After an hour’s rest, they were all ready to move on towards the beacon that was ever growing larger in their sight. There had been the occasional wandering zombie or skeleton that Duke took care of with a pulse of RESTORE giving them nearly two dozen soldiers once again following them. Duke commanded them to guard the camp, which they did with serious expressions.
The four set out, determined to reach the beacon, and finish the level. There was some lingering disappointment that the vampire had not been the final boss. Especially considering how difficult a monster it had been. If not for the combination of Baslin’s constant pressure on its magic and Duke’s overwhelming burst of magic in a form that it was specifically weak to, they may not have prevailed at all. Elaine seemed to be particularly unhappy with how easily it had resisted her.
“I am frustrated.” Elaine announced. Duke considered making a joke involving getting her and Grat back to their bed soon but the stormy look on her face quelled that urge nearly instantly. She continued, not noticing. “I have grown stronger than most everyone I know short of you two monsters.” Her gesture in Duke and Baslin’s direction made it clear who she was speaking about. “And yet, time and time again, I have encountered things that I am just not strong enough to defeat. How much stronger do I need to get? What do I have to do?”
Baslin interrupted her before she could continue. “Elaine, you are strong and powerful. No one can take that away from you, but you must not compare yourself to the likes of Duke and myself. I have been accumulating knowledge and power for more than six centuries. And even I have felt inadequate as of late. We are in an impossible situation, but we persevere. Largely because of this far more impossible situation.” He pointed at Duke with his full left hand. “Duke is touched by Powers well beyond all our experience. Powers beyond even the realm of Teldin. He grows in power at a speed that baffles me. Were he not a friend and ally, I would fear him to the point I would be moved to seek his destruction before he could grow further.”
Duke stopped walking, giving Baslin a deeply questioning stare. “You would what?”
“As I was saying if Duke were NOT a friend and ally, I would fear him. He is, what, three quarters through Tier Two and already wields power like an average Tier Four or Five. Not that there really are too many Tier Four or Fives around to make an average. But that is exactly my point. Duke breaks the scales – do not use those same scales to measure yourself.”
“You said Tier Four or Five?” Duke asked.
“That’s what you took away from that conversation?” Baslin countered. “Yes, Duke. Your power is scaling faster than should be possible. By the time you breach Tier Four, I expect you will be amongst the most powerful forces on this continent. By Tier Six, probably all of Teldin. What will you do then? When no one can stand against you?”
“I…I haven’t thought about that. I really don’t know what I’ll do at that point, but it will be epic. That much I can tell you.” Duke replied contemplating the possibilities.
“I only hope you will still listen to us and the guidance we offer.” Grat mused.
“You are and will always be my friends. I’m not arrogant enough to think that I will always have the best answers. I’ve seen too many leaders think that they knew it all and fail miserably because of it. I’m just arrogant enough to plow through anything that stands in our way, but still smart enough to know that there will always be things I don’t know and need advice on.” Duke reassured the group.
“Like, for instance, what the hell is that thing!” Duke pointed in front of them at a fifty-meter-tall bipedal monstrosity. It appeared to be composed from the writhing bodies of countless undead. It slowly stomped their way, the cacophony of screams, moans, and grinding of bones set their teeth on edge. Momentarily, it stumbled, its left “foot” getting stuck on a random boulder before wrenching it forward to send the boulder flying off over their heads. As it straightened up, the group noticed that it was not alone. Duke activated IDENTIFY with REMOTE CASTING to get more information.
*** You have encountered a Champion Undead Amalgamation. This creature is an undead construct composed of the ever-regenerating bodies of countless undead.
Level: 300
Health: 62,6116
Mana: 0
***
“Undead Amalgamations. Baslin answered. “Try and RESTORE it and see what happens. We might get lucky.”
Duke shrugged, TELEPORTED close to the monstrosity, and poured 10,000 Mana into a RESTORE before TELEPORTING back to the group. The RESTORE Ability with that much Mana poured into it covered a 500-meter radius and encompassed fully the three Undead Amalgamations.
