Travis the Second Lifer stood. “Travis. From Beaumont, Texas? I was the shopping cart attendant at the Piggly Wiggly. Killed in the box crusher while saving some bananas with only a few bad spots? Transported to this world as your champion?”
The god rubbed what Kaden perceived as a jaw. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“You said I was your chosen. The only hope against Malkoriatharax.” Travis’s voice fell with each word.
Kaden drew Remembrance. “Malkoriatharax was a wielder of my hammer. He’s dead. So, you’re done. Now, can we please leave the dungeon so I can reset it?”
“Hang on. I think I remember you.” The God’s outline kneeled down to take a closer look. “[Rose Repose] guy. Weren’t you were dead? Could have swore you were dead.”
Travis’s eyes bulged. “I’m your chosen! I saved half a pound of bananas from getting crushed and you said that showed I had the character needed. You chose me—”
“I’ve had a lot of chosen ones. It’s sort of a multiple choice thing, you know?” Rehendron spoke simply. “Well done, good job. You defeated the Dark Lord by…where are we?”
“A dungeon. He was hiding in a Dungeon,” Ashi said.
“By hiding in a dungeon. The [Prophets] foretold this. Probably. At least one of them must have. Well done, Travis. I’m proud of you. Go on about your life, hero, in this, your world you saved.” The God began to dim.
“No. You stole my life. I want to go back to Beaumont. No, Houston! No, Tulsa, Oklahoma! The big leagues!” Travis looked around. “If I still had the Gorgon Staff you gave me—”
“I don’t give those out. They’re dangerous,” Rehendron said. “And I don’t like your tone. I may not be in the top ten pantheons, but you’ve just gone from amusing to annoying. Everyone ready to die, just take two steps forward.”
Kaden pulled Trinity into his soul and took three steps back. “Lord—God—Rehendron, we’d be happy to take Travis outside. He’s spent a lot of time in [Rose Repose]. He’ll probably realize he can live comfortably the rest of his life if he just stops aggravating you.”
The God looked over. “No, he won’t. You’ve got prophet’s blood, you know, too.”
Kaden nearly collapsed as images hit him. Travis calling Rehendron over and over and over with a thousand different questions. When he regained control, Ashi and Trella held his arms and for some reason he was looking up at the dungeon ceiling. “What’s a reality show? Why are people stuck living in a house on an island? Why are they voting? Is one of them going to kill everyone else so he can have the only vote? That’s what I would do.”
Rehendron cleared his throat. “Travis. Swear before the System you will never call me again.”
“[Roses have Thorns!]” Travis shouted.
Vines exploded from the ground to wrap around the god. Kaden’s [Eldritch Shield] blocked the ones that nearly hit him, Trella left her Dark Deception behind and appeared in his shadow, while Sara’s swords and pseudopods blocked the ones that attempted to disembowel her and Eve.
Ashi—Kaden’s gut turned to ice as he looked at her. A thorn had speared her, and blood spread rapidly, soaking her wraps. “Eve!”
Kaden shouted it at the same time he summoned Trinity. “Trinity. Kill.”
*He’s got two levels on us and is a Second Lifer,* Sara broadcast with Mind Speech. *Don’t underestimate him.*
“What kind of Healer commands thorns?” Eve shouted as she worked on Ashi.
“I am chosen!” Travis screamed. “I bear the power of Nature, and roses will grow on your—”
Trinity hit him three different ways.
Thorns grew from the second lifer’s skin, stabbing her in the mouth, but Trinity wasn’t one to take into account personal injury, common sense, or chance of survival. Instead of backing off, her armored head bit down harder and shook.
“[Rose Repose]!” Travis screamed.
Crystals errupted, chipping Trinity’s beak and forcing her jaws open. She stumbled back as Sara’s horror bit down on one of the pedals, which began to shimmer and smoke. “It’s dissolving.”
“If I wagered, it would be that he’s going to come out refreshed,” Eve said. “Also, I’m out of mana. That [Killing Thorn] skill is deadly.”
Kaden used [Mana Well] to dump everything he could spare to Eve. “Any more and [Split Second] won’t work.”
The boss room began to glow as Ashi shone brighter and brighter. “He damaged the Dungeon Core in my abdomen. I am leaking mana and cannot stop it, so let us see if his chosen skills are my match.”
