by Simon Archer
“Ah.” I mulled on that for a moment, trying to figure out who it could be, and while several candidates sprang to mind, I couldn’t quite pin down one who felt right. “Is he stronger than Zacxs?”
“That, I cannot say.” Gobta looked out into the distance. “But either way, I’m not sure what would be left after their battle.”
“Fair enough,” I said right before there was a crazed burst of noise in my head that almost reminded me of the way I could communicate with my people over the tether when in God mode. Only staticky. “Queenie, is that you?”
“Yes, master.” The Ant Queen’s voice was muffled and hard to hear, but it was there. “I need you to come help. There are locals being attacked by some sort of monster I can’t begin to describe.” Only she didn’t have to because I got a distorted picture of something that looked like a cross between a spider and a giant jungle cat.
“Okay,” I said as I looked for some way to get to Queenie. I knew exactly where she was thanks to my minimap, but getting there, well, that was the problem.
“What’s wrong?” Gobta asked, and when I explained the situation, he just shrugged. “So, let us go and lay waste to them.”
“Well, my problem is conveyance.” I pointed. “They’re at least three kilometers that way, and I don’t think I can Tarzan all the way there.”
“I do not know what that means, but why do you not simply make the water move you?” Gobta asked, and I must have stared at him like he had grown a second head because he sighed before explaining what he meant. “Back on Ares, you were able to turn the ground to ice, where we fought had no water to speak of.” He gestured at the ocean below. “This place is nothing but water.”
“I’m not that good with water, really…” I mumbled as I tried to figure out if I could do what he suggested. It seemed impossible. “And I’m not in God mode.”
“When has a little thing like that stopped you?” Gobta asked as he unsheathed Burningdeath and lightly tapped the Sword of the Destroyer King where it sat in the sling on my back. Instantly, a message flashed before my eyes.
The Sword of the Destroyer King has encountered a hostile element. Special ability: An Eye for an Eye has been activated. For the duration of this battle, The Sword of the Destroyer King has gained the power of Ice.
“You sir, are a genius,” I said as I grabbed the sword and pulled it out.
“I am aware, my liege, but I still like hearing it.” The Hobgoblin laughed. “Now, bend this planet’s pitiful water to your will so we can save some locals.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I could feel the cold energy surging through it, and crazier still, Gobta was right. The moisture all around me called to the power within the weapon, and as I focused on the Cold power brought on by my title, I realized I could do exactly what I wanted.
I took a deep breath that tasted of water and plants and focused my will on the task, envisioning that sweet ice slide maneuver Iceman from the X-Men always used even when there was no water available.
I, on the other hand, had a shitload of water available, and as I pointed my sword down at the ocean below, I bent it to my will.
And it did.
A frozen pedestal of water surged up from the depths until it was level with the sea tree we stood upon. Because I didn’t know if Gobta would actually get on it, I stepped onto the platform and, thankfully, didn’t immediately plummet to my death.
“Come on, the water’s fine,” I said with a laugh as the Hobgoblin King joined me.
“Let us hurry,” Gobta said as he sheathed Burningdeath and pulled out Sparkle. Then he drove the blade into the icy platform and used it for balance. “I am not sure the extent of your power, but the temperature here is not conducive to ice. I, for one, do not wish to plummet to my death.”
“That’s a sentiment I can get behind,” I said as I willed us forward. Thankfully, I didn’t have to create more ice. I just used my power to give us a push through the water, which reacted well enough to the power of my title combined with the Sword of the Destroyer King.
It was a good thing too because Gobta was right. He couldn’t see my Aura of course, but creating this platform had drained me to nearly the brink. And if we fell into the water, it would be a good long while before I could do it again.
17
“What in the black hairy ass of the Great Beasts is that?” Gobta said as he stared wide-eyed at the creature in question, and in all honesty, I had to agree because the grainy image Queenie had shown me over our mental link did not do that thing justice.
While it was called a Spiguar, its bright red nameplate told me that much, that name that seemed like it would imply that this creature was some sort of giant spider-jaguar hybrid… but this was so much worse than that because while it did sort of have the body of a spider that’s where the similarity ended. Its jet black shell was covered in quills, it had a scorpion tail, and its eight legs?
Well, you might think they had claws or something, but you would be wrong. Because each of those legs also had the head of a massive saber-toothed cat.
“How does it even move?” I asked right before I realized that the fucking thing had wings. They just beat the air so fast that they were invisible to the naked eye. Each of its inhuman, snarling cat heads was fixed on Queenie as she stood brazenly in front of a young woman in a tattered dress made of sea tree leaves. The native girl hugged some kind of trinket like it would save her from the Spiguar.
It didn’t, of course, but Queenie was doing a fairly good job of dodging the eight snarling heads and the stinger as it attacked her like some kind of horrific wasp or, alternatively, launched acidic webs. At least, I thought they were acidic because when they struck the sea trees, they smoked and bubbled like they’d been hit with hydrochloric acid.
“Master, you have arrived!” Queenie cried in-between dodges, and when she looked at me like I could somehow win the day with a thought, well, it made my heart swell three sizes. “I have tried to lead it away from the villagers, but then it attacked this small female. I have tried to stall it as well as I could, but its hide is too thick for me to penetrate with my dagger.”
