Calvin – Gamma Zone #25 Level 51-79
When Calvin had come to, he had only vaguely registered his surroundings while his head lolled back and forth as he was hastily carried through the eerily still lakes of Gamma Zone #25.
Inspecting himself gradually as he was buffeted about on Un-Bep’ee's back in the princess carry, he discovered that while he felt like he had been run over by a steamroller, his bones were miraculously intact.
This was a little odd considering one of the last things he could remember was the giant lizard thing using him as a fucking punching bag, whilst they were broken by the brute with near surgical precision:
You have entered Beta Zone #79 Level 21 – 50.
When their Party eventually come to a stop in a clearing of the surreal English wood they were now in, Calvin registered that there was only four of the Party present. With the Botswana’n carefully setting him down against a large submerged boulder, his mind strained to reasonably explain the absence of their leader.
Failing to come to any sort of conclusion, he asked the others with a throat that felt like someone had taken too it with sandpaper.
“H-hey guys? Um…w-where is Svetlana?”
Un-Bep’ee only response was to offer him a pained and sorrowful expression. Looking to see what the others had to say, Michelle had not even raised her head at his question as she continued to stare vacantly at the ground.
Turing this time to Farooq, the Middle Eastern man proffered a grave expression before shaking his head and he too remained infuriatingly mute.
“W-what happened?”
He asked with trepidation at the answer he might receive.
Un-Bep’ee looked at Farooq with a pleading expression while the other man let out a long sigh before he spoke.
“She gave her life to save us my friend…She…she fought until the end…”
Searching the other man’s eyes to see if this was some sort of practical joke they were playing on him, his mind refused to accept the words as he questioned desperately.
“What? But why? That’s not….that’s just…. H-how?”
The man put a reassuring hand on his shoulder as he asked a question in return.
“I assume you have not checked your notifications?”
Mutely Calvin shook his head in response leading the bearded man to continue.
“It is for the best if you do that, then when you have caught up, I can better explain.”
He finished with a sorrowful expression.
Balling his aching fists at the non-answer, he bit back an angry response and focused on the blinking minimized windows in the corner of his vision:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Honor Guard level 61, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Honor Guard level 60, all experience awarded equally.
You have leveled up.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Honor Guard level 62, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Honor Guard level 64, all experience awarded equally.
You have reached level 50 thus primary class evolution's are now possible:
>Initiate Woodsman (Common)
>Initiate Knight (Common)
>Initiate Man at Arm’s (Common)
>Initiate Diplomat (Common)
>Initiate Templar (Uncommon)
>Initiate Bulwark (Uncommon)
...Selection time remaining: 4 Minutes 59 seconds...
Your party has slain a Silaurian Legate level 74, all experience awarded equally.
You have leveled up – Deferred pending class evolution.
You have leveled up – Deferred pending class evolution.
You have leveled up – Deferred pending class evolution.
You have leveled up – Deferred pending class evolution.
Your party has slain a Initiate Battle Maiden level 55, all experience awarded equally.
While he mentally scrolled through the notifications he stopped midway at the notification where it implied someone from the party had dealt the final blow to their leader. Stunned at the implication his conviction that he had built over the last year and a half began to waiver.
Were these not his friends?
Would they do the same to him given the chance?
Was everyone just disposable now?
Clenching his jaw at the gnawing doubts that were beginning to erode his will to carry on, he trusted in Farooq’s recent advice in a last ditch effort to see reason and scrolled through his remaining notifications:
You have successfully cleansed a Dimensional Siphon!
Rewards: 500 Manamotes, [Cape of The Oxen]
Warning: Dimensional Siphon closing in 4 Minutes 59 Seconds.
You have failed to make a choice in the allotted time frame, having failed to do so your Primary class evolution will now be chosen at random.
Your primary class has transformed into Initiate Templar +1 Strength per class level, retroactive application of +54 Strength commencing…
The skill Shield Bash has evolved into Shield Slam.
The skill Retaliate has been transformed into Rallying Cry.
The skill Reckless Charge has been transformed into Lesser Burden of the Righteous.
Primary class has reached level 50. Secondary class choice unlocked:
>Apprentice woodsman (Common)
>Apprentice Knight (Common)
>Apprentice Man at Arms (Common)
>Apprentice Diplomat (Common)
>Apprentice Mage (Common)
>Apprentice Shaman (Uncommon)
...Selection time remaining: 4 Minutes and 59 seconds...
