195: Deathly Descent (Patreon)

Useless. It’s all useless.

Vir rummaged through the rubble of the recently collapsed building, hurling aside rusted pieces of metal one after another. It had barely been a week since they collapsed, and yet, they hardly any better than the other rubble Vir had come across.

Had he been wrong about the preservation inscriptions? It was as if the metal aged rapidly once the inscriptions failed. As if the deterioration of all those accumulated years manifested all at once.

If he didn’t know better, he’d have guessed these pieces of metal had been rotting away for thousands of years.

Vir found a piece with comparatively less rust and activated Blade Projection. The panel stopped the blade of prana, but Empowering his attack drove it right through.

Another failure, he thought. If he punctured it so easily, what chance would it stand against an Ash Beast? Or worse, the Yaksha Guardian? Did I just waste our time fighting off that Phantomblade?

Vir descended the mountain of rubble, giving a sidelong glance at the dead Phantomblade.

Its spikes had stopped reforming the moment it died, and its back was bare.

Vir stopped.

The… spikes? he thought. Thousands of its projectiles lay scattered about the street, though whatever process dissolved the ever-falling ash was also going to work on the spikes. Several had already been consumed by road.

Vir found a good example and braced it with some large rocks, then drove Prana Blade into it.

It failed to penetrate. Empowering his attack fared no better.

This could work… he thought.

The spikes were pointed on one end, but unlike Maiya’s Icicle spell, they widened considerably, resembling a fat arrowhead. The odd shape made sense; the spikes were as much armor as they were deadly offensive weapons.

Each was the size of his palm—far too small to be of use—but that was alright. The Phantomblade had larger spikes, which it likely used to ward off larger, deadlier beasts. As fast as the small ones flew, Vir doubted they’d be much good against a heavily armored foe.

Vir found the spike—more of a plate—lying nearby. Jet black and almost perfectly smooth, it almost looked like crystalized Ash prana.

Whatever it was made of, it was incredibly resilient, and surprisingly lightweight.

Handily, the mechanism it used to latch itself onto the Phantomblade’s back left a handhold just large enough for Vir to grip onto.

“Well, not a complete waste, I guess,” Vir muttered, hefting his new shield.

It was anyone’s guess whether it would hold up to an attack from the Yaksha guardian, but with luck, Vir hoped not to find out. At the very least, it offered a third layer of protection beyond Prana Armor and his seric brigandine.

“Alright,” he said to the wolves. “Let’s go.”

— —

The wolves led Vir through another series of streets, and the bleak scenery was much the same. Silent, save for the lightning storms that constantly ravaged the city’s roofs. Never the streets, though. The tall spires acted as perfect lightning rods, keeping the threat distant.

From Bladers to Shredders to millipedes that were a hundred paces long—the streets were anything but empty. Only Vir’s scouting and the wolves’ keen senses kept them safe, avoiding and detouring around mortal peril.

Vir had to wonder how they all came to be. Did Ash Beasts reproduce like other animals? Or were they somehow created? Spawned into existence by the realm itself? A month ago, he would’ve believed the former. Knowing what he knew now, he’d put his coin on the latter.

The journey was thankfully short—the fallen tower had been near the Yaksha vault.

There was just one problem. It lay within a great tower. One that had a Wyrm circling around its peak.

Ashani never mentioned the Wyrm… Vir thought, eyeing the godlike beast with anxiety. Granted, she was trying to keep him from coming here. He could hardly blame her for omitting some of the details. It could also be that the Wyrm had taken up residence around the tower after Ashani visited. It’d been millennia since she’d ventured here.

Doing his best to ignore the Ash Beast that floated around the peak of the tall tower, Vir took in the building. The entrance resembled none of the ones nearby. Instead of stairs or an elevator leading to a main door, an enormous ramp descended downwards, reaching deep into its foundation.

Vir followed the wolves onto the ramp, wondering if he was entering the belly of some great beast. The ramp area’s ceiling soared a hundred paces high, and the ramp itself was almost as wide, dwarfing him. Whatever this place had been built to house, it had been massive.

Can the Yaksha guardian grow that large? Vir idly thought anxiously. All of a sudden, his precautions now felt inadequate.

He’d prepared as much as he could. Expanding his blood capacity further might help him, but the gains would be minimal compared to what he’d already gained. A little extra wouldn’t help him against the Yaksha.

Vir let out a breath when the wolves reached the end of the ramp, guiding him into a human-sized corridor that felt much more comfortable.

His relief was short-lived. While the enormous space made him feel like an ant among giants, this new space felt wrong in a way he couldn’t put his finger on.

