The half-orc stumbled forward, arms flailing. Reaching out, I grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head back. ¡°This is the correct way to do it,¡± I whispered in his ear, pressing faithful against his bare neck. The second thug rushed out of the shadows. ¡°Let him go!¡± he hissed. My gaze shifted to the dwarf, and sensing an opportunity, the orc under my blade tensed fractionally. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I warned, nicking his skin and drawing blood. Ince stilled. ¡°Better,¡± I praised before turning my attention to his companion, Hagfyr again. ¡°Now, you were saying?¡± The dwarf scowled. ¡°Let him go, you bastard. I¡¯m warning you, you don¡¯t know who you¡¯re messing with here.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Please! Do you think I just happened on this alley by accident? Of course, I know what you two are. Underworld thugs.¡± I cocked my head to the side. ¡°Right?¡± Hagfyr¡¯s scowl deepened and out of the corner of my eye, I spotted his hands curling into fists. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of triggering any traps,¡± I said, guessing what he was about, ¡°Don¡¯t. Matters will only get messy then, and I assure you it will serve no purpose.¡± I knew no such thing of course, but the dwarf didn¡¯t need to know that. That there were traps, I didn¡¯t doubt. Unfortunately, they were beyond my ability to detect¡ªI¡¯d tried and failed already. Hagfyr¡¯s eyes narrowed and for a moment, I feared he was going to call my bluff, but before he could do anything foolish, the half-orc spoke up. ¡°Who are you?¡± he croaked. ¡°A fellow thief, of course,¡± I replied lightly, not taking my gaze off the dwarf. ¡°Is that so?¡± Hagfyr scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m from out of town,¡± I said evenly. ¡°A friend directed me here.¡± ¡°Yeah? And who might that be?¡± the dwarf demanded. ¡°An under-dweller by the name of Nicola.¡± Hagfyr was no actor, and I recognized the exact moment he connected the dots. At the mention of Nicola¡¯s name, the dwarf¡¯s eyes widened fractionally before darting across my face. Then, his expression smoothened so quickly it was almost comical. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so in the first place?¡± he asked with barely concealed eagerness. Somehow, I kept from laughing. ¡°Your friend here didn¡¯t give me a chance,¡± I said with a pretended frown at the orc. ¡°He attacked without warning.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to kill you!¡± Ince growled. ¡°Oh? What were you trying to do then?¡± ¡°Hold you for questioning!¡± ¡°Like I am doing now?¡± I asked, deadpan. ¡°Exactly!¡± he exclaimed, seemingly oblivious as to the irony of the situation. Withdrawing, faithful, I shoved him forward. ¡°Well, then,¡± I said expansively, ¡°I guess we are all friends here.¡± I eyed the two. ¡°Aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Hagfyr said, looking like he wanted to rub his hands in glee. Ince glared at me. ¡°We still need to see your chit before we can let you in,¡± he said, feeling gingerly at his throat. I smiled at the half-orc. He was either a better actor than the dwarf or ignorant of what was going on. ¡°Come, Ince, there¡¯s no need for that,¡± Hagfyr said with oily smoothness. ¡°He¡¯s a friend of Nicola¡¯s. Of course, he can¡ª¡± ¡°Here you go,¡± I said, tossing Ince my underworld token. The half-orc snatched the chit out of the air and examined it closely. ¡°You¡¯re an apprentice?¡± he asked in a tone that was equal parts outrage and disbelief. I shrugged. ¡°What can I say, I¡¯m a late bloomer.¡± Hagfyr chortled. ¡°Huh-oh. You let a little bitty apprentice get the better of you, Ince? You¡¯re not going to live this one down!¡± Ince¡¯s glare swapped to his companion. Stepping forward, I reached out and plucked the token from the half-orc¡¯s hand. ¡°Everything is in order then?¡± ¡°Yessir, mister apprentice!¡± Hagfyr replied before Ince could say anything. Reaching behind him, he unlocked the steel door. ¡°Come on in. I¡¯ll escort you.¡± ? ? ? The tavern¡¯s main door opened into a narrow corridor that sloped gently downward. Affecting a relaxed air, I trailed after the dwarf. The thieves¡¯ main hideout lay beneath the tavern, which accounted for the passage¡¯s sloping. There was more to its design than that, though. The corridor served the thieves as both backdoor and escape route. And while there were no guards, that did not mean the passage lacked defenses. It was trapped, of course. Given the passage¡¯s length and narrow confines, it would be a death trap for any assaulting force. However, based on Hugo¡¯s information, I knew the front entrance was even more heavily guarded¡ªand not just by traps. There were multiple thief squads roving above, all tasked with watching the patrons and the entrances to the below ground level. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. It was why I had chosen to ¡®sneak¡¯ in through the backdoor. This way, there was a decent chance I¡¯d come face to face with Dinara without having to wade through each and every one of his minions. And all it took was offering myself up as bait. You have crossed through a tier 6 concealment barrier. All entities within the barrier are hidden from outside detection. You have entered an adept dampening field. Your tier 1 to 4 mana, psi, and stamina abilities have been inhibited. Your spells, load controller, quick mend, and enhanced reflexes have been dispelled. Impregnable mind and mimic have resisted dispelling. My musings came to an abrupt end as the Game messages dropped into my mind. Hugo had warned me about the field and barrier, and I¡¯d know to expect them. However, I hadn¡¯t been entirely sure how accurate his information was, and it was a relief to find out he was spot on. My wariness about the dampening field was another reason I¡¯d chosen to make my entry through the backdoor. If it had stripped me of my false visage, I knew I would have an easier time of concealing my face from Hagfyr and Ince than a tavern full of people while I made my escape. Thankfully that was no longer necessary. Admittedly, though, the strength¡ªor lack thereof¡ªof the dampening field surprised me. On a positive note, it meant I¡¯d have access to my tier five abilities¡ªbackstab, vanish, mimic, and slaysight amongst them. On the other hand, it also meant Dinara and any other elites in the basement would enjoy the same advantages. Which could be both good or bad. It all depended on what abilities the other elites had. ¡°Caught you by surprise, did it?¡± Hagfyr asked with a knowing smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though, the barrier and field are there for everyone¡¯s sake.¡± Ha! That was unlikely to be true. Given the field¡¯s design, it had probably been configured solely for Dinara¡¯s protection. With the other thieves¡¯ abilities inhibited, the den chief wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being stabbed in the back. I didn¡¯t pursue the subject further, of course. ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked instead. ¡°To visit the chief,¡± Hagfyr answered airily. ¡°He¡¯ll want to see you.¡± ¡°Oh, why¡¯s that?¡± I asked, concealing my delight. ¡°Dinara¡ªthat¡¯s his name¡ªalways insists on meeting any newcomers to the city,¡± Hagfyr replied easily. ¡°You know, to make sure you¡¯re properly welcomed and all that stuff.¡± I bet. ¡°I see,¡± I murmured. ¡°Well, I look forward to meeting him myself.¡± ? ? ? A little later, we entered the underworld complex proper, and despite thinking I knew what to expect, I drew to an involuntary stop. Hugo¡¯s words had not done the place justice. He¡¯d labeled it a private club. But the underworld den was more than that. Much more. The passage had spilled out into a wide-open seating area. Couches, divans, and even throne-like armchairs were strewn across the chamber. The carpet underfoot was plush, translucent silk curtains pretended to partition off the room, trays heaped with extravagant dishes graced every table, drinks were in abundant supply, and everywhere I looked there were muscular and near-naked servitors¡ªnon-players all¡ªserving the guests. ¡°Impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡± Hagfyr asked proudly. ¡°That¡¯s one word for it,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± I replied, studying the ¡®guests¡¯ again. They were all players. High-ranking thieves was my guess, but none of them was the one I sought. ¡°Where¡¯s Dinara?¡± Hagfyr snorted. ¡°Not here amongst the riffraff, of course. He has a private suite further back for his own enjoyment and that of his¡­ special guests.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± I murmured. Extending my arm, I waved the dwarf on. ¡°Lead on.¡± Turning around, the dwarf proceeded to do just that, but he didn¡¯t get far before a hulking brute barred our progress. ¡°Hagfyr,¡± the thug greeted the dwarf before turning my way. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°A friend of Nicola¡¯s,¡± the dwarf replied, beaming from ear to ear. The brute blinked slowly. ¡°Nicola?¡± Hagfyr nodded with ill-concealed smugness. ¡°That¡¯s right. This one here is an acquaintance of the under-dweller. I¡¯m taking him to see the chief.¡± The brute raked me over with a lazy gaze. You have passed a mental resistance check! Hed has failed to pierce your disguise. Snorting softly, Hed stepped out of the way, clearly perceiving me as no threat. ¡°Go on ahead.¡± ? ? ? We crossed the chamber without incident. Along the way, I spotted more lurking thugs but none of them attempted an approach. No doubt, they¡¯d spotted Hed¡¯s earlier interception and noted his decision to let us pass unhindered. It was clear that despite the obvious opulence of the lounge, the thieves had not forgone their security measures altogether, a fact I was reminded of again when I spotted the two elites lounging outside the shut door that was our destination. The target is Darkdawn, a level 225 elven fencer. The target is Horus, a level 230 human blademaster. ¡°What are you doing here, Hagfyr?¡± Darkdawn drawled, not bothering to get up from the couch he was sprawled across. ¡°Yeah,¡± Horus chipped in, sipping deeply from his mug. ¡°Aren¡¯t you on door watch?¡± Hagfyr rocked back on his heels, his excitement barely contained. ¡°I have a present for the boss.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± the elf enquired. The dwarf stuck his thumb in my direction. ¡°This is the one.¡± Horus barely glanced my way while Darkdawn didn¡¯t even bother with that much. But despite the pair¡¯s seeming insouciance, I did not miss the keenness of their gazes, nor the many buffs layered over their persons. The elites were alert and ready to act on a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°The one?¡± the human repeated, stifling a yawn. ¡°Is that supposed to mean something? ¡®One¡¯ what?¡± ¡°Yeah, Hagfyr, tell us what¡¯s got you so all hot and bothered,¡± Darkdawn added. ¡°And don¡¯t deny that¡¯s the case. You¡¯re practically oozing¡ª¡± He paused, then widened his eyes theatrically. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me. Has Hagfyr finally found a partner? Is he the one? Have you come to ask the boss¡¯ permission?¡± The elf got no further. Clutching his sides, he broke down into laughter. ¡°Congratulations, Hagfyr,¡± Horus said solemnly. ¡°But I hate to break it to you, the boss doesn¡¯t go in for that sort of¡ª¡± The dwarf¡¯s face grew heated. ¡°Shuddup, you fools!¡± Darkdawn¡¯s mirth vanished as quickly as it appeared. ¡°Easy, Hagfyr,¡± he said softly. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your place.¡± The dwarf gulped audibly. ¡°Now report,¡± Horus rasped, his own face scrubbed clean of expression. ¡°Properly. As you should¡¯ve done in the first place.¡± Visibly stiffening, Hagfyr inhaled sharply. ¡°This here fool is the mark the boss is looking for. The under-dweller¡¯s associate. Walked right up to the door, he did.¡± Two sharp gazes fell on me. You have passed a mental resistance check! Horus and Darkdawn have failed to pierce your disguise. Ignoring the elites¡¯ scrutiny, I stared at the dwarf, affecting shock and confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± I demanded. ¡°Your boss is looking for me? You didn¡¯t mention that! What does he want?¡± Ignoring my outburst, Horus addressed the dwarf, ¡°How do you know he is the mark?¡± ¡°Uhh¡­ he said so.¡± Darkdawn rolled his eyes. ¡°He just upped and turned himself in, did he?¡± Hagfyr¡¯s flush deepened. ¡°No. He claimed to be the under-dweller¡¯s friend, and I saw no reason to doubt him. He fits the description, after all.¡± The elf pursed his lips, but he didn¡¯t mock the dwarf further. ¡°Hagfyr is right about that,¡± he murmured in an aside to Horus that I was sure I wasn¡¯t supposed to hear. ¡°He does look like the one the chief is after.¡± Horus nodded minutely. ¡°Go tell the boss. I¡¯ll keep an eye on him so long.¡± Not saying anything further, the elf slipped through the closed door behind them. ¡°Is someone going to tell me what¡¯s¡ª¡± I began. ¡°Shut up,¡± Horus ordered. ¡°And don¡¯t move.¡± Glaring at the elite with what I hoped seemed like helpless outrage, I let my right hand slip closer to my hip. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Horus warned. ¡°You¡¯ll be dead before your blade leaves its sheath.¡± I doubted that, but my gambit was working and there was scarce need for further playacting. Folding my arms in front of me, I set myself to wait patiently. But only a moment later, the door behind Horus opened again and Darkdawn stepped out. ¡°The boss will see you now,¡± he said, staring straight at me. Concealing a smile, I stepped forward. It looked like I was finally going to get my wish: a private meeting with Dinara. And all without killing anyone or a single slipup. I must be getting better at this. Chapter 515: A Polite Conversation The den chief¡¯s office was huge but surprisingly lacking in the opulence of the rest of the level. Bookshelves lined the walls, a sturdy leather rug lay underfoot, and magelights floated near the ceiling. It was the large oak desk on the opposite side of the room that dominated the space, though. Sitting behind it and facing the door was a gray-haired man. Dinara. The moment my eyes alighted on him, a Game message opened in my mind and screamed for attention. The target is Dinara, a level 247 trapsmith. Warning: this player has been branded a criminal by the sector¡¯s ruling faction, the Triumvirate. Aiding him in any manner may result in charges being brought against you. I continued my advance into the room, with only the tiniest of hitches betraying my surprise at the Game alert. My stutter, slight as it was, did not go unnoticed, though. The den chief¡¯s eyes tightened fractionally. ¡°How did you analyze me so quickly?¡± Ignoring the question, I strode deeper into the room and seated myself across the slim figure. Dinara sat with his arms casually resting on the table. Moving carefully, I mimicked his pose. The den chief didn¡¯t say anything, but the slight upward tick of his lips conveyed his appreciation of the gesture. I didn¡¯t want the encounter devolving into violence¡ªnot until I got the answers I sought¡ªand it seemed Dinara was inclined the same way too. Sitting back, I considered the man. It was early days yet, but my first impressions tallied with Hugo¡¯s: Dinar was dangerously perceptive. I would have to be careful. ¡°Answer me,¡± Dinara ordered mildly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can work that out for yourself,¡± I replied evenly. ¡°You used a tier five analyze,¡± Dinara said with no hint of a question in his tone. I inclined my head in acknowledgment, seeing no point in denying it. The den chief had already worked out that much for himself and the closer I skirted to the truth, the less likely he was to uncover my other secrets. ¡°You¡¯re an elite,¡± he stated flatly. I shrugged. That, too, stood to reason. Knowing what was coming next, I waited. Sure enough, an electric tingle rippled over me a moment later. You have passed a mental resistance check! Dinara has failed to pierce your disguise. ¡°Boss?¡± a startled Darkdawn asked from the door. ¡°Want me to stay?¡± The den chief¡¯s eyes flickered to the elf. ¡°No. Close the door on your way out. But stay vigilant.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Slipping out of the room, Darkdawn paused in the doorway. ¡°We¡¯ll be listening,¡± he warned me before shutting the door behind him. Ignoring the byplay, Dinara¡¯s gaze slid back to me. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Jasiah,¡± I replied innocently. The den chief snorted. ¡°We both know that¡¯s not true. Your analyze data is patently false. What spell are you using to conceal your identity? Mimic?¡± I chuckled. ¡°Come, Dinara, you know I¡¯m not going to reveal that.¡± ¡°Then tell me why you are here,¡± he demanded. I cocked my head to the side. ¡°Didn¡¯t your bodyguard tell you?¡± The den chief¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°Don¡¯t take me for a fool. Darkdawn¡¯s report counts for naught. As does Hagfyr¡¯s. Everything you told them was likely lies. But whoever you are, you didn¡¯t come all this way for nothing. So, I repeat: why are you here?¡± Not answering immediately, I took a second longer look at the den chief. Dinara was exactly as Hugo had described. A slight unassuming man, who if he were not a player, I would¡¯ve judged to be around fifty. As it was, I imagined that den chief had been around for at least a few centuries and was almost certainly better versed in the Game than me. Dinara carried no visible weapons, and his clothes, while immaculate, looked ordinary. He wore almost no jewelry to speak of either and despite his obvious ire, his posture remained relaxed and assured¡ªa king in the heart of his demesne. Rightly or wrongly, Dinara did not fear me. ¡°They were not lies,¡± I replied finally. ¡°I am Nicola¡¯s acquaintance.¡± I paused. ¡°And I heard you were looking for me.¡± The den chief seemed to take my answer at face value. ¡°How did you learn about that?¡± ¡°Sintar¡¯s gang,¡± I replied laconically. Consternation flickered across Dinara¡¯s face. ¡°Sintar would not have¡ª¡± Breaking off, he studied me keenly again. ¡°He¡¯s dead, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The rest of the gang?¡± ¡°Dead too.¡± Dinara leaned back in his chair, his hands sliding to the edge of the desk but still visible. ¡°And did you think I would be as easy to slay? Is that why you¡¯re here? To kill me?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± He frowned. ¡°I admit you confound me. You eliminated Sintar and the men I sent after you, then you come here alone into the heart of my base. Why? What¡¯s stopping me from finishing the job they started?¡± I quirked one eyebrow. ¡°Ah. I see, you don¡¯t think I can.¡± Dinara shook his head. ¡°Well, believe what you wish, but I assure you, in the Crooked Man only one man rules. Me. Your fate is in my hands now.¡± I said nothing, not caring if Dinara believed he was the one in control. Dinara smiled. ¡°I see my words fall on deaf ears. But even given your misplaced confidence, you must surely perceive the precariousness of your situation? Why risk coming here in the first place?¡± ¡°Because I want answers.¡± Dinara studied me inquisitively. ¡°And what makes you think you¡¯re entitled to any?¡± I tossed him my underworld token. ¡°This for one.¡± The den chief caught the chit easily. Opening his palm, he inspected it carefully. ¡°Who gave this to you?¡± ¡°Nicola.¡± Dinara blinked slowly. ¡°Of course,¡± he murmured. ¡°The timing is unfortunate, though.¡± He slid the token back to me. ¡°If I¡¯d known you were a member of the underworld before this, it might have changed things. Now, it¡¯s too late. I¡¯ve already accepted the commission.¡± His eyes glittered. ¡°And I always fulfill my commissions.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Now we were getting to the heart of the matter. ¡°A commission to secure my death,¡± I mused, deliberately placing the darkest possible interpretation on the nature of his interest. ¡°And here I thought the underworld did not deal in death.¡± ¡°The commission is for your capture, not death,¡± the den chief replied stiffly. ¡°Hmm. So, you say.¡± I leaned across the table. ¡°Who is paying you?¡± Dinara took a long time answering. ¡°I suppose that¡ª¡± he glanced at the chit still on the table between us¡ª¡°earns you the right to an answer on that much at least.¡± Patiently, I waited. ¡°The commission is from Tyelin.¡± I exhaled softly. Things were starting to fall in place. The puzzle was far from complete though. ¡°What does he want with me?¡± Dinara shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, nor did I bother asking. Blythe¡¯s envoy is willing to pay handsomely for you. And in the end, that is all that matters.¡± ¡°What did he offer you?¡± ¡°Enough with the questions,¡± Dinara said, his expression turning impatient. ¡°I¡¯ve already been more obliging than necessary. I will tell you no more.¡± ¡°Was it, by any chance, a sum of two hundred thousand gold?¡± I asked, ignoring his dictate. The older man¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Who told you? It couldn¡¯t have been Sintar. He didn¡¯t know.¡± Sliding a thin slip of parchment across the table, I sat back. ¡°I know because of this.¡± The den chief let the promissory note lie where I left it, yet he did not fail to register what it was¡ªnor the number ¡®two-hundred thousand¡¯ etched boldly upon it. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± he asked, his eyes darkening. ¡°From Tyelin,¡± I replied offhandedly. ¡°As payment for services rendered. Nicola was acting as my intermediary on the matter, which I gather is why Tyelin had you following him.¡± I paused. ¡°I¡¯m guessing your commission was also for all the items on my person?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Dinara said in a clipped tone, making the same connections I had. Blythe¡¯s envoy had acted more shrewdly than I expected. Exploiting my reliance on Nicola, he¡¯d used him to get to me. And the beauty of it was that Tyelin¡¯s commission wouldn¡¯t leave him any further out of pocket than he already was. If Dinara managed to fulfill it, then instead of me collecting on the two hundred thousand gold, Dinara would, and as an added bonus, the envoy would also get his looted legendary items back. The question, though, was that the sum total of Tyelin¡¯s calculation? Or was there more to the matter that I was not seeing? There were other considerations too. Like, for instance, how did Tyelin know I¡¯d be¡ª ¡°So, the little snot played me,¡± Dinara mused. I glanced up at the den chief. ¡°It seems so,¡± I agreed. He sighed. ¡°It does not change things, though.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Instead of responding, Dinara reached out to the underworld token and touched it lightly. Your underworld token has been updated. You have been designated a journeyman rogue by den chief Dinara, marking you as a full member of the underworld. My gaze flickered downward in time to spot the numeral ¡°1¡± stamped on the top side of the chit change to a ¡°2.¡± ¡°What was that for?¡± I asked, my brows rising. ¡°Consider it compensation for what I must do next,¡± Dinara murmured. I held his gaze. ¡°You still intend on fulfilling Tyelin¡¯s commission then.¡± He nodded. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Why?¡± The den chief sighed again. ¡°Because if there is one thing that¡¯s sacrosanct in the underworld, it¡¯s a commission. If word got around that I reneged on a deal, I¡¯d be done for.¡± I rubbed my chin. ¡°Have you considered the risks?¡± Dinara¡¯s lips quivered in amusement. ¡°From where I¡¯m sitting there aren¡¯t any.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a criminal,¡± I said bluntly. ¡°When I kill you, you¡¯ll end up in Nexus¡¯ safe zone and never make it out again¡ªat least not as a free man. The knights will spawn kill you until your final death.¡± ¡°If you kill me,¡± he pointed out. ¡°Is that a chance you¡¯re willing to take?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a chance I must take.¡± It was my turn to sigh. ¡°I see.¡± Sweeping the token off the table, I returned it to my backpack. ¡°What about the whole induction thing?¡± I asked suddenly. ¡°Isn¡¯t there supposed to be one before I can become a full thieves guild member?¡± Dinara barked a laugh. ¡°Brazen, aren¡¯t you?¡± I smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been called worse.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t doubt it.¡± Reaching into his pocket, the den chief extracted a pamphlet and handed it to me. ¡°Read that, and you¡¯ll be inducted.¡± ¡°Sounds easy enough,¡± I murmured, storing the item away. He grinned. ¡°It is. You¡¯re bypassing all the difficult tests that come before. No small concession on my part, I may add.¡± ¡°A gesture I will not forget, I promise,¡± I said with the same air of affability he had. ¡°Good,¡± Dinara pronounced, his hands still resting near the desk¡¯s edge. ¡°Then shall we get down to business?¡± I held up my hand for patience. ¡°One last thing.¡± I gestured to the promissory note. ¡°Can I get my money please?¡± Dinara gaped at me, momentarily flummoxed by my audacity. ¡°I think not.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± I challenged. ¡°That¡¯s my money,¡± he retorted, his veneer of politeness disappearing. ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± I countered instantly. ¡°It¡¯s Tyelin¡¯s.¡± He stared at me. ¡°Think about it. What do you have to lose? If you capture me after this¡ªas you seem certain you can¡ªyou¡¯ve lost nothing but a bit of time exchanging that note for gold. And if you fail and I get away? It¡¯s Tyelin who bears the cost, not you. He will still have to pay you if you complete your commission.¡± ¡°When I complete the job,¡± Dinara retorted automatically, ¡°not if.¡± But despite the den chief¡¯s protest, a gleam had appeared in his eyes, and I could tell he was giving serious consideration to my proposal¡ªas I suspected he might. He hadn¡¯t sounded too happy about being played by Blythe¡¯s envoy earlier. ¡°Assuming I do as you ask,¡± Dinara said, looking up at me again, ¡°I take it you don¡¯t intend on giving yourself up thereafter?¡± I chuckled. ¡°If that¡¯s your way of asking if I¡¯m going to surrender, then the answer¡¯s no. You won¡¯t take me alive. If at all.¡± Dinara smiled¡ªa little too toothily, I thought. ¡°I¡¯ll fulfill your request. As a den chief, I¡¯m obligated to do so after all. What currency do you prefer?¡± ¡°Bags of stygian powder will do nicely,¡± I replied. Dinara¡¯s brows rose. ¡°Interesting choice.¡± Removing a second promissory note, I placed it beside the first. ¡°And while you¡¯re at it, exchange that for me, will you?¡± Laughter bubbled in Dinara¡¯s eyes, but this time he chose not to comment. Leaning across the desk, he swiped both notes, and a moment later two hefty pouches appeared in their place. ¡°Your payment in full, exact to the gram.¡± You have lost Tyelin and Nicola¡¯s promissory notes. You have acquired 2.12 kg of stygian powder. Although I was curious about how he¡¯d managed to measure out the exact quantity needed in such a short span of time, I refrained from inquiring. I¡¯d gotten everything I¡¯d come for, and there was no point in pushing things further. ¡°Thank you,¡± I murmured, dumping the two pouches in my bag of holding. Dinara inclined his head. ¡°Now, is that all? he asked sardonically. ¡°Or is there something else I can do for you today?¡± ¡°You could let me go,¡± I quipped. The den chief grinned. ¡°Why would I do that? You are in the center of my¡­¡± Dinara kept speaking but I stopped paying attention. My focus had swapped to something else¡ªhis hands. They were moving again. The motion was slow and smooth and ordinarily, it would not have impinged on my awareness but throughout the conversation, I¡¯d made certain not to lose sight of them. Dinara was a trapsmith. Not a pure combat Class by the sounds of it. Yet, he continued to evince no nervousness at being alone in a room with me¡ªan unknown player who was quite possibly higher-ranked than him. I didn¡¯t believe his calm confidence was feigned either. All this told me one thing. Dinara¡¯s office was trapped to the nines. And the moment the den chief triggered his ambush, I was a dead man. Which was why I had to act first. Palming the remote trigger concealed in my left hand all this time, I pressed down on it before Dinara¡¯s hands could slip off the desk. You have activated a trap. You have activated a trap. You have activated a trap. The building shook as explosions rocked the perimeter of the building. Dinara froze. ¡°What was that?¡± I grinned. ¡°A signal.¡± Realization dawned in the den chief¡¯s eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t come here alone.¡± I shook my head, playing for time. Any second now¡­ C¡¯mon Shael! A tier 6 concealment barrier has been disabled. An adept dampening field has been disabled. Your tier 1 to 4 mana, psi, and stamina abilities are no longer inhibited. ¡°No, I did not,¡± I agreed and, releasing the psi I held ready, blinked away. Chapter 516: Denied You have teleported 97 yards. You are hidden. I teleported out of the Crooked Man using the furthest mindglow visible in my consciousness. I¡¯d been tempted, for just a moment, to stay within the confines of the tavern and exact revenge on Dinara¡¯s men. That would¡¯ve been petty though¡ªnot to mention dangerous. But more importantly, it wouldn¡¯t have served my goals. The den chief wasn¡¯t an enemy, nor were the rest of the thieves. Yes, for the near future I had to avoid Dinara because of his commission and yes, I would have to stay vigilant in any further dealings I had with the thieves¡ªthey were truly the mercenary sort. But I¡¯d already gotten what I¡¯d sought. Money and answers. Once my present troubles were resolved¡­ well, then, I could see about returning to the underworld. Its denizens and I had more than a few things in common. For now, though, some distance would be good. Slipping out of the shadows, I made my way to the agreed upon meeting point, and to my relief, spotted Shael heading the same way from afar. Good, he¡¯s made it out in one piece. And by the looks of it, no one was tailing him. ¡°Any problems?¡± I asked as I caught up to the half-elf. ¡°None,¡± Shael pronounced with satisfaction. ¡°I was out before anyone even realized anything was wrong.¡± I nodded. Hugo¡¯s inside knowledge of the Crooked Man had made all the difference. His gang had long since figured out the location of the focus crystals controlling the tavern¡¯s wards. Knowing all too well the nature of his fellow players, the den chief had chosen not to place the artifacts in a locked and guarded room but had hidden them away where no one would ever think to look¡ªin a secret compartment in one of the guest rooms. Unfortunately for him, Sintar had found it. ¡°What about getting in?¡± I asked. ¡°A breeze,¡± Shael replied. ¡°I walked in through the front door, hired the room, and bypassed the alarms. Hugo¡¯s information was spot on.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± I murmured. Shael glanced at me sideways. ¡°Where to now?¡± I smiled. ¡°Not onto another detour if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking. It¡¯s time we left Nexus. We¡¯ll stop by Kesh on the way out to drop off the money, but then it¡¯s straight to the teleportation platform.¡± Shael grinned. ¡°Excellent,¡± he echoed. ? ? ? You have equipped a set of the emporium robes, concealing your identity. Shael and I recovered Safyre¡¯s robes and made our way to Kesh¡¯s compound without incident. When we got there, the half-giants waved me in without comment. ¡°He stays with us,¡± Lake said, pointing at Shael. Nodding agreeably, the half-elf made himself comfortable while I continued onward. The inside of the emporium was quieter than usual, and I passed no one on my way to Kesh¡¯s office. ¡°Come in,¡± the old merchant said as I raised my hand to knock on the door. Doing as she bade, I shut the door behind me before lowering the hood concealing my face. ¡°I have your money,¡± I said, beaming at Kesh. ¡°Most of it anyway.¡± She did not return my smile. ¡°Sit,¡± she ordered perfunctorily. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked, my good mood evaporating. ¡°Sit,¡± Kesh repeated, and this time I didn¡¯t fail to mark the weariness in her tone. ¡°You¡¯ll want to be seated for this.¡± My trepidation rising, I slipped into the chair facing her. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve received a response from Loken.¡± ¡°And?¡± I asked, stilling. ¡°He¡¯s denied your request.¡± I blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The trickster does not want to meet.¡± Kesh¡¯s words made as little sense the second time around as it did the first. I knew what she meant, of course. What stymied me was the nature of Loken¡¯s reply. After asking Kesh to reach out, I had considered and planned for every possible response from the Shadow Power¡ªor so I¡¯d thought¡ªeverything from a demand to change the meeting spot, questions about why I wanted the meet, demands for assurances, and questions about where I¡¯d been. I¡¯d even anticipated and planned for Kesh being unable to reach Loken. What I¡¯d not expected was a flat refusal. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to meet¡ªat all?¡± I asked, still trying to wrap my head around Loken¡¯s rejection. Kesh nodded. I bit my lip. ¡°You¡¯re sure it was Loken who replied? Not one of his lackeys trying to¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± she cut in. ¡°The trickster¡¯s answers came back almost immediately, and I¡¯ve spent the better part of the day working my contacts to verify the source. There¡¯s no doubt. Loken is in Nexus. My letter was hand delivered to him. The response is his.¡± I nodded slowly. ¡°How exactly did he phrase his refusal?¡± ¡°No.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. I stared at her. ¡°That¡¯s it? One word? No explanation?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she replied, her own expression tight. ¡°What do you think it means?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ sure,¡± I replied, leaning back. Why was Loken refusing to meet? Had not telling him about Saya been a mistake? The last time the Shadow Power and I had spoken¡ªmany weeks ago¡ªhe¡¯d seemed almost desperate for me to steal Paya¡¯s chalice, and I¡¯d assumed he¡¯d jump at the chance to check on what progress I¡¯d made in the interim. I¡¯d either misread the situation or¡­ Loken was toying with me. It would not be the first time either. What game is he¡ª ¡°Michael?¡± My eyes darted back to Kesh. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°The only thing I can,¡± I replied slowly. ¡°Resolve matters in the sector 12,560 myself.¡± She stared at me searchingly. ¡°Can you?¡± ¡°I must,¡± I said grimly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what game Loken is playing, but I don¡¯t have time to indulge his love for theatrics. I¡¯ve wasted enough time as it is. I will rescue Saya and deal with the envoy myself.¡± Kesh did not question my choice further. ¡°Tell me what you need.¡± Removing the pouches of stygian powder I¡¯d obtained from Nicola and Dinara, I set them down on her desk. ¡°This is all the money I¡¯ve been able to acquire. I know it¡¯s a bit short but if you can¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Kesh said, running an expert eye over the bags. ¡°I¡¯ll make it work. You¡¯ll have your shield generator.¡± I bowed my head in gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do.¡± Kesh frowned. ¡°But with regards to the legendary artifacts and other gear you wanted, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t complete their delivery until you come up with the money.¡± I sighed. ¡°I understand. And trust me, I¡¯m working on it.¡± ¡°I can, however, give you this much,¡± Kesh added. Waving her hand, she materialized a small cache of stone coins. Turning my gaze downward, I inspected the objects that had appeared on the desk. This is a set of unmarked soulbound faction tokens. Except for being indestructible, each token possesses no further properties. The tavern has lost 20,000 gold. Money remaining in the Wyvern Roost¡¯s bank account: 300 gold. There were far fewer tokens on the desk than I¡¯d requested, but even so, they were more than welcome, and I swept them into my backpack without complaint. You have acquired 20 x unmarked soulbound faction tokens. Do you wish to soul-bind the items? Ignoring the Adjudicator¡¯s question, I turned back to Kesh. ¡°They cost one thousand gold each?¡± She nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the discount price too.¡± I winced. ¡°Thanks.¡± Kesh inclined her head. ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± Pausing for thought, I mentally reshuffled my priorities. For the next few days, weeks, or however long it took, I would be tied up in the wolves¡¯ valley. That meant many of the tasks I planned on completing in the short term would have to be put on the back burner or allocated to my allies. Reclaiming the nether-infested sector was too important to just ignore. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied at last. ¡°Go on,¡± Kesh encouraged. Running through my mental list, I identified the tasks I could safely ask Kesh to handle. ¡°Do you know of a crafter capable of working with soulbound items?¡± If the old merchant was surprised by the question, she didn¡¯t show it. ¡°Of course, I know many such crafters. What sort are you specifically looking for?¡± ¡°A bladesmith,¡± I replied, laying down Sunfury¡¯s feather shaft on her desk. ¡°One capable of creating a shortsword from this.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Kesh exclaimed, her eyes gleaming as she picked up the shaft. ¡°A phoenix¡¯s feather. Fascinating. I know someone capable of forging this into a weapon. He will be quite excited at the opportunity, I assure you.¡± She paused. ¡°I can¡¯t give you a time or cost estimate, though.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how long it takes or how much it costs. Just see it done, please.¡± ¡°I will,¡± she promised. ¡°Do you have any requirements for the blade?¡± I shrugged. ¡°Tell your crafter to do the best he can. As long as it¡¯s a shortsword.¡± ¡°Noted. What else can I do for you?¡± ¡°Contact the stygian brotherhood,¡± I replied. Once again, Kesh evinced no surprise. ¡°I¡¯d thought you might ask that. I assume you want me to negotiate on your behalf for their help in closing the rift in that sector of yours?¡± Exhaling heavily, I nodded. Ideally, I didn¡¯t want to depend on the stygian brotherhood, at all. If I had my way, the army we forged for our assault on the stygians would be made up of werewolves, rehomed possessed, and scions from House Pestilence. But there were still too many unknowns with all three groups. I didn¡¯t know yet if I could convince the werewolves to our cause, let alone Pestilence, nor if Adriel could rehome the possessed. And unfortunately, I didn¡¯t have the luxury of doing everything in a stepwise fashion anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll reach out to Huntmistress Kitara,¡± Kesh said. ¡°How much can I tell her?¡± ¡°Tell the huntmistress the rift is guarded by four overlords, a young void tree, and a nest numbering in the thousands. If she feels her people are up to the challenge of facing such a force, I will welcome their aid. Needless to say, don¡¯t share my name with her.¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Assuming the brotherhood is willing, ask them to begin gathering,¡± I went on. ¡°They must be ready to move on my call and should not expect more than a day¡¯s notice.¡± ¡°Got it. Where should they assemble?¡± ¡°Any sector, just not Nexus. We¡¯ll provide the portals to take them to the rift.¡± Kesh nodded. ¡°And what are you offering the brotherhood in exchange for their aid?¡± ¡°All the stygian remains from the nest, including the bodies of the overlords,¡± I replied, knowing I had little choice in the matter. ¡°But not the void tree itself.¡± Kesh rubbed her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Kitara may deem your offering insufficient.¡± I grimaced. ¡°Negotiate with her as you see fit. I¡¯ll trust to your discretion.¡± ¡°Very well. Huntmistress Kitara will likely want an upper limit on the time her people spend waiting for your call.¡± I nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± I couldn¡¯t expect the brotherhood to wait forever. ¡°Tell her, we¡¯ll make contact within a month.¡± I paused. ¡°If I can¡¯t do so personally¡­ Safyre will act on my behalf.¡± Kesh frowned. ¡°You¡¯re rushing things,¡± she noted. ¡°I am,¡± I admitted, ¡°but I don¡¯t have much choice in the matter. If the rift is not closed soon, the sector will be lost.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Kesh murmured. ¡°Then I won¡¯t tell you to slow down. Securing that sector is vital.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Kesh sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve given me more than enough to do, but I¡¯ll ask again, what else do you need?¡± I didn¡¯t answer immediately. ¡°There is one more thing.¡± Kesh waited expectantly. ¡°I need information on a sector.¡± Kesh frowned. ¡°Information is not something I usually deal in as you already know. But I¡¯ll do what I can. Which sector?¡± ¡°Sector 90,830,¡± I said, rattling off the number of the sector that in times gone by had been Death¡¯s home. To my surprise, recognition sparked in Kesh¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you have enough to deal with already?¡± she asked reproachfully. ¡°Why tangle with the Awakened Dead further?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to¡ª Wait! What?¡± Understanding dawned. ¡°Are you saying,¡± I asked slowly, ¡°that sector 90,830 is owned by the Awakened Dead?¡± Kesh looked at me strangely. ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Oh. Then no doubt, you¡¯ll be interested to learn that Erebus¡¯ main stronghold is in sector 90,830.¡± Bowing my head, I stifled a groan. House Death¡¯s former home and Erebus base were one and the same? That could not be a coincidence. Chapter 517: The Roost You have acquired 6 x greater portal scrolls. You have lost 3,000 gold coins. Before leaving the emporium, I restocked my supply of portal scrolls, almost draining my remaining funds to the dregs. Money was tight again, unfortunately, but the added mobility the scrolls gave me made their hefty price tags worth it. ¡°Bad news?¡± Shael asked as I rushed out of the compound. ¡°What?¡± Looking up, I saw him scrutinizing my face. ¡°Oh. Yes, sort of.¡± ¡°We¡¯re still leaving, though, right?¡± Nodding, I turned my steps in the direction of the teleportation platform. ¡°We are.¡± ¡°Good,¡± he pronounced, then fell silent as we made our way to our destination. Reaching the stone platform, I wasted no time in cracking open a portal scroll and releasing its enchantment. Item consumed. A moment later, a luminous white doorway appeared, and I ducked through without hesitation. Transfer through portal commencing¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Leaving Nexus. ? ? ? You have entered the safe zone of sector 12,560. I stepped out of the crowded portal platform and into the deserted common room of the Wyvern¡¯s Roost. Shael, following close on my heels, staggered out a moment later. ¡°The tavern?¡± the bard asked, his face crinkling in confusion. ¡°Why are we back here?¡± Swiveling about, I made my way to the still-open entrance. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± I replied, pulling on the door. It refused to budge. Putting my back into it, I tugged harder. Still nothing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this thing?¡± I growled. ¡°Saya had it reinforced,¡± Shael said from behind. ¡°The door may look like wood, but that¡¯s just paneling. It¡¯s solid steel on the inside. It took two men to close it every night.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± I grunted. ¡°Come and help me then.¡± Doing as I bade, the bard lent his efforts to mine, and with much groaning and shoving we finally got the damn thing closed. ¡°Where¡¯s the keys?¡± I asked, studying the imposing lock on the door. ¡°Beneath the bar counter.¡± ¡°Go get it. It¡¯s time we locked this place up.¡± Shael moved to comply. ¡°Not that I mind, but are you going to tell me why you¡¯re bothering to do that?¡± ¡°In a minute,¡± I replied, moving to the closest window. As I sealed its shutters, I noticed in passing that they too had been reinforced. ¡°I got the windows on this floor. Shut the rear door then do the ones on the next level.¡± ¡°Why?¡± a puzzled Shael asked. ¡°I want the tavern shut from top to bottom,¡± I said, ignoring the question. ¡°And let¡¯s hurry. We have six floors to work through.¡± Sighing, the bard got to work. ? ? ? An hour later, we were done. After double-checking Shael¡¯s work, I sat down in the common room, finally satisfied that there was no opening into the tavern that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access. ¡°So, now are you going to tell me what all that was about?¡± Shael asked, sitting down opposite me. ¡°I don¡¯t want any strangers entering the Wyvern¡¯s Roost,¡± I replied. Shael rolled his eyes. ¡°I figured out that much, but it¡¯s a tavern, remember? Serving strangers is the Roost¡¯s entire purpose!¡± ¡°Not anymore, it isn¡¯t,¡± I replied tightly. He frowned. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Removing the tavern¡¯s bill of ownership, I laid it down on the table. ¡°It means the Roost is no longer open for business. From today, it will serve as the private barracks of my army.¡± ¡°So, we¡¯re an army now?¡± Shael quipped. ¡°Just the two of us? That¡¯s a bit rich, don¡¯t you think?¡± My expression did not alter, and after a pregnant pause, the bard¡¯s humor faded. ¡°You¡¯re serious,¡± he breathed. ¡°You have an actual army? Really?¡± ¡°Only a small one,¡± I said, deadpan. ¡°What! Where? And more importantly, how?¡± Ducking my head before he could see me smile, I studied the parchment I¡¯d unrolled on the table. One of the key benefits to owning property in a safe zone was that it be used as a form of secure storage. The same Game laws that prevented a thief from pickpocketing a player in a safe zone also stopped said thief from robbing a house in one. It was why merchants were so enamored of safe zones. Of course, property in a safe zone was only as secure as the safe zone itself. If a rival faction claimed sector 12,560, I would lose everything I left in the Wyvern¡¯s Roost, including the building itself.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. But it was not for the purpose of storing stuff that I intended on using Wyvern¡¯s Roost. Another upside of having property in a safe zone was that it gave me the ability to control my surroundings¡ªin this case, that meant deciding who was allowed to enter or stay in the Roost. Sadly, the Game did not prevent magical eavesdropping or detection spells, but for that there were wards. Still, even as it was, the Roost was the safest place for my allies to come and go from the nether-infested sector. This held doubly true for the forsworn. Even though the Game wouldn¡¯t protect them personally, it would stop any intruders from getting into my building and harming any forsworn sheltering inside. And while a waypoint to the nether-infested sector wasn¡¯t strictly necessary, the Roost would make traveling to sector 18,240 easier for those who couldn¡¯t create their own portals¡ªlike Anriq for instance. The werewolf could hitch a ride from any mage to the wolves¡¯ valley, and thereafter have a forerunner mage¡ªone stationed in the Roost, ideally¡ªopen a portal back ¡®home.¡¯ Of course, all the pieces weren¡¯t in place for what I planned yet, but it was always better to lay the groundwork early. Returning my attention to the scroll unrolled on the table, I inspected it carefully. The target is a bill of ownership for ¡®The Wyvern¡¯s Roost¡¯ in the safe zone of sector 12,560. All safe zone building bills of ownership are Game-created items that grant you full control over the building and cannot be stolen or lost, even upon death. Note, if the building is unoccupied or unused for an extended period of time, ownership will revert to the Game. This item must be freely gifted or traded to pass on to another. On final death, it will drop and be freely lootable. Now for the next step, I thought. Closing my eyes and holding the Game artifact in one hand, I willed my intent to the Adjudicator. By rights of your bill of ownership, you have repurposed the Wyvern¡¯s Roost from tavern to private hostel. Notice added: ¡®The Wyvern¡¯s Roost has been indefinitely closed to the public. Only authorized guests may enter.¡¯ Note, this notice will be issued as a Game alert to all unauthorized players who approach the building. Do you wish to alter the list of allowed occupants? The list is private and only visible to the building owner. Replying in the affirmative to the Adjudicator¡¯s query, I relayed a string of names to the Game. The Wyvern Roost¡¯s list of allowed occupants has been successfully updated. Allowed occupants: 9. Michael, Saya, Safyre, Anriq, Nyra, Ceruvax, Terence, Teresa, and Shael. Assigned managers: Saya, Safyre. Smiling, I opened my eyes. It was done. The Roost was as physically secure as I could make it. The magical defenses I could do nothing about. Safyre would have to sort that out once she got here. Thinking of the aetherist reminded me of the emporium robes stuffed in my backpack. Removing them, I placed them behind the bar counter. ¡°You¡¯re leaving that here?¡± Shael asked, watching me. I nodded. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a tracking device inside the robes. The Triumvirate can find it wherever it goes. And where we¡¯re going, no one can know about.¡± Shael¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°The Triumvirate!¡± he whispered. ¡°You¡¯re swimming in deep waters, Michael.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Not by choice.¡± The bard¡¯s face grew puzzled. ¡°But¡­ won¡¯t the Nexus trio find it strange to discover the robes here?¡± I smiled. ¡°Have you forgotten already? Kesh posted one of her agents in this very tavern not so long ago.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Shael exclaimed, smacking his forehead. ¡°That¡¯s clever of you. Diabolical even. I understand now why we came here.¡± He paused. ¡°Not that I can claim to know what you want with the robes in the first place.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± I said brightly. ¡°We¡¯ll leave for our final destination at first light tomorrow.¡± ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Shael asked, looking crestfallen. ¡°I thought¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll thank me for it come morning,¡± I promised. ¡°Where we¡¯re going is colder than colder. Tonight, at least you¡¯ll get to sleep in a warm bed.¡± ? ? ? My rest was broken the next morning by a set of surprising Game messages. You and Ghost have reached level 239! You have slept 7 hours. Your blood memories have been recharged. For a moment, I stared stupidly at the alerts, wondering who I¡¯d managed to kill in my sleep. Then reason penetrated. It was Ghost¡¯s doing, of course. Stifling a yawn, I sat up. Two whole levels? What has she killed to earn us that? I rolled off the bed, excited and worried in equal measure. Ghost was fine, I knew that much. The Game would have reported had she died. Still, the niggling concern remained that a new threat has arisen to plague us. Slipping out of the room I¡¯d claimed as mine on the sixth floor, I strode into the hallway. The door opposite mine¡ªShael¡¯s¡ªwas still shut. ¡°Time to go!¡± I yelled, thumping hard on its wooden surface. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you downstairs. And hurry!¡± Heading into the common room, I sat down and schooled myself to patience. Whatever was going on in the tundra was already over. Another ten or twenty minutes will make no difference. Accepting the truth of that statement, I eased back into my chair and considered the emptiness about me while I waited for Shael. Without Saya¡¯s bright presence, the tavern¡ªformer tavern, I corrected¡ªwas a forlorn looking place. The tables were dusty, empty bottles littered the floor, and thanks to the newly shuttered doors and windows, the place was beginning to smell. Even the flowers the gnome had planted everywhere had wilted. I will have to get the twins to clean the place before she gets back. And Saya would be back. I was certain of it. No other outcome was acceptable. Closing my eyes, I considered what I might have to do to rescue the gnome. Slay the envoy for one, I thought morosely. It was not the idea of killing the treacherous player that bothered me, though. It was how Loken would react. Thus far, I¡¯d managed to walk a fine line with the trickster¡ªavoiding his enmity while at the same time not doing his bidding. That was all about to change, I suspected. I couldn¡¯t imagine that even a Power as fickle as Loken would let the killing of his envoy go unavenged. And even if I somehow managed to keep my role in upcoming events secret, Loken would guess the truth. The trickster would hunt me, I was sure. And not just him, all the Powers in that Shadow Coalition of his would do likewise. So be it. Exhaling softly, I made my peace with the consequences. Soon, I would be in direct conflict with Shadow. I could see no other way around that fact. The only viable option had been to approach Loken directly, and that avenue was closed now. My only consolation was that Loken and his allies would not know the true nature of their foe. Perhaps that will make their hunt less relentless. I snorted. As if. Banishing my worries of the future, I turned my mind to the present and more specifically to my player profile. Thanks to whatever Ghost had done, I had a small cache of attributes to spend, and I didn¡¯t have to think hard about how to invest them. Your Dexterity has increased to rank 122. Other modifiers: +24 from items. Available ability slots: 16. I smiled. I now had enough ability slots to upgrade whirlwind when I finally did manage to raise my two weapon fighting skill above level two hundred. ¡°Well done, Ghost,¡± I murmured. ¡°Who¡¯s Ghost?¡± Shael asked, hurrying down the stairs. I glanced over my shoulder at him. ¡°You¡¯ll meet her soon enough. Ready to go?¡± He nodded firmly. I rose to my feet. ¡°Then let¡¯s be about it.¡± Chapter 518: A Serpent Rears its Ugly Head 70 Days Left for Brokering Peace in Sector 12,560 I tossed Shael a nether protection crystal. ¡°You don¡¯t have to use it but keep it somewhere safe.¡± The half-elf stared incredulously at the object in his hand. ¡°You¡¯re taking me into the nether?¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± I replied. ¡°The void is present in the sector we¡¯re going to, but we won¡¯t be staying long.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand any of this¡ª¡± Shael shook his head¡ª¡°but alright.¡± Withdrawing a scroll from my backpack, I began casting. On the off chance an unknown player was hiding nearby, I deemed it safer to open the portal inside the tavern rather than outside. Admittedly, the possibility that someone would try to dash through the portal was remote, but it was still not one I wanted to risk. Item consumed. You have opened a greater portal to sector 18,240. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said, beckoning Shael as I strode forward. ¡°Wait!¡± Checking my stride, I glanced at him. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we buff or something? What if we run into stygians?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s safe,¡± I assured him. ¡°And like I said, we won¡¯t be in the sector long. Now, come on. The portal won¡¯t stay open forever.¡± Advancing once more, I slipped into the luminous doorway. Transfer through portal commencing¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Leaving sector 12,560. ? ? ? You have entered sector 18,240 of the Forever Kingdom. Warning: this region is under assault by the nether and is in impending danger of being pulled into the Nethersphere! The nether toxicity at your current location is at tier 4. Your health, psi, stamina, and mana are degenerating at a rate of 0% per minute (damage reduced by 100% due to void armor). I emerged out of the portal, at ease and relaxed. Like I¡¯d told Shael, there was nothing to fear. The last few times I¡¯d been this way there had been no stygians for miles around, and everything I¡¯d seen and learned from Anriq¡¯s scouting excursions¡ªand my own¡ªled me to believe the status quo would stay unchanged until the void claimed the sector. It took only an eyeblink for me to realize my folly. The space around me was not empty. It teemed with mindglows¡ªsome friendly, most not. We had walked straight into a battle. Damnit, I cursed. Ignoring the swords sheathed on my hip, I dug out my stygian blades from my bag of holding and glanced over my shoulder. Shael had yet to emerge. And isn¡¯t he going to be happy when he does? I grimaced at the thought. Still, it was too late to rectify my error, and not wanting to compound my mistakes further, I spread my awareness and took stock of the battlefield while I wove psi. The sector had not fallen into the Nethersphere, that much was clear. But the status quo had changed. The two nearby gatherings of stygians made that much obvious. The first pack¡ªthe smaller of the two¡ªwas less than ten yards away and on the opposite side of the nether portal to the tundra. The group wasn¡¯t close enough to stop us from escaping into the guardian tower but some of its members were already drawing closer and would soon be a threat. Still, it was to the second stygian pack, I turned my attention. They were about two hundred yards beyond the first group and congregated around four familiar shapes¡ªSafyre, Anriq, Adriel, and Ghost. Why in hells are they so far from the portal? I wondered. Equally pertinent, was the question of what the four were doing fighting a pitched battle here in the first place. The idea had been for them to lay low and not risk the void learning about our invasion plans! It mattered little that the four seemed to be faring well enough. Despite the dozens of stygians surrounding them, my allies were untouched. Answers would have to wait, though, until the stygians were dealt with. Almost unnoticed, a shape reared up silently on my left. Stygian serpent. Whipping around, I lashed out with the sword in my right hand. My motion triggered the nether creature¡¯s own attack, and it snapped at me with bared fangs. Too slowly.Stolen story; please report. My own blow landed first, the smoky blade cleaving through the stygian¡¯s less-than-solid form as easily as through butter, decapitating it. You have killed a level 110 stygian serpent with a fatal blow. The snake¡¯s head flew free, flying in the direction of my portal and for a moment I feared it would go all the way through¡ªand what would Shael make of that?¡ªbut happily, it fell short. Less happily, the bard chose just then to transition through the portal. And, of course, he immediately noticed the head. ¡°I thought you said¡ª¡± Shael began, staring down in horror at the head resting against his boots. ¡°I was wrong,¡± I replied tightly. ¡°Get ready to move! The others need us.¡± ¡°Others? What others? Who else would possibly¡ª¡± I slashed my hand downward even as I eyed the pair of hydras approaching from behind the portal. ¡°Save the talk for later! Buff up and put your back to mine!¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Shael growled. I was being a little harsh on the bard, I knew. Unlike me, Shael couldn¡¯t see through the mists to the beleaguered party two hundred yards away, nor for that matter could he perceive many of the stygians near the portal. And truly, it was not Shael I was annoyed with, but myself. The situation was less than ideal¡ªfor Shael in particular. One ill-timed attack and he would suffer final death. And I would have no one to blame but myself. Next time don¡¯t be so cocky, Michael. ¡°Prime!¡± Ghost exclaimed suddenly. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± A fractional pause. ¡°I can¡¯t see you. Where are you?¡± ¡°At the nether gate to the tundra,¡± I replied calmly. ¡°But don¡¯t come to me, I¡¯ll come to you. And warn the others.¡± The party could no more see me than Shael could them. Safyre had a purifying dome up, of course, but its outer edge still fell about a hundred yards short of our current position, and once again, I wondered why they¡¯d ventured so far from the gate to the tundra. The question was of secondary import, though. My spell was ready, and just in time too. The hydras were almost in striking range. You have cast windborne. ¡°Hang on!¡± I yelled to Shael. ¡°Wha¡ª?¡± His question went unfinished. Wrapping my arms about the bard, I yanked him onto the windslide and towards my embattled allies. ? ? ? You have trigger-cast quick mend. Twenty yards later, Shael and I dropped back to the ground. I¡¯d only had enough time while on the windslide to cast one of my buffs, and I¡¯d gone for the most defensive one. ¡°Run!¡± I shouted, shoving the bard in the back. ¡°W-which way?¡± he mumbled, staggering forward drunkenly. ¡°Dead ahead,¡± I replied. I¡¯d purposely set the ramp of air to deposit us in an area clear of danger, but the stygians near the nether portal were already turning our way once more, and we couldn¡¯t afford to tarry. ¡°Don¡¯t stop when you hit the purifying field. Keep going! I¡¯ll guard your back.¡± No doubt, Shael found my instructions confusing, but he didn¡¯t stop to question me again and simply did as I bade. I raced after, blades out and scanning the mists. The safer option might have been to send Shael into the tundra, of course, but not knowing if some calamity awaited on the other side, I¡¯d chosen not to risk doing that. As dangerous as the nether sector was, I was confident I could protect the half-elf until we reached the others. A bubble of dark energy sailed in from somewhere up ahead. It was a ranged magical attack and an atypical one for the stygians. But I¡¯d already noticed a few unrecognized forms amongst the more familiar hydras and serpents, and it was a safe bet that the attack had originated from one of them. I¡¯d not had the chance to analyze the ¡®new¡¯ nether creatures yet, and ordinarily, I would have simply blinked out of the unknown missile¡¯s path. But the evil-looking ball was homing in on Shael, and the odds of him surviving a strange magical assault were not good. Angling left, I placed myself in the missile¡¯s path. A voidball has hit you. Nether damage repelled! Void armor charge remaining: 83%. The spell¡¯s dark energy washed over me, but thanks to my void armor, I endured none of its effects. That did not prevent me from feeling unclean, though. Shael stumbled to a stop, his eyes widening in horror¡ªI was still close enough for him to perceive me through the mists. ¡°Michael! Are you alright? What was that thing?¡± ¡°Keep going!¡± I replied. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Another voidball launched. This time, I picked out the source. Focusing on the creature, I scrutinized it intently. In most ways, the caster was identical to a stygian serpent. Only bigger. Much bigger. A giant stygian serpent? That didn¡¯t sound too bad. The serpents were easy enough to kill, after all. But I wasn¡¯t about to underestimate the threat level again, not so soon after being caught out by my false assumptions. Reaching out with my will, I analyzed the new nether creature. The target is a level 238 stygian naga. Stygian serpents are perhaps the most common and prevalent of all the nether¡¯s creatures. Lithe and agile, they are feared for their speed and cunning. Yet even so, a single snake is usually of no danger to an experienced player. The same cannot be said of the nagas. Of all the creatures in the stygian serpent¡¯s evolutionary chain, none is more feared than the naga. Larger than a hydra and faster than a serpent, nagas also wield the void¡¯s magic with an ease that even nether wizards envy, making them deadly at both ranged and close quarter fighting. ¡°Damnit,¡± I muttered. ¡°It¡¯s an elite.¡± Worse yet, there were four nagas accompanying the stygian packs. Two were behind us¡ªwith the first pack¡ªwhile the other two flanked the besieged party ahead. I suspected that at some point there had also been a fifth naga, one that Ghost had killed. It would account for the two levels she¡¯d so recently acquired. The picture was becoming clearer. Given the disposition of the stygians and the surprising appearance of elites amongst their number, there could be no doubt about what was going on. This was an ambush. And that meant that not only was the void aware of our presence in the sector, they had just seized the initiative, too. Caught unawares, Safyre, Adriel, and the others had likely been forced away from the tundra portal before they could regroup. That they had done so and were managing to hold the stygians at bay was encouraging. But I could not forget the lone stygian overlord that only a few days ago I¡¯d spotted lurking near the river. At a guess, it was already moving this way. With reinforcements in tow, no doubt. The only thing in our favor was how slow the overlords were. The damnable thing would take hours to get here¡ªif it hadn¡¯t repositioned itself beforehand. But there was no way to divine that, not in the thick of battle. Gah. There¡¯s no choice. We have to retreat. And before the overlord gets here. Dashing right, I moved to intercept the incoming voidball. In the process, another realization came to me. It was more than Shael¡¯s life that was at stake. All our lives were. And quite possibly, my plans for the sector too. Chapter 519: A Ball of Void Before the stygian naga¡¯s attack hit, I managed another buff. And once again, it was not vanish. You have cast enhanced reflexes, increasing your Dexterity by +16 for 20 minutes. I wanted the stygians to see me; I wanted them to focus their attacks on me rather than my allies. The battle would be easier that way. There was no time for further calculation, though. The naga¡¯s attack was almost upon me. Blades out and arms spread, I braced myself for its touch. A voidball has hit you. Nether damage repelled! Void armor charge remaining: 66%. Void thief triggered! You have acquired the direct-targeted spell voidball (stolen) and will retain memory of it for the next 16 hours. Voidball (stolen) is a tier 5 spell that inflicts direct necrotic damage to the targeted area on impact. The nether¡¯s version of the ubiquitous fireball spell, voidball, is especially deadly to living creatures. I exhaled sharply, hoping somehow that doing so would rid my mouth of the spell¡¯s foul aftertaste¡ªalas, it did not¡ªthen turned my back on the naga. As much as I wanted to take the fight to the creature, my first priority was escorting Shael to the others. Jogging alongside the bard, I refocused on the group ahead. We¡¯d covered more than half the distance to the party, but while I could easily see Safyre¡¯s purifying field and the glimmering black dome that protected the four¡ªAdriel¡¯s doing, presumably¡ªmy allies were less visible. Stygian hydras and serpents were pressed tight against the lich¡¯s shield and hacking at it with tooth and claw. Getting Shael through that mess is not going to be easy. But there was no need to go through the stygians. Over would do just as well. I glanced upward. There was still no sign of the overlord or any flying snakes. As yet, this was strictly a ground battle. Good. Windborne should do the trick again. It would get us to Adriel¡¯s shield with limited risk. But how were we going to get inside once we arrived? I couldn¡¯t ask Adriel to drop the black dome. That will be a recipe for¡ª ¡°Prime,¡± Ghost interrupted, ¡°Adriel says she and Safyre will clear a path for you. Just say the word.¡± I smiled. Clearly my allies had also been working the problem and had figured out what needed to be done. Glancing left and right, I took stock of the stygians before responding. Shael was moving at a good pace, and I judged none of the hydras and serpents from the first pack would catch us before we reached the others. Even better, the nagas ahead had yet to launch any further attacks. Interestingly enough, the two nagas behind us had not joined the rest of the first pack in their chase and appeared more interested in the tundra¡¯s portal than us. Whatever they were up to, I was sure it wasn¡¯t anything good, but dealing with the pair would have to wait. ¡°Tell Adriel to go ahead,¡± I replied. ¡°Light them up. We¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ? ? ? Over the next few seconds, death stalked the stygians. Safyre has cast furious storm. The mists roiled uneasily as storm clouds boiled overhead, unleashing bolt after bolt in a breathtaking spectacle of sound and light. A level 145 stygian serpent has been stunned. A level 131 stygian serpent has died. A level 167 stygian hydra has been stunned. ... ¡­ The nether creatures unfortunate enough to be caught out by Safyre¡¯s magic were flung aloft, wreathed in coils of glittering energy. Most were stunned senseless. An unlucky few¡ªstruck multiple times or critically hit¡ªsimply died. Then, a heartbeat later, Adriel joined the fray. Adriel has cast Death¡¯s righteous fury. In stark contrast to the lightshow Safyre was putting on, the lich¡¯s own contribution lacked any fanfare. Cold gray fire leaped silently from her hand, through the black dome, and into the massed stygians pressed up against it. Whatever the fire touched died. Instantly. A level 140 stygian serpent has died. A level 183 stygian hydra has died. A level 187 stygian hydra has died.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ... ¡­ ¡°Wow,¡± I murmured, recognizing Adriel¡¯s casting for what it was: a blood memory. I¡¯d seen her use it only once before¡ªagainst the archlich¡¯s wards, and that time it had been equally devastating. ¡°Err¡­¡± Shael stuttered to a halt as we passed through the outer edge of Safyre¡¯s purifying field and finally saw where we were going. ¡°Should we be running to that?¡± he asked, panting for breath. ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± I ordered. ¡°The fireworks show is our allies¡¯ doing. They¡¯re opening a path for us.¡± The bard looked like he wanted to protest further but wisely refrained and resumed running. I kept my own gaze fixed on the slaughter ahead. Walking a slow circle around the perimeter of her shield, the lich was purging it of stygians. Any moment now, I expected the creatures would break and flee¡ªtemporarily, of course. Sadly, though, the two nagas flanking the party were unaffected by Safyre and Adriel¡¯s spells. The elites¡¯ own shields stopped the aetherist¡¯s stunning bolts and, positioned as far back as they were from the black dome, the pair were also out of reach of the lich¡¯s killing flames. The nagas in fact seemed completely indifferent to the fellows¡¯ fate. Ignoring the destruction Adriel and Safyre were wreaking they released another pair of voidballs my way. ¡°I can see you!¡± Ghost sang out. ¡°I see you too,¡± I assured her, keeping a wary watch on the incoming missiles. ¡°Is Adriel planning on lowering her shield?¡± ¡°Yes, but only long enough for you to enter.¡± I frowned. I would be of limited help inside the lich¡¯s shield. Just like Anriq and Ghost, I would be forced to stand around doing largely nothing while the mages ran amok with their spells. ¡°I¡¯m not coming inside,¡± I stated, arriving at a decision. ¡°What! Why?¡± My reply was of necessity delayed. The voidballs were almost upon us. Accelerating ahead, I opened the distance between me and Shael so that when the missiles hit, he would be unaffected. Then, I braced myself and waited. 2 voidballs have hit you! A voidball has failed to harm you. You are immune to this spell. A voidball has failed to harm you. You are immune to this spell. Void armor charge remaining: 32%. Void siphon activated! You have siphoned a portion of your foes¡¯ mana. Mana remaining: 36%. I grimaced at seeing how little mana I had remaining after suffering the double hits. Void siphon had barely done anything to restore my reserves either, and I knew I couldn¡¯t risk intercepting further voidballs. But perhaps I won¡¯t need to. Reaching out to the Adjudicator, I queried the Game on the status of the spells my void armor had recently absorbed. Currently stored spells: 2 iterations of the voidball (stolen) spell. Remaining storage time: 8 seconds. Excellent. Delaying no further, I unleashed the two captured spell imprints in quick succession. Void redirect activated! You have successfully reconstituted the stolen spell, voidball, and redirected it at a level 238 stygian naga. You have successfully reconstituted the stolen spell, voidball, and redirected it at a level 236 stygian naga. I had no idea if the nagas were immune to their own spells, of course, but at the very least the voidballs I¡¯d sent sailing back at the pair would keep them distracted long enough for Shael to reach safety. ¡°Hells, if that is not the damnedest thing I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± the half-elf muttered as he caught up to me. I waved aside his words. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to do that again,¡± I warned as I resumed running. ¡°We¡¯ll have to reach the others before we¡¯re attacked again.¡± I paused for effect. ¡°Or else.¡± The bard didn¡¯t say anything, but digging deeper into his reserves, he found an extra burst of speed. Smiling grimly, I resumed my conversation with Ghost while I kept pace with Shael. ¡°Tell Adriel I suspect an overlord is on the way with reinforcements. We have to clear the field of the stygians before they arrive.¡± ¡°An overlord!¡± Ghost exclaimed. ¡°You¡¯ll need my help, then. I¡¯m coming out.¡± ¡°I could use the help,¡± I admitted, and after a second¡¯s thought added, ¡°Bring Anriq too.¡± My eyes darted left and right. Both voidballs were halfway to their targets. And while the nagas were not fleeing, their gazes were glued to the onrushing missiles. Good, I thought, returning my attention to the scene in front. We were only forty yards away from the others now. Yanking open my bag of holding, I rifled through its contents. Beside me, I heard Shael gulp audibly as he finally made sense of what lay ahead. ¡°Is that¡ªis that a¡­ lich?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I replied shortly, still searching the bag. ¡°And she is an¡­ ally?¡± ¡°Oh yes.¡± Thirty yards. I began drawing psi. ¡°What about the werewolf?¡± Shael gasped. ¡°And is that a stygian? Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re allies too!¡± ¡°Ghost is not a¡ª¡± I broke off as a string of Game alerts demanded attention. The voidballs had just struck their targets. You have critically hit a level 236 stygian naga. You have critically hit a level 238 stygian naga. No damage inflicted. Your targets¡¯ shields have blocked the attacks. I smiled tightly. I still had no idea whether the voidballs would hurt the nagas, but I knew now at least it would damage their shields. Severely damage, I amended, eyeing the much dimmer glow surrounding the pair. That¡¯ll make killing them later easier. ¡°Ghost is not a stygian,¡± I said turning back to Shael, ¡°she¡¯s my familiar.¡± My searching hand finally found the items I was looking for in the bag of holding. Extracting them, I closed the bag and re-secured it on my belt again. ¡°Your familiar!¡± Shael exclaimed, his confusion making itself known even through his heaving breaths. ¡°Since when do rogues have¡ª¡± ¡°Here, hold this,¡± I said, shoving two of the four objects I¡¯d removed into Shael¡¯s open hands. You have lost 2 farspeaker bracelets from the named set: Sintar¡¯s link. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Shael asked, looking down. ¡°Farspeaker bracelets,¡± I replied. ¡°Give one to Cara¡ª¡± that was the name he knew her by, at least¡ª¡°and put the other one on yourself.¡± Heeding my own instructions, I did the same. You have equipped a farspeaker bracelet from the Sintar link set. ¡°Cara? As in the emporium agent, Cara?¡± Shael asked, his gaze darting from me to the dome ahead. We were only twenty yards away now, and just like I¡¯d anticipated, the serpents and hydras had begun to scatter. ¡°Yes, she goes by Safyre now,¡± I replied across the farspeaker link. ¡°I would say I¡¯m shocked, but I think we¡¯re beyond that now,¡± Shael said numbly. Before I could respond he went on, ¡°Why do we need the bracelets, anyhow? And why do I have to give¡ª¡± He broke off as he figured out the answer for himself. ¡°You¡¯re not entering the shield?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I confirmed and released the spell I held waiting. You have cast windborne. Grabbing hold of Shael again, I pulled him onto the windslide. ¡°Here we come, Ghost.¡± Chapter 520: Clearing the Field The windslide took us all the way to the edge of Adriel¡¯s black dome which flickered off just as we arrived. Great timing, I thought, scanning the surroundings. The survivors of the second stygian pack, while still sizable in number, remained scattered. They were of no threat yet. The pursuing serpents and hydras from the first pack, on the other hand, were closing in rapidly. And the nagas¡­ I didn¡¯t think I was imagining the hungry gleam in their eyes as they eyed the downed shield. We¡¯d have to hurry. Spinning back, I nudged Shael forward. ¡°Go,¡± I urged. ¡°I¡¯ll see you again soon.¡± The bard advanced tentatively just as Anriq and Ghost rushed by the other way. The werewolf tossed me a thick garment in passing. Catching it, I pulled it over my shoulders in one smooth motion. You have equipped the Cloak of the Reach, gaining +20% fire resistance, +20% nether resistance, and +10 Magic. ¡°These are for you,¡± I told Anriq and tossed him two items in turn. You have lost 1 nether protection crystal and 1 farspeaker bracelet from the named set: Sintar¡¯s link. ¡°Thanks,¡± Anriq growled, simultaneously equipping the bracelet and cracking the crystal. ¡°Much better,¡± he added a moment later over the farspeaker link. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get to that in a bit,¡± I replied. ¡°Watch my back.¡± Swiveling about, I began waving my arms to get our spellcasters¡¯ attention, only to find the pair staring at me intently already. ¡°Raise the shield!¡± I shouted. Adriel nodded curtly and Safyre threw me a lopsided smile. She knew as well as I that greetings and explanations would have to wait. Besides which, I was sure the pair would get the gist from Shael soon enough. A split second later, the black dome snapped back in place, and my shoulders sagged in relief. ¡°Now we can get to work,¡± I told Anriq. He nodded curtly. ¡°Our targets?¡± ¡°The nagas.¡± Turning about, I dashed away from the shield and straight toward the first pack. The werewolf¡¯s expression did not shift, but he couldn¡¯t conceal the note of worry in his tone as he and Ghost jogged after me. ¡°They¡¯re elites and hard to kill.