You have failed to make a choice in the allotted time frame, having failed to do so your second class will now be chosen at random.
Second class chosen at random >Apprentice Man at Arm’s<
Letting his fatigued and worried mind be distracted by the stream of information allowed his initial interpretation of the boxes text to shift.
Deciding to ask the others instead of jump to further conclusions Calvin ventured in a confused tone.
“So…I get that we cleared the Siphon, but the notifications don’t exactly explain a whole lot. If anything they just lead to more questions.”
Nodding in agreement the Apprentice Archer replied.
“But if I had just said she was dead, you would have also asked what happened to the enemies, the Dimensional Siphon and well just about everything else in the boxes yes? So now I will attempt to do justice to her bravery”
And so in a melancholic, reverential tone the normally quiet man told of Svetlana’s last fight, her bravery, her demand of Michelle and ultimately, her unwavering sacrifice.
Calvin was quiet for a long time afterwards as the tears flowed from his eyes before he punched the ground in anger, frustration and futility as he choked out between sobs.
“A… last ditch self-sacrifice…that…that was exactly the kinda of bat shit…. crazy thing…that stupid…glorious Ruski would have done…gods damn her…”
Looking up when he registered a hand was on his shoulder he found that it belonged to a weeping Un-Bep’ee, who was smiling as he responded.
“I do not think we are dishonoring her memory if we were to call her more stubborn than a rock, no?”
Choked laughter escaped his sore throat at the African’s response as he smiled sadly whilst nodding in reply.
Farooq also came over and silently put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Realizing that Michelle had still not said a word since he had come too, he felt shame at the selfishness of his stupid questions and demanding behavior.
Noticing his expression turn to anguish once more, Farooq followed his gaze until he too looked upon the vacantly staring Initiate Fire Mage and added quietly.
“She will need time if she is to recover from this, which I fear we can ill afford.”
Nodding absently to the man’s assessment Calvin began to wipe his tear stained face and turned to assess his other two Party members.
While Un-Bep’ee and his equipment were definitely muddy and a little rough around the edges, he seemed to have come out relatively unscathed.
Taking in Farooq and his gear however caused his brows to rise in surprise then quickly furrow in concern as he looked first to his blood stained leather. Then he focused on 20 centimeter horizontal slash in the piece of equipment’s center.
Noticing his new object of fixation Farooq gave a throaty laugh, adding.
“Do not worry friend, it was just a scratch.”
Barking out a bitter sounding laugh in response, Un-Bep’ee corrected.
“If by ‘scratch’, you are referring to the polearm that went through your chest and out the other side? Then yes it was definitely just a ‘scratch’.”
“While we are on the subject, if you could avoiding getting ‘scratched’ again, my cardio thoracic function would be most obliged.”
Chuckling in response the Syrian replied in mock reverence.
“Yes oh great and mighty Initiate of The Light, I defer to your ‘enlightened’ wisdom in all things….”
Quirking an eyebrow at this new title, he couldn’t help but be glad they had found a topic that wasn’t Svetlana related and asked.
“I take it that’s your new class? Why that one and not a Cleric one? Also did you get any new skills? And whadya get for your second class?”
Ignoring the Apprentice Archer’s jest the newly minted Initiate of The Light replied while visibly suppressing a laugh.
“That is indeed correct my friend, as for why that class? Well if I was to put it into words I would say that it felt ‘right’ to me.”
“The new skill it granted me is part of the reason you are so well right now, that one is called Minor Body Restoration, it evolved my Minor Cure Wound’s it seems. The mana cost is steep but I think you can agree it was well worth it. There were also some other lesser skill upgrades.”
“To your final question I am also now an Apprentice Shaman.”
Pausing for a moment to take in the implications of the man’s words, he sobered from his momentary distraction saying.
“I should’ve said so earlier, but thank you all for getting me out of that alive… I was so useless…I honestly thought I was a goner. I didn’t stand a chance against that reptile… if it hadn’t been for you guys or Svet….”
He trailed off leaving the rest unsaid, feeling completely undeserving of his companion’s salvation.
Farooq snorted in response before adding.
“I know little of your home or upbringing Calvin, but in my country, anyone who rushes to the fore, to buy precious time for his allies without regard for his safety. That man. He is considered a hero.”
Smiling and nodding in agreement, the Initiate of The Light deftly steered the topic to something less morose.
“Now enough of these things, It is only fair having told you my class that you share yours and what it does, yes?”
