Keymaster

by Sergey Zaytsev

  “Don’t stand so close to the border, Wise. If you make a mistake, the dome will drag you into the dungeon’s territory.” Stinger’s worried voice was heard as if from a headset, although I didn’t have one. “We’ll be neck deep in trouble then. And who would go to the Mausoleum to pick you up then?”

  “Miss me already?”

  “A purely business call. Connection check. By the way, all’s good. Can you hear me?”

  “Loud and clear.”

  “It feels like there’s a transmitter in my head... What a useful thing.”

  “Anything else? Spit it out, I’ll soon leave the communication area. So far we’ve covered only half a mile.”

  “By the way, what does the distance depend on: the skill rank or clan level?”

  “Both. Everything’s always interconnected here. That’s why you need to raise the clan level. Sting?”

  “The latter, then... I was thinking about something while you were having fun there. This story with Grant... Your version of it doesn’t necessarily have to be the correct one. For example, it could’ve been you who killed him. Maybe you received the Mark because of that.”

  Such an assumption made me halt Fury. She spun around nervously, trampling small mounds of snow.

  “Stinger...” I said warningly.

  “Wait, let me finish,” he interrupted with mild annoyance. “While I was sitting here, I brainstormed a bit and came to some conclusions that are beneficial for you. In my opinion, you’re too trusting to kill Grant.”

  “Too trusting? I don’t think I follow.”

  “Take a look at yourself. You left your Fairy with me. The Lowlings almost killed you to get her, and you know me less than you know them.”

  “I can hardly call that ‘trusting.’ I had to choose. And I know you better than I know them, having heard a lot about you from Grant. I hope that you aren’t going to resort to trickery. Should I call Tinnie, she’ll...”

  “I won’t touch her. I’ve decided to trust you, Wise.”

  “So you didn’t trust me so far?”

  “Not completely, no,” he admitted. “You were a stranger to me. What if the outcasts had sent you here? Just kidding, don’t you worry. I would’ve probably hesitated for longer had it not been for Rawrk. Also, you killed that boss so spectacularly. It did make reconsider some things. You’re stronger than you seem and you always have an ace in your sleeve.”

  “Your opinion of me warms my heart, but what does Rawrk have to do with this?”

  “An insidious killer wouldn’t have risked his life to get a Raksh out of harm’s way,” he explained.

  “I see. But get to the point already. You decided to trust me. Now what?”

  “I didn’t tell you that I had been to the Plateau. While Rawrk was alive, he pulled the lever. Once I had an opportunity to participate in a clash between the Raksh and the Dions. The loot that I’ve gained then could help your Fairy. In a separate stash, I stored two dozen escs and one grade 2 soc. It remains only to decide which of the consumables to create first. Hey, don’t just stand there, get away from the dome!”

  The fear in his voice seemed worthy of attention. My mental order sent Fury further ahead.

  “So, have you decided yet? What consumables would you like? To be honest, I’m very interested in them. I’ve no clue how long you’ll be there. Getting some XP in your absence wouldn’t hurt her. Could you contact her?”

  “Not really. I feel a connection with her, but there’s no mental exchange anymore.” I wasn’t surprised that he was interested, but his mention of Tinnie made me suspicious. “Don’t rush it, Stinger. She’s tired. Let her rest for now.”

  “You should see what your supposedly tired girl is doing here!”

  “And what is she doing?” I instantly got interested.

  “Don’t get distracted, remember the communication limitations!”

  I forced Fury to slow her pace so as not to jump out of the communication area ahead of time. The Citadel was some fifty steps behind us and there was no danger on this side anymore.

  “Don’t rush, I’m still thinking. You’ve been hiding a soc? By the way, since we’re being honest here, have you tried repairing that Seal?” I asked. “Does your prof give you any bonuses for that?”

  “It doesn’t. You’d be better off taking a look at it. Something could come out of it.”

  “I tried. Nothing happened.”

