Kaden jogged up the stairs into the arena and rapidly took in the battle below. A young man with straw-colored hair and rusted armor fought a [Mage]. At least, he was giving it a good effort. The Mage was level twenty eight, the man was level twenty four and doing well given the difference.
He blocked the strikes of green lightning the [Mage] blasted. And with each blow, he screamed. “You! You took everything from me.”
“Are you sure you have the right person?” the Mage answered, using every advantage to blast his foe.
“You destroyed my village. You killed my parents. And my betrothed. And my goats!” The man charged, blocking a spell. His sword drank in mana.
“Doesn’t ring a bell.” The Mage stopped. “Wait, are you from the south east plain? A real shithole on the edge of the firelands?”
“No.” The young man lunged, drawing blood, then fell back under a withering assault. “I’m from Slevorka! The goat bells! You defiled the cathedral. You broke the Bray of a Thousand Goats!”
“Wait!” The Mage held up a glowing green hand. “That, I sort of remember. Huge cathedral, covered in onyx demons that breathe fire? I destroyed two villages near there.”
“No.” The young man braced himself. “Slevorka. Remember that name.”
“I’m sorry, I really can’t. I destroy a lot of villages, I’m sure yours was in there somewhere. Would it make you feel better if I apologize for killing your brother?”
“Mother!” The man screamed.
The crowd shouted, some staring at the figures in the dirt, some at the projection high above that echoed everything the warriors said and did.
Kaden leaped over the railing and into the arena. “Hi. I’m Kaden Birch. Got a moment?”
The Mage looked his way. “I’m fairly sure you’re supposed to wait your turn. That’s what puts the ‘turn’ in tournament. Two on one isn’t fair.”
“I’m in the middle of a [Veageance Quest],” the young man said. “Would you mind waiting until after I’ve used my ultimate skill to ask questions?”
“Real quick, I’m looking for two [Necromancers], Sevin and Serta. Twins, dress in black, Sevin’s actually fun and has a bunch of skeletons, Serta—”
“Is just fine,” Sara said, joining him. “Don’t listen to Kaden, she’s quite pleasant.”
“Oh, great. Three was awkward, four is just unpleasant,” the Mage said. “Was this a battle royale and I missed the notice? I thought it was one on one, the brat and me, to the death, for his Goat-ville. Either of you ever hear of Goat-ville?”
“Slevorka!” The man screamed in frustration.
“Never heard of it,” Kaden said. “Look, I’m not even talking to you two. I’m talking to them.” He pointed to the arena full of people. “Any of you seen the Necromancer twins, either of them, send a bird to the Necrosium or me. You have my contact information now.”
Sara took his hand. “And if you’re in need of shipping services or poisonous snakes, look up S&K Holdings! Thanks, now back to the fight. Go on, you and you, kill each other for whatever reason you have.”
“He destroyed my home!” the man shouted. “I swear before the system.”
Heard and acknowledged. Gvelly Drick Ein Mont destroyed goat-ville.
“Slevorka!”
Sara’s demeanor changed. “You. Dick-In-Mouth. Did you destroy goat-ville?”
The Mage gave a huff of exasperation. “Do you have any idea how many small villages I destroy in a year? I can hardly be expected to remember—I don’t like the way you’re looking at me. Tangling with an [Ether Mage] is a surefire way—”
[Anthem of the End] broke out. Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] and dodged an arc of green lightning, then slammed Remembrance into the mage’s ankle. Green mana flashed into existence as the mage armored himself.
Kaden responded with [Mana Spike] then [Mana Drain], tearing mana out of the Mage and giving it to Sara. Blood gushed from Kaden’s mouth as [Anthem of the End] grew stronger with every moment, but Sara’s swords slashed over and over, while Kaden used [Mana Spike] to keep the mage crippled.
You have slain the [Ether Mage] Gvelly Drick Ein Mont.
You have gained experience.
“No!” The young man fell to his knees. “I’ve trained for years for this moment. Swore I would see him dead. The things I did to become a [Mage Executioner] have stained my soul. And for nothing.”
Kaden pointed to the dead mage. “He’s dead, that’s all that counts. You going to loot the corpse or not? It’s a perfectly good corpse. Bet he’s got a cool spellbook. You could sell it and with, probably four hundred thousand more spellbooks like it, resettle goat-ville.”
Sara chimed in, “Or you could move to Ashiton. People with stained souls get fifty percent off their settlement fee. I’ll send you information when we form the resettling parties.”
Kaden shoveled the mage’s corpse into Inventory. “Come on, I’ll buy you some food, uh—Glen Roberts.”
