Beyond All Expectations (Emerilia Book 8)

by Michael Chatfield

  Moments later, rain fell to the ground all at once.

  Screens appeared in front of everyone.

  Event: Of Myths and Legends

  You have defeated a glade of: Elsoom Spores.

  Objectives:

  Stop the spread of the spores and infected.

  Defeat the Elsoom Spores

  Remove the infection

  Rewards:

  250,000 Experience

  Resistance to all poisons increase by 10%

  Zolun Tribes now view you as: Ally

  Event Bonus

  You are part of the first group to defeat a spawned-in group of creatures from the Event: Of Myths and Legends.

  You gain +10% experience for the next week.

  (Gain additional 25,000 EXP)

  Dave nodded and opened up his weapons master class quest.

  Quest: Weapons Master Level 4

  One handed and shield 251/1000

  Two handed 84/1000

  Dual wielding 12/1000

  Archery 498/1000

  Rewards: Unlock Level 5 Quest

  Increase to stats

  Passive skills from other weapons increase from 25% when not equipped to 50%

  “Well, got a long way to go until I get the next level in the class but the passives are going to be one hell of a bonus,” Dave muttered to himself.

  “Okay, let’s make sure that none of the creatures escape here and infect anyone else.” Josh sounded tired as the rain from above started to thin out and shafts of light broke through the clouds.

  “Well, that’s the first round done,” Suzy said.

  “I somehow doubt it’s going to be as easy every single time,” Induca said.

  “I feel like ice cream. Anyone else?” Steve asked.

  “You still don’t have a mouth!” Lox said. The sound of metal on metal sounded out as Lox clipped Steve’s head.

  “A man can dream!” Steve said, another metal smack ringing out.

  “You’re not even a man!” Gurren said.

  “Suzy!” Steve complained, pouting as he held his arms over his head to defend against any more smacks.

  “You’re a big boy now. Not my fault that they both got armor as strong as your body,” Suzy said with a cool, indifferent smile on her face.

  Lu Lu preened herself on Suzy’s shoulder. She had shot out a few lightning strikes here and there but she was only a low-leveled creature, unable to affect the battle much. Still, with Suzy sharing experience and the small attacks she’d landed, she’d been able to gain some levels and become more powerful.

  BAE Chapter 7: New Arrival

  Denur’s eyes thinned as she dismissed a message from one of her granddaughters who lived outside the Densaou Ring of Fire.

  A marker had appeared at the mountain that she called home, between Northwood and the Great Ashal forest.

  She opened her interface to send a message to Deia.

  ***

  Deia finished reading Denur’s message. She quickly stood from where she had been sitting while reading a book in her room and made for the door. It didn’t take long for her to reach the elevators and then take one upward to where the guild leaders lived.

  She sent a message to all of them to gather.

  By the time she made it to the top floor, the leaders were all there waiting for her.

  “The next spawn marker has been found,” Deia said in response to their curious looks.

  “Where?” Lucy asked.

  “In the mountain between the Ashal great forest and the Northwood forest on Ashal.” Deia winced slightly at a painful twitch in her lower stomach.

  “We’ll get the Aleph to scout the area, see what’s going on. I think that there is a dragon also there. I hope that it won’t interfere,” Josh said.

  “The dragon won’t. She’s heading for the Densaou Ring.” Deia’s voice came through clenched teeth as she leaned against the wall heavily.

  “You okay?” Cassie looked at Deia’s pale face.

  “Little guy is just a bit feisty today,” Deia said with a pained smile. She frowned as another bout of pain passed through her body. She gritted her teeth together as her legs trembled.

  “I think that we should get you in to see Jules.” Kim looked at Deia.

  “I think that you might be right.” Deia let out a hissing breath as the wave of pain dissipated.

  Lucy pulled out her magic carpet, getting Deia on it as she and Kim took Deia to see Jules.

  The others got to work to check out the conditions of the new spawn marker.

