Luke completed the formation of Essence Lance. To the Reaver, the Spectral Lord appeared to realize its mistake belatedly. Luke took an extreme gamble here, even that likely didn’t fully describe it, but Luke could think of no other way.
He activated Polar South, and the granted insight confirmed his thoughts. As he inferred, Polar South would let him ‘see’ or sense how to survive or grow through insight. He smashed Essence Lance, not into Xera or the Spectral Lord.
But instead, he aimed the lance into himself.
The concentrated lance erupted Essence Feedback within him, and Polar South gave him unprecedented control. A gauntlet of solid frost essence overlaid his free hand.
“You ruin my heart. I steal yours. That was the whole point.” Luke’s ice-cold eyes continued to stare, “Wasn’t it?”
The gauntlet ripped the exposed flesh of the Spectral Lord’s chest apart, unable to contest Luke’s strength. The hyper-concentrated frost essence easily clutched around the Spectral Heart. With the empowered state of Essence Feedback, Luke ripped the heart out, let go of the great sword with his left hand, and jumped back with his legs.
In the dangerous moments where Luke spat death in the face, the insight from Polar South allowed him to forcibly flow frost essence wherever needed to survive a punctured vital organ.
His blood still pumped, albeit slowly. The Reaver successfully stole the Spectral Heart, and he melded it with his own. He encased his still mortal heart in thin ice, which kept it together.
Arctic winds formed around Luke, the white soil glaciated, and the thick sheet of ice stopped only by the transparent barrier that overtook the entire arena. Various notices popped up into Luke’s periphery. He forced them away.
The ice around the Spectral Lord’s body imploded to Luke’s command. This catapulted Xera out, and the force threw the blade into his right hand. Frost covered most of Luke’s body, stanching the excess bleeding. The damage to his heart was immense, but he had a way to heal.
White Ice underneath his feet slid him next to the Spectral Lord. Luke released a breath, frosty misty brushed up against his face. Xera had become encased in solid frost essence, and even without Essence Bond’s empowerment, the blade gutted the Spectral Lord.
The boss kept its tenacious nature and tried to defend itself with one hand around the great sword.
Disdain colored Luke’s features, “Useless,” he said.
He pierced Xera in and out in rapid motion. The health bar of the Spectral Lord declined at an irrecoverable rate. The Spectral Lord attempted to cleave with its blade. Luke took Xera into a two-handed grip, reared with his blade, and twisted up.
The sword wand cut the Spectral’s upper arm clean off; ghost plate armor be damned. The stub of its arm iced over, and no blood came out. Luke didn’t waste a moment. With the Spectral Lord now defenseless, he hefted the blade back and swung like a whirlwind.
A Spectral head flew into the air; its green eyes began to fade. Luke’s blade sealed the neck, frost covering the new opening. Instead, he repeatedly stabbed Xera through the Spectral Lord’s body, regaining health for the first two seconds.
The Interface finally registered the Spectral Lord as dead, and Luke no longer healed from dealing damage. Luke found Sooty quickly with his eyes, then appeared next to the bird, the ice under him enhancing his speed. He crouched down and couldn’t help but let out a celebratory noise.
Sooty faintly breathed. His companion was still alive. Luke was tempted to use frost essence to assist his crow somehow, but he had no idea if it would hurt more than help.
Luke focused on his internals. He used the last seconds of insight from Polar South, guiding the frost essence within to keep his body and heart together. He heard a clear, sonorous clap just before the tension left him.
The Reaver turned his head, and the being at the top of the court stood up. He first observed the royal-like gathering when he came to the arena. But Luke didn’t expect them to be more than just spectators. A white and black aura overtook his own. The being stepped slowly, obscured by the transparent barrier.
Essence Feedback left Luke’s body; his time had run out, and Polar South had ended earlier. He gladly endured the backlash, and an intense cold began to suck the warmth right out of his body. Luke’s teeth chattered, and he shivered uncontrollably.
The figure ceased its clap and stepped through the transparent barrier, acting as if it didn’t prevent all the other creatures around it from entering the arena. After recent events, Luke thought nothing could shock him.
But what he saw shook him internally, even if he refused to show it. Staring back at him were two heterochromatic eyes: one white, one red. The hood declined to show the rest of the First Reaver’s features.