The massive creatures shuddered and collapsed into piles of bodies and body parts which immediately began to reform. In a matter of minutes, nearly three thousand people of multiple races stood in a large, loose group. They appeared to be completely confused and bewildered. They were also all naked.
“Well, that’s something.” Duke remarked. “Does that mean that we got lucky?”
“Guess so.” Elaine responded shaking her head in disbelief.
Grat immediately began growing massive leaves and thin vines from the restored plants around them. It took some time and an additional special spell from Baslin, but the crowd was basically clothed. This group of people was even less conversant than the last set of guards and docilly headed back towards the camp with only mild instruction.
After the new group of people left, the team began what they hoped was the final leg of the journey in this massive dungeon level. Their mood was subdued having seen too much on this level to easily put aside. Duke pushed the group forward, rising over a pass splitting a ridge. At least there has been no torture on this level. That would push me over the edge I think.
“Did they seem…I don’t know…lesser to you?” Elaine asked.
“They were very docile and didn’t really react to suddenly standing there naked so definitely not right.” Baslin commented.
“What, did the dungeon run out of fresh souls and only have the stale ones to use?” Duke joked.
“Perhaps.” Baslin responded contemplatively.
“That was supposed to be a joke.” Duke clarified.
“Is it possible for a soul to degrade after thousands of years of dungeon storage?” Grat asked. “How long has it been since someone has gotten this far into this level, let alone completed it?”
“It has been over 15,000 years since anyone has completed this level.” Sam had reappeared to answer the question. “You are the first group to make it this far without losses in longer. Then again, with only four of you, any loss would likely end your run.”
“Like the second floor.” Duke responded.
“Yes, the second floor has seemed to be extra dangerous for you. Just like this one has not. That is what makes the Lake Front Dungeon such a great training dungeon. I do hope you keep me intact when you complete the fifth floor. You will, won’t you?” Sam implored.
“I am not even contemplating what comes after we finish the dungeon right now.” Duke answered. “We need to complete this and the next level before any of that is even a consideration.”
“So be it.” Sam faded out of sight, leaving the group just as they crested the ridge and were greeted by the end of the level.
Beyond the ridge before them sat a castle, or what had once been one. Like all the other structures they had encountered on this level, it was a crumbling ruin. Stones that had stood for countless years were little more than rubble and ash. Grand courtyards held ash blown against what remained of retaining walls. There were the remains of a gatehouse that had a single rusted iron bar leaning against it – the remains of what possibly was a portcullis.
The group approached cautiously, awaiting the appearance of the final boss of the level, the expected Vile King that Aurelia had described. Of him, there was no outward sign, but the group had yet to reach the delineated line of crushed and pulverized stone that was once the outer wall of the keep. The wind blew with quiet insistence, creating little sound as if fearful of awakening the terror within the ruin. Despite the light of Baslin’s spell penetrating the gloom above, the area still roiled with the emotional weight of fear and despair. The oppressive presence had the consistency of gravity – it permeated all of them and threatened to pull them helplessly to the ground to be crushed under its weight.
Silent looks passed between all four of them as they stepped closer and closer. The ash was ankle deep surrounding the remains of the castle, hiding anything that might be underfoot. Duke instinctively took FLIGHT, not trusting the footing below. Baslin nodded at him and with a series of gestures and a barely audible, whispered command, the rest of the group rose up beside him. By unspoken agreement, Duke led the group past the gatehouse remains and over the castle grounds.
Duke heard the rustle of cloth behind him and whipped his head around in search of danger only to see Elaine pointing at the ground to their left. Ash and dust were slowly seeping into a hole of some sort. None were certain whether the hole had been there before, but Duke suspected that it hadn’t. They continued onward, across the bailey and approached where the keep’s doors had once stood. Again, the line was only demarcated by crumbled stone and a taller mound of ash.
As they crossed the threshold into what had been the inner keep, Duke became aware of a low hum. It was barely perceptible, and he was sure that if his Intuition had not been above 200, he would not have heard it at all. He gestured at the others to see if they heard it as well but all he received was confused looks. He pressed on and the rest followed.
