The caves were north of the Goblin Village. It was quicker to traverse to them now since the Spider’s Web Skills did not work on me because of the Title I had on, so now we could go through the shorter route instead of the burrows. I prepared my Explosive Vials, a devastating sounding Tier 3 spell called Lightning Strike and we were off! This place was full of Magic Wood and Ancient Wood, I noted. Those Ancient Trees were a Tier above the Magic Trees, which meant they were much stronger! I debated on upgrading my Crafting and my Brewing Skills, since this place was full of Tier 3 and Tier 4 items. The Forbidden Mountain was also going to be full of treasures that these big guys I’ve enlisted. Thanks to the Brood Queen Passive Skill I had, I found that I also could use a Web Conjuring Skill. How useful and lucky!
Well, I thought to myself as I activated the Skill to patch a hole in my dress that got poked along the way. It wasn’t that useful yet. That was the extent of my Web spinning powers. Still, the cave entrance was foreboding. It was definitely unexplored and the fuzzy butts were raring to go! They wanted to create their own Dungeon and this mountain had a lot of the materials that the Warriors needed.
Dungeons were dangerous, but for monsters they were a boon. They generated mana and resources on their own for them. I guessed Dungeons were yet another thing the Human and my Realm had in common, each ruled by a god. I wondered if the Dungeon god of this world doesn’t mind us killing a few lizards for magic stones and supplies so I can upgrade my Wand in his home.
A splotch of water dropped on my nose. I had Attor cast his spirit form as a light source. The Spiders crawled fast and deeper in without any fear. I wondered if they could sense that my prey was further in. I had Frampton search around this place several days ago, but now I had him spying the bandit village. The fuzzy butt ahead of me rattled and hissed, signaling that our query was near. Go, I told them. Most of them are level 20 and I’m level 11. Therefore they would do better in combat, right?
Something rumbled through the darkness in a cavern ahead, making me pull out my wand. Let’s do this, fuzzy butts! I told the one I was riding on to go on. He could barely fit his massive frame through the entrance but I could tell he was excited by the way he smashed a larger hole through the wall!
“Rocks?” My vision adjusted to several suspicious piles of rocks separated from each other.
“Ah,” Attor looked at them. “There they are.”
“It’s just a pile of rocks, though,” I muttered. Suddenly, shining colorful orbs drifted from the ceiling. More stardust? As they landed on the stone piles the rocks slowly started to form into monsters. “Go! Rip them apart!
The spiders started to swarm two of the lizards before they even fully formed. That was my queue to let the one I was on join his friends so I jumped off of him. It was time to see how strong these Spiders were! More importantly, I grinned as the golem lizards cleared out of the way of a much larger one emerging. Is that the boss? It let out a roar, stomping its massive forelegs and snapped its jaws at us. Behind it, brilliant gems were lying in a pile in a small cavern. It was time to see how tough I am and get those crystals!
— Elder Golem Lizard, level 15
— Class: Fae Golem Lizard
HP: 100%
Mana Pool: 100%
Stamina: 100%
Stats
— Attack: B
— Magic: B
— Defense: S
— Magic Defense: S
Fae? I wondered, but my feet wobbled. Those Stats were impressive, too! The Lizard wasted no time, letting out a roar as its rocks glowed. It was preparing a Skill! Several of the rocks on its forelegs glowed violet, before launching at me. I anticipated it charging at me, but at least I prepared a spell or three for this creature. The rocks were fast, but I was faster. I noticed the Warriors were not having any issue with the smaller lizards and pointed my wand at the elder.
“Let’s see how you like this!” I felt mana course through my veins and the wand turned blue in response. “First Spell: Arcane Missiles!”
A translucent blue Spellpage ripped in front of me, but my wand burst with light. Four small arrow shaped beams of magic lanced the air, casting sparks as they traveled towards their target. The Golem Lizard Elder raised its tough legs up in frint of its head as shields, but I knew my Dark Stone would allow them to do some damage, right?
— Elder Golem Lizard, level 15
Front Legs
Health: 96%
Stamina: 100%
“Front legs?” I checked the beast’s Status and noticed that all of its parts have separate health Statuses. Its Head, Front Legs, Back Legs, Body and something called a Core each had individual Stats. That’s more targets that I have to plow through! I determined I’ll have to target its legs to strike its Core. If only my Spell did more damage, however.
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. The Familiar, Attor, can boost Spell damage when they are out on the field.