  “And you’re accusing me of hiding things.”

  “So what about the soc?”

  “I got it for helping Rawrk. Getting those yourself isn’t easy. Enemies usually appear in groups.”

  “You’re not A ‘Stinger,’ you’re a ‘Trickster...’ And why ‘Stinger,’ by the way? Doesn’t it sound strange to you?”

  “Make no mistake. It’s from ‘sting’ meaning ‘wound,’ not ‘cheat’. And I can sting, be sure of that. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, and all that,” he laughed. “You know that phrase, yea? It’s not stranger than your nick, by the way.”

  “You’re too heavy to be a butterfly, you know? Maybe a big ass one...”

  “A wisecracker like yourself named me so,” he snarled, sounding offended. “You’re moving away from the topic.”

  “I’m thinking. You could’ve changed your name.”

  “I didn’t want to. I got used to it.”

  “So what’s your real name?”

  “Let’s not go there. Leave the past in the past.”

  I didn’t insist, just smiled knowingly. I understood how he felt; my nick now felt more natural to me than my old name did.

  But back to the point. Choosing a consumable was a difficult task. The offer was tempting, but required some serious thought. Pet related Vials were currently better off discarded. It would be nice to create a Vial of Soul Reanimation as it might come useful in the near future. But the Vial of Exchange Sacrifice was the one that bothered the most. A personal List of the Dead... If by “dead” the system meant those whom I had personally killed, then this option didn’t suit me at all, since there was only Pops there. But how else could this be perceived? I felt torn. I didn’t want to spend the only soc I had on bringing Pops back to this world; we had enough problems without him already. But if there was even the slightest opportunity of reviving someone without a Cradle or a Mausoleum, then...

  I’ve decided. Even if I had misunderstood everything, the use of a consumable would still benefit us; Tinnie would get XP and I would learn more about these items. In addition, the description said that only I could use these consumables. So, if Stinger was plotting something, his plans would backfire.

  “Sting, we’ll craft a Vial of Soul Exchange Sacrifice.”

  Fury snorted; she was eager to catch up with Rawrk. We shouldn’t stop anymore, we had lost a lot of time already. But there was no need to rush. Running at an average pace, Fury spent the bare minimum of her energy per each mile traveled. Making her go any faster could drain her reserves too quickly.

  “A good decision,” Stinger agreed, and I felt relieved. All of my suspicions were gone. “I was just about to suggest it. Since this consumable takes the longest time to create, we’re bound to get something good. If we manage to snatch someone from oblivion, then they’ll owe us their eternal gratitude.”

  “Do you think that the List of the Dead has something to do with the Mausoleum’s list?”

  “I hope it’s better than that,” he chuckled thoughtfully, having apparently come to the same conclusions as me. “Fine, I’ll communicate your wishes to Tinnie. For convicts like us, these miraculous consumables are a great help. It’s a good thing that I stumbled upon you.”

  “You’re wrong to think of yourself as a convict.”

  “And what else should I think of myself?” The tank was surprised. “Remember why we’re here.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Grant once mentioned that he couldn’t stop thinking if obeying the general sc
heme imposed on us was the right thing to do. He suggested that the correct path might lie right through Inferno. Unfortunately, he was unable to verify this, but we still can.”

  “Grant was an interesting person. A brainy type. It’s a pity that his plan failed, and that I was the one who screwed up. I didn’t have to crush those fuckers...”

  “Just a minute... What plan are you talking about?”

  “The very same one that he tried to realize with you: to complete the Destroyer’s Dungeon as a duo.”

  “So that was his idea?!”

  “Naturally. He’s the smart one, not me. A pity it didn’t work.”

  My lips stretched into a wry smile. No wonder these two cunning swindlers found each other. In mean that in a good way, of course.

