Rise of the Living Forge - Chapters 151-152 (Patreon)

There was a moment of silence as everyone processed Reya’s revelation. Before Arwin could say anything, Olive jumped out of her sheets and grabbed Reya’s shoulder.

“What do you have to do?”

“Huh? It’s not really that specific,” Reya replied, flinching slightly in response to the touch. “I just have to master Wyrmhunger. Why? Do you know something?”

Olive breathed out a sigh of relief and let her hand slip off Reya’s shoulder. It took her a second to realize that everyone was staring at her. Her face paled a shade and she busied herself re-collecting the sheets she’d lost.

“Have you heard of Challenges before?” Arwin asked when it became clear that Olive wasn’t about to volunteer any more information on her own.

Olive paused halfway through bundling herself back up. Her gaze bored into the floor for nearly a second before she let out a sigh and straightened back up. “Yes. Unfortunately.”

“Unfortunately?” Rodrick asked. “It sounds like there’s a story in the making.”

“There’s no making.” Olive hopped back onto her chair and leaned against the counter. “It’s already over. Challenges are a curse.”

“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to tell us what you know about them?” Arwin asked. “We were all under the impression that they’re concealed or otherwise hidden from the general public. Nobody here knows anything about them.”

Olive drummed the fingers of her good hand on the table. It was a bit hard to make out her body language when she was covered with bedsheets, but Arwin was pretty sure that her back had gone stiff.

Her fingers fell still and curled in to form a fist. She let her hand slide of the counter and turned back to face them with a defeated expression. “Fine. I suppose you already shared a lot with me, so it would be wrong to refuse to repay the favor.”

“I take it you’re not a fan of Challenges?” Rodrick asked.

“Not in the slightest.” Olive let out a bitter snort. “I had one of the damn things.”

“You’ve got a Challenge?” Reya leaned in closer. “What is—”

“Had a Challenge. It’s gone now,” Olive corrected. She rubbed the stump of her missing arm and grimaced. “I hate the damn things.”

Nobody said anything. It was clear that Olive was going to say more, but she hadn’t quite mustered the will to speak yet. The seconds turned to a minute. Olive leaned back and stared up at the ceiling.

“I got it about two years ago, back when I was part of an adventuring group called the Grim Shadows.” she said finally. “And it ruined my life.”

***

Olive’s sword carved through the air in a streak of light, splitting it faster than the untrained eye could pick up. It sheared straight through the sword swinging at her shoulder and, before its wielder could so much as react, she planted her foot into his stomach.

He flew back, hitting the packed sand just moments after his sword did. The man went to rise — and froze, finding Olive’s sword just inches from his throat. He let his head fall back to the sand as a bitter laugh slipped from his lips.

“I’ll be damned. You actually got all five of us. How in the world did you manage to do that without getting a single scratch on you?”

“I was faster than you.”

Olive pulled her sword back and slid it into its sheath. She held a hand out to help the man to his feet, but he’d already risen by the time she’d offered it. A man and a woman sat behind her on the sandy floor of the arena, looking mildly peeved at best.

“Can’t you ever say anything better than that? It’s kind of frustrating.”

“Don’t forget who you’re talking to, Jason,” Damien, the other man, said as he joined them in the center of the small training arena. “Olive doesn’t know the meaning of giving useful feedback — or being slow.”

“It is useful. You need to be faster,” Olive said, her brow furrowing in irritation. They were all good warriors. There was no denying that. It was just that there was more to fighting than swinging a sword. It didn’t matter how strong a sword blow was if it could never connect with its target.

Powerful blows were great when one was fighting in a group against a monster weaker than them. It made the battles trivial — but against an opponent with significant skill, speed and power had to be balanced.

I don’t see the problem. If they just focused on learning some skills that improved their speed or putting time into practicing being faster rather than just hitting harder, I wouldn’t be outperforming everyone so hard.

“Olive has a better class than you do,” Bea said, brushing her long, blonde hair away from her eyes and tucking it behind an ear. “There’s no reason to compare ourselves to her. Just do better with our rank up at Adept tier.”

“She’s a whole bloody rank below me.” Jason didn’t even try to hide the irritation in his voice as he looked down at the worthless sword in his hands.

“We weren’t sparring with abilities,” Olive said. “I would lose if you used any of your powers. This was just a difference in swordwork.”

