Kade and Salarus continued down the tunnel, Anton having returned to light the way. The further they went through the remains of the creatures, the more impressed Kade became with the Sorcerer’s abilities. It wasn’t just the raw power of them, which Kade couldn’t truthfully differentiate from the other powerful keepers he’d witnessed, it was Salarus’ ability–or perhaps willingness–to improvise that stood out. He was convinced that if the man had been with them fighting the Elder, he never would have been content to just throw spells in a straight line, hoping not to be noticed.
He wanted to discuss it, but felt it was part of a larger conversation he resolved to have with the man under better circumstances. For now, the time was better spent focusing on the Trial, and he asked Salarus a question he didn’t get a chance to ask Selina and Markis. “About how his Trial works, I get that they’re all different, and somehow personal, but there must be some common themes, right?” The Sorcerer made a slight face before answering.
“Under normal circumstances we shouldn’t be speaking about Trials in a broader sense, though that seems foolish at the moment. Partly that–let’s call it a tradition–has led to unsatisfactory answers to your very reasonable question.” Kade was given the impression that pursuit of knowledge was extremely important to the man from his tone. “We should have a thorough understanding of the commonalities, but the insistence on keeping the Trials mysterious has made that nearly impossible.
“What I can tell you is what I’ve managed to piece together myself, and from those among my family who share some of my more controversial views,” he paused and concentrated for a moment. “We’re approaching a large chamber, and my senses are being actively blocked. That's likely one of the commonalities that I have discovered–an exceptionally powerful single entity we’ll need to face. We’ve already experienced the most common–a horde of deadly monsters. Combat is nearly always a major part of the Trial, as the Elders don’t consider us worthy of the more personal considerations until we’ve proven we’re capable of appropriate destruction.”
Kade nodded, unsurprised by this part of the answer. “And beyond that? How do we win? Or exit, or whatever the hell it is we’re supposed to do here.”
“That’s the final element, and the least predictable–of everything people witness in these Trials, it’s also what they’re least likely to share.”
“Too personal?” Kade asked.
“Or simply too traumatizing. Never forget that we’re effectively asking a mass-murderer to teach us how to live. When your moment comes, all I can say is that the true purpose of all of this isn’t to demonstrate that you’re exactly what Karthas wants you to be, but rather someone that’s worthy of continuing on your Path.”
Kade wasn’t exactly sure what to make of that, but figured Salarus would be a lot more forthcoming if he was able. Before he could ask more questions though, he saw that they were approaching the open chamber the man had described. While the Sorcerer apparently couldn’t sense what was going on inside, it ended up not being necessary as the tunnel widened greatly toward the opening, and they had plenty of time to take in what lay in wait.
The chamber was a massive domed room that could probably fit a couple of hundred people shoulder to shoulder, and it was well lit by a series of torches, forming a ring around the perimeter. Strangely, despite the hordes that had supposedly charged upward from this direction, there didn’t appear to be any other tunnels leading into this one. The room was empty and plain, except for an unadorned stone throne on the far wall, in which lazily rested a massive, four-armed man.
Kade turned to discuss strategy with Salarus, but the Sorcerer just shook his head once and strode purposefully into the open cavern, stopping near the center. Kade sighed, but tried his best to match the man’s courage, and gripping his spear tightly, he walked up to join him–Anton once again standing before them protectively. With a closer look Kade confirmed his fears, as he had spent hours staring into those cold eyes on his journey to the city. They were locked on him now without question, and it was a feeling he didn’t relish.
The miniature Karthas was still many times Kade’s height, and without the stone slowly devouring his body, his true appearance was vastly more intimidating. Karathas was mostly gray, but the familiar purple power seemed to flow in waves across his massive body, and the eyes actually had an emerald glow by contrast, making the horrible gaze stand out even more. The face was uncomfortably humanoid, his mouth expressing what might have been mirth. The four arms were also on full display, as the Elder had two held together before him, while the second set–the shoulders slightly above and behind the first–held onto the arms of the throne. Their bulk seemed disproportional to the rest of Karthas, with each hand large enough to crush either of the men before him.
After a long moment of staring at the two, the Elder finally spoke, shocking Kade by addressing them in barely more than a whisper–though the deep rumble of his voice still seemed to vibrate through Kade’s whole being. “Your Trial ends here, and ends simply. Like so many of those who dare come before me searching for power, your understanding of Iros is pitiful and broken. The very fact that two of you stand before me now is proof of that,” Kade felt his stomach drop as he saw where this was going, and judging by the way Salarus gripped his staff more tightly, so did he.
“I am done with catering to the whims and foolishness of those who enter this sacred place with no respect for myself, or the will of Iros. But I am benevolent, and so if you can show me that you’ve learned from that which I allowed you to bear witness, then one of you will have the power you seek.” Kade tensed upon hearing the pronouncement, even though it was what he expected. He silently cursed being sent in here with someone so absurdly beyond his own power, and tried desperately to think of any weakness the Sorcerer might have demonstrated.