¡± I jerked my chin toward the naga on the left. Its shield looked the most damaged. ¡°That¡¯s why you and Ghost will double up on that one. Adriel and Safyre will handle the elite on the right.¡± In an aside to my familiar, I added, ¡°Protect Anriq. Make sure he doesn¡¯t die.¡± Not only was Ghost higher leveled than the werewolf, but unusually, she and Adriel were less at risk in this sector than me and the other players. The lich and familiar had somewhere to resurrect. The rest of us didn¡¯t. ¡°Will do,¡± the pyre wolf replied. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Anriq asked, his eyes beginning to glow. He was shapeshifting, I knew. ¡°Take out the two elites near the guardian gate,¡± I replied. ¡°Is tackling them on your own wise?¡± Safyre asked, abruptly joining the conversation as she put on the bracelet Shael had given her. ¡°Not especially,¡± I acknowledged, ¡°But we don¡¯t have the luxury of time. An overlord is likely on the way even now.¡± Safyre sighed. ¡°Understood.¡± I drew stamina in readiness. ¡°Can you and Adriel handle the naga on the right?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she replied confidently. ¡°We¡¯ll see to what¡¯s left of the hydras and serpents too. Don¡¯t bother with the group heading for you. We¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Not questioning her, I began casting. Anriq has shifted into wolf form. Glancing over my shoulder, I met the gazes of the two huge wolves bounding in my wake. ¡°Go,¡± I ordered, and they peeled off to the left. Turning back to the approaching stygians, I saw they were almost upon me. Unfortunately for them, I was about to cheat them of their quarry. You have cast vanish. You are invisible. Duration: 5 minutes. The hydras and serpents ground to a halt as I disappeared from sight. Chuckling quietly to myself, I drew psi again and shadow blinked past and onward to my own prey. ? ? ? You have teleported into a level 241 stygian naga¡¯s shadow. You are hidden. I slipped unnoticed behind the giant stygian elite. From here, the sounds of the battle almost two hundred yards away were muted. Not that my targets seemed to care much about it. Both nagas remained transfixed by the guardian portal. The impulse to strike immediately was strong, but I held myself back for a moment. What are they doing? I wondered. From the pair¡¯s near-constant hissing, they were obviously casting. But what spell? And to what end? My gaze drifted to the portal beyond. A string-like lattice of dark energy was wrapped tightly about it, evidence enough that the first elements of the stygian elites¡¯ casting were already in place. I frowned. I¡¯d not noticed anything wrong with the portal when I¡¯d initially arrived, but then again, I hadn¡¯t taken the time to study it in detail.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°Safyre, do you know what the nagas are doing to the portal?¡± ¡°No,¡± she replied, ¡°but the first thing the stygians did when we clashed was to push us away from the gate. Those two have been there for close to an hour.¡± My frown deepened. Even with analyze, I couldn¡¯t tell the purpose of the elites¡¯ weave, but in just the few seconds that I¡¯d been watching, two more strands had joined the magical construct surrounding the portal. The nagas were reinforcing their work. I had to stop them, of course. But how to go about it quickly? Taking a few steps back, I studied the pair anew. As expected, both elites were shielded. But that was only part of the challenge I faced. Even at ease, and with the bottom halves of their bodies loosely coiled and their broad triangular heads raised high, the two nagas still loomed over me. At a guess, they measured all of thirty yards from head to tail. And unlike their smaller brethren, the elites were depressingly solid. Their bodies had real bulk and their scales were hardened. I suspected hacking through with my stygian blades was not going to be easy. ¡°Ghost, you killed one of the nagas before, didn¡¯t you?¡± It took the pyre wolf a moment to shift focus from the battle she was embroiled in to answer. ¡°I did, Prime, but it wasn¡¯t easy. Adriel kept the creature paralyzed while I chewed through its neck.¡± A pregnant pause. ¡°It took a while.¡± I grimaced. I¡¯d feared as much. ¡°Thanks,¡± I murmured. ¡°One last thing before I let you go.¡± ¡°Yes, Prime?¡± ¡°You see the spell stored in mage¡¯s surprise?¡± ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Use it if it helps take down your target faster,¡± I ordered. ¡°Don¡¯t try to do things the hard way.¡± Before the pyre wolf could answer, I sensed her focus jerk away. Simultaneously, her emotions spiked in intensity. I knew what that meant. The pace of Ghost¡¯s skirmish had picked up, and she had no more attention to spare. But that was alright. I knew she¡¯d heard me. I refocused on the nagas. It was time to begin my own battle too. ? ? ? I had multiple options for dealing with my targets. Close-up bladework. A mental assault. And even magic. My swords would make quick work of the nagas¡¯ shields, but going on what Ghost had said, I knew they would have a much harder time penetrating the creatures¡¯ scaled-hides. A mental assault from afar was the safest option but also the slowest. Before I could paralyze or charm the nagas, I would have to shatter their mental defenses first and that would take time. Lastly, while the idea of flinging voidballs at the nagas was tempting, my mana reserves were already down to a third, and I wasn¡¯t fond of the idea of walking around without my void armor. There was another option, of course: blood puppet. But it was not one I gave serious consideration to. Enslave¡¯s casting time was too long to use on an unrestrained subject, especially in the thick of battle. In the end, I settled on an option that was a mix of my first two choices: bladework to destroy the nagas¡¯ shields and astral shurikens to bypass their physical armor and kill them from afar thereafter. With my tactics decided, I advanced on the closest elite. You have cast whirlwind and piercing strike. You have backstabbed your target for 10x more damage. You have backstabbed your target for 5x more damage. By any measure, my opening salvo was devastating¡ªeven if blades didn¡¯t actually manage to touch the stygian. A level 241 naga¡¯s shield has blocked your attacks. Two hostile entities have failed to detect you! Ignoring the Game messages, I kept battering at the naga¡¯s shield. I attacked with my two feet planted firmly on land. It mattered little where I struck, the damage to my foe¡¯s shield was the same. You have backstabbed your target for 5x more damage. You have backstabbed your target for 5x more damage. ¡­ ¡­ With every slash and thrust, the health of the naga¡¯s shield plummeted, and finally the creature took note. Breaking off from its sibilant casting, the naga stabbed downwards with its triangular head. The elite couldn¡¯t see me, but I wasn¡¯t going to hang around on the off chance it would miss. Mid-strike, I drew psi and shadow blinked. You have teleported into a level 240 stygian naga¡¯s shadow. You are hidden. Stepping out of the aether behind the other naga, I resumed my attacks. You have backstabbed your target for 5x more damage. You have backstabbed your target for 5x more damage. ¡­ ¡­ My second foe reacted quicker than the first, and after suffering no more than a handful of hits, it sent its head skimming low along the ground in search of me. In response, I threw myself flat. You have evaded a level 240 stygian naga¡¯s attack. The moment the danger passed, I popped back up and unleashed another flurry of blows. One way or the other, I was determined to destroy the nagas¡¯ shields before I retreated. The naga¡¯s searching head returned, its forked tongue tasting the air. Walking a slow path in the opposite direction, I kept striking at the now-perceptibly dimmer bubble encasing it. A level 241 stygian naga has cast cloying nether. Not breaking off my assault, I glanced over my shoulder at the first naga. After I had blinked away, the creature hadn¡¯t resumed its original casting. Instead, the elite had begun a new spell¡ªone that had the surrounding mists swirling in agitation. My brows furrowed. What¡¯s it trying to do? It didn¡¯t take me long to find out. In the next instant, every speck of free-floating nether in a fifty-yard radius burst into motion. Towards me. I flinched, anticipating the worst. But the tiny particles didn¡¯t harm me as I feared. No, they merely clung on¡ªall of them¡ªand in an eyeblink, the many millions of nether specks transitioned from not-quite innocuous free-floating bits to solid particles that weighed down on my limbs. You have failed a magical resistance check! You are nether-cloyed (-50% speed and revealed). Duration: 1 minute. Two hostile entities have detected you! You are no longer hidden. Goddamn, I cursed. Of all the luck! With the Cloak of the Reach equipped my overall nether resistance was seventy percent. That meant the naga¡¯s spell had only one in three chances of succeeding. Yet it still had. And no matter my annoyance at that fact, I had to deal with the consequences. I have to cut this short, I decided. Time to retreat. Moving slower than I was used to, I began backing away from my foe while drawing psi in readiness. The elite wasn¡¯t keen on letting me go, though. Its maw opened wide in anticipation, the naga brought its head racing around to chomp down on my unmissable yellow-form. But even at half-speed, I was no slouch. Sidestepping the attack, I didn¡¯t let the opportunity the creature had given me for another ¡®free¡¯ attack to go abegging. Lashing out with both my swords, I struck its passing body multiple times in quick succession¡ªonce, twice, thrice. A level 240 naga¡¯s shield has blocked your attacks. Sadly, the triple blows did not shatter what remained of the elite¡¯s shield as I¡¯d hoped, but knowing I couldn¡¯t hang around any longer, I released the weaves I held ready. You have cast windborne. I would¡¯ve preferred to teleport out, but one of the unhappy effects of the first pack¡¯s earlier pursuit was that there were no longer any handy targets within shadow blink range¡ªexcept for the two nagas themselves, of course. Still the windslide would serve well enough. Directing the ramp of air away from the two nagas, I hopped on. But no sooner had I gotten onto the windslide than a looming shadow drew my attention. Crouched low on the air ramp, I glanced up. While I¡¯d fought its companion, naga number one, uncoiling fully, had reared up to its full height. Now, it fell sharply, attempting to use its body as a weapon. It¡¯s too late, I thought, judging the trajectory of its descent. My position had already shifted drastically, and I was no longer where the naga was aimed at. Nevertheless, I kept my eyes glued upward while the windslide carried me to safety and away from the falling shape. But I¡¯d forgotten one crucial fact. The naga was not just a free-falling body. Using its still ground-bound rear to course-correct, the stygian elite adjusted its descent at the last minute. And fell squarely atop me. A level 241 naga has critically injured you! Chapter 521: Flattened The naga fell on me like a ton of bricks, its weight crushing. A level 241 naga has critically injured you! Your health is now at 42%. Trapped by the naga above and the solid cushion of air beneath, my bones broke. My body compressed. My eyes popped. The air from my lungs was squeezed out. And the pressure¡­ the pressure ratcheted upward with every passing fraction of a second the naga¡¯s body settled more deeply atop me. In a heartbeat, my head would explode. Quick mend triggered! Your health has been restored to 55%. A level 241 naga has critically injured you! Warning! Your health is dangerously low at 17%. Quick mend bought me another split second, long enough to realize there was nowhere to go, nowhere to dodge, and nowhere to hide. So, I did the only thing that came to me in the moment. I dissolved the windslide. Windborne has been dispelled. My body fell. And the naga¡¯s body fell with me. The gap I¡¯d left between the bottom of the ramp and the ground was not large, three yards maybe. But those three yards were a lifeline, and transformed what would otherwise have been an insta-kill into a viable window of escape. Drawing psi, I shadow blinked. ? ? ? You have teleported into a level 240 stygian naga¡¯s shadow. I emerged out of the aether, flat on my back, ribs broken, mind befuddled, and in indescribable pain, but importantly, alive. I was in no fit state to fight. And worse yet, I was visible. The nagas would be back¡ªand soon. Dropping my swords uncaringly, I fumbled at my belt, searching by feel alone for the items I wanted. Spying a slip of motion on the periphery of my vision, I ignored it. More motion appeared on the other side. I ignore it too. The nagas were back already. Knowing I was out of time, I yanked free the first bottle that came to hand and flung it as far away as possible. You have ignited a firebomb! Wrong one, I thought woozily as a bonfire mushroomed up less than ten yards away. The sudden surge of flames did have the happy effect of surprising the nagas though, and they both instinctively flinched back. I¡¯d earned myself a temporary respite. Using it, I randomly drew four more bottles and threw them away too. You have ignited a firebomb. You have ignited an ice bomb, creating a frozen surface. You have ignited an ice bomb, creating a frozen surface. You have ignited a smoke bomb, creating a smoke cloud. Better, I wheezed at the appearance of the thick plumes of smoke, and as soon as the first tendril touched me, I cloaked myself. Two hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden. Even battered and half-senseless as I was, I didn¡¯t fail to mark the angry hisses of the nagas as I vanished from their sights once more. But I knew the smoke cloud wouldn¡¯t fool them for long. It was not nearly large enough for that. I needed another plan. ¡°Prime, use spellhold!¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Do it!¡± she commanded. ¡°We¡¯re on our way. Look out for me, I¡¯m almost in range.¡± To my surprise, I realized she was right. Ghost and Anriq¡¯s mindglows were only one hundred and twenty yards away and closing rapidly. When did that happen? I wondered. Had they killed their naga already? But whether they had or not mattered less than the fact that the pair were almost in position to be of help. Doing as the pyre wolf bade, I reached into the ring on my right hand and drew forth the spell stored within. Mage¡¯s surprise activated. Spellhold casting released. You have trigger-cast furious storm. The response was instantaneous. The sky darkened and angry bolts of white shot down. A lightning bolt has hit a level 241 stygian naga. Your target¡¯s shield has blocked the attack. A lightning bolt has hit a level 240 stygian naga. Your target¡¯s shield has been destroyed! A lightning bolt has hit you. Air damage repelled! The triple strikes were only the beginning, and already the next wave was incoming, but I didn¡¯t hang around to watch. Weaving psi, I fell into the aether again. ? ? ?Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. You have teleported 99 yards. You are no longer hidden. Shadow blink dumped me unceremoniously back into the ¡®real¡¯ at my familiar¡¯s feet. I didn¡¯t stay there for long, though. Swooping down, Anriq scooped me up. ¡°Got him,¡± the werewolf reported over the farspeaker bracelet. Slinging me over his shoulder¡ªhe was in half-form¡ªAnriq reversed course, heading for Adriel¡¯s shield, I suspected. ¡°No,¡± I whispered. ¡°What?¡± he demanded. ¡°Don¡¯t head back,¡± I replied, weaving more psi. ¡°I only need a minute to recover. Just keep me out of trouble that long.¡± ¡°You want to return to the fight?¡± he growled. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªnecessary,¡± I interjected. ¡°Michael¡¯s right,¡± Safyre chipped in before Anriq could say anything. ¡°Do as he says.¡± Her attention swapped to me. ¡°Can you heal yourself?¡± ¡°Working on it as we speak,¡± I replied from between gritted teeth. Bouncing along on the werewolf¡¯s shoulder was not helping my injuries but I didn¡¯t ask Anriq to stop. A moving target was harder to hit than a stationary one. ¡°Have it your way,¡± the werewolf said. Changing course abruptly, he cut a wide arc around the elites, presumably to stay out of their immediate range. ¡°What¡¯s going on with the nagas?¡± I asked, fielding the question to Ghost. ¡°Both their shields are down now,¡± she reported in satisfaction. ¡°They¡¯re trying to dodge the bolts.¡± She barked a laugh. ¡°But they¡¯re not having much success.¡± I managed a weak smile. At least my efforts had not been in vain. ¡°What about the other two nagas?¡± I asked over the farspeaker link. ¡°The ones near the purifying barrier.¡± ¡°They¡¯re both still alive,¡± Safyre reported. ¡°But Adriel and I are keeping them occupied. The serpents and hydras are done for, though.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± I murmured. The final weave of the spell I was spinning fell into place, and I released it posthaste. You have restored yourself with quick mend. Your health is at 47%. You are no longer bleeding or dazed. I exhaled in relief as the greater part of the agony riddling my limbs fled. I was far from whole, but no longer was I crippled. ¡°You can put me down now,¡± I told Anriq. Skidding to a halt, he set me down gently. I clasped his hand. ¡°Thanks for the rescue. I don¡¯t know if I would¡¯ve managed to escape on my own. You two saved me.¡± I inhaled deeply, drawing more psi. ¡°But your part here is done. Return to your fight.¡± The werewolf eyed my empty hands in concern. ¡°How are you going to manage without swords?¡± I smiled bleakly. ¡°Don¡¯t need them now.¡± Spinning around, I turned to face my foes. ¡°Alright people, I¡¯m back in the fight. Let¡¯s finish this.¡± ? ? ? Furious storm had run its course. And while the two elites hadn¡¯t exactly been left reeling, they had certainly been hurt. A level 240 stygian naga is lightly injured. A level 241 stygian naga is barely injured. In the storm¡¯s aftermath, the nagas had coiled tightly together, forming a single mound of hardened glistening scales. It was a daunting defensive posture and one that presented a foe with no easy angle of attack¡ªat least physically. Magically, I suspected, the pair were even now replenishing their spent defenses, and no doubt their shields would be back up soon. But I wasn¡¯t going to allow that. Gathering psi, I pulled my arms back. Interestingly enough, despite losing their shields, both nagas¡¯ consciousnesses remained opaque to me, evidence enough that their minds were protected. Attempting to shatter the stygians¡¯ mental defenses was one option. But there was no reason to bother with that. Notwithstanding its near fatal outcome, my original plan was still workable. You have cast astral shurikens. Two three-pointed stars appeared in my empty hands, each a deep shade of translucent purple and thrumming with energy. Whipping my arms forward, I sent them racing towards their targets. The flattened discs whizzed through the mists, arcing to the nagas a hundred yards away. Neither creature saw the psi projectiles coming and a heartbeat later, they struck. Your astral shuriken has hit a level 241 stygian naga. Your astral shuriken has hit a level 240 stygian naga. My aim proved true¡ªnot that it required any great effort on my part to hit the motionless creatures¡ªand both shurikens slipped soundlessly through the nagas¡¯ outer shells to attack the nerves beneath. Your astral shurikens have inflicted psi damage! Nerves at the point of contact have been weakened. Inflict further psi damage to deaden them entirely. The nagas shuddered. They¡¯d felt the touch of the ethereal blades, but their only response was to coil more tightly together. It availed them little. Because, of course, the shurikens were not done yet. Reemerging from the nagas¡¯ bodies, the psi projectiles bounced to the adjacent target. Your astral shurikens have inflicted psi damage! Your astral shurikens have inflicted psi damage! ¡­ Five consecutive times, the blades bounced¡ªfive consecutive times during which they eked away a little of the elites¡¯ health. It mattered not that the damage was miniscule. My next pair of shurikens were already airborne. Taking off running, I circled around the nagas. I was not about to close in on the pair and risk another physical confrontation. Such was no longer necessary. But sooner or later, I expected the two elites to switch from defense to offense, and when that happened, I had to be ready. ? ? ? It was only after bearing the brunt of three full volleys that the nagas chose to react. Uncoiling with vicious speed, they lobbed two voidballs my way. But if the pair had thought to catch me off guard, they¡¯d miscalculated. The voidballs were slow¡ªin comparison to my shurikens, anyway¡ªand I observed their approach with a distinct lack of concern as I kept up my own assault. Your astral shurikens have inflicted psi damage! Your astral shurikens have inflicted psi damage! ¡­ Three seconds later, the voidballs closed to within striking range. Breaking off my assault, I set down a windslide and darted away. You have cast windborne. You have evaded a voidball. You have evaded a voidball. Ignoring the nagas¡¯ angry hisses at their attacks¡¯ failure, I dropped down from the air ramp and resumed my steady jog. A level 238 stygian naga has died. I smiled. I didn¡¯t need to look behind me to know that Adriel and Safyre had just killed one of the elites. Only three to¡ª You are no longer nether-cloyed. My grin broadened. Now, the outcome of my own fight was assured. Weaving stamina, I prepared to vanish once more. Chapter 522: Regrouping A level 236 stygian naga has died. A level 240 stygian naga has died. A level 241 stygian naga has died. You and Ghost have reached level 243! For achieving rank 24, you have been awarded 1 additional attribute point and 1 Class point. Your sneaking has reached rank 23 and your two weapon fighting rank 19. Ghost¡¯s magma maw has reached rank 10, her stygian claws rank 12, her ash armor rank 12, her telepathy rank 10, her death magic rank 8, and her nether manipulation rank 5. The battle drew to a close without fanfare. The two nagas died without managing to land any further blows, and with Safyre and Adriel¡¯s help, Anriq and Ghost made quick work of their own foe. While I waited for the others to finish mopping up, I scanned the skies. They were clear. The stygian overlord had not made an appearance as yet. That gives us some time, at least, I thought in relief. Turning my attention inward, I reviewed the post-battle messages. Ghost and I had advanced four levels, which was about what I¡¯d expected given the pyre wolf¡¯s earlier gains for killing a naga. What I found more startling, though, was the progress of Ghost¡¯s skill. Most I knew had occurred during her training with Sulan, still the degree to which she had improved was impressive. ¡°Did you think I was just lazing around while you were gone?¡± the pyre wolf joked as she drew up alongside me. ¡°Of course not,¡± I murmured. ¡°But maybe I¡¯m a bit jealous. You seemed to have got a lot more done in the two days than I have.¡± In fact, other than securing Kesh¡¯s help, I had to wonder what I¡¯d really achieved since leaving the tundra. Worse yet, I¡¯d made little to no headway rescuing Saya. Ghost¡¯s ears pricked up as she picked up on my surface thoughts. ¡°Something¡¯s happened, hasn¡¯t it? Something bad.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted. ¡°But the tale must wait for the others. It¡¯s not one I want to repeat.¡± Ghost didn¡¯t push the issue, for which I was grateful. ¡°Whatever the case, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re back, Prime.¡± ¡°As am I,¡± I replied, running my hand through her coat. ¡°I missed you.¡± My gaze drifted to the others. ¡°And everyone else too.¡± Things were much simpler here. There was no question of who the enemy was, our goals were clear, and even the path to achieving them was relatively straightforward. Back in the heart of the Game, everything had been¡­ murkier. I sighed. I knew there was no escaping the greater Game, though. One way or the other, I¡¯d have to deal with Loken and his envoy, and rescue Saya. And it was not like we didn¡¯t have problems aplenty in this sector either. My gaze fell upon Shael and Anriq once more. Under Safyre¡¯s direction, the pair were hauling the nagas¡¯ corpses to the lich who was¡­ I frowned. ¡°What is Adriel doing?¡± I wondered aloud. ¡°Skinning them,¡± Ghost supplied helpfully. I glanced at my familiar. ¡°And why would she be doing that?¡± ¡°For use in the golems¡¯ bodies, of course,¡± she replied brightly. It took me a moment to process that, and when I did my eyes widened. ¡°Adriel has figured it out,¡± I breathed. ¡°She knows how to rehome the possessed.¡± The pyre wolf bobbed her head. ¡°Yes.¡± The news cheered me. It was at least one bright spot in what had otherwise been a mostly disappointing few days. ¡°Saf,¡± I said through the farspeaker link, ¡°I have an alchemy stone. It might make collecting the ingredients Adriel wants easier.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t work,¡± the aetherist replied. ¡°Adriel needs the nagas¡¯ scales more than she needs their reagents, and the alchemy stone won¡¯t collect skin. In fact, using the stone on the nagas will likely destroy the scales.¡± I deflated. ¡°Oh.¡± Across the distance, I saw Safyre turn in my direction, a smile playing on her lips. ¡°Although¡­ you could make yourself useful and loot the other stygians.¡± I ducked my head sheepishly as I rose to my feet. ¡°Right. Ghost and I are on it.¡± ? ? ? ¡°I don¡¯t see why you needed me for this,¡± Ghost grumbled as she kept pace beside me. ¡°Why, did you have somewhere else to be?¡± I asked innocently as I ducked down and retrieved the alchemy stone from the last corpse. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. You have retrieved an alchemy stone. New ingredients acquired: 100 x lumps of necrotic plasma and 70 x vial of nether residue. ¡°I could be training my nether manipulation!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you doing that already?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± Ghost protested. I smiled. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. It isn¡¯t. Say rather, I wanted your company.¡± It was the answer Ghost had been looking for all along, and I sensed her brighten immediately. ¡°You¡¯re shameless,¡± I said, chuckling. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with expressing your enjoyment of another¡¯s company,¡± the pyre wolf retorted. It felt like a more pointed remark than the situation warranted and suspecting what she was alluding to, I changed the topic. ¡°How did Anriq do?¡± Ghost rolled her eyes at my evasiveness before replying. ¡°He fought well. He¡¯d make an excellent wolf.¡± I nodded, pleased by her assessment. I already knew from analyze that both Shael and Anriq had advanced significantly during the battle, with the bard netting eight levels and the werewolf six. Safyre, too, had progressed, if not as much as the two lower level players. ¡°We¡¯re all done here,¡± Anriq said suddenly, drawing my attention. Glancing to my left, I saw my four companions standing next to a tall pile of stygian scales. Stepping through the aether, I appeared beside Safyre. ¡°What¡¯s all this for?¡± I asked without preamble. Adriel threw me a wry look. ¡°Too lazy to walk?¡± ¡°More like I¡¯m in a rush,¡± I replied, glancing upward again. ¡°We might have company soon.¡± The lich nodded. ¡°Safyre said so.¡± ¡°You checked the gate?¡± the aetherist asked, sensing my unease. I shook my head. ¡°I was waiting for you and Adriel to finish up before risking an approach. Whatever spell the two nagas cast is still active. Unfortunately, the weaves didn¡¯t dissipate with their deaths.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Anriq said softly. Safyre frowned. ¡°That does not bode well. Not on top of everything else.¡± ¡°This was not a random encounter then?¡± I asked, wanting to confirm my suspicions. Adriel snorted. ¡°No. This was an ambush. Carefully conceived. And well executed.¡± I sighed, not happy about being proved right. ¡°What happened? I would have thought you four would know better than to try and take on four elites. Why didn¡¯t you retreat?¡± ¡°It was only one to begin with,¡± Anriq muttered sourly. My gaze flickered in the werewolf¡¯s direction. ¡°Meaning?¡± ¡°Meaning I was careless,¡± Anriq replied, meeting my gaze unflinchingly. ¡°I was escorting Ghost while she trained her nether manipulation skill when we spotted the naga. It was alone, so instead of retreating immediately back to the tundra like I should¡¯ve, I decided to investigate further. That¡¯s when the rest of the stygians showed themselves.¡± He hung his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Michael, I let them lure me and Ghost away from the portal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not all his fault,¡± Ghost said, speaking up on Anriq¡¯s behalf. ¡°I also failed to smell the stygians hiding in the mists.¡± ¡°The boy is not to blame,¡± Adriel said, unconsciously echoing Ghost¡¯s sentiment. ¡°I didn¡¯t sense the stygians until too late either.¡± ¡°Me neither,¡± Safyre agreed. Adriel ran a lazy hand through the yellow smog. ¡°It¡¯s this damn mist. It makes hiding all too easy for the stygians. The nagas used that to their advantage with their cloaking spell.¡± I winced. It was one more thing to worry about. ¡°But how did you two wind up here?¡± I asked, looking expectantly at the two spellcasters. By Anriq¡¯s reckoning, only he and Ghost had been in the sector when the stygians had sprung their ambush. ¡°We were checking out the caves,¡± Safyre replied, ¡°when Adriel heard Ghost¡¯s telepathic cry.¡± The lich nodded. ¡°That was a bit of good fortune we can all be thankful for. Our arrival was the only thing that fouled the nagas¡¯ ambush.¡± Still focused on Safyre¡¯s words, I barely heard her. ¡°Checking out the¡ª¡± Breaking off, I whipped around to face Anriq. ¡°You found something?¡± The werewolf smiled tentatively, his glum look disappearing. ¡°I did. Two somethings, actually.¡± ¡°Two?¡± I asked in disbelief. ¡°Yes, two separate cave systems,¡± he confirmed. ¡°The first is small and beneath the riverbed itself. The second is also near the river but extends deeper into the earth. We¡¯ve only just begun exploring its depths.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re sure their entrances can be sealed?¡± I asked breathlessly. ¡°Already done,¡± Safyre murmured. I glanced at her, not daring to voice my next question lest she dash my hopes. Her lips quirked upward. No doubt, she sensed my excitement. ¡°We dispelled the free-standing nether from inside and caved in all the entrances,¡± Safyre confirmed. ¡°They¡¯re covered in so many layers of rock now, it will take weeks to dig through.¡± Saying nothing, I waited. ¡°And you were, right, Michael,¡± she finished, ¡°the nether did not return.¡± I rocked back on my heels, elated. I had suspected, but hadn¡¯t been certain, that solid rock would be proof against the ingress of the invasive mists. It was the river that had given me the idea, the river into which I¡¯d fallen into during my first foray in the sector, and the river that had been blessedly free of nether. It was why I¡¯d left the Sylvanain eye with Anriq, and it was why I had tasked him with finding a deep and, ideally, closed cave system. Because, of course, we needed a base in sector 18,240. Not just to hide the shield generator but also to serve as our shelter until we expelled the void from the sector. Using the tundra itself was impractical, especially once more players joined the Forerunners. ¡°What about air?¡± I asked. ¡°Are the caves¡ª¡± ¡°They¡¯re breathable,¡± Adriel confirmed. ¡°Where the air is coming from, we can¡¯t say for certain, but the nether¡¯s taint is not seeping in with it.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± I pronounced. ¡°Well done, Anriq. Well done, everyone.¡± There drew smiles all around, temporarily alleviating my companions¡¯ somber demeanors, but predictably, it did not last. ¡°You know what the ambush means, right?¡± Safyre asked, throwing me an intent look. I nodded slowly. Unfortunately, I did. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t,¡± Shael said, speaking up for the first time. The others looked at him. The bard¡¯s face creased into an unhappy frown. ¡°I have no idea what any of this means or even where the hell we are. Or for that matter, what any of this has to do with Saya!¡± Safyre¡¯s brows rose. ¡°Saya?¡± she asked, looking at me questioningly. I grimaced. Obviously, Shael had not shared his tale with the others yet. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you in a bit,¡± I told her before turning back to the bard. ¡°And you¡¯ll get an explanation too, I promise. Just be patient a little longer. For now, it¡¯s imperative we check on the portal.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Adriel said. Not waiting to see if anyone followed, she marched in the direction of the gate. I glanced from the pile of discarded stygian scales to the retreating lich. ¡°What about all this?¡± I called after her. ¡°What about it?¡± Adriel asked, glancing back. ¡°It¡¯ll keep. I highly doubt the stygians are going to try carrying it off.¡± Muttering under my breath, I hurried to catch up to her. Chapter 523: Allegiances The target is a nether portal leading to sector 107 of the Endless Dungeon. Warning: an unidentified stygian infestation has taken root in the ley line connected to this gateway. Infection type: unknown. The portal may still be used, however the consequences of doing so cannot be predicted. Remaining time until the infestation is purged: 4 hours. I stared despondently at the Game alert hovering in my mind for a moment before turning my attention to the nether portal itself. The blackness besmirching it had not abated. ¡°¡®¡­unidentified stygian infestation,¡¯¡± I quoted. ¡°That sounds less than promising. Anyone know what it means?¡± There was no response. ¡°Safyre?¡± I prompted, focusing on the aetherist beside me. She shook her head. ¡°I have no idea.¡± I glanced at Adriel, but even after repeating the Adjudicator¡¯s words verbatim to her, she, too, looked just as perplexed. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of something like this before either,¡± the lich murmured. I grimaced. ¡°That¡¯s just great.¡± ¡°Do we flee?¡± Shael asked, eyeing the opaque surroundings suspiciously, his discomfort obvious. ¡°We will if we need to, but we¡¯re not there yet.¡± I turned to our spellcasters again. ¡°What if you¡ª¡± ¡°Dispelling doesn¡¯t work,¡± Adriel said. ¡°Neither does restoration, rejuvenation, nor any of the other spells I¡¯ve tried,¡± Safyre added. ¡°How about we cut the black strings?¡± Anriq suggested, flexing his hands. ¡°That might do the trick.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Adriel and Safyre snapped simultaneously. The werewolf held up his hands. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to,¡± he protested. My gaze darted from the chastened werewolf to the two women. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Safyre¡¯s brows crinkled. ¡°As resistant as the¡­ infestation is to spellcraft, I doubt hacking at it with a sword is going to have any effect.¡± ¡°And,¡± Adriel added, her lips pursed, ¡°simply touching the strands may transfer the infection.¡± I rubbed my chin. ¡°Hmm, in that case, maybe Anriq should try.¡± Both spellcasters glares swapped to me. ¡°He¡¯s a werewolf,¡± I reminded them. ¡°I doubt any infection, no matter how severe, will be able to take hold in his body for long.¡± Adriel frowned. ¡°Perhaps,¡± she muttered. ¡°But is that a chance you want to take? Don¡¯t forget there is no safe zone for him to resurrect in.¡± I thought about that for a moment, then shook my head. ¡°No. You¡¯re right. It¡¯s an unnecessary risk.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Anriq began. ¡°No,¡± I repeated more firmly, and he subsided. ¡°That leaves us with only two other options,¡± I went on. ¡°Retreat or wait it out.¡± No one said anything for a moment. ¡°Four hours is not all that long,¡± Safyre said at last. She was right, it wasn¡¯t. But four hours was likely long enough for the overlord to get here, and by this point, I was all but certain that that had been the nagas¡¯ intent all along¡ªto trap us in the sector until reinforcements arrived. Staying would be playing into their hands. There was something else that concerned me too. ¡°What about the wolves?¡± Safyre took my meaning at once. ¡°The elders aren¡¯t expecting us back before nightfall,¡± she assured me. ¡°They have no cause to worry yet, and Duggar knows better than to allow the Pack to enter the gate.¡± I sighed. That was one less worry at least. ¡°Alright then,¡± I said, coming to a decision. ¡°We wait¡ªbut not here.¡± ¡°That would be an especially bad idea,¡± Safyre agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s relocate to the cave.¡± She glanced sideways at Shael. ¡°We have a lot to discuss in any event, and there at least we¡¯ll be safe.¡± I hoped that was true. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Not so fast,¡± Adriel interjected. ¡°We¡¯ve got to retrieve the naga remains first. If we¡¯re going to use the cave system as a base, we might as well start transferring the scales now.¡± Careful not to sigh, I turned about and headed back to the discarded pile, beckoning Shael and Anriq. Somehow, I got the feeling that we would be the ones doing the lion¡¯s share of the work. ? ? ? Safyre has cast supreme portal, creating a protected ley line to a secondary location in sector 18,240. Transfer through portal commencing¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Passage completed! The nether toxicity at your current location has decreased to 0. No environmental ill-effects experienced. I stepped out of a world filled with yellow smog and into the cool, welcoming darkness of an underground cave. ¡°Ah,¡± I exhaled, set immediately at ease. The others trickled in after me, both Adriel and Safyre bearing magelights. ¡°Feel at home?¡± Safyre teased, spotting my expression.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Actually, I do.¡± Releasing my end of the impromptu sled we had assembled, I turned about in a full circle and examined our surroundings. We were in a large cavern. It was about a hundred yards from end to end and stretched nearly as high. And even with my mindsight extended to its fullest, I could sense no mindglows but our own. ¡°Is all of it this empty?¡± I asked, as Safyre¡¯s portal closed behind us. There was nothing living in the cave, not even moss or lichen. And except for my five companions and the two sleds overflowing with naga scales, everything else was cold barren stone. Anriq nodded. ¡°Near as we can tell. We¡¯re about a thousand feet below ground.¡± He pointed to a darkened passage to the right. ¡°That used to go to the surface.¡± He spun around. ¡°And those openings all lead to tunnels that delve deeper into the earth, but like I said earlier, we¡¯ve explored only a tiny fraction so far.¡± ¡°Why did we come here?¡± Shael asked rhetorically. Rubbing his arms, he tried in vain to stop shivering. The cave was appreciably colder than the surface. ¡°This place doesn¡¯t look like any sort of improvement over what¡¯s above.¡± Anriq scowled. ¡°Really?¡± he asked sarcastically. ¡°You¡¯d rather hang out in the nether?