Barking out a weary laugh, he nodded responding.
“Hah, sounds like a fair trade.”
“My main class changed to Initiate Templar. My Second one is Apprentice Man At Arm’s, both picked randomly when I was unconscious of course…bloody system…as for what they do, you will have to give me a minute to check out my status sorry…”
Pausing for a second, he realized Farooq had been noticeably quiet on the subject of classes, leading Calvin to ask.
“Wait what about you Farooq? What’d you pick up?”
Chuckling the man informed him slightly crestfallen.
“Heheh, I am afraid my friend, I am stuck at 49 for the moment.”
The African man clasped his shoulder reassuringly and said jokingly.
“It is just a shot away, yes?”
Smiling at his own terrible joke, he then turned to Calvin and added gesturing to the clearing with a sweeping hand.
“Take your time Cal, it looks like we are to unfortunately spend the night here. I will take watch, Farooq if you would please keep an eye on Michelle?”
Nodding solemnly the Apprentice Archer responded.
“Consider it done.”
Calvin gave a wan but appreciative smile to the pair before he mentally intoned ‘Status’, quickly putting 20 points into Vitality and 10 into strength before reviewing his new skills:
STATUS
Name: Calvin
Age: 24
Titles: Survivor
Class 1: Initiate Templar Level: 54 + 1 Strength Per Level
Class 2: Apprentice Man At Arm’s Level: 1
Profession: N/A
HP: 479/479(399+80=479) MP: 116/116(91+25=116)
Status Effects: Bruised (Experience pain when moving affected areas)
Vitality: (125 + 26) x 1.1 = 166
Strength: 134 Dexterity: 50
Intelligence: 40 Wisdom: 22
Charisma: 7 Luck: 4
Undistributed Attribute points: 0
Passives –
Human: + 5 attribute points per level
Lingua System: Able to communicate verbally with any system integrated entity and be understood
Uncommon Fortitude: + 5% vitality
Survivor: + 5% to Vitality
One With The Crowd: + 10% to damage dealt and -15% damage taken when fighting alongside others, -10% damage dealt and + 10% damage taken when fighting alone
Skills – Initiate Templar
1) Shield Slam (LvL 1): Slam your shield against a single target or multiple targets, stunning the targets for 1 seconds and dealing 125% damage based of the equipped shields block value (Damage, cooldown and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 10 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 30 seconds
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2) Lesser Taunt (LvL 10): Yell in a threatening manner at your foes to gain their undivided attention. Level of threat generated inverse to targets combined Intelligence and Wisdom. (Cooldown and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 5 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 30 seconds
3) Rallying Cry (LvL 1): Issue an inspiring rallying cry to all allies within 5 meters of your location, increasing yours and their attack damage and defense by 10% (Radius, duration and cooldown scales with skill level). Cost: 25 Mana, Cast time: 2 second, Duration: 1 minute, Cooldown: 5 minutes
4) Concussive Strike (LvL 10): Strike a jarring blow against your target with your weapon dealing 130% damage of weapons attack value and stunning the target for 5 seconds (Damage, stun duration, cooldown scale with skill level). Cost: 5 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 30 seconds
5) 5) Lesser Parry (LvL 10): Interrupt a targeted opponent’s strike mid swing based off your combined dexterity and strength scores compared to your attackers, and deflect the blow and all associated damage . (Cooldown and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 1 Mana, Cast time: Instant, Cooldown: 10 seconds
6) Lesser Burden of the Righteous (LvL 1): Cast the skill on a friendly target within 2 meters of your location to transfer 20% of the damage they receive to yourself (Damage transferred, mana cost and duration scale with skill level). Cost: 30 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Duration: 1 minute, Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Skills – Apprentice Man At Arm’s
1) Overbearing Strike (LvL 1): Perform an overbearing strike on a target, dealing 150% of your weapons damage with a chance to stagger the target if they are below 25% health (Damage, cooldown and mana cost scale with skill level). Cost: 5 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 1 minute
2) N/A
3) N/A
4) N/A
5) N/A
6) N/A
Willing away his status screen he walked painfully to the others as, although he felt better than he had when he woke up, he was still obviously not 100% just quite yet.
Briefly he informed them of his skills and their changes before suggesting to have a meal, to which everyone but Michelle agreed.
Trying to get at least a word or two out of the non responsive woman, Calvin asked nervously.
“S-so ah Michelle, what do you want to…you know…eat?”