Kaden cut with the Levicon Blade. “Get ready. Sara, Eve, behind me. Trella, he’s going to come out hot.”
The crystaline rose eploded, throwing shards of crystal everywhere. Kaden wince as the Eldritch Shield didn’t block all of them. One dug into his ankle. [Fortress of Stone] let him remain standing, and Eve used [Life Transfusion] to force the slightest healing.
Lightning arrows blasted past Kaden as Sara shot.
“[Nightshade Cloud],” Travis shouted.
A cloud of black began to blossom out from Travis.
Trella’s [Dark Deception] advanced into the cloud and drew its sword, slashing him over and over while Travis screamed. The living shadow couldn’t be poisoned. Kaden dropped the Eldritch Shield and charged, slamming into Travis.
He swung the man and rammed him into the ground.
You have inflicted 431 points of damage on your ram and the floor.
Battering Ram was the best. Even better, Travis was momentarily stunned. Before he could recover, Kaden slammed the man’s head back into the floor over and over. “Ashi!”
“Quickly!”
Kaden rolled over and forced Travis up, using [Mana Drain] the whole time. All of which he poured to Eve. “We came to rescue you.” He threw the man forward.
Ashi became pure light, shining brilliant white. A beam of pure destruction errupted from her chest, striking Travis. The air grew rank with the stench of burning flesh as the waves of power grew stronger. Without warning, it cut off, and Ashi sagged, clutching her stomach.
“[Rose Repose]” Travis said through charred lips.
It didn’t activate.
“[Backstab!]” Trella buried her dagger in Travis’s back, then side-stepped his overhand swing. “[Frontstab!] Still not a skill, but it does make you bleed.”
The air in the room swirled.
Sara Scylla has activated [Speeding Wind]. Your health, mana regen and speed are boosted.
Blood errupted from Travis’s chest as a blast of red hit Travis. It started from Eve’s Bloodmoon staff and the beam shimmied and twisted like it was alive.
“Time for you to experience [Rescue Reset]!” Travis’s voice was barely understandible. He threw a shining golden coin into the air—and the [FalCrow] swallowed it, phasing away.
Travis fell to a knee. Phantom trumpets blared out everywhere as he gasped out, “It’s the [Final Countdown—”
He had no mana.
He had no blood.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
He had Trella’s dagger rammed down his throat. No, that was [EverCut], the weapon that did constant damage. Constant damage applied to an area where any damage was critical.
You have helped slay the [Rose Resurrectionist] Travis Moreham.
You have gained experience.
“Very nice.” Trella drew back her daggers and looted the corpse. Then looked up at the nebulous green afterimage watching them. “Got any [Shadow Cat] kittens?”
The god stood silent, looking to each of them. Like Demon Lord Asmodeus, his gaze had weight that made Kaden want to kneel.
Sara seemed unaffected. “Unless you need shipping services or poisonous snakes, this concludes our interaction with you. Let’s go.”
“Wait.” The God spoke and it became a command that stretched out eternity. “I got another second lifer arriving in a few weeks. I’m always looking for a stalwart band of companions. They get all the best loot. Interested?”
Sara shook her head. “No thank you. Would you like Travis’s corpse?”
“Yeah, he’s got this resurrection power. The moment a princess cries on him, or bleeds on him, or pisses on him, he comes back to life.” The God scooped up the corpse. “Never did see one cry or bleed on him. You—you’ve got a bit of divinity in you. And you are carrying a chunk.”
Kaden still had the hidden [Divinity] he’d stolen from the Rat God. “I’m not keen on giving it back to the Rat God. I know, I have to give it back for a bargain—”
“To a God. Not him specifically. Think on it.” Rehendron faded away.
Kaden searched the boss room and pulled a pile of shields aside. “Here.”
Ashi pressed her palm to a indentation, and a secret door opened, revealing the core. It was dark red with swirls of blue. “Not erratic. Yet. I do not wish to harm this dungeon with no proof.”
Kaden agreed. “The door’s open, we’ll shovel everything out and crate it while the dungeon resets.”
This time, the hours passed quickly, and soon enough, Kaden stepped out into the cold of a desert night. The dungeon door shut behind him. One silver circle after another formed on the door, ten in all.
“Rank ten. That’s level fifty mobs,” Sara said quietly. “How did it get to rank ten?”
“Directed Mana,” Ashi said, touching the door. “It received all he spent to hibernate. We will need to watch this dungeon closely. Perhaps it is stable, perhaps it is not. Time will show us.”
