In general, it was unpleasant to realize that out of the races present in Lunar Rainbow, only humans turned out to be “sexually omnivorous.” I felt ashamed of my own species. Though, this shouldn’t have surprised me. Even in the “real world,” where the choices were plenty, was full of all sorts of perverts. But here, where there are no such laws and where the majority of society consists of morons, things were bound to sooner or later become uncontrollable.
And that was exactly what occurred a month ago, when the Night Shadows clan ruled the Fortress. The problem of unequal gender representation was at its peak, because demand repeatedly exceeded the supply, and Chula and Mashta were literally cornered. The girls had to constantly walk around with their male friends to avoid trouble. That’s why their group volunteered to be on duty at the hunting camp as often as possible, just to be away from everyone.
But that didn’t last long.
Of course, not all humans were scumbags; some kept their distance, while others simply preferred not to intervene for one reason or another, be that weakness, cowardice, or indifference. It didn’t matter. People always had their reasons. Not to mention that there was no one to uphold the law or punish them for their crimes. Everyone already considered themselves convicted in Lunar Rainbow, so any motion about societal norms, basic decency and morality was out of the window. They believed that there were no guards here, that one could do whatever they wanted, because only the strong survived. Those who weren’t strong listened and obeyed. Not everyone liked it, the tension was constantly increasing, and some form of disaster was inevitable.
On that fateful day, the Lowlings had to split. Leaving Colin at the camp to finish the shift, the rest went to the Fortress to take part in a battle auction that had been announced ahead of time. They weren’t alarmed by the fact that these auctions weren’t usually conducted in the absence of raid players, who were occupied with raiding the Citadel that day. They thought that less people meant fewer problems. And that was their mistake. It was precisely the raiders who maintained things somewhat orderly. Without them present, only scum remained in the Fortress.
Phage was killed first, as soon as the Lowlings entered the main hall of the Fortress. He tried to defend Chula. Realizing that they couldn’t shake off their long-legged pursuers, the Lowlings decided to use the secret passage that they had recently opened and didn’t have time to inform others about. As I understood it, they kept that secret to themselves just in case, but their plan backfired. Having opened the passage, they, to their misfortune, ran into a passing Raksh raid of twenty elite warriors. The Raksh, enthralled by such a wonderful opportunity, broke into the Fortress over their dead bodies.
When Colin, having realized that his friends weren’t coming, decided to find out what was happening and discovered that the Raksh were already settling themselves in the Fortress, he used Stealth to enter the Mausoleum Terminal at the risk of his own life. There he found an entire stock of socs, which could either be carried away or used on the spot.
Along with all this, I learned another important thing that no one considered necessary to tell me earlier. Saves weren’t a safety net. Uncontrolled resurrection often lead to a new death, sometimes to the final one, since those whose revival time aligned with the Creepoar phase had every chance of being erased from the Mausoleum’s list forever as those beasts consumed souls. The process of automatic save activation could be bypassed in only one way — by adjusting the resurrection time at the Mausoleum Terminal. And for this you needed an additional soc, which, of course, had to match the player’s level so that they wouldn’t lose any upon resurrection. Quarter of a day, that is 6 hours, was the minimum delay time. After that it stacked, so the available options were: 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, and so on.
That was what Colin did first. But, having taken care of this, he decided to go further. To prevent similar situations from happening again, it was necessary to change the balance of power. Alas, having studied the entire Mausoleum list, he found no trace of his kin, except for his little group. Perhaps their kin never should’ve appeared in the Lunar Rainbow at all, and they happened there due to some system error. The same was the case with the Dalrokts. There were no dead of their kin either. The entire Mausoleum list was filled with the souls of hundreds of Okhtans and humans.
And then, Colin did something for which later both the Okhtans and the Dalrokts, according to their ideas of valor, began to despise the Lowlings, marking their whole race duplicitous, treacherous and cowardly. They permanently excluded them from the raid lists and relieved them from any duties, except for the daily hunt.