She’d meant the words as a compliment, but by the way Jason’s features tightened in anger, something told her they hadn’t landed the way she’d intended them to. Before Olive could say anything else, Bea laughed.

“I think we’ve had enough sparring for the day. There’s a deal at the Copper Coin today. Half-off on drinks if you can beat Gorog in an arm-wrestling contest.”

“That halfwit?” Jason asked through a snort. “I could beat him with my eyes closed.”

“You don’t typically need your eyes for an arm-wrestling contest,” Olive said.

“Thank you, Olive,” Jason said dryly. “Come on. I’m starving, and we’ve been wasting time here for hours already. No point tiring ourselves out before tomorrow. Big day and all that. Everyone coming?”

The others all nodded, but Olive hesitated. “I’m not done with my training for today. Maybe I’ll—”

“Join in a few hours,” Jason finished, the inflection of his voice changing to match hers as he rolled his eyes. “Right. See you tomorrow morning, Olive. Make sure you aren’t too exhausted. We can’t afford to fail. This is our chance.”

“I know,” Olive said. Her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword as the others all headed out, leaving her alone in the arena.

She kept her features flat. That did nothing to still the clenched knot in her stomach. It was her choice, after all. She was the one that stayed to practice instead of spending time with the others. It wasn’t fair to complain when they left and did what they’d been planning on doing.

Nobody wanted to spend all their time practicing. That didn’t stop her from wishing that someone would stick around a bit longer, even if she wasn’t going out with them. It would have been nice to have company.

It doesn’t matter. All that matters is getting stronger. Jason was right. Tomorrow is our chance. We can get ourselves ranked. We’ll get access to so many restricted dungeons. The fame and money wouldn’t hurt either.

Olive adjusted her grip on her sword, raising it in her right arm and going through a form. It felt like she’d practiced it more times than she’d drawn breaths. Olive’s eyes drifted shut as she sank into the movement of her blade.

Her mind followed its path in the air around her. She didn’t need to see anything. She knew its exact position. It was more than just a weapon. It was an extension of her body. An extension of her mind. It was part of her.

Olive danced with her sword, pressing herself as hard as she could. There were always spots to improve in. Her legs could move just a bit faster. Her balance could be just a bit better. Every single bit counted. Every single improvement was a step closer to her goals and every single step was a reminder of how far from them she really was.

She pushed herself harder. Mediocrity wasn’t enough. There was an entire world of power stretched out before her, waiting to be claimed.

If I just try harder, I can —

Olive missed a step. It was a small mistake, but it was enough for her to trip over her own feet. She stumbled and caught herself before she could fall, her teeth gritting.

It isn’t enough. No matter how hard I try, I’m not good enough. The others don’t get it. I don’t just want to be strong enough to survive. I want to be better.

She let her eyes drift open — and froze in place. Golden letters shimmered in the air before her, patiently awaiting a response.

Challenge: [Master thy Sword] has been offered.

[Master Thy Sword] – You have sought mastery over the sword for your entire life, striving to achieve it with such intensity that all other aspects of your life have been left to fester. Here’s a chance to claim that power you so desperately desire. Rewards: Variable depending on level of success.

Milestone 1: When the time comes, restrictions will be placed upon you by the Mesh. Defeat an opponent the Mesh selects to remove the restrictions and advance upon the path of the blade.

Reward 1: ?

Milestone 2: ?

Reward 2: ?

Would you like to accept the Challenge?

Olive stared at the words floating before her, her mouth falling askew in shock. She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was around. The arena was empty. It wasn’t like it mattered. The only person that could see the Mesh’s offer was her.

What in the world is a Challenge? I’ve never heard of anything like this before.

Her confusion did nothing to change the letters. Olive didn’t know what had caused them to appear. This hadn’t been the first time she’d thought about trying to get stronger. It hadn’t been the first time she’d failed in her forms, nor had it been the first time she’d beaten the others in a fight without skills.

There was no reason the Mesh would have offered her anything. And yet, the floating words remained all the same. She swallowed and glanced over her shoulder again. Her eyes were drawn back to the Challenge almost instantly.

The Mesh offers things directly to people? That’s a bit concerning. It almost feels like making a deal with a devil. But it doesn’t lie. If this is really the Mesh… it could be the solution I’ve been trying to find.