It was near dawn by the time all the shields were boxed, and mid-day before the last of them were hauled away. Sara led the party back to the FarPortal, while Vip rolled down sand dunes. Trinity napped in Kaden’s soul, her wounds healing. “Lunch is on me,” Sara said. “We have to go by the guild for me to report. Feel free to shop—oh, Kaden, BirchHome is closed to the public. There’s a meeting of [Saints] and it was the only place Mr. Dervish could get them to agree on. I hope that won’t be a problem?”
“Fine by me. Though I need to see him.” Kaden had Quests to fulfill.
Trella stopped by the portal. “We don’t steal loot in this party. Let me show you what we got from Travis and his gang. I’d rather do this in the desert than in the Guild. Keep in mind, all my equipment comes from the Sisters. I don’t want anything except XP.”
She spread an array of weapons and armor. “[Rose Gold Crescent Blades]. They never dull and boost plant powers. Sara’s [Gardening] skills might use them. This is a spear, but it requires the [Spear] skill to even unlock so I can identify. The armor has a health regen any time you’re in contact with any kind of plant.”
Sara used a sword to lift one of the necklaces. “‘For Annie, my love.’ These have some sort of charm on them. I don’t know what it does.”
Kaden took them off the end of the sword and wrapped it around his fist, waiting patiently. Then swore. “Hard to Kill just said [Resist Mental Attack] leveled with a sub level in [Resist Love Charm].” He put the necklace on, tucking it into his shirt. “You can have it back when I get immunity.”
Sara looked like she’d turn green. She focused on a silver metallic ball which unscrewed in half. “This is extremely valuable. It’s a regenerating healing salve, single dose, but lasts forever. Eve?”
“One of you should take it. Kaden has [Vigorous]. You or Ashi.” Eve looked to Ashi.
“I have [Healing Mana].”
Sara put it away. “A Party Leader is always prepared. For anything. The shell is a pet summons but it doesn’t say what it is.”
Kaden took the shell. “We’d better find out now. I can Soul Bind most things.”
He activated the shell and watched. Summoned creatures usually chose to appear out of line of sight. “Either this thing is really large or it’s really slow.”
Ashi’s gasp of shock caught his attention as she charged, nearly knocking him over to snatch something from his shoulder. “Trella, [Create Water], please!”
A trickle of water covered Ashi’s hands as she cupped them together. “It is [Fate].”
Kaden had to crowd in to see what she held. A minature blue octopus with exactly three tentacles. The whole beast would have fit in Kaden’s mouth. He was, after all, hungry.
[Levi-ling - Tentaclaw Spawn]
This tentaclaw is one of hundreds of thousands spawned by the World Boss Levicon before its reign of terror ended. Right now, it would have trouble terrifying a coffee cup, but just you wait. As long as you lower your expectations, you won’t be disappointed with what it can do. This one is keenly aware why aquatic creatures and desert wastelands aren’t often seen together.
*Fear*
Level: 0
Skills: Claw
Talents: Emergency Food Supply
[Claw]
Claw with a claw. We can’t believe we needed to explain this.
[Emergency Food Supply]
This creature can exist without food an unlimited number of times. You can exist on this creature exactly once.
Kaden scratched his head. “It’s terrified. Let me figure out how to dismiss it.”
“Give me the shell.” Sara cupped it close and closed her eyes. A moment later, the Tenta-Claw disappeared. “It’s a pet. It has deeply limited combat capabilities. Though, I suppose with Kaden present, it might be able to level. My Horror does. My creeping horrors self-destruct, so they don’t appear to be gaining XP.”
Ashi held out her hand. “Please? Levicon was Mother’s best friend. I need no battle beast. Kaden’s dog is acceptable. But this, look into those eyes. Look at those claws and the tiny beak! Is it not beautiful?”
“I used to change sheets at the whorehouse when I was in the Saint’s Hall and your pet smells like the sheets in room 218.” Trella shrugged. “Kaden’s got so many beasts I can’t keep track. Sara’s carrying the death of this universe. Eve would steal Vip if she could, you might as well have a pet sucky-thing.”
“And your cat? Have I not seen it hiss and draw blood?” Ashi asked.
“Eclipse is independent. The way I like her. What’s the spellbook?” Trella opened it. “I can’t read this. Is it Vichorean?”