¡± ¡°The Roost would¡¯ve been better,¡± the bard mumbled under his breath, perhaps unaware that both Anriq and my own hearing was sharp enough to catch his offhand comment. ¡°He complains a lot, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Ghost remarked. ¡°Not usually,¡± I replied, defending the half-elf. ¡°He¡¯s had to put up with a lot from me, and I guess he¡¯s feeling out of sorts.¡± Out aloud, I said, ¡°The tavern might be more comfortable, but not everyone can enter it.¡± Shael¡¯s gaze darted to Adriel as he took my meaning. ¡°Oh.¡± He hugged himself tighter. ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± ¡°Sit for starters,¡± I said, dropping into a cross-legged stance. It was finally time for a frank discussion, and this was as safe a place as any for it. I patted the bare rock to my left. ¡°You sit too.¡± The half-elf sat gingerly, eyeing the pyre wolf on my other side with a fair bit of trepidation. ¡°That¡¯s Ghost, I take it,¡± he said, as the others took their places. ¡°It is.¡± I smiled. ¡°And be careful of what you say next, because not only can she understand everything you say, she can speak too.¡± The bard¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I¡­ see.¡± Gesturing at the others, I began making introductions. ¡°Safyre, you know already.¡± The aetherist nodded politely in response, but Shael refused to meet her gaze. I frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a forsworn,¡± he muttered stiffly. ¡°She is,¡± I said evenly. ¡°And?¡± The bard stared at me, taken aback by my lack of surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what that means?¡± he hissed. ¡°We can be killed just for knowing her!¡± I laughed. I couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Shael demanded. My mirth died. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I forgot you don¡¯t remember our previous conversation.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°You told me she was a forsworn while I was enslaved?¡± That got the others¡¯ attention. ¡°You used blood puppet on him?¡± Safyre cried. ¡°Why would you do that!¡± I waited a beat before responding, realizing that matters could quickly devolve if I said the wrong thing. ¡°I used it to administer a truth test.¡± Safyre blinked. ¡°A truth test?¡± she repeated, seemingly at loss for words. Adriel chuckled as she caught on. ¡°Oh my. That was clever.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Anriq said, his brows drawing down. ¡°An enslaved subject is spell-bound to obedience,¡± Adriel explained, still smiling. ¡°All Michael had to do was command Shael here to tell the truth and he would have had no choice but to.¡± Anriq¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Not even the Wolf Torc is powerful enough to enforce that level of obedience.¡± His gaze met mine. ¡°That¡¯s a scary spell.¡± ¡°It certainly is,¡± I said. ¡°Which is why I obtained Shael¡¯s consent before employing it.¡± I glanced at the bard. ¡°Right, Shael?¡± ¡°I was a willing subject,¡± he agreed, further allaying any fears the others might have. Not wanting to dwell further on the subject of blood puppet¡ªAnriq still looked perturbed¡ªI moved the conversation on quickly. ¡°And as to your question,¡± I said, addressing the bard again, ¡°yes, I did tell you Safyre is a forsworn. I also told you what I am, which in the eyes of the new Powers is infinitely worse than what Safyre is.¡± The bard¡¯s eyes rounded at that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll get to that in a moment,¡± I said. ¡°The point being, you¡¯re going to learn a whole lot of secrets today. Many of which will not only get your throat slit, but ours too, and that of everyone you know and care about as well. If I were you, I¡¯d withhold judgment until you¡¯ve the full picture.¡± I held his gaze. ¡°Sounds reasonable?¡± Shael nodded slowly. ¡°It does.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± I said, rubbing my hands together. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin. For starters let me tell you about a group known as the ancients¡­¡± ? ? ? ¡°That¡¯s a lot to take in,¡± Shael said when I and the others finally finished our tales. ¡°It is,¡± I agreed. ¡°Now the time has come to make your choice.¡± ¡°My choice?¡± ¡°Whether to join the Forerunners or not. Whether to tie your fate with ours. And whether to become Pact-bound and allow me to direct your movements.¡± Shael shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re a Power¡­¡± he marveled. ¡°I still find that bit hard to believe. You can truly form Pacts?¡± ¡°I can,¡± I replied simply. Shael¡¯s gaze drifted to the rest of the party. ¡°Everyone here is part of the Forerunners?¡± ¡°Technically, yes.¡± ¡°Technically?¡± ¡°Adriel hasn¡¯t formally joined yet,¡± I replied. ¡°A matter we should rectify today,¡± she interjected. I raised an eyebrow in surprise. The lich hadn¡¯t been overly keen on the Forerunners and my idea of ¡®one House.¡¯ Her attitude had been more one of ¡®wait and see,¡¯ and I¡¯d been willing to let her be until she was ready to join. Which appeared to be now. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± I asked. She nodded. ¡°The time for half-measures is over.¡± She paused, seeming to mull over her next words. ¡°And I tried returning to Death¡¯s home sector¡ªbut failed. I fear it will be a while yet before I can recover my body and become a Death scion anew.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± I asked quietly. She shrugged. ¡°The portal refused to open.¡± ¡°The sector is shielded,¡± I surmised. ¡°Yes,¡± Adriel said bleakly. ¡°Someone has claimed Death¡¯s bastion.¡± I pursed my lips, wondering how she¡¯d react to the news I bore. ¡°I know who.¡± The lich leaned forward intently. She didn¡¯t ask, but I could see the demand in her eyes. ¡°The Awakened Dead,¡± I said softly. ¡°Ah,¡± Adriel exhaled, but despite the calmness of her response, there was a sudden fierceness to her gaze that boded nothing good for Erebus, Ishita, and their ilk. ¡°That makes sense, funnily enough.¡± ¡°Does it change your decision?¡± I asked. It took the lich a moment to refocus on me. ¡°About joining the Forerunners, you mean?¡± I nodded. ¡°No, I¡¯m still committed.¡± ¡°Good. We¡¯ll talk more about the Awakened Dead and Death¡¯s sector soon, I promise. But for now¡­¡± I turned back to Shael. ¡°How about you? Are you ready to make your choice?¡± He bit his lip, hesitating. ¡°I assume you gave me this choice before?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°And what decision did I arrive at?¡± I smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can figure out that one for yourself.¡± Shael sighed. ¡°I suppose I can.¡± He fell silent for a moment, then nodded decisively. ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± I grinned. ¡°Perfect.¡± Chapter 524: Scaly Matters I took Adriel¡¯s pledge first, but I didn¡¯t just induct her into the faction, I assigned her to office too. You have accepted Adriel, a non-player, into the Forerunners faction and have furthermore appointed her to the role of custodian. Only a custodian may create items bearing a faction¡¯s name. Note, the custodian designation is a hidden one that cannot be revealed by any Game abilities. Custodians could fulfill various roles in a faction but primarily, they acted as its caretakers. Only a custodian could bestow a faction¡¯s mark on an item. Adriel, as a crafter in her own right, was perfectly suited to the role. Then, too, given the lich¡¯s near-unique nature and vast experience, she was also the least likely person in the faction to fall prey to torture or extortion. All of which made her the safest choice for the Forerunner¡¯s custodian. Once I was done with Adriel, I accepted Shael¡¯s oath, and despite his earlier standoffishness, the bard was welcomed with open arms into the faction. You have accepted Shael, a player, into the Forerunners faction. You have sealed a Pact with Shael. In exchange for a place on the inner council of your House and being privy to its secrets, the red minstrel has agreed to let you direct his movements from here on, limiting the sectors he may visit. This Pact may be terminated at any time but only at your discretion. You have 6 / 20 active Pacts. ¡°I guess this makes me as much a rebel as the rest of you lot,¡± Shael joked once we all finished congratulating him. The half-elf¡¯s words drew smiles from the others, but my own face stayed somber. Now that the immediate threat of the stygians had been dealt with and Shael properly inducted, my worries had returned to plague me. Seeing my expression, Shael¡¯s smile faded. ¡°It¡¯s time to talk about Saya,¡± he guessed. I nodded solemnly. ¡°What¡¯s this about Saya?¡± Safyre asked, concern flitting across her face. ¡°This is the second time you two have mentioned her. Is she alright?¡± I took a deep breath, then stated bluntly, ¡°No. No, she is not.¡± ¡°She has been taken hostage,¡± Shael added. Safyre inhaled sharply. ¡°Who would dare do such a thing?¡± Anriq growled. ¡°Loken¡¯s envoy would,¡± the bard replied softly. The werewolf¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Loken¡­?¡± I sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, yes,¡± I said, knowing exactly what fears the news had conjured in his mind¡ªand everyone else¡¯s, for that matter. Adriel recovered first. ¡°Why would the trickster¡¯s envoy do that?¡± she asked, her face expressionless. I met her gaze. The lich had never met Saya, but I¡¯d spoken often enough of the gnome in the past that she knew Saya¡¯s capture was not something I could¡ªor would¡ªlet lie. ¡°I don¡¯t know. To lure me out, I suspect.¡± ¡°You better tell us everything,¡± she said, her tone studiedly neutral. I glanced at Shael. ¡°Go on, tell them. This is more your tale than mine.¡± The bard lowered his head in acknowledgment. ¡°Where to begin?¡± he wondered, biting his lip. ¡°At the beginning, I suppose,¡± he added, before anyone could think to answer. Taking a moment, he gathered his thoughts. ¡°It was not long after Michael left the valley that matters started changing. First, the Tartans went to¡­¡± Sitting back, I closed my eyes and let the bard¡¯s words wash over me. His tale was not one I relished hearing again. ? ? ? ¡°Damn,¡± Anriq growled when Shael was done. ¡°So, we don¡¯t even know if the tavernkeeper is alive?¡± he asked, cutting to the heart of the matter. I winced at his bluntness. ¡°We don¡¯t,¡± I admitted, ¡°but I¡¯m convinced the envoy hasn¡¯t killed her.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± Adriel said, almost gently. ¡°You can¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I conceded again. ¡°I can¡¯t know that for certain, but I believe she is alive. Anriq blinked. ¡°You believe? You¡¯re joking, right? That can¡¯t be all you have to go on!¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose, and before responding, I had to remind myself that the werewolf hadn¡¯t met Saya either. ¡°Saya is worth more alive than dead. The envoy will know that. She won¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± Anriq opened his mouth to retort, but Safyre waved him to silence. ¡°Your concerns are valid, Anriq,¡± she said. ¡°But Michael¡¯s stance is equally valid. We don¡¯t know if Saya is alive, but we have to assume she is. Doing otherwise means abandoning her to her fate.¡± No one was able to find fault with that. ¡°Thank you, Saf,¡± I murmured. ¡°You¡¯ve put it perfectly. The question facing us now is what do we do next?¡± For a drawn-out moment, no one said anything. ¡°You plan on rescuing her,¡± Adriel said eventually. It was not a question. I inclined my head. ¡°I do. I¡¯ve already tried approaching Loken in the hopes of getting him to intervene, but¡ª¡± ¡°What?¡± Shael demanded, looking as astonished as the rest of my companions. ¡°When was this?¡± I held up my hands. ¡°Calm down, everyone. I did not contact Loken personally. I used an intermediary.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Anriq asked with a heavy frown. My gaze darted to Safyre. ¡°Kesh.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± she exclaimed softly. ¡°That was a good choice. What happened?¡± ¡°Loken refused to meet,¡± I replied. ¡°Why, I¡¯m not sure. But it¡¯s Loken and who can¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªknow what game the trickster plays at,¡± Adriel finished for me.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Exactly,¡± I said, surveying their faces. ¡°Given all that, I don¡¯t see how I¡ªwe¡ªhave any choice but to take direct action and rescue Saya ourselves.¡± ¡°Assuming she is still alive,¡± Anriq pointed out. ¡°Assuming that, yes.¡± Safyre and Adriel exchanged glances. ¡°What about this sector?¡± My lips turned down. ¡°That is a complication,¡± I conceded. ¡°The good news is that I¡¯ve managed to procure the shield generator.¡± My companions sat up straighter at the news. ¡°You have?¡± Safyre exclaimed. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Through Kesh.¡± Safyre¡¯s brows crinkled. ¡°B-but wasn¡¯t she¡ª? Didn¡¯t she¡ª¡± ¡°I told her who I am,¡± I replied, suspecting what was running through her mind. ¡°Kesh is now aware of our plans to bring about the return of the Primes.¡± I held her gaze. ¡°And what¡¯s more, we have her full support.¡± Safyre covered her mouth in astonishment. I smiled, pleased by her reaction. ¡°Not only will Kesh get the Aether Cloak for us at a discount, she has also agreed to you using your emporium robes again.¡± I paused. ¡°Unfortunately, the Triumvirate embedded a tracking device inside the garment which forced me to leave it in the Roost for safekeeping.¡± I waved my hand, dismissing the matter from further consideration. ¡°But getting back to Kesh, she will also see to it that your fellow forsworn are rotated through the emporium vaults. She has made arrangements for you to meet them there.¡± ¡°Oh my,¡± Safyre said, her eyes shining. ¡°You convinced Kesh to do all that? How!¡± I chuckled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t as hard as we imagined. I got the distinct impression that our cause is one Kesh sympathizes with. The difficulty¡ªif you can call it that¡ªwas convincing her our rebellion has a chance of success.¡± Safyre¡¯s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ¡°That reminds me.¡± Retrieving a string of items from my bag of holding, I dropped the first batch into Adriel¡¯s hands and the second in Safyre¡¯s. ¡°I got these too.¡± You have lost 20 unmarked soulbound faction tokens. You have lost 28 farspeaker bracelets from the named set: Sintar¡¯s link. ¡°You know what to do with the tokens, Adriel,¡± I went on. ¡°Those are all I managed to get for now. But I¡¯ll get more soon, promise.¡± I turned to Safyre. ¡°Those bracelets complete the farspeaker set we¡¯ve been using. They need to be modified to prevent an intruder from using them to eavesdrop on us, though.¡± ¡°My, my,¡± Adriel said, examining the tokens. ¡°You have been busy.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I got some things done.¡± I exhaled. ¡°Unfortunately, not everything went our way.¡± Anriq leaned forward. ¡°What¡¯s the bad news?¡± ¡°We¡¯re broke again for the foreseeable future,¡± I replied, and went on to explain the situation with Nicola and the den chief. Safyre sighed. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate, but I¡¯m sure we can make do.¡± I nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll have to. In any case, given recent events, we¡¯ll have to alter our plans.¡± Adriel arched one eyebrow. ¡°By recent events, I take it you mean the nagas¡¯ ambush?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± I replied grimly. ¡°We can¡¯t ignore the implications.¡± ¡°That the void now knows we¡¯re here?¡± Anriq asked. I nodded again. ¡°We¡¯ve lost the luxury of time. Stockpiling resources, making contact with House Pestilence, and visiting the Nexus werewolves will have to wait until after we¡¯ve reclaimed this sector.¡± I paused. ¡°And before we can get to that, we have to rescue Saya.¡± Safyre and Adriel traded glances again. But before I could question them about it, Shael interrupted. ¡°You expect the six of us to defeat a void tree, four overlords, and an entire nest?¡± he asked aghast. ¡°All by ourselves?¡± I turned the bard¡¯s way. ¡°I don¡¯t, actually. Kesh is reaching out to the stygian brotherhood. I¡¯m hoping we can secure their aid.¡± ¡°The brotherhood,¡± Anriq murmured. ¡°They could give us a decisive advantage.¡± I nodded. ¡°And don¡¯t forget that in three more days, Nyra and the twins will be done with their dungeon dive.¡± I glanced at Adriel. ¡°Then there are also the possessed to consider.¡± ¡°The Rings of Astral Walking will work as we hoped,¡± she confirmed, correctly interpreting my look. ¡°The possessed can be rehomed in construct bodies.¡± I nearly sagged in relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. How long will it take?¡± Adriel shrugged. ¡°Now that I have sufficient material to work with? Eight, maybe, ten days.¡± ¡°You will create their golems from the naga scales then?¡± I guessed. Nodding, the lich pulled one the scales from the sled and examined it anew. ¡°Interesting stuff, this.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Safyre asked, looking intrigued. ¡°As far as I can tell, it¡¯s a composite formed from pure nether that¡¯s been compressed and solidified and combined with void crystals, surprisingly enough.¡± I tilted my head to the side. ¡°Void crystals. What are those?¡± Adriel didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°You once told me you visited a stygian nest inside the Nethersphere.¡± I nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I entered through a rift in Nexus.¡± ¡°Do you recall seeing any obsidian crystals there? They can sometimes be mistaken for black rock.¡± ¡°I remember those. They were all over the nest.¡± The necrotic spikes the overlord had used had been made from the same substance as well. I glanced at the scale in her hand. ¡°Those were void crystals?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we called them in my day,¡± Adriel said. ¡°Most scholars considered them largely useless. The crystals are harder than steel but inflexible. They can¡¯t be worked because they shatter under pressure, and they have no special properties that anyone can divine.¡± Holding the scale by its ends, the lich pressed down firmly. ¡°This is different.¡± ¡°It bent,¡± Anriq noted observantly. Adriel nodded. ¡°It did. Pure void crystals won¡¯t do that.¡± She studied the scale quizzically. ¡°I don¡¯t know what strange evolutionary path the nagas took to end up with void crystals infused with nether for scales, but I¡¯m glad that they did¡ªbecause these scales are near-perfect.¡± I rubbed my chin. ¡°I take it that means you¡¯ve not encountered the nagas before?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± the lich confirmed and glanced questioningly at Safyre who also shook her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t either.¡± ¡°Hmm, so either the nagas are a ¡®new¡¯ development¡ªsomething I highly doubt¡ªor¡­¡± I ran aground. Or what? ¡°Anyone care to speculate?¡± ¡°Or they¡¯re incredibly rare?¡± Shael suggested. ¡°Maybe,¡± I allowed, not convinced. ¡°Rare or not, I would¡¯ve heard of a creature with scales like this,¡± Adriel objected. ¡°And don¡¯t forget what they did to the nether portal,¡± Safyre added. ¡°I¡¯ve not heard even a whisper of a rumor of something like that being done by the stygians before.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Whatever spell the nagas used was too noteworthy not to set tongues wagging.¡± ¡°Safyre is right,¡± Shael said, conceding the point. ¡°Players gossip, they can¡¯t help it. Word of the nagas would have gotten out before this.¡± ¡°Which means no player has encountered them before,¡± Anriq concluded. ¡°Or if they have, they didn¡¯t live to tell the tale,¡± Shael added. I nodded slowly. ¡°All that makes sense. Unfortunately, it¡¯s still only speculation.¡± Reaching into the sled myself, I slipped a handful of scales into my bag of holding. You have acquired 5 x naga scales. You are unable to discern their properties. Adriel looked at me quizzically. ¡°What are you going to do with those?¡± ¡°I was thinking we should consult an expert,¡± I replied. ¡°Like the stygian brotherhood perhaps?¡± Safyre guessed. I nodded. ¡°It will be interesting to hear what they have to say about the nagas and having a few samples on hand to show them can¡¯t hurt. Assuming Kesh¡¯s negotiations with their Huntmistress are successful, I¡¯ll ask them about the nagas.¡± ¡°Good idea,¡± Safyre agreed. Considering the topic closed, I turned back to Adriel. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the matter at hand: the possessed. What do the scales mean for them?¡± ¡°It means their golem forms will be unique,¡± the lich answered. She glanced at the pyre wolf beside me. ¡°Almost as unique as Ghost¡¯s. In fact, I wish I had this stuff when I crafted her body. I could¡¯ve given her a far more solid presence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright, Adriel,¡± Ghost said. ¡°I¡¯m quite content with how I am.¡± Adriel smiled. ¡°I know you are, little one, but we¡¯ll talk more later.¡± ¡°Are there enough scales for all one hundred possessed?¡± I asked, ignoring the pair¡¯s aside. ¡°Oh definitely,¡± Adriel replied. ¡°But you will have to retrieve the rest, of course.¡± The scales we¡¯d brought in the two sleds only accounted for a small fraction of what had been skinned from the nagas, and there was still a small mountain waiting above ground. It would take many more trips of back-breaking work to retrieve the remaining scales. Shael sighed audibly as he came to the same realization. ¡°Of course,¡± I murmured. ¡°We¡¯ll get right on it.¡± Chapter 525: A Difference of Opinion The task of hauling the scales fell not unexpectedly to Shael, Anriq, and myself. That was not to say, Adriel and Safyre did nothing. Working in tandem, the pair kept a portal open between the cave and the surface, and even Ghost was put to work, hauling a sled. Working thus, we made steady progress, and by the end of the first hour, nearly all of the scales had been successfully relocated. Just past the two-hour mark, though, something changed. Pausing in my work stacking one the sleds, I stared across the horizon. ¡°What is it?¡± Safyre asked, noticing my sudden stop. ¡°Company,¡± I replied, studying the distant dot in the sky. ¡°The overlord?¡± she asked. ¡°I think so.¡± Even with my enhanced sight, the far-off shape was too indistinct to identify. ¡°What else could it be?¡± I asked rhetorically. Safyre glanced at the pile of remaining scales. ¡°Do we have time to haul the rest?¡± Not answering immediately, I took my time judging the enemy¡¯s approach, but even after a full minute of watching there was barely a perceptible change in its size. ¡°Yes,¡± I said at last. ¡°Then let¡¯s get to it,¡± she said. ¡°The sooner we¡¯re done, the sooner we¡¯re gone.¡± ? ? ? Twenty minutes later, the last of the scales disappeared through the portal. Stopping beside Adriel who was on portal duty, I turned around to study the skies one last time. There was no longer any doubt about our enemy¡¯s identity. It was an overlord. Nor was the stygian Power alone. Perched all around its crater-like body were dozens of flying serpents. ¡°Do you think they can see us?¡± Adriel asked. I shrugged. ¡°No idea.¡± None of my companions could see the incoming stygians, of course. The mists were impenetrable to their sight, and while I doubted the void creatures labored under the same handicap, the distance between us was still appreciable. ¡°The overlord hasn¡¯t sped up, though, or altered its trajectory in any way,¡± I added. ¡°Good enough, I suppose,¡± the lich replied, waving me toward the portal. ¡°Go on, then. Let¡¯s not tempt fate further.¡± Doing as she bade, I stepped through the luminous doorway. Adriel followed quickly after and a moment later, the portal winked out. The others were already gathered in the center of the cave. Joining them, Adriel and I sat down to complete the circle. ¡°Now that that is all out of the way,¡± I began without preamble, ¡°let¡¯s talk about how we go about rescuing Saya.¡± Adriel and Safyre exchanged glances. ¡°Will you two stop that,¡± I snapped in exasperation. Startled, the pair turned my way. ¡°Stop what?¡± Safyre asked innocently. I waved my hand, demonstrating. ¡°You know, staring at one another as if¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°Forget it. Whatever it is you have to say, just spit it out.¡± This time the two managed not to look at each other before answering. ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s what you want,¡± Safyre said, fielding the question. She paused to gather her thoughts. ¡°We know this is a sensitive topic, so we¡¯ve been trying to find a delicate way to approach it,¡± she added by way of apology. I frowned. ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Saya,¡± Adriel said bluntly. I turned to stare at her. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡± Instead of answering, the lich looked to Safyre, who once again became the pair¡¯s spokesperson. ¡°You said earlier you want to rescue her. Is that still true?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°And you want to do it before we claim sector 18,240?¡± ¡°The timing works,¡± I replied, thinking that was what they were concerned about. ¡°Adriel needs ten days to create the golems. That gives me enough time to return to the valley, find Saya, and finalize things with the brotherhood.¡± ¡°The timing works,¡± Safyre agreed. ¡°That¡¯s not the problem.¡± ¡°Then what is?¡± I demanded. Before she could answer, Adriel spoke. ¡°What is your plan?¡± My gaze darted to her. ¡°My plan?¡± ¡°For rescuing the gnome,¡± she clarified. ¡°I know you. You have something in mind, already.¡± I chewed on the inside of my cheek for a moment, wondering if this was the right time to explain. Safyre and Adriel would not like my plan, I knew, but considering the pair¡¯s expressions, perhaps they¡¯d already guessed what I intended. My gaze darted to Shael and Anriq. The pair were sitting back¡ªboth figuratively and literally removed from the conversation. I would get no support from either. I glanced to my right. Ghost knew what I intended, and she, at least, I could count on. ¡°Always, Prime,¡± the pyre wolf replied sleepily. ¡°You can always count on me.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Silently conveying my thanks to her, I turned back to the two women and braced myself for what was sure to be a difficult conversation. ¡°My plan is to return to the valley¡ªalone.¡± Neither Adriel nor Safyre evinced any surprise at the pronouncement. ¡°I know the terrain well,¡± I went on, making my case. ¡°I especially know the wyvern caves to the west where I believe the envoy and Shadow¡¯s troops are based. A frontal assault won¡¯t work, but one man? Alone and in the dark? That man, I think, has a good chance of slipping in unnoticed, finding Saya, and returning with her unharmed.¡± For a drawn-out moment no one said anything. Folding my arms, I waited. I didn¡¯t need Safyre and Adriel¡¯s permission to do what needed to be done, of course. But I¡¯d made a pledge to them not so long ago. No more secrets and no more going at things alone. So, while I didn¡¯t need their permission, I wanted their buy-in. Because I believed strongly in my plan. It made sense. I had a better chance of infiltrating the envoy¡¯s base on my own than an army had of overwhelming it. Safyre and Adriel might argue, they might rail, but eventually they would see that I was right. ¡°You realize it¡¯s a trap, don¡¯t you?¡± Safyre asked at last. I nodded. ¡°I do. But I¡¯ll be going into it with my eyes open. I¡¯m prepared for whatever surprises come my way.¡± Adriel laughed hollowly. ¡°You¡¯re not. Have you forgotten this is the trickster you¡¯re dealing with?¡± I shook my head. ¡°I haven¡¯t. And Loken is not involved. This is all his envoy¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that!¡± the lich snapped. ¡°He denied your request to meet. Why would he do that if he had no hand in matters?¡± ¡°There could be many reasons for his refusal,¡± I replied stubbornly. ¡°It does not mean¡ª¡± ¡°He¡¯s toying with you, boy!¡± Adriel interjected. ¡°You don¡¯t know that!¡± I retorted, throwing her own words back at her. Adriel scowled at me. Not backing down, I glared right back at her, and once again it fell to Safyre to mediate. ¡°We don¡¯t disagree with your plan, Michael,¡± she said softly. Tearing my gaze away from Adriel, I turned to her. ¡°What?¡± I asked, puzzled. ¡°If you don¡¯t disagree, why the¡ª¡± ¡°We don¡¯t disagree,¡± Safyre said, speaking over me. ¡°Your plan is better than anything we¡¯ve been able to come up with, and as much as we may dislike the idea, this is a task you¡¯re best off doing alone.¡± She paused. ¡°But there are risks.¡± I nodded in heartfelt agreement. ¡°There are. And I¡¯m open to discussing ways to mitigate them.¡± ¡°Risks,¡± Safyre went on as if I hadn¡¯t spoken, ¡°that are too great to ignore and that make your plan unviable in the short term.¡± I blinked, trying to make sense of her words. My confusion did not go unnoticed. ¡°We believe you should wait,¡± Adriel stated bluntly. My incomprehension grew. ¡°Wait?¡± Safyre nodded sympathetically. ¡°Yes, wait. Until we¡¯ve claimed sector 18,240 for the Forerunners.¡± I knew from the look in Safyre¡¯s eyes that she knew what she was asking. Still, I couldn¡¯t help protesting. ¡°B-but, but that would mean¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªleaving Saya in the envoy¡¯s hands for another two weeks,¡± Adriel finished for me. ¡°We know.¡± I rounded on her. ¡°She might not survive that long!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a month already,¡± Safyre interjected gently. ¡°If you¡¯re right, if this is all some plan by the envoy to lure you into a trap, then another two weeks won¡¯t make a difference. She will keep Saya alive that long.¡± ¡°And if I¡¯m wrong?¡± I whispered. Safyre¡¯s expression firmed. ¡°Then Saya is dead already,¡± she stated flatly. ¡°And nothing you do will change that fact.¡± I bowed my head, having no counter argument ready. ¡°You don¡¯t need to heed us, of course,¡± Adriel said abruptly. ¡°But we tell you this not just for our sake, but yours. The wiser course is to wait.¡± I raised my head, my face expressionless. ¡°I need to think.¡± So saying, I turned around and walked away. ? ? ? Randomly choosing one of the descending tunnels, I descended its black depths. Alone, I walked aimlessly. Not even Ghost accompanied me, staying behind with the others at my request. While I walked, my thoughts churned. Logically I could find no fault with what the others had said. But it was not logic that motivated me. It was¡­ instinct. A desire to protect the Pack. I could not¡ªwould not abandon¡ªSaya. But Safyre and Adriel were not asking me to do that, they were asking me to wait. An altogether reasonable request. And one difficult to deny. What was wrong with waiting? Nothing. Nothing except that every day I delayed, the chances of Saya dying increased. How much¡­ who could say? Weighing up the lives and risks involved was easier. Unfortunately, though, the results were not in my favor. Venturing into the valley would, at best, save only Saya. At the same time, the risk of discovery was high. If I failed in my mission, was captured, or otherwise revealed, the life of everyone I considered Pack would be put at risk. Claiming sector 18,240, on the other hand, had the potential to permanently secure the future of every Forerunner, had minimal risk of discovery, and only put one life in jeopardy¡ªSaya¡¯s. I exhaled heavily. It was a grim equation. And for the sake of the Forerunners and the Pack, there was only one path forward. Waiting. ¡°Hells,¡± I muttered. ¡°Safyre and Adriel are right.¡± Delaying my rescue attempt by two weeks, though, was unnecessary. We had to claim the sector faster. Narrowing my eyes, I considered how we could go about that. There was a way. It would not be easy, but all the pieces were already in place. It was only a question of nudging them along. Nine days, I decided. We¡¯ll do it in nine days. Then I¡¯ll rescue Saya. As my resolve grew and my path firmed in my mind, a pair of Game messages unfurled before me. The Adjudicator has allocated you a new task: A Place to Call Home! As Wolf, a Prime-in-waiting, or a leader, protecting one¡¯s followers is usually synonymous with securing one¡¯s domain. It has been your bad fortune to find these goals in conflict. The wise leader knows his limits and does not reach beyond. You, however, have not only chosen to pursue both of the conflicting objectives before you, you have further constrained yourself with an ambitious time limit. Is this hubris or wisdom? Only time will tell. Objective: Claim sector 18,240 on behalf of the Forerunners within 9 days. The Adjudicator has allocated you a new task: Rescue the lost Pup! The fate of one of the first souls you claimed as Pack is in doubt. Saya is either dead or in the hands of your enemies. Objective 1: Ascertain if Saya is alive. Objective 2: Rescue Saya if she lives or punish those who have taken her if she is not. Note, this task is linked to A Place to Call Home and cannot be fulfilled until that task is successfully concluded. Furthermore, if the task, A Place to Call Home, fails this task will automatically fail as well. My lips twisted. The Game was raising the stakes. But the stakes were already high enough to make failure inconceivable. Who cared if the Adjudicator sought to up the ante further? One way or the other I would succeed. At both my goals. Chapter 526: Preparing for War Day 1 of Michael¡¯s Deadline ¡°I¡¯ve come to a decision,¡± I said as I walked back into the cavern. Safyre and Adriel¡¯s expressions were resigned. They weren¡¯t expecting good news, I realized. ¡°You two were right,¡± I stated bluntly. ¡°Rescuing Saya must wait.¡± Adriel¡¯s brows rose, Safyre¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shael shift uncomfortably. Only Anriq didn¡¯t react. Glancing at the bard, I threw him an apologetic look. ¡°I won¡¯t pretend not to be disappointed,¡± he whispered, ¡°but I understand.¡± Grateful for his support, I turned back to Adriel and Safyre. ¡°I have one condition, though.¡± The lich¡¯s face shuttered. ¡°And that is?¡± ¡°We do it on my timetable.¡± ¡°Your timetable?¡± Safyre asked, puzzled. ¡°Nine days. That¡¯s how long I will allow us.¡± Adriel grimaced. ¡°Nine days will be tight, but at a push, I can have the golems ready in that time.¡± I shook my head. ¡°You misunderstand. In nine days time, I expect the Forerunners to own this sector. That means, the stygians must be vanquished by day eight at the latest. Which in turn implies the possessed must be rehomed before then.¡± Palpable silence. ¡°Impossible,¡± Adriel rasped. ¡°No. Merely difficult.¡± The lich made to speak again, but Safyre laid a restraining hand on her. ¡°Nine days,¡± the aetherist said carefully. ¡°That¡¯s an oddly specific number. Is there a reason for it.¡± I nodded. ¡°By my calculation, it¡¯s the minimum time to get everything done.¡± Adriel frowned. ¡°You have a plan in mind then?¡± ¡°I do,¡± I replied, and began to outline it step by step¡­ ? ? ? Safyre inhaled sharply when I was done. ¡°That¡¯s a bold plan,¡± she murmured. ¡°But doable,¡± I pointed out. Not answering, the aetherist glanced at Adriel who nodded slowly. ¡°It is workable, there¡¯s no denying that, but only if we can get all the pieces in place. And¡ª¡± she sighed¡ª¡°although I shudder at the speed with which you want to move, I can understand your desire for haste.¡± I leaned forward, more relieved than I cared to admit by her support. ¡°Then you¡¯ll be able to complete the golems in seven days? That was the only part I wasn¡¯t certain about.¡± Adriel¡¯s lips thinned unhappily. ¡°I can. The possessed¡¯s bodies won¡¯t be pretty, but they¡¯ll be functional. And I¡¯ll need help operating the Rings.¡± I nodded. ¡°The Pack elders can assist with that.¡± I glanced around at the others. ¡°Then, are we agreed?¡± One by one, they nodded. ¡°Excellent,¡± I said, rising to my feet. ¡°Then see to your preparations. In one hour, we begin our campaign against the stygians.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Shael asked, as I made my way to the far end of the cavern. ¡°To see to my progression. You should address yours as well,¡± I replied without looking back. ¡°Come, Ghost, we have a few things to discuss.¡± ? ? ? After finding a comfortable spot to sit, I decided to complete the pyre wolf¡¯s advancement first. The choices we faced when it came to my familiar were easier ones. ¡°Shall we begin?¡± ¡°Yes, Prime,¡± Ghost replied, and without further ado, I called up her Class upgrade interface. Assessing familiar¡¯s suitability for a Class upgrade... Class points available: 6. Familiar¡¯s rank: 9. Upgrade requirements met. Your familiar may advance her Class to rank 10 at this time by improving an existing Class benefit or by selecting a new one. Do you wish to proceed? Willing my response to the Game, I waited for the list of available benefits to appear. I only skimmed through the new ones¡ªnone was especially appealing and besides now was the time for consolidation, not further development¡ªand focused on the existing ones. 6 of 7 existing Class benefits are upgradable. Existing benefits that may be upgraded: born again II, manifest, astral bite, diresight, direshield, and mist-thin. Existing benefits not available for upgrade: draining bite II. Choose Ghost¡¯s rank 10 Class benefit now. ¡°What shall we start with?¡± I asked with a small smile, knowing full well what her answer would be. ¡°Manifest!¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± I murmured, and relayed her answer to the Adjudicator. You have upgraded Ghost¡¯s manifest ability to adept manifest. The third tier of this ability allows your familiar to leave her spirit vessel and take shape as an adept stygian pyre wolf. When in this form, Ghost gains the trait: voidborn. Ghost is a being of both fire and the void. The second tier of this ability granted your familiar access to the fire woven into her being, this tier does the same for the stygian half of herself, granting her +50% nether resistance, +50% damage with all necrotic-based attacks, and the special manifest variant: necrotic wake. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. When Ghost emerges in the physical plane using necrotic wake, she will leave a trail of nether behind her. The mist column will have a maximum length of 10 yards, will persist for 1 minute, and will have a nether toxicity of the same tier as Ghost¡¯s stygian claws skill. Adept manifest, additionally, increases the distance from her spirit vessel that your familiar may materialize to 20 yards. Note: there is no restriction on unmanifesting. Ghost may disassociate no matter how far she is from Cloak of the Reach. Adept manifest consumes psi or mana, and it can be upgraded with Class points. When using necrotic wake, its activation time is average. This is a Class ability and does not occupy any ability slots. Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 5. Ghost¡¯s Class has advanced to rank 10. Ghost¡¯s physical form has changed to that of an adept stygian pyre wolf. ¡°Ah,¡± I exclaimed, both pleased and disappointed by the changes wrought by the new manifest variant. On the one hand, the pyre wolf¡¯s nether resistance had become even higher than my own¡ªher nether damage reduction was lower though¡ªand that would stand her in good stead over the next few days. On the other hand, while necrotic wake would likely perform excellently against players, it would be of no use against the void¡¯s creatures. ¡°How do you feel?