“Really?” I looked at the Dragon’s floating head. A crowd of spiders toppled over one of the Golem Lizards and proceeded to tear it apart with their brute strength. That’s the Spider Warriors! I wanted to cheer for them, but a low humming sound and purple light reached the corner of my vision. More rocks!
I lept back and unleashed another barrage of Arcane Missiles to intercept them. The explosions were blinding and suddenly pain surged in my knee. Dread took over me as I saw a large piece of shrapnel embedded inside of it, tearing the spot I just patched and blood poured down my leg. My dress is ruined! Gah! I struggled to keep balance, but I realized the Elder beast was advancing towards me slowly.
“Come to me, Attor!” I called for him. Another group of rocks violently shook with magic at me, but Attor appeared to block the attack just in time. He snarled and slashed the rocks apart. The other rocks bounced uselessly against his scales. For an evolved dragon, he sure was tough!
“Yowch!” He complained. “You should have warned me!”
“How are you going to whine about pain?” I glanced down at my draining health and the wound. “I need you to help me get underneath that thing.”
“Are you serious?” Attor turned his head at me, but shook his head out of it when he saw my face. “You know to hit its Core, right?”
“Yes! Get me under it and I’ll blast it!”
Attor nodded and scooped me up with his head. I winced as I pulled myself up, but I saw two of the Warriors crawling up the Elder Golem Lizard. The small Tier 1 healing potions would have to do for now. He was all that was left! Go my minions!
— Elder Golem Lizard’s Front Legs have reached critical HP!
— HP: 30%
The Elder Golem Lizard’s front legs buckled and collapsed on top of the two Spider Warriors. Green blood splattered from under its weight, but the monster was immobilized as other spiders shot their Web Skills.
“The front legs are weakened, let’s get to it!” I urged Attor, but I felt a little guilty over my lost Spiders. He grunted and bolted into full speed. I ducked as he weaved under the Lizard’s magic attacks. “I will avenge those crushed spiders!”
We dodged his stamping legs and falling rocks, making me realize just how big this guy actually was. The Lizard’s head was probably as tall as my tower! I cast the remaining spells to destroy his falling shards, but saved my best spell for last. My heart pounded and my health continued to drain, but I refused to give up. Attor finally slid underneath the Lizard’s belly and I pointed my wand at the glowing core as its rocks rattled.
“Final Spell: Lightning Strike!”
This was exciting! I have never used such a powerful Spell before! The power emitted from the tip of my wand and unleashed a massive blue jagged bolt at the Lizard’s Core.
“It’s a hit!” I pointed. “Hey, Attor, I hit it!”
The Lizard convulsed for a moment, before its stones started to crack apart. Uh, oh, Attor, get us out of here! I kicked him in the side with my good leg. More of the Elder Golem Lizard’s pieces fell towards us as I bounced along on his back. Almost there! Run, go, hurry!
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
— Elder Golem Lizard’s Front Legs has dropped to 0 HP!
Eh? Its Lightning infused leg was snapping off its body, threatening to block off our only exit from under it.
“We’re not going to make it,” I cursed. Attor growled and suddenly stopped running. “Attor? What are you—“
My world went sideways as I felt tiny rocks and dirt pelt my body as I careened towards the escape. He threw me? I groaned. Recall Familiar! The green mist of Attor’s spirit slipped out from underneath the rocks into my chest, but that warmth did not last long. I felt the momentum sink me into the cavern floor. I felt the hard ground, then my stomach lurched as I bounced into the air with pebbles raining on my body before I collided into something wet and soft.
Wisdom’s Intevention was activating, I struggled to get up to see if that Lizard survived or not. A soft mewing sound came my shoulder. Blanche!
“Oh, you lived!” I tried to move a finger to pat the its little head, but I was sure my hand snapped off in the crash.
“My Queen…” A dying voice came from behind me. I turned my head and realized I was lying in one of the Warrior’s puddle of green blood. His head was all that was left.
“No!” I pulled myself to it. “I— I let you down! I let you all down!”
“We live and die to serve our Queen,” the Spider’s head let out its last dying breath before its soft glowing eyes went dull. Blanche squeaked sadly, crawling on top of my head.
“I don’t know what you would do with a broken body like mine if you [Infect] me, but I’ll be back, Blanche,” I assured it. “Attor might be mad though—“
A faint white light covered my eyes instead of the usual crimson bubble of blood encasing my body when I die. Wait, my health started rising! Healing magic? The stone that was stabbing my leg slicked out, but the hot flash of pain was gone in an instant. A bright light landed on my shoulder. It was Blanche!
