“We will soon face the enemy. I know that for many of you, this will be your first cavalry charge. Remember, the goal is to break through the line of heavy infantry and then crush the lighter forces behind them. As our momentum slows, we will turn and wheel away, cutting another swathe as we disengage. Are there any questions? You, private! Why are you shaking?”

“I’m… I’m scared Sarge.”

“Remember soldier. Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway. Move out!”

--Recorded conversation, Lenorian Army. From: “Saddle Up: A Cavalry Story.” AC 1428.

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"Me for her. Let her go and I'll turn myself in."

I’ve shifted the source of my voice in the water, trying to prevent the enemy from detecting my location. The corrupted guardian sits in his grotesque chair, the kelp having been replaced by glistening flesh. The water around him is slowly growing pinker and as I look closer, I figure out the source. The monster is slowly oozing blood into the water. As I speak, his head turns, trying to figure out the source of my voice. I wait with bated breath for his response, and he nonchalantly replies,

"Sure."

I almost jerk in the water, my stealthy swimming interrupted. That was… pretty simple? He follows up with,

"Just come over here and reveal yourself and I'll hand her over."

Ah, I knew it wasn't going to be that easy.

Luna is shaking her body no. Whatever the corruption has done to her is preventing her from vocalizing anymore. I would have expected her to at least try to teleport away, but I think that the fleshy vines impaling her limbs might be blocking that ability. I tear my gaze away from her and focus on the threat before me.

"How about you let her go first and then we can talk?"

The guardian lifts a hand and then places it under his chin as though he's considering my offer. He replies,

"What's to prevent you from just swimming away at that point? No, I think I'd rather my way of doing things. Unless you prefer to go back to the entertainment?"

He lifts a hand in the same motion as before. I quickly reply, wanting to stop Luna’s torture. I clamor,

"No, no. I'm sure we can figure something out."

A sick grin appears on his face. He must realize he is getting under my shell. I've been moving forward this entire time, swimming to get closer to where Luna is being held. Below, the corrupted are moving stone away from the blocked mining passage. I'm effectively surrounded by all sides and as my thoughts whir, I try to approach the problem from a different angle. I say,

"You wanted to talk earlier. I have to say, you're much more... clear than the last time we spoke."

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I remember the horrendous monstrosity I faced in the Deepwater dungeon. It could barely hold itself together, snapping in rage or directly attacking. That sort of response is what I've come to expect from all of the corrupted thus far, and this guardian is the only one that's shown me any different. The monster replies,

"Ah... yes. Well, I imagine that piece of me was still taking over the dungeon. There must have been [system] interference.”

He chuckles,

“Fighting does make conversation more difficult."

I almost snort before restraining the impulse. Conversation? The thing was trying to either kill or convert me the entire time. I manage to hold back that response as I swim closer. I'm about fifty meters away from where Luna is, and the distance is only growing shorter. The guardian says,

"Speaking of which. How was that piece of me destroyed? I was able to get a sense of..."

His deep voice distorts, almost snarling as he finishes,

"...DIVINE intervention."

Hmm. Curiouser and Curiouser. I don't know a whole lot about what corruption can do. All I have to fall back on is my own experience and the training I’ve received. Unfortunately, the training has amounted to, “the best ways to kill variants X, Y and Z.” But as I split my focus, I try to piece together more clues. I’m unnerved by how calm it appears; and this talk of separation between a main body and constituent parts is concerning. As I look at the thousands of monsters working diligently, I wonder if it could use that ability at will. If so, any of these creatures could become an intelligent attacker, ready to direct the others. I almost shudder in fear before managing to suppress the reaction. There's no time for that right now, I need to continue to distract him. Scrambling to come up with a question, I finally ask the obvious,

"So, what's your plan here?"

I can roughly gauge the strength of the creatures surrounding me. They must all be around my level because none of them are huge or clearing the blocked passage with ease. Last time I faced the guardian, he was level fifty-one. The working clamor interrupts my thoughts and I come to a quick realization. It doesn’t matter what his level is, he has a legion in support. Before he can respond with a quick rejoinder, I ask,

"Why use all of these weak creatures instead of a stronger force? Or are you hiding them, waiting for me to reveal myself?"

I'm twenty-five meters away, drawing closer.

There's a pause, and then I notice a slight vibration in the water. As I stare at the guardian, I realize the cause. The chuckle bursts from the monster’s chest and full-throated laughter erupts. The sound careens through the hall, and the blasphemous noise makes my cringe as I hear faint screams in the undertone. As it fades away he says,

"My forces here have nothing to do with you crab. It's merely a function of trying to remain hidden from the battle above. Any creatures over tier two are more easily detected at a distance. Though..."

As he pauses, he looks above to the blank ceiling, as though he can see through the stone all the way to the sea floor.

"...it seems as though my concerns are unwarranted."

A spike of worry flares, before I suppress it. That last comment was obvious bait. I’m sure the army is doing fine above us.

I'm ten meters away.

The guardian goes back to scanning the room. His almost whimsical tone is discarded, and an aura of command descends. It seems like he's getting serious.

"But enough stalling. Answer my question. How was that piece of me destroyed?"

Five meters away.

I send a message to Luna.

"Hey, hold on. When I cut you free, I need you to move away as quickly as possible."

There's no response through comms, but her body faintly shakes in a negative way. A flare of frustration wells in my stomach. There's no time for this right now!

"Hey! Listen to me! We'll get through this, but I need you to get out of here, okay?"

The shakes still and then stop.

Two meters away.

I consider my plan. It’s basic, it has to be in this situation. I cut Luna free, she teleports away and then I fight my way through to the exit. As doubts and fear well up inside, I let them pass through me. I will not fear. Fear is the mind killer. I raise an arm, readying my claw to [sever]. The pause in my response has been long enough for the guardian to inquire,

"Crab?"

As the first syllable leaves his mouth my attack descends, slashing through the vines holding Luna in place. I immediately pull her away as I yell,

"NOW! Go Luna!"

And receive no response.

Harsh laughter resounds behind me, and I whirl to look at the guardian. Slowly, as though mocking, he waves a hand and the kelp behind him parts. A ball of kelp moves forward and then splits open, revealing an impaled Luna once more. As I gape in horror, the Luna I have in my claw writhes and then dissolves, turning into plant life. It's all been a sham. I've been tricked from the beginning.

"So.... now that I've found you crab. Shall we continue our conversation or just skip to the part where I kill you?"

The monsters have frozen from their work, and I'm pierced by their dead stares. I look at my claws and see that my camouflage has fallen away, somehow nullified by direct contact with the enemy in front of me. I pull up my combat logs,

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[Corrupted Guardian Giant] level 51 has used [Kelp Mimic].

You have been deceived.

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And my thoughts firm. I don’t bother with stealth any longer, blasting [Mana Manipulation] and sending pings throughout the room. As it hits Luna, I’m able to verify its her, the rebounding mana returning a familiar signature. Looks like it’s time for plan B then.

I look at the leering figure before me and challenge,

"Let's do this. You and me, right now."

He lifts a hand to snap his fingers and the enemy front line steps forward. He replies,

"How about we make this a party?"