¡± I asked. ¡°Better,¡± she said, examining her new paws and coat. ¡°And both tougher and meaner.¡± I smiled. ¡°You¡¯re definitely all those things.¡± Last time, it had been Ghost¡¯s teeth and coat that had changed. This time it was her claws that grew. Her coat had also been altered, but only subtly, its red gleam darkening a touch. ¡°Ready to go again?¡± I asked when she was done examining herself. Her eyes twinkled. ¡°Yes!¡± Closing my eyes, I called upon the Adjudicator again. ? ? ? You have upgraded Ghost¡¯s mist-thin ability to improved mist-thin. The second tier of this ability allows your familiar to reduce the toxicity of any free-floating nether in a 20 yard radius by 2 tiers. You and Ghost have 55 of 65 Magic ability slots remaining. You have upgraded Ghost¡¯s direshield ability to fortified direshield. This variant is a significant improvement over its lower tiered counterparts and grants your familiar access to her offensive psi abilities without compromising her mental defense. When fortified direshield is active, only one half of Ghost¡¯s psi pool is used to shield her mind. The other half remains available to her for psicasting. This is a Class ability and does not occupy any ability slots. Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 3. Ghost¡¯s Class has advanced to rank 12. After due deliberation, Ghost and I had decided not to upgrade diresight and astral bite, and instead to focus on her defensive abilities: mist-thin and direshield. Direshield, in particular, was necessary considering that in the not-too-distant future we¡¯d be tackling a psionic Power, namely the young void tree. A tier three mental defense would likely still not shield Ghost from the Power, but at the very least it would provide her with a greater degree of protection. Her remaining points we saved for future use. ¡°Now, let¡¯s do me,¡± I murmured, turning my attention to my own player progression. Thanks to the nagas, I had gained one Class point and nine attribute points. And when it came to the matter of my Class there was little to ponder. Void thief had to be advanced. Signaling my intent to do so to the Game, I waited patiently for the Adjudicator¡¯s response. Commencing Class upgrade¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Upgrade halted! Urgh. Was something wrong? Did I not fulfill the requirements somehow? But before my worry could set in, another message unfurled in my mind. There are 3 elite tier variants available for the void thief ability. Your Class upgrade cannot proceed until you select one. Option 1: mirror armor. This variant causes your void armor to reflect a percentage of any damage absorbed back onto the caster. Option 2: void aura. This variant expands the range of your void armor, allowing it to protect any allies in close proximity. Option 3: void thief extraordinaire. This variant allows your void armor to effect multiple thefts simultaneously. Choose your tier 5 void thief variant now. ¡°Well,¡± I thought, rocking back. ¡°This is a surprise.¡± For the first time, the Game was giving me a choice when it came to how I upgraded my Class ability¡ªand it was a difficult one too. All three variants on offer were good. Naturally, I was drawn to the extraordinaire variant the most. Void thief¡¯s biggest handicap had always been that it only worked against a single spell. By allowing me to steal¡ªand negate¡ªmultiple spells simultaneously, extraordinaire addressed that weakness in the best possible way. Void aura was nice as well, seeing that it afforded my allies the same level of protection as me, and if I was the stand-and-fight type, I¡¯d have no hesitation in choosing it. However, I moved around the battlefield too extensively for the variant to be an option. Then, too, there was also the possibility that the aura itself would compromise my vanish ability by warning my foes when I was close to my allies. Mirror armor confused me initially. On first glance, what the variant did appeared to be no different from the tier four void thief effect, redirect. But after reading the Game¡¯s wording a second time, I realized my mistake. Mirror armor did not just reflect or redirect damage from a successfully stolen spell, it reflected any damage absorbed. That meant from the moment a foe attacked me with magic, they¡¯d been feeling the effects of their own spell! ¡°Yikes,¡± I muttered, running a hand through my hair. I wanted both mirror armor and void thief extraordinaire. But I couldn¡¯t have both. So, which do I choose? Being able to reflect damage meant I could conceivably kill my foes by merely letting them attack me. But I¡¯d still have to survive their hits first. And that meant investing heavily in Magic to strengthen my void armor. I didn¡¯t want to do that, of course. Mind and Dexterity was where the bulk of my attribute points had to go, otherwise my other abilities¡ªbackstab, shadow blink, and so on¡ªwould fall behind. Void thief extraordinaire, on the other hand, was not as dependent on the size of my mana pool. Once I stole the spells I wanted, I could avoid further hits, letting me conserve my void armor with not too much effort. And of course, multiple thefts meant multiple new methods of attacking. Hells, if I stole enough spells, I could conceivably out-cast some mages! Another Game message flashed for attention, a not-so-subtle reminder that the Adjudicator was waiting on my decision. Choose your tier 5 void thief variant now. ¡°Variant three it is,¡± I whispered, willing my choice to the Game. Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 0. Congratulations, Michael, your voidstealer Class has advanced to rank 14! You have upgraded your void thief ability to void thief extraordinaire. The elite tier of this ability makes it easier for you to filch knowledge from your foes by reducing the damage your void armor needs to sustain for a theft from 20% to 10%. The range of hostile spells that can be stolen has also expanded to include trigger-cast spells and wards. Additionally, the memory capacity of your void armor has improved, allowing you to remember any stolen knowledge for 48 hours instead of 16. Void thief extraordinaire also increases the number of spells you can steal and retain knowledge to 3. ¡°Three spells,¡± I marveled. ¡°And retained for two whole days too!¡± I had been anticipating an incremental increase to both aspects of the ability, but I¡¯d forgotten that the step up from tier four to five was a big one¡ªas was the accompanying jump in spell power. Still grinning, I turned my attention to my other abilities. Unfortunately, I had less to smile about when it came to them. None were ready for upgrade to tier five yet. My two-weapon fighting had still not reached rank twenty so whirlwind couldn¡¯t be improved, and while I had a few mental abilities that could be advanced, I lacked the necessary Mind ability slots for that. A state of affairs I should correct. Reaching out to the Adjudicator, I communicated my intent. Your Mind has increased to rank 135. Other modifiers: +12 from items. Available ability slots: 9. I still didn¡¯t have enough Mind ability slots for another elite ability, but in only three more levels I would, and for now that had to suffice. My progression completed, I moved on to my next chore: reading the den chief¡¯s pamphlet. Chapter 527: A Failure to Conform The thieves¡¯ pamphlet was a quick read. It contained a rundown of the underworld¡¯s structures, its officers, and the guild¡¯s code of conduct, which unsurprisingly, was not very stringent, and by the end, I could not claim to have learned much of value. Importantly, though, my perusal triggered a response from the game. You have completed the task: The Seedy Side of Life! You have finished your induction into the thieves¡¯ guild and have been designated a journeyman rogue by den chief Dinara. By completing this task, you have aligned yourself with the underworld, an organization notorious for being fiercely independent and for its disregard of the rule of law. As such, your new House has gained an affinity for renegades, outcasts, and criminals. Accepting these sorts of individuals as followers will deepen your Wolf Mark in future. Note, the converse applies as well. Turning those in good standing with the established order into followers will weaken your Wolf Mark. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle after reading the task completion message. Renegades, outcasts, and criminals, huh? These were terms that could be readily applied to the Forerunners. Over half of our player-members could be labeled as such, the only exceptions being Terence, Teresa, and Shael¡ªalthough Shael¡¯s designation was questionable. The descriptors fit many of the non-players in the faction too. Algar and the other Bane Wolves were exiles from New Haven, while Regus and the wolfmen¡ªformer possessed and scions all¡ªwere at best renegades, and at worst, criminals. Hells, both my current followers¡ªNyra and Ceruvax¡ªwere convicted criminals. I shook my head ruefully. We truly are a bunch of rebels, aren¡¯t we? And somehow, I doubted I was going to have much trouble finding new followers who fit the bill. Still smiling, I returned the pamphlet to my backpack and rose to my feet. My chores were done, and now it was time to return to the others. We had a Power to kill. ? ? ? I found my companions sitting and eating around a campfire fueled by hot stones and small pieces of logs. ¡°Where¡¯d you get the wood from?¡± I asked curiously. ¡°Brought it with us,¡± Anriq replied laconically. ¡°We were expecting to be here the whole day,¡± Safyre added. ¡°Want some?¡± she asked, holding out a ration. Accepting the morsel, I sat down beside her. From across the fire, Adriel tossed me something else. You have acquired a Forerunner faction token. This item is soulbound, and cannot be stolen, traded, or lost, even upon death. Hidden properties: this item¡¯s faction ID is 0001. Note, only a faction¡¯s members are able to discern its token¡¯s hidden properties. I looked at the lich in surprise. ¡°That was fast.¡± She shrugged. ¡°The work was simple enough to perform.¡± She gestured to the others. ¡°Everyone already has theirs.¡± A pause. ¡°Well, everyone except Safyre.¡± I nodded in response. As a forsworn, the aetherist couldn¡¯t use any soulbound items. Lowering my gaze, I studied the granite coin in my hand. A wolf¡¯s head been etched onto its surface in sharp glittering black lines that looked remarkably like¡ª I turned back to Adriel with a frown. ¡°A stygian wolf? That¡¯s the symbol you chose?¡± She smiled. ¡°It seemed appropriate given¡ª¡± her gaze darted meaningfully from Ghost to our surroundings¡ª¡°everything.¡± I sighed. First the bane wolves, now the Forerunners. It seemed there was no escaping my association with Wolf. Ghost chuckled in my mind. ¡°But you knew that already, didn¡¯t you?¡± Deciding to let the matter be, I changed the topic. ¡°Everyone ready?¡± I asked, scanning their faces. ¡°As ready as we can be considering we don¡¯t know how you intend on bringing down the overlord,¡± Safyre responded dryly. ¡°I have a strategy in mind,¡± I replied. ¡°But before I get into it, let¡¯s review what we know about the creatures.¡± I glanced to my left. ¡°Shael, let¡¯s start with you.¡± His response was not slow in coming. ¡°Sorry. Never heard of them before today.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve nothing to contribute either,¡± Anriq added. ¡°Everything I learned about the stygians, I learned from Safyre.¡± I turned to my right. ¡°Saf?¡± The aetherist sighed. ¡°What I know is little enough. The overlords are slow, easy to outrun, and are usually employed against defensive structures. Their main attack is the blob of nether spell.¡± Her eyes darted to mine. ¡°But you already know more about it than I do.¡± I grimaced. ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s true. My knowledge was hard come by too.¡± In fact, I¡¯d almost died as a result of the spell. ¡°The blob spell,¡± I explained to the others, ¡°is a composite one with two stages: noxious fumes and necrotic spikes. Both can be deadly.¡± Expanding further, I went on to describe both stages in as much detail as I could. ¡°That spell sounds¡­ nasty,¡± Shael said when I was done. ¡°And impossible to avoid,¡± Anriq added, before shifting his regard to Safyre again. ¡°You said ¡®main attack.¡¯ What else should we watch out for from the overlord?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they have other spells,¡± Safyre answered. ¡°But the nether blob is the only one I¡¯ve heard of.¡± She threw me a questioning look. ¡°It was the only spell it used against me,¡± I confirmed. Realizing that I¡¯d reached the limit of what I knew, I turned to the only member of the party who¡¯d yet to contribute anything. ¡°Anything to add, Adriel?¡± The lich chuckled dryly. ¡°My information may be a little out of date. But like Safyre, I¡¯ve only ever heard of the overlords using one spell: blobs of nether.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Given the creatures¡¯ nature and purpose, though, that¡¯s not surprising. They don¡¯t need any other forms of attack.¡± I frowned. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°In my day, the overlords only appeared in a sector during the final stages of the void¡¯s takeover,¡± she replied. ¡°Their purpose was always twofold. Firstly, to flatten any remaining player structures still standing, and secondly, to drastically increase the nether toxicity in the region. Usually, by the time an overlord arrived, it was already too late to repel the stygians. But on the rare occasion a House did manage to push them back, the overlords invariably escaped death.¡± Anriq scratched his chin. ¡°How¡¯s that possible? As slow as the creatures are, I would have thought they¡¯d be easy to run down.¡± The lich barked a laugh. ¡°You¡¯d think that, wouldn¡¯t you? But nothing could be further from the truth. An overlord threatened will simply float upward, placing itself beyond the reach of most players. From up high, its blob spells remain devastating. Attacks launched from the ground on the other hand¡­ well, I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t come as a surprise to learn that most fall short of their target.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. My frown deepened. ¡°No one¡¯s killed an overlord then?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± Adriel said primly. ¡°A few Houses have. But it required concerted effort to do so.¡± I leaned forward. ¡°How did they do it?¡± She laughed harshly. ¡°With great difficulty. The overlords have no eyes or limbs to disable. And the tentacles beneath them? They serve no purpose other than anchoring the creature to the ground.¡± ¡°But the thing is so big,¡± Anriq protested. Surely it must be vulnerable somewhere!¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± Adriel said flatly. ¡°An overlord¡¯s entire body is covered by a hardened outer shell¡ªlike a turtle¡¯s, only thicker, much thicker. Nor do the creatures feed, so they have no need of mouths either.¡± ¡°Physical attacks are out then,¡± I murmured. Adriel shot me a shrewd look. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of using psi against it, aren¡¯t you?¡± I nodded. ¡°Well, that might not work as well as you think,¡± she replied. ¡°An overlord lacks a nervous system.¡± My brows furrowed. ¡°Why would it need one?¡± Adriel asked rhetorically. ¡°It has no limbs, and every inch of it is covered in nearly impenetrable hide armor.¡± ¡°What about its mind?¡± Safyre asked quietly. ¡°That I¡¯m less certain about,¡± Adriel admitted. ¡°So how did those Houses you mentioned do it?¡± Shael asked. ¡°By splitting the overlord open,¡± the lich replied grimly. ¡°It took time as you can imagine. Cracking an overlord¡¯s shell requires repeated blows to the same spot¡ªwhich is not easy when the damn thing is flying a few hundred feet above you.¡± I sat back. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll admit taking down the overlord might be a tad harder than I expected.¡± Laughter followed, if of the uneasy type. ¡°I still think it can be done, though.¡± I pursed my lips as I ran through the options. ¡°What if we¡­¡± ? ? ? Ghost has unmanifested. A little later, our small party¡ªminus Ghost¡ªwas back on the surface. We had a plan of attack, if not one, everyone entirely bought. Still, I¡¯d been convincing enough that they all thought it was worth a shot. In preparation, I¡¯d cast my buffs, replenished my mana, and loaded my void armor with two powerful spells. You have cast enhanced reflexes, load controller, and trigger-cast quick mend. You have acquired the tier 5 spell, furious storm (stolen), and the tier 6 spell, noxious vapors (stolen), and will retain memory of them for the next 2 days. You have successfully stored the furious storm spell in the ring, mage¡¯s surprise. More importantly, though, our two elites had painstakingly buffed every member of the party. Their effect was tangible and left me buzzing with anticipation. Adriel has cast undead¡¯s champion (+100% damage inflicted) and warrior¡¯s boon on you (+20 to all physical attributes). Safyre has cast aether grace (+50% chance physical evasion) and aether protection on you (+50% reduced nether damage). The party was sheltering inside a veil of concealment cast by Adriel¡ªno purifying dome was in place as yet¡ªand thus far, the stygians, some five hundred yards away, were unaware of our presence. ¡°Everyone ready?¡± I whispered, surveying the others. Shael, Adriel, and Safyre nodded. Anriq, though, stepped forward, a small object in the palm of his hand. ¡°Before we start, you should have this back.¡± Glancing down, I saw it was the Seeking Eye of Sylvana. ¡°I don¡¯t need it anymore,¡± he explained. His look turned sheepish. ¡°I know you think we can do this, but I¡¯m less certain we¡¯ll all come out the other end alive.¡± Solemnly, I took the proffered item. ¡°Follow the plan and everyone will be alright,¡± I said, projecting as much confidence as I could as I addressed the group at large. ¡°We will,¡± Safyre replied on everyone¡¯s behalf. ¡°Then let¡¯s not waste further time.¡± Drawing stamina, I cloaked myself. You have cast vanish. You are invisible. Duration: 5 minutes. ¡°Here I go,¡± I said for the others¡¯ benefit before turning about and cutting across the barren plain. My destination? The nether portal and the hovering overlord. ? ? ? The stygian Power had taken up position over the portal itself. Hanging high above, it discharged a blob groundward every so often, ratcheting up the nether toxicity in the vicinity to tier twenty-four. The void tree, overlord, or whatever was in charge of the stygians, had clearly changed tactics. No longer did the void seem interested in ambushing us, now it appeared content to simply besiege the portal. We couldn¡¯t afford to let the status quo stand, though. Not because the stygians had us trapped in the sector¡ªthey didn¡¯t¡ªbut because retrieving the Rings and the Pack were crucial to the rest of my plan. And of course, by killing the overlord, we would not only weaken the stygians, we¡¯d strengthened our own side too. The nether toxicity at your current location has increased to tier 24! Damage negated by void armor. I drew to a halt the moment I entered the enormous plume of dense yellow surrounding the gate. Two things concerned me. The second stage of the nether blob spell being one and the overlord the other. The last time I¡¯d encountered the Power my stealth had been insufficient to conceal me from its gaze¡ªor whatever means it used to perceive its surroundings. This time, though, my sneaking was elite-ranked¡ªand I had vanish, too. Would they suffice? Only one way to find out. Moving haltingly, I advanced further into the near-solid sludge of the nether. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. Tense, alert, and with one wary eye on the incoming messages and the other on the floating overlord, I crept closer to the nether portal. Despite my wariness, though, the Game alerts remained reassuringly consistent. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. ¡­ ¡­ So far so good, I thought. I was already thirty paces into the plume and about as deep as I thought I needed to go. The overlord hung about six hundred feet in the air, beyond the range of even my shadow blink. On this excursion, though, it was not my target. You have found an anomaly! You have failed a Perception check. Anomaly unidentified. Mid-step, I froze. Despite the Perception failure, I knew what had to be waiting ahead. Given where I was, it could be only one thing. A necrotic spike. Clenching my teeth, I lowered my foot directly onto where I suspected it lay. A necrotic spike has been activated! Damage negated by void armor. Logically, I¡¯d known the ebon shard would not be able to injure me, but rationality counted for little when it came to remembered-pain, and I had been unable to contain my trepidation. See, I told myself, it doesn¡¯t hurt. Your defenses are better this time around. Forcing myself to relax, I resumed my advance. I managed only a single step, though, before motion drew my attention. I glanced up. The overlord had started spinning on its axis. I frowned. Had it sensed the spike¡¯s activation? Probably. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. But despite being able to sense something amiss, the stygian Power was still unable to pierce my stealth. Comforted by that fact, I took another step. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s wise to keep going?¡± Ghost asked quietly from her shelter inside the Cloak. It was not just the overlord that worried her, I knew. It was the mist too. A nether toxicity of tier twenty-four was no joke, and staving off its effects was draining my void armor fast. ¡°Maybe not wise,¡± I replied. ¡°But necessary.¡± Ghost had a point though. I had to speed things up. Quickening my pace, I triggered another spike. The overlord spun faster. Ignoring the creature¡¯s reaction, I found and deliberately stepped onto a third ebon shard. Void thief triggered! You have acquired the spell, necrotic spike (stolen), from an unknown entity and will retain memory of it for the next 2 days. Necrotic spike (stolen) is a tier 6 spell that, when triggered by a hostile, will drain 5% of the target¡¯s health. The damage inflicted is magical in nature and will bypass all physical defenses and armor. The spikes will remain manifested for 5 minutes before dissipating. I smiled in pleasure. I¡¯d completed another of my goals. The first one¡ªverifying the ability of my stealth to hold up against the overlord¡¯s scrutiny¡ªwas also a success. I spared the creature another glance. The overlord¡¯s tentacles were wriggling vigorously. Clearly, it was agitated. My grin widened. No doubt its inability to pinpoint me was driving the Power more than a little crazy. ¡°Objective one and two completed,¡± I reported over the farspeaker link. ¡°It¡¯s time to move onto objective three.¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready,¡± Safyre replied. I drew psi. ¡°Alright, here¡ª¡± I broke off as the last thing I expected happened. ¡°Michael?¡± Safyre asked worriedly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the portal,¡± I replied absently, my gaze fixed on the luminous doorway in the distance. ¡°It¡¯s opening.¡± Chapter 528: Out the Gateway There was little doubt in my mind what was happening. The wolves were coming. Why the Pack would do something so foolish, I had no idea, but it was the only thing that made sense. And unfortunately, there was no time to stop them. The gateway was already spilling out its first passenger. A familiar shape stepped out. It was not a wolf, though. ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered. ¡°Who is it?¡± Anriq demanded. ¡°It¡¯s Duggar, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ve got to stop him. Doesn¡¯t he know¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s a naga,¡± I interjected. Startled silence. I sympathized with his reaction. I¡¯d been struck speechless for a bit myself. The void could not use nether portals. This was an intractable truth of the Game. The Adjudicator himself protected the gateways. So, what was a stygian doing stepping through one? ¡°Did you say a naga?¡± Safyre asked after a protracted silence. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied, my gaze fixed on the giant serpent as it began to scan the mists¡ªin search of me, I suspected. The gate flickered again. My expression tightened. ¡°Make that two nagas. Another is coming through.¡± Stygians emerging through the gateway was almost as bad as the idea of the Pack doing so. It could destroy all my carefully laid plans. What if an entire nest worth of nether creatures came through? What then? My face hardened. You¡¯ll deal with it. Just like always. Eyes peeled on the gateway, I watched and waited. But as the seconds ticked by and no more stygians emerged, my tension eased a little. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s just the two for now,¡± I reported back. ¡°Do you know how they are doing this, Saf?¡± ¡°Hang on,¡± she replied, sounding harried. ¡°Adriel and I are discussing the situation.¡± But I couldn¡¯t afford to delay any further. It couldn¡¯t be happenstance that it was nagas that had emerged from the gate. Suspecting what the two elites were about, I began my retreat, backstepping through the plume while my gaze remained firmly fixed on the pair. A level 235 stygian naga has cast cloying nether. You have passed a magical resistance check! Your void armor has repelled your foe¡¯s attack. I grimaced. The Game message confirmed my suspicions. The elites were trying to reveal me. I¡¯d evaded their first attempt, but I suspected many more were on the way. It was only a matter of time before I was discovered. ¡°I¡¯m moving on to phase three,¡± I informed the others. ¡°But we don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with the portal,¡± Safyre protested. ¡°It might be better to¡ª¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know, but we can both guess,¡± I said, cutting her off as I exited the plume. The nether toxicity at your current location has decreased to 4. ¡°It has to be the ¡®unidentified stygian infestation¡¯ that¡¯s responsible,¡± I went on. ¡°By my estimate, it¡¯ll take the Game another hour to clear out the infection. And who knows how many more stygians will have come through by then? If we¡¯re going to do this, it¡¯s better if we move now.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Safyre conceded reluctantly. ¡°Go ahead, do what you have to. We¡¯ll be ready.¡± ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± I replied. Inhaling deeply, I let the shadows around me dissipate and dispelled vanish. Multiple hostile entities have detected you. You are no longer hidden. The reaction was immediate. The entire flock of flying serpents launched themselves from the overlord and set off in pursuit. The two nagas spun to face me as well¡ªbut neither they nor the overlord stirred from the portal. That¡¯s alright, I thought, setting off in a sprint. We¡¯ll take care of them later. ? ? ? I didn¡¯t flee directly toward the party. Instead, I raced south, away from the river and any potential reinforcements coming from the stygian nest in the far north. And I wasn¡¯t exactly fleeing either. Two magic missiles sailed in from behind. Cutting left, I dodged the first, then threw myself forward and out of the way of the second.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. You have evaded a voidball. You have evaded a voidball. Rolling back to my feet, I glanced over my shoulder. The hundred-odd flying serpents that had set off in pursuit were closing fast, but more importantly, the distance between me and the overlord had opened up appreciably. It was time to get started. Releasing the weave of psi I held ready, I flung it upward. You have cast mass puppet. The strands of my will crashed into the flock of serpents, and delving into the minds of the twenty targets I¡¯d chosen at random, swiftly overrode their defenses. You have charmed 19 of 20 targets for 30 seconds. I smiled toothily at the spell¡¯s near-perfect success. Behind me, I sensed my new minions falter, their wingbeats slowing. ¡°Attack!¡± I shouted, my mental command echoing loudly in their minds. As one, the eighteen flying serpents so-ordered dove at their former companions. Serpent attacked serpent, raking each other with tooth and claw. Not all the stygians became embroiled in the impromptu airborne battle, though. Fully a third continued their attacking dives, barreling straight toward me. But I paid them no heed. Drawing stamina, I cloaked myself anew. You have cast vanish. You are invisible. Duration: 5 minutes. You are hidden. In a flurry of angry hisses and furiously flapping wings, the freefalling serpents pulled out of their dives while they tried in vain to relocate me. Behind them, chaos reigned. And all but unnoticed in the confusion, a lone form flapped west. The nineteenth serpent. The one I had given an altogether different order. I watched it go, a small smile on my face. Then, I stole away myself and headed back to the party. ? ? ? Your minion has died. Your minion has died. ¡­ ¡­ Hopelessly outmatched, the bespelled serpents died one by one, until only the lucky nineteenth remained. Then it, too, slipped the leash. You have lost control over a level 151 flying serpent. The stygian¡¯s escape didn¡¯t bother me, though. Its fate was already sealed. Behind me, the other flying serpents had given up their chase and had returned to the overlord. And from what I could tell, the nagas had also called off their search. Excellent, I thought. All in all, things had gone even better than I had any right to hope for, especially given the nagas¡¯ unexpected arrival. Approaching the spot where I knew the party was encamped, I slowed my steps. The cloak Adriel had woven around the group was near-prefect, and it was only when I was almost on top of the spell¡¯s outer edge that I perceived it. You have passed a Perception check! You have pierced a veil of darkness. An illusion has been lifted. Paying the Game message no heed, I continued my advance. You have entered a tier 6 concealment field. All entities within this field are hidden from outside detection. Slipping into Adriel¡¯s veil, I sensed five mindglows¡ªnot four. Adriel. Safyre. Anriq. Shael. And the flying serpent I¡¯d sent the party¡¯s way. ¡°Any problems?¡± I asked lightly. Adriel glanced over her shoulder and away from the stygian she and Safyre were keeping contained with powerful spells. ¡°Nothing worth mentioning,¡± she replied. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°None if you discount the nagas¡¯ appearance.¡± Looking behind me at the creatures in question, I saw that they remained at the portal. Nor had any further stygians emerged from the gateway to join them. That¡¯s puzzling, I thought, my brows furrowing in consternation. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shael asked. ¡°The void hasn¡¯t sent anything else through the portal,¡± I replied. He pursed his lips. ¡°Maybe they can¡¯t?¡± he suggested. I shrugged. ¡°Hells, if I know.¡± Dismissing the matter, I strode forward and joined the circle the others had formed around the immobilized serpent. Its eyes were glazed over, and its wings hung listlessly. ¡°You¡¯ve stunned it?¡± I guessed. Safyre nodded. ¡°Stunned. Frozen. Petrified. You name it, we did it. You will have plenty of time.¡± I nodded in silent appreciation. ¡°You think your ruse worked?¡± Anriq asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted. ¡°But none of the other stygians reacted when it fled, so maybe.¡± Objective three had been to capture one of the flying snakes alive, of course. But not just that. I¡¯d deemed it equally important that we do it unnoticed. The ploy we¡¯d devised might have been overly complicated, but neither Safyre nor Adriel had been able to hazard a guess as to the overlord¡¯s level of intelligence. If the creature was like the harbinger, then it might be as smart as a player. That being the case, the overlord would likely have noticed something amiss if I simply charmed a flying snake and sent it to a remote location. And given the overlord¡¯s behavior to date, I was certain that at the very least it had a rudimentary level of cunning. Which was why I¡¯d decided to err on the side of caution. ¡°Well, go on,¡± Adriel said, waving me forward. ¡°Enslave it already.¡± Rolling my eyes at her impatience, I stepped past the others and toward my prize. ? ? ? You have cast enslave. You have successfully dominated a level 151 flying serpent. Duration: permanent until death. Blood-binding the stygian was child¡¯s play. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± I gasped, staggering away from the creature. ¡°You can dispel your spells now. It¡¯s not going anywhere.¡± ¡°You sure about that?¡± Safyre asked, her gaze darting between me and the stygian. I nodded wearily, and a moment later, a litany of Game messages scrolled through my vision. Your blood-bound slave is no longer stunned. Your blood-bound slave is no longer petrified. Your ¡­ ¡­ The flying serpent stiffened the second the last of the debuffs fell away. Furling its wings, it arched its neck and reared up ominously. ¡°Stop!¡± I barked. The creature froze. ¡°Impressive,¡± Adriel murmured. ¡°Down,¡± I commanded, staying focused on the stygian. Its eyes swimming with some unidentifiable emotion¡ªhate, most likely¡ªthe flying serpent prostrated itself on the ground. ¡°This might just work, after all,¡± Safyre whispered in an aside to Adriel. ¡°It¡¯s a crazy plan nonetheless,¡± Adriel replied grumpily. Ignoring the pair, I advanced on the flying serpent and laid my hand on its snout. Remaining stock still, the stygian didn¡¯t so much as flinch. ¡°Up,¡± I ordered, projecting the command mentally. No reaction. ¡°UP,¡± I demanded, louder and more insistently. Still no response. ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered. ¡°It won¡¯t respond to telepathic commands.¡± ¡°Inconvenient,¡± Adriel said, ¡°but not an insurmountable problem.¡± I nodded in agreement. ¡°We¡¯re going ahead, then?¡± Anriq asked. Turning about, I surveyed the group. ¡°We are,¡± I confirmed. My gaze darted to the luminous doorway in the distance. ¡°But only after the Game clears out the infestation on the portal. I don¡¯t want the stygians to spring any more surprises upon us. In the meantime, let¡¯s return to the cave.¡± The werewolf¡¯s eyes slid to the flying serpent. ¡°What about that?¡± ¡°It comes with us, of course.¡± I smiled. ¡°Consider it part of the team from here on.¡± Chapter 529: Taking the High Road The next hour passed quickly. Making good use of the time, I experimented with the flying serpent, getting a feel for where the limits of its understanding lay. Anything beyond the most basic of commands was beyond the creature¡¯s ability to comprehend. Still, it understood enough that I was certain I could get it to do what was needed. The others watched me with a mixture of amusement and apprehension. But despite Adriel¡¯s earlier remarks, I sensed their confidence growing as the hour passed. They were starting to believe¡ªas I did¡ªthat we could do this. That we could truly slay the overlord. And beyond that, vanquish the void tree itself. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± I said, rising to my feet and popping a crystal. You have activated a scent concealment crystal. The others nodded solemnly. Bounding forward, I leapt onto the serpent¡¯s back. While my perch was not exactly comfortable, the creature had grown used to my weight and did not protest. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you to begin your assault before starting my own approach,¡± I said to Adriel and Safyre. In the midst of a casting, the lich nodded absently. ¡°Good luck,¡± Safyre added. ¡°To you as well,¡± I replied, drawing stamina in readiness. Adriel has created a ley line to a secondary location in sector 18,240. You have cast vanish. ¡°Forward,¡± I whispered, tightening my grip as the serpent snaked forward. The others, watching silently, waved me on as the flying serpent¡ªalone and unaccompanied by all appearances¡ªreturned to the mist-filled world above. Transfer through portal commencing¡­ ¡­ ¡­ ? ? ? Passage completed! The moment we passed through the luminous doorway, the flying serpent snapped open its wings, the reaction likely an instinctive one to finding itself midair and three hundred feet above ground. ¡°Wow,¡± I murmured, luxuriating in the sensation of flying, even if it was in a nether-filled sky. ¡°It worked?¡± Safyre asked. ¡°It did,¡± I laughed. ¡°I¡¯m flying!¡± ¡°Hmpf,¡± Ghost groused from inside the Cloak. ¡°I don¡¯t see what the big deal is. This looks dangerous.¡± I chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous you can¡¯t experience this for yourself,¡± I retorted as the stygian glided through the air, borne upward by unseen air currents. ¡°Adriel wants to know if there are any stygians about?¡± Shael asked in a tone devoid of humor. This, I gathered, was the bard¡¯s first major battle and dread and anticipation filled his mindvoice in equal measure. Before responding, I scanned the skies a second time, verifying what I¡¯d already ascertained. We were alone. By design, Adriel¡¯s portal had deposited us five miles south of the nether portal, far enough away that neither the overlord nor its escorts could spot the lone serpent winging through the air. ¡°There¡¯s nothing nearby,¡± I confirmed. ¡°Good,¡± Safyre replied. ¡°Then we¡¯ll begin.¡± Saying nothing, I angled my mount northward, using a combination of words and gestures to convey my instructions. The entire time, I kept my gaze fixed on the ground, watching and waiting. A few seconds later, an expectant glimmer appeared¡ªabout three miles south of the overlord and just outside of what I judged to be the limit of the Power¡¯s awareness. ¡°I see you,¡± I murmured as the party emerged through the portal. They didn¡¯t respond, but I saw their defenses go up¡ªstarting with Adriel¡¯s black dome, followed by Safyre¡¯s purifying field. My gaze flickered back north. ¡°No movement from the stygians yet,¡± I reported. ¡°When should I begin?¡± Shael asked anxiously. ¡°As soon as Adriel and Safyre give you the word,¡± I replied. ¡°Go,¡± Safyre ordered. ¡°We¡¯re ready.¡± The bard did not respond verbally, but a second later, a strange sound filled the air. The notes of a song. And one undoubtedly foreign to the stygians. Shael has begun playing Shaten¡¯s Call to War. You have been inspired (+15% to all attributes). Duration: infinite. The buff will remain in effect as long as the song can be heard. Note, this song cannot be resisted. All entities who hear it will be affected. Allies will be inspired, and enemies will demoralized (-15% to all attributes). If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The buff conferred by Shael¡¯s song was nice, but that was not its true purpose. The music itself was. My gaze drifted back to the nether portal. A dozen flying serpents had already taken flight, leaving their perch on the overlord. The rest of the flock were not far behind either. I smiled. The stygians had taken the bait. ¡°You have incoming,¡± I reported. ¡°A hundred flying serpents, maybe.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll handle it,¡± Safyre said. ¡°Just make sure you stick to their outskirts. We don¡¯t want to strike you by accident.