TtOW! - Chapter 94 - Terminate...ahem...Save the Mines of Metal! (Patreon)

Agedia came back into the room as NSLICE-00P let the water fade, the dungeon draining it via magic. The Mélusine nodded at NSLICE-00P.

“Nice fight, that was some spell. You some kind of battlemage then?”

“Requesting Clarification: Please define term: battlemage.”

Agedia tilted her head but shrugged.

“They don’t have those where you’re from? Uses magic as their main thing, but can take a hit if needed. Understands the importance of armor.”

NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye flickered. According to combat data, she had, in fact, mainly used magic in the majority of engagements since arriving in this place. Her defenses were reasonable and her protocols contained a great deal of data regarding armor.

“Response: By the stated definition, battlemage is a reasonably accurate descriptor for this unit.”

The rest of the group then made their way into the room, staring for a moment at the bloody mess of the Adamant Bull Worm. NSLICE-00P was about to start leaving, as the target had been terminated and she was not supposed to terminate the dungeon at large, when a hidden door opened at the side of the room. NSLICE-00P whirled towards it, weapons and magic circles at the ready. A mana signature had suddenly appeared in the room just as the door opened, one that NSLICE-00P hadn’t detected previously.

“Peace! I mean-intend you no harm!”

Outwalked a short, squat, and hunched over being. It had pink skin, a rodent-like face, and two large front teeth. It was unarmed, and had both of its paws held up.

[Naked Mole-Ratkin (Level 12)]

Agedia’s eyes narrowed on it.

“Is that so? Talk quickly then.”

“I come from the Great Master, the Lord of the Mines of Might. He has watched-observed your victory over that foul creature over there, and wishes to know if you are hunting-slaying them.”

Taog frowned at that.

“Them?”

The Naked Mole-Ratkin nodded.

“There are three, in fact. This one was left behind to guard the rear, but there are two more, pushing deeper into the Great Master’s realm. He would request your assistance in defeating them, and will reward you greatly if you do.”

“Acknowledged. Mission Update: Additional targets identified. Re-engaging termination protocols. Please guide this unit to target locations.”

Ateia and Taog turned to Agedia as NSLICE-00P started following the monster to the door on the other side of the room.

“What do you think, Agedia?”

Agedia rubbed her chin and shrugged.

“Could be a trap, but unlikely if the dungeon’s been threatened like this. And if there are more worms, that’s what we’re here for.”

And with that, the rest of the group followed suit as well…

***

Further inside the dungeon, two Adamant Bull Worms rampaged inside a large room. Golems formed of magic metals rose to oppose them with glimmering spears, mighty warhammers, and shining bows. But the worms’ tough hides deflected the blows, and their diamond teeth crushed the golems to scrap metal.

And behind the worms, a cloaked and hooded figure cackled.

It was all coming together.

Utrad had been strangely on-guard recently, and its Magister Exploratores was always a crafty one. It took a great deal of thought, work, and patience to pull this off.

But he wasn’t the Herald of Tremors for nothing!

The Adamant Bull Worms. The scourge of the dwarf clans, miners, and blacksmiths everywhere.

And most of all, known for being completely untameable. And therefore considered a natural disaster.

It had, in fact, been an absolute pain to take control of this bunch. If not for the powers he gained directly from the Lord of Mana he served, it would have been impossible for him as well. Even then, he was barely controlling the creatures. All he could do was point them in a direction and possibly avoid being eaten.

But well, that was the point, after all. The Realms of Mana were a place of wonder, where anything was possible. And where god-like powers could be obtained, if only one could pierce the veil between the material world and the Source.

He patted the bag at his side, where an enchanted dagger lay. Soon, he would pierce that veil, just a bit more, and gain access to power like he could never imagine. And Magister Caelinus would return to find his capital’s main source of magic metals no longer available to him.

The Herald of Tremors grinned. Yes, it had all come together. Magister Caelinus and the Magister Exploratores were both away with the bulk of their forces. Neither the Mines of Might nor the dwarves of Khalbuldor could defeat Adamant Bull Worms without assistance from the Empire.

No one could stop him now!

“Observation: Human detected, appears to be unconcerned with target monsters.”

“Yes, he’s the one leading them.”

“Significant shift in mission parameters detected. Pausing termination protocols. Re-analyzing mission consequences for primary directive in light of targets being tamed monsters.”

The Herald of Tremors turned around and blinked. There was some sort of armored knight walking into the room, right next to one of those horrid rodentkin he encountered at the start of the dungeon.

Was it an ambush? The knight was completely covered in metal, so could have been a kind of living armor, but he hadn’t seen one of that design before and it appeared to be conversing with the monster. He frowned. In any case, they could not be allowed to interfere.

“Kill them!”

One of the Adamant Bull Worms turned away from the golems ahead and spun around, rushing towards the newcomers.

“Hostile intent detected, engaging termination protocols.”

Suddenly, dozens of glowing magic circles filled the air. The Herald of Tremor’s eyes widened. He barely had time to throw up a barrier before a massive flood filled the room. His worms began shrieking and writhing.

He frowned and started to cast a spell of his own. A mage of this caliber was unexpected, but he was a Herald of the Realms of Mana! He had made a bargain with a Lord of Mana, and could directly draw upon that Realm’s power. No mundane mage relying on the ambient mana in this world could match his might…

Then his eyes widened.

His barrier was hissing and dissolving. And he noticed the water had a silver and golden glow to it.

This spell was filled with Holy mana.

The mana granted to heroes and saints.

The mana that would directly oppose the powers of the Realms of Mana, should they make their way past the veil.

The one weakness of his vaunted powers.

As the water began leaking into his barrier, his mind raced, trying to determine which of his powers and spells would overturn this situation. But he wouldn’t get the chance.