“You healed me! T-Thank you, you adorable spider!” I rose to my feet. The Golem Lizard was not moving, but in an inactive, crumbling state. Did that mean I won? Its friends were being ripped to shreds by the other Warriors, but it was not without our losses. I looked over at the smashed body of the Spider I crashed into. “I will have to repay you guys someday.”
I clenched my fists, but suddenly the Elder Golem Lizard’s Core started to crack apart. I raised my wand and got ready, but all I had was one Tier 2 Arcane Beam spell left. We should just steal the crystals and run, right? A hiss was heard and a strange steam burst from the Core as a singular pop sounded in my ears. The Spiders huddled around it, but oddly enough they were not afraid of whatever was happening to the lizard.
“Attor?” I asked over the Core’s hissing steam.
“It’s still alive,” Attor sighed. “The golem is immune to Lightning damage.”
“You shoulda told me that!” I groaned.
A panel swung off the Core as a bright sparkling orb shot out of it in an erratic pattern. It took a few seconds to realize that it was headed directly to me. Oh no, I prepared my Arcane Beam.
“You!” A shrill voice cried out at me from the ball. It was coming from the floating orb! The Spiders gathered around me, but the creature ignored them and hovered right in front of me. “That REALLY hurt you know! That’s rude!”
“W-What?” I uttered. I squinted at the light, and realized that the speaking sphere was a small angry girl with wings. “What are you?”
“A Fey, Witch!” She shrieked, but her voice was mischievous and gravelly. I clicked my tongue. No wonder when it went inactive I didn’t get any XP. “You should have told me that you were a Witch instead of sending your pets to my home! That’s very mean of you!”
— Pink Fey, level 15
— Class: Perfectly Ultimate Greater Fey
The Ruler of the Mountain Fey. She is the guardian of the Hidden Valley Mountain Woods.
“S-Sorry,” I found myself going along with her. “I’ll tell my Spiders to stand down.”
The Fey swiveled around in her flight, leaving a sparkling trail of pink dust as she looked at the surrounding Warriors. Her exposed back side made me want to seize her and squeeze until she popped. I stayed still because something told me that we were supposed to be allies. I told the beasts to not eat her, but the one she was staring at started drooling as its eight eyes narrowed at her.
“They’re well behaved! But this one is gross! Zah! Die!” She pointed at it and cast a spell. Her hand glowed an ominous red, and I almost moved to tell it to kill her, but his fuzzy butt became pink instead of his original brown and black stripes. He still drooled, while the Fey hung her head. “I used all my magic powering that Core.”
“Good,” I crossed my arms. “I like my adorable Spiders alive, thank you very much. Truce? I’m just here for some magical stones, you know.”
“Eh? What’s this about a truce?” The Fey held her hand up and a puff of pink smoke burst from her palm. A tiny scroll emerged from the cloud and she opened it. “Girl, we have already had an alliance for a hundred years!”
“What?” I asked her. By now, more floating orbs began to emerge from the ceiling. Some of the Fey sat on the fuzzy heads of my Warriors, who didn’t seem to notice.
“Don’t you remember?” The Pink Fey shook her head and snapped, making the scroll disappear. “Don’t tell me that you’ve finally gone senile, you old—“
“I’m 9 human years old,” I pouted. “That doesn’t seem very old to me.”
“Wait a second,” she floated around my head, then inspected my face. “What happened to the other Witch?”
“I’m sorry,” I guessed. “I’m not sure.”
“She, no,” the Fey’s flight started to falter, and I caught her with my palm. “Mistress Bohun is… She’s no longer around, isn’t she?”
“T-That’s my mother,” I said. I think I get it now, Wisdom. She was a Witch like this girl was. “She doesn’t come by the tower anymore—“
“Enough, enough,” the Fey was shaking. Blanche crawled on my arm to look at the strange pink being. “I’ll be fine. I see a lot of her in you, yes. Terrifying. And… I don’t think you’re the real Charlotte, aren’t you?”
“How do you know?” My voice iced, becoming deadly. All the other Fey froze when I spoke. My Dark Stone prevented weaker creatures from seeing my Status, so this must mean that this Pink Fey was stronger than me!
“I see you, Demon Queen,” the Fey floated off my palm. To my surprise, the others joined her flight and they all curtsied before me. “Your Mother has told us all about you and your Starfall.”
