The world shakes with the war. It’s been about a month since it started.
Caau can feel it, even down in the dark.
Onyx and Quartz have repaired themselves and now rebuild the wall…
I’m not even sure it’s worth it. Even goblins took it down.
That said, having two classed guardians makes it much faster.
Not only because they work faster, but also because he doesn’t have to bring them in each time some goblins meander over.
They can just… kill them.
Add on top of that the fact that we didn’t have to hew every damn stone from the wall over and over again, we just had to pick them up.
Onyx and Quartz work in a flurry, almost harmonious together.
Their stone hands easily lift the boulders and position them in a far more carefully constructed pattern than the previous iteration.
The ground beneath shakes with each stone placed.
Both walls have been worked on in tandem, and Onyx reaches forward to place the last boulder.
Two formidable barriers of stone, now much better arranged.
Perhaps Quartz is the smarter of the two? Onyx didn’t do this last time.
The two guardians almost seem to admire their creation as they look upon it.
Caau is all the happier for them, they did great work.
Quartz now had the same abilities that Onyx does, and Caau found out that abilities can be fused, should you get enough.
That said, it takes a lot of the same ability to upgrade it.
It’s 50 Scrambles or Lunges alone to get an upgraded version.
In addition, Onyx had gained an Uncommon ability from the Goblin Boss, that being [ Goblin’s Wrath I ].
All it seems to do is give the user double their strength for a single hit. I’m not sure what that means yet but I’ve assumed double damage and given it to Onyx.
It’s green, it’s gotta be decent, right?
It means the ability is Uncommon rarity which, indeed, is better than Common rarity.
Now that the wall is complete and the guardians are healed up, I’m sending them out again.
There haven’t been any more messages, so I’m hoping the fighting is contained to up there.
Hell, with the amount of goblins that practically swam out of the caves, I’m worried they won’t even get any resistance.
Well, before we do any of that, we have a new member to welcome.
Caau uses the guardian summoning ability, going through the same process.
It rocks back and forth as it gets used to locomotion, and then walks outside.
Caau’s not even sure if he could begin to explain the difference between the fluidity of Onyx and Quartz compared to the fresh, unclassed guardians.
Honestly, it seems like Onyx and Quartz get more and more fluid with each goblin they kill… are they gaining experience?
Or is that not a thing in this world?
Maybe the abilities have a hidden passive I just can’t see.
I’ve yet to get the ability to actually fully look into things.
Oh… that reminds me.
[ Followers: 8 ] [ 8/10 for next Threshold ]
[Invested Faith: Calculating… 8 x 4… 32 Prayers ]
[ Would you like to spend your Invested Faith? ]
Caau picks yes, and a small ball of light drops into the Sanctuary, before disappearing.
Since the Realm War had begun, the kid has rounded up another five people to join the party.
[ You have gained: 4 x Neophyte Token ]
A common token; used to transcend the mundane limitations of Neophyte-making — reserved for those of exceptional mediocrity.
[ You have 0 Prayers ]
That couldn’t have been better timed. Strange, that. I’ll give that to… Sapphire.
[ Select Neophyte Attribute ]
STR | DEX | VIT
Oh, uh, make this one DEX.
[https://cdn.midjourney.com/7283972e-3f87-48f4-a1ec-f8550f6b9e9e/0_0.webp]
The newly-named guardian shifts and shakes, then blue eyes pop from their skull before they march out to meet the other guardians who seem to give an almost cold greeting.
Sapphire is noticeably thinner than the other two, though the same height — and quicker.
Their movements are even more fluid; the stone not even rumbling as they move.
[ Sanctuary guardian production cooldown… 3… 2… 1… ]
[ Sanctuary creates Simple Guardian I ]
The sanctuary produces its own!? Right into my control? Say no more!
Another guardian pops out of the centre of the void, and Caau shoves another class token inside it, this time choosing VIT as the attribute.
Instead of a slight shrinking as all the others… this one grows larger; the stone rising like bread in an oven, cracking and refilling until the guardian is broader than any other of his peers.
[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1022054419510075402/1172294758501187604/zlo3097_a_humanoid_grey_stone_golem_with_quartz_crystals_in_a_d_552b4d92-bc48-49bb-b84e-ba386c9a1a5e.png?ex=655fcb92&is=654d5692&hm=1edbb5b9a2cdbb3e85f4020e7a3eb26807bffac127497d073dfe20c98fdea46f&=&width=558&height=741]
He looks kinda cute... Okay, big guardian needs big name…?
Well, I’ve named all the others after gems but Granite fits too well.
Granite’s eyes go a deep, rich shade of earthy grey, and they seem almost to be harder than steel.
The guardian walks out, and the others stare at him for a second before returning to normal, rumbling slightly.
