It was indeed night when I opened the door. I recognized that we were in Gnollwood, in a secluded clearing. It was night, but to my vision seemed as bright as day.
The scene in the clearing took me a moment to sort out. Women in fluffy bath robes sat or stood all around either by themselves or in small groups talking to one another. They all seemed to be in a state of shock and trauma though their bodies had clearly been healed. Some ate or drank things I recognized from EDEN’s menu.
I spotted Yugal’s huge form standing over a thick green cube. Inside was The Warlord, still not fully recovered from whatever damage Tabula had done. He was missing one huge antler and his seven fingered hands looked like child sized versions of their former selves. He looked truly miserable. Good. Tabula stood between the barrier and I with her back to me. She should’ve been able to sense me but didn’t turn like she normally would to acknowledge me.
I realized why a moment later. There was something on the ground next to her with a blanket draped over it. It was a seemingly dead woman, I could clearly smell her cold blood when I focused, and something else mixed in with it. An instant later I was beside her. I was growing accustomed to my new mode of movement, which seemed to transform my body into something insubstantial and transfer it at an insane speed to where ever I wanted to move. I would have to spend some time testing it later, it seemed like something that could cause problems if misunderstood.
I gently rested my hand on her shoulder and she looked away from me.
“I’ve failed you, Mr. Gray.” Her voice shook as she spoke. “I have let this wretched creature claim the life of one you told me to protect.”
“You have it backward, Tabula.” I put some pressure on her shoulder, turning her to face me. “You saved the lives of thirty nine women in an unexpected situation with a brilliantly improvised tactic. You captured the target alive. You are treating the victims with care and respect. It’s far more than I could have done on my own. You did not fail me Tab. You succeeded brilliantly.” I squeezed her shoulder and spoke earnestly. “Besides.” I looked into the barrier prison and stared into the soulless black eyes of The Warlord. “She isn’t dead. This piece of shit just poisoned her with his quill. It puts the victim in suspended animation so that they can be dragged away and revived later. And he’s about to reverse it. Isn’t he?” I finished with a growl and suddenly was inside the barrier with the demon.
A successful test. It seemed my new ability could pass through barriers as long as I could see through them.
“Whoa!” I heard Jade exclaim from outside where she had been lazily drawing patterns with her magic. “You went through my best barrier?”
I could feel a flow of power pulsing around me and vaguely remembered one of the messages. ‘Royalty_Infernal’ was one of the new skills acquired during my evolution. The Warlord stood defiantly even battered as he was, towering a foot taller than me and hundreds of pounds heavier.
“The man that raided my camp.” He spat the words. “You may as well kill me. I will never submit to a human worm.”
I mentally focused on the aura flowing around and through me, and felt that I could pour some Soul Energy into it to increase its effect. I did so, and it consumed much more than I expected. Probably about a quarter of my total Soul Energy was devoured by my aura and it swelled and thickened. The Warlord was hurled against the back wall of the prison and held there as if by an irresistible gravity.
I allowed him to drop, and then said a single word.
“Kneel.” I doubted it would work but it was worth a shot.
To my amazement he complied instantly. His head bowed and his next words were terror stricken.
“Please forgive me great one! I didn’t recognize your presence at first. Have mercy on this foolish Gorgothan.”
“Tabula stand back, allow him use of his magic.” I said over my shoulder, then looked back at The Warlord. “Reverse the poison on that woman so that she can be healed.” I maintained the crushing aura, allowing him just enough freedom of movement to execute the spell.
The Warlord struggled through a painstaking incantation, then suddenly shouted out a word.
“Pinthalak!” The word meant nothing to me, but what he said after made me realize the deception. “Come before your master!”
A black disc six feet in diameter appeared. It looked just like one of the portable holes from the old cartoons.
“My chance!” The demon bellowed and charged for the portal.
“Umm. No?” I blasted The Warlord with the absolute full strength of my skill’s aura. With a strangled shriek he hit the barrier wall again, this time with the audible squelch of bones breaking and flesh turning to pulp. Shit. I might have overdone it.