Their path remained unbarred and unobstructed as they passed over yet another threshold into an area that must have been the great hall. Some of the structure yet remained. Granite walls, blackened by ash held empty windows that towered a dozen meters tall and four wide. The floor was similarly marred by ashen staining but there were signs that it once was beautifully tiled. At the far end of the room sat a golden throne. It was perhaps the only thing in the whole of the castle that had not been at least darkened by ash and dust. What it was darkened by was a solitary figure still wearing kingly raiment.
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The figure wore regal robes of ancient black velvet and purple, adorned with edging of silver and gold. A crown of gold encrusted with gems and jewels sat atop its head. In the crook of its right elbow, it held an ancient dark tome. The book seemed timeless in its state despite the ruin around the figure. Its left hand stuck out from its robes, desiccated and skeletal. The creature’s face was similarly sunken, the skin darkened and clinging tightly to the skull. Its eyes glowed with a sickly mixture of green and purple, the colors swirling within the sockets before swirling away into the gloom to disappear into the atmosphere.
The head turned to stare at the group, eyes glowing more intensely. It spoke, breaking the veritable spell of silence that had befallen the group. Its voice carried the terrible weight of the ages, sounding like an ancient tree finally snapping in the fell wind. “Welcome. Welcome to my kingdom. It has been too long since any have come to offer tribute to the Mage King. What is it that you have brought for me?”
Duke answered before any others could engage. “You have no kingdom anymore. It is all dust, ash, and ruin. The last of your people died centuries upon centuries ago. There is nothing left for you to do but to release this land from your grip and let it renew itself again.”
The figure seemed to seriously contemplate Duke’s words for a moment, having some sort of internal debate. It then spoke again. “You say my people have all died and my lands are dead?”
“I do say so for it is the truth.” Duke replied doing his best to speak “ancient language”.
“Then why do they still listen to my call to RISE!” As the creature shouted the final command, the ground rumbled all around them as the final walls of the castle crumbled to dust. The ash and dust began to swirl and collect all around them into largely indistinct forms with the only well-defined features being a pair of skeletal arms with wicked quarter-meter bone claws. There were dozens of them forming around the group.
“You take the king. We’ll handle the minions.” Baslin announced to Duke, as he cast his Life Infusion Spell upon the group. The three of them dropped to the ground landing just hard enough to cause a flexion of the knees but not enough to cause any damage. Elaine turned to her dire bear form as Grat spun, pivoting on a single foot as he threw seeds in a wide arc out of his hand, clearly using his storage ring.
Duke charged the king at full speed only to slam into a magical barrier. The king laughed at him. “Fool! Did you think I would not have protections? I am the Mage King! I am bonded with the Ebon Compendium and it will defend me unto the end of time.”
“Is that so?” Duke replied, pouring an extra 10,000 Mana into TELEPORT. He was going to steal that tome! The tome shuddered in the Mage King’s arm, nearly breaking free before a flash of the creature’s eyes overpowered Duke’s Ability and caused the tome to stabilize in position.
“Yes, that is indeed so!” The Mage King responded with a blast of magic directly from the tome that flashed through Duke so fast he had no notion that it was coming until it had already struck him. Immediately he felt weaker, as if his flesh were withering away. He looked at his arms and saw his muscles slowly melting away. Another blast, this time of force struck him, sending him sailing out of the castle grounds and slamming into the ridge nearly a kilometer away.
Elaine, as was usually the case, was the first to strike the creatures surrounding them. She found them to be stronger than the undead they had faced previously, but not immensely so. She was able to carve through them with her enchanted claws easily. What caused her dismay was watching the creatures she shredded simply reform and come at her again.
Grat’s vines spread out, forming a protective cage around the group, glowing with Baslin’s infusion of Life energy. It took time, but the vines formed a barrier of life around them, even pulling Elaine inside despite her growling at the indignity.
Baslin cast a Spell, calling a great vortex of wind around them that pulled the floating undead in easily and tore at them with ash, dust, dirt, and whatever the spell could pull from their surroundings. The infusion of Life energy tore at the core beings of the undead caught up in the whirlwind, tearing their animating force from them and dissipating it. They crumbled back to dust.