Glen looked lost. “What am I going to do? I was keeping the memory of Goatville—Slevorka—alive.”
“S&K Holdings has a cargo ship. Have you ever considered becoming a sailor? Or a pirate?” Sara asked. “I’ll give you contact information for the ship as well, and send a bird to the [Captain].”
###
Three arenas later, Kaden felt like he’d gotten the message out to all of Omnor. Someone had to know where the twins were. Someone had to have seen them. And he was fairly sure no one could have predicted the disruption to the games. “We’ll go back and do it tonight when there’s more attendance.”
“Veto!” Sara said. “Evening bouts are level seventy-five to a hundred. All of us together could be slain versus a seventy-five. We were so fortunate the lowest rank battles are this early.”
“Fate smiles on us,” Ashi said. “But the Thread did not react.”
They sat in a market outside an arena, positioned so if guards chose to intercede, Sara could give them a thousand reasons—and points of damage—why it would be better to leave them be.
Trumpet rang out everywhere all across the city, and the crowds in the market gasped.
Ashi was listening. “A new Hunt comes. We should watch and learn of this Great Hunt.”
Everywhere, floating eyes soared through the air searched for the scavengers, and projected their images for bystanders.
Kaden couldn’t care less. “I have a better idea. While the city is busy watching scavengers hunt for Dragon Testicles, we can get to the Necrosium.” While he was waiting, he summoned the [Falcrow]. “They’re having a scavenger hunt, and you are the ultimate scavenger. I won’t tell you what to do, but I will say there’s going to be a lot of frustrated, angry people if, say, someone swoops in and takes their shiny prize. Don’t bring it to me. Drop it in a volcano. Stick it straight up someone’s chimney. Whatever causes the most trouble.”
*Eager.*
The [Falcrow] flapped off, soaring over Omnor in the dark.
He looked around, and found the others had already headed toward the Necrosium. He ran to catch up, reaching them as they passed Trade-Rite. “Go on, I need to buy something.”
Trade-Rite’s lines were short, and Kaden quickly made his way in, where he traded Dick-in-Mouth’s enchanted robes for two skill scrolls. [Negotiation] said it was a deal that heavily favored Trade-Rite, and that was exactly what Kaden wanted, a fast deal.
One thing he understood was that the value of any given skill depended on what it oculd do for you. He quickly absorbed [Detect Lies] and [Read Emotions].
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
[Detect Lies]
You can sense when someone isn’t telling the truth. Higher levels will make this more accurate, and even give you a sense of what is being lied about.
[Read Emotion]
Many creatures display emotion for those able to read it. This skill will give you hints of what is truly being felt based on body language.
Kaden activated [Stealth Aura] and left Trade-Rite, running through the streets to catch up with his Party. From down the street he spotted them approaching the Emporium—and the trio of level forty Emporium guards closing in. *Ambush incoming,* He sent to Sara.
*I know. The Horror is hungry,* Sara sent back.
Sure it was, but for level forties? Probably not. Kaden sprinted, still wrapped in [Stealth Aura] as he closed on them.
The Necrosium stood not two blocks away, ringed by dozens of [Tomb Champions] and even a pair of [Walking Graveyards].
“You! You are to come with me to the Broker Diggus Bikus’s Sky Villa—” The lead guard stopped his speech as Kaden slammed into him, lifting the man off his feet and sprinting onward.
You have obtained a Flesh Ram.
He sure as hell had, and didn’t stop until he slammed into the Necrosium wall, throwing bone fragments.
You have inflicted 600 points ramming damage on the wall and your ram.
The level forty shook off the damage and lunged to his feet, drawing a two-handed sword. “You—”
A [Walking Graveyard] tackled the man, wrapping him in vines, while [Carrion Crows] tore at his face. Kaden was already wrapped in [Stealth Aura] and sprinting back to his party, who were facing off against the remaining forties, who looked quite confused about what had happened to their leader.
He sprinted past, then slid to a stop and this time, aimed for the [Ranger].
At the last moment, she sensed something and leaped backwards, but [Moment of Speed] let Kaden adjust, picking her up, bow and all.
“Look out! He’s got [Battering—” Kaden slammed her head into the wall and leaped backwards as skeletons swarmed the [Ranger]. Before he could head back, Sara sprinted past into the Necrosium, followed by Eve, and Ashi. She stopped outside and turned to face the level forty [Mage] who had followed them. “I wish to test myself against him.”
“This is not wise,” Kaden said in her same clipped manner. “I would counsel you not to risk yourself.”
