Clicking his tongue the weather mage standing atop one of the colosseum’s irregularly shaped walls kicked a blubbering man back down into the chaos below. To some the action may have seemed overly cruel but the spy felt more than justified given the man had just left his children to die moments earlier. Of course the mage had been the one to awaken the parasites which then slaughtered those children but who was there to judge him? Far as the masses were concerned he didn’t exist and the entire tournament meant to revitalize faith in the Illian government’s ability to protect them was a complete disaster.
From his perch the mage looked down disinterestedly as the man’s skull was caved in by one of the artificially enhanced Vivigor Vines, nicknamed “Sleeper Seeds” by his small team. He could still remember when a member of the council brought the fresh experiments to his attention weeks ago. By accelerating countless generations of Vivigor Vine control groups through Time magic the madman had simulated an artificial evolution. He hadn’t disclosed everything to the weather mage but the results spoke for themselves. In the wild Vivigor Vines grow just large enough to control prey animals like rabbits and weasels, a far cry from the wandering behemoths he was watching below. Their aggression had also been radically altered. Ordinarily the parasitic flora simply mimicked the behavior of whatever species they’d sprouted within to get close with potential mates, nests, or herds to infect them as well. The Sleeper Seed variants however instilled a deep seated rage within their host by providing intense positive stimulants whenever they acted violently, and dramatically decreasing the same effect when resistance was attempted. In short the parasites were impossibly addictive drugs that only grew harder to resist as the host’s mind was siphoned away.
Listing to the side as the torso of a newlywed was sent careening past him the mage idly observed the dungeon masters in the stands below. Most of them had personal bodyguards or royal knights swarming around them, desperately fighting off any and all encroaching Sleepers with everything they had. This was much appreciated by the mage as it meant he needn’t get involved just yet. Indeed while the dungeon master’s days were numbered there was an order he needed to ensure or else he himself would be killed. His employers wanted to take over the country sure but crippling the country by removing all existing dungeons would make doing so pointless. To kill the dungeons was to kill the economy after all.
It was with a small grin though the mage noticed one dungeon master being ostracized from the rest, Ringley Nelner. The hotheaded young man was a perfect scapegoat for the mage’s plan. Not only had he already declared public distain for his true target, but the wooden armor of his Sleepers would no doubt conjure images of the Dungeon of Oak’s monsters in the public. Given the current controversies over dungeon masters and law they wouldn’t think too hardly before pinning the blame on such an easy target. The mage was more than happy to pin the blame on Nelner regardless. He’d always hated boorish rich men like the inheritor, flexing their wealth without thought as to how they’d obtained it. It was hardly a stretch to say the Illian people should thank him for removing such a problem child!
Wincing slightly as the cloaked figure appeared in his vision, accompanied by a vibration from his amulet, the weather mage stood to attention and saluted. For their part the figure simply gazed over the scene below with silent dissatisfaction. They’ instructed him only to make contact when the mission was completed, or if something went wrong. Fortunately for the weather mage neither was true in this case.
“What is it Aries? I trust you have good reason to interrupt my duties?”
Dropping the salute in perfect tune with an explosion below the spy, codenamed Aries, nodded “Of course Guild Master. I wished to inform you as to an... unexpected development you may find intriguing.” Even under their cloak the figure expressed powerful discontent causing Aries to hurriedly add, “It shouldn’t affect the current mission! I simply believe it prudent you’re informed of this now rather than while reading my official report.”
The figure silently nodded, causing their large brimmed hat to bounce slightly. Having been given permission to proceed Aries gestured out towards his target, who was currently battling several dozen of the Sleepers with relative ease. It was apparent to him the living core had some talent for combat given his general awareness of the battlefield but he was clearly overly relying on his skills, something those who’ve only fought practice battles are prone to do. It just so happened that at the exact moment he gestured out the core had summoned the form of an orange stingray that quickly pulled a member of the crowd out of a Sleeper’s path with a tractor beam.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“I see...” the Guild Master muttered, obviously intrigued, “So he can use skills outside of his territory. That is outside my expected parameters indeed. But I hope that wasn’t all Aries.”
Aries scratched the back of his neck in slight embarrassment as he added “Of course not Guild Master. I wouldn’t waste your time on that alone. What I really wished to show you is the unexpected guest we have underneath him. The Shadow Boss, Mary, has been sighted escorting him.”
“Additional security no doubt. That is cause for some alarm... I’m surprised you couldn’t detect her before now though? Those clothes of theirs have made excellent beacons.”
“She is not wearing one and in my complacence I failed to notice her. I suspect one of her skills allows her to sustain her form entirely off the energy of whoever’s shadow she lurks within.”
“Will your little weapon still be able to get the job done?”
“I shall ensure so personally Guild Master. He should do just fine when the time comes but if an opportunity to separate the shadow manifests itself I shall make use of it. From what I can tell her presence is being kept hidden from the other attendees. As you said I believe she is only acting as additionally security for the target. Mighty effectively I might add...”
Air turning heavy with the pressure contained within her glance the Guild Master growled “Do tell... I’m eager to learn of her effectiveness against your men.”
“S-she managed to capture those looking to put the other masters under our control... Of course I’ve already activated their detonations but I can’t confirm their deaths just yet, it seems she’d holding them within her body for now, I presume they’ll expire soon as she releases them but I’ll ensure their silence regardless. A pity we came so close and have been spotted but obtaining the other masters was a secondary objective anyway. In fact our other preparations have already been carried out without issue.”
Nodding the Guild Master looked out one last time at the dungeon core as he ducked underneath a passing jab and unleashed a powerful kick into a Sleeper’s chest. The look was one of intense fascination and surprise. Aries had always heard the Guild Master was a curious sort but never had he expected it to be quite so unhinged. Plotting against an entire country just to experiment with a new toy no matter how useful was completely outside his range of common sense. Although, should he expect anything else from a being classified almost beyond the realm of the S rank? One who’d stood their own during the Superiority War against the strongest beings the world has ever produced?
Bobbing their hat while making a silent observation the Guild Master waved a dismissive hand at Aries “See to it the incompetents are disposed of. Silencing anyone who comes in contact with them would be troublesome. I’d also request you include all of the targets observed skills in your report for my research. As for the shadow... I’ll see about sending a specialist to neutralize her when the time comes. I’m sure one of my Light practitioners will jump at the chance to spar with a creature like her.”
“It will be done Guild Master and thank you.”
“Just don’t fail me.” They said before vanishing without so much as a flash of light.
Soon as his employer was gone Aries let out a sigh of relief. He’d half been expecting to be struck down for getting so many of his men captured despite the valuable equipment they’d been given. Fortunately the Guild Master understood this mission was dealing with a lot of unknowns and was willing to accept some missteps. Maybe they weren’t that bad a boss after all?
While pondering the competence of his employer Aries heard the sound of quiet footsteps echoing behind him. He wasn’t entirely sure how his guest had made it up so high but the weather mage was pleased he wouldn’t need to find the runt this time. Honestly replacing the fang every 5 hours was getting tedious...
“Hey there little adventurer! Look at you, climbing all the way up here to get your next shot. Can’t imagine the excuse you came up with this time.” Removing one of the purple veined fangs from his latest necklace Aries smiled before sliding it into the young man’s neck “Come here little buddy. What kind of weapon would you be if I didn’t keep you sharp until the big day?”