  Deia was in front of Jules just a few minutes later.

  “Okay, well, the good news is that you’re going to have a baby. Bad news—it’s going to hurt like almighty hell.” Jules looked to Deia.

  Deia let out a grunt. She had been in pain before, but with this there was nothing that she could do but endure it. With Jules and all of the healers who were milling around, Deia felt safe.

  Her contractions kept coming; after some time, she started to get used to it.

  Dave burst into the room. His eyes locked on Deia, his face pale and scared for Deia as he seemed to teleport across the room, holding her hand in his as he moved her hair out of her face.

  Deia relaxed slightly. “Ready to be a dad?” She closed her eyes as a contraction passed.

  “With you, definitely.” Dave’s pale skin regained some color as a brilliant smile spread across his face. He kissed her forehead, his eyes only for her and a massive goofy smile on his face.

  Deia couldn’t help but feel her heart melt at the look Dave gave her. “You’re going to be a great dad,” Deia whispered.

  Dave’s eyes went a bit misty as he cleared his throat. “And you’re going to be an amazing mom.” Dave sat on the bed and looked at her. A look crossed his face. “I’ll tell your mom and dad.” Dave opened up his interface as there was a knock at the door to the room.

  Deia looked over. Her eyes misted up as all of Party Zero stood in the doorway.

  From goofy to reserved smiles, all of them were looking at her and Dave. Deia could feel the love and care that they shared toward her.

  She wiped her eyes with her free hand as they all poured into the room.

  “Heard we’re getting a new addition to the party soon enough!” Suzy said.

  There was a flash of light, drawing the healers’ eyes as a gnome appeared.

  “I’m in the right place, right?” Bob looked around wildly before his eyes landed on Deia. His face showed unreserved joy as he ran to her side.

  Deia could only laugh, tears in her eyes at his antics.

  Dave closed his interface before he frowned. “Kol, will you get out of the damned hallway and get in here!” Dave yelled.

  Thankfully, the room was large; with healers’ magic and healing potions, hospital beds were rarely filled, allowing them to take over the large room.

  A somewhat embarrassed Kol stepped into the room and scratched his head awkwardly.

  “Can’t have Grandfather Kol and Bob missing out on this.” Deia looked to Dave and squeezed his hand.

  Kol and Bob had stunned looks on their faces, looking to each other and then Deia and Dave.

  “Seems we’ve got most of her aunts and uncles here too,” Dave said softly. Slowly Deia and Dave looked to Party Zero.

  Suzy and Anna wiped their eyes as the others smiled. There were a number of misty eyes among the group.

  “I’m gonna be the best friggin’ uncle ever!” Steve declared, a wild smile on his face as he fist pumped and jammed his hand into the ceiling.

  The room burst into laughter as Steve looked at his stuck hand.

  Jules, who stood in the corner of the room, had her arms crossed. Her forefinger tapped against her arm as her foot tapped on the floor.

  “Sorry.” Steve carefully pulled his hand out of the ceiling as dust and debris rained down from the hole.

  Anna created a tornado that made sure none of the dust and debris spread while Malsour used the ma
terials to fix the roof.

  Jules sighed as her severe expression softened. “Okay, let’s try to keep it to two or three people in here at a time. The room isn’t that big.”

  Party Zero figured out who was staying and not moving to the waiting room down the hall.

  Deia gasped at a contraction but now the thread of fear that had been growing in the back of her mind dimmed as she looked at those faces and the pure love and caring that radiated out of them.

  ***

  “What?” Josh stood so fast his seat fell backward.

  “Deia is having her baby right now,” Cassie said with a glowing grin as she stood at the entrance to his office.

  “Well, what are we standing here for!” Josh blurred until he was next to Cassie, but as they started running for a lift to take them to the medical facilities, they passed Esa.

  “What’s wrong?” Josh asked, looking at her fully armed and armored.

