by TJ Reynolds
Striding up to the base of the keep once more, Kai added, “Then all we have to do is improve our security. Where is that hulking dalgard of yours anyway? I’d like to bring it along with me but having a strong protector here might be more valuable.”
Security has been my most pressing concern, Kai! If you think I’ve been idle, think again. Before you go making any assumptions, allow me to show you my most successful creations.
Kai chuckled at his friend’s excitement. I can’t wait.
One by one, Ban brought out his killer minions. He summoned two Shield Boar first, and even demonstrated how effectively they could smash one another. It was an amusing display until Ban had one of the beasts trigger Wind Bash.
A torrent of pale white ether whirled around the boar’s form, condensing around its tusks until they glowed.
Then it shot forward in a blur.
The poor boar on the receiving end, unsupported by Wind ether, fell victim to the over powered attack. First, the minion’s tusks shattered under the force of the attack, then the exoskeleton covering its face and chest broke as well, thin cracks spreading outward in all directions.
“Wow! I can’t imagine what that would do to a shield wall,” Kai praised.
The dragon was impressed, but when he saw the sleek and unearthly Storm Dart, he openly gaped.
Again, Ban demonstrated the minion’s effectiveness by directing it to impale the nearest Shield Boar. Triggering its skill, the tiny minion all but disappeared as a haze of abyss ether surrounded it.
The boar’s armor was tough, but as the Storm Dart careened into the beast’s flank, a loud snap sounded. Squealing, the deadly pig fell down and thrashed in pain.
Every inch of the deadly proboscis had punctured the boar.
Ban saved the two from an unsightly death and re-absorbed them.
Then he showed Kai three dalgard minions, plate mail and improved spears clutched in their strong hands. I figured these might serve as a stalwart infantry force. They aren’t the most powerful of my creations, but trusty.
What about that awful thing you ambushed me with last night? Kai asked.
You mean the Knightmare? That is what you called it right? Ban teased, then summoned his most prized minion.
The hairy, brawny creature looked just as terrifying as it had the night before. Then Kai caught on to what Ban had said. Wait… do you mean knightmare as in lance and shield knight?
Of course! Puns are gifts from the gods, Kai. Always remember that.
Kai sighed. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more disappointed and proud at the same time. Anyway, good work on the minions, Ban. I’ll feel a lot better knowing your core is well protected.
The group of minions disappeared at once and Ban reassured his friend once more. I’ve added plenty of guards for the top of the tower. When you leave, I’ll post a few minions around my core as well as the entrance to the tower above. Enough of that though. I do have something for you as well, Kai.
Really? What’s that? Kai asked, envisioning some new modification to his armor or equipment.
Once more, a shower of ether bloomed in the center of the core room. Another knightmare appeared, but this one stood a foot taller, and had somehow grown even more muscular.
As soon as it had completed its transformation from amalgamation to dungeon champion, the knightmare morphed a second time.
A cloud of ether spun around the monster, wrapping its limbs in brilliance.
When the display subsided, Kai beheld the power of Metamorphosis. Just as he’d done with his stone houndzard champion, Ban must have activated Metamorphosis, evolving the knightmare into something more.
At least eight feet tall now, the knightmare’s arms bulged with unrestrained muscle. More interesting was the subtle white glow coming off of its skin and eyes.
Always wanting to impress, Ban summoned pieces of equipment to augment the champion’s already-impressive frame.
Suddenly, steel gauntlets and boots formed. A pair of trousers covered its legs, and though a gleaming breastplate formed over its broad chest, the rest of the creature’s body was protected only in chain mail. A chain mail skirt hung over the beast’s legs, and a shirt covered its arms, belly, and back.
In its hand, the creature clutched a bundle of thin spears. Kai realized they were javelins of a sort, but stood taller and more stout than any javelin he’d seen before. Considering that the monster before him must have weighed at least four hundred pounds, almost all of it muscle, he figured the javelins would work just fine.
