The wagon train from the [Druid] Grove carried dozens of Beasts, perhaps hundreds, and Kaden quickly set to work, felling trees with Remembrance and splitting them to form a crude bridge that crossed the lake.
The lead wagoneer wasn’t a [Druid] at all, but a commoner. He checked Kaden over and stated the obvious. “Delivery from the Grove. Some kind of…sacrifice?” The word dripped with fear.
Kaden couldn’t blame him. The man had no class, no level, and Kaden could probably fracture his skull with a backhand. Combine that with delivering hordes of Beasts? Fear was reasonable. “How many men in your train?”
“Five,” he answered nervously. “Head Druid Olidar knows we were coming here.”
Coins would solve everything. “Here’s fifty silver. You pull a wagon up, I unload it, you bring the next one.”
Coins really did solve this. One by one, Kaden dragged cages up and through the Dungeon Door, unleashing all manner of Beasts. Tandy had prioritized the number of species over size. Dozens of birds. So many types of snake. Cattle, he’d never even thought of a cow or bull. Goats, ducks, two more deer.
For hours, Kaden shuttled beasts in. And near evening, when he unloaded the last, Kaden offered them a handshake, then watched the wagons roll away. Deep in the dungeon, one [Bearzerker] became four. Three [Flying Scorpions] spawned.
The Entity Seed count shot upward.
100x [Entity Seeds] (92 aquired)
It was well worth the sacrifice. Every creature that died there could be respawned immediatley, though Kaden wouldn’t. Not yet. He unleashed Trinity, and then, with the newly available Directed Mana, Kaden began to build a maze around the scorpion lair in the cave. Every maze branch spiraled out to a treasure room, or a new monster.
And as he worked, Kaden had a new idea.
He forced a room into existence and then used the basis of a trap to trigger a door if a pannel in the design was pressed. A hidden room. A treasure room, with a sword. Another with a bow. Another with fine leather boots. The last contained dozens of tiny scorpions, because every dungeon should contain at least one room designed to punish over-eager adventurers.
Eventually, Kaden would divide it in two, and have one punishment room and one treasure room based on where they pressed. As he worked, he spoke to the core, asking if it liked a particular adjustment or if a different monster would be better. Trinity offered more opinions, sending the distinct feeling that what she really wanted was another TriTerror. Kaden spawned three more and sent her off to play. Or murder, which for Trinity was a lot like playing.
As his dungeon grew, every successive room took more Directed Mana, but also allowed it to absorb more ambient Mana, which would make the area safer and Surges weaker.
“We’ll get you a proper lieutenant,” Kaden said.
He knew the right one. So many things Kaden needed to do. Travel to the blight to return the necromancer’s inheritance. Find more entity seeds. Figure out what kind of bond would raise his taming skills.
Nothing took precedence over Naski. The Demon’s daughter was priority one, and right after her was also Naski, Naski,and Naski. At last, the finishing touches were done, and Kaden called Trinity back. She emerged with one TriTerror at her side and the head of another hanging from her mouth, so she’d made friends and had them for dinner, all in all, a success. “It’s time to go.”
Darkness and the time of monsters hung over the land as Kaden emerged from his dungeon, this time, leaving the door unlocked. One of Ashi’s Messenger Dragons swooped in to settle on his shoulder, whispering in her voice. “Your patience is appreciated. The crisis is past.”
When he reached the Farmhouse, Sara sat at the table, a wide scroll map spread on the table. Plans for the village. These plans included buildings ringed in orange dots. “What are these?”
“I have limited ability to ask for Quests from the Brokers for Stateri. The first was of course for level forty Adventurers. The second was for a [Scout] to stealth in and map the town. The orange structures are ones with tier one illusions, more than enough for any commoner to ignore them.” Sara tapped one in particular. “This is the summoning circle where the Demon’s Daughter we faced was brought over. It’s underground.”
Kaden looked over the plans again. “That’s a lot of buildings to hide. What do they need with all of those that the houses wouldn’t provide?”