  “We just had a group of fifty humans all hiding their faces and with powerful-ass auras show up! There’s also an elf and a baby with them,” Esa said.

  Josh frowned before his eyebrows rose in shock. “What’s their last names?”

  “Dracul,” Esa said, confused as to why it was important.

  “They must be Deia’s mom, dad, and family,” Josh said in a low hiss.

  Esa’s head shot up violently. “You mean the drag—”

  Josh cleared his throat forcefully. Esa knew about Emerilia, the dragons, and all the secrets of Emerilia and Party Zero, just like Josh.

  Esa closed her mouth, wincing as she stopped herself from saying anything more.

  “Her father’s name is Oson’Mal; he should be the elf. If that’s right, let them pass. We do not want to annoy them,” Josh said, his voice grave.

  Esa nodded and opened her interface to enter into a private party chat with the guarding force at the teleport pad where the Draculs had come through.

  They took the elevators down to the medical facilities.

  Dwayne and Lucy met up with them. Kim was already in the large waiting room. Party Zero, Bob, and Kol were already there.

  Josh looked at Bob; he still couldn’t get a read on Bob’s aura, but from what he’d seen, the gnome was one of the most powerful creatures in Emerilia.

  Bob saw the leaders of the Stone Raiders appear, and nodded to them as he continued his talk with Kol. The two normally reserved men had deep smiles on their faces.

  Party Zero greeted them, telling them that Deia was fine, and Dave was with them as well as Anna, Suzy, and Steve.

  Lu Lu was on Induca’s shoulders. Her cute head bobbed around and she let out interested rumblings as she looked at everyone there. She let out a confused squawk at the sound of tens of feet tearing up the hallway.

  “I’m guessing that might be related to you,” Josh said to Induca and Malsour.

  “Probably.” Malsour sighed while Induca laughed and scratched behind Lu Lu’s head.

  A woman wearing deep-red leather pants and shirt entered the room. Her deep red hair was pulled back in a braid that came down her left shoulder.

  Beside her there was an early thirties-looking wood elf with tanned skin and brown hair. He wore a kind smile and held a baby in his arms.

  The two of them looked like a couple who had matured beautifully together.

  Even with her kind smile, Josh felt the hairs on the back of his head rise in shock. He knew that Deia’s mother was actually the goddess Fire, but hearing that and seeing her were two vastly different things.

  Behind her were fifty or so people, with varying ages from teenagers to late twenties.

  Behind Fire, there was a woman with similar features to Deia and Fire, and by the other people in the group’s reactions it was easy to see that she was deeply respected by them.

  Denur! She must be!

  There was a heavy feeling in the air as Bob and Kol moved to greet the new arrivals.

  “Looks like all the Draculs and Osons made it out today,” Bob said with a kind smile.

  “How—” Fire asked, her voice powerful and dominating with a hint of fear in it.

  Bob cut off her words with a wave. “She’s just fine. Healers are there, as well as friends. We can’t all cram in there, but I think they’ll make an exception for Deia’s mom and dad.” Bob smiled.

  Fire nodded and strode forward, moving to the door.

  Denur moved to Induca and Malsour, greeting them. The other Draculs talked among themselves and introduced themselves to all the others.

  “Denur, this is Josh, the leader of the Stone Raiders, and his girlfriend Cassie.” Malsour waved to Josh and Cassie, who stood next to them.

  Denur’s eyes narrowed slightly as she extended her hand out. By her look, she seemed to be studying and evaluating Josh.

  “Lady Denur.” Josh shook her hand.

  “I have heard good things about your Stone Raiders,” Denur said, her expression unreadable.

  “Thanks.” Josh smiled.

  Denur looked to Malsour and Induca, unsaid words passing between them.

  “Later, I think that it might be a good idea if we are to have a meeting and talk about the future,” Denur finally said.

  Josh’s eyes went wide as Cassie made a noise of surprise.

  A small smile spread on Denur’s face at Cassie’s note of surprise.