Kaden noted the [Mage] had stopped at the edge of the Necrosium’s territory. “Hi. I’m Kaden Birch. I’m looking for the twins the Emporium stole. Do you know where they are?”
“Come with me,” the Mage said. “Diggus knows everything. He can find everything.”
“Can he find your corpse?” Ashi asked. But she pulled at Kaden’s hand, and together they stepped back further and further into the Necrosium.
You have helped defeat the [Slash Master] Elvu Rindel.
You have gained experience.
You have helped defeat the [Mage] Nor Indel.
You have gained experience.
“Sara!” A woman called. Dannae. “Where’s the freak of nature? There he is. And are these friends?”
“They are. Ashi and Eve are Party members who’ve come back to help us find the twins.” Sara didn’t seem the least bit worried that the last time they were in the presence of necromancers, she’d wound up deadish.
“Duggarn was sure you’d come straight here when you were resurrected and that you’d be furious and in a mood to fight. He had explit orders to trap you, but not harm you.” Dannae looked to Kaden like she wasn’t sure he was less enraged.
“Not happy about it, but not looking for a fight,” Sara said.
“Greetings, Great Necromancer.” Ashi bowed. “We are here to restore [Fate]. Your loss has broken the weave of Fate, and we will not stop until your warriors are found.”
Danna smiled in a way that said she didn’t know Ashi. “What can you do that every Centurion in the Necrosium can’t?”
“This.” Ashi drew out the [Thread of Fate], now a pink fiber of mana that whipped back and forth like an intestinal worm in search of a good intestine. “It is no longer golden. It reacted when we encountered the Emporium guards. There is no question they had encountered the twins.”
Danna snapped her fingers and a set of skeletons came rushing over. “I want both corpses that were just brought in taken to a laboratory. Come with me. We’ll find out what they knew.”
A few minutes later, Kaden paced back and forth while Dannae worked.
“Would you please stop?” Eve asked. “You’re making me nervous with your nervousness.”
Ashi stepped in front of him. “You do not gain experience by the foot. Rest.”
“Where’s your Skully?” Dannae asked.
Kaden took the minature sized skull out of his Inventory. “We found the chip in my abdomen, but he didn’t fully regrow.”
Dannae looked at the minature monster and shrugged. “Put him in the bone bucket to feed while we talk it over with these two.” She grinned as Kaden dropped the corpse of Dick-In-Mouth on a table. “More is always better. You have things you want to ask him?”
“No. But there’s never a wrong time to grab a corpse, is there? I didn’t actually need a corpse, but you never know when they’re going to come in handy.”
“Always handy! And a [Mage]? We’ll let his soul go on to Mortis, but those mana impregnated bones are perfect.” Dannae waved her hand, and vines grew out from the table, stripping flesh from the body.
Eve turned away and wretched, which caused Ashi to puke as well.
Sara tapped her foot. “How much longer is this going to take?”
“Patience. Getting rid of the fleshy bits is just step one of making a Tomb Champion. As for these two, spirits aren’t really my area of expertise, but Duggarn will deal with them momentarily.” As Danae spoke, the [Mage]’s bones began to creak and crack. “Here we go!”
Bone by bone, she drew spares from the bone barrel and melded them, making the resulting bones thicker and stronger and larger.
Kaden tossed a growing Skully out. Skully’s skull was misshapen and soft as it worked to absorb bones and grow. “Sorry, little guy, we need these.”
“Do the toes, I’ll handle work on the spine.” Dannae said.
A few minutes later, the door the laboratory swung open and Duggarn GraveBreaker strode in, an army of midget skeletons trailing him. “I have to confess. I expected you back but not like this. Not now, and gods, boy, were you born to be this?”
Kaden worked side by side with Danae as she split, enlarged, and mended vertabrae. “Oh, we killed a [Mage] earlier and you know they have so much mana in their bones.”
“I saw your message. Hell, all of Omnor is now more interested in who the twins are than who won the duel of revenge between the Deadly Pirate Roberts or Dick-In-Mouth.” Duggarn shook his head. “Who is it you want questioned?”
Ashi explained about the [Thread of Fate] and how it responded to the guards. “Never doubt this, they have been close to your ‘twins.’”
Duggarn nodded. “These two are just hired help. This isn’t your fault, until level fifty most struggle to read alignment on [Identify]. While I have no qualms about sending souls to Mortis, I’m not convinced this will yield the answers we need.”
“We have plenty of bones,” Dannae said. “What are you thinking?”