Sadly this garnered no reaction as she kept her staff clutched in a tight grip as she sat on the ground staring vacantly at a tuft of grass. Feeling more words die in his throat, he looked to the others worriedly. Sharing a round of helpless expressions, Un-Bep’ee got up and retrieved sandwiches from his [Moderate Bag of Holding] for each of them.
He went over with food in hand to the Initiate Fire Mage and gently tapped her shoulder. This caused her to flinch and look up in fearful confusion, before she stammered out in embarrassment.
“Wha… oh…t-thanks.”
“Anything you need, just let us know.”
He replied with a warm smile and tender tone. Giving a weak and strained smile that didn’t reach her eyes in return, Michelle busied herself with eating, as if words were too much of an effort.
The rest made small talk while letting the daylight die and taking turns on watch, Before the Initiate of The Light produced four blankets from his [Moderate Bag of Holding] for each of them.
And so although they could hear the howls and screeches of monsters in the night as they rotated watch shifts, the night itself passed conflict free for the battered and crestfallen group of four. The sleep they did manage to get was fitful at best, thus they found no solace in their temporary camp save for the sustenance of companionship.
When the sun made itself known to their clearing, Un-Bep’ee once more distributed breakfast in the form of grain bars and water. A round of grumbling broke out in response to the proffered brittle bars, waiting till the sun had been up for an hour before they felt safe enough to venture forth anew.
Calvin was about to ask if they should wait a little while longer when a new notification aborted his query:
Your Outpost of residence is under attack! Defensive Shield integrity: 98%.
Quest: Defend Outpost #846 from attackers
Duration: 29 minutes 59 seconds
Rewards: Varies based on contribution.
‘NO! The last of Judy’s things are there…without those…I will have nothing left of her, NOTHING!!” Calvin thought in a panic. As if voicing his own thoughts Michelle burst out.
“D-Don’t take her stuff from me aswell...y-y-YOU CAQUITA DE LA VAQUITA MONSTERS WON’T STOP UNTIL ITS ALL JODER GONE!”
Taking a moment to realize that she was not in fact talking about Judy, he began to feel like the worlds most self-centered asshole.
Mind working in overdrive as to what to do, he turned to look for Svetlana out of habit, when he realized it was just the four of them, the shame and guilt he felt only started to grow. Chastising himself that this was not the time for pity and self-loathing he cleared his throat and did what he thought she would have done.
“Ready check, then we move!”
Shocking the others out of their own spiraling thoughts, they looked to him in bewildered surprise, then to each other as their faces took on a grim but determined set before they nodded in unison.
Before Un-bep’ee tended to his own needs, he came over to him and handed him an ornate brass looking shield, which was almost Aztec in decoration. Following this he also passed him a short sword of similar design with a simple hilt, finished in ruggedly carved designs with a crude lizard’s head for a pommel, adding with a mischievous grin.
“I think it is about time you upgraded, no?”
Quickly glancing at his battered and dented current mace and shield on the ground near him he nodded ruefully and confirmed.
“You’re a lifesaver mate!”
Before briefly inspecting his new and existing equipment:
Silaurian Honor Guard’s Sun Shield
Level Requirement: 53
Attributes: Increase in Physical and Magical Defense by 13%, +11 Vitality, Block Value +530
Durability: 113/145
Description: A Silaurian honor guard’s mana infused sun shield inscribed with intermediate defensive runes and basic empowerment runes. An uncommon magical item crafted by an indentured Silaurian smith for the Silaurian honor guard.
Silaurian Honor Guard’s Gladius
Level Requirement: 52
Attributes: Melee Damage + 51-67, + 6 Strength, +17% Damage to all physical skills.
Durability: 101/124
Description: A Silaurian honor guard’s mana infused gladius inscribed with intermediate offensive runes and basic empowerment runes. An uncommon magical item crafted by an indentured Silaurian smith for the Silaurian honor guard.
Elevant Aspirant’s Sturdy Chain Mail Armor
Level Requirement: 40
Attributes: Increase physical and magical defense by 20%, +10 Strength, +10 Vitality, +75 Maximum Health, +25 Maximum Mana
Durability: 31/100
Description: Intricately linked mana enriched chainmail, adorned with intermediate defensive and enhancement runes. A necessary yet uncommon magical item generated for phase 1 worlds.