“Mmm... Such delicious malice. The scent of death and iron, fire and ice, the heavens and the hells.” A melodic voice turned my focus, as an aura equal to my own or perhaps even stronger suddenly crashed over me. A crimson skinned bare foot emerged from the base of the portal.
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“Aw hell.” I muttered as the six and a half foot tall, platinum haired demon woman with glittering fairy wings fully manifested. I didn’t need Appraisal to know this was bad news.
“Is that any way to greet a lady?” She purred in mock indignation. She was so seductive and sexy that it was difficult to even look at her. I also sensed a magical element in that feeling. No, not magical I realized. I would be immune to that. It was chemical. Something in this strange new body of mine was drawn to her on a primal level.
Judging by the hungry look on her face, I wasn’t alone.
“I came to toy with a naughty little Gorgo and devour his soul.” She took a long and smooth step toward me, leaning down until her lips were only inches from mine. “Imagine my delight to find something like you instead.”
I wondered why there was no commotion, and a quick glance behind me solved that riddle. They were all frozen. Apparently this monster could stop time.
“That’s right. I can halt time... for a time.” She winked and snickered at her own wordplay. “And yes... I am quite the beautiful monster aren’t I?”
“Luckily I’m not much for keeping my thoughts in my head, makes mind reading a bit of a wasted talent on me.” I offered. “If it’s all the same to you, I need something from that pile of meat over there if he’s still alive. I don’t mind fighting you to get it either.”
“That could be... interesting.” The demon said, mulling the idea over. “You’re strong enough that I might get to enjoy myself a little. But no, my handsome Count, I think I’d prefer another type of tussle when you and I inevitably come flesh to flesh.”
Her brazen attitude, her spicy-sweet scent that seemed to be getting stronger by the moment, her body... It was becoming hard to focus past the blood hammering in my ears and lower regions.
“You can have him.” She conceded with a pout. “On one condition.”
“My soul’s off the table.” I said with a smirk.
“I wouldn’t be so sure, but that’s not what I want.” She teased. “I want you to promise that one day you’ll call on me. The petty politics of the hells are so droll, and I find you... fascinating.”
“I am no summoner.” I said holding up my hands in apology.
“Simply say my name and imagine me with all the focus of your mind and I will answer.” She assured me.
“A demon’s name is not given lightly.” I mused. “Aren’t you worried I might try to dominate you?”
“Worried? Certainly not. Hopeful? Perhaps.” She gave me a salacious look with the words. “I am X’lyssa, Overfiend of Cairn Carna.” She introduced herself with a regal nod.
“Gray.” I replied. “I accept your deal and promise to call on you someday. I’ll treat you to a nice dinner.”
“I look forward to it, Count Gray.” With those parting words she turned, and with an exaggerated swagger stepped back through the black portal.
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Gray
Infernal Count (0%) Progress to Next Evolution
Level: 2* XP: 32% To Next Level
Body Age: 29
Life: 3996/3996 Soul Energy 1741/2608
Strength: 999*
Endurance: 999*
Soul: 652
Agility: 350
Skills/Spells:
Age Stasis: Prime Human
Acid Resistance: 2/10
Perfect Mental Resistance 10/10 (World Boss)
Melee Mastery: 45/100
Ranged Mastery: 41/100
Appraisal: 8/10
White Nova: 13/20
Blast Nova: 12/20
War Mage: (1/1)
Greater Drain (1/1)
Awakened Senses (1/1)
Rapid Regeneration (2/5)
Soul Thief (1/1)
Bloodwalk (1/1)
Blood Frenzy (1/10)
Iron Belly (1/1)
Scavenger (1/1)
Royalty - Infernal (1/1)
Soul Brand (1/1)
Shadow Wings (1/1)
Buffs/Debuffs:
+499 Spell Damage from Strength
+326 Attack Damage from Soul
+594 Health Regenerated per Second
*Soulthirst: Consume a Worthy Soul within (25d/11h/26m/02s) to avoid Soulthirst
*EDEN: (+20%) XP gained for (22h/46m/13s).