The corridor’s walls were glass, allowing an unobstructed view into the rooms on the left and right.

A room that housed half-made humanoid creations. Some were Ashani-sized—complete, but where there should have been a face, there was a gaping hole, allowing a full view of its mechanical brain.

Automatons! Vir realized. This is an automaton factory!

Vir now understood why the place felt eerie. Every building he’d raided thus far had been dark… and empty.

This room was lit. Lit… And populated.

Vir froze at the sight of the automata, wondering if the beings would come alive to deal with his intrusion upon their peaceful slumber.

But no. These beings had been here for millennia. Whatever preservation inscription that supported the place must also have kept them intact, or else they’d have turned to rubble long ago.

That’s why it feels so weird, Vir thought. There should be dust. Signs of decay.

Instead, the automatons were sparkling clean. As if someone had been maintaining them. Or something.

Vir shivered, thinking of the Yaksha. Ashani had said it could change its shape at will. What if…

His eyes darted to the half-built automata. What if it’s hiding among them?

Taking a deep breath, Vir forced his emotions under control. It was impossible, he knew. Prana Vision would give it away. There was no strong signature anywhere nearby.

But there might be an energy core somewhere, Vir thought. If this was an automata factory, it’d make sense for there to be cores as well.

Vir Danced through the wall, leaving his wolves behind in the hallway as he explored the room. Strange hoses, metal apparatus, and a range of bizarre machinery filled the room.

On one table, Vir spotted an eyeball with black ropes extending from it. Vir gingerly held it, finding it artificial. The eye was as hard as a marble.

Is this what Ashani’s eyes are made of?

Vir didn’t understand how the gods created a living being from such parts. Was that all people were? Just an assemblage of blood, muscle, and bone, all slotting and fitting together a certain way? Was that what life was?

No, he knew that couldn’t be true. Chakras impacted the soul. Which proved beyond a doubt that there was something more to people than just their constituent parts.

What about Ashani? Vir thought. Does she have a soul, then?

A sound echoed in the distance, somewhere deep within the hall.

Vir spun, bringing his katar to bear. His heart beat madly in his chest, and for a moment, he worried if his enemy might hear its thumping.

The wolves eyed the darkness with suspicion. The hallway’s lighting ended abruptly just ahead, making it anyone’s guess what lay beyond.

There’s something out there.

Several moments went by, but nothing emerged from the shadows.

Relax, Vir, he told himself. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

The shadows were his element. Why was he feeling afraid now?

Vir continued rummaging around for spent energy cores. As he did, more sounds made themselves heard. Distant hisses, creaks, and sometimes groans. It was as if this building was alive, unlike all the others.

He filtered those out, diligently combing through the room. If he found a few cores here, he wouldn’t need to delve deeper into the vault. Something about this place gave him the creeps, and the sooner he was out and back to Ashani’s home, the better. He wasn’t even after a full core, although he certainly wouldn’t complain if he found one. All he needed was a handful of empties so he could practice.

No orbs revealed themselves. He’d searched everywhere. Everywhere… except for one place.

Vir’s eyes landed on the half-built automatons, each placed at the center of a cylindrical berth. He’d refrained from getting too close to them. Both out of fear of them coming alive, and from a desire not to disturb the dead.

What he was doing felt vaguely akin to robbing a grave. Rudvik had taught Vir well of grave robbers’ fate…

No, he thought, shaking his head. That’s foolish. I’m here to save Ashani. Not profit from this.

Vir hesitantly approached an automaton. Its torso rested on a platform. One that had a head and torso, but lacked legs.

Surely, it won’t mind? Vir thought. He wasn’t even after personal wealth. He was just trying to save a life. A very special life, at that.

He reached out to its back, where he remembered Ashani’s core was, and touched it.

The room flashed around him, and Vir was thrust into a time when the factory was abuzz with energy. Automatons built automatons. Hisses, clanks, and the sounds of conversation filled the brightly lit space.

There was so much motion. So much life.

Vir returned to his senses—the factory as dead as it had been just moments before.

What was that? Vir thought, shaking. It was almost like I was remembering something I’d experienced ages ago… No. Not me. Her.

Vir could only think back to the knowledge transfer Ashani had performed when they’d first met. She’d used it to more easily communicate concepts, but there were memories there, too. Faint ones. Did these surroundings trigger them?

Was this where she was made?

Vir looked around, seeing the factory in a new light. These creations would have no chance to experience life. No opportunity to see the world as Ashani did.

Another, darker part of him felt it might’ve been for the better. What life was there to be had in this dead city? These automatons would never open their eyes, but perhaps in their stead, Ashani might.