Do they not like him? Why?
It’s obvious from the fact they spoke during the whole horde incident that they’re gaining sentience — but that’s no reason to ostracise. I’ll have to keep an eye on it.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
For now, Expedition time. I’ve made it so now we have an entrance that can be opened and closed on both sides instead of just the easterly path.
[ Expeditions ]
[ East Cave ]:
{ Forgotten Sanctuary: ***** }
{ Explore Northern Passage: ** }
{ 34% Completion Explore Southern Passage: ** }
[ West Cave ]:
{ Exploratory Expedition: ????? }
I’m going to assume that means difficulty unknown… I can’t think of why it would be more difficult to go west. I might split these lot up at some point when I know more about what the hell is going on, but for now that’s a dumb decision. Let’s do the exploratory expedition.
To the west!
The assembled guardians start moving — and a clear barrier forms between the two groups.
Onyx and Quartz stay slightly ahead as Sapphire and Granite stick together behind. Westward seems… different. There are more passages to the north and south — and then light.
The bleak walls of the normal, bland stone cavern give way to a stunning wall of glowing crystals that illuminate the surroundings.
As the guardians keep moving, this wall leads to a large, open space like a yellow brick road.
Inside this space, the small crystals turn to large, fat ones that seem to rise from the ground, the ceiling, the walls — everywhere.
Small flakes of what could only be described as snow drop from the ceiling, where multiple large, muscular creatures rub iron tools onto crystals, shaving tiny particulates with every back-and-forth.
[ You have found: Site of the Fallen City ]
Once, it was not the sun that hung in the sky; nor did the Mortal plane hang above the Immortal plane. This is the site of the Lunar Sanctum, one of the respites of the Nocturna and the Lupis.
[ Multi-stage Dungeon: Lunar Sanctum ]
[ 1st Stage: Lunar Courtyard: ** ]
[ 2nd Stage: Lunar Worshipping Grounds: *** ]
[ 3rd Stage: Sanctum of the Last Priestess: **** ]
Alright, alright. Go for it. I’m sure you guys can take on a two-star difficulty area, right?
The guardians do not, if they have them, air their concerns, instead taking ginger steps until they seem to pause, reading something in their minds. It pops into Caau’s mind the second after.
As you step into the Lunar Sanctum, you find yourself in the lunar courtyard.
The air is thick with a stillness that cannot be described, and high above in the Lunar Sanctum, you can see the last Priestess holding their small, ever-dying Moon aloft, filling the courtyard with blue light that refracts through the crystals.
Moonflowers bloom along the edges of the courtyard, their petals sucking greedily upon the moonlight. Statues of nocturnal creatures — owls and wolves — stand as silent guardians, their eyes seeming to follow your every move.
As the words are uttered, the cave shifts. The crystals warp into stone or move until there is a large courtyard; a grand fountain carved with motifs of the moon in all it’s forms that releases a gentle stream of moon-lit water.
[https://media.discordapp.net/ephemeral-attachments/1022054419510075402/1173742558959128698/zlo3097_As_you_step_into_the_Lunar_Sanctum_you_find_yourself_in_a8829d53-9fb5-4bea-bbe2-cad782c39608.png?ex=65650ff1&is=65529af1&hm=3a2c453a4ae0823660c765262622ff7707054243e205320ff8515127fba6b8be&=&width=558&height=741]
The crystal-snow still remains; but the creatures causing it are gone.
Three creatures appear in front of the guardians; two goblins crackling with blue energy and a much larger figure; that of an orc with blue crystals growing and glowing upon it, worn like shoulder-guards and plate-mail.
[ Lunar Gorakhin 1 ] [ Lunar Osmara ] [ Lunar Gorakhin 2 ]
DEX
Lunar-attuned
Swift
WIS
Lunar-attuned
Tamer
DEX
Lunar-attuned
Precise
Information: ??? Information: ??? Information: ???
Well that proves it to me. I need some kind of skill to get better information.
Indeed. For now, I’ll give you a little hint. These enemies are the next step in evolution: Pathed. Fortunately, they have only recently obtained their Paths — and even then they only have one. They must be Bound creatures, like your Guardians.
Immediately, the fighting starts. The Swift dashes forward, stabbing their blade out at Onyx, who places his pickaxe ahead of him to intercept.
Only, the goblin near-instantly dashes to the side and slides their thin blade through Onyx’s guard, short bone sword crackling with pale blue energy and slashing across to dig into Onyx’s side.
As golden light sparks from the Guardian’s inside, it crystallises, blocking Onyx’s movement.
The Osmara, obviously an Orc in this world, raises a staff high and brings it down onto the cold, blue stone beneath.
A circle appears behind him; and tendrils of wispy smoke rises — collecting together to form a spectral moon that cracks like an egg, spilling out long gangly limbs edged with claws fabricated from pure crystal.