Cape of The Oxen
Level Requirement: 50
Attributes: Increase physical and magical defense by 5%, +5 Vitality, + 15 Maximum Health, +20% increase to rate of Health Regeneration
Durability: 75/75
Description: An intricately woven mana enriched cape, inscribed with intermediate defensive and enhancement runes. A randomly generated and uncommon magical item rewarded to Calvin for successful participation in the cleansing of Dimensional Siphon#3924.
He was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the cloak he had been rewarded with after inspecting its stats. However he was more than a little worried at the state of his chainmail, unhesitatingly asking their Initiate of The Light for two [Minor Runestone of Item Repair]’s to get it back into working order. Seeing as they never left the Outpost without a couple these days, Un-Bep’ee retrieved and provided them in short order.
That dealt with Calvin went back to the Botswanan and passed him his old shield and mace for storage in his [Bag of Moderate Holding].
The others signaled their readiness and without further comment they made haste to defend their new home:
Outpost #846’s Defensive Shield integrity: 93%
Having only been underway for a few minutes at most, Calvin blinked in alarm at the new notification, before yelling to the others.
“Dammit, we need to hurry!”
Receiving no argument from the others, they abandoned their practiced caution as they broke into a swift jog only to be met with a near matching notification seconds later:
Outpost #846’s Defensive Shield integrity: 72%
“W-What the hells could make it drop 20 percent like that?”
Calvin demanded as he sped up even faster, not bothering this time to wait for the remainder of his Party or their reply:
Outpost #846’s Defensive Shield integrity: 50%
Gritting his teeth at the far too soon notification, he pushed his superhuman body to the limit of what it was now capable of, the scenery passing in a blur of green, brown and speckled by pinpricks of white and yellow promptly ascribing such as the English-esque zone’s flowers.
Seeing the jungle loom closer, he demanded more of his already straining body as another momentarily usurped the center of his vision:
Outpost #846’s Defensive Shield integrity: 29%
“WHAT THE FUCK ARE THE USELESS GUARDS DOING?!?”
Calvin screamed at some blurs of brown, which he belated identified as unsuspecting boars, who fled into the forest as a blur of a screaming Australian passed by:
You have entered Alpha Zone #193 Level 1 - 20
Heart pounding in his ears as his lungs inhaled air like a jet engines intake, he believed that he might just make it in time as the Jungle’s canopy blurred above him:
Outpost #846’s Defensive Shield integrity: 7%
“FUCKING WHAT!?!”
He cried in exasperation as he pumped his chainmail clad legs as hard as they would permit. Seeing a brown blur race up to meet him in the fore ground, he realized he was going too fast to dodge it in time and braced himself for the impact:
Your party has slain Giant Ant level 3, no experience awarded due to level disparity.
Blinking in surprise at the lack of resistance, while the carapace audibly ricocheted and Ichor stained his legs he fought to keep manic laughter from disrupting his breaths rhythm as he plunged onward.
Marveling at the absurdity of what had just happened he almost repeated the process before forcing himself to skid to a stop. Rapidly approaching ahead in his inhuman perception of the path he saw humanoid figures clustered up ahead.
Having to use his new shield to cushion himself against a giant tree’s trunk as the dirt track was far too short. He slammed into the unmoving mass with a resounding *Clang* as him whole body jarred whilst his considerable momentum sent splinters of bark flying whilst he was deflected to its side.
Tumbling to a complete stop he looked up dazedly to find some oddly familiar faces huddled together as they warily approached him.
“CAN SOM-“
But that was all he managed before another notification stalled his building tirade:
Quest: Defend Outpost #846 from attackers
Status: Failed
Your Outpost of residence has been conquered, please seek shelter at a nearby friendly Outpost.
Mouth working like a goldfish out of water Calvin gaped at the assembled group, only to receive conflicted facial expressions in response. As the silence stretched a familiar face spoke up in familiar Swedish cadence.
“H-hey Cal, so I suppose you got the notifications too?”
Nodding dumbly in response, Kivar took it as ascent and continued.
“We c-couldn’t do anything, I don’t know how but h-he found us, he-”
“Easy now lad, we don’t know he was lookin for ya’s.”
Said the one legged Welshman as he put a calming hand on the ramblings swede’s back whilst leaning on a spear he was carrying. Eyes narrowing Calvin got a terrible feeling as he asked.
“What do you mean ‘he’, wasn’t the attack a group of monsters?”
Shaking his head Terrance responded.
“Fraid not mate, well maybe a monster, and keep in mind I’ve never met the guy. But it was only one man that took the outpost and Kivar swears he saw his face.”
