Chapter 79 - A New Home (Patreon)

Jiran’s aura swept the flying stones to the side, revealing a widened tunnel entrance and a dozen bulky forms that rushed at them.

[Animated Rock Golem: (Tier 4) Durable construct with low speed but incredible strength.]

While the lead golems rushed forward, three in the back scooped up rocks and threw them overhead. Rakech roared and turned into a blur as he met their charge. Aura thickened around his weapon as it tore through the first beast like it was ripping paper and not a tier four beast made of stone. He danced around their swings, continuing to make short work of the beasts as Jiran turned toward Mayalyn while his aura intercepted the thrown boulders.

She lifted two children out of the group and practically hurled them through the portal before turning back for two more. Jiran split his attention between his aura and managing the party window while she worked. He had no intention of finding out what would happen if one of those kids was thrown at the portal while not being in his party.

The dozen golems that Rakech was dealing with were only the start as more and more crowded into the tunnel behind. Worse still, each one he cut down reformed into two smaller versions of the same beast. When another part of the wall exploded as more golems tumbled into the cove.

A manly bellow sounded behind Jiran as a familiar bullman raced at the new arrivals without hesitation. “Puny rocks are no match for Bron!” His party was right behind him, leaping into the fray. Their weapons broke harmlessly against the rocky golems and their mana-fueled attacks had almost no effect on the beasts but they stemmed the flow long enough for Jiran to reposition himself to more easily protect the remaining people.

Rakech’s aura spread out around him, spending itself on stopping the thrown rocks and freeing up Jiran to help Bron’s group. He directed blows that they failed to dodge and kept the golems from circling around and surrounding them. They were too tough to crush outright though he was able to slow their movements significantly.

A precarious stalemate lasted until the last child was through the portal and Jiran’s aura swept the tier four hunters to the side. His channel had been glowing emerald for several seconds in preparation and he wasted no time unleashing his attack.

Channeling and Acid Manipulation combined into a stream of highly condensed elemental mana that melted and tore apart the golems. The few his attack connected with did not reform into smaller golems as they fell apart into bubbling chunks of slag. Acrid smoke filled the air and whistled loudly as it was sucked through the gaps around the stone slab Jiran made at the entrance of the cove.

Between the smoke, moving air, and the noise from these golems, there’s no way we won’t draw attention before long. We need to get out of here! I’m almost out of mana too. I don’t have enough to keep fighting and send everyone through.

“Quickly! Line up at the platform!” Jiran barked as he pushed the last of the golems back into the hole they came from.

Screeches filled the air as the sound of helpless prey reached the superb hearing of a flock of passing betas.

There were only around fifty people left and he focused on adding people to his party and throwing them through the portal as quickly as he could while his aura did its best to hold off the beasts. Bron was punched full-on by one of the golems. He soared through the air only to be scooped up and thrown in with the rest. Mayalyn tried to take the bullman’s place but Jiran grabbed her and threw her in next. Within thirty seconds, only he and Rakech remained amidst a sea of stomping golems.

Jiran’s aura was able to hold them off as he reached for the man who still swung his spear despite a dozen injuries, including one completely shattered arm. “I don’t have enough mana for the both of us!” Jiran shouted over the incredible racket of so many rocky feet stomping around them.

Rakech grinned over his shoulder, his teeth stained completely red from puking blood. “Good way to die! Goodbye, Koroko. It has been my honor to fight beside you!” The man roared again, the tiger in his bloodline coming out in full force as he bent his legs, prepared to jump into the horde of moving stones.

“That’s not what I meant! Get over you here you idiot!” Jiran’s hand clasped around the man’s neck just as he leaped. Mana Siphon drained the five percent he needed to allow the tier five through the portal before Jiran threw him in, jumping in himself less than a second later.

Jiran landed on top of Rakech, the man was groaning on the ground, bleeding profusely and barely coherent from Jiran draining most of his little remaining mana. Several people rushed to his aid as Jiran picked himself up and stepped to the side. As he looked around at the huddled people, the last of the adrenaline drained from him to be replaced by the sorrow their frantic combat had kept at bay.