The Mage King did not sit idly by as Baslin’s spell destroyed its minions. Instead, it upped its minion game. The ground cracked as a ten-meter-wide, clawed, skeletal hand burst out of the floor followed by an arm. In a matter of less than a minute, a colossal skeleton had risen from the ground with the Mage King sitting atop its skull still seated upon his throne. The skeleton tilted its head to the sky and uttered an unlikely but unnerving clattering roar to the heavens. It then turned its burning orbs of eyes upon the remaining three.
“That’s enormous.” Elaine growled. Then glared at Grat, stopping his response cold.
“Indeed.” Baslin remarked. “I don’t think your vine cage is going to be able to keep that thing out. We may need to fall back for a bit until I can get a Spell that can affect something that large prepared.”
“I don’t think it’s going to let us.” Grat announced as a giant skeletal foot began to descend, rapidly increasing its speed.
Baslin quickly removed an item from his storage ring and smashed it on the floor. A glowing barrier surrounded the three of them instantaneously. The giant skeletal foot slammed down onto the barrier, causing a plume of dust and ash to expand outwards but the protective dome held.
“That will buy us a few minutes but not much longer. We need a way to fight that thing.” The tension in Baslin’s voice was escalating and it was becoming clear that he was not ready for such a fight.
Elsewhere: Duke painfully extracted himself from the stone he had been embedded in, his withering limbs making the process far more difficult. After struggling for a full minute, he TELEPORTED himself out, shaking his head at how slow his thoughts seemed to be right now. He knew that he needed to do something, but he was just so tired. Sleep was beckoning him, and its warm embrace was so inviting. It would be so easy to just lie down and rest. He had been working so hard, doing so much. He deserved rest. He deserved a break. Just lie down here for a few minutes and relax.
His eyes snapped open with purpose as he remembered. The Mage King! My companions need me! In moments, Duke was fully awake again but still so physically weak. His armor was in tatters and his limbs were nearly stripped of muscle, withered almost to the bone. He was barely able to move and could feel even more of his strength fading. Soon, he wouldn’t even be able to stand. He checked his stats and saw that his Health was down to 17% and still falling despite his REGENERATION. His Mana, on the other hand, was nearly full. How long have I been down?
He activated RESTORE to at least get his armor repaired. His armor quickly repaired itself and he felt momentary relief from the withering. His Health had not moved up, but it had paused in its decline. He poured 20,000 Mana into a RESTORE, hoping it would make a bigger difference. For a full kilometer around him, plants sprouted, buildings repaired themselves, and the scattered undead regained life. Duke could feel the withering fade as his muscles, his entire body was rapidly returned to him.
As Duke took FLIGHT, he could see the extent of his RESTORE on the area around him. The outer wall of the castle was rebuilt, including the gatehouse. He could also see a gargantuan skeleton struggling with a titanic bear wearing a glowing hat of some sort. He TELEPORTED closer to get a better look. What he saw stunned him.
Elaine was now as tall as an office building and was straining to break the grip of a skeleton just as large as she was. On top of her head was some sort of magical bubble, a shield perhaps, that had Baslin and Grat franticly deploying some host of magical devices. On the head of the skeleton sat the Mage King hanging onto his golden throne with one desiccated hand while the other waved his tome around releasing random blasts at Elaine that bent and warped to be absorbed by the bubble.
As the Mage King seemed rather distracted, Duke decided to add some more chaos to the mix. He poured 30,000 Mana into a TELEPORTATION focused on removing the skeleton’s head from its neck. The destination Duke had in mind was a good five kilometers up. Asshole’s distracted, this might work.
With a flash, the skeleton’s skull vanished with the Mage King still attached to it. Elaine’s titanic bear-form smashed down on the collapsing skeleton as it lost cohesion and clattered to the ground. She roared in triumph over her vanquished foe. Baslin and Grat bounced around the bubble, finally coming to rest in a heap, slightly dazed and wondering what happened to the colossal skeleton.
