Chapter 19
Blood Lord
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Kail surveyed his status while Lunis looted the bloody corpses:
NAME: Kail Valien, RACE: Human, Class: Blood Preacher, LEVEL 8, EXPERIENCE: 3,500, Subclass: Blood Reaper. HP 160/160, MP 170/170. STATS: Strength 10, Constitution 16, Dexterity 13, Intelligence 11, Wisdom 17. Skills: Rapid Regeneration - Common, Pure Blooded - Rare. Abilities: Free Flow - Uncommon, Blood Gaze - Rare. Spells: Rupture - Rare, Blood Scythe - Rare, Blood Calling - Uncommon.
His current capabilities were Godlike compared to the simple human he’d been for most of his life. For the briefest moment, he considered what it might be like to return to Earth with his current power. His arrival would likely be heralded as that of a messiah by some, as a devil by a few to be sure, but surely the masses would look at him as a heroic figure. He’d be a new type of celebrity, with the power to change the world for the better.
He could see it. He was stepping through a spiraling portal and into the midst of a busy city. Everyone paused what they were doing to stare, and then- “Kail!” Lunis’s voice broke through his vision and he looked down at her.
“You have to keep your mind guarded while within this place or it will usurp you,” she said, squeezing his hand.
“Thank you,” he breathed, shocked at what he’d just seen.
“Surrender and swear yourselves to Dreamlord Shade,” the stilted voice caused Kail and Lunis to turn toward a door that had been knocked open as ghostly remnants swept into the room, ethereal weapons in hand.
Kail’s eyes turned blood red as he stared at the remnant who’d spoken:
Name: Vest Keller, RACE: Remnant, CLASS: Recaller, Level 6. ESTIMATED RUPTURE SUCCESS RATE = 0%.
He conjured his blood scythe as he spoke. “We have no quarrel with you, all we want is to leave this place.”
“To whom are you sworn?” asked Vest.
“To no one, and that won’t be changing anytime soon,” answered Kail. He was facing six ghostly figures armed with ethereal weapons. They lacked blood but seemed to be adversaries of those whom he’d just slain with ease. A feat which they had failed to accomplish, implying a level of weakness and hesitation.
Lunis stepped between him and the remnants. “We know your lord, he’s likely already sensed our presence and will no doubt be on his way to greet us.”
Kail didn’t allow his heir of confidence to waiver even as he wondered what sort of deception Lunis was invoking.
Vest nodded slowly. “You are correct, Lord Shade has just communicated his intention to come here himself. He sends his regards to you Lunis and will arrive momentarily.”
Does she actually know him? Wondered Kail even as Lunis turned to him, her voice a whisper. “Lord Shade is Lixul, I don’t know how or what happened but we can ask him when he arrives.”
“How do you know this?”
“I can sense parts of him within them,” she said as she moved to stand beside him, facing the remnants and the open doorway.
A man became visible striding toward them, he walked with graceful and confident ease down the hall and through the doorway. He wore a long black leather jacket of sorts, it was adorned with silver buttons and strands of it hung down behind his black pants, seeming to glide behind him and slightly above the floor. The front of the jacket was connected with the first zipper he’d seen in this world, two leather straps also passed across the zipper with silver buckles facing them. The jacket’s low cut revealed a pale chest adorned with a silver crescent moon which hung from a chain that descended from about the Dreamlord’s neck.
For this man was a Dreamlord, having gone through several apparent changes since the last time Kail had seen him. He was taller for a start, yet remained shorter than Kail if only slightly. Lixul stood at a height of perhaps five foot eight and appeared to have put on at least ten pounds of muscle. His face was also fuller, with defined and prominent cheekbones which enhanced a robust face rather than accentuating a skinny one. His irises remained the same shade of black as they had been, though they now shone with power rather than dilating with apprehension.
Lixul smiled as he arrived before them. “You came back for me Lunis, and you as well Kail?”
“I’m sorry,” said Lunis, her voice trembling slightly. “But we didn’t arrive here of our own free will. Though I am so relieved to find you’ve prospered.”
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Lixul’s smile never wavered. “Hmn. I understand. Why would anyone wish to return here? And yet something has brought you back.”
“A masked man ambushed us and sent us here,” said Lunis. “I was hoping you might be able to get us out?”
“I could,” said Lixul slowly. “But in exchange, I would ask something of you.”
“What?”
Lixul strode past them and onto the dais, pausing before the throne before turning back to them. “The process of claiming this seat will be timely and taxing. I would ask you both to assist in guarding me while I enact the process.”
“Of course,” said Lunis.
“And afterwards you’ll be able to teleport us back?” asked Kail.
Lixul nodded. “It will be costly, but yes.”
“How did you become a Dreamlord?” asked Kail.