For Salarus’ part, he was staring with naked fury at the Elder, but also with cold resolve. Karthas was watching him carefully, curiously, “Would you give up your life’s work so readily, Child? Abandon your hopes of making the world see the value of your…Sorcery?” Apparently the Elder shared the Abbot’s view on the uncommon power, but it made his case no less compelling. “After everything you’ve worked for, and with all the people waiting for you to fail, you would consider the life of this weak pretender to be too high a price for your Legend?” Salarus glanced at Kade for a brief moment, seemingly against his will, then jerked his head downward, his eyes hidden by the large brim of his hat.
The Elder seemed amused by the man’s faltering will, and turned his attention to Kade, “And what of you, so-called Child, is this how your unusual story will end? Not even a worthy mention in the tale of someone greater? You are no match for this Primus as you are, but what if I were to lend you the power? Perhaps even allowed you to keep enough of it when you return to find the answers you seek? What if I gave you what you don’t even know you desire: the means to return to the Chaos?”
Kade heard his own voice answer, “I must go into the Chaos,” he said in a monotone, though with a vehemence that he couldn’t understand. Karthas laughed, and Salarus looked at Kade with deep suspicion. The Elder spoke once more.
“I have never been known for patience, so I shall make this simple, the first one to strike will be considered the victor. I will even take the life of the loser personally, should they survive the blow,” the latter was obviously addressed to Kade, who knew he was an insect compared to the powerful Sorcerer. The moment stretched out, and Kade felt shamed by the temptation. He had thought this would be an easy decision, even imagined spitting in the Elder’s face and demanding Salarus take his life, but instead he found his own survival instincts screaming, and a desperate need to leave this place pulled him to make the coward’s choice.
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Salarus appeared to come to the conclusion first and he turned toward Kade, lightning dancing once more on the end of his staff. He spoke in a quiet voice, and he seemed pained, “Kade, what I told you before…” Kade nodded, trying to find a single moment of dignity in certain death.
“I know. You’ve been living for this. You’re going to prove everyone wrong, show them what a Sorcerer is truly capable of. I…I understand,” he managed to croak out. Salarus shook his head with obvious regret.
“No, you fool. I said I’d protect you.” And with that he slammed the butt of his staff into the ground as Kade had seen him do before, but not understood. Evidently the army of creatures in the tunnel had never gotten close enough to merit what happened next. From where the staff struck, hungry blue lightning shot outward in every direction, eventually hitting the chamber walls and continuing their journey upward until they met in a thunderous crash on the ceiling. Immediately dark storm clouds gathered, with lightning pulsing dangerously inside.
Salarus showed the same tenacity as earlier, chaining from one spell to another with no pause, energies of different colors gathering in his hands. Karthas only appeared amused by the display, and slowly stood up, his head reaching the clouds like an odd reflection of his true, larger body. He strode forward, but rather than attack he continued to address Kade, “It’s not too late; my conditions have not been met. Strike at the arrogant mage, and you leave here with power you cannot fathom.”
This time, Kade didn’t give his inner turmoil a chance, immediately blasting a dozen chains directly into Elder’s face, small blades extended, “Then I strike you first, you giant, miserable bastard!” Karthas laughed with an off-key keening sound that felt wrong somehow, and the chains bounced uselessly off him. His laughter suddenly died as Anton–a boulder once more–suddenly crashed into his left shin, causing the massive being to collapse as bone shattered. Salarus must have cast a number of spells on the Stone Aspect to make such a blow possible.
It showed Kade once more that there were still tactics that took advantage of the fundamentals of physiology. Even though the Elder’s leg repaired itself almost instantly with the telltale display of thousands of fragments of stone rushing into the wound, it was still a leg, and needed to be solid to be stood on. Salarus must have been waiting for the distraction, as countless bolts of lighting crashed down into Karthas, at the same time that he hurled the energy he’d been gathering up into his conjured storm.
Kade didn’t understand what he was seeing at first, as it seemed like storm clouds had been filled with hundreds of blue-white pinwheels, made of some kind of solid lightning and looking razor sharp. Instead of joining the rest of the lightning and coming straight down, the pinwheels were sucked into a swirling vortex that rapidly emerged from the clouds, then engulfed the Elder as a small tornado. The lightning pinwheels spun and slashed around Karthas in a display of brutality that matched Kade’s ill-named chainsaw ability. In mere moments they had caused thousands of smoking cuts, and showed no sign of slowing.
Kade was mesmerized by the display, and looked to Salarus with undisguised anticipation, curious what new trick the Sorcerer would pull from his enormous hat next. Sure enough, the man was already lost in another spell, and so didn’t notice the enormous arm emerge from the deadly whirlwind and shoot toward him like a viper snapping at prey. At the last possible instant Salarus was jerked out of the way, his eyes flying open in surprise, and his spell forgotten. The hand crashed into the spot he’d been standing, and stone exploded in every direction from the impact.