The Fortress had a bunch of useless grade 1 socs. Colin used this reserve to revive the humans, and not only did he lower their stats to the bare minimum by doing so, he also aligned the moment of their resurrection with the Flame Phase, deliberately condemning them to their final death. His revenge was almost flawless; most of the Shadows disappeared without a trace, without a chance of resurrection, all of their saves gone in flames. Those who somehow wiggled out of the trap were first personally dealt with by Colin, the only Lowling who had survived. Once his kin finally arrived, Arkoosh joined Colin in his righteous vengeance. Both of them acted alone, in turns, in order to avoid attracting attention, while the rest of the Lowlings looked the other way, engaged in their daily duties at the camp. By the time the Dalrokts figured them out, there was nobody left to save, nor was there a particular need to do so. Night Shadows were no more, and things in the Fortress finally changed, which pleased everyone. Not wanting to accept strangers into their ranks, the humans had doomed themselves.
That is why clans were banned. The Dalrokts didn’t have a clan, nor did they want to join one, and they didn’t allow anyone else to unite in order to avoid power struggles in the future. Mashta’s level 18 was Colin’s error, a mistake he made in a rush. He unintentionally charged his friend’s revival with a grade 1 soc, and she had to start again from level 10. That was why she didn’t want to give up Chula’s soc, so that her friend wouldn’t suffer the same fate she did, as Dalrokts wouldn’t waste their stock on her.
Stinger didn’t see the beginning of the dispute between the Lowlings and the humans, because the battle with the Raksh was already going on when he was returning from the Cradle with the guides, where they had taken him to check in, like me. He immediately jumped in the fight, but, being a rookie, stood no chance, and was tied up in no time.
I thought Mashta was still not being completely honest with us. I suspected that when the Lowlings and the scumbags clashed, the “lads” had time to have fun with either her or Chula, which would explain their distrustful attitude toward humans.
Their revenge, although just, might’ve been a tad too cruel because not all humans were scumbags. But I understood where they were coming from. It’s quite possible I would’ve done the same to save my friends. But I was still a human and did care about the fate of my kin, no matter how bad we were. Both the Dalrokts and the Okhtans remained a mystery to me, and their mentalities incomprehensible. In general, I still didn’t know how exactly to treat the Lowlings. But at least the girls earned my sympathy. But right now we needed the humans, and the Lowlings had no choice but to help me. A dozen or two persons worthy of rebirth could surely be found.
“Are we there yet?”
Stinger’s voice interrupted my thread of thoughts.
The journey that lasted at least an hour and seemed to be unbearably long finally led somewhere. The corridor lasted ten more feet and finally ended in a bright light that easily outshone Tinnie’s. It was there that the Guardian went. No longer waiting for our party, it sped up, disappearing from sight.
Chapter 56
“Stop! Not a step further!”
“Your intuition again?” Stinger asked with fair skepticism. “But we haven’t had a single encounter all the way here.”
“That’s why we should be extra careful.”
“Rawrk loves to go scouting!”
“Could
you teach him a couple more new words or something? He’s driving me crazy with this ‘loves this loves that!’ ” Mashta chuckled.
“I’ve a better idea,” I said, dismissing her remark. “Tinnie, check what’s there. Just be careful.”
Buzzing, she flew up to the edge and shoved her golden head into the light, as if she were peering into a keyhole. Seemingly not finding anything dangerous, she batted her wings and... Darted into the blinding light, disappearing just like the Guardian did before her. I cursed, swearing to give her a piece of my mind if she survives. A proper tempest in a teapot. Well, I actually couldn’t do anything to her. But she could’ve warned me, the damn fidgety insect. Seconds flowed one after another, and her HP remained in perfect state. It was likely that she didn’t respond to my summons because of whatever properties the light barrier had, but she didn’t seem to hurry back.
“Okay, let’s take a look,” I decided, no longer able to endure the suspense. I was getting honestly worried.
