The next step for Caau was to fortify his area. The cave tunnel had simply two entrances; so he got the guardians to close them off, a simple matter of digging away at the walls until it collapsed inwards.
He didn’t want any more unexpected surprises or random people unless he specifically let them inside.
He did, however, get them to leave an opening.
That took about two months alone, especially since he had to duck the guardians back in every two days or so when the gobs would gun for them.
That said… things were looking up!
[ Guardians are active. Would you like to send them on an Expedition? ]
Y/N
Hey, Adminstrator, what are expeditions?
God damn it. You’ve actually started asking me things. I shouldn’t have opened my big fat mouth.
Expeditions are glorified treasure hunts. Your Guardians, or followers, can be sent on them to fight, discover the area, and bring back certain items. What they’ll bring back depends entire on whats around and I can’t tell you that so don’t ask.
He mentally signals with his not-brain to press the Y… bit.
Go for it. Nothing else for them to do. Other than excavate me… but… uh…
[ Time till excavation… 43Y… ]
Yeah, no.
Just like that, the two Guardians start to stalk off, into the darkness… leaving him with, yet again, nothing to do. Or at least it would, if he could not see through their eyes!
They seem to be able to see in the dark, making slow lumbering steps but never tripping; and eventually they reach a crossroads. There’s a screech as goblins spot them, charging at them with blades of crude iron — or just sharpened bone.
The guardians do not seem to mind the fact they are outnumbered, and the goblins do not seem to care about the size of guardians.
Their grins are malicious, full of spite and vitriol as they roar forward, bone and iron held high.
The unclassed guardian swings the pickaxe like a golf club; the goblin jumping up, bone dagger ready, only for the two to meet and for the goblin to feel like stone hit by a pickaxe; impaled through the chest as a stream of toxic, bubbling blood splatters across the guardian.
[ Simple Guardian 2 requires neophyte attribute selection ]
Hmm.
They hoist the little creature up into the air before bringing it down onto the stone, making it one with the earth. The other two have charged straight for the classed guardian who moves with a fluidity that the other cannot match.
So the class makes a huge difference in their fighting skill. System, you mentioned that the group of humans—
He stops himself, waiting a second before continuing.
—the group of people brought the kid down to unlock their Neophyte Attribute?
It seems your memory surpasses your intellect, at least.
Yes indeed, the Neophyte Attribute is awakened when one engages in combat with the intent to cause harm, or negate harm as it were.
It matters not whether it is defensive or offence; so long as the delightful exchange of violence takes place.
It’s like getting a participation trophy for breathing, honestly.
Damn, having a kid fight something that early?
Parents of the year.
The esteemed title of ’Parent of the Year’ might be better bestowed upon the masters of nurturing their young with a truly loving deathmatch:
The Trolls, whose darling little ones possess the innate instinct — and ability — to immediately and promptly brutalise the other offspring right within the confines of their nest.
Okay, becoming much more glad I am an obelisk rather than a troll.
I thought you might end up appreciative.
The classed guardian swings with a flash to crush one of the goblin’s legs beneath it, then jumps back as the other pulls on a chain, ripping forward a large ball of iron to break the ground where the guardian stood a moment before.
The goblin switches up, climbing up onto the wall so that it can drop down onto the unclassed guardian; holding the the spike of iron in its singular good foot, which fits remarkably well.
It’s fast, even only using its arms, and before the guardian can react the iron spike is already through one of the onyx eyes in its head.
The remaining guardian detaches from the pickaxe, launching out a fist to catch the face of the goblin that jumps for it, sending the little green creature flying into a wall, bones cracking like someone is tuning a xylophone and testing all the keys…
The broken-leg goblin breaks, trying to crawl away only for the guardian to use the pickaxe, throwing the stone tool over its head and bringing the spike made for cracking stone to bear on the goblin’s comparatively much weaker skull.
It stabs through with ease, then pierces through a good amount of stone before stopping.
The goblins are no more.
I want to name the guardian. I’ll name them if they get a class; because the non-classed ones seem weak as all hell.
…
His eyes are onyx?
Onyx. Sure, that’ll do.
I can almost hear the screeching inside your mind that allowed you to conjure up the mental fortitude for such a thought.
Herculean.
The guardian turns and looks back, almost as if it realises, but then puts its hand down to the other guardian and picks it up.
