Chapter 322 - Back at It (Patreon)

Zeke leaned back, letting the scalding water cover everything but his face as he floated in the center of the pool. Above him, wafts of steam snaked through the air, intertwining with one another until they created a dense, low-slung fog bank that hung only a few feet from his upturned face. And as much as he knew he needed to, he didn’t want to move.

“You know you can’t just float here forever,” said Eveline, drifting through the wafting steam. She twirled. “Though I can understand why you would want to. This pool, it is amazing. And there are dozens more just like it. This tower of yours is amazing.”

For once, there was a distinct absence of snark or haughtiness in her tone. She truly was impressed, which for a centuries’ old demoness, was no small feat.

“I don’t think you understand what you have here,” she said.

“I don’t want to hear it again,” Zeke responded, his eyes still closed. Indeed, Eveline had impressed upon him how unique and powerful the Crimson Tower was. In fact, she’d even revealed a little of its history, saying that it had once been owned by an extremely powerful demon that had descended to the Third Circle – or the demonic equivalent of the Ethereal Realm. He’d been a fearsome warlord who’d reshaped their entire world, carving a path of destruction through the various demonic tribes and leaving only desolation in his wake.

That Zeke had been given stewardship over the Crimson Tower was evidence of two things. First, that demon warlord had clearly died. Otherwise, the tower would not have been available. And second, Zeke was even more unique than Eveline had first suspected. It was one thing to have access to two different attunements, but he was also equipped with a powerful artifact that also functioned as a symbol of his power as well as his potential.

But none of that really mattered to Zeke. Ever since he’d climbed out of those troll caves, he’d endeavored to gather enough power to challenge the strongest of enemies. That his efforts had borne fruit was no real surprise.

Besides, he had other things on his mind – like the thousands of kobolds that had been camping in the entryway of the tower when he’d resummoned it. They’d invested the entire floor, carpeting the area with scales, campfires, and refuse. When he’d found Silik, the kobold had explained that they hadn’t dared climb higher for fear of angering the obviously magical tower. Since then, Zeke had tasked the kobold with guiding his people to the Residential District, but the migration was slow.

After spending a day in the Crimson Spring, Zeke had healed enough to show the kobolds to the tower’s other facilities. They’d shied away from the Hunting Grounds, but they had been more than a little excited about the Craftsman’s Terrace as well as the healing springs. More than a few of them had been injured, and so, they were eager to experience the healing offered by the Crimson Springs. So, the other pools were occupied. Thankfully, they hadn’t crammed bodies in next to the one he’d claimed for his own convalescence.

“You have an opportunity here,” said Eveline.

“Oh?” Zeke asked.

“These kobolds are primitive creatures,” she stated. “Little more than monsters, if I’m being honest.”

“And that’s your guiding star, right? Honesty,” he muttered.

“When it suits me,” she said without a hint of shame. “But as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me – these creatures, if developed properly, can become a devastatingly effective army. You must see that. A little push here and there, and they could become a truly fearsome legion.”

“No, thanks,” Zeke said.

“What? Don’t be stupid.”

“Can’t help that very much – at least according to your assessment of my intelligence,” Zeke said with a slight smirk.

He kept his eyes closed, but he could practically hear Eveline’s eye roll as she said, “Don’t do that. Petulance doesn’t suit you. The point is that the kobolds could prove invaluable to your goals. Or did you think that you would be allowed to ascend – or descend, if that’s the route you choose – without anyone standing in your way? They will fight you tooth and nail, sending armies to bar your path. You need an army of your own if you’re going to survive.”

“Why?”

“I just told you, idiot,” she said. “To fight your enemies.”

Zeke finally opened his eyes and pushed himself upright. The pool was deep enough that only his head poked out over the water. “You know good and well that wasn’t what I meant,” he stated. “You can read my mind, right? So, answer the question the way I asked it.”

Eveline sighed, muttering, “You’re no fun at all. Okay, so you know about those pretenders who fancy themselves gods, right?”

“I’ve met a few,” Zeke said, thinking back to Oberon, Oda, and Aja. Oberon had never claimed to be a deity, but Aja had. Oda, meanwhile, had labeled himself an archdemon, which Zeke suspected was like a demonic god.

“Fate swirls around you,” she mumbled, turning to face away. “Too much fate. Three supreme beings, and all on the first plane of existence…”

She was silent for a long moment, and she probably would have remained so if Zeke hadn’t cleared his throat, getting her attention.