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I looked over my stats awhile later as I leaned against our carriage. It would be morning soon. I was able to use one of my higher end antidote potions to reverse the poison on the woman without The Warlord’s help, and she was now resting comfortably. Unfortunately the rest of the women were all too awake. I could hear quiet, broken sobbing all around me. Apparently the memories of their treatment at his hands were now returning after the shock of their liberation waned. Two of them had attempted suicide already. I tried to block out the terrible sounds and focused on my stats.
My Strength and Endurance had reached a cap that I didn’t know existed. I did some mental math, using a Strength of six as a standard average for a fit human. Assuming that said human could lift a hundred pounds without too much effort, I should be able to pick up close to seventeen thousand pounds fairly easily. Most metals would shatter against my skin, and I had enough Health to shrug off a full force punch from a storm giant.
Aside from the two skills I stole from a named goblin and another named gnoll, not much had changed. Iron Belly allowed me to consume carrion and other nasty shit without side effects and Scavenger let me devour a fresh corpse to restore Health and gain a temporary stat modifier. They were oddly synergistic for coming from two different monsters, but I wasn’t about to munch fresh monster corpses for stats that would ultimately be a drop in the bucket.
It seemed strange that I hadn’t gained any new titles or World Spells given the scale of what I had done. Was my World Boss status interfering with that somehow? Well I guess the glitch giveth and the glitch taketh away. My new evolution based skills were far less of a disappointment.
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Royalty - Infernal:
Passively compels weaker creatures of the lower and mortal realms to obey your commands and view you as an authority figure. Can also be used to injure and punish those that show defiance. Causes powerful pheromone attraction to other possessors of this skill.
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Soul Brand:
A willing ally is granted your mark, inheriting a portion of your power, new skills, and a racial evolution. The maximum number of Brands you may bestow is relative to your Soul Energy. Chosen Allies may be given multiple Soul Brands at a multiplying cost of Brand Slots. Soul Branded allies may be traveled to via Bloodwalk. Available Brand Slots: 2608/2608.
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Shadow Wings:
-Passive: Enables instant movement within (20) Feet as long as there is available line of sight.
-Active: Manifests Shadow Wings, enabling flight at a cost of (50) Soul Energy per minute.
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A particularly tortured cry made my eye twitch. I walked to where Yugal, Jade, and Tabula were patiently standing over the unconscious Warlord as he slowly regenerated his battered body.
“New mission.” I spoke to the trio as calmly as I could. “We’re deploying EDEN in the western field of Filam. Large Luxury Resort configuration, security at maximum. Tab, black out one of the floors for our use only. There you will entertain The Warlord until he feels like giving us what we want. Also begin producing Golden Lionheart Cakes on cooldown to treat these women while they recover under our hospitality. Prioritize the most severe cases. Niiya and I will head to Filam to meet with the leadership there, procure clothes and supplies for the refugees, and decide our next move. Jade if you have any useful skills that can ease emotional distress, don’t hold back. Allow Rain to continue aerial surveillance. Questions? Also Yugal, I’ll help you set up a place to camp near EDEN when I return so please make due until then.”
“Nope.” Jade answered first.
“None, Mr. Gray.” Tabula followed.
“I am no stranger to life under the open sky, and Lady Tabula has given me food that refreshed me completely. I have no complaints, my lord.” Yugal bowed his head respectfully to me as he spoke. I was honestly starting to like the big guy.
“Wait a moment, Mr. Gray.” Tabula stopped me as I began to enter EDEN to get Niiya. “Rain has spotted a company of mounted knights roughly two hundred strong approaching Filam from the east.”
“Then they’ll be glad to know we took care of their problem for them.” I said to reassure her. “I’m sure it will be fine.”