As his runners high started to wear off while he recovered his breath, an all pervading chill started to creep into his overheated body.
Afraid to ask but refusing to be ignorant Calvin prompted.
“Y-you mean it was that monster who killed Ewan and J-judy?”
The trembling Kivar nodded and supplied.
“The o-one and-“
But couldn’t finish as a familiar Russian accent barked out from behind the small group of people in incredulity
“WHAT IN NAME OF ALL THAT IS GOOD ARE YOU IDIOTS STANDING ABOUT FOR?”
The burly Oksana demanded as she came to see what the people were gawping at and when her eyes found Calvin, she continued in an almost disappointed tone.
“Oh it is you…big man…”
“Yes it is me you grumpy…never mind that! WHY THE HELL DIDN’T YOU STOP THAT MONSTER FROM TAKING THE OUTPOST!?!”
He retorted. The Russian’s brow formed into a scowl as her tone dropped an octave.
“Because it is you I will forgive the yelling…this time…as for question…the man…no…the abomination, he is not like he was last time we met.”
Unwilling to relent he questioned.
“But with you guys and the guards, surely you could have stopped him!?”
Snorting and shaking her head, Oksana rebuked.
“By the time I was halfway to the gate, the assault had begun! What remained of the cowardly guards were fleeing like chickens without heads.”
One of the group behind her took umbrage at her words and interjected with a strong New Yorker accent.
“If you expect me to stick around while some whack job flings supersonic, flaming pillars of wood the size of buildings at my face for a couple of stinking manamotes, than call me a fuckin coward. Besides no one in their right mind woulda done any different! No sir’e’bob!”
Looking in query from the irate New Yorker to the burly Russian, she responded with a sigh.
“It is as the yankee boy says. What he has now become….even if we had a thousand stronk army, as good as you and I….I fear that may not be enough for what he is now…”
Looking at her weathered features Calvin could tell that what she was saying and how she was saying it that she believed to her very bones the words that fell from her mouth. Refusing to accept the crushing weight of them he yelled.
“SO THAT MEAN WE SHOULD JUST RU-“
As a white and blue glow shone through the jungle from the direction of their once home, his words halted as an accompanying notification pooped into his vision:
Earth’s first faction ‘NFA’ has been successfully established by Benjamin.
Earth’s first Citadel ‘Keep Out!’ has been successfully established by Benjamin.
Reading and re-reading the notifications, it was clear that some kind of sick joke was being played here. As his weary mind reeled in the wake of everything, anger and bewilderment at this recent affront to all that was decent bubbled up before Calvin couldn’t help but let it out.
“That piece of shit is named BENJAMIN!?!? JUST WHAT KINDA FUCKING BULLSHIT IS THIS!?!”
Oksana almost burst out laughing in response before deftly covering her mouth with her free hand and masking it with a cough before adding.
“I think it is prudent to investigate the Outpost right now, yes? But first, where are the others?”
Nipping another building outburst in the bud, Calvin experienced the now all too common feeling of shame wash over him as he struggled to think of a way to break the news to her.
“Listen…Oksana…T-there’s something I haven’t told you yet…”
Her eyes narrowing in suspicion she demanded in an exasperated tone.
“Out with it big man, we have wasted enough time here with your mewling!”
About to shoot back an angry retort he caught himself and took a deep breath, before furthering.
“It’s about S-svetlana…she….she….she didn’t m-make i-”
And that was as far as he could manage before grief had him in its soporific embrace, bursting into a bout of choked sobs.
Hearing a grunt come from the woman he looked up to see her stony features being caressed with silent tears as she clenched and unclenched her hands around her armaments before saying in a strained voice.
“That stubborn little fool…please tell me…did she go with courage?”
Not able to speak over his own barely controlled sobbing he feebly nodded in response.
Wiping her eyes with the back of her now free hand she cleared her throat and asked.
“What of the other cubs?”
Furrowing his brow in confusion at her phrasing he quickly gathered her meaning and supplied.
“The l-last I saw of them was in the Beta zone. I ran here as quick a-as I could to see if I could do something, anything to save J-judy’s thi-”
He choked out before bursting into another fit of sobs.
“Enough of your mewling man! At this rate I shall dishonor her deal and start callink you little boy again!”
The Russian threatened in exasperation.
“Y-your right…I should stop being so bloody useless and go and get them…”
He stammered out before grabbing his weapons and making to head back up the path.