  “Grant was in the process of respawning, killed by those two fuckers,” Stinger continued to confide with mild anger. Apparently, talking through the chat was easier for him than talking face to face. “They caught my eye. They could’ve kept silent and gotten away with it, but no; they began to boast about it. They acted as if throwing a bound person into a Ghoul’s den to be eaten alive was an act worthy of heroism, damn it...”

  “I understand you perfectly.”

  “And so, I messed it all up. It’s hard to restrain yourself in such circumstances. And instead of conquering the new world, I’m freezing in this shithole. It’s colder than my ex’s heart here.”

  “Aw, has someone broken your wee little heart? Need a hug?”

  “Oh, bugger off, Wise.”

  “Whining will not make this go any faster.” Fury made a left turn to go around the next obstacle that stood in our way. “I had time to think over Grant’s words, so I’ll try to console you a little. Sting, you see, we probably didn’t end up here because someone had been killed there. Committing an act that goes against the established rules made us be removed from the rest. Do you understand? This isn’t a punishment. At least not entirely. Rather, it’s a test for both the mind and the body. This location is our chance to take a different path; the road less traveled, if you will. I won’t argue, this place is harsh and ruthless, and natural selection is decimating people. Just remember what happened to humans. But think about it; if we get out of here, we’ll get a new chance. We’ll be able to start over from scratch. We’ll get to choose how we will develop, not the system. And all we need to do is complete a quest! Sting? Hey? Hellooo?”

  [Stinger] is unavailable.

  The message lingered for a few seconds, I just failed to notice immediately, tenaciously observing my surroundings, and looking out for any signs of danger. Cursing, I glanced at the grayish icon, and then looked up again.

  And flinched.

  Fury let out a muffled growl, but didn’t slow down.

  Protruding out of the snow, some thirty steps to the right of us, was a giant, razor sharp stone fragment. On this edge, observing us with its red eyes, sat a large dog-like creature, clearly not smaller than my Fury. Its shaggy white fur could barely be differentiated from the snowy top of the rock, which was probably why I hadn’t noticed it before.

  Alan the Dark save me, I had already seen such creatures in the sandbox! Even its name was similar.

  Snow Fangore

  Level 28

  HP: 2,200

  Hell, it had twice the HP I did. For some reason, it only now dawned on me that Shriek Plateau was the epic quest’s key location, which meant that Lunar Rainbow’s most powerful creatures lived here. Stinger, you asshole! You assured me that Dions would’ve cleared the path as XP and escs were always in demand! Was this a mistake or a setup?

  Howling threateningly, the Fangore jumped off the cliff and rushed toward us, lifting a cloud of snowy dust with its hind legs.

  Maybe Soulcatcher could take care of it, I thought, watching tensely as the Fangore shortened the distance between us. Or maybe not. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to calm down. If a fight occurs, I won’t do well without Stinger. I needed a tank; the level difference was too big. It’d be better not to face the creature head-on. Hell, it’d better not face it at all.

  Fury increased her speed and I was glad to see that she was noticeably faster than our pursuer. We managed to get away but her energy was drained pretty quickly. At this pace, she won’t last more than ten minutes...

  As if this wasn’t enough, from somewhere nearby came a new howl, followed by another, and then another one. The beast’s kin responded with a chorus, announcing that they would join the hunt.

  Chapter 46

  It was too late to turn around. I would inevitably lose speed and leave myself open for an attack, and we had already crossed half of the Plateau. There was only one thing that could be done — move my ass to the lower valley, hoping that I’ll be able to escape before the mobs tear us both apart.

  “Step on it, Fury!” I shouted. “Go!”

  Damn it, I didn’t expect to waste escs so early, but I had no other choice; might as well check my theories about the Sign and its connection to Soulcatcher, my main trump card.

  Lash hit the Fangore that had to overcome about thirty feet to get to me. The skill’s effect lasted for a couple of seconds, so I had no time to examine it properly. The beast only flinched, but didn’t slow down. Its high level made the Lash as serious as a mosquito bite. The main thing was that I managed to hit the target, and that I’ll now be able to track it all day along thanks to the Mark.