The final touch impressed Kai.
Hanging from a thick leather belt was a pair of war hammers. They weren’t over-sized boulder smashers.
Kai himself could wield one effectively, although it would require all of his strength to do so.
Compared to the massive knightmare, however, the weapons seemed modest.
They would be perfect for bashing in heads or cracking shields.
“Wow, Ban! This your newest champion?” Kai asked aloud as he walked around the creature admiring its form.
Just so. And though I cannot afford to guide the creature’s mind at all times, I can contact you at any time through him. Also, I can give him instructions to follow you, and all should be well.
“Good to know. I don’t know what else I’m waiting for then,” Kai said. Then, inspiration striking him, he added, “How much baggage do you suppose he can carry?”
Kai and Ban argued for a time about the benefits of having Kai’s escort weighed down with supplies. Kai won out after a while, and he spent a few minutes packing water, food, and other essentials for the trip.
He tucked two spare torches into the pack last of all before considering the need.
Curious to see if he’d gained some degree of control, Kai closed his eyes and focused his mind.
The only thing he’d “done” to shift his eyes last time was a desperate thought that he needed to see.
He tried it again, but at first nothing happened. Then he tried a few mental commands. See in the dark didn’t work, and neither did dragon eyes. Finally, he tried to shift to dragon eyes. When he thought the command, Kai focused on the sensation that had overtaken him last time.
Sure enough, the same burning pain assaulted his eyes. Kai ground his teeth and bore the pain.
When he blinked, trying to acclimate to the changed lighting, he had the eyes of a dragon.
Ban was most impressed, and insisted he should follow Kai until he reached the tunnel. The Earth Core told his young master about a few of his most enthralling plans, but as always, Kai sensed Ban holding information back.
Ban, Kai said, interrupting his companion. I know we’ve had this discussion before, but will you promise to tell me everything I need to know? Surprises can be wonderful, Ban, but they can also be costly.
Ban remained silent for a time, evidence that Kai had hurt the Earth Core’s feelings. But at last he relented. I promise. It is so very difficult for me, Kai. My very nature demands that I please you. I am always trying to—
I know! I know, Ban. You’re the best. Please, don’t take that as criticism, Kai added, hoping to alleviate some of Ban’s discomfort.
Well, I leave you here then, Kai. Good luck on your journey, and thank you for trusting me. I can’t say I’ll be perfect, but I will always try.
Kai smiled up at the knightmare’s face, searching for some hint that Ban occupied the champion’s body. “I know you do, Ban. Nobody tries harder than you.” Then, patting the creature’s muscular shoulder, he asked, “What name can we give this guy? Seems rude to ask him to carry my backpack but not give him a proper name.”
The creature scratched its chin thoughtfully, making Kai laugh. Ban stared at him out of the monster’s inky-black eyes. Then, in a deep and gravelly voice, he said, “What do you think about Gregory?”
26
What Grows Beneath
Kai
Kai strode through one of the tunnels leading away from the S
unken Keep. Greg stomped along beside him, grim and silent.
Most of the tunnels near the keep had been scanned by Ban himself. His influence could only go so far, however, so Ban had shown Kai the three largest tunnels that ran outside of his realm. Kai had chosen the first one, knowing he’d most likely need to explore all three.
At first, the tunnel’s walls had the too-smooth quality that only an Earth Core could achieve. After another ten minutes of marching, though, the walls became rough and organic, roots and mold covering them irregularly.
The difference in the size of influence between Ban and his predecessor at the Sunken Keep gave Kai some indication as to how advanced the original Earth Core had been. He wondered if it was Emerald ascended or perhaps even Viridian.
A skittering followed by a tumble of rocks somewhere ahead pulled Kai’s mind into focus.
He squinted his dragon eyes but still couldn’t make out anything but the lumpy tunnel floor.
Kai stopped, and thankfully, Greg did as well.
