You have successfully dominated a level 240 stygian naga.

You have successfully dominated a level 244 stygian naga.

You and Ghost have reached level 263!

The blood-bindings went off without a hitch, but Ghost, Elise, and I weren’t ready to call it a day yet—far from it. While my deception skill was progressing nicely, I still didn’t have enough attribute points for what I intended.

So, we kept fighting.

And the stygians kept dying.

Wave after wave of lesser nether creatures assaulted the druid’s grove, and time and again, we annihilated them. Sometimes the nagas joined in the attack. They always approached tentatively though, as if afraid to commit. Despite this, we managed at times to trap and kill a few. More, often, though, we had to be content with driving the elites back.

In this one regard, my presence served to hamper our training efforts. There was no helping it, though. The void tree had realized a powerful foe lurked in the foothills, and it was not about to needlessly risk its more valuable assets.

Still, the stygian Power continued to throw away the lesser stygians’ lives as if they were of no account, and perhaps, they weren’t. Regardless, though, a few hours before midnight, I reached the milestone I had been striving for all day.

Your deception has reached rank 25.

“Ah, I’ve done it.”

Elise looked at me curiously but didn’t ask for an explanation. “You’re ready to head back then?”

I nodded. “I think so.”

“How did we do today?” Ghost asked eagerly.

Turning my attention inward, I called up a summary of our efforts over the course of the day.

You and Ghost have reached level 264!

Your Perception has increased to rank 121. Other modifiers: +4 from items. Available ability slots: 25.

Your insight has reached rank 26.

Ghost’s telepathy has reached rank 13 and her nether manipulation rank 11.

Your alchemy stone is full. Total stored ingredients: 500 / 500.

You have killed 7 stygian nagas.

“We didn’t do too badly,” I told her. My presence had slowed Ghost’s own skill progression since I’d ended up doing the better part of the fighting. Still, the pyre wolf had managed to rank up two of her skills, and I, likewise.

My focus, though, was more on my overall player progression. I needed to advance at least three more levels before I had enough Perception slots to advance imitate to rank six.

But I wouldn’t get there today. We were all simply too exhausted.

“Open the portal,” I told Elise, “And let’s get out of here.”

✵ ✵ ✵

Getting out was a much more laborious process than I’d made out.

First, we had to find somewhere safe to leave the blood-bound nagas—I wasn’t about to take them to the cave—and in the end, I decided the best place for the creatures was the Draven’s Reach gate. It was at the other end of the sector, and about as far from the nest as you could get.

Next, we hauled the dead nagas to the selfsame spot—I didn’t want to crowd the cave unnecessarily. It took seven portal trips, all told. Even with Ghost and I working in tandem while Elise kept watch, it was no easy task. But as back-breaking as the work was, it was simple, and eventually we returned home.

The cave was quiet when we arrived. Not even Keros was on guard when we stepped out of the gateway.

“So, he does sleep,” I mused aloud.

“Who does?” Safyre asked, stepping out from behind a large crate in the area serving as our storeroom.

“Keros,” I replied. “What are you doing up so late?”

“Working,” she replied, stifling a yawn. “But I could ask the same for you.”

I laughed. “A fair point.” Turning around, I shooed Ghost and Elise away. “Go on, you two, go get some rest. I’m sure you’re both exhausted.”

“Will we be heading out again tomorrow?” Elise asked aloud. She was in nagian form once more.

I hesitated. “I don’t know yet. I’ll tell you in the morning.”

Inclining her head in acknowledgment, the druid headed off, Ghost trotting amiably by her side.

“They make a good team,” Safyre observed.

“They do,” I agreed, turning around to face her. “How’s Nyra?”

“Still sleeping.”

I nodded, unsurprised. “Any other news?”

“The brotherhood’s supplies have begun to come through, and they’re as good as you promised.”

“Excellent. You’ve received the full complement?”

“I wish,” Safyre replied with a rueful shake of the head. “Since we’re funneling everything through the Roost and trying to keep the brotherhood from tracing our ley lines, ferrying the supplies is going slowly. But we should have the last shipment in our stores by tomorrow.”

I grimaced. “I suppose that will have to do. What about Ceruvax and Farren? Have you heard from the twins again?”

Safyre sighed. “I’m sorry, Michael, but there’s been no news on that front.”

