POV Mouse Soldier

The enchanted needle flashed as the Mouse Soldier went through the motions of fighting an imaginary enemy. He could feel the Aether in his veins powering his motions and giving his paws strength. He was close to his third Ascension, he could feel it. All he needed was a worthy fight and he would break through the gap.

He gnashed his teeth in frustration as he turned to gaze upon the pedestal of his lord. He couldn’t leave now to find such a fight. Not with his lord in such a state. It had already been two days since his lord had blazed with glorious light. Now his creator was silent and unmoving apart from the breaths of Aether that proved he still lived. The mouse guardian huffed in frustration. His personal growth would mean nothing if the Core was destroyed or claimed.

No…the mouse realized. His frustration came from another place. He had snuck down to glance at the fourth floor and the monsters there had shaken him badly. How could he claim to be the primary guardian of his lord when he had such creatures to call on for assistance? A new fear shook him at this moment.

What if his lord moved his pedestal lower, to the end of that monstrous sunken labyrinth? The way he was now, the mouse doubted he would be able to reach the pedestal in one piece, much less alive. He steeled himself and began practicing once more, throwing himself at imaginary enemies. He would not fail, he would not…panicked squeaks interrupted him.

He turned just as one of the younger mice arrived at the entrance to his cavern. It squeaked rapidly in its panic but the Mouse Soldier understood. His charges were in danger. He barreled up the incline to the entrance, directing his not-so-little kin to tell the Danians to prepare to guard his lord in his absence. He might have told the Mouse Scouts but they had departed his lord’s territory as soon as the war with the ants had finished to track down the Queen of the hostile colony.

He took to all four paws, holding his needle between his jaws so that he could move more quickly. It didn’t take him long to find the fight as fierce squeaking mixed with the staccato bellows of some other creature, echoed through the no man’s land outside the entrance of the Dungeon. As he passed the boundary he saw that even the scaled guardian had been drawn into combat as well, as the serpent was nowhere to be seen.

Charging forth he came upon a scene of chaotic battle and one that would have looked comical from one of the tall folk’s perspective. Or they would have been terrified by the amount of blood being spilled in vicious combat.

The mice were losing.

One of their number was already down, not moving a whisker, with terrible claw wounds. The Mouse Soldier knew his kinbeast was dead and that fact filled him with a rage that almost chased away the fear that gripped his heart when he saw their opponent.

Black fur streaked with gray and a long lean form that nonetheless held immense strength, rippling with muscle as the creature snapped and bit at the other four mice. The assistance of the other guardian was the only thing that kept the mice from instant defeat, having wrapped his length around the creature's back half, constricting with his mighty coils and biting with its fearsome fangs.

Even hindered, the creature was a mighty foe and caught one of the mice with a swipe of its paw, sending droplets of ruby blood flying. The Mouse Soldier saw red. Spitting his needle into his paw the large mouse charged, all 11 inches of him from the tip of his nose to his tail, thrumming with battle lust. Hearing his bass squeak of challenge the other mice got out of his way and he slammed into the invader needle leading. There was little in the way of intricacies to the fight. This was a fight to the death and very little honor could be found in the tactics of both beasts.

The Mouse Soldier drove his needle into the creature repeatedly and it responded by snapping its fearsome jaws at the mouse. Using his other paw the mouse caught the bottom of his opponent's jaw and forced it shut or else he would have lost his arm to the beast. With both paws engaged he could no longer defend his side and he felt searing pain as the claws of the creature raked him, carving red furrows into his fur.

Letting out a squeak of pain he twisted, sending his prehensile tail whipping into his opponent’s eye. Rearing back the creature retreated but the Mouse Guard did not. He leaped to the side and up, scrabbling onto the creature’s back behind the fearsome jaws. The creature tried to twist to reach him but at that moment his fellow guardian hissed in triumph as he constricted one final time.

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With a crunch, the creature’s back section of spine snapped and it howled in rage and pain. The Mouse Soldier did not waste the moment his fellow guardian had given him. He lunged forward and drove his needle into the beast's left eye. He withdrew and slammed it in again, repeating the action even after the beast fell, driven by white-hot rage. It was the shock of the Aether hitting him that stopped his tirade.