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± I replied confidently and urged my mount onward. We had a battle to join. ? ? ? The flying serpents swooped down on the party from up high. They uttered no sounds. Not even an errant hiss escaped the flock. And with their wings furled as they dropped, the serpents made for silent and deadly missiles. Only the telltale whoosh of air gave warning of their approach, but that, too, went unheard, washed over by the notes of Shael¡¯s song. It would¡¯ve been the perfect ambush¡ªordinarily. Instead, courtesy of me watching from afar, the party got regular updates on the flock¡¯s movements. And so, in the end, it was the flying serpents who were ambushed. Waiting until nearly the last minute, Safyre and Adriel unleashed their spells when the leading edge of the flock closed to within thirty feet. Adriel has cast noxious vapors. Safyre has cast furious storm. Adriel has cast death¡¯s finger. Safyre has devilish winds. Predictably, the flying serpents failed to avoid the storm of spells, and death and destruction began to rain down amongst them. A level 153 flying serpent has died. A level 140 flying serpent has died. ¡­ Shael, meanwhile, kept up his music. Only Anriq stood by idly. With no ranged attacks of his own, he was forced to stand aside and watch the rest of the party deal with the threat. I, too, did not participate. Making sure not to descend too far, I gently eased my mount into the upper reaches of the flock, a part, yet apart, of the whole. ¡°I¡¯m almost in position,¡± I reported to Anriq, who for lack of anything better to do was acting as the party¡¯s communications officer. The werewolf¡¯s face turned skyward. ¡°I¡¯ve lost track. Which one are you?¡± ¡°You see the circling trio? I¡¯m the one drifting toward them.¡± ¡°Ah. Got you now.¡± He paused. ¡°Is it time?¡± ¡°No. I want to get closer first.¡± My next test was a fairly simple one. If the other flying serpents sensed aught amiss, then the plan was a bust and we¡¯d have to return to the drawing board. Urging my mount on, I swept closer to the other stygians. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. ¡­ My satisfaction grew. None of the serpents were reacting to my invisible presence, nor did any of them seem to realize the stygian I rode was blood-bound. ¡°The plan¡¯s working,¡± I reported. ¡°Outstanding,¡± Anriq growled. I ran a practiced gaze over the flock. Only half their number remained. In just a few short seconds, Adriel and Safyre had wreaked untold destruction on the serpents. The battle had been¡ªand remained¡ªcompletely one-sided. Despite striking Adriel¡¯s shield multiple times, the stygians looked no closer to breaking through the lich¡¯s defenses. Shaking my head in silent appreciation of our spellcasters¡¯ efforts, I refocused on Anriq. ¡°It¡¯s time. Break off.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll inform the others,¡± he replied. ¡°Do we retreat all the way?¡± ¡°Yes. Go back to the cave. I¡¯ve got it from here.¡± The werewolf didn¡¯t reply, but I saw his head drop as he turned to the others. A moment later, a portal opened inside the black dome, and moving unhurriedly, the party withdrew from the field of battle. A few seconds after that, the portal, black dome, and purifying field vanished, leaving me alone on the surface with forty-odd unhappy stygians. ? ? ? The serpents did not depart the area immediately. Hissing angrily, they sniffed at the ground, upturned loose rocks and even dug up the soil in search of the party. Their dead companions, they ignored completely. Content to wait, I kept my own mount circling aimlessly. None of the other serpents seemed the least bothered by its presence. Eventually, though, the stygians broke off their fruitless search, their heads jerking up near-simultaneously as if in response to an unheard command. ¡°Interesting,¡± I mused. ¡°What is?¡± Safyre asked from the cave. ¡°The flying serpents just received a telepathic order,¡± I replied as all the stygians still on the ground pushed themselves into the air. ¡°I suspect the overlord has recalled them.¡± ¡°What about your mount?¡± Anriq asked. ¡°Did it react in any way to the order?¡± ¡°Nope. My control appears absolute.¡± Leaning low, I whispered a command into the stygian¡¯s ear. ¡°Follow.¡± Turning about, the stygian obediently winged after its former companions, just another flying serpent in the flock. We were on our way. ? ? ? In an amazingly short span of time, the flock reached their destination. Which, just like I¡¯d suspected, was the overlord. I held myself still, barely breathing, as we approached the colossal Power. It hung motionless in the air, almost a planet unto itself. From this angle, the overlord¡¯s sheer size could not be ignored. The thing was truly immense. Hells, on foot, it would probably take me hours to circle its rim. No wonder few overlords ever fall in battle, I thought. This close to the thing, I could believe it. And for a moment¡ªjust a moment¡ªthe idea of us felling such a creature seemed absurd. But no more absurd than bringing down the harbinger. Or Sunfury. Or the archlich. We¡¯ll do it because we must. Tearing my gaze away from the looming overlord, I studied the two coiled nagas beneath. It was hard to fathom what the pair were thinking, but judging from their body posture, they sensed nothing amiss. My eyes rose again to the surrounding mists. Interestingly enough, the thickened plume from below did not reach this high, and the nether toxicity in the vicinity remained at tier four. At least there is that much to be grateful for, I thought as we entered the overlord¡¯s orbit. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. The flying serpents began landing. Back flapping, they braked midair and, one by one, touched down lightly onto the overlord¡¯s pockmarked surface. Then it was my mount¡¯s turn. Bracing myself, I readied psi. Despite all the preparations and guesswork, there was no telling what would happen next. Would the overlord be able to sense me when I was mere inches away? What about when I dropped off the serpent and walked on its surface? It sounded ludicrous that it wouldn¡¯t. But Adriel had said the creature lacked a nervous system. The overlord¡¯s shell was for all intents and purposes¡­ nonliving. Dead hide, nothing more. It should make no difference if I walked atop it. But should didn¡¯t always translate into would. Time to find out if all of this was for naught, I thought, urging my mount forward. Chapter 530: Making a Hole A Game message flashed for attention as my mount alighted on the stygian Power. A hostile entity has failed to detect you. I bit back a sigh of relief. My blood-bound serpent¡¯s landing had gone unremarked. Following the example of its fellows, my minion curled itself into a ball and furled its wings and was shortly indistinguishable from the rest of the flock¡ªthe only difference being its invisible passenger, of course. Time to dismount. Every movement slow and deliberate, I unwrapped myself from my minion. I had three choices for getting where I needed to¡ªwindborne, shadow blink, or walking. I chose option three. There was no indication that the overlord would sense my psicasting, but this close to mission completion, I was not about to risk it. My hands clenched tightly about the serpent, I lowered myself gently down the creature¡¯s side until my feet made direct contact with the overlord. There, I paused, poised for¡­ anything. A hostile entity has failed to detect you. I exhaled slowly. So far so good. Releasing my hold on the serpent, I transferred all my weight to my legs. I was down¡ªfully and completely. A hostile entity has failed to detect you. Right, things were going well. A little too well for my nerves, perhaps. Rotating my head slowly from left to right, I searched for an appropriate spot, somewhere that was safe to work. I almost snorted at the thought. As if there was anything about my current situation that could be labeled safe. Alright, not a safe spot, then. Somewhere¡ªanywhere¡ªI can set my traps undisturbed will do. I really didn¡¯t want to have to worry about being stepped on by one of the flock. Speaking of¡­ My gaze flitted to the nearest flying serpent. Incredibly, it was already asleep. My eyes darted to the next creature. It, too, was dead to the world. I smiled. That¡¯ll make things easier, I thought and got moving. ? ? ? Creeping through the sleeping stygians proved only slightly nerve-wracking. The creatures slumbered deeply, and with the scent crystal and vanish enhancing my already-potent stealth ability, the chances of detection were truly miniscule. Nonetheless, I worked in silence, communicating with neither Ghost nor the rest of the party back in the cave. For the selfsame reason I forbore using psi, I didn¡¯t want to risk any mindspeech. At the forefront of my mind was a singular thought: the overlord was a Power. It would not do to underestimate it. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you! Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you! ¡­ In any case, I emerged unscathed from the sleeping flock. A safe distance away, I unbent slowly and surveyed the hellish ¡®landscape.¡¯ The pockmarks riddling the overlord¡¯s reddish hide were not of uniform size nor depth. Nor were they the creature¡¯s only blemishes. From my new perspective, I noticed something else too: a spidery network of cracks and seams that connected the crater-like holes together. Hmm¡­ those could be useful. Moving faster now, I padded toward the biggest seam. My fear of discovery had waned somewhat. If the overlord hadn¡¯t detected me by this point, it likely wouldn¡¯t¡ªunless I did something foolish, of course. The seam in question looked for all the world like a fault line along a solid block of rock. Reaching it, I lowered my head and peered in. The seam was only about three inches thick but drove downward at least two feet into the overlord¡¯s hide. It was long, too, and from end to end measured at least ten yards. This¡¯ll do, I thought. Stretching out flat on my stomach, I activated the blue rune on the band on my wrist and got to work. ? ? ? You have removed a trap-making crystal from your scoundrel¡¯s wristband. Remaining trap-making crystals: 299 of 300. Deftly slipping my hand into the seam, I embedded a crystal as deep as I could. You have concealed a funnel guide. I¡¯d not used the funnel trap guides before, and truthfully, I¡¯d never expected to, since their effect was the opposite of what I usually aimed for¡ªwhich was dealing damage to a large number of foes. This time around, though, I needed to concentrate the raw damage of my traps on a single point¡ªand hopefully in the process, I¡¯d blow a hole in the overlord¡¯s shell that reached all the way to its vulnerable innards. For such a task, the funnel guides were perfect. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Drawing more trap crystals from my wristband, I emplaced them near the funnel. You have concealed 1 remote control trigger. You have concealed 2 poison cloud elements. You have concealed 1 fire element. Two clouds of poison for fuel, a fire to ignite them, a trigger to initiate the reaction, and a funnel to direct the resulting explosive energy downward and deeper into the crack. Looks good, I thought, completing the spell-linkage between the five crystals. A tier 4 trap has been successfully configured! Imagining the cataclysmic impact of the trap, I couldn¡¯t help but smile. It was hard to judge what the impact on the overlord would be, though. Would the explosion widen the seam? Probably. But would it be enough to split open the Power¡¯s shell? I had no idea. Still, I didn¡¯t plan on placing just the one trap. I intended on setting thirty. Removing more trap crystals, I resumed work. ? ? ? 29 tier 4 traps have been successfully configured! Remaining trap-making crystals: 150 of 300. A little later, I was done. Fully half of my trap-making crystals had been spent mining the seam. Moving stealthily, I crept away until I was a safe distance from the crack¡ªnot that I could pretend my estimate was anything but a guess. What mattered, though, was that I was finally ready to begin the battle-proper. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± I whispered over the farspeaker link. The overlord did not stir beneath me as I half-feared it would as I broke communication silence. ¡°We move?¡± Safyre asked crisply. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied just as curtly. Now was not the time for explanations nor unnecessary questions. Safyre knew that as well as I did. ¡°Moving,¡± she reported. Crouching down small, I set myself to wait. It wouldn¡¯t be long now. ? ? ? The first inkling I got of the party¡¯s arrival was from the overlord itself. It vibrated, nearly imperceptibly so, and if I had not been on the thing, the motion would¡¯ve gone unnoticed. My second warning came from the serpent flock. In one motion, all remaining forty-three creatures took flight¡ªthe only exception being my blood-bound slave. For a moment, I contemplated sending it after its fellows to avoid notice, then decided against it. Soon, it wouldn¡¯t matter, and if things went horribly wrong, I might need the creature to escape. The overlord trembled again. This time more violently. ¡°We¡¯ve begun our assault,¡± Safyre reported, as right on cue, the notes of Shael¡¯s song cut through the air. Shael has begun playing the Epic of Ganesh. You have been windswept (speed increased by +25%). From where I sat, I could not see the party, but I knew that they would have teleported in closer than last time¡ªjust outside the overlord¡¯s plume of thickened nether in fact. The Power itself would be invisible to them through the mist, but even unseen, as big as the creature was, it would be hard to miss. Their attacks were only a decoy though, and purely a means to distract the overlord and draw the attention of its escorts. ¡°The nagas?¡± I prompted. ¡°Engaged,¡± Anriq replied. ¡°You can begin.¡± Not responding, I rose to my feet and flexed my hands. My buffs were all cast, and I¡¯d no more preparations to make. ¡°Should I manifest?¡± Ghost asked. ¡°Not yet,¡± I murmured. ¡°We don¡¯t know how the overlord is going to react, and until we do, I want to hold you in reserve.¡± The pyre wolf sighed but made no protest. Removing the remote trigger from my pocket, I inhaled deeply¡ªhere goes, I thought¡ªand pressed down hard. A trap has triggered! Light, so bright it hurt, flashed before my eyes. I squeezed my eyelids shut. It helped¡ªbut only a little. A hair¡¯s breadth later a roar of noise washed over, forcing me to slap my hands over my ears. It was only the beginning, though, and I couldn¡¯t afford to stop now. Ignoring my discomfort, I pressed down on the remote again. A trap has triggered! More bright light followed. And more noise. Somewhat dazed and deafened, I huddled small and rocked back and forth. ¡°Keep going,¡± I muttered. ¡°Got to keep damn going!¡± Squeezing the remote in my hand, I pumped it over. And over. And over. A trap has triggered! A trap has triggered! ¡­ ¡­ A staccato of explosions rocked the smog-filled world as the remaining twenty-eight traps detonated in quick succession. Most of the lightshow passed by without me noticing, the repeated assault on my senses leaving me half-catatonic. But my stupor faded as quickly as it set in, and when I opened my eyes again it was to the sight of flames and thick black smoke mushrooming out of the seam, while beneath me, the overlord shook with ever-increasing violence. My elation remained tempered, though. Because, while there was no question that the overlord had felt the explosions, something was missing, something crucial. Damage messages from the Game. I had received none. My brows furrowed in consternation. What did it mean? Had the traps failed? Despite the explosion of light and sounds, had I not succeeded? ¡°Yikes!¡± Anriq exclaimed over the farspeaker link. ¡°Was that you? We felt it even down here!¡± ¡°It was,¡± I rasped, my mental voice unaccountably hoarse. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Safyre asked worriedly. ¡°Well, I¡¯m still in one piece if that¡¯s what you mean,¡± I replied, in what was admittedly a feeble attempt at humor. ¡°Of course you are!¡± Shael declared, the tune he was playing on his flute not faltering one iota despite his split focus. ¡°You¡¯re our fearless leader. Nothing can stop you!¡± A pregnant pause. ¡°But on a more serious note, Michael, did it work?¡± Despite the situation, a half-smile slipped onto my face. The bard sounded more relaxed than he¡¯d been only a little while ago. His confidence in both the party and his own abilities were growing, I suspected. ¡°We¡¯re about to find out,¡± I replied. Regaining my feet, I padded toward the crack. It was still belching smoke and fire, which gave me pause for a moment. How am I going to see through all that muck? I didn¡¯t have long to ponder the question though, because just then the ¡®ground¡¯ beneath me stirred. This time, it was not from any random shaking. This time, the overlord was moving¡ªrising to be precise. And rotating. Chapter 531: A Powerful Foe ¡°Hells,¡± I cursed, breaking into a flat-out sprint. ¡°The overlord is fleeing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good sign, isn¡¯t it?¡± Shael asked. ¡°Not if we don¡¯t kill it,¡± I muttered. ¡°Or if I fall off.¡± ¡°Fall off?¡± Anriq asked in alarm. ¡°The damn thing is rotating. But don¡¯t worry, I was joking. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± I hoped. The overlord wasn¡¯t turning all that fast, and it would be a few minutes before I was forced upside down. And while that might complicate things, there were plenty of handholds on its shell. The chances of me falling were minimal. I snorted. Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Ignoring the morose thought, I skidded to a halt as I reached the edge of the seam. If the bombs had failed to do anything else, they had at least widened the seam appreciably. Not pausing to deliberate or consider further, I shoved my head into the crack. In hindsight, that was not the smartest thing I¡¯d ever done. Another puff of smoke billowed out and straight into my face and half-open mouth. I swore. ¡°By all that is¡ª¡± I broke off, overcome by a coughing fit. Yanking my head back, I scooted backward and waited for my chest¡¯s heaving to stop before reconsidering the seam. While the smoke emanating from within had lessened somewhat¡ªit was only rushing out in fits and starts now¡ªsomething was still clearly burning somewhere. And what in hells could that be? Uncovering that mystery was less important than determining when the smoke was going to clear, though. Unfortunately, it looked to be in no danger of dissipating anytime soon. And if I couldn¡¯t clear the air, I had no way of assessing the results of my handiwork. For all I knew the traps had failed abysmally¡ªwhich would leave me in a pretty pickle. Damn. Damn. And Damn. My thoughts racing, I assessed my options. How did I clear the smoke? Would an ice bomb work? Perhaps. But if I threw a bomb blindly into the seam, the chances of it landing on the source of the flames were minimal. Ten bombs then. I grimaced. That could work but¡ª My thoughts ground to a halt as something else occurred to me. Did I really need to clear the smoke? No. No, I don¡¯t. ¡°Ghost, you¡¯re up,¡± I said, coming to a decision. The only real way to ascertain what was going on was to enter the seam, and I was loath to do that myself, not because of the risk, but because doing so would leave me blind to whatever was happening on the overlord¡¯s surface. And truthfully, this was a task the pyre wolf was better suited to. ¡°Use explosive manifest.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± she asked, sounding startled. ¡°Yes.¡± At this point, a little more smoke and fire couldn¡¯t hurt¡ªhells, it might even help. ¡°Time is of the essence.¡± I paused. ¡°Manifest in the seam itself.¡± ¡°On it,¡± she replied. I backed away hurriedly, and a heartbeat later, another blast rocked the overlord. Ghost has cast explosive manifest. Raising an arm, I shielded my eyes as more flames gushed out of the seam. ¡°Talk to me, Ghost.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve fallen,¡± she replied. ¡°How far, I¡¯m not sure, but I think I¡¯ve reached the bottom of the seam.¡± A pause. ¡°It¡¯s big enough down here for me and another dire wolf to walk side by side.¡± I whistled softly. ¡°The seam has grown that big?¡± I sensed Ghost¡¯s silent assent. ¡°So, what¡¯s the problem?¡± I asked, suspecting there was one. ¡°The traps have not broken all the way through the overlord¡¯s shell,¡± she reported, not pretending otherwise. ¡°We¡¯ve got more hide to puncture through.¡± I swallowed. ¡°More?¡± ¡°More,¡± she confirmed despondently. A metallic screech cut the air. I didn¡¯t react, knowing that it was Ghost who was responsible for the sound. She was clawing at the overlord¡¯s shell. ¡°The hide underfoot feels softer than the bits lining the sides of the seam,¡± the pyre wolf said. ¡°It smells newer too. As if freshly-made.¡± Freshly-made? How could she tell? The question was of no consequence, though. ¡°I think¡­ I think I can claw through,¡± Ghost added a moment later. It was good news, better than I had expected. Still, my brows furrowed as I wondered how long Ghost would need. ¡°Then do that. As quickly as you can. In the meantime, tell me about the fire. Can you see what¡¯s burning?¡± More metallic screeches followed, a veritable song of them. ¡°There¡¯s no fire,¡± Ghost said between her frantic pawing. ¡°Nor any flames to speak of. The smoke is coming from the hide itself. Parts of it are still smoldering.¡± My frown deepened as I tried to figure out what to make of that little tidbit. I was more concerned, though, about what we did if¡ªStolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. A level 308 stygian overlord has cast the composite spell, shield of nether. The first spell-stage has been activated, spreading noxious fumes over the targeted area. I whipped my head around, scanning the surroundings. The nether was thickening in an unhappily familiar way all about me. And at a guess, the same thing was happening over the rest of the Power¡¯s surface. Warning: your surroundings have been contaminated with a concentrated dose of nether. The nether toxicity has increased to tier 24! ¡°Hells,¡± I swore. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Anriq asked, overhearing me on the farspeaker link. ¡°The overlord has figured out it has a stowaway,¡± I replied. ¡°It¡¯s trying to get rid of us.¡± ¡°Will you be alright?¡± he asked worriedly. ¡°We¡¯ll manage. How are things proceeding on the ground?¡± ¡°As well as can be expected,¡± Anriq answered. ¡°The first naga is almost dead. And the second is not far behind.¡± A pause. ¡°What about the overlord¡¯s shell?¡± ¡°We¡¯re working the problem,¡± I replied, not wanting to bother him¡ªnor the others, who were also likely listening¡ªwith the details. ¡°Stick to the plan,¡± I reminded Anriq. ¡°As soon as all the overlord¡¯s escorts are dead, retreat. Don¡¯t worry about me and Ghost. We¡¯ll make our own way out.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Gotta go,¡± I said, closing the link and glancing to my left. The blood-bound stygian serpent was still where I left it. ¡°Come here!¡± I yelled. It had not escaped my notice that the spell the overlord had cast was a composite one, and if it was anything like the Power¡¯s other composite spell¡ªblob of nether¡ªthen I could expect its second stage to include necrotic spikes. Or something worse. Which was the main reason I wanted my best means of escape within easy reach. ¡°Prime,¡± Ghost called out, drawing my attention, ¡°scratching at the hide is not helping. What do you want me to do?¡± I inhaled deeply, trying not to let the latest dose of bad news unsettle me. But it was hard. The overlord¡¯s defenses were a lot tougher to penetrate than I¡¯d anticipated. Was it time to retreat? No, not yet. There was still time for one last gamble. I exhaled, letting the plan taking shape in my mind germinate. ¡°Ghost, you said the shell looks weaker down there, right?¡± ¡°Right. But like I said, clawing at it is having no effect.¡± ¡°Forgot about that,¡± I said, dismissing her words. ¡°What I want you to do is to unmanifest¡ª¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Ghost began in protest. ¡°¡ªand then immediately re-manifest,¡± I continued, speaking over her. ¡°Keep at it until you break through. Understood?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± she exclaimed, her form already unraveling as she heeded my instructions. ¡°I understand now.¡± ¡°Good, then after that, I want you to¡ª The noxious fumes have reached maximum dispersion. The first spell-stage is complete. Second stage spell(s) released. I broke off as the Game interrupted me for a second time. Swinging about, I focused on the flying serpent making its way closer. If I¡¯m right¡­ Right on cue, an ebon sliver shot out of the overlord¡¯s shell to pierce the stygian. A necrotic spike has been activated. Your blood-bound creature has been injured. Remaining health: 95%. I grimaced. As resistant as the flying serpent was to the free-floating nether, it was not immune to pure necrotic damage. I had suspected as much, however it did further complicate matters. ¡°Fly over,¡± I roared. The stygian obeyed instantly and, flapping its wings, went airborne. Ghost has cast explosive manifest. Your familiar has injured a level 308 stygian overlord! A damage message! I exulted. Whipping about to face the seam again, I whispered breathlessly, ¡°Ghost?¡± Her response was a moment in coming. ¡°It worked, Prime! The final layer of the overlord¡¯s hide has given way. I¡¯m through!¡± My eyes shone. ¡°Excellent! You know what to do.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m venturing beneath now.¡± Your familiar has injured a level 308 stygian overlord! Your familiar has injured a level 308 stygian overlord! ¡­ ¡­ I grinned, my excitement knowing no bounds as Ghost forced her way inside the stygian Power and attacked its vulnerable insides with tooth and claw. And if the Game messages were anything to go by, already she was inflicting huge swathes of damage. The overlord heaved, its spinning growing more frantic. I laughed. ¡°That¡¯s not going to save you anymore,¡± I taunted. ¡°You¡¯re done for!¡± Unsheathing my blades, I drew psi and prepared to join my familiar. With the two of us working in tandem, things would go even faster. A level 308 stygian overlord has cast tentacle guard. My brows crinkled. Tentacle guard? What sort of spell was that? Breaking off from my casting, I lowered my blades. ¡°Ghost, is everything fine down there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not pleasant, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking,¡± the pyre wolf replied easily. ¡°It smells truly awful! But really, there is no danger.¡± She paused. ¡°Why? Is something wrong?¡± I was about to reply when a slip of motion around the corner of my right eye drew my attention. I spun about. A gray, elongated shape had appeared in the distance. It was drawing nearer, if not fast, then steadily, its upper end wriggling in the air while its thickened base propelled it across the overlord¡¯s surface. My eyes narrowed. A tentacle. Nor was the tentacle alone. Hundreds more accompanied it, all making their way from the overlord¡¯s underside. Reaching out with my will, I inspected the closest one. The target is a level 105 stygian overlord¡¯s tentacle. It is currently benefiting from the buff: awakened. An overlord¡¯s tentacle is not a separate organism. It cannot survive prolonged separation from its host, and when asleep, it serves no purpose other than to anchor the overlord. But nor is a tentacle a mere appendage of its host. In dire circumstances, an overlord can rouse its tentacles, detaching them and imbuing them with a limited form of self-will. The tentacles so awakened will instinctively and vigorously guard their host. My mouth twisted sourly. We had well and truly underestimated the overlord¡¯s defenses. Or I had. ¡°Prime?¡± Ghost prompted when I failed to answer. ¡°We have incoming,¡± I replied, hefting my swords. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it. You take care of the overlord.¡± Glancing to my left, I took a moment to assess the condition of the flying stygian that had landed beside me. The blood-bound creature was only lightly injured, but I didn¡¯t think it was going to be much use in the upcoming fight. My gaze flickered back to the seam. I was fairly certain the tentacles were not here for me. According to the Game, I was still invisible and undetected, after all. And besides as threats went, I was the lesser one by the Power¡¯s reckoning. No, the tentacles had to be here for Ghost. That was why they were converging on the hole we¡¯d made in the overlord¡¯s shell. I had to keep from getting in, of course. But a standup fight was not my forte. Far from it, in fact. Which left me wondering how much use I was going to be in the upcoming battle. An idea sparked. Unless¡­ My gaze darted from my minion to the seam, comparing their relative length and widths. The repeated explosions had widened the seam and the serpent should just about fit. The blood-bound creature, I realized, was better suited to acting as a physical barrier than serving as another defender. I didn¡¯t have much time to enact my plan, though. The tentacles would be here soon. Galvanized into motion, I began shoving against the creature. Chapter 532: The Fall of a Titan Amazingly, I completed my task in time. The flying serpent complied with my wishes, albeit not without a few angry hisses of protest. And no wonder, since its delicate wings suffered untold damage in the process. Still, by the time the first group of tentacles reached melee range, the seam was blocked¡ªleaving me free to engage them. And I did just that as they bypassed me altogether and converged on the helpless flying serpent. Lunging forward, I plunged the sword in my right hand through the thickened base of a tentacle. In the same motion, I pivoted about and cleaved through another with my second blade. You have destroyed an overlord¡¯s tentacle. You have destroyed an overlord¡¯s tentacle. Dashing right, I slashed upward, then downward and two other tentacles died. Activating whirlwind, I unleashed another flurry of blows. More tentacles died. Killing the things were easy, but this was just the beginning, and the main horde was yet to arrive. Once they did¡­ my mouth thinned into a grim line. Matters would grow more complicated then. Still, I had a few tricks up my sleeve. I did not kid myself, though. Eventually, I would get swamped. ¡°You better hurry, Ghost,¡± I said. ¡°Things are about to get hairy.¡± ? ? ? You have cast noxious vapors. You have cast furious storm. Your blood-bound creature has died. You have ignited 5 acid bombs and 5 firebombs. You have destroyed 372 tentacles of an overlord. A few minutes later, the battle for the overlord was still raging. Down below, at my insistence, the party had retreated to a safe distance. By this point, the overlord was already over one thousand feet high, and there was nothing those on the ground could do to affect the outcome. Time and again, the tentacles had threatened to overrun me¡ªbut only threatened. Thanks to vanish, shadow blink, and windborne, not only was I still alive, I was still managing to hold the tide at bay. Sadly, though, my minion had died. Notwithstanding my expansive use of bombs and stolen spells, I¡¯d not managed to prevent the tentacles from killing it. Yet, even dead, the creature fulfilled a vital role, and the seam remained blocked. This, despite the tentacles¡¯ frantic efforts to haul out its corpse. But most crucially of all, Ghost was almost done with her own task. Your familiar has injured a level 308 stygian overlord! It is near death. The stygian Power teetered on the very edge. I just had to keep my own efforts going and buy Ghost a little more time. It can¡¯t be long now, I thought as a tentacle wrapped itself around my torso. The things couldn¡¯t see me, but that didn¡¯t stop them from flailing about in an effort to trap me. Plunging my sword downward, I buried it deep in the meaty appendage, then blinked away before a second tentacle could repeat the first¡¯s feat. I emerged out of the aether behind yet another tentacle pack massing around the dead stygian. This group had somehow managed to wrap themselves around the serpent¡¯s neck and were attempting to drag it out of the seam. Damn, if these things are not smart. Wading in, I cleaved a tentacle in half, hacked through another, then tossed a bomb and fled. You have cast windborne. A firebomb has ignited! 6 tentacles of an overlord have been destroyed and 5 injured. Somersaulting off the windslide, I plunged straight into another mass of tentacles. This pack was much larger than the previous one and already had their snaking ends buried inside the serpent¡¯s corpse¡ªdoing what, I had no idea, but I couldn¡¯t let them continue. Rushing into their midst, I activated whirlwind and laid about with abandon. My blades a blur, I struck and struck, heedless of what I hit, how hard, or where. A level 104 overlord¡¯s tentacle has been injured. A level 113 overlord¡¯s tentacle has been destroyed. A level 107 overlord¡¯s tentacle has been destroyed. A level 105 overlord¡¯s tentacle has been critically injured. ¡­ ¡­ Realizing their nemesis was within reach, the tentacles flung themselves at me. I slew them as they came, cutting through the thin bodies as easily as a farmer reaping stalks of wheat. But the tentacles¡¯ numbers were limitless¡ªor so they seemed in the moment. And no matter how many I hacked down, or how fast, the press of thin, wriggling bodies reaching for me grew greater every second, and with no other choice, I fled. Not without leaving my foes a parting present, though. You have ignited an acid bomb! You have teleported 8 yards. I emerged from the aether feet set and blades at the ready. Where shall I strike next? I wondered. There were no more attacks to fend off, though. All but unnoticed, the battle had drawn to a close. Your familiar has killed a level 308 stygian overlord!You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. 569 tentacles of an overlord have been destroyed. The overlord was as silent in death as it had been in life. No sound escaped it, and except for the Adjudicator¡¯s message, nothing marked its passing. I lowered my blades, stunned. As incredible as it seemed, we¡¯d slain the overlord, and without suffering any losses. ¡°Excellent work, Ghost,¡± I murmured, my chest heaving as I surveyed the suddenly empty battlefield. ¡°Thank you, Prime,¡± she replied smugly. But only a second later her tone turned plaintive. ¡°Can I please unmanifest? It smells ghastly in here!¡± I smiled. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll let the others¡ª¡± A resounding thunderclap interrupted me. I froze, fearing the worst. A second crack cut through the air. Then a third. Realizing the source of the sound, my gaze whipped downward. It was the overlord¡¯s shell. It was finally cracking. More Game messages vied for my attention. Ignoring them, I focused on my latest dilemma. How to touch down safely. Step one was obvious enough: flee the imploding titan. Breaking out in a flat out run, I gathered psi. ¡°Saf, I¡¯ve news¡­¡± ? ? ? Ghost has unmanifested. You have cast windborne. You have cast windborne. ¡­ Returning to solid ground turned out to be simple enough, the most complicated part being getting the timing right. Breaking my fall with a series of windslides, I turned what would likely have been a fatal freefall into a controlled crash. You have been injured! Health remaining: 67%. ¡°Oof!¡± I exclaimed as I rolled to a stop in an untidy heap inside Safyre¡¯s purifying field. Leaning down, Anriq helped me up. ¡°You did it!¡± I grinned as the others added their praises. ¡°It was as much Ghost¡¯s doing as mine. I gestured to the pyre wolf manifesting beside me. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to congratulate her.¡± Safyre smiled. ¡°We will.¡± ¡°Where is it?¡± Adriel asked, peering blindly into the mist beyond me. ¡°Somewhere back there,¡± I replied, knowing she referred to the overlord. ¡°Quite a ways back in fact,¡± I added, having made sure to make my own landing as far away as possible from the overlord. ¡°In about a million and one pieces.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the lich said, deflating slightly. ¡°Its shell cracked then?¡± ¡°Before it even hit the ground,¡± I told her. ¡°When the overlord died its hide lost all remaining integrity.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad. It could¡¯ve been useful,¡± she replied wistfully. ¡°We can still gather the pieces,¡± I said, ignoring the unhappy looks Shael and Anriq were throwing me. Adriel shrugged. ¡°We can, but the pieces will be far less useful.¡± The ghost of a smile touched her lips. ¡°And somehow I doubt Shael and Anriq are too enthused by the idea.¡± She shook herself. ¡°But enough of the overlord. What did the kill earn you?¡± I tilted my head to the side. ¡°I haven¡¯t checked yet, actually.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t¡ª¡± Shael sputtered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Go on, find out!¡± Smiling, I turned my focus inward and called up the waiting Game messages. You and Ghost have reached level 250! Congratulations, Michael! You are now a tier 6 player. For achieving rank 25, you have been awarded 1 additional attribute point. Your light armor and thieving have reached rank 17, your chi rank 19, and your insight rank 25. Ghost¡¯s magma maw has reached rank 11, her stygian claws and ash armor rank 13, and her death magic rank 9. Congratulations, Michael! You¡¯ve slain your second Power, deepening your Power Mark. Slay further Powers to evolve your Mark further. ¡°Wow!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°Ghost and I advanced seven levels. That¡¯s unbelievable!¡± Shael looked affronted. ¡°Unbelievable? C¡¯mon, you soloed a Power! I¡¯m amazed you didn¡¯t gain more levels.¡± I shook my head. ¡°This is not the first Power I¡¯ve killed and when we slew the harbinger¡ª¡± I broke off, realizing what was different about this time. Ghost and I had dealt all the damage to the overlord¡ªas opposed to before where the bulk of the damage had been inflicted by Adriel and Farren¡ªand the Game didn¡¯t consider the pyre wolf a separate entity when it came to leveling. ¡°Is there another message?¡± Adriel asked intently, interrupting my musing. Turning my attention inward again, I saw to my surprise that she was right. Congratulations, Michael! You have accomplished the feat: Solo your First Power! Requirements: slay a tier 7 creature on your own. As only the 8th tier 5 solo player to defeat a Power without external aid, you have been offered a choice in the matter of your reward. Option 1: A Fate¡¯s Key. Option 2: +1 ascendant point. Option 3: +10 Class points. Make your choice now. I inhaled sharply, stunned by the sheer scale of the Adjudicator¡¯s offerings. ¡°What is it?¡± Anriq asked eagerly. ¡°What did you get?¡± Breathlessly, I recited the Game alert for everyone¡¯s benefit, leaving them equally shocked in turn. ¡°How did you know?¡± I asked, turning to Adriel. ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± she replied. ¡°I suspected you would earn a feat, though. The bard was right. You and Ghost took down a Power on your own. That seemed like an accomplishment worthy of recognition by the Adjudicator.¡± Her look turned pensive. ¡°But an ascendant point... I would never have guessed the Game would offer you that.