by Edward Brody
Dragon’s Crest alone?
Yeah, it’s crazy. But I… I was going to tell her I wanted to save Adeelee, but I worried that it might trigger her to think about her fallen friend as well. It was too soon. I could explain everything to her later. Let’s go.
Sora didn’t question me more. When I hopped on top of her, she just darted to where I wanted to go. I was so glad to have back my girl.
When we arrived at Dragon’s Crest, Sora slowed, and we continued along the same route that we had taken the first time I had visited.
Thankfully, it was still mostly barren and clear of monsters, and there was little difference in landscape during the night and day.
As we neared the area with the Hexapodras, a familiar voice screamed out to me from behind. “Hey you!”
When I turned around, Bartholomew was storming out of his cave.
“Bartholomew…” I mumbled. “I mean… Your Highness!”
“You survived Dragon’s Crest?! How is that possible? Where are the rest of my loyal followers?”
I didn’t really survive, but I wasn’t about to tell him that was the case. “No… um. We took a different route home.”
Bartholomew crossed his arms and shifted his jaw as if he wasn’t sure whether to believe me or not. After a few moments, he uncrossed them and eyed me curiously. “Okay, well what new did you bring the King? Did you find out about my Deeds? Did you find the Prince?”
“The Prince?” I asked.
“My son!” Bartholomew barked. Apparently, he had enough time to expand on his dreams since the last time I saw him.
“I didn’t find the Prince,” I said. “But… I did find out about your deeds.”
You have completed the quest: Bartholomew’s Deeds!
You have gained 5000 XP!
“Excellent!” Bartholomew said. “Are they still valid!?”
“One of them is still good, but…” I groaned and looked to the side. “I don’t have your deeds right now. Um… Maybe I can get it later.”
“One of them is still good?!” he blurted, his eyes going wide. “I still have ownership of one of my shops?!”
I nodded. “The others were repossessed by the King, but someone was still paying taxes on one. It’s closed, but it can be reclaimed for 155,000 gold. That’s not a bad deal considering—”
“155,000 gold?” The old man threw his hands up. “The new King is mad! No better than the last one with his bullshit taxes! Forget about it! Forget about the damn deeds!”
“But the—”
“Forget about it!”
“It’s not a bad deal,” I tried to explain.
“If you want it, pay the taxes your damn self and keep it!” He crossed his arms and stomped his foot. “Here, I am king. Here there are no taxes!”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness… I—”
“Fuck off, knave!” Bartholomew spat. He turned around and marched back to his cave in a very unkinglike way.
I took a deep breath and turned away from the moody, delusional man. I had a more important task ahead of me.
I slid off Sora, wrapped my arms around her neck and buried my head in her soft fur. Go now. If I make it from here alive, I can just recall to Edgewood.
Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?
No, I just want you to say safe, I said. Go rest, and I’ll see you soon.
The Hexapodras were in their previous locations, and I snuck into the first level of Dragon’s Crest unnoticed. It was just like we had left it—nothing but broken vases.
I climbed to the second level, and the corpses of the fleshrippers were still there, but tiny flies and maggots were feasting on their flesh.
The bodies of Bone Dancers were still in place on the third level, but their skin seemed to have melted away, and some of their bones were missing.
After jumping the missing section of the outer path above, I approached the fourth level of the mountain with caution. It was the level I was most worried about, next to the dragon’s den itself.
When I looked through the holes of the leather curtain covering the entrance, the room was the same as I last saw it. Several dead darklurkers were on the ground, and the statue was in its same pose and position.
I took a deep breath, knowing that the only way through was to run. I pulled back the curtain and bolted inside and for the inner path as fast as I physically could.
I noticed right then how much of a difference not having leather on under my robe was. I felt lighter, faster, and my stamina was draining slower. So while there was an armor benefit of wearing leather as a mage, since mages didn’t want to get hit in the first place, only wearing a robe made sense.
Small, white specks appeared on the ceiling when I was halfway up the slope, but with my additional light-footedness, I felt confident that I was going to make it.
Boom!
The mage sprung out from the dissolving statue and started shaking its head as he awoke. Knowing that if it got me in its grasp, it would all be over, I reached for my mask and slid on my face.
While I continued to run, I focused on using a Liar’s Walk, and when I glanced behind me, a fake effigy of me was there, frozen in a running position.
The mage lifted its hand to the effigy then tilted its head in confusion when nothing happened. Flying darklurkers swarmed towards the effigy but slammed in the wall as they passed through it.
The effigy disappeared immediately as the two seconds of invisibility time wore off. The mage swung its head to me, but it was too late. I jumped for the exit and passed through the leather curtain unscathed.
I removed the mask and placed it in my bag as I headed for the room with the drake. While, I didn’t mind having the mask on, it only had a mere 5 durability rating and felt fragile to the touch. It was questionable if it could survive any sort of hard blow, and being invisible wouldn’t make any difference in the next room. The drake was blind and attacked based on sound.