“Don’t worry,” I said as I gripped the Sword of the Destroyer King. The frost effect had long since faded, but it was still a pretty good weapon. “The exterminator is here.”
Since the creature was focused on Queenie and the child, I took the opportunity to infuse my muscles and weapon with Aura. Then I lunged for the Spiguar while swinging my sword at the creature’s torso. Unfortunately, the bizarre beast seemed to sense my attack because it spun around and blocked my attack with its stupid stinger.
The force of the impact rang down my arms as I dropped onto the sea tree beside Queenie. Fortunately, my attack seemed to have thrown it off, and as it backed away to take me in, Gobta caught my eye.
His meaning was clear, I needed to keep the thing’s attention. When I nodded my assent, he took off up the tree. Leaving him to execute his plan, I readied my sword.
“Queenie, draw its attack while I get us some backup. We need to distract it while Gobta does his thing.”
“As you wish, master,” the Ant Queen said through clenched teeth.
“And Queenie, don’t explode just yet.”
“Very well, master,” she replied before launching herself at the Spiguar.
Since Queenie had the advantage of flight and speed, it seemed, her attack managed to gain the focus of the Spiguar for a few crucial seconds.
I used those seconds to summon a couple of Hobgoblin Archers and empower their arrows with concentrated Aura. It was a risk because if Queenie ran out of health, she’d need to draw on my Aura to heal, and in addition, most of my attacks required Aura to execute.
Still, it seemed to work out. The Spiguar was still distracted by Queenie as the Archers let fly, the pair of supercharged arrows smashing dead on into the monster. The force of the impacts threw the Spiguar back into the trunk of the sea tree with enough force to shake the massive plan
t.
As I shot my arms out, windmilling for balance, the archers unleashed a second volley of arrows. Unfortunately, these weren’t Aura infused, and they bounced harmlessly off the Spiguar’s shell. The creature roared, all of its mouths frothing with anger as it narrowed its eight sets of eyes on my archers and me.
“Bring it, big boy,” I snarled as I hefted my sword. “I’ll cut you to pieces.”
The Spiguar tried to bring it, but as it lifted into the air, I heard something from above.
I barely had time to look up when a giant undead boar plummeted from the branches above and smashed into the Spiguar with so much force that, not only was the monster reduced to a bloody smear on the branch, but the boar practically exploded into blobs of green ectoplasm that sprayed in every direction.
Your summoned creatures have killed creature: Spiguar.
I stood there in shock as Gobta dropped from the trees to land beside the corpse of the Spiguar. Then he shot me a salute.
“Good plan, huh?” he asked as he surveyed the scene approvingly.
“Did you just summon your boar from high above and drop it on the enemy?” I asked in disbelief because that was really, really smart. A fact confirmed by the boar being back in his pet list. It had its cooldown time activated, but still. Still.
“Yes.” He nodded. “I figured that since our weapons were not having much luck puncturing its shell, we should go a different route.” He smacked his hand with his fist. “So, I went with plan G, for Gobta.” He grinned. “Hit it really, really hard.”
“Well, it worked as I made my way over to the smear that had formerly been known as Spiguar and used Aura Extraction.
Pattern: Spiguar has been learned. Would you like to create a Spiguar?
I did, so I did, and then because I figured it would be badass, I commanded my new Spiguar to let me ride it. That worked… sort of. It didn’t actually have the strength to carry me and fly. Ah well…
“Thank you for saving me, kind sir,” the girl who Queenie had been protecting said from behind me.
“You’re welcome,” I said with a smile as I took her in. Her skin was a mixture of red, blue, and silver scales that glittered like sequins in the sunlight. She wasn’t clothed exactly, but she did have sea tree leaves wrapped around her chest and lower regions in a way that reminded me of Hawaiian hula dancers.
While her amber eyes and face seemed human enough, she had what looked like three tails extending from her head only instead of tapering off as they did for the twi’leks in Star Wars, these sort of spread out into what looked like fishtails. She almost reminded me of Princess Mipha from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
“I’m Garrett, by the way,” I said by way of introduction. “That’s Queenie, and the guy who fell out of the sky is Gobta.” I gestured at them when I said the names, and while Queenie nodded her acknowledgment, Gobta gave the girl a formal bow at the mention of his name.
“I am Princess Elephelie of the Amorphie Clan.” She curtsied. “I would be dead now if it wasn’t for you.” She swallowed. “The Spiguar killed the rest of my guards as we tried to travel to meet my sister.” Her eyes gained a far-off look as she inclined her head to the north.
“I tried to activate my Homestone,” she showed me the trinket she had been clutching during the battle, and that’s when I realized the dull, white stone had been broken into many pieces, “but it failed to activate and shattered.” She held out the pieces by way of explanation. “If you would please help me reach my sister, I’d be ever so grateful.”
Princess Elephelie of the Amorphie Clan (Day) has offered you a quest. Escort her to her sister. Would you like to accept? Yes or no.
“I would be happy to escort you to your sister’s place,” I said, and when I glanced at my companions, I found them nodding in agreement, Queenie most especially. “Where is it?”