¡± I nodded, sharing her awe. I knew what ascendant points were, of course. Adriel and Ceruvax had lectured me too hard on the subject of higher evolutions for its significance to pass unnoticed. Starting at legendary rank¡ªascendant rank two¡ªplayers received ascendant points that let them upgrade existing ascendant benefits or receive new ones. In this way, they worked very much like Class points. Only, ascendant points were much rarer. Over the course of an entire Game and assuming they reached the pinnacle of advancement¡ªthat being Primehood¡ªa Power could expect to acquire, at most, four ascendant points. But that was during the ordinary course of events. And these were not ordinary circumstances. As a result of what Ghost and I had done, the Adjudicator was offering me a free ascendant point. Or rather the option of one. But there was little doubt as to my choice. As wonderful as ten Class points and the Fate¡¯s Key sounded, both paled in comparison to an ascendant point. ¡°You will take the ascendant point, of course,¡± Adriel said. ¡°Of course,¡± I agreed. ¡°Should he do that?¡± Safyre asked quietly. I¡¯d already shared everything I¡¯d learned about higher evolutions and ascendant Classes with Safyre, and she was now as knowledgeable on the subject as I was. ¡°Will he be able to use it at his current ascendant rank?¡± I pursed my lips, knowing what she was getting at. If I had to wait until I reached legendary rank to use the ascendant point, then the ten Class points or even the Fate¡¯s Key would be of more immediate benefit. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Adriel admitted. ¡°We¡¯ve reached the limit of my understanding on the subject. Only another Power will be able to answer that question with any certainty, and I¡¯d wager that not even most of them can do so.¡± She paused. ¡°I do know that ascendant benefits are usually capped by rank. That means a rank three Power should not be able to acquire rank four ascendant traits and abilities, but¡­¡± She shrugged. ¡°Sire¡¯s strain, the ascendant trait Michael gained from his sire wolf Class, has already broken that restriction.¡± I nodded slowly. Sire¡¯s strain had advanced all my wolf-type traits by one tier. That included were¡¯s bite, which was also an ascendant trait. ¡°Maybe the Game will allow me to use the ascendant point to advance sire¡¯s strain?¡± I suggested hopefully. Adriel snorted. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if it does.¡± I sighed. She was right. If the Adjudicator allowed me ¡®free¡¯ upgrades of the sire¡¯s trait, I could become wildly overpowered before even becoming a Power. ¡°So, what will I be able to do with the ascendant point?¡± The lich frowned. ¡°Best guess? The Game will let you acquire another rank one ascendant benefit.¡± I rubbed my chin, pondering. ¡°Hmm. That might not be so bad.¡± None of the rank one ascendant benefits the Adjudicator had offered me when I¡¯d first chosen my champion and commander Classes had been what I would label a poor choice. Adriel smiled. ¡°I¡¯d say. There¡¯s only one way to find out, though.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± I said, willing my choice to the Game. Chapter 533: The Old One Your choice has been made. You have gained 1 ascendant point. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± I announced. Adriel blinked. ¡°What, already? Isn¡¯t that a bit hasty?¡± ¡°Nine days, remember?¡± I shot back, a trifle grimly. ¡°We¡¯re on the clock. That being the case, none of us can afford to hesitate. We must use every advantage at our disposal to get done what needs doing.¡± The lich sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right, I suppose.¡± She paused, then asked with more animation, ¡°Can you use the ascendant point?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± Closing my eyes, I conveyed my intent to the Adjudicator. Assessing player¡¯s suitability... ¡­ ¡­ Assessment completed. Warning: you have not evolved your champion and commander Classes beyond rank 1, therefore your existing ascendant benefits are not eligible for advancement. You may, however, learn a new rank 1 ascendant benefit. Do you still wish to proceed? ¡°Ah,¡± I exhaled. ¡°What?¡± Adriel and Safyre demanded at the same time. I smiled. ¡°Adriel was right. I can¡¯t upgrade any of my existing benefits, but the Adjudicator is allowing me to choose a new one.¡± Anriq¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Is that a good thing?¡± I shrugged. ¡°It depends on what¡¯s on offer.¡± I paused to relay my answer to the Adjudicator. ¡°Let¡¯s see what they are.¡± Commencing ascendant Class upgrade¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Viable ascendant benefits determined. As a result of your new ascendant point, you may choose 1 of the following 5 ascendant benefits: New commander benefit: wolf¡¯s howl. Your howl is a mighty weapon that can wreak havoc across an open battlefield, momentarily confusing, terrifying, and sometimes even charming those who hear it. New commander benefit: bloodlust. This trait grants you a permanent aura that fortifies the attack and defensive strength of your followers and Sworn whenever they are near you. New champion benefit: lycan renewal. This trait enhances your shapeshifting blood memories by fully restoring your energy pools whenever you shift form. New champion benefit: blood caster. This trait reduces the cooldown of your active blood memories, allowing them to be used more often. New champion benefit: elder form. This trait allows you to transform once a day into an elder wolf, the most powerful of all wolven subspecies. Existing benefits not available for upgrade: commander trait (not upgradable), champion trait (not upgradable), were¡¯s bite (requires ascendant rank 2), and sire¡¯s strain (requires ascendant rank 2). Choose your desired ascendant Class benefit now. I rocked back on my heels. ¡°Now, isn¡¯t that interesting?¡± I murmured, as much to myself as to my companions. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Shael asked. Still perusing the choices on offer and just as importantly what wasn¡¯t¡ªnamely sire¡¯s strain and were¡¯s bite¡ªI didn¡¯t immediately answer. ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± the bard demanded, ¡°don¡¯t keep us in suspense!¡± Turning my focus outward, I found everyone staring at me with ill-concealed impatience. I smiled. ¡°All the ¡®new¡¯ benefits are familiar. They are the ones I didn¡¯t choose during my previous higher evolutions.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bad, right?¡± Anriq asked, scratching his head. ¡°I mean if you didn¡¯t choose them before¡ª¡± ¡°On the contrary, it¡¯s great news,¡± Adriel interjected. Her eyes darted to mine. ¡°Elder form is one of the options on offer?¡± I grinned. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Choose it,¡± she shot back immediately. ¡°Yes, Prime,¡± Ghost encouraged. ¡°Do that!¡± ¡°Elder form?¡± Anriq mumbled, looking confused. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Shael asked. ¡°You¡¯re about to find out,¡± I replied. The elder wolf form was, of course, the best option on offer¡ªespecially considering what we planned on doing in the next nine days. There was no way I was not choosing it. Safyre held up her hand. ¡°Perhaps we should reconvene in the cave first?¡± She glanced meaningfully at the impenetrable mists surrounding us. ¡°It¡¯ll be safer and who knows what¡¯s lurking out there. Let¡¯s not give away any secrets we don¡¯t have to.¡± She had a point. ¡°Good idea, but¡­¡± My gaze slid in the direction of the guardian tower portal. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the tundra rather. That way we can also get going with the Packs¡¯ migration.¡± Safyre cast me a somber look. ¡°Are you sure you want to relocate the wolves so soon?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we have much choice,¡± I replied. ¡°We can¡¯t take the chance that the nagas will disable the portal again. And next time, we might not be in a position to interrupt their spell. Completed, who knows how long it would have lasted? Besides, we need the Rings and all the stores we¡¯ve stockpiled on the tundra to begin the next phase of the plan.¡± She inclined her head. ¡°All good points. Very well, the tundra it is.¡± ¡°What about the stygians¡¯ corpses?¡± Shael asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we loot them first?¡± I sighed. Despite my determination to speed things along, there were a hundred little things¡ªall important¡ªthat needed doing beforehand. And truthfully, as enthused as I was about the waiting elder form, I was more eager to move on and take the fight to the stygians. Doing so would have to wait a little while longer, though. ¡°You¡¯re right, we should,¡± I agreed heavily. ¡°Let¡¯s split up. Adriel and Safyre, take Shael to the tundra and start preparing the Packs for the move. Anriq, Ghost, and I will see to the looting, then join you.¡± ? ? ? You have retrieved an alchemy stone. New ingredients acquired: 150 x lumps of necrotic plasma and 50 x vial of nether residue. In the end, the Packs¡¯ evacuation got underway without me. Looting the stygians took longer than expected, especially since Adriel insisted that we retrieve one of the naga corpses fully intact. Why she would want that, she wouldn¡¯t explain, and realizing our protests were getting us nowhere, Anriq and I capitulated and did as she desired. Sadly, nothing remained of the overlord itself except for tiny shards of shell that would take days to collect, so I decided not to even bother trying. Stolen novel; please report. Even so, by the time Anriq and I were done collecting the stygians¡¯ reagents, Adriel and the Pack elders¡ªwith the Astral Rings in tow¡ªwere back in the cave, and when I checked in on them, they were already hard at work golem crafting. Glad that they didn¡¯t need me to hurry things along, Anriq and I let them be and made our way to the guardian tower. ? ? ? You have entered sector 107 of the Endless Dungeon. Ignoring the sideways falling snow, I drew to a halt as I entered the tundra¡¯s windswept plains. It took Anriq a few steps to notice. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, glancing back in surprise. ¡°I thought you were in a hurry.¡± ¡°I am,¡± I replied, gazing in the direction of the wolves¡¯ den. It was too far away to see, of course, but I was fairly certain that Safyre¡ªably assisted by Shael, no doubt¡ªhad matters well in hand. ¡°You go on,¡± I told Anriq, urging him toward the distant den. The werewolf turned about fully. ¡°Aren¡¯t you and Ghost coming?¡± I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s time I begin the hunt.¡± ¡°The hunt¡­ you mean against the stygians?¡± I nodded. Anriq¡¯s face fell. ¡°You won¡¯t wait for the rest of us?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± I replied. ¡°Ferrying the wolves, not to mention all the supplies we¡¯ve left in the den, is going to take Safyre and Shael the rest of the day.¡± I smiled. ¡°It might go a bit quicker if you helped them, though.¡± He nodded, seemingly resigned to being relegated to the role of a pack mule. ¡°What do I tell the others?¡± ¡°Adriel and Safyre won¡¯t be surprised to hear of my plans, I suspect. But tell them, I¡¯ll return by nightfall.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± He hesitated, then blurted, ¡°You¡¯re going to use the elder form, aren¡¯t you?¡± I smiled. Anriq had since learned what the form entailed, and needless to say, his interest had been piqued. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I want to see it before you go.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Alright. Let me get it first.¡± Calling up the message, left hanging open all this time, I willed my choice to the Game. ¡°Done. Now, I can¡ª¡± I broke off as an avalanche of text poured through my mind. You have gained the wolf trait: elder form. This trait grants you +10 to all attributes, the alternate form, elder wolf, and the shapeshift ability. Note, elder form is a trait unique to the sire wolf Class and cannot be bequeathed to any of your followers who themselves are not sire wolves. Shapeshift (epic) is a self-use ability that can be used once per day to physically alter your body and shift into one your learned forms. The transformation is permanent, and while psi is required to effect the change, there is no accompanying spell duration, nor is any energy expended to maintain your new form. Currently known forms: 2, human, elder wolf. Note, shapeshift is an ascendant Class ability. It does not occupy any ability slots, and its activation time is very slow. The elder wolf is an ancient and primal wolf, considered to be the precursor of all other wolfkin. They¡¯re hardier than werewolves, more mentally adept than dire wolves, and as magically gifted as hellhounds. Rare, and nearly hunted to extinction, they are universally feared by their foes. While you are in wolf form you cannot equip any additional gear or use any consumables. However, all your equipped gear¡¯s benefits are retained irrespective of your form. Transforming into an elder wolf also grants you the following: primal creature I, hide armor, tooth and claw, regeneration I, lacerating bite, and everburning (unavailable). These benefits are only applicable while you¡¯re in wolf form. Note, everburning is unusable due to its incompatibility with your spell illiterate trait. Furthermore, while shapeshifted, you will lose access to your human-form-only abilities, these being: greater load controller, crippling blow, piercing strike, trap disarm, lockpicking, set trap, stunning slap, astral shurikens, conceal small weapon, and mimic. Hide armor: While shapeshifted, your light armor skill is transformed into the primal equivalent, hide armor. Any skill progression you achieve in either wolf or human form is retained and applicable to both skill variants. Tooth and claw: While shapeshifted, your shortswords skill is transformed into the primal equivalent, tooth and claw. Tooth and Claw is a beast-only skill that, depending on the nature of the creature involved, can be governed by Dexterity alone, Strength alone, or both Dexterity and Strength. Any skill progression you achieve in either wolf or human form is retained and applicable to both skill variants. Primal creature I: This epic trait modifies your primal skills and size. In elder form, you will measure 12 feet from nose to tail and stand 6 feet tall. At this tier, your tooth and claws skill is governed by the higher of the two attributes: Strength and Dexterity. Additionally, you gain the ability to alter your tooth and claw attacks at will and inflict fire damage instead of physical damage. Furthermore this tier also makes your hide armor more resistant, granting you +25% resistance to all types of attacks. Regeneration I: This epic trait grants you a health regeneration rate of 1% per second. Lacerating bite is an epic bite-based attack that causes bleeding damage. The bleeding damage will be sustained for a duration equal to the rank of your tooth and claw skill. Lacerating bite is an ascendant Class ability and does not occupy any ability slots. Its activation time is near-instantaneous, it consumes stamina and cannot be upgraded. Everburning is an epic mana-based spell and unusable by you. My mouth dropped open in shock as I struggled to process the implications¡ªsome alarming, others astounding¡ªof the elder form trait. Staggeringly, the least noteworthy aspect of the new trait was the seventy attributes I¡¯d gained. Sadly, though, they¡¯d been split equally amongst my attributes. And while shapeshift did about what I expected, when it came to the elder form¡­ ¡­there was a lot to digest. And the Adjudicator was not done yet. Barely had I dismissed the first series of messages than the Game dumped another lot upon me. Secret blood trait has triggered! To conceal your bloodline, your new trait will be hidden. Sire¡¯s strain trait has triggered! Elder form has advanced to tier 2! The second tier of elder form grants you +20 to all attributes, the alternate form, greater elder wolf, and the legendary variant of the shapeshift ability. Shapeshift (legendary) is a self-use ability that increases the maximum number of shifts possible to 2 per day. Known forms: 2, human, greater elder wolf. Transforming into a greater elder wolf grants you the following benefits: primal creature II, hide armor, tooth and claw, regeneration II, lacerating bite, everburning (unavailable), stunning paw, and fearsome aura. Primal creature II: The legendary variant of this trait increases your physical size to 18 feet from nose to tail and 9 feet from head to claw. Additionally, your tooth and claw attacks are now modified by both Strength and Dexterity and can also inflict poison damage. Furthermore, your hide armor¡¯s resistance to hostile attacks has increased to 30%. Regeneration II: The legendary variant of this trait increases your health regeneration rate to 2% per second. Stunning paw is a legendary paw-based attack that stuns a foe for a duration equal to the tier of your tooth and claw skill. Stunning paw is an ascendant Class ability and does not occupy any ability slots. Its activation time is near-instantaneous, it consumes stamina and cannot be upgraded. Fearsome aura is a legendary channeled spell that causes foes that approach within a distance equal to the rank of your telepathy skill to freeze in fear. Fearsome aura is an ascendant Class ability and does not occupy any ability slots. Its activation time is average, it consumes psi and cannot be upgraded. Note, fearsome aura is a wolf-only-form ability. I don¡¯t know how long I stood there¡ªgaping at nothing for all intents and purposes. The elder form was powerful, and definitely worthy of its ¡®legendary¡¯ tag. ¡°Michael?¡± Anriq called out loudly. ¡°Sorry,¡± I muttered, wrenching my gaze away from the Game text to focus on him. ¡°I got distracted.¡± The werewolf¡¯s mouth quirked. ¡°I figured. That was the third time I tried to get your attention.¡± I shrugged. ¡°What can I say, there is a lot more to the elder wolf form than I expected.¡± ¡°It¡¯s powerful then?¡± he asked eagerly. ¡°You could say that,¡± I replied, then proceeded to share with him the Adjudicator¡¯s description. ¡°Wow,¡± Anriq exclaimed, looking as stunned as I¡¯d been. ¡°Thirty percent resistance? Across all types, that¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Insane,¡± I finished for him. And it was. Because, crucially, the primal creature trait granted my wolf form damage resistance, not damage reduction. The two were not to be confused. A thirty percent damage reduction would decrease the damage I sustained from a hit by about a third, whereas a thirty percent damage resistance meant one out of three attacks launched against me would fail¡ªcompletely. And the best part was that it applied equally to hostile spells as it did to direct damage! ¡°Will the trait stack with your void armor?¡± Anriq asked. I nodded. ¡°Undoubtedly.¡± ¡°Wow. Resistance. Regeneration. And three legendary attacks.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll be unstoppable!¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± I grinned. ¡°But close. And not to quibble, but lacerating bite is only an epic ability.¡± I chuckled at hearing myself say that. Only an epic ability? Riiight! Anriq was equally disdainful of my qualification. ¡°Who cares. It¡¯s damn powerful.¡± I smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t disagree.¡± ¡°You forgot the best part, Prime,¡± Ghost said, chipping in for the first time. I glanced at her. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be huge!¡± she replied, letting her tongue hang out in a wolfish grin. I laughed. ¡°Now that, I¡¯m less sure about.¡± I¡¯d grown used to fighting colossal enemies many times my size, but if the elder form tier-increases were anything to go by, by the time I reached tier five, I¡¯d be as big as a dragon in wolf form. And wouldn¡¯t that be something. Anriq gestured impatiently. ¡°Well, go on, do it! Let¡¯s see you in wolf form.¡± I closed my eyes. ¡°Alright. Here goes.¡± Chapter 534: Changing for the Better You have cast shapeshift. The moment I released the psi weaves, I began to change. Skin rippled. Blood churned. Bones softened. And little by little, my body dissolved, its solid, distinctive bulk transforming into a misshapen and malleable lump. It was frightening to say the least, and I could only imagine what the process looked like from Ghost and Anriq¡¯s perspective. But to me, it felt as if I would pop at the slightest provocation. Next, I began to swell. Like a bag of air inflating, my skin expanded. Bones stretched. And organs grew. Urgh, this can¡¯t look pretty from the outside. ¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± Ghost replied primly¡ªand somewhat snidely, I thought. But before I could retort, she added more reassuringly, ¡°It¡¯ll be over soon, I think. You¡¯re already larger than me.¡± She was right, I realized. While all my senses had shut down and my awareness of the outside world had vanished, I could still feel myself. I was bigger. Definitely bigger. Then the process began to reverse. Skin smoothened. Bones solidified. And my blood¡¯s roiling quietened. And then¡ªfinally¡ªI began to change. Fur replaced hair. Claws grew out of fingernails. Arms stretched. Legs shortened. Bones creaked as joints shifted. My torso lengthened. And lastly, my jaw popped. Opening it, I felt around the inside of my mouth with my tongue. The sensation was wholly different from what I¡¯d expected. I have a snout, sharp teeth, and¡ª I broke off. My transformation was complete, I realized. ¡°It is,¡± Ghost affirmed, and a heartbeat later, the Adjudicator¡¯s own confirmation arrived. You have taken the form of a level 250 elder wolf. 2 new traits gained. 2 skills have been transformed into their primal equivalent. 3 new abilities gained, and 10 existing abilities disabled. Congratulations, Michael, your nether resistance has reached 100% as a result of your active buffs (+20% from Cloak of the Reach and +30% from elder form). You are now immune to all hostile nether spells and effects. My vision cleared, and the world came into focus again. But my perspective had shifted. Anriq and Ghost were both shorter than me now. In fact, I practically loomed over the pair. My senses hadn¡¯t changed, though. They were no sharper than before¡ªeven if the story they told was a different one. Frozen paws and cold nose. That¡¯s what I felt most keenly. Then there was the feedback from the rest of my body. I was more aware of myself than I¡¯d ever been before. The heaving of my belly, the swish of my tail, the flick of my ears¡ªI felt it all, but strangely enough, none of the hundred different sensations impinging on my awareness struck me as weird. Time to take that all-important first step. Not quite certain of the mechanics involved, I willed myself into motion, fully expecting to stumble. But my new body displayed no hesitation, and I slunk forward gracefully, head dipped, tail extended, and paws padding lightly across the snow. ¡°Damn,¡± Anriq whistled, craning his neck back to stare up at me. ¡°That¡¯s one impressive wolf form.¡± I chuckled¡ªor tried to, anyway. Instead, what emerged from my mouth was a nasty-sounding growl. Raising his hands, Anriq backed away. ¡°Nice doggy.¡± I snarled again¡ªdeliberately this time. ¡°That¡¯s not funny,¡± I snapped over the farspeaker link. He tried but failed to hide his smile. ¡°Sorry, I couldn¡¯t resist. Consider it an old werewolf joke. You won¡¯t believe how many times I¡¯ve heard that one myself.¡± ¡°Hmpf.¡± Turning my head this way and that, I walked about in a slow circle, inspecting myself from as many angles as I could. My fur was ice white, much like Snow¡¯s. Is white an elder wolf¡¯s natural color? I wondered. Or had the Adjudicator made me this way to signify my relationship with the arctic wolves? The question was only a bit of idle speculation though, and I quickly dismissed it. The rest of me was equally impressive. Muscles rippled with every stride I took. My claws were black and deadly looking. My teeth, I already knew, were sharp and long. And my eyes¡­ what color were they? ¡°Black,¡± Ghost supplied helpfully.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Nodding to her in thanks, I drew to a stop before Anriq again. ¡°Final thoughts?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t fight you, that¡¯s for sure,¡± he said with a smile. I glanced at Ghost, keen to hear what she thought as well. ¡°You look like how I always imagined,¡± she replied. ¡°Just like a true Prime should.¡± I sat on my haunches, basking in their feedback. Still, my feelings of pleasure did not last, and after only a handful of seconds, I began glancing at the waiting portal behind me again. My new body was functional, more than that really, and there was no more reason to delay further. ¡°It¡¯s time you got going,¡± Anriq guessed. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied simply. ¡°Which way will you head?¡± I thought about the question for a moment. The ambush attempted by the overlord and nagas had changed things. Where before it had been imperative to keep our presence a secret, secrecy was no longer a factor. The void knew we were in sector 18,240. That being the case, there was no reason to avoid the stygians, and in fact, every reason to seize the initiative and thin their numbers while we still could. I had a choice when it came to my targets, too. The nest in the north. Or the stygians encamped in the south, near the Draven Reach¡¯s portal. ¡°South,¡± I said finally. ¡°South is better for now.¡± Anriq grunted approvingly. ¡°Fewer stygians there. I agree.¡± That wasn¡¯t exactly my reasoning, but I didn¡¯t disagree. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t urge you to be careful,¡± Anriq said. ¡°That goes without saying.¡± I rose to my feet. ¡°Good hunting,¡± Anriq said in farewell. Ducking my head in acknowledgment, I spun about. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ghost. We have some stygians to kill.¡± ? ? ? You have entered sector 18,240 of the Forever Kingdom. I trotted through the portal fully at ease in my shifted form. The secret, I realized, was not to think too much about the mechanics of my motions. If I simply focused on what I needed my body to do, it would take care of the rest. Ten yards beyond the gateway, I drew to a stop. ¡°What is it?¡± Ghost asked from where she paced on my left. Not answering immediately, I turned about in a slow circle and studied the horizon in all directions. But despite how hard I looked I could spot no sign of the enemy. ¡°The stygians haven¡¯t returned,¡± I murmured finally. ¡°You expected them to?¡± I mimicked a shrug¡ªsomething hard to do in a wolf¡¯s body. ¡°It won¡¯t do for us to underestimate the void again. We have to assume the void tree¡ªor whichever of the nether¡¯s creatures is in charge here¡ªis aware of the overlord¡¯s demise. That being the case, we should expect a reaction. What that¡¯ll be though, I can¡¯t tell.¡± The pyre wolf cocked her head to the side. ¡°Which is why we need to scout the force to the south?¡± I growled softly. ¡°Oh, I have more than scouting in mind, but essentially, yes.¡± Turning in said direction, I broke out into a steady jog. We had a long journey ahead of us. ? ? ? While Ghost and I raced through the mist, I passed the time completing my player progression. Thanks to my new elder form trait, I had a sudden abundance of ability slots, but I knew they wouldn¡¯t last, and I couldn¡¯t afford to be careless about how I spent my new attribute points. So, what will it be? I wondered. Mind or Dexterity? Piercing strike was the only one of my Dexterity abilities ready for upgrade to tier five. Sadly, whirlwind was still not where it needed to be. On the other hand, I had two Mind abilities¡ªmass puppet and astral shurikens¡ªthat could be advanced to the elite tier, and it wouldn¡¯t be much longer before the other four¡ªwindborne, enhanced reflexes, shadow blink, and quick mend¡ªwere also ready for upgrade. And even with the boost provided by elder form, I was far short of the ability slots I needed to advance all six abilities. It has to be Mind, I thought. I have to invest further in it. Momentarily turning my attention inward, I willed my intention to the Adjudicator. Your Mind has increased to rank 170. Other modifiers: +12 from items. Available ability slots: 44. Better, I thought in satisfaction after reviewing the Game message. Soon, I could expect to add more elite abilities to my repertoire. Sadly, though, ¡®soon¡¯ was the best I could aim for. Ideally, I would have liked to advance astral shurikens immediately, but unfortunately, my shifted form made that impossible. As a wolf, I had no access to any of my gear¡ªincluding my consumables. It was a definite limitation of my new form, and it was one I would have to carefully manage going forward. ¡°Why must you always dwell on the negatives?¡± Ghost protested. ¡°Especially seeing as there are so many advantages to your new form!¡± I chuckled mentally. ¡°You¡¯re right about that. And speaking of, let¡¯s see how my resistances have changed.¡± Reaching out to the Adjudicator again, I pulled up the applicable Game data. Damage Reduction (DR) DR reduces damage incurred only. Life: 20%. Death: 25%. Air: 55%. Earth: 55%. Fire: 55%. Water: 55%. Shadow: 40%. Light: 40%. Dark: 40%. Nether: 100%. Physical: 62% (from armor and items). Resistance (RES) RES negates damage and rebuffs hostile spells and abilities. Physical Resistances (all): 30%. Mental Resistances (all): 30%. Magical Resistances: Life: 40%. Death: 42.5%. Air: 57.5%. Earth: 57.5%. Fire: 77.5%. Water: 57.5%. Shadow: 50%. Light: 50%. Dark: 50%. Nether: 100%. Aether: 30% Special: 20% chance to evade area-of-effect spells (derived from Tiamaten armor. This buff stacks with other resistances where applicable). Reading my Game data, I felt like grinning. Not only was I now immune to nether magic, but the chances of any other type of spell or ability affecting me had drastically decreased. This included physical abilities like charge and knockdown. ¡°Well?¡± Ghost demanded. I laughed. ¡°You were right, it¡¯s much better to consider the positives.¡¯ Still laughing, I increased my pace¡ªmore eager than ever to face the stygians. Somehow, though, I didn¡¯t think they were going to enjoy facing me as much. Chapter 535: On the Offensive The journey south was longer than my first one¡ªthen I¡¯d been carried by the river. Still, it was not significantly so. As an elder wolf, I could maintain an impressive ground-eating pace, and the miles flew by with barely any notice. Around noon¡ªor just after¡ªGhost and I reached our destination. Cresting another rise of barren soil, I spotted a luminous glow on the horizon. The portal to Draven¡¯s Reach. And above it, another overlord. I¡¯d bit back a mental sigh. I¡¯d know about the Power, of course. But I¡¯d been hoping that Anriq and Safyre had been wrong about the creature besieging the gateway, or that it would have withdrawn in the interim. No matter. We¡¯ll deal with it. The overlord¡¯s absence would¡¯ve made things easier, but the schedule I¡¯d formulated already accounted for killing the creature. Besides, there were other obvious benefits to dealing with the void¡¯s Powers in a piecemeal fashion. ¡°What do we face?¡± Ghost asked quietly. ¡°One overlord.¡± Letting my gaze drift downward, I turned my attention to the hydras and serpents massed around the gateway. ¡°And three hundred¡ªno, make that four hundred¡ªlesser stygians.¡± ¡°No nagas?¡± ¡°No nagas,¡± I confirmed. ¡°That¡¯s good news at least,¡± Ghost commented. I bobbed my head. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a closer look.¡± ¡°You want me to unmanifest?¡± the pyre wolf asked. Glancing back at her, I hesitated. Ghost lacked the stealth necessary to sneak closer to the overlord, so she would have to stay behind or dissociate. But there was another consideration, too. ¡°How are you managing with the mist?¡± ¡°Oh, it hardly bothers me anymore,¡± she replied. ¡°Since becoming an adept stygian, I resist more of mist¡¯s effects than I feel. My health has barely dropped since we started traveling south.¡± I nodded slowly. ¡°Then unmanifesting is not necessary. You can wait here if you prefer.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± she replied, flopping down on the ground. Drawing psi, I padded forward. ¡°Alright, stay alert. I¡¯ll report back soon.¡± ? ? ? You have cast enhanced reflexes, vanish, and trigger-cast quick mend. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. I slunk toward the portal, a silent and unseen menace. Ahead, the hydras and snakes were piled atop one another, asleep and oblivious of the approaching danger. Above, the overlord and his escorts of serpents were equally still. Meanwhile, the river rushed on noisily behind the stygians, masking all lesser sounds. I didn¡¯t hesitate in my advance. Given the situation, I was confident I was impervious to detection. Only the overlord¡¯s thickened plume gave me pause, and I drew to a halt as I entered its depths. The nether toxicity has increased to tier 24. I had little fear for myself. It was Ghost I was concerned for. How would she fare once the battle started? Not well. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the pyre wolf asked, sensing the direction of my thoughts. ¡°We¡¯ll have to draw the stygians out of the plume,¡± I told her. ¡°You won¡¯t last long fighting in here.¡± ¡°That should be easy enough,¡± she stated confidently. ¡°If I let them see me, they¡¯ll give chase.¡± ¡°Some would,¡± I allowed. The only questions were how many would remain to guard the gate and whether Ghost would be able to handle those who chased after her. ¡°Should I do it?¡± ¡°One moment,¡± I replied and took a minute to conduct a longer survey of the massed stygians. But my initial evaluation had been correct. There were no nagas amongst them. We could proceed. ¡°Do it,¡± I instructed. ¡°And make sure you lead the stygians toward the river.¡± ¡°Why that way?¡± Ghost asked curiously as she began her approach. ¡°If you get into trouble, or if the overlord itself gets involved, you can use the river to escape. The stygians don¡¯t appear to like water. Only unmanifest as a last resort.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± the pyre wolf acknowledged. ¡°What about you?¡± My upper lips lifted in a silent snarl. ¡°I¡¯ll hang around here and deal with the stragglers.¡± ? ? ? It was nearly a full minute before the first stygian stirred. From atop the stygian mound, a sleepy serpent uncoiled and glanced in Ghost¡¯s direction. Then hissed. Its response was a catalyst, and in short order, the entire pile of stygians unraveled. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. I stayed where I was, my gaze fixed skyward. While the ground-bound serpents and hydras were certainly a danger, it was the overlord that was the true threat. But the Power did not stir. Nor did its escorts of flying snakes launch off. Hmm. Why¡¯s that? Meanwhile, the uncoiling serpents and hydras had split into two packs. The smaller group, slithering about in a frenzy of motion, set off after Ghost. But the second group, remaining behind, were spreading out rapidly in all directions¡ªas if to protect the ground-bound approaches to the overlord. Soon, they would overrun my position. And once that happened, I would be detected.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Even crouched low and with my belly hugging the ground, I made for a big obstacle, and whether by chance or not, one of the awakening stygians would brush up against me. Nonetheless, I didn¡¯t move. Letting my gaze drift beyond the approaching tide, I picked out the stygians that were pursuing Ghost. ¡°You have one hundred on your tail, mostly serpents, but there¡¯s a few hydras too.¡± ¡°Ha, so few? I¡¯ll handle them easily.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t discount them,¡± I replied sternly. ¡°No matter their levels, a hundred stygians is a lot. Take the threat seriously.¡± ¡°Sorry, Prime,¡± she replied, more soberly. ¡°I will.¡± I glanced upward again. ¡°The overlord still hasn¡¯t moved, but that doesn¡¯t mean it won¡¯t once you engage. Be careful and use the river to escape if you must.¡± ¡°Got it, Prime.¡± ¡°Good luck, then,¡± I said, rising to my feet. The serpentine wave was about to break over me. Crouching back on my haunches, I readied myself. It was time I, too, went to work. ? ? ? You have set your teeth and claws alight. Duration: infinite. Your attacks will now deal fire damage. I waited until the last moment before attacking. Then all it took was a single bound forward and a snap of my jaws to bring an end to the first of my foes. You have killed a stygian serpent with a fatal blow. I didn¡¯t pause to celebrate. Whirling about, I sprinted flat out, my paws flying across the ground. Another stygian was almost within striking distance. Leaping through the air, I landed atop the hydra¡¯s broad back. A level 179 stygian hydra has been knocked down. The large stygian crumpled beneath me, driven into the ground by my greater weight, and before it could do more than squawk in surprise, I got to work. You have cast whirlwind, lacerating bite, and stunning paw. You have backstabbed a stygian hydra for 5x more damage. You have critically injured your target. A stygian hydra is stunned (duration: 5 seconds) and bleeding (duration: 21 seconds). You have backstabbed a stygian hydra for 5x more damage. You have backstabbed a stygian hydra for 5x more damage. ¡­ ¡­ A level 179 stygian hydra has died. Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you. It took only a handful of seconds to slay my prey, and not unexpectedly, its death did not go unnoticed. What took me aback though, was the stygians¡¯ reaction. They did not converge on the site of their fellow¡¯s death, seeking to overwhelm its slayer with numbers alone. Instead, in the short span of time it had taken me to effect the kill, the space around me had emptied, leaving no stygian within easy reach. My nose wrinkling in confusion, I lifted my burning muzzle to take in the wider surroundings. Only to be surprised anew. Everywhere I looked, the stygians were¡­ fleeing? That couldn¡¯t be right, though. The nether¡¯s creatures didn¡¯t retreat. They fought to the death. I bent back my head further to see what the overlord made of its minions¡¯ cowardice. It, too, was in motion¡ªupward. Withdrawing, as well. ¡°Damn,¡± I muttered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Prime?¡± Ghost asked. I glanced in her direction. The stygians chasing after the pyre wolf were receding too, if at a slower rate than those about me. ¡°The enemy is fleeing,¡± I replied. ¡°Even the overlord is withdrawing from the fight. I¡¯m not sure why, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy enough to figure out,¡± Ghost said, even as she turned about to snap at the closest stygian. ¡°It must be because of you.¡± ¡°What?¡± I asked, startled. ¡°The stygians are learning to fear you,¡± she replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°Nonsense,¡± I scoffed. ¡°The stygians don¡¯t learn. They¡ª¡± I broke off as I realized how foolish my words sounded. Of course, the stygians learned! And nowhere was that more apparent than in this sector. The void had changed tactics multiple times already¡ªnot always for the better, perhaps¡ªbut unquestionably, it had managed to surprise us. Not once. But repeatedly. My gaze found the retreating overlord again. Its trajectory had altered infinitesimally. Now, not only was the Power rising, it was also floating northward. The ground-bound stygians had changed course too. Where before they¡¯d been fleeing in random directions¡ªto get away from me as fast as they could¡ªnow they streamed after the overlord, gathering beneath it as if seeking shelter. ¡°What do I do now?