Grand Game 364: The Beginning of the End (Patreon)

Day Twenty-Five in Draven’s Reach

I left Adriel’s underground complex the next morning.

After much back-and-forth last night, the lich had finally agreed to my proposal, conceding it might work. But only after I promised Ghost and I would leave the dungeon and seek outside help if it didn’t. It took us hours more after that to beat out the details, but when we were done, Adriel and I were both happy the plan stood a reasonable chance of success.

Before leaving, I said my goodbyes to Ghost. It was too dangerous for her to accompany me where I was going. Besides which, it would take the lich at least a couple of days to finish healing Ghost’s tattered spirit and molding her body.

I still wasn’t completely certain what the outcome would be, though.

Neither Adriel nor Ghost had deigned to enlighten me, and all I knew for certain was that the ritual would see Ghost housed in a new form that both she and Adriel believed suitable.

In the meantime, I had critical tasks of my own to perform.

Traveling as fast as I could manage, I headed south, not stopping until I reached the closest fog bank—which was about a half day south of Adriel’s compound. Drawing up to the edges of the mushroom-shaped cloud rising above the plateau, I slowed my steps and peered into the canyon below.

The fog bank was small, and its base measured only twenty yards from one end to the other. I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. There must still be a seed in there, although, it couldn’t have many stygians protecting it. The fog could be easily avoided, but it did not cross my mind to detour around.

The plan didn’t call for that.

In fact, the plan required me to do quite the opposite.

Swinging over the edge of the cliff, I made my way into the canyon.

✵ ✵ ✵

The nether toxicity at your current location is at tier 2. Your health, psi, stamina, and mana are degenerating at a rate of 0% per minute (damage reduced by 100% due to void armor).

Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden.

A few minutes later, I was crouched in the fog bank studying the dozen or so crawlers and six weavers milling about in the mists.

Without Ghost, I lacked eyes to see my targets. On the other hand, my rank twenty nether absorption meant I was free from nearly all time constraints. Drawing on my stamina and psi, I cast my buffs.

You have cast heightened reflexes, load controller, fade, and trigger-cast quick mend.

Eighteen stygians. This is going to be almost too easy. It did not preclude me from acting though. Spinning psi, I sent strands of my will racing towards the weavers.

You have induced 6 of 6 targets to sleep for 40 seconds.

The biggest threat taken care of, I rose to my feet and dashed light-footed towards the closest crawler.

The stygian did not sense my approach. Two feet from the creature, I drew both my blades and struck.

You have backstabbed your target for 2.5x more damage!

You have killed a stygian crawler with a fatal blow.

Rushing past the corpse, I dove into the middle of the three crawlers beyond, the blade in my right-hand arcing down while the one in my left thrust outwards.

You have killed 2 stygian crawlers. You are no longer hidden!

Retracting both blades, I sidestepped the snapping jaw of the fourth crawler, then plunged my swords through the top of its head as it passed by.

You have killed a stygian crawler with a fatal blow.

You have faded from sight. Eight hostile entities have failed to detect you!

The last Game alert came as a bit of a surprise before I realized it was my fade buff at work.  I hadn’t been depending on it, though. Retreating a few paces, I faced the onrushing crawlers.

Alerted by the deaths of their fellows, the eight creatures were approaching my location in chittering fury. Drawing psi, I waited for them. It was far simpler to let the crawlers come to me than to run them down separately.

It didn’t take the creatures long to gather. That’s when I struck, releasing the spell I held ready.

You have charmed 8 of 8 targets for 20 seconds.

The bespelled crawlers ground to a halt, robbed of agency and leashed to my will. Smiling tightly, I stalked forward. It was time for a bit of slaughter.

✵ ✵ ✵

You have killed 8 stygian crawlers and 6 stygian weavers.

You have reached level 186!

Your telepathy has reached rank 19.

Your Mind has increased to rank 96. Other modifiers: +12 from items.

A minute later, I was standing in front of the stygian seed. All its protectors were dead, and the thing was defenseless before me.

I did not strike, though.

I had something altogether different in mind for the seed and it would entail picking it up. But first, I needed to prepare. Retreating, I opened my backpack and retrieved the upgrade gem I’d gained from slaying the Force Multiplier.

Adriel had been the least enamored by this part of the plan.

After I told her about the stygian seed’s ability to read a player’s thoughts—which had been the first she had heard of such—she had thought it too risky for me to touch a living seed. I’d assured her that my mind shield would protect me, but she been adamant that I employ additional safeguards, and in the end, I reluctantly agreed.

Which was why I was about to improve my mind shield ability. Holding the upgrade gem in my open palm, I activated it.

Creating ability tome…

…

You have acquired an improved mind shield ability tome.

The gem disappeared, replaced by a leatherbound book. I wasted no time opening it to absorb the knowledge contained within.