When it doesn’t rise… it tries again before tilting its head, then shrugging.
It continues on, seeming to scan the walls until it sees something — a small blue crystal.
When it picks it off the wall like a grape from a vine, Caau gets a pop-up.
[ Expeditionary has found: Crystallised Lunar-Abyssal Reaction ]
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The result of Abyssal Energy and Lunar Energy colliding; forming a crystal that can be imbibed to increase the user’s CHA attribute.
Okay, great… is that something I could even use? Do the guardians have CHA? I haven’t seen any stat pages… do I not have access to them?
You do not. You will though. I'll give you that for free.
The guardian keeps going, stalking through the caves but finding relatively little.
Then, the air seems to grow heavy, almost stagnant; and the walls begin to press inwards. Light… small blue flames that drip from torches planted with metal in the walls.
He’s far from me, now. It’s been… two days since I sent him out. He’s a him, now, because I don’t want to call him ’it’ for his entire life. Not really much in the caves, it seems. But, well, I have time to kill.
Rock walls, once bare and plain, now give way to cracked but meticulously carved columns and archways; the floor becoming smooth, cut stone with mosaics. The guardian starts to slow.
It’s… getting colder? Is that it?
Scattered bones are strewn across the floor… and now they begin to twitch. Rattling and clattering resounds through the stone, and a framework not too unlike the guardian begins to form.
[ WARNING: EXPEDITIONARIES HAVE DISCOVERED A CORRUPTED SANCTUARY: ]
CORRUPTION TYPE: IMMORTAL
Alright, I know when to take a warning. Onyx, retreat if you would.
[ EXPLORATORY EXPEDITION ABORTED… ]
[ NEW EXPEDITIONS UNLOCKED ]
New stuff? I didn’t see much? I guess it’s not impossible I missed something; it’s like everything goes in fast forward sometimes.
Though I could still understand speech… that's weird.
It takes just as long for Onyx to return as it did for him to go, and when he arrives Caau’s mind is flooded with messages. Apparently, he picked up more than the single crystal, and by killing the goblins he acquired abilities.
[ Acquired Abilities placed into storage. ]
So Onyx doesn’t get them… or?
[ Abilities ]
[ Scramble I ]
You get to go quicker; in any direction — for three seconds.
[ Lunge I ]
You get to go quicker; in the forward direction — for one second.
You have stumbled across some truly remarkable things here.
Hmm. Two basic abilities. It’s not too surprising that goblins of all things don’t give much. So… can I apply them to Onyx?
Onyx staggers for a second, his pickaxe dropping to the floor, before he rights himself and cocks his head. A rumble of stone; then he is covered in a small burst of wind, and jumps to the side and then back again with what must be double his speed.
Not all that fast, though, considering he’s essentially a giant slab of stone. Try lunging, Onyx.
He lowers his head slightly… then shoves forward. Again, probably double his speed. Onyx can’t tell him, but Caau assumes they have a cooldown. His abilities do, after all.
[ You have gained a follower ]
[ 3/10 for next threshold ]
Huh?
He looks through the kid’s eyes to see him hanging from the edge of a cliff; a treacherous fall below, his grip tight on the stone as another boy swings from his hands…
Did he get… even bigger? Fuck me, he's doing work. Did I luck the fuck out or what?
Caau sends a silent thanks, then returns to Onyx and uses [ Create Simple Guardian I ], forming another guardian from the stone who meanders out and stands in front of Onyx.
Okay, Onyx, I’m going to send both of you on another Expedition. Use your abilities as best you can to protect this guardian — I want to try and make another classed one. I get the feeling that’s going to be much faster at excavating me than simple, unclassed guardians. Alright?
Onyx simply stares, and Caau selects the destination for the Expedition.
[ Expeditions ]
[ East Cave ]:
{ Forgotten Sanctuary: ***** }
{ Explore Northern Passage: ** }
{ Explore Southern Passage: ** }
{ Ability Farm: * }
Note: Only Common and Uncommon abilities exist within the caves of the Forgotten Lands, excluding outliers. Difficulty does not account for Champions or other Realm-blooded, nor Hordes of any kind.
—
I bet that big goblin from before was a Champion. What the hell is a realm-blooded?
Those like you.
Is that it?
For the moment. I’m not allowed to reveal details yet.