  The skin on my biceps, where the Sign now was, felt boiling hot, but that was to be expected. Without delay, I waved my hand and pierced the Fangore with Soulcatcher. The effect was instant and noticeable. The beast tripped over its own paws and tumbled over, raising clouds of snowy dust. The pitiful amount of damage dealt made me experience the most severe disappointment, but I pressed on. My theory about there being a link between the abilities wasn’t confirmed; the combo removed less than a hundred HP. The question of what had happened during the battle with the Matriarch remained unanswered.

  We swept past, getting further away.

  Looking around anxiously, I realized that the Fangore had already recovered and resumed its pursuit, albeit with much less agility. The distance between us increased rather quickly, and the ghostly thread became thinner, threatening to snap like a taut string. It was clear that I couldn’t allow myself to be dragged into a fight as this creature was beyond my capabilities.

  The trickle of energy softened the burning and invigorated me, but that was all. But the esc hadn’t been wasted as I probably wouldn’t have evaded the creature without it. Fury’s energy seemed to be draining at a slower pace, too. The journey to the Seventh Seal made it clear that Spiritual Link was weakened only when Tinnie was away, but as long as I remained close to Fury our connection would work just fine. According to the skill’s description, the effect would be completely interrupted only if something happened to one of the three of us, or if Tinnie ran out of energy. I wasn’t experiencing any inconvenience, and Synergy’s automatic selection selected Fighting Spirit which added +10% to energy, which worked wonders and was fine with me.

  Ahead, high mountain slopes were rapidly approaching, separating the Plateau from the lower valley. There were about two hundred feet to the narrow mouth of the gorge leading between the rocky slopes to the ruins of Diamond Crown. I hoped that the creatures would cease their pursuit as soon as I dive into the passage between the rocks. They couldn’t chase us forever, that’d be against the rules. But first, we needed to get there, and it wouldn’t be as easy as we’d like it to be, because I noticed three more Fangores on our right. Their nimble white silhouettes rushed along the rocks with a clear intention to intercept their prey near the entrance to the gorge to which I was rushing so eagerly. And to our left were two more.

  Damn, I have to win this race!

  Any hitch would mean certain death. And losing Fury would have catastrophic consequences. Vials were still being tested, and we still had no idea how they worked.

  Stop being a pessimist! We can sti
ll stand up to the challenge!

  A subtle sound of something crystal-like being broken attracted my attention; Soulcatcher’s effect had been interrupted. Looking back, I evaluated the distance between us and the Fangores. Fifty feet. That’s the range limit. Remember that.

  Fury was panting, and her energy was noticeably dropping. Without reducing the speed, she leapt into the air, jumping over a deep, teen feet wide ravine. Her teeth rattled upon landing, but she managed to maintain balance and carry on. Looking forward, I felt hope swell in my chest. We’re gonna succeed, damn it! The Fangores weren’t very fast and we were ahead at least a hundred feet ahead of them.

  My gaze was scouring the oncoming slopes, looking for a place suitable for hiding, in case that Fury needed a breather and I had to dismount. We would do good to get to higher ground; somewhere where they wouldn’t be able to reach us, but from where we could fight back somehow, taking advantage of the terrain.

  We flew into the gorge like the wind, knocking down snow from the slope to the left. After about a minute of jumping, the gorge began to curve to the right. But then I saw a cliff up ahead, and we were about to find out how steep it was in the hard way. Well, Wise, this is it’s called a “plateau.” It has to end somewhere, damn it...

  Running up to the precipice, Fury and I went around its edge, looking down with fear and despair. It was a seventy feet drop! Such a fall meant certain death even for avatars. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t spot a safe route down. In front of us was a ridiculously steep cliff, which was odd in itself because the natives traversed this path often, so there must’ve been a way down! Maybe they used ropes? But Stinger didn’t mention anything like that. He probably didn’t even know about this, he must’ve never visited this place.