The path back to the Axe Dungeon was rapid, thanks to the guiding of the orcs through the jungle. In the end, they had found no escorts for their escaping adversary, but Tarn dispatched both the orcs and humans to guard their approach.
Without gems, they were unlikely to be able to assist against such a prodigious foe, and if somehow reinforcements were sent, they’d at least be able to delay them.
All through their progress, they could hear the Progenitor’s progress before them. As the tree and ground cover began to thin, Tarn felt his heart arguing with his mind. He wanted this fight, he wanted to teach these bastards this world wasn’t theirs to muck with, no matter what Lurim had done to them in the past.
They had brought death and suffering, both to people he knew and complete strangers. Across two continents, and who knew how many worlds, the Progenitors had pushed through it all like it was their birthright. Someone needed to show them they were not untouchable.
He just had no idea how to do it. His team had struggled to defeat a wounded Progenitor when faced with one in the Sword Dungeon. This was a general, their leader here in Ak-Thanon. By all rights, its defeat should be beyond them.
But as he saw the giant insect standing just outside the open gateway to the Axe Dungeon, none of that mattered. He had his anger, and it demanded to be heard. He could at least make sure the damn thing had to listen to him.
Tarn walked out into the clearing, reaching into his pocket and grabbing the small crystal there. The same object the Axe Dungeon had given him upon defeating Narsol and paying the price in blood. A controller for the door, one with three uses.
The Axe Dungeon itself was still wide open, as the huge form of the great Progenitor continued to approach it. Tarn and the others had rushed out at Durmin’s urging, and it had never occurred to Tarn to make sure he closed the door.
Until now.
Nope, he thought as he stared at his opponent’s back. You’re going to answer for a few things. Pushing his thumb down on the switch, he felt a brief spark from the crystal as it activated.
The massive door slid down with sudden and incredible force, the impact sending shockwaves running through the ground. Leaves fell from the trees above them as frightened birds took to the sky with cries of panic. With the Axe Dungeon’s shadow cast upon them all, the towering form of the Progenitor slowly turned to face them.
Up close, the scale of the Progenitor was difficult for Tarn’s mind to process. He had seen them at a distance, even seen a few in the Sword Dungeon. Those had been large, close to fifteen feet tall, but the general seemed to be at least twice that. Looking at the now-closed opening to the Axe Dungeon, the creature likely would have had to almost crawl to fit through.
Like the other Progenitors Tarn had seen, it appeared to be a long, insectile creature that reminded him of a centipede, though with a much more pronounced head, eyes, and upper body. It stood reared up on the second half of its ten pairs of legs, while the top five sets all contained various devices and weapons attached to pincer-like claws. Its segmented eyes glowed with a crimson internal light, while a breathing mask of some kind was fitted over its mouth, hoses leading to a set of tanks on its back. Save the mask, its entire body was covered in a dark suit that fit like a second skin, a thin layer of some kind of fabric that glistened with moisture.
A dead human was strapped across his chest, looking to Tarn like a badge or some kind of jewelry. Faded and torn, he still recognized the burgundy robes of an Arch Mage. Not Lurim, this body was far too skeletal. But one of his victims, one of the many enemies he supposedly had vanquished.
It turned toward Tarn, red eyes glowing as it focused its sight upon him. A red outline formed on the ground where the Progenitor’s vision was focused, widening until it encompassed them all.
“Confusion.” The deep voice was otherworldly, peppered with clicks and buzzing. “You would deny me, human?”
Tarn stepped forward ahead of the group, as the crimson circle of the Progenitor’s vision followed him. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his breathing threatening to drag him into panic. He let the fear have its moment, then pushed it away. People depended on him, his people. He didn’t have time to be scared.
“I would deny you, yeah.” He looked up the length of the strange gargantuan insect, watching the pincers on its many legs click with irritation. “For Rykin and Sinah. For Narsol and Durmin. For Isca, and every human, Kithikin, or orc who you’ve harmed. We deny you. You can’t just leave - you have to answer for what you’ve done here.”