“Um… it is not far. I am bad at explaining directions, but perhaps this will help?” She pulled out a small map and showed it to me, and thankfully, as I looked at it, the information transferred to my minimap. It wasn't far at all. Maybe half a day’s travel from our current location.
“That’s perfect,” I said as I glanced around the area. “So, aside from the Spiguar, is there anything else we should be concerned with?” I raised an eyebrow at the princess.
“No.” She shook her head. “Normally, even Spiguars are not up this high. It is why we traveled this way instead of going lower.” She blew out a long breath. “If we could, it would be fastest to use a boat, but the waters are too dangerous for that during this time of year. The feeding cycles are in full swing now.” She looked heavenward. “Perhaps that is why the Spiguar was here. Perhaps its normal nesting area has been disturbed, and it is as displaced as us.”
At her words, a new quest message appeared in my vision.
Discover the source of unrest with the indigenous life. Would you like to accept? Yes or no.
I accepted and then looked back at the princess. “Well, perhaps we can figure that out as well.” I smiled at her. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get out of here before something else that’s not supposed to be here comes along to eat us.” That’s when I stalled. “Um… how do you guys travel through this, anyway?”
“Oh.” Elephelie smiled brightly. “We weave the bridge.” As she spoke, she began to make a weaving motion with her hands which caused bright green sparks to dance along her fingertips.
I shot a warning glance at Queenie, who looked like she would leap on the girl if she made so much as an untoward glance at me, but thankfully, the princess never did. Instead, she extended her hands outward, and a webwork of green energy spread out across the tree branches around us.
Then, the craziest thing happened. The trees’ branches moved until they formed a lattice-like bridge that would allow us to pass.
“So…” Gobta said as he took the lead and tested the bridge, and when it didn’t give way, began to walk forward. “Your people are some kind of fish druids?”
“Among other things,” Elephelie said with a soft smile. “Many other things.”
18
“I’m surprised we haven’t run into any more trouble,” I said as we made our way toward Elephelie’s sister’s place. “I thought for sure we would have all sorts of crazy beasties attacking us.”
“It is your trio of Spiguars,” the Princess of the Amorphie clan said with a laugh. “Their presence is more than enough to keep all but the most vicious predators away, and thankfully there’s not many of those around these parts.”
“But those are not true Spiguars,” Gobta said inquisitively. “They are like me. Summoned.”
“My friend, you are no less real because you are summoned.” Elephelie wrinkled her nose. “And besides, the Spiguars are real enough in all the ways that matter for this purpose.” She tapped her nose. “They still give off their scent, and that will alert the other creatures in the area to their presence.” She shrugged. “It is why they typically stay upwind.”
“Makes sense,” I said with a laugh. “You do smell, after all.”
“I do not smell,” Gobta replied disdainfully. “That is for lower-level creatures.” I must have given him a confused look because he continued with a laugh. “Most scent is derived from sweat, and I do not sweat.” He held out his arms as if to demonstrate. “After all, sweat is your body saying it is too weak to deal with the temperature, so I just will myself not to be weak, and it is so.”
“I’m not going to even try to unravel that,” I said with a laugh as I turned back to Elephelie who had stopped her bridge making. This whole time, she had effortlessly woven us a path through the massive sea trees, but now, she was simply looking off into the distance, and when I followed her gaze with my own, I saw why.
There were more of her kind coming toward her, only where she was red, these guys were purple, and probably male because their chests were uncovered to reveal hard muscle and toned abs.
“My sister’s r
oyal priests.” Elephelie sighed loudly. “Please let me deal with them.”
“Good.” Queenie snorted. “And tell them to put a shirt on. No one wants to see that.”
“They do not?” Elephelie looked a bit shocked. “Oumek and Otakek are considered quite attractive males for my people.” She swept a hand at them. “In fact, I find those muscles of theirs quite breathtaking personally.”
“That is simply because you have not seen my master without his shirt on.” Queenie shrugged. “If you had, you would not even bestow a single glance upon them because that would be a glance you could use for my master.”
“Right, well, perhaps one day, I will have the opportunity to see for myself.” Elephelie tossed a glance my way that was part curiosity and part amusement. “Either way, let me speak to them.”
“Sure thing,” I said because it seemed the best course of action. After all, if these two guys used their weird blue speargun-looking things on us. I’d sick my trio of Spiguars on them. And if that wasn’t enough, well, I had a lot more where they came from.
“Princess Elephelie…” Oumek said disdainfully. He was the one on his left and had a jagged scar across his face like Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat 3 which made it easy enough to tell him from the flawlessly skinned Otakek. “We heard you had run into trouble in the Wilds.” The way he said that last part made me think it was a specific place, and I resolved to inquire about it later. “We are glad to hear that the rumors of your death have been overstated.” He glanced at me before shifting his gaze to Gobta and then finally Queenie. It didn’t seem that he liked any of us very much. “And you have brought guests. How nice.”
“I think he’s lying,” Gobta said rather loudly. “The way he says that makes it clear he does not like us.” He took a step forward. “Perhaps I should teach him some manners.”