Spheres of black and white surrounded the lone figure, swirling around in orbit. An ancient, kind, yet stern voice of a matron spread out from the First Reaver, “Child Reaver,” The voice was serene, “You have succeeded where all others who challenged my most demanding trial failed.” The powerful being paused, “For that, as a prize for the truly wondrous battle, not only will I mend you, but also, your companion.”
“Mend me? I’ll be fine. Fix Sooty first; I can endure the cold and recover. Also, most demanding…” Luke pondered, “Shouldn’t they all be the same?”
“Scion of my Reaver line, surely, you must see a haphazard fusion of hearts will not go without consequence.” The First Reaver answered one question but not the other.
Luke felt the internals of his body. It was true. The two hearts, while merged, weren’t in sync. He’d likely adjust over time, but the strain wouldn’t completely disappear.
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“I’ve got more questions than I can think of, but I’ll settle for you saving Sooty first.”
A light chuckle emanated from the ancient, “Spoken as a true Reaver would, good choice.”
Three black and white spheres sprang out, revolving toward Luke, Sooty, and the beheaded Spectral Lord. The first landed on Luke, then quickly turned into separated motes. Those same motes merged into him, and his body restructured. The recently added Spectral Heart fused better with his own. The process strengthened his constitution and healed the stab wound through the pulverized organ. The backlash of Essence Feedback lessened, although it did not disappear.
Luke observed that the First Reaver had no intention of talking further until her two other orbs finished their work. The young man turned, ignored the Spectral Lord, and watched over Sooty. The black and white essence sent her way enveloped the bird, and her eyes fluttered open. A faint shadowed gleam pulsed once over her body.
Sooty pushed herself up, then shook her feathers as if she was wet. The corvid saw Luke and then saw the Spectral Lord as well. She flew over and then kicked the Spectral Lord with her talons a few times before leaving a few angry caws aimed at the defeated boss. His bird seemed relieved after that and happily walked over to him.
Before Luke could greet Sooty, the last orb got to work on the beheaded trial monster. The head was reattached, Luke’s ice melted, and the ruined armor reforged. A faint pulse stemmed out of the Spectral Lord’s chest. Then, the First Reaver waved her hand, and the Spectral Lord vanished, reappearing on a high seat in the court of the Reaver.
Confusion played on Luke’s face, “How? What? Why?”
“Look where you are, Reaver Child.” The First Reaver only hinted rather than answer.
“A nether hell, filled with devils, ghosts, unholy energy and...oh”
Luke returned his gaze to the First Reaver, “We’re in the underworld, aren’t we? Veronica faintly mentioned this place once.”
“My first guardian is the type to let unnecessary words slip, yes, much as you convinced her to tell you another requirement of mine.”
“In my defense, I-“
The First Reaver held up a pale hand, “I am not faulting you, scion; know nothing escapes me in my trial. This underworld is my creation. A legacy to those who would follow my path: I am the ruler here. Any interactions are long known by me.”
She made clear any subtlety or sleight of hand here would only be folly. Luke let the tension leave his shoulders. If this woman wanted him dead, she’d have already killed him.
“This is my domain. Not even those beings can stop me from returning my creatures to undeath here. Do not worry. You have passed and, therefore, will leave this place.” She paused, “Alive.”
“How are you not dead?” Luke said as he caressed his companion, Sooty.
The First Reaver laughed heartily, “That’s where you’re wrong, child. I passed away ages ago. Before you is a fragment of my divine soul. Bound to watch over this trial, just as many progenitors do.”
“Figures,” Luke said, “ I can’t imagine you’d want another Reaver around or make this trial if you lived.”
“Perceptive of you, yes, but I did foresee my death, and it did come to pass. As such, you’ve been able to enjoy my cutthroat guidance.” Her heterochromatic eyes observed Xera and Luke’s sternum, “If you don’t fall on the path, you may even go further than I. Learn the secrets of your Essence, Luke, and never abandon your companions. Those god beasts will not spare you.”
Luke eyed Sooty and then said without hesitation, “I would never.”
“Ah, but your companion is not just the one assigned to you by that limiting structure. You’ve found Xera and, by a string of fate, a numbered artifact. Treat them well, go out into this world, but never grow arrogant in it.”