It’s the size of at least three men, and seems to cackle in wordless, soundless laughter.
The Novice of the Precise retreats, climbing atop a wolf-statue and placing a crystal-laced bolt onto a wooden crossbow, cranking the winch tight.
Sapphire, as if eager to prove herself, charges forward, her speed quite a deal faster than the others.
Quartz uses [ Lunge ] and [ Scramble ] both to shove the pickaxe at the goblin who attacked Onyx, only for the blighter to dodge it.
It snickers with malevolence, then throws a dagger at Quartz, who brings the pickaxe up to deflect it.
Granite roars onto the scene, running forward on all fours, using their longer limbs to head straight for the summoner only for a claw to smash down in front of them — ripping stone with unyielding crystal.
The Osmara summoner clicks their fingers and reaches for the apparition above, then seems to rip its arm from the socket; but no scream of pain comes. Instead, the arm floats down and replaces the orc’s
The statue-goblin’s crossbow glows, releasing two bolts that zip through the air, streaming pale blue energy.
Sapphire falls, sliding under the first bolt… only to find the second has gone in a completely different direction.
It slams into the side of Granite, who shakes, then gets smashed by a claw that presses them into the ground and leaves raking marks across their stone-flesh.
The same crystals as on Onyx grow from where the bolt hit them.
Sapphire leaps up, gripping onto one of the wolf-statue’s ears; slinging herself around to plant a foot into the crossbow as the goblin attempts to take another shot — then brings down her smaller pickaxe onto the goblin’s throat, slicing through the artery and giving her stone a coat of boiling blood.
Granite releases a roaring rumble of stone, like gears grinding together — and presses itself up from the ground, pushing the claw back as it does.
The apparition screams in annoyance and grips, trying to dig sharp crystal into unyielding stone flesh.
Granite refuses to care, putting their large hands onto the two middle digits of the apparition, ripping the hand apart with such a force that it follows up the arm and the creature pulls it out, leaking freezing-cold mist instead of blood.
Granite does not waste the chance, pulling itself along the ground to plunge a fist into the Omara Summoner’s chest, fracturing the bones and sending the orc hurtling through the air to land on the hard stone.
Both Onyx and Quartz struggle with the singular goblin; who seems always a step ahead of them. It laughs with every missed swing of the pickaxes, every failed swipe of a stone fist.
It ducks and weaves between the two STR Guardians like it can see every movement made before it happens.
The goblin boss before had a weakness to cha-based attacks. Is this goblin strong against STR? Because it seems almost effortless.
Utterly predictable. STR Neophytes against a DEX Pathed is a recipe for failure.
Listen closely; each attribute is a counter to two attributes but is countered by two others.
In this case; you’re seeing the results of a DEX counter to a STR user. You are fortunate that the right abilities can salvage a counter when used effectively.
Your ’Granite’ was a counter to the WIS-based Summoner, for example.
Onyx slams his pickaxe down over and over, then throws it away onto the ground. Red energy starts to rise around him, and he puts out his fists. The goblin, smelling blood in the water, jumps towards the defenceless guardian, who raises his fist up in the air.
[ Goblin’s Wrath I ] is activated.
Onyx brings his fist down like a sledgehammer, the goblin used to his normal speed; only Onyx has just doubled his strength.
Onyx almost seems to grin.
The goblin stabs out.
Onyx brings his fist inwards.
The goblin’s eyes go wide — but his skull goes wider, ripped apart by the stone-fist of Onyx.
The nose is the first to crumple inwards, then the rest of the facial bones. He drives the green creature into the floor and then further, carving it into the ground like a mason. It twitches; death came so fast it didn’t register.
Onyx doesn’t stop — he brings down another blow to the skull, his fist a hammer to the floor’s anvil. The brain matter has nowhere to go but up, and like a fountain it splatters on his front.
Like skittles in a hydraulic press.
He stands, picking a piece of goblin-brain from his shoulder and throwing it away.
If it wasn’t evident already, abilities are where the true power lies. Each Path has access to an array of different abilities. Two paths make a Class. Is this all going in or going over your head?
The guardians look at each other. Onyx and Quartz on the left, Granite and Sapphire on the right. A thick tension rises alongside the body-silence. Neither side moves a stone, not even a pebble.
Alright, well done — all of you. If you think you can move on, go for it, but I’m not going to force you.
The tension seems to simmer; but before it boils over, Onyx turns and starts walking further into the Courtyard. Quartz follows behind him, and the other two seem to fall in as well.
I guess they’re kinda like kids. They haven’t been alive long, don’t know where they stand.
All four of them look back; right in Caau’s direction.
Okay, okay. Not kids, sorry.