Duke hovered overhead, waiting for the skull to fall. It took nearly half a minute to fall to the ground. In that time, Elaine had shrunk down to normal size and Duke TELEPORTED the entire group back to the top of the ridge, knowing it would be a spectacular impact.
“What did you do, Duke?” Baslin inquired once he got his bearing back.
“I TELEPORTED the skull and, I assume the Mage King, five kilometers up. They should be coming back down any second.” He grinned like an idiot at the incredulous stares of the rest of his group for a moment then turned serious. “Look, whatever the Mage King hit me with damn near killed me. I wasn’t about to give him a second shot.”
“I see the skull coming down!” Grat shouted, pointing at the plummeting cranial bone. It smashed down on the remains of the castle, sending a tremendous shockwave of earth and shattered stone flying. The newly repaired gatehouse was blasted into stony shrapnel that slammed across the area. When the group popped their heads back over the ridge, they could see the remains of the castle had been utterly obliterated and a nearly 20-meter-wide crater sat where the throne room had once been.
“Baslin, prepare your best damage spell. This isn’t over.” Duke instructed.
“The Mage King is going to walk out of that crater? I don’t think so.” Elaine responded.
“Did you get the ‘level complete’ message?” Duke asked. They all shook their heads in growing dismay at the realization.
“I still can’t believe he survived that impact.” Grat answered, shaking his head while he summoned thick vines from what remained of the newly regrown vegetation.
“He never crashed down.” Duke said. His eyes locked in on a slowly descending target. “Prepare to hit him, Baslin. I’m going to buzz him a few times.”
“Be careful not to get hit with that beam again!” Baslin responded.
“Roger. Flight outbound!” Duke launched himself into the air, adding additional Mana to pump up his speed.
Duke quickly gained speed as he approached the Mage King at close to Mach speed, breaching the sound barrier as he passed, leaving the Mage King spinning in the air from the shockwave. A beam of green energy sailed out scything across the sky but came nowhere near Duke as he flew even faster, reveling in the speed and control his FLIGHT Ability lent him. He was able to turn without control surfaces and the reaction speed was nearly instantaneous. And the speed, oh the speed.
Duke poured an extra 100 Mana a second into his flight, pushing the Ability faster and faster as he turned back for another run at the Mage King. He accelerated to an obscene speed of nearly Mach seven and simply tossed a bunch of junk swords out of his INVENTORY at the Mage King. Of the dozen or so that had been tossed, only one struck, but at Mach seven, it had the impact of a hypersonic penetration rod. The Mage King’s protective shield popped, and shards of sword tore holes in his emaciated form.
Once again, a beam of green energy tried to follow Duke and strike him, but he was simply moving too fast for the Mage King to strike. The Mage King moved quickly towards the ground, just managing to get out of the way of Duke’s next strafing run. It fired beam after beam of energy in the direction Duke flew but could not come close to hitting him. It left the Mage King fully distracted as it yelled threats and curses at his high-speed tormentor. It also left him completely open to Baslin’s attack. As the Mage King concentrated on following Duke’s flight path, his own movement slowed down. This was a fatal error.
The attack came in the form of a beam of bright white light that lanced down from the heavens, engulfing the Mage King and burning away what remained of his flesh. In a matter of seconds, the Mage King had been blasted to dust.
Duke came to a stop next to Baslin, grinning wider still as they were all greeted with the message they had been desperately hoping for. Duke read his:
*** Congratulations. You have completed the fourth level of the Lake Front Dungeon and have received experience rewards:
For defeating countless lesser undead, thousands of lesser vampires, one greater vampire champion, dozens of spectral undead, one Titan Skeleton, and the Mage King, you have exceeded the creature experience allowable for this dungeon level. You receive 2,500,000 experience points and the Title: Restorer of Souls.
You receive an additional 250,000 experience points for level completion.
You have also managed to resurrect 32,117 beings who had previously been slain in the dungeon. These individuals will be released from the dungeon upon your exit from the dungeon. How they will react to their new reality remains to be seen. For now, they will be held in suspended animation. ***
The four proceeded to gather what loot they could from the remains of the Mage King and exited the level.