But he didn’t get far as up the stretch of dirt track he had come from he could see three figures running in varying degrees of fatigue. When they caught sight of him and the others to his back, they slowed their impressive pace and closed the remaining distance at a much slower jog.
Moving to meet up with the three panting figures, Calvin wasted no time in explaining what he knew of recent events, to their shocked and exhausted faces.
As he finished explaining and they’d managed to steady their labored breathing, Oksana came up behind him and said.
“Calvin told me of little polar bears passing, I am sorry for the loss of your friend.”
To their collective shock however Michelle screamed.
“SHE JUST DIED AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS FUCKING SORRY!”
Growling Oksana swiftly closed the distance between them and said in a low voice.
“I raised that cub like she was my own girly, do not think to tell me how to grieve her death….”
Causing Michelle to immediately cover her mouth in horrified shame as fresh tears started to flow whilst stammering out.
“Oh my….Me cago en la hostia...I didn’t mean…its…its just she gone and…and…”
She trailed off weeping before the robust woman embraced her thin robed figure in a hug that would make a bear wince before adding.
“There there little one…I know it hurts…I know it hurts all too well, but I will tell you what I to-“
Yet she didn’t get a chance to finish her heartfelt advice before the New Yorker came up to the entwined pair and interceded.
“While I’m touched by this reenactment of days of our lives, you ladies mind pulling yourselves together so we ca-“
Before he could finish his grinning and witty chastisement, Oksana without turning to face him, backhanded him with blinding speed, the force of which caused him to fly into a nearby tree trunk with an audible *THUNK* before he crumpled unconscious at its roots.
And as if she had not just casually swatted a mail clad grown man of some 90 kilograms into a tree with the ease of parting a shower curtain, Oksana continued.
“As I was saying…I will tell you what I told little polar bear when her parents died at hands of trumped up mobsters…‘Remember them as their best selves, and if you wish to right the wrong of their passing, make sure you are strong enough do before sticking toe in bloodied water.’ ”
At which point Michelle paused her sobbing to look up at the face of the formidable Russian, as best as her current position allowed, with more than a little confusion clouding her own face.
Clearing her throat at the small woman’s perplexed expression she queried the now confused Latina.
“Now I would ask of you to tell me of her last moments, when you are able of course little one?”
And so, shakily, Michelle recounted what she remembered of the fight and her part in it while the others kept a wary eye on surrounds and made scant small talk.
Noticing that even Satori had made an escape he went to talk to the crouched Japanese man. However his hopes of a meaningful conversation were dashed. After he had greeted the diminutive man he had merely looked up briefly, there being no flash of recognition registering in his face before he returned to staring at a fixed point in the distance.
Kivar coming up behind him shared a look of sad understanding and sighed before adding.
“This is what he is now, what has just transpired I fear might have finally broke him.”
Calvin shook his head despondently before the man continued with forced optimism.
“Worry not Cal, he has me to look after him and when we find another Outpost and shelter, maybe we can work towards healing his mind.”
Smiling weakly, Calvin did his best not to dash the man’s hopes, adding.
“I’m sure your right mate, and we will do whatever we can I promise.”
Kivar beamed in response, finishing.
“I’m glad we could find people as good as your group, especially in the middle of this insanity...”
Nodding agreement, Calvin took a position at the edge of the gathering and took up watch on the green and entangled surrounds.
When the retelling was done and Oksana reassured the Initiate Fire Mage that she had done all she could in a horrific situation, they agreed it was prudent to scout and discover what exactly had become of their old Outpost.
Some of the other members of the fleeing group had refused to go back for fear of meeting the man who had just attacked it.
So, leaving Michelle and Un-Bep’ee with the others, he, Oksana and Farooq were the only ones who seemed willing to participate in such an endeavor.
Thus the trio made the short but wary journey to the edge of the clearing that had once contained their home while the others eagerly awaited their return, if only for the chance to put even greater distance between them and the monster of a man than before.
Clearing the dense jungle scrub some 30 meters to the left of the path, what greeted Calvin’s eyes was a concave towering white wall, more than twenty times the height of what had once existed in its place. This however, was not the only point of difference to the previous constructions scale.
At the top of the wall there were spike like pillars, which protruded from a further ten or so meters before finishing in a translucent and round end. Resting behind the towering wall was a just visible immense shallow dome, that started a short distance from the walls edge, only to continue on until it met the wall on the ‘Citadel’s’ other side.