A strange ripple ran up the Progenitor’s body, a wave that started in its lower legs and traveled upward through the many ebon segments of its suit before reaching its head. Its antennas crossed in front of its eyes, while the top three pairs of pincers grabbed one another.
“Disbelief. Our motives are beyond you, and you are owed neither explanation nor satisfaction. The tool does not apologize as it strikes the stone.”
Tarn locked eyes with the huge crimson orbs that looked down at him, all while the mage’s corpse hung wrapped around the Progenitor’s neck. His voice shook as he thought about all the loss these creatures had caused. All the death, damage, and bad choices they had forced upon them all.
No one had ever taken them to task. Stood in front of them and told them enough was enough. That ended now. To hell with if they had any chance of winning.
“Well, these stones strike back!”
//INITIATIVE BEGUN
Tarn immediately conjured up his longbow, using
//INNATE: INITIAL SHIELD
When starting combat, any attacks directed against the Progenitor general during the first pulse will be ineffective.
Good, Tarn thought to himself. Teased that out.
“You saw it people, use your first pulse to prepare!”
“I have so much pain to show you,” Bog shouted as she leapt forward, an orange streak arcing across the lush floor of the jungle clearing. She slammed into the ground directly in front of the Progenitor’s carapace, slamming her axe against the shimmering blue shield that hovered there. No damage was done, but her cry of joyous rage suggested she didn’t care.
There was a buzz overhead as Isca took to the air, while the characteristic hiss of Urthin’s tear into the shroud signaled his disappearance. Tarn’s interface let him know that Lash had already begun preparing [Tanker Tones], an armor buff that required two pulses to activate.
As his second pulse became active, Tarn brought up his flail and cast
Swinging her weapon again, this time Bog’s axe connected solidly with the Progenitor’s lower armor. The strike sent another tremor through the insect’s body. A full 40 AP damage was done due to Bog entering her [Frenzy] state, with a count of [Bleeding] added in for good measure.
Just as Bog’s attack landed, a series of emerald darts flew over Tarn’s head and embedded themselves into the Progenitor’s armor. Isca’s
His preparations complete, Lash emitted a tiny cry of joy as he tossed a small top down in front of the Progenitor. The device spun for a moment, then let out a series of four chimes like a xylophone. Each chime was accompanied by a colored ring of energy, and as they struck Tarn and Bog they each gained a total of 40 temporary AP.
Stepping out of the shroud, Urthin let loose with a twin dagger attack. The
His timer ran out, and the still-time froze their forms. Against any other opponent, Tarn would have been happy with the round, and how much damage over time they had applied. But the Progenitor’s prodigious AP total and regen made it feel like they still had a mountain to climb.
//INITIATIVE SHIFT
//PROGENITOR INNATE: OPPOSITIONAL EQUALITY
The Progenitor general may take as many actions per round as there are opponents. One action must be directed against each opponent. Attacking multiple opponents with a single ability uses multiple actions.
//PROGENITOR INNATE: ESCALATING REGENERATION
The Progenitor general is restored by 30 AP per round. At the beginning of each round, the oldest negative status effect is removed and does not trigger. The amount restored increases by 10 AP at the start of the Progenitor general’s round.
The shadows over Tarn and Bog grew darker as the insect’s huge head bent over them. The top pair of pincers opened to reveal a pulsing hole, an arcane portal created between the sets of claws. A shower of sticky emerald fluid rained down upon them both, covering them in burning acidic fluid.
//SHOWER OF TELRAN (Melee / Progenitor general)
Consumed: Connection to Telran (World 37)
The Progenitor general targets up to two opponents in melee range. These opponents take 30 AP damage and gain 2 counts of [Poison].
Each opponent struck this way does 10 AP less damage with their attacks in the next round.
Initial Transit: Mace Dungeon
Current status: Occupied. 94% Thrall. Prime path not detected.