¡± Ghost asked as the last stygian in range of her paws died. ¡°There¡¯s nothing left for me to kill. The other stygians have fled. I know in which direction they went though. Do I pursue?¡± Still surveying the battlefield, I said nothing. ¡°Prime?¡± Ghost prompted. ¡°If I don¡¯t close the distance soon, I¡¯m going to lose them in the mist. Let me go after¡ª¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t,¡± I ordered, sitting back on my haunches. ¡°Stay where you are. I need a moment to think.¡± It was clear the battle was over. Or at least, the opening sequence was. I¡¯d barely gotten into my stride. My plan had been to suck in the enemy, and once I was immersed hip-deep in stygians, to activate fearsome aura and freeze them in place. It would have been a bloodbath. On the ground at least. I¡¯d had no intention of killing the overlord itself during this outing. My goal had been purely to thin the size of its escort, ground-bound or otherwise, and train as many skills as I could in the process. Instead, the stygians had chosen to surrender the field, leaving the Draven portal unguarded. Why? Closing my eyes, I pondered the question. I didn¡¯t think the answer was as simple as Ghost made out¡ªthere was no way something as powerful as the overlord feared the likes of me¡ªhowever, there was a kernel of truth to her words. The stygians had learned. How though? I reviewed the recent sequence of events, truncated as they were, in my mind. First, Ghost had revealed herself and a contingent of stygians had set off in pursuit. Nothing unexpected there. Then I had attacked¡ªwhile invisible¡ªand the enemy had fled. Immediately, too. That was the most surprising part. There had been barely any time for panic to set in, much less for it to become so widespread as to simultaneously affect hundreds of stygians. Which could only mean that it was not fear that had driven the nether creatures but a telepathic order from the overlord. And the only reason for the stygian Power to give such an order so quickly was if it knew. Knew what had happened clear across the sector at the Guardian Tower portal. Knew that an invisible foe had killed a fellow overlord. And that implied¡­ communication. Sector-wide instantaneous communication, no less. I exhaled noisily. The failure of the overlord to send its flying serpents after Ghost finally made sense. This overlord clearly knew how the other one had died. Not only that, it had probably also figured out one of the key weaknesses we had exploited. Namely, its fellow Power¡¯s airborne escorts. This overlord, wary of its flying serpents being enslaved, had chosen to keep the creatures close. Hells, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if any unknown flying serpent approaching the Power was killed out of hand. All of which spelt trouble for us. I¡¯d been fully expecting to reuse the same tactics we¡¯d successfully employed against the first overlord on the other three overlords in the sector. I snorted. So much for that idea. We¡¯d have to come up with another way of dealing with the remaining overlords. I shook my head. It was a problem for another day. Today, we still had stygians to kill. I rose back to my feet. ¡°I¡¯ve thought it through, Ghost. Let¡¯s run those stygians down.¡± ¡°Happy to!¡± the pyre wolf replied cheerfully. She paused. ¡°What if they scatter again?¡± ¡°Then they¡¯ll learn another lesson,¡± I growled. ¡°There¡¯s no outrunning a wolf. Not today. Not ever.¡± Chapter 536: Valuable Lessons The next hour flew by. If not for my nethersight, it was possible the stygians could¡¯ve outrun us, but with it, catching the creatures was child¡¯s play. Nor was what followed any harder. Four hundred stygians were a lot to face head on. But four hundred stygians fleeing and steadfastly refusing to engage? Well, that was as simple as picking stragglers from a herd. Lurking around the edges of the stygian formation, I charmed, paralyzed, or slept small groups of the creatures, isolating them from the rest. Then, Ghost and I laid into the bespelled stygians with tooth and claw. The overlord didn¡¯t try to stop us. Keeping up its relentless retreat, north, northeast, the stygian Power didn¡¯t so much as throw an errant nether blob our way. Nor did it release any of the flying serpents perched on its surface. I could still have charmed them from afar, of course, but not wanting to reveal any more of my capabilities to the void tree¡ªwhich I had to assume was ¡®watching¡¯ the battle from afar¡ªI didn¡¯t try. For the same reason, I stayed invisible and reconsidered my decision to use fearsome aura. I would have to put all my abilities in play eventually, no doubt, but for now, the less the stygians knew about my wolf form the better. Two hours into the skirmish¡ªbattle was too grand a word for it¡ªthe overlord crossed the river, leaving the remaining ground-bound stygians stranded on the same side of the river as my familiar and me. ¡°Where is it going?¡± Ghost wondered. ¡°Back to the void tree and the stygian nest, I suspect,¡± I replied. Ghost turned my way. ¡°Why?¡± I gave a lupine shrug. ¡°Probably because it realizes it¡¯s too vulnerable out here alone.¡± The pyre wolf¡¯s head swung back to the river. ¡°We¡¯re just going to let it go?¡± she asked, sounding disappointed. ¡°Today we are. But it won¡¯t reach its destination today. Or even tomorrow for that matter. The overlord moves too slowly for that.¡± ¡°What happens tomorrow?¡± Ghost asked, sensing something in my voice. ¡°Tomorrow, it dies,¡± I replied flatly. The pyre wolf bobbed her head, taking me at my word. ¡°And them?¡± she asked, gesturing toward the hydras and serpents still milling about the water¡¯s edge. ¡°Them, we kill today,¡± I growled. ? ? ? The remaining stygians chose to scatter. I wasn¡¯t sure if that was because of some final command by the overlord or whether it was a result of the stygian Power finally losing its hold over the creatures. Still, Ghost and I weren¡¯t about to let our prey get away so easily. Tracking the stygians, we hunted them down one by one. It was a task that was tedious and time-consuming but without any real danger, and deciding to make the most of the opportunity, Ghost and I trained as many skills as we could. I even went so far as to use ventro again and limit the use of my more powerful abilities. A few hours before midnight, we ran down the last stygian. But despite the lateness of the hour and the day¡¯s surprising turn of events, I was pleased by what we¡¯d accomplished. Both Ghost¡¯s and my own skills had advanced appreciably. You and Ghost have reached level 252! Your tooth and claw (shortswords), channeling, and meditation have reached rank 22, your two weapon fighting and telekinesis rank 20, and your nether absorption rank 21. Ghost¡¯s magma maw and telepathy have reached rank 12, her ash armor rank 14, her death magic rank 10, and her nether manipulation rank 6. ¡°Well, Ghost,¡± I said, turning to my familiar, ¡°that took longer than we expected, but I can¡¯t say we have any cause for¡ª¡± I broke off as another string of Game messages scrolled through my mind. Your nether absorption has increased to level 213, increasing your chance of resisting harmful nether effects by 52.5% and decreasing the damage you suffer from the void by 105%. Congratulations, Michael! Your nether damage reduction has surpassed 100%, transforming it from a reduction buff and into a regeneration one. In future, any nether damage you sustain will restore a portion of the applicable energy pools. Your current nether regeneration rate is: 5%. The nether toxicity at your current location is at tier 4. Based on this, your health, psi, stamina, and mana are regenerating at a rate of 1.25% per minute. My nostrils flared in surprise, and if I had been in human form, I would¡¯ve laughed out loud, too. It was not so long ago that I¡¯d been singing the praises of resistance and recounting¡ªif only to myself¡ªwhy it was better than damage reduction. The latest series of Game messages gave me cause to reevaluate. Was it better to enjoy total immunity¡ªinclusive of spells¡ªor to be healed every time I was attacked? Damn, if I know, I thought. Picking between resistance and reduction would be horribly difficult, and I was just glad that, having both, I didn¡¯t need to. Ghost yawned mightily. ¡°Are we done here?¡± She prodded the corpse at her feet with her nose. ¡°Or are you planning on looting these?¡± I shook my head firmly. The four hundred odd stygian bodies were spread out over an area of a few square miles, and I was not about to tramp back and forth between them, collecting reagents¡ªand certainly not in human form. ¡°No, it¡¯s time we rejoin the others,¡± I said, drawing psi. ¡°Let me shift back, then we can leave.¡± ? ? ?Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. You have taken the form of a level 252 human. Warning: you have cast shapeshift twice in one day and cannot recast it again today. The ascendant ability requires a full sleep cycle to recharge. Ghost has unmanifested. Portal scroll consumed. You have opened a greater portal within sector 18,240. I stepped directly from the mist-filled plains and into the cool darkness of the cave that was to be our new home. Only it was not so dark¡ªnor cool for that matter. You have entered a tier 5 concealment field. You have triggered the ward: fly-trap! Before I could react, strands of steely silk wrapped around my torso. Yanking me off my feet, they pinned me against the closest wall. You are stuck (duration: 25 seconds). I sighed. This again? ¡°I see you¡¯re not wasting time, Adriel,¡± I said loudly, the words reverberating from the stone walls. ¡°You¡¯ve fortified the place already?¡± The lich¡¯s rich laugh floated from somewhere out of sight. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not my doing.¡± I frowned. Fly-trap didn¡¯t sound like a spell that would belong in an aetherist¡¯s spellbook. ¡°Saf?¡± Her chuckle echoed Adriel¡¯s amusement. ¡°The ward is not mine either.¡± My consternation grew. ¡°Then who¡ª¡± You have passed a Perception check! You have detected a neutral entity. Lucius is no longer hidden! The shadows unraveled and a shape appeared above me. Craning my neck back, I tensed, drawing psi, and was about ready to shadow blink when I realized what¡ªor who¡ªI was staring at. A possessed. Or rather a former possessed in a new golem body. It had taken inexcusably long for my brain to catch up with what my eyes were seeing. But in my defense, everything about the golem screamed of danger, and my instincts had taken over. Then, too, the golem in question¡ªLucius¡ªwas upside down. My eyes flitted from Adriel¡¯s silently descending creation to the silk threads holding it¡ªhim¡ªup. Each of the six steel-like bands was as thick as a rope and affixed to the roof of the cavern itself. How did he get all the way up there? I wondered. Lowering my head, I tracked Lucuis as he descended from the stone ceiling. The golem was humanoid in shape and slightly larger than me. In texture and color, his skin¡ªis that the right word? somehow it didn¡¯t feel correct¡ªwas identical to the nagas¡¯ scales. But I could perceive no joints. The golem¡¯s outer layer was one seamless whole¡ªunblemished and bearing an ebon sheen. But for all that, Lucius looked¡­ unfinished. For one, the golem was completely hairless, and for another, while all his limbs appeared meticulously crafted and as about as supple and flexible as any player¡¯s, they lacked the finer details that often characterized people. Lucius¡¯ eyes were orbless, his head bald, his face unwrinkled, and his limbs unlined. More telling yet, the golem was androgynous, and his torso bore no genitalia of any sort. Adriel spoke truly, I thought. She¡¯d given Lucius a functional body, if not a human-appearing one. Certainly, there was no mistaking the golem for anything other than what it was¡ªa construct. The former possessed drew to a stop at eye level with me and our gazes met. ¡°Lucius, I presume?¡± The golem nodded. ¡°Well met, Wolf.¡± Lucius¡¯ tone was warm and smooth, and surprisingly lacking in any mechanical overtones. I tugged on the silk cords binding me. ¡°Mind letting me down?¡± I jerked my head toward him. ¡°And while you¡¯re at it, how about turning yourself right side up? Conversing this way is far from comfortable.¡± Lucius shrugged. ¡°As you wish.¡± While the golem set about unraveling his spell, I looked past him and took in the cavern at large. A lot had changed in the hours I¡¯d been away. The left side of the cavern had been reconfigured as a storeroom. Heaps of furs, bone sleds piled with food, ebon mounds of naga scales, and even huge blocks of ice sat there, all carefully sorted and arrayed in neat lines. The right side of the cavern had been claimed by the Packs, and everywhere I looked, I spotted dire and arctic wolves lounging at rest and pups gamboling in play. To my great relief, all the wolves were present and accounted for. Safyre, Shael, and Anriq have done well, I thought. Not only had they evacuated both Packs, they¡¯d even managed to relocate the bulk of our supplies, and all in less than a day. Speaking off the trio¡­ My gaze drifted to the far end of the cavern where Adriel, the pack elders, and Safyre were gathered around the Astral Rings. They appeared deeply involved in another rehoming ritual, which explained their truncated greetings and resulting silence. Shael and Anriq meanwhile were busy in the center of the cavern doing¡­ I squinted. From the looks of it, the pair were building something made from bone, metal, and bits of wood. Hmm, now what are¡ª A fly-trap has dissipated. You are no longer stuck. I broke off as my silken cage vanished. Controlling my fall, I dropped lightly onto the cave floor. A second later, the golem flipped himself over and thumped down beside me. I winced as the ground shuddered at the impact. ¡°I do not like this body,¡± Lucius said flatly, noticing my expression. ¡°It¡¯s too heavy.¡± I shrugged. ¡°It was the best we could do under the circumstances.¡± ¡°You promised us flesh bodies,¡± Lucius said, not letting the matter go. I folded my arms. ¡°I did. But I also promised that you would serve out the rest of your lives as soldiers of New Haven. That¡¯s not happening either.¡± I held the golem¡¯s eerily-dead gaze. ¡°A lot has happened since my speech in the archlich¡¯s court, and none of us have any choice but to adapt to the situation we find ourselves in.¡± The golem¡¯s expression did not shift, not even a little, and I got the sense that it could not. No facial muscles? I wondered. Lucius tilted his head to the side. ¡°Adapt or die, is that it?¡± ¡°Pretty much,¡± I said evenly. ¡°You can either pledge yourself to our cause or choose to end your life here and now¡ªa life, mind you, that you artificially extended at the expense of countless innocents.¡± For a drawn-out moment, Lucius said nothing, leaving me to wonder what he was thinking. The choice I¡¯d bluntly offered him was a harsh one, deliberately so. I could have sweetened the deal, I suppose. But that would have been an injustice. The former possessed were criminals. I could not forget that, nor would I allow them to. Yes, I was offering them a chance at redemption, but until they had proven themselves, I would trust them no further than necessary, nor would I pander to their wants and desires. ¡°You speak plainly,¡± Lucius said at last. ¡°I like that.¡± Before I could say anything, he went down on bended knee. ¡°To whom or what do I pledge?¡± My eyes darted to the back of the cave. ¡°Did Adriel not explain?¡± Lucius chuckled. ¡°The lich does not explain. She commands, she instructs, and sometimes she may even stoop to asking. But explain? Never. I was told simply to guard the cave and await your return.¡± I stroked my chin. ¡°I see. Then, in that case, we¡¯ll need to have a longer conversation. But that can wait for later. For now, you will make your pledge to the Forerunners faction.¡± ¡°A faction,¡± Lucius murmured. ¡°How fascinating.¡± Without needing further instruction, he bowed his head and made his pledge, which I accepted. You have accepted Lucius, a non-player, into the Forerunners faction. Lucius is free to break his pledge of loyalty at any time and without consequences. As are you. However, until such time as the Forerunners disavow the golem¡ªor vice versa¡ªhe will be considered the faction¡¯s sworn servant, and his actions will reflect on it. His oath made, Lucius rose smoothly to his feet. ¡°Now that that is out of the way, will you tell me what I am?¡± he asked plaintively. Extending his arms, the golem stared down at them. ¡°This substance¡­ I do not recognize it.¡± My brows rose. ¡°Adriel did not tell¡ª¡± I broke off. ¡°Forgive me, it¡¯s obvious from your question that she didn¡¯t. Let me analyze you.¡± Reaching out with my will, I inspected Lucius. The target is Lucius, a level 210 nagian mage hunter. Nagians, so-named for the nagas which birthed them, are a new type of flesh-construct. Created from bestial remains, pure void crystals, and condensed nether, they are equally at home in the Nethersphere as they are in the Kingdom. Nagians are heavily resistant to physical damage and also suffer no damage from free-floating nether. Moreso, while surrounded by mist, nagians require neither food nor drink, and take sustenance directly from the nether itself. Note, a nagian¡¯s immunity to free-floating nether does not extend to other forms of necrotic attacks and spells. I read the Adjudicator¡¯s response aloud for Lucius¡¯ benefit and could feel his shock. I was a little bemused myself. Adriel had created something unique¡ªagain. Was there no end to her creativity? ¡°How did Adriel make me immune to the void¡¯s touch?¡± Lucius demanded. ¡°And why would she bother?¡± ¡°That¡¯s part of the wider discussion we need to have,¡± I replied carefully. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s rejoin the others, and I¡¯ll explain.¡± Chapter 537: The Nagians The golem came willingly enough. I studied him surreptitiously as we walked. Lucius¡¯ expression was impossible to decipher but from his muttering, I could tell he was still preoccupied by what I¡¯d told him. ¡°I didn¡¯t think to ask before,¡± I began, ¡°but what House do you hail from?¡± For some reason, the question set the golem chuckling despite his distraction. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell?¡± he asked, gesturing behind us. It took me a moment to figure out that he was pointing to the silk strands, then it clicked. ¡°You¡¯re a¡­ Spider?¡± Flattening his lips, Lucuis stretched them in what I suspected was meant to be a smile. It was a particularly poor imitation, but diplomatically, I refrained from saying so. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he confirmed. ¡°House Spider and Death are ancient allies.¡± His tone turned morose. ¡°Or we were. It¡¯s why Adriel rehomed me first. She trusts me more than the others.¡± ¡°And is she right to?¡± I asked casually. Lucius laughed. ¡°Another blunt question. But I¡¯m curious, do you truly expect me to say anything other than yes?¡± It was my turn to smile. ¡°Don¡¯t mistake me for a na?ve fool, Lucius. I have ways of compelling the truth from you, and before the night is out, I will almost certainly do so. Consider this your only opportunity to speak freely before then.¡± The golem tilted his head. ¡®Speaking freely¡¯¡ªis that what they call interrogations these days?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still dodging the question,¡± I pointed out mildly. Lucius bowed his head and fell silent for so long I didn¡¯t think he was going to answer. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he said finally. It was an honest-sounding answer, and that was all I could ask for. Further questions would have to wait, however. We¡¯d reached the center of the cavern. Anriq and Shael were still tinkering with whatever they were building and had not looked up yet. Instead our welcome was left to the two wolves approaching from the right. ¡°Welcome back, Michael,¡± the larger one greeted warmly. ¡°Thank you, Oursk.¡± Going down on one knee, I held out my hand to the arctic wolf accompanying him. Snow snuffled my palm and sent a mental image that was his own greeting. ¡°How are the Packs doing?¡± I asked both wolves. ¡°We¡¯re settling,¡± Oursk replied. ¡°Many of the pups are confused, but excited at the change nonetheless.¡± Raising his snout, the dire wolf looked meaningfully upward. ¡°Then there are those who want to know when we can leave.¡± I winced. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Oursk, but the Packs aren¡¯t going anywhere. The caves will be your home for the foreseeable future.¡± Both wolves lowered their gazes, clearly unhappy about the news. ¡°Duggar said so,¡± Oursk began, ¡°but I thought you would¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°Never fear, scion, we will adapt. As always.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I had to uproot you from your home again.¡± My words prompted a flurry of images from the arctic wolf alpha that washed over me too quickly to decipher. ¡°Home is where the Pack is,¡± Oursk translated. ¡°The rest is just a place to live.¡± I chuckled. ¡°Very wise.¡± I sensed the wolves¡¯ answering grins. ¡°Where is Ghost?¡± Duggar asked, changing the topic. ¡°Sleeping,¡± I replied. ¡°She¡¯s had a long day.¡± ¡°Pups these days have no stamina,¡± he joked. ¡°Don¡¯t let her hear you say that,¡± I murmured and glanced sideways at the golem lurking beside me. I wondered what he made of the wolves. Lucius¡¯ body language screamed of wary watchfulness, but he exhibited no impatience or surprise. But then again, all the possessed¡ªas former scions themselves¡ªwould have an intimate understanding of the relationship between a scion and their animal brethren. ¡°What do you make of him, Oursk,¡± I asked softly. ¡°His mind is opaque,¡± the big dire wolf replied so quickly I knew he¡¯d been expecting the question. ¡°His awareness is too well shielded for even an errant thought to slip through.¡± ¡°Hmm. What do the elders think?¡± ¡°They have not been able to get a read on him either. Duggar instructed me to watch him until you returned.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I said, rising to my feet. I wished I¡¯d spent more time getting to know the possessed before this, but truthfully there had been no time for that. I would have to rely on Adriel¡¯s counsel. I suspected, though, that further insight would have to wait until morning. The lich and the others didn¡¯t look like they were quitting any time soon. Shael and Anriq, though, had, and were finally approaching. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more later, Oursk,¡± I said, turning to face the pair. ¡°See that you do,¡± the dire wolf replied, accepting the dismissal. ¡°The pups are anxious to reacquaint themselves with you and Ghost.¡± On that note, the two wolves slunk off leaving me alone with Shael, Anriq, and Lucius. ¡°How did it go?¡± Anriq asked obliquely after a brief glance in Lucius¡¯ direction. ¡°There were complications,¡± I replied in the same vein. ¡°And on this end?¡± ¡°The evacuation is complete,¡± Shael replied. ¡°All the wolves have come through safely.¡± ¡°Evacuation from where?¡± Lucius asked. He surveyed the cave. ¡°And for that matter, where are we? Not in Draven¡¯s Reach, I don¡¯t think.¡± Shael glanced curiously at the nagian but didn¡¯t respond to his questions. ¡°As you can see,¡± the bard continued, addressing me again, ¡°Adriel has begun rehoming the possessed.¡± I nodded. ¡°How many so far?¡± ¡°Three,¡± Lucius answered before the others could. ¡°Three?¡± I asked, startled ¡°Where¡ª¡± ¡°Hail, scion!¡± The words rang out hollowly from the left. Turning in that direction, I spotted two nagians emerging from behind one of the ¡®storeroom¡¯s¡¯ fur piles. Like Lucius, their minds were shielded, which explained why I¡¯d not noticed them before this. Wanting to know who I was facing, I reached out with my will and analyzed the approaching pair. The target is Bacheus, a level 208 nagian sorcerer. The target is Zekiel, a level 206 nagian psi knight. ¡°Meet Bach and Zek,¡± Lucius said grandly as the two drew closer. ¡°My fellow captains.¡± I glanced at him sharply. ¡°Captains?¡± He nodded. ¡°Adriel has chosen the three of us to serve as the leaders of the former possessed. Although, I suppose we should be calling ourselves nagians from now on.¡± My eyes narrowed. ¡°Is that why all three of you are elites?¡± Lucius attempted another gruesome smile. ¡°Partly. But it¡¯s also because the lich trusts us.¡± I grunted noncommittally. ¡°Safyre asked us to watch them¡ªdiscreetly,¡± Anriq said over the farspeaker bracelet. ¡°Why?¡± I asked. Folding my arms behind my back and pretending to watch the approaching nagians, I betrayed no sign of our mental conversation. ¡°Does Safyre not trust them?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it,¡± Shael replied. ¡°Adriel is confident of their loyalty¡ªand that¡¯s good enough for Safyre¡ªbut given the precariousness of our situation, she felt it only prudent we watch them.¡± ¡°An understandable precaution,¡± I murmured, then closed the link as the two nagians finally reached us. ¡°Well met, Bach, Zek,¡± I said, nodding to each in turn. Physically, the three nagians were nearly indistinguishable from each other, but as I looked closer, I noticed almost imperceptible differences in their facial structures and bodies that set them apart. Still, in the ordinary course of events it would be impossible to tell the nagians apart. Thankfully, I have analyze, I thought. Dropping into a cross-legged stance, I gestured for the others to seat themselves. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time for some explanations.¡± ¡°That would be appreciated, Wolf,¡± Zekiel replied, his words a dry rumble. ¡°Yes, please,¡± Bacheus added. ¡°I hate being kept in the dark.¡± I nodded, understanding the sentiment. ¡°For starters, as Lucius has already guessed, we are not in Draven¡¯s Reach.¡± Bacheus leaned forward eagerly. ¡°Then where are we? Somewhere sunny I hope?¡± I held up my hand. ¡°We¡¯ll get to that in a bit.¡± I glanced at Lucius. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please share with your fellow captains what you¡¯ve learned of your new body.¡± Inclining his head, the former Spider did just that. ¡°Void crystals!¡± Bacheus exclaimed when Lucius was done. He stared down at his arms in what I expected was fascinated wonder. ¡°Is that what this is? I thought I recognized it, but working the crystals is supposed to be impossible! How did Adriel do it?¡± Zekiel was studying his hands too. ¡°I think¡­ I like it.¡± Lucius snorted. ¡°Of course, you would. You Bears were always overly enamored of size.¡± His eyes found mine. ¡°Are you going to answer Bacheus?¡± Retrieving a naga scale from my backpack, I tossed it to Lucius. ¡°Your bodies are made from this.¡± The nagian studied the item curiously for a moment before handing it to Bacheus. ¡°What is it?¡± the sorcerer asked. ¡°A naga scale,¡± I replied. ¡°A naga,¡± Zekiel repeated slowly. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°A stygian,¡± Shael answered. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a stygian,¡± Bacheus said impatiently. ¡°But what type? I¡¯ve never heard of the creature before.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Neither have we, nor Adriel for that matter. As far as we can tell we¡¯re the first to encounter its like.¡± Lucius glanced upward at the roof of the cave. ¡°I take it we¡¯re in the Nethersphere then?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Not exactly.¡± The three nagians stared at me intently, waiting for me to go on. ¡°We¡¯re in a sector infested by nether, one we hope to claim for our faction,¡± I said. Lucius made the connection immediately. ¡°That¡¯s what you meant by changing circumstances, isn¡¯t it? You need our help to defeat the stygians. That¡¯s why Adriel is rehoming us in these bodies.¡± I nodded. ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re the scion of a dead House,¡± Zekiel protested. ¡°How can you belong to a faction?¡± The nagian¡¯s hands tightened into fists. ¡°Unless¡­ unless you¡¯ve thrown in your lot with the new Powers?¡± He locked gazes with me. ¡°Is that what you¡¯ve done, Wolf?¡± Anriq snorted derisively. ¡°Michael would never do such a thing!¡± But neither Zekiel nor I broke off from our impromptu staring contest to glance his way. ¡°No, I have not,¡± I said, enunciating each word carefully. Zekiel didn¡¯t look convinced, but Bacheus took me at my word. ¡°Then how?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± Lucius asked quietly. ¡°Our scion has become a Power himself.¡± The other two nagians froze, making their shock clear. ¡°A good guess,¡± I said, turning Lucius¡¯ way. ¡°But not quite correct this time. I¡¯m only a Powerful Initiate.¡± Bacheus laughed. ¡°Only an Initiate he says.¡± Zekiel bowed his head. ¡°Then there is hope,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°Hope?¡± Shael asked, perplexed. ¡°Hope for what?¡± ¡°Hope for restoring the Houses,¡± Zekiel replied, his gaze staying fixed on me. ¡°Is that what you intend, Wolf? To bring back the Primes.¡± ¡°Call me Michael,¡± I said. ¡°And yes, that is my intent.¡± I spread my arms to include Safyre, Adriel, and the others in the gesture. ¡°That¡¯s why we are all here.¡± ¡°Then you will have my help,¡± Zekiel replied, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°And gladly.¡± ¡°And mine too,¡± Bacheus added more softly, but no less fervently. Pursing my lips, I studied each of the nagians in turn. Bacheus and Zekiel both seemed sincere, and even the more reserved Lucius was nodding along with the others. My instincts were telling me I could trust them, but I couldn¡¯t take any chances. ¡°You know I will have to test the truth of your words.¡± Lucius inclined his head. ¡°We would expect nothing less.¡± I rose to my feet. ¡°Then I will leave it to Shael and Anriq to share our tale. Tomorrow, I will put your words to the test and take your oaths.¡± Anriq¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Bed,¡± I replied, stifling a yawn. ¡°It¡¯s time I got some rest.¡± Chapter 538: Self-Care I didn¡¯t go to bed immediately. Before I could fall asleep, I needed to attend to my player advancement. To start with, I pulled up my skill and ability statuses for review. Available Strength slots: 40. Upgradeable abilities: none. Available Constitution slots: 29. Upgradeable abilities: none. Available Dexterity slots: 36. Upgradeable abilities: whirlwind, piercing strike, trap disarm, lockpicking. Available Mind slots: 44. Upgradeable abilities: mass puppet, windborne, astral shurikens, shadow blink, astral bite (Ghost). Available Perception slots: 24. Upgradeable abilities: analyze, conceal weapon, ventro, imitate. Available Magic slots: 75. Upgradeable abilities: draining bite (Ghost). Available Faith slots: 20. Upgradeable abilities: none. Upgrade items in backpack: 2 x upgrade gems. Ability tomes in backpack: piercing strike tier III, IV, & V, trap disarm tier III, lockpicking tier III, ventro tier III & IV. The first thing that became immediately apparent to me was that I didn¡¯t have nearly enough upgrade gems nor ability tomes. Thanks to the elder form trait, I had a sudden surplus of ability slots that I was not equipped to use¡­ yet. The second thing that struck me was the forty Strength ability slots that were languishing unused. On their own, they were enough to acquire an elite ability. I had no strength abilities, of course¡ªlargely because I lacked any strength skills. But that was no longer strictly true. At least not when I was in wolf form. If I understood the Game¡¯s description of the primal variant of the tooth and claw skill, it was governed by both Dexterity and Strength. And that meant I could acquire Strength abilities for my wolf form. Definitely something to keep in mind during my next shopping trip. The Magic slots were for Ghost to use, and the Faith slots, I could do nothing about unfortunately. Still, the additional Faith attribute points meant a nice increase to the size of my mana pool, and if there ever came a time again to bequeath attributes to my followers, I knew it would be from Faith that I drew. I returned my attention to the text floating in front of me. It was time to refocus on what I could advance. Mind abilities first, I decided. I had two upgrade gems, and there was no question in mind that I had to employ them on my scion abilities, and unfortunately or fortunately, only two of them were ready for upgrade¡ªastral shurikens and shadow blink. So be it. Picking up the first gem, I willed my choice to the Adjudicator. Ability gem activated. Creating ability tome¡­ You have acquired a tier 5 astral blades ability tome. The ability gem vanished, leaving a small leatherbound book in its stead. Picking up the book, I absorbed its knowledge. You have upgraded your astral shurikens ability to sentient shurikens. The fifth tier of this spell grants your astral shurikens limited intelligence and semi-permanence. They now function as an extension of your will, and for as long as they exist, they can be controlled by your mind. You may summon a maximum of 4 shurikens at any one time. Each blade will remain manifested for a maximum duration of 5 minutes, during which time, they can be ordered at will. Note, your shurikens are not indestructible, and can be destroyed by your foes. ¡°Now, that was unexpected,¡± I murmured. I¡¯d been anticipating more bouncing shurikens, not mind-controlled ones¡ªnot that I was unhappy about the change. Being able to order my astral blades the way I did my minions, made them more versatile.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Right, on to the next,¡± I thought and activated the last gem. Creating ability tome¡­ ¡­ Tome creation halted. There are 2 elite variants available for the shadow blink ability. Variant 1: shadow jump. This variant increases the range of shadow blink to sight range. You can blink to any creature you can see. Variant 2: blink. This variant halves the spellcasting time and removes the restriction forcing you to teleport to a location occupied by another creature. You can blink to any visible location within 100 yards. Choose your tier 5 shadow blink ability tome now. An involuntary sigh escaped me and not because I disliked the options on offer. On the contrary, I wanted both. And that was not possible. So, which to choose? I wondered. Bowing my head, I pondered the choices before me. Was the ability to teleport anywhere¡ªalbeit only within a hundred yard radius¡ªmore valuable than being able to blink an unlimited distance to any creature within sight range? One option offered greater versatility, the other near limitless range. Blink in combat would be amazing. With it, I could constantly change position, altering the angle of my attack. I could also use blink as an escape tool, to jump onto a nearby ledge, or into a shadowy corner, or simply further away from my foe. But I could already do those things with windborne and vanish. Yes, using windborne would be slower and more cumbersome, especially in combat. But truly, I was primarily a melee fighter. Changing position in a fight mattered less than if I were a ranged combatant. And finally, while I disliked basing my player progression decisions on short term goals, I could not ignore the fact that shadow jump would allow me to reach the overlord unhindered. And the void tree too. As long as I could see the Powers, I could teleport to them. Being able to do that simplified everything and let me bypass more obstacles than I cared to imagine. And as valuable as shadow jump would be against the overlord, I could see it being equally valuable against future foes too. Shadow jump is the one. Decision made, I communicated my desire to the Adjudicator. You have acquired a tier 5 shadow jump ability tome. You have upgraded your shadow blink ability to shadow jump. The fifth tier of this spell allows you to teleport to any living entity within sight range. Note, this applies only to creatures in your direct line of sight or within your mindsight range, and not to entities observed via other magical means like scrying. You have 14 of 170 Mind ability slots remaining. ¡°Excellent,¡± I smiled, unbothered by the Game¡¯s qualification. It was a minor one and would hardly affect how I used shadow jump. My mind abilities seen to, I turned next to Perception, but the only Perception tomes I had in my backpack were for ventro, and I was uncertain yet about the wisdom of upgrading ventro¡ªespecially, seeing as analyze was already ready for advancement to tier six. I¡¯ll wait until I visit a merchant, I decided. Next, I turned to Dexterity. Thanks to some careful preplanning, I had ability tomes for all the abilities ready for advancement¡ªpiercing strike, trap disarm, and lockpicking. But do I really need to upgrade any of them right now? In the nether-infested sector, I could hardly expect to encounter any enemy traps or locked doors. Only piercing strike bore immediate consideration. The ability could be advanced to the elite tier, consuming twenty-five more ability slots in the process. Yet I found myself hesitating. Piercing strike was a human form only ability, and there was no doubt in my mind that when it came to pure combat, my wolf form was superior. That made a piercing strike something of a liability, and as yet, my investment in piercing strike was minimal¡ªthe ability was at tier two and occupied only five Dexterity slots. All of which begged the question: was it time to stop investing in piercing strike? It is. It was better to change tack now rather than later. Instead of advancing piercing strike, I would acquire another Dexterity ability, one that was usable in both human and wolf forms. I turned back to the trap disarm and lockpicking ability tomes. Since I was not going to spend my Dexterity slots on piercing strike, I saw no reason not to acquire them now, and as utility abilities, it mattered less that they were only usable in human form. You have upgraded your trap disarm ability to greater trap disarm. The third tier of this ability allows you to deactivate tier 3 traps. You have upgraded your lockpick ability to greater lockpicking. The third tier of this ability allows you to open tier 3 locks. You have 26 of 142 Dexterity ability slots remaining. That was my abilities taken care of. Now for Ghost¡¯s. The pyre wolf had only two upgradeable abilities¡ªastral bite and draining bite¡ªof which only one needed advancing¡ªthe death magic one. I didn¡¯t need to consult Ghost on the matter either since this was something we¡¯d discussed previously. Closing my eyes, I willed my intent to the Game. You have upgraded Ghost¡¯s draining bite ability to superior draining bite. The third tier of this ability allows your familiar to leech 30% of the damage she inflicts from a single bite attack, restoring her own health in the process. You and Ghost have 70 of 85 Magic ability slots remaining. Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 2. Ghost¡¯s Class has advanced to rank 13. Perfect, I thought. Now to spend my attribute points. Turning my attention inward again, I relayed my choice to the Adjudicator. Your Mind has increased to rank 174. Other modifiers: +12 from items. Available ability slots: 18. Phew, that¡¯s everything, I thought. Closing my eyes, I lay my head down on my pillow and finally let sleep claim me.