The Alchemy Worlds: Enter T(he)rap(y): A LitRPG Adventure

by Victor Justice

  Something small and yellow darted past the gallery, catching Matias’ attention. He looked out and spotted several orbs the size of basketballs swooping down from the direction of the roof. They too were made of gold and shaped to resemble bald gnome heads. Each of their open mouths contained a glowing aquamarine stone that was similar to those inside the lamps, only these ones shot out bolts of searing energy. The flying heads dived in formation, firing on the retreating monsters. Matias swore under his breath as he saw a moss mubb completely vaporised by one of the bolts. It was all the incentive he needed to run that little bit faster.

  Screams and shouts deafened him, and the sharp tang of burning ozone stung his nose and eyes. The heavy footsteps of the Grinning Ladies rang out and he heard the ragged cries and gruesome squelching noises of those not quick enough to get out of the golems’ path. It heightened his fear beyond anything he had experienced before, and he ran on blindly, desperate to escape the orgy of death.

  “There’s the staircase!” he heard Jaggen yell, and with relief Matias headed towards the portal leading down the steps.

  All of a sudden, five kobolds came careering up the steps and spilled onto the landing. Clearly, they had figured they would have a better chance of surviving if they reached higher ground rather than escape through the vestibule. The two men and the five monsters stared at each other for a moment, before the kobolds sprang into action. They quickly had their swords drawn and lunged at Matias and Jaggen.

  Reacting quickly, Matias brought up his staff to block a strike from the kobold closest to him. Jaggen had his own short sword drawn now, an unadorned, plain looking weapon whose blade the old man always kept deadly sharp, much like Jaggen himself. He swatted the blade of the kobold away and made a thrust towards the monster’s stomach. The warrior went down as Jaggen’s sword cut through leather armour and flesh, and two of his comrades tumbled over him in the confusion. Matias swept forward and smashed the tip of his staff into the jaw of one as hard as he could. The monster groaned and fell back, but another one suddenly jumped up in his place and slashed at Matias’ face with his dagger. Matias retreated, narrowly missing getting his nose sliced open, and he lashed out with his staff again. The kobold dodged the strike and, clutching his blade sideways in his fangs, he grabbed the end of the staff and yanked at it sharply. Matias’ hands were so slick with sweat he lost his grip on the weapon, and the kobold threw it out of the way. Pulling a dagger from his belt, the kobold lunged again, meaning to drive the blade into Matias’ chest. In a heartbeat, Matias brought up the arm that was fitted with his stiletto sleeve and flicked his wrist. The sleek blade shot out from its hiding place and Matias slashed out with it, finding the kobold’s exposed neck. The knife gleamed as it cut through the leathery flesh with terrifying ease. The kobold blinked stupidly and a second mouth of black blood slowly appeared beneath his chin. The warrior dropped his dagger and collapsed to his knees, clutching at his bleeding throat. A strange satisfaction filled Matias as he watched the monster die.

  A sudden burning sensation gripped his lungs and he had to fight back a coughing fit. Forgetting the kobold, he turned back to the battle. Two more kobolds lay dead and dying as Jaggen slashed and hacked with his blade, fighting with martial skill and efficiency. The two kobolds now attacked him as one and the steel of their three swords rang out as they dodged and lunged at each other. Despite the uneven odds, Jaggen was holding his own pretty well.

  Matias snatched up his staff and rushed to join in. He smacked the midriff of the kobold nearest to him, taking the monster’s attention from Jaggen. The kobold rushed at him, his face twisted with rage, but he was too clumsy and unfocused to be a real threat. Matias dodged him with ease and hit him again with the staff, landing blows across his head and chest. The kobold staggered and his blade dipped. Seizing the advantage, Matias grabbed the back of his collar and used his larger build to yank the scrawny creature toward the open side of the gallery. The kobold shrieked as Matias hurled him over the side.