The most bizarre piece of architecture was what eventually caught his undivided attention however.
Sitting astride the crest of the titanic dome that topped the odd giant spike studded wall, was what appeared to be a massive mushroom.
Yet where he expected to see a homogenous white stalk, he could just make out from his crouched and vaguely camouflaged vantage, were streaks of intermittent lines. The ‘mushroom’s’ cap was only a tenth the size of the dome it rested on, but even then his mind tried and failed to get a true sense of scale of the overall construction before him.
Turning to look at a transfixed Farooq he whispered.
J“How tall do you recon that wall is?”
Shaking himself out of his stupor, The Apprentice Archer paused for a long few seconds before responding.
“If I were to hazard a guess…I would put it at eighty maybe ninety meters.”
Blinking dumbly at the Syrian due to the figure he just provided Calvin’s mouth worked the air for a couple of seconds before his words finally found purchase.
“What….the…..fuuuuuck….”
Coming up beside him Oksana chimed in, in a whisper.
“My thinking exactly. Do you two have an idea of what the spikes on top of it are?”
Farooq shook his head while Calvin thought about what he knew of the previous creations by this invading system and replied hesitantly.
“Well from what we know of these new structures, they all serve a purpose, so putting together that they are not for decoration and are sitting on top of the wall….oh…oh fuck me that’s even worse…”
Frowning the other two hissed in unison.
“What?”
“What?”
Almost unwilling to voice his thoughts lest they become reality, he grudgingly whispered.
“I hope to the heaven’s I’m wrong….but if I’m right, and everything I know about these structures tells me I am. Then they are probably some kind of defensive towers…”
The other two just stared at him unblinking for a few moments as their minds ran wild with the implications of his words. Oksana was the first to break the stunned silence, whispering.
“I would like to correct statement from before….I think we should revise the thousand strong peoples to that of ten thousand…at minimum….”
Unwilling to give up on revenge for Judy’s death so easily, he attempted to invalidate his own previous statement when he countered.
“Look I’m probably wrong and there is some ot-“
But he clamped his mouth shut when he saw Farooq pointing animatedly to the clearing between the ‘Citadel’ and jungles edge.
Following his Party members guiding finger he saw that about 500 meters or so to the left of their current position a swarm of thousands of Giant Ant’s had broken the tree line and were about a quarter of the way across the no man’s land.
As the three held their collective breath whilst looking on. The closer the ant’s came to the towering concave wall, the more accurate the human’s sense of overall scale became. In comparison to the wall’s imposing stature the Giant Ant’s look like…well they looked like ants…
Reassessing the scale of the whole scene before him, Calvin looked at the just visible top of the Jungle canopy, then to the wall and his mind boggled. Even in comparison to the titanic Jungle strata he had once thought the biggest thing he would ever lay eyes on, the Citadel literally came out on top by at least a third.
“Look at spire! It glows!”
Exclaimed the Russian woman, focusing his attention to the top of the wall, were as she had correctly summarized, one of the spike like structures was beginning to glow blue, quite visibly in the midday sun.
Looking back to the approaching swarm, Calvin judged that they had just about crossed the halfway point in the cleared area, when there was a loud whining sound that quickly grew in pitch and intensity before stopping, only to be followed by a echoing *PHHHHTTT* sound.
Eyes quickly tracking back to the glowing tower, he almost missed the bolt of blue light that whizzed at the swarm which, upon contact released an explosion that completely engulfed the scampering insects in a gaseous cloud of blue and white, de pressurized energy.
Hearing his heart pound in his ears as he waited tensely to see what remained of the scampering mass, anxious seconds ticked by. But when the cloud had finally dissipated leaving only a few wispy trails of smoke, he kept scanning to try to find remnants of the giant insectoid’s to no avail.
“A hundred..”
Said the mail clad woman in a hollow whisper.
“Mmmhm…sorry what was that?”
He replied absentmindedly as he grappled to process what had just transpired.
“A hundred thousand…at least…”
She said, obviously amending her previous estimate.
Wanting to counter her assessment and its impact on his potential revenge, Calvin’s resistance crumpled and he could only nod numbly before the three just stared in silence at the monolithic structure at the center of the clearing.
Farooq broke their horrified vigil first, signaling the other two to return from whence they came, and receiving silent responses in the affirmative, the three made their way swiftly away from the Citadel and its newly imposed and menacing presence.