Day 5 of Michael’s Deadline

Seating myself between Safyre and Adriel, I scanned the faces around the campfire. Lucius and Elise were both present, as were all the Pack elders—Duggar, Snow, Sulan, Aira, and Leta. Terence, Teresa, and Sedgwick were also in attendance, as was Keros.

“The brotherhood has agreed to help,” I said, getting straight to the point.

Sighs and gasps of relief echoed all around.

“What exactly does their help entail?” Duggar asked.

I waited a second before answering as Elise, acting as the wolves’ translator, repeated the dire wolf alpha’s question aloud for the benefit of everyone else.

“The brotherhood will assault the rift from the other side,” I replied. “We will provide no support to them in that regard.”

Adriel’s brows rose. “Then you will give them the netherstone?”

“I will lend them the netherstone for the duration of the assault,” I corrected.

“And you trust them to return it thereafter?” Lucius asked.

I nodded. “I do. But even if they don’t, the loss of the netherstone will pale in comparison to what we’ll gain by claiming this sector.” Taking my time, I recounted my discussions with the huntmistress and her advisors.

“So, they have also agreed to supply us with weapons, armor, crystals, and clearsight potions?” Teresa asked more than half-disbelievingly.

I smiled. “Yes. Their willingness to do that had caught me by surprise too, I’ll admit. But the good news is that, for the duration of the battle at least, we will be able to equip everyone with the necessary protections to fight in the nether.” My gaze came to a rest on the wolves. “Assuming everyone still wishes to participate.”

“We have not changed our minds,” Sulan said complacently, her eyes still closed.

I glanced at the alphas for confirmation.

“The Packs will join the fight,” Duggar agreed, a sentiment Snow echoed nonverbally.

“You struck a good deal with the brotherhood,” Sedgwick mused, his head bobbing approvingly. “But I wonder… would you be able to extend the terms of your supply agreement? In the long run, it’s sure to be profitable.”

“Sedge,” Safyre remonstrated, “this is not the time for that.”

“Why not?” he asked, looking affronted. “Securing the faction’s financial future is just as important as winning the battle.”

Safyre leaned forward, her lips tightening.

I laid a restraining hand on her arm. “He’s right. But a long-term agreement is impossible. We don’t know where the nagas come from or how to find more.”

“Oh,” the dwarf said, deflating.

“Besides,” Adriel added, “I’m not sure we’d want to trade away any further scales we acquire. There is much we can do with them on our own.”

I turned the lich’s way. “You disagree with the bargain I struck?”

She shook her head. “No, I think you did well to secure the supplies we required for the battle. But the scales are not something we want to give away—ever.”

I nodded, accepting her advice. Adriel, better than anyone, knew the value of the scales.

“What is your plan, Wolf?” Keros demanded abruptly, bringing the discussion back on track. “You have one, don’t you? It is all well and good that the brotherhood will secure the far end of the rift, but I still haven’t heard how you intend on dealing with the enemy on this side.”

“Our plan for the battle is exactly what we’re here to discuss,” I replied, unruffled.

“Nor is it Michael’s responsibility alone, Ker,” Safyre admonished. “You are no bystander.” She swept her gaze across the campfire. “None of you are. The plan is one we must all contribute to and agree upon.”

Chastened, the windknight subsided.

“Thank you, Saf.” I turned to the twins. “What’s the news from the Eastern Marches?”

“All’s quiet on that front,” Terence answered. “The Blades are still the sector’s owner, but like you anticipated, they don’t have full control of the region yet.”

“Good. And the town?” I asked.

“It’s still deserted,” Teresa replied. “Terence and I have made camp in the portal tower.”

I sighed. “Then there’s no sign of our allies?”

She shook her head. “None.”

Ceruvax and Farren were not late, not yet. Still… only three days remained before the battle. It’s going to be tight, I thought.

Betraying no outward sign of concern, I turned to the nagians. “Before we get down to discussing strategy, can you summarize what you’ve learned about the nest, Lucius?”

The nagian inclined his head. “Gladly. Our people have spent the past two days examining the entire length and breadth of the river, and what we’ve discovered is…”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

✵ ✵ ✵

Our war council concluded before lunch.

Our planning was no less exhaustive than the brotherhood’s, but all the forerunners were already familiar with the situation. And, in the end, this led to a speedier resolution.

“What will you do now?” Safyre asked as everyone began dispersing.

“Greet the new nagians for starters,” I replied. Ghost had already truth-tested them, so thankfully their oath-taking ceremony would be quick.

“And then?” she probed.

Unexpectedly, of all the forerunners’ leaders, I was the one with the least tasks remaining. Everything I could have done, I’d done already.

“I don’t know… probably go find something to kill.”

Safyre wasn’t fooled by my flippant response, though. “You’re going to try leveling up before the battle,” she guessed.

“Yes,” I admitted. “It’ll be the best use of my time, and until Ceruvax and the others arrive, there is not much left for me to do here.” I smiled. “You and the others have things well in hand.”

She nodded. “Just be safe.”