“Yes. Right. The pretenders,” she said. “They are powerful, and on this plane, they have far more influence than they did in the First Circle. It’s closer, you see? Just one little portal away from challenging their authority.”

“I though they wanted us to ascend?” Zeke said. “Or descend. Whatever.”

“Oh, they do. They need soldiers,” Eveline explained. “No third-circle entity, regardless of how powerful, can hope to hold their ground without a significant force backing them up. So, they sponsor nations to incubate talent for them. Or tribes. Seven so-called gods in Heaven. Seven archdemons in Hell.”

“Is Oberon one?” Zeke asked.

“I don’t know,” Eveline admitted. “Perhaps. From your memories, I can tell that he has sufficient power, but I have been isolated for far too long for my information to be accurate. However, I can say that when my soul was splintered, he was not one of them.”

Which meant that Oberon might well be working for someone else. Zeke didn’t like that. He trusted Oberon to a certain extent, but that counted for very little when he didn’t have all the information.

“Smart. Cultivate that paranoia,” Eveline said. “It’s the only way you’re going to survive.”

“Sure. Whatever,” Zeke stated, climbing closer to the edge of the pool. “So, these gods and archdemons, they sponsor the nations that run this world, right? Why would they attack me?”

He already suspected the answer, and Eveline confirmed it. “They won’t let anyone ascend unless they approve it,” Eveline answered. “Otherwise, the Ethereal Plane would be full of potential unaffiliated enemies. They guard their power jealously, and any threat will be dealt with accordingly.”

It made sense. The people – or deities – in charge wanted others to ascend so they could fight their wars, but only if they were loyal. Otherwise, they were just letting potential enemies into their little world.

“Oh, it’s multiple worlds,” Eveline said. “Tens of them, if not hundreds. All dedicated to various affinities. And there is a weight to it all that simply isn’t present in the weaker realms.”

“Huh. Even the demon worlds?”

As far as Zeke could tell, demons were only equipped with one affinity – that of corruption.

“The rules get a bit wobbly down there,” Eveline admitted. “For instance, my own skills would have probably drawn me closer to a flavor of demonic energy dedicated to mental powers. Others might manifest something flavored with earthen energy. But most, they end up with fire.”

“But you said dual affinities were –”

“Impossible, as far as I’m aware,” she said. “Except you. Obviously, I have never been to the Third Circle, so I can’t say for certain. But you are unique in this Circle. Besides, down there, it’s only flavoring. Demonic energy is still demonic, no matter how you season it. Whereas your attunements are pure and completely separate. The earth attunement is no weaker than your attunement to demonic energy.”

“Like two sides of a coin.”

“If that makes it easier for you to understand, sure,” Eveline agreed. “But we are getting way ahead of ourselves. You won’t need to worry about the next step for quite some time. For now, we need to conquer the Spear of Dominance so I can be free. After that, you can complete your quest, gain access to your skill, and take your army of kobolds back to that dwarven city.”

Zeke nodded. He’d finished healing hours ago, but the scalding spring water had been so soothing that he was loathe to leave it behind. However, his responsibilities and plans wouldn’t surrender to the desire for comfort or relaxation. He had things to do, and it was high time he resumed his path.

So, he ran a hand through his wet hair and pushed climbed over the pool’s jagged edge. At one point, he might’ve been a little embarrassed by his nudity in Eveline’s presence, but she’d paid so little attention to such things that he’d pushed his desire for modesty into the deepest corners of his mind. Sure, he was certain that she could read it like a book, but so far, she’d respected his privacy.

As Zeke dried off, Eveline continued, “There are at least ten more levels, and I suspect that each of them will be more difficult than the last. So, you may need to return here for healing.”

“I figured as much. I’ll keep it summoned,” Zeke said.

“Not a bad idea,” was her response. “The aura will keep all but the strongest demons from the area.”

The only question in Zeke’s mind about whether or not it was a good idea was concerning the kobolds. If something attacked the tower while he was climbing the Spear, they would be powerless to defend themselves. After all, with the thick corruption in the air, they could barely even survive outside the tower, much less fight a battle.