The skittering came once more, and this time Kai noted a flicker of movement in the tunnel.
Holding his glaive at the ready, Kai advanced.
Just because he knew a fight was coming, didn’t make him less nervous. Rather, he had to force his nerves to remain calm, expecting an attack at any moment. The seconds ticked by, and still nothing jumped out or made another noise.
He nearly sighed in relief when a screech erupted from the tunnel wall beside him.
Kai stepped back, turning to face his attacker, and performed a clean downward slash with his glaive.
The blade collided with soft flesh.
A wet splat followed.
Tugging his glaive free, Kai turned, hoping to have a little warning should another attack be forthcoming. Greg remained impassive, the bundle of javelins in his hands unmoving.
When it was clear the danger had passed, Kai inspected the lump of defeated flesh on the ground. Disturbingly, Kai discovered the mutilated body of a spider. Not just any spider, but one the size of a small dog.
Wanting to keep track of the creatures they came across, Kai inspected the little beastie.
Glass Spider
Infected Arachnid
Amber 1
Two long pincers protruded from its mouth. Kai couldn’t detect any claws at the end of its legs, but the appendages were so thin and sharp at their end he suspected a claw wasn’t necessary.
Most peculiar was the beastie’s skin. Or fur, he assumed as he tentatively touched the spider. It was covered in a fine layer of fuzz so black that even two feet away, Kai had to squint to make out its outline.
“If a swarm of these things come after us, we’ll be spider food in a blink, Greg. I think it’s time for a torch after all,” Kai said to his stolid companion.
The knightmare blinked, but otherwise did not reply.
Kai fished out one of the torches and lit it. Then, he instructed Greg to hold the torch among the cluster of javelins. After a few commands, the champion figured it out, holding the torch and spare javelins in his left hand, and a javelin in his right.
They pressed on once more, and Kai made sure to move cautiously.
The hours melted away. Only the endless rise and fall of the tunnel marked their progress. Every stone and handful of soil above their heads weighed down on Kai’s mind.
Dragons and humans alike are meant for the open sky, he mused. Then again, dragons were the ones who invented Earth Cores. Maybe I’m just not used to it yet.
His own feelings on the matter meant little. The stone around him remained impassive, uncaring that each step he took, the more conscious of his depth he became.
Kai thought of Rhona again, wonder ing if she was well. I need to set aside time to reach out to her again. Even if it is only for a little while.
But try as he might, he couldn’t think when that opportune moment might be. Surely, he could order Greg to guard him when he used Soul Projection, but there was Rhona’s safety as well. Kai had been fortunate that both times he spoke with her, she was safe and alone.
If he used his spell when she was hidden in ambush and an enemy was near… he’d rather not find out.
A parched mouth and tight stomach issued their silent commands to Kai, and he called Greg to a halt. He walked around to the back of the hulking companion, and reached into the pack for a waterskin.
The attack that followed was silent.
Even as Kai pulled his waterskin free, a huge spider fell on his back, shoving him to the ground. He dropped his glaive and the ungainly weapon clashed against the stone.
By the force of the creature’s impact alone, Kai knew this one was bigger.
Kai spun onto his belly and reached for the glinting haft of his weapon.
Feeling a sharp pinch at the back of his heel, Kai yelped. He sent a foot into the beast’s face then rolled onto his back and triggered Flame Spear. The spell shot out from his hand, a fiery lance unaugmented by the Wind rune Ban placed on the glaive.
Kai’s diminished spell proved plenty strong enough.
The fire bolt split the spider in two and splashed against the tunnel wall.
In the brief flash of the spell, Kai got a good look at his surroundings.
Over a dozen spiders surrounded them.
Kai reached for his glaive and stood up. His leg tingled with whatever venom had been injected.
It was already turning numb.
This time, Greg decided it was time to do his job.