“Damnation,” I swore. If the Reachers weren’t late before, they were now.

“What will you do?” Safyre asked.

I shrugged fatalistically. “What else can I do but wait? I’ll give them another day.”

“And if we still don’t hear from them?”

“Then we’ll have to assume they won’t reach us in time,” I said grimly, “and plan to proceed without them.”

✵ ✵ ✵

Day 6 of Michael’s Deadline

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

You have slept 8 hours.

Despite the exertions of the previous day, I rose early the next morning. The deadline for reclaiming sector 18,240 was drawing closer, and I was feeling the press of time keenly.

Striding through the cave, I made my way toward the mostly-empty campfire. Hardly anyone was awake yet.

“Prime...?” Ghost asked sleepily. “Is that you?”

“Yes. Wake Elise. We’ll get going as soon as the two of you are ready.”

A pregnant pause, but no argument followed. “Alright, but you probably want to visit the Pack first.”

“Why?”

“Nyra’s here.”

I stopped mid-step. “She’s awake?”

“Yes.”

Swiveling about, I changed direction. “Coming.”

✵ ✵ ✵

I found Nyra in the far right side of the cave, being watched over by Sulan and Aira. My apprentice was sitting down cross-legged, her face buried in a bowl. Nodding in passing to the dire wolf elders, I sank down opposite her.

“Morning.”

Nyra looked up. “Michael,” she greeted, then resumed eating.

Consternation flickered across my face.

Aira’s laugh echoed in my mind. “She’s hungry.”

“I see that,” I replied. “Is she okay?”

“She is,” Sulan pronounced.

“I can hear you, you know,” Nyra said, still spooning food into her mouth.

“We know you can,” Sulan said serenely.

My gaze fixed on my apprentice, I studied her intently. She was different today, more present, and more… dangerous. There was also a keenness to her that had been lacking before. She had changed, and I was sure the wolves sensed it too.

Reaching out with my will, I inspected her anew.

The target is Nyra, a level 108 virulent witch. She bears a false Mark of Lesser Shadow, a true Mark of Michael (hidden), and a true Mark of Wolf-brethren (hidden).

Nyra has awakened her blood and is an anointed scion bound to Wolf.

So. She had succeeded. “Congratulations,” I said quietly.

The young woman looked up. “Thank you,” she said with a tired smile. “It was more difficult than I imagined.”

“But you succeeded,” I pointed out.

She grinned lopsidedly. “I did, didn’t I?”

I smiled, sharing her joy. “I’ll want to hear the full tale, but later. For now, give me the highlights. What scion abilities did you choose?”

Holding up one hand, Nyra began ticking off points on her fingers. “Astral blade. Levitate. Hardened body. Mind shield.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Why levitate? I thought for sure you’d pick shadow blink.”

“I thought about it,” she admitted, “but in the end, I decided I wanted to focus more on my ranged attacks.”

I nodded. “Then levitate makes sense.” Not only would the ability allow Nyra to strike her targets from afar, it would also help her maintain her distance from any melee-type foes that sought to close in on her. “What about your blood memory? What did you choose?”

“Revitalizing blood.”

The blood spell was one I, myself, had been offered. Calling up the long-ago Game message describing it, I re-examined the ability.

Revitalizing blood: your blood can reinvigorate. This blood memory will grant you 4 abilities: recover health, recover psi, recover mana, and recover stamina. Each can be used once per day on yourself or another to fully restore any lost health, stamina, mana, or psi. Its activation time is instantaneous. This is a generic blood memory.

“It’s a good choice,” I said slowly, “especially since you didn’t go with chi heal.” I rubbed my chin. “But…”

“It’s a defense-support ability, I know. But the battle is only a few days away. Revitalizing blood will let me assist you directly.”

I frowned. “I appreciate the thought, Nyra. Still, you shouldn’t be making decisions about your player progression for anyone’s benefit but your own.”

Nyra rolled her eyes. “I know that. You’ve said it enough times I’m hardly likely to forget it.” She leaned forward. “But you’ve also said more times than I care to recount that it is our duty as Wolves to protect the Pack. And like it or not, you are Pack too, Michael.”

Sulan laughed. “She’s got you there,” the white wolf crowed.