Olive lifted a hand. It drifted in the air, not even daring to reach out and touch the glowing offer. She swallowed again, then steeled her nerves and set her jaw. She’d come this far in the pursuit of her dream.

It didn’t matter what the Challenge was. It didn’t matter why she’d gotten it. This was just another step. Nothing she’d gotten so far was easy. Power never came without cost, and if that cost was handicapping herself during a fight…

I don’t care what the handicap is. I’ll win.

“I accept,” Olive said.

The words vanished with a snap. Olive stood there for a second longer, staring at the empty air as if waiting for something else to appear. Nothing did. Her grip tightened on the handle of her sword. Then she raised it once more.

The night was young. She could always catch up with the others in the tavern a little later. Just one more form wouldn’t hurt.

Chapter 152

By the time Olive finished her training and headed out of the arena to check on the others, the moon hung high in the sky and the tavern’s common room was empty. It wasn’t a surprise. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d made it back before they’d gone to bed.

That was fine. They had a big day ahead of them tomorrow. Rest was important. Olive trudged up the stairs and returned to her room, flopping into bed and not even bothering to change her clothes. The next day was only a few hours away, and she’d just be getting them dirty again anyway.

Every second counted. She needed what rest she could still wring from the night before the sun reared its head once more. Tomorrow, they would complete the new dungeon that had risen up near the city — and then the Grim Shadows would finally carve their names onto the annals of the kingdom’s records and be acknowledged by the Secret Eye.

Just one dungeon.

***

The day started off well and the first three quarters of the dungeon fell before the Grim Shadows like wheat to a scythe. They cleared out the early rooms without so much as slowing. Even the first purple torch room went by without a single incident.

Olive didn’t let her guard down. She monitored her magical energy closely, using as little as possible. The others weren’t quite as restrained with their power, but that was half of what was allowing them to progress so smoothly.

They started to slow as they pressed deeper into the dungeon, but nothing arose to give them any proper challenge. Before any of them knew it, they’d arrived at a large hall leading into an open amphitheater. Purple torches flickered from the walls to illuminate empty stands and a sandy pit below.

“That’s creepy,” Jason muttered as they peered into the room. “Looks kind of similar to the training grounds, doesn’t it?”

“It’s just an arena,” Bea said with a shake of her head. She adjusted her grip on the staff in her hands, pointing the shimmering blue stone at its top toward the center of the room. “And this is definitely the last room of the dungeon.”

“One last fight,” Damien said from Jason’s side. He examined his reflection in the blade of a polished dagger and grinned. “And I don’t care what room this is. Let’s clean it up and go get our reward. The money’s just one last creature away.”

“Don’t get cocky,” Olive said. “We haven’t won yet.”

“Olive is right,” Jason said. He drew in a deep breath and it out slowly. “Focus in. No mistakes. Don’t hold anything back. We all know our roles, and we still don’t know what’s waiting for us. We can relax once this thing is dead.”

The others all nodded. A moment of second silence passed as everyone looked out into the arena before them. Then Jason tapped his sword against the ground and started forward. “Come on. Let’s handle this and get back before the hour is up. I’m starving.”

They piled in behind him and descended the stairs, heading toward the arena in the center of the dungeon. Olive kept her ears peeled for any signs of an attack. Her eyes scoured the stands and wove into the shadows in search of something hiding within them, but her senses were worthless.

She found nothing.

“Where’s the baddie?” Damien whispered. “I’m not picking anything up.”

“Might only show up when we reach the sand,” Jason muttered back.

They drew up to the end of the arena and dropped the last few feet to the sandy ground as a group. Still, nothing happened — but now that they were on the ground, Olive caught sight of something that had been hidden from them before. Behind them, rising up at an angle in the sand, was a large iron grate.

“I think I found where the monster’s coming from,” Olive said.

“You might be right,” Jason said. “Take up positions, everyone.”

They spread out quickly. Bea and Damien both moved to stand at the far side of the arena and left Olive and Jason to take up the front. The repositioning didn’t come a moment too soon. A rumble shook the ground and the iron grates pulled back.

Olive and Jason both took a step back as sand danced around their feet. The rumbling grew louder and it was joined by a droning hum. Olive’s hands tightened around the hilt of her sword as she fought to keep her breathing under control.

This is it.