A screech of pain sounded from a spider ahead, and Kai saw the steel spine of a javelin sticking out of its black hide. In quick succession, Greg drew and tossed two more javelins.
Both hit their targets dead on.
As the spiders rushed them, Greg pulled a single hammer free from his belt and swung.
The impact burst the spider, shattering its armored body completely.
Not wanting to be outdone, Kai released a second Flame Spear from his glaive. The Wind element activated, and his spell exploded into fragments of whipping fire. At least four of the spiders were blown apart by the force.
The remaining monsters closed on Kai, coming in under his guard. One pounced, landing against him with enough force to drive one of its needle-thin legs into the gap at the knee of his greave.
For an instant, Kai saw it ending poorly.
The spider slammed its opposing limb into Kai’s ribs. Only the tip pierced his chain mail, but the lance of pain that shot through his core seemed anything but minor. Another jumped at him, its fangs spread wide.
In the back of his mind, he heard the skittering tap of more spiders arriving in the dark.
Then he remembered his new spell.
Breeze Step activated at the speed of a thought, and Kai emerged from thin air amidst a cyclone of Wind ether.
The tunnel seemed to teeter around him briefly, but he turned to the wall of spiders that rushed him soon enough. Thank Andag I practiced back at the keep, he thought as he raised the tip of his glaive.
Channeling Flame Spear twice more, Kai blasted apart the bulk of the spider foes.
Their limbs shattered, and bodies burst as the amplified flames ripped through their numbers.
The rest was glaive work.
Kai slashed one, cutting a few of its legs off, then skewered another.
He used his boot to push the corpse free and slashed two more of the creatures that sprang at him.
Both hammers out now, Greg smashed several more to pieces, and the tunnel fell quiet.
Surveying the scene, Kai chuckled grimly. They’d won the battle. The charred corpses and broken bodies of the spider horde littered the tunnel. At least thirty of the monsters lay dead. A few flames remained, guttering on the spider corpses, and the silver spines of javelins protruded at all angles.
Kai’s companion had abandoned the torch during the fight. That gave him some relief, knowing the champion could essentially make critical decisions on his own.
The fight might
be over, but Kai’s leg had taken a turn for the worse.
Before he saw to his own wound, he hobbled around Greg’s body. Picking up the fallen torch, he waited till the full light of the flames returned and searched the champion’s body.
And soon found exactly what he’d feared.
Two bites seeped venom on the back of Greg’s enormous calf.
“Okay, buddy. I need you to keep that torch held high, but please, take a seat, okay?”
Awkwardly, the champion sat down, his huge hands still clutching the rest of his javelins. Rather than correct him, Kai focused on casting Restoring Tide.
He cast the healing spell on each of them, then pulled out a healing salve.
Rhona had used most of her herbs healing Kai in the swamps. She had a few leaves and twigs remaining, and Imogen had been kind enough to absorb and produce more. For an Earth Core, such a service was easy and natural.
For Kai, it was life saving.
Kai and Rhona had ground the herbs together, mixing it with water. The end result was a thick paste that smelled poisonous.
Wrinkling his nose, Kai dipped his fingers into the jar of salve and applied it liberally to his wound and then to Greg’s.
The unlikely duo sat in the dank tunnel as they recovered. The salve worked wonders on the venom wounds, and Kai’s healing spell did the rest.
They drank water and ate.
Kai still considered it strange that a champion needed to fuel their body like a human. So far from Ban’s core, however, away from the ambient ether an Earth Core gave off, Greg’s body needed to fuel itself with mundane means.
When Kai felt strong enough, he stood up and ripped a javelin out of the nearest dead spider. Handing it back to Greg, he urged his silent companion to retrieve the rest.
Kai shook out his legs, glad to have some remedy for the venom. It seemed unlikely they’d escape further bites.
After another hour and one more skirmish with spiders, Kai noticed the floor of the tunnel begin to slope down and to the right. This feature grew more distinct as they plunged ever downward.