When I arrived at the entrance, I quietly peeked inside, and the drake was walking around its nest, only now, one of the eggs that it had been guarding had hatched into a baby drake which was roughly the size of a pig. The baby drake, however, was sleeping in the nest.
Great, I thought. An unexpected variable…
Having no idea what the baby drake was capable of—if anything—I readied my staff, stepped inside and shot an on-cast at the far wall.
The blind drake turned and charged as I expected, and like last time, I continually shot on-cast spells and Fireblasts, forcing the drake to run in different directions each time it started for me. This time, however, it seemed like the drake was charging faster and moving more anxiously than before.
After making it to the slope and about halfway up, I started getting nervous as my mana was running low. I could only run so far between each blast before the drake turned its attention to me, and I wasn’t sure if I would make it with the mana I had left.
I sprung an idea when I only had enough mana for two or three more Fireblasts left and decided to shoot an on-cast attack at the baby drake in the nest.
The baby drake lifted its head and wailed when it was hit, then flailed its body rapidly, bashing into the other two eggs. Two more baby drakes started trying to poke their heads through cracks in the eggs and were weeping loudly as well.
Hearing its children’s cries, the drake charged towards the nest, and almost trampled all three offspring when it slid to a stop and lowered its head to figure out what was going on.
I fired another Fireblast at the far wall, and the drake raised its head it, but instead of charging, it curled its body around its young while I swiftly made it through the exit.
I took a moment to meditate when I was outside, knowing I would need all my mana for what was coming next. When my stat bars were full, I trudged up the narrow slope until I reached its abrupt end.
After taking a deep breath, I climbed over the entrance to the dragon’s den using the holes and metal pegs on the face of the m
ountain, and when I was right above the entrance, I let go and landed safely on the platform.
A heavy wave of fear washed over me when I thought about getting chewed up by dragons again, but I said a silent prayer that this time I would make it out alive. The plan was simple—use a fire elemental to distract the dragon, grab the sword, and use the mask to try to slip away.
I grabbed my staff, raised it in the air and tapped it gently on the ground, focusing on summoning an elemental.
Nothing happened.
I tried the spell again but noticed a message had appeared at the bottom of my vision.
You lack the required reagents for this spell.
I sighed and slumped my shoulders. I had totally forgotten that the spell required reagents, and the only Sulfur’s Ash I had had been lost in the dragon’s den. I supposed my plan was just going to be using the mask and hoping that would be enough.
I swallowed hard as I stepped slowly into the cave and held my breath as I turned the corner.
The den was just as astonishing as the first time I saw it—gold, treasure, and loot were everywhere. There was no sign of any dragons, and my items, along with Tymrial’s Blade, were lying idly at the edge of the hoard, idling on top of dried-blood covered coins.
I flipped my bag open, ready to grab the Liar’s Mask as I slowly walked inside. When no dragons immediately appeared, I finally started running for my items and kneeled to grab them. I grabbed Tymrial’s Blade first, Bartholomew’s deeds, my keychain, the Heaven’s Shroom, and my remaining Sulfur’s Ash. When I reached down to retrieve the Warmonger’s Blade and my other items, I felt a gust of warm air on my neck. Instead of taking the weapon, I reached into my bag for the mask.
I turned my head slightly, and in my peripheral, I saw perched upon a nearby rock was the same dragon that had killed me before. It stared at me intently and its yellow eyes flashed to a sundering red.
I stayed calm, knowing that I needed perfect timing if I was going to get away. As I slowly lifted the mask towards my face, the dragon lunged forward, stepping into the piles of gold below.
As soon as the mask fell bonded to my face, I used Liar’s Walk and rolled over the piles of gold and away from the dragon. The dragon snapped its jaws at my effigy, lifted its head, and snapped down again.
As I started to run for the exit, the effect ended, and I immediately cast the same spell again. The dragon switched its attention to the new me, a few feet away, snapping its jaws fruitlessly, biting nothing but air and pieces of gold.
When the Liar’s Walk ended again, the dragon made a quick leap for my real body, so fast that it almost snatched me up into its jaws. I cast the spell at the very last moment, and jumped up from the snapping jaws, and reflexively put my hand out to push myself away.
My invisible hand unintentionally touched the hard, scaly nose of the dragon, and I immediately felt an energy pass from the dragon and into me. A harsh, desperate, voice seemed to be crying out from somewhere.
Release me! Release me, Reborn! Release me now!
When the dragon lifted its nose, it grazed the edge of my invisible body, but that was enough to lift me off my feet and send me flying a few feet across the room.
I landed ungracefully, but immediately cast another Liar’s Walk, rolling away as the dragon bent down and started snapping at my motionless imitation.
I raced across the room and cast one last Liar’s Walk before dashing around the corner. I could hear the Dragon behind me pounding its claws on the ground, but I just kept running with all my might without turning around.
I was so close to getting away.
When I reached the platform, I spun to face the wall, and the sound of splashing gold and heavy claws continuously filled the air. It was obviously searching for me and confused as to what was going on.