Which brought to mind a question that had been bothering Zeke for a while. Before he even asked it, Eveline spoke up. “The collars,” she said. “That’s why the slaves were able to survive – for a while, at least. They don’t draw mana, which means they don’t invite the corrupting influence of demonic energy into their bodies.”

“So, you’re saying that, by default, people absorb mana at all times?”

“That’s precisely what I’m saying,” she answered. “I thought you knew this.”

Zeke sighed and started to dress himself. He really was ignorant, and eventually, that lack of knowledge was going to get him killed. Or worse. Eveline had begun to fill in some of the gaps, but she’d soon be gone. And while he welcomed that – he still hadn’t forgotten that beneath her childlike and harmless exterior lurked a powerful demoness – he knew he’d regret losing the ready font of knowledge that her presence represented.

“Aww. You like me. You really like me,” she said, clasping her hands together and beaming as only a child could.

“Shut up,” he muttered, yanking a shirt over his head. She complied, though she made her presence known by dancing through the air like some kind of flying ballerina. Soon enough, Zeke was dressed. Without any more conversation, he strode toward the raised dais that would teleport him to the tower’s entryway.

Thankfully, when he reached the lobby, he saw that most of the kobolds had vacated the area. There was still some evidence of their occupation, but a few of the smaller variants had begun the clean-up process. Silik had assured him that it would be spotless within a few more days.

“You really think they could be an army?” Zeke asked.

“With a few tweaks here and there,” Eveline said. “Right now, they are blank slates. They’ve had some enhancements – the wyrm set them on the right path – but they are far from a finished product. With your advantages, you could turn them into a viable force.”

“How?”

“Guidance. Development. Training. And most importantly, you need to align them with your attunement,” she said. “No – not the demonic portion. They would die before conversion. I still believe you are unique. However, you can instill in them an earth attunement.”

“And what would I have to do to accomplish that?”

“A suitable location,” she stated. “Perhaps in time, you could get your tower to cooperate. I don’t know. Usually, it would take multiple generations of saturation, but…”

“But you think I can do it more quickly,” Zeke said. Then, he sighed, adding, “That sounds like the work of years.”

“Nothing worthwhile is ever quick, especially on the power scales we’re talking about.”

“Fine. I’ll think about it,” Zeke said.

“When Ezekiel Blackwood thinks, the world weeps in terror.”

“I think.”

“Sometimes.”

“Most of the time. But sometimes, action is preferable to spending weeks trying to think of the best solution. Normally, a few swings from my hammer is all it really takes to solve a problem.”

“Spoken like a true brute,” she said.

“Yeah – I don’t think I can really argue with that,” Zeke admitted. “But it works for me, so I don’t think I’m going to change anytime soon.”

“Fair enough.”

With that, the pair reached the exit and stepped through. Immediately, Zeke was beset by a wave of demonic energy. He breathed deep, savoring the feeling that came with the corruption. It wasn’t pleasant – not really. In Mal’Aaraxis, it felt like a tingle, but in Mal’Canus, it was more like his soul was being scoured by a steel brush. But it still felt invigorating.

He looked up at the Spear of Desolation. The huge pillar loomed over him, stretching high into the burning sky. As close as he was, he could see every detail of the lifelike carvings of struggling demons that decorated its façade.

“They’re not carvings,” Eveline said.

“Huh?”

“Those sculptures. They were once living demons,” she explained. “But they were frozen in place. Some of the legends say that they still live in eternal torment.”

Seeing those sculptures, Zeke could believe it. Each and every face was contorted into an expression of pure anguish. Either some demonic sculptor was more talented than any Earthly artist, or there was some truth to Eveline’s legends. Either way, Zeke didn’t take long to ponder the situation. He had a job to do, and now that he was so close, he didn’t intend to hesitate any longer.

So, he strode forward, passing the columns that held the Spear aloft, and making his way to the spiral stairs that would lead him to the first level. Predictably, the first floor was much as he’d left it – meaning that, aside from the corpse of the shark-spider, it was entirely unoccupied. Zeke ignored the carcass and made his way to the next staircase, which was concealed behind the bone-white throne.

The climb was uneventful, though the stairs were contained in a more traditional switchback pattern than the spiral he’d just used to ascend to the first floor. Hundreds of flights later, Zeke emerged onto the second level – and predictably, he was confronted by a grotesque creature out of the worst sort of horror movie.

Resolved, Zeke stepped forward, his hammer in hand, and met its charge with a mighty swing.