We stepped through the radiance — and it faded. I slowly moved forward, and my companions, breaking the barrier afterward, moved around, looking around cautiously. We found ourselves in a spacious, cylindrical room, about teen feet in diameter and just as tall. We no longer needed extra light, as there was enough of it seeping through the walls lined with honey-yellow amber and decorated with bas-reliefs of dancing winged female figures, strikingly similar to...
Similar to Fairies.
The graceful figures stood frozen in different positions, and if you were to quickly glance around the entire circumference of the hall, you’d get the feeling that they moved as they danced.
But our eyes were attracted not to them, but to an amber statue in the middle of the hall that was shining from within. The size of an average human, the statue was so skillfully sculpted that it almost seemed alive. The translucent fabric of its weightless garments, not even slightly concealing the outlines of the beautiful body beneath, looked tangible and not at all like amber.
On its back was a pair of translucent wings, and in its hands, risen to the shoulder level, was the Guardian who had brought us here as well Tinnie, safe and sound.
She was sitting on the Guardian, who had turned into a smooth, glassy ball, and stared in awe at the face of her amber copy.
Silently running up to the statue, Fury pulled her face up and meowed inquiringly at her mesmerized friend, but Tinnie didn’t even stir. She looked bewildered. And since the barrier was no longer hindering our connection, I could feel her deep shock. But the fact that she differed from the statue only in height wasn’t what stunned her.
“Wow,” Stinger shook his head in disbelief. “Tinnie, is that your mother or something?”
“Watch your words!” Mashta hastily hissed as if she was afraid of something.
“It seems to me that you know more than you told us,” I said thoughtfully, not missing Mashta’s reaction. Maintaining a safe distance, I continuing looking at the marvel that was in the center of the hall.
“You’re wrong, Wise.” Mashta slowly walked closer to the statue, tentatively outstretched her hand, and immediately withdrew, not daring to touch it. “This is my first time here and I have never heard anything about this place.”
“But you obviously know more about Fairies than we do. I see some kind of link here. I didn’t have time to find out how you would’ve tamed her, since you almost sent me to the Cradle.”
“Wise, I beg you, forget our quarrels,” Mashta said with a sad smile. “I’m very sorry about what happened. But things have changed. My kind won’t touch you. I won’t allow it. Double true.”
“I’d love to believe you. I’m sick of petty intrigues, they only distract us from the main problem. And don’t you try wiggling out of answering.”
Mashta cast a quick glance at me; biting her lip in annoyance, she immediately turned away.
“Fine, I’ll tell you and clear things up once and for all. It’s simple. Chula never used her Pet Seed in the sandbox. Rules don’t forbid you from carrying it over to a different location. As for the Fairy... Yes, we know more about them than you. And we know what abilities they can possess. You, too, don’t share everything you know, and your Tinnie is capable of creating consumables for resurrection. After all, that Amplifier that you inserted into the Uniq didn’t fall from the sky, which means that you managed to create a Crafting Altar somewhere.”
Oops... I tried maintaining a poker face, hiding surprise and annoyance behind it. And here I thought that that was a secret. Well, at least I now knew as much as she did. Not bad, I suppose.
“And that’s another reason to leave you alone,” continued Mashta. “Re-taming her would reset her level and skills, and since we’ve finally made some progress, it’s better to leave everything as it is. You’re now more profitable as an ally than as a corpse. We also have no clue if re-taming is even possible. But I swear: I didn’t know that Goddess Jeeva was the patroness of this world. None of us knew.”
“Goddess?” I asked with interest. “This oversized Fairy chick is a Goddess?”
“Yeah. Not the Goddess herself, of course, just her image. Jeeva is the astral patron of the life-giving forces of nature. She helps the earth to wake up in spring, gives it fertility, grows cornfields and pastures...”
“In general, she’s exactly what this world needs,” Stinger casually intervened. “But she doesn’t look like a warrior, so I’m not surprised that she lost the battle against the Creepoar deity. If that deity is anything like its minions, we can safely assume that it has horns, claws and hooves, all of which are far more serious weapons than a pretty face and a pair of butterfly wings.”