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There was a cry from behind the Progenitor, and Urthin suddenly shot across the rear of the clearing before slamming into the smooth side of the Axe Dungeon. He was covered in thick webbing, and the substance had adhered him to the metallic door of the dungeon, hanging several feet off the ground.
//Arachnian Essence (Melee / Progenitor general)
Used: Connection to Xarecia (World 6)
The Progenitor general targets an opponent in melee range. That opponent is struck by webbing and takes 20 AP damage and is moved backward up to 40 feet. If it strikes another object while moving, it takes an additional 10 AP damage.
The opponent may not move or attack from that position for one round.
Initial transit: Staff Dungeon
Current status: Abandoned. 0% Thrall. Prime path detected (Kithari).
Two of the middle pincers closed together and pointed in Isca’s direction. A stream of thin projectiles launched forward, sending several impacts into the Kithikin. Tarn was relieved to see Isca managed to stay airborne, but her AP total had been reduced to 50 and she had three counts of [Poison] ready to fire against her at the start of the next round.
//Thornhawk’s Bile (Ranged / Progenitor general)
Used: Connection to Kithari
The Progenitor general targets an enemy within 50 feet. That enemy takes 20 AP damage and gains 3 counts of [Poison]. If that enemy is still within 50 feet at the end of the following round, they take an additional 20 AP.
Initial transit: Sword Dungeon (note: Dungeon is currently disconnected from the network).
Current status: Occupation continuing. 78% Thrall. Prime path detected (Realm).
One of the left limbs threw a small metallic disc in the air, headed toward the rear of the clearing. Tarn watch with concern as it flew straight for Lash. But rather than striking him, it hovered over his head for a moment, before slowly descending toward his skull.
The two saucers of the gremlin’s eyes looked up in fear. Though his limbs were frozen in still-time, Lash could still move his head from side to side, and tried to avoid the spinning disc. The object simply matched his movements and slowly settled upon his skull, bending as it did so to cover the top of his scalp. No attack description ran across Tarn’s interface. Lash’s eyes immediately lost their focus, and his jaw went slack.
//PARTY MEMBER REMOVED: LASH – INVALID INTENT
What? Tarn looked back at Lash in panic, relieved at least to see that the little gremlin was still alive. Yet somehow, he had been removed from the party, his intent rendered – invalid?
//INITIATIVE SHIFT
He felt panic gnawing at the edges of his attention at the thought of Lash under the Progenitor’s control. Even now the gremlin had begun walking the long distance across the battlefield, lurching toward their opponent with an awkward gait.
His urge was to continue his attack, but he knew that was fruitless. The Progenitor’s regenerative abilities were too high for them to do any real damage with this approach. They needed another angle.
But Urthin had seen something. Tarn wasn’t sure what it was, but he trusted a pair of eyes that always caught even the slightest detail. While Bog began to swing her axe, dropping what he was sure was a taunt-laden attack, he used [Get Me There] again, targeting the back carapace of the Progenitor.
The flail’s chain wrapped around the side of the creature and struck the rear of the Progenitor, then pulled Tarn forward. He was whipped around his opponent wildly, coming to land almost directly where Urthin had been standing.
Tarn’s attack itself did minimal damage, but the real victory was the sight before him. There, about three feet up from the ground, was a small but clear tear in the Progenitor’s protective suit. Vapor emerged from the ripped material with a steady hiss, leaking out whatever the insect was using to protect itself from Ak Thanon’s foul air.
As his second pulse started, Tarn targeted the spot and slammed the flail into it again, this time using
This was the leverage they needed. But with Bog out of sight and Urthin still freeing himself, was there enough time to take advantage of it?
The buzz of wings above him told him all he wanted to know. Isca fired a trio of flame-tipped darts into the opening. The hole opened wider still, and now the exposed surface began to bubble, fresh welts and pus beginning to run along the jet-black outer shell of the massive insect.
