“Sara.” The woman introduced, shaking his hand. Mark smiled at her, wondering what the hell was happening. “I’m Nico’s friend.”
‘Oh, that makes more sense.’
Nico was, while perhaps not a friend, someone he hung out with every now and then. A friend's friend, perhaps. Mark also knew he was into some strange stuff, stuff he insisted was perfectly legal and consensual.
“I’m Mark.” He replied, looking past her. Nico was giving him a thumbs up, halfway down a bottle of tequila. “Nice to meet you.”
Sara nodded grandly, not seeming drunk in the slightest. Mark held up his beer, a silent invitation. She shook her head. “I don’t drink.”
“You don’t drink.” He echoed, looking around. “At Nico’s party.”
A laugh, pleasant and inviting, reached his ears. He saw it had been Sara, looking around as he was. “I don’t drink tonight.”
“You live close, right?” She asked, before he could broach a new topic to fill the silence. Mark nodded, nonplussed, and responded after swallowing his drink. “Couple streets.”
She leaned close, her lips brushing his ear. He stilled, his heart rate tripling in seconds. “I got a list I need to cross you off. Come.”
He was tugged out of the house, throwing a half wave at Nico when the man cheered.
Mark woke up alone, his bed a mess he’d never really needed to deal with before, and it was only by the time he’d showered and came downstairs he noticed his wallet was gone. A note was on the tv, a lipstick kiss imprinted on it. ‘Took some cab money. Eat more sweet fruit.’
----------------------------------------
“This is fun. Really missed those awkward dinners with my parent's, so this is a nice reminder why I left home at eighteen.” Lust commented, biting down on a loaf of bread. Pride shot her a look, turning back to pull more stuff out of his pocket dimension. “Don’t suppose you’ve got jam in there?”
“The goblins weren't carrying, no.” The man replied, shifting. Wrath was eating mechanically, not looking at anyone as she swallowed. It was Greed that took up the conversation, clearing his throat.
“In the time you’ve been away Gluttony and Lust have been kind enough to level me. I can make enchanted armour, although I will warn it only has the durable buff for now. It won’t be cheap, but those two can attest to its quality.”
Wrath looked at him, and Greed nodded. She held out her hand at Pride, who pulled out a large sack. She stood as he did, walking away as the man started haggling. Mark turned back to Pride. “We need to talk about the dungeon.”
“You can’t come.” Envy said, a little too quickly. “Without escape it isn’t safe, and you’re the only one over ten.”
“Not anymore.” Pride countered, putting his hand on her shoulder. Envy froze, looking at him with an unreadable expression. He smiled at her, kind and understanding, and she turned red.
‘Well, I suppose that’s her objections taken care of.’ Mark thought, exchanging a look with Lust. “Glad to hear it. What can you tell us about the dungeon?”
“A castle.” The man said, patting Envy a few times before letting her go. “Big, but only one enemy type. These ones aren’t just the regular Goblins we fought, though, smarter and more organised. Traps, ambushes and magic wielders make progress slow, not to mention dangerous. We have to scale to the top to reach the throne room, which wasn’t as we expected.”
Pride took a stick and started sketching, Mark and Lust walking over to get a better look. “Before I get to that, this was the route we took. We start at the gate, having to knock down a smaller door to the side to enter, with archers and a pyromancer bombarding us. The flame sorcerers, goblins wearing thick cloth instead of armour, are slow to cast but deal significant damage. Taking them out is the priority.”
“Then it’s along the wall until we get to a large tower, fighting our way to the top where it connects to the roof of the castle. More soldiers, a few traps, and a particularly dangerous ambush before we can jump to it, where yet more soldiers await us. Don’t underestimate those, they carry poisoned knives. From there we can stalk the roof until we get to a window, scare the living daylight out of a non hostile goblin, and we get to the throne room after fighting our way through the castle.”
“Non hostile?” Lust asked.
“A princess or something.” He replied, shrugging. “Wrath cut her head off before we could ask. Anyway, it’s the boss that gave us the most trouble. It’s not the king, he’s old and frail, but his royal guards that are the problem. Big, a size or two larger than the rank and file, and with full enchanted armour. There’s nine of the fuckers, and two sorcerers that fire faster and more accurately than the others. You also can’t get to them, high up and protected by translucent shields. Envy cut the throat of the king, getting hit by a fireball in the process, but it didn’t matter. After Wrath went down I dragged us out, but not before a flail ruined my face.”
Mark frowned, looking the sketch over. “Suggestions?”
“With another front line fighter, a second rogue and a mage to heal us I’d say rush, but we won’t have escape this time. Slow and steady, clear the section before moving on and taking breaks to replenish mana and stamina. Should we be forced to retreat we can do so, I checked last time. The portal will let us out at the start, assuming we can get to it.”