“She didn’t lose,” Mashta frowned, glancing at him with hostility — for some reason, his remark touched a nerve. “It was a draw. And don’t you compare your abilities with those of a deity. Physical looks aren’t important here. Believe me, if she were to slam you with those ‘butterfly wings,’ you’d be pulverized. She wouldn’t even have to touch you.”
“Well, the Creepoars are still here, and the natives have forgotten their own history. It means that she had lost,” Stinger sneered.
“Wait, you’re getting away from the topic,” I said. “Mashta, why does Tinnie look so much like her?”
“Well, just because. According to legends, the Fairies were created in Jeeva’s image and likeness and were her lesser avatars, bits of her soul. That’s why they have such unique abilities.”
“So that’s why the Kobi are thrilled with her.” I looked at my Tinnie in a completely different light and with a fair amount of respect.
“Sounds about right,” Stinger confirmed. “When I left, they were basically praying at the Altar. Maybe they really were. Who knows what kind of bats dwell in the Kobi belfry?”
“Yes... Turns out that Tinnie served as our pass,” Mashta said and looked at me inquiringly. “Listen, time’s flying and I’m not sure that we can stay here forever. What’s our next move?”
She was right. I looked around more carefully.
“I don’t see any control terminals or other exits. There must be some kind of a puzzle.”
“You brought us here, you solve it.”
“We will solve it, Mashta,” I corrected. “It’s us. Together. Why the hell are you always trying to make me the one responsible? We’re a team, get used to that. Several minds are better than one. Tinnie, quit admiring your ‘mommy’ and start exploring the hall. Stinger, you’d better do it, too.”
“Already on it,” he grumbled, going to the nearest bas-relief.
“Mashta, same goes for you. Stop twiddling your thumbs; you may as well notice what the rest of us miss. Your eyes are sharp. Fury, sniff everything. Marana, you get down to business... Marana? What’s the matter?”
Something was clearly wrong with the Succubus.
Standing two feet away from the statue, she trembled as if from a violent chill, the tip of her tail restlessly hitting the floor, sending sparks flying. The fire i
n her eyes was growing brighter, kindled by hatred and torment. Trouble was incoming. She hissed, baring her fangs, and made a small step toward the statue, but retreated, letting out a pained groan. And then she tried to step forward again. She seemed to be struggling with some invisible force that was making her act against her will.
“Fury, to me! Stinger, she’s in trouble, get ready...”
I was late with the order. Her tail whipped the air and its tip, durable and strong as steel, pierced the statue, shattering it and showering the hall with amber shards. The place looked like a bomb had been dropped onto it. The Guardian, having fulfilled its role as the guide and deactivated, fell down and rolled on the floor before hitting a wall and stopping.
The next moment, I hit Marana with Lash of Pain. I didn’t aim to wound her, as she still was an ally, but to merely stop her. Someone had to, as she obviously couldn’t. Pain would bring anyone back to their senses, even a Succubus.
Lash of Pain
Rank 2 (0/200)
Reputation with Alan the Dark: Interest (1/1000)
New skill unlocked: Shadow’s Edge
Rank 1 (0/100)
Note:
· Patron related skill;
· Each use grants +5 reputation with the patron and deepens their influence on the neophyte’s soul.
Your reaction and movement speed increased by 50%.
Duration: 15 seconds (depends on the rank of the skill and reputation with the patron)
Cooldown: 1 hour
Marana let out a heart-wrenching scream and rolled on the floor in Fury’s clawed embrace, knocked down by her considerable weight.
The floor trembled so violently that I barely managed to keep standing.
The puzzled and frightened cries of my party members were drowned out by the growing creaking and groaning. Glancing around, I realized with horror that the whole hall had begun to rotate and that the floor was moving upward! Speeding up, it mercilessly crushed the walls and the bas-reliefs to dust. And judging by the speed with which it rose, we had a few seconds to stop it before the amber ceiling crushes us like a hydraulic press.
Keymaster Page 40