  Cassie turned red in embarrassment.

  “Though that is something for later. Today, I hope we can just celebrate a new arrival,” Denur said.

  “Agreed.” Josh’s face softened as he smiled.

  A cry came out of Deia’s room.

  “Looks like it will be sooner rather than later,” Induca said as everyone went silent and looked to the room.

  “Yeah,” Josh said as his heart, which seemed to have been wrapped in ice after that scream, calmed down as he let out a breath.

  ***

  Koza was looking at a massive interface screen. He was the Aleph council member in charge of security and the Aleph military.

  Here they were controlling Aleph scout automatons all over Emerilia. There were automatons watching bandits and kings; others were searching different dungeons, though the ones that everyone was focused on were moving through a sheet of water that fell from the massive mountain located between Northwood and the Great Ashal forest on the Ashal continent.

  The dragon who had lived on the mountain seemed to have left. The entrance to its lair was higher up in the mountain. This entrance was for something else.

  The automatons passed through the waterfall, finding a cave behind it.

  As they continued forward, the cave revealed goblins and hobgoblins, as well as tamed Earth and rock trolls. The tunnel system was complex as it moved deeper and deeper.

  The automatons moved forward slowly, each operated by a different controller so that there was less chance of the inhabitants noticing that there were invisible eyes watching their every move.

  Slowly they made it through the tunnels, which started to open up more and more.

  They reached a number of small living areas that held around fifty or so hobgoblins and goblins. Behind the goblins, tunnels led deeper into the mountain.

  These were all mapped out as automatons continued forward.

  They passed through larger and more well-maintained tunnels before they came out into a massive underground area. A small lake ran through the open cavern; crops grew on either side. Houses and huts covered the ground, with none of the constructs over a floor high. All of them looked shabby and poorly made.

  Glowing moss on the ceiling gave off a constant shimmering glow. The goblins and trolls were used to low-light areas and walked around without trouble, talking in their guttural language, fighting here and there and moving around the open cavern.

  The automatons moved through the area.

  “What’s that?” Koza pointed to a table where a goblin was cutting up beasts in a number of ways with a crude and dirty hatchet.

  A controller m
oved in close to look at the different beasts they were cutting up.

  “That’s a silver headed ram, and an ebony rhino,” one of the Aleph observers said, referencing their Librarian necklace.

  Koza shook his head. One couldn’t see the levels and names of people through the Aleph automatons, so they were having to guess.

  Being on Ashal, these goblins and trolls weren’t normal. Seeing that they were actually eating such powerful and strong beasts as the silver headed ram and ebony plated rhino indicated that they were actually powerful fighters.

  “Continue on.” Koza hid his inner frustrations at the new information; fighting through these caves would be a hellish task.

  “I’ve got something!” a controller called out, and Koza moved to check the controller’s share of the interface.

  “The hell is that?” Koza muttered.

  He was looking at four different pillars that were arranged around a central pillar, all of which were engraved with runes. Between each of the pillars was a simple screen.

  Spawn Point

  Days

  Hours

  Minutes

  Seconds

  15

  7

  46

  21

  Koza stopped leaning on the controller’s chair. “Looks like we found the spawn point,” Koza said simply.

  Koza frowned as a goblin hit one of the columns around the spawn point. A flash of lightning jumped from the pillar, striking the goblin, and turned them to dust.

  The goblin had died without a noise.

  “Sir, I’ve got something else here,” another controller said in a puzzled voice.

  Koza moved to see their shared feed. “A portal?” Koza looked at the portal that was in the middle of the cavern on an elevated platform. It was in a large courtyard of the only stone building in the cavern. Unlike the rest of the underground city, this building had straight edges and signs that it was made by someone who knew how to build a proper structure.

  The spawn point marker stood in front of the portal. Koza’s hand tapped on the hilt of his sword, lost to deep thoughts. I have a feeling that this spawn location isn’t going to be too simple.