“Perhaps instead of threats, we should ask what reward would entice the answers we want,” Eve said. “Level forties. Not high enough to be Faction members, but close enough to fifty they’re probably beginning to worry about their [Nemesis].”
Duggarn opened a spell book he drew from Inventory. “[Ethereal Communication].”
Ghostly after-images popped up from the two corpses.
“Now, no screaming, or it’s straight to Mortis’s Court with the both of you.” Duggarn looked from ghost to ghost. “Which of you saw the twins? The one that helps gets a resurrection. The one that doesn’t gets added to the bone bucket.”
“I saw them in Diggus’s Villa!” the right hand ghost screamed. “And I was coming straight to you to tell the truth.”
The other spirit’s jaw fell open. “You were not. You said ‘At least it’s those two and not me. And then the hammer idiot showed up and Diggus stopped questioning them.”
“Hammer Fool,” Ashi said. “He is not dumb, but his decisions mock all reason.”
Kaden swore under his breath. “I was at the Villa. I was on the same island at the same time.”
“You had a Quest of your own,” Duggarn said, before turning his attention back to the ghosts. “What was Diggus questioning them about?”
“They both claim to have the artifact he’s after, and both claim to not have it. Diggus thought killing them would motivate truth. Then he thought having them kill each other would do it. They just took turns giving each other anyeurisms.” The ghost threw up ethereal hands, which drifted away from its main body.
Duggarn didn’t seem infuriated as much as pleased. “How long ago was this?”
“A week. He doesn’t dare keep them in one place,” left ghost said.
With a wave, Duggarn forced both back into their corpses. “Dannae, have the skeleton crew drag them to the temple. And stop prepping that corpse. I know you want to show the boy, but only a proper sacrifice is allowed.”
Kaden knew exactly what Duggarn meant. “You want his loot for Mortis? It’s a spellbook of Etheric Aura charms and a scroll called ‘A hundred and one unique ways to destroy a village.’ What do these guys have against villages?”
“A hundred, two hundred souls, together, might have all the XP of a single level twenty-five. But the low levels won’t fight back,” Duggarn said. “So rather than risk a battle against someone who might pose a threat, you master making it look like a demon cult, or a nasty monster spawn.”
“Give me the spellbook,” Ashi said. She took it from Kaden and leafed through it. “There is nothing of value.”
Kaden offered her the scroll.
“I will not soil myself with his foul magic.” Ashi nodded to the Necromancer. “I do not worship this ‘Mortis’ but let him have his sacrifice.”
Duggarn took both and formed a shrill white portal that drained color from the room.
Kaden’s health began to tick downward just from the presence, until Duggarn tossed both scroll and book through, and closed it. When he turned, he nodded to Dannae. “Make it strong. Make it very strong.”
Kaden summoned Trinity. “Why can’t you make a [Tomb Champion] that oozes acid? Trinity has poisonous razor scales. Why can’t we sharpen the rib bones? Or put metal points on them?”
“Why not [Torrod] jaws?” Sara asked. “Don’t get me wrong, a [Tomb Champion] is scary, but one that could take bites out of you? Even worse.”
“Or one that carries [Plague]?” Eve asked. “Ooooh! What if they had a nest of [Glass Spiders] in their chest and could throw them?”
Dannna continued her work. “It’s a difficult balance to find. You have to start with strong skeletons just to be able to reach the [Bone Behemoth] stage. Dick here was a [Mage], which means his bones were exposed to mana so dense they’re a different class. But everything we graft on degrades the bones. [Plague] would be very interesting, but the old ways are the old ways for a reason.”
“Duggarn. I need something,” Kaden said. “I need your Priest of Mortis’s help. My parents won’t speak to me again for a year, but the System said to seek out previous wielders of my war hammer. Traugma the [Hellscaper], Mascasius, a [Reaper], Gleb a [Terror Gnome], or Malkoriathorax (Dark Lord).”
“Ymersist will arrange it. I want to take another run at Diggus. I want him to look me in the eye and know it’s never going to end until I get the twins back. And he’s never going to get the skulls. It was a gift from Mortis to their father.” Duggarn watched as a set of his midget skeletons dragged the Emporium employees out, working as a team. “Bigger isn’t always better.”
“Bigger is always better,” Dannae answered. “You. Priestess. Are we going to talk about building a [Plague] monster or are we going to build a [Plague] monster?”
Eve wiped her mouth on her sleeve. “We are most certainly going to build.”
If what made Eve happy was building a monstrosity that would spread [Plague], Kaden could only feel bad for his enemeis. But right now, he had to business to attend to.