//Progenitor Suit rupture
//Status effect gained: TOXIC ATMOSPHERE (Progenitor general)
Take 20 AP damage at the beginning of each round, and after taking any action.
An additional count of [Toxic Atmosphere] is gained after every successful attack by an opponent.
This status effect may only be removed by the repair of the Progenitor suit, or removal from the toxic environment.
Tarn’s mind focused on the new information crossing his thoughts. He didn’t give much of his attention to Urthin, he knew the monk would have to free himself next turn before he could be effective again. Bog was slamming away at the front of the Progenitor, but that too was beyond his notice.
He only focused on two things – the slow walking of the tiny gremlin across the battlefield, and the math problem growing in his head. They’d add a new count of [Toxic Atmosphere] each time they managed to strike the Progenitor. Even with its prodigious health total, it would be dead in a few rounds unless it could get back into the dungeon.
Problem was, so would they. Each of them had several damages over time statuses upon them, and without Lash, there was no effective way to remove them.
He hadn’t come here to die, or to lead his team to death. But they had managed to save the orcs and prevent another invasion. The Progenitors would suffer a defeat here, and maybe that was worth the sacrifice.
So be it, his mind wanted to say. But his heart still disagreed. There had to be a way to win while still saving his team.
What would you pay? Narsol’s ghost asked him. Quite a lot, and he wasn’t about to surrender. But he’d keep looking for an answer, assuming they survived the next round.
//INITIATIVE SHIFT
Tarn waited for the great insect’s counterattack, but it never came. Instead, it turned, twisting its massive body until its eyes fell upon his still-time-frozen form. Its gaze ran to the tear in its suit, over to Lash, and then back to Tarn again.
It was doing the same math Tarn had and was reaching the same conclusions. This was going to be the death of all of them unless something changed. Tarn could feel his chest growing tighter, as a possible if unlikely path out of this began to form in his mind.
He stared back up at the Progenitor, eyes narrowing.
What are you willing to pay?
“Proposal.” The voice was an emotionless series of clicks and hisses that somehow crashed into words. “No death is required this day.”
Lash continued his strange emotionless gait, shuffling ever closer to the huge insect that seemed to be pulling his strings. His eyes were wide and unfocused, but his brow seemed furrowed in pain.
If the rest of us die, what will happen to him? Lash had saved his life a dozen times over. He was a teammate, a friend. Family.
//INITIATIVE SHIFT
As Tarn felt the pain of the counts of [Poison] run through his body, he considered the fact that the Progenitor used its entire round just to attempt negotiation. Behind him, he heard Urthin free himself from the webbing, while the rest of the team took no action. As their first pulses all ran down, they waited for his move.
All the while, Lash continued his slow walk toward the Progenitor.
“Give us the gremlin back, and we’ll talk.”
Tarn didn’t want to try and bargain with this creature, and he could bet the Progenitor didn’t want to deal with him either. But that bubbling wound on his back, and the crystal key in his pocket both made pretty good leverage.
“Dubious.” The huge segmented eyes stared down at him, unreadable. Wrapped around his neck, the skeletal, corpse of the mage was just as inscrutable. “Open the door and I will disengage. The combat will end as will your damaging status effects. You and your comrades will be spared.”
“Nah, I don’t think so.” Tarn shook his head. “If I leave that door shut, I’m pretty sure you’re going to die. And before you ask, yeah I think we’re all willing to die to see that. That’s the point here. Your people have to be taught there’s a price to what you are doing.”
He looked around, letting his eyes fall upon his team one by one. He needed to sell his resolve, his iron. But if this was going to work the way he wanted it to, he needed to make the Progenitor believe in the switch.
He chewed the inside of his lip and made a display of furrowing his brow. He had no idea how familiar the strange creature was with human behavior, but anyone who was would see a great debate was taking place in his mind. Or so it should seem.
“Despite that, I’m willing to make a deal here.” Normally Tarn would smile here, it helped the negotiations go smoother. He didn’t feel like smiling. “You like deals right? You made one with Narsol, now make one with me.”
