Dungeon Annihilation 2 - 24 (Patreon)

Evening everyone. Sorry for not uploading until now. I'm not really sure how to explain it, while I'm not quite in a slump, I'm having a hard time getting motivated to do anything productive. that was part of the reason that I had said I was going to upload twice a day in an effort to make myself get to work. It only served to make it worse. I think part of the problem is I keep second-guessing myself while writing Dungeon Robotics the last two weeks or so. I'm not sure if i need to take a break from the series which i really don't want to do since most of you are here for that series. Part of me blames the Covid and being stuck at home for nearly five months now. I always thought of myself as introvert, but even we need to get out a bit. 

Sorry for the mini-rant. I'll try to get back into it. That said, posts might be a bit all over the place for the next week or so, though thinking about it, DR is the only story that has a set schedule. Already have my deadlines for next year planned out so i can't not write for too long or I'll really be in trouble. lol. 

Regan/Earle

Chuckling as I showed the group into the cathedral, I was pleased with their reactions. I was also pleased that none of them appeared to realize they were in a dungeon. It would be a while before the aura reached the actual town, and the adventurers that dived dungeons regularly came in contact with it, but for now, there didn’t appear to be a problem.

The Proselytism project as I was calling it, was well under way. I had thought about what to preach as Nyx, and decided to mix a couple religions from back on Earth. No reason to reinvent the wheel after all. At the moment, a large amount of it was a mixture of Hinduism and Christianism, with a bit of Greek and Romain thrown into to account for multiple gods.

I had no idea what the general response was going to be, but for now, I planned for my devout to show that dark mana could be used to heal. If you got down to the nitty-gritty of it, any mana could be used to heal. Light mana just made it easier. The real contributing factor was the knowledge of the body. After studying priests that ventured into my dungeon, I could tell that Lelune was supplementing the individual’s knowledge with her own when they preformed their magic. In the process, changing the mana to a purer brand or celestial mana.

Leading the group to the first nave section, hundreds of pews were the first thing they saw. Gently glowing lights that hung from the ceiling on crystal chandeliers illuminated the structure making people feel calm as they made their way through the church. Of course, that was partially due to the spell scripting that laid under the flooring.

I motioned for them to sit, though none of them took me up on the offer. Shrugging, I moved up to the altar and turned back to face them. Amazement was prominent, but I also noticed another emotion, fear. I supposed that was to be expected. If such a structure appeared in less than a day.

“Again. I welcome you to the temple of Nyx.”

The countess shook her head likely to clear whatever she was thinking about. The fact that whenever I saw her recently, I was sending her low-grade vibes to make her desire me likely didn’t make it any easier on her. The compounding affect had even caused her to almost sacrifice herself for Raven earlier. “Sir Earle. Please explain this.”

“What exactly do you want me to tell you?” I asked more because I’d have to create more backstory depending on what she asked.

“Start at the beginning?” she suggested.

Story time, that level of open-endedness was what I least wanted her to ask. I mentally sighed and thought of where to start. Over the next half an hour, I told a story of a clan isolated in the north by the undead with only our goddess that we had been forced to hide from the church before the necromancers took the north to support us.

We recently managed to find a pass that brought us over the mountains with the help of our goddess over a decade ago and had been living in secrecy ever since. Our goddess recently had a revelation that more people needed her and that this would be a good spot to try and put down roots.

I made sure to spice it with drama, action, a few close calls with death, and just about everything I could think of that would have made it a box office hit on Earth. One of the devouts brought me a glass of water, more for affect then because I needed the liquid.

“And that’s about it. I’ve been here for the last few weeks to make sure it was the correct place of the prophecy. Even I didn’t expect this,” I gestured all around us, “to show up when you gave me some land.”

“I see,” the countess said in a sort of lackluster way. I decided to tone down the enchantment before she forgot herself.

“Do you really expect us to believe that?” Commander Yin retorted. From what Raven and Set had found out, while estranged from the church she was still a strong believer of the goddess.

“No,” I replied honestly. “But that is the truth. Nothing either of us do will change that fact.” It is the truth if I say it is the truth. The north is inaccessible to just about every mortal on the continent and with ten years passing, the pass that my ‘people’ used to reach the south has vanished.

Commander Yin made a sour expression before crossing her arms. “This is going to be more than a small issue. Especially with the church.”

“I agree.” I turned to look the countess straight in the eye. “My goddess has been watching you through my eyes. She has given me something that I think you will like. Set!”

Set walked into the large room leading nearly thirty slaves. They were from the few people, besides Ivan, around town that had owned slaves. The ironic part about this was that I managed to buy them all for less than two gold coins. Almost a thirty slaves for less than a meal at some of the restaurants in town.