A silver form rose from the depths and the humming reached its peak. The ground shuddered as a humanoid hand slammed down on it. Olive’s eyes went wide as a metal man pulled itself out of the hole and rose to its feet, standing well over three times her height.

[Steelwind Golem – Journeyman 7]

“Just journeyman seven,” Jason said with a bark of laughter. “For a final room monster, this is no trouble at all. Ready up, everyone. Follow my orders.”

The golem drew two massive swords from its sides and held them out at its sides. Dim red lights lit within its eyes and the humming coming from its body raised in pitch. Faint lines of crimson energy arced down its blades and hissed with power.

Jason charged forward. The automaton swung at him and he dropped to his knees, sliding beneath the blow. His sword ignited with lightning and he slammed it into the golem’s shin with a cry.

A loud crack split the air as the energy poured into the metal monster, leaving a scar across its shin but failing to do any lasting damage. Jason shot to his feet and threw himself forward, narrowly avoiding a blade that plunged through the air where he’d been standing.

“Now, Olive!” Jason yelled.

Olive sprinted up to take advantage of the golem’s distraction. She set her stance and swung her blade with both hands, drawing on her magical energy to activate [Tenfold Blade].

Her sword carved through the air — and slammed to a halt as the golem’s blade intercepted hers. She stumbled as a powerful vibration raced down her arms and into her body, threatening to rip her sword straight from her hands.

The golem is stronger than my [Tenfold Blade]?

Olive skipped back to avoid the monster’s counterattack, then raised her sword once more. “Be careful! It’s a lot stronger than it looks. It must have Titles or good Achievements. It stopped my attack.”

“Have you considered hitting it harder?” Damien asked. An arrow streaked through the air above Olive’s head and struck the golem in the skull. It rung off and spun to the side, the motes of green magic that had been encircling its head fading harmlessly. “Well, shit. We can’t poison it, in case you were wondering.”

“It’s a goddamn golem,” Jason yelled. “Of course we can’t poison it. Olive, back me up. You cover my side and I’ll go for a blow to see if I can weaken it with my magic.”

He ran around the golem, keeping out of the range of its large swords, and came to a stop beside her. They nodded at each other, then sprinted forward as one. It was a strategy they’d employed on more than a few opponents before — one that Olive had gotten so used to that she probably could have done it with her eyes closed. It was certainly nothing new.

Until it was.

Challenge: [Master thy Sword] has been activated.

Restrictions have been placed. Defeat [Steelwind Golem – Journeyman 7] to complete this phase of the Challenge.

It felt like a ton of rocks had slammed down on Olive’s back. She stumbled, tripping over her own feet and falling to her knees in the sand as the breath was knocked from her lungs.

The golem swung its sword at Jason, who only managed to notice that Olive wasn’t at his side an instant before the blade was upon him. He hurled himself to the side, but it wasn’t fast enough to completely avoid the attack.

Blood splattered across the sand as the tip of the golem’s sword dug into his back and ripped through it.

“What are you doing?” Damien screamed. “Get up!”

Olive’s chest couldn’t draw enough air to form words. Bands of invisible energy had wrapped around her entire body like a constricting snake, but she managed to force herself to her feet.

Her eyes flicked to Jason and the compression magnified a hundred-fold, nearly choking the life out of her on the spot. Olive wheezed and forced herself to turn back to the golem, which was advancing toward both of them.

The bonds holding her down lessened. They were still there, but she could move again — just as long as her attention was on the monster. Olive was dimly aware of Bea sprinting past her and running up to Jason, glowing light swirling around her hands to heal him, but she couldn’t risk looking in their direction.

Seriously? Why now, during the final fight of the dungeon? How is that fair?

The golem reared back. Olive stumble-ran forward. Bea needed time to heal Jason, and if both of them went down, the rest of them were done for.

She brought her sword around to meet the wall of metal hurtling toward her, activating [Tenfold Blade]. It felt like her body was moving through sludge, but she managed to bring her sword to bear.

A wall of force slammed into her body and launched her backward. Olive flew across the sand and slammed into the wall. Her sword flew from her hand as the breath was driven from her lungs for the second time that minute.

Her body locked up as she risked a glance at the others. Bea had pulled Jason back to his feet and his wound had healed, but they were both standing directly in the golem’s path. Damien fired several arrows into the monster’s head, but they all rang off harmlessly.