You have upgraded the mind shield ability to improved mind shield, which, unlike its simple variant, allows you to employ mindspeech even while fully shielded. The tier 2 variant not only doubles the damage your mental defenses can absorb, but when active, it also protects your mental communications, ensuring they cannot be overheard.

Improved mind shield is an advanced ability and requires 4 more ability slots than its simple variant. You have 35 of 96 Mind ability slots remaining.

My eyebrows shot up in surprise as I read the Game’s description of the tier two mind shield variant. The improvements were greater than I’d expected and made me doubly glad Adriel convinced me to upgrade. Now, though, it was time to get what I’d come for.

Turning back to the seed, I reached into my subconscious and transformed the psi sitting within into an insurmountable wall.

You have cast mind shield.

Psi abilities are unavailable. Mental communications protected.

Taking a deep breath, I approached the stygian seed. Glinting a malevolent black, it looked no different from others of its kind that I’d slain. Does it know who I am? I wondered. Or what I plan to do to its... kin?

I hoped not. The plan would be in tatters if the harbinger got any whiff of what we intended. Ignoring the rotten smell of the flesh strewn all around the small black object, I drew ebonheart and knelt beside it.

Then I began to dig.

Not slash, nor cut, but dig. Raising the indestructible sword up high, I drove it down into the ground, once more, abusing the black blade and using it for a purpose for which it was never designed. I smiled wryly, thinking it was amazing how often I found myself digging holes in the ground.

I really need an adventurer’s kit or something like.

Chuckling at the thought, I hacked downward into the rock to which the seed was fused, over and over, until, finally, it came free.

Sheathing ebonheart, I stared at the small object. It was time to pick up the seed. Even though I kept telling myself there was nothing to fear, I felt my trepidation rise. But also, at the back of my mind was the knowledge that even now the seed could be squawking to the harbinger and every second I delayed gave him time to draw closer. Banishing my misgivings, I thrust out my arm and closed my fist around the thing.

You have acquired a stygian seed.

I could sense no foreign thoughts impeding my own. Nonetheless, I didn’t delay opening the bag Adriel had prepared and thrusting the little black object inside.

You have stored a stygian seed in a warded container.

Snapping closed the enchanted bag’s drawstrings, I rose to my feet and dashed for the chasm leading away from the canyon. I was sure the harbinger was on his way and—before he arrived—I had to get rid of my burden.

I covered the distance without mishap and, finding a likely crevice, shoved the bag inside. Backing away a full one hundred yards, I threw myself into a small nook at the base of the chasm walls and wrapped myself in shadow.

You are hidden.

Glancing upward, I surveyed the skies. There was no sign of the harbinger yet. I exhaled a relieved breath. I had done what I needed to—with time to spare, it seemed—and now all that was left was to see if the bag performed as expected.

Settling in, I prepared myself to wait.

✵ ✵ ✵

Five minutes went by, ten, then twenty. And still, the harbinger did not come.

I frowned. The stygian Power had never taken this long to respond before. My gaze dipped to the leather pouch a hundred yards away. Did that mean the wards Adriel had woven around the bag were working?

The lich had enchanted the pouch with her strongest spells of concealment and imprisonment. No psi or magic, she had promised, would be able to escape the bag.

I didn’t doubt Adriel’s wards, but I had expected the harbinger to know the general location of the endangered seed. The fact that he hadn’t turned up at all meant either he didn’t or—

The ground shook.

A hostile entity has failed to detect you!

My nemesis had arrived. Craning my neck carefully around the edge of the nook, I peered into the canyon. The stygian Power had landed on the exact spot the seed had formerly occupied.

His beady eyes narrowed to slits; the harbinger scanned the area. I watched him intently, but at no point did he seem particularly interested in my nook or the crevice I had stowed Adriel’s pouch in.

I grinned. The bag was working. The harbinger’s failure to sense the seed was conclusive proof Adriel’s wards were performing as advertised.

“Are you here, Wolf?” the harbinger asked, speaking suddenly.

I didn’t respond, of course.

“This is your handiwork,” the stygian said, continuing the conversation on his own. “I recognize the signs.”

Padding softly across the canyon on his hyena-like feet, the harbinger poked his beak randomly into its many cracks and crevices. “It was quite the feat escaping my cordon, but in the end, it will make no difference.”

Pausing at a particularly big hole, the harbinger stuck his neck all the way in before retracting it. “Your childish attempts will not stop us. It does not matter if you kill fifty chosen, or even a hundred, the void fathers will only sow the sector anew. The void will claim the sector.”

Oh, I think it does matter. I think it matters very much, I thought. Or you wouldn’t be here.

The temptation to respond was strong, but I remained steadfastly silent. The harbinger’s seeming indifference this time around was starkly at odds with his previous bouts of anger, and I was sure it was only pretense.

Returning to the center of the canyon, the stygian swiveled around for one last look before stretching his wings and taking flight. I followed him with my gaze, and only when I was certain he’d gone did I emerge from the nook.

The test had been a success. Now it was time to move on. Picking up the warded bag, I resumed my journey south.