I sighed. It was time to retreat. This was not an argument I was going to win, especially not with Sulan and Aira siding with her. “Sorry, Nyra. I meant no criticism. You’ve done the Pack proud. I’m sure your new abilities will serve the faction well.”

“Thank you,” she murmured.

I rose to my feet.

“Where are you going?” Nyra asked.

“To train,” I said, walking away. “You should too, once you’re feeling up to it. Time’s running short.”

✵ ✵ ✵

I had a few more chores to see done before the day’s work could begin in earnest. To start with I located Sedgwick and shook him awake.

“Do you know what time it is?” the dwarf asked gruffly as he got up. “Never mind, just tell me what you want.”

I tossed him the alchemy stone. “Extract the ingredients from this. Don’t bother selling them now, you can do that later.”

“Done,” he grunted, handing me the stone back a moment later. “How much are you looking to get for them?”

“Nothing. Use the proceeds to buy more health potions.” I paused. “At the same rate we agreed on previously, of course.”

“Of course,” he muttered. “Now is there something else you want? Or can I go back to sleep?”

“Yes, there is, actually.” I slipped a piece of paper into his hand. “I need these too.”

The dwarf frowned as he read my hastily scribbled note. “What do you want with all this?”

I smiled. “You’ll find out soon enough. Now, don’t mind me. Go back to sleep.” Leaving Sedgwick to mutter discontentedly to himself, I hurried off to find Adriel.

✵ ✵ ✵

After informing the lich about the blood-bound nagas and the seven corpses waiting for her attention at the Reach portal, I met with Lucius and the nagians and took the newcomers’ oaths.

You have accepted 15 non-players into the Forerunners faction.

Only then did Elise, Ghost, and I set off for the foothills.

Arriving at the site of yesterday’s battles, we found all traces of our previous efforts vanished. The grass that had taken hold so nicely had been destroyed anew, and the corpses of the few stygians we’d not looted were nowhere to be seen.

“It’s a good thing, we moved those nagas,” Elise said, noticing the same.

“The void has no compunctions about devouring its own,” I replied.

Elise nodded in agreement. “So, same routine as yesterday?”

“Yes.” Drawing back the sleeve of my left arm, I activated the scoundrel’s wristband. “But today, we’ll make an especial effort to make sure no naga escapes.”

✵ ✵ ✵

The rest of the day passed in a blur, with each cycle of killing following quickly on the heels of the previous, and I soon lost track of how many lesser stygians we killed.

It was as much as a thousand, maybe more.

My traps did their job well, too, and by midday, every remaining naga on this side of the rift was dead. Sadly, the void tree declined to bring more of the elites from the adjoining sector. That did not stop me and my companions from continuing our slaughter, though.

Safyre made sure I was regularly updated over the course of the day, too. I knew when Sedgwick’s health potions arrived and when the last of the brotherhood’s shipments landed in our stores.

I was also kept abreast of my apprentice’s doings. Accompanied by a small pack of wolves, Nyra had chosen to re-enter the guardian tower. It was a wise decision. The young witch would have had a hard time keeping up with Elise, Ghost, and I in the nether-infested sector. The icy tundra, on the other hand, was a more suitable training ground for her.

Sadly, though, the one report I was most anxious to receive did not arrive. Hour after hour, I waited to hear word of the Reachers, but time and again, I was disappointed.

Something was preventing Ceruvax and Farren from answering my summons. That, or Zekiel had never reached them.

Had it been a mistake sending the psi knight alone?

In hindsight, it seemed so.

But it was too late to go back and do things differently. And one way or the other, I would have to live with the consequences of my decisions.

Thankfully, though, while my player level progressed torturously slow over the course of the day, by the time I finally crawled into bed for the night, it was with the certain knowledge that Ghost and I were as prepared as we could be for the forthcoming battle.

You have killed 11 stygian nagas.

Your alchemy stone is full.

You and Ghost have reached level 267!

Your Perception has increased to rank 127. Other modifiers: +4 from items. Available ability slots: 31.

Your shortswords has reached rank 23, your meditation and nether absorption rank 24, and your telekinesis rank 21.

Ghost’s magma maw has reached rank 15, her stygian claws rank 16, her death magic rank 13, and her nether manipulation rank 12.

You have accepted 15 non-players into the Forerunners faction.