  As he did so, though, a Grinning Lady came level to the gallery and swung its golden head to stare straight at Matias. Matias backed away in terror, at a loss at what to do now. The Grinning Lady kept watching him before turning abruptly back in the direction of the doors leading to the lower colony, as if something else had attracted its attention. There was a heavy clang as General Oxgar jumped onto the Grinning Lady’s chest and drove his battle axe into the centre of its head. The battle axe flared with a hellish red light and a deep crack ran down the centre of the Grinning Lady’s face. Oxgar pulled his colossal weapon free and then smashed it down into the head again, chopping at it like a lumberjack felling a tree. The golem let out a high pitched squeal that sounded almost childlike and began to stagger backwards. Its arms came up in strange jerking movements and Matias scurried away from the edge of the gallery as one of the sabres came dangerously close to the pillar he had been standing near.

  The movement attracted the Minotaur’s attention and, for a split second, the two locked gazes, before Matias bolted back to Jaggen’s position. He reached him just as he delivered a killing thrust to the kobold he had been fighting. The monster gurgled and fell to the ground, clutching his stomach. Black blood smeared Jaggen’s haggard face and tunic.

  “We got to get out of here, NOW!” Matias yelled, and he doubled over as a coughing fit engulfed him. This time he couldn’t contain it, and the muscles of his stomach contracted in pain as he hacked and spluttered. Tears blinded his eyes.

  A sturdy arm came round his waist and he felt himself being helped along the gallery. Thankfully, the coughing subsided quickly, though his legs still trembled. Matias wiped at his face and looked up at Jaggen.

  “I’m okay,” he gasped. “Let me go.”

  Jaggen did so, and Matias had to stop himself from falling over. When he had his balance again, he hurried after Jaggen down the staircase. They reached the bottom without further incident, but were almost mown down by a gaggle of moss mubbs as they scuttled by, screeching and squawking in terror. They ran by the creatures with ease and headed for the huge rectangle of light that marked the entrance into the colony. Behind them came screaming and the thunderous tramp of the Grinning Ladies’ footsteps, but Matias ignored them. His attention was on the way out, and though his lungs still heaved with pain, he forced himself to keeping running forward.

  Ahead of them were several kobolds faster than their comrades. They had just reached the entrance when there was a low deep rumble. Matias stared in disbelief as a solid metal door slid down over the entrance, blocking out their escape route. The kobolds howled in frustration and banged against the door with their fists and the butts of swords, as if that would be enough to make it open again.

  A ghoulish, aquamarine light now flooded the vestibule from some unknown light source, and Matias and Jaggen stopped running, unsure what to do next.

  On the opposite side of the chamber, Matias spotted another secret door open and a squat, four legged creature plodded into the centre of the vestibule. It was about the size of a rhino and resembled a tortoise made of bronze, but its shell was covered with slender serrated javelins. The automaton’s flat face peered out at the chaos with glowing red eyes and, without warning, the javelins on its shell shot out in all directions. The kobolds at the door were cut down in a heartbeat, and Jaggen almost got a javelin through his throat if Matias hadn’t dragged him behind a nearby cover.

  The two men clung to each other as javelins shot past them. Matias risked a glance around the pillar and saw that at least five more spiky tortoises had lumbered from other secret passages and were busy dispensing their deadly projectiles into the escaping monsters. Overhead, the flying heads were raining down bolts of devastating power. Soon, everybody in the Upper Hall would be dead or dying.

  Everybody; and that included Matias and Jaggen.

  “We’re finished,” Jaggen muttered. His face was deadly white and he sagged against the pillar.

  “
You might be, but I’m not,” hissed Matias. His fear hardened into determination as he frantically tried to figure out some way to survive.

  “What can we do?” Jaggen gasped. “This place is a death trap.”

  “We can’t go forward, but we can go back,” Matias replied. “The doors to the lower levels are still open.”

  “Go back the way we came?” Jaggen exclaimed. “You are mad!”

  “You were mad to make us come here in the first place,” snapped Matias. “Now it’s up to me to get us out of here. You either come with me now, or you’re on your own. It’s your choice.”

  Jaggen grimaced, and nodded. “All right then. Better to die fighting than cowering here, waiting for the end.”

  Matias slapped his arm, feeling a little light-headed. “Now you’re talking my language, buddy!”