“Training halls. Lairs for lesser demons under the cult’s control. We were very fortunate something worse than the Daughter didn’t arrive. Or perhaps she had sacrificed the lesser demons to prepare the way, and we arrived at exactly the wrong time.” Sara pointed to one side. “I want to hit from here. I want to prevent the Cultists getting access to these lairs. Whatever is inside we can deal with after they’re dead.”
“Where will Naski be?”
“That will be your task to determine. I’ve been quite clear with our current volunteers, any Demon’s Daughter, Naski or not, is to be left to you.”
That gave Kaden hope. “How many volunteers do we have?”
“That depends. The Poteri have [Mage] mercenaries we can rent for Faction tokens. Cutter and her party will join us. Your friend Mara, Ban, a [Berserker] and some [Thief] are also coming. I have a level forty mage from the Quests. I’m hoping for another [Ranger]. We have melee covered with you, I, and Cutter.”
Kaden thought about it. “I have three Faction tokens from our gnome massacre. Can we trade with other factions to get [Shields]?”
“That’s brilliant and obvious, and I’m ashamed I didn’t think. [Factions] don’t often offer advice on dealing with other Factions. Can you transfer me the tokens?”
How? Oh, yes, he’d done it with Trade Tokens during the surge. The key was simply informing the System.
You have transfered three Poteri Faction Tokens to Sara Scylla.
“I’ll make it happen. Eve and Ashi should help with tokens as well. There’s more to these kinds of quests than I ever imagined. Negotiations for payment. Arranging backup if we fail. Having a plan for a secondary team to recover our corpses. Food. Transportation, rewards. At least the Stateri are funding this.” Sara sounded more delighted than upset. “Tomorrow I’m going in person to the Grove to talk to [Rangers].”
“I’ll go. I dropped off some pollen with them for evaluation, they should have an offer ready. Plus, Mara promised to help convince a level 40 [Ranger].” It was time for her to make good on that promise.
Sara considered something for a moment. “There’s a wrinkle you probably aren’t aware of. The 40s will only engage if there’s a Demon Lord. Ignus sent me an entire scroll on it, but let me save you the trouble. It’s bad form to deny someone the opportunity to grow.”
“I don’t care about the opportunity—”
“Sooner or later we’ll run into adventurers struggling to reach fifteen. The temptation to drag them out at night and power level them is high, but that will only endanger them long term.” Sara put away the map so she could face him. “It’s not about the Exchange Principle. It’s that rushing an Adventurer to Twenty Five means they enter a wider world without a solid foundation.”
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Kaden kept quiet, thinking about the consequences. “And these 40s will want to give us opportunities? Or they just won’t engage unless the threat is high enough level?”
“Both. Unless we’re ten levels under, don’t expect them to swoop in. And Naski may have leveled, I don’t know Demonic Progression scales.”
Kaden would deal with that. He’d nearly killed her before he was level twenty five. If she went to thirty one, the difference wouldn’t be nearly the seismic shift he’d experienced. And that was before factoring in [Binding Mark]. “When does this all go down?”
“We’ll go to the Grove tomorrow, spend a day staging, and hit them day after tomorrow if all goes well. It will go well. It has to.” Sara’s confidence bled away the longer she spoke.
As Kaden tried to think of something to say, a Messenger Bird dipped through the roof and into the room to land next to Kaden. He listened to it. “That was Mr. Veela. It appears our Royal Guests want to meet with me tomorrow. He didn’t say ‘if I’m available.’”
“Is that a problem?” Sara asked.
“Yes. I want to go with you. I need to prioritize what will help get Trella back. My best hope lies in Naski, and that means crushing her Cult.”
“I will handle the Rangers. Ask Ashi to stay with you. She’s got the right attitude. Eve will go with me. I promise, I’ll make them help.”
Kaden mentally informed the System, giving Sara rights to negotiate on his behalf. “Get whatever makes sense for the pollen. I’d say I don’t care, but I do. If I can sell it, if I can trade it, I don’t care what we get as long as it helps.”