“I will,” I promised.

“And you will take Ghost with you this time.”

It was not a question. I chuckled ruefully. “Definitely.” I paused. “You’ll let me know about Nyra?” While the probable fate of my apprentice troubled me, if I was being brutally honest, there was nothing further I could do to help her.

She either passed Atiras’ tests or didn’t.

“As soon as I hear,” Safyre replied. “You plan on staying in the sector?”

“Yes, Ghost needs to train her nether manipulation, and my nether absorption can always do with improvement.”

Sharp relief crossed Safyre’s face. “Good,” she breathed.

I looked at her curiously.

“I half-feared you’d enter Draven’s Reach,” she explained, seeing my questioning look.

“Ah,” I said, nodding in understanding. “I won’t deny I wasn’t tempted.”

I was convinced Ghost and I could traverse the elite dungeon fast enough to reach the final chamber and bring back the others in time to fight the final battle. But despite my confidence, I knew there was no accounting for chance or plain old bad luck. And the last thing the forerunners needed was for me to be trapped in the dungeon.

Just like the last time.

If it came to it, we could fight the final battle without Ceruvax, Farren, and the others—albeit with greater risk and less certainty of victory.

What the forerunners couldn’t do was kill the void tree without me.

And that wasn’t me being immodest. That was the cold hard truth. If Zekiel didn’t return with the others in time, I couldn’t risk myself to make it happen, not this time.

“So, you’re going to the nest,” Safyre concluded.

“I am,” I confirmed. “But I won’t enter the nest proper. I plan on staying in the foothills this time around.” It was where Ghost had been training her skills for the past two days, and I saw no reason not to follow her lead.

“See that you do,” Safyre cautioned. “I’ll inform Lucius and the others you’ll be heading their way.” She pursed her lips, thinking. “It might be a good idea to take Elise with you.”

My brows rose. “The were-druid? Why?”

“She and Ghost have grown close the last couple of days, and the pair have been working well together. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by their tactics.”

I nodded slowly. “I’ll speak to her.”

Stepping forward, Safyre squeezed my arm. “Good, and don’t be too long, Wolf. I expect you back in time for dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I murmured, returning the gesture.

✵ ✵ ✵

Before meeting the nagians, I invested my new attribute points and saw to Ghost’s player progression—which in the end amounted to improving only one of her abilities.

Your Perception has increased to rank 117. Other modifiers: +4 from items. Available ability slots: 21.

You have upgraded Ghost’s mist-thin ability to greater mist-thin. The third tier of this ability allows your familiar to reduce the toxicity of any free-floating nether in a 30 yard radius by 3 tiers. You and Ghost have 60 of 85 Magic ability slots remaining.

Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 2.

Ghost’s Class has advanced to rank 14.

Although the pyre wolf had other abilities available for advancement, her store of remaining Class points were low, and we agreed to save them for her most important ability—manifest. If our training went well, it would be ready for upgrade soon.

Thereafter, we met with the nagians.

It was a short meeting, quickly concluded. While Lucius’ people were done investigating the river, they had a lot of preparations to finish before the battle and the mage hunter was in a hurry to get going.

Nonetheless, I did manage to come away with a trio of spells.

You have accepted 20 non-players into the Forerunners faction.

You have acquired the tier 5 spell, disrupting ray (stolen).

You have acquired the tier 4 spell, fireball (stolen).

You have acquired the tier 5 spell, cold sphere (stolen).

Finally ready, Ghost, Elise, and I teleported to the foothills.

✵ ✵ ✵

The nether toxicity at your current location is at tier 7.

Exiting Elise’s portal, I stepped out into the familiar rocky terrain of the foothills.

“Where exactly are we?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder at the were-druid, who was already in fox form.

“About a mile due east from the nest,” she replied. “I didn’t want to set our arrival point too close.”

“Good thinking,” I murmured. “Well, I best get ready.” Drawing psi, I began casting.

You have taken the form of a level 262 elder wolf, gaining primal resistance (+30% against all damage types) and health regeneration (2% per second). Your nether resistance has reached 100%. You are now immune to all hostile nether spells and effects.

You have cast engine of war, increasing your Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity by +20 ranks for 30 minutes.

You have trigger-cast quick mend.

You have cast imitate, assuming the visage of Ghost. Duration: 1 day.

Elise’s face remained inscrutable throughout most of my casting, but she was unable to rein in her surprise at my last spell. “You’re going to fight looking like Ghost?” she asked, looking back and forth between me and the much smaller pyre wolf. “Why?”

“To train my deception,” I replied.

“Why choose Ghost’s form, though?”

“For no particular reason.” Other than that I didn’t want the stygians suspecting I could disguise myself as one of them yet.

“Right,” Elise muttered. She turned about to face the distant nest. “How do you want to do this?”

“You two are the ones with the experience here. I’ll follow your lead.”

Ghost did not hesitate. “This way!” she shouted, racing ahead.

Elise didn’t let her get far. Dashing forward, she called, “Come, Wolf. Watch and learn!”

Sighing, I followed after.