“Not a bad plan.” Lust admitted, looking over at Envy. “You going to have a problem with working together? If I have to stop you from stabbing me in the back I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
“She won’t.” Pride said, shooting the women a look. Envy nodded, reluctant but compliant. “Good girl. I see Wrath is done.”
Mark looked, seeing both of them return to the fire. She didn’t look different, but then Greed had enchanted his leather without bothering to make a new one. He nodded to them both, waving his hand at the drawing. “I’ll recap.”
Pride looked slightly annoyed as he talked, but he didn’t protest. Soon enough everyone was clear on the plan, splitting up and packing their things. Mark handed the man his backpack, a token.
It was taken with a nod, Mark feeling some understanding settle as they walked to the portal. ‘Not friends, but some measure of respect will do.’
“Anyone feel like postponing going into the dungeon? I understand if you three want a day or two rest.”
Wrath shook her head before any of the others, Pride following shortly after. Envy, still missing half her hair, looked between them and shook her head too. “Very well. Pride, I suggest you’re in charge until we get our footing inside, then we go by vote.”
He frowned, just a little, but nodded his assent. No one else had a problem with it, although Sloth looked like she’d much rather go to sleep, and offered Pride their packs one by one. ‘No sense leaving it here for the wildlife to gnaw at.’
With the pocket dimension to store their things it wouldn't slow them down, and if the man had been correct this could easily take a few days. He, personally, would prefer to sleep on a good bedroll.
At the portal Mark called for a ready check, annoying Pride further, and waved his hand at the portal as an apology. He touched it, and then they were standing before a looming gatehouse. The terrain stretched for miles, nothing like the comparatively small colosseum, and the wind tore at his hair. ‘Still no helmet. First thing, when we kill some enemies.’
“Hug the wall!” Pride shouted, his voice only barely coming over the wind. Mark marched to it, dragging a disoriented Sloth along with him. Fire engulfed their old position, the heat dragged away by the wind before it could reach them. “Sloth, fire at the robed ones!”
Her crossbow went up, a corpse falling from the window a second or so later. She reloaded, another fireball and some arrows coming dangerously close to shooting him in the foot, and a cry of pain signalled the end of their harassment. The sound of splintering wood reached his ears, looking over to see Wrath tear at the door. Her axe went high, chunks flying when she brought it down.
He moved over, ramming his weight against it when she took a moment of rest. Wood caved as he fell, rolling to his feet and lashing out at the first target of opportunity. Another robed pyromancer, backing away in a hurry. Two soldiers, armed and swinging their weapons warily, moved to block him.
Wrath crashed into them with vigour, kicking one and burying her axe in the other. It left his path open, sprinting up the stairs to grab at the pyromancer. He caught up at the top of the stairs, jerking at the goblins' clothes and pushing himself against the wall when it came tumbling down. He jumped, landing on the torso of the thing, and two punches kill it.
Greed swung his club, knocking another two goblins to the ground. Mark looked behind him, seeing more amassing at the top of the stairs, and Sloth stepped in front of him.
Wind pushed from her hands, a gale so strong he could see it with his eyes, and the soldiers trying to come down the stairs were blown back. Lust appeared in their middle, stabbing and slicing, and then it was over.
“We have a few minutes before reinforcements arrive, up the stairs.” Pride said, hurrying them along. He cast a look at the six bodies on the second floor, raising his eyebrow at Sloth. The woman shrugged, stretching her hand.
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Envy joined them when they reached the third, blood coating her short sword, and Pride nodded at her. Mark grabbed a hand, littered with callouses and scars, and bit down.
Goblin Soldier consumed. Fear resistance and stamina have been improved with A Soldier's Life.
A Soldier's Life will be active for fifteen minutes.
Mark shook his leg as it tingled, taking the stairs three at the time. Moving past Pride earned him a frown, bounding upwards and jumping on the soldier waiting for them. He kicked, the goblin all but flying through the room. ‘Strong legs?’
Two more punches and it was dead, slicing off two fingers to put in his pouch. A dead pyromancer was lying there, his throat slit, and he took a finger from him too.
Goblin Pyromancer consumed. Fire resistance has been improved with Moderate Fire Resistance Boost.
Moderate Fire Resistance Boost will be active for ten minutes.
Heat pooled in his mouth, a fierce pressure building at the bottom of his throat, and he turned as a soldier came sprinting into the room. Fire bellowed as he pushed, guided by instinct, and it went down screaming.
Greed smashed it to paste, his club cracking skull with little issue. The heat lessened, building slowly as he nodded at the man. Pride joined them, looking at the burning corpse. “To the wall. It’s a long stretch, so keep up.”