  They peered out at the devastation again and, timing it right, bolted for the next pillar along, back towards the lower colony. One of the machine tortoises was nearby, and it had dispensed the last of its javelins. Seemingly harmless now, a group of moss mubbs had rushed to attack it. But as soon as they touched the shell, a field of actinic energy danced over the polished metal and the mubbs twitched and jerked in a grotesque death dance. The stench of their burning flesh hit Matias at the back of the throat.

  Worse though, their ill-fated attack attracted the attention of several flying heads which swooped down to bombard them with energy bolts. As they did so, two of the heads became aware of Matias and Jaggen watching from their hiding place and turned on them.

  Panic-stricken, the two men broke cover and made for the darkness on the opposite side of the vestibule. The flying heads came after them, shooting down bolts of searing energy. Matias weaved like a drunkard, trying to confuse the machines, narrowly missing being knocked off his feet by the thunderous explosions as the bolts missed their target and impacted with the floor.

  Kobolds and moss mubbs were running around in all directions now, and any that got near him he grabbed and thrust into the way of the bombardment, desperate to take the heads’ attention off him. In all the confusion, he lost track of Jaggen, but he no longer cared. He had to survive, his brain screamed at him. He had to survive, that was all that mattered.

  He managed to get to the other side of the vestibule and took cover behind the nearest pillar. Looking out, he felt a surge of relief as the two flying heads that had been chasing him now darted away after other targets. Charred corpses littered the floor and those still alive were wailing in despair. There was the heavy thud of footsteps as the undamaged Grinning Lady moved crab like down the vestibule, its four sabres sweeping down to slaughter anyone in its path. As Matias watched the creature, his heart jumped into his mouth when he spotted three more Grinning Ladies in the Upper Hall. It was clear that, after the gnomes left, they were determined that nobody that came looking for their weapons would ever leave alive.

  Panting hard, he tried to calm his nerves and figure out his next move. He was so engrossed in watching the Ladies, however, that he shrieked like a moss mubb when a mailed hand grabbed his shoulder. Spinning round in terror, his mind wheeled as he found himself looking up into the ruined face of Shunz.

  Matias gaped at the construct, unable to comprehend what was going on. The lumbering trashcan never went anywhere without Jhondey. What was he doing here in Kragg?

  As if sensing his confusion, Shunz pulled him away from the pillar and pointed over to the wall on their side. A few feet away, another secret door opened. Jhondey’s beaming head was thrust out of it and he was waving excitedly at Matias.

  Without a second thought, Matias ran for the door while Shunz lumbered after him. They were through the door in heartbeats and Jhondey pressed a button on his side of the hidden panel to close it shut.

  Too exhausted to think straight, Matias collapsed onto the floor of the brightly lit hexagon-shaped chamber and started coughing again. It took him a few moments to realise that Jaggen was leaning against one of the walls, trying to get his breath back.

  Jhondey, looking more pleased with himself than ever before, came and stood in front of them.

  “Well hello there,” he said in a smug voice. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  Chapter XVI: Going Forward, Going Deep

  “Jhondey! You turnip head! By the thorns of Count Rowan, what are you doing down here?” Jaggen thundered, when he’d finally gotten his breath back.

  “I snuck out of Ironthorne and used a shortcut to get ahead of you,” Jhondey proudly announced. “I know this forest like the back of my hand. I crept into the colony before you did and used this secret passage to hide.”

  “You knew about all these secret doors?” Matias asked. “Why didn’t you warn us?”

  “I only know about this one and a few dozens others,” Jhondey replied. “I found them ages ago. There are secret passages all through the Upper Colony. I didn’t know about all those gnome automations hiding away though. They are so amazing! Can I have a Grinning Lady pa? And one of those tortoise things? Those would be super fantastic! I could ride it round the village and shoot Mardon in the arse—”

  “If you knew about these hidden passages why didn’t you tell us?” Matias cut in, now over his coughing fit and back on his feet again.

