I surveyed the enemy camp from the lip of the caldera. Behind me, preparations were taking place. I could hear the deep voices of giant mages chanting defensive spells. My field Appraisal was identifying dozens of relatively strong named enemies, but for the most part these were average soldiers in decent gear. I turned to begin issuing assignments when an unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke from right beside me.
“Greetings, Usurper.”
“GRAY WATCH OUT!” Niiya’s voice screamed into my thoughts at the same time.
I sensed movement, and crossed my arms in front of my chest. Something hit me in that instant. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Both of my arms shattered, probably saving me from instant death. I was flying, and before I could enact my wings to stop myself I was hit again. I caught the faint glimpse of something man shaped. The shock of the impact made me black out for a second. When I came to, I was still flying at ultrasonic speed over the mountains below. The first tic of regeneration restored my ability to move enough to engage my wings. I instinctively swung my arm in front of my body and was rewarded with a surprised grunt from my assailant as I luckily deflected an attack. A flash of light blinded me and an impact on my shoulder sent me rocketing toward the ground.
I steeled my focus, and set my priorities. I began navigating my inventory, and growled away yet another blow which changed my trajectory. One more hit would probably mean death. I considered an invisibility potion, but disregarded it immediately. Anything this strong could track me from presence alone, and there was nothing I could do to totally erase that. The most pressing issue was our gap in speed. It had been a long time since I needed this, but here we are.
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*Used Item: Chalice of Endless Alacrity-Elixir
+2x Attack/Cast/Movement Speed
Duration: 59:59
Cooldown: 7:59:59
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The elixir took effect and I finally saw my enemy. He was little more than a dark sequence of afterimages, but now I could make out his basic appearance. ‘A spry old military gentleman of near infinite power’ - Raj’s description of Typhon was right on the money.
I slipped the incoming punch with ease and countered with a knee to his ribs, allowing his momentum to do most of the damage. His flesh didn’t yield at all, his body was like steel. He grunted and suddenly disengaged. We hovered hundreds of meters above the mountains. He floated like a superhero in wingless silence, perfectly still. The air about him distorted with waves of force.
“You’re strong.” I said evenly, not breaking eye contact.
“You’re the first in centuries to survive my greeting.” He replied. “A fair fight with you would surely be thrilling, but I’m afraid I just can’t risk losing the progress I’ve made.”
Something suddenly felt wrong in the pit of my stomach. I went to move but was frozen. I should be totally immune to paralysis. A woman’s voice spoke, and I found myself at least able to move my eyes to view her. She was totally obscured in a black robe with a deep hood.
“He will break free any moment.” Her voice was flat and dispassionate. “What is your next wish?”
“You think I would waste another precious wish on some mere prey?” Typhon called out. I could feel the binding magic weakening and I began to vibrate with restrained effort. “The power in this land must be consolidated if we are to survive what is to come. Be honored that you served a noble purpose, and that your followers will soon do the same.” Typhon reached out his arm and to my horror it morphed into a pink fleshy tentacle tipped with a hollow bone in the shape of a needle.
My instincts screamed at me. Something told me that needle could and would kill me permanently, and then all of my friends would be at this freak’s lack of mercy. I could open and close my eyelids and barely move my lips, but my limbs were still frozen. What could I do!?
“White Nova.” I whispered.
The spell activated, but I might as well have just tossed a handful of snow at him. He barely reacted.
“Blast Nova.” I whispered next.
Still there was almost no effect. My movement abilities were fully locked out. I was helpless as the needle touched my chest and began to force its way into my skin.
Wait. He was touching me. I was touching him.
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“Fallen Dominion.” My body grew, and transformed.
I instantly activated my Touch of Dominion skill. Typhon ferociously resisted but was devoting all of his might to do so. The needle stopped its progress, and a thick vein appeared on Typhon’s forehead. It was a stalemate. I couldn’t quite control him, but he couldn’t feed on me. He began to move his lips.
“I wish -”. His words ended in a gurgle as a sudden flash of green cut across my vision between us, and the air filled with fine grey ash.
My pupils dilated in shock. Typhon’s entire lower jaw was missing, and his tongue was wagging just above the flapping gore of his Adam’s apple.
“You hurt Gray.” Niiya’s quivering voice echoed and bounced menacingly all around us. “You hurt gray!” The scream was accompanied by another flash of green.
Typhon’s severed legs dropped from his floating body and disappeared into the ash below. Even with his horrible wounds, the man suddenly moved with astonishing speed. He yanked the ornate rapier from his belt with his left hand and severed his own tentacle, leaving it wriggling and still embedded in my chest. All things considered that was incredibly impressive. I saw the edges of his wounds begin to glow and reform. Of course he would have crazy regeneration skills too...
“Oh we can’t have that!” A barrage of green flashes took Typhon’s remaining arm and eviscerated his torso. Wait, those flashes of green, that voice...
“Jade!?” I blurted out, turning my head.
“Heya Master, looks like you owe me big time.” There she was. Beyond all possibility, Jade emerged from the ash in her dragon form.
Brutalized and unrecognizable, the lump of flesh and clothes that was Typhon drifted through the air to the cloaked figure. He was clearly pleading for aid and I tensed for whatever the clearly powerful being might do.
