Lanek stood with Maximilian as their two companions emerged, eager to see how their evolutions had affected them. Maximilian, sensing the pending return of his companions, had rushed back into camp. Kazuma’s size had not changed that much with the evolution, but his legs seemed to be more muscular. Additionally, Lanek could swear that he saw streaks of lightning arc from his paws from time to time.
Kazuma
Mountain Stalker lvl 1
Mountain stalkers are among the most feared predators of the mountain peaks due to the lightning that courses through their claws. Unlike their cloud hunter kin, a mountain stalker does not require a successful ambush to unleash their lightning, every strike carries this element with it. Additionally, the mist that the stalker can emit carries the cold of the summits that it calls home, slowing their foe’s movements.
As for Sanguineus, he had not grown much either. His fur remained black with a red tint. However, Lanek felt a powerful aura emanating from the great wolf.
Sanguineus
Abyssal Hunter
lvl 1
Sanguineus gains increased strength, speed, and stamina over his previous Void Runner form, making him a much more devastating foe in close combat. Additionally, he now projects a passive aura that increases the movement and attack speeds of his companions when out of direct sunlight. Due to his origins, Sanguineus is now also capable of inflicting bleed effects on his foes, simultaneously weakening them and providing him with a source of blood that he can use to heal himself.
Whistling at the new abilities, Lanek proceeded to give the furballs attention and pets while seeing if anything had changed with their vessels. Sure enough, there were some changes, namely that his arming sword now had a chance to inflict bleed and seemed to stack with his skills. As for Kazuma’s vessel, the mist that he could exude when the cat was in the vessel could now slow enemies as well. As usual, those abilities still only worked when his companions were in their vessels. Although, seeing their evolutions and his newfound access to the boons from Eldros and the Mark, he found it very unlikely that he would have his companions retreat to their vessels very often. Most likely, he would only do so if they needed to heal or were in danger.
He returned to the fire, preparing to cook something when he heard a commotion behind him. Turning to the trio of animals, he found Sanguineus and Kazuma staring at Maximilian’s collar while the demigryph puffed his chest out proudly. A moment later, the cat and wolf turned to stare at Lanek intently. He raised his hands defensively.
“Hey, it came from the Mark, I had no control over it.” He said, but the animals seemed undeterred, continuing to stare at him. “Fine, I’ll see what I can do. No promises, though. I don’t know if the Mark has anything that would work for you guys.”
Finally satisfied, the pair went off in search of prey, joined by the demigryph who had ended his hunt early. Lanek was lounging by the fire, enjoying a light meal of berries and tea from his rapidly dwindling supplies when the trio returned, a deer hanging from Maximilian’s beak. The demigryph tossed the carcass near Lanek while the others looked at him in expectation.
“Oh? Is this my punishment for not giving you accessories? I have to cook for you? Entitled, brats.” He said with a fond smile before setting to work. After the meal, Lanek reclined alongside his furry companions, a feeling of contentment emanating from all of them.
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It feels good to have everyone back. Lanek thought happily before falling asleep.
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The party left early the next morning, not even taking the time for breakfast before advancing on Caelis. They passed through the southern gate, spotting no signs of any living enemies, but there were signs of battle all around. He could see the decaying corpses of gaunts strewn along the street, as well as multiple coins and poor-quality gear that were the signs of loot drops from dungeon creatures. The bodies of the gaunts had not been collected this time, which concerned Lanek. He had never seen the bodies left out like this, even after major battles. When the gaunts had assaulted the northern gate, he had seen signs that the ghouls and ghasts had carried the corpses into the sewers.
I wonder if the dungeon hasn’t managed to get a foothold here yet. Its hold wasn’t super strong here, what with the spider matriarch’s territory being nearby. After killing the saurians and the Warden, I imagine it was even weaker. Maybe the gaunts are sensing that and pushing in? Constant attacks would make it difficult to reclaim the area.
Not liking the implications, Lanek urged his companions forward, but kept an eye on their surroundings. He didn’t want to run into a large pack of gaunts. While the average gaunt didn’t pose a threat to him, their numbers and some of their greater evolutions could definitely hurt him. Even worse, if he ran into the caster-type he had met at the north gate, he wasn’t sure he could take it.
It was evening before Lanek caught sight of the battlefield where he had fallen and the tree that marked his previous body’s final resting place. As he approached, several towering figures that he recognized as myrmidons turned toward him momentarily, causing Lanek to pause in alarm. However, the myrmidons turned away from him a moment later and began lumbering to the east, heading toward the dungeon entrance.
What was that about? Why didn’t they attack me? Why were they here in the first place?
Lanek dismounted as they came within a few meters of the tree, marveling at its size and the devastation around it from not only his battle but the battles that had clearly occurred since. Based on what Eldros had told him, he had only been gone for a month before being revived and his journey here had only taken a little over a week. Despite that short time frame, the tree before him, which very much resembled an oak, towered over him at a height of almost ten meters. After [Identify] failed to provide him with any information, Lanek tentatively placed his hand on the tree.
Dranrid essence detected, return process initiated.
Energy began to swirl around the tree, coalescing into a swirling orb in front of Lanek’s chest. However, what concerned him the most was that the tree was shrinking as the orb swelled in size. Helpless to stop the process, Lanek could only watch as the tree shrank into the ground, disappearing completely as the orb before him sank into his flesh. He felt energized and oddly whole after the process. Lanek had felt a bit off since his resurrection, but he had attributed that to the whole experience of dying and coming back, not that something was actually missing.
He reveled in the feeling for a brief moment before realization struck him and he began digging into the dirt where the tree had been, panicking at the thought that he might have just killed his patron, or at least greatly reduced Eldros’ odds of survival. Sensing his panic, Sanguineus moved next to him and began digging as well while Kazuma and Maximilian kept watch. After several moments of panicked digging, Lanek felt the wolf nudge him and drop a mundane looking acorn.
Once again, [Identify] seemed to be out of its league here and provided no information, but Lanek didn’t need it to know that this was a powerful item. He could feel energy pulsing from it. Even better, it was pulsing with an energy that was very familiar, much like the soothing energy he had felt infusing the air around Eldros’ grove. Can I still turn this into a grove? Or will I need to make it grow first?
Despite the setback, Lanek was a bit relieved that the tree had reverted to an acorn. Eldros was too weak at the moment to have multiple guardian beasts and Lanek had too much on his plate to be tethered to the tree. As a result, a grove in this position would have been far too exposed and Lanek suspected the tree had only survived because of the presence of the dungeon’s myrmidons. However, if he could get it to sprout elsewhere and establish a grove, there was an opportunity to place it somewhere much safer. Near the monastery, for example.
As he placed the acorn into his pack, Lanek felt something watching him, but he felt no animosity or hostility from the gaze. He turned to scan the area, but saw nothing. Surprisingly, none of his companions seemed to feel anything, but Lanek refused to chalk it up to paranoia. Too much weird stuff happened in this world for him to not trust his gut.
Returning to Maximilian and getting in the saddle, Lanek turned in the direction of the monastery. It was time to go home. As they walked to the north, Lanek had an idea and looked over at Sanguineus.
“I think Caelis needs to know that we’re back, don’t you?”
The wolf cocked his head to the side before nodding. A moment later, the silence of the ruined city was broken by a long, echoing howl.