  “I came to tell you everything when you were planning the expedition. I told Krumer I knew secret ways and that me and Shunz should come with you to show you where they were, and he tol’ me to go boil my arse,” Jhondey retorted. “No one appreciates me. That’s why I snuck along. I knew you’d need me. We went ahead and got in when no one was looking. Them kobolds are real lazy coots. Them posted on guard were too busy playing dice and drinking ale they wouldn’t notice the sky fallin’ down. Me and Shunz got passed without ‘em even noticing. Then we slipped through this secret door and waited for you to come along. Didn’t think it would be just you and pa. What happened? The others run away like ‘fraidy trolls? I knew they were all weedy breeches, even old Krumer.”

  “You could have been spotted and captured, or worse!” Jaggen retorted, interrupting the boy. “That was why I gave strict instructions that you were to stay in Ironthorne and why Krumer sent you on your way when you tried to get into the meeting! It was to keep you safe! I’ll skin your brother alive when we get back!” He stopped talking and abruptly hugged his son to him. Matias stared in surprise and Jhondey looked dumbfounded.

  “That’s for saving our lives,” Jaggen said quietly as he parted from the embrace. Without warning, he cuffed the boy sharply across the ear making him yelp. “That’s for not doing what you’re bloody told!”

  Jhondey rubbed at his ear and looked very sorry for himself. Matias smirked and, leaning on his staff, took in their surroundings. The hexagon chamber was made of polished stone and led out to an identically shaped passage with mouth lamps set in either side of the walls and glowing with aquamarine light. “Where does this lead?” he asked.

  “Oh yes, I got so much to show you,” Jhondey said excitedly. “There is so many secret rooms and tunnels. This place is fantastic, and I’m the only one who knows the way ‘round.” Jhondey puffed out his chest. “Guess you really do need me here after all.”

  “Is there another way out of the colony, apart from the main entrance?” Jaggen asked, his eyes lighting up with hope.

  Jhondey frowned. “Not that I know of. The only way in and out is through the main entrance.”

  Jaggen scowled. “Much use you are.”

  “Wait a minute I know about something even better than the way out,” the boy said quickly.

  “I’m waiting with baited breath,” Matias drawled.

  “Come on, you’ll really like it,” Jhondey insisted. He bounded off down the passageway and stopped midway to wave them on to follow him. Matias and Jaggen exchanged weary looks and trudged after him.

  * * *

  Hungry and exhausted, Matias’ mood only got worse as Jhondey led them through a labyrinth of passag
es, up and down staircases, and passed derelict and long forgotten rooms. Glancing through doorways as he followed the boy, he judged that most of the chambers down here had been used for storage. Most of them were unadorned and heaped full of rotting crates and rusting boxes. Matias spotted random machine parts and various limbs that had belonged to constructs like Shunz. Peeping through one, he almost jumped out of his skin when the disembodied head of a Grinning Lady stared back at him. He cast a furtive look at the others to make sure no-one had spotted his fright, but Jaggen was too busy scowling at the floor as he marched behind Jhondey and Shunz was staring directly ahead. Matias fell in line and decided not to let his curiosity get the better of him anymore.

  His feet were sore and he could barely keep his eyes open when Jhondey came to a halt outside a tall oak door with metal rivets that looked to still be in pretty good condition. Jhondey turned the handle and grinned at them as he opened it.

  “In here,” he said eagerly.

  Not sharing his excitement, Matias traipsed in after Jaggen while Shunz clanked along at the rear. An ornate-looking mouth lamp decorated with gold filigree provided them with enough light to see by, and Matias found himself in a wide, hexagonal chamber. It looked to have been used as a workshop with long benches containing mechanical odds and ends, but it was the far side of the room that held the greatest interest and which Jhondey went straight to.

  “I think an inventor used to live here,” the boy said. “This was where I found Shunz and worked out how to use these.”

  Jaggen and Matias had joined him and were looking in joint fascination at the dozens of circular mirrors hanging down from the ceiling by small gold chains. The mirrors were an assortment of sizes and flashed with silvery fire where the lamp light caught them. “What is all of this, Jhondey?” Jaggen asked.

  “Isn’t it fantastic?” Jhondey replied. “It’s so clever, the gnomes are real smart. I worked it out straight away of course.”