“Yes, lord Typhon? Would you like to make a wish? You know the rules, I can’t grant any wish unless you say it out loud.” She was mocking him.
So then that was the source of his powers. I finally put it together from context. Typhon had a djinn. I could watch this play out and possibly regret it, or...
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*Equipped: Grief Reaper - Great Scythe
(Item Score 901) Skin: Default
Damage (Physical): 666
Damage (Necrotic): 66/sec
Festering Wounds
Create Undead IX
Indestructible
“And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with blade, and with hunger, and with plague, and with the beasts of the earth.”
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I loathed using this weapon. The moment you equipped it, tens of thousands of insects materialized all over your skin and in the air about you. They didn’t do any harm, but it felt awful. I mean AW-FUL. You could feel them crawling under your clothes and in every crevice. There was no way to cancel it aside from putting the weapon away. That drawback aside, Grief Reaper was a Transcendent Weapon with good reason.
The Festering Wounds effect prevented all forms of regeneration and healing in a way that no other item or skill could replicate.
The other ability I had always assumed was just for cosmetics. Grief Reaper had an enormous Strength requirement to equip, and that meant that no wielder would ever have the Soul Energy required to cast Create Undead IX. The regular Create Undead spell maxed out at Tier V and would yield either fifty weak undead (skeletons and zombies) or one elite undead (death knight, mummy, vampire). The roll was random on what what was summoned.
I repressed the urge to scream and run around as the roaches and black widows had a festival on my body. As I raised the vile looking bat wing shaped blade, a micro second of doubt crossed my mind. This could be considered the most valuable hostage ever after all. Nah. Fuck this guy. The blade flashed, trailing a sickly green light.
What remained of Typhon’s head dropped through the ash and plummeted out of sight. I caught his headless and limbless corpse before it could follow. A moment of silence passed as I watched for any signs of regeneration.
“Are you a threat to me now?” I asked the mysterious figure whom still hadn’t moved.
“No.” Was her simple answer.
“She means it.” Niiya chimed in, finally showing herself.
“Good. Now, Jade.” I turned to face the green dragon. “You know what I’m going to ask you.”
“It was gonna be a surprise!” She said proudly. “Wait. I guess it still is a surprise, huh?”
“We’ve been practicing alot. My clone can make my domain thing now.” Niiya cut in. “If Jade’s in my clone’s ashes back home, I can bring her into my regular ashes here.”
“They seem to share dimensional space with each other. We’re not sure on all the details yet.” Jade added more seriously. “We weren’t sure if it would work this far away, but this sounded bad so we decided to try.”
“I see. That’s incredible, and that’s why you were spending so much time together lately.” In spite of this dire situation I couldn’t help but smile in relief. I guess Niiya hadn’t been upset with me after all.
“Umm...” The woman’s voice sounded unsure. “What will you do with me?” She tilted her hood back and I saw her face. She had light purple skin and fine features. Her eyes were pure white, she sort of looked like a cute girl version of Dr. Manhattan.
“I can tell just by feeling that you’re around as strong as me.” I replied honestly, and meant it. Standing near her was like being too close to a bonfire of magic power. “Why you were stuck serving this guy is beyond me, but I won’t pry. What should I call you?”
“I am called Nadira Chronomaggius, the one known as the Black Crusibilis Knight. I was sold to Typhon by my father. This binds me to his service until I fulfill his wishes or until his death.” She tilted her chin further back to reveal a dull gray collar locked with a tiny padlock.
“Oh. Well as you can see.” I lifted the lifeless flesh lump higher. “Seems like you’re good to go.”
“That...” She struggled to find the words to explain. “Is like plucking one of Typhon’s hairs.”
Hearing that made my stomach drop into my toes.
“Don’t misunderstand.” She added hastily. “It is an accomplishment few mortals could hope to achieve, and he will surely be wary of you now. You have also bought some time. He will manifest again but that could take months, and he always resurrects in the demon lands. When he returns I will have no choice but to serve him again, and he will certainly divert more of his power to the body he’s using on this plane.”
“Sounds scary.” I mused. “So that collar is what keeps you enslaved?” I asked, squinting at it.
“Indeed. It is a Mythic item known as Hecate’s Lament.” She touched it as she answered.
“I might be able to help you.” I said. “Will you trust me?”
“I have no power to trust or distrust.” She smiled. “I can only wait here until my master returns. I cannot move or use any abilities other than basic speech.”
I guess she did seem sort of stiff ever since I offed Typhon... Oh!
“Niiya.” I turned with excitement to the cat girl who was struggling to follow all of this. “I want you to try to manifest this woman back home. Can you do that?”
“Done.” She answered immediately.
I looked back at the djinn, but she had vanished. That easily? Why did Niiya keep one upping my stuff? First my Astral Vault, now my Blood Gate too? With a sigh I let it go.
“Jade, tell Tabula what’s going on and keep that djinn secure until we get back.” The dragon nodded, and for once didn’t offer any snappy remarks. “Good. Now Niiya, we should get back and- Ngh!” A sudden violent pain pierced my head as a series of messages popped up before my reeling gaze.
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