Okay? Regardless, I have nothing else to do…
I’ve read the guardian summoning ability’s full description, and it makes no mention of a limit to how many I can have.
I am, however, assuming that more guardians is going to equal more attention.
Even just having two out and working had me under attack every two or so days.
That, and it’s got one chunky cooldown. A month a pop. If only I'd had this from the start I'd have, what, sixty odd guardians!?
He chooses the expedition — exploring the southern passage.
The two guardians stalk off, with Onyx taking the first step. Caau then turns his mind to the items he’s received.
There’s not much of particular use, to be honest. A few weapons of bone or iron, that crystal… that’s it. I guess the weapons could come in handy?
I wonder if there’s any way to sell them? The humans came from somewhere… right?
They reside in the Mortal Plane; which is, believe it or not, above the Immortal Plane. But nobody in their right minds would buy goblin weaponry of all things.
A few hours later, the Guardians come into resistance. A couple of goblins… with a trail of blood they lap up with greedy, long licks from even longer tongues.
Onyx, use both of your abilities at the same time. I bet you can close the gab and hit them before they even know what’s up.
The Guardian crouches ever-so-slightly, then rushes forward with… somewhat lacklustre speed; his footsteps loud enough that the goblins easier hear him… but then it’s like a rocket engaging its second stage as he lunges, immediately caving in the chest of one of the little blighters and making the other one scream and fall back.
Grab it, disarm it! Let the other guardian get the kill!
The guardian leaves the pickaxe in the goblin, then reaches out a long hand to snatch the other; but it’s too damn fast, scuttling out of his reach.
Gorakhin used:
[ Scramble I ]
Well, should have seen that coming.
Oh… is that how the goblin from before climbed the ceiling so fast?
Hmm… you can have the gold star back. That’s correct.
So why didn’t it tell be about it then?
Because you didn’t know about it.
Regardless, it flees off into the dark and beyond the sight of the guardians. The other goblin coughs blood.
Oh! Just as good! Guardian-that’s-not-Onyx, kill that Goblin.
The walking statue follows the command like the loyalist and most trained of all dogs, planting the pickaxe into the goblin’s head in just a second.
[ Simple Guardian 2 requires neophyte attribute selection ]
Perfect!
Can I choose it here?
No… but could Onyx choose it for me? He’s right next to… what’s the opposite of Onyx? Quartz?
Yeah, Quartz.
I am sure this will not become a theme of any sort.
A similar transformation takes place; the guardian softens, the rigidity leaving its body, and the onyx eyes turn a shade of pink-ish white.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1040459921310879774/1171650097830965328/0_0.webp?ex=655d732f&is=654afe2f&hm=ec5bf61ec5d6b2438808792446042f2851eccb5eef9be7828c37f3d2c0e532f5&=&width=558&height=741]
Okay, now we’re getting somewhere! Two classed guardians!
He pauses, thinking.
What if I… built a cage out of stone? Brought back a goblin?
That’s… no different than farming cattle, right? I’m not going to hurt it…
How fascinating to witness the seamless, almost instant transition from the art of combat to the practise of enslavement.
Your versatility to compromising ethical boundaries knows no bounds.
Roided kid, dead grandma — and now farmed goblins!
He stops. There’s an issue.
Food. Food! It’s living, it would need food. I’ll shelve that idea… though I wonder if goblins are cannibalistic. I guess I could get them all together and shove them in there… get one, really fat goblin.
Hmm.
Delightful. I get to witness your contemplation of turning living creatures into commodities.
I did not realise I would be the morally-sound one in this arrangement.
In the time it took for him to think about that, the guardians had moved on, following the trail of blood it its source. A once-broad man is now a chewed collection of flesh, with six goblins chowing on him.
Fortunate that he’s dead. Onyx, Quartz — go for it. Don’t die. Please?
Onyx is still faster, charging forward to catch the goblins unaware.
It would seem that both abilities stack, and both seem to give a speed increase. I guess the difference is the direction? Lunge gives a bonus forward; scramble gives a flat bonus.
Quartz throws a kick from a long, stony leg, connecting with the skull of a goblin and sending a series of cracks sounding through the caves: one from the kick, one from the impact on the ceiling, and another when the little creature smacks into the ground, dead.
[ Expeditionaries have encountered a higher level Immortal ]
[ Goblin Boss ]
[ STR ]
[ Difficulty: ** ]
[ Information: ??? ]