Salarus looked from the crater to the thin chains wound around his waist, then gave Kade an approving nod. He was immediately back on the attack, this time waiting for Anton to crash back into the Elder, distracting him as the lightning tornado had been unable to do. It seemed that the Sorcerer was once again struggling with mana, however, as his follow up attacks were far less impressive, being a series of rapidly fired bolts from his staff. Kade wasn’t sure how powerful the man truly was, but he didn’t believe anything was likely to kill this Elder, let alone a single Primus and a recently Awakened.
Karthas had been described as the greatest power remaining on Iros, and whatever relationship this smaller incarnation might have to the true version, it was clearly no meager foe. This was made clear as some kind of aura burst forth from the madness of lightning and wind, slamming them–even the stone Anton–into the cave walls. When Kade managed to shake his head and look back at the monster, he saw that the magic had all ceased, leaving nothing but the towering Elder glaring back at them.
The spells had been effective though, with one arm entirely severed, and another hanging by shreds. Long, vicious cuts covered almost every inch of the enraged giant, and even though they were repairing themselves rapidly, Kade was still impressed by the carnage his Sorcerous partner had managed to inflict. Seeing it gave him hope–this being might not be so unbeatable after all. Unfortunately, when Kade looked over to see what Salarus was going to try next, he saw the man lying unmoving behind a valiant Anton–clearly ready to be crushed to dust to defend its master.
Kade knew he had to act. His chains were still wrapped around his unconscious partner, but pulling him away from the protection of his brave aspect offered little real protection. Kade needed to do something more, and unfortunately his options were severely limited. He held no foolish illusion of repeating his trick from the last Elder–no amount of chains would be enough to topple this giant, and he wouldn’t be much better off even if he did manage the impossible feat.
Time. That was all he could give to the Sorcerer, who appeared to be stirring slightly as the Elder approached. Without wasting a moment, Kade gathered up his fallen spear and was suddenly yanked into the air by his chains. He rapidly fired off dozens into the wall, ceiling, and floor, suspecting he’d lose many in what he was about to attempt, and wanting every ounce of mobility they could provide. He managed to position himself above Karthas in mere moments, and barely paused before repeating a technique he’d used against the wolfrens–firing numerous chains into the floor, then using all of them to yank himself downward, spear-point leading.
While the height of the Elder didn’t allow for much distance to gain momentum, Kade still slammed into the top of its head with tremendous force, and he was relieved to find that the Artifact pierced through the hard skull with almost no resistance, leaving only an arm-length of the haft exposed. Compared to the enormous monster it had impaled, the spear was a tiny thing, and couldn’t do much damage despite the placement, and Kade had to leap off immediately to dodge three separate arms that reached for him.
Kade wasn’t done, however, as he had left nearly half his chains secured to the spear before jumping, which now anchored the enormous head to the chamber at numerous angles. The spear may not have been large, but it was still embedded deeply into the creature's skull, and whether the Elder tried to pry it out or simply pull on the chains to snap them, it should cause terrible agony. Karthas seemed to realize this as well, as he hobbled back and forth, clearly trying to keep his head still as his massive body halted its momentum, all while Kade cruelly caused the attached chains to tighten first one way, then another.
Desperate to cause as much chaos as possible, Kade screamed for Anton–still in front of his groggy master–and gestured wildly at the Elder’s legs. Thankfully the round stone figure understood, and in seconds was repeating its opening maneuver, forcing Karthas to fall to one knee as his lower leg shattered, roaring in pain all the while. Ignoring the display, Kade used his chains to rush to Salarus, who was now looking at the scene with confusion and disbelief.
With no time to waste, Kade handed the man a fist full of chains, and said simply, “Do you have another one in you?” The tired Sorcerer looked at the offered chains for a moment as if not recognizing them, then shook his head to clear it, wincing as he did. He finally nodded to Kade with a slight smile and unleashed the lightning.
The sounds and smells that filled the room were overwhelming, as every ounce of power Salarus could muster roared up the chain, through the spear, and directly into the Elder’s brain. Kade let every other chain withdraw, not wanting a single volt to be wasted. He and the Sorcerer watched as Karthas–still unable to get to his feet thanks to the tireless Anton–howled and tore at his own face, completely lost to the unfathomable pain.
After several, horrific minutes of this torture, Salarus was finally exhausted, and as the lightning stopped flowing into the massive Elder, he toppled completely to the ground. The two men just stared unbelieving at the fallen behemoth, both waiting for it to inevitably rise again. After a few tense moments, they both expelled held breaths, and nearly collapsed to the floor. They managed to share a single smile of relief before slow, lazy clapping filled the chamber.
Looking past the gargantuan body of the dead Elder, they saw Karthas–whole and intact–lounging on his throne as if he’d never moved. He spoke a single word: “Acceptable.”