Vir’s fingers still rested on the backplate of the automaton. No compartment had revealed itself, so he worked his fingers around, pressing around the edges, until something clicked.

The automaton’s back opened with a hiss, revealing a cavity similar to Ashani’s.

Empty.

He should’ve guessed, but he didn’t lose hope. There were still several other automatons to check.

Vir continued on, working his way around the room. The second one was a bust, as was the third. The fourth, he couldn’t even find where its core was supposed to go, but the fifth…

Got it!

Vir pocketed the empty orb, placing it in a pouch along his waistbelt. That had been the last automaton in the factory, and his hope had been low.

Vir let out a long breath. This was a win, but it was too early to get excited yet. A single orb was no good. It’d take at least a couple to understand what he did that caused them to crack. If he broke the core and learned he needed to return…

A single glance at his surroundings told him he wouldn’t dare come all this way again.

He had to press deeper.

Vir Danced back to the wolves to find them yipping and whimpering, moving around restlessly.

“What’s wrong?” he asked with a frown.

It was only a moment later that he realized one of them was gone.

Vir broke out in a cold sweat. Had it fought an enemy? Was it the Yaksha guardian? Did the guardian kill it?

But then Vir spotted an Ash prana signature, and the wolf loped into sight from the darkness ahead.

“Don’t scare us like that,” Vir said as the wolf rejoined the others, who ranged several paces ahead.

“Alright, let’s go.” Vir walked ahead, but the others reacted slowly. Rather, it seemed as they were keeping an eye on the one who’d just returned.

They’re so loyal to each other… Or is it hurt?

Vir looked the beast over, but couldn’t spot any injuries, so he pressed on. The wolves soon followed.

They continued deeper into the hall, penetrating into the inky blackness.

The dark tunnels on their approach had been bad enough, but now, Vir truly felt like he was in the belly of an enormous Ash Beast. The distant rumblings and ticking sounds didn’t help any.

The runt took the lead, guiding Vir through the dark halls. Unlike the automaton lab, the rest of the building was empty, indicating that it had likely been destroyed and reformed in the blast. Whatever surrounded the lab must have been constructed of sturdier stuff.

Vir pressed deeper with the wolves, though four of the five opted to follow behind rather than scout up front with their leader.

He could hardly blame them. The mental strain increased with each step. His only solace lay knowing that Dance of the Shadow Demon would save him from any threats, and Prana Vision would see them coming in advance.

But even that knowledge was only barely enough to allow him to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

When Vir thought he’d break under the tension, it got worse.

The wolves led him into a tiny horizontal shaft embedded into a wall. While big enough for the wolves, Vir had to crawl on all fours. He didn’t know why such a thing existed, but it weaved and descended for what felt like forever.

Growing tired of that, Vir began swimming through the shadows, and their pace quickened significantly.

All around him were shadow exits, and all dark. Some showed faint prana signatures, but most were empty. Where did they all lead? What were those rooms once used for? He would never know. He only hoped the Yaksha guardian wasn’t anywhere nearby.

The wolves dropped out of the shaft. They had finally reached the vault.

Vir had expected a grand entrance, but instead, its door was quite normal-sized. If the darkness wasn’t so absolute, Vir might have seen its overbuilt nature, along with the engravings on it.

As it was, he only saw the prana. A great mass of Ash Prana concentrated in the door and ran outward like tendrils around the room behind.

A sizable room. If Vir was correct in assuming the inscriptions were related to preservation, then the vault was easily three stories in height, and extended for at least a hundred paces.

Vir tried the door, but even if it was unlocked, he wouldn’t have been able to open it. Its surface was flush, lacking a handle of any kind.

Using Prana Vision again, Vir searched for any other entrances.

Instead, what he found made his stomach fall.

Oh, no…

The prana inscriptions ended abruptly at one corner. Like it had been cut off.

“Stay here,” Vir whispered to the wolves.

Activating Dance of the Shadow Demon, Vir slipped into the vault, blinded momentarily by the brightness of the lights.

The lights should have been cause for celebration, as they drove off the darkness that had weighed heavily on his mind.

They didn’t.

Because there, at the back corner along the ceiling, the roof had caved in.

And the contents of the vault had crumbled to dust.

C’mon. There has to be something here!

But before Vir could rummage around the room, the wolves started howling madly.

Vir Danced back immediately… And found only four.

He turned, scanning the surroundings for enemies.

The wolves’ howls suddenly diminished. There was a brief silence. Then whimpering.

When he turned back, there were just three.

Vir’s blood ran cold.