image [https://imgur.com/qVYHW1L.png]

The Hero trudged forward, the fairy zipping around and chatting. Occasionally Xanther would say something back. The Hero knew now that most of what they said was inconsequential. He had also finally figured out where he was. It was still the maze, the Labyrinth. Simply bigger. He nodded imperceptibly. Yes. The same rules applied. Anything that tried to kill him he should kill first. He could also try to kill anything that he thought was a threat. There would be useful items and food scattered around for him to find. This was reassuring. He wasn’t hurt as often, or challenged as much. But that was okay as well. Like the fairy said, he had passed a test.

Now he was in a wider and easier part. Things would probably get hard again. He no longer minded. He felt the strength in his hands. Even weapons were starting to be unnecessary. His skill [Condemn] was touch based and temporarily applied the strength of all creatures he had killed during the last week to his attack. He had killed a lot of creatures. And people. The people he killed also seemed to work with the skill. [Punishment] added an additional attack of the same type he had just made, per level. So now when he stacked the two skills together he would hit something twenty two times. Twenty two times with all the strength of dozens of monsters, creatures, and people. Not much survived that. If he really needed to he could use [Consume], further draining vitality and strength out of anything he had recently killed.

So, from what he figured, as long as he never stopped killing things he would always be able to kill things. That made a lot of sense, and was easy to remember. He attacked a thing in his way. It was a boar, or a pig, or something like that. He knew about pigs and boars from a long time ago. He had seen one or… he killed this one. He hadn’t fully paid attention, it had only required him to squeeze the skull between his hands. The head, if a thing had a head, was always the best place to attack. Even a glancing blow would stun, or blind, or knock out. He wiped his hands on the grass. It was hard to stay clean, and he found that he enjoyed when he was clean.

The fairy was trying to get his attention. The caves… yes. This was where they had been going all along. The Night Caves. He looked around. A cavernous entrance to the mountain was up ahead. A man was standing in front of it, an older man that was hard for The Hero to make out. He had a long white beard and was smiling gently, and a slight glow was around him. Xanther dropped to his knees and began to say something about a lord, or a god, or something. The Hero flexed his hands. He felt that this man was dangerous. The man’s eyes pierced into him, and he licked his lips occasionally. Did this man think he was food? The Hero took a step forward. If he got a bit closer he could rush him, and with one blow… The man turned from him, still talking. Oh. Perhaps he was not a threat. The Hero dropped his hand, losing interest.

The man was talking about some kind of barrier. It was just ahead, running up to and over the cliff face, and now that The Hero looked he could see it faintly. It only appeared when someone was near, and was reminiscent of a soap bubble. A soap bubble? Yes, whatever that was, that was what the barrier was like. The man seemed a bit frustrated, and kept doing flashy magical things to no effect that The Hero could see. The barrier remained, shimmering lightly. The man started talking about how the caves would be a backup plan, and that they were filled with worms. Why was he worried about worms?

The Hero sat down. The man motioned and Xanther got both of them some food from the man’s pack. He ate. He was relaxed, and scanned the area around them passively. Xanther tried out the holy sword against the barrier, also to no effect. The Hero squinted, seeing something very far away. It was two small shapes. He kept chewing and looking as they got closer. A young boy, who seemed very slightly familiar, and a VERY tall man who looked like he was made out of stone.

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The fairy also noticed, and began to speak much faster and fly around the slightly glowy man. They both turned to face the figures. The glowy man seemed confused, then in disbelief as he listened to the fairy. “A Lord’s Avatar? No, are you sure? That’s what the stats say? Damn damn damn!” He spun towards The Hero and Xanther, and rapidly moved his hands through the air. A prickling wave of energy passed over them both, and The Hero figured it was time to kill the man. But as he looked over at Xanther, he noticed a strange thing happening. Xanther’s features shifted and changed. He looked younger, and had longer slightly tapered ears. His own hands had grown a lighter shade, and he turned them, curious at the effect. The fairy buzzed around. “Think that kind of disguise will work against a Lord’s Vessel? Really?” The man hushed her, looking at him and Xanther. “Hero, you are now called Leo, got it? Xanther you are now called… Ian. You now go by Ian.” The Hero shrugged as Xanther nodded enthusiastically. He was The Hero. He did not care what others called him.

They waited for the two figures to approach, the older man cursing constantly under his breath. His glow had vanished, and he seemed quite mundane now. The Hero noticed with interest that the area around the boy was shifting and changing, subtly. The plant life was greener, dust parted into swirling patterns, and wind swept the boy’s cloak around dramatically. Oh. The boy from the Inn, that’s who this was. He had grown taller and stronger looking. The Hero kept chewing, curious about what would happen next.

The two stopped a short distance away. The boy was smiling. “Hello! My friend here says he’s been searching for one of you. From a labyrinth?” Ignoring the shushing sounds from the bearded man, The Hero stood. “Yes.” He locked eyes with the tall man. Something about him was also familiar.

The tall man walked up, looming over him, his eyes seeming to contain dots of white at the center, with another dot of white in the center of his forehead. “I have found you. I was tasked with extracting your memories. It may kill you in the process.” The boy next to him frowned. “Vess! Don’t do that! You said this was a Hero, right? We don’t go around doing things like that!” The tall man shook his head. “I do not know what to think. I am new to being a Hero.” The boy smiled. “Well! Heroes help others! They win great battles!” He looked at them all, and grinned. “Want to join us? We could have a real heroic party then!”

The older man cleared his throat, looking nervous. “Ahm… I am the wizard Fatemoor. These are my companions, Ian, Leo, and the fairy Sparkledust. I am afraid I am unclear as to who you both are?” The fairy, Sparkledust, was laughing a bit manically as the wizard kept glancing nervously at the man named Vess.

The boy strode forward, puffing out his chest. “I am the hero TENTON!” The air seemed to vibrate at his words, as if his name carried power. The Hero frowned. Odd. He had felt an urge to clap or applaud. Very strange. He noticed that the fairy WAS clapping, spinning in little circles. Tenton gestured grandly to his friend. “This is the reformed Lord’s Vessel, Vess!” The wizard Fatemoor coughed and rubbed at his face. “I… see. How… was he reformed, exactly?”

Tenton smiled. “I asked him if he wanted to join me as a Hero. And he did! So, do you all wish to join?” Fatemoor slowly nodded. “Y-yess. However we have a barrier blocking our way. It looks to be made with Lord’s magic, and I cannot figure out how to get through it. I am afraid that even attempting to pierce it will allow the Lord to find us immediately, and that would not go well. The Night Caves are an alternate route, but they are filled with powerful Wyrms. Perhaps together we could-”

The boy strode up to the barrier, frowning. “Why, it’s just like a bubble. Watch!” He poked the tip of his sword into it, and the whole thing popped. Instantly it was gone, just little motes of light drifting down. He laughed, and smilingly turned to the wizard. “You didn’t try that?” Fatemoor slowly shook his head. “No. I had not tried that…” He seemed to rouse himself from a daze, looking at the boy much more intently. “We would love to join you. We are happy to be friends with a great Hero such as yourself. Sparkledust is wondering if it is okay if she sits upon your head?” The boy eagerly agreed. “Yes! Of course!” The fairy was giggling as she settled herself upon the boy’s head. He shivered. “Oh! Tickly!”

The Hero watched, curious. He suddenly realized that he was missing something. A battle of some kind was occurring that he could not see. He would pay more attention. It was hard to kill things you couldn’t see.