Sara seemed lost for a moment before she spoke again. “If the King or Queen ask for something out of line, kick them out. Birch Haven had a waiting list. Mr. Vela will hate it but you should have a reputation for punishing misbehavior.”
“I can do that.” Kaden wanted to leave.
Instead he pulled Sara into a hug. Words weren’t needed. The only thing that would make the moment better was having a demon’s oozing core sitting on the table. Or having Trella there to stab it.
Ok, there were a few things that would make it better.
Eventually, Kaden let her go, and headed to his bedroom. “Trinity, move. You’re not allowed on the bed.”
The TriTerror was already longer than the bed. She already weighed more than Kaden. He could practically ride her if she kept growing. Trinity rolled off the bed and onto the floor, then laid one head down so her serpent tongue could flick out and touch him.
While he lay there, he summoned the [FalCrow] and explained about Birch Haven. About the Druids. About the Cult. “What do you think we should do?”
“Kill them all,” it answered in Eve’s voice.
Kaden nodded. “That’s the plan. You’re welcome to help. You don’t have to stay here anymore. If you have someone to terrorize, as long as it isn’t at Birch Haven, have at it.”
He triggered the fairy lamps to cut off and rolled over.
The [FalCrow] continued to watch from the foot of the bed, whispering, “Kill them all. Kill them all. Kill them all.”
It was the perfect lullaby to send him to sleep.
###
Sara and Eve left before dawn. Kaden had cooked breakfast for everyone. Eve hadn’t spoken to Kaden except to thank him for the food and he didn’t push the matter. His focus was on understanding what, exactly, the King and Queen’s requests would be.
Ashi rose a few hours later and grumbled her way through leftovers, but afterwards, she summoned the [Assistant] and set it to work cleaning the kitchen. “We must agree on what will not happen.”
“I’m not going into a dungeon with them. I’m not selling the Holding, or Birch Haven. I’m not interested in working for them.” Kaden stopped. “Anything else?”
“His daughters are two years younger. Are you interested in marrying one of them?” Ashi waited for his answer.
“No! Marriage is for people in their hundred and thirties. You really think they’d—” He shook his head. “Fine, add it to the list. Seriously, is that a thing?”
“The choice is yours. I suggest you also resolve you will not give to him any treasures, allow him passage to the heart of the Dungeon. As the Dungeon Master the choice is yours, but tradition sas the only thing you grant him is the chance to bleed.”
This was what Kaden loved about her. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Trinity left the farmhouse, headed for FangWood to hunt, while Vip lounged in the morning sun, paws up in the air. Kaden dragged her animated [Mana Rat] skeleton out and tossed it in the dirt for Vip to chase.
The air was already turning cooler, the days shorter.
Ashi headed down toward Echo Lake, and he sensed when she opened the Dungeon Door to check on his changes. For now, he focused on making new split railings. The destroyed tower and crushed quarters, he knew what to do, sending the [FalCrow] off to Lark Willis. If possible, he wanted Lark to work on everything. The bird usually couldn’t wait to be free, but this time he had to actually tell it to go.
While he relaxed by butchering trees and arranging their corpses to mark his domain, a Messenger Bird arrived with the guest details. Kaden made adjustments to Dominion—then changed his efforts, instead building a crude fence that led from the Far Portal circle to the edge of the Holding. The section of fence there he removed. Now there would be no question how guests were to enter or leave.
Was it possible to make a one-way FarPortal?
Was it possible to make a cage that could withstand Centurions?
Was it possible to set it up so that if someone came uninvited, they would be trapped until Dominion destroyed them?
All worth checking, and a certain Mage at the portal was eager for [Storm Condor] feathers Kaden really did want to sell. A little information could ensure who wound up with the resulting equipment, for the right price, and of course, he wanted Munoz to negotiate what crafter got the [Set Bonus] from producing the set.
There simply weren’t enough hours in the day to deal with everything and still enjoy life, so some business had to suffer. Trella would feel different. And even now, Kaden was certain success drew closer.
Without warning, Dominion flared near the front gate. Someone had taken the long road to the Holding, which usually meant traveling tradesmen or caravans. Kaden headed around the front of the farmhouse—and stopped.