The pyromancer’s finger joined his pouch, grabbing a chunk of soldier meat as the rest of the party filed outside. The wall, just wide enough for one person to walk comfortably, stretched before them. Mark squinted, failing to see the end. “You might have slightly undersold the size of this place, Pride.”
Pride looked as Mark joined him, striding forwards with ease. It was as if his feet knew the very stones he walked on, gliding until he’d passed the man. “What did you think we were doing, having a barbeque?”
Mark shrugged, spotting a trio of soldiers climbing the wall. He looked down, once side little more than a vast drop to nothing, and the other an expansive area filled with tents and equipment. ‘Too few soldiers for that many tents.’
He met them halfway, leaving his party behind, and he redirected a spear thrust as the third fell down the wall. He looked, seeing a bolt sticking out of his head, and kicked. It was blocked, the goblin sliding backwards but little else, and he rushed.
Grappling with the thing earned him a heartstopping moment where he almost fell down the wall, managing to keep his footing and unbalance it in turn. Another push and it fell, leaving just one. It squared its shoulders, stepping back and raising its sword. Before Mark could decide on a course of action a knife buried itself in its chest, Lust tapping his shoulder.
“The hell did you eat to make you faster than me?”
Her tone was teasing, ripping the knife from the fallen goblins chest. Mark kicked it down the wall after refreshing his buff, shooting her a red smile. “Soldiers meat. Stamina and strong legs, also some fear resistance.”
“And the pyromancer?” Her knife was cleaned, no enemies appearing close. He shrugged, breathing fire down into the courtyard. Lust’s eyes went wide. “Yea, it's pretty cool. Also fire resistance, which should come in handy against the pyromancers.”
“Cheating bastards.” She grumbled, glaring at Greed when the rest of the party caught up. “You too.”
The man blinked, confused, and Lust twirled away before he could respond. He shot him a look, Mark shrugging. Pride slapped his chestpiece, drawing their attention. “It’s another hour’s walk until we get to the big tower. Watch out for ambushes, they get tricky now that they’ve seen we can hold our own in a fight.”
The walk was slow, Mark keeping his soldiers buff active by eating the occasional stragglers, and true to his word they had to fight off no less than nine ambushes.
They ranged from inept, six goblins and a pyromancer hanging from the wall and dragging themselves up when they’d passed, to lethal, a hidden trap door opening to reveal crossbow wielding goblins filling them with bolts. They’d needed a good half hour of healing after that one, most of the party filled with holes. ‘Note to self, plate doesn’t stop a crossbow bolt fired point blank in your face.’
The most lethal was also the last, a metal door blocking their way into the tower. Mark looked at Pride after having taken in the castle, looming over them as the mountains would. A grand thing, built from rough stone and connected by dangling bridges. “By your expression I take it this wasn’t here last time?”
“No, it was not.”
Greed shifted forwards, gently pushing Sloth aside. Pride stepped aside too, eyeing the growing construction. “Gluttony, Wrath, Pride. A hand?”
The four of them took hold of the metal battering ram, a snarling goat sculpted on the front. Lust tapped it with her knife, frowning. “That’s solid metal.”
“Been saving up.” The man shrugged, grunting as they lifted it. “On three.”
It cracked against the door, Mark’s hands going numb from the reverberation. He strained as they gathered speed again, Wrath and Greed doing most of the heavy lifting. The door groaned, collapsing inwards after another two blows. The ram dissolved, trailing back to Greed’s chest.
“The loss is substantial, so I’d prefer to keep it as a last resort.” He said, answering Pride’s unspoken question. “But yes, I can make and reabsorb items.”
“Inside.” Mark interrupted, looking behind him. “And get that door back in its frame.”
Pride looked too, hastily stepping inside when he saw the horde rushing towards them. Lust recoiled, pushing past Envy to get going faster and shouting as she got inside. “Must be hundreds of the damned things. The fuck, Pride, a little warning next time.”
“Didn’t happen last time!” He shouted, cutting into the head of a surprised pyromancer. Wrath was merrily butchering a squad of soldiers, smashing them to paste as her strength grew. “That door won’t hold them back, not like that!”
Greed had pushed it against the doorframe, not locking in place after the punishment they’d given it. Mark joined him, trying to force it back. “Can’t you repair it?”
“No. Only works with items I’ve made.” Panic was starting to creep into the man’s tone, winching when a bolt impacted stone. Mark looked around, his mind going a hundred miles an hour, until he came up with a bad idea. “Sloth, can you make fire?!”
The woman moved over, nodding uncomprehendingly. “A melted door won’t hold them back either.”
Mark grabbed her shoulder, dragging her forwards and pushing Greed back. She yelped, glaring at him. “Less anger, more fire! Melt the stone around the door, force it in place!”
