Chapter 125 – Floor 11: Part 9
The camp was bustling with activity as Mathew returned. It had been over a day since he had last been here and already there were signs of it becoming a more permanent settlement. It was a good thing he had followed the young man back to the camp, since the trails Mathew had been familiar with had changed with the shifting of the World Tree’s roots.
Men and women walked the paths, all heavily armed and wearing magical items. Many of them carried crates or material gathered from the surroundings, and the entire camp gave Mathew a sense of progress and stability.
Mathew didn’t know a single person that he passed, although several seemed to be familiar with him. They nodded or greeted him briefly on their way. Word had spread that he was close to the Amadan Princess. The Psion had become famous in the camp since their arrival, her ability to communicate with the World Tree had been invaluable for predicting its movements and current status.
Plus, the World Tree had the capability to sense the Anti-Life, giving Rehn advanced warning of any attacks. It was clear to see why she had a high status amongst the Players.
Ignoring everyone, Mathew came to a large, red and black tent that had been erected in a higher section of the camp. It was a magical item that was far bigger on the inside than its outer appearance would suggest. It also protected those inside from the harsh elements, making it perfect for the Player’s leadership to gather and plan their next actions.
The young man lifted the flap for Mathew, choosing to stay outside now that his task was complete. Entering the tent, Mathew found Rehn alone, leaning over a table with a map of the surrounding area stretched out on its surface.
Rehn had improved her equipment as well. Wearing long, flowing white robes that radiated mana, she had a long staff propped up against a chair beside her. Topped with a topaz the size of Mathew’s clenched fist, he looked at it warily. Mathew could sense the weapon's power even from where he stood.
Rehn looked up from the map immediately, her face showing displeasure at the interruption, before seeing that it was Mathew. Her Psion abilities were stunted against other Players. She could read surface thoughts, and possibly more if someone were in close proximity to her. But her actions showed that she could still be taken by surprise.
“Finally. I was starting to worry that you were going to stay out there forever.” Rehn said, her tone tinged with relief. Standing upright, she stretched a kink from her back and gestured Mathew to come forward.
Stepping forward, Mathew shrugged as he joined her at the table.
“I could have. It’s a lot quieter out there.” Mathew replied, and Rehn gave him a considerate look.
“And much more dangerous. Where is the rest of your group?” Rehn asked.
“Fled or dead. I lost track of them.” Mathew responded, and Rehn’s expression changed significantly at the words. Mathew had been tasked with guarding one of the side paths to the World Tree with several hundred other Players. It was supposed to be a relatively safe area, one that the Anti-Life hadn’t assaulted before.
“What happened?” Rehn inquired. The World Tree hadn’t said anything to her about it; her focus had been on the major events in the south where a large force of Anti-Life was gathering.
“The usual, we set up our defences and the Anti-Life smashed through them like they were nothing. I’m not sure what happened after; I was too busy. Afterwards, I was alone.” Mathew explained indifferently.
It was a story that was familiar to him. All too often, the fighting would take place around him, and when you are battling for your life against the Anti-Life, it was easy to lose track of things like time and allies.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Mathew, do you need a break? I can find something else for you to-” Rehn offered, only for Mathew to cut her off by shaking his head.
“No, I’m fine. What did you want? It must be important if you sent someone for me.” Mathew questioned as he looked down at the map.
The World Tree was surrounded by clusters of red dots that he knew represented the Anti-Life ‘Nests,’ clusters of the creatures where they emerged from beneath the ground and rushed toward them.
Rehn was concerned about Mathew’s attitude. She had only known him for a short time, but he had never been so apathetic. He seemed disinterested in everything, especially regarding his own safety and the lives of the Players around him.
She had seen it before in the soldiers of Ama during the war with the Talrandians. The violence caused a shift in their mental attitudes, and they grew harsh and uncaring to everyone around them. Rehn let out a quiet sigh and chose to ignore it. There was nothing she could do about Mathew, not on this Floor where the Anti-Life were threatening to bury them all.
“Reinforcements should be arriving soon.” Rehn said, and Mathew looked up from the map.
“I’m not having anything to do with them.” Mathew replied, and Rehn shook her head.
“I don’t expect you to. The camp won’t be able to hold more of our numbers, so we need to expand. The World Tree has offered its assistance. We’re going to be creating a number of outer defences, walls, and buildings to house the Players in a ring expanding outwards from the Tree’s center.” Rehn pointed at the map, drawing a line around the world tree.
Mathew saw that someone had already marked them. If he was reading it correctly, the plan called for a massive wall to ring the Tree, with small towns spaced evenly to support the defences.
“That’s quite the undertaking. I didn’t know you have an army of Forgers ready and willing to build this.” Mathew commented, and Rehn flashed him a smile.
“The World Tree will be providing us with a workforce. Golems created from wood and rock that it will directly control. We just need to protect them while they get to work. I’m overseeing the construction on the western side of the Tree, and I need someone I can trust to guard me while we work.” Rehn explained.
“I can do that.” Mathew paused, looking at the planned area for their expansion before drawing her attention to a red marker.
“There’s a Nest here.” Mathew remarked, and Rehn nodded.
“That’s why I want you with me. From what the World Tree told me, those Nests are connected to tunnels that stretch the length of the planet. Its roots have closed the ones nearest to us, but until the World Tree is stronger, we won’t be able to seal these Nests. I want you on the defences and protecting the Golems until they have the foundation of the walls set.” Rehn ordered, and Mathew nodded.
“Alright, when do we leave?”
Page Break
The Anti-Life creature let out a howl as Mathew’s fist crashed into its skull, cracking the bone and driving its head into the ground. Using his Blessing to enhance the density of his bones, he kicked it violently backward, where it skidded across the soil and lay still.
Turning around, Mathew opened his mouth wide and drew in a deep breath. He could feel the mana swirling around in his chest. Starting as a tingling sensation, it quickly grew warmer until the mana felt like liquid fire in his lungs.
“Breath of Dragons!” Mathew shouted before spewing oily fire from his mouth at a cluster of four-legged Anti-Life creatures rapidly approaching him. The fire clung to their flesh, and the monster screamed and flailed as they burned.
Revolving slowly, Mathew continued to discharge fire in an arc around him until his lungs were empty. Panting and gasping, he took a moment to recover.
They were on the edge of a plateau that Rehn had designated for the town to be constructed. The Golems, humanoid figures that had emerged from the ground beneath the World Tree and connected to it by long rootlike tendrils that stretched behind them, had already constructed the buildings and walls using stones and dirt.
Hundreds of the Golems were controlled directly by the World Tree and stood over 10 feet tall. But they were incredibly weak and vulnerable to the Anti-Life. Even with the Players standing on guard, they had lost several of them in the hour since they had arrived.
The Anti-Life seemed determined to stop them, throwing themselves at the defending Players, with more arriving from the Nest in the distance, a glowing red fissure in the ground that spewed out monsters and reeked of Aether.
Rehn stood behind Mathew, communicating with the World Tree and coordinating the efforts of the Players. It would be days before they had the initial defences constructed, and Mathew estimated that there would be heavy losses amongst the Players before they were done.
But things were much improved compared to how things were at their main camp or when they first arrived on this planet.
Finally catching his breath, Mathew cycled the mana within him. Pulling out his knife, he lightened his bones to make himself faster, scrambling across the ground with inhuman speed as he threw himself back into the fray.