Ch. 18 – Invictus (IV) (Patreon)

Felix had adjusted to the shades of red-hue dark vision and steadily descended. He quaffed several Vigor Elixirs and used Regenerate to his Health. He also drank down several Anima Elixirs to at least get to some decent numbers on his bars.

The slope grew more and more steep and he had to use his knife as a sort of climbing pick as he made his way down. It leveled out after the steep drop and he continued forward. The tunnel ended in a pool of water. That looks like a risk I don’t need to take.

Use Detect Object and see if there are air pockets.

Good idea. “Detect Object.”

Felix saw the line of gold shoot out from his palm and into the water. Peeking his head under, he saw the light arc upwards before continuing down the tunnel. Several air pockets. He pulled his head back. The pragmatic side of him was saying that he should go back to his allies since the assassins were dealt with. The thrill-seeker side of him was saying that he should investigate. Lucifer, help me out here. What would you do if you were me right now?

This has to lead somewhere. I think it’s worth investigating.

Felix took a deep breath and sank into the water. The passage was shallow – only about five feet in each direction – and there were frequent spots where he could push his face up against the rocks above to gulp air. Slowly, he made his way to where the water got colder. He finally surfaced in a cavern that was occupied by a small mound in the center – an odd, bulky mound, with several sarcophagi arranged around. There was no other entrance or exit.

A burial mound and chamber. It looks ancient. And it is right under this Tier’s most holy place. Lucifer chuckled; the God of my ‘Verse would be very upset if he saw me now.

Felix made his way to one of the sarcophagi and swept the dust off. I can’t read it. Which implied that no one used the language anymore. It’s ancient. He traced his fingers along the top and felt the bas-relief of some long-lost image that was worn away by time and ambient moisture.

Let’s crack it open!

Felix nodded. It felt distasteful, but this place had been abandoned for centuries at least. The dead weren’t going to use whatever they had. Waste not, want not. He pulled the miniature pry bar from the Thieves Tools. The lid made a deep, grinding noise as he leveraged it off, before it clattered to the ground with an enormous thunk and broke into pieces. The inside was empty, save for an ornate scepter. Felix heard a noise behind him and turned as the mound in the center of the room moved.

Coils upon coils unwound until he was staring down an enormous serpent with fangs that were as long as his legs. Its round eyes narrowed to ovals and then slits as it hissed and lunged forward. Felix dove sideways as the blow slammed into the wall instead of him. He turned off Ghostwalk and used Detect Weakness, while Lucifer activated Hellblade.

The snake creature only had two weak points – the eyes and the inside of its mouth and throat. Felix ducked as the snakehead lunged at him and went over. He ran forward and tried to cut into the snake’s skin – only for this blade to skid off. Even the flames didn’t catch on it. The snake pushed its bulk into Felix and sent him crashing to the ground before he slid into the wall with a thud.

Felix took in a sharp breath of pain as he felt something crack inside him. But he had no time to nurse his injury as the serpent creature coiled back once more, preparing to strike. Any ideas? He thought to Lucifer.

We have to get closer. Fallen Flight gives us more maneuverability.

Do it.

 The spectral wings unfurled and Felix easily dodged the next strike as the enormous maw flashed towards him. He got close enough to stab his Wyrmtooth knife into the eye, the poisonous property of the blade surging into the creature as the flames burned and licked down into it. The creature thrashed and flung Felix away and into the ceiling with an enormous shriek. As he impacted he loosed a Hellfire Beam which harmlessly bounced off of the creature’s hide.

Felix felt something else crack – probably a rib – and breathing became more painful. The snake coiled backward and hid its injured face from him. How do we kill something that big?

The eyes are the weak spot, but that’s going to just deal more damage. If you want to kill it, we are going to need something that can injure a creature that size. Or you could get inside it, but that seems too risky.

I don’t have a weapon that can cut it apart like Tinuriel’s sword.

Let’s find one. Using an Anima Elixir to offset the cost - Detect Object.

A golden line shot from Felix and to the fang of the creature as it continued to hiss and coil in on itself. I need to use its fang to kill it.

If you get a good grip and wrench it just right, you might be able to pull it off.

Let’s level up. Another Fallen Angel level. I need my Might as high as we can get it.

[Selection Made: Fallen Angel]

Finalize. There was a rush of warmth in Felix’s chest as his ribs snapped back into place and he heaved a sigh of relief as the pain was soothed away.

Felix put the daggers away and floated towards the creature. It hissed and batted at him with its tail, and he deftly dodged the blows. When he was ten feet away it suddenly lunged forward with unexpected and even greater speed than before, snapping its maw around him. Felix screamed as the fang he was planning on ripping out of the thing to kill it with was instead impaling him.

That wasn’t too much damage. It’s right in front of you, just rip it out.

Felix was gasping in pain as the creature started to thrash about, shaking him senseless. He reached down to the fang impaling his stomach and got both hands on either side of it. He tried to wrench it to the side to wiggle it loose, but nothing happened. The serpent thrashed him against a wall, and he blacked out for a moment.

Using Regenerate. Can’t fully heal while it’s impaling you.

Felix came back to his senses and with the pain dulled from the healing Skill he was able to think for a moment. I need to end this. The Slayer Talent, combined with Execution, and dumping all my Anima while converting Vigor into more Anima might be enough.

I can do the Affinity Empowerment while you channel Hellfire Beam.

Good. Execution.