Grief was palpable in the ancient cavern’s muggy air. Mothers wailed and children clung to their parents, while some sat quietly, rocking back and forth in their shock and despair. Shuffling steps took people in every direction as they sought to keep their hands busy helping to avoid their own pain. A dull thumping echoed nearby as an older bullman smashed his head into the rock wall. Bron and a thickly muscled woman tried to hold the man back but were no match for his distraught strength.

EXP: + 13

Strength: + 1.8

Agility: + 1.8

Endurance: + 1.8

Durability: + 1.8

Wisdom: + 1.8

Intelligence: + 1.8

Further upgrades delayed due to lack of density

[Quest complete!]

[Sorry: Rescue citizens by following the quest marker to the teleportation node.]

[Citizens rescued 341/345]

[Rewards: Intermediary User Interface]

What? Four people died? It must have been in the tunnel before the golems came out. Damnit we were so close!

The little girl who had tripped and screamed, heralding the golems' arrival, tore free from her parents and slammed into his legs. “So swowwy, so swowwy she wailed. Her tears dampened his pants.

Jiran smiled sadly down at her before tussling the fur on top of her head. “It’s not your fault. There were too many of them for it to be your fault, little one. They must have known about us for a while and were gathering their numbers to attack.”

She sniffled and nodded, probably not understanding anything but his soft tone and reassuring head pats.

The child’s parents, Mathra, and Mayalyn all stood to the side watching. When the girl quieted and allowed her parents to drag her away, Mathra spoke into the awkward silence.

“Two of the Aahmra’s disciples were here when we arrived. They took Gourga with them and left. I think it is best if we stay here in this cave until they return. If they are going to a place with fifth tier beasts, following them with the children would not be wise. Besides, everyone needs to rest after… seeing what became of our home.”

It will probably take them about four hours to find him and get back here.

“Right, the Aahmra. I’m in no shape to face him now.”

“Face him? What do you mean?” Mathra bristled but Mayalyn’s hand on her shoulder calmed her.

“The Aahmra betrayed and ambushed Jiran the second their bargain was complete. He also had Gourga and Rakech abduct me and he broke the voltree charger. Not that it matters any longer.” She mumbled the last under her breath.

Mathra gasped, her hand covering her mouth. Jiran’s aura was blocking their conversation but several people saw Mathra’s reaction and got curious enough to inch a little closer in hopes of overhearing.

“I have no intention of staying long enough to fight him or interfering in what any of you plan to do. I—” Jiran took a deep breath to collect his thoughts before continuing. “I am far too weak. What your aunt said was true. All of this was my fault. If I was even one tier higher, I could have killed those alphas, redirected the flows of lava, and cleared out the air. Everything that’s happened to your people is the result of me being too weak.” Jiran vibrated with primal intensity as the repressed feelings of seeing those first two alphas above Azurelight returned.

“I thought they were going to kill you,” He met Mayalyn’s eyes, shaking his head in revulsion at his own powerlessness. “I’ve been running away from tiering up, avoiding it for my own selfish reasons. I can’t stay as I am, or something similar is going to happen again. I have to be stronger.”

“What are you saying? Y-you do not plan to stay with us? With me? What am I supposed to do when—” Mayalyn started shaking as her eyes grew wide. “No! Absolutely not. We are talking right this instant!” Mayalyn reached out and grabbed his ear in a vice-like grip.

“Ow! Let go, I’m coming, I’m coming! You don’t need to drag me.”

She released him with a snort and he followed along behind her to the stone slab protecting the ancient mural. When she pointed at the stone, Jiran shifted it with his aura, allowing them inside before closing the ‘door’ behind them.

“Speak! Out with it. Tell me everything from the very beginning.” Her hands were on her hips and she leaned forward threateningly.