His abilities were deadly against opponents with flesh, but they were quite useless here. Olive grabbed her sword and focused fully on the golem as she drove herself to run forward. It took every scrap of her attention to keep from tripping again.

The more she focused on her blade, the more the restrictions faded. The golem swung and Olive threw herself forward, activating [Tenfold Blade] and bringing her sword down on the larger weapon with a resounding clang.

Her feet skidded through the sand, then stopped. She’d halted the blow — but the golem had another sword. Bea yelped as Jason shoved her back. Olive didn’t have time to check if they were safe. She dropped to the ground and the second blow passed over her head.

When she raised her head, Jason was at the monster’s feet again. He brought his sword plunging down into its knee and released a torrent of electricity into it. The golem let out a rumbling scream and pulled back from Olive, aiming to cut Jason down with both of its weapons. Jason didn’t have time to get out of the golem’s reach.

“Get the left one!” Jason yelled, spinning in the other direction. Olive forced herself to her feet, but turning her attention from the golem to protecting Jason felt like it had halved her movement.

The first sword fell and Jason deflected it, falling to one knee with a pained grunt from the force of the strike. The second one followed after it, but Olive was nowhere near close enough to stop it.

“She’s not going to make it!” Damien yelled. Jason spun, cursing as he tried to bring his sword to bear.

The golem’s blade slammed into his and launched it from his hands, breaking his wrist in the process. It spun through the air and embedded itself in the sand on the other side of the arena.

“Healing!” Jason yelled. “Olive, what in the Nine Underlands are you doing? Stop freezing up and fucking help me!”

“I’m trying!” Olive yelled back. “I’m being repressed by something!”

A wave of energy washed over Olive’s back.

“I removed any negative affects on you,” Bea called as Jason hurried back to her.

Olive tried to turn toward them, but it was impossible. Her body flat out refused her mind’s requests.

“No you haven’t!”

“It’s only a Journeyman 7,” Damien said. “You aren’t being repressed. Bea’s skill would have cleansed it. Watch out!”

The golem swung both of its blades at Olive. Something about the movement felt… off. Telegraphed, as if Olive had seen what it was going to do before it did it.

She threw herself forward, passing clean between the blades, and hit the ground in a roll. Olive came to her feet and swung her blade at the monster’s leg, digging deep into its armor with [Tenfold Blade].

What was that?

Jason dashed up beside Olive, his sword in his hands once again. He drove his blade into the monster’s knee beside hers, finishing the job and severing it at the joint. The golem groaned and pitched forward, catching itself by driving a sword into the ground.

“Keep attacking!” Jason yelled. “It’s an opening! I see its core!”

The world seemed to slow again. Motion turned to a fuzzy blur as Olive caught the monster turning one of its swords around and bringing it toward Jason’s unsuspecting neck — but the moment of distraction slammed into her like a tornado, ripping her from the heightened state and driving into her stomach like a physical blow.

Her call of warning came out as a wheeze. Jason didn’t turn. Even if she couldn’t see its path, she knew where the monster’s sword was going. Olive threw herself away from the golem and toward Jason.

The pressure bearing down on her magnified by a hundredfold. She brought her sword up, but her magical energy felt like a distant dream. Her mind reached out to it, but nothing responded.

Olive braced herself, but it wasn’t enough. Mere swordwork was nowhere near enough to keep the massive weapon at bay. The golem’s sword slammed into hers and continued onward as if nothing was there, driving straight through her upper right arm and severing it.

Unsated, the blade found its home square in the center of Jason’s back. He lurched, driving his own sword up into the Golem’s chest. It pierced straight into the core, shattering it.

The golem pitched to the side and crashed to the sand, but Olive barely even noticed. She clutched the stump of her arm as blood poured from it in a thick river. Pain wrapped around her mind in a smothering blanket and she fell to her knees.

Bea sprinted past Olive, dropping to her knees at Jason’s side and pouring healing energy into his body. Olive didn’t pick up any movement. Thick clouds fogged over her vision and she swayed, her head spinning furiously.

Her fingers fumbled as she tried to stem the flow of blood. It was pointless. The flow was just coming too fast. She could hear her heart pumping in her ears and distant yelling. Then she pitched forward, falling face first to the sand, and heard nothing.