The deeper we went, the more my summons became unsettled. Slith and Bas weren't happy with the surroundings, but they obeyed me nevertheless without too much resistance. However, the other three acted like a bunch of sulking kids dragged away from their X-Box. It took constant pressure on them to get them to do anything. Still, I was honestly too busy monitoring the changes around me to care about their protests.

  The whispering voice got stronger the closer I got to the core part of the fortress. It was to the point, where I didn't even have to touch the black strands anymore to hear the voice. Just being close to the strands was enough, but the voice only repeated itself constantly, like it was stuck in a loop. While I didn't know why it was only those few words, I still knew it was the Soul Focus speaking.

  My own emotions seemed to resonate with the words, dragging me forward step by step, and it had taken me some time to sort out how much of the reaction was coming from Neduzar's memories versus how much of it was my own feelings. Truthfully, I couldn't make sense of things. The memories told me of the importance of the Soul Focus to Neduzar but only as a tool. However, there was something more... a source of those emotions that eluded me constantly, like it was hidden deep in my own thoughts.

  Those self doubts plaguing me only added onto the pressure I was already feeling. I had resolutely set foot in this place to do a task, but the constant second guessing and fear I had been battling had only grown with every step that brought me closer to my goal. It was like the very world around me wanted me to feel fear and despair. There was a reason to be wary of the unknown and maybe even avoid threats, but I knew that the overwhelming, dark thoughts that were trying to stop me were becoming more and more irrational.

  Waiting to process and understand everything was the smarter move, but I was already too far in the deep end to stop now. The intensity of attacks from the aberrant creatures was also increasing, and turning back would accomplish very little at this point. There was only one choice left. What I had come for, what I was being driven towards, and what I was being told to fear: all of it was ahead.

  However, as expected, I finally ran into the final hurdle near the entrance to the Mana Pool and Soul Focus. The massive double doors covered in blue and red crystal were shut closed, but they were not left unattended. Four large, humanoid creatures stood waiting. They resembled the mithril armored golems that I had found trashed in front of the fortress treasury but only barely. Instead of metal armor and metal bodies, red tumor like bulges covered the hulking forms made from the same crystalline veins embedded in my surroundings. They stood exactly where Neduzar's memories told me that the original mid tier, golem guards of the entrance were supposed to have been.

  I didn't hesitate as I called up my , while ordering my subordinates to scatter in the large open space before the entrance. The aberrant golems reacted almost immediately as they lashed out with a mix of low tier spells at us. Fireballs, ice spikes, a streak of lightning, and even rock projectiles all impacted around me and the others, as we dodged.

  The space was too limited for a battle of maneuvers like from the Breeding Pens. I had no idea what spells the golems could use, but I knew that if the aberrant golems had the same specs as the originals, then this was going to turn out to be a pure slugging match of magic and brawn. However, I did not plan on letting things drag out that long, not with the chance of being attacked from behind as well.

  “x6!” My first attack struck at the golem using the the rock projectiles, even as my summons chose their own targets. Bas and one of the Wraith Spores locked onto the aberrant golem casting lightning bolts, while the other two Wraith Spores were left dealing with the one casting ice spikes. Slith, taking the initiative, had already tightly wrapped his tentacles around the one casting fireballs. Through my link to the Slime Wraith, I could feel its hatred for the 'fire' spell using creature, no doubt due the trauma from its death.

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  My dark lances almost reached my chosen target before a wall of red and blue mixed with metal and stone rose up to block the creature. However, as effective as the spell was, it didn't stop all the lances, as the wall was blasted apart in places, sending shrapnel scattering everywhere. As the wall crumbled, I saw the aberrant golem recoiling backwards with a chunk missing from its left torso.

  Any elation I felt faded as I saw the creature's damage immediately start to 'heal,' as a red mist covered the torso. Unsurprised, I didn't hesitate as I sent more Dark Lances at the creature, even as I mana reinforced my body to dodge the multiple rock projectiles that were shot back. Taking a hit from one wouldn't do crippling damage, but the solid nature of the projectile guaranteed some piercing damage.

  Boooom! The rumbling explosion to my right was loud enough that the pressure wave almost caused me to loose my balance, and I glanced to my side briefly, as I learned through my mind link what the two Wraith Spores had done. Their spells had literally put small craters in their target, which was barely left standing on unsteady, shredded legs. Not giving the weakened creature a chance to recover, I blasted it with Dark Lances, even as I kicked off a nearby wall to dodge multiple rock projectiles and ice spikes spiraling towards me from different angles.

  It was then that I noticed that battle was turning into a collective, free for all mess, as my subordinates waded into my enemies wildly. I watched Slith, covered in , tear chunks off his target with , even as he was bathed in flames. The combination of the two crashed into my own target, which was preparing to attack the two Wraith Spores that were finishing off their now completely shredded enemy. Bas, who was using and was busy grappling with and biting chunks off his electricity covered aberrant golem, only for the last Wraith Spore to purposefully fire a at the two of them. Thankfully, Bas broke off from his attack at the last moment, dodging the impact from the spell. Booom!

  The rumbling explosion tossed the undead basilisk backward, even as I heard him roaring in anger at the Wraith Spore. “Diiiiieee!”

  I wanted to curse at the clusterfuck, but I didn't have time to dwell on the lack of group combat tactics among my summons, not with the battle ongoing. Rushing close to the 'Earth' spell type golem, I hit it with a , causing the creature to stumble and almost fall over as it was about to punch a hole into Slith's globular form. Watching it falter, I began alternating casting spells both at it and the 'Fire' spell type golem that was still wrestling with Slith. Some creatures were more resistant against such spells, but thankfully the aberrant golems seemed to only have moderate resistance. Still, continually casting was also not a solution, as it drained my mana faster.

  “Eaatttt!” Thankfully, Slith got the upper hand on his enemy and finally ripped off the creature's arms, leaving it almost defenseless as the Wraith Slime went to work on it. The same was true for the 'Lightning' spell type golem, which was being mauled by Bas again. That left my own partially stunned target, which turned its attention back to me.

  “ x5!” I aimed the spells right at the center of its mass, drilling a massive hole in its chest and sending it reeling. However, that wasn't enough as the creature began to 'heal' and find its balance. I strode forward, continuing to cast Dark Lances, blasting off chunk after chunk, until the creature finally fell backwards and began to disintegrate into a red mist.

  Around me, my summons finally finished their respective battles, looking a little worse for wear. Surprisingly, it was Slith, who had taken more damage this time compared to the slightly scorched Bas. The Slime Wraith lay on the floor like some gelatinous mound, whining. “Dieeee!” The Wraith Spores on the other hand, floated around nonchalantly, almost like it had just been a walk in the park.

  “Sigh...” I decided that I really had to work on my teaching skills, if this was the best my subordinates were able to do when we outclassed and outnumbered our enemies.

  “Dieee....?” The curiosity emanating from Bas made me turn to look at what the undead basilisk was doing. I saw it pawing at something on the ground, sparking my own curiosity. Walking over, I found the object in question. It was a golf ball sized blue gem, almost glowing in unnatural light. It had some similarity to a mana stone/crystal, but almost immediately I knew the object was on a whole different league.

  “A realm stone... But how...?” My question was instead answered by the massive metal doors leading to the Mana Pool and Soul Focus slowly rumbling open and the voice of the Soul Focus echoing out loud from past the doors.

  “Endddd...”