Everything? From the beginning? Where do I even start? What shouldn’t I say? She knows about my memories already. The only things left to tell her are about converting density and the challenger arena. Lenton told me not to share about converting density but that was for religious reasons that I don’t think apply to Mayalyn’s people. And Madra certainly doesn’t want me talking about the challenger density, for good reason too. Would Madra even let her tell someone else if she wanted to? Probably not.

“No more secrets, Jiran. Please,” Her pleading voice and the crinkles of worry around her eyes ate away at the foundations of his paranoia.

“If the last of my secrets come to light, they will kill everyone, my people and yours. Compared to my memories of Earth, these have the potential to do far more harm. And there is a good chance Madra will seal you from talking about some of them. Are you sure you want to know?”

Mayalyn’s tongue flickered out, tasting his aura as she scoured his face for any sign he was exaggerating or lying. Finding nothing, she swallowed nervously before standing up straight and stepping closer to him. “The day we met I chose to hide that you were the koroko. I was willing to face the anger of everyone I know for a chance to keep you from sacrificing yourself. Since that day, I have often wondered why you came to us alone. How could one so capable not have those who wished to follow him? Now, I realize it is because you chose to bear your burdens alone. I do not know if I am worthy to lift these truths with you, but I would share their weight regardless. You do not have to be alone, Jiran of Feylon.”

It was his turn to scour her expression but all he found there was compassion and honesty. Every centimeter of his being yearned to tell her, to tell someone, to finally unload everything he had kept bottled inside. The dam burst, and before he knew it, the words were tumbling out in a rush.

He started from the very beginning, the day his mother nearly plunged a dagger into his heart. He spoke of Samris, his early training, then Lenton and the cube. Her hands reached out, taking his as his story unfolded. Since meeting with Samris, Madra no longer restricted him, so he explained the challenger density, the arena, and his advancement to the third tier. Not once did she break eye contact as he shared his experiences with Madra’s mana, his aura, and finally: His soul.

Jiran felt naked as the last of his secrets were revealed and he eagerly waited for her response. She took her time, breathing evenly while pouring over his words. She nodded several times while mumbling to herself before speaking. “You are right, this information would doom the People as surely as building our homes within Adelphoros’s mouth. There is not a hunter alive that would choose to ascend normally knowing there is a way to agk—Ahem, they would try, and they would die, leaving the rest of us defenseless. I do not understand how you fight beasts a single tier above yourself alone.”

Jiran breathed a sigh of relief, both from seeing Madra was sealing her from spreading the information, and at how seriously she was taking it. “It feels good to finally talk about it. Sorry about that, uhm, geas? Not sure what to call it.”

“It is a small price to pay for sharing your burdens,” Her smile made his heart skip a beat but he quickly reined in the feeling before it grew out of control.

“I’m glad I told you everything, but it doesn’t change what I have to do.”

“I know, and I am coming with you.” She blew air from her nose fiercely while setting her jaw, ready for a fight.

“Woah-woah-woah slow down, Mayalyn. I’m going to fight tier fives. Alone. I don’t think challenger density works if I have help killing the beasts. You would get yourself killed, and likely me as well. Even the slightest distraction can mean death when fighting up tiers.”

“You should find a new argument! I never said I would be fighting. I said I am coming with you. If I can hide from an alpha, I can certainly hide from some measly tier five! And how many of these beasts are you going to have to kill? How long will you be alone? You said the ack— it affects your emotions and you did not feel like you could trust yourself to handle it. If all of that is true, then I will monitor your emotions for you. All you need do is kill and listen to my words. Also, there is one very important thing you are forgetting.”

“Wha—bu—no—” Jiran tried several times to get in a response to her tirade before he sighed, determined to at least hear out all of her arguments before he turned her down. “What? What’s so important that you think it would actually change my mind?

“The Aahmra betrayed me, too. Do you really think I will be safer here, waiting for his return, than I would be at your side?”

“Ahh, shrelkshit.”