“Hostile spell detected. Equalizer engaged.”

A rainbow beam shot through the water and struck his barrier. The barrier shattered, as well as the magic circle he had been forming. The last thing he saw was a magic circle forming in the water right in front of his face…

***

[You have slain Human (level 75)!]

[Gained 31 Personal XP and 3 Dungeon XP!]

[Level up! You are now Personal level 64!]

[You have slain two Adamant Bull Worms!]

[Gained 163 Personal XP and 53 Dungeon XP!]

[Level up! You are now Personal level 65 and Dungeon level 101!]

[The skill Water Magic is now level 9!]

[The spell shape Blast is now level 9!]

[The spell shape Spike has leveled twice and is now level 7!]

[The skill Spell Penetration has leveled twice and is now level 8!]

[The skill Geomancy has leveled twice and is now level 7!]

[The skill Heroic Challenger is now level 3!]

NSLICE-00P let the water drain away before dropping the barriers she used to protect the Naked Mole-Ratkin, as well as the dungeon’s golems.

“Mission Update: All targets in this location terminated. Please guide this unit to the next target location.”

The Naked Mole-Rat, who was trembling and backing away now, jumped.

“A-Ah, t-that was the last of them.”

“Mission Update: All known targets terminated. Mission accomplished.”

Agedia and the rest joined her as two golems appeared from a door on the far side of the room, carrying two chests. They placed a massive golden chest in front of NSLICE-00P and a large, silver chest in front of Agedia. The Naked Mole-Ratkin then spoke.

“T-The Great Master thanks you for your assistance-help. Your rewards, as promised-offered.”

NSLICE-00P scanned the chest for traps and then opened it. Inside she found a rod made of silvery metal, about three feet long, with a white gemstone on the top.

[Rod of Command]

[A rod used to command golems, this one may control up to ten at once. May take control of unbound golems via physical contact. Also functions as a potent spell focus, particularly for Earth and Metal magic.]

NSLICE-00P scheduled the rod for investigation at the next available time. If this rod was involved in the command, communication, and control of golems, then it could have implications for mana-driven communication infrastructure.

Agedia, on the other hand, was hugging some new lance. Estrith was trying to look away but couldn’t help glancing at the weapon.

The Naked Mole-Rat began backing away from them.

“Now, p-please leave, if you don’t mind. T-The Great Master says the presence of a hero makes his…monsters uncomfortable-worried.”

***

Snuan led 01R into the sewers, trembling with every step. She, as 01R had learned, was clearly looking for any opportunity to escape. But 01R was keeping a close eye on her, so she had no opportunity to run.

They approached a crack in one of the walls and stepped inside. 01R found himself inside a tunnel, with multiple paths branching off in different directions. An easy place to get lost…or ambushed.

That is, if the wise-mighty-gracious boss-queen had not shared her wisdom with him. The cybernetic components he was blessed with could draw a map with perfect accuracy, and run sensor scans to detect any lifeforms. He would see any treachery long before it arrived.

“Well, lead-guide on, yes yes.”

Snuan trembled but had no choice but to obey. 01R noted with approval that she led him on a straight path, not attempting to twist him around or lose him in the tunnels. Whether that was out of honesty, fear, or knowledge that there were defenses later on, he could not say, but he would have hated to waste time on such things. Soon, his sensor began to detect a large concentration of thermal and mana signatures. As well as a couple very familiar ones. He raised an eyebrow.

“Wait. There is something I must see-check, yes yes.”

Snuan stopped as 01R turned down another tunnel, just before making contact with the signatures. Snuan tried to creep away when 01R turned to face her.

“Come-follow along now, yes yes.”

Snuan’s ears fell but she obeyed.

01R walked halfway down the tunnel and stopped, crossing his arms.

“Show-reveal yourself. I know you are there, yes yes.”

A dark figure crawled along the roof, lowering themselves on a thread. Snuan yelped as the figure came into view and turned to run, but 01R reached back without looking and placed a paw on her shoulder, holding the trembling rat in place.

“What are you doing here, 02S?”

“I’d like to ask you the same, 01R. I wouldn’t have thought you would be playing with the locals.”

01R narrowed his eyes at the cyber-spider.

“The wise-mighty-gracious boss-queen saw fit to speak-interact with the other man-things, to show them grace rather than to prey-consume them as is her right. I simply follow-emulate her example. So what are you doing-plotting here, 02S?”

02S chittered with her mandibles.

“Protecting the boss’s possessions, of course.”

“Possessions? Yes, everything-everywhere should belong to the wise-mighty-gracious boss-queen, but I doubt there is anything down here she has already claimed…”

01R froze, and started to tremble.

“...he didn’t.”

02S giggled and 01R slapped a paw on his face.

“He did. The snack was captured by the locals mere moments after we split up.”

01R groaned.

“Why didn’t he tell-warn anyone?!”

02S giggled again.

“Why do you think? He broke his communication protocols earlier and no one pays attention to his reports in the first place. Besides, you know he’s probably thinking something stupid again.”

01R heaved a massive sigh.

“...so we have to save-rescue him too now.”

“Eh, I wanted to watch him squirm a bit more, but I guess.”

01R just slapped his face again and heaved another sigh as 02S giggled.

Author’s Note:

Obviously the Great-High King of all the land thought of 01R’s simplistic plots long before the traitorous minion ever could! And these lowly rat monsters would have bowed to his self-evident majesty and might!

He definitely doesn’t desperately require assistance.

Anyways!

Will Vafum and Agedia now help 00P with her quest? Can 01R and 02S save the snack…err prevent the Great High King’s triumphant rise? Can Snuan escape or betray the terrifying rat-thing knight? Tune in next time, to find out!