“Lust, the pyro-” She pushed a severed hand into his mouth, Mark biting down on instinct. He swallowed, heat pushing to be unleashed. “Thanks.”
Fire billowed as he joined it to Sloth’s, her forehead already drenched in sweat from the heat. Mark stepped closer, bracing against the door to keep it in place. ‘That fire resistance better work.’
A body impacted the door from outside, almost managing to push him back, and Pride added his weight to it. Mark frowned at the man. “I’ve got fire resistance, you don’t. Get the fuck out of here.”
Stone dripped on his shoulder, hissing and splattering as it collided with his armour. Sloth jerked the fire to the side. Mark cursed as Pride ignored him, bracing. “Sloth, back on the damned door!”
“I’ll burn you both alive!” She argued. Lust grabbed her hands, forcefully correcting her aim. “What the fuck are you doing?!”
“They can take it.” Lust countered, her tone firm. “Glut has fire resistance, Pride’s a tough bastard. None of us will survive the horde that is very close to arriving.”
Another body crashed against the door, half melted into place. “The frontrunners are already here. Faster, Sloth, or we all die.”
Her calm tone was contrasted by Sloth’s wide eyed look, morphing into a grimace. “I’ll be useless for a good while. No healing, either.”
The fire turned blue, stone dripping as it sagged. The weight of the tower pushed the door into place, Mark dragging Pride with him as he backed off. “Cool it!”
Fire turned to wind, glowing stone setting as the tower filled with smoke. Mark collapsed against the opposite wall, jerking back when it proved to be hot. ‘And still no damned helmet.’
“Greed, a helmet if you please.” The giant of a man didn’t answer, the metal piece falling at his feet. Mark put it on, finding it had layers of cloth and leather on the inside. “Thanks. Pretty sure they didn’t have padding worked in, but what do I know.”
“I can’t make you anything else until you pay me back.” Greed answered, staring at the door. “Rules. And no, they didn’t. I took some liberties, accounting for the fact I don’t have to use my hands to make it. The tower could have collapsed, and our way out has been cut off.”
Pride joined them, looking at the helmet. “Could use me one of those. Stupid not to get one earlier. And yes, it could have. It didn’t.”
Another one dropped to the ground, Pride picking it up with a nod. “Thanks. Could you carry Sloth? Apparently an over expenditure of mana causes her to fall asleep. We can rest two floors up, a safe room of sorts.”
Mark walked up with the rest of them, finding the promised safe room to be exactly that. Another metal door barred the way upwards, but this time the handle was on their side. Seven rooms surrounded the space, each dominated by large beds. A firepit was at the centre, chairs and tools strewn around the space. They even had bread, hard but edible. “How big is this tower, exactly?”
Greed joined them after putting Sloth to bed, stretching his shoulder. “Big enough for private rooms. No offence to any of you, but every single one of you snores.”
Lust shot him an insulted glare, Envy joining her. Wrath shrugged, throwing a wave their way before her bedroom door slammed shut. Mark sighed. “She has the right idea. How long have we been awake, again? Can’t seem to recall.”
Hesitante silence was his answer, Pride looking out one of the arrow slits. “It’s getting dark, at any rate. Get some sleep, we’ll continue this in the morning.”
‘Cool, fine. No one can remember how long we’ve been here. Not worrying at all.’
Mark closed the door to his room, having grabbed his pack from the pile Pride had deposited and washed with the water he’d stored inside. His soldier’s buff ran out, a few minutes after his fire resistance did, and weariness filled his bones.
He whirled as his door opened, closing by the time he’d turned around. Lust leaned against the frame, her eyebrow raised. “I’m pretty sure I locked that.”
She twirled a lockpick in her fingers, her eyes dipping down. Mark followed her gaze. “Not exactly a six pack, but you might have been right about the weightloss thing.”
Lust ignored the joke. “We’ve been fighting for god knows how long, nearly died twice, and you’ve been blatantly ignoring every hint I’ve sent your way.”
“I’ve been doing that since before we got here.” He countered, holding up a hand when she scowled. “Sorry. Honestly? I’ve been forcefully ignoring it like a coward.”
“Why?” She sounded curious more than upset, Mark snorting despite himself.
“Cause I can’t figure out why.” He pointed at his stomach, realising he was standing there without a shirt. He wasn’t cold, despite the wind that was blowing through the arrow slit. “I’m not exactly the hottest thing around.”
“Not everyone is shallow.” She offered, Mark scowling at her in turn. She sighed. “Cause I’m a nymphomaniac, so unless you’re telling me to get out?”
Mark kept his mouth shut, swallowing the joke he’d been about to make. Lust grinned. “Good. Now take your pants off, my low self esteem victim, and let me see what my class can really do.”