//INITIATIVE SHIFT
Their time was up. As several counts of [Toxic Atmosphere] ticked away against its health, it was now the Progenitor’s opportunity to continue this combat if it wanted to. Tarn watched the creature while his mind’s eye watched the timer. The timer moved, but the Progenitor did not.
“Proceed.”
“Real simple.” Tarn nodded toward Lash’s trembling body. “You release Lash. Then, and only then, I open the door. You go through it, and you never come back. That’s the deal. Whatever you want from this world, you give it up. Here and now.”
Isca landed and stood stoically next to him, betraying nothing of her reaction. This would slow their attempt to retake her world, but Tarn swore to himself that door or no door, that road was not yet closed. They’d still save her people, but they weren’t going to lose Lash to do it.
For the briefest of moments, the Progenitor angled its vision down its body. It then looked back up, focusing on Tarn again. A tremble ran through its form, and it seemed to twist slightly away from the wound on its back as if trying to move away from the pain.
“Acceptable. The cost of this endeavor has been too high.”
One of its upper legs touched a small gem on another, and the silver disc on Lash’s head slowly slid off the gremlin’s skull and fell to the thick vines on the ground. Lash’s eyes fluttered, then he crumpled to the grass as well.
Isca flew forward, reaching him in a blur. Donning her goggles, she ran her vision up and down his form several times before giving Tarn a nod.
“Unconscious,” she called over. “But I think he’s okay.”
“Fair enough.” Tarn pushed his hands into his pocket, finding the crystal and keeping his thumb across the button. Two pushes left, one to let the bastard in, and one to make sure he never comes back.
As he depressed the switch, the enormous door to the Axe Dungeon slid open with such sudden force the ground shook again, sending leaves falling from the nearby trees.
The Progenitor began to walk backward toward the door, still keeping its eyes and pincers trained in Tarn’s direction. He could smell the damage to the wound in the creature's back, here the sizzling as it continued to react violently with the air.
Isca continued to tend to Lash, while Urthin was tense but silent as they watched the Progenitor retreat, now crossing the opening. Bog shuffled back and forth on her feet, hands clenching and unclenching.
He could sense the insect’s relief as it crossed into the Axe Dungeon, parts of its long back finally out of the sunlight and toxic atmosphere. As the creature was halfway through the doorway, Tarn called out to it.
“Hey.” His tone was almost conversational. “Are you going to keep your end of the deal?”
The Progenitor General looked down at Tarn, focusing on him with a crimson glare. The pincers at the ends of its top two legs split wide, summoning ranged weapons into each.
“In truth,” it rasped. “I was not completely honest with you.”
“Good,” Tarn said with a smile, as he depressed the switch for the third and final time. “Neither was I.”
//INITIA-
The notification in his mind never finished. The huge door of the Axe Dungeon slid downward with lightning speed, never slowing as it cleaved the Progenitor general in two.
The metallic wall of the door, now covered in the green-black slime of alien blood, slammed to the ground and sent the shockwave through the clearing. The body of the Progenitor that remained on the outside of the dungeon shifted for a moment, then bent backward and came crashing forward.
Tarn felt Bog’s strong arms connect with him as she leaped out of the massive corpse’s path, carrying them both out of danger. As a pair, they tumbled to the ground, coming to rest not a few feet away from a grinning Lash.
“You…” Tarn paused for a moment, the air pushed out of his lungs. “Lash… you okay?”
“Lash fine.” The gremlin grinned, yellow eyes wide and happy. “He knew you would figure answer. Head empty of bug thoughts. We go now? Lash want to see more orc places.”
Despite everything that had happened, Tarn found himself laughing. As the stench from the defeated Progenitor's corpse began to waft around the now-sealed Axe Dungeon, he laughed long and hard.
“Yeah, Lash,” He said as the rest of his team gathered around him. All were wounded in more ways than one, but all were safe. “Yeah, we go now.”
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