The First Reaver turned around and began to walk away, “Or you’ll die without knowing how.”
Luke knelt and said, “Thank you.”
“See him out, Veronica.”
“Yes, Master.” The pale-skinned, red-eyed vampire stepped out of a circle of green flame and brought Luke up to his feet.
The First Reaver stepped through the transparent barrier and sat on her regal throne. Her gaze was lost in memory.
Veronica whispered into Luke’s ear, “Knew you’d be different once we met the second time. Those orbs are a greater gift than you can imagine, almost as much as the Spectral Heart. You’ll see it one day. Grab your black blade, and I’ll escort you out of the trial. Congratulations, you survived.”
Sooty flapped up and took her usual spot on Luke’s left shoulder. Luke walked over the white soil and pulled Whispering Edge from the ground.
“All set then? Let’s go, oh, and Xera?” Veronica said.
Surprised to be called on, Xera’s volume was high, “Yes?”
“Do be a dear, and if you meet Cedric or any of you two form types, say hello for me. It’s not as if I can go out into the world myself. A gift you now have.”
“Ah, um, ok!”
Luke and Veronica took steady steps toward the exit Luke saw when he entered this area. The door swirled and took on a red-white design. A miniature entrance that mirrored the door of trials, except in color, appeared.
Just before Luke touched the same slot as before to open the door, Veronica spoke up, “And for you, Luke, as my master was too casual in her mention, I shall reiterate for her: do not alert the powers that be in the core lands. In fact, it’s better you stay away until you have no choice but to go.”
The Reaver had no chance to answer. Veronica pressed her hand over his. The exit to the trial activated. Unlike before, he didn’t have to step in; a blue mist covered his body, and his vision went black. Luke felt movement and the feel of the cave floor beneath his feet. The area was silent here, and he re-opened his eyes.
In front of Luke was the door of trials, that is, the entrance and not the exit. He was teleported back to the cave, blue roots faintly glowed over his head, and the air was warmer than the previous nether realm he left.
“We made it, Sooty, everyone, we made it.” Luke didn’t allow the emotion of the moment to overwhelm him.
“I’m out of the damn tomb! Finally! Where are we? Oh, still in a cave…” Xera muttered a bit before she cheered up, “That’s fine. I’m sure we’ll be out today! We’re not lost again, are we?”
“Aye, the lad has me grand self as a compass. I’ll guide our way out of here if you’re not against the thought,” Wayfinder said.
“If you can find our way out, then I don’t see why not. You didn’t talk much back there once we met the Spectral Lord. You became especially silent around the First Reaver. It is unlike you,” Luke said.
“You can’t see it yet, lad, but I can. That unholy soul was kind to you. But she could flick her finger, and you’d no longer exist,” Wayfinder said. “Me age let me see perhaps I shouldn’t open my rude mouth around her.”
“That’s both terrifying and encouraging. No need to dwell on it. I want out this place.” Luke said.
“Outside world, here we come!” Xera said.
Sooty flapped her wings in excitement with the group. Luke could feel through Reaver’s Link that she desired fresh air. And fruit. He took in the surroundings. The area was a plain cave, other than the blue roots above and the trial door, which was sealed tight. The air was stale but temperate. Luke’s senses and vision had sharpened many-fold compared to when he first came to this spot. There were faint sounds of movement in the cave path ahead.
“Prove your namesake, Wayfinder, show us the way out,” Luke said.
“I’m as eager as you, lad, to make like a scared cat and dash out of here. I remember the way back to the pond. Follow me needle. It’ll take you that far.”
While Luke desired to leave immediately, he also happened to be dying for water. After he sent a feeling through Reaver Link, Sooty began to pour water into the cup Luke took out of the Inventory.
Once the Reaver got his fill, he ensured Sooty had time to drink what she needed. The two were starved, but that could hold until they were above ground.
Luke followed Wayfinder’s needle and stepped out of the enclosed trial door area. After a few paces, he heard the loud noise of monsters coming directly from the path the needle pointed to.
“The murder never ends, does it?” Luke said as he unsheathed Whispering Edge and crossed it with Xera in her sword form.