Six wagons sat out front, each covered by a floating cloud that provided protection from the sun. Sitting atop the front two were the King and Queen. The King’s armor was literally made of snakes, living snakes that had sunk their fangs either into his flesh or some layer of leather. Given that the King was a Centurion, Kaden wouldn’t make bets.
They hung like fringe from his arms as he rose from his throne in the wagon. “Why are my servants not allowed? Do we not pay enough? Is our presence not enough?”
“Your servants weren’t on the list,” Kaden said. “Line up, I need names. You are clear to go around the farmhouse and to the Far Portal. The wagons will have to stay, there’s not room for them, and even less room when you get to FangWood, and that’s before the Dungeons. Servants, we have empty quarters on the far end I’ll show you to. There are kitchens as well, but you’ll be better served by using the FarPortal to Birch Haven.”
One by one, he admitted them and showed them the non-crushed quarters that had been used by the Portal Herald’s servants. Then he approached the King and Queen. “If you’ll follow me? You’ve read Mistress Scylla’s briefing?”
“We have.” The Queen wasn’t haughty, simply acknowledging. “Our daughters will go with us. My youngest son isn’t ready for a level twenty five dungeon, but we are adept at protecting him.”
Kaden hesistated.
These weren’t low level adventurers who could be threatened into behaving, and he didn’t know or trust these people with a dungeon they could easily overpower. “Well, if you need to leave him with the servants, that’s something I’ll allow.”
The King spoke softly to his daughters, and they fell into formation behind the Queen, while the youngest son, who Kaden had taken for a servant, stayed right behind his father. The King approached Kaden, who wasn’t the least bit afraid of his reptile armor. “Do you not know respect? You have not been alive a century. I have seen five.”
“Respect is earned. This way, your highness.” Kaden put away Remembrance and summoned Trinity to his side. “Where’d the dragon go? It’s not on the Holding and it’s not in FangWood, I know that much.”
“Tempus goes where and when Tempus desires. The Time Dragon is not bound as we are.”
Kaden smiled as Trinity emerged from the woods near Echo Lake at his mental call. It was safer with her beside him. “Trinity, here, girl. Trinity hunts the outerwoods of FangWood. Don’t harm her, she’s not interested in you. If you go straight through FangWood, you’ll emerge at a mini boss, the Fell Woodsman, level twenty five.”
The King thought for a moment. “A worthy challenge for my daughters. We will let them clear this FangWood, then proceed deeper into the complex.”
Kaden gave a short bow. “Then it’s a pleasure having you. The Dungeons may be overloaded with monsters and loot, they haven’t been properly run in over a decade, except to check to see if they’re erratic.”
“That is exactly what I’m hoping. My wife hopes for monsters. I hope for treasure. We both hope our daughters will grow stronger and learn from watching a true battle.” He spoke softly to the boy. “My son will be a great [Mage] one day. Today he cannot participate, but he can learn by watching.”
“A great [Mage]?” Ashi surprised Kaden, hovering down slowly from over the farmhouse, then lightly dropping to her feet. “You are today the same kind of [Mage] you will be then. Your knowledge may grow. Your mana may grow, but the heart remains unchanged. Show me.”
The young man shook his head. “My ice will freeze you solid. I can’t risk it.”
“How about you use a small spell first? That way Ashi will be impressed and reconsider.” Kaden could only hope she’d catch on. “Ashi is a powerful [PolyMage] and a great judge of talent.”
The boy didn’t hesistate. “[Ice Blast]!”
A sliver of ice the length of one of Trinity’s claws appeared at the end of his hand, sailing toward Ashi.
She didn’t move as much as absorb it, drinking in the mana that made up the spell. Her fingertips turned blue, and then the palm of her hand. She caught Kaden’s eye, an eyebrow raised.
He gave her the signal. Whatever the boy did, Kaden was ready.
“Wonderful. Magnificent,” Ashi said. “Now, show me true power!”
The air temperature dropped fifty degrees.
A blizzard of white death exploded out straight at Kaden.