A wave of it, cool and clean, billowed out from his lord. He had awakened, he had seen the end, and he was grateful. There was sorrow there too, the Mouse Soldier realized, as his lord’s presence halted at the corpse of the mouse that had fallen in battle. A single tear of Aether coalesced and dropped to splash on the ground near the fallen rodent and the Mouse Soldier knew his lord truly mourned. It built a resolve in his heart and he felt his Spark respond.

A golden light began to build beneath his fur, shining forth to mingle with the identical light shows happening from his younger kin, the Mouse Guards that partook in the battle. He ignored it for the moment and turned to his fallen foe only to see it begin to dissolve into motes of light. The only thing that didn’t dissolve was the fur and even that was being transformed before the Mouse Soldier’s eyes. His needle too, he realized. His weapon had begun to levitate along with the fur from the creature and as they spun in the air golden light began to shine from them.

The fur became sleeker and finer, shrinking in on itself until it matched his size. Clasps formed out of gold appeared at one end and that end shrunk slightly while the other side flared out. Moving through the air it settled around him, the clasps coming together to attach the garment to itself. It rested there and he felt a connection form between himself and the item.

That was nothing though compared to the change happening to his favored weapon. The needle lengthened, becoming wider and double-edged. The hole where he had gripped it was sliced in half and bent upwards forming a crossguard. A twig hovered over and was shorn down to a wooden handle that was then fused to the creation by Aether. At its base, the weapon carried a tear-shaped Aether crystal as a pommel.

The mouse sat in awe as his lord presented the weapon to him by tapping the blade first to his right flank and then his left before presenting the hilt to be taken. The mouse reverently clasped the blade and allowed itself to be led to the first floor in a daze by its kin who also glowed with the light of Ascension. He could not even fathom the power necessary to create his gifts and he was humbled to receive them.

Yet even now in his heart, he felt the fires of Ascension burning and he knew he would be ready for whatever came next when he woke. As he bundled himself up in his new cloak upon his nest he gathered his kin close and began his slumber with one final thought. ‘Praise be to his lord.’

End of Chapter Notifications:

New Framework Acquired!

Savage Mink (Rank D - Iron)

A semi-aquatic mammal normally content to build nests along waterways or lakes, this beast has gained an appreciation for blood and the thrill of the hunt. Forsaking its old hunting grounds it has taken to the forest where it preys on anything it can kill. Despite leaving the waterways it used to call home, this creature retains its waterproof coat and will often hunt during rainstorms to sneak up on prey.

Artifacts Created!

Dungeon’s Bite (Growth Item, Rank E - Bronze)

Forged by the Dungeon Valterra to defend him and bound to one of his creatures, this blade is a fearsome weapon. In the hands of its chosen wielder, it grants effects that bolster the creature in times of battle. In addition, Dungeon's Bite has been bound to a specific creature’s Path of Ascension. As the creature Ascends so will the artifact. This weapon is part of the Dungeon’s Raiment Set.

Effect:

This weapon is enchanted to hold its edge. It will never rust and cannot be broken by non-magical means. This weapon allows the bonded creature to channel the Dungeon’s Aether for a short time, giving increased reflexes, stamina, and strength.

Cost of Creation: 75 Divine Potential

Dungeon’s Mantle (Growth Item, Rank E - Bronze)

Crafted by the dungeon Valterra as a reward for one of his creatures, this cloak is fashioned from the hide of a Savage Mink and grants various effects to the one who wears it. In addition, Dungeon’s Mantle has been bound to an Evolving Creature. As the creature evolves so will the artifact. This cloak is part of the Dungeon’s Raiment Set.

Effect:

This cloak is naturally water-resistant and has been enchanted further to confer to its wearer a resistance to Water Affinity Magic. It behaves like a second layer of fur allowing it to flow with its wearer’s movements. If damaged it will repair itself using the Aether of the Dungeon

Set Effect:

If both Dungeon’s Bite and Dungeon’s Mantle are bound to the same creature it gains the ability to use a small measure of the Dungeon Valterra’s Authority over the basic elements.

Cost of Creation: 75 Divine Potential