Felix felt his Vigor drain slightly. He was looking down the throat of the creature as it paused thrashing for a split second, and the golden circle marking a weak spot was right in front of him. It was just enough of an opening. Now! Hellfire Beam!

Affinity Empowerment!

An enormous ray of crimson flames that licked with black fury exploded from his outstretched palm – right into the creature’s throat. The beam carved a truck-sized hole through the creature’s throat, and he pulled the beam up, bisecting its head as he carved a ruinous path through its skull. The creature dropped, and thanks to his Fallen Flight, he was able to slip off the fang as the creature fell.

[Experience Awarded = 50]

[Experience Bonus from Execution Skill = 15]

[Congratulations! You have reached the Experience threshold to level up! Speak with your Versewalker Core when you are ready to Choose your next Class.]

Felix landed and dismissed the Fallen Flight, panting heavily from the exertion and using Regenerate to fix his wounds. “That was not pleasant.”

Let’s loot the room!

Felix made his way over to the first crypt he had already opened and began to reach for the scepter inside but paused. “Lucifer, do Cursed items exist?”

Querying System…They do exist.

“Let’s be safe. Convert some Vigor to Anima and let’s see if Detection can help us out here.”

Right. Using Detect Properties.

A crimson and gold-lined light formed a grid pattern that floated above the scepter before descending onto the object. A readout appeared in front of Felix.

[Item Description: Scepter of Truth]

[Creates a zone that prevents any dishonesty or lies from being told within a ten-foot radius sphere.]

Seems useful. No Curse on it. Felix went to the other two tombs and worked them open, finding a large, two-handed sword, and an ornate bow. Using more Vigor Conversion and another two uses of the Detect Properties.

[Item Description: Valiant Edge]

[Attacks with this weapon heal the user upon impacting a creature and dealing damage.]

[Item Description: Hardlight Recurve]

[Creates arrows of hard light that fly straight and true regardless of distance. Will only harm those that the user intends to harm.]

Cool items. Let me guess, Valiant Edge is going to Tinuriel, you’re keeping Empire’s Reach, and the Scepter is going into the inventory?

You’ve got it. And I can’t forget to Loot the snake thing.

[Loot Obtained]

·         Colossal Snake Skin

[Loot Bonus from Execution Skill]

·         Colossal Snake Fang

I think that’s everything. Felix looked around once more to ensure that he had not missed anything, and to his satisfaction, the entire cavern was well-looted. Time to head back.

You should rest for a few minutes to get some Vigor and Anima back.

Felix took the advice and sat down, pulling out some Versewalker Rations and snacking to pass the time while he waited for his bars to refill a bit. I’m saving that level up for Core Level 10.

He reactivated Ghostwalk and left the way he came, back through the watery tunnel, up the slope which he used Fallen Flight to traverse rapidly, and stealthily into the assassin's lair. Everything was as he had left it, and exiting the religious compound was a simple endeavor. He made it back to the gate, used Shadestep to leave the complex, and made his way to the edge of town.

He found the inn easily enough and made his way inside. No one noticed him enter, and he was able to spot his trio of allies sitting in a corner booth. Roy and Melanie were chatting idly, but Tinuriel looked on edge and was not enthused at all about being in the bar. Felix silently sat with them, and only then – when he wasn’t surrounded by other patrons – did they notice him.

“Eep!” Melanie jumped slightly and let out a very undignified squeak of shock. “When did you get here.”

Felix smirked, “Just now. I dealt with our problem.”

Tinuriel’s body relaxed a bit, and she threw an arm around Felix and pulled him tight, “That’s a good rogue.”

Roy nodded tersely, “Did you find any intel?”

“I did.” Felix pulled the Assassin Orders from his inventory and handed it to Roy who peered at it with Melanie. “I also found something else, but we should talk about it outside.”

Roy nodded, lowering his voice, and looking at Melanie, “They have your description, and mine.” He looked up at his two newer allies, “And you two.”

Felix blinked a few times, shocked. “How? We’ve only been traveling for a few days together.”

Tinuriel clicked her teeth, “On that first attempt, the bridge where your mage ally perished. They must have had people observing to report back. Perhaps reinforcements, even, who called off the attack once they saw the tide turn.”

“That’s good insight,” Felix replied. “You know your tactics really well.”

Tinuriel smirked and squeezed him tighter, “I’ve been around for a while. I’ve ambushed and been the ambusher. You always have reinforcements ready.”

Roy frowned as he kept reading, “Someone contracted them. For a staggering amount of wealth. But these are just general orders. Nothing specific about who paid for Melanie to die, or why.”

Melanie shook her head, “It has to be my uncle. He was next in line after me. If I die, he inherits.”

Felix felt a pulse of anger run through him. Being betrayed was one thing, but being betrayed by family was another entirely. It instantly reminded him of his parents who left his life in a wreck. The people who were supposed to take care of his sister and love both their children unconditionally. He curled his hands into fists and felt himself trembling with anger. Tinuriel noticed and gave him a small, comforting squeeze on the arm that brought him out of his memories of neglect and abuse.

Roy put the note into his belt pouch, “We still have some daylight left. Do we want to keep onwards?” There was a hint of hesitation in his voice.

“Where would we be next?” Tinuriel asked.

“Ironhold Citadel. The Empire’s military training grounds for strategists and commanders. We’d pass through the town of Phalanx,” Roy muttered.

“Sounds like you don’t want to go there,” Felix commented.

“…I don’t. That’s where she is. That’s where Roxanna is.”

Felix stood up and gestured for the group to follow, “Come on. Let’s hear all about it on the way.”

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