The people gathered immediately knew the group were slaves. Large brands on their foreheads or towards the tops of their chests gave it away. According to everything that I had researched so far, there was no way to remove the markings. The seals might be engraved on the body, but they branded the soul. A few records at the adventurer guild noted that when attempts to undo the magic were made, the individuals usually couldn’t handle the pain and died.

“What do you plan to do with these slaves!?” the countess demanded clearly. Her desire to protect the slaves likely cleared the remainder of my enchantment.

“Nothing too extreme. First just so we’re clear that I have control over them,” I said waving her off. Turning to the slaves, “Do three spins before kneeling. After that jump seven times.”

The slaves followed my instructions to the tee. I nodded then moved over to the altar and picked up a book. The cover was emblazoned with runes that glowed just a bit darker than the blue around us. Metal bands that appeared to have no meaning covered the surface giving it a hefty weight. I handed it to the first slave in the line. The man looked at me confused. “Master?”

“Just read the first page for now,” I instructed, and he pulled the leatherbound cover open. I closed my eyes picturing what he would be seeing at this moment. I had created it after all.

The Commandants of Nyx

You shall seek to understand that which you do not.

You shall only take responsibility for your own mistakes and those of your children.

You shall not inflict pain or terror in the name of the goddess.

You shall be grateful for any kindness given to you.

You shall be united or seek unity if there is none.

You shall not let fear overtake your judgment.

You shall show compassion and mercy.

You shall help your neighbor.

You shall work for a world in balance.

You shall honor the faith.

~~

You have come to the doorstep. It is up to you to take the next step, child. If you so desire, I shall be your guide, your friend, your liberator, your savior. I shall take the guise that which you need most and help you in life. Open you heart to me and freedom shall follow.

~~

The man gasped then looked up at me worriedly. “I didn’t buy you to force my will on you. I bought you to save you as my goddess wills it. I will not command you. You must make the choice,” I said taking in his expression. “Do you choose to be free?”

“I will accept Nyx!”

The book slammed shut in his hands and the bands floated into the air. They moved forming a magical circle above the slave brand. Mana washed over those assembled as the seal changed into that of the symbol of Nyx. A crescent moon overlooking a full moon with stars in the back. Normally, there would be a black background, but that was a bit much to have on your face or chest.

The book pulled some of the own man’s mana to then channel back into him to keep the process from hurting. It was one thing to destroy or remove the rune, but I could easily alter the rune to make Nyx, or rather myself the master. After that, I just added that as long as they accepted Nyx in their heart, they didn’t have to follow my commands.

The magic show died down and the book lowered back into the man’s hands. Everyone stared at him with wide eyes. “Everyone, turn to the right!” I shouted and all the slaves suddenly turned to the right on the dime. All except the man that just looked at me with larger and larger eyes.

“I… I… I… I didn’t feel anything! What is this!? Am I dreaming?!” he cried dropping to his knees, tears and snot running down his face.

I walked over and kneeled in front of him. “Its’ not a dream.” I pinched his cheek stopping short of breaking the skin. He yelled in pain, but a smile soon formed over his face.

“Its true! I’m free!” He suddenly jumped to his feet and took off running. He stopped just short of the door and ran back, laughing the entire way. “HA! Hahaha. I can do what I want again! Freedom!”

“Remember the goddess’ commandants,” I cautioned. I didn’t know why this man became a slave and didn’t particularly care. If he broke the commandants, he would find a nasty surprise waiting for him. His head would find itself a few dozen meters from his location.

“I know.” The man dropped fully to the ground, even putting his forehead to the stone. “Sir Earle, you’ve done me a great service. I have nothing to my name, but is there any way I can stay here until I get back on my feet?”

“Lady Nyx isn’t going to free you then put you out in the wind. You can stay here,” I said patting his shoulder.

“He’s truly free?” Countess Louella asked walking over to us.

“I’m not sure how to prove it. I guess the easiest way would be for you to bring a slave you know is owned by someone else and have them go through the same process. That’s about the only way I can prove that this wasn’t all staged.”

“Sir Earle! You bought me just a few hours ago!” He turned to the countess and commander. “I swear on my life that this man speaks the truth!”

The two ladies both made tense expressions. Their positions didn’t allow them to trust something like this a face value. I bent down and pulled the man to his feet. “Thank you, but they have no choice but to doubt me and the goddess. This has never happened before and will change the continent’s power structure.”

He ground his teeth and nodded. “I understand.”

“Now then,” I said turning the remaining slaves. “Let’s free the rest of you, if you want.”

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