“Starfall…” My eyes widened as the visions of the screaming streaks of light scattered across the night sky came to me. That was when I first woke up here. “When did she predict my coming?”
“Oh, that’s a long time ago,” the Pink Fey told me with a hint of smugness curled in her round cheeks. My eyes adjusted and found it easier to see the Fey in her glowing aura. “Now what brings you here, Demon Queen, or shall I call you just Charlotte?”
“Uh, Charlotte’s fine,” I guessed. “I’m just here to learn about magic and stones for my Wand.”
“Stones?” She scoffed. Her beating wings and the shimmering pink dust shaking everywhere began to make me dizzy. “That’s all?”
“Well, erm, and also these big guys want stuff to build a dungeon.”
The pink Spider tapped his foot enthusiastically, almost causing me to lose my balance. The Pink Fey held her hips and looked down upon it.
“Well, I suppose you have Mistress Bohun’s taste,” she remarked. I had no recollection of my mother, but for some reason my cheeks felt warm. I wondered if that woman loved her daughter. “So we’re working with the Spiders.”
“Precisely,” Attor spoke aloud. The Pink Fey froze. She could hear him?
“M-Master?”
I sighed.
“Come to me, O Familiar!” I grumbled. Attor manifested, making the Fey shriek.
“Master! You shrunk!” She flew around the young dragon’s head. For such a powerful pilot of a Golem, she was quite energetic! He grumbled.
“I’m with her, now,” he replied. The glowing pink sphere ceased its zigzags and bobbed in the air to a halt. “Like her mother before her.”
How does everyone know my mother… besides me?! Well, it didn’t matter to me. They both knew that I was no longer the Charlotte of old, but the former Demon Queen whose ashes scattered across this realm from the stars.
“So, uh,” I began. The Pink Fey bounced up to me, agitated.
“Yes, yes, about your Stone,” she crossed her arms. “You can’t have it.”
“What?” I nearly seized the cretin in my fist. “But I need it for my wand upgrade!”
“Nope, nope,” the Fey wagged a finger at me. “I won’t show you it. Frankly, I’m afraid of whatever horrible device you are planning on making with that Stone, but I shant show you it! I-It’s too dangerous!”
I simply pushed her out of the way and marched across the inactive Golem Lizards. The Spiders scattered and began to dig in the ground, searching for magical materials for that dungeon they were planning on making. I made my way to the small chamber hiding the crystals I needed, which I could see glowing inside it.
“Psst!” A voice hissed for my attention. It was another flying Fey, but her aura was blue. Another green floating orb joined her. “Hey, witch!”
“H-Hi,” I greeted them, but they followed me, ignoring my blatant theft of the crystals.
“Heard you don’t got a Pact yet,” the blue one said. I cocked an eyebrow at them.
“She doesn’t?” The green Fey exclaimed. Several purple and white Fey joined them in the murmurs.
“We can help you, young Witch,” the blue one offered. I was too afraid to ask what a Pact is, but I guess these little women will explain it to me. “We can lure a young woman out to you, then ya nail her name to a Pact by offering easy mortal things. Her life force is yours then and her child’s life is yours, too.”
“Take her first born, like for something easy, like Immortality, or my fave— riches! Stupid mortals fall for that trick all the time!” A golden glowing Fey giggled.
“I wouldn’t know what to do with a first born,” I tore another Tier 3 crystal from the node it was growing from and shoved it in my bag. “Besides, I am sure this human body is not very old.”
“Shame,” the green Fey remarked. “Hey, me and blue along with goldie can teach you a bewitching spell to get rid of city guards when they ask for taxes!”
I wasn’t listening to them, because a massive door as tall as the Ancient Trees outside stood before me. A Seal blocked the way, but it seemed to pull apart when I approached it. Besides, I was way too small to reach its handle anyways. A crackling noise buzzed next to me, periodically. I looked over and saw a lot of Tier 3 herbs. More importantly, lots of sparking mushrooms that made popping noises as they emitted lightning shocks.
That is a Thundershroom! I can—
Attor appeared behind me and growled.
“Come on!” I complained. “I need my Lightning Immunity and it’ll only cost experience!”
Attor looked at me and sighed as he crossed his arms.
“There are smaller thundershrooms you can gather around and make yourself Thunder resistant potions so you don’t overdo it.”
“Yay!” I cheered. It was time to zap myself and get my Lightning Immunity Passive Skill! Then it’s time to see what’s behind that door.