Lixul shook his head, his smile wavering as he glanced at Lunis. “A tale for another time. The other Dreamlords will be sending forces to claim Lars’ territory and probe this room’s defenses. I must begin the process of claiming the throne. If you two are prepared to defend me?”
“Alright,” said Kail, glancing at the three doorways, each of which was now shut and guarded by two remnants.
Lixul turned to face the throne, extending his fingers toward it, he began consuming each and every dream which had been infused within it.
Kail glanced briefly at Lixul’s back, his red eyes deciphering the power the former shadeling had gained in such a short time:
Name: Lixul, (AKA - Dreamlord Shade) RACE: Shade, CLASS: Dream Crafter, Level 8. ESTIMATED RUPTURE SUCCESS RATE = 31%.
Kail turned away from Lixul, his curiosity heightened and tinged with a slight hint of suspicion. How had he gone from a weak shadeling to a powerful Dreamlord?
“I wish I knew more about this place,” he whispered to Lunis.
“Don’t,” she said firmly. “The more you try to understand this place the worse it becomes.”
“Enemies approaching,” said Vest, moving from his door to stand before the one directly across from the throne. Two of the remnants stood behind him, while the others remained guarding the other doors.
Kail conjured his blood scythe as he and Lunis joined the remnants. In an instant the wooden door with its brass handle disappeared, revealing a corridor filled with knights wearing full sets of silver armor. There were a dozen or more of them, yet much of their armor was rusted brown and as he looked closer he realized that not a spec of skin was showing anywhere. The armor covered the knights head to toe, rusted helms obscuring their faces but for slits where eyes should have been. Though to Kail’s shock, he glimpsed empty bone cavities through the slits rather than living eyes.
Name: Unknown, RACE: Undead, CLASS: Guardian Knight, Level 4. ESTIMATED RUPTURE SUCCESS RATE = 0%.
More mana drained from him and into his scythe. He hoped it would be strong enough to tear through the rusted armor, otherwise, his fate would rest in the outnumbered remnants’ ethereal hands, a prospect which was far from invigorating.
The undead knights rushed forward, greatswords held in gauntleted hands. They joined battle with the remnants in the doorway which was large enough to accommodate two people standing side by side. Kail remained in the rear, unsure of how to help as long as the remnants held the doorway. Though as he watched, the door began to widen, the walls warping to create more and more space for the intruders to push through.
“What’s doing that?” he asked Lunis.
She stood beside him, fingers twitching in a manner similar to Lixul’s as she focused on the doorway. “Another Dreamlord. I’m trying to slow her influence but my dreams seem inconsequential compared to her’s.”
There was a sudden tearing then sucking sound as if a great deal of air was imploding in on itself. Kail’s attention returned to the battle as a remnant fizzled out of existence, leaving behind not but pieces of faintly glowing scrap which clattered to the ground. Now only Vest and the other remnant remained within the ever widening doorway, their ethereal weapons clashing with the undead knights’ greatswords.
Kail stepped forward even as the other remnant fell. His scythe arcing through the air in a curved downward strike which sheared through rusted armor and split a knight from shoulder to waist. He kicked the falling corpse away and it crashed atop the remains of the other fallen knights. He stood beside Vest, facing four knights while another three stood behind, awaiting the space to approach.
A greatsword stabbed straight at his chest. Lacking the time nor ability to dodge the direct strike, he acted in an instinctual impulse and without consideration nor thought.
HP 112/160
A stream of blood rushed from where the sword would have entered him, spurting forward and through the sword. Kail gasped in shock and pain as the knight faltered, he stepped forward, taking advantage of the opportunity and cleaving the knight in two with his scythe while dodging a downward strike from another undead.
HP 81/160
A sword slashed across his side and he spun about, pain and anger consuming him as blood lashed out from his injuries. The world around him turned red as lances of blood shot forth from him, spearing the knights who staggered back, crashing into each other and the walls.
HP 43/160
MP 9/170
He reeled about, feeling an unnerving sense of exhilaration mixed with pain. Vest swept past him, cutting through the injured knights. Hands steadied him and he looked down to find Lunis supporting him. Then a sound caused him to look up and lunge in front of her as a knight rushed past Vest and plunged a sword into him. He stared at the helm, it was red, everything was red.
HP 2/160
His hand idly pushed against the undead’s armor as he fell off its sword and back into someone, red text obscuring his fading vision.
RAPID REGENERATION HAS INCREASED TO THE UNCOMMON RANK! Rapid Regeneration - Uncommon: Your HP regenerates at a rate of 4 points per ten seconds.
PURE BLOODED HAS INCREASED TO THE EPIC RANK! Pure Blooded - EPIC: Your blood is purer than most, granting you 20% increased HP and MP regeneration.
The words blurred together as he leaned against someone soft. No. He wasn’t leaning. He was lying. The ceiling above was red. Everything was red.