Ashi took the book and flipped through it. “I do not know this, either. Multispeak does not translate it. It may be very rare or mundane.”
“Save it for Omnor.” Sara worked rapidly. “All of that’s ok-ish. The glass orbs are artifacts., Wren will know what they do. Sell the rest, bank the gold, trade what you can’t sell.”
“Alchemists are bastards but I love it. No trades.” Trella put away the last of it. “Let’s get out of here.”
Eve activated the FarPortal and Kaden stepped through into the smoky, hot air of the Adventurer’s Guild. Down below, it sounded like all five bars were engaging in a competition to sing “The [Bearserker] Who Always Said Yes” the loudest.
Sara headed up to the administrative level, while Ashi and Trella headed to the Crafter’s level.
“This will always feel more like home than anywhere I grew up,” Eve said. “This was the first place where people didn’t know—or care—who I was related to.”
Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] to send a message. It perched on the doorframe and vomited out a gold coin, which it picked up and carried to Kaden.
[Rescue Reset]
Empower this coin with a thousand mana, and you may bind it to a location. Activating the reset returns you to the binding location with the same health and mana you bound it with. You must then re-pay the thousand mana to use the coin again. If the location is blocked, you will not be able to use Rescue Reset. If the location it is bound to will kill you, you will still be able to use Rescue Reset. Obtain a second [Rescue Reset] bound to a different location to handle this situation.
Kaden tried to show the coin to Eve, but she was squeamish about bird vomit. He sent the Falcrow to Mr. Dervish and stored the coin.
“Evelyn Black?” A dry voice called over the rumble of the Guild. “You are Evelyn Black, correct?” The voice was a city [Administrator] wrapped in a scarf and a heavy overcoat. He limped over to appraise Eve, adjusting his spectacles. “We sent a bird to you. You did get the bird, right?”
Eve squinted. “Kaden played a terrible prank.”
“‘Kaden’,” he spoke the word as if it were a disease. “‘Mr. Birch turned down our generous offer of a seat on the city council. Flavius suggested you had the intelligence he lacks. That you would understand that true power comes from ruling.”
Eve shook her head. “I’m the one who advised Kaden to turn it down. Instead he took that zoo. Which, in hindsight, has worked out. Why would I want to be a minor council member?”
“Let’s start with the council woman’s quarters. And the stipend. And the influence. And the chance to gain more.” The Administrator paused. “Did I mention the private FarPortal?”
Kaden hadn’t forgotten Flavius Marcus saying there would be advantages to having a council member in the party. What he was suprised about was Eve showing interest.
“I’ll need a larger quarters. I have party members who are essential to my knowledge of Verona’s operations.” Eve stated it as fact.
“You’ll start with the same—”
“I wasn’t asking.” Eve pointed to the stairs. “Come with me, I’ll need you to show me and get the FarPortal coordinates and we can discuss compensation. Appropriate compensation. And while we’re at it…”
Kaden lost the conversation in the rumble of the Guild, and headed down to the training floor, looking for lessons.
A common brown Messenger Bird landed on his arm, and spoke in Mr. Dervish’s gravelly voice. “Why don’t you come on up to BirchHome? I’ll give you the package, we can talk. Got a friend who needs a favor. You’ll never regret having a Saint in your debt.”
That was something Kaden didn’t need to be told twice.
But as he headed out the front door of the Guild, he almost ran into a mage in dark blue robes with a completly impractical towering hat. This mage, he knew. “Ignus Malachor. Good evening.”
“It’s cold and wet and miserable, and there’s nothing even a [Weather Mage] like I can do about it, but this isn’t a visit in my offiical capacity. I’ve issued you a Faction Quest for the Poteri. You’ll find information waiting when you get back to your Holding. Because this was the first time, I wanted to come explain it in person.” Ignus waited. The falling snow fell around the mage but never on him.
“What if I don’t want this Quest?”
“Your faction favor will go down. And you’re very close to reaching that favor quest limit, aren’t you?” Ignus asked it like he didn’t damn well know.
Kaden shook his head. “The last few years have been one group after another making demands and expecting me to just obey. First it’s the City Council, then the Sisters, then Vichoreans and now you. I’ll pass.”
“Read the report before you answer. Think on it. Talk it over with your friends. And get in out of this damnable snow.” Ignus soared three stories up to enter the Guild.
It was time to visit some Saints.