I jumped, grabbing onto one of the pegs on the face of the mountain, pulled, and grabbed on to another. I continued to climb, placing one hand in front of the other, one foot above the last. When I started to shimmy sideways, I heard a terrifying roar from inside the dragon’s den and thunderous footsteps growing closer.
The dragon leapt outside, fast as a jet, and flapped its heavy wings as it flew into the air.
The wind from the dragon’s flight was so strong and so close that it shifted my balance, and my foot slipped off of a peg below. I scraped my knee against the hard rock, winced, and lost my remaining footing as well and a handgrip above.
I found myself dangling from a single metal peg, and my hands were so sweaty that my fingers were slowly slipping off.
No… please no, I thought as I looked down at the long drop below.
I squeezed the peg with all my might and pulled up as hard as I could as I tried to regain control of the situation. But then one finger slipped off and then another. My remaining fingers simply weren’t strong enough to support me, so I slipped away, crashed into the edge of the platform below, then tumbling aimlessly off the mountain.
“Noooooooo!” I yelled loudly as I fell through the air. How could I have gotten so close and lost it all from a fall?
My plunge from the top of Dragon’s Crest seemed to take forever and gave me plenty of time to think. I tried to figure out if there was any spell I had that could save me from dying from the landing—there wasn’t. There was no skill, no nothing. It was a guaranteed death.
And then I thought of Adeelee. Of letting her down. Of letting myself down again.
But mostly, I just thought of death. I knew it was coming. I knew that terrible feeling that no Reborn, no anyone, would ever want to feel. It was about to happen, and it was going to hurt like hell.
Splat!
I didn’t land on the hard ground, but instead landed on a thick concoction of webbing, hay, foliage, and something organic—a Hexapodra’s nest. But that wasn’t anywhere enough to cushion a fall from such a height.
The entire backside of my body pretty much exploded on impact. The back of my skull was crushed, my spine was mangled, and my legs were twisted in an unnatural position.
Hexapodras nearby started to screech.
I stared up at the sky in utter agony for a couple more seconds before everything went black.
YOU HAVE DIED
All of your current level’s progression has been reset to 0% and any unused attribute and level points have been lost.
You will respawn at your last bound location in approximately 2:00:00
Take this time to reflect on your choices.
Chapter Forty-Nine
2/12/0001
I marched into Edgewood with rage etched across my face.
The guild was going about their nightly activities and most of them were gathered by the campfire.
“Gunnar! What happened?!” Rina yelled.
“Why are you down to your shorts?” Ozzy asked. “Did you die?!”
“Keysia,” I said sternly as I passed by the campfire. “Your staff.”
“My staff?” she questioned.
“Give me your staff,” I ordered. I held my hand out to her, huffed, and finally said. “Please.”
She looked at me confusedly but finally said, “Well… okay.” She stood up, unfastened her staff, and handed it to me.
You’ve received: Mobius Staff. 18-22 Attack Damage. Requires 14 Strength. Requires 25 Intelligence. Durability: 8/10. Quality: Average. Rarity: Rare. Weight: 1.0. 10% Magic Damage. On Cast: Energy Strike: 19 Charges Left.
As I started marching for my home, the group continued with their pummeling of questions.
“What’s going on?”
“What happened?”
“Are you okay?”
When I reached my door and realized it was locked, I gritted my teeth and took a step back. I raised the Mobius Staff and shot an on-cast right at the door.
Everyone around the campfire stood up, and a customer who was heading for the guild shop started running away instead.
“Yo, what the fuck?!” Sung yelled.
“What the hell
are you doing, man?!” Aaron yelled.
I shot a Fireblast at my door, another on-cast from the staff, then kicked the door as hard as could. The door—or what was left of it—went flying. Before I marched inside, I turned to Aaron and shook my head. “I’d really appreciate it if you can fix this again.” When I was inside, I looked out and yelled to the rest of my guild. “Please watch my stuff for me—make sure no one sneaks in and robs me before I have another door.”
Everyone looked at each other in confusion, having no idea what was going on.
I had thought a long time while I was in the void and ultimately decided that I had to go back to Dragon’s Crest again. Too much was at stake, and I had to see if my items were still where I’d landed. I had already done the hard part of infiltrating the dragon’s den. I wasn’t sure if the dragon had seen me fall, but if not, I would only have to deal with Hexapodras—at least, I hoped.
Yeah, I was definitely going back.
No armor.
No shoes.
No robe.
Naked.
It was the second time I had lost everything at Dragon’s Crest, and if I ended up dead this time, I’d really give up. And at least I wouldn’t keep losing more items.
It was a naked, YOLO, corpse run. And my last and final attempt.
“Halt!” the Mist Vale guard yelled when I appeared. He squinted hard, before saying, “Ambassador? Where are your clothes?”
I kneeled briefly but quickly stood up and started to run without answering his question.
When I was out of their range, I kneeled, slammed my on the ground and, once again, summoned Sora.
She quickly appeared and scurried up to my side. So soon?
I know you don’t like to be summoned in quick succession, but I really need you now.
